Ch.60Codename Zero (2)

# The Bat Monster

It was a middling opponent, significantly stronger than the shark monster I had seen at the aquarium before, yet weaker than the octopus monster.

But that assessment only applied when using myself as the standard.

“Janghoon. Stay close to me and Hoshino.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Clan Head.”

“Hmm… I’d like to part ways here, but after seeing all your tantrums in your lifetime, my heart has softened.”

“Hahaha… I’m sorry. But I really wanted to see it. The scene where that homunculus Zero defeats the bat monster.”

“Still, we’re heading to a monster outbreak site, so you need to stick close not just to your mother but to me as well, understand?”

“Yes, I understand, Miss.”

Currently, we were heading toward City B in the limousine we had arrived in.

The reason was obvious—to test the performance of the homunculus, Zero.

Originally, since her very existence was top secret, I, as an outsider, should have parted ways by now.

But this homunculus concept wasn’t even in the original work.

A life that should have been discarded was able to survive thanks to the great threat that was “me.” Perhaps that fact kept floating around in my mind.

Muttering…

“Still… something keeps bothering me.”

Above all, those eyes I briefly met when I first saw her.

Those red eyes, darker than emptiness, somehow kept nagging at me.

As if they were asking me to take her hand.

Was this just a feeling?

Or was it the extremely developed intuition of a monster?

“We’ve arrived.”

“…!”

Three limousines carrying S-class heroes, including myself, entered beyond the barrier of City B.

“Kyaaaah!”

“Save me!”

“Everyone run! Monster!”

What we immediately saw was hell.

An endless procession of people desperately running behind us, trampling even their own kind in their desire to live.

Screams could be heard from all directions.

A child who lost their mother while running sat on the ground crying, and in my quickly passing field of vision, I noticed an old woman fleeing alone with a cane.

It was absolute chaos.

This was the situation when a Grade 2 monster—one that only A-class heroes and above could handle—appeared in a city.

However, unlike me, who was secretly tense inside the limousine, the mother and daughter of the Okami family sitting in front and beside me were very calm.

That’s because they were heroes who needed to save people in situations like this.

“Apart from the performance test, let’s help evacuate people.”

“Understood, Mother.”

“…! Miss, let me also…”

“No! Janghoon. I’m sorry, but from here on is the domain of heroes.”

“!!”

Miss Hoshino coldly rejected my help.

In all my time serving the young miss, had I ever been treated so dismissively?

It made me acutely aware of the vast gap between hero society and ordinary human society.

Simply put, it was a polite way of saying “know your place.”

“Look, I’ll show you the fake called Zero fighting later. Until then, you need to stay quietly in this limousine. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand…”

“Don’t feel too bad… After all, if something were to happen to you, I would…”

“I know. I’ll stay put until you tell me otherwise, Miss.”

Pat, pat.

Gone was her tough appearance from moments ago, and she was once again my gentle pet fox.

I stroked her fox ears, which had drooped slightly.

And before closing the car door, I gave her a “Fighting!” to encourage her.

***

So this was the city emergency situation caused by a Grade 2 monster that I’d only heard about.

Indeed, the air trembled more intensely than during the near-Grade 2 monster incident I had responded to before.

…Gulp.

“Hoshino. This stage is still too early for you.”

“…! Mother…”

“So if you happen to encounter the bat monster while evacuating people, run away without hesitation.”

“!!”

Hoshino, who had exited the limousine with Clan Head Makoto.

Like a professional hero, she was efficiently guiding people to evacuation shelters while remaining vigilant of her surroundings.

But watching her daughter, the mother’s assessment was harsh yet accurate.

In fact, before the Grade 2 dog monster, Hoshino’s fox ears had unconsciously drooped.

For a fox person to show such weakness was only possible in front of “someone stronger” or in the bedroom with a husband.

But while she might have the abilities…

The current Hoshino, already overwhelmed by the atmosphere, would be in danger against a Grade 2 or higher monster.

Having made this judgment, Clan Head Makoto sternly warned her daughter, who would succeed her.

…To her daughter who thought it was unnecessary meddling.

“N-No!”

“Hoshino…”

“I’m A-class Rank 2! Out of only 70 A-class positions, I’m right behind first place, and you’re saying I would lose to a mere Grade 2?”

“As I’ve said before, your position has a lot to do with our family name…”

“Shut up! You’ve been like this for a while, Mother! Why do you keep belittling me in front of others?! I’m a proper adult now!”

Like treating a child.

Clan Head Makoto’s cold assessment and concern were all things Hoshino would rather not have.

“Forget the test.”

“…What?”

“Today, instead of that fake human, I’ll be the one to defeat the bat monster.”

“Hoshino…!”

“So watch me. I’m no longer the weak princess you think I am!”

The beast-like pupils that usually appeared when facing monsters were now directed at her own mother.

Seeing Hoshino so heated, Clan Head Makoto should have rebutted.

But she couldn’t find the words, her mouth refusing to open.

Was this happening because she had tried to play both father and mother to Hoshino, who had recently become an adult?

Still, she couldn’t just stand by. To calm her fuming daughter’s heart…

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

Along with an apology, she needed to tell her not to look at her mother with such eyes…

“?!”

“Councilor Avanka.”

…but she couldn’t.

“Bravo~, Princess Hoshino. Your actions right now are the very embodiment of ‘progressive’ human evolution.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

Councilor Avanka, who had just exited another limousine with Zero.

She was lavishing praise on the ‘progressive’ daughter who was bravely rebelling against her ‘conservative’ mother.

She applauded the spirit of someone willing to take on a challenge even at the risk of death.

“That’s right, Princess Hoshino. You might be able to defeat a Grade 2 monster here and now!”

“Listen, Councilor Avanka! This is a family matter. So please stay out of—”

“No. She wants to fight the bat monster now. So from this point on, it’s a matter between ‘Zero’ and Princess ‘Hoshino’.”

“Zero…”

Hoshino now locked eyes with Zero, who had just stepped out.

Those chilling eyes devoid of emotion.

Taking a fighting stance so casually—it made sense that a machine following orders wouldn’t feel fear.

“Then how about this? Whoever defeats the bat monster first will be given priority when being promoted to S-class later.”

“Priority…!”

“Councilor Avanka! Treating monster subjugation like some kind of game—”

“I’ll take that bet.”

“Hoshino!”

Clan Head Makoto tried to put an end to this foolishness quickly.

But the timing had long passed, and her daughter was fixated on proving herself.

Hoshino walked right up to Zero and, meeting those emotionless eyes with her beast-like pupils, said:

“Let’s see who can find and destroy the bat monster faster.”

“A competition? …Councilor Avanka. Princess Hoshino has proposed the following competition to me. Please give me your orders.”

“Accept it, Zero. But give your best effort to defeat the bat monster too. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand.”

***

The bat’s habit of preferring dark places.

Following this, the bat monster had hidden in a large sewer that resembled a massive underground temple.

“I’m… full…”

It was currently moving through the sewer at low altitude, trying to escape from City B after causing the commotion.

“Hmm?”

In the pitch-black sewer, the creature soaring through the air was like a living shadow itself.

It was the perfect hunting ground—it could see its prey, but they couldn’t see it.

Perhaps that’s why.

Although it had eaten enough, the sight of potential prey below in this optimal hunting ground…

The bat monster wanted to hunt one more for fun, so it sharply lowered its posture.

Then, toward a white-haired figure walking alone in the sewer…

Thwack.

“…Huh?”

It had descended like a butterfly to sting like a bee.

But at that moment, an arrow precisely extracted only the heart from the bat’s chest and pinned it to a pillar behind.

“Kuhak?!”

It was too pathetic an end for a Grade 2 monster.

But even more incredulous than the bat monster that had been killed so easily was someone who was kicking the dead creature’s corpse in frustration.

Thud! Thud!

“Damn it, I felt a killing intent suddenly and thought it might be that ‘kin-slayer’ who’s been the talk among monsters lately. What kind of small fry is this?”

Elf ears protruding sharply on either side of hair white as jade.

Her skin, though not as white as her hair, was also pale, and most importantly, the corneas covering her golden irises were not human white but monster black.

Dressed in East Asian martial arts attire with only the most important parts not being white, she…

The ‘Bow Monster’ had been hiding in City I and fled all the way to City B when she heard that the kin-slayer had arrived.

Looking at the large kin she had just killed, she momentarily wondered if she herself was the kin-slayer.

“Ugh… I’m hungry though. Maybe I should go up briefly and just raid a convenience store?”