Chapter 30 – Where the Storm Passed

An investigation team, dispatched to the Cradle by Imperial decree.

After days of painstaking work, they declared their mission complete and departed.

[This incident has revealed two things to us.]

As always, a brief but weighty conclusion.

[First, a new enemy has emerged before us.]

[And second, new heroes have blossomed.]

*

Deus, of course, was the first to receive the title, “Hero of the Cradle.”

The appearance of a new enemy. But following close behind, the rise of new heroes.

This was solid proof that we would never be defeated.

It was only natural that the senior students roared with cheers, stepping forward to hoist him on their shoulders.

Except, good luck with that. How were they supposed to lift this junior of steel?

“Hey! Martial arts types! Put some muscle into it!”

“Gyaaa! N-No way! Can’t do it! Sorry, Junior! It’s n-not that you’re heavy, not at all!”

“I’m perfectly fine, everyone.”

In the end, a flurry of enthusiastic applause was all that reached him.

The students felt terribly apologetic, but Deus couldn’t have cared less.

What if someone broke an arm trying to lift him?

“Luciel-senpai! You were amazing!”

“Huh?”

“Student Council President! Voting for you was the best decision ever!”

“Eh?”

“It’s Smith-sensei! Sensei!”

“Why me?!”

Next, the dispatched personnel and Smith-sensei became heroes as well.

While the other teachers were away, they had stood for the Cradle and its students.

They had fearlessly charged at an unknown enemy they barely understood.

And ultimately, they had laid the crucial groundwork for the victory that followed.

‘But… why? Why us?’

‘Deus-hoobae is the one who beat those weird monsters?’

‘No! I got hit square on and blacked out, like, entirely?!’

Luciel, Nefertiti, Smith-sensei, and the other dispatched members, too.

They were all dumbfounded, but didn’t openly question it.

The investigation team’s announcement. The part that said, [And second, new heroes have blossomed].

This meant the Imperial Family intended to avoid focusing all the credit for the Cradle incident on one person.

Everyone had at least some sense, so they roughly grasped the situation.

‘Perhaps… His Imperial Majesty directly expressed his wishes?’

‘Could it be… Deus-hoobae wants to take care of his senpais…? Oh my!’

“No! Don’t do this! This will only further damage the teacher’s pride!!”

Though I was saying that inwardly, what else could I do?

The investigation unit had already reached its conclusion, and it had been announced as such to the outside world.

“Hmm.”

And Deus, was watching it all with satisfaction.

“Commander Helken. May I ask a favor?”

“What is it? If it’s a request from the hero who defended the Cradle, I shall listen attentively.”

“Regarding the incident at the Cradle this time… I’d like it if you could announce that the dispatched squad also played a part, not just myself.”

Deus still remembers the expression Helken wore at those words.

It was a face full of the question: *Why*?

“Hmph. May I inquire as to the reason?”

“Isn’t it better to have multiple heroes rather than just one? The Empire’s atmosphere is already uneasy, I think it would be beneficial… Well, if not, then forget it.”

“Hoo,” Helken breathed, a sigh laced with disbelief.

However, inwardly, he was quickly calculating Deus’s words.

Certainly. Considering the Empire’s current mood, a single hero is somewhat insufficient.

Furthermore, stating the truth as it is might lead to too much reliance on that one individual.

It could inadvertently fuel the already festering ability-supremacist ideals.

Deus defeating *that* demon remains unchanged, regardless.

It’s just that, now, the dispatched squad’s contributions will be slightly amplified.

That much, the investigation unit could likely manipulate without much trouble.

“What the investigation unit can do is to say that the dispatched squad and the teacher inflicted a certain degree of damage, and then Deus student took over and dealt the fatal blow. It goes without saying, but naturally, the biggest contribution is still yours—”

“That’s enough. I’m well aware that I can’t erase my contribution entirely.”

“Good. Then we shall adjust the direction accordingly. Wait. I need to make a report first.”

With that bargain struck, a picture emerged that was satisfactory to everyone in their own way.

The Imperial family, with the Princess herself involved, could further assert their authority.

The nobles would mention the noble students who formed the core of the dispatched squad, showcasing their honorable sacrifice.

The Cradle would announce that a teacher had willingly stood at the forefront for the sake of the students.

The Empire had lost dozens of ability users in the nationwide large-scale gate outbreaks.

Those who had been weighed down by that atmosphere would be invigorated by this news.

Because the Cradle’s students, of all people, had displayed heroic feats.

So then. What does Deus himself gain?

Could this kid… be wanting to be a voluntary hidden-strength master?!

The answer to that can be found in the following muttered words.

“Finally, I can focus on exercising in peace…!”

The time after defeating the demon and before the investigation unit reached its conclusion.

Even in that short interval, how many curious gazes had he faced?

The main building basement, which they had given to him because students rarely came.

Suddenly, for no reason, the number of students coming down to the basement had doubled.

Some even wandered around, asking, ‘Is it okay to exercise here?’

And on top of that, their faces were plastered with fear and nervousness!

‘Ah, please. Don’t mess with my routine!’

It’s not like I’m some combat-crazed maniac, dedicating all 24 hours of the day to exercise.

But there are things I’ve been doing for a while now. Things I can’t bear to lose.

And for that reason, I make sure to stick to my set routine at set times.

If I don’t, I get anxious. Like I’m committing some terrible sin.

Those in the know, they know. Anyone who’s been there can’t help but nod in agreement.

Suddenly annoyed. Restless. Feeling like you absolutely *have* to work out.

“Hoo. Hoo.”

Supporting my massive frame with just one thumb, I begin handstand push-ups.

One hundred reps, without a single break, completed in an instant, then a brief cool-down.

‘I absolutely have to maintain this. Even if I can’t get stronger, maintaining my current level is essential.’

Fighting the demon, Zagan (or, more accurately, beating him one-sidedly), I realized something.

Things aren’t going to be easy. I’m not invincible, after all.

He figured it out at the very end – that Deus had immunity to weapons.

Which means the next ones can figure it out too.

And that would mean one of Deus’s advantages would disappear.

A stronger body. A body like steel. That’s the only way to survive.

Weapons are stopped by the covenant, and bare hands are stopped by muscle. That’s the way it is!

‘Speaking of which, they apparently made new training equipment for ability users. Maybe I should splurge on that.’

Just a few days ago, Deus was fretting over money.

And now, this same guy is suddenly contemplating buying new stuff.

“Ah, Deus. About the corpse of the monster you caught. We’d like to take it to the investigation headquarters. Don’t worry about the compensation, we’ll make sure it’s generous.”

“Really?”

“In situations like this, the person who caught the monster receives a certain amount of compensation. Weren’t you aware?”

What does it matter if I knew or didn’t? The important thing is, I got money.

Hearing the considerable sum, Deus internally shouted, ‘Yes!’

That was the origin of his current dilemma – whether or not to buy the new gear.

And going even further. Deus was currently entertaining grand dreams.

‘Maybe I should just rent out the entire underground space and make it into a huge training facility? If I set up a barrier and adjusted my power output, it would be perfect, wouldn’t it?’

If the people at Cradle heard that, they’d probably have a heart attack.

*

– Hmmm. Hmmmm.

Tapping her toes. The woman with the red eyes hums to herself.

Sharp fangs glint between her slightly parted lips.

“My lady. You really must leave now.”

A man standing beside her speaks in a chilling voice.

The sight of him burning alive is quite grotesque.

“Ah. How boring. Why are they constantly summoning me? Wasn’t the meeting over last time?”

“Things have gone awry, they say.”

“Incompetent morons.”

With an expression that screamed she couldn’t be bothered, she casually draped a black cloth about herself.

Then, with a nod of her head, she gestured for the man to lead the way.

“I shall open the door.”

Suddenly, she plunged both hands deep into her chest!

And tearing outwards, she ripped open a colossal gate of flames.

As the woman threw herself inside, the scenery shifted.

From crimson to gray. Then gray back to a blackish-red.

Eventually, only a pitch-black darkness remained.

“You’re late.”

From beyond the darkness, a pair of yellow eyes glinted.

Gazing upon them, the woman snorted derisively.

“Get lost. How long has it even been since I was summoned?”

“Insolent wench.”

“You miserable cur.”

“Rolling around like a pig, you are.”

“Sucking up like some pathetic fly.”

As they traded these amiable pleasantries, a palpable animosity bloomed between them.

Watching this spectacle, another pair of eyes sighed, heavy with disdain.

“Can’t you two ever just be done with it?”

““Shut your trap.””

Always the same with them. Only at moments like these were they perfectly in sync.

Just as another sigh was about to escape.

– Clang. Clang.

Someone struck an iron plate, clearing the air around them.

“Take this seriously. You were not summoned here for naught.”

“Of course. If it’s for some moronic reason, I won’t stand for it.”

“Even ’til the bitter end, that piggish woman…”

“Enough.”

At that voice, like steel scraping against steel, no further words were uttered.

“The Vanguard has fallen.”

“Lost?”

“Not merely defeated. Dead. Along with their record of the match.”

“Well, now!”

“What utter lunacy.”

Curses erupted from all sides. There was no pity for the dead.

Only scorn and ridicule filled this place from wall to wall.

“In their final moments, a brief glimpse of the Adversary was relayed.”

A snap of fingers.

The ragged breathing of someone in pain, a moan of agony, was heard.

Following after. Someone’s next words filled the darkness.

[A trumpet call echoed through the dawning sky.]

“…Is that all there is?”

“Regrettably, nothing follows. It seems a rather fierce battle took place.”

“Zagan was no pushover, so it must have been intense.”

“In any case. Since the one who led the vanguard is dead, we intend to appoint a new vanguard. Speak up if you have anyone decent in mind.”

Just as the yellow eyes from before were about to begin with ‘I—’

“Hee hee hee…!”

The woman who arrived through the gate of flames suddenly burst into laughter.

“What are you doing?”

“Sorry, sorry. But, kek! It’s just so, so funny! A ha ha ha! What, dawn? Trumpets?”

“…”

“Oh, I can’t stand it! Kuk kuk kuk! Even a low-life creature has some aesthetic sense, it seems! Ee hee hee!!”

“…Focus, for now. We’re still in a meeting.”

Despite the warning, the woman couldn’t suppress her laughter at all.

At the same time, she became intensely curious about which madman had uttered such words.

So, when the rough meeting ended and she returned to her place…

“…Excuse me. What did you just say?”

“I’m leaving!”

The fiery man, who was fastening his breastplate, wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

“The vanguard has not yet been decided. More than that, opening the gate once consumes a vast amount of power, and we won’t be able to open it from this side for some time. There will be no meaningful support.”

“I know.”

“Even knowing that, you intend to leave?”

“Yes. Because it’s dawn, you know? And trumpets! I burst out laughing the moment I heard it!”

If there had been a sound effect for ‘lololol’, it would have been inserted into every single one of the woman’s lines.

The man, judging that it was impossible to dissuade her, declared his surrender, telling her to do as she pleased.

She loathed even attending meetings due to extreme laziness.

But she already made her decision to go forward by saying so herself.

“Hee hee hee! Ah. I’m so looking forward to this. Just how messed up can this guy possibly be!?”

If he was entangled in an up-and-down struggle with Zagan, then he’d be at least above average.

Even if his words are a bit idiotic, at least I will have a toy to play with!

Grinning to herself, the red-eyed woman waited for a moment.

Soon, the burning gate opened once more, and the man beckoned.

“It is prepared. Let us go, Lady Astaroth.”