Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Shh. Infiltrating
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Shh. Infiltrating.
"How's it going! Any progress?!"
The heroes who had been huddled together at Valkyrie's shout.
Was there truly a way to pass through that barrier?
Was there a way to rescue the cadets trapped inside the cocoons?
"Haa."
Unable to meet her expectations, they had no choice but to state the facts, however disappointing.
"I'm sorry. Hero Valkyrie. It's a failure."
Unless they took it to a lab for prolonged experiments, there was no way.
It wasn't something they could achieve on-site with time so pressing.
Moreover, this monster was an extremely powerful individual measured as Apocalypse Class.
A brand-new named monster with no real intel made it even harder.
"Damn..."
"We're truly sorry."
"No. It was an unreasonable request to begin with. To uncover a new named monster's technique in under an hour. If I'd heard that, I might've cursed it out as nonsense."
Valkyrie approached the barrier, frustration weighing on her.
Its translucent form let her see everything beyond clearly.
The once bustling, lively academy was now deathly silent.
It was where cadets gathered—future heroes like her.
Talented individuals who were students and could serve as sidekicks.
Not just them, but hero instructors were there in numbers too.
They could fight. Against monsters or villains alike.
The problem was, who could've predicted an Apocalypse-Class monster appearing so close.
Or that this monster, of all things, would possess such an ability as a new named one.
Those factors overlapping created the worst scenario, leaving them utterly helpless.
'How... How can I feel this powerless?'
Valkyrie bit her lip at the frustration—the first she'd felt since becoming an S-Rank Hero.
No monster. No villain. If she set her mind to it, she could face any.
In desperate, life-or-death battles, there was no enemy she couldn't fell.
But with the enemy thoroughly avoiding combat like this, no answers emerged.
The world taught arrogant humans claiming invincibility another harsh lesson.
The moment you let your guard down is when catastrophe begins.
Please. Hold on just a bit longer. Don't get hurt too badly. Keep waiting.
And if anyone lost their life... may it not be too painful.
"Damn it...!"
In rage at herself, Valkyrie unwittingly struck the barrier.
Oh no! She grabbed her arm, but it was too late.
An S-Rank Hero's full-powered strike—the impact should transfer to the cocoons inside...
Crack! Crackle!-
"...Huh?"
Valkyrie could scarcely believe her eyes.
The vile barrier that glowed upon impact and relayed it to the cocoons.
So sturdy no entry seemed possible.
But now? It cracked with a snap! and shattered entirely.
"What the..."
"Valkyrie!"
A-Rank heroes rushed over from behind.
Their expressions were grave.
Valkyrie clenched her fist against the rising unease.
"Anomalous reaction detected in the barrier!"
"What is it? Is it absorbing life force en masse? Are they all in danger?!"
"No, that's not it! We've confirmed the barrier weakening! Destruction is possible, and entry should be soon!"
Really?! Valkyrie glanced at her hand.
Did I do it? From punching the barrier just now...
'...No way. That's impossible.'
The sole reason for the change: something happened to the monster responsible.
That realization brought an unwitting smile to Valkyrie's face.
Someone succeeded. Whoever it was, they did it!
Against that vile monster. They landed a massive blow!
"Good! Prepare for entry now! We'll rescue the isolated cadets and check those in the cocoons—get ready! Call me if you encounter the monster! Got it?!"
"Yes!"
Just hold on a little longer. Just a bit more, kids!
Manifesting her golden spear and shield, Valkyrie launched toward the academy—
Boom!!-
"...Eh?"
With a massive roar, part of the academy's main building collapsed.
Something rose from there, soaring even higher into the sky.
Then it shattered the barrier, reaching a point visible to all.
"That... could it be..."
"M-Monster?"
As people said. Yes. That thing floating high in the sky was undoubtedly the monster.
Had it finally stolen enough life force from people?
Was it now fully powered for battle, ready to ravage the area?
'But something feels... off?'
It wasn't flying up. No. Someone had thrown it upward.
Otherwise, it couldn't spin so pathetically in the air.
If that truly was the monster, then who could have done such a thing?
Who could corner an Apocalypse-Class monster like that...
"Eh?"
Something shot fiercely skyward after the monster.
Smaller than the monster. Unmistakably human in form.
The distance was far, but with her superior physical prowess as a hero, Valkyrie recognized him instantly.
"Smiling Man?"
At that moment, as if hearing her, Smiling Man looked straight her way.
Their gazes locked precisely in midair; he smiled and pressed a finger to his lips.
Shh.
Pretend you didn't see.
Then, grabbing the monster, Smiling Man plummeted to the ground.
How long will you sleep, Miss Kang Yuna?
There are many waiting for you. Can you become a hero like this?
"...Gasp!"
Regaining consciousness, she instinctively summoned her Ability.
Glancing around, Kang Yuna began piecing together the situation.
First, the last moment: swarmed by the monster's threads.
She resisted, but with retreat blocked, no options remained.
She thought everyone—from Louise onward—would end up in cocoons...
"...Seo Ha-eun?"
Jin Seo-ah and Louise were still unconscious.
Meanwhile, Seo Ha-eun stood before her, awake at some point.
Approaching cautiously, her reaction seemed off.
Her eyes lacked focus. Conscious, but dazed.
"Ha-eun?"
"..."
What was wrong? As Kang Yuna tried waking her friend again,
she spotted the encircling walls around them and gasped.
'This is... Mana Threads? Wait. All of this is Mana Threads?'
Mana Threads: most handled just a few strands at most.
Controlling each one was incredibly difficult.
She'd learned uncontrolled threads were worthless, worse than smoke.
Yet thousands encircled them now.
Enclosing? Or protecting?
Bang!-
A roar echoed from the sky; Kang Yuna looked up urgently.
The monster. The culprit behind the academy's ruin hovered there.
It had burst from its nest, seemingly having gathered nearly all its power.
Showing itself boldly meant preparations were complete.
Too late? As Kang Yuna bit her lip in self-reproach,
"...Ah?"
Was the skyborne monster growing? An illusion?
'Not an illusion!'
Kang Yuna hurled herself toward Seo Ha-eun.
The fall zone was too close. She might get crushed.
Thankfully, the Mana Threads protected them.
A canopy unfurled above, repelling the monster to crash beside them.
"Ugh..."
What in the world? She couldn't comprehend.
Why did the monster fall? Why was it so battered?
Reinforcements? S-Rank Heroes arrived?
If so, how did they breach the barrier? Were the cadets safe?
"Oh. Isn't that the aspiring hero from before?"
A familiar voice from memory.
Realizing who, Kang Yuna looked up in shock.
A man floated leisurely from the sky, hands behind his back.
"Ah. Sorry. You're not an aspirant anymore, are you? My mistake. Calling a cadet an aspirant—ha ha ha!"
He landed lightly on the ground and waved casually.
An unfamiliar face, but that voice, that aura—she knew them.
Encountered once, the impression too deep to forget.
Shhh!-
With Smiling Man's appearance, the Mana Threads vanished instantly.
The master arrived; the servants dutifully followed.
"Smiling Man..."
"Then, I'd like to make a humble request of our cadets."
A request?
"The monster isn't regular trash. So please dispose of it properly before discarding."
"What does that..."
"Smiling Man!!"
Valkyrie's rough voice echoed from behind.
She charged madly this way. Arrival imminent.
"Well then, I'll be off."
Touching the remaining Mana Threads, he launched skyward.
Valkyrie arrived, but missed him by a hair.
Left behind: heroes and four cadets.
And one monster with mangled wings flapping feebly.
"Argh! That damn villain! Deal with the monster first!"