Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Open World (3)

Open World (3)

I’m running through the flames.

“Huff, huff.”

Breathing in the acrid smoke.

Thud! Thud!

Sprinting through the debris of collapsed buildings.

Ah, the reason why my footsteps sound like this is simple.

I activated [Gigantification] to increase my Fire Resistance.

‘Just how far have I come?’

Although I tried to figure out my exact location while running, I didn’t know.

After all, I couldn’t even see the royal palace, which always gave me a sense of direction in this city, because of the smoke.

I had no choice but to keep running.

Whoosh!

Anyway, about an hour passed.

During that time, I learned two things.

First…

Whoosh!

…these flames engulfing me from all sides were definitely not from an ordinary fire.

Flames that weren’t just spreading, but exploding at regular intervals?

‘As expected, it must be mag—’

Kwaaang!

I quickly moved my shield towards the direction of the explosion, stopping my thoughts for a moment.

It was a red shield, different in price from the one I borrowed from the knights after hearing about the assassin.

「Lava Shield has absorbed the flames.」

「Character’s Soul Power is recovered proportionally to the amount absorbed.」

No. 4819 Lava Shield.

I brought it because of its passive stat of +30 Fire Resistance, but it was the item I was using the most right now.

‘Ha, I would have been screwed if I just entered without any preparation.’

Life is all about preparing for the unexpected.

I didn’t think I would ever use the ‘Soul Power recovery’ option since it only activated when attacked by skills or magic.

If it weren’t for this, I would have saved [Gigantification].

Then the second thing…

“…….”

…it was quiet everywhere.

Although the sounds of buildings collapsing and flames burning filled my ears…

…I hadn’t encountered a single survivor.

There weren’t even any screams, let alone cries for help.

‘…The good news is that there aren’t that many corpses.’

For reference, most of the corpses I encountered were lying face down, facing away from me.

They had run towards the inner part of the city, trying to escape the fire that started from the outskirts.

And the royal palace was also there.

‘I hope Raven made it there safely…’

I continued running through the flames, hoping that she had avoided this situation.

Because you never know.

According to the guard, the entire southern part of Karnon was engulfed in flames. And Raven’s accommodation was in the very center of the south.

‘It should be about time…’

Thud.

I stopped.

A stone structure was visible through the thick smoke.

Kwaaang!

Although it was in ruins from the constant explosions, I could still recognize it since it was such a large building.

The 3rd Public Transportation Platform of Karnon, the Imperial City.

I quickly scanned the surroundings and then froze.

‘Damn it.’

The address Raven told me was right next to this place.

Of course, I didn’t know the exact location.

But what did it matter?

There wasn’t a single place that was intact.

“…….”

I held my breath and focused on the sounds, but I could only hear the damn fire.

Then what happened to Raven?

Did she escape in time?

“Arrua Raven—!!!”

I shouted with all my might, just in case.

I judged that she might be nearby, hoping for rescue.

But there was no answer, even after several shouts.

Therefore, I was about to resume my journey towards the royal palace…

[…Mr. Yandel?]

…when I heard a voice in my head.

It was the ‘Whisper’ spell that all mages could use.

[What? Why are you here?]

…So she really was nearby.

I would have been screwed if I had just left.

I shouted hurriedly, feeling both relieved and panicked,

“Where are you?!”

[Come a little further along the road on the other side of the platform, you’ll see me.]

I followed Raven’s instructions and arrived at a plaza.

Raven was near the central fountain.

With fifteen survivors.

Swoosh.

I entered the magic barrier that was blocking the flames, and I saw Raven standing proudly, despite her small stature.

“What are you doing here?”

Hmm, can’t she at least greet me?

As expected, reality is different from movies.

In movies, they would run and hug each other in this situation.

“Don’t tell me… you came all the way here because of me? Through those flames?”

What is she talking about?

“I was on a walk.”

I blurted out, feeling embarrassed.

I was truly relieved that she was safe.

_______________________

“By the way, why are you still here? You should have run away as soon as the fire started. Do you even have a brain?”

After reuniting with Raven, I first asked her what happened. Why was she still near our house, not even near the royal palace?

The reason was simple.

“That’s…”

Raven was using the temporary lab she had set up in her accommodation to utilize the knowledge she had newly learned.

So she didn’t hear about the fire in time.

“It’s convenient that the accommodation is near the platform, but it’s also noisy. I usually have noise cancellation activated, so…”

By the time Raven noticed the commotion, the surroundings were already engulfed in flames.

But it wasn’t too late.

She could have escaped if she wanted to.

However…

“They would have all died if I had just left.”

Raven decided to stay the moment she saw a woman collapsed on the street, holding a child.

After all, she was the type to stick to her morals as much as possible, even though she was rational.

She probably thought it would be fine back then.

That the fire would be put out soon.

She wouldn’t have expected it to turn into such a serious situation.

“…I apologize. I never dreamed that you would come all the way here because of me, through those flames.”

Geez, I told you I was on a walk.

“What apology?”

She’s acting like an adult, even though she’s so small.

“You did well.”

“…Yes?”

I looked at the survivors who were looking at me with uneasy gazes and said,

“We have to save those we can save.”

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t just see them as NPCs.

They were people, just like me.

Even if they called people like me ‘evil spirits’.

‘It seems like there are no nobles.’

I looked around and realized that most of them seemed to be ordinary citizens.

It wasn’t strange.

Even though it was Karnon, the Imperial City, 90% of the population was commoners. Those who lived and worked here for the convenience of the nobles.

“Um, but where did you get that equipment?”

Raven expressed her curiosity about my firefighter edition, including the Lava Shield, as soon as things calmed down.

As expected of a mage.

Her curiosity came first, even in this situation.

I briefly explained the origin of the equipment.

And Raven’s gaze changed slightly.

“That’s amazing. I can understand my master, but the others aren’t the type to do that.”

“You know who they are, even though I didn’t tell you?”

“I have a rough idea. The mage society is both wide and narrow, so we all know who’s close to whom.”

Hmm, I see.

But we couldn’t just keep talking about this.

“So how’s the barrier? Can you use it while we’re moving?”

Raven answered seriously as I got to the point, and she also changed her expression.

“I can. Although it will be much weaker.”

“So what do you think? Can we endure?”

“You’re using the ‘Orb of Fire’, right? If I cast ‘Cold Blood’ too, I think we can somehow endure.”

“Is your mana okay?”

“…I’ll have to try and see.”

As expected of a mage, Raven didn’t give a definite answer.

In other words, it meant it was a close call.

But neither of us said we should abandon them and leave.

“Everyone, you heard, right? We’re moving now, so if you have any objections, please speak up.”

Raven then explained the plan again to the survivors, and of course, no one objected.

“Then let’s go.”

We left the flames as soon as Raven finished preparing to change the barrier to a mobile type.

“How are you all doing? Are you okay?”

“I, I can endure, Mage-nim.”

Although the survivors were sweating profusely, it didn’t seem like they were getting burned.

And although they seemed to be having trouble breathing because of the smoke, Raven used wind magic to clear the smoke and replenish oxygen from time to time.

“Don’t fall behind.”

The Orb of Fire’s range was 15 meters.

I started jogging, adjusting our speed so that the survivors wouldn’t fall behind.

Kwaaang!

I blocked the explosions that occurred in front of us, and Raven took care of the back.

“How’s your mana?”

“It’s still fine, don’t worry.”

It was a relatively stable journey, except for the fact that Raven’s mana was constantly being consumed.

After some time…

“The flames are getting weaker.”

“Does that mean we can get out of here soon?”

“If my prediction is correct.”

It was good news after a long time.

Even the survivors, who were reaching their physical limits, started to show their tenacity, filled with hope.

But good news always comes with bad news.

“…There’s mana ahead!”

Raven suddenly shouted.

I hurriedly looked ahead.

And at that moment…

‘Damn it.’

…I saw a giant fireball.

I instinctively raised my shield to block it…

「Absorption limit exceeded.」

「Soul Power is greatly consumed proportionally to the amount absorbed.」

…but I felt my energy draining instead of recovering.

‘Crazy.’

A fire attack that the Lava Shield couldn’t block.

‘Just who the hell…’

I looked up.

The first thing I saw was the debris of the surrounding buildings floating in the air.

Rustle.

The burning stones were gathering and transforming into the shape of a golem.

I heard Raven’s dazed voice from behind.

“Mr. Yandel, this spell…”

“Stop, I already know.”

The 5th-grade summon magic, Flame Giant.

It was a spell I had seen before.

‘…No wonder the fire was so hot.’

I put strength into my hand holding the mace and continued to look ahead.

Thud, thud.

Although I couldn’t hear his footsteps…

…an old man and another man behind him were appearing from beyond the flames.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The old man stopped and spoke.

“You’re lucky.”

Right, there’s no way it would be this easy.

_______________________

The Ruin Scholar, Belvev Ruinjenes.

‘I can’t believe I met him here.’

Although I felt a sense of dread…

…at least I learned one thing.

‘As expected, it was those Noark bastards.’

They were the ones behind this fire.

Well, come to think of it, it was only natural.

Who else would cause this kind of chaos in the city?

“Raven.”

I first gave an order, putting everything else aside.

“Take the people and get out of here. We’re almost there, so you should be able to do it without me, right?”

“But…”

Geez, don’t talk back.

“Listen to me. When did you ever lose by listening to me?”

An answer came after a moment of silence.

Through Whisper, not her voice.

[…I’ll bring them back as soon as possible.]

Raven then used wind magic to clear a path through the flames and disappeared with the survivors.

Unexpectedly, the Ruin Scholar just watched them leave.

I was prepared to stop him if he tried anything…

‘Right, it would be easier for you to deal with me if there’s no mage on my side.’

I could roughly guess his thoughts.

Although I felt a sense of dissonance, I judged that there was no reason for him to let them go so easily otherwise…

“Since when?”

Huh?

“I heard you were at the royal palace. When did you come here?”

What the hell is he talking about?

Before I could even tilt my head in confusion, the answer appeared before my eyes.

“Just now.”

A man in his twenties appeared from the flames, as if he had been there all along.

“Hey, wrong.”

“…Wrong?”

“Who told you to set a fire? Without my permission.”

Lee Baekho frowned, looking at the Ruin Scholar.

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