"A Special Mutant? That Crab Magic Armor Beast?"
"Yes. That seems to be the case."
A few days after the incident at Mount Yumyum, Melt had returned to the academy. She was already receiving a detailed briefing on the crab monster from Fee, who had been quick to investigate the aftermath.
Fee explained the situation as they walked down the hallway, nodding slightly as he delved into the specifics.
"After analyzing the remains left at the scene, it seems they detected abnormal growth hormones in its system. It was likely caused by the Toadstinger's toxins... it either ate the mushrooms or ingested spores, triggering a massive, sudden growth spurt."
"You mean a sub-crab from the previous incident survived and fled all the way to Mount Yumyum? I thought they all vanished once Yugo defeated Rush."
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics myself," Fee admitted. "But a Magic Armor Beast of that size couldn't have escaped notice, and its carapace would have been too hard for the Toadstinger's needles to penetrate. It’s more likely that it fled while it was still a soft-shelled sub-crab, only to be turned into a puppet later."
"I see... Having such a powerful monster as a soldier must be why the Toadstinger started attacking human settlements."
"That’s very likely," Fee agreed. "When an invasive species arrives and disrupts the local ecosystem, you have to wonder if the monsters are really the ones at fault, or if it's us humans."
The minions spawned by the transformed Rush had evaded extermination only to spark a new tragedy. Fee muttered to himself, struck by the irony: a case they thought was closed had come full circle, fueled perhaps more by human ego than the Toadstinger itself.
Melt nodded, sharing his sentiment, then spoke while gazing at the Sword Ring on her finger.
"Maybe it’s just a never-ending cycle. One battle leads to the next, on and on. It’s a bit depressing to think this incident might already be planting the seeds for the next one."
"But you and my brother saved so many people, Melt. Your struggle wasn't for nothing."
"Yeah, I know. 'Protecting is always harder and more noble than destroying'... It’s exactly like Yugo said."
Melt had put her life on the line to protect that old woman and those children. She offered a silent thanks to Yugo; his hero's principles had given her the strength she needed. She allowed herself a small smile. The fighting might never truly end, and she would likely be swept up in more chaos, but as long as she could use her power to protect someone, her struggle had meaning. At the very least, she had grown. Her heart and her skills had both been tempered in the forge of battle.
While lost in thought, Melt suddenly remembered Yugo and turned to Fee.
"By the way, where is Yugo? Even after the fight, he was busy helping the villagers and looking after the others who went on the request. Is he taking a break today?"
"No, he left early this morning," Fee replied. "He headed back to Mount Yumyum."
"Eh? Why? Is he worried about something?"
"He said... he was going to pay his respects to those he couldn't save. There were casualties, after all..."
Melt's breath caught in her throat. She looked down, falling into a heavy silence. Fee was right; the incident hadn't been without its victims. The cause of death had been blood loss. Given where they were found in the village, it was clear Zenon and his followers had cut them down and simply moved on, leaving them to bleed out.
She and Yugo had done everything in their power, but they hadn't been able to save everyone. It wasn't Yugo's fault—those lives were lost because of Zenon's reckless disregard—but he wasn't the type to look away. He had gone back to pray for the repose of those who died because he wasn't strong enough to save them.
"He doesn't have to carry the whole world on his shoulders," Melt whispered. "He really is too hard on himself."
"He's just kind," Fee said. "He told me he wants to get stronger—strong enough to protect everything he holds dear, right until the very end."
"I see... Then I need to get much stronger, too."
"And I'm going to find a way to upgrade the Blaster," Fee added. "My brother's strength is already starting to outpace its performance. I have to do something."
They knew that things rarely went perfectly. Yet, they still felt the drive to strive for the best possible outcome. If Yugo truly wished to save everyone, then the least they could do was give their all to support that dream. Melt and Fee stopped walking and looked up at the blue sky—vast and seemingly within reach, yet still so far away.