Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: White Giant (1)
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In truth, even as he followed Gios all the way to this rural territory, he had steeled himself for the chance that it might all be a wasted trip.
High expectations often breed the greatest disappointments.
Adjusting the party's schedule wasn't a huge ordeal, so he was happy to invest the time, but banking on just Gios's word alone to confirm the other party as an Earthling felt like a stretch with so little evidence.
He figured it'd be fantastic if they turned out to be an actual Awakener, but even scraping together a bit of intel would be enough to call it a win...
'This haul is way bigger than I expected.'
Not only had he met Chehai, a true settler from Earth, but the man had generously shared high-level info that wasn't easy to come by.
And on top of that, he'd even received personal guidance that evolved his unique skill—what more could he ask for!
'Which is why we've ended up staying longer than planned.'
Still, the hero party led by Heinrich couldn't hole up in some backwater village forever.
Pulling this much time away was already a rare exception.
"See you later, Uncle Gios!"
"Sis! Take care!"
"Byeee~!"
It had only been a few days of going back and forth between the villa on the hill and Chehai's orphanage, but the kids had grown attached enough to swarm out the front door, waving goodbye.
Honestly, aside from Gios, these were fleeting connections with no promise of reunion after parting ways today...
Yet the children's faces shone with unclouded brightness as they waved vigorously—regret tinged their expressions, but nothing more.
'They're all so tough... Tougher than me.'
He couldn't even begin to imagine the scars hidden behind those smiles, etched into kids surviving in this brutal world that tested even adults.
Probably only possible because of the few adults who wrapped those wounds in love and the friends always by their side.
The group exchanged brief farewells with the children and stepped out of the orphanage.
As they walked along, Chehai—who had joined them briefly to see them off—approached Heinrich.
"I did my best to help in my own way. Not sure if it made a difference, though. Hope I didn't just waste your valuable time."
"Nonsense. It was a tremendous help. Leave the rest to us— you keep protecting this place like you always have. Aren't these kids the real future of the world?"
"Hahaha, well said. That's the one thing I'm truly confident in."
The two men exchanged warm words and smiles, shaking hands firmly.
Chehai traded a few short words with the others next, then turned to the last one remaining.
"Gios."
Gios stared at him silently at the low call.
He'd seemed a bit better while at the orphanage, but now that they were leaving, gloom had reclaimed his face entirely.
"Why not finally let it go? Clinging to the past forever won't start anything new."
"I don't want to start over. That day, my world already ended."
"...Anna and Nia wouldn't want to see you like this."
"Who knows. Maybe not."
But with them gone forever, such hypotheticals were meaningless anyway.
Ignoring everyone around him as usual, he just gazed emptily into space.
"Haa—."
Chehai could only sigh, watching with concern.
He knew full well he'd act the same in Gios's shoes—his own words rang hollow even to him.
A brief moment passed like that.
They arrived at the hilltop mansion, perfect for spatial transfer prep, and immediately set up the magic circle in the backyard.
"I've used this circle so much lately, I could draw it blindfolded now. I specialized in elemental magic... ice affinity, mostly. But at this rate, maybe I should switch to spatial magic."
"That's just proof of how versatile you are, Master! Why not master every school while you're at it? There's this faction I'm interested in—mind if we study it together...?"
"Hmm..."
As Isea grumbled while assembling the circle from materials pulled from her subspace artifact, Hesperon at her side eagerly pitched in.
Sure, he had Hans's help, but studying other schools with her would boost efficiency even more!
'Impressive as always.'
Spatial transfer looked routine now, but it was advanced magic requiring serious skill and prep—most couldn't even attempt it.
Even the Mage Tower needed massive facilities, heaps of materials, and teams of mages to pull it off.
That Isea could do it solo spoke volumes.
Hans, being the Immortal King incarnate, was a given exception.
As the transfer prep neared completion...
"The estate will always be in perfect readiness for your return, my lord. Please keep it in mind."
Oliver, the mansion's steward who had packed them snacks, bowed deeply to Gios.
Like Chehai, he worried, but as an employee, he couched it indirectly.
Come back to this 'home' anytime you're weary.
"...Yeah. Take care."
Gios's reply was as dry and indifferent as ever.
"All set. Everyone gather here."
No more business in the village—they had no reason to linger.
After final goodbyes to Chehai and Oliver, the group clustered around Isea, awaiting transfer.
"Alright, here we go. You all know the drill: regulate your anti-magic resistance so you don't fight the spell..."
But before she could activate it.
Zzzzzzt—!
A bizarre noise, rare enough most never heard it once in a lifetime, ripped through the air—like space itself tearing.
"Hm...?"
"...!"
Everyone's nerves sharpened at the ominous sound.
It wasn't from Isea's transfer magic.
The group around her and Chehai seeing them off whipped their heads sideways.
Toward the village they'd just passed through.
"Wait...!"
"No way?!"
And at the village outskirts where their gazes locked...
A massive rift tore open in midair, a pristine white 'hand' prying it wider from within.
Like forcing open a sealed door.
If there were issues: the thing emerging matched the rift's scale in sheer size...
And...
"No!"
Chehai's orphanage sat perilously close to where it opened.
*** ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The entity wasn't just white on its hand—it was slathered head to toe like dipped in paint.
It wrenched the rift apart with both hands, extending one leg outward in its first step.
BOOM—!
That single footfall boomed like a bomb, shaking the earth; deep footprints from five toes cratered the ground.
Finally hauling its full body—both legs, torso, everything—free, it straightened up and raised its head.
Right then—
[———!]
A suppressed roar erupted from it, shaking everything.
Heavy as a whale's cry, it carried no words yet brimmed with vivid 'elation.'
If it had any consideration, one might almost congratulate it on the genuine joy.
Rumble—!
But the listeners' situation left no room to share the glee.
Unrestrained destructive energy poured from its overwhelming bulk, riding the sound waves to ravage the surroundings.
Trees toppled, roots ripped free; stones flew wildly; structures crumbled.
If mere objects fared that poorly, living beings hit directly...
And the village right nearby...
"Ugh, my ears... What the hell is—"
"Waaah—! Mommy!"
"Eek? W-what is that?! A monster?!"
Thankfully, just noise from the boom, broken items—no major casualties yet.
"Haa, haa... That was close..."
Isea gripped her new imperial staff tight, panting hard; blue light blanketing the village trembled against the vicious energy torrent.
Transfer prep had delayed her response slightly, but she was a grand archmage at magic's pinnacle.
She sensed the anomaly, assessed instantly, canceled her spell, and erected a new barrier covering the whole village—including distant spots—in mere seconds.
A taxing feat, even for her, but doable since it was unintended fallout, not a deliberate strike.
"Still... what is that thing...?"
Isea reinforced her shaking barrier—hastily made—and glared at the colossal white figure defying perspective.
A classic humanoid giant over 30 meters tall.
Oddity: its seven facial orifices—eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth—stitched shut with black something.
[———!]
The giant bellowed again, but this time laced with irritation, not joy.
Made sense.
Hero Heinrich, barbarian Hari, spear knight Gios—the vanguard trio had closed in, hammering attacks to draw its gaze from the village.
'Chehai headed straight for the orphanage.'
Everyone had sprung into action the moment Isea reacted.
"...Gotta get closer for spell efficiency."
"Yes, ma'am! I'll escort you. Trust me, Master!"
Everyone but the still-useless Hesperon.
*** Holy power mingled with sword energy surged through Heinrich's rigorously trained body.
Crunch—
Already buffed by Great Blessing: Knight of Light and Blessing: Strong Body, his flesh pushed past limits once more, granting superhuman strength.
Wind-like, he dashed in, bounding off the giant's foot, knee, thigh, and leaped skyward.
Blessing: Mad Sword flared fiercer under Blessing: Amplification, channeling into Blessing: Holy Sword to pierce its heart.
Guided by Logia Holy Combat Arts and Path of Martial Arts into a lethal arc.
Slash—!
[———?!]
White blood sprayed from the gash.
But its massive, sturdy frame thwarted full heart destruction.
More agile than it looked; the strike glanced slightly.
Squirm, squirm—
'...Regeneration too, even now.'
Heinrich's brow twitched as he landed lightly.
The gaping wound writhed, slowly but steadily sealing.
The holy sword specialized in suppressing regeneration against myriad horrors.
Yet it regenerated like this? Beyond even Heinz 2nd or Hari's Super Regeneration...
An off-the-charts monster in every way.
'What is it? That rift it crawled from was definitely an Abyss Scar.'
Humanoid and nude, but no genitals or traits to peg gender.
No hair anywhere—like a rough clay sculpture of a human, pure white from head to toe.
The black wire stitching its face stood out grotesquely against the blank canvas.
'Drifting along the Abyss boundary like the Immortal King's army?'
Didn't fit—too quiet until now, sudden appearance suspicious.
And above all...
'Madness saturation is intense. Comparable to Herathos the Mad Dragon...'
Abyss spawn steeped in madness...
'A monster crawled up from the Abyss.'
Heinrich scowled.
The giant twisted its face—glaring at him with fury beyond irritation.
As if it could see him despite the stitches.
"Sir Hero! Fighting here is too risky! The orphanage is close! We've got its attention—lure it away to the rear...!"
Gios shouted sharply, his spear jabs pulling aggro nonstop.
Isea had closed in to support, maintaining barriers while aiding evac with spells—busy as hell.
But the 30m+ bulk's physics were a disaster in themselves.
Even drawing eyes now had wrecked the village, with unblocked casualties...
'Plain truth: even it slipping and falling is lethal to us.'
Tripping it was dicey now.
If they could snap its neck outright, maybe improvise—but no.
"Got it! It's pissed at me anyway—I'll back off slowly, draw it outside the village...!"
Mid-reply to Gios, a chill crawled up Heinrich's spine, silencing him.
Due to the giant's unnatural move.
'Wait—no way...!'
Its furious scowl tilted quizzically for a moment.
Then its mouth twisted into a warped grin.
Grotesque from the stitches—but unmistakably eager anticipation.
'Intelligence...!'
And then.
The white giant's head...
'It understood our conversation?!'
Swiveled toward the orphanage they desperately guarded.