Chapter 26
The red claws shimmered and grew longer.
Keshan tensed his legs.
Then, leaping to a height no ordinary person could imagine, he landed atop the monster.
—Kirrurururuk!
The monster shook its body.
Unlike when it had been attacking Iyabon and Edern earlier, it now looked startled.
Until just moments ago, it had been thoroughly enjoying hunting weak humans.
It had sensed some unusual energy from certain humans, but nothing more.
Approaching that strange wall had instinctively felt wrong, but simply slaughtering the two humans in front of it had been entertaining enough.
Yet, the aura emanating from this human was unmistakably different.
Chaaah!
Keshan raised his claw high and struck down with all his strength.
In that instant, his claw elongated and sliced through the monster’s head.
One of its three heads fell with a thud.
Keshan’s claw hadn’t just cut through the monster’s outer shell—it had penetrated deep inside without hesitation.
“Waaaah!”
This was completely different from when Iyabon and Edern had attacked.
Those inside the wall, witnessing the overwhelming display, were initially stunned into silence before letting out screams.
Seeing that terrifying creature helplessly defeated by a child… it was almost like a glimmer of hope to the terrified onlookers.
“E-Esper?”
“It’s really an Esper! An Esper!”
The people whispered in astonishment.
But excitement laced their voices.
No one could remain indifferent to the hope that had suddenly appeared.
At that moment, the monster’s massive body recoiled.
Crack. Crackle—
“Waaaaah!”
That creature, which had nearly killed Edern and Iyabon, was retreating.
Perhaps survival was possible.
Keshan’s sudden awakening as an Esper remained a mystery, but there was no doubt he was no ordinary Esper.
Perhaps Keshan could defeat that monster.
If so, they could bring the injured Edern and Iyabon inside the wall and hold out until the situation outside calmed down.
“Keshan! Push it back!”
“Kill that monster!”
The people shouted.
In response, Keshan sharpened his claws further and cut through the monster’s hide.
Between the serpent-like scales, Keshan’s claws pierced relentlessly.
He aimed his claws at the monster’s second neck.
The crimson claws had grown long—enough to cut the monster’s neck in a single strike, just like the one that had pierced his father’s body.
Scratch—!
Another head dropped with a thud.
Watching this, Yurein gently lifted the corners of his mouth.
The situation had changed completely. The child was no longer the same as before.
That child was an ‘Esper.’
‘An Esper I awakened.’
His heart pounded.
This was the first Esper he had ever awakened.
Although he had been a guide capable of recognizing unawakened Espers, he had never personally awakened one in either his past or current life.
This was a first, across both lifetimes.
His heart felt tight. Reflexively, Yurein gripped his sword tightly.
‘Not useless.’
Yurein’s eyes gleamed.
Throughout his previous life, and until he left the Tarbargen dukedom, he had been ‘useless.’
Well, perhaps he had some use—as a tool to care for the lovely and beloved Ayla.
Yes, he had been a tool.
A flower of Tarbargen that only needed to sit quietly.
Sometimes adorning Ayla, sometimes his older brother, sometimes his father—decorating the entire family.
He had always feared becoming useless, because if that happened, he would be discarded.
And everyone in that family knew his insecurity, treating him even more as someone useless.
Then he would obey even better. But now, it was different.
That child—Keshan—was hope, even to Yurein.
Hope that he, Yurein, could be useful.
He raised his hand and gripped the sword firmly, biting his lips hard.
In the book, Ayla had entered here, drawn her own blood with a sword, and let it fall on this wall.
There was a reason for that.
Bringing people to the city center wasn’t just because it was safe.
If events unfolded as he remembered, he had to prevent this at all costs.
Yurein recalled what he had read in the book.
In the past, he might not have been able to stop it.
But now, it was different.
He was now a ‘guide,’ like Ayla, in this world.
Yurein bit his lips tightly.
“Phew…”
With that child here, defending against the monster would not be a problem.
Then he could wait and observe the situation a bit longer.
At that moment, a chill ran down the back of Yurein’s neck, as if something had brushed it.
The monster had lifted its head straight and showed no other reaction.
The cheers of the people went unheard, and Keshan’s feats weren’t fully visible.
‘Something’s wrong.’
The monster remained completely still, as if it had given up…?
No—it was more like…
‘Instinctively realizing something.’
But the eye on the monster’s last remaining head glowed brightly, staring directly at Keshan.
It had not given up.
That human gave off a dangerous scent. At this rate, Yurein might lose.
So—
—BEEEEEEEP!
The monster lifted its head and let out a high-pitched cry.
“Ugh!”
Instinctively, Keshan covered his ears with his hands.
His stomach churned as if twisted inside.
Hearing that sound brought an overwhelming sense of revulsion, making it hard for him to maintain his balance.
Keshan staggered, feeling as if he might vomit.
“No!”
Yurein shouted urgently.
“You have to push it harder! Keshan!”
Breath caught in his throat, Yurein clenched his trembling hands and yelled.
Even from beyond the wall, he felt the monster’s overwhelming presence.
Specifically, the sound the monster made.
Now understanding that sound, Yurein endured the surge of disgust and shouted with all his might.
He raised his sword high.
Slash—!
“Milady!”
Rebecca screamed in surprise.
Suddenly, Yurein lifted his sword and, without hesitation, cut his own hand.
The blade tore through Yurein’s delicate skin, drawing blood that flowed down his pale hand.
The sensation of the sword cutting through flesh was vivid, but Yurein merely gritted his teeth.
He turned his bleeding palm toward the ground.
Drip… drip…
Yurein calmly let the blood fall to the floor.
The wound wasn’t deep, but enough to let drops of red blood trickle down.
“Milady… why…?”
“It’s okay, Rebecca.”
There was no time for a long explanation.
If what he feared happened…
Yurein bit his lips and watched the blood slowly seep into the dirt.
The bright red gradually darkened as it soaked into the soil.
“You can’t be okay… there’s so much blood…”
Rebecca fidgeted anxiously, looking at Yurein.
Yurein smiled faintly at her, then looked straight ahead again.
“Keshan.”
At that whispered word, Keshan flinched.
Yurein continued, watching Keshan.
“There’s no time to explain. While Iyabon and Edern fall back, you have to stop that monster.”
“Huh? But….”
Keshan blinked. Stop it? Not kill it?
Only one of the monster’s heads remained.
A great feat had already been achieved. Even battle-hardened Edern and Iyabon hadn’t done this.
If he just did a little more, could he kill the monster?
The thrill of cutting each head was still fresh at his fingertips.
“Hurry!”
Yurein added urgently.
He could see Keshan hesitating. But now was not the time!
“Keshan, time—!”
“Huh…?”
Then Keshan’s eyes widened.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Yellow eyes calmly stared at Keshan.
Three heads… no, Keshan had cut two, so only one should remain.
Yet…
Huh?
The monster before him had three heads.
Just moments ago, two had been cut, yet the monster stared at Keshan calmly as if nothing had happened.
‘What… what is going on?’
