Free Web NovelTwo o’clock in the morning.
Civilian District, Beckham Castle.
Bearing the title of Violet Hero, Rania arrived at the massive fortress that stood between the civilian and commercial quarters.
“Hey, are you sure a high-level magic reaction appeared here?”
Alone at the castle’s edge, Rania let her beautiful eyes sweep the surroundings.
Her silky violet hair was tied into two bundles by a ribbon, falling neatly over her shoulders. Her youthful body, still brimming with girlish charm, was balanced and striking.
One hand held a multi-purpose communication gem pendant, the other effortlessly rested her massive scythe on her shoulder.
Every Named Hero had their own exclusive weapon. Hers was the giant scythe called Zilan.
Its name carried meaning: when swung, its sweeping arcs surged like violet tidal waves across the endless sea, trampling and destroying everything before it!
“There’s no mistake. The reaction lasted only an instant, but our monitoring station recorded it. Hold your ground, Rania, and do not act rashly.”
On the other side of the communicator, her handler analyzed calmly:
“This fluctuation was of sixth-tier and above. Anything with that level of power inside the city will be troublesome.
We’ve already contacted the Hero stationed in Antler City for backup. You stay put, observe, and keep yourself safe.”
“Alright, alright, I know.”
Sixth-tier and above—that meant Level 600+.
Nothing to worry about.
Rania shifted into a more casual stalking pose, leaning against Zilan. One foot pressed the ground, the other rested lightly on the blunt side of her scythe’s blade.
Carelessly, she struck up a new subject with the handler, her tone light and casual, as if chatting with a friend.
“Lilian, wasn’t my teacher’s last resupply before marching on the Demon King’s castle carried out here in this city?”
Silence came from the other side of the gem.
“Answer me, Lilian.”
Rania’s tone sharpened with anger: “You were a member of my teacher’s party. You all marched with him against the Demon King. Yet you never even brought back his body, and with the Royal Capital you hastily declared him dead. You would not even search!”
“...I’m sorry, Rania.”
The violet gem glowed faintly.
“Your ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ teacher, the Night Hero, is already dead...”
“Then where is his body?!”
“...”
Couldn’t find it—or simply didn’t want to.
She forced herself to calm her rage, exhaled deeply, and asked another question: “And my teacher’s wife?”
“...”
Still nothing but silence.
As expected.
Suddenly, she felt tonight’s wind grow colder, harsher than when she had first stepped out.
Teacher, teacher...
Didn’t you say you’d come back?
Rania switched off the communicator, sorrow welling for her teacher.
He had treated them so well...
Then the violet gem in her hand trembled. At the same moment, a scarlet glow rose into the night sky in another direction.
“Rania! Leave the civilian district immediately!”
The communicator forcibly reactivated, Lilian’s urgent voice breaking through:
“Evacuate! A ninth-tier magic fluctuation appeared in your area! The situation is spiraling faster than we thought! Don’t act recklessly—don’t!”
Gripping Zilan tightly, Rania instantly entered battle stance and raised her eyes.
The moon was being swallowed by scarlet light. The district bathed in red glow looked like hell itself—and the hellish light continued to spread.
“This is bad. That power is nearly at Demon King level... The forces in the city can’t withstand this.”
In her own room, Lilian’s star-like eyes looked out the window as she whispered:
“Disgusting, filthy monsters.”
Core District.
Nobles and upper-class men poured out of their homes one after another. Seeing the city drenched in hellfire, some faces went grim, others pale, others trembling in fear.
“Where are the Heroes? Hurry and have them kill the monster at the source! We pay so much tax—now is the time for it to matter!”
“How did such a terrifying monster appear inside the city? What were those night-watchers doing? Blind?!”
“Darling, didn’t I say border towns were no place for tourism? Look—such a monster sneaking in. Ha, laughable. We should take the balloon airship and leave at once...”
“Lord Mayor, the monster seems to be in the civilian district. Law enforcement there has gone silent...”
“Lord Mayor, riots are breaking out in the civilian district. Masses of civilians are ignoring the curfew and fleeing into the commercial quarter...”
“Lord Mayor, the port has been sealed per your order, but nobles with private vessels are already boarding and escaping...”
“Lord Mayor, the slaves on Nick Street in the commercial quarter have begun rioting... Even with many hired adventurers, suppression is failing...” free𝑤ebnovel.com
Bad news was reported one after another, and fear spread across the core district. freёweɓnovel.com
Rania abandoned her stakeout of Beckham Castle. First, she would do what she could to minimize casualties.
Protecting humans was a Hero’s duty. Her teacher had lived by that.
As his only disciple, Rania would never let his reputation be tarnished because of her.
“Rania, don’t be rash! Come back at once! Forget everyone else!”
Through the violet gem came Lilian’s young but unyieldingly stern voice: “Someone else will handle this!”
“Relax. I won’t die.”
“I know your teacher left you with safeguards, but right now—you—must—return—to—the convent!”
“Hiding beneath the gaze of God to beg for safety? That’s not what my teacher taught me!” Rania laughed coldly. “You’ve kept me under lock and key about my teacher’s fate, so don’t you dare try to command me now!”
“Teacher, teacher, teacher—hah! You and your teacher are both the same stiff-headed fools!” Lilian snapped. “Carrying on the same line, are you? Fine! But don’t come crawling to the convent for healing if you’re maimed!”
“Not going, not going. You think I want to anyway?”
“If you’re injured, you had better dare to stay away!” Lilian’s chest tightened in fury, and she was about to call for reinforcements when the red moon in the sky suddenly warped.
The uncontrollable scarlet light that had been spreading was suddenly frozen in the night sky.
Then it was as though an invisible eraser swept across the heavens, wiping away the crimson stain stroke by stroke.
Those whose inner desires had been amplified by the red light, who had been restless and violent—suddenly it was as if they had been plunged into a warm sea that purified the soul. One by one, they fell into a serene state.
Rania stood petrified, frozen. From stunned disbelief, to awe, to indescribable excitement.
Her chest heaved, her cheeks flushed red, and even when the violet gem slipped from her hand to the ground, she didn’t notice.
“Teacher? Teacher? This is Teacher’s power!” Rania whispered to herself, trembling. “There’s no mistake. No mistake at all!”
