Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Second Resolution #1
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Vampire Angel Grahnak has been eliminated.
Rather than overwhelming euphoria, a sense of relief washed over me. Now I finally had something to tell Spandal. I was on the verge of tears.
Too much time had passed since I'd just let that demon go... After finishing such a grueling task, all I wanted was rest. More precisely, to be alone.
Those emotions surged within me.
But 10,000 points was truly astonishing.
Last time, for suppressing the Descendant of the Singing Star early, I'd gotten exactly 5,000. And this was double that? Come to think of it, there had been a message about early suppression back then. But this time it said "eliminated," so maybe that's the difference?
Or perhaps Grahnak was a far more formidable being than the Giant.
Seeing the achievement confirmed that it was indeed Grahnak.
But what exactly was this achievement thing?
It was so puzzling.
On top of that, a new mail had arrived... At any rate, I now knew the Status Window had a lot of hidden features. They probably unlocked based on my actions.
I wanted to thoroughly check all this out, but now wasn't the time.
—Paht!
I threw myself behind cover.
The vampire uproar was still in full swing.
We were also in a standoff with the Fake Management Bureau.
With the Vampire Angel eliminated, hopefully that would prevent things from escalating further. From what I remembered, the Fake Management Bureau's goal was to stop us from getting our hands on the Vampire Angel.
If he'd vanished, they might retreat too.
Crawling on my belly, I retrieved the K2 and moved to a safe zone. Gunfire was still echoing, but it seemed to have died down a bit.
As I caught my breath.
"Hey! You okay?"
Quras, whom I'd sent to the side earlier, had come back.
"Senior Quras."
"What happened? Any engagement? I heard shots."
Looks like he hadn't seen me take down Grahnak.
"A vampire appeared, so I risked my life to eliminate it. It must've been the one that triggered my hyper-senses."
"You took it down alone? So recklessly!"
"Heh heh heh, yeah, but I just can't stand vampires. Killing them is the driving force of my life."
"What the—"
"Anyway, I got one."
"You're not right in the head either. Still, great job. One down is what matters. You're true Suppression Team material. Anyway, the Fake Management Bureau guys seem to be retreating. Let's head back and get our orders."
"Yes, sir."
So they were retreating after all.
Then Jinseop should be safe too.
Yeah... that's good enough.
Compared to the hell of the previous loop, I'd eliminated Grahnak without any casualties and saved Jinseop.
I'd achieved all my goals.
The destruction of the Black Stone Fragment stung, though.
I'd pocketed the debris, but if I showed it to Sal-hyung, he'd immediately shout "Allahu Akbar," go berserk about me smashing Islam's greatest relic, and beat me senseless. Nah, a beating would be the least of it. I might end up in some weird Islamist terror group's music video, executed in a desert in an orange jumpsuit with Islamic hymns blaring.
No.
If I explained that the Black Stone Fragment glowed on its own and took down a mighty demon, he might even be pleased. But without certainty, meeting Sal-hyung seemed risky.
"..."
But...
...Secriem.
What happened to the Pureblood?
Thinking about Secriem gave me a headache.
I forcibly pushed the thought away.
Focus on the present.
I returned to the team with Quras.
"You're back."
Jaaldi!
"Yes, ma'am."
Seeing Jaaldi filled me with joy. Back then, because I hadn't made a wish to the demon, she'd died alone here. Reuniting like this... it felt so heartwarming.
In the end.
I'd created the best outcome through regression.
Was this enough?
"I fought the Fake Management Bureau with Quras. Took down a vampire along the way too."
"Good work. Not just your marksmanship—you handle everything well. Grong, you're a rookie with real promise."
"Thank you."
Jaaldi smiled faintly and patted my shoulder.
"Glad you're safe, Grong. Nothing dangerous?"
Jamtree...!
Seeing Jamtree again was just as joyful!
"I'll tell you all my heroic tales later."
"Hee hee, I'll listen over coffee."
Come to think of it, I couldn't remember the last time I'd had coffee.
"Jamtree, crank up the volume."
"Sure thing."
Jamtree immediately raised the pad's volume.
—Retreat! Fall back!
—Retreat? Why? What orders came down?
—The anomalous reaction has vanished!
—What?! Did they get it?
—No, it's literally gone! Seems like it was destroyed!
—What...? Got it! Falling back for now!
Eavesdropping ability, as expected.
Fragments of the Fake Management Bureau's chatter came through.
"Still just gibberish," Jaaldi said, but I knew the full story.
Anomalous reaction—that was Grahnak.
With him gone, they were retreating.
"Well, that's that. The Fake Management Bureau is pulling out. Better to drive them off completely than chase and risk annihilation. Then we resume the original mission."
"Eliminate vampire remnants. Rescue people. Right?"
"Yeah."
That was a relief.
That was our real job.
"That's what Management Bureau agents do. Heart-pounding shootouts are fine, but saving lives is better."
"Hah, no need for extra mental training. Alright, resuming operations. Use suppressive fire to drive out the Fake Management Bureau. Then we restart."
"Got it!"
Under command, we moved, laying down harassing fire on the retreating Fake Management Bureau.
They pulled back even faster.
"They've all retreated!"
At Jamtree's call, we resumed our original mission.
—Tadadang!
Searching the city, we eliminated the remaining Ghoul stragglers. When Grahnak descended, they'd all revived. No more of that now.
Ghouls were truly exhausting.
"Huh, huuaaaak!"
We also rescued hidden civilians.
From what the Nun told me... these folks were all from some shady cult. Their fanaticism summoned the Saint's Relic, and for some reason, Grahnak possessed it.
Terrifying cult faith, but it needed investigation. Covering it up and massacring them like the Fake Management Bureau? That's not human.
We pressed on with the mission that way.
In the end, the Pureblood and other vampires didn't show.
Did they flee?
Timeline-wise, Grahnak appeared, then fled and encountered Secriem. She tried to kill me but sensed something under hypnosis and panicked... probably about Grahnak. Then I met the Nun.
Right now, I hadn't met Secriem or the Nun yet.
They were definitely alive.
Anyway.
While searching.
—Ssak.
A presence behind me.
I turned—it was Spandal.
"Senior Spandal...!"
Seeing her face brought back her final moments.
Tears welled up; I nearly hugged her.
But the Spandal here.
Was short-haired Spandal, not long-haired.
Not the one who'd shared the world's end with me...
"You're doing well?"
"Yes. Doing exactly as ordered."
"Yeah."
My chest tightened.
But I held back.
"Doesn't seem like I need to worry. Handling your share even in this dangerous op."
"It's all because Senior Spandal taught me well."
"I don't remember teaching much... Well, I indulged you a bit. Thought you were a total coward, Grong."
"That's because Senior Spandal gave me strength. Your care for a junior made me a better agent."
"W-what nonsense... Just do your job."
"Yes, ma'am."
Talking with Spandal was truly enjoyable.
Yeah.
Just focus on the job.
Clear my mind for now.
The mission ended.
We wiped out the vampire forces and rescued survivors. They were transported to the Management Bureau. After debriefs, they'd get memory wipes and return to society. Some might get recruitment offers.
A whole city nearly wrecked—a massive incident—but the Bureau's memory erasure and perception-lowering tech was impressive.
The vampire incident was reframed as a large-scale fire. The Fake Management Bureau had set fires everywhere, making it more believable.
Back in the familiar office, we wrapped up.
"Haa, that's finally over. Tough one."
Jamtree stretched as she spoke.
"Grong, your proper first mission. How was it?"
I nodded at Jaaldi's question.
"Tough, but I really get what an agent's job is now. Met monsters, resolved the incident, even did memory wipes and perception tweaks. Pure Management Bureau stuff."
"Well... this was a bit different from the usual. Normally it's more anomaly handling. This was closer to full-scale combat than a typical anomaly."
"Ah, I get the vibe now."
Anomalies like the Cheongak Mary Hospital mess. This was an anomaly too, but combat-heavy.
"Whatever, I'll keep doing my best."
Still...
So much I don't know.
Rolling with the Bureau longer should reveal more.
"Good attitude. Alright, clock out. Everyone, good work."
"Yes, ma'am."
Finally, some rest.
"Grong, good work."
Spandal greeted me.
"You too, Senior Spandal."
"Yeah. We pulled this off safely, but don't get cocky. Doesn't mean you'll ace everything else. Don't assume you'll handle other jobs the same. Guns aren't everything. Plenty of anomalies bullets won't touch. Always stay alert and vigilant..."
This wasn't nagging.
It was kind advice.
"Of course. Situations always vary. But if something tough comes up, can I rely on you, Senior Spandal?"
"...As long as you don't make things hard for me."
Talking with Spandal was fun.
But also painful.
With that, I parted from everyone and headed home.
"Finally."
Back home, I showered in hot water.
Stepping out naked, the reality of being alone hit.
"Haa."
I sat on the sofa, emptying my mind.
...
After a blank state, I sorted through events.
Some questions resolved, decent rewards too.
But new ones arose in equal measure.
"Alright, let's sort this."
This time, I learned about loop play and Endings.
This was Loop 2.
In Loop 1, I got bitten by Secriem, became a vampire, then Grahnak. That Loop 1 Grahnak invaded this Loop 2.
No clue on the mechanics of crossing loops.
But clearly, he came to steal my existence. Crossing loops must be a huge deal.
Meaning Grahnak was terrifyingly powerful.
Reasons I beat him? About four.
First.
Even a being like Grahnak crossing loops probably couldn't do it freely without penalties. Likely consumed some power in the process.
Second.
He revealed his true name to me. For anomalies, names are crucial. The Cheongak Mary guard Lee Seung-cheol, the Bureau—all hide true names. Grahnak exposing his was fatal.
Third.
The Black Stone Fragment's power is immense. Islam's absolute relic. Even a shard repels evil overwhelmingly. Grahnak falling to it was natural. It even shattered, power spent.
Finally... garlic.
My garlic symbolizes my faith and conviction against vampires. Drove Secriem off in the subway with it. My garlic is strongest. Especially since Grahnak was me. A being from me falling to my own conviction is fitting. The more I value garlic, the less he could escape it.
These factors combined let me fell Grahnak.
Now.
Why did Loop-crossing Grahnak want my existence?
"Loops, Endings, regression."
I'm a regressor.
This world has Endings.
I advance to the next loop upon an Ending.
What do my Status Window and this grand regression mean?
Loop 1 was Non-Human Bad Ending. It birthed the Vampire Angel, who invaded this loop to wreck the world.
So... the more Bad Endings I get...
The worse the next loop gets?
"Ah."
Something heavy lodged in my chest.
Can't afford Bad Endings.
If Bad Endings exist, so do True Endings.
Must I find the right one?
Keep regressing until then, facing escalating disasters via Bad Endings, loops getting harder?
Is that what the Status Window...
This regression power demands of me?
... Horrific.
Even possible?
For starters.
What Ending awaits me in this Loop 2?
Will something go wrong and turn me into Grahnak?
Then... how to distinguish me from him?
And if Loop 3 starts... where does it begin?
"..."
Whatever.
I must uncover Endings and the Status Window's meaning. Or I'll infinitely loop through increasingly hellish cycles.
That'd be hell.
"Hoo."
I exhaled.
Points piled up plenty.
Time to spend them.
"But first."
Check this mailbox?
"How? Does mail even make sense via Status Window? Anyway, mailbox!"
—Paht!
What?