Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Martial God Cult (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A girl who wasn't in the advanced class was heading off on special experiential learning tailored for the advanced class.
No matter how you sliced it, the story sounded way too suspicious.
Indeed, after the man and the Martial God Cult followers conducted some discreet inquiries, they confirmed there was no scheduled experiential learning for the facility's advanced class. Clutching the report he'd received, the man said with a grave expression,
"This might not be experiential learning at all. It could be a secret operation. If my hunch is right, it means Iwamoto Serika is in a position where she's mobilized for these kinds of covert missions. We might even uncover the true nature of Iwamoto Serika, who's been disguising herself as an ordinary, good girl!"
"We'll tail her."
In response to the man's words, some of the cult's most capable followers stepped forward. These were ability users skilled in various forms of acceleration and color perception, operating in teams of three to track and infiltrate targets.
"Good. Make it happen. And don't get caught. Oh, and keep this from Lady Hwayoung. She's terrible at lying, and if she finds out her friend is tangled up with some shady organization, it'll break her heart."
"Look over there. A white van's pulling out."
On the day of the experiential learning, the agent waiting for Serika—who had entered the facility building—spotted a car rolling out from inside. The white van, rattling along with its poor build quality, was so utterly ordinary that it actually drew attention.
The man in charge of surveillance cupped his hands like binoculars and peered at the van. His ability let him see distant objects as if they were right in front of him, so anything that entered his field of view was fair game.
"Take a closer look. Who's riding in that van?"
"A kid. There's a kid in there. Looks kinda like those South American street kids... It's Serika! Iwamoto Serika's in that thing!"
"Experiential learning, my ass. What is this, a deep-sea fishing trip?"
"It's obvious they're off to do something shady. Alright! Let's move!"
The other agents nodded at the man's words. One of them threw on a cloak and leaped from the rooftop. His form shrank in an instant, transforming into a small bird that soared toward the van. Another took a deep breath, then vaulted off the roof railing into the air.
The airborne agent's arms and legs had morphed into animal limbs.
Dashing from rooftop to rooftop, the man eventually shifted into a quadrupedal beast and vanished into the underbrush. The surveillance agent muttered to himself as he pressed the elevator button.
"Every damn time, it just pisses me off."
The sign reading [New Heart Daycare] was dented and reeked of rust. Circling high overhead to confirm the van's destination, the agent realized they sure as hell weren't here for some simple experiential learning.
From the air, the place looked less like a daycare and more like a thug hideout. In the center stood a drum barrel blazing like a bonfire, with rough-looking gangsters in shabby clothes milling about, chatting idly. Motorcycles were parked in one corner of the daycare yard, while in another, a different group of toughs stood with arms crossed, posturing importantly.
The newly transformed agent whispered into his dedicated radio.
"Target location confirmed. It's called [New Heart Daycare], but it's no daycare anymore—it's a gangster den. No way this is volunteer work or field trip stuff."
"Roger that. Confirmed."
With that curt reply, the bird agent perched on a nearby tree. Rustling sounds approached from afar, and soon the beast agent arrived, panting heavily. He leaned against the tree, gulped water from his pocket flask, then grumbled with bulging eyes.
"...Damn it, teleporters just snap and they're here. Why do I have to spin my wheels like this?"
The bird agent replied in a bored tone.
"But it's cool, right? Turning into animals? Super badass. You could even get a job at a zoo after retirement."
"You callin' that a compliment, asshole?"
The beast agent shook his head in disbelief and slumped to the ground. Even as he did, he blended his body's colors with the surroundings to stay hidden. A gangster who glanced at the rustling bushes tilted his head and walked away.
"I'm in position."
Another voice crackled over the radio. It was the binoculars agent. He'd taken a spot where the van couldn't see him and was monitoring the situation. Two girls and a long-haired man were stepping out of the van.
"Two girls got out... One's disabled."
One of the agents asked,
"You jokin'? Or is she actually handicapped?"
"Missing a leg. On crutches. What kinda powerhouse gets used even with a leg gone?"
"Could be a mental ability user. Physical stats wouldn't matter then."
The other agent shrugged indifferently. From their hiding spot, the van was out of sight, so they just waited for Serika and the girl to hurry through the chain-link gate into the hideout.
The binoculars agent watched the two girls don masks. Plain, expressionless masks. The moment they put them on, it was like static filled his vision—their forms blurred out. Everything else was crystal clear, but focusing on the girls made his sight hazy and unfocused.
"...Some kind of perception interference. Can't make out the girls from here."
The bird agent asked,
"We blown?"
"Nah, not that. The masks just block recognition of their appearance. Probably a countermeasure to hide their identities."
The beast agent cocked his head.
"The reports from the Iwamoto family dispatch didn't mention masks."
"They probably didn't expect us to tail 'em this far. These guys live in the shadows anyway, and Serika or the other girl have to keep showing their faces elsewhere, so maybe they're cutting them some slack."
Their debate went nowhere. As the agents murmured quietly, Serika's voice drifted from the entrance.
"This is straight out of a horror flick. Way too half-assed, isn't it?"
A few gangsters heard her too and glanced toward the door. The bird agent whispered,
"Serika and the other girl are breaching."
Then another conversation reached the surveilling agent's ears.
"First, scope the situation, count the numbers..."
"You just watch."
It was a sharp, slurred tone different from Serika's—sounded foreign. Probably the girl the binoculars agent mentioned.
"They don't seem to get along..."
Bang!
The words cut off as a massive crash echoed. The two agents flinched instinctively and watched the door fly into the air. It crumpled like paper while hovering unnaturally, then dropped to the ground.
"Yeah, trying to focus makes 'em blurry alright. Can't get a clear look at what they look like."
"Telekinesis? Or metal manipulation? Either way, scary stuff. Who'd win between her and our lady?"
"Telekinesis, maybe. Metal control? Lady's toast."
"Pfft, even our little saint couldn't block flying metal chunks."
The binoculars agent cut in, having overheard.
"Can you two focus on surveillance?"
Far from surveillance-worthy, what unfolded before them was a one-sided beatdown.
A man charging with an iron pipe found the pipe writhing like a snake, binding his limbs.
Another bellowing like a caveman got cinched by his own waist chain, collapsing in screams.
The beast agent nodded approvingly at the girl's unilateral violence.
"Veteran combat ability user. If we tangle, I'd have to go bare-ass naked."
"You're insane."
The bird agent let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity, but the beast agent replied dead serious.
"What can ya do? That's the play to get close. Or go invisible and sneak up—what else?"
As if on cue, an ability user materialized behind the girl herding the gangsters. Dropping invisibility, flames erupted from his hand, and she went down screaming.
Bzzt-crackle!
"Gaaah!"
The beast agent blinked at the bird agent, who said,
"Ambush beats anyone."
The thugs cheered wildly, drawing weapons, while the girl lay stunned—worse than expected. Her prosthetic metal scraps had shattered into mere fragments. The man calling himself Invisible Brother drew a knife from his belt.
The agents remained nonchalant despite her peril; they knew Serika was still there.
"Now we see Serika's power."
And sure enough, Serika lunged forward.
"Hold it!"
The agents grimaced at her amateurish move.
Invisible Brother smirked at Serika. Then, with a goofy grin, he said,
"It's Invisible Brothers, kid. Brothers!"
A black shadow suddenly pooled under Serika. She turned to see a man of similar build holding a bat.
Seemed like that was that.
The agents figured they should at least check the long-haired man's ability now that they'd followed this far.
But.
Crack!
The bat shattered with a crisp snap.
Serika glanced between the wood chips on her and the man, then casually grabbed his hand.
"Wha—what?!"
Finally grasping the situation, the man shrieked and tried to flee, but Serika lightly twisted his hand.
Snap-crunch!
"Gyyyaaah! Aaaargh!"
The agents froze at the piercing scream carrying all the way here.
Was it the mask hiding her face?
Within that wavering silhouette, Serika looked more ruthless than anyone.