Episode 192. Blood Ties, School Ties, Friendship Ties (2)

Clank- Clank-

Clack-

Pandemic’s headquarters.

Chains treated with special magic and multiple layers of magic circles were installed, and at the center, a Centaur was bound.

It wasn’t exactly resisting, but the Centaur’s power was so immense that it would have been dangerous not to restrain it like this.

“Apostle-nim, please spread the flames of the Underworld throughout the human world….”

Maestro clasped his hands and prayed before the Centaur.

• Stupid humans are impossible to reason with… Can’t even recognize an F-rank mercenary token.

And Rebecca, standing behind him, quietly closed her eyes.

‘Crazy bastards.’

Both that Centaur, forcibly hiding its magic and pretending to be weak, and Maestro, who knew everything yet played along. Both of them were definitely crazy.

“Human slaughter, or human slaves. I can help with either.”

• Not interested, so piss off.

“Apostle-nim, if you accepted the summoning contract, it means you desire something in the human world, doesn’t it? Please, tell me what it is.”

• Haaah, I never made any contract. I don’t even know why I’m here.

However, despite Maestro’s persistent wooing, the Centaur wouldn’t change its mind.

Eventually, Maestro had to change his approach. Persuading it like this was the best option, but he had no choice but to use precious magic.

“… Rebecca. This isn’t working.”

“Yes. Maestro-nim.”

As soon as Maestro called her name, Rebecca drew up her magic.

Zzzzziiing-

Soon, a Rune barrier unfolded around the Centaur.

“Haaah, beasts are beasts because they don’t understand human speech.”

• Say whatever you want. Anyway, I… Khhhup?!

The Rune barrier.

The reason it was called the best, worst, and most fearsome barrier wasn’t simply because it couldn’t be easily broken.

The Rune tribe dedicates their entire lives to honing the Rune barrier.

When combined with the power of the bloodline flowing through the Rune tribe, a magic completely different from ordinary barriers is completed.

That’s why their barriers are different.

The ability to control the inside of the barrier.

That ability grows stronger the smaller the barrier is.

• Khhhup. Keeeup….

“Apostle-nim. Look into my eyes.”

The air completely vanished from within the barrier. Although intense pressure and impact were being applied, the Centaur was still unharmed.

“Hmm, Rebecca. Let’s maintain the barrier like this. It seems like it will take a long time to persuade the Apostle-nim.”

“Yes. Maestro-nim. I will take my leave.”

• Kkeueuk….

“Now, Apostle-nim. I will say it once again….”

Click-

Watching Maestro cling to the Centaur, Rebecca closed the door and exited the headquarters.

“Haaah, haaah… It takes too much mana to block Maestro’s brainwashing. What a crazy bastard.”

Rebecca could block Maestro’s brainwashing because she was covered by the Rune barrier, but even she could be found out if she made eye contact for too long. That’s how dangerous his ability is. That Centaur is resisting, but like the other executives, it will probably fall soon.

“You worked hard. Rebecca-nim.”

Rebecca’s subordinate, who had been waiting outside, approached.

“Yeah. What’s the situation with Lee Hoyeon?”

“Based on the hospital records, it seems he will be discharged soon.”

“Oho… Got it.”

Rebecca smiled with joy at the thought of soon meeting the survivor of her clan.

*

Nam Dahee was playing around, dingga dingga, not paying attention to this side, while Nam Daeun was still playing with Dahee, her face slightly flushed.

“What’s this ‘Underworld native’ thing? Is that really a monster from the Underworld?”

“No, I don’t know about that. But do you see the mercenary token hanging around its neck?”

“Mercenary token?”

I stared intently at the TV screen. Experts were on screen, explaining this and that, and the video was paused, so I could see it clearly.

“It looks like it says ‘F…’.”

“That necklace? What does that have to do with the Underworld?”

Although the design was strange, it wasn’t a particularly unusual necklace. Monsters usually like bizarre designs, after all.

“It’s not a necklace, it’s a mercenary token used in the Underworld.”

“Wait, hold on. It says F. Why would they use that in the Underworld?”

English is a human world language. Why would they use English in the Underworld?

“What are you talking about? Mercenary tokens should obviously be written in English.”

“….”

There were many things I wanted to point out, but I decided to let it go. Besides, I’m talking to a Succubus myself; what’s the big deal about using English in the Underworld?

“So, who is that Centaur? Is it someone famous?”

I don’t know why that guy is here, but if it’s a famous named monster from the Underworld, isn’t that dangerous?

“No. F is the lowest rank. The lowest trash among mercenaries. They’re the ones who clean up the trash in dungeons.”

“Didn’t you see the video? That person was sent flying like trash!”

If a cleaner is this strong, the world would end if even a laborer showed up.

“Hmm… Yeah, you’re right. There’s no way power like that would be F-rank.”

Fortunately, it seems that even in the Underworld, that level of power is considered strong.

“Anyway, that’s not the important part. So, do you have any idea why that Centaur is acting like that in this world?”

“Dunno. Maybe it came here after making some kind of contract, just like me.”

Liliana seemed happy to see a fellow Underworld native after a long time, her gaze fixed on the TV. She’s really useless when it matters.

“Contracts, the Underworld, monsters, city attacks…”

I slowly retraced the original story, pondering what could be inferred about this Centaur. Even though it’s a monster I’ve never seen before, there might be a hint in the original story.

“A monster with intelligence acting like that, hitting and running to commit terror, would certainly be difficult to deal with.”

“Right… Wait a second, terror?”

“Yes. What’s wrong?”

A single word accidentally dropped by Scarlet.

Terror.

The word terror brought a certain group to mind.

The demon group, Pandemic.

And then, stories from the original work about fighting Pandemic began to surface in my mind, one by one.

“… Apostle.”

Pandemic has the concept of Apostles. The concept is that they are subordinates of the Demon King, and from that point on, Pandemic’s attacks intensify, and powerful monsters not originally from this world appear. I remember complaining a lot that it felt like a forced plot device to fix the broken power balance… but putting that aside.

I’ve never seen a Centaur like this among the Apostles. The first Apostle that appeared in the original story wasn’t a monster like this, but a round, gooey slime.

‘I don’t know where it started… but something’s twisted.’

An intelligent Centaur. Meaning, it can communicate.

“I want to try talking to that Centaur at least once. Is there any way?”

I said, looking at Scarlet, the brains of our group. Since it can communicate, it might know information about the Underworld, the Demon King, or Liliana that we didn’t know.

“Hmm, actually, our Iris Guild is also looking for a way to subdue that Centaur. It disappeared suddenly in the middle of the city, but it seems to be located in the French region.”

“Right. The Iris Guild is in France too.”

Alice must be having a hard time too. Maybe I should look into that angle as well. Like joining forces with the Iris Guild to capture the Centaur…

‘Come to think of it, how could I possibly subdue that thing?’

It looks incredibly strong. Even with combat sense, it’s hard to fight someone in a completely different weight class. Unless there’s another way.

“Yes. It might be difficult for me to be here every day from now on.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Actually, me being here every day until now was the abnormal part. Scarlet has her own job, after all.

“The Underworld… the Underworld….”

Liliana wasn’t paying attention to our conversation, gazing wistfully at the TV.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Liliana]

• [ Affection: 97 ] (+1.6)

• [ Lust: 76 ]

• [ Appetite: 42 ]

• [ Fatigue: 30 ]

Current State: I wonder what Mom is doing….

“Liliana.”

“Yeah, yeah?”

“Do you want to talk to that Centaur?”

“… Not really, but I get a strange feeling every time I see that talking beast.”

Why is she acting so unlike herself?

“Act normal. Whining suits you better.”

“What are you saying, you crazy idiot? Where are you going to find a demure Succubus like me?”

The Underworld.

It was a place I hadn’t thought much about, but it kept appearing in the story.

Pandemic, and Liliana.

Maybe it’s actually important.

*

“… Honey, what is this?”

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Your circuits… no, your whole body has become healthier. Rather than ‘has become healthy’… it’s becoming healthy…?”

“Ah….”

It seems she’s reacting like this because she saw the ‘Greatly Increased Natural Healing Power’ reward I received. But is it really that surprising?

“I did get a new skill recently. But is it that much?”

“The natural healing is so clean and perfect. At this rate, the efficiency of your mana circuits will become even better than before you were injured.”

Oh, seeing her so surprised suggests the efficiency is incredible.

“So, will my discharge be moved up?”

I asked Baek Ahyoung, hoping for an earlier discharge.

“Tomorrow… no, you can be discharged the day after tomorrow.”

That’s great! I already had too much to do; I felt staying in the hospital was a waste of time. However, Baek Ahyoung’s expression wasn’t good. It’s probably because we’ll have less time together once I’m discharged. I feel bad again.

“Still… I’ll have to come for check-ups often, right?”

Baek Ahyoung looked at me when she heard my words.

“Huh? Ah… Yes. That would be good.”

“I’ll keep coming. Don’t worry.”

“… You have to come every day. Honey.”

“Okay.”

Squeeze-

I hugged Baek Ahyoung, who looked downcast, and she started speaking in a serious voice while in my arms.

“… Since you’re about to be discharged, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Hmm. What is it?”

Why is she setting such a serious mood? I waited for her next words, slightly tense.

“I didn’t tell you because I was worried about your condition… but someone approached me after you passed out during the terror attack.”

“… Yes.”

This is the first I’m hearing of this. Since Baek Ahyoung said she didn’t tell me because she was worried about my condition, perhaps something shocking happened.

“That person asked me to pass on this message to you.”

Hoo.

Baek Ahyoung sighed once and slowly began to speak, as if recalling that moment.

“I came from the clan of the past, so I will visit again once you’ve recovered.”

“… The clan of the past?”

“You don’t have to tell me right now. You probably have things you want to keep hidden too. But… please tell me someday. I want to be helpful to you too.”

Baek Ahyoung held my hand tightly, her eyes filled with earnestness. It was the look of someone willing to accept any secret their loved one might have. Of course, I was just flustered receiving such a gaze.

‘What the hell is this ‘clan of the past’ anyway?’

This is giving me a real headache.