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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“Tae-jin… Th-that’s a villain, isn’t it?”
The sudden appearance of a villain.
Moreover, it was extremely rare for them to appear on a crowded street.
Most of them carried out covert guerrilla warfare in the dark or in deserted places to hide their identities, so usually they didn’t engage in this kind of street battle.
But here they were, appearing before the evening sun had even set.
“Damn it, this is even more troublesome than a Skever.”
“What should we do?”
“What do you mean? We have to fight until the Holders arrive.”
Villains were dealt with by awakened individuals belonging to a government agency called the [Monster Management Bureau].
They captured the villains to find out their base, organization, and leader.
And those individuals were called ‘Holders.’
Awakened individuals who joined the Hunter Association after graduating from the academy were called Hunters, while those who joined the Monster Management Bureau were called Holders.
Unlike the alphabetical ranks of Hunters, they had their own ranks and system, and they mainly worked alone or in pairs.
So, ‘dealer’ types were their main force.
The Monster Management Bureau had probably been dispatched by now. We just had to hold out until they arrived.
I quickly took out my equipment from my mana pocket and put it on, then I ran with Mi-jin in the opposite direction of the fleeing people.
And soon.
We faced the villain.
‘A spider type.’
As I mentioned earlier, the villains were all humans injected with monster serum.
They sometimes mass-produced one-time-use villains with low-grade monsters that had a high synchronization rate, and they also created powerful villains with mid- to high-grade monster serums that had a low synchronization rate.
In other words, there were villains who used the power of high-grade boss monsters after being injected with their serum and experiencing a normal reaction.
And then there were monstrosities whose identity was unclear, whether they were villains or monsters.
This one belonged to the latter.
It was a case where the monster’s power had not only synchronized but had completely taken over. Unlike villains who moved intelligently with the goal of destroying the government, those like this one, who were dominated by the monster’s power, acted on instinct.
They had become monsters in human skin.
And because they possessed human intelligence, they were more difficult to deal with than ordinary monsters.
Human intelligence combined with a monster’s instincts created a devastating synergy.
-*Grr…*
The creature growled at us.
‘An Arachne serum, I suppose.’
Eight massive spider legs protruded from its back, two hideous fangs flanked its mouth and its eyes were entirely green, even the whites.
Two antennae sprouted from its head and its lower body was rounded like a spider’s abdomen, with a large stinger protruding from the end.
There was only one spider-type boss monster across all ranks.
[Arachne]
This was a boss monster often found in B-rank cave-type dungeons was a formidable challenge. With its agility powered by eight legs and its ability to inflict status ailments through attacks like poison stings and web entanglements, it proved difficult to defeat.
Most importantly, it was B-rank.
Adding human intelligence to that, it was an opponent beyond our current capabilities.
But,
“Let’s hold out. At least until the Holders arrive.”
“Okay!”
As Hunters, protecting citizens was a moral responsibility and an ethical duty.
Even if the opponent was overwhelming.
If we turned a blind eye to danger out of fear, how would we be any different from Seo Yoon-ji, who abandoned her comrades and fled?
Even though my muscles were still screaming in silent protest from the aftereffects of the real raid.
I pulled the bowstring to its limit, narrowed my vision, and activated the [Detection] trait.
The creature’s weak point was the center of its abdomen, which was covered in skin.
I immediately fired a magic arrow at it.
-*Thwang!*
I wasn’t arrogant enough to think I could defeat it.
We just had to hold out until the Holders arrived.
That was the only thought my in mind.
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-*Thud!*
“Ugh!”
The engagement didn’t even last ten exchanges.
And it only took three rounds for me to realize that the very idea of “holding out” was nothing but arrogance and a delusion.
Its eight legs were so fast that it was difficult to hit even one with an arrow, and its refusal to give me any space made it hard to even draw the bowstring.
If there was any consolation.
It was that the evacuation of the citizens was complete.
But it was impossible to hold out any longer.
Mi-jin’s condition wasn’t good either.
“Mi-jin! Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah… I can still hold on.”
Mi-jin, who had been hurled against the ground hard enough to dent it, forced herself to her feet.
But she coughed up blood and fell to one knee.
Even I was having trouble supporting myself, my legs were trembling.
-*Keek-kek-kek*
The creature licked its lips, looking at us.
Arachne’s habit was to tie up its prey with webs and then tear them apart from the head with those monstrous fangs.
We probably looked like quite a delicious meal right now.
“Damn it…! Why aren’t the Holders here yet?!”
I glanced around, but the world seemed to hold only the two of us and the Arachne in a haunting stillness.
I wanted to cry out for help, but the words wouldn’t leave my throat.
Even if I did, what good would it do? In this oppressive silence, any scream would be nothing but a futile cry into the void.
Therefore,
I reignited my fighting spirit and glared at the creature.
The Holders would arrive soon.
We just had to hold out until then, by any means necessary.
“Mi-jin, can you move?”
“Yes…! For now.”
“Then let’s split up. We have no chance in a head-on fight. Just draw its attention.”
“Alright…!”
“Let’s go.”
After giving the order to Mi-jin, we simultaneously rushed towards the creature.
And about 20 meters away, I activated the [Stealth] trait and split off.
It was a trait that erased one’s presence.
The creature’s gaze immediately turned to Mi-jin, and I circled around to its back in a wide arc.
-*Swish!*
-*Whoosh!*
Mi-jin focused on dodging rather than attacking to draw the creature’s attention.
As if annoyed, the creature wildly swung its eight legs, driving Mi-jin back.
From behind, I quietly nocked a magic arrow and took aim.
I couldn’t pull the bowstring to its limit anymore, so the power would be halved, but I was determined to sever at least one of its legs with this shot.
-*Whoosh, whoosh.*
I gathered even the tiniest specks of mana around me and aimed at one of the creature’s legs touching the ground.
Even slightly hindering its mobility would help us buy time.
But..
-*Clang! Thud!*
Due to her weakened state from her injuries, Mi-jin couldn’t avoid the creature’s attack and took a direct hit.
Mi-jin was sent flying like a bullet and crashed through the full-length windows of the McDonald’s store.
‘Damn it…!’
There was no time.
From the creature’s rear, I quickly released the bowstring.
-*Whoosh!*
The arrow shot out with a sharp whistle.
But the creature noticed and lifted its leg to avoid it, then immediately rushed towards me.
The sight of its eight legs ferociously pounding on the ground as it charged was overwhelming.
It was almost despair-inducing.
-*Crash!*
“Ugh!”
Moments later, like Mi-jin, I was sent flying like a bullet and I smashed through two cars before finally collapsing on the ground.
Fortunately, I avoided a critical hit.
I had used my bow to block the creature’s clawed foot just before it hit me.
Even so, the impact that hit my whole body made me gasp for breath, and the coppery taste of blood flowed up my throat.
I couldn’t sense Mi-jin’s presence either.
She couldn’t be dead.
She wasn’t a heroine weak enough to die from something like this.
However, it was impossible to hold out any longer.
‘I guess I have to use my hidden card, after all…’
I thought as I watched the creature approach me, clicking its tongue.
The hidden card.
The card I didn’t want to use as much as possible, but I couldn’t afford to save it anymore.
“Isn’t there an old saying from our ancestors that goes, ‘If you save too much, it turns to waste’?
So, I decided to use my last resort.
The Holders were still nowhere to be seen.
-*Kireuk!*
“You little shit, you’re dead… you bastard.”
I muttered under my breath, glaring at the creature licking its wicked fangs with a long tongue, savoring its anticipation.
“Go, Succubus.”
It was the summoning spell for my dear Bersha.
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“Drogh! Roll over backwards!”
-*Kkiiing!*
“Bang! You have to play dead!”
-*Kkrrr!*
“Good job, here’s your favorite drake hind leg roast!”
-*Kkiiiiit!*
Bersha was still diligently raising(?) Drogh.
Perhaps she had a knack for being a professional tamer, as the black dragon Drogh even pretended to be dead at her command.
And,
“If you keep acting up in front of your master, I’ll kill you with my own hands. Got it?”
Crack, Bersha clenched her fist, making a cracking sound.
But Drogh frowned and pawed at the air.
It was a sign of defiance.
-*Thud!*
-*Kkiiing!*
Moments later, a piteous cry echoed through the warehouse.
A huge bump had risen on Drogh’s head.
It was like a small hill.
“Tsk, this motherfu…no, wait. I’m speaking nicely, so why aren’t you listening, huh?”
-*Kkiiing…*
“No more resisting when I’m talking nicely.”
-*Kkiiing…*
“Tsk, don’t show your teeth when I’m talking nicely.”
Clack, Drogh shut its mouth tightly.
Looking at it with satisfaction, Bersha tossed it a piece of drake hind leg roast and left the warehouse.
She hummed a cheerful tune as she entered the kitchen.
It was almost dinner time.
She planned to prepare a feast for her master, who would be returning from a real raid.
To ensure that the memory of the simple lunch would be completely forgotten, she had gone shopping for fresh ingredients today to prepare a banquet that would literally bend the table with all kinds of delicacies.
She was especially motivated today.
She had heard something very pleasing at the market while shopping.
-“New bride, your husband is one lucky guy~”
-“New bride? Huh?”
-Ah, why. Wasn’t that man you were with last time your husband? You two looked so good together~
-Hu-husband?
-Why, was he not your husband?
-O-oh. Ri-right! You have such a good eye, ma’am~
-Hehehe, right? He’s your husband, right?
-Hehehe, did we look that good together?
-Of course~ Such a pretty lady cooking for him every day, that husband of yours is so lucky~
-Hehehe, ma’am, give me all of this!
-A-all of this? You’re buying all of it? You sure have a big appetite, miss~!
-Yes!
And so, feeling happy from being flattered(?) Bersha was waving her nonexistent tail and showing off her knife skills, rivaling those of a culinary master.
Lately, this had become her greatest joy.
The time spent preparing meals for her master, and the time spent watching him enjoy those meals.
“Today, it’s steamed sea dragon Krisshel’s fin, known for its effects on virility and stamina!”
Sea dragon Krisshel’s fin was known to be dozens of times more effective than the highly regarded freshwater eel.
The ingredients were quite expensive, but she had emptied her pockets, thinking it was all for her master’s sake(?).
First, she prepared the vegetables for the stew, then soaked the fin in a mixture of salt, green tea, and milk to remove the strong fishy smell and oil.
After waiting for 40 minutes without boiling, when the water started to turn oily and a faint blue, she would add the prepared ingredients and special sauce and boil for 30 minutes. And that was it.
“Hmph~”
-*Beep beep.*
Bersha set the timer for the exact time.
She set the number to 40 and immediately pressed the start button.
And at the same time.
A pure white light began to emanate around her body.
“Wh-what? N-no!”
Bersha panicked.
But her body was already slowly starting to fade away.
It was a sudden summoning by her master.
“Noooo-! My sea dragon stew-!”
Her desperate cry signaled the start of the timer.
[Countdown: 39 minutes 53 seconds]
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I hope Bersha can return home before the stew gets burned.