The Hydra's Silent Fall
The Hydra Guild's defeat at the hands of the Iron Shield spread like wildfire throughout Gideon. In truth, the name Iron Shield had already gained notoriety from their previous disruption at the Moonlight Tear, but the nature of it was different now. Though backed by Hades and Nox, the Moonlight Tear itself was merely a brothel with little martial prowess. In contrast, the Hydra Guild's reputation was on an entirely different level. If the former incident had people wondering, "What kind of guts do they have to act so boldly?", the latter evoked reactions like, "They defeated the Hydra Guild? Are they insane?"
"Isn't the Hydra Guild where the witch Veronika is?"
"Insane. To turn the tables on Hades' executioner..."
"The Iron Shield... we'll need to keep an eye on them from now on."
Not once, but twice, they had openly defied Hades. The implication was clear. Someone had emerged to challenge Hades' hegemony that ruled over the pinnacle of Gideon. Isaac Silvertehr. The Iron Shield's master. His name was already spreading far and wide across Gideon, whether people liked it or not. Who would emerge victorious in the war for supremacy? Guilds began to stir, each predicting their own outcomes. And at the center of this change was Isaac, who was currently...
"Now, calm down already."
"......"
He was being flustered by a child seven years younger than himself. The Isaac who had defeated Hades' executioner Veronika was now flustered by a mere child? It was certainly a difficult scene to explain. But what could he do? It was the truth. Las watched the scene with a blank expression before scratching his aching head in thought. How was he supposed to explain this situation now?
"Dig, what's going on here?"
"Our great new recruit is angry because the master sacrificed his own life."
"......That's funny enough as a reason to be angry, but the master is actually indulging it?"
"You know the master's style. But today, he's asking more questions than usual?"
Las raised his middle finger at Dig, who was looking at him with a meaningful gaze, then sighed and turned his head. However, he was immediately knocked down by a dropkick that followed.
"Why the hell are you acting up again!!"
"You cursed first!!"
"This bastard really!!"
'Those two are always fighting whenever I see them.'
Diego and Las's fights had become a signature spectacle of the Iron Shield. At first, there were people who tried to stop them, but as they fought almost every day, it eventually turned into something to watch.
"Master."
"What is it?"
But Zeek, who didn't want Isaac's attention to go elsewhere, immediately spoke up. Thanks to that, Isaac's attention was drawn back to Zeek. Zeek sighed and said,
"I understand the master's heart that loves his family."
"That's a relief."
"But please also understand that the master is part of that family."
"......"
"The kid said something sensible for once."
Kain, who had been watching them from the side, also chimed in agreement with Zeek's words. Most of the people here had joined the guild after being inspired by their master, Isaac.
"If it's family, they should protect each other."
"That's right, Master. Please think a little about the feelings of those who are being protected one-sidedly!"
"......I have nothing to say. I'm sorry."
Isaac readily acknowledged the fact and nodded. Regardless of strength, family members inevitably worry about each other. So rather, let's overcome it together from the beginning. Isn't that the ideal form of a guild?
Hans watched the guild members and thought. This was probably the kind of guild that man wanted to create. He could acknowledge that.
"But we can't ignore reality either."
"Ah, senior. Everything's fine, but why are you butting in all of a sudden?"
"Thanks to you, my friends were able to stay safe. Th-thank you, senior."
"Huh? What did you say, you little brat? I can't hear you well~"
"Ah, why are you messing around!"
"Come on! Everyone, focus on the conversation!"
Sophia lightly ignored Diego, who was expressing gratitude, and Kain, who was teasing him, and clapped her hands to draw attention to herself. What was important now was Hades.
"This is on a completely different level from the Moonlight Tear. They deliberately targeted a subordinate guild, right?"
"They even completely wrecked the Hydra Guild's headquarters before returning."
"There were quite a few things worth looting there."
"Anyway! From now on, the Hades Guild will start getting involved in earnest. In the worst case, they might even attack directly."
Sophia thought it was strange that Hades hadn't attacked immediately. It had already been three days since they wiped out the Hydra Guild. They had finished all the cleanup during that time. Yet Hades showed no movement. At this point, it was natural to feel something was off. The Moonlight Tear wasn't a direct or subordinate guild, so overlooking it was understandable. But the Hydra Guild was different. As a subordinate guild of Hades, they had executed countless guilds. Wiping out such a Hydra Guild was no different from a declaration of war.
'I thought they would attack within two days at the latest. Is something happening in the Hades Guild?'
"They won't show any movement."
It was Isaac's answer that eased Sophia's worries. He denied her concerns with a confident voice. Thanks to that, Sophia found herself relieved without realizing it. No, this wasn't right.
"On what basis exactly?"
"The Hades Guild isn't third-rate. They are people with their own convictions."
"Does that mean a hero isn't a hero for nothing?"
"That's exactly it. And their conviction is the law of the jungle."
"......"
"Even if it's their own subordinates, there are no exceptions."
Not all enemies are villains. In Gideon, numerous heroes clash with their own unyielding convictions and senses of justice. Hades was no different. Their actions might be villainous, but they too have their own convictions and purposes. Isaac, who had read the entire novel, couldn't possibly not know that. Of course, that didn't mean he had any intention of abandoning his concept.
'Hades......'
Zeek bit her lip. The overwhelming gap and sense of power she had felt from Veronika before. It had become the girl's driving force. If things continued like this, she would lose what was precious to her.
'I need to become stronger than I am now.'
So that one day, beside the master.... For a very brief moment, Zeek's eyes turned red before returning to normal. But it happened so quickly that not a single person noticed anything amiss.
Although they had been defeated by the Iron Shield, the Hydra Guild was still one of the top ten elite guilds in Gideon. Naturally, there were remnants who had survived by avoiding the purge. In the first place, they didn't even think they had been defeated. They had retreated for now, but they genuinely believed that if they prepared properly and faced them again, they could win.
In particular, Kinos, the acting master of the Hydra Guild, was grinding his teeth with determination. The brats who had humiliated him—Diego and Heres, was it? He planned to deal with those bastards personally.
"First, I need to lure them one by one."
He had a plan. Using acquaintances he had identified in advance as hostages, he would lure them one by one, trap them, and kill them thoroughly. Of course, he couldn't defeat that monster, but that didn't matter. Even if it meant sacrificing all their lives, it would be enough if they could inflict an indelible wound. This was already revenge without even a greater cause.
Soon, judging that all preparations were complete, Kinos was about to move with the remaining remnants. That is, if his subordinates hadn't disappeared without a trace while he was briefly looking away.
"Huh?"
What had happened? He hadn't even perceived it. And it wasn't like he had looked away for long. He had merely glanced forward for a moment before looking back. Only about 1 second? Yet in that short time, heroes who could be considered elite even in Gideon had vanished without leaving a trace. There was only one person in Kinos's memory capable of such a feat.
"Perse...!!!"
His voice was cut off. The voice that hadn't been fully uttered would never resound in this world again. The place where dozens had been was now eerily quiet.
"You are neither strong nor noble."
What is the definition of a hero? Everyone might have their own meaning, but a hero must be stronger and nobler than anyone else. However, humans cannot be perfect. So she had set her own standards. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection. A hell where only the stronger can survive. Some might say it's too harsh. That's true. But shouldn't a hero endure at least this level of trial? And there are certainly those who do not abandon their nobility even in such a hell. Those are the heroes she and her father are waiting for. Not fakes like these.
"Yes, that's right, Father. All of this is......"
To oppose the promised destruction. No more voices could be heard from the darkness.