The Strange Ones, humans who command monsters.
They were a race who could easily adapt to unrefined mana and live comfortably within it, even becoming one with that mana to the point of controlling monsters.
Though they were few in number, humanity didn't know exactly how many existed.
People only knew that Strange Ones in human form existed.
This led to rampant speculation, and their existence was often treated as little more than an urban legend.
And now the protagonist of those legends stood before us, etching that unknown terror into everyone's eyes.
No one knew. No one could dare predict what they might do, nor easily gauge what powers they possessed.
Like hesitating to enter a well whose depth you cannot fathom.
Like hesitating to enter a dark cave whose end you cannot see.
People who fear the unseen accordingly fear what they cannot understand.
But conversely, sometimes knowing is more frightening—like how some might recklessly jump into waters of unknown depth, or how blindness can sometimes make one more courageous.
That was exactly my situation now.
If they merely appeared frightening, someone could explain that they're actually like this or that, and there's nothing to fear.
But knowing the truth made me even more terrified, causing me to hang my head.
Strange Ones are humans. Just humans who are a little different from ordinary ones.
Because of those differences, people rejected them and pushed them away.
Yet despite being rejected and pushed away for those reasons, they survived.
And those who survived harbored deep resentment.
Their anger was justified, but the rage of those driven mad became incomprehensible.
"How strange... I'm sure I said 'hello?'"
The Strange One tilted her head in the center of everyone's attention.
Despite knowing the atmosphere wasn't right for such casualness, she smugly raised the corner of her mouth.
The monster stopped moving at its master's appearance.
Simultaneously, the heroes fighting against it froze in place.
All eyes focused on one spot.
That heaviness—a mixture of fear and tension—was pressing down on everyone.
It felt as though taking even a single step required tremendous courage.
Trembling, I raised my head and looked at her face.
Black hair, red eyes.
The moment I recognized her, my heart pounded violently.
My shoulders and groin throbbed with pain.
The fear that they might be severed again, that I might feel the cold cave surface against my face—this was the kind of fear that could be called pain.
The Strange One inhaled, savoring the atmosphere.
Then, as if performing in a play, she elegantly spread her hands.
The rough cloth she wore was neither fancy nor elegant.
"Disgusting humans."
A human condemned other humans.
Though this happens often enough, coming from a human who stood against humanity, her words carried much more weight.
One who dreamed of revenge raised the corner of her mouth.
One filled with hatred spread her hands.
The corpse of the fallen hero had become an unrecognizable lump of flesh, and the Strange One stepped on it as if it were a stage.
Despite trampling on a comrade, no one dared challenge her.
Because no one could gauge whether all the heroes present could defeat her even if they rushed at her together.
It seemed like we'd need rapid support from the heroes guarding the Wall. Someone must have requested backup. Without it, everyone here would clearly die.
"Ah, did you think the information our traitor provided would help humanity?"
When I heard the word "traitor," Mrs. Lucia's gaze briefly passed over me.
The same was true for those who had received information from me.
Until just now, I'd been paralyzed with fear, but at this moment my mind went completely blank with shock.
I wondered who the word "traitor" was directed at, but after meeting Mrs. Lucia's gaze, I realized.
I wanted to shout "No!" but that would only worsen the situation right now.
No words had been exchanged yet, but frantically denying it in front of dozens of people would only make even those who didn't know start to suspect me.
Whether the Strange One knew my feelings or not—or perhaps she knew and was deliberately doing this—she was cornering me with every word.
"You can't even handle animal-type monsters easily. Look what I'm stepping on. Shall I add one more?"
The Strange One extended her hand toward a frozen hero.
The students beside me were busy covering their mouths at the sight of the brutally exploded corpse.
Meanwhile, the hero who seemed to be singled out realized his predicament and immediately moved.
Backing away quickly, he grabbed his spear and swung it rapidly.
With a whoosh, he drew a circle and tried to stab the monkey monster.
He did manage to stab it, but only in the hand, and the monster, considering it no real damage, pushed forward with brute force trying to grab the hero.
"What is this collection of trivial beings?"
"Aaah, aaaaaaah!"
Unable to pull out his weapon, the hero screamed and fled with trembling hands.
Other heroes struck away the hand that tried to grab him, allowing the rescued hero to catch his breath and escape.
With a bang, the impact of compressed air made the Strange One's head sway.
"Oh."
Standing before the impressed Strange One was Asrad.
"Strange One, what purpose do you have in coming forward?"
Though he gripped his sword tightly, exuding an aura that suggested he could cut her down at any moment, the Strange One paid no mind.
Despite knowing she was in the middle of enemy territory, her relaxed demeanor was chilling.
Her attitude suggested she still had hidden cards to play.
"What purpose indeed..."
At Asrad's question, she twisted her head again and grinned.
I shuddered as her gaze briefly turned toward me.
No, please.
Don't say anything more.
I'm not a traitor.
I was never on the side of the Strange Ones to begin with.
Such wishes changed nothing.
"Should I spare someone who betrayed me and started passing information to humanity?"
"Only another Strange One would betray you. How could a human contact you or take your side? Your premise is fundamentally flawed. If you think you can stir up internal conflict in humanity that way, I'd say your thinking is extremely short-sighted."
Asrad pointed his sword mockingly.
His message was clear: no more talk, time to fight.
Simultaneously, the Strange One brought her hands together and spread them wide.
Small cube-shaped blocks fell to the ground from what had been empty space.
They were totems.
So it was true—Strange Ones could create them at will.
And apparently, the shape didn't matter at all.
Facing this truth, I bit my lip hard.
Asrad flinched, but the Strange One, acting as if he posed no threat, looked around once.
Then she looked in my direction and gave me an eye-smile.
Meeting those narrowed eyes, I immediately lowered my head.
I thought she wouldn't notice me since I was mixed in with a group, but the Strange One, as if unwilling to let it go, opened her mouth.
"Thanks to you, I learned a lot, so I'll overlook the betrayal."
"What did you learn?!"
Heroes who had scattered far away began to gather.
As they swarmed in, the Strange One surveyed her surroundings as if annoyed.
But even in this moment when the tide seemed to turn, Mrs. Lucia's eyes occasionally swept over me.
Unable to bear it, I prayed for the situation to end quickly.
I wanted so badly to say that it really wasn't me.
"I have no choice. I'll have to come back later."
With those words, the Strange One whistled sharply.
Seeing people rushing toward her, she summoned that woodpecker-like monster from before and jumped onto its back.
Then she directed her voice toward me.
"Now that you've seen this, you'll stop causing trouble, right?"
Though others couldn't understand her meaning, I could.
It was a warning not to destroy the totems—she had demonstrated that she could create as many as she wanted with her own hands.
"A gift for you. Eat well."
Despite being surrounded by heroes, the Strange One escaped with ease.
Humanity's power, which felt so helpless, was easily cut through by a single Strange One.
A diversion is more effective the larger and more impactful it is.
By dispersing human resources, she bought herself time, and the sight was infuriating.
The heroes who had surrounded the Strange One had to focus on fighting the monsters she left behind.
They seemed to give up pursuing her because the resulting damage would be too severe.
As time passed, they were somehow able to deal with the monsters and restore some stability.
Though another hero was sacrificed in the process.
Just when it seemed the incident was over, it wasn't at all.
Among the abandoned totems, I had to endure sharp gazes, which were so unbearable that I lowered my wandering eyes.
Traitor.
Traitor to the Strange Ones.
Traitor to humanity.
The eyes looking at a traitor were very sharp, like they were gouging out my heart.
No.
I really am not.