Chapter 31
Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Apocalypse #12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the top floor came into view.
I'd used up all my bullets on the way up. Those pesky little tentacles had been too much of a hindrance.
All that was left were Sal-hyung's scimitar and the dynamite.
...Somehow, I'd see this through to the end.
I dragged my body, now heavy as lead, up the final stairs.
"Is this the place?"
The moment I stepped in.
I knew it on instinct.
This was their core.
"..."
What a bizarre space.
Unidentifiable tissues protruded all over the room. The most distinctive were the bright red spheres with wrinkled surfaces. They pulsed, fused with a multitude of tentacles.
"Brains? Or hearts?"
There were a lot of them.
Dozens, maybe.
If I smashed these, would the flower collapse?
And if I did.
What would happen to the regression point?
The thought made the rage and hatred gnawing at my brain shift to confusion. If I destroyed them and the regression point locked to right now?
Would I have to live on in a world where everything had perished?
"Ah."
A chill of sheer terror ran through me. Regression meant total failure the instant the regression point went wrong.
Which meant.
Paradoxically, I couldn't resolve things here. Touching them rashly could lock the point right now, leaving no future.
"..."
Did I have to die here?
After surpassing everyone's sacrifices to reach this point, was I supposed to turn back without seeing the final resolution? Making all those sacrifices meaningless...
"It wouldn't be meaningless."
As long as I'd seen it.
As long as I existed, it could be resolved someday...!
ㅡSchlurp!
Tentacles erupted from the floor. They twisted together into a grotesque form, becoming a monster. Looked like a guardian had appeared to protect the core.
ㅡThud.
It approached.
It looked strong—no way I could win. But I couldn't just take it lying down. Let's see. I needed proof that these wrinkled spheres were vital organs.
There were dozens, but slicing one would tell me.
I swung the scimitar right away, slashing the nearest sphere.
ㅡSplash!
Blood burst out like a punctured leather sack. At the same instant, the monster convulsed violently.
"Yeah, these the important ones? Mess these up, and we're good?"
I mocked it.
ㅡSquelch.
But the sphere began regenerating.
In an instant.
"Ah, fuck."
So normal methods wouldn't cut it.
Good to know.
ㅡFlash!
The monster, convulsing for a while, kicked off the ground.
"Haha...!"
Honestly, it was terrifying. No way I couldn't feel fear with that freak charging at me.
Still, I calmly hurled the scimitar and pulled out the lighter. A tentacle arm shot toward me. I ignored it, lighting the fuse right at the tip of Sal-hyung's dynamite.
ㅡThump!
"Gah!"
The tentacle pierced my gut. Searing pain crumpled my stance, but that wasn't important now.
I clung to the dynamite until the end.
In my final moment.
I screamed with all my strength.
"Alla... hu, akbar!!!!"
Thinking only of returning!
ㅡKABOOM!
.
.
.
[You have died entangled in a holy explosion.]
[Death Count: 9 → 10]
I opened my eyes to a clear blue sky.
Seoul's sky, before the apocalypse. The surroundings were vibrant, the towering buildings intact. The street trees brimmed with life, beautiful.
Basking in the cool breeze.
I kicked off the ground.
"I'm back...!"
No time to savor this scene now. If I won, I'd see this everyday world anytime. What I had to do was clear.
I pulled out the Management Bureau's business card.
I'd once thought reporting to them was foolish. I hadn't known about the fakes then. But now I knew from Jaaldi.
This card was the real deal.
Calling it would likely bring an agent like her. I'd tell that agent and figure out a solution.
ㅡRing ring.
Strictly speaking, the incident hadn't even "started" yet. Reporting before it burrowed into the wall would buy time, tilting things in my favor.
-You've reached us. What's the matter?
"I escaped Cheongak Mary Hospital. They told me to contact the Management Bureau."
-You escaped! Congratulations! We're dispatching an agent right away!
I hadn't noticed before, but her tone was high-energy. She'd said few survived the hospital, so she must be shocked and excited.
-What's your current location?
"I'm in Gangnam here."
I gave the address, adding details.
-An agent will be there soon!
"Hold on. You said Management Bureau. The group that fights monsters and stuff?"
-That's right. You'll learn the details soon enough.
"Actually, I'm caught up in something like that again right now."
-Pardon?
"Don't hang up."
I'd already arrived at the building. No sign of the man slipping into the wall. I'd run here calling as soon as it started, so I was ahead.
"I saw something monstrous pass through this building's wall. After the hospital, I recognized it as an anomaly right away. So I checked inside the building."
-Please continue. An agent's already been dispatched. That info's being shared in real time.
Look at that.
Proper communication, and it flows fast.
"The inside had turned into a totally grotesque space. Everyone inside was dead. I confirmed that and got out immediately. When's the agent arriving? It's urgent. This building might turn into that insane hospital!"
-They're almost there! We've pinpointed your location—get as far away as possible!
That's when it happened.
ㅡWhoosh!
From across the way, I saw a man twisting as he ran. That bastard— even across loops, he picked this building.
ㅡPop!
The jerk finally slipped into the wall.
"Ah."
That's when I realized I'd acted rashly.
The people inside the building...!
"Damn!"
If I'd moved faster, could I have evacuated them?
By the time that monster entered, the inside was probably already a mess. Everyone in there was likely dead.
"No... This isn't my fault."
I tried to convince myself.
Even if I'd realized first, evacuating everyone from this huge building would've been impossible. Yell fire at the desk? No one would've bought it. Even hitting the fire alarm, safety apathy means not everyone would've come out.
ㅡScreech!
Then a motorcycle pulled up in front of me.
"Huh."
I froze. The rider was a massive guy, easily two meters tall.
Black jacket, helmet—totally overwhelming. He could've passed for a wrestler.
ㅡSlide.
He removed his helmet. Neat beard and bald head—striking. What was this? Felt like Jet from [Cowboy Bebop].
"Hey, you the one?"
Our eyes met, and he grinned with a hearty tone.
He looked like he'd speak in a deep, gruff voice, but it was totally different.
"Management Bureau agent?"
"You know it. Name's Gorgodio. First off, congrats on surviving. Not easy coming back alive."
Gorgodio?
Jaaldi had a weird codename too. Come to think of it, the fake Bureau guys used Korean names.
Anyway, he stuck out his hand, so I shook it.
"You'll learn the details at the Bureau, so hold off on questions. Wait here a sec. Gonna check this building."
"Ah, sure. But wait, Agent Gorgodio? You came alone?"
"So?"
No!
This wasn't a one-man job!
Did they have no manpower available?
"Agent! That building's already a total shitshow inside! I survived that freak hospital, so I know— you can't handle that solo!"
"Nah, we're short-staffed right now. Short-staffed. That's just how it is. Wait here. I'll wrap it up quick."
This insane confidence...!
He looked built for fighting, and confidence was nice, but to me, he just seemed like Lee Do-hyung Section Chief!
That bastard turned out to be top-tier—Jaaldi and Sal-hyung both rated him high. Even they got wrecked helplessly. One agent like this could die without a trace.
Whatever, Gorgodio headed for the entrance.
I followed.
"Hey, why're you following? It's dangerous. You went through hell at the hospital—rest up."
But his speech was so friendly.
"Agent! Let's go together! From what I saw, no way you handle this alone! Two's better!"
"Civilians can't... While I'm asking nicely."
"Look there!"
I yelled, pointing at the entrance.
Mutation already in progress.
"Headquarters, this is Suppression Team's Gorgodio. Commencing building containment procedures immediately. What, no personnel? Drag some over somehow. I'm breaching now. Delay containment, and it'll cost more resources later!"
Gorgodio's vibe shifted in a flash as he charged the entrance. I ran after him.
"I said stay back! Think a civilian helps with anomalies!"
He bellowed like he wanted to kill me, but I strode forward boldly.
"I can help! I survived Cheongak Mary Hospital! And I can't stand by while others get dragged into anomalies! I swore I'd stop this no matter what!"
"You...! Hah, you've got agent potential! I like it! Follow if you want! Not my funeral if you die!"
"You're growing on me too!"
We plunged into the building together.
The first floor was already overrun with fleshy tissues. Fallen people lay fused into the guts-like floor, walls and ceiling pulsing everywhere.
"Upstairs! Feels like something's up there!"
"Up?"
"Surviving the freak hospital honed that instinct!"
"Superpower manifestation...? Explanations later. Let's go!"
"Right!"
On to the second floor!