Ch.9Minotaur Extermination Squad (2)

The subjugation team advanced through the dark forest where barely any light penetrated.

In this strangely humid forest, they hoped to quickly find the Minotaur.

After walking for some time, they came upon a fairly large clearing that appeared to be where the Minotaur had been rampaging.

“This should be sufficient for us to hide and ambush it. Sword Demon and Spearman, please lure the creature here.”

As the two nodded and departed, the Old Knight had everyone else create simple hiding spots around the area and wait in position.

Since Minotaurs were monsters that would smash through traps with brute force even if they suspected something, he believed this level of preparation would be sufficient.

* * * * *

“Say, Spearman, why is your title simply ‘Spearman’? Even that water freak has a cool title like ‘Water God’.”

Perhaps bored on their way to lure the Minotaur, Sword Demon questioned Spearman.

He looked as relaxed as if going on a picnic, giving the impression he could retreat at any moment if needed.

“There are plenty of people who wield spears better than I do. How could I use a grand title like you all? I simply call myself a spearman, nothing more.”

“Hmm—how incredibly modest. Honestly, how many people in this territory could defeat Titanium-class fighters like us? You should have more confidence.”

Spearman shook his head at those words, and Sword Demon responded with a dismissive “suit yourself.”

Silence fell over the forest again. Spearman was taciturn, and Sword Demon seemed to have lost interest in conversing with someone whose communication style didn’t match his own. They continued advancing through the Demon Forest in silence.

However… though they had been following the Minotaur’s trail, the tracks suddenly disappeared.

“Hey, Spearman. The Minotaur’s tracks suddenly vanished. Could this bull bastard be hiding somewhere—”

As he spoke those words, Spearman drew his spear and aimed it at Sword Demon’s head.

“Gah—!! What the—!”

Before Sword Demon could react, the spear flew toward his head… and then passed just above it.

“You fucking bastard!!! What are you trying to—”

Sword Demon looked up at the spear that had just grazed his head and made eye contact with a presence above.

*Grin*

“Ha… shit…”

Before Sword Demon could finish speaking, a massive hand descended from above, grabbed him, and crushed every bone in his body, killing him instantly.

*CRACK—!!!*

Witnessing this, Spearman ran with all his might. He’d heard it was a Minotaur variant, but a Minotaur that sets ambushes?!

Not only that, but its tactic of climbing trees to hide its tracks and launching surprise attacks was remarkably similar to the methods used by Ogres, known as kings of the forest.

When Spearman looked back, he saw the Minotaur swallowing Sword Demon in one gulp.

For a brief moment, he felt regret at not being able to protect someone he had just been conversing with, but it was the fault of that idiot who couldn’t block such an ambush despite being Titanium-class.

But… Spearman stopped in his tracks, sensing something strange. The Minotaur he had just seen was of considerable size.

It was large enough to deserve the name “variant,” and its intelligence was impressive enough to set up ambushes.

But… why couldn’t he hear the sound of it running after him?

A creature of that size should make the ground shake and create noise when running… With a sinking feeling, he turned around… and saw nothing there.

The moment he saw this, he threw himself sideways.

*WHOOSH—!*

A blast of air pressure grazed his ear. Thanks to never neglecting his training even after reaching Titanium-class, he managed to survive. Or rather, it was due to his excellent reflexes and survival instinct.

The creature wasn’t running but moving like a monkey, extending its arms to travel between the massive trees of the Demon Forest. How the trees supported such a massive body was a mystery…

What mattered was that its speed exceeded his own. Realizing he couldn’t escape, he drew his spear and took a stance, determined to inflict as much damage as possible.

He lowered his body and pointed the spear downward. The Minotaur, watching him with interest, began to move.

Thud— Thud—. The Minotaur slowly approached Spearman. When it came within range…

*SWISH—!!*

The blue spear, imbued with mana, rapidly pierced the Minotaur’s leg. However… though the spear penetrated the variant Minotaur’s skin, it stopped at the muscle, unable to go deeper.

Though he wanted to pull it out, the spear was trapped in the Minotaur’s muscle… Seeing the creature swing its arm, he finally abandoned the spear and retreated.

*WHOOSH—!!*

Even a casual swing of its arm generated wind pressure so intense that even Spearman, who had reached the Expert level, could barely keep his eyes open.

Knowing he’d die if he remained still, he kept moving to maintain visibility, but… the Minotaur wasn’t moving from its spot.

*Hehehehe…*

Covering its mouth with its hand and pointing at him in a mocking gesture, the Minotaur looked… remarkably human-like.

“Gah! To be mocked by a mere monster…”

He began assembling a collapsible spare spear from his waist. The Minotaur, watching this curiously, pulled out the spear stuck in its leg, drew its arm back, and threw it.

With a terrifying sound of air being torn apart, the spear grazed past Spearman.

“AAAAARGH—!!!!”

Even though it only grazed him, the wind pressure generated by the passing spear turned Spearman’s left arm into a bloody mess.

As he reached for a potion in his pouch while bleeding profusely, the Minotaur shot a breath attack from its mouth.

*KABOOM—!!!*

Though he took a direct hit, the firepower seemed weak, merely burning his skin slightly. However, the electric breath paralyzed Spearman.

“What?! My body…”

*CRACK—!!*

* * * * *

How long had they been waiting in their hiding spots? Five minutes, ten minutes…? Losing track of time while waiting tensely, they noticed that Sword Demon and Spearman hadn’t returned with the Minotaur.

Thinking perhaps the Minotaur had gone hunting and was away, they waited a bit longer… but even after an hour, the two hadn’t returned.

Since two Titanium-class fighters had gone, at least one should have been able to escape. The fact that neither had returned suggested they’d encountered something unexpected. Just as the Old Knight was about to call everyone together…

Something massive fell from the sky.

*CRASH———!!!!*

Whatever it was shattered the ground and made the earth shake as if an earthquake had struck.

The impact sent debris flying in all directions, unfortunately killing three of the waiting members.

“Ugh…! What is this…!”

Before the Old Knight’s eyes, a massive mansion appeared.

“It’s the Minotaur! White Out, cast your magic immediately! Gale, Kyle, Clark! Follow me and draw the Minotaur’s attention. Lagus, use the Basilisk poison you brought! The rest of you mercenaries, protect Lagus while keeping the creature at bay!”

“We’ll immobilize it with lightning and ice magic! Cast on my signal!”

Everyone moved swiftly at the Old Knight’s command. Four knights, each with mana-imbued swords, continuously inflicted wounds around the Minotaur’s feet.

The Old Knight slashed at one ankle as he passed by, while another knight cut the opposite foot.

“MUUUU!”

The Minotaur swung its arms to drive them away, but the knights had already created distance between themselves and the creature.

They continued moving in a cross pattern, slashing at the ankles to rob the Minotaur of its mobility. Just then, the Destroyer King, having finished preparing his spell, shouted the incantation.

“Bestow the wrath of the gods upon my enemy! Giga Lightning Strike!”

With that cry, various lightning and ice spells flew toward the Minotaur.

Despite being Titanium-class, the Destroyer King cast the 7th circle spell Giga Lightning Strike, while the White Out members also cast various spells.

“Thunder Calling!”

“Frozen Wind!”

“Ice Strike!”

Lightning and ice magic enveloped the Minotaur. Due to its size, it wasn’t completely frozen, but its lower body was completely encased in ice, and electricity coursed through its entire body.

“MUUUUUU—!!!!”

With the Minotaur completely immobilized, Basilisk poison—said to prevent even trolls from regenerating when hit—flew toward its neck.

*Thunk-!!*

“Muu…”

The Basilisk poison seemed to have a fatal effect on the Minotaur as well, as it immediately lost consciousness and slumped over. Poisoned, its breathing became barely audible.

“Phew—, I used such powerful magic because it was a variant, but thanks to that we caught it quickly.”

“That was impressive. To think I’d see 7th circle magic while living in such a remote area… Why are you working as an adventurer anyway?”

“Hahaha, the magic tower is too boring a place. Rather than being cooped up in a room doing research every day, I find it more fun to discover talented individuals and help them grow.”

“Haha, you’re an unusual fellow. Anyway, let’s cut off its head and take it with us. You’ll all receive the promised compensation.”

*Woohoo—!*

The knights and White Out members did all the work while they had merely protected the sniper, yet they would still receive the promised reward!

“But… do you have any idea where Spearman and Sword Demon went? Despite the size of this Minotaur, if it was one we could handle, they should have been able to escape…”

“Well… I don’t think they would have run away given their temperament… Perhaps they haven’t encountered the Minotaur yet and are still searching.”

“Hmm… perhaps. Well, let’s cut off this creature’s head. Conveniently, it’s unconscious right in front of us, making it easier to behead.”

With those words, the Old Knight received a greatsword from the knight who had served as the sniper. As he gripped the sword and infused it with mana, blue energy flowed around the blade. Just as he was about to swing it…

“AAAAARGH—!!!”

The Minotaur opened its eyes.