Chapter 22: What’s Even Going On Here?
Steven glanced at the minimap in the upper right corner but didn't see the little green dot that symbolized Gladiia. This meant she had likely moved beyond his immediate vicinity.
Fortunately, his minimap Mod wasn't limited to just the minimap. With a thought, a full map displaying all previously explored areas materialized before him.
On the map, Gladiia's icon was rapidly moving, chasing a strange red dot. Judging by the direction, it wasn't heading toward the ocean, as Steven had initially assumed.
Was there something—or someone—so important to her that even in her amnesiac state, she still cared deeply about it? Or... had her memory returned?
Perplexed, Steven stared at the direction where Gladiia was heading.
He had to chase her down, of course. Steven had promised to take responsibility for her. Besides, as the first person he'd bonded with in this world, he genuinely cared about her.
But the current situation wasn't making that easy.
As Steven had anticipated, after eliminating the vanguard of Sea Terror, he could feel an even more menacing presence lurking nearby. It was clear that the small fry weren't the only creatures that had emerged from the depths. Something else—something stronger—was waiting in the shadows.
Normally, this would be his cue to prepare for a major fight. But Steven wasn't in the mood.
The whole battle had been to prove to Irene that he wasn't a bad guy. Yet these creatures didn't even drop loot, and now his "daughter" was missing. Who had the time to keep fighting under these circumstances?
"Uh, how about you hold off these pests for a bit while I go find my... uh, daughter? I'll come back and surrender to you once I'm done."
Steven elbowed the pint-sized Inquisitor beside him, proposing his plan with a casual tone.
"Are you serious?"
By now, Irene was used to Steven's unpredictable nature, but his latest idea still left her speechless.
Hadn't he just said he could handle everything himself? Now he wanted to dump the mess back on her?
The ominous danger radiating from their surroundings wasn't lost on Irene either. Unlike the mindless Sea Terror, these lurking creatures felt far more cunning and deadly.
Steven was like one of those teammates who cleared all the mobs in a dungeon only to bail just as the boss showed up. What was this guy even thinking?
"Hey, this is me showing my faith in you! You said earlier you'd hold them off, right? It's just a stronger batch of small fry. If you can't beat them, you can always retreat. Or better yet, why don't you just run now?"
Steven scratched his chin. Irene had mentioned earlier that she could act as the rear guard. This was the perfect opportunity for her to shine!
"Hiss— but why don't we both just run? I could help you find your daughter too!"
Irene sucked in a sharp breath, still struggling to grasp Steven's logic.
"Nope, that won't work."
Steven shook his head, even wagging a finger for emphasis.
"You're not fast enough."
It wasn't that he looked down on her. Sure, Irene wasn't an ordinary human by any stretch, but compared to Steven? She wouldn't stand a chance.
Honestly, Steven wasn't even confident she could keep up with Gladiia, let alone himself.
To prove his point, Steven launched into a sprint, leaving a faint afterimage in his wake. By the time Irene registered what had happened, he was already at the edge of her field of vision.
"I'll leave the rest to you. Be good—I'll come back and surrender later~!"
His voice echoed faintly as his figure disappeared into the distance.
Irene stood frozen, her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
He wasn't wrong—there was no way she could match that speed.
But seriously? He just left her behind?
What's even going on?
Irene wanted to continue mentally criticizing Steven's bizarre logic, but her sharp instincts quickly reminded her of her precarious situation.
Sure, Steven had bolted, but the monsters hadn't lost interest—they were now focused on her!
After a moment of thought, Irene noticed the subtle signs of movement. With Steven's departure, the hidden creatures had started to stir, emboldened by the absence of his intimidating presence.
Realizing this, Irene made the most rational decision she could think of: she turned and sprinted in the opposite direction without a second's hesitation.
She wasn't like Steven, whose head seemed full of nonsensical ideas. With no one left for her to protect, why stay and risk her life battling these dangerous beasts?
Her priorities were clear: reconnect with the missing Penal Battalion and regroup with her commander.
As for bringing Steven back to the Inquisition? Irene had given up on that idea.
Steven's strength was beyond what a few inquisitors could handle. If he wasn't willing to go, trying to capture him would be a costly—and likely futile—effort.
He'd said he'd surrender after finding the Aegir girl, so Irene had no choice but to take him at his word.
As for the sea monsters lurking nearby? Someone else could deal with them. There wasn't anyone left in the area for her to protect, so why bother?
With a shake of her head, Irene forced Steven's absurd figure from her thoughts.
How could someone so strong have such a ridiculous way of thinking?
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After Irene left, the area fell silent, save for the occasional crackle of scorched earth and the faint aroma of roasted Sea Terror.
It wasn't long before the monsters hidden in the shadows began to emerge.
These creatures were the same type as the ones Steven had encountered earlier at the seaside—grotesque amalgamations of marine life and nightmare.
The horde hissed and snarled as if communicating with one another. After a brief exchange of guttural sounds, they parted to create a path.
From the rear of the group, a strange humanoid figure stepped forward.
Its form was grotesque, resembling a humanoid shape cobbled together from fish slime, tattered cloth, and fractured bones. It walked to the spot where Steven had just fought, stopping to inspect the scene.
"Powerful being... warrants caution," the humanoid murmured, its voice low and raspy.
If Irene had been there, she would've been utterly stunned.
This abomination, with its horrific appearance, had just spoken in flawless Terra's common language.
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