Red Eyes in the Slums

Novapolis C City Slums

Shuuuuaak! Three black tentacles shot out from my right arm at tremendous speed, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.

Kwaaang!

"Graaak!"

The man struck by the tentacles flew back, slamming into the wall before collapsing in a heap. At the same time, a notification chimed in the right side of my vision.

"Oh. Finally leveled up."

As the level-up notice appeared, I felt something slipping out from my right arm. A fourth tentacle emerged, taking on a solid black form.

"Hey there."

I wiggled the newly sprouted fourth tentacle around. It felt just like flexing my ring finger. Now my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right forearm sported a whopping four tentacles. Kinda creepy-looking, if I do say so myself.

I retracted them all and scanned the surroundings.

Several men lay scattered about, bones broken or bodies twisted unnaturally. They were all criminals—vicious ones at that. No need to hold back.

'And they give great experience points, too.'

This was Novapolis, the massive city where the world's largest conglomeration of races gathered. A superpower nation spanning over half the continent, roughly divided into four districts: A City, B City, C City, and D City.

They had their own systems for Heroes and Hunters. Heroes hunted Villains and maintained public order, while Hunters took down threatening monsters or culled overpopulated ones.

Heroes ranged from S to E-Rank, Hunters from 1st to 5th Rank—five tiers in total. Treatment and social status varied wildly by rank.

What caught my eye were the S-Rank Heroes. Superhumans among superhumans, capable of toppling buildings or splitting the earth with a single swing. There were two in A City, one per major district otherwise. My spot was C City, under S-Rank Hero and 1st Rank Hunter Aiden Crossfield and his family.

The city most in touch with nature among Novapolis's districts. With the sea right next door, it had been easy for me to reach.

Right after jumping ship, I'd swum to the Novapolis C City coast—its intended destination—and slipped into the outskirts slums. Security guard was just a temporary gig anyway, and I planned to ditch the Neocraft Federation soon enough. No big deal.

Two weeks had passed like that. I'd gained some notoriety in these slums. Something like "Red-Eyed Demon Beast"? Cringe-worthy nickname. If the guy who came up with it showed his face, I'd separate his upper half from his lower.

With that thought, I kicked off and leaped up, grabbing the railing of a rundown building to haul myself onto the rooftop.

It was night. Far off, countless lights and the silhouettes of towering buildings filled my view. That was true Novapolis C City. Technically, these slums were part of C City, but they might as well be different worlds.

The lifelong dream of the people here. But not for me.

'Can't go there just yet.'

I was still carrying that black mass presumed to be a demon beast inside me. My status window listed my race as some unidentified something, not human.

To enter the city without registered citizenship, you had to pass through the barrier wall and its security scan—a biometric check.

I knew my changes better than anyone. Strength, stamina, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠agility, reflexes—all my physical stats had skyrocketed. Tentacles sprouted from my arm. Even major wounds regenerated in seconds.

No way I passed for human. I might fool people's eyes by claiming enhanced physique superhuman, but not the machines.

In this world, demon beasts weren't up for negotiation. Their fundamental nature was hostile to humans—extermination was the only policy.

If they found out I'd contacted one and even absorbed it? I didn't know the details, but things would get messy. No one had sensed demonic energy from me yet based on reactions so far, but "what if" was a killer.

Getting into the city would benefit me, sure—but the risks were too high.

'Avoid civilization until it's certain.'

Hopping from rooftop to rooftop, I suddenly heard—

"Haat!"

"Kuhk!"

"Uwaaak!"

"?"

Sounds from somewhere. I veered toward them and peered down. Someone—a girl—was fighting off thugs.

I dropped to the street below, keeping my distance to watch.

Clang!

"Hup!"

"Kuk!"

A girl in her mid-to-late teens with a black ponytail tied back. Sword in hand. Quick and nimble movements. Probably a superhuman.

She slipped through three charging thugs in a flash, slashing one's head with the flat of her blade.

Thwack!

A dull thud echoed. 'Blade's not sharp?'

The struck thug pitched forward. Another swung a crowbar at her from behind.

Clang!

Sword met crowbar. She twisted her blade, deflecting it, then struck his head the same way—

"Kheuk!"

The thug crumpled sideways like his buddy, out cold.

"Hoo..."

The girl caught her breath, lowering her sword. She looked relieved.

'Don't let your guard down.'

"Die!"

"Eut?!"

A man burst from behind her, dagger raised. She'd focused too hard on the front and missed him. Decent skill, but green.

As his attack closed in, she squeezed her eyes shut. I shot a tentacle out, blasting the thug away.

"Kheoraa—!"

He crashed into the wall and went still. I retracted it fast and approached.

She opened her eyes, glancing around in confusion before spotting me.

"D-Did you save me? Thank you."

"Count your enemies first. You almost got yourself killed."

"Y-Yes..."

She bowed her head, embarrassed at forgetting the basics.

Up close, I got a better look. Big blue eyes. Straight nose. Cute mouth, glossy hair. You could call her adorable or pretty. Clean, neat clothes. She didn't fit the slum vibe at all.

"Not from around here, huh? How'd you end up in a place like this?"

She flinched at my words but spoke up.

"Well... I came out of curiosity and got lost..."

"Got lost?"

These slums were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way more dangerous than real-world ones. Tons of outright murderers, as I'd just seen. Curiosity? With a sword, no less—even if blunt.

And from her skills, she wasn't ordinary. Superhuman, or at least professionally trained.

"......"

I considered pressing her but dropped it. Not my kid, not my problem.

"This place is a death trap. Killers everywhere who won't hesitate. Nothing worth seeing. Get out now."

"...Yes. Got it."

She answered but didn't move, gripping her sword tightly, hesitating as she glanced around.

"...Guide me out?"

"...Please."

I swallowed a sigh and turned.

"This way. Stay close."

"Okay!"

She sheathed her sword and followed.

"Name's Kyle."

"Oh, I'm Lien Cro—ahem, Lien."

'......'

That hesitation screamed fake name. I didn't pry—mine was fake too.

We pushed through the darkness.

I stopped. Faint lights glowed at the alley's end—the slum border. A bit farther, and the city barrier loomed, true C City ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beyond.

"Safe from here. Patrols cover it."

"Ah..."

She exhaled, staring at the lights. Turning to me, she bowed at ninety degrees.

"Thank you. I'll never forget this."

I didn't reply. Instead, I stepped back and waved her on.

"Go. Don't look back."

"......Okay."

She walked toward the lights. Only after her presence faded did I turn away.

The next day, I spotted Lien leaning against a rooftop railing in the slums, taking a break. Weapons littered the ground at her feet, surrounded by collapsed figures—presumed criminals.

"Huh."

"...What're you doing."

That marked our second meeting.