Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Humanity Perishes Like Dogs
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"Step aside. Unless you want a hole blown in your head."
A deliberately dry voice, like he was acting the part. Han U-sol shot a quick glance at the other heroes. They were all in the same boat as him—pinned down with gun barrels pressed right to their faces.
Not that it mattered much. They were just mass-produced revolvers he'd conjured with his ability. No bullet would pierce his barrier. Even caught off guard like this, shaking them off wouldn't be hard.
But the other heroes were the problem. No matter how capable Han U-sol was, shielding a bunch of defenseless heroes one by one would be tough.
It might've been different if they'd been clustered together, but they were strung out in a straight line—that was the issue.
"Move it, already. No time for thinking. You gonna wait for one of these hero heads to pop before you listen?"
Ronel prodded them, guns trained steady.
Han U-sol toyed with the idea of calling her bluff for a second, but one look at the other heroes' situations and he scrapped any thought of resisting.
Following her chin flick, Han U-sol stepped aside.
"Good boy. Thanks for playing nice."
"...Ronel. What the hell is this?"
"You don't need to know. Just follow my lead."
Ronel shot back at Han U-sol's question with a sneer. In that instant, a wave of betrayal crashed through his mind.
Han U-sol had known Ronel for over a year now. Sure, her position as a Hero Association dispatch kept things from getting too chummy, but he'd always figured she was decent on a human level.
From what he'd seen up close, Ronel stood out from the Association's usual crowd. She had a solid sense of duty as a hero and at least a flicker of justice in her.
She was Association, and maybe a bit lazy—that was her one flaw—but all in all, Han U-sol had pegged her as another 'hero' fighting for humanity.
And now this: suddenly shoving a gun in a comrade's face and stabbing them in the back.
He hadn't leaned on her or anything, but he'd trusted her. And trust cut deep when betrayed like this.
"Alright, now turn around and head straight. Clear the checkpoint, then welcome our guests in the central plaza."
"...Ronel. What are you even thinking? You staging a coup with these private goons?"
"Pfft. As if."
Ronel snorted at Han U-sol's words.
"We're just giving them a warm welcome as new citizens."
"......"
Han U-sol and the heroes followed Ronel's orders, emptying the checkpoint and marching toward the central plaza. Far behind them, the refugees halted, staring in confusion.
Ignoring them, Han U-sol pressed on to the center, Ronel's gun still trained on his back.
"Hold up. Let's chat about something just between us."
After a stretch of silent walking, Ronel spoke up.
"Senior, don't you think 'I had no choice' is a pretty pathetic excuse?"
"......"
Han U-sol met her question with silence.
'I had no choice.' He'd heard it somewhere before.
Yeriel had said it recounting her past, and so had Han, that villain from the demon side. Hell, it might even apply to Han U-sol himself.
"There's no such thing as a result without choices in this world. You make choices to get results, and you take risks for rewards. No choice? Choices aren't equal, but they're always there, branching every which way. They just didn't like any of their options."
Ronel's voice layered over the silence. She kept condemning them.
It felt aimed at Yeriel, at Han, maybe even at Han U-sol himself.
"So all that 'I had no choice' or 'It couldn't be helped' crap? Total bullshit. They just didn't want the risk, feared staking anything, or passed because it wasn't their preferred path. It's a sleazy cover for past screw-ups and bad calls. Get what I'm saying?"
"...You're talking about me?"
"Hm? Nah. Doesn't apply to you, senior."
He sensed her tilting her head behind him. Ronel jabbed his back with the revolver barrel. "What, hit a nerve?"
"It's about Yeriel."
Her voice dropped to a mutter.
"Lady Yeriel didn't have no choice. She just picked the wrong one."
Ronel said Yeriel knew what to choose but went wrong anyway.
"Out of some cheap pity, she didn't torture that otherworlder Anis into submission right away. Wouldn't force duty on you out of 'consideration' for her precious senior. Then sat back hoping it'd all work out her way."
She could've broken Anis with torture, turned her into a puppet—but pity stopped her.
Could've dumped Han U-sol's origin truth and obligations on him the moment she found him—but consideration held her back. By the time he learned, it was too late.
"No, that's not how it works. Not at all. You can't chase a happy ending without giving up something or shouldering risk. Got it?"
"......"
Han U-sol fixed his gaze ahead. The tall buildings in the distance sharpened into view, drawing closer.
"Lady Yeriel was wrong. She didn't choose right. If she had, I wouldn't be holding a gun to your head right now."
"...So what's your point?"
"Just that."
The private soldiers halted. The heroes stopped with them.
The central entrance loomed ahead. Past it lay Zone A.
"I made my choice too. Not sure if it's right, but it's my best shot. Risk comes with reward."
Ronel halted Han U-sol there too as she spoke.
"So let's see how it plays out."
Ronel glanced at her wrist.
-Tick.
The watch hands moved,
and as they hit twelve—
——Wheeeeeeeeennnn!
An alarm blared from beyond the entrance, deep in Zone A. Magic beasts inbound.
"Wh-what the...! Ronel!! What have you—?!"
"Hey now."
Thwack!
Ronel swept Han U-sol's legs. He lost balance and face-planted awkwardly into the dirt.
"Ugh..."
"Stay put. Forgot what I said?"
Ronel straddled him, jamming the gun barrel in his face.
"I said it'd all work out."
Zone A, Hero Association building front.
Camilla set foot there.
'Hmm, let's see.'
She scanned the building's perimeter. Plenty of private soldiers on guard. Probably from the other execs.
But it wasn't just them. Heroes dotted the lineup too.
Makes sense for an event where the mayor meets the Association head—security's airtight.
Though keeping out non-invited civilians while they chit-chat hardly screamed 'event.'
'One, two, three...'
Camilla tallied the guards. Not few, but not overwhelming either.
She strode toward the Association building. Guards' eyes locked on the approaching Camilla.
One stepped forward to block her.
"Halt. Civilians not allowed."
"Hmm... But I'm not a civilian? You don't know who I am?"
The guard's face stiffened at her bold attitude. He braced for trouble.
"You really have no clue? Even an Association exec's wife deserves recognition, right?"
"Whose wife might that be...?"
"Colton Kale's."
Sure enough, the guard's face twisted in distress. Camilla smirked inwardly, savoring it.
"...Far as I know, Colton is single."
"Oh, come on. What do you know, punk? Maybe I'm his secret wife, or we're tying the knot tomorrow, or just casual one-nighters. How would you know~?"
Camilla poked his chest with her finger. Irritation flooded his face.
"Sorry, but only pre-approved personnel allowed. Even if you're Colton's wife—which I doubt—no entry. Please leave."
"Oh, you little shit. What unit are you? Whose lackey?"
"...Under Moenie's command."
"Ah, that pig bastard?"
Camilla cackled. The guard swallowed rising anger, forcing a blank expression.
"I've had drinks with your boss, yeah? Coffee too, deep talks, the works. Gimme his line or something?"
"Haa..."
The guard sighed at her nonstop antics.
"Enough. I know you're full of it. Keep this up, and I'll use force."
He issued the warning. He pegged her for a prankster messing with him.
"Whoops. Sorry. Wasn't trying to push it."
Camilla backpedaled quick at the threat, hands up—but her grin stayed. The guard eyed her incredulously.
"Sorry. Just messing around. Truth is, I'm a messenger here with word from Colton."
"...Word?"
"Yep. A message. Lemme check—the note with it..."
Camilla rummaged in her inner pocket. The guard watched warily.
Maybe she really was delivering something. Outside was a bit chaotic with the refugees—could be about that.
"Found it. Here ya go. Listen up."
Camilla finally pulled something from her pocket.
"Humanity, perish like dogs!"
Bang—!
The guard's head exploded.
"What the—?!"
"That bitch! Take her down!"
Brains sprayed as panicked guards swarmed Camilla in formation. At the same time, shadows crept over their heads.
Sensing wrongness, they looked skyward.
"Th-that's..."
"God no."
The guards gawked upward in panic. Camilla giggled at them.
"Alright, boys. Let's have some fun?"
Right atop the Association building,
—Krrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
—Kaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
—Yahooo!!!!!
Magic beasts plummeted from the sky.