episode_0111

***

Spade and Check scattered during the battle.

Were they aiming for a surprise attack from a blind spot, or were they leaving this place to prepare for the next phase?

Either was possible.

‘I can’t let them escape.’

If they were still looking for an opportunity to ambush, then fine. She could handle whatever they threw at her.

But if they were to leave this place, that would be problematic. They might join the villains’ forces later, and there’s no telling what kind of impact they could have on society.

More than anything, to resolve this situation and protect the future of her subordinates, not a single one could be allowed to escape from this place…

As Rahe pondered what to do, thinking that.

Suddenly, someone appeared from the adjacent passage. It was Coco, who had left the scene with 13.

“Excuse me, Captain Rahe.”

Rahe made a decision in an instant and covered her ears with magic.

This type of mind control had the greatest effect through hearing, so the manual specified covering the ears as a priority.

Instead of hearing the voice with her ears covered, she inferred the content by watching the mouth.

It seemed Coco had merely appeared to convey Villain 13’s message.

To summarize concisely:

“Let’s play a game. I won’t run away from here, so let’s see whether you find and subdue me first, or I conquer you first.”

“If you win, I’ll release all your subordinates as you wish. Of course, at the cost of my safety.”

That was the message.

To use the term “game” in such a situation, it was truly audacious, to say the least.

That audacity, at least, was commendable.

Of course, she had no intention of trusting a villain’s words.

Hadn’t he just rejected Rahe’s offer and challenged her to a match moments ago?

Perhaps the talk of a “game” or “direct confrontation” was merely a pretense, and he might already be leaving this place.

“Villain 13, I am giving you one last warning.”

And considering all of that, Captain Rahe declared firmly.

“If there is even the slightest lie in your current words, you will truly experience hell. I will show you what real hell is.”

Rahe’s chilling words. Whether they reached 13 or not, she couldn’t tell.

Coco, who had been standing in front of her, stood in silence for a moment, then blurred and vanished like a mirage.

The Coco who had come to deliver the message was a phantom created by Coco herself, not her real body. Perhaps it was a direct projection of her hidden self somewhere…

In any case, even with 13’s declaration, what Rahe had to do hadn’t changed.

Search for 13, chase him if he tries to escape, and mercilessly subdue any subordinates who interfere during the process.

That was all.

***

Rahe decided to continue her exploration of the factory first.

It wasn’t that she blindly believed 13’s proposal of a game.

Even if 13 was lying and tried to escape from this place, Rahe currently had no way to stop him.

And recalling the conversation she had with 13 (though 13 communicated by writing) and his demeanor, she sensed a strange anxiety in him, despite his advantageous position.

It wasn’t because of Rahe’s intimidation or threats; he clearly seemed to want Rahe herself.

Perhaps there was some personal circumstance of his own that Rahe didn’t know about.

In any case, Rahe decided to trust that intuition. Since he still seemed to have business with her, he wouldn’t escape so easily. That was her judgment, and why she prioritized exploring the factory.

*Step… step…*

Rahe cautiously, yet swiftly, moved through the factory.

The first ambush targeting her was a barrage of nets extending from both sides.

In an instant, Rahe summoned an ice pillar to block one net, and with her sabre, she swung and cut the other net into pieces.

The net attack was blocked, but immediately a second barrage flew in. Again from both sides, something like pitch-black orbs flew toward Rahe.

The fist-sized orbs didn’t land on Rahe but around her, and upon impact with the floor, they immediately began spewing smoke with a *whoosh* sound. Were they tear gas? Rahe held her breath and unleashed her magic.

A storm raged around Rahe, and the smoke filling her surroundings scattered instantly with a *whoosh*.

A bewildered presence. Yet, the opponent immediately began to move for a third wave, but Rahe’s reaction was even faster.

“Spade, this is the end.”

Piercing through the dissipating smoke, Rahe’s form closed in.

She brutally blew away the cover piled in the adjacent passage, immediately revealing Spade’s figure beyond it.

Spade urgently raised her arm against Rahe’s flying sword. The tonfa in her hand blocked Rahe’s sword, producing a loud metallic clang.

“Gah…?!”

However, while she had blocked Rahe’s sword, she couldn’t block or dodge the kick that followed.

Spade was struck slightly off-center on her abdomen, gasping for breath as she was sent flying and rolled across the floor.

Still, thanks to twisting her body at the last second, she seemed to have avoided a fatal blow. It was a kick imbued with magic, so if she had been unlucky, it could have knocked her out instantly.

“As expected, you’ve grown. Truly commendable, Spade.”

The presence felt from the other side of the passage was swiftly moving away.

It was probably Check. She seemed to have chosen flight over rescuing Spade.

That must be how 13 had ordered it. Although Rahe didn’t know what he was aiming for, it was clear he would try to provoke her again with petty tactics.

“Can you snap out of it, Spade? Try to remember who you are. The fact that you are a hero.”

“…….”

Spade breathed heavily, drooling slightly, and took a stance as if to confront Rahe. Her slightly bloodshot eyes, however, faced Rahe with clear hostility.

As expected, words weren’t enough.

She seemed to have completely fallen under the enemy’s control. Nothing for it.

Rahe also re-gripped her sabre, her weapon, and once again channeled her magic.

***

13 was observing all of this through cameras installed throughout the factory, and via a live broadcast using Club’s magic.

The trap using Spade and Check’s cooperative attack had also failed. Six of his fifteen available methods had instantly become useless with this.

It was also clear that Spade had been defeated by Rahe and restrained. She was left abandoned in a corner of the factory, bound by ice handcuffs and shackles.

Even if someone tried to rescue her, it seemed impossible to break the handcuffs made by Rahe’s magic. Rather, it looked like bait to ambush anyone attempting a rescue. It would be best to give up on Spade.

The only pawns left were Club, Check, and Coco.

13 bit his nails in frustration.

***

*─What was 13 aiming for?*

Rahe continued her exploration of the factory and the ensuing battles, trying to guess his intentions.

Even after initially restraining Spade, Check and Club’s interference continued. At times, Coco’s illusions also obstructed Rahe’s vision, causing confusion.

She would sometimes be led somewhere, only to find herself trapped in a sealed room where gas was spewed, or a suspicious voice would emanate from a rolling speaker, which she would instantly smash.

And while pursuing the fleeing Check, she would sometimes turn her eyes away quickly upon seeing a wall entirely covered in suspicious drawings and graffiti.

According to the mind control manual, the most important things to watch out for were auditory and visual stimuli. Following that manual, which warned to be especially careful of specific texts, drawings, or videos, Rahe reacted appropriately each time.

However, even for Rahe, this situation full of traps everywhere was bound to be somewhat exhausting.

If it were just fighting, it would be easier.

But having to deal with surprise attacks from Check and Club while also reacting to various traps that came like curveballs, fatigue was inevitable.

In a situation where even a small mistake was unforgivable, she had been running around in circles for over thirty minutes…

“Just a moment, please wait quietly here, Club.”

“Ugh…!”

*Thud*, and Club’s body fell, overlapping Spade. Club’s hands and feet were also bound with heavy ice restraints, just like Spade’s. Since they were restraints made with Rahe’s magic, it would be impossible to break them with ordinary strength or magic.

The hour-long game of hide-and-seek had proven effective; she had managed to find the cleverly hidden Club and restrain her like this.

Check must also be exhausted, more so than Rahe. After repeatedly encountering and fleeing Rahe several times, she had ultimately sustained various injuries at Rahe’s hands.

The next time she saw Check’s face, she would definitely be able to capture her.

“…?”

As Rahe thought that and was about to resume her search.

Suddenly, something registered in her perception. Simple detection traps she had set at several points leading to the exit, while she was exploring, had reacted.

She had already mostly grasped the factory’s structure. Therefore, Rahe ran the shortest distance towards the exit that lay beyond the passage where the traps had reacted.

She wasn’t too late. Rahe could see a man sprinting towards the exit at the far end of the passage.

Villain 13. He, who had been hidden goodness knows where, was now trying to escape from this very place.

*─No way I’m letting him get away!*

Rahe immediately kicked off the floor and walls, soaring like a storm towards the back of the man fleeing in the distance.