Episode 669

When lightning cracked through the air and crackled its fangs, the poachers panicked.

They were disguised as wounded.

Supposedly attacked by monsters while traveling through the mountains—what a tried-and-true ruse for such dangerous places, especially effective against young, inexperienced mages.

But…

Why did it feel like the magic was aimed right at them?

CRACK!

As the lightning crashed down, a “wounded” poacher wrapped in bloody bandages screamed and threw himself aside.

The lightning had been aimed directly at the poachers. Had he not dodged, it would have struck him dead-on.

‘That crazy bastard!’

“W-wait, mage! Why are you—AAAH!”

The lightning didn’t end with a single shot.

It was as if the mages had prepared this in advance—for a flurry of bolts rained down.

The poachers, wrapped head-to-toe in blood-soaked bandages, realized—if they waited any longer, they might actually die.

“Ugh!”

“Run for it!”

“That lunatic mage…!”

The poachers fled in panic into the darkness, as Lee Han watched expressionlessly.

‘…They’re poachers, right?’

Their sudden burst of agility sure made them seem like poachers.

If they were really wounded, it’d be hard to react that fast.

Of course, maybe their survival instincts kicked in under threat, but…

‘No, they’re probably poachers.’

He’d only been at Einrogard for a year or so, but Lee Han had already met too many weirdos.

Cultists, anti-mages, forcibly crowned dragons—okay, not a dragon, but still…

In any case, dealing with all kinds of wily devils and magic criminals, Lee Han had learned one thing:

If something feels off, strike first!

He had less experience and combat power than most, so if he lost the first move, he’d never recover.

Think about the consequences later—if something’s fishy, blast first.

Hadn’t he just heard that there were a ton of poachers in Bitong Mountains now?

Sure, they could have been honest hunters, but odds were they were poachers.

Lee Han made up his mind.

“What happened?!”

His friends rushed out, startled.

They’d been resting in the tent when they heard magic and shouting.

“Poachers were approaching, so I drove them off with magic. They’re gone, no need to worry.”

“As expected from Lee Han!”

Gainando cheered, but Nillia looked doubtful.

Poachers were usually persistent, ruthless—taking big risks for a big catch.

Why show themselves so clumsily?

“They just walked up close?”

“Yeah.”

Lee Han replied shamelessly.

Nillia, not guessing what he was leaving out, frowned and pondered.

“Lucky we stopped them, but others might come.”

“Even after all that magic??”

Gainando gestured to the scorched earth outside the camp, blackened by Lee Han’s spell.

“Poachers are fearless. And until something happens to them personally, they’ll try again. Everyone up! Better to stay awake.”

The students took their stations and checked the area. Just then, Explorer Frostwalker returned from a distance.

“Students, you’re all safe?”

“A group of poachers approached.”

“Poachers are definitely active around here.”

Frostwalker had also spotted traces of poachers and warned the students not to let their guard down.

When told about the poacher group that approached earlier, he was incredulous.

“Must be green rookies. With the tiniest bit of experience, poachers don’t walk straight up to a mage-built camp.”

“They probably underestimated us for being younger.”

“Then they’re even greener. Only a fool underestimates an Einrogard student for age.”

“Heh. Maybe so.”

• * *

Unaware that his crew was being dismissed as rookie poachers, Julban was scolding his men.

“You worms! How do you bungle a ruse on a kid younger than your own quiver?!”

“They didn’t even listen—just blasted magic at us!”

“Bullshit! Since when do imperial mages blow up injured folk without a word? Lousy acting, that’s all. And when the spells came, what did you do? Looks like you ran—you’re all fine!”

“Boss, if we took the hit…”

“Should’ve! If you’d let him zap you, he would’ve been fooled. Running just proved you were faking it!”

At that, his men realized their mistake, faces burning with shame.

They’d never expected to lose the nerve-off with a much younger mage.

“Come on. I’m doing it myself.”

“Boss, we admit we messed up, but going now could be risky. They’ll be on alert…”

Julban shook his head.

None of these idiots could think for themselves.

“If you give up so easily, you’ll never get anything done. C’mon, I’ll show you how it’s done.”

He brought more men—ones who hadn’t tried earlier—and even wounded some for real.

“Agh!”

“Ugh!”

“Deal with it. The wounds have to look genuine. If magic comes, take the hit! If anyone flinches, I’ll kill you myself.”

Julban’s tricks were on another level, and his men were buoyed by his brutality.

That’s what made a real boss worth following.

With high hopes for a big payday, they followed Julban.

“Please, have mercy!”

“Help! A Hysterical Boar attacked us!”

They limped up to the campgate waving torches, acting totally defenseless.

There were a lot of them and they were bleeding, so even Explorer Frostwalker at the gate hesitated.

‘Are they actually injured?’

Real poachers didn’t behave this way.

Usually, they’d send in fewer men to test the waters, and always be ready to run.

Now, in came a big, injury-bloodied group, not looking ready to run at all.

Even an expert like Frostwalker was left unsure.

That was what Julban wanted.

‘The more skill someone has, the more this confuses them.’

Julban gave a signal, and the poachers stepped closer.

“Everyone halt!”

“Please, our comrade’s wounds are…”

Just then, Lee Han sprinted up the tower to join Frostwalker at the gate.

Frostwalker started to whisper advice.

“Let’s check if they’re really—”

“Flash!”

“!!!!”

Even Frostwalker and Julban were shocked.

He didn’t even ask—just fired a spell!

Julban’s instincts screamed at him—this was the same mage who’d humiliated his men earlier!

‘You think you can fool me?’

Julban forced himself to glare at the coming lightning, hoping to stand his ground so the mage would back off before the blow landed…

CRACK!

“!!!”

“B-boss Julban!!!”

This time, the boss got hit straight on. A sitting duck—no gear, just lightning to the body, all but paralyzed him.

As expected, Julban’s legs buckled in shock and disbelief.

“N-no way—”

“FLASH!”

The mage mercilessly struck again, and Julban fell.

With their boss down, the poachers froze.

“They’re poachers! Hit them!”

At Lee Han’s shout, his friends took their positions, launching spells and curses like a storm.

Yoner and Siana lobbed shockwave potions, knocking poachers off balance.

Gainando and Ratford hit with curses and illusion magic. Paralysis, sudden terror—they collapsed in droves.

Nillia aimed to shoot the farthest runner, but Deorgyu asked,

“Lee Han! How did you know they were poachers?”

‘Yeah?’

Nillia halted, realizing she wasn’t sure herself.

“Got it!”

Frostwalker answered for Lee Han.

“The wounds! You recognized the injuries! Brilliant!”

“The wounds?”

“They claimed a hysterical boar, right? That hog never makes wounds like that! Those are knife cuts!”

At Frostwalker’s words, Deorgyu and Nillia realized their friend’s cleverness.

To notice the wound’s detail in a flash and retaliate so decisively…

Impressed, Frostwalker bowed.

“Thank you, Wardanaz. I should have been the one looking after you students, and yet! To think the poachers would exploit my own biases!”

“I was just lucky.”

Lee Han almost admitted he’d just blasted anyone suspicious, but held back.

‘I’ll tell him later, when Frostwalker’s not around.’

He didn’t want to look like a lunatic just yet.

• * *

“Poachers are always a pain.”

After tying up the poachers, Frostwalker grimaced.

Unlike those at the foot of the mountains, these ones weren’t the type to just leave if you took their gear.

“How about locking them up?”

“You never know what they’ll try. We’d have to keep guards, but we’re here to find the unicorn…”

“Heh, let us go and we’ll never set foot in the mountains again!”

The poachers smirked, but Frostwalker ignored them.

“In the stable?”

“Would that work… Oh.”

Too late, Frostwalker remembered what was at the camp.

“…Is that safe? What if he gets feral and mauls them…”

“Even if Fongrif is greedy, he’d never sneak food after being told not to. Trust me.”

“Well, alright. I’ll leave it to you.”

The poachers brightened.

With less than ten mages, maybe they could slip out of the stable…

“Go on in.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Yup. Just don’t try anything.”

Lee Han opened the stable and pushed the poachers inside.

They hurried in, then froze.

Something was breathing hot air at them.

Grrrrr.

Fongrif, given a big, comfy stable only to have a bunch of scoundrels crowd in, growled with extreme displeasure.

His beak clicked, his talons scraped the floor.

“……”

“…!!!”

Screams of agony echoed from inside the stable.