Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Team
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A confident smile spread across Tudor's face.
You've been curious about Collie anyway, right? Wouldn't it be better to meet her yourself and confirm rather than digging for info behind her back? Tudor didn't say a word, but his expression made it seem like that's exactly what he was thinking.
That said, it didn't feel like he was trying to take control or manipulate things artificially. With Tudor's high Appearance stat, I briefly wondered if I was just interpreting it generously because of that, but for this time, I decided to let it slide.
"It's not just idle talk. Ever since Collie's tastes changed, her approach to accepting requests has shifted too."
"Shifted how?"
"After she got here—no, after Lee Chang-hyuk went on his rampage—Collie started obsessively taking on every single request related to Holistic, no matter the type."
"Related to Holistic?"
"Yeah. Every request connected to Holistic, regardless of whether it benefits them or causes harm."
"Hmm..."
Interesting. If she just wanted to hurt Holistic, there'd be no reason to take this request. But she's eager to join just because it's linked to them?
"If we bring her along this time, we might figure out what triggered her to act that way."
I tapped my mask with a finger for a moment before replying.
"Got it. We'll split it with Curtain Call."
"Heh heh, perfect. I'll prepare accordingly to match."
"Then, execution date?"
"Holistic wants to go ASAP, but we need to coordinate with Collie... How about two days from now?"
I thought over what I needed to prepare, then answered.
"Two days from now, sounds good. Contact me once it's set."
* * *
There was a mountain of things to do to prepare for the quest, and with accumulated fatigue and my worsening health, handling everything efficiently wasn't easy.
But I managed to wrap up preparations without major issues and arrived at the rendezvous point near Mount Gamak.
Mount Gamak is one of the Five Mountains of Gyeonggi Province, a massive peak.
Even in reality, it's known as a mountain with strong spiritual energy.
That's why it's treated as an important location in [Cthulhu World] too.
'There are four main event-level quests tied to Mount Gamak alone.'
Add in the linking quests and sub-quests you pass through, and there are too many to count.
Tudor had joked about swinging by Mount Gamak on the way to let the mage chow down on something good, but the quest we're doing this time, [Abandoned Hospital on Mount Gamak], is just a quick peek at the mountain.
'There was that quest later where you climb those peaks to beat down cultists trying to summon an outer god.'
It's a nightmare of a quest where you have to go up and down the mountain multiple times.
Ugh, I really don't want to do that one... If you ignore it, they summon [Predator of the Mountains], that outer god, and all hell breaks loose.
I'll have to tackle it someday.
Should I just go early like with the [Spawn of Fomalhaut] and smash everything preemptively?
Eh, that's a problem for later.
Today, we don't need to go deep into Mount Gamak.
The abandoned hospital is on the southwest side, approaching from Mugun-ri; follow the mountain path a bit and you're there.
I deliberately set out late, so it was already pitch black.
Unpaved roads lined with thick grass, damp wood scent tickling the nose.
The incessant chirping of insects, chilly air.
And that eerie abandoned hospital over there completes the horror genre vibe.
It's genuinely creepy.
Just grab a camera and circle once, and you could crank out a full B-movie horror flick.
And that fixer shadow standing in the darkness midway to the hospital seals it as pure B-grade schlock.
I thought the same last time, but the character design is still insanely on point.
Short stature matching her proportions with stubby limbs and a youthful face. That's dangerous info already. But she doesn't stop there.
Bleached long hair, flashy red glossy leather jacket, and a massive zanbatou lightly held in one hand.
My temporary partner for just this one day: Curtain Call.
"Ah, Kim Shin-hwa! You're late! Late, I say, Kim Shin-hwa!"
"I'm not late. You just got here early."
"You gotta come early!"
"Fine. But that..."
"That?"
In her other hand, not holding the zanbatou, Curtain Call gripped a chunky metal scrap... or so I assumed. Why assume?
"You're eating it?"
"Yeah."
Crunch, munch. Grind, grind.
Let me say it again: short-term team. No plans to team up with Curtain Call after today. So...
I need to extract as much info as possible today.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why are you eating that?"
"Because I can?"
I want to stop asking. What kind of conversation is this?
Curtain Call's mouth gave nutrient-void answers, but the mana flowing around her body and form provided far more info. The mana flow is odd.
It looks like mere eccentricity, but she's rapidly absorbing energy from the scrap... that metallic organic matter.
The Curtain Call I knew had a design targeting specific tastes but was a tough warrior. Superhuman strength and abilities to support it, but nothing like this.
Hard to confirm in this state. Would be good to see her fight.
"Tudor seems to really like you, Kim Shin-hwa."
"Huh?"
"Double contracts this, double that—usually teaming with my usual guys would've been fine. But he made excuses left and right and ended up sticking you with me."
She says it casually, but her face is full of dissatisfaction, clearly unhappy with the situation.
"Because of me?"
"Nah. I don't care who I'm with as long as I can loot those things."
"Those things meaning the test subjects? Or Holistic? Which one?"
Unhappy with my response, Curtain Call squinted one eye, glared up at me briefly, shoved the remaining scrap in her mouth, and started walking toward the hospital.
"Everything Holistic has touched."
"..."
"I'm gonna smash it all. Every last bit."
It felt personal, but the intensity went beyond simple grudge.
"Hmph. Anyway, Kim Shin-hwa, that info you mentioned yesterday is legit, right?"
"Of course."
"So we're really going with that half-baked plan you talked about?"
Half-baked...? Yesterday, I met Curtain Call separately and talked.
This hospital—precisely, Holistic's secret lab—has a hidden basement unknown to others.
Well, it's a place like the secret lab I was in before. There were human samples in cryogenic sleep. And one of them was probably me...
This place has one too. And I'm interested in what's there.
Curtain Call showed interest in that place too, though I don't know exactly why.
"Well, if you hate it, turn back now."
"Nah. Tudor's got high hopes for you, so I'll give it a shot, Kim Shin-hwa."
Her logic was baffling, but at least she's on board. Good.
Curtain Call kept moving without stopping, and since I needed to go to the planned spot anyway, I walked with her.
It wasn't far, but my [Stamina Down] penalty had me winded quick.
Plus, dark mountain path with no lights to rely on.
Weather was chilly, but sweat was already dampening the back of my neck.
'Whew, damn. My health's declining is showing already.'
Wanted to ride the board on my back, but hard to maintain stealth on unpaved paths. At least the mana cloak keeps bugs off?
"For a mage, don't you think you skip exercise too much?"
"You're not exactly healthy from exercise either, are you?"
"If you weren't born unlucky, you'd have to exercise."
No retort. Damn.
"We're here."
Finally, the target spot. The front of the hospital was blocked by a tall fence, but the main gate was completely wrecked.
Alright, the abandoned hospital.
Curtain Call, hiding in the shadows under the fence, slowly drew her zanbatou from its sheath. Way too big for her arm length, so it looked more like fumbling it out than an iaido stance.
Meanwhile, I looked up and over the fence.
The hospital's a big three-story building.
Absurdly built in unmanned mountains, but made as a legit hospital front.
Typical boxy white structure, even a green cross sign.
'What the hell's the name.'
Didn't notice in-game, but there's a sign by the hospital: [Gamaksan Hospital].
But the outdated, rustic exterior is all camouflage.
Official name: [Ga-5060 Secret Lab], Holistic's site of horrific human experiments.
Now it's a disputed zone where test subjects revolted and are holding out.
Everything but the first floor is dark, dead quiet.
Cloudy sky hiding the moon, lukewarm breeze blowing lazily, carrying a fishy blood scent.
"See, traces of that team you said came before."
Curtain Call, shadowed under the fence, pointed to the parking lot beyond.
Inside the fence: one ton truck and two sedans abandoned.
"W.G., so Wild Guns, right? Their subgroup?"
"Idiots who strut around relying on numbers. Probably charged in without a plan and got wiped."
"Eh, their survival doesn't matter to the mission."
Whatever. Curtain Call nodded in agreement and pointed toward the interior.
"Alright. Time to go, Kim Shin-hwa. Let's roll."
She has a weird way of talking.
Content was heavily abbreviated, but we'd roughly planned at Basileia beforehand, so I started doing what Curtain Call wanted without hesitation.
Not some grand scheme, really.
[Trap Detection]
[Mana Detection]
[Invisibility Detection]
[Infrared Vision]
[Remote Detection]
Detection spells I can cast almost habitually now. Trap check is essential. Magical senses spread out like radar in all directions. If there's an enemy who can use magic—even if weaker than me—risk of detection...
'But none of the test subjects here can.'
Nothing major on the detection spells.
First, check the hospital first floor.
Barricade at the entrance.
Hasty pile of hospital gear, chairs, desks.
Crude, but sharp rebar juts out between.
Test subjects occupy the hospital, hiding behind barricades and windows. But my sharpened senses pinpoint them clearer than sight.
The subjects caught in my detection were all grotesquely shaped.