The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 240

The magic circle located in Ophelis Hall’s rose garden suddenly expanded, covering the entirety of Ophelis Hall.

Most monsters were unable to break through Ophelis Hall’s defensive magic circle. However, monsters that possessed strong magic power were capable of doing so. Such monsters were rare, but due to the massive number of monsters falling onto the island, their presence could no longer be ignored.

Clang! Crash!Whooooosh!

The sounds of swords colliding and magic being cast filled the entrance of Ophelis Hall.

The maids of Ophelis Hall were famous for being capable of almost anything. Naturally, they were all well-versed in combat, and there were even a few senior maids who could use intermediate magic.

Because Ophelis Hall was protected by such capable maids and a strong defensive magic circle, they were managing to defend themselves with relative ease.

Boom! Boom!

Not only that, but the majority of the students residing in Ophelis Hall had excellent grades. As a result, not only the maids but the students themselves were skilled in combat. In addition, Ophelis Hall was located some distance from the commercial district, so many of the monsters attacking the academy did not prioritize it.

Thanks to its location and defensive measures, the dormitory was even safer than the royal residence, which had already been attacked.

“There’s a crack forming in the southern section of the defensive magic circle! The monsters are starting to pour in from there!”

“All sniper maids are already occupied! For now, mobilize anyone available to block them!”

In Ophelis Hall’s central command room, Head Maid Bell Maya was issuing orders to the other maids. The room had been temporarily barricaded and repurposed from what had once been her personal workspace.

Not only the maids, but the students inside Ophelis Hall were fighting the monsters together under her command.

However, defense was everything.

They lacked both the manpower and the freedom to assist other areas. Traveling elsewhere was nearly impossible with so many monsters in the way, and even if they encountered survivors, escorting them back to Ophelis Hall unharmed would be unlikely.

In the end, all they could do was hold out and hope the situation would soon be resolved.

“Have we made contact with Lorail Hall or Dex Hall yet?”

“We’ve received word from Lorail Hall. They’ve suffered damage, but they’re still managing to protect the students. However… Dex Hall hasn’t responded.”

Hearing the report, Bell Maya slowly closed her eyes. This was not a moment in which she could afford to waver.

Dex Hall housed a particularly large number of students. If something had gone wrong there, it would not be surprising if the entire dormitory had collapsed.

“It can’t be helped. We already have our hands full ensuring the safety of the students under our protection…”

At that moment, Velbrok let out another roar.

Each time its thunderous cry echoed across Acken Island, the magic power imbued within it grew stronger. Though no one wanted to admit it, this meant that the seal binding Velbrok was weakening with time.

Lucy Mayreel was somehow holding it back for now. However, once the seal fully broke, even she would not be able to stand against it.

In truth, Lucy Mayreel was already at her limit.

“Kyaaaak!”“Keuk!”

Several maids screamed as they collapsed from the aftermath of Velbrok’s magic.

Bell Maya frowned as she looked out the window. Velbrok opened its massive jaws once more, gathering magic power.

Velbrok’s target was Lucy Mayreel, who had been holding it at bay. Aside from the chains dragging its body back into the sea, Lucy was its greatest obstacle.

Even so, the residual shockwaves from its roar were enough to destabilize Ophelis Hall’s defensive magic circle. Velbrok’s magic power could neutralize defensive and anti-magic formations alike.

They could endure a few more attacks, but once Velbrok was fully revived and unleashed its full power, Ophelis Hall’s defenses would inevitably collapse.

The only thing left to do was pray.

Boom!

Seizing that moment, a giant bat forced its way through the cracked defensive barrier and latched onto Ophelis Hall’s outer wall.

“Kyaaaaak!”“Don’t panic! Gather your magic!”

Students screamed as others struggled to maintain their composure.

Bell Maya climbed onto a table and looked toward the window. The giant bat’s massive eye filled her entire view.

Without hesitation, she drew her rapier and thrust it straight into the creature’s eye.

Slash!Craaaaaash!

Glass shattered as the bat shrieked in agony and fell from the wall.

Booooom!

It crashed into the rose garden, thrashing violently as it bled out and destroyed everything around it.

“Phew…”

The defensive magic circle was clearly reaching its limit. Even so, giving up was not an option.

Bell Maya steadied herself and issued new orders.

“Evacuate the students to the underground facility! The monster attacks will intensify from here on! To minimize casualties, we must hide the students!”

After shouting her orders, she grabbed another decorative rapier from the wall and opened the command room door.

“Our mission is to protect the students at all costs. Do not hesitate to sacrifice your lives to save as many of them as possible.”

“W-We understand…”“I’ll relay the orders to the maids stationed further out!”

Bell Maya nodded and sprinted down the hallway.

It was not wise for the head maid to head toward the front lines. If she fell, the entire command structure would collapse.

However, the more extreme the situation became, the more desperately even a single additional fighter was needed. Bell Maya could not afford to sit still.

Running down the corridor with her rapier in hand, she spotted two giant bats clinging to the windows.

Crash! Crash!Clang!

The windows shattered as one of the bats burst inside, screeching as it destroyed artwork and decorations in a frenzy.

“Keuk!”

As Bell Maya began to gather magic power—

Slice!

The bat let out a distorted screech as its neck was cleanly severed.

Bell Maya froze. After kicking aside the corpse, she turned toward the shattered window and saw a boy climbing inside.

Slice!

Using magic to scale the wall, he entered swiftly and decapitated the second bat without hesitation. His movements were sharp and decisive, devoid of confusion or fear.

Standing amid the shattered glass, wiping blood from his sword, was none other than Ziggs Eiffelstein.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe, Miss Bell.”

“Young Master Ziggs… When did you—?”

“I just arrived. Taylee and Ayla are here too. It seems Ophelis Hall isn’t doing so well either.”

He glanced at the unstable defensive barrier.

“I suppose this isn’t the time for conversation.”

“No. We’re evacuating the students to the underground facility.”

“We didn’t come to evacuate. We came to pick someone up. Is Elvira here? She’s probably in her room gathering her alchemy supplies and reagents.”

They had been classmates long enough for him to know her habits.

Ziggs leapt onto the arm of the remaining giant bat, twisted his body, and sliced it clean off. The creature screamed as it crashed into the garden behind them.

“We need Elvira’s expertise in alchemy to defeat Velbrok. The professors are unreachable, and she’s the only advanced alchemist who would help us without hesitation.”

“You’re… going to defeat Velbrok?”

“Taylee can do it. We refuse to go down without a fight.”

Ziggs wiped his blade clean.

“I wish we could help defend Ophelis Hall, but we have something more important to do.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Too many people have already been sacrificed. Ed risked his life to save Taylee, and I abandoned the survivors at the student square to support him, even though Ayla stayed behind.”

All of it was for one reason.

“We have to take responsibility… and defeat Velbrok.”

Ophelis Hall was not the only place facing disaster.

The survivors Ziggs had left behind at the student square, led by Student Council President Tanya, had already suffered heavy losses. Without Ziggs, their strongest fighter, reaching the commercial district without further casualties would be nearly impossible.

Even so, Tanya pressed forward, determined to save as many lives as she could.

The garrison near the academy’s cathedral, led by Saint Clarice, had also nearly been breached. The group defending the training grounds under the combat department had suffered severe damage. Elte Store, which had lost a third of its merchants with the collapse of Mexes Bridge, was struggling to protect its main building. Rumors even claimed the royal residence was on the brink of total collapse.

“Still, we fight back,” Ziggs said firmly.“That’s why… I’m sorry, but we’re taking Elvira with us.”

***

“I’m going to get my alchemy supplies and reagents from Ophelis Hall, so stay somewhere safe and don’t move!”

That was what Elvira had said before running toward Ophelis Hall.

Her entire life had been devoted to alchemy. Even when death loomed at any moment, protecting her research remained her highest priority. He had always known she was that kind of person, but he never expected her to act that way given the severity of the situation.

After separating from Elvira at the student square, he fled from the sudden monster hordes and eventually joined the nearest garrison.

That was how he ended up at the student training grounds, where the combat department had established a garrison under Daike’s leadership.

Kneeling in a corner, trembling uncontrollably, was Clevius Nortondale.

A son of the prestigious House Nortondale and the top second-year student—yet he was shaking in fear.

Countless people were dying, and the sheer number of monsters falling from the sky was far beyond what anyone could handle. He knew that doing nothing meant certain death, but each time the Holy Blue Dragon roared overhead, terror tightened its grip around his heart.

A calamity far beyond his ability to confront was approaching, forcing him once again to face just how weak he truly was.

“That bastard… Why did he even come to our garrison…?”“Even though he knows swordsmanship, he’s running without fighting!”“Everyone else is risking their lives—why hasn’t Daike kicked him out?”

“Leave him alone. Daike must have his reasons. For now, focus on defending the outer walls!”

“Do you think… I want to… be like this…? Fuck… sniff…”

He was utterly pathetic. His hands trembled as he tried to hold back his tears.

He couldn’t help it. He was afraid. Human emotions were not something one could control at will. Just because others fought bravely did not mean he could do the same. His reckless duel with Lucy, where he had once thrown away his life, felt like a distant memory.

A coward remained a coward to the very end. A momentary surge of courage could not fix what was rotten inside.

He no longer cared about the students whispering behind his back. He had lived his entire life being cursed at; this was nothing new.

Still, he was terrified.

“Why… why do I have to suffer like this…?”

He hugged his knees, shaking. Each time students passed him, they clicked their tongues in disgust. Even underclassmen openly called him a coward.

Anyone who could hold a sword was fighting on the front lines, yet he remained behind. Some demanded that Daike kick him out for dragging down morale.

But Daike refused. He would not cast someone out simply for being afraid.

Clevius knew the truth better than anyone: he was a selfish, cowardly piece of trash. He despised himself, yet he could never become someone like Daike.

He was a rat living in the gutter, unable to wash away the stench clinging to him. The contempt in others’ eyes was familiar—enduring it was how he survived.

He was neither desperate like Ed Rothstaylor nor noble like Daike Elpelan. He was worthless.

Clevius stared at his trembling, empty hand.

“Ophelis Hall is on the verge of collapse! Their garrison is no longer safe!”

A student rushed in, shouting the report so loudly that everyone heard.

“What? Didn’t Ophelis Hall have a defensive magic circle?”“It seems Velbrok’s magic power weakened it…”“Then their students may flee here. Prepare to take them in.”

“That’s not the plan. They’re evacuating to an underground facility—but there’s no guarantee the dormitory won’t fall.”

Which garrisons survived and which fell was a matter of luck. Some faced fewer powerful monsters; others faced too many. That alone decided the fate of hundreds.

The training grounds had been fortunate. The royal residence had not.

Daike frowned, then steadied himself.

“We can only pray for their safety. For now, gather survivors from the combat department buildings!”

“In thirty minutes, we move to the northern training grounds. Those joining, prepare your equipment!”

He grabbed his knuckle dusters. No one complained. There was no room for hesitation.

At that moment, Daike noticed Clevius.

Clevius had stood up and was walking toward the exit, sword in hand.

Daike rushed over and grabbed his shoulder.

“Clevius! Where are you going?! It’s hell out there!”

He knew how much pressure Clevius had been under. That was why he had kept an eye on him. Still, he never imagined Clevius would try to leave.

But Clevius calmly removed Daike’s hand from his shoulder. His eyes were eerily steady.

“Where do you think you’re going in this situation?”

Elvira had gone to Ophelis Hall. That thought scratched relentlessly at Clevius’s heart. Fear for his own life was not the only thing haunting him.

Elvira might die.

That reckless alchemist who dragged him along, scolded him, shouted at him, laughed loudly—

“……”

Clevius met Daike’s gaze and tightened his grip on his wrist for a moment.

“Just taking a walk.”

Daike did not stop him. He simply watched as Clevius left the garrison.

Outside, Clevius drove his sword into his own shoulder.

The pain was unbearable. He screamed—then the agony subsided.

Breathing heavily, eyes bloodshot, he looked at the monsters surrounding the garrison.

Gripping his sword, now stained with violent magic power, the Blade Demon went out for a walk.

When he finally came to his senses, the road behind him was drenched in monster blood.

***

Taylee McLaure was sitting in Ophelis Hall’s rose garden, treating his wounds.

Ayla Triss searched frantically through the dormitory for Elvira.

Ziggs Eiffelstein had just finished explaining the situation to Bell Maya after killing the giant bat.

Lortel Kehelland defended Elte Store by firing ice magic toward the entrance.

Penia Elias Kroel guided Emperor Kroel through the corridors of the royal residence.

Elvira Aniston gathered reagents in her room.

Clevius Nortondale advanced toward Ophelis Hall, slaughtering monsters with pure bloodlust.

It would take time before all members of the Velbrok subjugation squad reunited—but the fact that they were all still alive was encouraging.

Meanwhile, the Silvenia subjugation squad led by Ed Rothstaylor had made little progress.

Those who no longer belonged to the original storyline ofSilvenia’s Failed Swordmaster, now existing in a diverging timeline, were the only ones capable of opposing Silvenia without disrupting the Velbrok subjugation’s original composition.

Ed Rothstaylor, Yennekar Palerover, and Selah Einer Kroel had gathered together.

Lucy Mayreel was exhausted, nearly out of magic power after holding Velbrok back alone.

Saint Clarice refused to abandon the cathedral garrison.

Tanya Rothstaylor was occupied protecting her own survivors.

With the world teetering on the brink, the end slowly approached.

The Great Sage Silvenia watched it all with an eerie grin.

There were many variables that could disrupt Velbrok’s descent—but the greatest of them stood before her.

Lucy Mayreel.

Boom!

Lucy was hurled into the academy’s half-destroyed spire.

Through the settling dust, she lifted her head and looked skyward.

Floating before her was a woman holding a wand.

The Great Sage Silvenia gazed down at her, smiling grotesquely. Behind her, Velbrok continued struggling against its seal.

“…This is a bit much… dealing with two at once…”

Lucy removed her overcoat and let it fall. Blood stained her blouse, yet she stood tall.

Despite her injuries, Lucy Mayreel did not avert her gaze.

How much longer could she hold on?

She did not know.