I Became a Raid Boss

“…Are you really okay?”

The man asked Eric.

“That monster… no, that girl is trapped, but the surrounding dangers haven’t all disappeared. What are you going to do if a monster comes looking for you? At this rate, you won’t even be able to handle a single goblin.”

“Hey! No way a goblin could…”

Eric’s voice started strong but faded away until it scattered like whoosh.

His strength was returning a bit, but he still couldn’t move normally.

Because of this, he felt humiliated under the condescending gaze of his subordinate while trembling, unable to do anything else.

Let’s think positively.

He had said something annoying, but if you look at the content, isn’t he ultimately worried about him?

Thinking this, Eric’s previously high-and-mighty brows relaxed slightly.

“Isn’t it embarrassing for the captain of Ordo’s guards to get killed by a goblin? If you die like that, you won’t even be able to say you’re the guard.”

“Hey, you little punk!”

Right! Worrying is still worrying.

It’s just that the direction of that worry is a bit different.

The man wasn’t worried about Eric’s safety but rather the reputation of the guards. Unable to hold it in, Eric gritted his teeth.

“When I get better, you’ll see.”

“Never seen a person who told me ‘let’s see’ and turned out to be really scary.”

“Okay. Then I’ll show you what a really scary person is.”

“Well, we have to clear out any future troubles then.”

“Ooh, is this guy for real? You’ll actually hit me?”

He said that, but if he had been thinking of causing a rebellion, he would have done it long ago.

Since Eric could tell the man wasn’t serious, he shrugged it off as a joke.

Still, he couldn’t be in a joking mood forever.

“Enough of this. Most monsters should have run away because of the commotion earlier, so the situation you’re worried about won’t happen. So don’t worry about me and leave quickly.”

“I can’t recall a single person who said that and came back just fine.”

The man stood up with a suspicious expression.

“Don’t die.”

“Ugh.”

Waving his hand dismissively, Eric awkwardly waved goodbye to the man until he disappeared between the trees.

“Jerk, saying ominous things until the end. Who’s going to die? I haven’t even gotten married yet.”

Eric had no intention of dying in a place like this.

Marrying a gentle woman who would embrace him and living happily until he quietly closed his eyes in front of grown children.

That was Eric’s dream.

Even if right now, the only woman he knew was the bar owner he visited often.

But you never know when a fateful meeting might come unexpectedly.

Eric believed without a shadow of a doubt that someday a dreamlike encounter would arrive.

“Oh dear, I should’ve introduced you to some nice young ladies then?”

A light voice flew in from behind Eric as he muttered.

“Where have you been?”

“I was negotiating with your superiors. So, do you need it?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Nice young ladies. If you want, I can introduce you to a few.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t let a promising young talent go without that much help. But charming those ladies will be your job. Even magicians can’t just twist someone’s feelings around.”

“Isn’t that something a magician could do?”

“Haha, well, it’s not that I can’t do it, but would you really be satisfied if you obtained feelings that way? Love gained through tricks tends to fade quickly.”

“Oh, thank you for the wise words. I’ll engrave them in my heart for life.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad I can help a promising young person like you.”

For a purpose of use rather than as a piece of art, that was a question that naturally arose as a man bearing a vintage staff stood behind Eric.

As could be inferred from the easy flow of conversation, this man was someone Eric knew well.

‘…So burdensome.’

Honestly, Eric was not used to talking to this man.

Just a few years ago, they had fought for their lives, and now trying to have a casual conversation felt even stranger.

Noticing Eric’s discomfort, the man chuckled.

“Don’t be like that. You didn’t want to fight either, right? Neither did I. We’re in the same boat; there’s no need to keep grudges.”

“I don’t think we’re in the same boat… well, since we were the ones who started it, you’re not entirely wrong.”

“Exactly. The root of the problem is gone, so let’s get along now. Fighting between humans doesn’t do anyone any good, right?”

“…”

Eric barely held back the laugh that almost slipped out.

It wasn’t incorrect. If it weren’t for this man, he would have agreed.

Hearing such childish dreams and hopes from the man referred to as the Sage of the Empire wasn’t easy.

Eric was proud of not bursting into laughter immediately.

“By the way, why do you keep calling me a promising talent? Hearing that from the Empire’s Sage is making me feel embarrassed to death.”

“Well, a subordinate who achieves results deserves that much recognition. You’ve accomplished something worthy of respect. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to pull it off at all. You caught that guy off guard. I was surprised.”

“…You were watching that?”

He hadn’t felt him watching at all.

Then again, if he had enough skill to notice Eric’s presence, he wouldn’t be known as the Sage of the Empire.

The title ‘Master Mage’ was enough to dispel Eric’s doubts.

“It was just luck. I have no idea how I did it. If the chief had been normal, it wouldn’t have worked at all.”

“Even so, the fact that you achieved something remains unchanged. Humility is good, but excessive humility can be rude. That guy would have praised your blow if he had seen it.”

“Praise? If anything, he was coming at me like he meant to kill.”

“As you know, he’s not very good at expressing his feelings. He was embarrassed, so just understand it that way.”

“If he’s embarrassed twice, several people will die. Is it safe though?”

“Once failed, we can’t fail twice. The last one was easily breached because it was set for a different purpose, but this time it’s a barrier made specifically to block, so you can be at ease.”

“…Once failed?”

Eric muttered, confused, but the man had no intention of answering his question.

“Well, I can’t keep it up forever, so we’ll have to resolve it as soon as possible.”

The man pointed at the barrier.

Underneath the dazzling silver barrier, black energy was slowly rising from where it touched the ground.

“How long can it hold?”

“Up to a week if it’s long. As short as tomorrow.”

“A week and a day is a huge difference, isn’t it?”

“Well, in the worst-case scenario, that’s the case. As long as I don’t provoke that guy unnecessarily, it shouldn’t go that way.”

A week.

That wasn’t a very long time, and Eric’s expression hardened.

“By the way, I still haven’t explained to you what I talked about with your superiors.”

I’ll explain it from now.

The man, who had been leaning on his staff, started to speak.

“As you know, Mana is far more toxic than the most potent poison. So if you’re going to confront that guy, you must be prepared for death. Even if you get lucky and survive, there’s no guarantee you’ll come out okay, just like your current condition.”

“…Hah, you really knew.”

Eric gave a bitter smile at the man’s words.

Just as the man had said, Eric’s body wasn’t in a normal state.

It wasn’t just because he had exhausted all his strength; the accumulated Mana from being battered was slowly corroding his body.

“But we have a useful card, right? A useful card that doesn’t fear Mana poisoning or death.”

“…Are you thinking of calling the Demon Race?”

“Come on, why would I burn down the whole house to catch a flea?”

“Then who are you talking about?”

The man lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I’m talking about those whom Lady Edel personally brought over. If they don’t die even if they die, wouldn’t they be able to bravely confront that guy?”

“The Apostles….”

Finally, Eric understood who the man was referring to.

Indeed, they would be able to fight without being affected by the Mana emanating from Kana.

But—

Eric expressed his negative opinion about the man’s words.

“I don’t think they could pull it off.”

They boasted great strength, but if asked whether they could defeat the Chief, the answer was obviously ‘no.’

“Don’t worry. Lady Edel will watch over them.”

“…Is that really the case?”

“Of course. This is also what Lady Edel desires. And…”

“…?”

Before Eric could voice his confusion at the man’s string of incomprehensible statements, the man continued ahead of him.

“Strength alone isn’t the answer. Who knows? Maybe contact with the Apostles will help that guy come to his senses.”

‘Snake brat.’

Eric finally understood why his chief, Kana, had referred to the man that way.

Pretending to know everything while not expressing his true intentions at all was quite cunning, like a wily snake.

“What if the week passes with no results?”

“In that case….”

The man shrugged.

“The Empire will have to step in.”

There would be considerable damage, but leaving it alone would lead to much greater harm.

The man said so.

Even if Kana was strong, she couldn’t handle the Empire’s strength alone.

If that happened, there would be only one end waiting for Kana.

“…”

After a brief silence, Eric asked one last question.

“So, when do you plan to mobilize the Apostles?”

“That….”

The man answered.

*

Sudden halt.

“…A hunt order?”

Da-eun, rushing through the city, approached the poster like a person possessed.

The description of the child written on the poor-quality paper was something she knew all too well.

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