The Gaze from the Depths
As the altar in reality shattered, the mental space began to collapse. The sky crumbled, and the rampaging anomalies scattered into dust. It felt like witnessing the end of a world. The only consolation was that this was a virtual space, not reality.
"Good work, Gung-gi."
"Ughhh, I thought I was gonna die..."
As I gazed at the collapsing village, I spotted Gung-gi staggering toward me from afar. His clothes were filthy, as if he'd rolled on the ground several times, and his forehead glistened with fresh sweat. Looked like quite the intense chase.
He'd played a big role in this mission, so I gave him straightforward praise.
"You know what happens if you pull any tricks, right? You die."
"I don't even have the energy for tricks?"
Still, I warned him just in case. I'd upgraded my assessment of him from "annoying yokai brat" to "useful yokai," but if I ever caught him scheming, I wouldn't let it slide. A quick search for a soul-related grimoire, separate him from Yu-hwa, and...
"I said I won't! Stop with the scary face?!"
"Fine."
Gung-gi was freaking out, so I dropped the thought. As I stared blankly at the sky, the collapse had crept right up to us. Every element forming the space vanished, leaving only utter void. It looked like falling in would be a bad end, but that's how we'd return to reality.
"I'll head out first."
"See ya. Hope we never cross paths again."
"That's what I was gonna say."
Gung-gi jumped into the void with those words. He'd partially merged with Yu-hwa, so he probably went somewhere other than reality. My turn soon.
"Hmm..."
I stared into the void, then glanced back. The church hadn't vanished yet, and behind it loomed the village's rear mountain—the only hill in this flat-surrounded village. A natural, pathless mound, not too big.
"Feels off."
It looked ordinary at a glance. But every time I saw it, irritation boiled up. Like facing an enemy or spotting something out of place in a tidy room.
"Might as well check."
I didn't know what was up there. Could be something hidden, or just my imagination. Either way, better confirm now than regret later if trouble brewed.
"Let's go."
Decision made, no time to waste. The mental space was collapsing in real time; I had to reach the summit before the mountain vanished. I dashed past the church and up the slope.
"..."
For its size, the mountain was brutally steep. High inclines, sharp branches blocking intruders. Useless against me. I bounded up like a mountain goat, reaching the top swiftly.
"Hmm..."
The summit was as small as the mountain. Just a few trees, some grass, and a small rock in the corner. An empty clearing, nothing special. But I felt something, so I kicked the rock aside.
"!!!"
And there it was. The source of my unease—the original of that shrine book illustration.
"A hole...?"
It was a tiny pit, bottomless. Pitch darkness swallowed any glimpse ahead, yet I felt eyes staring from beyond.
Who the hell are you.
I pushed my snake eyes to their limit, peering through. If the thing on the other side was watching me, I needed to know who—or what—it was.
"..."
My vision sank deeper, deeper. Past the ground we walked, through mystery-shrouded underground layers. Down to primordial depths untouched since the earth's upheavals. At the bottom, I glimpsed part of it.
"Hahaha."
Just eye contact, and chills erupted across my skin, endless hatred surging. Not personal emotion—primal, flesh-deep revulsion. Instinct screamed its identity. Hatred for eggs from the hen? Something like that.
Abyssal entity. Right?
It was an abyssal entity. Prisoners of the earth-prison called "the surface." Earthworms dreaming of crawling up. Eternal foes, polar opposites to the deep sea.
Wash your neck and wait.
I spat my loathing; it chuckled lowly. Wanted to learn more, but time was up. Collapse reached the summit. As the pit crumbled, I fell into the void.
Time to return to reality.
Back in reality, I woke in confusion.
[.....]
Shin-nim? What're you doing?
I'd fallen asleep in the hanok mansion, yet here I was in my apartment bed. And not just that—on my chest sat the stone slab, tentacles wrapped tight around me.
I knew it was a hug.
Wiping out the smell.
Smell?
Earth smell ultra gross. Gonna cover it with mine.
Aha?
Now I got it. That abyssal entity I'd just met—deep sea's antithesis. Its stench must've clung to me. To Shin-nim, it was like her beloved hubby reeking of hated rivals. No wonder she was rubbing all over to erase it.
How long?
Wait 30 min.
She'd cut me slack this time, and the earthy smell bugged me too, so I let her cling. Stone slab and tentacles, sure.
Satisfied.
"Phew..."
An hour bound still. Finally freed, I sighed wearily and checked my smartphone first. Date unchanged. Long mental space stint, but only three real hours passed.
"Hello?"
Ah, Jin-seok. It's you.
Shin-nim must've brought me home. Time to assess. Called Yu-hwa's phone; Sin Yu-seon picked up. Was Yu-hwa still out? Brief worry, but her voice came from beside.
Grandma, I said sorry...
Be quiet, child. I'm talking to our benefactor.
"Hahaha."
All safe. Good. Sin Yu-seon briefed me on Yu-hwa's situation.
I considered making her quit the company, but for your sake, I won't.
I'll give her minimal training and send her off. Use her as you will.
Train and send her my way—perfect. I silently cheered.
Get strong, please.
Not her dad; couldn't babysit forever. Third rescue already. Debts paid; next time, no help unless dying.
Then, 100 laps around the rear mountain first.
Gyaaaaah!
"Hahaha."
Yu-hwa's screams as last call note. Mission done, I flopped on the main hall sofa. Spotted rolling slab, dragged it over, plopped on chest.
"Shin-nim."
Yesss.
"What are abyssal entities?"
Genetic-level hostility revealed basics, but details? We'd clash eventually; foreknowledge was smart.
Don't need to know yet.
"What?!"
She shook her head firmly. She usually indulged me, but not this.
You'll learn when time comes.
"Mm..."
Won't meet for a while. Relax, fine.
Not thrilled, but good husbands obey wives. Forget abyss, watch TV.
A leisurely week later, company called. Business trip. Half-destroyed building still under repair, but couldn't idle staff forever.
"Too bad."
Bit disappointing, but inevitable. Nam Bu-jang said company teetering; earned that salary.
"All packed?"
"Yesss..."
I glanced aside. Not solo trip—Kim Gwa-jang tagging along. Worried about awkward newbie pairing, but him? Manageable.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir..."
So Kim Gwa-jang and I headed out. Destination: Ansan, Gyeonggi-do. Not my area, so no anomaly worries this time.