Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Turning Point (1)
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[ "From now on, we will select personnel to support the village." ]
What...
Of course, I'm not actually gone.
As if that would work so easily. If it did, I would've done it ages ago.
This whole thing was just me unilaterally cutting off the conversation.
[ "Any cadets who want to go? We'll take just about four." ]
Roel shot her hand up on the screen.
Sera and Laila did the same.
These days, the three of them stuck together no matter where they went.
During lectures, training, even meals. They rarely parted ways.
Having reliable friends to lean on was a good thing.
"They're doing just fine."
Roel was thriving even without me.
She didn't skip training unless I nagged her, and thanks to that, she was growing on her own just fine.
If she kept developing like this, she'd be ready to take down the Demon King in no time.
She didn't need my help anymore.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Did I really have to become the villain?
Sure, the penalties were scary, so I couldn't treat her kindly like before.
But it was also true that I didn't want to play the bad guy. I didn't want Roel to hate me.
"If I just keep watching like this..."
What would happen if I did nothing?
If I neither did good deeds nor bad ones.
How would the System judge me?
All sorts of thoughts tangled in my head.
I had no idea.
I thought I'd mentally prepared myself, but now that it was time to act, here I was.
Damn it...
[ "Alright, that's the team. Roel, Sera, Laila, Evan. You four, follow me." ]
Thankfully, Professor Cigarette snapped me out of it.
She moved straight into action the moment the briefing ended.
It helped me push aside those complicated thoughts for a bit.
[ "Here's the details. There's a small village an hour away from the Academy. Lately, low-grade monsters have been appearing nearby, so we're heading out directly for resident protection and training purposes." ]
Low-grade monsters, huh.
Probably a goblin village popped up around there.
Considering Roel's level, it wouldn't be a tough assignment.
...But why did my gut feel so off?
It was different from the unease I'd felt last time.
An emotion I couldn't quite put into words. I tilted my head instinctively.
"...Let's just watch for now."
"There really are a ton of monsters..."
Roel said, breathing heavily.
She wiped the blood from her cheek. A severed goblin head rolled at her feet.
Roel's stamina was on a whole other level compared to an ordinary person.
A few goblins wouldn't tire her out.
"Damn, there's no end to them?"
"...Way too many. It's weird."
For even Roel to feel a bit worn out, the goblin numbers were substantial.
Human wave tactics—cut down one, and two more charged in.
Where the hell had this many come from?
"More coming from the west!"
"Roel, no choice!"
At Sera's signal, Roel unleashed Cleave.
One step forward.
Sword raised as high as possible.
This time, focusing especially on range.
"Hah!!"
She swung.
A sharp bursting sound rang out as the goblin horde was swept away in an instant.
"...Yeah, crowds are definitely your thing."
"You're not just trying to pass the buck, are you?"
She only panicked at first.
No matter how many, goblins were still goblins.
There was no way the '1st Grade cadets,' including the trio, would lose.
"Looks like that's it."
After about an hour, the area's goblins were wiped clean.
They must've gotten enough that no more would show up.
Roel let out a relieved sigh.
"Hey, top student."
"...Evan?"
Roel, about to sit on a rock for a break, stood back up at his call.
"You noticed, right?"
"...?"
"Yeah, this isn't the end of the goblins."
Roel just blinked at him.
Okay, time to play along like I get it.
"You're right."
"Knew you'd catch on."
Evan nodded to himself and continued.
"Even goblins with their crazy breeding rates—this many is unnatural. Objectively, enough to overrun the village ages ago."
Roel had felt the same.
Even at a glance, today's goblins looked like they came from about five villages.
"So! My genius brain's conclusion is this."
Evan held up an index finger triumphantly.
No idea what that gesture meant.
Guess he'd been pondering alone during the fight?
That explains why he kept heading west.
"There's a dungeon that broke nearby. Nothing else makes sense."
"Sounds plausible."
Monsters were part of the ecosystem, but 'dungeon monsters' were different.
Dungeon monsters spawned automatically, cycling every set period until the treasures vanished.
Untouched dungeons built up monsters over time until they couldn't contain them anymore.
That's when a Dungeon Break started.
"Must be a pretty big one nearby."
"And hidden."
Dungeons were a managed national disaster.
With discovery bounties, citizens reported them without hesitation.
Most got cleared before breaking.
Of course, exceptions existed.
Unfound dungeons couldn't be cleared, piling up monsters until they burst like this.
"What're you talking about?"
Sera approached after mopping up the stragglers.
"Talking about a hidden dungeon maybe."
"Duh? No way this many goblins from breeding alone."
"Oh, it's obvious?"
"If you've got a brain."
Her signature bluntness.
Roel was used to it by now, but Evan probably wasn't.
"..."
A glance showed Evan silently fiddling with his glasses.
Roel thought he might be kind of an airhead.
"Let's head back to the village anyway. Gotta report to the professor."
"Yeah."
The four returned together.
The villagers greeted them with warm smiles.
The chief especially kept thanking them: "Now we can sleep easy."
Roel's lips curved up naturally.
After vowing to save people, this was her first time actually helping someone.
So this is what it feels like.
Joy was short-lived; the group hurried to Professor Cigarette.
Reporting the possible dungeon.
She looked serious as she listened, then patted their shoulders like they'd done well.
"Good work. Yeah, circumstances are suspicious."
"What now?"
"You've earned a rest today. I'll check the dungeon myself."
Given the situation, immediate return wasn't feasible.
For resident safety, Roel's group stayed in the village overnight.
"Kids! Eat this. We made it ourselves."
"You didn't have to go this far..."
"We're grateful. Dig in."
Homemade meat pies from the villagers kept their stomachs full.
They patrolled the village edges until bedtime.
A group decision, just in case lingering goblins showed.
Thankfully, none did.
Goblins were sly, so full relaxation wasn't possible, but it was one less worry.
"Time to sleep?"
"Who’s on watch?"
"Villagers volunteered. They'll wake us if anything happens."
"Got it."
Evan flashed a meaningful look for a second.
"Alright then."
They prepared for bed.
No spare clothes, so uniforms it was.
Uncomfortable, but unavoidable.
As training ramped up, this would happen more.
Better to adapt now.
Roel closed her eyes.
A deep sleep, dreamless.
Hours later.
A sound outside the door made Roel crack her eyes open.
It was odd.
She'd been in deep slumber, yet a tiny noise woke her.
"...What's that sound?"
Roel focused.
Not the wind.
Not an object.
If anything, like human voices.
She shut her eyes and listened.
The voices drew closer.
"It's true...! They're from the Hero Academy."
"You sure you've got them secured?"
"Used sleep magic scrolls. Definitely."
Demon and villager voices.
Sounded hierarchical.
Her foggy mind sharpened.
How long had this been going on?
No time for deep thoughts.
They might be under threat.
'Sleep magic, huh.'
Why was she awake?
Resistant constitution?
Whatever. Action was clear.
"Everyone, wake up!!"
Roel shouted, releasing her energy.
Her signature blue aura filled the room, but no one stirred.
Magic was potent.
'Wake-up' failed.
Now, hold out until they woke.
"...Sleeping in isn't good for you?"
Creeeak.
The door opened slowly.
"One's awake."
"Th-that's..."
"Tch, can't even handle this right."
The village chief.
And a bizarrely tall demon.
The rectangular doorframe couldn't contain the demon's full body.
It crouched, revealing itself fully.
Strong.
Definitely strong, but not wolf-demon level.
Current Roel could win.
She raised her aura.
"Stop."
The demon instantly gripped the chief's throat.
"Drop the sword, or this human dies."
"...What?"
Late night.
All forced asleep, Roel alone.
In a way she'd never faced before, her 'first trial' began.