Devil's Seed (2)
Sejong Island is divided into various districts. Since the island itself functions as a single city, it has administrative divisions as well—but fortunately for me, they follow something akin to international standards. They didn't name them after historical figures like Jang Yeong-sil District, Hwang Hui-dong, or Kim Jong-seo-gu.
"Well, can't be helped if that's the case. We'll use the easiest Korean words to pronounce. For now, let's call this place Naro-dong."
"We are deeply moved by the minister's grand decision."
"Wait, this guy...?"
The districts are named with pure Korean words that even foreigners can pronounce easily, much like typhoon names. This area is Eden District. True to its name—meaning "kind" or "virtuous" in pure Korean—it's a place where traditional culture blends seamlessly with modern sensibilities, reminiscent of Jeonju Hanok Village. The exteriors look traditional, but the interiors are all modern, Western-style, or modernist fusions.
Perfect spot for a date while traveling.
Unfortunately, right now, Devil's Seeds are being produced here.
Judging by the moon's position, it was around 1 a.m. Aside from those working late into the night, most people were deep in sleep. With nearly all buildings dark and the night wrapped in silence, I landed atop a suspiciously quiet structure.
Jumo's intel is spot on.
The building's exterior matched the blueprints perfectly with what I saw from the tiled roof. Chunjugak. Even in this nationalistic world, naming a building in hanja—whether to preserve tradition or emphasize Korean while hanging a Korean plaque atop hanja roots. And in that place, they're mass-producing Devil's Seeds to manufacture Western-style demons? Utter nonsense.
Planting it right in the middle of a busy street like that. They must be damn sure no one will notice.
Secret labs are usually built far from prying eyes, but these villains had brazenly erected their building in a crowded district. They weren't the Association, though. The Association didn't make things like Devil's Seeds; they sought strength through individual growth without external aids. In other words, the group making Devil's Seeds was a pure villain outfit, utterly different.
Unlike with Red Scarf or Devil Lilith, I could execute these bastards without a shred of hesitation.
Time to ghost in.
I lightly tapped my shoulder with the Dokkaebi Bat.
In an instant, the world turned grayscale, and I floated like a ghost through the sky, phasing into Chunjugak's roof.
As expected.
Electronic signals pulsed throughout the building—not just dangling wires, but meticulously woven into the structure like a spiderweb.
Thorough. Way too thorough.
If someone drilled even a tiny hole? The wiring would snap, sending a signal downstairs. Forcing a locked window? Instant detection.
But they overlooked one thing. They could detect intruders via electrical signals...
But not mana wiring.
They couldn't block a slippery goblin like me.
'Fairy tale.'
I placed my hand and the bat on the roof.
'Let it pass through.'
Like wind seeping in or heat permeating, my body slowly phased through the roof into the interior.
Ssssh.
Whew.
Crossing the roof consumed a fair bit of mana, but I couldn't drop Spirit Body yet.
No one's in the building.
No one where they should be. No one in the bedrooms, no one crashed on the living room sofa. Makes sense. The wiring scan showed a separate entrance to the basement.
According to Jumo's report—
Kiiik.
A door opened. I froze against the wall, observing the man who emerged.
"Yaaawn."
Not a superpower user. Obvious from his face and apparent age.
That mug screams 25 or younger? Bullshit.
Anyone could see he was in his thirties, pushing forties. Unless he was using powers to age himself, this white-coated guy was definitely a researcher here.
"Yaaawn."
He pulled something from the fridge. And that's when I knew he was a villain for sure.
Asahi from Sejong Island's Chunjugak fridge?
Nothing against the nation, but highly suspicious identity confirmed.
"Yaaawn."
He headed back out with the canned beer. I slipped through the door before it closed. Phasing through walls wastes mana—save it when you can.
Pop—!
The can hissed open, and he veered toward what looked like a normal bedroom wardrobe. Not just any wardrobe—a mother-of-pearl cabinet, the kind you barely see even in country grandma's house anymore, gleaming with silvery nacre.
Bingo.
He casually opened the door and stepped in. Before it shut, I spotted the hidden space behind and followed.
"Eek."
He shivered. No physical contact, but a mana blob on his back would chill anyone's spine.
Kiiik.
Inside the wardrobe, he rubbed his Taeguk Watch in the dark.
Vrrr.
An elevator.
"Yaaawn."
Code: 4050769, 656587911. Approved.
The panel flashed green, and something clunked inside. I held my breath, watching. It descended deep—10 meters? 20? Hard to gauge, but far down before stopping. He shook off his drowsiness and opened the door.
Whoa.
A sterile research facility, white as far as the eye could see. I peeled off behind him, scanning for superpowered folks just in case.
None.
No ability users. No mana detectors either. Yet.
Classic lab, but so clean it's creepy.
Less Devil's Seed lab, more semiconductor cleanroom. If I materialized now, it'd be less "Who are you?!" and more "Brush the dust off before entering!"
Would've been nice if it were.
Tch.
Sure enough, deeper in, the horror unfolded.
[KIIIAAAAAK!!]
A vast space drowned in white, like a school gymnasium. In the center, a "devil"—a succubus—writhed in agony, bound to a pillar.
Team leader's here, so let's resume. Attempt #3412, 'Extraction'.
Kiiik. A mic echoed through the chamber as machines converged on the succubus. She thrashed with all her might, but I instantly sensed the rope-like bindings were ability-made restraints.
In a world where heroes or villains win through superior superpowers or mana, this was natural.
[NOOOOO!!]
The scream reverberated. A mechanical arm approached, spinning like a drill poised to excavate.
No way. Devil's Seed means—
"If extraction fails again, will they cut our budget?"
"Who knows. Might shut the whole facility down."
The researchers yawned and sipped their canned beer amid the screams, unfazed.
"Senior, why Asahi again? Nakdonggang's so much better."
"I prefer foreign brews over domestic."
"Then why not European? Why Japanese?"
"Personal taste."
They even chuckled over trivial chit-chat.
"What're you doing after this project's done?"
"Huh?"
"Once it's over, you gotta line up something else, right? Hey, wanna team up on a project with me?"
"Senior..."
Sounded touching on the surface. But reality?
[AAAAAGH!!!]
Over there, the drill bored into the succubus's abdomen. No感動, no thrill—just horror.
"Told you, right? After this project's done, there's something I gotta say to you."
He chugged the beer and pulled something from his coat pocket.
"Here."
"...Proposing like this, right here?"
"Feels like now or never."
Far off, the drill targeted her lower abdomen. The screams shook the glass walls, but the researchers didn't bat an eye.
Perfect.
Time to show them what villainy really means.
"Kim, team up with—"
Thwack—!!
I materialized and kicked the man in the ribs.
Crash!!
Glass shattered as he flew into the chamber. I toed the fallen ring case.
It's disgusting that scum like you even think of marriage and kids.
"Ah... aaah..."
From this moment.
I gripped the bat shaped like a baseball bat.
The impure shall all be executed.
Even beasts worse than humans.