Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Magical Beast (7)
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"Insane... she's insane-ho!"
In the Babel control tower at the heart of Central District.
Inside the room crammed with countless cables and monitors, the control AI Hiho displayed an agitated reaction.
"She's out of her mind-ho! I've never seen a crazier bitch than Adelia-ho!"
She gulped as she stared at the person the chairman had warned her about.
"What kind of lunatic dives straight into the eye of a storm-ho! If Hiho had been even a second slower, she'd have been torn to shreds-ho!"
The innate fear everyone possessed.
The figure beyond the monitor seemed utterly devoid of it.
Hiho couldn't help but think so, given the sheer recklessness of her actions.
"Now I get why the chairman told me not to take my eyes off her for even a second-ho!"
This person's a death-wish maniac.
A precarious soul who could drop dead at any moment if you look away.
That was Hiho's first impression of Noah.
In truth, Noah had rolled the dice on a gamble tipped off by the chairman, but Hiho had no way of knowing.
At that moment, Noah—who had just demanded cooperation—didn't even wait for a reply before plunging even deeper inward.
"Eek! Are you really insane-ho?!"
There was no time to think.
And the opponent was someone the chairman had specially asked about.
If such a person died, the chairman might not let Hiho off easy.
"I don't want to end up hanging upside down like last time-ho!"
A sudden memory of issuing an order to him flashed through her mind, turning Hiho's face pale as she hurriedly moved her hands.
"No choice-ho!"
It wasn't a skill suited for this situation, but her death would be a problem.
With that self-justification, vast streams of equations poured into Hiho's eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Greater Demon Barrier established. Defensive Sanctuary deployed. Reverse World executed. Complete Nullification Field approved-ho. Soon, the cables extending from her body began glowing intensely with blue light.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Complete Nullification Deployed... Complete. Exorcism Talisman Installed... Complete. Dreaming Hero Executed... Complete. Pseudo Holy Sword Manifested... Complete. "Fabricating artificial hero."
Chanting in a mechanical tone for a moment, Hiho descended from midair and gazed at Noah beyond the monitor.
{......!?} "Ho-ho-hot!"
A short while later.
As Noah's surprised expression appeared on the monitor, Hiho puffed out her modest chest with a triumphant look.
Her back wings flapped, mirroring her mood, before she addressed Noah through the monitor.
"I've provided maximum support your body can handle right now-ho! The rest is up to you-ho!"
"But remember this-ho! You can only endure it for 3 minutes at most-ho! After that, the power will automatically be reclaimed-ho!"
Artificial Hero.
A technique that explosively empowers a target using all of Academy City's resources.
A cheat skill only the city's control AI Hiho could use, capable of elevating a mere examinee to the output level of a veteran hero.
Though it was a time-limited enhancement.
Still, the stronger the target, the longer it could be maintained, making it one of Hiho's trump cards.
Originally permitted only for the student council president, but that man was so strong he never needed it—a tragic unused skill.
Thus, Hiho was a bit excited.
It was a rare chance to deploy her full power.
"Ho-ho-hot!"
"This means praise me more-ho! Only Hiho can do this-ho!"
Clutching her pounding heart, Hiho puffed out her chest proudly.
As if waiting for it, Noah showered her with praise.
Snorting strongly at the compliments coming through the monitor, Hiho placed a hand on her hip and declared confidently.
"Of course-ho! If Hiho wants to, she can do anything else too-ho!"
"Ho? A mere storm can't fool Hiho's eyes-ho! Hiho can pinpoint the cockatrice's exact location in seconds-ho!"
Falling for Noah's clever rhetoric without realizing it, Hiho diligently supported her.
"Found it-ho! Sending exact position-ho!"
"Ho! Hiho will handle its escape route too-ho! Just leave it to me-ho!"
Saying so, Hiho clenched her fist.
"Time to show off Hiho's skills-ho!"
Before long, forgetting her observation mission, Hiho began intervening in earnest.
Enchanted by Noah's sweet talk, she unknowingly provided all sorts of buffs along with the latest magitech gear.
"This is a pseudo-elixir developed in Research District-ho! A miracle drug that restores all internal energy and stamina-ho!"
"Ho! This is Hiho's autonomous drone-ho! It automatically intercepts approaching foes—excellent stuff-ho! With this, you won't need to worry about nearby beasts-ho!"
"Ho-hot! No need to change your current gear-ho! Hiho will enchant it instead-ho!"
"Ho-ot! W-what kind of weapon is that scrap-ho! Toss it and use this-ho!"
Finally, transferring a plasma sword via data link, Hiho wiped sweat from her brow with a refreshed expression.
"Ho-hot! As expected, Hiho is amazing-ho! Empowering an examinee to this level! Good job-ho!"
Patting her own head, Hiho beamed proudly at Noah slicing through the storm like butter.
───
"...Haha!"
I gazed at the storm parting like soft cheese, a deep smile blooming on my face.
The chairman was right after all!
A short while ago, when he briefed me on the plan.
The chairman told me what to do and offered one piece of advice.
{If something tricky comes up, call Hiho first.} {The control AI Hiho will find a breakthrough no matter the situation.} Call Hiho anytime, in any situation, and it'd roughly sort itself out.
After chanting that, the chairman taught me how to handle Hiho deftly.
{Hiho's weak to praise. Compliment her first. Keep it up, and she'll get cocky and hand out even better stuff.} I nodded, recalling the chairman's Hiho-praise method.
And now.
By buttering her up just right as the chairman suggested, a breakthrough appeared in what had seemed hopeless.
Vitality surged through my drained body, flashy enchants gleamed on my battered gear, and a blue lightsaber replaced my shattered sword.
An omnipotent sensation, like becoming a true hero, overwhelmed me, and I burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Kiyooooot—!
"Ahaha!"
All the moves I'd envisioned played out without delay before my eyes.
Drones and barriers floating nearby perfectly blocked the blades flying at high speed and even the occasional feather strikes exploiting gaps.
As my cleared sword swung toward the beast within, it let out a shrill cry and soared into the sky.
Its aggro's still locked on me!
Fixing my gaze on it, I continuously deflected incoming attacks with sword swings.
Kiyooooot!
"Where to?!"
Remote attacks failing, it switched to diving with sharp talons.
Changing strategy to close combat, huh.
The deployed barrier blocked it, followed by the blue lightsaber slashing down.
Kyaaaaak—!
Its eyes reddened as it glared at me.
But you know.
I'm not the only one here.
So—
"You sure it's okay to focus only on me?"
I flashed a satisfied grin at the beast going full berserk.
At the same time, massive mana fluctuations erupted behind it.
Drawing its attention to keep it from noticing the movement while preparing large-scale magic on the opposite side.
"Simple but reliable strategy."
Immediately after, a red magic circle unfolded behind it.
"By pact, reveal thyself here and now!"
Camelia's class was summoner.
Often seen as a support job, but the truth was different.
The strength of a summoner's familiars determined their power.
Typically viewed as support, but depending on the familiar, they could fill the main DPS role.
"And Camelia handles main DPS in our party."
Especially in a defensive party with a tank, scout, and failure like me—she carried nearly all the damage, meaning she had incredibly powerful summons!
"Inferno that scorches the world! Giant of flames to blanket the heavens!"
Immediately, scorching heat spread all the way to this distant spot.
{That can't be...?} Kiyooooot—!!
Hiho gasped in shock upon seeing the summoning circle's shape, while the cockatrice instinctively sensed the threat and began fleeing desperately.
"Where do you think you're going!"
But we couldn't just let a cornered foe escape.
Hiho's barrier would block it anyway, but tying its feet as much as possible was best.
Thus, I spun around and hurled a mana-infused sword beam at the fleeing beast to pull its aggro.
It cried out shrilly and charged back at me.
Kkkiyoooooot—!
I measured the distance as it barreled in mercilessly, creating space.
Adjusting so its aggro wouldn't break but without facing it head-on in a straight line, I eyed the summon emerging from the distant red circle.
"Your foe stands here now! Manifest!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ 『Summoning Skill -ᛋᚢᚱᛏᛦ-』 Kuwaaaaa—!!
Overwhelming mana erupted from the circle, and Camelia staggered from sudden exhaustion.
Her mount Xanthus auto-dismissed, and Yeon Ji-eun nearby rushed to support her.
At the same time, a blazing giant's arm emerged.
"Gasp!"
Even just one arm drew every gaze in an instant.
Captivating even the low-intelligence beasts regardless of friend or foe, its mere presence dominated the surroundings.
"W-what is that...?"
{...Surtr-ho.} I turned to Hiho amid the mix of shock and awe.
"Surtr?"
{The giant from the mythic era of demon gods and goddesses-ho.} {King of giants wielding primal fire... to think he'd contract with a little girl. Unbelievable-ho.} At that instant, the arm extending from the red circle clenched into a fist with ferocious momentum.
{Watch closely-ho. Not at full power, but a strike from the mythic era-ho.} "......!"
Kkiot! Kkiyooooot—!
The giant's fist shot out after the fleeing cockatrice like an arrow—
■■■■■■—!!
The flames engulfing it blanketed the sky, crashing into the city's barrier.