Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Twins of the Skyscraper (6)
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《Twins of the Skyscraper》 - (6)
01.
"Uh, this is a bit..."
Ferolrn muttered to himself after arriving at Jamsil Tower in an invisible state at Selverion's request to check on the hostages.
He had committed murder before and witnessed—or even created—countless shocking scenes, but he couldn't hold back his astonishment at the sight unfolding before him.
— It hurts...
— H-Hic, p-please spare me...
— Mommy, save me, ugh-hic...
"......"
The plaza on the fifth floor of Jamsil Tower.
Most of the hostages gathered here had some part of their bodies severed or mutilated. Since it seemed relatively recent, fresh red blood still seeped through the clumsily wrapped bandages.
Was this some graveyard tactic to prevent the hostages from escaping?
It looked less like a hostage site and more like an emergency room packed with critical patients.
Some had even fallen into comas from excessive blood loss—if they weren't treated soon, they would truly die.
"W-What do I do..."
Ferolrn agonized.
This was something he hadn't even considered, let alone anticipated. He had no idea what he should do in this situation.
"......"
No matter how much power he had gained as the Stage Boss Ferolrn, he didn't possess the ability to heal hundreds of hostages at once.
And if asked whether he could safely evacuate them all at once, he couldn't give a clear answer either.
As a Stage Boss specialized in one-on-one or small-scale combat, Ferolrn wasn't accustomed to protecting others while fighting.
— Man, it's great being able to eat without a care.
— Yeah, no need to watch out for prying eyes.
"......!!"
As he tried to compose his rattled mind amid the shocking scene, someone approached.
Ferolrn snapped to attention and swiftly moved toward the source of the voices.
It was an action impossible for ordinary players but feasible only for Ferolrn, who could maintain perfect invisibility.
— Which girl should we eat this time?
— Oh, I've got my eye on one. A fat, juicy one.
— Nice. Let's grab her quick and head down.
"......"
The closer he got, the clearer the conversation became. In this situation, only Cemetery Guild members could chat so leisurely.
— Which part you want?
— How about thigh this time? They say it's the tastiest from the ones who've tried it.
— On the fourth floor?
— Yeah. The cooking specialists are there.
'Eat...? Thigh...? Tasty...?'
Ferolrn frowned at the incomprehensible exchange, a question mark practically floating over his head.
Thigh? What on earth were they talking about? Discussing chicken for dinner?
"......"
But soon enough, Ferolrn realized his guess was completely off.
— Hey there? Your turn now.
— Been waiting, right? Good things are worth savoring, and we've been holding back for you.
— Mmph!! Mmph!! Mmph!!
Cemetery Guild members stood before an overweight male hostage gagged and mumbling something.
'N-No way...'
Seeing this, the worst possibility flashed in Ferolrn's mind—the peak of inhuman atrocities no human should commit.
'No, they're people too...'
They'd shown bizarre behavior in the game, but Cemetery was ultimately human. Surely fellow intelligent beings wouldn't stoop to such barbarism.
— I'll just take one side for now.
— Hang in there even if it hurts!
— Mmmmmph!! Mmmph!!
One Cemetery Guild member drew a sharp dagger from his waist and pressed it to the man's thigh. Ferolrn froze at the sight.
'Fuck, for real...?'
The hostages missing or injured in various body parts.
The suggestive banter among the Cemetery Guild members.
Their inexplicable focus on just the thighs.
'Cannibalism for real...?'
Anyone could see it was preparation for eating human flesh. October's Stage Boss was left dumbfounded.
They weren't holding hostages just to threaten SPR—they were doing it to eat people?
Treating humans like livestock?
Turning Jamsil Tower into a human slaughterhouse?
'Disgusting.'
Ferolrn, who had serially killed four people, might not be qualified to call it repulsive, but cannibalism crossed into another realm entirely.
Moreover, these weren't players or criminals—they were innocent civilians.
'...Insane bastards.'
Thanks to the Sad Clown's curse that locked his face into an eternally sorrowful expression, he couldn't even scowl in contempt.
— Better not watch.
— Here it comes! Bite down!
"......"
To the very end.
Ferolrn had hoped it was all a misunderstanding, but the Cemetery Guild members didn't stop their savagery.
In that moment, with Selverion's request to protect the hostages, Ferolrn had only one option.
— Here we go! Don't bite your tongue... Gahk!!
— Heh heh, delicious... ...!!
"......"
Ferolrn swung his massive scythe, decapitating both Cemetery Guild members about to slice the hostage's thigh.
The two headless bodies convulsed as their eyes rolled back, heads thudding dully to the ground.
— Mmmmmph!! Mmmph!!
The man startled at the sudden beheading. Since Ferolrn had struck while invisible, it must have looked like the heads just dropped off spontaneously.
No wonder he was freaking out.
— Uwaaaah... mmmph...
The man seemed deeply shocked, but unfortunately, Ferolrn had no intention of revealing himself.
In this situation, dropping invisibility and showing his monstrous form offered zero benefits.
If he looked like the handsome Heavenly Demon or cute Selverion, maybe—but who would believe a grotesque clown over two meters tall?
— Hey, didn't you hear something?
— Yeah, I did too. Guys! Everything okay?!
— What happened?!
'......'
Thus, Ferolrn had only one task right now.
Protect the hostages safely until Selverion arrived to evacuate them.
'Please hurry, Selverion...'
He swallowed his lonely murmur and raised his scythe once more toward the newly approaching enemies.
02.
"No one on the third floor either."
"Checked every corner. Not a soul."
After fully clearing the undead on the third floor, Kim Arin and Lee Minjun spoke in turn.
They'd expected the Cemetery Guild to show up in force after revealing themselves here first, but disappointingly, not even a lowly member's tail was in sight—let alone any executives.
"Selverion's ice walls make escape practically impossible..."
"Looks like they're all gathered in Building B."
Lee Minjun adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses as he spoke.
"Yeah, seems that way for now..."
The hostages were in Building A, but most guild members appeared to be in B. Kim Arin pondered briefly before agreeing.
"Well, nothing we can do about it."
I just shrugged indifferently.
It meant a slight delay, but we could head straight to the fifth floor, rescue the hostages, then hunt the executives worry-free—not exactly a bad outcome.
If anything, reaching the hostages without obstacles was a bonus.
"Let's hit the fourth floor. It's the food court, so who knows what we'll find."
I said to Kim Arin and Lee Minjun.
The fourth floor of Building A was the food court.
With Cemetery's cannibal obsession, they might be up to something there.
Cooking human flesh or feasting on the worst banquet imaginable in the restaurants.
...With all the ingredients, utensils, and foodstuffs gathered there, it was the perfect spot for them to indulge.
Maybe that's why they hadn't come down despite the commotion—lost in a cannibalistic trance.
If the fourth floor felt completely empty too, we could safely assume no more Cemetery Guild members in Building A.
"Let's go. Ferolrn's waiting."
I stretched first and stepped onto the escalator to the fourth floor, with Kim Arin and Lee Minjun following without hesitation.
"Huh...?"
And what greeted us was...
"Whoa..."
"T-Tell me this is fake. Please..."
"They're insane."
...a mountain of bleached bones piled high enough to pierce the ceiling.