Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Infiltration (3)
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Clack, clack.
Irregular footsteps echoed down the dim staircase.
Four men were descending into the basement.
Suddenly, an emergency summons from the alchemist had rung out from the underground of the First Material Warehouse.
They'd asked over the radio what was wrong, but there was no reply.
That's why the guards on duty had decided to check it out themselves.
"Those bastards aren't pulling the same shit as last time, are they? We rushed over before, and the guy had the nerve to say, 'Why'd you come?' Like what the hell..."
"Could've just been a mistake."
"Fuck, hyung, you should've seen the look in his eyes. Just because he's an alchemist, he treats us like total idiots."
"..."
By the time they'd finished talking, they'd reached the bottom.
When the man in front opened the door, everyone grimaced.
The pungent smell was one they could never get used to, no matter how many times they came.
Even the guys grumbling as they walked inside slowly hardened their expressions.
It was due to the bizarre scene illuminated by the flickering lights—likely from faulty old wiring.
A dozen or so alchemists were all collapsed on the floor.
Empty eyes, unintelligible mutterings.
Checking their pulses, there were no signs of life-threatening issues. That made it all the more chilling.
...What the hell had happened here?
The man who'd been complaining swallowed involuntarily.
"Come here!"
The shout came from the man in front.
There, a woman lay trembling on the floor. She seemed to be the only alchemist who'd escaped the disaster unscathed.
Terrified, she flinched at the slightest touch, but soon realized they weren't enemies and gradually regained her senses.
"What happened here?"
"An alchemist brought in a man to test a prototype. But he smashed the vial and... h-hic!"
What could be so terrifying? The woman kept her head bowed to the floor the whole time.
The man who asked felt a faint sense of unease but pressed on.
"Where'd that guy go?"
"Upstairs... He said he was done with his business and had no more reason to be here..."
The man let out a groan. He might've already escaped the factory.
Without hesitation, he brought the radio to his mouth.
"Intruder escaped from underground. Assemble personnel immediately and search the perimeter—"
"Hold on."
The man who'd been silent cut him off. The others looked at him questioningly, but he didn't tear his gaze away.
The woman trembling on the floor, staring down.
The expressionless man addressed her.
"Tell me about this 'alchemist' of yours."
"Y-Yes?"
The woman looked baffled.
Was it his imagination, or had her trembling eased a bit?
That strange dissonance from their earlier conversation.
Only alchemists were permitted to work here.
So she had to be one too.
His eyes flicked to the side.
An elderly man sprawled on the floor—the senior alchemist in charge here.
'An alchemist brought in a man to test a prototype...'
Would fellow alchemists use such a vague term?
The man asked again.
"What's his name?"
The trembling stopped.
"..."
Slowly, she lifted her head from the floor.
Finally facing her expression,
"Too bad. You almost had me."
Regret.
Without looking away, the man instructed his group.
"You, send the radio. The rest of you, pile on when I signal."
Tension pulled taut, mana heightened and ready for release.
His comrades acknowledged, poised to charge,
But no response came.
"...What the"
He turned to see his comrades there.
Looking just the same as before.
Except for one thing.
Their eyes were soulless.
As the man recalled the fallen alchemists,
Smoothly, the woman rose to her knees,
and blue eyes gleamed.
Thud, thud.
Someone climbed the stairs.
Not the chubby man who'd descended earlier,
nor the woman who'd complained about the place being full of trash amid the piled corpses,
just Han Yujin ascending.
He looked a bit more fatigued than usual, a freshly picked-up radio tucked into his pants pocket.
A single set of footsteps filled the empty space.
The darkness soon lifted. His vision returned to light.
Two men greeted Han Yujin as he reached the surface.
The intruder's entry was already known.
Seeing a stranger—not the basement guards—emerge, they didn't hesitate.
The left one grabbed his radio, the right charged at Han Yujin.
The charger's speed was no joke. An awakener, no doubt.
Han Yujin activated his mana without pause, and the man tumbled to the floor.
The witness's eyes widened like saucers, and soon he joined the other on the ground.
But Han Yujin's expression wasn't great.
His position was radioed out. They hadn't gotten details, but it wouldn't be hard to guess from the abruptly cut transmission.
Should he use cognitive impairment to slip out of the factory entirely?
No, he considered it briefly, but the risk was too high.
The whole factory would be on alert.
If he got caught, he'd be surrounded.
Only one option left.
Hole up inside and wait for Association backup.
Hoping they'd arrive soon.
Then, footsteps approached from the entrance.
Han Yujin quickly hid.
Behind a steel rack filled with crates, he steadied his breath as the footsteps grew clearer.
Not just one or two. At least five...
The steps halted, silence fell briefly,
then someone muttered, breaking it.
"One life sign detected behind that rack."
Calm declaration.
Damn... a mage?
Clack, footsteps approached simultaneously.
This time, he counted: three.
Hoo, Han Yujin steadied his breath once, then stood abruptly.
Three men gripping different weapons.
They charged on sight.
Incomprehensible shouts, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, clubs reared back to swing.
His focused mind stretched the moment.
Linking imaginary lines to the three, he softly chanted three keywords.
'Mental Breakdown, Mental Breakdown, Mental Breakdown.'
One per target, no delay, abilities chaining along the lines.
The result was impressive. All three collapsed mid-charge.
But Han Yujin's condition wasn't great. Backlash from overusing his ability throbbed in his head.
Trouble if enemies attacked now. He glanced toward the entrance—fortunately, no sign.
The three men frozen stiff.
Especially the staff-wielding one, the apparent mage, looked terrified.
"I-I'm done here."
The mage backed away. The burly man glared, face twisting.
"Contract breach. You cool with your boss taking the fall?"
"Do what you want. I bet the boss would rather I live to return than die here."
"You fucking godless bastard..."
The mage slipped away, ignoring the brute's roar.
One down, two left.
The brute, face red with rage.
The cowering middle-aged man beside him.
The middle-aged one didn't look like a fighter.
His headache easing, Han Yujin targeted the brute first—but
Ting!
Mana scattered before reaching the target.
Unfamiliar sensation. Different from the troll's repulsion.
This rejected mana approach entirely...
The brute tilted his head, sensing it, then grinned.
"An awakener, huh? Doesn't seem high-ranked, though."
He tapped the middle-aged man's shoulder.
"Buff me with mana."
The man stammered in panic, but couldn't defy the brute's threat.
Hand on the brute's body, the middle-aged man did something.
Seeing it, Han Yujin groaned inwardly.
...Mana Nullification ability?
Nullifies all mana interference.
Seemed limited to near the middle-aged man.
Probably no higher than D-rank.
But enough to counter his ability.
"Not a combat type, looks like... Let's fight fair and square."
The brute grabbed a nearby crowbar and advanced slowly.
Screeech, it dragged across the floor with a dull scrape.
Cold sweat beaded. The alien mana cloaking the brute.
Han Yujin's ability wouldn't work on him, nor could the brute use his own under that effect.
Pure physical fight left.
Han Yujin: average adult male build.
Brute: built like he ate chicken breasts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
No chance he'd win.
The brute sped up, swinging the crowbar.
He dodged back.
Bang!
It hit the steel rack he'd leaned against moments ago.
As the brute pulled it free, a dent remained.
Crazy... pure strength, no ability?
Abandoning confrontation, he bolted.
"Where you going!"
Glancing back as the brute pursued.
Surprisingly fast. Faster than expected, despite his size.
Soon caught. No time to think, he set cognitive impairment over his body.
Activated instantly. Vanishing from the brute's sight, who looked around wildly.
"Don't be a coward—show yourself!"
Says the guy using a weapon. Ridiculous.
The nullification mana on the brute. As long as he stayed distant, no risk of it breaking.
Problem: mana drain. Couldn't maintain till backup with this drain.
Needed to end it quick.
Glanced at his pouch, considering potions.
The doping agent from Bi-sil. Boosts physicals, right?
Not called second-stage, but still dubious to drink.
And only 10 minutes. No good if backup didn't arrive.
To beat the brute, needed his ability.
Eyes on the middle-aged man pacing near the entrance, a plan formed.
"Where are you!"
Bang! The brute's wild swing toppled stacked pallets.
High-risk gamble, but necessary now.
Han Yujin dropped the ability and sprinted toward the entrance.
Visible again, the brute chased. Seeing his path, the brute yelled,
"Block him!"
The middle-aged man panicked, grabbing a nearby club.
Standing center-entrance to bar escape.
Han Yujin closing on the middle-aged man, brute gaining but slower.
The three aligned in a straight line, distances shrinking.
Collision or catch imminent. But timing not yet.
A bit more, closer.
Perfect proximity—he poured mana over the divided space as he ran.
In his cognition: two spaces split by boundary.
One over his body. Hide with impairment, project illusion onto the second.
Right where he'd been running.
Left an illusory Han Yujin halted there, while the hidden real one dove aside.
To the brute, Han Yujin suddenly stopped.
Maintaining momentum, he swung the crowbar full force.
Aimed at the illusion's head.
But as it connected, the figure dispersed, revealing the man beyond.
The middle-aged man who'd stood right in front of the illusion.
Crack! The crowbar smashed straight into his face.
"Wha..."
No scream—the middle-aged man's face shattered. The brute panicked, uncomprehending.
Didn't matter. No need to understand anymore.
Middle-aged down, nullification mana began fading from the brute.
Prone from the dive, Han Yujin watched and murmured softly.
'Mental Breakdown.'
Finally, the brute collapsed limply.
Han Yujin exhaled a long, weary sigh.
Really, not easy at all.