Countless monsters were rushing from the center of the plains toward the entrance.
They attacked any humans they encountered along the way as they fled, but... strangely, what filled their eyes was not hunger or hostility.
If one had to put a name to the emotion in their eyes... it was "fear."
The monsters were terrified of something, fleeing toward the outer edges of the plains as though being driven.
"How strange... what exactly are they afraid of?"
Murmuring to himself in puzzlement, the young man flicked the blood from the sword in his hand.
Blood sprayed from the blade and wet the grass growing on the ground.
Countless monster corpses lay scattered around the young man, painting a scene straight out of hell.
"Th-that's incredible... all those monsters, and he did it alone...!"
"So this is the genius swordsman... Wilhelm Lubeth?!"
The surrounding students offered up praise filled with awe.
The monsters that were here— Slaughtered.
—it was Wilhelm Lubeth who had done it all. He saved the lives of the students who were being attacked. A first-year in the Knight Department, he was the male student known as the strongest.
Lubeth was not a member of the student council enforcement.
However, he had been added to the rescue team on account of his top grades among the first-year Knight Department students.
Originally, he came from a poor lower noble family. When a suitable reward was offered, he seized the opportunity without a moment's hesitation.
The ones who had been rescued by Lubeth moments ago were four students from a mixed team of the Knight Department and the Magic Department.
They belonged to rival departments, but that had nothing to do with it—they were friends who had simply joined together.
Monsters had been rushing toward them, and they were on the verge of disaster when Lubeth pulled them out of harm's way.
"That swordsmanship... It's even above what the third-years in the Knight Department can do...?"
One student gulped down his nerves.
Lubeth's swordsmanship after defeating the monster had surpassed the level of any student—even when compared to a professional knight, it was second to none.
The fact that he was a first-year meant there was no other word for it: he was a genius.
"...Could it be that this monster fled here? Driven out from deep within the plains by someone..."
Ignoring the students he had rescued, Lubeth mumbled to himself under his breath.
As though the people he had saved were of no consequence whatsoever.
"This is...!"
"What a fine catch...!"
The male students who had witnessed Lubeth's swordsmanship trembled with awe, while the female students' eyes sparkled with excitement.
Lubeth was said to be from a lower noble family, but judging by this display of power, he was clearly not someone who would remain ordinary.
After graduation, he would surely join the knight order and set foot on the path to advancement.
(Being saved by him here is a wonderful opportunity...!)
(If I play my cards right, I could one day become the wife of a high-ranking noble...!)
His potential was extraordinary, and there was no word of him having a fiancée either.
His appearance was rather plain. His unkempt hair hung in rough tangles, tied back sloppily with a string, and long bangs covered his eyes.
He looked as though he had no interest in fashion at all, but anyone with a discerning eye would recognize that Lubeth's facial features were actually quite well-proportioned.
The two female students—both daughters of lower nobility—exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
A silent communication between friends. A signal that whichever one succeeded, the other would have no complaints.
"Eek! That was terrifying!"
"Lord Lubeth, thank you so much for saving us!"
"H-hieeeh!"
The two female students clung to Lubeth from either side.
Lubeth had been muttering away to himself while lost in thought, and he jumped in surprise.
"D-don't touch me, don't come near me, don't get close! Don't press that flab on your chest against me!"
"Huh...?"
"F-flab...?"
"I-I saved you, so get lost already! The entrance to the plains is over there! Forget about me and hurry up and evacuate!"
".........."
Lubeth retreated from the two female students while shouting like a wary beast.
Only then did the two girls realize that Lubeth possessed an extraordinary level of misanthropy toward women.
"Ah... sorry about that. Glad you're safe."
"Then we'll go on ahead to evacuate. Thanks."
The male students who had been with them collected the two girls and headed off toward the entrance to the plains.
With the women gone, Lubeth let out a sigh of relief.
"Hah, hah... honestly, women are just—"
More important than that—Lubeth restarted his train of thought.
This sudden monster stampede. He deduced that the cause was someone stimulating the ruler of the plains.
*(The ruler of the demon realm... Sabnock. By provoking it, it was set into motion. The monsters fled from it and, as a result, ended up charging in over here.)* Lubeth made that deduction and turned his gaze toward the depths of the plains.
"Hm...?"
That was when Lubeth noticed something.
Someone was running at an unbelievable speed.
It was so fast that only Lubeth's dynamic visual acuity could have caught it.
"No way... Are they trying to challenge it? The ruler of the demon realm... the great magic beast that no one has been able to subjugate since the founding of the nation..."
Reckless. Foolish. Brute courage.
"But... how interesting."
Lubeth grinned savagely.
Born as a prodigy of the sword, Lubeth's heart surged with excitement. Even one hailed as a genius could not suppress this thrill.
"Then let's go...!"
Lubeth bolted forward.
He sprinted across the plains at a speed rivaling the enhancement granted by Super Acceleration, chasing after the silhouette of the one who had gone on ahead.