An Unexpected Variable
After joining up with Lillia, Tia quietly fell into deep thought from her position in the rear. 'To think a variable would appear.' She had definitely expected that, given Lillia's personality, she would handle this field trip alone. This was none other than a dungeon raid for the Eldorado branch, after all. She had paid to hire mercenaries and everything. As such, Tia had assumed Lillia would hire a single student with money and move separately. However, contrary to expectations, she'd brought along a classmate instead. For Tia, this unforeseen variable could only leave an uneasy feeling in her chest. 'Has she noticed somehow?'
No, that didn't make sense. It was only today that she'd gained certainty Lillia would betray Highrun. No matter how much of a genius Lillia was called, it was absurd for her to have noticed already. If she'd figured it out from the start, wouldn't she have dealt with Tia long ago? 'There's no reason for her to go through the trouble of bringing a classmate along.' If she were using her power, she was the type who could have handled Tia and more. 'Then is it really just a coincidence?'
She glanced at Baran, who was linking arms with Lillia. The girl smiled as if they were lovers, her arm comfortably intertwined with his. Knowing Lillia's true nature, Tia immediately saw through it as an act. 'Hmm, it does seem like there's some intention behind it...' What was certain was that Lillia clearly didn't know Tia had caught onto her plan yet. 'While the appearance of a variable was outside my expectations...' it shouldn't matter. The person she'd brought was none other than a blind man, after all. Tia had heard the rumors, but they were probably exaggerated. In the first place, did it make any sense for a blind person to outperform that monster? 'Still, just in case. I need to proceed with caution.'
With that thought, Tia watched the pair from behind and lifted the corners of her mouth. Completely unaware that Baran was observing her with his Mind's Eye.
“Everything’s ready!”
The mercenaries had finally finished their dungeon preparations. I briefly observed them with my Mind's Eye. 'Their average level is around 20.'
Looking at levels alone, they might not seem like much. Level 20 was basically average at the academy, after all. But the truth was that Edin Academy simply had an unusually high number of powerful people. Even those who were nothing special at the academy received decent treatment once they stepped outside.
'They even have potential and traits.' Even a 1-star trait earned quite favorable treatment in reality. That was why even the academy's extra characters could live with some respect once they left. 'The mercenary leader has a 1-star trait.'
While I was thinking that, Lillia—who seemed to have finished her conversation—returned to my side.
“What should I do?”
“Just link arms with me and watch from the back.”
Hmm, so I just get to watch from behind like I’m eating popcorn. Well, since Lillia was the employer, it was only natural. What employer would step forward to do the work themselves?
“We’re entering!”
The next moment, the mercenary leader led his subordinates into the dark cave ahead. We followed after them.
-Step. Step.
Being a cave, our footsteps echoed sharply.
-Flap flap flap!
At that moment, the sound of flapping wings reached my ears. It wasn’t only me who heard it—everyone immediately took a defensive stance.
-Shing!
The mercenaries drew their blades and stood ready. Then it came.
-Screeeeech!
A noisy cry rang inside my head. Wondering what it was, I turned my gaze forward.
'There are a disgusting number of them.'
Bats with bulging eyes hanging from the cave ceiling filled my vision. I observed them with my Mind's Eye.
Vampire Bat - Lv. 5
Description: Bats that live in groups. A single individual poses little threat, but when they swarm together they become quite dangerous.
In the game they were little more than trash mobs. If this were still a game, basic attacks would have been enough to clean them up. But this was reality. To ordinary people who weren’t the protagonist, they were quite the threatening presence.
-Screeeeech!
In an instant, the bats came flying straight at us. I couldn’t even count how many there were, but there were definitely at least double digits. If these had been average mercenaries, they would have struggled quite a bit. However—
-Slice!
-Screeech!
The people before us were mercenaries hired by Eldorado. Their levels might not be especially high, but they had survived countless battles. To them, vampire bats were nothing more than trash mobs.
-Screeech!
-Whoosh!
Each mercenary cut down the bats one by one. Their levels were low, but perhaps because there were so many, it took longer than expected. The mercenaries advanced steadily while slaughtering the swarm.
I followed behind them, leisurely watching the show, when—
-Kyaaaaaaaah!
Suddenly one bat let out a bizarre scream. It was so loud it felt like my ears might bleed. 'A vampire bat making a cry like that...' It was practically announcing that a mid-boss was about to appear.
And sure enough—
-Kiiiiiiiiii!
A single bat that stood on an entirely different level from the trash mobs so far appeared. Just by appearance, it looked larger than a person. The demonic energy I sensed from it was far from ordinary. Just to be sure, I observed it with my Mind's Eye.
Half-Vampire - Lv. 25
Description: A half-vampire that has not yet reached maturity. It has not yet developed intelligence.
A half-vampire that hadn’t reached adulthood yet. If it matured, it would become a full vampire rather than a half, like a hidden boss. That would definitely be troublesome. 'Well, it still has a long way to go.'
While I was thinking that—
-Kiiiiiiik!
It flew toward us, leading its kin. Countless bats charged at the mercenaries with murderous intent. The mercenaries raised their weapons and sliced apart the attackers in a single stroke. But no matter how strong they were, they couldn’t block everything.
Perhaps that was why—
-Kiiiiiiik!
The mercenaries failed to stop the half-vampire flying straight at us. The leader frowned deeply at the unexpected situation.
“Protect the employer!”
He was about to move when—
“Shall I take care of it?”
Lillia asked in a relaxed voice. I turned my gaze toward Tia without moving my head. She remained still, showing no sign of acting. 'I need to make her anxious so she moves quickly.'
Having organized my thoughts, I shook my head.
“I will handle it myself.”
So saying, I poured mana into the Bow of the Beginning. The next moment, a bow far more distinct than before appeared in my hand. Lillia’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.
“It feels even clearer than last time?”
“Well, I’ve been working hard too. It’s grown a little.”
“Hehe, it doesn’t look like just ‘a little’ to me.”
I ignored her words and turned my gaze forward.
-What do you plan to do, my disciple?
Miroel and Lillia watched quietly to see how I would act. My goal right now was simple: to make the Tia behind us anxious. Since an unexpected variable named me had appeared, I needed to force her to lure us into her trap quickly. 'That way I can snatch the hidden piece for free.'
Therefore, I had to show an overwhelming sight.
I gripped the bow tightly with both hands. At my stance, both Lillia and Miroel tilted their heads.
“Baran?”
-My disciple?
I ignored their reactions and poured mana into the circuits.
-Whoosh!
Blue mana erupted from my body. I had definitely grown significantly after the last main episode. Power overflowed throughout my body in a way I had never felt before.
-Kiiiiik!
At that moment, the half-vampire reached right in front of me. I pulled my arm all the way back. Then, as if swinging a baseball bat, I struck the charging creature with full force.
The next instant—
-Kwaaaaaaaaang!
A sound like an explosion rang in my ears. The half-vampire that took my attack was sent flying to the opposite wall. It didn’t even twitch. It had clearly died instantly from that single blow.
“Whoa.”
“Is that guy really blind?”
“Now that you mention it, he walks way too well for a blind person, doesn’t he?”
“Right?”
The mercenaries who had been watching the situation opened their eyes wide. Even the leader who had ignored me earlier stood with his mouth agape, his face completely pale. It seemed he hadn’t expected me to display this level of strength.
'Then let’s check Tia’s reaction first—she’s the most important.'
Thinking that, I observed Tia with my Mind's Eye. Unlike the other mercenaries, she didn’t show much surprise. But the way her eyebrows twitched made it obvious she was anxious. 'Yes. Get anxious like that.'
That way she would quickly fall into the trap as expected. As I was thinking that—
Hidden Quest: One-Shot the Half-Vampire
You have slain the Half-Vampire in a single strike.
A sudden reward message appeared. Seeing the level-up notification, I smiled inwardly. If things go well, I might obtain a new skill sooner than I thought.