Chapter 135

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The world was gradually descending into chaos.

The massacre at the research institute still raised many questions.

The frequency of spatial rifts occurring in urban areas was increasing day by day.

The tragedy at the cherry blossom festival poured fuel on the fire of public anxiety.

Strong spiritual veins have the effect of preventing spatial rifts.

Of course, it’s not a complete prevention, but single-digit districts were relatively safe from monster invasions.

Therefore, lands with high spiritual veins were highly valued.

Where safety is guaranteed, people gather.

Where the population is dense, infrastructure develops.

But this time, a spatial rift occurred in District 4, no less.

To make matters worse, the Celestial Corps’ response to the monster invasion was sluggish.

To be precise, the Celestial Corps reacted immediately. They couldn’t predict the spatial rift in advance, but once it was confirmed, they immediately took action. As many as three captains were mobilized. This is by no means common and indicates that the situation was deemed extremely urgent.

But to the public, it was just an excuse.

The death toll alone exceeded double digits.

The number of victims of mental corruption and the injured, as well as material damage, were beyond description.

Naturally, the media reported daily on the Celestial Corps’ complacent response.

Public anger turned toward the Celestial Corps, and at the same time, anxiety grew.

The increasing damage in urban areas recently.

Even the higher-grade districts, which were considered relatively safe, were no longer secure.

The increasing frequency of spatial rifts.

There’s no guarantee that a tragedy like the cherry blossom festival won’t happen again.

Who on earth can protect us?

What is the Celestial Corps’ commander doing?

It’s been years since the God of War’s presence was last seen in public.

150 years.

That’s how long the God of War has fought as the commander.

No matter how unparalleled a hero or the strongest supernatural he is, there’s a limit to his lifespan.

Could it be that the God of War is already dead?

Is the Celestial Corps hiding this fact?

If so, who can we rely on?

Crisis breeds anxiety.

Anxiety transforms into desperation.

Desperation craves a reliable hope.

Even if it’s just a small light.

Even if it’s still insignificant.

If there’s even a glimmer of possibility, people will go wild.

“They were heroes, those kids!”

Testimonies from survivors of the cherry blossom festival.

In the absence of the Celestial Corps, there were still young students.

They saved people and repelled monsters.

Even though the initial response failed, the damage was less than expected because of the students’ struggle.

To protect their identities, the Celestial Corps controlled the students’ information, but there were more than a few witnesses.

The mass media criticized the Celestial Corps while simultaneously reporting favorably on the students.

There were several students at the scene, but the most famous among them was undoubtedly the boy with pyrokinesis.

A meteor of fire streaking across the shattered sky.

A light of hope that burned monsters and created escape routes for people.

Like the sun.

A crimson light illuminating the earth.

Even those suffering from mental corruption and in a dazed state saw those flames.

The scars of the great disaster five years ago still remain.

The fear embedded in people’s hearts rears its head in the face of the rapidly changing reality.

This is why they criticize the Celestial Corps more than necessary.

They tremble in fear that another disaster on the same scale might occur.

In times of chaos, heroes are born.

Just as the unparalleled hero, the God of War, was born in the past.

Even though he’s still a student, his presence, strength, and achievements.

If he fully matures, he will undoubtedly become a Celestial Corps captain.

No, perhaps the birth of a new God of War.

Some grumble that the public’s evaluation is too exaggerated.

But on the other hand, it shows just how much people are expecting.

“How does it feel to be famous?”

Leo asked in a sly voice.

He nudged Eugene’s shoulder with his elbow, urging him to answer.

But Eugene didn’t have much to say.

After all, it didn’t feel real at all.

While hospitalized, he was cut off from the outside world and focused solely on meditation.

He replayed the memories of that day, repeating the same scenario over and over.

It was the image training he always did.

If I had done this then.

If I hadn’t blocked but dodged.

If I had taken a bigger step here.

He engraved his shortcomings in his heart.

He imprinted the experience to ensure he would never repeat the same mistake.

After days of repeating only meditation, the day of his discharge finally approached.

Originally, he could have been discharged much earlier.

But his hospitalization was extended due to Alice’s heat ray.

Even though Eugene has resistance to heat, the destructive power of Alice’s heat ray was beyond imagination.

Even though it clearly wasn’t her full power, Eugene’s skin was scorched, and he felt the heat down to his bones.

If she had fired the heat ray with the intent to kill, even Eugene wouldn’t have been able to withstand it without counterattacking.

‘It was unfair…’

When she suddenly charged in, shouting “Die, you pervert!!” and firing heat rays, everything went dark.

Fortunately, it was all a misunderstanding and resolved amicably, but even now, just thinking about it sends shivers down his spine.

It was truly a bolt from the blue.

But Eugene wasn’t too upset.

In fact, he felt somewhat elated.

The accident caused by Alice’s misunderstanding.

Thanks to that incident, he was able to become somewhat closer to Alice.

Until then, she had kept her distance as if building a wall.

Eugene wanted to get closer, but Alice had always refused.

But now, he had managed to break down part of that wall.

Though it was bittersweet that the hammer that broke the wall was guilt.

“Ugh, you stole all the spotlight again. Take this.”

“Ow, are you really hitting me?”

After being discharged and hearing the news from the outside for the first time, Eugene suddenly found himself a celebrity.

Though his face and name weren’t yet known, the media might find him soon.

Eugene was genuinely bewildered.

He had tried desperately.

He had burned himself out to save even one more person.

Eugene knew that as a result, he had been able to save many lives.

But was this something to be so highly praised for?

Any hero of the Celestial Corps would have saved as many, if not more, people than he had.

In fact, compared to active-duty heroes, his achievements were like a drop in the bucket.

He could understand being praised as a promising talent.

He could even somewhat understand being exaggeratedly hailed as a future captain.

But reality went beyond that. Honestly, Eugene found it hard to hide his confusion.

“It’s probably just a facade. The social atmosphere isn’t great these days. They’re probably trying to calm public opinion by putting up a figurehead.”

That was the conclusion he reached after some thought.

Eugene’s performance was impressive for a student.

His ability was simple yet strong. It was easy to notice.

There were many witnesses, and his skills were decent, so it was a suitable choice.

If that was the case, it would explain why Eugene, out of the six A-class students, became particularly famous.

“I’m not so sure.”

Leo responded negatively to Eugene’s opinion.

“If that was the case, there’s no need for it to be just you. Look at me, man. I fought a high rank monster. A student went toe-to-toe with a griffon! Isn’t that headline material?”

“That’s true, but maybe it’s just that the fact you fought a high rank monster hasn’t gotten out yet.”

“I never kept it a secret. I even told the Celestial Corps. If they really needed propaganda, they would’ve used it somehow.”

Come to think of it, he’s right.

Huh, then why?

Eugene fell into thought again.

“Think simply. It means your performance was that impressive.”

The rain of fire arrows falling from the sky.

The crimson meteor shower that incinerated monsters like divine punishment.

It was a performance that easily caught people’s attention.

“What are you going to do now? What if the media suddenly comes to interview you?”

“That’s something you should worry about too.”

Though the boy with pyrokinesis became the most famous, it’s not like the other students were completely overshadowed.

For example, the little girl who annihilated monsters with beams of light.

“Well, even so, it’s probably just a flash in the pan. It’ll calm down over time.”

Eugene decided to think that way.

There’s no point in racking his brain over it.

Instead, he wanted to think more constructively.

‘…In the end, I was just rushing ahead with enthusiasm.’

I vowed to protect Lucia and everyone else.

But words remained words, and thoughts remained thoughts.

I’m still lacking. This isn’t enough.

The girl with the red fox mask.

The child with the white cloud mask.

Thinking of them, his fists clenched.

‘I need to get stronger. Much stronger than now.’

Beyond the darkness.

A faint light seemed to appear.

He instinctively realized.

That’s a milestone toward the next realm.

The realm of an ‘Awakener’, like teacher Angelica.

A level of power equivalent to a vice-captain of the Celestial Corps.

It’s too far and faint to grasp now.

But if I keep moving forward, I’ll reach it someday.

And I’ll definitely transcend even that realm, going beyond it.

Captain.

He had felt a glimpse of that power.

“…Sigh.”

Eugene, who had been steeling his resolve, let out a deep sigh.

Someone had come to mind.

The girl smiling amidst the falling cherry blossom petals.

Her profile seemed to still be etched in his mind.

He relaxed his shoulders.

If I’m too tense, even things that should work out won’t.

She probably took me to the cherry blossom festival to give me some peace of mind.

Even though it didn’t turn out well.

‘Next time… should I ask her out on a date…?’

Well, she didn’t exactly ask me out on a date.

But we did meet up on the weekend and went out together.

So what I mean is, I’ll ask her if she’s free this weekend.

Yeah, the cherry blossom festival ended in the worst way possible.

So I want to give her a pleasant time.

So she can forget, even if just for a moment, the hardships and pain.

To properly conclude the awkwardly ended cherry blossom festival.

The day after his discharge.

Eugene, with a firm resolve, went to the academy.

“Eugene, it’s serious.”

What awaited Eugene, who arrived at the classroom tense, was Arin’s sigh.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Something’s happening with you.”

“With me?”

What are you talking about all of a sudden?

Eugene’s confusion was immediately cleared up by Arin’s next words.

“Lucia’s going on a date with another guy this weekend.”

“What?”

It was a bolt from the blue.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Well, what can I say?

I didn’t expect to repeat myself within a day.

I couldn’t bring myself to give up on the series because I still have too much attachment to it.

There are so many stories I want to tell, so I couldn’t just abandon it.

Even while working, I kept thinking about it, and eventually, I decided to give it another try.

Although the release schedule might be a bit slower, I’ll try to write whenever I have time.

I’d be really grateful if you continue to enjoy it in the future.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
The author is a very busy person, but they still manage to bring out chapters! 

Give the author some support on Novelpia if possible!