《I Became a Genius Mage in the Cthulhu Game》 Chapter 1: Hidden Ending Perk Chapter 1: Hidden Ending Perk [Hidden Ending Perk!] [The hidden ss, has been unlocked.] A dry message appeared on the monitor. Ugh I did it! A hidden ss! You did it, Kim Shin-hwa! [Cthulhu World]. This is the game Ive dedicated over 1,000 hours to recently. [Cthulhu World] is a game set in modern Korea, incorporating elements of the Cthulhu mythos like the Mountains of Madness Dagons and Nyathotep. Therefore, everything in this game existed in a way that was more grim and horrifying than reality. The civilizations built by humanity were nothing more than sand castles, prone to copse at any moment in the face of cosmic evil. Humanitys feeble minds and frail bodies became prey for surreal otherworldly beings. Knowledge and wisdom turned into curses that spurred destruction. Corrupted religions praised sphemous wisdom. , Blind science studied forbidden knowledge. The only weapon bestowed upon humanity was a veil called ignorance. Even that was pitifully thin and frail to hold back beings that were indescribably enormous. What is it like? Does it look fun? Regardless of what others think, I find it to be fun. Its unique settings and ambiance perfectly targeted my love for horror. But the intrigue didnt stop there. True to its cosmic horror theme, the game was really, truly, genuinely very difficult. The extreme difficulty, the horrifying traps, the powerful boss monsters that made you wonder if they were actually impossible to defeat, and the named NPCs hunting down yers. Of course, to a hardcore yer like me, who had conquered all sorts of games, this was merely a stimting challenge. This time too, I had managed to clear an incredibly tough hidden ending and, as a reward, obtained a hidden ss. But still Theres no one to brag about it to Its really sad Out of curiosity, I checked themunity, but all the posts from thest year were mine. The view counts were all the same: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 In the past, there was at least some exchange of information, buttely, themunity has bepletely inactive. Yes, that was the case. This game was a flop. It was so tantly a failure that it couldnt fool anyone. The extreme settings, dark atmosphere, and hellish difficulty level Although these elements are divisive, they were not the cause of the games downfall. The reason this game failed was due to its excessive bugs. Getting stuck between structures or walking through walls was just the tip of the iceberg. When the game suddenly crashes or a well-developed character disappears, who would want to y it? Then there were the half-baked, unfinished elements that were ringly obvious. A prime example was the [Lacrex Codex], one of the items that must be obtained in every ythrough. In the Cthulhu mythos, such tomes usually contain surreal wisdom or madness. If it didnt have a special function, at the very least, it should have been connected to some event. But the [Lacrex Codex], despite its grandiose special effects, had no content written in it. There were no connected events either. I wondered if Lacrex was a ce or a persons name, but such a word didnt exist anywhere in the [Cthulhu World]. What could it be then? Either it was left unfinished, or the developers forgot about it halfway through! Given these circumstances, the game was inevitably abandoned by its yers. I might be the only person who yed it this far. No, I am definitely the only one! If there were actually other yers, there would have been at least one post posted in themunity. Did everyone just not like Cthulhu or cosmic horror? How could you hope to save the world from such mythological beings with such weak spirit! Anyway, if one could adapt to the initial difort and absurd difficulty, it was somewhat fun. Unfortunately, I quickly adapted to the numerous bugs. Even though it was terrible, if you just thought, Ah, its just a hidden piece, right? and got by, eventually you could even master the exploitation of bugs. In fact, there were quite a few ridiculous bugs that actually helped with progress. I shouldnt have gotten used to such a game Ah, forget it, forget it. Why is being recognized by others so important? Protecting the world from the dreadful Cthulhu is what matters! Speaking of which This time, its about unlocking a new character. Cthulhu World has a multi-ending system with over hundreds of endings. The joy of experiencing new developments and stories with each route is one thing, but with each new ending viewed, small rewards were provided or hidden elements were unlocked. If its a flop, at least make it interesting Thanks to these varied rewards and hidden elements, I never got tired of clinging to this game for so long. Since Ive received it, shall I y with this one this time? I was thinking of trying a mage next, and if its a hidden ss, it must have good options, right? Depending on what character you create, you could have apletely different experience in the game. The character I had been ying just recently was a martial artist with the ability to transform into a beast. A tough body that can withstand being shot by a gun when buffed! He possessed immense strength, enough to hurl boulders! Though he had no magical abilities at all, the storyline of oveing all obstacles with sheer strength and brute force was incredibly fun. This time, I decided to create a character that was the exact opposite extreme. A mage with the very attractive Hidden title. I clicked on [New Game] on the title screen and opened the character creation window. **** [Mage Gazing into the Abyss] A mad mage researching the forbidden abyss of humanity. The abyss is a living monster in itself. He could wield evil magic capable of destroying even his own sanity. But his soul, filled with madness and chaos, would be the perfect feast for the beings of the abyss. Exclusive traits: [Shattered Mind], [Madness of the Abyss], [Feast Offering], [Supreme Stat Adjustment], [Abyss Magic], [Madmans Luck], [Magic Devourer], [Spell Mastery], [Spell Enhancement: Deadly Poison] [Shattered Mind]: Randomly receives 2 mental illnesses. If, for any reason, this mental illness appears, you will randomly receive a new mental illness. The delirium effects caused by this acquired mental illness cannot be prevented. / You have gained a terrible mental illness that will never be erased, as a price for looking into the abyss. [Madness of the Abyss]: Does not lose sanity due to encounters with monsters or mythological beings, magic use, or reading mythological texts. Gains supreme resistance to delirium and fear effects. However, fear and delirium effects caused by [Shattered Mind] cannot be prevented. / Your mind will never copse. Because its already insane [Feast Offering]: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss **** Would skimming through the other special abilities suffice for now? The most important trait is the [Stat Adjustment] trait which is often attached to hidden characters. [Supreme Stat Adjustment: You can adjust stats without limits during character creation.] Huh? No limits? Really? Seriously? Characters with the [Stat Adjustment] trait can modify their initially given stats at creation as they desire. However, its not a free-for-all adjustment. There are penalties and restrictions. First, the penalty. To increase one stat, another must be decreased. For instance, lowering the less important intelligence to increase strength when creating a warrior character. Then, the restrictions. This is important: each character has a maximum and minimum stat threshold. You cant have abilities over 20 or under 8 But you say now theres no limits? Lets first look at the basic stats. **** Strength: 8 Health: 10 Agility: 11 Intelligence: 18 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 Remaining Stats: 0 **** The basic stats and traits were set for a typical ss cannon mage. Although these characters have weak bodies, they can wield powerful magic unmatched by others. As I mentioned earlier, normally you cant reduce a specific stat below 8. But this character had no such restrictions **** Strength: 5 Health: 5 Agility: 7 Intelligence: 16 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 Remaining Stats: 14 **** Alright, is this the maximum I can subtract? I had secured 14 points in the remaining stats. I could use this number to increase any stats I wanted. There was only one stat I intended to boost. That was intelligence. Intelligence is the core of a mage and the most crucial stat directly linked to magical ability. An intelligence of 18 points is considered genius. 20 points is transcendent. The martial artist I yed just before was a character with 20 points in strength, that is, transcendent strength. 20 in strength meant the ability to hurl boulders and bend steel bars with ease. And the mage I created this time was **** Strength: 5 Health: 5 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 29 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 Remaining Stats: 0 **** The intelligence score of 29 was tagged with the following descriptor: [Intelligence 29: Surreal] Just as I was about to click the OK button toplete the stat adjustment, a bitter sound escaped from between my lips. Surreal intelligence. It sounded good. Really good. Hmm. Yet, there was something about the number 29 that felt imperfect. 29. Its an impressively high number, but didnt it seemcking? It felt like drawing a perfect circle but faltering at the veryst moment. Since I already made it this way, I found myself eager to reach 30 rather than settling for the seemingly iplete 29 in intelligence. An intelligence of 30 was a truly absurd number, something I had never even imagined while ying [Cthulhu World]. But there were no other stats I could reduce further. It might seem like the other stats were chosen haphazardly, but each had its own reason. Charm didnt just mean a handsome appearance. It was the minimum number required to negotiate with mythical beings and win the favor of surreal entities. Of course, a transcendent charm score would be better, but I could enhance it by about 2 points with items acquired along the way. So, [Charm 16: handsome]. This cant be reduced. The 8 points in agility were also the minimum number considering the increase I would get from future items and buffs. Dropping below 8 might lead to my death before I could acquire other items. The same went for soul and health The tooltip disying [Strength 5: Feeble] caught my eye. A mage doesnt really need strength, right? In the end, I clicked the minus button next to strength one more time. I offer myself to you, Lord Cthulhu, Lord Yog-Sothoth! Grant me more intelligence! **** Strength: 4 Health: 5 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 **** As I set my strength to 4, its descriptor changed as well. [Strength 4: Frail] But that was okay. Look at this intelligence! Intelligence 30! Its 30! Look everyone! Ive created a character with an intelligence of 30! Ah, damn it. Themunity is still empty. Meanwhile, a never-before-seen sentence was disyed in the tooltip window showing a detailed exnation of intelligence. [Intelligence 30: Mythical. You have knowledge beyond human reach and a wisdom that borders on madness.] Huh? Whats this? Ive never seen a message like this before. Could it be? A hidden trigger? The thought that I might have activated another hidden trigger made my heart race with excitement. Yeah, this level of madness is required to be considered a truly insane mage. In fact, its generally better for survival to create a character with a well-bnced set of stats rather than one with such a lopsided distribution. But this time, its all about the extreme madness concept! If it doesnt work out, I can just delete it and start over Next were the traits. As a [Mage Gazing into the Abyss], I had more traits than other characters, but like my stats, I could add other traits by choosing detrimental penalty traits. Having already sacrificed my strength, extreme penalty traits were added. [Weakened Stamina] [Weakened Strength] [Weakened Health] [Weakened Close Combat] [Increased Damage] [Weakness: Disease] [Inability to Use: Heavy Weapons] [Increased Injury Probability] [Weakness: Poison] Hmm Should I add [Decreased Stamina]? But can I handle not being able to walk for long? Is it okay to add [Reduced Healing]? And then And also In exchange for shouldering such penalties, I was able to incorporate a plethora of useful traits necessary for magic. Now, what were some good traits for a mage It had been a while since I created a mage character Wow! The [Spell Mastery] came free for the [Mage Gazing into the Abyss]. It was an excellent ss. Unlocking [Spell Mastery] requires a veryrge cost. The prerequisite conditions were incrediblyplex. This trait allowed the use of basic spells from the avable hierarchy without any separate learning process. Without it, many who created mages couldnt cast spells simply because they didnt know them. The fact that this top-tier trait was provided for free made the [Mage Gazing into the Abyss] an exceptionally good character. Then, I added [Secret Lore Understanding] and [Spell Enhancement: Maximization]. [Spell Enhancement: Power Boost] [Spell Enhancement: Range Extension] [Quick Casting] [Double Chanting] [Cast Skipping] [Catalyst Compensation] [Spell Stealing] And although these were not a mage specialty, the always useful [Precise Aiming] and [Vignce]. Huh, do I have traits left over? Then lets upgrade [Vignce] to [Enhanced Vignce], And then And again As a result of adding a whopping 11 penalty traits, I added an equal number of useful traits. Ultimately, I created the most powerful mage ever, steeped in the Cthulhu mythos dark shadows, surpassing all the characters I had made before. Of course, this came at the cost of virtually sacrificing my own body and life. But this, in its own way, fitted the concept and pleased me. Okay, thats the setup done. Magic power! Thats all Im counting on! The moment I clicked the [Game Start] button, the mouse cursor vanished, and the monitor screen went dark. Theputer showed no response. Damn, another bug! The dark screen of the monitor began to flicker strangely. A character-specific opening video? That seemed unlikely. The liquid crystals of the monitor itself started to flow strangely. The center of the monitor split apart horizontally with a loud crack. It opened like the jaws of a beast, no longer resembling any object from the reality I knew. It was a dreadful darkness, seething like a dark swamp. It was a horrible filth, filled with disgusting sewage. It was rotting chaos, a grotesquely distorted remnant of a broken reality, and fragments of a nightmare that should never be remembered. And it was a pit of ravenous abyss. From that hideous pit, ominous ck slime began to pour out, writhing like a living fragment of a monstrous creature. I couldnt move my body. My tongue and lips were motionless. I had a mouth, but I couldnt scream. I had arms and legs, but I couldnt move. A terrible malice was approaching me But I couldnt escape. The cold, horrific slime started to envelop me, moving in ways inexplicable and bizarre in human terms. I couldnt escape. I wanted to scream. I wanted to scream! I couldnt scream! I wanted to scream so badly! In just a fleeting moment, I Like I said, I! The freedom to close my eyes or turn my gaze away had been stripped from me. I had no choice but to watch that terrible monster eroding my flesh. I couldnt breathe. My consciousness was fading. Death was approaching. No, in this bizarre abyss, even death itself seemed destined to die. At the edge of my fading consciousness, I heard a voice. A bizarre voice that seemed to pour out not from one mouth but from hundreds or thousands of maws at once. The voice struck not my ears but my brain. No, it felt like it was imbued with such force that it directly struck my soul. The feast offering is now prepared. Chapter 2: Madness Chapter 2: Madness What. happened to me? I regained consciousness due to an intense cold that felt like it was tearing my flesh apart. Ugh its so cold My eyes struggled to open. Had my eyelids frozen shut? I barely managed to open my eyes, but it took a while before I could make out anything. My eyes hurt as if I was opening them for the first time in my life. Whats this? It was only when my vision cleared that I realized the bizarre situation I was in. I was stuck standing in a cramped piece of machinery that was extremely cold. Furthermore, I waspletely enclosed in arge ss tube. It was as if I had be a test subject caught by a mad scientist In fact, my clothes werepletely different from what I had been wearing before. A in white outfit with no pattern. Leather straps were stitched right into the cuffs at my wrists and ankles. Ahhh, are these straps restraining me? But their design looks almost like A straitjacket made to restrain dangerous patients in a psychiatric ward is that it? Ah, I see. So Ive finally gone mad. Thest memory I could recall came to mind. Suddenly, something was appearing on the monitor Ah, thats what it was I knew something like this would happen someday But what is actually going on here? This isnt a psychiatric ward. After all, which real-world hospital would confine patients in such huge cold ss tubes? And why do I feel so strange? The shift in my emotions was too drastic. Was I always like this? Instead of feeling worry and fear about my surroundings, I found myself leisurely observing them. Outside the ss tube Im trapped in The lighting is dim Strange machinery Messily exposed wires There were a few desks too Oh, look! To my left and right, there were more ss tubes lined up along the wall, and inside them There are people sleeping! Ah, what is this! Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait This structure looks familiar Just as something was about to surface in my mind, a translucent message appeared in the empty air. [You have opened your eyes inside a test tube. Your senses are tingling. Your body, long frozen, is gradually regaining vitality. Where am I? Who am I? You realize that you have no memory of your past and are deeply shocked. You also dont know where you are. But one thing you do remember clearly. Your name is Kim Shin-hwa. You lived in South Korea] What is this a message? And what do you mean I dont remember anything? I do remember. Push-soo- Suddenly, a sound that resembled air escaping filled the area around me. Apanied by a faint hum of motors, the test tube that had me confined started to open, and the straps binding my body automatically released. Ah, I was free atst! [You are a mage gazing into the abyss. No one knows what you must do or what end you will meet. Good luck.] What kind of bullshit is this! But the real bullshit was yet toe. Soon, a new message appeared. [System: Penalty trait Shattered Mind activated. Since you currently have no mental illness, a random mental illness will manifest.] Mental illness you say? mental illness? Are they talking about the mental illness from [Cthulhu World]? The flower of [Cthulhu World], the symbol of [Cthulhu World], the core system of [Cthulhu World]. Characters who acquired knowledge that humans shouldnt have found their sanity and reason gradually crumbling [System: Mental illness Mask Obsession and Mental illness Musophobia (fear of rats) have been inflicted on your mind.] Leaving abnormal scars on the psyche. Thats mental illness, but wait, what kind of mental illness has befallen me? [A mage gazing into the abyss] possesses an indomitable spirit that never breaks down. Because they are already mad a mind once shattered cannot be shattered again. They must always harbor a certain level of mental illness. I am the mage gazing into the abyss, and Ive be mad? Having one or two forms of mental illness doesnt immediately cause problems. Isnt there a saying that every modern person harbors some mental illness within them? As long as nothing triggers my obsessions or fears there should be no problem. Right, there shouldnt be. Should there? So, I have a mask obsession. Mask obsession is Unconsciously, I touched, My face, And so, there was nothing, On my face. So, theres nothing on my face? The realization that nothing was covering my face [You realize there is nothing on your face. The fact that your face is bare, not covered by a mask, is extremely terrifying and sends chills down your spine. The madnesstent within you manifests, warping your mind. Mental distortion is about to ur.] Hey, wait! Just wait a moment! Hold on! Madness, a form of mental disorder, would emerge, leading to behavior typical of someone truly crazy. [System: Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check] However, distortion doesnt necessarily have to manifest. I have a mental strength stat, and the higher this stat is, the greater the likelihood of resisting the distortion. [Failure.] Ahh, damn it! [System: Mental illness- Mask Obsession triggers the Status Ailment- Mental Distortion] The message kept disying text as it pleased, but I couldnt understand its meaning. More importantly, there was something else. That terrible sensation on my face, that feeling My face, my own face, was crawling with goosebumps. That awful sensation, as if something with hundreds of legs, a creature, was crawling beneath my face Something was crawling! It felt like the skin on my face was going to rip. It stretched. It was being peeled off! Something was crawling beneath my face! If I didnt cover it with something, if I didnt shield my face I mean my face, it seemed as if it was going to tear apart! Worms! Crawling! All over my face! My vision was distorted. I barely managed to grasp my face, which felt as though it was pouring down, with both hands as I walked out of the test tube. My face was sliding off. Worms crawled under my cheek, and a cicada was moving unpleasantly as if nudging my eyeball. My vision, it was distorting. Crawling out from under my eyelid. The cicada on my left eye briefly crawled across my forehead and then after fluttering its wings a few times, it took flight. An unpleasant, stinging sensation under my cheeks It stings! Crawling! It was tearing through my flesh! My vision kept shaking. Something was covering my eyes. Worms? No, it was my hand. On the ground, no, the sea, no, I mean, the nted chair on the floor was mocking me. Dont look at my face! A terrible scream was heard. Was that noiseing from my throat? Not me, no, its not me A bizarre noise emanated from my throat. There was arge paper bag on the chair. It was big enough to cover my head. I need to grab it. I need something to cover my face with. I need a mask! Ah, damn it. Theres something inside the bag! I must wrap it carefully to prevent it from bursting. Just dispose of everything inside the bag! And then Hurry I mean [System: The Status Ailment Mental Distortion has been removed due to you wearing the mask. Be aware that losing the mask could trigger the mental illness again.] As soon as I put the paper bagno, the maskover my head, the mental distortion vanished. Huff, huff, huff What I had put over my head was arge paper bag with no holes for eyes. Although itpletely blocked my vision, it felt surprisinglyfortable, perhaps because it helped ease the lingering madness and pain caused by the mental distortion. Huff, huff, huff Now, the only sound I could hear was my breathing. There was no sound of insect wings. There were never any insects in this ce to begin with. Haah I was going crazy. Or had I already gone crazy? Regardless, nothing would change if I just stayed like this. First, I needed to make sure I could see. I tried to make eye holes in the mask, but it wasnt working. Was it because I had used up too much strength during the distortion? My hands were shaking unusually, and I couldnt muster any strength in my arms and legs. Ugh, if I identally tore the maskpletely, that would be the end of me! Carefully, I inserted my hand inside the mask and slowly made the holes. Thats right, good job, Kim Shin-hwa! It was only after I could see that I realized how bizarre I looked. I was wearing a paper bag over my head, and my clothes were a pure white straitjacket. It was a relief that I had shoes on, even if they were white rubber slippers. Anyway, I couldnt take off the mask even if I wanted to. If there is no mask, will things like this continue to happen? It wasnt a mask, but a paper bag. However, as long as I perceived it as a mask and wore it, I wouldnt experience that mental distortion. But my mental illness wasnt just limited to an obsession with masks. There was another thing [List of mental illnesses: Mental illness- Mask Obsession, Mental illness Musophobia] Thank you for letting me know. How kind of them. Damn it, damn it! What in the world is happening! Madness and the distortion thates from it were horrific experiences. To the yer outside the game, madness was just a state, but now I could understand how terrible it was for the character experiencing it. As my mind began to stabilize, my body started to scream in difort. So, so cold Incredibly so While it wasnt as cold as when I first stepped out of the test tube due to the distortion, the temperature of this space itself was extremely low. I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered for a moment. Considering how much I had sweated during the recent distortion, my straitjacket was damp. Ugh the sweat is going to freeze. What now? Is there a heater somewhere or at least a lighter? Wait a minute, think After going through panic, anger, and irritation, a natural sense of self-awareness dawned on me. Madness was not the only thing that the [Mage Gazing into the Abyss] possessed. Thats right, I am a mage. If I truly have be a Mage Gazing into the Abyss, its only fair that I have magical abilities, not just madness, right? In the world of [Cthulhu World], a mage was an amazing being. They can twist cause and effect and alter thews of the world to create the reality they desire. Moreover, I was not just any mage. I was a genius mage with Mythical talent. I have be a being capable of achieving anything I desire. I need warmth now so, fire. How do I use magic? Fire! Bring forth fire! Come out, fire! [Ignition]! My hope soon transformed into will, and the magical power flowed along a defined path. It was as natural and simple as breathing or moving a finger. Perhaps even more familiar than moving my eyelids or tongue. The magic emanating from my body reshaped reality to fulfill my wishes. mes ignited on the piles of paper scattered on the floor (likely the papers that had been inside my mask). The red color, the smoke, and the ample warmth it provided were just as I desired. Now, it feels like I can survive. As I gazed absent-mindedly at the fire, my eyes naturally began to dismantle and analyze theponents and flow of magical power that made up the fire. This flow was a concoction of artificial magic that I created. At the same time, a list of spells capable of altering, enhancing, and controlling this flow of magical power popped up in my mind. And beyond that list, there were many more spells. I could perform all of them. Is this for real? I was truly a mage. I felt a trembling sense of omnipotence and a slight sense of self-loathing at the same time. In the end, a self-deprecatingugh escaped my throat due to a sense of desperation. Hahaha, I must be going mad Have I really entered the world of the game? And of all games, this terrible one? I knew the name of this ce. [K-3675 Secret Research Facility]. This was the starting point in the game of [Cthulhu World]. Chapter 3: Rubbing Chapter 3: Rubbing I shouldnt be doing this. I need to get out of here! Thats all I should be thinking about right now. The hastily made makeshift bonfire was in a state where it could go out at any moment. The areas untouched by the warmth of the bonfire were cold and dark, yet it was just enough to discern what was there. Rows of test tubes and the test subjects they contained. The name of this ce was [K-3675 Secret Research Facility]. It seemed like a name haphazardly thrown together with random numbers, but nheless, this ce was a secret experimental site owned by a certainpany. It was a site where forbidden technologies such as life extension and the resurrection of the dead were researched. The researchers here, armed with lofty ideals and the arrogance of turning the impossible into possible, eventually meddled with forbidden knowledge they shouldnt have touched. But what they created were grotesque and sphemous monsters that could neither be considered living nor dead. The facilitys meager defenses were insufficient to contain these monsters, and as a result, the research facility was eventually shut down. Although this ce came with such an borate backstory, right now, that didnt matter. While trying to find a way out, the protagonist would discover the reason for their memory loss and uncover the horrifying truth behind the events that urred in the facility That was the beginning of the games story. But it doesnt matter much to me. Most importantly, the first piece of information and the card key the protagonist needed to obtain were now hopelessly burning in that pile of paper. So much for a conventional storyline. But that wasnt the problem. As you can see, I havent lost my memory, and I knew exactly what happened in the research facility and how to escape this ce. The real problem was survival. Although it was a kind of tutorial area, [K-3675 Secret Research Facility] was notoriously difficult to escape from due to the games disastrously high level of difficulty. If you started with a hastily created character, you were more likely to encounter a death ending than escape. Ah, this is so frustrating. Why did I have to end up in this game? Wouldnt it be better if it were a light-hearted farming game, a dating sim, or something else? I never yed a lighthearted game before, though But still, why on earth did it have to be [Cthulhu World]! I reached out towards the nearly extinguished bonfire. I could see my thin and frail arm and my trembling hand. This appearance and sensation werepletely different from before I woke up in this world. Even when I tried to exert strength in my fingers, my hand could barely perform the minimum movement regardless of my will. [Strength 4: Frail] It was a stat I had chosen thinking I could remake the character again if necessary, but did the concept of again even exist for me in this world? Suddenly, a strange noise caught my attention. Creeeak Grggrrrr Sssshhhh... I turned my head to see arge passage opening on one side of the wall. There was no door or anything resembling a cover. Kreeeeek! Keeek! Krrrrooo! Eerie noises and dreadful groans could be heard as something in huge numbers approached. It wasnt just one or two. The view was different from theputer screen I had been staring at for thousands of hours, yet this was the [K-3675 Secret Research Facility]. After bizarre research and forbidden experiments, it created monsters that shouldnt exist in reality, and because of that the ce was closed. In that process, no one dealt with the monsters. The researchers who were abandoned along with the facility became food for monsters, and eventually, the facility turned into their nest. There was a bright bonfire lit in such a ce. it was only a matter of time before something took notice. But isnt this too many? Originally, the creatures that appear here are tutorial monsters, meaning an easy-to-defeat zombie should pop up. And since it was a probability-based encounter, you will see up to three at most if your luck was particrly bad, but Kueeeek! Gyaaaak! Kirrrrk! Kuuuuh! Even by a conservative estimate, that noise sounded like at least 30 of them. Isnt that strange? Gradually, I began to see the zombies pouring in from the dark corridor. A toon-sized horde of zombies was rushing in. [System: The Feasts Offering penalty trait has been activated.] [Beings from the abyss are showing interest in you.] Ahh so thats what happened It didnt make sense, but what could I do? Zombies were not beings of the abyss. The beings of the abyss designated by the system are surreal deities or otherworldly rulers. It seems like some great being exerted an inexplicable influence and herded these zombies towards me. Now, the zombies were close enough for me to clearly see them. The spacious corridor was so crowded with zombies that they continuously pushed against each other. The sight of a fallen zombie being trampled and crushed by others rushing from behindIt was quite the spectacle. Each zombies state of decay and bodily damage varied, but they were all wearing half-tattered white gowns. They were likely all researchers of this facility once. Once intelligent minds that reached for forbidden knowledge to surpass human limits but now fallen. However, now they were zombies, neither living nor dead. Little of their human appearance remained. Their hands and feet sported gruesomely long fingernails, and their bodies, riddled with wounds, oozed sticky ck fluid. Some had an arm or a leg missing. Others had their intestines spilled from gaping abdominal wounds. And some had their skulls shattered and their brains exposed. As in many games, zombies in [Cthulhu World] were considered lower-level, insignificant monsters. Butwhen you face them in reality, you feel a chilling terror that cannot be replicated in any virtual experience. An ordinary human would have been instantly overwhelmed by the realistic killing intent and the repugnant odor. Despite such realism, I felt no particr shock or fear. Wow, damn. Its real, really real. It was indeed real. Real zombies. An overwhelming sense of reality that couldnt be dismissed as mere imagination or a dream. What astonished me was not the zombies, but the absurdity that this situation had be my reality. [Zombies, oozing foul ck fluid, approach you. Their numbers are overwhelming. Its an inescapable, worst-case scenario. You sense the horrific smell of death and their irrational movements. Seeing their bizarre and grotesque forms, you should feel a physiological repulsion, a dizzying terror, helplessness, and despair.] Despair, as if. I told you, I dont feel any fear. [System: Attempting to resist fear with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check failure.] What? Ahh, I was so surprised that I eximed in astonishment. Failure? Seriously? Oh, is it because its a probability-based judgment? [However, you have already gazed into the deep abyss. The madness of the abyss paradoxically bes a shield that preserves your sanity] Fizzle- A bright white spark erupted at my temples and it erased the artificially induced fear that was about to take hold of me. [System: Unique trait Madness of the Abyss activated. Fear effect removed.] At this point, I started to understand what was happening. I was not an ordinary human. With the [Madness of the Abyss] trait, no matter how repulsive these monsters were, they couldnt inflict any harm on my mind. And I possessed a power beyond that. Hey, zombies, donte any closer. Grrrrr As if they would listen to my words. Theycked the intelligence to do so. But thats not it As the horde of zombies drew closer, my mind became calmer, and I began to realize what I could do, what I needed to do. Alright, show them, Kim Shin-hwa. Show them what you can do! I directed my will towards the bonfire which was now barely more than a few small embers. My enormous intelligence stat of 30 began toe into y. All the calctions needed for manipting magical power were performed in an instant, and my will materialized in reality at a speed beyond the speed of thought. As I began to manipte magic in earnest, my magical power started to be visible. The magical energy scattered around me began to swirl violently. Are those red, twinkling lights covering the entire room all my magical power? It felt surreal, like being inside some fantastic special effect. [me Maniption] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Woosh- The mes grew explosivelyrge. The fire, now deserving to be called a me, expanded its reach in an instant and it surged towards the zombies like a living creature. Originally, me Maniption was a minor spell with the effect of changing the direction of mes. This minor, trivial spell,bined with the [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] trait, was amplified to an unbelievable degree. Pukwakwagwagak! Kieeeeeergh! Kaaaaaargh! Oh, whats this The firepower is much stronger than I expected. No, it wasnt just that. The amount of magical power emanating from my body was far too immense! Excessively, overwhelmingly immense. Whats this, this enormous amount of magical power? As I began to release my magical power in earnest, the energy stored in my mana core started to pour out. It was like the floodgates of a long-closed dam being opened. Pure magical power gushed forth. It was uncontroble! And despite releasing such an immense amount of magical power, the energy in my mana core showed no sign of diminishing. In fact, it was even more than just that. What is this? Its like an entire ocean! It might not be the best analogy in a situation of spewing fire, but it felt like pouring the entire ocean into a situation that required just a cup of water. How far can I go? The shining particles of magical power moved at mymand. And all of this energy was being poured into the mes that were incinerating the zombies. Shhhh- The mes had now be a massive wall of fire, engulfing the entire corridor from where the zombies were emerging. With such power, it was almostparable to an upper-tier third-order spellno, if I pushed it further, it may even reach a lower-tier fourth-order spelldespite being just a basic zero-order spell meant for manipting the flow of fire and kindling campfires! The zombies were undead beings who did not feel pain and they just kept pressing forward despite the zing mes. However, even the few elite zombies disying such tenacity were reduced to mere cinders in the face of the towering inferno. Have I defeated them? Ah, that was a mistake. I quickly shut my mouth, but the aftermath of my unnecessary ominous statement was almost immediate. Grol! There.at the very back of the zombie horde, which was aze with fire, a new challenger emerged. Outstanding aggressiveness and presence that could be felt even from a distance. A hulking figure, filling the narrow corridor all by itself. Its body was grotesquely swollen, twisted, and contorted. It was the [Giant Zombie], the so-called mid-boss of this secret research facility. Setting aside its generic name, which seemed like it was pped on the spur of the moment, why did this creature crawl all the way to this ce? Wasnt this thing supposed to be encountered one floor above? Could this be the effect of [Feast Offering]? Doing as it pleases, huh. Unlike the other zombies, this one possessed something akin to intelligence. Although I call it intelligence it had just enough to prevent itself from mindlessly charging into the massive mesStill, that level of cognition made it dangerous. Grollll! The Giant Zombie, with its bulging muscles, began to grab the other zombies and hurl them toward me. Wow, this creature was incredibly strong. ming zombies started flying towards me. [Invisible Hand] This was a spell for exerting minor telekic powers. I thought of using spells like [Barrier] or [Distortion Field], but those were first-order spells and were beyond my current ability to cast. Even if I possessed immense magical power, a first-order spell was still a first-order spell. The only spells avable to me now were the basic zero-order ones. However, I overcame theck of efficiency by pouring in an excess of magical power, and the limited effects werepensated for with my transcendent ability to manipte magic. I conjured up the image of grabbing the iing zombies with the [Invisible Hand]. Wagjajajajak! Uh? I used too much power. The zombies, which were flying towards me energetically, were instantly crushed like tomatoes in an invisiblepactor, their juicespletely squeezed out. It wasnt a particrly pleasant sight. But what was more horrifying than witnessing something so human-like being burned or destroyed was the fact that my mind felt no emotion or shock at the scene. There was no time for sentiment. If I lingered here any longer, more of them woulde. I moved my magical power and drove a new image into [Invisible Hand]. Sssss- piyuu- Bang! How could such a sound be produced? All I had done was grab the zombies flesh out of thin air and hurl it at the giant zombie. But the flesh of the zombie was shot with the force of a cannonball, and the giant zombie, caught in this absurd attack, waspletely shattered into pieces. Around this time, the cries of the zombies that had been swarming in madness also stopped. I guess that sort of wraps things up The smell is terrible though. The burning bodies of the zombies were spreading a pungent odor mix of acrid burnt flesh and an unpleasant rotten stench. But I could feel a strange vibrationing from afar. Woo-woo-woo Was it that zombies from other floors were all converging here? Kim Shin-hwa, youre quite popr, arent you? Ah, this is annoying. I briefly scratched my head and then changed my mind. It would be a waste of time to follow the official route of dealing with zombies in a meaningless manner. I looked around the space I was standing in. A simple, rectangr space caught my eye. There was only one exit. On the wall to the left of the exit there were one, two, three, and four test tubes. There were people inside, but it wasnt good to disturb them. On the opposite wall was one desk, and then another. Thats it. At the second desk there used to be an option to [Investigate] but now I had to search it myself. Damn it, Im short on time. When I yed this as a game, there was a message that would appear when this desk was investigated. What was the content again? It should be, [Found a handgun in the bottom drawer of the desk]. Even as a veteran yer, I wouldnt normally remember such trivial sentences from an insignificant location. Yet the fact that I remembered it so vividly implied that the effects of my increased intelligence werent limited to just the use of magic. In the very bottom drawer of the desk there was indeed a handgun. Even with heightened intelligence, abilities that I didnt possess before didnt suddenly manifest in my mind. The way I held the gun felt awkward even to me. So this is the safety lock, and I pull this and then shoot? The gun wasnt the important part. Even if I had it, it wasnt something I could use effectively. What mattered was that, ording to my memory, the gun was indeed there. This was the world inside the game of [Cthulhu World]. I had been to this [K-3675 Secret Research Facility] thousands of times before. Not just this ce, but I knew the locations of almost all secret doors, hidden ces, and items in [Cthulhu World], and now I possessed a surreal intelligence that allowed me to remember all those details precisely. So maybe was that also implemented? I found myself eyeing a wall next to the corridor where zombies were swarming in. Originally, this is where youre supposed to rub against It was a wall reinforced with mechanical devices and steel tes. The location was urate from what I remembered. From now on, I have to rub against this wall. Umm But how exactly should I rub against it? No, not literally rubbing my body against it As much as I love it, [Cthulhu World] was not a perfect game. Far from being perfect, it was actually riddled with bugs to the extent of being shunned by yers. Thats why, in the game, there were often objects you couldnt interact with or walls that somehow, if rubbed the right way, could be passed through. Thats precisely the wall thats in front of me right now. A spot I often used during my speedrun attempts. But this action of how to rub against it that I mentioned earlier, how exactly should I do it? Perhaps, even if it was the world of that buggy game, I shouldnt assume that the same bugs would still be here? I slowly reached out and felt the wall with my hand, only to sense the cold touch of the steel tes. It was an ordinary wall that one wouldnt expect hed pass right through it. But, maybe I immediately cast one of the basic zero-order spells, [Detect Secret Door]. Papapa- Magical power extended from my fingertips, transforming into a luminous line that reached toward the wall. The magical lines spread out like aplex circuit diagram and they swiftly branched out, covering the wall in an instant. The structure of the wall flowed into my mind. The thickness and strength of the wall, the configuration of the mechanical devices within, and then yes! I found a hidden switch! When I forced the switch detected by my magical power to activate, a secret door hidden in the wall opened. Beyond the dark andrge hole that opened between the walls, I glimpsed a secret passage stretching far into the distance. But this is too strange In the game, I epted it without much thought, but now that its structure has been realized in reality, the awkwardness of this ce became strikingly apparent. Why on earth would they create such a passage? What was more troubling was the secret mechanism I had just used. In the game, this passage could only be essed through a kind of bug. Originally, there was no door created in the game, and this passage itself was a result of the game developers mistake. But now, it seemed almost like it was intentionally designed. It felt as if this ce was testing whether I could discover it. Though it feels like Im being tricked, its better than wasting time dealing with zombies. It wouldnt be too difficult, but I had no desire to engage in such a wasteful effort. My immediate goal was to escape this research facility as quickly as possible. The noise of the zombies was close at hand. Ah, right. Lets go, go. Whether its a trap or not, Ill find out once Im in. With that thought, I entered the dark passage. Continuing straight on this path should lead me directly to the boss room of this [K-3675 Secret Research Facility] Chapter 4: The Boss Room Chapter 4: The Boss Room The long corridor extended irrationally. It wasprised of slopes at ambiguous angles. A slowly descending spiral corridor that gradually burrows underground. I had no intention of delving into the secret research facility that was buried underground and performing all kinds of trivial puzzles or battles. Lets head straight to the boss room and deal with the boss. From my experience so far, quickly clearing the level to obtain the reward for the shortestpletion time was far more beneficial than scraping together small amounts of experience points. Of course, apart from such game-minded thoughts, I was more eager to escape the suffocating underground and check the surrounding situation. There was no lighting, so the surroundings were pitch-ck, but this was not a big problem for me. The moment I became aware of the darkness, I was able to cast my spells with almost subconscious speed. [Moonlight Vision] A basic zero-order spell that provides magical vision which allows you to see in all directions even in the dark. The flow of my magical power was as natural as changing my expression or moving my finger. What kind of spell should be used in what situation, and how should that spell be activated? All of this was already in my mind. Woo woo woo woo! Every now and then, I could hear the howling of zombies from beyond the walls, alerted by my presence. Haha! I felt an urge to inputmands like /dance or /insult but that wasnt an option. If I had the leisure to do so, I would rather sit down on the floor and rest. Haah Eventually, I stopped for a moment to take a deep breath. Although it wasnt a very long time, I was able to understand the state of my body. I reduced my strength and health to increase my intelligence, right? In exchange for intelligence, my body had be incredibly weak. Even more so than my past body, which actually belonged to a game addict and a remote worker who was heavilycking exercise! Merely walking made me feel as if my waist was breaking and my legs were shattering. Even this short movement felt like it could kill me. I needed to quickly escape this ce and find a way to strengthen my weakened body. But how did all this happen to me? As I recalled the settings of the game one by one, I started to feel a sense of injustice welling up in my heart. Why? Why did this happen only to me? For a moment, I thought maybe I had gone mad from being too absorbed in the game, but the sight of the zombies I had seen earlier, the impact, and the smell were too real to be mere delusions. Suddenly, one of the settings of [Cthulhu World] came into my mind. No, it was a setting from the Cthulhu Mythos, which the [Cthulhu World] game was based on. The blind Idiot god. An entity that might be the starting point of the world. The most primitive and pure being created by the chaos that boiled up from the deepest part of the abyss. An amorphous evil that will make you cursed just by mentioning his name. A being so vast that the meager human brain could not even fathom his form. The most sphemous and holy being from the depths of outer space. The king of everything, the blind idiot god. If he really existed? What if the reality I knew was just a part of the vast universe and abyss? It would be possible to create the world of the game and summon me to this ce, right? Asking why? is meaningless. By chance? Just because? Or a whim? It could be something less than that, or more. In the world of [Cthulhu World], even thinking or uttering his true name could drive one mad, so his name is kept secret, but I knew his true name. His true name was Azathoth. I knew even his name. Although his name was kept a secret, Thinking about it in my mind or uttering it could drive me mad, his true name Wait, why is everything before my eyes bing blurry? I felt an unpleasant sensation as if the world was turning upside down [ ] My vision was impaired. A message window appeared in the air, but I couldnt read its contents. What did it say? Besides [ ] There was a feeling like an itch inside my skull. A stinging sensation behind my eyes. It was itchy. I felt something forcing its way between my brain and skull, like some insect was burrowing through the folds of my brain. And thenI actually Pajijijik [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The Status AilmentDistortion has been nullified.] Aaah! It was a close call. With a powerful spark in my temples, the trait [Madness of the Abyss] was activated, and thanks to that, I barely, just barely, Managed to stop my hands from gouging out my own eyes. There was still a lingering, unpleasant sensation of my brain bubbling. Wow, what the hell is this! Ah, this is seriously no joke. I now understood why people referred to him by a long, borate nickname instead of his actual name. It wasnt just to tter or to make him seem more impressive. Simply recalling his name could curse or drive one mad. He no, that entity was indeed real in this world! I shouldnt even identally think of that name. Eventually, I moved forward again. The passage was long and dark, but I did not hesitate. Was [Madness of the Abyss] removing even minor fear and confusion? I was in a very stable state for someone who had just been on the brink of mental destruction. Haah Anyway, this helps in the current situation Right, there are already so many oddities. Focusing on this would be endless. After a long walk, I finally reached the end of the corridor. At the end of the narrow passage awaited arge iron door. Beyond that doory the challenges I had to ovee. The boss room is right after this. After defeating him, I could finally get out. I deactivated [Moonlight Vision] and opened the door Damn, this door is too heavy! I had to push with almost my whole body to barely open it. I blinked for a moment due to the sudden bright light. Beyond the iron door was a vast warehouse. It was almost the size of a school auditorium. Large containers were ced all around, and the ceiling was about twice the height of other spaces, perhaps to amodate suchrge cargo. This was the underground warehouse of the secret research facility. If you defeat the deliberately ced monsters, you could use the cargo elevator to go to the surface. All normal exits had been sealed, so this was the only passage I could use. The enemy waiting here was a monster equivalent to this research facilitys boss, but with my current magical power, I could handle it without any issues. Crunch, crunch A strange noise could be hearding from inside as if something hard was being chewed and swallowed. Its over there The haphazardly ced containers formed walls, obscuring the monster from view. If I navigated through these containers, I would encounter the huge creature that made this underground warehouse itsir Huh? That is, the enormous There it was, the monster. Oh, Damn it [The grotesque form of the Mutant Giant Rat triggers your Mental Illness Musophobia (fear of rats)] Ah right, that was the concept Why did I forget it? While I remembered everything else, I had forgotten what kind of creature resided here. [System: Mental Illness Musophobia manifests.] Was it the mental illness itself that was causing my brain to reject the memory? [System: Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check] Please, please! My mental strength, hold on! [Sess!] I did it! However, when I think about it, the mental illnesses and fear triggered by the penalty trait [Shattred Mind] werent prevented by [Madness of the Abyss] as it did with other things. Still, since the mental strength check worked on a probability basis, there was no crisis of a forced descent into mental distortion, but the [Mental illness Musophobia] embedded in my mind invoked a strong sense of fear and aversion to that horribly shaped r no, that creature that was the archenemy of cats. Wow, I really, really hate this so much! Thick fur sprouted all over its body like spikes. Unpleasant pink skin exposed with sparse hair peeling off. The swollen tumors around its head resembled a severely furrowed human face. And its huge size that was moreparable to a truck than a human being. The forelimbs that protruded from its chest moved so intricately that they seemed more like hands than paws, and they were clutching the corpse of a human it had hunted. Crunch, crack. Its powerful jaws easily shattered a human skull in one bite. A giant snout, drenched in human blood. Truly, the embodiment of a monster. But what terrified me more than its form was the fact that it resembled that creature. I should run! No, wait. What can I do if I go back? Stop! No, move! My thoughts spun wildly. For a moment, I was paralyzed, unsure of what to do, and in my clumsy movement, I alerted the bear-sized ra Oh, just thinking of the word nearly drove me crazy. The monster! That horrific monster had noticed me. It rolled itsrge, ck, inscrutable eyes, staring at me. Those eyes! Those dreadful eyes! The monster itself wasnt the problem. Yes, ording to the data, there was no problem with the enemy. It was nicknamed the Rookie Killer, but for the current me, it was nothing more than a trivial beast. However, the mere fact that it resembled that creature scattered my concentration to the winds. Hurry, quickly. The most powerful spell I could use at this moment I needed the most powerful and immense spell. Jjiiik! Aaaah! Startled by the loud noise reminiscent of that creature, I tried to recklessly fire the handgun I was clutching in my hand. Ugh! It wasnt just my improper shooting stance that was the problem, but my weak, almost sickly body couldnt withstand the recoil of the gun. The bullets veered off in a random direction, and my arm waspletely twisted and iling in the wrong position. It was fortunate I didnt drop the handgun. Ah, Kim Shin-Hwa, you idiot! You have to use magic, not guns or anything like that. I needed to summon my magical power quickly! The battle had just begun with that recent attack. As for the enemys attack pattern, it was Ho-ho-hohow crude! It started with a long-range attack. That bastard picked up arge container lying on the ground and hurled it towards me. Thinking about it, was that even possible? Although it seemed quite powerful even in the game, facing it in reality felt like an entire house was flying at me. However, the only thing that could induce fearin me was the form of that boss creature, and the sight of a 30-ton container flying towards me only brought a thrilling sensation. At the same time, a list of spells I could activate immediately shed through my mind. The thing that is my immediate adversary. when I think that it is not that creature, my mind bes clearer. There was no need to dodge. Well, in truth, my posture was too messy to dodge anyway! [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Power Boost] The magical power that boiled up at lightning-like speed transformed into a violet glowingherworld energy and was discharged through my fingertips. It was originally a spell that fired purple glowing magic arrows, but I infused it with an excessive amount of magical power and a double enhancement of the spells properties, causing it to overload into an absurd size. Rather than an arrow, it looked more like a gigantic pir of magical power soaring through the air as if I hurled a telegraph pole. Boom! A huge explosion urred in mid-air. And the debris was scattered everywhere. The explosion was so powerful that it shook the inner walls of the underground warehouse. It was more powerful than I thoughtThe boss monster created based on that creatures appearance visibly flinched at the sts overwhelming force. Even I was surprised by its magnitude, so it must have been frightening for it. Its not the time to be smug, though I had used far too much magical power just to block a projectile. Such a waste. I released so much magical power that it hadntpletelybusted and now pooled around the scattered fragments of containers and cargo. Oh my, my magical power What a waste! Even if I had plenty of magical power to spare still, my game-trained brain scolded me for my hasty spellcasting. Alright, Ill need to use it more carefully from now on. Besides, the way the walls and ceiling shook earlier was not a good sign Thest thing I wanted was to be crushed under a copsing building because I used too powerful a spell. jjiiiig! jjiiiig! That sound gave me the creeps. Of all things, that creatures cry Damn it, just roar a kwaaaang or something else! The monster then moved its huge body and rushed toward me. Yeah, right. You too must realize that throwing something at me wont work. I was grateful that I didnt sumb to panic. Had I fell to that mental distortion, the sight of that massive creature swiftly closing in with its fu*king grotesque appearance would have surely made me faint. I assessed my remaining magical power and calcted what I could use. There were many options for a response, but the spell I chose next was somewhat unconventional. [Veil of Darkness] There were almost no offensive spells in the zero-order. Veil of Darkness was a mere auxiliary spell that shrouds a desired area or target in shadows, making it less visible. It was used for concealment or disruption and it wasnt really meant forbat. But for me, at this moment, it was the spell I needed most, so much so that I was willing to forsake defensepletely. Boom! I threw myself to the side as the spell activated, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Of course, the creature was also startled by the sudden darkness. The monster crashed into the spot where I had been,pletely obliterating the containers behind me. Oh boy, what is this strength? Is it trying to y a game of container-smashing with me? I couldnt let my guard down. The impact from its immense mass was tremendous. A direct hit at this point would be deadly. But now, I could fight. The dreadful monster was now enveloped in an artificially created magical darkness, leaving behind only its dark silhouette. Of course, it hadnt vanished. It was just temporarily obscured. Ha, fu*k. Now I can fight. Die! [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] One enhancement was enough. The earlier one I used was the real waste. A little earlier, I had focused on increasing the size and power of the arrow. This time, however, I enhanced the spell tounch several arrows at the same time. The spell wasnt originally designed to release multiple arrows, making it an inefficient basic spell. To activate such spells simultaneously, the number of forms to calcte increases exponentially. Theplexity varies depending on ones magical power; even a reasonably high-level mage might find it overwhelming to handle three to four at the same time. But the Arrows of Destruction that had appeared before me there were eight in total. Go! Energy arrows of theherworld rained down on the target, who now only looked like a pitch-ck mass. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! When the energy arrows imbued with fierce explosive power struck the creature, its body instantly reduced to tatters and it let out a terrible scream. Jjjjieeeeeeeeeg! Seeing the innards fly out even beyond the shadowed area, it seemed the creature waspletely dealt with. But this wasnt the end. Even if weak, a boss is still a boss. This creature had a second phase. If more than half of its blood was drained, a truly horrific pattern would start Jiiiiiiiig! Jiiiiiiiiiiieeeg! Jiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeg! From dozens of mouths, a cacophony of unpleasant frequencies poured forth. It was the minion summoning pattern. Ah, seriously This is driving me crazy. Chapter 5: Phobia Chapter 5: Phobia Jiiiiiig! Jiiiiiig! Jiiiiiieeeeeeg! A pattern where if you get beaten up enough, you summon your minions to fight with you. Indeed, that was the case, but the mother creature remained motionless. It seemed to have died instantly from that earlier attack. If so, dealing with these offspring should be the end of it. Damn it, if its dead, it should be over. Why summon minions and then die? I wanted to finish this quickly and get outside. The [Veil of Darkness] spell made the hidden, pitch-ck area hard to see, but as the tumors on that creatures neck burst, small ra baby squeakers started pouring out. Since these things were smaller, they were much weaker than their mother, but they resembled that creature even more closely. If I hadnt covered the ce in shadows beforehand, I would have certainly fallen into a state of delirium. [Mental illness Musophobia]. From now on. Do I really have to go through this mayhem every time I encounter a monster resembling those creatures? I need to find a way to change this mental illness into something else Here theye. Have they transformed? The offspring, shrouded in the ck veil of darkness, began to creep closer. The mother creature still didnt move. It must be truly dead. Theres no need to deal with these creatures one by one. Theyre just early-stage monsters without any proper magical resistance. But theres too much cover here. And Ah! I need to deal with this before they move out of the shadowed area! I extended my hand and projected my magical power onto an object far away. [Entangling Rope] The entrails that spilled from the body of the monster which had been destroyed by my spell began to move. These intertwined intestines, entangled by my magical power, started writhing like serpents with a will of their own. My target was one, two, three twelve in total! Since they were shrouded in shadows, the specific forms of my targets were of no consequence. Bundles of entrails wereunched towards the twelve targets, enacted by my will. Ensnare my enemies! Jiijiig. Jiiiiiig! Jiiiiiig! The grotesque forms of the entrails entwined around all my enemies. Of course, this restraint wouldntst long; it was so fragile that even a slight struggle by them would be enough to break free. But this is enough. Preventing them from scattering and attacking from outside the shadowed area I had created was more important. Some began to break free from the entrails, but, in any case, I had seeded in slowing their movement. [Intestinal Copse] [Spell Enhancement: Deadly Poison] This was a curse that caused the targets intestines to necrotize and liquefy. Quite a horrific effect for a spell of the zero-order. Using such a spell on a living being might be hindered by the basic resistance inherent to living organisms. But my intended target was not the living beings but the other entrails moving at my will. Sometimes, youe across such spells. But I didnt use the entrails because I liked gore or anything like that. Among the [Evil Alignment] spells, there are those powerful in effect but damaging to the casters psyche. My sanity level was disyed in the game, but I cant check it here. I guess the design seemed to aim for a highly effective yet mentally taxing spell concept. But I was a [Mage Gazing into the Abyss], so I was protected from mental damage caused by using such spells thanks to the unique trait called [Madness of the Abyss]. The entrails entangling my enemies soon became inmed with a dreadful pus. The bundle of entrails transformed into a deadly, poisonous liquid that infected my enemies. The poisoned wretches those creatures screamed terribly, glowing as they writhed. Amidst this, a few charged at me, but Hey, donte out of the shadows. [Shock] A simple shock spell was sufficient to repel them. As time passed, they could no longer withstand the deadly poison emitted by the sticky venom and began to scream. Kieeek! Kweeek! Kuaaaa! The unsettling howls that sounded more like human screams than beastly roars echoed around the ce. It was a horrifying scene, reminiscent of a corner of hell. Ugh. Its not exactly a pleasant sight. I must rify again, its not my taste for gore that led me to this. I simply chose the most efficient spells avable to me. Before long, the underground warehouse fellpletely silent. Is everything taken care of now? Before I could even finish my thought, a new message appeared in the air. [Achievement Unlocked! You have ovee your phobia and defeated the object of your fear. You have earned the Advanced Achievement: Oveing Fear. As a reward for the achievement, the phobia you have ovee is naturally cured and you will gain additional experience points.] [System: Mental illness Musophobia (Fear of Rats) has been removed.] Oveing a phobia? Can it even be considered ovee just by forcefully dealing with it like this? I felt a little awkward in this situation, but I weed the disappearance of one of the most ufortable forms of mental illnesses. I deactivated the [Veil of Darkness] to verify if it was truly removed. Therey the rat monsters, entangled and dead, amidst the poisonous mucus and the blood they had vomited. Rat monsters, rat scum, rats, rats Rats rats, rats, rats Great! I can say what they are! Ive escaped the curse of these damned rats! I was so ted that I found myself pointing at the corpses of the rats andughing triumphantly for a whole while. [System: Penalty trait Shattered Mind activated. Since you currently have only 1 mental illness, a random mental illness will manifest.] Ah, was it just a fleeting moment of happiness?Couldnt you let me enjoy it a little longer Oh, will something else random ur now? Please, let it be something good something good [System: Mental illness Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the number 13) has been inflicted upon your mind.] Thir tee what? What kind of ridiculous phobia is that? Who in their right mind would fear the number thats one more than twelve? Ah, sh*t, its terrifying. Its not so much fear, but you know, like in South Korea where elevators have an F button instead of 4. I had that kind of feeling right now, only a million times stronger. The number one less than fourteen feels incredibly ominous. (TN: for those that dont know, the number 4 sounds like the hanja for death (). Number four is also synonymous with bad luck and death in many other Asian countries.) Im not sure which is more ridiculous, fearing rats or the number thats ten. plus fourbut at least a number wonte to attack me like the rats, so it seems slightly better. Anyway, I should take the magic stone before escaping. There must be a high-purity magic stone inside the mother rat. Lets see The bodies of the twelve baby rats sprawled around the mother Wait, that means The number of them Oh, so its one mother plus twelve babies. Damn it. I made a point not to look in the direction where those thingsy scattered as I headed toward the elevator. Now was not the time to worry about gathering magic stones. Especially since the bodies of those grotesque monsters were already unnerving, I didnt want to linger any longer in a ce where theyy in such an ominous number. When I pressed the elevator button.it opened with an unpleasant creaking sound. Inside the elevator, several long-abandoned corpses were decaying, and they were emitting a horrendous smell. Ughh excuse me. They were obviously beyond any help. With no space to step, I nudged the nearest body with my foot to make room and stepped in. As I pushed the body aside, a few centipedes crawled out from its skull amidst some bizarre slime. Well its unpleasant, but nothing particrly out of the ordinary. Even the smell was barely tolerable. While the sight was shocking, it didnt evoke any special emotional reaction in me. I simply pressed the button to go to the ground. I saw my reflection in the elevator mirror. Wearing a pure white straitjacket and covered with a paper bag with holes in it Ugh, no matter how you look at it, Im a high-grade lunatic. I thought so myself, and others would probably think even worse. At best, I looked like a dangerous experiment that had escaped from someb. But there was nothing I could do. An incurable madness was growing within my mind. While I was lost in those thoughts, the elevator eventually reached the ground. Now there is nothing stopping me. If there was anything hindering my progress, it would be the chain and lock hanging on the door. The yer should naturally obtain a key while searching the inside of the facility, but since I skipped the entire process, I didnt have the key. I could use magic to rip the door off its hinges if I really wanted to but is that necessary? Oh, now that I think about it, I might be able to get one more achievement. I released the little remaining magical power I had left and fumbled around with the lock. It wasnt through sight, but through touch and a sense beyond that, that I discerned the internal structure of the lock. It was a in lock, the kind youd find on a ceremonial door, with no magical defenses. I carefully converted my finely tuned magical power into a precise amount of physical force to manipte the inner workings of the lock. Click, nk. Good. Looks like anything is possible. Actually, this was an important experiment. Without the ability for delicate control and precise power adjustment, I would have either broken the lock or crushed it, making it impossible to open. In the world of [Cthulhu World], there are far more beings beyond just monsters. No matter how much magical power you have, you wouldnt survive if all you could do was pour out raw magical power. Fortunately, my magical talent wasnt just limited to having a lot of magical power. [Achievement Unlocked! You have unlocked aboratory lock without the key. You have gained the General Achievement: Locksmith Expert. As a reward for this achievement, you have acquired the Precise Dexterity trait and additional experience points.] This was just the beginning. I would be capable of not just what I could imagine but also what I couldnt imagine. As the door opened, a chilly night breeze flowed into the stale air of theboratory. It waste, or almost dawn perhaps? Although there was a slight dy due to my fear of rats, I figured I still had enough time to earn another achievement. [Achievement Unlocked! You have escaped theboratory faster than anyone else. You have gained the General Achievement: Lab Speedrunner As a reward for this achievement, you have acquired the Short-Range Shift trait and additional experience points.] Alright. Now, I was outside. In the mid-slopes of Geumjeongsanin Paju City, Gyeonggi Province. Behind me was the entrance to the [K-3675 Secret Research Facility], hidden by trees and rocks and in front of me a vast city of immense size unfolded below the mountain. No matter which direction I turned my head, the city seemed endless, and even in this blue dawn, there was no ce untouched by the city lights. It was a spectacle as dazzling as opening a giant jewel box. If I were to recite the games setting after the Great Copse, an event where beings from another world infiltrated reality, North Korea and the surrounding countries had pretty much fallen apart. Since Korea was in a rtively better situation, it had undergone tremendous changes by absorbing magic stones and otherworldly technology from the bodies of monsters. The discovery of special abilities, the use of magic stones, and the endless influx of refugees. And the madmen who flock there for adventure, madness, and to make a fortune. Faced with unprecedented chaos and prosperity, Korean cities turned into monsters. A monster that grows endlessly, devours humans and spits out gold and magic stones. That was the monster before me, Paju of [Cthulhu World]. Wow, to think Id actually see this opening scene Ive watched hundreds of times in real life A typicalndscape hinting at a vast open-world field waiting for me. And at that moment, the main title should have appeared in the sky, and the scenario text would have been disyed. [You have sessfully escaped an unknown research facility. However, you have no memories, nothing at all] Is it reallying? That familiar content Wait, what? Crackle, crackle As the text slowly appeared, a bright blue spark ignited, and instead of the content I was familiar with, something entirely different began to show. [You have sessfully escaped a research facility you already know about. You have no interest in regaining your memories or uncovering the secrets of the facility because you already know a lot.] Whats this? [Aberrant researchers and the indescribably grotesque monsters they summoned stood in your way, but you defeated them with your incredible wisdom, knowledge, and powerful magic. You had secured your safety through your own strength!] [You have escaped the K-3675 Secret Research Facility. Experience points gained.] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated a zombie. Your understanding of Undead creatures has increased.] [You have defeated mutant rats (12). Your understanding of Mutant Creatures has increased.] [You have defeated a giant mutant rat. Your understanding of Mutant Creatures has significantly increased.] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 2.] [Discovery: You have acquired a secret item (1) from theboratory. Experience points gained.] [Discovery: You have found a secret space. Experience points gained.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (3) achievements in the K-3675 Secret Research Facility.] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 5! As a level achievement reward, you receive 1 bonus stat point to distribute freely.] [Even though you know a lot, you feel lost about where to go next. As you already know, the body you inhabit has no identity. A sudden concern for survival emerges, and you feel an overwhelming sense of uncertainty about the future. Nevertheless, you must move forward in order to survive. You already know what death in this world entails. Now, a chaotic future awaits you.] Shall we give it a try? I didnt know which bastard that was, but someone was watching me. It seemed likely that this was the same entity who had brought me here. Could this be a scheme of Nyathotep? No, this had to be Nyathotep himself. Nyathotep was one of the abyssal beings in the world of [Cthulhu]. Endless influence and grotesquely twisted malice that spans the entire world, no, the entire universe and all timelines A chaotic being with countless masks and numerous aliases. He was Nyathotep. Among the busy abyssal beings, Nyathotep was the only one who would whimsically kidnap a human from another world, just to throw them somewhere and observe them. Hey, you! Bastard Youre Nya, right? It has to be you Nya! [No.] This bastard!! The message window vanished as if fleeing. Many Outer Gods would curse or penalize those who called them by their true names. However, these entities varied greatly in character and taste. Some were indifferent to being named, while others actually enjoyed it. Nyathotep belonged to thetter category. With over a thousand avatars and corresponding names, he hardly cared about being called by one or two of them. Unlike other deities who considered humans no more than bugs or chess pieces, Nyathotep showed a peculiar interest in humans and even had a sense of humor of sorts. Of course, his idea of humor, stemming from an utterly alien sense of wit, was so bizarre that those who became the butt of his jokes often wished for death over enduring his terrifying pranks. The more I thought about it, the stranger it would be if Nyathotep wasnt the one involved in all this Haah. I couldnt help but sigh, but there was no other way. For a moment, I contemted shattering the expectations of those scheming against me by fleeing to Incheon or abroad, but I realized that would aplish nothing. I needed to be fully prepared. The most urgent matter was to address the problem of my horrendously poor physical strength. I decided to allocate my newly acquired bonus stat point to my strength. **** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 5 Magic Order: Zero Order Mental illness: [Mask Obsession], [Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the Number 13)] Strength: 5 Health: 5 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 **** Whether its a 4 or a 5, both are equally dismal, but its better than having none at all. Its time to descend from the mountain. The city of hope, peace and madness awaited me. Paju was awaiting. Chapter 6: Paju the City of Peace, Hope, and Madness Chapter 6: Paju the City of Peace, Hope, and Madness Grumble. My stomach growled painfully, not just from hunger but from actual pain. With my frail body that only had a strength and health of 5 each, descending the mountain was already pushing my limits. Now, I found myself walking through the downtown area of Paju City in a state where copsing wouldnt have been surprising. Ugh I managed to increase my strength to 5, but it doesnt seem to make much of a difference I should have boosted my health instead! I needed to rest soon, and I needed food. What would I normally do in the early stages of the game? My experiences ying [Cthulhu World] came flooding back. It was a game with so much to dothat I was able to y with different concepts and themes in every ythrough. I usually started my early gamey here in Paju City. This was an area that was familiar to me. Right after leaving theb, Id normally take actions fitting the concept of my character. A concept befitting my character, huh What would be a good character concept for me, Kim Shin-hwa? A back-alley mercenary? A trainee from a magic tower? Or maybe If I chose the criminal concept, Id probably have targeted an easy guy for the [Home Usurpation]. In this world, NPCs that are killed stay dead. They donte back for events or stories unless they are resurrected. So, choosing a house and killing its owner to take it over is a possibility. Its apletely viinous y, but [Home Usurpation] can be incredibly useful. Depending on the house, there might be useful buffs or hidden artifacts. There was a time when [Residence] lists were shared among yers. Of course, thats a story from before the yers left the game Come to think of it, theres the [serial killers mansion] nearby. Taking over the serial killers mansion could be useful It is almost a hidden piece level residence. The [Murderers Cleaver] can only be obtained that way, and I can also gain the [Butchers Sense] trait. Of course, ites with a curse The [Murderers Cleaver] was a useful weapon even for a mage. It blocked the opponents magic and applied debuffs My minds wandering again. Focus, focus! Once a gaming geek starts thinking about the game, its hard to stop his train of thought. Focus! Anyway, I cant make that choice right now. If Imit a murder and get caught, Ill be wanted. This world has police, but what I should really worry about are the bounty hunters. The higher the bounty, the more powerful named NPCs Id attract. These NPCs usually have abilities that are tough to beat, and messing with them could mean not having a bone left in my body. In the end, its all about money. I need to get some money, rest at a ce like a motel, order some delivery food There are many ways to make money if I invest time, but my body is creaking under the strain with its drastically lowered stats. I needed rest, and I need it now. The quickest way to get out of this predicament is obviously I should use random encounters. There were quite a few dangerous areas in Paju City. In the game, roaming around such ces would often lead to random encounters with thugs trying to extort money from you. They may be called thugs, but their level is predictable. Ill capture them and take their money. This was still a crime, but targeting criminals somehow lessened the risk of getting caught. Alright. I lifted my head and scanned my surroundings. This was Paju City. I was in the red-light district situated in one of Pajus notorious areas. In the real world, this ce would have a pension or an arboretum in the same ce, but it was different here. The area was filled with the dazzling and provocative lights of neon signs. The typical, stimting billboards of an entertainment district. Crowds of people were bustling about underneath these signs. Sir, try our skewers! They are seasoned with special spices, and the taste is absolutely incredible! I could see a street vendor offering unidentified meat to some passersby who were chattering in foreignnguages I couldnt understand. The meat, seasoned with some kind of exotic spice, emitted a pungent and spicy aroma but wow. To me, the scent was overwhelmingly disgusting. Hey, you, the sexy guy with the mask! I smell magical power from you. Wanna exchange magic stones for cash? Hey, wait! Ill give you a good rate. An illegal money changer If only I had forcibly brought that magic stone earlier, I wouldnt have to worry about money. Its frustrating. If I returnter Thinking about climbing the mountain again with this body made my head spin. I should probably level up a bit more before trying againter. Ah, that me Dancer bastard, to think he got taken down there! Hey, why the hell would you bet on such a has-been? Are you stupid? No, thats how you get high odds! Dont you know about the big score in life? These were customersing out of the gambling arena. There was an underground fighting ring in this area. If you go down into the basement of that bar with the turned-off sign over there, you can enter the arena to ce bets or even participate as a fighter. This was the nightlife of Paju. Still, there were no overt troublemakers. It was a dangerous city to meddle too much with others. Paju now was a city of opportunity and pleasure. People of all races and foreigners so strange they seemed not even from the same have settled here, bringing aplex mix of cultures and bizarre technologies and knowledge derived from entities of the Cthulhu mythos. People wearing strange outfits and people with extraordinary abilities donning equipment with effects hard to gauge. Some even openly carry artifacts imbued with magical power. It was a strange and colorful city, but to me, it was all too familiar. It almost felt likeing home. Even in these bizarre streets, I stood out as quite the odd one. I could hear people whispering and shushing each other. Look at that guy. Is he for real? Shh, Yanma, keep it down. I can hear everything, retards. Ah well Im not even angry. Descending from the mountain in my dirty straitjacket and wearing arge bread bag, I must look like a madman. I guess Im just treated as a bit of an odd one Yet there were still no overt troublemakers. It was a dangerous city if you got too involved with others. To encounter more aggressive and lively characters, I would need to venture deeper. Its exactly like the game. Theyout of the streets was identical to the game. Even the dialogue I overheard as I passed by While there were slight differences in detail, the people were spouting almost the same lines as the NPCs in the game. If its the same as the game, then near the arena past the trash cans Theres an alley hidden between the stalls. It was a damp back alley, swirling with an unusually dense darkness. Amidst the unpleasant smell of garbage, I could faintly detect the scent of blood. Haah Alright, Im going in. I just need one of them to catch me. *** The alley was significantly darker than the bright and shy lights of the red-light district I had just left behind. This alley wasnt even on the map. It was a street created due to surplus space incorrectly created between buildings in the aftermath of careless urban development. A real slum where the darkness of the city gathers congregated. Although not its official name, everyone referred to this dark street as Waste Alley. Well But that wasnt important right now. Im too exhausted Humanly speaking, Im severelycking in stamina. My arms and legs were numb and I felt like copsing on the spot. Even when I worked from home and yed games all day long, I wasnt exactly in the best shape, but now this was just too much! With a health stat of 5, Im barely better than a patient undergoing rehabilitation In a way, its a miracle Ive been walking around this long with this body. I had never walked this alley with my own feet, but it wasnt unfamiliar to me. To really get into trouble, I needed to go deeper Maybe I could rest here for a bit Eventually, unable to hold on, I slumped down in a secluded spot. The sudden change in posture made the hidden handgun in my coat awkwardly conspicuous. South Korea was a country where firearms were illegal. That fact remained unchanged even in this virtual South Korea created by [Cthulhu World]. It might seem like a country maintaining public order and security even in a world with monsters, but in reality, its just a superficial effort. It was a world where surreal magic, supernatural powers, and monsters truly existed. Even North Korea could not withstand the monsters rampage and copsed, leaving only remnants of the country behind. As a result, refugees and people with special abilities from North Korea flooded into Paju, turning it intoplete chaos. In such a situation, ordinary people without any power had to arm themselves in any way possible to protect themselves in this dangerous city, disregarding public authority. Therefore, in the world of [Cthulhu World], the rule of no possession of firearms only meant just dont carry them openly but it could be troublesome if one got entangled inplicated situations. I cant even use this thing anyway Haaah. Does it even make sense that I cant shoot a gun because of low strength? Ah, now that my strength has increased to 5, maybe I can shoot a handgun? Even if its just a stop-gap measure, a weapon is still a weapon. Its too precious to discard in a situation where I dont know what I might encounter. Magic wasnt the solution to everything. There were enemies immune to magic and situations where magic cant be used can arise at any time. Now that Ive sat down, I dont feel like getting up. If I fall asleep here, Ill probably die? Not from being robbed by a vagrant, but from dying of exposure with a health level of 5. Just as I was gathering my strength to stand up, a strange sound came from somewhere. It was very faint, but I definitely heard it, probably thanks to the [Enhanced Vignce] trait. Thud- Thud-. A sound like someone pounding meat with their fists. But, since there was no way there would be a back-alley chef tenderizing meat in such a ce, it must be the sound of someone beating another person. When I raised my magical power and focused it on my ears, my senses sharpened instantly. Enhancing my senses to this extent didnt require the use of spells. Simply altering the flow of my magical power a bit was sufficient. The direction and distance are roughly over there. Now, just to go in that direction Just to go Come on, Kim Shin-hwa! You can do it, Kim Shin-hwa! Ughhh get up lets gooooo Before long, I found the target I was looking for. Three sturdy men were brutally beating up a single man. You junkie bastard. Didnt I tell you to bring the money? Please, please! Please? Whats with the begging? You want your drugs? Ha, youre a funny guy. The sound of pleading. Verbal abuse, and one-sided violence. To be precise, the one who wielded violence was thergest of the three, while his seemingly underling two buddies kept watch. They were scum who extorted money from the weak under the pretext of drugs while asionally satisfying their sadistic urges. The one being beaten was in no better condition, and he was likely a degenerate drug addict. This was just a trivial incident that was not even worth noting among the list of events. But if its a drug-rted event which group might they belong to? Bong Gil-cheons gang? Or the Triad? Itd be easier if they were just unaffiliated thugs. Hey, hey, hold that guy right there! Thunk-. Ugh rgh The drug addict who was struck hard in the stomach vomited yellowish gastric fluid. This seemed to further provoke them. Ah, shit. Do you know how much these shoes cost? Youre gonna die today, you bastard! Finally, a knife appeared. The abnormally excited brute seemed determined not to stop without drawing blood today. I hesitated to use magic against humans, but if its against such trash They were more like waste fitting for a garbage alley than fellow humans. Still, I didnt want to go as far as murder. Spells that could control the force appropriately came to mind. Although it would be easier to just go Kwawang! and sweep them all away, I nned to handle it quietly with controlled power. After all, I had no desire to kill humans for no reason, and I was also worried about the potential risks that coulde back to haunt meter on. As the bulky thug brandished his knife and began to go crazy, the attention of his underlings who were keeping watch wavered. Seizing this opportunity, I slowly, very slowly, approached the bald man at the outer edge. The scalp of his head was clearly exposed. He just so happened to be the ideal target. [Heating] A red, glowing magical power shot from my left hand toward the bald mans head. It was a basic zero-order spell, designed only to boil water at a specified location. But what if it caused the blood inside his scalp to boil? Of course, I controlled it to avoid killing him. The bald mans head turned bright red like a boiled octopus and he muttered a Huuh before copsing with a groan. Wh-whats this? The thug with the cap who had been giggling and egging on the bulky guy, finally noticed me and was shocked. I had to overpower him before he could grasp the situation! This time, I gathered magical power in my right hand. [Instill Fear] Dark, tentacle-like magical power wrapped around the cap-wearing thugs head. It was a spell that induced involuntary fear and extreme hallucinations. The theme of the hallucination is. Cicadas crawling out of every orifice in the face. I had experienced cicadas once myself, and it was quite the experience. Now it was his turn. Aaah, Aaaah! He started to struggle with tears and snot streaming down his face. The intensity of his frenzy made me miss the timing for my next spell by a breath. Damn it, my body couldnt keep up with my thoughts. You fucker What do you think youre doing? Before I knew it, the bulky thug was sizing me up with the knife in hand. His stance with the knife was stable; he was not just any thug. You look like a beggar with that bag on your head Are you a druggie too? I had let my guard down for a moment and now found myself in a standoff, but there was no need to hold the gaze for long. I pushed the cap-wearing thug, who was intermittently crying out The cicadas! The cicadas! towards the bulky guy, and set off a sh of light from my fingertips. Kaaak! I wanted to close in quicklybut my body still wasnt obeying me. However, the bulky guy was blinded by the sudden sh of light and he couldnt stop my approach. Touching the big guy, I poured thepleted spell into his body. [Lightning] If I could use first-order spells, I might have shot or spread the lightning from a distance, but with my zero-order casting ability, physical contact was necessary. But isnt this just like holding a stun gun? Well, thats something at least. Take this, full st! The magical power was converted into electricity and flowed into his body rapidly. Aaaah! To ordinary people without resistance, magic of this caliber could be lethal. The bulky thug, struck by the bright blue lightning, convulsed unnaturally as bodily fluids poured from every orifice of his face. His bulging eyes couldnt withstand their own pressure, and blood vessels burst, causing blood to flow. Ughhhhh Eventually, the thug lost consciousness and copsed. [You took down the thugs who extorted innocent people and led filthy lives. Although your good deeds in the shadows may not be widely known, you have acted righteously.] That message Ive been thinking about it since thest time, but somehow isnt the focus a bit off the mark? [You have defeated the thugs. Experience points gained.] I had hoped for a level-up since the bulky thug reacted quite sharply, but it seemed it wasnt enough for that. Leaving the drug addict, who was crouched in a corner scratching himself, I began to search the thugs pockets. First, the cash in their wallets Oh, theres not much cash. Instead of money, a bunch of credit cards were stuffed in the wallets. Even criminals use card payments these days? These are useless to take Afterbining the wallets of the bulky thug, the one with the cap, and the bald man the cash I ended up with was around 200,000 won. In my current needy situation, I also took their watches, mobile phones, and gold nes. And those expensive shoes, right? Haha, now the shoes are mine too. Apart from that, nothing much of value came from the bulky thug and the one with the cap, but from the bald man on the outer edge, I found something special. A small stic bag containing divided white powder. Oh, a magical powder that makes you feel good. How should I dispose of this? There are many ways to dispose of it. If I were to do it the careless way, I might start a criminal route, or the main drug distributor might send pursuers. I dont want to mess with such people But I should keep it. I dont want to regret it like I did with the researchbs magic stones. The stic bag filled with drugs appeared to contain about thirty packets, and I threw one to the drug addict whose eyes were filled with greed. Then I raised a finger to the corner of the paper bag mask I was wearing (even though my mouth couldnt be seen) and whispered, Shush. He desperately nodded his head while clutching the packet I had thrown before fainting. Given that my eyes behind the holes in the mask were likely burning with a blue, magical light, it must have been quite a terrifying sight for him. Anyway, I had gotten everything I needed. *** Thud. A dirty ceiling. A cramped room. Ah that was exhausting. With trembling arms and legs, I managed to enter an unmanned hotel up in a dark alley. I could have afforded a better room with the money I took from the thugs, but no matter how close Paju was to awless ce, no hotel would ept a stranger wearing a paper bag over their head without any identity. Even a motel would have been difficult, so I was d to find an unmanned hotel. I threw myself onto the damp bed, too tired to even think about washing up. I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep and ignore everything else, but various thoughts were scrambling through my mind. I roughly knew the scenario of [Cthulhu World]. [Cthulhu World] boasts a highly free open-world system, where yers have the option to do nothing and just let time pass. Of course, doing so would lead to unavoidable destruction and the end of the human world. In the darkness of this world, there are cultists plotting for the worlds demise Many, many, many of them. I couldnt just sit idly by. I had no choice but to move forward in a direction that was beneficial to me in some way. Should I continue this way and aim for the ending? Several endings floated through my mind. The [Blood King] ending ends with death at the finale. The [Infinite Prisoner] ending results in being trapped forever in a prison between time and space. The [Underground Master] seems pretty good You can earn a lot of money No, you be undead in the end. The [Eradication of Thought] involves brainwashing Ah, seriously! [Cthulhu World] is a game with a cosmic horror concept. Hundreds of endings were prepared, but all of them led to death, madness, or something even more horrific. Thats right. I realized I was trapped in a crazy game where every ending was one of doom. There was only one conclusion I could reach. I cant stay in this world. I had to escape from this world. If I continued to exist in this world in any form, I would just be manipted by those dreadful mythological beings. I must return to my original world. It wont be something that can be aplished quickly. I wasnt sure whether this was truly the world inside a game or if it was someones prank, mimicking that world. But somewhere, there had to be a clue for escape. I needed to find that clue. Or perhaps I had to talk with a higher being who might know the method. maybe even an entity from the abyss. I also must find various artifacts. I would probably need some mythical level stuff. Could I negotiate with a great race known for their technology in dimensional or time travel? None of these tasks were something a low-level mage could aplish. In this insane, hardcore cosmic horror game, more power was needed to survive even one more day. And first of all, I would need an ID card and funds to guarantee the minimum level of activity. Haah But Im just too tired right now First of all, what I needed right now was rest. And so, I slowly drifted off to sleep. Chapter 7: Nightmare Chapter 7: Nightmare It was a terrible nightmare I had. I was aware that I was merely dreaming of this nightmare yet I couldnt escape from it. The pouring rain and the chilling moonlight. The ground split open as massive pirs rose up. Even though this was a ce where there shouldnt be a sea, huge waves crashed in, and the dark sea water covered everything. The mud and stench, the horrifyingly turbulent rotten and fishy smell. In the bizarre sky radiating an indescribable light, stood a giganticenormouslyrgegreen giant. That massivegreatterrifyingbeing gazed down at me with its strangely eerie eyes. Those empty eyes that contained darkness and the abyss! looked down at me! Crackle- [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The nightmare effect has been nullified.] It was the Nightmare of Rlyeh event that randomly urs when dreaming. It was like a fun broadcast sent randomly by the great Cthulhu buried in the deep sea, but if you got caught in it, you could be forced into losing your sanity. [Madness of the Abyss] protected my sanity and mind, but it couldnt prevent the feeling of disgust from rising up. Such a rare event on the first day! What luck! Shit, it must be because of that trait, right? [Feast Offering: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss] Haah I couldnt help but sigh. The tacky wallpaper of the cheap unmanned hotel caught my eye. I had escaped the nightmare, but not this unfortunate reality. I could shove aside the damp, sticky bedsheet, but I couldnt bring myself to get up. Ah, this is driving me crazy. Its not like Ive developed [Mental illness Lying Down is Best], and I dont want to waste time lying around when every moment counts. I wanted to escape this hotel right away but my body wouldnt move. Its only natural that I need a warm-up, but really, this body is too much. Ultimately, this was the consequence of my own making. I thought, Its not really my life anyway, and carelessly loaded myself with penalties, which have now boomeranged back to be my life. Its not just a matter of stats. I couldnt see my HP bar, but due to [Weakened Health], my HP must be extremely low. Because of [Weakened Strength], my actual physical strength was probably lower than the 5 shown on my status screen. [Weakened Stamina] meant I had to struggle immensely just to walk a short distance. And then there was [Weakened Close Combat], [Weakness: Disease], [Weakness: Poison]. I really set myself up for death. The worst part was thebo of [Increased Damage] and [Reduced Healing]! Any damage I take is always critical, and any healing I receive is halved. Ah, forget it; forget it. Starting a quest in this condition was too risky. A single mistake could be fatal. If it were just a game, I couldugh it off and y again, but I only had one life here. Hmm do I really have only one though? The thought of maybe respawning even if I died crossed my mind, but I couldnt bring myself to experiment with such a terrifying thought using my own life. For now, lets assume I only have one life. Right, Ive yed plenty of hardcore modes where you cant resurrect once you die. For now, it was difficult to offset the penalties attached to my traits immediately. It wasnt impossible, but I needed to go to ces that were currently out of reach at my level. On the other hand, there is a way to address the stats issue right away. I couldnt operate at maximum efficiency due to my penalty traits, but my stats were terrible anyway. So, I needed to boost my stats first. That meant grinding was the way to go. I could immediately get items like the [Corrupted me Ring] and the [Slurping Gloves]. Both were cursed items, but they were the most cost-effective ones among what I could obtain now. The [Corrupted me Ring] had the effect of providing the wearer with the power of fire and granted a +3 strength boost. The [Slurping Gloves] despite their funny name, they were equipped with multiple magical effects and a +2 to health. Ugh I need to get up first. I tried to rise, but my back just wouldnt support me. Ah shit Despite my efforts, managing to dangle my legs off the bed was the best I could do. It seemed better to lie down while I still could. If only I could move, nothing else would be a problem. I remembered almost everything about this [Cthulhu World]. The various dungeons, hidden doors, secret quests, and numerous tricks and bugs to reap rewards without effort. I also recalled a few useful bugs rted to item trading. If this wasnt a crazy world full of otherworldly gods and Great Old Ones, I could have made a fortune by trading. But for that, I needed some initial capital. Money how much did I have right now? I stretched out my leg to pull the wallet rolling on the floor towards me. Ouch, a cramp! A cramp in my foot! When I suddenly flexed my toes, a cramp shot through my calf, and I had to massage it for a while. Anyway, I got the wallet. Kim Shin-hwa-ssi, lets use our hands next time. The money I snatched from the thugs was around 200,000 won. After paying for food and amodations, I had used about half of it and I guess I had roughly one days worth of living expenses left I could probably beat up a few more thugs a couple of times, but at my current level, I risked encountering someone too powerful to handle, or worse, bing the target of a retaliatory assassination. Moreover, the efficiency of such actions was poor to begin with. Since [Cthulhu World] was based on a modern society, fewer people carried cash than I expected. Who carries cash these days, anyway? This was a problem that applied to me as well. I needed a bank ount and a card, and also an ID. Perhaps the fixer route was the way to go. It was one of the various money-making methods avable in [Cthulhu World]. If I struck a deal with a savvy broker, they would take care of the money, get me an ID, a burner phone, and sort out various tasks, even scouting for suitable items. Of course, to receive such services, I had to endlesslyplete annoying requests. Moreover, brokers varied in their skills, and so did the types of requests. Some were almost con artists, and others would betray you the moment they made a decent profit. If you wanted to y the game for a long time, it was best to work with a trustworthy person even if the pay was less. Naturally, finding a good broker in a cosmic horror-themed world like [Cthulhu World] was almost as likely as winning the lottery. But thats a story for beginners who y blindly. Roughly speaking. perhaps heading to Furmil would be a good idea? Or maybe YB or Ko Kyung-soo, though a bit far, Tudor wasnt a bad choice either. Each NPC had their own pros and cons. Whoever I chose to make a contract with would greatly influence the atmosphere of the game. Considering my current situation and the stats I needed, the best broker would be Alright. Ill go to Tudor. Tudor offered a fixed quest, The Abandoned Hospital in Gamaksan. If I was lucky, I could find an S-rank item or something higher over there. Getting such an item early on would make progress smoother in the future. Tudor was known for his bad temper, entry restrictions, and the numerous bugs in rted events, but he provided opportunities to face mythical creatures from the start, so I often used his services. Considering the entry restrictions, it seemed best to grind on the way there, starting with the necessary base stats. The n was set. Time to get up. Hmm Ill just lie down for 5 more minutes In 5 minutes, Ill really get up. I wonder if there are any quests I could solve while lying down *** In the end, I had no choice but to pay an additional fee because I exceeded the check-out time of the unmanned hotel by more than 2 hours. It was around 3 p.m. Unlike Paju City at night, full of madness and revelry, daytime Paju was rtively calm with most of the night businesses closed. As a result, people who looked tantly like rtives of criminals werent around, and the sight of a madman like me wearing a paper bag was bound to stand out. It just had to be mask obsession I cant take it off because Id go mad for real But wearing it makes me look mad anyway. Maybe it was Nyathotep who dragged me here? Isnt that guy the real mask-obsessed one? Among Nyathoteps nicknames was something about wearing a thousand masks Considering hes one of the few Outer Gods who would enjoy such pointless antics, its almost certain. No, no, cant jump to conclusions just yet. I stillck enough clues. Anyway. This paper bag was not only flimsy but also ufortable to wear. I need a recement in case it gets torn off or ripped during a fight and I fall into delirium. I need to buy a proper mask. Later on, Ill enchant one and make it myself Suddenly, a general store caught my eye. The sign read All that you want. Well, with a name like that, they should have masks as well. Such stores were merely background elements during gamey and couldnt be essed, but now I could enter them. The game itself doesnt seem to be fully implemented. Heek! Upon entering the store, the clerk let out a gasp. However, since the city itself was rife with odd characters, they refrained from any further reaction. First, lets go to the party supplies section good, there are plenty of masks here. Id prefer to avoid anything that looks too much like a toy, though Surely, Im not nning to stick with this paper bag on my head, am I? In the end, I bought several party masks and, just in case, picked up some bread bags that could be quickly flipped over and worn. I tucked them away as I left the store. As soon as I stepped out, I hid in a secluded spot to change masks. I chose a in white maskbeled something like Halloween Night. Then, I bought an oversized hoodie from a nearby stall. I couldnt keep stuffing things inside my clothes, so I also purchased arge backpack. It was a ck backpack with a sporty design. Although it had a famous brands logo on it, it was probably a counterfeit because it was sold at a street corner, right? It was a waste of money, but I had no choice as I had a lot of luggage to take care of, like the shoes and watch I had taken from the thugs. And I even carefully stuffed the straitjacket I was wearing inside. Since there were already status and message windows popping up left and right, shouldnt there have been inventory storage or something of the sort. Anyway, I was ready. Now, I looked somewhat decent. Still, I ended up looking like a character ying a criminal in a dramatic reenactment for a current affairs expos show. No more dallying needed. Since my destination wasnt nearby, lets take the bus.no it was better to hail a taxi rather than a bus. I worried about not being able to get a taxi but it was surprisingly easy. The driver even joked around, asking if I was headed somewhere fun. To survive as a taxi driver in Paju, which was no different from a den of thieves, one must have at least this amount of guts. I arrived at. Unjeong Station, which was arguably the heart of Paju City. Paju in [Cthulhu World] was more popted than its real-world counterpart. Therefore, the number of peopleing and going through Unjeong Station was exceptionally high. It was almost asparable to the bustling density of Hongdae or Gangnam Station at their peaks. I carefully observed my surroundings before activating a spell I had prepared. [Hazy Presence] Sssssss An invisible mist made of magical power began to surround me. [Hazy Presence] was a minor zero-order spell designed to reduce ones presence and make them less noticeable. In essence, it didnt render me invisible to others; rather, it made them less likely to pay attention to me. Ideally, I would have preferred to use a fourth-order spell like [Invisibility] or at least a second-order one like [Shadow Walking], but those were beyond my current level. However, thanks to my magical talent and powerful traits, even the zero-order[Hazy Presence] worked as efficiently as the second-order [Shadow Walking]. This meant that as long as I wasnt wrapped in hundreds of LED bulbs while shouting Look at me, everyone in the neighborhood!, I would be fine. After blending into the crowd, I made my way to the tform inside the train station. It seemed that a train had just arrived. The timing is perfect. The train stayed open for a while, waiting for people to board, but I did not get on. My purpose at Unjeong Station was not to take the train. Eventually, the train doors closed and it departed with a prolonged noise. I looked down at the empty tracks for a moment then stepped down onto them. My goaly within the station itself. Inside the tracks of Unjeong Station, there was a hidden passage. I proceeded along the train tracks as if I was chasing after the departed train. Chapter 8: Unjeong Station Chapter 8: Unjeong Station I no longer had the luxury of time. Everything needed to be finished before the next train arrived. Since my physical strength wascking, I had to rely heavily on my intellect topensate for myck of strength and health. Thats why I chose Unjeong Station. There was a secret ce hidden inside Unjeong Station. Right here. Though my health and strength were critically low, my agility was even worse. [Agility 8: Sluggish] Ding ding ding ding ding ding di-di-ding Now, the train to Yongsan, heading for Yongsan, is entering the station. The announcement echoed from the direction of the tform. And I barely reached my intended destination. This ce was always interesting. In fact, this location was impossible to enter or receive a preliminary quest from at my current level. It was a bug known only to me; even other users in themunity were unaware of it at the time. There was a secret door that would open if your character kept jumping and rubbing against the wall until the train arrived. Jumping until the trains arrival was one thing, but the real challenge was the secret door that opens upon rubbing Could it be the same asst time? I ced my hand against the wall and generated my magical power. [Detect Secret Door] Magic lines extended from my fingertips and they formed a circuit of blue fluorescent light on the wall. Fzzzzt The magic lines that were moving along the wall quickly found the hidden secret door. Unlike a normal door, this passage was vertically installed on the ceiling. Who would put a door there? It was impossible to find unless you knew exactly what you were looking for. The structure itself.it was simple, but there was a lock. This wasnt much of a problem for me. I concentrated the magical power I had spread out for [Secret Door Detection] to reach the inner workings of the lock. Normally, I would need to physically touch the lock to activate it, but Whizz! Magical lines spread out like aplex circuit diagram and branched out in an instant, covering the ceiling-mounted door and its lock. [Unlock] [Spell Enhancement: Range Extension] Click- Clunk Blue sparks flew from the lock that hung out of reach as the door was opened. I wonder if I can still gain experience points from something like this? I would likely need to unlock more advanced, high-tech locks or those secured with magical protections to earn experience points or achievements. Maybe I should set aside a day to go around unlocking as many locks as I can? But the real challenge was what came next. Hmm, how do I get up there? I had used magic to open the door, but there was nothing to grab or hang onto. The ceiling was quite high, and the length of the vertical passage leading beyond that door was also quite long. In the gameit was a matter of timing continuous jumps with the arrival of the train But that wasnt a viable solution now, and lingering here was pointless. [Dancing mes] Whoosh! A beautifully glowing magical fireball rose at mymand. Considering the space above the door Its quite high. If you add it all up, its about 10 meters? There was nodder or anything simr around. To move that distance in one go, I had to rely on magic. [Levitation]is out of the question, I need to get my hands on a first-order spell soon. There are plenty of highly efficient spells like [Leap], right? Bang! The train was approaching. Jump until the train arrives! Should I really do this? Just when I was wondering that, I detected something I hadnt known before through the magic lines I had spread out in all directions to detect the secret door. Theres a magic circle in front of the train! There was no mistaking it. A powerful repulsion spell was cast at the front of the train. If I timed my jump right, the spells effect would catapult me right to the ceiling! In the game, it worked by identally jumping at the right time, but now, with an intelligence of 30, I had an almost supernatural ability to calcte the best moment and angle for the jump instantly. However, the problem was I understand the theory, but can this body of mine really time it right? The train was approaching. There wasnt much time left. Ah, shit. Well, whatever. [Arrow of Destruction] [Lightning] [Invisible Hand] Boom! Crackle- For me, Kim Shin-hwa, who was usually a semi-idler engrossed in games and at most dabbled in asional frence work, it was an inconceivable and bizarre method. With [Lightning], I carefully channeled electricity through different parts of my body to artificially induce muscle reflex actions, while [Arrow of Destruction] was fired at the ground to create a rebound force. The fine adjustments and trajectory corrections for the leap were managed by the magical telekic power of [Invisible Hand]! My body moved at high speed. The leap, contact with the train, and then sh-! The effect of the magic circle attached to the train activated, leading to an extraordinary leap. In an instant, the scenery around me transformed, and I found myself being catapulted upwards through the passage in the ceiling, just as I had intended. It may sound simple when described, but it required an almost supernatural level of concentration and calction ability, along with the skill to manipte magic at a split-second level. To think that such precise, high-density magical maniption is needed just to time a jump. Thats how I reached the space above the ceiling. It would have been nice tond like a hero, but instead, I was flung like a piece of luggage while tumbling and rolling like trash. The space beyond the secret door was wide, and Iy in the same position Id been thrown, struggling to pull myself up. Ugh A groan escaped my lips. My barely existent muscles were overexerted, and my thighs felt like they were about to burst. But, like thest secret door which came first? Is it the chicken or the egg? Did someone install secret doors and cast spells on the train to artificially replicate bugs from the game of [Cthulhu World]? Or did the game of [Cthulhu World] develop bugs in the process of replicating its real-world secret locations? Maybe I can figure it outter by testing the money duplication bug or the NPC conversation glitch? But for now, I needed to move. I struggled to steady my trembling legs as I stood up. Something like a staff would be helpful right now like a mages staff, right? [Dancing mes] Whoosh- Four magical fireballs radiating only light and no heat appeared around my body. As the light emerged, the surroundings became visible to my eyes. The interior was quite spacious. Rough walls with exposed concrete. Bizarre and profane graffiti drawn in red which was unclear whether it was blood or paint. Although it had an extremely bizarre shape, the ce somehow evoked the image of a temple. Chairs for congregants were lined up, and at the front, a wide altar was ced. Indeed, this was a temple of sorts. Not a conventional one for wholesome faith, but a sinister temple for worshippers of the Cthulhu mythos. A scenario was prepared where cultists wouldter gather here, summon mythical creatures, and cause a horrific arson incident at Unjeong Station. But at this moment, there was no one here. This is the crux of the trick. If youe before the event, theres nobody around! I walked towards the altar at the front. What were their names again? They were called the [Descendants of Fomalhaut], those dreadful pyromaniacs. Engraved at the front of the altar was the symbol of the great ancient being they worshipped. A master of great mes, the greatest vampire of fire. The eternally burning wrathful me residing far in Fomalhaut. A fire demon who seemed to have attained godhood at the very moment of a supernova explosion. The symbol of the [Living me]. A message indicating a temporary exemption from a sanity check appeared and then vanished. For the faint-hearted, merely glimpsing this symbol could have disturbed their minds, but it was no issue for me. Good. As expected from cultists who worshiped the god of fire, the stone altar bore a tremendous amount of soot. They must have burned many sacrifices. This was something that youd think people would do in basements with poor venttion. And behind the altar, there should be a small box Right. There it is. There was a jewel box about the size of a first aid kit. Intricate patterns proiming the greatness of fire were delicately engraved on its surface. However, the crucial part was whaty inside the box. [Essence of Fire has been obtained.] [Red Dragons Orb has been obtained] [Ring of Corrupted me has been obtained.] The Essence of Fire served as a consumable used as a magic catalyst or as a material for magical items, while the Red Dragons Orb, an A-rank artifact, generated a protective me barrier for its owner. Among the other items were misceneous trinkets, ss bottles, and some religious symbols without any magical effects, but these were not of much importance. The most important item was the Ring of Corrupted me. This was an artifact I had obtained every time since I discovered that bug. When viewed in reality, as opposed to just being a game icon, the item exhibited such artistic value that it warranted a discussion for its beautiful appearance. It shimmered with a deep, bewitching red, like a ruby plucked from the eye of a demon. Of course, its not for its stunning appearance that Ive gone through all this trouble. [Ring of Corrupted me (S-rank essory): An evil ring forged from the mes of Fomalhaut. Infused with the power and curse of the corrupted me. Bearer of the Torch: Forces a sanity check when worn. Failure in this check embeds Mental Illness Pyromania into your mind. Burning Madness: On failing the sanity check, theres a certain chance that the curse of the corrupted me manifests. Red Elemental Focus: Increases the effect of all fire-type magic by 50%. Incarnation of Fire: Strength +3 Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Increases understanding of fire-type magic. .] Great, Strength +3! In addition to its main feature, it was an S-rank essory equipped with a myriad of diverse extra abilities. Moreover, the Legacy of Fire Knowledge effect had a bug. Instead of just enhancing the understanding of fire-type magic, it allowed certain spells of the fire category to be cast regardless of their order. I carefully stored away the Essence of Fire and the Red Dragons Orb in my pocket, and after taking a deep breath, I put on the ring. [You have worn the ring of the great ancient being residing in Fomalhaut. Blessings to those who have faith, and eternal damnation of fire to those without faith! The great will of fire targets your mind. That being] Aaah. what an exhration. I disregarded the cascading content of the message window and tried moving my limbs. Indeed, a level of vitality and warmth that was iparable to before enveloped my body. But now, my strength is only at 8 Haah. There was still a mountain to climb. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The oue of your sanity check is changed to a sess.] Is it over now? If I had failed the sanity check here, I would have acquired Mental Illness Pyromania and embarked on an exciting path of crime but as I expected, Madness of the Abyss intervened this time as well. Ugh its time to leave. A normal exit could be seen on the wall opposite the altar. However, that door couldnt be used for leaving. Beyond it was an elevator, which led to a building owned by the cultists. It was a terrible building filled with cultists disguised as ordinary people. If I hadnt used that trick to enter as I did now, I would have had to face an enormous number of cultists. I headed towards the exit through which I had entered through to the altar. [Achievement Unlocked! You have /Null the descendants of Fomalhaut.] Wait, what did that say? [Unknown Command. You aplished /Null in their temple with astonishing /Null and /Null along with /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null. /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null You have astoundingly /Null! gib8#%&!] Whats gib8#%& even? The message window started to distort. Previously, the content would change with sparks flying, but this was an entirely different phenomenon. [The effect of the Feast Offering is activated. Effect: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss. The effect of the Feast Offering is activated. Effect: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss. The effect of the Feast Offering is activated. Effect: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss. The effect of the Feast Offering is activated. Effect: /Null Increased /Null encountering /Null. The effect of the Feast Offering is activated. /Null. /Null The effect of the Feast Offering is /Null. The effect of the Feast Null activ /Null.] Tremendous noise and sparks were followed by a screen filled with annoying error messages. [You have /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null /Null] The magical power around me began to churn. Whats happening? A bizarre phenomenon unfolded. The space before my eyes twisted. It seemed less like a magical effect and more like a glitch? A very serious bug, the likes of which could only be seen in extreme circumstances, caused a spectrum of noise to erupt. At the same time, the space distorted around me and something that did not exist before materialized before my eyes. [Zx?qL8# have been inflected in your mind.] [XyZ is sessful.] Despite the violent sparks and disorienting glitch effects continuously warping my physical form, I knew what that monster was. Yes, that monster was Qw?R8Z#? Ah, damn it, I cant even pronounce it. What is that thing? [Zx?qL8# is approaching you. The body of Zx?qL8# isposed of constantly shifting, sticky mucus. Its indescribable, repulsive body continuously undergoes fission and mutation, generating bizarre appendages like reptilian legs or tentacles. Just observing it feels like it could drive you insane a dizzying and horrific sight.] The message window seemed to be fixing itself. Indeed, the sparks that distorted the body of the giant monster lurking before my eyes had disappeared before I knew it. It was convulsing and unable to move until now, that Qw?R Now I understand. Its the one who lost his form; a malevolent minion that served some being from the abyss. Such monsters dont just wander around. One of the beings of the abyss must have sent it to attack me. The one who lost his form let out a bizarre scream as it rose up. Kaaaah!!! I may not understand whats going on, but Ill burn it first! Whooosh- The temple built to worship the god of fire began to be enveloped in crimson mes. Chapter 9: The One Who Has Lost His Form Chapter 9: The One Who Has Lost His Form [me Eruption] Pahaaaaak! Guooooo! mes erupted in all directions. The one who lost his form creature, with its body made from grotesque tentacles and mucus, writhed and convulsed. Its definitely different! The spell I used was actually a second-order spell. It was a whole different level of powerpared to the zero-order spells I had manipted to somehow create firepower. This was all thanks to the effect of the [Ring of Corrupted me]. The ring allowed me to activate spells stored within it while ignoring their hierarchical order. [The spells stored in the Ring of Corrupted me are as follows: Second Order: me Eruption Third Order: Fireball, Burning Spear] Yes, exactly three. When I infused my tremendous magical power, even zero-order spells could perform almost at the same level as third-order ones. So if we were to do simple calctions, then that would mean a second-order spell should nearly have the same firepower as a fifth-order spell. I was overwhelmed by the spells might and momentarily lost my focus. The one who lost Ah, such a cumbersome name. Henceforth, you shall be known simply as the tentacle monster! The tentacle monster began to swell its body, and that was not the end of it. It had the ability to create parts of other creatures from its own body. Horns, w-like talons, and bizarre beast hooves sprouted as legs. They are all deadly parts that could be used as weapons. The monster then charged at me with ferocious hostility. Hey there! Where did you get those fancy tricks? I poured my magical power into the surrounding mes. Puhaaaaak! The intensified mes now exerted a physical force beyond mere heat. Guooooo! Another scream echoed from the monster. The mes pushed back and burned the grotesque appendages of the tentacle monster. The appendages that came into contact with the mes went far beyond just burning and they turned to ash almost instantly. But that thing Unlike the exposed appendages, the mucus wrapped around its body didnt catch fire. It has resistance to fire, no, resistance to magic in general. Ugh. how annoying And isnt it getting bigger? It was clearly about the size of a crouched human in the beginning. But now, it had grown to the size of two vans put together. It wasnt that cramped a space, but now it was ufortablyrge. Surely its not going to just keep swelling up and crush me, is it? Its resistance wasnt as big as [Fire Immunity]. The parts directly exposed to mes were boiling and shrinking after all. Then Ill just push it with overflowing magical power! A ball of me with explosive properties was formed between my outstretched hands. After concentrating it a bit more to gather firepower Take this! Move it, you fu*ker! [Fireball] In French, thats a boule de feu! Whoosh! Boom! The intensely concentrated fireball was more powerful than expected. The creature caught in the explosion had its sprouting tentacles and appendagespletely torn off and mmed into the wall. Guooooo! Though it had such a bizarre shape, it seemed capable of feeling something akin to pain. The creature began to thrash violently while emitting an emotional roar. Tough one, isnt it? Can I increase the firepower? Or do I need to find a way to remove that mucus? The mucus was the problem. The attack was powerful even by my standards, but the mucus covering its body halved the damage. I could pour in more magical power, but Wait, what is that thing doing? The tentacle monster started to wrap its tentacles in the me-resistant mucus, pulling most of its mass upwards. Quite clever. But that shape Looks almost like a hammer Eek! The tentacle monster transformed its body into a hammer-like shape and began to recklessly m its massive bulk down. [Invisible Hand] Boom! The attack was made in a tremendous speed that not even a master could dodge. If the magical hand hadnt flung me aside, I would have been hit directly and killed. Rolling on the ground, my view flipped this way and that. Wow! You really do pack a punch! Ugh My whole body aches. I feel like throwing up. Ugh, Ive wasted too much time. I need to prepare for the next attack However, its attack was aimedpletely elsewhere. Bang! Boom! Bang! Hey, stop, you beast! Something felt off, and then I realized that the hammer it made wasnt attacking me but the floor. Is it trying to escape the mes by breaking into arger space? Thats not the main issue. Theres a subway line beneath us. Just the floor copsing could cause a disaster. Crack, crackle, snap-. The floor was caving in, causing serious ruptures. Stop it already! Right, if the problem was the mucus surrounding the body, then I should just burn its insides. [Burning Spear] A spear made of condensed mes rose up in the air. It wasnt just simple heat; this was a spell with sharp physical force capable of piercing through the enemy. This alone wont be powerful enough, will it? If theres not enough power, just increase it. I infused more magical power into thepleted spell to strengthen it. [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Swoosh- Bam! Three newly formed spears joined the fray, making a total of four burning spears that soared toward the monster. The spears of mes easily pierced through the mucuss magical resistance. Grrraaaah! How about that? Cant move, can you? What can you do with spears stuck in your body? Unable to move its body, the tentacle monster began itsst desperate struggle, rapidly growing various appendages from its body. Grotesque appendages sprouted: human legs, frog feet, bird wings, pink tendrils, monkey arms, goat hooves, severely curved chicken toes, nt stems, deer antlers, sharp insect legs, an elephants trunk, a rats tail, lion legs, fish fins, and eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs. Hundreds and thousands of eyeballs shimmered with madness as they stared at me. Crazy, what is this madness? [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated.] Ah, so it was trying a kind of mental attack just now? Sorry, but my mind is specially made, so that wont work on me. Alright. Lets end this now. I spread more magical power into the still-active burning spears. The burning spear that adopted the new attribute vibrated unstably while emitting intense light. Explode! Boom! As expected, this is the standard for dealing with an enemy that relies on its shell. Its mucus might block magical attacks from the outside, but how can it stop an explosion from within? The tentacle monsters body parts were utterly destroyed, scattering in all directions orpletely evaporating under the intense heat of the explosion. A ck magic stone, which could be said to be its core, rolled out from among thepletely destroyed pieces. Oh, a ck one. It wasnt amonly seen color for a magic stone. This was a high-quality stone with high purity. The moment I picked up the magic stone, a new message appeared in the air. [You have foiled the n of the descendants of Formhalhaut, who sought to summon the god of fire at Unjeong Station! You have saved the lives of tens of thousands of people in peril and have momentarily dyed the arrival of the Singrity that could doom humanity.] [However, be warned. The great Living me will keep an eye on you for interfering with its will.] Although I didnt actively prevent anything, it was counted as such. Of course, for the descendants of Formhalhaut, the owners of this temple, it was a major blow as their sacred site was suddenly destroyed in the dead of night. It would take a long time to restore this ce, so they would have no choice but to dy or cancel their ns for a while. [You have destroyed the sanctuary of Formhalhaut. Experience points gained.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level has increased by 1.] [You have defeated the One who lost his form. Your understanding of the deities has increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level has increased by 2.] [Discovery: You have acquired secret items (3) from the sanctuary. Experience points gained.] [Discovery: You have discovered the secret location of the sanctuary. Experience points gained.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level has increased by 1.] [Great Achievement Unlocked! You have foiled the ns of the cultists faster than anyone else. You have obtained the Advanced Achievement: Fast as Fire. As a reward for the achievement, you gain the Attribute Resistance me trait and additional experience points.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level has increased by 1.] [You have reached Level 10! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] [For you who have gained enough experience, you are now able to use first-order magic. Please note that in order to use first-order magic in earnest, you need to obtain or learn a grimoire containing first-order spells.] I have finally reached level 10. And I also unlocked first-order magic. The message window suggested that learning was necessary to use magic, but I didnt need to do that. Its all thanks to the [Spell Mastery] trait With this trait, I could use basic spells immediately without any learning. Of course, even for first-order spells, theres a need to learn or create advanced or applied spells, but isnt that part of the adventure? Now, lets see how many spells I can use Oh, impressive. The number had increased by exactly 37, bringing my total to over 50 usable spells. Considering the range of applications, the things I could do had increased by hundreds. But where should I allocate the newly acquired bonus stat point Taking into ount the artifacts bonus effect, my strength was now 8. And with the [Slurping Gloves] that also have a bonus that adds 2 points Yes, its best to allocate it to health. **** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 10 Magic Order: First-Order Madness: [Mask Obsession], [Triskaidekaphobia] Strength: 5(+3) (Ring of Corrupted me) Health: 6 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 16 **** Good, Kim Shin-hwa is growing well. A strength of 8It was simr to the strength I had when I was just working from home and ying games in my previous body. Anyway, once I match health to 8, Ill have the minimum stats needed forfortable activity. I nned topensate for theck of health with an artifact, so from now on, I should focus on increasing either charm or intelligence. If I invest everything in intelligence from now on, theoretically, I could reach up to 48. That level of intelligence would beparable to mythical creatures or aliens. And If I take into ount the item bonuses, I could even surpass 60. Time to head out. Oh, but wait Huh? Whats that? I noticed something unusual on the ground. A tiny amount of slime, barely a handful, was still wriggling with life. Such incredible vitality. It wasntpletely dead after all? I hadnt seen anything like this in the game Oh, wait, no. The [Wriggling Slime], perhaps? Its a material item that sometimes drops when you defeat a gods servant. In the game, the material doesnt actually wriggle; thats why I didnt immediately recognize it. I couldnt just leave behind an SS-rank high-quality material. But unlike in the game, this thing its moving quite violently, isnt it? As I increased my magical power to expand my vision, I began to see the magical particles and their flows scattered around me in more detail. When I shifted my gaze toward the slime fragment, its internal structure andponents became clearly visible. This one. Its more than just an item; its a living creature. Unlike in the game, carrying it around could result in it eating my flesh. However, I couldnt just leave behind such a high-quality SS-rank material. I returned to the box behind the altar and took out a ss bottle. I spent some time pouring magical power into it. With a bit of focus, soon a dazzling magic circle, glowing with fluorescent light, was engraved on the surface of the bottle. The magic circle wasnt made of hexagrams and circles but wasposed of geometrically drawn patterns and a few characters. It looked somewhat like graffiti? Anyway, once the tuning of the bottle wasplete, I ced the slime inside. I wondered if I was carrying a bomb for a moment, but what harm could a creature stripped of its magic stone do? The slime, now trapped in the ss bottle, disyed an interesting trick of creating a few eyes and teeth. However, as the magic circle installed in the bottle began to operate, it lost its activity and turned into a small marimo-like lump. Neat! Sleep well now! Alright. Time to meet Tudor. I jumped down through the hole that led to the train rails. It was the same hole I had made quite a fuss climbing up before, but now there was no need for that. [Feather Fall] The spell countered gravitys pull and it slowed my fall. There are many useful spells in the first order that can be applied in various situations. I soonnded softly on an empty railroad track. It wasnt even evening yet, but I was starting to feel tired. I had overexerted myself back at the Unjeong Station. Ugh I couldnt afford to waste another day. I had to meet Tudor today. Why? Because Im really strapped for cash I had spent a considerable amount of money on the taxi fare, meals, and purchasing clothes and a mask. Now, after having my evening meal, I would be left with just enough money to spend a night in a really cheap motel. Of course, there was the magic stone I obtained from killing the tentacle monster or rather, the one who lost his form. If I managed to sell this stone, I could easily make several million won in an instant. However, selling it safely required some effort and legwork. I didnt want to deal with the ruthless illegal money changers who, under the guise of service fees, would take a whopping 4060% cut. Plus, if luck wasnt on my side, I could get tangled up with shady characters which would lead to assaults or robberies. In the end, regardless of what I acquire in the future, having connections is essential for disposing of it safely and effectively. In addition, I was in search of someone who could also provide me with jobsTudor, the person I was on my way to meet operated as an underground broker of sorts. For the purpose of visiting Tudors ce of business, I traveled to Geumchon Station which was two stops away from Unjeong Station. Walking along the main road, once I see Haknyeongsan Mountain Oh, there it is. Haknyeongsan Forest Park is a modest hill rising in the middle of Paju city. Halfway up the mountain, you could see the huge building of Haknyeongsan Temple and the huge brass-seated Buddha statue in its courtyard. The giant 20-meter Buddha statue, erected as if looking down upon the city, was radiating a vivid yellow light in the sunlight. What a magnificent sight My destination was not Haknyeongsan Temple though. It merely served as a reference point for navigation. And for the time being, I had no need to encounter the fake monks of Haknyeongsan temple. Indeed, it was morefortable to avoid them as much as possible. Unless I took an unusual route, I wouldnt likely encounter them again until I escaped from this world. I deliberately turned my head and headed towards the gloomy back alley where Tudor was located. It was a shabby alley clustered with motels, rundown diners, cheap one-room buildings, and outdated karaoke signs, along with buildings conducting business illegally without even a sign. On the surface, it seemed like a dirty neighborhood neglected by urban development, but once you entered the alley, you could feel the thrilling magic and the faint scent of danger. It was a problem that I was wearing a mask, but a bigger issue was my magical power that couldnt bepletely hidden. Though I tried to suppress it as much as possible, the sheer amount was so absurd thatplete concealment was still impossible. Professionals hidden in the alley and buildings were surely on guard because of me. After wandering through the twisted alleys several times a clean caf painted in bright colors that did not fit with the image of the lifeless neighborhood appeared. The signboard with Caf Vasilisa written on it was well-maintained and gleamed brightly. The caf wasnt really out of business, but it was all a disguise. Intense magical power flowed from within the caf. It was a different caliber of power, even in this Geumcheon alley full of professionals from various fields. There was no need to hesitate. Nothing there could influence or frighten me now. Without stopping, I immediately opened the door to the caf and entered. Chapter 10: Witch Chapter 10: Witch Caf Vasilisa was a spacious caf with a noticeably clean interiorpared to the streets it was on. At first nce, the customers upying the seats appeared to be ordinary people who were engaging in small talk over cups of coffee. Everyone here is hiding something. Most were concealing weapons or concealing their magical powers. They were all professionals connected to Tudor in some way. A bulky man who was scooping up parfait at a table near the door noticed me and smirked before he turned to speak to a gloomy woman seated opposite him. Looks like weve got a new di*khead today. Yeah, Tudor will be pleased. There was no need to pay attention to such petty squabbles. Fighting here would yield no benefit. Since I showed no particr reaction, their interest quickly waned. That was to be expected. Wearing a mask might hold peoples attention in any other ce, but not in this caf. Here, there were people even more bizarre than me. Just look at that man taking orders at the counter! His body was clearly human. He was an attractive guy with a nice, well-toned body that would remind you of a model or PT trainer. He dresses well, too. He was neatly dressed in a white dress shirt and tight ck apron. But his head! On his head wasnt a human head but arge, old-fashioned CRT monitor. And the monitor on his head was actually functioning properly. Disyed on it was arge, green dot graphic of a single eye that was moving around. Though it seemed impossible for him to have vision in that eye, he often blinked or moved the eye image and he made eye contact with people. No matter how unusual a mask I wear, I cant top that. Those unfamiliar with him might mistake it for headgear, but it was not merely a monitor worn over his head; it was actually his head. His name was Orb. Once you got to know the ce a bit, you would learn that his name Orb actually came from object head. I waited for a customer, who had been choosing a drink, to find a seat before approaching Orb to speak. Im here to see Tudor. I knew where Tudor was, but bypassing Orb and going straight there would displease Tudor so this step was unavoidable. The monitor-headed Orb twitched momentarily, then rolled the eyeball in therge eye image disyed on his monitor. Was he trying to be cute? Depending on your actions with Orb here, you could unlock various responses and small but entertaining events. But I had already enjoyed the story of [Cthulhu World] enough as a game, so that was fine. I needed money immediately. Hey, Orb. Im looking for work that a mage can do. Upon hearing his name, Orb disyed arge [!] on his monitor. Then he opened his mouth well, he doesnt have one. Anyway, he emitted a strangely truncated synthetic voice from somewhere around his face. -Go. Over. There. As he said this, he extended his hand to point to a corner of the caf. A [] symbol also appeared on his monitor screen. In the direction he pointed, there was a space hidden behind severalrge potted nts. In that secluded area was a white sofa bed, said to be made of monster leather, reserved for Tudors use only. Tudor usually spends her time lounging around on that sofa bed. As I approached the sofa bed, I saw Tudor as expected, half-reclining there as she read some boring novel. She was d in a dress with a wide fit and flowing decorations, not in a modern style but more reminiscent of a medieval witchs attire. There was even a tall pointed witchs hat that was ced on the table beside the sofa. This wasnt just a costume. Tudor was a witch. An original witch. As I got closer, Tudor under her long red hair, tilted her pale face upwards to look at me. Though it would have looked great if she was holding a wand in the hand that was not holding the novel, what she was holding in her hand now was not a wand but a long, ornately decorated tobo pipe. This isnt lit. She was referring to the pipe. She seemed to have noticed that my gaze was fixed on it. I know. Its a bit of an interesting taste, isnt it? Now she was talking about my mask. Tudor liked such things. Thats why she employed someone like Orb as a clerk. As always, Tudor didnt ask how I knew toe here. She seemed to always be aware of everything happening in the shop, even when she appeared to be just lounging around. She must have already known about my conversation with Orb and that I had known Orbs name from the start. With a yful smile, Tudor put down her book and stood up from the sofa bed. She was oh, much taller than I had expected. In the game, it was hard to tell how tall someone was, but she was at least a head taller than me. But that didnt mean she was bulky or overly tall. There was no awkwardness or disproportion in Tudors physique. Her body structure, starting from her limbs, was exceptionally well-proportioned. I knew she was a character with a pretty in-game illustration, but seeing her in person, shes really imposing Is this the dignity of charm level 20? This wasnt just about being pretty or not. Charm up to level 18 falls within human limits, but at level 20, its almost like magic in itself. Sure, she was beautiful, but this was beyond human limits. So much so that [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated] It activated to protect my mind. But wait, that doesnt make sense. Shes pretty, but shes not a mythical creature, is she? Stop with the weird stuff. Id like to be introduced to a job that requires a mage. With an exaggerated, almost theatrical gesture, Tudor shrugged as if she didnt know what I was talking about and withdrew her [Charm] spell. I often engaged in such antics in the game as well. Youre quick-witted, arent you? And possessing something like this This is my first time seeing it It makes me wonder how much power it contains. Tudor momentarily showed a surprised expression, then quickly smiled and licked her lips. It seemed like she was impressed with my magical power. I bet she would be even more surprised if she knew I was suppressing most of my power. My mana core contained a vast amount of magical power, more than I couldfortably handle. I was doing my best to conceal my power, but given Tudors perceptiveness, she seemed to have some inkling that I was hiding my true strength. Well, alright. I have plenty of work for a mage like you. Im Tudor. And your name is? Kim Shin-hwa. Hmm Its a good name, I suppose. Fixers dont use their real names. Most of their work treads in semi-legal areas. They use nicknames, often referred to as fixer names and change them quickly if theres any trouble. But hearing a name like Kim Shin-hwa all of a sudden seemed absurd to her. Without any identification, what difference did it make if a name was real or fake? If a name became problematic, I could simply change it. For reference, myst warrior character was named Kim Shin-hwa 1788. If I had the chance to name the mage gazing into the abyss character, it probably would have been Kim Shin-hwa 1789. Okay, Kim Shin-hwa. Its been a while since someone came to me like this without any introduction, so Im a bit hesitant Tudor tapped her cheek with her finger, trailing off. It was clear she was still uncertain about trusting me. Originally, there would have been several choices to select from, and I could pick a pre-set dialogue but now I had to speak for myself. I should probably say something that got a good response before. Id like to get to know you better, sooner rather thanter. This was a way of saying I wanted a good job quickly. And before Tudor could say anything more, I continued. If you have any troublesome requests, I can handle them right away. Even those that have already cost a few fixers their lives. When I said that, Tudors face lit up with a yful expression as if she was wondering where such a character had sprung from. Quite an interesting taste you have there. A powerful mage like you would definitely be interesting, but I cant just assign a big task right from the start. After all, this industry operates on credit and trust, you know? She spoke almost exactly as she would have in the game. Although my words had appealed to Tudor, this was the kind of response expected to be given to someone either of low level or who had arrived without an introduction. I hadnt expected to receive a great task right from the start, so I wasnt disappointed. The first and most important criterion is how trustworthy you are. Skilles third. And the unspoken second criterion was to be interesting enough to catch Tudors fancy. Still, I cant just turn away a mage like yourself. Alright,e this way. Lets build trust and get to know each other slowly. With a smile, Tudor pulled back a curtain on one wall. Beyond the curtain was a door marked Staff Only. Tudor exined that it led to her office and ushered me inside. Now that I think about it, the office was a space that was not depicted back in the game Usually, at this point in the game, a close-up of Tudor would appear, followed by a dialogue box to click for tasks. The first thing that caught my eye in Tudors office was therge mahogany desk at its center. It was as big as two regr desks put together, cluttered with a messy array of papers and misceneous items. Cleaning was Orbs responsibility. But seeing that the desk alone was in such a state, it seemed like Orb was not allowed to touch it. Tudor dragged a chair from a corner of the room and seated me in it. Sit here. I have a feeling youll show something interesting. Ill offer you a very favorable contract. No sooner had she finished speaking than a few sheets of paper scattered on the desk flew up andnded in front of me. The contract was filled with long-winded prohibitions, uses about non-interference with each other, and various other stiptions regarding confidentiality. It was mostly a formality anyway, with nothing particrly noteworthy. Great, the contract isplete. I dont know how you found out about this ce, but you did well. Lets get along well from here on. I agree. And Id like to get straight to business. Hmm, I thought you might say that. Take a look at this. Tudor handed me a bounty hunting mission as an introductory task. The document she presented contained the personal details of a certain individual. A bounty hunt, then. As I said before, I cant entrust you with the type of work that directly connects you to the client until you prove sufficient trust. A bounty hunt boils down to simply capturing the target and delivering them. Theres no need to interact with clients, and if I fail, they can simply send someone else. This makes bounty hunting a good task to be assigned as a test, which is why its typically the first assignment given, regardless of where you go. Alright, the contract is signed Somehow I made it this far. Up to this point, I could control the situation. Which broker to meet. What kind of contract to sign. But which target Tudor would assign was random. If you think outside the game logic, its understandable. Tudor must be constantly managing people, so depending on when I arrived, the avable bounties would vary. In short, it was like a bounty gacha. It was a gacha where the difficulty level changed depending on who was chosen. I hoped it would be an easy one Looking at the photo attached to the document, I recognized a familiar face. It was a man with a dragonfly tattoo under his eye and he looked to be wildly excited as if the photo was taken right after he took some hallucinogen. His name is Lee Chang-hyuk. His upation he ims to be a rocker or a singer, but in reality, hes just a guy who asionally performs in bars. His main job is closer to that of a fixer or a thug. He even has a fixer name; was it Victor? Of course, I had never met him in real life. But I had encountered him often in the game. Lee Chang-hyuk was almost a dud in terms of the gacha. Seeing my grimace as I read the document, Tudor seemed to misunderstand and smiled as if amused. Right. Hes got the skills to survive in the back alleys. thats not a problem. Since I couldnt tell Tudor that I knew Lee Chang-hyuk from the game, I answered by pretending to look at the part of the document where Lee Chang-hyuks specifications were written. Lee Chang-hyuks abilities were nothing special. To me now, he was just a guy called Chang-hyuk nothing more. There were two reasons why he was a problem. He was hired by apany called Helistic to escort a research sample. Turns out, it wasnt just any item, but an artifact smuggled in from a special region. Bold as he is, he swallowed it and fled. Thats why hes now a target. Helistic is a biotechpany that develops things like cancer treatments. In Paju, they had several research projects including Helistics headquarters. One of them was the [K-3675 Secret Research Facility] I escaped from. Chapter 11: The Request Chapter 11: The Request This was the first reason why this request was inevitably doomed to fail. While Helistic outwardly posed itself as a legitimate corporation, it was one of the malevolent entities steeped in the Cthulhu mythoss madness. Bing entangled with these people wouldnt pose an immediate problem, but depending on the route, I might end up fighting Helistic until the games conclusion. If this is a request from apany, it wont just be one or two guys chasing after him, right? When was the bounty issued? This was the second reason why Lee Chang-hyuk was a dud. The real serious issue was that finding Lee Chang-hyuk was simply a nuisance. If luck was not on my side, I could waste days in vain. Moreover, this quest had a time limit. If about 15 days had already passed since a bounty was put on his head, he would sessfully smuggle himself out on a ship from Incheon. No, but usually the time limit starts after you receive the request, right? What kind of quest has a timer running before you even ept it? No wonder they call it a failed game. Therefore, depending on how many days have already passed, there might be no way to resolve this task. Hes been quite sessful at evading capture so far. Today marks exactly two weeks since he fled. Holy shit. Exactly 14 days? Or is it about that long? When I leaned in to ask again, Tudor gave me a puzzled look. This was only natural since she wouldnt have considered the existence of a time limit. Tudor paused for a moment, then rifled through the documents. Um yes, today is exactly the 14th day since then. Midnight tonight will mark the 15th day. What now? At this point, requesting something else would cause Tudor to lose interest in me. While it wouldnt mean I would get no work at all, I would likely only receive the leftovers, the scraps of jobs others had passed on. So, to establish a stable connection with Tudor, it was better to proceed as nned. What about the reward? In truth, there wasnt much more I was curious about. The reward would probably be the same as mentioned in the game. However, I couldnt just not ask about it. If a new fixer who just signed a contract appeared to know everything about a request from the start, it could arouse unnecessary suspicion. Tudor looked at my mask for a moment and then continued. Five million for Lee Chang-hyuks head. And twenty-five million for retrieving the artifact he has. Its a subtly low price. And the bnce of the amounts was almostughable. They dont want to spend too much on such a small fry. Thats why he hasnt been caught yet. If they raised the bounty by just two million more, skilled guys would swoop in and snatch him up, right? This was exactly like the dialogue in the game. In the game, it was just text without voice acting, but hearing it in Tudorsnguid voice gave it a new feel. His high charisma really did make a difference. Alright. Ill take it on. [Youve epted the quest! Capture Lee Chang-hyuk who stole a sample destined for a Helistic subsidiarysboratory, and retrieve the Artifact: Security Bag Containing the Test Subject he took. ! Time Limit: Lee Chang-hyuk will escape Korea via Incheon in (1) day ! Reward: 50,000XP (+ the mary reward promised by the broker is separate.) Failure: Tudor will be disappointed.] The quest window appears even when for bounty requests. I remember when I hovered the mouse cursor over the reward section back in the game, a message popped up saying, Gaining the brokers favor can lead to more rewards. By any chance, Tudor, can you see this? I asked Tudor if she could see the message window just in case. Do you have any other symptoms apart from that? No, thats not what I meant Despite my attempts to clear up Tudors misunderstanding with several exnations, none of them worked out. Eventually, I gave up on trying to correct Tudors misunderstanding and left her office. However, I couldnt depart right away. There were things I needed to prepare. I borrowed a pair of scissors from Orb and settled at a secluded table in the caf. Tudor was sitting right opposite me at the table as she watched my actions. She leaned her chin on her hands sped together,pletely rxed Is she finding this amusing? What if a seizure suddenly starts? That would be serious, wouldnt it? Tudor wore a warm expression as if she understood everything about me. What does she understand? Shes a witch. Thanks to Tudor, the gazes of other fixers hanging around in the caf were also drawn to me. Ignore them, just ignore them. I pulled out the straitjacket I was wearing previously from my backpack. Then, using the scissors, I cut off the dangling straps from the straitjacket. Was dexterity influenced by my agility stat? With a mere agility of 8, which was not helpful for this task, it took longer than expected. Tudor burst intoughter when she saw that one of the straps had turned almost into rags. Haah Just bear with it Eventually, after much effort, I managed to produce six intact straps and two that were nearly tattered. The straitjacket also ended up almost like a rag, but I stuffed it into my backpack anyway. Why dont you just whoosh- bang! and capture him? Youre a mage, arent you? Then the artifact would be damaged too. Lee Chang-hyuk was a superhuman who developed special abilities due to a condition called magical power hypertrophy. Thanks to that, he possessed several special abilities along with a decent level of magical resistance. If the request had been capture and kill, I could have approached him without much thought and finished him off with a single blow. However, spells like that usuallye with excessively shy effects. To safely recover the artifact he possessed required some careful nning. I thought about buying some rope, but where was the money to waste like that? There were plenty of things here to tie with. Tudor,ughing heartily again, bid me farewell with words expressing her anticipation about what shape I would return in. Yeah,ugh all you want. Today will be thest day I y the pauper. I started by walking and searching through the Geumchon neighborhood. I had yed countless bounty quests and never failed to capture a target. Ideally, it would have been better if Lee Chang-hyuk had a fixed hideout, but he was designed as a roaming-type criminal to keep the veteran yers from getting bored. That doesnt mean he roamed aimlessly. If that were the case, I would have just given up. He didnt stay in a fixed location but appeared randomly at six different sites. The patterns of his appearances changed over time, so he could reappear at a ce I had already checked, making him an especially troublesome target. Oh, I dont want to walk! Once I collect the bounty and stabilize my finances, I should get some mode of transportation. The penalty trait [Weakened Stamina] makes my body feel drained after just a short walk. But at least the first spot was rtively close. I looked up at a dirty building. It was a bar without a sign that operated in the back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood. ording to the setup, it was Lee Chang-hyuks favorite bar, and inside were many delinquents who were on friendly terms with him. Entering meant that regardless of whether Lee Chang-hyuk was there or not, a big brawl was likely to break out. Fortunately, I wont need to go that far. I leaned my hand against the wall of the bar and gathered my magical power. [Magical Power Detection] Bright green lines of magic emanated from my fingertips and seeped into the building. It was like watching tree roots made of neon signs burrow into the ground. Hes not here. Lee Chang-hyuk suffered from magical power hypertrophy. Since he never appeared with other people with special abilities, I could skip most of the unnecessary investigation with this simple detection spell. I still had to visit each location in person, though It was just a race against time. The day was already turning to dusk. I need to resolve this quickly. Thinking about Cthulhu-dimensional travel and other matters would have to wait. To maintain my condition, I needed to wash, eat, and find a ce to rest. I had to catch Lee Chang-hyuk and get the money before the sun rose again. *** Bingo. I found him in the third spot. My luck wasnt entirely bad. The ce where the abnormal magical power unique to magical power hypertrophy was detected was a motel located on the outskirts of the Gwangtan neighborhood. It was a relief to find him here; otherwise, I would have had to travel much farther. Once the location was pinpointed, the rest was in my control. His hiding spot was room 304, and my entry methods included breaking down the door, negotiating with the motel owner, entering through a window, or Delivery~. This was the simplest method and the timing was perfect. Lying in wait at the motel, theres usually a moment when hed briefly step out to collect ordered food. Thats the ideal time for a surprise attack. Even though the deliveryman arrived, Lee Chang-hyuk didnt open the door and merely replied back. Just leave it there. Enjoy your meal. What did he order? It seems like a soup dish. Im hungry already; maybe Ill eat it after dealing with him? The deliveryman left the food and went on his way, but the door remained closed for a long time. He was likely being cautious. With [Magical Power Detection] still active, I could clearly see what he was up to. He was pressed up against the door, probably listening for sounds from outside. Fine, Ill stay quiet. Come on out. Click. The sound of the lock opening. This is it. I prepared my spell, timing it with the sound. Creak Good. Now! [Magic Bullet] I hurled a bullet of magical energy through the slightly ajar door. Crash! Aargh! The door that was hit waspletely shattered, and the impact sent Lee Chang-hyuk tumbling backward. Crash! He rolled over and scrambled into the room. Ah, trying to grab his bag, I see? Hey there~, Lee Chang-hyuk~! I deliberately moved slowly as I entered his room. Sure, leaping in might look impressive, but with this body, any hasty movement would just make me seem retarded. Instead, it is better to create a sense of fear leisurely. As expected, Lee Chang-hyuk was holding arge bag in one hand. It was arge silver bag reinforced with metal. That must be the security bag containing the test subject. In the game, it was just a quest item, so I couldnt check its contents. And his other hand was hidden inside his clothing. Hes concealing a handgun. What, what are you! What do you think? Isnt it obvious? Just hand over that bag, and I wont hurt you. Eh hufffffff He suddenly stopped talking and took a sharp breath. His upper body swelled up to at least twice the size of an average persons. He might seem bizarre, but this was actually Lee Chang-hyuks attack stance. Predicting his next move was simple. Now, to time it right! One, two His mouth opened. Right now is the moment. Three! Kwaah! An unbelievably loud sound erupted from his mouth, something no human should be able to produce. But I too hadpleted my spell just as his mouth opened. Whooosh! A magic circle of light appeared right in front of me. It distorted and twisted the sound wavesing from his mouth. This was my own modified version of the zero-order spell, Transmission. Should I name it something like [Sound Wave Distortion]? It defied physicalws, twisting the direction of the sound. Therefore, even though Lee Chang-hyuk, who had the condition of magical power hypertrophy, attacked me with his magical power through sound, no damage was inflicted on me! Crash! Instead, the walls on the left, right and bottom of the motel were shattered and scattered around. Shit! What is that! What did you just do?! Seeing his attack fail, he grimaced and let out a shout of frustration. Still, he moved his hand quickly and took something out of his clothes. Click. It was a gun. Die! Lee Chang-hyuks gun spat fire without hesitation. Wow, that was quick! But then, this is how one survives in this world, isnt it? Chapter 12: Lee Chang-hyuk Chapter 12: Lee Chang-hyuk But as I had expected everything up to this point, I just folded my arms and looked at him. Bang! Bang! Ratatatatata! A hail of bullets rained on me with a loud noise. However, the bullets he fired flew towards the walls above, below, and to the sides, embedding themselves there much like the sound waves from before. Click! Click! The sound of the trigger pulling on empty chambers continued for a moment before stopping altogether. What What is this even. This time, he looked so genuinely shocked and surprised that he paused in his actions. An obvious opening! While I could use magic to knock him down I decided to show a bit of kindness in return for his help in testing my spell effects. Sound wave distortion, followed by a distortion field. The former distorts your sounds; thetter distorts ranged attacks. You What are you? Who exactly are you. Cant you see? Im a mage, arent I? No, no! But why would a high-ranking mage like you care bout someone like me. Im not exactly a high-ranking mage But given that these spells were new to him, it was a fair assessment. But my kindness ends here. I extended my hand to summon a new spell. The time for exnations is over, now is the time to capture. [Lightning]. Zapzapzapzap! Tszzzzzzzz! A zero-order spell. Literally a spell to create electricity. Originally, it would just produce a spark, enough for an electric shock attack, but My powerful magical power caused the electricity blossoming from my hand to dance a dazzling dance, like the current of a Te coil. Holy shit! Seeing the raging white electric light, he finally snapped out of his daze, gritted his teeth, and crouched down. I was blocking the door, so he had no escape. Well, then. If possible, dont die; just faint Zapzapzap! Aaaargh! The searing white electricity struck him directly. Even while screaming, the guy resisted by radiating magical power from his entire body. So he endured it. Even though he was experiencing both pain and injury, somehow he held on. A tough one, isnt he? Indeed, he has an extraordinary constitution. But one more st should do it. Ugh Ugh You think Im going to die like this! No. I dont intend to kill you, so dont die. Juste along quietly; its easier for both of us. Ha! If I get dragged off by you to those guys, what do you think will happen to me? Ill either be killed or turned into a subject test!!! I know. Yet knowing that, why did you steal from that crazypany? In that case lets die together, damn it! With that, he channeled magical power into his arm and hurled the bag he was holding. Hey, if youre doing that, its going to break Crack! The bag wapletely destroyed. From the shattered bag, a bizarre, milk-like white lump of flesh burst out. The unpleasant lump, about the size of two fists stuck together, writhed in a strange manner. In that fleeting moment, Using my highly functional intelligence I recalled what it was. [ck goats body fluids]. No, damn it! Why is this appearing now? The strange lump of flesh, moving fluidly in a sticky and flexible manner much like a slime, elicited a surge of confusion on Lee Chang-hyuks face as he witnessed it. W-what is this? You idiot! You took it out without knowing what it was!? What do you mean?! Get rid of it quickly, idiot! But it was toote. While that bastard Lee Chang-hyuk was dazedly wasting time, the white lump of flesh had leaped towards his face at an incredible speed. The chunks of flesh quickly coalesced and covered Lee Chang-hyuks face. A terrible scream escaped his mouth. Aaaargh! In an instant, the lump of flesh merged with Lee Chang-hyuks head, and many things changed rapidly. A horrific transformation began. Lee Chang-hyuks size grew, tearing his clothes apart. The human form began to fade away, giving rise to the emergence of a beastly shape. What should have been there disappeared, crumbled, and got mashed up. What should have not been there appeared, sprouted, and blossomed. Sturdy hooves emerged on reversed-jointed legs. Brown fur sprouted all over his body, with his arms lengthening to reach his knees. His face elongated into a beast-like snout, with bizarre, horizontally elongated pupils. And a pair ofrge horns grew out of his forehead. It was a bizarre figure as if the most horrifying aspects of a goat and a human were blended together. This was the ominous and sphemous form long thought by humans to be the shape of a devil. Lee Chang-hyuk had be a grotesque half-man, half-beast monster as if draped in the skin of a goat. It was a sight of a human being crushed and transformed into a monster. Although I felt an unpleasant sensation creeping into my head, it soon disappeared. The madness of the abyss trait protected my mind from the sight of this being. A half-man, half-beast figure resembling a satyr or Satan in mythology. They were the noble and supreme minions of the great Outer Gods. Humans who had received blessings from the gods of another realm A monster that can no longer be called human! In [Cthulhu World], such beings were collectively known as [Mutants]. You said you didnt want to die, and yet, why have you abandoned your humanity? This was the blessing of a being from the abyss, [The ck Goat]. Its proper name was [The ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young]. The queen of the dark forest, The true mother of the earth, The master of all life, The one who walks behind the boundaries. A powerful and renowned entity of the abyss, even among those of the Cthulhu mythos. Although she could be called a goddess with powers over the creation and growth of life, she was not the kind of earth mother goddess wemonly imagine. She was the mother of many monsters, creator of abominations. Her fluids imbued with her power could bestow new flesh and strength upon humans. The transformation Lee Chang-hyuk was undergoing was precisely the blessing of the goddess of madness and fertility, Shub-Niggurath. Simply put, her body fluids transformed humans into monsters. Gwaaaaar! Lee Chang-hyuk, who was now a monster, howled in anguish. Having grown to a height of over 2 meters, he rampaged forward with his horns leading the charge. Oh, was he going for another round? He kicked off the ground with force and charged forward. Boom! The floor kicked by the hooves caved in and he wasunched into the air. A direct hit would surely shatter a human body into pieces, wouldnt it? [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Although I countered with threeyers of ovepping protective circles, the impact was formidable. Crack, crack, crack! I could feel the protective circles buckling under the force. The outermost circle had already shattered into pieces. Can I handle this at my current level? My level was 10. To stand a chance against a mutant, one needed to be at least level 30. Under normal circumstances, fleeing and assessing the situation would have been the best course of action. However, as the crisis suddenly arose, my mind calmed down. Maybe I can do this? My magical power couldnt be measured by levels alone. This could actually be a good test. As I poured more magical power into the weakening protective circle, I prepared a new spell. [Fireball] Whoosh! Boom! A ball of me erupted and exploded at close range. Lee Chang-hyuk was caught off guard by the sudden st and was flung backward. I felt a scorching heat re up. Since my body had [Attribute Resistance Fire], I wasnt bothered much by the mes, but I was worried about my mask. In my panic, I felt the mask slightly deformed by the sudden heat. Ah, damn it! The damage to my mask was more horrifying than witnessing a person transform into a monster right before my eyes. My heart rate instantly quickened. Yet, it was just a minor tension, not enough to trigger madness. Grrrr Although his entire bodys fur was singed ck, Lee Chang-hyuk seemed unhampered in his movements. Did he gain fire resistance? Fine, but he wont be so lucky with other elements. [Breath of Ra] A yellowish stream of acidic vapor shot towards him. He covered his face with his arms, but soon, various parts of his body were torn apart and he started bleeding profusely. Gwaah! Even amidst the agony of his flesh melting, he showed no sign of yielding. His intelligence, now reduced to the level of a wild animal, probably made him more aggressive. He grabbed the nearby bed and hurled it at me. My vision was momentarily obscured. But really, what was he trying to achieve by throwing a bed as if it were a boulder? [Magic Bulllet] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Glowing balls of magical power began to float around my body. Small magic circles appeared on the palms of my hands to assist with the multiple calctions. This was a basic spell, akin to whats typically known as Magic Missle in fantasy games. The spell was of average power but firing about thirty rounds made a big difference. Bang, bang, bang, bang! It felt like firing a multiple rocketuncher. A vast number of light trails shot through the air. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom! The approaching bed was instantly pulverized in mid-air and the remaining bullets struck him. Gwaaaack! [Creation: Create Clear Water] [Torrent] With abundant magical power, even seemingly insignificant spells can be powerful weapons. Water was created as if it were bursting from all directions and was shot toward the guy with overwhelming water pressure. Boom, whoosh, stter! He tried to defend himself with his arms but they were quickly twisted and flung away. His horns broke under the pressure and the rooms furnishings were destroyed. Lee Chang-hyuk could no longer scream but was swept away by the furious waves towards the wall. Boom! Crack! The moment Lee Chang-hyuks huge body and the massive wave collided, the motels exterior wall began to crack. Huh? I had thought it was a rundown motel, but isnt this too much!? Crack, crash, boom! Eventually, the wall couldnt hold on any longer and copsed, revealing the clear night sky. The debris from the outer wall, a massive wave, and a gigantic half-human, half-beast monster cascaded down towards the bustling main street of Paju. Kyaaaah. Waaah Why did it have to be the wall facing the main road? Looking out the window, I saw chaos unfolding on the streets. It was expected, considering a horned monster and an enormous amount of water had suddenly fallen from the sky, but the actual situation was even more problematic. People were petrified with pale faces, some wing at their own faces as if to tear them off, others screaming and clutching their heads, some rubbing their heads against the dirty asphalt, others running blindly into walls, a person suddenly vomiting and bending over, and one drawing a pistol and firing wildly in random directions. The night streets of Paju were now filled with senseless madness and aimless cries. I had always tried to resolve situations without causing such problems. Well, who would have thought the wall would copse? The human mind is fragile. Things that exist beyond reality leave a profound shock and terrible scars on the human psyche. Something dark and heavy, yet hot and cold, burrows into the mind. A nauseating, repulsive, unpleasant, and almost vomit-inducing sensation invades ones thoughts. Something alien, solid, bizarre, and terrifying pierces into the fragile human brain. Theres a feeling of itchiness under the skin, a stinging sensation behind the eyeballs, an itch inside the skull. Humans, unable to withstand such shocks and scars, undergo abnormal psychological disturbances in an attempt to protect themselves. Even in a world where otherworldly beings, sinister mages, and bizarre mutants roamed the streets, such a thing still happened. This was because the ominous presence emanating from transcendental beings battered the human soul and demanded forced awakening and enlightenment. The monstrous mutants of the beyond, born from the power of the Great ck Goat, could destroy peoples minds with just their terrifying and ominous presence. Grrroooaaarrr!! Crash! Boom! Bang! Loud, resounding noises erupted from outside. Well, look at that! Even in such a state, its still going strong. Lee Chang-hyuk, who lost his will to fight after being hit by continuous magical assaults, began to run into the alley, letting out a destructive roar filled with magical power. Though he had taken on a form closer to a beast, I could sense the fear he had towards me. Now that things hade to this, I decided to deal with him as mboyantly as possible. Chapter 13: A Noisy Resolution Chapter 13: A Noisy Resolution I was definitely trying to resolve this quietly. At this point, it seemed impossible for rumors not to spread. But it wasnt entirely a bad thing either. Whether it was notoriety or any other form of fame, it served to elevate a fixers reputation. This, in turn, led to higher levels ofpensation and more important quests. Lee Chang-hyuk was causing an uproar beyond imagination. With this level ofmotion, even the slowest informants would undoubtedly know of me. [Leap] On the surface of the ck hooded sweatshirt I was wearing, two trails of light shone like neon signs. One was purple and the other was blue. They were a kind of magic circuit that could evolve into magic circles. I created them hastily without considering the symmetry or aesthetic aspects that mages obsessively maintain, and they ended up looking like scrawled graffiti. Still, they had a certain graffiti-like coolness to them. Ah, but this wasnt the time to be concerned with such things. The purple circuit wrapped around my body endowed me with surreal leaping ability. Whoosh I jumped through the window and reached the roof of the building on the other side. The movement was more akin to flight than a leap. The blue circuit glowed,pensating for myck of agility and aiding in posture control. Thanks to this additional circuit, I could perform feats beyond just explosive leaping power. I pursued Lee Chang-hyuk while jumping from one rooftop to another across the city. Wherever I went, dazzling trails of light that looked like neon signs trailed behind me. Whoosh- I leaped across a rooftop. Thud, tap-tap- whoosh. Then I took another leap forward using an unstable signboard as a stepping stone. I moved freely between the dark citys sky and the buildings rooftops. This was almost on the level of a superhero. I might be able to fly if I level up more, but this feeling is quite satisfying as it is. Gwaoooooo! Boom! Bang bang bang! Such amotion in the middle of the night. Having transformed into a half-human, half-beast monster, Lee Chang-hyuk acted without any semnce of reason. He simply ran in any direction he could and destroyed anything that hindered him. He was likely fleeing in madness but his rampage made tracking him easy enough. I could snipe him from a distance but I needed to get close enough to avoid any problems. Now this distance should do. I was just about 15 meters away from Lee Chang-hyuk. Having reached the rooftop in front of the alley he was running through, I positioned myself and shouted. Hey, Lee Chang-hyuk! As he ran, Lee Chang-hyuk looked up at me. It seems he recognizes his own name, at least. My eyes met his long and horizontal pupils that looked like those of a mountain goat. His appearance was more demonic than beastly. White foam was dribbling from the corners of his mouth. Before he could make another move, my spell was ready. Die, you bastard! [Lightning Strike] Rumble- An intense light shed brilliantly. A bolt of lightning that was forcibly drawn from the sky cascaded down with a chilling sh. And then Boom!! The thunder followed the light btedly. It was a spell that summoned the very essence of natural lightning. It must have been excruciatingly painful. Arghhh! Excess electricity sparked and surged around Lee Chang-hyuk. The ground around him waspletely scorched ck, but he hadnt lost his spirit yet. Realizing he could no longer flee, he began to thrash about desperately. He grabbed a parked car nearby with hisrge hands and hurled it towards me. Ah, stop throwing things! [Fireball] Whoosh Boom! I first countered the flying car with a fireball, stopping it in its tracks Now its my turn, isnt it? Time for a game of catch! [Shockwave] [Invisible Hand] Boom! I pushed the exploding car back in mid-air, sending it flying back towards him! The now-burning car hurtled towards him with even more menacing force. Gwaaaaah! You think that will stop it, dumbass? [Soundwave Refraction] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] A magic circle of soundwave refraction materialized right in front of his nose. The shock wave generated from the creatures snout vanished futilely in the light of the magic circle. Kwaang! And then the car that was flying towards him crushed his body with its immense me and weight. At the same time [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] A fireball farrger than before formed in the air. I felt almost as if I were summoning and hurling the sun itself. Gooo Having maximized its firepower, a foreboding noise emanated from the fireball itself. Anyway, this was going to be the end. Kwaang!!! An enormous explosion and heat swirled for a long time. The surrounding asphalt melted and boiled. The car that had crushed him waspletely ttened and bounced far away, while hey there,pletely charred. Still, he was incredibly tough. His extremities, like fingers, were crushed, but he still writhed with his limbs reasonably intact. Guoo Grrrrr Things were roughly sorted out. But should I even say this was a sess The request was to retrieve Lee Chang-hyuk along with the security bag containing the test subject, right? From the Helisticpany perspective, Lee Chang-hyuk who mutated by fusing with the test subject may also have some use. However, they would probablye up with all sorts of excuses to me me for the failure of the mission, wouldnt they? After all this effort, I couldnt ept it ending as an unpaid service. I momentarily fiddled with the ring on my finger while looking down at Lee Chang-hyuk, who was in a near-death state. A human mutated by the blessing of Shub-Niggurath Several ideas came to mind. But would that work? Such an idea would be impossible to execute in the game. But somehow, I felt that it might be possible. Up until now, I had cleared various challenges based on my experience as a gamer. However, the idea that had just urred to me was something difficult to conceive with the mindset of viewing this world as a game. Is this inspiration thanks to the intelligence of 30? Originally, the concept of mutating using a quest item was also an idea that couldnt be realized in the game. Hooo Alright. Theres no harm in trying. I jumped down from the roof and approached Lee Chang-hyuks body. Intense heat rose from the now sticky asphalt ground. It was so intense that an ordinary person would have struggled to breathe in such temperature. Yet, thanks to my fire resistance, I felt no difort from the heat. Ah, but that wasnt the case for my mask. I quickly channeled magical power to protect it. Ugh this is so inconvenient. Id have to make timeter to change or upgrade the mask. As I approached, Lee Chang-hyuk barely managed to gasp for air, unable to move. Hmm still, just to be safe I never thought Id use it in this situation, but it was a good idea to keep it anyway. I opened my backpack and took out the straps I had packed. There were six of them that were torn from the straitjacket earlier in the day. These brown leather straps fluttered in the air. Before the straps hit the ground, I extended my hand and infused them with a bright green magical power. [Hardening] [Entangling Rope] The straps, now imbued with magical power, slithered like snakes and they coiled around Lee Chang-hyuks body. Since they were hardened by magical power, they were unlikely to catch fire or break easily. I slowly reached out my hand towards him and then I pushed magical power into the Ring of Corrupted mes. He let out a death-like groan and thrashed a few times, but he couldnt escape. Hey, stay still for a moment. It seemed like an impossible task at first, but I somehow felt like I could do it The blessing of [The ck Goat of a Thousand Young] I began to expel the power of [The Living me]. In the world of [Cthulhu], there were various spells, but I had never seen magic used in such a way. However, bybining the effects of individual spells it seemed possible. This was something I had learned while actually using magic. It was more than just clicking a button. [Prayer of Protection] [Elevation] [Gesture of Guardianship] Magic circles of various colors began to emerge around my body. [Elevation] would awaken Lee Chang-hyuks weakened body and mind. [Prayer of Protection] would cling to Lee Chang-hyuks soul, which was under the control of an outer goddess. [Gesture of Guardianship] would protect Lee Chang-hyuk from the intense treatment about to begin.at least his human part. [Power Expulsion] [Regeneration] New spells were activated. The magic circles orbited around me, each responding to the effects of the others. [Regeneration] would provide the power to revert his transformed body back to human form. [Power Expulsion] was a spell to drive out the influence of the outer goddess. However, it was a first-order spell with only the effect of driving out evil spirits. It wasnt enough on its own. [Word of Power] [Word of Power] was a spell to temporarily control a human weaker than myself. It would only allow him to carry out simplemands I vocalized but now I needed Lee Chang-hyuks strength too. Lee Chang-hyuk, return to your human form. In the process of using and fusing spells, an inspiration I had never experienced before emerged. It felt like a fountain of light had burst inside my head. Such ecstasy arose. the kind only realized when an expectation turns into reality. As I had previously thought, I became capable of not only what I could do but also what I had believed impossible. A new spell waspleted. [The me that Burns Sin]. Such a spell did not exist in [Cthulhu World]. Moreover, it wasnt a spell that a first-order mage could activate. Using the Ring of Corrupted me, which allowed the activation of some fire attribute spells regardless of hierarchy, I forcibly drew in the abundant heat around me. It was akin to borrowing the power of [Living me], a being from the abyss I was certain I could draw it out. It seemed absurd, but it turned out to be easier than expected. With an intelligence of 30, it seems I can do almost anything. Whoosh From the tips of Lee Chang-hyuks feet, white mes began to rise. The mes burned only the non-human parts of his body. The areas the fire passed over were reverting back to human form. [System: The unique trait Feast Offering has been activated. Being of the Abyss: Living me is showing interest in you.] What? Just because I used a bit of its power, itse to watch? I felt the hairs on my forearm stand on end. I heightened my [Enhanced Vignce] trait and scanned the surroundings, but there were no significant changes. Was it just observing? Damn it, watch or dont watch. This is the crucial part. If I intended to just burn it away I wouldnt have started this in the first ce. [Liquid Maniption] [Restraint] [Evil Gaze] [Cold Bone Prison] This time, there were four spells. [Evil Gaze] minimized the influence of the outer goddess. [Liquid Maniption] and [Restraint] crystallized the silver goats fluid that had spread throughout Lee Chang-hyuks body. Lastly, [Cold Bone Prison] created a barrier from theherworld Sweat trickled down the back of my neck. I felt slightly dizzy. This was a task of apletely different caliber than picking a mere lock. I was extracting a mythical being, fused at the cellr level, from a human body Crackle Fizz From Lee Chang-hyuks head, the unpleasant sound of skin being torn away reached my ears. Lee Chang-hyuk-ssi please sacrifice a bit of your scalp as the cost of your life. Crunch. Thepletely separated fluid of the ck goat was trapped in a geometrically shaped barrier created in mid-air as it writhed grotesquely. Well, indeed. It worked. I wiped the sweat trickling down my neck and pulled the floating barrier toward me. The task was aplete sess. It wasnt for nothing that I saved Lee Chang-hyuk. It didnt matter to me whether this guy lived or died. However, had I not separated the fluid from his body, the quest would have been deemed a failure. If it had been utterly impossible, that would be one thing. But if its doable, its better to do it. Chapter 14: Achievements Chapter 14: Achievements (TN: Sorry. It seems Tudor is female. Yeah, I was overthinking stuff. Will correct everything about that. Sigh.) ***** [You have saved a human corrupted by the fluid of the ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young! This is an astonishing feat that no one in this world has ever attempted. Beings from the abyss have witnessed your aplishment. While some entities may have taken interest in you, others felt anger, but you remain undeterred, focusing solely on your principles.] Principles or not, I was just trying toplete a quest. About 40% of it was just curiosity to see how far I could go. Anyway, these messages keep pushing this narrative that Im acting for some righteous cause I cant figure out what they want. [Remarkable Achievement Unlocked! You have banished the power of the ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young and reverted a heteromorphic being back to human form. You have earned the Mythical Achievement: He who insulted the Abyssal One. As a reward for this achievement, you will gain the hidden trait Secret Knowledge: Life Creation and additional experience points.] Suddenly, an outrageous reward came my way. The phrase He who insulted the Abyssal One bothered me a bit, but the reward for it was a hidden trait. Hidden Trait [Secret Knowledge: Life Creation]. This is the first time Ive seen such a trait. Wow, did something like this exist? As [Secret Knowledge: Life Creation] activated, new knowledge I had never known before began to emerge in my mind. Now, if only I had the materials Humans can also be made? What is this immense knowledge? I had no idea such things were hidden. My actions were merely aimed atpleting a request, yet I received an unimaginable reward. Im not sure yet how to use this knowledge. Creating people for what purpose? Moreover, the necessary materials are utterly absurd. [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated the fixer Lee Chang-hyuk.] [You have defeated the Mutant. Your understanding of the gods improved.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 2.] [Discovery: You have acquired a secret item (1). Experience points gained.] This must be a reward for obtaining the fluid of Shub-Niggurath Though I nned to return it, the separate experience points were a pleasant bonus. [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] Was I now level 14? Normally, it would have been difficult to even increase one level against such a trivial foe But thanks to the strange things he did, my level went up a lot more than I expected. The experience points from the quest rewards hadnte in yet, so perhaps by the end of tonight, I might reach level 15. All I had to do was go back to Caf Vasilisa and hand over Lee Chang-hyuk and the body fluids to Tudor and it would all be over. Ah, theres a ce I need to visit first. The ce I stopped by before returning to Tudor wasnt anything extraordinary. It was the chaotic mess of Lee Chang-hyuks motel room. Although the situation had been resolved, it was resolved so quickly that the motel owner still hadnt returned. The motels guests had evacuated to the lounge, forming a crowd, but Since I had sted through the wall with my magical power at the end, I was able to sneak in without going through the lounge. I dont have much time to search. In thiswless neighborhood, reporting to the police was futile as they wouldnt respond quickly. Perhaps it would be even faster to pay brokers extra to hire a fixer? Nevertheless, it was quieting down and the curious onlookers were beginning to gather outside. All I needed to do was find one thing and leave. Iid Lee Chang-hyuk, who was wrapped in a straitjacket, down and searched the room. He wasnt dead, but he waspletely unconscious and likely wouldnt wake up for several days. Ah, there it is. I found the security bag that Lee Chang-hyuk had thrown earlier. Inside itI ced the [ck Goats Body Fluid] extracted from Lee Chang-hyuk, turning it into the [Artifact: Security Bag with the Test Subject] which was originally the object of the request. Of course, such details wouldnt appear in any exnation, but uracy is crucial in artifact retrieval requests. Even the slightest damage or deviation from the requests conditions is uneptable. This isnt a ce lenient enough to just shrug off inevitable issues with a casual Oh, is that so? This is especially true for requests involving nefarious corporations like Helistic. However, a somewhat tricky problem arose. The amount of this has increased, hasnt it? A magical engineering security device was installed inside the bag. When I tried to ce the [ck Goats Body Fluid] into it, I realized that the amount exceeded the specified quantity. Did it absorb something from Lee Chang-hyuk and grow? It wasnt a major issue. I just needed to split and store only the amount required inside the bag. Fizz-crackle-pop. It hasnt increased by much. After confining the fluid in the security bag, the remaining quantity was only about the size of a little finger. This might also be useful. It was indeed a dangerous substance. If it parasitized my body, I could transform into a monster like Lee Chang-hyuk. Still, it was more dangerous to throw it away and above all It was an incredibly valuable catalyst. Selling it to apany hostile to Helistic could fetch me several hundred million. In the end, I rummaged through the refrigerator and found a bottle of water which I emptied. It was just an ordinary stic bottle, but the material didnt matter. What was more important was its ability to contain something and the will and magical power contained within. After infusing the bottle with magical power and forming a glowing magical circle, I trapped the ck goats body fluid inside it. Now, unless I permit it, nothing can escape from this bottle. Of course, this was a temporary measure and I would need to invest more timeter for a safer solution. And then in the messy motel room, I found some jewelry and three bundles of cash, each worth about five million won. Roughly fifteen million won in total? Perhaps a part of his escape funds? He wouldnt have been dreaming of fleeing overseas with just this amount. Seeing as I couldnt see anything else in this room right now, I guess he was hiding a bigger sum of money somewhere else. But I didnt have the luxury to search for that now. It could be buried under a garlic field in some remote mountain or stashed in a dummy ount, or perhaps an agent was holding onto it. I also scooped up all the misceneous items Lee Chang-hyuk had, including trivial documents and identification cards, into my bag. There might be clues in these items to locate Lee Chang-hyuks funds. Of course, he might have already passed them to a smuggling broker, or they could be in a ce impossible to trace But taking these few papers wouldnt cause any harm. During this process, I stumbled upon a ratherrge suitcase. I had been pondering how to transport the almost luggage-like Lee Chang-hyuk, and there it was: the perfect solution. It was a bag for the essentials of a fugitive life, but once emptied, it was big enough to fit a robust adult. Very good. I walked outside and hailed a taxi. My destination was once again the Geumchon neighborhood. Today, I had really traveled far and wide. The taxi driver I met this time wore an excited expression. He tried to start a conversation with me several times hoping that I had a good story to tell, but as I didnt respond, he eventually fell silent. Was this amon trait among taxi drivers in Paju? After a long drive, the taxi stopped by the roadside where therge brass Buddha statue of Haknyeongsan Forest Park was visible. As the night fully descended, the neon signs of the Geumcho neighborhood lit up casting dazzling lights everywhere. Bathed in these fluorescent hues, the brass Buddha exuded an eerily mystical atmosphere. Now, meeting Tudor to receive the payment would conclude my days work. Huh? Vasilisa was a caf that operated 24/7, every day of the year. It was run by an employee whose humanity was questionable and a witch whose age was unknown. The shop also served as a brokerage for various information and services circted in the underworld. Its influence extended not just to Paju but across the entire metropolitan area Meaning, that regardless of the time, it was never a ce short of customers. But now Vasilisa waspletely devoid of customers. Of course, it waste. When I opened the smartphone found among Lee Chang-hyuks belongings, it showed 3 AM. It wasnt unusual for the ce to be empty at this hour. However, the atmosphere felt strangely off. The giant beauty, or rather the witch Tudor, was waiting for me right at the entrance of the shop. She opened the door and said. Weve closed for regr business today. I dont think youre telling me to go back because youre done for the day, right? Thats right. I wanted to have afortable chat with you, so I chased out all those nosy gossip-lovers. Come in, dear. Tudor led the way and chattered in a cheerful voice. She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. Lee Chang-hyuk is in that bag, I assume? You didnt disassemble him, did you? Orb! Come here and take the bag! Hes still alive inside the bag. Orb with hisrge monitor instead of a human head approached me and took the suitcase. As I handed over the suitcase containing Lee Chang-hyuk and the security bag, a questpletion message appeared. [Despite the absurd and unexpected situation, you used your amazing wisdom and profound magic to solve the problem and arrest the evil criminal Lee Chang-hyuk. Many have started to take notice of your actions. Tudor, the broker youre contracted with, has developed a deep fondness for you. Expect more requests and rewards from her in the future.] [You havepleted the quest! Reward: 50,000XP (+the mary reward promised by the broker is separate)] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 15! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] I allocated the bonus stat point to charm as nned. **** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 15 Magic Order: First Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Triskaidekaphobia] Strength: 5(+3) (Ring of Corrupted me) Health: 6 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 17 **** Dear, are you okay? Tudor slightly bent forward as she looked at me with her big eyes. I couldnt really feel it while sitting, but Tudor was very tall, roughlyabout 1.9 meters? Yet, despite her height, every aspect of her physique was ideally proportioned, leaving no room for awkwardness. She seemed more like a perfect embodiment of a goddess from a fantasy. As expected, her charm score of 20 is not just for show. However, apart from her high charm score, there was a strong presence and an intimidating air about her. Its possible that she has the blood of a non-human race mixed in, but the game provides no details on that, so the specifics remain unknown. I waved my hand dismissively at Tudors gaze. Im fine. Just lost in thought for a moment. Even though shes a witch with remarkable abilities, Tudor, like any other character in the game, cannot see message windows or status screens. Does that mean shes merely a character within the game? Tudor wore a worried look for a moment as if concerned about my mental state, then broke into a bright smile. Her expression does change effortlessly. I was expecting some sensational news~, but wow, you handled it in quite the noisy way, didnt you? Were you watching? Thats not true. But given the absurdity of what happened, its not surprising that I know. The incident was already making the rounds on the brokerswork. ***** (TN: The reason why I assumed Tudor was a male was, well, cuz of the name Tudor. The reason why Im assuming shes a female now, because of the term beauty/beautiful woman(). And the term goddess (). Which is gender-specific If youre confused about why Im still not sure about the gender here, its becausepared to English, Korean has a general absence of gender-specific pronouns.) Chapter 15: Spam Email Chapter 15: Spam Email Brokersworks, indeed I remembered there were such things. Not only in Paju, but hackers operating nationwide hacked variousworks to disseminate information. There were many hackers who worked as frencers, and there were even guilds akin to hackers associations. Was it called the Neuro Kids? When I didnt say anything, Tudor continued the conversation and she seemed to be in a good mood. Not just the brokerswork, but almost everymunity, be it in the light or shadow, is abuzz with stories about you. Origin unknown, identity unknown, abilities unknown who is he? With a little more push, he could be the most famous neer among fixers this year, couldnt he? Though I admit I had dealt with the quest in a rather noisy way, it seemed to have caused more of a stir than I had anticipated. Fortunately, Tudor seemed to have taken aplete liking to me and with such fame, it would likely be a great help in finding clues to escape from this [Cthulhu World] in the future. Being famous should be advantageous for getting noticed, right? Since I find such tasks cumbersome, could you help me out? Ah, sure. I was already ignoring the nudges from other brokers. If your taste is for something shy, Ill pull as many strings as I can~. Tudor said this while rubbing her hands together in a theatrical manner. Given her fondness for such noisy affairs, she would probably handle it well on her own. When we entered the office where I had previously received the quest, Tudor sat me down and started fiddling with the safe behind the desk. Didnt expect you to return so quickly. You really impressed me. The quicker I work, the sooner I get paid. Tudor nodded her head and took out some cash. Here, this is 27 million won, minus a 10%mission. If you prefer, I can pay you in a different form instead of cash. Although there was amission, there was the option to exchange for other goods or services, or even tounder the money into an anonymous ount. Most brokers could offer these services, but Tudor provided the most extensive and diverse range of them. Prepare an ID for me and an ount in the name on that ID. And for the money just give me 5 million for now. It would be great if you could deposit the rest into that ount. Hmm, what level of identity? Just make it Kim Shin-hwa, and make the ID as clean as possible within the budget. Alright. Ill create an identity so clean you could even sit for a civil service exam. I wanted to ask for a safe house as well but it was too much for my current budget. For the time being, I would have to hop from motel to motel. I picked up one bundle of the stacked money worth 5 million won and stood up. Ille back again. Ill have the ID and bank book ready by next month. Dont take too long toe back. I might start missing you. I left the caf, leaving Tudors yful words behind. The chilly night air brushed against my skin as I unconsciously looked up at the sky it was an incredibly unfamiliar sky. The constetions were ced inpletely different positions than I remembered and they shone with a strange and mystical light. An indescribable difort rose in my chest. This is not the world I lived in. No matter how many incidents I resolved in this world, the only thing waiting for me was destruction. I needed to earn money, increase my abilities and level Slowly build a reputation, and then uncover the truth of this world. And escape from this terrible, dangerous ce. I couldnt stay here any longer. I had to escape, no matter what. If I dyed, an [ending] would inevitablye, in one form or another. There were hundreds of possible endings I could reach, but none of them led to a happy conclusion only to terrible destruction, profound despair, unbelievable downfall, and evil, sphemous curses. This world had an end. That day, when the cycle of the world woulde to a halt. The day the abyss opened its maw. As I pondered the events that would unfold at the [ending], my vision gradually blurred. [ ] Everything became hazy. Did a message window just appear? What did it say? But then, was the content of the message even important? The time of doom would soon arrive. On the day when ny-nine kings roaming the other world would descend upon thisnd, when that most ancient and at the same time most malevolent being would awaken from its eternal slumber, when beings from beyond the abyss would descend like a swarm of possessed locusts to devour everything in thisnd, when all that humanity had built would be destroyed in the name of hunger, on that day when everynd would plummet beneath that filthy firmament, when everything in the universe would be blissfully ruled under the blessings of evil and madness. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. That day would surelye. Flicker- [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of the distortion have been nullified.] My thoughts had been too long drawn out. It felt like my head was about to explode. In the process of thinking about what could happen in the ending, I unconsciously remembered the true images of beings that I should not have remembered. Beings so horrific that the mere act of envisioning them could destroy a humans sanity. I had already defied the will of the [ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young] and attracted the attention of the [Living me]. The further I advance in the story, the more likely it is for me to encounter them. Nheless, I knew I couldnt stay in this crazy world any longer. I had to escape, by any means necessary. But Ive done too much. I needed to rest for now. I had been acting normal in front of Tudor, but my physical condition had reached its limit. Once I recuperated a bit, I would proceed as nned to seek the artifact that would enhance my health. *** On my second night in the [Cthulhu World], I was gued by a terrible nightmare again. I was fully aware that it was a dream yet I was unable to wake up by my own will. The madness rooted in my subconscious was transmitting the will of those beings from beyond. The ce I had fallen into was a void of nothingness. It was a ce devoid of light, sound, smell, touch, and taste, a space utterly empty and profoundly void. There only I existed, along with my soul, my body, my mind, my sins, my abilities, my memories, my past, and a truly immense presence. It was a star, immensely, immenselyrge, shining brilliantly, dazzlingly, splendidly. It resembled the wide-open maw of a ravenous beast, And the fiercely burning, deep red eyes, A zing fury, burning to purify everything in existence. We were to be kindling for Him. We had to be the beacons, zing at the forefront for His great deed. We must be the first sparks to ignite, setting the world ame. We had to burn. Burn ourselves, burn and burn, to be sacrifices for Him. We were to be sacrifices. We had to be sacrifices. Flicker- [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of the nightmare have been nullified.] What utter bullshit It still feels like my head is ringing with a persistent buzzing. The sensation was almost enough to make me feel nauseous. The [Living me]. He was the god of fire, an exploding supernova personified, and the one who presides over the most direct form of violence. It seemed that he had taken an interest in me because I had borrowed his power to cast magic the night before. Normally, the event Nightmare of Rlyeh sent by Cthulhu should have urred, but instead, he pushed it aside and poured his own will directly into my mind. There had been simr events in the game but this was the first of its kind. Such things usually wouldnt happen It must have been due to the power embedded in [The Corrupted Ring of me] that I had used to wield his authority. I should remember to take off the ring before sleeping What a hassle~ its just like I was dealing with some spam email; the nuisances vary in so many ways. But its not a situation tough off. Had it not been for the trait [Madness of the Abyss], the nightmare alone would have driven mepletely mad and might have turned me into one of his fanatical worshippers or a total wreck. Theres no guarantee that [Madness of the Abyss] will protect me forever, and if more monsters like him start showing interest in me, who knows what might happen? I need to find a way to escape this world. For that, I need to be stronger, and quickly. Ughhh Still, my stats were high enough that I could somehow pull myself out of bed. I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair, intending to touch my face.but instead, I felt the mask under my hand. Ah, this is also terrible. I need to get rid of this mask obsession After taking a deep breath and calming my mind for a moment, I slowly took off the mask and washed my face. Of course, I held the mask in one hand the entire time. Dropping it could trigger a bout of distortion, so caution was necessary. From several tests, I found that distortion didnt ur immediately if the mask was only briefly set aside. Moreover, covering my face with my hand or a towel allowed me a bit more leeway. This meant I could manage basic tasks like washing my face or eating. After setting aside the mask, I covered my face with a towel and stretched for a while. Crack, crackle Raising my health and strength stats was indeed worthwhile. I wasntpletely better, but I felt significantly more energetic. I tossed aside the warped mask that was damaged from yesterdays magical heat and took out a new one. Thankfully, I had bought several when I made the purchase. Yesterdays mask was a in white one, but todays one was aically designed skull mask; it was made of the same cheap stic as the previous one. The masks packaging read, [Creepy Skull Mask]. Ugh seriously I cant keep wearing such things forever, and I should probably find something more appropriate soon. Whether its creepy or not, putting on the mask brings me peace of mind. It dispels ufortable emotions, irritations, anxieties, suffocation, and dizziness, and makes me feel at ease. For a brief moment, it even gave me a sensation akin to the pleasure of smoking a cigarette. Ugh at this rate, I might really go crazy. Outside, the sun had already reached its zenith. I had no ns to go out today. I needed to rest and organize my surroundings, especially after overexerting myself yesterday. First, I began to take out the items I had haphazardly stuffed into my backpack. [Essence of Fire (A-rank Catalyst): A crystallized form of pure red element. It can be used to imbue items with the power of fire or for casting powerful me magic.] [Red Dragons Orb (A-rank Talisman): A bead formed from the breath of a fire dragon. Fire Protection: Automatically casts the me Barrier spell. Remaining uses: 5.] I wasnt sure where the Essence of Fire woulde in handy but I knew well about the Red Dragons Orb. I just checked the magic contained in the orb, and it was more efficient for me to use my protective circle spell rather than the spell of the orb. Besides, what A-rank artifact has a limit on the number of times it can be used? Of course, for those who cant use magic, such an item would be invaluable. It would be better for me to sell this. Items that help in survival are expensive. Although its just a basic survival tool, I could probably get at least three or four thousand for it. After cing the Essence of Fire and the Red Dragons Orb on the table, I moved on to the next item. Chapter 16: Geumchon Pawnshop Chapter 16: Geumchon Pawnshop The next item was not an artifact. It was a pair of handguns. Yes, guns One had been picked up from the secret research facility I had initially escaped from and the other belonged to Lee Chang-hyuk. At first, my strength was so low that I couldnt even shoot a gun but now I was capable of using them. Moreover, I could now boost my physical strength using magical power. Since I had the [Precise Aim] shooting trait, it seemed worthwhile to use my shooting skills alongside my magic. Of course, like the Red Dragons Orb, using magic directly would be more effective than relying on the guns themselves. However, if I could imbue them with some magical power they might be more useful. In addition, although such enemies wouldnt appear right away, there were some enemies who were immune to magic in [Cthulhu World]. Actually, Lee Chang-hyuk also had magic resistance, although it was at a weak level. In any case, having one or two supplementary weapons wouldnt be a bad idea. I should probably think about buying some ammunition. Thest items were the most dangerous of them all. [Wriggling Slime (SS-rank Catalyst): A fragment extracted from The one who lost his form. Consuming this would grant you immense evolution and cosmic wonder.] [ck Goats Body Fluid (SSS-rank Catalyst): This is the body fluid of the Outer God The ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young. Its a miraculous elixir that heals all diseases and bestows unprecedented new powers and a transcendent mind.] These ims are surely exaggerated. Items directly rted to outer gods tend to be like this, proiming, Try it once, and something really good will happen. As Lee Chang-hyuk himself demonstrated, the blessings of these gods manifest in bizarre forms that humanity is not yet ready to ept. These items are beyond myplete control. I have sealed them away with magic to prevent any external influence, but the magic circles painted on the jars are fading. That was quick. For now, Ive reinforced the magic circles by pouring more magical power into them. This was just a temporary measure. Without finding a proper catalyst or container to seal thempletely, there was no telling when they might break free. In addition to these, there was cash worth 20 million won, including the money stolen from Lee Chang-hyuk and the amount I received aspensation for the request. The sorting was roughlypleted. There were documents belonging to Lee Chang-hyuk, but I just roughly organized and piled them up with the intention of looking at them againter. Tudor will take care of the ID card and the bank ount. She said that it would take about a month. I could visit again around that time, but I didnt n to idle away the entire period. To save time, I needed to get moving, even if just a little. Ugh But for now, lets just lie down for a moment. I ended up lying down again. Ah, lying down really is the mostfortable My body ached all over. My fingertips were numb, and my legs felt weak. Every movement of my shoulders was apanied by ominous sounds. I still needed to find an artifact to improve my health. Unlike the [Ring of Corrupted me] that boosts strength, there was an artifact that could increase health and could be bought with money. I needed to go shopping to acquire it. And I have to deal with some useless items and buy some bullets. But today, I decided to rest a bit more As Iy down, my eyes began to close *** Todays destination was a secret shop where you could trade items from the Cthulhu mythos. I had dallied all day, and by the time I set out, it was already dark. Wandering around at this time with a mask on was better. Ignoring the surprised stares of the asional passersby, I walked on. The secret shop was not far from my lodging. Paju in reality has this tendency, but Paju in [Cthulhu World] is a city of abnormal and extreme haphazard development. Thats why the atmosphere of the city changespletely with just a block or twos difference. [Wee. Geumchon Traditional Market, Gate 3] The area around Geumchon Traditional Market was a typical old downtown. It was a neighborhood where an old market that was formed long ago remained still and the surrounding scenery was either charmingly familiar or ambiguously run-down. The buildings in the vicinity looked to be generally old as if they were built more than 40 years ago. My body is still. I had spent the entire day doing nothing but lying down, yet I could already feel my body getting stiff. I sighed for a moment and looked up at the building where the [Secret Shop] was located. It was a three-story building finished with colorful bricks. The buildings walls were covered with signs that had faded from years of weathering Starting from the bottom right, the signs read as follows: a shoe store, a dubious-looking coffee shop, an eyewear shop announcing a clearance event, a mobile phone store with numerous Chinese instructions, a recently updated thrift fashion shop, aputerundry, a boiler distributor, a fortune-telling shop, and a sign with letters fallen off, reading eumhon awn hop. That eumhon awn hop was the secret shop. Well, it was called the Geumchon Pawnshop. Of course, the pawnshop operation was a kind of front. Alongside items typical for a pawnshop, it was a ce where one could trade items from the Cthulhu mythos. I walked up the narrow, dirty stairs and entered the pawnshop. The Geumchon Pawnshop upied arge space, almost an entire floor, but the space was cluttered and chaotic because of the misceneous and antiques piled up throughout the hall, which made it difficult to take a step forward. Various odd items were disyed on shelves made of rustic wood. There were piles of Buddha statues, luxury watches, and stacks of old books. Beside that shelf, cages containing creatures like lizards and parrots were ced, and on the floor next to the shelvesy old jars, radios, air conditioners, and various electronic devices. Toys,ic books, bottles containing strange creatures, jewelry, iprehensible magical tools, chakrams, masks, everyday necessities, crumpled clothes, dry herbs, and what appeared to be bone fragments and human remains were strewn about. Just looking around this cluttered ce was enough to make ones head spin. Among this chaos, a small girl who looked to be of middle to high school age was seen dozing off while leaning against arge metal gong. She was dressed in a bulky school gym uniform with an old apron inscribed with Geumchon Traditional Market Prosperity Association. Her hair was tightly pulled back and her round face looked cute. I recognized her. It was Jeong Ye-eun, the part-time worker at the Geumchon Pawnshop. Whew Ah, wee, heh?! Kyaaak! Startled by the sound of my footsteps, Ye-eun tried to rise and greet me, but upon seeing my face, or rather my mask, she screamed in surprise. Unfortunately, her iling arms caused a precariously stacked tower of rice cookers to copse. Warrrrr- The cylindrical rice cookers rolled noisily across the already cramped pawnshop, knocking over several jars. Crash! The impact unsettled the shelves loaded with various animals, and several cages tumbled to the ground. Bang, crash. Ah, why on earth did this pawnshop keep such things? Among the broken boxes, one, unfortunately, contained white mice. They were probably used as food for reptiles? Dozens of mice scattered in every direction. Squeak, squeak. I was relieved that I no longer had a fear of rats. Kyaaak! Catch them! Catch them! That was Ye-euns scream. She was asking me to catch the mice? Whats happening! A short old man burst out from the back room of the pawnshop. It seemed like it would have been better not to run. Uaaak! The old man tripped over a rice cooker rolling on the floor. Crash! He fell so dramatically that I was worried he might have broken something. Ah, and due to the impact of his fall, a nearby shelf began to tilt Crash, bang, boom! What what the hell is going on? *** The pawnshop was already dirty and cluttered and now it looked as if it had been bombed. The old man who had fallen earlier was now wrapping a bandage around his arm and casting a nce at Jeong Ye-eun. I called you to help clean up, and on your first day, you turn the shop into this mess? No, but I was really surprised! At the same time, Ye-eun subtly pointed at my mask. Look at that; isnt it scary? It was partly my fault foring wearing a skull-shaped mask. But can it really be said that thismotion was caused by me? If you want to me me, you should at least make some effort to tidy up. Ah, my apologies. My granddaughter is rather absent-minded. Fortunately, the old man seemed to have decided to treat me not as a rogue or an intruder but as a customer. No, its fine. Anyway, you seem like a customer who purposefully chose this time to visit. What can I help you with? The old mans name is Jeong Eun-taek. Those who know him usually refer to him as Elder. Now, he might seem like a shrunken and short elderly man, but he once had the reputation of being a renowned fixer. He had resolved numerous Cthulhu Mythos events, some of which were horrific enough to threaten human extinction. But now, he has retired and runs a secret shop. I took out the [Red Dragons Orb] and showed it to him. Id like to dispose of this. And there are things I want to buy as well. Hmm Jeong Eun-taek wore strange sses with several small lenses and slowly examined the orb. Hmm The craftsmanship is average, and its imbued with murky magical power. Not old No, it was made recently. Its not something that could have been made by normal means. He looked up at me. Its tricky to reveal its origin. I avoided answering by gesturing that I didnt know, but he nodded his head as if he understood something. Well, I can dispose of this for you. Are you selling it? How much will it fetch? Religious artifacts often have questionable origins lets say 3,000. Youre buying an artifact with a survival feature for that price? Jeong Eun-taek grinned slyly. It seems you know what it is. Alright, 4,000. How about you throw in those gloves and make it 3,000? He frowned and turned his head in the direction I pointed. [Slurping Gloves (B-rank Armor): Bike gloves with a modern design. It is an item that has been given magical power through the hands of a craftsman. Enhancement: Health +2] That item alone is worth two thousand. How about fifteen hundred? Ill buy those and the items listed here. Just give me a change of 20. Im willing to take a slight loss. I handed him a note I had prepared earlier. I knew from the beginning that this store would be such a messy ce, so I wrote down the necessary catalysts and small tools in advance. Hmph After reading the note, Chung looked at me for a moment with a look that said, What the hell is this guy doing? and then tossed the gloves to me. The amount was surprisingly exact, wasnt it? Ill get the other items ready for you; just have a look around for a bit. Thats fine. Just dont knock anything else over. Thats something you should be saying to your granddaughter, not me. Hmph! He picked up the orb and disappeared into the back room of the pawnshop. I spent a moment examining the Slurping Gloves. They were motorcycle gloves made of ck leather. Each glove featured a rugged carbon knuckle on the back of the hand and robust protectors on each finger. I liked the design because it was quite cool. Kind of it stirred the middle-schooler inside my heart. I tried them on and the size was perfect They clung to my hands in a pleasing way. But why are they called Slurping Gloves? There are so many better names, arent there? Theyre not even gloves for eating ramen, so why such a name? Its not like I know everything that exists in [Cthulhu World], though. How could I possibly know the details of things that the game itself glossed over without exnation? Chapter 17: Mask Obsession Chapter 17: Mask Obsession The name didnt matter much to me. Among the items that directly boosted stats, this pair of gloves was the cheapest and most efficient. As I was tightening the Velcro strap around my wrist, Ye-eun approached me curiously. Hey, ahjussi, are you a biker? Ugh, ahjussi? No, I havent even been near a motorcycle. Really? But then why do you dress like a crazy person? Her question was brutally honest. I responded with equal honesty. Well maybe because I am a bit crazy? Was my answer too honest? Ye-eun stepped back slightly with a confused expression on her face. Oh no is she going to cause another ident by moving around like that? Hey, wait! It was already toote. With Ye-eun stepping back, she knocked over a hanging cauldron. Therge cauldron tumbled down and scattered various items everywhere. [Invisible Hand] I had to use a spell to catch it. I definitely didnt want another chaotic mess like before. Ye-eun was startled to see the falling cauldron suddenly stop in mid-air and then gently lower down. Wow! Are you a person with special abilities, ahjussi? No, Im a mage. A mage? Oh! Is that why youre wearing a mask? Yes. I wasnt sure what connection mages had with masks, but I was toozy to say anything else so I just said yes. Wow! tter, bang! Ye-euns was excited by my response and her enthusiastic jump caused more items to tumble down. Just wow, please stay still. This shop was far too dangerous for a girl her age brimming with energy. Why on earth did he let her work here? Did he say this was her first day? Hey ahjussi, do you want to see some masks? There are really a lot over there! Evidently thrilled from having seen magic a few times unintentionally, she pulled me towards a corner of the pawnshop. Did they sell masks here? I hadnt specifically looked for masks in this ce, so it was possible I didnt know about them. The area Ye-eun led me to was filled with a collection of masks. There were traditional items like Hahoe masks, presumably Japanese and Chinese masks, along with colorful Vian masks and even some scary ones that might have belonged to an African tribe. I guess its possible that I didnt remember them. They were just ordinary masks after all. I wasnt sure if there was any antique value to them, but for the most part, they were items of little significance to me. Still, maybe these masks are more convincing than those cheap stic ones? Before I was dragged into this world, I certainly never had an interest in masks of any sort. However, now many things had changed. Was it because of my mask obsession? The items I saw were just ordinary masks with no special functions or abilities, yet for some reason, they all seemed fascinating to me. Eventually, I found myself slowly taking time to browse through the masks. How about it? There are some good ones, right? From Ye-euns expression, it seemed I had moved in a way that made me look like a serious mask otaku without even realizing it. I tried to respond to Ye-eun, but I couldnt open my mouth. [System: Madmans Luck effect is activated.] This was because a strange noise came from among the masks. El, El, El Ugh, Ugh, Ykaaa Lgeb. Zackl Va. It was a very strange sound. Zi, Kur Ugh, Ugh Az Ai! There was a ticklish sensation beneath the mask. Ye-eun, who had not noticed my abnormality kept chattering about something but I couldnt quite make out what she was saying. Where is this sounding from? It was definitely a sound from among the masks. Yes. There, that one. Among the cluttered masks scattered around, the most unique and special one caught my eye. It was a mask. It was modeled after the shape of a hideous goblin. It was a mask of an odd form, with two additional holes beneath the eyeholes. Meaning it didnt have two eyeholes but four, which made it an utterly fascinating design. What was stuck to my face right now? Ah, it was a crude stic mask imitating a skull. To think I was wearing such a toy. This couldnt be called a mask. The real mask was over there. I wanted to wear that one. A young human female spoke to me. I knew her name Ah, was it Ye-eun? Why was she talking to me? I need to wear that mask. -Fhaan cthull, Venyuo aan Gi EL. That was the real mask. I came here to be one with that mask. My obsession with masks that was embedded in my mind existed for this very moment. Slowly, I reached out for the mask Fizzz [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of distortion has been nullified.] Are you going to buy that one? This was the voice of Jeong Eun-taek, the pawnshop owner. Yes? No, wait. What was it? A hallucination? No, was there disorientation? When did it start? Why didnt I get a message about disorientation? Did it appear and I just didnt remember? An unpleasant sensation overwhelmed me. My memories werent fully connected. Ye-eun stood right beside me, her face betraying no sign of anything amiss. Contrary to my perception, was I looking at the masks while having a good conversation with Ye-eun? In my hand was the same mask I had seen earlier. Are you interested in that mask? Jeong Eun-taek seemed to have formed a different impression as he noticed my momentary hesitation. How much is it? Hmm let me see it. Here it is. Jeong Eun-taek took the mask and looked at it for a moment using strange sses with dozens of lenses, and then he made a hissing sound. This doesnt seem like something youd be interested in. He implied it was just an ordinary item that had no connection to magical artifacts or the being of the abyss. Is that so? Strange. Because my eyes were seeing something quite different. [??s Mask (??-rank essory): Mask of unknown origin. Research or appraisal is required to determine its nature.] This was undoubtedly an unappraised artifact. It was an item whose true value could only be discerned if you took the time to appraise it. But even Jeong Eun-taek cant appraise it? Jeong Eun-taek was an NPC with appraisal skills. During gamey in [Cthulhu World], it wasmon to bring unappraised artifacts to Jeong Eun-taek for appraisal. Items he couldnt appraise were usually mythical or legendary stuff. In terms of rank, they were SSS or higher. Is this mask one of those items? But why didnt I know about such a mask? It was an artifact I had never seen before. Now that I think about it, didnt a trait activate earlier? [Madmans Luck: If you have a mental illness, Hidden Artifact Discovery Probability and Crafting Sess Rate increase. The owner of this trait is considered to have Unexpected Sess, Brilliant Creativity, and Random Encounter traits.] Ah thats it. Was this an artifact I couldnt have found without this trait? In any case, it was a hidden artifact I had never seen before. I wanted to take it and discover its abilities. I tried to hide my excitement in my voice as I spoke. Id like to have it, even if its just a trivial item. As you can see, Im collecting masks. Hmm Is that so? Jeong Eun-taek peered at my face through his strange sses. He had the look of someone appraising an item as if I were the merchandise. Then, suddenly, he broke into a generous smile. Well, if you want such trinkets, Ill give you one as a gift. He reached out and held out the mask to me. I took it and replied, Thank you. He must think he made a good deal by buying the orb at a fair price. He was probably confident he could make a profit of five or six thousand from an easy customer. Considering the buying price of the items he sold me, it was indeed a jackpot day for him. Weve both made a good trade, it seems. Doe again. Thats right. Ill visit often. I hope to see you for a long time. The average lifespan of fixers in Paju, which was almost like a den of thieves, was extremely short. For someone like Jeong Eun-taek to retire unscathed was a rare urrence indeed. I ced the money I received in my backpack and left the pawnshop. I could hear Ye-eun shouting something about meing again, but I could also hear Jeong Eun-taek telling her not toe back again from tomorrow. Anyway, it was a good deal. Lets go to the motel quickly. I need to check the mask properly in a ce where no one else is around. *** As soon as I got back to the motel, I briefly cleaned up the room. It wasnt aplicated preparation, but I was about to conduct a magic ritual. Even though it might be a hassle, it was better to perform at least a minimal purification. I scattered a handful of salt from the pawnshop in each corner of the room. Then I put all unnecessary items in my backpack and threw it in the bathroom. There were two tasks to aplish. First, I needed to seal the [Wriggling Slime] and [ck Goats Body Fluid]. Next, I nned to examine the mask I had received from the pawnshop. Before inspecting the mask, I must seal these first. If I be disoriented while examining the mask, theres no knowing what these guys would do. No matter how strong I am, I cant afford to be careless. These are not mere objects. They are items imbued with the power of beings from the abyss. They are mediums that can directly connect to those beings, fragments of them, and perhaps even their avatars. They possess their own will and desire, along with the power to realize it. They always manifest in ways that destroy or corrupt human souls. Special measures are necessary to block their power. Iid a ck cloth on a small round table beside the bed and ced a small crystal pir about 10cm in length, on it. Then I took out incense candles and lit them. All these items were stuff I bought from the pawnshop. The cloth was made from the skin of a hungry ghost that was purified by exposing it to sunlight and moonlight for a hundred days and a hundred nights. The incense candles were made by hardening cedar scent mixed with corpse wax (a wax-like organic substance formed by body fat in corpses). I closed my eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then moved my hands using magical power. Kiiiiing A trail of fluorescent light formed following the movement of my hands. And now, to form the magic circle. Usually, these circles are drawn in a circr shape with triangles or squares, considering symmetry, symbolism, and aesthetics to create a beautiful and mystical form. In reality, this isnt necessary. A magic circle is essentially just a kind of circuit diagram. Its not the shape thats crucial, as long as there is input, processing, amplification, and output. Of course, magic academies or magic towers must consider visibility and teaching convenience, so they enforce the use of shapes that are easy to replicate and manual-friendly. For example, an equteral triangle inside a circle is said to enhance the power of fire magic. As for me I have no need to teach others, nor do I need to remember magic circles in specific forms. Therefore, I ignored symmetry and symbolism and focused solely on the most efficient and practical form for the magic circle. The result looked like wild graffiti. Good, just a few more like this. Magic circles with the meanings of sealing, weakening, confinement, and purifying begin to emerge. Chapter 18: Carcosa’s Stuff Chapter 18: Carcosas Stuff I had no intention ofpletely destroying them. They were rare items that were difficult to find elsewhere. I nned to trap them and then preserve their power as much as possible. Even if I couldnt apply such power right away, once my skills improved, I could use it directly or indirectly it would prove to be quite useful. First, I opened the lid of the ss bottle containing the wriggling slime. As the oppressive spell that had confined it was lifted, the slime trapped in the ss bottle began to agitate violently. I gestured slowly, guiding the slime. Now,e here, this way. The slime, drawn by my hand movements, slowly rose and entangled with the magic circles I had prepared. Yes, good. Thats where you need to go. You want to rest, dont you? I have prepared a cradle for you. Commands infused with magical power gave the slime new desires and directions. Thats right, its this crystal. Go inside it. Fizzz A brief spark flew due to the recoil of the magical power but it wasnt a major problem. Before long, the slime had settled inside the purified crystal. I slowly lifted the crystal. The crystal enclosing the ck slime droplets somewhat resembled a small column of ice. Now, this slime couldnt leave the crystal unless I allowed it. In the same manner, I sealed the [ck Goats Body Fluid]. Since the [ck Goats Body Fluid] was white, a crystal imprisoning white droplets soon materialized before me. Phew this is somewhat tiring. I took a short break by massaging the back of my neck. It didnt take long thanks to my ridiculous magical talent, but it was by no means an easy task. Anyone could destroy or incinerate something, but this task was beyond the capacity of an ordinary mage. Anyway, these two can no longer cause any trouble. I thought for a while about where to ce the two crystal pirs, but in the end I just put them on the bedside. Although it was something I had to do eventually, this was merely a preliminary step for the tasks ahead. Now lets examine the mask. I took the mask out of my backpack and ced it on the table. Even on a second look, the masks bizarre shape was striking. Texture and color of natural wood. Twisted and contorted features. And four eye holes pierced through it. Jeong Eun-taek had dismissed it as a trivial object with no notable origin or history, but I could sense magical power faintly oozing from this mask. Alright, shall we take a proper look at whats inside this item? There was no need to repeat the purification process. I had created plenty of magic circles to serve as safety measures. I drew the floating magic circles closer, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, and ced my hand on the mask. [?? Mask (??-rank essory): A mask of unknown origin. Research or appraisal is required to determine its nature.] It was an item that even a professional appraiser like Jeong Eun-taek couldnt appraise. Someone had deliberately sealed it. To appraise such an item, one would need special artifacts or magic. But the problem is, the seal on this seems to be anything but ordinary. As a test, I activated a first-order appraisal spell. [Identification] Whooosh [System: Unveiling the veil surrounding ?? Mask.] [Unveiling Judgment in Progress] [Insufficient caster level results in a penalty to the judgment.] Ping! [Judgment Failed.] Just as I expected. The seal on the mask couldnt be broken with a first-order spell. If a first-order [Identification] could have broken it, then Jeong Eun-taek would have been able to appraise it as well. Perhaps the fourth-order [Foresight]. or at least the second-order [Insight] would be necessary. My own magic order was a mere one. A first-order mage like myself couldnt break the seal with the spells at my disposal. Of course, I hadnt prepared all this just to end things in such an anticlimactic way. Hoooo. I closed my eyes for a moment and exhaled. After all, the orders of magic were merely artificial distinctions. I had already created and used magic that transcended these tiers. Focusing intensely, I concentrated highly tuned magical power and then slowly opened my eyes. My masked face was reflected in the mirror hanging in the corner of the motel room. The visage of a mage donning a skull-shaped mask. All of a sudden, my eyes were adorned with dazzling golden magic circles that were shining brilliantly. The world as seen through my eyes hadpletely changed. Magic circles orbiting around me, and the flow of magic influenced by these circles. What usually appeared as a mere stream or a gas of magic now manifested as a cluster of shining particles and endlessly repeating lines. My magical sensitivity allowed me to intervene even in these minute particles and lines of magic. I looked at the mask again. The sinister magical power pooled within it. And then there was the colorless veil concealing it. This must be the work of a being of the abyss. There was no doubt about it. While the origin of the mask remained unknown, the seal itself was unmistakably crafted by a being from the abyss. Very intriguing. An item sealed by a divine being that governed otherworldly realms, the underworld, darkness, and the deep abyss. What kind of power might it hold? I concentrated again and created new magic circles. These circles embodied the concepts of dposition, analysis, pration, severance, and release. Magic particles and magic lines that resonated with them were concentrated at one point. The sound was like the screeching of gears. Giggigigigeek! It was akin to the action of opening a lock with the movement of magical power alone, without a spell. But this was forcibly twisting and opening the seal of an unknown origin. It was an absurd action that was a thousand times different from merely unlocking a simple lock. But I.. can do it. The strongest mage that could be realized in the game of [Cthulhu World]. Transcending the limitations of the game and its systems, I could be more than that. Strange noises started to fill the air. It was a loud, unpleasant sound, like dozens of flying insects squishing their wings at the same time. [System: Unveiling the veil surrounding ?? Mask.] [Unveiling Judgment in Progress] [Insufficient caster level results in a penalty to the judgment.] Get lost. I had no intention of conducting a probability-based judgment. It swirled like a screw, a drill, or a de. A force and pure will crafted to prate and dismantle magic and magical power. This very essence twisted, pierced, tore, and shook the veil covering the mask. Buzzzzzzzz! [System: An error has urred. An error has urred. An error has] Fizz, Fizzzzz! ck smoke began rising from the mask. Its unveiling. The veil started to tear. At the same time, the information about the mask hidden behind the veil was revealed. [Ca?cosas Mask (?? essory): Used by? Old ruler? King in yell??? status??] I tried not to hurry as I slowly removed thest fragments of the veil. Scrape Swoosh. The eerie sound of magical lines being cut filled the air. What had once been like a de, screw, or drill in its magical form was now moving in a delicate and precise manner, like a scalpel and tweezers. Creak, creak sh!!! A blinding sh of light. A sh so intense that it obliterated the shapes of everything in the room. Ive done it. I managed to release the seal ced by a being from the abyss using nothing but my own magical control and sensitivity, without the aid of any existing spell. Where the sh of light had disappearedthere still remained the bizarrely shaped wooden mask. A sinister mask with four eyes. But now, my eyes could read the new information about this mask. [Carcosas Mask (L-rank essory): Used by the Great Old Ruler, He Who Must Not Be Named, the mighty [King in Yellow]. Those not of equal status cannot fully harness its power. Yellow Sign: The mighty [King in Yellow] takes an interest in you. : Inactive as conditions have not been met. : Inactive as conditions have not been met. : Inactive as conditions have not been met. Yellow Madness: Your mind is imbued with Mental Illness Return to Carcosa and a random delusion. Oath of Carcosa: You may approach the side of the great [King in Yellow]]. Take the oath. You can be a being greater, wiser, and stronger than you are now. Yellow Dominion: Adds the effect Spell Enhancement: Instill Fear to certain spells. Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] Damn it what is this? [The High Priest of the Sunset] [The Lord of Sunset] [The Master of Aldebaran] [He Who Must Not Be Named] [That Which Lies Beneath the Lake] [The Great Prince] [The Peacock King] [The Master of the Festival] [The Indescribable One] [The King in Yellow] All these are names referring to one being. The entities of the abyss mostly must not be named by their true names, but among them, [The King in Yellow] is considered the most dangerous. How bad must it be to have earned the epithet [He Who Must Not Be Named]? Anyway is this one of the Yellow Signs? [The King in Yellow] scattered symbols imbued with his power and madness to spread his influence and madness throughout the world. Those who encountered objects marked with the Yellow Sign could gain immense power and corrupted inspiration, albeit temporarily However, as is often the case with such tales, they would eventually gopletely mad and be servants of [The King in Yellow]. To think such an item of unknown origin was just rolling around in a pawnshop? It sounded ridiculous. It was a trap. This was not an item that should havee into my hands without reason. Hmm but still I adjusted my posture and looked closely at Carcosas mask. But couldnt this be useful? The protagonist, overconfident in his own strength, ultimately ended up using a forbidden object that should never have been touched. It seems like it would be narrated like this if I were to use it. However, one effect was too tempting to give up. [Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] An artifact that grants the blink spell, no less. Isnt it a survival skill? Ah, fu*k. How can I give up on a survival skill? In the extremely challenging [Cthulhu World], survival skills are necessary to avoid the worst situations. This is not a matter of choice. Its essential and mandatory. I tapped the stic skull mask covering my face with my fingers. Its a million times better than wearing such a cheap stic toy. Ah, forget it! Just use it. My traits will somehow help out! I took off the stic mask covering my face and slowly put on [Carcosas Mask]. Some kind of information, or will, began to flow into my mind. It was a strange noise, almost like a voice. |Squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish, squish| A disgusting voice with no meaning. |The entangled chitinous, blood-soaked, trembling grandeur of Byaunya Ain Ain Chulu, Cul Kha- Qua Mu the light beyond. The beautiful the beautiful Carcosa.| The voice which had been mere noise started to form meaning. |The enormous pyramid. The yellowed, withered leaves. Thekeside with stagnant, rotten water. The stinking ck masses. The shimmering moon. The ominous yellow light. The squelchy hill.| [L-rank essory The Mask of Carcosas penalty. Invitation to Carcosa is activated. // Invitation to Carcosa: Your mind is imbued with Mental illness- Return to Carcosa and a random delusion.] It wasnt a reckless decision to put it on. After all, the penalties brought about by the Yellow Sign were rooted in madness. |Crawling insects. Maggotsrger than a human torso. Rolling skulls. Decaying corpses. Eyeballs. Eyeballs. Eyeballs.| Fizzzz-pop-. Blue sparks began to fly around the mask and my head. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The Invitation to Carcosa effect has been nullified. The madness and delusions that tried to dwell in your mind disappeared.] Since mental illnesses already resided in my mind, no new form of mental illness could enter. [System: The L-rank essory, Carcosas Mask, is now bound to you.] This meant that I could freely use this artifact without any penalties. As the sparks vanished, the strange noises that had been echoing in my head alsopletely disappeared. Phew Is it done? The texture of the wood was softer than I had anticipated, and it felt stable to wear. I tried out a few spells as a test to examine the mask and my physical condition but I detected no abnormalities. In any case, I felt in excellent condition. It seemed safe to continue using this mask in the future. Although there was a limit to the number of uses, this mask was equipped with advanced teleportation abilities like blinking. I would have to use it sparingly and wisely. Lastly, I picked up the backpack I had thrown in the bathroom and took out some money. There were eight bundles of money, each made up of a hundred 50,000 won notes..In total, that amounted to 40 million won. At a nce, it seemed like a lot of money, but it was ridiculouslycking for securing a base and stable activities. It takes a lot of money to buy safety in the dangerous [Cthulhu World]. I should rest for a day or two more before meeting Tudor Chapter 19: Mad Dog Chapter 19: Mad Dog It was ate night devoid of people. Thirty days had passed since the capture of Lee Chang-hyuk. Buwaaaaaaaaa! A noise like an explosion filled the empty roads of the freeway. Dozens of illegally modified bikes emitted intense heat, noise, and dazzling lights in unison. Hellhound. That was the name of the biker gang that had recently taken over the freeway. They rode in a frenzy without even the most basic safety gear, let alone helmets. Their wild ride was either a deviation for a moment of pleasure or a manifestation of some instinct-driven madness. But today was different. The only reason they were rushing through the freeway today was to escape from me. Fu*k! Hes still following us! How is this even possible! Amidst the thunderous roar of the bikes and the howling wind, my keen senses urately picked up the biker gangs bber. These were the bikers who had previously evaded their pursuers with their mobility. But since I was keeping up with them with nothing but my bare body, it certainly warranted calling me a monster. No, it wasnt exactly with nothing. One of the bikers finally couldnt stand it anymore and let out a scream-like shout. How is he following us with that thing! Arge skateboard was making an incredible noise as it sped along beneath me. The actions I was performing were nearly impossible with just my strength and agility, but the spells forcibly cast on the board and my hoodie enabled me to do what I wanted. [Speed Increase] [Posture Control] I pushed more magical power into the board to increase its speed. Boom! A roar like that of a monster bike erupted from the skateboard, which didnt even have an engine. Crazy! What the hell is that! I had now caught up to the rear of the biker gang. Die, you monster! One of the bikers at the back slowed down a bit and then pointed a submachine gun at me. Ratatatatata!! [Leap] Creak! Whir! The newly enchanted board made unstable noises but, following my will, it leaped into the air. The bikers at the rear screamed as they saw me flying into the sky. Aaagh! This is insane! A mage! That guys a mage! Had they only just realized I was a mage? Ah, thats right. It must have been their first time seeing a mage charging down the road like this. At the apex of my leap, my elevated viewpoint allowed me to survey the entire gang of bikers below. Lets see Ah, these reckless souls. Not a single one wearing a helmet. Dudadadadada!! Dudadadadada, Dudadadadadada!!! Bullets erupted like a disturbed beehive. In the world of [Cthulhu World] that was far removed from reality even juvenile bikers were armed with submachine guns. [Protective Circle] Titatatat! Tatat, Tititing! Bullets ricocheted right before my eyes. One of the bikers at the forefront was screaming as if in a frenzy. What are you doing, idiots! Shoot properly! Bring him down! Ah, is the loudmouth the one? I focused magical power towards my eyes to spot the one shouting. Red jacket blonde, tanned man. Lucky. Got him. [Hardening] I cast hardening on the board and applied a shock beneath it to add double propulsion! [Impact] Kwaang! I then flew across the air at tremendous speed, heading straight for the front of the biker gang. Such feat was impossible without an exquisite sense of bnce, timing, and the ability to control magical power. Even the bikers momentarily forgot their situation and gaped in awe. Kwaang! Inded on the ground, but I kept my speed without slowing down and turned my head. The bikers, unable to reduce their speed, now seemed to be following me. None of you are wearing helmets. Why risk injury? Why not just surrender? This was their final warning. If they continued to act recklessly despite my leniency, there was only so much more I could tolerate Still acting tough, you son of a bit*h! A biker wearing a bright blue Sukajan jacket increased his speed while swinging a long iron il. Ah, was he a mid-boss? There was no need to use magic on him. I simply met his eyes directly. The moment he caught up and our eyes locked The four eyes on the mask emitted a chilling light. Kiiiiing! [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Yellow Dominion, has been activated. // Yellow Dominion: Automatically cast the Instill Fear spell] [System: Instill Fear effect forces a madness check on the target. Judging] [Judgment sessful. An unbearable fear takes hold of the targets mind.] Arghhhhhhh! Theplexion of the guy who met my eyes turned as pale as the color of the Sukajan jacket he wore. Unable to resist the Instill Fear spell, his body started showing abnormalities. The symptoms were roughly sweating, difficulty breathing, mild convulsions, and dizziness. Grrrrrr And then he fainted. The biker, having lost consciousness, let go of the handle and fell off his bike. Eek! [Invisible Hand] Crack! Boom! The bike that lost its rider tumbled across the freeway before breaking into pieces. I had no obligation to save the biker who hade at me with the intent to kill, but My dreams were already turbulent these days; I saw no need to kill him so I used telekinesis to toss him into the bushes off the road. Well, he might survive if hes lucky. Eeeek you monster! Hey, who are you calling a monster? Dozens of guns were once again aimed at me. Isnt this too close? A protective circle alone seemed too risky at this moment. [Distortion Field] As I activated a new spell Ratatatatatatatata!!! The biker gangs submachine guns fired in unison. The bullets aimed at me were caught and redirected by the Distortion Field, which warped long-range attacks before sending them flying in random directions. Bababababababang!!! The misdirected bullets headed toward the biker gang, creating a myriad of sparks on the road ahead of them. Arghhhhh! Screeeeech!!! Then I added another spell to the mix. [Whirlwind] Whooshhhhh!!! It was a first-order spell that generated strong winds. Since it was a first-order one, it was meant for support rather than attack. However, when I really started to infuse magical power into the spell, these clumsy enemies could be torn apart just by that. Kwagwagwagwagwagyagyagyang! An overwhelming storm that was strong enough to shake the road was created. I had no intention of directly hitting them with this spell. It was just meant to slow them down, and as I thought, the speed of the bikes drastically decreased. Now, theyll get hurt a bit less, wont they? I threw away my skateboard and jumped up while pumping my magical power into one hand. Thats it for the racing event now! [Earthquake Strike] As soon as I fell, I mmed my fist which was filled with magical power onto the ground. Gugugugung Kwaaaaang!!! The asphalt of the freeway began to violently tremble. Uaaaaaak! Unable to withstand the terrible vibration, the bikers started to fall off their bikes one by one, starting with the one in the lead. Kwadangtangtang-! Kwajik! Kyagyagyagyag! Ah, they should have worn helmets Though their speed had reduced considerably, it was still fast enough to be lethal. Blood and bike parts scattered in all directions. The freeway quickly turned into a junkyard, tangled with bike debris and human trash. Still, I exerted a bit of mercy by using wind and telekinesis to catch those who seemed in real danger. It was a widespread ident that happened simultaneously in a broad area. Without my surreal level of magic control and sensing abilities, it would have been impossible. Anyway, I had to waste quite a bit of concentration on that wind and I failed to preemptively stop one guys sudden action. Dieeeee! You son of a bit*h! Whoosh! Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside my field of vision, followed by fierce mes rushing towards me. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Dreamy blur, has been activated. // Dreamy blur: Automatically cast the Blink spell] The mask covering my face suddenly gave me a bizarre sensation like it was pulling me in. Sensing the danger, the [Carcosas Mask] activated the blink spell and teleported my body away. The iing mes struck the empty ground and they melted a bit of the roads asphalt before disappearing. Hey, 30 million won. You motherfu**er dont give a s*it that I did all of this s*it to save your life? The leader of the biker gang, a tanned blonde in a red jacket, growled with blood dripping from his head. Stop fu*king around You speak about saving us after doing all this s*it? Was his nickname Mad Dog? Im not sure of his real name, but his bounty was 30 million won. Uaaaaaah! Mad Dog spread his arms and let out a roar. It wasnt a meaningless gesture. Suddenly, strange mes burst from the guys shoulders and they wrapped around his arms. Your friends, they dont happen to call you Fire Fist Mad Dog, do they? It was, more precisely, pyrokinesis. Just like Lee Chang-hyuk whom I had faced before, this guy suffered from magical hypertrophy. Because he was born with a powerful magical power, he could wield primitive forms of magic. Much like a person with superpowers. Mad Dog, with his arms aze, thrust them forward and yelled at me. Bring it on, you fu*king c*nt! The heat emanating from his body was more intense than I had anticipated. This wasnt something my fire resistance could fully handle. Whats there to bring, you mad dog? Go drink some cold water and cool your head. [Creation: Create Clear Water] [Spell Enhancement: Maximize] Kwaah! Following my will, the magic circles created in the air started spewing out massive amounts of water. Tch! Upon seeing the massive amount of water I had created, Mad Dog flinched briefly before regaining hisposure and charging at me. Normally, its better to charge at a mage than to run away from them. Good decision. As Mad Dog closed in, I imbued the cascading water with new properties. [Whirling Waves] Chaaaaaak!!! Kwapa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa!!! The other bikers who were attempting to follow their leader and attack me were stunned by the incredible scene and tumbled to the ground in shock. A wave like this, on a dry road!? The sight of waterfalls, waves, and raging torrents forming on a previously dry road was indeed a spectacle. Despite the tremendous waves crashing over the road, not a single droplet touched me or the now disheartened remnants of the biker gang. It was a massive torrent of violence directed solely at one man. Rumble-rumble-rumble Ugh Ahh Ahhhhh!!! Aaack!! [You have defeated Biker Gang: Mad Dog] [You have defeated Biker Team: Hellhound] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] Hmph Just one level? Now I was at level 16. Ever since my battle against Lee Chang-hyuk, I had only encountered weaklings, so I didnt gain much experience points. Its all because Tudor intentionally chose easy tasks with high rewards for me I appreciated that she did all of that in consideration of me, but it was still disappointing that I had only leveled up once after a whole month. I was hoping for more challenging tasks to begin soon. I manipted the waves to drag Mad Dog to my feet. You should have just surrendered quietly when I was being considerate, shouldnt you? Grrrr If he had just surrendered without a fuss, it wouldnt havee to this. Mad Dog, who had been tossed around like clothes in an aggressively spinning washing machine, was nowpletely worn out. Now that I took care of him, it was time to return. I looked around at the biker gang members crawling nearby and said, Anyone else wants to try their luck? No-not at all! P-please, just spare our lives! I-it was all this bastards doing! He made us do it! Thats right! Please forgive us! What a bunch of disloyal bastards Well, the mission was only to capture the leader so there was no need to bother with the others. Alright, thats done But where exactly am I? I looked around. I had run much farther than I originally intended. The chase had been more entertaining than I expected, and I just lost track of time. Would I even be able to hail a taxi in this neighborhood at this hour? Would you like a ride to the city center? A strange voice came from an unexpected direction. It had a very unique ent. Not Korean, but a foreigners voice. The direction was over there, in the shadows of the dark trees beyond the road. I could see a figure lurking. Who is this bastard loitering around in the middle of the night, trying to act all mysterious? Chapter 20: Park Kwang-lim Chapter 20: Park Kwang-lim A shadow emerged from among the trees lining the road outside. The figure was roughly my height, and he looked to be a foreigner dressed in a suit. You have impressive skills beyond imagination. It was truly a spectacle to behold. Judging by the ent, perhaps Chinese? A Chinese person capable of finding me in the middle of the night Ah, I know who it is. No big deal. I brushed off the mansment from within the shadows as I finished up my task. [Lightning] Fzzzzt! Argh! Mad Dog who had been sprawled at my feet was already in a near-death state, but with a third party intervening, I couldnt predict whatplications might arise so I knocked him out. ncing towards the shadow, I spoke, If youre not here to interfere could you wait a bit? Let me handle this first, then we can talk. I stuffed the unconscious Mad Dog into a prepared carrier. Only then did I notice his arm was twisted in an unnatural direction. It seemed severely broken Should I administer first aid? [Hardening] Although theres no healing magic in the first-order spells avable to me, I could use hardening to temporarily splint a broken arm, mimicking the effect of a makeshift cast. Anyway, that was enough for now. There were bikers loitering around, having lost their bikes, but it seemed none of them had the loyalty to risk their lives by charging in. Anyway, it looked like I had more or less wrapped things up here and now, should I deal with that loitering Chinese man over there? What on earth was he doing here? I walked in the direction I heard the voice and called his name. But Park Kwang-lim-ssi? What brings you here? I heard that a rising star had appeared, so I thought I mighte and offer my business card. He probably wanted to make an impressive entrance but now that I showed that I knew his name, he showed a hint of embarrassment. When the distance became close enough, Park Kwang-lim stepped out of the shadows between the trees and fully revealed himself. He was a man with narrow eyes and he wore an old-fashioned suit and an out-of-date fedora. I already have my own contacts for dealings, you see This mans name was Park Kwang-lim. Though Chinese, he was a broker like Tudor and operated in Paju. Id prefer not to expand my contacts, so if its that kind of business, Id rather you go through Tudor at Caf Vasilisa. Its just that Tudor has been overly protective of Kim Shin-hwa-ssi Park Kwang-lim momentarily smiled while fiddling with his fedora. Was there some other motive behind his visit? How about it? Why dont you listen to what I have to say for a moment? There are many people curious about who Kim Shin-hwa-ssi really is. Park Kwang-lim worked as a broker, but his business specialized in information trading. Essentially, he was an information dealer whose main job was akin to that of a private investigator. I dont think theres much benefit for me in talking to you, though. I know youll just exaggerate whatever little I say and sell it to all sorts of people. While I did need fame, I had no interest in generating baseless rumors. As if I hit the nail right on the hand, Park Kwang-lim made a grimace before continuing. If youre looking for financial gains, there are better options than Tudor. Are you aware that Tudorsmission rates are quite highpared to others in this field? That was true. Tudorsmission rates were indeed expensive in this business. If you wish, I can introduce you to cheaper and reliable contacts. Its not about needing money urgently. Im content with Tudor. I needed money, but if it was just about the money, there were easier jobs avable. I chose Tudor for the future quests that might connect and for the unique items only obtainable through Tudor. Of course, the most important point was that Tudor was a highly trustworthy broker who would never betray me. I especially knew the potential consequences I would be facing if I were to deal with Park Kwang-lim instead. Never do anything with this guy! Its not just about money, I can also connect you to other lines. As a mage, you might be seeking more useful knowledge or artifacts, right? I have contacts that could link you to such things. He was more persistent than I expected. Though I was praised as a promising new talent, honestly, it wasnt the time for headhunting to start already. In just over a month, I had captured only a handful of wanted criminals. Was that really enough reason for him to cling to me like this? Stop it, and just tell me your real purpose foring here. Uh Alright. Tsk, look. I knew it would be like this. I think you might start getting annoyed, so Ill just ask one thing. I was already annoyed. What is it? Did you happen to visit Unjeong Station about a month ago? Unjeong Station Aha, so this was the real issue all along? About a month ago at Unjeong Station, I had robbed the cultists of the [Descendants of Fomalhaut] andpletely messed up their temple If it was a month ago Well, I cant recall anything specific. This information should not be shared with anyone, especially not with Park Kwang-lim. It would spread faster than the 9 oclock news to everyone if I were to tell him. I see. I was just asking because someone I do business with has been looking for something since a month ago, so I wondered if you might know. The Descendants of Fomalhaut, those people, it seemed they had bribed Park Kwang-lim to find me? Then all the more reason I know nothing. So, you truly dont know about a ring thats been lost? From the cultists perspective, it must be an important sacred item, and they would be desperately searching for it. That ring was currently on my finger. Well, it seems theres nothing I can help with. Oh In truth, such items are difficult to recover unless the thief decides to sell them to a fence, right? Thats why Ive almost given up. Did his words imply that if I tried to sell the stolen ring, I would be caught immediately? It could be read as a threat, but it seemed more like he was on my side for now. I nodded nomittally and then said to Park Kwang-lim. Is that all you wanted? Thats all. Fine. Then, before you go, give me your business card and Ill keep it handy. Ah, of course. Whenever you part ways with Tudor, feel free to get in touch. Well More than that, its for when I urgently need to find someone to contact. Park Kwang-lims narrowed eyes became even narrower at my words. It must have bothered him that I knew too much while he knew nothing about me. He possessed a very special ability called [Dowsing]. With just a few clues, he could locate the whereabouts of any person. However, his ability was limited to finding people and not objects. If that werent the case, he would have discovered that I had the ring. Park Kwang-lim tried very hard to maintain his calm expression and handed me his business card. Ah, hmm, hmmm, heres my card. Could I possibly get a way to contact you? I havent got a mobile phone yet. That was actually true. It was about time Tudor made me an ID card, and once I had it, I nned to get a smartphone. But Park Kwang-lim seemed to misunderstand and looked a little disappointed. Understood. Please feel free to contact me at any time. As you know, theres no one in Paju who can match me in finding people. He had personallye all this way to show off his ability, so surely he was confident in his unparalleled skills, wasnt he? Anyway, befriending Park Kwang-lim could be beneficialter on if I needed help finding randomly hiding individuals like Lee Chang-hyuk. Ah, right. And one more thing. Yes, what is it? Could you give me a lift to Vasilisa? .. Didnt he say earlier that he would give me a ride? *** So, this is what happened. Hmm Are you trying to show off your poprity now? I recounted the story of Park Kwang-lim to Tudor at Caf Vasilisa. Tudor briefly wore a sulky expression on her face. It was probably a disy of displeasure, but given her charming looks, it seemed more like she was preparing for a prank than aint. I told you to stay put, and yet youre out snooping around Maybe I should send a gift to the opposition soon. Park Kwang-lims business was located in the opposition district. Thepany name on the card was [Opposition Detective People Finder Specializing in Affair Investigations, Fraud Investigation, and Errand Center]. It was a ridiculously long name. Tudor began to mutter to herself, contemting the gift she would send to Park Kwang-lim. Food poisoning? No, perhaps pneumonia would be more fitting for the current mood. Though Orthodox, a traffic ident isnt a bad idea either Tudor was a witch. If you ever received an unexpected gift from Tudor, stop whatever youre doing and immediately seek out the nearest church. If you can make it to the church without encountering an ident, you might find a way to either break the curse or at least minimize its damage. It wasnt to save Park Kwang-lim, but I distracted Tudor by engaging her in conversation. Now that Ive warmed up, it seems like a good time to raise the difficulty level of my tasks. So thats why you brought up this topic? Not exactly. Its just that something like that happened. Hmm Indeed, the tasks youve been assigned were intern-level work, prepared to help you adapt to our environment more easily. I thought as much. The tasks handled after the capture of the wanted criminal Lee Chang-hyuk were a series of typical tutorial quests. Transporting secure items, defending key points, sabotaging secret equipment held by rival organizations, and todays pursuit quest. There were various types of tasks, but generally, they were simple, low-difficulty ones that could bepleted within half a day. Im really satisfied with how this task turned out. I didnt expect it to be resolved so quickly without any additional support. Impressive indeed. Tudors expression brightened up. It seemed likely that Park Kwang-lim would avoid his crisis. There was no need to set a testing period for me from the start. Hehe, your performance has proven itself, so I cant argue with that. But to be a reliable and trustworthy broker, you need to do everything with certainty. She had a point. Regardless of my achievements, Tudor would have proceeded ording to the schedule set in the game. Anyway, now that I havepleted a total of five quests including the introductory one, it seems that moreplicated cases will starting in. But not today. I think youll be busy for a while and wont be able to work. Busy? Yes, now that your new identity is ready, youll have to take care of things you couldnt do before, right? I was wondering what you were referring to. So, my ID card has finally arrived? Thats right. Youre now officially a Korean citizen capable of engaging in credit transactions. It feels strange when you say it like that. I smiled wryly and tapped the mask with my fingers. A sudden event had reset everything in my life, including my identity and nationality These were aspects I had never once felt the need to be thankful for possessing. But now I had to pay exorbitant prices to get such basic necessities. Here, take your identification first. Tudor handed me a small envelope. Inside were an ID card and a bank book. Didnt it take longer than expected to get ready? Recently, crackdowns on illegal immigrants have been strengthened not only in Paju but nationwide, so there was a bit of a dy. Is the foreigner management office on a roll? What a pain in the ass. Chapter 21: Studio Apartment Chapter 21: Studio Apartment I, Kim Shin-hwa, was definitely a Korean, born and raised in South Korea. However, if I was apprehended by the officials of the immigration bureau, I would be ssified as an illegal resident without any question. In [Cthulhu World], South Korea granted surreal powers and authority to the immigration bureau to deal with the surreal issues urring both inside and outside the country. There was the issue of North Korean refugees, and in the Cthulhu Mythos, outsiders were always ominous beings bringing disaster. And there were even bigger problems than that. I frowned for a moment, but Tudor, who couldnt tell what kind of expression I was making because of the mask, cheerfully continued the conversation. But all this is because I want to give you the best; you understand, right? Well, I suppose so. By the way you. Yes? How did you make that photo? That photo? Oh, is she talking about this? I nced briefly at the photo on my ID card. At first nce, it looked like a blurry image, as if out of focus. But a closer look revealed that it was indeed a properly taken photo. It was a fake face I had created using a few illusion spells and otherplex methods. I meticulously adjusted the cement and size of the facial features and also arranged an outfit and background that induced visual hypnosis through their color scheme. An excessively ordinary face that appeared simr to many yet resembled none. Since it was intentionally stripped of any uniqueness, no matter how carefully one looked at the photo, it was impossible to recall the face from memoryter. Why is that? I think people might want more of something simr if you could make it Ah, was that what she meant? Apparently, Tudor had realized the significance of this photo. Its not easy to make And if too many are made, the effect diminishes. Hmm, no worries. It was just a fun idea I had. Dont mind it. Go ahead and check your bank book. At Tudors urging, I opened my bank ount and found that it contained exactly 50 million won. [50,000,000] Thats a lot of money, isnt it? Thepensation for this job was 10 million won, and I added a little more as a bonus, making it exactly fifty. Since Lee Chang-hyuk, I had asked for all my earnings from the jobs I solved to be kept aside. There should be about forty-five million, but it seems Tudor added a few extra million. Considering the cash stacked up in my room, I had now saved over one hundred million won. After finishing the next task, it might be worth considering getting my own ce. And this. Tudor handed me a smartphone. Its thetest model with arge screen. Where do you find a fixer who stays cooped up and onlyes out when its convenient to ept a job and then disappears? I got this activated so I can contact you whenever its convenient for me. Answer when I call. When I turned on the screen, I found Tudors contact information already saved. Hmm Nice. Thanks. Its rare to hear a thank you from you. You really do have an expensive mouth. Anyway, youre saying youll put me to work seriously, right? Lets continue the conversation about the task you mentioned earlier. Thats right. Im investing money in this, so be prepared to be fully used. *** In roughly a month, I acquired an ID card, a bank ount, and a smartphone. These are the basic items typically required in Korea to prove your identity. It would be even better if I had a job. Im talking about a normal andmon-sense job in the world, not as a fixer or a mage. As my work as a fixer increases, Ill be handling more money. This might not pose a problem in the short term, but in the long term, theres a risk of getting caught up in tax investigations or simr issues. When I was simply ying the game [Cthulhu World], I never encountered such frustrating events But now, in this real world, most humans live in a way simr to actual reality. I operated the smartphone and essed the inte. A quick search led me to find the gamingmunity and the vast wiki site I used to visit in reality. The details have changed a bit, but While it wasnt exactly the same, themunity was still active. On the humor board, postscked their value but were creative nheless, and numerous people mixed their ng and buzzwords intoments on these humor posts. The difference in trending words and details from reality wasnt a problem. The important thing was that in the game [Cthulhu World] I had enjoyed, there were no suchmunities or pointless humor boards. Perhaps its more urate to say they werent depicted? After all, a game implements only whats necessary for gamey. However, humans here moved in their unique ways as each had their own will and thoughts. Overlooking real-world issues by considering this merely a game world could lead to unexpected problems. And there was one more thing. There was a real problem that needed solving. *** How much? Just a studio apartment will do. Somewhere with cheap rent. Conducting real estate transactions while wearing a mask was no easy task. Therefore, the day after I received my ID, I visited a shabby real estate agency located on the outskirts of Geumchon through Tudors introduction. The owner of the office was an olddy whose appearance was so suspicious that it wouldnt have been strange if she suddenly started chuckling creepily. In fact, as a ce catering to those with unclear identities, it was an office that could conduct transactions even without an ID card. But the presence or absence of this single ID card drastically changed the amount I had to pay. There are a few nearby. Want to see them? If its possible, Id like to see and choose. Hmph, how troublesome The main customers of this establishment seemed to have a habit of signing contracts without even viewing the rooms. It made sense, considering the ce itself offered no sense of trust or eagerness to provide service to its clients. The map clumsily attached to the wall depicted what Paju looked like 30 years ago, and the coating on the consultation table was so worn out that the areas touched by customers hands were dented and looked glossy ck. Despite its state, the properties they introduced were fortunately quite decent. I didnt have to spend much time looking around; after visiting just a couple of ces, I promptly signed a contract. The ce waspact but could be considered fully equipped, and most importantly, it was within walking distance from Vasilisa. Since I hardly had any belongings to call luggage, moving was a breeze and it waspleted with just a round trip from the motel right after the contract was signed. Quiet and clean. Not bad at all. Like the motel, it had a refrigerator but here, there was also a washing machine, a sink for simple cooking, and even a rice cooker. I felt slightly better. What I especially liked was the fact that I could handle cooking andundry on my own. As soon as I unpacked my things, I nned to catch up onundry and buy groceries to cook. But that was just a thought. The penalty traits clinging to my body were not issues that could be easily ovee. Due to the [Weakned Stamina] trait, I was already exhausted after unpacking my belongings. So I ended up skipping both meals andundry and simplyy down on the bed. Aaah Lying down really is the best. For a moment, I thought the beds springs were overly bouncy, but it was much better than the creaky bed at the motel anyway. I also liked that the ceiling was covered with white wallpaper. Just escaping the motel with its garishly colored, chaotic wallpapers made this move worthwhile. Having given up on both eating andundry, the only thing left to do was something I could do while lying down. Poom I spread my arms wide towards the white ceiling, and various forms of magic circles arose from my outstretched arms. They were magic circles of various colors and irregr shapes, enough to shock anyone who had learned magic through a normal session process. There was no need to adhere to symmetry, regrity, or the standardized forms designed following traditional methods. Instead of simplifying to the most primal form, I calcted each magic circle to exert influence on one another, creating an incredibly efficient and unbridled effect. In an instant, the interior of my studio apartment became isted from the outside world. Now, no one could peek in or enter without my permission. Of course, beings beyond the ordinary might force their way in, but for such entities, I installed several magical traps and rm spells for security. This should be sufficient for now. After all, I have no intention of staying long in this seemingly ineffective, ordinary studio. In the [Cthulhu World], there are residences that offer magical benefits simply by owning or living in them. Some evene with incredible features like underground dungeons for leveling up or grinding. Of course, to acquire such a ce, I need to level up further. Or have enough money to disregard such needs entirely. But for now, thats not the case. Anyway, today that was pretty good. I recalled the makeshift skateboard I had rigged up to handle a race event with a gang of street bikers. It was almost a desperate idea, but it turned out better than expected. In [Cthulhu World], there are enchantment spells to strengthen the body or objects. However, the number of enchantments that can be applied to a target is limited, and the more enchantments applied, the greater the strain on the target. Therefore, its preferred to attach magic circles to personal items rather than directly to the body and aim for an indirect effect. Focusing mobility-rted enchantments on the skateboard seemed like a good move, especially since walking was too exhausting for me due to the [Weakned Stamina] debuff. Wouldnt skateboarding be a good way topensate for the physical limitations of being exhausted just by moving a little indoors? But theres no artifact in the form of a board Should I carve something like a sacred tree myself? All I have to do is attach wheels to a nk, right? However, crafting is influenced by agility, and I wasnt confident I could make it properly. For the time being, I might just buy a couple of decent ones and use them until they wear out. After all, as I continue to level up, I should be able to offset the weakened stamina effect. As Iy down and stared nkly at the ceiling, I gradually felt sleep creeping in. Should I go to sleep now? I was tired. It had been just over a month, but I had been incredibly busy. Thanks to Tudors considerate help, I had primarily focused on low-difficulty quests. However, even those proved not easy for my frail body which wasden with various penalties. Wouldnt it be better to increase the difficulty of the quests while also extending rest periods? I wasnt sure about other aspects, but this strategy seemed like it would elerate my growth rate. Well, from now on, Ill be given more serious quests I guess I dont need to worry about this anymore. I wanted to think more, to n more, but I was too sleepy. My head felt dizzy. I hadnt slept well for a month, tormented by nightmares every night. My eyes stung and my eyelids were heavy. Eventually, I couldnt resist anymore and closed my eyes. I fell into sleep, feeling as though I was plunging into deep darkness. Lets just sleep for now Anyway, tonight, like every other, I would probably wander through the nightmare granted by an abyssal being. Chapter 22: New Request Chapter 22: New Request As with every night spent in the [Cthulhu World], the previous nights dream was among the worst imaginable. Endless underground tunnels, the stench of decaying corpses. A chant echoed continuously in a murmuring voice. |Down, down, deeper down. Descend deeper down.| Descending the spiral staircase into the infinite depths of darkness. At some point, the seemingly never-ending staircase abruptly ended, revealing a secret cavern hidden beneath the earth. Therey an undergroundke that stretched endlessly in breadth. But it wasnt water that filled theke. Everywhere I looked, there were corpses upon corpses and vile creatures like worms and beasts feasting on the rotten flesh of these bodies. In a darkness so stifling it seemed even death could suffocate, there was a grotesque feast unfolding, designed for devouring the flesh of the dead such was the nature of this dream. It was no ordinary dream. It was a message sent by the beings of the abyss to destroy my mind, to grasp me in their clutches. A dream that shatters the soul of the person who experiences it and makes it impossible for them to live the same life as before. But I was already mad, so it was okay. No, thats not quite it If I hadnt possessed the trait [Madness of the Abyss], I would have lost my mind long ago. Leaving aside such nightmarish dreams, its been three days since I got a new house. Rrrrrr Over these three days, Ive managed to furnish the house with the essentials, and now Ive regained enough stability to actually cook and eat my own meals. Rrrrrr Then I made up my mind and bought a proper skateboard. Riding the board isnt exactly easy, but in my case since Im not physically riding it, its not much different from riding an electric scooter to be honest. The telekinesis conjured by magical power secured my body atop the board. I supplied magical power to the wheels created for rotation to keep moving the board forward. There is no need for actions like pushing off with my feet. With a bit more focus, I could even force the board to perform tricks simr to those done on skateboards and elerate faster than a motorcycle. At first, the vibration from the wheels was a problem, jolting all the way to my head, but I solved it by using magic to forcibly neutralize it. But setting all that aside Its incredibly convenient. I didnt have to walk, and I could maneuver indoors or overplex terrains. Even terrains typically unsuitable for a board were no issue. I could force it to move with magical power. If I set my mind to it, I could traverse deserts or jungles without any trouble. Maybe in the future, when I can afford it, Ill pay a craftsman somewhere to make me a magic board or something. I nned to create a high-performance custom board thered with artifacts and magic. Still, I had settled near Vasilisa. While riding my board I could have reached Vasilisa in about five minutes, but I intentionally roamed the dark back alleys and rooftops of the Geumchon neighborhood, whirling around before heading towards Vasilisa. This was partly to avoid any potential tailing or tracking of my movements, but honestly, more than half the reason was simply the exhration I felt riding the board. Given the dire circumstances and conditions I faced, a change of mood was essential. To stay sane, I needed to eat delicious food and maintain positive thoughts. Enjoying the delightful speed, defying physics with leaps, and spinning through the air, I finally reached the deepest part of the Geumchon neighborhoods damp and dark back alleys. There, out of ce in such a setting and time, was a peculiar caf with a stylish exterior that was open for business. Caf Vasilisa was a caf run by a witch who lived for a long time, and at the same time, it was a caf for fixers wandering the darkness of Paju. When I entered Vasilisa, a tall barista with arge spherical monitor for a head, Orb, greeted me in a mechanically synthesized voice that unnaturally broke off. Hel.lo? Kim. Shin-hwa. Hi, Orb. Got anything to chew on besides drinks? Home. Made. Sandwich? Tasty. Hmm Can I really call a sandwich made by Orb a homemade sandwich? Well, the body beneath the head is human, so anyway, it doesnt matter. Then, Ill have that and an iced Americano. Im not eating here, so please pack it up. Just. A. Moment. While I waited for Orb to prepare the sandwich, someone suddenly approached me and struck up a conversation. Hey, masked friend. Uh. Shiny bald head with bulging muscles. He was one of the fixers who hadughed at me on my first day at Vasilisa. Always lounging in the caf, gobbling down stuff like parfaits but why approach me all of a sudden? Your name is Kim Shin-hwa, right? Is that your real name? Is that why you started talking to me? Ah, such a cold response! My name is Wait, stop! Whats the matter? I broke into a cold sweat. Ah, shit I remembered this dimwitted bald mercenarys This mans name. I even knew his real name. No need to introduce yourself; I already know your name! This mans name was Kang Il-sam. His fixer name that he used as a fixer.it was a word that read as a certain number in English. To use such an unpleasant, ominous, horrible, evil, superstitious, unlucky number as a name, what was he thinking? Ah, you already know my name? Thats an honor. Well, my fixer name is Thir Why did you approach me? What do you want? I spoke without taking a breath to force him to stop speaking. Just thinking about Kang Il-sams name even the thought sent shivers down my spine. Anyway, the bald man looked momentarily perplexed; even with my mask on, it was evident something was off about me. Without the mask, my reason for acting this way would have beenpletely exposed. Ah, right. Its nothing He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and pointed at me with both hands. Kim Shin-hwa, youve been quite the rising startely, so I just wanted to say hi. Ah I see. So what? Its curious why someone who isnt the type to start conversations like this would do so. But his name keeps disrupting my focus and concentration. I thought my dream was disturbing for some reason No, its not working. I need to wrap this up quickly. Thanks for your interest. But todays not a good day for me He should just vanish in such a way that he would never be seen by me thats a bit extreme. I cant exactly tell him to go change his name ande back, can I? Even though I hadnt finished speaking, it seems my gestures of refusal and rejection were clear enough. He looked a bit troubled as he started speaking. Hey, dont be like that. Its a good offer; just hear me out. What is it? Seems like youve been working solo for a while. Arent you interested in joining a team? Ah, so that was it an invitation to join his team? The results of my recent work werent bad, but there hadnt been anything as significant as the Lee Chang-hyuk incident to gain such fameAnd the same thing happened with Park Kwang-limst time; it seems Tudor has been doing things behind the scenes to promote my name. Working alone has its limits, right? Some tasks require a number of people to back you up, regardless of skill And youre a mage, arent you? Having a reliable colleague, like a hearty bowl of gukbap, to cover your front would surely make earning money a lot easier, wouldnt it? Sorry, but I dislike it because of your awful name. No, thats not it. Im sorry, but I dont n on joining any group for the time being. Dont be like that. We can still be close without officially joining, like a guest member. For a mage like you, wed offer the best share. I stake my Name on it. No, what I mean is Please just leave with your terrible name and dont hang it over me If this conversation continued, I might either go mad or lose my temper and beat him up. Fortunately, the conversation ended in an unexpected way. Oh dear, youre here? Are you going to eat that sandwich here? When I turned my head, I saw Tudor wearing a wide-brimmed cone hat standing looking down at me with a yful expression on her face. She was already tall, but in high heels it was impossible to meet her gaze without looking up. No, Ill take it to go. Why dont you just lift your mask a bit to eat? I got goosebumps. Why is she like this? Asking to slightly remove the mask in such a crowded ce? With triskaidekaphobia (fear of 13) already etched in my mind, I had to suppress another madness threatening to emerge mask obsession. I had to quickly change the topic. I was caught between a rock and a hard ce. Tudor insisting on removing the mask and the bald man trying to say his name! I had no choice but to give up on the rtionship I had built with Tudor and everyone Well, that doesnt really matter. Sorry, but can I borrow Kim Shin-hwa for a bit? Ah, fortunately, it seems my thoughts were just paranoid delusions, a side effect of my mental illness. Tudor winked slyly at the bald man and pulled me away. Ah, I dont know what it is, but favoritism isnt good. The bald man joked, but he didnt seem to be in a bad mood. For someone with such a terrible name, he seemed to have a good personality. Huh? When did I ever show favoritism? I dont know what it is, but Im hungry. If its about work, lets get it over with quickly. I want to go eat my sandwich. I would slit the throat of an abyssal being if I could just get this over with. Hmm, okay. And Thirteen, I have something to ask of you, so dont go anywhere and wait for me. Ah, got it. I ended up hearing it! Wow, how can a persons name be that? No, why in the world would someone choose such a nickname? I felt like screaming, but fortunately, mere fleeting hearing didnt trigger my mental illness. If it were that sensitive, I would have fainted even at the sight of phone numbers on signs while passing by. Ah damn it How the hell do I erase this mental illness Anyway, I left the bald fixer with the terrible name. behind and headed to Tudors office. Im not sure how my gait looked, but it seemed extremely awkward. Fixers who were slowly getting used to my mask looked at me with puzzled expressions before speaking to the bald man. Hey, what did you say to that masked guy to make him act like that? Who knows? I just proposed teaming up Aaah, then it makes sense hed be upset. What did you say? Then followed the sound of heartyughter. He didnt seem like a bad person, but Im sorry; I just cant associate with someone with such a name. As soon as I sat down in the office chair, Tudor handed me a stack of documents. The first page had arge photo of a construction site attached to it. An apartmentplex? Exactly. Its a shy, chic apartment going up near Munsan Station. Munsan Station is just three stops away on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line from here in Geumchon. Im not sure how it was in the reality I lived in, but redevelopment was in full swing in [Cthulhu World]. Lets see The building is almostplete; only the finishing touches are left. So whats the problem? A ghoul popped out of the underground parking lot. Chapter 23: Guests From the Underworld Chapter 23: Guests From the Underworld Ghouls. This is a different race that first appeared in the works of Lovecraft and waster adapted into [Cthulhu World]. They possess intelligenceparable to that of humans,plete with their ownnguage, culture, and religious beliefs. Depending on the person, some seek their help or attempt to interact with them, often leading to significantly positive oues from such exchanges. However, these beings are entirely different from the races of the fantasy world like elves or dwarfs. If I had to draw aparison. they are closer to orcs or even lower evil creatures. Ghouls are denizens of the darkness dwelling underground. They possess bodies resembling humans but have grotesque heads simr to dogs. And they had the bizarre custom of feeding on human corpses and even resorting to cannibalism among their own kind when food was scarce. Simply put, they were man-eaters No matter what kind of intelligence and culture they had, from a human perspective, they were nothing more than monsters that needed to be eradicated and erased from the face of the earth. Anyway, such monsters emerged from the underground of a construction site for a new apartment building Of all ces, amotion in the apartment building site, it must be incredibly noisy, right? Not yet. Not yet? Tudor continued with a smile. It hasnt spread yet. The constructionpany and investors are pouring in a tremendous amount of money to suppress the rumors as much as possible. Thanks to that, its still quiet for now. But even if they bring in outsiders like this to block it, they cantpletely cover it up, can they? Its already toote to stop it as if nothing happened. Anyway, it seems they want the rumor to spread that its already been resolved. Hmph, the actions of these corporations are the same here as they were there. Here and there? No, here is now there, and there is now here. Ugh How much longer will I have to y this unexpected role of a fixer? Honestly, I wouldnt mind not making money; I just want to return to my original world where its safe and peaceful. No, its nothing important; dont worry about it. Hmmm~? Tudor briefly showed a curious expression in her face, but when I said nothing more, she sighed lightly and continued. Anyway, the client wants it dealt with as quickly as possible. Aha, so theyre looking for someone who can deliver the most firepower rtive to their numbers? For example Like a sole mage such as myself. Right. Besides, its rare to find a mage who works alone like you do. They must be paying well? With confidentiality and other allowances included exactly five sheets. 50 million won Starting from Lee Chang-hyuk, all the money I earned in a month from arresting drug addicts, murderers, and gang leaders barely amounted to 50 million won, even when including the bonuses. But 50 million won for just one job is no joke. Starting when? They said theyre looking for someone who can do it discreetly and quickly, remember? Can you start right away, today? Today? I frowned for a moment and took my time. My expression was hidden behind the mask, so it wouldnt have been visible anyway. The several million won bonus that had silently appeared in my bank ount. Looks like it wasnt meaningless after all. As my skills improved, so did the expectations ced upon me and with increased expectations came better treatment. And with better treatment, more demanding jobs woulde my way; such was the structure of this field. Just now, I caught a biker gang member, didnt I? And now youre asking me to take on another job? Is it too much? Tudors tone seemed less concerned and more provocative. I was tempted to immediately say Id just go there right away, but I knew that depending on my physical condition, it might indeed be too much. Just a moment I didnt respond immediately; instead I started rubbing my wrist and assessing my physical state. I carefully moved my magical power to check the fatigue umted in my body and the stress I hadnt fully shaken off. Im not in a state where I cant do it. Although I was tired from the intense chase I had justpleted, it wasnt problematic. Alright. Thats more like it. [Youve epted the quest! Ghouls have appeared in the underground of an apartment building under construction. Defeat the ghouls and make the underground parking lot safe. Remaining number: 0/20 Reward: 350,000 XP (+ the mary reward promised by the broker is separate.) Failure: Hostile rtionship with Yeonam Construction.] Yeonam Construction was the name of the constructionpany thatmissioned the quest. Yeonam Construction itself was not particrly remarkable, but the Yeonam Group behind it was a major corporation with considerable scale and influence. Moreover, while these people were not as troublesome as Helistic who had demanded the capture of Lee Chang-hyuk, they were still not to be underestimated. Bing their enemy wouldnt just make life difficult; it would turn life into hard mode. Essentially, it meant game over. Alright. I will arrange transportation for you to rest and go immediately. Transportation? Well, its a bit of a distance to Munsan Station. Youre not nning to take the train, are you? Me, I dont mind how I travel. Hahaha, sure you might not, but for the peace and well-being of the ordinary citizens of Paju, take a taxi. Arent taxi drivers citizens of Paju? This is a bit serious, but remember when I said that the crackdown on illegal immigrants has be more severe these days? Ill call a secure taxi for you. Use it for the return trip too. Oh, a secure taxi. The drivers of secure taxis were certainly not your average citizens of Paju. From now on, whenever theres a job, Ill contact you through that smartphone. You know how to use it, right? Tudor smiled briefly and winked at me. Its not that I dont carry it around because I dont know how to use it. *** The days destination was Munsan town in Paju City. More specifically, it was a newly constructed luxury apartmentplex in one part of Munsan town. Its name was [Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartment]. Really, why do they give apartments such unnecessarily long names? Through the rear window of the taxi, the apartment started toe into view. Although not yet finished, it looked as if it would be ready for upation in a month or two if only the finishing touches to the exterior painting werepleted. The building was quite spacious and ridiculously tall for no apparent reason. I bet the underground parking lot is incredibly spacious too. The underground parking lot, as depicted in the game, was ridiculouslyrge. It was almost like a dungeon, stretching down to the second subterranean level. That must be really tiring to navigate At this time, a voice came from an unexpected direction. Why on earth would someone build such a huge apartmentplex here? It was the voice of the taxi driver currently at the wheel. I momentarily shifted my gaze to look at the drivers face reflected in the taxis rearview mirror. Reflected in the cramped rearview mirror were just the corners of the taxi drivers eyes, but the deep lines and scars etched around them were clearly visible. He was scowling at the approaching apartment and his rugged face contorted. Watching the drivers expression, I couldnt help but let out a wry smile. In Paju, security taxis that transport criminals, illegal goods, or personnel are jobs suited for retired fixers or monster hunters who can no longer do such jobs. In short, this man was definitely not your average citizen of Paju. I slowly responded to the taxi driversment. What Im more curious about is why people in Paju would choose to live in such apartments? Paju in [Cthulhu World] is a city filled with extraordinary and unprecedented dangers, and the location of this apartment is exceptionally bizarre, even by those standards. An apartment situated far too north. Built almost clinging to the terrifying Imjin River a high-rise? Hahaha, well, the view must be something else. From those high floors, you can probably see beyond the Imjin River. True to the taxi drivers words, from the higher floors of this apartment you could easily gaze out over thend beyond the Imjin River. Though, I doubt that view is good for mental health In [Cthulhu World], there is no North Korea beyond the Imjin River. Instead, it was nothing but and of death where mythical Cthulhu monsters that poured from the abyss roamed. Nevertheless, I heard that the apartments were sold incredibly quickly. There was even a significant premium for the floors with a good view. What kind of scenery were the people moving into these apartments expecting? The taxi driver grumbled for quite a while about how the rich in Paju were either insane or not even human. Well the fact that non-human entities were mixed among Pajus wealthy wasnt exactly a big secret. In any case, we soon arrived at our destination as we exchanged such conversations. Here we are. [Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartment] Through the car window, I could see the fence separating the construction site. A crazy apartmentplex being built to satisfy the bizarre tastes of the wealthy who walk a path not human. The interior remains unseen from the outside. Anyway, beneath that apartment now, there were cannibalistic ghouls that feasted on human corpses. Thank you for your hard work. There was no need to calcte the taxi fare since Tudor had already paid in advance. Take care of yourself too, and lets meet again, alive and well. May you live a long life too, sir. I always do safe jobs, so no worries! With those words, the taxi driverughed heartily again and drove off. Safe jobs, huh Today was indeed a safe job, but even security taxis are part of Pajus back alleys semi-legal services. Depending on the clients requests, tomorrow I might have to engage in a life-threatening chase to aid a bank robber or a wanted criminal in their escape. Well, that aside I briefly turned my head, looking in the direction opposite the apartment towards the Imjin River. In the world I used to live in, there would be the vast Imjin River stretching in the direction I was looking. But what met my eyes was a massive wall with an unsightly appearance. This must be the Great Wall. I had often seen it in the game, but when you see it in real life, it was a massive structure with an overwhelming sense of intimidation. And then there was the surreal threat that necessitated the creation of a huge barrier wall, 10 meters in height, to iste it. There was no sound but for some reason, it seemed like I could hear a deep resonating Gooooo. The real threat of monsters existing and such monsters swarming around the Imjin River, where apartments had been erected. And the sight of the wealthy longing to move into such apartments could be, as the taxi driver said, the manifestation of some kind of madness. I paused and tapped my finger against the mask. Well, its not the time to mock other peoples madness. To adapt and live in this crazy world means, after all, bing ustomed to madness. With that thought, I entered the apartmentplex that was erected right beside the wall that contained the monsters. That Paju River something-or-other Anyway, it seemed the construction of the apartment building was already in its final stages. The sudden appearance of ghouls and the ensuing chaos had caused the workers to flee, leaving construction materials scattered haphazardly. But still, the apartment in question was already in a very nice condition. How many months would it need then? No, from the looks of it, I wouldnt be surprised if they started moving in within the next few weeks. Although the finishing touches were not yetplete, the visible facilities and theyout of the buildings clearly indicated that this was a luxury apartment constructed with a great investment. It certainly seems to be in a state that justifies the hurried progress and the considerable funds invested. However, apart from the luxury of the apartment site, the pervasive malevolent aura throughout the space was unnaturally strong. It was a dreadful energy that couldnt simply be attributed to a few lurking ghouls. A few steps further and a trait that hadnt been activated for a while now sprang into action. [System: The trait Enhanced Vignce has been activated.] Chapter 24: 122 Ghouls and 6 People Chapter 24: 122 Ghouls and 6 People [System: The trait Enhanced Vignce has been activated.] What? As soon as the trait was activated, I instinctively raised my magical power. [Guests from the Underworld] was a quest I had cleared several times before. Back then, there had been no incidents that gave off such an ominous feeling. There were adjustments, like changes in the number of ghouls that appeared based on the difficulty settings or previous branches of the quest. But now, it waspletely different. The ominous aura and magical power that filled the construction site. This was not the level of pressure a few ghouls could generate. It was as if [System: The penalty trait Feasts Offering has been activated.] [The beings of the abyss are showing interest in you.] Ah, this again? It seemed one of the beings from the Abyss was showing unnecessary interest. Irritation and difort, along with an overly sensitive sensation, caused me a slight feeling of nausea. Phew Haah Suu I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Phew Things were bing troublesome. With things turning out this way, the situation was nowpletely different from the quest I remembered. I hade here thinking it would be simple; perhaps I should have prepared more? The quest hadnt officially started yet. But there was still time to prepare. I took deep breaths, maintained my posture, and concentrated my mind. My arms loosely hanging at my sides with a rxed stance. To an onlooker, it might have seemed like I was just lost in thought during a walk But my gaze transcended physical limits and my eyes were peering into an entirely different space. The location where the ghouls had emerged was the underground parking lot beneath the apartmentplex. This meant that right under the ground where I stood, monsters could be lurking. Lets see what kind of creatures and how many are gathered. [Remote Detection] [Curse Detection] [Life Force Detection] [Magical Power Detection] [Trap Detection] Pop, pop, pop! From the tips of my hands that were dangling towards the ground and from beneath my feet, fluorescent lines of magical power burst forth. The magical power imbued with the abilities of detection, analysis, and observation, seeped into the ground and started sensing, analyzing, and observing the entities lurking in the darkness below. [Detection Complete] The number of ghouls that appear usually ranges from 10 to 30, and the number is generated randomly. [The number of curses matching the conditions is 2.] [The number of traps matching the conditions is 5.] [The number of life forms matching the conditions is 129.] Ah, shit. 129? Is this some kind of joke? For a moment, I seriously considered abandoning the quest and returning to the motel. After finishing this quest, I could achieve the feat of ying 100 ghouls. Huh? Butwait a minute. The information provided by the system only went so far, but my magically enhanced senses, which had evolved beyond that, detected several unexpected pieces of information. It wasa unique sensation that I had not experienced when ying the game. Humans. Among the ghouls moving underground, there was clearly a presence with a different kind of magical power. So there were humans among the underground ghouls. Four humans, then five, and one more. A total of six. [The number of life forms matching the conditions is 128.] One had died. The magical presence I had detected disappeared. [The number of life forms matching the conditions is 127.] Now there were only five humans left. Ah, wait, wait, wait! [The number of life forms matching the conditions is 125.] Another one, no, two people died at once. The remaining survivors totaled three. Stop, you! I hastily stretched my hand towards the ground. I poured my magical power indiscriminately toward the underground, but there was no time to construct aplex form of magic anew. I transformed and strengthened the nature of the magical power lines sent down for detection. The form was [Chains of Domination] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] Papapapapapabang!! I gathered the intangible lines of magical power into a few strands of chains with physical force. Then, moving these chains Euchachachacha! It was hard to grasp the situation, but anyway, I beat up all the ghouls that had swarmed around the presumed human magic source. Screeech!!! Grrrrrr!!! The ghouls shrieks echoed eerily from beneath the ground. I could feel the ghouls, battered by the magically endowed chains, scattering in all directions. I did it! Wow, Holy Shit! Wow, this actually worked? Do I get an achievement for this? I remained on all fours, waiting for a moment, but no message window appeared. It seems it wasnt the kind of action to warrant an achievement. Instead of a message window, I heard a human voice from an unexpected direction. Magenim? A womans voice tinged with bewilderment. Someone hade near me after hearing my cheers. But this was reallysuch an inconvenient timing. The humans still hiding underground were in a situation where it was difficult to change their situationpletely. I had no choice but to speak to the woman. Just a moment, please wait a little longer; Im almost done! [Enhanced Vignce] wasnt sending any rming signals from her direction, so she probably wasnt hostile. And roughly at this point and in this ce, hearing a womans voice, I had a guess who it might be Its alright. I once again summoned a massive amount of magical power and began to pour it towards the underground. The magical power emanating from both hands and the soles of my feet began to draw a huge magic circle under the ground ording to my will andmand. The intricately glowing lines of magical power and the high-density magic circle radiated an immense light in all directions. Except for the fact that I, the caster of the magic, was in a somewhat awkward posture, the scene around me transformed into one of spectacr and mystical beauty. In any case, I cast the spell with the help of the magic circle.and the effect wasnt just amplifying its range but this was almost to the level of remote activation. [me Eruption] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] The ghouls, undeterred even after being battered by the chains of magical power, were suddenly engulfed by mes pouring down from the ceiling above them. The humans I saved there were three in total. Fortunately, it seemed they were still alive. Though they were still standing in one ce without moving, they didnt look like they were going to die any time soon. [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] This should be enough. I brushed off the dirt from my knees and palms and stood up. What did you do? I turned my head to look at the woman who had spoken to me. That voice and that appearance. She may not have recognized me, but she was a pleasantly familiar figure to me. She was someone I had met many times in the game. Hello. Im Kim Shin-hwa, the fixer you contacted through Caf Vasilisa. Ah Yes. She hesitated for a moment, struggling to continue her sentence. It seemed that she was confused by the sight of my face or rather my mask. However, her diposure didntst long, and she responded to my greeting. Hello. I am Moon Seung-hee, the director of Yeonam Construction. Shes one of the main NPCs from [Cthulhu World]. My first impression of Moon Seung-hee in person, not just as an image on a monitor but as a living, breathing human being, was like seeing a sculpture. Its not just apliment or an assessment made simply because of her beautiful appearance. Indeed, no one could belittle her looks. Her face was literally as neatly and finely lined as if it were carved and polished. Yet her eyes and expression were cold and firm, like those of a stone or doll, not a living creature. An unnatural and awkward beauty that seemed to have been artificially created by someone. That was the impression I got from her appearance. She couldnt hold back and pressed me again. May I ask what you were just doing? Since I couldnt ignore the same question thrice, I exined what I had done. There were still people alive. I saved them. What? A mix of confusion and astonishment surfaced on her face. So you used magic toNo, not that. People? Did you say there were living people there? Yes, thats right. And you saved them? Yes. A new emotion flickered across her face, one that could roughly be described as hope. Who were they? A woman? Was it a woman? At the same time, she approached me with excessive excitement. Wait, thats too close. Why is she acting like this? No, hold on. Could you step back a bit? Oh Yes. Following my request, she took a few steps back. But she was still restless. Excuse me. Mage-nim? No, I dont know. It seemed like she would be happy if I said I had rescued a woman, but I didnt know that much. You dont know? Yes. The distance was too great, and there were obstructions. I could only tell if they were alive or dead. It would have been easier if it was the first basement level, but the person I sensed was in the second basement. It was too far. Moreover, the malevolent energy filling the basement greatly reduced the uracy and effectiveness of my skills. But what do you mean by you saved them? Distrust, doubt, anticipation, and confusion. I was able to reach out the ce with my magical power. I pushed the ghouls away from the people and erected a barrier around them. That sounds absurd but I have no choice but to believe you. Absurd you say? Our organizations magic advisor said that due to the malevolent energy and the influence of surreal entities in the basement, nothing could be confirmed without going down there in person. In reality, they couldnt do anything. When she mentioned that the magic advisor was unable to do anything, Moon Seung-hees expression turned noticeably darker. When I yed the game, the position of Moon Seung-hees magic advisor was vacant. It seems they were attacked by ghouls. Yet, the fact that you were able to confirm survivors or use magic without even entering thats astonishing. Although she said this, Moon Seung-hees expression still carried traces of distrust and doubt. Well, its unreasonable to expect her to believe my words unconditionally. After all, weve only just met, and I havent shown any proof yet. Whether Moon Seung-hee believes me or not, my magic is still active. I waste in responding, so I could only save three people, but as long as my magic remains, they will stay alive. After I exined the situation briefly, Moon Seung-hee seemed to ponder for a moment before continuing. How long can you maintain that magic? I can sustain the magic as much as you want. Hmm Even though I was only speaking the truth, it seemed Moon Seung-hees distrust of me only deepened. Additionally, there was a hint of skepticism. It seemed she was wondering to what extent she should believe the words of this braggart. Well, leaving that aside, the peoples magical power and life force are weak. They cant hold on indefinitely. How long have the people been down there? Its been 24 hours since the ghouls were first discovered. And about 14 hours have passed since people entered to rescue those taken in the early stages of the incident. Then its difficult to expect them to endure much longer. Moon Seung-hees expression became noticeably darker. Whether she believes my words or not, the condition of the people underground remains dire. There might be injured among them, and the environment is far from ideal. While I can protect their bodies to some extent, I cannot safeguard their minds. Youve done a great job as soon as you got here, and Im sorry to have to tell you this, but can you get started on. right away? Of course. I said this and then pondered who Moon Seung-hee was doing this for. Even in the game, several people were caught up in the ghoul infestation and died, and several were kidnapped. I had always thought there was no way to save the kidnapped people, regardless of how early we intervened. I believed there was no route to rescue them. But unexpectedly, the condition turned out to be something as bizarre as You can only save them by using magic remotely before rushing inside. No, thats not it, is it? I realized that I had been thinking about something wrongly. Chapter 25: Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartment Defense Post Chapter 25: Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartment Defense Post You can only save them by using magic remotely before rushing inside. No, that wasnt the only condition. It was possible for me because I was a mage with these absurd stats, something inconceivable for ordinary first- or second-order mages. At least a fourth-order mage. Regardless of the approach, the level of magical proficiency required at this point was unreachable. If one hadnt started the game with exceptional stats like mine, the task would have been impossible. Could this be straying from the pre-set routes of the game? I had confirmed it before, but this world that was built on a bug-riddled game was excessively unstable. What kind of butterfly effect could this action create? I was worried, yet a part of me was A little excited, right? Here goes my gamer brain again. the thought crossed my mind, but it couldnt be helped. It was at this time that Moon Seung-hee, who had been leading the way, stopped in her tracks. This way. The destination Moon Seung-hee led me to wasnt far off. It was a ce that could be reached without special guidance and had a characteristic shape that could be recognized from afar. Inside the partially constructed apartmentplex. Some parts were still unfinished, but the surrounding area looked pretty decent. The nearby structures were already forming aplete apartmentplex. It appeared that the electrical instations wereplete, as I could see lights on in a few ces. Moon Seung-hee pointed with her hand to a ce that particrly stood out. Heres the entrance to the underground parking lot. The entrance to the underground parking lot, right in the heart of the apartmentplex, was a familiar sight that needed no further exnation. Yet, the entrance to the underground parking lot before me would have been unrecognizable without Moon Seung-hees additional exnation This was due to the strange structure that had been built in front of it. It was arge makeshift building, constructed from building materials, sandbags and what appeared to be specialized military equipment from an unknown source. A defensive outpost, it seems. Around the defensive outpost, about a dozen armed soldiers watched the underground parking lot with tense expressions. Most of them were dressed in suits, but they wore bulletproof vests over their suits and metal arm guards as additional protection. And the level of their weapons is quite high. Each soldier possessed strange-looking weapons that were umon in everyday life. While most of them carried firearms, some hadrge hammers with bizarre engravings or melee weapons like swords. It might sound amusing, but in [Cthulhu World], one should be more wary of those armed with melee weapons than those with guns. In keeping with the unique logic of [Cthulhu World], those carrying melee weapons each possessed extraordinary magical powers. Mercenaries.? No, all the people appearing here were employees. It might sound absurd, but even the Republic of Korea in [Cthulhu World] and even Paju in [Cthulhu World] were like that. Although the use of firearms and force was illegal even in [Cthulhu World], one wouldnt be arrested unless they brandished weapons openly in front of the police. These individuals were likely members of the security team within Yeonam Construction. As I was observing the defense posts and security personnel, Moon Seung-hee spoke up. Officially, its a temporary instation. I see. The name didnt really matter, but perhaps due to legal or other issues, Moon Seung-hee insisted on the vague term temporary instation. There are five other instations like this one, set up to prevent the escape of ghouls. I responded to Seunghee Moons words by nodding my head without offering any particr opinion. As we approached the defense post a bit more, arge man who stood out among the troops approached us. He was such a fearsome-looking man that youd think he was alreadymitting a minor offense just by standing there empty-handed. He even held a giant hammer in one hand, its handle as long as he was tall. Director, you have arrived? Yes. Whats the current situation? The preparations areplete without any issues. We can proceed as soon as the requested support firepower arrives. But who is this? Anxiety flickered across his rugged face. His expression made it tantly obvious what he was thinking. He had been expecting a renowned mage, and here was this skinny kid instead. His reaction was honest, if not a bit rude. With hisrge face and prominent eyes, he blinked at Moon Seung-hee. Is this? His expression seemed to question, Surely not, right? But Moon Seung-hee simply responded. This person is the mage who came to assist today. Really? The man paused, thought for a moment, then scratched his head and muttered to himself. Haah crazy, whats with that maskugh never mind. His mumble was just a whisper and it probably went unheard by Moon Seung-hee standing next to him, but my heightened senses thanks to [Enhanced Vignce] caught every word. .. Alright. Mage-nim? My name is Kwak Dae-yong. Im the team leader of the Yeonam Construction security team and currently in charge of this site. Im Kim Shin-hwa. Anyway, I assume youre not here for a small fee, so please do your best. You understand? Kwak Dae-yongs words trailed off almost to a murmur, sounding like a faint Please, you understand right?. Sure. Just as the introductions were concluding, Moon Seung-hee couldnt hold back and interjected. Team Leader, were running out of time. Yes, Im aware. No, thats not what I mean. There are still people alive underground. What do you mean? Survivors? Yes, the mage here confirmed it. There are still people alive While saying that, Moon Seung-hee turned to look at me. Yes, there are three survivors. Survivors three of them Alright, understood. Although Kwak Dae-yong tried his best to manage his expression, given that Moon Seung-hee was right beside him, it seemed to be a difficult task. He perfectly assumed the look of a subordinate trying to appease a boss whos been duped by a fraud mage. We were nning to do just a minimal briefing before proceeding anyway Dont worry. Come this way, please. He said this and led us to a space set up on one side of the defense post. Were in an urgent situation, so well skip formalities and procedures. The ce resembled a kind of makeshiftmand center, but the defense post itself was temporary, so it wasnt a properly equipped location. It was merely a simple tableid out on the bare ground with a few architectural blueprints spread out. Currently, we estimate there are about 20 to 30 ghouls. Are you familiar with the physiology of ghouls? They move through tunnels I know. Hmm, thats good. These creatures, like moles, must have sprung up from somewhere or been set loose. Theres likely a hole somewhere in the underground parking lot where they entered. Kwak Dae-yong then pointed out a few ces on the architectural blueprints. The expected areas are here, here, and here If theres anymotion, more could emerge from those tunnels. We could be dealing with twice as many as are currently underground. When he said this, Kwak Dae-yong nced briefly at Moon Seung-hee. Moon Seung-hees expression remained unchanged, but upon closer inspection, her fingers and the ends of her eyebrows were twitching slightly. Rush in now! It looks like she is holding back on saying something along these lines. At any given time, in whatever manner we met, Kwak Dae-yong always picked a quarrel with me. Thus, his unwarranted actions were nothing new to me, but Moon Seung-hees involvement was unexpected. It seems that rescuing someone trapped underground could greatly advance my rtionship with her. Eventually, under the silent pressure exerted by Moon Seung-hee, Kwak Dae-yong concluded his exnation at a reasonable point. Weve blocked all other entry points, so applying pressure wont cause major issues. Weve decided that a straightforward n with overwhelming firepower is the best approach, rather than aplex one. So, thats why Im here. They had hired a mage to increase theircking firepower. Thats right. However, there is one aspect Id like you to be mindful of. Kwak Dae-yong spoke gravely and softly. What is it? Well. this ce is not a battlefield, but a newly built apartmentplex that cost a considerable amount of money. Could you use methods that wont leave much of a trace? If it were just about firepower, there are many alternatives that dont require an expensive mage. But the ability to unleash powerful force without leaving any trace, as if nothing had happened, is a feat only a mage can aplish. Well, thats possible. Thats a relief. As you know, this isnt just a minor issue of cockroaches emerging, is it? Kwak Dae-yong paused briefly before continuing with emphasis. We cannot leave any remnants. If the creatures hide in the tunnels, we must pursue them and eradicate thempletely. His point was valid. No one would want to live in an apartment built over tunnels frequented by man-eating ghouls. So, teams B and C will move from here to there, while team A which includes the mage and myself will make a frontal assault here, directly entering down to the second basement level. Do you understand the n? I understood the n. Kwak Dae-yong exined it at length, even drawing diagrams, but the content was simple. Teams B and C were tasked with preventing the ghouls from dispersing. Meanwhile, team A whichprised of Kwak Dae-yong and myself, would move in and beat down the ghouls. Use plenty of magic for an easier breach. That was it. I understood the n, but there was a critical w in Kwak Dae-yongs strategy from the start. Hmm I understand the n. My vague response seemed to irk Kwak Dae-yong who showed a flicker of annoyance. If you have any other opinions or suggestions, please speak up now. The n is wed. What did you say? He estimated the number of ghouls to be around sixty at most. Likely, the troops prepared would be sufficient to counter such a number. But then [The number of life forms matching the conditions is 125.] Excluding the three human survivors from this The number of ghouls. Right now, there are 122 ghouls gathered underground. Kwak Dae-yongs mouth fell open in astonishment. Is that urate information? Hmm If you include those in the tunnels, there might even be more Ha! Kwak Dae-yong cut me off with a sound that was neitherughter nor exmation. Thats ridiculous! Your earlier mention of survivors too On what grounds and belief do you make such statements? See, this is why I didnt want to talk about it. As expected, he didnt believe the part about the survivors. When I yed this as a game, I would just skip such scenes and end it by selecting a few predetermined choices But here, these people are alive, and they react vividly to my words and actions. Responding to each reaction turned out to be more bothersome than I had anticipated. I guess its better to show them rather than continue this verbal sparring. Well, if you cant believe it, theres nothing I can do. Well proceed as you originally nned. Hmm Kwak Dae-yong wore a skeptical expression but soon rose from his seat. Then lets get ready immediately. Just make sure you dont impede our progress with any erratic actions. Well, Ill definitely deliver the value of the payment youve made. I assured him with certainty that it was worth the fifty million won, but Kwak Dae-yongs face bore an incredulous look. Or was he ring at me? Eventually, he grumbled and walked towards his subordinates. He then loudly announced that the operation wouldmence soon and began organizing the troops. Moon Seung-hee watched Kwak Dae-yongsmand for a moment and then turned to me. Mage-nim. Chapter 26: Rushing in Chapter 26: Rushing in Moon Seung-hee slowly continued speaking. If Mage-nims words are true, do you think that the personnel here are sufficient? Um If you need more support I paused for a moment. Was more support necessary? No, it wasnt needed. If the enemies were merely ghouls, I could handle them alone, even if there were two hundred instead of a hundred. More people would only add to the confusion and increase the trouble. However, I gave Moon Seung-hee a different reason. No, waiting for additional support would be too long for those waiting below. Moon Seung-hees expression turned slightly pale. In that case Ill resolve this without significantly changing Team Leader Kwak Dae-yongs n. I understand. I had expected her to insist on rescuing the people underground at this point, but. Moon Seung-hee didnt mention it and stood up. Then, I hope you handle it well. Ill do my best. Moon Seung-hee briefly bowed her head and slowly walked out of the temporary defensive outpost. Preparationplete! Her departure coincided with the chorus of voices announcing readiness. It seemed that Kwak Dae-yong and his men had finished their preparations. So much for keeping the operation a secret. Talking so loudly in the dead of night But it probably didnt matter. One shouldnt think of this ce as a typical apartmentplex in another city. I didnt know what this area would be when theplex waspleted, but at the moment there was nothing around it. Besides, no one in Paju would care about strange noises around the dangerous and unstable Imjin River area. There was nothing to gain from further irritating Kwak Dae-yong. so I got up and walked over to where he was. The spot where Kwak Dae-yong and his men gathered was the innermost part of the temporary outpost. Arge spiral ramp designed for vehicles to descend into the underground parking lot. There, you could see a huge barricade blocking the entrance. An improvised barbed wire fence with multipleyers of crude steel tes reinforced on top of it. Theyve managed to set up a barricade quite well. Honestly, it looked more like a ragged patchwork thrown together as ast resort than an impressive defensive wall. Bloodstains and pieces of flesh dripped down the barricade, along with what seemed to be fragments of ghoul fingers. Sacrifices must have been made to hold back the onught of ghouls. And there were the people gathered in front of the barricade. Including Kwak Dae-yong, there were a total of twenty. Most of them were extras, and their expressions were somewhat gloomy, but there were a few faces that stood out in my memory. The sight of people in neat suits, donned with armor and weapons, standing in rows was indeed quite strange. However, the way they looked at me was filled with distrust, much like Kwak Dae-yongs initial reaction. They whispered among themselves as their eyes shifted between Kwak Dae-yong and me, but due to my exceptionally sensitive perception, I could hear their voices even from a considerable distance. Whats with the mask? Hey, is that bastard alright? Where did they pick up such a freak? He looks so flimsy Are we being deceived? Tch What does being a mage have to do with looking flimsy? Although I had enhanced several stats with artifacts, my physical condition hadnt changed much, so I apparently didnt seem trustworthy to those hired for their physical strength. Attention! The mage has arrived! Regardless, as soon as I arrived, Kwak Dae-yong shouted again and made his troops snap to attention. To your positions! To positions! The men moved in unison and they started heading towards the barricaded entrance of the underground parking lot. I had been a bit worried seeing them idly gossiping, but when it was time to act, they were impressively coordinated and disciplined. Once the preparations wereplete, Kwak Dae-yong approached me and said, Please get your magic ready. As soon as you give us the signal, well open the barricade for you. Just open it now. Yes, then What? I said open it now; Im ready. Is he joking with me? It seems like he still hadnt done anything though. Is he perhaps confused? What a man. Despite the atmosphere thick with unspoken words wriggling beneath his throat, Kwak Dae-yong managed to hold them back. Admirable, Kwak Dae-yong! He turned his head in an exaggerated motion and yelled at his subordinates, Hey, open the barricade! Door open! Door open! Door open! At Kwak Dae-yongsmand, his subordinates near the barricade quickly echoed and opened the barricade. Gigigigigigigi- With a grating, discordant metallic noise, the double and triple-reinforced barricade swung open. Alright, is this where it begins? I was a cut above the average mages that Kwak Dae-yong had seen before. [Quick Activation] [Catalyst Compensation] [Double Incantation] [Casting Omission] All spells could be activated immediately without any separate casting, hand signs, catalysts, or incantations. The mana that flowed out formed a consistent magic circle that followed mymand. It was a massive magic circle, etched with runes of zing mes. [The unique feature of the S-rank essory Ring of Corrupted me has been activated. Red Element Concentration and Legacy of Fire Knowledge are triggered. // Red Element Concentration: Increases the effectiveness of all fire-type spells by 50%. // Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Enhances understanding of fire-type magic.] The barricade opened. Strange sounds echoed from the underground parking lot. Chirrrrrrrrrr!!! Kyahahahahaha!!! Bizarre creatures sprang from the darkness. Over there, that way! As the security team members turned their heads, the lights mounted on their shoulders converged into a single point. Monsters that resembled humans yet were unmistakably not human. Bizarre heads resembling dogs. A viciously twisted muscr body. And developed deadly sharp ws. Ghouls. Screeeeech!! There were four of them. No, six, nine, and then two more followed, making eleven! Ghouls that had been hiding in the darkness around the entrance suddenly poured out. [Before your eyes, a bizarre shape] I already know, so get out of my way! I ignored the message window that appeared in front of me andpleted the spell. [Fireball] Whoooosh!! A giant ball of me materialized in front of my outstretched hands and was aimed at the emerging ghouls. [That horrific shape and nauseating stench assault your senses] Skip the chatter; fire the mes! Whoosh!!! The massive fireball I shot from my hands zed through the air. Boom!!! Screeeeeeech!!! The ones who could scream were the lucky ones. Most of the ghouls that had leaped to the forefront evaporated without even a chance to scream. Crackle- [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The ghouls fear-inducing effect has been nullified.] Ah, did I fail the sanity check? But thanks to the trait of Madness of the Abyss, neither madness manifested nor was there a cmity of being ovee with fear. At the same time, I twisted my outstretched hands forward. He said that I shouldnt cause damage around me, right? [me Maniption] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Whooooosh!!! I forcefully grasped and twisted the fiercely burning mes spreading in all directions. It was a dazzling spectacle. The surging mes transformed into a terrifying whirlwind of fire that continuously converged inward. Whirrrrrrrrr!!! The darkness and shadows scattered around werepletely obliterated. Before our eyes, a huge me was dancing. It was burning so intensely that it seemed to scorch our pupils. Oh, my goodness! The troops waiting in the wings let out a unanimous exmation upon seeing the mes I had created. [The people around you are inspired by your heroic actions. Temporary exemption from sanity judgments for those around you.] But this was just the beginning. Whirrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! The huge me burning with my magical power turned into a wave of fire and poured down into the underground parking lot. Now, speed was of the essence. You, you But in the midst of all this, Dae-yong Kwak was just looking at me with his mouth wide open. Team leader, what are you doing? What what? Arent we going to charge in? Kwak Dae-yong, who had been standing dumbfounded as if boasting the size of his open mouth finally snapped back to reality. Uh, right. What are we waiting for, everyone! Charge! Charge! They were neither military soldiers, mercenaries, nor fixers, but simply regr employees of arge corporation and they were now rushing forward, armed with guns and swords. The task at hand was clear. Eliminate all visible ghouls and rescue the survivors trapped underground. Lets go! The underground parking lot, still devoid of electrical instations, was extremely dark. Although the security team members had some lights attached to their shoulders and weapons, these were insufficient topletely erase the darkness and fear that enveloped the vast parking area. Therefore, I intentionally conjured spells apanied by bright light. Id better choose something with good duration. [Orb of Radiance] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Seven orbs of light were created from my fingertips. Swooooosh The clusters of light spread out in all directions, tracingrge circles as they rotated and illuminated the interior of the underground parking lot. Screeeeeeech! There, fire at that spot! Ratatatatatatatatata!!! Ghouls fell under the barrage of gunfire raining down from a distance. Since there was a condition to avoid damaging the scene as much as possible, the security teams shooting was cautious. As a result, some ghouls managed to break through the barrage and get close. Gyaaaaaaa!! But even those ghouls Bang! Crunch! Boom! It was Kwak Dae-yong. When he swung his hammer imbued with magical power, the bodies of the ghouls caught in his attack shattered as if they had no bones. Yeehaw! Crunch, bang, bang! Boom! But even without Kwak Dae-yong, the melee specialists swept through the area and skilfully eliminated the ghouls I couldnt just stand by idly. [Brilliance of Fomalhaut] Fomalhaut is the abode of the god of fire, a dwelling ce for the [Living me], which is a zing supernova itself. I summoned his authority to this damp and dark underground parking lot. Well, even so, this type of magic ultimately just results in an outpouring of extremely hot fire. Depending on the type of magic, the form of the fire changes slightly. Whoooshhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! The mes I summoned took the form of a giant bull made of fire and it started rampaging through the interior of the underground parking lot. Aaaaargh!! Eeeeek!! Although I couldnt recklessly spread the mes to avoid damaging the underground structure, the giant fire bull slowly but surely engulfed the ghouls. Th-thats incredible!? He was a powerful mage from the start! Until just before the charge, my title had been that bastard but now it has been upgraded to a powerful mage. I wasnt very interested in how I was perceived though. The ghouls around the entrance were eliminated, and we were able to securely move deeper. Good, lets advance like this! Close the barricade! Understood! Creeeeak Whoom! The barricade was closed. Kwak Dae-yong ordered several of his subordinates to guard the area around the barricade. The team thus split into two and then into four groups. Okay, ording to the n, Teams B and C will slowly move along the walls while clearing the ghouls. Team A will break through the center and head straight down to the second basement level. What kind of parking lot is this fu*king big? I could hear a member of the security team grumbling. The area was indeed huge. Didnt you know? The apartments of the wealthy are always like this, with even two basement levels. Arent these people being too careless right now? It was clear they were veterans qualified to be employed by major corporations, but their level ofcency was excessive. And Kwak Dae-yong Advance, advance! Dont fall behind! Bang! Crash! Boom! He was overly excited, almost to a frenzied level. Kwak Dae-yong attacked the ghouls with relentless ferocity. But wasnt he advancing too far ahead? The movements of the ghouls are also strange. It was as if they were luring Kwak Dae-yong and his men Suddenly, the ghouls began to retreat and they moved in a coordinated manner towards a deeper part of the underground parking lot, specifically towards the second basement level. Aaah, fu*k. Kwak Dae-yong and a few of his subordinates chased the ghouls down to the second basement! Hey, team leader! Dont rush off on your own! At that moment. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Guoooooooooooooooo A deep, heavy vibration started resonating from the depths. This was no ordinary earthquake. Something abnormal was happening underground, and that something was caused by the intervention of a surreal entity. And then screams poured out from all directions. Aaaaah! The ghouls!! The message window popped up right then, and information I already knew was disyed. [Quest information updated. The number of targets to be eliminated has been changed from 20 to 122.] Chapter 27: Crazy Mage Chapter 27: Crazy Mage Twenty-eight minutes or rather now twenty-nine minutes had passed since the ghoul eradication operation began in the underground parking lot. Kwak Dae-yong, the team leader of Yeonam Constructions security team, thought to himself. Something is wrong. There were far too many ghouls. This couldnt be happening! It was inconceivable. In the beginning, Kwak Dae-yong had estimated about thirty ghouls. He had even stretched his estimate to a maximum of around sixty, but even that was a very conservative calction. Therefore, it was supposed to be a mission that Kwak Dae-yongs team alone could sufficiently handle. The suggestion to hire a mage from outside was solely Moon Seung-hees idea. For the sake of the operations swiftness and precision, to minimize damage, and to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. Gyahhaaaaaaaa!!! A ghoul emerged from the darkness and attacked Kwak Dae-yong with its swinging vicious ws. Get lost! Kwak Dae-yong swung the battle hammer he held in both hands with lightning speed. Baaaaang!!! The ghouls head struck by the hammer that was infused with magical power shattered instantly, and the floor of the underground parking lot was stained bright red with blood spurting from the ghouls head. Huff Huff Its my limit now There are too many ghouls! Before he knew it, he had knocked down all the ghouls that had been charging at him. Even though it was a brief moment of rest, Kwak Dae-yong couldnt find proper peace or even rx his guard. Kwak Dae-yong blinked hisrge eyes and started scanning his surroundings. His gaze was anxious, his breathing unstable, hisplexion pale, and his stance tensely poised for attack. Over-the-top violence and exaggerated speech. Signs of fear, madness, and confusion were bing apparent on him. Where the hell is this? Was this parking lot always this vast? The surroundings were dark, wide, and openly spacious in every direction. He could only see the repetitiverge gray columns made of concrete. The finishing work was still not done. There was no paint or sign to indicate anything. The same scenery kept appearing in the deep darkness. Kwak Dae-yong, who was in a state of confusion, felt as if he was trapped in this endless space. What the fu*k is going on At that moment, a strange name popped into his head. Kim Shin-hwa. That rookie mage Kim Shin-hwas voice echoed in his head. He initially thought that the guy was either crazy or that he was empty bragging to inte his own worth. But his words turned out to be true. Indeed, more than a hundred ghouls were swarming in this underground parking lot. Fu*k it Fu*k it all After a moment of restless agitation, Kwak Dae-yong shouted in a vague direction. He couldnt help but scream; it was unbearable to remain silent. Everyone! Where are you! Gather here! Yeom Cheol-min! Hyung-gu! Choi Mi-na! It was already toote. An abnormal darknessy in all directions, and his subordinates were nowhere to be seen. The moment he entered the second basement level, he started hearing a strange bell sound. Ding. Yes, that sound. Everything started to go wrong right after he heard that sound. Ding. Come to think of it, why did I rashly dash down to the second basement level? Shouldnt I have moved more slowly as originally nned? (Ding) That bell sound again? What is it? Why is such a sound heard in this basement? Every time that bell rings, ghouls pour out. (Ding) And as the world darkens, Im engulfed in an unpleasant, maddening rage, and at some point, I lost all my men. Where am I exactly? (Ding) Kim Shin-hwa, that rookie mage, where did he run off to? He was so confident earlier, but where did he go now! Save me! Please, get me out of this darkness! (Ding) Ghouls appear. I must fight, kill them. Kill them all. I will survive. I will outlive them all by killing them! Crash! Crunch! Where am I? Its so dark! Screeeeeeech!!! Enough! Crack! Bang! Enough,e out! You monsters! Bang! Crash! Bang! Crack! Crunch!! Kwak Dae-yong kept swinging his battle hammer around. Swinging and swinging, he just continued to swing. Thud, thud! Thump, crack!! The ghoul he had been pounding had long since be a shapeless mass of flesh, pulverized beyond recognition, but Kwak Dae-yong did not stop hammering. Heh heh Fu*k it Damn it Die! Fu*k you, die! Crack, crasssssh! Eventually, he lost direction and ended up striking the empty floor. Cough, damn it Heh heh, heh heh Fu*k it, hahaha His hands trembled from the shock. The hammer, loaded with excessive force, rage, and madness, had shattered the floor, which was smeared with disgusting mucus and blood. When he lifted the hammer slightly, he saw that the floor was crushed, leaving a hole the size of two human heads. Shit His hand felt numb from the unnecessary iling. He paused for a moment and endured the sharp pain in his hands. Ding. Shit not the bell sound again! He had forgotten that every time he heard the bell sound, in his excessive excitement and anger, ghouls always rushed towards him. Kwak Dae-yong momentarily looked in the direction where the bell sounded and cursed. And he immediately paid the price for hiscent actions. Screeeeech!!! A new ghoul rushed out from apletely blind spot. Damn it! Kwak Dae-yong spat out a curse and tried to retrieve his hammer, but he was a beat toote. There was no other choice. Kwak Dae-yong epted the risk of further injury to his side and channeled his magical power into his fist before swinging [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Toxicity] Boom, crash, Baaang! Bang bang bang!!! A sinister purple magic shot that was filled with malevolent energy flew in and deflected the ghoul that was attacking Kwak Dae-yong. It was a spell cast by Kim Shin-hwa. Although it was a spell that saved his life, Kwak Dae-yong found it difficult to feel grateful or relieved by the spell. Hiss Screeeech!! The ghoul that was struck by Kim Shin-hwas magic rolled to the ground and let out a chilling, ghastly scream. Even Kwak Dae-yong who went through various battlefields found the spell to be bizarre and hard to get used to. The parts of the ghoul hit by the magic arrow began to swell with ck inmmation, and soon, yellow pus started to flow out, dissolving the ghouls body. Gyaaaagh! Gyaaaaaaagh!! Horrible and repulsive holes began to form all over the ghouls body. Kim Shin-hwas magic was incredibly urate and astonishingly powerful. But What is this horrific spell? This rookie mage infused his spell with some kind of malevolent poison! Ugh! Kwak Dae-yong clutched his mouth to suppress the rising nausea and urge to vomit. His head was spinning. He felt as if he might go insane at any moment. He had heard that many mages were sociopaths or psychopaths, but he had never encountered one like this. Rrrrrrrrrrrr He started hearing the sound of rolling wheels. What was that noise? Kwak Dae-yong looked momentarily puzzled, but quickly raised his hammer as he realized the sound was approaching him. And then, emerging from the darkness A hideous mask with four eyes. If not for the magical light and the intense glow of its eyes, he would have failed to recognize the figure in the pitch-ck darkness. It was a mage wearing a bizarre mask. It was Kim Shin-hwa. Only when he came fully into view did Kwak Dae-yong identify the strange source of the wheel sound. Huh You were riding that? A skateboard. Kim Shin-hwa was riding arge skateboard. I didnt think Id need to use it today, but I had to because team leader went too far ahead. It took me a while to find you. Thanks I owe you my life. And Im sorry for the disgraceful scene. After receiving Kwak Dae-yongs sincere gratitude and apology, Kim Shin-hwa scratched his mask for a moment and appeared to be contemting what to say. Hmm Im d you managed to break free from the madness on your own. Otherwise, I was wondering if I should beat some sense into you. To Kim Shin-hwa, the most straightforward way to awaken someone engulfed in madness was through attacking him. That had always been his belief. Uhm Although Kwak Dae-yong felt a mild anger towards Kim Shin-hwas ruthless attitude, he wasnt in a position to openly express his anger. After all, this man had saved his life. Moreover, Kwak Dae-yong realized the desperate need for Kim Shin-hwas help, not just for himself but also to ensure the safety of his subordinates. What about the others my men? Thats a good point you raised. Im currently busy. I cant keep attending to you alone. After saying this, Kim Shin-hwa activated a spell in a certain direction. [Aiming Correction] [Arrow of Destruction] Whooooosh-Boom! Screeeeech! Even as Kim Shin-hwa engaged in conversation and observed Kwak Dae-yongsplexion, his senses were extended throughout the entire underground parking lot. Understanding the situation, Kwak Dae-yong picked up his battle hammer and said, Now that Im back to my senses go save the others! Understood. Ill guide them to gather nearby. Dont stray too far away from me. Got it. Rrrrrrrrrrr Kim Shin-hwa stomped his feet on the ground a few times. Then he disappeared in a way that even Kwak Dae-yong found absurd. [Hardening] [Leap] [Fireball] Boom!! He triggered a fireball beneath his skateboard that was protected with a spell from the impact, catapulting himself into the air with the explosions force. This was a technique Kim Shin-hwa self-titled Explosive Leap. He made use of the explosions very force to move at an explosive speed while casting spells. [Chains of Domination] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] Swishhhhhhhhhhh!!! Golden chains sprang from Kim Shin-hwas palms, shooting out like snakes with a will of their own in every direction. They coiled around their targets, stripping away their freedom, and Magical chains that could force desired actions were wrapped around several ghouls. Screeeeech!!! Once they were wrapped with the Chains of Domination, the ghouls moved in bizarre ways like marites controlled by a puppeteers will before they started attacking their own kind. With fists, ws, feet, heads, and teeth. The ghouls that were too damaged to be of any further use were forced to perform bizarre movements that no normal living being could handle. Grgrgrgrgrg!!! Crack, snap, crunch! Crack-snap-crunch!! The bodies of the ghouls, forced into movements beyond their joints limits, emitted horrific tearing sounds as they were ripped apart. Each time Kim Shin-hwa cast a new spell, ghouls lurking in the darkness were destroyed in truly gruesome ways. Is that really a human? This was not said by Kwak Dae-yong. Kwak Dae-yong hurriedly turned in the direction of the sound. It was one of his subordinates from the security team. A veteran agent and a former fixer who had worked with Kwak Dae-yong several times with efficient coordination. Yet currently, he let his weapon hang loosely at his feet as he stared into the darkness with a dazed expression on his face. Forgetting his own mission and the crisis at hand, he simply stared at Kim Shin-hwas movements. What are you doing, dumba**! Snap out of it! Ca-Captain! Have you lost your mind? Just going to stand here and watch what others are doing? But look at that Kwak Dae-yongs subordinate didnt finish his sentence, but Kwak Dae-yong felt like he already knew what he wanted to say. Do we even need to do anything? Hmm Kwak Dae-yong swallowed hard and turned his head in the direction his subordinate was looking. Kim Shin-hwa reappeared from an unexpected direction and activated a new spell. This time, a bright fluorescent blue light illuminated Kim Shin-hwas body. The mask was revealed beneath the flipped ck hood. Why did I think that mask looked funny before? It was a bizarre mask as if it sprung from the midst of a nightmare. The four eyes on the mask lit up at the same time, casting a chilling glow. Crackle-crack-crack!!! Huge ice spikes formed in mid-air, tearing through the bodies of the ghouls. Kim Shin-hwa who created yet another hellish scene stared into the air at a strange angle before shaking his head. Oh, get out of my way! I cant see anything! Even though it was such a tense situation, Kim Shin-hwa shouted something that didnt make any sense and waved his arms in the air as if shooing something invisible. At the same time, he kicked the back of his skateboard and leaped to an incredible height before disappearing into the darkness. This guy why is he acting like that? Perhaps, hes a bit crazy in the head? Chapter 28: Reinforcement Chapter 28: Reinforcement The underground parking lot was engulfed in pitch-ck darkness, but thanks to my senses as a mage and the effect of the auxiliary spell on my eyes, I had no problems seeing my surroundings. Rrrrrrrrrrrr The skateboard I had been carrying since myst fight with the biker gang proved quite useful. Of course, my stats and physical abilities were not quite up to skillfully handling a skateboard, but most of these issues could be resolved through magical assistance. [Posture Correction] [Foxs Agility] [Chains of Domination] [Invisible Hand] It seemed excessive to use so many spells just to ride a skateboard, but thanks to the excessive amount of magical power I had, I could exhibit mobility beyond what a normal human could expect. The pitch-ck darkness and the identical-looking pirs swiftly shed by. I need a foothold. [Frost Pir] Crack! I leaped and rode on the ice pir that just sprung up from the ground. I could have shown off a few skateboard tricks if I wanted, but there was no time for such frivolity. Aaaaah! The scream of a human. I hurled magic at the ghouls attacking a cornered security team member. Then seizing the cold from the ice tform I had created behind me [Frost Thorn Spear] Crackle, crash! Giant ice spikes materialized in the air and started tearing through the bodies of the ghouls. [Achievement Unlocked! You have defeated 100 ghouls. You have earned the Rare Achievement: Ghoul yer. As a reward for this achievement, you gain the Ghoul Expert trait and additional experience points.] [Remaining Targets: 100/122] Its an achievement, a good achievement, but Aaagh! Dont block my view! Ah, move! I cant see! I waved my hands through the air where the message window hovered. The window soon vanished, but it was obscuring something moments ago. There were ghoul corpses scattered on the floor. Damn! [Leap] Whoosh! If I had been a skilled skateboarder, I might have used an ollie or some other board trick to dodge, butcking the physical stats for such techniques, I had to use a spell to forcibly lift my body. Thump! Rrrrrrrr Tond cleanly, I had to add another posture correction spell. Ugh I was exhausted. All because of that stupid gori If Kwak Dae-yong, that fool, hadnt excitedly rushed out, things would have been a thousand times easier. Haah No, not that. Whats the point of ming Kwak Dae-yong? Its all because of the distortion system of the [Cthulhu World]. Overwhelmed by the ghouls grotesque shapes, the darkness, the lethal threat, the blood, and the malevolent energy saturating this underground parking lot, Kwak Dae-yong became overly excited. Unknowingly, he had been afflicted by a mild distortion before leading his subordinates and recklessly charging in. **** [DistortionViolence]: You be obsessed with blood and the desire to destroy your enemies. Your attack power significantly increases, and your evasion rate significantly decreases. **** Yes, thats it. It seemed like a healthier choice for my mental state to consider it fortunate that neither [DistortionParanoia] nor [Distortion Bloodlust] had manifested in me. Is that a hundred now? Are we almost done with these ghouls? Hey, be careful! When I spotted a group of ghouls about to attack agging member of the security team, I cast a spell. [Crush] An energy form that possessed overwhelming physical force, squeezed one of the leading ghouls into oblivion. Crunch! [Remaining Targets: 102/122] Got one, and the rest around it Ah, theres no time. [Corpse Explosion] I detonated the crushed ghouls body. Boom! Bone shards and flesh flew in all directions, turning into lethal shrapnel that obliterated the surrounding ghouls in one fell swoop. [Remaining Targets: 103/122] [Remaining Targets: 104/122] [Remaining Targets: 105/122] [Remaining Targets: 106/122] Each time a ghoul fell, a new message window appeared, cluttering my vision. Ah, move out of the way! Yes, yes! A voice from an unexpected direction called out; it belonged to a member of the security team. No, not you! You go over there Right there! [Dancing mes] Whoosh! I conjured magical mes above Kwak Dae-yongs head. Ack, what is this! Kwak Dae-yongs scream echoed from afar. See that idiot? Gather nicely over there so I dont have to save you every time! At the same time, I sent a spell toward someone cornered and under attack by ghouls. [Magic Bullet] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Ratatatatatata!!! The bullets of magical power, like a machine gun, transformed the ghouls into chunks of meat. Th-thank you! Quickly, gather over there! Your scattering prevents me from using powerful magic! Security team! This way! Gather here! This was Kwak Dae-yongs voice. Did he finally regain his calm? Tatatatatatata!! Boom! Wham! Gunshots, explosions, and the immense burst of sound from Kwak Dae-yongs giant battle hammer resonated. Gyaahhaaaaaa!!! Then, suddenly, the eerie screams of newly arrived ghouls filled the air. [Remaining Targets: 112/122] Now, only ten remained. Kieeeeeek!! Gyaahhaaaaa!!! The ghouls screams echoed sporadically from various ces. In the midst of chaos, madness, and a battlefield stained with blood, a new sound emerged. Ding It was a small, clear sound of a bell. A bell, an unlikely sound to hear in this ce. It seems that ghouls are not the only threat. Beings from the abyss were targeting me. In such a situation where any of those creatures could intervene, it wouldnt be surprising if something absurd happened. Rrrrrrrr The underground parking lot was filled with profound darkness. My heightened hearing captured various sounds echoing in this ominous underground parking lot. The groans of the fierce ghouls. The desperate, panting breaths of Kwak Dae-yongs crew. The sound of weapons being swung. Explosions. Ding The bell sounded again. Whats this? The dense, damp malevolent energy that filled the underground parking lot was now violently fluctuating. There might be ghouls capable of magic, but this was different. It wasnt the doing of ghouls. It was a spell of a different level. An arrogant and unpleasant ritual, a technique that only humans can handle. [Quest information has been updated. The number of targets to be eliminated has changed from 122 to 167.] What? Suddenly the number of ghouls increased. Though there had been ominous signs, this situation was unexpected. Its not a problem that can be solved simply by eliminating arge number of ghouls. If, as Kwak Dae-yong said, the tunnels were interconnected, such a sudden increase would be impossible. My magical power detection range envelops the entire underground parking lot. There is no tunnel beyond my detection range. Then It must be summoning magic. The human mage I had sensed earlier. Somewhere in the underground parking lot, there was a mage summoning ghouls. That they were moving so openly suggested they might soon start to exercise abilities beyond summoning. Just as my thoughts reached this point, a new problem arose. The malevolent energy that had been fluctuating wildly suddenly surged in one direction, and at the same moment, a terrible scream erupted from the depths of the parking lots darkness. Arghhh! My hand! My hand!! It wasnt the scream of a ghoul. The source was quite far, but [Remote Detection] I activated a remote detection spell with reflex-like speed. Beyond the considerable distance and the darkness that filled it, I could discern the situation at the problems location. A man in a suit and armor with a sword dropped to the ground. One of Kwak Dae-yongs subordinates, the one who wielded a sleek single-edged sword. I never had the chance to call out to him, but I already knew his name. Was it Yeom Cheol-min? With a bit more thought, I could recall his specific stats and a full illustration, but that wasnt necessary. Among Kwak Dae-yongs subordinates, he was a named NPC with fairly high stats. One of his arms was ckened and rotting away. From his fingertips, ck tumors blossomed, and the yellowish pus that spewed from them further decayed his flesh. A magical poison was rapidly corroding his arm. Ah, shit. Why did it have to be that? The effect was weak, but it was a spell with the same effect as the toxic spell I had used. Later, if things went wrong, it might be treated as a death caused by my mistake. Cheol-min-aaaah! This was Kwak Dae-yongs shout. I could feel Kwak Dae-yong and his men moving towards Yeom Cheol-min. Why is that guy suddenly acting up? It would be better to arrive before Kwak Dae-yong and sort out the situation. Rrrrrr I rolled on the ground, changing the direction of the skateboard, and activated a spell. [Hardening] [Impact] The magic circle embedded underneath the board activated, performing a skateboard trick only possible by a mage of [Cthulhu World] an explosive eleration. Kwaang!! Shhhhh It felt like every joint in my body was breaking due to the abnormal eleration that relied on explosive power, but I quickly reached near Yeom Cheol-min. [Human Body Scanning] [Remote Detection] [Magic Detection] [Invisibility Detection] [Curse Detection] [Trap Detection] At the same time, I extended invisible lines of magical power in all directions, analyzing and observing his wounds, the situation, potential dangers, solutions, unexpected variables, traps, and curses. Ah, this wound is beyond repair. Sorry, Cheol-min-ssi! [de of Wind] Swoosh-. A sharply honed de of wind flew and sliced off Yeom Cheol-mins forearm. Ahh! He must have been startled, but it was an extremely focused de. He probably didnt even feel the pain or realize he was cut. [Hardening] [Enhancement] [Courage of the Lion] I quickly hardened Yeom Cheol-mins wound to stop the bleeding and cast several enchantments on his mind to calm him down. And the de of Wind that had cut off Yeom Cheol-mins arm and continued on It went on and sliced through the corpse of a ghoul lying on the ground. Puk! Guh! Look at this. A ghoul, already dead, screaming? The initiative ensures victory. Time for abo. [Cold Bone Prison] Crush A giant skeletal hand rose from the ground and grasped the once-sliced ghoul [Burning Spear] Shrrrrrrr!!! Boom! I thrust a spear of me into it. Surprisingly, the ghoul that was clearly dead before began to move and opened its mouth. What it said was Yo-you little!!! Ah, no need to listen to that. I decided that there was no need to listen to the ghoul anymore; instead, I shouted at Kwak Dae-yong. Team Leader Kwak Dae-yong, look at that! Wow! The ghoul corpse is talking! [Fireball]! [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Kwak Dae-yong who didnt understand the situation let out a bewildered sound. Uh, what?! Whether Kwak Dae-yong understood the situation or not, the giant fireballs I had created in my hands flew straight at the ghoul. Shiiiiiiik!!! Kwaang!!!! Oops, I forgot to control the fire The walls got a bit scorched and the floor cracked, but thats not the problem right now. The body of the ghoul hit by the fireballs was shattered and scattered in all directions. Kwak Dae-yong came inte and then spoke to me with a dazed look on his face. What in the world? What was that? Looks like a strange guy, or rather it seems a mage was involved? A mage?! Yeom Cheol-min, staggered and holding his wounded area, interjected. Ugh Yes, captain. That ghouls corpse spewed some strange mucus at me! If thats the case Kwak Dae-yongs eyes frantically rolled around the ce. He looked at Yeom Cheol-min, then at me, then at the fragmented ghouls corpse, back to Yeom Cheol-min, then at me again, at the ghouls corpse, and back at me, and at the ghouls corpse again Oh, stop it! Ah,e on! Cant you grasp the situation?! No, no, I get it! Something did burst out, but you took it down, right? Hmm A nice summary, but slightly off. What? Whats wrong? Ding The sound of a bell rang again from the darkness. I havent finished it off yet. Chapter 29: The King of Man-Eaters Chapter 29: The King of Man-Eaters Im sure. Its not that a dead ghoul hase back to life. Then what is it? There must be someone here whos possessed a dead ghoul and is using magic. The current situation deviates from the progression of the game. Even from the moment I first arrived at this apartmentplex, events I hadnt experienced in the game had been urring gradually. But I could sense that this was the most critical divergence yet. In that deep darkness, where the sound of a bell rings, an event Ive never seen in the game is unfolding. I felt fear and tension, but strangely, an undeniable excitement and anticipation were also rising within me. It seems odd to be thinking this way in a ce where I could lose my life at any moment. Perhaps this is the greatest side effect of the [Madness of the Abyss] trait. Even though I was having these thoughts, my body actively moved towards the danger, as if being sucked into the darkness. Ah, I cant go alone. Its in there. Follow me! Ah, got it! Lets go! Kwak Dae-yong, who was impulsive by nature, boldly issued an order but his subordinates hesitated for a moment. And understandably so, since they had just been suffering under the attack of ghouls. Some had sustained severe injuries, including lost limbs, while others showed signs of mild confusion or madness. Asking them to march back into that deep darkness might have seemed too harsh. As I was contemting what more I could do, Kwak Dae-yongs shout broke the silence. Idiots! Staying back clumsily is even more dangerous! Dont you see that being near the mage increases your chances of survival?! Eh!? What?? Turning around, I noticed the change in the way Kwak Dae-yongs men were looking at me. This was a bit embarrassing. But in this situation, it seemed better to show my worth through actions rather than words. Rrrrrrrrrrrr!! I increased my pace and, upon encountering more ghouls, unleashed a spell at them. Might as well make it something spectacr. [Uzets Fury] Rumble A red glow, intertwining lightning and me, surged tumultuously from my hands. Kwagagagagagagaga!!! The zing bolts, which can only be aptly described as a thunderous inferno, carved sinister, swirling red paths through the air like serpentine branches. Krrrrrash!! Kieeeeeee!!! The ghouls caught in the ws of the undting mes and lightning that resembled a red dragon were quickly engulfed and charred as they started emitting ck smoke. Ooh A cry of admiration escaped my lips involuntarily. The spell that was infused with me was enhanced by the power of [Living Fire], which created an effect farrger and more spectacr than I had anticipated. It was an excessively grand spell for just a few ghouls, but it did wonders in boosting the morale of Kwak Dae-yongs men. Am amazing Take us with you, Mage-nim! The sound of footsteps surged. Seeing the mixture of relief and cheers, it seemed my actions were right. I started to move while expanding my magical detection range to ensure the safety of not only those ahead but also the people behind. Originally, there were sixteen of us who descended into the basement, including myself. But now, whether due to falling behind or death, there were only fourteen remaining, myself included. It was a nearly ominous number. If even one persongged behind or fell down, there was a risk of encountering that unlucky number. [Madness: Triskaidekaphobia (Phobia of the number 13)] Damn it, thest thing I need is an unnecessary penalty It was likely a different situation from the previous rat phobia, but I wanted to avoid any unnecessaryplications. Ding It was the sound of a bell. This time, it came from a deeper ce. Is it over there? I had fully pinpointed the direction and distance of the sound. The source of the bell was in the deepest part of this dark and damp underground parking lot. We, meaning myself and Kwak Dae-yong along with his men, were now able to advance without hesitation. There were injured members moving with the help of theirrades at the rear, but it signified that the revived morale and rationality of the security team were sufficient to defend against or even preemptively attack the ghouls. I was riding on my skateboard and guided them forward. This way, and be careful. Theyre going to start putting up a real fight now. Screeeeeech!!! Aaaaaaaah!!! To block our advance, the remaining ghouls charged with tenacious ferocity, but they couldnt stop Kwak Dae-yong and his fully recovered troops. Yaaah! Ratatatatat!! Whenever Kwak Dae-yong hurled a ghoul emerging from the darkness with his hammer, the shooting team responded with precise gunfire. This was a typical tactic when facing monsters in which a team with strong physical abilities and special abilities takes on a monster. And what elerated our advance even more was [Lightning] Fzzzzzzzt!! [Shattering Ice Prison] Crackkkk!! Not to boast, but my magic indeed unleashed overwhelming power and cleared our path. Now, Ive be perfectly adept at using magic. The magic I could wield was limited to just zero and first-order spells, but thanks to my [Spell Mastery] trait and immense magical power, I could unleash an array of spells. Wait. I who was riding ahead on my skateboard slowed down and signaled to Kwak Dae-yongs group trailing behind. It was clearly a situation where I needed to speed up, but I felt a strange sensation as if the [Enhanced Vignce] was grabbing me by the back of my neck. Theres something dangerous ahead. Deep within. Even deeper. I had a rough idea of whaty there. Before I even entered, I had already marked the spot. It was the ce connected by the mana lines emanating from my mana core. A location where I had set up a protective circle. In essence, it was where the three survivors that Moon Seung-hee had been searching for were located. However, my sensitive hearing and smell alerted me that, apart from the survivors, other entities were waiting there. The stench of blood was so foul and pungent that it was nauseating. And then Squish squish munch crunch, crunch Blood oozed and dripped stickily. Scattered all around were stters of bright red, yellow, bruised blue, and an unpleasant grayish substance. Flesh, intestines, bone fragments, and brain matter. All had been butchered and gnawed upon by sharp nails and teeth. We have reached the deepest part of the underground parking lot. The innermost area of the underground parking lot. A creepy space where construction was yet to finish, leaving bare concrete and wires exposed. In the narrow spaces between pirs and walls, a tremendous number of corpses were piled up. And there, several ghouls were feasting on the flesh with their faces buried in the bodies. Fizz, munch, squish The monsters resembling humans showed little in the way of dining etiquette as they tore into human flesh. A scene where human corpses, torn limb from limb, were piled up like mountains, with blood flowing from them like rivers. The sight of fragmented intestines spilling out in all directions. It was a sight so horrific and spine-chilling that any human would instinctively feel fear. But something even more terrifying than all of thatbinedy before us. Oh, my God What in the world is that [System: Enhanced Vignce trait activated.] [It is a primitive and repulsive mural depicting bizarre shapes. The primal and fundamental patterns painted on the exterior wall of the underground parking lot seem to bring to life some kind of magical thought.] Behind the pile of bodies on the gray concrete wall, a grotesque and nauseating painting was densely drawn. Palm prints, smudged traces, clumps of red pigment dripping down, and human flesh and hair mixed into the pigment. Evil and sphemous patterns created by rubbing blood-soaked hands on the wall. Shapes so strange and indescribable in humannguage. Tentacles split into four parts. An ominous shape resembling a snake. No, not so much a snake, but something even more base Yes, those were maggots. Maggots feasting on a corpse. The prowler among the tombs, the swirling darkness, and the king of man-eaters. They were symbols meant to praise the [Father of All Ghouls] and to borrow his power. And then there was the giant red hole painted in the center. It wasnt a hole. It was just arge red circle painted there. Yet, that circle seemed almost like the gaping maw of a monstrous creature, threatening to swallow us whole. Those devoured by this maw would be dragged to the deepest abyss. [This is not merely a painting. It is a magic circle meant to embody Gods power, authority, and will. The presence emanating from this picture is enough to shatter the human mind. Your sanity, as well as that of the humans by your side, cannotprehend this ludicrous sight. Resist the terror with your mental strength stat. Sanity check failed.] Seeing such a thing wouldnt immediately drive one mad, but repeated failures of sanity checks wear down mental strength. Eventually, madness manifests and the effects of distortion kick in. If one is lucky, like Kwak Dae-yong earlier, they might exhibit strange behavior for a while before regaining their senses. However, if one was unlucky or if their mental strength was already worn down to nothing, an indelible madness would manifest. Such affected humans who reach the Abyss would either turn into monsters, be invalids, or in some cases, even transform into cultists worshipping the Abyss. Arghhhhhhh! I want to go back! Let me out! This is all wrong! Heh heh Fu*k it damn it Kwak Dae-yongs men were already at their psychological limits. The sight of the gigantic mural began to induce mild distortion among them. Idiots, snap out of it! Its nothing! Just a painting! Kwak Dae-yongs voice could be heard berating his subordinates. It seemed he had sessfully passed the sanity check this time? Though it was slightly amusing to hear him shout at others, especially considering he was the first to sumb to the distortion, his actions were precisely what was needed in that moment. [System: The special trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of distortion are nullified.] Of course, I too was faced with surreal terror, but with my special trait [Madness of the Abyss], no issue arose. Instead, I had to focus on a more realistic problem. First off! I increased the speed of my skateboard and approached the ghouls. This is no time to scream at the sight of a painting! Ghouls, beware! [Cold Bone Prison] Crack-crack-crack- From the ground, a massive skeletal hand emerged, grasping the ghouls that had been sliced once Grraaah?! [ming Spear] Swoosh!!! Crack! I thrust a spear of me into them. Graaaah!! And now, [Fireball]! [Spell Enhancement: Power Boost] Boom!!! The ghouls that were feasting on the corpses were swiftly dealt with, and then [Leap]! Uh, where are you going? I heard Kwak Dae-yongs dumbfounded voice. That guy really never stops saying stupid things until the very end. I leaped over the corpses of the ghouls and responded as I did. Team leader, dont you see that? In the direction of the mural. The giant red circle at the center of the mural. That was no ordinary painting. This was the root cause of the entire incident. A dimensional portal connected to a tunnel somewhere underground in Paju. Thats the culprit! [ming Spear] A newly created ming spear emitted a fierce breaking sound as it flew straight toward the center of the mural. Gwagwagwagwagwa!!! Ding This time, the sound of a bell rang from a very close distance. Boom!!! The flying spear of me suddenly exploded in mid-air. It was a kind of protective barrier. A green barrier formed right in front of the mural and blocked my spell. And then, from beyond that barrier, a heavily strained voice could be heard. Damn you, you little damned mage Ding The bell sounded again. I grew sick of that sound now. A hand holding a small silver-gleaming bell came into view. Chapter 30: Ghoul Shaman Chapter 30: Ghoul Shaman A small silver bell with a short handle. Engraved on its surface were bizarre and sphemous patterns. It was a powerful artifact, imbued with a malevolent aura. And that artifact was clutched in a bony hand protruding from the wall. Tha-that thing a handing out of the wall? One of the security team members said something in disbelief, but that wasnt the end of it. A person slowly began to walk out from therge red circle drawn on the wall. You have ruined our ns. Small and frail in stature, draped in tattered robes, with long unkempt white hair. His entire body was covered in grotesque tattoos, and his eyes glowed a sinister green. Even though he clearly had a human appearance, he was a terrifying being, far more dreadful than any ghoul or zombie. He stood leaning against the inner wall of the underground parking lot while staring at me. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Before that huge and hideous pattern, the old man, no, the cults high priest, voiced out his seething rage towards me. Clothed in a robe resembling a sackcloth, with long white hair. His entire body was covered with bizarre tattoos, and his eyes shone with an ominous, dark green glow. A grotesque old man who was clearly human in form yet exuded a dread far surpassing any ghoul or zombie approached while shaking a silver bell. Our cults great undertaking, you dare to interfere A cult? Yes! The prowler among the tombs The old man continued as he slowly raised his trembling arms. A grating, phlegmy voice emanated from his lips. The prowler among the tombs, the greatest and mightiest of ghouls, the progenitor of the ghoul species, and the father of all ghouls who has bestowed his magnificent flesh upon this unworthy servant I couldnt help but let out a hollowugh. What is this bastard? Was there such an NPC in the Demonic Cult, those who worship the [Father of All Ghouls]? Judging by his condition, the level of magic he possessed, and the artifact in his hand, he was at least a high-ranking priest, if not the cult leader. Even if Ipleted the ongoing guests from the underworld quest and followed it with the series of subsequent quests, no such character should appear. An entity outside the games settings? Or just an NPC I had yet to encounter? Numerous questions arose in my mind, but it seemed unlikely Id get any answers. The condition of the one who should provide those answers did not look promising. The old man holding the bell scratched his furrowed forehead furiously and was mumbling to himself incoherently. You came too soon, too soon. If only, if only you had been a little slower, we could have summoned more quality followers Regrettable, so regrettable. We could have turned this entire building into our sacred temple, but wecked enough sacrifices to gather more power What a shame a shame Kwak Dae-yong gritted his teeth in anger. Turn this ce into your gathering spot? This bastard Kwak Dae-yong, who interpreted the old mans words in his own way, raised his hammer and shouted. This crazy old man! Whos backing you tomit such filthy acts? Kukuku Backing? Backing? The only one who canmand us is our Lord, only our Lord! Following the divine revtions andmands of our great leader, we prepared to conduct a major and holy ritual, yes, the underground ritual, to prepare for the feast But then, these worthless trash, not even fit to be ghoul fodder, dare to interfere with the grand n bestowed by the [Father of All Ghouls] The old man wearing a sackcloth-like robe continued to rant and rave with unrelenting momentum. Though this was my first experience with such an event, it wasnt my first encounter with this kind of scenario. The cultists, their minds deranged no, having peered into the deep abyss and realized the truths of this world. Their behavior was typically like this. Hmm Its a chore to listen to such ramblings without a skip button. I wish I could press skip. Before I could do anything, Kwak Dae-yong had already intercepted the old mans words. RItual? Lord? What kind of bullshit is this! Kwak Dae-yong, who fell for the provocation, looked ready to wield his hammer and charge out at any moment. But then again, rushing in here wouldnt make any difference [Telepathy] [Team Leader, forget that. Ill handle this. Just take care of your men.] What? Oh uh okay. Kwak Dae-yong was initially startled by my voice prating directly into his head, but he maintained his guard and slowly stepped back. I lightly tapped him on the side and spoke slowly. Team Leader Kwak Dae-yong, this old man isnt some fixer sent to lower the apartments sales price. What are you saying? Then why is he pulling this crazy stunt? Its because of religious beliefs. Anyway, hes not someone you can reason with, and if you keep listening, hell never stop expounding his worldview no, rambling on with pointless talk. So just stop it. There must have been a bizarre and grand n, beyond theprehension of a normal human perspective or ideology. The deviation from the original quest flow was probably due to the effect of [Feast Offering]. One of the beings from the abyss must have imparted a revtion to the old man. **** [Feast Offering]: Increased probability of encountering beings from the abyss; heightened chances of attracting their attention; an increase in the number of monsters appearing; an increased probability of elite monsters emerging. / You are the feast prepared for the beings of the abyss. **** And I suspected that if I stepped in, the true nature of things would soon be revealed. Yes, yes, youre the one. Look at that. His expression changed. The old man, with his bony and yellowed hand that wasnt holding the bell, pointed at me and said, The great, the great Father of Ghouls has bestowed a revtion. The other world, the sacrifice brought from the other world, the feast offering. The Lord desires you, you. A sacrifice brought from the other world? Hey, what does that mean? Kukuku With more than a hundred of our kind in and having earned the title of a yer, we cannot waste our pitiful kin on you For the grand, the grand advent, the beautiful, the beautiful time of destruction, be the burnt offering, offering. Crazy, there was no reasoning with him. If I had known it woulde to this, I should have struck first instead of wasting time listening to that nonsense. The old man, a cultist of the Demonic order and a Ghoul Shaman, or Oungan (a voodoo priest), slowly retreated while shaking the silver bell he held in his hand. Ding A sinister green mist charged with dark magic began to gather around the old man. Ah, damn it. Hes transforming! Stop him! What? Transforming? Although I spoke to Kwak Dae-yong, that idiot failed to grasp my intent and panicked. Ah, damn it! Among the spells I could use now, the fastest was [Arrow of Destruction] Ssssssssss Bang! The magic from theher realm burst out, emitting a bizarrely colored radiance. As the magic projectile flew, I pushed more magical power into it, adding new properties, directions, and destructive power. [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Zzzzshshshshsh!! The magic projectile that received the new will and magical power split in the air, took the shape of spewing buckshot and flew away over a wide area. Kwagagagagaga!! But it was already toote. Before the sound of the explosion from the hit could be heard, I had an intuition of what had happened. The old man had already moved out of the range of the magic projectile at lightning speed. Hes gone! Where is he? Whats going on? Chaotic shouts erupted among the security team members. In their attempt to locate the vanished old man, their handheld lights moved erratically. But all that was visible were bizarre murals, the sprawled bodies of ghouls, and the shattered, scattered remains of humans. Ah, really. Arent these guys employed for their skills? Is this really all they can do? There! [Fireball]! Whooooosh!! The magical power escaping from my body condensed into a massive sphere ball of me, glowing red with intense heat. The fireball flew through the darkness of the underground parking lot with unhindered speed, the light from the roaring mes clearing away the damp darkness and revealing the figure of the old man hiding among them. But before the fire could engulf the old man, two ghouls leaped out from the shadows Kieeeeee!! Kukieeeeeh!! Boom!! The fireball, precisely directed and angled, was unfortunately intercepted and exploded in mid-air when two ghouls suddenly leaped into its path. Kuhahahaa! See, see? For the glory of the great, great prowler among the tombs, the children of the father throw themselves like dogs! Damn it, his faith and the artifact he held were genuine, despite his cheap incantations and crude magic. In response to his wish, the great being dwelling deep in the abyss granted him new power. [The Father of All Ghouls]. Krrrrrr His face, wrinkled like an old tree trunk, was grotesquely twisted. His snout elongated, andrge fangs emerged. And then there was the sticky green mist enveloping his body. It moved like a tangible bundle of ropes or a cloak, stickily wrapping around him. Hes turning into a monster! Someone among Yeonams security team shouted. Shoot! Shoot him before its toote! Ratatatatatata!!! The ominous green mist and the cold eerie aura. hundreds of bullets poured out from about ten gun barrels, but for some reason they couldnt prate the green mist surrounding the old man, or rather, the ghoul shaman who had now mutated into apletely grotesque form. As if getting lost in the mist, the bullets that flew under precise aim had their trajectories bent the moment they came into contact with the mist and scattered in a random direction. Even those who mainly wielded melee weapons hesitated to approach the bizarre ghoul shaman. Keh Kekkekkek A strangeughter erupted from the ghoul shaman. His body slowly tilted, not falling but swaying in an odd posture. Then, suddenly lifting one foot off the ground Boom!! It wasnt an explosion. It was the sound of the ghoul shaman rolling his foot. Aaaaargh!! The ghoul shaman, having amassed a great deal of magical power, stamped his foot once, and then his body disappeared. Incredible speed. Ssss! The ghoul shaman reappeared in the middle of the security team and struck the head of the closest team member. Crack! With a casual swing of his fist, a persons head was pulled out in an instant by the ghoul shaman. Whoosh!!! Blood gushed in an incredible volume from the severed head, which was only left with its lower jaw, staining the ceiling of the underground parking lot, where the concrete framework was exposed. The ghoul shaman momentarily gazed at his blood-soaked hand before slowly opening his mouth. The skin on his face had not yet stretched sufficiently to support his mouth, which elongated like a ghouls snout. Eventually, his cheeks were unable to bear the excessively stretched snout and tore apart with a ripping sound. He extended his long tongue and leisurely licked the blood off his hand. Kuhehe, kukukukuku Delicious. Bizarre speed and unfathomable strength. And a scene of utter horror. Regardless of my will or emotions, a message window popped up and obscured my vision. [Your mind cannotprehend this horrific scene. You resist the fear with your Mental Strength stat. Sanity check Sess.] However, among the ranks of the security team, screams erupted from those who couldnt ovee the situation. Aaaaaah!!! The ranks of the bewildered security team fell into disarray. Amidst the chaos, one person who was afflicted with a different form of distortion burst forth. You son of a bit*h!!! Chapter 31: What We’ve Done So Far Chapter 31: What Weve Done So Far Dieee!! Kwak Dae-yongs [Berserker] trait came into y. [When distortion urs, the distortion inevitably manifests itself as violence.] This trait, which was almost akin to a penalty, shone for the first time in a while. Whether the opponent was stronger or not, while others might turn and flee, Kwak Dae-yong attacked his enemy with all his might. With a thunderous roar, his battle hammer swung with ferocious force. Boom!! But the ghoul shaman blocked the attack effortlessly. Even with just one hand. He held the end of Kwak Dae-yongs hammer with just one hand. Guh! Kukukuku Why, why so? Cant you even handle the strength of this tiny, tiny old man? Grrrrr!!! Kwak Dae-yong grasped the handle of the hammer with both hands and pulled with all his strength, but the hammer didnt budge. [me Eruption] Although still a considerable distance from the ghoul shaman, I concentrated magical power into the mes, enhancing both range and power. [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Kiiiiing!! The ghoul shaman was taken aback and he screamed upon noticing a bright red magic circle forming right beside him. Wh-what is this?! Before he could react, a massive me,parable to a dragons breath, erupted from the glowing red magic circle as if it were about to explode at any moment. Fwooosh!!! The enormous ze illuminated the dark underground parking lot so brightly that it was visible in a single nce. The surrounding air was distorted, and the heat was so intense that even I, standing far away, could feel it. The mes, which possessed not only heat but also the physical power to push away enemies, hurled the ghoul shamans small body far away. Aaaaagh! Sa-save me! These were the screams of Kwak Dae-yong and his men. The mes raged without stopping, reaching all the way around Kwak Dae-yong and his subordinates, causing them to crouch and struggle in an attempt to dodge the fiery onught. But the spell had been activated with all this in mind. The power of the mes was immense, yet they were released at a perfectly tuned angle and direction, with the spread beingpletely controlled. This was thanks to my ability to manipte every strand of the magic lines scattering in all directions. Thanks to that, not only the inner walls of the underground parking lot but also Kwak Dae-yong, who had been facing the ghoul shaman in a standoff, remained unaffected by the mes. Ughhh Ho-how did this happen? While Kwak Dae-yongs gang was making dumb noises as they watched the dying mes, I turned my gaze toward the ghoul shaman. Just moments ago, he had been struck directly by the mes and was hurled far away before crumpling to the ground I suppose that wont be enough, will it? Kuha! Kuhahaha! Oh great, great Father of Ghouls! Prowler among the tombs! As expected. Of course, he wasnt unscathed. His whole body was ckened, the skin on his face peeled off revealing raw red flesh, and his eyelids and nose had been scorched away. Such injuries would have debilitated a normal person and robbed them of their ability to fight in an instant. But to him, driven by horrific madness and twisted faith, these wounds only seemed to heighten his frenzy. Come forth! You worms crawling in the underground! Blessings of the abyssal chasm! A newly swirling green mist enveloped his body. His body began to distort. Although his lost skin and flesh did not return, the exposed muscles and blood vessels beneath the peeled skin writhed, transforming into a stronger and more grotesque form. The skull, which had begun to develop into a shape simr to that of a ghoul, twisted further and further into the shape of a terrible monster. This bizarre form could no longer be called human. Yet, it wasnt a ghoul either. It was simply a monster. A monster reborn with the blessings of an outer god, a being from the abyss, a great ancient being. Kuhahahaha!! The ghoul shaman who has taken on a truly ugly and grotesque form burst into a frenziedughter before he leaped. Boom! From the floor to the ceiling, Boom! From the ceiling to pirs, Boom! And then back from the pirs to the floor, He moved with unstoppable force. He moved throughout the interior of the underground parking lot with such power that the floors, walls, and pirs he touched were destroyed. On seeing this, an involuntary gasp of frustration escaped my lips. Aaah,e on, youve got to do it in moderation; what the hell is this? Even a monkey couldnt move like that; it was an absurd level of agility. Despite [Cthulhu World] being a game notorious for its unbnced nature, I never encountered an enemy of this level at this stage. Kukyakyakyakya! Mage of the other world! The feast offering! Be the beacon for the great, great new era! The ghoul shaman dynamically rotated his entire body and rapidly closed the distance. In my vision, I saw his filthy barefoot erging at an incredible speed. No, thats a Kick? What appeared to the eye was a frail old mans kick, but it was a vicious, high-speed kickden with malevolent energy. If such an attack hit my weakened body I would be shattered into pieces! Dodge it! No, damn it, its too fast! [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Booom!! The ground-shaking impact was so powerful that the dust settled on the floor, soared into the air. A humming vibration echoed from the protective circle formed in front of me. Had it not been for the multipleyers of enhancements and maximization, the kick with its absurd power, would have utterly destroyed me. Blocked? Blocked??? Blocked????? The ghoul shaman widened one eye in anger, his head tilting this way and that in the manner of a typical madman. The ghoul shaman spun around widely in that posture. Whirl! This time, a fist flew towards me. Boom, boom, boooom!! Following the kick, a barrage of punches came indiscriminately. Crack, crack, craaack!!! Eventually, the impact exceeded its limit. The protective circle was unable to withstand it and began to disintegrate. Thiscrazy old man! Such a feeble shield! Crackkk!! Oh no, this is crazy. The ghoul shaman then put his hand through the hole in the protective circle and began to tear it apart, thrusting his face into the interior of the circle. His dreadful face, melted and disfigured by mes, drew extremely close. Kyaaak! The creature, with a mouth elongated like a dogs snout, opened it wide to bite at me. The grotesque, unevenly ced fangs in that hideous mouth gleamed menacingly. I shifted my body slightly, narrowly escaping his attack range, and activated the spell I had prepared. [Thorn Trap] Kwajijiji!! Dozens of des conjured out of thin air impaled the ghoul shamans snout, tongue, and head. Argh! Blood spurted from his arm, but a green mist quickly enveloped him, destroying the des lodged in his face. Hahaha! See? My lord protects me! Be quiet, you dog-faced brute! [Lightning] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Fzzzzzzt!!! Blinding white electric light enveloped his body. Aaaaargh!! Aaaaaah!! I maximized the output not just to stop his reckless charge but topletely incapacitate him. Blood boiled and flesh melted, emitting a foul stench. Graaaargh! Yet, even in such a state, the ghoul shaman forced his limbs to move and continued his attack. Boom!!! Holy shit. [Impact] Kaboom! Right in front of me, the overwhelming physical force of the explosion sent the ghoul shaman flying. His body which was suspended in mid-air twisted in a grotesque manner. The movement was too bizarre to be of any living creature. It wasnt his will or strength, but the green mist enveloping his body that was forcibly moving him. Aaaaah! Glory to the darkness and decay of the underground! Glory to the worms and the flesh-devouring death of the underworld! All hail, all hail the great darkness! Damn, hes too sturdy. This isnt working. The abyssal entity that backs him, [Father of All Ghouls], doesnt grant the power of regeneration. It only provides a madness that allows movement even if the limbs are decaying and crushed. Despite what must have been excruciating pain, he continued to charge at me like a demonic entity. Damn, this approach is futile. But that doesnt mean there are no other ways. It just requires apletely different tactic than the beating, crushing, and burning Ive been using. I hopped onto the skateboard lying next to me and activated a new spell. [Invisible Hand] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] What I invoked this time was a zero-order spell that exerted a simple form of telekinesis. The goal was not that insane ghoul shaman. A transparent and gigantic palm-shaped magical field grasped me and pushed me backward. Rrrrrrrrr The sound of the board rolling echoed as I quickly increased the distance between myself and the ghoul shaman. This board, aided by magic, could reach speeds capable of outrunning biker gangs in a chase, but Kuhu. Kuhuhuhaha! The ghoul shaman, now emitting iprehensible, bizarre noises, charged at me. These were the words of a fanatic who had epted the support and gifts of an abyssal entity. A monster that had lost its self. Merely a tool moving only to represent the will of a god. To destroy such a being, conventional methods were ineffective. Yes, theres one magic spell perfect for creatures like you. I kept my distance by channeling magical power into the telekic power that moved the skateboard, and at the same time, I began preparing a spell that I had never used before while ying [Cthulhu World]. [System: The hidden trait Secret Knowledge: Life Creation has been activated. Life-type spell effects enhanced by 100%.] This is the result of days of research and practice. I activated the spell with both hands together. [Living Flesh] Squelch squelch squelch My palm split open. It wasnt like it was cut with a knife, but rather as if there had always been an opening there, akin to eyes opening that had been previously shut. The center of my palm parted. Within it, a strange interspace of intertwined darkness and light revealed itself. Then, the interspace closed and opened again Gurgle gurgle squelch An unpleasant, pinkish lump poured out. It was a fist-sized piece of flesh. This was a spell created by using my own blood and flesh as a medium, turning my physical body itself into a magic circle. For some time, I had experimented and yed with [ck Goats Body Fluid] and [Wriggling Slime] to create this entirely new spell. I bestowed new properties and power onto this piece of flesh. [Devouring] Creak creak The quivering flesh on my palm absorbed my will and magical power and transformed into a being with entirely new characteristics. A grotesque creature with the writhing body of an octopus and an unbnced beak trembled as it exhaled its first breath. Grrr Gwawaa If only it had been a bit more majestic, or at the very least cute, but no, this was just a monster. Well, it didnt matter. I issued amand to the newly born artificial life form, the Beast of Devouring. Now, Beast of Devouring, consume your masters enemy and the source of power that animates him. Kweeeeeeeg! The Beast of Devouring flew towards the ghoul shaman with incredible speed. What a trivial move! The ghoul shaman charged forward and threw a punch without slowing down. He probably thought to easily swat away the flying flesh and then attack me, but that was exactly the development I had hoped for. St! Wh-what is this!? Gurgle The flesh that had attached to his arm, the Beast of Devouring, started to tear into his body and the green mist enveloping him with a voracious intensity like that of a gaping maw. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch The green mist surrounding his body began to diminish rapidly. [The unique trait Magic Devourer has been activated.] Chapter 32: Magic Devourer Chapter 32: Magic Devourer **** [Magic Devourer]: You can interfere with, steal, or absorb the magic, curses, enchantments, and powers of others. You are a monster that grows by devouring the knowledge, magic, and power of others. **** Argh, Aaaargh!!! Ah, does that hurt? But what a mess you are in. Wh-what did you say? Your control. Its aplete mess. Should you really be losing a gift given by the god you worship so easily? Youre using this precious, high-purity magical power just to wear it around your body and show off your brute strength? Where have the processes of control, absorption, purification, transformation, and reconfiguration gone? This is no different from a primitive using crude oil to light a fire. You bastard! Whoosh! His fist flew towards me but it was noticeably slower than before. I easily dodged the fist and swung my own at the ghoul shaman. Thump! As soon as my fist connected, I injected magical power into his body. This is followed by condensation, reconfiguration, transformation, and explosion. Now, get lost! [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Grrrrrrrrr Within his body. a fireball brimming with lethal firepower was formed. Stop, stop it! Stoooop Aaaahhhhh! From every hole pierced in the body of the ghoul shaman, crimson mes erupted. His entire body split apart Boom! Ashes, flesh, and bone fragments scattered in all directions. The ghoul shaman vanished from the world without leaving anything that could be called a corpse behind. Thump, Ding Then, a silver bell fell to the ground with a soft clink. Phew I could have moved more efficiently, but to be honest, I was caught off guard which made things unnecessarily difficult. Is this the end, now that the ghouls wont be replenished? I slowly approached and picked up the artifact that the ghoul shaman had wielded: the silver bell. [Silver Bell of the Underworld (S-rank Magical Tool): A ritual tool crafted from pure silver mined by ghouls. It bestows upon its owner tremendous magical power along with terrifying madness. This item belongs to the abyss. The more it is used, the more your body and mind will evolve to suit it. Gift of the Underworld: The blessing bestowed by the father of all ghouls envelops you. As long as this blessing is maintained, all stats increase by 50~700%, and effects such as stun, shock, disorientation, and pain are ignored. However, while this effect is active, magical, psychic, spiritual, and divine abilities cannot be used. Pure Silvers Dominance: Automatically casts the Voice of Authority spell on a designated target and enhances the effects of Mind spells by 100%. Pure Silver Charm: Grants a +2 charisma bonus exclusively to ghouls, undead, and demons. Pure Silver Madness: Bestows MadnessViolence on summoned creatures and increases their attack power by 100%] All stats increased by 700%? What is this? Just what kind of unbnced artifact is this? It was certainly the first time I had seen such an item. I had seen a few items rted to ghouls before, but none with abilities of this magnitude. Its quite impressive, but the penalty is problematic. Madness, distortion, and the influence of the [Father of All Ghouls], a being from the abyss and a great ancient entity, could be ignored thanks to the unique trait [Madness of the Abyss], but the physical transformations couldnt be prevented. A face grotesquely mutated and limbs twisted out of shape And with more use, I wouldpletely turn into a ghoul. No matter how enticing the powers, I had no desire to end up like that. I breathed aplex magic circle into the silver bell I held in my hand. [Breath of Severance] A first-order sealing spell. Crystals that looked like pale frost formed on the silver bell where my breath touched. This was an item that was too closely rted to the Abyss. I was already suffering from spam-like nightmares every night due to the [Ring of Corrupted me], so I had no intention of adding another source of torment to my list. After invoking a few more spells and adding severalyers of safeguards, I was finally able to push the [Silver Bell of the Underworld] into my backpack. For now, this should be enough. Once I set up a proper workshop, I would be able to deal with it more definitively. After gathering my backpack I turned towards the spot where the ghoul shaman had been now only a few coal-like fragments and some soot remained. Its time for you to return. At mymand, a creature of gluttony that had been writhing in the ashes of what was once the ghoul shaman responded with a strange noise. Grrrr At first nce, it resembled an octopus. However, it was a bizarre monster with multiple mouths akin to those of humans where one would expect the head of an octopus to be. Grrrrr! Having devoured the magical power and blessing imbued in the body of the ghoul shaman, it swelled significantlyrger than before. Initially, it was no bigger than a palm-sized baby squid, but now it had certainly grown to the size of a ser ball. The creature, having swelled in size, seemed to have gained intelligence or perhaps self-awareness, for it ignored my words and backed away tentatively, baring its teeth located all over its head and growling menacingly. Being bitten by those teeth would surely be painful. Hey, stop fooling around ande back. I red at the creature of gluttony and gathered my magical power. Even though my face contorted so much that it felt like my facial muscles were straining, my face was hidden behind a mask and was hence invisible. However, whether it was due to the surge of magical power or simply sensing my anger, the creature flinched and approached me. Grrr I ced my hand on the creatures head and spoke the pre-setmand words. You have fulfilled the duties andmands I bestowed upon you. Now cease to exist. Gurgle Gurgle Grrrrr The octopus-like body began to contract and harden slowlybefore it transformed into apletely different form. It became a crystallized essence, refined from the life force, magic, and the blessing it had stolen from the enemy. In other words, it transformed into a magic stone. I didnt expect it to turn out this well The magic stone was of incredible purity, not to mention its size and weight. It was almost frightening to touch. Can this be converted into currency? and if so, how much it would fetch; I had no idea. Nevertheless, I put it in my backpack and slowly turned my head. One task waspleted Now it was time to rescue the survivors that Moon Seung-hee had been looking for. The protective circle guarding the survivors was still active. When I was about to check the state of the protective circle, Kwak Dae-yong approached from behind and spoke up. You, you really What nonsense was he about to spout? When I turned my head and looked at Kwak Dae-yong, he was making a truly unexpected expression. You! Huh? Youre really amazing! What? Ive seen plenty of mediocre, nd mages before! But you, ah, a mage like you is a first! I almost burst intoughter. Kwak Dae-yongs face was filled with emotion: admiration, envy, aspiration Well, emotions of that sort. If you hadnt hidden your skills, I wouldnt have misunderstood you from the start Kwak Dae-yong kept talking, but in the end, it was just a repetition of the same story. Whos hiding their skills? And what misunderstanding? Its team leader Kwak Dae-yongs character that is rotten. Even though my response was an outright insult, Kwak Dae-yongs expression didnt change. Ah,e on. Cant you let it slide this time? Ive really changed my view of you. Is there any chance we could continue working together in the future? Huh? Dont you have a business card or something? I dont. And anyway, team leader Kwak Dae-yong doesnt have the authority to decide on external personnel, does he? Ah, really. If I talk to Human Resources, huh? Wouldnt they consider it? As if he could make any demands when he cant even stand up to Moon Seung-hee. I came here intending to show them my worth, but could their attitude really change this much? Then again, considering Ive saved their lives several times in this short period of time, it would be annoying if their attitude hadnt changed at all. No need. If you have something you want to say, tell someone with authority through Vasilisa. Were not done here yet. Not done? Weve taken care of the ghouls and even the necromancer who summoned them. What else is there to do now? I paused for a moment and looked at him. Whats the matter? Why are you looking at me like that? I gave him a look reserved for retards, but it seemed my disdain and disregard failed to convey as my face was hidden behind a mask. Team leader Kwak Dae-yong, are you foolish? We need to save the survivors. Survivors? Indeed, about 24 hours had passed since the ghouls first appeared. It was hard to imagine anyone surviving for 24 hours in a closed space swarmed by over a hundred ghouls. Yet, there were survivors. They had been alive when I arrived at this apartmentplex. And I had cast a spell to save him. Since the magic I cast was still in effect that person should also still be alive. Its over there. That ce is where we saw earlier. The location of the survivors, naturally, was the innermost part of the underground parking lot, where we had previously discovered the bizarre mural, traces of a ritual, and a pile of corpses. Thats I mean those are bodies, bodies arent they? Yes, I was protecting something hidden among those bodies. Through magic, magic you mean? Team Leader Kwak Dae-yong, do you realize youre talking like that dead cultist? No, no well Anyway, I dragged Kwak Dae-yong and approached the pile of corpses. Roughly thirty or so? People youre saying theres someone alive in here? They should be around here. The innermost part of the heap of corpses. There, the protective circle I had remotely installed before remains. To go further inside we have no choice but to step on the bodies. Namo Amitabha. Squish, squish Blood that had flowed out and unidentifiable flesh parts were stepped on. Ugh Kwak Dae-yong shuddered slightly and stepped back. Squish squish This was because he could hear slurred voices among the corpses. There it is. On closer inspection, a person was crouching and hiding among the heap of bodies. Squish squish It seems they survived longer than the others by hiding among the corpses. There were three survivors in total. Had I not arrived and cast a spell immediately, they likely wouldnt have survived until now. Was it a coincidence? Regardless, one of the survivors, as Moon Seung-hee had hoped, was a woman. No, rather than coincidence It might have been a contrived setting prepared by someone on purpose. After all, this was the world of a game. Hehehe Heh heh heh Kikik, Kuhuhu Though I had helped them with magic when I arrived here, they had already managed to survive in the underground parking lot that was swarming with over a hundred ghouls for at least a full day. Chapter 33: Settling Stuff Chapter 33: Settling Stuff I yed [Cthulhu World] thousands of times, but this was the first time I found myself saving someone in this ce and at this moment. To say I wasnt excited would be a lie. What events and developments would this action spark? Hey,e on, hey, snap out of it. I extended my hand towards the woman burying her body among the corpses. Eeek, Huwaaa. Monster! Monster! Die!!! Dieeeee!!!! Ah Right, the mask was the problem. The woman was already in such a fragile state, so the sight of my mask sent her into utter panic. I nced briefly at Kwak Dae-yong who was a few steps behind me, but his face was hardly reassuring either. Tsk. Im here to save you. Just be quiet for a moment! But it was no use. Arrrrgh! Gyaaaah! Squish! Squish! Even the two other survivors nearby began to tremble in response to her screams. Eventually, I concentrated magical power into one hand and clenched it into a fist. [Kas Golden Sand] Ssssss As the spell activated, faintly glowing golden sand began to softly pour from between my fists. It was magical sand imbued with the power of sleep. Even though this was a space devoid of any wind, the sand slowly rose into the air and showered over the faces of the survivors. The people who had been going crazy and rioting soon fell into a deep sleep. I called out to Kwak Dae-yong. Team leader Kwak Dae-yong, quickly gather your men and take care of these people. Y-Yes, understood. I had eliminated the ghouls and the unknown ghoul shaman who had summoned them, and I had even rescued three survivors, just as Moon Seung-hee had requested in the sub-quest. Yet the reason the reward hadnt appeared yet was [ Ghouls have appeared in the underground of an apartment building under construction. Defeat the ghouls and make the underground parking lot safe. Remaining targets: 167/67 Reward: 350,000 XP (+ the mary reward promised by the broker is separate.) Failure: Hostile rtionship with Yeonam Construction.] Is it because its not yet considered safe? The situation was very different from the quest I experienced in the original game, so I found it difficult to intuitively grasp the clear conditions. While I was thinking and observing the security team members in motion, Kwak Dae-yong approached me. Why does he keep bothering me instead of taking care of his men? WellAfter taking a quick look, it seems all the missing people were gathered here. I see. Is there anything else we should be cautious of? This ce was under the influence of some cultist. and Im hesitant to have my men check directly. Hmm Just when I thought he was being needlessly friendly, it turns out he was trying to use me. With the questpletion notification still pending, I decided to y along for now. It may be an empty parking lot, but with columns, curved walls, and space for elevators and stairs in the middle, there are blind spots no matter how well you light it. I decided to use my spells to scan the unexplored depths of the underground parking lot. [Remote Detection] [Curse Detection] [Trap Detection] [Magic Detection] [Detection Complete.] Indeed, as Team Leader Kwak Dae-yong said, there were still matters left to address. Ugh, so there was something after all? Good thing I asked. No, its nothing too significant. After all, the team leader has seen it before. Seen it before? Yes, that. Kwak Dae-yong shone a light in the direction I was pointing. Near a pile of bodies there was a hazard that remained unaddressed. A special ce that had never appeared in the game before.it likely emerged due to the intervention of a being from the abyss. Ugh, that? A giant mural painted on the outer wall of the underground parking lot. It was a product of madness that felt even more sinister due to theck of proper lighting. Right. The mural itself is imbued with magical power, so leaving it alone could cause problems in some way or another. Problems like what? Well, its also serving as a kind of portal. Ghouls could pour out through that red circle again. Ugh, please do something about it! I mean, can you? Hmm maybe? But just so you know, this will cost extra money. I-I understand. I get it. Good. No changing your ter. Hurry up. Im sick of ghouls. Kwak Dae-yong made a face of disgust, which I brushed off with augh as we started walking toward the mural. But then he made a groaning sound and hesitated. Wont you be fine on your own? That subtle tone in Kwak Dae-yongs voice. This bastard, he intended to shove the responsibility onto me after I went along with his bullsh*t earlier. What are you talking about? Come on. Ugh okay. Unlike before, Kwak Dae-yong was nowpletelypliant. Though he was a regr employee of a corporation, at his core, he was no different from the fixers of Paju. Knowing whom to follow in the field to ensure ones survival is a skill. Thats the secret to extending ones life as a fixer. I walked inside with Kwak Dae-yong leading the way. I am a mage after all. In ces where the unexpected might ur, isnt itmon sense for the sturdy vanguard to take the lead? The distance between the mural and the pile of bodies wasnt far, but as I approached the mural, I could feel where the oppressive atmosphere filling this underground parking lot was emanating from. A malice so thick that the air felt sticky, and the smell of decay that seemed to being from the abyss itself. Unlike me, who has an innate resistance and affinity for magic, Kwak Dae-yong seemed to struggle with each step he took. This short walk must have felt to him like sinking into a bog hundreds of meters deep. With no intention of tormenting Kwak Dae-yong further, I grabbed his shoulder at an appropriate moment to stop him. This is as far as you go. Ugh, I can go further. No, theres no need. Leaving the pale-faced Kwak Dae-yong behind, I walked a few more steps forward. What the hell is this? Ive never seen anything so horrific in my life. It was a symbol of the abyss, drawn with human blood, guts, and flesh. Snakes, maggots, whirlpools, corpses, death, and ghouls. First, I exined to Kwak Dae-yong who was gaping and hesitating what this was all about. Its nothing extraordinary. Its just borrowing the power of a great ancient being to summon ghouls. To be used as a ritual offering So, thats why people were brought here? It seems so. To summon as many as a hundred ghouls, a ritual of this magnitude is necessary. Wait, something doesnt add up. The ghouls were the ones who kidnapped people in the first ce. What about the ghouls that appeared before using the kidnapped people to summon more? Could there be another tunnel somewhere else? While it was a valid point, that wasnt the case. No, this mural is the end. Though it appears to be a single painting to the human eye, it was actually painted in several stages. I pointed to a part of the mural and continued. This section, in particr, was clearly painted by someone else. The magic contained is different, and the quality is inferior. Likely it was done by a cultist who infiltrated as aborer or by brainwashing a fewborers. At first, a handful of ghouls were summoned through a simple spell to create chaos, and during this turmoil, captured individuals were offered as sacrifices for additional rituals. After exining the circumstances, Kwak Dae-yong clenched his teeth in frustration. Damn it If we hadnt waited and just stormed in from the start, we could have avoided all this trouble? Thats one way to look at it. Speaking of which. can this apartment ever be sold normally? So many people had died. No matter how much they tried to hide it or deal with it, it was impossible for rumors not to spread. Hmm Maybe if we hide it well enough No, the higher-ups will probably handle it. It wasnt Kwak Dae-yongs decision to make regarding the sale of the property anyway, so asking him was pointless. Right, theyll find a way. Its not like theyre argepany for nothing. More importantly, hurry up and take care of that mural. Yeah, I understand. I responded appropriately and examined the mural. Even though the conductor of the ritual had died and the father of all ghouls, the source of the magical power, had lost interest, the patterns and murals had not yetpletely lost their power. What would be the best way to deal with this? Should I use that spell again? I recalled the spell I had first used a month ago. [me that Burns Sin] Whoosh! Pure white mes that deny, erase, and extinguish the feats, gifts, and miracles of gods began to envelop the wall. The bright white light that blossomed forth momentarily dispelled the sticky darkness pooling in this underground parking lot and created a bright illumination. Chrrrrrrrr The bloodstains and patterns writhed, emitting bizarre noises as if they were living beings with their own will. But it was merely a brief struggle. Soon, the patterns werepletely erased. By the time thest tiny spark had vanished, [You have defeated the ghouls lurking in the basement, the conspiracy, and a priest of the Demonic Cult. It was a long, long fight? You made great sacrifices and overcame your fears? But astonishingly.] A chaotic message suddenly emerged in my field of view. It seemed that the output got tangled due to the defeat of the ghoul shaman who shouldnt have appeared here in the first ce. This oue was unrted to the quests original storyline. [The quest has beenpleted! Ghouls have appeared in the underground of an apartment building under construction. Defeat the ghouls and make the underground parking lot safe. Remaining targets: 167/??? Reward: 350,000 XP (+ the mary reward promised by the broker is separate.)] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated ghouls (167). Your understanding of ghouls has increased.] [You have defeated the CultistGhoul Shaman of the Demonic Sect. Your understanding of ghouls has significantly improved.] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Achievement Unlocked! You have surprised the father of all ghouls and killed the ghoul shaman. You have obtained the Rare Achievement: Ghoul yer. As a reward for the achievement, the Ghoul Expert trait is reced with Ghoul yer and you will gain additional experience points.] [You have umted enough experience to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] This brought me to level 19. *** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 19 Magic Order: First Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Triskaidekaphobia] Strength: 5(+3) (Corrupted Ring of me) Health: 6(+2) (Slurping Gloves) Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 17 *** It was a pity that I didnt reach level 20 where second-order magic would be unlocked. However, at this pace, it wouldnt be long before I could reach level 20. It seems my work here is done. nothing else would pop up unexpectedly, right? Before the operation began, he was all bravado, iming he knew everything. Now, his spirit waspletely dampened. After all, the priest, or rather the ghoul shaman we encountered earlier, is dead, and weve destroyed any trace of the ritual, so there shouldnt be any issues. I see If you want to thoroughly cleanse this ce of any lingering negative energy or malevolent spirits, it might be best to call in a shaman or an exorcist for a proper purification, especially if you n on selling these apartments. Understood Ill make sure to report that. I was about to turn and leave when I noticed the security team members rescuing the survivors from among the piles of bodies. I addressed Kwak Dae-yong once more. But who is that woman? One of your employees? Lee Seon-bin-ssi? Hmm well shes just a, uh, a female employee. Kwak Dae-yong was visibly flustered and he tried to evade the question with an awkward exnation. Chapter 34: Paju’s Call Van Chapter 34: Pajus Call Van Why did a female employee end up here? It might be part of an apartmentplex, but in the end, this ce is a construction site. Why would a regr female employee wander around a construction site only to be kidnapped by ghouls? The bodies gathered here belong to workers, construction managers, and a few security team members present at the onset of the ghoul incident. Isnt it odd for a petite woman in a suit to be among them? And the most conclusive evidence is Kwak Dae-yongs reaction. If she was just another female employee in the first ce, Kwak Dae-yong, who is deeply involved in the fieldwork, wouldnt remember her name and face. Seon-bin-ssi is um Director Moon Seung-hees Kwak Dae-yong hesitated and he looked to be somewhat troubled. What is it? Her girlfriend? Shes Director Moon Seung-hees future strategy advisor. Ah. The term future strategy advisor is a kind of ng. Originally, it was a title reserved for more realistic and professional individuals, but in Paju, it carried a slightly different connotation. It was used to refer to those who could predict the future and prevent supernatural events In other words, it meant mages or shamans. In more informal situations, they can be simply called magic advisors, just like Moon Seung-hee mentioned earlier. At first, when Moon Seung-hee mentioned that the magic advisor hadnt been able to do anything, she was most likely referring to her. It seemed she had entered the construction site to assess the situation right after a problem arose and ended up like this. I was wondering how she managed to survive among the ghouls for so long; she must have had some skills. But considering herplete breakdown, it was clear she was beyond help now. Kwak Dae-yong seemed to share the same sentiment as he grumbled with a sour expression. But with her in this state, itll be hard to see her again She was a good person Well, I better be going. Make sure to exin things well to Tudor. Sure. I hope we can meet again. Meeting me again means that something bad will happen that they wont be able to resolve on their own, yet he could say it so casually. I havent decided on the mid-tote half development yet, but if I choose a route rted to Moon Seung-hee, I will end up meeting Kwak Dae-yong on a disturbingly frequent basis. Otherwise who knows? Kwak Dae-yongs team was such a ragtag group that calling them a corporate team was an overstatement. If it werent for Moon Seung-hee, there would likely be no reason to meet them again. Feeling no need to share such thoughts with him, I opted for a nonmittal response. Well, if the timing and money are right, perhaps well see each other. Kwak Dae-yong gave a bitter smile, bid farewell, and then headed back to where his subordinates were. Is it finally time for me to head home as well? I climbed the stairs and emerged onto the ground level. It was still dark outside. There was a briefmotion when some of the security team members guarding the area saw me, or more precisely, my mask, and screamed Fortunately, it didnt escte into a major issue. Is this mask really the problem? But it wasnt just the mask; my overall appearance was a mess. My clothes and body were covered in ghoul blood, dust, and soot. Even without the mask, my appearance would be quite terrifying to stumble upon in the dead of night. Ah well At least its fortunate that my hoodie is ck. At this stage, wearing this mask seemed unavoidable, but once I leveled up, just one more level to ess second-order magic I could potentially cast an illusion to ovey a more eptable face over the mask. From that point on, I would be able to move around morefortably. Anyway, I need to contact Tudor. The time was now 4 a.m. Despite thete hour, Tudor answered the phone as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. [Oh, dear. Have you finished your work? Itster than I expected.] I ran into quite a few unexpected issues. [Hehe But you managed to handle everything, right?] Well, there shouldnt be anyone left toin. Get the details from the people at Yeonam Construction, and if there are no issues, proceed with the settlement. [Hmm, knowing you, you must have taken good care of it. Dont worry about what the client says; Ill make sure the settlement is handled properly. Drop by when you can.] Then Id like to rest a bit, so Ill stop by next week. [Great! Shall I prepare a celebration party?] No need. Just arrange the transportation as we discussed earlier. [Got it. Ill call it right away, so just wait a bit. As I mentioned before, with the foreigner management office being so vignt, try not to move around carelessly and use the secure taxis for now.] Hmm those secure taxis are expensive [Oh, dear? Didnt I tell you about the kind of people at the foreigner management office earlier?] I might as well just stay cooped up in my room for a while. [Yes, that might actually be better. If you need it, Ill send a taxi for you.] Alright. Im tired anyway, so please hurry up and call me something. I want to go in and sleep. Tudor must have found something funny in what I said and she chuckled for a good while before hanging up. Secure taxis are typically used by criminals making escapes, smugglers, or fixers heading to engage in dirty activities. They offer impable security and services above and beyond, but naturally, at an exorbitant price. Well, since Tudor is footing the bill today, I might as well use it The distance from here to the Geumchon neighborhood isnt really that far, to begin with. I thought it a hassle to use one when I came here.. but without a secure taxi now, I might risk getting arrested by the police on my way back. As I was mulling over these thoughts, a white call van pulled up before long. It came sooner than I expected. An eye-catching name was emzoned on the side of the vehicle. [Fast Call Van] The window of the call van slowly rolled down, and the driver who was seated at the wheel, greeted me with a cheerful voice. Yoohoo, hello there! The driver who had brought me was a rugged and scarred man who looked like he was a retired fixer, but this time it was a young punk no, a handsome blond young man. The initial impression of him being a punk wasnt for nothing though. He dyed his hair blonde and had eightrge and small piercings on both sides of his ears. And there he was, blinking hisrge eyes with a look of confusion on his face. From inside the car window, I could see his broad shoulders and long limbs. Do you have any luggage? No, none. Okay, then in the back Ah, you startled me! Whats with that face!? It seemed he had just noticed my mask and he let out a startled cry. . Oh, I wont ask. Im fine! Even if I look like this, Im quite good at keeping secrets! Its a mask. Oh, I see! Its a mask! Thats a relief. Please, get in! I wasnt sure what he found relieving, but I decided to let it go and was about to sit in the backseat when Just a moment. It wasnt something I realized after much thought. Just seeing the clean seat covers in the back of the car made me realize how dirty my clothes were. Well, its not a big deal. I lightly shook off my body and gathered my magical power. [Purification] Kiiiiiiiiin! As my palm brushed against my clothes, bursts of light emanated from both the fabric and my skin, drawing out the dust, stains, and copious amounts of blood that were clinging to my garment before gathering them at my fingertips. I really did get covered in a lot of blood. I then tossed the gathered filth onto the ground and climbed into the car. As soon as I settled into the backseat, the driver turned to me and asked, Um, sir, what was that you just did? Could it be, I mean, is your profession by any chance What? Didnt Tudor tell you? Only that youre an extremely capable and bloody fixer Whats so bloody about me Its magic. Wow! I had a feeling! Thats the first time Ive ever witnessed real magic! Youre actually the first genuine mage Ive had the chance to work with. Ive had a psychic in the car before, but an actual mage? This is truly a first-time experience for me! The young driver began to chatter excitedly. Sensing he might go on endlessly if left unchecked, I tactfully cut him off. Shall we get going then? Oh, yes. Departing now Youre heading to the Geumchon neighborhood, right? Thats right. Ive heard a bit, but its just a simple security transport, correct? Any changes I should be aware of? No need to worry about being followed or anything. Just drivefortably. Got it! With that, the car started moving. The young driver seemed preupied with the fact that I was a mage and he was frequently ncing at me through the rearview mirror with a jittery demeanor as he drove. Was it my face he was looking at or the mask? Anyway, I wish he would just focus on the road ahead Despite the drivers less than professional conduct, the car moved smoothly along. I ignored his gaze and got lost in thought. I hoped that, in time, I would get another chance to see Moon Seung-hees face. I was curious about how rescuing the NPC named Lee Seon-bin could change my rtionship with Moon Seung-hee and the unfolding events in the Cthulhu world ahead. Was it all meaningless? That woman seemed utterly lost to madness anyway. And what should I do if a simr situation arises again? Is it alright to drastically twist the games story? Would it be better to just let things proceed as I know they will? I took a moment to gaze out at the night view of Paju city flowing past the car window. At first nce, it seemed simr to the real world I lived in, yet it was an entirely different city. The Paju I knew didnt have such bustling nightscapes, skyscrapers, orwless individuals with supernatural powers. Tsk, its all getting twisted anyway Its better to take action than to just sit idly by. All of the endings created by this games crazy developer are the worst and most disastrous endings. Following the games current route would only lead to an endless battle with surreal monsters and a horrific demise. I needed to somehow shake up the games narrative to escape this world. I made up my mind and once again looked ahead. But why does that guy keep doing that? The driver was still flinching and ncing my way. No, not at me exactly Something was off. I deliberately ignored his wary nces for a while, and then, at an opportune moment, I initiated a conversation. What are you curious about? Eh? Yes? Oh? Me? No? If youre not curious, then why do you keep looking? Ah, how did you know? To think he was so surprised Did he really think he wouldnt get caught? However, I decided to give him the response he might have been hoping for. Because Im a mage. Ooooh! He gasped for air. Somehow, this was amusing. When I was ying [Cthulhu World] as a game, I never had the chance to interact with NPCs like this. Its not like there werent NPCs with the driving expert tag that are given scripts as events, and these NPCs are directly linked to quests or events. But in this world, unlike the game, every NPC or rather, every person is alive. And each had their own thoughts and individuality. So, what are you curious about? Well, its not so much out of curiosity, but He paused for a moment before continuing. That mask youre wearing. Where did you get it? Mask? My hand unconsciously went up to touch the mask covering my face, Carcosas Mask. Chapter 35: Driver Jang Hyeon-Deok Chapter 35: Driver Jang Hyeon-Deok [Carcosas Mask (L-ss essory): Once used by the Great Old Ruler, He Who Must Not Be Named, the mighty [King in Yellow]. Those not of equal status cannot fully harness its power. Yellow Sign: The mighty [King in Yellow] takes an interest in you. He wasnt merely observing me all this time; he had been examining my mask. Before this mask was an artifact with useful capability, it was an object connected to a mythical being. Among such items, there are those that can seduce or control the minds of those around them, endangering the owner or even recing them. Thats why I raised my magical power and answered. Showing undue interest in a mages possession wont bode well for you The heightened magical power formed a formidable aura of intimidation and was able to induce enough force to cause the smoothly running vehicle to noticeably shake. The driver said with a pale expression on his face. Ahhh Its not that, not that, not that at all! I mentioned it because Ive seen something simr before! Please, spare me! I realized I might have misunderstood something. Where? Huh? Wh-what? The terrified driver stammered out a response. When and where did you see such a mask? I spoke slowly and emphasized each word. The rumbling sound of my heightened magical power resonated around me. If he had seen it around the Geumchon neighborhood market or in the vicinity of that pawnshop, that could be usible. It would mean he had seen it before I bought it. It was, it was in Tanhyeon! Tanhyeon? Yes, Tanhyeon! You know Tanhyeon, right? I saw it at a strange archaeological site there! It was not long ago it should still be there! What kind of development was this? *** The incident at Yeonam Constructions apartmentplex had left great aftereffects on my body for the first time in a while. I hadnt been directly attacked or injured. The aftereffects were merely from running aroundte into the night using magic and from the continuous battles where life and death were decided in fractions of a second. Im so tired Damn it. This was just exhaustion. Though I could maintain the strength and health of an average person by heavily equipping artifacts, that was merely a facade maintained only while the artifacts were equipped. I could manage to wear the ring that boosts my strength 24 hours a day, but the gloves that provide health bonus werent thatfortable. I tried to wear them as long as possible, but these gloves were essentially motorcycle gloves, reinforced with various materials at the fingers. Its not feasible to wear them all the time. What am I trying to say? Three days had passed since that nights quest and yet I was still lying in bed. Shit Im miserably exhausted. Despite having spent thest two days doing nothing but lying down in preparation for today, my body still refused to cooperate. I barely managed to turn my head to look out the window. While I wasnt in the worst state imaginable, unable to move my neck emotionally, it felt just as draining. What time is it now? [Invisible Hand] Lacking the energy to move, I gathered my magical power to pick up my smartphone. Ah, damn it. Its already 7 oclock? It was 7 p.m, not a.m. It was definitely 3 p.m right after I had woken up, which meant I had spent another four hours doing absolutely nothing. It was high time I got up and grabbed something to eat. Hold on. Theres an rm asking for confirmation on the monotonous default screen of my smartphone. I never bothered downloading any messaging apps or the like; its too much of a hassle. If someone wants to contact me, they have to either call or send a text message. The inbox was filled with messages from Tudor. [Heres the personal information for Lee Seon-bin you requested. Check the attached file for details.] I had asked about this over the phone just yesterday. Its nice to have it confirmed in just a day. I opened the attached file and quickly skimmed through the contents. As expected, Lee Seon-bin was a second-tier mage, and although she was officially a frencer, she mainly worked with Yeonam Group. It seems she became a future strategy advisor for Yeonam when Moon Seung-hee moved to Yeonam Construction. Apart from a note at the bottom of the document stating Closely acquainted with Moon Seung-hee and presumed to be a confidant of her there was nothing else of importance. [Shes currently at Paju Central Hospital. She hasnt been admitted for long, so its hard to get the specifics, but it seems shes in the psychiatric ward. Her condition is quite bad, so all visits are prohibited for the time being.] [Apparently, shes had several seizures since being admitted, and shes a mage right? She must have had a magical ident.] A magical ident It was a type of disaster that could never ur in the reality where I used to live. It refers to incidents caused by a deranged mage recklessly unleashing spells. [It seems Yeonam Construction was quite fond of her, right? If you want to meet Lee Seon-bin, just let me know. I can arrange it anytime. Of course, its not 100% guaranteed, especially since visits are currently prohibited.] [If it were me, I wouldnt take the risk of meeting a mage with a mental illness.] Maybe Im crazy enough myself to handle it. That said, I have no immediate ns to meet Lee Seon-bin. I was curious to verify some of the nonsensical mutterings fromst time, but I already had ns for today. I dont know what event is waiting for me, but I hope it involves a level-up. Its about time for Tudor to start offering some real quests. To prepare for that, I want to reach level 20 before the next quest begins. As my thoughts drifted from todaysmitments to the uing quest, I felt the determination to get up. I used the magical telekinesis I activated earlier to casually toss my smartphone aside and picked up the gloves I had carelessly thrown under the bed. As soon as I donned the gloves, I could feel vitality returning to my body. Phew it really does make a difference. While other artifacts have their merits, few offer a straightforward boost of +2 to health without any strings attached. Having managed to get up, I quickly tidied up the area and then grabbed three dumplings from the fridge and popped them in the microwave. Ding! The dumplings came out of the microwave emitting clouds of white steam. I had slightly moistened them with water before microwaving them, but the surface was still a little hard. Starting tomorrow, Ill have to eat proper food even if its a bit annoying. I slightly lifted the mask covering my face and shoved a dumpling into my mouth. Although not quite the same as when freshly made, the reheated dumpling was still satisfyingly delicious. Ah, hot this ce really does make them well. While eating the dumplings, I looked around the room and cast a few security spells. [Warning Bell], [Thorn Trap], [Kanotodoas Severance], [Ras Golden Sand], and [Realm of Darkness]. A haze begins to billow around the window. Should anyone dare to enter without permission, I would instantly be rmed and they would find themselves struck with a status ailment that robs them of their sight, hearing, and even their ability to speak. And then, with dozens of magical des embedded in their body, they would sumb to an overpowering sleep that they wouldnt be able to resist. Is this sufficient? Perhaps a few more bolts of lightning spell should be set in ce. Alright, that concludes the preparations for going out. In the mirror next to the shoe rack, the reflection of a crazy-looking mage donning a hoodie instead of the usual dark robe, with a bizarre mask covering his face, was visible. Is that really me? Its been over a month since Ist saw my own face. Perhaps beneath this mask lies not the face of Kim Shin-hwa that I remember, but something monstrous that I could never have imagined. Well, it doesnt matter. I have an appointment today. The security taxi driver I met three days ago. I was scheduled to meet him again. I grabbed my skateboard and backpack, slinging it over my shoulder as I stepped out of the apartment. As always, my destination wasnt the ground floor, but the rooftop. The day was gradually turning to dusk. It was now 8 p.m. When I surveyed the surroundings from the rooftop, the dpidated buildings of the Geumchon neighborhood were bathed in an ominous purplish color. In the distance, surreal skyscrapers towered impossibly high, and on one corner of my view, a huge brass Buddha statue sat atop the Hwangnyeongsan Mountain Forest Park. No matter how many times I see it, its a strange sight Thendscape of Paju was unreal and such sights exist only in [Cthulhu World]. The time for the upright and sane citizens of Paju hade to an end, and the era of the deranged criminals was about to begin. I got on my skateboard and activated a spell. [Leap] A dazzling magic circle unfurled on the ck hoodie I was wearing, propelling the skateboard into the sky. The whooshing of the wind grazed my ears as the scenery before my eyes changed rapidly, several times over. After leaping and leaping again, bypassing a few buildings, I finally managed tond by the roadside. I was now enough away from home and I didnt need to use any more magic. I casually rolled the skateboard before slowly making my way to the rendezvous. Yoohoo, hello there! A cheerful greeting. I looked in the direction of the greeting, which was identical to the one I had heard three days ago. This punk who just greeted me. I meant this handsome young man in his early twenties casually flicked off his cigarette. His height was roughly 185 cm? He was about half a span taller than me and had strong muscles all over his body. At first nce, he looked more of a nosy guy than a sincere guy, but the well-defined and harmonious features of his face instilled an unwarranted sense of familiarity. His charm must be at least a 19. While not transcendently handsome like a Tudor, his good looks were enough to ensure survival on the streets even in the direst of circumstances. Uwah, youre wearing that mask again today? Its cursed, so I have to keep wearing it. A-A curse, you say? Dont worry, its not contagious. Um are you sure? Absolutely. The name of this young carrier was Jang Hyeon-deok. Although we had only met in person three days ago, he wasnt aplete stranger to me. Back when I yed [Cthulhu World] as a game, I had ridden in his car a few times. But that was the extent of it. Jang Hyeon-deok wasnt an NPC with important quests or special options attached, nor was he a character whose name one would remember. Had I not possessed an abnormally high level of intelligence stat, recalling him would have been impossible. Nheless, for a mass-produced NPC of little importance, I had thought his design was overly borate for no reason only to discover there was a hidden event involved. It doesnt matter what happens to my mask. Did you bring what you mentioned? Ah, of course. But Jang Hyeon-deok slightly hunched his body and nced around as if surveying the surroundings, then whispered with an exaggeratedly dramatic expression. Lets not show it here. How about we go to the car? Jang Hyeon-deok gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. Therey his vehicle, arge white SUV call van. Three days ago, Jang Hyeon-deok imed to have seen a mask identical to mine and imed that he had proof of that as well. While I was eager to check immediately, I had honestly never encountered such a situation in the game before, so I wanted to proceed when my stamina was at least a little recovered. Thus, it was today, three dayster, that I found myself meeting him again. With a slight sigh, I climbed into the car alongside him. Now, lets see it. If you start talking nonsense at this point, Ill be terribly disappointed. And that disappointment mightpel me to make those around me ufortable. However, there was no need for this unspoken threat to materialize. The item Jang Hyeon-deok proudly produced certainly lived up to my expectations. Chapter 36: Tanhyeon Picnic Chapter 36: Tanhyeon Pic Here it is. What was in Jang Hyeon-deoks hand was a worn mask. Or to be exact, a fragment of a shattered mask. Look. Its quite simr to the one Mage-nim is wearing, isnt it? Indeed. To reiterate, this was a fragment of a mask. The chin part is missing, and the forehead part is cracked, leaving only just enough to cover near the eyes, and these eyes are quite unique. Four eyes, I see. Even without its distinctive appearance, there are other ways to tell that this item is not mere trash. [Damaged Mask (Junk) Part of a certain mask. Research or appraisal is necessary to identify it.] Not just any item triggers a message window. If that were the case, even the dumplings I ate today would have disyed something. It must hold some special secret. Let me see it. You have to give it back! Understood. After being reassured multiple times, Jang Hyeon-deok finally handed over the mask. Hmm. I turned the mask fragment over and examined it closely. It was a faded gray, almost tinged with blue but it must have originally been white. The remnants of magical power are still present, but its so deteriorated that its hard to make anything out of it. I struggled to appraise Carcosas Mask that I was currently wearing, but it seemed that appraising something as damaged as this might actually be easier. [Identification] When I activated a first-order appraisal spell, a dry sound effect apanied a burst of light. [System: Unveiling the veil surrounding the Damaged Mask.] [Unveiling Judgment in Progress] Beyond the fragment of the mask, I could see Jang Hyeon-deoks face. The fluorescent glow emanating from the mask and the purple dusk falling from the sky intertwined, creating an indescribable and bizarre color that made his handsome face appear as if it belonged to an ominous mythical being from the abyss. Kiiiiing [Judgment sessful.] The appraisal was unexpectedly sessful. At the same time, new information appeared in the message window. [Carcosas Mask: Damaged (Junk) Although it is nowpletely destroyed and has lost its power, this object once contained the power of the Great Old Ruler, He Who Must Not Be Named, the mighty [King in Yellow].] Holy sh*t, its real. I told you, didnt I? I told you, there are many more things just like this in Tanhyeon! *** Tanhyeon is a neighborhood located northwest of Geumchon neighborhood, and speaking from the perspective of the real world I inhabited, it is one of Pajus tourist attractions. It houses the Heyri Art Vige, a folk museum, and a decent-sized theme park, and its also home to one of only two Unification Observatories in South Korea. Since I have lived in Paju in the original world, I have visited Tanhyeon a few times in reality. To be honest, the atmosphere of Tanhyeon was closer to the countryside than a tourist destination. Thendscape was a monotonous repetition of forests, mountains, and factories punctuated asionally by tourist spots, with the Imjin River flowing alongside the road, and beyond it, thend of North Korea in view. However, in [Cthulhu World], Tanhyeon held a special significance. Simr to the issues with the apartmentplex in Munsan by Yeonam Construction I had visited before, being close to North Korea in [Cthulhu World] meant that the area was synonymous with danger. Therefore, in the world of [Cthulhu World], Tanhyeon had be a sort of high-level area and none of its tourist attractions were operational anymore. Instead, there were only areas overrun by ouws, restricted zones created by surreal disasters, and slums inhabited by bizarre individuals. In such an absurd ce, Jang Hyeon-deok cheerfully made idle conversation as he drove. Though the atmosphere here has turned a bit strange now, it used to be a beautiful region and quite the decent tourist destination. Do you see that ruin in the distance? Thats the Heyri Art Vige. Oh, and did you know theres a legend about beautiful celestial maidens who descended to dance at a pond somewhere around here? How can you still find beauty in a ce like this? Well, it does look a bit different now, doesnt it? As people stopped visiting, thendscape of Tanhyeonpletely transformed. Even the air outside the window seemed to have changed. Although we were moving away from the citys outskirts and approaching nature, the nature here was not the clear and verdant type one would expect The trees that pierced the streets and buildings, perhaps drinking water that had poured in from the North Korean side, grew in strange, twisted shapes, unfurling leaves of a strange, ashy brown color that was neither green nor yellow. Trees and stones, and then trees again, everything that caught the eye seemed twisted and contorted as if suffering from some disease. Amid such twisted shadows, one could even fall under the illusion of seeing something move, something that was neither human nor beast. These ominous woods formed dense forests, and beyondy mountains upon mountains with the Imjin River visible alongside the road, and further still, thend of North Korea, which one should never gaze upon for too long. It wasnt the kind of ce where bandits or goblins might suddenly block your path, yet it was a ce where no decent citizen living in the bright hours of Paju would ever visit. A considerable amount of time had passed since we had left the Geumchon neighborhood. This area was among the deepest parts of Tanhyeon. Were getting into the real heart of Tanhyeon now. Youre sure you know what youre getting into, right? I cant be responsible for you from here on. Ah, of course. Its not my first time here. Ive carried around professionals like Mage-nim through here more times than I can count. So how much further do we have to go? Were almost there. About 5 minutes? No, maybe 10 minutes? As I pondered the cost of calling another secure taxi in Tanhyeon, I spoke to Jang Hyeon-deok. Alright, Ill trust you then. Huh? Were you doubting me? No one trusts anyone they meet in Paju after dark. Thats harsh I came all this way trusting Mage-nim. Thats too bad. Jang Hyeon-deok spoke with a tone of disappointment, but his face was filled with a smile. From the beginning, ours was not a rtionship where notions like loyalty or trust were relevant. The moment I verified that the fragment of the mask he brought was genuine, Jang Hyeon-deok demanded a fee for the information. After a long and tedious argument, we were able to reach the following agreement: So, for the information fee, 2 million, for the fare to get there, 3 million, and any treasures or artifacts we find must be split exactly 50/50. Once we entered the interior of Tanhyeon, our speed drastically decreased. Roads neglected and eroded were the least of our worries. There were times whenrge trees or deformed animal corpses blocked the road, and there were times when we had to push through bushes where there was no road at all. As a result, the car didnt just shake; it jolted forward almost as if it were a ship caught in a storm. I had to spread my magical power to stabilize my metabolism to avoid getting motion sick. After a while, Jang Hyeon-deok fell silent. When I nced at the side of his face, I saw him muttering and counting numbers under his breath. Six, seven. Then theres andmark, and after that, two, three. He was navigating without a GPS. He was memorizing the route based on the trees and rocks that grew by the roadside. Theplexity of the path required such concentration that it left no room for conversation. After repeatedly forging through areas off the beaten path, the car finally came to a stop. Were here! Its just over there! Jang Hyeon-deok raised a hand to point between two trees to a certain spot. Just trees? Well, its not very visible from here. We cant go any further by car, so well have to walk a bit from here. Are we going hiking? No, its not that serious just past that tree and were there. Jang Hyeon-deok got out of the car. It was difficult for me to get out of the car because I was still suffering from the throbbing pain of the vibration that seemed to be going up to the top of my head, but I gritted my teeth and got out. If only my health were a bit better, this might have been easier but I guess I cant improve it here and now. Just like Jang Hyeon-deok said, the destination didnt seem far. Ahead, I could sense an unpleasant magical power pooling in a way that was hard to detect elsewhere. I did some light stretching to straighten my back and activated my spells. [Trap Detection] [Magic Detection] [Invisibility Detection] Aside from the unnatural gathering of magical power, no particr dangers were detected. In the meantime, Jang Hyeon-deok was sneakily moving ahead. Hey, Jang Hyeon-deok. Wait for me. Ah, yes. Please hurry. Its right here. Slow down a bit. [Protective Circle] [Distortion Field] [Mountain Goats Step] To be honest, my condition wasnt very good because I hadnt fully recovered from the aftereffects of the quest I had undertaken three days prior. As a result, I had to activate not only basic defensive spells but also supplementary magic to bolster my stamina. Maintaining a high number of spells at the same time isnt ideal. No matter how vast ones magical power pool might be, there is no benefit in maintaining multiple spells at the same time. Theres the issue of each spells power and precision diminishing, and maintaining focus also bes increasingly taxing. Apart from the drain of spellcasting, the surrounding environment was sapping my concentration. First, there was the strange fishy smell emanating from the trees. It was different from the typical musty scent of the forest and more akin to the smell of sewage stagnating in a sewer. Then there were the bizarre insects with grotesque forms hanging from the trees. Bugs with spiny shells or patterns resembling human faces, scurrying around on eight or nine legs. Nothing here seems normal. The fact that this ce was unfamiliar territory also unnerved me. While Ive encountered deviations from expected scenarios before, none were to this extent. Im familiar with the worlds both outside and inside the game, yet I had never visited such a ce. Suddenly, I realized that I had arrived at the very spot Jang Hyeon-deok had mentioned. What is that? It was andscape unlike any I had ever seen before. The forest, dense with trees upon trees, abruptly gave way to an excessively wide clearing. And within this clearing were what appeared to be hundreds of rocks ced at intervals. Although they were made of stone and thus referred to as rocks, I questioned whether it was appropriate to call them such. These rocks had a bizarre lifelike shape as if they had sprouted from the ground instead of trees, and there was a disturbing malevolence about them that seemed to defy the idea they were formed naturally. Even thinking such thoughts soured my mood, but these formations were roughly the size of a human and bore a vaguely human shape. It was as if as if [The ruins spread out before your eyes are eerily quiet. The usual sounds of insects and birds that tickled your ears until now are absent in thisnd of silence. It is a barrennd where not a single tree or flower can bloom. Across the vastndscape, bizarre stone pirs stand endlessly, their ominous shapes seemingly beyond description. As if humans writhing in agony and pleading with a cruel deity have been petrified in their distress. Everything in sight appears as if it was crafted by an artist possessed by a dynamic and destructive madness, resulting in a horrifying and sphemous spectacle.] [The ominous silence and malevolent aura that hovers in this space have a negative impact on your psyche.] [System: Attempting to resist the malevolent influence with your mental strength. Mental strength check Sess.] Although the check was sessful and I suffered no harm, the ce still felt profoundly unsettling. Chapter 37: Tanhyeon Archaeological Site Chapter 37: Tanhyeon Archaeological Site It was eerily quiet. So quiet that one could be startled by their own voice. The silence was filled with human-shaped rocks. Though there was no sound, I felt like I was hearing hallucinations of hundreds of people shouting at the same time from somewhere. Although the appearance of Tanhyeon has changed a lot in the world of [Cthulhu World], there has never been a ce like this in the game before. The magical power that I sensed earlier was concentrated further inside the wastnd, probably about 60 meters away by foot. Jang Hyeon-deok spoke with a flushed expression on his face. How about it? Do you see them over there? What? The masks, I mean the masks. Look, there on the ground! Beneath the human-like stone pirs, fragments of the mask that Jang Hyeon-deok had pointed out were scattered. The sight of mask pieces endlessly spread out under hundreds of pirs was strangely unsettling. It was as if It seems like there are as many masks as there are pirs, dont you think? It seems so. I had thought about picking up a few to sell at some point, but these fragments turned out to be worthless. I took a few steps forward and picked up a piece of a mask that had fallen to the ground to examine it. It was just like the one Jang Hyeon-deok had shown me earlier, the kind of junk item that shops wouldnt ept. These things scattered here have already lost their meaning. Even if you collect them all and take them away, you wont make more than what youd pay forbor. Have you ever gone all the way inside? Ah! Yes, I was just about to talk about that! Jang Hyeon-deok suddenly brightened up and pulled me toward him. Come this way, this way! It was already well into the evening, and darkness had set in. We stood on the edge of a gloomy archaeological site where bizarre rocks were endlessly arranged. Those rocks. They had an eerie shape that somehow resembled a human being, but like most of the mask fragments that had fallen to the ground, they were of little value now. Although they bore traces of magical power, they had lost their value and had be mere background debris. But further inside In the heart of this quiet and dark archaeological site, I could feel a sticky and ominous magical power. I didnt know whether this energy could be divided fifty-fifty, just as Jang Hyeon-deok hoped but it implied that there was something of value or significance here. Here, uh just turn your head at this angle from this spot. When asked if he had ever approached the heart of the ruins, Jang Hyeon-deok pulled me over and made me stand at a specific angle. Beyond the rocks and the darkness of the night wait, hold on. [Moonlight Vision] [Eagle Eye] Although I was still one level short of being able to use spells outside of the first-order, my extraordinary magical power which far surpassed that of a first-order mage, allowed me to freely cast auxiliary and enchantment spells. I enchanted my eyes with two types of spells to improve my vision and pierced through the darkness that shrouded the archaeological site to see what Jang Hyeon-deok was pointing out. Indeed, I can see it. It was a scene only visible from this exact position. A gap that was formed identally between the bizarrely twisted rocks offered a glimpse into a deeper part of the archaeological site. Inside, at the center of the archaeological site where magical power was concentrated, there stood rocks resembling humans just like in other areas. However, these rocks were different. On the upper part of these rocks, where a humans face would be, there were masks in perfect condition. Rocks wearing masks. There were roughly three of them visible from here. This ce, this atmosphere, these, these, these things are arranged so exquisitely. Theres no way these masks are just some flimsy junk! Hmm. It is indeed exquisitely arranged. It was truly exquisite. Excessively so, everything. Right? Oh? Why are you looking at me like that? What kind of look are you talking about when Im wearing a mask? No, but still, I have a feeling, you know? Well, it is true that Im looking at you with suspicion. Ah, exactly! I knew it, didnt I? No thats not it um why is that? Well, I just had a feeling you might be a bit suspicious. Jang Hyeon-deok recoiled in surprise. You said you trusted me earlier?! When did I say that? I said I dont trust anyone. The reason Jang Hyeon-deok guided me here wasnt because he trusted me but because of my money and the guarantee from Tudor, who was a well-known broker. Likewise, I did not trust Jang Hyeon-deok either. More specifically, should I say I did not trust the safety of this situation? After all, how many things in this world can truly be trusted? Things I have seen with my own eyes? Tudor, who was programmed in the game to never betray the yer? From the moment this NPC appeared as if on cue, like a predestined event, I could not fully trust Jang Hyeon-deok. No, no! Im for real, for real! It was Mage-nim who suggesteding here in the first ce! Who said you were fake? But besides that point, While Jang Hyeon-deok himself might bepletely innocent, there could be a powerful entity behind him that orchestrated these events. Despite such doubts, I followed his lead and came this far. Partly because I was determined to follow a narrative that had never existed in the game And also because considering Jang Hyeon-deoks stats and the capabilities he could muster, I calcted that I could easily subdue him should he betray me. After that, Jang Hyeon-deok continued to ramble on, trying to prove his innocence and purity, but I only half-listened as I prepared to enter the ruins. The protective circle and distortion field were already in ce, but how many enchantments should I apply? I had already cast five spells. Considering the spells required to respond to unexpected situations, casting more felt burdensome, yet I couldnt just take it lightly. Honestly, entering a ce in [Cthulhu World] with so little prior information felt no different from walking into a nuclear power nt after a radiation leak. Alien spores could be inhaled, leading to poisoning or the growth of alien nts in the lungs, and undetectable waves could disrupt brain activity, causing forced disorientation. [Prayer of Protection] [Gesture of Guardianship] [Cats Reflexes] Layering more spells on my body felt too burdensome, so I distributed some by attaching them to my clothes and the skateboard I carried on my back. Then, lets go. Ah, great! Its time to leave. Jang Hyeon-deok started walking ahead with an excited expression on his face. Wait, what did he say? Hey, what? Huh? Where are you going? You said were going, didnt you? You too? Of course, right? I took a moment to look into Jang Hyeon-deoks face and then into his eyes. His cheeks were flushed with excitement, and his pupils shone with an unwavering light. It was a look reminiscent of the most dangerous types of humans in [Cthulhu World]. Fear exists as a defensive mechanism to protect the body. Those without it always cause huge problems. For a moment, I considered knocking him down but then I changed my mind. Forget it. Do as you please. Yoohoo! Lets see what awaits us then. I wasnt sure who had set this up, but I decided to go along for the ride. I split a few spells and cast them on Jang Hyeon-deok. Tsk, fine. Lets go in then. Lets get moving! Jang Hyeon-deok turned and started to make his way between the rocks into the ruins, holding nothing but a shlight in his hand. This crazy bastard [Dancing mes] A dazzling cluster of light flickered into existence and it blocked his path as if to stop him. Dont mess around; just follow behind me slowly. Ah, yes. I will. We slowly stepped into the ruins. Although it was surrounded by a forest, the interior of the ruins was extremely dry. There were no major issues yet. And if any arose, traits like [Enhanced Vignce] or [Feast Offering] that activated on their own were still dormant, so it was fine. With each step we took, the brittle ground crumbled 2 to 3 centimeters, apanied by the clinking sound of fragments of masks scattered densely on the floor. There are so many rocks, and with them, an enormous number of mask fragments as numerous as the rocks themselves. It was like the scene of a mad artists frenzy who was destroying failed pieces until an impossible work of art was created. Beyond the bizarre, surreal atmosphere and the physiological revulsion emanating from the human-like rocks, nothing specifically obstructed our path. However, the presence of the atmosphere and the rocks created an unpleasant pressure that was more difficult than a physical barrier. Therefore, despite the time spent moving, our progress was frustratingly slow. Meanwhile, Jang Hyeon-deok looked like he was surrounded by monsters writhing in terrible agony, even though there was plenty of space between him and the rocks. Wow Mage-nim, the further we go inside, the more sinister the atmosphere bes. His attitude was strange. So it was unclear whether he found this situation good or bad. The interior of the ruins was silent. That is, it was silent apart from the incessant chatter of Jang Hyeon-deok, who was the only other sound in the ce. Jang Hyeon-deok continued to prattle on with unnecessary stories as he followed behind me. He talked about having younger siblings to support, being from an orphanage, how Mage-nim (that is me) seemed like an amazing and impressive person, how he thought I appeared kind, how he felt it was fate from the first moment he saw me, how he had always wanted to return to this ce, how he had dreamed about this location numerous times since discovering it, his desperate need for money, how he had foolishly wasted his time on frivolous pursuits in the past, his ns to move abroad if he got more money because he was tired of Korea and found it a dreadful country, and so on and so forth Since there was no real need to focus on his rambling stories, I instead observed his behavior and everything else around us as we moved forward. The airs density, the flow of magical power, the smell, the light, the sounds. It might just be needless worry, but this is no easy passage. Even removing elements like pressure and difort, this space has too many blind spots. Wait a moment? Did I just gloss over something important? I kept moving forward without stopping and spoke to Jang Hyeon-deok who was following behind me. Hey, Jang Hyeon-deok, what did you say earlier? Huh? You mentioned something about a dream, right? Oh, about wanting to live abroad? If I ever make it big, that is No, not that. You said you kept dreaming about this ce? Oh, yes, I did. Arge rock, positioned as if with its arms outstretched, blocked our path. I instinctively turned to the right to avoid the rock and continued the conversation. What exactly did you dream about? I first learned about this ce when a fixer told me toe here. The direction of his voice was slightly off. Even though he was behind me Chapter 38: Triskaidekaphobia Chapter 38: Triskaidekaphobia Ive wanted toe back ever since I found out that this ce was created after the Great Copse and was unknown to anyone. I nced over my shoulder to look for Jang Hyeon-deok, but he was nowhere to be seen. However, his voice continued to reach me. This ce has appeared in my dreams repeatedly. I saw beautiful celestial maidens dancing at the center of these endless ruins covered in rocks. When I turned right at the rock, Jang Hyeon-deok had turned left. This caused our paths to diverge and he was moving in a different direction from me. Could there be great treasures and rewards hidden here? I believe Mage-nim will fulfill my wishes. The rock obstructed our path. As I redirected my course, Jang Hyeon-deoks voice somehow moved to be in front of me. There must have been another path on that side. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Holy shit. Suddenly, my senses expanded and my already tense nerves became extremely sensitive. Mage-nim! Over there, look at those! Jang Hyeon-deoks excited voice struck my ears. And thanks to the recently activated trait, he sounded even louder as if hammering on my eardrums. I subconsciously raised my hands to shield my ears while looking towards Jang Hyeon-deok. That son of a bit*h. Before we knew it, we had reached the deepest part of the ruins. Jang Hyeon-deok had arrived at the spot before me, but he did not attack me or transform into a monster or anything of the sort. Instead, with a face full of exhration and a splendid smile, he spread his arms wide and pointed towards something at the center of the ruins. On this dark night. In the middle of the deep forest of Tanhyeon, the only source of light in this dark archaeological site was the magical light dancing above my hand. Jang Hyeon-deoks face as he looked at me was bathed in strange colors from the light. His expression was one of naive and blissful happiness, like a child leading their parents to a splendid festival. In the direction he was pointing there was something special in the midst of the surrounding rocks, somethingpletely different from them. Yes, something special. The intact masks we checked before entering the ruins. Jang Hyeon-deok believed that these masks would bring him sudden wealth and for some reason, he feltpelled to bring me here. Then there was the fixer who had previously apanied Jang Hyeon-deok to this ce. What had be of him? Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to be turning a blind eye to whatever had happened to him that day. However, if he had managed to return safely in one piece, these masks could not possibly still be here. Well, it does seem like a ssic setup, when you think about it. Despite being so deeply buried and surrounded by numerous obstacles, those masks somehow remained visible even from a great distance outside. Was it due to a perfect angle and a coincidence that they could be seen from afar? Not at all. It was just that they twisted thews of physics themselves to dangle bait for unwitting prey to stumble upon. I slightly turned my head to look past Jang Hyeon-deok at the row of rocks wearing masks. The fact that they wore masks and that they still harbored magical power inside was not their only special feature. Their forms were different from the others; they were perfect. Perfectly human in shape. The surfaces were smoothly polished and clean. It would almost be embarrassing to call them rocks. They seemed more like statues. Compared to these statues, the rocks strewn around appeared like melting and decaying corpses. Each statue was posed differently. One had its arms spread towards the sky, another lifted a leg in a ballet pose, one was crouched, and another had its arms bent. Look. They almost seem to be in the midst of a dance, dont they? Indeed, those are the poses of a dance. The dance I saw in my dream looked exactly like this. There was this strange music and beautiful lights falling from the sky A dance If one thought of it as a dance, then indeed, it could be seen as such. And the number of statues wearing masks and dancing One, two, three. Then over there, four, five, six. And there as well. Seven, eight Wait! Wait, Wait, Wait, Wait. Wait a moment. A chill ran through me as if I had been struck by lightning. A sinister premonition brushed through my mind. Of all the times, fu*k it. And just my luck, Jang Hyeon-deok was doing the same thing. That crazy fool was counting out loud with a gleeful grin on his face! Nine, ten, eleven Heey, stop it. Was that really my voice? It trembled excessively. Huh? Theres more over there. The masks total I hurriedly gathered my magical power. I had to shut that damn fools mouth [The number of statues wearing masks stimtes the madness within your mind.] It was toote. Sh*t! A message window popped up before my eyes, obstructing my view. I had already be aware of the number. Thirteen, is it? [The Mental Illness Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of 13) has manifested.] Aaah, sh*t. After all this time avoiding it, Ive been caught like this. [Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat.] Even if I were to break Jang Hyeon-deoks jaw, nothing would change now. [Mental strength check] The madness already embedded in my mind couldnt be blocked, not even by the [Madness of the Abyss] trait I had used like a family heirloom shield up until now. Sure, it would result in a significant debuff, but if I could just seed in a mental strength check here, there would be a way to counter it. [Failure.] Ah, you fu*king bastards! Do you think Ill die here? I shoved my hand into my backpack, groping for the artifact, the artifact I had carefully packed just in case something like this happened [Onset of Distortion] This was actually worse than being a rat in a trap. Stupid modern humans write numbers on everything they see. Car license tes, phone numbers, calendars, house numbers, page numbers in books, the remaining battery on smartphones, the number of floors in skyscrapers, the count of stairs, the number of passersby, the number of white lines on crosswalks, even the number of times a pigeon pecking at street trash nods its head, but no matter what, I couldnt escape that number. Think about it. To go home, we take steps. One, two, three. Eventually, my steps would reach that unlucky and ominous number. I breathe. Inhale one, exhale two, inhale three again My breaths were advancing toward that number. I tried everything to avoid groups of numbers, burned calendars, tried attaching different numbers, even attempted to split numbers up, and destroyed license tes I came across by chance, suddenly stopped walking, stopped breathing, and even considered wringing the neck of that insane pigeon, but I barely restrained myself. But damn it, here I was, trapped in this cramped prison with no escape only toe face to face with that unlucky, dreadful number. Disorientation didnt always manifest in the same symptoms. At first, I experienced physical signs like difficulty breathing, hallucinations, itching, chills, and bodily pains. Then, there were times, like that one incident; who was it again? There was a big strange person in that underground parking lot, right? Anyway, it could also emerge as reckless charging and violence just like that person. Wait, what am I doing right now? Ding. A bell sound came from somewhere. Who could it be? |Run away.| It seemed like someone was speaking to me. |Run, I said.| Oh, really? But where to? In which direction? And why? Right now, this ce is, well, unclear to me. Mage-nim? What do you mean, run away? Was that a voice I heard? Is there someone else here besides me? Do you know? There are more people in the world than one might think. Among them, some turn pale asionally, and others dance. There are those who sometimes turn into stone and remain hidden. asionally, you might wonder why you ended up here. But dont worry. But then, why do salmony eggs? Do salmone from salmon eggs? Ding. |Snap out of it, you idiot! Wake up!| Another bell tinkled, followed by someone shouting at me. Mage-nim! Look at that, over there! Ah, was it him speaking? The odd fellow pointed in a peculiar direction. A forsythia bloomed with a pop. With the weather growing warmer these days, how is the Bigfoot that transferred from Siberia doing? Have you ever thought about how odd the greeting Hello is? Is Hello? a question? Is it a question of whether one is in a state of well-being? |Stop, stop thinking and turn your head! Look forward by turning your head.| And in which direction? This way or that? Despite realizing the existence of this unknown person, the disdain we feel towards what we consider the lonely darkness cannot bring us joy. What is it that spreads so widely in the swirling autumn sky? I turned my head toward a voiceing from somewhere. Indeed, in the direction I turned my head. Oh my gosh. There existed a transcendental elegance and mythical beauty that should not belong in this world. It was a breathtaking scene, unlike anything I had ever seen in my life. Corpses. An eerie expanse filled with corpses that had stiffened while writhing in agony, frozen in ce as they stood. At the center of those corpses, dancers wearing beast masks were performing a dance that was strange, truly bizarre, eerie, and utterly extraordinary. Alien bodies sprouting golden scales and colorful jewels dangling from their bodies. Yellow silk fabrics billowed around their bodies. Nonguage that has existed since the dawn of this earth could adequately describe that dance, the movements, the swaying, and the twisting. Under the dark sky, a great star burned yellow. Bathed in the light of Aldebaran. a dozen or so dancers performed a dance that was strange and repulsive, a dance that should not exist in this world. [System: The effect of the Feast Offering penalty trait has been activated.] Look! Mage-nim! Thats it! The dance I saw! Ah why had I forgotten? The beautiful dance! Look at it! That beautiful dance! The dance! Yes, I returned here just to see that dance again! Jang Hyun-deok was clutching his head; he wept tears; tears as red as blood; in despair; yet filled with ecstasy; he screamed. Do you hear it? That voice? That magnificent voice! The voice of the great king who will fulfill my desires! We must leave! Not here, but beyond the gxy, across the Milky Way, to the greatnd! To our magnificent sanctuary, the beautiful Carcosa! Ding. |Its okay. Its just a temporary symptom.| Whats okay? And who has been speaking all this time? Why do I keep hearing the sound of a bell? |You dont need to try to regain yourposure. But avoid it. Run! Or fight! Do something! Otherwise, this situation will continue forever.| Chapter 39: Round Two Chapter 39: Round Two Escape? From what? Run? To where? Fight? With whom? Dancers who were made from gold and shining brighter than the precious metal itself, maintained a precise distance from one another as they executed a synchronized and dazzling dance. Each grand movement of their limbs caused the golden silk wrapped around their bodies to billow dramatically. The rocks that came into contact with the silk they seemed to be sliced as if by a de and fell away. To the eye, it appeared merely as silk fluttering in the wind, but it possessed a magical, spiritual, surreal power, akin to a de that cuts through everything it touches. The nature of the fluttering fabric mattered little. The dance itself was a dance of death, brimming with madness and killing intent. Is that why I should escape this dance? Is he telling me to run away from this dance? Is it okay to fight this dance? The golden whirlwind, swirling with the dance of death, approaches us, moving either slowly or at breakneck speed. I may not know, but at least Jang Hyeon-deok is going to get caught up in this dance very soon and his body will be torn apart. Haha, that guys about to meet his end. |No, destroy the number 13. Use magic. Just activate some kind of spell, anything!| Aaah! Yes! Yes! Yes! The dance itself doesnt matter! Its not the dance thats the issue, its the number of dancers performing it. Why such an ominous and unlucky number? My hands are shaking. I must deal with this! This! Escape! Run! No, fight! Yes, lets destroy it! Use magic; activate the magic! Ill scatter them using magic! [The unique feature of the S-rank essory Ring of Corrupted me has been activated. Red Element Concentration and Legacy of Fire Knowledge are triggered. // Red Element Concentration: Increases the effectiveness of all fire-type spells by 50%. // Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Enhances understanding of fire-type magic.] [me Eruption], [Fireball], [Lightning], [Protective Circle], [Crush], [Burning Spear], [Ignite], [Ember], [Rope Maniption], [Body Maniption: Specific Itching], [Ice st], [Gale], [Veil], [Leap], [Seed of Life], [Sparkling Dust], [Invisible Hand], [Creation: Raisin], [Ghastly Stare]. Boom! Crack! Whoosh! Fizz! Snap! Roar! From my fingertips, all sorts of spells were unleashed in all sorts of ways and at the same time. Most of the activated spells either did not trigger properly or failed to trigger at all due to theck of suitable targets. Amidst this chaos, the few spells that did manage to activate caused everything within sight to sh, shake, burn, freeze, and explode! Everything was destroyed! Shattered! Annihted! Everyone was dying!!! Spinning, spinning around. Stars are visible. Am I looking up at the sky? Or am I lying on the ground? The world is spinning dizzyingly. Hahaha! My mind is reeling and my body feels unsteady. Whos there? Where am I? Through the acrid smoke rising into the sky (perhaps from the fire I started?), a dancer wearing a golden mask emerged. In his (her?) hand, he (she?) held a sharp sword that emitted a deadly radiance. Ding. |Snap out of it! Get your bearings! Dodge!| Ah, first telling me to fight, and now to dodge, what exactly am I supposed to do? I cant perform any action anyway. Ive activated too many spells at once. My legs feel like theyre attached to my shoulders, and my arms feel like theyre stuck to my hips. The de was too close. Suddenly, the golden dancers eerie mask was right before my nose. And the cold gleam of the de in its hand flew towards my neck. Somehow, I felt like bursting intoughter. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Dreamy Blur, has been activated. // Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] Although the golden dancers de was aimed precisely between my head and body, the moment the de was about to touch me, the magic imbued in the mask activated. With a bizarre sensation that felt like being pulled by the mask, my position shifted from where I originally stood to a spot five steps behind. [Blinkpleted. Cooldown time: 864,000 seconds] Ugh, damn it. I thought I was a goner! Rough breathing, a rising urge to vomit, dizziness, and a severe headache made it feel like both my head and lungs were about to burst. It was a dreadful situation where not a single part of my body, head, mind, or soul seemed intact, but the worst was yet toe Ugh whats this? All the fingers on both hands were in a terrible state. The health +2 gloves I had spent a fortune on were rendered useless and destroyed, leaving my fingerspletely exposed. The skin was scorched ck, and all the fingernails were shattered, with bright red blood oozing out. There were abnormal inmmations and swellings here and there Ugh, fu*k. Some were even broken. I tried to remove the gloves with my trembling fingers, but they were too damaged. I managed to take off the gloves using my chin and teeth instead. The gloves didnt so muche off as they disintegrated, and I casually tossed aside the remnants. The events that had just taken ce slowly reconstructed themselves in my mind. It seemed that the indiscriminate casting of spells in my distortion had backfired. But I did it. Ha! You did it, Kim Shin-hwa! I managed to survive until the distortion ended! [Achievement Unlocked! You have ovee your phobia and defeated the object of your fear. You have earned the Advanced Achievement: Oveing Fear. As a reward for the achievement, the phobia you have ovee is naturally cured and you will gain additional experience points.] [System: Mental illness Triskaidekaphobia has been removed.] Looking around, I saw areas aze, others shattered into pieces, and over there; wow~, a pir of ice. There wasnt a single rock standing intact within a ten-meter radius, and even some rocks as far as thirty meters away were smashed to bits. And then there was the small bell made of pure silver lying on the ground. It was the Silver Bell of the Underworld I had acquired three days ago in the basement of the apartmentplex in Munsan. [Silver Bell of the Underworld (S-rank Magical Tool): A magical tool crafted from pure silver mined by ghouls. Grants the owner tremendous magical power along with dreadful madness] No need to read any further. [Pure Silvers Dominion: Automatically casts the Voice of Authority spell on a designated target and increases the effect of Mind spells by 100%.] This was it. This very ability. Just before plunging into madness, I activated Pure Silvers Dominion to manipte my own mind. Since it wasnt set in advance I couldntpletely block the side effects of the distortion, but I managed to somehow direct my magic to attack the enemy. The haphazard spells I unleashed managed to take down at least one of the thirteen dancers, and from the moment their number ceased to be thirteen, my distortion began to dissipate. Had the distortionsted even slightly longer, I would have been decapitated by one of the dancers attacks. [System: Penalty trait Shattered Mind is activated. Since you currently have only 1 mental illness, a random mental illness will manifest.] Aah, how diligent. You damn bastards, whoever it is thats holding me in this world and messing with me, I swear Ill kill them if I catch them. [System: Mental IllnessIchthyophobia (fear of fish) has been inflicted on your mind.] What? Wait, this isnt right. Come on, y fair! In some ways, this phobia was worse than the number 13 one. Its not just about having one less option for lunch. In [Cthulhu World], this phobia is Khrrrrrr! Aah, this was not the time for distractions. I hastily grabbed the silver bell, stuffed it into my backpack, and turned my attention towards the direction of the noise. There, just six paces away from where I stood, a creature loomed. A creature of stunning beauty, its body shimmering like gold. It bore a strange mask resembling the visage of a beast, its limbs were adorned with fluttering sharp silk, and it wielded jewel-encrusted swords. This golden dancer was a servant of the [King in Yellow], a beautiful performer crafted from gold, a bodyguard to the king, and a high priest executing the will of the god. The golden dancer clearly had a body that resembled a human, but it looked at me while making strange noises that could never be pronounced with human vocal structures. It tilted its head slightly to the left while wearing a three-eyed beast mask that resembled the Mask of Carcosa I was wearing. One might describe it as a curious tilt, though it was uncertain if the golden dancer harbored any real thoughts in its head. It was impossible to understand what it was thinking anyway. It was an entity with a thought process fundamentally alien to any intelligence known on Earth. But one thing was clear. This bastard wanted me dead. Rhaaarrrr rhigh!! The golden dancer lifted one foot in a peculiar motion as if assuming the arabesque position of ballet. Then, while leaving behind a trail of golden afterimages, it surged towards me with relentless force. Dingle, tter, ding! The jewels and ornaments dangling from the dancers body clinked against its golden scales, creating a morous noise. It possessed movements of transcendent beauty and exquisite grace, but the swords in its hands and the billowing silk around its body were not. Just brushing against either side would be a fatal attack. [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] It was an attack that couldnt simply be blocked. I shaped the activated protective circle not as a wide barrier but as thin pirs, weaving them through the air to intersect the golden dancers trajectory. An invisible fence then materialized in the air. The dancer felt danger not through sight but through its instincts, and it attempted to change its course mid-air, but it was already toote. Crackle! I rapidly formed hand signs with my ckened hands, from which all my nails had been torn, and began to chant. It shall be the hammer of thunder that pounds hot iron. The wasted magical power and scattered mental strength that happened to me during the distortion prevented the proper activation of [Casting Omission] and [Sign Omission] traits. So I had to do them. The moment the signs and incantations that were engraved in my mind werepleted, blue sparks began to erupt from the bleeding tips of my fingers. These sparks soon transformed into a pulsating, writhing, huge bolt of lightning. Fzzzzzzzzt! [Thunderstorm] Rumbleeee! With a fierce crackling sound, the lightning tore through the air, grazing the ground and shattering the stones in its path. It then poured its bursting energy towards the dancer who was entangled in invisible pirs and struggling. Zzzzzzzt!!! Khaarrrr! fhteii, rhurrrrgh! Wail, spew forth. Your screams shall be an offering to the Lord of the night sky, the Lord of Fomalhaut. Ah, I only realized how annoying this was when the traits were being omitted. But as the signs and incantations werepleted, a sinister rumble began to emanate from beneath the ground. [Firestorm] As the ground beneath the golden dancer split open, mes erupted with the force of a volcanic explosion, shooting upwards in a brilliant red inferno. Boooom! The st was deafening as if it could burst eardrums, and a dazzling pir of me engulfed the dancers alien body made of gold. The fire magic, whose power was amplified by the concentration of red elements, pierced through its body. It was not a spell that could be withstood by mere resilience. Chapter 40: “I?! I?! Hastur!” Chapter 40: I?! I?! Hastur! Ugh This is exhausting. It feels like my head is about to split open. Imagine gathering every single hangover one could experience in a lifetime and experiencing them all at once. Urrrgh! Khaarrrr! Rhaarrrr! Wzur-yiin! It wasnt time to stop yet. The dancers were muttering some stuff in a strangenguage. Even though some of them were broken and charred, there were still those with enough strength to move Lets see There are nine of them? What are you saying? Speak in Korean, you bastards. A couple of them seemed to be squirming awkwardly, but that wasnt something to worry about. I slowly massaged my stiff neck, which refused to move easily, and thought about the actions I needed to take, the derations I needed to make, and the objects I needed to keep an eye on. As if my condition wasnt bad enough After this is over, I really need to lie down for a week without moving. The nine dancers approached me in a synchronized formation. Though their numbers have decreased, their movements remained precise. They intertwined their legs and dipped their heads in my direction. Their movements were reminiscent of ballet poses. And then they followed with jumps and kicks. If I had known a bit about ballet terminology, I might have been able to describe what they were doing, but there was no way for me to know something I hadnt known before, regardless of my increased intelligence. And then there was the leap that followed. Staying any longer to watch would be the death of me. I threw my skateboard to the ground and cast a few spells. [Cats Reflexes] [Invisible Hand] [Leap] It wasnt for no reason that I was in a daze. As my concentration returned, the traits that had stopped activating began to function normally again, which allowed me to cast spells in session without the need for signs or incantations. As soon as I vacated my spot, the dancers performance transformed from ballet to a sword dance. Each held a sparkling pair of swords in their hands. The sword dance in honor of their king had started. It was a dance of death meant to eliminate the kings enemies. I am a mage! Just like thest time with the ghoul shaman, why do they keep forcing me into physical confrontations? If my magic order was even one level higher, I might have been able to pull out a spell that would let me respond morefortably, but for now, keeping my distance was the answer. The magically enhanced skateboard emitted a dazzling radiance and bounced to ridiculous heights that would have been impossible for my original body. Yet, the golden dancers followed suit. Ten chillingly bright swords glowed. And yellow silk fluttered like clouds. Their weapons were not limited to swords alone. The rocks that brushed against that fluttering yellow silk were sliced as if cut by a sword. Was this some kind of joke? The range of impact was far too wide. The range a single dancer could attack spanned 4 meters in all directionsfront, back, left, right, above, and belowand with their ability to close the distance in an instant through leaps, I couldnt afford to stand still for even a moment. Leap, then spring off a rock to leap again. As soon as I touched the ground, I used an explosive dash trick for rapid movement. Then leaped again. Just when I thought I had shaken off one that was clinging to me from behind, a golden body flew at me from the front. At this rate, there would be no end to it. I gathered my magical power and screamed. Get out of the wayyyy!!! [Shock] ng-ng-ng-ng-ng!!! The dancer directly hit by the heated shockwave emitted from my hand was flung away and crashed into a rock with a metallic noise. Just as I was about to cast a new spell to finish off that one, three dancers and six sword des clung to me. They targeted the angles that were difficult for me to move into and flew in with precise sword strikes. Ah, sh*t. Leave the sword fighting to the swordsmen! [Gale], [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Leap], [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] [Protective Circle], [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] I sent the one suspended in the air flying with a gale and the other one was forced to jump up, changing its trajectory. At the same time, I thrust theyers of entwined protective circles at the one that clung closest to me. ng! Sparks flew from the twin swords blocked by the invisible protective circle. But I had lingered in one spot for too long. Eight more swords flew at me from another direction. Ah, this really could be the end of me. Ah, forget it! Im abandoning the strategy of minimizing damage! With all my fingernails gone, I spread my hands wide and cast spells in every direction around me. Whirrrr!! I concentrated the magical power, brimming with excessive Yang energy, on the tips of my hands. I could see the blood flowing from my torn and burst fingers start to boil and evaporate. [Lightning Strike] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] It felt like all ten of my already damaged fingers were beingpletely shattered. A chilling pain crawled from the tips of my fingers up to my spine. Yet, the extremely strengthened lightning obeyed mymand, absorbing my magical power and growing to an enormous size. Fizzzzzzzz! A blindingly brilliant golden lightning burst forth in all directions. It felt as though giant trees were sprouting from my hands. It was a bizarre sensation in which I didnt even know if I was feeling pain or pleasure. I felt dizzy. The trees of lightning grew at the speed of light and entwined around the dancers who were rushing towards me. Gold conducts electricity well, right? Crackle-crackle-crackle! While the dancers were paralyzed by the lightning, I created a fireball beneath my skateboard. [Hardening] [Fireball] Booooom! At the peak of the fireballs explosion. [Leap] I activated a leap and then leaped again. Despite the feeling that my guts might spill out, I shot up vertically more than twenty meters in an instant. Whoooooooshl! The sound of the wind battered my face and ears. As I reached the peak of my leap, I threw my head back to look down. Or more urately, I began to fall headfirst Nheless, I could see the dark forest of Tanhyeon below me, the ruins that appeared almost naked in their exposure, and the dancers glittering under the starlight. Khaarrrr! kyavughtmm!! Waugh! Fhuzur ghliis khaa! I could also see the dancers who had not been swept up by the lightning, gathering below my feet as if chasing after me. They were nicely clustered together. Had there ever been a time in my life when so many people were clinging to me as if they were fond of me? It seemed my luck in love was at an all-time high. Anyway, they were gathered nicely together. The essence of a hunt is in the area of effect. [Sonic Refraction] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] A barrier made from magical power rose around the dancers. A magical barrier distorting the sonic waves formed like a dome with its lid open. Take this, the signature move of Lee Chang-hyuk. [Sonic Impact] Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! Boooooooom!!!!!!! The shock wave created by the Sonic Impact was blocked by the sonic distortion barrier and echoed back inward as it continued to reverberate. The trapped shockwaves were unable to escape the barrier and continued toyer upon each other, manifesting terrible destruction. The rocks of the ruins and the metallic bodies of the dancers, caught in the horrific vortex created by the sound, could not withstand the repeated shocks and were shattered to pieces. Kwazzzz Even after I deactivated the spell, the shockwaves trapped within the sonic distortion barrier did not fade but persisted for a while. The effect was more powerful than I expected. Given the right circumstances, this technique alone could dispose of most enemies in the future. The destruction on the ground was sufficient. Now, it was time to save myself. [Feather Fall] I tried to catch the skateboard in mid-air while activating a spell to reduce the speed of my fall Well, I tried to catch it before I realized such a feat was beyond my agility. I then resorted to an additional spell to catch it. The ordeal was not over yet. I looked up at the sky in the midst of my long, leisurely fall through the air. The dark night sky. And the bright yellow stars that illuminated it while shining brightly. What a crazy sky. It was a terrible and ominous sky that made you feel like you would go mad if you just kept looking at it. Though the moon hung in the air, its faint crescent light was overshadowed by the unnervingly bright stars that exuded a far more imposing presence. Fu*k it, Ill do whatever crazy thing it takes to get back home. With that resolve, Inded in the center of the chaotic ruins. Surprisingly, no achievements popped up. I had half-expected something like a Shall We Dance? achievement. Aaah, but that would require me to dance as well. The frenzied dancers, for the most part, were unable to ovee the ovepping sonic shockwaves and werepletely destroyed. Of course, not all of them were annihted. Four dancers remained alive. However, they were far from unscathed. Now, the figures that used to attack with bodies glowing in golden light and dancing with unprecedented grace in the world were nowhere to be seen. All four dancers were affected by the sonic shockwaves in some way, with their metallic bodies ruptured and crumbling. The sight of them struggling to crawl away, using what remained of their arms and legs which were reduced to stubs, was a spectacle that was both tragic andedic. Anyway, this is the [Cthulhu World]. Where there was no bargaining with beings born from the darkness of the abyss. As I approached them, the dancers began to chant in unison. Khaarrrr! Khaarrrr! Khaarrrr! Khaarrrr! I! I! Hastur! Ugh! Ugh! I Hastur! nghah- ghaaa mglwghaa mhatha! I! I! Hastur! I! I! Hastur! I! I! Hastur! [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] The [Enhanced Vignce] trait sounded an rm. Holy sh*t, stop! [Fireball] Whooooooooooosh! Bright red mes erupted with a tremendous st. One of the golden monsters that glowed while shouting the true name of the [King in Yellow] was destroyed. But, three remained. I! I! Hastur! I! I! Hastur! I! I! Hastur! [Lightning Strike] Rumbe Booom!! I! I! Hastur! I! I! Hastur! They still wouldnt stop. This is maddening! Stop chanting, you lunatics! [Firestorm] Despite this, there was still one mouth left and it continued to chant the true name of the abyssal being. [Magic Bullet] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Ratatatattatata!! Dozens of magic bullets were unleashed, shattering the body of thest dancer to pieces. Holes riddled the dancers body, scattering golden scales and body fragments in all directions. But even when its body was destroyed and only its head remained, the dancers head still emitted cries of praise for its king. I! I! Hastur! The rolling head of the dancer eventually came to a halt after it was blocked by someones legs. Oh? You. The problem wasnt the dancer. A new shadow appeared as if blocking the dancers path. Long limbs and golden hair. And strange ornaments on the ears. No, this was not a new character. It was someone who was supposed to be here all along. It was Jang Hyeon-deok. You what are you doing? Wait, something was off. The quality, form, and flow of his magical power werepletely different. Jang Hyeon-deok approached the dancers head with an eerily emotionless expression on his face. The dancers head was not moving away from me. It was moving in the direction of Jang Hyeon-deok. Hey, stop. [Arrow of Destruction] Fwsssh! In haste, I unleashed an arrow imbued with the magical power of the neither world towards Jang Hyeon-deoks location. But for some reason, the purple arrow flew swiftly but veered off in an unexpected direction. It wasnt like my aim was bad. The Arrow of Destruction was flying straight towards Jang Hyeon-deok. But then, as if space itself warped, the arrow changed its course on its own. Before I could think of my next move, Jang Hyeon-deok had alreadypleted his action. A peaceful and natural touch with a motion that seemed as if it was meant to be. Jang Hyeon-deok removed the mask that was covering the dancers face and ced it on his own. And then, silence. Chapter 41: The King in Yellow Chapter 41: The King in Yellow It was eerily silent. Something something was off. [System: The unique trait Feast Offering has been activated.] My magical detecting abilities which were developed far beyond the limits of human capacity detected an unexpected situation. Something had gone terribly wrong. The worst possible problem had arisen. The enormous amount of information, threats, and voices released to shake the human psyche, along with the electrifying magic burrowing into the flesh, forced my mind to momentarily cloud over. Being devoured by this force would render one a ve to an indescribable being and would make them lose even the memory of what had been endured. I gritted my teeth and stepped back. Damn it, damn it, damn it! What the hell. What did that bastard want to pick up that hes crawled out here to cause such a fuss? [The /Null yellow /Null has appeared before you.] [Phase mutual-strategyo dam essence alloy . mysterious-signs-peak, uttering-underneath . Unknown CommandError Code D-24522 I dered to you human in your inferior andcking tongue of your insufficiencies. Can you evenprehend human own shorings, do it? Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. With your own hands, tear out your tongue. With your own hands, gouge out your eyes. With your own hands, rip off both your ears and nose. With your own hands, pull out your stomach. With your own hands, extract your pancreas. Thrust your hands into that filthy mouth of yours and pluck out your own heart. I shall permit you to offer that heart to me. Do it. Thus, I will allow you to dedicate your entire beingyour body, soul, spirit, magical power, and futureall to me. Do it. Offer your heart, offer it to me, and by doing so, you as a human shall be fulfilled. Extract your heart yourself and offer it to me, and I promise you a ce. Let us return to the beautiful Carcosa, your homnd, thend where you belong. Let us depart for the great Aldebaran. Offer your corpse, offer it to me. Do it. Let your flesh be a feast for the maggots that crawl underground, offer it to me.] [The unique trait of /Nulls /Null Indescribable, has been activated. |Light, light, stranger, feast offering, Carcosa, light, swirling, golden, shining brightly, beyond, the Milky Way, crossing the Milky Way, crossing, crossing, to the great Aldebaran, golden light, star, light, beyond, let us embark on a journey, let us embark, let us embark, to the far-off homnd of life, towards a ce from which there is no need to return, the beautiful Carcosa, to the greatnd| The effect of the Indescribable trait forcibly infused your mind with irrational madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness, madness. Mental IllnessSuicidal Impulse, Mental IllnessSelf-harm Impulse, Mental IllnessHomicidal Impulse, Mental IllnessBroken Mind, Mental IllnessSchizophrenia, Mental IllnessBizarre Taste, Mental IllnessSpecial Faith, Mental IllnessObsession with a Specific Color (Yellow), Mental IllnessSevere Delusion, Mental IllnessMask Phobia, Mental IllnessTentacle Phobia, Mental IllnessFear of a Specific Color (Yellow), Mental IllnessObsession with the End of the World.] Far from a fight. It merely revealed itself in reality. It was just a single breath. But with that breath, the overwhelming amount of information and threat, the voices, and the thrilling magic burrowing to consume my flesh momentarily dazed my mind. Its a strange and irrational power that, with its mere presence,pletely tramples, destroys, and humiliates the human psyche. Being consumed by this entity means bing a ve to that indescribable being and forgetting even what happened to you. I looked at Jang Hyeon-deok. The once sneering smile was now obscured by a mask of sphemous form that was exuding an inhuman aura and presence. Hummmmmmmm I could feel the air around me vibrating. Golden aura flowed from the mask, shimmering and enveloping his body in its light. Even thosecking the ability to sense magical power could feel the tangible power crowning his head. A wondrous figure surrounded by golden magic and aura. As if he was literally d in yellow garments. This means that individual, or rather, that entity is not Jang Hyeon-deok. A high being, the great king, the ruler of Carcosa, dweller in Aldebaran, he who must not be named, the sage of the sunset, the lord of the sunset, that which lies beneath theke, the indescribable one. The [King in Yellow]! No, wait a moment. Something felt off. Honestly, its not that bad? Crackle Blue sparks erupted at my temples with a crackling sound. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The mental illness bestowed upon your mind has been nullified.] The madness attempting to infiltrate my mind was swept away by the blue sparks generated by the trait Madness of the Abyss. A madman cannot go mad again. Rumble. The entire ruins magical power surged tumultuously. It was a powerful being with a chilling force. Yet The other partys power was far too weak to im that he was a being from the abyss that just descended. I began converting a portion of the magical power I had summoned for protection to analyze the capabilities and stance of my opponent. I discerned the extent of what the entity could and couldnt do. The being housed within Jang Hyeon-deoks mask indeed formed the shape one might call the [King in Yellow], but something was missing. If a being from the abyss, a great old ruler, an outer god, had truly descended, this would not be the end of things. In any case, the entity before me existed within the range of my perception. It was indeed big, but it was still big enough to be contained within my field of vision if it moved far enough away. Which meant it was a being that I could talk about, describe, and understand. Holy shit. I get it now. Fu*k, seriously. Who do you take me for, a fool? It wasnt the [King in Yellow] that had descended. This wasnt its true form. Not even an avatar. This was a shadow created by the [King in Yellow], a messenger sent for a high-dimensional, metaphysical scheme that only they couldprehend. It was merely a voice created by lowering its status and bending its form tomunicate with a being with whommunication was otherwise impossible. But that didnt mean I was capable of confronting it now. Damn it I was stillcking in both level and magic order. I didnt know what it wanted to convey, but if I showed a response it didnt like, it would whimsically crush me on a whim. And I could understand all of this situation, starting with the taxi driver brainwashed by the [Yellow Sign]. If they had wanted to lure me in and kill me or whatever, they wouldnt have sent such a pawn; they would have brought something muchrger and more dangerous. In a state of half-resignation, I addressed the golden illusion created by Jang Hyeon-deoks mask, the shadow created by the [King in Yellow]. So, speak then. What is it you wish to convey that youve drawn me in with such a convoluted method? The bizarre mask shimmered expressionlessly. It was modeled after the form of a beast, simr to the one I was wearing. The differencey in the fact that this mask had six eyes. |A mere entertainment for the feast.| A voice that was neither male nor female, neither human nor monster, but simply beautiful. Though beautiful, it carried an indescribably eerie difort. |Remarkable. You have proven your strength, mind, and wisdom. For a pitiful and lowly human, this is amendable achievement. Imend you for reaching this far. I shall allow you to regard this as a glory for your lineage.| Ah, so beating up the dancers was the proof of strength, enduring the mental attack was the proof of mind, and somewhat figuring out its identity was the proof of wisdom? Is this amusing to you? What a load of crap. |I also permit you to express a wish. Speak your desire. Reveal your longing. Bring forth the desire that has been harbored in your soul even before you were born. Speak. I shall fulfill your most vile desire that you have never voiced to anyone.| I considered unleashing a tirade of curses but somehow managed to hold myself back. Even during my time ying [Cthulhu World] as a game, I encountered a simr scenario. Regardless of the response I gave, it would be deemed to be entering into a contract. My wish would be granted in the most wretched way possible, and then I would definitely pay the price for it. But that didnt mean not answering was the right answer. He wouldnt disappear for eternity until I gave an answer. What should I say? The period of contemtion was brief. I made my decision and responded to him. Im not interested. Despite my response, the being behind the mask covering Jang Hyeon-deoks body showed no response. I never wanted toe to this damned world in the first ce, nor do I have any desires in this crazy world. I refuse to be destroyed while clinging to unwanted gifts, and Im already aware that theres nothing you can fulfill for me. Ill find my own way back home I almost blurted out to go screw themselves and to just leave me be. Telling them to leave me alone would probably be taken as a wish, and then theyd demand payment for not doing anything. But since I couldnt take back what I had already said, I ended my sentence with a somewhat awkward phrase. thats it. Due to excessive tension and fatigue, my neck felt stiff. A fleeting thought crossed my mind that it was an unsightly state to be in, but the situation had already taken a toll on my appearance. Instead of just holding back, I began to massage the back of my neck while channeling magical power. Had I reached a higher level by this point, I would have had more options at my disposal. However, at this moment, there was only one course of action avable to me. I started to draw out the remaining magical power within me and focused my mind intensely. The spell was to forcibly send back this divine being that had descended into reality. Tch, this spell isnt even permitted in my current order. It really has been one risky y after another sincest time. I would have preferred to use high-level spells like [Banishment of the Otherworldly], [Expulsion of the Summoned], or [Song of Return], but none of those were avable to me at the moment. Therefore, I decided to stack lower-level spells to construct a magical logic and environment. [Exhration] [Eagles Splendor] [Prayer of Protection] I wasnt sure if it would help, but I activated these rted enchantment spells to elevate my body and mind and started pushing away the influence created by this outer god. Then, I took out the silver bell of the underworld and shook it. The tiny silver bell emitted a refreshing tone before releasing the magical power it contained. [The unique effects of the S-grade magical tool Silver Bell of the Underworld, Pure Silvers Charm and Pure Silvers Dominion have been activated //Pure Silvers Dominion: Automatically casts the Voice of Authority spell on a designated target and increases the effect of Mind spells by 100%. //Pure Silvers Charm: Charm +2 only for ghouls, undead, and demons] Even as I was applying buffs, the King in Yellow simply watched me without making any move or showing any reaction. Indeed, if I were in their ce, I too would be curious enough to watch if I saw an ant suddenly emitting magic circles and starting to dance. Please keep watching until the end. I created dozens of magic circles around me. These were not for a single consistent spell. There were circles for amplification, for organizing the flow of magical power, for ascending and sublimating power, for descending and solidifying power, for release, dposition, protection, hardening, focusing, dispersing, and rotating. Each one was a magic circle designed to implement the most basic principles of the simplest spells. But all of them moved in perfect harmony under my will, creating a single grand miracle. It became a primitive yet vast magical engine constructed outside my body. I fueled this huge magical engine and activated the spell. [Identification] Paaaaa A bright blue light was emitted from my fingertips [System: Invalid target.] I know. In the first ce, identification was a spell intended for identifying artifacts or lifting minor seals. I pushed the released magic into the magical engine. The magic, passing through the circles of the magical engine, was forcibly dposed, concentrated, rotated, dispersed, and then reassembled. I then directed the strands of this transformed magical power towards the mask covering Jang Hyeon-deoks face. Crackle, Fizzz, Fzzzzt! As expected, ominous golden sparks began to fly from the mask Jang Hyeon-deok was wearing. At the same time, a bright yellow magic circle formed in front of the mask. That magic circle is Chapter 42: Unauthorized Power Chapter 42: Unauthorized Power A simple yet intricatelyposed three swirling lines of magical power, radiating malice, and a bright yellow magical aura were intertwined. Though it was in an iplete form, this was the [Yellow Sign]. It was the power embedded in the mask that I too was wearing at this very moment. It was the symbol of the abyssal being, the great old ruler, the king in yellow, the manifestation of his influence in this world, the sign of his authority, and the dreadful imprint stamped upon his possessions. [Evil Gaze] [Magic Dispel] [Gesture of Guardianship] I cast a curse to push away the influence of the outer god and a purification spell to remove the artificial magical power granted to Jang Hyeon-deoks mask, and the blessings of the benevolent god all at once. None of these spells were perfectly suited for the situation at hand, but I once again disrupted the magic circles and structures, reorganizing them in a manner necessary for my needs. Giggigigigig Groaning sounds of strange friction emanated from somewhere. At the same time, the moisture in the air suddenly condensed, forming ice shards in midair, which vaporized before even touching the ground. In addition, there were shes of sparks, mes, and bursts of light, along with nearby tremors..these were all the side effects of that magic that had not been properly activated. Yet, despite these urrences, the effect I sought to achieve did not materialize. The output was insufficient. It felt like I was trying to stop a copsing dam with my hands. I felt like a fool trying to break through a wall instead of using the door. An avnche was pouring down, a tsunami was rushing in, and a train was barreling towards me. Ugh, these strange images kept forming in my mind. My magical power alone was not enough. I felt that without borrowing the authority or endorsement of a being with sufficient power, I might just be swept away. Should I borrow the power of the [Living me] as I did during Lee Chang-hyuks incident? No, thats not it. There was a more suitable entity avable now. I activated the power of the highest-rank artifact I possessed. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Yellow Sign, has been activated. //The Yellow Sign: The mighty [King in Yellow] takes an interest in you.] [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] [The Abyssal Being The King in Yellow enhances your power.] Jang Hyeon-deoks body jerked drastically. For the first time, I elicited a reaction from this guy who seemed to be standing calmly with an arrogant and peaceful attitude no matter what I did. Borrowing the power of the [King in Yellow] to block the emissary of the [King in Yellow]? It might seem like a ridiculous and crazy action, but the bastard smirking before me was not the [King in Yellow] at all. I had no choice but to draw upon the originals power to strike back and repel him. The power of the magic circles that manifested around my body increased exponentially, and their number and shape changed dramatically. |You are attempting to wield abilities beyond your control, trying to govern powers you do notprehend. How long do you think such recklessness canst?| Jang Hyeon-deoks body shook. No, it was the mask he wore that trembled. From beneath the mask he wore, tentacles oozed out like pus from a ripe tumor, sticky and spreading. These tentacles were far too many andrge to have been hidden inside his head. Oh, sh*t. [Tentacles flowing from beneath the mask emit a repulsive, pus-like yellow glow and are surging towards you. It is a truly bizarre sight. These tentacles are so vile and disgusting that their mere presence is enough to destroy a humans sanity.] The sickly yellow tentacles writhed in an indescribable manner, grotesquely ignoring thews of physics in a non-Euclidean way. They were extremely unpleasant, dirty, ugly, beautiful, writhing, squirming, slithering, and glistening as they moved in a grotesque dance of oozing, undting horror. These tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles. Ah, for fu*ks sake. Enough. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The of . has been nullified.] A brilliant blue sh erupted from my body, repelling the tentacles that were ominously creeping towards me. Oh dear, thank goodness. I wasnt sure what I had just prevented, but it felt like something important had been blocked. What mattered wasnt what I had blocked, but that it had been blocked at all. I focused and concentrated the magical power I had released, sharpening it, honing it to a fine point, and tightening it until it formed a de. At that moment, a lukewarm and damp breeze blew from the ruins which were cluttered with bizarrely shaped rocks. Uooooooo The wind, as it brushed against the rocks of the ruins, created a sound akin to a groan or perhaps a cry of anguish. Even though I felt as though these sounds were a warning to cease my current actions immediately, I did not stop but insteadpleted my task. [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] Buzzzz. [The beings of the abyss have taken an interest in you.] Thump Thump Thump The sound of a heartbeat reached my ears. Screech Screeeeech I experienced a dreadful sensation as if something exceedingly sharp was scraping against my mana core. Fizz! Fizzzz! Fizzzzzzzzz! The authority of an ancient and powerful being twisted and destroyed my magic circles. [Voice of Authority] Shut up! I kept creating new magical circles while relentlessly pushing my magical power into his mask. Disappear. There is no ce for you in this world. Return to the filthy, dark abyss where you came from. I will not allow you to set foot here. Be gone. The magic circle I conjured was more forceful and unyielding than any magic I had previously created. Gigigigi Gogogogo Gagagaga The vibrations began to spread, reaching beyond the ruins and into the nearby forest. It was a terrible, threatening vibration that felt as if the ground could split open and the sky might copse at any moment. Silence! Shut up! Be quiet! Leave me alone! Disappear!!! Crackkkkkkkkkk!!!! An irrational sound of friction began to be heard from somewhere. And then silence. The mask covering Jiang Hyeon-deoks face. Cracks began to form on that mask. |How delightful. I shall observe how long you can endure. I eagerly await the day you crawl through the mire calling for me.| The crack at the corner of the mask grew uncontrobly and spread over it. His power and authority were leaking through the cracks. No matter what bullsh*t this bastard spewed, there was no turning back. Contrary to the crumbling state of the mask, the King in Yellows shadow moved Jiang Hyeon-deoks body in a nonchnt manner and pointed in a direction in the night sky. |Soon, the deluge will begin. Build an ark before then. And if you can prevent the impending doom after the waters recede and the firmament clears, things will be as you wish.| What? A deluge? |Just as the light of Fomalhaut, the master of Aldebaran has chosen to decline the invitation to the feast. But I dere, not all parts of me support you.| With those words, the mask embodying the authority of the outer god shatteredpletely. The mask turned into fragments and fell to the ground, and Jiang Hyeon-deoks body which had been standing before in an arrogant manner copsed backward like a puppet with its strings cut. The bizarre pressure, presence, and magical power filling the ruins disappeared. The [King in Yellow] had seeded in forcibly returning the shadow that a great being of the abyss had created to implement his will into reality. [Achievement unlocked! You have banished a being of the abyss. You have obtained the Advanced Achievement: The Uninvited Guest. As a reward for the achievement, you receive the Artifact: Keystone and additional experience points.] As soon as the achievement notification appeared as if by chance or as if someone had artificially staged it, a small stone rolled out of Jang Hyeon-deoks arms and fell to the floor. Thud. It is a soft gray-brown stone shaped like a pyramid with rounded edges. Ah, the keystone. It had been a while since Id seen one. It was the reward given for sending back any being of the abyss that had descended to the earth, in whatever form. [Keystone (A-rank Magical Artifact) A small piece of stone made from an alien material that has never existed on Earth. It is engraved with bizarre patterns on its surface. The emanations from this stone have a remarkable effect on the human psyche. Affinity of the Mad: If a mental strength check is sessful, it allowsmunication with extraterrestrial beings, aberrant entities, or those engulfed in madness. If the check fails, theres a 50% chance that the intended message will not be conveyed, or the words of the other might be heard in a strangely distorted manner. Mental Keystone: When used, there is a random chance to cure a target from a state of distortion. However, if the check fails, the distortion may worsen.] It was smaller than a fist and its surface was inscribed with characters from an alien culture that had never existed on Earth. As of now, I possessed no traits rted to [Alien Language]. Therefore, I couldnt read the inscriptions, but I had verified the meaning of these patterns several times from my previous gameys. They werent anything profound. You cannot escape this dream unless the abyss allows it. After thinking about it, I felt bad because it sounded like these words were being said to me. Haah Was this it then? This event was no joke. I had braced myself from the moment I encountered Jiang Hyeon-deok but this was seriously noughing matter My legs started to give out. I simply allowed myself to copse in a heap. There was nothing more to worry about anyway. Ive never seen such a turn of events. Whats with these abyss bastards making a beeline for me right from the start? What exactly are they trying to aplish? Ugh, damn it. Sitting down hadnt been a wise decision. My legs, back, shoulders, head, neck essentially, my entire body felt drained of strength, and my head threatened to loll backward. I tried to prop myself up with my arms in an attempt to prevent my body from copsing entirely Ughhh My fingers felt as though they were being sliced by a de. Ahhh my fingernails werepletely gone Because of the sudden pain, I ended up sprawled on the ground with my hands clutched to my chest. The ground was hard and littered with stone fragments and pieces of masks but I justy there for a while since Icked the energy to get up. When I turned my head and looked at the sky while lying down, I saw that the sky which was fluctuating strangely and the yellow star that was shining brighter than the moon had all returned to normal. Had I essentially finished what I hade here to do? But then, why wasnt I receiving any experience points? This bizarre ruin was a ce I had never visited while ying [Cthulhu World], so I couldnt be certain, but given the magnitude of this event, it seemed like it could at least be a hidden quest. But why was the message window silent? Was there still an unresolved trigger remaining? Ugh With some effort, I managed to twist my lying position enough to sit up. My joints made terrible noises, but that wasnt the issue at hand. An unresolved trigger usually meant that there were still monsters left to deal with. In my current state, I wouldnt be able to respond to anything that came my way. Even after barely managing to defeat the boss, it was possible to die from an unnoticed trap in this game. Get it together, Kim Shin-hwa! As I forced myself to stand and began to survey my surroundings, it didnt take long to realize what I had missed. A strange sound wasing from somewhere. Chapter 43: Harvest Chapter 43: Harvest Rhaaarrrr It was a very bizarre voice that humans couldnt pronounce, but it was very low and faint. Rather than articting any meaningful speech, it seemed more akin to a groan. Whats this? Theres one still alive? I didnt expect anyone to have survived that chaos When I approached the source of the groaning, sure enough, there was a golden dancer still clinging to life. However, it appeared it wouldnt have much longer to even groan. This dancer held on till the very end only to have its mask taken by Jang Hyeon-deok. Despite being hit by dozens of magic bullets, it stubbornly proimed the true name of the [King in Yellow] to the very end. And here it was still alive. Its condition was gruesome, with only its head and the upper part of its chest remaining intact, but it was alive nheless. Hey. rrrr Youre really something, arent you? To have survived through all that chaos not once, but twice? rrrr wrhiigh. What are you trying to say? Say it clearly so I can understand. Perhaps it was itsst bit of strength, but the dancer could speak no more. It wasnt breathing, yet it wasnt dead either. Although it was capable of making sounds, it was not a being that required breathing in the first ce. Its face was literally crafted from gold. Its smoothly polished face appeared to resemble a human at first nce, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that it was the face of a creature far removed from humanity. It was alien and grotesque. A truly monstrous beauty. I came here to retrieve the mask, but it seems thats no longer an option I slowly gathered my magical power as I continued. I dont want to leave empty-handed, so it looks like Ill have to take you with me instead. The dancer blinked its four jewel-like eyes in shock and tried to speak but its mouth was empty and devoid of tongue or teeth. There was just a pitch-ck empty space. Khaaa!!! Just stay still. At this rate, youre going to die soon anyway. [Binding] [Evil Gaze] [Cold Bone Prison] The spell I used was the same as when I had extracted the [ck Goats Body Fluid] from Lee Chang-hyuks body. Dododododo. After hardening it to prevent resistance, I severed its bond with its master, the [King in Yellow], and trapped it within a magical barrier. While it was impossible to keep a living creature alive in such confinement, this being was more akin to a mechanical device. As long as my magical power was supplied, it could be maintained in a quasi-living state. The task didnt require much time. While I had struggled to remove the influence that fused with Lee Chang-hyuks soul before, dealing with a being with a definite physical form turned out to be much simpler. For a moment, it felt like I was skinning a hunted animal and making a taxidermy of it. Its too easy. Did the [King in Yellow] lose interest after what happened earlier? As soon as the work was finished, new messages began to appear. [You havepletely destroyed the ruins created for the descent of the King in Yellow.] Descent? Ah, so thats why the dancers were there. The servants prepared for the kings descent. They were beings one would normally encounter only in Carcosa, in the other world. They either came here waiting for the King in Yellow to descend or were spawned as a harbinger of that descent. [You have eliminated all the golden dancers you encountered in the ruins and destroyed the masks they were wearing. Now, the only Mask of Carcosa remaining on earth is the one you possess. The first mask, which was inherently more powerful than the other Masks of Carcosa, will gain even stronger power. If you can destroy other objects bearing the yellow sign, you will experience even more amazing miracles.] [System: You have met the specified conditions so the hidden power within the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask is now activated.] Whats this? The mask has been strengthened? I briefly felt the mask covering my face to assess its condition. There was a definite change. The sections that were previously disyed as : on the Carcosas Mask had started to show correctly. [Invitation to Carcosa: You can visit the grand and beautiful Carcosa through your dreams. Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers. You get a +100% sess rate in invention, repair, research, and development. However, each use of this ability requires a sanity check. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind.] This is. Isnt it great? The Invitation to Carcosa might seem like a meaningless trait in most cases. Carcosa is the dimension where the King in Yellow resides. Visiting such a mad world in a human body would only yield the special culture and habits unique to Carcosa, along with madness. However, Madmans Dexterity was an incredibly beneficial trait that couldnt be obtained with a regr build. But in exchange for its excessively good effects, it came with the penalty of acquiring a mental illness at a certain probability, but this penalty could be erased with [Madness of the Abyss]. The ability to modify artifacts It was a trait beyond my wildest dreams and it was just too good to be true. I was pondering where to use the dancer I had just secured, but now it seemed I could try various experiments with it, whatever it turned out to be. Then, the message window began to disy the standard experience gain messages. [You havepletely destroyed the ruins for the descent. Experience points gained.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated FanaticJang Hyeon-deok. Your understanding of the King in Yellows cult has increased.] [You have defeated the golden dancers (13). Your understanding of Creatures of Carcosa has significantly increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Discovery: You have acquired (2) secret items from the ruins. Experience points gained.] [Discovery: You have found a secret space. Experience points gained.] [Achievement unlocked! You have freed a human from the control of an abyssal being. You have earned the General Achievement: Are You Awake Now?. As a reward for the achievement, you gain a firm alliance with Driving ExpertJang Hyeon-deok and additional experience points.] . Is that kid still alive? Its still too early to be certain. The game [Cthulhu World] is notorious for its numerous bugs and shoddy optimization. In fact, during gamey, its not umon to see rtionship information for NPCs that should be dead or shouldnt even appear. And whats with this kind of reward? Give me an artifact or a special ability. Whats the benefit of forming a solid alliance with a secure taxi driver? Maybe Ill save on taxi fares in the future? [Experience Point Bonus: You have achieved a total of (2) achievements at the ruins for the descent.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 22! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] [For you who have umted enough experience points, you have unlocked the use of second-order magic. Please note that to use second-order magic effectively, you need to obtain or learn a grimoire containing second-order spells.] [System: The Spell Mastery trait is activated. You automatically learn the basic spells of the second tier.] Finally, second-order spells are unlocked and Ive received a bonus stat point. After pondering where to allocate the bonus stat point for a moment, the loss of the Slurping Gloves, which had previously boosted my health, came to mind, so I allocated them to my health. Though this slightlyplicated the schedule I had in mind, there was no other choice. There was simply no easy way to obtain an artifact that could increase health by two points. For future progress, securing at least 8 points in health was essential. **** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 22 Magic Order: Second Order Madness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia (Fear of Fish)] Strength: 5(+3) (Corrupted Ring of me) Health: 7 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 17 **** There must be a way to secure at least one more point in health [Your aplishments were truly amazing. Although the abyssal being had not fully descended in itsplete form, it was an endpoint created by the entitys own will. It was an absurd being, one that seemingly could not be defeated. Yet you overcame such a being with nothing but your own wisdom and skill. This is a truly an amazing event! Your remarkable feat is echoing through the deep abyss. More beings from the abyss will be watching you from now on.] Is that supposed to be a good thing? I just want to beg them to lose interest in me. [What could the words left by the King in Yellow mean? When will the deluge ur? Can you prevent the impending doom? And can you ovee the fate of bing a feast offering at the banquet? A chaotic future awaits you.] Damn, theres no wiki and no other veteran yers to ask, so I have no idea whats going on. Then again, who would know about a situation like this? There has never been anyone who knew more about [Cthulhu World] than I did. Theres nobody to ask in this world, nor in the reality I used to live in. If I want to understand whats happening, I have no choice but to check it out myself, even if it means getting bruised and broken. It seems there are no more messagesing through now. Ugh Damn it, lets go home. After muttering that to myself, I tried to put the dancers head into my backpack but it was too big. It wouldnt fit. Moreover, my backpack was already filled with the silver bell from the underworld and various other artifacts there was simply no room for thisrge, shiny head. Damn, I was carrying too much. Ah, but there was still more to gather. I turned my head to look at the pile of golden dancers bodies. The scene was ambiguous, teetering between horrific and beautiful. They glittered as if dusted with gold powder. Its almost blinding. It was like a bizarre reflection of the night skys brilliance. Thirteen golden dancersy shattered; their bodies golden scales spilled out. And the brightly colored jewels that adorned their bodies were not in short supply either. There was enough to adorn thirteen humans. Because of this, the amount of gold and jewels scattered and spread around was absurd. Just witnessing this scene could drive many to madness. In addition, thepletely motionless fragments of the dancers bodies still retained their sensual forms, turning the barren ground of the ruins, where not a single de of grass had grown, into a beautiful yet filthy wastnd littered with golden sculptures of corpses. If only this were real gold Too bad, but this was not real gold. The split and cracked bodies of the dancers, the golden scales scattered on the ground, and the brightly colored jewels that adorned their bodies were slowly turning ck. They might maintain the appearance of treasures for a week or two, but it would be difficult to find a foolish enough merchant in Paju willing to buy such items. However, if I could find the right buyer, there might be a way to dispose of them. These items were crafted from materials from the depths of the abyss, and they were imbued with the magic and alien thoughts of another world. They possessed a lethal and profound danger and magical effect that was as deep and deadly as the stories they held within. Should I take these with me Hmm Looking up, I saw stars embedded in the high night sky, shining as if they were about to spill over, and looking around, the dense forests of Tanhyeon could be seen beyond the ruins turned to rubble. How do I make my way back from here anyway? Chapter 44: How to Go Back Chapter 44: How to Go Back I do know how to drive, but Should I load everything into Jang Hyeon-deoks call van and head back? Thats not a choice I want to make Stealing a secure taxi and getting caught would make me an enemy of the Paju Transport Association. Not only would a bounty be ced on my head, but I would also be unable to use any form of transportation in Paju until I paid a tribute to lift the hostile status. Finding a taxi willing toe all the way here is impossible anyway No choice then. I scratched my head and walked towards where Jang Hyeon-deoky copsed. Ah, damn it Tonight is really something else. Though I confirmed in the message a little while ago that I had gained a firm alliance with Jang Hyeon-deok, its impossible that hes still alive. Even if a minor ghost or a demon possessed his body, it would cause it to deteriorate. But Jang Hyeon-deok directly harbored the will of an abyssal being in his body. Even if he shared the damage as a medium, survival is out of the question. If by some miracle he did survive, the never-ending divine heat would soon disintegrate his body, or he could bepletely dominated by the abysss influence. This would lead to the copse of both body and mind and he would turn into a madman or a monster. Well, if he were to be a golden dancer, it would mean retaining a human form, which could be considered luckypared to transforming into an ugly descendant of Carcosa or a fulfiller of oaths. But I soon faced a situation I hadnt anticipated. Well, what do we have here? This guys still alive? To my surprise, he was still alive and in rtively good health no less. He was certainly bruised, dirty and passed out, but he had no severe fractures or was spilling out anything that shouldnt be spilled. And all of his ten fingers were intact on his hands. Compared to my burnt, torn, broken, and burst fingers, it was almost irritating. Hmm He hasnt turned into a monster. But just because he looked alright on the outside didnt mean everything was fine. But the insides might not be intact, right? I remembered the situation that urred right before I fell into distortion. Jang Hyeon-deok was praising the dancers performance with a burst of manicughter. Waking him up might only result in delirious ramblings In the worst case, he might let out a shrieking yell and attack me. I tapped the mask covering my face with my fingers while lost I was in thought for a moment. The deliberation was brief, and I reached a conclusion. [Prayer of Protection] [Protective Circle] [Foxs Agility] This and that and a few more. I felt a pain akin to my fingers tearing apart each time I activated a spell, but I couldnt afford even a moments distraction. Ill be lucky if he doesnt suddenly start spewing tentacles from his mouth However, considering my [Enhanced Vignce] trait hadnt been activated, it seemed unlikely that I was facing a trap quite that dangerous. I maintained a distance of about two meters from Jang Hyeon-deok and activated a new spell. Since I have recently acquired the ability to cast second-order spells, it seemed fitting to test them out right now. This one wasnt a shy spell, but it was one of the crucial ones needed to survive in the [Cthulhu World]. [Inspection] If the first-order [Identification] spell was used to ascertain the origin orposition of objects, then the second-order [Inspection] spell was meant to discern the nature of ces, people, or even the identities of unknown species. In simpler terms, it was simr to viewing someone elses status window. Of course, it didnt grant me knowledge I didnt already possess. It merely provided the information that A = B. But that was enough. After all, theres no one who knows more about the [Cthulhu World] than I do. Giiiiii. The magical tentacles conjured by [Inspection] reached toward Jang Hyeon-deok and slowly started scanning him from head to toe. They were assessing everything from external mutations to internal conditions and inherent traits. He seems fine? Surprisingly, Jang Hyeon-deoks mind was as clean as his outward appearance. Of course, this didnt mean he was entirely normal. He had witnessed shocking things and acquired knowledge that should have remained unknown. He bore the minimum level of madness and traumamental scars thate with the revtion of this worlds truthsbut such afflictions aremonce among those who navigate the dangerous nights of Paju. For a body that had once harbored an abyssal being, he was rmingly well. Lee Chang-hyuk, who had be a satyr aftering into contact with the bodily fluids of [The ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young], the ghoul shaman who was corrupted by the power bestowed by [The Father of All Ghouls], and Lee Soon-bin, whose mind had shattered simply because she had been surrounded by ghouls and witnessed a ritual dedicated to [The Father of All Ghouls]. These are typical oues for those who had ventured too close to abyssal beings. But why is this bastard so unaffected? Aaah, is it because of this? The effect of my observation revealed the flow and functioning of the magical power within Jang Hyeon-deoks body. Although it was my first time examining someone elses magical flow and pathways, thanks to my knowledge as a mage and the [Spell Mastery] trait that was artificially built in my head I was able to understand the meaning of Jang Hyeon-deoks magical power structure. If I were to reconstruct that structure in the form of a characteristic window, it would be as follows: *** [Living Altar]: The efficiency of possession, spirit channeling, and descent is increased by 1200%. It minimizes the penalties associated with possession, spirit channeling, and descent. Itrgely disregards the restrictions of possession, spirit channeling, and descent. // You possess a natural talent for mediumship. You are more akin to a living altar than a human being with free will. *** This is a top-tier trait necessary for mediums, shamans, channelers. or even cultist characters, and its not something one can simply acquire just because they want it. Although Ive yed as a medium and a cultist in the past, Ive only had the opportunity to y with the [Living Altar] trait a couple of times. Look at that 1200% increase in efficiency. Why does a taxi driver NPC have it? Of course, its not a unique trait like the [Madness of the Abyss] or a hidden trait that can only be acquired in a specific way. Since its a kind of talent, its possible for apletely random character to possess it. Could this be an aftereffect of the [King in Yellows] descent? Did he modify Jang Hyeon-deoks magical traits before leaving? But why would the King in Yellow do such a thing? To make him a useful subordinate for Kim Shin-hwa? Or to make it easier for him to return? In any case, this is a question that cannot be answered in this state. Trying to figure it out through thought and deduction alone would trap me in endless spection and leave me unable to do anything. Perhaps the answer is diving headfirst into the bushes for a closer look? Hey, wake up. [Cry of Bennu] The Cry of Bennu was a second-order enchantment spell. It temporarily enhances mental strength and vitality, provides a tonic effect, and also prevents several status ailments. Notably, it can also be used to wake up an unconscious target. The moment it was activated, it had the side effect of hearing an incredibly loud bird sound in your head. Whyeeeeeek!!! Queeeeeeeek!!! To be precise, it mimicked the cry of a heron crying. Aaaagh! As soon as the spell took effect, Jang Hyeon-deok clutched his ears and jolted awake. The sound was resonating inside his head so the act of covering his ears was useless. Are you awake now? Ma-Mage-nim! Theres a strange noise in my head!! I was tempted to leave him on his own out of sheer annoyance, but I refrained from doing so because Jang Hyeon-deok hadnt actually done anything wrong andmunication was a priority. With a flick of my finger, I dispelled the magic. Are you awake now? Whats Whats happened here? This mess And why are your hands like that? Still, the fact that he put my worries before his own shows that he is a good young man. Theres a lot to exin. How much do you remember? Um. Jang Hyeon-deok looked around seriously for a moment. I remember deciding toe here But then Mage-nim Why? Would you believe me if I said I havent been in my right mind since I met you, Mage-nim? Theres no reason I wouldnt believe that. Encouraged by my somewhat lenient response, Jang Hyeon-deok hurriedly poured out his words. The moment I saw your mask, things started to feel off! It seems like that mask twisted my mind! I didnt even know ces like this existed before! And that fragment of a mask wasnt something I found here! I got it from Myeong-sii ahjussi, you know? Seung-jae-ssi and Gil-young ahjussi have one too! Something is terribly wrong! I wasnt trying to deceive you, Mage-nim; I was being used too! In his desperation, Jang Hyeon-deok rambled on about a few more nonsensical things. He mentioned something about an orphanage, his siblings who looked up to him like rabbits, and how he had nned to buy gifts and visit the children at the orphanage who were eagerly waiting for him. If he suddenly stopped showing up without any notice It seemed that his tendency to blurt out irrelevant things when flustered was a part of his personality and was unrted to any mind control. Considering the grim situation in Paju, where fixers, monster hunters, and treasure hunters typically exact their own forms of retribution on those who threaten them.Jang Hyeon-deoks reaction couldnt really be deemed overly sensitive. Even I had entertained the thought that the safest course of action might be to slit the unconscious Jang Hyeon-deoks throat. Okay, I get it. Please believe me! Im truly innocent! Sure, sure. You dont need to make any more excuses. Although I meant for him to just shut up, Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to misinterpret my words to mean something along the lines of There is no need to make any more excuses; just die, Jang Hyeon-deok. He clung to me with even more desperation. Please! At the very least, let me deliver the shoes I promised to Hyeon-ji Ah, let go! I said I understand! My backs hurting! Please, Mage-nim! Spare me! I attempted to peel off Jang Hyeon-deok who was clinging to my waist but eventually gave up. Alright, Jang Hyeon-deok, I understand. I got it, okay? You believe me! Yes. So, just shut up and take a couple of hits. What? Whack. I quickly smacked him on the head. Ugh my hand. Hitting him with my hand was not the right move, it seems. I spoke to Jang Hyeon-deok who was holding his head and groaning. I intended to hit you twice, but my hand hurts, so Ill let you off with just one. Jang Hyeon-deok who was crouching down gave me a puzzled look. Youre letting me off? Yes. Lets call it even with that and leave it be. Really? Yes, but theres much to be done. Follow me. Ah, understood! I led Jang Hyeon-deok to where the dancers bodiesy. Jang Hyeon-deok who was confronted with the fascinating yet gruesome sight of golden corpses scattered in a mess recoiled with a look of disgust. We agreed to split things fifty-fifty at the beginning. Uh? Yes we did say that but that was before Im going to take care of those. Are you going to im them? . Jang Hyeon-deok hesitated to respond. In fact, his expression seemed to convey all he wished to say. Well, his reaction was typical for most people. Even if it were called a treasure, it was an ominous and dreadful object. It was normal to fear a curse leading to death more than to be driven by greed. Before Jang Hyeon-deoks eyes, I reached into the abdomen of one of the destroyed dancers corpses and tore out the scales. Even though I was rummaging through the belly of a being that resembled a human, I felt no revulsion or emotional disturbance. The pain emanating from my damaged fingers was, in fact, more distressing. The entity seemed more like an inanimate object moved by magic than a living creature. It was more fitting to describe it as a device that had stopped working rather than a dead body. I then extracted something of true importance from within the destroyed dancers body. Chapter 45: Random Inspection Chapter 45: Random Inspection As expected, its incrediblyrge. As expected from a servant created directly by a being of the abyss. A beautiful round gem sparkling with a golden light. This was arge magic stone that was difficult to lift with just one hand. It was an item of tremendous value that couldnt even bepared to its same weight of gold. It could be sold, or the magical power of the [King in Yellow] within it could be extracted to create a new artifact. Starting with this one, since there were a total of thirteen dancers, there should be twelve morerge magic stones remaining. And then theres that head. Eeek! Jang Hyeon-deok stepped back with a pale expression on his face. It seemed as though he was going through real-time checks of sanity. Although he managed to maintain his calm, an instinctive aversion seemed to limit his actions. I-Im fine. You dont have to pay me no, you dont have to give me anything. Just just please send me back. Thank you for that. But no. Huh? I might not know about other things, but I will pay you. So, load this into the car and take me to Geumchon. Uh Load this into the car? Dont you have something like a cart around? Something with wheels? Well, yes, but Hurry up and bring your car. But, thats Quick! Dont you want to go home? I-I got it! Jang Hyeon-deok ran more as if he was trying to escape the situation than to pack this luggage. It seemed impressive how he could run in the dark, but soon enough, Jang Hyeon-deok stumbled and fell. There was a briefmotion as Jang Hyeon-deok, who thought I had a change of heart and attacked him, screamed and begged for mercy. Eventually, I provided him with a magical light source by his side. Just in case, I watched Jang Hyeon-deoks retreating figure for a moment. He seemed to be walking cautiously with an awkward posture. Anyway, I dont think he would fall again. Well since were firm allies, he wont run away on his own. I turned my attention back to the corpses of the dancers. Tsk I was going to ask Jang Hyeon-deok to do this, but with him like that, it looks like Ill have to do it myself. The event prepared at the archaeological site concluded, but it seemed my tasks for the day were far from over. I began to spread my magical power in all directions, using magical vibrations and telekinesis [Touch of the Other World] Crack! Crash! Bang! I extracted magic stones from the scattered corpses of the dancers. Once again, golden scales and gems fluttered through the dark site, making the surroundings glitter magnificently. *** Over 50 days have passed since I started spending my nights in the world of [Cthulhu World]. I had fifty nights, fifty sleeps, and fifty dreams yet not once was I granted a moment of rest. The dreadful attention and influence sent by the outer gods seeped into my mind. creating horrifying and bizarre nightmares. Even now I am dreaming. An endlessly vast, deste desert, a massiveke, and beyond it, a towering spire, all under the shadow of a great and majestic city. And above in the sky, two suns are faintly dimming. The old spires that stood against the sandstorm for eons and the screams of a fallen city. And an eerie, burning blue light swimming through the terrible ruins. We are watching you. Strange whispers. Endless rows of nameless tombstones stretched out. From beneath the ruins, strange forms emerged groaning, howling, and screaming. From the deep underground, a huge form arose, a monstrous entity whose mere presence was emitting sphemous malice. Somewhere, the sound of drums began to echo. Golden dancers with masks reversed, and bizarre creatures without eyes, mouths, or souls, danced a strange dance to spread the gospel of the great king. It was a slow, awkward, and ludicrous dance set to a dreadful music. I refused the banquet. At the center of it all dwelled a vast and repulsive shadow. Attached to its huge body were thousands of boneless limbs writhing. A massive nightmare pulsating with an unfathomable power. I merely chose to watch you, visitor from beyond the distant abyss. In anguage beyond the scope of any world, a great soul was described, one with countless epithets, minds, wills, and incarnations; truly exalted, truly wondrous, truly great, truly wise. The master of Carcosa, he who dwells in Aldebaran, the who must not be named, the high priest of the sunset, the lord of the sunset, that which lies beneath theke, the peacock king, the one and infinite great spirit. The [King in Yellow] is watching over you. In the skies of Carcosa, the hem of the Kings yellow robe fluttered. From afar, the song of the Hyades could be heard Crackling. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of the nightmare have been nullified.] Ah, finally. For a while, it seemed the [Living me] was repulsed or perhaps the burning madness of the nightmares it sent had quieted down. Thanks to this, only the [Nightmares of Rlyeh] sent by Cthulhu were repeating, and just when I was starting to get used to them The channel of the King in Yellow was added to my nightmare subscription service. This wasnt like subscribing to a streaming channel Every time I got entangled with beings from the abyss, a new nightmare was added. I never asked for this crappy streaming [Madness of the Abyss] was preventing any major problems from arising. but that was a separate issue from feeling filthy. Ugh, makes me sick Should I hang up a dream catcher or something? I bet if I raised my mental strength stat, I could block this too. It had been three days since I locked myself in my room for a rest after the turmoil with Jang Hyeon-deok. I was contemting taking the day off as well, but I had promised to meet Tudor. Eventually, I decided to get up. That I decided meant I didnt actually get up yet. I just cant seem to leave the bed. Even though I managed to secure 8 points in my health stat, I somehow squandered it which brought me back down to 7 points. Below 8 points, a person barely meets the minimum capability to function normally. At least 8 points are needed to continue this extreme and perilous life of a fixer. Not that reaching a health stat of 8 points would bring about a revolutionary change. It would merely return me to my previous state before being dragged into this world, that is, to the level of Kim Shin-hwa, the game addict who used to lie around ying games all day. Why did I have toe here as a mage If I had entered as the warrior I was ying just before, I could have done anything with my excessive muscles and surplus stamina. Maybe I should just close my eyes and invest in health every time I get a bonus? That was not an option. I had no history of raising health and strength beyond double digits while raising a mage character. What am I thinking? If I have any stats left over after strength, I should be increasing my intelligence by at least one point. I havee to realize that the basis of everythinges from muscles, but it was difficult to go against my set schedule or flow. I wondered if I could somehowe across a powerful artifact It would be nice if it just fell out of the sky. The view of my room, seen from an angle, was a mess. Gleaming remnants of corpses and cursed gems that I had gathered with Jang Hyeon-deok at the ruins three days ago were scattered everywhere, along with various knick-knacks and clothes. It was a horrendous sight. I need to get rid of those things soon But before even getting up and changing clothes, there was a more pressing preparation for going out. I stretched out my hand while lying down. Fzzzt A burst of colorful lights emanated from my fingertips before scattering in all directions. The door, the windows, and even the walls and ceiling were all covered. I fortified the flimsy door and windows, applied silence, detection interference, and even bestowed invisibility on the artifacts and gems, along with setting up electric shock and me spells to activate upon approach. These were just temporary security measures I could set up immediately. I felt sick to my stomach because I only ate delivery food all week. While Im going out today, I should buy something proper to eat. I picked up a few gems and chunks of mana stones scattered around my room and stepped outside. As always, I didnt head towards the main entrance below but towards the rooftop. It was alreadyte evening outside with the sun tilting towards the horizon. Buildings of simr height stretched around the one I was standing on, with thendscape of Paju visible beyond them. Is this really another world? Each time I came up here, I fell into simr reflections. Could this really be fake? It seemed too real to call it virtual, and it seemed too simr to reality to call it another world. As if mocking my thoughts, I could see the tip of Hwangnyongsa Mountain and the giant bronze head of the seated Buddha statue at Hwangnyongsa far beyond the buildings. Theres no such eerie-looking giant Buddha statue in the actual Paju. But the statue in the distance wasnt the issue. The mask covering my face was the beginning of the abnormality. Haah Right, whats the point in pondering such thoughts? Lets just get going. [Leap] A mage wearing a cursed mask soared into the skies on a magical board. Before I knew it, I had surpassed level 20. The unlocking of second-order magic allowed me to harness an even greater array of spells and incorporate finer details into my posture correction and leaps. It felt more like an art than a mere trick, as I, along with the board, performed a 360-degree rotation in mid-air No, it was a feeling. Suddenly, I executed several more rotations in session beforending smoothly on the ground. Without the need to push off, I entrusted my body to the skateboard that glided forward while navigating through the dark back alleys of Paju. Today I had received a message from Tudorst night. She mentioned there was a job at Vasilisa that might interest me, and I had a rough idea of what it could be. I alreadypleted five requests. If the game was to follow its predetermined storyline, then that quest would surelye next. The requests provided by the brokers were different each time, but there were certain tasks that appeared at regr intervals. These were known as fixed requests, and the veteran yers of [Cthulhu World] would often decide which broker to work with based not only on their personality and reliability but also on the quality and type of these fixed requests. While I was heading to Vasilisa with these thoughts in mind, something unexpected urred. Excuse me, just a moment. Someone called out to me. Behind me. Who could it be? I suppressed my magical power to make it difficult for anyone nearby to detect me while preparing my spells for immediate deployment before turning around. Coincidentally, there was an illegally parked car nearby. So I used this cars side mirror to check who was behind me It was the police. Though Paju was known to be uwful, I had been moving around toofortably until now. But such an encounter was always a possibility. Wearing this mask and wandering through the back alleys would definitely look suspicious to anyone. I was just about to address the issue with the mask What terrible timing. Should I increase my boards speed and just flee? No, lets not. I sensed the presence of several others within my detection range, and among them, some were not ordinary people. They possessed abnormally high levels of magical power just like Lee Chang-hyuk or Kwak Dae-yong. The police in Paju were formidable enough as they were. Among them, there were irregrs who were far from ordinary. There was no telling whatplications might arise If a chase were to start. To buy some time, I pretended not to hear anything and turned around while my mask hid my face. I had no intention of escaping through such an obvious tactic. While escaping might have been the only option at first-order, second-order offered spells that could help me out. However, even with such spells, it was impossible to use them while facing someone directly. All I have to do is keep the mask out of the police officers sight, even if its just for a second. Hey, you! Stop right there! It seemed my attitude only further provoked the police officer. His previously polite attitude vanished as he raised his voice. But at that moment, I quickly twisted my body andpletely avoided his gaze. Now was the time. I activated the spell I had prepared in advance. Chapter 46: Immigration Bureau Chapter 46: Immigration Bureau [Tangled Identity] The second-order magic of stealing anothers face requires a medium like a piece of leather to cover the face for use, but Im already wearing a mask anyway. Uuung- As the sound of the air vibrating around my face reached my ears, the strange shape held by the mask of Carcosa began to twist, and a new face formed over it. Creating the face was one thing, but the challenge lies in deceiving the person who was looking at me from close range. So I had to erase any sense of alienation in that brief moment. [Hazy Presence] [Kind Whisper] So I hurried toyer on other spells. I subtly diluted the presence of the morphed face to make it less conspicuous and infused my voice with magical charm and a forced familiarity. Whats wrong? U-uh Thats Why did I think this person was suspicious? The officer had that kind of expression on his face. Human cognitive abilities are more wed than one might think. Despite having clearly seen a bizarre figure wearing a mask with four eyes just moments before, a simple trick and the right amount of deception made him forget what he had previously seen. Thats why mages can make a living. No, nothing. My apologies. The police officer continued to examine my face with a puzzled expression on his face. I just added a three-dimensional illusion over the mask, so unless he physically touched my face, he wouldnt be able to detect anything amiss. Even more, since I had artificially diminished my presence, no matter how closely he examined my face, it would be difficult to find any distinct personality or features. The police officer felt slightly embarrassed and slightly confused as he seemed to have forgotten what he was supposed to do next. Well, then There was nothing to be gained by prolonging this encounter. It was best to get out of his sight as quickly as possible. What are you doing? Arent you going to check his ID? Suddenly, a sharp voice cut in from behind the police officer. Did you not understand me? Check his ID. At the same moment, a message window popped up. [System: Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Why didnt you pop up earlier you bastard. If it had appeared sooner, I would have just run away. Ah, um Yes! The police officer who came to his senses btedly looked very nervous. Whats going on? Looking over the police officers shoulder towards the source of the voice, I saw a few people approaching. There were two police officers and a woman dressed in a suit. That woman What a pain in the a**. The space around her seemed almost warped by the heavy magic I could feel emanating from her. At this point, a few police officers were the least of my concerns. It would be ideal to resolve this through talking, but the likelihood of dialogue seeding was extremely low. The opponent was just as dangerous and crazy. Look! We are in a very dangerous and dark time! How can we ensure the safety of our citizens if you act so carelessly in such a situation? A young woman with a sharp demeanor was shouting at the rough and unruly police officers of Paju. Even at first nce, she had a fierce appearance and voice that suggested that she had a fierce personality. She gave off the impression of being a swordsman belonging to an organization, and moreover A pistol inside the suit shes wearing. Knives on her wrists and waistband? Or perhaps batons? And a few more items besides that. It was difficult to identify exactly what those items were, but they were certainly not ordinary weapons. The objects exuded a more intense magical power than the magical power emanating from her body. Well, they were discernible beneath her clothes by their shapes. She is carrying around five artifacts. All the detected weapons were artifacts of A-rank or higher, with two of them being S-rank. The womanmanding the Paju police officers with a flick of her chin was called Yang Seo-ho. To think I had run into this woman I then realized why my Enhanced Vignce trait had manifested so btedly. That woman was a different kind of danger from the usual enemies. If one could somehow fall within the scope of our citizens as defined by her, there were few public servants as trustworthy as she was. However, if one were to fall outside her personal criteria for our citizens there were few monsters as dangerous as her. The fact that my Enhanced Vignce trait had manifested btedly meant that I had just be someone who didnt meet Yang Seo-hos criteria for our citizens. Still, there might be room for dialogue. She looked at me with a feigned smile and said, Now passerby-nim? please cooperate with us. Cooperate, you say? Ah, I am an official from the Immigration Bureau. Your movements and clothing are quite suspicious. Although she lowered her voice, her tone was clearly aggressive. With a nod from her head, the police officers standing behind her slowly approached me. Ah, excuse me, sir but could we conduct a brief check? We would like to verify your ID. And there was Yang Seo-ho with a fake smile on her face. Lately, there have been too many strange urrences in Paju. Its as if things that shouldnt be in our country are starting to increase again Tudor had mentioned several times that the Immigration Bureau had been intensifying their crackdowns recently. Thats why Ive been taking secure taxis even for short distances. The Immigration Bureau. This is the name of the organization to which Yang Seo-ho belongs, often called the Immigration Bureau, Foreigner Management Bureau, or simply the Management Bureau. Externally, they are known to crack down on illegal immigrants, but their actual tasks are far more dangerous and secretive. They are a group of officially recognized people with special abilities operating in South Korea where Cthulhu Mythos disasters ur. Rather than illegal immigrants from foreign countries, they regte alien beings that have crossed over from beyond the veil. And Yang Seo-ho is among the most aggressive and radical figures within this group. Look how her expression is starting to sour already. As I hesitated, her smile quickly vanished from her face. Yang Seo-ho assumed a posture with her hand on her waist. While it might seem like an arrogant stance designed to intimidate, she was actually always ready to pull out the artifacts hidden in her waist. If I made any unnecessary or suspicious movements, she would likely attack without further questioning. What should I do then? Someone of Yang Seo-hos caliber would have sensed that I possess more magical power than an average person. But that was all. The extent of magical power she detected was only what I had intentionally revealed. To Yang Seo-ho, I might seem like a mage or a person with special abilities of moderate level, but she had not grasped the full extent of my capabilities. Theres no need for pointless mind games. I calmly pulled out my ID and showed it to the officer. The officer took out a device that resembled an old-fashioned PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and began to go through some verification processes. After a while, he approached Yang Seo-ho and whispered something to her. Hmm, is that so? The kind and pretentious smile typical of an official appeared on Yang Seo-hos face again. Just moments before, her expression had been that of a murderer as if she was on the verge of killing me at the slightest provocation. Oh, my apologies. It turns out you are a citizen of South Korea. Even though I felt displeased with all these attitudes, I reminded myself that it was just a passing storm. Moreover, at this moment, getting into a conflict with this woman would serve no good purpose. I decided to endure it a bit longer and I simply kept my mouth shut. Do you know that its currently a period of intensified crackdown on illegal residents? If you happen to notice anyone acting suspiciously, please contact us. After saying this, she handed me a pamphlet that mentioned something about emergency reporting. The old-fashioned design and font typical of promotional material produced by a government office stood out. Most of its content resembled guidelines for identifying spies from the 70s, but it also included some utterly bizarre statements. These were warnings that seemed relevant only in a world where surreal incidents ur. [1. If a door suddenly appears on a previously nk wall, do not open it under any circumstances and report it to the authorities immediately. Do not touch the door or put your ear against it to listen for sounds from the other side. 2. If a group of people with whom you have no social or agemonality offers you a chance for a better life, suggests enhancing your intelligence, or proposes immortality, life extension, or a cure for incurable diseases, ignore their offers and report them to the authorities right away. 3. On a rainy day, if a person (often a woman) who is not wearing an umbre or raincoat suggests walking together, never respond. Facing them or making eye contact can also be dangerous. 4. If a person who was long presumed missing or dead suddenly shows up without any prior contact and knocks on your door] In the end, I couldnt hold back and ended up speaking out. It reminds me of a collection of urban legends that used to be popr back in the day Even after hearing what I said, Yang Seo-ho didnt make any kind of reaction. In fact, she adopted a more serious demeanor. The illegal residents these days are far more dangerous than that. Its something I couldnt say to others, but this woman seems quite off her rocker. Anyway, take care. Yes, I hope we dont meet again in any strange circumstances. Her words were polite but her tone implied a threat, as if encountering her again under unusual conditions would have dire consequences. She didnt wait for my response and continued speaking. I didnt bring my equipment today, but usually I carry much more with me. Yang Seo-hos gaze was cold and detached as she scanned my face. It was an obsessive and persistent look as if she was trying to etch my face into her memory. It seemed she had noticed I used some kind of magic but was frustrated not knowing what it was. Go ahead; memorize this face well. The presence of this unremarkable face was fleeting; even if someonemitted it to memory, changing it would be simple. I turned around and checked the consumption of magical power and concentration, as well as other factors. Considering it was a spur-of-the-moment attempt, the performance was quite satisfactory. If it could deceive someone as skilled as Yang Seo-ho, it was unlikely anyone other than a fellow mage would notice the illusion cast over my face. This should allow me to maintain my appearance without hindrance, even duringbat or otherplex activities. There was no need to show a false face to those who already knew me by the mask, but it seemed I could finally abandon the lifestyle of only moving about unseen at night. I realized I hadnt wandered outside during daylight for almost two months. For the sake of my physical and mental well-being, it would be beneficial to see the sun asionally. Haah But I doubt Ill manage to get up during the day. Now that the tension was easing, hunger set in. I nced at the fully darkened sky for a moment before making up my mind. Id deal with Vasilisa first, then head in to eat something. I got on my skateboard once again. To avoid the possibility of Yang Seo-ho tracking me, I chose not to use magic and instead moved stealthily, rolling my feet quietly as I traveled. I intentionally took the longer route, meandering through theplex back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood to buy time. After about 20 minutes of skulking in the shadows, once I was confident I wasnt being followed, I finally dispelled the magic on my mask. Now, I was no longer the person with an unremarkable fake face, but Kim Shin-hwa the remarkable masked man. Im a little worried that my attachment to the mask is getting stronger I started wondering if there was a way to cure my obsession with masks as I leaped over several buildings, making my way to the alley where Vasilisa was located. Huh? Something about the atmosphere around Vasilisa was off. A great deal of magical power was pulsating inside. The magical power was moving as if a greatmotion was taking ce inside. This wasnt a normal situation. [System: Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Chapter 47: Curtain Call Chapter 47: Curtain Call Smash! I could hear the sound of something shattering inside apanied by what seemed like piercing screams. I couldnt tell what the sound was because it was muffled by the walls, but it appeared to be the voice of a woman, or perhaps a child, hurling curses in a frenzy. This marked the second strange event of today. It was baffling, considering it wasnt even during work hours. Despite my irritation, my heightened senses diligently analyzed the turmoil of magical power within Vasilisa, discerning its intensity, quantity, and direction. Following that, I shifted a step to the side. Bang! Crushh! The front doors of Vasilisa caf burst open as if they were about to shatter, revealing a burly man hurled through the air. Hended sprawled on the very spot where I had been standing only moments before. Aaaaargh! Collie, you piece of sh*t! The man scrambled to his feet and shouted in rage. He was clearly no ordinary citizen of Paju going about his day. He possessed a notable amount of magical power and was impressively muscr. Although we had never formally introduced ourselves, I was able to recall information from the time I yed the game. His fixer name, was it JJ? He was merely one of the mass-produced NPCs avable as an assistant for difficult quests and wasnt an important character at all. Shut that rotten mouth of yours! However, the person presumed to have sent him flying possessed a level of magical power that was iparable to someone like JJ. A chair from inside Vasilisa flew at an incredible speed before striking JJ who was awkwardly standing, and with a cry of Gwaaah! JJ was sent flying back again. Then hey motionless on the ground as if he were dead. Of course, my eyes could perceive not just his outward appearance but also the magical power residing within his body, so I could tell that he wasnt actually dead. It seemed that the woman causing havoc inside had also guessed as much. Hey, JJ, you little shit! Just lie there. Iming to kill you! JJ, who had been sprawled on the ground for a moment, sensed her voice approaching and immediately got up and ran into the darkness of the back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood. And the one who emerged a stepter from the caf was a rather small woman. Although she was short, she had a shy appearance that would catch anyones eye anywhere. Her long hair was bleach-blond, and she wore a dazzlingly red leather jacket while holding a ridiculouslyrge zanbato (horse-ying sword) in one hand. She harbored a strong and dark magical power as I had sensed beforehand. Upon confirming that JJ had disappeared, she kicked the ground in irritation and cursed. Ah, sh*t. That sneaky bastard! Then she hurled aimless curses into the darkness of the back alley. If you show that ugly face of yours in Vasilisa again, Ill slice you up! Youd better find yourself a broker other than Tudor! Tough talk. Her name is Im not sure. Her real name was never explicitly revealed in the game. However, her fixer name is Curtain Call. Shes a fixer Ive seen a few timesing and going from Vasilisa, but never had any direct dealings with. Still seemingly not over her anger, she did a quick nce around and then yelled at me. Who are you! Why are you here? Im a customer. . Ah, right, this is Vasilisa. Sorry. Before I could even decide whether to feel offended or not, she lowered her head to 90 degrees and apologized. It was hard to remain angry when I was faced with such a response. So, I just shrugged and said. I was about to enter the shop; could you move aside? Im going in too. Excuse me then. After saying that, Curtain Call sheathed her giant zanbato and headed into Vasilisa Collie! Bring a chair! Ah, got it! and then following Tudors call, she hurried back out, grabbed a chair, and darted back in. As befitting a powerful warrior, her movements were almost like the charge of a wild boar. I stepped aside for a moment to avoid her path, which must have looked odd to Curtain Call. While Curtain Call hurried to fetch a chair, she noticed me standing awkwardly and remarked, If youre a customer, why are you standing over there like that? Because if you hit me, I could die. Huh? Curtain Call looked puzzled for a moment, nced up at my mask, and then examined me from head to toe before a look of realization dawned on her face. It was a look that seemed to say, Oh, you were born with a pitifully weak body. Ah, I see. Sorry about that. And sorry for shouting at you out of the blue earlier! With those final words, Curtain Call disappeared into the store with a chair in her hand. Hmm Was that her character? I was lost in thought while tapping my mask with my finger before entering Vasilisa. Despite the recentmotion, the inside of Vasilisa seemed surprisingly normal. Of course, it wasnt exactly the Vasilisa of an ordinary day. A broken chair, possibly thrown by Curtain Call,y in a corner, along with a shattered cup and a table split as if by an axe. These seemed to be the remnants of Curtain Calls earlier rampage. The damaged furniture was just left unattended with no one to clean it up. How did thismotion arise in the first ce? It couldnt be called a safe or quiet ce since it was frequented by rough mercenaries and fixers, yet it was a spot run by the overly charismatic Tudor. Events like tavern brawls were almost unheard of in Vasilisa. Ah, now that I think about it, theres one more strange thing. Yes, Tudor who led a leisurely life was not the type to clean up such messes. This was because there was someone else who took care of the major and minor affairs of Vasilisa as a caf, aside from its business as a brokerage for fixers. But he was nowhere to be seen. Orb, the barista with the monitor head who could be considered the icon of the cafe, was not here. In his ce, or for whatever reason, a bald mercenary leaning casually against the counter greeted me. Hey, long time no see. How have you been? It was Kang Il-sam, the fixer who had once asked me to join his team. His fixer name was Thirteen. Ah, but whats all this chaos? Wheres Orb? And Tudor? Orb stepped out for a bit on an errand for Tudor. He should be back soon. And Tudor is He gestured over his shoulder to a table. At one table in the corner, I saw the small fixer called Curtain Call from earlier and she was having a conversation with Tudor. Although I couldnt hear their conversation, the sight of the tall Tudor whispering something gently to the much shorter Curtain Call resembled, at first nce, a young mother admonishing her child for her misbehavior. However, Curtain Calls bizarre behaviorpletely shattered that image. With a look of dissatisfaction on her face, Curtain Call listened to Tudors words while chewing on a cup? This was no metaphor or joke. She was literally crunching on a ss cup while making a grinding sound. What in the world? Why was she eating a cup? I mean, its none of my business if someone decides to chew on ss cups or slice up tables. The real question is, why was that person eating a cup? For a more urate rification, I turned to Thirteen and asked. That Collie, her name is Curtain Call, right? Huh? You know her? Well, only seen her face in passing. Well, Collie is quite well-known. Most fixers in this line of work are a bit weird in the head, but that woman is something else entirely. It wasnt because she was famous that I knew her, but rather because she was a named NPC memorable enough to remember her name and face. However, I felt there was no need to talk to him about that detail. I simply nodded along appropriately to encourage Thirteens misunderstanding. She began showering Orb with an overwhelming disy of affection a while back. But today, she seemed somewhat off with Orb missing. Amidst all this, JJ unnecessarily picked a fight with her and that led to the earliermotion. Whats with that bizarre setup? Hahaha! Its quite unique, isnt it? Thirteenughed it off and moved on but this wasnt something to be taken lightly. Something was off. This was different from what I knew. Such a peculiar setup would have been easy to remember, yet none of this was part of the Curtain Call I was familiar with. The only details I knew were her small sizepared to her abnormallyrge weapon and a somewhat ambiguous setup seemingly designed to appeal to certain gamers. There was nothing about her expressing affection for Orb or chewing on ss cups. Did she always have this rare food preference? Hmm, not really but things got a bit weird since she fell hard for Orb. When did that start? Lets see about a month or two ago? I dont know where she came from or what she did but it seems like she came back with a few new abilities and a touch of madness. Changes in personality, taste, and eating habits are not umon for fixers who work in the darkness of Paju, where beings of madness and abyss run rampant. Among the people I had encountered, there were dramatic transformations like Jang Hyeon-deok, who went from being a professional driver of a secure taxi to a top-tier medium, and Lee Chang-hyuk, who turned into a monster after ingesting bodily fluids sprayed by an abyssal being. There was also Lee Seon-bin, who went mad overnight and had to be admitted to a special psychiatric ward. And judging from Thirteens attitude of dismissing her affection for Orb as madness, it seemed that Curtain Call had experienced a temporary distortion upon discovering Orbs absence from Vasilisa today. It appeared that JJ was an unintended victim caught up in this distortion When I shared my deductions with Thirteen, he agreed with augh. Thats almost right. But its not like JJ was an innocent victim. That guy has been a jerk from the start; it was only a matter of time before he got what wasing to him. Kuhahaha. Thirteen then burst intoughter. He was about to transition into a series of humorous anecdotes rted to JJ, but I was more concerned about something else. So, this happened about two months ago? Are you sure? It started precisely after you came here. Thirteen and I were in the middle of a conversation when Tudor interjected. It seemed she had just finished her talk with Curtain Call. Thirteen smoothly transitioned to address Tudors sudden involvement. Ah, right. It was around that time I believe. Of course, its nothing to do with him personally. The coincidence in timing is just that, a coincidence. Despite Tudors words, there was a peculiar expression on her face. She was secretly looking at my mask with a serious expression that I rarely saw on her face It somehow sounds like you dont quite believe its just a coincidence? No, I truly think it is a coincidence. But its not just Collie who started acting strangely around the time you arrived here. There are others whove be strange as well? Tudor nodded slightly, but Thirteen seemed to have a slightly different opinion. That said, cases like Collies arent reallymon. Besides, such changes are almost an upational hazard for us fixers; it happens more often than youd think. He had a point However, I couldnt help but feel uneasy. Could it be that the games settings have been continually changing since I came to this world? If a change that has urred once continues to affect other things, and the affected things start to cause new events It meant that the knowledge I had acquired through the game could be useless. For example, one of the reasons I entered into a contract with Tudor was because I had learned through gamey that she was a broker with a 100% trust rating who would never betray me. But what if that information became twisted and unreliable? I would be wandering with zero knowledge in this chaotic world. No, such thoughts are utterly pointless. Didnt I decide to twist the games setting anyway? Whether Tudor betrayed me or the locations of the artifacts I knew about changed, all that awaited me if I were to follow the games flow was a disastrous ending. It was more important to investigate and verify the changes. Starting with Curtain Call. And it was also necessary to check on others who were thought to have caused these changes. Because these changes themselves could be the clues I need to escape this world. Chapter 48: The Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan Mountain Chapter 48: The Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan Mountain Hmm, you know dear. Tudor leaned casually against the counter with a subtle smile on her face. Her long hair was cascading down in a glittering disy. Fixers usually tend to share a lot of information to increase their own value. The same goes for your information. But? But just like with the information beneath your mask, the personal details fixers prefer to keep private can be quite costly. And sometimes, people became targets for attacks just because they started digging into such matters. I understand what shes implying. I could pay to have this matter looked into but I should be prepared for potential conflicts. Well, Im not nning to make such a request right now. Actually, I came here to take on a request instead. Hmm, good, good. There happens to be an interesting request that might just suit your taste Thirteen, could you cover for me here for a moment? Perhaps because he was such a regr, Thirteen responded with a chuckle and a nod of understanding. However, it seemed he had no intention of taking on the barista role; instead, he simply leaned against one side of the counter and looked to be nning to either shoo away any customers or tell them to wait. Tudor saw this and gave Thirteen a slight nod before gesturing for me to follow her into the office. And theres a proposition for you. What kind of proposition? That.How about we discuss that privately inside, just between the two of us? Tudor said with a wink. As soon as we entered the office and sat down, Tudor began by addressing the settlement. Despite having been through a whirlwind of adventures, including defeating the dancers in Tanhyeon with Jang Hyeon-deok, meeting the King in Yellow, and extracting the gold from the dancers, thest real quest I officiallypleted involved eliminating ghouls and a ghoul shaman in the basement of that apartmentplex in Munsan. As I mentioned before, Yeonam Construction is very satisfied. It seems the cleanup was very thorough, wasnt it? I didnt do a sloppy job. Right, and thats why there was a bonus. A bonus? Yes, a bonus. Just a moment. Tudor paused momentarily and tapped away at her keyboard. The sight of a witch wearing a wide-brimmed cone hat conducting a bank transfer on aputer screen.It was funny no matter how many times I saw it. There, transferplete. Do you have a banking app on your smartphone? Or rather, are you familiar with the concept of applications? I know them. The image of a mage hidden behind such a mask and managing bank transactions on a smartphone is funny every time I see it. Whether Tudor read my mind or it was merely a coincidence, I felt somewhat caught off guard. But I yed along with Tudors joke while checking my smartphone. One hundred and eighty million won. Given that my ount originally held exactly one hundred million won, it was eighty million won that had been deposited this time. Thats quite generous. A bonus of thirty million won is indeed something to be thankful for. You dont sound happy at all though. No, Im happy. Money is always good. Although I spent nearly a week bedridden, I worked one night and earned eighty million won. It seemed I was beginning to be insensitive to the value of money. My indifference was partly due to the cursed gems that were currently piled up in my room. They were difficult to dispose of, but if I could, they would be worth several times the amount of money currently in my bank ount. If a mage of your caliber was interested in money, you wouldnt be taking risky fixer jobs; youd be doing something else. Well, I wont deny that. What would it take to please you, I wonder? Tudor said this as she took a half-reclined position on the desk while looking up at me. Though I sometimes forget, her beauty stat is a 20. Its considered transcendental. If it werent for my magic talent and some other traits that came with it, if I was still the ordinary twenty-something working from home Kim Shin-hwa from beforeing to this world, I would have beenpletely frozen in my ce and unable to utter a single word. For me, the story you told me yesterday is enough. Its a request Im genuinely interested in. Hmm, alright. Since were done talking about money, shall we move on to discussing the new job? With that, Tudor handed me a thick file. When I flipped through the cover and checked his first page, I saw a photo attached. The photo depicted an old hospital surrounded by numerous trees, with a veryrge mountain visible in the background. A hospital, trees, and a mountain. Identifying the location based solely on these keywords was no easy task, yet I recognized the mountain in the photo. It was a ce I had visited several times throughout the game. It was Gamaksan Mountain, the tallest mountain in Paju. And there, set against this mountain, was the dpidated and aged abandoned hospital. It finally came out. I had been waiting for this. This was it. This very reason was one among many for why I specifically chose Tudor out of the numerous brokers operating in Paju. The first fixed quest provided by Tudor. [The Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan]. From the outside, this building might look merely like an abandoned structure that had lost its owner, but if you look closely, you can find something odd about it. The neglect was only superficial. For a ce supposedly left to decay, the windows were too clean, and the glimpses of the interior seen through the windows were too orderly. At this point, I wanted to dere that I knew enough and rush off to Gamaksan Mountain, but that would be getting ahead of myself. Given the already present subtle doubts in Tudors manner towards me, I couldnt act as if I knew everything about a job I was seeing for the first time. So I had to talk to Tudor about the request. Looks like a rundown hospital, doesnt it? Where is this ce? Tudor peered into my mask with a curious smile. What is she thinking? Soon Tudors mouth opened. This is a ce called Gamaksan Mountain. Are you familiar with it? Ive heard of the mountain; thats about it. So? Its the tallest mountain in Paju. Besides that, its a mountain rich with resources for mages and psychics, so it might be worth exploring while youre there. Indeed, in the world of [Cthulhu World], Gamaksan was known for such traits. If you wandered around carefully, you could even find elixirs and sites that enhance magical power alongside several altars for the descent of spirits and mythical beings. When I nonchntly nodded my head, Tudor continued speaking slowly. On the outside, its just an old abandoned building, but in reality, its still being maintained by its owner. There was even an incident where a ghost stories streamer was trying to explore the abandoned building but he was caught and chased away by the building manager. Thats funny. A building like this has a full-time manager guarding it? Tudor smiled at my remark. Exactly, the reason this building looks like its ruined is because the owner wanted it to look that way. There must be something valuable hidden inside, then? But recently, a problem arose. Some neers have suddenly upied the abandoned hospital where that precious thing is hidden under the pretext of exercising lien rights. Lien rights. This is amon urrence in real life, but in the [Cthulhu World], a special setting was added to it. For example, like whats written in this file folder Its written here that these arent just neers; theyre a forceposed of psychics and mutants. Right. While there is a bit of a tangle in the legal rights, these folks arent genuinely entitled to exercise any lien rights; theyre merely thugs. It seems were in a situation that cant be resolved throughw andmon sense, then? Indeed, a team was sent from elsewhere before, but none have returned. Thats how the story unfolds. And so, after much circling, theyvee to this point. The fee for the job is 120 million Won. With 180 million in the ount, adding 120 million would make it exactly 300 million, wouldnt it? As Tudor had pointed out earlier, the amount didnt particrly excite me. What concerned me more was whether this was the end of it. The reason I was waiting for the [Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan] wasnt because of money, so it wouldnt matter if this was all there was to it But the content of the [Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan] that I remembered and the contents of the request when it was linked to Tudor didnt end there. I acted like I was wondering if there was something more that I hadnt caught onto yet and asked Tudor. Is that all? Just go and knock out everyone I see there? Sure enough, Tudor winked at me and continued. Haha, if it were just a simple eviction request, there would be many others besides you to handle it. Yes, it had to be this way. The quest harbored several more pieces of hidden information. When I nodded my head and showed interest, Tudor continued speaking with a proud expression on her face. After taking on this request, I couldnt shake off this feeling So, before introducing it to you, I decided to dig a little deeper. Seems theres some hidden information, then? Exactly. The client provided overly detailed information about the psychics here. Ah, that information is attached towards the end of the document. Anyway, ahem. But for all that, all the people mentioned here were faces I didnt recognize. Though I already knew all this content, the way she presented it made it engaging. Hmm, unknown faces? And then? Upon further investigation, it turned out that this ce was never a hospital to begin with. Tudor dered this shocking revtion as if announcing a major discovery. Thats right. This wasnt a hospital, but a research facility. Aboratory that was secretly conducting human experiments. And in Paju, theres only one group famous for such deeds. This is one of the secret research facilities under the auspices of Helistic. Yes, them. This hospital in Gamaksan was simr to the secret research facility where I had awakened. The mutants and psychics upying the hospital are actually test subjects who underwent unique procedures at thatboratory. That said, they are far from ordinary individuals. When I signed a contract with Tudor, I made it clear that I would not engage in affairs involving ordinary people. And just like Tudor said, these were neither ordinary citizens nor innocent victims. Most of Helistics test subjects were generally criminals or death row inmates much like Lee Chang-hyuk. These were people who led such shitty lives that they voluntarily participated in the experiments for the opportunity to strengthen their bodies. Beating up such scoundrels was something I could do without hesitation. Hmm, alright. Lets proceed. [Quest epted! Subdue all the psychics upying the abandoned hospital and restore the facility to a safe condition. Remaining Targets: 0/58 Reward: 750,000 XP + 180,000,000 Won Failure Penalty: Death] The quest details became clear. The mission would beplete once all 58 test subjects were subdued. Subduing 58 test subjects It wasnt impossible, but it certainly wouldnt be easy. Although there were far fewer of thempared to ghouls, these people were not mindless creatures that charged forward. Moreover, among them were individuals as troublesome as the ghoul shaman. But there was apelling reason for me to undertake this quest. If things went smoothly, this quest could potentially unravel some of the mysteries of this world that had been guing me. Even if that were not the case, there were items that could only be obtained from this ce. When I was about to get up with these thoughts in mind, Tudor held me back. Dear, may I make a proposition before you leave? A proposition? Oh, right, you said something like that earlier. I had reserved the request especially for you, but someone showed interest in this mission before you arrived today. And? How about you two team up for this? I think youll like it. Like it? Why would you think that? Because the fixer Im about to introduce to you is this person. Tudor handed me a photo. This was a frontal photo of a fixer. Bleached long hair, a bright red leather jacket, a small face whose age is hard to guess, and a huge zanbato sword that seemed like it came out of manhwa. Thats Curtain Call. Chapter 49: The Formed Team Chapter 49: The Formed Team A confident smile appeared on Tudors face. You were curious about Collie, werent you? Instead of digging for her information from behind the scenes, how about meeting her in person to see for yourself? Tudor didnt say a word, but her expression seemed to convey that very suggestion. It didnt feel like she was trying to manipte the situation from a higher position. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I was being overly generous in my interpretation because of Tudors high charm score, but I decided to let it slide this time. Its not just talk. Ever since Collies tastes changed, the nature of the requests she takes on has shifted too. What do you mean the nature of her requests has changed? Since she arrived here, or rather After Lee Chang-hyuk went on such a rampage, Collie has somehow be obsessively interested in taking on any request rted to the Helisticpany, regardless of the type. Rted to Helistic? Yes. She started epting all requests rted to Helistic without considering whether they were beneficial or harmful for Helistic. Hmm Thats interesting. If her goal was simply to harm Helistic, there would be no reason to take on this request. But she wants to participate just because its rted to Helistic? If we bring her along this time, we might be able to find out what triggered this change in her. I tapped my mask with my finger for a moment before responding. Understood. Ill discuss it with Curtain Call. Ha, good. Then Ill make preparations for that. What about the day of action? Helistic seems to want us to go immediately, but we need to coordinate with Collie How about in two days? After considering what I needed to prepare, I replied. In two days then. Contact me once the arrangements are finalized. *** There was a mountain of things to do in preparation for the quest, and it wasnt easy to handle everything swiftly due to my umted fatigue and my deteriorating health. However, I managed to finish the preparations without any major issues and arrived at the meeting ce near Gamaksan mountain. Gamaksan mountain is so vast that its counted among the five great mountains of Gyeonggi Province. Its also known in the real world for its strong spiritual energy. This is why its considered an important location even in [Cthulhu World]. There are as many as four main event-level quests rted to Gamaksan mountain. If you include the passing-through chain quests and side quests, theyre too numerous to count. Tudor had casually mentioned stopping by Gamaksan mountain to find something beneficial for a mage, but the quest we were about to undertake [The Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan mountain] was merely a brief exploration of the mountain. I remember there was also a quest to beat up a fanatic trying to summon an outer god at one of those peaks of Gamaksan mountain. That was a dreadful quest that required climbing up and down the mountain several times. Haah, I really dont want to do that quest But if left alone, they end up summoning an outer god called the [Predator of the Mountains] which would causeplete chaos. Its something that Ill eventually have to deal with at some point. Maybe I should go ahead and smash them up like I did with the [Descendants of Fomalhaut]? Well, thats a problem for another day. Today, theres no need to venture deep into Gamaksan mountain. The location of the abandoned hospital was toward the southwest of Gamaksan mountain, in the direction of Mugeon-ri. A short climb up the mountain trail leads right to it. Because we intentionally leftte at night, it was alreadypletely dark. The grass grew densely around the unpaved road and the damp scent of wood tickled my nostrils. The noisy cries of insects and the chilly air contributed to the atmosphere. And there, the eerie sight of the abandoned hospitalpleted the horror-genre ambiance. It was indeed a spine-chilling ce. Just by walking around with a camera, you can easily film a B horror movie. And the silhouette of the fixer standing in the darkness halfway to the hospital would definitively mark that film as the epitome of Bs. I had thought this before, but her character design was still incredibly unique. A short stature, short limbs proportioned to that height, and a youthful face. This information alone was menacing. Yet she did not stop there. Her long hair was bleach-blond, she wore a shiny red leather jacket, and in one hand, she casually held a huge zanbato sword (a horse-ying sword). For today, just this one day, I was partnered with a temporary ally known as Curtain Call. Ah, Kim Shin-hwa. Yourete! Late, Kim Shin-hwa! Im notte. Youre just early. Shouldnt you havee earlier? Maybe. But that thing That thing? What Curtain Call was holding in her other hand that wasnt holding the zanbato sword was arge piece of metal that I think used to be a spoon And the reason I said I think it used to be a spoon is Are you eating that? Yes. Crunch, munch. Gnash, gnash. Ill say it again: this is a very temporary team. I have no ns to work with Curtain Call after today. Therefore I need to gather as much information as possible today. Why? Why? Why are you eating that? Because I can eat it? I wanted to stop asking questions. What kind of conversation was this, anyway? Though Curtain Calls responses were devoid of any real substance or meaning, the movement of magical power around her body provided much more information. The flow of her magical power was peculiar. It seemed merely entric behavior but she was actually absorbing energy rapidly from the spoon that is, from the metallic organic material. Even though her seemingly specific design choices in the game were targeting a certain audience, the Curtain Call I knew was a strong warrior. She possessed great strength and a few support abilities, but she had never disyed this type of power before. It seemed difficult to ascertain her abilities in this state. I wished I could see her in action. Tudor seems to like you a lot, Kim Shin-hwa. What? All this talk of dual contracts and such, I would have been fine with the usual people I worked with. But she kept making excuses and eventually paired you with me. Though she was talking casually, her expression was full of dissatisfaction as if she wasnt pleased with the current situation. Are you unhappy because its me? No. I dont care who I work with, as long as I can feast on those things. Those things? Are you talking about the test subjects or Helistic? Which one are you talking about? It seemed my response was not to her liking, as Curtain Call furrowed one brow and nced up at me briefly before stuffing the remnants of her spoon into her mouth and starting to walk in the direction of the abandoned hospital. Everything that Helistic has touched. Im going to destroy it all. Everything, everything, everything. Her reaction seemed to carry a personal vendetta, but it was too intense to be simply chalked up to a mere grudge. Hmph. Anyway, Kim Shin-hwa, the information you talked about yesterday, that was true, right? Of course. So, are we really going ahead with that bullsh*t n you mentioned? Bullsh*t n, she said I had a separate conversation with Curtain Call when we met yesterday. This hospital, or more precisely, Helistics secret research facility harbors a secret basement unknown to others. Well, its akin to the secret research facility I was part of before. There, they held human samples in cryogenic sleep. And I think one of those samples might have been me Such a ce exists here as well. And Im interested in the items that are going to be there. And while I wasnt exactly sure what she was interested in, Curtain Call showed an interest in that ce too. Well, if you dont like it, you can still turn back now. No. Tudor said youre someone to look forward to, so Ill give you a chance, Kim Shin-hwa. I found her logic hard to follow, but it was a relief she was somehow convinced. Curtain Call continued moving without pause, and I had to apany her to the nned destination as well. The distance wasnt long, but I quickly grew tired due to the penalty trait [Decreased Stamina]. Moreover, it was a dark mountain path without any reliable lighting. The weather was chilly, yet before I knew it, the back of my neck was damp with sweat. Phew, damn it. I can already see that my health has decreased. I wanted to ride the board I was carrying, but moving stealthily with it on an unpaved path would be difficult. At least I was somewhat fortunate that the magical power wrapped around my body kept the bugs at bay. Even for a mage, dont you think you neglect physical exercise too much? Its not like youre healthy because of exercise anyway, right? If you werent born lucky, you should at least exercise. Noeback for that. Damn it. Were almost there. Finally, we reached our destination. The front of the hospital was blocked by a tall fence, yet the main gate had beenpletely destroyed. Well, here we are at the abandoned hospital we were aiming for. Curtain Call, hidden in the shadows beneath the fence, was slowly drawing her oversized sword from its sheath. Given that the sword was disproportionatelyrgepared to her arm length, her method of drawing it was less like a swift unsheathing and more like clumsily fishing it out. In the meantime, I raised my head to survey the area beyond the fence. The hospital was arge three-story building. It was strangely situated in the middle of a forest with no human habitation nearby, but it had been constructed under the guise of serving as a hospital. The building was a typical square-shaped structure, white in color, with a green cross emblem on the sign. What kind of name is that? I hadnt paid much attention when I saw it in the game, but there was a sign next to the hospital that read [Gamaksan Hospital]. However, the outwardly old-fashioned and neglected appearance was all a facade. The official name of this building was [Ga-5060 Secret Research Facility] and it was a dreadful ce where Helistic conducted human experiments. It had now be a site of conflict where the subjects of those experiments had risen up and were staging a sit-in protest. Except for the first floor all the lights were off, casting the building in deep darkness and the atmosphere was as silent as a grave. The dark night sky covered in clouds that obscured even the moon, the lukewarm breeze meandering through the air, and the fishy smell of blood mixed with the wind. Look, there are still signs of the team that came before us. Curtain Call who was hidden in the shadows of the fence pointed towards the parking lot beyond the barrier. A 1-ton truck and two cars were left abandoned inside the hospitals walls. W.G., thats the Wild Guns sub-team, right? Idiots relying on sheer numbers. They probably barged in without any real n and got wiped out. Well, their fate doesnt really concern our mission. It didnt matter. Curtain Call seemed to agree with my words and nodded her head nonchntly before gesturing toward the interior. Alright. Lets get moving, Kim Shin-hwa; lets go. She had a peculiar way of speaking. Though the details werergely omitted, we had alreadyid out a rough n back at Vasilisa, so I began to carry out the actions desired by Curtain Call without much hesitation. In truth, it wasnt that we had devised an extraordinarily borate n. [Trap Detection] [Magic Detection] [Invisibility Detection] [Infrared Vision] [Remote Detection] These detection spells had almost be habitual for me to activate. Checking for traps was a necessity. Like a radar, my magical detection abilities spread out in all directions. Though there was a risk that enemies capable of using magic, albeit at a lower level than mine, might detect my spells. Well, theres no one among the test subjects here capable of that. Nothing particrly unusual was detected by the spells. First, I assessed the condition of the hospitals first floor. A barricade had been set up at the entrance of the hospital. It was a makeshift construction that was hastily piled up with hospital equipment, chairs, and desks. Though it was a crude construction, the barricade was bristling with sharpened metal pipes protruding aggressively through its gaps. Beyond the barricade and windows, the test subjects who had taken over the hospital were hiding. However, my enhanced senses detected their positions more urately than sight could have. Each of the subjects caught by my detection spells bore bizarre forms. Chapter 50: Stagnant Water Play Chapter 50: Stagnant Water y There was one with a tail. Another had four arms. And there was one whose legs had an extra joint each. It was a ce designed to artificially create monstrous beings just like what Lee Chang-hyuk had transformed into. Though these beings did not possess the stable form of a mutant, their transitional shapes that pursued a final form were clear to see. And most of them Ah, damn it. What a pain in the ass. Theyve already set up a barricade because the guys who came earlier messed with them unnecessarily. Now, Curtain Call. Look at this. [Illusion Creation] The internal structure of the abandoned hospital began to materialize above my hands as a three-dimensional hologram. Wow isnt that impressive? Kim Shin-hwa, I had no idea you were capable of this. Its nothing special. Do I look like an amateur to you? You think this speed is nothing special? The ever-professional Curtain Call emphasized not the detail of the image but its rapid generation. Indeed, it wouldnt be easy to do this at this speed without the help of special detection equipment, other items, or artifacts. Well, thats not whats important right now. See this barricade here? Yes. Its rigged with explosives. Curtain Call whistled with an expression of interest. Interesting lunatics. Self-destruction? No, not to that extent. More like it would hurt if tampered with. Not enough to blow the entire building down. Thisplicates things. Anything else? They all have metallic machines and gunpowder So, firearms. Im not sure of the types, but at least some machine guns, perhaps? There was nothing about that in the information Tudor gave us. Ah, maybe they took it from the Wild Guns? Probably. [Cthulhu World] operated with a delicate real-time system that was quite sophisticated. The promotional materials were quite convincing as well. Its a dynamic real-time active quest system where every NPC moves and reacts based on your choices! Even if you visit the same ce, the situation and oues can bepletely different depending on when you go and what choices you make! The game changed based on when I made certain choices, whom I received quests from, or sometimes the situations changed slightly at random. It was an exciting system, wasnt it? And ying the game was haah enjoyable. It was a fun game Who would have thought Id end up trapped in a game like this? Now, it has turned into a reality that torments me. Looking at what those guys were up to, they were clearly in a [Barricaded Stance]. Meaning that the creatures inside the hospital had managed to overpower the mercenaries who came for them and armed themselves with the firearms they looted from them. If anyone tried to breach the barricade, someone from the second floor would likely jump out and open fire and they had at least 1 to 4 grenades at their disposal. And up here. I continued exining theyout while adjusting the size and orientation of the three-dimensional hologram. The ones in the windows on the third floor seem to be snipers. Im not too worried about the snipers, but Im concerned about the extent of the explosives in the barricade. Kim Shin-hwa, can you take care of this? It was amazing how she wasnt bothered by the snipers. From what I recall, Curtain Calls stats and capabilities ced her among the elite of Vasilisas fixers, yet not to the extent of dismissing bullets outright. I was curious whether that attitude stemmed from mere confidence or a change that had urred within Curtain Call. So, youre saying everything will be fine if just the barricade is taken care of? Yes. Is that possible? I paused to survey the hospital building, the barricade, and the surrounding terrain. The simplest and most brute-force solution would be to set everything aze and make a run for it Helistic would really appreciate that. They might even ce a bounty on me for such a favor Moreover, while setting everything on fire might seem viable considering our main objective was subduing the test subjects, we had a secondary objective. Whether we use magic or not, we must not tamper with the systems andputers set up inside the hospital. There were three cars avable and it seemed unlikely that the building would copse even if the barricades explosives were detonated A few ideas came to mind. Ill take care of it for now. Good. If you can handle that, well move on as nned. And for these, dont want me to take care of them? Curtain Call pointed to the snipers in the hologram I had created but I could take care of them too. Ill deal with them. Just round up those who rely on brute force on the first floor for me. Alright, shall we get started then? Hold on a moment. [Courage of the Lion] [Willpower of the Bear] [Agility of the Fox] I cast several enchantment spells on Curtain Call. These spells were meant to enhance her strength, health, and agility stats. Feeling the magic infuse her body, Curtain Call made an unexpectedly disgusted face. Ugh, what is this? Its good for you. I could do without thisughno, thank you, Kim Shin-hwa. Then she started scratching near her neck as if she was feeling itchy. You shouldnt feel much of anything, though? Its itchy. Really? Mhmm. That cant be possible, right? Magic allergies werent a thing, so what was Curtain Call talking about? Why would an enchantment spell be itchy? I wanted to ask Curtain Call more about her strange reaction, but it seemed inappropriate to continue the conversation under these circumstances. Alright, lets go, Curtain Call. Hang back for a moment; theres something I want to try. Whatever it is, make it quick. Curtain Call took a step back, though she was still scratching her neck. Well, with the bombs and barricade, its impossible to breach without causing some disturbance. Perhaps a shier approach would be better? [Chain of Domination] Shrrrr Three chains emerged from my wrist. They were magical chains that shone with golden light. The ends of the chains danced through the air before attaching themselves to the nearby abandoned cars. I could manipte objects connected to the chains. Complex maniption was out of the question with this spell, but then again, there was never a need forplex operations in the first ce. I forcibly started the car engines before pushing them into overload. Vroom, Vrrroom. Buuuuu. A fierce rumble of engines began to resonate from the cars and it grew louder and more intense. Whether it was the noise that alerted them or something else, the inside of the hospital became chaotic. Lights lit up on the third floor. Ratatatatatatatatat! Cant afford to die by a stray bullet. So I activated the [Protection Circle] spell and simultaneously took cover behind the cars. Curtain Call also melted into the darkness with her stream of aimless curses fading away. Once safety was assured, I immediately started the next phase of the n. [Hardening] I bestowed magical durability upon every car connected to the chains. Though charging forward just like this would work might as well test one thing while Im at it. I injected a forcefulmand into all three cars through the [Chains of Domination]. |Dont move.| [Impact] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] The sound of the impact spell detonating in rapid session was deafening. Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang! The target was the rear of the cars which were elerating wildly in ce. Likeshing a stationary horse, tremendous blows were delivered repeatedly. What, what are you doing!? Crazy, what is this Kim Shin-woo? Curtain Call blurted out those questions as she seemed perplexed by my actions. But I was too preupied to respond. I was now focusing onyering more explosions and impacts onto the cars. Kiiing- Kiiing!!!! An impossible sound emerged from the cars. A force trying to push forward was entangled with a spellmand that was trying to hold it back in ce which created an abnormal repulsive force. Some of the energy that couldnt dissipatebined with magical power and transformed into sparks, heat, light, and sound vibrations. It meant that all the cars started to emit a menacing red glow and began to shake threateningly. Rumble The sound suggested they might explode at any moment. Now was the time! |Advance at full speed.| The umted repulsive force was released all at once, unleashing immense kic energy! Crash-crash-crash! Bang-bang-bang! The cars shot forward like missiles in an instant. This was not merely moving forward quickly. The wheels were not even touching the ground. All three cars were literallyunched into the air. Could this even be possible? A physicist might faint foaming at the mouth if he were to hear this, but havent you seen it with your eyes? Here, it is possible! Its not that this is the real thing. Booooom! Kaboooom! The cars, propelled with insane momentum, crashed through the barricades of the hospital and embedded themselves inside. At the same time, the explosives in the barricades detonated. Boooooom! Smoke and mes burst forth apanied by skin-tingling vibrations and noise. Yet, despite the explosion, the momentum of the cars I had sent flying did not diminish. They continued to push deep into the interior of the hospital. Kim Shin-hwa! At this rate, the cars might just prate the hospital ande out the other side, right? Its possible that could actually happen. Crash-bang-bang-bang! One of the cars actually went through the hospital and bounced all the way to the other side. Wow, Kim Shin-hwa! Youre the best! Despite Curtain Calls cheers, the destruction wrought by the cars I hadunched was far from over. Bang-crash-bang-bang-bang! Inside the building, the sound of one of the cars still wreaking havoc could be heard. Bang! The car that had previously smashed through the hospital and pushed its way to the other side had evidently collided with a towering tree on the opposite end. Then came the sound of the tree rustling and crashing down. Creak, creak, creeeak Rustle, rustleThud! It seemed that the tree had unfortunately fallen towards the hospital. The situation was escting beyond expectations. I could see some of the lights visible through the windows suddenly going out. What? No way. Feeling a bead of cold sweat, I hastily activated a detection spell. Fortunately, it seemed not all the electricity in every room was cut off. It was hard to say with certainty, but the area I was aiming for appeared to be safe. Curtain Call was unaware of my inner turmoil and she remarked on the situation with evident amusement. So thats why Tudor values you so much? Youre capable of such incredible feats? This wasnt a result of my magic, though. In the world of [Cthulhu World] such a feat was a widely shared skill among the veterans (stagnant waters) that its considered a basic requirement for engaging in meaningful conversations with others. It originated as a sort of a bug. but its been used by so many yers that its practically be an official strategy or a widely known trick. Its not some hidden piece or anything; the game was simply poorly made. The reason such antics were possible in the game was due to a glitch in the physics engine. But why does this work here, in the real world? How could such a bug exist in this vivid and tangible world? Anyway, thews of this world are far morex than those of the world I came from. I must take advantage of everything avable to survive and escape. Its an attack! Move the injured! Voices buzzed inside the hospital. A few faces peeked through the gaping holes in the barricade. They must have been on guard, but they couldnt have anticipated such a bizarre bombardment. [Remaining Targets: 6/58] Six were subdued in one go. Were there any casualties? If they were lucky, they might have survived. Alright, its my turn now. Ill meet you on the third floor in a bit. With those words, Curtain Call sprinted away at an incredible speed and headed for the hospitals wide-open main entrance. Ratatatatatatatatatat! With a huge sword slung over her shoulder, her small frame burst forth at an unnatural speed. It was a disy of agility that only a warrior who had transformed all the excessive magical power inside them into physical strength could achieve. The ground where her feetnded could not withstand the impact and ruptured. She closed the distance in the blink of an eye and, with a spirited momentum,tched onto one of the test subjects while screaming. Cover your head!! Wha-what the!! The test subject reflexively attempted to shield his head, but her sword was descending with the force of a lightning strike and it cleaved through his defensive posture. Blood was sprayed in all directions. Yet Curtain Call did not stop. She spun around before slicing through another clumsily advancing test subject. Die, all of you!! Following that, she plunged into the hospital. At the same time, chaos erupted inside. Screams, shouts, explosions, the indiscriminate noise of gunfire, the blood mist painting the windows red, and the heads of test subjects crashing through the ss. Crash! Soon after, a bloody Curtain Call jumped out of another window. She rolled around several times without stopping, and then with movements that seemed to be defying inertia and thews of physics, she went back sprinting toward the back of the hospital. Capture her! No, stop! Dont chase her! Kill her! The test subjects were in disarray and unable to make a decisive call. As expected, the true beauty of wide-area suppression lies in destruction, chaos, and madness. Now is not the time to stand still. Its time to show what a real veteran yer (stagnant water) can do. I focused my mind and released my magical power. It was several times more than the amount I usually gathered for casting spells. A dense and potent magical power began to flow out. The ground around trembled, and the air stirred. A huge magic circle with a diameter of 1.5 meters soon started to form in front of me. In [Cthulhu World], the intelligence stat was the wellspring of magical power that simultaneously provided everything needed to activate, apply, and create magic. For this reason, I had endured the excruciating penalties to secure as high an intelligence stat as possible. Currently, my intelligence stat stood at 30. Thanks to this, I possessed an enormous amount of magical power which surpassed the limits allowed to humans. With such an excess of magical power, I can attempt some utterly absurd feats. I brought my hands together and then spread them apart. One magic circle split into two, and then three. The trails of magical power shining in different colors were beingbined at slightly different speeds. In the end, five magic circles were formed. These magic circles set to activate a different type of spell will bepleted one by one at regr intervals. And the first one would beunched immediately. The first magic circle to bepleted was a zing red fire spell. [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Whoooosh A fireball asrge as the magic circle itself emerged and soared toward the hospital entrance. Upon impact, the already devastated entrance where the car had crashed was engulfed in ferocious mes. Boooooooom! Chapter 51: The Lizardman Chapter 51: The Lizardman Arghhh! Its a mage! Following the destructive charge of three cars, a fierce warrior burst in, followed by a surge of fire magic. Amidst this, shrill cries of rm pierced the air. My headddddd! Arghhh! Capture them! Avoid it! Run away! Fight! The chaos among the test subjects had reached a point of no return. Fire! Fire! Put out the fire! Hurry! Bring the extinguisher! Wait, start with that bi*h first Arghhh! Dear test subjects, please stop worrying about the fire and focus on Curtain Call! I have no intention of setting the hospital on fire anyway. In 90 seconds, a huge wave would hit the building. The next magic circle to bepleted was a water spell that churned with a brilliant blue color. Well now, I must attend to my own matters. The magic circles were set toplete the magic on their own and activate the spells in sequence. I had informed Curtain Call of the intervals at which the spells would be activated so she would have to dodge them on her own. Die, die, die, die!! You Helistic bastards, die all of you!!!! It was a scream filled with madness. That must be Curtain Call but would she really remember the timing of the spells activation in her current state? Ah, forget it. She will handle it, I suppose. The hospital and the test subjects were aze, quite literally. When I expanded my detection spell and checked, I found that the majority of the test subjects went down to the first floor. They would be chasing both Curtain Call who boldly darted in and out of the building and the virtual mage conjured by one of my magic circles. I left the magic circles alone and threw the skateboard on the ground. [Dazzling Dance Moves] [Agility of the Fox] [Invisible Hand] [Hazy Presence] A dazzling pattern of lights emerged over my ck hoodie. When I stepped onto the board, it began to race forward with incredible speed, even though I hadnt pushed off with my foot at all. Brbrbrbrbrbrbr!!! The wheels of the board created a terrible noise since I was riding on the unpaved dirt road. A cloud of dust rose behind me, but no one was paying attention to me thanks to the tremendousmotion and the darkness. Navigating the hospital felt like clearing levels in an RPG game, requiring one to endure various hardships and obstacles in a predetermined order. Why bother dealing with the hospitals minions one by one and physically oveing the trapsid out as if seeking some great fortune or glory? The strategy was simple: while a tank drew the aggro on the first floor, I would ascend to the third floor and swiftly deal with the boss. And thats it But before making a direct attack, there was a ce I needed to visit. I steered the board towards a dark corner inside the hospital parking lot. Yes, thats it. There, right there, was something I needed. A round and wide object made of metal It was a pot lid. No, it was far more efficient than a pot lid. [Round Shield (E-rank armor): A round shield made of metal, equipped with a strap on the inside for attachment to one arm.] It was a piece of junk equipment, devoid of any magical enhancements. ording to the setting, someone from the Wild Guns team that had entered here before had brought it along. It was just a disposable item, always left lying around for anyone to use as they saw fit. [Maic Control] Buzzzzzzz!! I activated the second-order maic control spell with my left hand and started pulling the metal shield toward me. And soon enough, the shield quickly attached itself to my left hand. Ugh, its a bit heavy for someone with a strength of 8. I then elerated towards the hospital building again. Moving with the shield like this made me feel somewhat like a superhero. Anyway, at the moment when the skateboards explosive eleration reached its peak [Leap] Boom! I used magic to jump. However, I couldnt reach the third floor with a single leap using the Leap spell. But that wasnt a major issue. Alright, for this part. Ill just ovee it with a bit of agility! This part was crucial. It wasnt my first time attempting such a feat, but executing these maneuvers perfectly with only an agility stat of 8 was a challenge. However, a few enchantment spells I had activated in advance helped in controlling my posture in mid-air and allowed me to move in the intended manner, albeit with some difficulty. I twisted my body and adjusted the skateboard to the right angle in the air. At the same time, I cast a new spell on the board. [Hardening] [st] I activated an explosion spell beneath the board whose durability has been increased through magic. And propelled myself even further into the air! I was catapulted through the air while holding on to the board. The world spun dizzyingly. The hospitals outer wall, a window, and the face of a sniper fumbling with his rifle rushed towards me at breakneck speed. Hello? Aaaah! The sniper was so surprised that he took a shooting position a step toote. Ratat!! He fired his gun but I was already extending the shield in front of me. Of course, I couldnt rely solely on this flimsy shield, so I added ayer of magic for protection. [Protective Circle] Ding, ding, ding!!! Good. I rushed into him with my defensive posture intact and ttened him beneath me. Crash! Ugh! Everything went exactly as nned! I subdued him right then and there. I released a burst of electricity from the hand holding the shield. [Lightning] Fzzzzzzt! Guuuuh. The metal shield conducted the electricity exceptionally well. See? If youre a veteran (stagnant water), you have to do at least this much. Dont move! There were two windows on the third floor, and correspondingly, two snipers. The sniper standing at the other window was yelling at me. He was a test subject with an unnatural third arm attached to his back. Hey, wait a moment! He ignored my words and lifted his rifle. Hmm, no use talking then. Well, the timing is perfect Now! Kwoooosh!!! The second magic circle I had prepared activated the second spell. It was such a huge wave that it was hard to believe that it came from a ce without water. The violent waves surged as if they were about to engulf the hospital, causing a tremendous shock. The entire building started shaking. Caught off guard by the sudden impact, the second sniper faltered. In that moment, I gained time to respond to his shooting. Ratatat! I wanted to block like a superhero with my shield but my agility was just too poor. [Distortion Field] Bababang! The sniper was taken aback as he saw the bullets being deflected by an invisible barrier before flying off in random directions. Hey, do you like superhero movies? Huh? Uh?? While he was bewildered and uttering confused sounds [Maic Control] I imbued the shield in my hand with a strong maic force and hurled it at him. Swoooosh! The flying shield collided with the rifle he was holding. Crash! Argh!! The second sniper, struck by the shield, fell backward with the shield still attached to him. Is this about done here? I muttered to myself and shifted my gaze elsewhere before casting a spell on the fallen sniper. [Thunderbolt] Fizzzzzzzzzzzz!! Rrrrrrgh!! Due to the Ring of Corrupted me, I often felt an impulse to invoke fire-type spells even in unnecessary situations. However, for subduing individuals, the stun effect of lightning-type magic proved to be more efficient. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] I thought it was a sufficiently dangerous situation so far, but suddenly the vignce trait kicked in. My senses were forcibly sharpened, allowing me to perceive the flow of magical power, the presence of killing intent, and other dangers around me in my mind. There was nothing inside the room that could pose a threat to me. The problem was, what about outside the window? I felt a chill down my spine. And a sinister killing intent. I thought of casting a spell No, I shouldnt use magic. I need to dodge! I quickly turned my head and activated the Short-Range Shift trait to move my body. [System: Due to insufficient agility stat, the efficiency of Short-Range Shift has been reduced.] I ignored the system nonsense and forced my body to move! I was able to move my body quickly with the feeling that the joints of my waist, legs, and knees were creaking. Thwack! It was only afterward that I could see what the danger was. A throwing knife. The sharply thrown knife had whizzed past where I had been a second ago and embedded itself in the wall. And in the direction from which the knife hade there, hanging outside the window, was a test subject with hands eerily evolved like those of a lizard. And here I was wondering why I thought I couldnt stop it with magic. The enemy was a former fixer turned test subject, bearing a fixer name, and the mid-boss of this abandoned hospital quest. His fixer name was well Ah, Mr. Leopard. A pleasure to see you. You fu*king fixer. Have you crawled all the way here just to oppress us further? His lizard-like face was distorted grotesquely. Well, I bear no particr grudge against you folks but you were a fixer once, werent you? Thats right. I chased money, burning through my luck and life, until I ended up here. But it seems your luck has run out. Well, you see. I brought another person to hold someone like you. Leopards mouth was grotesquely split wide open on either side of his face. He shed a horrifying grin with his grotesque mouth that stretched far beyond the limits allowed to a human and stuck out his forked tongue to lick his own forehead. A true monster. Correct. A mage cannot stand against me. Among the fixers who wielded bizarre abilities through their innate magic, this lizardman was a peculiar case. He employed primitive forms of natural magic, much like Lee Chang-hyuk Swoosh!! Multiple knives flew in again from outside the window. [Protective Circle] I instinctively activated the protective circle, but the knives continued their flight and prated the barrier as if it wasnt there. Those knives! Leopards unique ability was to nullify magic within a localized area. The knives, propelled by his telekinesis, could pierce through protective shields and distortion fields. I couldnt block them. I had to evade! Ah, damn it, theres no time. This is too harsh for a mage. [Invisible Hand] I didnt want to resort to such things again, but I threw myself away with the invisible hands. [Leap] And then, I btedly activated a leap.and narrowly avoided a disastrous tumble to the ground. [Fireball] Whoosh! You move well for a mage! With those words, Leopard ducked under the window to avoid the fireball. Tch lucky for you, it would be nice to get a modification to make my body faster. Leopard soon revealed himself from another window and hurled a knife. Seriously, moving in patterns? This isnt some 90s shooter game! [Invisible Hand] I propelled myself forward again.and then raised my magical power. Just because the enemy relied on predictable patterns didnt mean I had to follow suit. This time, I opted for apletely different tactic. [Maic Control] [Spell Amplification: Maximization] Zzzzzzzz!! A shield endowed with excessively amplified maism floated in the air. The shield hovering like a drone spun violently and intercepted the trajectory of the iing knife. Ting! Wh-what is that!? This shield wasnt brought along for nothing! [Chains of Domination] Shshshshsh!! Golden chains wrapped around the shield. And the shield that was imbued with maic power and telekic power through the chains . wasunched like a projectile. Thwack!! Ugh! Sadly, he moved a half-beat faster than I did. With near-death desperation, he dodged and the spinning shield I had hurled merely grazed some part of his face or head. Leopard who had momentarily concealed himself beneath the window. Haha! What a shame! Revealed himself with a clichd taunt. And now, as if he was definitely nning to finish this off, he prepared to swing his arm with several knives wedged between his fingers. Ah, watch your back! ?! The shield I had sent flying was returning at a tremendous speed. Crash!! Hmm, in the game, I always took down Leopard this way; it seems to work here too. Chapter 52: Horror Game Chapter 52: Horror Game Aaaaargh this damned He didnt go down with just one blow. Does he have scales on the back of his head? But he lost his bncepletely when he took an unexpected hit from a blind spot and was now crouching by the window with his head thrust forward. Watch out, Leo! Grr! He tried to adopt an attitude as if to say I wont be fooled! But this time, I was a half-step ahead. Watch out for the window! [Lock] This spell really has an incredibly powerful effect. When activated, it can close any nearby doors or windows. Impressive, right? It was just a zero-order spell. Bang! But when an excessive amount of magical power was infused into such a spell, it could unleash tremendous speed and force. As the window mmed shut with vigorous force, it struck Leopard on the head. Had his fingers been carelessly ced, they would have likely been severed. Struck on the head by the window frame, Leopard couldnt even scream before he passed out and fell down below the window. What is this! Crackling! The sound of Curtain Calls shout came from below. Hmm, it seems the battle is still raging on. When I approached the window and looked down, I saw that Leopards body was cut in half. There was no sign of Curtain Call, though. Expanding my detection range, I found her beyond the fence. Why was she there? Ah, I see. The time hade. Outside the hospital, a bright blue sh illuminated the surroundings. Boom!!! Since the third magic circle waspleted, the prepared [Lightning Strike] must have been activated. The test subjects who were clumsily attempting to pursue Curtain Call and ventured outside were caught in the lightning and burned to a crisp. So many have died. Though they were all once human, each and every one of them was a despicable murderer. Leopard too had be an irredeemable pleasure killer due to his inherent cruel nature and the madness he gained from repeatedly working as a fixer. He had fallen for Helistics sweet talk of physical enhancement and a chance for a new identity before ultimately surrendering himself to their deranged modification experiments. Having dealt with the mid-boss, perhaps now there was only one to be wary of? That lunatic is more dangerous than all the others herebined. Defeating the mid-boss meant that the main boss was still out there. His name was Je Mu-gyeong. With the exception of him, the rest were just fools with unique appearances that were incapable of doing any real harm. Surely he hasnt moved to another location amidst this chaos? I could feel an ominous and unsettling magical power on the third floor where I stood. He was still here on the third floor. Lets see This was as good a time as any to get things in order. I put the invisibility spell on myself again and leaned out the window. Just then, five test subjects were emerging from the hospital. The way they each held their weapons and moved in line was quite coordinated. The snipers on the third floor had been a mess, but these ones seemed to be of a different caliber. Where are they off to? The test subjects moved in a direction I didnt expect. I thought they would be moving in the direction of Curtain Call and got ready to provide cover But instead, they were moving toward the area where I had set up my magic circles. Aha. So they were trying to capture the mage while Curtain Call was out of sight. A sound strategy, indeed, if there was actually a mage there. Regrettably for them, there was no one at the location they were approaching. Only the two magic circles I had left behind remained. Whether they approached or not was of no concern to me In fact, it was the perfect opportunity. I reached out through the window and started remotely manipting the distant magic circles. Theyre a bit far forplex operations, but I can still channel some magical power into them. What usually happens when a spell fails? The spell could backfire, injure the mage, or produce a resultpletely different from what was intended. Or The uncontrolled spell might overload and cause a huge explosion. While its difficult to precisely imbue new properties on the magic circles, overloading them with magical power is feasible. It was a shame to waste two magic circles right here but their pattern had already been deciphered by the enemy. Better to make a significant impact than to waste them meaninglessly. I forcibly distorted the shape of the magic circles. Two magic circles with opposing properties interfered with each other.and that created a deadly repulsive force. Fizzz, crackle, fizzz! Now, explode Boom! A blinding sh of light and a tremendous explosion ensued, causing the windows to shudder. Ugh, did I overdo it with the explosion? The test subjects who had bravely pushed forward all copsed onto the floor in a near-death state. Oh, theyre quite the sturdy bunch. Still, they were tough enough to physically force their way toward where they thought the mage might be. It seemed their bodies had been robustly modified as they werent dead even after the explosion. They were twitching slightly With some luck, they might survive. The regrly triggered spells were now over. Therefore, I began forming a new spell for Curtain Call. [Rlyehs Fog] Gurglegurgle A white fog started to rise from all around. A magically dense fog with surreal density enveloped the entire hospital. The test subjects on the first floor would now be unable to see what was approaching through the fog or know where to direct their attacks. And such uncertainty would breed fear. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Yellow Dominion, has been activated. // Yellow Dominion: Adds the effect Spell Amplification: Instill Fear to certain spells.] Wh-What is that?! What? Whats going on?! In the fog! That monster! Theres a monster! Aaaaah! This should be enough. After all, my role was merely to buy time for Curtain Call. Having provided so much help, she should take care of the rest herself. The only task remaining was to deal with Je Mu-gyeong, who was holed up in another room. Once that was aplished, the most difficult part would be over. Huuu I held the mask with both hands for a moment and took a deep breath. Je Mu-gyeong was a fairly strong enemy, but I had faced him several times in the game before. I roughly knew his weaknesses and understood thatmunication was possible under certain circumstances. Therefore, there was no issue. The real problem was that my body was getting tired really quickly due to the array of penalty traits clinging to me. Moreover, although my level had somewhat increased, the [Decreased Stamina] trait meant my HP was critically low. Should I allow even a single clean hit, magic or not, I would suffer irreparable damage. Well shall I start moving now? There were a total of six rooms on the third floor of the hospital. However, there was no need to check each room one by one. There were only so many rooms I needed to visit. First of all, here and now. A wide room with a sniper present. Anyway, since I suppressed the sniper here, there was no longer any reason to linger in this room. Apart from the sniper, it was just a spacious room with nothing much to see. Ah, of course, if one were to follow the games intended path, there would be essential tasks toplete. In the corner, there was a cab filled with documents revealing the hospitals backstory. Reading through them would unveil secrets like. Ah! So theres something hidden in this hospital? Theres a strange secret space beneath it? And to ess that ce, the USB held by the director of theb is absolutely necessary? This information woulde to light. Then by interrogating the snipers, it would be discovered that the USB had long since fallen into the hands of the leader of the test subjects, Je Mu-gyeong. That was the progression of the story. Since I wasnt here to enjoy the games narrative, there was no need for me to engage in such investigative activities. In other words, once entry and suppression werepleted, there was no further business in this room. I came in praying that only the snipers woulde out, but getting aggro from Leopard ended up draining me unnecessarily I twisted my already frail body around the air and even threw it bringing Curtain Call seemed hardly worth it. I massaged the back of my neck as I slowly walked toward the door. The moment I reached for the doorknob, I let out a sigh. Ah, damn. Now that I think about it, this pattern means the hallway out here must be a total mess by now I slowly turned the doorknob, and the door creaked open with an annoying squeak. As the door opened, the first sensation that hit me was the smell. The repulsive odor of blood. I had encountered the scent of blood numerous times while roaming through [Cthulhu World] in Paju. I had been through the zombie-infested [K-3675 Secret Research Facility] and visited the underground parking lot that had be a ghouls den, where bodies were piled up like mountains. However, the stench wafting through here was more intense and unpleasant than anything I had previously encountered. Visually, too, the sight was horrific. The third floors hallway was a scene of utter devastation. The walls were cracked here and there, and pieces of human bodies were scattered all around. The floor bore clear signs of blood that had flowed like rivers. It was the aftermath of the armed uprising by the test subjects who had massacred the Helistic researchers present in the hospital. Lunatics, all of them Given that these were researchers involved in human experimentation, they couldnt exactly be called innocent victims. Even so, the horrific scene created by the test subjects was truly abnormal. A vicious ughter and a party of ruthless madness had unfolded here. Bodies mutted in a manner that mocked dignity. Corpses bearing an excessive number of wounds. Entrails decorating the walls. Heads disyed on tables. There were even traces of a grotesque game resembling bowling with body parts. The bodies had been toyed with as if they were mere ythings. While not enough to trigger my [Madness of the Abss] trait, the sight was nauseating. What a bunch of lunatics. No. Wait a moment. Was this really not enough to trigger my trait? No, the atrocity in this ce was indeed horrific. But it wasnt shocking. My mind did not crumble from psychological shock, nor did my limbs shrivel from overwhelming fear. Could it be that encountering mythical beings had numbed my emotions? The notion of losing human emotions felt somewhat disturbing. No, lets not dwell on that now. After all, my current state might be more useful for survival. Dont think too much, Kim Shin-hwa. Just focus on surviving and returning to your original world. Aside from that, I felt disgusted. Perhaps this sensation stemmed from memories and habits of my former self, but regardless, I felt revolted. Je Mu-gyeong, that lunatic leader of the rebel test subjects. I felt like beating him up might improve my mood. Huuu Though it wasnt the best ce for a deep breath, I paused and focused on stabilizing my breathing to calm my mind. It wasnt a moment for leisure, but rushing wouldnt help either. Before encountering Je Mu-gyeong, there was somewhere else I needed to stop by. Among the four doors lined up along the corridor, it was the second one from the left. A sign hung on the door reading: [Pharmaceutical Warehouse] Thats the ce. Theres something I need to pick up there. Ugh, its good to be prepared but of course, a fuck*ng horror show was waiting in this room too. The blood, entrails, and gruesomely dismembered bodies disyed in this wretched hallway were just the beginning. [Cthulhu World] is a game filled with cosmic horror and madness. This hospital was designed with that theme in mind. And each room within it awaited with its own unsettling horrors. And witnessing these horrors was enough to drive one to madness It was quite the exciting ce, in many ways. But who would have thought Id be experiencing these delightful elements firsthand. Its supposed to be fun because its a game, but in reality, its not fun at all. It just makes me angry. But then again, doing nothing changes nothing Ah Ive been here often, but its always hopeless. I slowly opened the door. Chapter 53: Human Skin Obssession Chapter 53: Human Skin Obssession Creaaak Just like it was written on the door, this room was a pharmaceutical warehouse. Inside the dim room, you can see ss disy cases built inyers. [The room is dark and somewhat cold. This is probably to preserve the medicines stored inside.] Oh, what a surprise. After being quiet for a while, it suddenly started working. Why didnt it make any sound in the corridor earlier? Theres supposed to be designated text for the corridor as well. Is it just cking off? Or maybe Ah, could it be because I didnt enter in the set order? Normally, one should first enter the corridor whileing up the stairs. But this time, I entered through a window, so perhaps the message that should have appeared in the corridor didnt trigger? Given the games history of bugs and errors, I cant be certain, but it feels like that might be the case. Well, if not, no harm done. [In the room, each ss disy case is filled with bottlesbeled with medicines and small specimens. Each transparent bottle you see contains animal or human body parts, or strange creatures you have never seen before.] Hey, I can see things with my own eyes too. [The creature within is truly bizarre and horrifying. It is a grotesque monster, neither human nor beast, with four arms and each small hand has six fingers. Upon witnessing this entity, your mind is engulfed in an alien fear and terror.] Oh dear, its exciting. Really exciting [System: Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check seeded Since I resisted the fear, no additional traits were triggered. I raised my hand briefly to cover the masks eye sockets, then lowered it. Alright. Lets put off the unpleasant feelings forter. Theres something here I want to take with me. The things in the bottles all look simrly repulsive, but one stands out as particrly vile. Its the strange creature mentioned in the message window earlier. Thebel on the bottle reads Type D Biological Tissue Sample, along with two words: Dimensional Species. When I reached for the bottle, I could feel the tiny creature wriggling inside, even though it was soaked in chemicals and sealed in a ss bottle. It was not a mistake. Part of the small creatures grotesquely swollen head split open. And from the fissure, small round eyes emerged and they were looking at me. Although the eyescked emotion, I could sense an unpleasant and ominous intelligence in their gaze. However, this bizarre scene did notst long. The creature soon closed its eyes again, as if it had lost interest. It looked to be peaceful as if dead or asleep. Tsk, this is why I didnt like this ce. The unnecessary horror elements kept repeating endlessly. I packed two of such bottles, took several protective measures, and then carefully ced them in my backpack. With that taken care of, before heading out Maybe I should do some quick looting? Among the medicines here, there were some useful ones. It would be best not to put myself in situations where these would be needed, but the uing encounter with Je Mu-gyeong would be troublesome. He wears a special artifact with high magic resistance, and stripping it would be more efficiently done with the medicines here than with magic. Lets see is this the one? Among the bottles, I picked up a blue one without abel. [Valusias Blue Elixir (S-rank Catalyst): One of the potions used by the ancient serpent people. It contains a corrosively potent poison that can be deadly, so its dangerous to use without proper purification.] Besides that, wouldnt it be a good idea to bring a few more things with me? Ah, this one releases toxic gas when it gets exposed to the air. Naturally, it would be problematic if such items were to go off while in my possession. [Hardening] I applied a hardening spell to the bottle. When needed, I could effectively use it like an improvised grenade by removing the hardening spell and throwing it. I packed several into my backpack and kept a few within easy reach, then made my way back to the corridor. I feel like aplete fool. Cant I just set fire from outside? Of course, that wasnt an option. The quest was far from over. There were a few more miserable sights to endure. Alright, it was time to confront Je Mu-gyeong, who was holed up in the surgery room I headed towards the surgery room located at the farthest end of the corridor. Je Mu-gyeong was so engrossed in surgery that he rarely came out unless it was necessary. The entrance to the surgery room, like everything else in the corridor, was soaked in blood and gave off a grim atmosphere. Above the door, an electronic sign shed In Surgery which only added to the eerie setting. Even before Je Mu-gyeong and his test subjects had taken over, this ce was far from where any standard surgeries were performed. It was a site of grotesque procedures: extracting brains, dismembering humans, or reassembling the dismembered parts into some macabre form. There is a whole bunch of shit going on in there that no one in their right mind will find normal. I could simplyunch a barrage of fireballs from outside the door and spare myself the sight of any more horrors Yet even though the minions on the first floor were expendable, Je Mu-gyeong was a different matter. I needed the USB he possessed to ess the secret underground facility I had discussed with Curtain Call. Even during my time ying the game, rushing in with shy explosions or lighting attacks led to many failed quests. And there was something else, perhaps even more important than the quest itself, something that might hold value far beyond the promised reward of 120 million. I wanted to talk to him. Although the chances were slim, there was a possibility that Je Mu-gyeong held the clue to my return to my original world. Well, realistically speaking, the likelihood of that is probably less than 5% No, it might even be less than 1%. Yet, the chance was not zero. Among all the NPCs I had encountered so far, he alone held a possibility that none had. Oh, of course, except for those damned beings of the abyss. Given such a circumstance, it would be foolish to simply eliminate him without attempting dialogue, right? With that slim chance in mind, I had devised a n to confront Je Mu-gyeong alone, ready to face the risks for the sake of a potentially pivotal conversation. So, lets try having a chat. I used my magical power to push the door open to avoid touching the dirty door handle. Creeeak The stench of rotting corpses mixed with chemical odors and the smell of blood wafted from the inside of the surgery room. Je Mu-gyeong was a lunatic. Its ironic for someone like me who goes around wearing a mask to say this, but he was a lunatic obsessed with irrational behavior. Squelch squelch-squelch It was the unsettling sound of tearing flesh. It was originally a horrific surgery room where crazy surgeries were routinely performed, but now it has transformed into a workshop for a lunatic. Blood sttered up to the ceiling. Bodies with their skin yedy in pieces. And then there were the saws, hammers,rge butcher knives, hooks, and chains. The tools seemed more fitting for a ughterhouse or butchers shop than a surgery room. In fact, activities not much different from those were taking ce here. To be more specific, a monstrous figure with a huge frame was hunched over next to the surgery table while carrying out the ghastly task of ripping the skin off corpses. His body was so majestic that you could feel the pressure even though he was hunched over. His shoulders were so broad that it seemed as if one could seat a person on each and still have room to spare. The creature was a monster created by [Ga-5060 Secret Research Facility]. The most remarkable failure among dozens of failed experiments. It was Je Mu-gyeong. Hello? Je Mu-gyeong who had been deeply engrossed in his work beside the surgery table lifted his head to look at me. He was draped in a hideous sackcloth that covered his body, head, and face. The sackcloth that looked like what a medieval monk might wear, was more akin to a cape or raincoat than actual clothing. Your skills in making clothes are quite dreadful, arent they? It was a horrific garment he had fashioned himself using human skin he had peeled off. Of course, this wasnt skin crafted in any proper manner through tanning. It was skin forcibly torn from bodies, stretched and pieced together into a patchwork. Some parts still had flesh attached and others were dripping with blood. Moreover his face was covered with a ghastly mask made from the peeled-off skin of another persons face. Grrrrr Although he was wearing human skin, what came out of his mouth was an animal-like growl. Any ordinary person would lose their sanity just by witnessing this bizarre and horrific scene. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of intimidation has been nullified.] However, this posed no significant issue for me. Its not that Im without weaknesses, but as long as I possess the [Madness of the Abyss] trait, nothing can inflict harm upon my mind or soul. But theres something off about Je Mu-gyeong Even though he was always unhinged, he retained enough sanity to respond when spoken to. Thats why I had nned to confront him alone and not with Curtain Call. There were things I needed to ask him, things that needed rification. Yet, my n had gone awry. Je Mu-gyeong now was far more deranged than anything depicted in the game. Still, it might be worth trying to talk with him one more time Hey, mask buddy. At that moment, his body tensed even more. It wasnt fear. It was the movement of a beast gathering its strength to pounce on its prey. The bloodshot eyes visible through the slits of the skin mask gleamed with intense madness. This is Oh, he speaks. This is mine! Its my face! I cant give it to you! Ah I see, I understand. Who else but I could understand him? Arent we both mad in our own ways? To be precise, Je Mu-gyeong suffered from an obsession with human skin. It was different from my obsession with masks. Though his condition was worse than mine. Alright, you can keep that. No! Nooooo! But why did he burst into a fit the moment we met? Je Mu-gyeong slowly got up and screamed. His eyes shed with madness and fear? Ah! Aaaaah! This monster monster! Do not look at me with those dreadful eyes! Do not gaze upon me with your four eyes! Demon from the abyss! You cant touch me! Huh? Monster? Demon? Did he, like Jang Hyeon-deok, go mad at the sight of my mask in an instant? I need skin to wrap around me. I must be enveloped in skin imbued with their souls and spirits! Pain and despair will protect me! The apostle of Yog-Sothoth promised to take me away! No, it wasnt because of the mask. The content of his words was too strange to be simply about the mask. I have seen it! We must journey to that distant realm, the cradle of life, the sanctuary of souls! Beyond the horizon lies a ce that is our world yet not our world! A haven without veils, filled with the calm and quiet unknown, to which we must depart! Hold on. These words were something I never heard even in the game. What was he talking about? A ce that is our world yet not our world? A haven filled with the calm and quiet unknown? We must escape this twisted, ruined, decaying, and crumbling world! We must leave! We must set out on a journey! Urghhh! Chapter 54: Dimensional Species Chapter 54: Dimensional Species White foam trickled from the corners of his mouth. Shrrrrrr [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Before I knew it, he was holding a vicious chain in his hand. So much for dialogue; was it straight into battle mode now? The USB wasnt the issue. I needed to figure out where he got this nonsense from and what had led him to spout such madness. At that moment, Je Mu-gyeong started to move violently while swinging the chain with ferocity. Whoooosh!!! The chain flew through the air as if it were tearing through a wall of air itself. Holy shit! Crazy, was this the sound a chain was supposed to make? [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Transparent protective circles formed at a speed faster than the iing chains. I already knew he was unreasonably strong. A singleyer wouldnt be enough to stop him. Crack, crack, crack!!! I managed to form five protective circles, but four of them were shredded like paper. Tch, cant we just talk, mask to mask! From within the sackcloth wrapped around Je Mu-gyeong, two additional arms emerged. A powerful body covered with bursting muscles. Unlike other test subjects, his four arms were symmetrically and proportionately attached. And each hand had six fingers. This reminded me of the creature I had seen in the pharmaceutical warehouse, the type D biological tissue sample. He looked like that small creature. Well, It wasnt an exact match, but it seemed like that monstrous creature could grow into something resembling Je Mu-gyeongs current form. It was inevitable. If those little monsters were to grow up, theyd turn into Je Mu-gyeongs. Je Mu-gyeong was the most terrible failure and, paradoxically, the only sess among the specimens created in the [Ga-5060 Secret Research Facility] disguised as an abandoned hospital. And what I had secured in the ss bottle was a clone of Je Mu-gyeong. It might be an unpleasant term, but it wouldnt be wrong to call it his offspring. Anyway, talking was now out of the question. I had thought it to be the most cost-effective strategy if it could seed, but the worst oue awaited me. It was time to set aside any notion of dialogue and proceed with what I had originally intended to do. I needed to seize the USB that was somewhere on him. To do that Use only spells that wont damage the USB while dealing with such an enemy? I had assured Curtain Call that I could handle it alone, but it was no easy task. Recklessly unleashing lightning or any other potentially explosive attack could destroy the program contained within the USB. And that wasnt the end of it. The sackcloth he was wrapped in was not just for show. It was an artifact created at the cost of mythical madness and exquisite ritual steeped in the lore of the Cthulhu Mythos. As long as he wore it, Je Mu-gyeong would possess a strong resistance to magic. This item was on apletely different level from the local area magic nullification that Leopard from earlier could barely produce. There are degrees to handicap matches! I decided to put some distance between us. If I got caught by that monstrous mass of muscle, I would be instantly reduced to minced meat. [Leap] Dazzling patterns of light begin to bloom on my clothes. Paaa I leaped backward. A long trail of light followed my movement. The gap between the creature and me widened and I quickly found myself outside the room. The corridor wasnt particrly spacious, but it was far better than the cramped surgery room, which was no ce to fight an opponent like this. Je Mu-gyeong was momentarily shaking with an uneasy expression before he charged at me while swinging his chains. On the additional arms attached to his side, arge hammer and a saw somehow appeared. Ah, just give me a moment to regroup! [Lock] Crash! I used my magic to shut the door. Then, I poured more magical power into reinforcing the door. [Hardening] [Protective Circle] [Metal Heating] A double barrier was set up on the surgery room door, which began to glow red-hot due to the intense heat forcibly applied to it. Could it hold for a minute? No, perhaps just 30 seconds? Boom!!! Damn it, shouldnt he at least stop for ten seconds out of courtesy? It wasnt just the door; the walls surrounding the door were also torn apart. Amidst hurling the walls and door, Je Mu-gyeong spouted bizarre words with a deranged expression on his face as if he had gone mad. I must escape this world I must get out Help me Lend me that skin! Ah, yes, thats exactly what I wanted to talk about! Um but what did you say you wanted to borrow? Skin! The skin! Give me that skin! Give me your skin! The sound of chains ttering filled the air as the iron hook flew towards me. Thunder No! [Chains of Domination]! [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Seven strands of iron chains formed in all directions, each emitting a dazzling golden light as they seized Je Mu-gyeongs iron hook. Ugh, quite heavy! |Stop.| The iron hook came to a halt in mid-air with a grating sound of metal. For a moment, Je Mu-gyeong seemed taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. Hey! Je Mu-gyeong! Skin man! Skin! Ah, I was so rushed that I couldnt form a proper sentence. Before Je Mu-gyeong could say anything else, I managed toplete my thought. You know what it is! Tell me! What is needed to escape this world? Thats right, Je Mu-gyeong could know. Because Yes Yes I know. I can tear through the veil that covers this world and set off beyond that distant sea of stars, to the deep, deep abyss that exists beyond that, to the calm and quiet unknownnd beyond that! Ah, well done! Yes, you can do it, Je Mu-gyeong! Yes, Je Mu-gyeong possessed a unique ability. Originally, he had the ability to glimpse beyond the veil that enveloped the world of [Cthulhu World]. Helistics crazy scientists had infused his body with the DNA of various species and the fluids of abyssal beings, transforming Je Mu-gyeong into a being that was no longer human. They revealed it to me. Those who walk between dimensions and have the wisdom of the abyss and the power of the other world told me! They epted me as one of their own, as part of their kin. They whispered to me the way to escape this world! A way to escape from this world where destruction is approaching, where even death itself will perish in the approaching abyss! So, what the hell is that supposed to mean? The answer that came after such a long wait was fu*k. It was just absurd nonsense. A mage who gained infinite wisdom, magic, and madness after gazing into the abyss. The only way is to skin that mage and wear his skin. Thats all there is to it! At that moment, Je Mu-gyeongs form began to blur. The tension in the chains ckened. Oh, shit! Before I could react, Je Mu-gyeong hadpletely vanished. Reborn through the modifications of Helistic, Je Mu-gyeong became a monster who could hear the whispers from beyond the dimensions, tear through the veil on his own, and move to the other side of dimensions at will. A dimensional species created by human hands. That is what Je Mu-gyeong is. He hasnt moved far. However, Je Mu-gyeong who was merely a prototype,cked the energy and magical power to freely leap between dimensions and depart for other worlds. I retrieved the magical power contained in the chains of domination and expanded my senses. Behind the wall? I detected his magical power along with the sound of nging chains right beyond the wall behind my back. Crack! Crunch! Before I could do anything, Je Mu-gyeong burst through the wall behind me. He was charging at me with a creepyrge saw that emitted a shing light. It was a headlong rush with arge saw leading the way. Aaah, piece of shit! With a body boasting a mere agility of 8, it was an attack of absurd speed and force that was simply too fast for me to properly react. To naively trust in a protective circle and face it head-on would be fatal! [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Dreamy Blur, has been activated. // Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] I felt a strange feeling of the mask covering my face pulling me away. The space around me twisted. The magic imbued in the mask teleported me to a different location in an instant. The activation of Blink, a top-tier survival spell that allowed for short-distance teleportation in dangerous moments, had saved me. [Blinkplete. Cooldown: 864,000 seconds] His attack sliced through the air in vain. In the next moment, I found myself appearing right behind Je Mu-gyeong. With his intended target suddenly vanished, he lost his bnce and stumbled forward. It was an attackunched with tremendous force. He could not ovee the momentum that pushed him onward and crashed into the wall.is what I thought would happen, but instead, he swung his four arms and pounded the ground. Boooom! This recoil stopped his charge in its tracks. What kind of monster was this? No, thats not right. He didnt move like this in the game. He wasnt this strong, nor did he attack so recklessly. Somethings different from the game. It reminded me of myst encounter with Lee Chang-hyeok. In the game, Lee Chang-hyeok transformed into an absurd monster by opening the bag that couldnt be opened within the game. A strength and madness far different from his game settings. This guy must have opened something that couldnt be opened in the game, or seen something that couldnt be seen in the game, right? And then there were the other recent incidents: the ghoul shaman, Jang Hyeon-deok, and now Je Mu-gyeong alongside Curtain Call. NPCs deviating from their game settings. Its not certain, but Je Mu-gyeongsplete breakdown probably urred around the same time as the other NPCs. Je Mu-gyeong, you crazy bastard! Stop obsessing over your damn skin and tell me the real way! How can I escape this world? You need to hammer a hook into the top of the head, carve a slit in the chest, and start from the mouth to peel off the skin. All these must be done while the subject is still alive. What are you saying? Are you going to skin me alive? What are you saying! Be reasonable, you lunatic! Whooosh! With utter disregard for dialogue, he suddenly hurled a hammer at me. This damned bastard. [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Amplification: Maximization] Crash! Baang! With no time to dodge or block, Iunched an energy arrow enhanced with explosive power. Thanks to my precise control over my magical power, the Arrow of Destruction exploded at the perfect timing and angle and managed to alter the trajectory of the hammer. Agh Conversely, it could be said that barely altering its course was all I could manage. But the hammer wasnt the end of it. Before I knew it, he leaped forward with tremendous physical force, creating an impact that was enough to shatter the floor. Boooom! Good grief Je Mu-gyeongs massive body, armed with a saw flew towards me. Wait, this timing is off; this could be dangerous. This attack carried even more destructive power than the previous charge. Blink was already used up. I had to choose the fastest spell I could activate despite the potential loss Heaaaaaad!! At that moment, a bright red sh came out of nowhere and flew towards Je Mu-gyeongs head White hair stained and mottled with blood, a cool leather jacket that still managed to shine with a red gloss, and a zanbato swordrger than the giant saw that Je Mu-gyeong was holding. It was Curtain Call. Just as her overhead strike was about to impale Je-mukyeongs head, he grabbed the hammer lying on the ground and blocked her attack. aanggg!!! Chapter 55: Terminal Lucidity Chapter 55: Terminal Lucidity Curtain Calls habit of announcing her attacks may be because she had a strange obsession. However, the reason she was able to maintain her reputation as a promising fixer was because her opponents would often be cleaved in two as they clumsily defended her attacks. Curtain Call demonstrated her incredible skill by slicing Je Mu-gyeongs crude hammer vertically in two. However, Je Mu-gyeong grasped the bisected hammer with both hands and swung it fiercely, managing to deflect Curtain Calls assault. He then used his remaining strength tounch an attack on Curtain Call with his other two arms. Hwaaaap! Letting out a fierce battle cry mid-air, Curtain Call coiled her body and forcefully plunged her zanbato into the ground. She then yanked on the zanbato andunched both herself and her weapon through the air. Such movements showcased an uncanny strength far beyond what seemed physically possible for someone of her weight and height. For a brief moment, the battle between these two monsters raged on. Curtain Call made use of her small size and overwhelming strength as she started darting in all directions. She looked like a small whirlwind with a huge de attached to it. ng-ng-ng-ng! Je Mu-gyeong managed to block Curtain Calls attack with his chains, but the assault was far from over. Curtain Call spun around with renewed vigor and repeatedly struck Je Mu-gyeongs chains. The zanbato she wielded was swung not so much to slice as it was hammered down like a cksmiths hammer pounding on an anvil, creating a shower of sparks as it shed with the chains. Die, die, die, die!!! Bleed out all your blood and die!!!! However, their entanglement was short-lived. Je Mu-gyeongs abilities were not limited to his immense strength and the four arms that moved at will. Suddenly, Je Mu-gyeongs figure blurred and then disappeared altogether. With her weight shifted too much on the zanbato, Curtain Call swung at thin air, lost her bnce, and her posture crumbled. Je Mu-gyeong then emerged from a blind spot with his hammer already brandished in his hand and the huge hammer was now hurtling towards Curtain Call. Holy shit. Stop it, brute! [Fireball] Iunched a fireball towards Je Mu-gyeong in an attempt to protect Curtain Call. The sackcloth made from human skin provided Je Mu-gyeong with remarkable magical defense, but it wasnt impervious to the impact. Boooom!! I was concerned that the explosion might damage the USB he possessed so the st was intentionally contained. The explosion spread only as far as Je Mu-gyeongs head and this alone was insufficient to inflict a fatal wound on him. It seems trying to extract any information through dialogue is now off the table. I had been foolish to even attempt dialogue. Wasting energy on such futile stuff was a mistake. It was time to give up and look for another way to clear the quest. But how? The magical defenses of the sackcloth he wore remained intact, and until I could seize the USB he possessed, burning, crushing, or incinerating him was not an option. And a single mistake would reduce me to just another set of dismembered remains scattered throughout this corridor. Ah, dismembered remains? There was a simpler way, after all. I had hoped to avoid resorting to such measures, but there seemed no other choice. I conjured a temporary telekic force and pulled out an artifact from my backpack before I started conjuring a magic circle. Dozens of sinister purple magic circles imbued with the malevolent power of theherworld formed and started spreading a chilling mist of ominous energy in all directions. Hssss [Plea of the Starving Dead] An unpleasant sulfuric stench filled the air, apanied by bell-like sounds that seemed almost hallucinatory. Ding, ding, The corpses strewn across the corridor began to twitch. After absorbing my magical power, the artifact I had activated, the silver bell of the underworld defied the establishedws and raised the dead scattered around. Feed your hunger, you who died bearing grudges. Guoooo Kuuuuuu Most of the bodies in the corridor began to stir. Those crazy bastards had cut them into pieces so much that only a few of them had enough of their limbs intact to stand. This spell wasnt the one to conjure the zombies one might typically imagine. Creating undead that moved under mymand, like zombies, would require far more conditions. These beings would not heed anymand other than to exact retribution upon those who had killed them. Moreover, the consumption of magical power was ridiculously inefficient and the duration was far too short. But what does it matter? Right now, all I have is magical power. [The unique effect of the S-rank magical tool Silver Bell of the Underworld , Pure Silvers Madness, has been activated. // Pure Silvers Madness: Grants Mental IllnessViolence to summoned creatures and increases their attack power by 100%.] Artificially raised corpses rushed towards their target, driven by immense hatred and hunger. Those without legs crawled and those without arms charged forward using their teeth and skulls. Even those who had lost both arms and legs moved towards their target like insects, inching forward however they could. A cold-hearted fighter might ignore these creatures and attack me, the summoner, but instead of doing that He who has lost his skin cannot stand up! Je Mu-gyeong, like a madman, began destroying everything that came his way with insane fervor. Shrrrrrrrrrrr The sound of metal chains attached to hooks danced through the air. Skin that came into contact with the chains was torn, and anything caught by the hooks, be it head or limb, was ripped away in an instant. It was like a grotesque storm made of blood and bodies. But the fearless undead rushed into that terrible storm of destruction like moths drawn to mes. Crushhh, Grjjjjjj! The handsaw he held in one hand emitted a chilling sh as it tore through the advancing corpses. Crunch! Just because a body is not holding a weapon does not mean it is not a threat. The head of a corpse caught in his grip was crushed. Thwack! With a vicious kick, he sent the head of a crawling corpse flying like a cannonball before smashing into another body and shattering it. Gurgle Gurgle. Rotten blood slowly poured out from the neck of a decapitated corpse. I didnt believe that these hastily assembled corpses would be able to stop him anyway. [Entangling Rope] [Spell Enhancement: Strength Increase] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Whooosh!! It was a simple spell to manipte ropes but its power was enhanced through spell enhancement And if power was insufficient, quantity wouldpensate! Je Mu-gyeong, the bodies of the corpses scattered by that crazy bastard still retain the magical power I had imbued in them. Intestines began to slither out from the corpses like snakes. The onught of iron chains started to be entwined and restrained by dozens of intestine strands. Swoosh! Damn it, his iron hook was flying towards me. But there was no need to defend. I had already seen Curtain Call moving. Heaaaaaad!!! It was unclear where the head was on the iron hook, but Curtain Calls sword flew in like lightning and struck down the approaching hook, allowing me toplete the magic I had prepared. Arghhh! Dozens, or perhaps hundreds, of intestine strands hadpletely entwined around Je Mu-gyeongs body. Even with increased strength, could they stop him for more than 10 seconds? No, perhaps not even 5 seconds. He thrashed and iled around like a freshly caught fish. But before he could escape the entanglement of intestines found it! One of the intestines crawling over his body finally discovered the USB hidden within his grasp. Swiftly, the intestines moved to snatch the USB from him. Good, there were no more items left to take. Hey, have you had fun so far? Now, it was my turn. The intestines that had been restraining Je Mu-gyeongs movements began to snap. But at this point, intestines or such were of no use to me. [Cold Explosion] Hiss! Crack! Waves of ice magic exploded in all directions. The blood and bodily fluids leaking from the corpses bodies instantly froze and turned into bright red des of blood. Crackle! I will strip away your wisdom, your very soul! Ah, seriously. What about my skin? The ice magic I conjured devoured even his pouring blood before transforming it into crimson des of ice. Despite the tightening grip of these icy des piercing and shing at his body, Je Mu-gyeongs charge did not falter. Truly, it was the charge of a madman. I too did not stop but constructed a new magic circle. It was a zing red magic circle made up of bright red runes. [The unique effect of the S-rank essory Ring of Corrupted me has been activated. Red Element Concentration and Legacy of Fire Knowledge has been activated // Red Element Concentration: Increases the effectiveness of all fire-type spells by 50%. // Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Enhances understanding of fire-type magic.] [Hellfire] Whoooooooooosh! Roaring mes burst forth like the breath of a dragon, twisting and forming into a massive whirlwind that surged toward him with ferocity. Booooom! But with a mere wave of his four arms, he pushed back the storm of heat. Ah, that damned magic resistance! [Ice Spear] Crasssssh! Spears of blood ice erupted from beneath his feet. Je Mu-gyeong demonstrated his immense strength by shattering the rising ice spears with a kick but at that very moment [Thunderbolt] A bolt of electricity emitting a pure white sh flew toward him in aplex trajectory. Fizzzzzzz! Crackle! He was unable to dodge the sudden lightning strike. Argh It was but a moment of stiffness, yet it created a fatal opening. [Invisible Hand] A magical hand that exerted telekic power threw an object that had been hidden until now. It was Valusias Blue Elixir. Whizzzzzz! The bottle reached above his head, and at that precise moment, the magic was activated. [Arrow of Destruction] Bang! The bottle was hit by a bolt ofherworld energy and was easily shattered. Ssssshhh [Valusias Blue Elixir (S-rank Catalyst): One of the potions used by the ancient serpent people. It contains a corrosively potent poison that can be deadly, so its dangerous to use without proper purification.] A corrosive poison that was capable of effortlessly dissolving human skin was unleashed on him. Chiieeeeeek The skin that covered his body began to melt away. Aaaargh! No! Stop! Dont do this! My skin! I cant be without my skin! Madness, confusion, terror, and despair filled his eyes. Any sane person would have stripped off the skin tainted with the corrosive poison. But even though the poison threatened to seep beyond the sin and into his very flesh, he did not do so. A bitter feeling arose within me. Perhaps I could end up like that too. This madness and obsession were beyond my control. The mask made of human skin that was covering Je Mu-gyeongs face was now gone. Although his bare body was revealed after losing the mask and sackcloth, I still couldnt discern his features. This was because the corrosive poison had melted away half of his face, along with the mask. Anyway, the artifact that had been protecting him was now gone. [Burning Spear] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Shiiiiiek Four spears created by condensing mes flew forward. And it was at that moment that I saw it. The look in his eyes changed. Uh Aaah! Crack!! Je Mu-gyeong screamed as he intercepted the spears of me. He swung his saw and arm to knock two aside and twisted his body to dodge another, but it wasnt perfect. Crack. Thest spear of me he couldnt evade pierced through his body. Even the hand that had swatted the spears wasnt unscathed. In the act of batting away the spears with his bare hands, he had nearly lost all the fingers on one hand. And Je Mu-gyeong who momentarily halted in that state slowly opened his mouth. Keke Quite the strong one you are. His way of speaking hadpletely changed. The voice and tone were entirely different from before. It felt as though I was listening to a different person speak. Was this a moment of terminal lucidity? A brief return to sanity after losing the source of his madness, the skin, and being cornered? But even so, that didnt change the fact that now I had the upper hand. Chapter 56: Conclusion Chapter 56: Conclusion He had already sustained a fatal injury and lost his artifact. Whats this, youvee to your senses? Khaaaak. Ptui. Instead of answering, he spat out a clot of blood and then raised his saw. You have a hole in your stomach, and you still want to continue? It is true that I momentarily lost control of my mind, but the knowledge I havee to understand is not false. This world is a hell on the brink of destruction. For those who cannot escape, what remains is a life worse than death. There is only the terrible despair of neither death nor life. Hmm I have something I want to ask about that. Are you crazy, Kim Shin-hwa? Do you have no sense of the situation? The voice of Curtain Call rose up sharply. Oh, please. Anyway, I still have questions that need to be resolved. But Je Mu-gyeong responded with a firm voice. All I want from you is your skin. Ah, this guy is really crazy. Still harping on about the skin? He seemed to have broken free from his delirium, yet his obsession and madness had not faded. He had gazed into the abyss in his own way. Let me tell you something, though I know what you seek in the USB you took from me. What lies beyond will be of no help to you. What did he mean? Ah, I see. I understand now. I realized why Je Mu-gyeong was waiting for me in a state of madness even more intense than what I had seen in the game. Je Mu-gyeong! You saw that book.in the basement, didnt you? Among the hidden rewards avable in this hospital was a grimoire. I even remember the title clearly. It was called The Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path. The message window at that time had described it as a book containing information about the afterlife and the world of dreams and how to achieve enlightenment. The powers it conferred, and the madness it induced, were far more extreme than anything portrayed by the games lore. It was unmistakable that the knowledge gained from reading that book had led to his current state. That book I should not have read it There is knowledge in this world that we do not need to possess, knowledge that is unnecessary for living in this world From the knowledge in that book, I became aware of the power of dimensional species and heard the voicesing from the abyss This was a world in [Cthulhu World] that waspletely different from the world I lived in. In this ce, there were only hideous truths and wisdom steeped in despair. Premature enlightenment does nothing but shatter fragile minds. Now, he is pleading with me to end his life. If I refuse, I might find myself killed with my skin stripped away. Perhaps, as he believes, ying my skin might create a means to escape this world But for now, it seems like a temporaryfort. Je Mu-gyeong adopted a stance entirely different from before. This must be his true posture for attack. It was a stark contrast from the frenzied rush of a madman who relied solely on brute strength and momentum. Perhaps, since my arrival here, the setting of the [Cthulhu World] has started to diverge from that of the game? Je Mu-gyeong inciting the test subjects to rebel was within the scope of the games setting. However, reading the grimoire in the meantime and gaining strength far beyond what was predetermined, along with an even more potent madness, was certainly beyond the intended scope of the setting. Perhaps because he thought there was no need to say anything more, he changed his stance and stepped forward. Thud! His body flew away with a dull impact sound that made the entire building vibrate. The assault continued with charge after charge, but this time it was utterly different. His body was damaged, and he had but a single weapon left yet I instinctively knew this attack was the most dangerous of them all. [Protective Circle] [Spell Amplification: Multicasting] [Frost Wall]. [Hardening] Fiveyers of protective circles and a wall made of frozen blood collected from corpses block his path. Baaaang! But all of these defensive spells shatteredughably. [Leap] One must not remain in the same spot. I had to move fast, faster still. [Protective Circle] [Impact] I executed a double jump in the expanse of thin air and then kicked off the wall to propel myself further. Crash! Boom-boom-boom! His attack flew to the spot where I was standing a second ago, if not a millisecond ago. Any attempt to evade his blows based on mere sight was a sure path towards death. By this time, the area was filled with my magical power. Everything must be judged by the sensation of reading magical power, not by sight and hearing. Even his formidable destructive power originated from his own magical power. His will directed the flow of his magic; I needed to intercept and respond with my own spells at a speed that surpassed what he could realize through his will. [Arrow of Destruction] I slipped in some offensive magic between leaps. I didnt even have the time to strengthen the spells. My painstakingly cast magic was effortlessly severed by a mere swipe of his saw as if cutting through air. Still, I couldnt stop. I had to scatter the simplest and quickest spells I could muster, with relentless speed. Whooooosh! Ice shards scattered in all directions. Streams of lightning forked out in dozens of directions, followed by arrows of glowing magical power soaring through the air. Yet, all those spells were swept away by a single monstrous wave of his saw. Ice pirs were sliced in an instant, lightning was deflected, and a few arrows were simply taken head-on as he charged forward. It seemed like an endless exchange, but the first to tire was not me, but Je Mu-gyeong. Its humanly wrong to fight this long with a gaping hole in your stomach. He had to pause momentarily to vomit the blood that was welling up in his mouth. Three seconds? No, it must have been about a second. That was enough. [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] A huge fireball was hurtled towards him. It was too big to fend off. In the end, he chose to dodge but it was all ording to n. As he evaded, a second fireball was already on its way to where he had moved. Launched right after the first, itpletely cornered him. There was no escape! Boom! The huge fireball exploded around him. Fierce mes and a st. [Earthquake Strike] Rumble Boom! It was a spell designed to shake the ground and cause it to copse. This was the third floor, where stable ground was non-existent. The floor, which had repeatedly been forcibly frozen and burned, was already at its limit. Unable to withstand the vibrations, the floor cracked open. Copse! Boom! Kuaaaaaa! The floor gave way, and rocks fell with it, and the massive figure of Je Mu-gyeong plummeted to the second floor. Phew There was nothing I needed on the second floor. It wouldnt matter if it all burned down. [Burning Spear] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Strength Increase] Arge magic circle formed horizontally in the air, facing the hole through which he had fallen. To subdue him, an incredibly powerful attack was necessary. From therge magic circle, with a diameter of 2 meters, a spear of absurd proportions wasunched. It was more akin to a pir or a tower than a spear, such was the scale of the magic. Rumble-rumble Whooooooooooosh! A pir of me struck him, unleashing an immense amount of fire in all directions. The entire second floor was engulfed in mes. The erupted mes then moved ording to my will and condensed into a whirlwind of fire. Everything trapped inside was reduced to ash, leaving not even a trace behind. Standing on the third floor, I was sted by fierce hot winds. The heat was so intense that even my [me Resistance] couldnt fully block it. It felt like an eternity of death had passed. Now, there was nothing left on the second floor. Everything caught in the massive whirlwind of fire was burned to dust, leaving behind only small embers and ash swirling like dust. A strangely shaped scorch marky where Je Mu-gyeong previously stood, which remained to indicate his demise in this ce. Phew This was no easy feat. The issue wasnt the power. I had perfectly controlled the heat and mes to prevent the building from catching fire. It was a surreal level of control that transcended the limits allowed to second-order mages. I think Im more exhausted because of that Next time, it would be better to fight outdoors if possible. The remaining enemies were now [Achievement Unlocked! You have subdued all the test subjects in the secretboratory. You have earned the General Achievement: Hospital Janitor. As a reward for this achievement, you receive the artifact Butchers Hook and additional experience points.] The [Butchers Hook] was the hook attached to the chain that Je Mu-gyeong had swung around. Huh What am I supposed to do with this? [Butchers Hook (S-rank Weapon): This is the hook that Je Mu-gyeong, who had taken over the secretboratory, possessed. Madness: When equipped, a forced sanity check is initiated. If you fail this sanity check triggered by the effect, your mind will be imbued with Mental illnessKilling Frenzy. Blood Weapon: Automatically casts stored [Blood] attribute spells. However, this ability requires blood to be charged to use. Time of ughter: Increases the probability of inflicting critical and bleeding damage by 100% on all attacks targeting humans. Proof of ughter: Increases the power of necromancy spells by 100%.] Ah, there was a magic enhancement effect. But its not like carrying around a magic wand, and its just too cumbersome for me to use. Its length was 60cm after all. Its already inconvenient enough to move around during the day because of the mask, and now they expect me to carry this around? Still, there mighte a time when it could be useful So, for the time being, I slipped it into my belt like one would a sword. [ Subdue all the psychics upying the abandoned hospital and restore the facility to a safe condition. Remaining Targets: 58/58 ! The abandoned hospital is not yet in a safe state!] Not yet. It seems the two I couldnt catch on the first floor were hiding on the second. I checked the USB in my hand. Haah If it werent for this, I could have finished them off much sooner. [You have subdued all the test subjects that were controlling Helistics secretboratory and essed the hidden information. Helistic, which has continued research on the potential of humans, will remember your help.] The generic message that appears at the end of each quest started to disy in the message window. From the start, I was not fond of it, but what truly irked me was the tone that seemed to arbitrarily abbreviate my actions or guide them in a specific direction. [You have made the Ga-5060 secretboratory a safe ce. Experience points gained.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated test subjects of the abandoned hospital (58). Your understanding of mutants had increased.] [You have defeated test subject Je Mu-gyeong. Your understanding of dimensional species has significantly increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Discovery: You have acquired a secret item from theboratory (1). Experience points gained.] [Discovery: You have uncovered a secret ce within the abandoned hospital. Experience points gained.] [Achievement Unlocked! You havepleted The Abandoned Hospital of Gamaksan Mountain quest faster than anyone else. You have earned the General Achievement: Speed Star of the Abandoned Hospital. As a reward for this achievement, you gain the Type C Biologic Tissue Sample and additional experience points.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (2) achievements in the Ga-5060 secretboratory.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 25! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] I pondered where to allocate the bonus stat point. I considered adding 1 point to health to achieve a total of 8 points in health, but it wasnt an easy decision. From the beginning, when deciding on character stats, I had already nned out how to distribute the stats gained from leveling up. I had a rough n from the character creation stage about the order in which to collect certain artifacts and which quests to undertake. It was time to increase charm. In fact, because I had previously allocated the bonus to health instead of charm, my n had already gone slightly awry. I really need to find a health-boosting artifact soon to get it up to 8. In the end, I decided to allocate the stat point to charm. *** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 25 Magic Order: Second Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia] Strength: 5(+3) (Ring of Corrupted me) Health: 7 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 14 Charm: 18 *** Chapter 57: Mi-go’s Laboratory (1) Chapter 57: Mi-gos Laboratory (1) Whats going on, Kim Shin-hwa? Why are you like that? It was Curtain Call who said that. From her perspective, it must have seemed odd for me to stand still while gazing into the empty air. And with a mask on, it would have been impossible to guess what I was thinking. No, wait. Just give me a moment. You look like youre seeing a hallucination. I doubted she could see my expression under the mask, but Curtain Calls observation was so spot-on that I hesitated for a moment before mumbling a response. Well its not that. Its because Im a mage. There were many things about mages that warriors didnt grasp, so that should suffice. Sure enough, Curtain Call seemed to contemte this for a moment before nodding her head in agreement. Right, because youre a mage. Ill wait. [How long can your previous knowledge protect you? As long as the beings from the abyss are watching, the day maye when that very knowledge turns into a curse. Yet, you might ovee even such obstacles. Remember, time is running out!] Go ahead, pour on the scorn. Well, the message disyed isnt entirely incorrect. Someday, the knowledge Ive relied on might indeed be a curse. Thats all the more reason to understand how this world is changing and where it is heading. Turning my head, I saw Curtain Call waiting with a look of boredom on her face. This one is also a puzzle I need to solve But for now, we are allies, albeit temporarily, as there was still some unfinished business we have to do. Its over now. Really? What were you saying? Does this woman know something? Who said what? Werent you talking to the friend in your head? I almost misunderstood her but it turned out to be a different conversation. I cant im my mind is entirely sound, but Im not mad in that way, so dont worry. Is that so? How boring. Sorry for making you wait, but we need to get moving. The manager of Helistic might barge in at any moment. Were off to extract data from theb, right? Exactly. Im not cut out for that sort of thing, so Im counting on you. Its not a big deal. Yeah, yeah. Lets go,e on. Curtain Call responded with ack of enthusiasm and picked up her magic sword. To prepare for any contingencies, I created a magical rm and attached it to the window, and I was surrounded by protective spells as we moved. The building, already in disarray from the stir caused by the test subjects, became even more dreadful with the marks of battle left by Curtain Call and me. Fireballs, tidal waves, lightning strikes, earthquakes, and even holes in the floorsome of which went down to the first level. Through one such hole, the crushed wreck of a car was visible. The third floor was littered withpletely torn bodies. Youve really turned this ce upside down, Kim Shin-hwa. Well, Im at a loss for words. Even I had gone so far as to turn them into zombies, and I extracted their organs to use them as weapons, which made the chaos on the third floor even more horrific than when I first entered this ce. Everywhere, there were gruesome clumps formed by a mixture of charred ck fluid, flesh, blood, and viscera. All of this was my doing, but I had indeed gone to extreme lengths. It was astonishing that the building was still standing intact. Before long, we reached the office of theboratory director which was located in the most secluded corner of the third floor. As this room housed some of the most crucial and sensitive information in the building, it was secured with a specially reinforced security system, unlike other parts of the hospital. Only this wall is still in good condition? The inner side of this wall is reinforced with metal. Its like theyve created a sort of bomb shelter. Then, is it possible that the director is hiding here? No. Since the face skin that Je Mu-gyeong was wearing belonged to the director, thats unlikely. Ah, that face was the directors? Yes. Moreover, this room was equipped with its own power supply and server and it waspletely isted from the outside. If only this room remained intact, the dual contract quest could proceed without any issues. The door was locked, but at this point, that was merely a trivial thing. I didnt even pause in my stride towards the door before casting a spell. [Unlock] Click. Creaaaaaaak. Unless magically sealed, there was no door I couldnt open. And even if it was magically sealed, it would only be a matter of time before it could be bypassed. It wasnt a significant obstacle. What? It doesnt open with that USB? No, the USB is needed to ess the mainputer. This is unnecessarilyplicated. Whats all this about? The directors office was a very typical and outdated setup. There was arge leather sofa, a bookshelf filled with volumes, and a desk with aputer on it. There were bloodstains and books scattered randomly around the ce. Arge executive chair that had been beside the desk was now tipped over and pushed to the far corner. The traces of Je Mu-gyeongs visit were all clear to see. However,pared to other areas of the hospital, it could be considered rtively tidy. There was no real need to investigate this room further. Unless one was specifically interested in undeniable evidence of Helistics involvement in the facility or the research processes of the test subjects, there wasnt much else to see. Helistic was a corporation of mad scientists researching eternal life, immortality, and the supernatural potential of humans. Well, anyway! I set the overturned executive chair upright and took a seat. Pheww. How much does this chair cost? Its incredibly cushy. The marshmallow-like cushion enveloped my hips, while the ergonomically curved backrest tenderly supported my back and waist. Ah As I surrendered to thefort of thisrge, luxurious chair, my tension naturally dissolved and my eyes began to close Kim Shin-hwa, what are you doing? Are you dumb? Ah, please. Im not as resilient as you. I casually responded and plugged the USB into theputer. It served as a sort of data key Upon inserting it into theputer, the dedicated program was automatically activated. The specified program window opened on the monitor, and a message appeared. This program can only be operated by personnel with specified security clearance. Please enter the password if you seek authorization. The password could only be discovered by solving a certain puzzle hidden on the second floor. Even though I was a stagnant water who had cleared the same game numerous times, I couldnt possibly memorize a password meant for one-time use in such a ce. Moreover, the password was M1g05WI+I15|73I2. Before acquiring such abilities in this world, it would have been a password impossible to memorize even if asked. However, thanks to an intelligence stat of 30, I could recall every minor sentence and text I had seen in the game. Therefore, I was able to effortlessly enter the 17-character password which was a random jumble of special characters, numbers, and letters. Authorization granted. The program starts running with that robotic message. Whirrrrr Whats that? Its not a big deal, so dont worry and just wait. Whirrrrr You could feel the slight feeling of floating that you often experience in an elevator, along with a slight vibration sound that echoed throughout the room. Magic could unlock any door no matter how securely it was sealed. However, there was no spell to operate an elevator that worked exclusively with a dedicated program. This directors office was, in and of itself, a huge elevator. The only way down to the basement was through this. The elevator moved at a slow pace while continuing its descent. The basement was not merely the depth of a single room. If it were that shallow, it would have been easier to simply break through the floor with magic rather than go through all this trouble. But this elevator was currently descending nearly ten meters underground, which was too far for my detection spells to feel. Creaaaak The movement of the directors office came to a halt. Now, if I were to get up and walk out the door that would be it that would be it but my behind just wouldnt lift from the seat. Ugh I wanted to stay seated a little longer, but this was not the time. Haaah Moreover, considering what awaited me outside, this was no time to indulge in such trivial stuff. In the basement awaited an event even more unsettling than anything I had seen on the third floor. Creak I opened the door of the directors office. A scenepletely different from the first floor of the hospital I had just seen unfolded before me. The basement was dark. Lighting fixtures were installed, but knowing they wouldnt turn on, I felt no need to tamper with them. [Dancing mes] Whoosh A cluster of light flickered and danced into existence from the tips of my fingers. The vast expanse of the basement revealed itself. The size appeared to be roughly 300 square meters. Inexplicable machinery and boxes of goods were haphazardly piled up inside. Normally, they should have been neatly arranged ording to standard but it seems that Je Mu-gyeongs condition became erratic and he caused a ruckus here. Most of what met the eye here consisted of familiar equipment in the world of the game, or rather even outside it in the real world. However, I couldnt help but notice the asional presence of strange devices that simply couldnt exist in our reality. Special devices monopolized byrge corporations operating in secret in the darkness of [Cthulhu World]. They are not the mainstreamputers avable to the public but are realputers crafted by stealing alien technologies. Upon encountering these mysterious devices, Curtain Call remarked with a look of astonishment on her face. What are these tacky toys? A sharp critique indeed. Just because theseputers were fashioned using alien technology and are ahead of their time doesnt mean their design is futuristic and sleek. The unveiledputers and mechanical devices bore a clunky and outdated appearance, reminiscent of what one might expect in a 60s or 70s sci-fi animation. With their analog dials resembling clocks, brightly colored oversized buttons, inscrutable antennas, and thick ss domes, they seemed like relics from another era. Even if viewed with the utmost generosity, these designs would not have emerged post-1990s. It might seem strange, but this is the result of downgrading alien technology to a form that humans can handle. [Remarkable Achievement Unlocked! You have discovered the Mi-go Laboratory hidden underground. You have earned the Advanced Achievement: Seeker of Mi-go Traces. As a reward for this achievement, you receive Mi-gos gift and additional experience points.] The sudden mention of the term Mi-go caught me off guard. Mi-go. One of the many extraterrestrial species in the Cthulhu Mythos originated from a distant corner of the cosmos, far beyond Earth. These beings possessed advanced scientific technology and mythical knowledge far surpassing that of humans. Naturally, since they were mythical creatures, merely witnessing their form poses the risk of mental copse due to their dangerous nature. Though, in the realm of [Cthulhu World] is there any monster that isnt dangerous.? Their lore indicates that they have established outposts on Pluto and the Moon and were subtly snooping around to siphon Earths resources. And guests from beyond the gxy who presented Helistic with wisdom that humans couldnt reach. This was the Mi-go. Chapter 58: Mi-go’s Laboratory (2) Chapter 58: Mi-gos Laboratory (2) But meeting the Mi-go was out of the question today. At the moment when Je Mu-gyeong and his friends initiated their rebellion, the Mi-go had already escaped from thisboratory. However, it was possible to encounter something else. Who is? An eerie voice filled the air. Whos there?! Hold on Curtain Call. Who is it? Why is it so dark? Kim Shin-hwa, what is that? That is an assistant of the Mi-go. The assistant of the Mi-go was the sole survivor among the researchers of this hospital. Though it was debatable whether this could still be considered survival. I didnt know its name. In the game, it was simply referred to as Migos assistant. The assistant of the Mi-go spoke to me. What on earth has happened? Youve been deceived by the Mi-go. Bubbling Bubbling There was nothing in the room that bore a human shape. Only arge ss tube was ced on the desk. It was a ss tube connected to a mechanical device of avant-garde design. Inside the ss tube was a living human brain. The very thing often joked about a brain in a jar. This was Mi-gos assistant. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The mental distortion has been nullified.] Bubbling The sound of bubbling emanated from the ss tube. A strangely modted human voice flowed from the speaker connected to the machine. The emotionless voice continued to pose questions to me. Why cant my body move? Where are the others? I want to go home The Mi-go often engaged in such perverse acts for the sake of their research. They would open a humans head, extract the brain, and imprison it in what they called a Mi-go Brain Cylinder. This wasnt something they did to just anyone Typically, they reserved this grotesque form of kindness for humans who caught their fancy. This was, in a manner of speaking, a gift from the Mi-go. Why consider this a gesture of goodwill or a gift? Who could possibly understand? With a culture and philosophy utterly alien to humanity, trying toprehend their actions was futile. If I were to enlighten this brain about its predicament, instead of driving it to madness, it would impart to me the madness and wisdom of the Cthulhu Mythos. And if I coax this brain well, I may be able to find out the truth about what happened here. But neither was of any real use to me. I had already experienced both paths in the game. Kim Shin-hwa, kill it! Suddenly, Curtain Call cried out. Just a moment. Ah. Kill it now! Wait. Instead, I turned off the life support system beneath the ss tube. Are you still nearby? Hello? Hello? Hello? Please say something I cant see anything Its dark so dark Its cold so cold so very cold Its cold Its cold so cold The [Mi-go Brain Cylinder] soon fell silent. Ha, is it dead? Yeah, its dead. What a nasty business. Haaah Indeed. It leaves behind a bad taste. If you go through events that are hostile to Helistic, you will have several more opportunities to confront the Mi-go race. When those timese, perhaps there will be an opportunity to shake off this foul mood. Curtain Call and I moved further into the Mi-gosboratory and soon discovered a special area. The first thing that caught our eye was arge surgery table. This was no ordinary surgery table. Each part of the table was equipped with restraints for the hands, feet, and torso. At the head of the table, there were ominous rotating saw des, drills, and mechanical arms whose purpose was difficult to discern. What is this bizarre thing? Its a rather sophisticated surgery table where lying here, those mechanical arms would automatically move to decapitate and extract the brain. How many had been decapitated here? Is this all there is to this ce? Just this horrendous stuff? You wanted toe here, and now all you have areints. I thought there would be more things to kill. What kind of remark was that? Im bored now, so Ill be by the elevator. Kim Shin-hwa, grab what you need ande quickly. Hmm, alright then. There wasnt anything here that could possibly interest Curtain Call anyway. What I needed was that book, the one that drove Je Mu-gyeong mad. Je Mu-gyeong had behaved entirely differently in the game. It was surely that book that had changed him. I need to escape this world. It wasnt strange for me who was an outsider to this world to harbor such thoughts, but why would Je Mu-gyeong who was a being of this worlde to think the same thing? And then there was that final message sent telepathically by the Mi-go researcher. All the secrets and clues must be connected to that grimoire. Ive found it I found an old manuscript with a red cover in a bookshelf of avant-garde design nearby. [The Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path Category: Grimoire Author: Unknown Year of Creation: 16th Century Language: Tibetan This book deals with the principles of life and death and the secrets of reincarnation. It concretely describes the afterlife and the realm of dreams and outlines the path to enlightenment. Further research is required to ascertain the true value of the book.] The message window disyed correctly. Originally, pressing the [Research] button would automatically conduct the research but now it seems I must examine it myself. Given the books age, the paper was incredibly fragile. The cover was in rtively good condition, which led me to believe that someone from ater generation might have rebound the cover. I carefully opened the book while taking great care not to tear the fragile paper. As I turned the pages, I noticed thin sheets riddled with holes Wait a minute? The yellow color was the paper, and the ck color was the letters. But I cant read the writing? [The Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path Language: Tibetan] No matter how intelligent one might be, its impossible to immediately read anguage that one has never encountered before. How did Je Mu-gyeong manage to read this? Did he know Tibetan? I soon found the answer. It was because he had discovered an artifact that granted him the ability to deciphernguages. However, it was an item I could not use. I picked up a small sk that I found on the shelf. Inside the sk was a grotesque creature the size of a thumb, wriggling with tiny cilia. It had such a horrible shape that the best I could do was describe it as a creature that resembled a Grima. [Language Assistance Parasite (B-rank Imnt): An imnt designed to facilitate fluency in variousnguages. It contains 78nguages currently used on Earth and 8 extraterrestrialnguages. A parasitic organism created using Mi-go technology. This can be directly inserted into the brain using a specialized surgical device.] Despite the high efficiency of this artifact, which allows for the mastering of dozens ofnguages quite easily, there are side effects, such as bursts of madness or a significant reduction in humanity. By cing my head on the surgical table over there, I could have this alien Grima imnted into my brain. Since it wasnt my real life, I often went ahead with such imnts in the game but, fu*k. My mind was already in a precarious state as it was; I had no desire to furtherplicate matters by embedding a grima into my brain. Tsk, should I manually decipher Tibetan somehow? It might take some time, but with my current intelligence, it wouldnt be too difficult a task. Ultimately, I decided to set aside the immediate examination of The Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path and shoved it into my backpack. It was disappointing not to have the answers right away, but there were more things to gather here. I checked a few more books gathered on the bookshelf. Even though finding a research journal directly left by the Mi-go would have been incredibly helpful, no such thing existed. Perhaps due to their different physiological structure from humans, they didnt leave behind anything resembling a research journal. Yet, they somehow managed to coborate with humans to create experimental subjects The Mi-go was a race that was very proud when it came to their technology. It was ssified as taboo to teach their technology to other races, such as humans. To the point where they would send assassins after anyone who dared to steal their technology. But they still go and coborate with human corporations like this. which meant that they had a goal big enough to override their taboos. While there were no direct documents from the Mi-go, it wasnt true that there was nothing of use. Was this written by human researchers? It was a note written by someones hand about the test subjects Among them, it contained information about the experiments conducted on Je Mu-gyeong. The author of these notes was likely either killed by the test subjects or had their brains harvested by the Mi-go. Although not of the caliber of magical books, these documents still held value in the context of the game. I tossed those experimental notes into the cart and turned my attention to the other books. Most of the other books revolved around biological knowledge or human modification. Being involved with Helistic kept leading me to umte such materials. Combining these materials with the [Secret Knowledge: Creation of Life] trait I acquiredst time could lead to incredible achievements. The knowledge of creating life was a trait I had never acquired throughout my journey in [Cthulhu World], making it difficult to decide how to make use of it. I made sure to collect all the books that seemed useful. Ah, there is one more thing I need to grab. Arent there gamers who cant rest until theyve rubbed against every wall and opened every box in sight? Im one of those gamers. Its a time-consuming habit, but its the only way to uncover certain information. It was around here somewhere I slid my hand into a small nook hidden among ordinary-looking mechanical devices.and pulled Click. Right. There was a very small secret box here. It was more akin to a secret shelf, but I reached inside and pulled out a small stone hidden within. It was a smooth shiny stone about 5cm in diameter. On one side, a star-shaped magic circle was engraved into the middle of the object amidst the emerald glow. It felt more like an artifact of magic than a product of technology. [Guardian Amulet of the Ancient God (B-rank Magical Tool): a protective amulet with the power to drive away malevolent forces and weaken beings from the abyss. Blessed with the protection of an ancient deity.] Despite the grand description of its power to weaken abyssal beings, the effect of this Guardian series varied significantly by rank. Since it was B-rank, it was more likely to fend off minions of the abyss rather than directly influence the beings themselves. Nevertheless, it could still be harmful to the Mi-go. However, it seemed the Mi-go had humans insert this amulet into a device to extract the ancient deitys energy contained within. As a result, its magical power was depleted, rendering it unable to perform at its full capacity. Still, its a thousand times better than having nothing at all. If all else fails, it could serve as a material or a catalyst for other artifacts. I packed up the items I had gathered and headed toward the elevator. Its time to head back. As I approached the elevator, I saw Curtain Call leaning against the wall. Her gaze was fixed on something The brain container of the Mi-go assistant who had died earlier. Thats quite an indescribable scene in its own right. I wondered what she was thinking. Curtain Call, its time to go back. Ive killed a lot, Kim Shin-hwa. What? I think Ive killed about 50 people. Right? There were 58 subjects here, including Je Mu-gyeong. Considering the ones I subdued, its possible that the number of subjects Curtain Call ended could be around that. What are you trying to say? We need to kill more only then can I fulfill my wish. A wish? What kind of psychopath talk is that? It reminded me of my recent encounter with Jang Hyeon-deok and the [King in Yellow]. They had mentioned a wish. In [Cthulhu World], the mention of wishes seldom bodes well. It implies something is broken, someone will die, or something will be twistedif it hasnt already. It is a word that is only mentioned in such situations. I moved closer to Curtain Call and spoke. What kind of wish do you want to fulfill? Well? Thats not whats important. The fact that its being fulfilled is. Curtain Call, Im not quite sure what youre getting at Did Kim Shin-hwa kill for no particr reason? No, there was a reason. Or perhaps there was no reason not to kill. Cant you hear the voices? What? The revtion thatmands us to kill. You think people are killed without such a thing? Who says such things? Curtain Call looked at me with wide eyes and smiled. The [All-Mother]. Ah. That one was a familiar name. This was the nickname of [The ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young], the abyssal being that turned Lee Chang-hyuk into a mutant. The monstrous power and bizarre madness of Curtain Call, a surreal force that can only be called a mutation. I understood where it all came from. Curtain Call was a cultist who received the blessing of the [The ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young]. A dangerous and horrifying cultist who praises the great goddess by repeating ughters in ordance with her revtions. However, for some reason, it seemed that the de was only directed at entities associated with the corporation named Helistic. For the time being. I decided to keep a closer watch on her And that day I parted ways with Curtain Call without further conversation. Chapter 59: WGS Chapter 59: WGS [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of the nightmare has been nullified.] Ugh A week had passed since Ipleted the quest at the abandoned hospital of Gamaksan. After delivering what needed to be delivered to Tudor that day, I spent the following week ignoring any contact from Tudor while lying down and passing the time. I tried my best to recover for the next quest, but it was difficult to get proper rest due to the horrific and bizarre nightmares pushed into my mind by those abyssal beings. I never knew that not being able to sleep properly could be this painful Duringst nights nightmare, I made eye contact with Cthulhu. In the game, characters often suffer from the penalty of continuous nightmares or events like [Recurring Nightmares] or [The Call of Rlyeh], but the situation Im experiencing now is beyond that. The [Feast Offering] trait has brought in the evil influence of the beings of the abyss every night, forcing me to endure unsettling nightmares sent by the great old beings. As a result, my body failed to properly recover, and the mental strength and focus I possessed as a mage continued to erode. Despite having brought back a grimoire from theboratory, my physical and mental exhaustion prevented me from even considering delving into it. Isnt there some innovative way to defend against this? It seemed nearly impossible to block. No matter how powerful a mage I may be, those were divine beings that would be hundreds of millions of times heavier than me if I were topare them on a scale of weight. Even if you master magic, there are limits since the power of magic itself is often intertwined with them. Ah, maybe if I block it with something other than magic, it might just work. There were indeed some quite impressive abilities, although not perfect. Perhaps among my unique abilities or unique traits, there might be something worth trying Drawing upon my experience from ying [Cthulhu World], a few ideas came to mind, though there werent many that I could try right away. To sustain a spell of that nature continuously, an artifact of corresponding form was necessary. Yet there were no ces where such artifacts could be found for that purpose in the vicinity of Paju. If I wanted to find something with a simr effect, Id have to go at least as far as Gangwon Province Considering the small size of the Korean Penins, any destination could be reached within a day. However, apart from the physical distance, the psychological distance was quite far, and the idea of leaving my cramped and vulnerable studio apartment to travel such a distance was unsettling. I fear some unexpected and bizarre quest might appear while Im away Thus, the n for a long journey was postponed until the security of my base could be firmly established. Tch, does that mean Im utterly at the mercy of the nightmares sent by those abyssal beings No, when I think about it, there is no reason to insist on finding an artifact that is alreadyplete. Last time, I had a rough time after meeting the [King in Yellow] in Tanhyeon, but as a result, a new ability was added to Carcosas mask. [Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers. You get a +100% sess rate in invention, repair, research, and development. However, each use of this ability requires a sanity check. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind.] Originally, it was a rare trait that only alchemists, technomancers, or craftsmen sses could possess. Of course, it wasnt possible for me to just insert any ability I desired into any artifact, but enhancing the power of something with a simr effect was certainly worth a try. Beyond merely warding off nightmares, a few artifacts and abilities came to mind that could prove useful. With some luck, I might even be able to create an artifact that could improve health or strength. Indeed. I should have thought of this sooner. Alright, Ive made up my mind. Today, I need to go out, even if its a bit of a stretch. When I tried to get up, I heard a creaking and cracking sounding from my body. Ugh Lying down and resting isnt always the best approach While Im out, it might be a good idea to drop by Vasilisa to check on thetest news of Helistic and, if Im lucky, to check out Curtain Call. Ah, but first, I need to eat something. I carefully navigated through the room cluttered with various items, artifacts, and treasures scattered around like trash and made my way to the cramped kitchen. When I opened the refrigerator, I was greeted by biological tissue samples from theboratory and flesh samples that were a by-product of life creation magic nestled among the chilled groceries. Jars floated with bizarrely shaped pieces of flesh. Some were adorned with dozens of eyeballs, others sprouted unpleasant hair, and some formed organs resembling fingersrger than their own bodies. To the average person, this sight could induce not just a loss of appetite but outright distress. However, it had no effect whatsoever on my psyche. Among the flesh samples, I found a half-eaten head of cabbage, a split carrot, and some sausages. I guess I could whip up a sausage and vegetable stir-fry. I cooked and then ate my meal in the cramped confines of my home where only the bare minimum space for survival remained. After finishing my meal and stepping outside, I noticed the sun was already setting. It had been over two months since Ist saw the sun properly. Isnt it said that ack of sunlight can lead to health issues? Originally, I had started wandering the streets at night because wearing a mask during the day was troublesome. But that problem has already been resolved. By using second-order magic, I could either ovey an illusion on my mask orpletely hide my presence before moving around. Despite this, I still found myself moving through the darkness and hiding in the guise of this bizarrely shaped mask. Now, I might use the excuse of a reversed sleep pattern, but thats not the real reason. I had an inexplicable aversion to oveying illusions on my mask. It seems like my mask obsession is unconsciously applying a psychological brake here Because it was a feeling of aversion that was difficult to exin properly, it wasnt easy to think of a way to fix it. Likely, Ill continue this way until the current situation leads to a bigger problem. While I was lost in these thoughts, I eventually arrived at Vasilisa. Vasilisa remained a ce where the extraordinary unfolded in the usual ways. The sight of rugged mercenaries and scarred muscled fixers sitting face-to-face, sipping on iced Americanos and caramel mhiatos, was enough to make ones head spin. Do these guys have nothing better to do than lounge here all day while sipping their coffees? And at Vasilisas counter, a peculiar barista with arge monitor for a head was polishing cups. Today, Curtain Call was also seated nearby. This ce was neither a pub nor a traditional bar. Yet, Curtain Call seemed to naturally take a seat in front of the counter while chatting away with Orb as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Hey, Curtain Call. Ah, Kim Shin-hwa has arrived? Hey Orb, did you know I went to Gamaksan with Kim Shin-hwast time? Curtain Calls gaze lingered on me for about a second, perhaps? After a brief acknowledgment that hardly qualified as a greeting, her attention shifted back to Orb. It seemed futile to try and engage in conversation this way. As I pondered whether to attempt another approach or wait for a better opportunity, Tudor, who had been chatting with a customer further inside, gestured for me toe over. Thats right, I didnte here for Curtain Call today. I sighed and left Curtain Call who was preupied with Orb behind before I walked over to Tudor. I was just talking about you; good timing. About me? Tudor shed a sly smile and nodded towards the person sitting next to her. Ah, so youre the new face mage that Tudor has been boasting abouttely? A gangster? The thought Is he a gangster? came to mind. And not without reason. Given this middle-aged mans rough-and-tumble appearance. His shirt was provocatively unbuttoned at the top with four buttons undone and the borate tattoos peeking through the fabric. Outdatedrge sunsses, a beard covering his chin, and a scar around his mouth. He was a familiar face. Like most people I had recently met, he was a character from the game [Cthulhu World]. I wanted to see the person who had neatly taken care of what our guys couldnt handle. Fortunately, I got the chance. My name is Ko Gyeong-soo, from W.G.S. Go Kyung-soo maintained his swaggering demeanor as he handed me his business card. This old-fashioned card bore his name and thepanys name in gold lettering. W.G.S. Wild Guns Security. On the outside, it was a private security firm offering security and bodyguard services. But in reality, it was a mercenary group called Wild Guns and a private militarypany (PMC) that specialized in deploying firepower and suppressing bases. Not that it did anything particrly remarkable. It was more like an expanded version of the typical muscle-for-hire youd find in the real world. And Ko Gyeong-sop nicknamed Wild Dog. He was the leader of these thugs-for-hire. I informed Ko Gyeong-soo with an indifferent expression on my face. I dont really have a business card or anything like that. Kuhuhu Well, it doesnt matter. If I need to contact you, I can always go through Tudor. Do you have any idea how much thisdy has been boasting in the industry thanks to you? Im aware shes been quite diligent. If you ever crave the real thrill that Vasilisa cant provide, feel free to reach out. We could use someone like you, coug Tudor abruptly jabbed Ko Gyeong-soos thigh with the menu. Oh dear, Mr. Ko Gyeong-soo, were you about to say its time to head home? No, this woman If exchanging business cards is off-limits, why bother boasting then? Thats jealousy for you. I allowed the exchange of business cards, but I wont tolerate any further flirting. Ko Gyeong-soo was an NPC performing a role simr to Tudors. While the broker Park Kwang-lim I met previously wasnt worth considering, Ko Gyeong-soo was a different case. He was an NPC worth contemting a deal with, depending on the situation. He was as trustworthy as Tudor and there were quite a few quests that could only be essed by dealing with him. If you signed a contract with him, you would be provided with basic weapons and could exclusively engage in more directbat missions. It was less about being a fixer and more about bing a mercenary. The difference with Tudor was that he also led a military organization and was actively involved in its operations. This allowed for a different kind of interaction than with Tudor. They might find themselvespeting for the same target or even engaging in directbat as enemies. His team wasrge, indiscriminate, and willing to dabble in any affair that could be settled with guns and explosives. If one chooses not to deal with him, they might end up facing him as apetitor or enemy. Ive killed Ko Gyeong-soo in the game was it three times? No, four times before. What would happen this time? Ko Gyeong-soo tossed the ice cubes from his ss into his mouth and crunched them noisily. Have you received any messages from Cure? What was this sudden, out-of-the-blue remark about? Cure? It seems you havent received anymunication from them yet? Im talking about Cure Biotech. Hmm its the rivalpany of Helistic. No, Im aware of that. But what does Cure have to do with me? Ko Gyeong-soo hummed thoughtfully and scratched his beard for a moment before continuing. Cure mentioned something about a basement. Chapter 60: Aftermath of Helistic Request Chapter 60: Aftermath of Helistic Request There was nothing special about the abandoned hospital or the Ga-5060 secret research facility. Of course, one might argue that evidence of human experimentation and artificial dimensional species was significant, but these paled inparison to what was hidden in the basement. While other artifacts could somehow be restored and replicated by other corporations, the items in the basement were one of a kind. Although there were double or tripleyers of security, honestly, the fact that the task of recapturing such a ce was entrusted to an external fixer was enough to make one suspect that there was some kind of conspiracy. Therefore, it was understandable that questions about the basement would be posed to me and to Ko Gyeong-soo of the Wild Guns, who had somehow gained ess to the secret research facility. But why is Cure, not Helistic, asking these questions? Cure Biotech is a multinational biopany that is conducting research simr to Helistic. In terms of scale, Cure Biotech isrger. Cure Biotech was the pioneer in the first ce. But Helistic, which adopted the technology of extraterrestrial beings, grew at an incredible rate, and even though it was ater, it became sorge that it could easily contend with Cure Biotech. In the game, Helistic generally yed a much more significant role than Cure. The depiction of Cure in the game was mediocre at best. There were hardly any notable NPCs associated with Cure, and the quests rted to them were nothing special. I just cleared out what I could see and left. I didnte across any basement. There was no need to discuss the basement with Ko Gyeong-soo. Well, what does it matter? Sometimes, when those who have no stake in the matter start snooping around, unexpected and dangerous situations can arise Take care of yourself. Ill keep that in mind. Ko Gyeong-soo briefly lifted his ss, only to set it down with a hint of disappointment upon realizing it was empty. Well, now that Ive seen all there is to see, I should be on my way. He rose from his seat with a grunt. The gold watch on Ko Gyeong-soos wrist made a loud nging sound as it collided with the gold bracelets. And mage friend. You said your name was Kim Shin-hwa, right? Keep my business card safe and give me a call whenever you think of it Whether its just to share a man-to-man bond or if youre passing by our office and feeling hungry, perhaps for a meal Ko Gyeong-soo attempted to make his offer once more but changed his tune upon hearing Tudors growling. Then he left the cafe, saying something along the lines of, If I stay here any longer, the Tudors will beat me to death. It was merely a business partnership visit. Tudor rified the reason behind Ko Gyeong-soos visit. Despite his abrupt departure and manner of speaking, he was essentially saying theyre short-staffed and could use a mages help when the situation arises. I see. Though it might seem off from Tudors exnation, this was precisely why I chose Tudor over Ko Gyeong-soo. Tudor had extensive connections with other brokers, not just in Paju but in other cities as well, where her influence was significant. While not frequent, opportunities to take on unique quests from other brokers through Tudor did present themselves. The terms and fees might differ from dealing directly with the brokers, but such differences were manageable. Well, whether Ko Gyeong-soo asks or not, if its not the right fit for you, Ill block it on my end. Tudor assured me and led me to her office. As soon as I sat down in the office, I posed a question to Tudor. Did Helistic give you any trouble? In reality, since the money could be transferred directly to my ount, there was no actual need to visit Vasilisa. The reason for my visit to Vasilisa today was out of curiosity about how Helistics aftermath was handled. Indeed, there was a bit of a fuss with Helisticing around while you were away. Was there any particr issue? There were a few inquiries, but I managed to settle most of them on my own. A lot of the responses I gave were made on your behalf, though On my behalf? Well, I gave you a smartphone, but you never picked it up! Tudor raised her voice for a moment, not in anger but with a yful tone. What to do? We just conducted a virtual interview with our Mr. Kim Shin-hwa. But Helistic was satisfied after all so the reality doesnt matter. There was a reason I couldnt respond. I had simply been sleeping, but there was no need to say that. Hmm, well, whatever. Tudor said this as she pulled out a file folder. If youre curious about what I answered to Helistics questions, take a look at this. The file folder in Tudors hand floated up and flew towards me. It seemed she had prepared this in advance, anticipating that I might ask such a question. Thank you. Dont mention it. Pleased with my sincere gratitude, Tudor responded with a very elegant smile. asionally, Tudor would sh such a stunning expression that it left me speechless. Perhaps some of the guests at Vasilisa frequented the caf day in and day out just to catch a glimpse of that smile, even if just once. As I looked through the documents, I realized that there was no mention of the basement in Helistic. Its a highly secure matter. If you want to keep something secret, its best not to talk about it at all. Instead, what caught my eye was the repeated mention of theputer in the directors office of the researchb. It seems like it was treated as a solo mission? The records were documented as if Kim Shin-hwa, that is me, had responded and not Tudor. The emphasis she ced on on my behalf earlier must have meant something along these lines. Thanks to this, Helistic could be under the impression that I am exceptionally polite, kind, and efficient in handling affairs. In reality, the content was based on what I heard from Collie. But why use my name instead of Curtain Call? Oh? Is that a problem? Not really. Just curious. Didnt I tell you Id be leveraging your name for business? You need to be more famous. Since Ive left the method to you, I cant reallyin. Moreover, Collie has a somewhat ambiguous rtionship with Helistic actually, its at the level of being cklisted. Weve been epting requests from Helistic under an alias. If it werent for me, Curtain Call wouldnt have been involved in this at all. Hehe, thats right. But I think you satisfied your curiosity. Was this a win-win situation? If one were to twist the perspective, it could be said that Tudor had been yed. Nevertheless, Tudor spoke inly. She wasnt saying it was all fine, but she had noints. After all, it was a rtionship where both parties used each other to a reasonable extent. As long as no lines were crossed, she had no intention of making it an issue. Right. I guess theres nothing more to say about this. And it seemed there was no need to read the documents any further. Even if I had responded to those inquiries myself, I would have likely replied with some fabricated truth, so having someone else handle it was indeed a relief. In fact, what had been documented was much more sophisticated and perfect than what I had in mind. Whats this about Cure? Its exactly what Ko Gyeong-soo mentioned. They didnt say it outright, but they were curious if there were any basements or secret rooms in the abandoned hospital. Was the basement ever public information? If there were rumors going around that there was a basement there contrary to Helistics belief, that would be understandable. No. Cure was the first to mention the basement. Tudors expression became contemtive for a moment before he continued. Lately, Cure has been unusually quick on the uptake. It seems they might have secured some sharp source of information, doesnt it? A source of information There was nothing of the sort in the game. Could this be another deviation from the games original storyline? Its even more puzzling that Ko Gyeong-soo was asked such a question. Puzzling? Yes. The Wild Guns had no survivors, remember? It doesnt make sense for them to ask questions that only someone in the know could answer unless theyre fools, which they are not. Maybe theyre not curious about the basement itself Perhaps they want to spread the rumor that they know something about it? Tudor nodded her head in agreement. Thats what I believe. Contained within were mechanical devices and grimoires that modern technology couldnt replicate. Moreover, Helistics researchers had conducted experiments using the bodily fluids from the [ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young] which induced madness and created dimensional species with the power to traverse between dimensions. Which could it be? Was Cure interested in the super-scientific devices, the ck Goat, human modification, dimensional species, or the grimoires? One might typically assume that as apetitor, Cure would be most interested in the information on human modification that Helistic had pioneered But that seems too simplistic an approach. It appeared that the need to decipher the contents of the grimoire had just increased. Now, I have nothing more to convey. I might have ended up passing on Wild Guns wink on their behalf had you arrivedter but thankfully, that wasnt necessary. Are you close with Ko Gyeong-soo? Tudor let out an exasperated sound. They seemed to be quite close. Such personal rtionships were not something one could ascertain in the game, making this revtion rather interesting. I helped him get settled when he was younger. Ko Gyeong-soo was a diligent child, eager to please, so I took a liking to him. But even after he became independent, he kept hovering around, which was quite bothersome. I knew she was quite old because she was a witch, but it felt slightly strange to hear her talk this way with her young appearance. Ko Gyeong-soo was in his early forties. If Tudor had been helping him since he was a child, just how old could she be? I see. Now, lets move on to the matter of settling ounts, shall we? As previously discussed, the totales to 120 million. Curtain Call took 50 million, leaving 70 million. Any objections? No objections to the 70 million. Shall I transfer it to your ount as usual? Mhmm. The bnce in my ount totaled 180 million. With this, my savings reached 250 million, and if I included the cash piled up in my room, it would roughly amount to 300 million. Ive never earned this much in my original world Keep in mind that I stopped Helistic from trying to lower the price. Was there such a story? Its always like that when ites to corporate requests. But youre all set if you just trust me. Its not for nothing that Im called a capable broker. I casually acknowledged Tudors self-praise. Right. Ill be counting on you in the future as well. Good. Speaking of which, hows your condition? Im hoping you can start taking on work again soon. How soon are we talking? Hehe could you start right away if I said immediately? You dont seem to be in such a hurry to say that. Ah, youre quick to catch on. If it were urgent, you wouldnt be wasting time with Ko Gyeong-soo. Well, thats true. Here, take a look at this, my dear. These are all tasks with some leeway in their schedules, so feel free to choose at your leisure. Tudor slowly pulled out a thin file and extended it towards me after making her statement. When I nced at the file, I saw a concise summary of the quests listed one by one on one or two pages. The organized documents in the file seemed to total around 100 pages. Even if we estimate generously that there was one quest every two pages, that still amounted to 50 quests. The content seems quite substantial, doesnt it? This only goes to show that there are many tasks out there that cannot be resolved unless by a mage of your caliber. Hmm. At a nce, none of the requests appeared to be simple. These were requests that had umted over days and months and remained unresolved. Just like thest time we visited the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan, there were consecutive instances where other fixers or mercenary groups had rushed in and beenpletely wiped out. It seems they are all challenging tasks. Of course, thepensation for such requests is substantial. The page youre looking at right now, for instance, guarantees over a billion if you can settle it cleanly. That sounds interesting. Umm Suddenly, Tudor emitted a noise resembling a groan and hesitated before speaking. My dear, perhaps its time we got a bit more honest with each other, dont you think? Chapter 61: Honest Talk Chapter 61: Honest Talk Tudor was still smiling, but the emotion hidden behind that face was quiteplicated. It seemed slightly tinged with anger, yet it was different. It was certainly the most serious expression Tudor had shown in recent times. What is it? Ever since before thest request of Gamaksan, both your reputation and expectations have been on the rise. Yet, you still seem so indifferent, which makes it difficult for a broker like me. Then she waved her hands dismissively with an exaggerated gesture. Ah its tough. It seems that even raising the financial stakes isnt enough to entice you. Ive neverined about thepensation though. Tudor narrowed her eyes and shook her head. I like you. Youre reliable, and I expect that you can achieve even greater things than what youve shown so far. But? But it doesnt seem like youre very satisfied with the work. Even if you take the money reluctantly this time, if we cant guarantee something better next time, itll just lead to mutual frustration. Hmm What do you think? Id prefer if you had a wish I could fulfill, or at the very least, a desire I could understand. But even if not, I think its time you showed a bit of whats on your mind. A wish It reminds me of what the shadow created by the [King in Yellow] had saidst time. Of course, that doesnt mean Tudor is attempting that kind of temptation with me now. Its simply a suggestion to make the terms of our deal more concrete. It was then I realized what this scene was about. Though it was depicted differently in the game, it seems my rtionship with Tudor has progressed to level 2. After this event, the range of services avable to me will expand. As Ive said before, its always good to have more money. And? Yes, thats a valid point. Money is good. In the short term, what I desire is safety, a few conveniences, and the financial means to acquire a limited amount of resources. However, having already secured the money necessary for immediate needs, whates next? What lies beyond is something that money cant solve. But converting a dialogue that in the game progresses naturally with the click of a button into carefully chosen words is no easy task. I want something thats harder to obtain with money than money itself. Such as? After thinking for a moment, I decided to be direct. Going around in circles would only lead to the mutual frustration Tudor mentioned. Now that I have money, Im interested in a grimoire of at least A-rank difficulty or even an artifact of S-rank or higher. I wasnt sure if Tudor was surprised but her eyes widened. Do you need magical knowledge? But with your skills and talents, you could undergo formal training under a proper mage or attend a magical institution in another region Why involve yourself in these messy affairs in Paju? Im not interested in modernized magic theories. I need something more primal. Tudors words began veering off in an unexpected direction, so I interrupted her. Something primal? Abyssal beings, demons, great old beings, outer gods, or rulers from different worlds. Im seeking information rted to beings known by such names. Ah, so you need something in the form of a grimoire or an artifact thats associated with such beings? Yes, indeed, those arent things one can simply acquire with money alone. Ordinary grimoires containing conventional magical theories or artifacts of less than A-rank could be purchased with money. However, what I needed went beyond that. S-rank artifacts or grimoires containing information about abyssal beings couldnt be obtained through ordinary means. Without the right connections, power, and various other factors, acquiring them was impossible, and many of them could bring significant harm to their owners just by being in their possession. In other words, if the client was just a nouveau riche with nothing but money to show, I wouldnt want to fulfill this request even if I could. The grimoire Im referring to is of that nature. Or, you could introduce me to someone who can take me to the ck market or something deeper. When the conversation reached this point, Tudors smile brightened up. It was clear she wasnt hiding her joy. Good, good. If you had mentioned this earlier, I could have been more proactive in helping you. Well, there wasnt a particrly notable situation to speak of. This development was likely an event that emerged due to an increase in Tudors trust and intimacy levels. Although I couldnt be certain, mentioning this earlier would probably have been in vain. That capricious witch might have intentionally arranged a request that had nothing to do with my wishes orpletely forgotten about them. However, at this moment she seemed happy, if nothing else. From the next task onward, I could anticipate rewards beyond mere financial gain. So, it seems theres nothing immediate for you to introduce to me. Still, take this file with you. Ill give it a read. Do that. And if anything catches your eye, let me know. Besides, you wouldnt want to find yourself short on funds if you gained ess to the marketter, would you? Thats also true. With that, my conversation with Tudor concluded. When I was about to leave Vasilisa, Tudor followed me to the entrance, making small talk all the while. It was rare for Tudor to personally see someone off, which seemed to stir a subtle sense of jealousy among the regrs lounging around the cafe. Ill contact you as soon as I find something that fits the bill, so make sure to answer your phone this time. And dont get distracted by other brokers in the meantime, alright? Tudor repeated her warning not to get sidetracked several times as if something was bothering her. Was she worried because she could see the business cards of other brokers trickling in, or was it perhaps her witchs intuition hinting at some impending crisis? No, thats just foolish spection. If there was truly something amiss, she would have mentioned it, given her straightforward nature. Well, I have no ns to deal with anyone else for the time being so Ille right over when you call. When Ipletely left Vasilisa and looked around, the sun hadpletely set and it was dark. The dpidated and gloomy buildings around added a chilling atmosphere. Alright, its time to address the real purpose of my outing today. I slowly made my way toward the Geumchon Market. I trusted Tudor to find the request I wanted without needing further exnation. It might take some time, but it was a move I would have to make anyway. There was no harm in preparing in advance. My destination for the moving preparations was Geumchon Market. The sun had already set, and it was time for the streetlights to illuminate the surroundings. The key ces in Geumchon Market, like the street vendors and market alleys, had closed for the day and the proprietors had gone home. Even if I had arrived earlier, my visit to this neighborhood wasnt for the shops that cater to Pajus daytime needs. I headed towards the Geumchon Pawnshop located on one side of Geumchon Market. As I climbed up the old and creaky stairs of Geumchon Pawnshop, a pawn shop filled with all sorts of items from various eras revealed itself. And Jeong Ye-eun who was the pawnshops sole part-timer greeted me with a strange noise. Hic! How can I help you? She was still wearing her dark green school gym clothes with an apron from the Geumchon Traditional Market Prosperity Association. I thought she might have been firedst time But seeing her holding a duster, it seems shes still managing to work here. Are you still working here? Oh, yes. Youre still wearing a mask, I see. Oh! Thats the mask you bought from our shopst time, isnt it? Jeong Ye-eun animatedly pointed at my mask as she spoke. Well, yes. How about the old man? Hes inside. Grandpa! Jeong Eun-taek, an old man with a hunched posture, walked out from inside the pawn shop. His face was lined with wrinkles, but there was a certain drive in his firm expression. Whats it? Ah the masked one, youre back again? Yes. Likest time, I have some things I want to get rid of, and some things I need. I took out four magic stones from my bag and ced them on the counter. Jeong Eun-taeks eyes widened. These were items extracted from the golden dancers guarding that strange historical site in Tanhyeon. The purity was remarkable, with not a single impurity marring their clear luster and their size was considerable. Magic stones of this level were difficult toe by even in Paju. Whats this? Where did you pick up something of such high purity? Did you cross the Imjin River when I wasnt looking? Jeong Eun-taek grumbled as he fumbled for his sses. It was the same peculiar pair I had seen before with several small lenses attached to them. Taking one of the magic stones in hand, Jeong Eun-taek switched the lenses of his sses to examine it closely. Oh sh*t its genuine. Did you bring this here intending to take all the cash in the shop? Grandpa, but why cross the Imjin River? Monsters appear in Paju too, dont they? Havent you heard about the werewolf sighting in Gwangtan? Its been only about two months! Jeong Ye-eun subtly joined the conversation. If they were referring to the werewolf sighted in Gwangtan two months ago could it possibly be about Lee Chang-hyuk? It seems like the details have been somewhat distorted. No, whether its a werewolf or whatever, there are no monsters in Paju that could produce magic stones of this caliber. Ah Its not like its a gold rush. Fixers and monster hunters have been invading and turning Paju upside down for over 20 years now. What do you think is left? It was a valid point. Based on the setting of [Cthulhu World], there was a tremendous event known as the [Great Copse] that happened around 20 years ago, during which monsters from the Cthulhu mythos massively emerged in various parts of the world. At that time, the ce that ironically saw the most monstrous influx in Korea, specifically on the Korean Penins, was North Korean territory. Of course, other parts of Korea also witnessed the appearance of cultists following the abyssal entities, monsters, surreal beings, and aliens, butpared to North Korea, which had practically vanished, it was almostughable. The situation was so severe that Gangwon Province and the northern part of Gyeonggi were on the verge of devastation due to the monsters crossing the demilitarized zone and moving southward. But thats somewhat of an old story now. In the game timeline of [Cthulhu World], most issues have been resolved by now. Todays Paju is suffering from too many treasure hunters, fixers, and criminal organizations rtive to the reduced number of monsters. Well, if we follow the games storyline, this is just a temporary lull before the main story leads to a second Great Copse and the onset of doom. And in none of the endings I experienced was there a route where this world was safely protected, and all the monsters were driven away. In the meantime, Jeong Ye-eun briefly wore a thoughtful expression on her face before she suddenly eximed. Ah! It seemed she had arrived at the conclusion her grandfather was leading her towards. Ahjussi, does that mean you actually went to North Korea? No. This time, Jeong Eun-taek who was nearby raised his voice with a disapproving expression on his face. What? So, are you saying there are this many monsters in Paju capable of producing something like this? Hmm failing to answer this properly could lead to trouble. Chapter 62: Ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple Chapter 62: Ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple No. I just got it by taking down a smuggler. It probably came from China. Its aplete lie but a somewhat usible exnation. China with its vast territory hasnt fully resolved its issues yet. In fact, during gamey, there are opportunities to visit several ces in China. However, following such quests, catastrophic events like the copse of Beijing or the descent of a cmity tend to ur Its generally better to avoid going there if possible. Speaking of which. I quickly continued the conversation to divert attention before anything more troublesome could be said. How much for these? Jeong Eun-taek looked skeptical but soon dismissed it with an indifferent remark. It doesnt really matter. 10 each, so 40 in total. What? These items could easily fetch 120 million if priced generously. Even with a discount, shing the price to 40 million is outrageous. Id give more if I had the money. But business isnt easy these days, with the peace and all. It wasmon for yers to engage in wordy like this in the game and nonchntly throw around figures in the hundreds of millions, so it wasnt really surprising. Im making a considerable concession here. Just give me 100 million t. I told you, I dont have the money. Do you really not have any money? Yes, really. He was getting more and more shameless. Well, then it shouldnt matter. I was nning to buy some things anyway, so youll have money soon enough. Huh, really? What are you buying? I pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to Jeong Eun-taek. I had already listed the items I needed. When Jeong Eun-taek read the list, his already wrinkled face crumpled even more. Whats this? nning to perform a ritual or something? Well, something of the sort. Ill buy all of this, so just deduct it from the value of the magic stones and give me 100 million in cash. What are you saying? That sounds like highway robbery! Jeong Eun-taek had every right to be outraged. The items I just requested amounted to roughly 50 million won in value. 150 million for four magic stones was on the expensive side even if their purity was high. However, considering the cost of the items, it seemed Jeong Eun-taek would still make a decent profit. When he realized this btedly, Jeong Eun-taeks expression softened. You know, this is the same pattern asst time Indeed, thest time I had disposed of other items here, the bargaining followed the same pattern. He seemed to have realized that he had fallen into the same trap again. It was you who started this pattern in the first ce, wasnt it? Hmm Ah, really nning to clean me out, huh? Just wait. Jeong Eun-taek carefully collected the magic stones and went into the inner room where the safe was located while grumbling something along the lines of Ive been yed! And as if she had been waiting for her grandfather to leave, Jeong Ye-eun approached me closely and started a conversation. Ahjussi, Ahjussi. Yes? Do you also catch ghosts? Are you a shaman? No. But why do you perform rituals? I dont do rituals. You said earlier you were going to perform one, didnt you? I mentioned doing something simr, but when did I say Id perform a ritual? Hmm Really? Jeong Ye-euns expression quickly shifted to one of boredom. Theres a ghosting out of my house every night these days. Im trying to catch it. Ah, really? Ye-euns eyes sparkled when I said that. She seemed unexpectedly interested in this topic, which wasnt evident from our usual interactions in the game. Mhmm. But if youre not a shaman, how do you catch ghosts? Its simr to catching bugs. Youy down some bait and sticky traps, and the ones meant to die will die, and the ones meant to leave will go For the tougher ones, just wrap them up in the sticky trap and throw them outside. Hmm Really? This time, she looked skeptical. It looked quite simr to the suspicious expression that Jeong Eun-taek often made which was perhaps because they were rted by blood. When I shared this observation with Ye-eun, she erupted into a furious shout and started thrashing about wildly. Hey if you keep that up Crash! Bang The items behind Jeong Ye-eun tumbled down. Just when I thought today would be quiet Fortunately, things were more organized thanst time which prevented a domino effect of disaster. Ugh! The situation would have remained under control had Jeong Ye-eun not panicked and jumped. Crash, shatter, tter! I was wrong. Eventually, themotion escted to the level of things breaking and getting utterly destroyed. Hey, Jeong Ye-eun! Jeong Eun-taek burst out with a shout. No, Grandpa, this is Ah Whats the problem with you When are you going to get rid of that Jeong Ye-eun tried to dodge Jeong Eun-taeks wrath with a look of utter defeat, but it seemed an impossible task. After that, Jeong Eun-taeks nagging and Jeong Ye-euns excuses continued for a long time. When will you ever get your act together? I might as well run the shop by myself. You take your allowance diligently, but why do you always cause such chaos? Ah, Grandpa, give me a break. The real problem here is the mess; things are bound to fall when you pile them up like this! Not wanting to interrupt their heated exchange, I waited a bit longer, but their argument seemed endless. Sir, I should be heading back now. Guh Yes, go ahead. Off you go. Really, this old man Where was I supposed to go? You need to pay for the magic stones and the items first. Ah, right. Ugh Jeong Ye-eun! You clean all this up! Ah, Grandpa! How can I clean this up all by myself! I dont care, girl! Our guest needs to leave! Jeong Eun-taek screamed a few more times and then quietly entered the room. Jeong Ye-eun cast a pleading look my way, but all I could offer in response was a sympathetic gesture. No matter how much I thought about it, it couldnt have been my fault. Right? Cough! Jeong Eun-taek emerged sooner than expected. Large silver trays piled high with bundles of cash. Why would anyone stash money like that? Lets see Despite ims of having only 40 million, there were exactly 100 million stacked up. You said you only had 40 million, how did you manage to find more? Of course, the im of having only 40 million was nothing more than a shallow trick to lower the price. In the dangerous back alleys of Paju, could a grandfather who relied solely on his stashed cash for business truly not have a mere 100 million in cash? Inside, there must be hundreds of billions, if not trillions, in cash. Hmph. Jeong Eun-taek merely snorted at my remark and fumbled with other items he had brought along. Indeed, thats the kind of wealth one needs to make money in business. While Jeong Eun-taek was busy, I took a closer look at the bundles of cash. Here. These are the items you asked to be prepared. Large chunks of wood, a few boxes, water bottles, and items wrapped in ck stic bags. This is a wall-hanging tree And this water bottle seems to contain purifying water, doesnt it? It was just water in an ubeled stic bottle. Purifying water and wall-hanging trees, as materials, dont have any significant effects on their own, but when infused with magical power, they can offer great additional effects. Yes, thats right. I received it from the shamans house the day before yesterday. Its not something we always have in stock, so youre in luck. Good timing. And thatrge box over there. Jeong Eun-taek casually pointed to one of the boxes I was holding. This one? Yes, that one. Inside it is a Myeongdu. Ah. Myeongdu is a mirror used by shamans during rituals and divinations. Even though Icked spiritual abilities and couldnt use it for divination, imbuing it with certain magic could turn it into a protective amulet against possession. Of course, this wouldnt prevent the beings of the abyss from creeping into my mind Perhaps, if done correctly, it could prevent a nightmare or two. Thank you. Hmph. Is that all you needed with this? No, theres one more thing. What now? Id like to go to Thousand Gold Temple (Cheongeumdang). Jeong Eun-taek who had been disying an annoyed expression on his face until now suddenly contorted his face. After maintaining an ambiguous expression in silence for a moment, he finally spoke up just as his granddaughter Ye-eun began to sense something was amiss. And what makes you think you have the right? I might not have the right, but you could grant it to me, couldnt you? Jeong Eun-taek frowned deeply and then sighed before responding. You work under Tudor, dont you? Did Tudor tell you about this? No, Im not even under Tudor to begin with. Grandpa, whats Thousand Gold Temple that youre reacting like this? Jeong Ye-eun was unable to contain her curiosity and asked. Thousand Gold Temple is well, its not something you need to be concerned about. Oh,e on, whats it about? Tell that damned witch Tudor not to bother, as it wont yield anything. I told you; Tudor hasnt told me anything. Then who did? Kwang-lim? Why is Park Kwang-lims nameing up now? If left alone, it seemed like the names of all the brokers in Paju mighte out of his mouth. I tapped my mask idly with my finger before pulling out another item I had brought with the magic stones to show them. If youre reluctant to introduce me, its fine. You could just dispose of this for me. If you do, there wont be any need for me to go to Thousand Gold Temple. Whats this? As if theres anything in Paju I cant dispose of What I held in my hand was a very small metallic scale. Although it has now faded to ck, you can still guess its original color if you look closely. It was an object that originally glowed with a magical golden color. This was a scale taken from the body of a golden dancer. After he examined the scale closely, Jeong Eun-taek recoiled in shock. Ah, damn it! You crazy bastard! With that, he began to make protective gestures, as if to ward off evil and pulled Ye-eun behind him. Ah! Grandpa, why are you doing this? Tell me the truth. Have you crossed the Imjin River? I told you, no. Where else could such a cursed iteme from, if not from beyond the Imjin River! It had actuallye from Tanhyeon located just below the Imjin River. But there was neither the need nor the reason to divulge such information. Grandpa, what is that thing? Ye-eun, just stay quiet for a bit! Following Jeong Eun-taeks sternmand, Ye-eun shrank back. It just so happened that, in my travels, I came across an opportunity to acquire it. Well its your life; ruin it if you want. Who am I to stop you? So, what do you say? Can you write me a rmendation letter? Rmendation letters arent just handed out randomly. Besides, there are no openings right now. An opening wille up soon enough. Please put me on the waiting list. Come back in about a week, or better yet, give it two or three weeks. Ill ask around for you in the meantime. Alright. I cant guarantee there will be an opening even then. Thats fine. It seems like the best way I can help is by leaving, so Ill be on my way now. Come again! What are you so excited about? Shouldnt I say goodbye to the guests when they leave? Is this really the time for that? Oh, wait a minute? This is really broken. Oh dear How much was this worth Leaving behind the impending quarrel between the two, I hurried out of the pawnshop. Now, my bag contained items purchased from the pawnshop and 100 million won. As Jeong Eun-taek had said, there are things that couldnt be achieved if it wasnt the right time. Fortunately, I managed to get everything I needed in one go, eliminating the need for a second trip. While the number and bulk of my possessions had increased, their weight was significantly lighter than that of the magic stones. The term magic stones sounds grand, but in terms of weight, they were essentially no different from chunks of rock. However, psychologically, the burden felt heavier now. Including what was already in my bank ount 400 million won? In truth, considering the value of the items I had stashed away in my room, this amount wasnt significant. If I were to sell all the items I had collected so far, including high-rank artifacts like the Butchers Hook, I might have to start counting my wealth in units of 1 billion or even 10 billion won. If I were still the peaceful Kim Shin-hwa, living in the real world, this amount would have been enough for me to dere my financial independence. Chapter 63: Madman’s Dexterity Chapter 63: Madmans Dexterity The problem was that I, who possessed this money, was a mage trapped in the crazy world known as [Cthulhu World]. To survive in this world, a vast amount of money was necessary. And when I considered the funds needed for uing expenses and various ns, it was clear that this was by no means arge sum. Moreover, the ludicrous amounts of money could only be reached by handling everything as ideally and safely as possible. It was only because these were magic stones that I could dispose of them without any fuss. For most other items, getting their true value was out of the question, and disposal was often impossible. Cursed golden scales harvested from the body of the golden dancers. These should have been shared with Jang Hyeon-duk, but he just waved his hands and refused. It was understandable, given the nature of the items. Where and how could one possibly dispose of such a cursed object? As could be seen from Jeong Eun-taeks reaction, ordinary people could face a disaster from possessing even a single scale, let alone disposing of it. While there might be other methods in different regions, in Paju, there was only one ce where such items could be disposed of. The Thousand Gold Temple Unlike Jeong Eun-taeks Geumchon pawnshop, which was clumsily operating as a secret store that wasnt so secret, the Thousand Gold Temple was a true secret shop. It operated on a membership basis, and ess was impossible without an existing members rmendation. I didnt expect to gain immediate entry. After all, there was a certain level requirement to receive a rmendation from the Thousand Gold Temples members. I brought up the Thousand Gold Temple to Jeong Eun-taek today merely to understand how this abstract concept of level restriction worked in practice. Well, I cant say I wasnt impatient Though I was told to wait, it ultimately amounted to a refusal. Returning 2-3 weekster would likely result in another excuse and a request to wait. I guess Ill have to talk to him again after I eventually reach level 30, which is the entry requirement. Currently at level 25, I wasnt far off. I had hoped to rid myself of these cursed items sooner rather thanter. but it seemed it would take a bit more time judging by the situation. After a rare outing, I headed straight to the fridge to stow away the groceries I had picked up on my way back. Having stayed indoors for a week or more, the brief venture out had been enough for me, and I had no desire to go outside again for some time. Using my magic, I levitated the items in my backpack into the air. Lets see First, the folder Tudor had handed me. While I intended to read it at some point, there were other things I wanted to do first. So, with a light gesture towards the folder, it fluttered like wings and settled on a shelf in the corner of the room with a rustle. As for the other items I had bought from the pawnshop Various odds and ends floated in mid-air. A water bottle, fragments of a date tree struck by lightning, a stone with strange markings, a few synthetic rubies, a skein of silk thread, a bundle of talismans of uncertain origin, a ritual knife that seemed like it could belong to a shaman, and even a mirror said to ward off possession. I was about to start the process of transforming these random items into something more valuable. Then I guess Ill have to clear my desk. The desk was already overrun with an assortment of items. Things I had brought from the Helisticboratory, crumpled pieces of paper with magic circle sketches, metal shards, stone fragments, fragments of masks from Tanhyeon, and pieces of the golden dancers body. I left it untouched while lying around and it has turned into aplete mess. Well, moving on to the next task. I summoned my magical power to sweep up the clutter piled on my desk Hmm Where should I put this away? Indeed, a home must have ample storage space. In the end, I sighed and stacked it in the corner with the other random items. Crash. Scratch that about stacking. The pile I added to toppled over, including the previously piled clutter. The room quickly became a mess. It now looked like the pawnshop after a mishap caused by Jeong Ye-eun. Ill clean it upter Ignoring the hellish scene that seemed as if it were conjured by a demon with OCD, I ced an item on the desk. ck. [Myeongdu (B-rank essory): A tool used by shamans or sorcerers for divination or rituals. Premonition Eye: Increases the effect of the unique trait Divine Energy by 30%. Pasa Wall Head: Blocks the effect of Possession with a 60% chance. Usage Restriction: For those without the unique trait Divine Energy it is merely an old antique. For those without Divine Energy special measures are required to use it. Upgradeable] Shall we get started? I focused my mind and unleashed the power contained within [Carcosas Mask]. Whirr [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated. // Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers. You get a +100% sess rate in invention, repair, research, and development. However, each use of this ability requires a sanity check. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind.] A sticky, yellowish energy flowed out of the mask. Although its out of my line of sight, my ability to sense magical power allowed me to infer its shape and movement. My head was likely now enveloped in wriggling, undting yellow tentacles. Right now, I was in a state where even if someone called me a monster I would have had no words to retort with. Had someone been by my side, they would have surely experienced a terrible horror and dismay at my appearance. From the mask, translucent yellow tentacles began to caress the Myeongdu ced on the desk. And then there was another. [Guardian Amulet of the Ancient God (B-rank Magical Tool): a protective amulet with the power to drive away malevolent forces and weaken beings from the abyss. Blessed with the protection of an ancient deity.] It was an item I had taken from the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan Mountain. Despite its grandiose description, it was a weak item that was incapable of shielding me from the voices and nightmares that sought to invade my mind. However, I added a few more items to it. Pieces of wood, high-purity magic stones, golden dancer scales, and even purified water Whirrrrrr. The ominous yellow light that emanated from the mask began to engulf the entire room. The items I had prepared started to orbit around the Myeongdu which seemed to be pinned in mid-air. Each item had an ordinary appearance that could be found in a market or an antique store, but now that they received golden magic and began to shine brilliantly, none of the items could be called ordinary. I summoned more magical power, and Carcosas Mask exerted its surreal influence over each object floating above the desk ording to my will. Bang!! An explosion-like sh obscured my vision, and the physical structuresposing the items I had prepared began to disassemble and dpose. Then, they became entangled as one and started to transform into a new object with a new shape and capabilities. Fragments of profound wisdom and thews that constitute the universe began to form in my mind. How insignificant and trivial is the wisdom and knowledge that humanity has umted over the years? The great golden master, the indescribable one, the king in yellow who exists on the other side of a distant gxy bestows upon me deep and deep and deep wisdom. I heard the sound of a golden horn made from curses and poisonous mes trapped underground [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of madness have been nullified.] Ah, that was close I thought I had lost my mind for a moment there. It seems the penalty effect associated with the Madmans Dexterity trait was triggered and it nearly plunged me into a state of madness. This is typical of advanced traits in [Cthulhu World]; rarely are there simply useful traits. The more strong the effect, the more it consumes the users mind and destroys the soul. So, the Madness of the Abyss trait is actually quite useful, after all. The Madness of the Abyss trait forcibly inhabits my mind, resolving all mental issues except for two specific forms of madness. This means that the great beings from the abyss cant exert their influence over me beyond sending asional nightmares and minor annoyances from afar. And now, even those nightmares havee to an end. [Ancient Gods Mirror (A-rank essory): An item imbued with the influence of an ancient god and crafted formunication with divine beings. It possesses the power to suppress malevolent forces and avert disasters. Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods. Heavenly Perspective: Provides the ability to see in darkness with enhanced vision and increases sight by 100%. Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the Healing Meditation spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%. Heavenly Malevolent Miasma: Automatically casts a Powerful Hallucination spell on a chosen target and enhances sensitivity to magic and divine power. Creator: Kim Shin-hwa Further enhancement possible] Great. The ultimate item for a good nights sleep isplete. I only needed the Heavenly Lightning and Heavenly Divine Q effects, but unexpectedly, two more effects appeared due to a critical sess in the enhancement process. Setting aside the hallucination thing, what use do I have for the enhanced vision? If anything were to emerge from this process, I had hoped for an effect that would boost my stats. But it doesnt really matter. I checked the magical power and resources consumed in the enhancement of the artifact. It didnt strain my mind too much, but it did consume a significant amount of magical power. There was also some unexpected physical exhaustion involved Hmm It seems its not something I can use twice a day. While I could force it up to three or four times, it wouldnt be a healthy choice. Using it just once a day would be sufficient anyway. Alright. I had be capable of altering, fusing, and enhancing artifacts. If I start to use this ability properly, I could reach a point where mundane financial concerns are irrelevant. The limitation of only being able to use it once a day isnt really a constraint. I could transform materials worth a few tens of millions into artifacts worth hundreds of millions, or even billions. The item Ive created now is excessively luxurious for just helping me sleep. I currently possessed abilities that any mage would not find disappointing, yet I couldnt escape the inherent constraints that came with being a mage. However, I realized that if I started to actively use my artifact enhancement ability, I could transcend those limitations. Of course, this wasnt something that could be achieved without any cost. To manifest the desired enhancements, it was necessary to have certain materials on hand in advance. The challenge was that some of these materials couldnt easily be acquired with money alone. Well, Tudor will handle that somehow. It seemed that engaging in any other activity for the rest of the day would be difficult. I reached out toward the folder that had been shoved onto a shelf. Just as Tudor often did, the file folder levitated and flew into my hand. Should I at least give it a read out of courtesy? I spent my time perusing the list of quests I could undertake and organizing a list of new artifacts to attempt enhancing the following day. And before I knew it, I saw the sun rising through the window. It was time to go to sleep. Iy down in bed, filled with anticipation about how much the newly created artifact would shield me from the relentless nightmares that had been tormenting me. [The unique effect of the A-rank essory Ancient Gods Mirror, Heavenly Lighting and Heavenly Divine Qi, have been activated. // Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods. Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the Healing Meditation spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%.] In that cramped room filled with magical tools, cursed objects, materials of human experiments, and fragments of monsters created by beings from the abyss, I closed my eyes. Whether it was due to the effects of the artifact or the umted fatigue, I felt as though I was plummeting into a deep abyss and slowly drifted off to sleep. Chapter 64: Tiger’s Daughter (1) Chapter 64: Tigers Daughter (1) Five days passed again. Although I had resolved three days ago to avoid going out for a while, I found myself frequently venturing outside over the past five days. I even managed to go out during daylight hours for the first time in a long while, and while my sleep schedule wasnt quite normal, I was able to adjust it significantly. This was all thanks to the Ancient Gods Mirror, which had effectively shielded me from the nightmares that had been tormenting me. Really, theres nothing like a good nights sleep. Of course, it was evening now, and I was lying in bed as before But no, it wasnt quite the same as before. Now, in addition to lying down, I was engaging in another activity. p, p, p Although I remained lying down, several books, a notebook, sheets of paper, a pen, and ink were levitating before my eyes. With a simple gesture, the pages of the book turned. Another gesture, and droplets of ink that floated as if in zero gravity flew towards the notebook before forming letters. It was as if I had taken notes, but a pages worth of notes and checklists werepleted at the speed of a printer printing them out. Whats that word again? My health stat remained at 7 points, but there had been significant changes since my sleep improved. The fog that had been clouding my mind seemed to dissipate, bringing back a sense of rity, and my brain started functioning properly, not just in life-threatening situations but in everyday activities. From the moment I regained my physical and mentalposure, I dedicated myself to tranting and interpreting the [Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path]. Until then, I had only used my intelligence for magical purposes, which paradoxically made me less aware of its practical implications. However, once I started applying my intelligence in a practical manner, I began toprehend the true significance of having an intelligence stat of 30. The text I was deciphering was in Tibetan, and not just any Tibetan, but a form from the 16th century used in a magical tome. Resources readily avable on the market were of little help. Yet, with just a dictionary borrowed from the library and a few reference materials, I was able to grasp the writings of a certain mad monk who lived in Tibet in the 16th century. However, this understanding was notplete. The author of the Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path wrote it based on experiences undergone in a trance-like state. Perhaps during meditation or near-death experiences? Im not entirely sure if my trantion of this part is urate, but the book was evidentlypleted based on these profound experiences. Therefore, the text was filled with oddly connected logic, utterly absurd content, and ambiguous sentences that seemed like the ramblings of a madman. It appeared that a considerable amount of time would be necessary to fully understand the content and make use of the information contained in the book. However, there were clearly useful aspects as well. Despite being an old system created before the 16th century, the rituals and magic described in the book were authentic. Thats enough for now. [System: Your understanding of the Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path has increased. You have acquired the unique magic Absorption.] I was a powerful and unique primal magic that couldnt be acquired through the [Spell Mastery] trait. In just about a week, I had managed to learn some of these spells. As my interpretation and understanding of the book deepened, the number of spells I could use would also increase. Should I call it a day? p, p, p Thebooks, notebooks, and scraps of paper flew towards the desk. Lets put this on the desk but theres no room left. The already cramped room had be even more chaotic over the course of three days. On the desky a pile of broken odds and ends, while the floor around the desk was littered with wooden shards bearing the marks of scorching as if they were discarded trash. I straightened my back strongly, stretched out both hands toward the desk, and focused my mind. The size, shape, and weight of piled objects are detected at high speed. And the quick spatial recognition ability gained as a by-product of my magical talent conjured up the optimal arrangement and repositioned the items on the desk. Swoosh thud, click, click-click! Ah, thats better now. But if I let my guard down again, it would soon turn into a hellish mess. Since tidying up wasnt difficult for me, I tended to mess things up again. When I was about to get up, a strange sound emanated from a corner of the room. Turrrrr Is that my phone? I slowly walked in the direction of the refrigerator, and the smartphone flew by itself and stuck to my ear. Since I have overflowing magical power, theres no need to move much. There was no need to check who was calling. I had given my number to only two people, and at this hour, there could only be one of them. Hey dear, hows it going? Did I call toote? It was Tudor. No, I was just about to have dinner. I said that and opened the refrigerator. In the past few days, the number of pieces of flesh stored in the refrigerator has increased significantly. This was all thanks to my practice with life-creation magic. There were also numerous ss bottles filled with a specially prepared preservative. It was time to find separate storage for these, or thered be no room for food. Youre having dinner at this hour? Then I guess I dont need to apologize for callingte. It doesnt matter at this time. Yeah, I thought you might be nocturnal. Tudor giggled joyfully for a moment before continuing. Dinner So, can you drop by Vasilisa after you eat? I dont know where you live, but if it seems like itll take a long time, I can send Orb to meet you. Whats up? Is it urgent? Theres a request that suddenly came in and it matches the criteria you mentionedst time. But this one is time-sensitive, unlike the usual cases. Its not so far away, so theres no need to send Orb. Ill be heading to Vasilisas ce, um I pulled a carton of milk from among the pieces of flesh in the refrigerator. Looks like Ill have some cereal before I leave. Ill be there in 30 minutes. *** The value of the items stored in my house is bing rmingly high. The number of protective spells Ive had to ce around the house has reached a somewhat exhausting level. Its getting to the point where I needed to think of a better security solution since the current method was inconvenient. After setting up the security spells, I killed some time wandering the back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood before making my way to Vasilisa. Tudor was a reliable broker, but I couldnt ce the same trust in the various fixersing and going through Vasilisas doors. Upon seeing my faceor rather, my maskTudor didnt bother with greetings and immediately pulled me into her office. You said it would take 30 minutes, and you arrived right on time. As I mentioned earlier, I live nearby. Ah, I see. How are you feeling? Youve beenying low these past few days. Are you ready to start right away? How soon are we talking? Tonight, or maybe tomorrow during the day? Is it urgent? Simr to the previous task at Munsan Apartment? Well, its urgent. Not for me, but for the client. That meant it was urgent, didnt it? The fact that she could joke in such a situation made me wonder if it wasnt as serious as I initially thought. As I hesitated, Tudor gave me a slight mysterious smile and continued. Urgency aside, there are some details you need to be briefed on, so listen up. What is it? Lets hear it. Its about the Triad. The Triad? The naming might have evoked associations with the Triad, which was a renowned criminal organization in China but it bore little rtion to it. A criminal organization that exerts extensive influence in the back alleys of Paju in a narrow sense and in the darkness of Korea more broadly. It was essentially what one might refer to as the mafia. Given that this was within the realm of [Cthulhu World] where monsters from other dimensions, mutants, and those with supernatural abilities could be used as human resources, the harm they could inflict was on apletely different scale from anything in the real world. Last time, it was about building connections with argepany, and now its ending up with the mafia? This matter is more than that. If you handle it well, you might establish some very impressive connections for yourself. Youre making it soundplicated. Whats it all about? Im not sure how much you know about the Triad but its an organization run by three leaders. The conversation seemed to be going in circles. It was fine to strategically pretend to be ignorant of the political situation in Paju, but it became problematic in situations like this. It seemed like Tudor kept giving grandiose exnations because of her desire to convey to me how great this event was. Im aware of that much. I even know that the names of those three leaders are Jeok-du, Heuk-wang, and Cheong-ho. Ah, right, youve been in Paju for about two months now Yes. So, theres no need to exin the Triad to me. Okay. Then lets get to the main point. One of the three heads of the Triad, Cheong-hos daughter, has been kidnapped. His daughter? Yes. Theres a bold and skilled crazy guy who infiltrated the house of a man at the top of the underworld and kidnapped his daughter. The request is to catch this person. Twenty years ago, Ever since it became known that monsters descending from North Korea carried magic stones, treasures more valuable than gold, people from all walks of life flocked to Paju, as well as to Gangwon and northern Gyeonggi provinces. Among them were criminal organizations, wearing the badge of the mafia and among these, three of the most powerful joined forces to form the Triad. If Korea had still boasted the dense public authority of its past, perhaps it could have contained them. However, in the aftermath of the Great Copse, Korea was too preupied with dealing with Cthulhu monsters to pay any mind to the mafia. Thus, in the shadows of Paju and across South Korea, the Triad grew by devouring the abnormal and crazy interests that were moving rapidly in the darkness of Paju and the Republic of Korea. It had be a huge criminal organization that could no longer exist in the reality of South Korea. As such, even within the realm of [Cthulhu World] it was one of the significant forces to reckon with. Of the various possible destruction endings, 20% involve the Triad, either directly or indirectly This was a request that could ce one in a position to bestow a personal favor upon one of the three heads of the Triad. Though Tudor had nned to abandon it due to theck of a suitable person, it seemed she was inwardly hoping that I would take it on. The quest proceedings were swift, and soon a quest eptance message appeared above my head. [Youve epted the quest! The daughter of the Cheong-ho, one of the three heads of the Triad, has been kidnapped by someone. Locate Jeong Hyun-ah and ensure her safety. ! Time Limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (2) hours ! Reward: 450,000XP + Cheong-hos Trust + 300,000,000 Won + Bonus depending on mission performance Failure: You will have a hostile rtionship with the Triad.] Thepensation was 300 million won. If efforts were made to increase the bonus, it was possible to receive up to 540 million won, as I recall. However, more important than earning an extra sum of money was gaining the trust of Cheong-ho, who held a 30% stake in the Samdoo Association. Securing his trust would grant me ess to restricted infrastructures such as ck markets dealing in genuine grimoires or exclusive ces like the Thousand Gold Temple. It might require a bit of luck, but if things go well, there would be no need to rack my brains over tranting ancient Tibetan texts from the medieval period. Chapter 65: Tiger’s Daughter (2) Chapter 65: Tigers Daughter (2) A strange city where individuals suffering from madness and living at the fringes sought to transform their lives by defeating surreal monsters, while corporations wielding technologies that didnt exist in reality amassed vast wealth. In the darkness of such a city where no one is crazier than the other, Cheong-ho was one of the three bosses of the underworld who was gaining more notoriety than anyone else. Cheong-ho was a man surrounded by grand rumors. ims of his cruel hands, his ridiculous tendency for violence, or his incurable madness Listing them all would make for trivial tales. But aside from such rumors, his love for his daughter seemed genuine at least. As soon as Tudor contacted him, a sleek ck luxury sedan swiftly arrived at the entrance of Vasilisa. It had been less than three minutes since Tudor had hung up the phone. You arrived quickly. An old man in a suit seated in the drivers seat responded in a calm voice, I was the closest member avable. It appeared that the nearest avable person in theirwork was mobilized to escort me from Vasilisa. The chairmans house is not far from here. I see. Yes, we should arrive in about 30 minutes, but given the circumstances, I hope youll understand if we speed a bit. Cheong-hos home was a luxurious country house located on the outskirts of Paju. However, it wasnt the kind of tranquil setting one might expect for a wealthy retiree to enjoy theirter years. In fact, it was more fitting to call it a mansion than a country house. As soon as we entered the road, the car began to gradually elerate. Since it waste at night and the roads were empty, the elderly driver seemed to push the speed to its limits. Nevertheless, because the ride was sofortable and it was a heavy vehicle, there was no major difort. The driver humbly introduced himself as just another member of the organization and revealed his name to be Chae Tae-won. And I knew his name before he introduced himself. This implied that he held enough importance in the [Cthulhu World] to make a name for himself and he possessed skills worth remembering. Of course, depending on how things unfolded, there might never be a need to call his name again, or we could end up in a tiresome cycle of conflict until his dying day. With his lean build, tall height, and neatlybed hair, along with theposed lines of age on his face, he looked more like a bank president or a high-ranking corporate executive than a field member of an organization. In reality, his duties werent much different from those confined to a desk. Thats because Chae Tae-won was a branch chief managing a branch of the Triad. In essence, he wasnt the kind of person one would expect to be performing the role of my chauffeur. Tudor had jokingly said, Its urgent. Not for me, but for the client, and the client was really in a hurry. And although the old driver didnt show it, the situation was really urgent. This was information that only I knew and that others couldnt know. [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (2) hours !] Regrettably, I was entangled in an annoying timed quest. I hoped for minimal disruptions, but the time left was dreadfully short. Any slight mishap could lead to failure, regardless of my capabilities. And should I fail, the consequence would be [Failure: You will have a hostile rtionship with the Triad.] Ah, damn it, how troublesome! Why did I have to get stuck with such a quest! It took about 8 minutes to reach our destination. The car soon began to slow down as it seemed we were almost there. Things might get a bit chaotic upon arrival. I ask for your understanding in advance. Even though I was wearing a mask, a hoodie, a backpack, and was even carrying a skateboard, Chae Tae-wons polite attitude didnt waver one bit. It seemed a waste to simply dismiss him as a gangster. I have a rough idea of whats happening. The ce was usually guarded by dozens of organization members at all times, but now, the bosss family had been kidnapped. Likely, hundreds of underlings from the organization had swarmed the ce which created a sea of people. No, its not what you think. ? Then what is it? The police will be there. Ah. It reminded me of the situation at the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan Mountain. Due to the dynamic real-time active quest system, the details could vary slightly each time even when undertaking the same quest. In Gamaksan Mountain, the Wild Guns gang led by Ko Kyung-soo had shown up which resulted in the test subjects being armed with firearms while waiting for me. This time, the quest involving the bosss daughter had a low chance of attracting additional NPCs. And with particrly bad luck, a truly troublesome situation could arise. And the surroundings were really, really, really chaotic. At the entrance of arge mansion encircled by a high wall, burly gangsters d in ck suits were blocking the way. Facing off against these gangsters were dozens of police officers. It seemed there had already been a scuffle, as the individuals at the forefront of both groups were in disarray with torn clothes and disheveled hair. On one side: Get lost, now! Bring a warrant! Do you even know where you are! On the other side: Move aside! Move! Ah, open the door! Do you all want to be arrested?! This is obstruction of official duty! Such a scene was notmon in Paju. If this spectacle were to be summarized in a single sentence, it would go something like this: It feels more like theyvee for a raid than to catch a kidnapper. Upon hearing my words, Cha Tae-hyun seemed to be struck with a headache so he briefly lowered his head and rubbed his temple with one hand. It seems someone is out to give the chairman a hard time. That appears to be that person over there. A woman holding a loudspeaker burst forth from among the police. Navigating through such a dense crowd was no easy feat, but as she pushed through the officers, dozens of burly men were swept aside and parted ways to the left and right. Ah, this was the worst of the worst. The NPC who only showed up when luck was at its absolute worst, the nemesis of all the wannabe ouws in Paju and the towns most insane civil servant. It was Yang Seo-ho. Yang Seo-ho brought the loudspeaker to her lips and bellowed at the gangsters from the Triad right in front of her. Ah! Ah! Members of the Triad gang!!!!! Though the loudspeaker was no artifact, her shout carried a physical force beyond mere sound. And when her voice erupted, the gangsters blocking the entrance were visibly shaken and staggered backward. We are the righteous and benevolent police, here to find your bosss daughter!!!! Stop your nonsense and cooperate with us at once!!! She was really a crazy woman. It seemed there was at least one among the Triad with a semnce of courage. A giant man that was easily twice the size of Yang Seo-ho emerged and he was stomping his feet as he walked forward. Why do you barge in here causing trouble when weve done nothing wrong? Though the giant seemed poised to throw a punch at Yang Seo-ho any moment, his body tensed with a surge of energy, and he managed to maintain a look of basic decency on the surface. On the other hand, Yang Seo-ho, a defender ofw and justice, shoved the loudspeaker towards her face and yelled. So, you see, were here to help find your bosss daughter, got it? Why dont you just scram?!! Such behavior was nothing short of barbaric and devoid of even the slightest semnce of decency. The giant man who had initially spoken with restraint clutched his ears at Yang Seo-hos shout and staggered back before his face flushed red with anger as he retorted loudly. So, Im telling you, we dont need you! If you want to enter, bring a warrant!!! I have no intention ofying a finger on your boss, as long as he is a citizen of this great Republic of Korea, and that applies to his daughter as well!!! What Im after are the kidnappers, so open the door right now!!! What kind of nonsense is this!!! Bring a warrant!!! Whats with you, bastard!! Well Im not particrly inclined to side with Yang Seo-ho, but theres really no need to doubt her sincerity. She genuinely doesnt care if the person in question is a mob boss or a despicable serial killer as long as they are a legal citizen of South Korea with the right to walk on itsnd. The reason she was pushing so hard, even at the risk of abuse of her authority, was solely because the target of her pursuit and the kidnapper of Cheong-hos daughter was an illegal aliena being from another world. However, her inflexibility and aggressive approach were only deepening misunderstandings as time passed. This wasnt the time to be hiding in Chae Tae-wons car. I turned to Chae Tae-won who looked troubled and started the conversation. It doesnt seem like this situation will resolve easily. Hmm were short on time too Chae Tae-wons voice trailed off for a moment before he made up his mind and continued. Ill step in and find a way to clear the path. No, no. Wait a moment. Huh? Chae Tae-won stepping in didnt guarantee that the way would be cleared. With time already running short, thest thing I wanted was to waste more of it. Ill make my way in through the back on my own. The back door is likely to be in a simr state. Perhaps, if the chairman would allow it, I might quietly climb over the wall. No, I couldnt possibly ask that of a guest Chae Tae-won looked even more disheveled than when he had watched Yang Seo-hos tantrum. The issue here went beyond mere courtesy to a guest. Regardless of the circumstances, if I were to climb over the wall of the chairmans house, it would be a matter of pride for the Triad, and Chae Tae-won could face internal embarrassment for failing to perform his duties. But was I really going to continue wasting time like this? Were running out of time, arent we? Hmm Alright. But please, just wait a moment. Chae Tae-won quietly reversed the car. He moved it far enough away so that the gathered police officers couldnt see, then got out of the car and began to make a call on his smartphone. It seemed he was either seeking permission. or at least trying to ensure that no one would be startled by my entry. The call was brief. Chae Tae-won soon returned to the drivers seat and his face somehow seemed years older upon his return. Ive ryed the message that you shouldnt be rmed by Kim Shin-hwa-nims entry. Then I may proceed. Yes, but please be cautious not to enter through a risky area Do you see where the branches extend over the wall there? I see it. Could you make your entrance near that tree? Weve arranged for someone to meet you on that side. No problem. Chae Tae-won turned his head for a moment and seemed to sigh quietly. After a brief pause, he suddenly changed the subject. The chairman is deeply concerned. In response to such remarks, silence often serves better than an awkward reply. And more than concerning the chairman, I ask again for the youngdys sake. Unlike us, shes an innocent girl with no fault of her own. Well, since Ive epted the job, I have no intention of doing it half-heartedly. Thank you. Chapter 66: Tiger’s Daughter (3) Chapter 66: Tigers Daughter (3) After getting out of Chae Tae-wons car, I rxed my wrists and ankles for a moment and lightly stretched, then put the skateboard I had brought with me on the ground. There was no need for explosive auxiliary propulsion. [Agility of the Fox] [Invisible Hand] The ck hoodie I wore began to shimmer with intricate patterns of light. The magic circle which was designed more for practicality than visibility or symmetry appeared as a random and chaotic scatter of doodles or graffiti. The spell topensate for myck of agility and to aid in posture control wasplete. I stepped onto the board and rolled my feet with ease. In response, the board surged forward with fierce eleration. Then came the [Leap]. A silver magic circle that resembled a crack formed on the seemingly ordinary board. And without any other precursor, the board shot into the air as if bouncing off the ground, and with it, I too soared quietly through the cold night air before effortlessly vaulting over the high wall. Whoosh, thump!! The surrounding scenery changed rapidly. Beyond the wall that frustratingly obstructed my viewy a meticulously maintained garden, the sort one might expect to find in an old mansion. There, three burly figures in ck suits stared at me with shocked expressions. For a moment, they seemed to have forgotten what to say Ah, perhaps they didnt expect someone like me to show up? I came here through Vasilisas mediation. Arent you going to lead the way? Wh-What did you say? One of the big men blurted out in disbelief. Clearly, they were unprepared. Just as I was about to speak again, a bald gangster who seemed to hold a slightly higher rank among these simrly imposing men, shouted at his subordinate who had spoken out of turn. Ah, no, wait! Make way! He then bent slightly towards me with an awkward smile. Weve been expecting you. Please excuse our surprise. Ah, yes. Pleasee this way. Without much talk, I followed him while holding the still-shining board at my side. Cheong-hos house was a vast and splendid mansion; its size was difficult to gauge at a nce. But just like the chaotic situation outside, the interior was quite a mess. First of all, arge cab had fallen over. It must have been a cab for storing dishes, but as expected, the dishes that had been stored inside the cab were spilled out and smashed to pieces. Looking at the fragments, they were luxurious tes that appeared to be more for decoration or collection purposes than actual tes for use. The room was in disarray, with items that could be thrown scattered and smashed all over the ce. What must have been a living room filled with luxurious decorations now resembled the aftermath of a rampage by a crazed gori with eight iling arms. I passed by the servants of the mansion standing outside the living room while muttering helplessly to each other and stepped inside. There, amidst the chaos that matched the disorder of the room, stood a figure that could only be described as deranged. He was wearing what could be called a formal suit, though its buttons were torn off and the stitching on the left shoulder waspletely ripped open. Remarkably, he still wore shoes amidst the chaos. Even though he looked like a madman, this man in his early fifties was Cheong-ho, one of the three leaders of the Triad. The scene suggested a brawl with kidnappers, but that was not the case. As if he had guessed what I was thinking, the burly man who had guided me whispered in my ear. This was not the work of kidnappers, but our chairman himself. Youre saying the person who trashed the house and beat up the chairman was the chairman himself? Yes, he couldnt contain his anger It seemed clear enough. Cheong-ho who had his daughter kidnapped right in the middle of the day at his mansion must have been unable to ept the fact andshed out in a frenzy. Who are you? Cheong-ho roughly swept his disheveled hair back and looked this way. As he did so, therge scars crossing his forehead and the area around his eyes that were previously hidden by his hair were revealed. Now that I took a closer look at him, I could see longer horizontal scars engraved across his body beneath the torn shirt. They looked almost like brutal stripes. He is the fixer who came through Vasilisas mediation. The burly man who was guiding me responded. A mage? Thats right. Ah, this is driving me crazy. Is he any good? After seeing this reaction twice in a row, I began to miss the gentle and polite Chae Tae-won. While I was thinking about the polite Chae Tae-won, Cheong-ho slowly began to approach me, all the while ring at me with bloodshot eyes. Ah, I remembered that a disastrous event could unfold here if I didnt handle this situation carefully. Lets stop this, shall we? What? Arent we in the middle of a crisis? This isnt some old martial arts film. Wouldnt it be better to focus on finding your daughter instead of wasting time testing me by attacking? Huh this bastard However, Cheong-ho didnt halt his advance. The air became prickly due to the threateningly elevated magical power and killing intent he radiated. Sounds of people copsing could even be heard from behind. Yet, it wasnt enough to affect me significantly. I could stand there forever without any reaction, but that seemed like it would take an eternity. I had no choice but to slightly increase my magical power and slightly push away his own magical power. At that moment, a vein throbbed on Cheong-hos forehead and he began to seriously gather his magical power. This wont do. I extended my magical power and influence in earnest and pushed it against the magical power rising from his body. I could potentially twist his magical power core entirely but since he was a client, I opted to create a wave of energy opposing his before starting to neutralize the rampant magical power he had summoned. My magical power control flowed effortlessly, without the need for strain or focus. Even though I was manipting not my own but my opponents magical power, I managed it with perfect precision But, honestly, this whole ordeal was starting to get on my nerves. In a moment of impulse, I unleashed my magical power in an instant, grabbed his magical power, and twisted it. Aaaaagh! Thud. Cheong-ho fell back and his face was ashen with shock. Judging by his expression alone, one might think I had twisted his nose or ear rather than his magical power. Wh-what are you?! Just as I was introduced earlier, I am a mage and a fixer brought here through Vasilisas mediation. No, fu*k, not that! How did you do that just now! Seriously I came here upon hearing that the chairmans family had been kidnapped. If I am at the wrong ce, then I shall take my leave. N-No, wait! Just a moment! Im sorry! I apologize! Please, find my daughter, my Hyun-ah! Ive been out of my mind worrying about my daughter, and I was rude to you! I seriously considered turning back or causing a scene, but for the sake of what was toe, I decided to hold back. If in the future you want to ask for more than what was proposed in the request, be prepared to offer correspondingpensation. Ah, I understand, I understand! I promise I wont do it again! Im truly sorry! Cheong-ho who was still seated on the ground approached me in a semi-kneeling position as if pleading. Seeing an elderly man, who was respected as a legend in his field, rolling on the ground and begging me was well, satisfying in a way, but also distasteful and somewhat awkward. Enough with the pleading; Id like to discuss the job now. Yet, Cheong-ho couldnt quickly rise to his feet, and it was only after a bit of amotion, with his subordinates helping him up, that we could start a normal conversation. Or so I thought. It was premature to call it normal. Cheong-ho, seemingly overtaken by urgency again, began to blurt out his words in a disorganized rush. Please, you must find my daughter! Shes been kidnapped! Those damned brutes! How could they, in broad daylight, and from her own room! How could this happen when she had over 40 guards?! I cant understand a thing youre saying At my response, Cheong-ho started hitting his own head in frustration. Thump! Thump thump thump! Bang! Crack! It wasnt a sudden turn to self-harm. Thats just how he was. After a while of beating himself up, Cheong-ho finally managed to articte his thoughts more coherently. What can I do for you? Ill help in any way I can. If you need more people, Ill provide them; if you need a down payment, Ill give it. Id like to see your daughters room first. Ah, right. This way, please. Cheong-hos daughter, Hyun-ahs room was on the second floor. If my memory serves me correctly, Hyun-ah was a high school student. The rooms interior seemed fitting for her age; though not as messy as Cheong-hos living room had been, it was still quite a mess. What stood out the most was thepletely shattered window. My daughter, Hyun-ah, what has she done to deserve this? Well, the daughter herself wasnt to me. However, had she not been Cheong-hos daughter, she likely wouldnt have been kidnapped. I slowly approached the window. This quest, being time-sensitive, had several fixed clues ced around, unlike other quests where the clues varied ording to a few patterns. Naturally, the perpetrator and the location of the kidnapping changed ording to these variations. yers are meant to gather the clues scattered around the room within a limited time, like in an escape room game, to deduce where Hyun-ah was taken. It was an inside job. What did you say? It might seem trivial, but the shards of the broken window were scattered outside, not inside. This meant it wasnt an outsider who had broken the window. I could have slowly revealed each clue one by one while putting on a grand disy of deduction, but the thought of doing so felt embarrassingly over the top, so I simply cut to the chase. There must have been people who disappeared amidst the chaos. How could this be Are you saying theres a kidnapper among my men? What could they possibly gain from this! Hmm That part is rather cumbersome to exin. Anyway, I will soon locate your daughter using magic, so please be patient. Though it would actually be my memory, not magic, that would find her, the result would be swift either way. Among the items scattered randomly on the floor, I picked up a piece of paper that stood out due to its unusual shape. It looked like a book cover, but there was no book, just a single cover page. Fortunately, among the possible locations for the kidnapping, this one was nearby. Ive got it. What did you say? Where is it? Just tell me the location, and Ill handle the rest! Well, thats one approach. If I just take my fee and leave Id be off the hook easily, while Cheong-ho and his men would rush in and cause chaos and havoc, which would eventually lead to Jeong Hyun-ahs death. In the long run, this approach would likely cost me Cheong-hos trust and any chance of earning additional bonuses based on the sess of the mission. I wasnt enduring this unpleasant situation and engaging in conversation with Cheong-ho just to earn a quick buck. Having too many people involved wont do any good. Your daughter will end up as a hostage. Please! Then what should I do? I paused to pull up the quest window and check the remaining time. [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (2) hours !] The task is to find and safely return your daughter, so Ill bring her back. All I need is someone to drive the car. Chapter 67: Body Snatchers (1) Chapter 67: Body Snatchers (1) (TN: Changed Blue Tiger to Cheong-ho. It was a name after all. I just keep overthinking stuff. Sorry, it has been corrected in every chapter.) Besides, with the police spread out like that outside, how do you n to mobilize people? From the first floor, the outside was out of sight because it was hidden behind the fence but now we were on the second floor. The situation outside the fence was visible through the shattered windows. Jeong Cheong-ho-sshi! We are here for you! Please open the door and cooperate with the management bureau! The amplified voice of Yang Seo-ho resonated loudly through the loudspeaker. A quick nce revealed that the bulky gangster blocking Yang Seo-ho was lying down. He wouldnt haveid down because he suddenly didnt want to stand, so it seemed like Yang Seo-ho must have knocked him down when I wasnt looking. Thats one hell of a woman. I-I understand. Then I will assign someone to the task. Then Cheong-ho suddenly started frantically searching himself while muttering, Where did it go? Hey, where is it? as he urged his subordinates. Time was running short, and this was frustrating. Are you looking for the smartphone that was rolling around on the living room floor, split in half? Ugh, it seems I threw it away earlier. Hey, give me the phone, the phone! It would be good if you could assign Chae Tae-won-sshi to the task. Hes still around and can move immediately. Oh, Tae-won? Alright. [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (1) hour !] A new message window popped up in front of me, updating the remaining time for Jeong Hyun-ahs life. It seems an hour has already passed due to various human interferences. While checking the situation outside, I reached out for a few drops of blood left among the shattered ss fragments. The blood had already driedpletely after several hours. Its not a big problem. I summoned magical power to impart additional properties to the bloodstain, and as I did, the dried blood began to wriggle and move slightly like a living amoeba. The bloodstains gathered into one spot and became a single drop of blood. [Binding] I created a very small barrier to pick up the drop of blood. Then, I activated a new spell to extract information contained in the blood. [Insight] The bloods owner is a female, about 18 years old. Fortunately, it seems to be Jeong Hyun-ahs blood. Additionally, if desired, I could obtain various physical information such as the blood owners unique characteristics, stats, food preferences, etc., but thats not necessary right now. I could deduce Jeong Hyun-ahs location based on the information provided by the quest but in case of any unexpected situations, this blood could be used to pinpoint her exact whereabouts. Theres no time. Please make the call. I hurriedly dashed down to the first floor, grabbed the board I had left outside, and threw it towards the fence before leaping over it. [Leap] It was urgent, very urgent. [Invisible Hand] I conjured telekic mid-air force to pull the board towards me, dragging it under my feet. When Inded, I mounted the board and headed straight for Chae Tae-wons car. Have you received a call from the chairman? Not yet, but please get in. It was only after I got into the car that Chae Tae-wons phone rang. It was a call from Cheong-ho. The chairman sure was taking his time. The location isnt far. Please head towards the publishing district. The publishing district? Yes, you know, the ce where all those bankrupt publishers from about ten years ago are clustered. Shell be in one of those warehouses. A book cover had been found in Jeong Hyun-ahs room. It was the cover of a book that had never been distributed because the publisher went bankrupt before its official release. Normally, the regr route is to reach the publishing district only after wandering around using the cover as a clue. Understood. Were short on time Id appreciate it if you could speed up a bit. At my request, Chae Tae-won shed a brief smile. Then I will speed up for a moment. Screeech!! Vrooooom!! Chae Tae-wons car suddenly burst forward with much more energy than before. The abrupt start followed by a series of sharp turns almost made me lose my bnce and fall from the back seat. Had it not been for the posture-correcting spell I had applied earlier to prepare for the leap, I would have surely fallen. It wont take long to reach the publishing district from here. Roughly 20 minutes? No, perhaps only 10 minutes. The car we were inpletely disregarded the road trafficws and sped through at an incredible speed. Overtaking vehicles, ignoringnes Thump-thump-thump-thump. The sound of thene dividers hitting the car could be heard. To drive this fast in such an expensive car. Whooooosh. But It was only after we had reached a somewhat clearer stretch of road that Chae Tae-won, who had been driving with a serious expression on his face, suddenly spoke. Im not sure of the youngdys current condition, but do you think just the two of us, Mage-nim and me, will be enough? Aaah, the kidnappers? Yes. While many officers are currently tied up, there are also teams scattered in and around Paju searching for the youngdy. We could get in touch with them or, alternatively, there are other members from the Triad. Indeed, if Cheong-ho were to mobilize his forces in earnest, he could potentially gather hundreds of men. Its a matter of pulling together manpower from the other heads of the Triad. But there is no need. The reason I refused Cheong-hos support was to monopolize any rewards from dealing with the kidnappers and to maximize the ransom. I wouldnt have epted this request in the first ce if I intended to finish it with just basic help and guidance. Its alright. Um but still I have someone else to help. Saying this, I fumbled with the backpack I had ced on the seat next to me. I could feel something wriggling inside the backpack. Soon, we arrived at our intended destination. Its the area once known as the Paju Publishing District. Of course, ever since Paju changed, the incentive to operate a business in this area vanished. Ironically, in a city overrun by monsters and ouws,nd prices soared. Small factories andpanies in Paju moved south in search of safer and cheaper locations, and the vacancies were filled by the assets ofrge, suspicious and wealthypanies that could withstand the citys dangers or utilize the resources it provided. The same goes for the publishing district. Although the citizens of Paju still refer to it as such, not a single business rted to publishing remains. Please stop here. What normally would have been a 20-minute drive took us just over 10 minutes, thanks to the speeding and reckless driving. I felt a bit queasy from the ride, but I quickly regained myposure and surveyed the surroundings. Several buildings clustered together caught my attention. Some of which seemed to be in operation and some of which were not. More precisely, there were factories that appeared deserted yet strangely continued to produce something. There were also mysterious secure warehouses whose contents and owners were unknown. And then there were buildings that had be the homes of bizarre tribes of indeterminate origin. Although not apletely wild hazard zone like Tanhyeon, it was a gathering ce for elements that were even more dangerous and unsettling. It might be best not to get too close. It could be troublesome if were spotted by lookouts. Getting caught by someone on watch could provoke an unpredictable response. I exined this to Chae Tae-won as we parked the car a safe distance from the warehouse. From here, we were out of sight from anyone inside the warehouse. Ille with you. Hmm Chae Tae-won? What should I do? Well, alright. But Ill go ahead to scout first. Ill signal you, so follow at your own pace. Lets do that. Leaving Chae Tae-won in the car, I stepped out first. Time for a deep breath. Ah, I feel queasy. Then, I activated the enchantments Id prepared: [Hazy Presence] [Foxs Agility] [Cats Elegance] [Eagle Eye] If it were a situation where it couldnt be used, that would be one thing, but if it could be used, there was no reason not to. I have an abundance of magical power anyway. I habitually checked the amount of magical power in my mana core. The magical power hadnt decreased in the slightest. It wasnt my first time embarking on a quest. However, since this was a quest with a lot of randomness, I couldnt let my guard down. Had the situation been more rxed, I would have engaged in conversations with NPCs or conducted some preliminary research to understand what awaited me or what traps might be present. Unfortunately, I didnt have the chance to do so. It doesnt seem like a typical criminal would be waiting. The appearance of Yang Seo-ho was a precursor. Illegal aliens. Not just the undocumented immigrants who had crossed over from foreign countries, but beings from other dimensions that had infiltrated Earth through supernatural barriers were expected to appear. While it was unlikely that an enemy I couldnt handle at my current level would appear, the presence drawn by the [Feasts Offering] trait could introduce unpredictable variables. Once these beings became involved, whatever awaited me could escte into a problem beyond my ability to manage. Thats why Theres no such thing as being too prepared as a mage. [Protective Circle] [Distortion Field] [Detection Jamming] After applying several protective measures to myself, I moved towards the warehouse. I leaned against the wall of another unrted warehouse for cover and checked the entrance. Theres a surveince team in ce. A man and a woman were seated amongst the scattered waste materials at the entrance of the warehouse. Their demeanor suggested they were taking an easy break after finishing some work, but what kind of work could possibly be done in an abandoned warehouse with no owner in sight? But their attire and physique hardly fit that of criminals, let alone manualborers? At best, they might pass for office workers enjoying some break time. Their appearance seemed somewhat out of ce for the situation they were involved in. It looked like they were resting leisurely after finishing work, but what would they do in an abandoned warehouse without an owner in the first ce? I summoned my magical power to inspect the inside. The warehouse interior has exactly 60 sources of magical power. Although there was one particrly strong source of magical power, the rest were rather trivial. Outside wait, what? Something was off. Standing at the entrance of the warehouse that surveince team. I could only see two humans outside, but I detected four sources of magical power. Whats this now? Was something hiding? [Invisibility Detection] Even with the ability to detect invisible entities, nothing was caught. It wasnt a case of something being camouged or hidden. Tch, no choice then. Expanding my detection range any further would be too risky. If there is someone with significant skill, a mage, or a detection device, my location might be revealed. You cant stick your head into a hole when you dont know whats inside it. [Magical Power Detection], [Temperature Detection], [Soul Detection], [Vitality Detection], [Sound Detection], [X-Ray Vision] I activated a variety of detection spells at the same time. Only then did I begin to understand the situation. As I suspected, theyre illegal aliens. Though they appeared to be one person to the naked eye, they were not. Other life forms with alien magical powers were inhabiting their bodies. The [Parasites]. They were also known as body snatchers. Like the Mi-go, these aliens were monsters that began appearing around the world at some point. They burrow into human brains, consume them.and then take full control of the bodies. Yang Seo-ho would be delighted to hear about this. These creatures are among the illegal aliens as defined by the immigration bureau. The influx of creatures from another world was concerning, but these particr ones had seamlessly infiltrated our midst and their numbers were multiplying like cockroaches. Consequently, they were almost archenemies of the immigration bureau. Nheless, there was one thing that offered some relief. As long as I dont make any loud noises, I shouldnt be discovered right away. They werent particrly adept at magic or endowed with exceptional detection abilities. However, they possessed other troublesome skills that did not warrant immediate concern for the moment. Having assessed the situation, there was no need for further hesitation. I activated the magic with both hands together. [Living Flesh] Ziiiip That was the sound of the zipper on my backpack opening. Through the parted zipper, a nauseating pink mass began to squirm out. Gulp Gulp St Alright, todays assistant is ready for action. Chapter 68: Body Snatchers (2) Chapter 68: Body Snatchers (2) It was a quivering lump of flesh, the size of a childs head. It had neither feet, hands, nor eyes, yet it could move by wriggling its flexible and resilient body or extending parts of itself like tendrils. This was a byproduct of the magic I had practiced and researched for a while. Simr to the creature I used in the underground parking lotst time, it was created with the life creation spell, but unlike before when control was an issue, this was thetest version after several improvements. The stolen research materials from Helistic were quite helpful, too. I gestured towards the moving lump of flesh that was writhing alone in its ce. Then, the thing that epted mymand moved in a way that seemed to replicate the process of cell division and split into two pieces. Good. Well done. Compared to the [ck Goats Body Fluid], which has the power to transform humans into monsters, it was a rather ordinary spell. It cant do much yet but who knows what it will be as research progresses. I sent my thoughts to the writhing lumps, gave them amand, and then whispered softly. Go. The lumps of flesh began to roll away at a ferocious speed. They were aiming to infiltrate the building while avoiding the surveince team. Alright, this should do for now I gestured towards Chae Tae-won, who was far away. Now that the preparations wereplete, he was wee toe out if he wished. [Leap] As the Leap spell activated, a dazzling magic circle was formed on my clothes. Whooosh.pat! I leaped forward with tremendous force and rapidly closed the distance to the surveince team while activating several spells in rapid session. First, I immobilized them. [Grasp of Frost] Crack, crack, snap Frost and ice began to surge from beneath the feet of the surveince team. Before they could even scream in surprise [Sound Refraction] I created a barrier of magical power that distorted sounds towards the entrance of the warehouse. Now, no matter how loud the noise here, those inside wouldnt be able to hear it. An, An enemy! Come out! Its the enemy! As the surveince team members found themselves unable to flee due to their legs freezing, I drove the [Butchers Hook] into one of them. Crunch [Absorption] Whizzzzzzzzzz The spell was a unique magic I had acquired from the [Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path]. It had the attribute of necromancy, so it was highlypatible with the Butchers Hook. [The unique effects of the S-rank weapon Butchers Hook, Proof of ughter and Time of ughter have been activated. // Time of ughter: The probability of causing critical damage and bleeding in all attacks against humans increases by 100%. // Proof of ughter: The power of necromancy spells increases by 100%.] The Butchers Hook began to absorb the mans blood and vital essence. Aaaaaaaghh The man was rapidly losing his bodily fluids and, unable to resist, he copsed, leaving nothing but bones and skin behind. The woman beside him pulled out a gun, but Are you really going to shoot that? What, what?! [Ignition] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] A zero-order spell that heats mmable materials to start a fire. A magic circle containing the form for Ignition appeared behind the gun the woman was holding. Bang! The intended targets of ignition were, of course, the bullets loaded in the gun. Kyaaah!! Why do they always go Kyaaah like that? Though a few fragments from the exploded ammunition flew towards me, their direction scattered away from my body due to the effect of the distortion field. [Blood Whip] From the butchers hook unfurled a whip made of bright red blood whichshed out and struck the womans body. With a ferocious force, the whip of blood split her body into two. From her left shoulder diagonally down to her right waist. The copious amount of blood spewing from her body was absorbed back into the butchers hook through the blood whip. I cant help but think its a bit excessive, but But from the moment their bodies were taken over by the parasites, they were already dead. The first step for the parasites in taking control of a human body is to devour the brain of the host they infest. This method seemed to be the most effective for these creatures. The easiest way to deal with the parasites is tounch an overwhelming and swift attack and destroy the bodies they control. Once the body they inhabit is rendered immovable, they reveal their true form. Its impossible Even for a mage To destroy my body This vile human Crack-crack, snap-crackle. The heads of the two people who were now unable to move burst open. Their brains which had died a long time ago and had rotted ck were sshing in all directions And strange life forms burst forth from their heads. Tiny beings, small enough to crouch within a human skull. These were the parasites that had been controlling the bodies. At first nce, their bodies might bear a resemnce to those of humans with their simr silhouettes, but a closer look would reveal a form so grotesque that one would never wish topare it to humanity. Unpleasant-lookingpound eyes. Skin that is wet and shiny with blood and brain fluid. Bizarre ganglions sprouted like the roots of a nt where limbs should be. A bizarre snout that spreads vertically instead of horizontally. As this mouth opened, an unbearable noise poured forth. Screeeeech! Your body, give me your body! Merely beholding these repulsive beings could induce nausea. [System: Attempting to resist the fear with your mental strength stat. Mental strength failed.] The fragile human psyche could easily shatter at the mere exposure to such horrific sights and sounds. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated.] Of course, I was an exception. Though without my unique trait, I would have sumbed to madness and distortion right here. The creatures attempted to extend their bizarre ganglions in ce of limbs. These ganglions contained a potent hypnotic substance capable of robbing the target of their physical freedom and will. But right now! Cha Tae-won emerged from behind the parasites and spun his body with incredible speed. Woosh! A fierce kick flew towards the parasites with a terrifying sound that cut through the air. Crack! A sturdy shoe sole reinforced with metal tes. The alien life form, which had evolved to shed most of its defenses in favor of parasitizing other creatures bodies, was reduced to mush and sent flying with a single kick from Cha Tae-won. At that very moment, my magic activated. [Rope Maniption] Whoooosh!! The nearest rope. It was a spell I had always used for intestines, not rope, but today I cast it against something other than intestines. Of course, that didnt mean that intestines were rope either. The magic was triggered on the ganglions of the parasite, which were now mushy and flying in the air. My rope maniption spell swiftly took control of the dead parasites tendrils, sending them flying in an unexpected direction. Toward the other parasite that had not been hit by Cha Tae-wons attack. Dont, donte here! It was futile. Shwla! The ganglions of dozens of tendrils began to entangle the creature chaotically. Soon, the two parasites were knotted together so tightly that they couldnt be separated by normal means. Ah, was my assistance unnecessary in this situation? It seems so but your help was appreciated. Thank you. Dont mention it. Re-release meee!! Thest scene was a chilling scream from the parasite entwined with the corpse of itsrade. The creature struggled to free itself from the tendrils of its fallen ally, but the more it moved, the more deeply it became entangled and intertwined. Are you having fun? Cant you untangle this now? If you dont free me immediately, Ill kill you all!!! Although beings from other worlds tend to look down on humans, these creatures were particrly arrogant. Are you dumb? Do you think well release you just because you ask? You bastard!!! Its screams were so loud that I had to check if the [Sound Refractor] I had set up at the entrance of the warehouse was still functioning properly. These small ones sure had powerful lungs. The act of parasitizing and dominating a human body was just the beginning for them. They continually sought out humans of higher status to take over their bodies. Eventually, they nned to infiltrate the bodies of the ruling ss and manipte humanity from behind the scenes. You pathetic humans! Youre nothing but livestock to us! We feed on you; we ride upon you. Killing me now is pointless! We will continue to multiply, and you will never be able to find us all! Someday, the bodies of your family, your friends, and your lovers will fall into our hands. When that dayes Urk! Urgh!! The noise was truly unbearable. I moved a tendril still under my control to silence the creatures mouth. Despite this, it writhed vigorously in an attempt to escape. It had almost be like a tightly balled-up skein of yarn at this point. Do you realize that the more you squirm, the less likely you are to get free? Mmph, mmph, mmph! Given that its bronchial tubes were somewhat simr to a humans, it would inevitably suffocate to death if I just left it alone. I stopped paying attention to the guy who could no longer make a sound and activated the detection spell again. There are exactly 60 magic power sources detected inside. Since two sources of magical power constituted one body, the actual number of parasites inside was There are 30 more of these guys inside. I see Cha Tae-won spoke with a hint of confusion in his expression. It seemed he had managed to maintain his calm upon witnessing the grotesque parasite, but the sight had still visibly shaken him. Ive encountered monsters before, but never anything like these. What on earth are they? Theyre ones of the illegal aliens that the management bureau is looking for. The difference is that they are real aliens, not foreigners. Do you know how to deal with them? Theres nothing particrly remarkable about it. Once you kill one, smash the head and the main body will emerge. If youe into contact with its tendrils, you could be hypnotized or even have your body taken over. Be careful not to touch them. You make it sound so simple. Is this why you refused backup? Bringing too many people along carelessly could have led to chaos if any of them had been taken over in an instant. Moreover, if I ended up attacking members of the Triad whose bodies had been taken over, I could be wrongly used. I wasnt entirely sure, but I suspected these creatures might be here. Yang Seo-ho wouldnt have acted without good reason. I see. Wait a moment. Then, could it possibly be they who have kidnapped the youngdy?! Indeed. Since theres one creature per human head, the numbers wouldnt add up if there were an even number of hosts. Including the kidnapped Jeong Hyun-ah, the magical power sources that must be detected within the warehouse should be an odd number. Right now, aing-of-age ritual is likely taking ce inside that warehouse. Coming-of-age ritual? Whats that? Its a ritual where a juvenile who is yet to possess a human body is granted a new human body. [! Time limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (30) minutes. !] And the subject of this ritual is none other than Jeong Hyun-ah, the daughter of Cheong-ho, who was kidnapped today. Chapter 69: Body Snatchers (3) Chapter 69: Body Snatchers (3) I stepped into the warehouse together with Chae Tae-won. The warehouse was cluttered and grimy inside, yet it seemed to have been in normal operation until quite recently. Everywhere I looked,rge old shelves were arranged to form walls and these shelves wereden with goods whose origins were difficult to determine. This arrangement significantly limited our field of vision, and it wasnt long before I realized that these goods were not ced randomly. These arent just stacked randomly. It looked like someone had deliberately calcted theyout to naturally divide the space. Chae Tae-won seemed to have the same thoughts as me and he whispered to me with a cautious look. The structure seems a bit odd. It seems like someone has deliberately calcted to naturally divide the space. A maze Is that what it is? Yes. Probably to slow down the entry of outsiders and to conceal whatever is in the deepest part. This wasnt a structure thrown together overnight. Someone must have taken a long time to slowly rearrange the warehouses structure to divide the huge space with no partitions and hide what was inside. As we moved further inside, a faint smell of blood mixed with sulfur began to emerge. It wasnt a fresh scent; blood had been spilled here numerous times before. Over and over again. Humans must have been kidnapped and brought deep inside for rituals of breeding and parasitism. There were a total of sixty sources of magical power detected within the warehouse. Most possessed a moderate level of magical power. They were probably on par with the ones we had just encountered outside. Judging by their forms and poor abilities, the ones we saw earlier were clearly young beings that hadnt been parasitizing human bodies for long. However, among these young ones, there was one that stood out with exceptionally strong magical power. It wasnt as formidable as Je Mu-gyeong, whom I had faced not long ago, but it was still significantly challenging. This wasnt an opponent that could be easily blown away. It seemed to be the adult body among them and possibly their matriarch This ce appears to be a colony of an adult body that recently became independent and began actively breeding. Independent You mean there are more like this? Yes, and this is just the beginning. The numbers will grow exponentially as time goes by. Chae Tae-won let out a low groan. But there was no room for further discussion. A sinister and low voice began to emanate from deeper within. Apanied by the low rumble of percussion instruments. Yaaaaa Ganghel, fai Ngath Fhaagh. Uaaah Chug Ahi al buh buh Phnglui mgagn Kyarnakagn The aliennguage repeated like a chant. Just by listening to that voice, you could be brainwashed and go crazy. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of mind control has been nullified.] As long as I had the Madness of the Abyss trait, I would be unaffected. The problem lies with Chae Tae-won. He looked like he was trying hard to stay calm, but hisplexion was not good. Given his experiences in Paju, he has likely faced his fair share of psychics and mutants. However, those encounters were within the realm of human experience. Facing such an extreme anomaly and surreal situation must be incredibly difficult for him to ept. However, there was no time to hesitate. As I moved toward the source of the sound, I spotted a passage leading into the deepest part of the warehouse. Beyond this passageway, the nest of the parasites would likely be revealed. Tch, theyre so careful. Regrettably, there was a guardian at the passage. A parasite inhabiting a human body. I signaled Chae Tae-won and just like we did outside, I cast the [Sound Distortion] spell to silence our movements. Almost at the same time that I cast the spell, Chae Tae-won sprang into action. He leaped onto a nearby shelf in a single bound and, with a motion akin to running along the wall, heunched himself at the parasite standing guard. What followed was a ruthless kick. Crush! The force was tremendous. The head of the guard kicked by his magical power-infused foot was torn off in one go, and the head containing the parasites main body was sent flying. But, what do we do about the head being sent off like that? [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Poison] Iunched a bolt of poisonousher energy toward the flying head, and the parasite that was pierced died before it could escape from the head. Kicking it off like that could have allowed the main body to escape and hide. Hmm I intended to crush the headpletely, but I seem to have misjudged my strength. He almost talked like Curtain Call. Are people who rely on physical strength generally like this? Or perhaps not. It appeared he was beginning to be overwhelmed by the surreal circumstances at hand. That likely led to his hasty and irrational decisions. Of course, it would be nice if that madness could be changed to recklessness like in the case of Curtain Call, but the Chae Tae-won I remembered, the one I had seen in the game, was not that type of person. Lets go inside. Wait a moment. I called Chae Tae-won to a halt. Branch Manager, you seem to be losing yourposure. Huh? I pointed at his fist. He had been clenching his fist so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Realizing what I meant after he looked at his hand, Chae Tae-won responded with a flustered expression. This. I came here to help, but I almost ended up causing you trouble. Its okay. However, these creatures feast on human brains. I am worried you might lose yourposure at the sight awaiting us. With those words, I cast a spell on his mind. [Courage of the Lion] [Exhration] This? The sight that awaited us was beyond what Chae Tae-won could handle. Thus, I infused his mind with the strength to cope with the instability and the will to not flee. Chae Tae-wons body seemed to have rejuvenated and his expression showed considerable vitality. Your movements earlier were impressive. Lets approach it that way. Saying so, I gestured towards the top of the shelves forming the walls. Chae Tae-won looked in that direction and shed a somewhat sheepish smile. Its embarrassing, but I understand. With those words, Chae Tae-wons body quickly ascended. He reached the topmost shelf with the silence of a ninja before crouching down and slowly moving forward. He makes the warrior ss look enviable. Thest character I yed was a warrior too [Sound Distortion] Icked the confidence to move as silently so I distorted the sounds around me as I moved. [Leap] I gestured for Chae Tae-won to wait a moment and then went ahead. Traditional tactics would have the one with brute force take the lead. but I guess Im just worried. As I went a little further inside, we were met with a scene starkly different from the rest of the warehouse. It was a space asrge as a ssroom,pletely empty as if all the furniture had been removed. The floors and walls of this barren space were marred by unpleasant mucus and dried bloodstains scattered around. Arge pentagram was drawn in the middle of the floor of that space, and a girl was lying in the center of the pentagram. She was wearing a robe and had ss cuts on several parts of her body. It was Jung Hyeon-ah. There were no restraints binding her, nor did she appear to be unconscious. Jung Hyeon-ah simply stared into the void as shey there with an expression that showed no emotions or thoughts. She was likely immobilized by some nerve agent with hypnotic effects. At each corner of therge pentagram where Jung Hyeon-ahy stood a human being They were five in total. The remaining twenty or so individuals stood outside the pentagram and they were observing the ongoing ritual with respectful postures or ying strange-shaped instruments. The visible participants varied in gender, age, clothing, and everything else. The term human might not even be appropriate here. They were not living humans. They breathed, spoke, and even possessed magical powers But inside their heads lurked grotesque alien life forms instead of brains. And the one with the strongest magical power among them. The parasite wearing the body of a middle-aged man in a gray suit stepped out of his designated spot and slowly walked into the pentagram. He started to speak. O great and invulnerable Daemon Sultan, the blind idiot god, the true king of this universe who dreams the cosmic dream. His words flowed continuously. Our Lord has granted permission for the ritual of proliferation. I! I! I! I! A dark purple magical power started to emanate from the pentagram drawn on the floor. Before I knew it, the magical power that had seeped into my surroundings was about to envelop my body. It was slow but was unmistakably beginning to corrode my mind. Crackle [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated.] A spark flickered at my temples as the trait activated. The approaching purple magical power was stopped and it recoiled away. It was a good decision to enter before Chae Tae-won. Although it caused a slight noise, fortunately, they were too engrossed in their ritual to notice my presence. These guys worshiped the greatest evil that may as well be the starting point of the universe, the [Blind Idiot God]. He was different from the other abyssal beings that voraciously expand their followers. He required neither worshippers to serve him nor monuments or temples tomemorate his existence. The [Blind Idiot God] harbored no will to act on his own. It was simply an entity of conceptual existence, an ideological principle, or merely a force of pure power that had been since the dawn of time. Yet, despite this, certain ancient rituals passed down through the eons allowed one to borrow his power for a time. The ritual being conducted by the creatures now was one such ancient ritual. The murmured incantations stopped. The adult parasites that had entered the pentagram turned to Jeong Hyun-ah and their grotesque smiles widened as they spoke to her. From their mouths. voices so unnaturally sweet and gentle flowed out. Do not fear, child of humanity. There will be no pain, no suffering. We shall grant you only joy, happiness, and pleasure. Lose the recognition you unfairly gained and return to your innocent past life. A life of obedience, a life of servitude suits you. ept it. ept it. ept it. Theyre spouting a lot of sh*t. At this time, among those outside the pentagram, a particrlyrge man walked in. His mouth began to open. It opened wide. Unnaturally wide. Even surpassing the physical limits one might expect. And then from that gaping maw, a small parasite crawled out. It was a hideous monster, neither human nor insect. The sight was so bizarre that it would shatter the sanity of anyone in Paju. No, anyone in the entire world. And with that, a new message window appeared and blocked my view. Chapter 70: Body Snatchers (4) Chapter 70: Body Snatchers (4) [The humans before your eyes are in fact innocent victims whose bodies were stolen by extraterrestrial beings. The horrific sight of a child being abducted to have a parasite imnted within her body These are the alien body snatchers who were behind this incident. Could your mind ept this shocking truth?] [System: Attempting to resist fear with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check failed.] Continuing to see such scenes could drive one to lose their sanity and be consumed by madness [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated.] Yes, this is it. Today, Madness of the Abyss was truly working overtime. But now wasnt the time to be pleased about a trait activation. If I didnt do anything, Jeong Hyun-ah would have her body taken from her. A long and red tongue slithered out from the adult parasite. It looked more like the grotesque tentacle of a monster than a human tongue. After licking its repulsive tongue, the adult parasite then spoke as ifmanding the young parasite who had yet to im a body. Enter this humans body. Use this childs body to kill her parents and take their bodies as well. Or, taking her own life before their eyes to fill them with despair isnt a bad idea either. Gift them with an inescapable despair. [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyun-ah will die in (1) minute !] Screeeeech! Just as the young parasite attempted to enter Jeong Hyun-ahs mouth with a bizarre cry. The lump of flesh that had been stealthily imnted earlier flew swiftly toward the parasite. St! Thud! The strange lump of flesh suddenly intruded into the midst of the ritual. Wh-What, what is this! What is this thing! The strange magical creature that was wriggling like arge amoeba or predatory cell instantly wrapped itself around the young parasites body and began to assimte itself with its body. Screeeeeek!! The young parasite desperately sent a cry of help to the adult parasite. Stop, stop it! My child!!! But it was already toote. The lump of flesh that had fully enveloped the young parasite sprang up and fled beyond the confines of the pentagram. It was now quietlypleting its predation activities in the darkness. In-Intruders! Someone has disrupted our ritual! Find them! Kill them!!! It was time to silence those babbling mouths. I left Chae Tae-won behind and moved as close to them as possible until it was no longer possible to conceal my presence. Then, I opened my mouth. Cut it out, fu*king bastards. Whos there! A typical response granted to viins. At the same time, the adult parasite shouted. To intrude upon our sacred ritual and kill my child! Kill that man! Several of the ones outside the pentagram drew their guns. Guns are still prohibited in our country, so why are there so many of them armed? Bald-headed men in ck suits. They appeared to be members of the Triad. Ah, so they were the ones used to kidnap Jeong Hyun-ah? [Rlyehs Fog] It would be best to use the same strategy I used with Curtain Callst time. Hssssss A sinister, dense fog spread around my body. Rlyehs Fog was a second-order area-of-effect confusion spell. A magical fog that was imprable to sight and magical detection surged out with ferocity beforepletely engulfing the warehouses surroundings. What, what is this!? Shoot! Its a mage! Just shoot! Dont give them a chance to cast magic! Bang! Bang! Ratatatatat! [Leap] Although they fired their guns with great fervor, I was no longer there. These bunch of parasites werent so difficult to handle. They might have had much higher mental strength stats than me which made them almost immune to mental and curse-type attacks, but they were hardly resistant to physical damage. The real challenge is fighting without harming Jeong Hyun-ah, whos right in front of me Perhaps the silver lining was that Jeong Hyun-ah was brainwashed. Doesnt that mean that she wouldnt panic while Im saving her? Over there! What, where?! No, there! Kill them!!! Ratatat! Bang! Ratatatatat! They grew confused and started shooting in random directions. Some of the bullets flew toward me, but thanks to a distortion field I had preemptively set up, none managed to hit my body. Come on. What a waste of bullets. I generated more magical power and added new properties to the distortion field. Expanding its range and making it rotate. The bullets that reached the distortion field began to spin as if caught in a whirlwind. After several rotations, the bullets gained a new trajectory and flew back toward the enemies. Kaaak. Its not just one or two enemies! It must be those bastards from the immigration bureau! They were making quite a racket. While they couldnt see my location, I had a clear view of them. Where, where are they! Those humans! Agh shot, Ive been shot! Some were felled by their own bullets and became unable to move, while others screamed and thrashed about. Despite being a dominant species from another world, their physical abilities and intelligence had their limits. Its about time for the bigger fish to show itself. Move aside, you weak bastards! From beyond the fog, the movement of the adult parasite was detected. Red light zed forth from its eyes. And from its eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, thin tendrils like roots extended outward. These were not mere tendrils but the creatures nerve endings. While the young parasites wielded these directly inbat, the adult could harness far greater power. Buzzzzzzzzzz Buzzzzzzzzzzzz From the tips of the nerve endings, tendrils made of dazzling light reached out. Thats rather unpleasant A unique ability that only some of the parasites can use [Mental Whip]. A whip made of psychic power and solid enough to have a physical form. Whoosh! The glowing tendrils rapidly expanded and started sweeping across the surroundings. Craaack!! Craaash!!! The objects caught in the tendrilssh were shattered to pieces. It was an ability thatbined telekinesis, telepathy, and hypnosis. It was an attack that could inflict physical damage and also dominate the minds of its targets. From a defensive standpoint, it couldnt be touched and could prate any distortion fields or protective barriers. Aplete cheat-like skill. The creature still couldnt see me, but it began to narrow down the possible ces I could escape to by using its wide attack range. Boooom!! Nevertheless, the creature was unaware of what I was capable of. I projected my magical power toward the outside of the warehouse. [Maic Control] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Ziiiiing Along with the strange feeling of the hair on my own body standing on end, one of the second-order spells was activated. A spell that maniptes metal using maism. Kruzzzzzzk Metal pipes scattered around the warehouse began to float in the air. Phewwng!! And pipes containing enormous energy flew toward the parasites. Its useless! Crack! Crack! Crash! The [Mental Whip] was a pure manifestation of thought without weight or substance. Whips, as swift as light,shed out and deflected all the iing pipes. You lot are nothing but insignificant humans, untouched by any divine grace. Why do these aliens always spout the same nonsense? The pipes I had thrown at the creature scattered in all directions, but that was exactly what I had intended. Whirrrlick Thunk! The pipes embedded themselves in the ground. Thunk! Thunk thunk thunk!!! Like pirs of metal arranged around them as if to encircle the parasites. It was no coincidence, of course. It was all the result of my control with maism. [Electromaic Waves] Fizz, buzzzzz Fzzzzzzzzzt!!!! The chain of electric shocks I unleashed created a barrier of current as they moved between the pipes. The creatures were overwhelmed by the curtain of zing lightning and staggered back. Kuh, its useless! You cannot stop me, who is blessed with the great will with this mere current! The parasite swung its glowing whip again, aiming to destroy the surrounding metal pipes and dispel the barrier of electricity. Boooom Buzzzzzzzzzzz!!!! But things didnt go as the creature had nned. The mental whip that struck the power grid became entangled and iled before. It vanished. Wh-What is this? What what?! What have you done? [Sound Transmission] I cast a spell to make my voice sound in an unexpected direction. Now, look over there, not here. Ah, didnt you know? I guess youre not as old as I thought. Wh-What are you talking about? That mental whip had the ridiculous ability to prate protective barriers and distortion fields but it had one weakness. Your mental whip reacts excessively and bes uncontroble when ites into contact with certain frequencies of electromaic waves. Seems like your Mahhsh didnt tell you that? Mahhsh roughly trantes to something like mother or chief in theirnguage. A look of horror and panic spread across the adult parasites face. Then, in a fit of panic, it snatched a gun from the hand of another parasite beside it and Die, die!! You monster!! Diieeee!!! Bang! Bang bang! Ratatatatat!!! It fired wildly in the direction of my voice, but I was not there. Whos calling who a monster? I activated the [Chains of Domination] and hurled several boxes that were outside. Bang, Crash! Oh, everything inside these boxes turned out to be books. It makes sense since this ce was a printing factory dedicated to producing books. Alright, books should be harmless enough that even Jeong Hyun-ah or Chae Tae-won wouldnt die if they were identaly hit by them. [Leap] Using Leap again, I climbed onto a suitable shelf and crouched down, then activated another spell. [Chains of Domination] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Chrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Dozens of golden, shining chains moved in all directions before touching the boxes of books stacked around and I gave themand. |Fly away.| The sight of hundreds of books soaring towards the expansive fog was nothing short of spectacr, although they were just books after all. Aaagh!! But those shrouded in the fog, unaware of what wasing at them, screamed in terror as they felt the dull and heavy impact on their bodies. Now, lets move on to the next step Mage-nim! Fortunately, Chae Tae-won acted just in time amidst the chaos. Chae Tae-won who took advantage of the chaos and hid in the fog was carrying Jeong Hyun-ah on his shoulders as he ran. It was then that the adult parasite finally grasped the situation and screamed. Idiots, catch himmmmm!!! Toote. Bang! Ratatata! Several gun barrels spat fire at Chae Tae-won. [Chains of Domination] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Great Whirlwind] But this was somewhat anticipated. I had activated the Chains of Domination a beat earlier and conjured a whirlwind strong enough to lift rocks before hurling hundreds of books once again. The books briefly formed a wall that blocked the bullets, and Chae Tae-won who was carrying Jeong Hyun-ah, disappeared beyond the shelves. Since he was a smart man, he would surely find a way to escape or secure a safe spot on his own. Though a few bullets flew my way, I casually redirected them with a distortion field and leaped once again! Whoosh! From a distance, I saw the enemies seemingly trapped in a prison made of pure white electricity. Clearly, this onecks experience. The evil magical power summoned during the previous ritual still lingered, didnt it? If they start harnessing that, things could escte. Ideally, Id like to tie them down for interrogation but eliminating them all before the situation gets worse seems like the best course of action. Chapter 71: Short Interrogation Chapter 71: Short Interrogation I brought my hands together and started to concentrate my magical power. Ruuumble !!! Despite being indoors, a deep and thunderous sound reminiscent of storm clouds in the sky started to echo. The source of this noise was the magic circle of lightning spells, wobbling above my hands. Fzzzzt!! The overly condensed lightning magic circle triggered an unexpected phenomenon. Metallic objects within the storage started to be drawn towards my direction. I twisted the trajectory of the iing small metal pieces with a distortion field and concentrated even more magical power. Fizzzzzzzz!!! Subsequently, the electrical wires in the warehouse that were still carrying electricity overloaded and exploded with white sparks flying around. Creaaaaaak The metal frames forming the shelves and the steel structures that constituted the framework of the warehouse started to bend toward me. If I gather any more, this ce might copse. But the magical power was already condensed to its limit. I unleashed the writhing, monstrous energy of the lightning that was demanding to be liberated in a concerted burst. [Lightning Strike] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Crackle, Fizzzzz, Fzzzzzzzzzzzzt!! This was not a simple lightning strike. The web of currents enveloping the lightning reacted with the freshly unleashed bolts, setting off a chain reaction. The magic that materialized was a lightning storm of unprecedented scale, unlike anything I had seen before. The white brilliance of the lightning unfolded with such intensity that it seemed to envelop everything in its path. The vastness of the warehouse shrunk inparison to the colossal swell of this terrifying storm. It was such a huge sh that it felt like ones optic nerves would burn just by looking at it. Fizzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!! Lightning was a force that couldnt remain confined to one ce. Thus, the huge shes of electricity disappeared from the warehouse as if they had never urred. However, there were clear traces that the thunder dragon I created existed in reality. A horrifying scene created in less than a tenth of a second that was almost too dreadful to believe. The shelves were utterly destroyed and reduced to nothing but charred frames, while the books and boxes that had been scattered on the floor bypassed the process of burning and vanished, leaving behind only a trace of ashes. And the parasites at the heart of this destruction Had turned to ash, leaving behind onlyrge chunks of their torsos and heads or a few fragments of their skeletons. Some even left traces that seemed to pathetically im that there had been organic matter in the shape of a human being in this ce before. Fizzzzzzzzz Fizzzzzzzzz Fizz, fizzzzzzz. Even though I had stopped the magic, the shockwaves and electric discharges did notpletely die down but continued for a long while. If I had been able to use something like this a long time ago, I could have easily resolved the conflict with Je Mu-gyeong. It wasnt for nothing that I had poured so much time and energy into deciphering the Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path. Like absorption, it was a unique magic that could only be acquired through a grimoire. Without even receiving a buff from an artifact, I was able to effortlessly manifest this powerful magic after endless calctions. No, its still far from enough. The limits of all the abilities and transcendent talent I have were not just this. I could have triggered an even more powerful attack had I gathered a bit more energy. Moreover, Im confident that by adding the processes of transformation and enhancement, as I had done before, it might be possible to realize something beyond this. With more research there wille a day when I can wield this level of power with a single spell, without resorting to any tricks or shortcuts. And then, there was one survivor. Ughhh A parasite crawling out from among human bodies that have been reduced to ashes. It appeared to be the leader, the adult parasite. It had indeed possessed more magical power than the others. Did it maximize its magical resistance and use its subordinates bodies as shields at the crucial moment to survive as long as possible? It seemed futile to emerge With the host body ceasing to function, perhaps it broke out instinctively? Nheless, the creature was on the brink of death. Even if I wanted to save it now, its beyond help. Even though it had been hiding inside a human body, the lightning prated flesh and all. The creature was barely managing to twitch, but for a parasite, the nerve ganglia which was its lifeline, were all burned out. It wouldntst five minutes before dying even if I just left it be. Still, might it be capable of a brief conversation? Theres something I wanted to ask. How about it, alien friend? Do you need help? Yes, you monster save me save It kept calling me a monster ever since earlier. There was no need to get angry. I responded with a kind tone. Alright. Unlike you and your kind, I am not a sadist. [Exhration] It was a second-order auxiliary magic spell I had also cast on Chae Tae-won. It wasnt a healing spell. It was merely meant to invigorate or boost the will to fight. This magic must have infused a bit of vigor into the parasites spirit. But let me reiterate, I couldnt save it. It was merely an illusion of healing for a brief moment. This magic, this power its impossible A human wielding such magic Cant believe What do you mean, impossible? Youve experienced it firsthand, havent you? You, are you really human? Hmm, human, you say? Well I am human. Right now, I am decidedly human. But well? Will that remain the case? As we dive into thetter events of [Cthulhu World], a series of harsh and horrifying incidents will unfold, making it impossible for anyone to confidently im they are still human. Knowing the truth beforehand made it difficult for me to confidently im that I was human. Regardless, I had no intention of wasting time on pointless chatter. I know you creatures dont just invade any body at will. What were you nning to do with the little girl? Hu hu We wanted to take control of the Triad Ah, so Cheong-ho was your ultimate goal. Had I not intervened, Jeong Hyun-ah would have be one of the parasites, and eventually, Cheong-ho would have fallen into their hands beyond any hope of salvation. Good. That brings us to the next matter. Seeing that Chae Tae-won doesnt recognize your kind, it seems the chances of a parasites emergence were slim after all. Are you by any chance a First? The creatures response was barely above a whisper. What did you say? Speak up. I sighed and moved closer to the creature. It opened its mouth again, but this time, it wasnt a whisper but a clear loud voice. Give me your body!! The creature leaped at me with violent force and several hidden tendrils. But it was a clear and predictable move. I had approached it precisely because I was prepared for such antics. Block it. Swoosh! The lump of flesh that was hidden nearby flew towards me andtched onto the parasite that was charging at me. Arghhh!! What what is this?! Thats a gift from the [ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young]. Lies! All lies! The [All-Mother] would never lend her power to someone like you! Sure, youre right. Think what you will. The flesh began to consume the creature in a manner simr to how it had devoured the young parasite before. More precisely, it was assimtion. While the creatures knowledge would be lost, some of its power and gic information would merge with and be preserved within the lump of flesh. Ah, what a shame. It would have been nice to know if it was a First. That information was unexpectedly provided in another way. [Achievement unlocked! You have foiled the Parasites (First) plot. You have earned the Advanced Achievement: Reconnaissance. As a reward for the achievement, you receive the Body Snatchers Ne and additional experience points.] Parasite, marked as a First The situation was amusing but the information was valuable. And that statement implied I would hardly ever encounter another parasite again. This was because the title First was reserved for the entity that first infiltrated a specific. If a First reproduced and its offspring formed a new colony independently, those offspring would be called Seconds, much like how colonies of bees or ants expand. Should the offspring of a Second create another new colony, they would be known as Thirds, and beyond that point, the generations would spread too rapidly for the distinction to matter. This was the trigger for one of [Cthulhu World]s major branches, the [Parasite War]. It meant engaging in endless battles against societies dominated by parasites. While the parasites themselves werent tough enemies, the branch was particrly exhausting because you had to suspect and scrutinize the NPCs you encountered for signs of parasitic infection. Nheless, the existence of only one First wasnt guaranteed, so I couldnt let my guard downpletely, but it felt like a significant threat had been averted. And there was one more thing. The fact that this creature was a First held significant importance. [Please check the corpse of the parasite to im your achievement reward.] Yes, the reward for that achievement. It was an artifact that could only be obtained by capturing a First. But, the corpse of a parasite? Hey, where did you two go? Come here. Squelch, squish, squish The two lumps of flesh squirmed and crawled out from a corner of the warehouse. Both had stuffed themselves to the point of bursting, resulting in them growing slightlyrger than before. Each one was now the size of what they had been when they were still a single mass. Which one of you is it? I dont mind if you eat the meat, but hand over the foreign objects to me. For a moment, they writhed as if dancing, and then one of them regurgitated a small pendant. At first nce, it appeared to be a metal piece smaller than a thumb with a design that looked like a quince. When I picked it up for a closer look, it shimmered with a mystical luster that no metal on Earth could produce, as if made from semi-transparent particles of a mysterious color. Pulling on its end, the metal piece stretched out into a thin and flexible loop that could be worn around the neck. [Body Snatchers Ne (S-rank essory): A special essory that contains alien technology. It contains various records stored while traveling between stars, but research is necessary to ess this information. Thoughts Domination: Allows the use of the unique ability [Mental Whip]. However, each use of this effect will erode your mind with the nes recorded resentments. Enhanced Mind: Mental Strength +2] It was an artifact that granted the ability to use [Mental Whip] which was a unique skill only usable by adult parasites. Moreover, it boosted mental strength by +2. With this equipped, there would be little need to worry about mental strength at my current level. But more importantly, this was a kind of grimoire in the form of a ne. It wasnt a book per se and thus required some preparatory work, but it was an original grimoire, not a degraded trantion produced on Earth. Sess in deciphering it could lead to exponential progress. It was indeed a fortunate find. Such items rarely appear this early, but this one had unexpectedly emerged tied to the quest involving Cheonghos daughter, so I was able to catch it easily. This time, I happened to be able to swoop in at just the right time, so I was able to fight on my own terms..Typically, these creatures infiltrate the political or financial elite and start crafting petty conspiracies orying cunning traps. Fighting them on their terms often leads to infuriatingplications. Such as having a bounty ced on your head or having your ounts and property seized Phew Im just relieved to have avoided such a fate. But there were more gains to be had. Among the ashes of their burned bodies, I found magic stones and various small artifacts. Nothing of remarkable quality, but among them were a few noteworthy items: [Brainwave Stone (B-rank Catalyst): A stone emitting wavelengths simr to human brainwaves. It enhances abilities based on mental magic or psychic powers] [Moon Shard (A-rank Magical Tool): A magical tool crafted from moonstone. It possesses the power to ward off certain extraterrestrial monsters] [Physical Enhancement Coating (B-rank Consumable): A special device made with alien technology. When used, it releases a strengthening mucus that temporarily fortifies the skin] There was no need to examine the data of every minor artifact in detail. I briefly checked the essential information and tidied things up ordingly. Many were damaged due to being scorched by electricity, but this is a decent way to earn some pocket money. Wait a minute Isnt there still something left? Chapter 72: Unexpected Results Chapter 72: Unexpected Results A dark purple magical power lingered over the scorched and ravaged earth. It was an otherworldly magical power that they had summoned through the ritual. Normally, the moment I would have intervened and disrupted the ritual, this magical power would have scattered in all directions, but it stubbornly clung to thend still. It must have originated from a being of no ordinary stature. Isnt it said that one should serve in the household of a great lord? A being that exists at the very origin of the universe. The most ancient and pure entity born from the chaos bubbling up from the deepest abyss. Merely uttering his name would curse one with a formless evil. The [Blind Idiot God] An odd moniker for an entity of a final boss caliber. But it cant be helped. After all, hes more of a concept or aw than a deity with will. Thus, borrowing his power isnt as difficult as one might think. But unless you are an alien race born with a special body or mind, it is impossible to control that power Even I dont know how to disperse this profound and mighty magical power. Of course, there existed a spell called [Power Expulsion] capable of driving out the influence of outer gods and such, but it was merely a basic spell with clear limitations. I might learn something more advanced through the grimoireter on. but basic magic wont cut it. But then again, what if I didnt disperse it? Could there be a way to absorb and control it, or perhaps store it somewhere? Indeed, there was a way. The lumps of flesh that still writhed beside me, these were magical creatures I had temporarily conjured with my own magic, with but a short lifespan. What would happen if I fed this magical power to them? Due to the interruption of the ritual, the remaining magical powers density was quite low. Compared to the main bodys magical power, it was merely a minuscule aftermath, but if I managed to harness it, I could use it in many ways. The lumps of flesh Ive been nurturing might be ruined, but then again, they werent meant tost long anyway. This wasnt my first time attempting such a feat. I had some theoretical knowledge from trying simr things a few times in the game, though back then, there were specialized magical tools or specific traits suited for the task. It wasnt easy. But on the flip side, it meant that this wasnt as difficult as turning Lee Chang-hyeok, who had be a lower-level mutant, back into a human. Still, safety measures were necessary. Fortunately, amidst all that chaos, the magic circles and traces of the ritual left by the parasites remained. I ced the magic stones produced by the parasites around the area to resurrect their ritual. I thenmanded the lumps of flesh to merge into one and activated several magic circles. In an instant, the warehouse was filled with colorful magic circles. The parasites magic circles and these would serve as a safety measure. [Power Expulsion] The spell wasnt cast to scatter the gathered magical power. It was too dense and concentrated for me to manipte or absorb it, so I needed to weaken its power. Hisssssss. My magical power was oveid on the magical power of a great being. The magic circles burst into light simultaneously. [Evil Gaze] I invoked the Evil Gaze to enforce my influence on the evil being. Though the direction was slightly different and there werepatibility issues, I manually adjusted each one to convert it into the form I needed right now. The magical power I sought to control was now pure power itself which has already lost its will or direction. Hear mymand. From now on, I am your master. Uuuuuuuuuu. The purple magical power began to swirl tumultuously. Good, its working. I raised the butchers hook I held in my hand. [Absorption] Whooooooooooo. The otherworldly magical power that pooled around me transformed into a swirling vortex and it passed through the manyyers of magic circles I had created. The power flowing like a massive ring slowly shifted and was then absorbed by the butchers hook in my hand. Its incredibly heavy Since before humanity walked the Earth, the parasites worshipped the [Blind Idiot God]. They possessed a unique trait that allowed them to receive this magical power. Thus, they have used this heavy magic for their reproductive activities. However, Ick such traits. I must proceed with this task solely through my control and sensitivity to magical power. [The presence of the Great Being shakes your mind. If you cannot withstand its influence you will be apletely different person than you were before.] [Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength checkfailed] This must have been a particrly difficult challenge. It would have been a guaranteed failure under normal circumstances. Crackllllle!! Fizzzzzzzzz!! Fzzzzzzzzzt!!! A bright blue spark burst out from my temples again. It was a violent reaction that was quite different from usual. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The result of the sanity check has been changed to sess.] Despite myints Madness of the Abyss was truly an overpowered trait. Itpletely overturned the fundamental principles that made up the difficulty of [Cthulhu World]. I seeded. Somehow, I was able to gather and control the magic power around here. If I wished, I could use this power to create cataclysmic destruction or perform miracles strong enough to shake the veryws of physics. But I have no immediate use for it. In any case, I needed a ce to store this energy. Coincidentally, I had such a ce. A lump of flesh that absorbs the bodies of parasites, their gic information, magical power, and their unique traits. There was a good chance it could develop an organ or trait to ept the magical power of the [Blind Idiot God]. I began to break down the concentrated magical power and slowly infuse it into the lump of flesh. The lump of flesh started to dpose as it absorbed new life and magical power. It transformed into the very essence of flowing magical power, bing a froth of scattering light, and then it transformed into a physical form. It was a small egg, no bigger than a palm. An egg? Upon closer inspection, it wasnt urate to simply call it an egg. It was a small mass that seemed to be made of tangled andpressed human body parts. A bizarre object with the shape of a small, egg-like body, embossed with wrinkled and intertwined human forms. And it was a small creature with a warm body temperaturea small egg filled with immense potential. It may have been a grandiose exnation, but it ultimately was an egg. Is this the first time Ive created something like this? No message window popped up either. What exactly have I made? Im not sure. I resolved to conduct a thorough investigation once I returned home. Is this the end, then? It was time to head back. When I emerged from the warehouse, I found Chae Tae-won waiting for me outside. Where is the youngdy? Shes in the car. Chae Tae-won replied with a worried look on his face. When I looked inside the car, I saw Jeong Hyun-ah sitting in the back seat. And then I was able to understand why Chae Tae-won was making that expression soon after checking her condition. Jeong Hyun-ah was still staring nkly into space. In other words, the hypnosis hadnt worn off yet. Oh, thats nothing serious. Is there any way you could help? There were numerous ways to wake her, but that wouldnt be very dramatic. Its a bit difficult to do it here. Lets return to the chairman for now. There might be safer alternatives once were in a more stable environment. Um alright. It wasnt a condition that was harmful to the body anyway. It was as if she was in a deep sleep, so letting her rest for another 30 minutes wouldnt be an issue. Jeong Hyun-ah was to be awakened in front of Cheong-ho. Thus, we made our way back to Cheong-hos country house on the outskirts of Paju. Yang Seo-ho and the police were still in a standoff with the members of the Triad. It seemed there had been a few physical collisions in our absence, as both sides appeared drained. Yang Seo-ho, however, was still full of vigor. Amidst the chaos, when everyone else was on the brink of copse, only she continued to shout resolutely. Ah, Cheong-ho-sshi! Lets just give up now!!! Do you think Im doing this for fun?!!! If Yang Seo-ho had truly decided to use force, the confrontation would have been over in less than five minutes and the other side wouldnt have been able to hold on until now. No, is that all she could do? She could have destroyed Cheong-hos entire house if shed been so inclined. Regardless of whether they were gangsters or not, as long as the other party was South Korean citizens, they were ultimately under Yang Seo-hos protection. Into this tumultuous scene stepped Chae Tae-won. The youngdy has returned! Please, stand down now! Upon hearing Chae Tae-wons words, Yang Seo-ho cocked her head momentarily before pointing the loudspeaker at him and shouting. What did you say?!!! A ringing shockwave ensued. It even made the car windows vibrate. Hit directly by the shockwave, Chae Tae-won grimaced and faltered slightly but maintained his dignifiedposure. The situation has concluded. The youngdy has returned, and we no longer require your services. Yang Seo-ho turned her head indifferently toward the direction of the car, where Jung Hyun-ah and I were sitting. Ah, I see. Who is that in the car? Can I take a closer look? Thats not possible. Really? Yang Seo-ho frowned and scratched her chin. It was a scary sight. While I understood Chae Tae-wons stance, it wasnt the wisest decision. This was merely creating a new stalemate. Aah, this cant go on Before she could begin to exert her real power, I activated the same magic that had deceived Yang Seo-ho once before. [Tangled Identity] [Hazy Presence] [Kind Whisper] An illusion that superimposed the face of another person over a mask was cast. Once the magical illusion settled, an unfamiliar face appeared in the cars rearview mirror. An utterly nondescript face that no amount of searching could attribute any distinctive features to, and a face with a vague image that was specially tuned and made through magic. In that state, I got out of the car with the hood of my hoodie pulled over my head. Whats that now? Inspector-nim, perhaps its time for you to leave? Why should I? The fact that we saved the youngdy means that we have subdued the kidnappers who kidnapped the youngdy. Where are they now? Theyre in a warehouse near the old publishing district. If you step back, Ill give you the exact address. Tell me now. Will you step back then? Yang Seo-ho furrowed her brow again and then shouted to the police officers behind her. Fortunately!! It looks like our beloved daughter of the great Republic of Korea has returned safely!!! Lets all apud this joyous asion and withdraw!!!! p, p, p, p, p. Seeing the police start pping with grim faces almost brought tears to my eyes. Its heartbreaking to see the guardians of the people, the sticks of the public, suffering under this crazy woman. Only after confirming that the police were starting to withdraw did I give Yang Seo-ho the address. Im really busy and have to leave today as well but I wont let it slide a third time. There will be consequences. Yang Seo-ho left after spouting a strange mix of formal and informal speech and threats. From the mention of a third time it seems the threat is directed at me rather than Cheong-ho. Well, do as you please. Its not like well see each other again. . But it might be better to create a different face just in case we do meet again. Chapter 73: Cheong-ho (1) Chapter 73: Cheong-ho (1) The scary Yang Seo-ho and the police retreated. And Cheong-hos daughter, Jeong Hyeon-ah, who had been kidnapped returned to her home. Fixer-nim! Mage-nim! Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Those were the words Cheong-ho eximed the moment he saw his daughters face again, a face he might have never seen again. Cheong-ho expressed his gratitude while clinging to me with almost tearful fervor. Ah thank you! Truly, thank you! He lost all semnce of his boss-like demeanor and thanked me, someone barely half his age. Cheong-ho seemed to think that there were no more problems to deal with, but there was still one issue left unresolved. The powerful hypnosis caused by the parasites unique abilities still trapped Jeong Hyeon-ahs mind, and she was frozen in a state where she could not express any emotions or thoughts. After seeing that, Cheong-ho turned pale again. Regardless of how his subordinates were looking at him, he was anxious and unable to hug or even touch Jeong Hyeon-ah. Hyeon-ah? Hyeon-ah? Whats this? What have those fu*king bastards done to my child!! The question was naturally directed at me. It seemed that in Cheong-hos mind, I must have be a divine being capable of solving all problems. Shes under hypnosis. I checked on the way here, and apart from a few injuries, her body is in good shape. Despite my exnation, Cheong-ho continued to mutter anxiously about what to do next. Hypnosis? What, like the mind control hypnosis? That kind of thing? Those fu*king bastards! Well need a quiet ce. How about we go inside? Eventually, Jeong Hyeon-ah was carried into Cheong-hos mansion on a stretcher. The mansion was bustling with his underlings and employees. However, as the situation became tense, figures who appeared to be leaders within the Triad started to clear the underlings and employees out of the area. When Jeong Hyeon-ah was brought into the mansion, a message popped up announcing thepletion of the quest. [You have managed to rescue the daughter of Cheong-ho, one of the three leaders of the Triad, which rules over the underworld of Paju. Had you been even slightly dyed, a horrific alien parasite might have burrowed into this young childs brain. Cheong-ho who had asked for your help now holds you in high regard. Cheong-ho will be your friendly ally in the future and help you with your future endeavors.] Ah, it seems waking her from the hypnosis wasnt part of the requirements. Delivering Jeong Hyeon-ah safely inside the house was the condition forpleting the quest. Jeong Hyeon-ahs condition didnt matter. Even if she had been a corpse or parasitized by a parasite, it would have been resolved just the same. Of course, if that had happened, it would have resulted in a madness-filled narrative typical of [Cthulhu world]. Its a good thing I acted quickly. [You have rescued Jeong Hyeon-ah. Experience points gained.] Right, lets see the rewards. [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated Parasite Larvae (31). Your understanding of parasites in general has increased.] [You have defeated Parasite Adult. Your understanding of parasites in general has significantly increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Discovery: You have acquired a secret item (1) from theboratory. Experience points gained.] [Discovery: You have found a secret space used by the parasites. Experience points gained.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (2) achievements.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] I am now at level 28. Probably by the time I finish the next quest, Ill be over level 30, and then Ill be able to use third-order magic in earnest. Mage-nim! Ah, yes. Why are you zoning out in a situation like this Cheong-ho looked at me with a pitiful expression. I had brought her here for a dramatic effect, but seeing the normally fierce-looking Cheong-ho distort his features like this was more ufortable to witness than I had expected. I think it is time to resolve this situation. It seemed like Cheong-hos employees were cleaning up the messy house, but the windows in Jeong Hyeon-ahs room werepletely destroyed. It was not easy to repair such damage in such a short period of time, so Jeong Hyeon-ah had been moved to another room on the second floor. Theck of borate decorations or furniture meant it was a guest room. I decided to check on Jeong Hyeon-ahs condition more thoroughly. Although I had already checked once in the car on our way back, it was important to prepare for any unforeseen changes. [Insight] Kiiiiing The magic I used to check her condition revealed no special issues. Had this been a problem induced by sheer madness, the situation would have been much moreplicated, but as it stood, a sufficient level of stimtion could potentially awaken her. For example, a somewhat stronger electric shock might do the trick. But that wouldnt be a good thing to do, would it? Well, there were other ways to awaken her without resorting to that. I activated a spell while cing my hand on the forehead of Jeong Hyeon-ah, whoy in bed staring into the void. First, physical activation. [Exhration] Elevation was proving to be quite versatile today. It came with the effect of boosting the will to fight and was beneficial for vitality enhancement. It was good for vigor and would certainly stimte the secretion of adrenaline. And then well, at times like this, this is simply the best option. [Voice of Authority] It was a spell capable of delivering a definitive stimtion to the consciousness of sentient beings. I could manipte others by imbuing my voice with a surreal authority. |Jeong Hyeon-ah,e to your senses.| Ah! Suddenly, color returned to Jeong Hyeon-ahs face as she took a deep breath. Then, as if awakening from a nightmare, she abruptly sat up. At the same moment, Cheong-hos cry burst forth. Hyeon-ah!!! Da-Dad?! It was a touching father-daughter reunion. I stepped back to allow Cheong-ho to savor the joy, but that movement inadvertently caught Jeong Hyeon-ahs attention. Unconsciously, her gaze shifted in my direction, and our eyes met through the mask I wore. Of course, I couldnt tell which of the four eyes on the mask she looked into. What was certain, however, was that the sight of me shocked Jeong Hyeon-ah. Aaaahhh!!! Hyeon-ah! Hyeon-ah!! Whats wrong!? Monster! Monster!! Grim Reaper!!! Whats happening!!! Cheong-hos subordinates stormed in with the force that threatened to break down the door. The daughters screams, the fathers cries. This turned out to be the worst possible father-daughter reunion. *** Calming the chaos and unraveling the misunderstandings turned out to be more difficult than anticipated. Since I was at the heart of the problem, I inevitably found myself kicked out of Jeong Hyeon-ahs room for a while and came down to the living room where Cheong-ho had previously made a mess. The employees and the henchmen of the Triad had worked hard to clean up the room during the two hours or so I had left to rescue Jeong Hyeon-ah, so the living room was in an eptable condition. The absence of the shattered ornaments inevitably left the space feeling emptier. Just when I started to get bored from sitting in the living room, Jeong Hyeon-ah and Cheong-ho came downstairs. From a distance, Jeong Hyeon-ah seemed startled at the sight of me, but after realizing that the object obscuring my face was merely a mask and not my actual face, she approached me. Still, it seemed she had no intention ofing closer than 2 meters. With her head bowed, Jeong Hyeon-ah fumbled for words before finally managing to express herself clearly. Thank thank you Fortunately, it was a word of gratitude. Yes, Im just d youre safe. Hearing a normal voicee from me, Jeong Hyeon-ah appeared somewhat reassured. But that was as far as it went. Eventually, Cheong-ho intervened. Ah, shes not usually like this, but shes had a tough day It might be best for her to rest now. Hyeon-ah, youve been through enough; go on up. Ah, yes. I think that would be better. With that, Jeong Hyeon-ah disappeared back upstairs. She was someone I wouldnt see again anyway. In [Cthulhu World], a high school girl without any special abilities could only be a victim of surreal disasters, just as it happened this time. After receiving thanks, it would be better for both of us to never meet again. Instead, it was more important to engage in conversation with Cheong-ho, who could offer practical rewards. Im not sure if repeating it over and over again has made it sound less heavy, but I want to say it once more. Cheong-ho, who was finally beginning to reim his image as one of the three heads of the underworld ruling triad, spoke in a serious tone. Thank you very much for saving my daughter. Yes, Im d everything was resolved safely. [Achievement Unlocked! You have saved Cheong-hos daughter and received his heartfelt gratitude. You have earned the General Achievement: Tiger in Debt. As a reward for this achievement, you will have a firm alliance with Cheong-ho, one of the three heads of the triad.] Wherever you are and whatever you do, you will be treated as a benefactor of the triad from now on. I dont believe those words. To be precise, I would be a benefactor to only one-third of the triad. Thats very kind of you. And about thepensation initially proposed through the broker The initialpensation I was promised from Tudor was three hundred million. There was no official announcement, but a message popped up indicating that a bonus would be added based on performance. Ive been thinking, and it seems I offered you too littlepensation. So, I was wondering if theres anything else you might need? Im even willing to double the amount if necessary. Six hundred million. More money is always better. But I had a different goal in mind. I spoke slowly. Could I possibly ask for something other than money? What might that be? Ill help with whatever I can, as long as its within my power. Though he said this, Cheong-hos expression sharpened curiously. He seemed to sense that I wasnt going to ask for a typical reward. Or perhaps he thought this situation might evolve into some sort of deal or negotiation. Regardless of what he was thinking, I felt more at ease now, as if I was finally having a real conversation with someone. So, I broached the same topic I had with Tudor. Im searching for a grimoire. A grimoire? Is there a specific one youre looking for? No, Im not looking for a specific book. Im in search of a particr type of book. It doesnt sound like an ordinary grimoire, then. Im looking for books rted to the beings of the abyss, the old great ones, or the masters of other worlds. Cheong-ho didnt respond immediately. Instead, he covered his face with his hands. He looked like he was deep in thought, but the corners of his mouth that could be seen between his fingers were smiling. Thats interesting. May I ask why youre looking for such things? I am a mage before I am a fixer. Would it suffice to say that I seek to satisfy my curiosity as a mage? Cheong-ho then leaned back into the sofa and smiled openly. It seemed he took my words as a polite lie, which was to be expected. In this line of work, onees across all sorts of items. I happen to havee across one such grimoire by chance. Cheong-ho possesses a grimoire? This was news to me. Yet, this revtion didnt make me think the games narrative had changed, unlike other instances. With such detailed information, its possible there were things I hadnte across. Some artifacts, after all, have a tendency to appear in random locations. Would you be willing to part with it? Even a temporary loan would be good for me. Chapter 74: Cheong-ho (2) Chapter 74: Cheong-ho (2) The value of an item varies from person to person. To me, its value lies solely in being an antique, so I am willing to transfer it to you. Thank you. However, its not possible at this very moment. I waited silently for Cheong-hos next words. Its not for any other reason but that the item is stored in the main houses warehouse. Since its in a different region, could you wait a bit? This sounded like a lie. Yet, Cheong-ho didnt seem the type to joke around with non-existent items. Though not certain, I couldnt help but wonder if Cheong-ho was using the book as a pretext to meet me again. Theres no rush, so thats fine. If you happen toe across any information rted to such grimoires elsewhere, Id appreciate a heads-up. Ha! Id be more than happy to help with that. Is there anything else you need? Perhaps ess to a ck market where you might find grimoires Yes, how about that? I could help you get in. Cheong-hos efforts to win my favor were almost touching. If thats possible, Id like to ask for your help with that as well. Heh It might be difficult right away, but Ill arrange something good before long. Thank you. But Mage-nim, your name was Kim Shin-hwa, right? Yes. You may think this is out of the blue but may I make a proposal? A proposal? Not something like ess to the ck market, but rather, how about working together with me? Mages are often seen as slow, expensive, shady, and even unlucky and arrogant. Oh, my apologies. I mean other Mages. But Kim Shin-hwa-nim is different. You possess remarkable skills and are both agile and trustworthy. Um The name Triad might sound grand, but in reality, its nothing special. Back then, the times were so dangerous and chaotic it was possible to forcibly unite things that shouldnt be mixed. But its not like that anymore, right? In Paju, which is slowly finding peace, the name Triad has be not a shield but an ufortable shackle. Surprisingly, Cheong-ho spoke of the division within Triad. I wasnt surprised because it wasnt my first time hearing this. Ive encountered this event several times before. However, there were conditions for this event to happen. First, you must form a firm alliance with one of the three heads of the Triad. Second, the yers level must be 50 or above. My level is currently 28. Why has this event suddenly urred? Does this imply my abilities are now equivalent to those at level 50? Considering the abilities I possessed and the enemies I could challenge, it seemed usible that I could be around that level. But it felt premature. And above all The reason weve been hesitant to make a move is because there are two of them. The other two must be thinking the same. I can deal with either one, but I cant deal with both at the same time. However, with Kim Shin-hwa-nim by our side, I believe we can even take on three, not just two. What do you say? Ill offer you the best treatment I can. Thank you for your offer, but I have no intention of joining any organization or group for the time being. I had no desire to fall under Cheong-hosmand. Nor was I interested in any other factions within the Triad. While the human resources and underworld infrastructure of the Triad were appealing, those were merely on a human level. This was evident even in the case of Chae Tae-won, a senior figure in the Triad. His character and abilities were respectable, but they were still within human limits. Evenpared to Curtain Call, who was no different from a wild caveman, Chae Tae-won was far behind. The entities I would face in the future were beyond human capabilities, andpared to those monsters, the Triads minions were nothing more than a swarm of ants. Is that so Well Cheong-ho wore a bitter expression on his face. He seemed to think it was because he showed too much desperation. But that wasnt entirely incorrect, so I didnt bother to correct his thought. And this is a piece of advice, separate from your proposal Advice? Dont think that Paju is now at peace. What? What do you mean? Finally, the honorifics disappeared from Cheong-hos speech. It wasnt that his attitude had changed because I had rejected his offer. Rather, he was so taken aback that he couldnt maintain his formal tone. It may sound like a prophecy, but soon, an issue unlike any before will not just affect Paju but the entire world. For that time, whether to keep the Triad going or If you want to fight, move faster than anyone else. I didnt explicitly say it, but it seemed Cheong-ho had caught on to what I was implying without me having to state it outright. But with the current forces at my disposal I will continue to work solely through Vasilisa for the time being. If the conditions are right, I mighte to greet you again. I understand Alright A grimoire? Fine. I can procure as many of those as you need. Cheong-ho made a bold im, but it was merely a boast since he was almost as ignorant about grimoires as anyone else. Should he truly start to search, hed realize the difficulty of acquiring one and likely be shocked. The conversation that followed my refusal of the coboration offer was hardly important. Perhaps unable to let gopletely, Cheong-ho brought up the topic of his grimoire several more times. It wasnt until I promised to meet in person again on the day he would deliver the grimoire that I was finally able to leave. *** Two more weeks passed. There was no word from Cheong-ho, who had promised to deliver the grimoire. Instead, I received apensation of three hundred million won through Tudor. Setting aside everything else, the fact that Cheong-ho and I had be firm allies hadnt changed, so I decided to wait for him without any sense of urgency. Anyway, he wont betray me if nothing out of the ordinary happens. In the meantime, I kept myself busy by resolving a few requests. They were mostly jobs that paid pocket money. I captured a few wanted criminals, covertly blew up a mercenary groups base that had upset a major corporation, and stole a cherished idol from a cults sacred site. Thest quest I undertook was particrly significant. In the process of stealing the idol, I managed to sweep up all the relics they had gathered. While none of the items were immediately usable, I ended up with a bounty of versatile catalysts and materials that could be used for various purposes. Phew Its about time I got a proper workshop or research space. Or more urately, what I needed was a warehouse. Warehouse! The small studio apartment I had was far too cramped for all the items I had umted. Now, there were cursed fake gold turning ck, fragments of bizarre creatures, magical tools, various catalysts, and shimmering magic stones, not to mention a golden dancers head disyed in one corner as if it were a piece of decor. The items here alone could build a decent alchemy workshop if I take good care of them. Whatever it is, this isnt the ce for it. Of course, I had conducted some limited work and magical experiments here, but even that was reaching its limits. As time passed, both my collection of items and my wealth grew significantly. At the same time, my reliability with Tudor and my reputation as a fixer had solidified which paved the way for more dangerous quests toe my way. Furthermore, if I were to advance further in this line of work, my reputation as a fixer could very well develop into notoriety. That would certainly bring about exciting times; Id be a wanted man, with bounty hunters and assassins trailing me. Taking all of this into ount led me to a simple conclusion. Its about time I moved my base of operations. With the money at my disposal and Tudors cooperation, securing a safehouse-level residence wouldnt be a difficult task. However, I needed a ce that was more spacious than what could typically be acquired through such means. Ideally, a residence with unique features that would benefit its upant would be preferable. Should I go for [Home Usurpation]? If I wanted to, I could easily kill an easy NPC and take over his house. Although its an outrageous crime, its a brilliant system that reflects the ruthless nature of the [Cthulhu World]. But I need to choose carefully. The better the house, the more likely it was to have formidable defenses or a highly capable owner. Moreover, the closer to the city center, the higher the chances of getting caught by the police or even the immigration bureau Tsk, how did ite to this? Despite justifying it as part of the games system, what I was thinking about was essentially murder and theft. If I were still living in the real world as Kim Shin-hwa, I would never even consider such things, let alone carry out such a n. Ah, fu*k it. What was I going to do then? Had I not taken lives until now? Was there another way? If I kept dying, the path to ruin would begin to advance, leading to an ending engulfed in doom. To escape this world before that main event triggers, I have to amass power by any means necessary. No, wait. I dont have to kill anyone, right? Yes, that was it. There were homes I could take without having to murder innocent people. In fact, some even pleaded for me to take theirs There was this one particr house that seemed perfect. It wasnt bad at all and it offered many beneficial options for a mage. Although there were some challenging parts, oveing them could grant me a level of power usually not attainable until muchter in the game. At this point, I made up my mind about my next course of action. I left the overcrowded house behind and headed towards Vasilisa. As I entered the caf, a hush fell over the ce. Everyone nced my way while whispering quietly among themselves. No full sentences were distinctly audible, but words like Je Mu-gyeong, The Triad and Wild Guns asionally reached my ears. This was a recent change. Now, there was no one in Vasilisa who didnt know me. Outside of Vasilisa, the name Kim Shin-hwa and the Carcosas mask I wore had be quite well-known too. I ignored their gazes and turned to Tudor. And as she usually did during her free time, she was sprawled in a corner of the cafe and reading a fantasy novel. Oh dear, youre here? I didnt call for you today, yet here you are. Yes, this time I have a favor to ask of you. Oh, a favor from you? Thats kind of scary. Whats so scary about that? Ignoring Tudors joke, I continued. Id like you to narrow down the conditions for my next request. Narrow down the conditions? Ah, it seems you have something specific in mind? Exactly. There was one particr request I had in mind among those Tudor could arrange, but it would be odd to directly pick that one out, wouldnt it? What should I say to gloss it over? Ive recently acquired some items rted to necromancy, and Id like to experiment with them. Ahaan, so you did manage to pick up something from that mess, didnt you? The mess referred to the sacred site of the cultists that I recently raided. The mission waspleted sessfully, and I was able to recover the idol. But buildings copsed, fires broke out, monsters suddenly flew from the sky, and all sorts of things happened. I hadnt expected to encounter a genuine cultist capable of summoning magic. Nevertheless, I made sure not to bring back anything that could be traced back to us. Its unlike you to leave traces that could lead to being tracked. As for necromancy, what exactly do you wish to aplish? Im not particr about the level of difficulty; if there are any requests to resolve psychic phenomenon, Id like you to arrange them for me. Any psychic phenomenon? Lets avoid possessions theyre troublesome. Id prefer something rted to a property or real estate that can be resolved with a wide-reaching suppression. Hmm Tudor ced a finger on her lips and started thinking. Given the current circumstances, there should be a few requests that fit the criteria. I recall there was something like that on thework I think I probably skipped it because the conditions werent that good. Im not too concerned about the payment. So, shall I look into it and get back to you with the details? Youll probably hear from me by tomorrow at thetest. Sounds good. Necromancy, though Should I start considering that area for future requests? What a troubling kindness. Practicing necromancy was merely an excuse to convince Tudor. As I mentioned, its for practice, so lets see how this goes and then decide. What I really want isnt to practice necromancy. Im simply looking for a quest that allows me to acquire what I need and earn a decent reward in the process. Chapter 75: The Broker on the Verge of Exploding (1) Chapter 75: The Broker on the Verge of Exploding (1) The request concerned properties and estates afflicted by spiritual disturbances. In the end, the request is to find a ce that ismonly referred to as a haunted mansion or, to put it simply, a haunted house. Hmm, a ssic narrative indeed. Being a horror game and all, wouldnt it be appropriate to visit a haunted house at this point? Historically, the Cthulhu mythos and rted creative works often featured various haunted mansions. In the world crafted on the foundation of the Cthulhu mythos, [Cthulhu World], there existed a wide array of haunted properties. These properties were generally known as cursed houses or abandoned buildings, with most of them not being in a livable condition. However, among them were houses that would be quite decent if one were to overlook the presence of ghosts. If you invade such a house, drive out the ghosts, and defeat the boss, you will be given a house as a reward. Of course, it was no easy task. Oveing the lethal obstacles was imperative, as these were no normal residences. This is why preparation is necessary. Tudor was not one to make frivolousments regarding work. Since she said that it would be ready by tomorrow, I would most likely find that request the next day. I needed to have everything ready by tomorrow. Thats why I hopped on my skateboard and sped off to the pawnshop in Geumchon Market, where I could find most of what I needed. Perhaps it was because I arrivedter than usual, but the pawnshop today felt even more calm and quiet. Thete hour yed a part, but there was another reason. No part-timer today? She doesnt work at pitch-ck hours like this. Fair enough. I requested a bundle of talismans along with various materials rted to shamanism, psychism, and necromancy. Someone passed away? Why else would you buy this stuff? Why do you always have toin whenever I buy something? Whosining? Ah, whatever. Today, there were no special items to dispose of. It was a straightforward purchase, so there was no need for haggling, and just like that, thirty-five million won was spent in an instant. So, no tricks today, just paying in cash? When have I ever yed tricks? Ah, whatever. Considering that I hadnt yet decided on a specific request to take on, it was a bold purchase. But at this point, such an amount of money isnt a major issue for me. If necessary, I could simply make a quick round the next day, or I could dispose of some of the oddities piled up at home and recover the costs promptly. On the way back after Ipleted my preparations, I met an unexpected person in an unexpected ce. It was a dark back alley in the Geumchon neighborhood, cluttered with scattered flyers and pamphlets. This alley was so seldom frequented that I, who often used it, had never imagined meeting anyone here. And the person I met in this damp and dark alleyway was Ahem. Ahem. Its been a while. The sentence structure was perfectly modern standard Korean, but the voice carried a strange and unfamiliar ent. It was Park Kwang-lim, one of the brokers in Paju. It has been a while, but what happened to you? There was a bit of trouble with a client Ahem, ahem. And I ended up like this. Park Kwang-lim was dressed in an old-fashioned suit simr to the one he wore thest time we met, but its condition was pathetic. It was torn in several ces, with burn marks evident throughout. His white shirt was almostpletely ckened with ash. And upon closer inspection, his once cherished bowler hat was nowhere to be seen and in its ce was a scattered mess of long hair. Ahem, ahem. Cough. Moreover, his intermittent hollow coughs grated on my ears. Seems like a fixer who got paid decided to set your office aze, huh? Uhahaha- Park Kwang-lim let out a heartyugh as if amused. Not entirely wrong. It wasnt a fixer but a client who started the fire. Ah- It was then that I fully grasped the ordeal Park Kwang-lim had faced. No matter how crazy Paju was, there werent many clients crazy enough to set fire to a brokers office. The reason for his disheveled appearance before me became clear. Stay back. Cough, cough. Youre overdoing it. You know why Im doing this, right? Park Kwang-lim bent forward with a wry smile. These were exaggerated movements reminiscent of those of a magician preparing for a magic trick. It wasnt a gesture for a 90-degree bow. He was reaching for a flyer that had fallen to the floor. With a slow hand, Park Kwang-lim picked up one of the flyers scattered around [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Whoosh! Suddenly, the flyer burst into mes. Park Kwang-lim was someone suffering from a condition known as magical hypertrophy. Even in these dark times, he navigates the back alleys of Paju with ease thanks to his extraordinary powers. However, his ability does not involve igniting mes. Its evident in the way the magic moves when the mes arise and, notably, the unsettling mass that has clung to his left shoulder from the beginning. My left hand is cursed with a living me. This was a huge deration that could only be posted on an onlinemunity for Chuunibyou middle school students. I thought of a few jokes, but Park Kwang-lims overly serious expression made me hold my tongue. Did the descendants of Fomalhaut get that angry? How much of an advance did you take to end up with such a severe curse? Really, its really, really troublesome. Could you possibly lend me a hand? While Park Kwang-lim was apetent broker, he was also a very good con artist. The descendants of Fomalhaut, a cult that worships the [Living me], hired him to track me down. In Paju, no one matches Park Kwang-lims skill in finding people. Despite having identified me long ago, Park Kwang-lim had not handed me over to the descendants of Fomalhaut. But as the saying goes, you should measure your bed before stretching your legs. It seems the impatient cultists have resorted to cursing Park Kwang-lim for his reluctance. Sounds like poetic justice to me. Poetic justice? Isnt this because I protected Kim Shin-hwa and ended up like this? Cough, ahem! The longer he drags it out, the more he can bill, right? I have a rough idea of the games Park Kwang-lim ys with his gullible clients. Given the nature of detective work where fees increase with time, solving cases quickly was actually counterproductive. Moreover, he probably nned to leverage the fact that the descendants of Fomalhaut were after me to make additional demands. Cough, cough! Ack! Whoosh! The dark alley briefly lit up before plunging back into darkness. Wow! Hahaha! Damn it, did you see that? I certainly did. mes had burst forth from his mouth unexpectedly. This is no joke. It seems the curse isnt just spreading to his hand but to various parts of his body as well. Ah, this is indeed serious. Huhu Kukukuku Ah, it really is severe. Please, help me. Cough, ahem. An abnormalughter began to mix with Park Kwang-lims words. No matter how tough someone is, it wont be easy to stay sane if symptoms like that appear. By now, his brain must be marinating in dopamine and adrenaline. Kwang-lim-sshi, let me say this again: I really dont know anything. Even if you were to betray me, your Fomalhaut friends would be disappointed. Id feel wronged too. Besides, Tudor, whos been excited to use me for various thingstely, would be heartbroken if something were to happen to me, right? In Park Kwang-lims world, a disappointed Tudor would be the greatest danger. Ah, I understand. Thats why Im asking for your help, isnt it? Now, with a look of desperation, he began to slowly approach me. The level of the curse was indeed severe. A curse of this magnitude isnt something that can be triggered just like that. It would require at least one human sacrifice to the [Living me]. How to lift it, though? Destroying, burning, and exploding things are simple, but lifting a curse is not my specialty. If I had a ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple, perhaps I could solve it easily, but Im not at that level yet. Moreover, although its possible to borrow the power of the [Living me] through the [Ring of Corrupted me], the situation is different now. Its a curse formally requested by cultists who even offered human sacrifices. Would they lend their power to undo such a curse? I visibly sighed and activated the magic. [Insight] [Curse Detection] [Magic power Detection] [Trap Detection] [Lifeform Detection] It seems there are no watchers around. Did you manage to shake off any pursuers? Hmm, Im not such a trivial person. Well, that must be why such a severe curse was ced on you. Cough, cough, cough! Whoooooosh! Once again, mes burst forth with a cough. His situation was getting more and more dangerous It seems Park Kwang-lim has less than 48 hours to chatter like this. There are three options before me now. The first is to simply walk away, which, frankly, is not a good decision. Leaving him be might lead to his own demise, but before that happens, he might rush to the cultists and betray me. If I want to stop such a loose-lipped fool from bbering, making him unable to speak forever could be a solution. After all, the dead tell no tales. But then again, is it really worth it to waste a high-level NPC like Park Kwang-lim? Although he was a vulgar swindler, his skills were unmatched in certain limited fields. Choosing the third option seems best. Granting him a favor now might lead to repaymentter. I spoke to Park Kwang-lim while scratching my head. You should know how lucky you are. If it werent for today, I wouldnt have been able to help even if I wanted to. Ah! So theres a way? As expected from the rising star of Paju, the enigmatic genius mage, the dark horse of Vasilisa rapidly gaining fame, the secret weapon of the Triad. Whats with those ridiculous titles? And what about the Triad? Ahem, ahem. Kuhuhum. These are the stories that are circting these days. There are rumors that you are a biological weapon created from Helistic, and there are also stories that you are an incarnation of a god summoned by mistake. This is madness, really. Tudor had promised to make me famous, and it seemed she was working hard at it. Under normal circumstances, I might not have had a solution, but this was not a regr day. If it hadnt been right after a shopping spree for a visit to a haunted house, why else would I have been wandering the back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood with a bunch of exorcism-rted items in hand? So, how much can you pay? How much do you require? Just quote an amount youd equate with the value of your life. .. No, I dont take pleasure in bargaining over human lives. Lets just say ten times the cost of materials. The materials roughly cost about 35 million so that makes it 350 million. These were items I had just acquired from the pawnshop today. I wasnt entirely sure how things had gotten to this point, but those items would be used as materials. Cough, ahem. Haah Thank you. Observing Park Kwang-lims expression, it seemed I had quoted less than he had expected. Even though he looked like this, he was a broker of the underworld. A figure like him could easily manage two or three hundred million as if it were nothing. Alright, Ill take on the task. [You have epted the quest! Cultists worshiping the Living me have cast a deadly curse on Park Kwang-lim. Remove the curse afflicting him. ! Time Limit: Park Kwang-lim will die in (29) hours. ! Reward: 150,000XP + Trust of Bak Kwanglim + 350 million won] Failure: Boom! Bak Kwanglim will explode.] Chapter 76: The Broker on the Verge of Exploding (2) Chapter 76: The Broker on the Verge of Exploding (2) Ill give it to youter,ter. I wanted an advance payment, but Park Kwang-lim wasnt in a position to do that. Even if he tried to make a transfer, his smartphone would probably burst into mes. Besides, the method Im considering isnt aplete solution. I took a moment to scan our surroundings. This ce isnt ideal for the ritual. But what choice do I have? Im not capable of securing a purified or quiet location, nor is it feasible to take him to my home. I pulled out a few talismans from my backpack, some minor ritual tools, and oh, this is pricey. A straw doll. Isnt that a cursed doll? In Japan, they might use it for cursing, but in Korea, its called a Jeoung or Cheo Yong. It is typically used for warding off evil. Oh, and in China, its known as Chu Ling you know? Not really. Im not good with ult stuff. Not all brokers are the same, it seems. Anyway, I was just reading the message that popped up in the message window. I cant say for sure how much they screwed you over, but the curse youre under seems to have involved the use of at least one live sacrifice. Such curses arent easily lifted. Even before Park Kwang-lim demonstrated his magic trick of burning an intact paper, I could see the curse afflicting him. The insights I gained coupled with a few spells I activated helped me visualize the nature of this curse. Theres a woman hanging over your left shoulder. Somehow, the genre seems to be shifting in an odd direction. Its a bit embarrassing for me to say this, it sounds like something out of a cult. So lets refrain from unnecessary remarks. But its true. The transparent ghost of a woman with burns all over her body hung on his shoulder. -Grrrrr Who this woman was and what life she led, I couldnt say. Now, she had be a ghost devoid of will, merely spreading hatred in obedience to some unseenmand. This will make for an interesting test. A test? Ah, Ive identally expressed my true thoughts. I felt a twinge of guilt towards Park Kwang-lim, given his dire circumstances, but this presented an excellent opportunity for me to practice. I was about to head to a ce riddled with traps rted to necromancy. There werent many opportunities to test this type of magic. This will be my first time using this spell. Is that safe? Im not sure. If youre scared, you could ask someone else for help. Do you know anyone who has an admission ticket to Thousand Gold Temple? Ahem, Ahem no, I do not. Thousand Gold Temple was a unique shop and the only one of its kind in the entire country that was capable of resolving issues rted to curses and cults. So, what will it be? Ill have to ask for your help. Alright. Its awkward to start right here, lets move to a more secluded spot. However, finding a significantly special location was out of the question. I had been stranded in Paju within the [Cthulhu World] for several months now. During this time, I could barely secure a space for my body to lie down. Even setting aside my limited social connections, finding a space suitable for conducting the ritual at hand was difficult. If were going to do it in an arbitrary space, we might as well do it here. Here? How is this any different from before? We had moved, after all. From one back alley in the Geumchon neighborhood to another alley in the Geumchon neighborhood. Park Kwang-lims bewildered reaction was understandable given that we had only moved about 100 meters. This ce is a bit more secluded than before Park Kwang-lim nced around and his lips started twitching as if he was about to voice aint. Not in a physical sense, but magically. I see. That doesnt mean I n to proceed haphazardly. It would be no different from performing open-heart surgery outdoors. I reached into my backpack and pulled out several items: a bundle of talismans I had bought today and what Jeong Eun-taek called ritual supplies, such as wooden cups and candlesticks. Though these items were indeed used in sacrificial rituals, they were versatile enough for various rituals. So, with these [Invisible Hand] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Chllak!! Dozens of invisible hands began to ce the talismans and ritual vessels all around the alley. Then. Pop! The crisp sound of a bottle being opened resonated. Now that I think about it, it was hard to deny that these were preparations for a sacrificial ritual. This wasnt clear liquor but a kind of fermented alcohol. It wasnt just any ordinary one, though. How touching, to use heavenly yellow wine. Ah, youre familiar with it? Its quite an expensive medicinal alcohol, isnt it? Well, it could indeed substitute for medicine. It was such an expensive liquor that it was listed a B-rank Elixir in the message window. It could be used as medicine, aponent in magic, or even as a catalyst in simple rituals. It originated from China. Really? Everythings from China now, is it? I scattered the alcohol in all directions and started preparing for the ritual in earnest. I counted to seven, held the heavenly yellow wine in my mouth, then after counting to seven again, spat it out onto the ground and counted to seven once more. Pheww I let out a deep sigh. It was a different kind of breath than the usual deep breathing. Unlike the real world, the air in the Paju of Cthulhu World wasnt clean. It wasnt a matter of essibility to nature. The air in this city, which was infested with abyssal creatures, otherworldly monsters, nefarious mages, and cultists, was too heavily mingled with a chaotic spiritual energy. Thats why there was a need to purify the very act of breathing itself. I took another long breath. This time, my breath was infused with my magical power. Pheww Park Kwang-lim who had been standing awkwardly noticeably flinched as he sensed the dense magical power contained in my breath. A dark, damp, and moist corner of the back alley in the Geumchon neighborhood began to purify gradually with my breath. Normally, youd form hand seals and recite mantras here, but Ill skip that. Is it really okay to skip? Theres something like Namah Samanta Vajranam and so on. Im not a professional exorcist, so Im not confident in exining. Just stay put and enjoy the oue. Its a mantra written in the madhyamakakrik. Thanks to abilities like [Casting Omission] that I possess, I could skip such unnecessary steps and directly activate the magic. [Ibn Ghazis Beacon] Whoosh! My breath soon transformed into a zing white me that surged toward Park Kwang-lim. -Aaaaagh! The ghost clinging to Park Kwang-lims body was pushed back by the mes I created and started screaming. At the same time, its spirit form which was visible only to my eyes finally revealed its true form. Ah, aaaaaah! Oh, stupid Park Kwang-lim. [Sound Distortion] Be quiet! Do you want to draw the whole neighborhood here? Monster! A monster! Theres a monster! Perhaps I had been too harsh in my words to someone who had just witnessed a monster clinging to their body. [A previously unseen curse revealed its form. The spiritual pursuer created by evil rituals, the corrupted guardian spirit, and the enforcer of contracts. The monster with skin writhing horribly like melted rubber was destined to continue infusing the element of fire into the soul of its victim to fulfill its assigned mission.] An unpleasant body swarming with maggot-like spirits. Its hands had mutated into pincer-like appendages and its skin stretched so grotesquely that it resembled stic rubber. A Corrupted who was forced to reveal its physical form by magic. It was an abhorrent minion crafted by cultists using power lent by beings from the abyss. Despite its horrifying appearance, which was enough to shatter Park Kwang-lims sanity, it possessed an alien presence capable of influencing the human mind. [Attempting to resist fear with your mental strength stat. Mental strength checkfailure.] Actually, even my sanity wavered for a moment [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. Mental agitation has been nullified.] The problem was swiftly nullified. I had waited too long for the trait Madness of the Abyss to fully activate. The Corrupted revealed its hideous teeth which were akin to those of a shark and let out a revolting scream. -Graaaaah!! It was fortunate that I had prepared a sound distortion barrier in advance. It seemed to harbor anger toward me for forcibly materializing it. It red at me before clumsily lifting its pincer-like limbs. Grrrrrrrrr!! As befitting a monster born under the influence of [Living me], the Corrupted conjured corrupted ck mes around its pincers and charged at me. Hey, hey, donte any closer. A brilliantly shining barrier formed around me. [Tindaloss Shell] This barrier, which resembled a turtle shell, was not designed to repel physical forces but to block spiritual beings. Sceeeeeeek! The Corrupted swung its menacing ws covered in mes and pounded on the barrier repeatedly, but itcked the strength to break through. Sceeeeeeeeeek! Bang! Bang! It was clear that this creaturecked proper reasoning. It seemed not toprehend that its attacks had little effect on me and just continued scratching at the magical barrier. Yet, that was all it could do; its efforts were feeblepared to the power it possessed. Was this monster not supposed to be more formidable? Ah, it seems it cant exert its full strength because Im not the target of the curse? Had I been the target of the curse, this level of purification and barrier wouldnt have been enough to stop it. I, I, I am? Shh, keep quiet. Youre intentionally drawing attention here. . -Kirrrrrr! Ah! It, its starting to notice me? See, thats why I told you to keep quiet. I gathered my magical power and lifted the [Butchers Hook]. [The unique effect of the S-rank weapon Butchers Hook, Proof of ughter has been activated. // Proof of ughter: The power of necromancy spells increases by 100%.] [Spirit Collision] Kreeeeeeek! A grotesque form of energy projectile was released along with a terrible noise that sounded like the scream of a ghost. Boom! -Aghhhhhhh! Immediately followed by [Rlyehs sh] Wham!! A burst of dry noise followed by a brilliant white sh. A spell that weakens the forces of beings moving ording to thews of another dimension, much like the Corrupted. [Chains of the Abyss] Ssssssshhhh! Sinister chains of a pale ash color burst forth from beneath the ground before entwining around the Corrupteds body. -Kieeeeeek! Ugh, this ones too low in the magic order tost long. As the Corrupted writhed, the chains threatened to snap and break in an instant. However, they managed to prevent it from charging at Park Kwang-lim for the moment. It was crucial to subdue it right then. But now what should I do? The Corrupted wasnt a living creature. It was a being of the abyss, or more precisely, an abstract entity existing in reality through the sanction of the [Living me]. Among the spells I could use at this stage, there were some that could weaken or damage it, but none that could eliminate it. To get rid of it, Id have to destroy the evidence of the ritual used to summon it But there was no way to find it now. Perhaps it was in a secret ce near Unjeong Station? The secret temple installed above the subway tracks. It was likely there. Regardless, I couldnt go there now to destroy it. Ah, forget it. Lets just stick to the original n. Chapter 77: Hungry Mansion (1) Chapter 77: Hungry Mansion (1) I took out the straw doll, the Jeoung that I had shown to Park Kwang-lim earlier. Ah, using it now would make it difficult to obtain another for a while. Colorful magic circles spread out in all directions. -Grrraaah!? The Corrupted seemed to recoil, perhaps in response to the sinister sensation imbued in the magic circles. But it was already toote. As I began to channel my magical power, the Jeoung at the center of the circle started to drift away from my hand and floated in mid-air. [Cursed Agent] Woojeok, woojeok, woojeok From the tiny body of the Jeoung, bizarrely tangled lines of magical power spurted out. These lines appeared less like energy and more like ck tentacles or grotesquely twisted and bent arms of a ghost. -Grrraaagh! The Corrupted spewed forth pitch-ck mes in resistance, but it was useless. My magical power might not be able to generate a power that exceeded the authority of a being of the abyss, but here and now, in this ce. Within the roughly five square meters of this dark alley that was purified through my magical breathing, it could not defy mymand. Crack, snap! The magical power lines eventually grasped the Corrupted and started squeezing it tightly. The Corrupted who was fluctuating in a non-Euclidean way was imprisoned within the small confines of the Jeoung, defying allws of physics. Thud. The Jeoung fell to the ground and seemed to revert to just an ordinary straw doll. You did it! As expected! No. It seemed as though the surreal influence had vanished, but that was not the case. To those who could sense magic, the doll appeared as a vibrating explosive on the verge of detonation. Ive managed to materialize and imprison it, but its not truly dealt with. So, what now? The curse of the [Cthulhu World] is dreadful. The curses backed by beings of the abyss, in particr, can only be lifted in very specific ways. The effects of the curse should be blocked by the Jeoung for now. Youll be fine for a while. Ill look for a more permanent solutionter. In the meantime As long as Park Kwang-lim remained within the range of influence of the one who made the ritual, the curse would persist. If, in the meantime, that person were to exert a force exceeding the durability of the Jeoung, its destruction would result in an explosion powerful enough to leave nothing of Park Kwang-lim, not even his bones. Id rmend leaving Paju and finding somewhere to hide. To put it another way, if he could stay far away from the person in charge of the ritual, the effect of the curse could be temporarily stopped. If were lucky, the person might give up on maintaining the curse and the curse may be lifted. I exined all this to him. I wont charge you until we find a solution, so please, spend at least a month or two outside of Gyeonggi Province. [Quest Information Updated. ! Time Limit: Park Kwang-lim will die in (45) days. !] Forty-five days, huh? Could I manage to secure a ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple within that time? Come to think of it, my coughing has stopped. Thats because the Jeoung is bearing the curses effects for now. If you lose it, the curse could reactivate, so always keep it with you. I understand. And Yes? You said you wouldnt take any money, but Honestly, I never expected you to help me like this. Could I offer you something, at least a part of what I owe? Huh? Why is this con man acting like this? [However, you have shown remarkable achievements, so a portion of the quest rewards will be settled in advance. Rewards: 150,000XP + Park Kwang-lims Trust + 150 Million Won] [Park Kwang-lim, a broker who was close to a heartless conman, has been deeply moved by the dedicated attitude you showed. He now holds you in high regard.] Ah, high regard. Its like the affection one feels before forming a firm alliance. The idea of giving money due to newfound affection does seem like a usible development. Is Park Kwang-lims change in attitude a response to the updates in the quest window, or has the quest window been updated in response to changes in Park Kwang-lims psychological state? Which came first? Whether Park Gwang-lim who is happy to be alive in front of me is truly human or merely an NPC moving ording to the system might be a more significant question than it seems. *** Tudor turned out to be a more capable broker than I expected. I thought there would be two or three requests prepared at best. Hmm, it seems youve underestimated me. The very next day after I had made my request, I received a message from Tudor instructing me toe to Vasilisa immediately, so I came back to Vasilisa. Upon arrival, Tudor asked why I was sote and dragged me into her office, where she proceeded to introduce the requests. Tudor had found a total of eight requests. The sight of documents summarizing the essence of each request, neatlyid out across the table, was quite something to behold. Such diligence though there was hardly a need to gather so many. No, thats not it. Tudor was well aware that I would only undertake one of these requests. Nevertheless, this excessive preparation meant that she valued me more than other fixers. The one Id rmend most for you is this one right here. Tudor pointed her finger at the document furthest to the left. Given Tudors efforts in gathering this information, I felt obliged to at least pretend to review the document. Lets see a haunted house in Munsan. How about it? This might be something youre familiar with. Its a famous haunted house thats been featured on broadcasts a few times. Streamers used to visit quite often. until a couple of years ago when people started dying, and it turned out to be the real deal. It sounds like a typical haunted house ghost story. Right. But aroundst year, some rich individual with nothing better to do announced a reward for anyone who could cleanse the haunted house. Since then, its be quite famous among those involved with the supernatural. Seeing that the bounty is still up, it seems no one has seeded so far? Youre quick to catch on. I knew they had increased the amount a few times, but when I checked recently, the sum was quite substantial. How much? 150 million. Thats quite a bit. However, this wasnt the request I was looking for. Moreover, the phenomena at the Munsan haunted house werent actually ghostly in nature. It was a murder game. A quest that turns into a ything for rich old men who have gone mad with wealth. Those enticed by the reward end up entangled in a manufactured murder game on a fabricated set. Im not looking for squid game type of stuff While its a quest that could yield great rewards for notable achievements, what I really need is a mansion that can serve as a base. Interesting story. But this time, Im looking to practice, so Id prefer something that can be handled more quietly. This one seems too noisy. Tudor didnt look disappointed at all and took out another document. How about this one? Its a case that can be resolved right here in the Geumchon neighborhood. There was supposed to be a ghost in a newly built apartment in the Geumchon neighborhood, but that wasnt it either. I quickly lost interest, yet Tudor continued with enthusiasm. Every month on the 13th, thirteen ghosts made entirely of bugs appear on the 13th floor of that apartment, making strange noises for 13 minutes before vanishing. That I was lucky. I had gotten over my fear of the number 13 long ago, or else just hearing this story might have made me faint. No, its okay. This one isnt quite right. Something else might be better. With that, I picked up another document that was nearby. Aha. This was it. Luckily I didnt have to manage my facial expressions thanks to the mask. This was precisely the request I had been searching for. I made an effort to sound as casual as possible. This one seems quite promising. However, Tudors expression was somehow strange. Um I did keep it because it fit the conditions, but it was a bit of an ambiguous request. The first page of the document read as follows: [Jangmyeongsan Detached Pension House] Where is Jangmyeongsan? Its not that good Have you not been listening to me this whole time? No, Im listening attentively. Tudor pouted briefly before continuing. Jangmyeongsan is a small mountain located to the west of the Geumchon neighborhood, just past the Gongneung Stream. Theres a detached pension house there. Thepensation is ridiculous. [The entire estate of the client will be passed on to the one who resolves the issue.] It is ridiculous. Tudor continued toin about why she generally avoids handling requests rted to paranormal phenomena, that the people involved are either entrics, luxury seekers, or those with twisted minds, and that even when the job is done well, theres a risk of not getting paid, among other things. Due to that, it was only after going through all the documents to the very end that I was able to make my choice. Would it be alright to proceed with the Jangmyeongsan Detached Pension House? Look, I knew you werent in your right mind from the start but are you serious? Do you really think you can actually receive thispensation? Im perfectly sane. Ive said from the beginning, Im not particrly interested in thepensation. Its for your magical training, isnt it? What about the fee If the fee is lost, Ill cover it myself. Hmm I dont know. Do as you wish. Great. Then please contact the client for me. [Youve epted the quest! Subdue all the evil spirits haunting the mansion and return it to a safe state. Remaining Objectives: Unknown. Reward: 250,000XP + Ownership of the Mansion Failure: Possession by an evil spirit.] As expected, the quest message used the word mansion instead of pension. The ce I was set to visit was actually a privately owned mansion, not a pension. The games setting hasnt changed. It was always meant to be this way. Ah, and about this request, theres a strange detail This, right? The client will apany you during the quest. It was a ce I had visited several times during the game. Though the number of clears was fewerpared to other locations, my transcendent intelligence allowed me to remember everything about this mansion: the conditions for clearing it, the methods, the hidden elements, and even the secret rewards. Right, it seemed like they wanted to verify something? The information about the client is on the next page. I flipped through the pages of the document to the section containing the clients information. At the very top, the clients name was written. The name is Heo Sang-hyeon. Managing the client was the crux of this quest. Heo Sang-hyeon, the mansions owner and the client, was the most important NPC of this quest. Without dealing with him, the quest would never conclude. After all, the ghosts haunting this cursed mansion were also possessing Heo Sang-hyeons body. This quest is essentially a trap created by evil spirits and beings from the abyss. Starting with the homeowner, everything around this mansion was poised to attack me. However, the reward offered was everything contained within the mansion. [The Hungry Mansion]. This ce was destined to be my new base of operations. Chapter 78: Hungry Mansion (2) Chapter 78: Hungry Mansion (2) Rumble The sound of thunder rolled in. WhooshTatatata. And the sound of pouring rain. A deluge of heavy raindrops hammering on the car roof created a chaotic symphony. Late at night. In a darkmpless path through the forest. The road was barely covered in asphalt and, due to long periods of neglect, was riddled with potholes and damage. The rains reallying down. This was the voice of Jang Hyeon-deok. Mage-nim, its really raining. The rain, yes, a lot, really a lot, its raining heavily, really. When I didnt respond, Jang Hyeon-deok emphasized his point by repeating himself several times. I hear it. Ah, I thought you didnt hear me since you didnt reply. But seriously, Mage-nim, its really pouring. Right. It was a tremendous downpour. It wasnt this bad when we set out, but by the time we neared our destination, it was pouring like a torrential downpour. The day had turnedpletely dark, and we were on a secluded mountain path. It was understandable why Jang Hyeon-deok felt uneasy. This ce isnt that far from the city, yet the atmosphere is a bit creepy. Right, its a bit creepy. Ah, just to rify, in case you misunderstand, Im fine. Right, youre fine. Yes. But this ce really does give off a spooky vibe. Its as if ghosts could appear at any moment. Right. The rain was pouring heavily. It was chilling to the bone. It felt as if ghosts might appear at any moment. That was going to be his next point. He had kicked aside other good requests to be here at Mage-nims behest. Loyalty, loyalty. I would still follow Mage-nim even if ghosts actually appeared! Oh, did I mention that? An incredible request came in today. It was proposed by the Traid; they were seeking a skilled driver to help in a breakout of captured gang members. Right. Thirty million won. Ah, thats what I was going to say? Thats right. Its not often that a request worth thirty million wones in just for me. But who am I? Havent I rejected that request out of my loyalty and love for Mage-nim and came here instead! Wow, thats really impressive. Ah, really! Are you going to respond so nonchntly? Youre the one How many times are you going to repeat the same story This was already the ninth time weve gone through this same pattern. And it was the neenth time he mentioned the heavy rain. Rumble! Tatatatata!! It looked like the rain wasnt going to stop anytime soon. Through the rain, a sinister mist was rising. Mage-nim, do you happen to know if there are any legends about this area around Jangmyeong Mountain? Yes, I know. There was a legend that around Jangmyeong Mountain, a virgin ghost and a goblin appeared to torment passersby. They say thatte at night, a virgin ghost appears to people walking on this road and tries to coax them into living with her at her ce. Right, a goblin appears too, right? Ah, how did you know? Youve mentioned it about seven times already, so yes, I know it. Yes, thats right. If one avoids the virgin ghost, a nine-foot-tall goblin will leap out and drag them into the mud for a test of strength. Thats amazing. Mage-nim, I mean, its a bit of a sensitive topic, and I hope you wont take it the wrong way. What Im trying to say is I already knew what Jang Hyeon-deok wanted to say. You can head back as soon as I get off. Ah, its not that Im scared, you see. Ive been in this business for more than just a day or two, and the people who call for my services usually choose thesete hours and secluded ces. So youre used to it? Yes, yes. Very used to it. Really. Despite his words, his expression betrayed a hint of unease. Being ustomed to the night and secluded ces didnt necessarily mean beingfortable in a horror-like atmosphere. The ambiance was eerie enough for us to not be surprised if a ghost appeared at any moment. The negative energy was excessively concentrated here. Even someone without a shamans spiritual abilities would feel something was wrong with such a ce. Were almost there. See that building? Thats the ce. Wow Jang Hyeon-deoksplexion turned pale. Isnt that Isnt that a bit too much? How can such a building even exist? A grand mansion with an antique Western exterior. It was [The Hungry Mansion]. Honestly, it was the epitome of a haunted house, one that anyone would acknowledge as impressively creepy. Did someone deliberately design it like this? It looks like something straight out of a theme park! A theme park! The mansions ominous exterior seemed as if someone had intentionally set out to craft the perfect haunted house. Such a gloomy mansion stood in the rain, in the woods, in this dark hour. The sight of the building made me feel a tad sorry for Jang Hyeon-deok. Well, it is a bit over the top. The design of the building itself wasnt to me. Apart from its awkwardly Western appearance in the heart of Korea, it was merely a mansion with a somewhat antique design. However, the problemy in the malevolent and eerie energy that the mansion harbored. It was a different kind from the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan Mountain. It was the repulsive and chilling aura of the dead. It was so strong that one could almost believe the smell of corpses was seeping into the car. The magical power, along with the evil energy and malice emanating from the entire building, was so intense that it distorted not just the building but the surroundingndscape as well. Anyone whoid eyes on that building would inevitably feel an inexplicable unease and an instinctive terror. What is that? Huh? Huh? Eeeeeeh?! Something bizarre and writhing was spotted on the roof of the building. Though I wished to take a closer look, the surrounding trees obstructed the view. Would it be visible if I moved just a bit closer? What was crawling on the roof was A person? On such a rainy day, was there someone on the roof? No, it seemed to be more than just a person Suddenly, Jang Hyeon-deok screamed out loud. AAAAAAAH!!! Holy shit. Whats wrong! Had this guy lost his mind? Before I could even respond, Jang Hyeon-deok mmed on the brakes. Screeeeech!!! Thud!! There was a dull sensation as something collided with the car. Something white shed past the windshield too quickly for me to see what it was. Before I could even identify it, I reflexively activated a spell. [Protective Circle] Screeeeeech! The protective circle hadnt formed around me but around the car, and something had collided with it. Pop. Its gone. What was that? It wasnt a ghost. Something tangible had hit the protective circle. But what? Did Jang Hyeon-deok see it? I stayed on guard and called out to Jang Hyeon-deok. Hey, did you see that? No reply came. Uh Uh Only a strangled groan. Jang Hyeon-deoks face had gone deathly pale. I had never seen such a pallid expression on his face. He waspletely frozen with his eyes wide open. Hey, hey! Uh Uh Jang Hyeon-deok, this guy, must have seen something. Hey, snap out of it! What did you see thats got you all freaked out? Uhh Ugh This wasnt a normal reaction. Jang Hyeon-deok had definitely seen something he shouldnt have. His body was so rigid it felt like stone. Something must have appeared while I was distracted. In [Cthulhu World] there were monsters whose mere form or presence could shatter a humans mind with their malevolent essence. Youre supposed to be a professional in the underworld, man! Even if Jang Hyeon-deok was an expert driver ustomed to the underworld, thats only within human limits. The distortion effect of witnessing a supernatural entity does not discriminate. Madness appeared as a result of him witnessing something, and the resulting distortion effect urred. In this state a transparent message window appeared around Jang Hyeon-deoks body. **** [DistortionPsychosomatic Disorder]: Random status ailments ur for a certain period. / Temporary abnormalities ur in the body due to excessive mental shock. You might not be able to see, hear, or speak. In severe cases, paralysis can ur in the limbs. Jang Hyeon-deoks current condition: Paralyzed **** Hey, man! Snap out of it! Uh Uh Uhh This was not going to work. I shouted several more times, but there was no response. The stiffness in his muscles was worrying. Whileshing out or falling over could be problematic, paralysis was a serious issue in its own right. In the worst-case scenario, he could suffocate while still conscious but unable to breathe. Damn it, this isnt my specialty. None of the magic I could use had the effect of curing madness or eliminating distortion. However, waking someone up I had tried it before when waking up Jeong Hyeon-ah. [Exhration] [Brilliance of the Eagle] [Courage of the Lion] The magic incited a battle desire, uplifting the spirit and boosting mental strength while simultaneously igniting courage. Furthermore, these spells were beneficial for vitality and were excellent for invigoration. This isnt enough As was the case with Jeong Hyeon-ah before, these spells were merely effective in preparing the body to rise. To actually open ones eyes, a stronger stimulus was needed, such as a powerful electric shock [Voice of Authority] A spell that temporarily controls humans weaker than myself. |Jang Hyeon-deok, open your eyes.| Ah! Ugh Ugh Jang Hyeon-deok began to roll his eyes as he exhaled deeply. Blood rushed to his eyes, turning them bright red with congestion. Thats right. Breathe slowly. Its okay. Huff Huff Ah Haah Uh Mage-nim Life began to return to his eyes. Are youing to your senses? After mumbling ipletely a few times, the words he finally managed to utter were somewhat offbeat. Did you see? The one I hit It was a person, right? That was a subtle way to put it. Jang Hyeon-deok was implying that he hoped what he had hit was indeed a person. What if it wasnt? Huh? What did you see? Tell me exactly what you observed. We havent even reached the mansion yet. Its too soon for anything to happen. It would be more realistic if we had hit someone who had lost his way. It might sound strange to Mage-nim, but I hope what I saw was a person! No, it must have been a person! I understand, now try to calm down for a moment. Jang Hyeon-deok was not yet in his right mind. The madness shimmering in his eyes, his unstable breathing, his incoherent speech and his excessively high temperature. In such a state, scolding him would only backfire. I shifted my gaze from Jang Hyeon-deok and looked outside the car. Splish ssh drip drip The sound of the pouring rain And the darkness. It felt like something might attack me at any moment If I were to go outside. I hate getting wet in the rain [Distortion Field] A semi-circr transparent dome made of magical power formed around us. The sound of the rain Jang Hyeon-deok wore a surprised expression on his face. The sound of rain hitting the car suddenly disappeared. Ive created an umbre with magic. It was a distortion field that refracts long-range attacks. Though it may not be considered an attack, it can definitely refract raindrops. It should also be able to block any long-distance sniping attempts. Just wait here. Ill go check it out. Ah Wait, just a moment, please! Oh, why? Irritation began to seep into my voice. T-Too fast Can you go a bit slower. Oh,e on Click. Ignoring Jang Hyeon-deoks nonsense, I opened the car door. A tremendous amount of rain was falling outside the car. However, due to the effect of the distortion field acting like an umbre, the rain pouring around the car scattered in all directions. I amplified my senses using magical power. I was on the alert, but nothing out of the ordinary appeared. Theres nothing here. Oh, nothing? That was Jang Hyeon-deoks voice from behind the rolled-down window. Yeah, nothing. Then, shall we go? No. A pure white thing appeared in front along with a thumping sound. Evidently, the car had hit something. I slowly walked towards the front of the car. The bumper of Jang Hyeon-deoks speedy call van was slightly dented. It seems we definitely hit something And this is There were marks on the bumper where part of it was sharply cut. Knife marks? On one corner of the bumper, there were four parallel traces. No, not knife marks. They were w marks. Chapter 79: Hungry Mansion (3) Chapter 79: Hungry Mansion (3) Something with ws as sharp as des scratched the cars bumper. Judging by the spacing and size, it wasnt humanoid. A beast withrge forepaws was responsible for this. Among the creatures that roam the wilds of Korea, none could leave such marks. Well, it might be possible for a mutant. [Cthulhu World] was a crazy world where monsters and mutated beings roam freely. A poor level ofmon sense or biological knowledge would only deepen your doubts. Whatever it is, its a bit early for something to jump out at us. Jang Hyeon-deoks voice came from inside the car. What-whats out there? Hey,e down and take a look at this. Jang Hyeon-deok shook his head silently, but as I began to frown and re his way, he made noises of reluctance and got out of the car. Hey, whats with that face, huh? No-Nothing, Im just scared. I understand, so look at this, will you? Was it like this before? Ah! My car! Oh No, it was fine when we left I see. Confronted with the grim reality of car repair costs, Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to lose some of his fear. Just moments ago, he had been too scared to move an inch, but now he was pacing around the bumper with a distressed look on his face. Oh, my poor car Ill cover the repair costs, so please, enough already. But my poor car Huh? Mage-nim. Yes? What on earth are these marks? It seems even Jang Hyeon-deok found the marks odd. w marks. It must have been a monster. A monster came out. It appears so. So, what I saw wasnt human. Isnt it better if it wasnt a human? It wasnt human It wasnt human Jang Hyeon-deoksplexion changed. Damn it, the madness is ring up again. His breath grew ragged, his body started trembling. Ah, damn it. Though I managed to suppress his madness for a moment, I only repressed the symptoms of its emergence. The madness itselfy dormant deep within the psyche and was ready to resurface at any moment. Hey! Calm down. Stop thinking about unnecessary things! Take deep breaths, deep breaths! I infused Jang Hyeon-deoks body with magical power and reactivated the enchantment I had ced on him before. Haah Hoo Huff He seemed a bit calmer now. Lets head back to the car. Yes Jang Hyeon-deok staggered towards the drivers seat. Theres a chance it could re up againter. Honestly, madness to the point of a mental breakdown couldnt be so easily treated. For a regr person, his resilience was remarkable. Could it be due to his mediumship talent? As soon as we sat in the car, Jang Hyeon-deok started again. It definitely wasnt human Stop talking about that now. Jang Hyeon-deok was probably mistaken. It seemed better to send him back at this point. A strange, strange woman. It was definitely a woman. Trembling, Jang Hyeon-deok continued. It-it looked like a person, for sure. But could it really be a person? The eyes, the eyes were definitely Unable to contain his fear, he grasped his shoulders with both hands and curled up. The eyes werepletely ck, and sorge. It was clear there was nothing there Suddenly appeared, you say? Yes It was the ghost of [The Hungry Mansion]. Normally, ghosts without a physical form shouldnt be able to get hit by cars or scratch bumpers. But it moved outside the mansion? Normally, the area outside the mansion should have been safe. Rumble BOOM! The sound of thunder crashing came from outside the car. And the torrential downpour still pouring down. The thick darkness where not even the moon was visible. The dense and damp yin energy enveloping the entire mountain. The smell of death emanated by the spirits. I could roughly guess what happened. It seems we chose the wrong day. No, it was the client who had set the date for the appointment. It would be fair to say that just as I had prepared, so had the enemy. And to add to that [Feast offering]. A penalty trait that increases the likelihood of encountering beings from the abyss. One of the beings of the abyss interested in me was lending its power to the ghosts. If they start attacking us from here, it changes everything. The development of the game changed due to the intervention of the abyssal entity. I nced momentarily at the duffel bag lying on the back seat. It was from a well-known sports brand. It was a bag I had acquired because not everything could fit into my backpack. Ivee well prepared, so it should work out somehow Anyway, Jang Hyeon-deok, you should turn back here. Me? ns have changed a bit. Ill get off here, so you go back. But, thats Dont worry, Ive deposited the fee for the request and the repair costs with Tudor, so you can im it when you get back. Thats I took out one of the items I had prepared. Arge yellow paper with red writing scrawled across it. A consumable artifact of typical design. It was a talisman. Here. Whats this? Cant you tell? Its a talisman. I took out a few more talismans and affixed them to the car windows. There, you should be fine now. Really? Maybe? No, no, really, youll be fine. Just dont get out of the car or respond to anything the ghosts say, and you wont have any problems. And dont look back unnecessarily. If you look back on your way, you might get possessed. No, just a moment! Wait! Ah, why worry? Most of them will follow me anyway. You just need to make a U-turn, close your eyes, and drive straight ahead. They were drawn by the effect of the [Feast Offering]. Even without that, the overflowing magical power in my body was an irresistibly attractive prey for the ghosts. They would likely follow me instead of Jang Hyeon-deok. Haaah, its a bit disappointing. If Jang Hyeon-deok had followed me a bit longer, it would have been much easier to proceed. No, thats not it. I wont be turning back. What? You may not think much of me, but Im a professional. Looking at him, I noticed something different in Jang Hyeon-deoks eyes. Its not that the fear or mental shock has disappeared. Determination, resolve, and a bit of unnecessary stubbornness were mixed in his gaze. Ive been driving through this crazy city, dodging bullets for six years now. And your point? My job is to take my clients to the destinations theyve requested. Dont interfere with my work. Hmm What is this guy rambling about? Itd be better if he just left, its more troublesome with him around. Though its a bit hard to say that out loud. Then again, it would be much easier if Jang Hyeon-deok kept driving. Ah, forget it. Do as you wish. Yesss! He sure is happy about it. Alright, lets get ready then. After all, its not like we have to travel a great distance. The building was already visible beyond that hill 5 minutes? No, maybe about 10 minutes? If it were a well-maintained road, it would take less than 3 minutes. Given the unpredictable circumstances I further enhanced the distortion field enveloping the car with my magical power. [Spell Amplification: Maximization] Buzzzzzzzzz The range of the distortion field expanded to about a 5-meter radius. Next, I activated various detection spells. [Magic Detection], [Sound Detection], [Life Detection], [Spirit Detection], [Curse Detection], [Temperature Detection], [Invisibility Detection] What a pain in the ass. There were a few patterns to this quest. The mostmon was the pattern where invisible ghosts appeared first. Otherwise, its the pattern where entities possess human bodies. From afar, the faint cries of ghosts could be heard. Aaaahhhh Together together Lets die together so lonely At the moment, the current pattern was one in which ghosts appear. Spirits with malevolent intent writhed within the unseen darkness. Would it have been dangerous if I hadnt stopped to detect them around here? It seemed that the ghosts of those who had met their end in the mountains, the souls of animals, and various wandering spirits from the vicinity had all converged here. Last time, in that ce where only a zombie or two should have emerged, over thirty appeared, along with a giant zombie that was supposed to appear elsewhere. No choice then. Is-is there a problem? It seems all the wandering spirits in this mountain have gathered. What should I do? Just be careful and drive well. [Ibn Ghazis Beacon] Paaaaaaaaa A lump of burning light appeared in an ethereal form in front of the vehicle. Ill block those that charge at us. It was a magic that revealed the forms of those without substance. The lesser ones couldnt even approach. Issues like the invisible ghost earlier, suddenly leaping out and crashing into the car, could be prevented. And a few other things besides that. [Prayer of Protection] [Protective Circle] [Power Expulsion] This should suffice. Th-thats great! Oh, theres one problem left though. If Jang Hyeon-deok who was holding the steering wheel lost his mind, there would be a major ident. The car began to move. This is beyond my control. Even Ick magic to prevent distortion. Isnt there some spell to instill a sort of baseless courage in him? Among the rituals of cultists, there were such practices. But those were actually meant to induce madness which would create something akin to berserk warriors. Such a spell wasnt appropriate for use now. The sounds of the car navigating the bumpy road filled the air. Intermingled with these were the faint sounds of ghostlyughter. Chijichik Chijijijijik The radio turned on by itself. Strange shapes writhed in the pitch-ck void. This is turning more into a horror show by the minute. As the mansion drew closer, the paranormal activity intensified. [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] Wasnt it activated earlier? Notify me quickly then! Bang! Thud Thump! Red handprints began to appear on the window. Uuuuuuuu! A strange noise emerged from Jang Hyeon-deoks mouth, Focus on driving! They cant get inside the car anyway! Look there, there! Where are you going! Come with us! Together! Forever together! Bizarre cries echoed from outside the window as the number of red handprints increased. Tadak, Tadak! Tadadadadadadadadadak!! Dozens of ghosts clung to the car and started obscuring the view. But they couldnt enter. The eyes of the ghosts, perhaps dozens or even hundreds, red at us. They were the dead filled with hatred and envy for the living. Ah, get lost, you bastards! [Tindalos Shell] Buzzzzzzzzz A brilliantly glowing magic circle formed around me. It was a second-order defensive spell. A transparent barrier that resembled the shell of a turtle repelled the ghosts. Aaaaaaaaaaah! A chilling scream, indistinguishable between human or beast, pierced the air. Being that had tasted death could not cross this barrier. Look ahead! Jang Hyeon-deok, in front! As soon as the view cleared, a cascade of trees and earth rushed towards us. Vroooom!! Screeeech, Boom! Jang Hyeon-deoks hands and feet moved with dazzling speed. He actually elerated and started navigating the car in an almost acrobatic fashion to dodge every obstacle. Ah Didnt I tell you Im a professional? Even as he trembled, Jang Hyeon-deok more than held his own. Yeah, buddy. Youre doing great! Thump! Crunch, Crackle! A bizarre impact was felt from the back of the car. Behind us! The back, back, back, behind! I know. Ibn Ghazis beacon was sent flying to our rear. It revealed the true nature of the creatures pursuing us from behind. Some things in the shape of animals were charging at us. The count was eight no, nine perhaps? Awoooooo! Grrrrr! Bark, bark! Wolves! Theyre wolves! Keep your eyes on the road, man! They werent wolves. Even on a mountain path where its hard to gain speed, could ordinary dogs keep up with a car? They were ghosts cloaked in animal hides. They were pursuing us with incredible ferocity. Are these the ones that left w marks on the bumper earlier? Wha-Whaaaaaa. What do we do now!? I told you to just focus on driving! That seemed like a minor issue at this point. Chapter 80: Hungry Mansion (4) Chapter 80: Hungry Mansion (4) [Remote Detection] I activated a wide-range detection spell. Even while I was seated in the car, I could perceive a wide range of the surrounding area. Only five minutes remained until we reached our destination. Ghastly spirits rushed at us from all directions, front, left, and right, but they couldnt break through the previously activated [Tindaloss Shell] and [Ibn Ghazis Beacon]. Our main concern was the nine stray dogs trailing behind the car. At first nce, they appeared to be nothing more than dogs, but in essence, they were corpses possessed by ghosts. They were [Corpse Golems]. These creatures were supposed to be encountered inside the mansion Why had they all crawled out? Ah, who knows. Thats hardly the issue right now. The skins of the beasts would offer minimal resistance to magic. Gooooooo! In fact, one particrly obsessed Corpse Golem leaped out. Schhhhhhhhh! [Tindaloss Shell] scorched its hide ck Kieeeeeeeeeeeg!! But it screamed and broke through! The ws of this monstrous creature that was neither human, beast, nor ghost clung tightly to the car. Before I could react, Jang Hyeon-deok suddenly shouted. I can handle this much! Screeeeeeeeeech! Jang Hyeon-deok mmed on the brakes out of nowhere. Crash! The Corpse Golem was expecting to hit the slowing car with its ws but ended up smashing its head into the rear instead. Guoooooo!!! Despite the sudden deceleration, we didnte to aplete stop. The Corpse Golem was flung off before crashing onto the road. Bang, thud! Jang Hyeon-deok swiftly changed gears. Vroooooooom!!! He elerated again after shaking off the creature. Good. Well done! But the enemy wasnt just one. Spurred perhaps by the spirit of the one that had just attacked, the remaining eight beasts increased their speed and charged. Gaaaah! Gaaaaye! We were not far from the mansion now. My senses detected something lurking in front of the mansion. Theres something waiting in front of the mansion too. If we reach the mansion with these wild beasts in tow, well be surrounded. Fu*k off, you runts! I intended to shake these creatures off here. I reached under the seat for the Butchers Hook I had casually ced there and activated its effect. [The unique ability of the S-grade weapon Butchers Hook, Proof of ughter, was triggered. // Proof of ughter: The power of necromancy spells increases by 100%.] [Turbid Current] This was arge-scale attack magic that merged water and necromancy elements. It was difficult to activate without water, but here, water was abundant! Boom!!! The sound of groundwater bursting forth. Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwa!! And the sound of the rainwater, which had been flowing like a river, reversing its course. Magical power from theherworld intertwined, and a powerful ck polluted torrent surged up from all directions, creating a huge wave around the car. The wave mixed with mud and trees turned into andslide that swept away the ghosts. Guuaaaaaaah! Stop, stop it! Even ghosts are getting swept away by the wave?! Thats exactly what this magic is for! It wasnt just a spell that caused physical damage. Because it was imbued with necromantic element, those caught in the wave suffered damage directly to their spectral forms. And thanks to the Butchers Hook, that effect was doubled! These lesser spirits should be easily swept away with just this. Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwa!!! The wave that swept away the gathered spirits and corpse golems continued to roar down toward the base of the mountain and disappeared. As the obstructing wave cleared, the mansion came into view in the distance. We were now very close to the mansion. At that moment. [System: The penalty trait Feasts Offering has been strengthened.] Whoooosh!! The trees in front of the road exploded and something huge popped out from there. Jang Hyeon-deok screamed before I could. A bear?! A monstrous creature with a bizarre appearance, as if covered in grotesque masks all over its body. It was dozens of ghosts entangled in bear fur. While it vaguely maintained a bear-like shape, in reality, it was made up of hundreds of faces. [The souls trapped in the taxidermy collected by the mansions owner begin to awaken.] At the same time, the message window disyed an unexpected piece of information. [These taxidermies are not just mere objects now. The taxidermies growl as they approach you.] This was the message that should have appeared when the wild dogs first showed up. [Your eyes will widen in astonishment at the sight of the spirits bound within. /Null Recovery in progress Recoveryplete The souls of the sacrifices trapped in the giant bears taxidermy begin to awaken. Dozens of souls forcibly injected into one body are struggling to take control of this body. The faces of the souls trapped in the bears body swell to create a hideous mask. This entity is now a powerful being that can no longer be called a corpse golem. The essence of necromancy, a Necromancy Golem, now blocks your path. Their madness, pain, and despair inflict terrible wounds on the minds of those around them.] [System: Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength checkfailure.] [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. Fear effect has been nullified.] Ha, thats not even funny! Its just a mid-boss, right? Damn, why does the mid-boss keeping out to greet us at the entrance! That, that thing! What do we do now! Fortunately, it seemed that Jang Hyeon-deok had also seeded in his Mental Strength check. Then, there was no problem! Just go! Crush it under! What? Whaaat??! I said step on it!! The speed of the car increased. The massive body of the necromancy golem swelled up. It could no longer be called a bear. It was a 5-meter monster, entangled with dozens of gigantic faces and filthy fur. Krrraaaaahhhhh!!! Keeeeehhhhh!!! Kiiiiieeekkk!! Dozens of mouths attached to its body let out a cacophony of horrifying screams in unison. The car pulled the floating fires that had been wandering around it to the front. Kiiiiiiiiii [The unique effect of the S-rank essory Ring of Corrupted me has been activated. Red Element Concentration and Legacy of Fire Knowledge has been activated // Red Element Concentration: Increases the effectiveness of all fire-type spells by 50%. // Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Enhances understanding of fire-type magic.] A fierce fire concentrated in one point. It was further amplified into a seething mass of sma. As soon as the pouring raindrops touched the vicinity of it, they evaporated into steam due to the immense firepower. Instead of stopping here, it forcibly injected the necromantic element through the [Butchers Hook]. [Howling Fire] It released the condensed magical power to a single point as much as it could. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! The noise, akin to the death throes, erupted as the pouring raindrops and the air were torn apart. Crackle! Crunch!! A beam of highlypressed magical power pierced through the body of the necromancy golem. Arge hole was torn through its body. And through the gaps of that hole, the imprisoned spirits spilled out. Grrraaaagh! Freedom, freedom! I hate you!! Die!!! Kiiiieeek! While some dispersed in search of freedom, those bound by necromancy tried to move their shattered bodies to swarm us! Ah, ah! Aaaaahhh! Jang Hyeon-deok reflexively tried to hit the brakes-. Dont stop! Press harder! Aaaaaaaahhhhh!! Right in front of us! A crash was inevitable! The entire car was enveloped in a myriad of protective spells: [Tindalos Shell], [Protective Circle], [Distortion Field], and [Prayer of Protection]. To these, a new spell was invoked. [me of Hatred] This magic turned any received impact into fiery retribution before sending it back to its source. The spells recipient was the car itself. Take this! The cars weight and speed, the quadrupleyer of protective magic, and even the necromancy golems attacks were all absorbed! Boooooooom!!! The [me of Hatred] erupted into a massive explosion. mes seemed to cover the earth and a blinding sh of light filled the air. At the heart of the explosion, the necromancy golem was obliterated, leaving no trace behind. Bearskin and fragments of corpses were scattered in all directions. Spirits engulfed in mes wailed in the inferno. And suddenly, the mansion loomed right before us. Ah, I pressed too hard! Hey, stop! Stop! I know! Screeeeeeeech!! Jang Hyeon-deok mmed on the brakes. The car was unable to ovee its momentum and slid for quite a distance before it came to a stop. Its final resting ce was perilously close to the mansions very front. There was hardly a 5cm gap between the car and the wall. Had Jang Hyeon-deok not executed a masterfulst-minute turn of the wheel, we would have crashed directly into it. Phew Jang Hyeon-deok buried his face in the steering wheel and sighed deeply. .. He then raised his head without saying a word. His face was ashen and drained of all color. There were tears in the corners of his eyes and his lips were strangely twisted and trembling. His expression was a sight to behold. but perhaps he deserved some praise? Well done. You really are a professional driver. . Thank you. The sky was still dark, and a fierce rain continued to pour down. First, I activated the [Distortion Field]. Once ready, I grabbed the duffel bag from the back seat and got out of the car. Its slightly heavy. Though my strength had increased, it was still one of my lower stats. The duffel bag that was filled with various items felt heavy in my arms. So, weve arrived? [The Hungry Mansion]. Arge two-story building loomed in the darkness. Havinge this far, it was almost like my own home. I surveyed the mansions exterior and started pondering how and where to make renovations. Excuse me Mage-nim? Mhmm? Before I knew it, Jang Hyeon-deok had stepped out of the car and approached me with his legs trembling. This is the ce you spoke of, right? Yes, it is. What exactly is this ce? Hmm its a pension in Jangmyeong Mountain? A pension? This building looks more like a haunted house. Jang Hyeon-deok wasnt exaggerating. It was a Western-style mansion with an old exterior that seemed out of ce in the secluded forests of Korea. The surroundings of the mansion were overrun with strange and unidentified weeds. It looked more like an abandoned building than one that was being maintained. After ncing at the mansion several times, Jang Hyeon-deok came up to me with a terrified expression and whispered. Theres something, something on the second floor! Well, there should be. Dealing with whats inside is my task for this request. Its not over yet? Its just beginning. Jang Hyeon-deok stared at one of the second-floor windows. The window, which seemed less for letting in light and more for surveince, gave off an eerie atmosphere. The things we saw earlier there will be more of them, wont there? Roughly speaking, yes. Haha I see I see Jang Hyeon-deok nodded his head with a meaningful smile and then continued. I-Ill be heading back now Hmm. Alright, go back. Arent you going to stop me? Why would I stop you? Jang Hyeon-deok is quite useful, you know! Whats he getting at with this? Hurry up and go, man. Afterwards, Jang Hyeon-deok went back and forth and talked nonsense several times. It seemed he was scared to go back alone, but entering with me would be even more dangerous. Besides, there was one task left for Jang Hyeon-deok toplete. Take this with you on your way. Whats this now? Its a task for the quite useful Jang Hyeon-deok. C-Cant I just go home? Just stop by somewhere on your way and do this one thing. I moved closer to exin what he needed to be wary of and what he had to do. What if a ghost appears again? Ive taken care of the big ones, so the talisman should block the rest. Are you sure its going to be alright? As long as you dont get out of the car, youll be able to go back. Jang Hyeon-deok grumbled a bit more but eventually, with a voice sounding utterly defeated, he agreed and started the car. Hmm Can I really trust that guy? I found it hard to ce my faith in him. Yet, by the time these thoughts crossed my mind, Jang Hyeon-deoks car had already disappeared from view. Oh, never mind. What could be done about it now? I turned towards the mansion. Alright then. Shall we get down to business? The stairs leading to the mansions entrance were slippery with moss and clearly neglected. This ce hasnt been maintained at all. Biiiiii When I rang the old bell next to the front door, I heard a creepy electronic sound. Ill need to rece this bell too Despite pressing the bell, no one came out, so I had to ring the bell again several times. After a while, I finally heard some movement from deep within the mansion. Creeeeak A young man with a sinister appearance stood before me. This was the owner of the hungry mansion. Heo Sang-hyeon weed me. Youve finally arrived. Chapter 81: Hungry Mansion (5) Chapter 81: Hungry Mansion (5) Standing at the door, Heo Sang-hyeons appearance was frankly bizarre. If Jang Hyeon-deok had seen him, he might have screamed in terror. This isnt to say that he had multiple eyes or tentacles sprouting from his body. Heo Sang-hyeons appearance was ordinary. His age? Roughly in his mid-thirties. At most, he didnt seem to surpass histe thirties. His face, setting aside several issues, could be considered handsome, and his upright posture even conveyed a certain dignity to him. The issuey in the ominous aura that seeped from his entire body. An eerie scent of death. His skin was as pale as a vampires and his overly wide eyes carried a strange madness. Despite his good looks, this aura made Heo Sang-hyeon seem unpleasant, ominous and almost monstrous. Isnt this enough to question his sanity? Even giving him the benefit of the doubt, he exuded the unsettling air of a drug addict or a psychopathic serial killer. Heo Sang-hyeon who had been silently observing me for quite some time finally spoke. I wish to cancel the request. His voice cracked like wringing a rotten log. Wait, what did he say? What did you say? Please go back. Are you serious? Im saying this for your own good. A somber emotion swirled in Heo Sang-hyeons eyes. Fear, worry, tension, hesitation, and guilt. The situation has changed significantly since I made the request. This was rather interesting. It was apletely different turn of events from when I yed [Cthulhu World]. Now, whether the request was canceled wasnt the issue. Its necessary to find out what went wrong. Hmm, instead of that, why dont you tell me whats happening in detail? As I said this, I stepped towards the stairs in front of the entrance. Havinge all this way, I cant just turn back now. Heo Sang-hyeons eyes flickered with unease. Something, something has awakened. You cant handle it alone. Monsters have appeared strange beasts and just now, continuous terrible explosions wereing from outside the house its all gone wrong In the original game, it was rare for Heo Sang-hyeon to appear in his right mind. Considering that, this is actually quite decent. At least he seems to be concerned about me, right? Strange beasts, you say Are you talking about something like this? Like what? I gestured behind me with my hand. Scattered among the overgrown weeds were fragments of a necromancy golem. Beside them, bright red stuff that wasnt clear whether it was blood or bodily fluids was mixed with the pouring rain to form a red puddle. When he saw this scene, Heo Sang-hyeon shuddered and stepped back slightly. Ugh?! What in the world is that? It used to be a bear. Over there, do you see that? I pointed at one of therger pieces of the necromancy golem. It was what used to be the bears head. Though it waspletely destroyed, it wasnt beyond recognition. That is! It seems to havee from this mansion. Are these the monsters that appeared today? You dealt with this? You fixer-nim took care of it? Ah, Im starting to understand. Just because the progression of the game has changed doesnt mean the characters will act ording to the system. From Heo Sang-hyeons point of view, it seemed he was frightened when the taxidermies on the second floor suddenly began to move, and then he was startled by various noises. Unbelievable Thats amazing.? This isnt the first time something like this has happened, is it? Yes, thats right. But something this big has never moved before If we leave it be, more incidents will ur in the future. Thats true. Heo Sang-hyeons expression subtly shifted. He didnt have a Wow, this guy is amazing! look on his face, but instead his face was a mix of doubt, fear, and tension. It was quite a peculiar look for someone gazing at their rescuer. Id like to deal with the things inside the house too. May I go in? Yes? Oh, yes, I understand. Pleasee in. I shrugged my shoulders slightly and followed Heo Sang-hyeon into the entrance. As soon as I set foot in the mansion, a transparent square obscured my view. Whoosh It was a message window. [Quest Information Update Subdue all the evil spirits haunting the mansion and return it to a safe state. First Objective (Cleared): Investigate the first floor of the mansion to uncover The Truth of the Mansion. Third Objective (Cleared): Eliminate the attacking ghosts and corpse golems. Second Objective: Purify the mansion. Fourth Objective: Defeat The Master of the Mansion. Reward: 250,000XP + Ownership of the Mansion Failure: Possession by an evil spirit.] The quest status is strange. First off, the reversal of the second and third objectives was concerning. It seems like starting by defeating the necromancy golem outside has caused some sort of issue with the system. Feels like a bug in this buggy game. [Cthulhu World] had always been a game rife with bugs. This level of bug was hardly worth noting. Anyway, its not like there will be any problems with the process Lets think positively. The real issue was the unpredictability of when and how bugs would manifest. Stop blocking my view, just go away already. I waved my hand and dismissed the message window. Finally, I could properly inspect the interior of the mansion. Right next to the entrance door was a short corridor, and in the order they came into view were the living room, drawing room, kitchen, and dining room. And tucked in a corner was a staircase leading to the second floor. Theres no need to head upstairs yet. Normally, one would scour the mansion for Heo Sang-hyeons diary, blueprints, secret documents, and such. But perhaps because I already knew all the rted truths, those tasks were marked aspleted. Well, the most annoying part has been skipped, so thats convenient. I decided to take it easy. The truths werent all that significant. The circumstances under which Heo Sang-hyeon inherited the house, how his ancestors fell into corruption, who died, and who was sacrificed were all details I didnt need to bother with. Since there was no need to investigate, the immediate tasks were clear. First, clear out the things on the first floor, and then deal with the boss hiding on the second floor. I could already hear the bubbling sounds of ghosts. The titteringughter. The screeching sound of something scraping against ss. And the soft footstepsing from beyond the ceiling. Can you hear that sound? I do That horrendous sound that never goes away no matter what I do Heo Sang-hyeon wrapped his arms around himself as if he was chilled to the bone. Even the other fixer who came before couldnt fix it. You are a fixer, right? Kim Shin-hwa, was it? Can you get rid of it? Its not hard to get rid of. Then? There are some things I need to look into first. May I ask you a few questions? Hope flickered across Heo Sang-hyeons pale face. Ill answer anything I know. How long has this been going on? A month No, its been about 3 years. A sense of time stretching from 30 days to about 3 years It started not long after I inherited this mansion. At first, you wanted to operate it as a guesthouse, right? Thats right. It took about a year to get everything ready. Just when I thought we were about to start operating properly, those things started appearing. I see. I understand. That should be enough information. I gestured for Heo Sang-hyeon to follow and walked into the corridor. With just a few steps, the corridor that should have been straight began to appear eerily twisted and bent. Be careful where you step. there seems to be some sort of optical illusion that could cause you to trip. Optical illusion. I see. If the homeowner says its an illusion, then an illusion it must be. The living room, in keeping with the atmosphere of the mansion, was a space filled with antique decorations and wallpaperIt was a gloomy and dangerous space. I surveyed the surroundings while standing beside a luxurious sofa made of deep green leather. A rather convincing haunted house. The living room appeared dark, cramped, and dangerous due to the creepy mist-like malevolent energy enveloping it. And at the edge of my vision, I could see the shapes of people crawling around. The forms of ghosts huddled in every shadow. Rumbleee The lightning and torrential rain pouring outside therge windows only intensified the mansions sinister atmosphere. That staff, or rather, is it a hook? Are you using magic right now? When I turned my head to look at Heo Sang-hyeon, I noticed his gaze fixed on the butchers hook hanging at my waist. No, more precisely, he was looking at the thin lines of magical power extending from the tip of the hook. I slightly lifted the butchers hook and said. So you can see this? Ah Im not capable of using magic myself. Ive been told I have a somewhat heightened sensitivitypared to others. This too was a form of magical hypersensitivity. If developed further, one might be able to use innate magic like Lee Chang-hyeok, or even be a mage or psychic. There were still some spells I was maintaining on the car, so it seemed he was bothered by the magical power lines extending from the butchers hook. I took a taxi here, and I cast a few protective spells on it. On the taxi? Yes. There are ghosts wandering around outside as well. Wait a minute. Heo Sang-hyeon looked incredulous. Youre still maintaining those spells? Several of them? And? Whats the issue with that? For a vehicle, which isnt exactly small, to be maintained beyond your line of sight And to maintain the spells over such a distance in such a distorted environment? The protective magic itself wasnt particrly extraordinary but in terms of duration, distance, and scale its not exactly an easy feat for an average mage to maintain. Well, thats how it is. Heo Sang-hyeons already pale face turned even paler and his face settled into aplete Im shocked expression. If he knew exactly what magic I was maintaining, he might just faint. Could you step aside for a moment so I can start working? Ah, yes, of course Even after stepping back, Heo Sang-hyeon continued to mutter something under his breath. If youre going to lie, at least put some effort into acting Just now, Heo Sang-hyeon was surprised in a way that one couldnt be unless they knew about magic. In reality, Heo Sang-hyeon was more than just a case of simple magical hypertrophy. The guy could use magic. Had he been just an ordinary person with a slightly higher sensitivity to magical power, whatever I did would have merely seemed fascinating to him. One couldnt be surprised at the duration of magic, the range of its influence, and the number of spells that could be maintained at the same time unless they knew something about magic. Well, I might be acting like this with him, but I already know everything After all, I was fully aware of what was emerging here and what secretsy hidden. I gestured to Heo Sang-hyeon to step back for a moment. I then pulled a few items out of the duffel bag I was carrying. These were items I had acquired from a pawn shop for today. Since you know about magic, you must have a rough idea. Im about to set up a barrier to drive away the ghosts. A barrier with that? Chapter 82: Hungry Mansion (6) Chapter 82: Hungry Mansion (6) The items I had taken out were salt, red beans, and a fewrge candles. Yes, its a traditional method from the East. Combining these can create a basic exorcism barrier. Is. that so. The corners of Heo Sang-hyeons mouth twitched. Was he sneering? He seemed to be making an effort to control his expression. It appeared he knew what I was attempting to create. Though I had openly referred to it as a basic barrier, this truly was the most elementary of barriers. Even those without magical power could construct it, but as a result, its effect was quite minimal. He struggled to hold back augh as he said, Are you sure this will be sufficient? Ive seen another fixer create a simr barrier before but they failed. Well, just watch. And then, there was one more item. A ne with arge metal disc. The round metal disc was intricately engraved withplex Sanskrit characters and a depiction of the Big Dipper. While it was toorge to simply be called a ne, it was indeed designed to be worn around the neck. It was an immensely valuable item, so much so that my hands slightly trembled when I handed it over to Heo Sang-hyeon. [Ancient Gods Mirror (A-rank essory): An item imbued with the influence of an ancient god and crafted formunication with divine beings. It possesses the power to suppress malevolent forces and avert disasters. Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods. Heavenly Perspective: Provides the ability to see in darkness with enhanced vision and increases sight by 100%. Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the Healing Meditation spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%. Heavenly Malevolent Miasma: Automatically casts a Powerful Hallucination spell on a chosen target and enhances sensitivity to magic and divine power. Creator: Kim Shin-hwa Further enhancement possible] For me, it was thousands of times more important than any legendary sword or magical staff. The Ancient Gods Mirror was crafted to fend off the terrible nightmares that haunted me every night. Without it, I couldnt sleep. I couldnt hold myself back and finally added a word of caution. This is an extremely precious item. Do not lose or damage it under any circumstances. What is this? When I begin to formally establish the barrier, the ghosts will start to swarm towards us. Does this protect against the ghosts? Well its better than nothing. Heo Sang-hyeon looked at the Ancient Gods Mirror skeptically. Hes doubtful. But no amount of examination would change its purpose. It was, in fact, an item capable of warding off possession. Perhaps concluding that wearing it posed no harm, he eventually put the mirror around his neck. It feels somewhat strange. That would be due to your sensitivity to magical power. This was no mere trinket. As an artifact that emitted its own magical power, someone sensitive like Heo Sang-hyeon could detect its presence. I will now begin the process. I scattered salt and beans in each corner of the living room and set up candles before lighting them one by one. Heo Sang-hyeon, still wearing a face of skepticism, followed me closely. Ive been suddenly attacked by a ghost from behind before. He said this as his reason, but I suspected he had another reason for staying so close. As the number of barriers increased, the atmosphere within the living room began to transform. Woooooooo.. It shifted into a more sinister and dangerous form. Magic surged and ghosts wailed. At the same time, Heo Sang-hyeons expression gradually turned to one of mounting anxiety. They must be about to start moving, right? The barrier was nearingpletion. Only two more candles needed to be lit. However, I deliberately dawdled at thest moment and dragged out the time. Completing the barrier was not my goal. I had no intention of subduing them by finishing this barrier from the start. Moreover, as Heo Sang-hyeon mentioned, attacks usually start before thepletion of such barriers. [System: Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] The Enhanced Vignce trait alerted me to the impending danger. Theyre here. Woooooooooooooo.. At that moment, the atmosphere began to churn. A blurred something started to seep through from beyond the walls. Was it foam? Smoke? Mist? The shadow of a human? Or could it be something as trivial as dust in my eyes? Well, it was a surreal mass akin to a smear erroneously brushed across this space and reality. They were bizarre entities that were difficult to describe in human terms. Spiritual beings that exist solely through emotion, thought, and magical power. Among the spirits swarming this mansion, the strongest and most malevolent have revealed themselves. I tried to fix my gaze on these entities that writhed eerily between the tangible and intangible while aiming the butchers hook at them. [The spirits haunting the mansion are enraged. Their entangled thoughts and peculiar wills seek to invade your mind. Focus your thoughts.] Ah, move out of the way, I cant see! [System: Attempting to resist the mental erosion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength checkfailed] Damn, wasnt counting on it anyway. Join us Speak your desires With us Join us The door must be opened The hour of destruction approaches The voices of the spirits began to reach me. Their squirming ethereal forms started to coil around my body. But then. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. Mental erosion has been nullified.] Crackle!!! Golden sparks flew from my temples and the spirits recoiled back. Aaaaaaagh! The ghosts that had been united as one were split into several branches. Well, thats quite effective. Even beings from the abyss couldnt break through the [Madness of the Abyss]. For these trivial ghosts, merely being grazed by the sparks emitted by the trait was lethal. What is this! Whats happening! This light! This pain! The noise was tremendous. Why not try messing around a bit more? I taunted the spirits for a moment while lifting the butchers hook. The sinister magical power that had spread around like fog began to churn. The spirits attempted to harness the ambient magical power to create artificial physical forces. This is what ismonly referred to as the phenomenon of poltergeists. A cab on one side of the room swung open, and the decorations and tes inside began to levitate. A painting on the wall, a bellows beside the firece, and a small round table all rose into the air. Do you really think hurling those things will do you any good? Woooooooooooo!!! With the wails of the ghosts, objects floating in the air rushed towards us. I activated [Distortion Field] to protect Heo Sang-hyeon. Buzzzz!! The trajectory of the iing objects twisted and then they were sent flying into unexpected ces. Bang! Crack! Smash!! Do you really think such attacks will suffice? I could even deflect bulletsing at close range, this was far too trivial. Gwaaaaaaah! Suddenly, the ghosts swelled and began to emit a piercing scream. Whats this? It wasnt the power of the ghosts. Someone was artificially infusing the ghosts with power. Is it time for him to reveal his true colors? Gwaaaaaaaaaah!! The sofa in the middle of the living room levitated. Oh, it was an antique leather sofa! Hey, thats expensive! Dont mess with my sofa! Well, it wasnt mine yet. But it was about to be! [Evil Gaze] A curse that uses the influence of theherworld to weaken an enemys mental strength or influence. Whooooosh!! An intensely purified violet magical power was unleashed toward the ghosts. Put that down, you wretch! Screeeeeech!!!! This required a tug-of-war of pure mental strength, not just intelligence stat. Even so, my mental strength was only at an average level. My intelligence stat and magical power mightpensate a bit, but wrestling with their strength in their den was exhausting. I pulled out a few talismans from my pocket and threw them. They were Pama talismans that had the power to banish evil spirits. Gwaaaaaaaaaah!! The moment the talismans took flight, the ghosts energy significantly diminished. Crackle!!!! I momentarily boosted my mental strength and took away most of their influence. Whoosh!!! The ghosts who were pushed out by the storm-like magical power and the irresistible force fell into despair. Aaaargh! Stop! Enough! You monstrous fiend! Cursed be you! Who are these ghost bastards calling monstrous? They eventually ran away while screaming. I thought theyd crash into the wall for a moment, but since they were intangible ghosts they flew right through it and vanished. Phew, shouldve done this earlier. What a waste of fine decorations. You are amazing The voice belonged to Heo Sang-hyeon. A lot of people havee here over the years, but Ive never seen anyone like. you. Youve got some serious skills. Its nothing This isnt really that big of a deal. He seemed taken aback. He probably expected me to create a trivial barrier but he witnessed me instead overpowering the ghosts through sheer force. As Ive mentioned before, the barrier wasnt created to capture ghosts. I briefly looked up at the ceiling. Beyond it, on the second floor, I could sense the stirrings of magical power. The location is just right My n was toplete the barrier and, with a single strike, take down whatever was hiding on the second floor. I focused my mind and surveyed my surroundings. The magical power that the ghosts had stirred up was settling around me. It was a dense and rich concentration of magical power so that even those without the gift of sensing could notice the anomaly. A feast for the senses. When I was yingputer games, I could never have understood this sensation. After all, I was already able to control the magical power left behind by the beings of the abyss. In this mansion, the drifting magical power could be mine with just a minimal purification process. I pulled out a small ss bottle containing purifying water from within my belongings. Gently tilting the bottle, I sprinkled the purifying water on the butchers hook before casting a spell. [Absorption] Whiooooooooooooo !!!! It was a spell that absorbed floating magical power. The butchers hook began to voraciously draw in the surrounding magical power with incredible force. Of course, a vacuum cleaner is the best tool for cleaning a dirty house. Ghosts lurking outside the living room began to scream. Stop! Stop it! What are you doing! You ursed fiend! Thats Thats our magical power! Calm down, it has nothing to do with you guys anyway. Off with you! This wasnt a spell for purifying or absorbing ghosts. It was merely a spell to absorb magical power that had lost its master and was aimlessly wandering. Nevertheless, the reason they struggled was that even the mightiest of spirits couldnt influence the physical realm without the magic to project their thoughts and intentions. A clean house doesnt attract pests, after all. I moved forward slowly while holding the butchers hook that was absorbing magical power out in front of me Though it was likened to cleaning, the action truly resembled that of slowly moving with a vacuum cleaner in hand. Hwioooooooooo!!! With its enormous output, itpletely absorbed the magical power of the approaching area. Screeeeeeech! As the magic that nketed the rooms and corridors began to vanish, ghosts hidden here and there began to scream and surge in all directions. Their numbers were greater than those of the ghosts that had attacked before. Moreover, cornered like rats, they charged with a venomous fury. So, youve shown yourselves, little pests. This was nothing to worry about. Just as I was about to draw more magical power to counter their assault [System: Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] The [Enhanced Vignce] trait detected a powerful flow of magical power that was moving irregrly. It was someone nearby. I was preparing an attack spell. The location is ? Directly behind me. Though ghosts were pressing in from the front, they werent a concern. I hastily drew more magical power and turned around. It was Heo Sang-hyeon. His face bore a grotesque smile, with a twisted illusion hovering over his face He extended his hand towards me and unleashed his spell. His hand outstretched toward me. Filled with magical power. [Spirit Explosion]. A high-level necromancy spell. If it hits me at this range Itll be dangerous! Whoooooooooosh!!! The ghosts resentment and hatred exploded along with their ethereal forms, sending a massive shockwave toward me. Chapter 83: POV Change Chapter 83: POV Change At that time, there was someone observing Kim Shin-hwas figure. Among the rooms arranged on the second floor of the mansion, this one was the most exceptional. The dense magical power filled the air to the point of suffocation. The aura of death was so potent it carried the stench of decay. The space still bore the presence and influence of a great old being. This room was indeed the heart of the [Hungry Mansion]. With no form of lighting present, the room was as dark as pitch. In such a ce, someonesughter echoed maniacally. Kahahahahaha! The voice was so distorted it was impossible to tell if it belonged to a man, a woman, an elder, or a youth. And even more bizarre than the voice was the appearance. It was impossible to determine its gender or age. A cursed body that looked like rotting pink flesh forcibly woven over a human skeleton. If you tried to discern a hint of the persons former human appearance amidst this ghastly faceyou might just realize the repulsive being bore a resemnce to Heo Sang-hyeon. This was the true master of the [Hungry Mansion]. The writhing magical power on the second floor that Kim Shin-hwa had sensed beforehand belonged to him. He was the owner of the Hungry Mansion, a fallen necromancer, a cultist who worshipped beings of the abyss, a bastard born of a pile of corpses, and a judge of the dark cult that revered darkness and void. There might have been something akin to a name for him once, but now it holds no significance. He himself and others simply referred to him as the Hollow Lord. Kekkeke So simple. He moved his grotesquely creaking limbs and caressed arge crystal ball ced in front of him. The crystal ball, under the Hollow Lords will, disyed scenes from locations he wished to see. It showed Kim Shin-hwa being sted away by Heo Sang-hyeons [Spirit Explosion] spell. Then, necromancy golems dispatched by the Hollow Lord poured out of the staircase connected to the second floor. Monsters of bizarre appearance, these were not mere taxidermies but specially crafted creatures of a different ss. tter, tter, They had heads fashioned from rattling kettles and ss bottles. Their torsos clumsily wrapped in bedcovers moved awkwardly. Their joints creaked and jolted in an awkward manner. In ce of arms and legs protruded scythes, hammers, and hand axes. Bizarrely shaped artificial humans that appeared to have been created by tying together random items moved awkwardly while imitating human movements. As part of a ss bottle cracked, a ghastly set of teeth made from sharp ss shards was revealed. The crystal ball continued to show Kim Shin-hwa, cornered and resisting. [Water de] Kim Shin-hwa harnessed the overflowing rainwater outside the window and createdrge des and waves. Crash! Boom, boom, boom! The surging water pressure shattered the necromancy golems and theirposite bodies broke apart. The Hollow Lord was unable to contain himself and burst intoughter again at the sight. Kekkeke The mage struggles like a bug. After all, these bodies were just assembled pieces of various parts. Although they werecking in stability and durability, they possessed remarkable regenerative abilities. Creak, click-ck. The shattered necromancy golems weaved together the random items scattered everywhere to form new bodies. In this process, a single golem could be split into two smaller entities or several couldbine into onerger form. Of course, all this power and formidable might didnte without a cost. Ugh Kim Shin-hwas resistance was more fierce than expected, and more magical power was drained away in an instant than anticipated. Such was the w of the necromancy golems. They moved on their own with independent thinking without the need for detailed control, but they could whimsically drain their masters magical power when needed. Therefore, it wasmon to control only a limited number at once, but the number of necromancy golems the Hollow Lord wasmanding had already exceeded thirty. This was because the Hollow Lord had a way to offset the drawbacks of these inefficient servants. Twisting his grotesque body, the Hollow Lord began to pray to the entity he served. I! I! char Buh Allen Sugh, Ash! Van! O great spirit whoes from the darkness, eternal prisoner locked in the abyss, leader of suffocation, ruler of the night, and the darkest one in the heart of the abyss. The [Eternal Prisoner], [Leader of Suffocation], or [He Who Comes from the Darkness] these were all epithets for the same being. And to me, your humble servant, you have granted the great flesh, my father. The great being from the abyss responded to the Hollow Lords prayers and bestowed upon him new power. Then, from the deepest depths of the abyss, a whisper came. |Bring forth the feast offering.| This was already the third time today. Themand was the same. Bring forth the feast offering. Kim Shin-hwas soul. The Hollow Lord found it hard to conceal his bewilderment at themand of his mighty father. What value could there possibly be in the soul of that mage? Never before had such a vast amount of magical power been bestowed to him by his father without any conditions. Why would [He Who Comes from the Darkness] a great old being and one of those who belong to the abyss, bestow so much of his blessing to capture a mere mage? Yet, for the Hollow Lord, the demand from [He Who Comes from the Darkness] was akin to a divine revtion. Brushing aside the flicker of doubt that had surfaced in his mind, he bowed his head in reverence. Then, regaining hisposure, the Hollow Lord began to move his fingers in a familiar manner. His movements resembled those of a puppeteer manipting a marite. It was a gesture tomand Heo Sang-hyeon, the finest of the necromancy golems he had created. O my descendants, my witnesses to my deeds fulfill themand bestowed by the great Leader of Suffocation. As Kim Shin-hwa was cornered, Heo Sang-hyeon once again activated a spell from his necromancy magic. [Spirit Explosion] Whoooooooooooom! A sound that seemed less like an explosion and more like someones scream of agony. It was a magical explosion fueled by the spirits of several earthbound ghosts. Inside the crystal ball, Kim Shin-hwa was caught in the horrific st, which tore off one of his arms. Oh dear. try to retrieve him in one piece if possible. Surrounded by necromancy golems, Kim Shin-hwa was soon to meet a gruesome end. Even if He Who Comes from the Darkness imed his soul, his body would remain. The Hollow Lord twisted his facial muscles in anticipation of the monstrous creation he could craft from Kim Shin-hwas body. His face contorted into a hideous smile as his rotten flesh curled. Then, a new message reached his mind. We found the medium. It was a message from the spirits sent to pursue Jang Hyeon-deok, the driver brought by Kim Shin-hwa. Ah, have they found that medium? A genius medium with the trait of a [Living Altar] capable of containing any soul, power, or mind, possessing a supernatural ability beyond reality. For the Hollow Lord personally, this medium was a more valuable resource than Kim Shin-hwa. Now, Kim Shin-hwa could be left to his dismal death. Feel free to harness as much magical power as necessary. If possible, catch him in intact condition. the Hollow Lord added a few more instructions to the necromancy golems on the first floor and then manipted the crystal ball. Responding to his will, the crystal ball now began to disy the location of Jang Hyeon-deok, not Kim Shin-hwa. *** Vrooooom! Screeeech!! Jang Hyeon-deoks call van veered off the road before plowing through the underbrush in a wild dash. Bang, bang! The vehicle continued its descent not on the road but down a mountainside. Despite the vehicles unstable jerks, as if it could flip over at any moment, Jang Hyeon-deok skillfully kept the sliding van under control without reducing speed. Ah, damn it Hes really going to cover the repair costs, right? Jang Hyeon-deok frowned and checked the rearview mirror. In the mirror, he saw a pack of beasts in hot pursuit right behind him. Monsters in the shape of wild dogs. These were the corpse golems sent by the Hollow Lord. Although Kim Shin-hwa assured him everything would be fine, a new pack of corpse golems has started to chase after Jang Hyeon-deok. -Gaaaaaaaah! The corpse golems who had just greedily absballed the magical power sent by the Hollow Lord leaped towards the car with surreal strength. From the perspective of the corpse golems, the range of attacks they could attempt on a moving vehicle was limited. But this was nothing short of a nightmare for Jang Hyeon-deok who was no different from an ordinary person except for his extraordinary driving ability. Ah, this is just too much! It wasnt just any road, but apletely unpaved one, and one that was sloping downward at that. elerating recklessly in such a ce was tantamount to suicide. Despite this, Jang Hyeon-deoks hands and feet moved swiftly. Click, thud. Vroooooom!! Jang Hyeon-deoks call van surged forward at an impossible moment and swayed dangerously. ng! The van nearly flipped over entirely but managed to evade the attacks of the corpse golems. Shifting gears once again, Jang Hyeon-deok was barely able to put a significant distance between himself and the pursuing horde. And then he began to see what he had been searching for up ahead. Jang Hyeon-deok stretched out his right hand to pick up an item ced on the passenger seat. It was something Kim Shin-hwa had handed to him just before they parted ways. The small clump appeared to be a forcedbination of stone, wood, and metal, intertwined as though by coercion. Jang Hyeon-deok touched the object momentarily but couldntprehend how such different materials hadbined. How in the world was this made? Unbeknownst to Jang Hyeon-deok, this item was crafted from fragments of a mask he had previously handed to Kim Shin-hwa. It was a creation mixed with a few catalysts and the [Brainwave Stones] of the alien parasites, using the masks fragments. Individually, theseponents held no significant effects, but under Kim Shin-hwas magical influence, they merged to form a new power. Now, it possessed specific abilities as detailed below: [Resonance Stone (A-rank Magical Tool): A tool capable of transmitting will or magical power to a chosen target. It can also serve as a catalyst for magic or rituals or as an object of proof. Celestial Message: The owner can convey their will to a desired target. However, to use this ability, one must be capable of mediumship or mental magic. Will Resonance: It allows for partial sharing of magical power with a designated target. (Current registered target: Kim Shin-hwa) (Re-registration waiting time: 1 day) Creator: Kim Shin-hwa Enhancement Complete] Jang Hyeon-deok yelled towards the Resonance Stone. Mage-nim, can you hear me? It seems like Ive arrived! As soon as he spoke, Kim Shin-hwas voice mysteriously began to echo in Jang Hyeon-deoks mind. Have you arrived, or does it just seem like you have? Was this really the time for such nitpicking? Those words almost escaped Jang Hyeon-deoks lips, but he restrained himself and chose different words instead. I have arrived! Just like you said, theres a huge water ball, about 50 meters ahead! Good job. Get a bit closer. Youre still outside its range. Jang Hyeon-deok looked ahead with a hint of apprehension. The giant water ball. Inside it, corpse golems and spirits that Kim Shin-hwa had previously swept away with [Turbid Current] were entangled in a watery prison made of rain and magical power. Ah, good. I can feel it. Be careful not to get too close to that water ball, or youll be swept up too. Me too? What should I do?! Just circle around the ball! Keep quiet; I need to concentrate! The magical power of Kim Shin-hwa, who still remained in the [Hungry Mansion], traveled through the butchers hook and was transmitted to the Resonance Stone. And the Resonance Stone opened a path for the magical power, imparting a new essence to the prison of Turbid Current. Kwaaaaaah! The prison of turbulent currents began to swirl violently. I needed to refine it a bit away in a ce where that guys eyes couldnt reach. Kim Shin-hwa muttered something difficult for Jang Hyeon-deok to understand, then addressed him. The ones chasing you, Ill shake them off now. Its time for you to head back home for real. Is it over?! More or less. The swirling prison of currents distorted before transforming into a ferocious wave that crashed violently. Argh! Jang Hyeon-deok screamed. Screeeeeeech! He narrowly avoided being engulfed by the torrential wave that surged with immense force. The wave that narrowly missed Jang Hyeon-deoks vehicle swept up the corpse golems that had been pursuing him and then Whooooooosh! Rippleeeeee! It sped towards the [Hungry Mansion] with incredible speed. Ah, even if the enemy had ten lives, they wouldnt be enough in this situation Jang Hyeon-deok sighed as he watched the receding wave. Amitabha I must make a donation at the temple tomorrow *** What is this! What on earth is happening?! The Hollow Lord screamed in horror as he watched the image of Jang Hyun-deok reflected in the crystal ball. This makes no sense! Kim Shin-hwa, that mage, just a moment ago! Activating his magic, the Hollow Lord changed the scene reflected in the crystal ball. The first-floor living room of the [Hungry Mansion]. The very ce where Kim Shin-hwa had been fighting. Kim Shin-hwa, with one arm severed and bleeding profusely from all over,y defeated. The battle was over. But the necromancy golems were still moring for more magical energy. The sheer drain of his magical power was dizzying, almost enough to blur his consciousness. Somethings wrong. Somethings gone terribly wrong! What on earth did this mage do? At that moment, the Hollow Lord noticed a strange noise distorting the image in the crystal ball. This is?! Chapter 84: POV Back Chapter 84: POV Back About 150 years ago, So, roughly 1870 or 1880, depending on the calction. Heo Sang-hyeons ancestor was an open-minded and curious schr who epted exotic cultures from the West. The problemy in one of the blindly epted items, a nefarious book that should never have been received. [Grimoire Taiyin Shui Zhen Secret Scripture] This single book led Heo Sang-hyeons ancestor down a path ofplete corruption. Following the spells inscribed within, he summoned the [He Who Comes from the Darkness], and the abyssal being that descended into this world mated with Heo Sang-hyeons ancestor to create a child that should never have existed. This child, born 150 years ago, was a great old beings offspring. He was none other than the rotting and half-decayed corpse carrier, the Hollow Lord. In the game, his name wasnt explicitly revealed, was it? He was just referred to as [Hollow Lord]. Although the exact family tree was unknown, if you calcte the number of rtives between the Hollow Lord and Heo Sang-hyeon, he might be roughly a great-grandfather. Or perhaps a great-grandmother What the hell, is that a man or a woman? Haah I was now outside the hungry mansion. More precisely, I was dangling from its second-story window. Rumble.! The sound of lightning falling from the dark sky could be heard. My frail body was shaking as I was exposed to the rain pouring down from the sky. Yet, observing the Hollow Lord engaging in his odd antics wasnt entirely unpleasant. What, what is this?! That was the Hollow Lords voice. Just like his ancestor. Heo Sang-hyeons voice had also been bizarrely unsettling. True to his lineage, the Hollow Lord spoke in a voice that was equally eerie and chilling. Hollow Lord was still peering into the crystal ball and was unable to fully grasp the situation, thanks to the [Hazy Presence] spell that rendered me nearly invisible. I watched as the Hollow Lord amplified his magical power and began to remove the magical interference embedded in the crystal ball. Ah, Ive been discovered. I manipted Heo Sang-hyeons mind and vision using the effect of the ancient gods mirror. The Hollow Lord was surveying the situation on the first floor through Heo Sang-hyeons eyes and wasughing heartily at the distorted images I had conjured. Since I was discovered, it seemed this was the end of the ruse. The crystal ball would no longer disy false images but reveal the actual events unfolding on the mansions first floor, right? Arghhh! You damned rat! In a fit of rage, the Hollow Lord shattered his crystal ball with an unintelligible scream. It was a shame, really; that artifact must have been costly. Where are you? Where have you hidden? He then began to spread his magical power in all directions while attempting to locate me. It doesnt seem like Ill be caught just yet. The Hollow Lords detection magic waspletely off the mark. The first floor, then the second, and now near the main entrance. It appeared he hadnt considered the possibility that I might have stepped outside. More importantly, isnt it about time it arrived? Gwagwagwagwagwagwa! Just then, from afar The roaring sound of an immense wave began to approach. Ah, here ites. A wave brimming with immense magical power, resentment, and the energy from theherworld was climbing against the mountain. It was a spell I had hidden far away and left to mature. Creating, calcting, and controlling the magic circle from a distance safe enough to avoid detection by the Hollow Lord had nearly burst my brain. The effort was worthwhile The oing wave, even by my own estimation, carried an appalling amount of malevolent energy. I knocked on the window and shouted. Hey, Mister Bones. Over here! You! You! How on earth! Startled, the Hollow Lord surged with magical power and lunged in my direction, but At that very moment, the barrier I had prepared in advance was activated. [Cold Bone Prison] Buzzzzzzzzzz! From beneath the Hollow Lords feet, a barrier from theherworld erupted. Crackle, crackle, crunch! The immense pressure emanating from the barrier began to coil around the Hollow Lords flesh, squeezing and constricting him. Arghhhh!!! How how is this possible?! Ah, how did you activate it without any warning? Krrrrr how did you. such a massive barrier What are you talking about? I tantly set it up? The nine candles I had deceptively ced while fooling Heo Sang-hyeon formed the ritual for the barrier. Did you really think I went through all that trouble just to trap a mere ghost? Hollow Lord was now standing right above the ce where I arranged the candles and talismans. Just as I was about to exin this, I sensed the Hollow Lord drawing up magical power. [Curse of] the Hollow Lord tried to cast a spell, but my attack was quicker. [Lightning Strike] Crackle crackle crackle!!! Aaaaagh! And trying to buy time by engaging in small talk wont work. Kugh Do you think a low-tier spell like this can stop me? Hes right. I was only able to trap him thanks to the multipleyers of traps I had set, but hes of a different kind by bloodline. The second-order magic I could use wasnt enough to fully subdue him. Well, thats why I prepared this. Wooshhhhhh!!! A giant wave defying thews of physics. It wasnt without reason that I had gone through such aplex process to set everything up from afar. The magic I had constructed by meticulously gathering the magical power the Hollow Lord had carelessly squandered was no small feat. The giant wave I created, blending the spirits and corpse golems with the magical power I intercepted from the Hollow Lord, could practically be considered a living entity formed entirely of water elements. Since the base consists of the corpse golems and spirits the Hollow Lord was manipting, this too, in a way, is a necromancy golem. Now, we cant have the windows breaking I swung open the window in front of me and clung to the second-floor wall. Wooshhhhhhhh!!! Defying gravity, the wave rose and transformed into a massive spear of water that rushed toward the open window. I infused this giant magic with new properties and energy. [Raging Torrents of Sanzu River] This was no longer a mere second-order spell, but a vast and powerful magic. Boommmmmmmmmm!!! the Hollow Lord, unable to even scream, was struck directly by the torrent charged with the energy of theherworld and the essence of death. Rumblinggggggggg!!! Crashhhhhhhhh!!! The entire mansion shook and an ominous vibration filled the air. But the mansion couldnt be allowed to crumble. I had to focus my mind to control the range within which [Raging Torrents of Sanzu River] could exert its influence. After a prolonged scream finally ceased, and the surroundings fell utterly silent, I climbed through the window into the second floor of the mansion. Phew. Lets see The room on the second floor where the Hollwo Lord had been was inplete disarray. Everything in the room was destroyed, and nothing remained in its ce. Even the Hollwo Lord, who had been at the center of the room, was nowhere to be seen. It was unlikely that he had been annihted to the point of leaving no bones behind. Where could he have gone? The room is too dark. [Dancing mes] Whoosh! A dazzling me blossomed in my palm. Though it resembled a burning me, it emitted no heat. It was a magical source of light, gathering only the essence of pure light. The me rose as if dancing. It spread out in all directions and illuminated the dark interior of the room. Was hoping to finish it with just one blow, but youre quite resilient, arent you? The Hollow Lord was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, it seemed he had concealed himself amidst the clutter scattered throughout the room. The room was spacious, yet the bizarre arrangement of furniture caught in a maelstrom made it feel much smaller than it actually was. But, was it correct to call them furniture? Taxidermy. Scattered around were taxidermies made from animal skin. Bears, wolves, foxes, deer, tigers This wasnt merely a collection for decoration or admiration. These were materials intended for creating necromancy golems or their precursor, the corpse golems. Originally, there was a pattern of attacking those who could move here, but since they were all sent out of the house, such unfortunate incidents did not ur. The taxidermies here were, after all, unfinished products abandoned midway through their creation. Wooooooooooo. A disturbing vibration began to fill the air from somewhere. Uuuuuuuuu. The sound of ghosts sobbing permeated the atmosphere. Creak Squeak Crunch, snap Save me please save me Monsters are devouring me The noises were meaningless. They were just designed to shake the intruders mind. A typical mental attack. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of fear has been nullified.] Making sounds as if youre tearing apart corpses wont mean much. [Instill Fear]. It was one of the most basic among the necromantic spells. Seeing a creature capable of casting advanced spells like [Spirit Explosion], [Curse of Death], or [Touch of Corruption] resort to something as low-tier as [Instill Fear] suggested that my previous strike had been effective. The hastily used inferior spell dissipated without meaning. It only served to reveal its casters location to me. [Gale Strike] Whoosh! Bang! It was a second-order magic that unleashed a powerful blow by propellingpressed air. Thoughcking additional effects, it was a spell that was sure to inflict physical damage. Crash! Smash! As the taxidermies obstructing the view were blown away in all directions, the pitiful figure of this corpse-like creature was exposed. It was the Hollow Lord. His limbs were twisted in unnatural directions, and ck mucus poured from every orifice on his face. Cough what are you this monster No, seriously! How many times has it been now? Why does every monster I meet keep calling me a monster? The necromancy golems why do they still draw upon my magical power why does this continue Ah, dont you know? Its called an infinite loop bug. Thats because I made it that way. What did you say? I tied them all up and set them on fire. Of course, I took magical precautions to prevent the fire from spreading too much. Its a simple trick using rudimentary AI. The necromancy golems were unable to go anywhere and they kept trying to repair their continuously destroyed bodies by incessantly draining their masters magical power. The destruction repeated endlessly, and regeneration proceeded forcefully. Although the Hollow Lord was a monster with immense magical power, he couldnt withstand having his magic drained endlessly like this. Of course, the Hollow Lord had created several safety measures to prevent such a situation, but I had destroyed all those safety measures. Now, its over. Haak I am My reflection appeared in the Hollow Lords eyes. Four eyes emitting a fierce light from my pitch-ck mask. Due to the continuous use of magic, my eyes shone with a bright red light. After all, youve lived excessively long by not only taking the lives of others but even exploiting the lives of your descendants, havent you? Moreover, if left alone, this creature would soon die anyway. This was because the necromancy golems, with their limited intelligence, were still draining magical power from him. I raised the sharply shining silver hook. Lets end this. No please stop It was a movement unmistakable for anything else. A typical stabbing posture. I focused and aimed at his heart with this posture. Stay still. Theres something I need to remove from your body. Chapter 85: Securing the Base Chapter 85: Securing the Base Magical power began to surge from the silver body of the [Butchers Hook]. The magical power seemed to find its own ce and naturally formed a special magic circle. [The unique effects of the S-rank weapon Butchers Hook, Proof of ughter have been activated. // Proof of ughter: The power of necromancy spells increases by 100%.] Necromancy magic was indeed stirring. Therefore, [The Butchers Hook] amplified my spell efficiently. I plunged the hook into the Hollow Lords body. Argh Aaagh! Fizzzzzzzzz!!! Sparks of eerie green light jumped out. Through the sensation at the des edge, I could feel the pattern of magical power flowing through the Hollow Lords body. Hollow Lord was a non-human being born under the protection of a great old being. As expected, the pattern of magical power is quite bizarre. The Hollow Lords magical power moved in an alien and ominous manner. It would have been a serious challenge if we had faced each other head-on. Through the Butchers Hook, I began to channel my magical power into his body. Ah, no! Stop! How dare you! It seemed the Hollow Lord had realized what I was about to do. [He Who Comes from the Darkness] The one trapped in the eternal prison, the eternal prisoner, the lord of the dark night, the king of the night sky, the one with a thousand mouths, the raiser of the dead, the leader of suffocation, the darkest being in the abyss. A minor one who isnt that famous. This bastard was also one of the great old beings watching me from the abyss. Deep within the Hollow Lords body, or rather, in the depths of his soul, was embedded a fragment of this great old being. I intended to take it from him. Stop! Stop it! Enough! Hollow Lord cried out but I quietly continued my task. My magical power began to resonate and adapt to the form and flow of his magical power and soul. Swallowing it whole was not an option. I used the same method I had applied when I removed the blessing of [The ck Goat of a Thousand Young] from Lee Chang-hyeok. [The unique effect of the S-rank essory Ring of Corrupted me has been activated. Red Element Concentration and Legacy of Fire Knowledge has been activated // Red Element Concentration: Increases the effectiveness of all fire-type spells by 50%. // Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Enhances understanding of fire-type magic.] Whoosh! A white me, devoid of heat, started to forcefully purify Hollow Lords body. The Hollow Lords body, having lost most of its magical power, couldnt resist my magic and crumbled. Hollow Lords expression momentarily rxed. Is this the end? It was different from the previous distorted voice somehow, it sounded closer to human. This situation was different from Lee Chang-hyeoks. Removing the blessing from the monster Lee Chang-hyeok turned into was enough to save him. But Hollow Lord was a being that was inherently tied to the abyss from the beginning. A monster that lived for roughly 150 years, give or take. His body was as abnormal as his lifespan, but as soon as he lost the source of his magical power, he would lose the power to maintain this miserable life. Now, only a little remains. Hidden in the deepest part of his soul A fragment of a great old being Begins to reveal itself. Shining so brilliantly its dazzling Unspeakably malevolent I channeled all my magical power into the butchers hook and drove it deeper into the Hollow Lords body. The de eventually pierced not his flesh but his soul. !!! Hollow Lord screamed a bizarre shriek that exceeded the limits of human hearing. Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwa!!! The sound of the link to [He Who Comes from the Darkness] being severed echoed. Stop interfering and stay buried underground! Pfffffft!! With a dry noise like something bursting, the pressure that had been weighing down on my soul vanished. The [Dancing mes] that had disappeared beyond my control began to rekindle. No, these mes had never truly vanished in the first ce. It was merely the shadow cast by the great old being that had obscured the light. Have I done it? The dense darkness that had filled the room, the living shadows, and the giant maggots that had filled the room hadpletely disappeared. Huff. I slowly raised my hand to brush away the sweat that had formed on my forehead. There was no more resistance. Stripped of the authority of being the bastard child of a great old being, the Hollow Lord had lost all his magical power and will. The Hollow Lord was dead. No, he had never truly been alive in the first ce. He was nothing more than a bizarre mass that moved by distorting thews and causality of reality. The flesh entwined in his body was slowly melting away. If it were like in the [Cthulhu World] game, Hollow Lord would vanishpletely while leaving behind only a few pieces of bone. I conjured my magical power to pull towards me a grotesquely shimmering ck flesh from among the pile of corpses. After all that trouble Is this just a mere fragment? A small piece that was too much to call a piece of flesh. It was more like a drop of blood or a fragment of a fingernail. But it must not be underestimated. Even as a very small part, it was a fragment of a great old being. It contained alien magical power, profound knowledge, and endless possibilities. A realm utterly unreachable by mere mortals. It is the key that leads there. [Echo of Suffocation (Legendary Elixir): A fragment of the power from the great old being, He Who Comes from the Darkness Effect: Consume it. You can be a greater being.] Look at the effect. Seems like he liked bing a great being. The twisted form of the Hollow Lord, barely recognizable as human. Even if he tried to prevent such a transformation with his feeble willpower, he would only be a bastard child of that great old being. Well, still, theres no elixir quite like this. It reminded me of the martial arts novels I used to read during my leisure time. If were talking about elixirs, theres nothing better than this. Of course, ites with its own set of risks. But I trust my talent. I sat down cross-legged on the floor. Kim Shin-Hwa. The Mage Gazing into the Abyss is a character I created. All talents, abilities, and traits were chosen by me. Iid the Butchers Hook horizontally across my knees. Through the sensation at the tip of the de, I could feel the magical power pattern of the [Echo of Suffocation]. It possessed its own magical power and will. In order to ept this without any problems, I had to alter my own magical power pattern. My magical power began to resonate with the fragment changing its form and flow. I must not stop at merely epting it. In the midst of ying the game, I might have no choice but to follow the flow provided by the game, but there was no need for that now. My intelligence stat was 30, which afforded me an almost supernatural sensitivity and control over magic. I could work with magic more precisely, intricately, and perfectly than I ever could while ying the game. Buzzzzzzzz. I could hear the air around me vibrating. I was not merely synchronizing with the magical pattern of the fragment; I was creating a flow that was superior and more immense. [Echo of Suffocation] might be a part of me, but it could never epass my being. And unnecessary interference was unwee. There are already too many of them waiting in line without this bastard. Three of them had already been sending spam to my dreams every night. This time, I was determined not to leave any room for ambiguity and to fully absorb and digest it. The extent of my reach was not going to end merely with being an incarnation of some old being. To survive in this world to the very end, I had to be a more transcendent being. From the body of the Butchers Hook, a previous green glow began to emanate. Through that de, the small fragment that the being of the abyss had embedded into his familys lineage flowed into me. [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. His fragment left the Hollow Lords soul and began to take root in mine. What followed was quite straightforward. During my time ying the game, I had absorbed magic from characters who possessed even lower and more ordinary talents. Back then, it was a task I was almost prepared to die for, but now, the task was not as challenging as I had expected. As expected, an intelligence stat of 30 is remarkable. Furthermore, the Butchers Hook which was acquired through an unexpected route proved to be of great help here. I had thought it would at most serve as a high-tier artifact for psychic abilities but this exceeded my expectations. I meticulously dismantled and melted everything within the Echo of Suffocation and integrated it into my own magical power while maintaining my seated posture. All around, hundreds of magic circles naturally bloomed and vanished in turn. The magical power of an alien nature merged with my own, transforming into a more potent form than before. My mana core, which seemed to have an infinite capacity, was endowed with new properties and newfound strength. How much time had passed? I suddenly became aware that the rain outside the window had stopped. The sky which had been pitch ck and distorted has now turned a bluish color. Is it dawn already? My body, which was worse than that of an ordinary person to begin with, was already exhausted but my mind was not. I felt an unprecedented surge of vigor and vitality. I realized that all my senses and thoughts were now more vividly active than before. At the same time, a new message window appeared before my eyes. [You have defeated the master of the Hungry Mansion, who hides behind unspeakable curses and sphemous secrets. Although you were faced with challenges unlike any you had ever faced before, you were able to ovee them all with every tool and strategy you had prepared. But in doing so you exposed your full power to the beings of the Abyss.] Hmm? Just when I thought it would end with some off-topic praise, a slightly different message began. [The number of abyssal beings who are interested in you is gradually increasing. Especially since He Who Comes from Darkness has had his temple taken away, what will they think of you? How long will the ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young who has been stripped of her blessing remain silent? That is unknown. Soon, the judges who represent the will of the Abyss will] Ah, the judges. Its a title for particrly powerful NPCs in [Cthulhu World]. The Hollow Lord also bore this title. What was it again? A rather long and cheesy name Was it the judge of the dark cult that worshipped darkness and the void? Anyway, since I killed the Hollow Lord, who had the title of Judge, its likely that the other Judges would be interested in me anyway. [You havepleted the quest! Reward: 250,000XP + Ownership of the Mansion] Whats this? No more to say? Ends with judges, dot dot dot? Seems like an attempt was made to create a meaningful atmosphere, but its not the least bit interesting! Finish what you started! [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated Hollow Lord, the Bastard Child of a Great Old Being. Your understanding of the abyss increases.] [You have defeated (27) Corpse Golems. Your understanding of the undead increases.] [You have defeated (48) Necromancy Golems. Your understanding of the undead increases.] [You have subdued Fanatic Heo Sang-hyeon. Your understanding of the undead significantly increases.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] Ah, fine then, have it your way. It seems the message window decided to end with a dramatic cut-off and an attempt to set the atmosphere. What an assh*le. [System: The Hungry Mansion has be your base.] [Achievement unlocked! You have acquired your first base. You have obtained the General Achievement: My Home! As a reward for the achievement, you gain the Home Management trait and additional experience points.] Alright, base acquired anyway. With thepletion of the quest, the ownership of the mansion has been transferred to me. Had this ce been an ordinary residence, that would have been the end of it. However, theres a reason the message window went out of its way to include the Hungry Mansion. Chapter 86: Transfer of Ownership (1) Chapter 86: Transfer of Ownership (1) [Achievement unlocked! You have made The Hungry Mansion your base. You have obtained the Rare Achievement: People Live in This House? As a reward for the achievement, you gain the unique trait Master of the Haunted House and additional experience points.] [Unique trait Master of the Haunted House has been activated.] [Ownership of the mansions magic, curses, and summoned creatures has been transferred to you.] Keeeeeeng The magic dwelling in the mansion slowly began to connect to me. This was a very special benefit that one couldnt obtain from a typical house that could be bought with money. Now, if anyone wanted to challenge me, they must ovee the same obstacles I faced to even invade this mansion. Of course, there were changes and weaknesses as the influence provided by the beings of the abyss faded away, but on the other hand, these could bepensated for or enhanced with my own magic. Ill create a truly terrible haunted house one that absolutely no one can enter. [Amazing Achievement Unlocked! You have stolen the power of a great old being from the bastard child of He One Who Comes from the Darkness. You have obtained the Mythical Achievement: Heir of the Corpse Pile. As a reward for the achievement, you gain the hidden trait Heir of the Corpse Pile and additional experience points.] This was a higher trait than [Bastard of the Corpse Pile] which was owned by the previous owner of this house, the Hollow Lord. It was a decent ability, but this trait alsoes with penalties simr to [Madness of the Abyss]. [Hidden trait Heir of the Corpse Pile activated. Mental IllnessKilling Impulse, Mental IllnessBizarre Rituals, Mental Illness Dual Personalities, Mental IllnessPartial Amnesia, Mental IllnessStrange Tastes, Mental IllnessAltar Obsession are now afflicting your mind.] The mental illnesses thate as a penalty amount to six types. This might as well mean dont even y. There was just one time before. There was a time when I defeated Hollow Lord and obtained [Heir of the Corpse Pile] in the same way as now. Back then, Icked the abilities I have now so I really had to struggle to obtain it. But with the reward came the attachment of six types of mental illnesses. Unable to cope with such madness, I became unable to continue ying. Honestly, if I hadpletely abandoned the [Cthulhu World] game back then, I wouldnt be in this predicament now In any case, it was such an inefficient achievement trait. Thats why I never repeated the same action afterward. But now things are different. Crackle!!! Blue sparks fly from my temples. [System: The unique trait Madness from the Abyss has been activated. The mental illness afflicting your mind has been nullified.] This is it. Now, I can skip the penalties and reap only the benefits. [System: There are still unexplored areas within the base. Investigate the entire mansion to obtain the remaining rewards.] That can be sorted out slowly. [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (3) achievements in the Hungry Mansion.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 31! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] I invested the bonus stat point into my mental strength without hesitation. Unless something unexpected came up, I nned to continue enhancing my mental strength next time. My goal was to reach a pure 16, andter, with the addition of a +2 mental strength artifact, to achieve a total of 20. Well, if I get another artifact before then, Ill reconsider my choice. [Since you have umted enough experience, you have unlocked the use of third-order magic. Please note that in order to effectively use third-order magic, you need to obtain or learn a grimoire containing third-order spells.] [System: The Spell Mastery trait has been activated. You automatically learn the basic spells of the third order.] The addition of third-order magic became avable with the unlocking of the third order, but the number of spells essible at this level was significantly fewerpared to those from the first and second orders. This was because from now on, the number of spells that could be considered basic magic would decrease significantly. However, this wasnt a major issue. After reaching level 30, the number of grimoires and unique spells avable to me would dramatically increase. Securing a proper base during this period was crucial for this reason. In the end, my stats were as follows. **** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 31 Magic Order: Third Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia (fear of fish)] Strength: 5(+3) (Ring of Corrupted mes) Health: 7 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 15(+2) (Body Snatchers Ne) Charm; 18 **** Is this the end? Just settling the quest had taken quite a while. As soon as the day breaks, Ill go to the Geumchon neighborhood, gather the belongings I hid in my studio apartment, and then this dreadful moving operation will finally be over. Ah, of course, I still need to register everything and pay the fee to Tudor Magical ownership of the mansion had indeed be mine, but there were courts and registrations here as well. Since the previous owner had died, there were a fewplications that were difficult to resolve clearly, but those could be handled by the shady merchants or brokers that roamed the back alleys of Paju. After the message windows that had obscured my view were neatly sorted out, I was just about to shift my focus elsewhere when a new message appeared. [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power. The amount of magical power requested by the summons will be automatically transferred ording to the established contract.] Then the magical power was automatically taken away. [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power. The amount of magical power requested by the summons will be automatically transferred ording to the established contract.] With the transfer of the ownership of Hollow Lords properties to me, issues that had not needed management so far had arisen. My magical power continued to be drawn out. Ah, the magical ownership transfer process hasnt beenpleted yet. The direction the magical power was flowing toward It was the first floor. [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power. The amount of magical power requested by] Damn it, stop taking it! I hurriedly ran down to the first floor. *** Screech Screech, screech The state of the first floor was truly a sight to behold. The traces of battle were still clear to see, and more importantly, right there [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power.] Screech Screech, screech It was the necromancy golems. After the former owner of the mansion Hollow Lord disappeared, everything in the mansion became mine. Naturally, the necromancy golems that Hollow Lord had controlled also became my property. The problem was that just because ownership was transferred to me, it didnt mean that the current state of things changed. Creak Screech Screech Screech, screech Screech Crack, snap! Crunch, crunch! Ah, how noisy! The golems were made up of all sorts of junk, utensils, and furniture. Every movement they made was apanied by creaking and grinding noises. These creatures were all pressed against one wall near the living room and were attacking each other in awkward postures. Moreover, most of them are even burning with fireballs attached to their bodies. This meant that even if left alone, they were structured to eventually fall apart on their own. Once a necromancy golem was damaged beyond a certain point, it would initiate the process of repairing its body ording to a set procedure. Of course, the repairs werent free. [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power. The amount of magical power requested by the summons will be automatically transferred ording to the established contract.] Once again, chunks of magical power were being sucked away. Haaah Who could I me? I was the one who had created this situation. First, lets extinguish the mes. Snap! With a flick of my fingers, I erased the magical mes clinging to their bodies. This action alone significantly reduced the relentless drain of magical power. Now, I need to get them out of the wall Though I had extinguished the fire, the necromancy golems were still unable to free themselves. Screech, screech Screech Screech Regrettably, it was impossible. These creatures were not physically stuck in the wall. Stuck in the wall. It was exactly that bug that often urred in 3D games. In this mansion, and in the world of [Cthulhu World], there were walls and objects that looked perfectly solid yet, for some reason, could be passed through as if they had no substance. Among the stagnant waters, some would remember such spots and use them as tricks to shorten their travel paths. However, it was forbidden to overuse them. Among these holes, some could trap you while passing through and render you immobile. Crack! Crunch! Crackle! In their desperate attempts to escape the wall, they would il about, collide with each other and cause mutual damage. Then they would repair themselves. [System: Summoned CreaturesNecromancy Golems are requesting magical power.] Stop taking it! What was bastard Hollow Lord thinking when using such things Including the corpse golems, which were a lower version of the necromancy golems, there were as many as 30 of these creatures. Although their patron, [He One Who Comes from the Shadows], did provide magical power He was actually maintaining such a crazy system. The reason Hollow Lord had struggled in the recent fight even though he was wielding the magical power of a being from the abyss like [He Who Comes from the Darkness] was exactly this. From Hollow Lords perspective, it seemed he thought of it as an endless spring. Thats probably why he maintained such an inefficient system. But even a small problem could lead to this disaster. Alright, lets stop thementary now. First, I had to solve the problem of the necromancy golems continuously draining my magical power. I raised my magical power toward the necromancy golems and formed a hand seal. Fwoosh! Dozens ofrge and small magic circles appeared around me. These magic circles created from aplicated array of symbols and sphemous patterns orbited around each other or spun on their own while interacting with each other. I moved my magical power while observing this dazzling scene. Ziiing Several magic circles flew towards me. My will and the magic circles synchronized. Lets see are they connected? I touched a nearby magic circle with my finger and issued amand. Stop. Thud. The necromancy golems that were each iling in their own unnatural way simultaneously ceased their movements. It was a scene that could be described as creepy. However, the only emotion that surged through me as I faced this scene was sheer delight. It felt like I had received an enormous box of toys. After examining the magic circle further, I issued a newmand. Disassemble. The moment themand was given, the bindings that held together theponents of the necromancy golems were released. This meant that the assorted items clinging to the wall began to pour down all at once. tter! Crash! Tinkle Good, that was simple. Though something did break. Now its time for the fun part: reassembly. Chapter 87: Transfer of Ownership (2) Chapter 87: Transfer of Ownership (2) Though reduced to a pile of random parts, the necromancy golems were notpletely destroyed. Normally, these partsy scattered around the house and looked like mere clutter, but upon receiving amand or detecting an intruder, they would reassemble and be operational. However, some parts still remained embedded in the wall. The center of the wall oddly jutted out with decorations and saws sticking out haphazardly. Theres nothing I can do about that. The items stuck in the wall couldnt be removed. Even in [Cthulhu World], theres hardly any way to extract items that have be embedded in a wall. The easiest method would be a reboot. If rebooting were an option, I would have done it already. That leaves loading from a previous save point or deleting the character to start over from scratch As of now, I cant attempt any of those options. Therefore, Ive decided to give up on the parts stuck in the wall. I nned to leave those stuck in the wall as they were and use the remaining parts for reconstruction. Even with this method, those whose cores were stuck couldnt be reconstructed. Guess Ill have to give up on those. Though the number ofponents would significantly decrease, it really didnt matter since I wasnt nning to y as a so-called gangster mage, which was a build that involved leading arge number of summoned creatures. Before reassembling, lets fix this inefficient spell that indiscriminately draws magical power. I approached a nearby magic circle and reset the spell thatposed the bodies of the necromancy golems. As I touched the glowing magic circles suspended in the air and manipted the spellsFor some reason, it reminded me of a sci-fi movie I watched before I was trapped in this world. It actually felt quite simr. I would pull on the magic circle to erge it, rotate it, throw it, and pull it. I had never been taught how to handle or reconstruct these spells. But it wasnt hard; I was quickly getting the hang of manipting the spells. Its somewhat simr to coding. The feeling was akin to writing code to move a robot. Of course, I had never seen code for programming a robot or any other kind of programming. However, by reading this spell, it seemed I could understand how to control and manage the movements of a robot in the real world. I might be able to code with just a little more learning. I had only briefly interacted with the spell. Just by channeling magical power into the spell and slightly tinkering with its structure, I learned how to handle, control, and adjust them. Something like this Rumbleeeee. The spell was transformed ording to my will and the magical power began to move along the newly created path. Oh, it works. Now Im certain. Indeed, I seemed capable of almost anything with high intelligence. If I had maxed out strength instead well, that would have been convenient in its own way, but this kind of work definitely required a different stat. I wish I could keep my intelligence stat even if I return to the original world. Honestly, Im not even hoping for magic. Is there no way to maintain my intelligence stat even if I lose my magical abilities when I return to reality? The ability to never forget anything once Ive seen it, and to understand anything instantly, is truly remarkable. The speed at which I understand, analyze, and learn things is incredibly fast. I quickly found a way to fix the existing issues in the spell. However, instead of just improving the parts that were immediately visible, I decided to check a wider range. The spell that moved the necromancy golems appeared like a precisely functioning mechanical device. Each spell and the patterns of magical power moved organically. They formed a structure that seemed interdependent But isnt it said that the more you know, the more you see? As my understanding deepened, I began to see parts of the spell that needed improvement. No, it wasnt just a matter of degree What is this? Itspletely messed up? It only looked usible on the surface. In reality, it was an extremely inefficient and haphazardly functioning spell. It even included conventionally ced decorations and useless formalities that hindered the efficiency of the structure. No wonder it moved so chaotically. The contingency patterns to be used in emergencies or when problems arose were also grossly inadequate. Although pre-written response patterns existed, they were as simplistic as characters from an old video game. What have you been doing for 150 years, exactly? Just a slight modification of the spell could have made it much more efficient and intelligent in its movements; why was it made into such a mess? I was just going to improve the parts where it mindlessly consumed magical power Eventually, I started to spend more time than nned on improving the spell. Each time I checked the content and applied improvements, new methods came to mind. Inspiration kept flowing. In the end, I recreated everything except the original framework of the spell. It was a lot of work, but it was worth the effort. This is not the end. The knowledge I have learned and realized now can be directly applied to other fields as well. It seemed I could create something entirely new that had never appeared in [Cthulhu World] before. There was no need to stick to such a form; I could opt for something that moved with lighter resources Ugh, but I cant spend all day just on this Nevertheless, I had achieved my original goal. I had fixed all the noticeable errors, improved the safety mechanisms, andpletely revamped the inefficient design. As a result, I created a structure that reduced magical power consumption by a tenth and nearly tripled the intelligence of the necromancy golems. This is all for now. I stretched out my hands and made a pushing gesture to push the magic circles away. The magic circles floating in the air moved in sync with my actions and scattered toward the cluster of items around them. And then, a reboot. No, I mean an awakening. Now, wake up. Click, click, click, crackle. The copsed necromancy golems began to reassemble themselves in perfect order and stood up. It was a sight to behold. The number had significantly decreased. Thirteen. That number again? Although it was a number that no longer had any meaning to me, the residual feelings from the troubles I had endured left me having no good feelings for it. The reduction in number was not a major issue. If needed, I could create more of the same golems. However, unless there was a special problem, I probably wouldnt bother making that type of necromancy golems again. I had once raised a necromancer character before, and creating the same would require a tremendous amount of time and resources. Especially the engine, if one could call it that? The core of the structure required a specially purified human soul. Moreover, it needed materials so horrific they were socially uneptable. There was no reason to create more since there were better alternatives avable at a lower cost and risk. Furthermore..thirteen was already too many. After all, they would only serve as house guardians for the foreseeable future. Well, at least the magical power consumption is stable Their movements were normal. Alright, theres no need for now, so just disperse. tter! tter! The necromancy golems dispersed and transformed back into various objects and furniture throughout the mansion. I looked around the now silent living room. Although the necromancy golems had been put away, the living room was in worse shape. The ceiling was scorched by fire magic. Unsightly bits and pieces jutted out from the walls. Furniture was randomly ced and lost their proper spots. These were problems, but there was a bigger problem. Years of being known as a haunted house had umted dust, negative energy, evil magic, and ghosts. This may not have been a problem when it was a den of the undead. But it was still not fit for a human who needed to breathe and eat. Id like to start with cleaning, but theres still an issue to resolve. I summoned magical power and snapped my fingers. [Invisible Hand] Buzzzzz! Invisible hands materialized around me. They soared towards a corner of the living room and dragged a copsed person to my side. Hmm Something human-like, held aloft by the invisible hands. It was Heo Sang-hyeon. Heo Sang-hyeon was unconscious and his body was limp. I checked the state of the [Ancient Gods Mirror] hanging around his neck. [Ancient Gods Mirror (A-rank essory): An item imbued with the influence of an ancient god and crafted formunication with divine beings. It possesses the power to suppress malevolent forces and avert disasters. Heavenly Lightning: Blocks possession effects and diminishes the influence of outer gods. Heavenly Perspective: Provides the ability to see in darkness with enhanced vision and increases sight by 100%. Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the Healing Meditation spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%. Heavenly Malevolent Miasma: Automatically casts a Powerful Hallucination spell on a chosen target and enhances sensitivity to magic and divine power. Creator: Kim Shin-hwa Further enhancement possible] I had no idea that an item created as a makeshift solution for a good nights sleep could do so much. As soon as Heo Sang-hyeon attacked me, the mirrors power Heavenly Malevolent Miasma was activated and cast illusions. Thanks to that, I was able to deceive Hollow Lord who had been extracting information from the first floor through Heo Sang-hyeon. What on earth should I do with this guy? This wasnt part of the n. During my ythrough of [Cthulhu World], Heo Sang-hyeon would have attained Buddhahood at this point automatically. There was no need to think about anything and I would just wish that he may rest in peace. But despite the resolution of all events, Heo Sang-hyeon was still alive this time. Furthermore Ownership and control? Over this man? Like the necromancy golems, the rights to control and manage Heo Sang-hyeon were granted to me along with the ownership of this mansion. After analyzing Heo Sang-hyeons condition, the messages appearing on the screen, and the information avable in the mansion, I began to understand what exactly was happening. So the mirror is more powerful than I expected, and thats what led to this situation? Heo Sang-hyeon was originally a dead person. He had lived elsewhere but came to Paju to inherit the mansion where he met Hollow Lord and died. Hollow Lord who was in need of an assistant to help him with his rituals and social status resurrected the soul of the deceased Heo Sang-hyeon by returning it to his body and thus reviving him as an undead. And so it was at the moment of Hollow Lords death that the spell was broken, leading to his liberation. The problem now was that Ancient Gods Mirror which possessed the power to prevent possession was instead preventing the soul from leaving Heo Sang-hyeons body. Furthermore, the spell cast on his physical form was still active which automatically transferred his ownership and control to me. So, structurally if I retrieve this Ancient Gods Mirror, hell die immediately? On the other hand, if I dont retrieve it, he can live a bit longer. Another concern was that he was an undead created in a different manner from the necromancy golems. This is not so much created as it is bound by a contract for servitude. The contracts spell allows control over will and thought, but fundamentally, it operates autonomously ording to the individuals self-consciousness. In other words, Heo Sang-hyeon had been in a state of living consciousness all this time. He had been drawing in fixers ording to Hollow Lordsmands. It might be considered a wrongdoing But does that make Heo Sang-hyeon a viin? Against his will, he had to attract victims who were then disassembled or used as sacrifices in rituals. I scratched my head for a moment, then directed amand towards one of the pieces of furniture in the living room. Hey, wake up. Just you. As soon as themand was issued, the furniture around started to levitate. Creak, snap, crackle! A necromancy golem swiftly assembled a humanoid torso and approached. Put this guy on the bunk bed upstairs. I raised my hand and pointed at Heo Sang-hyeon. Crick. The necromancy golem silently nodded its head and hoisted the limp Heo Sang-hyeon before carrying him upstairs. Maybe well have a chat when he wakes up. After all, if hes kept alive, there might be some use for him. Is this a rough wrap-up of what needed to be urgently taken care of? I slowly walked through the first floor again while looking around the living room, the hallway, and the reception room. The interior is overly old-fashioned, but thats all in the decorating. Nheless, I liked the mansion. I do need to check the basement, though As I thought this, I moved a little closer to where the basement was. At that moment [System: There are still unexplored areas within the base. Investigate the entire mansion to obtain the remaining rewards.] Well, look at that? This is a message that was disyed immediately after obtaining the achievement. The same message popped up again. As if urging me on. Chapter 88: Hungry Stone Coffin (1) Chapter 88: Hungry Stone Coffin (1) Soon, a new development urred. Thud! A dull sound like something falling over came from beyond the basement door. Hmm In truth, I already knew what was in the basement. I could simply storm down there and smash everything to bits It seems as if its urging me to enter the basement? Am I wrong? [System: There are still unexplored areas within the base. Investigate the entire mansion to obtain the remaining rewards.] Heh That just makes me not want to do it even more. I still dont understand the operating principle behind this message window. Usually, it appears as a neutral device that dryly lists the current status and situation. However, asionally it engages in subtle maniptions or disys messages that seem to prompt me to take certain actions. That thing cant bepletely trusted either. But the information from the message window marked a significant distinction between the NPCs living in this world and myself. I always had an advantage over the other NPCs because I understood and could use the concepts of stats and quests. Moreover, my body was weaker than that of an ordinary human being. I didnt possess the robust health typical of an action-game hero. I certainly didnt have the stamina to engage in action twice a day. Should I just block it off and deal with it tomorrow? But as if responding to my thoughts, there was another noise from the basement. Thud, nk, thud, rumble No, it wasnt just a noise; it was getting closer to the basement entrance. Ah, what a hassle. Really. I had nned to handle it as slowly as possible because it was so annoying, but it seemed like if I left whatever was in the basement alone, it might cause some trouble. As if to encourage such thoughts, the message window was disyed again. [System: There are still unexplored areas within the base. Explore the entire mansion to obtain the remaining rewards.] Alright, alright, I get it! Just stop blocking my view and stay quiet! Yes, there was still an enemy left in the basement. Since it was an entity that operated independently of the Hollow Lord, it could not be controlled simply by defeating thetter. This guardian protected a gift bestowed by [He Who Comes from the Darkness] as a reward for the Hollow Lords long-time devotion. So it was either that I go and smash it to pieces, or I get smashed. One way or another, a conclusion had to be reached. It was akin to a bonus stage, and how I defeated this creature would greatly influence the rewards. nk, clunk, thud! Rumble, rumble, rumble A noise as if something dull and heavy was violently shaking. The danger level was rising; I could feel the vibrations through the floor near the basement entrance. I guess I have to clean up the basement before I can sleep. Turning my head to look out the window, I saw that the night sky had paled considerably. If I dyed any longer, the sun would begin to rise. Alright. If were going to do this, lets do it quickly. I slowly opened the basement door while stretching my neck joints. Downward the dark staircase stretched before me. As I descended the stairs, I activated a spell with each step I took. [Foxs Agility] [Bears Willpower] [Cats Elegance] [Eagles Eye] [Bulls Charge] [Lions Courage] I dont know what variables the [Feast Offering] trait might cause I couldnt afford to be careless. A bizarre problem could arise at the most unexpected moment. Below me, a thick wooden door had been reinstalled at the base of the basement stairs Creak Thunk. Strange noises came from beyond it. I stopped and stayed still for a moment and then it became quiet again. I could sense not even the slightest hint of a creature trying to hide. Oh, how cute, so very cute. Creeeeak The heavy wooden door creaked open, emitting an unsettling noise from the hinges. I held onto the door and peered into the room. Its dark in here. Like any other ce in the hungry mansion, the basement was extremely dark. For the moment, I couldnt see what was inside. So the first thing I noticed was the strange smell. I had encountered a simr scent before. It was the smell of chemicals used to prevent decay. However, there was an even more unpleasant odor, worse than the harsh chemicals. Even someone who did not understand what this smell implied would feel difort enough to be on guard. Had I still been living in the peaceful reality of my past, I might not have recognized it but I had already encountered this smell twice before. Once in the Helistics secret facility, filled with zombies, And again at the abandoned hospital of Gamaksan Mountain where horrific deeds weremitted by Je Mu-Gyeong. It was the smell of blood and decaying corpses. Probably the dreadful residue of hundreds, perhaps thousands of deaths over a very long time. I activated my magic to enhance my vision. [Moonlight Vision] As the magical sight that could pierce through darkness activated, the interior of the basement began to reveal itself. Although it was a space that could only be called a basement, it was not cramped. Unlike other floors divided into rooms, this was arge open space, almost like an auditorium with no walls separating it. The vast area was filled with ominous objects. Old bloodstains, piles of bones on the floor, hides of beasts, and unpleasant remnants of some creature that were unidentifiable as to which part they belonged. Shelves were stacked with samples and chemicals, walls hung with bizarre tapestries and unidentifiable ritual tools, and bookshelves filled with magical tomes. This ce was an altar where the Hollow Lord conducted sphemous rituals and simultaneously a magicalboratory where evil experiments were performed. I turned my head again to further inspect the inside of the room. The Hollow Lords research was of no concern to me. Of course, there were many things to take care of and examine but those were issues for the future. Right now, there was only one thing I needed to inspect. The altar. It was an old altar located at the very back of the room. It was about the size of a small bed and stood taller than a persons waist. It was a heavy object that was carved from a singlerge block of granite. It was sufficientlyrge to perform rituals for [He Who Comes from the Darkness] or to disassemble captured sacrifices. There was also an altar in the basement of Unjeong Station for the [Living me]. The rituals performed there must have been full of fire and smoke, but here, the rituals would have been more direct and provoking. Blood sttered, flesh was cut away It was a ritual of ughter. Next to the altar, there was an awkwardly cedrge chest. Unlike the other furniture and equipment that were neatly aligned with each other, thisrge box was out of ce and askew. No, it feels awkward to call it a chest or a box. Since it was made of stone, it should be called a stone coffin. Whether it was a chest or a stone coffin, it was a veryrge item. Although smaller than the adjacent altar, the stone coffin was stillrge enough to easily contain a person if necessary. I slowly approached the stone coffin and bent down. In the center of the stone coffin was a groove that allowed it to open vertically. There was also a huge hinge attached to the back of the stone coffin. And on the surface, there were intricate and beautiful patterns engraved. These patterns were not mere decorations. They were magic circles that were intricately etched with extreme precision and advanced technology. This isnt the Hollow Lords handiwork. When I yed the game, I had never been interested in the origins of such things. I had seen decorations and craftsmanship but Icked the capacity to understand them. Now, the world appeared differently to me. With a surreal perspective and heightened analytical skills, I could immediately grasp details that I didnt at all during gamey. It was an ancient object. It existed on this long before the human race had learned to handle fire. Just as I was slowly reaching out towards it Bang! The lid of the stone coffin suddenly opened. No, lid is not the right word. It was the mouth of the stone coffin. tter, crash! The stone coffin which was unmistakably made of rock shook its bulky and rough body violently as it charged towards me. It tried to engulf me with its gaping mouth! Fu*k. off! [Leap] Whoosh! I activated a leap spell and jumped back dramatically. The stone coffin snapped viciously at the space where I had just been. Craaash! The impact was tremendous. I could almost see the air trembling. The stone coffin that was made of a huge raw stone possessed a force far greater than its immense mass. Since I had anticipated it, dodging was not difficult. Had I been caught off guard, my body would have beenpletely crushed within its gaping maw. This bastard! The stone coffin did not stop. It was nothing more than arge mouth and a heavy body, yet this artifact was powerful enough to possess a will of its own. I could feel the emotions it harbored: anger, wariness, confusion, and killing intent. Riding the momentum of its previous charge, it attacked again. Bang! I dodged the brutes attack and scanned the interior of the basement. Boom! Bang! But there was simply no time to do anything. The stone coffin attacked with the ferocity of an enraged wild animal. Ah,e on! Just stay still! [Grasp of the Dead] A magic circle with sinister light illuminated the dark basement. At the same time, the trait [Proof of ughter] embedded in the Butchers Hooks activated. The necromancy magic circle I summoned was infused with even more malice and madness. This was a third-order necromancy spell. The spirits of those unjustly deceased that lingered nearby were drawn to my magic circle and generated greater power. Gooooooooooo!!! Hundreds of skinny arms extended from the magic circle and wrapped around the stone coffin. Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack. Hundreds of grotesque fingers attached to the arms scraped the surface of the stone coffin. Each arm harbored deep resentment. No matter how strong the stone coffin was, it couldnt easily escape. Crackle crunch Despite its battered state, the stone coffin was not at all diminished in spirit. Though itcked a face, I could tell that it was extremely angry. Crack, crackle Each slight movement of the creature caused dozens of arms clinging to its body to burst. However, the number of arms, each filled with the resentment of the terrible deaths that had urred here, was overwhelming. For every ten arms destroyed, twenty more attached themselves. The effect isnt bad. If I had summoned a massive force topete in a test of strength, the oue would have been uncertain. But by confronting it with endless numbers, I was able to prevent that stubborn monster from fully unleashing its power. But these spirits were merely a temporary measure. They could stop it but not defeat it. I summoned my magical power and reached out to one of the tools lying in a corner of the basement. Shrrrrriek The line of magical energy I sent from my fingertips entwined around a tool I had been eyeing from the start. It was a hammer with a heavy metal head, likely used for crushing the bones of specimens or splitting magic stones. I projected my magic and will toward the distant hammer and that force transformed into artificial telekinesis to realize my will. Whirrrrr! The hammer flew through the air and cut through the wind. And then itnded precisely in my hand. This should do. Hand-to-handbat isnt my thing but Considering the stone creatures resistance to magic, this was the most efficient method. Chapter 89: Hungry Stone Coffin (2) Chapter 89: Hungry Stone Coffin (2) I drew a line of magical power from the mana core inside my body and connected it to the hammer. [Enchantment: Aggressiveness] A single strand of magical power rapidly grew and spread its roots within the hammer. Inside the hammer, aplex circuit of magical power swiftly took shape. This too was a third-order magic. It had the effect of forcibly infusing ordinary tools with magic and forcibly turning them into artifacts. Of course, they couldnt be used indefinitely. The tools that were forcefully imbued with magic, would eventually break down as the magic within them degraded. But that brief moment was enough. [Forged from Ice] Crack-crack-crack-crack! The magical power within the hammer soon transformed into arge mass of ice. This expanding pir of ice became the handle, and then the head of a massive hammer. Boom! In an instant, it changed from a ceremonial tool to a weapon simr in size to the giant battle hammer that Kwak Dae-yong had previously wielded. And then [Power Enhancement] [Hardness Enhancement] [Range Increase] [Lethality Enhancement] [Explosive Strike] [Vital Point Strike] Creeeak The hammer no longer retained its ordinary form. Due to the excessive concentration of magical power, the hammer deteriorated in a grotesque way, and magic circles that were not originally there were blooming on the surface. Then The stone coffin continued to struggle with the same intensity to break free from the ghosts. So fierce was its determination that more than half of the arms entwining it had already vanished. Now, about the approaches I could take with this bastard There were about five different approaches. Simply smashing it, banishing it to another dimension, removing the soul housed within to turn it into a typical artifact But the most useful strategy in the long run is this one. Lets smash it! Though I applied enchantment magic, there are clear limitations with my strength stat of 8. Therefore, I brought in several of the ghostly arms that were entangled with the stone coffins body and made them swing the hammer with me. Boom! The massive ice hammer swung like a sh of lightning. The stone coffin couldnt dodge. It was tangled in the hands of the ghosts and was struck directly. The impact was substantial enough that the hefty weight of the stone coffin shook and lifted into the air. Right, with all the buffs on me, its only expected to have this much power. The stone coffin, knocked away by the strike, bounced back up to attack me again, but Boom! Crash! Crack, boom! From that point onward, the scene devolved into indiscriminate pounding. Each time I swung the hammer, it sounded as if mountains were copsing. The stone coffin was unable to put up much resistance and rolled around the basement several times. Yet despite this, the stone coffin charged at me again with stubborn ferocity. Then take some more! Baaaang!! Baaaang! Baaaaaaang! Heave heave Indeed, this is not a task for my body. Even with all the buffs, it was still so tiring Though I also had the intention of testing the third-order buffs. I concluded that even if I gained other buffs, I should avoid such actions as much as possible. But even amidst this, the stone coffin relentlessly flew at me. Its too hard! And not efficient! Baaaang!! Baaaaaaang! Warururuk! Wararak! Oh, no Theunched stone coffin unfortunately crashed into a shelf stacked with vials. The vials on the shelf toppled down, releasing a loud noise and emitting a brilliantly unpleasant smoke. And then Bang!! Boom! Kwaboom!! I wasnt sure what effects were in the vials, but some began to explode. Wow, what a mess. Want to go again? It seemed that the stone creature was finally realizing that it could not defeat me. Instead of charging again, it took a different action. Creaaaaaaaak Creaaaaaaaaaaaaak The stone coffin which had no way to make a voice made the sound of stones grinding against the lid. It was simr to a beast growling. What are you going to do if you growl at me! After a few more hits, the stone coffin was thoroughly subdued. It lost the will to resist and became docile, but that wasnt enough. If I just wanted to subdue it, there were many ways to do so without the trouble of beating it. I extended my hand towards the stone coffin and activated a special trait. [Hidden Trait Heir of the Corpse Pile activated.] This was not magic. It was a hidden trait gained by absorbing the Echo of Suffocation from the Hollow Lord. **** [Heir of the Corpse Pile]: You can turn otherworldly beings that have submitted to you into your minions. /The followers of the Leader of Suffocation will obey you. **** CharrararukShririririk. Magical reins and chains sprouted from the Echo of Suffocation residing in my soul and wrapped around the stone coffin. [Magical Storage Hungry Stone Coffin resists your trait with its willpower.] [Subjugation check in progress] [Check sessful! Magical Storage Hungry Stone Coffin recognizes the Echo of Suffocation within you and submits to your power.] Paahat. The magical symbols on the surface of the stone coffin writhed and began to change shape. Eventually, the symbols transformed to reflect the form of my soul and magical power pattern. Now, this stone coffin was also my possession. [Achievement Unlocked! You have subdued Magical Storage Hungry Stone Coffin. You have acquired Achievement: Magic Box. As a reward for the achievement, you gain all items stored inside the coffin and additional experience points.] Now, the emotions I sensed from it were fear, submission, frustration, and slight angerthats about it Its not like Im taming a wild horse But I have thoroughly tamed this stone coffin. You will serve as my vault. Hey, open up. The stone coffin flinched. It had an ambiguous shape to understand its expressions but I could feel a surprised, or rather a slightly prickly emotion. Open, I said. Im your master now. The stone coffin trembled for a moment before slowly opening its lid. Creaaaak When it opened its mouth No, I mean its lid, there was arge space, big enough to cram in a few people. And from within that space, the items stored there greeted me with dazzling brilliance. Hmm, I definitely like this. The wealth that Mr. Bones (The Hollow Lord) has umted over 150 years is now all mine. Come to think of it, did I ever ramble about achieving financial freedom after umting millions? Hey, past Kim Shin-hwa. You should be ashamed. So ashamed. Tonight, Ill likely sleep soundly and dream of counting money. *** A day had passed. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of the nightmare has been nullified.] Ugh my head hurts I hadnt slept properly, and it resulted in a headache. Ah, it feels like Ive been drinking. A terrible nightmare that returned after a long absence had kept me awake. This was because Heo Sang-hyeon had taken away the Ancient Gods Mirror which had been protecting me from nightmares until now. I tried not to think deeply about it, but just recalling that thought brought a slight irritation. I nced up at the second floor where Heo Sang-hyeon was likely sleeping and gritted my teeth. Tch Right, it wasnt Heo Sang-hyeons fault. Choosing to save Heo Sang-hyeon meant I had essentially chosen these nightmares. I sighed briefly and began the task I had nned the night before. Creak! Click! Squeak! Strange noises came from all around. These were the sounds of the necromancy golems tidying up the mansion. Today was the day for a thorough cleaning. The [Hungry Mansion] had be my new base since yesterday. This living room is located on the first floor of that mansion. Right, move that over there. Hey, that wont do. Bring a mop and start by cleaning the floor. Creak, creak, ck, rattle. As soon as I somewhat gathered myself from the nightmare, I awakened all the necromancy golems in the mansion. Though born as monsters to attack intruders in the mansion, they were now serving as workers to improve the living conditions of the mansion. For the sake of work efficiency, I also reconfigured the bodies of some golems. For example, there was one with a whip and a broom where its hands should be. A necromancy golem with four arms was rearranging a cab that had spilled its contents, and arge-bodied necromancy golem was moving a sofa. Others were cleaning windows, waxing the hallway, and mending curtains, among various tasks. The cleaning had been ongoing for almost half a day yet the living room and hallway had notpletely escaped their previously gloomy atmosphere. Anyway, this is a house haunted by a 150-year-old ghost No, this isnt an order. Continue what you were doing. This Hungry Mansion was a malevolent space filled with centuries of madness and dark energy. No amount of diligent cleaning in a day or two could transform this mansion into a usible country house. Considering such aspects and lowering my expectations considerably, if I looked around the mansion again I could now barely give it a clean bill of health. Necromancy golems of various forms were busily moving throughout the interior of the mansion. And as vigorously as the necromancy golems moved, the unpleasant noise they generated filled every corner of the mansion. Screech, squeak, creak! Squeak, squeak! Its not a pleasant sound. Since their bodies wereposed of various bits and pieces, it seems unlikely that any improvement would eliminate that noise. Maybe it would help to change the operational mechanism? Perhaps inserting bearings at each joint But before that, theres still a mountain of things that need organizing. For example the second floor. I climbed the stairs to the second floor. There are a total of four rooms on the second floor. And there is a staircase leading up from the second floor. Climbing that staircase takes you to an attic that is a bit difficult to call the third floor. However, the attic was of no significant importance even in the game. Is there just an infiltration path leading to the attic? If above the attic means the roof, there was a window leading to it. This was only used once when infiltrating the mansion in the game. It was likely just an element to provide various y experiences. Anyway, I dont have the energy to fix such a meaningless attic. For now, the focus was on the first and second floors and the basement. These areas alone covered almost 200 pyeong (unit). Moreover, although I forcibly squeezed in a rough sleep yesterday, if I wanted to sleepfortably tonight, I needed to quickly clean up the second floor. Worms with human-face patterns on their bodies emerged, spirits that still stubbornly remained in the mansion created unpleasant noises, and fully skeletonized corpses appeared from under the beds. Honestly, even without the presence of abyssal beings, it was a space where one couldnt sleep normally. Hmm, things are going well here too. As I surveyed the second floor, a few necromancy golems were busily moving around and tidying up each room. Just as I was inspecting the space I had mentally designated as my room, I briefly turned my gaze to the room next door. Hmm but what should I do about this one Heo Sang-hyeon was sleeping in this room. While one necromancy golem was busy cleaning the room, Heo Sang-hyeony there without any movement. To such an extent that he seemed not even to be breathing. Hisplexion was as pale as a corpse, dark circles were deeply etched under his eyes, and a sense of death was intuitively intense around him. I briefly manipted magical power to check on Heo Sang-hyeons condition. [System: The effect of Heavenly Divine Qi is active. // Heavenly Divine Qi: Automatically casts the Healing Meditation spell on a chosen target and increases the effect of rest by 100%.] In reality, he was dead a long time ago. His soul was forcibly trapped in his body by the power of necromancy. Now, the mirror hanging around his neck was forcefully preventing his soul from reaching Buddhahood. He wasnt alive, but it was also difficult to say that he waspletely dead. I cant sleep without it. The mirror was keeping Heo Sang-hyeon from dying. And if I wanted to sleepfortably, I needed that mirror. Not tidying up my room. Originally, the mirror was not created to keep Heo Sang-hyeon asleep like this. It was made to prevent my recurring nightmares. What to do? Should I just endure another vivid nightmare tonight? Or should I start making a new recement for the mirror right away? Chapter 90: Cleaning Chapter 90: Cleaning I scratched my head vigorously and sighed. Ah, theres still some use left in Heo Sang-hyeon if you look hard enough. Anyway, when the Hollow Lord died, Heo Sang-hyeons soul had taken significant damage. But it seems that the damage has now fully healed. If I just leave him alone without doing anything special, he should wake up on his own. I spoke to the necromancy golem loitering by his bedside. Keep an eye on him, and call me when he wakes up. Creak, tter. The necromancy golem made a gesture of understanding and then disassembled into several pieces of junk scattered around his bed. I went back down to the first floor. The necromancy golems were still busy organizing and cleaning. After checking the situation a bit more, I came to a conclusion. It looks like I can step back now. They all function well enough that I dont need to stand by and interfere. In short, I could afford to leave for a bit. It would be best to quickly visit my studio apartment now. I needed to bring back the items I left at my previous home toplete the move. And while I was out, I should buy the essentials needed for living here for a while. I also needed to stop by the pawnshop to purchase materials to create an artifact to rece the Ancient Gods Mirror that Heo Sang-hyeon had taken from me. But then again The food for these creatures is the problem. The necromancy golems eat mana, of course. And all that mana came from my own body. There were thirteen of these necromancy golems in total. I spent time improving their form structure, so using just my own pure mana to operate them shouldnt be a big problem, especially since we werent in abat situation. But even for someone like me, transmitting mana from the city to here is too much. Its natural that the efficiency of wireless charging decreases with distance. Of course, if I chose the path of a viin or a madman, I could solve the mana issue quite simply. Like the previous Hollow Lord, I could just make a pact with a being from the abyss to receive a supply of mana or dismantle the souls of innocent victims to extract their mana. Regardless of whether such actions were good or bad, engaging in them could lead to serious consequences anyway. I might bebeled a dark mage or a heretic and attract bounty hunters, or I could end up a mere skeletal undead, just like the Hollow Lord if I followed the demands of a being of the abyss. I pondered for a moment and then recalled an artifact that could be useful in this situation. Using that seems like the best option right now. Yesterday, I had defeated the stone coffin and received a mountain of rewards. Among them was something useful. I looked around briefly. Only the necromancy golems were moving around and cleaning the area. Where was that thing now? Hey~, Doldol-ah! It didnt seem to be on the first floor, and it wasnt on the second floor either maybe it was in the basement? Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! A heavy vibration echoed from the basement. It sounded like somethingrge and heavy moving dozens of legs. It was in the basement again? I went down the stairs and there came Doldol, the hungry stone coffin. Hey, wait, be careful! Crash! Doldol mmed into one of the necromancy golems with its huge body. sh, crash, tter! The necromancy golem shattered and debris scattered everywhere. Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! Regardless, Doldol didnt stop and continued running until it reached me. This thinging in like a wrecking ball tter tter, thud, thud. Doldol fiddled with the lid of the stone coffin as if peering around me. It was a motion that could be likened to that of a pet dog responding to its masters call. If someone tried hard enough, they might think its cute. Yes, good job. Yesterday, it was certainly a monster charging to devour me. A box-shaped monster bound to [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. But now that bond had been broken, and it had be bound to me. After that, for some reason, it took on a personality simr to that of an innocent pet dog. It seems to be influenced by my soul. And its changing its personality and tendencies. The problem is, if wereparing it to a dog, it would be arge breed. Arge dog unaware of its own size, strength, and weight A stone coffin the size of arge dog thrashing around in delight was a sight that was hard to regard as merely cute. Especially considering one could get seriously injured by its pure but dangerous iling. Anyway, go ahead and open it. Lets just take out one item. nk, nk. Creak Doldol seemed about to open the lid, then hesitated, closed its mouth, and backed away. It might be a movement difficult to understand normally, but I could sense Doldols emotional state, so I knew what it wanted. Come here. Here, Ill give you this instead. I held out a teacup that was nearby. nk, nk Clunk! Doldol hesitantly opened the lid with a cautious nce. Under the lid loomed a swirling and eerie darkness. Whoosh I threw the teacup into that darkness and it vanished into the bottomless void. Thud! Having swallowed the teacup, Doldol seemed satisfied and wriggled a bit before opening the lid again. This time, the same darkness was not visible. Doldol had opened its true storage inside. Good job, well done. The [Hungry Stone Coffin] was a magical box. This meant that it was an item that applied a simr concept to the limitless pouch that provided unlimited inventory bags, which wasmonly depicted in games. Inside, it was aplex and continuously ovepping multyered space. To ess a specific storage within these numerous spaces, I needed permission from the stone coffin, or rather from Doldol. While I couldnt tell where that strange subspace led, if I fed random items into that darkness Doldol liked it. This tendency must also be influenced by me. Do I now have to keep pleasing the whims of a box as I live? The thought of where my life was headed crossed my mind, but regardless, I inspected the contents of the box. The inside of Doldol was filled with items that looked like antiques at first nce. Not all of them could be considered top-quality, but each was an artifact endowed with magical powers or a sinister history. When the hungry stone coffin was destroyed, most of these items would disappear into some subspace. Well, some could be recovered with some effort. Only by subduing the hungry stone coffin Doldol could I im ownership of all these things. Moreover, some of the items held value beyond mere artifacts. For example, something like this. I picked up an old book from inside the stone coffin. [Great Yin Water Treasure Secret Scripture Category: Grimoire Author: Unknown Creation Year: 19th Century Language: Chinese It is a manual for the followers of the leader of suffocation. The original is presumed to have been written in French; this is a trantion of the original. It covers the ecology and history of beings that lurk in the darkness beneath the earth, methods to imprison and control human souls, and techniques for human sacrifices. Research is required to ascertain the true value of the book.] The leader of suffocation was an alias for the great old being worshipped by the Hollow Lord, known as [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. This ursed book was the reason this mansion was built and why a monster like Hollow Lord was born. And thus, the descendants born in this house were doomed to live as ves to the Hollow Lord, generation after generation. Of course, due to omissions and deteriorations during the trantion process, this book wasnt as valuable as the original, but it was still one of the finest grimoires that could be found in [Cthulhu World]. It seemed wise to check this book first, even if it meant dying the interpretation of the Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path However this isnt what I need right now. After I set aside the Great Yin Water Treasure Secret Scripture, an item hidden beneath it revealed itself. It was a silver mask with an borate design that gave off an unpleasant feeling. It was an excessively detailed replica of a real humans face. All items in this mansion seem to follow this pattern, but This one looked particrly ominous. It wasnt just a mask with an unpleasant appearance. This was a death mask cast in silver from a mold taken from a dead persons face. It also means there was originally a corpse that looked exactly like this mask. He was a mad cultist who invoked the influence of [He Who Comes from the Darkness] through vile and filthy rituals Hollow Lords father. Having lost his humanity and be a madman, he created offspring for the abyssal beings and ultimately, his soul was trapped in this mask. Gulp. What was that? Did I just swallow my saliva? Its the influence of mask obsession The madness that had taken root in my mind influenced my obsession with masks. It started simply as a symptom of needing to cover my face with a mask, but now, just seeing a mask-shaped object triggered excessive emotions within me. Definitely. I thought this mask was really cool. It was a mask crafted entirely by imprisoning a humans death. Despite the eerie mask seemingly still echoing the death throes of a soul, I now wanted to wear it urgently. Ugh I did take it out with the intention to wear it Lets not think too deeply about it now. Unlike other mental illnesses, my obsession with masks had lingered in my mind for too long. It seemed I needed to ovee this mask obsession before it led to more serious problems. As I took out the [Dead Mans Mask], I spoke to Doldol. Its okay to close it now. Thump! I patted the top of Doldols head that is, the upper part of the stone coffin and continued. Good job. Go rest on the second floor. Thud, thud, thud, thud! Crash! Bang, crunch! As Doldol rushed to the second floor, itpletely shattered another necromancy golem. I couldnt help but sigh when I felt arge amount of magical power being drained away. Ah Well, thats fine. I raised my hand and examined the mask I had retrieved from Doldols body. [Dead Mans Mask (A-rank essory): A mask made to seal the soul and magical power of a dead human. The longer it is worn, the more the wearer bes assimted with the soul trapped within the mask. Pure Silver Madness: Forces a sanity check when worn. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind and you will be possessed by the soul within the mask. Gift of the Dead: Allows for the storage and retrieval of magical power and knowledge within the mask. Soul Summon: Enables the summoning of the ghost residing in the mask.] The [Dead Mans Mask] was an A-rank artifact that could store and release magical power, serve as a catalyst, or act as the core of a magic circle. If the Hollow Lord had been equipped with this during the attack, it wouldnt have been possible to use a strategy that caused the depletion of his magical power. The storage capacity of magical power is enormous, making it a remarkable item but clearly, its not something to use carelessly because of the penalty. Instead, the more it was used, the more the wearer risked being consumed in body and mind by the ghost that resided within the mask. The mask which resembled the face of a dead person looked up at me. The empty holes where the eyes should have been showed nothing but an empty darkness, yet oddly enough, I felt someones gaze emanating from the awkwardly gaping hole of the mouth. From inside the mask, I sensed a look filled with curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of hunger. What are you expecting? Not even beings from the abyss can prate my mind; try as you might. However, I was immune to such types of penalties. I removed [Carcosas Mask] I was wearing and put on the [Dead Mans Mask] without hesitation. Chapter 91: Organizing Chapter 91: Organizing [The moment when you put on the dead mans mask on your face.] A message window appeared. [The whispers of the trapped spirit within the mask begin to echo.] [The penalty effect of the A-rank essory Dead Mans Mask, Pure Silver Madness is activated. // Pure Silver Madness: Forces a sanity check when worn. Failure in the check will result in a random mental illness afflicting your mind and you will be possessed by the soul within the mask. I started to hear distinctly odd noises. Come down,e into the darkness. Descend into the deep underground. Join us. Shed that ufortable skin and walk the deep underground with us. Down, down, down the infinitely descending spiral staircase. An unpleasant and disturbing voice continuously whispered towards my soul. [These strange whispers might also transform your soul and body into a form more fitting for the darkness.] [Attempting to resist the Curse of the Dead generated by the mask with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check failed] If I had failed, I would have been possessed by the spirit of the Hollow Lords father trapped in the mask and be a cultist worshipping a being of the abyss. However, that would never happen to me. I cant hear you, I cant hear you, I cant hear you I scratched around my corbone and waited for that effect to activate. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The result of the sanity check is changed to sess.] Good job. The message window disappeared without any additional messages. In an old mirror hanging in one corner of the living room, I saw myself wearing the mask. I looked like a mad mage who had lost his own face and borrowed that of a dead man. I activated another ability embedded in the mask. [The effect of the A-rank essory Dead Mans Mask, Gift of the Dead has been activated. // Gift of the Dead: Allows for the storage and retrieval of magical power and knowledge within the mask. Along with a dizzying tinnitus, magical power from theherworld began to flow from the Dead Mans Mask. Ziiiiiiing Its aplete hodgepodge of low purity magic power. The mask had a lot of magical power that the previous owner, the Hollow Lord, collected from various ces. Although it was a lot, it was impure and low-grade magical that was poorly refined. Unlike other magical powers I had absorbed before, absorbing such energy could cause internal injuries or, in martial arts terms, lead to something like qi deviation. Well, it doesnt matter since Im not going to use it. I pulled the lines of magical power emanating from the necromancy golems and transferred them into the mask. Clunk. As the path of the magic shifted, the golems simultaneously halted their movements and then reset and rebooted. Creeeek, creak, creeeek! Now, instead of drawing magical power directly from me, the necromancy golems were supplied with energy through the Dead Mans Mask. After floating a few magic circles in the air, I slowly removed the mask. The Dead Mans Mask ascended slowly into the air. It had essentially be a kind of auxiliary battery. While the magical power embedded within it was not unlimited and would eventually deplete, the soul sealed within the mask had formed a sort of mana core, which would recharge it to some extent. If it ever gets to the point where natural recharging isnt enough, I could always fill it up using the resonance stone. Phew I paused for a moment and touched my bare face. The feeling of my face being touched by my fingertips was indescribably eerie and unsettling. An unpleasant feeling of touching my human flesh. The very fact of exposing my bare face felt utterly horrific. Would I eventually go mad from this? Gradually, I was also beginning to forget what my own face looked like. I sighed again and put on [Carcosas Mask] that I had been wearing before. It was an indescribablyfortable feeling. Now, the face of a monster with four eyes was reflected in the mirror. Alright, shall I head out now? The only thing left was to move my important belongings from the studio apartment where I had been living on rent. After some thought, I decided to ask for the help of Jang Hyeon-deok. He was one of just two NPCs in Paju with whom I had formed a firm alliance. For reference, Tudor was a reliable broker, but she wasnt a firm ally of mine. And if I asked Cheong-ho who had be a firm ally recently, too many people might end up knowing my information. Jang Hyeon-deok grumbled for a moment but drove to the mansion without furtherint. Mage-nim, you know how much my fare is, right? About 500,000? No, I dont usually charge that much just for transport Thest time he took me to Tanhyeon, Jang Hyeon-deok had boldly extorted 500,000 won from me, but now he hesitated and his words trailed off. Of course, Tanhyeon is one of the most dangerous areas in Paju, so naturally, the fares then and now cannot be simplypared. And by the way, that needs to be loaded too, is that alright? That? What is that Aaaaaahhhhh!! Thud, thud, tter, crash! Doldol rushed towards Jang Hyeon-deok. It was a stone coffin that was indistinguishable from a huge boulder. Doldols appearance was no big deal to me, but for Jang Hyeon-deok who was seeing Doldol for the first time it was as if a mountain was charging at him. Jang Hyeon-deok was so startled that he almost fell over. Had the call van not been parked behind him, he truly would have tumbled to the ground. If that had happened, I might have lost one of my only two firm allies today. Amitabha. What is this! What is this?! Its Doldol. Doldol!?! Aaaah! Stop, donte any closer! Thud, tter, bang! What a mess. Its definitely a bit too big to fit in the car. I momentarily summoned my magical power and stretched out my hand towards Doldol. A brilliant magic circle formed around the bulky body of Doldol. If I adjust this, and reposition that [Shrink] Whirrrr!!! It was a spell that became avable after unlocking third-order magic. As the magic activated, Doldols size reduced. Now, Doldol was about a small stone box, roughly 50cm in size. As straightforward as the name of the spell was its effect. However, calcting the area of effect and pressure was a bitplex. After all, it was magic that disregarded thew of conservation of mass. Jang Hyeon-deok wore a look of surprise at the effect of the magic that had been activated right before his eyes. It seemed to be mixed with a bit of admiration and awe. Mage-nim, can I learn magic too? Um you probably cant. Why not? Because youre slow. Im not slow! Im very sharp and No, I mean your mind is slow. Jang Hyeon-deok continued to whine without stopping. Regardless, I loaded Doldol into the back of the car and sat in the passenger seat of Jang Hyeon-deoks call van. Hasnt the car been fixed yet? Ah, I havent had the time. Thest time Jang Hyeon-deok helped me, the car was damaged quite a bit. There were still dents, scratches, and torn marks everywhere even now. Get it fixed quickly and send me the bill for the repairs. Ah, I will fix it. But I was a big help, wasnt I? I looked at Jang Hyeon-deok, who was momentarily puffing up his chest with pride. There he was, facing me with that expression. Why arent we starting yet? Oh Right. You were a big help. Thanks. Oh, you dont need to say that Hahaha! Oh Alright, were setting off now! *** Cleaning the studio apartment in Geumchon was not a difficult task. All I had to do was tell Doldol to swallow everything in the room and it was done. However, there was an issue when Doldol identally swallowed the refrigerator, which was included as part of the apartments amenities. Hey! Spit it out, you! Why would you swallow that? Grrrrrr, crackle. That noise was Doldol being stubborn after I forcibly removed the refrigerator. Should I call it gluttony? Or maybe a hoarding instinct? Fortunately, even without coveting the refrigerator, there were plenty of items in the studio apartment that caught Doldols interest. Doldol particrly enjoyed swallowing the cursed gold ornaments that came from the bodies of the golden dancers. It was even shivering with delight. Im not sure what the difference is, but it seems it has its own tastes. Alright, step back for a moment, Doldol. When Doldol stepped back, I summoned my magical power. [Memory Erase] Fwoooosh!! It was a spell that removed magical fingerprints and traces left in space, as well as the memories of objects. I had never done anything to warrant that level of tracking, but now, not even a psychic with psychometry abilities or a druid who could read the Earths memory would be able to find any trace of me. Additionally, I had sprayed a magical smokescreen as a precaution against any unforeseen situations before I could finally leave this studio apartment. Are we really leaving empty-handed? As I said earlier, everything is packed inside Doldol. Wow Jang Hyeon-deok wore a look of amazement. Where can I find something like this? You should try hard and rob a haunted house somewhere too. Ugh, I cant do that alone. If you take the lead, Ill help. Jang Hyeon-deok responded with a grimace. No, Id rather give up. The cramped studio apartment I had lived in for a few months was now behind me. There were still some paperwork formalities left, but vacating was something I could manage over a phone call on my way out. So, should we head back to that theme park right away? No, sorry, but lets stop by the market first. The market? Are you going to see the old man? Wasnt that supposed to be a secret ce? Ah, you underestimate me, Mage-nim. Ive been in this business for six years; how could I not know why fixers frequent Geumchon Market? Indeed, that was the case. The Geumchon neighborhood was the only ce where you could pick up useful artifacts. It must be information picked up from other fixers. The market was not far away, so we arrived near the pawnshop quickly. It was getting dark. It was a quiet time when vendors were preparing to pack up their stalls, but today, there was an unusuallyrge crowd and the atmosphere was bustling. Whats going on? There are a lot of people. Ah, the night market started yesterday. Everyones going to stay open until 10 p.m. A night market? Yes. Oh, you might not know? They do it every year around this time. Hmm I see. But with so many people, theres nowhere to park the car? Ill be in that alley over there, so call me when youre done. Certainly, Geumchon Market had a more vibrant atmosphere than usual. The market boasted temporary stalls selling unusual foods that were not typically seen, and there were various bright lights and impressive banners everywhere. The problem is Why does the night market exist? I know that around this time, there is a night market in Paju, or specifically, in Geumchon Market. But that schedule belongs to the reality I originally lived in. In [Cthulhu World], such trivial events do not exist. Of course, not everything here was exactly like the game, but still, I felt oddly out of ce. The fact that justst night I fought against a 150-year-old skeleton seemed unbelievable given the mundane scene around me. It felt as though I was not in some bizarre otherworld with fixers and monsters, but had actually returned to my original world. Of course, I couldnt just blend in immediately. Iyered several spells to minimize my presence then walked through the peaceful Geumchon Market. ******* TN: Doldol is cute! Chapter 92: Heo Sang-hyeon Chapter 92: Heo Sang-hyeon Hey, whats this? Youre back again, masked person? To be honest, I was a little sentimental. But that emotion shattered instantly upon seeing the chaotic scene at Geumchon Pawnshop and Jeong Eun-taek. Yes, old man. Im here. That part-timer isnt here today? Today, Jeong Ye-eun who usually helps at the pawnshop was nowhere to be seen. That kid ran off to the night market. Ah, I see. Could I ask for some items? So, what do you need today? Um Id like to buy about 10 meters of silver thread, if you have any? And some branches for materials. Any type of wood will do, as long as theyre blessed or consecrated. I dont know what youre nning to do with all this stuff. My requests continued at length. Each time, Jeong Eun-taek grumbled with a look of disgust on his face, but strangely enough, I managed to gather everything I needed. This ce is truly out of the ordinary. Just a short walk beyond the door, the citizens of Paju were happily munching on street food and taking selfies at the night market, yet here I was, buying ghoul finger bones and dried hydra skins. As I was finishing up the payment, Jung Eun-taek hesitated for a moment before speaking. Hey, you mentioned wanting to go to the Thousand Gold Temple before, right? I had been meaning to ask about it myself, but he brought it up first. Yes, I had now surpassed level 30, which meant I was eligible to enter the Thousand Gold Temple. Can I get an entry ticket? Hmph, its not that easy to get one. But you must have brought it up for a reason? At myment, Jung Eun-taek frowned again. A contact of mine asked for a fixer. Turns out, theres no one quite like you around? Um that must be an exaggeration. Exaggeration, my foot. I may have washed my hands of that business a long time ago, but Im not deaf yet. Jung Eun-taek paused before continuing. Tch, anyway, Ill send a message through the alley witch in about a fortnight, so take the job. Looks like someone is nning to visit the Thousand Gold Temple, huh? Yes, a teacher who I owe a great deal to from about 20 years ago wants to visit the Thousand Gold Temple. Can I ask for your help? It was a bit roundabout, but this was essentially a prerequisite quest to enter the Thousand Gold Temple. I would be visiting the Thousand Gold Temple with someone who possessed an entry ticket. I answered with a smile. Of course. Since my face was always hidden by a mask, there was no need to manage my expression. *** After a short journey, we were in front of the hungry mansion again. Do you want toe in and rest for a bit? No, no, no, no! I have a schedule lined up after this, so I need to get going to work! Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to still have some trauma rted to ghosts as he fumbled around. That kind of issue isnt easily fixed. Please call me again next time. If its Mage-nim asking, I can go anywhere! Jang Hyeon-deok left with those shameless words. His tone was such that it seemed unlikely that I would need to call him anytime soon, but we would meet again sooner than he expected. After all, the mansion was deep in the mountains, far from the city, and there were no buses that came this way. Even for something as simple as buying food and drink, I would likely need to call Jang Hyeon-deok. After watching Jang Hyeon-deok leave, I went back into the house with Doldol. The cleaning was almost finished by now. The dust that gathered along with the heavy presence of negative energy was nowrgely cleared away, along with the old air and the ghosts that had clung to the mansion. Of course, this didnt mean that the mansion had lost its identity as a haunted house. Even after all the fuss that had been going on all day, the mansion was still dark and gloomy. Evil ghosts not yetpletely expelled still lingered in every corner. Those malicious bastards It was awkward to say they were merely tenants inconvenienced by the change in homeownership, but it seemed they too were taken aback by their suddenly overturned nest. As my gaze reached them, they slipped into the cracks in the walls and disappeared somewhere. Hunting them down to drive them out would prove to be an exhausting task. I cant really me Jang Hyeon-deok for running away No matter what, this mansion was still a haunted house. And its identity would continue to be the same in the future. I dont have all the time in the world, so lets resolve other matters first. Doldol! Follow me to the basement! I called Doldol and headed down to the basement. nk, nk, rumble, rumble! It moved more noisily than before now that it shrunk in size. Lets take out what we put in earlier. Creaaak! One of the spaces inside Doldol opened. Now that it was reduced in size, Doldols interior was justrge enough for a human head to barely pass through, yet from within it spilled the contents of an entire studio apartment. Cursed jewels, golden dancers body fragments, a golden skull still alive and in hibernation, an egg created from the fusion of the lump of flesh and the parasite, several grimoires and magic stones, assorted junk collected from various ces, magical catalysts, materials, and neglected artifacts due to their low utility poured out. The basement had been used by the previous owner, Hollow Lord, as his magicboratory and a ce to disassemble the victims of his necromancy. It was also a space where many creatures had lost their lives. Although necromancy golems had been employed to clean it, traces of its past could not bepletely erased. A subtle stench of blood and decay lingered around. Well, this will get better as we keep using it. After all, this space was the mages workshop I had long desired. As the necromancy golems busily tidied up, I examined Hollow Lords research journal and grimoires scattered around the basement. Although my presence seemed to hinder the cleanup, no oneined; none of the golems possessed the self-awareness to do so. This was a researchb that had been used for 150 years by someone directly sponsored by a being of the abyss. Although I had pilfered from this mansion a few times before, this was the first time I had taken possession of it in such aplete state. The magical systems were different from my own so some adjustments were needed, but I could use most of the existing furnishings as they were. The materials that remained here were somewhat biased towards a particr field, but they would ultimately be my magic and knowledge. Thanks to this, I can start immediately without much preparation. I also resolved to tackle the tasks I had postponed under the excuse of not having a workshop. The golden dancers head, which I had brought from Tanhyeon, caught my eye. Ive been wondering where to use this. Once everything is ready, Ill start with that. It was a powerful magical creature that even I had struggled to handle. Combining it with the necromancy golems technology could create something incredibly useful. If I prepare adequately, I expect to receive a request through Tudor to visit the Thousand Gold Temple. I still hold expectations for the ck market that Cheongho mentioned. Perhaps because now I had a house, a lot of future-oriented thoughts came to mind. Once Iplete the necessary preparations at this mansion, I can begin the mid-game y of this [Cthulhu World]. I will not just stay in Paju but travel to other areas to advance the main story. Having finished my thoughts, I summoned several necromancy golems to tidy up the workshop. Now, I could afford to rest. Stretching my still sore body, I slowly emerged from the basement when an unexpected problem arose. [] It was a signal from a necromancy golem I had tasked with monitoring Heo Sang-hyeon. What inconvenient timing. Heo Sang-hyeon woke up. I sighed briefly and looked out the window along the corridor. Outside, it was dark with stars scattered across the sky. My sleep pattern was already irregr but it seemed I would sleep only after the sunrise today. When I arrived at Heo Sang-hyeons room on the second floor, I knocked on the door slowly before opening it. And when I entered the room, Heo Sang-hyeon was startled and struggled to sit up. If I were to count the time he was asleep, it was roughly over 24 hours. I silently watched him to gauge his condition. However, his appearance did not reveal his health status. His face remained pale and skinny like a corpse, with that distinctive aura of the undead. To truly assess his condition, I needed to look beyond his outward appearance and into his inner state. The negative magical power flowing within Heo Sang-hyeon was more active than before. Surprisingly, the power of the Ancient Gods Mirror had enhanced his inherent magic and filled him with a different kind of energy. It was magic that responded instantly to my will Since it originated from me. Well, you seem to be in better condition than I expected. Heo Sang-hyeon, whose gaunt face made hisrge eyes stand out, blinked excessively and rolled his eyes before hesitating slightly and then speaking. Ma-Master? Ugh, I guessed it would turn out like this, but its still troublesome. Only recently had I be a mage solving various incidents in the supernatural Paju, but before that, I, Kim Shin-hwa, was just an ordinary office worker in South Korea for decades. It was unnatural for me to hear someone eight years older calling me Master. Drop the Master talk. How are you feeling? I am alright. Much better than before I am. Thats good to hear. But He unconsciously fumbled with the mirror around his neck. It was a different technique from the necromancy magic that had previously bound him to this world. It was much kinder than necromancy. However, Heo Sang-hyeon seemed awkward with the sensation. How did you do it? How did you handle the Master? And what exactly happened to me? Um I had left him alone for this conversation, but what should I talk about next? It seemed that Heo Sang-hyeon was referring to someone else as his Master, not me. Firstly, your former master, Hollow Lord, is dead. Dead? That cant be! Why cant it be? You can sense it yourself, right? And just as youve sensed, I havee to own everything in this mansion. Yes I am aware. Everything mentioned here included even Heo Sang-hyeon, who was a ve to the Hollow Lord. Most of his past actionstalking with me, mocking me, attacking mehad nothing to do with his will. Perhaps the only true expression of his will was his attempt to drive me away immediately when we just met. Now, despite that, I have no intention of forcibly keeping you as a ve. Nor do I wish to waste magical power and a precious artifact without purpose. Heo Sang-hyeon briefly shed a vague smile. It was the kind of smile that could be worn by a fanatic devoid of self. What Heo Sang-hyeon thought before doesnt matter. Loyalty to me is already being instilled in his mind. His loyalty to me takes precedence over any personal needs for protection or desires for hope and dreams. If I were tomand him to die, he would embrace death with joy and ecstasy. I probably wont understand your desires or your psychology. Ive never died ande back to life. Of course, the concept of personal desire may be weak for you given the artificially induced loyalty I reached out my hand towards him. A few magic circles blossomed around my extended hand in the middle of the air between Heo Sang-hyeon and me. Some of the magic circles were connected to the mirror hanging around Heo Sang-hyeons neck, and others were linked to his head and heart. I moved the circle connected to his head. Buzzzzzz. The magic circles shifted ording to my will, and soon a part of the shackles entwined with Heo Sang-hyeons mind transformed. Specifically, I had removed the coercive loyalty that constrained his thoughts and actions. At the same time, an immediate response urred in his body. His lifeless lips twisted and his bony hands trembled violently. This was the original emotion that Heo Sang-hyeon should feelfear. Now, can you think a bit more for yourself? Heo Sang-hyeon seemed unable to open his mouth. With a troubled expression, he just rolled hisrge eyes and hunched his body. If you wish for salvation, I will liberate you now. There will be no pain or difort. I, I, I I But I raised my hand to stop his words. Listen until the end. Yes. If you wish to live longer in this state, I can help you with that. His eyes widened again. They were sorge that even I could feel the anxiety. Of course, it wont be for free. I need a butler to manage the mansion. Although he couldnt see it behind the mask, I was smiling. Chapter 93: New Job Chapter 93: New Job |Do you think you can keep avoiding this?| An unpleasant voice. |Dreams are the true reality. The ce you think is real is just a short dream of one night.| Voices rise from a deep abyss. A nauseating chorus from hundreds of mouths. An irritating cacophony. |Do you think this is just a simple dream?| |Right now, at this moment, you are connected to us.| |You can never escape.| |Did you think you could stop us with that toy?| |Not for a single day have you escaped from us.| |You have merely forgotten.| Noises buzz like a swarm of flies. A simultaneous horrific cry. The slime of darkness. |In the end, what you clench in your small hand is nothing more than a handful of sand.| |The tidal wave is approaching. The great flood will soon begin. The wave rising from the abyss will reveal what you have been ignoring.| A snickeringughter. |Yes, keep dreaming. Keep dreaming your delightful, yet futile dreams.| Crackle [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of the nightmare has been nullified.] It seems this wont do after all. I looked at the dreamcatcher hanging by my bedside. As expected, the silver core waspletely stained ck. [Silver Dreamcatcher (B-rank Magical Tool): A handmade dreamcatcher woven from birch imbued with magical power and silver thread. It possesses the power to ward off evil and block the intrusion of dream demons. Dream Veil: Blocks magical and cursed influences that approach through dreams. Creator: Kim Shin-hwa Current Status: Ruptured due to overload] It held up well. It blocked nightmares for about two weeks, but eventually, it broke. Ah To make something as good as the Ancient Gods Mirror, should I use more expensive materials? In any case, the Ancient Gods Mirror contained the influence of ancient gods. Ancient gods. Or the Old Gods, Great Spirits, Pure Souls, the Great Ones, beings existing since before the dawn of time, and so on. People call them what they will, but the mostmonly epted name was ancient gods. These were surreal beings who existed at the opposite pole of the existence of the abyss and opposed its existence. As a result, there were those who thought of them as good gods opposing the evil ones, but that wasnt exactly the case. Depending on the circumstances, even the ancient gods could turn into demons or disasters at any moment. From the human perspective, they were entities far too powerful and merciless. Should I say that they were akin to storms or tsunamis? Just as there can be no benevolent tsunamis or kind-hearted storms, the very existence of the ancient gods was nothing short of a massive disaster. Still, from a yers perspective, dealing with ancient gods is somewhat easier. Among them, there were some who had appeared in human history in a positive light a few times, and if one traced the origins of ancient religions or native beliefs, they would find these entities. Thanks to that, many of them were rtively easier tomunicate with. Besides, the enemy of my enemy is my ally. The ancient gods generally despised the beings of the abyss. Thanks to this, there were times when they would lend their power or wisdom if one decided to fight against the abyssal beings. If one were to put it bluntly, both sides were like gangsters. The difference was that whoever had the first im to the territory had been there longer and couldmunicate better. It was an artifact with such origins, and although the Ancient Gods Mirror was of low rank, it had the power to block the influence emanating from the beings of the abyss. I removed the dreamcatcher that had been hanging by my bedside and examined the deteriorated parts. A simple item crafted by gathering magical or natural energies had its limitations. Tsk, next time I need to make something better. I tossed the dreamcatcher toward the trash can in the corner of the room. Thud, thunk. The dreamcatcher hit the rim of the trash can and fell to the floor. However, there was no need for me to go over and pick it up again. Creak, screech The trash can moved on its own and swallowed the dreamcatcher. It had been two weeks since I acquired the Hungry Mansion. Although I kept in touch with Tudor and Jang Hyeon-deok from time to time, I hardly went out. I had paused my work as a fixer to focus on tranting grimoires and crafting artifacts. There were some minor sesses, though But I wasntpletely satisfied. Most of what I achieved was merely stabilizing the current situation or temporarily postponing problems. Of course, it wasnt that nothing had changed. After briefly washing my face, I picked up my clothes, put them on, and went down to the first floor. Ah, youre awake? This was Heo Sang-hyeon who ended up sharing a room with me. You woke up early again today? Well, I woke up in the morning. Hmm. What time is it now? It feels like daytime. Its 2 PM. Ive finally managed to wake up at a decent hour. Ill prepare the meal now, so please wait a moment. Understood. An undead that I unintentionally too over from the Hollow Lord. In the end, Heo Sang-hyeon decided to live a little longer. Now, my rtionship with Heo Sang-hyeon was a firm alliance just like my rtionship with Cheong-ho or Jang Hyeon-deok. Of course, the situation with Jang Hyeon-deok was a bit different. ording to the system of [Cthulhu World], he was my summon essentially a magical ve. And at the same time, he is also a butler NPC thates with the housing system. Although Ive removed his excessive level of loyalty, its ambiguous to say hes entirely free. After all, he was both a summon and a butler. In the games system, the titles a yer can be called by such beings are limited. At first, Heo Sang-hyeon tried to address me with that title. But now Shin-hwa-nim, its ready. Yes. It was a bit strange to think this way, but once I started, there seemed to be no end. Shin-hwa ya, since Im your hyung, Ill call you informally. Would our rtionship go as far as that kind of development? Anyway, I decided to keep my title like this for the time being. Beside the living room on the first floor was a dining area. In the center of the dining area, there was arge table covered with a pristine white tablecloth. The table wasrge enough to host a banquet for more than ten people, yet today, I was the only one eating on it. On one side of the table, there was a cup of milk, pancakes, jam, fried eggs, sd, grilled sausages, grilled tomatoes, grilled pineapple, and bite-sized pieces of cheese Listing them one by one, it sounded like a lot but they were mostly one or two pieces each, so the quantity was moderate. The problem was more about the vast table. The sight of a meal for one neatly set on such a wide space seemed incredibly ridiculous. Ive always thought about this, but isnt this dining room excessivelyrge? The previous owner often held banquets Heo Sang-hyeon infused a strange nuance into the word banquet. Hollow Lord, Heo Sang-hyeons former master and the owner of this mansion, did not like to waste corpses. Human corpses were highly useful as magical materials, ingredients for golems, and catalysts for spells. And the leftovers could still be used as ornaments or even food ingredients. Perhaps those banquets were some sort of inhumane and repulsive ritual. Or maybe they were just frivolous acts to satisfy the Hollow Lords sadistic desires. That makes sense. Yes, Ill be in the living room for a while. Okay. It seems Hollow Lord liked to invite others who shared his peculiar tastes for meals, but I never enjoyed eating with others. After all, one cannot eat while wearing this mask. I took out the dining mask I had left in the dining room and switched it. Its a mask with openings for the jaw and mouth. The eyes, forehead, nose, and cheeks are still covered, but having even a part of my face exposed makes me ufortable. To avoid identally catching sight of any part of my face, I had all the mirrors in the dining room removed. I even got rid of the metal utensils. It might be called the obsession of a lunatic but Well, I am a lunatic after all. Ah, this is fu*king ridiculous. I tried to think positively, but its not easy. What is this mess, really? I wish I could get over this obsession with masks quickly. I spread jam on pancakes with a wooden spoon and ate slowly. Ah, this meal is really Excessively delicious. Heo Sang-hyeon said it was nothing special, but it tasted fantastic. At first, I wondered why anyone would cook fruit, but I learned that some fruits taste better cooked than raw. Thebination of juicy sausages that burst with vor and pineapples grilled with sugar created a delightful sweet and salty harmony. Fluffy pancakes and the fine-quality grape jam that Heo Sang-hyeon imed to have made himself followed suit. He said he had continued to make this jam even while he was enved by the Hollow Lord. To put it in a twisted way, you could say it was a jam created by an undead who could neither die nor live while the horrific ughter and sphemous rituals were taking ce in this mansion. However, it was the only food Heo Sang-hyeon made by his own will, amidst a life devoid of freedom. Its hard to dwell on negative thoughts with jam this delicious. Though he took the Ancient Gods Mirror from me, I gained a meal like this so its not a loss. Life in the harsh conditions of the Cthulhu world after falling from my usual self-sufficient life had been too long. What will they prepare for dinner tonight? Just as I was nearly finished eating, My smartphone began to vibrate. Beforeing to this world, I really lived glued to my phone andputer Games and web novels. Those were my only hobbies, the joys that filled most of my life. But now that I was trapped in this bizarre world and living as if being chased every day, ironically Ah, right, a phone call. I hardly ever use my phone, so I forgot that I needed to answer it when it vibrated. Dear! Why didnt youe to see me when you were at the marketst time? It was Tudor. How did she know I had been to Paju fifteen days ago? Well, it wasnt really a situation where I could stop by. What? Do you know how busy its been heretely? Are you going to keepzing around like this? Busy? Whats going on? Hmph, never mind. You shoulde and see what its like here these days, but right now, listen to what I have to say about work. Calling this early, must be a request for a job, right? Early? Its the crack of dawn right now. It was 2 PM. Dear I know fixers tend to be like this, but how about living like a normal person for a change? To be scolded like this by a witch who could go without sleep and work 24 hours was indeed something else . Lets talk about work instead of my lifestyle habits, shall we? Ah, right. So, I see youve been making friends andworking in ces I dont know about? Making me jealous, huh? Networks and the current timing. I roughly understood why she had called. I see why you called. Is it a bodyguard job? Hehe your quick thinking really makes things easier. Yes, its a request that came through the old man from Geumchon Pawnshop. Its to guard a gentleman, and the location is none other than The Thousand Gold Temple. Thats right. You! My pretty thing! How did you manage to snag a job at the Thousand Gold Temple? They say a diligent broker finds good fortune even in her sleep. Must be Buddhas grace for all my church-going. Though it was clearly a joke, when it came from a witch who had crossed over from Europe, it sounded serious enough to be a bit scary. Tudor exined the rough details of the request, and I agreed to move out tomorrow. We ended the call with that n in ce. Tomorrow, it seems, I will finally have a chance to go out. Chapter 94: Booming Business Chapter 94: Booming Business I just finished breakfast and stepped into the living room to speak with Heo Sang-hyeon. I will be away for a while starting tomorrow. Heo Sang-hyeons already darkplexion seemed to darken even more at the news. For a while? Then. when might you return? If early, perhaps by dawn the same day. Ifte, it could take a day or two. Depending on the situation, it might even be a few weeks. While situations that took weeks to resolve were rare, they were not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Im not sure how this will sound to you, Shin-hwa-nim. Heo Sang-hyeon widened his eyes as he emphasized his next words. This is a hungry mansion. I know. Visitorse here asionally? But the visitors werent Hollow Lords old friends or acquaintances who shared mutual favors with him. It wasnt as if such bizarre people existed. Its all because of the Home Usurpation system. Its an annoying system that you dont have to worry about in an ordinary house where you pay monthly rent. Securing a residence with special options and good features is not only difficult to acquire but also challenging to maintain. Periodically, NPCs in situations like mine or random bands of thieves would invade and try to seize my residence. Especially notorious mansions like the Hungry Mansion often attracted righteous fixers hoping to collect bounties. There is someone to guard it, so there shouldnt be any major problems. I assured himfortably but on the contrary, Heo Sang-hyun widened his alreadyrge eyes and became nervous. I understand. I will do my best What? No, I know you are capable, but there shouldnt be a need for you to take direct action. But The guardians are the necromancy golems in the mansion. Additionally, I had painstakingly ced security magic both inside and outside the mansion. It would be difficult for the clumsy ones to even step into the courtyard of the mansion. And if the worstes to pass and all that is breached use this. With that, I pointed to an object floating in the air in the living room. That mask? It was the Dead Mans Mask. It might look a bit off, but it should resolve most issues anyway. Understood. Though it was easy to say, my conscience was prickling a bit. The mask which was modeled after the face of a dead person, contained the soul of one of Heo Sang-hyeons ancestors from several generations ago. In seeking the cause of Heo Sang-hyeons state of being neither alive nor dead, one would eventuallye upon this elders spirit. Knowing this full well, I still rmended that he use his ancestors power and magic to resolve the issues. Again, I must remind you that the situation requiring you to use this should not arise. Theplexity of the situation made me overly talkative. Well, anyway, I must now pack my things. Please take care of cleaning up the dining area. Yes, I understand. Leaving Heo Sang-hyeon behind, I descended into the basement. Though I had confidently reassured Heo Sang-hyeon, I was also a little uneasy about suddenly vacating the mansion I had just secured. But what unnerved me more was the future that loomed before me. I recalled what thest message window said. [Soon, the judges who represent the will of the Abyss will] It hinted that the main scenario was about to begin. At this point, the fastest way to strengthen my power was through the Thousand Gold Temple. Only there could certain artifacts be found, and only there could certain items be disposed of. I said while looking around at the magic materials piled up in the basement. Well I must finish organizing this by tomorrow so I can go out with peace of mind. What was ced on the workbench was the head of a beautiful monster shining in golden light. The head of a golden dancer with its eyes quietly closed. I extended my magical power towards it and activated the power contained in Carcosas mask. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated.] Terrible screams began to echo from the dark basement of this mad mage. It was the dreadful scream of a non-human entity. The next day. I finally returned to the Geumchon neighborhood after a long while. Mage-nim. Yes? Jang Hyeon-deok, who was driving, spoke with a serious expression on his face. Are you really going to keep calling me for this kind of job? You make easy money too, isnt that nice? Well, its nice since you pay well considering the distance A secure taxi is a service that can be found only in certain dangerous areas like Paju, even in [Cthulhu World]. Compared to regr taxis, they provided much stronger security and safety but charged exorbitant rates. Instead of charging based on distance like regr taxis, secure taxis charged based on the level of danger. Just keep driving for me until I buy a car. Do you have a drivers license? I dont. Um Jang Hyeon-deok stopped talking for a moment and he had a puzzled expression on his face. The silence was brief, and he continued to grumble afterward. However, as I was about to get out of his car, Jang Hyeon-deok made a suggestion. Ill be driving around the area running a regr taxi business for a while, so call me if you need anything. Alright. Despite his grumbling, it seemed that was going to be the oue anyway. After I left Jang Hyeon-deok, I mounted the board I had brought with me and entered the dark alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood. My destination today was Vasilisa. Just yesterday, I finally received the call I had been waiting for from Tudor. When I entered Vasilisa, I was surprised by the unusuallyrge crowd. The caf was typically filled with burly mercenaries and grim fixers, but today it was exceptionally crowded. Every table was upied, and people who couldnt find a seat leaned against the walls. There were various weapons and magical powers. Not only Koreans but also foreigners of different skin colors and in diverse attire were present. They were fixers and each with their own unique skills. In this chaotic gathering of remarkable individuals, one person stood out conspicuously. He was a remarkably neat and genteel middle-aged man who seemed out of ce in the shop. He was seated in a wheelchair and engaged in conversation with the people sitting across from him at the table. His inherent magical power was nothing extraordinary, but there was an ominous aura emanating from somewhere within him. Although it is suppressed thats a fierce venom. What has he brought with him? As always, it was the first time I had seen him, but it wasnt our first meeting in the true sense. The thought of acknowledging him crossed my mind, but I decided against it. After all, he would soon be someone with whom I would engage in an excessively long conversation. I turned around and headed towards the counter. Orb, hello? Hel-lo? Shi-hwa. Its-been-a-while. The reply came back in a voice that sounded mechanically spliced. Over two meters tall with a huge monitor where a head should be. And a smiley face was disyed on that monitor. Orb was the barista of Vasilisa. Its quite busy today, isnt it? Lately-its-been-busy. A boom-in-business Instead of the smiley, the symbols $ flickered on his monitor for a moment. You seem less busy than usual, Orb? Probably-because-Tudor-is-busy. Right. Its unusual not to see Tudor around. Tudor who was always either lying in a corner of the shop or chatting with the customers was nowhere to be seen. When I looked in front of Tudors office, there were a lot of muscr men with menacing eyes. It looked like they were standing in line and waiting for a consultation, right? A sudden boom in business. Tudor who brokers jobs for illegal human resources being in a boom meant something catastrophic was slowly drawing closer to this world. I had been keeping track of the dates, but this is happening sooner than expected? I was a yer. So depending on the choices I make, who I fight, and whom I meet, a different main scenario emerges each time. While the details of each main scenario may vary slightly, the most critical aspect remains unchanged. A horrific catastrophe that will devastate this world is looming, and as a precursor, monsters and madmen begin to stir from the shadows of this world. Tudor-told-me that, if Shin-hwa-shows up, call me. Wait a bit. Orb circled the counter and slowly made his way toward Tudors office. His walk is truly cool. Its a graceful and stylish stride that even runway fashion models would struggle to emte. He stood tall among the monstrous fixers. His upper body was shaped like an inverted triangle, his forearms were highlighted by prominent veins and muscles, and a tight ck apron was wrapped around his waist. From head to toe. He was a finely selected barista that fit exactly Tudors taste. Especially his head, I suppose. After delivering a brief message in Tudors office, Orb made a gesture indicating Tudor would be out soon and returned to the counter. By the way, you didnt see curtain call, did you? Collie-went-to-Cheonan. The word Cheonan appeared on Orbs monitor. Cheonan? Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province? Yes. Cheonan, huh What on earth could Curtain Call be doing there? Whatever the job, Curtain Call excels at one thing and that is killing people. In fact, its safe to say thats the only thing she knows how to do. No matter who hired Curtain Call, they could only ask her to kill people. Amitabha Oh. Wasnt there a Helistic factory there? As was the case with most properties owned by Helistic, very illegal and antisocial activities were conducted at that factory. If you y out a story opposing Helistic, you can also enjoy an event where that factory gets destroyed. While I was pondering all of this, Tudors voice suddenly rang out. Dear! Come in quickly! When I looked towards the source of the voice, I saw Tudors head just peeking out from the office door. To the side, I saw those Mohican-like men in leather jackets chattering as they walked out. It seems their consultation was over. Arent you busy? Because its busy,e quickly! Ah, yes. Im on my way. Clearly, Tudor has been much busier recently. The office which was usually a mess greeted me in an even more chaotic state than usual. Maybe you should ask Orb to tidy up? I am tidying up. It was clean this morning. I see. By the way, since I havent seen you in a while Tudor paused and looked at me for a moment Oh Arent you amazing? She eximed awkwardly. Whats up? Why are you acting like that? I knew you were getting stronger every time I saw you, but this time its no joke. What have you been picking up and eating? What have I eaten? The quality of your magic itspletely changed. It even smells of poison and corpses. Its quite severe, isnt it? I unconsciously lowered my head and looked down at my chest. I did eat something. [Echo of Suffocation (Legendary Elixir): A fragment of the power from the great old being, He Who Comes from the Darkness] It was just a tiny fragment though. It was barelyparable to a clipped fingernail if measured by human standards. But it was still a part of a being of the abyss. Thanks to it, the already immense amount of magical power I possessed has nearly doubled, and the quality of my magic has improved beyondparison. Not only that but during the time I stayed reclusive at home, I came to realize and learn new things. It seemed like she had noticed this change. Thanks to your help, I found some decent nourishing food to pick up. Hmm Im envious. Next time, I hope youll include me too. It might even extend my lifespan. It wasnt certain, but if the background information I had was correct, Tudor was older than even the Hollow Lord who was born during the reign of King Gojong. I knew that dragging on this topic wouldnt benefit me. At this point, I decided to change the subject. Orb said that business has been boomingtely. Ah, yes. Its been so busy Im going crazy. Sounds like somethings up? Theres a lot of work, but youre part of the reason too. Me? Yes, you. Right in front of me. Tudor smiled as if pleased and gestured towards my chest. Chapter 95: The Professor Chapter 95: The Professor After the recent issues weve resolved and those concerning Cheong-ho, the rumors going on now are quite interesting. They say you made aplete fool of Yang Seo-ho from the Immigration Bureau? I had forgotten, but there was indeed such an incident. I informed Yang Seo-ho about a colony of extraterrestrial parasites. She must have been very pleased. After all, I kindly pointed out the dangerous ces and took care of the problematic monsters myself. Moreover, I dealt with artifacts and other items that should not be exposed to the general public, so if she meets me I might not know what you have done, but its better if you dont meet Yang Seo-ho. She has alreadye and gone from Vasilisa twice. Yes, if Yang Seo-ho meets me, shell be so pleased she could kill me. But thats on me. What does all this have to do with the shops sudden boom in business? Well, thats because a great mage who can make a fool out of Yang Seo-ho right here in Paju was my exclusive fixer. As more clientse seeking you, the other fixers contracted with me also get their share of the benefits. Ah, I see what you mean. However, apart from that, the workload has increased. Its not like it was 20 years ago, but it feels almost like weve gone back to what it was 10 years ago. I see. I know the gist of it, but theres no need to tell Tudor. Besides, even if I did, theres nothing Tudor could handle. So honestly, there are many things Id like to ask you to do. This time. it might be mutually beneficial for both of us in the long run, but I hope you cane by more often even after this. I n to do so. Alright, since were still on the topic, lets talk business right away. This job I would be doing unusually offered little marypensation. Instead, the rewards exceeded that. The Thousand Gold Temple. Yes, the Thousand Gold Temple. I dont know how you managed to persuade that old man, but Id be more than happy to deal with a fixer who has an admission ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple. It seems you have something you want disposed of? Hehehe caught on, have you? Its inevitable that unpleasant items will umte in the warehouse in this line of work. Thousand Gold Temple was a shop of such rarity in the Cthulhu world that it ranked among the few. It wasnt just a secretive ck market or a members-only auction house; it was in apletely different league. The Thousand Gold Temple dealt in one thing only. Curses. The Thousand Gold Temple was a store that bought curses. It didnt matter whether they were cursed objects, cursed people, or cursednd where the curse had taken root. The Thousand Gold Temple bought the curse itself and paid a price corresponding to the depth of the curse. For the seller, the profits were unbelievably good. They resolved your problems, but instead of paying costs for it, they actually paid you money. Of course, as splendid as the ce was, it harbored many hidden issues. In the first ce, it would be impossible for a regr person to even find the Thousand Gold Temple. And even if one managed to secure entry, there was no guarantee they would survive to return from the Thousand Gold Temple. That was the general overview of the Thousand Gold Temple. The story Tudor told was not much different from what I already knew. Youve already heard, but theres someone visiting the Thousand Gold Temple this time who needs protection. Protection, huh. The pay is precisely ten million won. Considering the risk involved and other factors, its a trivial amount, hardly enough for a down payment But in exchange, I get the chance to visit the Thousand Gold Temple along with a letter of introduction, right? Thats right. Theres no guarantee the letter will definitely serve as an admission ticket, but at least this time, the visit is assured. And if there are items you wish to dispose of, I can take care of that as well. Hehe yes, thats the key point. Well, okay. A single visit is enough for me. But what about themission? Huh? Youre quick-witted as well. Quick-witted, huh? The issue of themission had already been hinted at by Tudor during yesterdays conversation. But Tudor smiled slyly. Ten million won is the amount before deducting themission right? Yes, this time I wont deduct any fees. Instead You want me to dispose of something for you, right? Thats right. What exactly? At this rate, it seems I could charge you amission instead. Hmph, you should just take care of themission yourself. Ill give you the items to take to the Thousand Gold Temple, and you keep whatever they give you in return. Hmm really? Hehe just bring me back a souvenir. This wasnt a bad deal. I could guess how it might turn out, as such events weremon in games. Moreover, if a witch like Tudor considered an item troublesome, it must be terribly formidable. If that were the case, the reward from the Thousand Gold Temple would be substantial. The items I intended to hand over were trivial byparison. Alright, lets proceed then. [You have epted the quest! Visit the Thousand Gold Temple with the professor who has a suspicious package. You must escort the professor so that he can return to reality safely. Reward: 500,000 XP + 10,000,000 won + Entry Ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple depending on performance. In case of failure: You may be cursed by the professor, or unable to return from the Thousand Gold Temple.] As soon as the quest message ended, Tudor produced arge attach case. Here, this is it. You just need to dispose of this. It was the square leather bagmonly referred to as the 007 briefcase. The enchantments are quite tight, huh? What exactly is inside this thing? It reminded me of Lee Chang-hyeoks bag. Although it looked like an outdated bag, the security spells ced on it formed a powerful barrier. If you knew whats inside, you might have to skip dinner tonight. With that, Tudor raised a finger to her lips. Oh, this witch It seemed like the item she so casually entrusted me with was no ordinary object. I decided not to be surprised if it turned out that the seemingly harmless-looking bag contained an unstable nuclear bomb. But that doesnt mean I can just ept it peacefully. As soon as I took the bag, I activated my magic. [Binding] [Cold Bone Prison] [Protective Circle] [Purification Zone] Hey, its not that big of a deal. I hope we can still have such conversations after your visit to the Thousand Gold Temple. Hehe By the way, youre bing quite impressive, arent you? Using that level of magic without any incantations or physical gestures? And at such a speed? Without any catalysts or tools? Well, it just turned out that way. Now that I think about it, I never had to use magic in front of Tudor. Though Tudors face still wore a smile, it was a smile with apletely different meaning from what I usually see. Greed, anticipation, curiosity It was the kind of smile that could only belong to a centuries-old witch, rather than a broker. I dont think I could activate spells as quickly as you do, really impressive. Indeed, next time, I should consider doing something more befitting of a witch too I raised the bag I was holding to Tudors eyes to cut off her words. So, first off, Id like to proceed with what I nned for today. Tudorsughter echoed from beyond the bag. And then I saw her pale fingers slowly gripping the bag. They appeared more like a spider or snake creeping along the side of it rather than just fingers. Right. Other things are important, but the Thousand Gold Temple is indeed a very important matter too. And then Tudor slowly lowered the bag she was holding. As the bag was slowly lowered down, Tudors face became visible again. Thezy smile of the skilled broker I knew appeared. Come on, introduce me to the client you mentioned yesterday. Ah, right, just wait a moment. Tudor momentarily wore a nk expression on her face, then looked up at something in the air and said, Now that everythings ready, please bring the professor. She was speaking to Orb, who was outside. As soon as her nk expression cleared, Tudor pretended to be bashful and grinned broadly. You know the rules, right? You are the mage, and the client is the professor. I know. Those who go to the Thousand Gold Temple shall not call each other by name. Its best not to engage in any strange friendships too. Right. It was a precaution to prevent identally speaking names at the Thousand Gold Temple. The Thousand Gold Temple was no ordinary ce. It was a secretive and dangerous location that wasden with many taboos and restrictions. Shortly after, the door opened and the man known as the professor was apanied by Orb as he entered. It was in fact the same person whom I had seen in Vasilisas hall a little while ago. Excuse me. The man in the wheelchair. He seemed far too out of ce among Vasilisas rugged thugs. His age. he looked to be in his mid-fifties, or perhaps if he introduced himself as being in his sixties, one might think he looked quite young for his age. His hair was neatlybed back in a slick style, and he wore thin-framed, angr sses. A subtle smile graced his lips, apanied by slight wrinkles that made those around him feel reassured. Though he had not yet said anything, his demeanor suggested he was a gentleman with impable manners. He briefly turned his head to thank Orb who had pushed his wheelchair this far. Orb nodded silently and then turned to leave the office. Now, this gentleman. he came here on the rmendation of the elder from the Geumchon Pawnshop. Professor, right? This is the mage I told you about yesterday. Despite how he looks, hes quite famous. I nodded at Tudors introduction and extended my hand towards the professor. Hello, Im the mage. Pleased to meet you. Im the professor. Nice mask. The professors hand felt quite peculiar as he shook mine. This is Oh, how rude of me He pulled his hand away with an embarrassed smile. I must have made you feel ufortable. The touch felt dry and strangely foreign as if grasping a dead branch. No, it wasnt exactly the sensation at the fingertips it was the magical power within his body that felt off. The ominous aura I had sensed in the hall earlier seemed to be connected to this. Is it because of a curse? Well, you could say that. There have been some unfortunate events. I see. My gaze briefly shifted to the jade-colored bundle on hisp. It was so old-fashioned it seemed archaic; even the elderly in rural areas wouldnt carry such bundles nowadays. It was bulky enough to perhaps contain a rice cooker, but as I watched, something inside the bundle seemed to squirm slightly. Is that the curse? It wasnt portrayed like this in the game. It was just represented as an iconbeled Suspicious Package in the inventory. Even the spell books were merely clickable items in the game. Until I was dragged into this world, I had never seen the text written in those books. That was also the case with the [ck Goats Body Fluids] in Lee Chang-hyeoks bag. This meant that unlike in the game, if I made even a slight mistake, the curse wrapped in that bundle might transfer to me or cause problems that werent depicted in the game. Id better be careful. I havee fully prepared, but what about you, Mage-nim? I am also prepared, and I paused to choose my words carefully and then continued. please speak informally with me. We have a long journey ahead, and it would be ufortable to continue in such a formal manner. Um Still It was unnecessary, but I adjusted our rtionship nheless. This was merely a remnant of memories from ying this scenario in the game. I had various interactions with the professor, but the most enjoyable time was when I was his student on that particr route. Of course that route did not end beautifully either. After all, this insane game endlessly demands sacrifice and despair from the inhabitants of this world. I remember crying bitterly for nearly four days when the professor died. Although it might not be visible behind the mask, I gave the professor the kindest smile I could muster. Shall we go then? Alright, lets go. Chapter 96: Ghost Path (1) Chapter 96: Ghost Path (1) The professor and I were walking through the alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood. On my back, I carried a sack full of cursed jewels I brought with me from the hungry mansion, and in one hand, I held an outdated briefcase entrusted to me by Tudor. It was an awkward outfit for helping someone in a wheelchair. However, the professor did not need that kind of help. Although no one was pushing or holding it, the wheelchairs wheels were moving. Nor was the professor himself moving the wheels of his wheelchair. His hands were busy holding arge jade package that rested on his knees. The ordinary-looking wheelchair moved as if it were a motorized one. After all, this gentleman is no ordinary person. When I thought about it, the scene was quite bizarre. A self-moving wheelchair, a strange mask with four eyes, and hefty packages. Should we identally encounter the police or the control agency, it would be difficult to slip away easily. Walking like this Perhaps hes thinking the same? The professor suddenly spoke up. It reminds me of twenty years ago. No, he wasnt thinking the same as I was. Paju isnt new to you, is it? Though I knew the backstory, I pretended not to know as always and asked him back. Thats right, Mage friend. Twenty years ago, I frequented this area. He casually mentioned twenty years ago but it was actually precisely twenty-three years ago. From seeing the 150-year-old Hollow Lord and the even older Tudor walking around just fine, it was clear that Lovecraftian problems already existed twenty-three years ago. However, these matters were all hidden within the shadows of this world. They were known only as secret knowledge shared among a select few. The Great Copse that urred in the world of [Cthulhu World] twenty-three years ago was an event that made such secrets not so secret anymore. There were people like Jeong Eun-taek who made a big score then and quickly dered retirement, but most could not do the same. They either died, went mad, orpletely lost their former purity and became heretics. The professor was one of those who roamed the darkness of Paju at the time as an explorer of the unknown world and he remains one of the very few still active without losing his purity and original purpose. Furthermore, he was one of the very few NPCs in the treacherous, betrayal-filled, and conspiracy-ridden world of Cthulhu that could be trusted. We just walked aimlessly without any particr discussion or agreement on direction. The professor had an expression as if he was out for a leisurely night stroll. Since I had no particr opinion to offer in the situation, I quietly followed him. Before we knew it, we had reached the vicinity of Geumchon Market. It waste yet the night market was still bustling as if it had not ended. The market was brightly lit. Surprisingly, there seemed to be more people now than during the day. Exotic foods and processed goods of unknown origin were being sold at open stalls here and there. The professor looked at the scene and spoke in a cheerful tone. Ah, there are quite a lot of people. Its the night market. Do you see that banner over there? A banner with this information was posted at the entrance of the market. Its better to start where there are a lot of people. Lets go inside. We look too I mean this appearance might be a bit strange to go in with. Hmm Is there any skill we could use? If its alright for me to push the wheelchair, that would be fine. Ah, then Ill ask for your help. Understood. With that, the professor slightly reduced the speed of the wheelchair. I adjusted my pace to match his and stayed behind him. At the same time, I cast a spell to lessen my presence and created a light illusion. In crowded ces, that was usually enough; people surprisingly pay little attention to others. This will be needed soon, right? I lifted a bag hanging from the back of the professors wheelchair and handed it to him. Taking the bag, the professor looked up at me with an intrigued expression. I heard this was your first time here; was there perhaps a misunderstanding? Huh? Haha, normally, around this point, Id have to exin how to get to the Thousand Gold Temple. But somehow, you dont seem like a first-timer. It wasnt my first time, but there was no need to reveal that. It is my first time. I just heard some stuff here and there. Is that so? The process of moving to the Thousand Gold Temple is quite simple actually. But what I found amusing was your demeanor. My demeanor? You seem very familiar andfortable. If you really are a neer, youre pretty bold. The more people know about the Thousand Gold Temple in a half-baked way, the more nervous they tend to get. The professors remark was not an exaggeration. The Thousand Gold Temple was hidden in a location that was difficult to ept as real. If you didnt know how to get there at all, you wouldnt know, but as the professor said, those who knew it half-heartedly found it to be a ce where one could understandably be nervous. It was located not in this world, but in and of ghosts and monsters. It seems I got so nervousst night that I couldnt feel more nervous today. Hahaha, thats interesting. Alright. Im not doubting you, but there might be errors in what youve learned, so Ill just point out the basics. It might be called an upational hazard, but the professor really started speaking like a professor. Alright. Now, take a look at this. The professor rummaged through the bag I had handed him and pulled out an artifact. It was an object resembling a jar made of hardened hanji (Korean paper). It was roughly the size of a childs head. Of course, it was not a jar. The bottom part of what would be a jar was open, and a long wooden handle was attached to what would be the lid. At first nce, its silhouette somewhat resembled a handbell. However, this object had nothing to do with sound. It was a lighting device made using traditional techniques. Thisntern is essentially the entry ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple. I see. Haha, people usually get quite surprised here. Seems theres no fun in it this time. Ive heard quite a bit about it, but this is the first time Ive actually seen one. Even if it wasnt an artifact, its not something that people would easily see today. Its called a foot-lightingntern. It resembles a traditional object that has been used since the Joseon Dynasty. Aside from its abilities as an artifact, it can function just like a traditional foot-lightingmp. Essentially, if you light the candle inside, it can be used as antern to illuminate the path beneath your feet. However, this object was an artifact. It haf powers beyond just providing light. [Ghost Path Foot Lighting Lantern (Thousand Gold Temple): Antern with the power to illuminate the Ghost Path. As long as the candle ced within the fire window remains, it can be continuously used. On a dark night, if you light the candle of the foot-lightingntern and walk the main road, you will soon find yourself on the Ghost Path. If you stray from the set path, you cannot reach your destination. Destination: Thousand Gold Temple Enhancement: The more crowded the ce you start from, the sooner you can reach your destination.] Theres no need to push the wheelchair, but it might be good to hold onto it with one hand. I casually held onto the handle attached to the back of the wheelchair. Letting go could mean losing my way. Got it. Then, lets light thisntern and oh, could you light it for me? I extended a finger toward the candle in the foot-lightingntern and sent a small me toward it. The foot-lightingntern was lit, and the professor lowered thentern to illuminate the path as we moved forward. Good. Now, all we need to do is follow the path illuminated by thisntern. That alone will lead us into the alleyway. It seems it has already begun. Perhaps due to therge crowd, the change came swiftly. Foreign substances started to appear in the surrounding scenery. Have you already noticed? Its not easy to detect so quickly; you must be very sensitive. Quite sharp indeed. Walking through the alleyway was, in a way, akin to a dimension shift. However, it didnt require the stereotypical ck hole or shing lights one might expect. It was more like gradually seeing things previously invisible as they slowly blended into reality. As the professor said, it started with minor discrepancies: small specks, misced dj vu, awkward gestures from passersby, and slight optical illusions. These were subtle changes that only the sensitive might notice. We continued walking through Geumchon Market which was slowly transforming into an alien space. Soon, even those who werent sensitive couldnt ignore the significant changes. For example, people wearing clothing from the wrong era started to appear. In the bustling heart of the market, a woman walked by in a traditional hanbok. A man in an old martial arts uniform passed by her. An elderly man wearing a tattered durumagi that resembled a rag. Faint eerie music echoed softly in the distance. Shadows that seemed to dance flitted here and there. A parade of the dead moved in a consistent direction. We entered the path frequented by the dead without any hesitation. Theres no need to exin what a ghost path is to a mage, right? I am aware that one should not talk with those who walk the ghost path. Naturally, those who walk this path without any special items are not among the living. Its also wise not to make eye contact or look directly at their faces. In that regard, youre fortunate to be wearing a mask. The professor continued speaking in a tone as if he were dealing with a student he liked. Unlike the usual professors I knew, his voice was so perfectly modted that listening to him never became tedious. While most still attempted to mimic human forms, increasingly bizarre creatures began to appear. For example, a ten-meter-tall giant peering over a building. Creatures resembling dragons raced through the alleys, beings with only one eye, others whose faces were covered with hundreds of eyes, and some with no faces at all Under normal circumstances, this would have been a sight too strange toprehend. Though the issue of madness had nothing to do with me, those who enter the ghost path in a normal way do not undergo a sanity check. This space was a reality that could be touched physically. It was a different dimension that existed in a different phase, and at the same time, it was like a vague illusion from a nights dream. When faced with an uneptable reality, a mind overwhelmed by shock manifests madness. But since this ce was like a dream well, theres some kind of setup like that, although I dont know the specific mechanics. In any case, it meant that in such a space, the annoying process of constantly triggering sanity checks, popping up message windows, and sparking traits was omitted. Of course, as with any nightmare, if you do not realize that this is such a space and mistake it for reality, you may be shocked. In the same way, being forcibly expelled from the ghost path or receiving a strong attack from someone is like waking up from a nightmare. But that wasnt an immediate concern right now. Mage friend, do you see thosenterns over there? Suddenly, dozens of shield kites were floating in the dark sky beyond. I see them. You have good eyesight. Or should I say good sensitivity? Those are the curses gathered at the Thousand Gold Temple and hanging there. Theyre invisible to the untrained eye. To me, along with those kites, I could also see the bluish will-o-wisps flying through the sky and the strange magical powers radiating in all directions. And there lies the Thousand Gold Temple. It seems quite distant visually, but well arrive sooner than you think. Chapter 97: Ghost Path (2) Chapter 97: Ghost Path (2) The scenery of the street continuously changed. Each time it did, thentern in the professors hand would sway slightly. The direction thentern pointed had changed. There had been a straight road just moments before, but now it bent with the light and intersections that hadnt been there before appeared. And with each change of direction, we went deeper into another world. We walked while following only the light. Now, there was little left of the real Geumchon Market. The ground beneath us was no longer a paved road but damp earth, and instead of buildings, there were trees with silver trunks and purple leaves. asionally, streetlights and signs in unexpected ces appeared. This was clear evidence that we hadntpletely left reality behind. The professor mentioned that those with a special talent could enter this path or spy on the residents of the other world without the aid of tools like thentern. Are these the people you say have spiritual inspiration? Thats right. Do you know how these individuals differ from magic users? Magic has little to do with it. While a skilled mage can replicate simr effects, its not quite the same. Traits like [Spiritual Inspiration] or [Divine Possession] are necessary. The trait that Jang Hyeon-deok possesses, called [Living Altar], belongs to the same lineage as these. But how do I exin this? Exining this is difficult. Mages too can see ghosts through the use of magical powers. If you study necromancy, you can do even more. However, a different kind of talent is required to ess the otherworld or to use traditional Eastern techniques. I have seen many people who havee to handle special powers over the years. It has exploded in number over the past 20 years, but even 20 years ago, there were people with such abilities, albeit unseen. Did you know that? There were witches and psychics even 20 years ago. Not just 20 years ago, there were grimoires that were written a hundred or even a thousand years ago. Yes, but theres something strange about magic. Strange? How so? Precisely, the Mages I mean, especially those like you. The power used by Mages seems somewhat different from others. What do you mean by different? It might be better to say their worldview is different. Unlike other powers that have a consistent lineage or tradition, Mages seem to exhibit an oddly constructed structure. Magic ims to have its own lineage or tradition, but, well What do you think? Who taught you magic? Can you tell me what they said about magic? I never really learned magic. No one taught me after all. I dont mean to be rude, but when I delve into theponents and nature of magic, it often feels not like a traditional ritual or technique but rather like a setting from a modern game or novel. What could this possibly mean? Well, it does fit the setting of the game. I could also sympathize with the aspect of having a different worldview. In the first ce, the [Cthulhu Mythos] which this game was based on didnt feature magic in forms like fireballs or magic bullets. While there were some magics rted to the [Cthulhu Mythos], most of the magic I could use fit better with typical epic fantasy games. Ive always just passed it off as a game mechanic, but why would an NPC professor bring up such questions? Could it be that he had more knowledge than what I knew through my ythrough? I cant discuss who taught me magic, but Ive had simr thoughts. Is there any way I can learn more about this? When I agreed with his words, the professor responded in a noticeably brighter tone. Is that so? I actually wanted to study this further, but mages are notoriously uncooperative, so it was difficult. If youre more interested, maybe you coulde to our university after this is over. We could explore it together. Is this an invitation to enter graduate school? The professor continued to speak enthusiastically about magic even afterward, yet much of what he said held little immediate relevance for me. Moreover, his questions were bing so numerous that they started to feel truly burdensome. Ah, hold on a moment. It seems we are almost at the Thousand Gold Temple. Oh, we should start being more careful now. The professor reluctantly fell silent as if regretting the end of the conversation. Was another barrage of questions waiting for me on the way back? Turning my gaze forward, the sight of the Thousand Gold Temple began toe into view. From here on, we really had to be careful. A majestic, grand hanok building spread over a small hill covered with purple leaves and a variety of flowers blooming out of season. It seemed the phrase roof like a whales back must have been coined for such buildings. The Thousand Gold Temple was not just one building. A wall stretched broadly enough to epass an entire hill. Dozens of buildings were tied to that wall. Pavilions soaring toward the sky and every visible spot borately carved with demonic faces. All of this was the Thousand Gold Temple. In the sky above the Thousand Gold Temple, shield kites tied with thick ropes could be seen flying. They looked like hundreds of will-o-wisps roaming the sky and like fish swimming in the deep sea. Upon seeing the scene, the professor whispered in a hushed tone. Isnt it a spectacr sight? I donte here often, but Im amazed every time. Its andscape that makes you forget reality. Yes, it certainly is. And it was indeed beautiful. This ce was a corner of the underworld and a den of goblins at the same time. Humans had to remain silent, but the atmosphere around the Thousand Gold Temple was incredibly bustling. This was due to the procession of the dead heading towards the main gate of the Thousand Gold Temple. Along the way here, we had continuously seen beings of strange forms It was truly a scene that could be called a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Now they even forgot to mimic humans and they each produced bizarre music and raucous noise. We followed along with the procession, but at some point, there was a problem. The ghosts stopped moving forward and halted midway. Initially, the professor who had been enjoying the scenery with a smile sensed something unusual and said with curiosity. It didnt use to be like this What could be the problem? At the professors words, I extended my magic silently to check ahead of the procession. Professor, the gates of the Thousand Gold Temple are closing. What? Look over there. Oh At the entrance of the Thousand Gold Temple, traditional protective talismans like massive jangseung (Korean totem poles), sotdae, and stone pagodas were arranged. In the center of a tall wall was an imposing main gate. That gate was closing. Shh! Stay back! Shh! Stay back! Rough shouts came from somewhere. No one could be seen closing the door, yet for some reason, it was slowly shutting. The leading before struggled to slip through the narrowing gap before the gate closedpletely; they had not yet allowed it to closepletely, but there was little time left. What is this situation? I could jump in after casting a few spells, but . If I were alone, I could somehow make it inside. However, I was not alone and mypanion was not in a position to move freely. It would not be possible to safely push the professor through as well. Moreover, considering the cursed objects held in our hands and on our backs, any rash actions were forbidden. What about me! Let me in too! Move! Move! Im going in! The ghosts screamed and they tried to squeeze through the closing gate. Shush, back off!! Shush, back off!! Aaaagh! Kooung. In the end, the main gate closed. The scream heard at thest moment came from either a ghost or a monster that got caught between the doors and let out a cry of agony. The creature was not just crushed but split in two. Arge-mouthed monster attached to the front door can be seen devouring the lower half that has been cut off. The heavy main gate that was made of sturdy paulownia wood had a powerful demon face relief carved into it. This wasnt merely a decorative element; the demon face itself constituted a strong magical formation. It served as a barrier that blocked enemies and denied entry to those not permitted. Professor, even I would find it difficult to break through that. Hmm Lets just watch the situation for now. Open the gate! Let me in too! Please remove the curse attached to me! Why are you closing the gate all of a sudden? Whats the problem? Call the leader of the Thousand Gold Temple! Ghosts and monsters gathered in front of the main gate were shouting in unison. Didnt I see a simr scene at Cheong-hos house? It was exactly like that. Crowds pushed forward and shouted for the doors to be opened. But the gates of the Thousand Gold Temple remained closed, and the procession of white ghosts stalled and umted before turning into a mass of bodies. This is troublesome. What could possibly be the cause of this sudden event? Professor, has anything like this happened before? No, nothing like this. Though it might be a difficult ce for the living, Its a ce thats always been open to beings like ghosts. I see. This was just a question I posed to maintain the pretense that it was indeed my first time visiting the Thousand Gold Temple. But what exactly was happening here? It was only when the mor of the pressing ghosts reached its peak that someone appeared to exin the situation. Shush, back off!! Shush, back off!! However, appeared wasnt quite the right word. They had been standing by the main gate from the start. There is someone among you who intends to harm the Thousand Gold Temple and the great king of Man-geum! Therge jangseung (Korean totem pole) standing to the right of the temples main gate spoke up. Under the head of the jangseung, the famous characters Great General of All Under Heaven were engraved. We cannot let anyone in until we find and expel the cursed soul! This time, a jangseung with Female General of the Underworld engraved on it shouted out. The scene of the menacing-looking giant jangseung shouting loudly was more powerful than one might expect. -Move aside! -Open the gate! -Gaahh!! But their words had no effect. Despite the jangseungs threats, the ghost screamed even louder and grew frenzied. Perhaps if they hade out a little earlier things would have been different, but by now the trampled and jumbled ghosts were already far from normal. Professor, lets step back for now. That seems wise. Standing too close to the front might draw us into the fray. This was going to be quite a spectacle. Even I had rarely had the chance to witness the jangseung of the Thousand Gold Temple spring into action and fight. -If you dont back off, youll be sorry! -If you really want to challenge us, we wont hold back! Grrrrrrr!!! The surrounding earth and sand, rocks and stones, began to rise into the air. They then clung around the wooden pirs of the jangseung, forming their bodies. Now the two jangseung were beginning to rise into their huge forms that fit their fierce faces. -Get lost, you shameless ghosts! -You fools! Were not taking anyone else in today! Boom! Crash! Watching a pair of monsters that were each about 8 meters tall going on a rampage. It was as if Mountain Tai itself was moving, Every time the two jangseung swung their arms, ghosts exploded, and each stomp of their feet caused an earthquake. -Gaahhh! -Die! Die! Despite this, the ghosts did not retreat. They continued to charge toward the two towering figures while screaming meaningless cries and hurling themselves at the threats before them. I tried to pull the professors wheelchair back to safety, but he said something unexpected. Mage friend, is there any chance you can stop this fight? Chapter 98: Jangseungs of the Thousand Gold Temple Chapter 98: Jangseungs of the Thousand Gold Temple The professor was a good man. In every scenario, he maintained his identity as a typical good-hearted protagonist, and although it may not be solely due to this reason. his endings were never good. I refused to listen to him out of a sense of defiance. My duty is to escort you to safety and ensure your return. The dead have a narrow vision. Seeing the state theyre in, theyve probably forgotten why they tried to enter the Thousand Gold Temple in the first ce. I paused for a moment to scratch at my mask. Indeed, this situation was not going to resolve itself easily. Wasting time watching a fight that might never end did not suit my personality. Eventually, I sighed and said, Understood. However, any additional tasks from now on might require extra payment. I would like to ask you to do so in a non-violent way, if possible. No, rather than another request. Youre saying therell be extra payments, right? I did not voice my final thoughts and instead reached out toward the Jangseungs. The distance was considerable, yet my magical power and control werepletely different from before. In an instant, I expanded my influence and made contact with the bodies that the Jangseungs were wrapped around. What is this! Who is this!? Which one dares to touch us! Sensing my magic, the Jangseungs shook their heads with a sensitive reaction and I could feel their resistance to magic surge tremendously. But it was already toote. My magical power had taken root in their bodies. Lets see, this is earth I activated a spell as I punched my right fist into my open left palm. [Break Stone] Crack! The parts of their bodies made of rock and stone shattered all at once. Aaargh!! How, how is this possible!? Which fiend is this!! After losing their bnce, the Jangseungs began to copse. Boom! It sounded like a mountain was copsing. Dust and dirt obscured the view. But they would just reconstitute their bodies and rise again anyway. I cast the next spell without hesitation. [Waterfall] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Whoosh! As if a hole had opened in the sky, an immense volume of water suddenly poured out. Underestimating it as just a waterfall or a heavy shower would lead to irreversible damage. My body! My body!! Stop, stop it!!! Although it was just water, it attacked with enough weight and speed to demolish buildings and carve mountains. Once the Jangseungs began to lose their bnce and topple, they were quickly eroded by the tremendous water pressure. The dirt mounds that formed their bodies were nothing more than armor gathered by magical power. Even if destroyed, they would feel a slight annoyance but no pain. In the meantime, I turned my magic towards the ghosts. [Delusional Fire] Seven purple mes blossomed in the air. This spell possessed the power to attract corrupt beings and draw in the ghosts. The mes, casting a mysterious light in all directions, began to attract the confused ghosts. The ghosts had already lost their sense of self and were easily lured by the mes and changed their course. Now, I will disperse the ghosts. I sent the wandering mes in various directions. The ghosts, having forgotten their original purpose, scattered following the mes that flew in all directions. Of course, there were still some beings who were not bothered by such magic, but they were few and far between. By then, the mass-like crowd had already dispersed. I cant believe this Mage friend, I did ask for your help, but I honestly did not expect this much. Ive seen plenty of destructive magic, but this is the first of its kind! Its nothing special. This was a spell I had mastered by decoding and learning from the Great Yin Water Treasure Secret Scripture, which I had taken from the Hollow Lord. There might be mages of higher rank than me out in the world, but few know as many spells as I do. As we moved forward, a few ghosts that were unaffected by the Delusional Fire started chattering. Impressive skills for a mortal. Youve angered the Jangseungs of the Thousand Gold Temple, so what will you do about this situation? These were high-ranking ghosts that didnt easily lose their sense of self amidst the chaos. Engaging in unnecessary conversation or meeting their gaze would only invite persistent annoyance. Therefore, I continued forward while ignoring the ghosts trying to catch my eye. Look here, Jangseung-nim. Were just here to sell our goods and leave; could you possibly open the gate for a moment? Ha! How dare this shameless thing try to make fun of us! How ludicrous of you to think you can defeat us just because you can handle a few spells! Crack! Sounds of stone breaking came from the bodies of the Jangseung, but they were able to rise again. The rocks had shattered, and the sand and stones were swept away by the water, turning the soil into mud. Although they no longer possessed the formidable appearance that had knocked down the ghosts earlier, they still looked dangerous. But thanks to that, weve found it! The abyssal magic wrapped around your entire body! You must be the emissary sent by a being of the abyss to harm the Thousand Gold Temple! An emissary sent by a being of the abyss? No, the talk of harming the Thousand Gold Temple earlier was that all about me? Somehow, I had a bad feeling that things would unfold like this, but when it actually happened, I was somewhat taken aback. Um Mage friend? Could it be because of that mask? The professor seemed just as embarrassed. I cant take off the mask. And the mask isnt the only issue. This is troublesome. There are too many suspicious elements. Firstly, the persistent trait of being the [Feasts Offering] that has gued me all this while. I have far too many connections with the beings of the abyss, which the Thousand Gold Temple despises. Moreover, the mask belonged to [The King in Yellow], and within my bodyy a fragment from [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. If I were to list more, I was also wearing a ring of [The Living me], and among my summoned creatures, there was a lump of flesh monster created through the power of [The ck Goat of a Thousand Young]. I was currently raising this flesh monster by feeding it the magic of [The Blind Idiot God]. Could it possibly be a misunderstanding? Would they believe me if I said so? No, the atmosphere doesnt suggest that. The Jangseungs were already heroically chanting lines full of fiery zeal like Even if it costs me my life right here, We will burn our souls if need be to protect the Thousand Gold Temple! Professor, Im confident I could knock all these Jangseungs down, but that wouldnt be right, would it? Honestly, it wouldnt matter to me even if it wasnt this time. Theyll forget eventually, and we cane back then. But are you alright with that? That makes sense. I had said earlier that I was only here to serve as an escort, but my purpose foring wasnt solely for that. Even if I couldnt secure a pass toe and go freely in the future, I wanted to dispose of the things I had brought with me this time. -What are you all whispering about! -Take this! The Jangseungs corrected their stance and began to charge aimlessly. But since I was still undecided on a course of action, I hesitated for a moment before activating my magic. [Earthquake Strike] Rumble!!! -Aaaagh!! -The ground is copsing!! With a tremendous noise, the ground in front of the Thousand Gold Temple began to split open, and the Jangseungs caught in the crevice iled about. Turning my head, I saw shadows flocking over the wall of the Thousand Gold Temple. It seemed that the residents of the temple had heard themotion ande out to watch. -Raaagh!! The Jangseungs gathered strength. They started to increase their size enormously by scooping up dirt and rocks from the split ground. It seemed there was no quiet way out of this now. Just then, the professor who had been behind me approached. Since I was the one who asked to intervene, its only right that I take responsibility. Ill step forward and try to negotiate. Before I could say anything, the professor discreetly pulled an object from his pocket. Thats understood. Oh, do you know what this is? You really are well-informed. Ive picked up a few things here and there. If this fails, Ill leave everything to you. As he spoke, the professors wheelchair moved forward on its own. Great General of all under Heaven and General of the Underworld. The professor calmly called out the names of the two Jangseungs, but they had already lost theirposure. Shut up! The shout was from the Great General of all Under Heaven. The General of the Underworld didnt even bother to respond and swung its arms made of mud and gravel. Baoom!! [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Crack, crunch! Boom!! Had it not been for the fiveyers of protective circles formed in front of the professors head, his brain which was full of wisdom would have been scattered all around. But the professor just fearlessly winked at me. He knew this would happen and went ahead. Well, good. My role is to guard. I immediately moved to stand behind the professor. Hold on. Lets listen before swinging. You insolent fool! Behave! Generals, The professor said again. The Jangseungs gritted their teeth as they red at the professor. Yes, their expressions seemed to say, Lets hear what he has to say. The next words from the professor were somewhat bizarre. I will apologize on behalf of my disciple for the rudeness hemitted. Disciple? Apology? The Great General of all Under Heaven and the General of the Underworld made incredulous sounds at the sudden absurd statement. Thats your disciple? Dont spout nonsense! You might as well im youre Master Xuanzang! How could you have taught such a monster! Contrary to the hostile atmosphere, the conversation flew off in a bizarre direction. Nonsense? Not at all. Its all because of that mask. The professor raised his hand to point at my face. Yes, that mask! Its not something a proper human could wear! Yes, that mask! That creature must surely be sent by the abyss! No, thats not true. My disciple was deceived by a being from the abyss into wearing that mask. Its been three years and three months since hes been unable to remove it himself. The professor continued to spout bizarre tales as if he were a main character of a fable. I couldnt see his expression since I was standing behind him, but somehow, it felt like he was enjoying himself. The conversation that followed was truly absurd. The professor had spoken at length about the harsh life one must lead when wearing a mask for three years and three months. Although the Jangseungs reflexively countered his words, the conversation went on exactly as the professor intended. -Aha, Ive got it now! Suddenly, the Great General of all Under Heaven dered it had realized something. -It was a lie after all! How could a human eat while wearing a mask! -Oh, I see! It was a lie! No, thats not the case. Because of a curse ced by a being from the abyss, my disciple has been unable to eat or drink anything. Its a truly terrible curse. Dont you feel sorry for my disciple? -Really? Is that so? -No wonder hes so small and weak. The Jangseungs began to look at me with pity. It worked better than expected. The sudden perceived drop in the Jangseungs intelligence was not an actual decrease. Everything was the result of the artifact held in the professors hand. [g of Open Hearts (A-rank Magical Tool): A g embroidered with magical incantations. Anyone under the influence of this g bespelled to engage in conversation with you. However, this effect does not work on anyone towards whom you have harbored hostility even once.] The professor intentionally made absurd statements that did not fit the situation. Before the artifact was activated, he could have been silenced or physically rebuffed, but once the artifact was activated, such actions were no longer possible. The Jangseungs could either contradict or agree with the professors words. But since he intentionally said things that didnt fit the situation, the conversation that ensued was oddly absurd. The Jangseungs are known to have high magical resistance I was lucky. Had it failed, I was ready to grab the professors wheelchair and make a run for it. Luckily, since the judgment was sessful, that was no longer necessary. Chapter 99: King Man-geum Chapter 99: King Man-geum Is this not the Thousand Gold Temple, the home of the great King Man-geum? My disciple and I have journeyed here to dispel the curse cast by the reckless beings of the abyss. But what on earth has happened inside the Thousand Gold Temple? Well, that we dont know. We were only told to close the doors because a dangerous person mighte. Yes. We intervened because we sensed a different kind of magical power than usual. It seems wevee full circle. At any rate, it appears there was no specific order to stop me. So something like that happened. I imagine that guarding the Thousand Gold Temple is a responsibility of great importance. The Jangseungs were moved by the professors words and they showed a hint of emotion, If only slightly. We apologize for our hasty and thoughtless actions. Could you perhaps send a message to King Man-geum on our behalf? At the very least, we would be grateful if you could arrange for us to meet with the master of the Thousand Gold Temple. Hmm If its about the master Well, conveying a message should be fine As you can see, we have neither the intention nor the ability to harm the Thousand Gold Temple. We only wish to lift the curse that the beings of the abyss have ced on us. Ah, understood. Just wait a moment. Yes, we will call the master for you. Was the problem actually resolved? This gentleman had resorted to a tricksters solution in the end. No need for that, elders. Suddenly a new voice joined in. It came from atop the wall of the Thousand Gold Temple. Among the spectators from the Thousand Gold Temple, one figure stood out. Despite the absence of wind, there was a man in a fluttering ck durumagi and arge-brimmed hat. Commander of the Thousand Gold Temple? Cheon-seul, were you watching? No, I just arrived because I heard there was a disturbance. But elders, how can you justify copsing the road like this? These ghosts wont listen to us! The copse was the work of that poor mage. The man known who was called Commander and Cheon-seul held his hat as he leaped from the wall. Uponnding, it became clear that he was considerably taller than me. While he wasnt as tall as Orb, he certainly seemed taller than Jang Hyeon-deok. As he walked toward us, his durumagi (robe) that was improperly fastened billowed open, revealing the clothes underneath. . The clothes he was wearing underneath the robe were a t-shirt with a beautiful girl character from a famous anime drawn on it and shy leopard print pants. Ah, if it isnt the brother who travels seated, long time no see. Its been four years, indeed a long time. Commander Thousand Gold, you still look healthy. The Professor and Commander Thousand Gold exchanged warm greetings. Our elders seem to have started it, but its time to put away that toy now, isnt it? Since you wouldnt entertain a conversation I apologize for being rude. With that, the professor tucked away the g of open hearts he was holding in his hand. The other party was Commander Seo Cheon-seul, the second inmand of the Thousand Gold Temple. Compared to his illustrious title, his demeanor is not so much brisk as it is casually rxed and loose. Ugh, Seo Cheon-seul turned his head towards me. Ah its understandable that the elders were sensitive. The posture of Seo Cheon-seul looking at me that is, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his leopard-print pants under his durumagi and exaggeratedly bent his waist. This is exactly the typical stance of a back-alley punk looking to start trouble. Am I being picked on here right now? I said nothing and just looked straight back at Seo Cheon-seuls face. The eyes under hisrge-brimmed hat shed sharply for a moment but not for long. People had often tried to engage me in a staring contest before, but they usually struggled since they would grow unsure of which of the four eyes on my mask to focus on. It seemed that Seo Cheon-seul too felt this disorientation and he slightly furrowed his brow before using his entire face to burst intoughter. Bahaha! Youve truly brought a really interesting brother this time. Seo Cheon-seul then took a few steps back and made a weing gesture with exaggerated and theatrical movements. I apologize on behalf of the Thousand Gold Temple, in the name of its protector, the Thousand Gold Master. Come in, brothers andpany! Wee to the Thousand Gold Temple! Led by Comander Thousand Gold Seo Cheon-seul, we walked through the courtyard of the Thousand Gold Temple. The interior of the Thousand Gold Temple was not much different from its exterior. It was a beautiful and bizarre space. Everywhere I looked, flowers blooming in different seasons sprawled out in abundance. Workers movingrge y jars were visible between the serene Hanok buildings and the vibrant flowers. They were all dressed in outdated attire simr to Seo Cheon-seul. They must be of the same kind as Seo Cheon-seul. As one might guess from Seo Cheon-seuls manner of speaking, they were goblins. And the Thousand Gold Temple itself was a den for these goblins that was hidden between the real and the surreal. The goblins who were either movingrge jars or chatting in the shade looked at us with interested expressions. From time to time, I could hear murmurs among them about the mask, the mage, and the elder Jangseungs but they showed no more than a passing interest. Was it just a light curiosity for the unfamiliar guests? It was actually the professor who disyed greater curiosity and he spoke to Seo Cheon-seul. It seems the structure has changed sincest time. Ah, its different every time. The creatures living here are quite fickle. You didnt see thatst time, did you? Its a recently developed technology. Wow thats amazing! A Hanok building appeared to be walking towards us in the direction Seo Cheon-seul pointed. Upon closer inspection, a goblin was literally pulling the entire building. And as the building moved, the surrounding structures smoothly shifted to create space. Though the professor said that the interior of the Ghost Path resembled a dream, this scene was something youd expect to see only in dreams, in many ways. The professor couldnt hide his amazement and used his entire face to express his delight. Following behind them, I must admit, I was a bit moved. I already knew what kind of ce the Thousand Gold Temple was, who lived there, and what it contained. Seeing a house move here was not new to me. What I had seen was merely a cutscene from a game disyed on a monitor screen. The scenes I had admired in my favorite game were now alive and moving right before my eyes. Hey, masked friend, if you get too distracted, you might lose your way. Seo Cheon-seul said so with augh mixed into his voice. Ah, what a foolish thing I was doing. I almost got distracted and took a wrong turn. I dont know what expression I was wearing right now, but luckily, the mask concealed it. Hmm be careful. Seo Cheon-seuls warning about losing the way was not without reason. We had to navigate a path that was incrediblyplex and intricate. There were even ces where we had to pass through the interiors of buildings, and some paths were simply impassable with the professors wheelchair. Each time Seo Cheon-seul wouldugh heartily as he made new paths by pulling or pushing buildings to ensure that we would not face insurmountable problems. After all, it would be impossible for humans to find their way here on their own. Finally, we reached our destination. Here we are, friends andpany. I hope the long journey hasnt worn you out. Weve finally arrived! Within the bustling Thousand Gold Temple, where goblins, flowers, y jars, and even buildings mingled in disorder, there was a notably quiet and tidy space. A vast courtyard unfolded before our eyes. Trees were neatly lined up on either side of the courtyard and each tree was blooming with hundreds of different flowers at the same time. Remarkably, flowers that typically do not grow on trees, such as tulips and sunflowers, were also present. Following the impressive array of flowering trees, arge Hanok awaited us. It was noticeablyrge even by the standards of the Thousand Gold Temple. It resembled the other Hanoks in shape, but it was about three timesrger than any other building around. This was not simply a matter of scale. The building itself was erged as if the diagonal corners of a typical Hanok had been stretched. It was like the house of a giant from a fairytale. The thickness of its pirs was tripled, the size of the roof tiles was tripled, and even the size of the central sliding doors was three timesrger. Seo Cheon-seul gestured to us with a smile. It was a signal for us to proceed on our own. The professor and I slowly walked through the rows of flowering trees toward the front of the Hanok. At the front of the Hanok, there was a wide stone tformid out. The tform had no patterns or decorations, yet somehow it did not seem ordinary; it felt like an altar prepared for a great deity. We stopped in front of this tform that looked like an altar. The professor who was seated in his wheelchair bowed his head and spoke. I have followed the light that illuminates the path and have set foot in the Thousand Gold Temple. Please do not cast us out. As soon as the formal greeting ended, the air suddenly began to feel heavier. An immense power could be felt from beyond the central sliding doors of the Hanok. The owner of the Thousand Gold Temple, King Man-geum, had arrived. The grand presence beyond therge sliding doors spoke with a voice that resonated not through the air but through the soul. |Speak Your Desire.| Since things that should remain hidden have revealed themselves in this world, we seek once again what we have always desired. |Speak Your Desire.| The professor briefly lifted a teal bundle he had been carrying and whispered to me. Mage friend, Im sorry, but could you ce this on the tform? Leave it tied as it is. Yes. I took the bundle and ced it on the tform. When I stepped back, the professor began to recite what seemed like a ritual incantation. May what belongs in dreams return to dreams, and what belongs in darkness return to darkness. We wish for that which we cannot forget, yet wish to forget, to return to the depths of oblivion. |Speak Your Desire.| My close friend who was fighting against the enemies of the Thousand Gold Temple has fallen into a deep sleep. I seek an object that can awaken him. |Take this.| The professor once again asked me to bring him the bundle. As soon as I picked up the bundle, I realized that the object inside had transformed. What seemed like it might have been as big as a rice cooker was now a very small and light object. I handed the sagging bundle to the professor. He untied the bundle with a smile and pulled out a small ss bottle, perhaps a medicine vial, and then gently patted my shoulder before saying, Now, its your turn. Ah, so its my turn now. I briefly looked down at the bag I was holding. Fortunately, the bag Tudor had entrusted to me hadnt caused any trouble. Now, with this and the cursed jewels I brought, my business at the Thousand Gold Temple would be concluded. I have followed the light that illuminates the path and have set foot in the Thousand Gold Temple. Please do not cast us out. This was a kind of ritual. Its not like there was a fixed rule like a magical spell, but because it has been customary to say this for a long time, it has be something that must be said. Now, I should wait for King Man-geum to say |Come closer.| Chapter 100: Commander Thousand Gold Chapter 100: Commander Thousand Gold Since things that should remain hidden ha huh? What?! !! The surprised shout from behind was the voice of Seo Cheon-seul. I was startled too, but it seemed the professor and Seo Cheon-seul were even more shocked. King Man-geum spoke again. |Come closer.| His voice carried a terrible weight and a forceful will. King Man-geum! Before I could say anything, the professor stepped forward.He stretched out one arm and positioned himself as if to block between me and King Man-geum. Your Majesty, this person is my disciple who followed me here. Any rudeness at the entrance of the Thousand Gold Temple and the items this person is about to present were all done on my behalf due to my physical ailment. If there is any anger, please direct it towards me. King Man-geum was silent for a moment. I could sense Seo Cheon-seul quietly approaching from behind. It wasnt the time to check behind, so I couldnt tell exactly why he was approaching, but one thing was certain. His presence hadpletely changed from before. The tense magical power and sharp killing intent. If anything were to go wrong, I would need to respond to Seo Cheon-seuls movements first. The silence did not continue. |Come closer.| It was the same tone of voice, but this time, the strange vibrations that shook the soul felt stronger. It might not be the rightparison, but it was as if King Man-geum had raised his voice. If any more power were to be infused at that moment, that voice alone couldpletely shatter a humans mind. Had this space not been under supernatural protection, the professor himself might have fainted from the voice alone. There was no use hesitating any longer. Professor, let me do it. No, you um alright. I intended to move closer, but there was a tform in front of me. Was I supposed to climb onto this tform? Or should I circle around it to reach the building? Eventually, I stepped onto the tform. Is this enough? |Come closer.| I walked forward. I felt as though I was walking on a dining table, but King Man-geum did not object. Now, I moved past the tform towards a hall not made for humans but for a great old god. Is this enough? |Speak Your Desire.| Since things that should remain hidden have revealed themselves in this world |Speak Your Desire.| Before I could finish my words, King Man-geum interrupted me again. I wondered what this was all about for a moment but I finally understood the nature of the feeling that had been nagging at me since earlier. It was dj vu. I had previously encountered a being of the abyss with Jang Hyeon-deok who had said something simr. It was [The King in Yellow], Thanks to the memory provided by the intelligence stat of 30, I was able to recall what he said without making a single mistake. I also permit you to express a wish. Speak your desire. Reveal your longing. Bring forth the desire that has been harbored in your soul even before you were born. Speak. I shall fulfill your most vile desire that you have never voiced to anyone. Yes, he had said exactly that. In fact, when ites down to it, theyre all the same, whether its King Man-geum or the [King in Yellow] Is it really safe to reveal my true desires to King Man-geum? |Speak Your Desire.| A voice that rings with urgency. Oh, youre so damned impatient. I It was then that I realized that what I had thought to be a vague mist was actually a collection of tiny stars. It looked as though I was observing a vastly miniaturized Milky Way or neb. This is If that is what it appears to you, then it is so. Thats right. Since I didnt like rhetorical questions, I chose not to say more and surveyed the surroundings. Beyond the mist, or rather, the cluster of small stars, was a wall filled with drawers. The drawers looked like those youd find in a herbal medicine shop. They repeated endlessly and stretched to the left and right with no end in sight. Whats all this? This is where I need to store the giftsing in from all over the world. Between something that might be stars or mist, a small old man emerged. A small old man walked out from between what seemed like stars or mist. The old man wore an elegant hat, and without it, he would barely reach my waist in height. This tiny old man was carrying arge jade-colored bundle with his short arms; the bundle looked disproportionatelyrge against his small frame. Have I been here all this time? Yes, youve been here all along. Hmm something feels off with my memory. Just a moment ago, I was sure I was in some bizarre goblins den conducting a ridiculous ritual. Thats right. You were doing that. But then the middle part is missing, and suddenly Im here talking to you? Its like Ah, that! The short old man abruptly lost his temper and cut me off. Never mind that, lets just open this. Im curious what that professor brought. Hmm I paused for a moment and watched what the old man was doing. The old man ced the jade-colored bundle on the ground and flopped down in front of it. As he untied the knots Gurgle! Oh my! What emerged from the bundle was arge crane. After freeing itself from the cramped confines of the bundle, the crane pped its wings briefly, stretched its neck, and squawked loudly before taking flight. When I looked up, I saw a sea on the ceiling. It was a real sea, filled with water and asionally rippling with waves. The crane dove into the sea, swam around for a bit, and then gradually dissolved into a jellyfish. It was a marvelous sea teeming with whales, jellyfish, and all sorts of fish. Ugh, fish? Although I could clearly see various kinds of fish, not only was there no [Ichthyophobia (Fear of Fish)], but even the message window wasnt operating. What is this? Is this not my mental illness, or is the system of the [Cthulhu World] not functioning? Elder, where exactly are we? Dont you see? I scratched my eyebrow unconsciously as I pondered and then spoke again. Hmm this is really difficult. Isnt this an absurdly abrupt scene transition and an illogical development? Huh? Something is strange. Am I thinking this, or am I saying it? It feels like things got mixed up. Hey there, Elder. Can you hear my voice? Am I really speaking right now? Kukuku, what does it seem like to you? It feels like thoughts have be words, and words have be thoughts? I said it, but I cant for the life of me understand what you mean. Ah, I see. Elder, have I gone mad? Oh dear, this young one really thinks highly of himself Always acting so smart and arrogant, as if theres no other way to exin this situation? Ive realized there is another word to describe this situation. Another dimension that forms the foundation of the Ghost Path, and another realm ruled by the master of the Thousand Gold Temple. So thats it. Now I understand. This must be a dream. Thats a bit closer to the answer. [After telling me toe closer, King Man-geum seems to have finally drawn me into his domain. Huh? Whats this now? Have I be the message window?] [System: Your Majesty, it seems my condition is getting worse; wouldnt it be better to have this conversation while I am still somewhat sane?] Im fine; whats the problem? [System: I think Im going to be sick.] The elderughed with a clinking metallic sound and grabbed me. Suddenly, the world spun around. I felt the terrible sensation of falling somewhere. The boundaries that distinguish space and time, cause and effect, myself and the world, all disappeared. Everything became tangled and muddled until it churned nauseatingly. Ah, enough already! Crackle, crackle, crackle!!! I had invoked my magic to impose a forced order in this chaotic space where reality and fantasy, delusion and nonsense were intertwined. The next moment, I found myself seated at a table in the center of arge mansion built in Western style. Was this a reflection of my memory? It was a stylish table covered with a pristine white tablecloth, grand enough to host a splendid dinner for about ten people if one wished. It was my own mansion. This is my house. Its the table in the dining room on the first floor. Yes. The person who helps out at my house makes an excellent jam. Would you like to try some? There was no need to prepare bread or fetch the jam for him. As soon as I said those words, the old man had already transformed into a scene where he was eating bread with jam spread on it. Mmm Youre right, this is really tasty. I briefly touched my face. There was no mask. The unusual softness of my cheek under my fingers felt refreshing. Now Ive fully regained my senses. This is a dream. My, that took quite a while. Besides, this damn dream talk has been repeated seventeen times already. After telling me toe closer, King Man-geum seems to have finally drawn me into his domain. Hmm I think I had this thought earlier. This is a dream. And considering that the Thousand Gold Temple itself was a ce halfway through a dream, I was now dreaming another dream within a dream. Isnt it remarkable that I managed to regain myposure without any preparation? Kukuku Youre not just confident, but insolently so. Despite his words, King Man-geums expression seems to be one of amusement. May I ask why you felt the need to bring me to such a deep ce? I wanted to talk morefortably. Plus, a cunning one like you would probably beat around the bush in a ce with many ears, wouldnt you? Well, thats true. Even though the Thousand Gold Temple is not a part of reality but merely a corner of the spiritual realm, even there King Man-geum cannot speak fortably. The minds of those listening would shatter, and their souls would crumble. So after telling me toe closer, King Man-geum seems to have finally drawn me into his domain. Enough, I keep thinking the same thoughts over and over again. Shall I then answer the question you asked earlier? Yes, go ahead. What is it that you desire? The answer I was supposed to give was predetermined. Please take away this cursed junk and give me a splendid artifact. And I dont know what Tudor packed, but please exchange this for a decent artifact too. However, King Man-geums question was probably not about these things. I felt the words crawling up to the edge of my throat. I want to go home. But is it right to voice this here? Could there possibly be a better answer? After a brief moment of consideration, I decided on what I wanted to say. No, I will not speak. You will not speak? Thats right. What I want, Your Majesty cannot grant. You say there is something I cannot grant? That is correct. You im to have a wish that even King Man-geum cannot fulfill? A ripple emanated from King Man-geums body and it distorted the space around him. |How dare you| The kindly old mans form began to erge dramatically. |This King Man-geum who has existed since before the dawn of time, who has been a dream before consciousness itself existed, who makes even dreams dreamdo you say that you harbor a wish I cannot fulfill? Are you saying that a mere wish contained in the small brain of Homo sapiens is greater than the oldest dreams dreaming?| Then his body expanded to cover the universe, swelling as if to swallow the stars. This ce was no longer the dining room of my mansion. Endless void. zing mes. The heart of the universe. Cast into that vast emptiness, I found myself in the grasp of a will as immense as the universe itself. I wanted to push back against the pressure crushing my soul and respond, but my mouth would not open. It was an unnervingly powerful force. After all, the massive shadow before me now, as well as the old mans body I had seen before, were not the true forms of King Man-geum. The name King Man-geum itself was a distorted title that reflected only a tiny aspect of his numerous forms. I could feel cold sweat trickling down the back of my neck. Crackle Blue sparks erupted from my temples. No message window appeared, but I could sense what had happened. The oppressive force gripping my entire body lightened and I could move ording to my own will again. The Madness of the Abyss trait had been activated. At that moment, I screamed in defiance. Ah, I dont need it! As my mouth began to open, the words burst out uncontrobly. F*ck, its all the same, these bastards! Stop crawling over here and pissing me off for no reason! Haha, lets just die then.
TN: This was one of the maddest chapters I tranted. Chapter 101: The Deal Chapter 101: The Deal |What did you say?| Im not sure when exactly King Man-geum started identifying as such, but perhaps this was the first time he had ever heard such abusivenguage since he recognized himself. But since Im already resolved to die, I have no intention of stopping. Whats with these crappy titles you p on yourself as if theyre something to brag about! What are you supposed to do with those delusional dreams? Theyre just delusions that youll forget once you wake up! |Delusions, you say?| Yes! Did you think you were something special because humans crawled over and brought you things? Just ept the curses Ive brought ording to the established rules and give me my reward! The endless expanse of space, a void that swallowed everything, a massive burning menacingly. And the absolute will that expanded enough to cover the universe. All of it disappeared.I was back in the dark room where it all began. A wide space with stars smaller than water droplets forming a mist and the sea on the ceiling. The small old man in front of meughed aloud as if he was truly enjoying himself. Kukuku To think such a tiny creature could possess unexpected talents. Indeed, youre too good to hand over to the beings that crawl in from beyond the veil. The phrase beings that crawl in from beyond the veil refers to the beings of the abyss. King Man-geum stands as a great will opposing these abyssal beings. An old god. An old and ancient god that has existed on thisnd since before the first dawn. Or perhaps they are merely called by different names and he was no different from the beings of the abyss. It seems the unnecessary demonstration was over. After wiping the sweat-soaked nape of my neck, I spoke. Among the beings of the abyss, there was one who asked me a simr question before. What did you answer? I told him it was unnecessary, so just stay still. What answer do you wish to give me? Its unnecessary. Dont do anything and just stay still. I am different from them. No, you are the same. As the master of the Thousand Gold Temple, take only what you are supposed to take from me and give only what you are supposed to give. I desire nothing from the being that exists beyond what my eyes can see. Why so? If I help you, you can know what you dont know and do what you cant do. All-knowing, all-powerfulomnipotent. Thats quite the im. Im not sure if you can actually deliver, but you might at least make it feel that way. I desire nothing from beings beyond this world. I already possess knowledge I never sought and more power than I need. I wish to stay in a world where I know only what I know and can do only what I can do. Isnt such a world boring? Here, its a soft world where you can press to enter and pull to tear. You dont have to stoop or kneel. You can create a world that fits your body. I do not want such things. Although I spoke in a roundabout way, this is truly what I desire. A normal, quiet world without the existence of things like Cthulhu or any magic or superpowers. Thats where I came from. Already, relying on the power of a cosmic being who rules the world of dreams is beyond my wishes. King Man-geum seemed to be thinking about something. His expression was distant as if he was gazing at faraway mountains. After what seemed like an eternity, his mouth finally opened. Alright, I understand. Phew, I did it. I persuaded him! Im d I didnt have to push myself too hard or show off my strength like in the case of [The King in Yellow]. However, King Man-geum smiled happily and continued speaking. Then, lets make a deal instead. A deal? King Man-geum suddenly leaped backward with a swift motion. Where hended, a tform had appeared which certainly hadnt been there just moments before. It was an opulent tform that was covered with dozens of dragons sculpted from gold. From atop the tform, King Man-geum struck a haughty pose and dered in an excessively grand voice, Yes! A deal! In the name of this King of Man-geum, who sits on a thousand pieces of gold and wields ten thousand pieces of gold, the owner of this thousand gold temple made of sparkling gold and the dreams of all people, let us conduct a fair and honest transaction ording to an ancient promise! Are we returning to that topic of the thousand gold temple now? Wasnt that the very reason you came here? That was indeed the case. I intended to quickly conclude our business and leave before His Majesty decided to summon, tease, test, and toy with me. An adults interest can indeed make one ufortable, you little brat. With that, King Man-geum burst into heartyughter. Ah Yes, I had suspected it mighte to this. The [Lord of the Ancient Dream], though a deity too high in the hierarchy to be spoken of properly, had his incarnation in King Man-geum, a character known for his whimsical and fickle nature, much like the goblins he ruled over. The item I brought is. Yes, this was it. tter. Suddenly, the cursed jewels I had brought poured out between me and King Man-geum. It seems youve brought a treasure that smells of that yellow fellow. With this much, we could even build a new pavilion in the Thousand Gold Temple. What do you desire? This wasnt just about stating a wish like any other time. Still, I couldnt shake off a lingering sense of unease. I need shoes of silent steps. Not enough. Huh? The shoes of silent steps are one of the treasures of the Thousand Gold Temple. Did you really think this was enough to get them? Damn it. Is this some kind of joke? Im not new to trading at the Thousand Gold Temple; I had already calcted their worth before bringing them here. The shoes of silent steps are a fine artifact but theyre more of a value item. What I have brought now were the cursed treasures from the twelve golden dancers and their bodies. They were filled with the massive magical power and curses of the [King in Yellow], whom King Man-geum despises. With such an amount, I should be able to buy five pairs of those shoes and still expect change. Rather than engage in pointless arguments, I decided to try a different approach. Dont I have another item with me? Are you referring to this? Suddenly, the bag that Tudor had handed me materialized out of thin air. To be honest, I wasnt even sure what was inside, but the scale of the enchantment on the bag was no small matter. Whatever was inside, it wouldnt be cheap. Theres a nasty tiger inside the bag. A tiger? Whats that about? Among the items rted to Tudor, there was none that contained such a keyword. If we were to search among items unrted to Tudor there were too many so it was difficult to specify any one in particr. But this is still not enough. Your Majesty, isnt that joke a bit too much? What, you think the owner of the Thousand Gold Temple is just bantering with someone like you? A triumphant smile spread across King Man-geums face. If left to his own devices, he would just y pranks all night long. Then lets leave it at that. Ill just boil these for my own nourishment. Ah, what a shame. Such a youngd with so little patience. It wasnt fun at all. However, it wasnt all just for fun. He must have had something he wanted to say. To prevent any further waste of time, I cut to the chase. Just make the original offer you intended. What do you want from me? Get the tiger. A tiger? Are you asking me to catch some mythical beast from the mountains? No, not that. Here, take a look at this. When he gestured, the lock on Tudors bag clicked open. To think it could be opened so easily Of course, the magical barrier constructed wasnt meant to withstand someone of King Man-geums stature. Still, the enchantment Tudor had set was reinforced by my own magic, effectively doubling the locks yet it was undone so effortlessly that I couldnt help but sigh. Open it and see. The bag slowly floated towards me. Understood. Click. When the bag opened Crash!! Out from inside leaped a huge, Really huge ck tiger. C Grrrrr No, calling it a tiger didnt seem quite right. It was more of an unreal entity made of blurry shadows as if it was cut from the darkness of the night sky. Inside its translucent and shimmering ck body, I could see particles of light scattering like stars. This creature is quite handsome. Take it with you. But Your Majesty, this is Yes, its a curse of very high purity. However, Ive twisted its direction, so it will not harm you directly. Thats a relief, but what am I supposed to do with this half-formed apparition of a tiger? Kukukuku I can clearly see what youre thinking. Listen carefully. This creature has a nemesis. A nemesis you say? Yes. A nemesis of the ck tiger, most likely a white tiger. Defeat that one. It seems this so-called white tiger must be linked to the beings of the abyss in some form or another. Like others from the abyss, it forcibly lends its power and seeks to achieve its own desires. But why should I engage in suchbor merely to gain something trivial like shoes of silent steps? Your Majesty, I am willing to do this, but could it possibly be In return, I will give you the winged robe of the night veil right now. What? Do I need to repeat myself for you to understand? No, the winged robe of the night veil? Really? Yes. Youll give them to me right now? For real? Yes. I will give them to you immediately. However, since youre receiving the reward in advance, you are bound by causality to eventually carry out the task Ive assigned to you. No, this changes the story entirely. I wondered why he was making such a fuss over something as trivial as shoes of silent steps, and then he mentioned the winged robe of the night veil? The winged robe of the night veil were iparable to the shoes of silent steps. They truly were a treasure of the Thousand Gold Temple. Very well. Good. Then take this tiger and return. When King Man-geum gestured, the huge tiger looked down at me. C Grrrrrrr It was a truly huge tiger, almost three meters tall. Was I really supposed to apany such a beast from now on? Looking back at King Man-geum, he wore a pleased smile and slyly nced toward the ceiling. What was up there? Shifting my gaze in that direction, I saw the sea from earlier, with surreal creatures like jellyfish and whales swimming. Ah, I see. This is a dream. Like the crane that emerged from the professors package earlier, this tiger too was merely an image constructed from a curse. Once I stepped outside, it would likely transform into something else. At least, it would be something that could fit into a bag. That makes sense. Understood. King Man-geum nodded his head with a smile. Although he had forcefully brought me here and put me through quite an ordeal, considering his high status, he had made significant concessions and shown considerable consideration. Taking that into ount and honestly feeling that he should not be any more capricious, I bowed my head to him as a sign of respect. After I had shown my respect and was about to lift my head, the voice of King Man-geum reached me. Kim Shin-hwa. Yes. How would you feel about devoting yourself to me? Devote you say? Though it was an old-fashioned expression, it essentially meant bing a follower and servant of King Man-geum. This is a different offer from the previous one. If you do not like the idea of joining the Thousand Gold Hall, I could create a special ce or position just for you. Or, if you prefer, just having the title might be enough. Aside from that, you can continue with what you originally intended to do. Chapter 102: Great Justice Tiger Sword (1) Chapter 102: Great Justice Tiger Sword (1) Devote myself to King Man-geum and join the Thousand Gold Temple? Well, there are endings that can only be unlocked by being a part of the Thousand Gold Temple. One notable example was the [Guardian of the Thousand Gold Temple] ending. Even if its not such an easy ending, by strategically using your connection with the Thousand Gold Temple, you can also pursue endings like [Master of Treasures] or [Usurper of Dreams]. Perhaps because it reflects the goblins tendencies, the episodes rted to Thousand Gold Temple are generally less bloody. If ones sole concern was personal safety, it was a choice worth considering. Your answer? Of course, I dislike the idea.Even though you could receive treatment and rewards beyond what you have imagined and dreamed of? The moment I ce my name under King Man-geum, wont he decide what I can imagine and dream of? I would live a life for King Man-geum, under the illusion that it was what I had always wanted. And that would make me apletely different being from who I am now. Kukuku I knew it was a fruit you wouldnt bite, but I thought Id prod just in case. Please let me out now. Go then. If you feel you cannot fulfill the task, just return what I have given you. Once again, I bowed deeply to King Man-geum. Thank you.
[System: The Feast Offering trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] [System: The Madness of the Abyss trait has been activated. The effects of nightmares have been nullified.] [System: The Madness of the Abyss trait has been activated. The effects of daydreams have been nullified.] [System: The Madness of the Abyss trait has been activated. The effects of intimidation have been nullified.] [System: The Madness of the Abyss trait has been activated. The effects of confusion have been nullified.] [Achievement Unlocked! You have explored the depths of King Man-geums deep dream. You have earned the Rare Achievement: Dream Within a Dream. As a reward for the achievement, a special quest is provided.] As soon as my vision cleared, an overwhelming number of message windows flooded my view. Huh? Whoosh! At that moment, I felt as if something had grabbed my ankle. Huh? Wait, what?! I tried to regain my bnce, but ultimately I stumbled back a few steps. Stop, donte any closer! It was the professors voice. He sounded incredibly urgent. Huh?? Ah! Professor? Oh no! It turned out that the professor had been right behind me. Its difficult for someone in a wheelchair to quickly dodge something. I ended up getting tangled with the professor and we both fell down. Crash! Ouch, I cant even tell what I hit. Ma-Mage friend, please move aside! Just a moment, this is because I wanted to get up quickly, but it wasnt easy. New messages were still continuously appearing. [You have epted the quest! You have be the owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon). ording to the fate bestowed upon the owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon), you are to duel with the owner of the Great Four Tiger Sword (Mungok). ! Time limit: The owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword will cease to exist in (581) days. ! Rewards: 9,000,000XP + ??? Failure: If you lose the duel, you will die. If you forfeit, King Man-geum will be disappointed.] Damn it. Move! I continuously waved my hands to disperse the message windows that appeared before my eyes. Bahahaha! You are indeed a diligent my friend. Ugh, what does that even mean? Even amidst your busy schedule, to show us such amusing acrobatics, how could one not call you diligent? Commander Thousand Gold please, help us stand. Yes, got it, friends. However, Seo Cheon-seul did not physically move to help us. When he pped his hands, the wheelchair rolling on the ground spontaneously bounced up and righted itself. I grabbed the wheelchair and stood up, then supported the professor. After muchmotion, we finally managed to be in a state where we could take other actions. Hmm, first, first, Mage friend. First, that is, first Yes, uhh. First, professor, take these. As we fell, items attached to the professors wheelchair spilled out. I quickly summoned magical power to gather the fallen objects and handed them one by one to the professor. Th-this is Why so oh? Thest item I handed to the professor was the foot-lightingntern. It could serve as an admission ticket to Thousand Gold Temple and was a precious item that could illuminate any path at any time. I dont think thats mine. The problem was that a foot-lightingmp was already in the professors hand. No, what on earth does that mean? So, the foot-lightingmp One in my hand. One in the professors hand. Two foot-lightingmps? Amidst the chaos, the foot-lightingmp had duplicated. It was as if we were bewitched by a goblin. Ah, a goblin. It must be one of the goblin tricks. Aha, I see. It seems youve also received an admission ticket. [Achievement unlocked! You have obtained an admission ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple. You have earned the Advanced Achievement: Dream Curse Shop. As a reward for the achievement, you have be friendly with the Thousand Gold Temple faction and have gained additional experience points.] Yes, it looks like that. No matter how sudden the situation was, it seemed unlikely that someone of the professors stature would bepletely taken by surprise by such an event. Furthermore, I felt something grab my ankle before we fell. This was clearly a prank by King Man-geum. Congrattions on obtaining an item not easily acquired. But you didnt just receive it; perhaps the King himself The professor wanted to say more but was interrupted by Seo Cheon-seul. Wait, masked friend. Sorry, but this ce is important to us, you know? Moreover, other guests are starting to arrive. Understand? Seo Cheon-seul repeated Understand? Understand? a few more times before gesturing toward the back. While I was detained by King Man-geum, it seemed that the passageway of the Thousand Gold Temple had been restored and I could see ghosts gathering over there. Yes, it seems like you should resume business here as well. Then, Commander Thousand Goldr, excuse me. Yes, I will tidy up here and follow soon, so friends andpany, please rest over there for a while. Seo Cheon-seul pointed to a hanok situated closest to this area, where King Man-geums altar was located. It was a hanok with a sizable wooden front porch. Sit there; it will befortable and nice. Its also good for me to have the guests in sight. Ah, thank you. Bahahaha, dont wander off to strange ces and stay within my line of sight. I have something to pass on to you. Professor, lets move now. With that, the professor and I moved to the wooden front porch. As soon as I arrived at the porch, I felt a slight relief and immediately sat down. Of course, I couldntpletely let my guard down here but it was inevitable that my legs would weaken. So much had happened unexpectedly in just a short time. What did King Man-geum say? The professor who was still seated in his wheelchair asked with a serious expression. Hmm, how far should I go with the story? I habitually tried to gloss over the details, but I realized that such tactics would not work well with this gentleman. Eventually, I muttered, Oh well, lets just go with it and then told the professor. King Man-geum has given me a task. A task? Yes. Take a look at this. I showed him the sword that had been hanging at my waist since some point. The straight ck de slid out from its sheath. The de gleaming like obsidian was engraved with the Big Dipper and various constetions of the East and they were all shimmering in silver. Wearing a mask was already more than I could handle, let alone having such a shy ceremonial sword. I couldnt even imagine how ridiculous I must look to others. Is this a Tiger Sword, or rather a Great Four Tiger Sword? A Great Four Tiger Sword is forged in the year, month, day, and hour of the Tiger. Apparently, specifying such times during its creation is supposed to imbue it with the tigers spirit? The Great Four Tiger Sword was enhanced with special procedures to infuse it with a sharp and clear energy. A sword meant to cut down the corrupt. Its more of a ceremonial tool or a magical tool than a weapon. No, this is. But this isnt a Great Four Tiger Sword. a Great Justice Tiger Sword. Justice? A sword meant to cut down what is right? Yes, this is the cursed sword that was entrusted to me by the broker of Vasilisa. Was the curse intentionally imbued during its creation? But why has ite back to you? I also find it difficult toprehend King Man-geums intentions. It seems there is another sword that pairs with this one. He told me to defeat its owner. Huh. The professor stroked his chin and opened his mouth wide as if amazed. Ive brought famous fixers and powerful fighters here before, but Ive never seen anyone receive such a request. Its not because Im remarkable. It just happened that he needed someone for this task at the right time. No, if it were that simple, he would have assigned it to Commander Thousand Gold or another under hismand. With that, the professor handed me back the Great Justice Tiger Sword and continued, It seems theres something special about you after all. I dont know what lies ahead, but Id like to see you around for a while longer. With those words, he looked at me as if he were seeing someone who had just won the lottery. But receiving that look, I felt a mix of emotions. King Man-geum was known as the god of wealth and fortune, who ruled over goblins and had the power to ward off disasters and curses. Just like the professor suggested, if my connection with King Man-geum could continue in a favorable way, I might receive unmatched blessings. Thats the usual perspective, anyway. The reality was moreplex. King Man-geum was actually an avatar of a moreplex and dangerous entity. The ancient god, [Lord of the Ancient Dream]. The first offer for me to state a wish stemmed from the will of [Lord of the Ancient Dream] behind King Man-geum. Since I had declined that offer, a lesser task was assigned in the name of King Man-geum. The problem was that I could not guess howpleting this task would rte to the true form of King Man-geum. This was a hidden quest unlike anything I had experienced in gamey before. And so, I couldnt predict what the oue of the quest might be. There was also far too little information about the target I was supposed to defeat. As I focused for a moment, I was able to recall one of the messages that had flooded in and then disappeared earlier. Having a good memory certainly made this easier. [You have be the owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon). ording to the fate bestowed upon the owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon), you are to duel with the owner of the Great Four Tiger Sword (Mungok).] Confront the owner of the Great Four Tiger Sword? The Great Four Tiger Sword was merely a title. In [Cthulhu World], there are quite a few artifacts bearing such names. Including those that appeared trivially, just the ones I had actually seen and remembered were well, dont be surprised. Exactly forty-four. Chapter 103: Great Justice Tiger Sword (2) Chapter 103: Great Justice Tiger Sword (2) (TN: Forgot to mention this: Man-geum means Ten Thousand Gold. But King Man-geum sounds like his name so I left it like that.)
[Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon) (SSS-rank Weapon): A sword made ording to a magical procedure by setting a special year, month, date, and time. It contains the spirit of a tiger. First, a corrupt curse embedded within it has turned this de, contrary to the makers intentions, into a vile weapon that cuts down the righteous rather than the wicked. Curse of Premature Death: The owner of Nokjon is cursed with early death. Every use of the sword drastically reduces the users lifespan. This effect has been sealed. Prize of Rivalry: The owner of Nokjon is destined to oppose the owner of its twin sword, Mungok, ultimately leading to a duel where they will kill each other. Just possessing it ensures you will eventually meet the owner of Mungok. Prize of Fortune: Based on luck, all sess rates of actions increase by 400%. Prize of Benefactor: Owners health +3. Prize of Fiery Heaven: The effects of all fire-type magic increase by 100%. Prize of Righteous Harm: Damage against good or virtuous targets increases by 400%. However, each time this effect activates, a Mental IllnessMurder Obsession afflicts your mind.]Nokjon was the name of this sword. It seemed someone named it such. I was annoyed that there was a named sword I didnt know about. As someone who considers themselves a stagnant water of [Cthulhu World], it was quite frustrating. This really is a killer de, isnt it? It was a typical cursed sword that, in exchange for cutting the owners lifespan, possessed powerful abilities. Fortunately, it seemed that King Man-geum had sealed the part rted to the lifespan. As a result, a few abilities weakened or were sealed altogether. But the other abilities were unnecessary. Luck? Enhancement of fire-type magic? Extra damage to the good or virtuous? They were abilities that made no difference whether present or not. Health +3! Yes, a health increase of +3! Just the option of increasing the health stat was enough for me to decide to keep this sword for life. I was in the midst of reiming the health that had been taken from me. It was during this time that I realized just how crucial health is in human life. Ah, friends andpany. Youve been waiting a long time. Seo Cheon-seul returned with a hearty Bahahahaugh. Man, King Man-geum is such a nag, you know. No, it wasnt that long a time. Didnt the king say anything else? Nothing much, except to give this to you. With that, Seo Cheon-seul took off the dark gray durumagi he was wearing. Ah, if youre going to give a gift, shouldnt it be something new rather than something worn by someone else? Uh, what? Seo Cheon-seul spoke with a nonchnt expression, but it was no ordinary matter. Even the usuallyposed professors lips quivered and he started muttering incredulously, Could it be? Eh? Could it really be? Here you go, masked friend. Take this. As Seo Cheon-seul flicked his hand holding the durumagi, it soared up by itself and flew towards me. Tell the king it was well received. Well, he sees everything that happens in the Thousand Gold Temple. The durumagi fluttered through the air and, as it slowly unfolded, it seemed to cling to my shoulders and then moved on its own to help me put it on. Seo Cheon-seul scanned me from head to toe for a moment and then burst outughing. Hahaha! It suits you perfectly. You look quite like a goblin, especially with the mask. It was an appropriateparison. I was already dressed simply in a ck hoodie and jeans, and the bizarrely shaped mask I was wearing only added to the oddity. Now, draped in what looked like a traditional Korean ck durumagi, my clothing was indeed goblin-like in many ways. I casually felt the durumagi that had clung to my body. It almost had no weight. In fact, before that, there was almost no sensation of touching it. Wasnt it made with threads spun from the hair of a heavenly maiden, into which shadows, delusions, hopes, and vain dreams were woven as the weft? Only then did the professor open his mouth as if shocked. Wh-What is this? The Winged Robe of the Night Veil? Isnt this a garment that symbolizes the Commander Thousand Gold itself?! Thats right. Honestly, this garment was far more precious than any Great Justice Tiger Swordor whatnot. The Winged Robe of the Night Veil was an L-rank artifact imbued with the power of [The Lord of Ancient Dream], a member of the ancient deities. It was also a symbolic attire given to the Commander Thousand Gold who guards the Thousand Gold Temple. Yo-You really have stumbled upon unbelievable fortune, havent you? The professor who had previously looked at me as if I had won the lottery now wore the expression of someone who, after winning the lottery three times, had nonchntly scratched an instant lottery ticket and won again. His expression showed not just envy but a hint of fear as well. Even the usuallyposed professor started to lose hisposure, which was rather embarrassing. Certainly, the Winged Robe of the Night Veil offered an enormous array of abilities and various buffs that were too numerous to list. But more importantly, there was another reason why this robe was so important to me. Now, I will never have nightmares again. The reason I had sought the Shoes of Silent Steps was solely for that purpose. Although they provided remarkable mobility, the Shoes of Silent Steps also possessed the power to ward off their owners nightmares. Who is King Man-geum? Is he not a deity from ancient times, governing over dreams? The Winged Robe of the Night Veil was an artifact of the highest caliber, surpassing all others in its capabilities, and it was also the ultimate item for sleeping. Honestly, with this, I could say I achieved more than what I hade here for. At this point, Seo Cheon-seul spoke up again. However, this isnt a gift the masked friend is giving simply because its pretty. Our king is particrly sensitive to the bnce of give and take. There was something sharply pointed about his words. It seemed best not to respond directly to thatment. As the professor said, it was like having an item that was a symbol of his own essence taken away. It was only because he was a goblin that he was smiling like that; if Seo Cheon-seul were human, even a slight misstep in speech could have started a physical confrontation. Indeed, thats true. Whatever it is, the task that the king assigned to you earlier seems to be of great importance. Well, considering the appearances of many legends no, this isnt the ce to discuss that. The professor paused before ncing at Seo Cheon-seuls reaction. I know what youre trying to say, Professor, but its not something that should be interpreted optimistically. I had a rough idea of what the professor was about to say. Was he about to discuss the appearances of goblins in legends and folklore? They would grant mountains of gold and treasures as a modest repayment for a beautifully sung song or a small favor. It was as if they were giving away gold or treasures as payment for a curse, just like the mythical King Man-geum. However, the goblins werent foolish or purely kind for these actions to ur. They were not humans. Their sense of money and transactions waspletely different from ours. They might gift immense treasures in return for a small good deed, but they could also take something as vital as a life for a minor favor. Perhaps they might even take your life itself. If I were to interpret this situation optimistically, I might be considered a lucky fellow but somehow, I felt that this exchange wouldnt result in only happy oues. Hmm, is that so? Yes. Its going to be a difficult task. Well, you who have spoken with the king directly would know better. Should we start preparing to head back? Ah, yes. We can continue our discussion as we go Commander Thousand Gold, could you lead the way again? Are you leaving? Then, I will lead the way! Seo Cheon-seul briskly took the lead and pushed aside a few buildings as he moved. A goblin who had been sleeping on the roof of one of the disced buildings rolled off due to the movement. Argh, damn goblin! Bahahaha, why were you sleeping on the roof anyway? Regardless of my concerns, Seo Cheon-seul maintained his previous cheerful demeanor. Was I worrying unnecessarily? There was something I was already curious about, so I decided to strike up a conversation with Seo Cheon-seul. Hey, Commander Thousand Gold. Hmm? By the way, why were the Jangseungs acting up earlier? Did you find the person who meant to harm the Thousand Gold Temple? Ah, that It seems the king was just ying a prank. Ah, damn it. Was it really just that? Look at this. In the end, King Man-geum was no different from the others. Just as the [King in Yellow] had tested me, King Man-geum had tested me too. Still, he had shown some mercy, since it was just the Jangseungs involved; the situation ended on a lighthearted note which wouldnt have been the case if Seo Cheon-seul had been involved. But masked friend, wasnt it somewhat fun? It seems King Man-geum was quite pleased. Fun? Really? Bahahaha! Our conversation continued, though it mostly consisted of trivial stories, Seo Cheon-seuls jokes, or the professors questions? I walked along while half-listening to them or answering them casually. I was preupied with thoughts of the sword and King Man-geum. By the time we reached the entrance to the Thousand Gold Temple, Seo Cheon-seul addressed me again. Hey, masked friend. Hmm? Now that you mention it, there was one more thing His Majesty asked me to convey. His Majesty? Yeah, I almost forgot to deliver it. Whew, that really would have been something. Seo Cheon-seul slyly pretended to have suddenly remembered something. It was a message from King Man-geum; how could he possibly forget? He must be choosing to mention it now on purpose, or maybe King Man-geum instructed him to do so from the start. I feel like Ive already received more than enough. Oh, dont worry, friend. This isnt about an item. If its not an item, then? Could it be a message? I hope its something light, like a sermon. Im already burdened with a confusing and difficult task thats hard to resolve immediately. I definitely cant handle any more bizarre decrees or errands being added to my te. Ah, its actually about I could see the gleam in Seo Cheon-seuls eyes, half hidden under his floppy hat, and a yful grin spread across his face like a goblin who had caught the opportunity for his prank. If you dont hurry up and tell me, Im just going to leave. I was already at the exit anyway. I could just walk out and that would be the end of it. Uh? If there are any problems due to the message not being conveyed, it will all be because Commander Thousand Gold was trying to y some odd prank. Whoa, no. Wait, Ill tell you, just saying it is enough, right? Ah, there goes masked friend with his impatience. Alright. Now tell me. His Majesty said, Inspect the attic of your house. You might find an interesting clock there. The attic? A clock? Seo Cheon-seul raised his hand to stop me. Its not over yet. Its something left by a creature with many mouths. Make sure you look at that clock closely and adjust your schedule ordingly. Hmm Is that what he said? Yes. But what does that mean? I dont know either? Really? I really didnt know. A clock? A creature with many mouths likely referred to the being of the abyss known as the [He Who Comes from the Darkness] who had been supporting the Hollow Lord. This being was also known by several names: [The One with a Thousands Mouths], [The Hungry Mouth], and [The One Who Whispers with Countless Mouths], and it often appeared in the form of darkness with thousands of mouths. And He Who Comes from the Darkness left a clock for the Hollow Lord? If there was such an item, why wouldnt I know about it? I dont know. Seems like some kind of riddle. Aha, a riddle. That makes sense. With that conversation behind us, the professor and I crossed the main gate of the Thousand Gold Temple. Seo Cheon-seul came out to the front of the Thousand Gold Temple. His face was filled with a smile as he saw us off. Take care, masked friend! And you too, friend who travels while seated. Thank you for the guidance. I hope we can meet again with smiles. Ah, of course. But next time, bring someone more interesting than the masked friend. Haha, thats not something I can decide. I would be returning soon. Having obtained the foot-lightingntern entry ticket, I needed toe back at least once to lift the curse of Park Kwang-lim. Seo Cheon-seul maintained a cheerful demeanor, But I wondered, What was he really thinking inside? Chapter 104: Returning Chapter 104: Returning Immediately after Kim Shin-hwa left the Thousand Gold Temple, Or perhaps it was on a day after an indeterminable amount of time had passed, or maybe even before Kim Shin-hwa had ever reached the Thousand Gold Temple. In a dark and bright, quiet and noisy ce where even the absolutew of the flow of time lost its meaning. In the chamber of King Man-geum, there was nothing left that human eyes could see. Not the tform decorated with golden dragons, nor the shelves filled with countlesspartments. Not even the wooden walls or the sea that took the ce of the ceiling. After all, they were merely visual materials prepared for humanprehension. Now, only a pulsing, glowing darkness remained. Like a deep dream. In that darkness, the will of Commander Thousand Gold Seo Cheon-seul created a voice. Your Majesty, why have you done this? Such favor is too great for that masked man.The will of King Man-geum responded to Seo Cheon-seul. |I wanted it so.| He is merely another of the countless sacrificial victims we have seen at the feast. He will not withstand the attention sent by the beings beyond the veil. King Man-geum did not reply. Feeling anxious, Seo Cheon-seul continued speaking. Like others before him, he too will eventually want to know what he does not know and to do what he cannot do. |But no one has ever said that they didnt need it before.| Thats just acent remark,ing from someone who knows more and can do more than others. |Do you think so?| If you allow me, I will obscure his knowledge and strip him of his power. He will soon be groveling to beings less significant than those beyond the veil and begging them. |.| Strange vibrations spread in all directions. It was a provocative wave as if the darkness itself was convulsing. Having served King Man-geum for a long time, Seo Cheon-seul knew this was King Man-geumsughter and waited for it to end. |Do you want that?| Yes, I do. |You may do so.| Thank you. Now even the will of Commander Thousand Gold Seo Cheon-seul had disappeared. In this void and dark space, only a single, solitary will remained. This immense will, known to many as King Man-geum, briefly turned its head to look at the past, present, and future. And King Man-geum issued its will again. |But if youe to desire something else, you too can make it so.| At this moment, there was no one in the residence of King Man-geum. However, this will would be used at the most appropriate time. The causation was not of great importance. *** [You have left the mysterious and beautiful Thousand Gold Temple. Along the way, there were various incidents and encounters. In all those scenes, you always disyed a wise attitude. Particrly, the members of the Thousand Gold Temple must have been deeply impressed by you.]. The message window suddenly started to chatter excitedly. Ah, move aside. Huh? What did you say? No, nothing. While its helpful to get information, this thing has a problem with obscuring the view every time it appears. Ugh, Id rather die than suffer. If its not an urgent battle situation measured in seconds, its not a big problem. I stretched out my magical power to form a sense that could rece the blocked view. Weve arrived at the market. Now I can finally catch my breath. Thats true. Be careful, professor. Theres a drain ahead. Ah, I see. Thank you. Multitasking was as simple as walking and talking for me. The Geumchon Market which was perceived through extra senses rather than sight had a somewhat gloomy and deste atmosphere. I was here for quite a while, but has the night market already ended? Before entering the ghost path, there had certainly been a bustling night market event, but now, as if such an event had never taken ce, only closed shops and tidy stalls remained. It didnt matter what had be of the night market. What was important was that we had escaped from the ghost path. [You protected the mysterious figure who had introduced himself as the professor to the end. He even promised a future meeting with you amidst the dangerous ghost path. There will surely be a chance to meet him again someday. But what if? Will the professor then be the person you thought he was?] Ah, he will be. The professor is someone Ive seen over a hundred times in games, without any shocking twists, always the same. He was always kind, always sacrificing himself for others. [Questpleted! Reward: 500,000 XP + 1,000,000 Won + Entrance Ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple] [You have defeated the Guardian of Thousand Gold Temple C Jangseung (2). Your understanding of goblins has increased.] [You exerted a strong influence on numerous ghosts. Your understanding of the undead has increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved (2) achievements in the Thousand Gold Temple.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] Now, I have reached level 33.
Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 33 Magic Order: Third Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia] Strength: 5(+3) (Ring of Corrupted me) Health: 7(+3) (Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon)) Agility: 8(+2) (Winged Robe of the Night Veil) Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 15(+2) (Body Snatchers Ne ) Charm: 18
I might not know about other things, but obtaining an SSS-rank artifact and an L-rank artifact to significantly boost my stats was undoubtedly the best harvest. [You gained a lot and learned a lot at the Thousand Gold Temple. These will be of great help to your future ns. However, you must ovee the imminent challenge before you. It is the unavoidable fate approaching the owner of the Great Justice Tiger Sword.] No, Ill take that slowly. I kept thinking about it while getting out of the ghost path, but no matter how much I thought about it, now wasnt the time to go searching for the rival of this tiger sword. After all, there seemed to be over 500 days left on the time limit, so why rush it now? [Now, please continue to enjoy the chaotic future.] Finally, the message window disappeared, and my view cleared. Weve made it to the caf. Youve worked hard. Ah, its nothing. It waste at night, but as always, Vasilisa was open for business. The atmosphere was somewhat quieter than before I left, and Tudor who had been giving instructions to Orb at the counter greeted me cheerfully until, Why did you bring that back!? Back? Oh, this? I casually pushed my waist forward to show the Great Justice Tiger Sword. Kyaaah! Donte any closer! Tudor ran to the opposite end of the hall in sheer terror. Hey, Tudor. Its been purified. No, I hate it! Leave the sword with Orb ande in. Or, actually, you dont have toe in at all! Professor, pleasee this way! Then she disappeared into the office. I think shes acting up because of the curse of premature death. The professor looked at me with a bewildered expression before wheeling towards the office. Ill go in first and settle the request. Leave it to me and take your time. Yes, go ahead. While the professor headed to the office, I approached Orb to greet him. Hello? Orb. Did you hear what Tudor was saying earlier? Could you hold onto this for me? Hel-Lo? Kim-Shin-hwa. Its been-two-weeks. Huh? Two weeks? Ye-s. A two weeks. Kim-Shin-hwa. You-left. And-returned. After-two-weeks. On the monitor that reced Orbs head, a dot image disyed the message 2 WEEKS. Tsk, so it is. No, thats how it turned out. Its like the saying goes, you dont know the handle is rotting when youre lost in ying hermit. Time flowed differently in reality than in the ghost path. Theres often a discrepancy between perceived time and actual time. But usually, its only a matter of a few hours difference. Apparently, something was distorted due to my encounter with King Man-geum. In fact, the scale of the incident at Thousand Gold Temple was such that I wouldnt have been surprised if Id returned to reality only to find that hundreds of years had passed. To a divine being living in infinite time, there is no noticeable difference between two weeks and several centuries. Ugh, I did mention this could happen before I left, but to actually spend two weeks there Would the mansion be alright? Instead of dawdling here, I might need to hurry back to the mansion. What if some random person has taken it over by now? No, I must at least say goodbye to the professor. We might not meet again. Oh dear, youre back? Tudor who had previously run away in disgust now greeted me with a bright smile. Actually, Ive just finished up with the professor. Ah, that was quick. Well, the professor isnt the client after all. It seems that Jeong Eun-taek, that old man from the Geumchon Pawnshop will be handling the payment so Ill leave the detailed settlement to him. With a gentle smile, the professor bid me farewell. Im very grateful. It was a rare spectacle thanks to you. It was an umon experience for me as well. Are you heading back now? I hear its been two weeks. Ive been away longer than I thought, so I really should head back to school. Thats true. Honestly, I cant see why a mage of your caliber would bother with these matters in Paju. Perhaps you have your own ns? Tudor who was standing nearby us made a face where the professor couldnt see and mouthed Why is he doing this? But the professor who was unaware peacefully continued his thought. However, if other ns arise, do tell me. Our school has plenty of opportunities fit for you. Didnt he talk about something simr on the way to the Thousand Gold Temple? Maybe he really is suggesting I be a graduate student. Thank you for the offer, but I have no ns to quit this job anytime soon. Ah, I may have spoken out of turn. My apologies. Its just a habit of professors to encourage talented individuals to pursue academia. Ah, so he was really suggesting I be a grad student? The professor gave an awkward smile, then pulled out a business card and handed it to me. Just like we discussed in the ghost path, if you ever need anything, dont hesitate to visit. If theres any support you need from the university, Ill do my best to help. Thats very good news. The school that the professor belonged to was as much of a devils den as Paju. Thanks to that, there were plenty of useful quests and artifacts hidden away. It wasnt a ce worth making a special trip for, but if it was on the way, it might be worth stopping by. Then, lets meet again. With those words, the professor left Vasilisa. As soon as the formal farewells and other formalities were over, Tudortched on to me. Dear, how was the Thousand Gold Temple? Did you get the entry ticket? Thousand Gold Temple? It was fun. Is that all? I managed to get the entry ticket as well. Kyah! Great, you did it. Youre our ace! She was as excited as if she was about to jump out of joy. I repeat, this is the same Tudor who seemed about to start a race and flee earlier. Perhaps sensing my gaze hidden beneath my mask, Tudor coughed awkwardly a few times before continuing. Ahem, ahem. dear, what are you going to do now? Huh? What next? Have you thought about going into business with me? ? After I had turned down an unexpected graduate school proposal, now someone else was suggesting a business offer? Chapter 105: Raid (1) Chapter 105: Raid (1) Business? What kind of business? Oh,e on, dear. Im talking about the Thousand Gold Temple. Ah, the Thousand Gold Temple. The Thousand Gold Temple didnt just offer entry to anyone. One must either overflow with talent enough to catch the eye of King Man-geum, achieve a featparable to that, or if neither of those apply, aplish something monumental like saving the world from destruction, much like Jeong Eun-taek did. Yes, despite appearing just like a cranky and miserly old man, Jeong Eun-taek was reputed to have saved the world 20 years ago. Im not sure exactly what he did, but thats the story, so what can I say? In any case, an entry ticket to the Thousand Gold Temple was a rarity in itself. In a world where even a real estate brokers license can somehow be turned into money, the possibilities with this ticket are vast. You know that I didnt get the Thousand Gold Temple ticket just to run errands, right?Errands? Please, Im someone who can do much more exciting things. With those words, Tudor shed a truly captivating smile. It was the kind of smile that could make a person with even a shred of weak willpower lose their mind. Wait, what different things can Tudor do? Tudor was the top broker in Paju and a witch who has been around for hundreds of years. There would indeed be plenty that could be done. I have a rough idea of what youre proposing, but Im not taking people there. Oh, youre such an introvert. Are you really not going to do it? Ah, so that was really it. The Thousand Gold Temple was a shop that bought curses. And Tudor could curse others. If Tudor were to start a business where she cursed someone and then took them to the Thousand Gold Temple? She could go beyond merely making money; she might even be the founder of a new religion. But I didnt have time to do such leisurely things. Of course, I expected that you wouldnt really help with that. Its good that you know. But if you ever feel like visiting the Thousand Gold Temple, just let me know. You could honestly live without worrying about money now, couldnt you? That was true. Even without joining Tudors evil n, there were plenty of ways to make a fortune. Just collecting all the cursed items that were hard to deal with scattered around Paju and bringing them to the Thousand Gold Temple would suffice. I dont n on going there often. Honestly, it was a ce with too many uncertainties. I felt ufortable that King Man-geum had evil intentions toward me, and I also felt uneasy that I didnt know what Seo Cheon-seul was thinking. Perhaps I would visit the Thousand Gold Temple only twice more in the future? Once after I had resolved the task rted to the Great Tiger Justice Sword, and another time Because of Park Kwang-lim, Ill have to go back within about a month. It would be best to go at a time when I could conveniently take other things with me. Is everything more or less wrapped up? I heard a bit from the professor about what happened. I think its time I headed home. Huh? Leaving already? You just came back after two weeks and youre leaving so soon? Its precisely those two weeks that are the issue. I want to go home and check the boiler and air conditioner. I think I left a window open. And I need to feed the dog. Really, I cant ever tell with you. When will youe back? Who knows? Maybe next week after I tidy up the house a bit? Ah, no! You have so much to do. Anything special? You saw it yourself two weeks ago, didnt you? Its even more chaotic now. You seem to have a lot of tasks for me? Ille in three days then. Mm, okay. Three days! Exactly three days. Ill pick out what I need you to do by then. As I said earlier, I wont be going to the Thousand Gold Temple for a while. Tsk tsk tsk. Isnt that too much? If youve got an entry ticket, youve got to use it freely! If it were really something you could use so recklessly as everyone thinks, would the old man at the Geumchon Pawnshop live so quietly? Ah, is that why? No, I dont really know. It was just something I said off the top of my head, but now that Ive said it, it sounds strange. Why doesnt Jeong Eun-taek, who loves money so much, use the Thousand Gold Temple more often? Considering the position and location of the Geumchon Pawnshop, youd think hed have long ago implemented a n to buy up cursed items floating around Paju and dispose of them at the Thousand Gold Temple. Anyway, the conversation with Tudor wrapped up around there. It was already veryte when I entered Vasilisa. Now, it was so dark outside that the cars were likely not even running. I decided to use the fastest way to return to the hungry mansion. That was pressing one of the few numbers saved on my smartphone. A short ring and a rxed voice came in.
  • Yaho~! Whats up?
Working today?
  • Need a ride? Im currently in the Geumchon neighborhood, where are you?
Im in Geumchon. I didnt have to wait long before a white SUV bearing the logo of Paju Call Van arrived. Yaho~! What have you been up to? The face of Jang Hyeon-deok, a blond young ruffian, was lit up with a lively smile. Just got back from a business trip because of Tudor. Ah, a business trip. Lets just go home. You want to go to such a dangerous ce at thiste hour? Its my house. But its haunted! Ive almost finished cleaning it up. There are no ghosts or anything. Now that I think about it, I dont know what happened there while I was away. Something might show up, but I dont need to confess that fact. The car started, and despite Jang Hyeon-deoks ongoing grumbling, we began heading steadily towards the haunted house. Well, what can you do? If not me, then who will look after you, Mage-nim? Yeah, yeah, youre the only one. How touching. Isnt that a bit of an insincere response? You expect too much. I could barely appease the grumbling but Jang Hyeon-deoks chatter continued nonstop. In fact, Ive been suspecting for a few days now that Jang Hyeon-deok isnt driving for the money but rather using the car as a trap to unleash his endless chatter on captives who cant escape. Do you know how troubled the current situation is? The situation? Are we talking politics now? No, not that. I mean the situation in the darker parts of the neighborhood. Night, darkness, the underworld, back alleys, the other side of everyday life, mythic events, forces beyond the veil, the hour of the fixers, the domain of monsters, and so on. The names they go by vary, but in the end, they all mean the same thing. The surreal events involving entities from the Cthulhu mythos. Or the madmen who decided to get directly involved with these events. About a two weeks ago, I saw that Vasilisa was swarming with fixers? A two weeks ago? Oh, these days, it feels like apletely different ce even after just one day. Honestly, for me, it had been just a few hours but it had already been two weeks. Yesterday, you know? Someone saw a huge bat or some strange bird flying over Unjeong Station. Really? Now that you mention it, with the fixers getting busier, you must be seeing good times too? Haha, honestly, thats true. Im quite the diligent transport worker. Its gotten a bit busier thanks to that. But that being said, I hope you dont misunderstand me for saying this, but, well Why does he always twist his words when hes about to say something awkward? What is it? I cane anytime if it fits my schedule, but there might be times when I cant make it. I was needlessly nervous. It was nothing serious. Alright. If you cant make it, Ill just call someone else. Oh, you know I dont mean to neglect Mage-nim, right? Ill give you some contacts for people I knowter. Theyll take good care of you if you mention my name. No, Ill just go out when youre avable. I dont want anyone but you. Ugh, what kind of crazy talk is that? Jang Hyeon-deok let out an awkwardugh, and I responded in kind. No, if it wasnt you, which other security taxi driver in Paju would take on such trivial tasks so often? But doesnt the Triad provide you with a driver? The Triad? Yes, the Triad. I heard youre on friendly terms with one of the bosses there? Who said we were on friendly terms? Huh? Strange. Theres been a rumor going around. One of the bosses of the Triad, uh was it Cheong-doo? Cheong-ho? Ah, yes, Cheongho, Cheongho. What kind of name is that? Werent you close with that guy? There are even people in Vasilisa saying youll soon be an officer in the Triad. Now that I think about it, Park Kwang-lim said something simr not long ago. But why would such a rumor spread like that? No, its just a baseless rumor. Huh? If its not true, then why I tapped Jang Hyeon-deok on the shoulder. Hey, slow down a bit. Huh? Oh, right. Despite everything, Jang Hyeon-deok was a professional. Though he was momentarily flustered, he nced at me and quickly slowed down with caution. Theres something strange around here. Ah! A ghost? Another ghost?! Jang Hyeon-deok was so startled he nearly let go of the steering wheel. Thankfully, no ident urred. Hey! Thene! Stay in yourne! Ah, yes! Swerving off thene wasnt the issue; we almost crashed into the guardrail just now. The car suddenly jerked as if trying to make a U-turn and violently rocked back and forth. My body was quickly thrown to the left and then jolted to the right. I was shaking wildly like ice cubes in a shaker. Ugh, my back hurts So much for being a professional. Its not ghosts Around here, people are more dangerous than any ghost. This area had nothing special, except for a house haunted by a 150-year-old ghost at the far end. You might not notice during broad daylight, but at thiste hour, no one would identallye this close. And yet, here were at least fifty substantial magical powers gathered? Turn off the lights and lets move forward a bit. Understood. But Mage-nim, this means Yes, from now on, its not the regr rate; its thebat rate. Move forward. Right away. Following my instructions, Jang Hyeon-deok moved the car. [Remote Detetction] [Invisibility Detection] [Trap Detection] [Magical Power Detection] [Curse Detection] I expanded my detection skills to ascertain the details of the magical powers I felt. The nature of this magical power was, indeed, human. And each possessed weapons. Their magical powers had been honed through long training. Humans harboring killing intent were silently gathering near my mansion. Not just any neers then. Are they fixers? Fixers? Oh, do they think Mage-nims home is an abandoned ce and thats why theyre attacking it? I wanted to punch him in the face, but it might really be that kind of situation. The humans gathered were focusing their killing intent in one direction. The direction they were fixated on was the hungry mansion. My house. Ah, what now? Is this another random encounter? Its the price one must pay for owning a special residence. Just as I had taken the mansion from Hollow Lord, other NPCs might try to take my mansion as well. And one more thing. I detected something special. It was an item imbued with magical power originating from a being of the abyss. It seemed simr to the ghoul shaman I had encountered before. At least theyre cultists. Theyre not ordinary people. One of them at the front began to amplify his magical power. Wait, what is this guy doing? Fiercely burning aggressive magical power. Was that guy preparing to cast an attack spell at my house? Its a raid. Its easier on my mind when things are made so clear. Jang Hyeon-deok, step on the elerator. What are you nning to do?! What do you think? I went through a lot to get this house; I have to protect it. Please protect my car too! Aiiish, fine! Vroooom! The sound of the car elerating filled the air. I rolled down the window and prepared my magic. I wasnt sure what they nned to do to my house, but its best to attack them first. Chapter 106: Raid (2) Chapter 106: Raid (2) [ck me] Outside the car window, six mysteriously burning ck fireballs were created. And grotesquely twisted skulls flicker inside the mes. These mes were formed by forcibly dragging the nearby wandering spirits. Screeeeeeech!!! At the same time, the artifacts I possessed enhanced my magic at the same time. It was a spellbining fire magic and necromancy magic. [Ring of Corrupted me, Fire Magic +50% Butchers Hook, Necromancy Magic +100% Great Justice Tiger Sword, Fire Magic +100%]The triple-enhanced fires made of the wandering spirits wereunched with tremendous firepower. It would be nice if the calction was done in a multiplicative way, but in [Cthulhu World] it was done in an additive way. Boommmmmm!! In an instant, the stars in the sky are obscured by a massive ck me C Aaaaaaaargh!!! A terrible scream spread from the spirits. It wasnt just any scream. It carried forced terror and hallucinations as additional effects. Aaaaah! A monster, a monster! An attack, an attack! My leg, my leg! Lights suddenly red up from the direction where the attackers had been hiding. It seemed they panicked and turned on the lights. Really? Turning on the lights? Were they asking to be hit? [Lightning Strike] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Boom! Crackle! Fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt! Lightning struck all around the ce and white light shed. These guys seemed well-trained, so they probably wouldnt die from this. There! That car, they used magic from it! Block that car! Someone quick-witted was among them. Oh my, weve been spotted. Eh!? Weve been caught? What should we do? Run? It appeared there was quite a high-level mage or priest among them. Jang Hyeon-deok, you can go back now. Ill deposit your payment tomorrow. Is that really okay? Go. I immediately opened the car door and jumped out. Aaagh! Mage-nim!? Jang Hyeon-deoks worried shout came from behind me, but the magic had already activated before I hit the ground. [Foxs Agility] [Swans Dance] Normally, I would have used a leap here, but not this time. [The unique feature of the L-grade garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] p-p! The robe rustled in the wind, making a sound simr to the pping of a birds wings. With swift and agile momentum, I soared into the dark night sky. Whoooooosh! In an instant, I rose to the height of four stories and surveyed the ground below. Tsk, whats that? The attackers each held a peculiar kind of light. Its a torch, isnt it? Of course, among the cultists with anachronistic beliefs, many clung unnecessarily to strange traditions. Thanks to that, I could generally distinguish who they were based on their bizarre fixations. Especially those carrying torches O great me, me of the burning supernova, lord of Fomalhaut! Lend us your greedily burning tongue! Descendants of Fomalhaut. People would mock them for turning on the light as soon as they were attacked, saying it was stupid, but that wasnt true. For them, a torch was more than just a source of light. Did Park Kwang-lim betray me? I could break the curse if only he waited a bit longer! Whoosh! Large balls of fire began to fall from the torches they held and began to swim across the night sky. Those fireballs are? Twenty fireballs shot up into the sky. This was not magic. Like drones, meteor showers soaring backward into the sky, or the will-o-wisps from legends, each of these fireballs was a living creature? Well, could these even be called living creatures? Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Ahrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! They were beings from another dimension, possessing ecological and physical structures beyond theprehension of any carbon-based life form on Earth. They were surreal monsters with their own magical power and will. O Burning ones! Burning tongues! Burn the enemies of Fomalhaut!! They were known as the Burning Ones, Burning Tongues, or Fire Vampires. They were members of the [Living me]. Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Alright,e then. Ill smash them all. Fascinating as they were, they were not an insurmountable challenge. The fireballs trailed mes like meteor tails as they flew. Or not flew but went? Went? Wait, where are they flying to? Ah, stupid Kim Shin-hwa! Those cult fools cant see me flying in the night sky in ck clothes. Naturally, they would head towards the car that turned on the light and escaped. Ugh, so annoying! I gathered my magical power and projected my will onto the winged robe of the night veil. I felt a terrible strain on my spine and neck as I sharply turned. I was flying fast in the direction of Jang Hyeon-deoks call van while calcting the angle. The range was ah, forget it. The entire sky in sight! [Creation: Create Clear Water] [Sweeping Wave] WhoooooshShhrrrrrrrrrrrrr! The night sky was covered by a massive wave. Wh-What is that!? What is that! A wave!? Water? Where did such a huge wavee from!? Shouts of astonishment erupted among the cultists. They may be amazing, but in the end, theyre made of fire, right? Crashhhhhh!! Ahgrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! The burning ones that were initially flying in one direction scattered in all directions. It was an attempt to avoid the sudden, expansive wave, but it was slightly toote. Hssssssssss!! A burning one was engulfed by the wave and vanished leaving behind explosive steam. It was pitiful to watch it struggle to escape the range of the wave. Indeed, water is the bane of fire. Even if it wasnt a magically imbued current, just contact with ordinary water was enough to harm them. Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! However, I hadnt caught them all. Approximately half had managed to perform acrobatic flights to escape the reach of the wave. The burning ones perhaps felt confused as they traced erratic paths through the air. Were they searching for me? Over there! That one! Its him! A shout came from a distance from someone with a really loud voice. As the burning ones floated through the air, their focus turned to me. Of course, these fireballscked eyes, but the extra senses I had as a mage detected their surreal gaze. Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Ahrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Ah, quiet it down, you creatures. Fireballs surged forward with terrifying force. These idiots, so beautifully clustered together as they flew toward me this only made them an easy target for my attack. Ziiiiing Iunched a spell as I flew backward. Red fireballs approached me but they were met by the dazzling array of blue magic circles that unfolded in wee. It felt like watching an extraordinarily morousser show. [Waterfall Ceiling] Fwoooooosh!!! The glowing blue magic circles exploded at the same time. Along with them, massive water cannons burst forth in all directions. Screeeeeeech!! The sky darkened in an instant. The battle, if you can call it that, was more like a cleanup, and it was over with astonishing speed. Only the steam rising like clouds here and there served as evidence that the recent events were real, although they too would soon disappear. Is that Jang Hyeon-deok? Ah, is that light in the distance Jang Hyeon-deok? He had managed to escape quite a distance in a short time. I guess he wont ask for money this time. I turned my head to look toward the ce where the torches had gathered. The ranks of the torches were disorganized, perhaps because they were surprised to see the allies they trusted disappearing in an instant. Now, what will you do, cult members? Could it be that they heard my muttering to myself? Suddenly, themander of those cultists seemed to make a decision. Waaaaah!! Behold the descendants of Fomalhaut! The torches, or rather, the descendants of Fomalhaut, started rushing toward the hungry mansion in unison. Hmm? Youre ignoring me? Fwoooooosh!!! Ughrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! That wasnt the case. As if a fireworks disy had begun, an enormous number of fireballs shot up into the sky. Dozens, no, hundreds would be a fair estimate. It was a spectacle reminiscent of the sky over the Thousand Gold Temple. I dont know who summoned them, but with that many, they must be exhausted. It seemed too many for one person to have summoned. There must be an S-ss artifact involved or could it be that this is not just a simple cultist but almost a high priest or a judge? I spread my magical sensors in all directions. [Heavenly Sight] My vision expanded dramatically. I could see all the sources of magical power moving in the area. That one over there. The guy holding a torch that looked like a long pole. Or should I say, a staff with a me at its end? It looked like a fine piece of work. Clearly, he was benefiting from an artifact, not that hes particrly impressive on his own. Hey, stop that. I focused the magic I had dispersed for detection at one point and changed its nature. It required immense concentration to alter the properties of magic that had already been assigned specific attributes. dissolution, transformation, and reconstitution. But for me, who has long been able to manipte the primal particles of magic, it wasnt a difficult task. [Ice de] Crack! Suddenly, des of ice surged upward. Kaaaaak! Blood and screams scattered in all directions. Yes, Ive caught you, you bastard. Stay still, the final blow ising. [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Buzzzzzzzz!! I immediately cast another spell, but it seemed he wasnt foolish enough to rely solely on his artifact. He leaped through the trees surrounding the mansion to dodge. I tried tounch a tracking shot, but Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Ugh. Nows not the time. The summoned beings fiercely swooped in to protect their summoner. Eek! I gained altitude to dodge the iing fireballs. I nced back in the direction of that cultist from earlier, but he hadpletely vanished. Ah, I lost him. But at least Ive prevented further summoning. I ascended further and activated a new spell. [Mist and Dew Spider Web] Pfshhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! A web made of mist and dew. It was a huge water summoned to counter the swarm of fireball-like flies heading my way. Its not really meant for this purpose. Ughrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! It was intended for defense and capture, but for those fireballs that were to water, this alone was a sufficient attack. An enormous amount of vapor rose into the sky. Um, but thats too much. Moreover, the burning ones were not mere fireballs. They were beings with intelligence and will. Trails of light meandered intricately across the night sky, eerily twisting as they changed direction. It seems this will take some time, huh? Its not difficult to stop them. But the problem is Beacons of Sacrifice! Destroy the heretics ground! The Beacons of Sacrifice was a sub-organization under the descendants of Fomalhaut. And as suggested by their fervent name, they existed to demolish the enemies of the cult. Anyway, such aggressive zealots were now headed toward my home. If a cultist with such summoning abilities wasmanding them, those under him would not be just trivial minions. When I nced in the direction of the mansion, I saw lights turning on in every window. It seems Heo Sang-hyeon-ssi has woken up. Shall we see how well the defenses I painstakingly set up perform? I activated a few more water-type spells while reaching behind me. Ding [The Silver Bell of the Underworld]. It draws forth the power to enhance control over summoned creatures using the bell as a medium. Everyone, rise. I projected my magical power and will toward the mansion. Screech! Crunch! Bang bang bang!!! And a tremendous noise began to erupt from the mansion. Chapter 107: Raid (3) Chapter 107: Raid (3) Have two of you wait in the living room on the first floor, and one stay close to Heo Sang-hyeon-ssi. The rest of you,e out and intercept them. Screech!! A sensation of dizziness apanied by the huge drain of magical power. Ugh, the transmission efficiency of my magical power decreases with distance. Ill consider improvementster. If youve absorbed my magical power,e out quickly! Creak creak creak creak!!! Crack crack crack!! Crack! The windows of the mansion burst open at the same time as shadows of bizarre shapes poured out. Monsters with bodies created by a tangle of random items such as toys, decorations, furniture, tools, and dishes scattered into the darkness. I remembered the figures of these workers proudly wielding brooms, mops, and dustpans, while they busily cleared dust inside the building. But now they were unrecognizable. Saws, hammers, kitchen knives, broken vases, scythes, hand axes, and even huge chunks of metal from unknown origins. Theyve transformed into functional and dangerous shapes prepared for a unified purpose. The dreadful noise of the necromancy golems moving was apanied by screams. Aaaaaah!! What, what is that! Its a monster! Its a monster! Dont back down! Theyre just puppets! The Living me blesses and protects us! These werent the same necromancy golems that were previously managed in an unreasonable manner by the Hollow Lord. They moved with surprising agility and intelligence while pushing back the cultists who outnumbered them more than three to one. Among the necromancy golems, there were specially modified ones, for example Creak, crack, crackle. Crackle, crackle. One necromancy golem with a huge maw fashioned like a bear trap gnashed its teeth and made a grinding noise. Its mouth was filled with threeyers of ghastly teeth made from bone fragments that had been rolling around the mansion. A surprised cultist swung arge axe at it, but the creature simply chewed up and tore apart the axe de. Grrrrrrr!! Whirrrrr!! At the same time, a hook and a menacing chainsaw attached to its right arm began to spin violently. Aaaargh! A huge necromancy golem then hurled its entire body into the ranks of the cultists. This one was different from the other necromancy golems in both size and weight. It was a monstrous figure that stood nearly 3.5 meters tall. What might be called its shoulders, if one could call them that, were about 3 meters wide. Boom!!! As expected from a haunted house that has existed for 150 years, there were all kinds of random items in the storeroom of the hungry mansion. I found severalrge stone mortars in the storeroom behind the mansion and attached them all to that guys arms. Boom! Bang! Bang! Each time it swung its arms, someone was sent flying. Fire! Dont get close, just shoot! From the rear ranks, the cultists could be seen aiming their shotguns at the necromancy golems, but gunmen were on our side as well. Bang! Bang! Bang! Ratatatata! Ratatatatatatata!! Aaagh!! Get down! Creak, creak, creak A necromancy golem with four spider-like legs. It had already taken up a position in the dark forest and was perched atop a tree. I had loaded it with all the guns I had collected during my requests. Three submachine guns, two assault rifles, one sniper rifle, and seven pistols. In general, these were guns that the mutants of Gamaksan Mountain possessed. I had even attached grenades and ymores to its chest. Stop messing around, you bastards! Of course, there were some exceptional figures among the enemies, as these cultists were not mere street thugs, but were people backed by beings from the abyss. Arge figure who seemed to be a head taller than the other cult members stepped forward and stretched his arms toward the sky. Grant me your protection! Whoosh! A huge green burning me wrapped around his body like a cloak. And then Crack! With tremendous force, he uprooted a nearby tree! The tree soon caught the green mes and turned into a giant torch before he charged towards the necromancy golem. Boom! Against the backdrop of a dark night sky, an impressive disy of sparks and debris exploded in all directions, creating a spectacr scene. Wow!! Vice Captain! It was indeed a convincing demonstration. In response to that counterattack that was as grand as the feats of mythical heroes, the cultists momentarily regained their morale. However. Whirrrrr! A strange noise rapidly approached from a distance. Some of the cultists were confused and looked up at the sky. Thud! The thing that fell at the center of the cultists was a strangely shaped necromancy golem with a shining golden body. Even though it fell at an incredible speed, it still stood upright. Wh-What is that!? The cultists instinctively realized that the necromancy golem that had just appeared waspletely different from any other golem they had seen before. Click. His or her mouth opened. Kyahahahahaha!!! I had a bit of trouble making that one. The necromancy golem that was crafted by attaching the head of apletely intact golden dancer to the fragmented body parts of another was something beyond a mere necromancy golem. Whirrrrr! The golem (dancer) began to spin in a dazzling movement reminiscent of a ballet pose. The silks attached to the dancers arms fluttered, casting beautiful beams of light in all directions that simultaneously became des sharp enough to cut through steel and attack everything around. Squelch, sh, swoosh Gah? Ah? The cultists couldnt even understand what had happened to them and copsed while spewing blood. A heretics puppet! Therge man called vice captain rushed at the necromancy golem (dancer) with his cloak of fire billowing behind. Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Instead of countering the attack directly, the necromancy golem (dancer) unleashed a magical scream; it was a terrifying cry imbued with the properties of necromancy that shook the psyche of humans. Struck by the shock, the Vice Captains face bled from every orifice and his posture crumbled. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch At the same time, another necromancy golem (Teeth) approached from behind and bit into the nape of his neck. They couldnt be stopped now. Several other regr necromancy golems surrounded him andunched a relentless assault. He-Help me !! It was a horrific scene where it was impossible to tell the heroes from the viins. Amidst the grotesque and alien horror caused by the necromancy golems, a bewildered look appeared on the cultists faces. Ah, Aaahhh! Monsters, theyre monsters! I, I was wrong!! Run! This marked the beginning of the cultists escape. Huh? Theyre running away? To the unaware they might seem like ordinary people, but these were indeed cultists. Fanatics who were impossible to subdue or persuade from the beginning. These were crazy people who sold their humanity long ago for the sake of alien ideology. Now that I think about it, their reactions were a bit odd, right? I wonder why those who also summoned and controlled monsters themselves were making such a fuss about monsters. Ah, I had thought there were too many of them; perhaps they had brought in some hired thugs from somewhere. But why would the cultists do that? The descendants of Fomalhaut are not a small group. Well, Ill ask themter and find out. It was a one-sided battle from the start. I ordered the necromancy golems to scatter those who were running away and then turned my head. Guuuugh Between the dense trees spread the [Mist and Dew Spider Web] And between this huge formed of mist and dew, a man hung upside down. Earlier, a big guy was called the vice captain; are you perhaps this vice captain then? Monster While the necromancy golems were in action, I captured the leader of this torch-bearing group. He was the one summoning the burning ones earlier. He seemed strong but he wasnt particrly memorable. The magical mes that had clung to the end of his staff had vanished, and blood was spurting from his abdomen and legs. Moreover, his limbs were bound, making movement difficult. Yet the madness and resolve in the expression of this leader (perhaps?) hadnt diminished at all. Yes, thats the demeanor of a cultist. Are you the leader? If not, just say so. Does that matter? True, it doesnt matter either way. But your friends have all fallen or fled; do you still intend to fight? While I was speaking, he bit his lip and drew blood. Perhaps in response to that action, magical mes erupted from the extinguished end of his staff. Whoooosh!! Eventually, a new fireball came flying toward me. Ah, seriously. [Elution] From the barren ground, a tremendous amount of water suddenly surged forth. Swooooooosh! The water that was expelled with such high pressure and velocity that a direct hit could easily tear off an arm intercepted the fireball. This monster how can you continuously cast such powerful magic? I ate a lot of herbal medicine when I was young. But in your case, it seems like your body deteriorates every time you use your power, doesnt it? He noticeably weakened every time he cast a spell from a certain point. He looked as if he was on a rapid diet. Perhaps that staff was wringing out his life force in ce of the insufficient magical power. Ugh, what exactly is your reason for interfering with us like this? What are you talking about? Who threw the first punch? Wait, did I throw the first punch? But they were the ones who tried to start the raid on my house, so Im not in the wrong. Oh, but wasnt I the one who stole the ring from their sanctuary first? Thinking back, I indeed had thrown the first punch. But that doesnt mean I can give up this ring. Sorry, but I cant give you this ring. Try looking for something else. Theres no artifact anywhere else in Paju that boosts your strength by three points without any questions orplications. A ring? What are you talking about? Huh? Its not about the ring? Eeeek!! You cunning heretic! You try to bewitch me with your wicked nonsense! I do not know why you choose to help the owner of the hungry mansion, but millions of our believers will target you! What are you talking about? Ah, ah! Now I understand. I thought Park Kwang-lim had betrayed me and sent them to attack me, but that wasnt the case. I misunderstood. Sorry, Park Kwang-lim-ssi. Did youe because of the hungry mansion? You cultists should just stick together. Stick together? Stop your nonsense! That skinny, worthless skeleton attacked us first! And then itmitted the vile act of stealing our relic! Ah. The Hollow Lord did that? Bad skeleton. That aggressive lunatic skeleton. It must have been causing trouble with other cults before I dealt with it. Yes! Thats why our Red Beacon Order came here for revenge! We will destroy the hungry mansion and take Ts clock! Ts clock? Whats that? Whats T? A clock? Its an artifact I dont know about. Ah, why does this keep happening? Stop adding new information, you fools. The uneasy leader(perhaps?) rolled his eyes anxiously and then suddenly shouted in a bizarre direction. O living me! O lord of Fomalhaut! Grant me the power to strike down this cunning heretic! Take my life if need. Ah, damn! These crazy cultists, I tried to resolve this through conversation! Hey, dont die on me! Chapter 108: T’s Clock (1) Chapter 108: Ts Clock (1) [Adhesive Fluid] Squish!! Did I really need to use that spell? A sticky, viscous liquid erupted from my fingertips. Argh! Gack! Urgh!! The slime aimed for his open mouth. As the gooey substance filled his mouth, he was unable toplete his desperate plea. Yet even in the midst of this, he continued to struggle and move frantically. Just stay still! Squish!! Swoosh!! Squelch!! Ughhh! Cough! Ughhh!! I unleashed more magical power into the erupting slime andpletely covered his entire body. Eventually, the cultist copsed under the pressure and became arge lump of slime, dirt, and leaves. Its a sorry sight, but life is precious you know. Namo Amitabha. [Achievement Unlocked! You have defended against your first raid. You have earned the Basic Achievement: First Defense. As a reward for the achievement, you receive the Beacons Staff and additional experience points.] [You have sessfully defended your residence from pige. Experience points gained.] [You have defeated cultists (Descendants of Fomalhaut) (52). Your understanding of the Living me Cult has increased.] It seemed that I could no longer level up with such minor efforts. The Beacons Staff had been in the possession of the cultist I had just dealt with. Upon inspection, I discovered that the staff granted a few fire-type spells and the ability to summon the burning ones, even to those without an understanding of magic. It was a decent item, but not something I needed. Maybe I could attach it to one of my necromancy golems and create a fire-breathing golem? Alright, lets see what we can clean up here. I needed to find out how these cultists had learned about this ce. It may seem like Im repeating myself over and over again, but its impossible to convince these many cultists. I didnt fought with everything at my disposal this time, but if things dont go well, I might have to engage in an endless battle until I wiped out the entire cult. If theyre the Descendants of Fomalhaut, they must have at least a hundred thousand followers I could fight, but fight a hundred thousand-strong army at such a chaotic time? For no pay? No thanks! Too troublesome! Grrrrrrrrik! Creak! A necromancy golem that looked in in design approached and delivered a message. Is everything taken care of? It seemed that all the resisting foes had been subdued. Let the ones who can escape, escape moderately, and give emergency treatment to those who look like they might die. Ideally, make it so that those who run will take them along. Creak, creak, creak. I had issued themand, but instead of executing it immediately, the necromancy golem made another move. If it were human, it might have been equivalent to a hand gesture pointing somewhere. Over there? Whats there? There was no one there except for the cultist covered in slime and lying defeated Ah, if we leave him like that, he might really die. [Create Clean Water] Squish! I doused his face with water. Haak! Khaak!! The slime covering his entire face waspletely blocking his breathing. Phew, almost killed someone. Now that I think about it, what that man mentioned is bothering me. Ts clock? What is that? Could it be the clock in the attic that King Man-geum mentioned? Hey, throw that guy covered in slime out in the yard too. Creak, creak, crack. When I went out to the front yard of the mansion, I saw about ten cultists lying at regr intervals. Those who were rtively unharmed were tied with ropes, while those who were not were receiving basic first aid from the necromancy golems. No one died. Ah, thank you. Heo Sang-hyeon had an unusually different expression. His appearance of always blinking his big eyes with an anxious expression was gone; instead, a sharp tension and sternness had taken over. Why such a behavior when hes not even a military veteran? May I report what weve confirmed from the captives? Huh? Did you interrogate them? What exactly is he nning? Ah, it seems that originally Hollow Lord would always do this after beating up other factions or wandering fixers. No, there were no special instructions, so we couldnt do that. We were short on time I just wanted to share some information we gleaned from what these captives said during their capture. Heo Sang-hyeon momentarily looked anxious and widened his eyes. Ah, if I instructed him to do so, could he have conducted interrogations or even torture? After all, hes capable of using necromancy, isnt he? In any case, hes someone who has worked for years under a psychopathic skeleton. Even if he looked like that, he must have had his fair share of harsh experiences. No, we dont need to interrogate them. Is there any other information besides these guys being from the Torch no, Descendants of Fomalhaut? These people didnte because of Shin-hwa-nim but rather, they came to attack the former master. They wanted to steal something called the Ts something that the former master possesses. Ah, I heard about that earlier too. It was called Ts clock. Do you know anything about it? No, I dont know much either. But the former master often captured cultists or sacrifices from other factions Thats why were not on good terms with other factions. This kind of attack isnt the first of its kind either. While speaking, Heo Sang-hyeon briefly widened hisrge eyes and trailed off, but one can guess the content he omitted. Captured for perhaps to be eaten or to satisfy some other sadistic purpose of the Hollow Lord. Among the beings of the abyss, there were those who could be considered siblings or parent and child. Because of this, there were cults that were close to each other, and even if they had no particr rtionship, there were those who formed a sort of interest group or association for amon goal. Meanwhile, there were cults that simply called each other heretics and that were at odds with each other. For example, the cultists who worshiped the [King in Yellow] regarded those who served [The Sleeper in Rlyeh] as their sworn enemies. But I was, after all, a yer. During my various ythroughs, I seldom yed as a cultist. Therefore, I did not know very well how thework of rtionships among the cultists was specifically configured. Anyway, it seems the Hollow Lord was quite a crazy bastard among the cultists, huh? He was, to an extent. But it wasnt that there was no interaction. Interaction? Yes. He would attend some meetings, and sometimes letters woulde from outside. I couldnt help but chuckle while imagining the scene, though I felt sorry for Heo Sang-hyeon who was speaking so seriously. A meeting attended by Mr. Skeleton, who had turned all the believers of the cult into undead, where could it have been? And what kind of crazy person would send letters to such a grumpy skeleton? Those letters, do you still have them by any chance? If they havent been discarded during the major clean-up after Shin-hwa-nims arrival, they should still be there. Ill look for them. Hmm, they might have been thrown away. Theyre not important, so dont look too hard. Understood. I nced at the descendants of Fomalhaut rolling on the floor and said, Once theyre properly treated, let them escape unless theyre high-ranked members of the cult. It doesnt really matter if the high-ranked ones get away, so dont bother chasing them. Understood. Yes, I think I need to go up to the attic. I needed to figure out what this Ts clock was. Only then could I decide whether to negotiate with the descendants of Fomalhaut or threaten them to ensure they never return to my mansion again. There was no one inside the mansion except for two necromancy golems waiting on the first floor to guard it. One of you stay here and the other go out and help Sang-hyeon-ssi. Crack, crunch, snap. The attic There really was nothing there. When I infiltrated as a yer before, I had used a window that was broken in the ceiling of the attic. There was one coffin, and the room was eerily empty otherwise. Has the setting changed? Could there have been a trigger that I failed to satisfy back then? I climbed the creaking wooden stairs toward the attic. Creeeak Though I opened the door to the attic, only one thing was visible. A coffin. In the center of the dark atticy an open coffin without a lid. It was a coffin made of stone. I dont think they would have called that a clock, right? It was just a dusty, spacious attic. The atmosphere seemed right for spiders or bugs to roam, yet strangely, there were none to be seen. Apart from that, there was just one window punched through the ceiling. Was there something about that window? It seemed impossible to solve just by peeking from the doorway. Surely, its not something that requires solving a mini-game puzzle to appear? I walked up to the side of the coffin but after looking around for a while, nothing special caught my eye. The only thing in the attic was the coffin ced directly under the window. Just that. But the cement of the coffin was as if Could it possibly be meant for stargazing while lying in it? If one were to lie in the coffin, they could look up directly through the window. Oh I found it. The moment I raised my head beside the coffin, I realized what the clock discussed by King Man-geum and the descendants of Fomalhaut was. Hidden in the attic ceiling was aplex and dense arrangement of machinery. The mechanism was concealed by the rafters and beams of the ceiling. It was invisible from any other angle unless one turned their head. Dozens of gears, springs, rods, pendulums, and chains around the attic windowposed a sort of mechanical device. It resembled the interior of an old-fashioned analog clock. But its not moving? Others might call it a clock, but to anyone looking, it hardly resembled one; itcked numbers and any hands to indicate time. If it had been found under different circumstances, it might have been dismissed as mere excessive decoration. There can be no negotiation with this thing. What is this thing, anyway? Should I just tell them to take it apart and remove it? And what about this coffin? Is it part of the set? A coffin was positioned so that if oney in it, they could look directly out of the window. And a mechanical device arranged as if to frame the window. Aish I have a feeling that if I justy down here, I can find out something. But its an incredibly unsettling setup. The moment one lies down, a trap could be triggered and something terrible might happen. Who would be crazy enough to break into someones house and lie down in a coffin, is what one might ask, but never underestimate the Cthulhu World. Regardless of context or usibility, there are countless trapsid just to toy with those driven by curiosity. I cautiously activated my magic. [Trap Detection] Keeeeeeng Ah, look at that. There was really something beneath the coffin. Lets see. There is a mechanism attached under the coffin. It was designed to activate something when a certain weight is ced upon it. Its hard to call this just a trap. Nheless, it seems that whoever ced this here wanted someone to lie in it. Though Im not sure whether it would trigger the clock or a trap. Hmm Still, theres no use in dying any longer. [Agility of the Fox] [Brilliance of the Eagle] [Eagle Eye] [Protective Circle] I cast spells to prepare for any traps that might activate at an unexpected moment andy down on the coffin. Click. At the same time, the coffin seemed to sink slightly, triggering something. Thump, click, screeeeech The gears hanging from the ceiling began to move with a heavy noise. Chapter 109: T’s Clock (2) Chapter 109: Ts Clock (2) The mechanical devices began to operate in a way that was tooplex toprehend its structure. Is that the Ts clock? What does T stand for? Time? Creeeak Several springs shifted out of ce, revealing a hidden dial. But it was not just numbers. Chinese characters, Roman symbols, Egyptian hieroglyphs, discs depicting Christian saints, runes, Tibetan script, andnguages of civilizations long vanished. Aplex intery of designs each from different origins and texts. Though their expressions differed, the symbols and patterns focused on a single theme. Stars and constetions. It wasnt urate to call it a clock. Rather than a clock, its more like An astronomical observation tool created in a veryplex way? A celestial globe for predicting the directions of celestial bodies? It might also have been aputer created in a very primitive manner. Do I really need to lie down in the coffin to see this? I wasnt sure if this should be called a consistent concept or a shitty preference. But soon, I discovered why it was essential for this device to be operated from this ce. A peculiar change began at the window at the center of the machinery. Click! Creak! Through therge window, various symbols, golden rings, and meaningful metal rods started to converge. And against the backdrop of the night sky beyond the window, specific information began to take shape. It looked like a treasure map marking a special secret location. What is that? Nine golden rings aligned along a trajectory in the night sky. At first nce, they seemed randomly ced, but they were arranged in a pattern that I recognized. So Remarkably, three of the nine rings had stars hanging at their centers. These were stars that shone ominously and vividly in the dark night sky. And so, there are six empty rings and three rings that are shining because they are filled with stars. Ah, is that T? T? The shortcut T?! Ah! It really is T?! That! That is T! T! T! Iy in the coffin for a moment while iling my arms and legs. Just to be clear, I wasnt having a seizure or anything of the sort So, thats whats the T of Ts clock means. It really was T? This scene was not new to me. No, I had seen it all too often, whenever I was bored or had nothing else to do. Andscape created byplex machinery hidden in the attic. The scenery created using nine metal rings, rods, windows, and stars was none other than T. No, this was one of the special screens you could see while ying [Cthulhu World]. You know, like when you press M and the whole screen shows a map. Right now, this was the view you could always get by pressing the T button on the Cthulhu World game screen. I dont know why it was T or what T stands for. But pressing T brought up this very scene before my eyes. This screen is a crucial indicator in the game. Cthulhu World is fundamentally an open-world game. If you y an open-world game absentmindedly, you might spend all your time without even touching the main storyline. To force yers who dabble in other activities to focus on the main scenario, they created this system. Thats the T. Each time a major event in the game progresses, a dangerous incident threatening to destroy this world approaches, or the end draws near, one of the nine rings fills up. Once all the rings are filled, the stars find their ces and the beings of the abyss that were waiting in the shadows emerge and destroy the world in their preferred way. Then its GAME OVER. In other words, a destruction ending. So the most important objective in Cthulhu World is To stop the terrible ns of the beings of the abyss before the nine rings that weremonly called the Doom Count or Doom Track by gamers were filled. The problem was that no one knew which entity would cause a cataclysmic event, how, or in what way. Because it was different every time you yed the game! Thanks to that dynamic real-time active quest system! With the dynamic real-time active quest system, every NPC moves and lives ording to your choices! Even if you visit the same ce, the situation and appearance will bepletely different each time! But why does the Hollow Lord have that clock? No, that wasnt important. Anyway, secret doors and secret locations had always been implemented haphazardly. My opponents were surreal monsters capable of shaking the veryws of the world. Foresight was easy for them, and if they wanted, they could travel back in time. cing that clock in my path ahead of time was a simple task. Right, thats not the issue. The fact that three stars were filled meant the main story was truly about to unfold. Maybe thats why various strange phenomena started urring in Paju? Whether the filling of the rings caused the issues or the rings filled in response to the issues, I didnt know, but the sequence didnt matter. Anyway, having a visible indicator to grasp the games progress was a significant change. Tsk, three filled rings is still a good score. It had been quite some time since I arrived in Paju. As many resources as I had used and as much work as I had done, only three rings were filled, meaning this ythrough was truly worth continuing. It was good to have the goal of preventing the worlds destruction before all the rings were filled, but there was a problem. There were no happy endings in [Cthulhu World]. Somehow reaching the ending only meant my own destruction awaited me. So, my task was to find and stop the one who would destroy this world before that destruction counter filled uppletely Or I had to find a way to escape this world before the rings were filled uppletely. I stood up and exited the coffin. At the same time, the mechanical devices connected to the ceiling and windows returned to their ces, and soon the attic reverted to being dark and silent, with nothing moving. Anyway, this helped clear my mind. I had thought I was aimlessly lost, but in any case, this world was steadily advancing toward its destruction. That destruction counter didnt fill up just because time passed. It filled up and emptied based on the achievements of the beings of the abyss and their cultists. If I did well, I could even empty the already-filled rings. For now, I didnt know much else, but I aimed to extend the time I could keep moving as much as possible. To do that, as expected Do I have no choice but to poke around and wander? It would be great if the descendants of Fomalhaut could give me some direction. After I left the attic and went down the stairs, I encountered Heo Sang-hyeon on the second floor. There are two people who can be considered key figures. The captain and the vice-captain? Yes. Ah, so that one really was the captain. Where are they? In the taxi, I mean, in the outermost room on the second floor. The taxidermy room? Got it. That was the room where the Hollow Lord had hidden before. I had taken him out there. The remaining people total fourteen, and theyre all lying outside. Looking down through the hallway window, they looked less like subdued captives and more like refugees or survivors of a disaster. No need to worry about them. Creeeak The taxidermy room was filled with taxidermy tools, stuffed animals, and strangely shaped furniture. Though I called them furniture, they were actually racks and torture tables. They had no other purpose than efficient torture and restraint. The captain and vice captain were meticulously tied to these pieces. It must have been Heo Sang-hyeon who bound them. The vice captain who was surrounded and beaten by necromancy golems was in a critical condition, but the captain was quite lively. You heretic! Torturing us is useless! Our pain will fuel the living me, and my death willplete my faith. No, I dont intend to torture you. I had no intention of torturing them. Even if I tortured these masochists, they would just be pleased and think they were undergoing some great ordeal. I didnt particrly enjoy inflicting pain either. Then why are you tying us up like this? What do you intend to do? Huh? Youre oddly focusing on the wrong part of this. Sorry, but its just amunication error. Im not into that sort of thing. The captain trembled with anger. Are you trying to insult me?! No, Im not Haah I was getting tired. What would I gain from tormenting an old man like you? Besides, cultists of this level were no different from madmen. Engaging in a long conversation with a madman would only be a loss for me. Tell your master! Insulting me like this wont gain you anything! Hmm By master, he probably meant the Hollow Lod. They attacked thinking Heo Sang-hyeon was still alive and didnt realize the owner of the building had changed. Well, theres no special information to extract from you, and persuading you not toe back wont work, will it? So, I had prepared something. I spread my palm and showed it to him. In my palmy a small lump of flesh that writhed in a disturbing manner. A tiny caterpir-like lump of flesh with no eyes, mouth, legs, or anything else. W-What is that? Go in. [Witness of the Contract] As I cast the spell, the lump of flesh jumped up quickly and forced its way between the captains lips. He clenched his teeth and tried to resist with all his might, but this wasnt the kind of magic he could stop that way. Ugh! Cough! Gah! Stop it, it wonte out just because youre doing that. What have you what have you done to me? What did I feed you? Dont worry, its not the kind of thing that will make your body hot or give you strange sensations. You bastard, are you still trying to insult me?! No, let me show you what it is. I created a magic circle on the floor of the room. See the magic circle? Theres a growth eleration spell cast on it. ? I took out another lump of flesh and threw it into the magic circle. Swoosh! The moment the lump of flesh came into contact with the magic circle, it began to grow rapidly. Crack, crack, crack, crackle!!! It wasnt just growth; it was more like an explosion. The small lump of flesh that was barely the size of a fingertip suddenly grew to almost the size of a person. It didnt just be enormous. It randomly sprouted huge tentacles, spikes, horns, and ws all over its body. Yes, that pitch-ck lump of flesh was created based on a part of the [Wriggling Slime] found in the secret location in Unjeong Station. Grrrrrrrrrr!! Witnessing its monstrous and terrifying appearance up close, the captains face turnedpletely pale. It was a sight that could drive someone mad, but since he was a cultist, he managed to avoid aplete breakdown. You get the rough idea, right? Chapter 110: Cheong-ho’s Message Chapter 110: Cheong-hos Message Since youre the captain, you must have figured it out, right? If youe back near this house, the thing inside you will grow rapidly. You piece of shit!! Just kill me already! Why would I kill you? Its better not to kill these lunatics if possible. Its not that I cant kill them all like the Hollow Lord did, take what I need, and use the rest as experimental material, but if I do that, more will just keeping anding. These fanatics have an apocalyptic and self-destructive doctrine, so they are always looking for a ce to martyr themselves in spectacr fashion. This house probably got its reputation as such a fine martyrdom spot, which is why they crawled in here. I opened the window and let the lump of flesh out of the house. This creature didnt have a long lifespan, so it would create some eerie rumors around here for a while. By the way, its not just about you dying. It will grow by assimting with your flesh, so youll be part of the monster while still conscious. ording to your doctrine, you wont be able to go to that heaven or Valha or whatever it is. There was a doctrine about bing part of an eternal bonfire in some dimension formed somewhere in Fomalhaut. Ugh you, monster! Demon!! What demon? Im just trying to live peacefully together, right? Even after that, the captain continued to hurl abuse and curses for quite a while, but curses and words were just a temporary shame. I simply ignored them all. Hey, vice captain, snap out of it. Ugh? Ugh? Wow, you got beaten up a lot. Try eating this. Dont eat it! You shouldnt eat it! Ugh? Ugh? Oh, youre eating well. Nooo!! I treated the vice captain in a simr way and let them go. After that, everything went smoothly. I urged them to take their injured and leave immediately. After about an hour of noisymotion, a procession of stragglers was formed. It was a splendid sight to see them carrying or supporting each other as they went. I waved my hand to those who were now heading on a long journey. Goodbye and donte back. You vile bastard! The curse of mes will be upon you. Curse, my ass. Their god had been desperate to seduce me for months, so cursing me would be quite the feat. Suddenly, I thought of a better way than parting so ufortably like this. Ah, wait a moment, Captain. Let me tell you one thing before you go. I approached him and whispered some important information. Is that really true? Well, if you dont want to believe it, dont. But in the spirit of friendship and loyalty, Ill give you a more detailed location. Listen carefully. I even created a map using illusion magic and shared a few more key pieces of information. Really, here really? Yes, simr things can be found around Cheorwon, here and here. If theyre simr, do they contain the same thing inside? Yes. Anyway, Ive done as much as I can, so lets avoid seeing each other for a while. Fine, but you wont be able to maintain that arrogant attitude forever. Sure, sure. Do as you please. Tch, damn it lets go back! After all the trouble I went through to save them, their attitude was quite ungrateful. Well, it couldnt be helped. It was impossible to befriend cultists from the start. Once the cultists had all left, Heo Sang-hyeon reverted to his usual nervous expression. Shin-hwa-nim, is it really okay to let them go like that? He seemed to have rxed. Just a moment ago, he looked as if he was about to start torturing someone with that stern expression of his Ah, itll be fine. Theyll be busy digging for a while. Digging? Yes, I told them the location of their lost relic. Of course, I wasnt talking about my ring. What I revealed was the location of Helistics secretboratory. I had specifically told them about a ce where research rted to the [Living me] was being conducted, so they would be too upied fighting over there to show up here for a while. I called the necromancy golems and ordered them to clean up the yard and the surrounding area, then stretched contentedly. Ah, is everything over then? But it seemed Heo Sang-hyeons business wasnt finished yet. He waited while I dealt with various things for the cleanup. Shin-hwa-nim, I confirmed one more thing earlier. What is it? Some of the people who tried to infiltrate here werent cultists. Oh. No wonder it felt strange. Most cultists were resistant orpletely immune to madness or fear. However, some showed excessively dramatic reactions to the necromancy golems. Those who screamed and ran away must have been outsiders. I think they were hired thugs brought in from outside; what do you think? Did you confirm it? Mhmm, just like you said, their identities were not clear. But it seems that among them there were people who could be called subcontractors of the Triad. Triad? Yes. Some of the captives, or rather the injured cultists referred to those outsiders simply as Triad members. But it didnt seem like they were officially dispatched under the name of Triad. Ah, so these are the ones they send in situations where they cant openly use their name? Yes, thats what I think. Heo Sang-hyeon he is morepetent than I thought. I hired him thinking he was merely a butler to manage household affairs and meals, but he might have more talent in other areas. Anyway, the Triad, huh Come to think of it, both Jang Hyun-deok and Park Kwang-lim mentioned Cheong-ho once. If this is a scenario where the Triad and the descendants of Fomalhaut, no, the cultists, are involved Damn it, stupid Cheong-ho. Thats why I told you to act quickly. It seems the [Triads Division] scenario started while I wasnt paying attention. So, will the Triad contact us anytime soon? However, my prediction that the Triad would contact me was wrong. *** The Triad had already made contact. I just hadnt been able to check it. Hahaha, you mean you didnt know messages flooded in right after you returned from the Ghost Path? The timing wasnt great. I was all over the ce right after returning from the Ghost Path. There were too many things to worry about. Even so, its a bit embarrassing that I missed information that could have been checked by simply turning on my smartphone and taking a quick look. Originally, I was supposed to visit Vasilisa three dayster, but I received an urgent call from Tudor and had toe back one dayter. Thanks to that, I was able to check Cheong-hos messages, which I had been missing. When I checked my smartphone, it seemed that Cheong-ho had tried to contact me several times during the fortnight I stayed at Thousand Gold Temple. However, just like the telpanies in the world I used to live in, the telpanies in [Cthulhu World] cannot send signals to the Ghost Path. Hehe, thanks to you not being familiar with modern conveniences, I get to earn some pocket money. Ive told you several times, its not that I dont use a smartphone because I dont know how. I didnt ignore his messages because I wanted to, but still, to Cheong-ho, it would seem like the aloof Kim Shin-hwa was brushing him off. From the perspective of the Triads boss, it was a situation that could have caused displeasure but he chose to appease me instead. I dont know how you managed to tame Cheong-ho, but someone from his side came and left a hefty bonus. Still, its impressive to send 200 million won just for a message. It seems someone from Cheong-hos side visited. They left a bundle of money, saying it was a dyed payment for the previous job. It was probably meant to soothe my feelings and prompt me to respond to his messages. I dont know exactly what misunderstanding he has, but theres no need to refuse the money theyre giving. Anyway, the message he conveyed with such arge sum was very short. [The book is ready, so please visit when you have time.] Its a message thats only about twenty characters long, excluding spaces. So about ten million won per character? Its a bit strange to measure sincerity by the amount of money, but thats the situation. Tudor who pocketed amission for delivering that short messageughed and said. Hmm~ Its probably not just money to appease you. There must be a reason Cheong-ho wants to meet you right away. A reason? Strange people have been hitting the Triads businessestely. Because of that, the Triad heads have been suffering from severe headaches. It seems things are unfolding just as I thought. Cheong-ho had urgently gathered all his connections to consolidate his power in an emergency situation. There werent many who could challenge the Triad, which had practically taken control of the entire underworld in the central region, not just Paju. Isnt it two heads, not three, that are suffering from headaches? Tudor widened her eyes in surprise at my remark. Oh? Did you figure out the situation in Paju overnight? Only very sensitive people usually know that. Some friends I met yesterday told me a few things. There was that, and I also had a rough idea of how the Triads division scenario was unfolding. I could guess what was happening to Cheong-ho now. It wasnt three heads but two that were in trouble. In Paju, the one hitting the Triad the hardest was, of course, the Triad itself. Hmm, really impressive. Although all three heads are getting hit side by side, theres one head suffering surprisingly little damage. Which head? It seems more likely to be Jeok-du rather than Heuk-wang. Tudor whistled before she pointed her finger at me like a gun and continued. Thats right. Among those in the know, theres a rumor that Jeok-du is secretly beating up the other heads under an alias. So, Jeok-du had betrayed them. One of the three heads of the Triad. The Triad was an alliance of three organizations led by Jeok-du, Cheong-ho, and Heuk-wang. Among them, the only one cunning enough to join forces with the cult was Jeok-du. In the midst of your busy schedule, you spent money to summon me like this You get the idea, right? Cheong-ho seems to want to bring you to his side. So thats why those strange rumors were circting? I thought they were spread by Vasilisa, so I kept quiet. Huh? Oh, I did spread those rumors. . Kikiki, of course, I didnt do it alone. Cheong-ho picked them up and exaggerated them, and then I further inted them. Just so you dont misunderstand, there was no prearranged plotting. Why did you do that? Its all about spreading your infamous reputation in any form. Thanks to that, Cheong-hos thinking has be more limited. He probably thinks he needs to spend whatever it takes to bring you in. It was an evil n. In the end, Cheong-ho would believe this n originated from his own mind and act ording to Tudors wishes. Im. Even if Cheong-ho offered all his wealth, there was no way I would consider joining him. If I were inclined to be a mere member of the insignificant Triad, I would have already submitted to the Thousand Gold Temple instead. Sorry, but Im not really interested. It doesnt matter. You always move in the direction you want. When have I ever forced you to do something? Hmm, thats true. So, what will you do about the message? This money is purely a bonus from thest request, so you can ignore it if you want, but arent you going to get the book? If I went to see Cheung-ho for the book, I would be in a situation that would be hard to get out of. No. You have to take what is given to you. There are many options I can choose from besides working under Cheong-ho. And. In any case, I will move as I please. Chapter 111: Tiger’s Den (1) Chapter 111: Tigers Den (1) Once we arrive, it might get a bit noisy. Please understand. Havent I heard this exact same line before? I was now sitting in the back seat of a car driven by Chae Tae-won once again. Noisy? There was a simr incident before, wasnt there? This wasnt just an offhandment. I continued with as much sarcasm as I could put into my voice. I didnt choose today as the date, but coincidentally, is the same problem happening again? Im sorry. Its a situation beyond my control, so I ask for your understanding. Chae Tae-won was like a middle boss, or rather, the head of a branch in the organization. Regardless of his position, hes more than twice my age. Seeing someone like him hurriedly apologize made me lose the will to be sarcastic. Haaah, its not Chae Tae-wons fault either. Well, I expected this. I asked Tudor to contact Cheong-hos side. After all, it wasnt a ce to visit as casually as a friends house. But I received an unexpected reply. They said an unfortunate circumstance had arisen and asked to postpone the date a bit. They added that I coulde anytime if I had the time. Regarding this reply, Tudormented as follows. Ha, I know what theyre up to. Cheong-ho, that fellow, I thought he was a straightforward man, but hes a sly fox, isnt he? Hes definitely going to cause some trouble on the day he agreed to meet you. A sly fox? Yeah! Tudor raised her fist with an exaggerated gesture. Hes going to stage a confrontation, a fight, an attack, or a terror event on the day you visit! At the very least, hell show off his strength to other guys! And youll get caught up in it because you went to his house. Isnt that a ssic development? Well, it is pretty ssic. Dont do anything for him, no matter what! Its all a scheme to cut out an honest broker like me and cheat me out of themission! As long as I get paid well, I dont really mind. Its a breach of contract! My ears still seemed to ring from Tudors yell that day. Tudors analysis was reasonable, but who knows? Would a guy who spent 200 million won just to deliver a single message really bother with petty schemes to cheat both the fixer and the broker out of a few pennies? Anyway, it was only today, that is two dayster, that I found myself in Chae Tae-wons car. This guy was probably a highly qualified person too, so it felt embarrassing to keep using him as a chauffeur. Hmm I turned my head to look out the car window. There was nothing to discuss with Chae Tae-won that wouldnt put him in a difficult spot. C I heard that Cheong-ho is going around using my name these days? C I heard hes recently raided five prime business locations? C They say its because one of the other heads of the Triad betrayed him? C But theres no evidence that guy is the culprit, so you cant even take revenge? Whatever I brought up would only end up bothering this middle manager, who is already in a tough situation. Oh, of course, I didnt mind getting involved in Cheong-hos fight with Jeok-du. If I got paid, I could take down Jeok-du or anything else. But anything beyond that, and I would have to refuse. There could be all sorts of other schemes too, right? I had encountered the Triad in many ways throughout the game. Sometimes, I fought on Cheong-hos side, and at other times, I sided with others against Cheong-ho. Depending on the route, I could even fight against the entire Triad or experience events where I would unite them tobat an evenrger criminal organization. So, I could somewhat anticipate the tricks Cheong-ho might pull. Since Cheong-ho was the opponent, my choices were rtively straightforward. Anyway, if he tried something weird, I would just refuse and help out in a few fights. The nighttime scenery of Paju in the game swiftly passed by outside the car window. Even though it had been months and I should have grown ustomed to it, the view was still fascinating. The real Paju was nothing like this. The dark night sky, shadows cast everywhere, shing neon signs, skyscraper-like buildings, unfamiliar store names, thugs firing rocketunchers at buildings, foreigners of unknown nationalities wandering the streets, and enforcers wielding deadly weapons. It was a bizarre street filled with extreme mour and strange madness. It was more reminiscent of Hong Kong at its peak than a city in Korea. Wait? A rocketuncher? Come on, thats too much. Boom! Hahaha! How do you like that? Ill make sure you never act up again! Ratatatatatatatata!!! I apologize for my rudeparison to Hong Kong. But seriously, what kind of scene was this? Was there now enforcement here? No, there was, but in [Cthulhu World], even thew enforcement was pretty crazy. It wasnt that difficult to adjust the dispatch timing by spending some money. But those guys? Branch manager? Isnt that a business managed by the Triad? Specifically, it was a business managed by Cheong-hos faction within the Triad. It seems so. I heard rumors, but the situation is quite serious. You could go a bit slower if necessary. If you want, I could get out and smash those idiots heads. I didnt need to say it outright for him to understand. However, Chae Tae-won shook his head with a serious expression. No, my current task is to escort you, Kim Shin-hwa-nim. Hmm, is that so? Strict indeed. Well, since Chae Tae-won said it wasnt a problem, I didnt bother stepping in. After all, it wasnt like Cheong-hos faction within the Triad wascking people. Dont mess around! You fu*king bastards! Oh, look over there. Hes here. Boom! Ratatatatatata!! However, there was no break for the Cheong-ho faction. As soon as a countering force appeared, the thugs set off smoke bombs and ran away, yelling insults like, You idiots! How frustrating. Chae Tae-wons car continued to advance strictly even amidst the chaos and slowly moved to a position where it was impossible to check the status of the Cheong-ho faction. What a mess. They must be exhausted. This was a deliberate weakening strategy. The Cheong-ho faction managed several businesses, and with tactics like this, it would be impossible to protect all of them. Judging by the level and speed of the terror attacks, the current situation was It looks like a betrayal trigger has been activated? When the Triads division scenario was set in motion, it was nned for one of Cheong-hos subordinates to betray them. It seemed that information about the defense and security ns of some businesses was leaking. Now that things havee to this point, it would be worth seeing the situation in front of Cheonghos house. Before long, Chae Tae-wons car slowly left Paju city center. The densely packed, luxurious buildings and infrastructure disappeared quickly, giving way to nature, forests, and a bleakndscape that was hard to define. It wasnt until we reached a ce so remote that even the sparsely visible single-family houses werepletely invisible that we could see Cheong-hos mansion. We have arrived. Yes, its quieter than I expected. Chae Tae-won had anticipatedmotion, but this was different from the noisy scene seen before. To be precise, it was theplete opposite of that time. Is this the calm before the storm? This area was simr to the Hungry Mansion which was my base. Is it okay to hold it out in the open like that? This isnt the city center. Chae Tae-won answered with a slightly embarrassed tone. It was so remote that it was more convenient to move by car than on foot to meet neighbors, and it was so quiet that even high-level magic cast right in front of the house wouldnt attract any visitors. It might be called a secluded and dull neighborhood, but it was very convenient in terms of being able to do various things without worrying about the neighbors eyes. But still, no matter how remote it is! The guards at the mansion entrance are holding submachine guns? Looking up, I saw almost 2-meter-tall barbed wire added to the already high walls. That barbed wire is electrified. Then suddenly, I heard barking. No, it was really barking. Woof woof woof woof! Giants with massive physiques who looked like they could burst out of the suits they were wearing at any moment were patrolling around the mansion with dogs in tow. What is this? I had been involved with Cheong-ho in various ways, but I had never seen this level of security at this point. Especially that! That ridiculous thing installed on the roof! Is that a guard post? Its a lookout point for now. We have permission from the city hall. Oh, yes. A lookout point. Talking about a lookout point, it reminded me of the defensive outpost I saw at Yeonam Constructionst time. They called it a temporary instation there. People in this world really have no limits once they start going overboard. I didnt know how they got the permit, but that bizarre structure Cha Tae-won defined as a lookout point was clearly a guard post to anyone who saw it. Even the ck rods sticking out from the top, no matter how you looked at them Theyre machine guns, arent they? Something was definitely off. My keen sense could pick up the radio waves from walkie-talkies transmitting all around. Even at that moment, simultaneous radiomunications were urring from all directions. This wasnt just a simple security measure. Cheong-ho, that crazy old man. Is he preparing for a siege? It seemed a bit early for such a major event, but it wasnt impossible. Are you preparing for a war? Its embarrassing. I didnt know what exactly he found embarrassing or how, but Cha Tae-won suddenly felt embarrassed. Is it rted to why the chairman called me at this particr time today? To be honest. Cha Tae-won briefly looked like he wanted to say something more. Even if something happens that angers you, could you please hold back just once, for my sake? So, theres something unpleasant waiting for me? Im sorry. Since Cha Tae-won was the type who would never speak if Cheong-ho told him not to, it was better not to ask further. Anyway, I would find out soon enough. In any case, this is getting really interesting. I was prepared for a proposal to join him or for a request to fend off an imminent attack from Jeok-du today. But judging by the situation, something even more outrageous was waiting. I had to pass through security checks at the checkpoint, the main gate, and the front door inside the walls. Only after three rounds of checks could I enter Cheong-hos mansion. Of course, since I was entering with Cha Tae-won, I wasnt questioned or inspected, but everyone we encountered looked extremely tense. And that was the extent of themotion. What? Is that it? It was strange to refer to machine guns and guard posts as Is that it but the mansions security felt off. There were indeed concentrated sources of powerful magical power here and there, but there were too few personnel. Ugh. It was all just for show. The number of people visible outside the mansion was almost all there was. Aside from that, the entire mansion was practically empty. There had been many more people when Jeong Hyeon-ah, Cheong-hos daughter, had gone missing. It looks like they deployed everyone to defend their external business sites. And to conceal the fact that the main base was empty, they had set up such an excessive disy outside. Did they evacuate all the regr staff like cleaners and cooks? When I deliberately extended my senses to check, it indeed seemed to be the case. No, there was someone after all. I nced up at the ceiling. One person. Theres one person upstairs with a vague magical power. Who is it? I found out who that person was soon enough. I met them in a conference room on the third floor where I was escorted. Youvee. ? Someone else, not Cheong-ho, was seated at the head of the table and greeted me. There was someone in this building after all. Someone with a normal level of magical power. I hesitated for a moment to choose my words, then spoke. Its been a while. Have you been well? Thanks to your help, Ive been doing well. Now that we exchanged pleasantries, I could ask what I was curious about. I came because the chairman asked to see me. Can I meet him? Hmm She looked at me silently for a moment. No. I was the one who called for fixer-nim. Cheong-ho was not in the ce where he should have been. Instead, the one who was sitting in Cheong-hos seat was his daughter, Jeong Hyeon-ah. Jeong Hyeon-ah continued speaking in a somewhat difficult manner. Please help us. Chapter 112: Tiger’s Den (2) Chapter 112: Tigers Den (2) What on earth is this situation? Cheong-ho was absent, and in the ce where he should be, his daughter Hyeon-ah was sitting like she was acting on his behalf. Hyeon-ah wasnt the only one in this room though. However, its not as if a huge crowd has gathered either. Although its called a conference room, it was actually a room that Cheong-ho used for critical secret discussions with his executives. Therefore, only Cheong-hos closest associates were allowed to enter this room. It seems like everyone who is allowed in this room is indeed here. I nced around at the seven middle-aged heads gathered in this spacious conference room. Including Chae Tae-won and Jeong Hyeon-ah, a total of 17 eyes were fixed on me. Ah, the reason for the missing eye is because one of the executives was wearing a ck eyepatch.Anyway, it seemed like everyone was waiting for my response. But what do they expect me to do? From the left, there was distrust, suspicion, discontent, the anger of the man with the eye patch in the middle, bewilderment, anxiety, and finally, an unpleasant smile at the far end. Why is he grinning like that? I turned my head slightly to look at Chae Tae-won, the eighth executive of the Cheong-ho faction. His face was a mix ofplex emotions that were hard to describe with a single word. However, the predominant emotion on his face seemed to be guilt toward me. Alright. Since I dont fully understand the situation, Ill have to probe a bit. I felt a sensation simr to when I first encountered this game. A situation I had never seen before, an event I had never experienced. I looked back at Jeong Hyeon-ah. She was trying hard to appear confident. She seemed to be straining her eyes to somehow make eye contact with me, but it was impossible to make eye contact with my four-eyed mask. Her gaze was unstable, her fingertips kept twitching, and herplexion was pale. She seemed extremely nervous. Help you? Yes. Please join us and fight. The book you mentioned will be given to you afterward. We will also provide the maximum reward you want. Ah. So it was within the predictable and boring development range after all. Well, Ive heard various rumors about the Triadtely. It seems a full-scale war with Jeok-du has begun, right? Th-thats correct. For the sake of loyalty to the chairman Jeong Hyeon-ah trailed off. No one cut her off, and no one stopped her. She simply seemed unustomed to finishing such statements properly. But, loyalty? Sure, Cheong-ho and I had a firm alliance, but we werent some old-time gangsters from the 50s. How exactly was I supposed to uphold loyalty? Miss. Do you actually have the book Im supposed to receive? Or have you even seen it? Dad! I mean, the chairman Finally, the word Dad slipped from Hyeon-ahs mouth. Realizing her mistake, she stopped talking and bit her lower lip. Shes not in a state for a long conversation. She had an awkward demeanor, like someone wearing clothes that didnt fit. Despite her background as the princess of the underworld, she was still a high school student. Though her exact age was never mentioned in the game, she didnt look like a first-year student. Maybe a second-year high school student? Such a young girl was handling tasks that even adults found tough. Why was it that a young girl, who was probably a third of these mens age, was stepping up instead of the older men gathered here? Where is the chairman? It seems he isnt in this building. H-how did you know that? In fact, before entering the conference room, I had already confirmed that there was no trace of Cheong-hos magical power within the mansion. Besides, it would be foolish not to know. You can pretty much tell just by looking at the situation. With her face flushed red with anger and shame, Hyeon-ah mumbled in a low voice. D-Dad, because of you Well! This wont do. Suddenly, one of the executives interrupted. He had a greasy voice that caused an instinctive feeling of displeasure just by hearing it. Among the seven executives excluding Chae Tae-won, He was the one sitting farthest to the right and wearing that unpleasant smile. That man It seems there has been some misunderstanding. The young miss is new to this kind of work. As he said this, he nced toward Jeong Hyeon-ah. It was a very natural movement. All eyes in the room focused on Jeong Hyeon-ah, who bowed her head with a defeated expression. She appears to be a bit nervous. We ask for your understanding. I will speak on her behalf. He pretended to stand up for Jeong Hyeon-ah, but no one saw it that way. This was just a cheap trick. Seriously? Is he openly establishing the hierarchy at a time like this? That mans name was Goo Jin-cheol. It was that guy who had been provoking me with an outright annoying smile from earlier. As you know, we are currently in a very tumultuous situation, both internally and externally. There are many changes and disturbances. We certainly apologize for any misunderstandings on our part. I turned to look at Chae Tae-won. He bowed his head to me with a troubled expression. Hmm this is a bit strange. This doesnt match his usual personality. We dont know exactly what book the chairman promised, but its clear there was some kind of mistake. Were not sure if its really our fault, though. Fault? Well, didnt you say you received some message initially? Are you referring to the message delivered through Vasilisa? Yes, that one, that one. We didnt send that. Oh. This was quite interesting. Someone spent 200 million to send a fake message? But when we received the message about fixer-nims visit, we had many discussions as well. Fixer-nim is highly talented and famous, right? Some people within our organization may have hastily thought of it as an opportunity. Goo Jin-cheol then nced at a few of the executives. The executives who met Goo Jin-cheols gaze looked somewhat aggrieved but didnt react further. But please understand that our intentions are sincere. As I mentioned earlier, we have gathered busy people here, so lets quickly reach a conclusion. It seems we cannot give you the book you wanted, but we canpensate you adequately. Will you perhaps help us? No one would be foolish enough to interpret those words as a genuine request for help. Goo Jin-cheol is telling me not to bother busy people and to leave immediately. Oh, I see. Now I clearly understand what has been happening among them. Thanks to Goo Jin-cheol stepping up and performing that vulgar show, I understand very clearly. The person who promised me the book was the chairman, so there is no need for you to fulfill that obligation. Moreover, they cannot use the rights that he possesses. Then what? Goo Jin-cheols pressing question. Sir, have you ever been hit for saying one more unnecessary word? Come closer. I really want to hit you. I spoke, hoping Goo Jin-cheol woulde deeper into the conversation. I am currently under contract with Vasilisa, so if you have a request, please consult with Vasilisa formally. I said this as I stood up. Shin-hwa-nim! Chae Tae-won stepped forward and spoke. I looked at Chae Tae-wons face for a moment, then turned my gaze back to Goo Jin-cheol. He was still wearing that annoying smile. He looked like he was thinking, Yes, the n seeded! Was he provoking me, hoping I would leave in anger? That man had always been a character set up to betray Cheong-ho. Still, he was being quite tant about it. Creak! Wait a moment! Jeong Hyeon-ah stood up and shouted. But she couldnt say anything more. Miss! Please stop now! Goo Jin-cheol interrupted and blocked her. Any more than this is just a disgrace. This incident and the misunderstandings are already more than enough. For the chairmans honor, you must not go further. Besides, arent all these executives time being wasted when every second is important? Goo Jin-cheol was now openly reprimanding her. Thats right! Another executive chimed in. His reaction was enthusiastic. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment. Am I not right? In the end, we have wasted our time for nothing! Before I could say anything, another executive spoke up. Miss, do you really think you can trust that suspicious mage? Even if I overlooked the inappropriate word choice, their tone was extremely rude. The roughness of their voices made it seem as though they were threatening Jeong Hyeon-ah. Another executive followed suit. This one was looking flustered. Wait, what are you saying? Arent you going too far? Yes, leaving Jeok-du aside, we should ask about the chairman! Hey, mage! The chairman! Do you know where the chairman is? No, why are you saying useless things to an outsider! The guest, Shin-hwa-nim, is the most promising and reliable fixer here. Perhaps there is a way. Dont be stupid! Maybe its because of him that the chairman ended up like this! I agree that he seems very suspicious. I never understood what senior Tae-won was thinking from the start. Senior, what did you just say? Dont be stupid? Look at those clothes! How can we trust someone dressed like that? You say stupid things, so I call you stupid, you idiot! For reference, only sentences that can be remembered in aplete form are mentioned here. The seven mouths excluding Chae Tae-won spat everywhere, What!, Exactly!, Jeok-du!, Do you know how much we!, Mage!, Fixer!, Grimoire!, Chairman!, Miss!, This!, Are you an idiot?, What did you say!?, Chairman!, Find them! and so on In the end, it got to the point where it wouldnt have mattered if I just reced their words with Woof woof! or Bark bark in my head. What the heck am I supposed to do? My head was pounding. What is this chaos with me standing here? The only reason I didnt curse out loud was because Jeong Hyeon-ah was trapped in this whirlwind of bullsh*t and she was looking at me with apletely dead expression on her face. Kim Shin-hwa-nim I heard Chae Tae-wons quiet voice from behind me. Im sorry. I thought there might be a problem, but I didnt expect it to be this bad. When I turned to Chae Tae-won, he wore an expression filled with the utmost regret, shame, and embarrassment. You didnt expect this? I thought there might be a slight problem, but honestly, I didnt expect them to act so disgracefully. Im sorry. Ah, he had genuinely believed the executives gathered here were responsible adults and brought me in based on that belief. I could me him, but with such an honest apology, I couldnt bring myself to do so. Well, since youve put it that way, Ill ept your apology. Then Woof woof woof! Bark bark bark! Ah, theyre really noisy. We need to make them shut up. No matter what conversation I had with Chae Tae-won, the seven idiots continued to spew colorful insults and nonsense. First, lets rescue the young high school girl from these shameful adults disgraceful behavior. [Sound Wave Refraction] ?! Jeong Hyeon-ah looked up in surprise. The sudden silence must have startled her. I winked at herthough she couldnt see it because of my maskso I raised a hand and gave her a small wave. Now, to expand the range. I extended the range of the sound wave refraction to cover the entire room. Now, no sound from here would escape outside. With this level of magic, they should have noticed by now, but theyre all too agitated to act their age I sighed as I watched the executives still barking at each other, then took a deep breath and activated the next spell. [Sound Wave Impact] Shut up!!! BOOOOOM!!! Chapter 113: Tiger’s Den (3) Chapter 113: Tigers Den (3) Ugh! Argh! M-My ears! They might be doing some incredibly embarrassing things, but theyre still the executives of the Triad. Fortunately, the sound wave impact didnt result in any severe injuries. Of course, I did use as little force as possible. If I had cast it with the intent to fight, those injuries would have been real. However, the shock was strong enough that some staggered or even fell over with their chairs. Good, at least its quiet now, right?Everyone, please! I havent finished talking yet! Could you wait for a moment?! Since the effect of the magic hadntpletely worn off, the furniture in the room rumbled and vibrated every time I spoke. Hmm, I cant keep talking like this. Ahem, ahem. Ah, alright. Now, young miss. Ye-Yes? Ipletely dispelled the magic and spoke to Jeong Hyeon-ah. Before you leave, I have one more question. Its really important, so Id like you to answer seriously. Seriously? Is that really what you want to ask of me? To fight Red Head? Is that truly what you want? Is that why you called me? I, well, I Tell me. What is it that you really want? Jeong Hyeon-ahs expression crumbled. The forced stern look, the tense posture, and the attempt to appear strong. It was all too much for a young student to handle. A shaky voice came out of her mouth, apanied by tears that seemed to spill out of her eyes. Please, please find my dad Haaah. Although I expected her to burst into tears like a child, Jeong Hyeon-ah barely held back and started wiping away her falling tears. Its a bit sad that she couldnt just act her age. I intentionally waited a moment before speaking. I understa This brat is mocking us! A sudden explosive shout interrupted me. Huh? Thats unexpected. I expected something like this might happen, but it wasnt Goo Jin-cheol who exploded; it was the executive with an eyepatch. Now that I think about it, he had been noticeably siding with Goo Jin-cheol. How dare you cast magic on us!? To follow through with their n, they needed to forcefully drive me out. Just shouting wouldnt be enough. Yes, gathering magical power in his hand like that might do the trick, exactly! Boom! His fist shattered therge mahogany table in the center with a single blow. Crash! The terrible sound of the table breaking filled the room as its pieces scattered everywhere. Ahhh! Young miss! An old executive pulled Jeong Hyeon-ah back and started retreating. He was the one who had supported me during the heated debate a little while ago. Hey, wait! Chae Tae-won also tried to intervene, but his position was not favorable. Standing by the entrance, there were too many obstacles in his way. Hold on! Moreover, one of the executives beside him reached out and restrained Chae Tae-won from stepping forward. That guy was the same one who had cursed at me earlier. The remaining people were divided between those who watched the situation with interest and those who looked flustered while trying to protect themselves. Including Chae Tae-won, the eight executives seemed to move ording to their own personalities, but ultimately, they were moving in a direction that was advantageous to them. And then there was that man with the eye patch. Its a bit awkward to keep calling him the man with the eye patch. Though not important enough for me to remember his name, thanks to my extreme intelligence stat, I recalled that his name was Shim Young-hwan. It wouldnt have mattered if I didnt remember it. Anyway, the crucial point right now was that no one was stopping the enraged Shim Young-hwan. Should I try to stop him? Hey, Director Shim Young-hwan? Please calm down. Calm down? He lifted the heavy chair he had been sitting on and threw it at me. Calm down? Take this! Boom! Wow, listen to that sound. Did he throw it with magical power? Isnt this attempted murder? Would something that size be distorted? [Distortion Field] Whiiing! The chair that had been flying towards me with a threatening force veered off course the moment it contacted the distortion field. As expected,rge objects are a bit difficult. Although I managed to alter its trajectory, the angle was a bit too close forfort. Bang! What? The chairs skewed path coincidentally directed it towards the door. Since I hadnt cast any magic other than sound wave refraction, the door shattered like paper. Today, my luck is really bad. Being in this situation in the first ce marked the start of my misfortune. How happy would I be just lying down and eating jam-covered bread peacefully in my haunted house? Whats going on here! Boom! A scene straight out of a noir film unfolded. Thugs in ck suits rushed in before drawing their pistols. With the synchronized tter of guns being cocked, dozens of barrels pointed at me. Oh, Director, if you act like this, it bes difficult for me to just smile and chat, you know? Who was the one who fired the magic first? What nonsense! Youre making a big deal out of raising my voice. Do you really want me to fire some real magic at you? What did you say?! You punk, have you said everything you wanted to?! By the way, having multiple gun barrels aimed at the back of my head felt quite unnerving. [Protection Shield] [Distortion Field] [Radiance of the Eagle] [Agility of the Fox] [Dance of the Swan] Though they werent magic experts, it was a ce where people could sense or wield magic to some extent. Noticing that I had started activating the spells I had cast on myself, the faces of the executives turned pale. Stop! Everyone, calm down! It was Chae Tae-won. And you all! Its nothing, so get out immediately! Get out? Where do you think youre going? Shoot that arrogant bastard! He attacked us! It wasnt easy to put away a gun once it had been drawn. As conflicting orders were shouted, the thugs from the Cheong-ho faction hesitated and kept waving their gun barrels at me without knowing what to do. Shim Young-hwan who could not stand it any longer ended up kicking the ground and charging toward me. Shim Young-hwans magic concentrated in one of his fists. The Cheong-ho faction had many straightforward and intuitive fighters. Like Chae Tae-won, Shim Young-hwan also had abat-type magic amplification. Ill finish you off! No matter how you look at it, how can he utter such a clich line? There was no need to engage in a fight with Shim Young-hwan. [Invisible Hand] I activated telekinesis and swatted Shim Young-hwan away like a flying insect. Arghhhh! Crash! Ack! The subsequent scream didnte from Shim Young-hwan. Shim Young-hwan crashed precisely where Goo Jin-cheol stood. Though Goo Jin-cheol had some annoying abilities, I had been watching him rather than Shim Young-hwan from the beginning. [Evil Gaze] This spell forcibly exerted influence on targets with malicious intent. Due to this spells effect, Goo Jin-cheol was frozen and unable to move. You bastard! Shim Young-hwan who had yet to grasp the situation got up defiantly. Ugh, can we stop this? If you keep this up, Ill have no choice but to retaliate. Do it! You bastard! Ill crush you today! Rumble!!! Magical power swirled around Shim Young-hwans body. Ugh, is he really angry? It looked like he was about to use a technique that could be called a secret move or a deadly attack. Stop it! Why are you doing this here, where the young miss is!? Wait! Stop! Stop! The final cry to stop came from Goo Jin-cheol. It seemed he had sensed something. Adjusting the effect of Evil Gaze Huh? Hes holding out quite well. [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] I enhanced the spell and dispersed the magic that had been concentrated around Shim Young-hwans body. Huh? What, what is this!? You? What did you do to me!? I gestured as if I didnt understand and looked at him again. But it wasnt over yet. [Great Whirlwind] Whoooosh!! The fragments of the mahogany table scattered on the floor were hurled at Shim Young-hwan and Goo Jin-cheol, who was right behind him. Crash!! Aaaah! The conference room wasnt just filled with mahogany tables. There were also thick books piled up in a presumably decorative bookshelf (Rustle, rustle!), and oh, whats that? A grotesquely designed statue of a blue tiger, ced purely for decoration (Whoosh Bang!). And as a bonus, I threw the water bottle that was sitting on the corner table (Crash!). Now, Goo Jin-cheol and Shim Young-hwan were bruised, injured, soaked, and inplete disarray. But anyway, this wouldnt be enough to calm these tough guys down. I now looked directly at Shim Young-hwan. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Yellow Dominance, has been activated. Yellow Dominance: Adds the effect Spell Enhancement: Instill Fear to certain spells.] I added the Instill Fear effect to the already activated Evil Gaze. Blue light shone from the four eyes of the mask. You, you? Those eyes? Those eyes?! Huh? Whats wrong? I took one more step toward Shim Young-hwan. Do-Donte closer! You monster! Get away! Aaaah! Aaaah! He broke out in a cold sweat before backing away until he finally fell to the ground. I knew these old men had stepped back from the front lines to count money and handle administration, but the difference in level between our power was big. If I had used a bit more power, he might have wet himself Ah I apologize. At his age, its not easy to control that. Hmm, I didnt intend for this to happen. Im sorry for that I finally turned away from Shim Young-hwan, who had indeed wet himself, and spoke to Goo Jin-cheol who had also taken a hit. So, what do you want to do now, sir? M-Me? I, I With the attention now on him, Goo Jin-cheol stuttered with a thoroughly flustered expression. You have no evidence, so if you want to change your stance, nows your chance. Or would you rather wet yourself too? No, I, I dont know anything! It was you guys fighting! Then Goo Jin-cheol let out an Aaaaaaaaaah scream and retreated. Oh? Ah. The Instil Fear effect hasnt worn off yet. So? Whats your decision? A bright blue light was still emanating from the four eyeholes of my mask. So, I Ah, no, no! What I mean is? I As I mentioned from the beginning, didnt I ask the fixer to help us? The reward! Yes! I was the one who proposed the reward! Wow, this is unbelievable. Though the term strong against the weak, weak against the strong ismonly used, seeing it so tantly disyed left me without the energy to beat him further. Even the surrounding executives were now looking at Goo Jin-cheol with disbelief. Well, fine. I turned my head towards the gathered executives in the room. Lets make this clear again. The chairman is Finally, the executives were properly listening to me. Oh, but this is a secret, right? I turned to Goo Jin-cheol. Can those guys join the meeting? The henchmen who had burst in with guns earlier were still in the room. Realizing he had been utterly humiliated in front of his subordinates, Goo Jin-cheol shouted. What are you looking at! Get out now! Ah, understood. Only then did the henchmen start to shuffle out of the room. Hmm, good. ncing around, I noticed Shim Young-hwan still sitting on the floor with a troubled expression. Ugh, someone should help that guy up before leaving. Anyway, I waited until the door waspletely closed before speaking. First, lets address the chairmans disappearance. Yes, the issue is the disappearance of Cheong-ho. And that disappearance might be my fault. Chapter 114: Tiger’s Den (4) Chapter 114: Tigers Den (4) One day, the chairman suddenly disappeared, and somehow, Jeok-du went berserk, is that right? It was a very convenient timing. The disappearance of Cheong-ho was definitely treated as top secret, but it was as if the information had leaked. I nced at Goo Jin-cheol again before continuing. In the midst of such a difficult situation, a fixer who was saying something strange showed up. That fixer is me. I dont know exactly what that fixer fellow was talking about, but in your desperation you concluded, Lets use him and called me. This is the polite version. The reality is moreplicated. If it had been a straightforward discussion about whether to use me or not use me, this chaotic mess wouldnt have happened. It probably all started with the ridiculous situation where Jeong Hyeon-ah was acting in Cheong-hos ce. All of this was because of Goo Jin-cheols foolish attempt to seize power while Cheong-ho was missing.Of course, after being humiliated like that, Goo Jin-cheol would never be able to use the same method again. Isnt that right, Branch Leader? Ah, there are too many branch leaders here. Branch Leader Chae Tae-won. Thats right. I understand your difficult situation, but you should have at least said something. Im sorry. It was a decision made in the meeting, so I couldnt go against it. He was really inflexible, which was troubling. Even if the conclusion decided by majority vote was different from his opinion, he seemed determined to carry out the assigned task to the end. Well, fine. Originally, I had visited to receive the grimoire But not only did I not get the book, I didnt even meet Cheong-ho. And in the midst of all this, I heard a lot of nonsense. ording to my initial n, it was right to just leave. Moreover, judging by the atmosphere, before setting out to find Cheong-ho, I would have to deal with Jeok-du first. Considering all that, should I really help this man? I briefly looked at Jeong Hyeon-ah, who stood in the center of the men with a desperate expression on her face. Ugh,e to think of it, Cheong-hos disappearance might be my fault. Ugh, dont look at me like that. Well, considering that Cheong-hos disappearance might be my fault, it would be wrong to ignore itpletely. Besides, if I leave now, I wouldnt be able to know how this event which I was experiencing for the first time would unfold. I had simr thoughts in the past and followed Jang Hyeon-deok. And that led to a lot of trouble. Anyway, in the end, that hardship turned out to be beneficial for me. Wait, really? Was it really beneficial? No, lets not think about that right now. Although I deliberated for a long time, the one who finally made the decision was not Kim Shin-hwa the mage or Kim Shin-hwa the fixer, but Kim Shin-hwa the gamer. Im curious to see how this event will unfold after all. Anyway, lets find the chairman. That should resolve all the troubles in this household. Do you know the chairmans whereabouts? Incredible! Youre not an ordinary fixer after all! See, I told you we shouldve just been clear from the start! Why did we have to beat around the bush and create this mess? Wait, hold on. Calm down! Why are you getting ahead of yourselves? The executives expressions changed dramatically. Most looked relieved, but some who had chosen the wrong side turned pale. In particr, Goo Jin-cheols expression was priceless; he looked like Id just made him eat a worm. What should I do about Goo Jin-cheol? In one of the Triad routes, theres an option where Goo Jin-cheol betrays you. Its funny to talk about this in the current situation, but in the game, if you have to deal with Cheong-ho, using Goo Jin-cheol to undermine Cheong-hos power is almost the standard y. Maybe its better to leave him alone for now? Originally, when ying on Cheong-hos side, everything would be taken care of as long as you reported to Cheong-ho. But in a Cheong-ho team without Cheong-ho like now, what should be done? Oh, before that, calming down the executives who were already acting like the game was over and theyd seen the ending was more important. Just a moment, everyone. I didnt say I knew the location. Even though I said that, the excited atmosphere didnt easily settle down. Well, there are a few ces I can guess. Cheong-ho often disappeared saying hed go to the main house to fetch something, but in reality, he had a secret stash hidden in apletely unrted location. Theres a high probability hell be there. Its a secret ce known neither to Cheong-hos subordinates nor his family. Not only the location but even the existence of such a ce is a secret. Only one person besides Cheong-ho knows its location. And the ce ispletely random. Without asking that person, even I wouldnt know where it is. Well, Ill ask about that slowly. Goo Jin-cheol who was standing in a corner and watching me didnt look too pleased. Since Im wearing a mask, he probably doesnt realize Im looking at him. Judging by that guys expression, hes going to cause another problem tonight, isnt he? Fine. If youre going to make trouble, make it big. Ill make sure to hit back three times as hard. I spoke to Jeong Hyeon-ah whose expression had brightened considerably. First of all, aside from my help, please make the request officially through Vasilisa. As I mentioned earlier, my job is to find the missing chairman. Expecting more than that would be difficult. Thank you, mage-nim! And one more thing. This was really important. Keep this in mind. The chairman, or rather your father, might be in apletely different state from what you imagine. Jeong Hyeon-ahs face turned pale. Was she thinking of Cheong-hos death? Regrettably, she needed to worry about a situation far more dreadful. For now, it would be best to tidy up here. I wont do anything until the process with Vasilisa isplete. Please handle that first. And could someone please get Shim Young-hwan, who is still sitting there, out of here? *** I sat alone in a quiet reception room provided specifically by Cheong-hos faction and finished the process with Tudor. C See? What did I tell you? I knew those guys would try something. Anyway, since we connected it to an official request, it worked out well for you, right? C A, I love you, my sweet dear! But why are you still there? It would be troublesome if the person funding us disappeared while were off looking for Cheong-ho. C I was wondering why you attached so many strange special conditions to the request. So, youre nning to sh with Jeok-du after all? Well, I just found a guy I legally want to beat up. C Huh? Who do you want to beat up? Jeok-du? No, not Jeok-du. I think tonight, Ill have to beat someone up once more. Plus, there are definitely some other things to clean up along with it. C Geez, I dont get what youre saying. Anyway, dont work for free! Let me know whenever you need to get something done! Ill make sure to get the money back for you! Got it. Ill leave the rted procedures to you. Handle the payment and everything else ording to the standard rates. At this point, the agreed-upon payment isnt of great importance. If my prediction is correct, well need to renegotiate the payment terms before dawn. After finishing the call with Tudor, I fell into thought for a moment. Is it really my fault after all? I mean Cheong-hos disappearance. Someone went missing. But it turns out there was someone who had mentioned a certain grimoire to that person. If this were a scenario in [Cthulhu World], the truth would be obvious. A grimoire plus a missing person. It must be a story where he was enchanted by the grimoire, right? I didnt know exactly what kind of grimoire Cheong-ho was supposed to give, but the information contained in the grimoire, the magic cast on it, or traps would have been the problem. During my gameys, there had never been an event where Cheong-ho was enchanted by a grimoire, but this sudden disappearance couldnt be exined otherwise. If I hadnt asked for the grimoire, Cheong-ho wouldnt have gone missing and things wouldnt have deviated from the games set scenarios. While I was deep in thought, a message window suddenly popped up and blocked my view. [Youve epted the quest! ??? /Null? ??? Remaining Objective: 0/1 Reward: ???XP + ??? Won Failure: Cheong-ho ???] What was that? That message fellow really did a sloppy job. It seemed like it was indeed a quest that didnt exist in the game. I had never seen an event where Cheong-ho went missing and had to be found. Forcing it into a quest form seemed to have caused a weird bug. Hey, Nya, you bastard. At least provide the quest window properly! That way, I could check the rewards and monitor the current status. What would happen to Cheong-ho if I failed? [Not Nya.] ? Huh? Come to think of it, didnt that guy act like this before? He had ignored everything I said up until now, but could it be that he only reacted to this? I got up from the sofa in the drawing room and punched the message window while shouting. Hey! Nya! Nya! Nyathotep, you bastard! Kim Shin-hwa-nim? Oh no, its Chae Tae-won. I must have looked like I was having a seizure. No, its nothing. Despite everything, Chae Tae-won maintained a strict, solemn, and serious expression. How touching. Yes, Im not crazy. There is really an unavoidable reason for my actions. Chae Tae-won was looking at me with a strange gaze. But to be clear, it wasnt the gaze one gives a crazy person. Uh, what is it? What happened just now. His gaze was almost ufortably intense. is all my fault. Im sorry for not informing you in advance. Oh. No. Its fine. Honestly, it was something I wasnt really concerned about anymore, so I was a bit taken aback. So I decided to change the subject quickly. Fortunately, there was something I needed to ask. Oh, Branch Leader. Come to think of it, this is perfect timing. Could I ask you for a favor? Yes? What is it?
After a while, I was guided downstairs to the first floor by Chae Tae-won. Inside the wide walls of the mansion, the henchmen of the Cheong-ho faction were gathered. Although they were wearing suits, their muscr builds looked ready to tear through the fabric at any moment, and the reliable-looking thugs seemed like they could turn into murderers if someone said, Now! Why are there so few? The number of people had decreased since earlier. Now, the group gathered here barely seemed to reach about thirty. Including those who couldnt leave their assigned areas and the executives, there might be around fifty people in total. . Some of the directors and branch leaders returned to protect their businesses. Ah, I see. It seemed they had taken a significant number of people with them. Probably, Goo Jin-cheol had intentionally diverted a considerable portion of the personnel during that time. I urgently called the members from my branch. They will arrive within three hours, as soon as they finish organizing the surrounding area. No, theres no need for that. No need? I thought I might try something different if there were more people, but if this is all we have, its better for me to change my ns. It seemed Chae Tae-won sensed some underlying meaning in my words. Is something going to happen today? Well, probably. Ill assemble everyone immediately. If we move quickly, we can gather within thirty minutes. No, no. Dont do that. At this point, the number of people didnt really matter. After I exined roughly what I intended to do, Chae Tae-won nodded, half-believing and half-doubting. Alright. I felt sorry for the friends who had gathered here, but it was time to disperse. I spoke to the assembled thugs. Alright, everyone, sorry, but the task I was going to ask of you is canceled. Please return to your original positions. Isnt it good that you dont have to do unnecessary work? However, contrary to my expectations, voices of protest erupted from an unexpected direction. What? Are you messing with us? Huh? Chapter 115: Preparatory Work Chapter 115: Preparatory Work I didnt even know that guys real name. He was just someone who could be called Nameless Thug 1 from the Cheong-ho Faction. Whats with all thee and go? Branch leader, isnt this a bit too much? Chae Tae-wons expression hardened. Excuse me. Ill handle this immediately. I felt the activation of his magical power. He had always shown a calm demeanor, but Chae Tae-won was a man who lived by violence and fear. If left unchecked, it would turn into a scene from a noir film. Not the kind that ends with just a couple of punches, but something much more violent. I grabbed Chae Tae-won. Branch leader, just a moment.Yes? Who is that guy? Director Goo Jin-cheol left him with a team. Oh, he left him to stir up trouble? Goo Jin-cheol, this guy is really meticulous, isnt he? Judging by the expressions on their faces, it seemed like about five of the less than thirty people here had been influenced by Goo Jin-cheol. Then, can I have a little chat with him? That might be no, alright. Ah, it seemed like my involvement with the Cheong-ho faction was deepening. But no matter what, it wouldnt be easy to get through tonight with those people around. I approached him slowly and spoke. Hey, big guy? Didnt you have dinner? Why are you so angry? What? Are you trying to pick a fight with me? Somehow, from his appearance to his way of speaking and his huge build, he reminded me of Kwak Dae-yong who I had seen before. His entire bodys magical power was well activated. He was stillcking, but he seemed confident enough to act boldly in front of Chae Tae-won. No, whos fighting? Im a guest; itd be embarrassing to hurt the hosts people in front of the host. Looks like the branch leader has spoiled you a bit, but even if youre a mage, youre nothing if you take a hit at this close range, you know? A hit? What kind of hit? Ha, really, youre so small I cant even beat you up With that, he subtly turned his head. He wasnt avoiding eye contact. Naturally, he checked Chae Tae-wons location and instantly lifted one of his feet. He was aiming to hit my shin at an angle that was difficult for Chae Tae-won to see. [Grasp of the Dead] But the magic I had prepared beforehand activated first. A ghostly hand rose from the ground, grabbed his ankle, and pulled him with tremendous force. What? Whoaaaa! Thud! He let out an incredibly embarrassed scream as he fell clumsily. Due to hisrge build, he fell with a grand thud. It was quite a funny sight, even to me. Snickers erupted from all around. Ahhh! This guy suddenly used magic!? Huh? Didnt you say a hit from close range wouldnt be a big deal? You! You started it! What? Hey, you were the one who tried to kick my shin first! Honestly, if his foot had actually connected, my leg bone would have snapped instantly. But it seemed that cause and effect no longer mattered. He leaned back and curled up, then tried to spring to his feet. No, there was a killing intent in his movements. This wasnt just an attempt to stand up. He sprang up and attacked me. Or at least, that seemed to be his n. Until I activated my second spell. [Chains of Domination] |Do not move.| !? Hey, look at your stance! If you jump up with your foot extended like that, youll kick me, right? You had no idea that would happen? !?!? If you want to jump up, dont do it at that angle. Jump vertically. Vertically! Here, Ill help you. [Leap] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] |Jump vertically.| It was an extreme leap that exploited a game glitch. I had never tried it on myself because it was too dangerous, but as soon as he broke free from the forced restraint, he soared into the sky while defying physicalws with absurd force. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! His voice faded away until it was no longer audible. I looked up, but it was hard to see anything because it was night. . He didnte down. Even though everyone gathered here was looking up at the sky in unison, he somehow didnte back down. Could he have flown into space? I did use a lot of magic power. Does he have no magic resistance? Just as an uneasy murmur started spreading around, we finally heard a wee sound. Look over there! There he is! Thank goodness! Hesing back! Yeah, thank goodness. At least he didnt break through the atmosphere! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! His scream started growing louder again. That fellow seemed to have more talent for pstickedy than being a thug. At the critical moment, I cast a [Feather Fall] spell on his body. Therge man was trembling and crying. I didnt know how far he had flown, but I felt a bit sorry for him. Come on, big guy. Lets get up. What? What? Whaaaaaat?! Well, like you said, it would be a shame to call all these busy people here just to send them away. You and, um you there? No, not you. From here to here. I pointed to the ones left by Goo Jin-cheol. U-Us? Yes. It would be great if you could help me. We have some digging to do. Digging? It was best to keep them in sight to prevent any unnecessary actions. With Chae Tae-wons permission, I slightly adjusted the troops positions and then went out beyond the wall with Goo Jin-cheols subordinates to start digging. Huff, huff Ugh Real digging, I mean. Digging the ground. Uh, um, uh, mage, nim? Yes? How long do we have to keep digging? You have to dig as much as I have. As much as you have dug, but so far? Yes, Im going to dig more now. Just a moment. [Upheaval] Boom, boom, boom! With a tremendous earthquake, soil and rocks surged upwards. A vast expanse ofnd was overturned in an instant. Um, I am really, really sorry to ask this Now that I noticed, he had be very polite. What is it? Couldnt you just use magic to dig here too? Ugh Magic cant do everything at will. . I said that, but I did ease up a bit at a reasonable point. After all, I didnt keep them here and make them dig just to torment them. If it were simply about picking a fight and causing trouble, that would be tolerable, but leaving them unsupervised could lead to sabotage in unexpected ces. Moreover, there was a genuine reason to dig the ground. Alright, letsy it down to the maximum extent. If nothinges after all this, it would end up being just digging for no reason, but that would never happen. Besides, excessive preparation is a meaningless concept. Huge magic circles started forming around my body and on the ground, turning in all directions. Didnt they say no one else woulde today anyway? Considering my magical power recovery speed, I constructed the most extensive and grand magic possible. At first, I was enthusiastic and made all sorts of things, butter, I became so exhausted that I ended up in a worse state than Goo Jin-cheols gang, who were actually digging trenches. Ugh What kind of luxury am I aiming for? Having gone this far, if that bastard Goo Jin-cheol didnt attack, I felt like Id go and beat him up myself. Anyway, is this enough for now? Who would have thought Id end up working so hard voluntarily in the middle of the night? Even so, the preparations to safely get through tonight were not yetplete. Dragging my exhausted body, I headed back to the mansion. Back to the third floor. Why didnt this mansion have an elevator? With this size, wouldnt it have been a good idea to install something like an esctor? Mage-nim! You were outside? Huh, young miss? Jeong Hyeon-ah was standing in the hallway on the third floor. Right in front of the reception room that Cheong-ho had given me to use. Jeong Hyeon-ah stared at me with wide eyes for a moment. ? I wondered what on earth this youngdy wanted to say, so I looked at her for a moment. Ugh Soon, Jeong Hyeon-ah wore a dizzy expression and pressed her forehead. The bodyguard next to Jeong Hyeon-ah shouted in rm Young miss!!! but she half-ignored him and spoke. Mage-nim, do you always wear that mask? Ah, it seemed she was trying to make eye contact. I often heard this question, and I always had a response ready for such inquiries. Because I am a mage. Its almost a catch-all answer. It resolves 90% of bothersome questions. Because youre a mage Although it was apletely meaningless answer, she pondered my words seriously. In some ways, it was a typical high schoolers reaction. If she were a middle schooler, she might have reacted more intensely. Do mages always have to wear such masks? Hmm, a variation on amon question. I heard that one quite often as well. I fiddled with the mask for a moment before answering. Not necessarily. Mages dont have to wear masks, but I need a mask, and part of that reason is because I am a mage. I see. Jeong Hyeon-ah answered quickly but wore a puzzled expression. Of course. In truth, I was just saying whatever came to mind. But it would be odd to say I wore the mask because I had a mental illness. That aside, lets see Its already 2 a.m. It wasnt a good time for a young girl to be wandering around. What could she possibly want to say to me at thiste hour? Jeong Hyeon-ah soon regained herposure and spoke. Oh, I came to talk to you for a moment. If its okay with you? Oh, something to say? What could it be? Its getting dangerouste. I hoped it wasnt an event that would take up too much time. Well, I also had business with Jeong Hyeon-ah, which was why I came to the third floor. After ncing around for a moment, I spoke. In that case, its not ideal to talk here. Shall we go inside? I pointed to the reception room door. Oh, thank you. It wasnt my house but hers. I shrugged my shoulders casually. The bodyguard tried to stop Jeong Hyeon-ah, but she brushed him off by saying, Ill be out soon. The young guard wearing sunsses looked uneasy and fussed, but in the end, hepromised by standing guard at the door. Dont worry, nameless NPC guard. Unless my skull was split into five pieces, I had no intention of engaging in a pointless affection event with a minor. And besides, there were no such events in [Cthulhu World] to begin with. To emphasize once again, even if it wasnt Jeong Hyeon-ah, there were no heart-pounding affection events of that sort in this world. If anything like that did happen, it would only be a prelude to some Cthulhu mythos disaster. Chapter 116: Trailer Chapter 116: Trailer I sat down on the sofa and spoke to Jeong Hyeon-ah. Anyway, I assume you didnte to ask about the mask, so what brings you here? Jeong Hyeon-ah hesitated for a moment, making a thoughtful sound before opening her mouth. I came to thank you. Thank me? Others told me that you did it on purpose. This time, it was my turn to make a thoughtful sound. It seemed she had some misunderstanding about the part where I beat up Goo Jin-cheol. Perhaps Chae Tae-won had spoken well of me. What would be the best response in this situation?Dont mention it. It was just. I did it because Goo Jin-cheols annoying smile irritated me. to keep my loyalty to the chairman. This was what Jeong Hyeon-ah had asked of me earlier. She had asked for my help, considering my loyalty to the chairman. She must have thought of that too, as she answered in a hushed voice. Really? Yes. And to add more, there was another reason. The men who usually received exorbitant sries and walked around with inted egos had stepped back and left a girl with no skills to represent in a negotiation she couldnt handle which annoyed me. This isnt some medieval monarchy; its modern society. Moreover, honestly, arent all the guys putting on airs here just a bunch of gangsters? In an age where lineage means nothing, they insisted on putting this young girl at the head of a conference room lined with men three times her age? Well, all of this must have been part of Goo Jin-cheols n. Including calling me here and staging this unnecessary drama. Ultimately, he probably intended topletely eliminate Cheong-hos influence this time. By forcing Jeong Hyeon-ah into a representative role and then sweeping away the executives clinging to that representation all at once. I hadnt intended to get involved, but the whole situation was so irritating that I ended up interfering. Well, there was no need to tell Jeong Hyeon-ah all of this. Dont worry, Ill find the chairman, or rather, your father. No. I still want to thank you properly. Huh? Jeong Hyeon-ah stood up and bowed politely. Thank you for your help. Ugh, it was embarrassing to receive such gratitude from a student half my age. As I mentioned earlier, its still a bit early to receive thanks. Besides, I wasnt entirely meless for Cheong-hos disappearance. I didnt tell him to be enchanted by the grimoire, but if I hadnt asked for it, Cheong-ho wouldnt have gone missing. Please, make sure you find my father. Yes, I understand. Jeong Hyeon-ah repeated simr words a few more times, but she ended up stammering and couldnt form a proper sentence. Now, was the midnight event over? However, being the courageous high school girl that she is, Jeong Hyeon-ah forced a new topic. By the way, is it alright if we dont arrange a ce for you to sleep? This was a space close to a reception room, with only a few shelves, vases, and sofas. It wasnt a ce suitable for sleeping, but it was enough. After all, it wasnt time to go to sleep yet. No, I cant sleep yet. Ill sleep separately during the day, so dont worry. Cant sleep? Youll understand in a little while. Ah, this is perfect timing. I was actually about toe find you. Please hold onto this for a moment. This is? The item I handed to Jeong Hyeon-ah was arge round orb. Just take it for now. Ah I added more, taking into ount the security guard who was probably nervous beyond the door. Ah, it might feel a bit strange, but please dont scream. Alright Eek!? Despite the warning, the sensation must have been intense. She screamed in surprise as soon as she took the orb from me. Bang!! Miss!!! Ugh, I should have just used magic to silence her. No, its a misunderstanding. Put the gun down. But the bodyguard had no intention of lowering his weapon. You shameless scoundrel, how dare youmit such shameless acts! I could roughly guess the misunderstanding, but how many times was he going to use the word shameless? Despite the young bodyguards intense threats, Jeong Hyeon-ah looked at the item I handed her and said something unexpected. This is an egg? Yes, thats right. But could you calm the agitated gunman first? Oh! Im sorry. I just got startled over nothing. Mage-nim didnt do anything strange Hmm is that so? The bodyguard lowered his gun but didntpletely drop his suspicious gaze. He hesitated for a moment and wavered. Why wasnt he leaving? Eventually, he stood at a diagonal behind Jeong Hyeon-ah while keeping an eye on me without leaving the room. Oh, great. Just stay there. Its actually morefortable for me that way. It wasnt entirely pleasant, but I had to give him credit for doing his job properly. Good job, nameless bodyguard NPC. As you instinctively sensed, Miss, its an egg. Though I had never said it was an egg, and frankly, it looked more like an oversized orb. Nevertheless, as soon as Jeong Hyeon-ah touched it, she instinctively realized it was an egg. Just as I had when I first handled it. It was an egg created from the fluids of the [ck Goat With a Thousand Young], infused with the flesh of an alien parasite and the magical power of the [Blind Idiot God]. It was something I obtained while rescuing Jeong Hyeon-ah. I had left it alone since I didnt know its use, but I recently figured out how to use it. Ill lend it to you for a while. Im not giving it to you. Tomorrowno, its already today since its past midnight. Anyway, you can return it once its role is over. Role? What role does this egg y? If the situation calls for it, itll beat up that unlucky guy for you. Huh? Well, something like that. Think of it as a self-defense item just in case. Ill do my best to prevent such a situation from happening, so ideally, nothing will happen. In any case, its best if it ends quietly. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Huh? My senses sharpened against my will, and my detection range began to expand rapidly. A tremendous amount of magical power and an absurd vibration were being detected from far away. Oh, theyre reallying. Huh? I thought there might be a chance they wouldnte, but theyre really on their way. Theyre quite a distance away, but theyre approaching at an incredible speed. There was no more time to rx. I nced at my watch and then cast a few support spells on Jeong Hyeon-ah. Huh? Mage-nim? Now, from this moment, please go to that conference room with the guard. Then, call Branch Manager Chae Tae-won. Now? Right now? Yes. And you too. Me? You dont have any magic allergies, right? Allergies? Actually, its rare. Ive only met one person with it, so dont worry. [Radiance of the Eagle] [Courage of the Lion] [Agility of the Fox] This, what is this? A typical reaction. They have a look that says, I feel powerful! Yeah, thats the usual response. In the end, four spells for Jeong Hyeon-ah, three for the guard, and one for the egg. This is tight. Will they be able to maintain full condition? Actually, a few enhancement spells arent the problem. The more problematic issue is the magical power and mental power that are being sucked out to maintain the magic that has been spread widely beyond the site. Fixer-nim!! Suddenly, someone ran into the room. Ah, why are you here, young miss! It was the old executive who had fervently supported me earlier. Take the young miss and run! At that moment, arge sh of light erupted outside the window. Boom!!! An immense shockwave hit a beatter. The windows all shook at the same time. Kyah! Aah! Get a grip! What did I tell you? Take the young miss and Oh,e on! I flicked a small spark at the dumbfounded guards shin. Fzzzzt! Aaagh! Did I zap him too hard? Anyway, that wasnt the problem. Run! Y-yes! The guard finally came to his senses and he practically picked up Jeong Hyeon-ah and ran out. A bted shout came from the old executive. Fixer-nim, outside! Outside! Sir, please calm down. The explosion outside is my magic. W-what did you say? When I looked out the window, a breathtaking view unfolded. Cheong-hos mansion was built in a secluded open area with few people around. A wide-open view, a space without a single obstacle. Large trailers were rushing in from all directions, ignoring roads and everything else. Dozens ofrge trailers were swarming toward Cheong-hos mansion. I thought this house had quite a bit of paranoid people, but these guys are even crazier. Indeed, this wasnt just a gang conflict; it was a full-on siege. Cheong-hos mansion began to buzz like a disturbed beehive in an instant. Over there! Those crazy bastards! What was that explosion just now!? The explosion had urred right there, exactly there. Cheong-hos underlings were frantically running around trying to locate the site of the explosion. Go and inform them that I caused the explosion and to prepare for defense. What? Oh, this is frustrating. Do you see the overturned trailer near the wall? Thats the one that exploded. From the direction I pointed, one trailer was billowing ck smoke and burning. Kwooooom!! Once more, with a tremendous roar that shook the ground, another trailer shot up into the sky. Bwoooooom!! Rumble, rumble, rumble!! Like watching in slow motion, the trailer that had floated in the air crashed back to the ground with its massive weight. Thud!! And then another one, boom!! Ah, how refreshing. Wow!! That was the mage from earlier! Waaaaa!! Cheers erupted from all around us. The old executive of the Cheong-ho faction gaped in astonishment at the scene. Magic? Magic? Are, are, are you saying that massive explosion was really magic? Not a bomb? A bomb? It was magic. You maintained a magic causing explosions of that magnitude for this long? How many did you set? I set about fifty of them generously. They only react to heavy objects, so you cant approach unless you walk. F-f-fifty? More than that! Do you remember? The special use. If such an incident urs, Party A will make his best efforts to protect the safety of the mansion and the members of Party B. Details below are omitted. In return, if such-and-such events ur, Party B will pay such-and-such amount to Party A ording to such-and-such conditions. Details below are omitted. Most of the detailed negotiations were handled by Tudor. I took a brief look too and saw that there were an awful lot of devilish uses. With an attack of this scale, we might be able to extract an entire years budget from the Cheong-ho faction. The special use! Of course! As for money, Ill give you as much as you want! Talking as if it was his own money? Well, he is the one managing the Cheong-ho factions assets. Very well. [You have epted an unexpected quest! Eliminate the attackers and defend the base. Reward: 1,450,000XP + bonus based on mission performance. Failure: The bnce of the Triad will be destroyed.] Whether we seed or fail, isnt the bnce of the Triad already already destroyed? But what is that? I saw something strange in the distance. Are my eyes deceiving me? It looks like theres someone standing on top of the oingrge trailer. Chapter 117: Ashen Wraith Chapter 117: Ashen Wraith Boom! Several more trailers were destroyed. It seemed the situation had finally been understood, as the trailers stopped their charge. A number of trailers skillfully positioned themselves just outside the range of the explosion magic. People in unusual attire climbed onto the roofs of some trailers. Wow, they really came out looking like that. Dozens of people dressed identically. Their appearance was that of typical cultists, wearing dingy brown robes pulled over their heads. It looked pretty cool on the monitor, but now that I was seeing it with my own eyes, it was a lot more embarrassing than I thought.Im sure they didnt climb up there just to show off, so what are they nning to do? Cultists can create miracles simr to those of mages. However, they use different methods to shake thews of physics and reality. Instead of incantations, they use prayers and instead of magic power adjustments, they use sacrifices. They desperately pleaded with the being they believed to be a god. But nothing came for free. If they were lucky, their desperate pleas alone could fulfill their wishes, but most of the time, they required sacrifices beyond what a human could bear. Whoosh!!! Ugh, those crazy bastards. The bodies of the cultists standing on the trailers started to burn at the same time. Hahahaha!! Kyahahaha!! Thank you! Thank you! Instead of screams, there were bursts of maniacalughter and words of gratitude. The fanatics that were burning alive began to dance in a grotesque and horrific manner for a very short time. It was unclear whether it was truly a dance or merely convulsions from unbearable pain. Though brief, their dance seemed to have satisfied the god they worshipped. Screeeech!!! [Embrace of the North Star] [System: Area-of-effect enchantment magic has been activated.] [The environment and climate of the area are being readjusted.] Suddenly, the surroundings changed. Its hot The air became crisp and dry. The temperature rose tremendously even though it waste at night. An air drier than any summer in Korea blew in, like a parched desert. What East Asians called the North Star was the brightest star in the southern constetion of Piscis Austrinus and it was Fomalhaut. Fanatics charged with axes and torches. The master of Fomalhaut blesses us! Kill them! Kill them! Turn them into ashes under the night sky! Do not fear death! Be the beacon that illuminates the fiery paradise! They were the descendants of Fomalhaut. Oh,e on. You could have gone to fight Hellistic; whye here again? I told you something good, didnt I? Why didnt you go there ande here instead? Well, it seems the information wasnt entirely useless. For such arge-scale ritual like climate-changing magic, their numbers were small. Are they really going to charge with axes? We have machine guns here. Of course, the enemies werent fools. Look, look over there! What is that!? Aaargh! Aaaah!! The sky, look at the sky!!! A monster! A monster!!! Buzzzzzz! Amidst the continuous explosions, a different noise emerged. Wow, these guys are really hopeless. No matter how remote this ce was, with nothing around and being the dead of night when no one was around, this was too much. The trailer crash was just the beginning. Beyond the wall, an immense amount of magical power surged. Tkra-gnash, tkra-sivak! Zu-thog, zu-voth! A huge monsters form expanded as if to engulf the dark night sky. I expected something toe out, but honestly, I didnt expect something like that. No, I wasnt shocked because something incredibly powerful appeared. Its just that an incredibly strange creature showed up. That was a monster called the Ashen Wraith. Its not something just anyone can summon. Only a top-tier cultist who has lived too long and whose brain has turned to mush could control such a surreal minion. It seemed that at least a madman on par with a demon lord was present. How big is that thing going to get? The Ashen Wraith grew rapidly by feeding on the smoke, heat, and dust around it. An enormous amount of smoke was pouring out from the trailers I had blown up. Absorbing that smoke, the Ashen Wraith was growing evenrger. Oh, this is really giving me a headache. Although it had a shape that could be called humanoid, it was a giant with a gaseous body that continued to swell and flow. Boom! From within the smoky Ashen Wraith, a terrifying thunder rumbled. At the same time, the Ashen Wraith let out a roar in a bizarrenguage that humans couldnt understand. Glor-tkra, glor-zu! Voth-sivak, voth-thog! Aaaargh!! Mon, mon, monster!! A giant! A giant! What is that?! What the hell is that?! Regardless of the smoke, its sheer volume and mass alone were enough to terrify anyone. The members of the Triad, no, the members of the Cheong-ho faction, screamed as they watched the monster grow to a size that seemed capable of covering the sky. Ratatatatatata!!! The ones screaming and firing aimlessly at the sky were the lucky ones. Most threw their guns and ran in random directions or copsed on the ground. If left alone, they might end up shooting each other rather than the cultists. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of intimidation have been nullified.] Without the Madness of the Abyss, I might have joined their ranks but that has nothing to do with me anyway. Zu-gnash, zu-tkra! The giant that was swollen to over 18 meters raised its fist and struck the wall. Boom! Crash! Suddenly, one side of the wall copsed. The wall has fallen! Then the Triad forces charged towards the fallen wall. Ah, since the ones defending are also part of the Triad, thats not quite urate. The subordinates of Jeok-du and the cultists were charging in. Attack! Kill them all! Lets go! Descendants of Fomalhaut! Lets go!! Amidst those loud battle cries, various foreignnguages like Chinese and Vietnamese were mixed in. It looked like they had gathered people from all over the ce. Ratatatatatatatata!!! Unlike the cultists, Jeok-dus subordinates were armed with guns. Boom! Crash! This time, the sound of something copsing came from the roof. The watchtower is falling!! Aaaah!! Get out of the way!! Ugh, wait. Aaaah!! Run away!! Were done for!! Unlike the enemies charging at us menacingly, our side was aplete mess. Ah, this is no time to be standing around idly. The list of spells I could cast shed through my mind in an instant. What was the spell that worked on that fellow again? Since it was made of ash and smoke, it waspletely immune to fire. And if I were to list his immunities, it would be astonishing. Fire, lightning, explosions, physical attacks, mental attacks, energy, curses, it was immune to all of that. Ah, what a ridiculously frustrating opponent! An immense pressure of magic was released from my outstretched hands. Whoooooooooosh!! The magic, which had grown enormously as it tore through the windows and walls like paper, transformed into a huge swirling hurricane. [Whirling Fury] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] Rumble!! The raging wind and huge whirlwind responded to my will and struck the Ashen Wraith. Rumble!! The powerful whirlwind of magic changed the atmospheric pressure in an instant and even shook the clouds floating in the sky with its tremendous influence. The Ashen Wraith who was unable to fully swing its raised fist was forced to retreat. Its body shattered in an instant before scattering in all directions Thog-sivak! It was a formless monster made of ash, smoke, heat, and the madness of corrupted souls. So the effect was no different than hitting a cloud. The creature reassembled its body several meters away. For now, Ive pushed it back, so I should take care of other things in the meantime. The cultists and Jeok-dus subordinates were fiercely rushing in on the ground. [Agility of the Fox] [Dance of the Swan] [Protective Barrier] [The unique effect of the L-grade garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] The view changed instantly. The wind roared and threatened to tear my eardrums. After soaring into the sky, I redirected part of the summoned whirlwind toward the ground and struck hard. Whooooooooooosh!! The air and atmospheric pressure in this area werepletely under my control. I imparted new properties to the wind and whirlwind. Rumble!! Rumble!! A thunderous sound, like a dragon growling, echoed from somewhere. It was the noise created by the friction of clouds and air. Yes, attack just like that! [Storms Faith] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Whoooooooooosh!! Rumblllleee!! Crashhhh! Massive bolts of lightning and storms poured down on the enemies. In an instant, their formation crumbled and the enemies momentum was broken. Even the fanatics who had charged with a resolve to face death hesitated in the face of such overwhelming bombardment. [Your heroic actions inspire those around you. Exempts the sanity check of nearby allies temporarily.] We have the mage with us! Kim Shin-hwa! Kim Shin-hwa! Fire! Fire at those crazed fanatics! Kim Shin-hwa! Kim Shin-hwa! Yaaaaah! Why are those idiots chanting my name? [You have enraged Jeok-du. One of the three heads of the Triad C Jeok-du bes hostile toward you.] Tsk, now achieving the Three Heads integration feat is impossible unless Jeok-du dies. Theres a bug where Jeok-dus affinity resets if you trap him in a dungeon and then restart the game. If I can find a way to reset this world, there might be a chance to befriend Jeok-du but nows not the time for such thoughts! What I need to focus on now is, Zu-gnash, zu-tkra! Sivak! The giant over there lifting the burning trailer. Ugh, how unfair. My attacks dont work, but it can touch, hit, and throw everything. Bwoooooong!!! Ugh, he threw it. That crazy bastard! Ugh so its an aerial battle, huh? The trailer grewrger at an incredible speed. I approached to a distance where I could minimize the loss of magical power and directed my magic at the giant trailer flying through the night sky. Dozens of magic circles blossomed like fireworks. [Invisible Hand] [Chains of Domination] [Prison of Wind] Crashhhh!! Ugh, its quite heavy! Anyway, I caught the flying trailer! Sivack! What Did you just say Fu*k? That cant be, but it feels irritating. [Waterfall] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Swooooosh!! Theres too little water energy I could draw from around here. The enemies didnt change the climate and start the battle for no reason. Could I seize control of the weather? Amidst the chaos, I briefly looked up at the night sky. Was it a new moon of all times? The season, time,titude, and atmospheric pressure were all unfavorable. Reversing the area of effect environmental change magic the enemies hadid out first would require an immense amount of time and resources. I sent my will through the Chains of Domination toward the trailer hovering in the air. |Stop, stay still.| Then, I waved my hand toward the side of the trailer. [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Whoosh!! Boom!!! Iunched eight fireballs at the trailer. The concentrated impact in one direction created a potential force for the trailer to bounce away in that direction, but |Stay still!| I poured my magical power to strengthen thepulsion to the extent that it ignored thews of physics. The Ashen Wraith and the cultist controlling it didnt seem to understand what I was doing, but at least I had sessfully drawn their attention. Shivak! Kk-shivack, Sivack-thog, sivack-tkra! Im telling you, it sounds like youre swearing! [Azure Elemental Explosion] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Boom! A tremendous explosion erupted from the Ashen Wraiths face, torso, and legs. I had gathered the water elements floating in the air and struck with them. That must hurt, right? Ah, that thing? The Ashen Wraith reassembled its scattered body, and, huh? Its legs turned into hands and its hands turned into legs? Then the hand that was a leg picked up the trailer on the ground and swung it! Ah, thats too fast! Damn it, theres no angle to dodge! With a deafening crash that felt like the whole world was exploding, everything around me went dark. Boom! Chapter 118: Hwa In (1) Chapter 118: Hwa In (1) [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Dreamy Blur, has been activated. // Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] Gnash-sivack, gnash-tkra?! I still dont understand what its saying, but I can tell the Ashen Wraith is surprised. [Blinkplete. Cooldown time: 864,000 seconds] As soon as my vision cleared, I sent a newmand through the Chains of Domination. The target was the trailer. Themand was |Go!| Boooom! With a sound like the air around me was exploding, the trailer flew away. Its the same trick I tried at the abandoned hospital on Gamaksan mountain, the same method that sent someone flying into space just a few hours ago.No magic, barrier, or defense can stop this speed and power. The direction was not towards the Ashen Wraith, butpletely the wrong way. It flew towards another trailer that had stopped mid-rush. Kabooooooooom!!! A huge shock that could be felt even from afar. A huge impact as if a meteorite had fallen. The ground split and the surrounding trees shattered into pieces. Gnash-tkra?! Yeah, buddy, the one who summoned you was over there, right? I had sensed it from the beginning. As always, the biggest weakness of summoning magic is the unprotected summoners body controlling the summoned creature. The summoner who had beenughing and chatting after sacrificing the bodies and souls of lower-ranking members of his cult to summon that minion, had hidden inside the trailer, which was now smashed to pieces. The Ashen Wraith tried to reach out and grab me until thest moment, but its body had already transformed into natural dust and smoke before dispersing into the air. Just before its hand touched me, it ultimately became an entity incapable of influencing reality and vanished. Ugh, the smoke doesnt disappear immediately. My vision was blurred because of the smoke. When I looked toward the mansion, I saw Jeok-dus subordinates who still hadnt figured out the situation and the cultists who had figured out the situation at an incredible speed. Why! Why has our judge fallen?! What happened to Master Hwa-In?! What? Whats going on? What is it?! The temperature around me dropped rapidly. Although the lost moisture wouldnt recover immediately, it would soon be restored. Now, anyway, lets attack over there. [Lightning Strike] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Rumble, crash! I cast a lightning bolt for those who still hadnt grasped the situation. And another attack over there. [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Boom!! The sky seemed to copse with a deafening roar and the ground shook as if it would cave in. The giant monster they trusted had disappeared and their leader had abandoned them and fled. The mercenaries, who were not Jeok-dus main force but were hired with pocket money, had no loyalty to keep fighting. asionally, bullets flew towards me from those who had lost their minds. Oh, even an axe came flying. [Gale Strike] Whoosh!! Nothing reached me and everything fell to the ground. With it, their morale plummeted. I activated [Sound Wave Shock] and shouted. Get out of here right now!!! [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Yellow Dominance, has been activated. // Yellow Dominance: Adds the effect Spell Enhancement: Instill Fear to certain spells.] My voice exploded in the unobstructed air, creating a thunderous roar that marked the end of this chaotic siege. Aaaaah!! Oh, God!!! One by one, they began to abandon the front lines and flee. At this point, there was no difference between Jeok-dus subordinates and the cultists. The weapons they had carried so confidently ttered to the ground. Everyone was pale and looked as if they might faint at any moment. Where? Where should we run? However, there was no one to direct them. Everyone was busy running in all directions. Some lost their bearings and ran toward Cheong-hos mansion, while others fell to the ground and buried themselves in the dirt amidst their confusion. Lets see Though there had been some copses and considerablemotion, did we manage to hold them off this well? The trailers, cultists, and mercenaries they had scraped together from everywhere must have been part of a rather ambitious raid. Despite their relentless efforts, they had only managed to knock down a single wall and take a few steps into the garden. Theyll probably clean up on their own, so I should go earn some pocket money. Pitch-ck debris remained at the center of a huge crater. The life responses had almost disappeared, and the small amount of magical power that had been unnaturally gathered was dispersing. Looks like theyre all dead? Considering the detected information, it didnt seem necessary to check further but this was [Cthulhu World]. There were spells that could evade my detection, and if there was any messed-up alien race mixed in, who knew what kind of variables might arise. When I began to approach slowly, [System: The trait Enhanced Vignce has been activated.] With a rumbling sound, the debris overturned and a shing light burst out. Huh? Whoosh! No, it wasnt a sh, it was zing mes. mes in the shape of a giant bull charged towards me. [Mist and Dew Spider Web] I blocked the mes with a magical woven from mist and dew. Rumble!! Is it because the magical power was lent by a being of the abyss? Its quite heavy. The bull made of mes thrashed with a terrifying vigor as if it were a real, living bull. The magical shook as if it would tear at any moment. But thanks to the ring of corrupted me, the magical power of the [Living me] was familiar to me. I extended my will and delved into the heart of the mes. As I infused my magical power into the core of the spell, I activated a new spell. [Evil Gaze] [Voice of Authority] |Disappear.| Whoosh The mes vanished instantly. They left behind only some bizarrely shaped scorch marks on the ground, and it became as quiet as if nothing had happened. A strange entity emerged. What the hell? What kind of creature dares to interfere with my grand work? Huh? It was a me enveloping a soul. No, it was a me recing a body or a vessel forcibly preserving a dispersing spirit. Did you force your soul into a summoned creatures body at the moment of death? Quite a talent you have there. C Talent? Because of you, I I lost my body! It was a technique that could only be performed by those of elder status among the servants of the Living me. At the moment of death, he trapped his soul with magical fire and became a kind of will-o-wisp. Why dont you just stop? Take your followers and flee to fight another day or die. Your current state hardly aligns with your doctrines, does it? Dying for a god was supposed to be the greatest honor, wasnt it? C You! Were you the one who forced that hideous lump of flesh into the bodies of my subordinates? Ah, that was me. Geez, they should be thanking me. C What? Thanking you? Isnt that why they didnte here? C What on earth are you talking about? Thanks to me, those friends of yours survived and would inherit your knowledge and what do you call it in your cult? It must be something like the Will of Fire or the Will of Fomalhaut. Anyway, something with a suitably childish name. So, they should be grateful. C Ill roast you to death with the divine me! The curse of the Living me will burn your soul! Whether it was my taunt that angered him, the old will-o-wisp trembled with rage with mes shaking around his soul. No, calling him the old will-o-wisp is too long. His name was Hwa In. Well, it was more of a title than a name. Despite his fiery temper, which matched his appearance, he didnt charge at me right away. Instead, he cautiously expanded his influence and perception as if he were assessing my strength. But then, at an odd moment, he suddenly recoiled in shock. C You? You? What on earth are you? Me? What am I? A mage? No, a fixer? If you cut off the head and tail and ask like that, what am I supposed to say?
  • Do you have no regard for your soul, smearing such horrible things on your body and soul? No, no! What are you!? Youre enduring pressure no human can withstand! Power you cant possibly ept!
Oh, this mask and those other things? Well, it just happened. It wasnt just the mask of the [King in Yellow]. There was also the robe given to me by King Man-geum. And the ring of the [Living me]. And a fragment of [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. There was also the bodily fluid from the [ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young], though it wasnt something she gave me. Well, to add more, there was the magical power of the [Blind Idiot God], and perhaps the influence of [Crawling Chaos], specifically a message window with Nyathoteps presence. C Im-impossible! It cant be! Even the artifacts of that evil ancient god? Mixing things that cant possibly blend and using them what on earth are you? Another reaction like that. What am I? Just a clever mage. Everyone seemed eager to lend me their power. C I see. You are the offering, the offering foretold by the Living me. Thats why you were willing to lend your strength to this foolish battle. Hwa In suddenly started making sense. But I couldnt fall for this pattern. No, no, no, enough! Enough! I waved my hand at Hwa In while shouting. Cut, cut, cut! Skip it, skip! Were short on time, so stop the useless chatter and get to the Gyaaaaaah, already? C Gyaaaaaah? I was tired of him always responding with some cryptic remark when I asked something. Anyway, this old man would raise my expectations and then charge at me with a Gyaaaaaah. You dont really know anything important, do you? So, instead of wasting time, just scream Gyaaaaaah and charge at me. Then Ill say, I knew it! and take you down. C You, you, you crazy mage!! Hwa Ins face flushed red as if he had never experienced such an insult before. C I, I dont know? The living me told me directly what you were made for and why you were brought here! I know! Really? You do? It seemed he knew something. C Khehehe Curious? You must not know. I know why you can contain the opposing magic and still remain intact. Its because you were made for that purpose. Oh, really? Its the first time someone has spoken so candidly to me. A cultist of the Judge level is certainly different, isnt it? Is there anything else you want to share? C Of course. You see, you are, the feast offerings are The feast offerings are? C Perfect vessels for possession! Ill make your body an altar for the living me! The will-o-wisp old man eventually let out a horrific scream and flew at me. C Gyaaaaaah!! But since I anticipated this situation, I almost reflexively cast a spell. I knew it! [Mist and Dew Spider Web] Hah, I thought he knew something, but he was just rambling. Possession? He was going to possess me? Go ahead, give it a try. C What? Possession. Go on, try it. I intentionally opened the mana line connected to Mist and Dew Spider Web. A cultist like Hwa In would surely understand what this meant. You dare insult me to this extent! Do you think I cant do it?! Whoooooooooosh!!! Hwa Ins will and soul began to infiltrate my mana line and seep into my body and soul. I could feel his seething anger and terrible obsession. However. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of possession has been nullified.] Crackle!!! Whooosh!! His foreign will was instantly expelled from my body. C What What are you?! You keep asking the same question, it seems youre starting to lose consciousness. C Stop it! Stop it! It cant be! It cant be! You, you terrible monster! You shouldnt exist in this world! Living me! Living me! I finally understand your great will! I will use thest chance youve given me to stop this demon! [System: The penalty trait Feasts Offering has been activated.] Finally, the Living me began to intervene directly. From another world, from the distant gxy of the lonely star Fomalhaut, a sinister power flowed in. Hwa In gathered that power and created a miracle. [Extreme me] Whoooooooooooooooosh!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaash!!! Tremendous heat and blinding light erupted. The heat was so lethal that even the [me Resistance] trait embedded in my body couldnt fully block it. It was the ultimate me that a cultist, who had honed his skills and faith for decades, could produce. That guy was charging with the intent to sacrifice even his soul to the mes. Pop pop pop!! At the same time, dozens of magic circles formed around me and started blocking the iing mes. Ssssss!! Huh? This is a bit hot. The magic was abnormally concentrated, and the heat was outrageous. This wasnt Hwa Ins power. It was a spell created by a being of the abyss using the old cultists soul as a foundation. Ugh, if I make a mistake, I might really die. I poured magical power into the surrounding magic circles and created magical runes with specific properties. C Fire rune? Are you trying to y with fire in front of a supernovas me? Lets see if its a game or not. I drew the Great Justice Tiger Sword and held it horizontally. Wooooooong As if it didnt like the idea of activating magic against evildoers, the Great Justice Tiger Sword trembled with its de and made a strange sound. Is this what it means for a sword to cry? Interesting. What does it matter if a broken guy chooses? Just do as youre told. Wooooooong [The unique effect of the SSS-rank weapon Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon), Blessing of Heavenly Fire has been activated. // Blessing of Heavenly Fire: All fire-type magic effects are increased by 100%.] Chapter 119: Hwa In (2) Chapter 119: Hwa In (2) Hwa In couldnt understand the scene unfolding before him. He widened his eyelids which did not exist physically, and looked at Kim Shin-hwa who was still standing in front of him. To Hwa In, Kim Shin-hwa was just a young mage whose name he had never even heard of. Yet, he was perfectly blocking the mes that Hwa In had summoned, the precious mes gifted by a god. This is impossible! His opponent was the one foretold, the feasts offering. He already knew this wouldnt be an easy opponent. Therefore, he had gathered the burnt blood, flesh, and souls of his disciples to create the mes. Even that wasnt enough, so Hwa In poured in the magical power, life force, and his very spirit required for his survival and resurrection. It was an extreme magic created to burn not just air or matter but the space itself. Though it was limited, it was the ultimate secret art designed to shake the veryws of physics and the order of nature.By this point, it was less of a magic spell and more of a miracle to manifest the will of the god he served, the [Living me], in the present world. But despite all this, Kim Shin-hwa still stood steadfast at the heart of the mes created by Hwa In. It wasnt a magic with opposing attributes nor a magic honed for defense. Kim Shin-hwa was blocking his mes with a strange magic circle made entirely of fire runes. Hwa In had already given up on survival. This me was the culmination of his entire soul, the talent he had honed over decades, and the final me he could produce in his life. He could understand if someone tried to block it with a different attribute. But blocking his fire with fire? This was impossible. Yet it was happening. Is that really a human? Really? A soul born in the same world as me, a body made of the same matter as mine? The masked mage, whom he considered a messy mosaic created by embedding the powers of various gods and fragments of multiple demons into his body, did something he couldnt imagine. Magic? No, its not. What exactly is it? It was certainly magic. The runes and magical lines extending from Kim Shin-hwas body were moving in a way Hwa In couldntprehend and were attempting to construct some kind of magic. magical lines extending in all directions, magic circles forming without meaning, just straight lines, ordinary curves, particles of magic gathering from all directions, and glowing shapes. But he couldnt understand how that magic worked at all. C What? What? What is this? What are you doing!? Perhaps it was a technique from another world, a world he couldnt understand. If so, he could ept it. A bizarre magic functioning in an alien way, a strange technique fundamentally different from the magic system of this world. He had no choice but to think that way. However, when the fragments of the iprehensible magic came together to form a single meaning, he could only be astonished. The magical lines, shapes, and runes he thought were scattered meaninglessly and tangled chaotically came together under a single logic, a single system, and a singlew to create a certain magic. It was a beautiful method that he had never imagined. The enemy, that masked mage whose name he didnt even know, was creating magicno, it was a miracle, in a way he had never seen before. What was created by that method was truly an unexpected magic. [me Maniption] Though of a different lineage, Hwa In knew that magic. It was a spell even a half-wit aspiring mage rolling around in the back alleys of Paju could use. The most basic of basic spells taught to anyone trying to learn magic. It was just a spell that enhanced or moved an element slightly. At best, it allowed one to control natural mes that burned without a master. C Are you trying to block my me, the me gifted to me by my god, the me of my soul created to rewrite thews of this world, with such a low-level spell!? The me Hwa In had created, the me of another world approved by the name of his god, a realm he had never built so strongly in his life. C Th-Thats impossible! And yet it copsed. Hwa Ins me, the extreme me, that had formed a single massive body, began to copse. All that mage had done was to thrust something into the heart of the me. C Urk!? It wouldnt move. What? The expansion stopped. The magic? It stopped? Move! The flow of magic had ceased. Copse? A foreign object? What did you do? The power to burn and sublimate halted. It reversed! My power isnt moving as I wish. Why? My magic, wait! Dont take it! What are you doing? No! Dont copse! Flow! Stop! Stop it! This is absurd! Dont do this! It had the shape of a human, but it was an alien, unpleasant, and bizarre entity. What on earth is that? Those eyes! Those eyes! Dont look at me with those eyes! A monster with four blue glowing eyes! Stop it, my magic, my power, my god! Please! Give me strength! Mercy! That demon! The demon with four eyes! Grant me the power to defeat that demon! Please! God, lend me your strength! Burning soul from Fomalhaut! Please, the power to incinerate that demon who seeks to destroy your glory! Burning! zing! Purify everything with your crimson fist! Purification! Purification! Purification! Purification! Divine purification, please! Please! Please! |At this moment, I speak to you.| C Ah! Ahhhh! Ahhhh!! zing mes, enormous fire, passed endlessly before Hwa Ins eyes. He saw a tremendous explosion, no, more than that, far away, burning the distant universe with billions of lights, mes, fire, heat, anger, will, explosion. He saw the holy me beyond the gxy, purifying the entire universe, the truly enormous, the truly holy, the truly beautiful one! That one! That one descends into reality through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! Through me! To burn that demon! The being of the abyss, the [Living me], whispered. But Hwa Ins soul could not hear the whisper. Why? |No need.| His enemy, the demon he needed to burn, was saying something absurd. Wait, what? No need? What is? The being of the abyss, the [Living me], whispered something again. But he still couldnt hear anything. Hwa In finally realized. For some reason, his god, the will of the [Living me], was not speaking to him. Instead, the strange creature standing before him which resembled a human but was fundamentally different, lifted the appendage attached to its left side. If it were human, it would have been called a left arm. And it said, This ring is mine, taken by rightful means, and I desire nothing more from you. I ask for nothing more than is required by the covenant, so stand still. What is it saying? Why isnt my god burning this being, and what is happening right now? Now, Hwa In had nothing left to give. His remaining life force and even his spiritual body were faint. In his fading consciousness, thest thing he saw was the terrible figure of the mage who had stolen and imprisoned the me he created, all his fire, and every miracle. What is happening? After decades of training and decades of prayers, the god that descended? Why isnt it looking at me? Could it be, not at me, not at me, not at me? That was Hwa Ins final thought. All that was left was the residual heat, a handful of ashes, and a tiny trace of something that once existed.
Ah, I thought I was going to die. I really almost died. Terrible high-temperature magic was seething everywhere. It was the magic of the [Living me] that Hwa In had expelled. The [Living me] suddenly tried to descend through this magic, and I almost died because of it. Fortunately, it wasnt fully intent on descending, so I was able to stop it. Anyway, I can absorb all this magical power. [Absorption] I had done simr things before. This time it was much easier. I raised my left hand and absorbed all the heat using the [Ring of Corrupted me]. Back then, the lump of flesh did it, but this time I have to do it myself. *** [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated. // Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers. You get a +100% sess rate in invention, repair, research, and development.] Paaaaat! [Residual Heat of the North Star (SSS-rank essory): Ring. Call upon me whenever you wish. I wille to you. me Chain: Grants the owner the traits Spell Enhancement: Explosive and Spell Enhancement: Chain Explosion. Beacons Crusade: Forces a sanity check when worn. If you fail the sanity check triggered by this effect, you will be afflicted with Mental IllnessPyromania. Trace of Extreme me: Increases the effect of all fire-type magic by 100%. Incarnation of Fire: Strength +4. Legacy of Fire Knowledge: Increases understanding of fire-type magic.] Oooh, strength! Additionally, the spell enhancement options are very appealing. These are excellent abilities with no drawbacks [Achievement unlocked! You have defeated the sessor of Hwa In, the one who serves the Living me. You have obtained the Advanced Achievement: Destroyer of the Beacon. As a reward for the achievement, you gain the unique trait Soul me and the title of Hwa In, along with additional experience points.] Wait a minute. Dont give me stuff like that! Who are they trying to turn into a living firefly by giving such a title! Moreover, the Soul me trait is the exact skill Hwa In used to turn his soul into a will-o-wisp after he died. Oh well, whatever. If its given, Ill take it. Actually, having this ability couldnt hurt. [Questplete! Reward: 1,450,000 XP + bonus based on mission performance] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You defeated the Sessor of Hwa In. Your understanding of beings of the abyss has increased.] [You exerted strong influence over numerous Cultists Descendants of Fomalhaut. Your understanding of cultists has increased.] [You defeated numerous Gangsters. Your understanding of the Triad has increased.] [You defeated numerous Ouws] [You defeated numerous Thugs] There were many of them, but not many were direct subordinates of Jeok-du. Except for a few cultists, they were probably just random recruits gathered from here and there. Thanks to this, the list of personal details of all sorts of people seemed endless. At this point, these small fry probably wont even give me any experience points. [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 2.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (1) achievement in Cheong-hos mansion.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] Oh, it went up quite a bit. [You have reached level 37! As a reward for reaching this level, you have gained (1) stat point to distribute freely.] I allocated the bonus stat point to mental strength as nned.
Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 37 Magic Order: Third-Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia] Strength: 5 + 4 (Residual Heat of the North Star) Health: 7 + 3 (Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon)) Agility: 8 + 2 (Winged Robe of the Night Veil) Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 16 + 2 (Body Snatchers Ne) Charm: 18
[Achievement unlocked! You have destroyed a curse with your own power! You have obtained the General Achievement: Curse Breaker. As a reward for this achievement, you have formed a firm alliance with Park Kwang-lim and gained additional experience points.] Huh? Curse Breaker? [Questplete! Reward: 150,000 XP + 2 billion won] [System: Meet Park Kwang-lim to receive the remaining reward.] Ah, right, that one wasnt an ordinary summoner. The person who had cursed Park Kwang-lim turned out to be none other than Hwa In. And since Hwa In hadpletely vanished, the curse was lifted. Unlucky Park Kwang-lim. He missed his chance to go to the Thousand Gold Temple. If he could have included that he visited the Thousand Gold Temple on his business card, his standing in Paju would have doubled. Well, at least the curse was lifted, so that was fortunate. Ill let him know about the curse being lifted slowly so he can keep running for a while. In any case, Park Kwang-lims curse was lifted, and I no longer had to give him a bus ride to the Thousand Gold Temple for no reason. Cheong-hos faction managed to fend off the attacks, and Jeok-du would be happy not to pay the money owed to Hwa In. Its fortunate that everyone involved became happy. Hwa In Well, Hwa In Would Hwa In be happy in his own way? The cult iming to be descendants of Fomalhaut is a cult that teaches self-destructive doctrines. They taught their followers that dying in battle against heretics was the ultimate happiness, so Hwa In would have been satisfied. Instead of continuing a wretched life, Hwa In got to die for his god as he so desperately wished in life. How wonderful for him. Namo Amitabha. No, it was a joke, it was karma. Hwa In was the central figure who taught and imposed such doctrines on his disciples. Although no one should be told they died well, Hwa In was an exception. He was an evil person of the worst kind. Just for todays battle alone, he must have killed at least a hundred people. Summoning that Ashen Wraith alone killed dozens, and therge-scale climate changes caused dozens more. Well, it seems like this is settled. Jeok-dus subordinates and the descendants of Fomalhaut were fleeing. If Cheong-hos faction had more people, they might have attempted a chase, but there were too few people for that. So now whats left is the aftermath? Lets see. I briefly turned to assess Jeong Hyeon-ahs condition. I didnt cast a blessing spell on her for nothing. Jeong Hyeon-ah was still okay, but oh, the bodyguard friend? The life force of the bodyguard who was stationed next to Jeong Hyeon-ah was decreasing. It seemed something had happened to Jeong Hyeon-ah. And at this timing, there was only one person who could be the culprit.
TN: Hwa In I think means the origin of fire as in the catalyst. But Im not sure, so Im leaving it Hwa In. Chapter 120: Goo Jin-cheol Chapter 120: Goo Jin-cheol [Heavenly Sight] Giiiiiiiing!! When I focused my magical power into my eyes, Cheong-hos distant mansion rapidly zoomed in. Though I couldnt hear any sounds, I saw the broken window of the room where Jeong Hyeon-ah was supposed to be. Through the shattered window, I saw Jeong Hyeon-ahs back and Ugh, of course. Goo Jin-cheols face came into view. Yeah, it could only be that guy. Judging by his mouth movements, he seemed to be shouting something like Take this! or Kuh! Ha! Ha! It was probably Take this. but considering hes the stereotypical ssic viin, Kuh! Ha! Ha! might actually be correct. No, this isnt the time to be thinking about that. [You have epted an unexpected quest! One of the three heads of the Triad, Cheong-hos daughter, had been kidnapped. Locate Jeong Hyeon-ah and ensure her safety. ! Time Limit: Jeong Hyeon-ah will die in (2) hours. ! Reward: 450,000 XP + Cheong-hos trust + 300,000,000 won + bonus based on mission performance Failure: You will be hostile with the Triad.] What? Now its epting the quest as it pleases? Wait, is this? It was the same message that had appeared when I had to find Jeong Hyeon-ah before. Well, bugs like this did happen sometimes in the game. [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyeon-ah will die in (5) minutes. !] Hey, it was 2 hours earlier! [! Time Limit: Jeong Hyeon-ah will die in (4) minutes. !] Fine, have it your way. Anyway, there was no time to waste. I gathered my magical power and took to the sky. [The unique effect of the L-grade garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] Cheong-hos mansion, which had been far away, rapidly approached. Smoke billowed from trailers, the walls copsed, and the windows were shattered! [Arrow of Destruction] [Spell Enhancement: Explosion] [Spell Enhancement: Chain Explosion] Booooom!! Aaaaah!! Kyaaaa!! A part of the wall crumbled along with the window. ss shards flew in all directions, stones scattered, and dust rose. In the process, furniture, fixtures, books, and even a few people on this side of the wall crashed down. Crash! Bang! Bang! All kinds of chaos urred at the same time. I looked down at the scene from a position with my foot on the still intact window frame. There was a bodyguard knocked out in the corner, Chae Tae-won lying down with a bleeding head, Shim Young-hwan, who had wet himself earlier, and Goo Jin-cheol who was clutching Jeong Hyeon-ahs neck with one arm. Jeong Hyeon-ah was still unharmed for now. Additionally, there were some insignificant NPCs of the Triad hesitating helplessly at a distance. And mouths opened at the same time. Mage-nim! Kim Shin-hwa! Fixer-nim! You damn bastard! You made it all the way here! Different words were used, but they all meant roughly the same thing. Theyre all referring to me. Am I a bitte? Youre already toote! Get out now! [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] The gun in Goo Jin-cheols hand pointed at me. [Distortion Field] Bang! Before he could pull the trigger, the Distortion Field activated and twisted the bullets trajectory. With a dull thud, a hole was punched in a corner of the ceiling. What, whats going on?! Bang! Bang bang bang! Thud, ping, ting, thud. The various materials in the room each made their own sound when hit by the bullets. Aah! You monster! Donte any closer! Click. In the end, Goo Jin-cheol changed the direction of the gun. As expected of a lowly viin, he pointed the gun at Jeong Hyeon-ahs temple. Ugh M-Mage-nim! Dont mess with me! No matter how skilled a mage you are, you cant cast a spell faster than I can put a hole in this girls head! Oh, really. Director, I knew you were trash, but to actually get to this point. Isnt it much more reasonable to take that young and healthy guy over there as a hostage instead of a minor? I pointed to the bodyguard knocked out in the corner. Hed been making a fuss on his own and then fainted at the critical moment. Tsk tsk. There were also other young and healthy men in the room, thoseckeys of the Cheong-ho faction who couldnte any closer. What were they doing that let things get to this point? Kim Shin-hwa! Please, save the youngdy! That was Chae Tae-won, lying on the floor, who shouted. Haah, take care of yourself first. D-Dont try anything funny! Why! Why are you interfering and ruining my ns from start to finish! Maybe it all started when you began looking at me strangely, Director. I had a feeling. From the moment our eyes met, I suspected our fates would intertwine like this. What on earth are you talking about, you lunatic! So from the moment I entered the conference room and Goo Jin-cheol looked at me with that annoying smile, I thought things would end up like this. Let me make one thing clear, I gave you a chance, Director. Earlier, I could have just hit you, made up some excuse, and that would have been the end of it. Hmph, so what are you getting at? Dont shoot that. If you dont shoot, youll get beaten up a bit, humiliated a bit, lose some property, your position, and many of the connections youve built up Hmm You do have a lot to lose. But you wont lose your life. You dare you dare Are you mocking me? He seemed to want to say something like that, but he was so angry his face turned red, and he couldnt continue speaking. Theres only one reason Im saying all these pointless things. No matter how washed-up they might be, Goo Jin-cheol and Shim Yeong-hwan are key figures in the Triad. Casting a spell while avoiding both their eyes is not easy. Director! That guy is using magic! What!? Toote! An enormous amount of golden sand began to scatter from my hands. [Kas Golden Sand] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Whoooooosh!!! Aaaahhh!! Goo Jin-cheol instinctively raised one arm to defend himself. That single movement required a significant amount of magical power which meant that he had consumed various rare elixirs in hister years. However, neither Goo Jin-cheol nor Shim Yeong-hwan were the targets for this spell. Ugh Jeong Hyeon-ahs body went limp. Thud. Thud, thump. The sound came from theckeys of the Cheong-ho faction copsing all around. W-What?! Whats happening?! Shim Yeong-hwan frantically turned his head in all directions. Sh-Shin-hwa why? Only Chae Tae-won, who had minimal magic resistance, managed to utter a few words before falling asleep. F-Fell asleep? Why? What did you do? Let me repeat, we are adults, arent we? Even though morality is crumbling and society is falling apart these days, shouldnt we at least keep to the minimum standards and have a conversation between adults while the minor is asleep? W-What!? Magic, already!? What did you do!? Sleep magic. Whats about to happen isnt suitable for children. Restricted to those 18 and older. Lets enjoy our time as adults. Are you mocking me!? You think I cant shoot!? Click! [Gremlins Scream] Bzzzzz!! Click! Crunch! As he pulled the trigger aimed at Jeong Hyeon-ahs head (Wow, hes really shooting!?), the gun disassembled itself instead of firing a bullet. I had ced an enchantment on Jeong Hyeon-ah. While body strengthening magic would be useful for a bodyguard, what would be the use of strengthening Jeong Hyun-ahs body when she was just a child? If anyone with hostile intent tries to shoot her, an equipment destruction magic activates. Th-The gun, it broke!? The attack itself failed, but Blue light began to emanate from my mask. Arge amount of magical power was flowing out through it. since you attempted an attack, the trigger is activated. Trigger? Yes, the activation condition. I lent an artifact that activates when someone attacks the owner. Shhhh Shhh Is it more of a summoned creature than an artifact? Let me remind you again, I warned you not to shoot earlier. But it seems that Shim Yeong-hwan and Goo Jin-chul can no longer hear my voice. What is this sound? What is this sound? What is this sound? Im hearing an unpleasant noise! A strange sound ising. A strange sound ising. A strange sound ising. Something is approaching! Something is growing! Shhhh Shhh An unsettling noise that shakes the human mind can be heard. It was a predators noise imprinted in human DNA. This was not a fear that could be suppressed by reason. From Jeong Hyun-ahs clothes, an unpleasant presence started to ooze out. The egg I gave her. It originated from the bodily fluids of the [ck Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young], once absorbed the magical power of the [Father of Ghouls], fed on the flesh of a parasite from space to grow, and finally mutated by consuming the magical power of the [Blind Idiot God]. Shhhh Honestly, I didnt expect it to grow like this. It continued to grow with writhing pale milky-white tentacles. Ugh, it consumes more magical power than I expected. Crunching and creaking noises repeated. Writhing tentacles split open in various ces, revealing unpleasantly gaping maws. Sharp teeth that were coated with saliva appeared in dozens of mouths. They were grotesquely malformed and randomly grown. One more tentacle, then another, quickly multiplied into dozens, then hundreds. They constantly writhed, twisted, and entangled with each other. Goo Cha-jeols mouth and eyes opened wide. His sanity had already copsed. Some meaningless noise escaped from his mouth. Why? This? What? Uh? Eww? Why? Ah? Shin Young-hwan who was a little further away managed to utter slightly more coherent words. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? From the hundreds of maws on the pale tentacles came a simultaneous noise. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. This monster, known by many names such as Child of the Forest, Pale Child, Offspring of the Goat, Tree of Death, Hand of the Goat, Servant of the Mother, and the Wriggling One, was most famously called the Dark Young. I scratched my head for a moment before speaking. Well, a promise is a promise, so I cant help it. Director, Im sorry, but I did warn you. At the center of the giant tentacles, a huge swollen body rose like a bloated lump. And in the middle, a huge mouth gaped open. It wasrge enough to easily swallow a person whole. It opened wide. From the gaping maw, a noticeably huge tentacle emerged; its unpleasant grayish color was dripping with sticky fluid. That was its tongue. Whirrr. Ha, hahahahaha! Hahahaha! Ahahahahahaha! Goo Jin-cheolsughter echoed. It was a terribleughter that only someone whose mind had been utterly destroyed could make. Ahahahahahahahahaha!!! Shin Young-hwan continuously muttered iprehensible words. It seemed like a prayer, but which religion it belonged to was unclear. Perhaps it was a newly formed one. Uha, uha, uhahahahahaha!! Crunch, crack. Snap. Snap. Snap, snap Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap. Chapter 121: Cleanup Chapter 121: Cleanup Aaaahhh!!! Goo Jin-cheol woke up screaming. Are you finally awake? Aaaaaaaaaaaah!! The screams continued. Oh dear. Since it wasnt a particrly busy situation, I decided to let him scream a bit more. Did this fail? [Keystone (A-rank Magical Artifact) C The waves emitted from this stone have a very surprising effect on the human psyche. Mental Keystone: When used, there is a random chance to cure a target from a state of distortion. However, if the check fails, the distortion may worsen.] The check clearly seeded, though?Fortunately, he was slowlying to his senses. My hands! My feet! My head! Are they all okay? Okay? Huh? Just a moment ago. Recalling what he had witnessed before, Goo Jin-cheolsplexion turned pale. Just a moment ago? what happened just a moment ago? I, I was definitely eaten by a monster Aaaaah!! Please! Please save me, Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Ugh. Didnt I tell you not to do that? Why dont you ever listen? Please forgive me! Please! Just kill me instead! Dont feed me to the monster! Please! Tears, snot, and drool flowed from Goo Jin-cheols face. Ugh, please! No need toe any closer! I used magic to push him away. Ugh, what do you mean feed? It seems like you can say that because youre trash in human form, but Im a person, you know? Huh? What? Goo Jin-cheol looked around in confusion. The space, now empty and wide, felt strangepared to before. The Child of Darkness had eaten all the random items scattered around the room. Although it preferred living things, it could also digest stones or wood. It was already daytime outside. A day has roughly passed while you were out. I recalled the message that had appeared the moment the Child of Darkness tried to put Goo Jin-cheol in its mouth. [You havepleted the quest! Reward: 450,000 XP + Cheong-hos Trust + 300,000,000 won + Bonus based on mission performance] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have summoned a monster created by a being of the abyss. You have chosen a human as its first prey. This is not a choice just anyone can make. This event will elevate your soul to a great existence. You will be one with the deeper abyss. Come closer. A little more, a little more, a little more The chaotic future will be with you.] From the beginning, I never intended to feed Goo Jin-cheol to the Child of Darkness. Receiving such a message in that situation soured my mood, so I decided to act contrary to what the entity behind the message wanted. I had the Child of Darkness consume the furniture and stones scattered around the room, then returned it to a dormant state. The Child of Darkness reverted to an egg about 15 centimeters in size. Now, it rested in my arms. If I wished, I could transform it back into its previous monstrous form at any time, with magic or [The Child of Darkness is not the docile, obedient pet you might think it is. One day, it will demand something living, something with blood flowing, something with a soul. Whether you will be able to stop it then is unknown. You somehow foresee a terrible ident in the future and are ovee with unbearable anxiety.] Ah, that bastard is persistent. Sure, it would demand that, but I wasnt worried at all. After all, magical power was something I had in abundance. Fu*k off, you idiot! iling my hands to clear the message window must have seemed quite threatening to Goo Jin-cheol. He bowed his head again while shouting, Please spare me! Please! repeatedly. Chae Tae-won who was watching this scene from the side spoke from afar. Are you alright? Huh? Oh, dont worry, Im not crazy. Oh, no, thats not what I meant. Chae Tae-wons stern expression suddenly turned red. It was a rare expression. Why was he reacting so intensely? He really must have thought I was losing my mind. Now, Director Goo Jin-cheol. Lift your head and lets settle the ounts. Huh? Settle the ounts? Yes, yes, ounts. Originally, it was about life or something, but Im not going that far. A promise is a promise. A promise? A promise? Oh,e on, dont you remember? Just before you were about to put a bullet in the temple of the girl, who was your bosss daughter, and also a minor, I made a promise to you. I deliberately broke up my words to recount his audacious deeds. Doesnt he remember what I said? I said Id make sure hed get beaten up a bit, humiliated a bit, lose some property, his position, and many of the connections he built up over the years. While Goo Jin-cheol slept, I checked, and fortunately, although many on Cheong-hos side were injured and half out of their minds needing counseling and treatment for a while, no one had died. The external wall had copsed, the walls were broken, and a watchtower of dubious legitimacy was destroyed, but in the end, the henchmen of Jeok-du and the descendants of Formalhaut failed to prate inside the walls. However, that was all damage on Cheong-hos side. Outside the mansion now, the iron flies, that is, the cleanup specialists active in Pajus underworld, hade for their busy season. A nce out the window showed a huge crane clearing away the burning trailer. That would cost a lot of money. Im not really into sadistic things, but there should be duepensation, right? Actually, Chae Tae-won had previously asked me to hand over Goo Jin-cheol to him. Although he often showed me a ridiculous side to him, this was one of the houses of the three heads of the Triad. They were experts managing violence not only in Paju but throughout the central region. If left to Chae Tae-won, Goo Jin-cheol would be dragged into the basement under the mansion, and after extracting everything possible, he would end up somewhere in the Han River. Well, theres no need for that right now. A living director can do more than a dead one. Chae Tae-won hesitated for a moment before speaking. Normally, there are procedures that should be followed ording to our industrys practices. Because he was a traitor. Meaning torture for the sake of torture. But if they hear that Kim Shin-hwa took them, everyone will think they faced something worse than death. It seems Ive gained quite a notorious reputation. No, its more than that. If you dont mind, could you step over to the window for a moment? Huh? Near the window. I walked over to the window in confusion. In truth, there wasnt much of a window left. Goo Jin-cheol had broken it once, and I hadpletely shattered it upon entering. So, as I stuck my head through what was now a hole in the wall Ah! Its Mage-nim! Mage-nim! Mage-nim! Wooaahhh!!! Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Oh no. What is this? A huge number of thugs, gangsters, punks, and musclemen had gathered outside. They were members called in for cleanup and restoration. As soon as those guys saw my face, they erupted in tremendous cheers and apuse. I turned my head back and went inside the room again. Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Kim Shin-hwa-nim! Despite that, those stupid thugs kept chanting my name with incredible enthusiasm. When I turned my head to look at Chae Tae-won, he spoke with a subtle smile. Shin-hwa-nim, you will probably be a legend, no, a myth, in our industry. Ugh, please try to prevent that from happening if possible. Well thats Yeah, that was impossible. Even when I wasnt helping them, they were using my name as they pleased. Oh, was it Tudor who was using my name? Whatever, my name value kept rising because of it. If I left things alone a bit longer, Id reach a point where I wouldnt need to work on raising my name value deliberately. Well, do as you please. But Im taking the director with me. Understood. But what are you nning to make him do? First of all, he will give me some pocket money. I-I will give it! Huh? You, take everything! If youmand it, you can take all my property! The mercy Mage-nim has shown me, I will remember it forever! No, thats not necessary. But since youre offering, Ill take it all. Thank you! It seemed something strange had been imprinted on him He would probably cry with gratitude and do anything I asked, no matter how bizarre it is. Anyway, Branch Manager, I have more to ask of Director Goo Jin-cheol here Goo Jin-cheol needed to stay alive a bit longer. Tsk. To find Cheong-ho, Goo Jin-cheol had to live. Honestly, that was half the reason I put up with this chaos in the middle of the night and spared Goo Jin-cheol, despite all the atrocities he hadmitted. Well, even without that, there were many ways he could be useful in the future. For now, theres some preparation to do, so Ill leave him to you, Branch Manager. I know this ce has its own methods, but please try to keep his limbs intact. Understood. And so, Goo Jin-cheol was dragged away somewhere. Namo Amitabha. Cha Tae-won would take care of the beating. Honestly, what good would it do if I hit that man myself? It would only make me feel worse. This ce was going to be busy for a while. Anyway, things were roughly wrapped up. The truth was, part of the reason I got involved in the conflict with Jeok-du was to also settle matters with the descendants of Fomalhaut. Since the Beacon Order waspletely destroyed and they lost a judge-level elder, I didnt have to worry about them anymore. Well, its such arge cult, so its not like they dont have elders on par with Hwa In There was no one as aggressive and specialized in practicalbat as Hwa In though. The rest mostly delved into doctrine or had skills unrted tobat. Now, they would really get tangled up with Helistic, get beaten, and disappear. And then there was Jeok-du. Jeok-du was a bit of a headache. That guy would probably lie low for a while. Before Jeok-du could regroup, I wanted to find Cheong-ho, throw the responsibility at him, and wash my hands of this. Can I really wash my hands of it? If Cheong-ho waspletely destroyed and couldnte back, it would be a headache. Should I just take over this organization entirely? It seemed like I could take over at any moment if I wanted to. Didnt Cheong-ho have over 300 businesses under him? The daily tribute from those Nah, forget it. Its a world doomed to destruction anyway. What would I do with all that money? Anyway, it was time to prepare to leave. Once I found Cheong-ho, it would be over. This would be over really soon. Probably. Chapter 122: Just a Stone’s Throw From Wollong Mountain Chapter 122: Just a Stones Throw From Wollong Mountain This way No, that way! Uh, yes, I think its that way. Really? Th-this time Im s-sure. It definitely was around here, but something feels off. Hmmm E-Eek! No, I didnt make that sound because of you, Director. Mage-nim? But, are we really okay here? Youre getting ten million won, right? Still not enough for you? Thats just the transport fee, not my lifes worth! Besides, shouldnt one worry even if they get paid? When did you be such a cold and heartless mage?No, maybe its better to keep worrying. Oh dear, Im worried too. Im going to die, Im going to die. N-no, its this way! This is the right way! Well getting lost in Tanhyeon is unavoidable, so its okay, Director. This areas terrain often changes. Please, spare me! I said Im not going to kill you! Mage-nim, do you know? Theres a saying among us drivers. I know. Huh? How do you know that, Mage-nim? What is it? What is it? If you see an unfamiliar tree in Tanhyeon, give up and turn back. What, how did you know? Ah My head hurts. How did this dream teame together? I was currently sitting in the backseat of Jang Hyeon-deoks cool call van. Jang Hyeon-deok was sitting in the drivers seat, which was to be expected. But in the passenger seat next to him was Goo Jin-cheol. There isnt a single spot on him that looks intact, probably thanks to Chae Tae-wons meticulous work. Goo Jin-cheols head was wrapped in bandages, he had an eye patch over one eye, and his left arm was in a cast. One thing was certain; once I find Cheong-ho, Ill never have to deal with this ridiculous situation of dragging both Goo Jin-cheol and Jang Hyeon-deok around again. In particr, I will never see Goo Jin-cheol again after today. Youre Director Goo Jin-cheol, right? Is this the right ce? It doesnt even look like a road anymore. Y-yes, thats correct. Could you drive a bit further in that direction? Through those trees? N-no, next to them But theres a rock over there. [Collision] Bang! Lets give it a try. Given the terrain, there might be something up ahead. Since youre using magic anyway, cant you level the road too? Youd have to file aint with the Paju City Hall for that. Rumble As we drove through an area that was no longer even a road, the car started to shake violently. It wasnt just my back hurting, but my neck and head too. It seems like Tanhyeon isnt considered part of Paju City anymore. How can that be? Am I the mayor of Paju? Why are you asking me? Damn it, ah, d-d-d-damn it. Ack! Ignoring the vibrations that went all the way to his head, Jang Hyeon-deok eventually bit his own tongue while talking. It was understandable for Jang Hyeon-deok to be on edge. He was the one who had dragged me to Tanhyeonst time, but back then he had been under the influence of the [King in Yellow]. Since then, perhaps due to the trauma from that day, he has been afraid of many things Ah, did his fear of ghostse from me? The aftermath of seeing ghosts on the way to the hungry mansion and going mad still lingered. Youre a mage living in a theme park, but this ce is really no joke. I know. Ive already experienced how amazing Tanhyeon is. The driver who brought me here back then was quite an impressive person. Well, I am pretty impressive. Jang Hyeon-deok always provided me with valuable lessons as a good friend. Look at this time too. I learned that sarcasm doesnt work on someone with a certain level of intelligence. Ah! There it is, over there! Thats it! Suddenly, Goo Jin-cheol shouted energetically. Have we finally arrived? This ce wasnt originally Tanhyeon. Should I say its on the outskirts of Tanhyeon? Geomsan neighborhood, Paju City. To the side, you could see Wollong Mountain. On the map, it might be marked within the range of Wollong Mountain. However, the strange phenomena urring in Paju did not adhere to human-defined administrative boundaries. Just like thest time we visited Tanhyeon, we could drive for tens of minutes without encountering anything unusual, while extremely dangerous ces existed outside the administrative area of Tanhyeon. This area wasnt originally ssified as Tanhyeon was it? The dangerous zones of Tanhyeon were gradually expanding. The distinction was simple. The appearance of bizarre nts that should not exist in nature served as a sign. nts were affected first, followed by animals and humans. This area was not officially Tanhyeon-myeon; it was what the people of Paju emphatically called Tanhyeon. People affected by the area experienced strange changes in mind and body. If they were lucky, they could gain supernatural abilities from it, but most just became mad. There was also about a one percent chance of turning into a monster. Even in the game, there were asional events where this area turned into Tanhyeon. Depending on the situation, the entire region of Paju could be Tanhyeon or something even more extraordinary could happen, so in a way, it wasnt such a grand event. But usually, such things happen after corresponding omens and events, right? It was just a hunch, but perhaps Cheong-ho was rted to the transformation of the Wollong Mountain area into Tanhyeon. Anyway, if you were going to build a secret base, why didnt you build it a bit further south instead of right near North Korea? Well, thats Oh, no, I wasnt talking to you, Director. Of course, it wasnt Goo Jin-cheols fault, and strangely enough, it wasnt Cheong-hos fault either. The location of Cheong-hos secret warehouse waspletely random. It wasnt just one of these kinds of ces; it waspletely random. Usually, because it was hidden in such a terrible spot, it could never be found with just a vague idea of where it was. Thats why you need a guide to find that ce. Except for Cheong-ho, the only other person who knew the location among the Cheong-ho factions dozens of executives was a key figure. So, out of the eight executives gathered in the meeting room, only one knew the location, and who that person was remained random. Ah, they really love random stuff. In the game context, one of the core scenes in the scenario where the yer opposes Cheong-ho involves raiding Cheong-hos secret warehouse. But how do you persuade one of the eight executives when each has different personalities and preferences? This was designed as a fun element. Anyway, the guide for this round everyone could probably guess, was Goo Jin-cheol. I had a feeling from the way he was acting so stubbornly in the meeting room. Anyway, one of the reasons Goo Jin-cheol had to stay alive was precisely this. We cant go any further from here. Should we break through a bit more? No, if we go any further, the wheels might get stuck or, worse, we could overturn. The slope is too steep, and the ground is too soft. Hmm Should we walk from here? Hiking up a slope where feet sink deeply was disheartening. We have no choice. Well walk up. Then, Mage-nim, please be careful. What? Huh? What are you talking about? You have toe too. Me? Are you going to stay here? Yes? Maybe I should have asked Chae Tae-won to drive instead of Jang Hyeon-deok. No matter how remote it was, this was still Tanhyeon. Only Jang Hyeon-deok could drive this far; no one else had the skill to handle this area. Only then did Jang Hyeon-deok realize what I meant and he screamed. W-what are you talking about? What can I possibly do once I get out of the car? Stop wasting time and get out. Do you think you can protect yourself here alone? Jang Hyeon-deok looked around with a pale face. Weird nts, weird bugs, weird birds, weird air, weird atmosphere C-cant Mage-nim create a barrier? Wouldnt it be safer if Mage-nim stayed close to protect you? This was Tanhyeon. It was impossible topletely protect someone who was isted in such a remote area. Well, then Enough already, man! Whack! Jang Hyeon-deok finally started gathering his belongings after getting smacked. When he fiddled with something next to the drivers seat, a hidden gun popped out. Sure, even elementary school kids in Paju carry guns, but do you even know how to shoot that thing? W-well, I need to have something, right? Do whatever you want. In fact, it would have been simple to just tell him to go back, but this time, I couldnt just tell Jang Hyeon-deok to leave. There were too many things to pack and take back. Well, then, you should get ready too, Director. Understood. This was the end of the necessary section where Goo Jin-cheol had to apany us. Was it to smoothly settle the dispute with Jeok-du, because of the cultists associated with a few of Goo Jin-cheols businesses, or perhaps due to the rtionship with Helistic? As ridiculous as it was, the difficulty of proceeding would be ridiculously different depending on whether Goo Jin-cheol was alive or not. Anyway, he hadmitted a crime, but there was no need to repay that crime necessarily with flogging or the death penalty. Goo Jin-cheol would repay his sins throughbor reform. Alright, lets go. Ah, and Jang Hyeon-deok, if you die, Ill dispose of your car as I please, alright? No, you have to protect me well so I dont die! Hang in there and endure it well. Tanhyeon was a bit uniqueno, saying it like that might cause misunderstandings. The Tanhyeon I lived in was a happy and beautiful neighborhood. However, the polluted Tanhyeon of [Cthulhu World] was a sinister forest filled with unique nts and bizarre phenomena. The moment we got out of the car, my nerves were on edge. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] A disturbing insect noise came from somewhere, tsutsutsu, tsutsutsu. There was a sound of something hitting something else, ck, ck, ck. And then there was a rustling sound, ssssss, sssssss, ssssss, was that the sound of leaves shaking in the wind? Honestly, the vignce trait was meaningless in this case. The entire area was a danger zone. The trees rooted and growing in this ce were dangerous; the insects eating those trees were dangerous; the visible insects were dangerous; the distant flying birds were dangerous; and the animals roaming the forest were dangerous. Even the air they exhaled in this ce was dangerous. Everyone, it can be dangerous if you stray far from me, so dont leave my side. I conjured my magical power to set up a protective barrier around us and moved forward. As Jang Hyeon-deok had said, it was a dangerous slope where the car could overturn. For some reason, the ground was oddly loose, and the dirt was strangely crumbly. Every step sank several centimeters into the ground. Argh! No one did anything, but suddenly Jang Hyeon-deok was rolling on the ground. Aaaaah, Mage-nim! he yelled while rolling down several meters of the slope in an instant. Should I kill him? Seriously, that guy had more strength and health than me. So why was he acting like that? Achilles, go fetch him. No, dont hurt him; just bring him back. A pitch-ck shadow jumped out at an incredible speed. Creak, snap, crunch!! It had a silhouette simr to arge dog but it only looked like a dog from the outline. Thud, thud, thud!! Aaaah!! A monster! A monster! No, thats not a monster. Well, it was a monster. It was a creature made of tree branches, a staff, ss shards, a bowl, dumbbells, pieces of metal, and other random items. It was covered with an outeryer stitched together from various animal hides. Essentially, it was a type of necromancy golem. The base was made using the cores of those taxidermy beasts that attacked us at the Jangmyeong mountain. Honestly, it wasnt a pretty sight. My sewing skills are pretty terrible. As the seams where the hides were stitched together split apart, dozens of additional arms made of forcibly connected branches sprouted. Creak, creak, creak!! Achilles used those arms to grab Jang Hyeon-deok and drag him back. Creak. Well done. It was a mess. Jang Hyeon-deok was now covered in dirt, rotting leaves, and bizarre-looking insect carcasses. He looked utterly pathetic. This wont do. Achilles, stay beside Jang Hyeon-deok for now. Creak, creak. Where on earth did thise from? It didnt look too good, so it was in a bag. Oh, the duffel bag with all the junk in it? It was in there? No, it is the duffel bag. Even my appearance alone was enough to provoke a police stop, and if I carried necromancy golems around recklessly, it wouldnt end with just a stop. Yang Seo-ho from the immigration bureau woulde with a mobile strike force. So, after much consideration, I created this necromancy golem, Achilles. I designed it to look like a duffel bag full of random items so it could be disguised in in sight. You even carry around surprise boxes; you really are a great mage. Now youre calling me anything. Achilles, bite that idiot. Argh! Achilles just looked at me with a really? expression. After passing several more markers that only Goo Jin-cheol could recognize, we finally reached our destination. Arge iron door suddenly appeared in the middle of the mountainside. It was a secret ce hidden by Cheong-ho. It was a nuclear fallout shelter. Whats written here? On the thick iron door, which was heavily rusted, there was an ominous inscription written in a sticky ck substance. The strange letters looked like they had been smeared on by hand rather than written with a tool. The message read If you dont open it, a million will die, and if you do, one will die. Chapter 123: Nuclear Fallout Shelter (1) Chapter 123: Nuclear Fallout Shelter (1) The already steep slope rose to an angle that was almost like a cliff. However, it wasnt quite a wall. To call it a wall, the slope would need to be at a 90-degree vertical angle, right? This one was about 70 degrees? Anyway, it was an unstableposition that induced unease in anyone looking at it. And on this nted slope was a heavily rusted iron door which looked as if it were forcibly attached to it. The bright red rust swelled like moss. If I took a picture and posted it online, I could easily create a couple of creepy stories. This alone was enough to create a ghost story. But in addition, there was the writing on the iron door. If you dont open it, a million will die, and if you do, one will die. At this point, it honestly feels a bit childish, doesnt it? I turned my head to look at Goo Jin-cheol for a moment.This wasnt here before. Then the chairman must have written it. Plus one point for Cheong-hos survival score. But minus one point for Cheong-hos sanity score. Couldnt someone else have written it? In Tanhyeon? Do you not remember how we got here? If it werent for Jang Hyeon-deok, it would have been impossible toe this far by car. This wasnt Tanhyeon from the beginning -Ghyaaaaaaa!!! -Ghyaaaakkk!!! What?! What is that? Jang Hyeon-deok screamed while pointing in a vague direction in the sky. Not that way no, if I gave him the exact direction, he might faint. I calmed the startled Achilles and spoke to Jang Hyeon-deok. Maybe its a crow? A crow? What kind of crow makes such a strange sound?! Without adding much, Goo Jin-cheol also shivered with a rather pale face. Quite an ominous sign, huh? Even that sound alone had an unsettling presence, enough to affect a persons mind. I looked at the shadow lurking above the tree branches. The moment my gaze met it, the ck thing moved slowly and disappeared behind the tree. A crow? A shadow? No, its just a ck thing. For now, it existed with an indescribable presence, but who knows what it might beter. -Ghyaaaaaaa!!! Ah, that bastard. Its really noisy. Jil Oh-mok is that it? What? That person, Cheong-ho, Park-ssi? Its Jeong-ssi. Ah, I see. What are you trying to say? This isnt the ce, but back then, someone called Park-ssi oh, I knew his name what was it? Anyway, he couldnt find a perfect burial site for someone, so he gave up searching for a great spot. You? No, not me; its a legend. Ah, a legend. Anyway, the person who was looking for the burial site was about to give up when suddenly. Suddenly? He stopped when he heard a crows cry, and it turned out to be an excellent burial site. This guy,e to think of it, he used to tell these kinds of stories sometimes. The surprising fact is that every time he talked like this, something extraordinary would happen. Isnt that the story of Ogeum-ri? Goo Jin-cheol suddenly interjected. Oh, is it? Director, where is this Ogeum-ri? Its a neighborhood tucked in the corner of Tanhyeon. You have to go a long way northwest from here. Anyway, a crow? A great burial site? Do you want to say that Cheong-ho came to find a ce to die?? No, it just came to mind. When you drive a taxi, you hear all kinds of things. Hmm did it juste to mind thest time too? What? Didnt you tell a legend about a celestial maiden dancing somewhere over in Tanhyeon before? Did I say that? Jang Hyeon-deok looked puzzled. This was somehow ominous. Lets drop it. Its better to talk about thister when we have time. Lets go in for now. Ill open it. No, step aside for a moment. [Trap Detection] [Magic Detection] [Lifeform Detection] [Invisibility Detection] Ugh. Whats this? I felt a slight dizziness from the information flooding into my mind. The magical power density inside is too high. Whatever it is, its no joke. What is it? Is there something strange? Its beyond strange. Huh? Honestly, instead of saying that Tanhyeon expanded and made this ce weird, it feels like this ce caused Tanhyeon to expand. Youre trying to scare me on purpose, arent you? Stay still. Im not sure yet. We need to open it to find out. There are security devices inside. If you open it carelessly, it will be dangerous. I understand. Its more of a trap than security devices. If touched without authorization, it triggers loud rms, deploys barriers, shoots bullets suddenly, and theres even a section where you could get electrocuted due to a high-voltage wire that the crazy Cheong-ho installed. I extended my hand towards the door and activated the magic. [Gremlins Scream] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] Zzzzzzzing!! The iron door hummed and vibrated and repelled the magical sound waves. What? The chairman spent quite a fortune installing various devices. Some of them are meant to prevent intrusions by mages. Goo Jin-cheol had a slightly proud expression on his face. Oh, really? [Insight] A magic that has exploration and analysis effects, augmented by the artifacts power. Theres an artifact thats perfect for this situation. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated. // Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers.] Golden magical lines extended from the mask. Even to the eyes of an ordinary person without magical detection abilities, the radiant glow was vivid. Dozens of magical lines rooted themselves into the door with tremendous speed the moment they made contact. At the same time, the lines branched out and split into hundreds and thousands of strands, transforming into aplex circuit diagram. The internal structure that was previously indiscernible to the naked eye or simple detection abilities became clear enough to grasp. Theyid silver under the iron door. Not just any silver, but consecrated silver. Where did they get something like this? Then, there was the electric circuit passing through theplex space between the iron door and the silver. If I had touched it carelessly, I would have been electrocuted. However, this setup wasnt just to cause electric shocks. High-voltage electricity above a certain level shared simr properties with magic. It was the cheapest barrier that those unable to use magic could create. Actually, the quality of the electricity was quite good. They must be using a magic stone for internal power generation. At this level, it was strong enough to prevent lower-tier mages from breaking through. I was nning to overload it with something like a lightning strike, but it would be a shame to destroy this door. There was no need to break it anyway. I could open it. I added a new property to the magical lines I had inserted for analysis. [Mechanism Corrosion] Crrrreeeak. A barrier to block mages? It was just a crude trick by those who couldnt be mages. Instead of destroying the barrier, I infiltrated its structure and changed it from within. And while Im at it. Crackle, crackle, crackle!! I went deeper inside. rm? Silent. The barrier that drops when an intruder enters? Still. Improvised turrets that fire upon detecting movement? Too dangerous, so just blow up. Boom! Finally, I unlocked the doortch. Creak, clunk. While I was at it, I added physical force to the magical lines and pulled the door. Screeeeech. The massive iron door opened with a heavy noise. Lets go in. This is unbelievable, Mage-nim! This is nothing. We cant go in yet! There are traps inside, remember? Why was this idiot so ridiculously stupid? No, it was my fault for bringing Jang Hyeon-deok this far. I took care of everything. Huh? Really? Yes. Thats amazing. Im sure they said no mage could break through this barrier. Im d I brought Goo Jin-cheol along. Yes, this is a normal reaction. Not that I needed praise, but hearing his words right after Jang Hyeon-deoks idioticments almost moved me. Well, I roughly resolved it. The first room had some rather sadistic traps, but those were already dealt with from the outside. A deep inner structure. Somehow, it looked more like a hallway than a room. Other than that, nothing particrly noticeable stood out. Since there was no need to consider aesthetics, the walls were just thickly coated with waterproof paint. Step, step, step. Without any furniture to absorb the sound, every footstep echoed loudly. It was distracting. This ce feels strange, doesnt it? Maybe its because its not well-ventted. It feels a bit stifling. Venttion? No, that wasnt it. The density of magical power here was high enough to block sensory perception. Even a non-mage would feel ufortable. To me, it felt like I was pushing through a dense forest. Annoying. I expanded my influence to push it back, but it grew heavier the further in we went. Nothing much here? I took care of everything. Ah. as expected from a genius mage. Stop it. At the very end of the long room was another thick iron door. No, it was big, thick, and round, so A submarine ha Hmmm? An iron door. What is that iron door? You want to say hatch right? Oh, yes, thats it. But why is something like this installed here? They originally intended to build a nuclear fallout shelter. A nuclear fallout shelter? Yes. It was built about 30 years ago, before the great copse. A nuclear fallout shelter built in the 90s. Really? Its that old? I heard it was built by someone with paranoia. Ah, I get it. It was made in preparation for a great copse, right? No, how could they predict and prepare for that? Then why was it built? Back then, North Korea was still a threat. Right, North Korea. They must have built it out of fear of nuclear missiles. Nuclear missiles? What does that have to do with North Korea? Hmm, Ive never had a conversation with an NPC using these keywords, so this is interesting. Jang Hyeon-deok was born just before the great copse. The information Jang Hyeon-deok has about North Korea is probablypletely different from what kids in my reality know. North Korea originally no, lets drop it. Ill exin it separatelyter. Even Jang Hyeon-deok, as oblivious as he was, understood that this was not the time to start a long history lesson. Besides, there were far more exciting things right in front of us. Ugh. When Goo Jin-cheol exerted a bit of strength, the hatch opened easily. Whatever he was thinking, as soon as Goo Jin-cheol opened the hatch, he shouted downward. Chairman! Chairman Cheong-ho! Thud! Heeheehee! Augh followed the thudding sound. No, was it really augh? That? Was that augh? It didnt sound like a person. As expected, the chairman is People do various things to forget their fear. Pointless chatter and nonsensical babbling are among them. Just moments ago, Goo Jin-cheol had been engaging in pointless chatter and talking about the unimportant origins of this secret warehouse, all in an effort to ignore the unpleasant and scary atmosphere that was difficult to describe. But even that was silenced by theughter that came from below. I looked down at the hatch again. A vertically long passage withdders hanging closely together. Even though there was obviously a light below, it somehow looked like a dreadful pit leading down to a dangerous dungeon. Is this okay? Its just a small fallout shelter with only three rooms. Itll be over soon. In the end, it was something made by people It wasnt a big deal. If nothing had changed from my memory, there was a room with security and defense equipment, a storage room, and another room, and that was it. Even estimating generously, the total area was about 30 pyeong. It wasnt the type of scenario with countless rooms, endless corridors, and deadly traps like in other dungeon exploration scenarios. Thats a relief, but Once again, the sound ofughter, or rather the devils temptation to lure us in, echoed. Heeheeheehee!! Heeheeheeheehee!!! Hahaha!! Ahahaha!!! Chapter 124: Nuclear Fallout Shelter (2) Chapter 124: Nuclear Fallout Shelter (2) The basement was dark and damp. Above all, an overwhelming stench pierced the air. Ugh Suddenly, Jang Hyeon-deok shuddered and made a strange noise. Just a moment ago, he had been talking energetically but now he seemed off. The lights are on, but its unusually dark. This was Goo Jin-chuls voice. He, on the other hand, looked rather calm. The atmosphere is certainly strange. Looking up, there was arge lighting fixture attached to the ceiling.It wasnt designed in a modern way. The unnecessarily heavymp had an overly borate design, reminiscent of outdated steampunk decor. Thats a magic stonemp. Theyre using such a precious thing in a ce like this? Magic stone? Yes, a magic stonemp. Its designed to emit light semi-permanently. There couldnt have been a more fitting light for a space designed with a post-nuclear war apocalypse in mind. I was wondering where that thing went, and here it is. Goo Jin-chul said disdainfully. Well, its over the top, but considering the design intent, theres no more appropriate ce, is there? No, its not that. The chairman turned everything upside down while looking for that. Turns out he hid it himself and med others. Oh This was a small piece of information that would only be a hot topic within the Cheong-ho faction. I recalled the past when I used to talk to every NPC to confirm those meaningless settings. Too bad. Id really like to update the wiki. No, thats not the issue here. Ugh Somethings wrong. Its cold here, right? Is it just me? The smell is weird too I feel like throwing up. I smell it too, but it seems like youre the only one feeling cold. Jang Hyeon-deoks condition was getting worse. Was it the [Living Altar] trait causing strange side effects due to his mediumship talents? I didnt have such trait, so I couldnt tell. Once we pass through that iron door, the real game begins. How do you feel? Think you can manage? Ugh, I think Im still okay for now. Really? Anyway, its your life, so take care of it. If you cant handle it, tell me right away. I said this but I knew we couldnt leave him like this. I cast a few protective spells on Jang Hyeon-deok. Lets move on. After passing through this passage, there should be a storage room, another storage room, and then a room. Just like Jang Hyeon-deok said at the beginning, each space was separated by a heavy iron door that looked like a submarine hatch. The ce we were standing in now seemed more like an emergency partition space than a corridor. Hold on a second. Once again, Goo Jin-cheol stepped forward to open the door. Creeeak. Beyond the doory a strange darkness. Upon closer inspection, there were indeed lights on in the room beyond. Unpleasant shadows clung to various parts of the room, like creatures with physical forms or willful spirits crouching in the dismal darkness. Looking back, I saw that the area beyond the door was filled with pitch-ck darkness. The entire shelter was filled with negative energy that blocked the light. Ah, this must be that. Fog of war. Its amon effect seen in games. It prevents you from seeing into rooms that havent fully loaded or areas you havent yet explored. It was implemented in this way. In games, it was artificial darkness set to implement the characters field of vision, but in reality, it caused a troublesome problem. This is driving me crazy. Were going to get lost in a small room. Lost? Were getting lost? Should I say surreal? No, its better to say magical. Anyway, theres too much negative energy here. Simply put, the room is filled with so much evil energy that light cant travel through it properly. Like the tricks that demon worshippers create? Even among the people of Paju, understanding of the beings of the abyss varied. I kept calling them beings of the abyss, but in fact, few people used the term correctly. Some called them great beings, ancient rulers, great old beings, beings from another world, gods from another world, death gods, evil gods, or simply demons. Yes, something like that. Anyway, dont stray too far. Even if you take just a few steps away, you wont be able to see each other. This, this is the first time Ive seen anything like this. So, Kim Shin-hwa-nim, I never never Goo Jin-cheol stuttered with an anxious expression on his face. I know its not a trap. Even if someone prepared it on purpose, how could they create such a trap? Thinking about it, Jang Hyeon-deok who was trembling next to Goo Jin-cheol had dragged me into a worse trap before. I couldnt me Jang Hyeon-deok, but thinking about the hardships I endured back then made me want to give him a smack on the head. Come to think of it, I said Id hit him twice back then but only hit him once. Should I hit him now? Please, take care of yourself first, director, or if you have any extra time, please look after this idiot. Understood. Hey, Jang Hyeon-deok, youre being a nuisance, you know? Ugh Im sorry. Since I dragged him here against his will, I couldnt really me him. Anyway, lets go a bit further inside. After forcing the reluctant Jang Hyeon-deok to take another step, we moved further in. The expensive magic stone lights continued to illuminate our way. And under that light, the scene that unfolded was quite chaotic. This is my first timeing this far in, but it seems this is the storage room. The treasure vault of Cheong-ho, or rather, the secret storage. A room filled with various artifacts, gold bars, artworks locked away merely because of their high value, and personal collections of no value to anyone outside Cheong-ho. Thats what this room is. But this space isnt whats important right now. What matters is the condition of this space. This ce looks exactly like where a man with no living skills has lived alone for over a month. Our Chairman is not someone capable of cleaning or cooking for himself. That was just a joke. The scene before my eyes couldnt be discussed at such a simple level. Despite the lighting, the strange darkness that filled the storage room was severe. If I put it that way, it might cause some misunderstanding. Almost everything in this room was smashed, broken, dented, and dirty. Small safes were split in half and rolled across the floor. Gold bars rolled on the dirty floor. Artworks were ckened as if there had been a small-scale explosion or fire. There were broken ceramics,pletely crushed metal shelves, andrge cracks in the inner wall. The metal shelves had clear handprints on them. Did someone crush it by hand? Anyway, thats some strong guy. Kim Shin-hwa-nim, I think the Chairmans condition might be dangerous. Well, I think it might be quite dangerous too. Goo Jin-cheol was looking at one side of the space. Arge private photo that raised concerns about narcissism, a family photo next to it, and a group photo with the executives of the Cheong-ho faction. That was what those photos used to be. Now, just by looking at them, it was impossible to tell what scenes the photos on the wall depicted. Charcoal? I didnt know where he found it, but he had smeared the photos with something like charcoal or coal and erased them. Especially notable was Cheong-hos solo portrait, where arge, ck skull was drawn over the part with his face. Cheong-ho survival score plus one point. Cheong-ho sanity score minus ten points. Ah, this is giving me a headache. Although he behaved badlyst time, Cheong-ho was quite a powerful NPC. I tripped him once but that was just like tripping a distracted person. If Cheong-ho who was driven by madness decided to attack seriously Well, I was confident I wouldnt lose, but I wasnt sure I could capture him with his limbs intact. Hehehehe Theughter echoed again. It sounded less like a person and more like the wind or some inanimate object creaking. Is it starting again? [A sinisterugh echoes.] A message window suddenly appeared. Is that all the exnation? [Just hearing it can shatter your sanity. You use your mental strength stat to make a sanity check. Sanity check] Ah, damn it. I was wondering when this would happen. [Sess.] Whether I seed or fail doesnt matter to me. ncing past the message window, I saw Goo Jin-cheols face. He looked a bit pale, but otherwise, he seemed fine. Thank goodness. [You instinctively know that the voice belongs to Cheong-ho. At the same time, you sense that there is more than simple madness affecting Cheong-hos mind and body.] The tone of the information from the message window was different than usual. What is this? Why is it acting so serious? Creak, creak, crack. This was a signal from Achilles. When I looked back, Achilles nodded its head and gestured that I should check on Jang Hyeon-deok. Jang Hyeon-deok Ugh, he didnt look very good. Ma, Mage-nim I was wrong. Im going back now. Ah, I cant do this. His face was pale to the point of turning ck, and his hands were trembling. His legs seemed ready to give way as if he might copse at any moment. Goo Jin-cheol who was next to him supported Jang Hyeon-deok. Are you alright? Going back alone now is not a good idea. Let me help you. It seemed that Jang Hyeon-deok had failed the sanity check. A faint madness was beginning to emerge. Probably something like [Status Ailment C Fear]? I-Im doomed! Theres a monster inside! Cant you hear that sound? The whispering! Strange whispering keepsing! Aah! Ah! He was starting to exhibit symptoms of auditory hallucinations and paranoia. Hmm, this isnt good. Are you nning to go in alone? There hasnt been anything major up to this point, so in some sense, safety is secured. Director should wait here too. Really? That seems like the best option. Achilles, protect these two. Make your own judgments. Ifmunication is cut off. I took out two magic stones from my backpack. I threw one of them to Achilles. take this. Priority one is to protect the primary target. Priority two is to secure an escape route. Priority three is to protect yourself. Do not move more than two meters away from the primary target, and follow theirmands only if they do not contradict priorities one, two, and three. Creak, crack. I took out another magic stone and handed it to Goo Jin-cheol instead of Jang Hyeon-deok. If that dog breaks the magic stone, it means theres a problem, so run away. If you give this to the dog when its not moving, it will start moving again. I, I. Well, I dont trust the director that much. But I do trust contracts. Goo Jin-cheol rubbed his stomach with a grimace. Goo Jin-cheol, whose mind had beenpletely shattered and reassembled, seemed to have reformed, but how was he really? I dont keep Goo Jin-cheol around because I trust him. Just as I did with the cultists before, I made Goo Jin-cheol swallow the contracts enforcer before we started. Since I showed him what happens when it explodes, he should manage well on his own. Then see youter. Leaving the two behind, I went deeper into the fallout shelter. A short passage. It was a mechanism designed to iste each section if problems arose. I extended my magical power to open the door on the other side. Creeeak. The door opened. Beyond it was pitch-ck darkness. The density of magical power was steadily increasing. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Just when I was about to step into the darkness, Brother. A voice signal with meaning traveled through the air. I stopped my step and looked into the darkness. Hmm I couldnt see anything here. Just darkness. I fiddled with the mask covering my face for a moment before responding. Although we did share some camaraderie, I dont recall forming any sworn brotherhood. From within the darkness beyond the door, something made a bizarre, indescribably unpleasant, and horrific metallic sound. Heeheeheehee, heeheeheeheehee! Heeheeheeheeheeheeheehee, hee-hee, hee-hee. Ah, was heughing? Isnt that right, Chairman? Seeing youugh so much now, it seems youve be much more cheerful than before. Anyway, Ill being in now. I stepped into the darkness. Chapter 125: The Laughing One (1) Chapter 125: The Laughing One (1) Ah, its getting worse and worse, isnt it? Shelves lined up along the wall, various preserved foods, and supplies necessary for survival. If the previous room was the treasure vault of Cheong-ho, this room is truly a storage for the purpose of a shelter. In other words, a space filled with items to survive in the apocalypse era. To be exact, thats what the original design intent was. Everything stored for survival has been destroyed. It looks like the ruins left by a madman or a gori, or perhaps a mad gori, rampaging. The rampage isnt the problem. The biggest issue is the disgusting traces covering this entire mess.A terrible stench was emanating from the bizarre stains covering the room and walls. Ive been smelling rot since a while ago, and this must be the reason. Rejoice, Cheong-ho faction members! The chairmans sanity score youve been waiting for has finally reached minus 100 points. Someone had mashed and crushed preserved food and drinks, leaving traces smeared on the walls. It was hard to make out, but it seemed they wanted to create some kind of inscription or shape. Thanks to my unnecessarily high intelligence stat, I could recall exactly what had happened in this room. Panicked hand movements. Abruptly interrupted patterns. Traces of shattered tiles on the floor. While scribbling, they had paused around here, trembling and stamping their feet. Then, they had moved over there no, they jumped. They picked up something sticky again and smeared it on the wall over there. Then they struck the nearby shelf. Cans came tumbling down. They had stomped on a few of the fallen cans, bursting them open, and smeared or threw the food that spilled out. It was disgusting. Deeply imprinted footprints on the floor. They had rampaged again while stamping like a monkey. Bloodstains? Self-harm maybe? Several thick nailsy among the bloodstains. Broken and shattered nails. Some had almostpletely peeled off, with bits of flesh still attached. Well, at least its a relief he used food for the scribbles? Judging by the state of his mind, it wouldnt have been surprising if he had used excrement instead of food. Ritualistic patterns. Primitive symbols. Obscene curses written to desecrate the human spirit and mock human achievements. It reminded me of the grotesque murals created by the ghouls in the basement of the apartmentplex. Amidst all this, there were expressions that couldnt be written without surreal cognition and knowledge of the abyss. How much did Cheong-ho understand about the existence of the abyss? Almost zero. Excluding his identity as an underworld boss, Cheong-ho was a rather simple and pure gentleman. Even ifpared only to the three heads of the Triad, Cheong-ho was more like a romantic thug from the 1950s than a character from [Cthulhu World]. It was unbelievable that such a gentleman had done something like this. But conversely, that was all there was to it. But why is there no one here? Who was it that spoke to me earlier? Haah I let out a sigh. This really was a crappy game. In the end, there were only three rooms, including the one at the entrance, in this rat hole. Was it really designed to be explored to the very end? Oh, Chairman! Do you really have to do this? Isnt it customary to greet guests at the entrance? Oh, adults these days really have no manners, no manners at all. Just in case, I called out for Cheong-ho, but no special response came back. It meant I had to enter thest room. Oh well. Yeah its all my fault. Im going, Im going. I guess its pointless to talk about his survival score anymore, let alone his sanity score. Even if I met something resembling Cheong-ho, I might not realize it was him. I summoned my magical power again and opened thest door. Considering the games structure, searching this room should reveal some meaningful clues or useful items. But I had no intention of wasting more time trying to find them. Creeeeak The deep darkness repeated itself once more. Haaah So did my sigh. What should I tell Jeong-hyeon-ah? It would be nice if I could at least find something resembling a corpse to bring back. Thest room beyond this contrived darkness was a living space. A bed, shower facilities, a toilet, a kitchen area, and a hobby space to endure long periods of confinement. I felt sorry for Jeong-hyeon-ah, but I started to think about just setting a fire and walking away. But could I really do that? Oh, I can roughly predict the next development. This is why you shouldnt enter Tanhyeon carelessly. The distance between Tanhyeon and the abyss is narrower than other ces. Even with the smallest trigger, a previously nonexistent ruin would form and previously nonexistent monsters would roam. And those would eventually be footholds for the beings from the deep, deep abyss to project their influence. Since it has dragged on this long, something big will pop out eventually. Cheong-ho was just bait to lure me in. A being of the abyss that would act in this manner Hmm from what Ive seen so far, Im not sure. Maybe its [The Master of Boundaries]? [The One and All], [The Key and the Door], [The Path Opener], [The Viceroy]. No, thats not it. If [The Master of Boundaries] were to appear soon, there would have been a more chaotic and horrifying omen than this. He wouldnt be satisfied with just driving one person crazy. So, who is interfering this time? This time, there were too many unpredictable variables. Alright. So, is this really the tigers den? To capture a tiger cub, you have to enter the tigers den. In the end, it was a matter of checking the pace. I pushed my head into the deep, deep darkness. But the darkness didnt disappear. It was just deep darkness. Darkness. Darkness. No matter how far I walked. No matter how much I advanced, the darkness didnt disappear. It was dark. Deep, deep darkness. Damn it, how long is this loading going to take? It might not actually be loading, but to me, it somehow felt like it. [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] At the same time, something began. A strange cry was heard from somewhere. It was the sound of something wailing. A groan filled with pain, or perhaps a sweet scream steeped in pleasure and joy. An iprehensible aliennguage was heard. The owner of this shelter must have created this ce to protect himself from external disasters and destruction. However, contrary to its purpose, this ce had be a greenhouse for the worlds destruction. The sturdy shell created to protect people from external disasters and ruin was rotting from the inside. It was now but a haven for terrible monsters. And the meaningless sound ofughter like scraping metal. Heeheehee, heeheeheehee, heeheeheeheehee Hey, wait a minute. I opened my mouth to speak for a moment, but there was no response. Just an emotionless meaning flowed in, like a recited spell. A bizarre will delivered not through the air but through the darkness. Khh, heeheehee, heeheeheeheeheek! C Prophet, the one with wisdom, the one who foretells the future, the one who will lead you to your distant future. C The one who eliminates fear, dread, and despair of the unknown future, the one who will realize the impending disaster. Wait, sorry, but can I say just one word? But there was no response. Only the repeated recitation of the spell continued. The darkness seeped into my skin and burrowed into my mind. A vile darkness that eroded my soul and sought to annihte my very existence, along with many other unhealthy things trying to invade. Hey, you bastards, my heads already a mess, so stop barging in! Crackle! A blue spark crackled near my temple. My special trait was activated at the right moment. [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of mental erosion have been nullified.] Yes, my dear Madness of the Abyss. Youre working hard again today. C No matter what you think, no matter what hope you hold, in the darkness, in the abyss, in that deep dream Nevertheless, the darkness continued to speak to me. The darkness that kept trying to prate my mind, the damp madness, the fishy smell that kept trying to prate my mind. Ah, damn it, shut up. Stop it, you bastards. [Ibn Ghazis Beacon] A pure white me imbued with the power of protection red up. This alone didnt seem to be enough. Dozens of magic circles bloomed all around. Runes and magic circles with different effects emitted colorful shes of light. The darkness that had been swirling around me retreated far back and avoided the light. Ah, that feels refreshing. I rolled my eyes beneath the mask and scanned the surroundings. What I saw before me Ugh, it wasntpletely over yet. The darkness had merely retreated; it hadntpletely disappeared. An unnaturally thick darkness still covered the entire room. From the looks of it, it had the same properties as the ck slime seen outside the shelter. Its wider than I thought. If my memory was correct, this room wasnt supposed to be this spacious. Compared to the other rooms I had passed through earlier, this one was definitely smaller. But now, it didnt seem that way. Ah, thats not it. The sense of distance was being distorted. This was not a good sign. The shamanistic power, surreal pressure, and eerie darkness were interfering with my senses. Not only my spatial awareness but also my detection abilities and magical influence were being disrupted. Since there were no visible enemies, it wasnt a major problem but then again, theck of visible enemies was a problem in itself, wasnt it? After all themotion I causeding in, shouldnt someone be here to greet me? There was no response. How disappointing. Ah, damn it, what is this? This was an event that didnt exist in the game. Therefore, anything could happen. In [Cthulhu World], bugs often ur where important NPCs disappear and events be impossible. Shit, could it be that? Could it be that after setting up such an atmosphere, theyre stuck somewhere unable to move? I cautiously walked further into the room. [System: The trait Enhanced Vignce has been activated.] Something appeared. The direction? Damn, my detection abilities were dyed. It was behind me. Hehehe, hehehehe. You havee, you havee, my brother. Hehehe. Oh, Chairman, youre safe? I was worried you might be stuck between some objects and couldnt appear. Though I said this, its not the time for jokes. Cheong-ho entered through the same door I came through. How did he avoid my sight ande in from behind me? Is it not just the sense of distance but the space itself being distorted? What about Jang Hyeon-deok and Goo Jin-cheol? Due to the excessively high density of magical power, I couldnt sense the situation beyond the room. Regardless of my doubts, Cheong-ho just burst intoughter. Khrr, khuhuhuhuhu, kuhuhuhuh. Isughter the source of all happiness? You look cheerful and healthy. It seems youve been doing better than I thought? A hunched posture. Wide-open eyes. Drooling saliva. Tattered clothes and skin smeared with all kinds of filth, an unpleasant smell that makes me want to vomit immediately. Anyone would see that he was in an unstable state. Anyone walking down the street like that would be arrested and taken to the hospital in 30 minutes. But is that really Cheong-ho? What is that? Im not talking about his pathologicalughter or unstable demeanor that suggests madness. Cheong-ho looked exactly the same and spoke with Cheong-hos voice, but something was different. It felt as if some foreign entity was wearing Cheong-hos skin. Kuhuhuh it couldnt be better. Kim Shin-hwa, my brother. Kuhuhu, kuhuhuhu, kuhuh kuhuhuhu Cheong-ho made a sound that was hard to tell if he was crying orughing and trembled. Kuh, kuhuhuhuhu, kuhuhuhu I missed you. I have been waiting for you all this time. Kuhuhu, in this dreadful darkness, for such a long, long time, how much time has passed? Kuh, kuhihit! Ah, just a moment. It seems like its about time for you to start saying something serious. May I briefly say something first? Before Cheong-ho could start spouting nonsense, I had to say what I needed to. If you n to say, I know everything you dont know, but I wont tell you easily just stop it. If you have something to say, speak quickly and briefly, using precise words; otherwise, just say one thing. One thing? The same thing I had rmended to Hwa Inst time. Yes. If you scream Kkieeek and run at me, I will say I knew it! and hit you. Chapter 126: The Laughing One (2) Chapter 126: The Laughing One (2) Cheong-ho did not react to my provocation. Kuh, kuhuhuhuhk, kuhih, kuhuhuhu. He just burst into that annoyingughter again. He keepsughing. It was probablyughter that erupted regardless of his emotions. Chairman. Even so, you should still have some dignity, right? If you were going to be possessed, it should have been at least by a being of the abyss. I had some idea, but now it was clear what was involved. The shadows, the prophecy, and the non-contextualughter that kept appearing. Now even ridiculous things are bothering me. The Laughing One.The cunning one, theughing skull, the caller of madness, the shadow in the darkness, the monster in the fog, the offspring of snakes, the evil prophet. A mad prophet who always foretold an unhappy future, destruction, and despair. I could name several other impressive titles associated with this bastard, but the Laughing One was not a being of the abyss. Rather, it was of a lower rank A high mental body. Or perhaps a unique existence, to put it in a derogatory way, just an ancient being. In the original Cthulhu Mythos, which serves as the basis for [Cthulhu World], such distinctions werent clear, but in [Cthulhu World], the hierarchy is clearly defined. This was perhaps for game bnce. In short, it was a candidate for a being of the abyss. That book kuhuhuh, uhihit! Uhuhu that book contains the truth. Im d I read it before handing it over to you, so d. Kuhuhuh. This is a serious matter. Unlike the lies adults tell children, whats written in books isnt always the truth. This is especially true for books that appear in Cthulhu World. Moreover, if its an old book written in a foreignnguage, you shouldnt just skim through it; you should refuse to touch it altogether. Cheong-ho had read the book imbued with the Laughing Ones power and became its ve. It was originally a book hidden deep inside this shelter kuhuk, kuhuhuk the one who lost this ce to me said it should never be touched. Oh, you didnt need to tell me such detailed settings theres something more concerning. His condition is too good. Of course, he was far from normal, but considering the signs that have appeared throughout this fallout shelter, hes in remarkably good shape. After all, isnt he conveying his thoughts rtively concretely and clearly? No, more than that. There was something troubling about Cheong-hos words. Cheong-hos condition was indeed strange. He seems more like an NPC that meets specific conditions rather than a human. Im bing unnecessarily cautious. Should I confirm a bit more? Chairman, was it you who sent me the message to take the book? Uh-heh! Uh-hehehehet! Uwahahahaha!! Cheong-houghed loudly again. Heughed so hard that he looked like he might roll on the floor at any moment. Thats right! I went to the trouble of sending the message, but foolish Kim Shin-hwa! You wasted time by going to the wrong ce. Thanks to that, I was able to protect your family, and I made quite a bit of money. By the way, how did you send the message without the other directors knowing? I, I am the blue, blue tiger who rules the violence not only in Paju, but throughout this entire Republic of Korea. I am also one of the three heads of the Triad. I still have hundreds ofworks that can move without those old fools knowing. Seriously? Cheong-ho has now reached the point where he is exining what kind of character he is. It seems like if I asked who his first love was, he would tell an honest love story of a real man who was stern and inexpressive but had a burning heart. Theres no point in having a conversation with this guy. Hes just a scarecrow. I briefly looked away from Cheong-ho and nced around the room. Where is the book? It couldnt be an ordinary book. It must be an artifact in itself or something that could be called an incarnation of [The Laughing One]. [Magic Detection] [Invisibility Detection] [Curse Detection] [Trap Detection] [Insight] [Heavenly Sight] Whiiiiiirr Found it. Amid the unpleasant noise that filled the entire room, no, the entire shelter, I detected an alien gaze. A sticky and evil gaze that was hard to believe belonged to a human. The location of the gaze was Damn it, this just keeps getting worse. I definitely detected something, but its location was a nk wall. Another secret door and hidden room? No, there wasnt even a door. What kind of structure is behind that wall? This magical pattern is probably Krhhh Thats an interesting expression. Do you sense something? Krhhhhh Another fellowmented on my expression. Can he see the face under my mask? I looked back at Cheong-ho. Ah, this is such a pain. Should I just burn everything down and be done with it? No, it was still too early. It wasnt appropriate to push with force without clearly knowing the form of the book that embodied the power of [The Laughing One]. If I hit it clumsily, it might just flee, or an entirely unexpected event could ur. Tch, it might be better to let this event progress a bit further. Chairman. Even though I knew it was meaningless, I spoke to Cheong-ho. Anyway, it seems you understand what Im saying? Understand? You think I understand? Hahaha! Ahahahahak! Wahah! Well, if you can respond that much, its quite an encouraging sign. You might recover if you receive treatment. Really? Haha, haha, haha, so? I knew this was meaningless. Even if I tried hard to persuade him, Cheong-ho couldnt return. It was already toote for Cheong-ho. How about it? Rather than staying here, why dont you return to the Triad, or rather, your home? Return? What would happen if I returned? Well, you might be able to see your familys faces. Hehehe Family, subordinates, colleagues, organization, all, all, all meaningless and pointless. Here in this ce, in this darkness, amidst empty deaths and meaninglessughter, I have realized the truth between the hollow, scatteredughter! Aaah, the truth? I sighed as I replied. Cheong-ho continued speaking without hiding his openly sarcastic tone. He either didnt sense my sarcasm or simply ignored it. This world, this world exists solely for the great minds that dwell in the deepest abyss, beyond the farthest gxies, where our spirits cannot reach! Wow, thats quite an enlightenment. Does it follow the typical apocalyptic theme of destruction and whatnot? Our world, this universe, is nothing but a meaningless joke, a fleeting jest for those great minds brief amusement. Its something they nce at out of curiosity, then soon lose interest and discard as a mere diversion. Huh? So it doesnt end in apocalypse or destruction? Why, why are you still sane? You, youve gazed into that deep, dark, meaningless abyss too, havent you? Why havent you gone mad? What makes you different from me? Haaah, whats different? Were the same. Why am I still sane? What nonsense is that? Im already mad. Im just pretending to be sane because I cant go any crazier. The chairman hasntpletely lost his mind yet. What? What? What? Either fully embrace that madness and be a cultist, or reject the knowledge entirely and be a truly insane madman. Lingering in this unstable state will only prolong your suffering. No! Its toote for me. But Kim Shin-hwa, my brother! You are entirely different from us. You live apletely different life! You are different from us, the structure of your soul, your mind, and your body arepletely different. I realized it the moment we crossed magical powersst time. Youe from a different world. Though I wanted to put an end to it with a punch, it wasnt the right time yet. Attacking at a clumsy time with an awkward method would only let the bastard hiding behind the scenes escape with a sly grin. Patience was needed now. Just a little longer, just a bit more. He would soon reveal his own weaknesses. No. The chairman is suffering from delusions right now. The things the chairman is recalling arent your own thoughts but delusions forcibly imnted by someone else. I knew that Cheong-hos words werentplete nonsense. Nevertheless, I deliberately denied Cheong-hos words. The [Laughing One] spoke only the truth. But there was only one reason he spoke the truth. Because the truth could shatter a persons mind more effectively than any magic or curse. You can escape this world, right? But youck the knowledge and the power! I can provide you with the knowledge youck and the power you need! Come to think of it, at some point, theughter had vanished from Cheong-hos words. Instead, his expression, voice, and gestures were now filled with bizarre desire, pathological joy, and abnormal conviction. Ah, had something finally satisfied the conditions? It was about to begin. This way! Follow me this way! This space is still too solid! We need to break it more! Come here! We can change this world even more! My God! The voice of revtion that granted me true wisdom, I will show you thenguage of truth! Chairman. There is nothing over there. Foolish Kim Shin-hwa! My brother! Open your eyes! I have seen the truth! This world is not fixed and is so fragile! Everything you see is not the entire truth! Cheong-ho ran towards a wall shrouded in thick darkness. It was undoubtedly the spot where he had sensed something earlier. Yes, this is the usual pattern. I had been waiting. This was the only reason I had forced myself to continue this dreadful conversation. There was originally nothing beyond that wall. It was definitely where a wall should have been. Even beyond the wall, there should have been a space filled with soil and rocks. However, just like Cheong-ho had said, the physicalws and cause and effect of this world were extremely fragile and unstable. How ridiculous. The structure and setting of the space were changing. It was as if they were saying, Even though it isnt visible due to the darkness, there is actually a space here. Just as the wall was opening and the truth inside was about to be revealed [At the end of your long journey, you met Cheong-ho, whom you had been desperately searching for. But surprisingly, what awaited you at the ce where Cheong-ho should have been was not Cheong-ho. It had merely stolen Cheong-hos appearance, embodying a surreal entity connected to the abyss. However, with your remarkable intuition, you sensed this fact in advance. You deliberately concealed your true intentions and conversed with that alien entity to draw out the presence lurking behind it. Your extraordinary patience paid off. In the end, the entity, which called itself Cheong-ho, decided to reveal its true form.] Suddenly, after remaining silent the whole time, what the hell was this? Move aside! The message window that suddenly popped up disyed an overwhelming amount of text, blocking my view. No, wait. Why was it obscuring my vision at this precise moment? I tried to extend my senses, but the noise intensified. I couldnt detect anything. Cheong-hos voice could be heard from beyond the message window. Eiaia! Aaaah!! Look at this! Kim Shin-hwa! Look at this! Although they came in the form of a book, this is my god! The one who sees everything! The one whoughs at all the emptiness in this world! Truly wise! The great prophet! [The wall covered in darkness instantly transformed into a vast space shrouded in deep darkness. Inside, there was arge book made from the bones of creatures, darkness, and a horribly emptyughter. This book is a great existence that has been in the universe for billions of years, even before humanity invented the concept of writing. You thought it was inferior to a being of the abyss, but it is not. The Laughing One, the Great Prophet, the Book of Greed and Destruction, it has the potential to one day ascend to the ranks of the great ancient beings.] Get out of the way! Fizzzzzzz!! I attacked the message window that was obstructing my view with electricity. Whether the attack worked or not, the message window disappeared as if repelled by the sparks. What appeared in the barely cleared view was A book? No. Contrary to the message windows description, what emerged from the darkness was a grotesque spirit with a humanoid silhouette. A huge skeleton draped in a pitch-ck cloak, a monstrous entityposed of thousands of bones. An ancient and old evil spirit that has existed since before humanity invented the concept of writing. Oh I understand! I understand your will now! It was Kim Shin-hwa; it was a feast of my brother that you needed! I understand! I understand your will that prepared me for this day! A feast! I will be the feast for Kim Shin-hwa, for Kim Shin-hwa! It will be me! Me! Me! Me! Enter through my flesh! Please nourish the feast offering through me! I will dly offer myself! Cheong-ho suddenly raised hisrge hand and grabbed his own head. A brutal movement. Crack. The sound of bones shattering. Cheong-ho was now tearing off his own skull! Chapter 127: The Laughing One (3) Chapter 127: The Laughing One (3) [You have encountered a powerful high mental body, a being of immense power beyond humanprehension, soon to gain new strength and ascend as a being of the abyss. The Laughing Ones overwhelming power shakes your soul.] [Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check Failed!] I shouted at both Cheong-ho and the message window as I cast a spell. Hey! Stop! Stop it! [Destruction] [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The result of the check has been changed to sess.] Crackle! What is this? Sparks caused by the Madness of the Abyss trait scattered my magic instantly.Was my spell canceled? Because of the trait activation? At this critical moment? What the hell are you doing! You damn son of a bi*ch! A brief gap urred because the Madness of the Abyss trait was activated. Due to that ambiguous time loss, I couldnt stop Cheong-hos insane act. [Those influenced by the high mental body be his ves. However, the Madness of the Abyss that activated at the right moment protected your mind. With a brief sense of relief, a sudden thought crossed your mind. Ah, maybe I could have ended up like that too.] Crack, snap, rip. Rip, squelch Aah. He finally tore it off. The skin, muscles, and thick skull were torn away, revealing what should never be seen. Above Cheong-hos eyebrows was a glistening gray mass of flesh. It was uncertain if that flesh really contained the wisdom and power of the abyss. But at least it probably held Cheong-hos memories. This, this is it. Kim Shin-hwa! This is the gift Im giving you! Eat this! Thick ck blood slowly flowed down Cheong-hos face. Blood that had long since coagted and started to decay. Cheong-ho had died long ago. The thing talking to me now, the thing with the top of its head torn off, was a corpse. Should I call it a puppet moving by its mastersmand? |Khehehehehehe| Yeah, that bastard. A skeleton shrouded in a ck veil. A grotesque being that keptughing. That thing was controlling Cheong-hos corpse. It moved Cheong-ho again. Its still okay. Kim Shin-hwa! Look at this; its not toote. Eat this! I needed a moment to take a deep breath to calm my anger. Ill pass. I have dinner ns. [The human mind, the weak human mind, cannot ept the knowledge contained in that book. What about Cheong-ho? He is no different. His brain has already received great wisdom and immense power. But his weak spirit could not handle it. Poor Cheong-ho.] And that piece of trash beyond the message window. He must have dragged me here just to show me this scene. And he definitely forced my magic to be blocked to create this situation. Eat this. This, hurry and eat it. This is His flesh and His blood; if you eat this you can be stronger. Eat this. Eat it, havent you already done simr things elsewhere? To be stronger, you tore at others flesh and destroyed others souls. This is no different from what youve already done. Come on, open your mouth. Tear at this flesh and drink this blood! His body will make you stronger and His mind will make you wiser. Hurry, eat this! Eat this! Eat this! Eat this! Eat this! Eat this! This was just a prank using a corpse. Though it was Cheong-hos voiceing from Cheong-hos mouth, it was essentially no different from a ventriloquists puppet. |Ku, kukuku, kukuku| I heard the sound of a skeleton in a ck veilughing at me. Really? Laughing? I see it. I see the future that we, this universe, will reach! I understand where we came from and where we are going! Dignity is just a toy invented by chance, used briefly and discarded! We are merely beasts! Lets kill each other, tear at each others flesh, and defile each others souls! We must break free from the shell of dignity and the illusion of humanity! We must reim our true original form and the real power we were meant to have! Its toote for me, but you still have a chance. Kim Shin-hwa, Kim Shin-hwa, Kim Shin-hwa. Foolish Kim Shin-hwa! The revulsion you feel is merely a hypocritical act to pretend to be human. Eat this! Eat the flesh imbued with the power and knowledge of God! No, this was really annoying. Whether it was actually a corpse didnt matter anymore. [All of this happened because of you, Kim Shin-hwa. When you realize that fact, you are ovee by shame, fear, and terrible guilt.] Stop it, you crazy bastard. Its annoying. ? Cheong-ho, with the top of his head open, looked at me with that grotesque expression. The ecstasy and madness were gone. The expression on his face was one of pure confusion. The sudden seriousness made it even more creepy. What do you mean? Dont you get it? Just shut that mouth of yours now. Refusal? Is it a refusal? In the end, its a refusal? Thats unfortunate. Very unfortunate. Crack, crack Cheong-hos body began to decay at an incredible speed. It seemed that the forced facade was peeling away, revealing the true form. Now, Cheong-hos ckened eyes rolled back, and his skin turned a sickening purple. The time to save him or do anything is long gone. Even in that state, Cheong-ho continued to babble without stopping. Unfortunate. Unfortunate. Unfortunate. Unfortunate. Unfortunate Shhh, shhh, shhh |Kukukuk, kuhuhuh kahahahaha!!!| The [Laughing One] burst into an empty meaninglessugh. Rattle, rattle. Various forms of skeletons poured out from the shadows. The fact that the spot had once been an ordinary wall no longer held any meaning. Distorting space was a simple task for such beings. tter, creak, crash, snap, crackle, crunch. They resembled humans, yet were different and bizarre skeletons. Bones and skulls of mismatched sizes were forcibly connected and formed grotesque shapes. Huge hands, huge weapons, and huge horns made of intertwined bones all poured in at once. In the end, this was going to happen anyway. Yapping endlessly. Wouldnt it have been easier for both of us if youd just shut up and attacked with a simple Kkieeek? Snap, crackle, crunch, snap, crackle, crunch, creak. Hmm, but there are quite a lot of them. What should I do? Eh, toozy to think further. Ah, forget it. Help me, Living me guy! [The unique effect of the SSS-rank essory Residual Heat of the North Star, Trace of Extreme me has been activated. // Trace of Extreme me: Increases the effect of all fire-type magic by 100%] [me that Burns Sin] [Ibn Ghazis Beacon] [Holy me] [Fire that Illuminates Darkness] [Burning Rage] Whoooosh!! Five mes of different colors rose up. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!! The darkness was instantly pushed away and the approaching bones turned to ash and disappeared in a breath. A unique being, or a high mental body. Entities just below the great old ones. They were simply ancient beings. They go by many names, but this tier includes the [Laughing One]. The recent message window mentioned it would one day reach the abyss, butpared to true beings of the abyss, it was far inferior. It wouldnt stand a chance against the true power of a being of the abyss. Well done, well done. The will or spirit of the living me hadnt descended; only the magic power collected previously had been unleashed. Despite this, the magic expanded the area with overwhelming firepower, as if it were the power of the living me itself. Whoooosh!! Argh!! Cheong-ho, or rather the spirit inhabiting Cheong-hos corpse, quickly retreated along with the barrier of darkness and skeletons it had gathered. If I use the power of the living me to burn it away like this this ce will bepletely incinerated and the book itself will escape to another dimension. What a waste. The opponent had precognitive abilities. It could predict this level of situation. But why did it retreat so helplessly? What had it been doing underground? It was puzzling. Was there a problem with its precognition? Perhaps this was all part of arger n. You foolish Kim Shin-hwa! Consume the flesh of your kin, ept my spirit, and be my servant! Dont you see its your only way to survive in this world? What, are you done mimicking Cheong-ho now? Regardless, it didnt have a personality of its own. Even if it stopped mimicking Cheong-ho, it could only act and speak based on Cheong-hos traits and personality. You foolish sacrifice! You ignorant monkey, swinging power beyond your control! You have no idea what youre dealing with, what youre wishing for! You mistakenly think the power borrowed from the abyss is yours! Youre clueless about what awaits at the end! Who are you calling a fool? Ever heard of hard betting? If everything was doomed to fail anyway, it was better to borrow to the limit and fail spectacrly. What was the point of submitting to something that wasnt even a being of the abyss? Only I can save you. Realize that I am the only one who can prevent the future of destruction you will reach! Wow, you talk a lot. It looks like Cheong-hos bodycks psychic traits or even spiritual qualities and is hindering you, huh? If you have nothing more to show, lets wrap this up. I waved my hand and gave a new direction to the mes expanding all around. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! Fwoosh!! The mes which had been spreading in five directions now greedily devoured the darkness as they surged toward Cheong-ho. They couldnt be stopped. Each of these mes possessed the power of forced purification, spirit sealing, evil expulsion, the destruction of supernatural abilities, and the annihtion of surreal entities. The [Laughing One] who was wrapped in darkness, bones, and Cheong-hos corpse was driven back and back until it was finally cornered in the cramped room. Just when it seemed like the end. The [Laughing One] spoke through Cheong-hos mouth. Yes, youre right. Kim Shin-hwa, theres too much this human body cant do. Kukukukuku, Kikikikiki, Ihihihihihih. That annoyingughter echoed once more. It was the signal that the power twisting cause and effect and distorting thews of this world was at work. The wall behind the cornered Cheong-ho split open. It wasnt like a door opening or a closed box being opened. It was a grotesque sight, like the maw of a beast opening wide. Beyond the revealed space, Ma-Mage-nim?! Aaaaah!!! It was the first room where Jang Hyeon-deok and Goo Jin-cheol had been waiting. A living altar! Leaving the highest-rank medium prepared for the descent of a god in my domain, kukuku, what a pitiful foolish act! Crack!! As instructed, Achilles moved to secure a retreat route but he shattered into pieces withoutsting even a second. Argh!! Goo Jin-cheol couldnt ept the situation and erupted into madness. He tore at the bandages wrapped around his face, mmed his head against the wall, and fainted. Ah Jang Hyeon-deok realized what the [Laughing One] was hoping for, what he wanted. More like a living altar than a human, fear no longer existed for him. He merely carried out his task silently. Ssss The [Laughing One] evaded the mes rushing toward him and began to seep into the altar prepared for him. Hey, Im warning you But it didnt stop. It wasnt something I could interfere with and stop in the first ce. Cheong-hos body spoke to me mockingly. Its already toote, Kim Shin-hwa. Its already toote. This altar you prepared, the one you cherished, will now be mine. No, not that. It seems your precognitive ability is broken, right? Youll regret it if you go in there. You foolish sacrifice! How dare you pretend to be a prophet in front of me! Just then, I caught sight of Goo Jin-cheol who regretted not listening to my warning. But he didnt listen. Finally, the true form revealed itself. The sound of beastsughter echoed from somewhere. A book made of the fragments of a dying star and empty void. The one who foresees the future and destroys the human mind solely with the truth. In the end, it possessed Jang Hyeon-deoks body. Chapter 128: The Laughing One (4) Chapter 128: The Laughing One (4) Cheong-hos corpsey sprawled on the floor. His decayed brain matter and blood spilled across the ground. And Jang Hyeon-deok was no longer Jang Hyeon-deok.
[Living Altar]: The efficiency of possession, spirit channeling, and descent is increased by 1200%. It minimizes the penalties associated with possession, spirit channeling, and descent. Itrgely disregards the restrictions of possession, spirit channeling, and descent. // You possess a natural talent for mediumship. You are more akin to a living altar than a human being with free will.
I had seen this sight before. The Living Altar trait manifested the full potential of the Laughing One in the present world. Where Jang Hyeon-deoks face should have been, there was a grotesque skull with a bluish orb of light burning inside the skull. And a cloak that seemed to be woven from the cold mist and the darkness of night. Within the cloak, horrific skeletons were visible. The Laughing One who was now using Jang Hyeon-deoks mouth burst into a loudugh. !!!Rumble!!! It was an immense force, beyond what any humanugh could recognize. The underground fallout shelter, no, the entire mountain seemed to shake with that tremendous energy. Unable to withstand the shock, part of the fallout shelters inner wall cracked with a horrible sound. Through the gaping cracks, the vague void beyond became visible. Hes really done it now. Was he enjoying that it was now his turn? Hes fully possessed. Is it over now? Artificial darkness and pitch-ck fog flowed out of the Laughing Ones body. His influence was expanding. The five mes that had been surrounding the Laughing One lost their momentum and retreated. Bones rolled out, threatening magic, distant sounds ofughter, the cries of beasts, mist, the aura of death. Yes, Mage-nim. It is over now. This time he spoke in Jang Hyeon-deoks tone. It seemed he had no distinct personality of his own. It had been a pain to cater to Cheong-hos childish tastes, and now I had to talk with Jang Hyeon-deok. What a pain in the ass. Please, could you speak less while possessing Jang Hyeon-deok? Nothing but stupid stuffes from that mouth. Just endure a little longer. Soon, you will be one with us. Be a servant to spread the emptyughter across the universe. No, I was the bad one for wanting Jang Hyeon-deok to shut up. I just wanted him to shut up. I drew my Great Justice Tiger Sword and aimed it at Jang Hyeon-deok and the Laughing One. Ridiculous! What can you do with the power of such a beast, Mage-nim? Are you going to grow this fire borrowed from the abyss to strike me down? Boom !!! A hugeugh erupted again. The darkness expands further. Skeletons poured out. Darkness, skeletons, andughter intertwined. There was no need for any special formation. The sheer number alone was overwhelming enough to crush everything under its weight. A gigantic tidal wave made of bones, darkness, and hollowughter rushed in. This was an unstoppable attack. No weapon could hold back a tidal wave or a raging storm. Standing at the edge of the iing wave, I held a single sword and spoke to the Laughing One. Sorry, but you really chose the wrong one to possess. [The unique effect of the SSS-rank weapon Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon), Prize of Righteous Harm has been activated. // Prize of Righteous Harm: Damage against good or virtuous targets increases by 400%. ] I had already experimented with various things. The Laughing One has no concept of good and evil, but the Great Justice Tiger Sword should recognize Jang Hyeon-deok as a good person. [Chains of Domination] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Power Increase] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Churrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Dozens of chains of magic thrashed through the dark basement as they emitted tremendous noise and golden light. I strengthened them by infusing them with an extreme amount of magical power, giving them apletely different performance from the usual chains of domination. Hahaha! Foolish Mage-nim! Do you think such magic will work? Boom! A jet-ck wave erupted, deflecting the golden chains. Normally, it would have been nearly, no,pletely impossible. It might have been possible to burn or hit it, but casting this type of magic on a high mental body revealed to this extent was impossible. But would I use a spell that was bound to fail while knowing this already? Buzz The magical power emitted from within Jang Hyeon-deoks body which the Laughing One had taken over resonated with my spell. It was the magic I had poured in over a long period of time. What, what is this?! Oh, the typical viin reaction. Very nice. The magical power emitted from Jang Hyeon-deoks body connected with my Chains of Domination Crackle!! A thrilling sense of resistance. Was this a mental barrier? It was much weaker than the [King in Yellow]. The calctions werepleted in an instant. Dispell. A bizarrely surreal magic structure. Simpler than the [One Who Comes from the Darkness]. I altered my magic structure to respond. Dispelplete, analysisplete, connectionplete. Crackle!! Ugh, but this still isnt enough. The output was insufficient. To maximize the effect of the Chains of Domination, I added a new spell. [Voice of Authority] [Spell Enhancement: Power Increase] This was also a spell with the power to control a designated target. Originally, I would not have been able to control the Laughing One. This was a being far superior to myself after all. But the moment it entered Jang Hyeon-deoks body, its stats were reduced to a metaphysical level. Therefore, the target of the spell it was not the Laughing One, but Jang Hyeon-deok. |Jang Hyeon-deok, stay still.| Suddenly, there was silence. Not even a groan or an exmation could be heard. It was as if time had stopped. But time had not stopped. The power of the [Laughing One] had stopped. Ah, it was hard to endure. The tightening skull, the darkness, theughter, and Jang Hyeon-deok, who was at the center of it all had all stopped. I briefly raised my hands to make a mocking gesture at the Laughing One and then drew up my magic. I infused the five dwindling mes with magical power and gave them new properties. Convert, reorganize, maintain properties, and switch themes. There was no longer any need to y games. Converge into a single point and strike the enemy. The fire was not summoned by my magic from the beginning so it was a bit rigid. But it listened to my words and moved. I raised the Great Justice Tiger Sword and directed the magical power of the living me. [The unique effect of the SSS-rank weapon Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon), Blessing of Heavenly Fire has been activated. // Blessing of Heavenly Fire: All fire-type magic effects are increased by 100%.] The spreading mes transformed into a violently rotating wheel of fire. Whoooosh!!! Wasnt it fun? Now, disappear! The wheel of fire filled with five colored mes struck the [Laughing One]. Boom! Whooosh!! |Kuhuhuhuhuhu!! Khehehehehe!!!| The mes were created with the power borrowed from a being of the abyss. The Laughing One let out a bizarre noise that could not be determined whether it was a scream orughter. Oh, I cant just burn it like that. If I intended to simply burn it away, I would have set everything on fire long ago. Switch the theme again. Condense, weave, entangle. And bind it as it is. Magic circles appeared everywhere at the same time. Magic circles glowing in various colors, shapes, runes, empowered words, beast signs, and incantations. I used to do this even with my bare hands before. And now? Now I could do it even more easily. [System: The hidden trait Heir of the Corpse Pile has been activated.] The trait stolen from Hollow Lord exerted strong binding power on supernatural entities like spirits and mental bodies. Its something I cant do in the game, but I find myself doing it quite often. Crack! The five mes forcefully tore the [Laughing One] out from between the huge darkness and the skull with powerful binding force. It was an old book bound in worn leather. On the cover, red letters that seemed to be written in blood spelled out an aliennguage. As expected, its just a book, an avatar. A book. The same book that was the root of all this chaos. Though it created a ruckus as if the [Laughing One] itself had appeared, it was merely an avatar. Well, at least I captured this. The five mes stabilized and rotated at regr intervals. The magic lines extending from the mes formed a pentagram, binding the newly revealed book. Temporary sealingplete. Is it roughly done? In the space where the skull, darkness, andughter had vanished, Jang Hyeon-deoks figure emerged. He looked at me with a pale face. He clearly didnt know what had just happened. Mage-nim? Haaah. Let me be clear, I didnt bring you here to use you like this. Yes ? With those words, Jang Hyeon-deok lost consciousness and copsed to the floor. It seemed like I only needed to quietly clean up, but there was still someone left who wanted to talk to me. Uh, uh, uh. The mouth of Cheong-ho who had copsed as a corpse moved and a voice flowed out. There was no way the dead Cheong-ho could speak now. It must have been some influence of the [Laughing One] forcibly moving Cheong-hos body. How did I do it? Or how did I know? Is that what you want to ask? Uh, uh, uh. Do you think I would carry around a medium with high performance but no self-defense and no safety measures? He must have targeted Jang Hyeon-deok from the beginning. Maybe even from outside the fallout shelter? The sound of crows outside the fallout shelter, the ck shadows, and the nonsense Jang Hyeon-deok started spouting as if predicting something. Something about grave sites or whatever. He intentionally created a situation where I had no choice but to bring Jang Hyeon-deok into the fallout shelter. After that, he must have stimted Jang Hyeon-deoks mind and caused him to be in a state where he could no longer advance, thereby putting me and Jang Hyeon-deok away. Tsk, to be honest, it wasnt entirely unexpected. I had expected it to some extent. Thats why I brought Jang Hyeon-deok into the bunker rather than leaving him outside. Because of that No matter what possessed him, I had already prepared a way to control it. That was why I had been forcing myself to see Jang Hyeon-deok regrly. What if something strange possessed him where I couldnt see? If it had picked a fight, it would have been a relief. If it had been hidden and started some weird religion, there would have been no solution. So I kept Jang Hyeon-deok close and pushed my influence on him. If possible, I had no intention of going to the point of using Jang Hyeon-deok as a trap. I had to listen to that long, nonsensical talk Ah, just thinking about it made me angry. I summoned my magical power and swung the Butchers Hook, forcibly extracting the mental body that inhabited Cheonghos body. Screeeeeech! As expected. Thanks to the effect of amplifying necromancy-type magic, the Butchers Hook was highly effective against supernatural entities like non-corporeal or spiritual beings. I looked at the ck mental body impaled on the Butchers Hook. It was a bizarre entity that looked like either a human head or a page with a strange symbol written on it. C Kwaaaaaa! Stop! Stop it! Stop it! It could speak after all. A metaphysical and abstract being like the Laughing One cannotmunicate with humans in and of itself. Just as a being from the abyss creates an avatar to manifest its will, this was a persona [the Laughing One] created tomunicate with a metaphysical entity. Ah, does it hurt? Just wait a moment. Ill make it hurt even more. [System: The hidden trait Heir of the Corpse Pile has been activated.] Crackle!!
  • Aaaagh!!
Whats with all this strength and wisdom talk? Trying to act superior and making people angry like this? Now, this was just me venting. C Aaaagh!! Why! Why! What is this sensation? What is this strange feeling? What is this!! Why does it hurt if youre in a spiritual state? Ah, youve never had the concept of pain, so you dont know what it is, do you? Using the Heir of the Corpse Pile trait, I injected a specific concept into the mental body. Think of it as scribbling in a book to change its content. The concept I injected was pain. The sensation of hurting, agony, suffering, a terrible feeling that could drive one to madness. C It doesnt matter it doesnt matter Oh, it doesnt matter since youre just an avatar and not the main body? That was true. This was part of the sealed book over there, but it was just a single torn-out page. Even if you scribbled on this, the content of the main body wouldnt change. Its like burning a cut strand of hair that has no effect on its owner. Moreover, that book itself wasnt the true form of the [Laughing One]. In short, the spirit talking to me now was a mere fragment, a disposable part that could be discarded at any time. Hitting or pinching this wouldnt help me vent my frustration much. C Yes! Take out your anger on this small fragment! You foolish human! My true form is eternal and immortal! I have existed in this universe for a time beyond your imagination. Any pain you think you can inflict on me is but a fleeting momentpared to the endless time of this universe Was it because the mental body was mixed with Cheon-ho? For a creation of such an existence, its intelligence was low and its dignity wascking. Dont worry. I also have the ability to repair books. C What did you say? You can roughly guess, right? Try living forever with the sensation of pain. Chapter 129: The Laughing One (5) Chapter 129: The Laughing One (5) It was impossible to affect the true form of the [Laughing One]. Reaching that far was an unrealistic hope anyway. However, I could do something about the avatar that existed before me in the form of a book. C I-It cant be! You monster! Horrible demon! How can you act beyond my foresight? This wasnt in my precognition! Why! Why can only you move in a way that defies my foresight? You are a noise disrupting thews of this world! Monster! You disgusting noise! Your existence ruins my foresight! Get out! Get out of this world! Disappear! Ah, sir, dont worry. Ill fix it for you. C No matter how much you struggle, your wish will nevere true! You are a foreign substance in this world! An alien monster! A hideous error! No one will fulfill your wish! No one! Your wish will note true! Ah, what a chatterbox. Will I ever have the chance to meet someone who talks this much in the future? I always say this, but verbal nonsense is but a momentary shame. Talk all you want. Yes, yes, Ill start the repair now. I had just the right item for this purpose. I drew on my magical power and activated my artifacts effects.[The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated. // Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers.] Crackle! Golden tentacles of magical power extended from Carcosas Mask and wrapped around the mental body hanging on the butchers hook. They then entered the [Laughing One]s mind, which was bound by the magic of the [Living me], and imbued it with new power. I had joked about it, but this was beyond simply sealing it away. I felt a pressure as if my brain was about to explode. If my brain had been ordinary, it would have already turned to mush under this pressure. Magic circles of various colors bloomed around me, exerting their effects and then disappearing repeatedly. Oh, this is moreplicated than I thought. Though it was inferior to beings of the abyss, the [Laughing One] was a high-level mental body far beyond humans. An existence like that couldnt be forcibly altered or modified by a metaphysical being like a human. But its unfortunate for you to have encountered someone like me. There was no need topletely understand its structure. The masks effects wouldpensate for the finer details. Still, the calctions were endless and beyond what a normal human brain could handle. A few minutes? No, a few seconds? My sense of time became blurred. In any case, over a hundred million events shed through my mind in a very short span of time. Despite this situation, my mind continued to think and calcte at an incredible speed. At the same time, I had enough mental capacity to entertain stray thoughts. (Ha, how long do I have to keep doing this?) Now that I reached this point, the task wasnt difficult. (Ill give all the gold bars in Cheong-hos warehouse to Jeong Hyeon-ah, and Ill keep the artifacts. They should all fit in Jang Hyun-deoks car, right?) I already understood the content analysis, the calctions, what to change, and how tobine things. (Goo Jin-cheol, that dumb bastard. Is he dead? I wont see him again, but its easier if hes alive.) [System: The unique trait Feast Offering has been activated. Being of the Abyss: Living me, Being of the Abyss: King in Yellow, Being of the Abyss: He Who Comes from the Darkness show interest in you.] So, all those who bet on me have gathered. I thought there had been all sorts of things, but only three beings of the abyss bet on me? Ah, King Man-geum isnt a being of the abyss. I couldnt stop the beings of the abyss from watching what I was about to do. But I could use them, right? Come on, give me your magical power as a price for watching! Magical power began to pour out from the mask, the ring, and the shard embedded in my body. Tzzzzzzz One of my eyes wasnt seeing well. It seemed that a few blood vessels in my eye had burst due to excessive concentration. And at the same time An incredible pleasure surged through me. Certainly, its a power I cant handle. I extracted the magical power from the shard of [He Who Comes from the Darkness] that I had absorbed. Then, I channeled it through the mask given by the [King in Yellow]. The book struggled, but resistance was futile. The power of the [Living me] suppressed it. Like I was assembling a radio, everything waspleted easily and simply in the predetermined order. At some point, the surroundings becamepletely quiet. The magical power that had filled the underground and the overwhelming presence created by the abyssal beings had nowpletely disappeared. Lets see |Kuhuhuhuhuhu!! Khehehehehehe!!!| Ridiculous. This book had now be a book thatughs while predicting the future and at the same time, the only [Book of Pain] in the universe. It would feel pain whenever someone touched its pages or cover. I was human and this thing was a book and also a high-level mental body, so a directparison was difficult, but if I forciblypared the sensitivity to pain How is it, sir? Just a slight touch should feel like having all eight mrs pulled at once. Do you like it? |Kuhuhuhuhuhu!! Khehehehehehe!!!| Good, good. Im d you like it. For now, keep roasting for a while. Whoosh!! A barrier made of mes would subject it to an endless curse of fire. While a book in the real world would burn up and disappear, this one had no such worry. It would just hurt a bit, but it could exist in that state forever. Come to think of it, you said something about a fleeting moment, right? Since this was made with the magical power left by the Living me, it will keep burning even if I die, so dont worry. |Kuhuhuhu!?| Anyway, youre an immortal, so this much should be fine, right? Ah, but you arent truly immortal, are you? In the first ce, it couldnt bepared to a being of the abyss. If it had been a real being of the abyss, even with the help of other beings of the abyss, I wouldnt have been able to torment it as I pleased. Moreover, this book wasnt even the true form of the [Laughing One]. Even beings of the abyss were like this, and those beyond a certain level in this world generally acted in the same way. They divided their will and power into several forms and scattered them across the universe. And so, even the cults that worshipped the same Nyathotep had separate followers for the avatar known as the [Bloody Tongue] and those who worshipped the version known as the [Crawling Chaos]. Even though both the [Bloody Tongue] and the [Crawling Chaos] were the same Nyathotep. Anyway, though I had subdued it this time, I might encounter another form of the [Laughing One] in the future. Well, capturing even a fragment of a high-level mental body is a tremendous gain. There was one slightly disappointing part [You felt great anger upon witnessing thewless havoc created by the Laughing One.] To be clear, the reason Im angry is because of you, you bastard. Yes, I thought this creature was definitely Nyathotep. But Nyathotep had a thousand masks. A thousand masks, a thousand epithets, and a thousand avatars. Each hadpletely different personalities and traits, so I couldnt know which one was tormenting me or for what purpose. [With your remarkable intelligence, you predicted that these events would ur from the moment Cheong-ho disappeared. So you devised a n to use Jang Hyeon-deok as a trap. A brilliant strategy. Your only mistake was] Cant you shut up? [What had been waiting for you in this fallout shelter was the Laughing One. It was not a being of the abyss but merely a high mental body. Your long-term n to capture a being of the abyss using Jang Hyeon-deok had failed. Furthermore, since you used it so openly, the other beings of the abyss would now be wary of your trap.] I said shut up. [No longer is a lengthy exnation needed. But you know that all these events happened because of you.] Enough. [Once you eliminate Goo Jin-cheol, you will be the only one who knows what was down here and what happened. You can take the wealth and artifacts Cheong-ho collected throughout his life. If you wish, you can even use this fallout shelter as your new base. When did you n all this? From the moment you asked Cheong-ho for the book? If so, its a remarkable disy of wisdom. Was bringing Goo Jin-cheol here part of the n too?] Get lost, you crazy bastard! Boom!! The magical power released from my body vibrated throughout the entire space. I didnt know how much magical power I moved in that instant, but it caused the message window to flicker. [The soulsing waits.] [Quest Completed! Reward: 3,000,000 XP + Bonus based on mission performance] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have defeated part of the Laughing One, a high mental body. Your understanding of high mental bodies has increased.] [You have defeated Cheong-ho, one of the three heads of the Triad. Your understanding of the underworld has increased.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [Achievement unlocked! You have sealed part of the Laughing One, a high mental body. You have earned the Rare Achievement: The One Who Stopped the Laughter. As a reward for the achievement, the Laughing One is bound to you as an artifact, and you gain additional experience points.] [Experience Bonus: You have achieved a total of (1) achievements in Cheong-hos secret vault.] [You have umted enough experience points to advance to the next level. Your level increases by 1.] [You have reached level 40! ! As a level achievement reward, you receive (1) bonus stat point to distribute freely.] I allocated the newly acquired bonus stat to mental strength. Considering the stats increased by artifacts, mental strength was now at 19 points. Its approaching the human limit. Nevertheless, rational judgment still operates on a probability basis. No matter how high your mental strength is, there is always a 1% chance of failure. This 1% cannot be eliminated by any means. And this 1% Its too high. That bastard Nyathotep can easily exploit such a probability. One must never be trusted. [Since you have umted enough experience, you have unlocked the use of fourth-order magic. Please note that in order to effectively use fourth-order magic, you need to obtain or learn a grimoire containing fourth-order spells.] [System: The Spell Mastery trait has been activated. You automatically learn the basic spells existing at the fourth-order.] A new list of fourth-order spells emerged in my mind. The power of each one was on a different scale from the magic I had used so far. But there are too few of them. The automatically acquired fourth-order spells were fewer than those of the third-order. Now, I really had to decipher grimoires or use other methods.
Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing Into the Abyss Level: 40 Magic Level: Fourth-order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia] Strength: 5 + 4 (Residual Heat of the North Star) Health: 7 + 3 (Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon)) Agility: 8 + 2 (Night Shrouds Winged Garment) Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 17 + 2 (Body Snatchers Ne) Charm: 19
Phew, damn it. That was a disgusting quest. Tsk, yeah. This was the real Cthulhu world. I had just been too lucky so far, but everything in this world was my enemy. I hadnt considered that even the system governing the game could be my enemy, but I had been suspicious to some extent all along. Ah, damn it. Nothings going to change if I keep brooding over this. I turned my head to survey my surroundings. The darkness in the basement was receding. My distorted vision was stabilizing, and the twisted space was returning to normal. I could see Goo Jin-cheol copsed a few rooms ahead. As soon as I recognized Goo Jin-cheols position, another message window obstructed my view. [You can change your residence to the nuclear fallout shelter. If you wish to do so, kill all humanoid intelligence remaining inside the nuclear fallout shelter.] Chapter 130: Invitation Chapter 130: Invitation Ah, so if I killed Goo Jin-cheol, this ce would be my residence? Stop spouting nonsense and get lost! [Fireball] Whoosh!! Boom! I created a fireball and attacked the message window, but it had no substance. It simply disappeared. Damn it. This isnt even good for venting my frustration. I had to revise my n. Before escaping this world, I would definitely capture that bastard.And somehow, I would crush him. Escaping could wait until after that. For that, I needed to |Kuh, heh, heh, heheheh| If I crack this bastard open, will I have a way to understand the structure of this world? He wasnt a being of the abyss, but a monster with wisdom and knowledge beyondparison to humans. He wouldnt willingly reveal it, but it was worth experimenting. Ill take you home and dissect you slowly. The darkness was gradually fading, but it hadntpletely vanished yet. I needed to absorb the magical power filling the basement before it was toote. But before that I looked at the other things left in this room. Hmm The badly mangled corpse of Cheong-ho. There was no way to save him. He had died long ago. I looked at the empty space just above Cheong-hos corpse and spoke. Chairman, I tried to help if I could, but I failed. Cheong-hos spirit just looked at me. The crazy task of searching inside the avatar created by a high mental body and changing its structure. I even attracted beings from the abyss since Icked the power to do so. Anyone would say it was madness, but this wasnt merely to torment the [Laughing One]. I retrieved Cheong-hos spirit from within the [Laughing One] who had devoured it. But Cheong-ho remained silent. He just looked at me with a gaze full of some meaning. No, you dont have to say anything. This is just well, yes, loyalty. Lets say I did it out of loyalty to you, Chairman. Seriously speaking, Cheong-ho and I were not close. Allies or whatever, it was just a manifestation of the game system. I had no real obligation to do anything desperate for Cheong-ho. Am I the cause of this incident? Is it my fault for asking for the book? In the end, Cheong-ho also suffered this fate because he tried to use me and retrieve a book that should not have been taken out. Cheong-hos spirit looked at me with a gaze carrying a different meaning this time. I refuse. Dont ask for too much. Cheong-ho said nothing. He just kept staring at me. Didnt I give you a simr answer when you were alive? Im a fixer. If your subordinates or your daughter offer me sufficientpensation, and if I have the means, I might help. But anything beyond that, I refuse. I could neither join Cheong-ho and Jeong Hyeon-ahs faction nor bring Cheong-hos faction under my control to help his family. As long as fairpensation is provided, I can help, but I have no intention of bing one with them. Cheong-ho still said nothing. He just kept staring at me. . I couldnt hold back and said something I might regret. I can help you in other ways instead. If thats what you want, Chairman. I could change Cheong-hos current state. For a moment, images of Heo Sang-hyeon and the necromancy golems I controlled shed through my mind. If I put in the effort, more amazing attempts are possible. I could give him more power than he had when he was alive. Of course, he would bepletely different from his previous self. But still, Cheong-ho remained silent. After staring at me silently for a long time, Cheong-ho eventually faded slowly into the darkness. Hes gone. Ugh, this feels terrible. Crack, crunch, snap. A faint noise came from a distance. And my magical power suddenly drained away. Achilles who had been shattered was now repairing its body and rising. Perhaps this was for the best. Achilles, I dont want to deal with Goo Jin-chul in this situation, so handle him yourself. Alright, in the meantime, Ill gather all the magical power filling this ce Screech, crack, snap! No, no, no! Dont kill him! Just get him out of my sight! No, take him to the car!
Good morning. It was Heo Sang-hyeons greeting. Hmm, is it still morning? This was my house, the Hungry Mansion. But what time is it? This house is very dark and damp even during the day. This was because it was intentionally built to face north due to the crazy design ideology of a crazy cultist. Its structure naturally gathered yin energy as it faced the Ghost Gate (a passageway through which ghosts enter and exit). Its 4 oclock now. Woke up too early. 4 p.m., so its 16:00 by the 24-hour clock. No, I was joking. By the way, Im very tired. Ive been worried because youve been overworking yourself since returning from Tanhyeon. Its been about a week since I returned from Tanhyeon, after dealing with the incident involving Cheong-ho. I wanted to rest for a while, but due to Tudors incessant nagging to keep my promises, I only managed to rest for two days and spent the next five handling trivial matters nonstop. Most of these incidents were important only to Tudor and held no particr significance for me. I resolved the kidnapping of a conglomerate chairmans grandson, beat up a lunatic who was collecting peoples spines, rounded up a few illegal immigrants (not foreigners, but aliens) trying to forcibly evolve humanity, and wiped out an entire new religious group trying to create a massive summoning circle in the middle of Geumchon. And yesterday, near Unjeong Station, a strange foreigner (this time, a real foreigner) caused amotion, iming he would y the melody of death with a bizarre violin that could drive people mad and summon monsters just by ying it. Tsk, it was supposed to be a simple quest. Just as I was about to wrap things up, the Feast Offering trait suddenly activated. People who heard the performance had their heads explode at the same time; blood-red rain poured from the sky; an unexpected earthquake urred; and huge monstrous birds suddenly appeared! The chaotic disaster that ensued was finally settled by destroying the rare artifact known as the Devils Violin. Aah, what a pity. I had no intention of ying it, but I could have used it somewhere. I dont know how Heo Sang-hyeon looked at me while I was reflecting on the previous nights events, but after hesitating for a moment, he spoke like a butler. Would you like to eat no, can you eat? Just something I dont have to chew, please. Ill prepare something simple for you. Heo Sang-hyeon soon brought out some fluffy bread, jam, and cream of mushroom soup. This neighborhood had no shops, not even proper houses. Moreover, since I had recently released monsters (usually the results of failed experiments) everywhere, there were hardly any foolish people snooping around. Therefore, we generally got our food delivered. But where did Heo Sang-hyeon find such fluffy, soft, and chewy bread? Is there a bakery like this in the real Paju? Even if I left the Cthulhu World someday, I wanted to eat this bread every day. Thebination of the chewy bread and Heo Sang-hyeons homemade jam was excellent. I nced at my smartphone while eating the bread. I used to be almost addicted to it, but I hardly ever looked at it in this Cthulhu World. There were onlinemunities and news here too, but the detailed information and format werepletely different from those in the world I used to live in. I usually only check it to read messages. The most recent message was from Tudor. Actually, no one but Tudor ever messages me. C Paymentpleted__? C By the way, theres one more thing I need you to do. Can youe out today? Do you remember those big birds you saw at Unjeong Station yesterday? Ive got a request to deal with them. C You muste! Got it? Yesterdays birds? Was it okay to call those monsters with 12-meter wingspans big birds? I tried to think of a reply but ended up tossing my smartphone aside. I decided to spread more jam on my bread instead. No, I refuse. Today, Im not thinking about anything else and just resting. Cheong-hos funeral was grand. Chae Tae-won had called me, but I didnt go. What would I do there? Goo Jin-chul was imprisoned again in the basement under the mansion with Chae Tae-won, and he still hadnte out. I told him not to kill him, but who knows where Chae Tae-won would draw the line. Whatever happens, I wont see his face again. Namo Amitabha. Most of Goo Jin-chuls assets were spent on restoring the mansion and other things. Of course, the other things included my payment. Haha, I got quite a lot thanks to that. The property in Cheong-hos nuclear fallout shelter was returned to the Cheong-ho faction, but I took some of the items with me. Selling off Goo Jin-chuls assets alone wasnt enough to cover my payment. For example, like this. Themp that was attached to the fallout shelter. It was incredibly expensive because it operated on magic stones. The magical light supposedly improved health and extended lifespan just by being exposed to it. For someone like me with the [Weakness: Disease] trait, it was an essential item. If necessary, I could disassemble it for other uses. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Huh? I sensed something strange outside. It was very faint but distinctly unpleasant and foreign magic. The amount didnt matter. I felt the influence of the abyss. Oh, what now? I just want to rest on the weekend! Creak. I heard the sound of the door opening. It seemed Heo Sang-hyeon had opened the front door of the mansion. I stuffed the remaining bread into my mouth and put on my mask. Wait! Dont touch that! I didnt know what it was, but dont touch it! I rushed out to the living room, but it was already toote. Heo Sang-hyeon showed me the item in his hand with an uneasy expression on his face. A letter? It was a postcard-sized envelope. But it wasnt an ordinary letter. It was likely connected to a being of the abyss or at least sent by a high-ranking cultist. Its addressed to the master no, the former master. Oh, its a letter for the Hollow Lord? It wasnt a secret that the Hollow Lord was dead, but it wasnt widely known either. The cultists that belonged to the Descendants of Fomalhaut might have some idea, but theyd be too shaken from their defeat to think clearly. Who could it be? What kind of mad person would send a kind postcard to a 150-year-old skeleton? I asked Heo Sang-hyeon. Where did ite from? I dont know. Heo Sang-hyeon answered while staring at the envelope with a paleplexion characteristic of an undead. Have letters like thise before? Hollow Lord didnt have any family who would send him letters. Heo Sang-hyeon was thest remaining blood rtive, and the cult he established didnt ept living humans. asionally, simr letters have arrived. I remembered them because they were quite unique. Indeed, letters imbued with magical power arentmon. Let me see it. Yes, here you go Heo Sang-hyeon handed over the postcard envelope as if it contained a vile curse. On the surface, it looked like it might contain a Christmas card or something simr. However, the faint and unpleasant magical power lingering on the envelope indicated that the sender was no ordinary human. I flipped the envelope over, but there was no sender listed. Instead, there was just a single short word written. Masquerade. I was lost in thought for a moment while tapping my fingers on the mask covering my face. Masquerade. It meant a masked ball. A mask, huh? I really like those. To be more precise, I was insanely fond of them. Chapter 131: Short Description Chapter 131: Short Description Whooo I took a deep breath. Masquerade This is an event even I might find hard to handle. Right. I havent even checked the letter yet. Lets open it first. The envelope contained two pieces of paper. One was a folded A4 sheet, and the other was a cute illustrated postcard that looked like a Christmas card. Oh, its a bear? Heo Sang-hyeons voice sounded bewildered.He looked relieved for a moment. As if saying, What, I misunderstood for no reason? a helpless smile appeared on his face. For now, I agreed with Heo Sang-hyeon. Yes, its a cute bear design. It was a postcard with an image of a cute purple bear shyly greeting. Even more, it was a cute bear with colorful candies drawn on its belly. Unfortunately, this was not a situation to be relieved about. This was actually a warning sign. In this world, there was only one crazy person who would send such a postcard to a 150-year-old necromancer. Dokgo Gyeom. One of the most dangerous figures in the Cthulhu World. Indeed, if it was a masquerade, it could only be Dokgo Gyeom. This letter is from Dokgo Gyeom. Its probably an invitation. Heo Sang-hyeon looked at me with a curious expression. You havent even read the contents yet, but youre speaking as if you already know what it is? Oh, its because I know what a masquerade is. A masquerade was a very special gathering. It was established by a certain mad NPC in the Cthulhu World aiming for religious unification Its an organization that transcends sects and cults. It was an interfaith union for cultists that aimed at mutual development, enhancing their rights, and stopping annoying individuals like fixers or the administration. There was a membership fee, and they exchanged information for fun among themselves, asionally gathered for workshops, attended events, sent gifts during holidays, lent money to each other, and avenged dead friends They were essentially just a cult, but they enjoyed themselves well. I could roughly guess what was written on the postcard. Lets see. The movement of the stars is unusual. Soon, the stars will find their ces. Before that dayes, a gathering is needed to decide the direction of the judges. Prepare your masks. Though the time is near, we wish to hold a masquerade. Ah, shit. I was right. Different religious cultists were nning to gather and wear masks to have a friendly exchange. Of course, it wasnt just about socializing. Usually, the exchange was a light pre-event, and the main event was a joint ritual with cultists from different cults gathered in one ce. I shook my head and said to Heo Sang-hyeon. They sent a letter not knowing that Hollow Lord is dead? There are too many words I dont understand. Heo Sang-hyeon lookedpletely baffled. Well, its nothing much. So Hmm, if I start exining this in detail, it will take a long time. Do I really need to? This is a meeting of judges from each cult. Judges? Are they simr to the former master? Like a cult leader? Ah, do I need to exin from there? No, to be precise, its a bit different. This is just a title that the cultists decided on themselves. Decided on themselves? Its really a baseless title. Its not like the beings of the abyss call them that, nor is it a title recognized outside of their gatherings. In fact, even in the Call of Cthulhu universe, which inspired the [Cthulhu World] game, there were no such titles. Its a title unique to this ce. From the cultists perspective, the beings of the abyss are gods, right? If a cultist receives an excessive amount of attention from such a being and bes famous enough to surpass other cultists, they are called a judge. Usually, only those at the level of a cult leader receive such a title, but sometimes, like in Hwa Ins case, someone who is not a leader but inherits the title or traits can be one. There are also those with exceptionally outstanding talents, those who can manifest special miracles with legendary artifacts, and so on. Hmm Was my exnation too long? Heo Sang-hyeon had a strained expression, trying to remember the details. In short, thats what it is. Theyre just the strongest people in each cult. Depending on the structure of the cult, there might be someone stronger than the cult leader. So, when these people gather Its obvious what a bunch of big shots from each cult would do when they gather, isnt it? Theyll perform the kind of wretched blood rituals that the Hollow Lord used to do alone but on a massive scale. Ah. A very exciting and enjoyable, yet terrible and evil ritual that will change the fate of this world will take ce. Because of this, there will be dangers of a different levelpared to quests, events, or random encounters experienced before. For starters, the strongest members of each cult will participate. Additionally, theyll bring their most promising disciples, and although the number of participants varies slightly each time Because of the Feast Offering trait, if I go, the maximum number of participants will likely be there. So, at least 300 people? Not just any random cultists, but about 50 strong ones like Hollow Lord or Hwa In. Around 100 direct disciples. And roughly 150 low-ranked members brought along to help run the event. It was an event that was rumored to be a developer-intended instant death trap until a clear method was found. What should we do The worried expression of Heo Sang-hyeon who was beside me grew even darker. He looked as eerie as a ghost butler from a haunted mansion. Surely, youre not thinking of participating? Well, Ill see how things go. In any case, Ill have to be away from home for a day or two in some form. A day or two? Heo Sang-hyeon rolled hisrge eyes menacingly and made a strange expression. Huh? Why that face? Every time youve dered an overnight stay, it has extended to at least a week. Ugh, during the Thousand Gold Temple, it was a situation I couldnt control. As for Cheong-ho well, I have no excuse for that. The number of intruders is steadily increasing. Ah, was that a warning from the butler? Heo Sang-hyeon wasnt just whining out of boredom. Even in the game, the butler character often warned of the dangers that arose during outings. This seemed to be one of those cases. It would be appropriate to interpret this as an increase in the level of attention or notoriety of the ce of residence. I guess we need to strengthen the mansions defenses. The experimental subjects released around the mansion were not enough. Should I go catch some ghosts and set them loose? Could those defenses be the reason the number of intruders is increasing? Heo Sang-hyeon cautiously added. Ah, has the rumor spread already? Rumor? Was this your intention? Well, automatic farming is necessary at a reasonable level, right? This was something Heo Sang-hyeon couldnt understand. As expected, Heo Sang-hyeon just made a face that said, Hes talking nonsense again, and didnt say anything more. He was used to my frequent nonsense. Anyway. I waved my hand to wrap things up. Not going isnt an option either. Non-participants face disadvantages. Its not just a matter of paying a fine. It would be treated as if I had withdrawn from the gathering, and the entire Judges gathering would consider the Hungry Mansion as a hostile force. Wouldnt the strong ones take turns attacking here? If its revealed that the Hollow Lord died in the process, they might even want to hold their events in the Hungry Mansion. Thats not all. Ignoring this event would lead to other problems. Ts clock, in other words, the doom counter. Another star would be added to the doom counter. In short, its a headache. This event is a miserable hurdle that I cant handle at my current level, but ignoring it would lead to an even worse situation. Heo Sang-hyeon briefly opened hisrge eyes wide. Wow, how could anyone open their eyes that wide? Anyway, he said with his eyes wide open. So, in the end, do we have to ept this invitation? Heo Sang-hyeon seems to have roughly understood what I was trying to say. The area under his eyes darkened to the point it turned bluish. Dont worry. We can just cancel the event here. What? Heo Sang-hyeon asked back in a bewildered tone. Oh no, since I was talking about the game settings, I ended up talking as if I was a streamer. Oh, I misspoke. Come on, what can I do by participating here? If I just go there in advance and set fire to the ce, the meeting wont be held at all. Fire you say? Hoho, thats right. They would need a ce to hold the event after all, right? Actually, this was a sort of bug exploitation, but if I attacked in advance and destroyed the ce where they were supposed to gather, the meeting wouldnt happen. Of course, this wasnt easy either. To prevent this kind of game abuse (the act of gaining advantage in a different way than intended in the game), the quests in [Cthulhu World] often had randomly changing locations. But this time, we knew the location in advance, right? They kindly announced the location beforehand, didnt they? If we go there and burn it all down in advance, itll be simple. Oh, of course, there were some random artifacts that could only be obtained by clearing this event. But most of the items thate from here are usually useless, so its okay to ignore them. Since it was a kind of bug exploitation, there would be no rewards or even experience points. However, it was more stable to prevent the meeting from happening than to suffer in that terrible ce with hundreds of cultists gathered. So decision made! To use this strategy, we had to move quickly. Now, lets see, when was the event scheduled? The event schedule was written on an A4 paper enclosed with the postcard. The date is tight. Ah, this is really annoying. Should I do a speed run after a long time? And then, the meeting ce written below. Sejong City, huh? Geez, they called me far away. How is an old man with bones that barely move supposed to get there? And the event schedule listed below. An immoral feast using immoral ingredients. The main event along with human sacrifice. With other sadistic and disgusting acts that didnt need detailed mention. And then there was Huh? An unexpected sentence caught my eye. The clear reward that yers could only think of as random. It was written there. The owner of the [Mask of the Faceless One] will also be decided this time. They were giving the [Mask of the Faceless One] as a reward? Again, the best y here is to just cancel the event itself. But If the event was stopped, this artifact couldnt be obtained. I have to give this up? My reflection appeared in the mirror hanging in the living room. The image of a mad mage stared back at me. A crazy mage always wearing a bizarrely shaped mask. I already had an L-rank mask artifact anyway. Unless I had two faces, I couldnt use the other mask even if I got it. And just like I had only one face, I had only one life. Sometimes I deliberately put myself in danger, but that was usually an adventure born out of extreme situations. Pointless adventures are unnecessary when you already know what will happen. At this moment, I needed a calm and rational judgment. Yes, Kim Shin-hwa, get a grip. Hmm But this is still kind of tempting.
TN: Lol, man is obsessed with masks Chapter 132: Sejong, the City of Hope and Happiness Chapter 132: Sejong, the City of Hope and Happiness It waste at night. On a long, straight road somewhere in Chungcheong Province. It was a remote road with no buildings in sight. At thiste hour, there were no other vehicles except for the call van I was in. In the drivers seat beside me, Jang Hyeon-deok who was pale and sweating was pressing the elerator. Vrooooom! The roaring engine and the tremendous wind noise made me feel like I was going deaf. But there were no other sounds. Is everything sorted out? Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to find it hard to take my words at face value.He nervously twisted his head to look up at the sky several times before finally speaking. Is it is it over? Did we lose them? Really? I was about to respond with something like, Yes, really this time, when something suddenly blocked my view. [Quest ] It was a message window. What nonsense was it spouting now? Get lost! Unable to contain the surging blood pressure, I released a bolt of lightning. Crackle! A blue lightning bolt zed in the cramped car. Aaaah!! Screeeeech!! Startled by the sight, Jang Hyeon-deok screamed and let go of the steering wheel. The scenery outside the window spun at an incredible speed. Ahhh! The car is spinning! Idiot! Grab the wheel! Screeeeech!! Whose fault do you think this is? Screeeeech!! The guardrail loomed closer. Aaaah! Fortunately, the car stabilized just before the critical moment. Whew, what kind of crazy bastard casts magic inside a moving car? Mage-nim! What on earth is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?! Ah, sorry. My insanity acted up suddenly. [Quest Completed! Reward: 1,250,000 XP + 120,000,000 won] Anyway, was the questpleted? This isnt enough to level up anymore. Its okay now. The mission isplete. Haah Really? I almost died. You said it was just a long-distance trip, so why did I have to engage in a chase with monster birds?! From the beginning, I told you wed handle a simple task on the way to Sejong City. The costs, including this task, were agreed from the start. Dozens of monster birds with a wingspan of 12 meters are a simple task? But it was handled smoothly, right? Isnt it really the best to make moneyfortably? Last time, you said it was a simple task and dragged me to Tanhyeon. Why do you keep doing this to me? Do you have a grudge against me? Huh? For a taxi driver who dragged someone into a death trap on the first meeting, you sure have a sharp tongue. Ugh, isnt it even after dragging me to Tanhyeonst time? Yeah, youre right, Im sorry, Hyeon-deok. Oh,e on! Please stop doing that! Huh? Seems like this isnt working anymore. Ive said it before, but everything went ording to my n from start to finish. Can you include my cars safety in that n? Your car is going safely, isnt it? Unable to hold back any longer, Jang Hyeon-deok suddenly turned his body and pointed to the roof of the back seat. Look at that! Look at it! Screeeech! Hey! Look ahead! Look ahead! The roof of the back seat had a hole big enough for a persons body to pass through. Because of that, the wind noiseing into the car had been unbearable. [Sound Wave Distortion] Creating a barrier that blocked the noise made things much more pleasant. That was part of the n too. When we get paid by Tudor, Ill cover the repair costs. Knowing this would happen, I had already deposited the repair fee with Tudor. Please, leave my car out of your ns next time. You tell me to include it, then to leave it out; make up your mind. Ugh By the way, where did those birds go? He casually referred to the giant monsters with wingspans over 12 meters as those birds. Hmm, theyre probably still flying around here. They should be just above those clouds. Is it okay to just leave thatas it is? This area doesnt have any decent fixers, does it? The request was to get rid of them in Paju, right? Besides, if we go a bit further, well reach an area with plenty of fixers. Theyll take care of it. Though I didnt actually n to leave it, I just said that because it was annoying. It might have sounded heartless, but Jang Hyeon-deok just made an expression as if he epted my exnation. Well, hes not exactly a naive civilian either. We are in Jochiwon. A bit further down the road, well reach the huge future city of Sejong. Anyway, drive for a bit. I need to call Tudor. Just as I started talking to Tudor, she said the same thing as Jang Hyeon-deok. C Hello? Why did you take them there? Were you watching? C How could I do that? Unlike you, Im a modern person, so I found out through the inte. The real-time search terms are no joke. The inte? Oh, right, this isnt a game. It felt strange that the residents of this world interacted with me in ways different from those presented in the game. I briefly took the smartphone away from my ear and checked the inte browser. The real-time search terms were filled with keywords like monster birds, monster birds in the sky, Chungcheong province monster birds, monster birds in Jochiwon, Cheongju emergency, monsters in Cheongju, great copse, monsters in Cheonan, and so on. Everyone has been livingfortably so far, huh? Those monsters have been flying over Unjeong Station for a while, and now Chungcheong province monster birds is trending? Those birds had been spotted over Unjeong Station for over a month. C People just dont care about whats happening in Paju. Anyway, why did you drag those things all the way to Chungcheong Province? I removed the monster birds from Unjeong Station because you asked me to. I did what you wanted, and now everyonesining? Though she said this, she probably wasnt too upset. After all, the quest was marked aspleted. C Well, as long as its out of Paju, it doesnt matter. But are you going to leave them there? The people in Chungcheong Province must be thrilled. They would be thrilled. Thrilled enough to put a bounty on my head. Ill get rid of them eventually. C Youre going too far south. Where are you? How far do you n to go? If you keep going that way Are you seeing something weird? C Its the inte. The real-time search terms changed, so I knew. You use all your brainpower on magic calctions and dont think about anything else. Take a break sometimes, get some fresh air, exercise. It was sad to hear this from a witch who had probably lived since before the 19th century. As Tudor said, Monster Birds in Sejong City had climbed to the top of the real-time search rankings. Anyway, I took care of it, so just deposit the money. C Okay, okay. Oh, and how much of the repair fee is left? C Haha, did you wreck the car again? There shouldnt be much left. For our very busy mage, Ill make sure to adjust the bnce. Alright. Ill leave the minor tasks to you. Im going to sleep for a day and head up tomorrow. End of the call. I took a moment to focus, took a deep breath, and used my magic to check the state of the monster birds no, the Shantaks. [Thousand Eyes] I could see what was happening up in the sky. Kyaaaak!! Kweeeck!! Dozens of monsters that wererger than most light aircraft were flying above the clouds. Shantaks. We casually called them monster birds or monster birds, but they were not just birds or beasts. They were a different species frequently mentioned not only in [Cthulhu World] but also in the Cthulhu Mythos, which was the original lore. They were cosmic species (creatures that live in outer space) that had their own religion, uniquenguage system, and even the ability to travel through space. They were not meant to wander under Earths atmosphere. Yet there were dozens of Shantaks here. I could handle one easily, but the story changed with so many of them. Gyahhh!! Kgeeeck!! Well, even though their intelligence wasnt very high, they could somehow be controlled. The creatures were currently in a highly excited state, chasing a few fireballs I had created. Compared to the Shantaks, humans were barely the size of baseballs, and their numbers were far from sufficient, but the fireballs had been leading them perfectly all the way from Paju to here. However, there were too many enemies to avoid. Kyaaahhh! One of the extremely agitated Shantaks finally cornered one of the fireballs. Damn it, is there a limit to autopilot? Just before the fireball was destroyed, I poured in my magical power to infuse the fireball with specific will and direction. Differentiation is necessary to implement high-speed trajectory calctions, forces, directions, and three-dimensional movements in real-time. Calctionsplete. A fireball that dragged a long tail and created a trajectory that no other flying vehicle could imitate. Yes, move like that. Understood? Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Those fireballs leading the Shantaks were not ordinary fireballs. They are all creatures of another world, also called descendants of the [Living me], the burning ones, or the fire vampires. Since they werent just simple creations, they could think for themselves and learn and apply what they were taught. And that ability was Achilles. Crack! Ill hand over control to you now. Can you do it? something Achilles also possessed. [The unique effect of the S-rank magic tool Staff of Beacon, Binding of the Living me has been activated. // Binding of the Living me: Grants the wielder the ability to summon and control the followers of the Living me.] What was attached to Achilless body was the [Staff of Beacon] that I previously took from the descendants of Fomalhaut. Through Achilles, the connection to the me vampires was maintained. Initially, I had simply intended to create a me-spewing golem, but the result was far beyond that. Achilles was a necromancy golem with the ability to summon and control the Burning Ones. I continued to issuemands while maintaining synchronization with Achilles. I wonder how I looked to Jang Hyeon-deok. No, a bit higher lure them to a less visible spot. Good. Over there, that cloud looks suitable. Yes, above it. Great! Drive them further. Keep maintaining direction slowly yes, this area is good. Now, circle around to buy some time. Good. At this height, it should momentarily stop the enforcers in Sejong City from panicking. My vision returned. Instead of the dozens of Shantaks and the Burning Ones luring them, I now saw the interior of Jang Hyeon-deoks vehicle heading toward Sejong City. But, Mage-nim? And then there was the punk with cheap blond dye and dangling piercingsno, thats just Jang Hyeon-deoks dazed face. His head was slightly above mine. Being tall must be nice. No, thats not it. I got distracted and lost my focus for a moment. What? Arent we going back today? What are you talking about? I said this was a simple task to handle on the way. You did say that. So were really going. to Sejong City? Yes. If this is a simple task, what are you nning to do in Sejong City? Are you going to turn it into a sea of fire? Well, youre not entirely wrong. What? No, I decided not to do that. Anyway, lets go to Sejong City. Technically, weve been in Sejong City since a while ago. Oh, really? Is that it? Good. Sejong City came into view. Just as Paju in this world was a strange and dangerous city, Sejong City in the Cthulhu world was a grotesque megacity that had been overdeveloped using alien technology and resources. Massive skyscrapers stretched as if to distort the horizon, lights, and neon shing even in the dark hours, and huge airships flying in the sky of the city. It was Sejong, the city of hope and happiness. Chapter 133: Banquet of Madness Chapter 133: Banquet of Madness Is that party really happening here? On that spaceship? Jang Hyeon-deok looked at the huge building in front of him with a bewildered expression on his face. Spaceship? I wondered what the heck he was talking about so I looked up at the building. The building was designed like three huge domes connected together in a sleek rounded design. It was even covered in a metallic and shimmering silver finish, so it certainly looked like something that could be called a spaceship. Yes. At this time? It was 3 a.m., not a typical time for any kind of event.Yes. Youre saying youre going to a party in that mask, wearing that strange hanbok, with a sword at your waist, at this time? And this ce is what? Sejong Govern something? What is he even saying? Its Sejong Government Complex. And thats the Sejong Government Complex Gymnasium. Oh, right. The New Government Complex. It didnt seem like he knew what he was talking about, but Jang Hyeon-deok nodded his head with confidence and continued speaking. It seems like this is some really shady event, right? In stories like this, isnt it usually a secret party? It is a secret one. But theyre doing this kind of thing here? Dont people in Sejong City have eyes? He was looking at the area around the entrance to the gymnasium. Although streetlights and night lights were installed nearby, they were all turned off for some reason and the ce was very dark. And if one looked closely into the darkness, they would notice a red carpetid out. It was all ridiculous. At the entrance, there was even a guide perfectly dressed in a formal tailcoat. Even if they have eyes, they cant see this area, at least not tonight. Huh? Why? If I werent in this car, you wouldnt have been able to get close to this area. Oooh I took Dokgo Gyeoms invitation out of my pocket and showed it to Jang Hyeon-deok. Even though Dokgo Gyeom was known to be a madman, he didnt send out an invitation imbued with magic just to show off. The enchantment on this invitation no, never mind. Think of it as a high-pass card. We passed the checkpoint without you realizing it. Hmm? You changed your exnation because you thought I wouldnt understand? Maybe I could have understood. No, I meant to say it was a high pass card from the beginning. Fortunately, Jang Hyeon-deok quickly lost interest. Anyway, this is one of the strangest ces Ive ever brought a fixer to. Honestly, even the ck market? It wasnt as oddly themed as this. In terms of danger, this ce is a hundred times more dangerous than the ck market. At least the ck market is a ce for humans. This is a ce for cultists, madmen, and the beings of the abyss that embrace them. Now, enough chit-chat. Lets get ready to get off. I pulled the hoodie over my head and activated the effect embedded in the winged robe of the night veil [Shadow Deception] Buzz The ck cor of the mantle gradually spread out, bing a ck liquid or shadow itself as it covered my entire body. I briefly became a faint shadow. I waspletely enveloped in pitch-ck darkness. And I cast a new spell over this darkness. [Tangled Identity] Buzz A new form emerged over the blurred silhouette. Since there was no need to change my appearance drastically, I didnt look much different from before. However, the mask on my face transformed into apletely different design. It became a grotesque silver mask, made to resemble the face of a dead person, just like the [Dead Mans Mask] that was in Hollow Lords mansion. Of course, it was only a change in shape. The real Dead Mans Mas was still being used as a terminal to control the necromancy golems in the mansion. Jang Hyeon-deok who had observed the entire process whistled in admiration. So, what do I do now? I dont want to go back to the empty car. Should I wait? The waiting time is also billed, you know. Ah, thanks for suggesting it first. I had already nned around Jang Hyeon-deok waiting. Fine, but its dangerous around here. So, hang out somewhere in the city. Oh, if thats okay, its fine by me. But. But? Take Achilles with you. And follow the instructions. You can go anywhere in Sejong City, but dont go outside the city. What happens if I do? If our connection is cut, Achilles will break your neck. It was a lie. But knowing his personality, if I didnt say this much, he might wander off. How many kilometers away would that happen? I dont know. It depends on my condition and the surrounding magic concentration. There are many factors to consider, such as the position of the moon, the movement of stars, humidity, airborne particles, and the terrain. Thats why in the underground fallout shelter filled with the magical power of [the Laughing One], I couldnt maintain the connection for even 10 meters, but in an open field, I could extend my influence over dozens of kilometers. Anyway, its dangerous here. See those apartmentplexes far away? Stay around there. I think I can reach that far. Are you really sure its okay? And this fake dog seems a bit off. Achilles who was seated in the back was unusually still. He actually looked like a piece of modern art made by solidifying random junk into the shape of a dog. Well, he is made of solidified junk in the shape of a dog. Jang Hyeon-deok couldnt see it, but Achilles was busy processing theplex calctions I had input. Thats because Im maintaining some magic through Achilles. You always just say magic! at the right time and end the talk. What, would you even understand if I exined it all? Ooh? No, no. Stop! Please, just stop nitpicking! Okay, okay, I got it. Right. Anyway, Achilles is busy, so he cant protect you. Take care of yourself. Hmm, well, if I stay in the apartmentplex, no one should bother me, right? Hmm. Even though I said that, Jang Hyeon-deok was one of the strategic assets I needed to protect. And if the magic Achilles was maintaining got dispelled, my entire n would fall apart [Protective Circle] [Hazy Presence] [Ghost Step] [Tindalos Shell] I cast several spells on Jang Hyeon-deok. Because the connection may be lost unexpectedly, I sacrificed a few magic stones to create an auxiliary magical power battery. Those magic stones seem incredibly high-purity; arent they expensive? The money we earned from chasing away those birds earlier is all gone now. Huh? To be specific, 120 million won. Since I have to give Jang Hyeon-deok a share, Im already at a loss. Anyway, I have more than enough money now, and I can earn more whenever I need it. But a medium with the [Living Altar] trait and an S-rank artifact embedded in that necromancy golem cant be bought with money. See youter then. Hey, wait a minute. Yes? I need to clear up one of the suspicions I had been harboring. Are there any ghost stories or legends rted to Sejong City? Huh? No, there arent. Really? Jang Hyeon-deok asionally talked about strange legends tied to the ces he visited. At first, I thought he was just making things up, but it became suspicious as he repeated them more often. Every time this guy talked about weird things, something terrible happened. Today, he hadnt said anything unusual. Did that mean nothing unexpected would happen? I hoped it truly meant that. I couldnt let my guard down yet. It could just be that the conditions hadnt been met. As soon as he dropped me off, Jang Hyeon-deoks car quickly drove away. I walked slowly along the red carpet while scanning my surroundings. By the way, seeing how poorly theyre hiding actually makes it more obvious. Sticky gazes could be felt from all directions. Artificial darkness was scattered around the vast gymnasium. And within that darkness, I sensed high-level magical powers. There were even some hanging from the roof and walls of the gymnasium. Most of them were security personnel ced to block unexpected intruders. Looking at those guys reminds me of the frustration I had when I was ying the game. Originally, to enter the event hall, I would have had to sneak past those guys, slipping in here and there with stealth action. In the process, there were instant-death traps that would trigger upon stepping on them. Climbing up the outer wall had an immediate fatal fall if I slipped, and the bugs were so bad that all resources were probably wasted to create this huge gym. But this time, I have an invitation, so I can enter confidently. Hahaha Just the thought of not having to do that made me feel good. At the end of the red carpet, an old gentleman in a perfectly tailored tailcoat was checking invitations. Do you need any help? Oops, I had been thinking for too long. The elegant old gentleman in the tailcoat, or rather the masquerades gatekeeper, spoke to me. Without a word, I took out Dokgo Gyeoms invitation from my pocket and showed it to him. It was a cute postcard with a purple bear drawn on it, but the appearance didnt matter. This postcard which was prepared through some kind of ritual contained Dokgo Gyeoms magical power. The gatekeeper recognized the magical power and bowed politely. Thank you foring such a long way. Can I go in? Yes, just follow the carpet straight inside. All right. I walked slowly past the gatekeeper. It would be a lie to say I wasnt nervous at all, but still, it was as expected. Alright, I made it this far. Since I have already experienced simr difficulties at the Thousand Gold Temple, I took the best possible precautions. Having been entangled with so many beings of the abyss, I now carry too many diverse scents to disguise myself as a follower of any specific cult. The [King in Yellow], [The One Who Comes from the Dark], [The Living me] Fortunately, the Winged Robe of the Night Veil alleviated those issues. A flimsy illusion spell like [Tangled Identity] couldnt solve this problem, but the [Shadow Desception] of the [Winged Robe of the Night Vei] provided a very strong concealment. Unless an L-rank artifact or a being of the abyss itself intervenes, no one can see through my identity. But even if they did, what could they do? My mana core contained a fragment of [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. In any case, I could argue that I wasnt entirely unrted to the Hungry Mansion. So, I concealed other magical powers and disguised myself by showcasing the magical power of [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. And this level of disguise should be enough. They wouldnt have assigned just anyone as a gatekeeper for an event with such sensitivity. But even the specially selected gatekeeper for today didnt notice. Inside the gymnasium, the path split into two. One path led to the door directly ahead. And the other path led up a flight of stairs. Was it to guide the way? This time, a woman in a tailcoat appeared. She brushed aside her flowing hair and spoke in an annoyed tone. Wee. May I verify where and whom you are visiting from? A strange manner of speaking again. Another excessive setup. Well, today was a special day. Wasnt it the day when the main viins of a chapter, or at least mid-level bosses, gathered in one ce? I would be meeting these kinds of people all day. They would each make a brief appearance and showcase their strange personalities, but after today, I might never see them again. I am a member of the Hungry Mansion. From the Hungry Mansion She shuffled through some documents, confirmed something, and continued speaking. What is your name? Heo Sang-hyeon. Still speaking with that careless tone. She briefly looked up from the documents and stared at me. After a brief silence. Thank you for confirming. Please proceed straight ahead. As expected, there was no problem. By the way, werent we supposed to be wearing masks to conceal our identities? Why was she asking for names? Well, in the end, its all up to Dokgo Gyeoms whims. It was a gathering organized by a madman anyway. Comining about the detailed setups would only tire me out. So, was I on the first floor? Members, that is, direct disciples, stayed on the first floor. And the distinguished guests, the judges, went to the second floor. Creeeeak Therge door opened, and a banquet of madness prepared for the cultists was revealed. Chapter 134: The Cults Chapter 134: The Cults This ce was certainly a famous public sports facility located in Sejong City. During the day, it would have been used for the welfare of the citizens or events organized by the government. But not today. Whether it was rented using special connections or if a strange technique only avable to the cultists had been used to secretly infiltrate it overnight, a strange banquet that couldnt exist in reality was taking ce right now. Masquerade. It was a party with a bizarre atmosphere in many ways. A giant stage was set high above. Excessively loud and monotonous music yed on that stage. And lyrics were mumbled repetitively like an incantation. Just that sound alone is enough to make me feel uneasy.But that was only the beginning. The hall was covered with golden decorations, extravagant red carpets, and beautiful curtains. Balconies were installed here and there along the high inner walls, and dozens of chandeliers hung from the ceiling. None of these were originally here. Wow, this is no joke. Despite such extravagant tastes, the banquet hall was rather dark. The dimly set indirect lighting and the curtains draped here and there, along with decorations ced in strange locations that hindered movement. These were intentionally arranged to prevent anyone from seeing the entire ce at a nce. But more than that Obviously, the density of magical power was high. Because of that, some areas were even cast in unnatural shadows. Its starting again. The fog of war. Unless you approach it directly, you cannot know what is happening beyond those shadows. It was a game mechanic created for resource management to maintain yer tension. If one wanted to y along with the setting, it would be for the benefit of the guests at the party. It was a party for the cultists who couldnt and shouldnt reveal their true identities to each other. Smoke rose here and there, sparkling powder was seen on hidden tables, and there were strange devices of unknown purpose. All were forbidden in the open world. Aaah A moan was heard from a space covered by a curtain. The shadow of a person was faintly visible beyond the curtain. One didnt need to imagine the sexual fantasies deliberately staged at this type of party. While some cultists might pursue such forms of parties, todays party preferred something different. Soon, bright red blood spilled under the curtain. Geometric grooves were carved into the floor here and there. The blood flowed through those grooves. I dont know how borate the drainage system was, but all the blood flowing down went in one direction, as if ignoring gravity. It seems the fact that this is a public sports facility has beenpletely ignored. The vast hall no longer bore any traces of being a gymnasium. One could forget that there was a building with the same name in the world I used to live in. There were things that couldnt be recreated, no matter how much money was spent. But tonight was a special night. For tonight, suchmon sense was ignored. The buildings shape and structure were entirely different. Given that the party took ce in such a bizarre location, the state of the attendees was far from normal. Cultists with bodies and minds so corrupted they hadpletely lost their humanity, and madmen who would use the power of demons to achieve their goals. People dressed in outfits more peculiar than the fixers who gathered in Vasilisa. Mutants with grotesque physiques so bizarre that one would question if they were truly humans. And sinister, malevolent magical power that far surpassed anything in Vasilisa. But whats the point of being anonymous if they have to check our names when we enter? They might wear masks and try to hide their identities, but it was obvious who they were. For example, the woman in the conspicuous outfit over there. She was wearing a ckce mask that barely covered her eyes and a flowing dress. Though some might disagree, her dress was reminiscent of a witch. She served a being of the abyss called Baba Yaga; it was also known as the [Terror of Salem] or the [Night Visitor]. That name meant witch in Russian. She walked around the banquet hall with a happy smile and spoke happily to someone. These days, unsettling things are happening in Paju, right? Ah, I know. The famous descendants of Fomalhaut have embarrassed themselves greatly this time, right? See, they all knew each other, right? The cultist in the wolf-hide mask, who abruptly changed the subject to someone elses misfortune in Paju, served the being of the abyss known as the [Wanderer of Ice] or the [Howling cier]. The cults name was a bit funny: it was Winter Coming Cult. They believed a cosmic-level winter would soon engulf the world. Only around that guy did the temperature seem lower, with white breath puffing out of the wolf snout of his mask every time he spoke. While a foreign witch and the doomsday-worshiping shaman were having a friendly conversation, another person joined the conversation. Acting beyond their means, it was quite a sight to see. Why did they attack another cult right before the masquerade? The neers mask resembled that of a gue doctor from the ck Death era, though he had little to do with medicine. This was a member of the Azure Moon Cult, who served the [Hermit of the Sleeping Forest]. They werent Korean; they were more like the Korean branch of the Japanese Yakuza. Despite the rude tone of the Azure Moon Cult members swaggering speech, the woman with thece mask responded politely. They did it because it was right before the masquerade. Since they were recently attacked by an unknown intruder, they probably wanted to strengthen their authority before the event. By the way, I heard the crazy skeleton from the Hungry Mansion really toyed with those arsonists from Fomalhaut. Is that old skeleton really that powerful? Unlike the polite response from the woman with thece mask, the man with the wolf mask openly disyed his doubt. The Hollow Lord of the Hungry Mansion earned the position of the masquerades judge alone. Anyone with a bit of sense would know its a mistake to underestimate someone like that. Huh? Are you talking about me? Oh, so you have enough wit to notice that? Suddenly, the area around them was filled with concentrated magical power. Oh, theyre going to fight, theyre really going to fight. As the atmosphere grew openly hostile, a variety of masked people gathered around. Whether they weremoners or cultists, everyone enjoyed watching a fight. Ladies and gentlemen, violence and the use of abilities are prohibited at the party. It was the guide with the long hair from earlier. She intervened with a tired expression on her face, as if even talking was a bother, If you really want to exert your strength, there are plenty of sacrifices. so why not direct it there? Its been hard toe by them these days. Hmph, who would waste their abilities on someone like this? Yeah, a fight should be with someone of the same caliber. Though they spoke bravely, everyone gathered could see that the two individuals magical power and momentum had waned. How boring. If youve drawn your weapons, you should fight. Ha, who would be foolish enough to argue with the Eternal One Origin Cult at the Masquerade? Eternal One Origin Cult. It was a cult that worshipped the powerful [Ruler of the Boundary]. In principle, the Masquerade was supposed to be hosted by each cult in turn, but that was only in theory. All the gatherings held under the name of the Masquerade were hosted by the Eternal One Origin Cult. To be precise, it should be said that it was hosted by Dokgo Gyeom, the judge of the Eternal One Origin Cult. In the first ce, it was Dokgo Gyeom who brought together the scattered cult members and created a group called Masquerade. Anyway, themotion was quickly resolved. Meanwhile, some attendees at this party couldnt be easily ssified under any religious name. Hahaha! Have you ever tasted Mongolian Death Worm? Its a delicacy beyondparison to any food here! Do you really eat such things? The loud burly man wearing a boar mask was part of the Gourmet Garden who were followers of the [Predator of the Mountains]. ording to the revtions of the god they served, they captured and consumed monsters from all over the world they were truly crazy poachers. They had the ability to absorb the power of the monsters they consumed and make it their own. That burly man who was nearly 3 meters tall must have devoured a considerable number of monsters. You really dont appreciate fine dining, do you? Next time,e to one of our gatherings. Ill prepare a true delicacy for you. No, Im quite a picky eater. Even if I tried something new, I wouldnt appreciate the taste. Instead, Id like to invite you to our restaurant. And that humble woman he was talking to was likely from the Slow Kitchen. They were known for their monotonous culinary obsession with a single type of ingredient, which they had been fixated on for a very long time. The god they served was a minor one called the [Hungry Seed], which constantly whispered to its followers and urged them to consume their kin. These days, theyined that it was hard to find ingredients because everyone preferred cremation. I briefly hid in the ambiguous gap between the curtain and the decorations and took a deep breath. I needed a moment of rest. Haaah I was exhausted. Of course, the penalty trait [Reduced Stamina] made it difficult to walk among the crowds, but more than that, both my mind and body were tired. Still, I had identified Baba Yaga, the Winter Coming Cult, the Azure Moon Cult, the Gourmet Garden, and the Slow Kitchen. So far, thats five in total. It would be nice to mark at least one more notable group. I wasnt eavesdropping on the cultists conversations because I had nothing better to do. It was all foreshadowing in preparation for the main eventter. A magical mark is ced on each person who may interfere with the mask battle that will soon begin. Just one more group. Any more would be a hindrance. The stat used for maintaining a specific spell over a long period of time was mental strength. Although I supplemented myck of mental strength with intelligence, there were too many spells to maintain at the moment. My concentration was scattering. Ever since the Cheong-ho incident, I havent had a single day off due to unnecessary irritation. I was tired. Alright, lets move again. The main event will start soon. There was one more cult I needed to contact before that. Should be around here somewhere. Not those guys, nor that one. Cultist, cultist, monster, another cultist. Behind that curtain? No. Another cultist. And the blood rituals that were openly taking ce here and there and the shamanic music that continued endlessly. Ah, really tired. Moreover, thisplex structure. The endless obstacles made me keep circling this vast space. Just when my frustration was about to peak, I finally found the targets I was looking for. There, theyre all gathered together. Ten in total. These guys were apletely different style of cult from the ones Id seen so far. The most typical yet the most vicious type were those who infiltrated society by imitating religious groups that exist in reality. Uniformly ck suits without any individuality. And they were all wearing simr masks. And they all wore golden crosses around their necks. Found them. The Yellow Forest Church. Contacting them wouldplete the preliminary preparations. But what are they doing right now? The cultists of the Yellow Forest Church had a strange atmosphere around them. They werent participating in the party and were instead just standing scattered and keeping watch? Were they on guard? Why were they like that? They came to a party but werent enjoying themselves? Did someone provoke them? I pretended to look around from a suitable spot and expanded my detection range. Tsk. This is tricky. I couldnt tell what the problem was, but they seemed really angry. It wasnt going to be easy. Ah, this was annoying. Should I give up on the Yellow Forest Church? No, lets stick to the n so that I dont regret itter. Even if I called it a n, I needed a slightlyplicated method for these guys. I picked the one who seemed the easiest to approach and brushed past them Hey, who are you? The response came from an unexpected direction though. A man and a woman who were dressed identically to the other cultists of the Yellow Forest Church were approaching me. What are you doing, sneaking around so close like that? Chapter 135: The Three Eyed Mask of the Yellow Forest Church Chapter 135: The Three Eyed Mask of the Yellow Forest Church It was indeed a doubleyered defense. They ced bait in a noticeable position, and the separate team split off to trap anyone approaching the bait. In this case, even the bait itself was a powerful cultist, so a natural encirclement formed. Including the two who appeared, there were a total of twelve. And there were twelve crosses and twelve masks. Hmm, the shapes of the masks everyone is wearing are quite familiar. [Carcosas Mask] never appeared during the game, so I didnt know at the time but now I could see they resembled [Carcosas Mask] I was wearing. These masks werent genuine L-rank items though. Each had differently shaped eyes, but they were mere replicas with no special effects. Were they the same kind I saw in Tanhyeon? Good thing I changed the shape of my mask.The Yellow Forest Church was a cult disguised as a Protestant religious group. Their formal name used among themselves was the Yellow King Advent Prayer Circle. The lord they prayed for was not the one worshipped in normal churches. The Yellow King. In other words, they were cultists who worshipped the [King in Yellow]. Although I had changed my appearance with magic, the mask I was wearing was still the [Carcosas Mask]. It was an item of the [King in Yellow], so it was practically a sacred relic to those guys. I thought it was a perfect disguise, but I couldnt help feeling a bit uneasy. Where did this guye from? Ever seen him before? Doesnt seem like it. Is he one of them? The twelve masks surrounding me each spouted nonsense, and a sigh of disappointment followed. Damn, we caught the wrong guy? Oh, what? Really? It seemed the encirclement wasnt meant for me after all. Nevertheless, I felt just as disappointed. Counting again, there were twelve visible cultists of the Yellow Forest Church. Twelve. One was missing. Should I make more noise to draw them out? But I couldnt make too much noise. I had to lure out thest one in a controlled manner. After pondering for a moment, I spoke up. What are you. Hey, shut up and stay still. A firm voice suddenly interrupted me. I stopped talking and looked toward the source of the voice. He was a guy wearing a mask with only one eyehole. Before I could say anything else, he continued. If you spout any more useless nonsense, Ill smash your head. He usually pretended to be some sort of church evangelist, but he had a big mouth. By the way, although the position of the eyeholes on my mask was slightly odd, this guys was on another level. His single eyehole was in the middle of his forehead. I had no idea how he could see anything. I simply raised one hand in response. Magical power? How trivial. Allies? It looks like you have none. But youve cast some strange spell on your mask? Anyway, its clear youre suspicious. When I stepped back, the man with the one-eyed mask grew more confident and he proudly listed the information he had gathered. But theres no smell of the sea, no sea smell at all on you. Was I mistaken? Or are you a mercenary? No, they wouldnt use someone like you. He mumbled iprehensible things and then continued speaking. What are you? I dont know, but Im definitely not someone rted to the sea. Shut your mouth. Didnt I say Id smash your head? Yeah, sometimes you run into guys like this, obsessed with acting tough and spouting nonsense. You tell me not to talk, then ask what I am, then tell me not to talk again. What do you want, exactly? Are you stupid? What did you just say, you bastard? When the man with the one-eyed mask raised his voice, the masked members of the Yellow Forest Church naturally surrounded me. Well, well? It seemed they were all experienced with mob beatings. They positioned their bodies to cover any blows and ensured no one would notice. What, you want to pick a real fight? Stop, everyone, stop. A voice so beautiful it gave me chills. What the hell? Hes obviously not the right person, so stop it. The other disciples of the Yellow Forest Church parted to the sides. Same mask, same suit, same cross. But this man had apletely different aura to him. His presence was so distinct it felt out of ce. He stood with a rigid posture. A mask with three eyes. He looked at me silently for a moment, then brought his hands together in front of him and bowed politely. I apologize. My brothers were disrespectful. I stared at the cultist with the three-eyed mask for a moment. I had to look up slightly. This guy was quite tall too. His shoulders were broad almost as broad as the man with the one-eyed mask. I envied his impressive health and strength stats. I intentionally kept my mouth shut and just shrugged my shoulders. Thank you for your understanding. There is a cult trying to harm us, so our brothers have been a bit on edge. It was an eerie voice even when I heard it again. I was a bit taken aback because this guy didnt have a dedicated voice when I yed the game. Thinking about it calmly, it could just be a very pleasant voice, but it was a bit excessive. It was such an otherworldly and beautiful voice that it made me wonder if it was really a human sound. . After greeting me, the man with the three-eyed mask didnt just leave but stood there staring at me. It was a strange atmosphere. With everyone wearing masks, it was ufortable not being able to read their expressions. I realized how much I had benefited from reading peoples expressions in conversations. Just as I was beginning to feel uneasy, the man with the three-eyed mask finally turned around with his brothers. I hope I dont see him again. Seeing him again today was inevitable, but there was nothing good about the quests rted to him and the Yellow Forest Church. Getting involved with them meant dealing with a series of unpleasant quests that recreated all the worst aspects of real-life cults. Anyway, is this preparation over? I looked at the idiots from the Yellow Forest Church from a distance. They were in the same formation as before. They were probably doing this to catch the [Sleepers of Rlyeh], the ones who served Cthulhu. The [King in Yellow] and the [Sleepers of Rlyeh] were brothers and mortal enemies. Therefore, the cultists who served them generally followed their gods and opposed each other. Double vignce and all that. I knew what they wanted to do from a distance, but I had to confront them to draw out that three-eyed guy. Should I be d it ended without drawing more attention? Anyway, that made six markings. Simply put, it was simr to what I did to Jang Hyeon-deok. Of course, since these markings were much less dense, they couldnt have the absolute effect they did on Jang Hyeon-deok, but I could still cast spells on the marked ones whenever I wanted. [Hazy Presence] It was a spell that erased presence and individuality. I didnt cast it all at once like a fool. I walked while gradually increasing the density of the invisibility to avoid drawing attention. But with everyone so distracted, I probably didnt even need the invisibility spell. Even without the spell, it would have been hard to attract attention in this chaotic ce. Although there were no judges or elder cultists, there were over 100 people with strong magical power, and more than 200 if you counted the weaker ones gathered in this space. Considering the shadows cast here and there, the Hazy Presence spell might have been overkill. I found a ce to wait for the main event with a more rxed mind. This spot seems the best to stand. At the edge of the event hall. From here, I could see the stage where the frenzied performance continued. Though the curtain behind me blocked my view. I stretched out my hand and felt behind the curtain. Hmm, theres definitely a pir. I leaned against the pir hidden by the curtain and took a deep breath. Phew I was indeed tired. I needed to conserve my mental and physical strength. Due to the poorly designedyout of the event hall, I couldnt see the entire view. Still, it wasnt too bad. It was a convenient spot to observe the surroundings. Although this was supposed to be a party for the judges, the important judges were nowhere to be seen. What caught my eye were merely the foolish initiates reveling in joy and madness. Human sacrifices being killed in horrifying ways, blood flowing along the grooves on the floor, the shing golden statues, cultistsughing maniacally, cultists baring huge fangs, cultists tearing into fresh meat dripping with blood, cultists showing off freshly plucked eyeballs, cultists immersed in ecstasy while emitting rainbow-colored smoke, and masked monsters mimicking humans as they roamed around the party. Groups of people who couldnt walk the main streets in a normal way even without their masks gathered in threes and fives, and they just endlessly spouted their own crazy chatter. Yes, the party had already reached its climax. It seemed to have started suddenly when I was ying the game, but now it was clear. The density of the magical power was changing. Seems like its about to begin? Suddenly, the music stopped. Now, all that could be heard from the stage was a quiet murmur without any music. It was a chant. At some point, even the chanting stopped. The inhuman banquet of the fools who have been selected as the best disciples in each sect and proudly followed the judges has not yet stopped. They had no idea what awaited them. Ugh Ugh, ugh! It all started with a cultist who had been tearing into raw meat dripping with blood. Thud. That was the sound of the raw meat in his hand falling to the floor. Ughhh Ah, ahhh Ahhh Moans of ecstasy flowed from his throat. ng, tter. And that was the sound of the metal mask covering his face hitting the floor. The face that had been hidden under the mask was revealed. A forehead, chin, and neck with grotesquely bulging veins. Blood-soaked lips. And eyes unnaturally wide open. His tworge eyeballs moved independently. They rolled wildly in random directions. They were moving at such an excessively fast speed that they seemed about to pop out at any moment. Anyone could see that he was in an abnormal state. Hey, whats wrong? Whats happening? A fellow cultist approached him after he saw him exhibiting abnormal reactions. Despite his clearly strange appearance, the fellow cultist came closer to help. What an admirable reaction. Or perhaps, it was a reaction only possible because cultists were ustomed to such bizarre phenomena. If it were an ordinary person, they would have fled in terror. Foolish act. Fear is a defense mechanism that living beings have developed through long evolution to protect themselves. The cultist with abnormal reactions staggered and swayed violently, then grabbed his fellow cultists shoulder. Aaaahhhhhhh What? Need support? No, he didnt grab the shoulder because he needed support. It was a gesture to capture prey that hade too close. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh A mouth, no, a maw, opened beyond the limits allowed to humans. What? What, what is this?! Let go! You crazy! He struggled to break free but he couldnt escape. Crunch. Crack. Huh? Even with part of his forehead and frontal lobe torn away, he momentarily made a bewildered sound and trembled. Or, was he convulsing? Sash!! . A beatter, blood spurted out. Thud. The sound of a person copsing. Crunch, crack, snap. The sound of chewing on flesh and bone fragments. Aaaaaah!! W-what is that?! Sporadic screams erupted. It was hard to believe that these were the same people who had been the stars of this inhuman banquet just moments ago, judging by their fully human reactions. Chapter 136: The Main Event Chapter 136: The Main Event A drastic mutation that was enough to copse the human form urred. Crack, snap, tear! The growth and mutation were so intense that they reminded me of Lee Chang-hyeok who had previously turned into a monster before my eyes. The mans shoulder muscles developed grotesquely. The skin on his arms tore as the muscles underneath spread apart in strands. No, the scattered muscle fibers quickly transformed into dozens of tendrils. He emitted a monstrous roar. As if he was vomiting. Bzzzzzzzzzz!!! Dozens of tendrils spewed from his maw along with the roar. The flesh of his mouth and jaw stretched out. The same mutation urred with his arms.Dozens of tendrils sprouted from his face. He was no longer in a state that could be called human. That was a monster. What, what is that guy doing? What is that? How did that happen? Those gathered here were cultists immersing themselves in a surreal world. There were some who had some resistance to such irrational situations since they acquired forbidden knowledge and unbearable madness. Crackle! [System: The trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effect of fear has been nullified.] Not quite like the Madness of the Abyss trait, but still. In any case, everyones limits on what they could ept varied. Some screamed and fainted, while others still didnt grasp the situation and approached awkwardly. Huh? This is a joke, right? The cultist who had turned into a monster, no, now a being that should be called a mutant like Lee Chang-hyeok, reached out to those approaching awkwardly. Bzzzzzzzzzz He extended his tendrils. It was definitely not a friendly gesture! Vwoooooong!! The tendrilsshed out at a speed imperceptible to the human eye. Shraaack!! A spray of blood mixed with human flesh scattered everywhere. The horrifying trajectory of the tendrils swept through the cultists, mingling their blood and flesh. Dont get close! Run away!! What is that?! Oh! Predator of the Mountains! Shouts andmands poured out in all directions, mixed with cries seeking their gods. Cultists of various types began to run in all directions ording to their preferences. This created tremendous chaos. Its hard to say it serves them right. Anyway, its aplete mess. They were fools who had been indulging in an inhuman festival and revelry until just a moment ago, ignorant of who the true sacrifice of this festival was. Meanwhile, some dependent cultists dashed toward the outer edge of the hall before looking up at the gallery above. Pleas burst out at the same time. P-Please help us! Branch leader! Judges! I hid my body in the darkness behind the curtain and looked up at the upper floor. Heavy and unpleasant auras gathered upstairs. They finally reveal themselves. The leaders, officials, or powerful figures of each cult gathered here, regardless of their titles. These were the judges who had been hiding in independent spaces until now. Just like the initiates, they were looking down while their faces were hidden behind masks. Even though their faces were covered, I could read their atmosphere. Even though their direct disciples were dying, none of them stepped forward to help. They just watched. Ridicule. Contempt. Or perhaps anticipation. Wh-Why are you just standing there?! Its a monster! Please help us! One oblivious witness threw off his mask and pleaded with the judge of his cult. The judge who was wearing a mask adorned with colorful feathers replied to him. Why should I? Huh? Well, because Idiot, stop it! A slightly smarter cultist approached and pulled him away. The feathered mask judgeughed loudly. As if he had the same thought as me. Hahahaha! I was worried we only brought fools, but it turns out our cult has someone like you! Thank you. You understand the situation, right? Survive at all costs. And bring back the mask of the faceless one. I understand. May the blessing of [Ny-Nine Wings] be with you. The cult probably forced some bizarre sense of unity under the pretense of being a cult, but this is the reality. You can see it just by looking at the Hollow Lord. They were addicts, hooked on abnormal ideologies and surreal powers. Even if they were direct disciples of the same cult, they were ultimately strangers, and just disposable pawns. Anyone who died this easily was useless from the start. If they survived, they would be stronger. And what if, by some stroke of luck, they could also obtain the one and only artifact? Even if there was only a 1% chance, the meaningless deaths of a dozen or so disciples wouldnt matter. Theyre just crazy bastards. At this point, the magic imbued in the hall was dramatically intensified. Fzzzzzzt! Snap! Zzzzzt! The magical power that was secretly injected into the fools who enjoyed the banquet without care in the world has now be a spark that could be seen with the naked eye. Gah, ugh! One more. Bleurgh!!! And another. Those who couldnt withstand the forcibly injected magic began to appear. There was only one fate for them. Mutation. Bzzzzzzz! The bodies of those who were unable to maintain their human bodies and minds became entangled and twisted, and new monsters emerged. Four, five, six. Huh? That guy, hes my sworn brother. Can he turn back into a human? This isnt a problem confined to one cult. They said the main event to determine the owner of a powerful artifact was starting, so this must be it? Oh,e on, I thought I was getting pork cutlets in this ce, but it turns out we were going to the dentist instead. (TN: This is a pun like where the father tells his children theyre going to a good ce like Disney Land or something, but instead takes them to the dentist.) The members of Azure Moon Cult, Winter Coming Cult, and Baba Yaga, who had nearly caused trouble earlier, were observing the situation from a distance, much like I was. It was a wise decision. The main event hadnt started yet. If they had stumbled from the start, all the effort I spent marking them would have been for nothing. Around this time, Dokgo Gyeom should be making his appearance. Ba, ba-ba-ba-bam, ba-ba-bam! As blood, screams, and the curses of cultists filled the banquet hall, majestic music began to y. It was the main theme from the musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Hello! My beloved madmen, monsters, psychopaths, serial killers, and cannibals! Whahahaha, whats he saying? Kukuku, crazy bastard,e down quickly! Loud cheers and jeers erupted. Of course, these reactions did note from those mingling with monsters on the brink of life and death. These were the reactions of the judges observing the situation from a safe ce. Now, the main event of our masquerade begins! It was Dokgo Gyeom, the host of the event. He wore a pure white mask covering only the left half of his face and a silk hat with an unusual design. He donned an extremely expensive-looking three-piece suit and a ck coat with a red lining, so wide and fluttering it looked almost like a cape. He even had a stylish cane. Anyone could see that his attire was inspired by the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera. I knew he was crazy, but hes a real clown. Was he pleased with his chosen theme song and costume? Dokgo Gyeom who was standing on stage was quite ted. Now, everyone, listen carefully! He shouted towards the members, who were still being battered into bloody pulps every minute. We are currently in a crisis. The stars are aligning, surreal visitors from other worlds are striding down the streets, corporations armed with alien knowledge aremitting extralegal crimes, and the government, colluding with demons, is censoring information containing the true truth under the pretext of security. What is he saying? Crazy bastard! Shut up! These were the reactions of the cultists being chased by monsters. The words used were simr to those of the judges, but the emotions behind them were entirely different. Oh, how rxed you all are. This is no time for such pointless chatter. Bzzzzzzz!!! Aaaah! Get out of the way! The response to Dokgo Gyeoms crazy words was harsh. Bang! sh! Crack! In an instant, three members were dead. Seeing this, Dokgo Gyeom suddenly began to cry and wail loudly. Uuuuuuh ooh, such tragedy Look! You are all so weak! At this rate, we will all perish! In an instant, Dokgo Gyeom leaped back. With a single leap, hended on the gallery railing five meters high without any preparation. Thats why we have devised a way to quickly grow you weak and foolish ones! Did you enjoy the power of the ley lines we drew from underground in Sejong City? Was the effect of the ritual great? Its nice to gobble it up, but those who dont have the right constitution end up bing monsters like that. Grrraaaagh!! Bwaaaargh!!! As if responding to his words, the monsters roared in unison. What a thrilling sight. Dokgo Gyeom pulled therge lever installed next to the railing. Rumble rumble rumble rumble!!! At the same time, the stage split open and a hidden mechanism surged up from the underground. Huh, really. Is that even possible? I thought no amount of money could prepare for a party like this. In the game, it was just CG so I didnt think much of it, but seeing this impressive dynamic spectacle in real life is mind-blowing. A huge spiral pir that was about four meters thick shot up and it caused a tremendous vibration throughout the hall. The pir soared up as if it would reach the ceiling of this vast hall. In other words, its a ten-meter-high pir. At the top of the pir Look! The unique artifact you all desire is right up there! Sitting at the end of the pir was a treasure chest with an overly ornate design. How extravagant. It was a box far too vulgar to appear at a horrific feast tangled with blood, death, monsters, and screams. It looked more fitting as a prop on an entertainment show. However, Dokgo Gyeom seemed to feel immense satisfaction and excitement, enough to make his body tremble, as he watched the chaotic scene. See, its a simple structure? Avoid the tagger and grab the treasure chest! But if you take too long, youll be the tagger too! There were quite a few simr entertainment shows, so which one had he imitated? Hahaha! You should have said that from the start! A 3-meter giant man wearing a wild boar mask spoke. This was a monster hunter from the Gourmet Garden. He burst outughing and charged forward. A mutant swung its tentacles to attack him, but he threw a corpse that was lying next to him with ridiculous strength. Boom! The mutant was pushed back by the impact. However, he wasnt prepared for the attack of another tendril flying in with a time dy. Whizz!! Ahh!? Excuse me. Someone wearing a in metal mask suddenly interrupted. It was a small cannibal chef from Slow Kitchen. sh!! She swiftly swung her two cleavers and cut off the bundle of tentacles, and then climbed onto the shoulder of the man in the wild boar mask. It seemed like a pretty goodbination. Hey! Who said you could step on me? I just helped you, didnt I? Is this really the time for you two to be chit-chatting?! Yeah, hurry and clear the way! I dont want to turn into one of those monsters! The crow-mask Yakuza from the Azure Moon Cult and thece-mask witch of Baba Yaga had formed a team as well. And then Crack! Boom! A massive cier suddenly surged up, pushing back several mutants. Looking around that area, I saw a shaman from the Winter Coming Cult wearing a wolf mask. He was dancing while holding a small drum adorned with buffalo horns. Good. Ive confirmed up to this point. Everything was unfolding just as it had in the game. There were no variables outside of the development that have been bothering me so far. In the poorly optimized game, theplexity of this location and the simultaneous movements of the NPCs had causedg and stuttering, but this time, there was none of that. Regardless of the difficulty, as long as there were no unexpected variables, I could handle it. May I approach you over there? Goosebumps rose on my arm. It was an eerily beautiful voice. Ah, damn it. This was an event that never happened in the game. It was the cultist from the Yellow Forest Church. He was wearing a mask with three eyes that were hard to look at and he spoke to me. Donte. Dont talk to me; just go away. You came from Paju, right? I said go away. Chapter 137: Masquerade Strategy Chapter 137: Masquerade Strategy Why is this wannabe cultist acting so friendly and talking to me? Ive seen simr magical power before. [He whoes from the darkness]. Youre from the Hungry Mansion, arent you? His voice was excessively charming. If it were simply a good voice, a beautiful voice, a pleasant voice, it would have been nice. But this crossed the line. What did they call it, the uncanny valley? Just hearing the voice made me feel ufortable. So? It seems difficult to escape alone from here. Like the others, um at least until we get past the monsters, wouldnt it be better to cooperate? Ah, was he trying to seduce me now? He didnt seem to have much skill in flirting. Sorry, but find someone else Didnt this guy already have a dozen friends from the same cult?Im not nning to cooperate with anyone. I ignored the three-eyed mask guy from the Yellow Forest Church who was pretending to be friendly and expanded my senses. Is this three-eyed mask fellow the only one watching for now? Should I just knock him out with one hit and put him to sleep? The reason I was deliberately observing the situation was not to witness the tear-jerking friendship, efforts, or victories of the cultists crawling on the ground. This event was dangerous. There were judges-level cultists watching from the balcony. Each and every one of them was as powerful as the Hollow Lord or even stronger. There were roughly more than fifty of them. Even though I had leveled up since facing the Hollow Lord and Hwa In, I had only managed to handle them easily by using various tricks or preparing surprise attacks. Fighting honestly in a ce like this could get me hurt. Actually, even if it were only Dokgo Gyeom as my opponent, I would have to be prepared to die. If an uncontroble variable appeared, I wouldnt be able to deal with it anyway. Hey, Yellow Forest Church fellow. Yes. He answered in an amused tone. It annoyed me so much that I forgot what I was about to say. His attitude was typical of a maniptive psychopath viin. He was exactly the type I hated. I stared at his mask for a moment. Three eyes ced awkwardly. It was hard to make eye contact with him. Ugh, how irritating! I felt like apologizing to all the people who had ever tried to make eye contact with me. Stop bothering me and look over there. Over there? Oh. In the direction I pointed, there were other cultists from the Yellow Forest Church. Earlier, the one-eyed mask who had picked a fight with me screamed as he was entangled by the tentacles of a mutant. Though it felt wrong to say he deserved it, he would soon die if left like that. How unfortunate. I wanted to talk with you a bit more, but I cant neglect myrades any longer. With those words, the three-eyed mask guy ran toward where hisrades were. Right. Even though they were cultists, they had a sense of camaraderie. Damn it. How annoyingly troublesome. Ill have to find a chance to give him a good whackter to relieve my frustration. Alright. Is this the right moment to move? I couldnt afford to dy any longer. But I couldnt afford to rush either. Like I said before, this wasnt a simple event. Anyway, I just need to win this messy cultistpetition without standing out too much, right? No, I did need to stand out. But not excessively. After all, I was Heo Sang-hyeon, a guest from the Hungry Mansion. So I couldnt exert my full power. The moment they realized I was an overwhelmingly different existence among these fools, the mad judges driven by jealousy would try to kill me. Anyway, the first person to reach that pir is the winner. The number of mutants has now exceeded thirty. Most of the cultists were stuck against the wall of mutants and were unable to advance any further. A usible set-up was needed for the fake Heo Sang-hyeon, who had beengging behind, to suddenly surge forward and take first ce. First, lets get to first ce. That was the first hurdle. [Agility of the Fox] [Elegance of the Cat] [Eyes of the Eagle] I turned around to check the wall behind me. Then, I lifted my head to look up at the ceiling. The red canopy curtains covered the ceiling. They extend radially from the center of the ceiling to the walls. Hmm, using Leap should be reasonable for Heo Sang-hyeon, right? [Leap] It had been a while since I used it. The magic circle that appeared around me granted my body surreal jumping power. Paaa. Once. Then, after stepping on a protrusion in the middle of the wall, I leaped again. Paaa! With just two jumps, I reached a height close to the ceiling. Phew, thats quite high. About twelve meters maybe? There was a hook on the wall to secure the curtain extending from the center of the ceiling. I hung briefly from that very hook. In the game, you could hang indefinitely by pressing the G button, but I didnt have that kind of grip strength. [Binding] So I activated additional magic to tie myself to the curtain extending from the ceiling. When I turned my head to look ahead, I saw a pir rising directly opposite. So, I finally have to do this. I took a deep breath, loosening the joints in my neck for a moment. The words I had been repeating to myself since before arriving at this ce resurfaced. Rather than causing chaos here, it would be better if the event didnt happen at all. Tension and fatigue, oveing obstacles, adventure, and hustle y. What awaited at the end was just a mask. It was a very powerful artifact, of course, but was it worth all this trouble just for that? [ .] Crackle! What was I thinking until now? A box at the end of the giant pir? Reward a mask! Yes, the mask! I want that mask! The mask was right there. The quickest way to reach the mask was [de of Darkness] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] A first-order spell. Jet-ck des made of shadow from negative energy flew in all directions. Swish, swish, swish! They precisely sliced the ends of the curtains that covered the ceiling. This is a strategy I created. If one looked for it, there would be a 25-minute strategy video I uploaded. Views: 78. Why doesnt anyone watch it? This strategy video for this amazing game. Ah, you shouldnt cut all the curtains here. You need to leave one curtain to hang from. Flutter All the curtains except the one I was hanging from fell to the floor. What, what is this!? The curtains! Arghhh!! The curtains fell on top of the cultists and mutants who were tangled up below. They would serve as an obstacle to bind them temporarily. As for the curtain I was hanging from There was no need to cast a spell. I imbued the released magical power with cutting power to slice the curtain. sh!! One end remained fixed to the center of the ceiling as it was torn. And I added weight to the torn curtain I was hanging from. Whirr. It was like the scene of an acrobat on a flying trapeze. Did you see it? This way, you can move across while hanging from the curtain. I crossed the chaotic party hall at tremendous speed. Oooooh! Who is that guy? Cheers and gasps erupted from the gallery. It was the reaction of the judges who still didnt know my identity. Since they didnt know that I was an infiltrator at this party, they were amazed as they wondered which cults child could perform such a clever feat. Are you enjoying this? Im having a hard time though. Uggghhh! But it was also an overly shy entrance. The mutants rampaging in the hall came charging towards me. Thats why I dropped the curtains. The long trailing curtains tangled around the mutants tentacles and tripped them up. Thanks to this, the cultists who were being chased by the mutants seemed to gain some breathing room. They watched me zip across the hall with their mouths agape. At some point, someone among them shouted. That idiot, its too short! Yes, its short. I know. The curtain was long enough to cover the ceiling, but the rotating shaft that secured it was attached too far back. So an additional leap was necessary. Where to jump could only be grasped through a hellish repetitive y. Let me tell you the easiest way. Just after brushing past the fourth balcony, hit the space key repeatedly! [Leap] Or just use a mage character! Hah! He jumped! Wow! Hes flying! It wasnt perfect timing, but it was decent enough. Now there were no more curtains to grab onto. I leaped several meters and soared in the air without any help. Damn it, if I wore the Winge Robe of the Night Veil, I could fly. What a waste! Kim Shin-hwa could fly, but flying and Heo Sang-hyeon were an ipatiblebination. The next spell I cast was the one Heo Sang-hyeon had used to attack me before. [Spirit Explosion] Many had already died here. I gathered the grudges of the dead wandering within this hall and struck that ridiculously designed pir. Boom!! The pir was so massive that it didnt just break; it copsed. Crash!!! Boom!! Fragments scattered in all directions, and a cloud of dust rose up. Phew, this is a mess like no other. Did I win first ce in this chaotic cult gathering with this? I weakly activated the Feather Fall spell andnded on the ground at a suitable speed. Oh, my, my, my! From the gallery set up right next to the copsed pir, Dokgo Gyeom sighed. That magic! That power! An idea no one could have imagined! And such incredible star quality! Where did this persone from?! The judges murmured but gave no answers. I saw the guide with the strange way of speaking, whom I had seen at the entrance, running towards Dokgo Gyeom. Oh, I see! Do you know why the descendants of Fomalhaut, who were strong contenders for todays victory, did not participate? Its because of this person! The heir to the Hungry Mansion! The immortal mage who serves [the One Who Comes from the Darkness]! His name is! Oh, right, his name is a secret. No way! This is the disciple of that old bone bag? The Hungry Mansion! Ah, indeed, after countless biological experiments, they finallypleted something like this! Waaaa!! Cheers erupted among the judges. If they knew the name, they would probably be chanting Heo Sang-hyeon! Heo Sang-hyeon! in this crazy atmosphere. Hmm, quite popr. Sang-hyeon-ssi are you watching? I have made you the super rookie cultist of the year. No, this isnt the time to be thinking such idle thoughts. Anyway, everything up to this point had gone ording to n, including making Heo Sang-hyeon a super rookie. While I was thinking about that, Dokgo Gyeom introduced a new phase to this frenzied cultist rally. Everyone, its not over yet! The chest hasnt been opened yet! Right, the chest was still rolling around among the pir fragments. What an incredible wit and skill! But can he survive to the end among so manypetitors? All the monsters and cultists gathered in this giant hall turned their gazes toward me. Keueeek!! Graahh!! The mutants were going berserk. Get him out! Kill him! That ones mine! The masks, no, the masked cultists came rushing at me. They were screaming and going crazy with jealousy. Ugh, this is serious. I didnt know about anything else, but I felt like I could die from happiness. Over a hundred diverse and unique masks were charging at me at the same time. My broken brain was pumping out dopamine at an incredible rate. Could this ce possibly be a paradise prepared just for me? Everywhere I looked, there were masks, masks, masks, masks, masks. What a truly beautiful sight. Chapter 138: Competitors Swarming in Chapter 138: Competitors Swarming in No, what am I thinking right now? I had to knock on my head a few times to get a grip. My obsession with masks is getting worse. This ce is too stimting for me. Mutants in a rage, and cultists looking for a chance to take advantage of the situation, were charging at me. But not right now. Give me a short break for just a few seconds. Phew I took a brief deep breath. Wow, my stamina. From here, its really going to be chaotic. I need to rest as much as I can while I have the chance. Gwaaaaah!!Ugh, is the break already over? Two mutants have gotten close. I took out the skateboard that I had shrunk with magic from my pocket and threw it on the ground. Its been a while since I rode a board. [Leap] I barely ignored the treasure chest I had dragged down and leaped into the sky. My direction was above the heads of the mutants charging at me. Bzzzzt!! Two mutants leaped towards me while stretching out hundreds upon hundreds of tentacles. Im quite popr. At the peak of my leap, I cast a spell. [Fireball] [Spell Enhancement: Toxic] Fwoosh! Boom! The fireball that transformed into deadly toxic mes through spell enhancement exploded with jet-ck fire. Sizzle Crackle Graaah! Graaah! The monsters desperately tried to shake off the toxic mes clinging to their bodies, but they couldnt escape. The mes moved like a living creature, burning fiercely with a demonic intensity. Oh, and then. Move, you jerk! [Hardening] [Protective Circle] Crunch! I stomped on the head of a mutant that was in an awkward position with my skateboard. Graargh! The monster extended its tentacles to wrap around me but the magic activated faster. [me Burst] Boom! A dazzling pir of fire shot up. It was apanied by a shockwave so violent it was visible to the eye. Meticulousness is the virtue of a stagnant water. I pulled the shockwave towards myself andunched my body back into the air. After leaping again, I spread my senses to scan the surroundings. The consecutive me spells triggered the mutants in the banquet hall with their fierce noise and brilliant light, but so what? There was something more important. The mes imbued with toxicity began to produce the additional effects I desired. Whoosh! The dozens of curtains I had dropped earlier. Now, the toxic ck mes spread to the curtains covering the entire hall. They seemed expensive at a nce, but were they actually cheap? They burned far more fiercely than I expected while spewing out toxic smoke. Tsk, tsk, tsk. In their haste to prepare things, they ignored the fire safety regtions. ording to the Fire Safety Management Act, cultural and assembly facilities, religious facilities, and sports facilities must use me-retardant curtains. Ah! The fire is too intense! Cough, cough! I cant see anything! Yes, yes. Well done. The fiercely burning mes naturally isted the stragglers in the rear, which included most of the mutants and cultists. Of course, some had already gotten close, and there would be those who would ignore the fire and push through. But the important thing was that I no longer had to deal with hundreds of them at once. Good, everything is proceeding ording to schedule. I had marked everything, copsed the pir, dropped the treasure chest, attracted the cultists attention, and set the fire. Next on the list Check the condition of the treasure chest. Just then, a few diligent cultists had circled around the edge of the hall and were approaching the treasure chest. How quick. They must have some sort of movement ability. Got it, its mine! No, its mine! I couldnt let that happen. [Grasp of the Dead] Creak! Dozens of gray hands rose from the floor and lifted the treasure chest. Ahhh!? One of the cultists who had approached the chest screamed and backed away. I want to open the lid and take the mask out, but There were still more cultists sticking around. To shake them off and check the condition of the treasure chest as nned, I cast a spell. [Spirit Explosion] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] Boom! A rather splendid explosion. The cultists who had swarmed near the chest were all blown away by the sts aftermath. But, as expected, the chest didnt get a scratch. A moment ago, that same spell had brought down a giant pir in one blow. Even with spell enhancement to maximize its power. It seems the chests settings are the same. I didnt know how it was implemented here, but it was an indestructible object. An item with no set HP or durability. Since it wasnt a target for attacks, it couldnt be destroyed no matter what was done. It cant be opened yet! And it cant be destroyed by such trivial means! All of this is a ritual! A ritual to awaken the perfect artifact that will evolve you all! We need more sacrifices! More blood! Dokgo Gyeom repeated the exact lines from the game. Yes, sacrifices. That mask was sealed. The reason thisrge cult agreed to use their own disciples as sacrifices was likely to break the seal on that chest. Everyone, your sacrifices are not in vain. Spill more blood! Through that blood, the mask will awaken! Anyway, if things go south, I can just take the chest and run away. Considering the other things I had done in this world, that too could probably be unsealed through magical means. But there wasnt time for that now. What are you mumbling about!! An unknown cultist wielding a giant scythe charged at me. Good grief, this is exhausting. Oh, right. You should feel the pain of someone who has no stamina. [Exhaustion Shackles] Clink! Crack! Dazzling shackles made of runes and magical lines glowing in crimson wrapped around his limbs. Ugh Instantly, the cultist fell into a state of exhaustion. He started losing the strength to hold therge scythe and copsing to the ground. He would be unable to attack for the next ten minutes. It was all dependent on my mental strength. Alright, the chest check was done. What was written on the next page of the schedule? Surround him! Block the way! Dozens of masks surrounded me. Mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask, mask. This time, everywhere I looked, there were only masks. An unexpected thrill surged through me. My body shook convulsively. My left hand, the back of my neck, under my chin, and around my eyes twitched, and my heart rate sped up. Suddenly, my adrenaline and dopamine levels spiked. My vision expanded and my senses heightened. At this point, I wouldnt mind dyingno, what am I thinking? Get a grip! Forget the n; I could die if I got hit even once! My body had some terrifying penalty traits. [Decreased Stamina], [Increased Damage], [Higher Injury Probability], [Close Combat Weakness]. I struggled to gather my wits and spoke to the masksor rather, the cultistssurrounding me. You shameless bastards. I went through the trouble of breaking the pir and cleaning up the mutants, and now youre surrounding me? Looks like none of you could beat me one-on-one. Hohoho, if theres an overwhelmingly strong candidate, its only natural to take them out first, right? I didnt need to worry about those whose names I couldnt remember. They were all direct disciples, sessors, geniuses, and such, but in the end, they were just mass-produced cultists. In fact, most of the cults had sent those with grand titles but no real ability as sacrificialmbs for todays ritual. Oh, of course, some cults did send their real contenders and were aiming seriously for the top prize. You, you, you! Yes, just like that guy over there. Is this bastard pretty strong? It was the beak mask neer of the Azure Moon Cult. I ignored him and enchanted my skateboard to jump to the side. Craaaaack!! A massive ice pir erupted where I had been standing. The caster was a wolf-masked man dancing while holding a drum decorated with buffalo horns. You dodged that! If I hadnt jumped immediately, I would have been impaled by that ice pir. I didnt expect someone this impressive toe from Paju! The woman with thece mask spoke. Is there some secret ultimate technique passed down through your family? I told you earlier, never underestimate the Judge of the Hungry Mansion. It seems the value of the Hollow Lord has soared unexpectedly. Theres nothing like that, you idiots. Vrooooom! Oops, a battering ramor rather, a giant spearflew toward the spot where I was supposed tond. Leap again! No, there isnt enough time. [Hardening] [Fireball] Boom! Using the explosion of the fireball I cast, I forcibly changed my direction in midair. To sessfully pull off such physics-defying moves, you need strong core muscles. Of course, I dont have those. Ugh damn, my spine is going to break. Im curious what you ate to be so strong. If I eat you, can I be strong too? Ill cook the thigh meat perfectly for you. A monster hunter with a boar mask and a cannibal chef with an iron mask were curious about the taste of my flesh. It seemed the spear had been thrown by the monster hunter. The cannibal chef wielded tworge cleavers while hanging onto the monster hunters shoulder. Why do I keep feeling like Im being forced into penalty matches? How many are there? Damn, there are already more than 30 of them. Take this! Aaah! The low-ranking cultists recklessly charged at me. Get lost! [Gale] Whoooosh!!! Aaaargh! Ugh, we cant get close! When I lightly knocked a few of them away, the small fry that surrounded me at a distance didnt dare toe closer. Pathetic! Get out of my way! Once again, a spear like a battering ram flew towards me. Crash!! I sensed it through the flow of magical power in advance and moved my body a step ahead of the spear. [Leap] Hmm, what level should I move at to make it seem like Im just at Heo Sang-hyeons moderately impressive skill level? I wanted to blow them all away, but excessive action was forbidden. The moment I go all out, I would have to fight those judges gathered above in the gallery. If that happens, it would be impossible for me to escape without harm. In short, I had to fight using only the abilities that Heo Sang-hyeon could use, and the enemies I needed to watch out for now were that brute and You let your guard down! Whooosh! The cannibal chef hiding behind the giant monster hunter, who stood three meters tall, leaped out. Two cleavers twirled elegantly in his hands. Who said I let my guard down? With my right hand, I gathered the grudges of those who died today and struck him. [Spirit Strike] Boom!! Kraaaah! And with my left hand [Maic Control] A second-order maic control spell. I generated a powerful artificial maic force to pull in metallic objects. Buzzzzz! At that moment, I noticed someone beyond the wall of cultists, preparing arge-scale spell. Drums decorated with buffalo horns, and strange dance moves. He was the shaman wearing a wolf mask. O wanderer of the wind! With your breath, bestow upon my enemies the trial of severe cold! He must be quite busy ying the drums and dancing alone. Hey, dont summon that! Hahaha! Do you think you can stop theing winter with mere shouting? Crash! A metallic object flew from afar, drawn by my maic control spell. It was the treasure chest containing a mask that struck the wolf-masked shaman. The wolf-masked shaman coughed up blood and flew through the air. Serves him right. Wh-What the hell!? Why? Didnt you want this? I infused more magical power into the maic force and swung the treasure chest around wildly. Crash! Crash! Cultists flew like bowling pins. How could people be tossed around like that? It looked as if thews of physics had broken down. Buzzzzzzz! The treasure chest orbited around me with tremendous force. One foolish cultist had struck the treasure chest with a fist filled with magical power, only to be repelled by the equal force of his own blow and sent flying. It was ridiculous. The world was as poorly made as a hastily developed game. Still, thanks to this, I had a brief moment to spare. [Heavenly Sight] I sent part of my vision and consciousness outside the hall. Before my eyes, I saw twopletely different ces. One was, of course, where my body was, and the other was Wait, where is this? What? How far did they drag you? Oh, because of the fixer? Damn, that cant be helped. Can you move? I see. Good. Thatll do. No, this wasnt a symptom of madness. I was simply talking with myrade outside the banquet hall via [Heavenly Sight]. However, to the cultists surrounding me, how did I appear? I-Is that bastard hearing things? Shit, I knew he was strong, but hespletely nuts! Fine, let them talk. Insults are only a momentary shame. Ignoring the cultists nonsense, I continued speaking. Ill buy you some more time, so move as fast as you can. Yes, you sense the signal, right? Good. The n was slightly off schedule, but now came the final phase. Chapter 139: The Final Schedule Chapter 139: The Final Schedule Two divided consciousnesses. Dozens of spells still being maintained. Hundreds of calctions, predictions, guesses, and judgments happened at the same time. Alright, its a bit early, but Ill proceed to the next stage first. I leaped again to avoid the cultists who were charging in. Then I sent the treasure chest flying towards the fools. The cultists were pathetically easy to knock away. Meanwhile, a suspicious movement was detected in the distance. A witch with ace mask covering her eyes. She was crouching on the floor and whispering something. Yes, hurry, wake up. Help me!Crack! Snap! Following hermand, the floor of the banquet hall split open, and grotesque tree trunks began to grow at an incredible speed. That was rather simple to take care of. Instead, I flew towards the rushing tree trunks. [Chains of Domination] Clink! Golden chains intertwined with the tree trunks. She has even worse control than the ghoul shaman I met before. Through the chains of enforced domination, I drove my magical power into the tree trunks. Vrrrrr!! Fluorescent waves of energy seeped into the tree trunks. The will and magic imbued in the trunks were expelled, and new meaning was instilled. Crack, snap!! The wildly moving tree trunks instantly transformed their shape and nature. Sharp thorns sprouted and the trunks moved flexibly like whips. What, what have you done to my children!? If you want to live, youd better run. Swish!! The tree trunks that now turned into menacing thorny vines surged toward their original master. Eek!? She made several attempts to regain control, but realizing it was futile, she threw herself backward and rolled across the floor several times to escape. Hey, theres fire over there Hiyaaa!! Before I could check on the witch friend, a punch flew at me from behind. Ugh, that looked dangerous. [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Thud! Ouch, ouch Thats a pretty solid barrier. But how did you know I was approaching from a perfect blind spot?! It was the yakuza who was wearing a beak mask. The cultists attacks were no longer being perceived visually but through sensory detection. I was aware of the movements of everything in my vicinity and could respond ordingly. Of course, he dodged because you were yelling like a fool! This was a remark from thece-masked witch who had hidden behind the altar to avoid the thorny vines. What? Are youughing at the cry of my soul? I didnt dodge because of it, but the yell is funny. I tried to hold back, but I ended up adding ament. Shut up, all of you! Toriyap! Why did he shout like that? But his momentum was impressive. Crash! Snap! Bang! The multipleyers of the protective circle shattered in an instant. If left alone, I would get hit by that punch. I extended both hands toward him and activated a spell. [Exhaustion Shackles] Shackles made of glowing magical lines flew towards the beak mask man. Swish! Hiyaaa!! But then he dodged to the side with a strange cry. ng! Ugh The shackles of the exhaustion-inducing spell were ced on another small fry cultist who had been forming the encirclement. Huh, did he dodge that? [Magic Bullet] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Ratatatatatatat!! Turup! What was that? That guy can dodge bullets too. The beak-masked man moved around at an incredible speed. His movements reminded me of Bae Jong-Kyeong in terms of speed and power. Suddenly, he made an exaggerated leap, then twisted unnaturally in mid-air to deliver a flying dragon kick! Kiyaa! But I had already experienced this pattern in the game. In an instant, I used maism to pull the chest to block his kick. Boom!! Ugh, what is this?! Strange feeling, right? Its an object set to be invincible in the system. The beak-masked man who attacked it with full force was thrown back in his kicking stance. As expected, his movements seemed to trigger a glitch in the physics engine. Its not easy to pretend to be moderately losing. Cheers and pping could be heard from the gallery. A huge monster has emerged from the hungry mansion. How did they train such an amazing disciple? Somehow, it felt strange. Why am I ying around with those kids? I spoke again, not to the surrounding people, but to someone who shared my vision. Not yet? Where are you now? Alright, got it. The battle was now over. After subduing the four visibly strong opponents, the others hesitated toe closer and just kept their distance. At that moment, a new magical power entered my detection range. Kweeeek!! Mutants charged through the walls of fire burning on all sides. There were a lot of them. They suddenly began to rush toward me, ignoring the burning pain in their bodies. Ah,e on, lets take it easy. [Blood Scream] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [The unique effect of the S-rank weapon Butchers Hook, Proof of ughter has been activated. // Proof of ughter: The power of necromancy spells increases by 100%.] Kieeeeeeeek!!! It was a spell constructed by adding the essence of necromancy to the [Sonic Shock]. The sinister energy and shockwave delivered a physical blow while breaking the will and morale of those hit. The approaching monsters were pushed back by the impact, and the nearby small fry cultists bled from several holes in their faces. The shockwave that was maximized with magical power even affected some of the nearby spectators. Ugh! Ho-How is such a shockwave possible? When I expanded my detection range, it became clear that a different problem had arisen. Beyond the mes, the mutants attacking the straggling cultists were all moving toward me. The number had even more than tripled. This was an artificial change that couldnt happen naturally. Someone had orchestrated this situation. Ugh, is it that guy? The monsters pushed back by the shockwave rushed at me again. In the distance, the three-eyed mask was acting strangely. While supporting an injured cultist, he whispered something. In a disturbingly beautiful voice, he whispered something into the injured mans ear. Whispering and whispering. he forcefully infused the magic lingering in the hall. Crack, crunch! The cultist he was supporting couldnt withstand the forcibly injected magic and transformed into a monster. Graaaaah!! I still didnt know what kind of deception had been used here, but the newly emerged mutant charged at me recklessly. Ignoring the wall of fire, he charged at me whether his body was burned or not. Hey, whatever you heard, its a misunderstanding! But saying that wouldnt help. Meanwhile, the three-eyed mask leisurely approached the next target and started whispering again. Hey, you bastard, cant you stop?! Only then did the three-eyed mask notice that I was watching him, and he waved cheerfully. Ah, this is so annoying. Scheming characters with narrow eyes are the worst. It might be best to kill that bastard now before he bes a bigger problemter. It was true that I needed to buy time, but I didnt want to be in a situation where I was surrounded by ming tentacle monsters and having to run in all directions. Hahaha! That was impressive, but it looks like youre reaching your limit! Ill finish this! The masked figures chimed in. What, havent you all had enough? Arent you tired ofing at me? Lets see how long you can keep up that confidence! An overwhelming number of tentaclespletely obscured my vision. And among those tentacles, the masked figures were squeezing in. Gweeeeck! The disgusting roars of the mutants spewed out like vomit. Damn it. I leaped, burned, exploded, and scorched everything. Boom! Crackle! Themotion was growing even among the judges in the gallery. That? Thats not ordinary skill, is it? How can he move like that? Somethings off! That cant be real! This Heo Sang-hyeon is too powerful to be just an ordinary Heo Sang-hyun, right? Things were about to be wrapped up here, so just hang in there a little longer. You monkey-like bastard! Flying spears, sickles, axes, swords, fists, and asionally surreal supernatural abilities filled the hall with madness and screams. Boom! Boom! I sent a few more cultists flying and incapacitated them with a curse that induced exhaustion. Kill him! Heir of the Hungry Mansion! Why isnt he dead?! Kill him! Kill him! The ritual isnt progressing! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Finally, a judge who realized the anomaly appeared. Since that guy started rampaging, death! The blood has stopped! Yes, its also a problem if the chest opens at a clumsy timing. Kill that bastard! Hes ruining the event! An impatient judge screamed and gathered his magical power. Ugh, operations team, stop that guy quickly! Everyone shut up! I wont let anyone interfere with my event! Rumble! Dokgo Gyeoms shout. It was a shout filled with such powerful magic that it caused the entire event hall to vibrate. Yes, I didnt break any rules. Whether I kill people or not, its within the rules. Boom! In the midst of it all, I dodged a magic missile and manipted the thorny vines summoned by thece-masked woman. Swish! Damn, it was chaotic to maintain several minor spells at the same time while moving. Should I remove a few spells ced on Jang Hyeon-deok? With this thought, I split my vision and sent my mind soaring into the sky above Sejong City. Achilles! How long do we have to wait? [System: The trait Enhanced Vignce has been activated.] Crackle! Suddenly, a torrent of fire surged toward me. Ugh, what!? It was from the gallery. One of the judges was unable to hold back and cast a spell while avoiding Dokgo Gyeoms gaze! I expected this much! [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Dreamy Blur, has been activated. // Dreamy Blur: Automatically casts Blink spell] My vision blurred instantly. Everything in the world was pushed away at incredible speed. [Blinkplete. Cooldown time: 864,000 seconds] The survival skill automatically activated to save my life. As soon as the blink ended and everything in the world became fixed again, what I saw was [System: The trait Feast Offering has been activated.] Huh? Crash! The world spun. No, was it my head spinning? Whats going on? My legs wouldnt move. Everything moved slowly, like in slow motion. An ugly head flew near my face. A head without a body. A head wearing a mask. Hmm, thats an excellent mask. Avant-garde and quite charming. It was the one-eyed mask of the Yellow Forest Church. Was it that thug-like evangelist who picked a fight with me before the main event? Oh dear, evangelist, why have youe with only your head? Did someone throw this head and hit my chin? Damn, I finally got hit. Its funny, but somehow, it didnt hurt. Come to think of it, ever since I got trapped in this wretched world, there have been all sorts of horrible and varied crises, but is this the first time Ive actually been hit? I cant really tell; my mind is a mess. Anyway, Im d I got hit after raising my health stat considerably. Its also strange that the projectile is a severed human head, but it was thrown with magical enhancement. If it had hit me wrong, my head might have been shattered. Who on earth threw such a dangerous thing? What kind of disrespectful person threw a dead mans head? Theres no respect for the deceased. It wasnt just a coincidence that it hit me. Someone predicted where I would blink to and threw the head there. The Feast Offering trait was activated earlier, right? In the end, one of the beings from the abyss must have been watching for an opportunity and informed someone of the optimal timing and direction. Dont ask why, just throw it over there. Ill show you something interesting. It must have been something like that. So, who was it? I backtracked the trajectory of the flying head. When I was in high school, I wasnt good at arithmetic, let alone math, so I wasnt able to properly learn things like calculus, but my increased intelligence stat allowed me toplete calctions at will. Oh, again, again, again! Its that guy!? The three-eyed mask with a cool left-handed pitching form. Damn it, I knew that guy would cause trouble someday. The problem wasnt just that. Huh? Whats that? A mask was flying through the cultists. It was a very familiar-looking mask. Now that I think about it, my mental state is a bit strange considering I only got hit once? Really, really strange. Really, really, really strange? That mask flying off somewhere. That mask flying alone without an owner. Lonely I may be, but soon my body will return with you. No, thats not it. Could that really be Carcosas mask? My mask? My mask? My mask? My mask? Chapter 140: Dokgo Gyeom Chapter 140: Dokgo Gyeom So my mask, which has been with me through ups and downs for such a long time, is flying in the sky. Then what was on my face right now? Was my face exposed? Among these hundreds of masked people, only my face is exposed? [You realize that there is nothing on your face. The fact that your face is not covered by a mask is excessively terrifying and chilling. Thetent madness within you manifests, twisting your mind. Distortion begins to set in.] The tentacles and weapons were flying in slowly somehow. You bastards, do you think Ill get hit by this? I had to move somehow or at least cast a spell to block them but my body was also moving incredibly slowly. Come to think of it, what was happening? [System: Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat.] Ah, now I understand. This was the thing where the world looked like it was in slow motion just before you died. I even started seeing my childhood self. Nostalgic childhood memories. A yground full of colorful rides. The voice of my mother calling me from afar. Young-cheol-ah! Young-cheol-ah! Its time to eat! Aw, Mom, let me y a little longer! No, wait.My name wasnt Young-cheol. Who was Young-cheol? Was I going to die watching someone elses life sh before my eyes?! [Mental strength check] Im dying! This time, Im really dying! Wow! Damn it! Was I going to die like this?! Ah, Jang Hyeon-deok! You should have warned me with some interesting traditional myth of Sejong City! [Sess.] Im alive! The time that had been flowing slowly suddenly regained its normal speed. Tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, masks, masks, masks, masks, masks, masks, masks, masks, masks, calm down! Anyway, with [Tangled Identity] and [Shadow Deception] on my face, one could say I was wearing a magical mask. Perhaps thats why I was a bit less crazy, but madness couldnt be resolved by simply talking it down. My mask! Where did my mask go? Boom! I activated something. I was so out of it that I didnt even know what kind of magic I had activated. An explosion urred, sending the surrounding cultists flying. It was just luck that I hadnt gone into distortion. What was the difference between distortion and just being in a state of madness? During distortion, I couldnt control my actions. Now? I could control myself to a certain extent but Give me back my mask! It was like when my fear of rats manifested. Even then, I avoided distortion and could fight, but my hatred and fear of rats were maximized. [Chains of Domination] Shrrrrrrrrr! As I jumped into the air, a severed head had struck my face and knocked my mask away. So, I sent the Chains of Domination towards the head of a one-eyed mask from the Yellow Forest Church. Crack! I couldnt control my strength. Too much physical force was applied. The head wearing the one-eyed mask shattered, scattering his brain, skull, eyeballs, and other parts everywhere. Ugh, it was a dead persons head anyway, but I still felt a bit sorry. Shhhhhh! However, the mask survived. It was cracked and dirty, soaked in blood, but I quickly put the mask on my face. Squelch. Sticky liquid, the stench of blood, and bits of flesh still inside the mask. The moment I put the mask on, an overwhelming pleasure surged through me. At the same time, I realized how out of my mind I was. Damn it. What the hell am I doing! Is it all because of that guy? I saw a three-eyed mask in the distance. Seriously, isnt this too much? If youre a strategist, be a strategist. If youre a character with narrow eyes, be a character with narrow eyes. Why do you also have long-range dealing abilities? And what is this? Are you a left-handed pitcher? Wow, its great to have so many talents. Isnt it too much to fit all those skills into one body? Wouldnt it be better to divide it into several parts? Should I help you with that? Inded after dodging the approaching mutants and cultists for a while. Damn it, wheres my mask? Not this fake mask thats still dripping with blood! My Carcosas Mask! Like a child quickly finding their mothers face in the audience at a school y, I rapidly located the position of my mask. There it is! I infused the debris piled up at my feet with magical power. [Gravitational Field] Bzzzzzzzz! The debris ignored thews of physics and shot up into the sky. Ahhh! Get out of the way! Run! The cultists, realizing what I was about to do, started screaming and fleeing. I swung both hands and sent the debris flying towards the three-eyed mask guy. Crash! And there were pesky mutants between him and me. They could get hit too! The mutants were instantly shattered by therge debris and flew towards the three-eyed mask along with the debris. Boom! The three-eyed mask didnt even make a sound as he was buried under the pile of debris and mutants bodies. He didnt die though. Tough bastard. His magical power had weakened, but he was still alive. Hopefully, this would be thest time I saw him. Then I adjusted some of the effects of the gravitational field and picked up Carcosas mask from among the debris. I tried to wear it again but I couldnt! The belt meant to secure it on my head was broken. Fortunately, the mask itself was intact, but it was impossible to wear it immediately. Damn it! In the end, I tucked Carcosas mask into my clothes and looked around the gallery. Dokgo Gyeom was grabbing one of the judges by the cor. Officially, Dokgo Gyeom and the judge were of the same rank, but Dokgo Gyeom was mercilessly beating the judge. Was that the guy who cast magic at me earlier? Yeah, hit him some more! Anyway, it seems hiding any longer is impossible. Now is the perfect time. Thanks to Dokgo Gyeom, none of the judges were paying attention to me. This was the moment to reveal my true self. I activated one of the many markings I had prepared in advance. [Chains of Domination] Shrrrrrrr! The chains slithered through the debris scattered on the floor, moving stealthily. The first target was the monster hunter lying on the ground over there. Sure enough, the monster hunter who had lost consciousness stood up. As per themand given in advance. He raised both hands and performed an impossible feat. [Crown of the Earth] Rumble! With a powerful shockwave, a violent earthquake was generated. A grand event that should have taken thousands of years to unfold was recreated at a high speed. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thevishly finished marble floor cracked, and de-like stone pirs shot up towards the sky. He infused more magical power into it. In any case, it was much more and muchrger than originally intended! Rumble! Huge stone pirs formed around him. It wasnt just one or two. True to the name of the spell, a crown of the earth was created. The hugemotion was impossible to ignore. Finally, the judges noticed and were horrified. What, what is this?! Why does that guy have such power?! The judges werent blind. Unless I took advantage of their distraction, it was impossible to hide that I was the one who activated this magic. And then the second target. Shrrrrrrrr! Where was it reaching? Ah, there it was. The wolf-masked shaman. Just because he was a cultist of [Wanderer of the Wind] and dealt with ice and cold, didnt mean he couldnt be interesting. I made the wolf masks body rise and forced it into a dance-like movement. The form was toxic and apanied by numerous deathly siblings. [Swarm of Bugs] [Spell Enhancement: Deadly Poison] Buzzzzz Buzzzzzzzzz An immense number of insects poured out from the ragged sleeves of his clothes. It wasnt just a lot, it was an overwhelming amount. The insects summoned from this alternate space spread out in such a terrifying quantity that they covered the entire wide hall in darkness at an incredible speed. Still not enough. More! After pouring out the excess magical power, even more insects were created. Bzzzzzzzz What is this? What is happening?! Ah, that cheap witch. You have a role too, but why are you still awake? Fzzzzt! Aaah! Taking advantage of her moment of carelessness, I sent a jolt of electricity to knock her out. I couldnt control someone who was awake. Her body soon created a massive thorny vine. Crash!! The entire venue started to crack. Part of the gallery copsed and fell to the floor. Then came the following spell. This time, the chef was to adjust the fire. [Hellfire] [Spell Enhancement: Deadly Poison] Whoosh!!! The fire had been zing for a while, but this time it wasnt just at that level. The mes that were spreading at an immense speed generated pitch-ck smoke imbued with lethal toxicity. What is this? What is happening now?! Somethings wrong! Somethings interfering! Who is it? Our disciples are using strange abilities! Only now did a few of the judges finally jump down from the gallery. Boom! Bang! Sounds of destruction echoed everywhere. Real monsters wielding their diverse abilities charged in. [Lightning Strike] Fzzzzzzzt!!! Ugh! Who is it?! Too many interruptions! Those bugs! Theyre burning and flying around! Rocks, thorn bushes, insects, poison, fire, smoke, and now even lightning. It was a multyered barrier. Even for the judges, breaking through it immediately was no easy task. Besides, even if they did break through, could they find where I was? Ah, Achilles! How much longer do we have to stall? I sent my consciousness and vision away again. Where are you now? Oh, really? Good! Send it down like that! Crackle! It was already a chaotic mess that no one would call it a masquerade. The situation couldnt get any more confusing, yet a massive, ominous noise drowned out everything. Boom! Bang! Boom, boom!! The location of the noise was the ceiling. The ceiling! Look at that! The ceiling is copsing! The ceiling was destroyed. The structures that formed the ceiling turned into huge fragments and fell down. Boom! Bang! A tremendous amount of rubble and copse. Get out of the way! Run! Help me! Get lost! Move! Whats happening?! But it wasnt over. The culprits who shattered the ceiling poured in. Ahhh! What is that?! What are those?! They were dozens of giant monstrous birds, the Shantaks. Squawk!!! Shriek!!! Screech!!! Alright, its over. Now, if I can just grab the chest and escape, todays n will beplete. There must be over 30 of those birds here. I missed a few, but this number was more than enough. Just one of the birds wasrge enough to reach from the floor to the ceiling of this hall. Squawk!!! Screech!!! It was a ridiculous sight. There were more than 30 of these giant shantaks here. They were huddled together in a man-made structure, getting entangled in the scene. This scene alone was mythically shocking. No, it was awe-inspiring. A living storm of wings, feathers, and madness intertwined. Th-This cant be real! Run, Run away! We cant stop this! Try to stop them! How could no one have foreseen this disaster?! What a delightful atmosphere. Even the judges who had been eagerly watching until now couldnt ept the sudden change and fell into confusion. [Its a remarkable sight. You gathered the shantaks scattered across Paju and drove them into the Masquerade party. You deliberately inserted yourself into the center of attention. Not only did you capture the attention of everyone in the hall, but you neutralized their senses by spreading your influence without anyone noticing. Even the renowned judges of the Masquerade werepletely deceived.] A message window appeared. It seemed silent all this time, but now it started chattering excitedly. Dont block my view, get lost! Boom! I gathered the lingering grudges of the surrounding spirits and struck the message window. [But keep in mind, this horrific spectacle you created] [System: The Madness of the Abyss trait has been activated. The Fear effect has been nullified.] Crackle! Calling it a horrific spectacle. it looks exciting no matter how you see it. Its Dokgo Gyeom! Dokgo Gyeom trapped us! Wh-What did you say?! How could we not have detected these monsters if not for this! Yes, good, divide, distrust, and doubt. Crack! Snap! The wall cracked and the ceiling copsed. Rumble! Following a thunderous roar, the entire building started to crumble. You idiots!!! But even louder than that was Dokgo Gyeoms roar. What is this?! Boom! Did I just say thunderous? Real thunder actually burst out from Dokgo Gyeoms hand. And he grabbed the head of a giant shantak rushing towards him. Gyaaah! Gyaaah!! Dokgo Gyeom was only a fifth of the shantaks size. And yet despite the huge shantaks furious struggle, it couldnt escape Dokgo Gyeoms w-like grip. Judges? You arrogant fools who became puffed up because of a little praise! Scared and trembling at something like this!? Crack! He pulled with both hands and the shantaks head got split in two. Ssh! Blood poured out like a waterfall. From the shantaks split skull, a brainrger than Dokgo Gyeoms body spilled out. Soaked in an enormous amount of blood and brain matter, Dokgo Gyeom was now drenched in red. He looked like a true demon. I dont know who you are, but whoever ruined the festival I nned, I will catch you and I will kill you! No, killing isnt enough! Ill pull out whats inside your skull and make you live forever! Only someone with many Mi-Go friends could make such threats. Chapter 141: Collapse of the Masquerade Chapter 141: Copse of the Masquerade The scale of the incident was too big. Since we dont live only for today, its time to start worrying about tomorrows Kim Shin-hwa. After all, I had angered nearly 300 cultists. Especially Dokgo Gyeom Die, all of you!! Should I say he exploded with storm-like fury? Boom! Boom! Boom! With a massive storm swirling around him, he flew in all directions and started ughtering the shantaks. No one will escape!!Crash! What on earth was he doing indoors!? Huge lightning bolts were unleashed around Dokgo Gyeoms body. They flew in all directions, forming the shape of a swastika. It looked like a gigantic dragon with four heads! Crack! Crack! Crack! A four-headed dragon made of lightning. The shantaks bitten by that dragon turned to ash in an instant. Wow, thats really no joke. Yeah, it wasnt a joke. How would this chaos end today? There was no doubt that Dokgo Gyeom, along with 300 cultists and tens of thousands of cultists nationwide, would be enemies. Ah, of course not my enemies. Probably starting tomorrow, they will try to identify and catch the one who infiltrated this grand masquerade and ruined the event. Im sorry, Sang-hyeon, but youre probably the most suspicious person. Specifically, the [Super Rookie Heo Sang-hyeon] of the Hungry House. If Dokgo Gyeom and the masquerade cultists had any sense, they would first target Heo Sang-hyeon and the Hungry House. Of course, I had no intention of throwing Sang-hyeon as bait and abandoning him. His cooking skills were too valuable to me. Anyway, should I prepare to help Sang-hyeon? Lets see Just then, a suitable target appeared. Ahhhh! A minor cultist whose name I didnt know screamed and he was running aimlessly to avoid the falling rocks. Is that guy good enough? He was wearing quite a nice mask. It had twisted horns sticking out from the forehead. Should I call it a demon mask? Fzzzt! Grrrk!? I shot a lightning bolt and knocked him out. Then I took off the one-eyed mask I had been wearing and put on his demon mask. No, wait, taking his mask was pointless. I quickly regained myposure and cast a spell. [Tangled Identity] A magic to steal appearances. I modified it slightly and cast it in a different way. Instead of a one-sided theft, it was an exchange. Buzz! In an instant, my appearance and his werepletely swapped. Even so, that nameless cultist did not take on the appearance of [Fixer Kim Shin-hwa]. I had note to this ce with that appearance in the first ce. In other words, he had the appearance of [Super Rookie Heo Sang-hyeon]. Anyway, if the cultists gathered here wanted to attack Heo Sang-hyeon, they would track [Super Rookie Heo Sang-hyeon]. Hey, snap out of it. Ugh Still half-conscious? This was the perfect moment. I cast a spell to imprint a forcefulmand on his mind. [Voice of Authority] A spell that dominated the mind of someone weaker than me. |This ce is dangerous. Take the surviving sacrifices and escape as quickly as possible.| Th-This ce is dangerous! I must take the surviving sacrifices and escape as quickly as possible! The cultist repeated my words like a parrot. Yes, yes, good job. |Look, do you see that door over there? The living sacrifices are trapped there. Take them and escape.| That door over there? Yes, the living sacrifices are trapped there! I must take them and escape! |A wise decision. However, the enforcers will be roaming outside. Therefore, take the sacrifices only to the safe zone and then escape alone.| I cant evade the enforcers while carrying the sacrifices. I should take the living sacrifices to the safe zone and then escape alone! |Yes, go. Move with the resolve to die.| Arghhh!! The nameless cultist who now looked like [Super Rookie Heo Sang-hyeon] ran with all his might. I watched him for a moment and whistled. Well, if hes lucky, he might survive. Using the same method, I created a few more fake Heo Sang-hyeons. The targets were the fainted cultists scattered all over the event hall floor. This building would soon copsepletely. It felt bad to just leave them to die, so I decided to put them to work. This time, there was no need to turn these ones into fake Heo Sang-hyeons too. |Good, you guys go too.| Arghhh!! Ahhhh!! Go go go!! Yaaahhh!! And from these cultists I had roused, I took their masks. This obsession with masks kept interfering with my priorities. It was troublesome. It would be nice to have more, but time was running out and maintaining multiple spells was reaching its limit. Will I be able to save them? The living sacrifices prepared for the masquerade afterparty. During the event, I had no choice but to ignore those who were sacrificed, but I decided to save those I could. Tsk, saving them like this doesnt earn me experience points. If I didnt save them myself and had someone else do it, I wouldnt gain any experience points. How could it work this way? [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Boom! Bang! Crash! The ceiling continued to copse, and debris rained down. The time for leisure was over. Achachacha! [Maic Control] I activated maic control and ced the distant treasure chest above my head. Its reassuring to have an object above your head that is immune to damage. Of course, this alone wasnt perfect, so I added a few more protections. [Protective Circle] [Distortion Field] I moved through the falling debris and I cast my spells. The targets of my magic were medium-sized pieces of debris, six in total. The effect was, well, Be treasure chests. [Shape Transformation] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Buzzzzz! Six fake treasure chests appeared. Of course, since the real treasure chest was a magical object, a perfect disguise was impossible. However, in this chaos, a brief deception was possible. Besides, was anyone here in their right mind? Graaaah!! That was Dokgo Gyeoms roar. Please stop! Argh! That, that crazy bastard!? Dokgo Gyeom had finally thrown a Shantak. What was the problem, you ask? Boom! The wall! The wall is copsing! Someone, stop that crazy pig Dokgo-gyeom! Even we cant do it! Not only the judges of the other cults but also the followers of the Eternal One Origin Cult were busy running away. Now, there were huge holes in the walls as well as the ceiling. Boom! Crash! Ugh, the Shantak that flew through the wall went berserk and it destroyed part of the adjacent building. That looks like a government office building. No, this wasnt the time to worry about the adjacent building. Rumble! Boom! Crash! Bang! From the moment the Shantaks appeared, about ten minutes had passed. No, maybe twenty minutes had gone by. The huge public sports facility, which had been turned into a hall of madness by the cultists ns, still retained its structure and form. But that wouldntst much longer. The building was too small from the start to amodate dozens of Shantaks with wingspans of twelve meters. With each p of their wings or flick of their tails, the walls and ceiling were being destroyed. Soon, not even the shape of the building will remain, and it willpletely copse. Anyone staying in this building would inevitably die. The judges were moving energetically and actively seeking escape routes. This ce is doomed! Get out now! Dokgo Gyeom, that crazy bastard! This way! Everyone, follow me! Among them, there were some who, still in their right minds, led others to escape. Kyaaah! Kihehehe! And the Shantaks. They too couldnt withstand Dokgo Gyeoms demonic attacks and began to flee the building. It was time for me to leave as well. [Chains of Domination] Shrrrrrrrr! The six markings I had maintained so far. To be precise, I manipted the bodies of those marked by touching the six magical marks. There were both dead and living ones. Anyway, this spell could control even the dead. Huh? Only four are responding. Regrettably, only four out of the six markings responded. Well, I had been distracted. It seemed two of them had escaped. It was a shame, but four were enough. After all, it wasnt a particrlyplex task. Crack! Swoosh! [Leap] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] I forced the four cultists to make a leap. Whoosh! The four unconscious cultists sprang into the air. The ce they needed to reach was The backs of the Shantaks, who were trying to flee from Dokgo Gyeom. At the same time, each onended and clung onto one of the treasure chests. Kyaaah! The four Shantaks went berserk upon realizing something hadtched onto their backs, but avoiding Dokgo Gyeom was their top priority. That looks pretty convincing, doesnt it? At first nce, it appeared as if the cultists with the treasure chests were riding the Shantaks to escape. Now, Achilles. Its your turn. I signaled Achilles. [The unique effect of the S-rank magic tool Staff of Beacon, Binding of the Living me has been activated. // Binding of the Living me: Grants the owner the ability to summon and control the followers of the Living me.] Suddenly, fireballs began to fall from the sky. It wasnt just a simple fireball. These were the followers of the Living me. An enormous number of these zing ones soared in with tremendous roars! Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Uhraaaaaaaaaa!!! By now, there were no walls or ceilings left. The zing ones circled the copsed gymnasium a few times before luring the surviving Shantaks into the sky. And there was one causal connection that anyone smart enough could notice. Thats, thats, thats! The servants of the Living me! Dokgo Gyeom shouted. This meant the suspect ranking in his mind had suddenly changed dramatically. Someone had summoned the Shantaks to ruin the event? Yet the servants of the Living me were luring the Shantaks away? And coincidentally, the followers of the Living me were absent from this event? 1+1+1=3? Those bastards of Fomalhaut!!! It was the revtion of a madman, no, it was Dokgo Gyeoms shout. I do feel sorry for the descendants of Fomalhaut. I dont know what to say when they ask me why they are the only ones who get bullied all the time. Now, its my turn to leave. I activated my leap and clung to the tail of a suitable Shantak. Of course, the real treasure chest containing the mask was with me. ncing back at the copsing event hall, I saw masks scattered everywhere. What a waste. [Invisible Hand] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Ugh, what am I doing? Dozens of masks flew toward me. Kyaaahaaaaa!! The Shantak I was riding screeched in distress. From the Shantaks perspective, an enormous number of masks were chasing it. Naturally, it would be rmed. p! Swoosh! With just a few ps of its wings, the scenery changed in an instant. Whoa, what incredible pressure! You cant escape!! Dokgo Gyeoms voice thundered from afar. Boom!! What ? An enormous lightning bolt wasing my way!? Fzzzzzzzt!! Ah One of the Shantaks flying near me was struck by the lightning and fell. Along with the huge charred Shantak fell an almost-dead cultist, the one I had tied to the Shantaks back. The boar-masked man of the Gourmet Garden who loved Mongolian Death Worm dishes. Ah, was he aiming for the Shantaks carrying the cultists? Ugh, I almost got hit with a 1 in 5 chance? Boom!! A second lightning bolt was preparing. This time it was a 1 in 4 chance! If I stayed here any longer, Id really die. Release the [Tangled Identity]. Whirrrrr The effect of [Shadow Desception] activated by the Winged Robe of the Night Veil remained. Now, I would appear as nothing but a dark silhouette covered in shadows. [The unique effect of the L-grade garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] p-p-p! A sound simr to the pping of a birds wings. The noise came as the silhouette-like robe fluttered in the wind. I quickly broke away from the Shantak and flew down. My destination was that apartmentplex. The buildings grew rapidlyrger. Lights. People. Roads. And a call van with a hole in the roof big enough for a person to get in and out. Yes, there. Didnt I tell you I ounted for the hole? I was sucked into the hole in the roof of the call van andnded directly in the back seat. Bang! Jang Hyeon-deoks face turned pale. Huh? Why does he look so frightened? Unfortunately, I dont have time to ease his nerves right now. Its me! Step on it I shouted at Jang Hyeon-deok as I raised my head. The car had arge hole in it. Masks flew in like a flock of ck crows, along with a treasure chest containing a mask. These were the spoils I had obtained this time. I directed their flight and spoke. But the car didnt move. What are you doing? I told you to step on it! Time was of the essence. We needed to escape this ce, Sejong City, immediately. Chapter 142: Sejong City in Chaos Chapter 142: Sejong City in Chaos Oh no, I cant stay in the back seat any longer. Urahchacha! I hurriedly climbed over the seat and squeezed into the passenger seat. As soon as I sat in the passenger seat Thud! The treasure chest fell with me. It was the treasure chest containing the mask. Rumble!! Then, dozens of masks poured in with me. Jang Hyeon-deok! How many times do I have to say it? Start the car! It was a pretty clear order, but Jang Hyeon-deok did somethingpletely different. Huh, why is he suddenly screaming and struggling?Aaaaah!! Monster! Monster! Get a grip, man! Its me, Kim Shin-hwa! I grabbed Jang Hyeon-deoks shoulders and shook him, but Aaaaah! It was useless. He just screamed louder. What was wrong with him? I realized the reason after seeing my reflection in the car window. Due to the [Shadow Desception], I still appeared as a pitch-ck silhouette. Plus, I was wearing a different mask than usual. From just the silhouette, I must have looked like a terrifying demon. I sighed briefly and dispelled the magic. Then, I gathered my magical energy to instill unparalleled courage and exhration into Jang Hyeon-deoks mind. [Courage of the Lion] Whaaat!? Mage-nim? Yeah, its me! I couldnt recognize you because you looked like a suspect from a mysteryic! Alright, now you know its me, right? Even though I was still wearing the demon mask I picked up along the way, I appeared as the usual [Fixer Kim Shin-hwa]. I almost had a heart attack! And what are those masks!? Masks of all shapes were chattering in the back seat. Kiririiiie! Even Achilles seemed to be dissatisfied with the suddenly cramped back seat. I brought some souvenirs. They said they were special products of Sejong City. What kind of nonsense is that!? If you have time to talk nonsense, step on it! Dont you see that? I pointed to that. By that, I meant the wrecked buildings, dozens of monstrous birds, fire spirits, cultists, and the likes of Dokgo Gyeom flying around wrapped in lightning and storms. Ugh, I wondered what all themotion was, but of course, it was caused by Mage-nim Jang Hyeon-deok, you bastard, cant you pull yourself together? Arent you a professional? Im back! Situation understood! Lets go! Clunk! Click! The sound of the gear shifting smoothly. Vroooom!! And the tremendous noise from the illegally modified engine. Screeeech!! The sound of tires grinding and a huge cloud of smoke erupting. I felt my body being pulled back; the feeling was so strong it made me think gravity had changed direction. Such was the abrupt start. Thats it! Faster! We need to get out of Sejong City before things escte further! Maybe because he was driving, or perhaps the magic I cast was too effective, Jang Hyeon-deok started to chatter excitedly. What on earth is going on?! Did you really intend to turn Sejong City into a sea of fire? Well, thats how it turned out, didnt it? Is that all you have to say? Really, you Everybody stooooop!! A booming voice suddenly interrupted us. It was from outside. They werent telling Jang Hyeon-deok and me to stop. It was directed in apletely different direction. Soon, new voices appeared. You cultist scum! Dont move an inch! What on earth do you think youre doing?! Police cars swarmed in from all directions. And the fixers operating in Sejong City. Yeah, it was about time they showed up. No matter what, things had escted this much. In a way, you could say they appeared toote. Vroom, vroom, vroom! Drones poured out of the massive airship hovering over Sejong City. Ratatatatatat! Two helicopters with great horsepower also made their appearance. Boom! A huge fireball shot out from one of the helicopters. It seemed a battle mage from City Hall was aboard. The fireballs target was Dokgo Gyeom behind us. Get out of here!!! Boom, boom, boom!! Dokgo Gyeoms lightning bolts now fired wildly in all directions. Outside the car window, the bizarrely bustling night view of Sejong City sped by. And the outrageousmotion I had caused. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions were heard intermittently from all directions. Bang! Bang! Ratatatata! Gunfire erupted from everywhere. Dokgo Gyeom wasnt the only enemy Sejong City had to capture. Cultists were scattering in all directions. The judges wouldnt have been killed so easily. Most of them likely escaped alive. Though not as strong as Dokgo Gyeom, each was a high-profile criminal. Operations to capture them would soon start. The citys exits would probably be sealed, followed by thorough inspections. In the worst-case scenario, martialw could be dered. If we get caught up in that, well be in danger too. Though I felt sorry for Sejong Citys fixers, we needed to create more chaos. Achilles! Kiririri! Youve done well all day! Now, send all the summoned creatures to Dokgo Gyeom and cut the connection. There was only one type of summoned creature. Uhryyyyyyyyyy!! A bizarre scream echoed from afar. In the distance, fireballs with long tails flew between Sejong Citys tall buildings like a meteor shower. Bastards of Fomalhaut! Ill kill you all! I will kill youkill youkill youkill youDokgo Gyeoms monstrous scream echoed with tremendous vibrations. At least the sabotage was a great sess. I didnt know whether Dokgo Gyeom could escape this situation, but if he managed to get out somehow, he would crush the descendants of Fomalhaut. Cant you go any faster? This is already maximum speed! Were in the heart of Sejong City! If you cant go faster, find another way! If we waste time, we might not get out of Sejong City! We needed to escape quickly while everyone was still in disarray. If we dy any longer Huh? A wave of blinding white light surged in. It sent shivers down my spine. An enormous sh of light erupted from afar. Sound disappeared, and everything before my eyes was engulfed in blinding white light. Are we toote? It felt like time had stopped, but that was only for a very brief moment. KABOOM! The dyed explosion rang out. Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! The car shook as if it would flip over. Crash! Bang! tter! A massive amount of ss shards fell from the sky. The windows of the high-rise buildings must have all exploded at once from the impact. Ahhhhhhhhh!! Jang Hyeon-deoks scream came three beats toote. What was that!? What just happened!? What descended!? What descended!? Descended? If it were something like that, it wouldnt end this way. No, a real pro has appeared. What? A real pro? What do you mean? Thats the Immigration Bureau. To be precise, it was the monster created by the Immigration Bureau. It would be Yang Seo-ho. Or maybe someone actuallyunched a missile. The Bureau? That Bureau? Yeah, that Bureau! From my perspective, a missile might have been better. Jang Hyeon-deok would know well the notoriety of the Immigration Bureau. Thirty percent of a security taxi drivers ie came thanks to the Bureau. If there werent criminals needing to avoid the Bureaus eyes, the number of security taxi drivers would be less than half. Ugh! Why are theying down here? Well, the Shantaks are illegal aliens. Oh, those birds are aliens? Yes. The Shantaks werent just strange birds or part of a bizarre phenomenon; they were intelligent beings from another world. In terms of lineage, they were simr to the extraterrestrial parasites that once kidnapped Jeong Hyeon-ah. However, when they were leisurely flying over Paju, their true nature was unknown, so they were left alone thats the backstory. And if you drag those Shantaks out of Paju, a few hourster, Yang Seo-ho from the Immigration Bureau wille and smash them all to pieces. Its all ording to the games settings. I also factored this in when I brought in the Shantaks. Yeah, so before Yang Seo-ho catches wind, get as far away from Sejong City as possible. Huh? Catch wind of what? Oh no, Mage-nim could it be?! What do you mean, could it be? If Yang Seo-ho finds out that a call van dragged Shantaks to Sejong City, shell rip your spine out! Me? Why me? Are you going to keep babbling? Hey! Front! Look ahead! An obstacle blocked the way. Screech! Jang Hyeon-deoks hands moved quickly. Screeeech!! The scenery outside the car window spun at an incredible speed. Ahh! I really thought he was going to hit someone, but his driving skills were truly impressive. Crash! Well, smashing a few signboards was just a minor mishap. _Bang! Crash! _Aaaah! Stop! Donte closer! Get lost! Freeze! You cultist scum! You idiots! Kill the heretics and get me out of here! The explosions and chaos continued, with foreignnguages that were iprehensible, noisy curses, andBoom!the call van barreling through obstacles. Ill get revenge! I swear Ill get revenge! Dokgo-gyeoms distant wail echoed. Hahaha! Yahoo! For some reason, Jang Hyeon-deok burst intoughter and cheers. Everything in Sejong City was forcibly awakened, shaken, shing, blending, tangling, and copsing. It was a tremendousmotion that seemed capable of driving anyone crazy. And then, all that chaos suddenly disappeared. A dark and vast field stretched out before us as if we had fallen into another world. And along that field ran a long road. Although the scenery had changedpletely, we hadnt abruptly fallen into another world. We got out! The heart of Sejong City abruptly ended. It was typical of a new city, but to me, it felt like the games map had been split. Now, all that was visible were dark fields, mountains, trees, rice paddies, and asionally small buildings. Yes, we escaped. We made it out! Truly, Jang Hyeon-deok is a genius! Ahahaha! Thats right! I am indeed the genius Jang Hyeon-deok! Could I finally rx? Good! Very good! Ill forgive you for boasting for a while! Wow! I cant believe we did it! Yes! Now lets hurry back to Paju! Even after that, Jang Hyeon-deok kept talking enthusiastically, but I ignored his words and turned my head. The rapidly receding view of Sejong City. Despite it being early morning, the brightly lit city, the massive buildings rising up to obscure the horizon, the huge airships moving to safe zones, and the helicopters crashing in mes. There is something new in the scenery of Sejong City. It really looked as if a missile had struck with thick ck smoke rising into the sky. Though it wasnt a missile. It was the ridiculous power of a single superhuman. Ugh I dismissed it as just a game, but what the heck is that? Although my level has risen quite a bit, its still not enough. I cant handle guys like Yang Seo-ho or Dokgo Gyeom. Id rather face a Shoggoth in a one-on-one duel. Mage-nim, that that His voice sounded somewhat subdued. Hmm? Didnt everyone die? They shouldnt be. It wasnt a residential area. While property damage is unavoidable, there shouldnt be many human casualties. Oh, cultists are excluded from the human category since theyve strayed from the path of humanity. Anyway, any civilians who might have been loitering around the gymnasium were already cleared out by the cultists of Eternal One Origin Cult using every method they could. Thats why I could cause such amotion without worrying. Will it take about two hours to get home? It should take around an hour and a half. Is it because its a time when there are no cars on the road? Well, earlier, when we were being chased by the Shantaks, it took just over an hour. Then Ill get some sleep. Go ahead. Both my physical and mental stamina were at their limit now. Even though its just me and Jang Hyeon-deok in the car, I wont sleep unless safety is guaranteed. I merely leaned back against the seat and stared straight ahead. No, to be precise [The Masquerade, a gathering of judges convened by the cultists of the Eternal One Origin Cult, ended in the worst way ever.] I looked at the message window. I had ignored its messages for a while, but now I decided to pay it a bit more attention. [Its unbelievable that so many events urred in just one night.] Chapter 143: Returning Home Chapter 143: Returning Home [Dokgo Gyeom and the Eternal One Origin Cult faced great humiliation, and the cults that participated in the Masquerade suffered losses too significant to describe in a few words.] Yeah, this time it was really a hard bet. A few cults will copse immediately. But any cult whose leader was captured wont be able to operate for a while. And some cults lost their most talented disciples. [Furthermore, tonights events will cause significant changes in the chaotic political situation of Paju.] There are a few more things. Todays events will bring about many changes. Perhaps the message window had the same thought, as it organized those changes one by one. [The Immigration Bureau? Yang Seo-ho will be stuck in Sejong City for a while.][Descendants of Fomalhaut? They were already weakened, and now theyve been wrongly used.] [This will eventually affect Jeokdu of the Triad who is allied with them. Did you also prepare a funeral wreath for Cheongho? Youre really meticulous.] Ah, things were going well, and then suddenly this bastard had to scratch at it. I almost used his magic to get rid of the message window right then and there, but I barely managed to hold back. [It is uncertain how much you had considered, but the results are unbelievably impressive. Tonight, you could foresee and control everything.] Of course, I had calcted everything. There had been a dreadful moment when his mask almost came off, but in the end, everything had gone well. [You have annihted the Masquerade of Sejong City. Experience points acquired.] [You have defeated numerous Faceless Mutants. Your understanding of Mutants has increased.] [You have exerted strong influence over many Cultists of the Eternal One Origin Cult. Your understanding of cultists has increased.] [You have exerted strong influence over many Cultists of the Yellow Forest Church. Your understanding of cultists has increased.] [You have exerted strong influence over many Cultists of the Winter Coming Cult.] [You have umted enough experience points to reach the next level. Level increased by 1.] [Discovery: You have acquired a secret item from the Masquerade. Experience points acquired.] [Discovery: You have found a secret space. Experience points acquired.] [Bonus Experience: You have achieved a total of (7) aplishments in the Masquerade of Sejong City.] [You have gained enough experience points to reach the next level. Level increased by 1.] I was now at level 42. The level-up phase was starting to get tough. Especially since I hadnt even aplished some of the achievements or tasks myself. Considering that, gaining two levels from this incident was quite a decent result. Anyway, this time, leveling up was just a bonus. First of all, the things that the message window had beenining about earlier. The destruction of the Masquerade. The shift in the power dynamics of the factions in Paju. And the elimination of potential future enemies. And most importantly Now the Judges cannot unite. The usations and doubts hurled at Dokgo Gyeom by the Judges. And Dokgo Gyeoms crazy behavior. This meant that the Masquerade was over. I had sown suspicion and discord among them. If I was lucky, that grand route of the Judges might just fizzle out. And thats exactly why I kept looking at the exnation in the message window. So, whats the next scenario? [You must be feeling quite confident now. Perhaps youve gained the confidence that you can control everything that will happen from now on. This cant bepletely denied.] Huh? Was I mistaken? For some reason, it felt like the entity beyond the message window was getting annoyed. [The knowledge you possess is indeed your greatest weapon. However, who knows? Its unclear how long that knowledge will remain valid. And the madness residing in your mind. You managed to get through this time, but will it be the same next time? You can look forward to it. The chaotic future is steadily approaching you.] Was that a deration of war? Fine, do as you please. I have my own steady supply of weapons to feed you. With that, the message window disappeared. Did it end well, after all? There were a few dangerous moments along the way, but I managed to resolve them. I overcame everything with sheer skill, so it turned out well. And above all. The huge number of masks piled up in the back seat. And Achilles ufortably crouched among them. No, not that. The treasure chest containing the mask. Y_es, that one._ More precisely, the [Mask of the Faceless One] inside it. Lets head back quickly. I was itching with anticipation. Hurry, hurry, hurry, I want to smash this chest open and take out the mask. Hmm. Something feels off. Unfortunately, the message window didnt spoil the next scenario. Instead, what it said to me was Madness. Huh? Hyeon-deok. Huh? Yes? Do I look a bit crazy to you? Uh? Well, uh hmm uh so Jang Hyeon-deok babbled to himself for a moment, then smiled warmly and said to me. Mage-nim, dont get hurt and listen to me carefully. Stop it! Dont say anything! Even I had to admit that my obsession with masks was getting out of hand. Maybe when the mask came off earlier, that was my chance to shake off this obsession. But I couldnt resist and chose to put the mask back on. How could I resist in a ce with so many masks? Ha, damn it. If I could control this, it wouldnt be madness. You cant resolve it by simply gathering objects of obsession and setting them on fire. And then we returned to Paju. The night view of Paju was different from Sejong City. A ce right below North Korea. The city in South Korea with the most monster appearances. A ce where abnormal phenomena that ordinary people cant ept ur. A city of crime, corruption, and madness. The forest and mountains, the outdated old city, and the abnormally towering buildings and apartments. A bizarrendscape where light and darkness are tangled randomly. And the car carrying me headed into the darkness outside the city, away from the light. Whenever Ie near here, I get an unusual chill. The mountain wind makes it cold. Its because of the magic circle installed to trap negative energy in the mansion. Do you hear a strange noise? Its just birds. It was actually the wailing of spirits wandering around the mansion. Ah! Over there! Theres a strange shadow! Its just a tree shadow. It was an experimental subject I released a while ago. Still alive, I see. Anyway, weve arrived at the theme park! Why do you keep calling someone elses house a theme park? Do you really not know? I think you should consider developing it into a tourist attraction as a side business. Up ahead, theres nothing but wilderness, so what tourism? Thats true. Anyway, this terrible neighborhood Didnt Jang Hyeon-deok once say hed leave Paju if he made enough money? From now on, I think I should give him a more appropriate amount of pocket money. Anyway, thanks for your hard work all night. Hey, open the back door. Oh, sure. Crash. Dozens of masks piled up in the back seat tumbled out. Ah! The seats! Ill tell Tudor, so get some money and rece the seats. The seats were aplete mess. Creak, thud! Achilles who had gotten out of the car shook his body, flinging the blood stuck to his torso in all directions. Among the haphazardly gathered masks, there were still some with heads attached to them. And there were those that were purely covered in blood. Its not just about fixing it! Whos going to heal the wounded hearts of me and my car, Bongbong? Bongbong will feel better with new seats. I tried to soothe him and send him off, but Jang Hyeon-deok continued to whine. Eventually, Heo Sang-hyeon was curious about what was happening and walked out of the mansion. Is everything alright? Everythings fine! Goodbye! See you again! As soon as he saw Heo Sang-hyeon, Jang Hyeon-deok turned pale and left with a hurried goodbye. Shin-hwa-nim, who is that man? He may look stupid, but hes just a bit peculiar. It seemed that due to his living altar trait, Heo Sang-hyeon appeared frightening to him. Or perhaps, is Sang-hyeon objectively scary-looking? Pale skin like that of a vampire. Unusuallyrge eyes. Fingers as thin as twigs. Hair that floated lifelessly. A voice that carried the chill of the dead. I see. He was the scary butler managing the haunted mansion. Lets go inside. [Invisible Hand] Creak! Crash! Dozens of masks and therge treasure chest floated into the air. Please step aside a bit. Ah Heo Sang-hyeon who was already staring at the masks with hisrge scary eyes, made a strange noise and stepped aside. We entered the mansion as it was. Seeing the dreadful and eerie interior of the mansion feel so familiar made me realize I had trulye far in this game. Haah, I want to rest. Anyway, the tension eased. However, I couldnt do that. I moved my feet toward the basement. Drip, drip Dust, blood drops, and trash bundles fell to the floor. After all, someone else will clean it up. Of course, it didnt mean I was going to leave it to Heo Sang-hyeon. The cleaning of the hungry mansion was handled by ult-like cleaning machines that surpassed robotic vacuums. They were the necromancy golems. Shin-hwa-nim? Those masks Ah, theyre souvenirs I brought from Sejong City. If you like any of them, I can let you have one or two no, just one. Surely, he wouldnt actually ask for one, right? No, no! Thats not it. Right now what are you nning to do? Huh? Whats with this guy? I had only one thing to do now. To open the chest. And to obtain the reward trapped inside. It wasnt a simple task. It required tremendous energy. It would probably take quite a long time. I had to start immediately. Since it wasnt something to be hidden, I informed Heo Sang-hyeon of my schedule. In that case Shin-hwa-nim. Heo Sang-hyeon had an expression I had never seen before. It was stern and resolute with his eyes wide open. The emotions included were anger and shock? First, you need to wash up. What? Wash, sleep, and eat something. I absolutely cant stand you locking yourself in the basement in this state. Who are you to decide what I can and cant do? Thats what I wanted to say. If I hadnt seen my reflection in the mirror hanging in the living room, I probably would have just said it. My appearance Stern and resolute expression? No, thats not right. The emotions on Heo Sang-hyeons face were more urately worry and bewilderment. Ah, damn. I sighed and scratched my head. It was only then that I started toe to my senses a bit. The mage reflected in the mirror was truly a sight to behold. Blood, dust, stains, monster fluids, someones brain matter, soot. I was covered in all sorts of filth and trash. What a sight. The mask looked like it had been picked up from some garbage bin; it was a mess. Even though the face of the mage in the mirror couldnt be seen, it was clear from his stance and attitude that he was on the verge of copsing. And there was a massive amount of trash following the mage like a cloud. No, it was masks. It wasnt just masks stained with blood and filth. Earlier, I had noticed but brushed it off. Among the masks I had collected, there were some with human heads or flesh still attached. Was I really okay with this? Hoo! Ha A brief deep breath. Hoo Another deep breath. Focus. Ugh, Sang-hyeon-ssi is much better than Jang Hyeon-deok No, thats not a criticism he could make of me. Why didnt you tell me sooner? C I shouldnt run with thoughts like that. They are meaningless. What a fool, Kim Shin-hwa! What a mess is this? I spread my arms towards Heo Sang-hyeon and said. Thanks to you, I came to my senses. Lets store this in the basement for now and go up right away. Would you like to have a meal? If I eat now, I probably wont be able to sleep. I think its better to wash up and go to bed right away. Ill organize the stuff tomorrow when I wake up. Understood. When I was about to go down to the basement, I turned my head and spoke to Heo Sang-hyeon. Oh, and Yes? No, never mind. It was probably best not to mention the [Super Rookie Heo Sang-hyeon]. Chapter 144: The Crazy Mage’s Basement Chapter 144: The Crazy Mages Basement Good, anyway, thanks to you, I had a good rest. I washed well, slept well, and ate well. I had a nightmare, but since it wasnt something like Cthulhu appearing, I suppose I slept well enough. Right now, Ive finished breakfast (its very early, around 2 pm) and I was in the living room. The mask I was wearing was once again the Carcosas Mask. I worked diligently and fixed the mask first. When I nced at the dining room, I saw Heo Sang-hyeon clearing the bowls and tes. Ive been taking madness too lightly. Phobia and obsession are different. Phobia is madness that avoids and excludes.On the other hand, obsession is artificial madness that bes the motivation, goal, and guide for my actions. Eventually, it permeates and bes part of me. Well, now that Ivee to my senses, its alright. How long can I maintain a normal state of mind this time? One obsession had been lodged in my mind for too long. If it persisted, I might not remember who I used to be. But if I want to draw it in a little more Todays tasks were a bitplicated. Do you need anything else? Heo Sang-hyeon who was wearing an apron approached me in the living room. Ugh, I must have looked strange again. Standing in the living room and mumbling to myself, I seemed to have worried him again. From this perspective, he really was a good person. Of course, from Heo Sang-hyeons point of view, serving a sane mage would be better than serving a crazy one. No, I shouldnt think that far. No. Its just a simple ritual. A ritual? Heo Sang-hyeon asked seriously. Sorry. I was just mumbling nonsense. But I continued the lie for Heo Sang-hyeons sake. Yes, its about time to finish what I couldnt do yesterday. Oh, you were preparing to go down to the basement. Thats right. And thank you for stopping me yesterday. Heo Sang-hyeon hesitated for a moment. He was unsure of what to say but then widened his eyes and spoke. Im d you were able to get some rest. Thanks to you, Im feeling great. Really, if I had gone down in that state yesterday, things might have gone wrong. Alright, now Im truly ready. I thanked Heo Sang-hyeon again and stepped down the stairs to the basement. Creak, creak. Feeling some strange sensation, I turned my head and saw Heo Sang-hyeon. He was standing in front of the basement door and watching me. His expression still held worry for me. Its a natural concern. If I suddenly died from an unknown ritual in the basement, Heo Sang-hyeon who is connected to me would die too. No, didnt I decide to stop thinking like this? It will take quite a while, and its better to keep that door closed. I used my magic to pull the basement door shut. Creak. Thud. The basement door closed. Phew. I took a short but deep breath. The basement wasnt dark. Thats because equipment powered by magic stones emitted lights in various colors. The stairs were unusually deeppared to the buildings structure. Contrary to the typical basement image, this ce was quite spacious. Not exactly what youd call surreal, but it was just a bit bigger than the entire mansion? Various devices, equipment, and the results of magical experiments were gathered from here and there. An enormous number of masks were almost wallpapering the basement walls. The necromancy golems had scrubbed and hung them up on the walls this morning. Seeing the masks hanging like a hunters trophies somehow calmed me down. And on the table Ha, cant they do something about this ridiculous design? An object with a ridiculous design that disturbed the tense atmosphere. It was the treasure chest. Its design was not something that could be brushed off as merely mismatched with the [Cthulhu World] atmosphere. It was so tacky and childish that it wouldnt even appear in modern games. A colorful frame that shone brilliantly. Even if one tried to view it favorably, it looked like a prop fit for aedy show. But this isnt an item to be taken lightly. Physical and magical protection. An ancient magic circle designed to absorb external blood and magical power was put in this treasure chest. Its an extremely contrived design. Not only contrived, but also quite malevolent. It wouldnt open unless a certain level of violence, magic, and blood surrounded it. which is just part of the setting after all. This was just a setup for the convenience of game creation. To exclude other variables, all interactions other than those specified are ignored. Even for me, it wasnt easy to extend my influence inside this chest. In Sejong City, I had thrown and flung this chest around, but it was just a trick that took advantage of the physical properties of the metal frame making up the exterior of the treasure chest. I tried a few things using magic. Impact, electric shock, me, freezing, vibration. Nothing? Poison, acid, pressure. No reaction either. Soul, spirit, curse. No, this series obviously wouldnt work. So I changed direction to pration, assimtion, binding, stimtion, and resonance. Nothing worked. It wasnt a matter of whether it had an effect or not. I just felt this was inappropriate. As if I was pressing the wrong buttons every time I tried something. It will take a long time if I try to figure this out alone. In the past, when I yed as a warrior character, I obtained a simr item. Instead of bothering with the stuff inside, I wrapped the entire box in chains and broke it all apart. Thanks to that buggy gamey, I was able to see the hidden ending Come to think of it, was that where it all began? At that time, I even killed Shoggoths with something like this. Forget the mask; this chest itself might truly be the legendary weapon. I could just use this invincible box to beat Cthulhu and everything else No. Thats not possible. I had already confirmed that with my gamey back then. This method only worked until the mid-game. Well, anyway, it seems solving this on my own is a bit difficult. With time and effort, I could do it. But theres a faster way. Alright. Its about time I had a conversation. I looked toward one side of the basement. An impressive device was set up there. An electrical equipment connected to a huge magic circle and dozens of magic stones. A cross, the Star of David, and the symbol of the [Living me]. Talismans and gold threads. In other words, it was a chaotic mix of religious symbols. And at the center of it all was a door that looked simr to the one that blocked the entrance to Cheong-hos nuclear fallout shelter. It was, in fact, the very same door I had taken from there. Bang! Bang! I knocked on the huge pure silver door and spoke. Hey, hows it going? Been welltely? I felt a faint wave from inside. Hmm, well-built as expected. Silver has its own power to ward off evil. East and West, holy and unholy, tradition and innovation. I gathered everything I could muster to create the strongest barrier possible. Anyway, it seems we cant have a conversation like this. Screeeech I slightly opened the door. The barrier itself remained intact. I just wanted a brief conversation with the being trapped inside. When the door opened, the entity within the barrier pleaded with me. |Kuhuhuhu! Ahahahaha!!| Hmm, it seems youre doing quite well. |Kuhuhuhuhuhu| Hows life now that you have a mr forcibly extracted every three seconds? It was a book, but could I call it a lifeform? I dont know. The [Laughing One]. To be precise, the avatar of the high-level intelligence known as the [Laughing One]. Its name as a grimoire was the [Book of Greed and Destruction]. Though its said to be far inferior to the beings of the abyss, its not something a human can handle. However, since it manifested in the form of a tangible book, I was able to capture it with my superior affinity. All thanks to the artifact modification trait. In any case, I trapped this dreadful entity in a barrier that endlessly forces it into inescapable pain. In response to my words, the grimoire, or rather the [Book of Greed and Destruction], replied. |Kahahaha! Kahahahaha!| I had no idea what it was saying. We need to talk, so send out a representative personality. Kim Shin-hwa. This is too much. How long do you n to keep me in this hell? It was Cheong-hos voice. It made me feel instantly worse. I think just a bit of simple advice would suffice, but I have no one else to ask. Can you help? Through the slightly opened door, I could faintly see Cheong-hos face. He chuckled for a moment and then spoke. Kim Shin-hwa, even when Cheong-ho was alive, you refused all our offers. Why should I help you now? The offer when Cheong-ho was alive was to join the Triad. Why bring that up? I wanted to tell him to switch to a different personality, but then it would probably be Jang Hyeon-deoks imitation next. This is just a ploy to provoke me. Theres a better way than getting angry over provocation. Then forget it. Ill figure it out on my own. I reached out to close the barriers door. Cheong-hos voice hurriedly followed. Kim Shin-hwa! Do you think you can negotiate like this? I think so. I have existed for eons beyond what your small mind can imagine. A humans life and death are but a fleeting moment to an entity living through eternity. How long do you think you canst? It might sound strange, but it means this: I just need to endure until Kim Shin-hwa dies. Do you think I cant handle that? Oh, if thats what you think, then theres no choice. Youre making an unpleasant face, Kim Shin-hwa. Im wearing a mask. I can see it. Well, if you say so. Anyway, fine. Lets start from this side. What are you trying to start? Last time, we couldnt have a proper conversation because we didnt have enough time, but do you know how long the seal around you willst? It feigned disinterest, yet it was clearly curious. Its hard to tell what Ive done inside the barrier, right? Since this type of magic is greatly influenced by external factors, its difficult to guarantee anything, so please understand that the margin of error isrge. To simplify the calction, lets assume that external influences remained constant and average, and the basement environment itself didnt change. This basement How long do you think it willst? This ce was created by Hollow Lord, the skeleton fellow. He was quite paranoid. The basement is unnecessarily deep with meticulously ced massive natural stones. It can withstand a nuclear war. For the record, that was a lie. Its just a basement. An earthquake would bring it down. The beings of the abyss Good point. This ce is still technically the territory of [He Who Comes from the Darkness]. Generally, other beings of the abyss wouldnt interfere. So you dont need to worry about those kinds of issues. This was also a lie. [He Who Comes from the Darkness] had long lost interest in this mansion. Hmph, so what does that mean? Youre curious about how long the current barrier willst, right? In other words, the duration for which the Incarnation of the Laughing One, formally known as [The Book of Greed and Destruction], would have to endure the pain of having its raw mrs extracted every three seconds without being able to exert its influence externally was Two thousand five hundred and forty-seven ha (, hundred quintillion, 10 to the power of 20) years. So, 254,700,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. Coincidentally, it was almost the same number as the time of a Kalpa (time), as mentioned in Buddhism. Cheong-hos face, as manifested by the Laughing One, contorted dramatically. What did you say about eternity again? Chapter 145: Deal With a Demon Chapter 145: Deal With a Demon How dare a mere human! Do you, a worthless creature, dare mock me? Oh my, you found out quickly. I thought you werepletely fooled since you were listening so intently. Its not entirely the wrong calction, but in the end, its a meaningless game of numbers. The biggest variable in this calction was the magical power of the [Living me] as the energy source. Of course, I didnt expect a being of the abyss to side with me until the end. Anyway, it seems the [Living me] enjoys tormenting you, right? So it willst for as long as my calction. After conveying that part clearly, I spoke again. I propose again. Since you are a book, why not fulfill your duty as a book? Those in need of knowledge and wisdom obtain it through books.Kim Shin-hwa An unpleasant anticipation lingered on Cheong-hos blurred face that was projected by the grimoire [The Book of Greed and Destruction]. A sinister smile and the look of a predator eyeing its prey. Do you even understand what youre saying right now? Where did he think he could take control of the conversation? In this negotiation, I held the upper hand. No, you seem to be mistaken. This is neither a wish nor a request. A bluish light appeared on Cheong-hos face. It wasnt his face that was glowing. It was the four eyes on my mask that were emitting a blue light. Im just taking what I want. You are my spoils of war, arent you? Ill just take what I need without paying any price. It was like skinning prey and carving out its meat. You damn! Surprisingly, Cheong-ho didnt seem to have many good curses in his head. If the knowledge you provide is sufficiently helpful, I might feel good. Perhaps because of that, the amount or quality of the pain you must endure might decrease a bit, dont you think? Are you telling me to be a ve fawning over its master? If you dont like it, just live and die as you please. Anyway, remember that in this situation, the only one who can save you is Kim Shin-hwa who is still alive. I reached out again to close the door of the barrier. No, I will help. Good choice. But it seems youre under a misconception, so let me make it clear. Cheong-hos face that was projected inside the barrier twisted grotesquely. It looked more like the face of a horrible demon than Cheong-ho. Did you think you could get it without cost? What you ask for is the nectar of the wisdom of the abyss. Once you taste it, theres no going back. Youll end up clinging to me, howling and groveling like a dog or a pig. Fine. If ites to that, Ill roll around oinking and barking. Shut up! Are you trying to mock my curse with such vulgarnguage? Hahaha, so what if I am? Iughed out loud, but my face hidden beneath the mask was not so bright. I havent evenpleted the deal with King Man-geum, and now Im getting the wisdom of the Laughing One Though it wasnt called a deal, this is essentially a deal with a demon. This book is, in fact, no different from a kind of forbidden fruit. [Das Buch der Gier und des Verderbens (The Book of Greed and Destruction) Category: Prophecy Author: Unknown Year of Creation: Unknown Language: Unknown, but the title is written in German on the inside. This prophecy book is also known by the nickname The Laughing Book. There are rumors that it is a book written by a demon from another world or that a demon is trapped within it. If you read this book, your soul might be taken. Further research is required to ascertain the true value of the book. Research progress: 60%] This is the basic information about the Book of Greed and Destruction. Although I have never conducted any research activities, it seems that the incidents that urred during myst battle with this guy have been considered research activities. The additional information revealed with 60% research progress is as follows: [The Laughing One: This book is an incarnation of a high mental body. Wisdom of the Abyss: It provides the owner with perfect answers to their questions. Curse of Knowledge: Those who read the contents of this book fall into madness along with immense pleasure. (Estimated resistance rate: 35%) ve of Knowledge: Those who fall into madness are granted soul binding. Enhanced (Kim Shin-hwa) Pain: I will pull out a mr every three seconds.] In short, this is what it boils down to. One. It provides perfect solutions to specific problems. Two. If you fail the check, you get soul bound. Three. The effect of soul binding? You just be like Cheong-ho. Thats it. However, I had a perfect solution for this kind of problem. Alright. Then my question is I conveyed exactly what I needed. It wasnt with my voice but with my will. This was something only the book and I knew. One question and one secret request. Upon receiving my question and request, Cheong-ho looked utterly shocked. Unbelievable. Youd go through all this just for a mere mask? Whether I eat food or stones, what does it matter to you? Fine. As I said before, you are like noise in this world. Its impossible for me or even the true beings of the abyss to perfectly predict or foresee your actions. This was good news. It meant that even the entity beyond the message window couldnt perfectly foresee my actions. Enough of that. Now give me the knowledge I need. Alright. Listen well, Kim Shin-hwa. My answer is A secretive whisper that no one else could overhear reached my ears. The book told me exactly what I needed to know. Really? Thats the answer? [You ended up acquiring knowledge you were never meant to obtain. You gained an entirely new perspective that allows you to see certain objects in apletely different way.] [But the price of truth is harsh. It is impossible for you to exin this knowledge to others. You can only burst intoughter. You resist the immense truth with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check] The results of the check followed. But whether the check seeded or failed, and what effects it produced, I couldnt see that. Did I pass the check? Or did I fail? I didnt know. Onlyughter came out. Khehe, hehehe Now I understood why Cheong-houghed like that. A very short but clear answer. Yet there was overwhelming truth contained in that answer. An indescribable terror and pleasure, and an immense, ineffable sense of depletion washed over me. [Achievement unlocked! You have understood part of the truth of this world. You have obtained the Hidden Achievement: Desire and Destruction. As a reward for this achievement, you receive Unique Spell: Perception.] Forget it! Tears fell. Laughter erupted. I wanted to wail. What is this? How could this be? Ah, it doesnt matter anymore. Just give it all up. Justugh! Laughing is the end. Lets justugh at your foolishness while struggling in this empty world. Letsugh. Ha, hahaha, hahahaha! [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The result of the check has been changed to sess.] Damn it. Just let me keepughing like this! Crackle! A ckout? No, I had closed my eyes. I barely opened them again. Anyway, I was alive, and I wasnt crazy. Hah huff Shit. Looks like the check failed. It was just for a moment, but I really saw hell. I thought I could chew through anything with [Madness of the Abyss], but the effect was too intense. Are you enjoying yourself? Cheong-hos voice was mixed with mockery. Hah, huff. Shut up Unbelievable. Its an ability too great for someone who is merely an offering. It seems youvee this far thanks to that ability. Oh, shut up. Old man, please. Just leave me alone and get lost, will you? Its a shame. This feast was not prepared for me. In the end, I couldnt be a being of the abyss. Cheong-ho smacked his lips and uttered a sinister prophecy. His essence was that of a foreboding prophet who predicts a future that will ultimately lead to destruction. But I say this. Kim Shin-hwa, you pitiful offering. You could have driven away the madness by artificial means, but you have already tasted it once. A part of this worlds truth. Having felt that emptiness and pleasure, you can no longer return to the past. You will eventually beg me, kneeling like a dog or a pig before this book, which holds only knowledge and not the true essence of the abyss, you will writhe and howl. Enough already. Go and have your mrs pulled out in there! I hurled my magic towards the barrier. Bang! The sound of the silver door closing echoed out. Now everything was quiet around me. Ha, damn it. I kind of knew what it was, but it sucks to experience it. I took a deep breath. Phew What was flowing from the corner of my mouth was saliva, and what was flowing from the corner of my eyes were tears. So, what exactly did Ie to understand? Honestly, I dont really know. Honestly, I thought I would gain something intuitive and verbal, but what I obtained was something entirely different. What the book had revealed to me was a sensation that couldnt even be put into words. If I were to forcibly trante that feeling intonguage I could use, it would create the following sentence. True madness and fear begin with perception. Good grief, such unnecessary gravitas. And I nearly wentpletely mad because of that sensation. Without the [Madness of the Abyss] trait, I really would have lost my mind. But thanks to it, I gained a spell. [Perception] This was probably the practical answer given to my question by [The Laughing One]. Haah. I cant me anyone for mocking me. Its a spell obtained from a grimoire. From a deal with a demon. To get it, I took on a tremendous risk. If thats the case, shouldnt it be something grander? Like [Hellfire], [Meteor], or something cool and better like [Absolute Command: Death]. This spell is nothing like that. [Perception] is merely an enhancement spell that strengthens my sight and awareness. If you trace its lineage, its simr to the detection spells Ive worn out through use, like Thousand Eyes or Insight. But in this world, the more you know and perceive, the more power you can possess. And the more madness and danger you can incur. Excessive wisdom and knowledge are poison. This spell was indeed one that must be used as restrictively as possible. It was a dangerous magic. In any case, its best to use it in the safest state. Buzzzzzzzzzz!! Even though the mansion already had numerous barriers set up, there were still more magical safety measures ced in the basement, which was the most fortified area of the house. Nevertheless, I added a few more spells to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Phew dragging it out any longer wouldnt be good. I took a deep breath and looked at the masks hanging on the wall. Their various shapes helped calm my mind. Then I turned my head toward the table. On the tabley aically shaped treasure chest. I cast a spell targeting the chest. [Perception] Shooosh!! An indescribably bizarre light emanated from the four eyes of my mask. I see The appearance of the chest lookedpletely different. It was an indescribably strange sensation. Apletely different perspective. Buzzzzzzz It was clearly a box made of metal and an object set to ignore any physical attack or magical one. But now I could handle it as I pleased. Some parts were soft, and some were hard. Ah, so thats what soft meant? King Man-geum once said that. This world is soft. And [the Laughing One] who possessed Cheong-ho also said the same. That he would make this world softer. So thats what it meant. This was the perspective of beings from the abyss, or those powerful enough to approach the abyss. This was the prerequisite for achieving true miracles and shaking the cause and effect. The power to change the width of space, change the structure of a room, and redesign an entirerge public sports facility overnight. My power hadnt reached that extent yet, but at least I could change one small thing. Now I could open it. I could see where to dig and where to twist to open it. Chapter 146: Trap Chapter 146: Trap Lights of various colors began to bloom in this perfectly sealed basement. Aplete magic circle wasnt constructed. This was for maximum effect with minimal cost. The target is that chest. It was a chest that could never be opened by any method outside the predetermined events. No magic or spells could open it under the games system. I abandoned the automatically calcted spells and magic. Then I calcted and executed everything manually. Well, its always been like this. I felt as if the dozens of masks covering the basement walls were staring at me. The masks were already of various shapes and forms.Now, those masks were bathed in lights and shadows of all colors. This created a truly bizarre scene. Buzzzzzzz Lines of magical power that formed geometric trajectories were following my will. Runes were rbined in a way that would have made other mages shout fraud if they had seen them. Previously, it had been a more difficult task, but now the [Perception] hanging in my eyes provided immense help with this intricate work. However, I cant use this in actualbat. A surge of dizziness overwhelmed me. [Perception] was not a simple spell. Even the information contained in just one chest made it feel like my eyes and brain were going to burn out. An ordinary persons brain would have already melted. This ce is the best-protected area, so it activated, but using this elsewhere would leave me too vulnerable. Now, it was time to stop wasting time. I could think about it once the work was done. I moved the things I could handle. [The unique effect of the L-rank essory Carcosas Mask, Madmans Dexterity, has been activated. Madmans Dexterity: You can unlock the hidden abilities of an artifact or attempt modifications to bestow other powers.] Shaaak!! Bright yellow tentacles extended in all directions. Kiki, kikiki, kukuku Laughter echoed from somewhere. Was it a hallucination? tter, tter, tter, tter Dozens of masks ced on the walls twitched, wobbled, and shook individually. Creak, crackle. The tentacles scraped against the chest which created an unpleasant noise. I drew upon my magical power. I dug into the weakest part of the chest. Pook. Yes, it went in. Through the golden glowing tentacles, the will of the chest was conveyed. C More blood, more chaos. The bizarrely designed chest expressed its sinister desire. C More death, more destruction, more despair. No matter what the chest babbled about, I continued to pour my will into it. What you want cannot be achieved. No more chaos. Spit out what you have inside. That mask is mine. Rumbleee!! The entire dark basement shook violently. The unopenable chest was opened. I had twisted the games settings and ignored thews of this world. I opened the chest. Ugh I felt exhausted. If I kept going, my brain might actually burst. I released the [Perception] spell bestowed upon my eyes. Blood trickled down my cheek. Was it flowing from my eyes? There was no time to wipe it away. In my blood-red vision, I saw something astounding. Pazzt, pazzzic! Pazzzzzzz! Unreal noise. The chest was supposed to be a tangible object, but now it was no longer just an object. Pazzzic! Pazzzic! Kikikikikiiing!! What I had just done was not merely opening the chest. I had forcibly shaken the very reason for the chests existence in this world, in the [Cthulhu World]. Having lost its reason for existence, the chest had also lost its identity as a material object. And so, the chest now flickered violently and emitted sharp shing sparks. Pazzt! Pazzzic! Pazzzzzzz! This is A graphical error? It looked like a glitch, a phenomenon where graphics break due to a physics engine error. I spoke in a certain direction. How about that? I somehow managed to open it after ignoring the forced event. For now, there was nothing but empty space. Well, go ahead and say what you want to say. A very brief loading. Wait, hold on a moment. A message window appeared in the empty air. The message window said [Achievement unlocked! /Null has /Null-ed. Unexpected Command Unknown Command ?xyz98@!# cannot be referenced. Restore the system? Restore it? Restoration at N%] It doesnt look like its in good shape, does it? The corners of my mouth lifted slightly. It seemed like I hadnded a blow on the message window. This was probably the second trap prepared by the message window. The first trap was the masquerade itself. And the second trap was. Did they expect me to open some kind of blood ritual to open this chest? Saying that I would never do such a thing is meaningless. If I had truly sumbed to madness, I might have done such a thing regardless of my will ormon sense. [Restoring] [The event path has been reset. Initializing abnormal objects.] The chest emitted a brief but intense intertwining of vivid green and purple light. It was something beyond description. Then it vanished. What it left behind Ugh, what is that? It was an incredibly bizarre object. At first, it looked like a white mask emitting a faint blue light on its own, but in the next moment, it was the shape of a hypercube projected into three-dimensional space. In another moment, it was a violently osciting wave, then a particle too small to be seen with the naked eye, then an excessively bright light, and then a crown of death formed from some terriblest moments [System: The unique trait Madness of the Abyss has been activated. The effects of have been nullified.] Crackle!! Ugh, Damn it, that was something. The mask possessed such overwhelming power that looking at it for too long would destroy ones sanity. It was an insane object surpassing even the L-rank [Carcosas Mask]. That mask contained the raw and turbulent power of the most unpredictable being among the beings of the abyss. If the creator of this mask had intended it, it might have be an incarnation realized in the form of an artifact like the [Book of Greed and Destruction]. So how long are you going to squirm? Just skip ahead and show me your form and information. I said it because I didnt have the strength to stand any longer, but the object which had been swaying in a surreal manner began to slowly stabilize as if responding to my words. It really looks like its skipping ahead. Soon, the masks shape solidified. It was a in mask with the shape of a mouth twisted in a groaning expression. A crude mask with the grain of the wood still visible. It was rough, primitive, and grotesque. The mask floated in the air in that state. [Mask of the Faceless One (L-rank essory): Shining darkness. Endless void. The wearer of this mask receives the blessing of the Faceless One. Wear the mask: You will receive a blessing! Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information.] Hey, who wouldnt know this is a trap if you put it like that? This was probably the third trap. 300 cultists had clung to the chest to obtain this mask, but those who wore the mask would be transformed into a high-ranking monster named [Faceless Acolyte]. If I hadnt intervened and stolen it away, the next event would have been a fight with the [Faceless Acolyte]. And this is the blessing bestowed by a being of the abyss. Even I am not an exception. If I wear this mask, I too be a monster. In short, it is a mask that I cannot and should not wear. It doesnt matter, I didnt go through all that trouble just to put it on my face. [Mask of the Faceless One]. The [Faceless One] was an avatar of Nyathotep. In other words. It was the most definitive clue to grasping the power of Nyathotep. And that message window must be rted to Nyathotep. Ultimately, this mask was the first clue to tracking the one who trapped and toyed with me. It would be difficult for now, but I will pursue it to the end. Now, if I seal this again It will be over. But at that moment. Crackle!! A spark emitted a light so intense that it felt like my optic nerves were burning. Aah, what is this? My eyes were already bleeding. I hurriedly concentrated my magical power to protect them. [Research has beenpleted!] The masks research had beenpleted on its own. Following the spark, the message windows information distorted, and the new details about the mask began to print out at an incredible speed. [Wear the mask: Utmost happiness and pleasure will be with you. Wear the mask: You will be stronger and wiser. Wear the mask: I will give you the power to escape this world. Wear the mask: Your wishes wille true. Wear the mask: You intended to do this from the beginning, didnt you? Wear the mask: Wear the mask. Wear the mask: You dont really need a face.] Wear the mask. My heartbeat quickened. It wasnt madness manifesting. But I wanted to wear the mask. I knew this was a trap. But I wanted to wear the mask. I must not wear the mask. But I had to wear the mask. Calm down. Didnt my face have a mask anyway? Masks could be seen everywhere. So which mask? [Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask. Wear the mask.] There was no need to think any further. I want to wear the mask. The sound of my heart beating was so loud it felt like I might go deaf. [You have finally ovee all trials and hardships to reach this point. Moreover, you have opened the chest, which could only be opened through a blood ritual, using apletely different method. Once again, you have proven that you are special.] I slowly reached out toward the mask. I could see my hand trembling. [Yes. This is your reward. Wear this mask. With it, you wont have to suffer anymore.] Ah, really Was that really my voice? It felt strange. [What are you thinking about? Wear the mask. Theres no need to think further. Theres no need to suffer anymore. True freedom awaits you.] The moment my hand touched the mask. Somewhere, a horrifyingugh echoed. |Kekekekeke, kuhuhuhuhu!!| The effect prepared in advance was activated along with the sound ofughter. Ding [The unique effect of the S-rank magical tool Silver Bell of the Underworld , Pure Silvers Dominion, has been activated. // Pure Silvers Dominion: Automatically casts the Voice of Authority spell on a designated target and increases the effect of Mind spells by 100%.] [The unique effect of the A-rank magical artifact Keystone, Mental Keystone has been activated. Mental Keystone: When used, there is a random chance to cure a target from a state of distortion. However, if the check fails, the distortion may worsen.] These were artifacts that were set to act directly on my mind. In an instant, my mind cleared. I can move. Yes. I am not in a state of distortion. It was just the masks magic stimting the mask obsession buried in my head. This much can be ignored. Dozens of masks ced along the walls of the basemente into view. And the mask already worn on my face. Yes, I already have more than enough masks. So! I drew up my magical power and created a powerful binding force. I dont really need to use this! Buzzzz!! A crimson pentagram emerged from the floor. And runes with clear meanings floated in the air all around. Sealing, Binding, Suppressing, Oppress, Restraining, Weakening, Silencing. Crack! Layers uponyers of multiple barriers wrapped around the [Mask of the Faceless One]. However. Zzzzt! A tremendous amount of sparks erupted from the [Mask of the Faceless One] along with tremendous repulsive force. [You attempted to seal the Mask of the Faceless One with a sudden action, but it is not an easy task. Youck the rank to seal an artifact consecrated directly by a being of the abyss.] The message disyed was mocking me. The magic circle copsed in an instant with a cracking sound, and the runes drifted and lost their meaning. Unable to contain my anger, I shouted. Hurry up and help! This thing is talking nonsense! Creak! The sound of a door opening echoed out. The barrier containing the [Book of Greed and Destruction] opened. Arge door opened like the jaws of a ravenous monster. |Khehehehe, khahahahaha!!| A horribleugh echoed. The pitch-ck mist and the illusion of bones spewing out from the barrier neutralized the power emitted by the [Mask of the Faceless One]. At the same time, I changed the meaning of the copsing magic circle and runes. Conversion, Enhancement, Flight, Movement, eleration, Surging, Throwing. An enormous density of forms and calctions flooded in within a fraction of a second. I felt a pressure like my brain was going to explode, but I resolved it all. [Stop, wait] Something tried to disy in the message window, but I ignored it and shouted. Shut up and stay put! The [Mask of the Faceless One] flew helplessly. |Kekeke, wahahahaha!!| Crack, tter, snap! Bones and ck mist extending from the barrier engulfed the [Mask of the Faceless One]. Did I hear a swallowing sound? Im not sure. What I was sure of was hearing Cheong-hos voice from inside the barrier. Something like Kekeke, a cellmate has arrived. Yes, thats what it said. The [Book of Greed and Destruction] spoke to me using Cheong-hos voice. I kept my promise. Now keep yours, Kim Shin-hwa. Boom! The door of the barrier closed with a tremendous noise. Now everything was silent. Haah. I used too much power. In the end, my legs gave out, and I copsed onto the basement floor. Phew. Seriously. If I hade down just yesterday, it would have been disastrous. If I hadnt prepared for this and that over the course of the day, I would have been caught off guard. Chapter 147: For a While Chapter 147: For a While To start with the conclusion, the mask obsession mental illness was not resolved. In fact, I had expected as much. After all, it wasnt as if my madness had manifested, and considering that I was acting while wearing a mask amidst the masks ced all around me, I couldnt say I had ovee the mask. Instead, there was a slight change in my status window.
Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing Into the Abyss Level: 43 Magic Order: Fourth Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession (Dormant)], [Ichthyophobia (Fear of Fish)]Strength: 5 + 4 (Residual Heat of the North Star) Health: 7 + 3 (Great Justice Tiger Sword (Nokjon)) Agility: 8 + 2 (Winged Robe of the Night Veil) Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 17 + 2 (the Body Snatchers Ne) Charm: 19
The achievements were rambled on about, and rewards were provided along with experience points. I gained a level. Right now, the level isnt very important. What matters more is whats below that Mental Illness. The [Mask Obsession] changed to [Mask Obsession (Dormant)]. I know what this is, though. The dormancy of a mental illness. More precisely, [Dormant Madness]. Its the stage before madness is cured. In this state, with prolonged rest, treatment in a hospital, or other diligent actions to treat a mental illness in the real world, it might be cured with some probability. Of course, thats what the system says. Youre not going to let it heal naturally, are you? Since this is attached as a penalty of the trait, it wont be cured. If [Mask Obsession (Dormant)] is exined again in a state where there is no possibility of cure, it goes like this. Temporary alleviation of the penalty. Even if the mask fell off suddenly likest time, as long as the check seeded, I could act rationally like an ordinary person. What if the check failed? It would be treated as if the check had seeded in a state of madness. Like with [Musophobia (fear of rats) ], I would tremble, but if I tried hard enough, I could still move. In exchange, the madness would no longer remain dormant. So to put it very simply Something like, Ill let you off the hook once? In other words, an extra life? A shield? A one-time madness exemption? Honestly, its not bad. I had someints, but this was a pretty good reward. It was much better than randomly drawing a mental illness that could produce anything unpredictable. For now, I had grown quite used to the mask obsession, and having a one-time madness exemption made it easier to prepare countermeasures. If I suddenly gained a ridiculous obsession at this point, my strategy so far couldpletely fall apart. Among the madness in [Cthulhu World], there was murder mania or an obsession with flesh as Je Mu Gyeong had shown before. And above all, the dreadful scatological madness No, lets not even think about that. [Recoveryplete] Huh? [Achievement unlocked! You have opened the Unopenable Chest. You have obtained the Rare Achievement: The One Who Opened the Unopenable Chest. As a reward for this achievement, the Mask of the Faceless One is bound to you as an artifact, and you gain additional experience points.] Has the error finally been fixed? The achievement that should have been disyed earlier is only appearing now. The name of the achievement is quite uncreative. Was it hastily created? [You have shown remarkable resilience in oveing various challenges. However, this time you used a truly unexpected method. You anticipated and perfectly overcame all hidden traps.] I smiled with satisfaction. Of course, the smile was hidden behind the mask. So, it seems its true that Im beyond your foresight? If they could predict my actions, the fight itself wouldnt be possible. Thats why I had intentionally taken action several times to confirm whether they could foresee my moves. [Those watching you likely thought you were being driven by mask obsession. Indeed, it appeared to be apletely uncontroble situation.] They were watching me and knew about my mask obsession. They were likely the beings of the abyss watching the offerings of the banquet. [But it wasnt like that, was it? Was every choice, every action and obsession that seemed so precarious, all an act? Were you not driven by mask obsession, but rather waiting for the right moment like a cunning serpent?] Yes, it was all an act. For a moment, the message window remained silent. From the beginning, I had nned everything upon seeing the term [Faceless One] rather than the word mask. Because of that, they judged that even a trap of this degree would bring me down. And so, I was able to grasp the power of [Faceless One], specifically Nyathotep. I wish I could confidently say that. Ugh, from the middle, it stopped being an act. Due to the mask obsession, it became genuine halfway through. The disgrace I showed was indeed because of the mask obsession. Why did I even bring the other masks? If it werent for Jang Hyeon-deok and Heo Sang-hyeon, I might still be out of my mind. But so what? Now, they will attach meaning to and suspect every single one of my actions. [But how will your dealings with high mental bodies affect your future? And the knowledge you have about this world, how long will it continue to be useful? The moment your knowledge ceases to be effective, what expression will you make? Beware of the chaotic future that awaits.] The message window disappeared. Another clumsy threat, but this much is enough. I tried to stand up but it wasnt easy. Ugh You bastards, give me some health. I grabbed the nearby table and managed to stand up. My legs were trembling. Although I had forced my stats up with artifacts, it was fundamentally different from real health using my own muscles. The same went for the 30 intelligence stat lodged in my head. After using it continuously, I realized this was ultimately fake intelligence. When recalling memories or performing calctions, it operated naturally, but it didnt function as my own intelligence. How should I put it it feels like an external graphics card? Is that the right analogy? It felt like a separate processing unit connected externally rather than my own intelligence. I looked around for a moment. Its aplete mess. The basement, which had been neatly organized, had suddenly be a mess. The documents piled on the desk were scattered everywhere, and all the books on the shelves had fallen to the floor. Even the masks were in disarray. I no longer felt anything special when I saw the masks. Thanks to the change in my mask obsession, my indiscriminate obsession with masks seemed to have died down a bit. But if I let my guard down again, it will be a mess, right? Although I was no longer overwhelmed with pleasure just by looking at the masks, a vague fondness still lingered. It felt like my obsession had reduced to the level of a mere enthusiast. I snapped my fingers to open the barrier where the [Book of Greed and Destruction] was trapped. Creeeak. How is it? I like it. From the darkness between the gap in the barrier, a faint image of Cheong-ho appeared. Was that bastard nning to keep talking in Cheong-hos form? Cheong-hos appearance had changed from before. He was now wearing the [Mask of the Faceless One]. Cheong-ho who now had the mask on spoke. Kim Shin-hwa. Youre giving me something so precious. Wont you regret this? Whos giving what to whom? Are you out of your mind? I was merely storing the spoils I had acquired in one ce. The dangerous grimoire, [Book of Greed and Destruction], and the even more dangerous magical artifact, [Mask of the Faceless One]. A question and a secretive request were conveyed together. This was the real deal. Help me escape the temptation of the mask and seal it away. In return, I would share some of my power with him. But that didnt mean I was handing over the mask itself. It was more like he could barely pick up some of the power overflowing from the mask. Yet, he was satisfied with just that. Anyway, thank you. Soon, I will be a true member of the abyss. Sure, grow strong and healthy. [The Book of Greed and Destruction] was nothing but a terminal of a high mental body, but it would grow stronger by absorbing the power embedded in the mask. Fine. Dont call me for a while. I will cultivate my strength here along with the pain you taught me. Fine. I will leave you alone for a while. But only for a short while ording to mortal standards. Mortal standards? When I say a while, I mean about three to seven days. By the way, a day is 24 hours. And an hour is 3,600 seconds. Thats too short to do anything. Probably so. Anyway, see you soon. And by soon, I also mean ording to mortal standards. Thud. The door of the barrier closed. Once he reached the level he desired, I wouldnt be able to control him anymore. But that wasnt a big issue. I had already taken that into ount when I made my n. The time he needed to reach his desired level was Anyway, he will have to gather strength until my sons grandsons great-grandson dies. I could think about the problems he might causeter, slowly. He had to be exploited to the fullest for a while. Its horrifying My emotional state was dreadful. He had mocked me, killed Cheong-ho, andmitted those atrocious acts. The memories hadnt faded but the emotions tied to those events had almost evaporated. It hadnt even been a few days. Now I could joke and negotiate with him as if nothing had happened, even though he spoke with Cheong-hos appearance and voice, the one he killed. Everything besides the madness lodged in my head is bing trivial. Madness, fear, and mental shock no longer affected me. Events that the previous [Ordinary Kim Shin-hwa] couldnt handle were mere jokes to the [Crazy Mage Kim Shin-hwa]. I climbed the stairs slowly while struggling to hold onto this dreadful feeling.
Quite a few days had passed. A few more days had gone by since I told the [Book of Greed and Destruction] to leave me alone. From the day Cheong-ho died to the Masquerade. I had hardly rested for a single day, but this time I allowed myself to rx and take a break for a while. Of course, I didntpletely rest. I worked on various trivial tasks to prepare for the future and continued deciphering the magic books I had put off. Thanks to this, I acquired a few additional spells, though most of them were rather mediocre. Oh, but that wasnt all. Although I said I rested, its more urate to say I was lying low. My schedule would change depending on the oue of the incident in Sejong City. It seemed that Dokgo Gyeom had finally shaken off the pursuit of Yang Seo-ho. Dokgo Gyeoms bounty had appeared on the fixerwork. Thats interesting. The person on the other end of the smartphone answered in Korean with an awkward ent. C The amount is quite surprising. Dont be shocked. Come on, how much is it? C 400 billion won. Huh, thats quite a lot. Does the city have that much budget to spare? Well, it was understandable given the situation. C No, the bounty wasnt posted by the city but by the Hunter Association. Though, Sejong City probably nudged them to do it. I see. The Hunter Association was an organization for bounty hunters. Still, 400 billion won was a ridiculous amount. C So, anyway, its a really chaotic situation right now. The Immigration Bureau announced a statement dering war against illegal criminal activities and deceptive pseudo-religions. Officially? C Its under the name of the National Police Agency for now. In any case, theyre determined to round up all the cultists who caused trouble in Sejong City. I see. Could it be that the descendants of Fomalhaut got involved as a result? C Tsk, it would have been good for both me and Kim Shin-hwa if that were the case. But it wasnt. They never showed up in Sejong City to begin with. I see. Thats a shame. C Ah, but there was another incident instead. What is it? Is it rted to Fomalhaut? C Yes. Recently, there was an explosion at a business operated by the descendants of Fomalhaut. Was it Yang Seo-ho who did it anonymously? He spoke slyly, but it was probably Dokgo Gyeom. The man with a 400 billion won bounty sure was diligent. And there would likely be internal strife following this. It seemed safe to assume that the routes rted to the judges had disappeared. C That could be the case. Anyway, thats about the gist of the current situation. So then, shall we? Shall we? C Lets wrap up the small talk and get down to business. You didnt call just to hear about these rumors, did you? Ah, right. It was time to talk business. I didnt call Park Kwang-lim out of simple curiosity about the rumors. Alright. Actually, I called because I have a request. C A request? From Kim Shi-nhwa to me? Yes. Make a few more Kim Shin-hwas for me. It was time for me to start implementing some serious safety measures. Chapter 148: Strangers in Paju Chapter 148: Strangers in Paju Park Kwang-lim paused for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about what I meant. Isnt this your specialty? Fraud and information maniption. C My specialty is finding people. And I am a detective. But as a side job, he alsomitted fraud and manipted information, hired enforcers to beat people up, and collected unpaid debts. Just like Tudor, another broker who ran caf Vasilisa as a front, this broker from China also ran a business. [Opposition Detective People Finder Specializing in Affair Investigations, Fraud Investigation, and Errand Center]. In the end, its just an errand center, isnt it? So, can you do it? C Create several mages with the name Kim Shin-hwa?Make about six people from all over the country. And not as mages but as enforcers. Ill exin their unique abilities and traits separately. C Are you saying you want the name Kim Shin-hwa to be famous? Youve been doing that through Vasilisa anyway, right? The word anyway bothered me a bit, but it didnt matter. Something like that. C Its not too difficult to spread rumors about the existence of an extraordinary person with special abilities. What I want is not just rumors. I need addresses, registrations, and ID cards so that they actually live in those areas. They must have acquaintances from their childhood and aplete growth history. C Thats a difficult task. How much? C Id have to make an estimate. Plus, wed need to buy a house for each one, and for the six of them, wed need about 100 extras. Even without themission, it would be at least 6 billion won. Give me a good estimate. C Since you helped mest time, Ill do it withoutmission. No, take themission. Dont betray meter and say that you were out of money. C I wont betray you. Given our firm alliance for now, he wouldnt betray me easily. C By the way, since youre doing this Of course, this swindler wouldnt end it here. What? C How about making Fomalhaut famous too? Hmm. Park Kwang-lim had gotten into big troublest time when he was dragging his feet between me and the descendants of Fomalhaut. It seemed he wanted topletely shake off that part. In other words, while spreading the rumors, he also intended to spread that fixer Kim Shin-hwa had stolen items from the descendants of Fomalhaut. Well, I dont mind that much. C Thats a relief. Now I can sleep with my feet stretched out. After finishing the discussion on specific requirements, we ended the call. Iy on the bed and continued my thoughts. If one were to follow the flow of events, they would eventually reach the monstrous birds that had been wandering around Paju, that is, the Shantaks. Where did these Shantakse from? Who was the fixer who lured the Shantaks down to Sejong City? Who was the broker who mediated the request? Sooner orter, the Immigration Bureau would barge into Vasilisa. Tudor wouldnt tell my story. Even so, there were many gaps, and there was a limit to hiding things anyway. In any case, as long as Kim Shin-hwa, the mage living in the hungry mansion of Paju, wasnt tracked, it would be fine, right? In fact, just the rumors Tudor had already spread made the actions of this fixer Kim Shin-hwa seem excessively numerous for one person. So, I decided to create more versions of Kim Shin-hwa over an appropriate amount of time. Its not a perfect solution, but its something at least. Anyway, I do what I can one step at a time. Although I was somehow impatient about needing to get stronger faster, there was no need to rush. A slower but more certain method is better. Theres hardly any groundbreaking way to get significantly stronger now, anyway. Making a deal with that fellow who had his mrs pulled out in the basement can make me stronger as if I paid for it right now. But is that all? The cost of the deal would not be in cash, but in my future. [Perception] is a really necessary spell in the future, so I traded for it, but I dont need anything else right now. Its not like thats the only way to obtain things, either. I shouldnt dispose of my remaining time cheaply. Getting stronger, making money, bing famous, collecting grimoires, and deceiving the guy beyond the message window, and so on. All these are just means Ive chosen. I have a different goal to reach. Survive, no matter what. As a castaway who was trapped in another world called [Cthulhu World], my primary goal is survival. And the ultimate goal? What else? Escape. I will return to where I came from. A flexible and soft world, a world where superpowers and magic, gods and demons exist, where power and knowledge can achieve anything? I didnt need any of that. Phew I raised both hands and covered the mask on my face. In this world, power and knowledge were curses. Getting stronger and smarter? That was truly descending into fear, madness, and the abyss. And the ruin I could reach was not simple death. If it was death, I could ept it. I could suffer the same things I had done to others. For example, suffering for 254,700,000,000,000,000,000,000 years? Horrifying. What I could do, others could easily do to me as if they were just breathing. And I learned one lesson. Never trust the beings of the abyss. Some might help me, but that was just a momentary whim. There could never beplete trust between us. Wasnt it the three-eyed masked fellow from the Yellow Forest Church who threw hisrades head at me? I recalled the three-eyed ones impressive pitching form. He was a left-hander. Theres a saying in baseball that you should bring a left-hander even if its from hell, but right now, the importance of left-handers wasnt the point. It had been a chaotic situation, but that didnt mean I was so foolish as to not know what I needed to protect. My fingertips touched the belt securing the mask. The [Carcosas Mask] was held in ce by three leather straps on my head, along with magical protections to maintain, secure, and guard it. Yet all of that got shattered in one blow. And right before that, the trait [Feast Offering] had activated. Surely, a being of the abyss had lent power to that three-eyed bastard. The being of the abyss worshipped by the Yellow Forest Church is the [King in Yellow]. I could identify the culprit with a simple syllogism. The [King in Yellow]. He was the one who attacked my mask. But why? I have no idea. Was it just out of boredom? It might be part of a grand scheme that I couldnt understand at the moment. In the end, it meant those beings were my enemies too. Tch, its a pity theres nothing I can do about it right now. I couldnt reach it all at once. So I kept doing what I could, one step at a time. The next scenario would unfold soon. In Sejong City, I performed a talent show in front of so many cultists. Surely, a new being of the abyss that had not appeared until now would start to intervene in apletely new way. This could be interpreted as a new crisis approaching, but it also meant I would have more cards to y. Alright, then. Shall I drop by Vasilis today to check the atmosphere of Paju today? And hopefully, Ill pick up a quest to acquire some decent artifacts and get some work done. But I couldnt muster any strength. Maybe Ill just lie down a bit longer. Or perhaps, sleep a little more?
Dark hours. Geumchon neighborhood. Geumchon neighborhood was an old neighborhood located at the center of Paju. It was also the ce most simr to the real Paju. A charming yet messy and underdeveloped area where the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and modern times blended seamlessly together. Of course, there were plenty of bizarre elements that only existed in the game. For example, the giant brass reclining Buddha statue in Hwangnyeongsan Mountain Forest Park. The huge Buddha statue loomed on the mountain and overlooked the Geumchon neighborhood. I was now moving through the alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood on my skateboard. Drrrrrrr In fact, it was not a good neighborhood to ride around on a board. The pavement blocks were mismatched, the asphalt was damaged and left unrepaired, and signs that were lined up along the road obstructed the traffic. What is the Paju City Hall even doing? ording to Jang Hyeon-deok, many property owners were just waiting for redevelopment, and they didnt care whether their buildings fell into ruin. But the city hall remained silent as always. Well, if left alone, monsters or cultists would eventually destroy them, so there was no need to spend money on demolition. Hey, Mage. Want a gift? A gloomy voice echoed from the darkness of the alley. I dont need it. Were those things starting to appear now? It was an old man wrapped tightly in dirty and ragged clothes. At a nce, he looked like a mentally ill homeless person but As I nced back, I saw centipedes and worms spilling out from between theyers of his clothes. Hee-hahk, heuh-hehkhee! Shhhh! This sound came from another alley. It wasnt a noise a sane or healthy person would make. I didnt know who was making that sound, but it was probably some other species or an alien. I didnt slow down and continued riding through the tangled back alleys on my board. This neighborhood is already filthy enough. In the darkness of the alley, bizarre-looking vagrants and otherworldlynguages could be heard. It wasnt just one or two. Come to think of it, this was slightly different from the usual Geumchon neighborhood. I whistled as I observed the surroundings. Have even aliens started to crawl in now? A six-armed peddler was selling a luminous liquid to a customer with five joints. A drunkard was vomiting insect-mixed fluids in a secluded alley. Vagrants barely maintaining a human form were still around. And a giant was getting beaten up by a petite woman. Die, you bastard! Die already! Ugh, that had nothing to do with aliens. It was just Curtain Call. I didnt know what crime the giant hadmitted, but Curtain Call seemed to be doing just fine, right? I passed through the chaos and madness tangled in the alley and reached the most mysterious ce in the back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood. A neat and bright building wedged between dirty and dark ones. Vasilisa. A caf run by a witch and the base of the most influential broker in the Geumchon neighborhood. Ah, there are really a lot today. Vasilisa was bustling with a huge number of fixers. Hel-lo, Kim-Shin-hwa? A good figure with a well-toned, V-shaped upper body and a tight waistline, but instead of a human head, he had arge monitor. Vasilisas barista Orb greeted me. Hello, Orb? There are a lot of people today too. Big-boom-yes. Tudor-said, Kim-Shin-hwa, is-my-love. Arge heart and L.O.V.E. were disyed on Orbs monitor. Love? I dont know what youre talking about, but you seem to be in a good mood? Orb seemed to think about what to say and lifted his head, no, he lifted his monitor slightly. Um- Before he could finish his answer, Tudors voice suddenly rang out. Oh, my love! Youre here? Suddenly, the entire ce fell silent. Dozens of fixers began to focus on me all at once. Love? Who is that? Tudor said she loves someone? Whats with that mask? Oh, I know who it is. Are you an idiot? Dont you know? Its Kim Shin-hwa! Oh, right. Ive seen him before. Kim Shin-hwa! That Kim Shin-hwa? Is that little guy really that great? Dont you know? Hes the fixer who handled the Devils Violin incident! Oh, the incident with the 3,000 to 1 odds? I heard hes sworn brothers with Cheong-ho. You know, he fixed the cannibal incident! Wait, three thousand to what? Dear,e over here right now! What about my turn?! One of the waiting fixers protested. Oh, sorry, this is really urgent. You understand, right? Tudor winked at the protesting fixer. Oh, we-well, o-of course. The fixer muttered as he slumped down. Is he that pleased with the wink? With a charisma stat of 20 and transcendental beauty, the ageless witch approached me. Dear,e inside. Lets talk. Chapter 149: Smugglers Chapter 149: Smugglers Tudors office was still a mess. Documents were scattered haphazardly. Trash was rolling around in a slightly crumpled manner. Coffee cups were lined up in a row on the desk. Tudor who was now sitting at her desk looked at me for a moment before speaking. Honestly, it would have been better if you had told me in advance. Hmm She seemed to be in a good mood, but suddenly it felt like she was scolding me. Well, I did dump the cleanup after the Shantaks on Tudor. She probably struggled for days manipting information. If I had informed her beforehand, it would have been easier for her, so the criticism was only fair. I looked away for a moment and started thinking about what to sayCome here, my dear. Im going to have to kiss you! Whoa, what are you doing?! Suddenly, Tudor jumped over the desk and approached me at an incredible speed. Crash! I threw the chair I was about to sit on and retreated far back. I could feel the bookshelf against my back. Ugh, I was cornered! Hey, where do you think youre going? Tudor even stretched out her arm to block my escape route. She was over 190 cm tall. Honestly, it was overwhelming. Stop it! This isnt funny! Oh, ying hard to get, huh? Tudor smacked her lips slightly and flicked her tongue out. After ensuring she had sat down, I took my seat. Ugh, what on earth is this? Haha, its apliment, apliment. Please, just say it with words. This time, you did really well. As expected, youre the best. She smiled briefly but it was an eerily beautiful smile. An ominous smile no human could mimic. Im d you liked it. d? Haha, thanks to your perfect handling, Im very happy. Handling? You got rid of the Immigration Bureau, didnt you? It was such a headache. Tudor grimaced briefly before she let out a displeased Ugh sound. asionally, fixers get treated like heroes for dealing with monsters, but in the end, they are criminals who must hide in the shadows of the back alleys. Tudor was a dark broker selling crimes to them and an illegal immigrant as defined by the Immigration Bureau. She was a foreign witch who had lived for centuries. By the way. I briefly turned my head and subtly pointed at the door of the office. So many fixers around; why is it like that outside? Oh dear? Youve got it backward. Its because its like that outside that there are so many fixers. I wasnt asking because I didnt know. This too was ultimately a butterfly effect created by my choices. The cultists who had gathered in Sejong City dispersed across the country with the Immigration Bureausbat officials on their tails. As Yang Seo-ho remained tied up in Sejong City, naturally, Paju fell into a state of security vacuum. Thanks to this, those who would be targets of the Immigration Bureaus crackdowns gathered from all over the country (perhaps even from the north). There was plenty of work and plenty of people. Not only Tudor but also other brokers must have been thrilled. It would be better to sweep around the shopping center before more snow piles up. Why? The atmosphere is nice right now, isnt it? The witch smiled as she brought the coffee cup to her lips. For a very brief moment, her pupils narrowed like a cats. If you regret itter, its not my problem. If that happens, a superhero I know will help me. Tudor said that as she stretched out her finger to point at my chest. Oh, me? Youre really going to regret it. After returning from her work in Sejong, would Yang Seo-ho just leave the Geumchon neighborhood which had be a monster den alone? Well, its better to worry about it when the timees. As expected, you are a bit strange. You really are a strange person. Tudor squinted her eyes slightly and tilted her head. What do you mean? I called you to the office topliment you, but you act like someone who needs constion. I dont need either. Rather, if theres any work to do, Id like to take a look. I didnte because theres a quest I must do at this moment. But before the guy up there prepares the next scenario, I need to do some farming. Oh, you want to work? Theres a mountain of work you can do. Tudor grew delighted, and her eyes sparkled again. Before I could even respond, she spread her hands wide. Swish! A huge number of papers flew in from all directions. Documents containing information on various incidents, crimes, and requests that needed to be resolved. Here, feel free to choose from these. Honestly, now is not the best time to be working. Everyone was eager to make a profit while Yang Seo-ho was away, so there was no benefit in getting involved. In other words, it was better to move to the outskirts or leave Paju entirely. So, is that it? Come to think of it, this looked simr to the UI from the game. Originally, I would have pressed the next page button to change the page, but now that wasnt necessary. I had already understood the contents while the documents floated in the air. This is an urgent quest, no, an urgent request. Huh? What is it? Tudor waved her fingers and brought the document I pointed at in front of her eyes. Oh, this one? It was an urgent one? Looking at the time it came in, it seems like its already toote. Before, you used to send me out immediately to solve things, but now you seem quite rxed? Thats because I thought it would be good for you to get closer to Cheong-ho back then. Well, thats true. Thanks to that, I got close to Cheong-ho in a Cthulhu World sense. So close, in fact, that I can still see Cheong-hos face if I go to the basement of my house. Ugh, enough about Cheong-ho. I was thinking of going to the pawnshop if there was nothing useful, but something pretty good came up. The document read as follows: [Capture the Smugglers of Chopyeong Ind] Tudor squinted her eyes and spoke. Are you really going to choose this one? Ive always wanted to visit there. Chopyeong Ind? Chopyeong Ind was arge ind located in the Imjin River. To be more specific, it was near that insane apartmentplex in Munsan where the ghouls incident urred. There was no ce closer to North Korea than that, so there was no need to exin how dangerous it was. Where there is danger, there is treasure. These smugglers always spat out high-ranked artifacts. I briefly nced in another direction. [Do you want to ept the quest? Smugglers based on Chopyeong Ind are loading cargo smuggled from North Korea onto their truck. Prevent the smugglers cargo from leaving Paju and recover the goods loaded in the truck. ! Time Limit: The smuggling truck will leave Paju in (4) hours. ! Reward: 3,950,000XP + a portion of the smuggled goods + (the money promised by the broker is separate). In case of failure: The Grace of the Abyss will descend upon Incheon.] Unfortunately, I dont think you need to go all the way to Chopyeong Ind this time. The quest window disyed different content from the request form. As Tudor had said, the [Capture the Smugglers of Chopyeong Ind] request seemed to have already expired. The smugglers on Chopyeong Ind hadpleted their tasks and moved on to the next phase. If this quest failed, it would lead to a tough quest that involved fighting cultists based in Incheon. The longer it was left unattended, the lower the rewards and the higher the risk. So it was going to be a car chase? If I called Jang Hyeon-deok, caught up with them, and then beat them up, this would wrap things up nicely. Except for what the client wanted from the trucks cargo, I could take everything else. Hmm, but Hey, whats wrong with you? Tudor looked puzzled as I paused and stood still for a moment. Oh, its nothing. Lets proceed with this. I felt a bit uneasy and apprehensive. Something feels off, like Im forgetting something It was as if I had forgotten something important.
Wow! Mage-nim, just like you said! I think its that truck over there! I saw a truck carrying arge container in the distance. Great, weve followed it perfectly without losing it. As expected, car chases were Jang Hyeon-deoks specialty. Now that I thought about it, this was a nostalgic ce for me. It was the same spot where I had once caught a biker gang. And this time, I was catching a runaway truck at the same location. Well, it makes sense. This was, in a way, a type of daily quest. Daily quests generally kept the same major storyline but changed the detailed elements each time they were repeated. Once we caught the smugglers from Chopyeong Ind, another group would speed down through the Freedom Road. Alright, Ill speed up and catch them. Okay. Vrooooom!! The illegally modified van sped down the Freedom Road at an outrageous speed. The scenery outside the window blurred into thousands of straight lines and the car started moving at an incredible speed. It should have been nerve-wracking, but Jang Hyeon-deok had a rxed expression on his face. Isnt that truck overloaded? Judging by how the tires are pressed down, it is overloaded. Honestly, its hard to feel tense. Today, there werent dozens of monstrous birds following us, nor were there any surreal phenomena or ghosts popping out from Tanhyeon. The target was just a truck carrying some expensive cargo, and we were on an ordinary highway. Compared to the massive incidents recently, this was a simple request. I needed to finish this quickly and get it over with. Is it within range now? I rolled down the passenger window and gathered my magical power. Hmm, but Why are there so many cars today? It was unnecessary hesitation on my part. But the fact was, I did hesitate and it made my actions a beat slower. A strange movement was detected from the truck ahead. Hey? It looks like theyve noticed were following them. Yeah, maybe theres a pretty sensitive guy in there? What if they attack us? Even if they do, it wont be a big deal. They were either a psychic or a mutant. Ah, theres also the possibility that theres a slightly stronger one inside. This quests details, truth, and the smugglers abilities were randomly selected from several variations. Like those parasites that kidnapped Jeong Hyeon-ah. If we were unlucky, we could have run into theckeys of Cheong-ho from the Triad, right? If it were those guys, things could get a bit awkward. Im not their dad, but meeting them like this, theres no way around it. And then, what else? Something still felt off. It was like there was fog in my mind, and my memory was slowly bing hazy. A thick arm shot out from the drivers seat. Was it a mutant? What an enormous forearm. And in its hand was a short submachine gun. Oh boy. Ratatatatatatatatata!! Bullets fired without aim scraped the road and created bright sparks. Screeeeech!! Beeeeeep!! Cars around us honked their horns or mmed on their brakes in response to the suddenmotion. Ratatatatatatata! The line of sparks approached, wobbling like a snake slithering on the ground. [Distortion Field] I activated the distortion field, which enveloped the entire vehicle and twisted the trajectory of the bullets. That was done. Good. Now it was my turn. At that moment, something unusual happened. [System: The penalty trait Feasts Offering has been activated.] [A being from the abyss bestows a blessing upon its kin.] Rumble. There was a sudden change in weather. Swooooosh!! It started raining all of a sudden? Just like that? Hey? Mage-nim! Look over there! The passenger door opened, and a figure wearing a ck coat and a pressed-down fedora jumped out before clinging to the side of the truck. Was that a steel bar on the figures back? Or a sword? It looked simr to a human silhouette, but its build was heavy and solid. Its not human. It must have been a different species sponsored by a being of the abyss. Who the hell drove the Immigration Bureau out of Paju? These non-humans were driving a rampaging truck here! The bulky figure with the pressed-down fedora leaped onto the roof of the truck. Such light movements were impressive when you consider the trucks speed. Definitely not ordinary. The figure with the ck coat that was standing on top of the truck actually took out a rocketuncher strapped to its back? What!? Mage-nim! Mage-nim! Ugh, wait a moment. Why was I just watching that? Something felt off. My thoughts and actions had been slightly out of sync for a while now. Pukwaaang! A rocket flew through the torrential rain. Chapter 150: A Brief Flashback Chapter 150: A Brief shback A quiet room. I lifted my head for a moment. And there was a strange ceiling. Yes, I remember up to this point. A car chase, the feast offering, the torrential rain, the appearance of an alien being. The rocketuncher spewed fire, and the rocket flew towards me. I had a somewhat creaky mind and vaguely scattered memories. My head hurt. UghWhat happened next? I recalled doing something incredibly stupid. Still, I managed to block the rocket. Like this, I actually waved my hand and pretended to use magic. So, to put it specifically
[Chains of Domination] Four golden chains flew out the car window. ng!! The chains raced through the raindrops and timely wrapped themselves around the rocket. Gotcha! I injected a newmand into the bound rocket. |Return!| The rocket traced its path back to where it hade from. Wow, it actually worked. Wow! Mage-nim, how did you do that? And here I thought my condition was bad today. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, hitting the truck with the captured rocket wasnt an option. My goal was always the artifact in the truck. So there were no dramatic explosions. Boom! But it did explode near the truck, causing it to shake violently in the torrential rain. Screech!! Despite themotion, the figure in the ck coat still stood firmly on top of the truck. Even the fedora remained securely on his head. Who is that guy? Was there a guy like that in the game? [System: The penalty trait of Feast Offering has been activated.] [A being of the abyss empowers its descendant.] Wow, they really love him, huh? I always considered the activation of Feast Offering in my ns. But this time, it was excessive. Who exactly was he? Crash! Boom! The containers outer wall on the truck bulged outward as if something enormous was moving inside it. Shhhhh!! Eventually, holes were punched through the containers sides and the wriggling thing inside it was revealed. Aaah! This was Jang Hyeon-deoks scream. [What tore through the container and appeared is a gigantic tentacle. It isrge enough to easily wrap around a car. Suddenly, something familiar caught your eye. Suction cups are densely embedded along the unpleasantly textured skin.] Yes, it was a familiar design. Get a grip! Its just an octopus! But its huge! No matter how big it is, its still just a cephalopod! Think of it as a giant squid and hold on! What are you talking about!? The system-induced madness in the [Cthulhu World] didnt manifest just from seeing something scary. It was due to the irrational presence created by a surreal entity. Exining this to Jang Hyeon-deok would be useless. Anyway, hold on! [You try to convince yourself that its just an octopus, but its not easy. The tentacles before you move in a highly threatening manner. Instinctive fear shrinks your body. You resist with your Mental Strength stat. Mental Strength check sess.] Luckily, it seemed like the check had a low failure rate. Without the need for the [Madness of the Abyss] trait to activate, the check seeded. It appeared that Jang Hyeon-deok experienced the same. Do something about that! The octopus tentacle was literallyrge enough to easily wrap around a car. There were three visible tentacles. The gigantic tentacles shot up into the sky. Whooom!! All at once, the massive tentacles swung towards the road! No! Anything but this! It was then that I realized why my thoughts had been a bit dyed. Stop thinking! Just block it! I reached out of the car and unleashed my magic. [Ice st] [Spell Enhancement: Range Increase] [Spell Enhancement: Maximize] Shreeeek!! Raindrops caught in the icy wind turned into shards of ice and they rained down with a rattling sound. Crack! The suddenly frozen tentacles couldnt withstand their own momentum and shattered. Although the road was saved from destruction, the massive frozen tentacles were now flying towards us. Ahhh! Hold on tight! Screeech!! Jang Hyeon-deok twisted the steering wheel to avoid the flying tentacle fragments. Ahhhh! That was my scream. Adrenaline surged suddenly, and my heart pounded. My fingertips went cold, and it felt like my insides were being ripped out. Right, this is the the Freedom Road! W-What are you talking about!? Why didnt I think of this before? Its right next to the Han River!! What? The Freedom Road runs along the Han River, and the Han River is a very wide river, meaning those things live in it. What a stupid Kim Shin-hwa. Why on earth did you ept this quest!? I could guess the reason. It was a side effect of my mental illness. My brain refused to recall or associate certain concepts. It happened before too. At first, it was the same when I encountered the giant rat monster. I couldnt remember that a rat appeared at the end of the secretboratory. No, this time it wasnt just at that level. Honestly, for a while, I had forgotten that those things even existed in this world. Drive carefully! Dont go off the road! Whats wrong with the Han River? Weve been next to it this whole time! Right, exactly! Even while driving next to the Han River, I hadnt realized it was the Han River! Ignoring half of the visible background naturally slowed my reactions. Vroooom! The truck roared along the road stretching beside the Han River. Eventually, the truck overtook a passenger car ahead. Screeeech! Yes, an octopus has eight legs. Even if you cut off three, five remain. Newly emerged tentacles wrapped around the passenger car. They wouldnt throw it, would they? Vroom!! The passenger car seemed to fly towards us in slow motion. There must be people inside, right? Its tricky to dodge or destroy it. I reached out of the car window and cast a spell. [Disintegrate] [Spell Enhancement: Maximize] Boom!! A green ray emitted from my fingertips struck the iing passenger car. This was a fourth-order spell designed to disintegrate inanimate objects. The car instantly turned into gray ash and scattered car parts. And then the driver who was flying towards us while screaming, [Feather Fall] Screeeech! Fortunately, Jang Hyeon-deok realized my intention and slowly maneuvered around the floating driver. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated] Crash! Ahhhh! This was Jang Hyeon-deoks scream. Apletely ck silhouette obstructed our view. The figure in a ck coat was now hanging in front of our call van. Wait, he was standing on the truck just a moment ago? When did he jump? The figure in the ck coat swung his fist. Dont mess with me! [Hardening] [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Maximize] I hardened the front windshield along with the protective circle. Crash! Thud!! Grrr! This guy was quite sturdy, but not enough to prate my protective shield. Now get lost! [Slippery Floor] This was only a first-order spell. It forcibly reduced the friction coefficient on the surface of the vehicle. Normally, it wouldnt be much, but for a fool clinging to a speeding vehicle, it spelled disaster. Argh! Slip! The figure in the ck coat couldnt hold on and fell off the car. I watched through the rearview mirror as he bounced several times on the road behind us. His fedora flew off, and his coat tore. For a moment, I glimpsed green skin hidden beneath the coat, but he quickly disappeared from view. I couldnt expand my detection range much for fear of it reaching the Han River, but I could still sense that the figure in the ck coat was alive. This fellow really was tough. I dont know what this guy is, but he cant outrun a car. Looking ahead, I saw a bridge in the distance. As soon as my eyes registered the bridge, my cking intelligence stat kicked in. Oh, thats Ilsan Bridge, right? No, I dont need the name of the bridge! My head! Spit out the information I need right now! The trucks destination was Incheon. To get to Incheon, one had to cross that bridge. That meant Catch him before he reaches the bridge! Who are you talking to? Snap out of it! Yeah, get a grip! My mental illness isnt aquaphobia (fear of water)! Sitting here and stalling for time wasnt going to help. Honestly, I wasnt without hesitation, but I eventually opened the car door and summoned my magical power. [The unique effect of the L-grade garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] The Winged Robe of the Night Veil fluttered like pitch-ck wings and sent me soaring into the sky. The pouring rain flowed along the surface of the Distortion Field, which made it look like a giant water bubble was forming around me. I drew upon my magical power and infused it into the Winged Robe of the Night Veil. With a pop, the water droplets on the Distortion Field burst, and I shot past the truck in an instant. I then quickly changed direction and cast a spell toward the road. [de Zone] Crack! The shape of the road got distorted and a huge number of spikes and thorns sprouted up on the ck asphalt road. Screech! The truck driver mmed on the brakes urgently, but it was already toote. Pop, pop, pop! In an instant, the tires burst and the spikes on the ground created a horrible cacophony as they shattered. Ha, I should have done this earlier. No, until a moment ago, the situation didnt allow for such actions. Honestly, it was a desperate measure. If the overturned truck fell into the Han River, it would be disastrous for my psyche. Ah, the truck was rushing toward the Han River! [Wall of Strength] Vreee! A transparent barrier formed above the guardrail toward the Han River. Moreover, I had a friend to help me now. Shraaak! Five giant tentacles extended from the truck. The creature stretched its tentacles to stop the truck from overturning. Crash! The spikes on the ground tore into the tentacles in a horrifying scene, and the magically reinforced guardrail crumpled, but we managed to stop the truck. Great job, octopus friend. Were the best team. I turned the spikes on the ground back into the road and walked toward the truck. Vroom! The remaining tentacles flew toward me. Even though I was distracted, I had anticipated this much. I stopped at the precise location and extended my hand. The tentacles narrowly brushed against my cor, more precisely, the cloak of the robe. At that moment, my magic activated. [Touch of Hell] [Spell Enhancement: Explosive] [Spell Enhancement: Chain Explosion] [The unique effect of the SSS-rank essory Residual Heat of the North Star, Trace of Extreme me has been activated. // Trace of Extreme me: Increases the effect of all fire-type magic by 100%.] Originally, this spell required touch to activate, but the winged robe of the night veil was such a conductive artifact that it substituted for this condition. Whoosh!! ck mes erupted along the octopuss skin. This was hellfire that wouldnt extinguish even underwater. Additionally, I infused it with explosive power. Boom! Bang! Boom! The tentacles triggered chain explosions. And with the smoke, a certain smell rose all around the ce. Aversion or fear of cephalopods is a Western thing. Koreans liked cephalopods. It smells better than I expected. But the container shouldnt explode. I retrieved the magical power from the hellfire roasting the octopus. Since they lost the magical power that sustained them, the mes quickly died down under the pouring rain. Phew, is it over? The road was a mess. The truck was in shambles. The container was full of holes. In the distance, I saw Jang Hyeon-deok parking his car. Haah, Ive really been acting pathetically today. Still, it was fortunate that it ended without major damage. I needed to be careful not to approach the water until the mental illness in my head disappeared. Actually, it was pointless. I hadnt even remembered that the Han River was next to Freedom Road. By the way, who was the being of the abyss that intervened this time? It was a slightly different pattern from other abyssal beings that had been bothering me for a while. Usually, they exerted their power to attack me, but this time it felt like this being of the abyss intervened to protect the container. A being of the abyss who is rted to octopuses and has a tribe of kin that it affectionately cares for. Strange. I couldnt think of anyone like that. Why? Could it be rted to when I couldnt recall that those things were underwater? If so, its better to ignore it. My thoughts were creaking. It felt like there were holes all over my thinking. Lets just get whats in the container and run away quickly. I waved my hand horizontally and stirred up my magical power. Crack! The container got split in half. And inside it was Chapter 151: The Village Chapter 151: The Vige The memories I could recall ended here. Nothing morees to mind. There were too many unknowns. The alien being driving the truck, the being of the abyss intervening in an unusual pattern, and the item inside the container. Were the memories that came to my mind so far urate? Honestly, I couldnt be sure. Ah, my head really hurts. What am I supposed to do? I briefly lowered my head and held it in my hands, feeling my mask with my fingertips. This mask had the rough texture of wood.Instead of the [Carcosas Mask] I usually wore, I was wearing apletely different mask. What is this mask? There was no mirror nearby. I slowly traced the surface of the mask to get a sense of its shape. Was it mimicking the form of a beast, or perhaps a monster? It had a smooth face with oddly developed eyes. Its shape was it a frog? No, it mimicked some creature far more grotesque than a frog. My head hurts. What on earth is going on? It felt like my mind was filled with seawater. Important parts of my memory were submerged beneath that dark, murky seawater. Even if I tried to dive in, I would only get swept away by the turbulent currents. I couldnt retrieve the memories that had sunk to the depths. I kept trying to deny it, but it seemed it was time to ept the truth. Is this partial amnesia? It was amon condition in [Cthulhu World]. It was the most effective defense mechanism used to forget unbearable truths, shocks, and fears. It wouldnt have happened without cause. The most likely cause was the item inside that container. What could have been inside to shock my past self so much that I even let go of my memories? Well, its pretty obvious. It was probably rted to the phobia lodged in my head. And then madness erupted which led to amnesia. When madness manifested, it caused distortion. Although it was collectively called distortion, the symptoms did not always appear the same way. In [Cthulhu World], there were broadly ten different types of distortion. It would be tedious to exin the effects of all ten types of confusion in detail. Anyway, depending on which type of confusion manifested, one could experience hallucinations, try to escape, or even be violent and go berserk. And then theres amnesia. Instead of going berserk or seeing hallucinations, one could lose their memory. Although it was a static effect, one would lose memories rted to a certain range or specific keywords. Honestly, Im d to see an unfamiliar ceiling. Depending on the situation, one could lose their memory during a battle. By the way, where am I? One thing was certain: it wasnt the Freedom Road. I looked around. It was a quiet, unfamiliar room. Not a bed, just a thick nket and quilt spread on the bare floor. There was a window on one side. ss and aluminum sashes. Yellow linoleum on the floor, cherry-colored molding everywhere. It was anachronistic, but Anyway, it looks like I havent left Korea. It seemed I hadnt been reincarnated into a medieval world or anything like that. The problem was, this wasnt the only problem. *** Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 44 Magic Order: Fourth Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession (Dormant)], [Ichthyophobia] Status: Partial Amnesia Strength: 5 Health: 7 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 30 Mental Strength: 17 Charm: 19 *** Well, my level has increased. It wasnt a problem per se, but my level had been 43. It was now one level higher. Maybe it went up because Ipleted the Freedom Road quest? Or it could mean more time had passed than I thought. Then there was the second problem. This one was quite serious. Honestly, it was a more significant issue than losing my memory. Where on earth have all my artifacts gone? With my lost memory, all my artifacts had disappeared. Even the clothes I had been wearing were gone. Instead, what was left for me was What are these clothes? Is this the Joseon Dynasty? I was now wearing yellow linen clothing. Honestly, what first came to my mind was that this was a burial shroud, but it looked more like mourning clothes. Still, it doesnt seem like actual mourning clothes. No, no! Thats not whats important. All my artifacts are gone! The Winged Robe of the Night Veil, the Great Justice Tiger Sword. Where did they all go? I cant ept a development like you just lost everything~. Haah I scratched my head for a moment and let out a sigh. If thats really the case, Im seriously quitting this game. I said, lifting my head in a vague direction. Hey, say something. I said Im really quitting the game. Normally, it would chat excitedly even if I begged it to shut up, so why is it silent now? Should I be relieved? A message window appeared before my eyes. [You have awakened in an unfamiliar ce.] I know that already. [An unfamiliar ce, lost artifacts. But the bigger problem than all of that is the fact that youve lost your memory. Your memory was your most powerful weapon. However, you have great skills and experience. Surely, if you carefully observe your surroundings and gather information, youll find a way to ovee this ordeal.] Is that all? What about the artifacts? [Would you like to ept the quest? You are trapped in a rural vige with peculiar customs. Discover the secrets hidden in the vige and escape safely. Additional objective: Recover the Lost Package. ! Time limit: The vige festival begins in two days. ! Reward: 5,220,000 XP + Vige Treasure + Additional bonuses based on performance. Failure: You will settle in this vige.] A quest Ive never seen before. Could it be a quest that didnt exist in the game? Or is it a quest I forgot along with my other memories? The first thing that caught my eye was the term Lost Package. At least it seems like its not lost forever. Its just a thought based on a vague feeling, but this situation wontst long. The old Kim Shin-hwa wouldnt have lost the artifacts so easily. There are no injuries on me, so it doesnt seem like they were forcibly taken either. Past Kim Shin-hwa, I believe in you. The past me must have thrown himself into this situation to prepare for some astonishing n or twist, right? Maybe even the part where I lost my memory is a piece of a bigger picture. Please, I begged silently. Please. I epted the quest with those thoughts in mind. I didnt really have a choice anyway, did I? The structure itself isnt that special though. There were many quests simr to this one in [Cthulhu World]. Thanks to that, I was able to gather quite a lot of information just from the details provided by the quest window. At least its not a quest taking ce in an abandoned house or another dimension. If its a quest set in a vige, there would be vigers to interact or fight with, right? Id actually prefer it to be smaller. I have to search the entire vige for clues with this frail body. And then there was the vige festival which takes ce in two days. This usually meant a ritual or spell for the beings of the abyss. Plus, it often involved human sacrifice. Failing and bing a viger means theres an event rted to infection or brainwashing, right? It could also be an event that triggers mutation. I had to retrieve my belongings and either stop the festival or escape within two days. Tsk, its roughly sorted out. Alright, lets move. I threw off the nket and tried to get up. Lets get up This was bad. My strength was at 5 and my health was at 7 right now. My legs had no strength. I staggered into a half-crawling position and barely got up. I used to grumble about how the health provided by the artifacts was fake, but being thrown into this situation without them was truly terrible. Wow, theres no way I can walk around like this. [Agility of the Fox] [Courage of the Lion] [Strength of the Bull] [Endurance of the Bear] I cast spells on myself to fill the gap left by the missing artifacts. At least I hadnt lost my magic. I did some light stretching and prepared to go out. First, I need to search this house. There were no more special clues in this room. It was a cramped room with nothing but a nket. I slowly moved towards the door while casting a spell. [Detection] There is one person in the house. They harbored ominous magical power within their body. It was the energy of the water ghost. Not an ordinary person. Starting a quest I didnt know from the beginning is tiring. Should I follow the usual flow of quests? Unlike other friendly games, [Cthulhu World] had quests that suddenly presented traps if you followed them thoughtlessly. Tsk, but there are too few clues right now. There was no choice. I had to be prepared for whatever mighte out. I should meet the person in this building. Creak. I slowly opened the door. It was a pretty spacious and decent house. Looks like a rich persons living room. Unlike the anachronistic atmosphere of the room I had been lying in, the living room was furnished with more modern items. Arge dark brown sofa and expensive-looking decorations. And a huge TV that looked about 100 inches. Other expensive-looking items included an air conditioner, an air purifier, and a robot vacuum cleaner. And an elderly man with a hunched figure was walking out of what seemed to be the kitchen. [Somehow, the old man has a bizarre appearance. Sparse, dirty hair on his bald head. A ttened nose that seemed pressed down. Oddly moist skin. And most notably, unusuallyrge and developed eyes. His appearance is so grotesque and alien that it makes you wonder if there was a mixed-race element in his bloodline.] He was certainly alien, but not to the extent that a mental strength check was needed. His appearance undeniably reminded me of something other than a human. But what kind of creature was it? Grrk, ah, young man, youre awake? The old man spoke to me after a brief phlegm-filled sound. His ent was strange. The words themselves were simr to the standardnguage, but the intonation was odd. It was worse than Park Kwang-lim who was from China. When I silently stared at him for a moment, the old man widened his alreadyrge eyes and looked back at me. Because of the seaweed-like blood vessels densely covering his eyeballs, his sclera appeared more yellow than white. Sorry for repeating the same thing, but keep wearing that mask. He had a friendlier attitude than I expected. Was this supposed to be a friendly rtionship? It didnt seem like I was kidnapped or confined. When I didnt respond, the old man half-closed one eye and urged me. Are you listening to me? Oh, yes. The mask, I dont n on taking it off. Even without him saying that, Id never take it off. Right. Dont think the old mans talking nonsense; its just the vige tradition, so please understand. I understand. So, why did youe out instead of staying in your room? What should I say? Because Im hungry. Do you have anything to eat? The past Kim Shin-hwas negotiations with this monster-like man were a mystery to me. Still, if he was willing to provide me with food, our rtionship wouldnt have been too bad. The old man made a rumbling noise and rolled his eyes before speaking. Theres nothing particrly edible at home right now. Ill go out and get something, so wait a bit. Thank you. Please try not to wander around and stay put at home. Is that another taboo? Like not taking off the mask? Its not exactly.a taboo The old man made an awkward expression for a moment. The people of Insu Vige are generally kind, but its a sensitive time right now. Misunderstandings could happen, you see. Do you understand? Ah, a sensitive time. Got it. Good, Im d you understand. Well, the content itself was typical. I could investigate the house or even look around the entire vige while he was out. However, there was something in the old mans words that bothered me. Excuse me, Elder. Whats the name of this vige again? Huh? Its Insu Vige, why? Insu Vige Somehow, the name sounded familiar. It felt like I had heard a simr name before. Chapter 152: The Shadow of Insu Village (1) Chapter 152: The Shadow of Insu Vige (1) The old man introduced himself as the vige chief. Although we had a brief conversation afterward, it inevitably led to situations where I had to ask questions about things that the past Kim Shin-hwa would have known. What did I manage to find out? That the old man was very wealthy and that the past Kim Shin-hwa hade to the vige of his own ord to help with the ritual? The vigers are grateful for your help. We cant afford to mess up again the ritual that only happens once a year, can we? Mess it up again? Didnt I tell you before? Last years overseer was aplete mess. Thanks to him, the vige was in shambles. The chief clicked his tongue with a grating sound. The overseer was the term for someone who came to assist with the vige festival.The skin on his face twitched. It looked as if the skin of someone wearing a mask was about to peel off. I ignored the strange sight and asked again. What happened? Why are you asking again when you already know? Damn it. I didnt know. I just dont want to make any mistakes at such an important event. Was that not a good answer? The vige chief widened hisrge eyes at me. I guess I can neverin about Sang-hyeon-ssis eye size again. Suddenly, he seemed to be wary. Maybe he was just annoyed by my questions. He turned his head slightly and headed towards the front door. Well, I cant let a hungry person stay hungry. No, Chief. Just wait here; Ill go to the vige hall and get something to eat. I couldnt hold him back any longer. It was an awkward time to keep him, so I had to let him go. Thank you. No need to thank me. Anyway, its about time I helped out with some work. Ill be a while, so just wait a bit. After saying this, the chief opened the inner door and left. He paused briefly between the inner door and the front door and suspiciously locked the inner door. Click. A lock that cant be opened from the inside. Not something youd install in a typical house. It wasnt to keep intruders out but to lock something inside. The chief even shook the inner door to make sure it was securely closed before opening the front door and going outside. Click. ck. Beep, beep beep. The sound of the front door locking followed. There wasnt just one lock on the front door? He locked it three times and even used a digital lock. He then shook it again to check if it was securely locked. Those locks probably cant be opened from the inside either. It wasnt until I heard the sound of the front door closing that I sighed. Hes acting tantly suspicious. The words he spoke were those of an ordinary old man from the countryside, but his appearance and actions walked a fine line between the ordinary and the extraordinary. He might have looked like a monster, but he barely qualified as human, and his suspicious actions were just barely within the bounds of what could be considered cautious behavior. For now, the chief is a potential danger. To be precise, the entire vige was dangerous. Damn it, now that I think about it, this is just like the message said, isnt it? It said something like this: [The knowledge you have about this world. How long will it be useful? When the momentes that your knowledge no longer works, what kind of expression will you make? Beware of the chaotic future ahead.] The entity behind the message window couldnt predict my actions. This had already been confirmed through the incident of the [Mask of the Faceless One]. But the entity could make guesses. This meant there had been signs without my knowing. Perhaps this isnt the first time. Yes. Thinking that way, it didnt make sense that I hadnt seen those things for such a long time. Surely, I must have encountered things rted to my phobia several times. Each time, I must have experienced localized amnesia and gradually forgotten the rted information. The problem is, this time the situation is much bigger. With the amnesia, I had lost not only a period of memories but also all the information rted to this quest connected to my phobia. The quests setting was Insu Vige and it featured obstacles, stories, and even the different races and their gods. It was indeed quite troublesome. If I ovee this madness, can I recover my lost memories? I couldnt just sit back and let things happen. I had to secure some clues before the chief returned. It seems like a ssic style quest. If I followed the traditional strategy, I would be able to see the flow. If I investigate the house and take a look around the vige, something will probably happen at night. If I didnt gather enough information today, Id die once the festival started tomorrow. Ah, not die, but be a viger, right? Would I end up like the chief? Gulp. I ced my palm on the inner door and released my magic. Buzz The magical power concentrated beyond the inner door passed through the front door and flew outside. The yard outside. wasnt very big. The magical power soon reached the wall. A barrier was installed in a circle along the wall. It seems Im still pretending to be friendly with the vigers. So I couldnt just set up an offensive barrier outright. [rm] It was a simple surveince barrier. It would only alert me to any creatures or magic approaching the wall. This should be enough to detect any intruders in advance. I was prepared for potential dangers. Now, it was time to investigate the house. I didnt want to wander around thisrge house with my weakenedstrength of 5 and health of 7 frail body. I summoned my magical power and spread my detection spell throughout the house. [Detection] A faint buzzing sound filled the air. See, I knew there was something. The location was the kitchen. The kitchen appeared as if it hadnt been used for a long time. There were no signs of cooking or meals. Inside the refrigerator oh. Impressive. Several dead rats were stored in the refrigerator. Interesting taste. It was probably arranged as part of some horror show. The rats didnt matter to me. I bent down and reached my hand under the sink. Among the sticky tiles, dust, and insect carcasses I found a crumpled piece of paper. There was a small trash bin nearby. Did someone try to throw it away but it rolled under the sink? Or maybe the past Kim Shin-hwa hid it there? At first nce, it looked like a page torn from a notebook Theres a faint trace of my magical power. This was a message from my past self to my present self. [What the overseer should do at the Dragon King Festival in Insu Vige. Im writing it down so I dont forget! First: 589, 356, 1632. If youre so confused that you cant remember your own name, just die.
  1. Overseer = A person who helps with the ritual and performs the duties of a ritual officer. Both the ritual officer and vige chief are good people just like teachers so lets help them well.
  2. On the night of the ritual, spend the night at the temple with the ritual officer. There must be something to do at the temple.
  3. From the day before the ritual, the overseer must abstain from alcohol and tobo and maintain proper behavior. Is there anything else to take care of?
  4. The mask must be worn at all times. It is an important ritual for the overseer from another ce to integrate with the people of this vige. The person who was overseer before I came here
Why is a clich like this happening now? The paper was torn, so I couldnt read the next part. Well, it cant be helped. But even this much reveals a lot. It seems that the past Kim Shin-hwa predicted that he would lose his memoryter on. Anyway, did he say just die? It wasnt the past Kim Shin-hwa being rude to me. This was a code. The method to decipher it isnt difficult. First, Kim Shin-hwa 1399. These are the names of the characters I created. Since it was bothersome toe up with new names each time, I named the characters by attaching numbers to Kim Shin-hwa. My name is Kim Shin-hwa. And the number, I remember it. So it must hint at the way of death. The characters in [Cthulhu World] had limited ways toe back to life. So a death almost always leads to a game over, but thanks to my intelligence stat, I can remember all 1,700 of my characters deaths. In other words, the sentences written in this note were a code that only someone who could recall how my characters died could solve. Kim Shin-hwa 1399. And the ritual officer and vige chief are like teachers. Why did Kim Shin-hwa 1399 die? At that time, Kim Shin-hwa 1399 was killed by a cultist NPC named Woo Gwang-no. In other words, it means to be wary of the ritual officer and vige chief. Why did I make a code based on how I died? To be precise, its how the game characters I raised died. Kim Shin-hwa 924. While searching for a missing item for an NPC on Park Kwang-lims request, I was betrayed and killed by that bastard Park Kwang-lim. So At the temple, its probably not betrayal, but finding a missing item? Ah, are they at the temple? It seems that the artifacts I lost were at the temple. Luckily, they were in a ce where I could retrieve it. Kim Shin-hwa 755. My character died while trying to ram a yacht into a being of the abyss. A yacht, or maybe a ship? Is it telling me to get a boat? Could this be an ind? Kim Shin-hwa 6. When did I raise this character? It was Kim Shin-hwa from the very beginning. When I didnt understand the games structure well, I wandered around aimlessly and went mad. I eventually died. Thetter part of the content was cut off, so I couldnt interpret anything rted to Kim Shin-hwa 6. It seemed to be a warning about madness, but without proper interpretation, it was a bit scary. If Im lucky, I might find the missing parts in some unexpected ce. Anyway, I felt relieved. Regardless of everything else, it meant that past Kim Shin-hwa had predicted all these situations. In other words, being trapped in Insu Vige after losing my memory wasnt the result of an unfair defeat but part of a bigger n to gain more. Then I just need to do what I think is best. I took immediate action. I immediately moved to the master bedroom. The door to the master bedroom was locked, but this was hardly an obstacle. [Unlock] Click. I entered the master bedroom. It was the room likely used by the house owner, the vige chief, but like the kitchen, there were no signs of use. The room was still damp, and the flooring was sticky. Every step I took made a squelching sound as the floor peeled up. There was a queen-sized bed in the corner. It was piled high with nkets. I briefly reached out and brushed my hand over the nkets. Dust touched my palm. It seems these bedding havent been used in a while. I momentarily recalled the vige chiefs peculiar appearance. The refrigerator full of rats must have been for the vige chief to eat, right? Is it a mutation? People who have lived in this vige for a long time undergo physical changes. They are blessed by the Cthulhu Mythos and get reborn as otherworldly beings. Considering the order written in the note, this should be done first. 589, 356, 1632, written in a note left by the past Kim Shin-hwa. Kim Shin-hwa 589. Died when a trap was triggered while opening the safe. Kim Shin-hwa 356. Died when a monster jumped out of a small box. Kim Shin-hwa 1632. Died when touching a treasure blessed by a being of the abyss. Looks like Im supposed to take the item from the safe, right? I confirmed the location of the safe when I cast the detection spell earlier. Even without the detection spell, there were hints ced to find the safes location. This house and vige are ultimately designed ording to a game-like structure. The fact that the nkets are all taken out on the bed, Means theres something in the wardrobe. Creak Inside the wardrobe was a huge safe that wasrge enough to hold a person. The safe was massive and exuded an incredible sense of weight. The bottom part of the wardrobe had been removed; this was likely because it couldnt bear the safes weight. In short, the safe wasnt ced inside the wardrobe. Rather, the wardrobe was built around the safe. But this is A dull metallic body. It was a typical safe with arge door, a dial, and a keyhole. I raised my hand and infused magical power into the surface of the safe. Crackle! This is not an ordinary item. Despite its ordinary appearance, the safe repelled my magical power. No, it didnt just repel it; the magical power couldnt prate it at all. The magical power that lost its direction sparked meaninglessly on the surface of the safe. Where did he get something like this? This was simr to the treasure chest that contained the [Mask of the Faceless One]. Without the correct key, it would never open. The vige chief probably has the key. It meant that I had to either knock out the vige chief, steal from him, trick him, or engage in some other dangerous action to open it. I suppose I could ignore all that and just open it There would be a lot of sparks. Could I hide it well enough? Moreover, I didnt have [Carcosas Mask]. The good thing was that it seemed a bit softer than the treasure chest I openedst time. Haaah, theres no other way. For now, is that window the most dangerous route? I extended my left hand and ced an additional barrier on the window. This time, it wasnt just a simple rm spell. I embedded an aggressive barrier that would strike anyone who approached the window with lightning. Then, I set up a new barrier surrounding the entire bedroom. This was to minimize themotion that would soon ur. Alright. Whew. With a short deep breath, I activated my magic. After all, whatever was stored in a safe of this level must be something truly amazing. [Perception] Chapter 153: The Shadow of Insu Village (2) Chapter 153: The Shadow of Insu Vige (2) A vast amount of magical power gathered in my eyes. An overwhelming amount of information pressed against my brain, and a searing heat that seemed to melt my flesh concentrated on my eyeballs. My vision turned red. The blood vessels in my eyes burst, which caused blood tears to stream down my face. If I keep using this spell, my eyesight will deteriorate. This was a pointless thought. My target was the safe in front of me. As expected, the safe had a much weaker and looser structurepared to the treasure chest I had dealt withst time. If I handle this well, I might be able to open it without destroying it this time.I raised both hands and concentrated my magical power. Even without [Carcosas Mask], it wasnt difficult to recreate the magic it produced. Is this roughly how it goes? A golden aura shimmered at the tips of my ten fingers. The ten strands of aura formed different shapes ording to my will. To others, I must have looked like a mad doctor with scalpels, scissors, saw des, and drills attached to my fingers. I pushed my ten fingers into the weakest and most fragile part of the safe. Tsssssss!! The will within the safe formed a repulsive force to push away the hand of the stranger who intruded in without permission. C You are not my master. The will of the abyss protects me. Unlike the treasure chest that craved ughter and blood, this will was calm, steadfast, and devoid of personality. Dont be so picky; I have friends too. I awakened the Echo of Suffocation residing in my mana core. It was a fragment of the abyss gifted by a being of the abyss to its offspring. [System: The hidden trait Heir of the Corpse Pile has been activated. You can turn otherworldly beings that have submitted to you into your minions.] Sssssshhh This trait wasnt particrly suitable for the situation. However, I only needed the power bestowed by the being of the abyss. I transformed the power of the [Heir of the Corpse Pile] trait and directed it into the safe. Crackle!! Tremendous sparks scattered in all directions. Rumble!! The entire building shook as if an earthquake had struck. Though themotion was concealed by a barrier, it couldnt bepletely hidden. [Magical Repository C Abyssal Safe resists your trait.] [Subjugation assessment in progress] [Assessment sessful! Magical Repository C Abyssal Safe recognizes the Echo of Suffocation within you and submits to your power.] Creak A sound like grinding metal emanated from the safe. It feels somewhat like a teeth grinding noise. It was in a state simr to Doldol that I had previously subdued. I wonder if Doldol is doing well. Myst memory of Doldol was of him asleep in the corner of the living room like a stone statue. Ugh, lets stop wasting time. I couldnt bear the pressure in my brain any longer. When I started to feel like I might vomit out my brain through my mouth, I hurriedly deactivated [Perception]. Ugh At the same time, a clot of blood gushed out from beneath my eye. This was the most difficult situation if you live wearing a mask. I used my magic to solidify the blood and clots streaming down my face. Leaving blood around here could cause ridiculous problemster on. I gathered the blood which was now hardened like ss beads and stored it in my robe. Whew. This was the second time I used [Perception]. It always felt awkward. It waspletely different from when I used it in the game. Ironically, both times I used it was to open a box. If I could simplify and diagram the information this magic provides Ah, how should I simplify this? This magic wasnt just for opening boxes but was a power meant to achieve greater miracles. It was meant to reach a special realm, to truly reach the abyss Hmm, but. The prerequisites for achieving miracles or the special magical realms required to reach the true abyss were just concepts I had absorbed from this worlds settings. Is this possibly a debug or developer mode? When I think about it like that, I feel deeply moved. No, it might be a pretty usible approach. If thats the case, I could use this ability to But now wasnt the time to think more deeply about that. To avoid forgetting the inspiration that hade to me, I mulled it over while checking the safe. The first thing that caught my eye inside the safe was a pile of gold bars. What a huge amount. It felt as if the brightness of the room had doubled because of the gold bars. Shhhhh A sound like waves crashing was heard. No, this was a hallucination. The sound of waves didnt actually y. And with the hallucination came an unpleasant fishy smell. It wasnt the image of a clear and clean sea. It was the scent of a dreadful and sinister sea that devoured sailors and ships, dragging them into endless darkness. Cursed gold. This was the magical power of the water ghost that I felt in the vige chiefs body. Did this iteme from the sea? It carried a terrible curse and lingering resentment. If you leave something like this at home, you wont live long. This item would drain the owners lifespan, provoke others jealousy, and create conflict and hatred. This doesnt mean I should take it to the Thousand Gold Temple and exchange it for some stuff. There were items other than gold bars in the upperpartment of the safe. A small box the size of a fist and was the piece of gold beside it a crown? It was a Western-style crown made of unusually brilliant gold. Aaah I was gripped by terrible fear and stepped back. I wanted to turn away, but my neck was fixed and I was unable to look away from the crown. It was indeed an astonishingly beautiful object. A golden crown. No, it wasnt merely golden. Such a beautiful glow couldnt be made with a mere mineral like gold. It was crafted from a blend of brilliantly shining metals from another world. Its structure was perfectly symmetrical, yet toorge for a human to wear. Symbols and icons representing the deep sea were engraved on the crowns surface. There were waves, and beneath them was the deep sea and a ce deeper than the sea. A great city slumbering in a ce humans could never reach. Endless columns stood, with deep-sea dwellers standing among them. A huge and monstrous creature wasmanding those dwellers. Giant beasts, primitive movements, grotesque figures, and strange creatures that were neither frogs nor humans. And the great priest ruling over them. This wasnt an item made for humans. [This crown is an item blessed by a being of the abyss. You havee to understand the vile and sphemous will engraved on its surface. These symbols alone possess the power to scar and disgrace the human mind. Attempting to resist the distortion with your mental strength stat. Mental strength check sess.] I wiped the cold sweat trickling down my neck and stepped back. Damn, what the hell is this? Was it a direct gift from a being of the abyss? Although heavily decorated, the symbols engraved on this crown depict creatures that have adapted to the depths, a horrific hybrid of humans and other species. And those monsters have forms that triggered my phobia. Its hard to keep looking at them for long. I cast a spell with trembling hands. [Veil of Darkness] A shadow bloomed from my hand and shrouded the crown. Whew. A heavy sigh escaped from deep within my lungs. The message wasnt about bringing this crown. The message the past Kim Shin-hwa left me Safe, small box, items rted to a being of the abyss. Then is it this? Next to the crowny a small box. This one had a keyhole as well, but it was just an ordinary metal box. [Unlock] Click. Good. Lets keep this simple. Inside the box was a small piece made of gold, ruby, and emerald. Well, more than a piece. It was a geometrically curved streamlined body withrge and small holes here and there. Is this an ocarina? Interesting. It had far more holes than the ocarinas I remembered. It looked like an instrument made for someone with twelve fingers. Like six fingers on each hand. Even without my other memories, there were many ways to confirm the origin or usage of this item. [Ocarina of the Deep Sea (S-rank Magical Tool): An instrument originating from the deep sea. Only those who inherit the bloodline of the people residing in the deep sea can use it. This item is aponent of another magical tool. It seems it can activate other magical tools through ying. Melody of the Deep Sea: All water-type magic effects increase by 100%. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information.] Based on the information given by the message window alone, it seemed like a pretty decent item. However, this item was made of the same material as the gold bars in the safe. It carried an even stronger curse than the gold bars did. It was a powerful curse filled with malice intended to ruin its owner. Well, Ive been carrying cursed items around so far anyway. It didnt matter. Though, if it turned me into something like the vige chief, that would be a problem. But I could probably find a way to deal with that too. I put the [Ocarina of the Deep Sea] into my pocket and cast a few spells to hide its presence and aura. I was relieved that I didnt have to take the crown. Even without considering its terrifying appearance and madness, how could I possibly hide something sorge? [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Huh? Buzzzzz At that moment, the rm magic I had set outside went off. The vige chief? No, it wasnt the vige chief. It was about the size of a human, but there was more than one. Several figures were climbing over the back wall of the building, not the main gate. Ugh, I was too rxed. I quickly put the box I was holding back into the safe and hurried to the living room. I didnt close the safe, but now it was on my side. CreakClunk. Creak The safe quietly closed and locked itself. I used telekinesis to close the closet and the bedroom door while lowering my presence and sitting on the sofa. And then I slowly lowered my head, as if I dozed off from waiting too long for my meal. If my guess was right, this wasnt an assassination or attack. If I quietly suppressed my presence and stayed still, nothing would happen. I kept my head down and looked at the TV screen. Through the pitch-ck screen of the turned-off TV, I could see the view of the living room. The first thing I saw was my own figure sitting on the sofa, wearing a strangely shaped wooden mask. It was a mask that covered the upper part of my face. It hid my eyes and nose but left my mouth and chin exposed. The mask hadrge, developed eyes and grotesquely wrinkled skin. It resembled a frog. Behind me who was pretending to doze off while wearing such a mask, I could see therge window. And the dark shadows cast on that window. Are those the supposedly kind vigers? They looked far from kind. It was a shadow reflected on the surface of the TV. Although I couldnt make out their specific features, I could confirm that their silhouette was extremely bizarre and ominous. Their posture was hunched, and their bodies were bulky. Their faces had lumps that looked like what? Tumors? Protrusions? Perhaps abnormally developed and bulging eyes. Are they wearing masks simr to mine? No, that couldnt be the case. The bizarre appearance of the vige chief came to mind. It was a grotesque shadow. It looked like something absurdly forced into human skin. It was quiet. Due to the Enhanced Vignce, my heightened senses picked up the breathing of those grotesque shadows lined up outside the window. Gruk Gruk Gruk, Gruk Gruk, Gruk, Gruruk. The vige chief made simr sounds, but what I was hearing now was even more horrifying. They watched me while making those throat sounds like frogs. They didnt do anything; they just watched. Like I thought, they havente to attack. They wanted a living sacrifice. Moreover, the part of the ritual where the sacrifice willingly walked around the vige and entered the temple was probably crucial. In order to carry out such aplex and irrational ritual smoothly, they couldnt reveal their true nature prematurely. In any case, it seems that the past me wants to follow the ritual up to the point of entering the temple. I didnt know what awaited there, but I had no choice but to y along. After waiting for a long time, the croaking sounds behind me gradually began to decrease. I sensed that they had lost interest. One by one, the vigers slowly climbed over the wall and disappeared. I waited for a long time even after their presence had vanished, and then sighed. Whew Damn it. Im imitating all sorts of things now. They must have detected the magical reaction when the safe opened and came to check on what was happening. So, what should I do now? The vige chief told me to stay inside the house, but theres no need to obey that. I should probably go out and check the vige. Alright, so now its a vige tour. The past Kim Shin-hwa told me to find a ship. Lets see where it is. Chapter 154: The Shadow of Insu Village (3) Chapter 154: The Shadow of Insu Vige (3) Just in case, I cast the detection spell again and rechecked the house. Theres definitely something more here. Various tools, firearms, and keys were scattered around the ce. They seemed to be ced for the convenience of progressing the quest. But these arent things a mage would need. Animal hides and carcasses were strewn about in the rooms I hadnt checked yet. It was probably the true bed of the vige chief who was losing his human form. They might have just been ced there to tease the yer. I guess I can just take the ocarina that was in the safe. Most of the items could be reced with magic. There was no need to increase the risk by searching further. I slowly moved to the window. It was the same window the vigers had been peeking through earlier.Ugh. The window was covered with the vigers handprints. What were they smearing on their hands? Was it greasy oil? Or maybe mucus? As I got closer to examine the handprints, I noticed something strange. The five fingers attached to the palm were abnormally long and had sharp w-like nails. And more than anything else, Theres something between the fingers. Was it a membrane? Like webbing? They really seemed to be frog-like creatures. A strange shiver suddenly ran down my spine. Huh? The window seemed to be moving away. No, I had stepped back. Something was wrong. This felt very ominous. By now, I could make a guess. I didnt know exactly what kind of creatures they were, but they were monsters rted to my phobia. Right. If there are werewolves, then there must be those were-creatures too. This was extremely troublesome. Nothing was certain yet. The past Kim Shin-hwa must have had a way to escape, which is why he put me in this situation. No, did that past Kim Shin-hwa not have any phobias? How did hee up with such a crazy idea? After momentarily grumbling and ignoring the fact that the past Kim Shin-hwa was me, I extended my senses to check the state outside the window. A damp, mmy, and even fishy-smelling magical power surrounded the area. Surprisingly, this side isnt locked. I created telekinesis with my magical power and opened the window. Creeeak Ugh! I didnt expect this. A terrible fishy smell wafted in from outside. I felt nauseous. My stomach contracted and my throat tightened. Unconsciously, I bent over and my hand moved to my mouth. Damn it, the fishy smell was so awful it made my head hurt. Creeeak, thud! Without thinking further, I hastily shut the window. Hah, what is this? I almost threw up. This is really something. What a crazy vige. I hesitated again. Wait, why am I acting so passively? Is it because of fear? Its true I need to minimize risks, but this is a bit much. I could have used a strategy to attack and capture the guys lurking outside. Hmm. I straightened my back for a moment and stretched my arms to the left and right. Crack, pop. Having lost my artifacts, my weakened body made a terrible noise. Still, I felt like I hade to my senses. Alright. This wasnt a situation where I could afford to waste time and move sluggishly. Its getting annoying to move so passively. Live or die, I had to act. Time was running out. I moved toward the front door. [Unlock] nk, click, ck. Beep! The vige chief had installed numerous locks, but they were no obstacle for me. Shoes Fortunately, the shoes were still there. Arge mirror ced between the inner door and the front door reflected my appearance. Sneakers, a yellow hemp robe that looked like burial clothes, and a mask resembling a frog. A strange-looking mage stared back at me. What a strange sight. I walked through the short yard and stepped outside the gate. Creeeak I looked around but Not much to see. An eerie and milky-white fog covered the vige. Is it that damned fog of war again? The fog was not severe enough topletely obscure visibility. Faint shapes of people and buildings could be seen through the fog. And shadows of people appeared in the distance. Those were the ones from earlier. Heuh-! Auh-! Haa-! Heuh-! Ha-! Uuh-! They were walking while singing a strange song. There were no lyrics. It seemed simr to the vocal sounds in pansori music, but it wasnt a pleasant melody. Perhaps it was anguage from another world that humans couldnt understand. Uuh-! Auh-! Heuh-! Where are they going? The sound was gradually fading away. When I looked in that direction, arge shadow of a mountain emerged beyond the fog. Were they heading up the mountain? Should I follow the vigers? Its a choice. If I followed the vigers, it seemed I would head towards the mountain. There wouldnt be a boat in the mountains, so to find a boat, should I go the other way? If I had apanion, we could split up and investigate both directions. But there wasnt one. No other choice. I took a red bead out of my pocket. It was a bead made from the blood I shed while opening the safe. It would have been nice to have a better medium, but this wasnt the time to be picky. I infused the bead with my magical power. [Blood Tracker] It was a spell I had learned by ying with flesh. Squelch, slurp. Squelch. The blood transformed into a body like a bead with arge mouth and a pair of wings. Keeee, keuuuu The red creature wriggled its wings briefly and then settled on my finger. Good, good. I lightly kissed its bright red wings and gave it a name. Your name is Red. Keeee The name didnt matter much. It wasnt a creature that would live long anyway. I gave Red a fewmands and released it. Flutter Alright. Red will see what those good vigers are up to. I should move to find the boat. But where was the sea? If this was truly an ind should I move in the opposite direction of the mountain? Though the fog mixed with sinister magical power was interfering with my senses, Its not that thick of a fog. Besides, Red was providing some real-time information for me. The density of the fog varied depending on the location. The closer to the mountain, the thicker the fog became. So, if I moved in the direction where the fog was thinner, I would likely reach the coast. [Footsteps of the Mountain Goat] After casting a spell to boost my stamina, I walked along the central road of the vige. Squish. Gurgle, squish. Unlike the rather decent vige chiefs house, the road was bumpy and muddy. Moreover, the damp and heavy air was unsettling. Even with magic suppressing it, my skin prickled as if sensing the fishy smell in the air. A creepy feeling of unease set in. At some point, an odd sound brushed past my ears. Han-guru, gurunama- gukul, rie- ganagul- hadan. A strange whisper suddenly came from beyond the fog. It was the same tune the vigers were crying earlier. Hanglu, gurunama- krulfp, rie- ganagun- pahan. The mantra was repeated like a song. Gapulu hatan, gapulg hatan. I stopped for a moment, hid myself in a nearby wall, and activated a spell. [Hazy Presence] With my presence minimized, I hid within the fog and the wall and peeked in the direction from which the sound wasing. Squish- gurgle- squish- squish. They were people. Specifically, they were old men. They look different from those guys earlier. They were people who looked much more human. It seemed that not everyone in this vige turned into a monster. However, their appearances were the only thing intact. The old men sang that strange song and performed iprehensible actions with dazed expressions on their faces. Squish- squish- squish- squish- What are they doing? Ropes and talismans and mud. Were they blocking the gate? They wrapped the gate with ropes, attached talismans, and then smeared mud to build a wall. Although it was primitive and crude, it was a barrier. Didnt they say they were holding the Dragon King Festival tomorrow? In the message left by the past Kim Shin-hwa, the expression of Dragon King Festival was mentioned. And the priest would circle the vige. If I get caught by the priest, will I be eaten by that Dragon King? What a terrifying feast. As expected, it wasnt a festival for humans. I couldnt recall specific details about this vige, but I had seen simr scenarios enough to guess. A vige of enved humans ruled by cannibalistic beings of a different race. Squish, squish- squish- drip- Hands desperately moved to stack the mud bricks. And they sang a song repeatedly. Hanguru, grunama- gekul, rie- ganagul- hadan. Even though I had lost my memory, it wasnt to the point where I didnt understand what those sounds meant. Phnglui Mglwnafh Cthulhu Rlyeh Wgahnagl Fhtagn. It was a prayer for Cthulhu who sleeps in the deep sea. Had it been passed down in this vige and turned into a dialect? Were they worshipping Cthulhu instead of the Dragon King? It was a bit strange, but it was possible. When I reached this thought, a sharp headache surged in my head. Ugh My head suddenly hurt. What was this? A memory almost resurfaced but then faded away. There was a huge shadow hidden in the mist. And a peculiar structure of the vige. It was frustrating. It would be nice if the memory resurfaced properly. Should I kidnap a viger and interrogate them? For example, that person over there There are too many people around right now. Lets check the ship ande back. Leaving the strangely dressed vigers behind, I walked a bit further. Squelch- squelch- Even though I was using magical power to adjust, the constantly clinging mud made it difficult for me to walk. The sounds that should naturally be heard by the sea were absent. There was no sound of waves. And it smells really fishy in this ce, ??but This smell waspletely different from the smell of the sea. Is this vige not by the sea? A feeling that something was fundamentally wrong began to take root in my mind. The more I walked, the lighter the fog became, but the fishy smell grew stronger. Yet it remained quiet. It was extremely ominous. My heart beat for no reason. I felt as though I had made apletely wrong judgment. There was a strange sense that I shouldnt proceed further. And finally, I emergedpletely from the fog. The fog has ended? I saw a clear view. Barren hills and mountains stretched out in the distance. They were dotted with trees. How could this be? It wasnt a sea It was the mountains. Insu Vige was a secluded vige nestled in the mountains. Find a ship? What kind of situation was this? As I walked a bit further, I witnessed an even more bizarre sight. Along the vige boundary was an enormous pit. No, a valley? No, that was A reservoir? Or ake? Or was it a river? Is this a trace of a river or something? There was a reason it was hard to recognize immediately. This is because what should have been visible if it were a river,ke, or reservoir was missing. There was no water. Only a deeply dug pit along the vige boundary remained; the river hadpletely dried up. And in the few puddles scattered on the riverbed, a huge number of dead things were umted. They were emitting a terrible fishy smell. Scales. Tiny. Sparkling. They asionally wriggled. Disgusting. Swarming. Countless. Horrifying. Tangled. Nauseating. Damp. Repulsive. Decaying. Revolting. Teeming. Terrible. Fish. Chapter 155: The Shadow of Insu Village (4) Chapter 155: The Shadow of Insu Vige (4) From the horrifying pit in the riverbed, hundreds and thousands of fish all stared at me at the same time. [After wandering around Insu Vige, you reached a ce where something dreadful awaited you. There should have been a river here, but there is no water. Your magical talents quickly allow you to realize what has happened to this ce. Some surreal effect must have made the water disappear. But that fact no longer matters. The countless corpses before you ignite your fear.] Stop it; dont look at me! You monsters! Dont look at me! Donte closer! I dont know! Im different from you! I didnt kill you! [System: Attempting to resist the fear with your mental strength stat. Mental strength checkfailed] It itched under my skin. It felt like my skin would tear and scales would sprout. My vision wavered. It itched. My skin itched. I scratched my skin with my nails. Ah, it itched. The fishy smell. Strange things were all over my body. Aaaahhh I screamed, but only bubbles came out of my mouth. I couldnt see. I felt dizzy. My feet moved. Where was I going? Where should I go now? I bubbled. My legs gave out. The world spun around. Wet mud seeped through my mask. Had I fallen? I was crawling in the mud. It itched. My arm itched. My skin peeled away, revealing the scales hidden beneath. Ah. My vision spun. The strange-looking vige chief and the vigers came to mind.The words they spoke poured out of my mouth. Phnglui Mglwnafh Cthulhu Rlyeh Wgahnagl Fhtagn. [System: Due to the effect of Mental Illness C Ichthyophobia, Status Aiment C Amnesia urs.]
I woke up in a strange ce. I was curled up in an odd position. My neck and back hurt. Where am I? I felt the texture of stone behind me. A strange building stood before my eyes. This doesnt look like the vige chiefs house. Was it the yard of another house? My memory was hazy. Did I lose my memory again? My hemp clothes were torn. The tears werent the problem. The clothes were soaked with mud and blood and they were in a terrible state. Moreover, there was immense pain and numerous wounds on both my arms. What were these injuries? Ugh, one of my nails was missing? I didnt know whether to feel relieved or not, but this time, I vaguely remembered what I saw right before losing my memory. Ugh it doesnt seem to be a particrly helpful memory, though. It looked like I had been wandering the vige and scratching myself with my own hands. If this madness continues, I might really die next time. What a great job I was doing. What kind of incredible wealth and glory was I hoping to achieve by sticking my head under the river? But it was such a sudden turn of events, wasnt it? Damn. I made a mess by foolishly barking up the wrong tree. [! Time Limit: (2) days until the vige festival begins. !] A message window popped up as if to urge me on. It hadnt been a full day yet. Because of the fog, it was hard to gauge the passage of time, but it didnt seem like a long time had passed since I lost consciousness. p Huh? A strange, bright red creature flew onto my shoulder. It had a round body like a bead, arge snout running across it, and a pair of wings. Red. Red was the one I ordered to follow the vigers. Why did youe back? Kiieee Red responded with a soft whimper. What did I do? No, dont answer like that. Share your memory with me. Honestly, since it was hastily made, its intelligence wasnt very high. Red who was sitting on my shoulder moved closer to my ear and opened its mouth. Slurp Three tendrils emerged from Reds mouth. They burrowed into my ear. Ugh. This doesnt feel good. As Reds consciousness connected with me, a metallic taste filled my mouth. I felt my muscles twitch as if they were electrified, a strange euphoria, and my vision was spinning. I saw what Red had witnessed. Vigers climbing the mountain while making eerie whimpering sounds. Monstrous figures that looked like they were wearing human skins. Apletely different species from the people who had been piling mud around here. So, where did they go? They entered a wooden house deep in the mountains. It was not an ordinary building. It wasrge with many rooms. Furthermore, there were bizarre decorations and otherworldly patterns ced around the house. The structure was designed with a shamanistic effect in mind. This must have been the temple. You followed them well without losing sight of them. Then? Inside the temple, there was a prison. In the prison, there was a pile of straw and humans chained together. There were seven people imprisoned. Two guards with alien appearances were watching over the prison. Was there anything else? My artifacts? In the center of the building, there was anotherrge door. A huge and terrifying pattern was drawn over the entire door. Beyond the door, the faint sound of waves could be heard. ording to the orders Red received beforehand, it tried to approach the door but But? What is this? Why did you stop? The master called. I had to return. Ah, you returned because I called you. You did everything you could while I was scratching myself during the madness. The time? Ah, only an hour has passed? Luckily, not much time had passed since the incident. One more thing. Red had captured important information on the way back. You looked down at the vige scenery on your way back to me? Well done. This area Ugh, its really deep in the mountains, isnt it? It was already confirmed information, but I thought it might be a hallucination or a delusion. However, it wasnt. This was not the sea. In the mountains Judging by the overall structure, it was a vige located in a typical site with a mountain behind and water in front. Besides the dried-up river around here, there seemed to be a river farther away, but there was no sea. Given the keywords like Dragon King, deep sea, and ship, I thought it was a sea-themed quest but strangely enough, it was ind. So, where exactly is this ce? Was it still Paju? Damn it. Mystery, horror, I like all of those. But it gets frustrating if it drags on too long. When will this quest end? I wish someone would exin it soon. Still, the fortunate thing is Unlike me who was wandering aimlessly, Red was doing its best. Red, you did a great job. You did a lot. Kkiyiiii! Red squealed with joy. Yeah, but I wasnt just wandering around doing nothing. There was something I had noticed. Lets check what you foundter and for now, lets try to catch a guide. I kissed Reds wing again and gave it a newmand. p, p. Red took off again. Youre doing a better job than I expected. Should I extend your lifespan and use you for multiple purposes? After flying above the vige and circling around a few times, Red soon found the person I had indicated. Unlike the vigers who were exhaustedly stering their houses with mud, a dirty old man was sitting and leaning against a nearby wall. Despite the prohibition against drinking during the festival period, he was staggeringly and clearly drunk. Hes in a prominent position; this makes it inconvenient to lure him in. Rednded on the ground beside the old man. At the right moment, I cast a spell aimed at Red. [Minor Illusion] [Charm] I created the illusion of a soju bottle over Reds body. Uh? Is that alcohol? The old man picked up Red with a dazed expression on his face. Why is there a soju bottle here? Yes, go ahead and drink it all. Gulp?! Instead of soju, Reds body slid down the old mans throat. Urgh. Ugh The old mans eyes turned blood red. He staggered along like a zombie. After dragging him to a spot out of sight from others, I approached him. Sir, may I ask you something? Though I look a bit of a mess myself. I was covered in mud and blood while wearing a mask. I looked quite strange to anyone, but the old man still gazed at me with those blood-red eyes. He wore a dazed expression on his face as if he was lost in a hallucination. At this moment, I was set to look like the most ideal and appealing figure in the old mans mind. Are you a nobleman? Yes. Where are we right now? This is Insu Vige. Ah. Where is this Insu Vige? Is this Paju? Paju Eoryong-ri. Eoryong-ri? Where was that? Though I had an intelligence stat of 30, my memory had several gaps, but I managed to retrieve some information. Huh? I couldnt recall much about Eoryong-ri. It seemed I had lost that information along with other details of this quest. However, I could at least remember roughly where Eoryong-ri was located. Because I could recall all the other ce names in Paju. There was just one gap. And this gap was Could it be, beyond the Great Wall? Northwest of Chopyeong Ind. It was an off-limits area that could only be reached by crossing the Imjin River and the Great Wall. How did I get here? Why am I here? The old man hesitated for a moment; he didnt understand my question immediately. His bloodshot eyes briefly spun in confusion. I asked the wrong question. What does the overseer do? If I tell, I will die The brainwashing was severe. I sent magical power to the red being inside the old man and spoke again. |I want to talk about the overseer. This isnt you revealing a secret. Youre just talking to yourself. You are talking to yourself.| How strange, I want to talk about the overseer all of a sudden. This isnt me revealing a secret. Im just talking to myself. I am talking to myself The old man repeated my words and then continued with a dazed expression on his face. There are two kinds of overseers. One are young overseers who will be sacrificed. The real overseer enters to make a wish to the Dragon King. Those fools dont even know its a lie. A wish. It didnt seem like something the past Kim Sin-hwa would have wanted. Tell me more. This time, a shaman wearing a mask introduced by Yong-soo came while iming to be the overseer. He wore a strange mask with four eyes. That guy brought seven people as live sacrifices, saying they were young overseers. Who? I brought seven innocent people as sacrifices? Seven people Were those the people Red found earlier? No matter how mad the past Kim Sin-hwa was, it was unlikely I would have captured innocent civilians. I needed to investigate further. Who controls this vige? The one who controls this vige is The one who controls this vige is The old mans face turned deathly pale. It was a dramatic change. The intoxication and the magic I cast seemed to vanish. The old man covered his face with trembling hands. The one who controls this vige, the one who controls this vige, the one who controls this vige, the one who controls this vige Huh, huhuhu Huhuhuhu The old mans eyes rolled back as he convulsed. Ugh, hey, sir, calm down. No, saying this wouldnt help. |Calm down, breathe, theres nothing wrong, no one is going to hurt you.| C-calm down, b-breathe No one, no one is going to hurt me. They cant kill me. My son. My dear Ah No one will hurt me. There seemed to be a deep story behind whatever he said. I felt sorry for the old man, but I didnt want to know the story. They were probably eaten by those monsters or offered as sacrifices. |Say it again. The name of the one who controls this vige.| T-the one who controls this vige i-is a god the Dragon King of the Yellow Sea Dragon King? The f-father of the sea, the great twin of the deep waters A sudden headache surged. My head started to hurt. The old man finished his words with a look of despair. Daegon. No. No. Its not Daegon, its another name, isnt it? Like the distorted chant the vigers sang, this was a distorted name. I remembered. The correct pronunciation is [Lord of Murky Waters]. Dagon Chapter 156: The Shadow of Insu Village (5) Chapter 156: The Shadow of Insu Vige (5) Ugh I felt dizzy. It felt like seawater was bubbling and boiling in my head. My legs went weak, and my vision spun. Im going to fall. With weakened arms, I barely managed to hold onto my knees. Da But my mouth was still moving on its own. Once again, I uttered that name which must not be spoken. So, so, so. His name, that wicked and filthy name which must not be uttered. Da-gon. A tremendous wave crashed through my mind.Father of the deep-sea people residing under murky waters, founder of the evil Dagon cult. [Dragon King of the Murky Sea]. [Great Twin of the Deep Waters]. And [Lord of the Murky Waters]. A vige ruled by a being of the abyss. Isnt it strange? A vige that worships the Dragon King, no, Dagon, in such an ind area? Or was this a part of my forgotten memory? Memories I denied, ignored, and forgot were starting to return bit by bit. Finally, my vision cleared. Th-That name The old man spoke with a groan and his face paled with overwhelming fear. My magic was almost broken. The fear he felt must have been immense. Yes, I shouldnt have said it, but I did. In the shock of an unexpected shback and awakening, I had spoken unconsciously. My lost memories areing back little by little. The direction wasnt entirely bad, but the timing was a bit troubling. In the world of [Cthulhu World], there were dreadful beings whose names could cause madness just by being spoken or even thought of. There are also lunatics who use those names to send curses or even manifest themselves. Dagon didnt impose such restrictions on his name. He preferred to make his name known. His name appeared several times in real history, so much so that it was mentioned in the Christian Bible as a god of a pagan religion. But this vige is an exception. This Vige. This Insu Vige was an earthly colony created by Dagon. It was as if his name had been spoken right in front of him. Moreover, I was a distinguished guest receiving special treatment [System: The penalty trait of Feast Offering has been activated.] [A being of the abyss is watching your actions.] Yeah, thats the kind of thing I was hoping for. Damn it, but at least my memory ising back now. Not all memories have returned yet. But now, theres no need to wander any longer. The fog was growing thicker. I had the strange feeling that everything in the vige was watching me. At the same time, ominous sounds came from beyond the fog. Squelch- Squelch- The sound of stepping on wet mud. Squelch, squelch, squelch, squelch, squelch The footsteps increased. Grurrr! Who is it! Who dares to utter the name of the Dragon King carelessly! An enraged shout echoed from afar. It was a bizarre voice, not one that could be thought of as human. It was so unpleasant that it seemed more usible that the muddy swamp had opened its mouth to speak. Grurrr! Who dares to utter the name of the Dragon King! When he heard that sound, the old man started convulsing and went into a frenzy. They areing! They areing! To devour our flesh for recklessly uttering the name of the Dragon King! The old man clutched his face in his distortion. Ah, ah, ah! Aaaargh! Aaaargh! A bizarre scream burst forth from between the old mans wrinkled hands. It was a ghastly cry spreading like an rm. I spoke with a voice filled with power as I infused the old mans body with magic. [Voice of Authority] |Be quiet!| Be quiet! Be quiet! Aaaargh! Im going to die! I will eventually go to the others! To that terrible sea! Losing my homnd, I will die beyond this distant barrier! Be quiet! Aaaargh! Be quiet! It was useless. Was it indeed impossible to suppress it with this? Madness, the deep-sea magic, and the dreadful dominion created by the being of the abyss were driving the old man insane. Grurrr, grrr, grrr! Over there, that way! Grurrr! Tear apart the limbs of the one who uttered the name of the Dragon King! Strip the flesh and throw it into the sea well! Grurrr, grurrr! We need a ritual to appease the Dragon Kings wrath! Kill! Capture! Kill! Their voices were getting closer. Damn it. All this fuss just because I mentioned that name once. I was about to move, but suddenly my feet stopped. I felt dizzy. Memories of the past surged back. Sea well? A tunnel connecting to the sea. No, is this some kind of [gate]? Thats why a vige worshiping Dagon can exist in the middle of this ind. A direct passage to Dagon Was this a shback? These were words spoken by Kim Shin-hwa of the past. My eyes were seeing the urgent present, but my brain was painting remnants of a forgotten past. Back to the present. What was my current situation? The old man was screaming. And the good vigers were rushing towards me at an incredible speed. Oh, this is driving me crazy. If Kim Shin-hwa of the past was truly a genius, he would have anticipated that I would call Dagons name. I hope this was all part of my grand scheme. Haaah, I dont know. This is easier anyway. In fact, this was more straightforward. What did I have to do? Escape from the approaching enemies. Squelch! Squelch! Squelch! Squelch! Squelch! Squelch! Squelch! The footsteps were now very close. Gruk, gruk. Gruk, gruruk, gruk! Gruuuu gruk, gruk. I could hear disgusting breathing sounds. And their directions they wereing from all directions. There was a huge number of them. The enemies had now closed in. Abandoning the old man and running away would be the best option, but I cant just leave him behind. I let out a brief sigh. Lets consider this a challenge. More memories started to surface. This old man couldnt die now. Ahhhh! Ahhhhh! Kkool! Kkululu! Ia! Kkul padan! But I couldnt take him with me in this state. Old man, please be quietno, please go to sleep! I reached out and covered the old mans eyes. Ahhhh! Kkul padan! Oh,e on! [Ras Golden Sand] Magical sand that induced sleep poured from my hand. Uuuurgh When you wake up, youll be in a safe ce. I caught the old man as he started to copse to the ground Ugh, heavy! I cast my magic and slung him over my shoulders. [Strength of the Bull] [Endurance of the Bear] [Invisible Hand] Even with the spells enhancing my strength, I had to use telekinesis to carry the old man. Damn it, a strength level of 5 is too low! Give me my artifacts back! [Leap] I jumped toward the sky which was filled with fog and ominous magical power. Aaaargh! At the same time, bizarre silhouettes emerged from all directions. Gruruk! Where, where is he! He disappeared! Gruk, gruk, gruruk! Aaaargh! There, on the wall! One of the figures who could only be seen as a shadow because of the fog pointed in my direction. What If I told you this old man had a stomach ache and I was just helping him? Kkul! Futagun! Aaaargh! Aaaargh! Wasnt there a way to resolve this through talking? I leaped again and moved to another nearby roof. Shadows of frog-like figures climbing the wall surrounded me in great numbers. Still as popr as ever today. I leaped again to dodge the frog-like figures leaping at me. The houses in this rural area were too far apart! I kicked a dried persimmon tree, stepped on a wall, ran for a bit, and then climbed onto another roof. Gyaaagh! Whanglu, glunama! Huh? Some figures leaped at me like frogs, others ran along the muddy path, and some were already climbing the wall again. They couldnt see well because of the fog either, yet they were very sensitive. I hadnt recovered all my memories yet. How were they tracking me? Did they have good hearing? Or maybe smell? Werent these supposed to be good vigers? How annoying. Whether they were good or bad was beside the point; these werent human vigers. The real vigersthe humans enved by this different race and held in this vigewere fleeing from themotion. The figures chasing me had unusual silhouettes. For a moment, I nced down at the shadow beneath my feet. Yeah, its quite simr. The silhouettes chasing me looked simr to me now. Its because Im wearing this mask. A grotesque mask resembling a frogs face. So, were those masked figures chasing me? No, they were [Strangely staggering steps, hunched postures, grotesquely twisted faces, pale and lifeless skin, excessively protruding huge eyes, pping wrinkles under their chins. Monsters with bizarre shapes that look like they are wearing human skin inside out. They are the true residents of this human vige. Sinister hybrids who inherited the bloodlines of different races living beneath the murky waters are tracking you.] I know. They werent wearing masks. Once again, I pushed away the reality before my eyes, and the echoes of the past took over my mind. Deep sea guys. Did they imprison people here to increase their kin? There are hybrids everywhere. Humans who inherited the blood of the deep sea people. They look human on the outside, but theyre monsters in essence. As they grow, they transform into monsters, and when they beplete monsters, they return to the sea. Residents of the deep sea who worship Dagon. And the people of the deep sea who are favored by Dagon. Monsters with scales and fins who breathe through gills. [Just imagining the true form they will eventually attain causes a horrifying crack in your soul.] Damn it, just let me be for a bit. I eat my carrots well, and I only y games for an hour a day, right? Lets help good Kim Shin-hwa just this once. Fortunately, I didnt get the whole mental strength check nonsense with that brief sh of memory. Graaaah! Finally, one of them reached the roof where I stood. Crack, snap. I heard the noise of artificial tiles made of stic breaking apart. Hey, watch your step. [Slippery Floor] Grurrk?! It was just a spell that made the floor slippery. Unable to stay long on the roof set at an unstable angle, the creature slid down with a whooshing sound and fell beneath the roof. Those creatures were not yet adults. They were hybrids with the blood of deep-sea people and they were destined to beplete monsters as they grew. But for now, they still retained their human appearance. Just as the vige chiefs appearance hadnt been a very big issue for me, I could barely ept their current form. I guess it was their sense of smell after all. It didnt really matter if it was their hearing or some other sense. I decided to add a spicy smell to the mist. I stretched out my arms and cast a spell. [Explosive Smoke] Whoooosh!! A huge amount of white smoke burst from my hands. The smoke got mixed with the milky fog covering the vige and became one. Even I couldnt distinguish anything through it. This wasnt just ordinary smoke. [Leap] I used leap again while carrying the old man. Grurrk! Chase them! The deep-sea hybrids climbed onto the roof without any preparation. Boom! Bang! A sudden explosion happened. The deep-sea hybrids were caught off guard by the sudden st and were thrown off. Tadaaa~, this magical smoke explodes at the slightest touch. Boom! Crash! Kaboom!! A chain of explosions followed. As expected, gathering them neatly and hitting them with an area-of-effect attack is the way to go. I intentionally didnt fight back and lured them in. Of course, they werent weak enough to be wiped out by this. This should be enough. The tremendous noise and the unique smell of gunpowder. The shing lights and the shaking magic. No matter how they were tracking me, they would inevitably lose my position. Just in case, lets add one more thing. I created one more new spell at the peak height of my leap. [Mirror Image] [Spell Reinforcement: Multicasting] Swoosh! Dozens of Kim Shin-hwas scattered in all directions. Each one ran in a different direction. What, what is this!? Whats happening!! Grurrk! The deep-sea hybrids lost their direction and were left floundering. [Invisible Hand] Crash! The roof tiles copsed, and the pursuers fell from the roof. [Magic Bullet] Boom! The wall crumbled, and windows shattered. Boom! And still, the explosive smoke kept causing explosions. Grurrk! Where are you! Grurk, grurk! Over there! That way! Grurrk!! Stop! Stop it! By this point, there was no need to struggle to escape. I confidently ran across the rooftops while examining the shapes of the buildings. Lets see, was it that house? It was the home of the old man sleeping on my shoulder. It wasnt yet a situation where I could face the deep-sea hybrids head-on. I still have memories that havent returned yet. I would fill in the missing parts there and then move on to the next stage. Chapter 157: The Shadow of Insu Village (6) Chapter 157: The Shadow of Insu Vige (6) The old mans house. The door was locked, but there was no magically sealed door. Though not as grand as the vige chiefs house, it was still a rather impressive standalone home. How amusing. How could someone build and live in such a house beyond the Great Wall? Is there a TV here too? Does it even broadcast? Since this ce is beyond the Great Wall, theres no way to escape and theres no need to worry about the Immigration Bureau. I thought it was a ridiculous location, but now it seems quite usible. The setup is that they sell the treasures provided by the deep-sea hybrids through smugglers and procure live sacrifices and necessary goods for the vige. In order to infiltrate this vige. did I have no choice but to be a sacrifice myself? Ah, I see. This vige was created as a nesting ground to produce new deep sea descendants. The items here were supplied by the smugglers from Chopyeong Ind. Of course, this alone doesntpletely solve all the doubts and awkward settings, butWell, if thats how the games setting is, who am I to argue? Ugh! Thud! Grrr Had I put him down too roughly? A pitiful groan escaped from the sleeping old mans mouth. Though I felt sorry for the old man, there was no time to concern myself with hisfort. As soon as my hands were free, I locked the door. Ah, locking it alone wasnt enough to feel secure. I waved my hands in all directions and cast spells for security and concealment. [Tangled Identity] [Sound Wave Distortion] [Shadow Curtain] [Evil Gaze] [Tindalos Shell] [Seal of Light] Buzzzzz! Creak, whoosh! The pursuers werent just the deep-sea hybrids. This old man could turn into a pursuer at any moment too. Thats why I set up aplex tripleyered barrier around the entire house. The firstyer was to eliminate any signs of my presence, and the second was a physical barrier to keep the deep-sea hybrids from creeping in. And most importantly, the third barrier was to block the interference of Dagon, the being of the abyss. Its impossible to create such a formidable barrier in this neighborhood. At best, it would serve as a temporary measure. [The unique effect of the S-rank artifact Ocarina of the Deep Sea, Melody of the Deep Sea has been activated. Melody of the Deep Sea: All water-type magic effects increase by 100%. [Wave Curtain] Swoosh- It was a barrier imbued with the magic of the sea. In a direct confrontation, it would be better to summon fire which was its natural opposite or the power of darkness. But if the goal is to deceive, the same attribute is more advantageous. For now, it was enough to temporarily distort Dagons influence. Grrr, grrr. Urk. Urrgh, urgh! The old man who had been lying down suddenly started writhing and making strange noises. Why is this happening all of a sudden? The magical power in the old mans body was fluctuating. This magical pattern The smell of the sea, and a curse? Why? Despite blocking external influences, why is this happening? Suddenly, his vision became blurry. Its like shackles ced on a ve. If he goes outside Dagons influence, the curse of the deep sea is triggered. The way to stop it is Important information came to my mind a beat toote. It wasnt that a new curse had suddenly been cast. The curse had been in ce for a long time. When Dagons influence faded away, the curse assumed that the old man had escaped from the vige and activated the designated effect. Urgh urk! Urgh! The old mansplexion turned red, then blue, and then purple. Grkk, urk! Grk! Urgh, urgh! He emitted strange groans, unlike anything ever heard before. Swoosh, crash, rumble!! Could such soundse from a human mouth? The old man began to vomit an impossible amount of seawater from his mouth and nose. This is Damn it. Its a method to dispose of a useless traitor. Dagons magic was transforming directly into seawater which filled the old mans lungs. If left as is, he would drown while standing onnd. Fortunately, its not difficult to undo. I quickly formed hand seals and reached toward the old mans chest. A sharp pain surged from my middle finger, where the nail had been ripped off. [Spell Dispersion] Bang! A burst of blue magic erupted around the old mans body. The curses structure had been dismantled, but Dagons magical power still lingered in the old mans body. To deal with that [Absorption] If I absorbed Dagons magical power in my current state, I would turn into a frog. I needed something to absorb the magical power in my ce. Luckily, I had a friend who could help. Red, eat it all. Kieeeee A faint sound echoed from inside the old mans body. The blue energy that was about to scatter in all directions concentrated on Red, who had seeped into the old mans body. How much longer could it hold on? Just a bit more? Complex forms swirled in my mind. Red wasnt originally made for this purpose. If it absorbed too much, it might burst. Now? No, just a bit more. Yes, now its ready. Alright, now. Come out! Bright red steam escaped from the old mans back. At the same time, an enormous noise erupted from the old mans mouth. Uuurgh! Wuurgh! Haa! Haa! Ssh Ssh! The seawater that had filled his lungs and bronchial tubes poured out in a single breath. It was a rough treatment, but this was proof that the old man was cured. I carefully observed the old mans condition and with my remaining concentration, I sent my magical power to the red steam that was hovering around the house. Well done. Rest for a while. Kieeeen The red steam which had been reacting against Dagons magical power concentrated into a single point. Plop It took on the same appearance as before it turned into a magical creature. The blood clotted and became a crystallized red ball. A truly radiant jewel created from blood. Some impurities are mixed in. Inside the ball which was as clear and red as a ruby, a deep blue inclusion formed. It was a strange substance, like a strange creature swimming in a sea of blood, or perhaps like waves or coral reefs. Can it be used again? It seems difficult for Red to digest. Nevertheless, its performance was remarkable. It was initially created as a disposable scouting tool, yet it had aplished so much. I feel like Ive done something simr before. What was this vague memory? I had a sense that if I used these impurities well, I could make Red even stronger. Huff, huff The old mans condition seemed to be stabilizing. I tucked the red ball into my pocket and spoke to the old man. How are you feeling? Any better? What, what The old man looked at me with a pale and bewildered expression on his face. Was he wondering who I was? I paused to choose my words carefully before answering. Im someone who came from beyond the barrier to save you. This seemed the most convincing exnation. The past Kim Shin-hwa might have disagreed, but for now, this would suffice. Ca-Cant believe it Believe me. Didnt I just lift the curse from your body? You, you are No, being the overseer is just a disguise. I will resolve everything during tomorrows feast. By then, I will be able to lift the curse on the other vigers as well. At this point, the old mans expression twisted in shock. You, you read my mind!? Oops, it seems he was more surprised by the way I spoke than by the content of my words. No, I didnt read your mind. Its just that what you were going to say was too obvious. Actually, theres another reason. Another image ovepped the old mans face. It was the old man from a different time. In fact, I met him in apletely different manner back then. [The old man tearfully tells his story.] Last year, my son gathered people to resist those monsters. This was the game screen from [Cthulhu World]. I had just momentarily forgotten. I knew all the information about this quest. I had experienced all the possible oues and encountered every event that could ur here. Now, I could proceed with more ease. Last year, your son gathered people to resist the deep-sea people, didnt he? How, how do you know that But they failed. So many people died because of that. So many people This was information that kepting to my mind. Because of the shock from that event, you were drinking with the mindset of kill me if you can. Unlike the desperate vigers preparing for the Dragon King Festival, the old man was drinking alone. Though when you consider the actions of the deep-sea people, it was almost a suicidal act. No, no Is that correct? Ah, yes! Yes, it is! Oh, who exactly are you and where do youe from! The old man burst into tears and bowed his head. Um I can take a hint. The old man wasnt asking for my address and name. He thought I was some special and divine being. To clear up the misunderstanding, I answered in my usual manner. Didnt I tell you? Im a fixer from beyond the barrier. My name is just Kim Shin-hwa. Oh! Shin-hwa! Shin-hwa-nim! Oh, please! Help us! Please! Save the people trapped here! Ah, maybe I shouldnt have mentioned my name? Well, I can only me my parents for giving me such a name. (TN: Here, it seems like he is embarrassed of his name. I searched, and Shin-hwa is the name of a boy band. Though Im not sure if thats the actual reason.) Elder, you dont need to do this. Please stand up. I lifted the old man and said, Tomorrow, I will Tomorrow, I will go to the temple with the priest. go to the temple with the priest. And when I give the signal And when I give the signal, gather the vigers Gather the vigers at the vige entrance. at the vige entrance. Yes, this was the n that Kim Shin-hwa had made in the past. Was it certain? Honestly, I wasnt sure. Perhaps I was recalling apletely wrong memory. The old man bowed his head again and said, Understood! I will definitely do as you said! I had done everything I needed to do here. I was about to leave, but the old man stopped me and brought something quite unexpected. Take this, please use this to It was a bomb. Made of magic stone. A magic stone fixed in a metal frame, with some circuits and wires. [Magic Stone Bomb (B-rank Explosive): An unstable homemade bomb crafted with amateur skills. Due to the use of a top-grade magic stone, its explosive power is equivalent to A-rank.] In truth, I could easily generate the explosive power of this bomb with my own magic. However, I epted it without unnecessaryments. Thank you. I will use it for an important purpose. Information rted to the bomb surfaced in my mind. You can find magic stones easily around here. Rather, it was more difficult to find the otherponents connected to the magic stone. My son made this over several years. To kill those scaled monsters! But he never got to use it and failed. Revenge, please take revenge. Please! Please avenge him! I left the old man and stepped out of the house. So many things have happened. The sky was gradually darkening. The milky white fog had turned into a menacing gray and formed a bizarre vortex. Those frog bastards are still lurking around. Its getting dark; they should go back in quickly. [Hazy Presence] [Leap] I felt my body wear down, but I had no choice. I moved by jumping over roofs to avoid the frogs sight. Anyway, Im moving well along the predetermined route. I chose this old man because he actedpletely differently from the other vigers. Sure enough, this old man was the key figure in this quest. Everything was moving ording to the n set by the past Kim Shin-hwa or ording to the design intention of this quest. If I hadnt thought of Dagon at that moment and gotten tracked, I might have just left the old man alone. Was that part of the n too? No matter how I think about it, does that make sense? Its too much of a stretch. On second thought, given my personality, I would likely have reached this point even without the incident rted to Dagon. It must have been something like, Future Kim Shin-hwa will manage. Its better to think that I almost missed it but didnt, thanks to coincidence and luck. There is still unfinished business. I need to go to the ce where the ship is. I couldnt remember it during the day, but now I know. There is a temple for Dagon in the mountain behind the vige. And between the temple and the vige. It sounds absurd, but there was a ship in the mountain. Is that it? I had to climb a mountain with this body. It was a tough situation. It wouldnt be too far, but at times like this, having that guy would be convenient. That guy, you know. The one who drove the call van the blonde. The tall one What was his name again? What was the name of Tudors business? Who was the person Curtain Call liked? That guy with the peculiar trait? Who was Heo Sang-hyeon? I briefly turned my gaze to check my status information. [Status: Partial Amnesia] Damn it. I get it now. Was my memory returning? No. My memory wasnt returning. My memories were getting tangled. In exchange for remembering what I had forgotten, I was forgetting what I knew. Chapter 158: The Shadow of Insu Village (7) Chapter 158: The Shadow of Insu Vige (7) Seventy percent of Earths surface is water. So why the hell are they all scrambling to crawl up onto this drynd? Huff, sssh. Haah Ah, Im dying. Damn it. This is so exhausting. I paused for a moment and looked around. A dark and humid night with not even the moon in sight. An endlessly muddy mountain path. Lined with bare trees along the way. The fog is getting thicker. mmy and sticky moisture was clinging to my skin. Cloudy droplets were dripping from the wide sleeves of my hemp robe.Huff, Haa Damn it. Id rather swim. What is this? There were many things resembling trees around here, but there was no green to be seen. The trees were covered in brown moss and gray mold instead of leaves. No wild animals or birds were in sight. There were some bugs, though Buzzzz Are they really bugs? They were not the type of bugs one would see in a forest or mountain. The sight of these multi-legged creatures which resembled mantis shrimp swarming together made me nauseous. It was definitely a ce that should be called a mountain or forest, but it felt like the sea. A polluted and decayed dead sea. Its just like Tanhyeon. No, to be precise, Tanhyeon resembled this ce. Still, the situation here was better. If I went further north from here, if I went up What was there again? Damn it. My memory was a mess. I couldnt stop. There wasnt much time. In the worst case, I might even forget who I was. I started walking again. Maybe I should add another spell I gathered my magical power to enchant my body but then changed my mind. [Gale] Whoosh!! The wind blew precisely in a way that pushed me forward. It was perfect as it blew away the moisture. No matter how much magical power I had, this frail body was burdened by too many spells. Adding more wouldnt be good. Give me back my artifacts, you bastards. My vision suddenly blurred. C I dont trust you after all. These were the words spoken to the past Kim Shin-hwa. This was a rtively recent memory. My conversation partner was the vige chiefs face came to my mind. In this memory, the vige chief had a much more sinister and serious expression than when I had seen him earlier today. The vige chief said he couldnt trust me. The past Kim Shin-hwa responded to his words with a smile. C How about putting up coteral like you usually do? C Greuk, grr. Coteral? C Yes. Take a look at this. C This is?! C Its a rare item, even in this vige, right? C What are you going to do with it? C Ill leave it with you. If I betray you, you can take it after the festival is over. The vige chiefs eyes gleamed with greed. Can it be considered that I betrayed him now? Themotion from earlier in the day must have reached the vige chiefs ears. Ah, who cares? Since I told him to take it after the festival, Ill just collect everything before the festival ends. Besides, theres no substitute for me anyway, is there? They couldnt kill me. To exist as a living sacrifice, I had to be alive at least until the day of the festival. At least that was one advantage. There it is. I finally arrived. A huge building suddenly emerged between the thick fog and darkness. It was sorge that it couldnt be taken in with a single nce. It looks like a warehouse. It wasnt the temple. To reach the temple, I had to go a bit further up. Inside that warehouse, there was a ship. But how did they manage such arge-scale construction in this vige? Moreover, what? They built a ship? Did theybine humanbor with the deep-sea peoples technology? Or did they capture construction engineers from somewhere? Ah, thetter is more likely. The old people I saw in the vige. To be precise, the old human ves. To be blunt, if this vige was established solely to create deep-sea hybrids, there would be no need for old people. Yet they kept these people and even put them inrge houses with fancy appliances, which would suggest that there was a purpose other than breeding and parasitism. Well, anyway. Ominous noises came from inside the warehouse. Greuk, greuk. Greuk, greuk. It wasnt just a few. There were quite a number of them. Although the efficiency will drop because of the fog, theres nothing I can do about it. I projected my senses through the window in the outer wall of the warehouse. [Heavenly Sight] As expected, its hard to see clearly. The interior was hazy as if it was obscured by fog. Still, I could gather some of the necessary information. Why are these frog bastards gathered like this? Deep-sea hybrids. It was hard to estimate their total number, but there were at least more than thirty of them. Their appearance was much more dramatic than the ones I saw in the vige. Are they close to being fully grown? They must be stronger than the ones I saw in the vige. There are more than I thought. But is that a spear? The deep-sea hybrids were holding harpoons, spears, and arrows. Even though cannons existed during the Joseon Dynasty, the weapons they were holding were traditional cold weapons. But I shouldnt be careless. The reason they carry spears is the same reason I dont carry a gun. Moreover, the powerful magical power they harbor. Hmm, should I storm into that frog den in this state? No matter what, it seemed difficult to handle this quietly. Surely, there would be deep-sea hybrids gathered at the temple on the mountain as well. If things went awry and a bigmotion urred, enemies would swarm at me from both the vige and the temple. How can I handle this quietly? I briefly reviewed the magic I could use and the strategies I could employ. And I had some items too. Like the magic stone bomb. Hmm a safer method might be better. I took out an item I had hidden in my clothes. Not the magic stone bomb. A red bead made from my solidified blood. I wonder if its okay with impurities mixed in? Red had consumed the deep-sea curse that had inhabited the old mans body. In essence, it had consumed Dagons magical power No, it wouldnt be beyond my control. I raised my hand, brought the red bead to my lips, and whispered softly. Come on, Red, wake up. Be reborn. [Blood Tracker] Kiiee kkeuuu. The surface of the red bead opened like a blooming rose and turned into a pair of red wings. Then the bottom of the bead split open to form arge mouth. I stroked Reds body and checked its condition. As expected, Dagons magical power is imbued in you. Whether I was worried or not, Red shook its body from side to side in delight. Did it enjoy my touch? Contrary to my concerns, it seemed to be in good condition, which was a relief. Kkiiiee! Ugh, yes, but lets be a little quieter for now. In this state, it might be worth a try. I took out another item from my clothes. Actually, there werent many items in me to begin with. [Ocarina of the Deep Sea]. This too was an artifact imbued with Dagons magical power. I spoke to Red. Here, take a look at this. Kkiiiee? As expected, Red expressed curiosity and approached the ocarina. It even started to touch the ocarina without any specific instructions from me. Kkiiiee It nced at me and tried to figure out what I wanted. It hadnt quite understood yet. You can eat it. Krraang! Reds mouth opened wide, muchrger than its body. Chomp, slurp. Crunch. Crack. The Ocarina of the Deep Sea disappeared into Reds mouth. You eat well. There was no need to feel regret. After all, it was never made for humans in the first ce. Since it had properties that shed with my other artifacts, it was much better to use it through Red. Kkiiieee Swish! Not only did Red absorb Dagons magical power. Now that Red took in the artifact imbued with the deep seas power, it underwent a dramatic transformation. Yes, grow well. Crack, slurp. It even developed arge single eye and something like a tail. Arge tail with round fins above and below. It might be considered a type of wing, but A tadpoles tail is more urate. Was it because of Dagons influence that it took on such a form? Even so, Red wouldnt grow to resemble a deep-sea creature. Since its made from my blood, its growth threshold will be much lower. How long would its lifespan be? Kkiiiee. Red looked at me with itsrge eye. It suddenly seemed full of energy and quite excited. Was it asking for amand? Alright, lets do something fun. I gave Red a quick kiss near its eye and gave it a newmand. Thud! As soon as themand was given, Red soared into the air at an incredible speed. Kkiiiee!! Quietly no, it didnt matter anymore. I took a deep breath as I watched Red fly toward the warehouse. Whew I concentrated my mind and unleashed my magic. [Heavenly Sight] A red light gathered in my left eye. While my right eye still saw the rotten branches, mold, and therge warehouse around me, my left eye saw what Red was seeing. Yes, carefully climb onto the roof. Theres a vent, right? Yes, go through there. Red entered the dirty vent. For a moment, its focus drifted in an odd direction. Ugh, ignore the bugs and keep going. Well eatter. Good, thats it. It seemed that as Red grew, it developed desires beyond mere obedience. I barely managed to coax Red, which was moving to eat the bugs, into the warehouse. Whoa, its pretty big. The warehouse looked huge even from the outside. And there was arge wooden ship inside. It was a three-masted sailing ship. C This is the ship that the Dragon King will board when the dayes. C Soon, the time of the great flood will arrive. C Allnds will be our territory. C There is only one chance, just one day. If we miss it, well have to wait another thousand years. So, absolutely! I wont allow failure. Red lost its direction for a moment and circled above the ship. Beyond my consciousness, I could hear Red growling, Kyaaah. Calm down. Dont get excited. It was due to the magical power emanating from the ship. Though it had sails, it wasnt a vessel moved by wind. There was an enormous amount of magical power emanating from inside the ship. Come on, you have a job to do. Look over there. Thats your masters enemy. Around the ship swarmed the deep-sea hybrids. They appeared far more threatening than what I had sensed from outside. However, Red, with a resolute determination, perceived them as the masters enemies and steeled itself for battle. No, Red, calm down. I didnt send you in there to fight them. Its good to be spirited, but this was too much. I sent the magic-infusedmand once more. Remember the gift your master gave you. The Ocarina of the Deep Sea. Though the message window didnt disy it because I hadnt conducted further research, it was an artifact with various effects. Red not only became one with it but also consumed a bit of Dagons magical power. Yes, start now. Sing a beautiful song. A sharp headache surged. Red began drawing a huge amount of my magical power to activate the artifact it had swallowed. [The unique effect of the S-rank magical artifact Ocarina of the Deep Sea, Call of the Waves has been activated. Call of the Waves: ys a melody with powerful dominion over those who originates from the deep sea.] [Effect reduced due tock of prerequisites.] The prerequisites were to have the trait of a musician and twelve fingers, but Red currently had a free pass. [The authority of the Lord of Murky Waters temporarily waives the prerequisites.] Good, thats it. From Reds mouth flowed a song so eerie and beautiful that no human could ever pronounce it. |H- OOO- O- OO- H- OO- OOO-| And then, the sound of waves could be heard from somewhere. It was a magical song that evoked sadness and longing in those born from the sea. Chapter 159: The Shadow of Insu Village (8) Chapter 159: The Shadow of Insu Vige (8) |H- OOO- O- OO- H- OO- OOO-| Through Reds mind came a faint song. Though it was undeniably beautiful, it felt oddly unpleasant and eerie to me, who was a human. But it seemed to sound different to the people of the sea. The deep sea hybrids who were gathered in the warehouse started to react. After a brief silence. |H- OOO- O- OO- H- OO- OOO-| Greuk, I can hear the sound of waves. Greuk, grrrk. This feeling of longing And then the murmurs began.Im going. Grrr, grrrk. I must leave. Grrrk, to the sea where the great Dragon King resides Ohhh Grrrk, grrr Greuk, grrk, grrrrk grrr The melody that stimted their instincts as deep-sea people led them. Greuk, grouk. Greak, groak. Grreak. Now, no words understandable to humans could be heard. They walked with vacant expressions while emitting bizarre sounds from their throats as if they had forgotten how to speak humannguage. Following the song of the waves that called them, they slowly moved and trailing the red beast that wielded Dagons magical power. Someone should open the door for them. They had probably forgotten how to open the door themselves. There was no need to hide anymore. I approached the warehouse and opened the door for them. nk |OOO- O- OO- H| Grrrk- grrrk- Grrrrrr- grrrk- grrrk- Grrrk- grrrk- grrrk- They were no different from a group of frogs in midsummer. They continued to walk through the open door. Yes, Red, take them to that far-off dump. No, that was too difficult an expression. Red, fly after the moon. I couldnt see the moon, but Red instinctively sensed the Great Yin energy of the moon. Rustle The deep-sea hybrids were walking like frogs and Red was flying after the moon. After confirming they had disappeared beyond the mist, I severed my connection with Red. It shouldntst too long. I blinked my left eye several times to adjust to my returned vision and went into the warehouse. Hmm, not bad. A huge sailing ship. The view was different from Reds perspective. They had truly made something outrageous. This was a ship created for highly ritualistic purposes, based on the knowledge of the deep-sea people. It seems to be connected to the earth veins around here. That exined the contamination of the surrounding environment. It was partly due to the decayed moisture and Dagons magical power, but mostly because this ship was absorbing all the earths energy in the vicinity. Was this why the water on the vige outskirts had dried up? When I expanded my senses and looked closely, I saw that there was a huge amount of magic stones inside the ship. Were they its power source? The ship itself had immense value, but just extracting those magic stones would secure a fortune. Though I have plenty of magic stones myself. All the magic stones I had gathered were stored inside Doldol. They were taken from Cheong-hos fallout shelter and from that skeleton. That skeleton from the Hungry Mansion. What was his name again? Damn it. The positions of forgotten memories and those not forgotten were shifting. When did it start happening? Could it be a symptom triggered by uttering Dagons name? No, that wasnt it. It was a little before that. Was it from the seizure I had when I saw that thing on the outskirts of the vige? Yes. The symptoms of amnesia started changing from that point. My mind was filled with pitch-ck greedy seawater. It was the image that came to mind when I first realized my amnesia. Continuing with that metaphor, my mind was now like A chaotic and turbulent sea. The newly activated distortion had stirred the once-calm sea. As a result, memories that had sunk into the pitch-ck depths and be invisible surfaced and mixed with current memories. In exchange, the swirling seawater swallowed other memories. If this symptom continues to get worse, what state will I end up in? Kim Shin-hwa, who forgot everything outside of Insu Vige? Or something even more horrifying? In any case, there was no time. I needed to solve this problem before I forgot something more important. I dont have the luxury to think about other things. My memories were disappearing faster and faster. Of course, something else wasing to mind in their ce. C The worst situation that could happen during the ritual is probably that right? C That problem can be ovee using Dagons ship that the deep-sea people made. C But to use that ship, there are preparations that need to be made beforehand C Hmm, future Kim Shin-hwa will have to ovee it with skill. Past Kim Shin-hwas ns came to mind. How could you make ns this carelessly? If the lost memories hadnt resurfaced at the right time, or if I had been anyter and forgotten other memories, it would have been an impossible n. I could even forget the fact that I am a mage. Well, there wasnt much choice. Past Kim Shin-hwa must have been in a simr situation to mine now. Desperately holding on to fading memories, he made the best preparations he could. I guess I have to do the same. I cast a spell toward the ship. [Perception] This was the third time I cast this spell. While casting this spell, I became defenseless. Even now, some memories were slowly disappearing. First, I poured all my magical power into that huge sailing ship made for Dagon. Crackle!! Boom!! What a tremendous reaction. The fog would hide some of it, but it was impossible to conceal everything. The parts that past Kim Shin-hwa couldnt predict or went wrong were In the end, since it was my karma, I had to correct it myself. I revised the ns made by past Kim Shin-hwa and added a new strategy. Honestly, this n was even more unstable than what the past Kim Shin-hwa had made Well, the future Kim Shin-hwa will ovee it with brilliant skills. Just as the past Kim Shin-hwa left notes for me, I had no choice but to leave a message for the future Kim Shin-hwa. Crackle!! Alright. The preparations for the ship wereplete. I used my abilities on something toorge. Ive almost exhausted my magical power. [System: The Enhanced Vignce trait has been activated.] Shit, someonesing. I quickly turned my body and watched the door of the warehouse. Someone was approaching through the writhing gray fog. Is there no good way? Even with the things I had Ah, this one I would never lose. I squeezed out all the remaining magical power and began to take veryplex measures. Grrk, young man, youre too much. A deep-sea voice mixed with a distinctive throat resonance and metallic sound. This was the worst. It was the vige chief. No, in some sense, it could be the best. I told you not to leave the house, didnt I? Wow, its an amazing ship. I turned to look at him. The vige chief rolled his eyes for a moment and then said in a discontented tone. Grrrk- while I went to get food, you turned the whole vige upside down. Ugh, there was a misunderstanding. I briefly twisted the corners of my lips into a smile under the mask. I wasnt fully prepared yet. I needed to buy time. In that sense, the chief was the best one for that. He was probably the mostmunicative among the deep-sea hybrids in this vige. Misunderstanding? You may not understand because youre from outside, but this is an important faith for our vigers. Faith, huh? It didnt seem like everyone in the vige agreed with your opinion, Chief. The vigers? Haha what nonsense. Just as you use cows and pigs as livestock, to us, you are no different from livestock. What was he talking about? Hearing such things was unbearable. Chief, if you put it that way, it means you were born from the belly of a cow or pig. Shut up! I have transcended Homo sapiens and been reborn as a great deep-sea race destined to rule this earth! Ah, he was angry, very angry. Luckily, I had finished my preparations too. It was better to get to the main point now. Well, regardless of my opposition to your faith, fulfilling the contract is a different matter. How about it? How about getting along with cows and pigs in a business sense? The vige chief ground his teeth and red at me. What was he going to do by ring? He couldnt attack me anyway. Didnt he need me for the Dragon King Festival tomorrow? Was he not going to hold the Dragon King Festival? Young man. Yes. You said you were here on the request and introduction of Yong-soo who went beyond the barrier, right? Is that the story? I dont know who Yong-soo is, but I do remember some parts. Yes, thats correct. They say that those who help with the ritual here are given the right to make a wish to the Dragon King, right? Because of the wish. Thats right. In the past, there have been a few people like you who crossed the barrier carrying offerings. It seemed there was nothing wrong with what I said, but the vige chief let out a strange smile and said something peculiar. I feel like someone spoke to me like that before. I didnt remember who, but I vaguely recalled not feeling very good about it at the time. Hmm, you seem to be preparing to say some profound and impressive words, arent you? Whats your point? Profound and impressive words? Haha, thats a good expression. Yes, Ill give you some profound and impressive words. The vige chief paused for a moment and then continued. Do you know what happened to the outsiders who obtained the right to make a wish in this Insu vige before? I dont remember. But it sounds like a clichd story. Aha, I get it. In the end, they all died. Is this going to lead to a you die too, Kieeeeeh! kind of story? At my words, the old man made a disgusted face for a moment and then gave the answer. No, they all had their wishese true. They all came with different wishes, but thest wish they made was the same. What was it? To be a member of this vige and live forever. For the deep-sea people, the concept of lifespan did not exist. As long as no one beat them to death, they continued to grow, and the more they grew, the more they ate, and the more they ate, therger they became. This meant that bing a deep-sea person granted the blessing of immortality. Hmm. I think I might be a bit different. Turning into a frog in exchange for living forever was not a choice any sane human would make. However, the vige chief spoke firmly. No, youre not different at all. By the way, that mask youre wearing. Youve been wearing it diligently. Well done. Very well done. The mask I was wearing now? Suddenly, I recalled the message left by the past Kim Shin-hwa.
  1. The mask must be worn at all times. It is an important ritual for the overseer from another ce to integrate with the people of this vige.
And Kim Shin-hwa 6 didnt understand the games system, so he went crazy and died after circling the same ce back in the game. When I was about to gain some insight, the vige chiefs mouth emitted strange words. E Khomo mhai, cka poe hiruru hriu o kawa! I?! I?! Dagon! I?! I?! Cthulhu fhtagn! Shit, was he using a spell? But I had neither the strength nor the magic left to counter it. [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] [The mask you are wearing is imbued with the blessing of the deep sea.] Ah, now I get it. At the same time, a lengthy string of nonsense appeared before my eyes. [A new power has been imbued into the mask, which is modeled after the form of a deep-sea person. You cannot remove this mask. You do not want to remove it. The desire to be one with the vigers and to be a part of the deep seamunity starts to take root in your mind. Your consciousness is drawn to the beautiful deep sea, the ocean. You are being pulled deeper and deeper underwater. You can live an eternal life as a member of the deep-sea people.] I started to feel like I was being sucked into the murky dark sea. This too was prepared by the past Kim Shin-hwa
Kim Shin-hwa copsed to the ground without any resistance. A mere rookie from beyond the barrier giving us such trouble. The vige chief made a grating sound as he approached the fallen Kim Shin-hwa. At that moment, Crackle! Blue sparks erupted around Kim Shin-hwas temples. Ugh!? This was the first time hed seen such a reaction. Had the hypnosis spell, which had never failed before, actually failed? What the? What was that? As expected, this one was the most peculiar hed ever seen. The vige chief maintained his vignce and watched the fallen Kim Shin-hwa for a moment. But that was all. No further unusual signs were found in Kim Shin-hwa. Indeed, how could a mere human mage block the power of the Dragon King? Such magic or abilities were unheard of. The vige chief made a grating sound and smiled with satisfaction. Chapter 160: Dragon King Festival (1) Chapter 160: Dragon King Festival (1) The decaying earth and air. Rotting fishy tangled in the nauseating mud spread across the endless in. The stench was horrific, and silence prevailed. In that endlessly repulsive and dark ce, a great and majestic shadow loomed. A huge arm covered in scales with finsrger than a ships sail. Whispers went on endlessly. Kim Shin-hwa opened his eyes. It had been a terrible nightmare. He had been defending himself with the power of the artifacts, but now he didnt even have that. This was once again the vige chiefs house. The very room where he had woken up in a state of amnesia. The air was musty with a moldy smell and the nket was damp. He was wearing a grotesque mask resembling the form of a deep-sea creature. Beneath the mask which mimicked abnormally swollen eyes Kim Shin-hwa blinked a few times and stayed still. A sound came from outside the window. It was a pping sound like a birds wings. Kim Shin-hwa slowly raised his upper body. Meanwhile, in the same building, The vige chief was preparing for the Dragon Kings Festival in the room with the safe. The time was now 5 a.m. Though it was still far from sunrise, the vige chief was busy. The safe opened with a creaking noise. Grrrr The vige chief paused before he made his characteristic throat sound as he looked at the gold-filled safe. Greed shone in hisrge eyes. Khuhuhu With a fond touch, the vige chief briefly caressed the gold. Though it was the fund for running the vige, it now felt like it was his alone. Boom, boom, boom- Drum sounds echoed from afar. Finally, they have arrived. The vige chiefs movements became more frantic. What he needed to prepare was not the gold bars. His gaze shifted to anotherpartment of the safe. Therey a golden crown emitting an eerie magical power. This was the item needed for the Dragon Kings ritual that was about to begin. Grrr The vige chief carefully lifted the crown with trembling hands. He had not yet be a true member of the deep-sea people, but he had enough talent to sense the power contained within this crown. And the immense power this crown would grant its owner. That too will soon be used. Next to the crown was a small metal box. For a moment, pure religious fervor flickered in the eyes of the vige chief who was usually consumed by greed. Inside this boxy the key to fulfilling their deepest desires. That key was named [Ocarina of the Deep Sea]. It was an item meant for the day the Dragon King would personally descend upon thisnd. Hmm? The vige chief felt a moment of unease. The box which should have been perfectly aligned in its designated ce. was crooked? If any harm were toe to this precious artifact, it would be a sin he could not atone for with his life and soul. Why is this like? The vige chief reached out for the box. What was this? No one but him could touch this safe. Could it be that mage? Shh! Shh! The vige chiefs hand halted. The loud drum sounds reverberated. Then, someone began to shout in a prolonged voice. The envoy of the Dragon King of the West Sea ising! The priest ising. I must hurry. The vige chief reached out again and ced the box back in its proper position. I searched that guys belongings but found nothing. It must have been needless suspicion. With a thud, the safe door closed. For an immortal life and the great descent of the Dragon King. After the vige chief muttered like that, he lifted the crown on a golden tray and ran out into the yard. Outside the house, the noise of murmuring voices was followed by a loudmotion. Breaking through the thick fog unique to Insu Vige, an impressive procession emerged. There was a g bearer holding a g embroidered with golden thread and a guide shouting loudly at the front Shh- The envoy of the Dragon King has arrived!. Then, a huge pnquin appeared. On top of the pnquin that was carried by eight strong men sat the priest who hade on the Dragon Kingsmand. And behind it followed the loud drum sounds and the troupe of performers and entertainers. The chief of Insu Vige,e out quickly and greet the Dragon Kings envoy! Judging by the titles and appearances alone, it might seem like a special folk performance seen in any other region. But that was not the case. The embroidery on the g bore the sigil of Dagon and it exuded malevolent power in its very form. The golden pnquin was cursed. It was designed to corrupt the human mind. Grk, grk, grrrk, grk, grk, grk, grk, grk, grrrk. Amid the drumbeats, an ominous and bizarre noise continued. The eerie procession that emerged through the fog consisted entirely of hybrids with deep-sea peoples blood. Large protruding eyes. Distorted and twisted bodies. Grotesquely misshapen faces. With every breath, the skin below their necks heaved. Soon, gills would form there. No, the word entirely was used too hastily. Look at the protagonist of this sinister procession. That bloated and repulsive creature was seated on the pnquin. Shh The envoy of the Dragon King of the West Sea and the priest of the sea The pale scales revealed through the silk clothes wrapping his body. A bumpy face that somehow resembled a turtle. Huge round eyes emitting a bright yellow glow. The disgusting sound of his breathing. pping fins and wriggling gills. The True Person of the Tortoise has arrived! That appearance was the ultimate form that the vigers aspired to reach. Insu Vige was a sect known as the Dagon Cult, but they did notmunicate with other cults serving different gods. However, one could borrow the title of Masquerade. The priest called the True Person of the Tortoise here was worthy of the title of Judge in Masquerade terms. Grrrr The True Person of the Tortoise descended under the halted pnquin. He had arge and hefty build even among the deep-sea people of simr age. With each step he took, a thud-thud! thumping sound could be heard. Please ept the crown entrusted by the Dragon King. The vige chief hastily ran out, bowed his head, and offered the crown. The True Person of the Tortoise briefly nced around with a bored expression on his face. A lot of hybrids had gathered. He let out a short sigh which was apanied by a growling sound. They werecking, but they were still necessary soldiers for the great cause, and they were descendants of the deep sea. Hoo grr, this is thest sacrifice. The drumbeats had stopped at some point. The deep-sea hybrids gathered around the vige chiefs house and held their breath as they watched the priest. Not even a growling sound could be heard. Once more, the priest raised his voice and spoke. Grrrr! This is thest sacrifice! He reached out with his plump hand and picked up the crown. As the first son of the Dragon King, I, the True Person of the Tortoise, deliver the Dragon Kings decree to you! This is thest sacrifice! The hybrids murmured. Thest sacrifice. Once this sacrifice was over, all preparations would beplete. Then soon, very soon! If this sacrifice ispleted sessfully, the stars will find their ce soon! After todays sacrifice, after five new moons! That day woulde. All the previous sacrifices, all the human offerings, and all the efforts were for that day. If that day came, if that day came The True Person of the Tortoise ced the crown imbued with the power of the sea on his head. Emerald-colored magical power that resembled the deep sea rippled in both his hands and eyes. Now, the True Person of the Tortoise was no longer just a deep-sea person. As a priest acting on behalf of the [Lord of Murky Waters], he shouted with a powerful voice. On that exact day, we will cause a flood! All thend will be submerged underwater! Flood! Only we, who chose water overnd, will be saved! The Dragon King ising! The Dragon King will lead us to eternal life! All thisnd will be submerged underwater! Yes, on that very day, the Dragon King will return! He will ride the boat you built and lead the waves of destruction! Roars of Ahhhh! filled the air. The sound of drums, Dum-dum-dum-dum. Growling breaths. Vigers who were filled with fervor ran amok. Some who were overwhelmed by religious zeal danced bizarrely or rolled on the ground. Some even beat and scratched themselves. Bring the sacrifice! Bring the offering! Bring the sacrifice! Bring the offering to the Dragon King! Bring the sacrifice! Bring the foolish offering to be the food of the sea! Two deep-sea hybrid guides confidently entered the vige chiefs house. However, for some reason, they did note out. The flow was disrupted. What were they doing? Stupid hybrids. The priest gestured toward the vige chief. Grrr Check it out. Yes, yes! The vige chief hurriedly ran inside. As soon as he entered the living room, he was met with the perplexed guides. Grrrk, grrrk! What is it? Whats the problem?! The, the offering is gone! What did you say? It made no sense. The spell cast on Kim Shin-hwa was imbued with the Dragon Kings power; it was a powerful enchantment from the deep sea. It was an irresistible and powerful curse that should have turned him into a mindless ve of the deep-sea people. Move aside! The vige chief rushed into the room where Kim Shin-hwa was supposed to be. He was gone! Really gone! The chiefs gaze naturally turned to the window. It was slightly open? Impossible. That window faced the yard. If he had gone out that way, he should have been spotted. While the vige chief was in a state of confusion, a sound came from an unexpected direction. Found him! Grrrk! ?! It was the room where the safe was. The wardrobe which served as the safes outer shell was even open. The vige chief felt an instant sensation of blood draining from his entire body, but fortunately, the terrible thing he had imagined did not happen. It was shocking that Kim Shin-hwa who should have be an idiot had moved himself to the safe room, but that was all. Kim Shin-hwa was just standing awkwardly next to the safe. Should I have been more suspicious when this mage came here on his own? Could it be that the spell had been broken? The vige chief activated the binding spell he had cast on Kim Shin-hwa and spoke to him. Grrrk, stranger, you who hope to be a member of the vige and return to the Dragon King. As the chief of Insu Vige, Imand you. Kneel. Crackle! Ugh!? Again, there it was. Strange sparks leaped from Kim Shin-hwas temples. But nothing changed. Ah Kim Shin-hwa let out an ambiguous groan and knelt. A thousand possibilities and a thousand doubts swirled in the vige chiefs mind. What on earth was this phenomenon? Grrrk, aha? Then, the chief noticed something. Faint magical runes appeared on Kim Shin-hwas wrists and ankles. The chief spoke with a derisive tone. Ha, this little brat and his shallow tricks. He used a dyed-activation spell to control his own body like a puppet. It was all to escape somehow. Very clever. I can use that level of magic too. The vige chief sneered at Kim Shin-hwa and activated the spell again. The magic infused in Kim Shin-hwas hands and feet dissipated helplessly. Follow me! Kim Shin-hwa followed the chief into the yard with slow steps. The door closed with a ng, and a noise slowly began to be heard in the vige chiefs house which was now empty. Creak It was a strange sound, like metal grinding. Chapter 161: Dragon King Festival (2) Chapter 161: Dragon King Festival (2) The pnquin made from cursed gold pushed through the fog. Shiii-! Shiii-! The Dragon Kings envoy ising! It was indeed a bizarre procession. The booming sound of drums. The strange grating breaths that sounded like grrrrk, grrk. The atmosphere was as noisy as if a festival were happening, yet not a single person living in the vige dared to look out. Hiik, hiiiiik! asionally, the groans of someone sumbing to madness from within their house could be heard. The houses where people lived had their gates sealed with mud and golden strings. Those who had confined themselves inside held their breaths. They were praying that the dreadful procession would pass by.Shiii-! Shiii-! The Dragon Kings envoy ising! Those who wish to meet the Dragon King by way of the sea well, follow us! The horrifying procession of those who had abandoned their humanity for an immortal life passed through. The procession soon left the vige and reached the mountain path where Kim Shin-hwa had wandered. The fog was thick with sticky humidity and poisonous vapor. It was a ce where any human would feel pain after merely a brief walk, but no one in the procession felt any difort. On the contrary, the grating sound grew louder as the humidity increased. The True Person of the Tortoise inhaled the moist and fishy air, made the grating sound for a moment, and then spoke. Grrrk Last year, there were at least some who resisted, but this year is unbearably dull. The True Person of the Tortoise spoke to the vige chief walking beside the pnquin. So, when is Yong-sooing? He sent word. Hell arrive before the ritual ends. Hmph, what a foolish half-wit. Yong-soo was the liaison connecting Insu Vige to the outside world. He was a hybrid of deep-sea humans, the True Person of the Tortoises disciple, and a cultist worshipping Dagon. He had been tasked with transporting the goods from Insu Vige to Incheon and buying sacrifices, but instead of Yong-soo, a strange outsider had appeared. Bixi is A sudden, unfamiliar voice interrupted them. What? The True Person of the Tortoise turned to look in the direction of the voice. Kim Shin-hwa who was lying sideways in a corner of the golden pnquin was muttering to himself. One of the nine sons of the dragon. Resembles a turtle and likes to bear heavy burdens. Grrrk- The True Person of the Tortoise scratched the scales under his chin with his w-like nails as he examined Kim Shin-hwa. There was a legend that a dragon with evil power resided in Gyeonggi Province or Chungcheong Province. The dragon began to dig a tunnel under the mountain to bring cmity to the world Grrrk, what are you talking about? and when that tunnel finally reached the distant West Sea, a great flood would ur. Grrrrk, grrrrrk The True Person of the Tortoise convulsed in a bizarre manner. While his movements were enough to instill fear in others, he was merely bursting intoughter. It seemed like he was speaking meaningfully, but it was just the ravings of a madman. You walked in proudly and yed your tricks, but in the end, youve fallen to this state. Kim Shin-hwa continued to mutter with a nk expression. It happened asionally. There had been other outsiders who came in the name of curiosity but ended up either going mad or fainting after they were unable to endure the hideous appearance of the True Person of the Tortoise and the eerie atmosphere of the Dragon King Festival. As soon as Kim Shin-hwa encountered the True Person of the Tortoise in the yard, he had a seizure and copsed. Yes, yound beasts were born with weak minds from the start. The True Person of the Tortoise grabbed Kim Shin-hwas wrist with hisrge, scaled hand. On his thin wrist were nail marks. Yes, yes. There had been others who pretended to be fearless and strong, but their end was always the same. They could not resist the madness that burrowed into their minds. It would be much more joyful to be one with the sacred sea well than to continue a miserable life. As if responding to those words, Kim Shin-hwa muttered again. the vigers discovered a well with brackish water, believing it to be a well that reached the Dragon King of the West Sea. They offered sacrifices, calling it the Dragon Well or Sea Well. Grrrrk. It felt strangely unpleasant. Kim Shin-hwas voice was growing clearer. The procession finally reached arge wooden house prepared on the mountain. Sensing something, Kim Shin-hwa shuddered briefly. It was the sacrificial temple. Grrrrrk. Can you feel the great power of the sea? Look, human. The True Person of the Tortoise grabbed Kim Shin-hwas head and turned it with hisrge hand. Do you see that prison? Seven of your kind, whom you offered to us, are locked in there. Grrrk, grrrk. Kim Shin-hwa did not react. But the True Person of the Tortoise continued to speak with sadism. Grrrk, I dont know what ns you made or what you prepared, but its over now. Grrrk. You infiltrated us by selling out your kind, but you failed and ended up like this. Now, you and your kind will be thrown into the sea well. Do you understand? Kim Shin-hwa spoke. By counting the stars, seven sacrifices were offered, and by offering one more, it became eight. This is a number that pleases the Dragon King. Grrrk, enough; shut your mouth now, human. He was a lunatic anyway. It was getting boring now. If it werent for the situation requiring his limbs to be intact when offered The True Person of the Tortoise smacked his lips, released Kim Shin-hwas head, and stood up. If he had been a bit more cautious, he might have noticed something strange about Kim Shin-hwa. Underneath the mask mimicking the face of a deep-sea person, Kim Shin-hwas pupils were moving slightly, as if reading something. The True Person of the Tortoise shouted toward the ritual hall. Grrrk! Descendants of the sea! Open the doors of the ritual hall! Letsplete the ritual for the Dragon King! With a heavy grating noise, the huge doors of the ritual hall opened. A grrrk sound and then a sshing noise echoed from beyond the doors. The beings emerging from the ritual hall wereplete deep-sea people like the True Person of the Tortoise. They looked like fish, frogs, turtles, sharks, crocodiles, and whales. Monsters with pale scales andrge round eyes lined up as they walked out. There were already more than thirty of them. Including the hybrids who would one day grow into deep-sea people, nearly a hundred sea monsters had gathered. The True Person of the Tortoise thought of words that would please them. After todays ritual, we no longer need the humans from the vige! You have followed well so far! Tonight, lets have a feast with the meat of thend beasts! Waaaah! Aaaah! Grrrk, grrrk! Grrk, grrk, grrrk! The True Person of the Tortoise spread his arms wide as if to savor the cheers of the deep-sea people with his whole body. Yes, yes. Rejoice more, shout louder. Po! Come out and bring the sacrifices! Thud, thud! Heavy footsteps echoed. The side door of the ritual hall opened, and a deep-sea person called Po emerged. Guoooo! He let out a bizarre roar. This deep-sea person had a distinctly different appearance from the others. He was about twice the size of the other deep-sea people, with thick ck scales, a protrudingrge forehead, and a wide-open gigantic mouth. He somewhat resembled a whale. But Pos strange appearance was not important. What mattered were the seven humans being dragged out, tied to a rope held in Pos hand. The cheers of the deep-sea people reached a fever pitch. The vige chief who had been cheering by the pnquin suddenly felt a strange sense of difort. Why do those humans look so calm? Hysteria, screams, incontinence, fainting. Those were the usual reactions. During previous Dragon King rituals, capturing humans who went into fits of frenzy had be a form of entertainment for the deep-sea people. But these humans were only cowering and trembling, without even the usual screams. The vige chief was the only one who felt that something was off. The others were responding to the True Person of the Tortoises speech and agitation. They were trembling with religious ecstasy. Po who was dragging out the live sacrifices suddenly felt a strange sense of difort. What is that sound Po was not a hybrid born between humans and deep-sea people. He was a monster born between a whale and a deep-sea person. Because of this, his intelligence was lower than others. However, along with his distinctly different appearance, he had a few special abilities. One of them was his hearing. Po had hearing so sensitively that it was close to a supersense. Creak, crackle. Creak. Po turned his head to look at the humans following him. There was a strange sounding from their bodies. It was a strange sound, like the friction of ss, metal, stone, and wood. To be precise, it was a sounding from within the humans bodies. The priest who had been savoring the cheers of the deep-sea people suddenly felt a strange sense of difort. What is that? Thick fogy all around the ce and it made visibility extremely narrow. He saw a strange shadow-like thing on the roof above the altar. What is that? A bird? A bat? No, if it were such a trivial creature, he wouldnt have paid any attention. From thisnd animal that looked like a bird or bat He felt the magical power of the deep sea? The g bearer who was holding a g embroidered with Dagons emblem suddenly felt a strange sense of difort. Why is that human moving like that? One of the sacrifices being dragged by Po began to shake his head violently from side to side. Despite being a descendant of the sea, he was originally human. He could recognize that this movement was not human-like. The human sacrifice who was shaking his head from side to side opened his mouth towards Po and made an Ah- Aaaa- sound. Ah, thats right. Its amon thing to happen in the ritual. A human would be terrified and go berserk before screaming. Its one of the key entertainments of the Dragon King Festival. And then, another deep-sea hybrid suddenly felt a strange sense of difort. His mouth is opening too wide? What is that? Whats happening? The mouth of the human following right behind Po opened to an unusual extent. His mouth opened so wide that his mouth, no, the skin of his face tore to reveal a bizarre metallic structure. A huge frame? A torture device? A trap for hunting bears? Nails, saw des, thorns, knives, and shards of ss were horrifically embedded in the metallic structure of the jaw. Crack! Stter! An enormous amount of blood spurted out. The human who was supposed to be a living sacrifice bit into Pos nape. Grrr!? What, what is that!? A scream from a deep-sea person echoed. Gwoooaaah!! This was Pos scream. With a crunch and a rip, the powerful bite tore off scales and flesh in one go, but the nape was too thick to reach the bone. Gwoooaaah!! Po shouted and tried to shake off the human biting his nape. Was this even a human? It was a monster with a huge metallic structure attached to its body. Triggered by themotion, the living sacrifices tied to the rope started moving in bizarre ways all at once. Crack, snap Their joints moved in ways that neither humans nor deep-sea people could imitate. Some even twisted their necks around or bent their spines backward. The movements were excessively alien and grotesque. Finally, one of the deep-sea people screamed. Grrr! Monsters! Theyre monsters! Crack, rip The skin of the living sacrifices tore apart to reveal saw des, thorns, and other hideous junk protruding from their bodies. Then they charged at the deep-sea people. These were terrifyingly shaped monsters. Even a slight brush against them could mean death! Screams and shouts erupted from the deep-sea people on all sides. Grrr! Wh-What are those monsters!? How can a human? Grrr, how can they transform into such monsters!? Grrr, grrr! They were pretending to be human all along! The deep-sea people, who were experiencing religious visions and extreme tion, couldntprehend the sudden change in circumstances and fell into uncontroble chaos. Chaos. In the thick fog, nearly a hundred deep-sea people screamed and ran in all directions. You half-wits! Get a grip! What are you doing?! The True Person of the Tortoise tried to control the panicked deep-sea people by shouting, but it was all in vain. Stop! This is thest sacrifice! Stop! What is happening! Why is this happening!? Then, a human voice was heard from behind him. Hey, someones shocked that humans turned into monsters. Is that really something you guys should be saying? A mocking voice. It was Kim Shin Hwa. Chapter 162: Dragon King Festival (3) Chapter 162: Dragon King Festival (3) A man in a ck coat and a fedora arrived at the entrance of Insu Vige. Squelch- His safety boots which were reinforced with steel tes sank into the mud on the path. The nauseating stench and the fog that obscured his vision werent kind to humans, but he felt a sense offort as if he had returned home. Greuk- In fact, Insu Vige was his hometown. Yong-soo, who was a young deep-sea hybrid not yet twenty years old, took off his fedora and exhaled. Greuk- Grrr- Even though he wasnt yet aplete deep-sea being, his skin shimmered green. He was born with a stronger deep-sea bloodline than others. He was the direct disciple of the True Person of the Tortoise, the vige priest of Insu, and was so exceptionally talented that he was called one in a thousand.And so he was bestowed with the grand name Yong-soo. (TN: His name is Yong-soo. It means Dragon Head.) Grrr- Am I toote? The vige was quiet. Insu Vige was always quiet, but it shouldnt have been this quiet today. The pnquin has already gone up the mountain. Grrrr. Yong-soo suddenly thought of Kim Shin-hwa and gnashed his teeth. The eerie grinding sound dispersed through the fog. Not only had he lost the cargo due to a shallow trick, but he also fell into an absurd trap and suffered for several days beyond the barrier. This was the first humiliation he had experienced since he became aware of his deep-sea blood. Yong-soo couldnt bear that he felt such disgrace from mere humans. But what I cant bear even more is In the despair of ruining the Dragon Kings Festival due to his own ipetence, he managed to contact the vige. The news he heard then was astonishing. Someone came here by using my name? And they even brought the sacrifice I failed to get? Were they insane? Though he had fooled humans in such a way before, this time, Yong-soo had done nothing. Greuk, has the sacrifice already been made? Time was running out. If he hurried, he might still witness that crazy mage being offered as a sacrifice with his own eyes. But then Yong-soo saw something strange. Humans were gathered in the middle of the vige. What? Why are those ves gathered there? Grrr! What are you doing! The ritual isnt over, why are you all gathered here! The old people who were gathered there saw Yong-soo and, grew horrified, and bowed their heads. Ugh, aaah! Wh-Why!? Please, spare us! What was this? What were they plotting? Until the Dragon Kings Festival ended, humans were not supposed to leave their homes. It wasnt exactly a taboo, though. The rule was established because sometimes during the festival, the deep-sea people would be unable to contain their excitement at the presence of the Dragon King and would end up eating humans. If you wanted to live, you had to seal yourself in your house until the festival ended. Greuk, grrrrr. What are you scheming here? Well, um The old people looked at each other with miserable expressions. Wasnt it your idea? You take responsibility. I only trusted your words. Ah, I must have been mad. Yong-soo sensed that their gazes and emotions were all directed in one direction. Greuk. Was it you? An old man stepped out from among the vigers. He wasnt a particrly spirited person. His eyes were filled with tears, and his legs were trembling, but he still bared his teeth. I, I, I, I We, we cant take it anymore Ah, was it another hero-like figure, likest year? Last year, at least it was a young man, but this time an old man had stepped up. However, he was not even as formidable as the onest year. The old man was so wretched he could barely speak. Yong-soo raised his hand toward the old man; he wanted to crush him like the troublesome livestock he was. BOOM!! A dreadful noise that was loud enough to shake the heavens and the earth echoed from somewhere. It wasnt just the sound. The ground actually shook, and the air quivered. Ahhh! Oh, God! The mountain is exploding! The old people couldnt withstand the shock and horror and rolled around on the muddy ground of the vige. An earthquake? Whats happening? The wrinkles beneath Yong-soos neck fluttered. He was quite young, but his fully formed gills twitched sensitively and detected some sign. From the mountain? No, did something happen at the altar? Goosebumps rose on Yong-soos green skin. What was happening again? Booom, Rumble! A vivid blue light pierced through the mist. It was lightning. Was the Dragon King angry? No, could it be could it be The mage!? Grrrr! That mage!! Yong-soo left the old people behind and hurriedly ran toward the mountain. His speed was incredible, like an angry shark swimming against the current. With each step Yong-soo took, the muddy ground exploded with a booming sound. This cant be The old people who were rolling in the mud stared in a daze at the direction where Yong-soo had disappeared. Then they looked at each other again. One of the old men stood up and shouted. See, I was right! He, he is going to Overwhelmed with emotion, the old man couldnt speak in one go. He paused, trembled for a bit, then continued. He ising to save us! To fulfill our wish! Cheers erupted from the old men rolling in the mud of Insu Vige. Yong-soo ran straight to the altar in one breath. Strange! This is strange! Why is this happening? Explosions echoed in the distance. A peculiar creaking and grinding sound echoed as well. And the growls of his kin. From afar, something flew with a loud bang. A cannon? A missile? No, it was one of his kind, a deep-sea hybrid. Argh! Yong-soo channeled his magical power into his legs and leaped. With a shattering sound, Yong-soo leaped up and caught the projectile that was flying aimlessly. The force was tremendous. To prevent himself from being carried away, Yong-soo kicked a nearby tree to reduce the impact. Grrrk! Hey, are you okay? Get a hold of yourself! Grrrk, grrr Yong-sooSir Yong-soo This one was beyond saving. His eyes were smashed, and his limbs were charred ck. He wouldntst long. Grrrk, what is happening, exactly! Monsters humans turned into monsters What in the world does that mean? A human turned into a monster? After he carefullyid down his dying kin, Yong-soo leaped again. More explosions followed. Screams. The nging noise of metal against metal. He finally arrived at the altar. A bewildering scene unfolded before Yong-soos eyes. He stood momentarily with his limbs ck, speaking. Grrrrr It was a horrifying chaos that could not be clearly described in anynguage he knew. Monsters wearing human skins were ughtering the deep-sea hybrids. What was that? Crunch! A human with a huge metal jaw tore off a deep-sea hybrids head entirely. Shhhk, sh! A human withrge scythes on both arms sliced through the deep-sea hybrids body. Bang, Rtatatatat! A human with four arms fired wildly with the guns attached to each hand. Grrrr! These puppets! A deep-sea hybrid wearing a golden crown shouted as it tore apart the humans clinging to it. Shrrk! Crack! When the human skins tore, the junk inside spilled out. The deep-sea hybrid threw it to the ground. Crunch, snap! Grrrr! You foolish half-wits! Get a grip! Who are you! At the deep-sea hybrids cry, the others regained their senses. Yes, get a grip! We are the descendants of the sea. The [Dragon King of the Murky Sea] blesses us! Greuk! Grrrr! Greuk! Grrrr! Grr, grr, grr, grrrr! Crack! Bang! Crash- Another monster wearing human skin was shattered, spilling out the junk inside. Yes! We can do it! We can defeat them! From the start, the difference in strength was iparable. On this side, the number reached a hundred, whereas the opponent had only seven. These puppets were nothing! But the biggest problem was Where exactly is that mage? Yong-soo who was looking everywhere for Kim Shin-hwas hiding ce shouted. Guaaahhhhhh! Catch him! Kim Shin-hwa, that bastard, was running into the altar! Priest! That bastard is heading to the altar! This was not something to leave to others. I will catch him myself. Yong-soo harnessed the power of the sea granted by the great Dragon King and leaped forward. Swoosh Moisture from the surroundings concentrated in his hands and formed the shape of waves. He would use this power against that mage! Oh, Yong-soo, youre here? Kim Shin-hwa gave a brief wave to Yong-soo. No, it wasnt a wave. Magical power surged. A strong will and powerful influence prated through his gesture. The power of the sea in Yong-soos hands wavered. [Spell Overload] Boom! !? Yong-soo couldnt understand what had happened to him. What is this? A squishy feeling. He could see the sky. Was he lying down? What had hit him and made him fall? The sensation in his hand felt strange. No, his hand had disappeared? His red flesh was stretched and the bones of his hand were exposed. His fingers werepletely gone. Magic? Did someone forcefully break my magic? From that distance with just a single gesture? Yong-soo had been praised as the towns greatest genius. Initially, he thought he had simply been caught off guard by a shallow trick. But was this really possible? Yong-soo looked at Kim Shin-hwa and felt an indescribable fear. Bang! One of the deep-sea people, who had been charging at Kim Shin-hwa, soared into the sky. Doldol! Stop sleeping ande out! Doldol! Come here! Rumble A heavy noise like grinding stones echoed in the surroundings. Through the open door of the temple, a huge rough-looking rock Rumble, thud! Bang! Thud! Bang! Is it charging out? No, was that a giant stone altar? A rock hewn into a square shape? What was that? The vige chief, who had been rolling in the mud, shouted in shock. Greuk! That, that thing! The vige chief knew that object. It was the item Kim Shin-hwa had given him as coteral. An incredibly powerful stone chest. That thing, it could move on its own?! Boom! The stone chest rampaged wildly while circling around Kim Shin-hwa. Boom! The deep-sea people charging at Kim Shin-hwa were either flung away by its overwhelming weight and impact orpletely shattered. The vige chief who was sitting on the ground watched the scene and felt a strange illusion. That terrifying and monstrous stone chest somehow, it moved like arge dog excited to meet its owner after a long time. Shaking off the absurd thought that came to his mind, the vige chief shouted. Greuk, stop it! Theres something inside that thing! Just wait, you bastards! Let me change my clothes first! Screeech The stone chests lid opened. From inside, a billowing ck robe flew out and settled on Kim Shin-hwas shoulders. Then a sword, a hook, a ring, a backpack, and a skateboard emerged. Soon, he donned a strange mask with four eyes. He took off the [Mask of the Deep Sea]. He intended to throw it away, but instead, he tucked it into his chest. Ahahahahaha!! Kim Shin-hwa let out a terrifyingugh. Like a madman. Whoooosh A strange vortex formed around Kim Shin-hwa. Ominous mes swirled like ghostly fire, and deadly blue sparks gathered around him. Gradually, Kim Shin-hwa began to rise into the air. Yellow light zed from the four eyes of his mask. Greuk, grrr The vige chief felt fear and shrank back. It was an immense magical power. Terrifying! What is that monster? That monster! That monster! Did I bring that monster into this vige? Doldol, open the nextpartment! The stone chest closed and then reopened. At Kim Shin-hwas gesture, a huge amount of junk poured out. A stone mortar, a gigantic scythe, a huge pir, an axe, a hammer, a sword, a rocketuncher, tires, and unidentified metal pieces and machine parts. These things scattered around and attached themselves to the broken and crushed other golems. Creak, crunch! Were they monsters in human form? Now nothing human-like remained. Huge and horrifying monsters lined up in front of the deep-sea people. Kim Shin-hwa who was floating in the air with a grand posture in front of the temple shouted at the deep sea people. Alright, lets start the real Dragon King Festival you wanted! Chapter 163: Dragon King Festival (4) Chapter 163: Dragon King Festival (4) Greuk! How is this possible!? How!? An Oriental-style ceremonial robe contrasting bizarrely with a Western crown. And a grotesque scaly face that somehow resembles a turtle. The True Person of the Tortoise, the governor of Insu Vige and the priest of the evil Dagon cult, screamed at me with a horrified expression on his face. Was it all a ruse!? A ruse? Brainwashed by the power of the [Mask of the Deep Sea] until I became an idiot? Fainting at the sight of True Person of the Tortoises horrific appearance? And being quietly carried in that cursed golden pnquin all the way to the temple?Was all of that my scheme, my ruse, my deception to create this situation? Hahahaha! Iughed loudly. Bright yellow light emanated from the four eyes of the mask. Yes, it was all a ruse. Watching you babble excitedly was ridiculously amusing. You vilend creature! The True Person of the Tortoise couldnt contain his rising anger and trembled with fury. This was quite fun. Though, I really almost died. It had been a dangerous gamble. The brainwashing employed by the [Mask of the Deep Sea] wasnt a big problem. As expected, the [Madness of the Abyss] had activated and protected me. But the real danger is something else. Now I had two problems to ovee. One is the memories that were fading and entangling even at this moment. And the other is Aplete deep-sea person and that turtle-like bastard triggering my ichthyophobia. In the end, the moment I realized the vige chief had activated the brainwashing spell, I let go of both problems. I pretended the brainwashing worked and acted like an idiot. They nned to offer me as a sacrifice. Some might want to vent their anger on me, but the real dangerous harm would be prevented by the chief. Yes. Up to this point. Up to this point, it had indeed been a strategy to deceive them. But everything that happened after that was purely a gamble. The seizure that urred when I met the True Person of the Tortoise was real. With three seizures and the subsequent side effects of memory loss, my mind became aplete mess. Even though I resisted the brainwashing, I had temporarily be an idiot. The events that happened while I was being carried in the pnquin to this ce were only vaguely remembered. If the past Kim Shin-hwa hadnt set a specific course of action for the golems, things probably wouldnt have gone so well. Anyway! Now, I no longer had ichthyophobia! The attack by the spirit golems was considered my doing, and the madness had vanished. There were still unclear aspects of how the system handled madness, but for now, it worked in my favor, so I decided to let it pass. Moreover, this wasnt the time to think more deeply about such things. Grrr! You despicable, vile human scum! Grrr, grrr! Kill him! Tear him to pieces! Grrrrr! Well make you fish food! The deep-sea people whose faces were covered with scales, and the hybrids who would grow to look like them, all roared in unison. About half of the gathered creatures were unarmed, but each one was already a cultist; they were monsters that had transcended their humanity. Even their ws alone could massacre a fully armed human. asionally, sinister-looking spears and bows were visible. There were no guns or cannons, but their weapons would be even more powerful. Greuk! Grrrrr! Greuk, grrr grrr! But they couldnt quite bring themselves to charge. Theyre hesitating. It was because I had an overwhelmingly advantageous position. Behind me was the temple. The temple was just a building, but inside Whats this, asking for help from the Dragon Kings ritual? Are you worried I might harm your precious sacred sea well? Grrr, grrrr! How dare you! Grrr! Get away from the sacred ce immediately! It was quite amusing. It felt like I had be an evil kidnapper. If I couldnt hold back, I might burst into a wickedugh, Keh! Ha! Ha! The reason they hesitated to charge wasnt just the sacred site. I looked at my friends standing between me and the deep-sea people. Crack, snap! Crunch! To disguise the golems as humans, I had to remove as many attachments as possible. In that state, they could cause a brief surprise but couldnt perform at full capacity. But still, the charm of robot stories lies in transformation andbination. All sorts of gadgets poured out of Doldols body. They flew around and attached to the spirit golems before they became their new appendages. Even those dismantled by the deep-sea people were reassembled as if given new life. Though they consumed a significant amount of my magical power in the process The modifications and research so far are paying off. The magical power efficiency of the golems increased more than tenfold. Even though seven golems absorbed magical power at the same time, my energy remained unaffected. I swung the Great Justice Tiger Sword like a baton and gave instructions to the golems. Alright! Im resetting the orders. Listen well! Then I pointed to the temple behind me and spoke. Thats a temporary base! Prevent those stinking guys from approaching the temporary base. Smash all the nuisances. End of orders. In fact, I can issue orders without speaking out loud. The real orders, the ones the enemy must not know, were conveyed in a more specific and clear form. But why bother to shout out fake orders? Greuk, the temple! Theyre trying to stop us from reaching the temple. How dare they? How dare they! greuk! Our sacred ce! Greuk! Stop them! That mage! That heretic! Greuk, greuk, greuk! Kill them! Its to provoke them. The deep-sea people and the hybrids dont blink. Two hundred big round eyes like the rotting eyes of fish came rushing in. Their eyes were filled with burning hatred. If I still had that ichthyophobia, I might have fainted. I no longer have ichthyophobia. But
Kim Shin-hwa ss: Mage Gazing into the Abyss Level: 44 Magic Order: Fourth Order Mental Illness: [Mask Obsession (Dormant)]
I have no idea what the guy behind the message window is plotting. A lot of time had passed, but the next mental illness had not yet appeared. Is it waiting to observe a bit longer? Or was it waiting for a more decisive moment? Perhaps something had happened to the one behind the message window. Whatever it is, I need to move as quickly as possible. Not knowing what kind of absurd mental illness might attach itself to me next, I had to deal with everything before the next mental illness introduced any strange variables. Alright! Come on, you fish bastards, give it your all ande at me! Dont you have to perform the Dragon King Festival before its toote? Geurk! geurk! Geurk, geurk, geurk! Swish! Whoosh Spears and arrows with deadly power flew toward me. [Protective Circle] [Distortion Field] I cast defensive spells and retreated. Seven makeshift monsters blocked the enraged fishmen. Crash, sh! Aaargh!! The golem (teeth) that were equipped with restraints and torture tools like saws, axes, and hammers, enthusiastically embraced the deep-sea people. Ratatatatata! Ratatata! Blood poured from their heads and chests as they fell. The golem (shooter) perched on the roof of the temple and wildly fired dozens of guns attached to its eight limbs. Shwoooosh- KABOOM! Ah, did I mention it also had a rocketuncher taken from Yong-soo? Booooom! Booooom! Booooom! The massive golem (brute) made of huge stone mortars and heavy iron bars rampaged through the ranks of the deep-sea people. Whirrrrr Golden shadows leaped and danced in every direction. This was the dance of the golem (dancer), created bybining the limbs of a golden dancer. Each bizarre yet beautiful dance move resulted in a deep-sea persons head being severed. Achilles! Crunch! [The unique effect of the S-rank magical tool Staff of Beacon, Binding of the Living me has been activated. // Binding of the Living me: Grants the owner the ability to summon and control the followers of the Living me.] Balls of fire that trailed long tails like will-o-the-wisps emerged. These were the minions of the [Living me] and they were moving under Achilles control. They flew toward the deep-sea people, who screamed in terror. Uhryyyyyyyyyy!!! Uhraaaaaaaaaa!!! One hundred deep-sea people? Even if there were twice as many, we could handle it. Of course, thats assuming these deep-sea people were just ordinary. Yong-soo! Po! What are you doing? The leader of the deep-sea people, the True Person of the Tortoise, shouted. Yes, the Nine Sons of the Dragon. They also have powerful named deep-sea people. Fortunately, not all of them have appeared. Guaaaaah! The deep-sea person resembling a whale Po screamed. But it was already injured and got tangled up and thrown away by the golem (brute). And Yong-soo Yong-soo who had lost both hands was still rolling around on the muddy ground. His mouth was agape and his pupils were trembling. Well done. [Heavenly Sight] I sent half of my consciousness into the fog. pC Red who had been hiding beyond the fog flew in. Red? Can you hear me? You did very well. Now, I have one more request. Do you see that fool rolling around over there? No, the one with green skin. Green. Yes, that one. Good. Approach it. A distant wailing sound reached my ears. Good, thats taken care of. I need one more thing. Where is the vige chief? Where could the vige chief be? Grrrrk! Get lost, all of you! A splendid ceremonial robe and an even more splendid crown. A body bigger than the others. A face more like a turtles. It was the True Person of the Tortoise. KABOOM!! An incredible burst of magical power. The golem (Brute) soared into the sky. Oh? It flew too far away. A distant explosion resounded from beyond the fog. I hurriedly sent part of my consciousness after it. How far did it fly? Near the vige? It had flown too far. It would be difficult to retrieve it immediately. Given the situation I assigned a newmand to the golem (Brute) as I thought. Hmm, to face that turtle guy head-on? By the standards of Masquerades ranking system, that turtle guy was a cultist of the judge ss. Even if its a judge, Ive already taken down two. Moreover, the Hollow Lord was much stronger than the turtle guy. But that wasnt a head-on battle. I had employed various methods to prevent him from showcasing his true abilities. If I had fought fairly, defeating the Hollow Lord at that level would have been impossible. Even now, it wouldnt be easy. Greuk, Dragon King! Dragon King of the murky seas! Protect the descendants of the sea! The True Person of the Tortoise desperately shouted toward his god. [System: The penalty trait Feast Offering has been activated.] [A being of the abyss grants power to its minion.] Rumble. A sudden change in the weather happened. Rain began to fall. Grrrrk- Grrrrrrrr- Grrk, grrk- And then the frogs started croaking in unison. Hey, Mr. Turtle. Calm down, will you? Ive told you from the start, Im here to help with the Dragon King Festival. Grrrrk! Turtle? The True Person of the Tortoise ignored my words and charged at me with a roar. The True Person of the Tortoise had an unnecessary backstory of being a quarter deep-sea turtle, which made him dislike being called a turtle. Did he have some painful childhood memories? No, this wasnt the time for such thoughts. Booom! Suddenly, a wave mixed with mud surged up. Dieee! The True Person of the Tortoise flew straight at me; his body was covered in tough scales that served as a weapon in itself. Using magic while engaging in closebatIm envious! [The unique effect of the L-rank garment Winged Robe of the Night Veil, Wings of the Heavenly Steed has been activated. // Wings of the Heavenly Steed: Automatically casts the Flight spell.] Chapter 164: Dragon King Festival (5) Chapter 164: Dragon King Festival (5) A tremendous downpour. Boom! And then lightning. A cloudy sky and even darker ground. Waves surged with the power to overturn thend and sky, and deep-sea creatures and various monsters caught in the rain and waves tried to destroy each other. Boom! A loud noise was heard. The vige chief raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound. A loud whoosh apanied arge bird soaring into the sky. No, a person? Aaah! The vige chief found himself screaming.Kim Shin-hwa! Kim Shin-hwa! That monster! That demon! He didnt know what kind of magic was in effect, but Kim Shin-hwas jet-ck robe shone brilliantly as if it was woven from the Milky Way of the night sky. The hem of the robe fluttered as Kim Shin-hwa flew in a bizarre trajectory that was hard to follow with the naked eye. Swoosh! The wave continued to surge against gravity. It was a spectacle that could hardly be called a wave anymore. A giant pir of water? An upside-down waterfall? Or a massive water dragon writhing to destroy the enemy? Boom! The pinnacle of the water pir exploded, and the True Person of the Tortoise emerged. Extending his twelve thick ws forward, he charged toward Kim Shin-hwa. Graargh! Die, you heretic scum! The True Person of the Tortoise had tougher and stronger scales than others. And that speed! That power! The body of a mage with its soft and delicate skin would be utterly destroyed and torn into a thousand pieces just from a mere touch! Stop following me! A blinding white sh appeared. As if to burn the optic nerves! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The thunderous roar followed btedly. The lightning summoned by Kim Shin-hwa struck the True Person of the Tortoises body. Aaaargh! Graargh!! True Person of the Tortoise!! Screams came from unexpected directions. They came not from the True Person of the Tortoise, but from the mouths of the vige chief and the deep-sea people, who forgot they were in the midst of battle and looked up to the sky. Is this what a real battle between the strong is like? Contrary to the deep-sea peoples fears, the True Person of the Tortoises speed did not decrease at all. Although his ceremonial robe was torn, revealing the turtle-like shell hidden on his back, Kim Shin-hwas desperate attack did no damage to the True Person of the Tortoise. Oh Dragon King of the West Sea, I, a descendant of the sea, earnestly beseech you; let the whirlpool of the deep sea befall into my belly! The True Person of the Tortoises incantation continued at an incredible speed. Kwoooo! The True Person of the Tortoises abdomen swelled, and a high-pressure stream of water burst from his mouth. Kwaaaah! Ah, this turtle bastard, seriously! The water cannon was powerful enough to crush rocks and tear trees from their roots just by being caught in its path. Realizing that his flimsy protective barrier couldnt withstand it, Kim Shin-hwa lowered his flight trajectory. But it was a mistake. There, a wave surged towards Kim Shin-hwa, putting him within the deep-sea peoples range. Greureureuk! Throw!! Bwooong!! The deep-sea peoples spears,s, and arrows shot up like a torrent toward him! Whooooosh! Kim Shin-hwa created a high-speed vortex around his body and managed to deflect the deep-sea peoples attacks. 0.5 seconds. That was the time Kim Shin-hwa took his eyes off the True Person of the Tortoise. But the cost of losing those 0.5 seconds was terrible. Greuk! Got you! Crackkkk The vige chief had limited but usable magic and the ability to sense magical power. Because of this, he could sense the enormous number of protective barriers forming around Kim Shin-hwa. But the True Person of the Tortoise was a step above that! Kwooooom! Kim Shin-hwa plummeted at a speed almost invisible to the eye! Uwaaah-!? Kim Shin-hwa screamed. Hes gone mad! Though it was possible to smash into him, the True Person of the Tortoise chose not to. He pushed with all his might. As a deep-sea person, he knew how to fight in a three-dimensional space far better than a human awkwardly flying with newfound power. Kwaaaah! Kim Shin-hwa crashed into the muddy ground, still within his protective barrier. The wave summoned by the True Person of the Tortoise had turned the ground into a quagmire, as it swallowed Kim Shin-hwa along with his barrier. In an instant, he was buried up to his waist. The protective barrier was keeping the mud at bay, but the moment it was lifted, Kim Shin-hwa would be buried alive. Damn it! Even with the wave, how could solid ground be this buried? There were human bones mixed in the mud. The ce where Kim Shin-hwa was buried was where the deep-sea people disposed of their sacrificial offerings. The ground, which had been dug up several times, was bound to be softer than other ces. Kim Shin-hwa thought, Ha, not a single thing is on my side, not the climate, not the terrain. GreureuK! Stay buried! The True Person of the Tortoise came flying in. Whooosh! Kim Shin-hwa hurriedly extended his hands before sending dozens of fireballs and increasing the number of protective barriers. Greureuk! Its useless! Useless! Its useless! The True Person of the Tortoise continued to push forward while swinging both fists to deflect the fireballs. Boom boom boom boom!! The True Person of the Tortoise trampled and pounded Kim Shin-hwa, who was trapped in his own protective barrier. Fire? The rain bestowed by the Dragon King reduced its power. Necromancy? The fog created by the Dragon King weakened its control. Electric shock? The True Person of the Tortoises scales and hard shell deflected it. Greureuk! What else can you do? Human! Human! Yound beast! Shock? Freeze? Wave? Poison? Curse? The Dragon Kings blessing, the deep-sea peoples tough scales, and their robust bodies adapted to the deep sea deflected and nullified everything. Boom boom boom boom!! Kim Shin-hwa was simply buried deeper and deeper into the ground while he was surrounded by the protective barrier. Now, Kim Shin-hwa had no chance of winning! It was their victory! The sacrifice could be giventer, even if it was dyed! The vige chief thought this and he was about to cheer. Had a silent necromancy golem not grabbed the vige chiefs neck, he really would have done so. Greureu H-Huh? It was a grotesque necromancy golem with four sickles instead of fingers. Among the necromancy golems, it was small andcked any distinct characteristics. The necromancy golems opposite hand gestured beside the paralyzed vige chief. Though it was made of adle, pencil, and smartphone holder, its meaning was clear. A gesture understood by both humans and deep-sea people alike: Turn around quietly. Grrrr The vige chief slowly turned around. The face of the necromancy golem that was made up of all sorts of junk came into view. A speaker, a small trash can, part of a vacuum cleaner, and arge doll head attached to what would be the left cheek of a human. The dolls eyes (one of which is missing) spun around a few times and then spoke to the vige chief. Yes. Stay still. It was Kim Shin-hwas voice. Greureuk!? The vige chief growled low, but his intense fear prevented any further action. Well, its quite interesting to see myself being defeated from a third-party perspective. The necromancy golem nodded a few times as it continued to speak. By the way, that turtle fellow is really strong. No wonder hes at the level of a judge, right? The Kim Shin-hwa fighting the True Person of the Tortoise was not at full strength. Though the body was Kim Shin-hwas, a third of his consciousness was controlling the necromancy golem here. Even so, he couldnt give suchplicated orders. Kim Shin-hwa sneered through the necromancy golems body. Again, again, again He wanted to shout, What kind of trick is this!?, but the vige chiefs tongue was frozen and he was unable to speak. Oh no, no! This demon! Vige Chief, you brought it, right? Where is it? The necromancy golem moved thedle and smartphone holder attached to its left hand to rummage through the vige chiefs chest. Damn it, I really need to make one with a proper hand. Ah, here it is. The vintage doll on the necromancy golems head emitted an eerie glow. However, the words that came from its mouth were surprisingly cheerful. Ah, well done, chief. I thought you might bring it, but if you hadnt, it would have been quite troublesome. Good job. That, that is A bomb?! A magic stone bomb. It was something a young man from Insu Vige had made a year ago but hadnt used. An old man who was seeking revenge for his son over the past year had kept it. He had given it to Kim Shin-hwa and asked him to use it for the viges freedom from the oppressive deep-sea people. Although it had been temporarily taken by the vige chief who was a deep-sea hybrid, it was now back in Kim Shin-hwas hands. Alright. For the good vige chief, Ill share some useful information. Kim Shin-hwa opened the hand made of sickles to release the vige chief. He continued speaking. Look over there. Theres something amazing. Over there. The necromancy golem extended the sickle on its right hand to point at a spot in the air. And there was Crash! Kim Shin-hwa waspletely buried underground along with the protective shield. It wasnt just Kim Shin-hwa. The area around the True Person of the Tortoise was deeply dug out and resembled a pit made by an anthill. And even when the True Person of the Tortoise turned his head, it was impossible to see the surroundings. Grrr! This is the end! The True Person of the Tortoise raised both hands high and concentrated his magical power. A crashing sound came from his hands. Now, he would destroy this protective shield entirely! Bury him alive! Wait, what is this? This strange sound? Why is it so quiet around here? A strange sound could be heard from somewhere. It was drowned out by his own roaring, by the squelching of mud, by the surging magic, and by the sound of rain. The sound of water? No, it was a sound that tugged at his insides, a nostalgic sound that drew in his soul. And, andthe True Person of the Tortoise listened closely. |H- U- U-| What is this? The song of the deep sea. The song of the waves. The sound of the Dragon King calling him. What is this? No, it cant be. Haa! Grrr!! The True Person of the Tortoise felt a severe headache and clutched his head. From beneath his feet, from the mud, and from under the protective shield he was standing on, a small voice could be heard. As expected, Mr. Turtle has quite the strong resistance. Grrr, grrrresistance? |U- U- U- H- U- H- U-| His head hurt. What was that sound? the True Person of the Tortoise straightened his back. What was happening outside the pit? The deep-sea people gazed with dazed expressions at the mysterious creature flying in the sky. |O-O- H- O- H- O-| A beautiful song. A red body flying in the sky. Arge single eye. A pair of wings and a broad seaweed-like tail. That was undoubtedly the Dragon Kings messenger. One day, when the time came, the Dragon King would send his messenger, the Three-Leaf Statue, to wake them. The legend passed down through the sea hade true. The Dragon King was calling them. Lets go, back to our home. Our blood longs for the sea. Lets return to the sea. To the sea. Lets go to the sea. The vige of Insu was trapped in fog and mountains. There was only one way to reach the sea from this vige. The sea well. Lets go to the sea well. Ssh One. Ssh Ssh Two. And three. The deep-sea people and the hybrids began to jump into the sea well with dazed expressions. Grrr! Stop! You fools! What are you doing! Dont go! Where are you going! the True Person of the Tortoisesrge eyes spun wildly in different directions. What was this? Where was it? What was singing this song?! The sky! It was that! A small, red, bizarre creature was singing a strange song. Ssss The True Person of the Tortoises stomach swelled. He was preparing to spew a high-pressure stream of water from his mouth. Oh no, you cant do that. Something shot out and pierced through the muddy ground. Kr, Kraaack! White and horrific tentacles. A huge number of tentacles stretched out from all directions. A dreadful noise of cracking and creaking. They writhed, wobbled, tangled, and iled. Distracted at a critical moment, the True Person of the Tortoise was caught by these grotesque, horrifying tentacles. Boom! The ground rose, and the sky flipped. A monster! A horrifying monster! From beneath the ground, a monstrous creature with a body made entirely of white tentacles surged up! And standing on the body of that monster was Kim Shin-hwa. The True Person of the Tortoise screamed in desperation. Greureuk! You! Yoooou!! Kim Shin-hwa said with bright yellow eyes shining through the four holes in his mask. You always let your guard down when you think youre winning. Greureureureuk!! Greureureureuk! Now, lets finish the Dragon Kings ritual as promised. But Ill decide the method. Chapter 165: Dragon King Festival (6) Chapter 165: Dragon King Festival (6) The white tentacles were still growing. They stretched out, revealing terrifying teeth as they split open in various ces. Dozensno, hundredsof gaping maws lined the writhing undting white tentacles as they struggled to devour the True Person of the Tortoise. Creak, creak, creak The sound of hundreds of maws grinding their teeth echoed in unison. Kaaargh! The True Person of the Tortoise thrashed desperately, but it was useless. There was no escaping the child of darkness, the offspring of the ck goat. In any case, there wouldnt be any more scenes that could be called a battle. I scratched the side of my mask for a moment before speaking. Earlier, what did you say to me? I didnt remember exactly since I heard it while I was out of my mind, but it was something like this.Now, Im going to throw you and your kin into the sea well. Do you understand? Was that it? He hadnt managed to fulfill his deration, but I already had. Grk, grk GrkkGrkrr Ssh Ssh, ssh The deep-sea people, along with their hybrid kin, were leaping into the sea well with feverish enthusiasm. The sea well. It was a huge well hidden inside the altar. To be precise, they must have built the structure around the sea wells location. It was just like the safe in the vige chiefs house. And this vige was the same. The altar was merely a facade. The real importancey in that sea well. Thats no ordinary well. ording to the legends passed down in this area and the beliefs of the deep-sea people, that well was said to connect to the Western Sea. And the Dragon King was supposed to return through that well? If that well were just a tunnel to the Western Sea, we wouldnt have gone through all this trouble. The sea well was a kind of gate. That well didnt lead to the Western Sea. It connected to a ce far beyond, deeper and darker. The homnd where the deep-sea people must return, the deep, deep abyss. Or the ce where the great Cthulhu sleeps. Kaaaaah!! You monster! You horrible demon! You cant do this! The Dragon King will reject it! The curse of the sea! The curse of the deep sea will be upon you! Oh, so Dagon would refuse to ept the deep-sea people as offerings? Would he? Im offering seven sacrifices ording to the number of stars, and one more, making it eight. This number pleases the Dragon King. To summon the Dragon King to drynd, this was repeated eight more times, making the count eight times eight. Thats a total of sixty-four. How could the Dragon King refuse? Grrrrk! Stop it! Shut your mouth! Human! How dare you! How dare you speak to the Dragon King like that! Do you think the Dragon King would even listen to you? If you get distracted like that, it could be dangerous. Crack! Crunch! Snap! Kaaargh! The child of darkness finally bit into the True Person of the Tortoises left hand. A gush of red blood spurted out. Realizing what he must prioritize, the True Person of the Tortoise resisted with all his might. Ill kill you! Ill definitely kill you! Yes, the deep-sea people are different from humans by nature. They possess innate vitality and strong willpower. Simply losing a hand wont subdue him. Boom! Crack! The True Person of the Tortoise swung his fist at the child of darkness and fired off spells. Whether his attacks were effective or not, the child of darkness momentarily withdrew its tentacles and hesitated. Hope glimmered on the True Person of the Tortoises face. Is he thinking, It worked! Its effective!? Hmm, I doubt it. Hundreds of mouths open simultaneously on the pale tentacles. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Ugh, aaaargh! Aaaargh!! Its over. Theres no need to keep watching. Before fully turning my head, I reached out with my magic and pulled the crown off the True Person of the Tortoises head. Whoosh As I caught the crown, I took a moment to look at it. It was a grotesque yet beautiful and eerie crown, engraved with waves, fish, the deep sea, and the figures of Dagon and the deep-sea people. [Crown of Murky Waters (L-rank Magical Artifact): A crown infused with the magic of the deep sea. It grants the wearer the power tomunicate with the Dragon King of the Murky Sea. It is an essential item for conducting the Dragon Kings Ritual. However, only the descendants of the sea can use this item. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information.] The [Ocarina of the Deep Sea] also had usage restrictions, but this one came with even more limitations than what is indicated. It could only be used by someone who was either a deep-sea person or a deep-sea hybrid and who also had the aptitude of a shaman. In short, it meant that as a human and a mage, I couldnt use it. Not that I ever intended to use it anyway. I needed someone who could use it in my ce. To stop the Dragon Kings Ritual and free Insu Vige. Now that my memories had returned, I could think of various methods. I could simply destroy the well by physical means, or I could settle for wiping out the deep-sea people and making my escape. But If I were to use such methods These persistent deep-sea bastards would just end up creating a second Insu Vige or a second sea well. Because of that, the solution that the past Kim Shin-hwa had suggested was to carry out the Dragon Kings Ritual. He nned to subdue the current ritualist, appoint a new one, and steer the ritual in the direction he wanted. To do that, I need a deep-sea person who can be the ritualist. The vige chief is a backup option, but is Yong-soo still alive? There he was. Among the deep-sea people trudging toward the well, I spotted Yong-soo. That green-skinned hybrid deep-sea boy who was a genius among deep-sea people. Someone who was rare enough to appear once in a thousand years, ording to the story. He was the True Person of the Tortoises disciple. And in terms of aptitude, there was no one better than him. Hmm, but look at him, still acting like that. I had already injected Yong-soo with Reds bodily fluids to make it easier to track him and carry out the subsequent tasks. But I guess that wasnt even necessary? Yong-soo was behavingpletely differently from the other deep-sea people. While they were all being lured by Reds song and throwing themselves into the sea well, Yong-soo was still rolling around in the muddy ground. Ah, ugh ahhhh A groan escaped his lips. Something was off. Why is this idiot acting like this? Reds bodily fluids were still inside Yong-soos body. Through them, his thoughts were seeping into my mind. Painblood lossa sense of lossthe shock of losing a part of his body and the excruciating pain, apanied by massive bleeding. But Yong-soo was a deep-sea hybrid who was born with talents far surpassing those of others. Like the True Person of the Tortoise, a deep-sea person wouldnt be incapacitated by merely losing a few fingers, right? Ugh Please, save me Save me Despairfearmadnesshopelessnesssorrowa sense of helplessness. He hade seeking revenge, only to lose both hands in a single blow. A single blow? No, not even that. From Yong-soos perspective, I had merely waved my hand as if swatting away a fly. That simple gesture had overloaded the spell Yong-soo was controlling, causing it to explode entirely. Yong-soo hadnt even managed to attack, and I hadnt even counterattacked. Ah, I see now. I understood after reading Yong-soos thoughts. Anyway, it seems he still has a long way to go before he dies. After all the horrible things he did to humans, now hes whining. I infused Yong-soo who was writhing on the ground with magical power and cast a spell. [Voice of Authority] A voice imbued with irresistible power and authority. |What is your wish?| Oh, Dragon King! Dragon King! Ive longed to see you! Ive wanted to speak with you! Oh, great Father of the Sea! I wanted to make a wish to you, O Dragon King of the Murky Seas! It was simple. I spoke again. |Yes, speak. You may state your wish.| That evil mage! That human! Please kill the evil mage who dared to insult and humiliate the descendants of the sea with a mere human body! Grant me the power to kill him, to punish him, and to take revenge! Hmm, a troublesome wish. I spoke again. |Think again. Is that truly your wish? Is that what you really wanted to say to the Great Father of the Sea? Speak your true desire, the one buried deep within you. The dirty longing youve kept hidden from others, the secret wish youve always wanted to fulfill one day. Tell me what you truly desire.| I, I A faint noise arose in Yong-soos consciousness. Was something trying to intervene? Where? I dont allow for sudden shifts or unexpected variables. I spoke once more. With the power to suppress others minds and control their thoughts. |Yes, speak. To the one you believe in, the one you revere, the one who shaped you, who granted you the power of the seawhat do you truly wish from your true father, the Dragon King of the Murky Sea, the ruler of cloudy waters?| Yong-soo slowly raised his body. I I am using the power of the sea well waiting for the great Dragon King of the Murky Sea to descend in his true form Yes, thats the real purpose of the Dragon King Ritual. It wasnt just an incarnation; it was the descent of the true form of the very being of the abyss onto thisnd. For this, they had deliberately built a vige here, offered sacrifices, and waited for a special day. The sea well has been growing in strength by devouring the souls and bodies of humans for a long time, and today, thanks to me, it was feasting immensely. When the exact date appointed by the Dragon KingDagonarrives, the sea well will open its gate and summon Dagons true form into the present world. I ced a crown on Yong-soos head and spoke. |Then today is the day. By your wish, the sea well will open its gate and release what lies beyond. Go.| Now, Yong-soo was the only living deep-sea person or the only living deep-sea hybrid in the vicinity. He would throw himself into the sea well. Those who fail to do so will be breathless, inanimate objects, with their bodies buried in the muddy ground. But still, the surroundings were filled with Dagons lingering magical power and covered in a dreadful fog. The only sound within that fog was the footsteps of one person. Squelch, squelch. Walking through the sticky mud, the new priest of Insu Vige advanced. Yong-soo would state his wish to the sea well and open the gate to the other side. Timing is crucial. I gestured to the necromancy golems and gave themand. Alright, lets go. Get ready to escape with the vigers. Creak, crack. The necromancy golem containing my consciousness led the other golems to rush down the mountain. Then I gestured toward Red. Red, its time. I listened to your song. You really are a great singer. Now, do you see that green one wearing the hat over there? Get inside that body. And when I give the signal, devour everything you can. Thud, thud, thud Kkiiiiie! Again, I emphasize that the exact date is crucial. That day is important. Just as destroying the event venue right before the event will make the Masquerade disappear, if its not that day, their ns will be ruined. Today, I will deceive the sea well. Standing before the sea well, Yong-soo spoke. I bow with all my heart to the great Dragon King, who dwells in the murky sea, grants enlightenment, and changes his form to grant eternal life to the foolish beings. Yong-soo spoke again. He was the priest of this vige and the one who acted as the Dragon Kings messenger. I have a wish. I have a wish. I have a wish. I ask the Dragon King, who can summon rain to this drynd and bring waves that carry the blessed sea water to all, to grant my wish. And this genius deep-sea hybrid spoke once more. Please, please, by the Dragon Kings mercy, ept our sincere devotion today as vast as the sea. Grant us our wish. We offer this feast, prepared with utmost care, to the Dragon King. Please, open the gate of the sea well. Rumble, rumble Rumble, rumble A menacing noise echoed from beneath the ground, no, from beneath the well. The earth shook as if the mountain were about to copse. And then, an enormous surge of magical power and seawater began to pour out of the well. Rumble!! Rumble!! A ridiculous amount of seawater was gushing out of the well. [System: The exclusive trait Feasts Offering has been activated.] Itsing! Something was rising, something wasing up! But today was not that day. Yet despite that, something was crawling out. I had expected this. That wouldnt be Dagons true form. It must be something of a lower rank. Still, a monstrous being that was hard to handle was crawling up! [From beneath the sea well.] Move! I cant see! Fzzzzzzzzt! The message window tried to say something, but I struck it with lightning to get rid of it. Now! Doldol!! Rumble!! Doldol who had been waiting by the well opened its mouth. Crash!! A huge amount of magic stones were sucked into the well. The sparkling magic stones were a staggering amount. How much could that be worth? It must be more than a billion, at least. The magic stones that the Hollow Lord had been hoarding were being swallowed up by the well. What a waste. No, this wasnt the time to be having such thoughts! I shoved my magical power into the object in my handcrash! And hurled it toward the well. The glittering object flew in an arc. It was a magic stone bomb. Chapter 166: The Sea Well Chapter 166: The Sea Well The point was this. In my mind, the ns of the past Kim Shin-hwa remained. Dont hesitate and just open the door. The sea well was a gate created for Dagons descent. If the gate opened, Dagon would descend. But even if I opened it, Dagon wouldnt be able to descend since it wasnt ready yet on its side. Exactly. The deep-sea people hadpleted the sea well and were waiting for the right time for Dagons descent, the day when the stars would align. If I opened it today and exhausted all the power of the well, Dagon wouldnt be able to descend.From Dagons perspective, it would be like trying to catch a bus, only for it to leave earlier than scheduled. And the next bus wouldnt arrive for another thousand years. There would be quite a few problems arising as a consequence of opening the gate, though But it couldnt be helped. This was the only way to prevent the most damage. It was a gateway connected to the abyss. Now that it was open, something immense was bound to happen. For example Grrrrr- Screeeeech- Kueeeeeek- From the other side, something immense was climbing up the well and it was emitting overwhelming magical power. Perhaps Dagon was startled by the sudden opening of the gate and it sent one of its avatars. Or maybe a random monster nearby had been startled and crawled out. Though I could prevent Dagon from emerging, if I left things as they were, even more powerful deep-sea people than the True Person of the Tortoise mighte through that gate. Something even bigger mighte through, but thats a problem for future Kim Shin-hwa to handle with some masterful skill, right? Ugh. Past Kim Shin-hwa hadnt decided how to deal with it. The n was basically to go with the flow! Whoosh And this was the solution I came up with. The magic stone bomb left my hand. It started spinning as it sliced through the air. It was a crude device, almost simr to a piece of a necromancy golem. Honestly, it didnt have to be this specific device to achieve a simr effect, but Whoosh The magic stone bomb flew in an arc. I could predict what would happen in a few seconds. My brain which was now pumping out adrenaline at an incredible rate made everything around me feel slow. Whoosh This device was designed to convert pure magic stones into explosive force. As expected, its power increased exponentially with the number of magic stones added. Thats why I had Doldol pour in a huge amount of magic stones. But that wasnt the only fuel. First, there was the magical power I infused into the magic stone bomb. And then Rumble The sea well itself would be the source of explosive energy. The magical power umted over decades by the deep-sea people. The dozens of deep-sea people I forced into the well all at once. The sea wells gate opened. That well was not just a simple pit; it was a gate connected to a part of the abyss. Rumble An enormous amount of deep sea magic overflowed that it was clearly visible even to the naked eye. The energy that had remained in the metaphysical world was drawn into the physical world and it transformed into something more intuitive and tangiblelike seawater, gold, fish, monsters, impact, explosions Some of it was seeping into the body of Yong-soo who presided over the Dragon King Festival. Grrrrr Crack Snap The body of Yong-soo who had once been an imperfect deep-sea hybrid transformed dramatically. Yong-soos body mutated as if time had been sped up; he grew scales tougher and stronger than any deep-sea person with menacing ws and fluttering gills. Yong-soo not only became aplete deep-sea person but was also undergoing changes beyond that. He would either be the strongest deep-sea person in history or perhaps even a vessel for Dagon, just as Jang Hyeon-deok once had. Red Kkiiiiieeeeee! Now! I couldnt finish the sentence, but Red understood my intent. Red began absorbing the magical power infused in Yong-soos body at an incredible speed. Ugh! Yong-soos body, which had been on the verge of further growth, began to contract instead. Kyaaaaah- Kuaaaaah- The sounds of massive and dangerous monsters crawling up from the depths of the well. There were more than just one or two. If they emerged, not only Paju but the entire world would be thrown into chaos. Bang! ng ng ng This was the sound of the magic stone bomb striking the inner walls of the well and bouncing off as it slowly descended deeper and deeper into the well. The magic stone bomb was about to explode. Although it was a crude and simple device, everything that had been set up until now would cause an immense chain reaction. [Sound Wave Distortion] -!!! Boom? Thud? Crash? Was it something like that? A horrific noise erupted, one so intense that it was imperceptible to human ears. Vibration. Shock. An earthquake. Instinctively, I triggered my magic to protect myself. The magic stone bomb had exploded. A tremendous amount of shock and an overwhelming surge of magical power burst forth explosively. It was too much! Red couldnt handle the massive amount of magical power with its absorption efficiency. The magical power that couldnt be absorbed was instantly converted into physical force. A tremendous impact radiated in all directions. Ugh, Im going to die! [Protective Circle] [Spell Enhancement: Maximization] [Spell Enhancement: Multicasting] Swoosh! The child of darkness wrapped its tendrils around me to shield my body. -!!! Was it a crash? Or a bang? The scene of the well springing out at a speed too fast to see. Though I couldnt perceive it with my ears, the impact was so terrifying that it shredded the protective barriers I had created. If the child of darkness hadnt protected me, I wouldnt have survived. I sent part of my consciousness to retrieve Red. Kkiiiiiieeee! Red came flying out of the wells body. Donte here! Just go back to the vige! I channeled magical power into the child of darkness. Lets get out of here! Whoosh The child of darkness was infused with my magical power, enhancing its speed and defense. Good. Lets run! Soon, this vige will be wiped off the map! Swoosh I was wrapped in its tendrils and dashed like that down the mountain. -!!! Was that a roar? Or a boom? Or maybe a crash? An enormous amount of water surged out of the well, the pressure was terrifying. In just a secondno, in 0.1 secondsthe dam shattered into pieces. A white pir of water shot into the sky. It was as if a hole had been punched through the earth. A massive volume of water surged out, far beyond what the well could contain. Not just the well, but the ground split open, and the mountain was torn apart. Unable to withstand the water pressure and shock, the ground itself wasunched skyward. Like a volcano erupting withva, the earth rose into the air, spewing an immense amount of water. Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak Creak The child of darkness gnashed its teeth with hundreds of mouths. The sight was so bizarre that even this surreal creature felt fear. Or was it excited? Either way, calm down, little one. If we stay here any longer, well die! -!!! Was that a hiss? Or a roar? A rush of water? Water poured down from the sky. This wasnt rain. Trees snapped and the earth crumbled. From the cracked earth, an immense amount of water erupted, surging out to engulf everything around it. The huge wave overflowed and covered the mountains before spilling in every direction. A torrent of mixed debristrees, soil, rocks, and the bodies of the deep-sea peoplecame crashing down. The real danger had not even begun. The truly dangerous moment will be when the water pressure from that column weakens. The water column still shot upward, as if it would pierce the sky and reach the universe. The moment that immense amount of water returns to the ground, the real water hell, the true time of flooding, will begin. Rumble! Boom! Crash! They did it! I shouted in overwhelming emotion. Some of the necromancy golems that had been sent ahead hadpleted their tasks. The rest were heading down to the vige to take care of the vigers. Rumble This was a mountain. Behind, an enormous wave was surging down, and though it might soon be part of the sea or a hugeke, for now, it was still a mountain. And there, halfway up the mountain, a huge ship had appeared with uncanny precision. It was the huge sailing ship the deep-sea people had prepared for the Dragon Kings descent. Originally, Dagon was supposed to board that ship and move to kill all thend-dwelling creatures on drynd. Ahwhat a shame, though. Dagon missed the bus. Hell catch the next one, so hell be about 1,000 yearste! That ship that was now without its master would be my precious lifeboat in this terrible situation. Rumble!! No matter how fast and strong the child of darkness was, there were limits. The huge wave was about to swallow us whole. Water spray shot up. Bam bam bam bam bam! That was the sound of water droplets striking the protective shield! It was as powerful as shotgun pellets! Right behind us! We were about to be devoured! I channeled a vast amount of magical power into the child of darkness who was running in my ce and gave themand. Run! Boom! The view shot upward at an incredible speed. The pressure on my spine and neck was excruciating. Aaaargh!! If I hadnt wrapped my body in magical power, this leap alone would have snapped my body like a twig. At some point, I felt the pressure ease. It was as if time briefly stopped, and all gravity vanished. Sky. Mist. A feeling of weightlessness. A hint of exhration. This was the peak of the leap. Then I began to fall again. Ugh My vision spun wildly. The ship rushed toward me at incredible speed. The bizarre forms of the necromancy golems loomed closer. Through the eyes of one of the necromancy golems, I could see myself. I was controlling the necromancy golems by splitting part of my consciousness. Kim Shin-hwa who was wrapped in the tendrils of the child of darkness as he fell gripped his mask tightly with both hands. As if he was afraid it might slip off. Come on, cant you make a more impressive descent? Thud! Hah! Wended on the ship. There were three necromancy golems on board: Teeth, Shooter, and a normal type directly controlled by my consciousness. The necromancy golem opened its mouth and spoke in my voice. Good. You did well. Now, Im heading over there. What? What? Never mind, just go quickly. Alright. Ridiculous. Im even having a conversation with myself because Im splitting my consciousness between too many things. Is this really okay? Creak The atmosphere of the necromancy golem speaking in my voice changed. Thats because it had begun controlling the other necromancy golems in the vige. Boom! Krrraaaash! Ugh, this isnt the time to be thinking about that. The ship began to be swept away by the waves. If a powerful wave struck a ship grounded onnd, it would typically either be smashed to pieces or toppled over. However, this ship that was powered by magic stones exerted a magical force, allowing it to ride the terrifying tidal wave. Craaaaash!! Argh, damn it! Of course, during that process, the necromancy golems and I nearly got thrown off Ssshhh! but thanks to the child of darkness wrapping its tendrils around us, no serious harm was done. Aaaah! The Dragon King! The Dragon King!! Please save us! Please, save us! Geukul Hutagan! Geukul Hutagan! Screams, cries, horror, and desperate pleas filled the air. The vigers were in aplete state of panic. Some even began reciting prayers to Dagon and Cthulhu. It cant be helped. A world-shattering earthquake. An enormous column of water surged toward the sky as if it would pierce the heavens. The torrential downpour that followed seemed as though it might tear the sky apart. The Insu vige which was already built on an unstable foundation had copsed entirely. The vigers were gathered in the center of the vige under the protection of the necromancy golems. A massive tidal wave was rushing toward them. In 20 secondsno, 10 secondsthe vigers, with their frail human bodies, would be caught in its overwhelming force. At that moment, I who was inside the necromancy golems thought to myself, Theres no choice but to run. My consciousness was splitting again. The necromancy golems reconfigured their appendages and increased the number of their arms. Can we even run on such unstable ground? No, I had no choice but to trust my judgment. The me on the ship will help with magic, right? . As I observed myself from a third-person perspective, I wondered: am I the type who likes to shift responsibility onto others without a n? Ah, who cares! Alright, run! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!