A C-Rank Magic Student Who Deludes Himself into Thinking He Is SSS-Rank - Chapter 27: The Will of a Hero

In the dining hall of Crawford Magic Academy…

The place was bustling with students at noon, but it had drastically changed. The walls, floor, and ceiling were scarred with horrific destruction, and the neatly arranged tables and chairs were scattered like debris after a massive storm.

Ted Evans, a second-year student in Class A at Crawford Magic Academy, was on the brink of being incinerated by Schwaldius, the Black Dragon of Demise, who had wreaked this terrible havoc in the cafeteria.

However, he was saved at the last moment by the person he despised the most in the academy, Alphonse Freed.

“Why… Why would you save me?!”

“Alphonse…!”

Ted, shaken and angered by the unexpected arrival, raised his voice.

But Alphonse, without answering, staggered toward Ted with unsteady steps and crouched beside him.

“…Haah… Haah… Healing recovery…”

“…”

Ted was at a loss for words, not getting a response to his question as Alphonse, battered and barely breathing, began to cast healing magic.

The dragon in the background, covered in Alphonse’s spiraling flames, remained still.

Gradually, Ted’s bruises and bone injuries began to heal under Alphonse’s magic, and he felt the pain ebbing away.

But at the same time, Alphonse’s exhaustion increased, his breathing grew more ragged, and his sweating intensified, the quality of his healing magic slowly deteriorating.

“Enough! Stop it!”

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Ted raised his voice again.

“Forget about me; just go by yourself!”

In response, Alphonse weakly shook his head.

“No… I can’t abandon you… I must save you…”

“Why…? Why would you go this far for me? I don’t owe you anything!”

Ted grimaced and clenched his teeth as he spoke, and Alphonse replied.

“You have dreams, don’t you?”

“What…?”

Ted looked confused at Alphonse’s unexpected answer.

“You must have a future you want to live for, dreams you want to fulfill. That’s why I’m saving you.”

“That’s none of your business!”

“My dream is…”

“!”

Ted was about to retort when Alphonse interrupted him.

“My dream… is to become strong… to fight for someone, to protect everyone’s future…”

“And that’s why,” Alphonse continued.

“I will definitely save you.”

“…”

Ted was momentarily lost for words at the forceful statement from Alphonse, who looked utterly exhausted.

“You… Why would you go that far…”

“Even if I’m a pathetic descendant, even if others scorn me… still, being a descendant of the hero who saved the world, who protected everyone’s future… the name ‘Freed’…”

Alphonse continued with a faint, proud smile on his face.

“…is my only pride.”

“…Alphonse…”

Ted tried to say something to Alphonse, but before he could, Alphonse said, “Okay,” and started speaking.

“You can move now with this… Come on, stand up…”

“Alphonse!”

Just as Alphonse reached out to Ted, Ted’s eyes widened. He looked behind Alphonse and shouted.

Reacting to this, Alphonse instantly turned around and saw the dragon, previously enveloped in flames, revealing itself and launching a fireball at them.

“Enchantment Magic!”

Alphonse quickly infused his imitation sword with magical power and bisected the approaching fireball. The split fireball landed behind them, exploding loudly.

“I thought to ruin your desperate healing, but it seems I’ve failed,” the dragon remarked.

“Stand up!”

“Y-Yes!”

While keeping his sword pointed at the dragon, Alphonse turned to Ted, his face pale, urging him to move. Still feeling dull pain throughout his body despite his wounds being healed, Ted stood up and started running towards the hole in the dining hall wall created by the dragon.

“Wait!”

However, noticing that Alphonse wasn’t following, Ted looked back to see him still facing the dragon.

“Alphonse, what are you doing? Come on!”

“I can’t go with you…”

“What are you saying?!”

Alphonse glanced briefly behind.

“A student is lying injured near the exit… Probably with a hurt leg.”

Ted followed Alphonse’s gaze to the exit and saw the only student left in the dining hall.

“The Black Dragon of Demise won’t just let the three of us escape… I’ll hold it off while you take him and flee.”

“What about you?”

“Once you’ve escaped, I’ll find an opportunity to retreat.”

“You want to die? Just come quickly…”

“If we stay!”

Alphonse raised his voice as Ted tried to persuade him.

“If we stay, all three of us will die!”

Ted had no rebuttal to Alphonse’s words.

The dragon, now smirking mischievously, was merely watching them, but there was no telling when it might attack again.

The chances of escaping the dragon with an injured person were almost impossible.

Even if Ted helped Alphonse, he’d just be a hindrance.

In this situation, Alphonse would stay behind.

The safest option for all to survive was for Ted and the injured student to leave as quickly as possible, with Alphonse finding a chance to escape the dragon alone.

Realizing this, Ted made his decision.

Gripping his fists so tightly that blood seeped out, he slightly lowered his head. Then, raising his face, Ted said to Alphonse, “…I understand.”

“I’m sorry, Alphonse. I’m going to leave you here and flee.”

“…Thank you. I entrust him to you.”

Alphonse relaxed his tense expression in gratitude for Ted’s decision, then turned back to face the dragon.

With blurry eyes, Ted watched Alphonse for a moment before turning towards the exit and running to the injured student.

“I won’t let you escape.”

“Try and stop me!”

As Ted ran, the dragon launched fireballs at him, which Alphonse slashed apart.

“How amusing. Let that fake man struggle.”

With a twisted smile, the dragon continued to shoot fireballs at Ted.

His consciousness blurring from his injuries and fatigue, Alphonse focused solely on slicing through the fireballs.

The power of the enchantment on his imitation sword weakened, and his precision in cutting through the fireballs gradually decreased. Some fireballs began to hit Alphonse, but he continued swinging his sword relentlessly.

Amidst this…

“Alphonse!”

Ted’s voice echoed from afar.

“I have so much I want to say to you!”

“And that’s why…”

“…Don’t you dare die!”

To which Alphonse responded in his heart,

“…Yes!”

He gripped his sword even tighter.