Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Chapter 156 - 155화 - 하나의 인간
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter 156: One Human
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It was a string of good fortune.
The first stroke of luck was Han U-sol, who had dropped into Ronel's unit like a gift from the heavens, with no central command structure.
The second was arriving at Sector W without a single casualty, purely by chance.
And the third... the magic beasts' half-hearted attitude.
For some reason, the magic beasts were reluctant to fight, from the higher ranks down to the lower ones.
-Kuooh!
-Kyaaak!
A golem made entirely of stone and a griffon soaring through the sky tumbled to the ground. The heroes dispatched the oncoming magic beasts with ease.
"Push forward!"
"Fire!"
"Uwaaaah!"
The unit's morale shot straight up. Normally, they'd have to brace for death against higher-rank magic beasts, but these were dropping like flies. It was enough to make anyone feel invincible.
Even the number of magic beasts was fewer than expected.
Unlike their assumption that Sector W would be teeming with them, the actual count was only about half. That made it the fourth piece of luck.
Humanity's crisis.
Duty, justification, and symbolism.
And with it all, fortune arriving right on cue.
Every element of the situation uplifted the young heroes. It almost felt like they truly had been chosen for something greater. Even Ronel muttered, "Maybe we really are the messengers of the gods?"
That was why the heroes kept pressing deeper into Sector W.
Why they unwittingly walked right into the heart of the inferno.
It wasn't strange at all. The magic beasts couldn't muster their full strength against them with Han U-sol on their backs, and their numbers were only half what they'd anticipated.
And just like that, the heroes reached the heart of Sector W.
"Ronel! This place...!"
"Yeah, I know."
The surroundings were so wrecked it was unrecognizable, and the crimson flames filling their vision clouded their senses.
But Ronel easily figured out where they were. In the distance stood the operations headquarters, half-collapsed and on the verge of crumbling.
"It's the operations HQ!"
"We've already reached the center?!"
The unit buzzed with excitement.
The building where they'd lived, eaten, and slept for the past three years was right in front of them. Which meant the demon wasn't far from here either.
But for some reason, Ronel felt an inexplicable unease.
Thump.
Her heart pounded.
They'd already reached the demon's doorstep? This easily?
Wasn't their luck a bit too good?
Her battle-heated mind cooled in an instant. It was pure instinct.
A trap?
Thinking back, the magic beasts' hesitation had seemed off from the start. Maybe that was the lure to draw them in.
But using higher-rank magic beasts as bait was strange. Each one was worth a hundred lower-rankers. They weren't disposable like that.
If the demon really wanted to trap them, they'd have used lower-rankers as bait and then ambushed with higher ones led by the demon itself.
Besides, the demon wouldn't have expected them to come here. Neither humans nor demons had a clear grasp of the situation. Their only intel source, Betty, had been out of commission from mana exhaustion for ages.
She was probably holed up at the eastern checkpoint right now, focused on summoning more magic beasts.
'Not a trap...?'
Then what was this unease?
Maybe it was just the sheer luck of it all making her paranoid.
"...Let's go take a look."
It felt off, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Even if something went wrong, with so few magic beasts around, they could retreat without much issue.
The unit began advancing slowly. As they neared the east, the number of magic beasts started to increase.
"Two ogres ahead!"
"Several hellhounds too!"
"Nothing we can't handle! Form the shield wall!"
The heroes gripped their swords and shields, chanting spells. They figured they'd repel them just like before, no problem.
And that was the beginning of their misfortune.
They say excessive luck can turn into poison.
The unbroken chain of good fortune bred overconfidence, leading straight to disaster.
"Urk...!"
"These guys are different from the ones before!"
Unlike earlier, the magic beasts were no longer holding back.
These were reinforcements from the eastern checkpoint. Newly summoned by Kahartel.
Having not witnessed Anis's rampage, they had no reason to hesitate at the sight of heroes.
-Kraaaah!
-Kyaaaak!
The higher-rank magic beasts charged ferociously, herding waves of lower ones. Freshly summoned from the checkpoint beyond, they bared their raw killing intent toward the heroes.
"Don't fall back! Attack!"
The heroes didn't retreat easily. Swords and bullets flew at Ronel's command, blanketed by merciless spells.
Casualties were surprisingly light, thanks to Han U-sol's barrier.
-Kwaang! Kwaang!
-Kieeeek!
Most lower-rankers vanished on contact with the barrier. The higher ones frantically hammered at it but soon fell to Han U-sol's strikes.
-Chae-aeng!
"Th-the barrier!"
"Stay calm and hold the shield wall steady!"
Even if they breached it occasionally, the shield wall held behind. The front line maintained perfect formation, buying time for Han U-sol to recast.
"Advance!"
The unit didn't stop. Magic beasts multiplied as they neared the east, but they couldn't halt now.
-Kraaaah!
A savage roar that shook their legs accompanied the magic beasts' reckless assault. They smashed the barrier and battered the shield wall.
"Urk...!"
"H-hold on!"
"Healing magic here...!"
As numbers swelled, the front line took hits, but the heroes pressed on with grit.
"Here they come again!"
"Magic! Pour it on!"
-Hwaruruk!
Flames erupted, briefly painting the sky. The surrounding inferno seemed to welcome it, flaring even fiercer.
The blaze choked both heroes and beasts, dyeing vision crimson.
After that, it was rinse and repeat. Heroes repelled waves, beasts regrouped and charged again.
But the front line's injuries mounted, forcing more retreats for healing.
-Kwa-gwang!
Han U-sol's area attack swept the magic beasts clean.
This time, over ten heroes were sidelined with wounds. Healers' mana was dwindling. The planned fracture was eroding Ronel's unit.
Yet they pushed on.
Flames obscured exact positions, but Ronel sensed they were nearly at the goal.
Another wave loomed ahead.
Instinct told her this was the last one.
"This is it! Battle stations!"
Break through, and they'd reach the demon. Strength filled the heroes' eyes at her cry.
They readjusted weapons, chanted spells. Wounded front liners hurried back after hasty heals. The end of this grueling fight was in sight.
And then the second misfortune struck.
"S-Sergeant!"
It started with a rear-line mage prepping their stance. He urgently called Ronel, pointing behind.
"Magic beasts from the rear too!"
"What!? Where'd they come from!?"
"I-I don't know!"
Ronel whipped around. Just like the front, a horde surged from the distant rear.
"What the...?"
She'd considered variables. Near the goal, the demon might notice and act.
She was braced for crisis. But not a sudden flank of this magnitude.
'...No wonder their numbers seemed light.'
Ambushed in advance. Without the flames blocking sight, they might've spotted them early.
"........."
Ronel's eyes wavered. Retreat flashed in her mind.
Could they make it?
Of course. They had Han U-sol.
It'd cost lives, but his barriers and AOE could carve a path. His power was that immense.
They'd bought time, slain hordes. Mission accomplished.
"Retreat..."
As Ronel moved to order it,
"Ronel."
Han U-sol cut her off.
"Keep advancing. Break through ahead."
"...Have you lost your mind?"
The checkpoint was close. Breach the front, reach the demon.
But that left their backs exposed. The beasts would pounce instinctively.
"Don't talk nonsense."
The unit was sandwiched now. Casualties inevitable.
To minimize, break rear where numbers were thinner.
"Ronel! The demon's right there!"
Han U-sol pressed.
The root of humanity's peril, within reach. A chance to end it now.
Ronel fell silent.
He wasn't entirely wrong.
Break through, slay the demon, end the city's agony, save humanity—maybe.
But that was optimistic.
What if they failed to break through?
While tangling upfront, rear beasts devour the unit?
Even reach the demon and fail?
Others dying? Fine. But
If Han U-sol fell?
That'd be the worst.
Better retreat safe, try again later...
"...Ronel."
As her silence dragged, Han U-sol spoke gravely.
"You said before. Even if it means risk, you'd choose for humanity."
"...I did."
Ronel nodded.
"Now's the time."
Their eyes met. An odd déjà vu enveloped her.
"...Decide. What's best for humanity."
"........."
Still silent.
Distances shrank in real time. Dally, and no retreat left.
It mirrored humanity's plight.
Crisis, no margin. Front lines cut off from center.
Pinned this bad, hard to reverse without bold risks.
Colton taught her that, used it to coup the demons.
Maybe charging ahead was right.
But.
For some reason.
Flames flickered at vision's edge. The blaze devouring all to ash surged, filling her sight.
Beyond, she glimpsed void. It terrified her.
Like staring into deep sea, fearing the pull.
Flames too. Facing encroaching fire blankly, she felt frailly human.
The inferno and scorching air threatened to consume her life to ash.
Cross this line,
And die.
Me, the other heroes.
Not death itself, but oblivion scared her.
Burning to ash, leaving nothing.
-Ronel. Live not as one human, but as part of humanity.
A voice echoed faintly.
His voice, heard countless times.
Live and die as one of humanity, not a single human.
Etched half-obsessively in her heart, it urged her on.
"Ronel!"
Han U-sol pressed. Beasts nearly upon them.
Ronel exhaled softly, gazing afar. Then asked.
"...Can we win?"
"We will. Definitely. So..."
Han U-sol's face twisted. Agony plain.
"Help me."
"Haha..."
A hollow laugh escaped. She understood.
Ronel looked skyward. Stars on black canvas met her gaze.
-Hwaruruk!
Flames swelled sky-high, refusing to yield her view. Still, she feared it.
But no more agonizing.
"Let's go."
Humans might fear fire, but humanity couldn't.
She must live as part of humanity, not one human.
Sworn to Colton, taught so, his wish.
Thus, swallowing fear, Ronel commanded.
"All units, advance."
Even if no one remembered her as one human.