Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Solitary Patrol
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The rainwater trickling over my skin was cold.
It was early summer in May, after Grain Buds had passed into the season of Small Fullness, yet the rain washing the city's blood away felt only frigid.
Half.
Roughly half a year had gone by.
And the citizens of District B, too.
Roughly half of them were dead.
It was far worse than the Chimera incident in District C. The Chimera had only wrecked one neighborhood in C, but this time, the magic beasts had torn through all ten neighborhoods in the entire district.
The heroes had taken heavy losses as well. This assault had been far too brutal for the central heroes, who had almost no real combat experience. The dispatched students were no exception.
Once the number of survivors had been tallied and cleanup was underway, I returned straight to the dorms.
Public opinion lashed out at the Hero Association. The complaints were predictable. Why hadn't they deployed top heroes?
They clamored for the Association to send high-rank heroes to the central districts now, shaking the organization to its core.
But the Association showed no response whatsoever.
The internet was flooded with all sorts of posts.
Some were laments from those who had lost loved ones overnight.
Others vented rage at the silent Association.
There were even pieces criticizing the Association's complacent decision to leave the central defense to rookie heroes and students.
Most boiled down to a single sentiment in the end.
'Heroes are incompetent, and the Association is selfish.'
I scrolled down steadily.
Amid the chaotic flood of posts, one caught my eye: a piece mocking the fallen heroes.
Was this what they called 'instant karma'? The sheer volume of comments—over ten thousand—felt deafening just looking at them.
Most condemned the poster. But there were a few who agreed, jeering at the dead heroes and students alongside them.
A minority, but undeniably present.
I closed my eyes. Staring any longer made something boil up inside me.
Rockbell's words from some time ago echoed in my head.
Does that mean we have to protect them, too?
Those who mock and belittle your deaths.
Just because they're citizens, do we have to risk our lives for them?
"Ha."
I let out a light scoff. The laugh climbed against the fluorescent light and faded into the ceiling.
And then, an auditory hallucination.
Ah.
Right. We have to protect them.
Because that's what heroes do.
And so my brutal day came to an end.
A week passed. In that time, my sunken mood had mostly recovered.
The Association stuck to its policy without change. As planned, Acamedy Academy students were assigned to districts to team up with the central heroes.
However, with so many heroes and students dead in the incident, there were gaps in the roster. As a result, assignments shifted slightly for everyone.
I, who was originally slated for B-3 with Yoon Na-rin, was sent to A-3 neighborhood. Na-rin went to A-4. It was because the student originally assigned there had died, splitting us up to fill in.
Han U-sol and Reisi Hearts' assignment remained unchanged: A-9 neighborhood.
"Anis, don't get too lonely without me."
"Yeah."
I bristled inwardly but nodded, sensing the genuine concern beneath Yoon Na-rin's playful tone.
The four of us were riding a bus rented from the academy toward District A.
"...But it's not that far, really."
Thinking about it, we were all in the same District A, just different neighborhoods. Han U-sol and Reisi in A-9 aside, Yoon Na-rin's A-4 was only a 15-minute walk from my A-3.
"Still, not sure if we'll get to meet up often."
Maybe embarrassed at phrasing it like we were worlds apart despite the short distance, Yoon Na-rin scratched her head with a grin.
Sure enough, I was worried too. Close as it was, actually meeting wasn't guaranteed.
Can I adapt to a new environment without a single familiar face?
What if there are mean people?
My expression darkened as worries piled up like fluffy clouds.
Reisi seemed lost in thought too, staring quietly out the window before speaking.
"...Never thought we'd be deployed to the field just three months after enrolling."
"Academy story special. They get kicked out quick."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"Nothing."
Han U-sol, who'd been watching our exchange, chimed in.
"We're basically heroes now, huh."
"Basically?"
"From the moment we're assigned to a district and start duty, we're treated as heroes on paper."
"So, paycheck too?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
Han U-sol chuckled at my eyes lighting up at the mention of money.
"What do we even do there?"
"If no magic beasts show, probably just patrols and standby."
The recent magic beast attacks had stirred things up, but the central area was originally peaceful with top-notch public safety.
Which meant, as long as no magic beasts appeared...
I pictured myself leisurely patrolling in peace, then idling away the time carefree.
"Ooh."
That's totally... a sweet lifetime gig.
As my gloomy face brightened a bit, Yoon Na-rin tilted her head.
After saying goodbye to the others, I got off the bus.
I pulled out my phone, opened the maps app, and entered the address. For a directionally challenged person like me, this pinnacle of modern tech always pointed true. If only it could map out my life's path too.
Following the app's route, I arrived at a small, cozy building that felt more like an office. The concrete walls were old, with paint peeling in spots here and there.
'This the place?'
It didn't match my expectations at all. As I hesitated in front of the door, a voice called from behind.
"Hey, halfwit."
A familiar voice. I turned to see a blonde girl standing there.
"Looks like you're assigned here too, huh?"
She was the one in the middle of that group of girls who'd picked a fight with me in the bathroom before. The one who cornered me, calling me halfwit, no-magic-potential reject, spewing abuse.
Until Reisi happened to walk in, schooling them and sending them running.
Even after, she'd hassle me now and then, with Reisi chasing her off each time.
"Let's get along, halfwit~?"
The blonde girl sneered those words, brushing past me to open the office door and go inside.
From what I knew, each team consisted of two academy students and two central heroes.
Which meant my A-3 team would be me, that bitch, and two strangers I didn't know yet.
"Fuck. Shit."
The curse slipped out unbidden.
The thought of teaming up with her already made my head spin.
"Haa..."
I sighed, pushed open the door, and went in. There sat the bitch and two other women on the sofa.
One was a green-haired woman reading a book, her cold impression screaming utter disinterest in everything. She glanced at me briefly before returning to her book.
The other had the same blonde hair as the bitch. Was it just my imagination that they looked alike?
"Sis. It's her."
Nope. Not imagination. They fucking look alike. Come to think of it, Teacher Silbi had mentioned they prioritize family assignments for central heroes with relatives.
"Hi? You must be Anis Harper. I'm Elise. The one reading over there is my big sis, Floe."
The bitch's sister, Elise, flashed a sly smile as she spoke.
"Let's get along~?"
My gut told me one thing.
My work life here was gonna be anything but smooth.
Two students and two local heroes form a four-person team.
Students are treated as heroes from the moment they arrive at their assigned area.
Their duties were practically nonexistent.
Patrol the assigned neighborhood for anomalies. Stand by in the building for emergencies. That was it.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled hot breath.
Mid-May in early summer was starting to heat up.
"Fucking bitches."
I spat the curse.
1 PM. I squinted under the blazing sun.
Right now, I was on patrol.
Alone.
Patrols were supposed to be in pairs by default. Even in peaceful central, shit could happen.
"Bitches."
My scalp burned under the sunlight.
Inside the building, I filled out simple paperwork. An employment contract.
Once I finished, Elise shooed me out for patrol with zero explanation, a blatant smirk on her face.
Even an oblivious person like me could tell. It was petty bullying. Like sister, like sibling—they matched perfectly.
...At least give me the patrol route.
Elise, taking her sister's side with this cheap harassment.
The bitch, snickering beside her sis.
And Floe, ignoring it all, nose in her book.
No one on my side. I felt utterly alone.
Harassers.
Sneerers.
Onlookers.
It dragged up old memories after so long. And now I'd have to live and eat here too—my throat already tightened at the thought.
I wanted to go back. Wandering outside alone felt pathetic.
"Hoo..."
I swallowed the boiling emotions in my chest.
For now, I just started walking the streets aimlessly.
Even in safe central, District A's security was top-tier. No petty thieves in sight, just pure peace.
Elise and Floe, as longtime locals, surely knew that.
Peace rots people. Endless patrols yielding nothing must've bored them. The comfy, cool office probably made them lazy.
Then I showed up.
Bad blood with her sister, and I looked like easy pickings—they dumped it all on me.
Lazy bitches. Can't even do basic patrols properly. Made me doubt their hero credentials.
I grumbled inwardly about the three as I wandered.
Eventually, I looked up—and spotted a sign on a building.
[Internet Café]
"......"
Staring at the sign, I thought.
Fuck it. Whatever.
Sue me.
I went inside the internet café.