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Screams filled the air as the students fled from the training grounds.

Well duh! Run, everyone, run!
This is way too scary—back in my previous life, I got nervous just running into an unleashed golden retriever. But this thing? A grizzly-sized, carnivorous monster glaring at me like it’s ready to kill—That’s a billion times scarier! It’s the embodiment of terror itself!

One of the fleeing girls tripped and fell. In her panic, she tried to crawl away.
The magic beast leaned forward toward her, baring its three rows of sharp fangs in what looked like a cruel grin.

Then, with a loud *thud!*, a wall of earth surged up from the ground between the beast and the girl.

*Grrr…* The monster growled irritably and smashed the wall to pieces with a swing of its head. But by then, the girl had scrambled to her feet and escaped the training grounds.

The magic beast turned its head and glared—at me. I could see the dull, simmering anger in its black eyes.
So it can tell… it knows whose magic made that wall.

Yes, I didn’t run. If everyone fled, this thing would chase them all the way to the schoolyard and into the buildings.

Honestly, I’m scared out of my skin! My legs are trembling like jelly, I’m about to cry from fear!
This is nothing like watching it on a smartphone screen—this time, I’m in the same world, with nothing between me and a massive predator radiating killing intent. Facing a carnivore with no cage, no moat, just open ground… I’ve never experienced anything like this, not even once in my previous life!!

But I *knew* this would happen. I *prepared* for it!

My classmates are mostly fifteen years old—just kids! But I’m an adult, a woman in her thirties.
If I don’t protect them, who will!?
So I’m *not* running away!!

My private tutor Professor Mardov had written this advice in his letter:

*“My lady, if you ever encounter the magic beast you inquired about, the recommended response for earth-attribute mages is to create the largest golem possible to intimidate it. Depending on the beast’s temperament, it may avoid creatures larger than itself and retreat.”*

I doubt this one’s going to retreat…
But I’ll do it anyway!

I channel my magic into the ground. The earth answers my call. Like a spring bubbling up from the depths, the soil rises and shapes itself into a humanoid torso—about the size of a three-story house.
It forms a fist and raises it.

From beyond the golem, a thunderous roar erupts.

The magic beast leaps—smashing the golem’s fist—and lands atop its head, roaring again.
Its eyes pierce straight through to me.

I glare back.
Full of tears, yes! But still!

I make the golem collapse all at once. The mass of earth crashes down on top of the beast.
But the monster shrugs it off with a single violent shake, scattering the dirt and stepping forward on its massive foreleg.

Is it coming?
Ahhh it’s so close—so scary!
But I’ll face it head-on!

The magic beast kicks off the ground—
And at that instant—

*Shiiing!* A sharp surge of magical power filled the air.

Before the beast, a shimmering shield appeared. The dark gray body, nearly three meters long and weighing perhaps three or four hundred kilos, slammed into the shield and was thrown back, rolling across the ground.

The shield fell to the earth, a wave of cold air spilling out from it—it was made of ice.
A tall figure with pale blue hair appeared at the entrance to the training grounds.

“Ekaterina!”

Onii-sama!
Waaah, he came for me!

.

Sensing a new opponent, the magic beast turned toward Aleksei.

His neon-blue eyes glowed with fierce light as he stared the creature down—without a trace of fear. Within him swelled an overwhelming surge of magic power.

Aleksei swung his right hand.

*BOOM!*

An icy spear burst from within the monster’s body.
He hadn’t thrown the spear; he had generated freezing energy *inside* the creature itself, forming the ice from within. He had perfectly controlled his magic to tear the beast apart from the inside out.

Amazing!
My brother’s so strong! So cool!!

Even the magic beast staggered under the blow.
But with another roar and a shudder of its massive body, the ice spear shattered. Dark bluish blood sprayed out—then stopped flowing.

I recalled Professor Mardov’s advice again:

*“Magic beasts differ completely from normal creatures. They will not die unless their magic core is destroyed. The core is usually located in the heart, though not always—some have been found in their feet or tails. If striking the heart fails to destroy the core, you should abandon direct destruction and instead find a way to immobilize the beast. Furthermore, earth-attribute mages often find destroying the core difficult, so it is advisable to trap the creature underground to restrain it.”*

Aleksei’s strike must have destroyed the heart—but the core wasn’t there. Then the only option is to seal it underground. But can I trap something this fast? Guess I’ll have to try!

Then—the fountain in the training grounds shot up in a towering column of water.

A torrent of water poured down onto the magic beast’s head—
And froze solid under Aleksei’s magic.

Water—of course! A water-attribute mage!

I turned toward the entrance of the training grounds. Beside Aleksei stood another figure with the same summer-sky-colored hair.

Prince Mikhail—his face deadly serious for the first time I’d ever seen—radiating magic power no less than Aleksei’s own.

Two noble and royal ultra-handsome men standing side by side in battle! ULTRA MOE!!!
If only there weren’t a three-meter-long monster thrashing between them, trying to smash the ice covering its head, that is!
No matter how gorgeous they are, I can’t take my eyes off the beast—it’s too terrifying! The ground is shaking like crazy!

But Mikhail isn’t just supplying water—each time the beast shatters the ice that binds it, he slams water at it like a spear, staggering the massive body and sealing it again in ice. His magic control is brilliant.
Both Aleksei and Mikhail clearly know how to handle magic beasts. They might even have fought them before.

Even though both of them are among the highest-ranking nobles in the Empire, they’ve got so much real combat experience! That’s incredible!

Before I knew it, the ground around the beast had turned into a swampy mess.
Alright then—

Mud mixed with other elements is harder to control than pure earth, but I push my magic to the limit. The muck slithers up the monster’s body, and the frost binds it in place. Frozen earth is said to be as hard as concrete—it should be even better than ice at restraining movement.
Then, from under the beast’s feet, I pull the soil away. The ground gives way beneath it like a trapdoor, and the monster sinks down. Before it can shake off the dirt, I heap more frozen earth on top, layer after layer, until even its struggles are completely stilled.

Before I realize it, I’m gasping for breath. Ugh, I’m exhausted!
But… I can do this. Just a little more—

At last, the beast’s entire body is buried and sealed in frozen earth.
It’s not moving anymore. It can’t move.

W-we did it.
…Right?

At that moment—

*Crack!* A sharp sound split the air.

*GROOOAAAHHH!!*

A furious roar thundered out as the monster reared up on its hind legs, shards of frozen earth breaking away from its body.
The dark-gray giant leapt—straight toward Aleksei and Mikhail.

Nooo, stop—!!

I instinctively released my magic, raising a wall of earth in front of the two of them.

But—as if it had read my move, the magic beast *landed* on the wall,

Kicked off it—soaring even higher into the air,

And from that height, it bared its fangs and fixed its aim—

—at me.

(…What?)

My mind went blank.

.

* “Earth magic cannot capture flying-type magic beasts. In that case, please run or hide.”*

It’s not exactly flying, but…
Professor, I can’t do either of those…

My panic breaks my control over my magic, and the wall I’d raised in front of Aleksei and the prince crumbles.

Idiot.

I’m the villainess—
not the heroine—
How could I ever stand a chance?

I treated this like a game,
as if I couldn’t die here.
I was wrong.

Forgive me, Onii-sama—!

.

My thoughts flash in fragments. I can’t look away from those three rows of white fangs descending toward me—

.

Then suddenly, soft pink filled my vision.

“NO!!”

A taut, ringing voice struck my ears.
From that pink light, a pure white radiance burst forth.

Flora stood before me, arms spread wide, shielding me from the monster.
The beast thrashed in midair, wrapped in that gentle white light, as though in pain. No matter how violently it struggled, the light did not waver.

The same monster that hadn’t even flinched when impaled from within now moved weakly. The fury in its black eyes faded—replaced by something clear, almost serene.

It stopped moving. And with those calm eyes, it looked at Flora.

Then, as the white light gently dissolved, the beast vanished along with it.