This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 52

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Chapter 52

Thud!

Yussi put down the report.

The smoke on the desk was instantly disturbed by those hand movements that could not be described as gentle even with empty words.

The “Glendor Special Awakening Incense” was piled up on the ashtray.

“Ha…”

The report covered the extent of property loss and casualties—endless situations filled the white paper with distressing news.

The silver lining was the minimal fatalities, considering the attack by powerful criminals of red and green grades.

And among them, not a single student was harmed.

‘If it weren’t for the Hero…’

It would have been a real disaster.

The attackers chose an unbelievably opportune moment.

It was just as the afternoon session of the exhibition was coming to an end.

Most professors and senior students who had ventured outside were returning to the academy, leaving the security forces vulnerable.

‘He said he caught Desmond himself.’

Unable to provide any assistance, it seemed she was always on the receiving end.

Yussi sighed irritably, looking at the estimated amount of losses.

Nevertheless, there was another pressing concern.

“What about Father… what should I do?”

Though not officially, the auction had Glendor’s name attached to it.

Her father, Dewes Glendor, the Head of Glendor and owner of Glendor merchants, would certainly not overlook this failure.

The impact on her position within the auction was inevitable.

“Ugh, Merian is really going to enjoy seeing me in a bind now.”

Yussi’s face, contemplating the image of Merian, her competing sister, became even more grim.

The answer was clear.

“…I need to quickly find a way to strengthen our influence.”

“I apologize, Miss.”

The old butler lowered his head as if acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

Yussi, thinking about the upcoming challenges, replied,

“No need to apologize. You’ve returned alive; that’s enough.”

Yeah, the old butler seems unaffected by this situation somehow.

Chirp!

Yussi sighed and pulled out a new Awakening Incense.

Her sharp eyes were now focused on another document, a detailed report of the entire incident.

The Hero had separately compiled it.

“…Demonic Church.”

It was evident that the Demonic Church was involved in this incident.

The escaped Stagnum prisoners had caused this attack, and the problem was the process.

“This attack, with so many uncertainties… How did they manage to travel from the northern edge of the continent to Stagnum in just three days?”

Considering the tight surveillance and checkpoints everywhere, it didn’t make sense.

“And how did they recover so quickly?”

Prisoners were supposed to be severely incapacitated.

Stagnum typically took drastic measures based on the severity of the crime, including severing limb veins, adding various prohibitions, or even more.

“But ‘Desmond and his gang’, who should be weakened, managed to kill people recklessly.”

It didn’t make sense logically.

“A strange sense of discomfort and frustration… Like wandering through the fog of ambiguity.”

“Yeah, if those guys are involved, it’s not surprising that things don’t make sense.”

Those guys had developed various peculiar abilities through forbidden experiments, using them without hesitation for their misdeeds.

“First, one leg, and one arm.”

“Strip the skin, sprinkle salt on the flesh, grind the bones to powder….”

Yussi reminisced the vividly chaotic melody while massaging her sore limbs.

“Well, I thought he had trampled on them completely.”

Five years ago, the Hero had stormed their main base, tearing apart the former Church Leader.

While the Emperor’s punitive decree played a role, it was also because Yussi had been captured as a prisoner.

She vividly remembered the rage-fueled thorough destruction he had wrought upon them.

That’s why she was confident that they would never rise again.

However, they resurfaced, engaging in audacious actions like this.

Yussi tilted her head in confusion.

“But what for?”

Such large-scale mischief inevitably came with risks.

The individuals who had once shaken the entire organization wouldn’t be unaware of it.

Why would they do something like this?

The purpose behind it was crucial.

Yussi needed to find out.

‘Oh, I guess I’m not sleeping at all.’

Yussi gulped down two Awakening drinks at once.

[PR/N: This should be something different that the potion Pia is working on, maybe a coffee? Since it’s called awakening… ? maybe a pun]

It seemed like she needed to uncover the reasons before she could fall asleep.

…

Thump!

Around the same time, the Hero stealthily left.

After running for a while, he arrived at a secluded mountain area and surveyed his surroundings.

“Here it is.”

In front of an abandoned warehouse deep in the forest, a wolf statue was placed in a carefully dug pit.

…

Wolf statue.

Despite being covered with high-level concealment magic, it emitted a subtle magical aura, indicating its dangerous nature.

Naturally, he couldn’t bring it inside the academy.

‘It would be caught in the inspection.’

So, he asked for the children’s understanding on his way back and stopped by a nearby mountain.

…Although they misunderstood and thought he urgently needed the bathroom, there was no other choice.

After making the necessary preparations, he emerged from the academy again to unravel the secrets of the statue.

‘The location is just right.’

It had been untouched by humans for at least several years, and it was a place where there would be no consequences no matter what happened.

‘Preparations are complete.’

To dilute the magic that would burst out when the concealment was dispelled, various purification devices were strategically placed nearby.

…

I placed the wolf statue on the floor of the warehouse and stared at it.

It was an item closely related to the “Exhibition Assault Incident,” and its identity needed to be uncovered.

I raised my magical power.

“Dispel.”

A white light shot out from the magic circle that appeared in the air, striking the wolf statue.

…The change was immediate. I instinctively covered my ears.

Aooooo-!

A creepy wolf howl echoed through the chilly night air, as if a living wolf were howling right in front of me.

Passt!

The purification stones scattered around turned black and disintegrated into powder.

I realized that the wolf’s mouth was gradually opening wider.

No, not just wider… it was growing.

…

The howling ceased after violating the laws of physics for a while.

A strange sound penetrated my ears.

“…Mechanical devices?”

The interior of the wolf’s mouth was composed of highly sophisticated mechanical devices.

It felt like observing a piece of art with meticulously crafted components moving and interlocking throughout the ceiling, floor, and walls.

I gazed at the peculiar symbols engraved directly in front of me.

The Iris of Laplace deciphered them.

▼
A dangerous treasure left by an ominous adversary is here.
▲

…Treasure?

Perhaps some kind of treasure chest.

Since the Iris of Laplace detected no immediate threat, I cautiously entered the wolf’s mouth.

“Alright, time to search.”

After that, I meticulously examined the surroundings.

Thud!

It didn’t take long to realize that this small space was constructed with a dual layer.

There was something beyond the wall.

However, I couldn’t figure out an immediate way to cross over.

“It seems like I need to manipulate this device.”

Conveniently, there was a device with multiple buttons placed at the center.

However, lacking any further clues, I couldn’t afford to tamper with it recklessly.

I pondered on how to operate it and what might be inside the dual space, but there were no more hints.

“…”

It was at that moment when I was observing the smoothly moving metal components.

“!”

Thump!

I tumbled to the ground, staring at the tightly closed wolf’s mouth.

It was a narrow escape.

My heart belatedly pounded.

“A cunning trap. I’ll have to be more vigilant.”

Thud!

The wolf statue returned to its original size.

“It seems to be a trap that activates after a certain period without any manipulation.”

It appeared to be the type of trap that activates automatically after a set amount of time without any direct manipulation.

Under the moonlight, I carefully picked up the statue emitting a mysterious glow.

Strangely, it was no longer producing any magical energy.

“If I forcibly dismantle the device…”

I had a premonition that I might never get a chance to explore the inside if I attempted to tamper with the device.

It seemed foolish to risk it when there might be something valuable inside.

I needed a mechanical expert.

“First, I should inquire more about this. If that doesn’t work, I might have to go and look for the dwarves.”

I took the wolf statue once again.

Although the statue now seemed entirely ordinary without any magical effects, upon closer inspection, faint clicking sounds of mechanical components were audible.

Unexpectedly, a comment popped up right in front of me.

It occurred to me that I had neglected to check comments due to the chaos of the situation.

“Oh.”

I checked the backlog of comments.

▼
Remnants are soldered.
A small spark flew.
The firewood has slightly dried.
▲

“It seems to be related to progress…”

Forge, firewood, flame.

The forge boosts individual strength.

Firewood signifies the growth or addition of allies.

The flame represents the restoration of what humans have lost to magical beings.

“I understand roughly why the comments have been updated, but…”

“One small adjective is really annoying.”

Small…

Subtle…

Well, whatever.

“The appropriate reward has been given.”

▼
Changes detected in user’s racial ability: ‘Evolution Polymorph’
The ‘Upscale’ option has been unlocked.
The status of the duplicated abilities has been elevated.
The extent of the rise and its limits are proportional to the user’s achievements.
With training, the abilities can be further enhanced.
There have been some changes in the ‘Polymorph’ ability, different from before.
▲

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