Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Turning the Tables
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“……Hey.”
Jeong Yu-ra spoke quietly, pointing at the twitching Arthur.
Her gesture implied they should probably go get him first.
But Lee Shin gestured discreetly below his waist and sent a whisper.
-Stay still.
This opponent might be dangerous.
No, he was a warlock, so he was certainly more dangerous than an ordinary NPC.
He couldn't afford to make a careless move until he had a grasp of the situation.
-Ah, okay….
Jeong Yu-ra nodded.
She glanced at Arthur, clearly not thrilled with the instruction, but….
For now, she seemed willing to follow her party leader's command.
“……”
*Grip!*
Lee Shin turned his gaze forward and quietly gripped the dagger at his wrist.
At the same time, he scanned the surrounding terrain and tensed his toes.
He was preparing to attack the moment the opponent made a suspicious move.
‘Party member Arthur, status check.’
[Checking party member Arthur's status.]
•HP: 40% •Remaining Mana: 98%
•Currently stunned due to extreme shock.
“……”
Lee Shin’s expression hardened slightly.
Arthur’s condition was far from good.
Whatever hit him had wiped out about 60% of his health in one go!
It might have been understandable if he was in his shapeshifted form, which had low defense, but the problem was that Arthur was currently in his Orc form for hunting.
‘Damn.’
An attack that could bring a fully-equipped, warrior-class user to near-death in a single blow.
Never mind the priest Jeong Yu-ra; even Lee Shin, whose defense was lower than Arthur's, could be killed instantly if hit.
‘…No, I wouldn’t die instantly.’
Cloak of Heaven
A cloak imbued with mysterious power. Upon receiving a fatal blow, survive once with 1 HP.
•10% Lifesteal on all damage
•All Stats +5
It was an item he’d received as a reward for completing a pirate quest long ago.
Thanks to its options, he could survive once, no matter the situation.
But if asked whether that guaranteed victory, the answer was no.
He didn't know the opponent’s full strength.
So, Lee Shin decided to test the waters by talking to him.
Or rather, he was about to.
But the warlock spoke first.
“Who are you?”
“I’m….”
“No, how did you even find my location? …I’m certain I put up a perception interference barrier.”
‘Hmm?’
The warlock eyed Lee Shin suspiciously.
Lee Shin hid his inner turmoil.
A perception interference barrier?
‘Was there something like that?’
He had simply followed the rampaging tentacle and ended up in this place.
He hadn't felt anything out of the ordinary along the way.
While Lee Shin stood silent, unsure how to respond.
The warlock glared at him and asked.
“…Don't tell me you have a sacred object too?”
After a moment of thought, Lee Shin shook his head.
“No.”
It was a lie that would be exposed with a single question of "where is it," and he figured he could actually have a conversation with this person.
If he could resolve this situation through dialogue, that would be for the best.
Of course, this was far from Lee Shin’s usual approach, but….
It had only been a few hours since his revival, and he was in the middle of a major quest.
He didn't want to choose a risky path unnecessarily.
If he could just get away safely without a fight, he could find the Royal Knights searching on the other side and report the warlock, earning a hefty reward.
“It was just a coincidence.”
Lee Shin shook his head and replied.
…The problem was that the opponent's reaction was unexpectedly fierce and aggressive.
At Lee Shin’s answer, the warlock’s expression changed completely, and he shouted.
“Th….”
“Th?”
“…Then die! You filthy pawn of the kingdom!!!”
“!??!!”
*Vwoooom!*
As the air trembled, black magic circles materialized all around the warlock.
At the same time, a series of ominous messages appeared before Lee Shin’s eyes.
[The enemy is unleashing Arcane Magic.]
[The enemy is condensing mana.]
[The enemy….]
[The nearby energy is running rampant!]
‘This crazy bastard…!?’
Lee Shin was inwardly shocked by the contextless rage.
He seemed fine a moment ago, but now he was suddenly showing his true colors, just as you'd expect from a warlock!
And that wasn't all.
*Crackle!*
“……!”
Black sparks flew in all directions.
Goosebumps erupted on Lee Shin’s arms.
It wasn't because he was scared of his opponent.
Lee Shin wasn't one to be psychologically intimidated by a mere NPC.
It was simply his body instinctively reacting to danger.
‘If I get hit, I’ll die.’
The senses of a former top-tier ranker!
But conversely, it also meant the opponent was highly skilled.
He probably couldn't win in a fight.
‘Talking is out of the question, too.’
Judging by the crazed look in his eyes, clearing up any misunderstanding was likely impossible.
In that case….
Lee Shin’s reaction was incredibly fast.
‘Escape!’
[Mana will be consumed for the duration.]
Having assessed the situation, Lee Shin cleanly abandoned any thought of attacking.
Lee Shin turned his body.
Then he smacked the back of Jeong Yu-ra, who was still frozen, unable to keep up with the sudden turn of events.
*Smack!*
“……Huk!?”
“Run!”
“W-What?! What about Arthur?”
Lee Shin shook his head.
He was busy enough trying to save two lives; he had no time to spare for someone who was stunned.
Besides, he had brought him into the party to be used like this from the start. Arthur himself would surely be satisfied with having fulfilled his role.
“Okay?”
“Ah, so that’s… wait! What are you talking about!?!?”
…Naturally, her dumbfounded reaction came flying back at him, but that was all.
Whatever her added comments, Lee Shin's initial point was correct.
There was no time to worry about a stunned person in this situation.
As Jeong Yu-ra ran ahead, Lee Shin glanced back.
“Running is useless!!!”
“……”
*Rumble!*
A black lightning bolt was growing to an immense size.
Given the nature of lightning-attribute magic, it would be incredibly fast.
‘It’s best to block the first hit….’
He was confident he could dodge it once his eyes got used to the speed, but it might be difficult to evade without a feel for it.
So, to be safe, blocking was better than dodging.
But how?
Lee Shin already had the perfect tool.
“Hoo.”
He let out a short breath.
Lee Shin focused his mind on the tentacle.
*Wiggle.*
The soft tentacle responded, swaying gently.
He wasn't sure why, but unlike before when it was rampaging, it was now properly obeying his commands.
One step ahead of the opponent firing the lightning, Lee Shin blocked its path with the tentacle.
Harden.
The opponent’s skill was launched a moment later.
“Heek! Die! You damn pawn of the kingdom!”
*Kzzzzzzzt!*
A black lightning bolt shot out with the warlock's chilling laughter.
Although he had used Harden in advance, the attack was so powerful that Lee Shin had already considered a reverse summon.
But….
[The Ninety-ninth Leg of the Forgotten God absorbs the opponent's attack.]
“??”
“???”
It turned out to be a needless worry.
The black lightning vanished as soon as it touched the tentacle, absorbed without a trace!
The tentacle was completely unharmed.
‘What was that?’
Lee Shin, looking bewildered, met the eyes of the even more bewildered warlock.
The warlock, belatedly snapping back to his senses, stammered out.
“Wh-What…! What did you just do!”
“I don’t know either.”
“How does that make any sense! You don't know what your own summon did!”
“……”
He was genuinely telling the truth, but it only seemed to infuriate the warlock further.
He began to channel magic once more.
“I don’t know what you did… but you won’t be able to block this!!”
[The surrounding mana is being drawn in.]
[The surrounding mana is being drawn in.]
[The surrounding mana is being….]
[…]
[…Be advised!]
[A highest-grade magic is being manifested.]
“……!!!”
*RUMBLE!*
A lightning magic so powerful that it triggered a direct warning message.
It didn't look like something a single, slender tentacle could block.
“Die!!”
Thinking the same, a triumphant sneer appeared on the warlock’s lips, despite the cold sweat pouring from him due to the massive energy consumption.
But unfortunately for him, the outcome was no different from before.
*Fzzzzt….*
[The Ninety-ninth Leg of the Forgotten God absorbs the opponent's attack.]
“Di— Huh??”
The magic vanished the moment it touched the tentacle.
The warlock stammered in bewilderment.
“Wh-Why is this… Then how about this!”
[The Ninety-ninth Leg of the Forgotten God absorbs the opponent's attack.]
“What the hell is this…!?”
He repeatedly cast powerful spells, but they were all absorbed and disappeared upon contact with the tentacle.
The corners of Lee Shin’s mouth curled up.
“…Aha.”
“!”
He still didn't quite understand what was happening, but one thing was certain.
The tables had turned.
Lee Shin raised his dagger.
Then he strode forward.
“Hic…!?”
The warlock’s face paled, and he stumbled backward.
But there was nowhere to run.
‘Where do you think you’re going.’
*Whoosh.*
*Thwack!*
“Ugh!”
Lee Shin extended the tentacle, wrapping it around the opponent’s body.
Unable to break free with strength, the warlock tried to use magic to escape, but the spells were absorbed by the tentacle the moment they formed.
“Ah……”
Completely dejected, the magician let out a sigh and looked up.
Lee Shin, who had already reached him, met his gaze and spoke.
“Shall we have a little chat?”
* * *
He said they should talk, but there were some precautions to take first.
It seemed the opponent was helpless when touched by the tentacle, but Lee Shin couldn't rely solely on that, as he didn't know the exact reason why.
He had to subdue him properly while he had the chance.
And for Lee Shin, that wasn't a difficult task.
After tying the opponent securely with a rope.
He blindfolded him and tied the rope to a tree branch directly above.
A practiced hand!
He was used to tying people up from his old days.
“Help me pull this.”
“O-Okay….”
“Yes.”
*Strrrrain!*
As his wrists and feet, tied behind his back, were pulled upward, the magician’s back arched like a bow.
“…Gyaaaah!”
The opponent screamed as pain shot through his back, but Lee Shin completely ignored it and started digging a hole in the ground right below him.
“Why are you suddenly digging?”
“To plant a bomb.”
“!”
*Thud.*
At Lee Shin’s calm words, the opponent froze as if someone had flipped a switch.
His excitement had finally subsided, and he seemed to have grasped his situation objectively.
He spoke with a trembling voice.
“S-Spare me.”
“……”
“Please spare me.”
“……”
“Heeik! Spare me! Please! Please! Ple— Kugh!!!”
“Shut it, you.”
After being kicked in the face by Lee Shin for causing a commotion, the opponent quieted down again.
Lee Shin sat down on the base of the tree right in front of him and spoke.
“Name.”
“What?”
*Smack!*
“…Keoheok!!?”
“Name.”
“I-It’s Cedric.”
“Alright, Cedric.”
Lee Shin began, adopting a deliberately grave tone.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions now. If you answer diligently, I might spare you, I might not spare you, or I might think very hard about whether to spare you or not.”
“What kind of nonse—.”
“Answer.”
“I-I understand.”
“Good.”
Lee Shin asked.
“I saw some Royal Knights nearby a while ago. They were probably after you, right?”
“Weren't you with them?”
“Tsk.”
“…Y-Yes, they were!”
‘Just as I thought.’
As expected, Cedric was the wanted criminal the knights were looking for.
If he just handed him over, he could collect a hefty bounty.
Lee Shin asked.
“What’s the charge?”
“Pardon?”
“What were you charged with?”
What had he done to make the knights pursue him all the way out to this remote place?
It was just a casual question.
But….
“Charge?”
“?”
“What are you talking about! I have committed no crime.”
“Then why are the knights after you, you bastard?”
At Lee Shin’s question, Cedric puffed out his chest proudly and answered.
“Hmph. They’re just making a fuss over a few dead people.”
“……”
“It is a trivial matter compared to the work of balancing the kingdom according to the will of the God Yata.”
“……!”