Chapter 162
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Followers of Mir
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The man who'd been about to swing his greatsword down at me froze at the voice that had just spat out that goddamn name, Mir.
"Got it. I'll go grab Lia."
He brushed past me and dashed off in the direction the woman had fled.
"Boss, what should we do with this bastard? Earlier, he dodged my arrow like it was nothing."
"I saw it too. Didn't look like a lucky dodge. It was like he saw the arrow coming and moved out of the way. A guy like this..."
The man trailed off, then cracked a sly smile.
"Lady Mir said to bring her any promising humans we find right away, so let's take him to her. Our goddess's apostle will only grow stronger that way."
"Right! He'd definitely make a great addition to our forces."
I had no idea what these assholes were yapping about regarding me, but one thing was clear: I hadn't misheard the name Mir.
"By the way, boss, your skill is seriously amazing. Binding and neutralizing enemies in an instant—it's straight-up broken."
Looking closely, one of the remaining three had his hand stretched toward me, while the crossbow guy grinned and chatted with him.
So the one extending his hand was using this skill binding my arms?
"Let's subdue him quick and take him to Lady Mir. Once Daehan brings back Lia, we can all go together."
"You got it, boss. Just stay put. We're taking you somewhere nice."
As soon as he finished speaking, another rope shot out from the ground.
This translucent rope didn't look like anything from this world no matter how I squinted at it, but it bound both my arms and legs before wrapping around my entire body.
Thinking I'd just snap the damn thing, I flexed my arms and legs with all my strength, but it didn't budge an inch.
Even as I poured on the power, there wasn't a hint of it giving way. That was unexpected.
If it's a skill I can't break with raw force, it's pretty damn strong.
With a skill like this, it'd be easy to restrain annoying opponents just like they did to me. Even if not full restraint, you could disrupt their movements or redirect their momentum mid-action. Versatile as hell.
Nice. Score one for me.
"No matter how hard you strain, you won't break free, so give it up."
The man approached with a laugh, watching me struggle. The other two followed behind him.
"You're gonna serve as Lady Mir's apostle alongside us now. So behave and come along bound by my skill."
"Hah, that fucking Mir, Mir again. Never thought I'd hear that shitty name nonstop here."
"What? What'd you just say?"
The moment 'Mir' slipped from my mouth, his face twisted in anger, his voice grating in that disgusting way.
"Fuck, I said quit saying that goddamn name Mir. Every time I hear it, my blood pressure shoots up."
"What? How dare you insult Lady Mir!"
The crossbow guy aimed at my head and snarled. Not just him—the other two's faces contorted too. Looked like they worshipped this Mir character big time.
Just what the hell was this Mir?
"If you'd shut up and followed us, you'd have kept your life. Jeonghun, punish him—shoot one leg. A good sting will make him regret resisting and follow nicely."
"Yes, boss. How dare he curse Lady Mir?"
The leader barked the order, and the crossbow shifted to my leg. He pulled the trigger without hesitation.
These guys were probably picturing me writhing in agony from the arrow...
But no way in hell I'd let that happen.
Before the arrow could reach me, I activated Blink and warped behind them.
To be honest, I hadn't been unable to move at all—just restrained. I could still use black magic or skills.
So I picked between black magic and skills. Didn't want to waste demonic energy on these losers, so Blink to flank them was the play. Spot on.
"Huh?"
"What the?!"
"He vanished?"
With the three panicking over my sudden disappearance, I quickly pulled the Reaper Blade from my subspace and cleaved the crossbow guy in half first.
"Jeon-Jeonghun! You mad bastard!"
Another rope rose from the ground to bind me again, but I Blinked once more to dodge and slammed my fist into the panicking guy's gut with everything I had.
"Guhk!"
He crumpled to the floor clutching his stomach, not even able to scream.
The crossbow punk didn't have any skills I needed, but this Bind skill seemed pretty useful. Gotta claim it.
"What the..."
The last one standing muttered in disbelief at the sudden carnage.
His reaction showed he hadn't even imagined this happening.
Meeting me was the end of his luck anyway.
"Hey, I've got questions for you. Come here nice and easy. Don't make me pissed, yeah?"
I beckoned him closer, but he backed away slowly, trying to flee.
"Running's pointless, so don't waste time. Just come."
"Damn it, a freak like you... Hya!"
He pulled something from his pocket and smashed it on the ground.
Wondering what the hell, black smoke billowed rapidly from the object, enveloping him and blinding me completely.
Being nighttime made the smoke even worse for visibility.
He must've prepped a smoke bomb for emergencies, but tough luck—it wouldn't work on me.
Black magic could've dispersed this crap easily, but wasting energy on trash like him? Nah. Instead, I sensed his presence sprinting through the smoke.
Thinking he'd escaped, he bolted full speed. I hurled the Reaper Blade at him.
"Aaaagh!"
A scream full of agony echoed from behind the smoke.
Nailed him good.
I plunged into the smoke and found him writhing from my attack.
Easy to track thanks to his thrashing. I grabbed his throat, hoisted him up, and dragged him out. Sure enough, the Reaper Blade was lodged in his gut.
Aimed for the leg, but missed. Oh well.
Stabbed or not, a quick warp to base for Yejin to patch him up would do.
Then I could leisurely grill him on Mir.
As the apparent leader, he'd know plenty.
"What... what is this?"
Just as I thought things were wrapped up, a voice came from behind. Turning, I saw the guy who'd chased the woman, staring blankly with her in tow.
She wasn't out cold, but her resigned expression shifted to shock at my handiwork, matching his.
"No way... you did this?"
"Hah... you blind? Can't tell just by looking? Who else?"
"You son of a bitch!"
Furious at my words, he shoved the woman aside and charged, gripping his greatsword two-handed.
He might have skills, but swinging a greatsword like that screamed Combat Specialist trait. Useless to me.
I sidestepped the slash easily, slipped behind him, and grabbed his head with both hands.
"Die then."
Before he could react, I snapped his neck. His body slumped slowly to the ground.
No useful skills? No reason to keep him alive.
I'd get what I needed from the stabbed one.
Now, time to pump this guy for info on Mir...
"Um... excuse me..."
As I moved to wrap things up, the woman's voice called from behind.
Turning, she approached slowly, looking on the verge of tears.
Right, these guys had been after her.
Didn't feel like it was just because she was pretty.
They'd tracked her here for some special reason. What was it?
She stopped in front of me and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Th-thank you for saving me. If it weren't for you, I..."
Her voice trembled like she had a story to tell. Guess I'd take her along too.