Volume 2 Chapter 26: The Real Illusion

If possible, Qin Lun really did not want to get involved in the fight between the demon hunters and the witch. He wished he could remain an observer all along, just like a camera, faithfully recording all events. It made no difference to him whether the demon hunters succeeded or failed.

As for people like Frank and Katharine whom he had once used, Qin Lun simply saw them as temporary workers carrying cameras. They provided labor, and he paid them some wages.

Frank had helped him, so Qin Lun promised him a source of income for the future. Katharine had helped him, so he indirectly helped the innkeeper’s wife improve her business.

If not for the existence of the Otherworld Mission, Qin Lun would have shut his mouth right away and stopped pushing the events forward. But just as he had said, there were no coincidences in the world, only inevitabilities. Once the wheel of fate started turning, even the camera had to become part of the whole event.

“Everyone, we have been inside Maiar Forest for three days and two nights now, and we have been attacked twice by evil creatures. However, aside from the two casualties who were ambushed while providing support last night, these two attacks were still within our team’s ability to withstand, and they didn’t completely defeat us, right?” Qin Lun said with a faint smile.

The tent fell silent. The demon hunters each had thoughtful expressions on their faces as they sank into contemplation.

“Doctor Stan, please continue!” The experienced Odo seemed to have thought of something and gave Qin Lun an appreciative glance.

“If the attack by the magical creatures on the first night was just a test, then the attack on the second night should be considered the witch driving the evil creatures to confront us directly, shouldn’t it?” Qin Lun said with confidence. “Everyone, please think back: if it was a direct confrontation, doesn’t that mean that so far, the Witch Maiar temporarily lacks the strength to completely crush us!”

“This is just your speculation. At least during last night’s attack, the Witch Maiar did not show herself. Once the Witch Maiar personally commands the evil creatures on the scene, we will be in a much worse situation!” a bearded demon hunter said in a deep voice.

Qin Lun looked at this demon hunter but smiled without speaking. Although the bearded man had raised an objection, Qin Lun could tell that this experienced demon hunter also had the same doubts himself, and his earlier stance of withdrawing from the forest had already softened.

“The Witch Maiar did not show herself, perhaps because there is currently only one witch fighting us. She is afraid that we might go all out and try a decapitation strike. Without cover from other companions, she could easily be surrounded by us!” Odo murmured as if talking to himself.

“Based on our past experience, one Witch Maiar usually controls at least two or three evil creatures, and at most no more than seven or eight,” the bearded man pondered for a moment before objecting again. “Last night, we were attacked by at least over twenty evil creatures. Normally, that would mean there are three to five Witch Maiars!”

“If there were three to five Witch Maiars joining the fight, or even just two witches covering each other, we would have already collapsed last night and wouldn’t have been able to retreat!” Lady Nova’s eyes glinted as she spoke in a muffled voice. “This time, we entered Maiar Forest voluntarily. Even if the Witch Maiars killed all the demon hunters, it wouldn’t count as violating the thousand-year pact.”

“Hmm, the viewpoint that there is currently only one witch is acceptable!” another older demon hunter leader nodded. “Perhaps the witch we are facing now is just a sentry posted by the Witch Maiars on the forest’s outskirts! In that case, the other witches might indeed have specially strengthened her magical servants to monitor a larger area.”

“If she is just a sentry witch responsible for monitoring, then why didn’t she watch secretly and wait for reinforcements from other witches? Instead, she dispatched so many magical creatures to alert us and try to forcibly drive us away… Isn’t that strange?” The bearded man slightly frowned, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

“Unless…”

“Unless our direction of advance, the arrowhead of our formation, is pointing directly at her lair, and we are not very far from it!” All the demon hunters looked at each other, excitement appearing on their faces. “She didn’t have time to wait for reinforcements from other Witch Maiars, so she had to send out all her magical creatures to attack us, hoping we would retreat in the face of difficulties!”

“This is also why we encountered so many magical creatures but didn’t see any witch personally joining the fight.” Bonnie slapped the low table and stood up abruptly.

“We were all wrong! From our perspective, encountering such fierce attacks as soon as we entered the forest meant the Witch Maiars were well-prepared. But from the Witch Maiars’ perspective, seeing over twenty demon hunters entering the forest together for the first time must be a big deal. Perhaps that witch simply thought we were coming for her, which is why she reacted so violently.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Qin Lun’s face as he quietly left the tent. The doctor understood that his presence was no longer needed in the following discussion.

These demon hunters were experienced, shrewd, and sophisticated. The reason they hadn’t figured out some doubts earlier was simply because they had fallen into a mental trap. After all, not everyone was like him, who had studied psychology extensively and was accustomed to switching roles and thinking from others’ perspectives.

Of course, even without Qin Lun’s guidance, given some time, these demon hunters would have figured it out. But by then, they might have already withdrawn from Maiar Forest, or delayed and missed the best opportunity, allowing that Witch Maiar to receive subsequent reinforcements.

Shortly after Qin Lun stepped out, the demon hunter leaders emerged from the tent one after another. It had to be said that these demon hunters possessed considerable courage and wisdom. Once their doubts were resolved, they reached a consensus in just over ten minutes, acting decisively without any hesitation.

No wonder Odo had said back then that as long as their mission objectives aligned, they didn’t need any leader.

“Doctor Stan, everyone asked me to thank you for your timely reminder. Otherwise, if we realized it later, probably all the demon hunters here would lose their reputations.” Odo found Qin Lun and bowed with a smile. “Now we have a new action plan, but…”

“You want me to go back to Albert Castle first?” Qin Lun’s expression was somewhat peculiar.

“Yes, after magical creatures come into contact with demon hunters, they transmit images of the enemy back to the witch. We plan to have the three demon hunter teams originally at the front deviate from their initial direction to lure away those magical creatures. Then our team will go directly to find that witch’s lair!”

Odo nodded and explained, “If our judgment isn’t wrong, the upcoming battle will be very intense. Your performance so far is already enough to pass the novice trial, so you don’t need to risk joining the fight. Besides, the injured need your care on the return journey. No one will question your courage because of this!”

“Lord Odo, do you think I’ve been following you all this time just to prove my courage?” Qin Lun’s face stiffened, his tone harsh.

“You…” Odo frowned and said in a deep voice, “Before entering Maiar Forest, Baron Albert instructed me that even if this mission fails, I must ensure your safety. You are currently the only doctor who can cure the epidemic disease. In this team, you are the only one who cannot be sacrificed!”

“Lord Odo, you don’t understand!” Qin Lun sighed softly. “I’m not following you to prove courage. I have reasons that force me to do this!”

“Oh? What reasons?” Odo looked at Qin Lun with confusion.

“The epidemic in the Aodia Region is already beyond what I alone can reverse. We must find the source of the disease and develop an antidote that can be mass-produced. Otherwise, it makes no difference whether I’m here or not!” Qin Lun said seriously. “If the disease is really related to the witch, only I can find its source in her lair and derive the antidote formula based on the virus components. Without my medical knowledge, do you have that ability?”

“This…” Odo was finally left speechless.

Even if they captured the witch, they might not necessarily be able to make her talk or bring her back alive to Albert Castle. Qin Lun’s reasons were very compelling. Not only could Odo not refuse the doctor’s request to stay, but he also had to take him along to the witch’s lair.

After Odo consulted with the other demon hunters again, the entire team immediately took action. Three teams led by Nova and the bearded man turned east, heading toward another direction in Maiar Forest. Their task was to lure away the evil creatures that had attacked the demon hunters last night.

If the demon hunters’ current judgment wasn’t far from the truth, everyone believed that the witch would continue to drive all the evil creatures to harass and track them, putting on a show of strength, until they left Maiar Forest.

If this judgment was wrong, and the witch wasn’t weak but actually trying to surround and annihilate them, or simply ignoring the demon hunter team, then Nova and the others would immediately signal Odo to evacuate Maiar Forest.

As for the team led by Odo and Bonnie, since they hadn’t encountered the magical creatures, the witch didn’t know of their existence, so the task of finding the witch’s lair was given to them. Of course, Nova and the others wouldn’t go too far either; the two groups would maintain a distance of about half a day’s travel, just in case.

The final group of demon hunters consisted of the wounded. Besides the five severely injured, two demon hunters who were originally rear guard members would use carriages to transport the deceased’s remains and the severely injured out of the forest and back to Albert Castle.

…

“Doctor Stan, there are only five of us, and only Lord Odo and Lord Bonnie have fighting ability. If we find the witch’s lair, can we defeat her?” The youngest member of the team, Bla, asked in a worried voice, lacking confidence.

“Hehe, don’t worry, little one! I don’t think our small team’s combat ability is poor at all!” Qin Lun smiled and patted Bla’s head, his gaze falling on a certain carriage as he slightly narrowed his eyes.