The Disappearance of an S-Class Hero (1)
"This is all thanks to you, Lord Inferno."
"Haha, what have I done? It's all because the president is such an exceptional man."
"Come now, you shouldn't flatter me like that. What have I done? Hahaha!"
In the heart of a lavish party.
The man with hair as red as blazing flames and skin of dusky bronze—Inferno—and Grid, the newly appointed president of the Hero Association, exchanged champagne flutes with perfectly insincere smiles.
Today marked Grid's inauguration as chairman of the Hero Association, and the grand party held to celebrate it was in full swing.
Beneath the gentle music, few people in the room were genuinely happy. Yet voicing any discontent was no simple matter—not with Inferno, the undisputed S-Class Rank 1, present.
"Ha, I can't express how regrettable it is that this whole affair was delayed because of that traitor. If not for Lord Inferno, humanity would have faced true peril."
"The traitor… you mean that fellow."
"Indeed. Eternal."
"That bastard was rotten to the core from the beginning. He wore a saintly mask, but I—his longtime friend—know exactly how black his heart truly was. Isn't that right, Ileana?"
"⋯⋯."
"No answer?"
Inferno had both Hero Ileana and Hero Elin nestled against him, yet neither woman's expression was bright.
"Ha, hahaha! Right, of course. I'd forgotten. Would you accept this?"
"Oh, a flame core stone."
"Yes. I obtained it with considerable effort. It reminded me of you, Lord Inferno, so I made certain to secure it."
"My thanks. With this, humanity's peace should endure even longer."
"Is it not all thanks to your benevolence, Lord Inferno? Hahaha!"
The mutual flattery, the deceptively calm yet razor-sharp atmosphere, shattered the moment a disheveled association executive came sprinting toward Inferno.
"T-terrible news!"
"What? What the hell is it? Can't you read the room?"
"This is more important! Osril is under attack!"
"Attack? Don't tell me it's the Ravilis bastards. They shouldn't have the strength left for that."
"It is Ravilis. Current estimates put the death toll at two thousand, with six thousand injured. When you include the missing, the total casualties exceed ten thousand!"
"What?!"
The soft background music continued, utterly at odds with the sudden heat radiating through the hall.
The source of that heat was Inferno himself, who had been quietly sipping champagne beside President Grid.
"What did you just say?"
"H-Hero Inferno! Forgive me for not greeting you properly—"
"Skip the formalities. Speak. Where was attacked?"
"O-Osril! The port city of Osril!"
"Osril? Didn't Miriam have that place locked down?"
"That's…"
"If you waste one more second, I'll crush your jaw and nail it to a post in Osril. Speak clearly."
"Hiiik…! Lady Miriam is missing! Her office was destroyed. The only thing discovered was the body of B-Class Hero Marina—her neck snapped. No trace of Lady Miriam remains!"
"What?"
The heat flared hotter still.
Though Miriam had been injured recently and could not display her full power, it was still absurd to think that one or two legion commanders could have subdued her so cleanly.
For her to vanish without a trace—possibly kidnapped—while Osril burned meant at least four legions had invaded.
"How many legions exactly?"
"They say… only seven individuals."
"Seven people? Not seven legions—seven people?"
"Yes… That was the only record left at the scene."
"What the fuck. That's impossible!"
A dull crunch. The face of the messenger who had been trembling as he delivered the report exploded.
The headless body twitched once before collapsing. Horrified screams erupted throughout the hall.
"What are you all standing around for? Find out what the hell is going on! Turn that music off—fuck! Who the hell put on this garbage?!"
The party was over.
"You've worked hard, Cezar."
"Ah, Anima. Yes, I'll rest a while. Could you prepare the bath?"
"It shall be done."
It had ended more easily than expected.
The reason was simple: Miriam had been weaker than anticipated.
The title of S-Class Rank 3 Hero was no empty honor. She was a woman who had earned it through sheer ability. There was even a saying that fighting her in a water-rich environment was suicidal, so perfectly did the terrain suit her. Yet she had let me seize her by the throat, lose consciousness, and be dragged away with pathetic ease.
It was difficult to understand.
In the past, only a few months ago when I had still lived as Eternal, Miriam had definitely…
No. It didn't matter.
As long as the matter was resolved, that was enough.
"Cezar, the bath is ready. Shall you enter now?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Anima."
"Not at all. I will also prepare a light wine and some cheese to accompany it."
"You're the only one I need."
"You honor me."
I shed my clothes and sank into the bath, letting the hot water soothe my body.
It was the height of luxury.
In the days when I had burned myself alive to save others, I had lived in a hovel smaller than this bathhouse. Now that I had chosen revenge and sworn myself to the enemy, here I was, soaking in an enormous tub like some idle noble.
To think I would warm myself alone in such a vast bath while sipping wine, nibbling cheese, and enjoying delicacies I had never tasted in my previous life—it was something the old me could never have imagined.
Once my thoughts settled, I rinsed off lightly and stepped out. Anima, who had been diligently handling paperwork, rose at once and began her report.
"All S-Class Heroes have been fully mobilized to Osril."
"As expected. They had no choice for the sake of public sentiment. Ah, do we have the participant list?"
"Centered on Inferno, it includes the newly ranked S-Class Hero Dark Doom at third place, Ileana at sixth, Elin at fifteenth, and every other available hero except those guarding their respective territories. All A-Class heroes and below have been called up as well—especially the healers."
"Hmm…"
"Is something troubling you?"
"No, nothing like that. Just something that occurred to me. Ah, right. How is Miriam?"
"She is being held in the underground prison. She regained consciousness not long ago. Because she became violent, she has been fitted with sealing orbs."
"Good work. I'll go see her shortly."
"I will make preparations."
"No need. Just continue your work."
"As you command."
Ileana. Elin.
Unpleasant memories surfaced.
Or perhaps they should be called pleasant ones?
After all, they were the reason I had ended up like this.
And Inferno.
A single spark of flame seemed to ignite and boil inside my chest.
"Untie me! Let me go right now!"
"Hey! Are you deaf?! Undo these restraints! At least tell me where I am!"
"Just you wait! Everyone will come storming in to rescue me any moment!"
No matter how loudly she shouted, the words vanished into empty silence. Miriam was imprisoned in a void that returned not even an echo.
Her limbs were chained to an enormous, unidentified sphere, making even the slightest movement difficult. The power she had once been so proud of refused to answer her call.
She kept declaring that help would arrive, but the fear flooding her mind could not be denied.
The image of B-Class Hero Marina—her cute little sister who had always called her "big sis"—dying with her neck broken still burned behind Miriam's eyes. The terror that she herself might die the same way slowly swallowed her whole.
Was this her karma?
For betraying the one man she should never have betrayed…
"Ha. What am I even thinking?"
Miriam shook her head, trying to banish the thoughts.
Useless reflection could wait. Escaping this place was the only priority.
By now the other heroes must have realized she was gone.
"Let me out of here!! Is anyone even there?! If you're going to do this, at least fight me fairly!"
Her meaningless cries ended when a heavy door creaked open with a groan and slammed shut again.
"H-Hiiik?! Who is it? Who's there?!"
"You're certainly making a lot of noise."
In the darkness of the prison, a soft male voice slid into her ears. Miriam instinctively lifted her head, straining to see the speaker.
The man before her possessed the refined features of a noble. For some reason he wore a perfect, emotionless mask that revealed absolutely nothing of what he felt toward her.
"Wh-who…"
"Hero Miriam. Correct?"
"Yes, but…"
"Since you know your station, I would appreciate silence. The stench is already unpleasant. The noise only makes it worse. Being here is painful enough as it is."
"What?! You're the one who locked me up! Don't tell me… you're the one who kidnapped me?! You coward! If it hadn't been a surprise attack—"
"If it hadn't been a surprise attack, then what? You think you could have won? How amusing. From the start, complaining about a surprise attack makes no sense whatsoever."
"Haa? What is a filthy demon even saying?! If I had been prepared, I could have crushed the likes of you with one hand!"
"You say that while chained up like this?"
The man seemed to lose all interest in her. He turned away and suddenly began speaking to empty air.
"Anima, I've confirmed it. We can move her to the torture chamber."
"Understood. I will arrange it at once. Will a few hours suffice?"
"Three days. Exactly three days. Use only instruments. Can you manage?"
"There will be no problem. Leave it to me."
It had not been a monologue.
Though she had not seen her at first, a woman with hair as black as jet and eyes of unfathomable depth stood like a shadow behind him. She answered smoothly and began operating some unseen mechanism.
"Hero Miriam. I am Cezar's secretary, Anima. I look forward to working with you from now on."
"Cezar? Anima? What exactly are you asking me to do?"
"You will learn in due time, so please do not worry."
As Anima had said, Miriam did not have to wait long to understand.
Less than five minutes after the man left the cell, several soldiers in heavy armor rushed in, seized her, and dragged her away.
No matter how desperately she struggled, her powerless body could not overcome their strength.
"Cezar, the transfer is complete."
"Ah, good work. Anima, come up and let's eat together."
"It is fine."
"Well… suit yourself then…"
Inside the prison, only the echo of Anima's voice remained.