Episode 318. Centaur

“Lee Hoyeon. I have something I want to ask.”

“Yes. Ask away.”

Scarlet was standing behind me, and Sebastian and Alice were still talking with the guild members. Seeing Irene standing over there too, I figured they were probably deciding on the guild members’ treatment. Isaac spoke to me without paying any mind to Scarlet standing there.

“The woman with red hair. Do you know her?”

“A woman with red hair…?”

There isn’t just one woman with red hair. How am I supposed to know who you mean?

‘Huh?’

At that moment, a familiar face flashed through my mind. I was sure Rebecca-ssi had said she’d help me, but she hadn’t shown herself yet. Besides, there aren’t many women Isaac would ask about with such a serious expression. And among them, there’s obviously only one person I know.

“Does she perhaps use barriers?”

“Yes. She was waiting around here. Who is she?”

So it was her. Looks like Rebecca got caught by Isaac. I wasn’t worried because I knew how strong Rune’s barriers were, but I didn’t expect her to get caught.

“Umm. She’s just an acquaintance.”

“…I won’t ask for details. But there’s something I need to confirm for the sake of our relationship.”

“Okay.”

I calmly maintained my expression.

‘This is kinda serious.’

She was probably trying to support me from the sidelines, but she just had to get caught by Isaac. And judging by his attitude, it’s certain she’s been revealed as an incredible powerhouse… Is this going to be okay? Getting tangled up in something weird could be a hassle. She’s affiliated with Pandemic, for one, and honestly, I didn’t realize Rebecca was that strong either. From Isaac’s perspective, it must seem strange that such a hidden powerhouse is my acquaintance. If the Iris Guild happens to have any information on Rebecca, this could be trouble.

“That woman….”

Gulp.

I swallowed hard and quietly waited for Isaac’s next words.

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

“…What?”

“No, she was incredibly beautiful. I’d love to get her contact info. Haven’t we built up that kind of relationship? Lee Hoyeon?”

“….”

What kind of person is this guy, seriously? Even Scarlet, who was standing behind Isaac, looked at him with disgust.

“Dad. Are you seriously crazy?”

Apparently, the decisions about the guild members’ treatment were finished, because Alice and Sebastian were nearby too. Alice, seeing her father’s bizarre behavior, bit her lip and approached us.

“Alice. Just a moment. Dad wasn’t asking for her contact info with any strange intentions. I just wanted to meet and have a constructive conversation… Aagh….”

“…Haa.”

I let out a sigh of relief as Isaac ran away after getting punched by Alice.

• Rebecca came! Maybe she really is a good person!

“I told you she’s a good person.”

I briefly replied to Liliana’s words. Even Sebastian went to stop Alice, and Scarlet approached me.

“That’s a relief, Hoyeon-nim.”

“Yeah.”

“Still, don’t let your guard down.”

“Guard down about what?”

“The Guild Master isn’t foolish enough to lose his head over any pretty face. He might have played along knowing full well.”

Scarlet said this with a meaningful expression, and I shook my head watching Isaac flee from the sword Alice swung, her face flushed red.

“…Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Seeing him like that, maybe Hoyeon-nim’s guess is correct this time.”

---

While they were bickering for a bit, the members of the pursuit team had all gathered. Seeing the face of the guy who tried to pick a fight with me earlier wasn’t there, I guess he was really kicked out? A bit pitiful. I actually kind of liked it.

“Now that everyone’s here, we’re heading straight for the Centaur. Its location is in the residential area of the factory district. Civilians have been evacuated, but we don’t know when it might move elsewhere, so we need to drive it out quickly.”

Isaac scanned all the faces in the pursuit team and nodded.

“Alice and Cadet Lee Hoyeon are participating in this anti-terror support operation… We’ve decided to bring them along for the Centaur pursuit as well. We’re short on time, so I’ll relay the details via comms on the way. Let’s move!”

Pang-

Isaac used his magic to dash forward quickly, and the pursuit team followed without a word. Not a single complaint even though I’m coming along, they really seem like the aces. Maybe they got quiet after seeing that one guy get kicked out earlier? Alice and I followed at the rear of the formation. Isaac moved at a considerable speed from the center, and the entire pursuit team kept pace with him. Looking at Alice’s breathing as she ran beside me, it seemed like the speed was a bit much even for her. Considering Alice is an absurdly overpowered heroine, it showed how high the level of everyone here was.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“…I can manage.”

“Okay. I won’t talk to you then.”

I might just get yelled at if I talk too much. It seemed like running itself was draining Alice’s stamina. She still has congenital mana deficiency, so I have to understand.

“…Are you okay? We’re about to meet the real Centaur.”

But perhaps Alice felt her pride hurt by my consideration, as she spoke to me first instead.

“Yeah. I have a perfect plan. We need to conserve our energy, so let’s stop talking. I’m tired.”

“…If that’s the case, then.”

Whether Alice understood my consideration or not, she focused on running quietly.

Jiiing-

Actually, what was tiring me out wasn’t the running.

Jiiing-

That woman watching me from the side. Irene.

“…This is pressure.”

Ever since we were at the gathering spot earlier, she watched me while cloaked every time Alice and I talked. I’ve gotten quite strong now, so I could easily see through her stealth from this close. But I couldn’t just pretend I knew, so I tried to ignore it… but it was really putting me on edge.

About 10 minutes later.

• We’re almost there. Everyone prepare for battle.

Kwaang-!

Listening to the comms, I smashed the head of a monster that appeared before me. There were quite a few monsters along the way, which delayed us.

Jiiing-

‘Ah, screw it. I don’t care anymore.’

How long is that crazy woman planning to stare at me? She was even holding a monster with one hand while looking at me. I won’t be able to concentrate on the Centaur at this rate. Finally, I turned my head and looked straight at Irene. Irene, who had been watching me without a care in the world, widened her eyes the moment our gazes met. Then she quickly hid behind a nearby guild member.

“….”

There really are a lot of strange people in the world. Still, she’s pretty enough to look kind of cute.

• Factory district reached. Everyone gather around me.

Irene’s gaze disappeared, and we soon arrived at the factory district.

• Where are the factories around here?

“…It looks like some kind of bomb went off.”

“That’s why they formed a pursuit team to track it. Because the disaster struck right in the middle of the city.”

Buildings in the area were completely destroyed, and I could feel the mana of the numerous monsters scattered nearby. And at the center of it all, there was one immense source of mana.

“….”

“….”

Sensing the unbelievable aura even from a distance, the pursuit team slowly cleared the monsters while closing the distance. Even though the Centaur must have known we were approaching, it remained stationary right there.

“Don’t be too tense. The Centaur will run the moment we get close.”

“…Yeah. Unnie.”

Irene had somehow approached Alice and was trying to calm her down. She glanced at me sneakily, but quickly turned her head away when I looked. We slowly entered the area of intense magical pressure and soon found it.

“Target sighted.”

The factory area, ruined as if a nuclear bomb had been dropped. Standing forlornly amidst the acrid smoke was the giant half-man, half-beast. The Centaur. An odd combination of a human torso and a horse’s lower body, the monstrous creature, larger than most trucks, possessed something overwhelming just by looking at it. Four legs planted firmly on the ground, and a tail swaying behind it. The Centaur emanated an incredibly dense hellish mana, and an F-marked mercenary tag hung around its neck. That must be the F-rank mercenary tag.

• Found it. I found it! Found it!

“….”

Liliana shouted excitedly, and the Centaur slowly turned its head to look towards the pursuit team. The creature rolled its eyes slowly before opening its mouth.

• [Hoh….]

A chilling voice, as if spoken directly into one’s ear. The Centaur wasn’t content with just watching us; it turned its entire body towards us.

…But didn’t they say it runs away as soon as it encounters the pursuit team?

“It’s not running?! Battle! Prepare for battle! Damn it!”

At the same time, Irene appeared in front of Alice, who was beside me. The mana flowing from her entire body was visible.

“Huh, Unnie?”

“Stay still, Alice. That thing… is a real monster.”

Amidst the tension radiating from the other pursuit team members, I met the creature’s gaze. No. Its gaze was fixed on me. Specifically, on the necklace I wore around my neck.

• [A familiar face.]

• What’s it saying?! It looks like it’s looking at us?!

“…Seems like it.”

The pursuit team grew more confused at the Centaur’s voice.

“I-It’s talking! This is the first time we’ve encountered this!”

“Don’t let your guard down! We respond the moment it moves.”

Isaac seemed like he wanted to avoid a fight. He had said that the Centaur only runs away if you bring enough power to defeat it, so we certainly had the winning hand. The reason he wanted to avoid combat was probably because of Alice. Alice, standing beside me even now, was biting her lip, overwhelmed by the Centaur’s mana.

• [A succubus, perhaps? Now I understand why I was contracted by humans. There was something that drew me in.]

“Succubus…? What kind of bullshit is that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s a new Pandemic…”

While the others couldn’t understand the Centaur’s words, only Liliana, Scarlet, and I could.

• It’s talking about me, right? What the hell is that?!

“….”

I quietly waited for the Centaur’s next words. A fight might break out, so I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Apostle…! It’s time to retreat.”

Just then, a monster appeared beside the Centaur. Its aura felt like that of a high-ranking executive. That must be the guy who came to support the Centaur’s terror attack.

“Maestro-nim has ordered that combat is absolutely forbidden right now, Apostle.”

• [Hmm.]

The Centaur glanced at the necklace on my chest until the very end before turning its body. And then, it vanished instantly, as if it had never existed in the first place. The oppressive mana surrounding us disappeared, and sighs of relief flowed from the guild members.

“…Situation concluded. The target has escaped.”

“Alice. Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. Unnie.”

At the same time, the mana signatures I felt from the pursuit team vanished one by one. They probably escape like this all the time.

“Liliana. Did you read the mana?”

I quietly whispered to Liliana.

• Uh, umm. Can you get closer maybe? There might be residual mana left.

“Okay.”

Taak-

“H-Hey!”

Hearing someone call out to me due to my sudden action, I pushed off the ground and dashed towards where the Centaur had been.