Chapter 26
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Originally, she meant to bring only Michelle Grace, the esper lieutenant, and the four recruits. But somehow Linton and his ever-present shadow, Lieutenant Kate Orlen, had joined too.
For what was almost certainly a false alarm, this was an overblown team.
“You know the rules. High-level espers require high-level guides to accompany them in the field.”
“I don’t intend to lift a finger.”
“You never know.”
He wasn’t wrong. Normally, Adrien respected protocol and would welcome the support. Yet today, she felt oddly unsettled.
She glanced at Samuel.
He was listening quietly to Peter’s endless chatter. When their eyes met, Adrien instinctively looked away.
‘…Why did I do that?’
She couldn’t explain it.
Bang!
“Ahhh! Somebody bring something, quick!”
“This whole place will collapse!”
Shouts and crashes reached them as they neared the site. At the head of the group, Michelle looked back at Adrien.
“This way, Commander.”
“…The zoo?”
She hadn’t expected that. The report came from the outskirts of the capital, which was fortunate—but the zoo?
And things seemed dire. Instead of cheerful music and laughter, screams and crashes filled the air.
“You’re with the security guard, right?”
“Yes. Where’s the beast?”
“This way!”
A frantic zookeeper beckoned them in.
“Huh? That’s strange.”
Brenda murmured as she looked around.
“Why is everything so empty?”
The zoo grounds were desolate. No visitors, no animals—only a few uniformed staff running about.
“We… we locked the animals away. In case they turned into beasts too.”
“Animals turning into beasts? What do you mean?”
The keeper froze, eyes widening when he recognized Adrien.
“Y-you… the Lady Adrien of House Brillante…?”
“Yes, but right now the beast comes first.”
“Ah, y-yes, of course…”
He was visibly starstruck, but quickly deflated under her cool stare. Linton smoothly stepped in, flashing the man a grin.
“Don’t mind her. The Commander focuses on one thing at a time when she’s working.”
“O-of course. I understand perfectly. Then, to answer your question…”
Though not a soldier, the keeper straightened as if at attention.
“The truth is, the animals have been acting strangely for some time now.”
“Not just one?”
“Yes. It started with a monkey. Its eyes turned blood-red and it attacked people. We thought it was sick, so we took care of it… but the incidents kept happening.”
First small animals—monkeys, rabbits. But soon the symptoms spread further.
“All the monkeys went mad, and we had to euthanize them. Only one rabbit is left. Even the doctors can’t explain it… and then…”
He stopped walking. The screams and crashes were much louder now.
They stood before a massive, empty enclosure attached to a building. Adrien quietly read the sign at the bars.
“King of Beasts: Lion.”
“…Yes. In the end, even this one fell ill.”
Gasps rippled among the recruits. Faces paled.
A lion. None of them had ever fought a predator before. The unknown alone was terrifying.
“You said ‘beast’ when reporting it, but now you’re calling it a ‘sickness.’”
“Ah, well… truthfully, we don’t know! Whether it’s a beast or some madness. But from how it acts—it’s just like one…”
“The lion’s inside?”
“Yes, locked behind that gate for now. But its strength is incredible. It may break out any moment.”
“Then let’s go in.”
The keeper cautiously unlocked the small access door. From the dark building came terrifying roars and crashes.
The soldiers entered tensely.
“Captain Linton, Michelle, Lieutenant Kate—hold position in the rear.”
“What? Commander, but—”
“Recruits, you go first.”
Adrien Brillante was known for never coddling newcomers. Linton, knowing this well, only chuckled and stepped back.
The four recruits exchanged uneasy glances. Adrien’s word was law, but facing a frenzied lion was another matter.
“Hold on a moment.”
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