Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Vampire Uproar #3
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As we stepped into the fog, a deeply eerie cityscape came into view.
This felt like an apocalypse in a different sense from the Giant incident.
Back then, the whole world was stained crimson, buildings had collapsed into rubble everywhere, and grotesque fleshy vines had sprouted in place of ivy. It was like hell itself had descended upon the mortal realm.
But this place... it was just plain sinister.
The backdrop was dark, and the city felt utterly deserted.
"Team Leader Jaaldi. Have the vampires completely taken over this city?"
It hadn't even been that long.
Had the entire place been overrun already?
"We can't tell yet. Jamtree. Ready?"
"Just a sec. Setting it up now."
Jamtree worked her pad.
"Done. Doesn't seem to be anything nearby. Let's head in a bit further."
"Right."
Some kind of detector?
We entered the city.
Even if nothing was showing up, I'm a stickler for principles. Rifle in hand, sweeping a danger zone—situational awareness is basic. Holding the K2 brought back all those old instincts.
I could react sharply and drop a skinwalker even if it burst out from that building over there.
—Swoosh.
Even in the rain, it was the same. Dim and foggy as hell, but my senses were sharper than ever.
"Oh my, Grong. You look like a whole different person."
"What's this? Grong, been on some overseas deployment? You look downright seasoned."
Jamtree and Jaaldi commented with interest.
"I'm just in the zone right now. Let me show you Grong's divinely inspired marksmanship."
If we're talking pure experience, mine might even outstrip most agents. Wonder how they fight, though...
Jaaldi and Spandal had just pistols.
Jamtree had her gear and an SMG.
Curious how they'll handle combat.
—Beep.
A sound came from Jamtree's pad.
"Got a hit. They'll show up soon."
"Get ready."
"Yes."
We watched the direction Jamtree pointed out.
Aiming my K2, tension building—right then.
—Rat-tat-tat!
In the distance, I spotted a bunch of figures charging on all fours.
"Ghoul!"
Completely feral. Hair a mess, skin clinging to bone like leather—grotesque. Eyes gleaming, overgrown fangs jutting out.
From what I remembered... Mom and Dad hadn't gotten that bad. Probably degenerates over time.
Finger on the trigger.
And.
—Bang!
Quick shot, rapid re-aim.
—Bang!
—Bang!
—Bang!
Fire, swing the muzzle, fire again. Duck my head a bit for wide peripheral, scan ghoul positions overall, then sights back up, recall memorized spots, rapid fire.
One shot, one kill.
Eject mag, speedy reload. Now I saw ghouls climbing walls or crawling up buildings.
—Ta-da-da-dang!
That's when everyone opened up. I quickly clocked what the team was firing while hunting my targets. Whatever, these ghouls were dropping before they got close.
Then.
—Flash!
Movement up top on that commercial building. A guy in work clothes. Unlike the others, not on all fours—he was using two legs. Leaping with insane jump power to escape. Instinct screamed it at me.
"Vampire!"
Snap aim to his head.
—Bang!
One right in the back of the skull!
"Vampire down!"
The leaping vamp sprayed blood from his head and tumbled into the alley below. Silver round blew his brains—ain't surviving that. Even knowing he was dead, the urge to confirm kill surged. Smash a cross in his face, stake the heart, garlic paste him. Or lock the bastard in a cave like some mad shaman and force-feed him garlic till he bursts.
Anyway.
Like the arrow god who dropped the sun, I'd sniped the vampire dead.
Combat over.
Dozens of ghouls head-shot and sprawled long before closing in. The vamp leech was mine too.
"Team Leader Jaaldi! That golden one looked like a vampire! We need to check if it's still alive!"
"That's what I'm doing. Move fast."
"Yes!"
We hustled forward and found the vamp in the alley.
Dead...?
"Oh!"
Dead!
Just the lower half left!
The cross-section turning to ash and flaking away. Head must've started the burn. Vampires crumble to ash on death, right?
"Wooooah!"
Vampire!
Overwhelming euphoria hit— I'd killed this dogshit vamp with my own hands. Wanted to roar louder, but mission time, so I held it in.
Yes!
Revenge is possible...!
I can get revenge with these hands!
Thinking back, that bitch from the subway had folded to my cross and garlic barrage and retreated. No way these fucks tank silver!
"Seriously impressive... Grong, what are you? How do you shoot like that? Ghouls dropping one per shot. In seconds."
Jamtree said in awe.
"Heh heh, I've got pretty good focus."
"Even so... Spandal. Isn't this better than Kurosna from Suppression Team?"
Kurosna?
"Maybe?"
Who's that?
"Who's that? Agent Kurosna?"
"They're called the marksmanship master. Best shot in the Bureau, but seeing you, Grong, might shake up the rankings."
"Oh come on! Me, that good?"
Flattering!
"Exceptional beyond expectations. Didn't think a rookie would shine like this on first fight. Clearing 30 ghouls with 30 rounds in a flash."
Even Jaaldi was impressed by my shooting.
"Hahaha! Just leave it to me, Team Leader Jaaldi!"
"Good. This'll be smooth. Press on."
"Yes!"
Great.
After dropping a horde of ghouls and a vamp, confidence was up. At this rate, extermination's a breeze.
"Grong, you shoot like a pro? Not jumping to Suppression Team on us, right? Would make your senior sad."
"No way I'd ditch Comprehensive Response Team."
"Phew, good. But hey, don't get cocky. Shooting well is great, but if it doesn't work? You're dead meat."
"Ah."
Spandal's words snapped me alert.
She's right.
In this world... firepower's nice, but its limits are crystal clear. Even Section Chief Lee Do-hyung got one-shot by a real-deal anomaly.
Sure, I shoot well, but it only works on shit it works on. Useless against unknown horrors.
"Got it. Guns only chew what they can chew."
"Quick on the uptake, junior."
Anyway, we pressed on.
—Ta-da-dang!
Detector gear gave advance warning, so fights were easy. Jamtree alerts, we wait, then blast.
Dropped another ghoul pack.
"But Team Leader Jaaldi. Isn't this a lot? Even so, a hundred Koreans turning ghoul and dying? That'd be big news."
About a hundred ghouls down.
Real talk: a hundred Koreans shot dead.
"You could think that. But this stuff's not rare."
"Huh?"
"We can make events like this vanish. Bureau tech covers it easy. You didn't know 'cause you're ex-civilian, Grong, but this world's way more dangerous than you imagine."
"..."
Normally, I'd buy that no question.
That Descendant of the Singing Star building it infested. When I cleared it, it collapsed. Right in central Seoul, monster fault, but news blamed shoddy construction or age.
Bureau's got the tech and know-how to bury this shit.
They've covered up countless incidents like that.
But.
Is that...
All above board?
Doubts crept in, but I ain't dumb enough to zone out mid-op. Shelved it, focused on now. Job's killing vamps and ghouls.
"That way!"
"Yes!"
Per Jamtree's call, swung muzzle, erased incoming ghouls.
"Krrraaack!"
Even one leaping from a high-rise window—same deal. With K2 in my hands, no approach. Didn't even get to use the garlic or cross I packed. All mine.
"Team Leader. Something's off."
After another pack, Spandal spoke.
"More than expected. And no proper command. Wasting troops like this ain't smart. Right?"
"Agreed."
My thoughts too.
"Same here. If I were Pureblood, no way I'd burn minions like this. We've already dropped one vamp and over a hundred ghouls. What's their game? Makes no sense. If they started this, there's gotta be a goal. This looks like pointless waste or abandonment."
"Sharp."
Jaaldi nodded.
"There's a reason. Something forcing their hand here."
What could it be?
"Guessing anomaly motives is tough. Odds are, vamps were doing something, shit hit the fan, forces exposed."
"Is that so?"
"Think Pureblood as an organization. They're sharp, strategic. No meaningless moves. If it looks that way, it's camouflage—or trouble on their end."
Good intel.
If not deliberate deception, something went wrong for the vamps, bubbling this mess to the surface.
"Hmm... gym up ahead."
Kept going, big gym building appeared.
Tax-funded, now charred outside from fire.
"Fire? Senior Jamtree. Anything inside?"
"Doesn't seem so... Team Leader. Search it?"
"Gym fire. Suspicious as hell. In."
Said nothing inside, but cautious entry.
But.
"Huh?!"
Mouth dropped the second we entered.
"What the fuck!"
Bodies everywhere!
Burned to death!
"Good god..."
Jamtree covered her mouth; Jaaldi and Spandal scanned. I checked the corpses too.
"Team Leader Jaaldi. These folks... burned alive in here."
All charred, hard to count exactly. But a ton. Civvies sheltered in the gym, then fire?
"Vampire work?"
"Nah, different culprits."
"Who?"
Then.
"Ah! Team Leader! Contacts!"
"Figured it'd be them. Grong. Ready up."
"For what!"
Jaaldi's face twisted.
Grinding her teeth, she said.
"Fake Management Bureau."
"What!"
Fake Management Bureau?!
" Looks like they rounded people up and torched 'em."
"Torched them?!"
Those crazy bastards!
Herded folks and burned them alive?!
All these people?!
"Gunfight incoming. Take cover!"
"Yes! Senior Jamtree! Enemy direction!"
"That way!"
Pinned enemy dir, cover taken.
And.
From the fog, black-suited, sunglassed men emerged.
Fake Management Bureau fuckers...!
They actually showed!