episode_0023

“… .”

dawn. A time when everyone should have been sound asleep.

Luciel was still spending the night with his eyes open.

“Senior.”

I turn my head and see Neferti approaching, fiddling with her fan.

“Why don’t you close your eyes? You’ve been doing this for three hours already.”

“I’m fine.”

“No. It’s not okay. You are the commander of the detachment and the best sword we have. If a person like that gets even a little bit of a break due to physical issues, it’s a big deal for everyone.”

The special ability itself may be invincible, but the person who wields the special ability is not invincible.

Because we are human. If you don’t eat, rest, and sleep, you will eventually collapse. Because he is that kind of person.

“Are you doing this because of a sense of responsibility? I think this happened because of my senior.”

No answer came back. Neferti said she knew that would happen and opened her fan.

“I heard the news. This strange phenomenon is not limited to cradles. As you thought, this incident started because of the damage to the seal stone. However, that doesn’t mean everything is your fault.”

“… .”

“So, let go of any feelings of guilt or responsibility. Rather, it’s right to find a way to overcome it, right?”

Luciel, who was staring blankly at his junior, smiled brightly.

And then he said, ‘This is why I really like the president.’ Take off the rhyme.

“If you look at it this way, it seems like the chairman is a senior, not me.”

“Ohhoho! The position of president is not a job for just any student! Ohhohoho!!”

That, Chairman. It’s all good, but turn the sound down a bit. If this continues, everyone will wake up.

iced coffee! okay! sorry! Stop without even realizing it!

“Rather. Are there any teachers who have returned yet?”

“Yes. Not even one person.”

“… It’s just that the subjugation is delayed a bit, right?”

“It will be so. Are the teachers at the cradle normal?”

Even better than Luciel. These people have dozens of times more practical experience.

Those are the teachers of the cradle. Even though he has retired from the field, he is still no less active.

Nothing bad will happen. It’s just that something went wrong.

For that reason, it just takes more time than usual.

And Luciel too. Nefertido too. I decided to believe that.

“Student Luciel!”

“Oh, Mr. Smith?”

“ Wake up the entire contingent immediately!”

At those words, a ‘maybe’ emotion appears on Luciel and Neferti’s faces.

“Gate expression. Fortunately, it is at a low risk level and is smaller than the previous ones.”

“Is it standby? or not… .”

“For now, we are planning to enter, but none of the other teachers have been able to return. I think I need to look at the situation a little more and then decide whether to wait or enter again.”

The two female students nodded and immediately prepared the dispatch team.

Although their experience may be less than that of teachers, their enthusiasm and sense of duty are no less.

Above all, aren’t these talented people recognized by their teachers as far as special abilities are concerned?

“It looks like that one.”

When we arrived at the scene, something much smaller than the other gates had indeed appeared.

That level is more than enough to cover the students in the cradle.

“As the teacher said, it is a low risk level.”

“What are you going to do? At that level, it is okay to enter the dispatch area.”

“Wait here for a moment. The teacher will check again.”

Mr. Smith approaches the gate. It certainly doesn’t seem like a very threatening gate.

As for Gyeongham, at most small monsters would come out of these gates.

for that reason. Just when I was thinking that it would be okay to allow the dispatch unit to enter.

―… Bleep!!

The rating measuring device in my hand suddenly soars vertically.

From low risk to medium risk to high risk in an instant.

As if that wasn’t enough, she cries as if she’s going to break through to the breaking point!

“Oh my!”

Mr. Smith quickly turned around. And he shouted to the students in the contingent.

“Step back! hurry! As much as possible here-”

Immediately afterwards, a tremendous roar shook the cradle.

―Kwaaang!!

*

“… Are you okay?”

Teacher Hunter spoke anxiously to the woman sitting next to him, who looked very tired.

Then the golden retriever fell limp. No, Tiamat shakes her head.

“No… . I feel like I’m going to die of hunger… .”

If I had known this would happen, I would have brought something.

The risk level was low, so I thought it would end soon.

“As expected, it was right to bring emergency food… Sobbing. I should have brought beef jerky… .”

“I’ll make sure to do that later.”

I don’t know if we’ll be doing field work like this even then.

Teacher Hunter, with an embarrassed smile, fiddles with his sunglasses.

I still have no idea what the hell is going on.

Obviously to get rid of the gate. Came in to subdue monsters.

And even in the first hour, it was being implemented without a hitch.

‘The change started after that.’

Monsters that always run at the sight of humans, dripping yellow saliva.

But this time was different. At some point, they started avoiding them.

Did you decide you couldn’t win? Are these guys rational?

It’s not. No matter how you look at it, it’s not at a high-risk level that makes sense.

Even if there is reason, they know in the end.

That only by eliminating themselves can they move beyond this.

But you’re just running away and wasting time?

The two teachers realized that something was unusual and decided to go back.

But that too was one step too late. Suddenly a thick fog rolled in and I lost my sense of direction.

At some point, the gate became a complicated maze, holding onto them and not letting go.

“Mr. Hunter. No matter how you look at this. It looks like it’s holding us back, right?”

“It seems like that to Teacher Tiamat as well.”

“This is my first time experiencing something like this. I’ve never had anything like this before.”

I nod my head and check the watch on my wrist.

Several hours have already passed. It must be dawn outside by now.

“If things happen like this… Cradle determines that this situation is dangerous and will group more teachers into one group.”

“Yes. It is true that they should not enter there originally, but monsters are not allowed to roam around due to the social position of the cradle, so eventually many of the teachers will enter through the gate.”

As we exchanged opinions, I felt like I could vaguely see the current situation.

The Cradle’s power is completely tied up inside the gate, at least temporarily.

There is no significant damage, but the return time is twice as long as usual.

‘In that situation, if the real enemy passes through the last gate… .’

Teacher Hunter too. Tiamat too. They both think the same thing.

And both of them could not hide their nervousness at the same conclusion that followed.

“Support will come from outside, right?”

“Of course it will. How important is the cradle?”

okay. But why? Do you think that might not be the case?

*

“Cough, Cough!”

My head is pounding. A terrible headache follows.

I can’t control my body properly. I just want to lie down like this.

But that shouldn’t be the case. Because he is not an ordinary person.

“Hmm… .”

Screaming in pain, Neferti looked around.

Likewise, the vice president, Kasar, who wakes up and is groaning, is the first to be seen.

However, seeing blood flowing from the head is definitely not normal.

If the injury is that serious, you should at least worry about a concussion.

‘The others… .’

There are two dispatch members who have not yet come to their senses. A second year student and a fourth year senior.

It looks like he was thrown away in the aftermath a little while ago and suffered more serious injuries.

So, what about the remaining members of the contingent? Where are they?

―Quaaang!!

Something passes by Neferti. And it falls to the ground with a loud noise.

I turned my head and thought, oh my god. It is clear that he is a 4th grade student. I am the detachment commander!

“Seo, senior!”

“Ugh… I-I’m fine… ! Hurry up and support the battle!!”

support? I look at the place where the 4th grade student spoke.

“Senior! Be careful!”

“Student Luciel! I’ll take charge of the front line, so let’s start with backing up the other students!”

“Okay!!”

A place where blood clots occur. Mr. Smith, Luciel, and other members of the contingent.

Everyone is gritting their teeth and going into battle. The desperate will is clearly felt.

And in front of them, there was a huge monster they had never seen before.

“Resist more. more. more! Wouldn’t this be a battle worthy of the position of leader!”

Monsters speak. You didn’t hear it wrong. Clearly speaking.

A monster that speaks human language!? This is my first time hearing something like this?!

Even as she asked reason why this was happening, her instincts led her to the battlefield.

-Sigh!

Neferti’s fan unfolds, and the sharp wind that arises from there rushes in.

A monster was soon targeting Mr. Smith. No, I throw that monster’s arm aside.

To be precise, the blow was intended to cut, not push.

‘not good… !’

Teacher Smith says it is a defense class suitable for hand-to-hand combat.

I know that my activities so far have put a lot of strain on my body.

Doesn’t it seem quite difficult to even stand in front of him right now?

The contingent, including Luciel, is also doing its best.

However, the opponent is not an ordinary monster. There are very few effective hits.

The only thing that happens is that a scar is carved every time that sword of light flashes.

“Chairman! Please take intensive care of senior Luciel! Me and the other crew members will try to get that guy’s attention as much as possible!”

“Ah! yes I understand!”

Choice and focus. Here, Luciel is the sharpest sword this side has.

The others distract as much as possible, and Neferti adds wind acceleration.

Meanwhile, Luciel prepared the ultimate blow and tried to turn the tide of the war at once.

However, this is what they overlooked. No, it’s something I hadn’t even thought about.

“Hoo.”

The opponent was not the typical ‘monster’ they had faced so far.

“I thought they were miscellaneous. That’s pretty cool!”

A black spear appears in the giant monster’s hand.

It is not a crude weapon of the few monsters that used tools.

The blade was forged properly. Above all, it is full of ominous energy.

The moment you see it, you instinctively realize it. If you hit it right, you will definitely die!

―Kwaang!

-bang!

“Wow!”

Mr. Smith, who had held on as long as he could, eventually collapsed.

If Neferti had not moved it with the wind, it would have been crushed.

As the vanguard collapses, other contingent members soon reach their limits.

His natural ability is clearly excellent, but he still lacks experience.

Additionally, encountering an enemy for the first time caused psychological atrophy.

Neferti’s wind and Luciel’s light. None of them inflict critical damage.

On the contrary, that monster is swinging a spear while making a creepy laugh.

‘I can’t even hope for support. Now there are no teachers left in the cradle… ! What should I do… !’

ah. A sigh flows from Neferti’s mouth.

How foolish I am to think of something else at this important moment.

When Neferti saw the huge spear approaching, she swung her fan.

―Kwajik!!

“Off… !”

Even though at the last moment, the wind was created and the orbit was twisted.

Neferti screamed in pain as if her entire body was being crushed.

The body flies, spinning round and round. The mind also flies.

You shouldn’t fall to the floor like this. You have to react somehow.

He tries to manifest his supernatural ability by biting his lip, but he cannot control it.

In a state shaken by pain and shock, it is impossible.

In her haste, Neferti tried to at least protect her neck.

-width!

“… ?”

Until, instead of the hard texture of the floor, I felt something warm and reliable.