Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Shh. Infiltrating
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Even at this astonishing news, Archangel didn't waver much.
As the director of the academy's infirmary, if she showed signs of panic, it would only heighten everyone's anxiety.
Though she had stepped back from the front lines, she was still an S-Rank Hero.
Every gesture and word from her influenced those around her.
"Director! Hurry, you need to head to the shelter!"
"Where would I go, leaving the infirmary behind? If injured personnel arrive and this place is empty, that would be absurd."
A battle with the monster had broken out near the academy.
Nine times out of ten, the wounded would be brought here.
If no one was in the infirmary then, it would be a disaster.
"But it's an Apocalypse-Class monster..."
"Heroes are coming from outside, and we have skilled instructors here too. They've all lived the hero life before, so you're worrying too much."
They couldn't hunt the monster, but they could at least hold out.
It would buy more than enough time until another S-Rank Hero arrived.
Surviving in the hero world meant you were strong, after all.
'Wish Junior Valkyrie were here right now.'
Just a few hours ago, Valkyrie had left the academy on some business.
She didn't know the details, but it was probably related to this incident.
It was regrettable, but she had no intention of blaming her.
Unlike Archangel, who had retired from active duty, Valkyrie was still on the front lines.
It was only natural for her to rush to wherever her help was needed.
"Just in, they're reporting combat with the monster at the academy's rear gate!"
"What's our situation? What kind of monster is it?"
"Fortunately, the instructors are holding up well. It's a massive moth-like creature, but since it's a completely new one, we don't have much intel yet."
As expected of an Apocalypse-Class. Archangel bit her lip.
Even Rampage-Class monsters often had similar specimens, making them easier to fight.
You could pinpoint their weaknesses from past encounters.
But Apocalypse-Class were the most dangerous, each one a unique individual.
They called them "Named" monsters, and this was a new one.
Soon, the Union Korea Branch would add it to the Named registry.
With that thought, Archangel finished preparing to receive the wounded.
"...?"
Archangel suddenly stood and headed to the window.
The assistants helping her followed, asking what was wrong.
Creak-
Opening the window let in the clamor and distant sounds of battle.
The assistants first thought she was checking on that.
But Archangel was looking at something entirely different.
'This aura... something's off.'
She scanned around, but nothing seemed particularly suspicious.
Was she being overly sensitive? Had she lost her edge after being away from the field too long?
Tilting her head, a translucent thread caught on Archangel's hand.
Just one strand. A very thin one at that.
Even cadets or instructors would dismiss it as insignificant.
"...Fire!"
But Archangel was different. She was an S-Rank Hero.
She let out a sigh, confirming her instincts were spot on.
Foolish her. She should have noticed sooner.
"Use your Ability! Hurry!"
Archangel pointed at the sky, which looked no different from usual.
She was shouting to unleash an Ability right at it.
The flame-wielding assistant hesitated for a moment.
She couldn't fathom what Archangel wanted.
But at her sharp command, she reflexively activated her Ability.
Flames roared from her hand, shooting straight into the sky.
What was this about? Why shoot fire at an empty sky?
The assistant's bewilderment turned to horror at what happened next.
Roar-!
The blue sky, with white clouds and bright sun, burned like paper catching fire, crumbling to ash.
Only then did she realize: the academy was already in the monster's grasp.
Unbeknownst to anyone, it had woven an illusion with those threads, seizing control of the space.
The monster the instructors were battling was likely just bait.
"Hurry and... No. I need to go myself."
"What do you mean?"
"This isn't an ordinary illusion. One wrong move, and you'll get tangled in those threads, losing control of body and mind, forced to do the monster's bidding."
A terrifying monster had infiltrated. Archangel bit her lip.
These ones targeting the mind were the most vicious.
The deceived would flail in the illusion, becoming the monster's sustenance.
She had to warn everyone to hide and avoid getting ensnared.
The more caught, the slower the suppression would be!
"O-over there!!"
"...Too late."
Stepping outside, several cadets were already wrapped tightly in threads.
Some had fully cocooned, trapped inside.
"Shall we burn the threads with fire?"
"No. Absolutely not. Damaging the cocoons here risks harming those inside."
With the threads infiltrating their minds, even minor shocks could be fatal.
Rushing in might ensnare the rescuers too.
For now, they had to find and eliminate the main body, the monster itself.
"Wh-what's that...?! Archangel! Look over there!"
At the scream, Archangel turned.
And soon bit her lip with an "Ah."
The captured cadets. Threads and cocoons binding them.
New threads emerging from them formed a barrier.
One glance told her: it fed on human life force.
Using that as fuel for the illusion. Crafting another massive cocoon.
It was clearly turning this area into its lair.
Forcing their way in or breaking it would endanger them.
'It's trying to completely block the heroes' attacks...!'
With human lives as hostages, even heroes couldn't act rashly.
Especially not with academy cadets.
But delaying would let more cadets get caught and dragged into the illusion.
And who knew how much stronger the culprit monster would grow.
A monster daring to take hostages as shields against heroes.
As if saying, 'You can't attack like this.'
And sadly, they couldn't, making the situation dire.
Even if heroes arrived outside, cleanup was impossible like this.
Too many issues with risking cadets' lives to breach.
The conclusion was clear: eliminate the monster from inside.
"Director? Where are you going?!"
"To find cadets who can help. We can't just wait for outside aid, or we'll lose lives while the monster grows stronger."
They had to hurry. Or everyone would end up in those cocoons.
At the same time, Kang Yuna was sprinting down the hallway with Seo Ha-eun.
Two threads trailed them at terrifying speed.
"How close are they?"
"Almost here."
"Good. Get ready!"
After signaling, Seo Ha-eun turned first.
The threads locked onto her and shot forward like arrows.
They seized her arms from both sides.
The force was immense; resisting was a struggle, let alone countering.
If alone, she'd have been cocooned like the others.
"Hyah!"
Kang Yuna slashed down hard, snapping it with a twang! as it fell.
They'd already severed those threads over ten times like this.
Saving at least ten cadets.
"On to the next!"
Like this, Kang Yuna and Seo Ha-eun teamed up.
One as bait, the other slicing the threads.
Preventing innocent cadets from getting caught.
No thoughts of "Why us while they slack?" They had set that aside.
Would aspiring heroes treat this level of sacrifice as heroic?
If someone had to do it, it might as well be them.
"Cadet Kang Yuna!"
Then, from the opposite hall, Jin Seo-ah waved happily.
Louise from the UK was with her.
"Are you both okay?"
Kang Yuna, now joined with Jin Seo-ah, checked their status first.
Fortunately, they too had noticed the threads' oddity and were coping.
"Many cadets are already caught in the threads, cocooned. Louise here and I tried to save them, but..."
"Every time, they just scream in agony. Seems they've fused with the cocoons beyond safe interference. The monster's draining their life force instead of the threads. Using it to build that ominous barrier over there."
Louise laid out the situation fluently in Korean, offering her take.
Kang Yuna admired her skill briefly before snapping back.
"I think finding the monster at the root of this comes first."
"Agreed. Or the cocooned cadets will lose their lives."
We're rookies, aren't we? Still so lacking.
No one voiced that obvious thought—not Kang Yuna, Seo Ha-eun, Jin Seo-ah, nor Louise.
Senior or junior? Male or female? Strong or weak? Meaningless here.
Having entered this place meant striving to become heroes.
Think like heroes, act like heroes, sacrifice like heroes.
That was the resolve of academy cadets.
"From the looks, the monster's hiding nearby. These types expend huge power outward, leaving the main body weak."
"If it's using cadets' life force for the barrier's energy, outside help is unlikely. So let's try ourselves."
Exchanging views, the four cadets followed the severed threads backward.
Then, ahead, they spotted someone poorly hidden.
"Oh."
"Ah?! It's you!"
"Meeting cadets here! Heaven helps me!"
That man. She remembered. The janitor hauled to the infirmary recently!
Jin Seo-ah, Kang Yuna, and Seo Ha-eun recognized him instantly.
Probably swept up in the chaos, failed to evacuate.
Lucky to run into them while hiding.
"Follow us. It's too dangerous here."
"Thank you! Haha! I'm saved at last!"
The man laughed, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
Suddenly, Jin Seo-ah and Kang Yuna shared the same thought.
Did that guy... always wear glasses?