Chapter 82: The Lunatic Who Was About to Face a Potential Boss Monster

The suspected Lamia beast-type was incredibly powerful, but it didn’t seem particularly fast or agile. Even as they ran, it rained arrows, but Haejin dodged nimbly—no direct hits.

Haejin panted as he spoke.

“It’s weird… I’m not tired at all.”

Lee Chae knew it was a lie. Haejin’s breathing was ragged, and the energy flowing from his hand had weakened slightly. Still, pretending to be confident in this situation—Lee Chae was grateful.

He wrapped both arms around Haejin’s neck and kissed him.

“This should give you more strength.”

“You know that hurts my feelings.”

It was strange. Running down a street raining arrows, carried in someone’s arms— he wasn’t scared at all. Having Haejin beside him felt overwhelmingly reassuring. The more they touched, the stronger he felt; courage shared between them. He was lucky it was Cha Haejin.

Haejin ran impossibly fast without loosening his grip. Lee Chae closed his eyes, clinging tight. Hot breath in his ear, wind roaring, distant monster cries— but the best sound was Haejin’s steady, pounding heartbeat.

Listening to it reminded him of Haejin’s words: We never know when we’ll die, so always prepare for death.

Before real combat began, Lee Chae had something he needed to say— something too embarrassing to say normally, but the heartbeat gave him courage.

I love you.

He mouthed it silently. Haejin shouted loud enough to deafen.

“I love you more. Real confession after we win.”

He squeezed Lee Chae tighter and sprinted faster toward Legion. Sharing strength with just words— thank god for the imprint.

Haejin built a wind barrier and waited for Legion espers. He’d worried no one would be there at night— but the sirens had brought them running.

That’s my crew!

Compared to useless headquarters, pride surged. And the coolest member? The coward trembling but staying to share strength—his exclusive guide, Jung Lee Chae.

Which guide would ever care this much for their esper?

Haejin was crazy about him.

“Those bastards definitely sensed it—why aren’t they—”

As he started cursing, espers poured out.

“What’s going on?”

“Hyung, you okay?”

“Captain, you fought alone?”

Haejin silently pointed at the monster glaring at his barrier.

“No idea what it is, but it’s insanely strong. I went all out and barely scratched it. Definitely beast-type, but first time seeing this—confusing.”

Everyone stared—mouths open in shock. Jin-woo grabbed Haejin’s shoulder.

“You already fought that thing?”

“Fought? Who dates monsters? Tried to teach it a lesson—couldn’t, so came for backup.”

“That thing looks serious… you ever seen Lamia?”

“Lamia?”

Haejin looked closer. Beast-types usually insect or animal-shaped— was there one like this? Not a normal variant—attacks and defense were too strong.

“Ha… why do I keep running into bosses lately?”

“Right? You must attract them.”

Haejin smacked Jin-woo’s back hard.

“Less talking, more formation! Barrier’s cracking.”

While Jin-woo organized ranks, Haejin told Jae-hyung,

“Take Chae and stay far back.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Wait—no, hold on.”

He checked Lee Chae—pale and grimacing, but radiating determination. He could handle it.

“Honey, wait a bit.”

Lee Chae answered with fierce resolve.

“If you get hurt, you’re dead, Cha Haejin.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Haejin joined the line. Jae-hyung, watching them, pouted.

“I wish I could fight with Yong-yong too. So jealous.”

“No time for that—we need to help.”

Jae-hyung focused. With scout, translation, and illusion skills, the stronger the enemy, the more essential he was.

Lee Chae held his breath, eyes locked on him. Even from here, immense energy radiated. After a moment, Jae-hyung’s eyes snapped open.

“Something’s wrong. Recent monsters always had clear goals—this one doesn’t.”

“…No communication?”

“No, I connected—but it cut me off. No demands? Or just wants to kill everything?”

Jae-hyung relayed the situation to the espers. They moved instantly.

Haejin reinforced the wind barrier; long-range espers shook the ground and summoned rain. Combined skills slammed Lamia—roars erupted. Close-range espers rushed in, unleashing physical assaults.

“KRAAAANG!”

Even Lamia couldn’t handle concentrated upper-rank attacks forever—its movements slowed.

Jae-hyung blinked.

“Something’s off. It shouldn’t be this weak…”

Lee Chae thought the same. Textbook Lamia didn’t match this at all.

“Me too. No headquarters support—just Legion espers…”

Then— Lamia, cornered, spread its wings wide. Close-range espers clinging to its body were flung away.

But the real shock came next.

As attacks paused, the crocodile hide covering its torso expanded— enveloping even the wings.

One long-range esper said,

“Wings were the weak point? So now attacks won’t penetrate?”

“We’ll see.”

Haejin fired fire bombs; Jin-woo slammed physical blows into the wings. Nothing—attacks that worked before now bounced off.

“What the hell? Nothing’s landing.”

“F*ck, not even burning.”

Stronger skills—still no damage. Espers muttered in disbelief as Lamia counterattacked.

It swung armored wings— stronger arrows rained on the members. They dodged nimbly and kept attacking, but nothing connected.

Jae-hyung to Haejin: Skills aren’t working—like full defense mode. What do we do? I try approaching for intel, but it keeps cutting communication unilaterally. I can’t read anything.

Haejin: Damn it.

Jae-hyung relayed to Lee Chae, who grimaced.

“So we can’t find a weakness? Hyung couldn’t kill it at full power—what now?”

“I don’t know… oh god.”

One-sided assault—if it continued, even with numbers they’d lose. Possible annihilation—Lee Chae’s breathing turned erratic. He clutched his chest, trying to stay rational.

If I had scout ability I could help Jae-hyung… I’m useless—hate this.

He desperately wanted to help but had nothing.

I can only study… study?

Suddenly—textbook info on Lamia flashed in his mind. Not direct research, but intel from scout espers who’d communicated with beast-types. Not 100 % accurate, but…

Worth a shot.

In desperation, he told Jae-hyung,

“Jae-hyung-ssi, Lamia is a tier-2 boss. Stronger than Kelvetero, weaker than Quiklops.”

“Yeah. So?”

“Professor said Lamia mainly uses physical attacks—so weaker than humanoid Quiklops…”

That was textbook. But not the point.

“So if physical and skill attacks aren’t working… the only thing left is Quiklops-style illusion skills.”

Jae-hyung’s eyes went wide—“Ah!” Then shook his head.

“Makes sense, but… no S-rank with illusion here. He went home.”

“Why look for someone who isn’t here? You’re right in front of me.”

“…Me?”

Jae-hyung was A-rank but dual-skilled, weaker than pure A-ranks. But right now, he was the only illusion user.

Lee Chae pressed urgently.

“No time to think. Members are getting hurt—can’t you see?”

“…Ah!”

“Hurry—tell the espers what I said.”

He worried his tone sounded commanding, but there was no time for niceties. Jae-hyung nodded, face blank like a screw was loose.

He relayed Lee Chae’s theory.

Every esper’s eyes turned to Jae-hyung— then to the tiny D-rank guide who’d just become their last hope.