"Why is this happening…?" they wondered.
At the edge of the forest, such creatures were never supposed to exist. Even the teachers were visibly confused. Something was terribly wrong.
Miss Aisel stepped forward, her expression firm.
"We need to investigate the forest. We must find out how that monster appeared."
The principal narrowed his eyes.
"You mean… the gate has begun to weaken?"
"…It's possible," she replied. "And the investigation must begin today."
After a moment of silence, the principal nodded.
"Very well. I'll send explorers immediately."
A team was dispatched, led by Raymond River.
As Raymond entered the forest, he had barely ventured a short distance into the first zone when his eyes widened in shock.
Monsters.
Not just any monsters—but large, powerful ones.
Far too powerful.
Note, dear reader:
The forest is divided into four parts:
The First Zone: Home to small, weak monsters—suitable for beginners.
The Second Zone: Larger, stronger monsters—entered by advanced students.
The Third Zone: Extremely powerful creatures, said to be created by the Devil himself—only the strongest mages dare enter.
The Fourth Zone: Forbidden. No one is allowed inside… for it is where the Devil resides, along with the most powerful monster in the world.
Raymond frowned deeply.
"These monsters… they belong to the second zone…"
Without wasting time, he returned and reported everything to the principal.
The principal was left speechless.
"What… should I do?"
Raymond requested permission to leave, and after he did, the principal remained alone, lost in thought.
Then… a memory surfaced.
Thirty years ago.
Back then, there was a man named Wilson, a forty-year-old mage of immense power. The principal—Daniel—had only been twenty at the time.
The academy had chosen him to accompany Wilson on a dangerous mission:
To seal the gates within the forest, after the Devil began creating powerful monsters to slaughter humans.
Together with several elite mages, they entered the forest.
The moment Daniel stepped inside, fear gripped his heart.
The sheer number of monsters… the overwhelming curses…
He could feel it clearly.
The Devil was powerful.
Terrifyingly powerful.
Sensing his fear, Wilson smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. We have strong mages with us."
Then he glanced at him.
"But you… why are you here? You're still young."
Daniel straightened slightly.
"The academy sent me. I'm the strongest among the students."
Wilson chuckled and nodded.
"…My son wanted to come too."
Daniel blinked.
"You have a son? How old is he?"
"Sixteen," Wilson said with a soft smile. "He's brave… and loves adventure."
As they advanced, powerful monsters appeared.
They were slain one after another.
Then, Wilson and the mages gathered, forming the first barrier… then the second…
After pushing deeper, they created the third barrier.
But as they approached the final one—
Wilson suddenly turned to Daniel.
"You need to leave."
"…What?"
"You're too young," Wilson said firmly. "It would be a waste for you to die here."
Before Daniel could respond—
A presence descended.
Dark… overwhelming… suffocating.
The Devil had appeared.
"Well, well…" a voice echoed.
"Wilson. I've heard you're the strongest mage."
A twisted smile formed.
"But no matter how strong you are… you're still just a weak human."
Wilson's gaze sharpened.
"…Valerius."
He stepped forward.
"I'll show you what 'weak humans' can do."
The battle began.
Valerius attacked.
Wilson clashed against him.
"Go!" Wilson shouted at Daniel.
But Daniel… couldn't move.
Frozen in fear, he hid as the mages joined the fight.
Even together—
The Devil was stronger.
Far stronger.
"Seal him!" someone shouted.
They formed a magic cage, trapping Valerius temporarily while they rushed to complete the final barrier.
Cracks began to form.
The Devil was breaking free.
"Hurry!!"
The barrier was almost complete—
Almost—
Then—
CRACK!
The cage shattered.
Valerius lunged forward—
And drove his claws deep into Wilson's abdomen.
Blood spilled.
But at that exact moment—
The barrier was completed.
The Devil roared in fury, unable to escape the fourth zone.
The mages quickly pulled Wilson away.
Valerius screamed, enraged, his voice echoing through the forest—
He had been so close… to killing them all.
Daniel fell to his knees.
"Wilson…!"
Tears streamed down his face.
Wilson, barely alive, looked at him.
"…Tell Alfred…"
His voice weakened.
"…to train harder… to become stronger…"
"…The Devil… is far too powerful…"
A healing mage tried desperately to save him—
But it was useless.
The wound…
Was cursed.
Valerius had placed a curse within it.
No healing magic could work.
And so…
Wilson died.