Chapter 1303. The Magic Tower (16)

Logic told me that running away was a safer choice, but...

‘Can we even take down those monsters? Damn it...’

The face of the lost little kid pervaded my mind more than anything else. Of course, I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Yoojin, who would always hold back whenever battles broke out, was biting her lips, unable to hide her worry.

Big Boy looked like his mind had completely checked out. I doubted whether they could even make a proper decision in this state, but honestly, what good was a proper decision in a situation like this?

‘Looking for the kid in the middle of this can’t be considered a rational decision. It’s madness. Absolute madness...’

We survived a long time on this insane continent, but our party wasn't really strong. We were just better at reading the room than most people.

Even Spear Goddess Jo Hye-Jin had ended up dying because of the Blue Guild Master’s stupidity, and she wasn’t the only one. Many unmatched warriors had met meaningless deaths. They had either overestimated themselves or had thrown themselves into danger to save a comrade.

Some also found themselves trapped in a situation where escape was impossible.

This incident in Heren, absurdly enough, had all three conditions lined up perfectly.

‘We’re going to die.’

There was no doubt about it. It was like hurling ourselves into a blazing fire. We weren’t heroes. We were just Adventurer 1, Adventurer 2, and Adventurer 3. To be honest, the kid was probably already dead.

The guards and adventurers were trying hard to hold back the charging chimeras, while civilians were left completely exposed.

Rationally speaking, how could a small child survive something like that?

“Why are you standing there? Move, Carlton!” Big Boy shouted.

“Damn it... got it!” I answered.

And yet, we had no choice but to move, hoping that the kid was still alive.

As we sprinted, Yoojin threw one more anxious comment our way.

“Big Boy... do you really think that kid’s still alive?”

“Damn it! Don’t jinx us like that, Yoojin!” Big Boy shouted.

“But—”

“He's a sharp little brat, so I’m sure he’s alive. He has to be...” Big Boy interrupted her.

“Yeah, he’s probably alive. No, he

has

to be alive,” Yoojin said.

‘Damn it...’

Trying to shift the mood, I changed the topic.

“So... where do we start, Big Boy?” I asked.

“Where the people are gathered... the square’s our best bet,” Big Boy answered.

“Right. Makes sense,” I said.

“Let’s move! Damn it!” Big Boy yelled out.

“

Aaaaaargh!

”

“Hold the line! Don’t let them through! Where the hell are all these chimeras coming from?!”

“

Grrr! Grrrrr!

”

“

Hurgh...

Stop them! Where are the reinforcements!”

“That fat bastard, did he seriously run away? Damn it! Open the gates! Open the damn gates!”

“Hurry! Over here! We need backup now!”

‘What’s the point of searching for anyone in this mess? Damn it.’

The shield wall was already about to crumble. Chimeras were rampaging everywhere, and Heren’s forces had no strength to hold them back.

We knew that and were aware of how hopeless the situation was, but Big Boy still gripped his shield and axe, pushing forward.

“Follow me, Yoojin! Damn it! Carlton, cover fire!” Big Boy instructed.

‘Cover fire? Like arrows are going to stick in those things.’

Still, I had no choice but to reload an arrow.

“Push them back! Push them back, damn it! Clear us a path!” Big Boy shouted.

“Big Boy, you crazy bastard! Don’t just charge in! Calm the hell down,” I yelled.

“Carlton! I said cover fire, damn it!” Big Boy yelled.

“No matter how urgent the situation is, you still have to use your damn head!” I told him.

“We can handle this! They’ve got numbers, but that’s all! Nothing we can’t take!” Big Boy said.

I could see both normal and special variants among the creatures. Fortunately, their line was being swarmed mostly by the normal variant. At least no special types were in sight here.

“Where the hell are these chimeras coming from?! Damn it! Which son of a bitch made these things?! Damn it! Weren’t all chimera breeders supposed to be dead?!”

His words rang in my ears, and of course, I couldn't help but agree.

‘Who the hell...’

All the named black mages in Saladin had already been wiped out. Those capable of creating chimeras so quickly were dead. This wasn’t just summoning demons. Someone had turned demon flesh into chimeras.

If such a monster of a mage still existed, then Jo Hye-Jin’s death was no mystery at all. The special variants weren’t the only threat. The normal ones were heavy and vicious.

Big Boy shouted that they were nothing, but he had to know better than anyone how far from easy this really was.

“Carlton! You keeping your eyes on the surroundings?!” Big Boy questioned.

“Yeah, still watching. Looking for the kid,” I answered.

“And the civilians? They’re being evacuated, right?” Big Boy asked.

“In Heren? The lord has bolted to save himself, so don’t expect much from this place,” I told him.

“

Ahhhhh!

”

“Help me... somebody help!”

“Run! Damn it, run!”

‘Damn it.’

“Shout first! Maybe the kid will hear and come to us, Big Boy!” I suggested.

“

Ah...

got it. Kid! Can you hear me?! Kid!” Big Boy shouted.

“Kid! Where are you?! Come over here!” I yelled out.

“Kid! Where are you?! Damn it!” Yoojin shouted.

“You little brat, where are you?! I’ll forgive you if you just come out! Damn it!” Big Boy shouted.

“Careful, Big Boy!” I said.

“You brat! Come out right now!” he demanded.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Big Boy!” I called out to him.

“Come out now, and I’ll forgive you. Come out right now! Where the hell are you?! Damn it! At least scream or something!” Big Boy continued.

“Yoojin! Stop Big Boy!” I said.

“Where are you?! I know you’re hiding somewhere! Come out already!” Big Boy said.

“Big Boy, you idiot! You got a death wish?!” I yelled at him.

“It’s now! This is our only chance!” Big Boy argued.

“Hey, Big Boy!” I called out to him.

That was when something different from the others appeared on the battlefield.

“Big Boy...” I muttered.

It was unnaturally tall. It had a slender frame with long horns. The sight told me that it was made from the fleshly body of a true demon.

‘It’s a named being.’

Instinctively, I knew that this one was different from the other chimeras. Its presence dominated the field, and just looking at it made my jaw tremble uncontrollably. The battlefield, which only moments ago was filled with shouting and clamor, fell silent.

Even the normal chimeras held their positions, staying quiet and still.

‘We’re dead.’

We were already battered nearly to pieces fighting the normal creatures.

What chance did we have fighting against a creature that was on an entirely different level than the normal ones?

“R-Run, Big Boy,” I stuttered.

Big Boy, face smeared with blood, dragged his axe forward toward the creature.

“What the hell are you supposed to be, bastard?!” he muttered, stepping closer.

It was pure bravado. It was a show of guts with no substance. At this point, Big Boy charging at it was worse than an egg thrown against a boulder.

The creature didn’t even notice him. It only sought to sweep away the nuisance standing before it. The chimera lifted one long, skeletal arm, and then it brought it down towards Big Boy. Yoojin hurled herself forward on instinct, shoving Big Boy aside.

Big Boy evaded the attack by mere luck; it was nothing more than a miracle that was born because the named chimera wasn't really aiming for Big Boy.

Unfortunately, miracles often demanded payment.

“

AAAAH!

”

Yoojin’s scream ripped through the silence. Her leg was severed, and blood poured out of her injured leg.

“W-What?” Big Boy stared at Yoojin writhing on the ground.

“What are you doing?! Move, Big Boy! Damn it!” I shouted.

“

Ahhhhhh! Aaaaaaaaargh!

”

“Run...” Yoojin mumbled.

“...”

“Run! I said run!

Aaaaaaaaaargh!

” Yoojin yelled at him.

A brand-new chaos erupted across the battlefield.

It was different from before. Until just moments ago, they had been struggling to hold back the chimeras, but now, everyone was screaming, fleeing for their lives.

They realized that fighting truly meant nothing here. Everyone had to have thought that this was a meaningless fight. Hence, through the mass of retreating bodies, I forced myself forward. Yes, I was a rearguard, but even so, standing frozen here was not an option.

Before I knew it, my body was already moving on its own. Fortunately, the special variant didn’t seem to care for the insects crawling around it. It spared no attention for Big Boy or Yoojin, and likely, not for me, either.

“Big Boy, you bastard! Snap out of it! Lift her leg!” I instructed him.

“W-What?” Big Boy asked.

“Her severed leg, damn it! Pick it up!” I yelled at him.

I hoisted Yoojin over my shoulder, and then, like the rest, I ran away.

“Damn it! Damn it all!” I yelled.

“...”

“Priest... priest!” I called out.

Whether it was good or bad, the chimeras were no longer attacking us. Instead, it felt as though they were driving the humans. It felt like they were herding us toward the lord’s keep.

‘What are those bastards thinking? What are they planning? Damn it all...’

“

Ahh... ahhhhh...

It hurts... Damn it... It really hurts, Carlton...” Yoojin muttered.

“Shut up, Yoojin. Damn it. Save your strength,” I told her.

‘She lost too much blood. Shit.’

“I’m not going to die, am I? I'm not going to die, right?” Yoojin asked.

“I told you to shut up, Yoojin! No one is going to die here! You idiot, you’re going to live until you shit yourself in some nursing home, you hear me? Stop talking crap and think about getting that leg stuck back on.

"If we’re late, you’ll spend your life hopping on one foot, and I won’t help you if that happens,” I said.

“What... do we tell the kid?” Yoojin asked.

“What the hell are you blabbing about?!” I scolded her.

“If that brat finds out that I’m dead... he’ll be really sad...” Yoojin muttered.

“The kid’s not the problem, you idiot! You’re the one who's about to die!” I yelled at her.

“Hey... Carlton, Big Boy. Isn’t it... kind of funny?” Yoojin asked.

“...”

“My whole life... I figured it’d just be nothing but shit. And become another pile of crap like the others...” Yoojin continued.

“Shut up,” I mumbled.

“And I thought... I'd always be that way. Just another crap like the others...” Yoojin muttered.

“...”

“But because of him... these days... these days I've actually been... kind of happy...” Yoojin confessed.

“...”

“...”

“So... so what?” I asked.

“...”

“So what, damn it?!” I yelled.

“...”

“You were happy... So what?!” I shouted.

“...”

“What the hell am I supposed to do,

huh

?! You're happy and what?!” I continued.

“...”

“You idiot! If you die, I’m going to kill you myself! Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare die on me!!” I yelled at her.

Before I realized it, my eyes were blurred with tears. Yoojin slung over my shoulder wasn’t breathing anymore.

Big Boy’s mind was completely broken, and he just trailed after me like an idiot. I didn’t even know where I was headed, and after what felt like forever, the lord’s keep finally came into view.

“Don’t close the gates! Don’t you dare close those gates, you bastards!” I yelled.

“...”

“Keep it open!” I yelled again.

Just then, things went from bad to worse.

The named chimera from earlier swung its arm in our direction.

“Sh-Shit... kid...” I muttered.

Just when I thought it was all over, writhing tentacles lashed out of nowhere, coiling around the creature.