Chapter 93

Security Officer Neko

At Black Dog’s gambling den, Neko saw it.

The wizard’s casting ability that summoned massive clouds in an instant and incapacitated even the inspector with lightning magic.

If only I had that kind of power. Then I could truly restore order in Soren.

That’s what Neko thought at the time.

But at the steel mill, her impression changed slightly.

Among the abilities that wizard possessed, the most brilliant was something else.

Creative and swift tactical judgment.

Who would have known that the cheap raincoats brought as a last resort to block volcanic ash could be utilized as such surprise attack tools?

If the Golden Golem and the Blacksmith hadn’t appeared then, the battle would have ended there. Ingelram’s party had their magic read, suffered severe injuries, and even lost skills, leaving them with no chance of victory.

And look at the Static Coat.

It could be said to be one of the least popular defensive spells among wizards. Because its efficiency is poor.

But who would have known it could withstand a Magic Acid?

Someone might say this:

In the end, it’s possible because Caleb’s casting talent is outstanding.

Because of Ultra-high-speed casting and Chantless casting.

Well.

Caleb had said this before:

‘You should have gone to Black Dog to borrow a Watcher.’

Those words feel painfully sharp now.

Wasn’t that unrelated to casting talent?

He even created a Watcher that didn’t exist.

Wasn’t that knowledge also unrelated to Caleb’s casting talent?

What about acting as a blacksmith to kill the Barbarian and corner Ingelram?

The blacksmith act using the Potion Regeneration Belt, empty Magic Acid bottles, and Rilwid’s large-scale disguise magic.

That too was unrelated to casting talent, wasn’t it?

So, to summarize, it’s like this,

When Security Headquarters is poor and lacks budget, resulting in insufficient magical equipment, while someone complains, someone else procures a Watcher from Black Dog or even creates one.

While someone complains that they don’t have talents like Chantless casting and Ultra-high-speed casting, someone else finds victory through the ingenuity of disguise, Magic Acid, and Potion Regeneration Belt.

Think more instead of wasting time complaining.

About how to make up for what’s lacking.

That’s the only way Security Headquarters can restore Soren.

That was the realization that resonated deeply in Neko’s heart this time.

‘I want to survive.’

More than ever, she desperately wanted to escape from the labyrinth. This time, she truly wanted to return alive.

If given just one more chance.

Then she felt she could become a more excellent security officer.

But…

‘It won’t happen, will it?’

Neko looked at the Convergence Core with a bitter feeling.

Lava was pouring down from the pipes.

Kwarrrrr!

Like a waterfall.

Caleb instructed the Orc Fighter to throw the Production Control Room’s production setting box into the lava.

Because Ingelram had smashed the ground there, exposing plenty of lava.

The Steel Production Workshop’s molds try to create what’s contained in the production setting box. Golems, magical equipment, and such.

What if that box contained lava?

The molds would try to produce lava.

No matter how much they made, it would be endless. The setting box would have entered the enormous scale of lava flowing throughout the entire 4th underground floor of the labyrinth.

Probably all the lava in the furnace would pour down here.

It would fill this cylinder completely, swallowing the Blacksmith, Neko, Caleb, everyone.

Caleb intended to die here together with everyone.

Neko wasn’t afraid of death, but she did feel regret.

“Still, thanks to Caleb, we caught the sleep thieves. Thank you. It’s okay to die here.”

“What are you talking about? Take this.”

Caleb suddenly handed her something.

It was the pendant Ingelram had been wearing.

“What is this?”

“With this, both of us can get out alive.”

“What?”

Clang!

The Blacksmith emerged from under the barricade.

A look of confusion could be seen on that monster’s face too. The Blacksmith was unaffected by hot steam, but when hit by something like Neko’s Searing Ray, it got burned.

Like the Golden Golem that was easily deformed by physical impacts, the Blacksmith had different weaknesses.

“Let’s kill that guy by dropping him in lava and we’ll survive.”

***

Aimus didn’t hesitate.

‘If Caleb said so, that must be the best plan.’

He trusted the wizard party leader’s wisdom. He immediately pushed the box into the lava as instructed.

After that, one secret flashed through Aimus’s mind.

The pendant.

“Maybe he’s planning to escape using that?”

Aimus said while running toward the Steel Processing Room.

Yernil was anxious and nervous, making a tearful face.

“I don’t know about the genuine one, but in the case of the replica my wife was scammed with…”

Aimus comforted Yernil.

“You said it contained 3rd-grade defensive magic, right?”

“Yes…”

“The genuine one probably really has it. He’s planning to escape from there with that.”

“…”

Both of them simultaneously recalled one scene.

When they were trying to kill Ingelam and the Barbarian, Ingelram suddenly grabbed the Barbarian’s wrist and teleported instantly like a rogue’s Shadow Leap.

Maybe they could escape with that?

‘Please, Caleb!’

Yernil ran toward the Steel Processing Room with a desperate heart.

***

The Blacksmith didn’t rashly attack us.

Because lava was already splashing up to ankle height on the floor between that guy and us.

Of course, there are quite a few safe footholds due to the severe terrain height differences. It wouldn’t be impossible to approach us by stepping on those and jumping, but it still doesn’t move carelessly.

Because its movement would be read by us. It’s trying not to get intercepted midway.

I too didn’t carelessly touch him.

[Turn-Based Hourglass]

The cooldown has been back for a while, but I need time to share tactical plans with Neko.

“Actually, the way for us to get out of here is simple. We just need to kill the Blacksmith.”

Then the steel mill structure transformation will be undone and all the walls surrounding us will disappear. Since the Steel Processing Room has good drainage facilities, all the lava will drain out through the drainage channels.

So how can we achieve this goal?

Let’s examine several methods.

1.Since we’re on higher ground, we just wait for the Blacksmith to fall into lava and die.

This has a very high chance of failure. If the Blacksmith is chased by lava, it might think ‘this is do-or-die’ and attack us, and there are even worse scenarios.

‘If the steel mill structure transformation cooldown returns.’

The Blacksmith doesn’t need to go to higher ground than us. It just needs to hold out until the cooldown returns. And when the skill activates, it’ll just slip away.

We’ll be boiled here.

2.Intercept and kill the Blacksmith with magic.

Not easy. Our most powerful magic, Ultra-high-speed casting Hail Storm, has now dropped significantly in power.

Why? Because of the hot heat rising from the lava. Actually, this place is already quite hot. It’s becoming a steamer as if Heat Wave magic has been cast. In such a place, Hail Storm can’t display its full power.

If I summon Cumulonimbus? The massive rainwater will instantly boil up and create high-temperature steam. Unlike the Blacksmith, we’ll be steamed alive.

Therefore, the magic we can use is at best Dust Explosion, Searing Ray, Telekinetic Fist, but those don’t deal enough damage.

The Blacksmith can also attack us from long range by throwing hammers, throwing Magic Acid, or casting Lava Rush magic.

So long-range magical combat is rejected without Hail Storm and Cumulonimbus.

Nevertheless, I called the lava because the next method has better odds. Rather than two wizards having a field frontal fight with the Blacksmith without a front-liner.

3.While I provide magical backup, Neko charges and body-slams the Blacksmith.

Winning in close combat is naturally impossible, but there’s no need to attempt such a thing.

“Magic Acid won’t work and Lava Rush won’t work either, so the Blacksmith will have no choice but to strike with the hammer. Then Neko’s Static Coat will discharge and stun the Blacksmith.”

Neko’s face turned white.

“Are you telling me… To sacrifice myself…?”

The Orc Fighter endured several hammer blows with grit, but if Neko takes one direct hit, she’ll immediately go to the afterlife.

Understandable to panic.

But listen to the end, Neko.

“This pendant contains 3rd-grade defensive magic, Spirit Departure.”

It’s magic that teleports short distances like Shadow Leap.

But why is this defensive magic rather than movement magic?

Because it operates for defense.

Previously, Yernil shot the Barbarian with an arrow, Ingelram jumped in front of him, they grabbed hands and suddenly teleported.

‘Without even chanting an incantation.’

That magic automatically casts in moments of crisis, and that’s why it’s defensive magic, not movement magic.

“So Neko will automatically have Spirit Departure activated when hit, allowing her to evade the attack.”

And there’s an even better point.

Spirit Departure can be cast with two people like Shadow Leap, but can also be used alone.

Then…

“You can pass through obstacles.”

Neko will automatically exit through this cylinder wall.

“After that, I’ll handle the Blacksmith who’s stunned from electrocution, so don’t worry.”

So what Neko needs to do is stick right next to the Blacksmith, take one hammer blow, and escape first.

That’s all.

Of course, there are better scenarios too.

Instead of Neko getting hit after approaching, she could burst her Static Coat herself to discharge it.

She just needs to poke her side with the tip of her wand. Then it would be judged as a ‘physical impact’ and the discharge would trigger, but since it’s not a crisis situation, Spirit Departure wouldn’t activate.

And when I push the stunned Blacksmith into lava, she could help with Telekinetic Fist to make it simpler.

“But it would be difficult to go that far.”

Neko’s face turned white.

“Let’s just aim to stick close and cause the Static Coat discharge.”

Neko froze stiff at the insane operation.

Will she be okay?

“As time passes, lightning charges will drop one by one. If we’re going to do it, we need to do it now.”

I folded and unfolded the scroll once.

[Watcher]

I float that eyeball and send Neko.

“I’ll provide magical cover. I’ll block the Blacksmith’s vision and mark its position too. Don’t worry.”

Go! Neko!

“Dense Fog.”

I covered the Blacksmith with fog.

Neko still looked bewildered, but she set off anyway.

Centering on that monster, Neko goes right, I go left.

***

When Magic University teaches combat methods to wizards, there’s one thing they always strongly emphasize.

‘Wizards must never step forward.’

Because they have the most powerful firepower in the team, while simultaneously having the weakest body.

What should you do when there are only two wizards?

Magic University never taught about such scenarios.

But what’s certain is that the one staying behind now is Caleb. Like a wizard should.

Neko took on the role of a front-liner charging like an Orc Fighter.

It’s a strange feeling.

Caleb’s instruction for a wizard to run at the Blacksmith and collide body-to-body feels quite insane.

‘Is this really right?’

That doubt didn’t stop for Neko.

If a wizard other than Caleb had made this proposal, Neko would have thought they were trying to deceive her.

The claim that such magic exists in the pendant is also just Caleb’s assertion, hasn’t it been proven to Neko?

For example, what if that pendant is actually a powerful magical explosive, so they’re trying to use Neko as a sacrifice to blow up the stunned Blacksmith.

Such scenarios are quite plausible too.

‘Does this pendant really contain Spirit Departure?’

It’s not that she doubts Caleb, but honestly, when gambling with her own life, such questions inevitably arise.

What if he made some mistake? What if he misunderstood something? What if the pendant is broken?

And even if this pendant is real, is this really correct?

‘If the pendant is real, shouldn’t I give it to Caleb?’

That thought occurs.

It can pass through obstacles and escape alone with Spirit Departure? Then shouldn’t Caleb just leave?

Neko is a security officer.

Honestly speaking, she was a less capable wizard than Caleb, and Caleb was much smarter than her, far superior in magical casting ability, and had good leadership too.

Still, Caleb was a citizen, and Neko was a security officer who had to protect citizens.

Between that sense of duty and the insane mission Caleb was proposing.

Neko couldn’t figure out which choice to follow.

It’s a very complex state of mind.

Maybe Caleb designed this by lying to her to survive, the thought that even if that were true, she’d rather just be deceived, the thought that from the standpoint of having already resolved to die once when lava rose, if she could save a citizen by sacrificing her life, that would be right, but the thought that if she were to die like a security officer, it would be cooler to make an autonomous choice rather than get caught up in his design, but the thought that if all of this might be real, she’d just want to put the necklace on Caleb and send him out, the thought that that would be like a security officer, but the thought that if by any chance this tactic really works and both could survive, she definitely wants to survive.

All of that comes to mind at once, but Neko has no time to contemplate.

Because lightning charges are dropping one by one.

Tak! Tadak!

Anyway, Neko was running across the rock.

Now it’s right up to the destination. Next is inside the fog. The Blacksmith will be somewhere in there.

Boom!

Dust Explosion fell on the Blacksmith’s head. Sparks flying are visible even through the fog.

It doesn’t matter how much of what Caleb said is true.

Triggering the Static Coat discharge.

Neko isn’t satisfied with just that level of goal.

If she’s taking on this role, she wants to do it more certainly.

‘I’ll drop this monster into the lava.’

Whether discharge happens or not, whether stunning is possible or not, whether Spirit Departure activates or not.

None of that matters.

The final decision is like a security officer.

If killing the Blacksmith allows Caleb to survive, sacrificing her life to accomplish that is her role.

Kwang!

Neko body-slammed the Blacksmith with all her might.