’Caught?’

’Just as I thought. It’s not that simple...’

"Are you sure it’s just hide-and-seek? There won’t be any danger, right?"

"Nope!"

"Swear on it."

"I won’t!"

"..."

Wei’en suppressed the urge to pull out his sniper rifle and put a bullet in him. "Then can you lower the difficulty a bit?"

"I can’t!" The clown’s eyes darted around, and he chuckled. "I just had a thought. We really should speed things up."

"Hm?"

"Off you go."

’Fuck, I’ve been had—that damned clown!’

Wei’en felt his body lift into the air and slam uncontrollably into the theater.

[You have been locked onto by the killing intent of the Abyssal Creature, Thorn Demon. Evaluation: A Commander-level Abyssal Creature, equivalent to Department Head-level. Reward: Survival Points +10.]

[You have witnessed the Abyssal Creature, Thorn Demon. Because your Spirit level is greater than 200, your soul has not dissipated. Evaluation... Special Reward: Survival Points +5, Resilience Level +1, Spirit Level +1.]

[Thorn Demon: The most honest Abyssal Creature of the Abyssal Depths. Extremely fond of lazing around and sleeping.]

[Note: His tongue is extremely powerful.]

"Oh, an Undead Mage... Hmm? And an acquaintance I’ve seen before?"

A lazy, calm voice rang in Wei’en’s ears as he adjusted to the glaring lights around him.

Through a hazy, reddish glow, he saw a huge, slender creature standing in the center of the theater, its two arms raised high as if supporting the dome of the ceiling.

Its entire body looked as if it were made of only bone, and it was covered in barbs.

’Seen before? An acquaintance?’

Wei’en looked at it in confusion. When had he ever seen this Abyssal Creature? Why couldn’t he remember?

"During the day. You used a long, stick-like weapon to shoot through my Contractor. Even now, he can only lie in bed and lick his wounds." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"..."

’Why does that sound so strange?’

However, Wei’en had already figured it out. The only person who could form a contract with an Abyssal Creature was the Favored One of the Abyssal Sect he had encountered that day. "Bolsen?"

"That’s the stupid bastard. He’s really screwed me over this time."

The Thorn Demon’s long tongue whipped around angrily in its mouth as it glared viciously at Wei’en. "So you’re the executioner Leonard hired?"

"Executioner? Me?" Wei’en pointed at himself, astonished. "I just came here to play hide-and-seek..."

SWISH.

"Nico, Ruke."

Wei’en blinked away. His current strength wasn’t great, but his skill at escaping was top-notch.

Even though he didn’t know if there was danger, he subconsciously had the Secret Master cast a Blink (Death God) spell.

"Mens, Di."

The illusory double left in his place only had time to cast a Charm Spell before the tongue pierced its body, causing it to slowly dissipate into the air.

"This isn’t hide-and-seek, it’s clearly a gladiatorial match! Damned clown, get out here and explain yourself!" Wei’en shouted in exasperation and anger.

’What kind of hide-and-seek game has an Abyssal Creature guarding it?’

"My apologies, Mr. Wizard, but I’m already hiding. You have to defeat the boss monster first to earn the chance to find me. After all, the key to my hiding place is a drop that only it possesses."

"Huh? A drop? You mean, you want me to kill it?"

’Seriously? Does he even hear himself?’

’It’s a simple little puzzle game for kids, and he just had to add a level boss. What kind of maniac comes up with an idea like that?’

"Hee hee ha ha ha... Well, it did offend me earlier today. I went to the trouble of inviting it here from the Abyss World just for this. Kill it, and you’ll have your revenge."

"...You misspoke, didn’t you? Isn’t this for *your* revenge?"

"No, no, no. If it weren’t for that little girl, you would have died too. Aren’t you angry?"

SWOOSH!

"I’m angry at *you*, you bastard!"

Relying on his Spirit perception, Wei’en scrambled to dodge another attack from its tongue.

’Dammit, *this* is Department Head-level?’

The clown was right about one thing. If Tina hadn’t suppressed this monster during the day, he really might have died at Bolsen’s hands.

No wonder Clelia looked so surprised when she heard he’d escaped from Bolsen...

At this, Wei’en pulled out his sniper rifle and ordered the driver to summon the Mechanical Gate and release Zero.

’If that’s how it’s going to be, then I have no other choice!’

’I can only hope that clown is somewhat reliable and doesn’t make this Thorn Demon go berserk like what happened last time...’

"Damn that Contractor! Bastard Bolsen! I’ll kill you! Why won’t you just die?!"

The Thorn Demon was just as furious. Its long tongue swept back and forth, clearing everything inside the theater as it relentlessly attacked Wei’en.

"And that bastard clown, he even restricted my power! Otherwise, how could this little bug be so nimble? You got the guts? Then release my seal!"

"Nope!"

The clown appeared nonchalantly, crouching on a lamppost at the edge of the theater and watching the fight with a cackle. "What a splendid battle."

"Father?"

After emerging from the Mechanical Gate, Zero looked at the Abyssal Creature in confusion. ’Weren’t we just resting? Why is there another fight already?’

"Block its attacks!"

Inwardly, Wei’en was cursing the clown nine ways to Sunday, but he was powerless to resist the clown’s machinations.

’Just you wait, you bastard!’

’I don’t care if you’re some taboo artifact or a clown doll. Once I get stronger, I’ll make damn sure you get a taste of this powerlessness.’

"Well then, you’d better work hard, hee hee ha ha..."

’Dammit, I forgot this guy has a Mind Reading Skill!’

Wei’en didn’t dare to think any more. He had Zero block in front of him, raised his sniper rifle, and fired at the Thorn Demon.

’Die, you bastard!’

[You have hit the Abyssal Creature, Thorn Demon, with a sniper rifle, triggering Blast Rune and the Death Trait: Pestilence. Instant Death Progress: 45/3000. Evaluation: Hmm, you’ve got a fighting chance. Reward: Survival Points +15, Gunnery +3.]