Episode 332. Centaur Tracking Operation(4)

Kuaaang-! Kuaaang-! Pajijijik-!

• That thing is scary….

“… Shouldn’t we put a stop to that?”

“I think so too.”

Liliana said, sounding surprised, and Scarlet, who was beside me, agreed with my words.

By Isaac’s order, the entire tracking team had been blasting magic wildly into the forest, and at the center of it all was Alice.

“Haa, haa….”

Alice, having fired magic for a long time, wiped her forehead with a relieved expression. Her expression was one of sheer satisfaction, as if she had avenged her parents’ enemies.

“Was the young lady always this strong…?”

“I know, right? Her condition must be incredibly good today.”

The other members of the tracking team also seemed surprised, seeing Alice like this for the first time. Actually, I was just as surprised.

‘Was the effect of the massage really that good?’

‘No wonder I thought she wasn’t that angry; I’m glad I gave her that all-night massage.’

‘Haaam.’

‘Thanks to that, even though I’m damn tired, this much is perfectly acceptable.’

“Were you late yesterday because you were giving Miss Alice a massage?”

Scarlet asked, glancing between my yawn and Alice.

“That’s actually right. I was trying to keep it a secret.”

“You don’t really have to keep it a secret.”

“Well, hearing about other women isn’t pleasant, is it?”

Although other women liking me was appreciated, there was no need to bring it up like that. Even if they didn’t say it outright, it probably wouldn’t make them happy. ‘I should only say good things when I meet them.’

“… Wasn’t Hoyeon-nim a bad guy?”

“There isn’t anyone as kind as me.”

‘At least, I think I’m kind.’

Scarlet lightly smirked at my words, shook her head, then opened her mouth.

“Well, for now, I guess I should go help too. Since you aren’t giving the order to stop.”

“Yeah. Thanks for your hard work.”

• Since Scout’s gone too, let’s talk.

After Scarlet left, Liliana spoke to me.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay…”

“… Did my daughter take drugs or something?”

But then Isaac, standing next to me, muttered something scary, looking anxious. ‘Was he unable to adapt to his daughter’s sudden growth?’

‘Your daughter is natural, Father.’

Seeing Isaac’s serious expression, I casually moved closer and spoke to him.

“No way. I put in some effort with the massage for today.”

“Massage… Ah, you were Alice’s masseuse.”

“Yes.”

For reference, Isaac, Irene, and I were waiting behind the tracking team, who were firing magic. It wasn’t planned; I was walking over to help Alice when Isaac pulled me back.

“That massage seems incredibly effective. I heard it could potentially cure congenital mana deficiency.”

“I wasn’t sure myself, but the effect is amazing today.”

“If I get the chance, could I ask for it too?”

“… Hmm. After Alice’s treatment is finished.”

“Massage….”

Irene whispered, looking at me like trash, but I ignored her muttering, focusing instead on Isaac’s words.

Kuaaang- Paaang-

Even during that time, the tracking team’s magic didn’t stop, and the lush trees were mostly burned down, leaving only stumps. It wasn’t completely barren land, but at this point, the enemy’s ambush or attack wasn’t something to fear.

“Guild Master-nim. Is there a follow-up operation?”

“Centaurs don’t travel alone. Minions are a given, and sometimes even Pandemic executives join the attacks. The tracking team is being organized accordingly.”

“That makes sense. Hmm, but shouldn’t we stop soon? I feel like we’ll run out of energy before we even fight.”

‘At this rate, it seems like they’re just taking out their stress on the forest.’

‘Especially Alice.’

‘No matter how excited she is, she shouldn’t use up all her mana there.’

“Until the hideout, you’re the commander.”

“Ah.”

‘So that’s why.’

‘No wonder everyone was being quiet.’

I turned on the communicator and spoke.

• We’ll proceed soon. Stop.

Upon my command, the tracking team gathered their mana, and after seeing they were settled, I continued.

• I’ll lead the way and enter.

‘Since I’m the only one who can pinpoint the exact location, I should lead.’

I confidently stepped forward into the forest.

‘More accurately, the place that used to be a forest.’

The smoke of mana could be felt getting closer and closer, and the tracking team followed slowly behind me.

• Getting closer. There’s bound to be a barrier, so don’t let your guard down.

‘It’s a hideout, so there must definitely be a barrier.’

‘There’s probably an invisible barrier.’

‘Usually, barriers of this type are hard to detect even up close, but…’

Dugeun-

‘As long as I have my “Combat Sense,” any threat to me can be detected immediately.’

• Halt. There is a thick barrier 50 meters ahead.

As soon as I sensed the barrier, I raised my mana.

“A barrier? I can’t feel it yet.”

“… No. Concentrate, Irene. It’s definitely there.”

Irene showed doubt at my words, but Isaac seemed to realize immediately and raised his mana, following my lead. Probably, except for Isaac and me, no one else seemed to notice, but still, since Isaac, the Guild Master, raised his mana, the other tracking team members began to follow suit one by one.

“I’ll calculate the barrier’s inverse.”

“Okay.”

I gathered my mana and deployed a rune barrier. ‘Being ambushed while calculating the inverse is the most annoying thing.’

“… Guild Master-nim. Can you notice a hidden barrier like this without concentrating?”

“Right? I only noticed after hearing about it too. Maybe I should seek advice later.”

While gathering mana and listening to Irene and Isaac from behind, the barrier set up ahead suddenly began to collapse.

“… The inverse calculation is finished already?”

“That’s unbelievable….”

Gasps could be heard from behind, but I felt bewilderment, not pride.

‘… What is it? Is it an ambush?’

‘Why is it calculating its own inverse?’

‘Could it be the enemies opened it themselves?’

Flustered and speechless, I suddenly felt a very faint mana signature. ‘It had the same wavelength as my own rune barrier.’

• Isn’t that Rebecca?!

‘So Rebecca did it.’

Liliana also seemed to have noticed Rebecca’s mana. ‘She said she’d assist from behind, and this must be that assistance.’

Now that I knew it was safe, I naturally turned around and said,

“The inverse calculation is complete. Let’s enter.”

• That’s sneaky.

*

“… You want to capture it alive?”

“Subduing a Centaur is harder than killing it by more than double.”

I casually mentioned wanting to capture the Centaur alive to Isaac and Irene, but their reactions were quite strong.

“It’s just wishful thinking. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to kill it.”

“Even with you here, it would be difficult.”

“That person might come.”

“That person…? Ah, are you talking about the red-haired lady?”

“… Guild Master-nim. Who is that lady?”

“If that’s the case, it might be worth trying. If we capture it alive, we can get a lot of information too.”

“Guild Master-nim? Are you going to tell Mother?”

‘I had already arranged with Rebecca to join the battle when I gave the signal.’

‘Since she’s someone only Isaac and I know, convincing the other tracking team members is necessary, but well, that’s something I can worry about later.’

‘In the Iris Guild, if Guild Master Isaac says it’s okay, then it’s okay.’

‘First of all, we need to catch the Centaur, right?’

‘Releasing the Centaur from its brainwashing is possible for me too, but Rebecca’s own combat power is also strong.’

‘During the day, probably similar to Isaac, or even stronger.’

‘If a powerhouse of this level is added to our forces, capture isn’t just a dream.’

‘By the way, I hope Isaac doesn’t have his eyes on Rebecca.’

‘If he seems serious, I’ll have to shut it down immediately.’

• You can catch the Centaur, right?

“I can catch it.”

• I’m counting on you! Okay?

“Don’t worry.”

‘If it doesn’t work, I’ll make it work.’

I clenched the necklace tightly, as if to comfort Liliana.

“Hey, Lee Hoyeon? Why have you been talking to yourself…?”

Irene asked me worriedly. I tried to joke back, asking if she was worried about me, but at the same time, I felt my heart pounding.

Jeobeokjeobeok.

Kungkung-

We stopped talking as we felt numerous signs of presence approaching from the front. Pandemic executives were approaching, accompanied by numerous minions. And in the center, walking leisurely, was the giant Centaur.

‘… No ambushes or tricks, just a full-out war right away?’

‘This is scary.’

Seeing the approaching minions, Isaac spoke into the communicator.

• Everyone, battle stations. Dealing with the Centaur is me, Team Leader 1, and… Mage Lee Hoyeon. The rest will handle the minions under Team Leader 2’s command.

“… Huh? Not Team Leader 2, but Lee Hoyeon?”

“Yes. Lee Hoyeon is stronger than Team Leader 2. Lee Hoyeon. Are you okay?”

Irene looked at me, surprised, but I had actually expected this. ‘When we were bombing the forest, Irene and Isaac were conserving their mana, and Isaac stopped me when I was trying to help Alice.’ ‘What reason would there be to conserve mana other than for the boss fight?’

“I had anticipated this.”

“Good. Prepare yourselves.”

*

The battle unfolded, surprisingly splitting into two fronts exactly as we had hoped. Facing the Centaur in the center were Isaac, Irene, and I.

• Keueoeok!

• Kill them! We’ll deal with the weaklings!

The minions and executives, seemingly avoiding us, rushed towards the remaining tracking team members. ‘They probably hoped over there too that the Centaur would keep the strong ones busy.’ ‘Anyway, the important thing is the fight over here.’

‘This situation doesn’t seem like the time to insist on capture.’

Kuaaang- Ppudeuk-

The number of minions was quite large, and beside us, the sounds of fierce battle could be heard. ‘Since executives were mixed in, we need to deal with the Centaur as quickly as possible.’ ‘Moreover, Alice and Scarlet are among the tracking team members.’

‘I’ll try once or twice, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll give up immediately.’

Taang-

I expanded the rune barrier into a wide sphere. The rapidly expanding barrier soon touched Rebecca’s hidden barrier, and I sent the promised wavelength into it.

“Lee Hoyeon. Is that person coming?”

“Yes. They’ll be here shortly.”

“So, who is that person?”

“I’ll introduce them to you too, Irene-nim. They’re an acquaintance of mine.”

“… Uh, uh. Yeah.”

‘Why is she so surprised when I talk to her?’

[Is it a succubus.]

Just then, the Centaur in front spoke to me. ‘It’s still unsettling how it radiates murderous intent while speaking in such a gentle tone.’ ‘Is it because of the brainwashing?’

“Since last time, what the heck is a succubus? It’s never said things like that before….”

“Maybe it has a new target? Or perhaps there’s another meaning we don’t know about.”

“… Well, if we torture it, it’ll spill the beans.”

• No, who doesn’t know what a succubus is? That’s impossible!

I was worried Isaac and Irene might suspect me, but luckily the conversation didn’t drag on.

Taak-

“Um, hello?”

“You’re here. Rebecca-ssi.”

Rebecca, who had been hidden nearby, appeared. She released the rune barrier and naturally appeared beside us.

“Eek? Who is that!”

“Lady. Your personality is still amusing. Irene, this person is our reinforcement.”

“… Reinforcement?”

“Thanks for the compliment. So then, kid, cough Hoyeon-ah. Can we engage right away?”

“Yes. Let’s try to capture it first, and if that fails, it’s kill on sight.”

‘The sounds of fierce fighting can be heard around us, so we can’t afford to waste time.’

[Why are you there… Humans are incomprehensible.]

My heart sank as soon as I heard the Centaur’s words. ‘Come to think of it, Rebecca has met the Centaur before.’ ‘It’s like Liliana and Rebecca are a pair of time bombs.’

“What is it saying now….”

“Guild Master-nim. We don’t have time. We need to quickly subdue the Centaur and help the others.”

“… Right. You’re right. It might be trying to stall for time.”

Pajijijik-!

‘It’s better not to give it time to talk.’

I immediately began forming the prepared magic circle.