Kidnapping? - Real Devotee - Brook Ver.2
“...What?”
-Kidnapping?
-Brook Ver.2
-She's a real devotee?
-Feels like it'll go to shit;
Jinook Artua was flustered. The devotee looked dangerous at first glance. He couldn't even imagine what might happen if they mishandled her.
“You're gonna kidnap her? You serious?”
“We can't kill her like you said. She could be used as justification for a real war.”
“Then kidnapping's off the table too. She'd unleash all those monsters to kill us right now.”
“It's fine. She'll accept my offer.”
“...?”
Kang Hanbit stepped forward, leaving Jinook with his puzzled expression behind.
“Now, now, don't get too excited. If you rush, you might go berserk and lose it.”
The scientist was examining the monsters in the iron cages with a voice full of affection. And just as she moved to the next cage—
Whoosh!—
Her arms were grabbed and bound with rope.
“Hmm. I don't recall inviting any guests.”
[Holy Nation Scientist Isis]
Even in the sudden situation, the scientist Isis remained calm. With her arms restrained, she slowly turned her head to look at Kang Hanbit.
“...Huh?”
Her eyes changed the instant she saw his face. Widening them, she raised her voice.
“You! You're the one who scattered that amazing chill!”
Isis recalled the scene at the city wall. A primal, overwhelming cold that wasn't magic or anything else. The sight of it freezing all her “children” had been awe-inspiring enough to make her tremble.
-Her eyes are creepy;
-Real madness.
-She's pretty, so I'll forgive her.
-I support her.
[AnKyoHater donated 1,000 won.]
[Kick her glasses off.]
With her arms bound, Isis leaned in close to his face. Her manic curiosity contrasted sharply with her gentle appearance—it was her core identity.
“That's him. So if you don't wanna die, stop the experiments right now.”
Kang Hanbit drew his sword and warned her, blade at the ready.
But Isis sounded even more thrilled.
“So you used that power with this sword! Was it really an elemental spirit? Or did you figure out a way to mimic it?”
Ignoring the blade entirely, she bombarded him with questions. Watching her, Kang Hanbit backed away and activated Attribute Manifestation.
Shhh—
A chilling frost bloomed along the blade. With little recovery time, the power draining from his body was nearing its limit.
“Ah...!”
Seeing the cold, Isis's pupils dilated even more.
“It is a spirit, right? Right? A real spirit?”
Excited, she rushed toward him despite her bound arms. At the same time, the frost vanished from the blade.
“Where... where'd it go? Huh? It was just there!”
Danger of being frozen solid? Irrelevant to her. Isis was the type to satisfy her curiosity even at the cost of her life.
“What you just saw was the power of Spirit King Glacier's trace.”
“...You just said Spirit King? The one from legends and myths?”
“Yeah. So if you wanna see it again, stop the experiments right now.”
“Well...”
She made a troubled face at his firm warning. Then she shook her head.
“I can't stop the experiments. My children have already left my hands.”
“What? What kinda bullshit is that?!”
Jinook, who'd been listening, exploded in anger and butted in.
“You can't stop what you started? Just smash those test tubes!”
“Then Ifrit would be destroyed immediately. We're at the stage of containing the rampage and stabilizing them.”
“Stabilizing? You expect us to buy that?”
“That's up to you... but please don't mess up my experiment by poking around? Lots of deaths don't make for good results.”
“You little...!”
Jinook ground his teeth at her matter-of-fact explanation. He understood the emotion, but there was no lie in her words.
Kang Hanbit gazed at the countless iron cages.
“So you're saying it's better to leave them like this?”
“If you want fewer sacrifices, wouldn't it be? Though it'd only work if that spirit power of yours shines.”
A normal monster wave would have caused massive casualties. But Kang Hanbit had stopped the first and second waves without a single death. Having witnessed it, Isis could voice that slim possibility.
She didn't think they could block it perfectly, though.
‘...She's a dangerous one in many ways.’
Isis had no intent to kill. Her interest was solely in monster enhancement research.
So what if that blind, dangerous curiosity could be redirected? Say, to the spirit research she'd always dreamed of.
“Anyway! Could I take a closer look at that power?”
Isis pointed at the sword again, pleading.
Kang Hanbit paused, then asked her,
“Then cooperate with us. We need info on the Holy Nation.”
“Gladly!”
-?
-Just like that?
-Zero hesitation;
-Zero faith ㄷㄷ
Isis decided without a hint of doubt. It was the reaction Kang Hanbit expected, but not Jinook.
“A Holy Nation devotee betrays that easily? It's a trap!”
“I'm an orphan picked up from the eastern war zone. I don't deny God, but my research is more precious. Especially the chance to study spirits! The Holy Nation never gave me that shot! Monster enhancement research is fun and fulfilling too, but...”
Isis poured out her love for research. In summary: spirits were what she'd always wanted to study, so grabbing the opportunity wasn't weird.
“...What the hell is this?”
Jinook couldn't easily grasp her mindset. To normal people, faith like that was a high wall.
“If you leave here, what about the experiments? They'll keep going?”
“Like I said, they've left my hands. All that's left is watching the results. Plus, there's a child not here...”
Rumble—
Suddenly, the ground shook with vibrations. Jinook immediately went on guard, scanning around.
“What the hell?”
No new enemies appeared. Just an inexplicable ominousness weighing down the air.
“Ah, looks like it's starting to wake up.”
“Starting to wake up?”
“There are children sleeping in a special separate space. Ever heard of the Snow Mountain Giant?”
“...!”
Jinook's eyes widened at the familiar monster name. The Snow Mountain Giant, commonly called a yeti. Treated as quasi-boss level, it was among Ifrit's strongest monsters.
If it rampaged in an enhanced state, the outcome was too horrific to imagine.
“Let's head back. We need more prep.”
Kang Hanbit grabbed Isis's rope again. Then an alarm chimed, and a message appeared.
Ding—
[You have completed Main Quest #9.]
[Received 200,000 gold.]
[4 stat points granted.]
[80,000 EXP gained.]
[Level up by 1.]
[1 stat point granted.]
[Progress increased.]
[Main Quest #10: Kidnapping]
You kidnapped Holy Nation scientist Isis by agreement. Take her back to Ifrit and talk.
Goal: Extract needed info through interrogation.
Rewards: 100,000 gold, 50,000 EXP, 2 stat points
*Current progress: 77%
The situation and goal were concise. Kang Hanbit looked at Jinook, whose face had darkened further.
“We'll need your decision too.”
“...My decision?”
He looked puzzled at the abrupt question. Kang Hanbit pushed away Isis, who kept eyeing the sword, and said,
“Choose. Save the city's future, or keep obeying your sister.”
***
“This woman's a Holy Nation devotee?”
In Ifrit's city hall reception room, Firnen de Artua let out an incredulous voice upon seeing the woman across from her.
“She's more scientist than devotee. I'll take responsibility for her, and I've contacted Vice-Captain Leon separately. Now do you grasp the monster wave's severity?”
“Leon... You informed the capital too?”
Firnen's brow furrowed, her voice laced with irritation. Anxiety over the city's dark rumors leaking out. Even a beautiful city becomes unappealing if it's dangerous.
“Leon will keep info minimal. No need to worry about rumors spreading to citizens. Though I believe we should call in reinforcements from other cities.”
“Premature worry. Focusing everything here creates vulnerabilities elsewhere. Solving it with our own strength is ideal.”
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them to stare at the woman. So restless, fidgeting and scanning around.
“Did you really send those monsters to Ifrit?”
“Yep? The first and second were rejects who didn't meet standards. But is that decoration real mana stone? The purity seems unnecessarily high...”
-She can't sit still lol
-So cute.
-She's the enemy;
-Anyone against Isis is my enemy.
-The stew's already...
Isis's bouncing curiosity knew no bounds. Firnen watched pityingly and continued.
“When's the next monster wave?”
“Tomorrow. Once the Snow Mountain Giant wakes, the assault begins.”
“I heard you can't stop the experiment, but you're willing to cooperate? What's your plan for the wave?”
“Hmm.”
Isis pondered with a groan this time. Then she pointed at Kang Hanbit.
“Overwhelming firepower... someone like him, right? Though fully stopping it would be tough. More importantly, can I eat this?”
Her finger shifted to a cookie on the table. Without waiting for an answer, she popped it in her mouth.
“Hoo.”
Firnen sighed, rubbing her temple. She turned to Jinook on her right.
“Gather adventurers and soldiers for the next wave. Use city resources freely.”
“...Sister, reconsider just once.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Her hesitant retort made Firnen's voice chill.
Jinook straightened, eyes wavering.
“Ifrit's adventurers and soldiers alone can't stop the final wave. Even if we do, casualties will be massive.”
“How many times must I say it? That's why you're in that position. Will you keep disappointing me?”
“I know my shortcomings. So allow reinforcements from other cities.”
“Ha.”
Firnen let out a hollow laugh at her usually obedient half-brother's defiance. She shook her head firmly.
“I refuse. Handle it with our strength alone.”
“...Even if adventurers, soldiers, and citizens die?”
“That's responsibility too. Protecting the city's value over minor sacrifices...”
“Sister!”
Suddenly, Jinook raised his voice and shot to his feet. Firnen looked at him in disbelief at the insolence.
“Did you just... yell at me?”
“Yes! I've followed your every word until now! Like an idiot, thinking it was right!”
-Real rebellion ㄷㄷ
-Jinook too?
-Awakening;
-He finally grew up.
-Held back long enough.
-Firnen OUT!
Words poured from Jinook like a bursting dam—self-recrimination too.
“But now? You're ignoring an obvious danger even a child could see, all for economic power! Just to cling to the family's status!”
“What did you just say?”
“Take responsibility! I'm pathetic for obeying you, but I'll fix it from now on!”
Whoosh—
With that, Jinook turned and stormed out of the reception room. Firnen stared blankly, then clenched her fists and stood abruptly.
“How dare you overstep! Forgot the grace of saving your trash life? That filthy bastard blood of yours...”
“Ooh!”
As she spat venom, Isis's ropes came undone. The freed scientist unleashed her pent-up curiosity.
“Been wondering since earlier—is that mana stone too? Not suitable for rings, right?”
“What... Get away!”
Isis lunged, hands wiggling. Firnen recoiled like she'd seen a gross bug.
Kang Hanbit, who'd released the ropes, pretended not to notice while munching cookies.
“Huh? Is that a light-adjusting magic tool? Nice tech!”
“Wait...! That's expensive!”
Isis's gaze shifted to a wall lamp. Firnen grabbed her hem in pursuit, but too late.
Crash!—
“Ah.”
The light magic tool Isis touched shattered on the floor. Scratching her head, she said,
“Hehe, it broke. Oops?”
“Do you know how much that costs...!”
-LMAOOOOO
-Insane counter lol
-Human matchup broken;
-Release Isis on the map. Problem solved.
Firnen trembled in rage, but the culprit was a Holy Nation devotee. What could she claim from this odd woman?
“Get... out. Now.”
“Huh? I haven't seen enough yet...”
“OUT!”
With her sharp yell, Isis was ejected from the reception room. Kang Hanbit, following naturally, grabbed her before she could re-enter and pulled her outside.
Jinook waited at the city hall entrance.
“You okay?”
“...Yeah. I decided to protect the city.”
No regrets on his face. A hard-won choice wouldn't waver.
Kang Hanbit nodded toward the northern wall.
“Same here. Let's prep properly.”