Chapter: 171
The Beasts of Greed were considered quite tricky to deal with relative to their strength.
This was partly due to their ability to create barriers, but more importantly, they were flying demonic beasts.
For beings bound to the ground, there weren’t many ways to take down beasts freely soaring through the sky.
However, as mentioned, the Beasts of Greed weren’t exceptionally powerful compared to other intermediate beasts.
-Alf Ad Astra!
[■■■!!!]
Thus, to Sylvia, who could apply the power of the star spirit and intercept the beasts while flying, they were merely targets that were a bit harder to hit.
“Phew, that’s the 14th one. It seems I’ve cleared out most of the beasts flying around,” Sylvia muttered, watching a beast plummet to the ground after being hit by a starlight bullet.
Fourteen—that was the number of intermediate beasts she had taken down single-handedly today.
Having accomplished a feat that would be difficult even for many heroes, Sylvia felt she had truly grown.
Being able to see the results of her efforts so far was undoubtedly an encouraging thing for Sylvia.
It was only natural for her to feel a sense of pride in being able to contribute more than an average hero.
But at this moment, Sylvia’s mind was filled only with worry.
She quietly gazed down at the new scars etched into the city from the sky.
The broken buildings and the bodies of the people she couldn’t protect despite her efforts.
She saw the sight of people sitting down and crying over such devastation.
Even though the huge wound she had received before hadn’t fully healed, she had ended up with an even greater one.
It was the heroes’ duty to prevent such things from happening.
So now, what were the people thinking when they looked at the heroes?
While watching the city, Sylvia took out her phone from her pocket.
She had received a text from the Central Committee asking her to attend a policy meeting, sent who knows when.
Sylvia, worn out from evacuating citizens and the continued battles, frowned slightly at the message.
Just thinking about the aftermath that was soon to come made her head throb.
In her heart, she wanted nothing more than to throw her tired body onto a bed and rest with her mind blank.
However, that was not an option.
Sylvia sighed and put her phone away.
Finding ways to minimize the aftermath was also something she and her group had to address.
Her role as a hero was over.
Now was the time for cleanup.
*
Rights come with responsibilities, and those who fail to fulfill their duties bear responsibility.
For that reason, the atmosphere in the conference room, where people with the most rights in the city gathered, was heavier than ever.
A man entered the room carrying a report, breaking the heavy silence.
Mark Aegis, the head of Aegis Academy and the chair of this meeting, let out a sigh before asking the man who brought the report.
“…So, what’s the damage report?”
“…I was wondering how it would be with the heroes restrained, but the damage is much less than initially expected. In terms of casualties, it’s about a third of what we saw with the incident involving the parasitic beast. The beasts were released on the eastern outskirts of District 15, so the western districts were spared. The quick support from the academy seems to have also helped a great deal.”
“…I see. Well, I suppose that’s a silver lining in this misfortune.”
With the report indicating that the damage was far less than expected, Mark, who had been wearing a troubled expression, seemed to relax slightly. Then, Diakonos Dolos, the head of the Dolos Family, spoke to him.
“…The credit goes to the principal. You had training prepared for situations like this ahead of time. If it hadn’t been for the academy’s proper response, we can’t imagine how much worse it could have been.”
“…I didn’t do anything. The credit belongs to Eve, the deputy principal who calmly acted, and the students who risked their lives. Still, it’s fortunate the damage was less, but I worry the problems arising afterward might be even bigger.”
In response, Sylvia, sitting next to the elder of the Astra Family, murmured.
“…There will definitely be more pressing issues. It hasn’t been long since the last incident caused by the beasts, and now this one… too many people saw things they shouldn’t.”
“…That seems to be the case. I never imagined the barrier would be breached like that.”
Mark let out a great sigh at Sylvia’s words.
The barrier protecting the city was set up by the great sorceress Viola Nineheart, known as the greatest mage in history.
Four hundred years ago, while the world was consumed by miasma, this barrier was established to keep this city safe. It was the very essence of the city, the magic that allowed it to remain intact.
Thus, the barrier served as a symbol that as long as it was intact, its citizens were safe from miasma.
However, far too many people witnessed the sight of that symbol tearing apart like paper.
It was enough to ensure that they could not pretend everything was fine anymore.
The truth that the barrier, which they had firmly trusted, didn’t fully protect them had become apparent to everyone.
It was only natural for anxiety to arise among the people.
“Having direct victims caused by the beasts was also a problem. The voices criticizing the heroes will be louder this time than before.”
“…Yes, I understand. If we leave things as they are, the heroes’ trust will likely take a significant hit.”
The reason the city was able to exist as it had until now was due to the trust the people had.
Miasma was kept at bay by the barrier, and the beasts were kept out by the heroes.
Thus, they had faith in their safety.
That’s why it was unthinkable for beasts to run rampant and harm the citizens—such a thing was unacceptable.
Yet that unacceptable thing had happened.
The previous incident with the parasitic beast had driven people to violence, even though the real harm seemed to come from people, not the beast itself.
However, this time, the beasts directly caused the damages.
Some of those who suffered would unknowingly think this:
The reason we were harmed by the beasts is that the heroes who should have protected us failed in their duty.
The teleportation gate didn’t activate to provide timely support.
Words like that wouldn’t be enough to persuade those who lost loved ones and were filled with grief and anger.
Especially compared to last time, when there was at least a minimal justification regarding the unknown presence of a parasite that possessed people and the fact that they were unaware of the witch’s return.
This time, it was the second occurrence.
No one foresaw that the vow not to let such an event happen again would become a noose tightening around their own necks.
The heroes had inadvertently broken the promise they made.
What kept society functioning well was trust in the system.
However, the heroes—the very embodiment of that system—had lost the people’s trust due to this incident.
The anxiety and distrust that had surfaced in people’s hearts would soon begin to gnaw away at the city.
Everyone present felt that instinctively.
And to calm such sentiments among the people, there seemed to be only one entity.
“…What’s the public opinion regarding Yoon Si-woo?”
“…He’s almost seen as a savior. A true hero who saved the city from destruction. A genuine warrior who defeated the witch. Those types of comments keep coming up.”
“…We ought to thank Deputy Principal Eve and Yoon Si-woo, who stepped up so readily. Thanks to him, it seems there won’t be an immediate uproar.”
Mark let out a sigh at this.
As planned, or perhaps as expected.
Now that the barrier and the heroes had lost the people’s trust,
The city needed a new symbol.
Thus, it was Yoon Si-woo.
He would be that symbol.
That was the proposal made by Eve, a member of the Central Committee not present at this meeting, and everyone agreed to the plan.
For now, there would be no better way to settle the public’s unrest.
Especially since Yoon Si-woo’s accomplishments in the last incident were still fresh in everyone’s minds.
However, there was a slight issue with that plan.
Pointing it out, Sylvia spoke.
“…But if things go on like this, there’s a chance people will view Yoon Si-woo separately from the other heroes. I think that’s something we should avoid.”
In the minds of the people, the perception was spreading that the heroes who didn’t come to save the city were false heroes, while only Yoon Si-woo, who did come, was the true hero.
Should such a perception take root, the existing heroes would inevitably lose their trust.
Yet Yoon Si-woo, contrary to people’s thoughts, was not a flawless superhuman.
Unless he could solve everything on his own, it was unwise for such a phenomenon to arise among the people.
Therefore, additional measures were necessary.
There needed to be a way to restore some trust in the fallen heroes.
As they pondered this, Mark exhaled deeply and opened his mouth.
“Ugh, it can’t be helped. I didn’t want to burden him any more, considering he was a student at the academy until recently, but it seems there’s no other way. If we’re worried the people will separate Yoon Si-woo from the other heroes, let’s push him right to the forefront.”
“…What do you mean by push?”
To those tilting their heads, Mark replied with a wry smile.
“Why not place Yoon Si-woo in a position to represent the heroes, like the squad leader of Astrape?”
It was indeed a shocking proposal.
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