Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Emergency Alert
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Drip, drop.
The sound of water falling from the ceiling made Han open his eyes.
The wallpaper, soaked and musty from seeping water, and the rickety wooden ceiling riddled with bug holes.
No light came in. It was dark.
Even though it was nearly dawn.
Too dark.
He wanted to turn on the fluorescent light dangling crookedly from the ceiling, but unfortunately, there was no electricity.
A dim room that embodied the word "rock bottom," flowing along the very bottom of society's currents.
For the past three years,
Han's life had been stuck here.
-Drip, drop.
The sound of water.
It seemed a brief rain had fallen sometime before dawn.
It was leaking again.
"...Damn it."
With a curse, Han rose from the rickety bed in the corner.
After a light stretch, his entire body screamed with muscle pain like it was tearing apart, making him grimace.
How long had it been since he'd felt soreness like this?
About ten years ago, back when he was rolling around in the Association.
"........."
Han stared blankly at the wall.
Yesterday, Anis had beaten him to a pulp, like dust, like a dog.
It was the first time in his life he'd been thrashed all day until his whole body ached.
Anis really held grudges.
Her so-called sparring was just one-sided beating with no end in sight.
One hit wasn't enough to vent, so another.
Two hits weren't satisfying, wanted to enjoy it more, so three.
Three felt insufficient, so four more.
Petty but unnecessarily sentimental, like some karaoke extension service, she was ridiculously generous.
Teasing her a little, and she beats him senseless.
How was he supposed to salvage his dignity in front of his subordinates?
At least he hadn't screamed embarrassingly while getting pummeled. That was a small mercy.
-Bang bang!
As he rolled his shoulders to loosen the sore muscles, someone knocked on the door.
He opened it, and Betty shoved her face in, yelling.
"Emergency! Wee-oo-wee-oo! Wee-oo-wee-ooo!"
"......What is it?"
Han frowned at Betty's over-the-top fussing.
"Heroes are heading here!"
"...What?"
"What do we do! This is insane! They said it would take time to barge in because they have stuff to handle over there! But that's not true!"
"Wait. Heroes are coming? Right now?"
"Not right at our doorstep yet, but they just left the center!"
"How do you know?"
"I saw them myself!"
"Oh, did you scout? I thought you just played around every day."
"Hey! Even if I look like I'm slacking, I go to the center every day for food, and scout on the side, okay? So today I peeked, and heroes were gathered at the entrance! They're coming here soon!"
"Oh......"
Han calmly scratched his ear.
Then he thought.
'...Shit. Emergency.'
He'd thought they had a bit more time.
He hadn't expected them to charge in this quickly.
They must have had plenty to handle, so how were they moving so fast?
"What do we do, Han!?"
"........."
What to do.
Han was good at fighting, but not at using his head.
So when things deviated from plan, his mind went blank.
'Normally, Camilla would handle this...'
Where was Camilla?
Oh, right. Gone.
Then...
"Han! Where are you going!?"
Han went to the house where Kahartel was sleeping and shook the slumbering Kahartel awake.
"Lord Kahartel, wake up."
He patted her cheeks with his hand, nudged her with his foot. Still, Kahartel didn't stir.
'Camilla said she'd wake up soon... How long do I have to wait?'
To be blunt, Han hadn't had any real plan.
He'd intended to hole up in X District until Kahartel woke.
Stabilizing the center would take the heroes some time.
By then, Kahartel would wake, and they'd figure it out somehow—that was his complacent thinking.
Gathering villains was just insurance; no concrete plans.
'...Hmm.'
It had always been a half-baked plan, but still.
The heroes moving faster than expected had thrown it off.
'What now.'
No Camilla, no Kahartel.
No one reliable to brainstorm with.
Who to discuss with?
Suddenly, Anis came to mind.
'...No, not her.'
He shook his head.
Then who was left?
"......Betty."
"Huh?"
No, not her either.
One kid like Anis was enough; now there was another.
No matter how he looked, the only one who could come up with a solution and take responsibility was himself—the oldest with combat experience.
'...Hit 'em from behind?'
Objectively, the situation was dire.
Magic beast numbers and quality had changed since three years ago.
'We're screwed head-on anyway, so gather all the villains and raid the center?'
But Han shook his head.
Teleportation seemed convenient, but it guzzled mana.
Magic beasts could be stored in summon stones, but villains? Limited slots.
Betty's mana would run out before moving everyone.
Leave villains here, take magic beasts and raid?
Shook his head again.
They wouldn't leave the center undefended.
Some strong heroes, maybe angels, guarding it.
Doubtful if a few magic beasts could win.
Anis was there, but still iffy.
Funny thing: Han still didn't know exactly how strong Anis was.
Strong? Yes.
Her power was immeasurable; speed too fast to track.
But that was it.
No transcendent powers or special abilities like typical top-tiers.
Just strength, speed, and multi-weapon mastery.
That confused Han.
Even with superior physicals, could she really dominate angels, her natural counters?
Plus her unstable mentality.
Forget advantage; could she even fight properly?
Raiding the center would leave Kahartel with villains—troubling.
Villains alone couldn't hold off incoming heroes.
If they left, Kahartel dies for sure.
Contract-bound, Han couldn't ignore her obvious death.
Take Kahartel along?
Dragging a comatose corpse? Felt wrong.
"Betty, was Aselrica among the heroes you saw?"
"Who's that?"
"The blonde, blue-eyed female hero who cut off my arm before."
"Oh, her... Hmm... Don't think so?"
"What about this person?"
Han described heroes he knew to Betty.
All ranking heroes of note.
"Hmm... No one like that...?"
Betty nodded or shook her head at the names.
"Was Han U-sol there?"
"He was."
"I see."
Han nodded.
Betty had good memory despite appearances, so he trusted her.
As expected, strong heroes stayed at center.
This might be holdable.
Or with Anis, maybe even win easily.
'...Let's fight.'
No choice.
Han U-sol was annoying, but flanking the center was doomed now.
Decision unchanged: Fight, hold until Kahartel wakes.
"What’s Anis doing?"
"Probably sleeping."
...Wake Anis first.
###
Fergus, in the passenger seat, tilted his head watching heroes board the vehicles in perfect order.
Most faces were unfamiliar.
'...Rookie heroes who volunteered?'
They looked young and green.
But something felt off.
"...Lots of new faces."
"Really?"
"Well, frontline heroes are usually familiar. I know most. But today, almost all strangers."
"Ahahaha."
Ronel laughed as he started the engine.
Was it that funny? Fergus awkwardly stroked his beard.
"...Ahem. Aselrica not coming? Don't see her."
"Oh, the boss? Hmm..."
"Who knows?"
Ronel grinned meaningfully from the driver's seat.