Chapter 362
Chapter 362
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 362
Chapter Title: In Need of Help
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Screeech.
A used car worth 500 million won comes to a stop at the entrance of the ravenous mansion.
"Tada~! We've arrived!"
Jang Hyun-deok, the driving expert, speaks in a cheerful voice despite having to pay 190 million won in interest every year.
"See? It was quick, just like I said."
"Excellent. Let's head inside."
I'm in a hurry.
Moonlight hangs at the edge of the horizon.
Night will end soon.
"No, you go ahead! I've got another booking, so I'm heading out right away."
"A booking? Ah... I see."
Jang Hyun-deok resumes his security taxi business.
He has to pay around 16 million won in interest every month.
"Good luck with that."
I say that as I try to get out of the car, but—
"Yeah~"
Jang Hyun-deok makes a weird noise and holds out his fist toward me.
"......"
I bump my fist against his and say,
"Hyun-deok."
"Yeah?"
"How much is the early repayment penalty on this?"
"Huh? What's that?"
Jang Hyun-deok asks back instead.
I take a short deep breath and say again,
"This car. How much is the early repayment penalty?"
Ah, he might not even know the term "early repayment penalty"!?
"If you come into some big money, you could pay off the installments all at once, right? There might be a fee for that. That's called the early repayment penalty. How much is it? What percentage do you have to pay? You've heard about stuff like that, haven't you?"
The annual interest rate is 38%.
A doomsday-level rate worthy of [Cthulhu World].
So the early repayment penalty could have some ridiculous number attached too.
"Oh, I get it now!"
"Yeah! You knew it!"
Meaning he has that level of intelligence!
"Don't worry!"
Jang Hyun-deok flashes an overly trustworthy thumbs-up and smile.
"That dealer bro is a really good guy."
"Dealer bro?"
"Yeah, the used car dealer bro."
Ah, so he's calling the scammer "dealer bro"?
How good must he be at dealing to earn that title?
"He said I don't have to pay down the principal for the next three years."
Grace period of three years!?
He's going to pay pure interest for three straight years?
190 million times three is 570 million?
That's the price of a car just in interest, and then he starts paying principal?
If he pays it off over ten years in principal-and-interest installments—
The total amount Jang Hyun-deok will pay that bastard "dealer bro" is...
Two billion, four hundred fifty-seven million, one thousand two hundred won.
Is this for real?
Jang Hyun-deok nods proudly.
"So don't worry about it, wizard. I'll handle everything."
Is he under hypnosis or something?
"Hang on, Hyun-deok. Look at me for a sec."
"Huh? Why? Ack, that snake hand!"
As I reach out my left hand, Jang Hyun-deok recoils in disgust, pulling his head back. I haven't even extended the tentacles yet, but it seems he's seen the true nature of my left hand through his Truth Eye.
"Fine, this hand then. Come here."
I grab Jang Hyun-deok's face with my right hand and release mana.
[Glory of the Eagle]
[Hypnosis Release]
[Curse Release]
[Awakening]
"How's that?"
"W-What's what?"
"What kind of guy is this dealer bro?"
"Uh......"
Jang Hyun-deok looks at me suspiciously, his face turning cautious.
Did something click?
Yeah, wake up! Hyun-deok!
"Good guy?"
"Hmm."
Is he really this much of an idiot?
"Alright! Wizard, I don't know what you're doing, but—I'm outta here!"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Yeah~"
Jang Hyun-deok holds out his fist again.
"Yeah......"
I watch Jang Hyun-deok drive off in the [500 Million Won Used Car with 21-Year Vintage Mana Stone Engine] and fall into thought.
How has this guy survived six years in this dangerously insane Paju?
"Ah!"
A shock like lightning striking my spine!
The kind of realization where even if a message popped up saying "You've learned this truth—make a Sanity check," I'd have no complaints.
"He was already being fleeced by someone else, so there was nothing left to take!"
Jang Hyun-deok had been handing over every penny he earned to the 'House of Healing' all this time.
"And that's not all."
It started with some weird incident due to his special constitution, but a few months ago, this guy had almost walked right into the clutches of the Huanglin Church cultists on his own two feet.
No, from the very first time we met, he'd already been brainwashed by an abyssal entity, hadn't he?
"Yeah, come to think of it, I saved him from that too, right?"
Suddenly, the mental attack from Gap-urum's memories resurfaces.
The gist was something like, "Did you all see? This guy's life got ruined because he met Kim Shin-hwa!"
For anyone else, I'd have nothing to say, but—
For Jang Hyun-deok here—
If it weren't for me, this guy would've croaked long ago!
"Hmm......"
But the House of Healing......
"Ah, whatever."
I toss aside the trailing thoughts and let out a sigh.
Truth is, I know.
Jang Hyun-deok chose that car and that dealer himself, but I know why he suddenly bought the car.
"He said he had a way to fix it all of a sudden...... and then he showed up with the car."
That's what Heo Sang-hyun told me yesterday or so.
Heo Sang-hyun sensed that the Shoggoth control spell he'd cast had activated and decided there was a problem with me, so he asked Jang Hyun-deok for help.
But Jang Hyun-deok hadn't secured a vehicle yet, so to gain mobility, he bought a car he couldn't afford with his earnings.
'He must've panicked in the emergency and his judgment went out the window.'
Idiotic or not, he did it to save me, right? Considering that intent, I was thinking of covering it in cash somehow—
Grace period of three years?
Looks like that dealer bro is a lunatic beyond normal levels too.
"Urgh......"
Ah, enough!
I'm not his dad. Why am I worrying about this?
I'll sort it out later.
Night is ending.
The time I can stay sane is—
Almost up—
* * *
Daytime.
What time is it?
Dark.
Thanks to the blackout sheets, blackout curtains, and magical shadows I'd installed on the windows in advance.
Even so, I can sense it's daytime now.
The Sun is—such a powerful symbol—and magic in itself.
A corpse smell wafting from somewhere.
I blink all four eyes at once and pull the blanket over my head.
"It's going to burn me alive."
How can something that massive exist?
Dangerous. Dangerous. Dangerous. Dangerous.
Right now, beyond that extremely thin wall, the Sun is hanging there!
How is a fireball like that floating above this flat Earth? Why doesn't it fall? How long will that thing keep burning?
It's looking for me. With that giant eye! Sizzling! Flashing!
"Hmm, delusions of grandeur?"
"Paranoia?" "Uh, conspiracy theory?" "Hey, conspiracy theory's a subcategory of delusions of grandeur." "I-Is it?" "You had delusions of grandeur. Maybe paranoia?" "You could do it again. Isn't paranoia a subcategory of delusions too?" "If you force it, sure." "Hi?" "Who the hell are you?" "I'm Nail." "What? Why do you have a name?" "I made one up." "On your own? Too much independent personality isn't good." "Too late."
Corpse smell from all directions. Black smoke filling the room.
"Kim Shin-hwa's a goner this time, huh?" "Oh, so this is what it's like here?" "Bahaha—I'm the Thousand Gold Captain's proxy!" "What the hell, all sorts are popping up." "Why'd you all come up?" "You guys have been up top lately, so you wouldn't know. Things are getting cramped down below." "That many personalities now?" "Nah, something huge showed up." "Ha! Something as big as the Sun?" "Hmm—not quite that vibe."
What's that disgusting smell? Growling from somewhere.
"Anyway, you all should start thinking about it." "Thinking about what?" "Escaping from Kim Shin-hwa." "This body's reaching its limit." "The lifespan extension from the Thousand Gold Captain's help is almost used up too." "Bahahaha—I'm the Thousand Gold Captain's proxy!"
"Ah, shut up! All of you, quiet!"
Rumble rumble crash!
To restore my chaotic mind, I muster mana.
"Hey, everyone stay still. Looks like Shin-hwa's got something to say."
"Yeah, got it. The Sun doesn't exist. The world government is scamming us to fool me."
"Crazy talk?" "He always like this during the day now?" "Isn't Gong Yi-su coming today?" "You meeting Gong Yi-su like this?" "Is that a hallucination?" "Doesn't look like one." "He'll calm down soon, right?"
Yeah, this isn't a hallucination.
I'm just a little scared.
A bit confused, a little panicked—but I can control myself.
"Hoo—suck—hoo—"
Strained deep breaths.
Good.
See? Not a hallucination. I can still control everything.
But even so, the taut tension persists.
It feels like—the Sword of Damocles?
A thin thread from the ceiling, with an enormous sword dangling at the end.
I'm sitting right beneath it.
Not knowing when that thread will snap and the blade will fall.
That kind of anxiety.
Chills creeping up my neck. An itch licking my whole body. It's safe here. Safe here—I repeat it, but it's no use.
Until I erase that massive threat in the sky, I'll be stuck like this.
* * *
I finally regain control of my body when the day's power has nearly faded.
In other words—early evening?
The day hasn't fully darkened yet, but the horrific presence beyond the wall is weakening.
"But—urgh—I have to greet the guest."
I barely hold onto my sanity, drape my cloak, and stand.
"That's a blanket."
"Blanket?"
I look in the mirror.
My reflection: sitting in a chair in perfect attire.
The [Night Veil Wing Robe] flapping on its own. Deeply pulled hood. Metallic mask covering my face. Rugged jeans. Thick leather boots.
No weapons, but I just woke up, so that's normal.
Wait, something's off?
Those leather boots—cool, but I've never seen them before. Why am I wearing those?
"The mirror's over there."
"Ah, thanks."
I look at the mirror on the opposite wall—
"Oh, it really is a blanket?"
The mirror shows me draped in a blanket like a cape.
I toss the blanket aside—ugh, what a sight.
The prosthetic on my left hand has somehow turned entirely into tentacles wrapping around my body, and my right arm is wearing pants.
And on my head, I've got a crown made from tangled wires—
No, stop describing it.
I strip off the three haphazardly layered pants and two shirts clinging to me—and grab the hoodie.
"Junior, you should take off the crown too."
"Ah, thanks."
I remove the crown—and grab the hoodie.
"Was that a dissociative episode?"
This is serious.
Last time, I didn't even notice the message windows popping up.
If it's the same this time, I need to be careful.
"Nah, nothing that bad. I just panicked hard—and all the other personalities surged out at once, so I lost control of my body for a bit."
......When?
Only now realizing who I'm talking to, I look at him and say,
"How long have you been watching?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm...... Better if you don't know."
"Don't tell me."
Definitely not dissociation.
Retracing my memory, I vividly recall the fool I made of myself on the bed.
"Hurry up and get dressed?"
"Hmm. Give me a sec."
"Make it quick. No time."
"If you're gonna say that, why didn't you come yesterday?"
"Came the day before."
......What were you doing?
"Sightseeing. Junior, seriously, no matter what time I catch you, you're always a total mess."
Deep sigh.
I throw on some clothes and say again,
"Where? I didn't sense you at all."
"Between ■■■■ and ■■■?"
"What language is that? Never heard it."
"Learn it from the Yithians when you have time, junior. They'll teach you."
"Doubt I could pronounce it."
No, it's not pronunciation.
It's a frequency of noise impossible to mimic with human vocal cords.
Flutter—
The [Night Veil Wing Robe] flies over and drapes my shoulders.
"Hmm......"
I point alternately with my right hand at the [Night Veil Wing Robe] he's wearing and the one on my shoulder, asking,
"Couples' look? Like similar designs—"
"Nope. This is a [Night Veil Wing Robe] too. Just a bit older than yours, junior."
Future gear after all. Did I give it to him?
"Anyway, you ready? Shall we get started?"
He pushes back the hood covering his head.
The object that looked like a mask under the deep hood reveals itself.
A round clock floating above his neck.
Yeah, Gong Yi-su has arrived.