Episode 36: There Is No Safe Place
As Kazuma headed towards the academy, following the evacuation warning, he noticed families carrying disaster preparedness goods heading in the same direction.
In the residential area, police were urging people to evacuate. Seeing the steady stream of evacuees, Kazuma hurried to the academy before it became too crowded.
When he reached the academy, the area in front of the main gate was teeming with people. Realizing he wouldn’t be able to get in, Kazuma’s phone, tucked in his pocket, rang.
Kazuma took out his phone and checked the screen; it was a call from Kosuke. Wondering what it was about, Kazuma answered.
“Yes, hello?”
“Hello, Kazuma-ka!? Did you see the notification?”
“Yeah. The emergency evacuation, right? I’m trying to get to the academy as instructed, but it’s super crowded and I can’t get in.”
“Seriously? I’m at my parents’ place now, so I’m evacuating somewhere else, but you’ll be okay, right?”
“About what?”
“Well, the new Ibinom species. It’s supposed to be pretty dangerous, right?”
“I don’t know, is that what’s happening?”
“You haven’t checked social media? There’s talk that Samurai might have lost.”
“Huh?! Samurai is the company with the strongest Gifted in the country, right? They lost… you’re kidding me?”
“Not sure where the info’s from, but apparently someone saw a Samurai combatant being taken to the hospital.”
“Seriously…? So, this situation is really bad?”
“Probably. Rumor has it they’re going to make an emergency request to Gifted from overseas.”
“Whoa, whoa… Are they really going to invade the city?”
“Yeah, looks like it. Well, if they’re asking for help from overseas, it’ll probably be America. They have the ‘King’ there.”
“The ‘King,’ huh… True, that person could probably get here quickly…”
“Well, it depends on what the government decides to do.”
There was still no official announcement from the government. Only an advisory to evacuate. Would the government announce the defeat of the National Defense Force and Samurai?
They would probably keep it secret until the very last moment. That’s how politicians, who care about public image, operate.
“Ah, sorry. I’m being called, so I’ll hang up. See ya.”
“Yeah. Later.”
The call ended, and Kazuma’s face was reflected on the dark screen. He was conflicted about what he should do in this situation.
He didn’t know how much of a threat the new Ibinom species posed, but he had the power to fight. If so, he would have to fulfill the duty of those with power.
Of course, it wasn’t compulsory. However, having fought in another world, he was greatly troubled by the thought of abandoning that duty.
Kazuma had sworn to live peacefully, but now, so many people were being threatened by Ibinom.
“(…I feel bad leaving it to others, but I’ll entrust it to the government.)”
Kazuma decided to leave it to the government, praying they would request assistance from overseas Gifted to subjugate the new Ibinom.
The evacuees gathered at the academy were guided by teachers to the shelter. Kazuma was in the shelter, overflowing with a large number of people.
Taking the supplied water, food, and a blanket, Kazuma sat down in a suitable spot.
“(So, Combat Course students are doing patrols and stuff, huh… Well, the National Defense Force is probably busy dealing with the new Ibinom, so it’s natural for students to be mobilized too…)”
Teachers and Combat Course students were guiding the evacuees and distributing supplies.
Kazuma merely watched from a distance, not offering to help. Even though they were all students, the Support Course and Combat Course were vastly different. He could easily be treated as a hindrance, so Kazuma’s judgment was correct.
◇◇◇◇
Many National Defense Force soldiers and Gifted from companies similar to Samurai had gathered on top of the defensive wall surrounding the city.
They were tense, assembled to protect the city from the new Ibinom, which was said to make contact in a few minutes.
After all, they had been informed that Sanada Nobuyasu, the country’s strongest Gifted, had been defeated. They were about to face the humanoid Ibinom that had defeated the strongest Gifted in the country. It would be strange not to be tense after hearing that.
“Gentlemen! We must defend this position at all costs! A century has passed since this wall was built. Yes, we cannot allow the peace we’ve built for over a hundred years to crumble! Rouse yourselves! We are the last bastion!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”
The National Defense Force officer’s speech ended, and everyone present let out a war cry. Then, a short while later, the humanoid Ibinom arrived.
First, the defense system activated, unleashing a rain of bullets at the Ibinom. A fiery explosion enveloped the Ibinom, and it vanished. It would have been good if it ended there, but it wasn’t that simple.
An unscathed Ibinom emerged from the fiery blast.
Just as the Ibinom tried to cross the wall, another defense system activated, and an Electromagnetic Barrier blocked its entry.
The Electromagnetic Barrier crackled, repelling the Ibinom’s intrusion. Towards the struggling Ibinom, the Gifted unleashed their Gifts all at once. An immense number of attacks struck the Ibinom directly.
Once again, the Ibinom was enveloped in a fiery explosion. The Gifted were confident that this time it must have sustained at least one wound, but their faint hope was shattered.
What emerged from the fiery blast was, just like before, an unscathed Ibinom. Seeing this, the Gifted’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Impossible! To be unharmed after taking that many attacks!”
“Don’t stop! Fire the next volley!”
Numerous Gifts, such as fire and ice, were continuously fired at the Ibinom, which could not break through the Electromagnetic Barrier.
However, none of them could damage the Ibinom’s tough body. Not that they could let up, so they used all their strength, but they couldn’t defeat the Ibinom.
“Hah… hah…! Not even a scratch after all that! You monster!”
Those who had exhausted their strength panted, their shoulders heaving, as they stared at the Ibinom. Every one of them was in despair. No one could beat the monster (Ibinom) before them.
Realizing it would be over if that Electromagnetic Barrier was breached, the Gifted trembled in fear and fled.
Only National Defense Force soldiers remained, but they had already exhausted their strength and had no power left to fight. All that was left was to be overrun.
“Captain…”
“Is this… it…”
After that murmur, the Ibinom broke through the Electromagnetic Barrier and invaded the city. Still, trying to defend the city to the very end, they attempted to attack, but the National Defense Force soldiers were blown away by the Ibinom.
The Ibinom, standing on the defensive wall, looked at the city spread out below, trembled, and then shrieked at the sky.
“KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!”
Anyone would have grimaced at the ear-splitting shriek, but there wasn’t a soul around.
The Ibinom threw itself off the wall as if falling, then flapped the wings on its back and took flight.
The Ibinom flew over the city, searching for its prey: humans.
The evacuation to shelters was already complete, and the only people in the city were National Defense Force soldiers and Gifted from private companies.
Slashing through Gifted who attacked from the ground, the Ibinom searched for a place where people might be.
“Gii…”
Found it.
The Ibinom knew there were many people at the Seventh Esper Academy.
Learning and evolving at a terrifying speed, the Ibinom had sensed the shelter where a large number of humans were gathered.
Having locked onto its target, the Ibinom flew towards the academy with explosive acceleration. Smashing through buildings along the way, the Ibinom arrived above the shelter.
Below, it sensed the presence of a large number of humans. The Ibinom couldn’t hold back and charged towards the shelter.
THUD! The Ibinom crashed into the shelter. The people evacuated inside were startled by the sound.
“W-What was that?!”
“Kyaaah!”
“What? What’s happening?!”
Oblivious to the panicking people, the Ibinom repeatedly swung its claws, trying to destroy the shelter.
Terrified by the thud, thud sounds, people rushed towards the exit all at once. They felt it was dangerous to stay here.
“Let us out! Let us out of here!”
“Hurry up!”
“Out of the way, move!”
“P-Please calm down! It’s safe inside the shelter! It’s more dangerous to go outside, so please calm down!”
“Even if you say that, you can tell by that sound! It’s dangerous if we stay here!”
“It’s alright! This place will absolutely not be destroyed—”
The next moment, the ceiling of the shelter, which was said to be absolutely safe, was destroyed, and the Ibinom appeared.