Anti-Terror Support (2)
The plane flew past the outskirts of Paris, heading deeper into the city.
- The buildings are all wrecked.
"…Yeah."
I whispered quietly in response to Liliana's words, peering out the airplane window down below. Debris from shattered buildings, smoke rising here and there. Abandoned cars scattered across the roads, cracked concrete everywhere. It was called the outskirts, but even from this distance where the city was visible to the naked eye, the damage was severe. I hadn't expected the terror attack to cause this much devastation.
"Was the terror always this bad?"
"Of course. The academy does a pretty good job fending it off."
"…I see."
Ellis, sitting next to me, answered. She was decked out in protective gear, sitting ramrod straight with her fists on her knees. Anyone would think she was being conscripted against her will. If the academy handles terror well, does that mean the outside world's basically hell? Even the academy has incidents a few times a month.
"This isn't a residential area. It's been abandoned since a major terror attack a while back."
"Ah."
I couldn't quite grasp why people wouldn't live so close to the city, but they must have their reasons. Maybe it's a cultural difference—foreign mindset. If this were Korea, they'd have developed the capital region somehow.
"We'll land around here."
"Got it. Land carefully."
Sebas Chan, in the cockpit, stayed focused on flying despite overhearing us. Scarlett sat in the co-pilot seat next to him, equally silent. She wasn't one to act familiar in public either. Ellis stared out the window, tense and rigid.
- Whoa, look at that. Everyone's landing around here.
In the end, I closed my eyes quietly at Liliana's mutterings.
*
The pursuit team soon arrived at the Paris landing zone. We disembarked and awaited orders while Isaac, the guild master, coordinated with the on-site terror response team.
Bzzz—
"…."
And I could still feel eyes boring into my back. Probably Irene's. My neck prickled from the intensity of her glare.
"Alright, time to work. Everyone, get ready!"
With the briefing over, Isaac took command. The pursuit team seemed to have pre-assigned groups, splitting naturally into twos and threes. Scarlett and Sebas Chan approached me and Ellis, who were standing around awkwardly.
"Miss, we'll be moving with the guild master and Miss Irene's group."
"Got it."
"…So our group's got six people?"
"That's right."
"Wow."
The other groups were just 2-3 people, but ours had a whopping six. It was like they were advertising child protection services. Ellis didn't seem to mind, but I caught the sour glances from the others. No wonder—they came to work, and now the guild master, first team leader, ace Scarlett, and Sebas Chan were tied up babysitting two kids. Of course, I wouldn't lose sleep over some guild member's feelings. Safety first for me.
If it bugs them, go build connections.
"Everyone to positions. Report anomalies via comms, otherwise handle as per protocol. Our sector is south and east—mop up the mine remnants."
So our job was cleanup. Makes sense; it was already on the news, so no need to secure the scene.
"Evac's done, but prioritize any survivors if found. Make sure no mines escape our zone. Over."
The teams scattered at lightning speed once Isaac finished.
'They're pretty skilled.'
You could tell just from their movement speed. Isaac and Irene approached us after confirming everyone dispersed.
"We'll support rescue ops deeper in the city."
"Understood."
"Yep, got it."
- We're in the safe spot, huh?
Liliana was right. With the terror dismantled and our task catching fleeing mines, aiding rescues was basically zero risk. Hell, this lineup doing grunt work was absurd to begin with.
We patrolled the city center slowly. Skyscrapers and buildings lined the streets—no danger in sight, and people looked relieved. This was more like a neighborhood stroll.
- Whoa, that's the restaurant we went to last time. So good. Slurp.
Liliana's mutterings were the only thing easing my boredom. We wandered the center, a bit disappointed, until we neared the quieter outskirts—and that's when shit hit the fan.
"…Executive-level?"
"Pandemic executive mines. They might be here to rescue stragglers."
Scarlett answered my mutter. Isaac and Irene, walking ahead, frowned at the comms and turned to us.
"Sebas Chan, Scarlett. Irene and I will step out. Stay put and hold position."
"Understood."
"Yes, Guild Master."
They were providing backup. Smart call. Abandoning two executives for Ellis's safety in the city center made no sense.
Irene and Isaac vanished after checking coordinates. We stood there blankly, watching them go. Orders were to wait.
Ellis started questioning Sebas Chan. I turned to Scarlett beside me.
"No action yet and I'm already tired. Too many people."
"Honestly, I think assigning four of us to protect you and Miss Ellis is a waste."
"…Then talk to me or something."
"Adult circumstances. Plus, it means less work for me."
"You're something else."
If someone like Scarlett was still in the guild, their hiring standards were clearly merit-based, not personality.
"Anyway, we just wait?"
"Yes. Looks like terror's restarting in the center. Not sure the scale, but it's big."
"…Pretty big?"
"Yes. Guild Master's going personally."
I recalled Rebecca's words—terror incoming. Was this it? Unease crept in. My gut was rarely wrong.
Whoosh—
The moment anxiety hit, new mana signatures appeared in my spread-out mana field. Filthy, murky, but potent. Classic mine mana.
"Haa… Scarlett. Gear up."
"Pardon?"
"Ellis!"
I yelled at Ellis, mid-chat with Sebas Chan. Neither he nor Scarlett had noticed yet.
"Mines! Battle stations!"
"Mines…?"
Sebas Chan and Scarlett flared their mana instantly. Then they sensed it too.
"Mines… All this mana is from mines?"
Ellis's eyes widened as she felt it. Definitely a lot—at least dozens. This many meant a full-scale terror restart.
'Came to the safest spot, and now it's the hot zone.'
Everywhere I go, trouble follows. Maybe I'm the culprit. Felt like a glasses-wearing kid detective.
- Humans….
- Strong humans… Tasty humans.
- Process quick and move on!
Mines with murderous glints emerged from between buildings. Few had proper limbs. Their grotesque forms pissed me off every time. Stronger ones retained human intelligence and speech—likely S-ranks among them.
They probably weren't aiming to surround us from the start. Mines popped up citywide; these were the locals converging.
The comms chatter was brutal too. Not just us.
"…Too many. Sebas Chan."
"We need to break through. Each one's A-rank or higher, unknowns incoming. S-rank in the rear too."
Sebas Chan and Scarlett planned escape; Ellis listened intently. But…
- Escape? Hell no! Kill 'em all! Go, Ho-yeon!
Liliana screamed so loud the necklace twitched. Normally I'd snap, but today? Agreed.
'Bad enough to run?'
Lots of mines, but doable. Lately, facing monsters had dented my confidence. Back at the academy, I could bully punks easy. Recent foes were just insanely strong: Rebecca, Isaac, Im Sol—human weapons who could solo major guilds.
Of course confidence dipped.
'Compared to Professor Im Sol lately, these mines…'
Should be fine.
I approached the three plotting escape.
"Wouldn't fighting be better?"
"…This many?"
"They're not targeting us specifically. Breaking through just means more mines."
"But…."
"Hmm. Not wrong, but…."
Ellis looked unsure; Sebas Chan pondered. Mines closed in—no time for debate.
Scarlett approached me.
"Cadet Ho-yeon. Can you handle it?"
Casual, like asking if I ate breakfast. I grinned.
"Obviously."
"Then do it."
Quick exchange. Scarlett powered up mana for battle. Sebas Chan gaped.
"Scarlett. You're serious?"
"If we win, it's the best option."
"Ho-yeon. You okay?"
I met Ellis's worried eyes, scanning around. Actions speak louder.
Spotted a red fire hydrant. Never used one, but movies showed water geysers when cars hit them.
'Perfect.'
Saving mana for potential centaur. I mana-infused my hand, slamming the hydrant's side.
Crack—!
Twisted metal screeched; water erupted. Mines hesitated. I mana-coated the geyser.
Simple spell: Freeze rising water into icicle spears, let gravity pierce the mines on descent. Mana-heavy, but worth it.
Shwaaaaa—!
- Gaaah!
- Dodge! Deadly!
- How'd they cast that so fast…!
I hurled mana-wrapped icicles. More at strong ones—they led. Mines couldn't coordinate well; without smart leaders, weaklings panicked.
Easier cleanup.
- Gr-group up! Ignore and rush—Gurk.
Last leader's head pierced; mines screamed, scattering. No strong orders? Dumb mines = beasts.
Minutes later, road littered with corpses.
"…Crazy bastard."
I turned at Scarlett's praise. She looked queasy; Sebas Chan and Ellis gawked.
Realized: I pushed to fight, then soloed everything.
Scratching my head at the mine pile, I said awkwardly,
"Uh. Wait here now?"