Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: To X District
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Morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. Having stayed up until dawn glued to my phone, I struggled to drag myself up and sat on the edge of the bed.
The day had finally arrived. The day I was being hauled off to X District.
I stared blankly into space with half-open eyes.
Dust rose slowly.
The particles floating in the air settled back down just as slowly, tickling my nose.
The city's public order grew worse the farther out you went toward the outskirts. In other words, the closer you got to the barrier. As the name suggested, X District was the farthest from the center and nearest to the barrier on the periphery.
Everyone, even kids, knew just how dangerous X District was. I rubbed my dry face, sitting on the bed like a young man facing imminent military enlistment.
"Haa..."
After sucking on the sweet life in peaceful central district, getting suddenly shipped to the outskirts? A sigh escaped me on its own.
In truth, from a hero's perspective, it was basically a promotion acknowledging my abilities—so something to celebrate. My salary would jump, too.
The other kids, excluding me, seemed thrilled at the prospect, chattering about how they'd soon be heading beyond the barrier to fight Magic Beasts.
'Is the center really that starved for talent?'
Sending out 17-year-old boys and girls to the dangerous outskirts of the city. And no one batting an eye at it. What an end-of-the-world worldview.
The clash between angels and demons.
Human abilities weakening with each generation, Magic Beasts dwindling in number.
Was the world hurtling toward ruin? Or seeking peace?
After leaving my room, I washed up simply and grabbed the bags I'd packed the night before. I didn't have much to begin with, so it didn't take long. Weapons and such I could summon and store with my abilities anyway.
"Anis, you ready?"
"Yeah."
As I emerged with my bags, Reisi greeted me from the sofa. Then Han U-sol and Yoon Na-rin came in, loaded with snacks from the convenience store.
"Where's the principal?"
"He said thirty minutes."
We huddled together on the sofas in the middle of the office and scarfed down breakfast. A few sandwiches and milk. For our last meal in the center before heading to the outskirts, it felt awfully meager.
With my belly full, drowsiness hit me hard. As my nodding head bobbed, Yoon Na-rin steadied it with her hand.
"Sleepy."
"Sleep in the car later if you're that tired. It's a long drive anyway, plenty of time."
"Okay."
I leaned back against the sofa and stared vacantly at the ceiling. My eyes hurt at the thought of my phone, and reading a book would just make me sleepier, so I zoned out instead.
"Anis. Want some ice cream?"
"Thanks."
The ice cream Han U-sol handed me chased away a bit of the sleepiness.
"But Anis, it's summer now— isn't that flight jacket too hot?"
"Too hot or not, I can't give this up."
"...Why?"
"It's cool."
"......Yeah?"
Han U-sol tilted his head like he couldn't comprehend. Of course a guy like you wouldn't get the romance.
Inwardly, I roasted Han U-sol for chasing efficiency in his plain short-sleeved tee. A low growl seemed to rumble from the tiger tattooed on my back in agreement. Grrr.
Thirty minutes later, Fergus arrived. As expected of a top-ranking hero—he pulled up in a ridiculously expensive-looking SUV.
"Th-this is! Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600!!"
Reisi spotted Fergus's car and geeked out, yelling excitedly.
"Keh keh. Looks like Miss Reisi's a car enthusiast."
Fergus chuckled warmly, watching Reisi's eyes sparkle as she inspected the exterior. Come to think of it, she'd always been into cars and bikes.
To my car-ignorant eyes, though, it was just a fancy SUV, nothing more, nothing less. Mercedes-what? Whatever, car nerd.
We piled into Fergus's car. Han U-sol took shotgun, the rest of us in the back. It was such a nice ride that even three in the rear seat felt spacious.
"Hello."
"Oh, hello. Miss Anis. Did the books I recommended suit your taste?"
"They were pretty good. You've got a real eye for picking masterpieces."
"Glad to hear it."
Han U-sol, who'd been quietly listening to our exchange, asked me,
"...Anis, the principal lent you those novels?"
"Yeah."
Han U-sol's expression turned complicated.
"Mr. Han U-sol, are you interested too, by any chance?"
"...N-no, I'm good."
"That's a shame."
Fergus hit the gas from the driver's seat, and we were off. Beside him, Reisi raved about the supreme ride comfort and such.
Yeah, it was comfy and all, but tone it down, Reisi. She finally quieted after Yoon Na-rin elbowed her in the side.
The drive to X District took about four hours even by car. Practically Seoul to Busan. It really sank in just how massive this "city" was.
"It's been ages since I last went to X District."
"You've been there before?"
Yoon Na-rin reacted to Fergus's musing.
"Back when I was fresh out of rookie hero status, that's where I was assigned. Nostalgic."
"What's X District like? I heard the public order's bad and it's pretty dangerous."
"Keh keh. Rumors always get exaggerated. No need to worry too much. It's not as dangerous as they say."
"I see."
Listening to Fergus and Yoon Na-rin, I felt a little relieved. I'd gotten needlessly spooked by all the online horror stories about its security, but rumors really weren't reliable.
The ride was so comfortable. Exhausted from lack of sleep last night, sleepiness washed over me naturally.
I didn't fight the oncoming wave of drowsiness, leaning into the seat and closing my eyes.
'...But if the principal was a rookie hero back then, that was like fifty years ago, right?'
Ten years changes the landscape; fifty would change it five times over.
'...No way.'
I shoved the uneasy thought from my mind and drifted off.
"Anis, wake up. We're almost there."
Yoon Na-rin shook me awake. I wiped the drool from my mouth and opened my eyes.
"...Already?"
"Already? It's been four hours since we left. You slept like a rock."
Must've been the insane comfort. I slept straight through without stirring once. No wonder fancy cars cost so much. Amazed, I ran my fingers over the leather seat.
The smooth, supple feel traveled up my hand. So plush and cozy.
Oh crap. Drool stain on the seat. This thing's expensive.
They won't make me pay for it, right? I frantically wiped it with my sleeve and peered out the window.
The first thing that caught my eye was a gambling den. Not the glamorous casino from movies, but a rundown joint reeking of dirt and gunpowder. People sat listlessly out front, having blown their cash.
"This is X District?"
"Yeah. X-1."
"...Not exactly cheerful."
"Nope."
It felt worlds apart from the sleek high-rises of the center. Trash littered the streets, and the dilapidated buildings clustered tightly looked ready to collapse even from afar.
'This looks familiar...'
Sidewalks cracked and left unrepaired. Faded shop signs dangling precariously from one side.
Grimy walls stained with some unidentified dark red liquid, covered over with garish splatters of paint. Visually, it was a hygiene nightmare.
'...It's a slum.'
Slum. Ghetto.
Where society's dropouts and antisocial types gathered and spawned.
A den of twisted humanity's revelry, immorality, and vagrancy all mixed together.
That was X District.
I was a bit taken aback. I'd figured bad public order meant villains popping up more often, but this? Anyone wandering these alleys could pass for a potential villain.
Eyes locked onto our car. Wary stares at the obvious outsiders in a pricey ride—part suspicion, part hyena eyeing prey.
Hey, old man. You said it wasn't that dangerous. This looks plenty sketchy.
I glanced at Fergus in the driver's seat. He scanned the surroundings with calm, dignified eyes and murmured softly.
"Wh-what the heck is this."
Guess things had changed a lot in fifty years.
The car pushed deeper in. This was X-1; our destination was farther inside, X-5.
Along the way, the most common sights were bars, gambling dens, and gun shops.
We shook off the uncomfortable stares gathering around the car and reached X-5. And the very first thing we saw upon arrival?
"Hey, handsome guys in the fancy car! Come on in!"
A brothel.
"...Wow."
My brain short-circuited for a second.
"...Pretty girls."
"...Should we stop by?"
"Anis, shocking or not, don't say weird stuff. And Principal, that's not something to say in front of students!?"
Yoon Na-rin scolded my and Fergus's dumb remarks. Han U-sol and Reisi's eyes wandered aimlessly into space.
"...Ahem. Let's head straight to the dorms."
Fergus sped up.
I gazed at the passing scenery out the window, etching the brothel girls' figures into my memory for later appreciation.