Ch.60Hostage Situation Is Dangerous (4)

Trione was a hunter who had made quite a name for herself in America before joining Hades.

She was a top talent expected to become the next S-rank. However, her limits came faster than expected, and while struggling, she discovered her true ability.

The power to manipulate people’s emotions and control their minds.

With this power, Trione would certainly have been a special existence even among A-rank hunters.

But.

‘What on earth is that guy?’

A mysterious necromancer wearing a drab hood stood blocking her path.

Strictly speaking, the undead he summoned weren’t that powerful, but something was definitely off.

‘…I have a bad feeling.’

Clearly, she had the upper hand.

Her subordinates, whom she had brainwashed and controlled for years, were pushing back against the undead, but for some reason, her opponent showed no signs of wavering.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

At Gordon’s calm question, Trione responded with a distorted expression.

“Of course not.”

BOOM!

One of the awakened under her control caused an intense explosion with his ability, and in that moment, assassin-type awakened ones rushed toward Gordon.

‘Even so, he’s a rear position. He’s helpless in close combat.’

Trione watched Gordon with confidence in her victory.

Although none of the brainwashed awakened ones were A-rank talents, against a necromancer, even those of lower ranks should be sufficient at close range.

Stab!

Pierce!

Slash!

Sure enough, Gordon’s body was torn and pierced by her subordinates’ attacks, suffering fatal wounds.

Thinking her worries had been unfounded, Trione turned her attention to Song Hayeon who was standing behind her.

“Both sides seem to be ending quicker than I expected.”

“…I wonder about that.”

When Trione showed a questioning expression at this ambiguous response, Hayeon shrugged and answered.

“The two who went that way, they definitely won’t be safe.”

“You’re harboring false hopes. Even Jackson wouldn’t be a match if those two joined forces.”

At that moment, an eerie laugh echoed through the ruined factory.

“Kekeke. What an interesting thing to say.”

“How on earth…?”

CRACK!

Gordon, who should have died from his fatal wounds, grabbed the heads of the awakened ones who had stabbed him, while emitting death energy from his entire body.

“Energy Drain”

Whoosh!

Crackle—!

As the awakened ones withered away, their life force instantly drained, Trione startled and called back her remaining subordinates near Gordon.

“You! What exactly are you?”

Not an ordinary necromancer. The aura emanating from her opponent was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Looking at Trione who nervously swallowed, Gordon slowly began to reveal his true form.

Crack.

Crackle.

“How foolish. Truly pitiful that you didn’t even notice your feet stepping into the swamp of death.”

A body made of pure white bones, eye sockets as empty as the abyss, and condensed death energy flowing between them.

Seeing this, Trione unconsciously stepped back with an expression of disbelief.

“L-Lich…! Why is a Lich here!”

Trione couldn’t comprehend the situation. Why would a Lich, known as a boss in high-level dungeons, exist in a place like this?

Moreover, the opponent was acting alongside humans—something incomprehensible by common sense.

‘No, wait. I definitely…’

She had heard something while investigating Baek Eunha’s information beforehand.

The recent double dungeon incident that had caused a stir—the boss of that dungeon was none other than a Lich.

‘It has to be him.’

If so, though hard to believe, it meant someone had brought a dungeon boss outside without a dungeon break occurring.

‘Is such a thing… possible?’

Anxiety was amplifying in Trione’s heart.

If Baek Eunha was behind this, what exactly was her identity?

And that ominous imagination soon became reality.

Whoosh.

Splat!

Something warm splashed against Trione’s cheek.

When she wiped it off, blood stained her hand. Of course, it wasn’t her own.

“That can’t be.”

With trembling eyes, she saw someone’s cleanly severed limb on the ground.

It belonged to Wei, who had chased after Baek Eunha with Madison earlier.

“Y-You couldn’t even handle one person? How useless.”

At the sudden delicate voice, Trione involuntarily flinched.

“I was deliberately leaving some for you. As a disciple, I couldn’t take my master’s share, could I?”

“…I don’t really mind.”

Beside Baek Eunha stood a large undead that hadn’t been there before.

And to Trione, the undead’s attire seemed somehow familiar.

“I-Impossible…”

Though she tried to deny it, the facts before her eyes were too clear.

Both of them had been defeated by that young girl who looked like a high school student at best. And without even being able to inflict any significant wounds.

What Trione felt upon realizing this was overwhelming fear that rushed in without any chance to block it.

‘…I need to escape.’

Wei had died with his limbs severed, and Madison had become an undead with his soul captured by the opponent.

She would rather die than end up in such a miserable state.

Whoosh.

Trione drew up as much magical power as possible and began spreading it throughout the wide space.

Her ability wasn’t just simple brainwashing. She could also confuse enemies over a wide area by spreading her magic like this.

“Confusion!”

Whoosh.

However, for some reason, despite activating the spell, her opponent didn’t even flinch.

Just as she was about to panic, Trione’s spell shattered.

CRACK!

Shatter.

“Why…?”

“I-I’m already used to it.”

It seemed that Baek Eunha had somehow nullified her spell, though the exact method was unclear.

Thud.

Trione fell into despair, realizing that no means remained available to her.

And before such a Trione, clear footsteps began to approach.

Step.

Step.

Thud.

“…Ugh, I even had to go through troublesome investigations because of you.”

“……”

Whoosh.

Baek Eunha, reaching her hand near Trione’s head, continued while mumbling.

“I-If you went around brainwashing people so recklessly, you should get a taste of your own medicine.”

“What?”

“P-Pledge in your heart that you’ll devote both body and mind to me.”

It was the soul contract she had previously demonstrated against Kwak Minji.

“…And if I refuse?”

“Ugh. W-Well, you can if you want to end up like him.”

Looking at Madison, who had completely become an undead and lost his will as a human, Trione swallowed hard.

“…I pledge.”

Whoosh.

Shatter.

With that, Trione’s soul became subordinate to Baek Eunha.

And Baek Eunha, covering her mouth, turned her gaze and immediately gave Trione her first order.

“First, *gulp*. Tell me everything you know.”

“…Understood.”

“N-No, wait. First move 10 meters away. Ughhhh…”

And so, the first battle with Hades concluded.

#

[“That’s all I know. Since I can’t lie in this situation anyway, I don’t think proof is necessary.”]

After subjugating Trione’s soul, I got her contact information and received Hades’ information over a phone call from about 15 meters away.

“Y-You put on all those airs, and this is all you know?”

[“I joined Hades relatively recently, so I don’t know much. Jackson would have had more information.”]

But in the fight with Jackson, I had summoned Penerochet’s main body, which consumed a lot of energy, and since I didn’t know about Hades at the time, I couldn’t extract information from him.

Given the situation, it was inevitably disappointing.

‘…So, these guys have higher-ups?’

According to Trione, while there wasn’t a formal hierarchy, there were four people who were implicitly treated as superiors.

And, surprisingly, three of them were returnees. Honestly, this was an unexpected force.

‘Both you and I have been looking out for A-rank since the beginning, but this is no joke…’

Of course, not all returnees possessed strong powers, but they were definitely subjects to be cautious of.

I didn’t need to look far—I myself was classified as a returnee.

‘And their purpose is.’

She said it was to resurrect something inexplicable.

I probed further, but unfortunately, Trione didn’t know anything more.

“I-Incompetent fool.”

[……]

After finishing the brief interrogation, Trione asked me in a trembling voice.

[“…What do you plan to do with me now?”]

“S-Slave number 3.”

Honestly, no further explanation was needed. From my perspective, I had gained a convenient subordinate who wouldn’t get me beaten up elsewhere—nothing more, nothing less.

So I had Trione completely release Kwak Minji from her brainwashing, and then crammed her into the car trunk, concluding the situation.

When Trione tried to get into the car with us, I gave her a sidelong glance and a rebuke.

“W-What are you doing?”

“…Aren’t you taking me with you?”

“Ugh. You need to stay and clean up first. Don’t you know that just by looking?”

“Then how will I find you?”

“J-Just figure it out and come.”

Slam.

And so, we returned home, ending our long yet brief overnight stay.