“Magic Armor Beast...?”
Yugo repeated the unfamiliar term, his brow furrowed as he looked at the frightened Mina.
He was about to ask her for an explanation when Melt, who had been watching the situation in silence, finally spoke up.
"Yugo, it's dangerous to keep talking here. Mina won't feel safe in the dark, and we should probably share what we've found with Marcos. Let's head back to the locomotive for now, okay? We can sort out the information there."
"Yeah, you're right. That’s for the best. Mina, I’m sorry, but we need to move. Can you hold onto me?"
"Okay..."
At Yugo's request, the girl clung to him as if he were her only lifeline.
It was painful to see the child trembling as she relived those terrifying events. Once they were back at the train where Marcos was investigating, Yugo settled Mina into a seat. He had just caught his breath when Melt called out to him.
"Yugo, look at this."
"Hmm? It's thick and slimy... what is it?"
"I found it on Mina's clothes. I think it's probably Spider Silk."
"Spider Silk?! You're telling me there's a spider out there capable of spinning something this massive?"
The object in his hand was white and elastic, more like a thick winter scarf than a simple thread. Melt watched his surprise with a grave expression.
"It's not just a spider; it's a Magic Armor Beast. They're monsters born when the soul of a deceased monster possesses another living creature. They essentially wear another monster as armor—hence the name. Simple enough, right?"
"So... it's a hybrid monster with the powers of two different creatures?"
Melt nodded. Yugo stood in stunned silence. He knew this was a world of magic, but he hadn't expected to encounter creatures that sounded like something out of a tokusatsu villain lineup. While he was processing this, Marcos returned with his subordinates in tow.
"Hmph. So you actually found a survivor? Not that it matters. As you've gathered, this incident involves a Magic Armor Beast. Based on the evidence my men found, I suspect this is the work of a Goblin imbued with the power of a Giant Spider."
"How can you be so sure?" Yugo asked.
"Because no matter how much Spider Silk it produces, a single Magic Armor Beast couldn't have abducted every passenger on this locomotive. The culprits must have attacked in a pack. Of all the monsters in this region, Goblins are the only ones known to hunt in groups. They must have been lurking in the shadows of this tunnel, setting traps and waiting for their prey before carrying them off. It's the only logical conclusion."
Yugo nodded, genuinely impressed by the logic. Seeing this, Marcos snorted and grew even more arrogant.
"The beasts' goal is likely food and breeding hosts. They're probably hauling the passengers back to their nest as we speak. Once they arrive, the real fun—"
"That's enough," Yugo barked, his voice sharp. "Don't say things like that in front of a kid whose mother was just taken."
Marcos fell silent, looking awkward after glancing at Mina's anxious face.
Melt whispered, "If that's true, we have to hurry, or everyone will be in danger! We have to do something!"
"There's nothing we can do," Marcos replied coldly. "My men searched the train and found nothing but that silk. Tracking them is impossible. We'll just have to write the passengers off."
"No...!" Melt gasped. She felt a wave of despair at the thought of the passengers being used as food or hosts.
"Hey, Melt," Yugo's voice cut through the gloom. "This is where you tripped, right?"
Melt looked over, confused to see Yugo crawling on the floor of the carriage. "Y-yeah, but why?"
Marcos sneered. "What are you doing? Crawling on the floor suits you, but is there actually a point to it?"
"A pampered noble like you might not get it, but when lives are on the line, you have to get your hands dirty to find clues," Yugo replied, illuminating the floor with his Magic Power Sword. He pointed toward the entrance. Everyone gasped as they saw a slimy substance on the floor.
"What is that? It's not blood, is it?"
"It's oil. Some spiders secrete oil so they don't get stuck in their own webs. When Melt said the floor felt slippery earlier, I had a hunch."
"I see! So my clumsiness was actually useful! I'm an asset after all!"
Who would have thought monsters in another world shared the same biology as the ones on TV? Yugo kept the thought to himself, thanking his tokusatsu obsession for the insight.
He followed the droplets, then looked at Marcos, who was scowling at being upstaged. "There's likely a trail of this stuff leading out of the train. Since lives are at stake, you should have been looking for it yourself instead of leaving everything to your lackeys."
"G-grrr...! Don't get cocky just because you found one little clue!"
"Anyway, let’s follow the oil. We also need to get Mina to safety and report this. One of us has to take her out of the tunnel and contact the station."
"Wait! Who put you in charge?" Marcos snapped. "I refuse to take orders from you! You two take the brat and report. My team will handle the tracking!"
"We're heading into a monster's nest," Yugo countered. "We need numbers. One of your men can take Mina, and the rest of us go after the monsters. Two pairs. It's the most efficient way."
"Don't be ridiculous! I have no reason to listen to you, and I'm not letting you steal the credit!"
"Credit? Status? This isn't the time for that!" Yugo yelled, his intensity silencing Marcos. "Prioritize saving the people who were kidnapped!"
Overwhelmed by Yugo's ferocity, Marcos bit his lip and signaled one of his men to take the girl. As Mina prepared to leave the tunnel, Marcos stopped her.
"Listen closely. I am Marcos Borg, the heir to the House of Borg, and I am the one who saved you. Make sure you tell the adults exactly that. Understood?"
Mina stared at him blankly. Yugo knelt down to meet her eyes, ignoring the noble's vanity.
"Don't worry, Mina. I promise I'll bring your mom back. Can you wait outside until then?"
"Okay... be careful, big brother."
"Thanks. You're a kind girl for worrying about me. Don't worry, I'm strong. I'll beat those monsters to a pulp!"
Yugo gave her a reassuring smile, and she finally seemed a little less afraid. He patted the guard's shoulder, signaling him to take her, and then turned back toward the dark tunnel.
"Let's move," he whispered to himself, his face set in grim determination. "We're bringing everyone back alive!"