An Observer's Intervention
Irritation and anger surged toward murderous intent at No Gwan-sik's stubborn refusal to speak, but there was nothing I could do about it right now.
More urgent than dealing with him was the information on this subjugation team.
'Arde is in danger.'
Even a fully prepared regular subjugation team would be no easy foe, but with an SS-rank hunter like Leysha joining in, the danger level was beyond imagination.
Hadn't I felt it firsthand when facing Wang Feng, who knew nothing about me?
The difference an SS-rank hunter made was enormous.
And Leysha was the one dubbed the "greatest hunter."
Fewer than a handful surpassed her—past legends like Seong Jae-myeong and currently Garcia—yet people still called her the "greatest."
Not the absolute strongest, but the hunter everyone acclaimed as top.
President of the World Hunter Federation.
That was Leysha Barrett.
Even her alone spiking the threat to maximum was bad enough, but if her direct subordinates, the "Jaegers," joined this expedition too?
'Even Arde might lose his life.'
I accelerated, kicking off the ground harder against the creeping unease.
I planned to get the info from someone else instead of No Gwan-sik.
Someone who surely knew all about this.
'White Rose. She'll definitely...'
Her confident attitude at the end didn't sit well, but now wasn't the time to nitpick.
Arde was in danger.
The place I headed was one I'd visited once before.
Or rather, observed from afar.
A luxury hotel in the labyrinth's bustling district. The penthouse suite on the top floor.
The very room where Charlotte Michelle had stayed. White Rose was there now.
"Welcome."
White Rose smiled brightly and naturally guided me inside.
As soon as I entered the room, a faint rose scent made me quietly furrow my brow.
"...You knew?"
"About what...? The mood isn't right for jokes. Yes, I knew about Leysha."
Her smile faded as she nodded calmly, and I unleashed my aura in a burst—
Thick killing intent seeped into the room, making White Rose blink slowly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"At the time, I thought it wouldn't concern you much, Master. But your reaction now says otherwise. I apologize for that."
She bowed her waist in apology, and I withdrew the killing intent.
Her expression easing, White Rose spoke.
"That area boss... the Magma Wyvern. You're close?"
"You don't need to know that much."
"Sorry for being presumptuous."
She bowed again, and I fully retracted my killing intent.
It felt like taking out my frustration on the wrong person.
"...So the Jaegers came with her?"
"Only Leysha and one aide entered the country. They're here on vacation, it seems."
"...Vacation?"
"Yes. Probably to pay respects at Charlotte's memorial. Otherwise, why would she come to this distant country amid such chaos?"
"Then why is she joining the subjugation team?"
"Just for plausible deniability. If she'd come for the subjugation, the Jaegers would've followed."
Her calm voice soothed me somewhat.
Leysha's presence alone prevented full relief, but it wasn't the worst-case scenario I'd imagined.
I let out an unconscious sigh of relief, and White Rose quietly added,
"Still, you'd better hurry."
"...What do you mean?"
"Leysha—that girl. I've watched her for years, and she's truly remarkable. Not exalted as the 'greatest' for nothing. She's a genius hunter."
"......"
As I fell silent, she continued.
"The subjugation team's been out four days now. Given their size, they won't move fast, but time's short. All high-rank hunters means they won't take long to reach the Lava Zone."
I nodded and stood.
I'd gotten what I wanted; no time to waste.
As I turned to leave, White Rose quietly stopped me and shared Leysha's intel.
"This is from a few years ago, so it might've changed. She hasn't been idle."
"...Thanks."
"No problem. For you, Master, anything."
I glanced at her bright smile, then turned away.
No time—with the team four days ahead.
I left a brief situation report for Snow and entered the labyrinth.
She'd handle explaining to the rest.
The joint subjugation team, taking the optimal route with minimal hunting, finally entered the Lava Zone.
Arriving in record time, they set up a base camp in the nearest safe spot.
"The Lava Zone's weather is brutally humid."
"Without specialized gear, we'd have mass stragglers before the fight even started."
Using multi-effect equipment, they efficiently built the camp and scouted for smooth operations.
"No anomalies."
"A presumed floor boss, but Hwarang's Guild Master handled it."
"The zone lord Magma Wyvern seems holed up on the final floor, 69."
"Better to lure it to a pre-set spot than chase it."
The leadership ended the meeting after scout reports.
Preparations for the full Magma Wyvern subjugation were complete.
"Good vibes."
From the journey to the meeting's end and prep's finish.
Richard, Leysha's aide, approached her—the sole observer watching calmly.
She glanced and nodded.
"Not bad."
"Your take on this subjugation?"
"Solid prep. Normal target, they'd succeed easily."
"...Meaning?"
"Can't just watch. Can't let good hunters die needlessly."
Leysha casually lifted her beloved bow.
A subtle golden bow, "Lux." With it, she headed to the leadership.
Park Han, Beukdu Guild Master and subjugation leader, beamed at her approach.
"Ah, President Leysha."
"Hello, Subjugation Leader. As observer, I have advice."
"Hmph. Our silent observer suddenly has opinions?"
Leysha glanced at Choi Sang-hyeok's prickly tone.
Her emotionless gaze made him flinch involuntarily.
Kwon Je-na, about to snap, chuckled instead.
"So, what's your advice, President?"
"Magma Wyvern's a flying dragon. Size is issue, but priority is grounding its mobility."
"Y-yes... We've planned for that..."
"Cancel all those plans."
"Pardon? Why suddenly...?"
"I'll bring it down from the sky."
She indicated her shoulder-slung bow.
The leadership murmured in admiration.
"You'll fight directly?"
"Current plan risks heavy losses. If I can help, sitting idle isn't right."
"Hmph. Excuse to demand loot later..."
"As I said initially, no claims on byproducts. I'm just an 'observer.'"
"......"
Choi Sang-hyeok clamped his mouth at her steady voice.
Kwon Je-na smirked at him, then beamed at Leysha.
"Thank you, Leysha Hunter. Hunting with the world's greatest... a true honor!"
Leysha smiled faintly at her starry-eyed gaze, like a fan meeting an idol.
"Thank you, Kwon Je-na Hunter."
"Whoa, you know my name?"
"Yes. Rare healer-dealers. Your record and skill are unforgettable."
Her praise lit Kwon Je-na's face.
Unbelieving joy trembled through her as she grabbed Leysha's hand.
"Can we be friends?!"
Leysha looked briefly flustered at the bold advance.
Yoon Myung-ho rushed to intervene, but she nodded.
"...Of course."
"Thank you! After this, let's swap contacts! Or dinner...!"
"Vice Guild Master! Calm down. Can't you see Leysha Hunter's flustered?"
"Don't interfere, Yoon Myung-ho! Jealousy doesn't suit you!"
"Jealousy?! What?!"
"What else? Staring at Leysha Hunter nonstop. Pervert, eyeing the pretty one!"
"Guild Master! Please!"
"I quit that ages ago—call me properly!"
Their banter lightened the mood instantly.
Choi Sang-hyeok, excluded, tsked sourly and left quietly.
With Leysha's sudden participation revising plans, the team moved to subjugate the Magma Wyvern.
A world of crimson fire.
Volcanic ash eternally drifted from distant peaks; lava flowed like rivers nearby.
Scorching heat that could melt flesh from sheer temperature.
Lava Zone, 66th floor—a suitable spot for large-scale movement. The team's hunters waited tensely.
Nearby monsters cleared, the area was eerily quiet.
One hunter swallowed hard amid the strain.
Veteran high-rankers all, yet this moment trembled them.
The target: an SS-rank monster.
Even leadership hid tension beneath composure.
No SS-rank subjugation experience for them either.
Amid universal strain, two remained calm: Leysha and Richard.
Veterans of multiple SS-rank hunts.
"The lurers are late."
"Fast, experienced—no issues."
"...Maybe."
Leysha eyed the ash-shrouded sky beyond, vaguely responding to Park Han.
Nothing visible through the reddish haze.
"This area boss flocks, right?"
"Yes. Unlike solitary dragons, it leads a huge pack. Commands some floor bosses like minions."
"...Intelligent."
"Pardon? Intelligence?"
Ignoring his puzzled query, Leysha scanned the sky.
Still nothing.
But she spoke softly.
"...Coming."
Lifting Lux, she drew.
Park Han, sensing anomaly, yelled.
"Battle formation! Area boss incoming!"
"Not one. Multiple monsters approaching."
"What?"
"Wyverns at least dozens... drakes and others make hundreds. Minimum B-rank. Brace yourselves."
"......!"
Grasping severity, Park Han calmly briefed all.
Unexpected, but high-rank veterans responded steadily.
Leysha glanced approvingly, then refocused skyward.
Invisible to naked eyes, but her "Clairvoyance" skill saw clearly.
The massive flying dragon approaching afar.
'That's the Magma Wyvern.'
Enormously huge, as described.
Overwhelming, like a moving mountain.
Gazing briefly, she fully drew her bow.
Pure white mana gathered on the empty string.
Forming a dazzling white arrow, like solidified light.
At full draw, as the beast grew visible to others, Leysha released.
A beam of light flashed toward the Magma Wyvern.