Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 344
Chapter Title: Light Confusion or Explanation
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“Ah, I need Jang Hyun-deok.”
More precisely, I needed Boongboong 2.
I grumbled into the empty air where no one could hear, then contacted Tudor.
“Call me a cab.”
- Where to?
“Yadang’s Red Hat nightclub. You know, Red Two’s place.”
- Huh? Can’t you just whoosh there with magic?
“You think there’s anyone dumb enough to ditch a perfectly good car and sprint to work full speed just because they’ve got legs?”
I could fly, but I wasn’t Superman.
Flying consumed mana—and no matter how much I had left, I didn’t want to waste it on something this non-urgent.
- Teeheehee, there are other spells besides flying, right?
“I didn’t set a mark.”
- Huh? Didn’t you stop by there yesterday?
“I did. But I had to erase every trace possible to dismantle the traps.”
- Ohhh, got it. Man, you’ve cooked up some fun plans in just one day.
“Fun my ass. Anyway, make it someone good in combat mobility over security.”
Having taken two hits in a single day, Hyun-ah Jeong and the [Scaled Schemer] behind her would be on high alert by now.
It was about time for some unexpected show of force.
I’d accepted the commission two days ago.
And met Red Two yesterday.
“You damned wizard brat. Thinking about what I’ve lost because of you…”
Those were Red Two’s first words upon seeing me.
Yesterday, he’d welcomed me the same way he would today.
He’d set up monitors in a warehouse by the docks—like he was filming some hyped-up real-variety show.
He really loved this stuff, huh? No matter how I thought about it, the guy should’ve gone into broadcasting.
Of course, unlike today, yesterday Red Two had wanted something like an escape-room game.
My response? I conjured a magical arrow with maximum penetration and fired it straight into the monitor room where he was hiding.
“Y-you crazy bastard! How the hell!?”
Realizing he’d nearly died, Red Two screamed the usual lines—but whatever, I’d already had my fun with [Red Two’s Trial] as a game.
It was Red Two’s fault for thinking he could trap a wizard who could punch through a few walls like it was nothing.
The moment he realized he couldn’t get the drop on me, Red Two switched gears and straightforwardly asked for my help, all open and honest.
And so, here we were today.
I’d blabbed about Red Two loud and clear at Basilissa anyway, so rumors of us linking up were bound to spread. We decided to turn that to our advantage…
And set up that double trap just moments ago.
“Not bad, all things considered.”
I’d smuggled Chae Tae-won out too, and scoped out Jeong Hyun-ah’s backer without major losses.
“Still, [Scaled Schemer], huh…”
I was the only [Cthulhu World] fan around, so fine, but it was obscure enough that even hardcore [Cthulhu Mythos] buffs wouldn’t know it.
Rustle—
I flipped open the notebook from the mansion basement and checked the frantic notes I’d jotted right after the madness hit.
[Poison… damn it, that poison one, you know? The one with poison! Its father’s obviously gonna show up! The alien race that serves it… yeah. The ones tied to this new phobia. They steal human appearances and disguise themselves as those people. So watch out! Reptilians, right? Those horrific reptilian aliens that wear human skin and infiltrate! That’s them! They’ve already burrowed into our society! Politics! Yeah, if a politician pops up out of nowhere, be careful! It’s definitely politics! Politicians! Hey, you know why the country’s in this mess? This nation’s actually under reptilian control! Over half the politicians are aliens! That’s why the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Immigration Office are working so hard! Even the big corps have reptilians! Yeonam Group too. Ah! I get it! Moon Seung-hee! Moon Seung-hee’s gonna get hit! Tell Curtain Call to protect her! Reptilians are already in Yeonam Construction too! They’re gonna make a plague and spread it! When the rivers run red with blood, flies swarm, and livestock start dying—that’s when it’s too late!]
“Truly terrifying…”
A gruesome record that couldn’t be more horrific. And for the record, all of it was true. This world was actually under the rule of scaly reptilian aliens.
‘No, wait. Is it really true? Ugh, my head.’
Thanks to the madness lodged in my brain, I couldn’t tell where the truth ended and lies began.
[Maddening Effect: Ophidiophobia.]
Yeah, that.
To be precise, not reptilians…
There it was, scribbled amid the chaos in shaky, trembling script.
[Father of Serpents]. And his kin, the [Serpent People].
Ughhhh…
Just thinking about it made me want to lose my mind.
An abyssal entity and its snake-themed minions, pinpoint-targeting my ophidiophobia.
“Anyway, no need to fight these guys yet, right?”
Might be jumping the gun, but maybe I could wrap this phobia up at the [Scaled Schemer] level.
Evidence?
I couldn’t remember its abilities well.
That was my evidence.
Bits came back, but parts were foggy like mist. Probably the parts I needed to watch out for.
Which meant I had to be extra careful fighting the [Scaled Schemer].
Sssslither—
A cold, slimy something licked the back of my neck.
“What the—?!”
I whipped around, but nothing.
Damn. Anyway, stay sharp. No telling when or how that horrific beast might pop out.
* * *
“We’re heeere~!”
“Whew, thanks for the trouble.”
“Hahaha, had a blast thanks to you!”
The taxi driver grinned, his deep cheek scar twisting.
“Repair bill’s deposited at Basilissa—pick it up there.”
We’d been ambushed twice on the way.
Nothing too tough, but one bastard clung to the car like glue, so it got banged up.
“Yeah, yeah. Happens all the time, don’t sweat it. Hit me up again!”
The driver boomed a hearty laugh and drove off.
This was Yadang-dong, a bit off Paju’s main drag.
Compared to the old cluttered buildings of Geumchon, it had bigger structures spaced out nicely—pretty decent urban vibe.
A short walk more would reach Park Gwang-rim’s office, but that wasn’t the goal. I headed for the flashy nightclub nestled between buildings: Red Hat.
Night had fallen, so the club buzzed with flashing lights and chatter.
Ear-splitting music pounded as sharply dressed folks danced wildly, grinding bodies and downing drinks.
‘People really do it all, huh.’
Who’d hit the clubs like that in a world where monsters could spawn anytime?
If I chalked it up to game mechanics, fair enough—but this world was weird.
Some parts felt overly contrived, others hyper-realistic.
“This way, sir.”
A club bouncer spotted me and led me in without a word.
The crowd? A bizarre mix of real and unreal.
Their partying was normal enough, but the outfits and looks? Even a masked lunatic with a sword and hook on his belt wouldn’t look out of place.
Following the bouncer, I pushed through the noisy club interior to Red Two’s spot.
VIP room inside the nightclub.
Stale cigarette smoke and sticky booze stench hit me full force.
“Ha, brother—you’re here!”
“Brother?”
“Huh? What’s up? We’re partners now, right? Unlike Cheong-ho, I’m solid on this stuff.”
What’s so different? Cheong-ho tried to blood-brother me on sight too.
No need to point it out, though.
“So you’re sticking with business after all?”
Good—no one else here.
I plopped into a chair by the table and eyed Red Two’s state. Might be paranoid, but with these kinds of cases, you always worried about the client going mad or brainwashed.
Looked fine, though.
He’d loosened up from booze more than yesterday—jacket off, but still suited up.
Red Two ruffled his red hair and lit a smoke.
“With my guys beat to hell, you think I can move right away? Gotta hustle and make bank.”
“Do whatever. I said stick to no business if possible.”
“Yeah, yeah. How old are you anyway, brother? Legal? Want a drink?”
A glass slid toward me with a slrrrk.
Red Two swirled premium liquor with a fancy label.
I sighed.
“Pass.”
“Shame.”
He topped off his own glass.
“More importantly—among those who crashed earlier, one wore a mask, right?”
“Yeah, told ya to grab one? Hey, Sik-sik! Mask!”
A mask appeared quick.
“Perfect. This’ll do.”
“That’s it?”
“Hey, it’s got symbolic value.”
I said that, then pulled out the mask I’d nabbed earlier… hmm… no good spot.
“On the table.”
The booze table.
Red Two raised his glass in a mock toast.
“Whatever brother wants.”
Clink!
I flicked telekinesis lightly, shoving the table’s contents toward him, then set both masks down.
“Looks just like a real croc head.”
“’Cause it is. Made from actual crocodile skin.”
“Ruins my buzz.”
No asking permission—I extended mana and drew a magic circle.
Fwoooosh—
The spreading circle blazed bright enough to light up the dim room.
Just two? Definitely more like four or five.
[L-Grade Accessory ‘Mask of Carcosa’ unique function, ‘Madman’s Handiwork’ activates.
// Madman’s Handiwork: Attempt modifications to unlock hidden powers of artifacts or imbue new abilities. Invention, repair, research, and development success rates +100%.]
Grindgrindgrind…
Golden tentacles from the mask coiled around both, weaving them.
Similar shapes, but two distinct items—defying physics, they began merging into one.
“What’re you doing?”
Hey, I’m focusing—don’t talk.
“Ever played games?”
“Games? Not much.”
Right, the perv who loved trapping folks for torment.
“Not that—ugh, forget it. If you haven’t done crafting games, you won’t get it anyway. Don’t talk.”
“Crafting?”
Merging same-function artifacts into a better one.
Failure chance, but… I drew the Sa-in Cham-jeong Sword.
[SSS-Grade Weapon ‘Sa-in Cham-jeong Sword (Green Blade)’ unique function, ‘Stroke of Fortune’ activates.
// Stroke of Fortune: All judgment success rates increase 400% based on luck.]
Flaaash!
A flash that ate my vision whole.
Not without penalty, of course. This amazing power. Light! Know it? Fusing atomic nuclei means neutrons exist, right? Scientifically, that’s sublimation? Physical objects occupying the same space? Nonsense, but I’ll be the ruler revolutionizing the future world. Think about it—they’re all the same. Want this and that? Merge the worlds! I can do it!
[System: Exclusive trait ‘Abyssal Madness’ activates. Nullifies madness effects.]
Crackle!
“Argh!”
Red Two’s belated scream.
“Ehehehehe—”
“W-what the hell did you just babble?”
“Huh?”
“Something about merging worlds?”
“Uh…”
The forced delirium penalty on [Madman’s Handiwork]—how to explain?
“Magic sometimes makes me go nuts.”
“Ah—”
Red Two nodded like he got it.
Anyway, prep done.
I caressed the upgraded, cooler, cuter croc mask and checked the tweaks.
Mask infused with [Scaled Schemer]’s power.
It empowered followers by granting them these masks—
“On second thought, pretty decent guy?”
Mask theme bumped affinity. No, that’s not it.
Anyway, besides crocs, it made other animal masks to reshape human bodies, absorb mana, turn folks evil and vicious.
“Wait. Come to think…”
From the croc mask’s info, bits of [Scaled Schemer]’s other powers surfaced. Besides this, it made mummies, revived the dead via mountain sacrifices…
“Resurrection of the dead?”
Damn. Fell for that temptation?
Finally, linked the random Egyptian theme to Jeong Hyun-ah.