Episode 669
Episode 669
When an electrical discharge crackled through the air and lightning bared its fangs, the poachers were startled.
The disguise the poachers had adopted was that of injured travelers.
Wounded travelers who'd been attacked by monsters while traversing the mountain range!
Given how dangerous the area was, this had always been an effective ruse. Especially when their targets were young, inexperienced wizards.
But...
Why did it feel like the magic was targeting them?
CRACK!
As lightning struck down, a poacher wrapped in bandages screamed and threw himself aside.
That lightning bolt had been aimed precisely at the poacher. Had he not dodged, it would have struck him dead center.
'Th-that crazy bastard!'
"W-wizard sir! Why are you— GYAAH!"
The lightning didn't stop with a single strike.
As if the wizards had prepared thoroughly beforehand, bolts rained down like a torrential downpour.
The poachers wrapped in bloodied bandages to feign serious injuries realized that staying put might actually get them killed.
"Ugh!"
"Run for it!"
"Those insane wizard bastards...!"
The poachers scrambled frantically into the darkness. Lee Han watched their retreat with an impassive expression.
'...They were poachers, right?'
Seeing how quickly they moved, they did seem like poachers.
Genuinely injured people wouldn't have been able to react like that.
Of course, it could have been them tapping into hidden reserves when faced with mortal danger, but...
'Hmm. They must've been poachers.'
Though Lee Han had attended Einrogard for barely over a year, he'd already encountered far too many suspicious outsiders in that time.
Evil god cultists, anti-magic extremists, self-proclaimed dragon emperors (though not actual dragons)...
After dealing with all sorts of cunning devils and magic criminals, Lee Han had learned one thing:
If something feels off, attack first!
As someone who lacked both experience and combat prowess compared to his opponents, letting them strike first left him with no recourse.
Worry about the consequences later—if something seems suspicious, shoot first and ask questions later.
Hadn't they heard that poachers were flooding the Sorrow Mountains these days?
While there was a chance these were genuine hunters, the odds favored them being poachers.
Lee Han resolved to believe just that.
"What's going on?!"
His friends came running out in alarm.
They'd been resting inside the tent when the sounds of magic and screaming startled them out.
"Poachers were approaching, so I deterred them with magic. They all ran off, so no need to worry."
"That's our Lee Han!"
While Gainando cheered, Nilia looked puzzled.
Poachers were typically tenacious, persistent, and stopped at nothing to achieve their goals.
For them to approach so clumsily?
"They just... walked up to you?"
"Yep."
Lee Han answered shamelessly.
Unaware of what details he might have omitted, Nilia frowned in serious contemplation.
"Good thing you stopped them, but more poachers might come."
"After seeing that magic??"
Gainando pointed to the scorched black earth outside their campsite, burned by Lee Han's spells.
"Poachers are fearless. And they'll stay that way until they're the ones getting hit. Everyone up! We're better off awake now."
The students returned to their positions to survey the campsite perimeter. Just then, they spotted the explorer Froststep returning from the distance.
"Students, is everyone alright?"
"A group of poachers approached us."
"The poacher activity is definitely increasing."
Froststep, having found numerous traces of poachers nearby, warned the students to remain vigilant.
Upon hearing about the poachers who'd approached in his absence, he looked dumbfounded.
"Must've been inexperienced rookies. Honestly, anyone with half a brain knows better than to walk straight into a wizard campsite."
"Could they have underestimated us because we're lower-year students?"
"Then they must be even more inexperienced. To underestimate an Einrogard student just because of their lower grade."
"Hehe. That might be the case."
Unaware that his gang was being dismissed as inexperienced rookie poachers, Julban was berating his returning subordinates.
"You worm-brained idiots! How could you fail to trick kids younger than your quivers and get caught?"
"They started casting spells without even listening to us!"
"Nonsense! Would imperial mages attack injured men without hearing them out? Your acting was just pathetic. So, what did you do when the spells came flying? Since you're unharmed, I take it you ran away!"
"B-Boss, if we just took the spells head-on..."
"You should've taken them, you morons! If you'd gotten hit, they would've believed you. But since you dodged, they knew you were faking!"
Only then did the subordinates realize their mistake, their faces twisting in frustration.
To think they'd lost a battle of nerves against much younger mages.
"Follow me. I'll have to do it myself since I can't trust you lot."
"B-Boss, we admit we messed up. But going now might be dangerous. They'll be on guard..."
Julban shook his head in exasperation at his subordinates' excuses.
Not a single one of them knew how to use their heads.
"If you keep making excuses like that, you'll never get anything done. Stupid brats. Follow me! I'll show you how it's done."
Julban mobilized a large group of subordinates who hadn't participated earlier.
And he even wounded some of them for real.
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
"Endure it. We need to show injuries. If spells come flying, take them! If anyone dodges, I'll kill them myself."
Julban was on a completely different level when it came to schemes. Sensing this, his men's morale returned.
After all, wasn't the reason they followed their violent and ruthless boss because he had the skills to back it up?
Following Julban's orders, the subordinates, eager for their share this time, puffed out their chests and trailed behind their boss.
"P-Please spare us!"
"Help us! The Wailing Boar attacked us!"
Carrying torches, they staggered toward the campsite's front gate.
Unlike before, they were completely defenseless. If the campsite unleashed an attack, more than half would be wiped out instantly.
As a sizable group approached, bleeding profusely without any defenses, even Froststride, who was guarding the gate, was taken aback.
'Are they really injured?'
Poachers didn't act like this.
Even when using deception, they would send fewer men to test the waters, and even if they approached, they always kept an escape route ready.
But the ones approaching now were numerous, showed no intention of fleeing, and even displayed real injuries.
Even the seasoned Froststride couldn't help but be confused.
And this was exactly what Julban had anticipated.
'The more experienced they are, the more confused they'll be.'
Julban signaled. The poachers took another step closer.
"Everyone, halt!"
"P-Please spare us. Our comrades are badly injured—"
Just then, Lee Han, who had been standing guard on the opposite side, rushed belatedly to Froststride's side.
Froststride turned to speak to him.
"We need to confirm whether these people are truly injured—"
"Blink Strike!"
"!!!!"
Both Froststride and Julban were stunned.
To attack without even asking questions—this mage was going straight for spells!
Julban knew instantly.
This was the mage who had bluffed his subordinates earlier!
'Do you think I'll fall for that?'
With a weary, exhausted expression, Julban struggled to keep his eyes open against the incoming lightning.
If he held out until the end, the opposing mage would surely break off the spell—
CRACK!
"!!!"
"J-Julban!!!"
Screams erupted from the poachers as their boss took the lightning strike head-on.
If he'd been fully equipped, it might have been different, but in his defenseless state, the thunder spell left him immobilized for a long while.
Just as expected, Julban's legs gave out and he staggered. His eyes were filled with utter disbelief.
"This is impossi—"
"Flash!"
The mage mercilessly fired another lightning spell, knocking Julban to the ground.
With their leader down, the poachers hesitated, unsure how to react.
"Poachers! Attack!"
At Lee Han's shout, his friends immediately took their positions and began casting spells. A storm of offensive magic and curses rained down.
Yoner and Siana threw shock potions forward. The poachers hit by the shockwaves staggered as their sense of balance was paralyzed.
Gainando and Ratford followed up with curses and illusion magic, dealing additional blows. The poachers collapsed further as their muscles stiffened and sudden terror overwhelmed them.
Nilia nocked an arrow, aiming to pierce the one fleeing farthest. Then Durgyu asked:
"Lee Han! How did you know they were poachers?"
'Good question.'
Nilia paused mid-draw.
Now that she thought about it, it was strange. Even Nilia hadn't been sure whether they were poachers or not.
"I know!"
Frost Steps blurted out the answer instead of Lee Han.
"The wounds! He recognized them by their wounds! Truly remarkable!"
"Wounds, you say?"
"They claimed to have been attacked by a Wailing Boar! A giant boar like that wouldn't leave wounds like those! Those were clearly made by blades!"
At Frost Steps' words, Durgyu and Nilia finally understood their friend's insight.
To notice something was off about their wounds in that brief moment and counterattack...
Clearly impressed by what had just transpired, Frost Steps bowed his head.
"Thank you, Wardanaz. I should be the one protecting students, yet I'm left ashamed. Who'd have thought poachers would exploit the very assumptions any explorer would naturally make!"
"I just got lucky."
Lee Han almost admitted he'd simply attacked all suspicious approaching figures regardless of wounds, but held back.
'I'll explain when Frost Steps isn't around.'
He didn't want to seem odd in front of Frost Steps just yet.
"Capturing these poachers is troublesome too."
Frost Steps wore a pained expression as he looked at the bound poachers.
Unlike the poachers at the mountain range's entrance earlier, these ones roaming nearby weren't the type to leave quietly after having their equipment confiscated.
"Can't you just detain them?"
"Who knows what they might try. We'd need guards, but given our unicorn search..."
"Heh, just let us go and we'll never set foot in these mountains again."
The poachers tried appealing cautiously, but Frost Steps ignored them.
"Then put them in the stables?"
"Putting them in the stables won't... Oh."
Frost Steps paused belatedly, remembering what currently occupied their campsite.
"...Is that safe? If his wild instincts flare and he attacks..."
"Ponlig may have a strong appetite, but he's not the type to secretly eat what he's told not to. Trust me."
"Hmm. Very well then."
The poachers' faces brightened at the exchange.
They began thinking they might escape after all.
With fewer than ten mages around, if left in the stables, they might slip their bonds and flee...
"This way."
"Th-thank you."
"Right. Don't try anything."
Lee Han opened the stable door and shoved the poachers inside.
They hurried in—then froze.
They felt something's hot breath.
Grrrrrl.
Ponlig, greatly displeased by this sudden flood of riffraff invading his generously sized stable, made his displeasure known.
His beak clacked sharply, claws scraping against the stable floor.
"......"
"...!!!"
The poachers' bloodcurdling screams erupted from within the stable.