Terminal
Hyahya.
“Angel-nim! Angel-nim! Look over there! There are one, two… so many spiky, tall buildings I can't count them all!”
Dorothy leaned out of the monorail window, eyes sparkling.
To Dorothy, who had never seen such a dense forest of high buildings in the gray city, everything was just fascinating.
Compared to Area 7, this city area was definitely like a countryside village.
It was a modern scene I'd seen countless times in games, so no special thrill, but to Dorothy, it would feel different.
“I wish Unnie had seen this too… It's a shame.”
“Living as a city girl might be better than living there.”
Because it's hard to make a living, and knowing there are monsters, there are citizens fleeing to Area 7.
If it's Mary, who has settled in and is living without shortage, she's doing well.
Thinking about it… In the original story, Dorothy, who didn't exist, is now living next to me, and Mary, who was stirring the city as a villain, is now a poacher.
It's definitely a moment where the fate has changed.
“Even Area 3 is like this, how sparkling are Areas 1 and 2?”
“It’s not that different from here. It’s just that the density of facilities is different.”
The Academy is in Area 3.
If asked why not Area 1 or 2,
Areas 1 and 2 are the heart of the city where core powers and important facilities are concentrated for initial survival, the center of power.
During enrollment season, not only talented talents from each area flock, but also villains, monsters, and non-citizen immigrants trying to sneak in.
If they have to handle such a situation in the heart, what would happen?
It's realistically difficult to keep calling in active heroes.
So, Area 3, with relatively lower density and higher safety, was chosen as the Academy site.
Of course, in my personal opinion, this setting is close to a device to give game-like plausibility.
It makes it seem like it's not strange if villain or monster attacks happen.
“Angel-nim! There it is, the Academy!”
Beyond the train window, the Academy started to come into view far away.
<Finally at the starting line.>
I had gritted my teeth and endured for the past two years to survive.
Now that the fruits of that effort are finally approaching, I thought my eyes might tear up.
[People are many… still not adapted. I'm going to get motion sick.]
<In Area 7, endure thinking of the unspeakable delicacies I can't eat.>
[Ugh…]
Now, entering the Academy, I need to check on Siu and Sia's status.
Siu and Sia. They've been doing well for two years, right?
Imagining how they'll look after two years of growth, it's a bit exciting.
I hope the siblings grow well with good synergy with each other.
[In a moment, the Area crossing train MTX will arrive at the main terminal of Area 3. Please check if you have any items left around your seat before disembarking. Thank you for using MTX. Have a safe journey.]
The Area crossing train MTX will arrive at the main terminal of Area 3 in a moment. Please check if you have any items left around your seat before disembarking. Thank you for using MTX. Have a safe journey.
We prepared to disembark following the announcement.
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.
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“Everyone line up!”
“One by one, pass through the inspection station. Move after the person in front finishes checking.”
Unlike when crossing to Area 7, here a systematic quarantine using advanced equipment was in progress.
“It’s a bit tense.”
“Don’t worry.”
Thanks to Mary securing a legitimate route for Dorothy at considerable cost, we could pass the terminal's inspection without issues.
[Hehe, I hope we pass quickly.]
<Calm down. There won't be any problem, but if you get flustered, you'll make mistakes.>
[Ugh. Ah, okay.]
When I warned about potential danger, Shan immediately tucked her tail and returned to her usual form.
Parasitic monsters, even the minor ones, are all caught at this quarantine.
It's not a joke; the Area terminal has an S-grade class resident, like a branch chief.
“Haaam.”
A young child with messy hair tied up roughly with a rubber band was sitting at the desk next to the inspection booth.
Wearing a loose, dirty t-shirt that looked like she stole her dad's clothes, pink slippers, blowing bubble gum, feet on the desk, chair tilted back.
Click click.
With her hand holding the game controller, she slowly pressed buttons, yawning repeatedly as if bored.
No one stopped her.
[Tis, what is that kid? An orphan?]
<That kid is Baba Yaga. Shan has seen her on the net too, right?>
[What? That S-grade hero?!]
Shan stared at the child called Baba Yaga, a question mark floating above her head.
[Just a kid? No strong aura or anything. Plus, she's shorter than Tis.]
<The height thing… Hah, no. It's true she's smaller than me. She doesn't look strong because she's hiding her power. With S-grade, anything is possible.>
On the surface, she seems like a rude smartass, but she's never a character to be ignored.
Hero name, Baba Yaga.
An S-grade hero highly regarded in the city.
[Tis, Tis Unnie! A lion is standing there!]
And next to her was a large lion, as if about to burst out of a tailored suit, standing proudly.
[It looks like from the net. Lion King! An A+ rank hunter, right?]
<Yes. The very appearance is Lion King Lionel's ability.>
Lionel is a heteromorphic ability user whose body itself has permanently transformed into a lion.
As you can see, it's a lion, a veteran hunter who has trained martial arts with the lion's physical features and speed.
He's also a teacher in charge of the hunter side at the Academy.
“Kitten~ Since there's nothing to it anyway, why not just go?”
“I cannot. You said you would come here, which is Baba Yaga-nim. And my name is not kitten, but Lionel. And, please get down. I am not a toy.”
Baba Yaga, who was riding on Lionel's back like a horse, slid down his back like a slide, then started fiddling with his tail.
“Since you've been assigned as an S-grade responder for emergency situations, you must leave work after today's duties end.”
Pop.
When even the tail was confiscated, Baba Yaga puffed up her cheeks instead of her tail and burst the bubble gum.
“It's because I didn't know it would be this boring. I thought villains would sneak in every day and accidents would pop up everywhere.”
“…Normally, such things don't happen. And they shouldn't happen.”
“It's boring eee.”
Throwing the game controller aside as if it was boring, leaning back on the chair yawning, Baba Yaga looked at the people lining up to pass the inspection.
“What, is a terror not going to happen?”
“Watch your words. Citizens are getting agitated.”
“Tch. The old lady says that, but these days they just talk back and have no manners.”
Haa.
Lionel put his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“Baba Yaga-nim. You should maintain the dignity befitting your status; respect and manners will follow.”
“I don't know about that~ Hmph.”
[Wow… Watching her talk. She's completely different?]
<Yeah, she's a living legend who's been alive since before the Gates. Where did she learn such speech?>
The words spilling out while muttering are things that can't be thought of as a hero, but Baba Yaga is a kind of witch.
Complaining but acknowledging the Management Bureau's system, working as a hero not as a villain.
From that perspective, she's definitely not a bad person.
[If she's an S-grade hero, will she recognize us?]
<No, she definitely can't recognize us.>
For the past two years, I had gritted my teeth and struggled to survive.
After all the hardship, I finally managed to prepare.
The most important thing was the evolution of the mimicry ability.
With just the mimicry ability obtained by defeating Rox, it was hard to enter Area 3 without being noticed.
To evolve the mimicry ability, strong combat power was needed, and to become strong, I had to gather lower essences again, barely escaping the endless cycle of repetition after two years of effort.
Even Baba Yaga's various magics and Leo's sense of smell couldn't notice my mimicry.
“Um?”
So, Baba Yaga lifting her head to look this way was purely coincidental.
It must be a coincidence.
Right?
“Hey, over there, far away.”
When I grabbed the hem of the hero's clothes on the opposite side and shook it, the hero hurriedly bent down.
“Yes! Baba Yaga-nim!”
“Hey, look at that.”
Why is Baba Yaga's finger pointing this way…?
No, it can't be. Right?
[Tis, Tis?]
<Calm down.>
It should be fine.
As if nothing was happening, fiddling with the terminal, waiting for the line to shorten.
[Uwahaaa…]
“Who is speaking?”
Haa?
When the hero asked back with a troubled face, Baba Yaga frowned.
“Hey, do you see a guy with Check Nam-bang clothes, looking like a rat? Go catch him.”
“What?”
“What do you mean… Shall I drill another hole in your eardrum?”
“Ah, no!”
When a green light flashed from the skull in Baba Yaga's hand, the security officer jumped out in shock.
Surprisingly, the man in Check Nam-bang was a villain with transformation ability.
While the heroes quickly subdued and dragged him away, the surrounding citizens, with Baba Yaga there, reacted as if it was natural to arrest him, without much agitation.
“What, just a C-rank catch? Strange… I thought I'd catch a big one. Now my instincts are starting to dull?”
“Baba Yaga-nim, please be careful with your words.”
Even after catching a villain, with a nonchalant reaction, Baba Yaga scratched her messy hair.
[Why is Baba Yaga here? I thought she was in charge of the Central Area.]
<Probably because of the exam.>
The total exam supervisor changes every time.
The fact that Baba Yaga is in Area 3 means she's very likely the total supervisor for this exam.
<This exam will have few passers.>
Even in the game, using Siu and Sia's mouths, it was said that the exam was hard, so if this weird witch comes out as total supervisor, she'll give a hellish difficulty.
As an advisor from the hero party that defeated Abaddon, she requires students aspiring to be heroes of the new era to have the fortitude to overcome hardships and trials.
It won't be easy this time either.
I need to prepare in advance.
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.
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[Shan, I've endured ten years.]
The melted ice cream Shan, now relaxed, spoke.
Exiting the terminal, the welcoming scene was a splendid ash-colored city forest and countless neon signs.
The city that preserves some of the past's brilliant glory struck the souls of people coming here for the first time with its dazzling light.
“Truly amazing.”
Dorothy too, clinging to me slightly overwhelmed by the overwhelming dignity of the city, different from the distant sparkle.
“Angel-nim, are all the things I see here heroes and hunters?”
“Yes.”
Most of the main figures of entertainment, ads, dramas, movies filling the screen were active heroes and hunters.
The Management Bureau valued the names of heroes and hunters highly and made them objects of admiration and idolization.
Big power comes with big responsibility, but it also brings big rewards.
Heroes and hunters in Neo Sion are given money and power in both hands as much as the weight on their shoulders.
“Can I become like that too?”
“If Dorothy wants it and doesn't give up.”
We passed the sparkling city forest and went to the hotel we had reserved in advance to unpack our luggage.
Dorothy, tired from the long journey, fell asleep quickly.