Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Chimera in C District
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Whiiiiiine――
The sirens blared deafeningly across the city.
C District was smack in the heart of the city. At full speed, it was a five-minute run from here.
The high-rank Heroes probably wouldn't arrive for a while...
High-ranking Heroes were usually stationed on the city's outskirts to guard against the Magic Beasts beyond the barrier.
Lately, Magic Beasts had been popping up inside the barrier more often, so some forces had shifted toward the center. But even those weren't high-rank enough to handle an upper-level Magic Beast solo.
...Would it make a difference if we went?
We stopped, weighing our options.
An upper-level Magic Beast. Nothing like the goblins or ogres we'd faced before. This was on a whole other level.
...No.
We have to become Heroes and save people.
It didn't take long to decide.
The public already treated Acamedy Academy students as half-Heroes.
In emergencies like this, we had some leeway to act on our own judgment.
...Let's go.
We weren't heading out to slay the Magic Beast.
We were going to rescue those who hadn't evacuated in time. To protect them.
By now, the low-rank Heroes nearby were probably already on site, locked in combat. Supporting them could buy time until the high-rankers arrived.
Unlike lesser Magic Beasts, upper-level ones didn't travel in packs. Just one? We could manage.
No reason to hesitate.
Han U-sol ran, tracking the Magic Beast's scent, and stole a glance at Anis.
Her eyes burned with resolve and strength. She could seem scatterbrained and naive at times, but in moments like this, her gaze sharpened.
[Let's help people evacuate.]
Han U-sol repeated her words in his mind.
Yeah. They didn't need to take down the Magic Beast themselves. Hold out a little, and high-rank Heroes would come. Other Heroes nearby were probably already fighting it.
Prioritize helping civilians evacuate, then back up any Heroes in combat.
That thought eased his anxiety a bit.
He quickly conjured a simple spear and dagger, handing them to Reisi. Her backup weapons felt unreliable. Better to give her sturdy ones, even if it meant revealing his secret.
...What're these?
Use them for now. ...And keep it secret, please.
...Got it.
Reisi thankfully didn't pry. She'd keep the secret, too.
The three reached C District in no time.
As they entered, a foul stench assaulted Han U-sol's nose—not just the Magic Beast's reek.
The smell of blood. Thick and heavy.
The kind that came when many lives were lost.
Dread building, they pressed deeper inside.
It was quiet.
Their footsteps echoed unnaturally loud.
The blood scent grew stronger.
Splash.
Their steps halted. Eyes dropped to the floor.
A red puddle pooled there.
The sound of stepping in it.
The puddle stretched into a crimson trail.
Following it led to...
A pile of corpses, stacked high.
Civilians mixed with what looked like Heroes.
And among them,
the face of the man who'd thanked her profusely at the last medal ceremony for saving him.
...Ah.
Anis's expression twisted.
A sense of duty ignited.
The burning mission of an aspiring Hero: to aid and save those in peril.
But that fire chilled in under five minutes.
Everyone they were meant to save was already dead.
Now, amid the cold slabs of meat, her eyes met a man's corpse.
She didn't know his name.
But... she knew his face. His voice, too.
The one she'd risked her life for. The one who'd been grateful.
They stared at each other, both gone cold.
He'd begged for help.
For salvation.
He wasn't alone. All those tangled, piled, and chilled bodies had surely prayed too.
Save us. Help us.
But the gods,
had no mercy for them.
Her eyes met his again. Vacant, unfocused.
[Thank you so much last time. It's not much, but...]
Who had he turned to for aid?
The gods?
Or...
[To those people, you're the top-ranked Hero now, Anis.]
...Ah.
Plop.
It felt like she was shoved somewhere.
Down a slope.
The bottom? She couldn't tell.
Anis!!
Reisi's shout snapped her back.
Startled, she looked around. The Magic Beast responsible for this carnage faced off against Han U-sol.
Grrr...
A lion's head and body, goat legs. A long green tail ending in a snake head.
The upper-level Magic Beast that hunted humans, hoarded corpses, and feasted.
A Chimera.
Grrraaah...!
A guttural, phlegm-choked roar. The Chimera's eyes fixed on the dagger at Han U-sol's neck.
For some reason, it eyed him warily, not charging.
...Reisi.
...Right.
...Maybe an opening. Anis and Reisi gripped their spears, out of the Chimera's sight.
Grip―
They channeled mana into their arms, pulling back like javelins. Then hurled them at the Chimera.
Thwack―!
Spears are melee, not ranged? Tell that to the target.
The ability infused: Penetration. Poured full mana into the throw—no upper-level Magic Beast would shrug that off.
As they threw, Han U-sol summoned ten weapons from his back and unleashed them.
Boom! Crash!
Concrete shattered, dust billowing. That should've...
Raaaaagh―!!
......!
The Chimera burst through the dust, roaring.
No easy kill, huh. It looked unscathed.
Raaaaagh―!!
It snatched the thrown spears with its green tail, then charged straight at Han U-sol. Eyes mad with fury.
Mindless instinct driving brutal clashes.
Not threatening normally, but this upper-level beast's specs far outstripped humans. Deadly.
Ugh...!
Anis and Reisi rushed to support, but it was too fast.
Can't intercept in time...!
Grk...!
Han U-sol struggled to react too, a beat slow.
He dodged the whip-like tail barely, but the assault continued.
The Chimera closed in, claws gleaming, swinging a forepaw.
Han U-sol's stance crumbled from the tail dodge.
This way,
he couldn't evade.
The instant those claws neared him.
Crack!
A bolt of light struck from the sky, impaling the Chimera.
Crack! Crack!
Raaaaagh―!!
Crackle! Crackle!
The Chimera thrashed, but the lightning pinned it, sparking fiercely.
Good thing I wasn't late.
A golden-haired woman descended from the sky.
Almost lost some precious talents.
Are you alright?
Touching down, she introduced herself as Yeriel, exuding a divine aura.
A purifying energy that seemed to cleanse all impurity.
Yet, for some reason, it felt deeply unpleasant.
Yeriel glanced at the Chimera.
...Kahatiel. Didn't expect you'd send an upper-level one.
Quite strong. Probably empowered by impure energy.
The foul power drawn from human sacrifices. Some called it demonic qi for short.
A mass of humanity's negative emotions.
Poison to humans, but a strength booster for Magic Beasts.
...Low-rank Heroes weren't enough.
Yeriel sighed over the corpses.
...Kahatiel. I see your game.
Lately, summon stones had been planted inside the city, spawning Magic Beast raids.
Aim: lure outer Heroes inward, punching holes in the perimeter defenses. Blatant ploy.
Frustrating part: they had no choice but to play along.
Couldn't catch the traitor planting those stones. Teleportation powers, no doubt.
This couldn't go on. If they kept reacting, and Magic Beasts breached the barrier head-on... irreparable.
Yeriel turned to the boy. The white-haired youth gazed worriedly at the girl. The black-haired girl stared blankly at the corpse pile, fragile.
Worried about her?
Uh? Oh... yeah.
Then, do you want to protect her?
...I'm too weak to protect Anis.
...Almost died pathetically again.
The boy continued.
I... want to get stronger.
Then, grow strong and protect her?
...Yes.
He nodded.
Strong enough to protect Anis's smile.
So she never faces this again... give her a bright future.
I see.
Yeriel smiled approvingly.
Then, will you accept my teachings?
...Huh? Uh... but who are you? Not a Hero...
Find Fergus on Monday. You'll know then.
...Okay.
Han U-sol was suspicious but nodded. She'd saved them and one-shotted an upper-level beast—a golden opportunity.
See you Monday, then. I'll handle cleanup. Go rest. That girl's in bad shape—get her somewhere safe.
Ah, yes. Thank you.
Yeriel watched them leave, expression blank.
...Aurell. Your son has a pure heart.
She'd observed him before, but talking confirmed it: just like his mother, kind-hearted.
Thinking of others, considerate.
She'd waited for him to grow on his own, but circumstances changed. Time to reveal herself and teach directly.
[Strong enough... to protect Anis's smile.]
[So she never faces this... a bright future only.]
A boy in love, so innocent.
Such a good child. But...
Sorry, but that's
impossible.
Yeriel eyed the departing black-haired girl, recalling her talk with Fergus days ago.
[Her mana capacity still the same?]
[Yes. Hasn't budged.]
[...Hope we're not too late.]
Still unchanged...
......
The enemy was mobilizing. The day they'd storm with hordes of Magic Beasts might be near.
She needed her power back before then.
Quickly. Soon.
Don't hold out.
Before it's too late.
Fall.
Yeriel's golden eyes gleamed.