Chapter 713

〈Chapter 713〉 Part 2, Chapter 5, Scene 07

<Hero Association of England, 'Camelot Hall'>

Kiyooohh!!

The radar picks up the screech of birds. Or rather, the cries of strange winged monsters gathered in one place, shouting.

They are no longer human. Though they resemble humans more than anything else, these beings are beasts in human form—true “monsters.”

Aaaayyyeeeee—

Seventeen B-Rank monsters.

All gathered in one spot, their roars directed at someone—a golden-haired young man with piercing eyes.

These creatures are provoking someone. Who? The golden-haired youth.

“Dark Legion…!”

The heroes surrounding the monsters couldn’t contain their anger. While it’s not unusual for monsters to provoke humans, this time, their actions were a direct insult to British pride.

Pssshhh…

The monsters began marking their territory like cats spraying urine. This blatant act of territorial dominance angered not only the heroes but also onlookers.

“We need to drive those monsters away immediately!!”

“What do you think you’re doing defiling someone else’s land and historical landmarks?!”

The monsters had occupied Stonehenge.

This ancient site, rich with historical significance, was now claimed as their territory. They perched atop the stones, boldly asserting their dominance like wild beasts.

“Graaargh…!”

The association was torn. From an archaeological or historical perspective, cultural relics must be preserved. But can they simply ignore such a threat to humanity?

“Hey! You monster brats, come out here!!”

Kiyooohh!

The monsters paid no heed to the heroes’ provocations and refused to leave the ancient burial mounds. Instead, they taunted the heroes, daring them to attack.

“You bastards…!”

It seemed the monsters knew the value of their chosen location. The heroes were left with a difficult choice: Should they wait until the monsters leave or risk destroying Stonehenge to eliminate them?

If there were 100 C-Rank monsters, it would have been easy to suppress them. Even with hundreds of C-Rank monsters, a single A-Rank hero could handle them without damaging anything.

If there were 10 A-Rank monsters, they could have been dealt with easily too. Despite the historical value of the site, 10 A-Rank monsters would pose such a threat that people might even suggest using nuclear weapons.

But this number… it was truly awkward.

Attacking would certainly destroy the cultural relic, yet leaving them be would create an unacceptable situation.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

The association found itself in a dilemma.

“Call Sir Gawein!!”

“If we do, Stonehenge will likely be obliterated too!”

“Then call weaker ones!”

“If we do, half of Stonehenge will probably be destroyed!”

“Then call similar ones!!”

“If we gather exactly seventeen B-Rank heroes, won’t the monsters just run away during the fight?”

“Then what the hell should we do??”

There seemed to be no clear solution. With the monsters holding Stonehenge hostage, the heroes were forced to await further instructions.

“Sir Penward, make a decision!”

“Ugh… uuuugh…”

Penward, both the head of the British administration and president of the Hero Association, felt the immense weight of responsibility pressing down on him.

He received nonstop calls from those demanding immediate action against the monsters, as well as others arguing passionately about the historical importance of Stonehenge and the injustice of its potential destruction.

“I… I…”

Though he held the power to make the final choice, he wanted nothing to do with taking responsibility.

Even though rushing into things might lead to disaster, the heroes awaited his orders while he hesitated.

Pressing a single button would erase Stonehenge along with the seventeen monsters.

“Damn it, if only they were beasts…!”

If there were seventeen B-Rank beasts, they could’ve called in hunters. If the hunters damaged Stonehenge, they could’ve demanded compensation.

However, cunning hunters ignored humanoid monsters entirely. Dark Legion monsters were infamous for not dropping cores and causing significant losses.

“I…!”

[This is <Queen>.]

“Your… Majesty?”

Near Stonehenge.

Standing atop a massive earthen wall, a woman in a white dress gripped her staff and proudly surveyed Stonehenge below.

[I will now expel the monsters.]

“Hold on! Surely you’re not going to-”

Gugugugu…

Massive waves of earth began covering Stonehenge.

* * *

“They’re really doing it.”

After exchanging a hearty supply of mana with Penril, I watched the scene unfold at Stonehenge through a virtual screen hidden within Big Ben.

“That’s intense. That woman.”

“Yeah, she’s the Queen of England and S-Rank Hero, <Queen>.”

Out of ten human heroines, foreigners surprisingly made up a large percentage.

Just consider three names: Jung Su-ri, Hikari, and Xiao Lin. Meanwhile, Koreans include Yu Inah, Park Ra-on, Kim Nuri, Yun Yuhwa, Cheon Gaeul, and Baek Hee-a, making up six members.

Each heroine possesses unique strengths, but one type of attribute is notably absent: the classic blonde foreigner.

The princess (or queen) with golden hair and blue eyes.

Not the stereotypical Asian version of a blonde tycoon, but the typical sleek, buxom foreign blonde.

Most spirits may have foreign appearances, increasing the foreign ratio, but having at least one blonde foreign heroine among the humans maintains balance.

Heroine No.8.

Queen Aruel of England, an S-Rank hero, personally intervened to resolve the Stonehenge monster occupation crisis.

“I thought the queen would just stay back and watch.”

“In all of England’s S-Rank heroes, only the queen can efficiently deal with this situation.”

Gugugugu…

An enormous dome of earth formed around Stonehenge. Following Aruel’s orders, heroes leaped into the swirling dirt, forming a sealed barrier of mud and soil.

“Penril.”

“Just wait a moment, please.”

Penril grabbed my face and kissed me. As our tongues intertwined, I shared her vision through our connection.

What I saw was the viewpoint of Penril’s ‘monsters.’

[What are we seeing?! Her Majesty has created a dome!]

While helicopters circled uselessly outside the earthen walls, I observed the inside through the monsters’ eyes.

– First, block their sight.

I gave detailed strategies for dealing with wind-attribute monsters. Penril also taught the monsters how to ‘die appropriately.’

[Soak the heroes’ souls in slime until they smell of mint chocolate.]

Penril used the monsters as expendable pawns. Asking officers to treat monsters as disposable trash crossed a line, but I managed to persuade her by offering myself in exchange.

I hired Penril’s monsters with my body. And her monsters willingly embraced their death missions, wishing for their master’s happiness.

– Once trapped, reveal your true forms as ‘beasts.’

Kiyooohh!!

The monsters began losing control. Their black armor-like exteriors transformed into lion-like quadrupeds, their insides glowing with mint-chocolate-colored ether bodies.

[Is this draconic transformation?!]

[No! It’s just plain berserk mode!]

Their appearances closely resembled Wind Dragons. Since Penril infused them with mana, they strongly resembled the ‘Wind Dragon’ aspect of her power.

“All of them are near-A-Rank beasts.”

Their original forms were bird-like monsters with wings, so they took on dragon shapes with wings—like winged sphinxes.

[Kyaahhhh!!]

Had these creatures been under three meters tall, they might have become popular pets. Their mana exuded a scent of mint chocolate, intoxicating anyone nearby.

[Ugh, this sweet smell…!]

“Don’t be mesmerized! And seriously, sweet?! It smells like toothpaste!”

[They’re trying to fly away!!]

The monsters flapped their wings and attempted to flee the stone pillars. However, the S-Rank hero’s barrier prevented their escape. Heroes rushed toward the falling beasts one by one.

Gugugugu…

The dirt around the stone tomb slowly enveloped the ancient site. Like concrete armor protecting Stonehenge, a magical barrier of earth began shielding the stones from below.

‘The strongest defense of any S-Rank.’

Among allies, this woman ranked in the top three for defensive capabilities. She focused solely on defense as planned.

She erected a skyward barrier and protected the stone monuments from below.

[Kyaaaaang!!]

Clang!

One monster fell to a stone pillar after its wings were attacked. Thankfully, the barrier remained intact despite the impact.

[Keeeeeek!!]

The wingless monster was quickly subdued by the heroes. Or rather, hunted. The monsters, entangled by vines sprouting from the ground—

“…”

Suddenly, the vision cut off. Opening my eyes, I found Penril silently crying with a blank expression.

“Eh… Why so sad all of a sudden?”

Penril seemed confused by her own tears. I pulled her close and gently patted her back.

“Calm down. It’s just excess mana leaking as tears.”

“R-really…? But why does my… chest hurt so much?”

“It’s mana overload pain.”

“There’s no way that’s real-”

I silenced her with a kiss. Her pupils widened dramatically but gradually closed as she focused on me.

“Pfff. Penril, didn’t I give you too much mana? It’s flowing out of you like water.”

“R-really…?”

After staring at me for a long time, Penril tightly shut her eyes. Opening one eye slightly, she clung to me again.

“Until it’s over… can you comfort me?”

“Of course.”

I continued embracing Penril, feeding her mana until her emotions stabilized.

‘That was close.’

I almost woke Jeolpung.