Chapter 11

“Maker, wait a moment.”

Before heading to the mission location, Astra called me.

“Astra? Do you have something more to say?”

At my question, Astra nodded.

“Do you know the level of the heroes you’ll face at the research lab this time?”

“Yes. I heard they sent rookie heroes to gain experience.”

At first, I was a bit nervous when I heard they brought in heroes, but after understanding the situation, it turned out the Association had sent rookies for a light mission to give them some experience.

“Still, don’t underestimate them too much. To supervise those rookies and protect them if things go wrong, they’ll likely send at least a B+ rank along.”

“Indeed, it’s unlikely they’d send only rookie heroes on a mission.”

Honestly, I wasn’t too worried. At most, a B+ rank would come, right? Would the busy and precious A-ranks really show up?

In the original story, there would eventually be contact with the Korean Association, but that’s still far off. Meeting Ice Queen before was just luck—would I really meet her again?

I thought that wouldn’t happen.

***

‘But I didn’t expect them to send an A-rank.’

And I certainly didn’t expect to face her alone like this.

“..? Hey? Can’t you hear me?”

Perhaps wondering why I wasn’t speaking, Ice Queen raised her voice slightly to ask.

‘What do I do..?’

Honestly, I could probably kill her as she is now. Since it’s still early in the original story, she’s mentally and experientially immature.

I even know her traumas, so I could manage it.

But.

‘…The problem is, I can’t kill her.’

She, the heroines, need to grow stronger for me in the future. Even if they’re not heroines, they need to grow stronger to eventually take down the final boss.

“Phew..”

The fact that I have to fill that guy’s shoes is unsettling, but I have no choice if I want to survive.

‘First, let’s push other thoughts aside and think about how to escape.’

“Are you curious who I am? Haha, I’m…”

“……”

“An investor… in this research lab.”

“……”

“I came to check on the results of my investment today, but then the attack happened…”

‘..?…Why isn’t she saying anything?’

I opened my mouth to say something, but I felt something was off as she just stared at me without a word. Her expression was strange too.

It was like her whole body was asking, “Why are you here?”

“…Maker?”

‘..Shit.’

I quickly turned my head to look out the window.

The clouds that had been there just moments ago were completely gone.

And the bright moonlight was shining on me.

“..Hmm.”

Thud. Roll roll…

Pshhh-

I hastily threw a smoke bomb and ran.

“Stop right there, Maker!!”

“Haha, this is really…”

‘What do I do?’

And so, an unexpected nighttime chase began.

***

‘This is troublesome.’

Things got complicated.

‘I thought it’d be easy since this wasn’t in the original story, but what’s this..’

“Stop, Maker.”

She overtook me as I ran, then turned around to face me.

…Should I at least greet her?

“Have you been well, Ice Queen..”

Ping-

As I smiled and greeted her, sharp ice shards flew toward my limbs. I instantly created a large shield to block them.

“Isn’t it rude to attack someone who’s greeting you?”

“Do I need to show you that much courtesy?”

Ice Queen glared at Maker with slightly blazing eyes.

“Why did you attack the research lab?”

“It’s our organization’s business, so it’s not easy to explain.”

“Then don’t say anything and stay still.”

Ice Queen froze the floor around her and slid closer.

“I’ll make you confess after I catch you!”

“I’ll have to decline.”

If you can catch me, then try.

With that, I threw another smoke bomb and ran.

“The same trick won’t work..!!”

Boom!

This time, I mixed in a grenade.

I ran.

Boom!

I kept running, using tricks whenever she got close.

This was already the nth time I’d escaped.

I turned a corner and frantically tapped on the communicator.

“This is Maker! Can you hear me?”

– Huh, heading to the training room target location..!!

– 42. I’m organizing the target data location.

They’re carrying out the mission diligently.

I want to praise them, but something more important has come up.

“I’ve encountered A-rank hero Ice Queen. Currently being chased.”

– Huh, huh? An A-rank hero?

– Is the plan changing?

Unlike the training room, 42 calmly asked me without panicking.

I’m glad I brought them along.

“Yes. It seems a change is needed.”

Ting- Roll roll…

Boom!!

I created a grenade and threw it far down the hallway toward the wall.

Instantly, the hallway collapsed, blocking the path.

I took a brief breather and pressed the communicator.

“First, let’s switch roles a bit. 42, you head to the control room.”

Currently, her aggro is on me.

Rather than risking this aggro shifting to someone else and ruining the mission, it’s better to act as bait and keep her chasing me.

‘If I can tie her up somewhere suitable, even better.’

“I’ll handle Ice Queen. 42, can you manage to take control of the control room?”

– I can.

‘Good. Now the problem is the training room..’

Originally, I had chosen 42 to guard her while she deciphered the code.

But since I suddenly have to focus on Ice Queen, and 42 has to fill my role, there’s a hiccup in the training room’s guard duty.

‘If she gets ambushed and loses strength for nothing, that’d be bad..’

“Training Room.”

– Yes, yes..?

“How did the earlier skirmish go? Did you escape safely?”

To check how many enemies were left, I asked her about the earlier situation.

-Ah, that..?

At my question, her voice sounded a bit excited.

Like a child wanting praise.

-I, I killed them all..!

Ahn Yeri, with a hint of laughter, spoke to me.

‘…What?’

What kind of massacre did she commit where I wasn’t?

Her voice, asking for praise, gave me chills.

She didn’t kill the heroes, did she?

I haven’t even picked out the useful ones yet..

“..The heroes?”

– Umm.. no..? Th, they didn’t die…

“Phew..”

Luckily, it wasn’t the situation I thought.

– Th, they… ran away when they found out I was an Eclipse executive…

“……”

It really wasn’t what I thought.

‘The heroes ran away?’

I paused for a moment, feeling a bit dizzy.

“Then the ones you killed were..”

– Vi, villains..!

It seems the rookie heroes ran away, and only the villains disguised as security were left to block the training room.

“…Well done.”

– Ehehe…

Yeah, it’s better for heroes to survive than villains who only care about their own interests. It’ll help in taking down the final boss later.

…Right?

“Then, do you know how many enemies are left, excluding those who ran away?”

– Umm… j, just a moment..!

Screech.

As she finished speaking, a chilling slicing sound came through the communicator.

– Th, there’s none left now..!

“……”

That was a truly villainous remark.

***

“Then, Training Room, you should head to the research data storage as planned.”

Now, there’s no need to protect her.

If she’s already slaughtered everyone, what’s left to protect?

– Yes..!

Even if one or two attack her, she can handle it alone.

“By the way, were there only rookie heroes during the skirmish? I doubt Ice Queen handled all the rookies alone.”

– Uh, I don’t think there were any others..!

“Is that so?”

‘There should’ve been at least one leading hero..’

Well, that’s not important, so I’ll let it slide.

Creak. Creak.

“Then I’ll get back to my task. See you both later.”

– Yes..!

– Understood.

Click.

The communication ended, and I looked at the barricade formed by the collapsed wall.

Creak… Boom!

“Finally found you. Maker.”

The barricade was easily destroyed.

Ice Queen, who had blown away the barricade, looked at me.

“Being obsessed by a beautiful woman is nice, but it’s a bit burdensome right now.”

“..What are you talking about!”

As I spoke cheekily, she exploded in anger.

Ice Queen, genuinely pissed, created an ice chunk and threw it at me.

‘Angry? Then try to catch me.’

I smirked at her and ran without looking back.

“Stop right there!”

Ice Queen, with even more fire in her eyes, chased after me.

‘Guys, hurry up and finish this.’

Otherwise, I might end up frozen in ice.

***

‘..Alright! Let’s do this without causing trouble!’

Meanwhile, the training room, after the communication ended, headed to the database where the target research data was stored to fulfill her role.

‘Turn the corner.. left!’

Following the location Maker gave, the training room finally neared the storage area.

‘Finally here… hmm..?’

“Hi, hero..?”

What appeared before her eyes was a man.

A very sleazy-looking man was smiling handsomely.

“Hey, cutie?”

“…Ugh.”

The training room felt a sticky sensation from his gaze.

Creeped out, she instinctively placed her hand on her sword.

“…Move, or I’ll cut you..”

“Haha, feisty~”

Clink.

The man, Iron, licked his lips and fiddled with a potion in his pocket.

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