Chapter 195. A Girl's Revenge (3)
Clank, clank—
Clink—
The heart of Pandemic's hideout.
Special mana-treated chains and layers of magic circles were set up, with the centaur bound at the center.
He didn't resist, but his strength was so overwhelming that this level of restraint was necessary.
"Apostle, please spread the flames of Hell across the human world...."
Maestro clasped his hands in front of the centaur and prayed.
- These foolish humans can't even recognize an F-rank mercenary badge...
Behind him, Rebecca quietly closed her eyes.
'They're both insane.'
That centaur, pretending to be weak while hiding his mana, and Maestro, putting on a show despite knowing everything.
Both were clearly mad.
"Massacring or enslaving humans, I can help with either."
- Not interested. Get lost.
"Apostle, you accepted the summoning contract, which means you must want something from the human world. Please, speak freely."
- Hah. I never agreed to any contract. I don't even know why I'm here.
Despite Maestro's continued attempts, the centaur wouldn't budge.
In the end, Maestro had to change tactics.
Persuasion would've been best, but it was time to waste precious mana.
"...Rebecca. We have no choice."
"Yes, Maestro."
As soon as he called her name, Rebecca drew upon her mana.
Bzzzz—
A rune barrier formed around the centaur.
"Hah, beasts like you don't understand words. That's why you're beasts."
- Say what you want. I don't care... Grk?!
The rune barrier.
It wasn't called the strongest, worst, and most fearsome barrier just because it was hard to break.
The rune clan spends their entire lives honing it.
Combined with their innate bloodline power, it's a completely different form of magic.
Their barriers are unique.
They can control the inside of the barrier.
The smaller the barrier, the more powerful its effect.
- Grgh, grrk....
"Apostle, look into my eyes."
The air within the barrier had vanished.
Pressure and impact were applied, yet the centaur remained unscathed.
"Hmm, Rebecca. Keep the barrier up. Persuading him might take a while."
"Yes, Maestro. I will take my leave."
- Ghhh....
"Now, Apostle. Allow me to repeat myself..."
Clack—
As Maestro moved toward the centaur, Rebecca shut the door and left the hideout.
"Hah, hah... Resisting Maestro's brainwashing consumes too much mana. He really is insane."
Thanks to the rune barrier, Rebecca could resist his brainwashing, but prolonged eye contact could still expose her.
That's how dangerous his power was.
That centaur might be resisting now, but like the others, he'd eventually fall.
"Good work, Lady Rebecca."
Her loyal aide greeted her outside.
"Yeah. What's Lee Hoyeon's condition?"
"From the hospital data, it appears he'll be discharged soon."
"Oho... Good to know."
A smile of joy formed on Rebecca's face at the thought of soon meeting a fellow survivor of her clan.
*
Nam Dahee was goofing off, paying no attention, and Nam Daeun was still playing with Dahee, her face faintly red.
"What's this about being from Hell? That thing's a monster from there?"
"Dunno, but do you see that badge on his neck?"
"Badge?"
I stared hard at the TV.
The video had paused for expert commentary, so I got a good look.
"It says F... I think."
"That necklace? What's that got to do with Hell?"
Weird design, sure, but not unusual.
Monsters always liked bizarre designs.
"It's not just a necklace. That's a mercenary badge used in Hell."
"Wait a sec. It says F. Why would Hell use English?"
English is a human world language.
Why would Hell use it?
"What are you talking about? Mercenary badges are always in English."
"...."
So many things I want to point out, but I let it slide.
I mean, I talk with a succubus. English in Hell isn't that weird.
"So who is that centaur anyway? Someone famous in Hell?"
If he was a big name, that'd be dangerous.
"Nah. F is bottom tier. Total trash. They clean up garbage in dungeons."
"Did you even watch the video? He flung people around like trash."
If that's what janitors are like, we're doomed when real fighters show up.
"Hmm... You're right. That kind of power can't be F-tier."
At least he's considered strong, even in Hell.
"That's not the point. Why is that centaur in this world? Any ideas?"
"Nope. Probably made a contract like I did."
Liliana stared at the TV, clearly interested to see a fellow Hell dweller.
She's useless in important moments.
"Contract, Hell, monster, city attack..."
I tried recalling the original story to see if there were clues about the centaur.
Even if it's a new monster, the original might hold hints.
"If intelligent monsters launch hit-and-run attacks like that, it'd be hard to counter."
"Yeah... Wait, did you say 'terror'?"
"Yes. Why?"
Scarlett casually dropped a keyword.
Terror.
That word reminded me of one group.
The demon cult: Pandemic.
And suddenly the story of fighting against Pandemic in the original came to mind.
"...Apostle."
Pandemic had a concept called "Apostles."
Subordinates of the Demon King. After they appeared, the attacks intensified and powerful monsters emerged.
It was criticized for breaking power balance... but anyway.
I never saw a centaur Apostle.
The first Apostle in the original was a sticky, round slime.
'Something's off. Twisted.'
An intelligent centaur.
That means it can speak.
"I want to talk to that centaur. Is there any way?"
I looked to Scarlett, the smartest among us.
If it can talk, it might have intel on Hell, the Demon King, or even Liliana.
"Actually, our Iris Guild is trying to capture that centaur too. It vanished in the city, but it seems to still be in France."
"Right, Iris Guild's based in France."
Elise must be struggling.
Maybe I should get involved.
Cooperate with Iris Guild to take it down...
'How the hell would I beat that thing?'
It looks insanely strong.
Even with Combat Sense, a difference in class is hard to overcome.
Unless I find another way.
"Yeah. I might not be able to be here every day anymore."
"Okay. Got it."
Honestly, her being here daily was weird.
Scarlett has a job too.
"Hell... Hell...."
Liliana stared dreamily at the TV, ignoring us.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Liliana]
- [ Affection: 97 ] (+1.6)
- [ Lust: 76 ]
- [ Appetite: 42 ]
- [ Fatigue: 30 ]
Current Status: Wondering what mom is doing....
"Liliana."
"Y-yeah?"
"You want to talk to that centaur?"
"...Not really. But something feels weird when I see him."
She wasn't acting like her usual self.
"Act like you normally do. Whining suits you."
"What the hell? I'm a proper, elegant succubus, thank you very much."
Hell.
It wasn't important before, but now it keeps popping up.
Pandemic, and Liliana.
Maybe this really is important.
*
"...Honey, what is this?"
"Huh? Why?"
Back at the hospital for a routine checkup, Baek A-Young's voice trembled strangely as her hand touched my body.
"Your circuits... no, your whole body is healing. Or more like... it's already healed...?"
"Ah..."
Must be from the natural healing boost reward.
But was it that surprising?
"I did gain a new skill recently. Is it that big of a deal?"
"It's healing so smoothly and perfectly. At this rate, your mana circuit efficiency will be even better than before the injury."
Wow, must be a crazy buff.
"Then... can I leave earlier?"
I asked, hopeful.
"Tomorrow... no, the day after tomorrow, you can be discharged."
Hell yes.
I already thought staying in the hospital too long was a waste of time.
But Baek A-Young didn't look happy.
Probably because we wouldn't see each other as often after.
Made me feel guilty.
"Still... I should come in for regular checkups, right?"
She looked into my eyes.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. That'd be good."
"I'll keep coming. Don't worry."
"...Every day. Promise, honey."
"Got it."
Squeeze—
I hugged her tight, and she began speaking in a serious tone.
"Now that you're about to be discharged... I have something to tell you."
"Hm? What is it?"
Why the heavy tone?
I tensed, waiting.
"I didn't say this earlier because I was worried... but during the terror attack, someone approached you while you were unconscious."
"...Okay."
First I'd heard of it.
She probably kept it quiet out of concern, but maybe it was something serious.
"That person left a message for you."
Haa.
She sighed, then spoke slowly, recalling the moment.
"They said they were from your former clan, and once you recovered, they'd come find you again."
"...Former clan?"
"You don't have to tell me now. You probably have your own secrets. But... please tell me someday. I want to help you."
She gripped my hand, eyes filled with sincerity.
Eyes that said she'd accept whatever secrets I had.
Which only made me panic more.
'What the hell is this former clan now?'
My head hurts.