Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Vampiric World #1
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I moved toward the city's boundary with Spandal. The farther we got from the epicenter, the fainter the red glow became. Ghoul corpses were scattered around as well. They looked like they'd just been left there to rot.
"Senior Spandal. The ghoul bodies here look intact."
"Yeah. Looks like its power hasn't reached this far yet."
The Vampire Angel's domain apparently wasn't that extensive.
"Is it because it hasn't been manifested long enough and lacks the strength?"
"That's the most likely explanation. It probably grows stronger based on the number of vampires and ghouls it infects. That's usually how it works."
Really.
To an unimaginable degree.
It was utter evil.
Was that supremely malevolent and wicked Vampire Angel planning to turn everyone in the world into vampires and ghouls?
The mere thought was insanely horrifying.
Why the hell would it do something like that?
"..."
A fundamental question.
If that Vampire Angel was truly the same kind of being as me, then why was it trying to increase the number of vampires?
Even in this moment, consumed by bizarre confusion, I felt intense murderous rage toward vampires. I wanted to kill every last vampire and ghoul. If it was the same as me, that was exactly what I should do.
But it was acting the complete opposite...
Did that mean it wasn't the same after all?
Was it really just a mistake by the Fake Management Bureau? They said it wasn't even registered in the database. But there had to be some basis for identifying me.
My duplicate? Or me from another world?
Whatever the case, there was a chance it wasn't.
"Grong. Once we get past this fog, we'll be out of the city."
It was the same fog barrier I'd seen when first entering the city.
"Time to get out and summon that demon, then."
"Yeah."
"But what about Team Leader Jaaldi? She got left behind there alone."
Vampires, ghouls, and now an extremely wicked angel roaming around. Even Jaaldi would be in danger on her own.
Spandal crossed her arms and said,
"You'll see once we're out, but a massive perception block is in effect around this city right now."
"What? A massive perception block?"
"If civilians find out about this incident, it'll cause unimaginable chaos. And that would spawn even more anomalies. Very powerful ones."
"Why is that...?"
"Some anomalies grow stronger the more people know about them. If a huge number of people learn that anomalies are real... that's a top-tier crisis. Way beyond what we're dealing with now."
"So that's the reason."
That explained why the Management Bureau controlled information.
"Plus, cults worshiping that bizarre demon would pop up. And that would fuel its power."
"Worshiping a so-called Vampire Angel?!"
Those scum need to be wiped out!
"Anyway. Team Leader Jaaldi is playing the linchpin for the perception block. Until this incident ends... she can't leave that place."
"...I see."
Jaaldi was making a sacrifice.
"A sacrifice for resolving the incident."
"Exactly."
I had no idea how to feel about the Management Bureau as an organization.
There were so many suspicious things about our bureau. Questions about the Reality Recognition Device. And the seniors who turned into anomalies there. There was definitely some serious secret in this bureau.
But as Spandal just explained, at its core, it was trying to protect the human world. Suspicious as hell, even summoning demons, but ultimately protecting humans.
The Fake Management Bureau was the same.
They ripped out my brain and seemed to slaughter people caught in anomalies left and right, but the ones they killed this time were cult fanatics who summoned the wicked angel.
They even fought the vampire forces at the cost of their lives. That much was crystal clear. They were fighting extraterrestrials for humanity. Extreme methods, sure.
In the end.
Both the real Management Bureau and the fake one were fighting for humans. And both had suspicious elements.
Of course, the fakes ripping out my brain—and me being with the real bureau—made neutrality hard.
How do you view it neutrally?
Should I join the Fake Management Bureau?
Honestly, not realistic. Beyond the hatred from having my brain extracted, I'm already a real bureau agent. They wouldn't accept a defector. And my brain would get yanked again. No way in this life.
I need to learn more about both groups somehow...
"Huh?"
Lost in those thoughts, we passed through the fog, and a bunch of people came into view.
No.
These were bureau agents.
Friendly ones.
"Senior Spandal?"
"They're the assembled agents... Still not many, huh."
I could see about ten just at a glance.
One approached.
"Spandal. Preparations to manifest the demon have begun. Head to HQ."
"Got it. Keep managing things here. Don't go in."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Let's go, Grong. You and I are the key. We're the only ones who directly witnessed that entity."
So that's why Spandal and I were chosen.
"Guess you need detailed info on the target to kill something with a demon."
"Right. Good instincts. I thought you'd just charge in and die from overeagerness. Maybe you'll survive to the end. Hop in."
Spandal opened the driver's side door.
I quickly got in the passenger seat.
The drive began.
Just Spandal and me.
What should I ask?
"Senior Spandal. Is the bureau really that short-staffed?"
"Hm?"
"It's just... some things are hard to understand. How many agents does the bureau have? If it's so few, responding to nationwide or global anomalies would be impossible. Isn't the number too small?"
The Comprehensive Response Team alone is just four. Suppression Team around six or seven? Way too few for such an important organization.
"It is few... Normally, I'd tease you that they're all dead. Grong."
So Spandal's venomous tongue did have timing.
"I'd have been shocked by the joke. Anyway. What happened?"
"We used to have way more. Like ten times as many."
"Ten times?!"
That's a huge scale!
"So where are they all?"
"Secondary dimension."
What?
"Dispatched to the secondary dimension. Fighting... something unknown there."
"Wh-what? So like, ninety percent of bureau agents are in the secondary dimension fighting something?"
"Yeah."
"For what?"
"To protect this world, obviously. Can't risk the defenses breaking."
"What exactly... is it?"
"This is beyond your perception."
"Please, just a little. I'll try to understand."
No wonder the agent count seemed so low. Over ninety percent of our forces were fighting in the secondary dimension.
Essentially, the scraps were left here.
"Honestly, I don't know everything. But... the bureau's poured all its tech and resources into building a fake Earth in the secondary dimension. To lure those unknown things."
"Oh."
"We turn it into a battlefield. Oh, Kurosna's there too. Essential firepower."
Definitely beyond my perception.
"It must be dangerous enough to mobilize most bureau agents."
Some massive horde invading?
Hundreds of thousands, millions of anomaly legions?
"We're here."
"That was quick."
Back at our bureau building. I glanced out the parking lot window. Cars and people moving. Everyday scene. The perception block was working perfectly.
"Ah, ahh...! You're here!"
"Dejure?"
Dejure came running up.
"Dejure. The demon?"
Spandal asked, and Dejure looked terrified as she replied.
"It, it's already started...! This way, the demon will appear...! B-but what if it demands a different sacrifice?!"
"I'll handle that judgment."
Sacrifice?
"Grong. Let's go."
"Yes. But sacrifice? You mean offering one to the demon to make a wish or something?"
"Similar."
"Then the sacrifice is...? No way, humans?!"
"No...! H-humans? What are you saying?!"
Dejure cut in.
"Then what is it?"
"P-pigs...! Pigs!"
"Pigs?"
"Yes!"
Offering pigs?
That's cheap, right?
"About three million, though..."
"What? How do you offer that many?"
Dejure glanced around nervously.
"By... causing foot-and-mouth disease... and offering their carcasses..."
What the hell?
After that, foot-and-mouth disease actually broke out.
Hundreds of thousands nationwide, eventually three million pigs culled.
After taking the demon out of isolation, it accepted those pigs as tribute. All three million.
"Pigs are kinda pitiful, but honestly, this is a bargain."
"True. Shocking, but pure honey. Trigger foot-and-mouth, cull three million pigs, kill a religious anomaly? Totally worth it."
"For now."
For now?
"The price changes next time. Might not work anymore. Anyway. It's about to start."
"The demon manifestation."
"Yeah."
I moved to the designated spot with Spandal.
A wide open field.
Flesh-colored.
Severed pig heads littered the entire field.
Thousands of them. That's why it looked flesh-colored. A field made of pig heads.
In the center stood a massive cube. The demon was inside that.
"This... doesn't it look like some insanely evil sorcery ritual?"
That was my honest impression.
Was this wicked ritual really the only way to catch that Vampire Angel?
"Yeah, it does. But no choice. When religious anomalies show up, this is it. Last resort."
I accepted it as unavoidable.
"It's about to start. Do as I told you. Got it?"
"Kinda nervous... What if I mess up?"
"Sigh... Jaaldi's alone in there. And you're scared of this? Even as a junior..."
"My hands are shaking! My whole body!"
"H-hold still! I get it! Just calm down!"
I shook wildly, and Spandal spread her arms slightly.
"Really... why do you always put your senior in such a spot..."
I naturally fell into her embrace.
Nice.
Spandal really loves her juniors. Constant hugging requests paid off. She's gotten used to it and opens up easily now.
"Calmed down...?"
"Yes."
Anxiety faded, and my mind cleared rationally.
Meaning I was calm.
This job.
It can't succeed.
If it does, it's locked in.
Can't let that happen.
I have to sabotage this incident on purpose. Die afterward if needed. Loop back and start over. No idea how the 2,000-point penalty works.
I can't let this proceed.
So, shatter everyone's sacrifices and hopes.
For a better future.
"Grong. It's starting. Just do as I said."
I had to make the wish.
Since I'd observed the Vampire Angel most closely.
"You can't wish for just anything. Strict rules and procedures. Stick to them. Got it?"
"Heard it a million times. Don't worry."
Spandal smiled faintly.
"You give your senior endless trouble... but you do have some reliability."
ㅡHiss.
The cube split, smoke pouring out. The world filled with smoke instantly. A world of pure smoke, with a straw-like form.
Incredibly skinny and thin... stretching endlessly toward the sky.
It writhed and undulated.
Pigs squealed madly from all directions. Instinctively, I knew the three million culled pigs had been stretched thin inside that elongated being.
Their squeals merged into a voice. It pierced my mind.
'Speak your wish.'
I said in my heart,
'I wish for nothing.'
The scene changed instantly.
No demon, no pig heads.
Just Spandal and me in the field.
"It's done?!"
"Yes."
"Hah...! We're good now! It'll work out somehow!"
Spandal rarely showed such open joy.
ㅡWhoosh!
She pulled me into a tight hug.
"If luck's on our side, we might even save Team Leader Jaaldi. Good job, Grong. All thanks to you contacting that anomaly and returning safely. Really well done... really, truly..."
I.
Felt truly uncomfortable.
For deceiving Spandal.
Why did I keep deceiving people, driving them to death, bringing ruin over and over?