"Eeea ... I never expected it could even detect invisibility.
The Demon Eye is simply invincible!
"Understood!" Marte instantly unleashed his Hero's Aura, about to charge towards Bivora—when Jormungandr, who had been roaring to the sky, suddenly turned in this direction.
What the hell? That…that thing in its mouth…!
"Marte! Something's coming!" After warning Marte, I immediately leaped towards Marcy.
At the same time, a black sphere shot out from Jormungandr's massive maw, heading straight for Marte who was releasing his Hero's Aura.
"Ugh…!" Marte nimbly turned and slashed at the black sphere with his sword. In an instant, the sphere caused a violent explosion, spewing out billowing black smoke.
"Cough…! Marcy, are you alright?" As soon as the explosion subsided, I first checked on Marcy, who looked no different from an ordinary person.
I finally managed to rescue her; if she died, I wouldn't be able to explain it.
"N-I'm alright...! I-I'm fine, brother...!?"
"Mart! Are you still alive?!" With my shout, Mart emerged from the thick smoke of the explosion, his body charred black and coughing violently.
Was it because he wasn't wearing armor? Mart's clothes were torn in several places, and his skin was covered in red, scraped patches.
"N-I'm alright. Just minor scrapes."
Although not seriously injured... how could Mart get injured when he was using Hero's Aura?
That guy...
Could he have gotten stronger?
His size seems several times larger...
"Uh...! Sorry, Bivora got away...!" "...No, I can still catch up." Looking towards the forest, I could sense Bivora's presence in the distance.
Whether it was using aura or a skill, she had escaped a considerable distance in the blink of an eye, but it was still just human running speed.
Wait a moment, Bivora.
I'll just rush over and give you a good roundhouse kick in the back...! "Just go after it! Hero Devourer, grab that guy first…!"
"Mr. Semo! The Hero Devourer is here!" Just as I was about to rush towards Bivora, the ground suddenly shook at Malte's shout.
Yormongand began to move its long legs, making a rustling sound.
It was supposed to be a rustling sound, but given its size, every movement of its legs produced a noticeable vibration.
Did its speed increase with its size? In just a few seconds, Yormungand's silhouette rapidly shrank.
And the direction Yormungand headed… could it be… "…That…that madman…!"
"He's heading towards the central city! If that monster enters the city…!" No, Lisbeth and Claire are still there…!
Damn it!
Bivora has already caught that snake cub!
"Aww…! Damn it! Get on it!" I cursed and shouted at Bivora and Jormungandr as they sped away.
Aww, really…! Without his Magic Eyes, Malte alone definitely couldn't catch up. And if I went to chase them, even putting aside whether I could win, my females would worry me…!
Both sides are much faster than I expected!
There's no time to chase both at the same time!
I have no choice.
I have to take care of my females first!
Last time they just happened to save me, this time they saved that snake cub, Bivora!
"Tsk, sorry…! Marcy, you get on Mr. Shimo's back too!"
Hmph, of course I have to apologize! They were so close, yet they let them escape! They all ran away so fast! Is this the racial talent of heroes!?
"Chase the Hero Devourer first! Ah, I need to bring my weapon too!"
With the two of them and my weapon on my back, I began to chase the Hero Devourer.
......
—Gurgle gur ... "Insane! What's with that size and speed? What did they eat to become like that in such a short time? I barely managed to catch up, but I'm helpless unless I slow down."
No, the Central City was already close!
"Mart! The heroes of the Central City...!"
"Yes! Almost there...! Ah, I see them!"
Just as Mart shouted, three streaks of blue light shimmered and flew towards Jormungandr from the Central City.
Those colors piercing through the holes. They're probably hero knights like Mart.
Those three... their colors might be even stronger than Mart's.
In that case...!
"Mart! How about you join us!?"
"Okay! Understood! I'm entrusting my sister to you! Marcy! Take this and don't leave Mr. Shimo!"
"Yes, yes! Got it!"
After handing the reins to Marcy, Mart, enveloped in blue hero's aura, leaped off my back and sped towards the Hero Devourer.
Good. While the heroes held them off, I had to take care of my females.
Having escaped the Hero Devourer, I headed towards the city entrance on the opposite side of the distance, only to be met with a scene of utter chaos.
Terrified people screamed and fled in all directions, a scene of utter chaos.
Damn it…! The sudden surge of people is giving me a headache! Mystic Eyes OFF! I deactivated my Mystic Eyes and carefully surveyed my surroundings, seeing people packing their belongings and running away, or grabbing children and fleeing.
Normally, I would think this was a reaction to seeing me… but those people who were looking up at the sky in terror didn't even notice I had entered the city.
Anyway, I'll ignore the crowds and get to the church…! Where is it!? "…No, of all times…!" Searching for buildings to reach the church, I discovered several church buildings directly in the direction the Hero Devourer was moving.
I could see blue energy blasts flying through the air towards the Hero Devourer, but they didn't seem to have caused any fatal damage yet; the thing was still moving.
Tch.
I can't even turn in mid-air, it feels like I'm being chased and hacked at... What's going on?
The heroes' attacks must be quite powerful.
How can I just tough it out like this?
...No, damn it.
That bastard Hero Devourer, somehow it started wrapping its body in spider-like legs, ignoring attacks and just moving!
Damn it, couldn't it just finish this in one hit?!
That's why it's like this, right?!
"Hold on tight to Marcy! Don't let go!"
"Ah, okay! I don't think I'll let go, don't worry!"
After shouting to Marcy, it jumped over the flowerbed before even hearing the reply and ran straight towards the church.
Meanwhile, Jormungandr can be seen climbing over the mountain to reach the church built against the mountainside.
Tsk, a close call...!
Lisbeth should have checked the situation outside... The problem is Claire!
Is the church also taking refuge?!
Is the exam still going on at a time like this?! "Liz! Claire! No, damn it, get out of the way!" Just as I entered the church entrance, I saw panicked clergy and ordinary people screaming and running away.
Some of them had even packed their belongings and were fleeing for their lives; they kicked away anyone who got in my way.
They've gone mad.
Weren't the clergy supposed to be fighting monsters?
What are they thinking, running away at a time like this?
I pushed my way through the crowd to the building where Claire was taking her exam, and saw Lizbet and Paul looking in the direction of the Hero Devourer.
"Liz! Bishop Paul!"
"Ah, Master!" After confirming the situation, I looked at Lizbert, who was waving, and simultaneously observed Paul and his surroundings. I saw priests sweating profusely gathered together, and knights approaching the Hero Devourer.
Yes… there were priests fleeing, and there were priests stepping forward.
"Liz! Where's Claire!?"
"She hasn't come out yet! They just discovered the Hero Devourer, but it seems a stubborn archbishop is making the Hero Knights take over, and even ordered the exam to continue!"
"Mr. Shimo! Claire! Claire!" Has he gone mad? Which old bastard is this? Let's ignore Paul, who's rushing towards us with tears in his eyes. What were you doing just now?
"But it's shaking so badly! Why isn't it coming out!?"
"It's probably earthquake-resistant design! Expensive buildings are protected with earthquake-resistant magic!"
"Ugh, Claire...!!!" This otherworldly magic is insane! But it's useless right now!
"The knights just took the saintess candidate inside, Claire is still here...!"
"Damn it... Ah, Liz. Take care of this child. He's Malte's brother."
"Okay. Where's Master?"
"I'll go in and get Claire right away. As soon as I get Claire, I'll run away."
"Ugh... Claire...!" Damn it. Where did Paul go?
I shook off Paul, who was clinging to me, and ran straight towards the examination building.
This building is huge, and the Hero Devourer is already close... If that archbishop catches me, it'll be...!
"Ugh...!" Just as I cursed inwardly, about to reach the entrance of the church building,
behind the entrance, the Hero Devourer stretched out countless legs and pounced towards me. It ignored the heroes clinging to the obstacles on the hillside, gliding towards us as if it were flying.
When I confirmed that the approaching Hero Devourer was about to arrive at the building where Claire was,
I immediately leaped inside.