The Centaur
"Lee Ho-yeon. There's something I want to ask you."
"Yes, of course."
Scarlett stood behind me, while Sebas Chan and Ellis were still talking with the guild members. Seeing Irene there too, they were probably sorting out the guild members' assignments. Isaac ignored Scarlett standing nearby and spoke to me directly.
"The red-haired woman. Do you know her?"
"A red-haired woman...?"
There were more than one or two red-haired women out there. How was I supposed to know who he meant?
Huh?
In that instant, a familiar face flashed through my mind. Rebecca had said she'd help me out, but she hadn't shown her face to me yet. Plus, there weren't many women Isaac would ask about with such a serious expression. And among them, I only knew one.
"Does she perhaps use barriers?"
"Yeah. She was hanging around nearby. Who is she?"
Bingo. It looked like Rebecca had been spotted by Isaac. I wasn't worried because I knew how strong a Rune Barrier was, but I never imagined she'd get caught.
"Uh... she's just an acquaintance."
"...I won't pry for details. But for your sake and our relationship, there's something we need to clarify."
"Yes."
I kept my expression calm.
This is a bit of a problem.
She must have been trying to support me from nearby, but of all people, she got spotted by Isaac. And judging by his attitude, he'd figured out she was an incredible powerhouse... Was this okay? It could get messy if things got tangled up weirdly. She was technically with Pandemic, after all, and honestly, I hadn't realized Rebecca was that strong.
From Isaac's perspective, he'd find it suspicious that I knew a hidden powerhouse like her. If Iris Guild had any info on Rebecca, we'd be in trouble.
"That woman..."
I swallowed hard and waited quietly for Isaac's next words.
"Does she have a boyfriend?"
"...Pardon?"
"No, she's just stunningly beautiful. It'd be great if you could give me her contact info. Haven't we built up enough rapport for that, Lee Ho-yeon?"
"..."
What the hell was this guy?
Even Scarlett, standing behind Isaac, glared at him with disgust.
"Dad. Are you seriously insane?"
With the guild assignments apparently done, Ellis and Sebas Chan had come over too. Ellis bit her lip at her father's bizarre behavior and approached us.
"Ellis. Hold on. Dad didn't ask for her number with any weird intentions. I just wanted to meet and have a constructive talk... Ow!"
"...Haa."
I let out a sigh of relief, while Isaac took a punch from Ellis and bolted.
Rebecca's here! She really might be a good person after all!
"Yeah, she is."
I gave Liliana a short reply. As Sebas Chan went to calm Ellis, Scarlett approached.
"That's a relief, Ho-yeon."
"Yeah."
"Still, don't let your guard down."
"Guard down?"
"The Guild Master isn't that much of an idiot to lose his head over a pretty face. He might have let it slide knowing full well."
Scarlett spoke with a meaningful expression, but I just shook my head, watching Isaac dodge the sword Ellis was swinging in her flushed anger.
"...Doesn't seem like it."
"Seeing him like that, you might be right this time, Ho-yeon."
*
While we bickered briefly, the tracking team assembled. The guy who'd jumped me earlier was nowhere in sight—guess he really got expelled. Kinda feel bad for him. I liked him, in my own way.
"Everyone's here, so we're heading straight to the centaur. His location is in the residential area of the industrial zone. Civilians have been evacuated, but he could move anytime, so we need to flush him out fast."
Isaac scanned every face on the tracking team, then nodded.
"Ellis and Cadet Lee Ho-yeon participated in this anti-terror op too... We'll bring them along for the centaur hunt. No time for details— we'll brief via comms on the way. Move out!"
Bam!
Isaac shot forward using mana propulsion, and the tracking team followed without a word. Not a single complaint even though I was tagging along—they really were the aces. Or maybe they shut up after seeing one guy get kicked out earlier?
Ellis and I brought up the rear. Isaac moved at a solid pace from the center, and the whole team matched it. Glancing at Ellis running beside me, it seemed a bit fast even for her.
Considering Ellis was this ridiculous munchkin heroine, it showed just how high the bar was for everyone here.
"Not too tough?"
"...Manageable."
"Got it. Won't make you talk."
No point wasting her breath and getting snapped at. Running itself seemed to tax Ellis's stamina. She still had her congenital mana disorder, so I had to cut her some slack.
"...You okay? We're about to face the centaur for real."
But Ellis, feeling her pride stung by my consideration, spoke first.
"Yeah. Got a perfect plan. We need to conserve energy, so no more chit-chat. I'm tired."
"...If you say so."
Whether she appreciated my concern or not, Ellis focused silently on running.
Vrrr—
Truth be told, running wasn't what was tiring me.
Vrrr—
It was that woman watching me from the side. Irene.
...This is awkward.
She'd been stealthing and staring at me during assembly, and every time I talked to Ellis too. I'd gotten strong enough now that stealth that close was easy to see through. But I couldn't acknowledge it, so I just tried to ignore her... which was stressful.
About ten minutes later.
We're almost there. Battle stations, everyone.
Boom!
I smashed the head of a mine that appeared right in front of me while listening to the comms. There were so many mines along the path that we'd been delayed.
Vrrr—
Damn it. Screw this.
How long was this crazy woman gonna stare? She was even grabbing mines one-handed while eyeing me. At this rate, I wouldn't focus on the centaur.
In the end, I turned and stared straight at Irene. She, who'd been gazing carefree, widened her eyes the moment our gazes locked. Then she ducked behind a nearby guild member.
"..."
The world was full of weirdos. But it was kinda cute how embarrassed she got.
Industrial zone reached. Rally on me.
Irene's gaze vanished, and we soon arrived at the industrial zone.
Where's the factory~?
"...Looks like a bomb dropped or something."
"That's why we have a tracking team chasing him. A disaster like that hits right in the city center."
The entire area's buildings were demolished, and I could sense the mana of countless crushed mines nearby. At the center was a single overwhelming mana signature.
"..."
"..."
The absurd presence was palpable even from afar, so the tracking team slowly cleared the mines while closing in. The centaur knew we were approaching but waited motionless in place.
"Don't tense up too much. The centaur will bolt the moment we get close."
"...Yeah, sis."
Irene had sidled up to Ellis to ease her tension. She snuck a glance at me, but whipped her head away when I looked back.
We pressed into the intensifying mana pressure and soon spotted him.
"Target sighted."
The factory district was a wasteland, as if a nuke had hit. Amid the acrid smoke stood a massive half-human, half-beast figure.
The centaur. Human torso, horse lower body—an odd combo, but his truck-sized bulk was overwhelmingly intimidating just to look at. Four legs planted firmly on the ground, tail swishing behind. He exuded thick hell's mana, and around his neck hung a mercenary tag reading F.
That must be the F-rank mercenary tag.
Found him. Found him! Found him!
"..."
Liliana cheered excitedly, and the centaur slowly turned his head toward the tracking team. Rolling his eyes lazily, he finally spoke.
A chilling voice, like it was whispering straight into my ear. Not content with just watching us, the centaur turned his body fully toward us.
...But didn't they say he'd run the moment he spotted the tracking team?
"He's not running...?! Battle stations! Battle stations! Damn it!"
Before I could process the oddity, Isaac yelled. At the same time, Irene appeared in front of Ellis beside me. Mana poured off her visibly.
"S-Sis?"
"Stay put, Ellis. That thing... is a real monster."
As the tracking team's tension prickled my skin, I locked eyes with him. No—his gaze was fixed on me. Precisely on the necklace around my neck.
What the hell? He's looking right at us!
"...Seems like it."
The tracking team grew more confused at the centaur's voice.
"H-He spoke! First time I've seen an enemy do that!"
"Don't drop your guard! Respond the instant he moves."
Isaac seemed almost eager to avoid a fight. He'd said the centaur flees when facing a force that could beat him, so we had the edge. Probably avoiding combat for Ellis's sake. She stood beside me now, biting her lip under the centaur's mana pressure.
"Succubus...? What bullshit is that?"
"No idea. Maybe some new Pandemic..."
While the others couldn't understand the centaur, only I, Liliana, and Scarlett got it.
He's talking about me, right? What the heck?!
"..."
I waited silently for the centaur's next words. A fight might break out anytime, so no relaxing.
"Apostle...! Time to withdraw."
Then a mine appeared beside the centaur. Executive-level presence. Probably the one supporting his terror op.
"Maestro's orders: no combat now, Apostle."
The centaur gave my necklace one last glance, then turned and vanished like he'd never been there. The oppressive mana lifted, and sighs escaped the guild members.
"...Situation over. Target fled."
"Ellis. You okay?"
"Y-Yeah, sis."
The team's mana signatures faded one by one. Probably how he always escaped.
"Liliana. Get a mana read?"
I whispered to her.
Uh, um. Can I get closer? Might be some mana residue left.
"Got it."
Thud!
"H-Hey!"
Ignoring the calls at my sudden move, I kicked off and dashed to where the centaur had stood.