Chapter 126 - The City in Chaos and Klea!
“Kiyaaaaah!!!”
The moment Jormungandr burst out of the ground, Marte lost his balance and tumbled, dropping Bivora from his back.
“Ack!”
“Graaaah!!”
The instant he hit the dirt, Bivora erupted with red fighting spirit from his body, snapping the ropes binding him before whipping around to bolt.
“Where do you think you’re going!!!”
Marte drew his sword and charged after the escaped Bivora, but right then—
“Kiyaaaaah!!!!!”
With a massive rumble shaking the earth, Marte’s body tilted, and his sword only grazed Bivora’s arm instead of slicing clean through.
“Nngh...!”
Clutching his shoulder, Bivora turned transparent and vanished into the bushes.
This fucking bastard. I had him right there...!
“Marte! He bolted that way! Grab him!”
Stealth? That shit’s useless, asshole! I can’t see him, but my Demon Eye tracks his position perfectly!
Who knew it could even see through stealth? Demon Eye is the fucking best!
“Got it!”
Marte wrapped himself in heroic fighting spirit and was about to leap after Bivora when the Jormungandr, which had been shrieking skyward, turned its gaze on us.
What the fuck? That... that thing in its mouth...!
“Marte! Something’s coming!”
I warned him and hurled my body over Marsie to shield her. At the same time, a black orb shot from Jormungandr’s maw, hurtling straight at Marte, who was cloaked in heroic fighting spirit.
“Ugh...!”
Marte spun and thrust his sword at the black orb, which exploded massively, spewing dark smoke everywhere.
“Nngh...! Marsie, you okay?”
The blast cleared, and I checked on Marsie first—she was basically a civilian. No way I’d let her die after rescuing her.
“Y-Yes...! I’m fine, but big bro...!?”
“Marte! You alive!?”
I shouted, and from the black smoke of the explosion, Marte emerged coughing, his body smeared with soot.
Maybe because he wasn’t wearing armor, but his clothes were torn in spots, and patches of his skin were red like abrasions.
“I-I’m fine. Just some scratches.”
No major injuries, but... he was using heroic fighting spirit and still got hurt? That thing. Did it get stronger? It looks several times bigger too...
“Ugh...! Sorry. I let Bivora get away...!”
“......Nah. We can still chase him.”
Looking toward the forest, I could sense Bivora’s color beyond the trees. He’d used fighting spirit or a skill to put some distance, but he was still just running on human legs. Hold on a sec, Bivora. I’ll catch up and plant a soccer kick right in your back...!
“Let’s pursue! We’ll grab that Hero Eater bastard after—!”
“S-Seema! The Hero Eater!”
I was about to dash after Bivora when Marte yelled, and the ground shook.
The long-legged Jormungandr started slithering off with a rustling shh-shh-shh. Not that it was quiet—with its size, every leg movement sent vibrations through the earth. Had its speed increased with its bulk? In just seconds, its rear was shrinking into the distance.
And the direction it was heading...
No fucking way...
“...That crazy...!”
“It’s heading for the central city! If that thing reaches the city...!”
No, Lizbet and Klea are there right now...!
Fuck shit! I had Bivora in the bag, and now this snake prick...!
“Agh...! Fuck this shit! Get on!”
I glanced at the rapidly fleeing Bivora and Jormungandr, spat a curse, and yelled at the two.
Agh, for real...! Marte can’t chase without my Demon Eye, and if I go, winning’s secondary—my bitches are at risk...!
They’re both too damn fast! No time to chase both!
No choice. Gotta prioritize my bitches!
Last time it saved my ass at the perfect moment, now it’s saving Bivora? That snake fucker!
“Ugh, sorry...! Marsie, you too—on Seema’s back!”
Yeah, you should be sorry! How do you let that slip when we had him? All you heroes do is fuck off!
“Hero Eater first! Oh, and grab my weapon too!”
I scooped up the two and my weapon, then bolted after the Hero Eater.
Kukukukukukung!! Every time the Hero Eater slithered and rustled along, trees toppled and the ground quaked.
Crazy, what the hell with that size and speed? What the fuck did it eat to bulk up like that so fast?
I’d caught up somehow, but unless I slow it down, we’re screwed. Hell, the central city was already right there!
“Marte! Are there heroes in the central city...!?”
“Yes! Almost...! Ah, there they are!”
Right as Marte shouted, three blue lights flickered from the central city, flying toward Jormungandr.
Those hollow colors. Probably other Hero Knights like Marte. And those three... they’re even stronger than him.
In that case...!
“Marte! Why not join up with them!?”
“Yes! Got it! Take care of my sister! Marsie! Hold this and don’t leave Seema’s side!”
“O-Okay! Got it!”
Marte handed Marsie the verbal whip and leaped off my back, propelling himself at the Hero Eater with blue heroic fighting spirit.
Perfect. While those heroes hold it off, I’ll grab my bitches.
I veered away from the Hero Eater and headed to the city entrance on the opposite side, where the panicked chaos of the city hit me.
Terrified people screaming and fleeing—a total shitshow.
Fuck...! All these people are giving me a headache! Demon Eye off!
I shut off my Demon Eye and scanned around. People grabbing their stuff and running, or clutching kids as they bolted.
Normally I’d think they were freaking over me, but these fear-struck folks staring up probably hadn’t even noticed me entering the city.
Screw the people—straight to the church...! Where is it!?
“...No, of all places...!”
Looking for the church building, I spotted them right in front of the Hero Eater’s path—the church structures.
Blue lights zipped around, blasting something at it, but no fatal hits yet; the Hero Eater kept moving.
Tch. Can’t change direction mid-air, so it feels like they’re just chasing and slashing...
What the hell? Hero attacks should pack a punch. How’s it tanking that?
...Wait, fuck. The Hero Eater’s wrapping its spider-like long legs around itself now, ignoring attacks and just pushing forward!
This fucking thing—can’t you just one-shot it!? That’s why it’s doing that, huh!?
“Hold on tight, Marsie! Don’t fall!”
“Okay! I won’t, so don’t worry!”
I yelled at Marsie, then vaulted over a flower bed and sprinted straight for the church without waiting for her full reply.
At the same time, I saw Jormungandr climbing the mountain the church backed against.
Tch, cutting it close...! Lizbet was outside, so she’s probably aware, but... Klea’s the problem! The church is evacuating, right!?
No way the test is still going in this mess!?
“Liz! Klea! Fuck, get out of the way!”
Entering the church grounds, priests and civilians screamed and scattered in panic. Some had grabbed bags and were fleeing, blocking my path, so I just kicked them aside.
Crazy. Don’t priests hate monsters? What’s with them running too?
Plowing through and leaping over people, I reached the building where Klea was taking her test. There stood Lizbet and Baul, staring at the Hero Eater.
“Liz! Bishop Baul!”
“Ah, Master!”
Lizbet spotted me and waved. Scanning Baul and the surroundings, I saw priests sweating bullets in a huddle and knights eyeing the approaching Hero Eater.
Yeah... some priests are running, but others are stepping up.
“Liz! Where’s Klea!?”
“She hasn’t come out yet! We spotted the Hero Eater earlier, but some old archbishop prick told the Hero Knights to handle it and keep the test going!”
“S-Seema! Klea! Kleaaaaa!”
What the fuck? Which old bastard is that? Ignore the crying, clinging Baul for now. What have you been doing!?
“It must’ve shaken hard though! Why hasn’t she come out!?”
“Probably quake-proofing magic! Fancy buildings have vibration-dampening spells!”
“Waaaaaah, Kleaaaaa...!!”
Crazy isekai magic! But it’s not helping now!
“The knights just went in to drag out the saint candidates, but Klea’s still...!”
“This is insane... Ah, Liz. Watch this one. She’s Marte’s sister.”
“Got it. What about you, Master?”
“I’ll go grab Klea quick. Once I’ve got her, we bolt.”
“Waaaaaah...! Kleaaaaa...!”
Agh, fuck. Where’d your usual self go, Baul?
I shook off the clinging Baul and charged toward the test building.
It was a big structure, and the Hero Eater was almost on us... If I run into that archbishop...
“Gasp...!”
As I cursed inwardly and neared the church entrance, from behind it, the Hero Eater unfurled countless legs and launched itself at us.
Ignoring the heroes clinging to the mountainside, it glided toward us like it was soaring.
The spot it was aiming for—confirmed as the building where Klea still was.
I hurled myself straight inside.