Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Blood Poison #4
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"Kyaaak! Who is it?!"
The moment I smashed through the guy's window and entered, a scream instinctively burst from my mouth.
There was someone inside!
No, if that was the case, don't pretend no one's home!
"What the..."
In the darkness, a faint silhouette appeared. But looking closer, something was off. Was it a person? A woman's body? Under the black underwear, her bare skin was covered in a faintly glowing crimson tattoo-like pattern.
"What kind of demon are you?"
A woman's voice rang out.
—Paat!
The next instant, the nearly naked tattooed woman flew toward me.
Something was gripped in her hand, and as I leaned back and raised my arm for defense—
—Tteoreong!
A "tteoreong" sound erupted from my forearm, slamming into me like I'd been flung away.
"Guk...!"
"Tteoreong?"
Self-damage!
What the hell, hitting someone's arm with a hammer...!
"No, wait! Just a second!"
"Person...?"
The woman lightly leaped back, retreating far away.
Amazed by my forearm's durability, I shouted anyway.
"I'm the one who came looking for you! Not a robber or thief!"
"Then get out."
"No, let's talk! It's important!"
"I said get out! Can't you see I'm not dressed?!"
Ah.
"Yes."
I meekly stepped outside.
Thus began an awkward wait.
So she was a nun.
Who would've thought she wasn't wearing clothes. But she seems pretty scary. Putting those glowing red tattoos all over her nearly bare body—worse than any irezumi, right? So that's why she's not fully human—a half-vampire?
—Click.
The light flicked on, and the lock unlatched. Peeking carefully, the door opened to reveal the nun in casual clothes, arms crossed and glaring at me.
"Hello."
"What was that? Your arm? How are you fine after taking a hit from my cross?"
In the nun's hand was a cross about 20cm long. So that's what she'd hit me with—not a hammer. A holy-attribute cross, probably with some debuff.
But my arm?
"Now that you mention it."
I rolled up the sleeve of my agent suit, revealing a bruise on my arm.
"What the heck?"
How did it make a "tteoreong" sound instead of a smack or thud?
Had my body gotten reinforced somehow?
I poked it—hurt like hell from the bruise.
Maybe the agent suit has high defense.
Whatever it was, she now knew I wasn't a normal human.
"This suit's a bit special."
"Don't tell me... Management Bureau?"
"Oh! You know about it!"
"..."
The nun stared at me intently again.
"The Management Bureau... why? No, more than that. Your face looks familiar."
Pretty aggressive tone.
From my memory, the nun I met during the Giant Apocalypse was kinder.
Well, sure.
Anyone friendly to a midnight intruder is either a total psycho or a serial killer thrilled by prey walking right in. Especially the former. Even serial killers pick targets carefully—they wouldn't want unwanted guests.
"You remember. The guy who bought crosses last time."
"That vampire hunter? You're a Management Bureau agent?"
The nun's green eyes widened.
"I was a civilian then. Got plagued by vampires and ended up joining the Bureau."
I explained just enough to be believable. No need for long stories about giants or hospitals here.
"Hmm... Is that so?"
The nun tilted her head.
"I thought you were a vampire hunter. So you went that route."
"Yes. But you didn't seem suspicious back then. You already pegged me as one?"
"Usually, yeah."
Usually?
"Suddenly buying a ton of crosses—people who look shady or unstable are usually that type. Occupational hazard; I get a feel for it."
I'd heard there were vampire hunter groups.
I wanted to meet them sometime.
They must be good people.
If I complained about vampire troubles, they'd warmly welcome me. Maybe even throw a party or play board games. Just thinking about it made these faceless vampire hunters feel like old pals. Bet they all wear party hats. The funniest one's probably the one with the clown nose glasses.
I'm going crazy... I wanna meet them ASAP.
Should I ask this nun to introduce me sometime?
"Figures. Encounter those vicious vampires, and any normal person goes mad and buys up crosses."
"Exactly. Especially now. But you."
"Yes?"
"How'd you find me? There must be a reason."
Ah.
Thinking about it, at this point, I shouldn't know she's a nun. Last I saw her was at the Christian shop. Showing up as an agent out of nowhere would seem weird.
Bureau intel...? No, the Bureau says to steer clear of religious folks—better tread carefully.
"Like how you suspected me of being a vampire hunter, I had similar thoughts about you."
"What?"
"Truth is, I have a kind of sixth sense."
"Sixth sense?"
"Even back then, I felt something about you. Then, working at the Bureau, I vaguely figured out who you are."
"Tell me."
"The Christian shop... You're a 'special religious figure,' right?"
At that, the nun nodded.
"Well, the Management Bureau would know. Sit down. If you came to me, I can guess what you want to talk about."
"Yes."
I sat on the sofa.
"First, let me clean up the window."
"That's obviously on you. Why smash the window instead of knocking like a normal person? Are you possessed?"
"I'm just too agent-like sometimes..."
Plus, I still had this urge to dive through windows. Some kind of PTSD.
Only someone like Spandal could embrace me and heal it. Though if she suddenly turned into a black shadow, it'd make it worse. Come to think of it, partying with vampire hunters sounds best. What games do they play? I mastered a bunch in the army. Can't wait to show off.
Getting recognized as the fun guy in the vampire hunter crew would be awesome.
—Swish.
Lost in those thoughts, I swept up the glass and finally sat on the sofa.
"Straight to the point. I found a vampire hotspot."
"Hoo."
The nun showed interest.
"Reasons for someone like you—a special religious type—in this country are limited. Demons or vampires, right?"
"You know a bit."
"Bureau perks. We track domestic incidents."
Agent convenience.
Just say something vague, and they fill in the blanks.
"Anyway. I want to talk vampires. We need to take them out."
"Let me think."
The nun closed her eyes, head tilted. After a moment, she opened them.
"Hmm, I don't want to team up with you guys."
"Yes?"
Why?
"Here's the deal. Give me your contact. Tell me the location. Anywhere in Korea, I can get there fast and handle it myself."
"Ah, so no formal alliance—just coords, and you go solo?"
"Easier for both sides, no?"
Actually great for me.
I want to save Jin-seop, and create this nun variable so I don't die fighting vampires.
Problem is, Bureau isn't fully friendly with Vatican—told not to contact. A newbie initiating would be weird, borderline disobeying orders.
But she suggested it first.
Things are going smoothly.
"Got it. We'll do that. But... what should I call you?"
"Just call me Sister."
"You are a nun. Anyway, Sister. You sure you'll be okay alone? Vampire spots are dangerous. Could be hordes of vampires and ghouls. Like a warzone. Gunfire's standard."
"Ahaha, is that what you're worried about?"
—Kwang!
"Heok!"
Suddenly, she slammed her cross on the table.
—Clunk!
The drawer popped open, revealing... an arsenal of guns!
This crazy spy!
Hidden like in Die Hard!
"Think I'm less pro than you guys? In vampire hunting."
"You're a total Van Helsing... or Constantine?"
"Yeah. Van Helsing. Wait, the movie Hellsing? Or the anime?"
"Seen both."
"Nice. Gotta watch the good stuff a lot."
"I'm a Stephen Sommers fan..."
Stephen Sommers—legendary director in Europe, rival to Spielberg.
"Who's that? Anyway, you."
She knows Van Helsing but not Sommers?
Her taste is suspect.
"Yes."
"See it?"
"What?"
"My body."
"Ah."
"Keep quiet about that."
Ah, the tattoos.
"I'll believe it's proof of religious penance."
"..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Here, my contact."
"Yes."
"Call that. I'll come right away."
"Got it. See you on the battlefield—hopefully friendly."
"What? Where you going? Pay for the window first."
I'd forgotten.
"Right. Name your price."
"Daring to haggle? Sir."
"What the..."
In the end, I paid 300,000 won for the window and left.
Our Sister knows Korean culture inside out.
Next morning.
I headed to the Bureau, heavy tension and pressure weighing on me. Around now, vampire reports should come in.
I don't think everything post-Reality Recognition Device was just illusion. Tied to reality. Vampires today, then that mosquito bitch again.
Can't help but be tense...
Dying to know her reaction this time. Does she remember me yelling to wake up? Or no memory, just hostile?
Either way, horror.
Truth today.
"Ah? Grong, hi hi. Good morning."
Entered the office; Jamtree greeted me with a bright smile. Her welcome made me smile too.
"Good morning, Senior Jamtree. Have a good one."
"Yeah yeah. Let's do our best today."
"Yes. I'll work hard. Anything—I'm ready to be the dutiful junior anytime."
"Hehehe, so eager. Reliable as ever. Coffee first. Like yesterday?"
"Graciously!"
She brewed it right away.
"Here. Coffee."
"Hehehe, looks delicious."
Sweetened condensed milk mix coffee.
Gotta be sweet.
First sip—sweetness flooded my mouth.
"Chok chok chok."
Jamtree poked my throat as I drank, fingertips "chok chok chok." Sometimes I think she's the thorny one, not Spandal.
"Grong, official first day, but lots you don't know, right? Sis'll teach you today. Comprehensive Response Team handles everything—variety. Overall duties."
"Memorization key. I'll drill like combat training."
Felt the conversation differ from last loop.
"Hehe, Grong's so disciplined. Cute. First, office tasks? Sit by sis."
"Yes."
Sat next to Jamtree.
Straight to mall patrol?
Progress same so far.
"You saw sis do it before? Internet spreads anomalies too. Like Cheongak Mary Hospital job ad you saw—probably anomalous."
"Got it."
Ghosts posting job ads online... end times. Random thought: what were my predecessor and successor guards? Still don't know if human or anomaly disguised.
"See this? Bureau program scans web. Detects weird stuff... Look, something popped on this mall."
"Ooh."
More detailed than last time.
'Cause I'm official now, not newbie.
—Tadak.
Jamtree clicked mouse and keyboard fast.
The creepy listing on the mall vanished.
"Like that."
"Does it fully disappear?"
"Nah, not really."
Not total deletion.
"But catching 'em like this is lucky. Catch early, safe."
"Unfortunately, can't catch all. Process detections like this, patrol suspects quick. Missed that hospital ad for that reason."
The backstory.
"Anyway, that's how. Program runs constant—you can do it."
"Yes. Looks like just follow prompts. When you're away, I cover?"
"Quick learner. Love having eager kid like Grong. But if stuck or weird, tell sis right away?"
"Yes."
"So good."
She patted my head. Then last loop's words surfaced.
"But Senior Jamtree. World Politics Bulletin Board?"
"Uh, uh?"
"Anything real there?"
"Um... that's..."
Like posting:
'Free Section Chief Jo Seong-chun...!'
'Deputy Chief Lee Do-hyung Legend.jpg'
'Bureau jerks having afterparty here???'
—Ziiing.
Door opened.
"Everyone here. Emergency. Comprehensive Response Team—all out."
Jaaldi entered; I knew it was coming.
"Emergency? What happened?"
Stood with Jamtree.
"Vampires appeared."
"Vampires...!"
Last loop, Jaaldi had me stand by as newbie.
No such thing now.
"Grong. Your first field mission. Danger zone. Stay alert."
"Understood."
"Get cocky, die fast? Vampire bite—no cure. Game over. Wonder if you can handle..."
Spandal sidled up, about to spit venom.
"Trust me, Senior Spandal! I'll handle anything thoroughly!"
"Th-that confidence is the problem. Don't overdo it. Pure enthusiasm gets you killed..."
I struck her inner kindness, sinking her in one blow.