Heroes

Thursday, November 10

5:50 PM.

I just returned to my room after a training session. Leya mentioned she would spend more time in the gym as she had a practical test tomorrow.

Today, several low-ranking Heroes arrived at the academy. They are likely the first to be called upon to investigate the disappearances of the cadets.

Mary had told me about it earlier, claiming that seven individuals are untraceable, insisting it's the work of a demon. When seven people vanish without a trace, the only logical explanation is a demon's involvement.

So far, there hasn't been an official communication from the academy, perhaps to avoid causing panic.

...

Or are they waiting for more casualties before taking action? Or, being among the prestigious academies, do they refuse to seek help from the Hero Association due to pride?

...

I have no idea.

The truth behind the demon attacks is quite intricate. His goal isn't solely to kill the new generations of Heroes. If that were the case, he would have to eliminate them all at once.

His objective is to draw the attention of the Heroes and then target those of high rank. He's likely already realizing that killing a few cadets doesn't yield many results.

Hence, on the evening of November 30, he will kill several hundred cadets. At that point, someone will witness it, alerting the instructors, who will then request assistance from high-ranking Heroes.

Interesting plan. Too bad I won't witness it, as Leya and I will be in some hotel, hehe.

The day is already planned: on the evening of the 29th, we'll leave the Academy and stay in a hotel. On the 30th, we'll spend the entire day shopping, eating whatever we come across, watching a series of movies in the cinema until late at night, and finally, enjoy ourselves in our room, hehe. Then the next morning, we'll return to the academy and attend the updates.

...

7:00 PM

Leya returns from the gym.

"Leya, is that you?"

I've been engrossed in a fantasy novel lately. Right now, I'm reading a very interesting part and wouldn't want to be disturbed.

"..."

She doesn't answer?

"I can hear you panting, I know it's you."

"What are you reading?" She asks, appearing behind me.

Her voice sounds tired; she must have trained to the limit.

"Nothing much, something about nuclear warfare."

"Ah... Can you imagine if the Nuclear demon came here?" She blurts out.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering."

I turn towards her, and at that moment, she kisses me.

"What's wrong?" I ask thoughtfully.

Something seems fishy... and I'm not talking about her sweat.

"Why? Can't I kiss you?" She responds, annoyed.

Oh...

I start staring at her.

She looks away and starts fidgeting with her fingers. Then she says: "After... I need to tell you something."

I go back to looking at the book, muttering to myself: "After? Why after? We're here, face to face..."

"After dinner, I'll tell you." She tells me, hearing my words.

"Okay, Leya... But now go take a bath."

She approaches and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks in advance!" Then she hurries to the bathroom.

...

I start thinking about what she said.

What does she want to tell me?

I don't think she wants to break up; otherwise, she wouldn't have acted this way... At least, I believe.

Does she want me to buy her something? In the past, I gave her some money; maybe she spent it and wants more.

Perhaps she has run out of pills? No, no, they should last for a few more months.

In the worst-case scenario... What if she tells me she's pregnant?

No, no, impossible... It's too early, and I don't think she can have children.

...

8:15 PM

Just for a change, we're having pizza tonight.

I can't help it; they're too good.

I don't know why, but neither Leya nor I are gaining weight... She's almost a half-demon, with all that blood they injected into her, so she has a unique constitution. While I...? Before coming to this world, I didn't have these problems because, in addition to the daily stress, I had a very fast metabolism.

It must be the same here at this point.

"Ban, have you seen those Heroes around the academy? Are they watching us?" She asks with curiosity.

"Yeah... Mary told me about it this morning. The continuous disappearance of cadets is causing concern... Anyway, I don't know if they are reliable, being of the lowest rank."

"Rank?"

"Yes... Heroes are classified into ranks: from the lowest, rank E, to the highest, rank S."

"So, will we have a rank when we graduate?"

"No, not immediately. We'll have to go on a kind of mission that, once completed, will assign us the rank E."

"Ah... So those just graduated ones?"

"Probably." I say it in a very calm tone.

To counter the Darkness demon, you need at least an S rank or a large group of A ranks. Lower ranks are completely useless; they'll just be an appetizer.

...

Now that I think about it: why introduce such a powerful demon in the first arc? I thought its goal was to attract higher-ranking heroes, but there are other ways... Also, the fact that it's being kept away from Koto and the instructors who are B rank... At first, I didn't think about it because the story was narrated through Koto's eyes, who is the protagonist... But wasn't his goal to fight against them?

It's either a plot hole or I don't understand anything.

...

11:00 PM

We're in bed.

"Leya, do you want to tell me? Otherwise, I'll fall asleep."

"..."

"You know I know a way to make you talk..." Now I'm getting the Liam Neeson tone every time I threaten her.

"It's about me... something inside me..."

Sweat starts trickling down my forehead, so I ask her: "What? Speak..."

"...Lightning demon."

Thank God...

"What do you want to know?"

Her face is turned towards the ceiling of the room... she seems really thoughtful. Remaining in that position, she says: "You taught me how to control his powers, but I never practiced. A few weeks ago, you told me I shouldn't."

"And it's true because you should never use them."

"Why?"

She wanted to ask me this?

...

I approach her and hug her without saying anything, resting my head on her pillow.

How could I tell her that this blood is a kind of time bomb? The more she uses those powers, the more her life will be at risk.

"Ban, this isn't an answer..." She says, disappointed.

"Do you want to use them so badly?"

"They're extra weapons. It would be stupid not to exploit them."

...

"Trust me, okay? Those powers won't serve you... because I'll be the one to protect you."

"..."

She remains silent for a while.

...

"Leya... Did you fall asleep?"

She turns her head towards me, making the tips of our noses touch.

"And... who will protect you?"

...

Now it's me staying silent.

...

Starting from the beginning, but am I in danger?

On this world, everyone is on the same level; everyone is in danger of dying at any moment.

"But I find myself on a higher level because I know future events, I know how to escape death in those events. The only risks are related to changes in the plot, but at that point, the danger would still affect everyone, not just me.

So... Should I have the need to be protected by someone? If I ever did, that someone certainly wouldn't be her.

"Nobody, because I am immortal. I told you in the past that some Gods owed me favors, so besides food, they made me immortal." I respond with utmost seriousness.

"Hahaha. I don't believe it!"

I give her a kiss and then return to my side.

"Don't think about the Lightning demon anymore..."

"Okay, Ban."