How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 240 - Head Hunting (5)

Capturing the devil was an incredible achievement. As a simple comparison, it would take three Sword Masters to face such an opponent. Even with three gathered, it doesn’t guarantee victory, just that it’s worth attempting.

A single Sword Master is a being that can sway the tide of battle, so a devil was even more formidable.

Considering their ability to dominate followers through individual power and even take away allies, it was even more significant.

A sense of satisfaction welled up. When I came to this world, I had hoped for a situation like this, but I never thought it would actually happen.

Should I say I was deeply moved? The corpse of the devil I had longed for was right before my eyes. Of course, it wasn’t in perfect condition after taking a direct hit from the explosion.

About half of its body had melted, and it would be more accurate to say it was barely maintaining its shape, but the sense of accomplishment was considerable.

“F-First, hurry and treat your wounds!”

“Yes.”

At Erendil’s fuss, I took out hemostatic agents and bandages from my bag. The wound looked as if it had been burned black.

It was the devil’s power. Regrets and disappointments from the past were still surfacing in my mind. It was the remnants left by the devil.

I bit my lip and drove away such distracting thoughts. Erendil saw this and brought her head closer.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

“I’m fine. It’s not because of that.”

“Speak sense, then what is it because of?”

“I’m sorry.”

I was about to say something but bowed my head instead, thinking that if I told the truth, it would lead to a longer conversation.

After quickly applying the hemostatic agent and applying pressure with the bandage, I raised my head to find Erendil looking at me with serious eyes.

“Tell me what happened.”

Erendil, speaking like that, seemed a bit afraid.

“It still feels like a dream to me. Both the explosion that filled half the sky, and the fact that you who were at its center are still alive.”

“I had this amulet.”

“What is that?”

Erendil tilted her head.

“It’s something I took from the imperial armory. It was Your Majesty’s grace.”

Despite my flattery, Erendil’s face remained impassive. It meant don’t beat around the bush and speak properly.

“This allows a person to stay in another world for a moment.”

“Another world?”

“A space that isn’t reality. For example, like the world where devils live, a space separate from this world.”

“The world where devils live?”

Erendil was startled.

“That’s just a manner of speaking, I don’t mean that place literally. It’s a similar, empty space where one can stay.”

“So you avoided the bomb in that space?”

As I spoke, I made up my mind. I couldn’t tell the real reason why I hadn’t mentioned the amulet.

Even if I said I was trying to save the glowstone in case they had another trick up their sleeve, they would ask why I didn’t mention it when I was planning to use it anyway.

“But why didn’t you mention it?”

“I didn’t know from the beginning. I was planning to lure the devil as per the original plan. However, the opponent was too strong.”

Erendil’s brow furrowed slightly.

“It was stronger than I thought, and as you can see, I sustained an injury that pierced my shoulder. In the midst of not knowing how long it would take, this weapon was all I had left.”

“So you used it?”

“Yes. At that moment, this amulet reacted to my mana. The moment the bomb exploded, I was in another world. After coming out, I met Your Majesty.”

This lie wouldn’t be caught anyway. Unless a situation arises where I need to hide Erendil. That’s unlikely to happen.

Even if such a thing did happen, it would mean the situation has already deteriorated beyond recovery.

It essentially means there’s no future, so it’s not really a problem. Of course, I should be cautious since three devils suddenly appeared, but still. Erendil exhaled deeply and stroked her chest.

“I almost lost you.”

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“Lord Faorn clearly said you would be able to hold out… I must have words with him.”

Erendil spoke with a slightly angry face. Right. Faorn had said I could hold out against a devil for a while.

“No, it’s because of my inadequacy.”

However, I don’t think he said that to set me up. There’s no reason for that. Faorn might have said it because he thought I could hold out.

Even if I became a Sword Master, it was only a few days ago. I can’t be compared to Faorn who has honed his swordsmanship for decades.

Moreover, I reached this level through optimal conditions, so objectively, I was only half a Sword Master.

However, I can be suspicious. My relationship with Faorn isn’t that solid.

Faorn, Minteron, and Rudehrn are people who would choose the empire without a moment’s hesitation if they had to compare me and the empire.

And honestly speaking, if I were to commit suicide along with the devil, it would be a great benefit to the empire. Didn’t Campbell say something similar to me?

Of course, even if he spoke with such sentiments, I don’t harbor any ill feelings towards Faorn. That’s why he’s a trustworthy person. Because he won’t fall for other temptations.

Moreover, I was planning to use the glowstone too.

If Faorn hadn’t said those words, Erendil’s permission might not have been granted.

In other words, it was a good thing for me. After all, I didn’t make plans that disregarded my own life.

“Still, if it was that difficult, your judgment…”

“Your Majesty, please don’t embarrass me. The enemy was strong and I was inadequate, that’s all.”

Erendil looked at me for a moment and then nodded.

“I understand. I’m sorry.”

“No, I feel sorry for causing you worry.”

“I’m glad you’re alive.”

Only after the conversation was somewhat resolved could I ask what I was curious about.

“Your Majesty, what happened on the other side? Was it successfully concluded?”

The initial plan was for two teams to deal with one each while I lured the devil.

If they had been searching for 30 minutes after the explosion, there was a possibility that the remaining one had been dealt with.

If so, we would have achieved the great feat of eliminating four devils, including the three newly descended ones.

Even if the remaining one had escaped, killing three was still an enormous achievement. But Erendil shook her head with a somewhat complicated expression.

“There was no significant result.”

“Pardon?”

“We searched diligently, but found no traces. It was the same even after Lord Faorn and Lord Minteron thoroughly combed the area.”

It was shocking news.

“According to Minteron, it seems the creature was moving alone from the beginning.”

I couldn’t continue speaking. Then, where were the three devils that had descended in the northeast?

Had they hidden in the east?

That could have been the case. We had considered the possibility that they might buy time in the east.

However, assuming that, I couldn’t understand why the devil of regret had moved.

‘Wouldn’t they have thought we might attack the east too?’

Even if we couldn’t see beyond the northern limit line, the empire was deploying a lot of manpower to the north.

There was a good chance of discovering the devils’ movements. In fact, the information about it going to the east wasn’t obtained from the east, but from the north.

Were they careless? Were we overly worried? It didn’t seem likely. If they just maintain this state, victory is theirs.

In other words, it’s highly probable that they too prepared and anticipated this situation in various ways.

With our forces, we can sufficiently deal with three newly descended devils. In fact, we had considered the option of going to the east if we came up empty-handed in the north.

Moreover, if the other three devils were to remain in the east, there was no need for the devil of regret to come to the north. Time is on their side.

It’s getting complicated. According to the schedule, the three devils that were summoned recently couldn’t be faster than the devil of regret.

‘What are they thinking? Did they really underestimate us? Do they think they’ve won?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find the answer. While I was conversing with Erendil, the three Sword Masters also approached us.

Rudehrn spoke to me.

“Have you heard from Her Majesty? There was no significant outcome.”

“Yes.”

“What shall we do?”

He was asking whether to return or change direction to the east. I pondered for a moment.

“Let’s return.”

Devils can share information in real-time among themselves. The devil of regret saw us. It means other devils know too.

For whatever reason, if they’re hiding in the east, they’ve probably started moving again since earlier.

To be honest, it’s almost impossible for the five of us to find hidden devils in that vast eastern region.

There would be difficulties with supplies and it would be a waste of time. I explained this, and everyone agreed.

“Then is the mission a failure?”

“We can consider it half successful.”

We did kill one devil after all. That alone is an incredible feat. The difference between five and four is significant. The situation has become more difficult than before and things didn’t go according to plan, but…

Honestly, compared to the game, it’s still a manageable situation. And it’s not that bad.

Currently, there’s only one intact devil on the continent, the devil of domination beyond the northern limit line. However, it’s difficult for the five of us to invade the northern limit line right now.

It’s not alone there after all. It takes about two months for a descended devil to regain its power. It’s a matter of speed.

“Count Campbell would have made preparations. We should set out for the north as soon as we return.”

The one in the north will be in a hurry too. However, it probably can’t move alone, abandoning all the devil worshippers at the northern limit line.

We need to advance to the north before the three devils regain their power. Reducing their forces and if possible, capturing the devil would be the best course of action. Then there would be only three devils left.

“Lord Rudehrn, please go to Kahalin immediately. Without the devilish dragon, we need to pressure them so they can’t cross over through the northeastern mountain range.”

“I will.”

With the current forces remaining in the north, it’s difficult to break through the limit line, so it’s enough to block it first and then send reinforcements.

With the dragon carriage, Rudehrn can reach Kahalin in half a day from here. In other words, the situation is favorable to us for now.

“But are you alright?”

Rudehrn asked, looking at me. It was because of the wound.

“I’m fine. I think I’ll receive some treatment when we get to Kahalin.”

Rudehrn nodded.

***

Rudehrn led the forces stationed in Kahalin towards the north. It was to block the path to the northeastern mountain range.

We returned to the empire. And as soon as we arrived, we checked the information obtained through the intelligence agency.

Among them, there were quite a few notable ones. They were information from the east. Even though the numbers were small, elites were deployed.

And those circumstances seemed quite suspicious.

‘What is this?’

Many of the people who were taken to the northeast, where the three devils were summoned, did not return. It’s natural since they became sacrifices.

However, after that, not a small number of three groups dispersed to the east.

Assuming the three devils were hiding, that itself could be possible. I still don’t understand why the devil of regret moved, but.

However, what’s even more incomprehensible is that the empire’s agents caught this movement.

Even if it’s an incomplete devil, it must have noticed the gaze of the intelligence agency agents.

‘There’s no way a Sword Master wouldn’t notice a gaze watching them.’

It seemed like they were planning something, not just summoning three devils. If not that…

Maybe because the situation was unfavorable, they pulled out non-existent power and summoned more incomplete devils than I thought.

For instance, using sacrifices meant for summoning two devils to forcibly summon three. This was the best-case scenario for me.

‘They might have thought they could recover by hiding in the east and buying time anyway.’

Upon returning to the empire, Erendil dispatched the soldiers Campbell had prepared. It was to finally destroy the northern limit line.

Campbell took charge of the command. I decided to leave the north to Campbell and Rudehrn. He’s a wiser person than me. The best strategist.

And I was not included in that selection. I was planning to go to the east where they were hiding. It’s dangerous, but it’s okay for up to two months.

They’re still not fully intact, and we confirmed that they moved separately.

Even if the three regrouped after dispersing, the Amulet of the Season That Doesn’t Exist will provide protection.

Rina and Terka agreed to join in this process. They were the people I knew who knew the east best.

Erendil decided to mobilize all the dragon carriages owned by the imperial family because the situation was serious.

It won’t take long to cross the east riding a dragon.

“Carlyn, I’ll go first and come back.”

Denif was moving too. But in a different direction from us. Denif is heading to the southeastern desert.

Since I can use glowstone through the amulet, I sent Denif to the desert, which I had been postponing. Of course, Denif’s manpower was precious.

Even if Denif goes, I thought the probability of re-entering that ruin was not high.

However, we couldn’t not try when there was a possibility. Denif is the only one who can break through the desert.

“So, can we finally meet Her Imperial Majesty today?”

Terka, who had been waiting, asked with an excited face as we prepared to leave. Was this why the corners of her mouth had been twitching since yesterday?

“Wake up from your dream. Her Majesty is busy with the northern issue.”

I shook my head with a snicker. Our base was quiet. It was because Namir, Aron, and Jofor had gone north to participate in the war as part of the mercenary group.

It’s dangerous, but I believe they’ll survive well. Maybe they can even grow more through actual combat. I can’t perfectly take care of the kids.

“What? How can that be? We’re heading to such a dangerous place…”

I lightly ignored Terka who was protesting as if wronged.

“Let’s go.”

It’s time to head east, putting aside the nonsense.