Imperfect Chimera
A side story. Deep within a cave shrouded in thick darkness somewhere.
Daisy von Shukros opened her eyes and looked around.
"Wh-where... is this...?"
She couldn't make sense of anything. Faint outlines of rocks were barely visible. It seemed like a cave.
Racking her memory, all she could recall was fleeing from a swamp monster that had appeared out of nowhere, only to be struck by something and black out.
"...I can't sense anyone else."
It was just her. She was the only one who had woken up lying in this cave.
First things first, she needed to check her surroundings. But...
"Ow."
As she tried to stand, she stumbled and collapsed back to the ground.
"...It hurts. Looks like I twisted my ankle."
Beyond that, her body was covered in wounds. Scrapes, cuts, bruises, and gashes. Traces of a desperate battle.
"I need to get back..."
She couldn't stay here. Even if it meant delaying tuition for another semester, she had to survive and return. She'd paid on time without fail until now, so they'd cut her some slack once. Worst case, she could pawn family heirlooms or her noble title for a loan.
Her body ached, but she could feel her mana reserves intact. As long as she had mana, she could make it back to Salenium Academy.
With that resolve, she tried to stand—
"...?"
Something was off. There was a strange something nearby. The flow of mana was twisted and tangled, stirring nausea.
And that something was blocking the cave entrance.
No good would come from confronting it. Instead of escaping, she headed deeper into the cave.
Using her ores, she could scout without revealing her position.
What was that murky mana? What monster was guarding the entrance?
And then.
"...Urk."
Deeper in, she saw them. Things strewn across the floor—once people, now twisted into horrors beyond human.
Like failed experiments: Salenium uniforms and neckties, broken gear scattered around. Even illustrations from history books depicting demons, etched in blood on parchment.
She quickly hid in a rock crevice.
It made no sense. Why were these things here?
Huddled behind a large boulder, she prepared a simple light spell to illuminate the area. Basic elemental magic was out, so she'd reflect light from the cave's crystals.
She summoned fluorite ore and held it in her hand.
Then reflected the crystal light toward the entrance, where the twisted mana lurked.
And—
"...What is that? Urk."
The moment she confirmed its identity, Daisy von Shukros clamped her mouth shut against the rising bile, dry-heaving.
Sitting with its back to the entrance was a giant. Not just any giant.
"Urk..."
Veins bulged everywhere. A round body with hands and feet sprouting chaotically. Faces that might have been human clung to the flesh in clusters.
Even the twisted mana sensation... It felt like the mana of living beings forcibly fused and warped.
"This can't... be."
It wasn't a normal creature. A fusion lifeform born of a curse, no doubt.
Something from history books only...
Whispered to be crafted by demons.
"Chimera."
Why was such a monster here? A horrifying thought struck her.
What had happened in this cave? What had been born here?
From within that chimera, she steadily sensed the mana flows of the three people she'd explored with just a day ago.
"Ah... Aah..."
She prayed she could escape unharmed. Please. Anyone. Save her from this cursed place.
After that.
We pressed on after linking up with the search party.
"Senior, thank you so much again, just like last time."
"Mm. But this isn't the time. Save the proper thanks for later."
Even the black-haired guy with the greatsword on his back. As expected, he'd joined. Story-wise, Lien, the search party leader who'd been keeping an eye on him, must have invited him.
Their schedule was probably a 1-night, 2-day affair: search the jungle zone for a day, then return.
The eastern jungle zone. What a pain of a map. Sinking swamps were standard, dense underbrush always damp. And most monsters here were bugs.
Like giant mosquitoes three times human-sized buzzing in earlier, or centipedes with endless legs charging. Horrifying.
Deeper in, you get bears, tigers, crocs, arrow monkeys—but the shallows usually spawn non-aggressive mobs. This zone broke that unspoken rule right from the extreme entrance.
Our eight-person search party—including me and Reina—trudged through the swamp.
Marking paths with daggers, leaving traces to avoid getting lost, we delved deeper.
"...The bug monster spawn rate has definitely dropped. We're getting deep now."
"Mm."
Some glanced my way as we walked. I met their gazes silently, then looked at Erhan walking beside me.
"...Senior, do you sense it?"
"Sense what?"
"Ah, nothing. Just my imagination."
As the marked hero, Erhan could detect demonic energy. If even he said that, we'd hit the spot accurately.
"Adrian, we're here, just like you said. What now?"
"Set up base camp, unpack, then scout the area."
"Sounds right. Let's do that."
Plan set, we moved fast. Scanned for low-monster spots. Pitched four tents under a massive tree trunk, lit a campfire—base established.
"Alright, search starts now. Split into teams and comb the area thoroughly. Erhan and I will take this direction..."
And so.
Lien and Erhan. Me and Reina. And so on.
Two-man teams headed out in assigned directions. Reina and I left base to scout.
We went far enough that the campfire was a faint glow.
"...Adrian, you really think Lady Shukros is this way?"
"Most go missing or get hurt transitioning from shallows to mid-zone."
"Yeah. Monsters and terrain change completely. ...Makes sense she'd be around here."
Reina closed her eyes and extended her hand.
"What're you doing?"
"Mana detection. Searching nearby for mana like ores... Hm, Adrian, let's check ahead."
She grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.
There...
"...Cloth scrap."
"Specifically, the hem of a uniform jacket. Just this piece lying here... Probably where Lady Shukros vanished."
Oddly calm.
"Reina."
"Yes? Adrian?"
"Nothing. Just surprised you're so composed."
"...Composed? Ah..."
Reina smiled lightly.
"Daisy von Shukros might not be the strongest fighter, but she's no pushover to die pathetically like this."
"...Is that so."
"Yeah. She held her own against me for over a year, remember? She's gotta be alive somewhere."
Trust born of rivalry.
Reina started circling the area.
I stood still, eyeing the distant cliff and cave barely visible.
"You're right, Reina."
"Huh?"
"Sun's setting. Time's up—head back."
We returned to camp. Naturally, no one found anything but our cloth scrap.
What'd you expect? Dense forest hid the sky, but it was dusky early evening. No way that shows up yet.
Everyone retired to tents with grim faces, steeling for tomorrow. Night deepened.
Bugs chirped, fire crackled, full moon hung hazy through leaves.
Probably now.
I slipped out of my tent. At the same time, the guy from the next tent emerged.
"Ah, Senior Adrian?"
"Erhan, follow me."
He nodded silently and trailed. I approached Lien on night watch by the fire.
She saw us, looking troubled, about to speak.
"Pritria, with us."
"...Pardon?"
"No questions. And Reina—I know you're awake. Over here."
"Got it."
So: Erhan, me, Reina, and Lien.
We headed to a cave about ten minutes from camp.
"Adrian, isn't this where we searched earlier? Nothing was here, right?"
Let's see. If the eastern jungle zone triggered, it'd be around here.
And soon enough.
"...Wh-what is that."
"Wh-what the..."
"Ah, it wasn't here before..."
We spotted it.
A massive cave in the cliff base. And blocking the entrance...
A monstrous abomination.
Indescribably grotesque. Pale white skin, dozens of hands and feet jutting from a giant spherical body. Dozens of faces plastered to it too.
Some gave up looking. Some covered mouths, retching. Another just gripped necklace and greatsword silently.
"Senior."
Erhan's voice trembled.
"Is that...?"
"A chimera."
"Chimera...?"
"Demons' byproduct. Made by mashing living humans together."
"Ah, Adrian? L-living humans... mashed?"
"How could something like th-that..."
"Bellanio."
Saying the word, countless eyes on the monster's faces snapped open, locking onto us instantly.
...So that's the detection trigger.
"Everyone, battle ready. They've spotted us."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
"...A-are you insane? Fight that?"
Of course.
We have to fight.