LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Do You Know You're Breaking the Law?
Accompanied by low, beast-like growls, the group of monsters obeyed the black-robed man's command, rushing out from the shadows to encircle the defenseless girl in the church.
The grotesque, humanoid fish creatures were covered in strange crystalline growths emerging from their flesh. Their already hideous forms now exuded an unspeakable sense of nausea and horror.
These abominations were not products of natural evolution. Their existence was a mockery of life itself.
Yet, the immense power radiating from them made it impossible to dismiss their threat.
Without any intention of showing mercy to the girl, the creatures extended their crystal- and scale-covered arms toward her, aiming to subdue her. As experimental products bound to follow orders, they lacked any capacity for unnecessary emotion.
At the same moment, Gladiia's mind briefly regained clarity. Acting on instinct, she evaded the creatures' grasp with a swift movement, darting back like a swordfish gliding through the deep sea.
But just as she tried to retreat, a wall of viscous, pale blue slime rose abruptly behind her, blocking her escape.
It wasn't hard to deduce that the eerie barrier, shimmering with an unnatural light, was the handiwork of the monstrous creatures.
Trapped, Gladiia's movements faltered, and her eyes filled with confusion once again. Her earlier action had been a subconscious reaction, not a sign of complete recovery. That she managed to act at all was impressive.
But once her escape was thwarted, her hazy instincts failed her, leaving her frozen.
As the monsters closed in, their oppressive presence suffocating, Gladiia's red eyes brimmed with helplessness and despair.
She didn't understand why these creatures were here or why they were attacking her. But even in her childlike mental state, she knew that falling into their hands would lead to a terrible fate.
"I don't know what happened to make you like this, but don't worry. We'll heal you in our way, my mysterious Abyssal Hunter."
The black-robed man finally stepped out of the shadows after confirming that Gladiia had lost the ability to resist. His voice dripped with smug satisfaction as he addressed the now-surrounded girl.
Despite already having studied the resilient physiology of an Abyssal Hunter before, his fascination with them had never faded. The prospect of injecting concentrated Originium fluid into their bodies and observing their resistance—and the accompanying screams of agony—thrilled him.
The last Hunter they captured had been rescued by a meddlesome medical organization. But now, another one had walked straight into his grasp. How could he not be ecstatic?
This time, he wasn't just an observer but the main actor. Surely this Hunter would be left to his discretion, unlike the last one, which his superiors had taken over.
The thought filled him with greedy anticipation. Hidden beneath his hood, his murky eyes gleamed with twisted delight.
This time, he would personally inject Originium into her spine. He couldn't wait to hear her despairing wails.
Sensing the perverse gaze from the black-robed man, Gladiia instinctively shrank, hugging her shoulders in fear.
"M-My dad is really strong…"
Like a bullied child invoking the protection of a parent, the amnesiac girl let out a feeble, kitten-like protest.
But her words only served to excite the black-robed man further.
It seemed her mental state truly was impaired. For him, this was the best possible outcome.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure your so-called father joins you soon enough. But for now, you'll cooperate with my work."
Grinning sinisterly, the man's shoulders shook with suppressed excitement as he watched the helpless girl.
However, before the creatures could touch Gladiia, a powerful impact from the strange wall behind them sent the monsters stumbling backward.
"No need to make it so complicated. I'm already here."
With a smirk, a figure stepped through the shattered wall, resting a Netherite Sword on his shoulder. Steven had arrived.
"Kidnapping a minor can get you the death penalty. Do you know you're breaking the law?"
Pointing the sword's tip at the black-robed man, Steven spoke in a tone of stern authority, as if giving a legal lecture.
It seemed he had arrived a bit early. After all, wasn't the hero supposed to make their entrance at the heroine's darkest moment, just before she was subjected to unspeakable horrors?
Next time, he'd have to time it better. He couldn't let concern for his "daughter" cloud his judgment.
With a resigned sigh at his lack of showmanship, Steven's gaze shifted to the teary-eyed girl cowering in the corner.
"D-Dad…"
"I'm here, aren't I?"
Reassured by the sight of her "father," Steven's concerns eased when he saw the status above her head confirming her amnesia. She was still his "adopted daughter."
With a flash, he moved to her side, slicing through one of the fish monsters with ease as it tried to grab her.
"I'll deal with your sneaky escape later. Right now, I need to have a little chat with this gentleman about the consequences of trafficking minors."
Steven's smiling face turned cold as his gaze locked onto the black-robed man. His eyes bore the glint of someone looking at a corpse.
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