This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 5

——————

Chapter 5

Until the first alarm echoed and people began to move busily, I couldn’t help but be bewildered.

However, Yussi’s reaction was lukewarm. She had been talking to one of the researchers who had hurriedly approached, and let out an irritated sigh.

“What’s going on?”

“Number 223… I mean, the creature we mentioned we captured this time? It’s causing trouble again.”

The incident started like this.

For the safety of the researchers and the smooth progress of the experiments, it was necessary to break the aggressiveness and will of the creatures to some extent.

This was called ‘neutralization.’

The most common method of neutralization was repetitive suppression.

Creatures fundamentally followed the logic of power. If a stronger opponent continuously exerted violence, it would eventually break their spirit.

However, the neutralization process for the creature they had recently captured didn’t seem to be going well. Yussi’s expression twisted in frustration.

“Hah, it fails every time, every time! We might as well replace the suppression team now.”

“…”

“Hey there! Bring up the video from Isolation Room 223! Deploy the rescue team!”

At Yussi’s gesture, a researcher who had been waiting, hastily brought a large crystal panel.

On the screen was the footage of the creature referred to as Number 223.

Professors also gathered around quietly, curious about the situation. Thanks to the clear image quality, we could observe the creature as if it were right in front of us.

“…”

I was momentarily speechless. One word was enough for the impression.

‘Hideous.’

Would throwing a giant lump of flesh onto the floor result in such a form? The body, appearing in a state between liquid and solid, was squished along the isolation room’s glass surface.

‘…Why are there so many pupils in the eyes again?’

The pupils clinging to the flesh were countless, blinking sequentially and staring in all directions.

Of course, monsters rarely had a likable appearance…

Well, it was somewhat distinctive.

I squinted my eyes and looked at the footage.

“The suppression team?”

Several armed personnel were moving inside the isolation room. Something was off.

‘Why aren’t they fighting properly?’

Most of them stood still, only swaying their bodies. No, they were acrobats. Some were even throwing martial arts moves, running around inside the isolation room like madmen.

Even though Number 223 was attacking with tentacles, there was no significant reaction.

‘It looks weak….’

The speed of the tentacles was slow, and the trajectory was simple. If I were to categorize, it would probably be intermediate level. It was a level I could easily suppress.

Wondering if I had missed something, I looked at the screen again.

That’s when it happened.

Swoosh!

The eyes of Number 223 all turned in unison, gazing at this side, that is, at the artifact of the isolation room’s footage.

“…Ugh.”

“Kuk!”

Simultaneously, stifled sounds erupted from all directions.

The only ones who didn’t take their eyes off the monitor were me and Yussi. Both researchers and faculty, their faces turning pale, averted their gazes.

Yussi glanced at me with a slightly wrinkled face, expressing some admiration.

“As expected of the hero. You can endure the mental attacks of Number 223 without any difficulty.”

…Mental attacks?

Yussi continued.

“Number 223… or more precisely, called ‘Magoren.’ It’s so rare that we’ve never captured one before, but we managed to get our hands on it for the first time this time. Haven’t you seen it before, Hero?”

‘…No.’

Perhaps the hero had encountered this creature before.

When I reactivated the eye of Laplace, which had been turned off to watch the video, comments poured into the air.

▼
Recorded Creature: Magoren

– Catalog Grade: Grade external

– Inhabits the 20th sector of the magical realm

– While its physical abilities are nothing special, the illusionary shockwave emitted through numerous pupils is extremely lethal to the mental barriers of humans

– Possesses strong immunity to magic and drugs

– Resistance to illusions depends on the target’s mental strength
▲

…Thanks to this, I understood why I was unaffected. It was obvious.

A creature like a Doppelganger, with a mental structure different from any other organism, wouldn’t be affected by illusionary shockwaves targeting humans.

I had experimented with the ‘real’ many times and knew that I was immune to any attack that interfered with the target’s mind.

Yussi complained.

“Originally, we would have just used sleep magic or drugs to start the experiment, but that creature has an incredible resistance in that area.”

“Is there no one who can resist its mental attacks?”

“No, that’s why we are looking for someone with an exceptionally strong mental barrier, but there aren’t many.”

The mental barrier is the total sum of an individual’s innate willpower, mental strength, determination, and other factors. It can become stronger or weaker based on the experiences one undergoes.

It also serves as a measure of how well one can resist the attacks of magical beings, like Magoren or nightmares, who specialize in mental assaults.

I looked back at the monitor.

The illusions emitted by that creature were overwhelming even for experienced professors who had been through numerous challenges.

The suppression team was at a loss. Moreover, the goal wasn’t to kill but to subdue, making the situation even more challenging.

Yussi wore a somewhat troubled expression.

“Well, we finally captured a rare magical creature, but when can we start the research…”

Someone interjected into our conversation.

“Professor Redymer, you should be able to subdue Magoren easily, shouldn’t you?”

It was the older professor who seemed most uncomfortable throughout our tour today.

After a moment of silence, another professor spoke up with a cheeky tone,

“Haha, Professor Genetic. Professor Redymer hasn’t fully recovered from the toxicity yet. It’s a bit much to make such a request, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, what request did I make? I just mentioned it. If it’s too much, he doesn’t have to do it.”

“Haha. Professor Redymer is being quite troublesome.”

They exchanged banter among themselves, subtly glancing at me.

…The intention was clear, and it was amusing enough to bring a smile.

Yussi stiffened her face and muttered under her breath.

“Are those old geezers crazy?”

I spoke up.

“Indeed. It might be a good warm-up.”

“Huh, Hero?”

Yussi looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Hero? You don’t have to respond to such absurd provocations. I’ll take care of these clueless fools who can’t grasp the situation…”

“No need to worry.”

“…What?”

“If you want to start the research quickly.”

Perhaps they didn’t expect me to actually agree, as the older professors looked at me with puzzled expressions. If I let them know that subtle flattery won’t work, it should get the message across.

“Then maybe some defensive artifacts…”

When I rejected even protective gear, their expressions became even more perplexed. I walked towards the entrance of the quarantine zone. All I needed was a handful of black ropes.

* * *

I entered the isolation chamber. The square-shaped room was white and quiet. The suppression team seemed to have left already.

Unwiped bloodstains were scattered here and there. And Magoren, crouched in one corner of the room, was staring in my direction as if sizing me up.

Dealing with him must be quite challenging for humans.

His eyes, the conduits for environmental illusions, were scattered all around, and upon entering his line of sight, one would be affected by those illusions.

Even long-range weapons like arrows were useless against his squishy body, and magic was ineffective due to his resistance.

The only solution was close combat, but fighting him while enduring the illusions was nearly impossible even for skilled individuals.

“Perhaps he has some intelligence…”

Although not yet officially cataloged in the Monster Encyclopedia, he might be classified as a top-tier creature once the research is complete.

At my current level, I probably couldn’t defeat a top-tier monster even if I died and revived, but this one might be an exception.

As I took a step forward, Magoren’s eyes glowed simultaneously, all focused on me.

The ordinary human would likely foam at the mouth and collapse right now.

“…,”

I stood still, and perhaps thinking the attack had landed, the tentacles hidden within the fleshy mass extended sneakily. Its overall movements were as agile as seen in the video.

“Its physical abilities are at least intermediate level.”

It wouldn’t be a significant problem for him. It would have been enough to kill defenseless prey in its vulnerable state so far. Unfortunately for him, today was not one of those days.

“It’s the first time I’ve brandished a sword in front of someone as the Hero.”

I felt a bit tense, but there was no problem. It was a sword honed countless times under the guidance of the Hero.

It looked remarkably similar on the outside, as the individual himself admitted.

Whoosh— I raised the sword.

Whether the creature was surprised or not, the tentacle that had been sluggish accelerated and lunged at me.

Swish!

Turning to the side, I swung the tentacle diagonally. A sturdy sensation reverberated through my hand.

Thud!

The tentacle, as thick as a human torso, flopped on the ground. Despite the dark, viscous blood splattering in all directions, I was already gone from that spot.

I swiftly took my position again, ready to strike.

The basic swordsmanship of a hero is simple—a technique designed to confront beings much larger and more powerful than humans.

Each strike carries a significant weight and force, inevitably creating openings, but he compensated for it with lightning reflexes and spatial awareness honed in and out of the human realm.

I visualized his movements in my mind and swung the sword again. The flashy and challenging maneuvers were omitted.

“…I need to stage a convincingly overwhelming beating.”

Once, twice, until the grip became stiff. The giant sword struck Magoren’s torso directly.

This was the fundamental skill repeated tens of thousands of times over several years, precisely mirroring the memories of the hero within the sword.

While the destructive power might differ, it didn’t matter in the current situation. The goal was not to kill but to neutralize.

The blade struck with a solid thud.

Since I was using the flat side of the sword rather than the edge, the creature couldn’t die, only enduring continuous agony. Occasionally, its tentacles retaliated, but avoiding them was not difficult.

Compared to the higher-level monster babies I had faced during avatar training in the past few days, their movements were child’s play.

I wondered how much time had passed.

The numerous eyes of the creature blinked simultaneously, and soon its massive body shrank like a deflating balloon, disappearing into the wall, leaving behind a much smaller, less threatening Magoren.

The once imposing figure now looked pitiful, drained of its venomous energy.

Its once enormous body, enough to cover one side of the wall, quickly shrank like a deflating balloon.

The menacing posture it had maintained was replaced by a pitiful Magoren.

‘…It’s done.’

Once I confirmed the creature finding a corner to slump into, I turned towards the isolation room door.

With a creak, the door opened. In the corridor, the team was waiting.

The professor who had taunted me with a challenge to subdue Magoren had eyes that squinted in assessment, scanning me from head to toe.

It seemed like an attempt to find any traces of the mental attack’s wear and tear.

It was a futile effort, of course.

I nonchalantly brushed off the dried bodily fluids from the resilient sword and remarked.

“Hope you’d at least provide me with some pants.”

The professors, belatedly regaining composure, hastily applauded.

“Uh, there’s no way. We knew you’d subdue it easily from the beginning.”

Pursing their lips, the professors, now red-faced, denied any involvement in a provocation. I continued to stare at their now crumbling expressions until their hastily clapping hands fell silent.

Testing a hero like this was a rather foolish act, suitable only for those who had never faced him before. I probably won’t entertain such attempts in the future.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

With an excited expression, Yussi pressed close to my side.

* * *

With that, the tour came to an end. After successfully leaving a strong impression on my colleagues, I could return to my daily routine.

Well, not entirely the same as before, as an unexpected guest had inserted itself into the scene.

“Hero! No, Professor Redymer! Dining alone again?”

Setting down my fork, I looked at the charming blond youth twirling in front of me.

His name was Kasim Pierre, a professor of combat arts and a prominent figure in the Rosenstark faculty.

Despite looking around thirty, he was a well-deserved professor in the Combat Arts Department, known for being a promising swordsman before his appointment.

‘We only casually interacted during the tour. He didn’t seem this friendly back then.’

Among the young professors, he stood out as one who somewhat distantly observed from afar.

However, something must have changed in his mindset after the tour, as Kasim now approached me with a bright smile.

“…It’s you again.”

“Haha, one can’t just pass by a professor. May I sit? I’m still hungry.”

Before waiting for an answer, Kasim smiled brightly and took the seat in front of me. He consistently wore an expression as if he could only smile, no matter the circumstance.

“Oh-ho, sorry, sorry.”

Without even waiting for a response, Kasim swiftly took up the fork and knife.

Despite appearing laid-back, he showed no deviation from proper table manners, swiftly devouring the food with precision.

“I heard you’ve been busy lately. They say you even toured the training grounds yesterday.”

“…Rosenstark seems to have many eyes and mouths.”

“Haha, my apologies. I have a wide range of interests. There’s a lot to hear even when I’m standing still.”

Whether it was his amiability or sociability, Kasim had an easygoing nature. Since expressing his favorable opinion of me, he had been visiting me without reservation.

“…It’s quite a harvest.”

In truth, forming a connection with Kasim was not a bad thing for me. No matter how diligently I conducted pre-research, information directly from an insider was invaluable.

Through him, I could hear various stories or make educated guesses.

Right now, for instance.

“It was quite an interesting tour.”

“…An interesting tour?”

“Oh, well. I made a slip of the tongue due to my excitement.”

Kasim’s hand lightly covered his mouth—a gesture that seemed more theatrical than genuinely surprised. He maintained exaggerated gestures and expressions.

It wasn’t so much that he was genuinely surprised, but more like he was acting out a scene of astonishment, all the while not losing the smile he had been wearing since earlier.

It wasn’t far-fetched to assume that my earlier guess was correct.

“Anyway, it’s about the tour we had.”

“Are you talking about the research facility?”

Kasim’s eyes widened slightly. His green eyes moved as if to gauge my reaction.

“Aren’t you surprised? To shut the mouths of those eccentric professors in one go. I, Kasim, were truly impressed.”

…It seemed that the relationship between the young professors and the senior faculty wasn’t particularly amicable.

It could be troublesome to get involved in such matters without understanding the dynamics.

I replied with an indifferent expression.

“…Hmm.”

He quickly withdrew his statement.

“Please consider it as a light jest.”

As the atmosphere seemed to settle, Kasim swiftly changed the subject.

“By the way, have you heard that there will be a pre-briefing soon?”

The conversation shifted to upcoming academic events.

“Quite a concern. Professor, how are you preparing for it?”

—————