This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 105

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Chapter 105

After leaving the Forest of Martial Arts, Felson headed towards the central part of the academy.

Traces of demonic energy scattered by Monma were stretched out like threads.

No matter how specialized in detection one might be, the flow was so faint that it was difficult to pursue.

But to Felson, it felt intensely vivid.

There was no time to wait for the magical train.

He ran with all his might and looked back at the distant forest.

“Half…”

As his son’s gentle face brushed through his mind, Felson’s steps momentarily slowed.

But only for a moment.

The speed picked up again.

…It will be okay.

Because there’s a comrade he believes in more than himself, guarding his place.

Now, all he has to do is find and condemn Monma, the one responsible for all this, and its host.

That’s it.

‘Monma…’

Even though he tried not to recall, memories of the past penetrated his mind like a sharp spike.

One of the sad aspects of human nature is its tendency to focus more on loss.

Over a decade ago.

It was the moment Monma took away his wife.

He could no longer remember the joy, happiness, and tranquility he felt when he was with her.

The bright smile that captivated him at first sight.

The warm and calm voice.

All blurred.

Only hatred swelled silently.

So he killed and killed until the seed dried up.

There was no other way to regain a normal life.

But who would have thought these creatures would reappear like this.

‘Some entity must have remained.’

All known high-ranking Monmas were thoroughly subdued.

But the incident in the Forest of Martial Arts today was on a scale that an ordinary Monma couldn’t cause without directly manifesting.

No, even for a high-ranking Monma, influencing to this extent without direct manifestation is burdensome.

It felt as if the annihilated Monma Legion Commander, Enoch, had come back to life…

‘…No.’

Suddenly, Felson’s teeth gritted.

It couldn’t be true.

After tracking dozens of hosts, didn’t he personally plunge a sword into Enoch’s main body?

“Let’s meet in dreams sometimes.”

…He remembered Enoch’s expression, filled with anger using a handful of demonic energy.

Considering Enoch might have played some kind of trick he carried out the confirmation and assassination several times.

‘…Let’s not dwell on useless thoughts. It’s probably another high-ranking Monma who luckily survived.’

Felson raised his head, looking at the building in front of him.

The presence that summoned Monma to this academy.

The place where the host… the conspirator’s presence could be felt.

If captured and interrogated, the whole story of this incident will be revealed.

With a stern expression, Felson ascended the stairs of the professor’s building.

“…Disgusting.”

A space where memories of his deceased wife were embedded everywhere.

* * *

Recipient: Ted Redymer
Security Level: Top
Original Writing Date: Year 287 of the New Empire, under the rule of Louis III
Summary and Transmission Writing Date: Year 297 of the New Empire, under the rule of Cecil I
Original Author: Former No. 1
Summary and Transmission Author: Current No. 3

1. Incident Overview: Monma Legion Commander ‘Enoch’ infiltrated the high-end salon ‘Nubes,’ where the heads of prestigious families gather, by possessing the host’s body. Later, an unprecedented kidnapping incident occurred, where they abducted the heirs of each family, manipulating them.

2. Circumstances: It is assumed that the intention was to lure and eliminate the leaders of the empire by using the heirs as bait.

3. Location: Although the actual kidnappings occurred in different places, the ‘Prave Fishing Grounds’ nearby, presumed to be the transport destination for the captives, is where the host and all eight captives were found.

4. Kidnapping Information: ‘Jenny Dietrich,’ the mother of one of the captives, ‘Ban Dietrich,’ and the head of the Dietrich family… (omitted) … Deceased. The only casualty in this incident, confirmed as Enoch’s first host.

5. Measures and Responses: Classified

6. Investigation Results: Monma Legion Commander ‘Enoch’ tracking initiated – complete extermination. Failure to explore the mesmerizing medium. All deceived ladies survived without harm.

* * *

Standing at the front of the train, I shook my shoulders once as if I were about to fall off.

“I can’t do this again.”

The wind was so strong that it was hard to open my eyes properly.

Beyond the blurry landscape, a few pitch-black silhouettes approached at an alarming speed.

They were monsters.

Paang-!

As in the past ten minutes, I swung my sword and knocked the creature out of the tracks.

Kieeek-!

The monsters screamed as they retreated.

The resilience transmitted from the blade reverberated heavily through my body.

‘…Not easy.’

Because I sent all the children to the shelter, the creatures left in the forest lost their targets.

The magical train, roaring with noise, was a great prey for those creatures.

Kieeee!

Four monsters were running on the tracks again.

There was an option to sweep them away like a mat.

But if I accidentally got one of their bodies stuck between the tracks and the train, the disaster would be unavoidable.

For that reason, I became the one dealing with the creatures rushing in front of the train like a defender in a soccer match.

▼
Would you like to access the pocket dimension ‘Key of Valber’?
▲

Dealing with the relentless influx of monsters with only the heavy sword, a middle-range weapon, was not efficient.

So, I used the weapons stored in the Key of Valber.

Shooting arrows.

Swinging with a spear.

Pushing with a shield.

Blocking with a net.

In the midst of exchanging martial arts, I heard a beep in my ear.

[As expected, the children are heading to the nearby station. The monsters are also chasing them.]

It was a communication from Yussi, who had partially completed the system’s restoration.

Thanks to this, the video recording beads started functioning, and the identity of the mysterious monsters was finally revealed.

“Activate all equipment along the path.”

[Yes]

Last night, various explosives and combat machines were strategically placed in preparation for emergencies.

Of course, it would be difficult to give them even a few seconds in a battle against those monsters, but the children being chased needed any extra time they could get.

‘…Vermoth. A quite threatening one has been summoned.’

It was a powerful entity recorded in La Place’s eyes.

▼
Recorded Monster: Vermoth
Codex Grade: Beyond Grades – Significant variations among individuals
– Inhabits the magical field in the 20s of the Ma Territory
– Possesses strong physical resistance and regeneration
– Exceptionally intelligent, almost cunning
▲

…and so on.

To sum up Vermoth in one word, it would be this.

A physical-based monster.

A type completely opposite to the one I faced before, ‘Magorn.’

Vermoth’s scales were as hard as steel, and its body, which grew with each prey and molt, exhibited unimaginable strength.

Moreover, having regeneration capability, if you couldn’t accumulate damage in one blow, the battle would be prolonged.

In a typical stamina battle, monsters had a significant advantage over humans, making them extremely difficult opponents for unarmed combatants.

‘Most of the notable extermination cases were carried out with the involvement of wizards.’

Moreover, Vermoth, as an extraordinary monster, possessed a unique ability.

▼
Possesses ‘Hardening’
Concentrating magic, it momentarily increases the strength of certain parts of the body.
▲

When scales undergoing hardening clashed with a blade, it was almost certain to break or lose teeth.

If I were my former self before coming to Rosenstark, I wouldn’t have been able to leave a scratch even with all my strength.

Such a formidable opponent.

“……”

I looked down at the dark steel in my hand, feeling its solid weight.

Why is that?

I wasn’t as tense as one might expect.

Instead, my breathing and heartbeats calmly settled.

[All prepared equipment is depleted!]

At that moment, an urgent report came through the communication device.

[The distance between the children and Vermothis rapidly closing.]

[Encountered!]

[Hero, one minute left to the target point.]

“Let’s get ready.”

▼
Recorded Artifact:
Unique Ability of ‘Black Hope’
Partial unlocking of the ‘Domain’
▲

Recalling the recent comments, I looked forward again.

The enormous shadow of a snake was slowly entering my field of view.

Once again, it had an astonishing size.

Its body, rising like a mountain towards the sky, made the surrounding objects look like toys.

Sssss!

The eyes of the creature, with only the upper body of an adult, turned towards this direction as if curious about the newly arrived prey.

‘The children…’

From within the creature’s thick trunk, the presence of the children could be felt.

However, their figures were not visible, concealed by Vermoth’s massive body.

It seemed like a sturdy black wall surrounded them.

Kugugugugu-

The train accelerated.

As it approached, the size became more tangible.

Undoubtedly, it was the largest and likely the most powerful monster I had faced among all the monsters.

A monster incomparable to the baby snakes I encountered before.

‘…Nevertheless.’

The time I had spent building up to face such a monster wasn’t for nothing.

I reached out towards the train’s magical engine, uncorking the lid of the magic booster with my teeth.

‘Dispel.’

Wooooong-!

For safety reasons, the magic that had been restricting the speed was lifted.

The magnetic force on the tracks immediately increased, and the train surged forward at an accelerated pace.

[Hero! You need to stop! Hero! Hero!]

Yussi’s desperate cries and the sound of the children’s signal flares overlapped.

But it was too late to stop.

Vermoth’s body had already filled the field of view.

The glossy scales reflected the speeding train and me standing in front of it.

“Let’s see if your colossal body can withstand this.”

Right before the collision, I leaped, using the train’s railing as a springboard.

The thunderous explosion echoed closely behind.

* * *

The destructive power is proportional to the mass and speed of the target.

Conveniently, the hero had recently gained the ability to dramatically amplify both.

Pajijijijik-!

The hero, rushing through the air, was surrounded by a deep-blue aura.

Nova’s intense light, reflected off Vermoth’s black scales, instantly dispelled the surrounding darkness. It was like lightning striking on a pitch-black night.

Kieee-!

Until then, Vermoth couldn’t escape from the impact of the magical train collision.

Understandably, even though it was a small train, it rammed into him at its top speed.

That impact alone was enough to shatter hundreds of rib bones.

The body swayed left and right.

The vulnerable head exposed.

The hero didn’t miss the opportunity provided by Vermoth’s vulnerable position.

‘I must inflict a fatal wound with a single blow!’

He concentrated all his nerves, waiting for the right moment.

Pzzzzt!

The accident, accelerated to the limit by Nova, flashed before his eyes.

‘Not yet, not yet.’

In that moment when the altitude reached its peak.

Ascent – Halt – Descent.

Exactly when the kinetic energy changed direction.

Finally, the hero’s ash colored eyes focused on Vermoth’s dark forehead.

‘…Now!’

Kagagagagak-!

A spiral-shaped sword energy wrapped around the blade, tearing apart the air it touched.

A thunderous explosion.

Black Hope, emitting a hazy light like a shooting star, plunged towards Vermoth.

Tsutsutsutsu-

Vermoth, belatedly regaining his senses, quickly raised demonic energy.

The massive demonic energy gathered towards his forehead, and the hardness of the scales sharply increased.

It must have become harder than steel.

But it didn’t matter to the hero.

He was already prepared for this.

Wuuuuung-!

Right before the blade of Black Hope touched Vermoth’s scales, the hero activated the unique ability of Black Hope.

▼
‘Domain’ activated.
▲

And I felt the mass of the iron lump in my hand amplify immeasurably.

It felt like holding the reins of a giant beast.

Black Hope blazed red.

It reached its destination.

———!

Intense pressure.

The surrounding air briefly dispersed like ripples, then, accompanied by a loud tearing sound, it exploded.

The destructive power was akin to a disaster.

——————