The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 385



Only Noblemtl

Episode 385

#385. You’re here.

At exactly 5 a.m., at the foot of Juheulsan Mountain near Mungyeong Saejae Pass.

The moon was setting in the west, but it was still pitch-black night. The Slayer Guild’s surprise attack began amidst the thick fog and heavy moisture that soaked my skin.

So Sang-yeop used the communicator supported by Iron Will to issue orders as soon as each operation party reached their location.

– Leading party, start attacking. Climb up the mountainside. No need for a road. Approach by the shortest route and cut off the head in one breath.

The three groups that were given the first mission formed a wedge and aimed for the enemy lines.

The Slayer’s Hunters ran quickly while making little noise.

The branches, fallen leaves, and frozen snow on the ground should have made a lot of noise, but the movements of the skilled hunters avoided even this.

-If you encounter an illusion, do not act like a guest and retreat. Report your location. Joo Sea Gilma will deal with you.

-Hey, Captain. Would anyone really be rude to an S-rank?

-I’m talking about you, you. Gam Woo-young. If you don’t want to die, run away the moment you see me.

It was just before dawn, but Miraju was already prepared and responded quickly.

“Fight and pretend to retreat. Draw them in. Remember, this is a holy war. There can be no defeat.”

Boubagla, who could be called Illusion’s confidant or even a faithful believer, shouted in a solemn tone.

The remnants of Mirage ran towards the Slayer’s party. They used the magic circle and various items they had laid down in advance to stop the intruders.

However, although his name was unknown to the world, he was a Slayer whose skills were not shameful to show off anywhere.

They broke Miraju’s ranks before the follow-up party could attack.

Bubagla, who was watching this, stuck out his tongue.

“They say that Korea is a backward country in terms of hunters, but the skills of the top hunters are comparable to those of any elite guild, and it turns out that it’s true.”

Bubagla smiled as he watched his subordinates being pushed back.

“I don’t like the fact that I’m being left behind in skill rather than strategy, but thanks to that, they’re crawling into traps on their own.”

Bubagla took out a circular stone slab from his bosom. He injected mana into it and placed it on the floor. He placed his foot on the slab.

“A trigger-type range item. It’s hard to make, and costs hundreds of millions of dollars per use, but it can’t be helped.”

A triggerable range item.

It literally meant a range of items that could be used anywhere and at any time. In a broad sense, magic circles and organ devices also fell into this category.

Trigger items are usually called device-type or spray-type, and among them, those with the additional name of ‘range’ were astronomically expensive.

This was because the artifacts found at the gate or the ruins that occasionally appeared were made into replicas using gate resources.

Of course, the effect was excellent, commensurate with the cost involved.

Such as giving a powerful buff skill to the raid, creating a maze in an empty plain, or giving a debuff to the enemy.

It was a powerful item suitable for large-scale raids.

And it was truly an item fit for war.

“It would be a waste of money to waste in a single fight. It’s money that a guild would never spend, but we are different. That’s the difference between you and us.”

Finally, Bubagla stepped on the stone slab and broke it.

Crunch!

As the stone slab shattered, waves of mana swept through the surrounding area.

Gam Woo-young, who was fighting at the forefront, felt the ominous mana and crossed his swords and cowered.

“Something’s coming! Defend!”

The Slayer expedition members protected themselves with various skills. They also used the power of items to prepare for mental skills. The supporters’ elemental resistance buffs instantly enveloped the party members.

As a versatile supporter and ranged dealer, Care Archer, Gowonmae blocked curse attacks by firing arrows in front.

But these efforts were useless, because the enemy did not attack.

Mana passed by Gam Woo-young. The other expedition members also passed by. It spread across the entire slope of the path they were climbing, leaving behind only a tingling sensation, and soon disappeared.

“what?”

Gam Woo-young looked down at his healthy body and was on guard. The enemies blocking his way were retreating. He thought about chasing them and finishing them off, but he still did not let down his defensive stance because he sensed something unusual.

Go Won-mae came forward and asked.

“Wooyoung, did Mana just pass by? It wasn’t static electricity?”

“Yes. That’s what I felt. But not exactly us, but under our feet… … .”

That was when.

The ground began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred. At the same time, So Sang-yeop’s warning rang out from the communicator.

– It’s a trigger range item! Unlock large groups and gather in pairs!

The basic unit of hunting was the party, followed by the half, and then the full raid. It was the minimum operational unit that allowed flexible hunting tactics.

The problem was when a party or raid was disbanded due to an unexpected situation. Since the gate has so many variables, we had to prepare for this.

So the concept that emerged was ‘fair’.

A pairing of hunters who have been paired up in advance. At this time, the pairs are assigned so that they can complement each other’s weaknesses and utilize each other’s strengths.

Gam Woo-young immediately looked for her partner, Nam Woo-cheol. He was not far away.

However, the changes on the battlefield were too fast and extreme for them to gather together. It seemed like they wouldn’t be able to join in time. Nam Woo-cheol also chose the next best option with a nod and turned his back.

At that moment, Gam Woo-young and Go Won-mae’s eyes met at the same time.

“Miss, why you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As soon as Gam Woo-young and Go Won-mae formed an unexpected pair, the landscape changed.

The walls rose high in some places and sank in others, and rocks and trees changed positions.

Bubagla muttered as he looked down from a high place.

“The Hwangryong Guild shouted loudly when they handed this over. It makes sense. It’s the Eight-Way Sword… I should find a way to destroy it since I might have to deal with it in the future.”

* * *

The ground beneath my butt was shaking.

Ha Hye-seong opened her eyes and stood up from her seat. At that moment, the order she had been waiting for came down from the communicator.

-The enemy used a trigger-type range item. Judging from the terrain changing, it seems to be a formation type. It’s your turn, Ha Hye-seong.

“Yes, Captain.”

Ha Hye-seong took the lead, holding a shield and sword. The party members followed behind him.

“It worked just as the captain feared. We’re crossing the mountain.”

Expedition leader So Sang-yeop expected an easy victory after receiving reports on the strength of Miraju, who was in the villa on the slope of Juheul Mountain, where the enemy was based. Aside from Illusion and a few hunters, there was nothing to be concerned about in terms of strength.

So I suspected that something was up.

Thanks to that, I noticed the terrain that spread out under the villa. This was the only place to dig a trap.

That was the reason why Ha Hye-seong was waiting on the other side of Juheulsan Mountain.

‘Anyway, the captain is also big-hearted. The enemy has an illusion, but they usually don’t think about dividing their forces like this for fear of being defeated individually. They’re scared of S-ranks.’

Of course, it was a choice that could be made because she held the card called Joo Sea, but it was not easy to make such a decision in a situation where the elite that the guild had worked so hard to raise could be wiped out in an instant.

It was a choice that would never be made without certainty about the enemy’s tactical movements.

‘But where on earth is Team Leader Sung? Is he moving with Joo Se-ah? I can’t even read his thoughts.’

* * *

“Huh? It’s starting to move slowly.”

Go Eul-ji detected the movements of Gam Woo-young’s lead party and Ha Hye-seong’s special force and reported them to Jang Deuk-gu.

“How is it going back?”

“Mr. Gam was able to get through it, but then it suddenly got blocked. That guy with the head on him broke a strange disc, and the ground suddenly changed.”

“It’s a range activation item.”

“Huh? I’ve only heard about it. It’s expensive, so I’ve never seen it used.”

Jang Deuk-gu looked at the map. It was a plank showing the current troop deployment. He asked.

“So what about Ha Hye-seong?”

“I started climbing the mountain.”

“What about the resistance on Mirage’s side?

“There are hunters in the rear, but I don’t think they’ll last long. They’re just there to buy time? Like sentinels?”

Jang Deok-gu rubbed his chin and sat lost in thought.

‘Except for Illusion and a few of his cronies, Miraju’s power is significantly inferior to Slayer’s. This is because they are the remnants of the forces that were already swept away in Yeoju. In that sense, it is completely understandable that they do not have many troops in the rear.’

Even so, the rear was practically left empty.

Jang Deok-gu was troubled by this part.

‘If I were an illusion, I would have taken care of the rear first even if I had to fight with Lord Jusea Gilma. Otherwise, there would be no point in throwing out range items.’

Although range items were items that had a great influence on the battlefield against hunters or monsters, this was basically when there was a hunter force to support them. Now, when Mirage’s hunter force was weak, it was difficult to deal a big blow other than tying up the enemies in front.

‘It is a tactically inconsistent action. Then, it must be viewed from a strategic perspective… Was there a trick that Director Kang had mentioned?’

While Jang Deuk-gu was thinking hard, Go Eul-ji muttered.

“But where is Gilma? Where did Thomas go? Surely he’s not slacking off somewhere?”

“Is that you, Gilma?”

“Why is Mr. Noh causing trouble again?”

“What’s the fuss about? It’s just because it’s ridiculous. It’s the same for Gilma-nim and Thomas. If you think of everyone from your perspective, how unfair would that be? After all, you’re Gilma’s disciple after all. What do you mean by being a slacker to your teacher, being a slacker?”

“What about you? You’re the captain’s bodyguard. Why are you here? Did you get cut?”

Noh Song-rin became enraged at Goeulji’s words.

“Where did you get such a rumor! Hey, I’m the captain’s right-hand man. Is there anyone in this world who would cut off their own right arm?”

“Huh? Did I hit the nail on the head?”

“No!”

“Was it real?”

“No. No. That’s not true!”

“Wow, you’re so excited, so it really was? I was just saying. Sorry, mister. Was I too careless?”

“You’re not even listening to me? No!”

A voice louder than the distant explosion echoed through the mountains and returned.

Hyun Jeong-geon, who was watching the scene, touched his forehead and shook his head.

“I fought those guys. I’m really low level.”

“Why? You’re left-handed.”

Pyo Beom-hee replied with a hearty laugh. Hyun Jeong-geon said with a serious expression.

“I like the team leader, but he didn’t work hard enough to be called the left arm. I hope you don’t say anything that could be misunderstood, Team Leader Pyo.”

“Oh my, is that so? Deputy Manager of the Titan Strategy Team?”

“Ugh!”

“What did the person who came in as a low-ranking employee and became a deputy team leader in the shortest period of time say? If he really worked hard, he would have eaten at the expedition party.”

“I agree that I have the ability to join the expedition team, but the reason I was promoted to vice-captain was because I handled the work that Director Kang couldn’t handle himself. Director Kang promoted me because he needed me.”

“That’s why you’re the left-handed one. You do all the dirty work of Captain Kang in the shade.”

Hyun Jeong-geon became a mute who had eaten honey.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t refute what Pyo Beom-hee said, but because I felt like the more I refuted, the more I would end up on the same level as the two idiots arguing next to me.

Jinju Lee, who was watching their conversation, asked Soohyung Yeom secretly.

“Team Leader Yeom, but Team Leader Hyun Jeong-geon was the vice-team leader of Titan? But why does his face look unfamiliar?”

“Because it was when Captain Lee Jin-ju wasn’t around. The period was short, and I was naturally not the type to be quiet. Plus, I was originally from the Mataesu Bugilma group.”

“Matthew?”

For Jinju Lee, who had been involved with Taesik Matthew, the younger brother of Taesu Matthew, just hearing the name made her feel uncomfortable.

Because of those two brothers, his path to success on Titan was blocked and he even transferred to Iron Will.

‘Thanks to you, I became the expedition leader of a guild with an S-rank guild master. So, is that a success?’

Although it was still far from being a proper expedition, Jinju Lee was satisfied with the work because it was fun to create from the beginning.

She tried to ask how Hyun Jeong-geon, who was related to Matthew, worked with Kang Moo-hyeok.

At that time, Jang Deuk-gu opened his mouth.

“We turn our sides.”

“The side?”

In response to Goeulji’s question, Jang Deuk-gu pointed to the map and spoke.

“These guys are probably just stalling for time and have some other plan. Mirage must have noticed Slayer’s diversionary tactics. While they’re responding back and forth like that, we’ll cross the mountainside and strike from the side. Like this.”

It was a route that went around the slope of Juheulsan Mountain. It was quite a roundabout way, but it was not a problem for the hunters.

Jang Deok-gu continued.

“The faster we subdue them, the less room we have to maneuver. Either by creating an illusion or by taking out the Mirage base. We’ll drive the wedge in.”

“From what the raid leader said, it feels like there is no illusion here?”

Pyo Beom-hee noticed something strange in Jang Deuk-gu’s words and asked.

Jang Deuk-gu looked around at the high-ranking hunters of Iron Will and said.

“I will reveal Plan B, which I have not shared yet.”

* * *

Same time. Seoul.

When the first car started to run in the bus lane.

In downtown Seoul, where streetlights were still on, the gate alarm rang loudly.

The smartphones of citizens who were still sleeping inside their homes started beeping loudly.

The same was true of the Slayer’s situation room, where he had been staying up all night on caffeine.

Beep! Beep!

“Out breaking alert!”

“It’s in the Seongdong-gu and Yongsan area. We’re trying to figure out the exact gate serial number!”

“We will share information with each tier guild!”

The reports from the operators and the contacts to each affiliated organization were all mixed together, reminiscent of a flea market.

Kang Moo-hyuk, who was in the corner of the situation room, muttered in a cold voice while looking at the outbreaking gate marked on the map.

“You came.”