Chapter 83 (2/2)

“Too late?! But…??” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“She only looks fine on the outside. There’s no need to even look deeper. Her insides would have changed by now.” (Kazuki)

Kazuki looked back at Seol Ji-Hu with sorrowful eyes.

“Are you going to step in this time, too?” (Kazuki)

“………” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“You’re free to intervene, but remember this – you doing that will decrease the amount of time we have to find the Princess.” (Kazuki)

Seol Ji-Hu was unable to say anything.

Eventually, Ayase Yui’s neck was cleanly separated from her body. Kazuki proceeded to incinerate her body and pulled at the Korean man standing there in a daze.

“Let’s go. We still have one more person to find.” (Kazuki)

Seol Ji-Hu stared at the j.a.panese man with a great deal of awe. As befitting an Archer acknowledged by Dylan, he was able to control his emotions to such an extreme degree and focused on his duties first. This calmness helped to cool down Seol Ji-Hu’s anger that continued to play havoc with his mind ever since he climbed down to the second floor. He then promptly felt ashamed by his disgraceful conduct earlier.

‘I need to concentrate on the mission.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Thanks to finding the two ladies quicker than the initial expectation, the time wasted upstairs had been replenished by just a tiny bit.

More determined than ever before, he looked at every nook and cranny to find Teresa Hussey. However, he couldn’t spot anyone even remotely resembling her. Which was weird, because her unique features certainly stood out from the crowd. The time continued to tick on, but that unique rose-coloured hair couldn’t be seen from anywhere.

He even resorted to using more of the valuable rudium just in case, but that also didn’t work. He ordered the mutated Orcs nearby to guide him to a human brought in recently and even added Teresa Hussey’s distinguis.h.i.+ng features for good measure but the d*mn things didn’t even want to budge.

“Did you spot any trace of Princess yet?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“I wouldn’t be standing around here if I did.” (Kazuki)

Kazuki chewed on his lips before cupping his ear. The communication crystal hanging near his earlobe was emitting a soft, pure glow.

– “Where’s Seol?” (Cho Hong)

The voice belonged to Cho Hong.

“He’s with me, still searching. What about your side?” (Kazuki)

– “Traps have been laid down, and everyone made it back safe. You haven’t found the other two yet?” (Cho Hong)

“Ayase Yui was infected and I dealt with her. Haven’t found Teresa Hussey yet.” (Kazuki)

– “You have less than ten minutes left. Don’t push your luck and come back. If all else fails, we can try again in 72 hours, right?” (Cho Hong)

“Got it. Don’t worry.” (Kazuki)

The glow from the crystal disappeared. The two men didn’t say anything else afterwards and spent another minute searching their vicinity, but again, there was nothing to show for their efforts. Eventually, Kazuki sighed out in exasperation.

“Seol.” (Kazuki)

“Yes?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“Go back first.” (Kazuki)

Kazuki quickly continued on.

“I can’t be certain, yet. But, there’s still some time left, so I’ll try to search by myself.” (Kazuki)

Kazuki was an upper-level Archer. His running speed was really fast, so even if he used up a bit more of time, he’d still be able to make it – that’s what he meant. Seol Ji-Hu knew that he was being considerate, of course. But the Korean youth rejected the offer regardless.

“No way. I’ll also help. I’m pretty confident when it comes to running, you see.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“Mm?” (Kazuki)

“I have this guy, remember?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu pointed to his left ear. Kazuki saw the Festina Earring and began pondering something. The rescue team members had shared as much information as they were willing to before the mission commenced, so he knew what that earring was.

“Didn’t you say you can’t control it properly yet?” (Kazuki)

“Running in a straight line is fine. Well, I even led the Parasites back in that dangerous canyon, so running the length of the first floor shouldn’t be that difficult.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

That made some sense. Considering that the first underground floor was basically a straight line, his confidence was not unwarranted. Besides, if the effect was stacked three times, he’d be able to run 100 metres in 3, maybe 4 seconds. The speed he’d be able to exhibit during that one minute would be double that of Kazuki’s maximum sprinting speed.

“Fine. We’ll do it this way.” (Kazuki)

Kazuki nodded his head and handed over another communication crystal attached to an earring.

“You also take one. We’ll go our separate ways to search. If and when the contact is made, we return, no questions asked.” (Kazuki)

“Got it.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

“I’ll be sticking around for four minutes and 25 seconds before heading back. You shouldn’t be going past six minutes and 40 seconds mark. Don’t try to cut it too close and return at least before the final minute mark. Understand?” (Kazuki)

He then added that he’d contact Seol Ji-Hu before going back, and the two men went their separate ways.

Seol Ji-Hu inwardly began counting as he crossed the hatchery. He still couldn’t locate Teresa Hussey, though.

‘Princess…. Princess….’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu had been walking in deeper and deeper before he abruptly realised that the surroundings had changed somewhat. He couldn’t see any pillars or chains here. What replaced them now were several structures that resembled ranches.

Seol Ji-Hu began frowning. He was wondering why there was progressively lesser and lesser number of mutated Orcs, but now he could see why; he spotted several smaller-sized mutated Orcs roaming around these ‘ranches’. They looked to be cubs and not fully-grown adults.

Females from various species were laying on top of dried gra.s.ses, moaning out and panting laboriously. Disgusting, acrid odours of blood and all sorts of filth wafted in the air.

“…Ah!” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Out of the blue, his steps came to a halt. As he attentively scanned the area, he finally caught the distinct colour he’d been hoping to see. Although dirty, there was little doubt he was seeing pink hair.

The female was lying still as if she was dead, her belly swollen up so much that it now resembled a ball. Her broken, soulless blurry eyes flinched sporadically, soft gasps of “Ah, ah…” leaving her mouth. His heart nearly tumbled to the pit of his stomach.

“Princess Teresa!” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu hurriedly ran over there and was about to grab her shoulder, but his actions came to a sudden halt. It wasn’t Teresa Hussey. Their hair colour was the same but this woman belonged to another race. He saw the carelessly-unfurled black wings sprouting from her back and was sure of his findings.

He felt relieved, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but sigh. Time to go back was rapidly approaching.

‘Should I go back?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

In reality, he was not duty-bound to find her at all cost. However, Teresa Hussey was a Paradiser. If she died now, that would be it for her. No, even if he set aside that point, he still remembered that powerful attraction he felt when meeting her for the first time.

‘It’s like, I’ve met her from somewhere before.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

He could have been mistaken about that. But, he knew that, if he gave up here and go back, he’d be beset with regret for the rest of his life. Indeed, he had to do his very best right until the very end so his regret wouldn’t be as bad later.

It’s not like he didn’t have any time left, did it? Seol Ji-Hu shook his head. Right, it was still too early.

‘This isn’t going to work.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Walking around like this with no plan was not a solution. He needed to think like Kazuki.

‘Maybe, she wasn’t even in the hatchery, to begin with?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Up until now, he had been roaming around the hatchery because of the header’s theory. But since she was nowhere to be found, that theory might not be applicable to Teresa Hussey. Seol Ji-Hu quickly changed his thought process.

‘What’s the difference between Princess and other captives?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

She was a Paradiser, while others were Earthlings. Seol Ji-Hu pondered deeply until suddenly, a brand new possibility popped into his head. He only tested it out on three, four targets before so the sample pool was small, but still, his idea stemmed from the fact that the mutated Orcs didn’t know of Teresa Hussey’s whereabouts.

‘Maybe, Princess’s worth as a captive is different from the others?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Meaning, she had another purpose other than being used as breeding stock. The biggest fighting force of humanity was Earthlings, but in reality, one could argue that the true foundation was none other than the seven G.o.ds. The first person these G.o.ds contacted was a Paradiser. Not only that, a royal.

‘The promise of the King!’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Considering that point, could it be possible that the Princess of the Haramark royal family received different treatment from the others? Such as, taken to elsewhere so the Parasites could learn the secrets of the seven G.o.ds?

Unless he was talking about the Queen of the Parasites who even devoured a G.o.d – the command structure of the Parasites could only ‘control’, but it was not an omnipotent network. Besides, a human would instantly turn into a mindless puppet the moment he or she was infected. So, Princess holding valuable information would not be so carelessly turned into a host.

He wasn’t sure, of course. But his theory sounded plausible. There was a chance that he was being too optimistic about this, but he didn’t mind grasping at straws in the current situation if it’d help him out somehow.

In any case, the conclusion was that there was a good chance of her not being in the hatchery at all.

‘In that case….’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

He had entered pretty deeply into the second bas.e.m.e.nt floor. Maybe that was the reason why there weren’t all that many mutated Orcs. On the far side to his left, he could see the experimentation area.

If she was taken above ground, then there was nothing he could do, but then again, she could be in that experimentation area.

‘Which one should I enter first?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

It wasn’t just one or two buildings there. He figured that he might have to search every single one if he failed to think of a good way, but then, decided to activate Nine Eyes first, just in case. Everywhere transformed into a sea of yellow – with the sole exception of one structure.

‘Is that vermilion?’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

It was ‘Do Not Approach’. Besides the fact that it was built using bricks, it kind of resembled a container-like structure with only a single small window.

He had no time to worry. Seol Ji-Hu quickly made his way and pressed against the structure’s wall. The door was closed, so he couldn’t see the inside. He pressed his ear to the wall next, but it was all very quiet. There didn’t seem to be any signs of movement.

But, there must’ve been a reason why it was ‘Do Not Approach’. Now originally, he shouldn’t even be thinking about entering, but there was a chance that he’d find her here.

‘Just in case.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

He grasped the rudium. He had a way to go around the danger, so there’s no reason to take the risk.

‘Open the door as quietly as possible. If you see beings of the same race as you moving inside, pretend that you made a mistake and get out immediately.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

He used the rudium to control a mutated Orc nearby and sent it ahead of him. Creak… The door opened and a portion of the interior was revealed.

‘Looks like a torture chamber.’ (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu remained pressing against the wall as he sent out another command.

‘Nod if there is a human woman inside.’

The mutated Orc nodded its head. Seol Ji-Hu opened his eyes wider. He forgot to breathe for a moment then. The monster didn’t come out of the structure, which meant that, at the least, there were no moving Parasite-infected creatures inside.

Seol Ji-Hu didn’t hesitate and entered the structure immediately. And when he took a good look at the interior, he had to squeeze his eyes shut out of the sheer elation. His fists automatically clenched by themselves. He got to confirm that using up the valuable rudium was not a waste of his time.

He opened his eyes again and quickly strode forward. A certain woman was tied to an X-shaped wooden frame, held by ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Her face was obscured by her lowered head. However, her cascading waterfall of rose-coloured hair was definitely a familiar sight to him.

Seol Ji-Hu placed the ice spear by his armpit and slowly extended his hand out. He brushed past her hair and touched her still-soft cheek. His palm sensed her flinching greatly.

“….Keuk!” (Teresa Hussey)

Tremble, tremble…

Her deer-like neck began trembling. He even heard her gnash her teeth.

“Kill me!” (Teresa Hussey)

What a familiar voice that was, too. Instead of answering her, though, he placed his hand on the communication crystal attached to his ear. It glowed softly when he injected his Magic Power.

“I shall never submit to….” (Teresa Hussey)

– “What’s going on?” (Kazuki)

Kazuki’s voice prompted the pink-haired woman to stop her yammering.

And then…

“….Eh?” (Teresa Hussey)

Her head swivelled up. She spotted a certain young man speaking in a calm voice, with his hand pressed to his ear.

“I found Princess Teresa Hussey. I’ll return as soon as I free her.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

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The eyes of Teresa Hussey grew dazed as she stared at Seol Ji-Hu.

< 83.=”” a=”” piece=”” of=”” hope=”” pulled=”” out=”” from=”” quagmire=””> Fin.