Chapter 94
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Four Guardians (4)
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Someone once said.
That life doesn't always go as planned.
I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.
Cadet Kang Seoyul! Get back!
Led by Instructor Pi Jinho, the instructors took their positions to protect the cadets.
Grrrr.
Baekho snarled fiercely, the focus of all the instructors' wary attention.
Her coy expression and charming cries were nowhere to be seen.
Her face was contorted in pain, and her voice was raspy, like screeching metal.
Seoyul. What's going on?
Ha Siyeon tugged at my sleeve, her expression utterly bewildered.
For Siyeon, who knew what Baekho was like before, this situation must be completely incomprehensible.
...I don't know either.
But I was just as clueless about the current situation.
My original plan was this.
Use Hermit, who could freely enter and exit the lab, to make the Azure Dragon in the remote second research facility go berserk.
This would alert the world to the reappearance of the Four Guardians, and public opinion would turn against the Azure Dragon as it rampaged and destroyed everything in its path.
At the same time, the sponsors backing the Beast Master would see the uncontrollably rampaging Guardian and likely conclude it was a lost cause. They would, in all probability, cut their losses.
In that case, the experiment would naturally be terminated by the sponsors themselves.
Even if the sponsors didn't give up on the experiment, with the precedent of the Azure Dragon's rampage
I was confident that if I had Meiden, Yuhwa, and Jia appeal to the media about the dangers of the Four Guardians, we wouldn't lose.
The only sticking point was the potential for human and material damage from the Azure Dragon's rampage.
By targeting the second facility, which was located in an uninhabited area, I had ruled out any human casualties.
There would be some material damage, but compared to the massive monster outbreak that would occur in a year, it was a drop in the bucket.
In short, it was a nearly perfect plan.
Cadet Kang Seoyul! Have Geumho fall back! That thing is dangerous!
But she's
It would have been perfect, if only the Baekho who came to the airport to see us off hadn't suddenly gone berserk.
Enough! Just do as you're told! This is a real situation! It's not the time for a mere cadet like you to be running around!
The instructors shouted, their faces grim.
Hk.
I bit my lip.
No. I feel bad for Geumho, but it's better if he stays right where he is.
Instructor Pi Jinho offered a different opinion.
Instructor Pi? But!
Look. Baekho's gaze is fixed on Geumho. I don't know why, but Geumho is buying us time.
...Ah!
Gasps of understanding came from the surrounding instructors.
If we move Geumho now, Baekho's fangs might turn on the cadets or civilians. Cadet Kang Seoyul must be worried about that. Isn't that right?
Y-yes. That's right.
It was for a completely different reason, but I agreed for now.
...I see. My thinking was short-sighted.
The instructors were convinced.
Thanks to that, we didn't have to back down for the time being.
But the situation hadn't changed.
What do we do? If this keeps up, Baekho will
Ha Siyeon fretted.
In three minutes, Australia's superhuman unit would arrive, and when they did, even Baekho would surely be subjugated.
Think. Think.
A way to resolve this situation smoothly!
My mind spun like a top.
In the original story, the Four Guardians always moved in unison. They rested together, acted together. Even when separated, they acted as if they were one body.
Doesn't that mean they have some kind of trait that allows them to communicate regardless of distance, something like a resonance phenomenon?
Could it be that due to this resonance, Baekho also went berserk, resonating with the Azure Dragon's rampage?
Could the rampage have twisted her affection for Geumho in a strange way, causing her to glare at him now?
It was a reasonable hypothesis.
If my hypothesis is correct, the solution is simple.
I just need to defeat the Azure Dragon.
If the Azure Dragon stops its rampage, Baekho will stop hers too
!
It was then that my pupils dilated in horror.
Rampage resonance?
A cold sweat trickled down my back.
Baekho resonated with the Azure Dragon's rampage.
Baekho also went berserk, meaning two of them, the Azure Dragon and Baekho, were now rampaging.
Then what's next?
It goes without saying.
...The remaining three will also go berserk one by one?
*Shudder.*
At that moment, a genuine chill ran down my entire body.
If my thoughts are correct.
If my hypothesis is right.
I might have just made the worst possible choice.
Dammit.
But it's not too late.
It's not like there's no way to solve this.
For that, first
I shouted to Geumho.
Geumho!
With just that call, Geumho acted immediately, as if he'd read my mind.
Grrr.
While still facing off against Baekho, he started sprinting like mad toward the airport runway.
Krawwwr!
Simultaneously, Baekho also began to move, following Geumho.
Considering the specs I saw from Baekho back at the Monster Park, she should have caught up to him in no time, but,
as expected, Baekho's movements were very sluggish.
Her intimidating aura was the same as I'd felt at the Monster Park.
It was a threatening presence that even made Instructor Pi Jinho hesitate.
But her movements are quite slow.
It must be either a side effect of the rampage or because Baekho is resisting it.
I quickly moved to follow them.
Siyeon! Follow me!
Huh...? Okay!
Ha Siyeon followed behind me.
Cadet Kang Seoyul!
Cadet Ha Siyeon!
The instructors were stunned by our sudden actions.
We'll lure it somewhere with no people first!
Kang Seoyul! What are you doing?
Instructor Pi Jinho, the first to catch up to us, asked in a flustered tone.
This Baekho isn't the real Baekho!
...What?
Think about it! There's no way Baekho would be this small!
That's
They say the Azure Dragon is as big as a mountain, but this Baekho is only the size of Geumho! Everyone just jumped to conclusions because it's a white tiger!
I lied.
A desperate lie to convince Instructor Pi Jinho.
No, but the timing of this thing's appearance and the Azure Dragon's is too perfect. There must be some connection
Of course there is! The Four Guardians' characteristic is to dominate and enrage nearby monsters!
How do you know that?
Another instructor, not Pi Jinho, asked.
It's in the history books! With the appearance of the Four Guardians, all the monsters in China went berserk! This is a precursor to that!
...The appearance of the Four Guardians?
Pi Jinho's expression grew serious.
He looked as if he'd realized something.
Yes. That's right.
I said.
The Azure Dragon is just the beginning. The other Guardians will reveal themselves soon.
Pi Jinho's pupils trembled.
That's just speculation
Instructor!
It was then.
A Baekho has appeared in the nearby mountain range!
Just in time, news arrived that the Baekho from the fourth research facility had gone berserk.
I-it's similar in size to the Azure Dragon, and its intimidating aura easily surpasses disaster-class levels!
The Australian government has declared a national crisis! They've requested help from the World Superhuman Federation!
Besides Baekho and the Azure Dragon, numerous other monsters are also rampaging!
This was the moment my hypothesis became reality.
Instructor Pi Jinho! Ha Siyeon and I are enough here! Please, focus on evacuating the civilians and preparing to stop the real Baekho and the other monsters! If we delay any longer, something truly irreversible could happen!
The fourth facility, where Baekho was dormant, is quite close to the city. Any delay could lead to a major catastrophe.
...Kang Seoyul.
Instructor Pi Jinho looked me straight in the eye. I met his gaze and spoke clearly.
Try trusting your student for once.
Instructor Pi Jinho gave a very faint smile. Then, watching the small Baekho running on the runway, he nodded with his lips pressed firmly together.
...Understood.
With those words, he stopped in his tracks.
From this moment on, all instructors of the Korea Superhuman Academy will move to prevent the Australian disaster.
Instructor Pi Jinho's words began to fade into the distance.
Instructor Pi!
Then what about that thing!
You heard him. That's not Baekho. We'll leave it to Kang Seoyul and Ha Siy
Soon, their voices became completely inaudible.
Thank you, Instructor.
For trusting me.
Geumho! Keep running and get off the runway!
The real Baekho can be left to Instructor Pi Jinho.
The superhumans from the Australian government will handle the Azure Dragon somehow.
Neither of them is in a perfect state.
So now, all that's left are Hyeonmu and Jujak.
Considering the skills of the superhumans stationed in Australia, they won't be able to stop Hyeonmu and Jujak as well.
In that case!
Hermit!
I shouted the moment I stepped off the runway.
The Hermit I knew would be hiding somewhere nearby.
It seems an unexpected variable has appeared.
My prediction was correct.
Yeah! A problem came up! So I have one more favor to ask!
You certainly work people hard. Well, fine.
Hermit shrugged.
Hyeonmu is about to go berserk! Go to the first research facility now and take care of it!
The white kitty at the airport, closest to the second facility, went berserk.
Next, the Baekho in the fourth facility, close to the second facility and the airport, went berserk.
Then, going by distance, Hyeonmu in the first facility should be next to go berserk.
I have to stop it.
Hermit was dumbfounded.
You ask for difficult things so casually. I thought you were asking me to buy you a pack of cigarettes.
With your power, it won't be hard! You and Hyeonmu are a perfect match!
...Well, fine. I'll give it a try. It's not as if I'm in a position to refuse your requests.
Hermit smiled faintly.
And if you say it's possible, then it must be.
Right. If it seems dangerous, feel free to run.
Understood.
With that, Hermit once again faded into thin air and disappeared.
With this, Hyeonmu should be taken care of somehow.
Now, all that's left is Jujak, and that half-berserk white kitty.
Who was that?
Ha Siyeon, who had been watching quietly, asked.
My subordinate.
That's not what I meant
I'll explain the details later.
I cut Ha Siyeon off.
For now, let's just focus on stopping that white kitty's rampage. Geumho!
At my words, Geumho stopped in his tracks.
Following his lead, Baekho also came to a halt.
Her expression was still contorted.
On a quiet, deserted mountainside.
Here, I don't have to worry about prying eyes.
*Shwwwaaaa-!*
I unfurled my Heavenly Wings.
Why the wings?
For the mana!
I couldn't use them before because of onlookers, but the Heavenly Wings have a secondary function of increasing mana circulation.
Next, I unequipped [Mastery of Arms] and equipped [Mana's Grace].
With that, preparations are complete!
Siyeon! Coordinate with Geumho and stop Baekho's movements somehow!
What are you going to do?
What do you think!
I conjured the Flame of the Spirit in my hand.
I'm going to burn away only the rampage factor inside that white kitty!
Fortunately, this white kitty isn't that big.
In my current state, plastered with all sorts of mana buffs including Empathy and the Heavenly Wings, I should be able to do it.
* * *
In the third research facility, the Beast Master was clutching his head with both hands and screaming.
Why why!!
Starting with the Azure Dragon, now even Baekho had gone berserk.
J-Jujak's mental resonance is approaching the rampage stage!
A-at this rate, it won't even last ten minutes!
They say the situation with Hyeonmu in the first facility is even worse!
Despair.
All the safety devices are unresponsive!
Th-there's no way to stop it!
Fear.
A-a message from the client!
The experiment ends here. You are to handle the cleanup
Research funding is terminated as of this moment. We claim no responsibility for any experiments conducted outside our purview, and the current situation is to be resolved at your discretion
Those words were the final nail in the coffin.
The Beast Master's mind completely shattered. The Four Guardians Advent Project, which should have been the culmination of decades of research, was completely scrapped.
...So what if one or two countries are destroyed!
This experiment is the hope of humanity.
If we can control monsters at will, humanity will no longer have to live in fear of them.
A world where we no longer have to bow to powerful superhumans is coming!
If this experiment succeeds, all superhumans will become unnecessary phantoms of the past.
The downfall of superhumans, praised by all for being strong, special, and possessing flashy abilities!
He had dedicated his entire 72-year life to this research for that alone.
Dammit! Dammit!
But now, that was all over.
The clients had already started cutting their losses.
The Beast Master would probably have to take the fall for this unauthorized experiment all by himself.
He would be branded a villain and would likely never see the outside of a prison cell for the rest of his life.
He had dedicated his entire life to the world! And in return, he gets the stigma of being a villain and a prison sentence!
The Beast Master simply could not accept this reality.
...I can't let that happen.
Right.
If I'm going to be a villain anyway, I might as well become a proper one.
I'm not going to some prison.
Villain or not, as long as I escape I can always resume the experiment later. After all, the results are all in my head.
A vile light gleamed in the Beast Master's eyes.
You there. Bring me sample number 7.
* * *
Hah, hah.
Thick beads of sweat dripped down my forehead.
The prelude to mana exhaustion.
I used too much mana.
S-Seoyul, are you okay?
Ha Siyeon, having deactivated her Ice Empress state, rushed over to me.
Y-yeah. I'm... Haaah.
I gestured to Ha Siyeon that I was fine.
Whine.
Geumho licked my face.
His face was full of worry.
I'm... fine.
I'm out of breath.
So this is what happens when you use too much mana.
S-still. Thanks to your big brother overexerting himself.
I said, breathing heavily.
I saved your bride.
At Geumho's feet lay Baekho, who had reverted to her cat form.
Sleep well?
Her menacing aura gone, she looked at me with brilliant red eyes.
Not even a thank you? Your big bro went through a lot of trouble to save you.
Having caught my breath somewhat, I said with a playful smile.
Baekho, her earlier ferocity completely gone, turned her head away with a coy look.
...Well. I'm glad you seem to be okay.
Her unchanging demeanor made me smile in spite of myself.
I patted Baekho's head gently and got to my feet.
Seoyul? You should rest more
There's still work to be done.
Thanks to the Heavenly Wings' mana circulation and Mana's Grace, my mana was recovering faster than usual.
Geumho, you stay here and watch over Baekho.
I stroked Geumho's head.
I'm going to go meet Jujak for a bit. Siyeon, you stay here too.
Siyeon looked at me with worried eyes.
...Are you going to release your seal?
I chuckled.
A seal.
It would be nice if I really had something like that.
A protagonist who conveniently breaks a seal in every crisis to neatly overcome it.
How cool would that be.
Yeah.
But unfortunately, I don't have a seal, or any kind of hidden power.
Don't worry. I'll control it. As long as I manage my time well, the enemies won't notice.
But that's not to say I don't have a trump card.
Inside my Artisan's Simple Forge is the highest-grade ancient artifact, Lucifer's Demonic Spear.