novelraw Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84: Prelude (3)
Since I could see the ‘Suggestion’ status in my eyes, I could recognize at once the fact that the street snack shop staff were dominated by Edward.
But to others, it might have looked like just a trivial coincidence.
Since the difference in wrappers could be due to a simple stock problem or mistake.
So Seol Hayun and Do Haru also made a ‘no way’ expression at first.
But that was brief.
Watching a few more times, the pattern became too clear.
The staff handed aluminum-coated wrappers only to Awakened customers.
It was exactly the wrapper smeared with Galaxy Grass.
Sometimes they even left normal wrappers nearby and deliberately took out ‘Awakened-use wrappers’ from far away to give.
An action too intentional to dismiss as simple coincidence.
Soon, ‘no way’ changed to ‘certainty’.
Seol Hayun and Do Haru's faces saying “Ay, no way” changed to “This is real”.
We moved right away.
We uploaded a post with Do Haru's fan account and waited for reactions.
The result was instant.
“……Wow, first time getting this many likes and shares? Didn't I do something tremendous beyond thought?”
Do Haru's eyes widened.
Less than 10 minutes after posting, shares exceeded 3,000 and likes exceeded 10,000.
[#HeroLand_Wrapper]
[#NonAwakened_Discrimination]
The hashtags hit the No. 1 trend in an instant.
Feeds poured out as if exploding.
‘Is this true story?’
‘We just went there too and it was exactly same fr;;.’
‘Only Awakened getting character wrappers lol F*cking disgusting.’
‘Opinion) If jealous then awaken and become Awakened.’
Public opinion boiled.
People's thoughts were varied, but the direction was one.
‘This is not something to just pass over.’
And I also mobilized the connections I had.
Connections existed to be used at times like this.
[“Give me character wrapper too.” F&B facilities in Hero Land discriminated against Non-Awakened]
I just threw a simple source, but Jin Cheonglim dragged in a picture of a crying child and completed the article perfectly.
Afterwards, with Zero Times at the lead, Do Haru's post was quoted in various articles, pouring oil on the fire.
Even established media outlets smelled a scoop and poured out articles as if copying.
SNS and media started biting the issue all at once.
From that point, the scenery of reality changed.
The lines in front of shops broke, and customers started demanding refunds.
“Do you think I would want to receive this kind of treatment just because I'm an Awakened? Keep the money, take this back!”
“Refund for us! Haven't even taken a bite yet. Also don't live like that!”
The store manager was sweating buckets, and staff repeated comments.
“Sorry, we didn't have such intention…….”
But it was already too late.
I watched that scene from a slightly distant place.
‘Effect is certain.’
I want to express deep condolences to the shop owner.
Since they are ultimately in a position controlled by Edward.
But it can't be helped.
Terror targeting Awakened continuing as is would be the worst.
Like that, refund races and protests took place for a while.
Eventually, snack shops began to suspend business for the day.
‘Close the shop today and go rest inside.’
The compensation I can give is ‘safety’.
At least the shop owners and staff who closed business today will go home as is and escape from terror.
‘Later I should publish an explanatory article separately too.’
Meanwhile, shops closing meant the Galaxy Grass terror was suspended too.
As time passed and the situation entered a temporary lull like that.
Beeeeeep-!
Intense vibration occurred along with a warning sound from the watch on my right arm.
It was an emergency message.
[This is an emergency call. All Zero Academy cadets please gather toward the entrance immediately. - Instructor Hojin.]
Emergency call arrived from Hojin.
‘It's about time.’
As Hojin notices signs of terror, this incident begins to intensify.
“Eh? What! I was thinking it was about time to ride rides again.”
“He says gather. Let's go.”
When Do Haru made a regretful sound, I answered immediately.
Chaos will break out soon, so staying long is not good.
Of course I planned to roam around inside the chaos, but there's no need to involve surrounding people.
Like that, on the way back toward the entrance.
“Unni, what's wrong? Are you sick?”
“Ung- But I'm fine. Not severe.”
People complaining of headaches began to appear one by one around us.
They were Awakened exposed to Galaxy Grass.
But fortunately, that number was not large.
The degree of symptoms was also at a level of complaining about mild headaches and heat.
Thanks to SNS spread, the majority had thrown away wrappers early or stopped purchasing.
‘Golden time was protected.’
Originally, at this point, half of the hero force would be incapacitated.
Since Awakened showing Galaxy Grass poisoning symptoms, and even personnel who have to take care of them, would leave the force one after another.
That was the first scene of ‘Hero Land Terror’ I originally knew.
But not now.
Thanks to noticing quickly the way Galaxy Grass spreads.
The post uploaded on SNS and Zero Times' breaking news played a decisive role.
‘Lee Junhyeok is missing, but on the other hand, the hero side force was preserved.’
Weighing it, the situation definitely tipped advantageously.
But that doesn't mean the Alliance will stop their plan.
In the first place, Galaxy Grass is just a prelude to the incident, the main part will start only now.
‘Well, even so, there would be no need for me to do anything more than this.’
Leave the rest to Zero's cadets and heroes who became fine thanks to me.
For me, from now on was shopping time.
Time to roam here and there and put heroes' vivid techniques into the Tactical Manual.
Piling up techniques in the shopping cart one by one, and making them mine as soon as SP gathers.
[Keeheeheehee! Jiggle jiggle! Bang bang! Gooood!]
Spinning round and round in the air, the mimic spouted nonsense.
Usually I would have wanted to shut its whining mouth, but just for today I didn't hate it.
Since today's shopping is established because of this guy.
‘I count on you just for today. Damn monster book.’
Just then, as we headed toward the entrance following Hojin's emergency call.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Explosion sound burst tearing the air.
The ground shook and ears became deafened.
After a moment of silence, continuous explosive sounds rushed in like waves.
Underfoot vibrated. Flames soared from everywhere in an instant.
“Right now, what is it?”
“E, explosion?”
“Fire! It's fire!”
Someone shouted.
Screams. Smoke. And people jumping up.
Flames soared from afar.
It was near the Attraction Zone.
Children burst into tears and people started running away pushing each other.
‘Is it starting.’
The explosion just before was announcing the opening of Hero Land Terror.
“Haru! Jinwoo! Don't stop, move!”
Seol Hayun shouted to Do Haru who froze momentarily and me who fell into thought momentarily.
“Go to the safety route! Quickly!”
“A, alright! Jinwoo-ya, let's run!”
And the moment everyone's body turned in the direction Seol Hayun pointed.
Something began falling from the sky.
“What is that?”
“……Box?”
Between the soaring smoke, huge metal boxes began to fall.
A number reaching at least dozens.
Strange cubes descending at high speed without parachutes.
Patterns like red warning lights flashed on the surface, and air flow twisted at every falling trajectory.
It meant they were protected by magic power not to be shot down.
Kwaang—!
One box stuck into the nearby ground.
Shockwave spread and surrounding glass windows shattered to pieces.
Some of the people running away in surprise were swept by the aftermath and rolled on the ground.
Clack-
Along with the sound, the box opened.
What flowed out from inside was liquid looking like blood and oil mixed.
Inside the viscous liquid, a shape looking like tangled flesh slowly lifted its head.
“……Kee, Kii…….”
Eyes flashed.
Glow red like blood.
Bizarrely twisted hand touched the rim of the box, and soon it came out of the box.
Thud- Tang-!
Shaking its head violently as if unable to control its body for a moment.
That appearance was bizarre beyond measure.
Body size three times that of a human.
The right arm was just a human arm enlarged, but the left arm had horn-like things stuck all over and was bizarrely swollen.
Black wings grew deformedly from the back, and scales and iron pieces covered the skin.
Its head was similar to a human, but it was an appearance that could absolutely not be called human.
Scales covered half the face and eyes were just pale red.
The guy without pupils started scanning the surroundings greedily, seemingly possessing vision somehow.
‘Chimera.’
Strange existence mixed with human, demonic beast, magic power, and mechanical device.
It moved its head twisting ceaselessly.
“Ugh…… Uugh…… Hiiiek!”
A man fallen at a distance of barely ten meters from the Chimera screamed in horror.
He was covered in the Chimera's body fluid on his head.
“Krrk…… Kieeeek!”
At the scream sound made by the man, it twisted its body and jumped up.
Every time the body moved, metallic sound rang roughly, and the spot where the guy jumped was dug deep.
“Uaaaaack!”
Looking at the monster soaring into the air, the moment the man let out a shriek.
[Flower of Flames: Flame Eight-Armed Octopus (炎八稍魚)]
A spell circle was engraved on the floor where the Chimera jumped, and heat began to burst out explosively.
Burning the air roughly, flames took shape.
Soon eight strands of flames burst out from the ground.
Shape of a giant octopus.
High-heat magic power lingered in each of its legs, and the flames bursting out greedily soon took the form of a complete octopus monster and leaped at the Chimera.
The octopus monster wrapped around the monster's arms and torso as is, dragging the Chimera's body toward the ground.
“Huu-.”
Seol Hayun's red pupils shone as if burning.
Tang-!
The moment she waved her hand roughly, the Chimera stuck to the floor as is and started a struggle of strength with the octopus.
But that was brief, Seol Hayun's brow narrowed.
The Chimera hit the octopus's head wrapping its body roughly, and soon grabbed the leg attached to its leg and started tearing it apart as is.
The moment bewilderment grazed at the fierce resistance.
“If you don't want to get hurt, everyone move aside!”
A resonant voice echoed in the air.
A huge man wearing a cyan combat suit fell cutting through the light.
The blade of the polearm held in his hand flashed with blue light reflecting sunlight.
“I'm going to strike properly so be careful not to get swept in!”
He started spinning the polearm cutting through the void.
The polearm rotating like a helicopter propeller led the flow and began gathering surrounding air.
Gathered air compressed rapidly creating heavy weight.
Crunch-!
With a roughly grinding sound, the Chimera's bizarre arm flew in the air cut off as is.
Shockwave created by the impact burst roughly around and scattered.
Following that, sticky body fluid started bursting out in all directions.
And simultaneously with that.
[Keeheeheehee! Munch munch! Delicioooous!]
Ding-!
[Tactical Manual]
- You have learned ‘Hurricane Spike’.
- Do you want to learn the corresponding skill? (Y / N)
[Required SP: 20,000 SP]
[Owned SP: 64,200 SP]
Today's first shopping cart was filled.