Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Peace, Hope, and the Mad City of Paju
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Grrrrumble...
My stomach wasn't just hungry—it was aching.
With my frail body boasting only Strength 5 and Vitality 5, even descending the mountain had pushed me to my limits. Now I was staggering through downtown Paju in a state where collapsing on the spot wouldn't surprise anyone.
'Ugh... I finally got my Strength up to 5, but what's the point if it's still like this... Should've boosted Vitality instead!'
I needed rest, and fast. And food, too.
'What did I usually do in the early game?'
Memories flooded back of all the wild things I'd done while playing [Cthulhu World]. It was such a packed game... Every playthrough could follow a different concept, a different theme.
Still, early game usually kicked off right here in Paju City. It was familiar territory for me.
Right after leaving the lab, I'd typically act in line with whatever concept I'd picked for my character.
'A concept that fits the character, huh...'
What kind of character was Kim Shin-hwa—me—supposed to be?
Back-alley mercenary? Mage tower apprentice? Or...
'If I'd gone criminal, I'd have grabbed some easy mark and done a [Home Seizure].'
In this world, murdered NPCs stayed dead. No one revived them, so even if they tied into later events or storylines, they never came back.
That meant you could pick a house, kill the owner, and claim it for yourself.
It was total scumbag criminal play, but [Home Seizure] was incredibly useful. Some houses hid killer buffs or artifacts. Back in the day, players even shared a list of prime [Dwellings]. Of course, that was before everyone bailed...
Come to think of it, there was the [Serial Killer's Mansion] nearby.
'Snagging that place would be solid... It was practically a hidden piece. The only way to get the [Serial Killer's Cleaver] was through it, and you could pick up the [Butcher's Instinct] trait too. Sure, it came with a curse, but...'
The [Serial Killer's Cleaver] was even handy for mages. It blocked enemy spells and applied debuffs...
'My mind's wandering. Focus, focus!'
Once a game nerd starts thinking about the game, it's a chain reaction. Stop it. Concentrate!
Besides, that option wasn't on the table right now. Commit a murder and get caught, and you'd end up wanted. This world had police, but the real worry was the 'bounty hunters.'
The higher your bounty, the more brutal named NPCs would come gunning for you.
Those NPCs usually had powers you couldn't beat easily. Get on their bad side, and you'd be picking your bones clean for weeks.
'In the end, it's all about money. Get money, crash at a motel or something. Order some delivery food.'
There were plenty of ways to make cash if I took the time, but this gimped body was creaking under the strain.
I needed rest right now.
The quickest way out of this mess was, without a doubt...
'Random encounters it is.'
Paju City was crawling with danger zones. In the game, wandering those spots triggered random encounters with punks trying to shake you down.
'Punks are all the same level. Grab 'em and shake 'em down myself.'
Sure, it was a crime, but victimizing criminals meant lower risk of getting caught.
"Alright."
I looked up and scanned the area.
This was Paju City.
The entertainment district in one of its high-crime zones.
In the real world, this spot might have pensions or arboretums, but here? Totally different.
Flashy, garish neon signs lit up every direction—classic red-light district vibes.
Crowds bustled under those signs.
"Customer! Skewers here! Special spices make 'em out of this world!"
A street vendor hawked mystery meat to passersby chattering in some foreign tongue. Whatever spices he slathered on gave off an exotic, spicy tang... but to me, it just turned my stomach.
"Hey, you with the sexy mask! Smell magic on ya—wanna exchange mana stones? Hey, hold up! I'll give ya a sweet deal."
Illegal exchanger, huh... If I'd grabbed those mana stones back there, even by force, money wouldn't be an issue. My gut twisted.
'If I go back later...'
Climbing that mountain again with this body? Dizzy just thinking about it. I'd level up first, then maybe.
"Ahh, that Flame Dancer prick—going down there!"
"Man, why bet on a has-been like that? You dumb or what?"
"Nah, high odds mean life-changing payout! You know, one big score?"
Customers spilling out of the arena. Underground fight pit nearby. Down the stairs under that shuttered bar sign, you could bet money... or even fight yourself.
This was Paju's nightlife.
Still, no one was picking fights outright yet. Mess with strangers too much, and this city bit back. Right now, Paju was a city of opportunity and revelry.
Foreigners of every race mingled with bizarre outsiders who barely seemed human, dragging in tangled cultures, eldritch tech, and forbidden knowledge from Cthulhu mythos beings.
People in weird outfits, ability users decked in inscrutable gear.
Some even flaunted artifacts pulsing with mana.
A bizarre, dazzling city—but one I knew like the back of my hand. Felt like coming home.
Even here, my getup stood out. Whispers rippled around me.
"Hey, check that guy. Is that the real deal?"
"Shh, quiet—don't let him hear."
I can hear you, assholes.
Sigh... Not even mad. With my dirty straitjacket and giant bread bag over my head, I probably looked insane.
'At least they see me as just a weirdo...'
No overt trouble yet. Too risky to bother strangers here.
To find aggressive hotheads, I'd need to dive deeper.
'Just like the game, down to the bone.'
The streets matched the game perfectly.
Even overheard lines as I passed... Details varied a bit, but people spouted near-identical NPC dialogue.
If it was identical to the game, then past the arena... by the dumpster...
A narrow alley hid between stalls, shrouded in unnatural gloom. Damp, reeking of trash—and faintly, blood.
"Haa..."
Perfect. Let's go in. Just one guy, please.
* * *
The alley was a pitch-black joke compared to the dazzling lights of the entertainment district moments ago.
It didn't even show on maps. A leftover space from shoddy development wedged between buildings. The true slums where the city's shadows gathered.
No official name, but everyone called this dark stretch 'Dumpster Alley.'
"Sniff..."
Not important right now.
'I'm so beat... Physically, my stamina's nonexistent.'
Legs numb, wanted to collapse.
Even back in my remote-work gaming days, I wasn't fit, but this was ridiculous!
'Vitality 5's like a rehab patient or slightly better... Guess it's par for the course.'
Somehow dragging this body this far made me a legend.
Never walked it myself, but I knew the alley. Real trouble started deeper in... So a quick breather here should be fine...
Couldn't hold out. Slumped into a corner. Shifting made the hidden pistol in my jacket dig in.
Guns were illegal in South Korea.
That held true in [Cthulhu World]'s version too.
Looked like a powerhouse keeping order amid monsters... But really, it was all smoke and mirrors.
A world of real magic, superpowers, and monsters.
North Korea even collapsed under monster hordes, leaving ruins and refugees.
Paju got swamped by NK refugees and ability users.
In that chaos, regular folks without powers armed up however they could, ignoring the law to survive.
So 'no guns' in [Cthulhu World] just meant "don't flaunt it"... But trouble could snowball.
'Not like I'd use it anyway...'
Hah. Can't shoot with low Strength?
'Wait, Strength's 5 now—maybe I can manage a pistol?'
Even a flashy dud was still a weapon.
'Too valuable to ditch blind.'
Magic wasn't foolproof. Some foes resisted it; situations arose where you couldn't cast.
Once down, no desire to get up. Sleeping here? I'd die—not mugged, but from Vitality 5 exposure. Lips would lock up or something.
Gathering strength to stand, a faint noise caught my ear. Tiny, but clear. Thanks, [Heightened Vigilance].
Thud—thud—.
Sound of pounding meat. No dark alley chef here, so probably a person.
Drew up mana to my ears, senses sharpening instantly.
No spell needed for this boost—just tweak mana flow.
'Direction and distance... That way.'
Just head there... C'mon, Kim Shin-hwa! You got this!
"Grgh... Get... up..."
Didn't take long to find them.
Three thugs beating down one guy.
"You junkie shit. Where's our money?"
"...Please, please!"
"Please? What please? More dope? Hah, hilarious."
Pleading.
Abuse. One-sided beating.
Biggest brute did the hitting; his two lackeys stood watch.
Trash squeezing addicts for cash under drug pretenses, venting sadism now and then.
Victim looked like a strung-out junkie too.
Barely a blip on the crime radar.
'Drug event, huh... Which gang? Bongil Sky Gang? Three Heads Society? Hope just random punks.'
"Hey, you there—freeze!"
Wham—.
"Urk... Blegh..."
Junkie puked bile after a gut punch.
That set them off.
"Fuck. Know how much these shoes cost? You're dead today!"
Knife out.
The brute was raging; wouldn't stop without blood.
Some qualms about magicking humans—not monsters—but these were trash. Less human, more Dumpster Alley fitting.
No murder, though. Spells for controlled damage came to mind. Nuking with 'Boom!' was easy, but better subtle.
No random killing, and future risks loomed.
Brute's knife-waving distracted his watchdogs. I crept—super slow—to the outermost bald guy.
Shiny bald pate. Perfect target.
[Heating]
Red-glowing mana from my left hand hit his crown.
Zero-circle basic: boil water at target spot. But scalp blood?
Not lethal. His head boiled like octopus, bright red. "Huuuugh..." Down he went.
"What the—?"
Hat thug, egging brute on, finally spotted me. Aghast. Strike before he processes! Right hand mana.
[Fear Injection]
Black, writhing tentacle-mana wrapped his head.
Forced terror and hallucinations. Theme: 'Cicadas crawling from every facial hole.'
I'd tried it once. Gold. Your turn.
"Gyaaah!"
Tears, snot, thrashing. Wilder than expected—missed beat for next spell. Damn, body lagging.
"You fucking... Who the hell are you?"
Brute sized me up, knife ready. Stable stance—not just a punk.
"Bread bag hobo look... You a junkie too?"
Brief standoff, but no need to drag. Shoved flailing hat guy ("Cicadas... Cicadas!") into brute, flashed light from fingertips.
"Argh!"
Wanted quick close-in... Body no. But blinded brute couldn't block.
Touched him, poured completed incant into his body.
[Electric Shock]
One-circle could've zapped from range, but zero needed contact. Like a stun gun?
Better than nothing. Take it—shock away! Mana converted, surged.
"Aaaaagh!"
No resistance on a normie—lethal.
Blue lightning charred him; fluids poured from every orifice amid spasms.
Eyes bulged, veins burst from overload.
"Grghhh..."
Out cold.
[You took down thugs extorting innocents to fund their filthy lives. Hidden in shadows, your good deed won't spread far, but it was righteous.]
That message... Always felt off somehow...
[You defeated thugs. Gained experience.]
Brute reacted sharp—hoped for level-up, but no dice.
Left junkie scratching in corner, rifled thugs.
Wallets first... Damn, light on cash.
Credit cards instead. Criminals take plastic now? Useless.
Pooled all three: about 200,000 won.
Desperate times—watches, phones, gold chain.
Expensive shoes? Mine now.
Brute and hat: nada. Baldie: special. Small baggies of white powder. Nice—magic happy dust.
'How to offload...'
Options aplenty. Risky—could kick off crime route or draw heat from suppliers. Not keen on that mess...
'Still, pocket it. No regrets like the mana stones.'
Bags looked like 30+. Tossed one to junkie eyeing greedily.
Made paper-bag mask mouth (lips hidden...) with finger to lips.
"Shh."
He clutched it, nodded frantically, passed out.
Blue mana-glow from eyeholes? Terrifying sight.
Got what I needed.
Plop—.
Grimy ceiling. Cramped room.
"Ah... That was rough."
Dragged shaking limbs to unmanned motel in dingy alley.
Could've afforded better with thug cash, but no hotel takes a paper-bag monster. Motels iffy—unmanned saved me.
Collapsed on musty bed, limbs splayed, desperate for wash-up energy.
Wanted sleep first, ignore all... But thoughts churned.
Knew [Cthulhu World] scenarios rough.
High-freedom open world—even do nothing.
That led to unavoidable doom, human world's end.
Shadows hid cults plotting apocalypse.
"Tons of 'em."
Couldn't sit idle.
Had to push toward something advantageous.
'Keep going for an ending...?'
Endings popped up.
'[Blood King] ending... Died at the end.'
'[Infinite Prisoner]... Locked in spacetime jail forever.'
'[Lord of the Underground]... Decent, good cash... Wait, turns undead last minute.'
'[Thought Annihilation]... Brain scooped...'
'Argh, seriously!'
Cosmic horror game.
Hundreds of endings—all death, madness, or worse.
Yup.
Trapped in a mad game with only bad ends.
One conclusion.
'Can't stay in this world.'
Escape it.
Staying meant puppets for mythos horrors.
Back to my original world.
Not quick.
Game or elaborate prank? Clues for exit somewhere.
Find them. Or higher beings... Maybe chat abyssal entities.
Hunt artifacts too.
Mythos-level stuff probably.
Negotiate with Great Race for dimension/time tech?
Low-level mage couldn't handle any.
In this insane hardcore cosmic horror game, needed power to survive longer.
ID and funds for basics too.
Haa... But too tired now...
Rest first.
I drifted off slowly.
* * *