Chapter 66
The town had almost finished reconstruction.
A village had been accommodated, and new buildings were constructed with consideration for future expansion and incoming refugees.
Helen looked out the window.
Doris was already busy discussing something with Ryan and the Margrave brothers.
Helen turned her gaze to the assembled mages.
All of the town's current fighting power was gathered inside the town hall.
Doris finished preparing, and the mages took their positions.
A large magic circle was drawn on the floor.
Bishop Cassion and two priests began channeling holy power into the circle.
Helen scrutinized the mages, then slowly walked toward the circle.
She conjured a staff made of pure mana fire and pointed it into the center of the formation.
Blue fire erupted across the entire circle.
A ripple spread outward from the town hall, extending through the town and beyond.
Helen continued pouring mana into the circle.
The ripple expanded, covering a larger and larger area.
A thin veil of mana formed above the circle, displaying the scenery outside the town.
Monsters began appearing at the three-kilometer mark.
Slowly, their numbers increased at three separate locations.
The mages turned pale at the sight.
A young mage started sweating profusely.
The jungle where Ryan had previously led a party still contained a considerable number of monsters.
The evacuated village was completely destroyed and overrun.
And the final location—
The area between Northcastle and Northwest Zolar Town was filled with high-grade monsters, though their numbers were relatively low.
But the situation offered no relief.
There seemed to be no end to them, no matter how many were cut down.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
A mage opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
The situation was dire.
"I guess we are left with no choice."
Helen began writing a complex spell, recording the image into a mana stone.
She wrapped it in protective layers, then cast another spell. A falcon made of mana appeared, engulfed the thumb-sized stone, and flew outside.
It was an emergency call for help to the Magic Tower.
She slowly withdrew her mana, and the circle began to fade.
Turning to the mages, she spoke.
"We have only one option: fortify the town as much as possible and defend it with everything we have. When the opportunity arises, we will evacuate the people safely. I would prefer to do so immediately, but we cannot guarantee their safety right now."
Sebastian interrupted.
"What about the students? We can stay and defend the town, but the academy students should be taken to safety first. This is no longer a safe place for them."
Serbian looked toward Doris.
He had come under orders from the principal to guide the students to safety and had already informed Doris.
Doris's expression turned complicated.
Helen spoke again.
"I agree. The students should be escorted to safety first. We can send them away with the professors. I've already sent an emergency signal to the Magic Tower. His Majesty will hear of this soon. I expect reinforcements by tomorrow morning. We should take this chance before dragging them further into danger."
Doris sighed.
"Alright. Serbian, you will personally lead the students. Once they are safe, return here."
He paused, then signaled to the mages.
"You are dismissed."
The mages dispersed, returning to their duties and patrols.
Only Serbian, the academy professors, the Margrave brothers, Helen, and Doris remained.
Doris's expression shifted.
He tapped lightly, and a soundproof barrier spread across the room.
Ainsworth struck his axe against the ground.
Metallic sound rang out throughout whole room as mana spread to check for any listening ears.
Screeeek—
Blood dripped from the ceiling as a mouse fell, slain.
Their expressions turned grim. Someone had dared to listen in on them despite the presence of a high-level mage.
"They sure are daring," Ainsworth commented.
Helen quickly cast a detection spell to find the mage responsible for the eavesdropping, but it yielded nothing.
Only traces of black smoke remained.
Black magic cast with the help of a medium often yielded no results.
She clenched her fists.
The fact that they had dared to eavesdrop meant they were confident in escaping detection.
"What do you think?" she asked Doris who was inspecting the mouse.
Doris looked up and replied.
"We've laid the bait. Now we wait to see if they take it. Master's emergency signal may push them into acting sooner. They're impatient—otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a careless mistake."
He then cast a spell, layers of mana forming rapidly.
"Master, please."
He stepped back.
Helen formed a smaller mana staff, shaped like a sharpened arrow, and pierced the mouse's corpse.
"Black magic was used—but it's incomplete," she said. "Someone normal is acting as a medium. The caster is at least between Grade 2 and Grade 3."
She continued examining.
"They are familiar with corpses. The precision suggests knowledge of anatomy. Likely someone from an investigative or patrol unit."
Doris already had a list of suspects.
He shared it with Serbian and the Margrave brothers.
At least three individuals fit the criteria.
Helen's eyes sharpened at the names.
Her staff broke into three needle-like fragments, which shot out the window and embedded themselves into the suspects unnoticed.
She closed her eyes.
Azek had explained mana excitation in detail. She understood the concept, but she was still one step away from mastery.
The needles disintegrated into tiny mana particles inside the suspects' bodies.
Helen began to excite them.
She imagined spinning a wheel—faster and faster.
The particles responded.
Slowly, she formed the circle.
The mana stirred.
Eighty percent.
That was her limit.
The particles fused with the suspects' bodies.
A mage patrolling the town wall suddenly hunched over.
A wave of nausea struck him, followed by a numbing sensation—like countless pins piercing his skin.
His companion placed a hand on his back.
"Are you alright?"
The mage shook his head, unable to respond clearly.
The same phenomenon occurred in two other locations.
But just as quickly as it came, the sensation vanished.
"If you're unwell, take a break. You've been on duty for nearly twenty-four hours."
The mage shook his head again.
"I was just lightheaded. I'm fine now."
He resumed his patrol.
Helen opened her eyes.
Doris was watching her.
"There is no black mage among them."