#206 Hero
That monster [C. Highroad Siren], who thinks I killed her mother, harbors a deep grudge against me. She says she'll chase me until I die. No matter how positively I try to spin it, this is a hopeless situation!
That's when a brilliant idea flashed through my mind. If this Siren is going to hunt me down until I drop dead, what if I lead her straight into the territories of other S-rank villains? The city would turn into a total bloodbath, reduced to rubble. And those S-rank villain bastards? They'd get wiped out in one go.
And me? "Monsters have always been hero fodder, passed down through generations." A monster shows up smack in the middle of downtown—think the Hero Association's S-rank heroes are gonna sit this one out? If I team up with them and beat the crap out of her, we can take her down easy. Hell, they killed a Siren twenty years ago with way crappier tech than we've got now. What's stopping them?
"Anyway, time to bail!"
Who's around here? Strong Fisherman? Pirate King?
"Huh?"
As I pondered where to head next, a melody drifted in from somewhere—like an angel calling. It was the exact same tune I'd heard just moments ago. Both were beautiful sounds, but there was a key difference. The previous one felt like a mature woman singing; this one sounded like a young girl just starting to bloom.
"...But I stashed the Siren's Heart in my inventory?"
Only one explanation: the Siren outside had started singing.
You have heard the song of [C. Highroad Siren].
Your mind has been contaminated.
Trait 'Mental Resistance' has activated.
Sure enough, a system message popped up saying my mind was contaminated by the Siren's song. But I'd specced into Mental Resistance precisely for crap like this, so I shrugged it off easy.
"Ung! Uang! Smack smack smack! Fuckin' adorable, me."
Past me gets a big kiss on the bicep for picking Mental Resistance. Good job, old me!
"...Hold up?"
Then I remembered something Jina told me once.
'The Siren's song can be heard up to 5km away. Anyone who hears it suffers hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, mental breakdowns, etc. Prolonged exposure leads to loss of consciousness and involuntary movement toward the Siren.'
"....."
Twenty years ago, when the Siren first appeared, there were thousands of casualties. But only a handful died in actual combat—most drowned themselves in the ocean after hearing the song, in a mass suicide.
"Fuck this shit!"
I rushed to the balcony and peered outside, a curse slipping out. People fleeing to shelters were shambling toward the sea like zombies.
Zombie flicks at least have the groaning and moaning; these folks marched silently toward the water. That silence made it all the more terrifying.
"You crazy bird-brained bitch!"
Flames shot from my eyes as I spotted kids mixed in with the crowd. Even a guy clutching a baby, heading for the waves.
Thousands dead. Including kids who never got to bloom.
"You're fucking dead, you piece of shit!"
With that realization, I bolted at full speed, leaping into the sky. First things first: shut down that beautiful, bullshit melody.
Steel Skin is a skill meant to max out defense. But channeling it into a punch hits harder than bare knuckles—like boosting both attack and defense at once.
I learned that fighting Gumiho. Even going all-out as a superpower-limited Lü Bu, I couldn't drop a monster outright. But I could at least trip 'em up.
I soared high, and the Siren's silhouette sharpened into view: a woman's stunning face atop a massive bird body, sky-blue feathers gleaming, talons like nightmares. Smaller than the one from twenty years back, but still gigantic by human standards.
"Punch of True Conviction!"
I swung at the philtrum of the bitch belting out her song. BAM!
My ironclad rule—no touching kids—packed into that fist. No monster walks away unscathed from—
[.....]
"....."
She walked away unscathed? Well, not totally—mission accomplished. The singing Siren shut her trap and glared at me. The mind-control melody stopped, and—
"Uh, ugh?"
"Why am I here...?"
"Where is this... Huh? Waaah! M-m-monster!!!"
The zombie marchers snapped out of it, looking around in confusion. Spotting the giant bird-monster hovering overhead, they freaked and bolted.
My job here? One thing.
"What're you staring at, you bird-headed freak—nah, human-headed bird bitch."
Taunt the Siren. Wait, no.
Correction: Keep her from singing till everyone's evacuated. Using Gravity Dominator, I floated right in her face, shrugging provocatively.
"What're you staring at? Heh~ Thought my face only worked on humans, but monsters dig it too? Keep it up and you might actually eat me. Makes sense—I'm pretty damn handsome."
[.....]
"Oh, monsters don't get human talk? Figured the human head meant you could."
[.....]
The Siren stayed silent. Either she didn't understand or couldn't talk. I'd assumed all monsters could chat since Gumiho could, but apparently not.
Damn, she is pretty, though. That pretty face is the problem—way too huge.
Bird body killed the vibe, but the face? Top-tier beauty. Just scaled up to boulder size, kinda ruined it. Big pretty harpy vibe. Off-putting as hell.
"But you'll get this."
I locked eyes, thumbs-up... then slashed across my throat, pointing at her.
"You're dying by my hand today."
[KYAAAAAHH!]
"Waaah!!"
With her screech, the battle kicked off.
Keville was a 40-something office worker living in District 78, eyeing retirement in his ordinary, powerless 50s. He'd just nailed a big project at work, scoring a fat bonus—50% of his annual salary—plus a week off.
Always felt guilty for neglecting his family for the grind. With vacation time now? Perfect chance. He splurged the bonus on a "budget" suite by the sea for a family trip.
Shoulders squared, he led them into the hotel room.
"Whoa~ Awesome!"
"Eek! Thanks, Dad!"
"Honey, you didn't overdo it, did you?"
"Got a nice bonus this time. It's fine."
Playing it cool, but seeing their joy? Best decision ever, he thought.
That joy didn't last.
What the hell's that noise?
Midnight siren wail jolted him awake. Monster alert. Pale as a ghost, he roused the family and bolted for the shelter.
Streets packed with evacuees.
"Wha—what...!"
"Dad!"
"Luigi!"
Crushed in the crowd, Keville lost grip on his son's hand. His precious boy, swept away like driftwood.
"H-honey!"
"You and Jeanne head to the shelter first! I'll grab Luigi!"
"Dad!"
"Honey! You have to come! Promise!"
"Go, now!"
Wife and daughter away, Keville backtracked for Luigi. Fighting the tide was hell, but fatherly drive pushed him. Heaven smiled—he found the kid.
"Luigi! What're you doing? C'mere!"
"D-Dad..."
"Hurry!"
"O-over there..."
"...Oh."
His blood ran cold. A colossal bird stared down from the sky.
Luigi wasn't frozen for nothing—overwhelmed by the sheer presence.
We're dead...!
Anyone facing a monster that size senses doom.
"Wah, waaah..."
"Luigi...!"
His son's sobs snapped Keville back. Even if he died here, his boy lives. Defying terror, he scooped Luigi and sprinted for shelter.
The sky was merciless. Before Keville took three steps, the Siren sang.
"Guh! Graaah!"
A melody he'd never heard—beautiful, but to him, the song of death.
"....."
"....."
One by one, fellow runners turned, shambling toward the sea.
"....."
Even crying Luigi went blank, ensnared.
"Not my son... Not Luigi... Raaagh!"
Only Keville held out. Bleeding from eyes, nose, ears, mouth, he dragged toward a nearby shop, step by agonizing step.
Finally inside, he hurled Luigi in, slammed the door. The boy rose, drawn to the Siren—but the door held.
"You... gotta... live..."
Forcing a smile for his son, Keville blacked out.
For a powerless normie, resisting that long was heroic.
"....."
Unconscious, he turned toward the sea. Waves lapped his feet—he didn't stop. Water climbed to his waist. Drowning imminent.
"Punch of True Conviction!"
Capricious heaven delivered a miracle again. To him, to everyone—a hero. No, a villain.
The villain's fist connected; the devil's lure silenced.
"...Huh?"
"C-cold!"
"Eeeek?! M-monster!"
"...Ah."
Snap by snap, awareness returned. Keville too.
"That guy...?"
Confused by his seaside stance, he scanned around—up. A man faced the Siren.
Black clothes hid details, but human for sure.
"Luigi!"
Remembering his son, Keville scrambled from the surf. Mid-run to the shop—BOOM BOOM BOOM!—he glanced back.
"Oh..."
The man in black pummeled the Siren. Who was he? Didn't matter. Clear as day: risking his life, alone, shielding them.
Hero (HERO). That man was undoubtedly a hero.