Anti-Terror Support (3)
"…There are too many of them. Sebas Chan."
"We need to break through. Each one's at least A-rank, and who knows how many more will show up. Plus, there seem to be S-ranks in the back."
Ellis swallowed hard as she overheard Scarlett and Sebas Chan's conversation. Dozens of Mines had formed a siege around them, radiating an unsettling mana just from their presence. Their aura was palpably different—real killing intent and a foul stench you could never sense in the academy's training facilities.
Ellis fought to control her trembling legs. She clenched her fists tight to shake off the tension binding her body.
Good thing I prepared thoroughly.
Her father's advice to wear the protective gear had been spot on. Drawing her top-grade artifact sword, Ellis glared at the approaching Mines.
For exactly one minute.
Staring at the Mines skewered in the blink of an eye, Ellis couldn't believe her eyes.
"Hm. Should we hold position for now?"
"…A monster?"
Ellis gawked at the culprit behind the sprawled corpses on the road, then hung her head in disbelief. When the hell had he gotten this strong? He was beyond comparing to her now.
"H-How… how is this possible?"
"I believed in him, but this is beyond imagination."
"Ahem."
Lee Ho-yeon cleared his throat awkwardly at Sebas Chan and Scarlett's reactions, scratching his head. Sebas Chan's jaw was on the floor, Scarlett had a slight smirk, and Ellis—her pride shattered—kept her head down.
Their responses made him feel unnecessarily embarrassed.
"Ellis. What's next?"
"…Why ask me?"
Lee Ho-yeon approached the dejected Ellis to ask for the next move. Was she that shocked? Covered in protective gear, she looked deflated, her sword pointed at the ground.
"You're in command. You're the Iris Guild heiress."
"What does that matter?"
"It matters. Sebas Chan and Scarlett came to protect you. That means you're the priority, so command falls to you."
"…Hah. Thanks a lot."
He'd tried smoothing it over like giving candy to a kid after a mistake, but it flopped. Ellis wasn't a child who fell for obvious flattery.
Still, she didn't stay sulky long. Shaking her head, she checked her smartwatch.
"The terror attacks are serious. We need to move. Other places are probably the same—we can't just sit here."
The group decided to advance instead of waiting. With their manpower, standing idle was a waste. It was such a logical reason, everyone nodded.
Still, that's classic Ellis.
He liked her unflinching response.
"I'll contact the Guild Master, miss."
"Yeah, thanks."
Ellis prodded a nearby Mine corpse with her sword. Squish. The rotten-food-trash sensation made her shiver; she flicked the blade clean with magic and headed toward the city center.
*
"…."
"…."
- Bored. Nothing here.
We were pushing deeper into the city center. As Liliana said—telepathically, no doubt—there was no specific target.
I stroked my necklace, scanning the group: Scarlett and Sebas Chan, me and Ellis. Even if Mines swarmed, we weren't in real danger. I could handle any executives, and these three weren't weaklings either. Solid lineup against A-rank Mines.
If we spotted stranded survivors, we could rescue them. Or just thin the Mine herd.
I glanced at Ellis walking beside me. She kept whipping her head side to side, checking flanks and front—tension radiating off her.
I smiled faintly, took a deep breath, and shouted.
"Ellis!!!"
"Kyaa!"
She whipped toward me with a shriek. Yeah, knew it.
"Wh-what was that?!"
"You seemed too tense. Ellis, Scarlett and I have the sides—you just watch front."
"…Hah. Fine."
"No mistakes, and you can match me. Let's go."
"…No way in hell."
She shot me a resentful glare, but her tension had eased, thankfully. We soon entered the city proper, and I squinted.
- This feels familiar from the game. Apocalypse mode.
"France isn't falling today, is it?"
Liliana's quip hit home again. The situation was dire: smoke rising everywhere, battle cries echoing. Hundreds—no, thousands—of Mines and hunters clashing. Agonized screams mixed with shattering and explosions.
"Nah, it'll take more than this."
"…Really? Everyone evacuated?"
"Yeah. Paris has bunkers everywhere, perfect evacuation routes. Anti-terror teams are thousands strong."
"If you say so."
I didn't care about France's fine print. The game might not even detail it. A world with constant terror wouldn't hold together otherwise. Maybe the citizens were just super resilient?
- Kill it! Human!
Then Mines noticed us and charged.
"Time to fight."
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon, your mana holding?"
"We'll see."
- Scout! We're invincible! Don't ignore us!
I raised my mana, using polite speech with Scarlett out of habit. They'd locked onto us—no avoiding combat.
Wish I could conserve mana… need it for the centaur.
- Graaaaaah!
But Mines don't care. Dozens rushed us; I kicked off with light spells.
Scarlett and I sniped from range; Ellis and Sebas Chan covered us in a simple formation. No clue how long it'd drag, so conserve stamina.
"These Mines are weaker than before."
"The strong ones have clear orders, so they're fighting elsewhere. These are stragglers."
"Makes sense. They're already moving."
The elites were looting or battling response teams. Ours were dropouts—not tough.
Crunch—
I smashed a Mine's skull mid-reply. As we steadily culled them, Ellis gained confidence. They weren't that strong or fast.
Then.
- Graaaaaah—!
A Mine burst from nearby rubble, aiming for Ellis's nape. Sebas Chan and she were front-focused, missing it.
"Tch."
Thwack—
I mana-infused a nearby rock, piercing its heart. Ellis finally turned, blinking between the Mine and me.
Mine blood splattered her cheek through her gear, but she ignored it.
"Ellis. I'm watching the rear, but stay sharp."
"…Yeah."
- Gruuuh…
- Strong human here—!
- Human! Kill!
Mines swarmed from all sides. Over a hundred now—weak individually, but tougher ones mixing in.
"…Ho-yeon. Maybe pull back? Save your mana."
Scarlett whispered so Ellis and Sebas Chan wouldn't hear.
But no need anymore.
"Nah. We're good now."
"Pardon? Eek…!"
Scarlett must've felt it too.
BOOM—
Sudden overwhelming pressure swept the area. A man materialized from the smoke, and the world seemed to freeze.
- Human! Die…
- G-Gr…
Thud—
Splat—
Crash—
All Mines cleaved in half simultaneously, collapsing.
Amid the wide-eyed group, I stared ahead.
A blond man strode toward us, his mere steps dominating the space. That's the Iris Guild Master's presence.
"…Our sweeet giirl!"
- Cool entrance, ruined by the weirdo.
"…."
Liliana's sharp jab was fair. Without that opener, it'd have been epic.
Anyway, Isaac scooped Ellis into a hug.
"D-Dad…?"
Stunned by her sudden father, Ellis stammered.
Isaac hugged her tight, then pulled back to meet her eyes.
"Anywhere hurt? Sigh. Should've come sooner. Sorry."
"…No. Don't worry now. I fought well too."
"Yeah, looks like it. Our girl's all grown up. So proud, Ellis."
Ellis's eyes reddened slightly at his praise—no tears, though. Didn't suit her.
"Father. I was with her too… Oh, Ellis!"
Then Irene arrived late, eyeing the corpses before rushing over, furious.
"Ellis…!"
"…Sis."
Irene stripped Ellis's gear, checked her face, then gently wiped the blood from her cheek.
"This is why…! Phew. Thank god. Ellis. You're safe… really, thank god."
"Sis…."
Irene hugged her, eyes misty. Ellis stood sandwiched between father and sister, then averted her gaze shyly when our eyes met.
Why? Adorable.
"Father, what about our Ellis? Blood on her cheek."
"…Damn it. Call rescue now!"
"Both of you, stop. Embarrassing…."
Watching Irene fuss, I thought: Irene really cherishes Ellis, huh.
Crazy bitch aside, she doted on her sister. Just twisted expression.
Irene inspected every inch; Isaac fiddled with his smartwatch. Not actually calling rescue, right?
"Touching scene, Sebas Chan."
"Indeed. I've served the miss long, but that joyful face is rare."
"…He's not seriously reporting it?"
I checked just in case. Reporting blood on her face? Overkill.
"No. Just ordered all tracking teams here via comms."
Sebas Chan checked his device.
Why tracking teams?
"Tracking teams converging?"
"One reason for that, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon."
Scarlett answered.
"Resuming original mission."
"Original…."
I got it now. Our real target.
"Yes. Chiron has appeared."