70 Chapter 70: Aping Ou (1/2)
Jogging toward the source of the explosion, I noted the fierce flames that ravaged large parts of the forest as well as the tremendous amount of mana emanating from the area.
Rank C monster at the very least, I thought to myself with a nod. A combination of dread and excitement curled in my gut, half of me filled with trepidation and the desire to run away, and the other half to challenge my limits and test my skills.
In any case, I had better start preparing for the battle ahead. Estimating that I was no longer more than a hundred meters away from the dudes, I began casting my summoning spells again. Best to be safe than sorry.
”!”
Ka-boom!
Throwing myself to the side, I watched as an entire grove of trees was incinerated by a massive fireball. Rolling to my feet, I narrowed my eyes and stared in the direction where it came from. Another huge torrent of flames swept toward me, only to terminate a few meters away. Despite the slight distance, I could feel the intense heat from where I was standing.
This wasn't good.
Chewing my lip, I went around the flames, hastening my pace. The monster's aura seemed to be strengthening, its mana surging as it conjured another bout of flames. I could hear shouts and screams from the other side.
”Get away!”
”AAAAAARGH!”
”Cindy!”
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”Stay back! It's too late for her!”
”WAAAAAH!”
The cries of humans were drowned out by a fearsome bellow. Picking up the pace, I vaulted over a huge wall of fire and landed on the other side. Glancing up, I saw a group of students wearing the same uniform as me combating an enormous creature that was over three meters tall. Red fur bristled all over its muscular body, and demonic crimson eyes blazed as it raised a hand to summon more flames. The damned monster looked like a giant ape…
Well, it was an ape. I recognized the Fiery Ape from an encyclopedic entry about monsters that I had read before. As expected of a rank C monster, it was capable of elemental magic. Its ability to manipulate fire made it a fearsome foe, one that I couldn't afford to underestimate. Narrowing my eyes, I channeled my mana and completed my summoning spell.
”!”
The Fiery Ape was just about to pulverize one of the poor dudes into a bloody pulp, but I directed my summoned Ursa Major at it, the huge bear barreling into the Fiery Ape and knocking it over. The guy I had just rescued stared at me blankly, as if he didn't understand what was going on.
”You…” he began, and then his eyes widened in recognition. ”You're Richard!”
”Yo,” I replied with a wave. Before I could turn my attention back to the duel between my Ursa Major and the Fiery Ape, I realized I recognized the guy too. ”You're…Elliot?”
I recalled Elliot being part of Alicia's party the last time he was out on a mission. Glancing around, I was slightly disappointed to see that she wasn't here today.
”Oh, President Alicia is busy with handling matters regarding Instructor Feng Hai's visit,” Elliot explained, as if he had read my mind. I gaped at him, and he shrugged. ”You seem to be looking for someone, and I assume it was her.”
By now the rumors about me and Alicia had spread pretty far and wide. I had done my best to steer clear of them, but it seemed that Alicia hadn't bothered to deny the rumors. Then again, she was helping me out, what with Cecilia throwing that stupid curveball of a declaration. As long as I seemed to be with Alicia, Cecilia wouldn't bother with me…though, honestly, it seemed that the daughter of the Stuart clan had lost all interest in me and I didn't have to worry about some stupid romantic comedy clichés. This was reality, after all. I wasn't the only guy who existed in this world, and no female person was brainless enough to throw herself at me just because I was the protagonist.
”What about Nicholas and Jin Hao?” I asked, looking around and trying to shift the subject matter before Elliot could make fun of me. To be fair, that was the last thing on his mind. Not when he had a bloody Fiery Ape literally breathing fire on our necks. Honestly, that didn't cross my mind either.
Currently, I was focused on Ursa Major wrestling with the Fiery Ape and actually losing. Not in a contest of strength, but because the Fiery Ape was burning my poor Constellation spirit in flames. As sturdy as Ursa Major was, even he wouldn't survive being roasted like that for extended periods of time.
Gritting my teeth, I completed yet another second summoning spell as hurriedly as I could. Canis Major leaped up and slammed into the Fiery Ape, knocking it over.
”Here.” Having been granted a brief respite, I risked turning away (then again, my mental connection with my Constellation spirits allowed me to keep an eye on the battle at all time, whether my actual physical body was watching or not). Nicholas was limping toward me and waving. He shook his head with a weary grin. ”Looks like you're to save us again.”
”A mere coincidence, I assure you.”
That probably was a good thing. If Alicia was present, people would start to think I was actually stalking her when they noticed that I always happened to show up whenever she was in trouble.
”Are you guys all right?” I asked, not caring about those trivial matters right now. Teenage angst was just stupid, if you ask me. More importantly, I was more concerned about the wellbeing of my schoolmates, but some teenage part of my mind that had yet to fully integrated with my thirty-over-something self continued to nag at me annoyingly. I wished it would shut up.