Chapter 22. There Are No People Born as Heroes (8)
‘…He’s accepting this so calmly?’
He was exactly the helper I needed in this situation—and maybe that’s why it felt even more unsettling.
I turned my head, pretending to look around while avoiding his gaze.
“First of all, this mimic likely died from the internal collapse just now.”
“But that doesn’t mean the problem is completely solved. We’re still trapped.”
“Yes. And just like we survived the collapse, the ecosystem of monsters that had taken root inside the mimic might have survived as well.”
“Even though I dealt with a good number of them?”
“Yes. But I’m sure some still remain.”
“I’ll be careful. So… how do we escape from here?”
“We need to find another exit from the cave. A mimic, by its nature, always has an entrance and an exit—it’s that kind of monster.”
Of course. It was nice how he instantly understood what I meant. This must be his first time in a situation like this, and yet—
‘…His adaptability is above average.’
On top of that, he didn’t question my information and just accepted it as fact.
“…But why do you just believe what I say?”
“I should be asking you that, Edith. Do I look like someone who wouldn’t believe you?”
Ethan’s natural reply left me momentarily speechless.
‘I mean… normally people wouldn’t believe this.’
Especially in a crisis with one unexpected event after another—knowing this kind of information would usually raise suspicion.
Not to mention he wasn’t even particularly fond of me.
But Ethan shifted the conversation away, as if there were more important things to address.
“Before anything else, we should check whether the other students survived. I can’t use my sword recklessly if there’s a chance they’re nearby.”
“I agree. Shall we look around a bit before we move?”
“Let’s.”
After speaking, Ethan turned his attention back to the stone wall in front of him. Now I understood why he kept tapping and lifting rocks.
He was searching for a spot that might lead to another space.
We were in a hole halfway up a cliff. If we recklessly broke through the wall either up or down, we could trigger another collapse and get crushed.
Even assuming Ethan and I survived such a reckless move… any students who might be in adjacent spaces could get caught in it.
That was why Ethan Behemoth’s search felt so meticulous.
But in truth, the bigger issue lay elsewhere.
‘…How much longer do I have to hold out?’
The problem was me.
Because of Lymos Therion suddenly causing the mimic to collapse, my original plan had gone off track.
I hadn’t intended to stay here this long.
“…Haa.”
I felt increasingly suffocated.
I loosened my tie to breathe a bit easier, rolled up my sleeves, and felt cold sweat trickling down.
Seriously, I hate this cave.
Gripping my slipping focus, I began carefully examining the surrounding stone walls with Ethan.
Not long after—
“Is anyone there?”
“……!”
A faint voice came from beyond the stone wall I had just touched.
Listening closely, I was relieved to hear it was Camilla.
“Yes! Camilla, I’m here! It’s Edith Crowell!”
“Oh, thank goodness. Is Ethan with you?”
The voice echoed a bit, but with some shouting and focus, we could communicate just fine.
“Yes. Lord Behemoth is here too… Camilla, are you with anyone?”
“I’m with Yan, Mr. Lymos, and Ms. Betil. And we heard there are four more people on the other side of this rock pile. That means everyone survived.”
“…Lymos Therion is with you?”
“Huh? Is that a problem?”
He’s there. My mind went blank for a second.
What should I do? I didn’t expect him to still be shamelessly sticking around here.
“…It’s not a problem.”
I needed to reassure her first.
“If Betil’s there too, that’s good news.”
Ethan chimed in quietly.
I didn’t know who Betil was, but if Ethan Behemoth trusted her skills, then that was enough.
And with Yan and Camilla there…
Would they be able to handle Lymos Therion?
It was uncertain, but for now, I had no choice but to trust them.
Then there was more murmuring from the other side of the stone wall before Camilla called out again.
“Edith.”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Lymos asked me to pass along a message. He said, ‘See you later.’”
“Ah… okay.”
…He’s not going to cause more trouble for now, right?
Whatever his intentions were, if there was a way to put a leash on such a dangerous person, I had to go along with it.
“Please tell him I said, ‘See you soon,’ too.”
To me, Lymos Therion was no longer just an ordinary student.
I decided to treat him as such.
Just then, Ethan Behemoth, who had overheard Camilla’s message, spoke.
“Are you worried about Lymos Therion?”
“…….”
I turned to look at him. The light floating from his magic lit up his face clearly.
Maybe he’d bumped into the rocks—there was a thin trail of dried blood across his handsome forehead.
‘Oh dear.’
Feeling a bit sorry, I reached out and wiped it away, scratching gently. Then I nodded.
“Yes. He’s in our group, after all. Also, Ethan, your head’s bleeding. It’s not serious, is it?”
He hesitated, then raised his own hand and wiped off the rest as he replied.
“I’m fine. But why did the cave suddenly collapse?”
“…….”
Should I tell him it was Lymos Therion?
“…Who knows.”
My hesitation was brief.
No, I decided not to tell him.
If Ethan knew that someone like Yan or Camilla—his close friends—were trapped in the same space as a dangerous individual, he’d definitely try something reckless to rescue them.
Ethan Behemoth is that kind of person. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect those he holds close.
It’s like he doesn’t even know how to give up.
And that… had a strangely stirring effect on people.
…Wait, what am I thinking?
I nearly got lost in some silly sentimentality. I quickly shook it off and shut my mouth.
Best not to say too much.
Because of that, I missed what he muttered next.
“If we’d ended up in the same group… maybe we could’ve grown just as close.”
“Sorry? What did you say just now?”
I hadn’t caught it properly.
As I leaned toward him, he turned his head and gestured toward the part of the wall that hadn’t collapsed.
“Nothing. More importantly—look over there. Could that be the ‘exit’?”
I looked in the direction he pointed—and indeed, I could faintly hear air flowing through.
‘Wait, maybe this really is…’
“…It could be. The collapse might’ve shifted the path a bit though.”
“Then we should ask the others if their side connects to it. And have them scout, if possible.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
I nodded right away.
When did I start saying we wouldn’t get along? Times like this, I really appreciated how well Ethan and I thought alike.
I shouted again toward the stone wall.
“Camilla, does your side have a connected path?”
“Uh… oh. Yes! It does!”
“Then please try exploring that way. I have a hunch.”
“Got it! See you soon then!”
Ethan jumped in to add one more thing.
“If a whole day passes and you still find nothing, come back here.”
“Okay! Take care!”
‘How are we supposed to know when a day has passed in a cave?’
I take back what I said about syncing well with Ethan Behemoth.
Now that I think about it, he was the one who agreed to that ridiculous idea of having a barbecue during a field exercise…
He really has a quirky side.
Is he really the reliable helper I think he is…?
As I looked at Ethan with complicated thoughts, he glanced back and gestured with his chin toward the tunnel.
“Then let’s go.”
