Chapter 68

1.

There is a book called Don Quixote.

In the Earth where I used to live, it was classified as chivalric literature and acclaimed as a representative classic of literary history.

It was even said to have put an end to the countless chivalric literature genre published during the medieval era.

Personally, I love this book.

Moreover, I was deeply moved to the point that I held it sacred in my heart.

Not only because the book was incredibly engaging, but also because there was a certain sentence in it that formed the basis of my current beliefs.

It was a famous line representing Don Quixote,

and it was the value system and belief that I should embrace and practice.

– Dreaming of impossible dreams,

– Fighting unbeatable enemies,

– Throwing oneself into unbearable pain,

– And seizing the stars in the sky that cannot be reached.

Hence,

I engraved that sentence again in this moment.

Crackle-crackle-crackle──!!!!!

A fierce blue light burst forth, and in an instant, my body was buried in excruciating pain.

The electric current running through my flesh felt like it could tear me apart at any moment, causing an immediate scream to escape.

This is not a pain that a human can endure. It’s possible that my whole body might burn up and die if this continues.

An impulse to cut off the current and escape from this pain overtook my entire being.

…

However, I did not stop.

As the impulse to flee arose, another impulse equally lifted its head.

I do not wish to step back. I do not want to give up like this.

I did not want to cowardly run away.

I did not want to feel regret or powerlessness anymore.

I just…

wanted to live honestly with myself.

I want to live as I please, as I desire.

I want to live as a hero I pursue, differently from my previous life, and lead a hearty life.

Therefore, I don’t want to retreat ignobly in front of the enemy.

I do not want to collapse under this pain.

I want to overcome the crisis and save everyone in a cool way.

This was both a resolve and regret at the same time.

Things I couldn’t achieve in the past, the ideals that I only cherished in my heart, the dreams I couldn’t realize.

At this moment when mirage became reality, it’s the urge to completely discard the self that used to run away and hide.

Thus,

I engraved in my heart the sentence that became the foundation of my belief.

I will fight a powerful adversary to realize my dreams.

While throwing myself into pain, I will reach for the star I yearn for.

And I will surely grasp it.

So.

I will absolutely not retreat.

That was the resolution I made.

2.

Crackle─!

There was a light.

A single beam of light fired by the hero.

The sight was the most wondrous and distant compared to any other scene the hero had shown so far.

If it were late evening, it would have been mistaken for daytime in an instant with the enormous amount of light bursting forth.

Following that, a thunderous roar that seemed to rip through the space itself sounded, and countless electrical discharges began to pour onto the steel snake.

─────!!!

The blue sparks extending from the hero’s hand coiled around the steel snake’s upper body, emitting a blue light.

Successive flashes of blinding blue light covered the entire downtown area of Abidos, already filled with dust and sand from the battle.

The overwhelming pressure of the sparks pouring down fortunately gave a blow to the steel snake worthy of their grandeur.

[Kraaaaaaaaa───!!!!!]

The body of the steel snake, scorched black by the sparks.

It seemed to feel pain as a roar echoed, and the sight of the snake thrashing around and collapsing nearby buildings conveyed that.

It was evident that the steel snake’s reaction was more intense than the first impact Silk dealt.

The convulsions that continued throughout the attack expressed the steel snake’s strong desire to remove Silk clinging to its head.

Every scene unfolded across the entire Kiburatos through the drone cameras.

Crackle-Crack-Crack-Crack──!!

BOOM-MM-MM-MM-MM-MM-MM───!!!!!

A sight reminiscent of a myth.

A hero fighting against a giant monster, Silk demonstrated a power that could only be described as thunder, akin to a deity in a myth bringing thunder.

However.

Crackle-crackle-crackle──!!!

At the same time, the citizens watching the screen realized.

“Kehp……!!”

That the hero, their hope, was not at all an omnipotent god.

The hero’s act of spitting blood while attacking a strong enemy left themselves injured.

The horrifying look and the massive blood loss while remaining steadfast amidst the sparks was enough to shock anyone watching.

Moreover.

Amid horrific pain, trembling all over without even screaming, and showing a single-minded determination to kill the monster, the hero’s spirit was awe-inspiring.

The noble and wondrous mental strength left everyone speechless.

The red streams of blood running down below the mask.

The costume tearing from the electric current.

Scenarios continued where all her equipment was torn apart from the high-voltage electricity.

“Keuuuhh…!!”

Suddenly, at the sight of Silk’s anguished moan caught on the screen from afar, everyone in Kiburatos was shocked anew.

Anyone could tell it was an electric shock that could leave one unconscious in seconds, yet she was enduring it through gritted teeth.

What kind of mental strength is this?

Could this really be something a human can do?

While spitting blood, while her whole body is in ruins, while the pain makes her want to let go anytime,

“Keuuuhhh…!!”

Still, the hero did not release the grip on the monster.

As if determined to hold on no matter what, with several strands of silk binding herself tightly, with one hand sparking and the other striking Binah’s back.

KWANG – !!

The blood flowing from the mouth beneath the mask increased and so did the punches striking Binah.

It was as if the hero made her own pain her driving force.

One blow. Another blow.

The more the attacks accumulated, the wilder Binah’s struggles became, and it seemed the snake even tried to escape Abidos.

However,

KWANG – !!

The renewed blow stopped Binah’s movements.

As if not allowing any action at all, Silk’s strikes continuously hit Binah’s face.

“HHHHaaahhh-!!!!!”

What could only be described as a roar escaped Silk’s throat.

Like an animal having lost its mind, Silk relentlessly spat out sparks toward Binah and swung her fists.

KWANG – !!

KWANG – !!

Unyieldingly. Without pause.

As if continuing until Binah was finished off.

KWANG – !!

At that moment, the gaze of the citizens changed.

Until now, they were in awe of Silk’s overwhelming power and skill, and her acts of salvation, but now they felt admiration, even reverence, for Silk’s noble spirit.

The scene Silk showed was so brutal that it made them fully realize just how exalted her sacrifice was.

No one cheered now.

They quietly watched her desperate battle in silence, as if intending not to take their gaze off the screen for even a moment while this sacred scene unfolded.

KWAANG – !!

A fist swung out, and blood splattered.

Silk’s roar overlapped with Binah’s.

Silk’s resolve to dominate Binah with anything was transmitted clearly beyond the screen.

Therefore, with each punch from Silk, the citizens’ longing grew even deeper.

When their longing may have reached Silk, she began to swing her fists at Binah even harder.

Gradually the results started to show.

KWAAAANG – !!

Each time the gauntlet dropped under the blue spark, the steel plate around Binah’s left eye began to crack.

After breaking all the steel plating around the eye, Silk stretched out her fist toward the revealed eyeball.

[Kiaaaaaaa──!!!!]

When one of Binah’s eyes shattered completely, the armor on its back was scorched by the spark and began to crack, causing the noise on the halo floating above its head to initiate.

It was a confirmation that Spark’s attack put a heavy strain on Binah’s mainframe.

But,

this also proved that even with this attack, Silk’s efforts could not cut off Binah’s breath.

A fleeting anxiety filled the expressions of the citizens watching the screen. There was fear that Silk would collapse under the pain, that their hero might lose to this monster.

Thus, the posture of the citizens watching the screen changed from clenching their fists in joy to folding their hands in prayer.

“Please, just fall already…!”

“Silk cannot lose!!”

“Just a little more, only a little more…!!”

However,

Were the people’s longings insufficient?

The skies did not grant their wishes.

Thundering BOOM – !!

“Huh?”

“What is this—”

In contrast to people’s prayers, the only thing seen on the screen was a different impact sound from before echoing.

Soon, the screen captured Silk being hurled away after getting struck by something.

The horrifying sight of the steel snake raising its head while roaring after escaping the pain.

And,

“Silk—!!!”

The heart-rending cry of someone and Silk disappearing off-screen after being embedded in a high-rise building was all that was seen.

Their hero fell.

At the incomprehensible scene, Kiburatos froze.

At that moment, the citizens felt their hopes shattered and despair filling their hearts.

The horrifying sensation of being trapped in the depths of endless darkness.

Everyone cried out.

“No!!!!!”

Though negation escaped lips, the reality on the screen brutally crushed the citizens’ hope.

3.

At the same time.

“Lord, …Silk…?”

“…Silk? Ah, no, Silk!”

Himari of Wakamo, who had been helping those unable to evacuate nearby, screamed upon hearing Silk’s command.

Though the attention of people nearby momentarily gathered, it quickly dispersed since they harbored the same feelings.

The hero had been hit and fallen by the monster.

As soon as this scene aired across the entire Kiburatos region, in the blink of an eye, desperate cries of despair surged everywhere.

Wakamo and Himari were among those people. They were merely individuals who had a personal relationship with Silk.

Likewise, those fighting against the terrorized soldiers in the same downtown area reacted similarly.

“Silk—!!!”

“No…!!”

“You damn rusted thing!!”

To the extent that the only ones maintaining their sanity were the teacher, Hina, and Ako.

Amid the turmoil, countless emotions—anger, shock, anxiety, and despair—were tangled up together, creating chaos.

Even Hosshino, who always maintained a calm and relaxed demeanor, reacted intensely by biting her teeth and glaring at Binah.

“…”

Amidst all this, the teacher stood silently, assessing the surroundings.

The desperate cries of citizens filled with despair.

The cries of students injured and exhausted from numerous terrorized soldier assaults.

And the distant dying howl of Binah.

As the light of hope dimmed, what remained was only despair.

Though Hinata, the strongest of various academies, and Hosshino were still present, the teacher instinctively understood.

If it were only the terrorized soldiers or just Binah, it might be different.

However, with both present, the chances of victory were not very high.

Additionally, even if they won, Abidos would be reduced to rubble due to Binah’s attacks.

In this situation, what should this teacher do?

Should we just despair because the hero is gone and give up everything?

The teacher shook his head and realized.

This is the moment.

Now, at this moment, it’s the time to step forward.

The realization dawned on him instinctively of his role and position.

To protect the children as an adult.

To safeguard the students as a teacher.

The teacher had not put these duties and responsibilities into practice.

It was abandonment of duty and a cowardly avoidance of responsibility.

This teacher feels ashamed to the point where everything until now taught to the students as a teacher feels disgraceful.

Even if called a hero, she is but one student.

The teacher had the responsibility and duty to protect her.

‘Therefore.’

Starting from now.

To alleviate the pain of the hero and the student, the teacher will take action from this moment forth. That’s what the teacher thought.

Reprimanding his past self who relied on Silk, the teacher took a step forward towards everyone.

“…Teacher?”

“Teacher, it’s dangerous to step forward…”

The teacher was just a civilian. The teacher.

But this moment, it was time to transcend all fears and transform into a true adult.

Swish-

And the teacher fished out a certain ‘card’ from a pocket.

“Just give me a little more time, Silk.”

The teacher does not think this will knock down that monster.

So, what the teacher, as the adult, can do is this:

To prevent Silk’s suffering from becoming meaningless, endure until she returns,

And alleviate everyone’s worries and anxieties.

A simple yet purely single reason.

Someone might say that using a card for such a task is wasteful. But the teacher just smiled, thinking:

‘That makes me a failed teacher if I don’t step forward now.’

So, stop it then.

‘No matter what it takes.’

The teacher held up the card.

And immediately, a vivid light streamed out.

So, everyone saw it.

A light similar yet different from the hero’s,

The brilliant gold light that the teacher summoned.

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