Chapter 30
Chapter 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Cathedral's Curse
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A cathedral where even the sunlight felt oppressively gloomy.
Inside, a man and a woman faced each other.
"What are you trembling so much for?"
"Sh... shut up."
The woman couldn't stay still, just as the man had pointed out.
"I just can't understand it at all."
The man stared at her for a moment before shifting his gaze to the ceiling.
"You've done so much for us ever since seven years ago. From the moment you accepted our proposal that day, you were destined to become the savior."
His eyes returned to her.
"I... no, we can only express our gratitude to you."
The woman rolled her eyes uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.
"But... why on earth are you doing this?"
"This is the last time..."
"Pff..."
Beneath the sunlight pouring through the windows, the man's laughter rang out light and cheerful.
"You're talking as if we forced you into it."
People's screams overleaped the cathedral walls, infiltrating the space.
"But all of this was your choice, wasn't it? The path you took to become a hero."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When we descended to the first floor via the elevator, the violent roar of helicopters and missiles shook our eardrums fiercely.
The Squad Leader's face was completely hardened.
I'd only known the Chief Researcher for less than four years, so the shock hit me less hard, but for the Squad Leader—who'd been like a friend to me since I arrived here—the truth was utterly devastating.
"My back hurts."
"Yes. Let's wrap this up quick."
Our mission was effectively over the moment the response team had been dispatched, but the Squad Leader seemed to want to go meet his old friend anyway.
"I've already contacted the Tale Management Bureau, so the response team should be starting their search any minute now."
The Squad Leader stared silently at the utterly collapsed city.
The half-destroyed village from just a few days ago no longer felt like a unique sight.
I'd thought the Paradoxical Time clocks would drastically shorten the recovery...
Who could've guessed they'd become tools in this incident instead.
Talk about irony.
Why had the Chief Researcher lied to us about the clocks having side effects?
She'd figured it out.
That those space-reversing tools could even revert spatial Tales.
And that realization formed one massive pillar of this entire event.
"Squad Leader, if you want to meet her..."
"Yeah... thanks."
We plunged back into the city we'd barely escaped from, dodging Tales every step of the way.
Bang—
Gunfire shook the heavens, and in response, inhuman roars denied even a moment's silence.
Blood and filth mingled everywhere, numbing our noses.
"Kyaaak!"
"Citizens, this way!"
We caught glimpses here and there of civilians who hadn't evacuated yet, scrambling alongside the response team.
Caw—caw—
Human-headed crows circled overhead, spewing cursed cries.
I fumbled my pocket pistol out and loaded it.
Should be about time...
Kuek—
The crow writhed in agony, shrieking.
What the—?
I hadn't fired yet.
Even though I hadn't pulled the trigger, a massive hole had appeared in the crow's body, sending it crashing limply to the ground.
The Bureau?
But there wasn't a single Bureau agent nearby.
"Nice shot! Hurry this way!"
"Y-yes!"
Right now, it didn't matter if it was the Bureau or whoever.
The cathedral listed in the documents.
It seemed to have lost none of its original will, still offering salvation to the faithful.
"Bullshit."
Unless that "salvation" was aimed at demons—then it would've fit.
The cathedral had become a Tale, spewing forth curses.
A sensation like my mind was being impaled from above projected straight into my brain.
My sense of front becoming not-front, back not-back—a metaphysical distortion was on the verge of stealing away my very self—when something round slipped into my mouth.
A taste somewhere between apple and pear tickled my tongue.
Rolling it around, I felt the pitted dents here and there.
Judging by the taste and shape...
This was Eyeball Candy.
"Squad Leader?"
"Traded for it right before we left."
Only heard about it from the Merchant, but damn, the effect was real.
Now the cathedral came into proper focus.
At a glance, it looked no different from the original.
I took the lead and stepped inside.
The entrance was longer than I'd expected.
"..."
I sensed someone behind me besides the Squad Leader.
"Who's there?!"
I whipped around, but no one was there.
A hallucination?
"What is it?"
"Nothing. Must've been my imagination."
I pushed aside the inexplicable sensation and turned forward.
A shadow stood before the statue of Jesus inside the cathedral.
It was the Chief Researcher—no, the woman who could no longer be called that—Yoon Seo-yeon.
The person she'd been meant to meet was already gone.
"Oh. Huh? Se-jin! How'd you get here?"
"Seo-yeon."
The Squad Leader's response was as dry as if it could freeze the air.
"I tried to leave the cathedral, but the moment I stepped out, it felt like my mind was shattering... couldn't make it back to the lab."
"Seo-yeon."
"But don't worry! I'll wipe out the cathedral and all the other Tales from right here in one go..."
"..."
"Se-jin? What's wrong...?"
"Why the hell did you do it?"
A flicker of shock passed through Yoon Seo-yeon's eyes before vanishing.
"Huh? What are you talking about? Whatever it is, it's not important right now—we've gotta take out those things outside fast!"
What followed was a long silence.
The Squad Leader stared quietly at Yoon Seo-yeon, and she stared back at him.
He seemed to have lost all emotion, while she looked desperate to hide every feeling.
The Squad Leader broke the silence.
"Seven years ago, after the Bukhansan Daesurim disaster. I hated you. For not resolving it before the whole team died."
"Se-jin..."
"I knew it was unfair. So after about two weeks, I couldn't hate you anymore."
The Squad Leader's breathing grew ragged.
During the Bukhansan Daesurim disaster that I hadn't lived through—what kind of existence had Yoon Seo-yeon been?
Just your average researcher.
How had she managed to manufacture those materials?
"Never imagined you'd made a deal with Horrifica back then."
Yoon Seo-yeon drew a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Even without me, Horrifica would've created Tales... you know that? They would've turned families into Tales!"
"What?"
"I contracted with Horrifica so I could eliminate them! Without me, we'd all be dead!"
"You should've told us who you contracted with back then. How much intel have you leaked since? Even this incident!"
"That's why I created this too. A potion that can wipe them all out at once."
"Too many people have already died... it's too late."
In Yoon Seo-yeon's hand was a vial of dark green glowing liquid.
"Why'd you do something like this..."
"I was pretty damn impressive, you know. Even went to a top university in the States. But here? I was nothing. That goddamn Chief Researcher title... do you have any idea how intoxicating it felt?"
Only then did I notice the fierce obsession burning in Yoon Seo-yeon's eyes.
An irrational fixation on success.
"For something like that?!"
Whirr—whirr—whirr—
The roar of helicopter rotors pierced through the Squad Leader's voice.
"Damn it! You told the Bureau everything!"
Yoon Seo-yeon bolted toward the back door.
And the instant her leg stretched forward...
BOOM—
A massive monster smashed through the cathedral.
The response team must've chased the monster here instead of her.
Badly injured, Yoon Seo-yeon couldn't stand and crawled desperately toward the door.
Sheer tenacity for survival.
When I opened that door, there was no one inside.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Cough... ha..."
Where am I?
Doesn't matter where.
I'll go to Horrifica and start over.
Plenty of people appreciate my talents.
"Hello, customer."
Customer?
Hahaha...
"You... the Merch... ugh."
He must've come directly for me.
"Yes. Yoon Seo-yeon."
"How do you know my—!"
"Age twenty-eight. Graduated high school, attended a top university in the States, got scouted by the Bureau. Then colluded with Horrifica. How was playing the hero? Fun?"
"Wha... kuh."
"How I know you isn't important. What matters is your current condition."
My condition?
"Not sure if you're aware, but you should take a look at your stomach."
"My stomach wha— aaagh!"
My belly was caved in like it'd been crushed by a hydraulic press.
I could feel my organs writhing inside, trying to burst out.
Did the debris hit me when the building collapsed earlier?
"No... no. No no no!"
"I'll offer you a choice."
The Merchant pointed to a wine glass.
"This is a product called Condensed Dream. It can revive anyone who drinks it. Though it does have side effects."
"Le...t me go!"
Side effects?
I'm dying—what do I care about that crap!
"The price is your heart."
My reaching arm froze midway to the glass.
"What?"
"As I mentioned, this product will save you even without lungs, even without your lower body, even without a heart."
"Tha... ugh!"
"Whether you believe me is up to you. Will you let this faint spark die out? Or toss in a handful of kindling?"
"Damn it!"
I dumped the contents straight into my mouth.
Along with excruciating pain, an emptiness bloomed where my heart had been.
As the warm liquid filled that void, the massive gash in my stomach began to heal.
"I'm saved. Alive!"
But...
What was this sensation?
Cold.
Like all the heat was draining from my body.
The Condensed Dream had replaced my heart.
But the cost of losing it was horrific.
Without blood to carry warmth from the body's core, my entire form began to freeze solid.
No!
I wanted to scream, but my mouth wouldn't open.
The Merchant watched me with evident fascination.
You knew this would happen!
You bastard Merchant...
"Good night, customer."