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As the players’ invasion began, an evacuation order was issued across the Meikhael Empire.

Although the empire had experienced numerous wars, both large and small, this was the first time an evacuation order had been issued for the entire population. Moreover, it was Lucy Meikhael, the emperor herself, who directly issued the nationwide evacuation order. People, though hesitant, began to evacuate.

And within less than a day, many people learned of the atrocities occurring in various regions through the accounts of refugees fleeing from other areas. Those who claimed to be heroes possessed the ability to resurrect even after death, and terrifying stories spread of them indiscriminately killing not only people but all living beings. Fear-stricken, people rushed to evacuate.

By the time the defensive lines were established, many had already fled. However, this was only true for cities and relatively large villages. In remote villages far from the cities, many either hadn’t heard the evacuation order or learned of it too late.

Amidst this chaos, there were still efforts to help those who couldn’t evacuate in time.

“Those who just arrived, please line up over here!”

Refugees gathered in front of the gate, waiting for their turn.

Thanks to people from the distant capital, the villagers of Ora, who received the evacuation order late, were able to flee beyond the defensive lines. The village chief, once in despair, bowed repeatedly while holding the hand of their savior.

“You’re Professor Ariel, right? Oh my… Thank you so much… If it weren’t for you, we would all be dead…”

“No, no.”

Ariel Rizeute shook her head, comforting the sobbing village chief.

“Please direct your gratitude to our Chairman. It’s all thanks to him that we were able to come this far.”

Shortly after the war began, students of Meikhael University unanimously expressed their desire to join the fight. As the only national magic university under the imperial family’s protection, most students took great pride in their school and had strong patriotic sentiments. Naturally, none of them could sit idly by during a crisis threatening the nation’s survival.

But there was someone who stopped them.

“I’m sorry, but students, you cannot participate in the war.”

“What?!”

It was Ariel Rizeute, rumored to succeed Mondri Cremont as the next chancellor. In place of the Chairman and Chancellor who had joined the war, she addressed the protesting students.

“Any student who participates in the war without conscription will be expelled.”

“That’s ridiculous! Professor! Are you telling us to just sit back and do nothing?”

“This is the Chairman’s order.”

“No way…”

“Ugh…”

The students, well aware of who Chairman Tristan was, fell silent. But their dissatisfaction didn’t disappear. With the nation’s survival at stake, expulsion was a price they were willing to pay.

As if reading their thoughts, Ariel continued.

“Instead… our school has decided to organize and operate an Emergency Relief Unit to help evacuate the empire’s citizens.”

“Emergency… Relief Unit?”

“Yes. All professors, including myself, will be part of the unit. And…”

Ariel flicked her finger, and large banners appeared throughout the school. The students’ eyes widened as they read the contents.

“As you can see, we’re recruiting relief unit members. Of course, only for volunteers.”

Naturally, all the students who had wanted to join the war rushed to sign up for the relief unit.

And now, the Emergency Relief Unit, composed of professors and students from Meikhael University, had successfully evacuated thousands of citizens to the rear.

Ariel marveled at the evacuation procession leading to the temporary gate.

“Who would have thought Professor Puring’s magic would be used like this…”

The ‘Dungeon Escape Formula’ that the eccentric Professor Puring had showcased at the academic festival. Initially dismissed as a formula for adventurers, the only one who showed interest was Chairman Tristan.

Since then, with Tristan’s full support, Puring refined and improved her formula. It became a spatial teleportation magic capable of moving people to distant locations—what is now called the ‘Gate.’

Thanks to Tristan installing Gate conduits across the empire just before the war, many people could quickly evacuate to the rear. Additionally, the Gates allowed for rapid troop deployment, enabling swift defensive line construction.

During the academic festival, no one had foreseen the potential of this formula. Among the many mages present, only Tristan had recognized its value. Moreover, his meticulous preparation and swift action in installing Gates in every city were nothing short of extraordinary.

The last time Ariel met Tristan, he handed her a parchment with the formula.

“Is this… Professor Puring’s formula?”

“Yes. It’s called the ‘Gate.’ I’ll give you this formula to study and copy.”

“Huh? This?”

“You’ll need it someday. It’s a formula that can save many lives, so memorize it if you can. I’ve already spoken to Puring, so don’t worry.”

“But… this is so sudden…”

“I’ll give you a week. Memorize it by then.”

“Wait, what?!”

Though skeptical, Ariel followed Tristan’s orders and memorized the entire ‘Gate’ formula. As a mage of her caliber, she thought she could memorize even complex formulas in three days, but this one took her a full week of non-stop effort.

And then the war broke out.

Ariel felt a chill run down her spine.

To put it nicely, Tristan was a perfectionist. To put it bluntly, he had an obsessive need to prepare for every possible scenario. He was the kind of man who pressured nobles under the pretext of preparing for monster invasions, earning him no small amount of disdain. It hadn’t even been half a year since the last expedition, yet he acted as if war was imminent. If the emperor hadn’t supported him, his plans would never have come to fruition… and now, with the war raging, the empire would have faced far worse.

Even preventing students from joining the war and forming the Emergency Relief Unit was part of Tristan’s pre-planned directives. He had instructed Ariel to operate temporary Gates in remote villages that hadn’t received permanent ones. Of course, this was in anticipation of unexpected situations or emergencies, but no one could have predicted how perfectly it would align with reality.

At this point, it almost seemed like he had foreseen the future…

‘But that’s impossible…’

There’s no such thing as future-reading magic, and Tristan wasn’t a prophet. He was just an overly meticulous perfectionist. Rather than predicting the future, he had anticipated the worst-case scenario and acted accordingly.

Ariel couldn’t help but admire Tristan’s foresight. Though she had once seen him as an enemy, experiencing this situation made her realize just how differently he viewed the world.

“P-Please let the injured pass through the Gate first… Eek… Coming through…”

A soft voice reached Ariel’s ears. Wendy was clearing the way for patients on stretchers. However, her voice was so faint that it wasn’t very effective.

“Hey, over there! Injured coming through, make way!”

“Ah, sorry.”

Wendy’s classmate, Sia Riumin, shouted loudly, and only then did people notice the injured on stretchers and make way. After confirming that the injured had passed through the temporary Gate, Ariel called Wendy over.

“Wendy, if you speak so softly, people won’t hear you.”

“S-Sorry…”

“I’m not scolding you. I’m just concerned that this place might be a bit overwhelming for you.”

“Huh?”

Even though this remote area was far from the frontlines, it was still a war zone. It was dangerous, and dealing with the injured meant seeing blood. It wasn’t a place for a delicate girl. Ariel thought it might be better to send her back, but Wendy shook her head.

“N-No, I’m fine…”

“If it’s too much…”

“It’s not…”

Wendy shook her head desperately. Originally, as a servant of the Ruelberta household, she should have evacuated to the rear with her family. But she couldn’t bring herself to do so.

“The Count is fighting… I can’t just sit back and do nothing…”

Even now, Tristan was battling for this world. So were Bella, Helga, and Blanshe. Wendy wanted to fight alongside them, but her age was a barrier.

What could she do? After much thought, Wendy joined the Emergency Relief Unit as a student of Meikhael Magic University.

“I want to do what I can…”

“…You’re a good kid.”

“Huh?”

Ariel’s expression softened.

“Wanting to do something for someone is a great thing. The students who joined the Emergency Relief Unit probably came here for their families, for the citizens. They’re all fighting for something precious. For you, Wendy, that’s the Chairman… the Count, right?”

“…Yes.”

Wendy placed a hand on her chest and looked up at Ariel.

“H-He’s precious… Really precious… To me, he’s more precious than anything… Since the Count is fighting for everyone, I want to help everyone too…”

Her large, transparent eyes reflected Ariel’s image.

“I-If I’m not a burden…”

“A burden? Of course not.”

Indeed, Wendy was no ordinary student. She hadn’t entered as the top student at such a young age for nothing. She had talent and potential. Though Ariel later learned that Wendy had been Tristan’s exclusive maid, she didn’t consider it a privilege. In fact, without Tristan’s support, this girl’s talent might never have shone.

And now, it seemed Wendy was trying to repay Tristan’s kindness by finding ways to contribute. She was far more mature than others her age. Above all, she was kind-hearted. It wasn’t about patriotism or some grand sense of duty, but her reasons for being here were more than justified.

Ariel smiled softly.

“Thanks to your first aid, Wendy, many injured refugees survived. And you’ve been helping those who can’t move on their own. Without you, the evacuation would have been delayed.”

Since the Emergency Relief Unit operated in villages far from the cities, most residents were poor commoners. In contrast, the majority of students from the prestigious Meikhael University came from wealthy noble families. As a result, some noble students avoided contact with the shabby villagers, preferring to handle minor tasks or guard duty, which had been a headache for Ariel. But Wendy approached the refugees more actively than anyone else and didn’t shy away from dirty work.

“I-I’m a commoner… I’m just used to this kind of work…”

“That’s beside the point. As students of our school, we should set an example. Background or family status doesn’t matter. If you’re here as part of Meikhael University’s Emergency Relief Unit, you should do what needs to be done. I’ll have to give a lecture later. They should be ashamed. If only the older students could follow even half of your example.”

“T-That’s not…”

Wendy looked embarrassed, but even that was endearing. Ariel patted her head.

“You’re doing great, Wendy. I only asked if it was too much because you’re the youngest, not because you’re lacking. You’re doing as well as, if not better than, the adults.”

“Ah… Thank you…”

“Don’t try to do everything alone. Look around. There are plenty of adults here. Professors like me and your seniors are here too. It’s okay to take it easy sometimes. Leave the hard work to us adults. Otherwise, how could we face you?”

Just as Ariel finished speaking…

“Ahhh!”

“The heroes are here!”

Screams erupted from the refugees. Even though this area was far from the frontlines, it wasn’t safe unless it was behind the defensive lines. Heroes were still hunting for experience points in remote villages.

“This is exactly what adults should handle. First-year students, fall back to the Gate! Everyone else, prepare to engage!”

“Yes!”

At Ariel’s command, students and professors moved swiftly, and the refugees hurried toward the Gate.

“Everyone, draw your formulas!”

By now, many had heard of the fake heroes’ cruelty and their ability to resurrect. To the powerless refugees, the heroes were even more terrifying than monsters.

But for the mages, it was different.

“Now!”

As soon as Ariel gave the signal, confirming that all refugees had retreated, light erupted from the magic circles of the professors and students.

*Boom!*

Like an explosion, a flash of light erupted. Surging flames incinerated everything in their path.

Meikhael University was one of the top magic schools in the empire. Naturally, its professors and students were all highly skilled in magic. Their spells surpassed even those of the imperial magic corps.

Moreover, since the service had started less than a week ago, high-level players were rare. Those who came to remote villages for experience points were no match for the university’s elite.

“Ahhh!”

“It’s hot!!!”

The heroes screamed in the intense flames. Those who had recklessly charged at the refugees turned to dust. The heroes following behind hesitated.

Ariel and the professors didn’t miss the opportunity and continued casting spells. Since the heroes would just resurrect, it was better to overwhelm them with sheer firepower to break their morale.

*Boom!*

“Move! Get out of the way!”

“I’m going first!”

“If you’re a tank, get out of the way!”

Unable to withstand the relentless magical assault, the heroes’ formation collapsed. Unlike trained soldiers, their retreat was a chaotic mess.

And these people call themselves heroes…

“Professor Ariel! Over there!”

“Huh?!”

A student pointed toward the Gate where the refugees were. A group of heroes had appeared, likely having bypassed the mages’ spells.

“Tch… Quick, cast a spell…!”

“Stop! You might hit the refugees!”

Ariel stopped a student who was about to cast a fire spell. The situation had become complicated. The heroes’ numbers were too great, and they had managed to get close to the refugees.

“Ahhh!”

“Don’t come any closer!”

The first-year students with the refugees tried to counterattack with magic, but they couldn’t stop all the charging heroes.

“Haha! Die!”

“No, stop!”

The emboldened heroes charged at the refugees. Having come this far, they couldn’t leave empty-handed. Killing a few for experience points and then retreating would be enough… or so they thought, but their blades never reached the refugees.

“Huh?!”

“What the?!”

An invisible wall stopped the heroes. It was a wall of wind. A high-level spell compressing air into a barrier protected the refugees. And the one who cast it was…

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

“A… kid?”

From among the terrified refugees, Wendy emerged. She was maintaining the wind barrier with magic concentrated on her index finger.

“Hey, brat! You’re not going to drop this spell?!”

“N-No! I won’t let you through!”

“Hey! Do you know who we are? We’re heroes. We’re here to kill your world’s Demon Lord.”

“L-Liar!”

Wendy shouted.

“You’re fakes!”

“Fakes? Haha… Us?”

“Then who’s the hero?”

“Ugh…”

It was an absurd situation. Fake heroes mocking a real hero. Wendy wanted to say that she was the real hero, but very few knew that. And even if she told them, they wouldn’t believe her. More importantly, given what they had done, they didn’t deserve to be called heroes.

The heroes—players—laughed.

“Listen, we received a quest to defeat the Demon Lord. See? You guys don’t have this, right?”

The players displayed something in the air for Wendy to see. It looked like a formula or magic circle, with the following text written on it:

[Quest: Defeat the Demon Lord ‘Tristan’]

[Target: All Players]

[Reward: Achievement and additional rewards]

Tristan… defeat?

“…Huh?”

Wendy blinked, checking again. But the message was clear. The order was to kill Tristan. In other words, their goal was to kill him.

“What… Why…”

Wendy’s voice trembled. She couldn’t understand. Why were these people, who didn’t even know Tristan, trying to kill him? And how could they kill people so casually?

From their perspective, Wendy and Tristan were just NPCs in a game. Killing them was just entertainment. To Wendy and the people of this world, it was nothing but madness…

“The Count… What did he do wrong… Why are you doing this…”

Wendy choked back tears. She couldn’t comprehend it. Why were they trying to kill Tristan? And how could they kill people so easily?

In a way, it was natural that she couldn’t understand. To the players, Wendy and Tristan were just NPCs in a game. Killing them was just entertainment. To Wendy and the people of this world, it was nothing but madness…

“Count? What’s she talking about?”

“This is ridiculous. Hey, let’s just push through. Let’s take these NPCs hostage and wipe out the rest.”

“Damn, genius! I didn’t think of that.”

Ignoring Wendy’s tearful questions, the heroes discussed using the refugees as hostages. The refugees were horrified.

“How… can such people be called heroes…”

“They’re not even human…”

“Shut up and just be our experience points!”

Regardless, the heroes, led by their tanks, tried to break through Wendy’s barrier.

That’s when it happened.

“Wendy! Shoot the wind!”

“Huh?!”

From among the refugees, Wendy’s classmate, Sia Riumin, appeared. Initially flustered and unable to counterattack properly, she quickly regained her composure and drew a formula. Hearing Sia’s shout, Wendy also wiped her tears and strengthened her formula.

Water arrows shot out from Sia’s magic circle. The high-pressure water arrows were more powerful than regular arrows, but when combined with the strong winds from Wendy’s magic, they accelerated to incredible speeds.

“Huh?!”

The arrows disappeared as they passed through the wind. By the time the heroes realized what was happening, they had already turned to dust. The arrows, moving at speeds invisible to the naked eye, killed them before they could even scream.

Only the tanks and those with high-defense equipment survived.

“D-Damn it! Those bastards are for real!”

“Hey, hey! Give up! We don’t have a frontline!”

“Tch…”

“Retreat! Let’s give up here and fall back!”

“Where do you think you’re running to?”

“Ahhh?!”

The fleeing heroes were torn to shreds by Ariel’s pursuing magic. The mages’ counterattack completely shattered the remaining heroes’ will to fight. They had failed in their assault.

Ariel glanced at the damage. Thanks to Wendy, the refugees were unharmed.

“You all did really well. Leave the rest to us…”

“Ahh…”

“…Huh?”

That’s when a sigh came from among the

 

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