TTIGRAAS: Predator

Chapter 30

I waved to Professor Rimuru as he left, hoping a break would help with whatever was bothering him. He'd left me to watch Class S, and we began walking the grounds as the kids talked excitedly.

The Count was gracious enough to let the kids explore the cave the second part of the event would happen in, and while I was hesitant at first, I came to the conclusion it was okay because most of the other groups already had the caves mapped out.

So, I took the kids on a little tour of what I'd remembered from the cave. What I wasn't expecting though, was little hints and signs of someone living in it. It led me to believe that maybe some of the homeless in the town had taken up residence in the cave, or maybe some of the workers were living here while making expansions to the artificial cave to change it up for this year.

That was until a net was thrown on top of the kids as they walked past one of the crossroads in the corner, I immediately yelled out for everyone to put up their guard.

However, the kids simply responded by cutting up the net as it flew over them, and Kenya turned the corner, before dragging out an older man in his mid-thirties. The man was yelping in pain from Kenya's grip.

"What are you doing here?" Kenya was surprisingly intimidating, standing there above the crumpled man.

The man didn't get a chance to answer, as another of what I concluded at this point were bandits from their clothes and equipment, came from the other tunnel and beamed Kenya over the head with a simple club.

I attempted to run over and catch the child, but I was stopped by Chloe.

Then Kenya got back up and threw the man into the wall. I didn't know the kid was that strong, it actually frightened me a bit.

More bandits came out, and quickly it became clear that the bandits were completely out of their league.

That led to the current situation. The bandits' leader was tied to a table with some of his compatriots, and was being questioned by Alice. The girl was vicious to say the least, having broken one of the man's fingers before I intervened to stop her. "We should wait for the guards, please don't harm them yet." I put my arm in front of the girl.

The young girl huffed. "I wasn't hurting him badly. He's lucky I chose his finger and not his legs. He can't resort to banditry again if he can't walk."

I paled at the thought of this girl ever being assigned to clear a bandit hive. It made me feel a little bad for the people inside, even if they likely wouldn't be the best people themselves.

A figure emerged from the hallway, slowly clapping and filling the silence in the cavern. "You children are fairly strong being able to take out these useless criminals, but you shouldn't get too full of yourselves just yet."

"Oh, Mr. Gesdar! Thank goodness you are alr-! Huh?"

"That's no butler." Ryota said, holding his arm out in front to stop me.

"He's not even human." Alice added.

"You're a phantom, aren't ya!?" Kenya shouted at the approaching man.

Gesdar, or the phantom disguised as him, started snickering at that. "I wasn't expecting any of you to identify what I really am."

The human-looking phantom's face started to distort right before our eyes, warping into something evil and decidedly inhuman.

"Stay back, Miss Tiss!" Chloe shouted.

I could feel the immense pressure coming from the phantom and took a step back. Unlike me, Class S doesn't seem to want to back down, even when things are this bad and they bare their weapons at this terrifying monster.