Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Casino (1)
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Me, Han Sora, and Seo Ji-hyun were in the middle of chatting animatedly about Leo's cuteness and his weird habits.
Park Cheolwoo, the team leader, pushed open the break room door with a slightly weary expression.
"Ah... So you're all here. I just got a call from headquarters."
We all turned our attention to him.
"First off, the final list of new exploration team recruits and their team assignments has been finalized. Teams 16 through 20—a total of five new teams—have been formed."
"Oh! Finally! Does that mean our workload will lighten up a bit?"
"I'm not so sure about that..."
Han Sora's question drew a wry smile from Park Cheolwoo.
The team leader turned his gaze to me and continued.
"The applicants in Group 8 that Minjun was in charge of... they've all passed and been officially assigned to Exploration Team 16 as is. And the team leader position goes to Bora, one of the applicants—the exorcist."
"Wow, an applicant becoming team leader right away?"
"It's the first I've heard of it too, but apparently that's the condition under which she interviewed."
Makes sense.
I'd wondered why a famous exorcist who could handle monsters on her own would interview at Dongto. So that's the story.
It clicked.
I nodded. Considering the composure and situational awareness she'd shown in the labyrinth, she was more than qualified to lead a team.
Her powers might lack raw force, but they were versatile enough for all sorts of uses.
"And... our team has a new mission as well."
Park Cheolwoo's voice grew a bit heavier.
He activated the briefing screen and showed us the display. It showed a map of a rundown warehouse district near Incheon Port.
"Recently, we've received reports of strange sightings in this area from local merchants. No confirmed victims yet, but the circumstances suggest a possible monster manifestation."
His words put me on edge.
"Team 15's mission is to scout the area, confirm the presence of any monster, identify its type, and assess its threat level. Think of it as an advance reconnaissance mission."
"Team Leader."
Seo Ji-hyun, who had been listening quietly, adjusted her glasses and spoke up.
"If I may, isn't this the kind of monster scouting mission that's usually assigned only to Teams 6 through 10?"
Her point was spot on.
Our main job was managing low-threat monsters.
We handled monsters with established protocols, or exterminated ones we already knew about.
Or we did it with support teams.
Scouting an unknown danger zone on our own was a whole different level.
Park Cheolwoo nodded gravely.
"...You're right, Ji-hyun. But... remember what I said? As exploration teams increase, our team's mission scope would be slightly upgraded. This looks like the first case."
Resignation and a hint of unease laced his voice.
"The threat level is unconfirmed, but it's likely Grade 3 or lower. Headquarters probably wants to test if Teams 11 through 15 can handle missions at that level this time around."
"Haa... Guess it had to happen eventually."
Han Sora scratched her head and sighed.
The smile had faded from her face too.
Same for me. I'd just started getting used to company life and low-risk duties.
I cautiously raised my hand to ask.
"But what kind of monster is a Grade 3?"
"Oh, right, I didn't mention that."
According to Park, Grades 1 and 2 included the monsters we'd been managing so far.
Most of the ones isolated in containment rooms were in that range, including the Chameleon monster.
Starting from Grade 3, monsters created their own territories.
Like that rampaging Interrogating Slab that made a quiz show space.
'Unconfirmed monster scouting...'
No way to predict what dangers lay in wait.
Unconsciously, I gripped the hilt of the Returning Sword at my waist.
I could only hope it was a threat this sword and my cheat could handle.
"It's not much consolation, but the outdoor mission bonus for this one is substantially higher."
"Whew... Fine, my little dust bunny. Big sis will hustle and buy you that cat wheel..."
Han Sora muttered with a sigh.
Scary as it was, the bigger payout was good news.
'I've gotta save up money fast.'
The situation was different now.
I had one more being to protect.
For Leo's sake, I wanted to get to Seoul—where monsters barely appeared—as soon as possible.
If Leo got caught up in a monster incident... what would happen to our fragile little guy?
The thought alone was horrifying.
We geared up right away and piled into the vehicle.
Our destination was a rundown commercial building near Incheon Port.
The gray harbor scenery visible through the car window felt somehow desolate.
Even the fish market we passed had hardly any people.
"Here we are."
The car stopped in front of a shabby three-story commercial building that looked deserted and worn down.
Being near the harbor, the sea was clearly visible from the building too.
At the entrance stood a middle-aged man with an anxious expression, waiting for us. He seemed to be the building owner.
"Oh, thank goodness you came! You're from Dongto, right?"
The owner rushed over to us, speaking urgently.
"Please, do something! There's weird noises coming from up there day and night—it's driving me crazy!"
He pointed to the second floor.
"The whole second floor is empty right now, but I keep hearing what sounds like people laughing and chattering loudly! At first I thought I misheard, but the other tenants heard it too and they're freaking out! They're closing up early out of fear... I haven't even gone up there myself because it's so scary..."
He practically whimpered his plea.
"By the way, what was the second floor used for before, the one where you heard the noises?"
Seo Ji-hyun asked sharply.
"Huh? Oh...! About ten years ago...? It was an illegal gambling den. Got shut down by the police... but it was a noisy, rough place."
"...Understood. We'll check it out. Owner, please stay somewhere safe for now."
Park Cheolwoo reassured the man, and we headed to the building entrance.
"Why'd you ask about the second floor?"
Han Sora glanced around, saw the owner walk away, and asked Seo Ji-hyun.
"Because monsters are always influenced by their surroundings."
Made sense when she put it that way.
A former hospital space spawned Doctor and Nurse monsters.
Under a hotel was a hotel just for monsters.
So this one might be related to gambling?
Prying open the firmly shut first-floor metal door let out a musty smell of dust and a chill draft.
I stroked the Returning Sword once more and stepped into the abandoned building, tension coiling in my gut.
We passed the eerie first floor and climbed the stairs to the problematic second floor.
At the end of the second-floor hallway stood a heavy iron door, tightly shut.
That's when a small voice came from the door.
Ahaha... Yeah!
"...Did you hear that just now?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Not a hallucination, then..."
The closer we got, the clearer the bizarre sounds and light leaking from the door cracks became.
It was clearly an abandoned building, but beyond the iron door came faint echoes of multiple people laughing, chattering boisterously, and upbeat music.
Gaudy neon-like lights seeped out from under the door.
"...Looks like there's really something in there."
Park Cheolwoo said in a tense voice.
Han Sora swallowed hard, and Seo Ji-hyun was already pulling an item from her bag to prepare.
I gripped the sword hilt tightly.
Park Cheolwoo took a deep breath, gave us a nod.
Then he steeled himself, grabbed the iron door handle, and yanked it open hard.
Kreeeeeaak—
As if it hadn't been opened in ages, the door screeched loudly before finally swinging open.
And what unfolded before our eyes was utterly unbelievable.
"...Whoa..."
A massive, dazzling casino sprawled out—something unimaginable for the second floor of a rundown abandoned building.
Endless rows of slot machines blared flashy effects and spewed brilliant lights, while at the central tables, dealers' skilled hands shuffled cards amid cheers and groans from the crowds.
It wasn't just gambling space either—tucked into corners of the first floor were pawnshops, convenience stores, restaurants, saunas, and more.
Faint cigarette smoke, expensive perfume, and the heat of crowds filled the air.
The casino was packed to the brim.
Women in glamorous dresses, gentlemen in crisp suits, dealers, bartenders, waiters.
Countless people immersed in their games, laughing and talking.
An enormous space impossible to imagine from the exterior of this shabby three-story ruin.
"Wh-what the..."
Han Sora gaped, unable to continue.
Park Cheolwoo and Seo Ji-hyun stared at the surreal scene with expressions of shock and confusion.
Same for me.
This defied physics. No explanation unless it was magic or illusion.
We didn't say a word to each other, but one thing was crystal clear about this bizarre casino.
'...This is a monster.'
No doubt. All of it was beyond human common sense—a fantasy or pocket dimension crafted by a monster.
At least Grade 3.
We had just stepped right into the heart of that perilously dangerous monster's domain.