The Shadow Monarch Izuku Midoriya

Ch 43: Red Gate Part 3

"Talk"

'Thought'

[System]

The woman asked brazenly, "You. You're not an E-rank, are you?"

Izuku replied, "Then let me ask you something."

The women said, "Sure."

Izuku looked over to Tetsu's party. They were making various plans before heading out Izuku said, "All of you, how could you be so calm as new recruits?"

The women said, "The first thing they teach us is that 'Anything can happen in a Dungeon'. We've all already received some education. Especially that man, Kim Cheol. He's received a special training. They say he'll enter Howaitotaiga's main raiding party."

The women said, "You didn't answer."

Izuku turned his gaze back to the strange woman, "My question, you didn't answer." Was he really an E-rank. She was a rather persistent woman.

Izuku said, "Why do I have to tell you that?"

Although he had chosen to not answer her question, the woman, Park Hedin, pumped a fist inside her mind. She had met many people in her life, and she was able to understand their minds. Just now, Izuku's answer was meant to deflect, but it had betrayed the confidence beneath the man. She was an athlete who Awakened as a Fighter-class. She was confident in her visual acuity but was unable to fully see Izuku's movements when he caught the arrow. Park Heejin's eyes were sparkling, 'At the very least, this man's A-ranker. No, perhaps... Maybe...'

She asked again, "Could you just tell me?"

Izuku said, "No."

The casual conversation would stop here. Izuku turned his head. He did not want to continue this back and forth that would go nowhere. More importantly,Tetsu was walking towards them. Izuku and Tetsu's eyes met. Because of his gruff and low voice, no matter what his intentions were, the man's voice was threatening, "Will be heading down the road."

He was not here to simply let them know of their plans. Tetsu's eyes were asking him what Izuku's party would do. A subtle indication of "don't follow us" was hidden beneath the words.

Izuku looked around then replied, "We'll be heading down the forest."

Tetsu said, "...Good luck. Well, the ones who'll need luck are you guys." 

Izuku swallowed the words, "You too."

Izuku's team headed into the forest. After watching them disappear in the distance, Tetsu let out a laughter he had been holding in, "Morons."

Someone said, "What do you mean?"

Tetsu said, "Look over there."

Tetsu uncrossed his arms and pointed from tree to tree. It wasn't just in one place. Wherever he pointed, there was a territorial marking placed by some large beast.

That person said, "Th-thats...! Bears. Ice bear!"

Of the beast type magic beasts, the bear types were especially dangerous. The marks on the trees signified their territory. The Heroes in Tetsu's team clicked their tongues.

Tetsu looked towards the forest mockingly, 'Of course, what does an E-ranker know?'

...Wait. The smile disappeared from his face, 'Their team has two C-rankers and even a B-ranker...'

So why did he consider Izuku to be their leader? He had not realized this until now. Tetsu shook his head, '...Well, whatever.'

They'll all be dead soon anyways. Tetsu decided to focus on himself and put the weaklings out of his mind. The dead are dead, but the living should strive to live. Tetsu turned to the road and spoke with a strength in his voice, "Let's go."