Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Black Whale
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“It's chaotic, isn't it.”
Carlyle scanned the bustling surroundings and shared his impression.
The evacuation inside the academy was progressing faster than expected.
Not only the students but also the staff working inside had to evacuate, so there must be a lot of administrative hassle here and there.
[For those living in the academy, this must feel like a bolt from the blue. A magical beast attack? What nonsense is that?]
“⋯⋯I completely agree.”
For an educational institution that's one of the empire's symbols, this sudden crisis must feel like a bolt from the blue.
[In that sense, it's fortunate.]
The Hero let out a sigh as she spoke.
[Unlike what I went through, there won't be any casualties this time.]
Well, that's all thanks to Bisels Highness spilling the information without resistance.
Thanks to Gray relaying the details to Grand Duke Chasefield, the necessary measures were being taken swiftly.
I heard that the academy personnel are starting with evacuation—obviously, fighting inside would cause chaos—so an imperial magic corps detachment is setting up a barrier ahead of the Black Whale's path into the academy to hold it in place.
No matter how the fight goes inside, damage won't spread outside.
What should I call this?
It's a one-on-one ring prepared for Gray.
Blue team: Black Whale side.
Red team: Hero side.
“⋯⋯.”
I don't like it.
Carlyle circulated the Holy Sword, reshaped into mana form inside his body, this way and that, as the thought crossed his mind.
That's why he's been practicing something this insanely dangerous—because he doesn't like it.
[⋯⋯Hm. There were times when you couldn't handle it alone like now, and acting solo caused big problems when teamwork was needed.]
“That's part of it, yeah.”
[Oh?]
“Why do you always try to shoulder everything alone?”
The incidental damage from acting unilaterally is one thing.
But there's something even more displeasing.
“You know this, Hero?”
[⋯⋯What are you talking about?]
“It's something only I know. You might forget it sometimes too.”
[What nonsense are you—]
“You're human too.”
[⋯⋯.]
A silence that said “what nonsense” hung in the air, but Carlyle answered matter-of-factly.
“No matter how much you're humanity's strongest, an invincible superhuman. At your core, you're human. You feel things, you think, and you change accordingly.”
He'd said something like that the first time he met Gray in this round.
That she had the right to be happy too.
Of course. Because she's human.
And as a human, she's affected by negative things too.
“No matter how capable you are, shouldering everything alone can't help but put a burden on you.”
Only Carlyle, who has “changed” the Hero through all those countless rounds, can think of this.
Anyone else would just see her as a reckless monster.
If not, well, at best her own father Lionel.
Even he can't share the burden of the “Hero” role that Gray carries on her shoulders.
Only Carlyle fulfills both conditions.
“I wish you wouldn't make us worry.”
[⋯⋯The Hero probably thinks she doesn't need something like worry.]
“But she does.”
[⋯⋯.]
“You're human. You don't have to go that far.”
Hero or not, tough or not, at the top or not.
She can't be treated carelessly.
She can't treat herself carelessly either.
What Carlyle is about to do now is meant to correct that mindset.
The reason is.
“I want you to be happy, Hero.”
He'll make it happen.
To save the world, but more than that.
Just because he wants to.
She's the one he most needs to guide for her to dream of a bright future, but it's also for her own sake.
[⋯⋯.]
The Holy Sword fell silent for a long time.
A long time.
Even longer.
“Why are you so quiet—?”
And before he could even finish.
A terrifying, electric shock-like pain jolted through his entire body.
⋯⋯The doing of the Holy Sword inside his body.
“It hu—rts, it hurts!”
[A little pain suits you. You damn bastard.]
The Hero grumbled in a voice that crawled into his ears.
“⋯⋯.”
Now even compliments earn him curses.
Isn't that too much⋯⋯?
[⋯⋯If only you'd done that just for me.]
“Huh?”
[Nothing. Focus more than that.]
⋯⋯Hm.
It sounded like something serious.
But before he could think about it, the situation changed in an instant.
To be precise, the surroundings went dark.
Midday with the sun blazing down, yet it turned to night in a flash.
The reason was clear.
Carlyle gave a wry smile at the massive “object” blotting out the entire sky.
A flying giant building⋯⋯doesn't quite capture its majesty.
“⋯⋯It's ridiculously huge.”
[Catastrophe-class. If left alone, it could topple a nation.]
And in other words.
It's close enough to see, so it's his turn to step up.
The car horn—rare in this fantasy world—blaring from the side aligned with that.
Turning his head, he saw Felix peeking out from the driver's seat of the magitech motorwagon.
“I borrowed sis's car.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Cool, right?”
“⋯⋯Yeah.”
His somewhat awkward reply came because every time Felix called herself “sis,” Carlyle flinched involuntarily.
He knew it was genuine, but it still felt eerie⋯⋯
“You know, are you confident?”
Hm.
Confident?
“Not really.”
“Seriously? Think you'll lose?”
“No.”
Carlyle shook his head.
His worry wasn't about winning or losing, but mostly about causing trouble for Felix.
“⋯⋯This time, it really doesn't seem like it'll end quietly.”
What he's about to do.
It'll attract massive attention.
“Hm—really?”
“⋯⋯Yeah. Sorry, but please handle the cleanup.”
“That much? Then hang out with me later.”
“⋯⋯.”
Yeah. That's the most unsettling part.
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The Capital Defense Force is a highly competent organization.
Even with the unprecedented demon outbreak in the capital, they moved faster than anyone to devise countermeasures.
⋯⋯Though that response ended before they could even act, their swift handling deserves praise.
And naturally, their leader, Major General Albert, is competent too.
Thus, he's a perfectly normal person with no eccentric quirks or odd habits.
Even if facing a girl half his age fills him with extreme self-loathing and pressure, he can't be blamed.
Because of who she is.
“Hero, we're counting on you this time.”
As Albert spoke, Gray looked at him with unfocused eyes.
“Yeah.”
She barely nodded, as if too bothered to engage properly, then turned away.
Her attitude screamed utter disdain for them.
“⋯⋯.”
But somehow, to Albert.
It felt chillingly different from mere dismissal.
Not just arrogance or authority worship.
She saw them not as fellow “humans” but as “pets” to protect.
⋯⋯An absolute discrimination, not even viewing them as the same “species.”
That's how the Hero treats ordinary people, unlike those she's somewhat acknowledged.
‘Grand Duke Chasefield said she's changed quite a bit since meeting that boy Carlyle.’
Whether the boy knows it or not.
The Hero's attitude toward others remains this as the default.
Maybe she's changed only regarding him.
“⋯⋯.”
Anyway.
He has a job to do.
“The barrier is already prepared. If we head out now, timing will be perfect.”
“Yeah.”
“We've arranged transport. If you'll move to—”
Albert's words, aimed at swift handling, cut off abruptly.
His adjutant burst in, pale-faced, whispering something to him.
Handing over a few sheets of paper too.
As he read them, Albert's expression grew grave.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Albert and the adjutant exchanged silent glances.
A gesture sharing the pain of learning a horrific fact.
Hm.
Word is, the Hero here would flip everything over at the slightest hitch in her plans.
Moments later, Albert—now paling himself—barely squeezed out words to Gray.
“⋯⋯Hero, apologies, but there's a snag in the plan. We'll handle it, so please wait a—”
“No need to delay just because some idiot already entered the barrier and threw their life away. Do I have to worry about fools sacrificing themselves too?”
“⋯⋯.”
“I heard the contents. Whispering doesn't make me deaf.”
Ah, right.
This person is the Hero.
And because of that.
Her next words were pure agony for Albert.
“⋯⋯Th-those fools who threw their lives away on their own.”
“What is it? If you're gonna say, spit it out.”
“They're your acquaintances, Hero.”
“⋯⋯?”
“⋯⋯Carlyle Bellfast, Vespa Luciana, Panhaima Acha Oren⋯⋯ Recognize the names?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯??”
Gray's expression went blank.
Soon after.
A volcanic roar erupted from her.
A highly human reaction, opposite her earlier indifference.
“What the hell are those bastards doing there?!”
⋯⋯Hero-less Hero Party.
Just three of them, clashing with a catastrophe-class beast.
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