Chapter 72
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: New Equipment
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“Should we launch an attack?”
“Yeah. If we just add one more to the existing expedition team, we can take on even the Centaur Khan.”
“Huh? Do we have someone like that?”
As I tilted my head, Moemoe-chan smiled brightly and perched lightly on Minos’s head.
“Minos’s Shockwave is a skill that unleashes a shockwave to shake the ground.”
“Ah! You don’t mean...?”
“Yeah. My guess is that Shockwave alone can neutralize the Centaurs’ mobility. Like this.”
Moemoe-chan used Illusion to create a miniature version of the expedition team and the Centaurs. It looked just like a finely crafted figure set.
“Keeeyooo!”
The mindless charging Centaurs, the Goblin Riders relentlessly firing slingshots, and the Orcs forming a wall of spears.
The simulated battle in the illusion played out exactly like the real fights we’d had. Well, almost—except for one thing.
Right at the front of the expedition team stood the dark-skinned musclebound Hanwoo, or rather, Minos, planted firmly.
Minos waited motionlessly until the Centaurs closed in, then slammed his trident down into the ground with all his might just as they reached him.
Boom!!
The ground began to shake with a deafening roar.
“Urk!”
The Centaurs stumbled forward from the shockwave, losing their footing. Even those who didn’t fall completely slowed down and staggered.
Once they’d lost their speed, the Centaurs were no longer a threat. Minos and the Orc spear-bearers picked them off one by one.
Just adding one Minos had turned the tide overwhelmingly in our favor.
“Whoa! We won so easily! But will it really go down like that? Real battles can be different.”
“That’s why we need the Master’s help to confirm it. If you come along, we can handle any surprises that pop up along the way.”
If things went exactly like this, we could gather Centaur essences without me.
In other words, one day I’d be able to command a cavalry of man-horse unity.
“Alright. Let’s go check it out for real.”
And so, the Centaur hunt we attempted ended up playing out exactly like the simulation, surprisingly enough.
“Moooo!”
Minos let out a long roar, bathed in Centaur blood. Piles of Centaur corpses—split between human and horse parts—lay strewn before him.
“At this rate, I wouldn’t even be needed.”
It hit me anew that Minos was a 3-star monster. Meaning each one was on par with a Centaur Khan.
‘Plus, with Shockwave neutralizing their mobility, they’re basically natural counters.’
We roamed the plains for a few more hunts afterward. The results were satisfying.
The moment the Centaurs lost their mobility, they lost their power, and the Orcs burst apart under Minos’s brutal attacks.
Even the occasional Centaur vanguard or Orc warrior couldn’t stand up to Minos.
“Hmm. The real question is whether they can handle other 3-stars like the Orc chieftain or Centaur Khan...”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll fight alongside them when the time comes.”
Moemoe-chan prostrated herself before me. Her arrow-shaped tail swaying behind her made her look just like a cat.
Without thinking, I reached out and stroked her head. Even as a spirit, I could feel the ticklish texture of her hair.
I must’ve unconsciously cast Illusion. It let me touch even a non-corporeal Succubus.
“M-Master?”
Her wings stiffened the moment my fingers touched her. It was adorable, like a cat’s ears perking up.
I grinned as I petted her head like a cat.
“Thanks. Can I trust you with this?”
“O-Of course.”
“Feels like I’m always dumping the tough jobs on you. When we get back, I’ll make sure you get some vacation time. No—all of you can rest.”
When you got down to it, they were all fighting for me. Risking their lives, no less.
No matter that I’d revived them, it didn’t mean I could treat my minions like slaves.
That’s why I always felt bad asking them to take on dangerous stuff like this.
“Um...”
As I was wallowing in guilt, Moemoe-chan lifted her head, her face flushed bright red.
“You don’t need to worry that much, Master. For monsters like us, killing other monsters and growing stronger is our life’s goal. Even without your orders, we’d be out hunting prey anyway.”
“But you always whine about wanting vacation every time I give you a job.”
“Th-That’s...”
Her face turned even redder, like a perfectly ripened persimmon.
“Tr-Truth is, it’s not just the workload. I hate being away from you for so long.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. So when this job’s done, let me stay by your side. I might not be much help in a fight, but I’m confident in scouting and navigation.”
She shyly bowed her head as she spoke, looking every bit as moe as her name implied. No—utterly lovable.
“Ughhh. Damn, you’re too cute!!”
I rubbed my cheek against the top of her head and shook my own wildly. I was suddenly dying to drown in her moe-ness.
“Eeeek! M-Master!?”
“You little cutie! How are you this adorable!?”
I lavished her with affection afterward.
* * *
“Phew. My cheeks sting.”
I’d rubbed them so much they were a little sore. But no regrets. I’d tasted heaven, if only for a moment.
“Wonder if the equipment’s done by now?”
I’d just arrived at the uncles’ workshop. Time to restock before tackling the labyrinth.
The issue was I’d only handed over the materials a week ago.
First time handling Minos corpses—could they really finish on time?
“Hey there.”
“Oh, In-hyeok’s here?”
The uncles looked pleased. Seemed like I could expect good news.
“Sorry, but can I see the gear first?”
“Of course. We’ve been dying to show it off.”
Mr. Jang from the leather shop pulled back a cloth covering one side. Angular helmet and armor came into view.
[Minos Leather Helmet (C)]
[Defense 38. Durability 50. Weight 3]
[Minos Leather Armor (C)]
[Defense 44. Durability 65. Weight 15]
“Sorry about that. The hide was so thick, it was tough to shape curves. But I made the inside comfy, so give it a try.”
I put on the helmet first. It had some weight, but nothing neck-straining. Vision was clear, and it felt good.
“Whoa! This is great! To make something like this in just a week.”
“Had to show off my skills. Good materials like this make the work fly by.”
“Quit bragging over that little bit... Come here. The real stuff’s over here.”
Mr. Ko led me to the forge and pulled out a specially set-aside item.
“Heave!”
[Minos Horn Spear (C)]
[Attack 42. Durability 60. Weight 12]
[Minos Horn Mace (C)]
[Attack 40. Durability 50. Weight 5]
A spear shaped like a pick with a Minos horn as the blade, and a spiked meteor mace crafted from a Minos horn.
“What do you think?”
“Awesome. Weapons stronger than a breeze...”
My spears were running low, so this was perfect. High attack and durability had me in a great mood.
‘This should hold up even if I pour mana into it.’
The mace was a hit too. My old throwing knives hadn’t satisfied on attack or weight, but the Minos horn nailed both.
“Got any more spears I can take?”
“More spears? You took over twenty last time.”
“Haha. Well... They all broke in the fights.”
“Hmm. Guess it’d be weird if weapons stayed intact against Minos...”
The uncles’ faces grew serious as they eyed my current gear.
“Your armor’s basically rags too. You okay? Aren’t you pushing too hard?”
“Don’t overdo it. Gear we can fix or replace, but bodies? Not so much.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful.”
“Keep that promise. Don’t come back hurt and break these old hearts. Hye-rin’s been worried sick about you too.”
“Got it. Careful, super careful.”
I scratched my cheek, embarrassed. More people cared about me than I thought. Felt proud and tingly inside.
Not a bad feeling at all.
* * *
Afterward, Cha In-hyeok grabbed all the remaining spears from the forge into his inventory and met up with his dad, Deok-hun, Min-ah, and others.
His last stop was Song Hye-rin.
“Be careful. I told you before—inside a gate, everyone’s an enemy. Don’t trust the Black Bears too much.”
“I don’t. Ban Sang-woon’s the type to betray for big gains anyway.”
“Yeah. Guy flips attitudes on a dime depending on the situation. Can’t trust him.”
Song Hye-rin still didn’t trust Ban Sang-woon. And neither did Cha In-hyeok.
‘Pulling people without asking, half-assed apologies, just matching gate numbers... Not trustworthy.’
At least the labyrinth dropped everyone in different spots on entry.
No need to watch the Black Bears’ backs until the paths converged.
“Anyway, tomorrow’s the day. Think we can clear this labyrinth?”
“We have to. But just in case, I’m prepping backups.”
“Backups? Like what...”
“Opening gates for the merchant guild hunters. Leveling them up as much as possible first. If we fail in a month, we’ll all defend Yangyang together.”
“Ah!”
The merchant guild hunters left jobless when Yangyang’s gates vanished. He’d roped them in temporarily.
If all went well, even a worst-case scenario would minimize civilian casualties.
“So don’t push yourself. Failing the clear isn’t the end. I’ll protect your dad and friends.”
Song Hye-rin blushed but flashed a confident smile. Cha In-hyeok’s fingers twitched.
‘Ugh! Almost patted her head!’
Song Hye-rin’s moe power rivaled Moemoe-chan’s. He pulled his hand back and stepped away.
“Yeah. I should head out.”
“Huh? Already? Stay for dinner at least.”
“N-No, thanks. Eating with Dad at home tonight.”
“O-Oh? Okay. Family dinner’s unavoidable, I guess.”
“Yeah. See ya.”
Cha In-hyeok bolted from the office. Song Hye-rin waited for the door to close, then cupped her cheeks.
“Ughhh. ‘Dad’... I’m losing it, Song Hye-rin.”
Then her eyes sharpened suddenly.
“He’s not lying about dinner with Dad to sneak off and meet that junior again, is he?”
Grit!
She pictured Cha In-hyeok gaping at Huh Min-ah’s arm hook and ground her teeth.
“Huh? Why’s it suddenly so chilly?”
At the same time, Cha In-hyeok shivered for no reason.