Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Theme Park
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[Quest completed!
[Escort Quest: Taste True Love] Reward: 950,000 XP + Jang Hyun-deok's trust + bonus based on mission performance]
[You have exerted strong influence over multiple cultists (Yellow King's Descent Prayer Society). Your understanding of the 'Yellow-Clad King's Cult' as a whole has increased.]
[Discovery: Acquired a secret item of the Yellow King's Descent Prayer Society (1). Experience gained.]
[In the future, many will shout your name in their own ways. Those names will grant you new identities. This is just the beginning. The chaotic future is approaching.]
"Change up the lines a bit. When the hell is this chaotic future actually gonna show up?"
[The chaotic future is right before you...]
Zzzt!
I summoned mana and swatted the message window away.
"No real big gains in the end."
This amount of XP isn't enough to hit level 49.
My alliance with Jang Hyun-deok is already solid, so the trust boost doesn't mean much. All that's left is the monetary compensation we agreed on...
'Money? It's just the ten million won Jang Hyun-deok put up as collateral, right?'
I didn't take the job for pocket change like that, so visually speaking, no major achievements.
"So, I guess the highlight is snagging this mask?"
[Mask of Harmony].
That's the secret item of the Yellow King's Descent Prayer Society listed in the message window. The three-eyed mask I took from Hee-in.
'Low grade, but it's still an artifact.'
The effects...
It buffs Persuasion and Charm stats, and provides stealth capabilities? Guess that's what he was banking on.
Not a bad item, but not worth swapping out for what I'm wearing now.
"Eh, guess I'll just be satisfied with it as a souvenir."
"But you really let him off just for that mask?"
Jang Hyun-deok chimed in.
"Huh?"
"I overheard you talking to that cultist earlier. Something about nearly dying, right?"
Nearly dying, but letting it go for a mask? His face screamed, *That mask must be *that* good?*
"If we're going there, the taxi driver I decked one time forgave me too."
"Ugh, I was under some weird hallucination? Mind control? Whatever that time! It wasn't like, 'Oh, he's not a bad guy after all~' or anything."
"What are you even saying?"
If I had to pick a side, I'd say I spared both Hee-in and Hyun-deok considering their future value.
"And you think I'm some mask lunatic who goes nuts for any mask I see? I didn't steal it just 'cause I wanted it."
"Huh?"
Explaining it felt kinda embarrassing. But seeing Jang Hyun-deok's face basically saying, *But you *are* a mask lunatic, right?* I had no choice.
"I just smacked him once to check if he was slacking off trying to fool me, or if he was sincere."
The [Yellow-Clad King] descends in the form of a masked figure.
That's why, even outside of masquerades, most followers of the [Yellow-Clad King] have their own personal masks.
Stealing such a precious mask was the ultimate insult.
Plus, I deliberately held back my power for a non-lethal strike.
'Of course, I couldn't actually hurt him because of my phobia.'
But to Hee-in, it probably came off as, *I could kill you anytime I want.*
Even so, the guy didn't show any rage or humiliation.
'As expected from that tough bastard—I knew it from playing the game, but damn.'
Alliance this, alliance that—empty words like that don't mean much.
I figured redirecting that killer intent somewhere else would make my life easier, so I gave the okay.
Hee-in probably doesn't put much stock in the alliance either.
We'll just use each other until it's convenient, then cut ties cleanly. Probably when my phobia shifts to something else.
"Anyway, let's grab the car and head back."
I said that and turned to figure out how we'd get home. Hmm, can't take a boat either.
"Wizard."
Jang Hyun-deok suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
"What? What's up?"
"Thanks for the help."
"Got it, so do better from now on."
"Really, thank you. And for the house too."
It was a theme park and all, but he knew there weren't other options.
"Yeah. It's not like we're living together forever. Once the problematic stuff's sorted, just find a new place and move out."
Letting Jang Hyun-deok move in was partly to watch Hee-in's next moves, but there were other reasons too.
'I only twisted the brainwashing direction temporarily anyway.'
Jang Hyun-deok was still emitting pheromones that lured brainwashed humans, and the Yellow King's Descent Prayer Society would keep brainwashing new followers.
At least until this rain stopped, I couldn't leave him out in the open. And I'd confirmed other info this time too.
Yeah, definitely keeping Jang Hyun-deok around for a while.
'I said I got nothing, but I learned a ton from this.'
Lots of confirmed intel, possibilities checked, and new connections gained. I'd verify it all as soon as I got back.
'Wanna start right now, but... rest today. Tomorrow, gotta handle Jang Hyun-deok's move-in?'
Then starting tomorrow night, I'd sort through the new stuff.
"This rain... when's it gonna stop?"
"Who knows? Maybe tomorrow?"
"Once it stops, things'll feel more peaceful, right?"
"Hmm..."
The opposite, actually. Right now, with the rain, a lot of those things can't move. The real trouble starts after it clears.
The rainwater carrying the Abyss's curse will taint the soil, and everything growing from that soil will mutate.
"Fix the car quick. Things are gonna get busy."
"Can't we rest 'til the car's fixed?"
Sure, unless the world was ending, I'd love a few days off.
* * *
As expected, the rain stopped after a day, and the water covering Paju was slowly draining away.
But my other prediction was spot on too.
A sky roiling like it could dump rain again any second. Still damp, muggy air. Mud-caked ground. A horrific fishy stench wafting from somewhere. The whole area felt like Insubong Village.
"Perfect conditions for the deep sea folk."
The Sea God was persistent, sure, but they weren't the only problem. Cults itching to rip the mask off my neck were everywhere.
Not nothing to worry about, but way better than life-or-death flights and sprints.
"Minus the gloomy weather, it's just a lazy weekend."
Jang Hyun-deok's move-in went smoothly. He had way less stuff than I thought.
"What've you been doing with your life? Where'd all the money I gave you go?"
"Mostly savings or car maintenance. The rest went to donations at the orphanage."
Donations?
If he were a major NPC, I'd remember the details, but back when I played [Cthulhu World] as a game, Jang Hyun-deok was just some random country-bumpkin-named taxi driver NPC with no real role.
So I didn't know the fine print, but looks like his orphanage sob stories in Tanhyeon were legit.
"That's all your stuff?"
Heo Sang-hyeon eyed Jang Hyun-deok's bags, slightly hunched over.
I was a bit worried about adding another housemate out of nowhere, but he seemed... happy?
Heo Sang-hyeon wiggled his bony fingers like spider legs as he approached Jang Hyun-deok (and again, he's enjoying this).
"Any foods you don't like?"
"Oh, uh, no. I eat all meats fine. Like, specifically beef, pork, chicken. And, uh, fish too. Fishes... without legs. Yeah, those too."
Jang Hyun-deok got scared but still said his piece.
Heo Sang-hyeon widened his huge eyes even more to reassure him.
"Don't worry. It'll be a *very* satisfying meal."
"Y-Yes, s-sounds great."
Heo Sang-hyeon chuckled darkly and vanished slowly into the kitchen shadows. Jang Hyun-deok shuddered watching him go, then whispered to me while clinging.
"H-Hey. This isn't one of those 'You're the main dish!' situations, right?"
"Then who's eating the main dish?"
"Th-The homeowner...? Wait, what!?"
Only then did Jang Hyun-deok realize *I* was the homeowner. He mumbled something and curled up on the living room couch like a ball. I heard mutters about "theme park" or whatever.
I watched him for a sec, then decided to handle one of the things I'd been putting off.
Something I couldn't do while cleaning up Paju and Insubong Village.
"Hmm. This spot feels right."
I hung the three-eyed mask I'd taken from Hee-in on the wall.
Right next to the grotesque [Mask of the Deep Sea] that resembled a deep sea folk.
"Nah, considering the theme, maybe over there."
'There' meant next to the one-eyed mask I'd nabbed from the last masquerade.
The one-eyed mask was originally from Hee-in's buddy, so thematically, that spot fit better.
Or should I rearrange *all* of them by artifact grade?
"See? You totally just snatched it 'cause you wanted another mask."
"I told you yesterday, it had its reasons."
"Yeah, sure seems like it has *lots* of reasons."
Jang Hyun-deok stared at the living room masks with a dumbfounded look.
"Got a lot of masks, huh?"
Heo Sang-hyeon emerged with drinks, sounding like, *Our kid's just so extra, y'know?* He'd made a ton of lemon syrup while I was out. Lemonade mixed with sparkling water wafted a tart scent. Made my mouth water.
"Hyun-deok, just in case—sometimes weird stuff pops out of the walls. Not masks. If you see any, *don't touch* them."
"Huh?"
"Oh, right. Hammers, bottles, fans sometimes appear. If that happens, don't do anything—just call me."
"Oh-?"
Remnants of the command golem stuck in the wall last time. Junk embedded in the walls pops out in random spots. Touch the wrong thing, and you'll get sucked in too.
"And honestly, best not to touch the masks either. Some are cursed, or have their previous owner's grudges—"
"Just don't touch anything that looks off."
"Y-Yeah, got it."
"Also, furniture sometimes vanishes, but it comes back eventually, so no worries."
"Furniture?"
Most of the house cleaning and organizing is done by the furniture itself. They get up, clean, tidy, intercept intruders—furniture layout changes constantly.
"And *never* go into the room at the far end of the second floor."
"Sometimes a bear comes out of there. If it does, don't make eye contact—just stand still. As long as you don't look it in the eyes, you're fine."
"A bear-?"
"Not just bears—wolves, horses too. Anyway, ignore 'em if they show."
On days with heavy yin energy, the taxidermy/torture room exhibits come alive. With all that recent rain, they'll probably move a lot.
"And if you hear rattling from afar getting closer with heavy thuds, plaster yourself to the wall. Move and you might die."
"Die-?"
The stone roller sometimes gets hyped and races through the living room.
Get hit by that multi-ton boulder, and you'd shatter. Normal command golems shrug it off, but Jang Hyun-deok has no self-repair.
"*Never* go to the basement."
"Or the attic. Stay out of the attic too."
"Huh?"
"And no living women live here. If you hear a woman calling, ignore it."
"Oh? That lady still shows up?"
"Yeah, most ghosts are sorted, but she won't leave."
"Want me to chase her off for real?"
"Nah, her state is iffy, but she's my aunt..."
"Oh, your aunt?"
"Most of the ghosts bound here are family."
"Oh, family... Yeah, figures."
I answered, thinking of Heo Joo, the original owner of this mansion.
He kept luring his descendants and kin into this hungry house, turning them undead. Heo Sang-hyeon was the last remnant of that cursed line.
"Ah, I get it! You're messing with the newbie on purpose, right? Classic hazing. Come on, too childish."
Heo Sang-hyeon and I stood side by side, staring at Jang Hyun-deok.
"Uh... Hyun-deok, what I'm saying is, this house..."
"Nah, leave him. He'll learn after suffering once or twice."
"Hnng... Please tell me it's a lie."
"Ah, whatever. Just don't touch weird stuff and scream, and stay quiet. Quiet."
"Don't worry, Hyun-deok. I've lived here forever with no issues?"
Issues bigger than dying and respawning as undead? Probably not.
I left those two and headed to the basement.
"Uh, wizard? Where you going?"
"Hm, to let out the pet in the cage."
"Huh?"
To set my activity range, I needed to check my phobia's scope and limits.
This would be the surest gauge.
'Can I really awaken Reddie again?'