Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Bystanders
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Bystanders.
Society is full of countless bystanders.
Too lazy to step forward, out of fear, or due to some kind of pressure.
Bystanders who stand off at a distance and just watch, even when they know everything.
I hated bystanders.
They gaze at me plummeting from afar, offering pity and sympathy.
From just one step away.
As if peering at a play beyond a screen.
They shed tears lamenting the protagonist's tragic end.
Then feel pangs of guilt upon seeing the protagonist's shattered remains on the ground.
So I hated bystanders.
They neither shove you off the edge nor pull you back up.
They bear no sin like those who hurl clear malice and push you over the cliff, but it's plain they hold some stake in the protagonist's downfall.
And it's obvious they're pitiful souls teetering somewhere along the boundary of guilt.
"Fergus, keep standing by like that. It suits you."
Han said to Fergus. I turned my head to look at Fergus.
Fergus turned to look at me as well, and for a moment, our eyes met.
"………."
Guilt and hesitation seeped from Fergus's eyes as they locked with mine.
A standoff with a villain—no ordinary villain, but a turncoat bearing the grandiose moniker Thousand Killer Ghost.
Even in this powder-keg moment where combat could erupt at any second, I found myself lost in a daze.
What guilt weighed on this old man? Guilt toward Han?
Where did his hesitation lie? Even after uttering the resolve not to let Han go, was he still wavering?
This pitiful bystander—toward whom?
Before I could delve deeper.
Wheeeeeen―――
The alarm blared.
'……This is.'
It was the evacuation alarm that rang out when magic beasts appeared. The high-pitched siren drifting in from outside shook the building and screamed into our ears.
Slash-!
"Ugh!"
Seizing the moment when everyone was distracted by the sudden alarm, Han's swung sword carved a gash across Fergus's shoulder. Fergus reacted just in time to avoid a deep wound, but a fair amount of blood sprayed into the air.
Space opened up between Fergus, who clutched his shoulder and retreated, and Anis.
"……!"
Han swiftly plunged through the gap to break free. Anis slashed at Han as he brushed past her side. But her sword, starting a beat too late, merely nicked a bit of his long, flowing hair.
Fergus, gripping his shoulder, shouted.
"……Han U-sol!"
Han closed in on Han U-sol at breakneck speed. Han U-sol and Yoon Na-rin widened their eyes in shock and unleashed attacks at Han.
Roar!
Boom!
Han didn't evade. He charged straight ahead, sword gripped tight.
Swoosh!
Mana cloaked his blade, sweeping away the flames. And right behind the flames came the projectiles.
Clang! Clang!
He swung again. Deflecting only the deadly shots aimed at vitals.
Han didn't slow. Keeping his speed at maximum, he barreled toward Han U-sol. Slowing to dodge here would mean getting caught by Fergus pursuing from behind.
Pew! Pew!
Blood spurted briefly from projectiles grazing his skin, the power searing and charring flesh. Han clenched his teeth, enduring the agony.
At last, past all the projectiles, Han reached point-blank range with Han U-sol and raised his arm, poised to strike.
"…Ugh!"
Han U-sol fell back a step, erecting a barrier around himself and Yoon Na-rin.
Whoosh!
Han blew right past them.
"……??"
The stinging pain coursing through his wound sapped his strength. It would ease soon enough, but right now, he had no faith in piercing the barrier. Han bypassed it entirely, sneering at the pair.
"Why the fear? I'm heading out."
He kicked the door open and bolted outside.
"Hey, you bastard!"
Yoon Na-rin yelled something from behind, but the siren's roar grew even louder outside the abandoned building, swallowing her words.
Amid the deafening alarm came guidance announcements. All X District residents were to evacuate.
"………."
Han scanned the situation while running, eyes darting.
Evacuation alarm. No magic beasts in sight. Residents hearing the announcements looked baffled.
He checked the barrier—still holding firm.
'…A glitch?'
If not...
Han climbed to a vantage point and peered toward the fortress.
'…Can't see it.'
Of course not—too distant. In X District, with its five-story max buildings, spotting the fortress was impossible.
'Gotta go see for myself.'
Han set off toward the fortress.
"…You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Fergus replied, clutching the gash on his shoulder.
"Why'd you get distracted? He slipped away."
"Sorry."
Truth be told, the siren had thrown me off too, but I was a green super rookie while this geezer was a veteran.
――This is a reminder. X District residents, please evacuate to W District...
The guidance broadcast continued. An evacuation for the whole district—had magic beasts launched an assault? Unpleasant memories surfaced.
We stepped out of the abandoned building. Figuring out what was happening mattered more than chasing Han, whose path was unknown.
Opening the door, Daniel lay sprawled on the ground. He twitched his brows at the relentless siren—about to wake any second.
"Ah."
In the chaos, we'd left him behind and gone inside. A twinge of guilt hit me. But since everyone else forgot too, best keep quiet.
I hoisted Daniel onto my back and headed to the street. No magic beasts there. Not like the B District fiasco. So why the blaring evac alarm?
"…This."
"What's wrong? Figured it out?"
Han U-sol asked Fergus, who muttered with furrowed brow.
"Alarm without beasts inside the district—only one explanation."
"Which is?"
"Magic beasts charging head-on from outside the barrier. Likely too many to guarantee defense."
"………."
Han U-sol gulped. Fergus pressed on.
"Fortress falls, X District is next. That's why evac first. Can't promise we'll hold them. Outer districts see this now and then."
The siren wailed on. The mechanical din, syncing with Fergus's words, sharpened our vigilance and tensed our bodies. Surely the barrier wouldn't break—but the dread lingered.
"Evacuate the people first. Then we head to reinforce."
The crisis demanded speed. Get every resident out ASAP.
"Don't mention a beast assault. Could spark more panic."
Following Fergus's lead, we herded people wherever we found them.
Most sensed the gravity and complied, but there were always the stubborn types.
"Nothing happened—why evac? Tell me what we're running from!"
"Just go, asshole!"
Whiners insisting all was fine, plus petty thieves raiding shops in the chaos. We booted their asses into line.
Evacuees soon snaked into long queues. Heroes from other sectors spotted them and pitched in.
I eased Daniel off my back—he was twitching his eyelids—and shook him awake.
"Get up."
"Mm, uhmm... Mom?"
"Who’s your mom."
"What, crazy bitch... Hah! You—that blood!"
Daniel freaked at the blood on my clothes.
"Not the point. See that line?"
I pointed to the long procession shuffling along.
"I see it, but... what’s going on? Siren, everything—some incident?"
Fresh off the sedative, Daniel looked groggy and baffled. Falling asleep suddenly then waking to this mess? No wonder.
I explained magic beasts might be assaulting from outside the barrier. Don't tell anyone else, I added.
"Follow the line to evac. Hit the W District shelter and wait."
"What!? You're...!"
"And this punk's been getting casual."
"W-what about you sis, and the others?"
"We're heroes."
Daniel's eyes quivered. Pure fear.
"But..."
"Daniel."
I clapped a hand on his uneasy shoulder.
"Remember what I told you before?"
"......What'd you say?"
This guy?
Dementia? Triangle choke itched, but no time—pushed on.
"Head to the capital, wipe the slate clean from your old world, start fresh. And definitely enroll in the academy."
"......Oh, right. Yeah."
"So wait at the shelter. We'll sort this, come get you right away. Ship you to the capital."
I stuck out my pinky.
"Promise. No trouble till I fetch you. Be good."
"......Got it."
Daniel nodded, eyeing my pinky.
"But finger-locking's too cringy. Way too kiddie."
"...Your attitude's the real issue."
I smacked his crown and stood. Then Daniel spoke.
"......Promise."
"Huh?"
"Come back safe."
"Pfft."
"Why laugh?"
The rote line drew an unwitting snicker.
"Idiot. That's a death flag."
"Death... what? You damn weeb... Ow!!"
I cracked his head once more, then shoved him into the teeming line.