Chapter 254: Episode 254

Normally, it was impossible for one person to undo ability-sealing shackles. They were designed for binding and were incredibly sturdy. The beastmen’s shackles, however, were different. A section was tied with a simple string, making it possible for two people working together to untie them.

[Ancient Shackles]

[Rank: B]

[Restriction: No level, all classes]

[Description: Shackles crafted with the power of the Mana Jade, passed down from ancient times. They seal abilities using the unique mana of the beastmen. When forcibly equipped, all skills and abilities become unusable.]

The beastmen protected the Mana Jade, the source of all magic. They must have believed no one could undo shackles made from its power. But imprisoning him with Hyena suggested they had little experience taking captives.

“M-Master,” Hyena whispered, “do we really have to do this?”

“There’s no other way. Keep watch.”

“But it’s too close… Ugh!”

Her hot breath washed over his neck. They were pressed impossibly close. He was unintentionally embracing her, but he had no choice. The knot on the shackles tied behind her back slowly began to loosen. Pulling on the string with only his shackled wrists was grueling work. Taehyun pulled her even closer, straining with all his might.

Suddenly, he became acutely aware of her chest crushed against his.

’Calm down. What are you thinking, Taehyun? I’m just undoing her shackles. I’m definitely not thinking anything weird. Hmm… But she’s quite something, isn’t she?’

He could feel a voluptuousness that wasn’t apparent from the outside. As his gaze drifted toward her full chest, the sound of dripping water somewhere in the cave snapped him back to reality. He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the task.

“Master. Are you done yet?”

“Just a little more. Wait.”

“…I don’t think I can wait anymore.”

“Huh?”

Just as the knot gave way, the look in Hyena’s eyes changed. A deep blush had spread from her neck to her cheeks, making her look like a ripe tomato. But the look in her eyes was dangerous. Startled, Taehyun tried to push her away, but control had already shifted.

“Master, I like you,” she confessed.

“Hey. Hey. This isn’t the time— Mmph!”

Their lips crashed together. More accurately, he was being forcibly kissed. Thrown into chaos, he struggled, but it was useless. Hyena pressed her body flush against his, exploring his mouth. Just then, the string he had been working on for so long finally came undone.

[A-rank Top Raider Hera has been freed from the effects of the Ancient Shackles.]

The system still recognized her by her old name. In an instant, the ancient shackles vanished into thin air. They had a chance to escape. Taehyun slammed his head against the wall to break the kiss.

“Phew. Calm down, Hyena! Your shackles are off. We have to escape!”

“Oh. They’re off?”

“Y-yes. Quickly, my shackles…”

“Then that means I can move more freely now,” she said, her head bowed.

She stood up. The iron bars seemed to be made of a special alloy, but for an A-rank Raider, they were no obstacle. A single explosion trap would be enough. Taehyun let out a sigh of relief and started to get up.

In an instant, he was thrown back to the floor, pinned down by Hyena.

“H-Hyena?”

“Don’t worry, Master. You can leave everything to me.”

Her expression was unnervingly intense. He tried to break her grip, but with his own abilities sealed, it was impossible. The difference in their stats was already vast; shackled, he stood no chance.

“I’ve liked you for a long time, Master,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I was always so happy whenever you were kind to me, whenever you subtly took care of me. Can’t you see me as a woman now, not just a slave?”

“I-I think you’re going too far. Hyena, get off me right now—”

“No. This is the first thing I’ve ever decided on for myself. Don’t even think about using a forced command to escape, Master.”

“Mmmph! Mmph!”

With his mouth covered, the contract was useless. She began to remove the light clothes she wore for the tropical climate, one piece at a time. The outfit was already revealing, but now her fair skin was completely exposed. Taehyun stared at the half-naked Hyena, shaking his head frantically.

“Mmmmmmph!”

“I’m very embarrassed right now,” she whispered, “but I’m also happy. If it’s you, Master, I’d give you my first…”

Just as the mood reached its peak, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from outside. Someone had infiltrated the beastmen’s territory. It might even be Krodin. Taehyun shot a desperate glance toward the entrance. Seeing his pitiful expression, Hyena hesitated before finally undoing his shackles.

“Hah.”

“Hey… I… I…” she stammered, her resolve crumbling.

“You’re the one who did it, so why are you crying now?” he said, his voice softer than he intended.

“Sob. But my feelings were sincere. I’ll gladly accept any punishment, but please… please don’t abandon me.”

Having come to her senses, she was terrified. She had been caught up in the moment, but her status was still that of a slave. It was only natural for her to fear being cast aside for such a transgression. Taehyun patted her head and helped her put her clothes back on.

“It was definitely out of line,” he admitted. “I’ll think of a punishment for you later, so be prepared.”

“Th-then…?”

“I won’t abandon you. Who would I be pleasing by getting rid of a Trapper like you? Now, let’s get out of here. We have a chance, we can’t just stay here.”

The screams outside were growing more frequent. The guards around the prison must have been significantly reduced. Hyena wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.

—

[Stealth has been activated.]

In the distance, Krodin saw the treehouse village—the beastmen’s home. They had attacked without question, branding his master a demon’s subordinate. As the King of Assassins, he could never forgive them.

’Not only did they humiliate me, the King of Assassins, but they dared to capture my subordinate as well?!’

Lacking strength, the beastmen had relied on numbers. The thought that Taehyun and the others were captured fueled his rage. Krodin slipped into the village, his eyes fixed on the guards.

[Silent Blade has been used.]

[Attempts a fatal ambush on the target without making the slightest sound.]

The throat of a dog-tribe guard on patrol was slit open. He collapsed without a sound.

’I’ll kill them all. Every last one.’

He thought of Pinyas, the fox chieftain. She had been the most vocal about punishing the ’demon.’ She was now at the top of his list. Krodin moved through the village, dispatching guards and beastmen one by one.

’Thud.’

One.

’Thud.’

Six.

’Thud.’

Fifteen. He was a phantom, a whisper of death in the night. Then he remembered Taehyun, locked in a cell.

’I need to create a diversion to rescue my subordinate. He did give me this equipment, after all. I suppose I should keep him alive.’

The Hetalion Dagger doubled the effectiveness of his stealth. As cruel as the King of Assassins was, he always repaid his debts. Krodin deliberately broke his stealth and began a massacre.

“It’s-it’s him! The one who ran away! Kill him!”

“The enemy of our people!”

“He’s running! Everyone, after him!”

A pursuit team formed instantly. Everything was going according to plan. Krodin expertly dodged a volley of arrows and increased the distance between them.

[Shadow Clone has been used.]

[Shadow Clone has been used.]

[Shadow Clone has been used.]

The blackened clones were simple decoys. In the dark jungle, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the real target. As proof, arrows thudded into his shadow clones. Now he just had to divert their attention and slip into the prison. Krodin leaped into the treetops, preparing to use Dark Assimilation.

At that moment, a chain of pure mana shot out of the darkness.

[Myoin Tribe Great Chieftain Hasla has used Ancient Chains.]

[An unavoidable chain is fired at the designated target.]

[Ancient Chains Usage Limit 1/1]

The chains twisted in mid-air, hurtling toward him. Krodin scoffed and moved to dodge, but something unexpected happened.

’It has a homing function?!’

The chain that had missed him curved back like a boomerang, now even longer than before. Krodin ducked and tried to sever it, but it was useless.

’Clank!’

[You have been bound by the Ancient Chains.]

[For a certain period, skills and special abilities cannot be used.]

[For a certain period, movement will be restricted.]

The chains wrapped around his entire body. Krodin fell from the tree and was captured.

“Hoho. I could feel your killing intent all the way from underground,” a calm voice said. “Have you killed dozens already? Truly befitting of a dungeon’s main force.”

“Ughhh! You damn old geezer!” Krodin snarled. “Once I get out of this, I’ll take your life in an instant! You’ll pay for messing with the King of Assassins! Repaying it a thousand, ten thousand times over won’t be enough!”

“Your spirit is still as fierce as ever. Yes, let’s see… the King of Assassins, was it? So far, you’ve killed a total of forty-two of our kin. If Pinyas finds you, your life won’t be guaranteed. What will you do now, King of Assassins?”

The chieftains of the beastmen tribes were slowly gathering. Pinyas, who had been radiating killing intent from the start, would surely draw her sword at this sight.

“Great Chieftain!”

“Hmph! Let go of me! I’m going to kill that bastard right now!” Pinyas shrieked.

“The Great Chieftain is here! Calm down, Pinyas!”

Soon, the chieftains from every tribe had arrived. As expected, Pinyas was so blinded by rage she could barely think straight. The Great Chieftain, Hasla, held them back and cast a spell.

[Myoin Tribe Great Chieftain Hasla has used Scream of Pain.]

[Inflicts endless pain on the designated target.]

“Kuaaargh!”

Pain, as if a thousand spears were piercing his body, wracked Krodin. He trembled violently, thrashing on the ground.

“This much punishment should suffice for now. We will lock him in the prison. Everyone, stand down,” Hasla commanded.

“B-but, Great Chieftain!” Pinyas protested.

“Ahem. Pinyas, are you defying my words?”

“Ugh. I understand.”

The command of Hasla, the direct protector of the Mana Jade, was absolute. To the chieftains, Hasla was a father figure; they could not disobey. Pinyas bit her lip and turned away.

Just then, four new figures emerged from the shadows.

“If you don’t stop that right now,” a cold voice warned, “this whole place might get blown to bits.”

It was Taehyun and his party, freed from their cell. He pointed at Krodin, casually fiddling with a coin. The chieftains tensed, ready to charge, but Hasla stopped them again. They stared at the coin in Taehyun’s hand, their expression hardening.

“Is that an S-rank exclusive item? What are you planning to do?”

“Oh, so you know what it is,” Taehyun said, a smirk playing on his lips. “What do you think I’m going to do with it? The answer is obvious. I might not be able to kill you, but I can wipe out every other beastman here.”

“…Are you threatening me?”

“Jeez, you’re impossible to talk to. You must have a rough idea why I came here. I came to take a test as a Guide. But you just throw a man in prison for being a demon and decide his punishment amongst yourselves?”

Dungeon Masters clearly had a bad reputation, especially after what had happened to the Hobbits. But Taehyun had only been peripherally involved in that war, not directly. Yet they had attacked him without even asking, locking him up while he was defenseless. They were unforgivable.

“It’s been a while since anyone pissed me off this much,” Taehyun snarled, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. “I don’t give a damn about being a Guide or anything else anymore. You’re all dead. You can start by repeating after me, you fucking bastards.”

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