Chapter 22
No One Is Born a Hero (7)
‘…He’s accepting it this calmly?’
He was exactly the kind of helper I needed in this situation, and that’s why it felt even stranger.
Pretending to look around, I turned my head while avoiding his gaze.
“First, this mimic probably died from the internal collapse just now.”
“But the problem isn’t entirely solved. We’re still trapped.”
“Yes. And just as we survived the collapse, the ecosystem of monsters that sprouted inside the mimic might have survived too.”
“Even though I took care of quite a few?”
“Yes. There will surely be some left.”
“I’ll be cautious. Then… how do we escape from here?”
“We need to find another exit from the cave. If a mimic has a way in, it always has a way out.”
As expected, he understood immediately. It was good that he grasped things in one go. Surely this must be his first time experiencing something like this.
‘…His adaptability is above average.’
Moreover, he decided to trust my information without questioning it.
“…Are you just going to believe what I say?”
“I should be the one asking, Edith. Did you think I wouldn’t believe you?”
Ethan’s response was so natural that I was left speechless.
‘Well, normally people wouldn’t believe…’
In an urgent situation with consecutive unexpected events, it would be right to be suspicious of someone who has this kind of information.
Especially when he doesn’t have any particular fondness for me.
But Ethan changed the subject instead. As if there was something more important.
“More importantly, we should confirm the survival of other students before moving on. We can’t use our swords recklessly like this, in case other students get caught up in it.”
“I agree. Shall we look around a bit before setting off?”
“Let’s do that.”
After finishing his words, Ethan focused again on the rock wall in front of him. Now I could understand his actions of tapping here and there or lifting rock pieces.
He was searching for points where there might be space beyond.
Since it was a hole in the middle of a cliff, if we carelessly tried to break through upwards or downwards, we might die caught in another collapse.
No, even if we assume that Ethan and I could survive on our own… the students who might be trapped in other spaces would be caught up in another unexpected collapse.
That’s probably why Ethan’s exploration activities seemed so meticulous.
And in fact, the real problem was elsewhere.
‘…How much longer do I have to endure?’
It was me.
Because Rimos Therion suddenly caused the mimic’s interior to collapse, my original plan was disrupted.
I hadn’t intended to stay here this long.
“…Haa.”
I felt increasingly stifled.
First, I loosened my tie to breathe easier, and unbuttoned and rolled up my sleeves. I could feel cold sweat flowing.
Really, I hate this cave in the ravine.
Grasping my loosening mind, I carefully examined the rock walls surrounding us, helping Ethan.
And not long after.
“Is anybody there?”
“……!”
From beyond the rock wall I touched, someone’s voice faintly came through.
Listening closely, fortunately, it was Camilla’s voice.
“Yes! Camilla. I’m here! It’s Edith Crowell.”
“Ah, thank goodness. Is Ethan there too?”
Although the voice echoed a bit, if we shouted and paid attention, communication was possible without much difficulty.
“Yes. Young Lord Behemoth is here too… Is Camilla with others as well?”
“Here with me are Ian, Sir Rimos, and Sir Bethel. And I heard that the remaining four are beyond the pile of rocks on the opposite side. So everyone has survived.”
“…Rimos Therion is there.”
“What? Is there some problem?”
Therion is there, she says. For a moment, my mind went blank.
What should I do? I hadn’t thought he would still be brazenly staying in here.
“…There’s no particular problem.”
Still, I need to reassure her first.
“If Bethel is there too, that’s fortunate.”
Ethan added calmly.
I don’t remember this Bethel person, but he must be someone capable that Ethan Behemoth trusts.
And with Ian and Camilla there too…
I wonder if they can handle Rimos Therion.
It was uncertain, but for now, I had no choice but to believe so.
At that moment, there was some talking beyond the rock wall, and then another word from Camilla came through.
“Edith.”
“Yes.”
“Sir Rimos wants me to pass on a message. He says, ‘See you later.'”
“Ah… okay.”
…He won’t cause more trouble for now, right?
Whatever his intentions are. If I can keep such a dangerous element on a leash, I should gladly comply.
“Yes. Please tell him I said I’ll see him soon too.”
For me, Rimos Therion was no longer an ‘ordinary’ student.
I decided to think of him that way.
At that moment, Ethan Behemoth, who had also heard Camilla’s message, casually remarked.
“Are you worried about Rimos Therion?”
“……”
I suddenly turned to look at him. The magical light illuminated his face directly.
As if he had been hit on the head by the pile of rocks, there was a thin dried streak of blood on his handsome forehead.
‘Oh dear.’
Feeling unnecessarily concerned, I reached out to rub and wipe it off while nodding.
“Yes. He’s in the same group as me. And Ethan, there’s blood on your head. You’re not seriously hurt, are you?”
He thought for a moment, then raised his own hand to finish wiping his forehead as he answered.
“I’m fine. But why did the cave suddenly collapse?”
“……”
Should I tell him that Rimos Therion did it?
“Who knows.”
The deliberation was brief.
No, I shouldn’t say it.
The Ethan I know would try to force an escape if he knew that people close to him, like Ian or Camilla, were trapped in the same space with that dangerous element.
That’s the kind of person Ethan Behemoth is. Someone who struggles desperately to protect those in his care.
It’s like he doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.
That aspect of him is quite moving…
…What am I thinking just now?
I almost indulged in worthless sentimentality. I quickly shook my head and kept my mouth shut.
It would be better to be sparing with words.
Thus, I was too caught up in other thoughts to hear what he was muttering.
“If we had been in the same group, we could have gotten that close.”
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
I didn’t hear it properly.
As I tilted my head towards him, he turned his head and gestured with his eyes towards the long path that hadn’t collapsed.
“Nothing. More importantly. Look over there. Could that be the ‘way out’?”
Following his gaze in that direction, I could indeed hear a faint sound of air flowing.
‘Oh, this might be…’
“…It could be. The path might have split a bit when the cave collapsed.”
“Then we should ask if there’s a path connected on the other side too. And explore if possible.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
I quickly nodded.
Despite having once declared that we would never get along, at times like this, it was good that Ethan and I were on the same wavelength.
I shouted at the rock wall again.
“Camilla, is there a connected path on your side too?”
“Um… Ah. Yes! There is!”
“Then try exploring along that path. I have a hunch about something.”
“Alright! See you later then.”
Ethan interjected with an additional comment.
“If you don’t find anything after a day, come back here.”
“Okay. See you later. Be careful!”
‘How would they know a day has passed in a cave?’
I take back what I said about getting along well with Ethan Behemoth.
Come to think of it, this guy also agreed to the absurd idea of having a barbecue at the subjugation practice campsite…
He has some unexpectedly quirky sides.
Is he really a reliable helper…
As I was looking at Ethan with mixed feelings, he turned his head and gestured with his chin towards the passage.
“Shall we go then?”
🥀
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