The Light of Hope

We reached City Hall and found exactly what we'd expected—or rather, even more chaos than we'd expected.

"Hey! What is that vine, anyway?!" "Did another new monster appear?!" "Are we really safe here?" "Is there another monster like the Dragon from yesterday?!" "Somebody help us!" "It's over! We're all going to die!" "Hey, my mother was eaten by a tree! Why doesn't anyone remember her?" "I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" "Hey! Where are the mayor and Fujita-san?" "Please, come out!" "What about my child?! Where is my child?!" "Do something!"

"P-Please, calm down! Everyone, please calm down!"

"S-Senpai, this is hopeless!"

"Even so, we'll find a way! Don't give up before we've even tried!"

"B-But...!"

The evacuees packed in front of City Hall's entrance were probably all Level 0 or people who'd only just raised their levels. They were all in despair, crying and shouting as they pressed the City Hall staff for answers. The only ones holding them back were Chief Shimizu, Nijo, and a few City Hall employees. Fujita-san and Mayor Uesugi were nowhere to be seen.

(Fujita-san and the others... They're in the conference room.)

I sensed Nishino-kun and Student Council President Igarashi there as well.

It seemed they were in the middle of a discussion...