Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

Zone 1 – Abandoned Laboratory (4)

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The battle with the manticores ended faster than expected.

Even though they were A-grade monsters and there were many of them, they were no match for our forces, which included two S-grade Holders and numerous veteran Holders.

Park Ji-hwan and Yoo Eun-seol hunted several manticores with each casual movement, and the other clan members also showed clean teamwork under the formation I commanded.

‘We recruited archers well.’

At the center were the archer-type clan members.

Most aerial monsters possess flight-related runes, which prevents the usual battle formation where warrior types tank and mage types deal damage.

So from the start, we adopted a formation that made archer types the main dealers.

Led by Kim A-reum, the 4th team leader, the archer types perfectly fulfilled their roles with the support of other clan members.

The battle ended cleanly, without even giving a chance for some of the stronger clan members outside the standard lineup to intervene.

-Master. I’m scared of that woman.

‘…Get used to it. She’s going to be your sister-in-law.’

-I don’t want that!

Tyrbon, who was re-summoned after earlier, shuddered.

The ‘that woman’ it referred to was, of course, Moon Ga-eun.

She showed the most outstanding performance in this battle.

Through <Nest Covered by the Clouds>, she demonstrated her hunting skills that proved she had become an expert in manticore hunting.

Especially during the battle earlier, when her positioning seemed difficult, she suddenly said, ‘Jae-hyun, I’m borrowing your dragon!’ and climbed onto Tyrbon…

Even in such rapidly changing situations, she calmly continued the battle.

I couldn’t help but admire her adaptability in such a fluid combat, but Tyrbon doesn’t seem to feel the same way.

…Apparently, flying with Moon Ga-eun is too rough or something.

“Good work, everyone.”

Anyway, that’s how the initial battle ended.

After the battle, I gathered the clan members who were maintaining their equipment here and there.

“I’d like to give you ample rest time, but given the situation, we need to depart right away. From now on, we’ll be searching this research complex, which is presumed to be where the victims are being held. The search will be conducted by each team, in designated areas.”

I received Park Ji-hwan’s [Shared Production Map] and pointed to the areas drawn on the map.

These were special points within the complex that I had marked in advance as soon as the battle ended.

“Hunting Team 1 will search from Area A to Area C in order. If you find anything unusual during the search or if an emergency situation arises, use an item to signal. The top priority of the search is the kidnapped victims.”

Similarly, Team 2 was assigned from Area D to Area F.

Teams 3, 4, and 5 were also assigned three areas each for dispersed searching.

And then.

“Lastly, Holder Park Ji-hwan and I will search Areas P and Q by ourselves.”

“Master! That’s dangerous!”

Lim Hyun, the leader of Team 2, shouted in protest.

Even though it was a team consisting of the Clan Master and an S-grade Holder, he seemed to think it was too dangerous for just two people to explore an unknown area.

…Of course, it is actually dangerous.

But despite that, we had to move forward now.

“Holder Lim Hyun, please follow orders for now. We’re short on time.”

“But…”

“I acknowledge it’s dangerous. However, we need to proceed with the mission even if we have to take risks. The situation is urgent. S-grade Holder Park Ji-hwan will be moving with me, so we’ll serve as minimal safety measures for each other. If we also get into danger, we’ll signal you.”

Seeing my stern expression as I spoke, Lim Hyun also looked troubled but quickly accepted the situation.

After all, he’s been a regular member from the attack team to the clan.

Knowing that my radical decisions have rarely been wrong so far, he seemed to acquiesce easily this time as well.

Fortunately, there wasn’t much resistance from other clan members either.

We then hurriedly moved into the research complex to begin our search.

***

Ippotranslation

***

‘To think Dad was an S-grade Holder….’

Park Jin-woo moved with a slightly dazed expression.

This first exploration with the clan was a series of shocks for him.

It was already burdensome to be suddenly given the big role of temporary hunting team leader, but to run into Dad as soon as they entered the dungeon…

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t flustered.

Of course, he had heard from his friend that ‘Holder Park Ji-hwan is a key figure in the pursuit of Ludenark, so you’ll run into him often in the future’… But he didn’t know it would be today.

Moreover, the fact that his father’s true identity was the S-grade Holder Ryu Ji-hyuk.

He couldn’t help but be surprised since he had no idea about his ability to change his face.

“Team leader, focus.”

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.

Camilla spoke urgently right beside him.

At that, Park Jin-woo shook his head as if to clear away distracting thoughts.

A much more important event than his personal shock was unfolding before his eyes.

“Warrior-class, maintain defensive positions as we move. Judging from our previous battles, the monsters in this dungeon are at least B-grade. If the vanguard attacks recklessly, the rear guard could become vulnerable. Maintain formation as we move.”

He immediately gives orders to his team members.

Park Jin-woo’s leadership was already well-established from his time in <Ripple Raid>.

Cool-headed judgment unshaken by circumstances, determination to push through once he’s made up his mind, and an almost innate knack for improvisation.

Though opposite to his passionate combat style, he certainly had a talent for command.

It wasn’t for nothing that Planning Team Leader Han Sang-jin had recommended him as the leader of Team 5.

Thanks to this, his team members followed his instructions with a degree of trust in their young leader.

“Team leader, there’s a shape ahead that appears to be a monster.”

And something was discovered after just 5 minutes of exploration.

At the archer-class team member’s report, Park Jin-woo heightened his vigilance and focused.

In narrow spaces, the probability of combat immediately after encountering was high, so they needed to be ready to strike preemptively at any moment.

As they drew closer to the enemy…

When the unidentified something finally revealed itself.

“Th-that is…?”

“What in the…”

Not just Park Jin-woo, but all team members fell into confusion.

And for good reason.

The form of the enemy right before them.

“It’s, it’s a person.”

“And a Korean at that…!”

It was because it had the appearance of a human.

This wasn’t just mimicking human form like Virgen or Lycan in <Wolfenser>.

It was unmistakably the form of an ordinary human.

Moreover, its features were Korean.

“These, crazy bastards…”

Park Jin-woo couldn’t hold back the curse rising to his lips.

Because he immediately grasped the situation upon seeing the human before him.

Chimera.

The Ludenark School had created chimeras using humans as materials.

The face was ordinary, but the muscles bulging like a beast and the alien form of the lower body… Decisively, the large wings flapping behind its back made it clear.

The opponent was a monsterized human turned into a combat weapon.

“Team leader, surely that’s not…”

“It’s not someone on the list of abduction victims. It seems to be a case of someone captured and experimented on earlier that hadn’t come to light.”

The list of abduction victims had been checked by all team leaders.

Park Jin-woo knew this and preemptively quashed their suspicions.

“……”

“What should we do about that…”

But the team members’ unease didn’t easily subside.

Whatever the process, the end result had a human appearance, and it wasn’t even certain if the life of the experimental subject was still intact.

If they hunted it recklessly as a monster, it could end up being murder.

Shring- Clang.

In that confused atmosphere…

Park Jin-woo quietly drew his sword.

As the team leader guiding the team, and as a clan member.

It was to step forward himself, shouldering the burden.

‘…It’s as good as dead already.’

Moreover, Park Jin-woo was certain.

The human-turned-chimera before them was no longer alive.

[Eyes of Attunement] that allowed him to check the target’s internal structure, external condition, and magic influence.

This new rune he gained as a Seeker was telling him this.

Though the head had a human appearance, there was no brain inside, and where the heart should be, a magic stone took its place to serve as a power source.

This was only human in outward appearance; in essence, it was no different from a zombie.

“Hup…!!”

For this reason, he steeled his heart and swung his sword at the enemy.

Fortunately, the [Keen Mind] rune, which prevented him from wavering in any situation, was holding back his hesitation.

***

Ippotranslation

***

“It’s not here either.”

After thoroughly searching every corner of the room, I sigh and speak.

We’ve gone through the entire Area P laboratory we were assigned, but there’s no trace of the abduction victims.

And.

“I just learned that we need to tear those bastards to pieces.”

A harsh curse erupted from Park Ji-hwan beside me.

I could fully understand his feelings.

The ‘human-form chimeras’ we encountered while exploring this laboratory.

As we hunted those grotesque monsters, we could grasp the atrocities Ludenark had been committing.

It was an evil act that could never be forgiven as fellow humans.

“Then, was the hypothesis about abductions for sacrifices wrong?”

To my question, Park Ji-hwan shook his head.

“I don’t think so. For one, none of the chimeras we encountered were victims of this recent abduction, and this is likely the first time they’ve abducted so many at once. These chimeras are probably the result of gradual production over a long time.”

Nothing but vicious experiments and their results.

That was all we gained from inside the laboratory.

I shook my head bitterly and said to Park Ji-hwan, “Let’s go straight to Area Q.”

“Alright.”

Although anxiety was rising that things might have already gone wrong, we couldn’t just sit still.

We left the laboratory and headed towards the Area Q laboratory located at the edge of the complex.

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