Looks like they've turned the entire mall into a makeshift base. Ferris found himself respecting their determination in such desperate times.
It was safe to conclude that there might've been a thousand people inside the mall, and perhaps even more that were hiding in more secluded parts.
If a group like this was roaming the city, then it would explain why Ferris hadn't run into any villains because their presence alone would discourage any lone villain to attack.
The proctors didn't seem to be quite bothered by this sheer group. Ferris concluded that they probably expected this result.
After all, the hero association was a unified force, and the villains were usually separated and were usually fighting with each other.
Comparing that logic, this entire mall is kind of like a version of the hero association that the villains have to defeat in their physical exam.
That's actually a clever way of teaching the new villain recruits about working together... Ferris gave them that much credit but nothing more.
After exploring the rundown mall, he concluded that the food and water source was already solved with the help of people with unique blessings such as purifying water, and even a healing blessing, but only for objects like molted food.
But for now, he decided to go to the large indoor courtyard and found himself a bench to lay on.
From there, he could see all the way up to the 4th floor, where there were still many people.
Just from looking at the number of people inside here, one could surely hope that they'll survive.
But the fact that they were surrounded by the crimson clouds was still present.
They were still inside the villains' clutches.
"Damn, they're so loud," he muttered quietly so as not to anger anyone with his statement.
I can't sleep... Ferris struggled to even close his eyes.
He couldn't block out all of the noises, but there was something he could do.
Listen.
Practicing his hearing, Ferris focused on the surrounding noises, trying to shape them into coherent voices that he could understand.
First, he filtered out the background sounds such as footsteps, coughing, even the occasional sobs from people who aren't fit to be heroes.
Next, he tuned out idle rambling about someone boasting about having a better blessing, bragging about saving a few hero examinees, and killing some villains on the side.
He pushed to block out more, but that was as far as his body's hearing capabilities could go.
Ferris tried one last push to improve his senses more but he was suddenly interrupted by a voice near him.
"Um, excuse me," a person standing in front of him said.
He was with two other people who looked as if they hadn't had sleep in forever. And one of them even had their arms and legs covered in bandages.
"We'd like to sit here, if you don't mind," he politely asked.
After a brief moment of thought, Ferris decided to give up his bench. It wasn't as if he had planned to stay there much longer anyway.
"Here." Ferris gestured towards the bench.
After the group thanked Ferris, he began to walk away to somewhere more isolated.
Would the bathroom be a good place...? Ferris considered his options to sleep in but was suddenly interrupted again by a woman sitting on the floor.
"Hey there, friend," she said to him.
First impressions were always important. For Ferris, the first impression he got from this woman was her very strange accent.
Something like a cowboy? Cowgirl? Ferris wondered what kind of accent it was, but of course he couldn't outright ask about it.
Other than her accent, her thick cloak that covered her whole face and body was odd because that getup looked incredibly suspicious.
It was a wonder how she got inside the mall. Ferris held the possibility that she wasn't who she looked like.
Not keeping her waiting any longer, Ferris finally decided to entertain her.
"Are you talking to me?" Ferris pointed at himself.
"Yes, you, c'mere!" She cheerfully patted a small spot beside her.
Finding nothing better to do at the moment and with his curiosity, he sat down beside the cloaked person.
"..." Ferris waited for her to say something.
"Why'd you give up your seat so easily?" she asked.
She was staring at me the whole time? Ferris had some goosebumps, considering that the bench he used to sit on was a little far away from here.
"They looked injured, and I wasn't," he answered.
The cloaked woman turned to him and Ferris could slightly see her mouth smiling in his direction.
"Aren't you a nice feller." She patted him behind his back.
Feller? Ferris wondered what that meant.
"You're kinda like a knight, right?" she asked him while staring at the sword on his waist.
Ferris was a bit shocked as it was the first time anyone in this world had called him that.
"You could say that," Ferris confirmed her suspicions. But before she could reply, he spoke again.
"Surely you didn't call a stranger just for small talk... right?"
The woman smiled. "Heh, just wanted to tell you something important."
She pointed at the three people that Ferris gave up his seat for. "They're not normal."
Not normal? Ferris looked at the trio.
There wasn't anything wrong with them at first glance, and even by inspecting them a bit longer, Ferris couldn't deduce anything strange about their looks and behavior.
"I mean, who stands normally with their legs bandaged?" She laughed.
That... is strange, Ferris admitted his oversight.
But perhaps it might've been a mere laceration.
That wasn't enough to be considered abnormal.
"They also ain't human. Get your eyes checked, partner." She suddenly grabbed Ferris's chin with her fingers, teasing him.
Partner? Ferris was momentarily shaken by her physical, personal attitude that the first part of her sentence seemed to have flown over his head.
"You're a real looker. Just like the knights in bedtime stories!"
. . .
Not human? Ferris placed his senses at maximum, but there was no need for that, as the three people that were sitting on the bench suddenly started melting.
Not only Ferris, but some other people noticed the strange sight and the person near the three began to move away in fear.
Puppets?! Ferris imagined what kind of blessing could create walking, talking humans.
And then.
A large gathering of essence!
"Get down!" Ferris shouted as he tackled the cloaked woman, causing both of them to fall flat on the floor.
The fall also caused the cloak that covered her head to reveal itself.
An emerald-eyed woman with hair like a sunset, her freckles complementing defined facial features that didn't fit the common standards of modern beauty, yet she still held a striking look.
She grew an even bigger smile. "Oh boy! Are we at that stage already?—mmpff!
Ferris quickly shielded her face with one arm, then bracing the back of his head with his other arm.
Boom!