Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Defense Outpost at Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartments
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Chapter 25
Defense Outpost at Paju Yeonam Rivertown Apartments
‘The condition for rescuing the survivors: Use remote magic before breaching.’
No, that’s not the only condition.
It’s possible because I’m a wizard with these absurd stats. For a typical Rank 1 or 2 wizard, this would be impossible.
At least Rank 4.
No matter the approach, it requires a level of magical prowess that’s unattainable right now.
If you didn’t start with off-the-charts stats like me, it’d be impossible from the get-go.
‘Could this be straying from the game’s preset route?’
I’d confirmed it before, but this world, built on a buggy game, is way too unstable.
What butterfly effect might this action trigger?
I was worried, but also a little…
‘A little… excited.’
Part of me thought, ‘Game brain striking again,’ but there was no helping it.
At that moment, Moon Seung-hee, who’d been leading the way, stopped.
“This way.”
The destination she guided me to wasn’t far.
It was a spot you could find without directions, with a distinctive shape visible from afar.
Inside the apartment complex under construction.
Some areas weren’t fully finished, but the surroundings looked decent enough.
The nearby structures had already formed a complete apartment complex.
The electrical systems seemed done too, with lights on in a few spots.
Moon Seung-hee pointed to one particularly eye-catching location.
“That’s the underground parking entrance.”
The underground parking entrance in the middle of the complex was a familiar sight that didn’t need explaining.
Even so, without her elaboration, I might not have recognized the one in front of me…
Because of the bizarre structure built in front of it.
A massive makeshift building pieced together from construction materials, sandbags, and—who knows where they got it—professional military gear.
“…And that’s the defense outpost.”
Around the outpost, a dozen armed soldiers watched the underground parking with tense expressions.
They were mostly in suits, topped with bulletproof vests or metal arm guards.
‘And their weapons are top-tier too.’
Every one of them carried menacing armaments you wouldn’t see in everyday life.
Most had firearms, but some wielded oversized hammers etched with strange runes or melee weapons like swords.
It might sound ridiculous, but in [Cthulhu World], you had to watch out more for those with close-combat weapons than guns.
True to that [Cthulhu World] logic, the melee fighters all radiated unusual magical power.
‘Mercenaries…? No, everyone here is supposed to be company staff.’
You might call it absurd, but the Republic of Korea—and Paju—in [Cthulhu World] is that kind of place.
Guns and violence are illegal even in [Cthulhu World], but as long as you’re not swinging them in a cop’s face, you won’t get arrested.
These guys were probably part of Yeonam Construction’s internal security team.
As I scanned the outpost and guards, Moon Seung-hee spoke up.
“Officially, it’s a temporary auxiliary structure.”
“I see.”
The name didn’t matter, but for legal or other reasons, she insisted on the vague term.
“There are five such structures besides this one, all blocking ghoul outbreaks.”
I just nodded without much comment.
As we approached the outpost, a hulking figure stood out among the soldiers and came over.
Just standing there empty-handed, he looked like he could qualify for a misdemeanor on intimidation alone.
He even carried a massive hammer in one hand, its handle as long as he was tall.
“Director, you’re here?”
“Yeah. Status update?”
“Preparations are complete without issues. Once the requested firepower arrives, we can breach immediately. But… this one?”
Unease flickered across his rugged face.
His expression screamed it: They said a renowned wizard was coming, so who’s this scrawny kid?
Honest, if a bit rude.
His bulging eyes, fitting his massive face, blinked as he looked at Moon Seung-hee.
“Uh, is this…?”
His face said, No way, right? But she replied curtly.
“This is the wizard here to assist today.”
“…For real?”
The man paused, scratched his head, and muttered under his breath.
“Ha… damn, what’s with that mask concept… ugh… never mind.”
“…”
It was barely a whisper, so Moon Seung-hee right beside him probably didn’t hear. But with my [Enhanced Vigilance] sharpening my senses, it came through clear.
“Alright. Wizard? Name’s Kwak Dae-yong. I’m the head of Yeonam Construction’s security team… and currently in charge of this site.”
“Kim Shin-hwa.”
“Anyway, you’re not here for pocket change, so let’s make it work, yeah?”
He trailed off so much it sounded like ‘please, got it?’
“Sure.”
As introductions wrapped up, Moon Seung-hee couldn’t hold back.
“Team leader, we’re short on time.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“No, that’s not it. There are still people alive down there.”
“What…? Survivors?”
“Yes. This wizard confirmed it. There are still people alive…”
She glanced at me as she said it.
“Ah, yeah. Three survivors.”
“Survivors… three… Hm, got it.”
With Moon Seung-hee right there, Kwak Dae-yong tried to school his expression, but it was tough.
He nailed the look of a subordinate humoring his boss, duped by a con artist wizard.
“We were planning a quick briefing and breach anyway… No worries. This way.”
He led us to a corner of the outpost.
“Emergency situation, so we’ll skip formalities.”
It was like an impromptu command post, but since the outpost itself was temporary, it wasn’t much.
Just a folding table on bare ground with a few architectural blueprints spread out.
“We’ve counted roughly 20 to 30 ghouls. Know their biology? They move through burrows…”
“I do.”
“Good. These mole-rat bastards didn’t pop up out of nowhere or get let loose, so there’s gotta be an entry hole somewhere in the underground parking.”
He pointed to spots on the blueprints.
“Likely zones here, here, and here. If we make noise, more could pour out—maybe double what’s down there now.”
He snuck a peek at Moon Seung-hee.
Her face was neutral, but up close, her fingers and eyebrows twitched faintly.
She was holding back a ‘breach now!’
No matter when or how we met, Kwak Dae-yong always picked a fight with me.
I was used to his bulk wasting time, but Moon Seung-hee acting out like this was new.
‘Rescuing whoever’s trapped down there seems like it’d really boost things with her.’
Finally buckling under her silent pressure, Kwak Dae-yong wrapped up.
“All other entries are sealed, so pressure won’t cause issues. Rather than complicated plans, we figured overwhelming firepower all at once is best.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
To supplement their lacking firepower, they hired a wizard.
“Exactly. But one thing to keep in mind.”
He lowered his voice, serious.
“What?”
“Well… this isn’t a battlefield; it’s a high-end new apartment. Can you keep the damage minimal?”
If it was just firepower, there were cheaper ways than hiring an expensive wizard.
But projecting massive power while leaving no trace? Only a wizard could pull that off.
“Yeah, possible.”
“Great. As you know, this isn’t just roaches.”
He paused, then emphasized.
“No loose ends. If they burrow, we chase and exterminate every last one.”
Fair point.
Nobody wants to live in an apartment over ghoul tunnels.
“So B Team and C Team sweep from here to here. A Team—you and me—breaks straight through to Basement Level 2. Got the plan?”
I got it.
He’d drawn diagrams and droned on, but it was simple.
B and C block ghouls from scattering.
Me and Kwak Dae-yong in A smash through.
Use lots of magic to ease the breach. Done.
I understood, but his plan had a fatal flaw from the start.
“Hm… I get the plan.”
My vague reply irked him.
“…Any other ideas or suggestions, speak now.”
“The plan’s off.”
“What?”
His estimated ghouls: max 60.
Probably matched their manpower.
But…
[Number of qualifying lifeforms: 125.]
Excluding the three human survivors…
“Ghoul count. There are 122 down there right now.”
Kwak Dae-yong’s jaw dropped.
“That… accurate intel?”
“Hm… If burrow ones join, even more…”
“Ha!”
He cut me off with a weird noise—not laugh, not gasp.
“Ridiculous! The survivor talk earlier too—what’s your basis for this crap?”
See? That’s why I didn’t want to say it.
He hadn’t bought the survivors either.
In game, I’d skip cutscenes, pick options, done.
Here, they’re real people reacting vividly to me.
Dealing with it one by one was more hassle than expected.
‘Better to show than argue.’
“If you don’t believe me, no choice. We’ll go with your plan.”
“Hm…”
Kwak Dae-yong looked skeptical but stood.
“Then let’s prep. Just don’t trip us up with weird moves.”
“I’ll handle it for the fifty million you paid.”
I infused my words with 50-million-won certainty, but he looked dumbfounded—or was that a glare?
Grumbling, he stomped off to his men.
He bellowed that the breach op was starting soon, lining them up.
Moon Seung-hee watched his command a moment, then turned to me.
“Wizard.”