Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Gourmet Expedition Squad
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Chapter 189
Chapter 189: Gourmet Expedition Squad
I'm moving through the club's internal corridors after leaving the dance hall.
Though it's called a club, it doesn't have a realistic structure. It's more like a space designed according to game logic.
Like how a game's stage is divided, the club's interior is split into three main areas.
One: The dance hall where Seo Cheon-seul is rampaging right now. There are also minor general rooms scattered within this space.
Two: The VIP rooms separated in a distinct location.
Normally, you'd have to fight fake Duyakshinis hiding in each room, along with minor cultists and zombies created by blood-draining.
The structure is set up to secure simple clues, artifacts, or consumable items like Nirvana from those rooms.
[System: The 'Feast's Sacrifice' trait activates.]
Thanks to the Feast's Sacrifice trait—which would normally act as a penalty—I don't need to go there anymore.
All the enemies inside the club have swarmed into the dance hall and are joining the massive dance party Seo Cheon-seul created.
"Ehe-he-hee-yo-ho! Wind! Tempest! Ehe-he-hurua! So good, so good!"
Seo Cheon-seul's singing voice echoes from beyond the wall.
She's probably turned into a goblin-shaped shredder by now, grinding up all the enemies.
"Anyway, thanks to her, I don't need to bother with rescues."
I scanned around the VIP rooms with detection, but nothing special showed up.
There were humanoid entities with mana, but they're probably survivors from the Bongil Heavenly Wings Sect.
'They do have ability users in the Bongil Heavenly Wings Sect, after all.'
Thanks to their exceptional talents, they resisted the net's effects and weren't rescued.
Of course, because they're so capable, they scattered and hid all over the club the moment Seo Cheon-seul burst in.
"No real need to round them up."
Still, it's a bit nagging.
There's an oddly small amount of blood in the dance hall, but blood is flowing from the survivors' wounds.
Once detection picks up the blood, my stomach contracts on its own, triggering excruciating pain.
"Ugh-"
Damn, I feel like puking.
Blood phobia is getting in the way.
'Among the phobias I could get, this one's the worst.'
No, was fish phobia even shittier? Triskaidekaphobia might be worse since it's everywhere.
But blood phobia restricts my actions at the most critical moments and limits the options I can use.
'That's why I missed those Duyakshinis I encountered before.'
Anyway, I need to resolve this phobia as soon as possible. From here on out, there'll be tons of enemies I can't get past without seeing blood.
"Best to handle it while Seo Cheon-seul's around."
Madness interferes with my rational thoughts and judgments.
But it's not enough to make me miss the pattern that's repeated several times.
Whether it's the guy behind the message windows pulling the strings or because of the Feast's Sacrifice trait, the blood phobia will eventually manifest in the most horrific way at the worst possible moment.
But already three times. Resolved in exactly the same way each time.
'Anyway, beating the shit out of whatever triggered it cures it, right?'
That's another reason I accepted Seo Cheon-seul's request.
Situations with a surreal ally like her won't come around often.
Best to overcome the blood phobia while she's by my side. But...
'Damn. Easier said than done.'
Even if someone says they'll reattach it, could you comfortably slit your own throat?
Even with guarantees of tougher neck muscles, could you happily tie a noose?
Even with promises of awakening flight powers in a crisis, could you joyfully leap off a building?
My mental strength is over 20 points, and with Seo Cheon-seul next to me—and her pushing with the authority of the Thousand Gold Hall and the King of Ten Thousand Gold—I made it this far. Honestly, I couldn't have without that.
Still, the blood I see little by little is holding me back.
"Bwahaha!"
Seo Cheon-seul's laughter echoes from the dance hall direction.
Boom! An explosion.
She's truly a character far removed from the horror genre.
[System: Your ally's heroic actions instill courage in you.]
"Hoo."
Alright. Calm down.
As the unnecessary thoughts born from fear subside, something new comes into view.
"Huh? Wait."
Blood droplets scattered on the floor or walls are concentrating in a certain direction.
A common visual cue in games.
It's meant to guide the player by leaving noticeable traces.
"Ugh. Can't believe I missed this."
No, I didn't miss it. I was ignoring it because of the phobia.
These blood droplets are even moving very slowly, drawn toward the inner part of the club—like toward the third area of this club.
The management area where the kitchen, office, and staff rooms are gathered.
"More precisely, the kitchen?"
Normally, I'd move more confidently, but right now, it's honestly tough.
Follow the blood?
To me now, that's like being told to walk over corpses.
Instead of the barely suppressed nausea, an insane itchiness starts. Inside my ribs, behind my eyeballs, inside my skull—it itches.
I scratched at my wrist absentmindedly as I headed deeper into the club.
Am I making the right call right now? The phobia is suppressing my train of thought.
"Ah, whatever. If it gets dangerous, the great Leader of Thousand Gold will help."
I believe. King of Ten Thousand Gold. Thousand Gold Leader. Thousand Gold Hall fighting!
"Haa-"
A sigh escapes.
The kitchen is getting closer.
There are offices and staff rooms too, but no need to rummage through other places.
Crunch-crunch- snap-snap- crack-
A gruesome sound is coming from the kitchen.
"Ugh."
My stomach contracts again. Unpleasant pressure rises in my throat. Gonna puke.
Just from that sound, I can tell what's happening—what scene is unfolding—what's there in the kitchen.
Crunch-crack- rip- slurp-slurp- glug-glug-
Bones shattering—flesh tearing—blood slurping—
"Fuck, must be chowing down good."
The blood scattered on the floor and walls is slithering toward the kitchen.
Those horrific red fluids are crawling bit by bit, wriggling, twisting, oozing, staggering toward the monstrous devourer that's consuming them.
Is the red fluid filling my body also being drawn to the same thing? Going to be eaten. Eaten. Eaten.
My skin itches. My eyes sting. My head spins.
When I reach the kitchen, when I meet what's waiting for me there—I'll tear my skin, gouge my eyes, smash my skull—spill out all the disgusting liquid inside me? Ah, yes. Eat it, please. Drink it all and make it gone.
Did I actually come here hoping for that?
Yes. It was all a lie.
I saw a withered, blood-drained corpse.
From the first moment I saw it, I was captivated by that alluring form. Yes. Truth is, I came here to become like that.
Take all these disgusting things out of my body.
I'd rather become a monster without blood, without will, without ego, without the very concept of "me."
I don't need blood. Drink all this revolting stuff and make it disappear.
The blood keeps advancing.
And Kim Shin-hwa—no, me?—steps forward following that blood.
Is this my thought right now? The thoughts of the madman stuck in my head? Have I really come this far by my own will, my own thoughts, my own judgment?
This is weird. Why hasn't madness triggered? No, could it have already? The message window hasn't said anything yet. No judgment. Am I lost in madness right now? Did a judgment happen without me knowing? Is this madness unrelated to the system? Why am I thinking like this? My body feels like it's moving without my mind's consent. Is the one having these thoughts really me? Am I really Kim Shin-hwa?
A little further, and it's the kitchen.
There, that one awaits. The emissary of the one who will resolve my issue is there.
Boom!
A wall crumbles as a grotesquely shaped monster flies in.
[L-Grade Accessory 'Carcosa's Mask' unique function, 'Dreamlike Haze,' activates.
// Dreamlike Haze: Automatically casts 'Blink' spell.]
Independent of my will, I teleported behind me, ten steps away.
[Blink complete. Cooldown: 864,000 seconds]
A cheerful voice forcibly shifts the horrific atmosphere.
"Kim hubby, grab that one! That's a real Duyakshi!"
A bizarre and ugly form.
People casually call them aliens, but a real Duyakshi truly resembles an extraterrestrial.
Emaciated limbs, arms reaching to its knees, a massive eye taking up half its face.
"Kyaaah!"
The Duyakshi lets out a chilling screech. It's called a real one, but it looks completely battered.
Looks like it clashed with Seo Cheon-seul rampaging in the dance hall, smashed through the wall, and ended up here of all places.
The Duyakshi fervently clasps its hands, forming complex mudras, then spews flames from its mouth with a whoosh-.
Roarrrrr-
"Nirihil- Nilniri- Whee, good!"
Seo Cheon-seul spins her Vajra Staff to deflect the flames, then uppercuts the Duyakshi's jaw.
Boom!
"Kweeeek!"
[System: Your ally's heroic actions instill courage in you.]
"Bwahaha! You fell right into it, you bastard! You didn't know my comrade was here!"
No, I don't think I did anything in particular?
"Grrr- Thousand Gold Leader!"
Called a real Duyakshi, it sure is tough. The Duyakshi crashes through the ceiling, then from above, it stomps and shouts.
"You're the one trapped! My comrade is here too!"
"Show me that comrade of yours! The Kim hubby I brought is a terribly persistent villain! In over 1,500 years of life, I've never seen a tougher Kim hubby!"
What nonsense.
"Thousand Gold Leader, that doesn't sound like a compliment?"
"Didn't I say I don't like Kim hubby much? Of course it's not a compliment."
"Ha-."
Mana is concentrating above the ceiling.
"Watch out for that one! Unlike the fake Duyakshinis, it can use sorcery!"
"I know!"
Boom!
A hole blasts open in the ceiling, flames pouring down. I activated my prepared spell at the same time.
[Thunder Fang]
Lightning rides the hole in the ceiling and zaps the Duyakshi hiding there.
"Kwaaaaa!"
Tough bastard. Should I fire a stronger spell?
"Well done, Kim hubby!"
Boom!
Seo Cheon-seul swings her Vajra Staff and smashes the ceiling.
Ah, right. If it's sturdy, no need to measure—just smash.
[System: 'Enhanced Vigilance' trait activates.]
The comrade the Duyakshi mentioned has appeared.
It's the kitchen. That very thing gathering the blood emerges.
I cast a spell almost reflexively.
[Black Flame]
[Spell Enhancement: Maximized]
[Spell Enhancement: Toxicity]
Rumble-
Pitch-black flames fly toward the kitchen entrance.
"Damn."
I was so fixated on the blood in the kitchen that I cast the spell imperfectly. This isn't the power I wanted!
I expected it to be blocked, but the enemy hiding in the kitchen blocked my imperfect spell in an absurd way.
"Hah-hoooo!"
It inhaled the black flame infused with poison and ghostly malice.
"Khm- khm- kuh!"
Black flames leak from its mouth.
"This is spicy. Hey, chef. Isn't the seasoning too heavy?"
A massive build that makes the spacious VIP room feel cramped.
Huge, round eyes like tree knots. Ears expanded like wings. A sagging trunk like an elephant's. Tusks protruding between its lips.
It was a grotesque human with a horrifically distorted elephant head.
And in one hand, it holds something gruesome and blood-soaked.
"Good thing I have something for an aftertaste. Still, it's quite the delicacy."
About 3 meters tall.
Fingers the thickness of a normal person's wrist attached to arms as thick as a normal person's waist—it moves them to tear into what it's holding and eat.
A massive maw that could easily swallow a human head whole—devours the blood-soaked Duyakshi—well, a fake one that was originally human.
Crunch-
The Judge of the Gourmet Expedition Squad said with a chuckle.
"Oops, shouldn't eat this, but I keep doing it."