It wasn't the Phoenix's. It was a large, black hand, something that couldn't be considered human.
The hand grabbed the interpreter's body and applied force.
Crack! With a bone-chilling, unpleasant sound, the interpreter met his end.
“Ugh...”
A suppressed scream escaped.
The Phoenix is not an ordinary monster but is also known as a Holy Water, which handles light ether.
However, the abnormally long nails, the large hand, and the dark ether seeping out.
At that moment, everyone realized that such an ominous presence couldn't be the Holy Water Phoenix.
Then... what is this monster?
“Aaaah!”
Swish!
The monster broke the box completely and leaped out. With agility that didn't match its massive size, it began attacking the fleeing humans.
Long nails and teeth brutally tore into the humans.
“Ugh, ugh...”
The Supreme's legs gave out as he tried to run. Blood was already gushing from the wounds inflicted by the monster's claws. The monster, which had just torn apart the man who offered him a cigarette, turned its head toward the Supreme.
Is this it?
His head was numb. The Supreme, feeling the blood pouring from his body, thought, "Was I going to die like this anyway?"
This is a death fitting for an extra. If I had known I would die like this, I should have at least contacted my mother and younger brother.
Just as he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for death...
Someone lunged forward with a sword.
It was Cedric Choi, disguised as a bodyguard. Cedric Choi deftly swung his long sword to block the monster's attack.
Clang!
The monster, having lost the strength contest, took a few steps back.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-Yes, yes...”
“What's going on...? Just wait a moment.”
Why is Cedric Choi here?
Cedric Choi, standing with his sword against the monster, looked incredibly cool, almost to the point of despair.
I've only made bad choices and ended up here, about to die a dog's death while helping with illegal activities. He's so different from me.
He's strong.
The Supreme, who couldn't even get a foothold in C&L Corporation, the top hunter, currently ranked second, S-class.
There's no need for him to worry, and I can't understand him.
Gratitude for being saved was overshadowed by a deep-seated inferiority complex.
“...!”
At that moment, the monster, perhaps realizing it couldn't win, fled.
“Stop right there!”
Cedric Choi, about to chase after the monster, stopped when he saw the Supreme's severe injuries.
The order he received from Isaein was to disguise himself as a bodyguard and intercept the box being traded today.
It might be a plan to frame the Silver Guild for this incident later.
“What will you say to the buyer who paid for it?”
“Don't worry about the others.”
His tone was detached.
What is it? It's as if he knew I was going to die from the start...
If I follow Isaein's orders, I should leave the injured and chase the monster...
But the injuries are severe. He'll die soon if left like this.
The hesitation was brief. Cedric Choi abandoned the pursuit and approached the Supreme.
“Wait a moment. I'll use a potion.”
He rummaged through his inventory and pulled out a high-quality potion.
“Such an expensive thing...”
“Is the price important now?”
As he poured the potion onto the injuries, he noticed the injured man's face. The stubborn eyes and pouting expression were familiar.
“Hey, have we met before?”
“...You must be mistaken.”
The Supreme lowered his head and averted his gaze. But Cedric Choi's gaze was relentless.
“No, I'm sure I've seen you! This person, are you lying to avoid being recognized as a criminal? I'm sure I've seen you before, that is... Ah.”
Cedric Choi sighed, remembering where he had seen the Supreme.
At the C&L Guild headquarters, in front of the guild member elevator. They were in the same guild. But why is a C&L hunter here?
He clearly said he wouldn't put a fellow guild member in danger.
‘Sister, what are you doing... behind my back?’
Cedric Choi's face twisted.
* * *
[Insufficient mana due to incomplete summoning.]
[Please recharge mana. If mana is depleted, the physical body cannot be maintained.]
The black entity that burst out of the box dragged its heavy body down the street.
However, its steps gradually slowed.
It felt as if it had swallowed fire, and a destructive urge welled up inside. It wanted to pour all its mana into consuming everything around it.
The black aura surrounding its body weakened. The mana-depleted body found it difficult to take even a step.
[※ Caution: Mana is extremely low.]
Originally, it was in a deep sleep, a comfortable and sweet slumber as it awaited the promised day.
However, humans forcibly woke it. The periodic injection of dark ether disturbed its sleep and disrupted its dreams.
It wanted to kill all the hateful humans who woke it, but...
“Grr...”
Its body wouldn't move.
[※ Emergency: Activating the physical construction system. 1, 5, 10, 20... Mana is insufficient to complete the physical construction. Stopping the process.]
[Initiating mana-saving mode.]
[Constructing a temporary physical body.]
The black fog surrounding its body dissipated, revealing the form of a young boy.
The unconscious boy fell to the ground in front of Café Leeul.
At that moment, Leeul, who was roasting coffee beans, heard a thud.
“Hey, are you okay?”
When the boy regained consciousness, a dazed woman was in front of him. She looked at him with concern.
“You were lying here, unconscious. Are you hurt anywhere?”
The boy slowly blinked.
He felt a sense of discomfort. His line of sight was so low that he had to look up at the woman, and his limbs were small and thin.
Due to the mana depletion, this was the best he could do to create such a small, weak physical body.
“...Tch.”
The boy moved only his eyes to survey the surroundings. In front of him was a woman with a carefree expression, and the space looked like a café.
“Hmm, no fever...”
The woman reached out and touched the boy's forehead.
“...!”
It was unpleasant.
Thud.
The boy immediately swatted her hand away and tried to kill her with his mana. However, due to the depletion, it was ineffective.
[Mana-saving mode is active.]
[Eliminating the target is impossible.]
[It is recommended to adapt to the surroundings for now.]
[Downloading basic human world knowledge. 1, 5, 10, 20, 50... Complete.]
It would be better to pretend to be a normal child. The boy decided this and mumbled in a weak voice.
“I'm not hurt, just a bit dizzy...”
His voice was frail and his eyes pitiful, evoking sympathy. The woman jumped up.
“I need to call the police.”
“...No police!”
He didn't want to get entangled with more humans.
“Why? The police will take you home.”
“Home... I don't want to go there.”
The woman slowly nodded, seemingly understanding.
“Sit here and wait a moment.”
After a moment of clattering, a white ceramic cup was placed in front of him.
“...?”
Through the downloaded human world knowledge, he learned that this was called 'coffee,' specifically 'café mocha.'
The liquid in the cup was black. Why do they drink this? He tried to push the cup away, but the woman insisted, placing it in his hands.
“It will warm you up. Drink it quickly.”
“...Alright.”
Here, it would be better to follow her instructions.
With a reluctant expression, the boy tilted the cup.
The first thing to enter his mouth was a sweet taste, followed by the heavy flavor of espresso and the rich taste of milk.
It was incredibly delicious.
Not only that...
“...!”
His mana was recovering.
A small amount, but he could feel mana rising in his body. It shouldn't be possible.
The boy took another sip of the café mocha. Although it didn't match the powerful mana he originally possessed, it was definitely increasing.
The boy hastily finished the remaining café mocha.
“Huh...”
When the boy finished the cup, the woman glanced at the top of his head and smiled proudly.
It was annoying.
She didn't seem to have any special power, yet the coffee she gave him had undeniable strength.
Once his mana is fully restored, he can easily kill this woman. If he regains his original body, he will wipe out all the humans who woke him from his sleep.
To do that, he needs to find a way to drink more of this coffee.