Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Heroes to the Rescue
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"Anis!!!"
Han U-sol came running, shouting my name.
"...Haha."
"Ranged builds are the worst."
"They are the worst, but..."
Things were looking a bit better now. His timing was perfect—straight out of a protagonist's playbook.
"Anis! You're covered in blood...!"
Han U-sol stared at me in horror. No surprise there. I was a mess, bleeding from wounds all over, drenched in magic beast blood from head to toe. I had to look like a walking tomato.
"Anis! Why didn't you run? Why fight until you were in this state!?"
Han U-sol scolded me.
"F-First, let's fall back!"
"...No."
"What? What do you mean..."
"There are people... inside the container."
"You mean some people didn't evacuate in time..."
I pointed to the container behind me, and Han U-sol's eyes widened in shock.
"Then Anis, did you stay back to protect them...?"
"...When are the heroes getting here? I'm dizzy... You take over now. Until the heroes arrive."
"...Got it. Don't worry—just rest."
After hearing his response, I leaned against the container and closed my eyes for a moment. I was exhausted. The moment my eyes shut, darkness swallowed my vision.
...
...How much time had passed?
――!!
―――!!!!
Faint sounds of battle reached me from afar—magic beasts clashing with Han U-sol.
I dragged my drowsy consciousness back to the surface. As awareness sharpened, the noises grew clearer.
―Graaaah!
'What the hell is that roar?'
No more goblin squeals. This was a thunderous bellow. I didn't know how long I'd been out, but stronger magic beasts had definitely appeared.
I forced my heavy eyelids open.
―Graaaah!
The goblins had grown to nearly two meters tall.
'Those aren't goblins anymore. Ogres?'
Han U-sol looked worn out. Not critically injured, but scratches covered him.
The weapons floating behind him had dwindled from ten to five.
―Kwaaang!
A projectile slammed into an ogre, but it didn't fall from one hit. It took all five shots to drop just one.
"Huff... huff..."
Han U-sol's breathing grew ragged. His weapons dropped from five to four.
"...Out of mana already?"
"...You're awake?"
"Yeah."
He turned at my voice, still breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Ugh..."
I tried to stand, but overwhelming fatigue and pain from my left arm made me grimace.
"Don't push yourself. Just rest."
"...You're the one who looks like you're pushing too hard."
"...Haha."
Han U-sol gave an awkward laugh.
"When are the heroes coming?"
"...Who knows. Soon, I hope."
"...How long was I out?"
"...About fifteen minutes?"
"What? You got tired in just fifteen minutes?"
"...Haha. Their numbers swelled so fast. And now ogres on top of that."
I looked ahead as he spoke.
Over fifty magic beasts glared at us.
...Yeah. Definitely a lot.
They'd gotten much bigger, too.
"...Do something."
"...I'd love to, but I'm low on mana. Can't muster any firepower."
...I'd thought this guy was some overpowered munchkin, but he was frailer than expected.
'...We're screwed.'
―Graaaah!!
―Grrrrowl!
The magic beasts roared and charged. Oh, this was bad. Really bad.
"...Tch."
Han U-sol squeezed out his remaining mana for an attack, but it only thinned their ranks by a few.
I hauled my heavy body up and summoned a sword into my hand. I'd recovered a bit of mana during the fifteen minutes I'd blacked out.
"This is why ranged builds suck. Run out of mana, and you're useless. Melee can at least swing their body at something."
I gripped the sword tightly with my unresponsive right hand. Body Hardening? Tried it—impossible. Summoning the weapon had drained what little mana I had.
"Haha... I do know my way around a sword, at least."
Han U-sol chuckled awkwardly as he aimed his remaining weapons at the beasts.
I glanced back. The people in the container watched us with worried eyes.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"I really want to protect those people."
After all the hell I'd gone through. If we died here, I'd go to my grave pissed.
Han U-sol looked at me for a moment, then smiled warmly.
"Same here."
I took the left, he the right, bracing to meet the charging horde.
The beasts closed in. Just as we readied our swords to swing—
――――Fwoooosh―!!
All fifty-plus magic beasts erupted in flames.
"Wh-What!?"
The burning beasts turned to ash in seconds, without even a dying screech.
They'd ignited right in front of us, but no heat reached me. Not even a scorch mark on the surrounding trees.
"The moment I heard the news, I rushed here... Glad I wasn't too late."
A man's voice rang out—deep and gruff.
He had red hair. Tall, with a rugged build and a face that screamed no-nonsense.
'...I know that face... Oh.'
It clicked. I'd seen him on the hero rankings site.
Rank 5: Yoon Kang-woo.
The current top flame user.
Yoon Kang-woo shouted.
"Rest easy! We'll handle the cleanup!"
With the pro heroes here, the tension melted away.
And with it came a flood of exhaustion.
"And impressive work! You two true heroes risked your lives for civilians who couldn't evacuate!"
'This jerk... shows up late... and lectures me...'
I mumbled that in my fading consciousness as I collapsed.
"......"
A familiar ceiling.
Right. Hospital ceiling.
Every time I'd blacked out from Dad's beatings, this was what I'd wake up to. Not unfamiliar at all.
I glanced down at my body. No issues. No special pain, and my left arm moved fine.
I scanned the room. Spacious. Looked like a high-end private room just for me.
"...Nobody here."
Hello? I'm awake~
Anyone around?
Usually in these situations, a nurse or someone would be at the bedside, gasping, "Anis! You're awake!? Why'd you do something so reckless!?" before bursting into tears. Cliche, right?
Lost in such silly thoughts, I hit the call button by the bed.
"All wounds have been fully healed with recovery magic. The day it took to wake up was simply due to mana depletion. Just stay admitted a few days for observation..."
The doctor who rushed in explained. In short: fully healed by magic, so rest up and go.
'Recovery magic is OP.'
Magic really was invincible and godlike.
It had limits, sure, but it slashed recovery time dramatically.
The doctor bowed and left. Soon after, someone entered the room.
An old man. Deep wrinkles and a long gray beard spoke of his years.
But he didn't seem frail. Lean, yet his back was straight as a rod, no hunch, and his stride lacked the usual elderly slowness.
Hero Rank 8: Fergus Dee.
Principal of Acamedy Academy.
"...?"
What? Why was the principal here?
"...Good to see you, Miss Anis."
"...Ah, yes."
"I heard you protected civilians with your life. As principal, I'm truly proud. How's your body holding up?"
"Y-Yes. Thank you..."
"The civilians asked me to pass on their thanks."
"...Okay."
'Thanks...'
First time strangers thanked me. My lips tugged up unconsciously.
The incident resolved without casualties. The summon stone in the park corner was removed, and the villain who placed it caught.
"All treatment costs will be covered by the academy. And we'll pay special bonuses to you, Miss Anis, and Han U-sol."
'Oh...!'
Reward money! Cash! Always welcome.
"Well then, I'll be off. Can't keep a patient too long."
"Um... wait."
"Hm?"
I stopped the principal from leaving and hesitated. Should I ask the question that's bugged me?
I was a special admittee. Someone recommended me, and the principal approved.
But strictly speaking, this body was a game character. Not originally from this world.
Who recommended me?
Did the principal know I was from another world and approve anyway?
Was one of them—or both—the one who summoned me here?
"Um... I have a question."
'...Asking who recommended me might seem weird.'
If the principal had no connection, a special student asking about their recommender could feel off.
And honestly, the old man before me was a suspect who might've summoned me. Rank 8... I'd lose in a fight, no doubt.
'Hm, ugh... Maybe probe lightly...?'
"By any chance... are you the one updating the novel?"
"...Hm?"
Oh, too direct.
What if he goes, 'You figured it out! Die!' and attacks?
"Novel...? No idea what you mean..."
"R-Really? Never mind. I must've been mistaken."
"Hoho. You like novels, eh? I don't write 'em, but I enjoy reading."
"Oh, do you?"
"Sure do. Ever read 'Isekai MILF Gangbang'?"
"Pardon?"
What? Did I hear that right?
Words that shouldn't come from a 70-plus-year-old's mouth.
"It's a masterpiece."
"I-Is it."
The principal gave a few more kind words and left.
'His reaction says he knows nothing...'
MILF...? What?
Better steer clear of that old perv.
Night at the academy. Buzzing with life and noise by day, it transformed 180 degrees at night—eerie silence reigning supreme.
―Tap. Tap.
The old man's shoes echoed in the quiet, dark hallway.
―Tap. Tap. Tap.
His footsteps quickened, as if fleeing something frightening.
His destination: the top floor. The principal's office.
―Creak.
He arrived, opened the door, and entered. Someone already sat in the chair reserved solely for the principal, awaiting him.
A seat no one but the principal should occupy.
But the occupant didn't care.
"You're here? Fergus."
"...Yes."
A golden-haired young beauty occupied the chair.
Even in pitch darkness without a sliver of light, her aura shone like sunlight—pure, untouched by impurity.
"You're sweating coldly."
"......"
The old man merely bowed his head in silence.
A man in his seventies and a woman in her twenties. By appearances, he should outrank her.
Yet their dynamic seemed reversed.
Her lips curved into a wide grin before erupting in laughter.
"Puhahaha! Still scared of the dark! Aren't you embarrassed at your age?"
"...Urgh...! Tch...! Why summon me in the dead of night, then...!"
"Hehe... Sorry. But you understand, right?"
"I get you're curious and in a hurry, but..."
"So? How was it?"
"We caught the villain, but no devil contractor."
"Probably a pawn. Devils are involved, though. Not highly dangerous, but weirder if a summon stone that strong had no devil ties."
"I agree."
The old man nodded at her words.
"The devil contractors are on the move."
More precisely, the devils behind them, she added.
"Even traitors have human bodies... Shame they slip the barriers. Can't track them yet."
The old man sighed.
"Can't be helped... But we must heighten security."
"Of course."
"Speaking of... How was the girl?"
She changed the subject.
"...No health issues."
"...Really? Nothing else?"
"Hm... Before I left the room, she asked if I was updating some novel. No clue what she meant."
"...? What? Out of nowhere. Novel fan?"
"Seemed like it, so I recommended a fun one I'd read."
"...She didn't look at you in disgust?"
"What!?"
The old man jumped at her scornful glance.
He grumbled a bit, then silence fell.
"...You pity the girl?"
"......"
He fell quiet at her question. She didn't press for an answer.
In their clandestine meeting, the midnight academy seemed wrapped only in silence from afar.
The night deepened.