The fake Bigkrum's body continued to swell, growing larger and larger as it loomed over the forest.
Slowly, it lowered its massive head and locked its gaze onto Simon.
A chill ran down Simon's spine.
"It's the Legion…! The Legion hurts! I hate being hurt!"
VROOOOAAARRR!!!
The giant slammed its fist into the ground.
A deafening impact followed, sending shockwaves through the earth as the surrounding cliffside crumbled and collapsed.
Simon didn't hesitate.
He immediately dashed into the forest, forcing himself out of the fake Bigkrum's line of sight.
"But why is it attacking me?!" he shouted.
[How would I know?!] Pier snapped back.
The fake Bigkrum lifted its head and looked around, searching.
"…Where?"
For a brief moment, the forest fell into an uneasy stillness.
Then—
The giant began smashing the ground repeatedly with its massive fists, each strike shaking the surrounding area.
"Kyaaa!"
"W-what is that?!"
Screams erupted from every direction.
Students scattered in panic as the towering monster turned toward the noise.
Slowly, it raised its enormous leg—
And brought it crashing down.
BOOOOM!!!
Just as Serene was about to ask a counter-question—
Fwoooosh!!!
Streaks of light tore through the sky.
One shone pure white.
Another burned in deep crimson.
They cut across the air at high speed before descending rapidly toward the battlefield.
Moments later, the lights crashed down near Simon.
It was Knox and Lorain.
"Everyone!" Simon called out.
"Yo, Simon!" Knox greeted casually.
"Are you okay, Simon?" Lorain asked, her voice filled with concern.
Knox raised his right hand without hesitation.
"Funnels."
Six glowing lights instantly appeared above him, hovering in a loose formation around his body.
In the next moment, they shot forward.
Beams of condensed mana burst out from each of them, streaking across the battlefield and striking the fake Bigkrum.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The impact explosions echoed one after another, forcing the massive creature to stagger slightly.
Simon's face lit up at the sight of the reinforcements.
But—
Serene's eyes immediately narrowed.
Her gaze locked onto Knox, then onto Lorain.
"Why are you two here together?" she asked coldly.
Knox tilted his head slightly.
"Hm? Did you forget our contract?" he replied casually. "I told you I'd go catch that monster if it showed up."
"I see…" Simon muttered, nodding instinctively.
Then—
He froze.
His movement became stiff, almost mechanical, like a broken puppet.
"…Wait."
Slowly, he turned toward Knox.
"…Knox, what did you just say you came here for?"
Knox blinked once.
"Yes? Oh, I said I want to catch that monster."
He calmly raised his hand and pointed straight at the fake Bigkrum.
"…What?!"
Simon nearly shouted, completely thrown off by Knox's absurdly nonchalant answer.
Simon, after shouting in shock, quickly pulled himself together and stepped forward, placing himself in front of Knox.
"Knox! That monster isn't something ordinary! That thing is—"
"An Ancient Undead, right?" Knox cut in casually. "Well, to be precise, it's a clone of one."
"What? A clone of an Ancient Undead?"
At Knox's words, Lorain narrowed her eyes and looked toward the towering figure in the distance.
Knox raised his hand slightly and pointed at the fake Bigkrum.
"That thing is a replica of Bigkrum, the Ancient Undead of the 7th Legion."
"…The 7th Legion…"
Hearing that, Simon broke into a cold sweat.
A trace of unease crept into his expression at the thought that his connection to it might be exposed.
"Serene, can you put up a barrier for us first?" Simon asked.
"If it really is an Ancient Undead, even a clone, things will get troublesome if it catches the Observer's attention."
Serene tilted her head slightly.
"It's not difficult… but I don't see any reason why I should go out of my way to do that for you."
She answered indifferently.
Before Simon could respond, Lorain spoke up from the side.
"You're not seriously planning to catch that thing, are you?"
Her gaze shifted toward Knox, filled with disbelief.
"The teaching assistants will handle it eventually if we just leave it alone."
"Well, it's not like I particularly want to catch that thing," Knox said lightly. "I just need a… 'special sandbag' for training."
There's no way I can say I just want to watch two giants fight each other, right?
Meanwhile, Simon was panicking.
Right now, Pier's voice was echoing loudly inside his head, practically shouting at him.
[You cannot let that thing fall into someone else's hands! Even if it is a fake, it still holds value as evidence and a source of information!]
"Wait, Knox…!" Simon suddenly spoke up. "Can you let me handle that giant?"
Serene blinked once.
At first, she thought Simon had completely lost his mind.
But then—
She recalled his other identity.
The Commander of the 7th Legion.
Her expression shifted slightly, and she chose to remain silent.
Lorain, however, immediately reacted.
"Huh? Simon? What are you talking about?" she said sharply. "Forget Knox, do you really think you can handle that monster?"
Knox didn't answer.
He simply looked at Simon.
His gaze lingered on Simon's eyes for a moment, before slowly dropping to the skull badge on his uniform.
[!!!]
Pier felt that gaze.
A chill ran through him.
Before anyone could say another word—
Knox moved.
"Come out, Mem!"
A soft pink light bloomed into existence.
From within it—
A small pink rabbit appeared.
Ahem.
Mem hopped out.
"Mimi!"
Seeing the tiny creature, Serene's brows furrowed.
"Wait, Knox… why are you summoning Mem?" she said, clearly confused. "Don't tell me you're planning to use that little pink bunny to fight that giant?"
Knox and Mem both turned their heads at the same time.
Their gazes landed on Serene.
For some reason—
The way they looked at her felt exactly like someone staring at a certain small-brained, floating emergency food.
"…Of course," Knox said calmly.
"Mem," Mem agreed.
Putting aside Lorain, who had practically turned to stone the moment she heard Mem would be fighting Bigkrum—
Simon stood there, completely dazed.
Even Pier felt his bones go cold.
But Knox paid them no mind.
"Mem, showtime!"
"Mimi! Memi mimi!"
In the next instant, a soft pink light began to gather around Mem.
The glow rapidly intensified, expanding around her body until it swallowed her entire figure from view. It continued to grow larger and larger, soon becoming a massive sphere of pink light that towered over the surrounding trees.
Simon, Lorain, and Serene slowly lifted their heads, their gazes following the expanding glow as it climbed higher and higher above the forest.
The light continued to grow until it dominated their entire field of vision.
Until—
The light suddenly vanished.
Standing in its place—
Was Mem.
Only now, she was gigantic.
Towering over the forest like a living mountain.
Its form had grown into that of a colossal pink creature, radiating an overwhelming presence that rivaled the fake Bigkrum itself.
And her posture—
One arm raised straight toward the sky.
The other bent at its side.
Its posture steady and composed, like a hero descending onto the battlefield.
For a moment, the entire forest fell silent.