12 O’Clock Marionette

"Cruello, can you handle it?"

"It's a bit difficult here due to the magic resistance. Is there any way to stop him from escaping?"

I shook my head.

Binding spells were too slow.

Using other holy spells for an attack would be troublesome.

To kill him instantly, I would need a high-tier spell, but gathering divine energy would take time and surely expose me.

If we wanted to move him somewhere without magic resistance, we’d have to track Ares, but with how cautious he was, that would be difficult as well.

"It would be better if we had bait to lure him out."

I cast a disapproving look at Dylan, who was still sound asleep.

"Huh? A hostage? See, temple people are all the same. Acting all noble, then playing hostage games?"

"It was a slip of the tongue. That was wrong of me. I apologize."

"Mm? No, Lord Ares has no family, no friends—he's a born loner. He did talk to me a bit, but he's just another textbook case of a man who ruined his own life."

"…Why are you glaring at me like that?"

Just thinking about it made me mad.

Some people live so busily they don’t have time for family or friends.

Starting from Nigellia, everyone in the Black Serpent Cult had a knack for getting on my nerves.

They don’t have friends either!@@novelbin@@

Anyway, this bear hunt was proving to be more challenging than expected.

"The sun will rise soon. Let's head back."

At Cruello's words, I nodded.