Chapter 14

1.

[Currently, in a location that cannot be pinpointed, the majority of the forces are standing off against Silk! Additionally, that fox mask behind them! Could that figure be none other than Wakamo, one of the “Seven Sins”? Why is she here?]

[Is Silk about to confront Wakamo and those numerous forces?]

Suddenly, news reverberated across the entirety of Kiburatos.

The news was that Silk, the recently renowned Hero, was standing off against Calamity’s fox, “Kosaka Wakamo,” who commands an army.

Citizens watching the screens were struck with shock, all focusing their attention on the TV.

The footage, seemingly filmed from the sky, captured Silk and the enemies facing off on the ground below all at once.

Thus, they couldn’t help but be even more astonished.

The overwhelming number of enemies standing against Silk was just too many in contrast to her solitary figure.

Helmet Unit, Automata, mercenaries, Black Market Guard.

Even going as far as the Crusader Tanks.

There were easily dozens, maybe even over a hundred battalion-level forces gathered there.

“Does she really intend to fight all of that… alone?”

“It’s unbelievable!”

Someone cried out in shock at Silk’s decision,

“…What on earth is this person doing?”

“Hmm~? An interesting one, isn’t it?”

Some found intrigue in the scene.

And then, another person—

“…Silk.”

“Please don’t get hurt, Silk.”

Showed concern for that Silk.

Each person had different reactions, but at this moment, everyone in Kiburatos was focused on Silk through the TV screen.

The Hero ‘Silk,’ well-known for rescuing citizens and spreading their name far and wide, was now known by virtually everyone.

However, amidst the fame, one consistent story kept circulating — tales about her strength.

How strong was Silk?

Her feats so far were within the range of capabilities that even a strong individual from another school could manage.

Even so, she was still considered somewhat below the absolute top tier.

This doubt persisted, and as a result, in Kiburatos, especially in D.U and Millennium where Silk mainly operated, crime never ceased.

But at this moment,

The moment Silk stood off against battalion-level forces, they all shared the same reaction.

“Is this even possible…?”

To take them all down alone?

Everyone watching the screen shook their heads.

Furthermore, even the two people from the Engineering Department who manufactured Silk’s equipment couldn’t hide their unease.

But just moments later, the scene on the screen—

It was nothing short of a betrayal of all their anxieties.

Kwaang――!!!

The deafening roar that immediately followed the start of combat.

The subsequent scenes were nothing short of shocking.

A tank obliterated in one strike. Enemy formations collapsing instantly. And—

Shockwaves spreading through the entire space.

Countless question marks floated into the air above the heads of those watching the scene. What had just happened?

Everyone remembered Silk deflecting the Crusader Tank’s shell and then using a web-shooter to reel it in, swiftly closing the distance to the tank.

But what happened after that?

She seemed to throw a punch—

What exactly was that?

Just as everyone was lost in their questions—

“Aah…!”

“Because of this, she was making all those crazy devices!!”

Only two people and one genius girl were able to make sense of the situation.

This scene, created by Silk, was also a product of science—not just her alone.

Now they understood why she had insisted on maximizing the power without regard for her safety.

They chuckled nervously as they watched the screen. Attached to Silk’s right hand, a glove was glowing red, exhaling white steam from being overworked.

2.

“Huff…,”

My arm is tingling even though I only landed one strike. I rub my right arm and exhale a hot breath.

Chiiiik…

The sight of my new equipment glowing red must be due to the rapid release of intense heat. Looks like I’ll need some time before I can use it again.

It doesn’t matter. I’ve already achieved my objective.

The tank destroyed in one blow, the enemy formation completely devastated. This is more than enough to justify the gear’s cost.

The gauntlet, “Infinity.”

This was my newly commissioned equipment from the Engineering Department, made by liquidating all my assets. It utilizes compression technology to discharge and accelerate thermal energy while emitting shockwaves.

Despite being extremely heavy, self-damaging after use, and rendered unusable for some time after activation…

‘It doesn’t concern me.’

From the beginning, all I wanted was that one devastating blow.

I wipe away the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth and look up.

I see the enemies, either unconscious from the shockwave or standing far away, shocked by the scene I created and frozen with stunned expressions.

And—

‘Wakamo also seems incredibly surprised.’

Is it because the battle didn’t go as she had anticipated, or because she witnessed something completely unexpected?

Wakamo remains frozen, staring down at me from atop a truck.

“You…what exactly…”

Her tone seems to seek some kind of answer from me.

But I have no intention of waiting for her to finish.

I use my Web-Shooter to bind the unconscious enemies scattered on the ground and slowly approach her.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

Startled by my words, Wakamo twitches.

Are you not going to join? Then, I’ll simply come to you first.

As I crouch into an attack stance, Wakamo regains her senses and points a gun at me.

However—

“It’s already too late.”

Taang-!

I’ve long since anticipated the trajectory of the bullet she fires, and while dodging it, I fire webs at her legs and ankles, pulling her towards me.

“Kuh…?!”

Wakamo, pulled by the force, starts to come towards me. I dash in her direction and extend my leg.

Poom!

Wakamo, hit in the abdomen and knocked back, tumbles on the ground. At that moment, an Automaton that had gone dormant due to the shockwave starts to power back up with a crackling noise.

The Automaton immediately points its gun at me and begins firing, followed by the Helmet Unit, mercenaries, and Black Market Guards, who regained their senses and start firing at me as well.

“…Damn.”

They sure woke up fast.

With no organized formation and random firing going all over, it’s like a rainstorm of bullets, but there are over dozens of them, so it feels like standing under a downpour of bullets.

“Spray! Just keep shooting!”

“Somehow, we need to kill this guy here—!”

“Don’t stop! Keep firing!”

I quickly roll across the ground, using a damaged Automaton as a shield while advancing on the gathered enemies, blocking bullets with the gauntlet and kicking them away.

I grab enemies by their faces with my web and pull them down.

I catch an incoming grenade and throw it back at the group of enemies, causing it to explode.

I stab the core of an approaching Automaton with my hand, and break the faceplates of the Helmet Unit and the Guards.

From front to back, left and right, I dodge as many attacks as possible from the overwhelming number of enemies and wedge my way in, reducing the number of foes as much as I can.

Through this process, I can feel myself growing more used to the fight, my abilities becoming stronger.

A forced grin forms on my face as I continue to grow stronger amid this chaos, even as I face countless enemies, predicting possibilities.

I exhale, land a punch.

I swing and fire a web, accelerate and extend my leg.

When I judge that it’s necessary, I push buttons on my wrists and shoot webs in every direction.

Craaaack—!

Even though the majority of the enemy’s weapons have been disabled, their numbers are still many, and I am alone. Doesn’t matter.

My senses are still sharp, my stamina is sufficient.

I can defeat all these guys.

But.

“Yeah. Just wait.”

Wakamo is watching me from behind.

Does this mean that our decisive fight will happen later? She’s just standing there emitting an ominous aura while watching me fight.

“I’ll come soon.”

If that’s the case, then I’ll just go to her.

I grit my teeth. The cracks forming on the mask and the cooling temperatures of the gauntlet…

Kwaang――!!!

Shockwaves spread out again.

Now the gauntlet is completely beyond repair. I discard it and throw it away, firing webs at the enemies who are still down, still unconscious. For those who haven’t woken up, I deliver additional impacts to ensure they don’t get back up.

The number of enemies has been cut down by half. I catch my breath amidst the chaos, entering a combat stance once more.

The lingering shockwaves from the continuous use of Infinity still resonate in my head, making my senses strange.

Like when you wake up and your mind is groggy.

I bite my lips hard to forcibly snap myself out of it.

This is almost over, I can’t lose consciousness.

Fight till the end.

Go and accomplish what I must.

“If I don’t have superhuman senses, then fight with instincts.”

Recall the combat sense I’ve deeply instilled in my body.

I charge towards the enemies aiming their guns at me, my piercing blue eyes filled with burning intensity.

Piiiiwsh—!

“Urgh…!”

“We hit him!”

“The attacks are effective! Keep pressing on!”

While feeling the barrage of bullets in my daze, wounds start to accumulate. After a brief pause amidst the sharp pain, I grip my fists even tighter and continue my advance.

As my senses gradually return, I focus on only one thing: taking down the enemies in front of me.

“Huff, huff, huff…!”

I fire webs, turn my head to dodge, roll on the ground, swing my fists, kick, fire more webs, and—

Read, calculate, and act like crazy.

As if driven by the instincts of a wild beast, I gather information with my own eyes, quickly process it, and derive the optimal method to reduce the number of adversaries, putting it into action.

Roughly, and powerfully.

In a way that Wakamo and the enemies in front of me find exhausting.

Even those watching this battle through the screen can feel it.

“Uaaaaa—!!”

I scream ferociously.

My fists extend mercilessly, clashing with enemies.

I put purpose into every single move, making the enemies feel fear. I attack relentlessly, determined to overcome their overwhelming numbers, to overwhelm them with my sheer presence.

Ripping the arm off an Automaton,

Smashing the body of a Helmet Unit,

Driving the head of a mercenary into the ground,

Smashing the guns of Black Market Guards.

Until the ground is littered with not me, but the remnants of my enemies.

Afterward, I don’t recall exactly how I judged and moved. I just instinctively drove my burning body forward as if it had turned into a blazing fire.

“Huff, huff…”

When my whole body is covered in blood and I can only breathe hard, when silence envelops the surroundings and the echoes of my breath reverberate—

“Why…”

“Why are you—”

Wakamo’s voice reaches my ears.

3.

As I turn my head toward the source of the voice, I see Wakamo, trembling, staring at me.

She asks me.

“Why are you going this far?”

“What purpose do you have in this?”

Her voice trembles with fear, a faint hint of hope flickering within.

That’s when I notice.

The countless enemies that were once abundant have mostly fallen.

Only a few remain—alongside her.

I’ve won. I’ve overcome it. Laughter escapes me.

“Hmm. What purpose…”

I chuckle, then feel sharp pain in my side and clutch it before looking at Wakamo. I then tell her, almost as if asking why she’s asking me this now.

“Great power comes with great responsibility. That’s all.”

The principle of a hero I truly believe in.

It’s now a fundamental belief, one I could call my personal creed.

“Responsibility? Ha! Is that why you acted this way? Just because of responsibility?”

Wakamo interrogates me.

I shake my head and reply to her.

“Just responsibility. I just felt upset seeing villains wreak havoc right before my eyes, so I moved. I let my heart guide me, disciplined the enemies in my own way. It’s just a simple story.”

“You, what kind of authority do you even have?”

“Tch. There’s no such thing as authority. I just do what I see and what I’ve learned. Because I know the power I have can help others.”

“…”

As I’ve seen countless times in hero stories.

What is a hero?

Must a hero punish the great evil that troubles citizens?

Or must a hero guard the peace of the city to truly be called a hero?

No. A hero is simply someone who summons the courage others cannot, and acts.

And with that ability, protects others, perseveres—such a person is truly a hero. A hero is not grandiose.

No one can decide the qualifications of a hero.

Just as there are various forms of evil in this world, aren’t there diverse forms of goodness?

“There’s no particular reason. Sorry if I’ve disappointed you.”

“….I cannot believe it. I, cannot believe in you.”

But Wakamo simply shakes her head at my words.

Because she doesn’t understand me? No.

Because she doesn’t ‘want’ to understand.

“If there are various kinds of justice, various kinds of good in this world, then why has the world I’ve witnessed been so cruel?”

“Why didn’t anyone—”

Wakamo’s words trail off mid-sentence.

I intuitively know what she was about to say.

Why didn’t such a figure exist for her in the past?

When she was suffering in her past, only the malevolence of humanity reached her. That’s why she eventually broke, becoming the Calamity Fox.

That’s why.

“I cannot believe it. That you act solely out of goodwill and responsibility. And so—”

She refuses to believe in my stance.

No matter what I say, she won’t listen.

She was saying that her life was unfortunate because humanity as a whole was evil.

I refuted that. I had seen the truth of this world and could firmly state it.

It was just that her luck ran out.

That a new chance was surely waiting for her.

And beyond that, she certainly had the right to be happy.

But.

‘Yeah, I never thought I’d convince her instantly.’

I’m not a teacher.

I don’t educate others.

Proof of that is in her still unchanging gaze.

So, are we doomed to run parallel?

Will I have to continue my fight against Wakamo forever?

Likely, until Wakamo accepts the truth.

Then.

“I’ll keep explaining to you.”

“I’ll prove it directly.”

We had to clash.

We had to keep talking until she understood.

Silk and Wakamo stared intensely at each other.

“You need to realize that your thinking is wrong.”

“You need to realize that you’re no noble hero—!!”

Afterwards, we rushed at each other.

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