Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Hungry Mansion (2)
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Rumble...
Thunder crashes.
Whoosh... Patter patter...
Then the sound of pouring rain. Thick raindrops hammer chaotically against the car roof.
Late at night.
A dim forest road without a single streetlight.
The pavement is barely asphalted, neglected for years, cracked and crumbling everywhere.
"It's really pouring out there."
That's Jang Hyun-deok's voice.
"Wizard, it's raining a lot. The rain, yeah, it's coming down hard, really hard, super hard, it's pouring buckets, for real."
When I don't respond, Jang Hyun-deok repeats it, breaking it up for emphasis.
"I can hear it."
"Aw, I thought you didn't hear me. Anyway, Wizard, it's really coming down."
"Yeah."
A massive downpour.
It wasn't this bad when we set out, but by the time we're nearing the destination, it's dumping like a monsoon.
The sky's pitch black, and this mountain road is as secluded as it gets.
I get why Jang Hyun-deok's on edge.
"It's not that far from the city, but the vibe here is... kinda creepy."
"Yeah, kinda is."
"Oh. Just to clear up any misunderstanding, I'm fine."
"Yeah, sure you are."
"Right. But man, this place is seriously spooky. Feels like a ghost could pop out any second."
"Yeah."
Rain's pouring.
Eerie as hell.
Ghosts could show up.
Next up: I turned down another job for you, Wizard. Loyalty, loyalty.
"Even if a ghost does show up, I'm sticking with you, Wizard! Oh, did I mention? I got this huge gig today out of nowhere. From the Three Heads Society—they wanted me to bust out one of their guys who got nabbed. Needed a driving expert."
"Yeah. Three million won."
"Oh, guess I already told you. Yeah, gigs like that don't come around often—a solo job paying three mil. But who am I? I turned it down out of pure loyalty and love for you, Wizard, and came here instead!"
"Wow, impressive."
"Come on! You're gonna respond like that, all half-hearted?"
"You're the one... repeating the same damn story over and over..."
This is the ninth time with this exact pattern. Just the "rain's heavy" bit alone is the nineteenth.
Boom! Kraaaash!!
Doesn't look like this rain's letting up anytime soon.
A sinister mist rises through the downpour.
"Wizard, you know any legends around Jangmyeong Mountain?"
"Yeah. I do."
Legends around Jangmyeong Mountain say a virgin ghost and goblins torment passersby.
"Late at night, the virgin ghost appears to walkers on this road and seduces them to come live with her."
"Yeah. Goblins show up too?"
"Whoa, how'd you know?"
You've told me like seven times already.
"Yeah, exactly. If you dodge the virgin ghost, a nine-foot goblin jumps out and drags you into a mud-wrestling match."
"That's something."
"Wizard, what I'm trying to say is, this might sound a bit off, but don't take it the wrong way. I..."
I know what Jang Hyun-deok wants to say.
"I'll head out alone when we get there."
"Oh, it's not that I'm scared or anything. I've been in this business long enough—most folks who hire me want to go to creepy spots late at night."
"So you're used to it?"
"Y-Yeah. Totally used to it. Really."
His face says otherwise.
Being used to late nights and secluded spots doesn't mean you're cool with horror-movie vibes.
This place really feels like ghosts could crawl out any second.
The air's thick with otherworldly energy.
Even without spiritual senses, it'd make anyone feel sick.
"We're here. See that building? That's it."
"Whoa..."
Jang Hyun-deok's face drains of color.
"Isn't that... a bit much? What even is that thing?"
A massive old Western-style mansion.
[The Hungry Mansion].
Gotta admit, it's a ghost house anyone would recognize as the real deal.
"Did someone build that on purpose? It's straight out of a theme park! A theme park!"
The exterior's so menacing, it looks custom-designed as a haunted house.
And there it stands in this dark hour, in the woods, getting lashed by rain.
Seeing it, I feel a little bad for Jang Hyun-deok.
"Yeah, it's over the top."
The design itself isn't bad.
Just looks out of place smack in the middle of Korea—otherwise, it's a stately old mansion.
But the sinister, evil magic it holds? That's the problem.
Different from that abandoned hospital on Gamak Mountain. This is the repulsive, chilling aura of death spirits.
Feels like corpse stench is seeping into the car.
The malice and evil energy pouring from the mansion warps not just the building but the whole landscape.
Anyone seeing it would feel inexplicable dread and primal fear.
"What's that?"
"Huh? Huh? Huuuuh?!"
Something weird squirms on the roof.
Hard to make out, blocked by trees.
A bit closer and it'd be clear.
That thing crawling on the roof...
'A person?'
In this rain, on the roof?
No, less like a person and more like...
Then Jang Hyun-deok screams.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Shit.
"What!"
Did this guy pop a pill or something?
Before I can react, Jang Hyun-deok slams the brakes.
Screeech!!!
Thud!!!
Something heavy hits the car.
A flash of white streaks past the windshield.
I don't even identify it before reflexively casting.
[Protection Circle]
Scraaaape!
Not on me—something snags on the circle around the car.
Poof-.
'It's gone. What was that?'
Not a specter. Had physical form.
What the hell?
Did Jang Hyun-deok see it?
I stay alert and call out.
"Hey, you see that?"
No answer.
"Uh... ugh..."
Just strained groans.
Jang Hyun-deok's face is ghost-white.
Never seen anyone that pale.
Eyes bulging, frozen stiff.
"Hey! Hey!"
"Hn... uh..."
This guy's seen something.
"Hey, snap out of it! What'd you see to freak like this?"
"Ugh... urk..."
Not normal.
Jang Hyun-deok saw something he shouldn't have.
Body's rigid as stone.
Must've appeared while I was distracted.
In [Cthulhu World], some monsters destroy minds just with their evil presence.
"Back-alley pro, my ass!"
Even if Jang Hyun-deok's a back-world driving ace, that's human-level stuff.
Delirium from otherworldly sights hits everyone equal.
He glimpsed something, madness triggered, delirium followed.
This state... A translucent tooltip floats by Jang Hyun-deok.
****
[Delirium – Psychosomatic Disorder]: Random status ailments occur for a period of time.
/ Extreme mental shock causes temporary physical issues. May lose vision, hearing, speech. Severe cases bring limb paralysis.
Jang Hyun-deok's current state: Paralysis
****
"Hey, man! Snap out of it!"
"Uh... ugh... ughhh..."
Not working.
Yelling more does nothing.
Muscles locked way too tight.
Freaking out and self-harming is bad, but paralysis is its own hell.
Worst case, he could suffocate standing up.
"Damn, not my specialty."
No spells I know cure madness or delirium. But waking someone up... Did it with Jeong Hyun-ah last time.
[Exhilaration]
[Eagle's Radiance]
[Lion's Valor]
Stirs battle lust, boosts mental strength, summons courage. Also great for vitality and tonics.
"Not enough..."
Like with Jeong Hyun-ah, it just preps the body. To jolt eyes open needs bigger shock. Like a taser...
[Voice of Authority]
Temporarily controls weaker humans.
『Jang Hyun-deok, open your eyes.』
"Gasp! Kugh... hngh..."
He exhales deep, eyes rolling.
Bloodshot red.
『Good. Slowly now, breathe. You're fine.』
"Hah... hah... haa... whew... sob... Wizard...!"
Life returns to his eyes.
"You with me?"
He mumbles incompletely a few times before blurting something off-topic.
"Did you see? What I hit... had to be a person, right?"
Subtle phrasing.
Hopes whatever he hit was human.
"What if it wasn't?"
"Huh?"
"What'd you see? Tell me straight."
We haven't even reached the mansion.
Too early for trouble.
More realistic: Hit some lost wanderer.
"Might sound weird to you, Wizard, but... I hope it was a person! No, definitely was!"
"Okay, calm down first."
Jang Hyun-deok's still off.
Mad glint in his eyes, ragged breaths, nonsense talk, feverish heat.
Yelling now would backfire.
I look away, scan outside.
Whoosh... Thud thud...
Rain still hammers.
And darkness.
Step out, something attacks guaranteed.
Hate getting wet...
[Distortion Field]
A transparent mana dome forms around us.
"The rain..."
Jang Hyun-deok looks shocked.
Raindrops no longer pelt the car.
"Made an umbrella with magic."
Refracts ranged attacks.
Not attacks, but blocks rain easy.
Bonus: Snipes from afar too.
"Wait here. I'll check."
"Gah... wait, hold on!"
"What?"
Irritation creeps into my voice.
"T-Too fast... slow down a bit..."
"Goddamn it..."
Click-.
I ignore his babble, open the door.
Rain pounds outside.
But distortion field umbrellas us—rain scatters around the car.
Amp senses with mana.
Scan alert—no anomalies.
"Nothing here."
"R-Really?"
Jang Hyun-deok, window down.
"Yeah, nothing."
"T-Then we go?"
"No."
That thud, the white thing ahead.
Something hit the car for sure.
I walk slowly to the front.
Jang Hyun-deok's souped-up Kolt van bumper's dented.
"Definitely hit something..."
And this...
Part of the bumper sliced clean.
"Knife marks?"
Four parallel gashes in one corner.
Not knife.
Claw marks.