Recently, due to the captains in charge of the special classes being unable to allocate time, the number of special classes has decreased. Instead, the training to counter demonic beasts through Eve’s fantastic magic has significantly increased.

Moreover, this isn’t just a simple training to face lesser demonic beasts; it is a high-difficulty training based on the scenario where demonic beasts attack the city, which requires a lot of attention.

If only the training involved lower-tier demonic beasts without any exceptional abilities, it wouldn’t be too bad…

“Ah… Daniel…”

“…That one’s tricky. Since we can’t see the situation inside the barrier, it’s easy to be distracted and suddenly get attacked by a demonic beast that bypasses the barrier. They tend to be flying types, which makes them harder to deal with.”

Today, amidst the flying demonic beasts that are attacking, including a mid-tier greedy demonic beast spreading barriers intermittently, the difficulty of the training has dramatically increased.

Students, who are generally considered quite experienced, watched in silence as Daniel, regarded as one of the more seasoned among them, got caught by a demonic beast and dragged into the air, fragmented into pieces.

As the students gain more training experience, they have become somewhat accustomed to experiencing death within the illusion, but they also know just how horrifying that feeling can be. The fact that someone like Daniel suffered that fate made them realize that they too could easily meet the same end during today’s training.

How many of them would be at risk during today’s session?

During the prolonged silence filled with such thoughts, as Daniel, who had died in the illusion, returned to reality, he bit his lip in pain and self-blame. Dwayne’s voice quietly echoed through the group.

“…I think Eve has set the difficulty level wrong today. We’re facing a complete mid-tier demonic beast instead of one weakened by the barrier. It seems excessive to send something that even seasoned heroes rarely get to face as training opponents for students.”

Sitting beside me, Sylvia nodded, silently agreeing with his words.

Due to the title of mid-tier, it might sound trivial, but mid-tier demonic beasts possess various troublesome abilities.

Such beasts usually only appear outside the city, away from highly concentrated magical energy zones.

This means that unless they are elite heroes stationed at the front lines, most students will never have to face a mid-tier demonic beast in their lifetime.

Watching as another student froze in shock at the death of their comrade on the screen, Dwayne shook his head and muttered.

“Even for active heroes working within the city, mid-tier demonic beasts are not easy opponents. Those who can handle them with ease typically serve on the front lines. And I don’t think most students are at the level where they can protect others while facing such beasts yet. But this training assumes a full-strength mid-tier demonic beast will attack the city… Honestly, preparing for an event that might not happen is excessive.”

As Dwayne voiced his opinion, the students undergoing training were wiped out, and the magic was dispelled.

Upon checking on the state of the students who returned to reality, Eve approached Dwayne with a bittersweet smile.

“So, you think so, Dwayne? Are you really sure that such an event won’t occur?”

Though she spoke softly, Dwayne appeared slightly flustered, realizing that she had overheard him. However, he quickly regained his composure and responded.

“Honestly, I believe it’s not going to happen. As the heir of Ninehart, I trust in the magic set by our ancestor, the Grand Magician Viola. The barrier nearly perfectly blocks the magical energy from outside. No matter how strong the demonic beasts are, the moment they enter through the barrier, they will be significantly weakened. So, I don’t see much reason to worry about a full-strength demonic beast attacking the city.”

“But there could be issues with that magic. Someone might try to destroy it from the outside.”

“That’s normally impossible. Intentionally damaging a completed magic area is quite difficult. Besides, as long as the magic circle in the center of the city remains intact, the barrier is designed to self-repair.”

“I get it, it’s indeed impressive magic. But what if there’s a way to ignore the effects of such remarkable magic?”

“There can’t be any flaws in Ninehart’s magic…!”

Just as Dwayne was about to shout something, he suddenly fell silent.

I tilted my head, wondering why he had stopped speaking, and noticed his gaze fixed on my left arm.

Because of my left arm, which had become a prosthetic due to the full-strength demonic beast attacking the academy.

As I forced a smile, Dwayne, normally stoic, showed deep regret in his eyes, hesitatingly moving his lips before eventually bowing his head to me.

“I… I forgot that there has been a precedent. If there hadn’t been a flaw in the magic, your arm wouldn’t have ended up like that. It was a careless remark. I sincerely apologize.”

“It’s fine. Dwayne, this happened because it wasn’t your fault.”

I shook my head in response to Dwayne’s apology.

Still unable to hide a look of remorse, he seemed to make me uncomfortable, so Eve gently called out to him.

“Dwayne, I heard you’re currently assisting in the installation of the magic circle that prevents teleportation in the boundary region. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Do you know why that construction is being undertaken?”

“I heard it’s to prevent another incident like Lady Scarlet’s from occurring…”

As Dwayne spoke while watching me cautiously, Eve reached out and gently held his downturned hand.

“That’s right. It’s to prevent any potential victims. The teacher also supported that construction plan for that reason. But, Dwayne, if like the witch set demonic beasts free within the seemingly safe academy, a flaw occurs during this construction, and if this time the witch leads the demonic beasts in an attack on the city, what would happen?”

Eve’s eyes swept across my face, Dwayne’s, and the other sitting students.

With trembling eyes and a quivering voice, she continued, “If, however, there were to be demonic beasts, unweakened, led by the witch attacking the city, who do you think would be the most likely to die? The powerless citizens? The heroes defending the city? No, it would be you all. To be honest, I hope you wouldn’t have to fight, but in such a situation, you would inevitably have to step in, leading to the greatest casualties among you all, who would struggle against mid-tier and above demonic beasts.”

Eve spoke to us with a bittersweet smile.

“I know. I’m aware that this training will be burdensome for most of you. But I have no choice but to prepare. If such a situation arises, you must experience it beforehand, or else you may truly cross a river from which you cannot return… I’m sorry for putting you through such hard training. But I…”

Her expression was filled with sincere urgency as she spoke.

The students couldn’t say a word to the teacher.

They felt the depth of her emotions as she shared her thoughts with us.

She likely imagined us all perishing at the hands of the witch when she heard the news that we faced her on the front lines.

Perhaps, feeling guilty for allowing us to face such dangers in the first place.

Thus, seeing us return alive was a great relief, she probably thought she should do all she could to train us.

I remembered that in the original story, every time she lost students in accidents, the training intensity increased even further.

This was her way of ensuring that children wouldn’t die anymore, her best course of action in her eyes.

Regardless, I’m sure even the other kids, who hadn’t read the original story, felt the same too.

That she values her students more than anyone else.

And wanting to repay her feelings, none of us felt daunted by the rigorous training.

Only those who ardently wished to relieve her worries remained.

“Next group, we’ll start the training right away.”

As I stepped up with my teammates for the next round, the other students sent encouraging glances.

Even though it was training, showing the best performance would surely delight the teacher.

“Hehe, I also hope that Scarlet doesn’t die! You can do it!”

As Flora, who had heedlessly attached herself, called out in support, I lightly patted her head with a smile before diving into training.

As we entered the urban landscape of the illusion, I saw my teammates tense up at the sight of the mid-tier demonic beast spreading its wings.

Watching them, I whispered to myself.

“Don’t worry, those are just mid-tier demonic beasts.”

Even if they are incomplete and weakened.

“After all, it’s me, so…”

Flames erupted from my clenched fist, devouring the demonic beast.