Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Worries (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Then… let’s begin the briefing.”
The initial rating of the mission that came up was E-rank.
It was a simple task to investigate an abandoned building where people were mysteriously vanishing after entering. A survey team had already been dispatched once, measurements taken inside, and it had been rated E-rank.
So first, they sent a D-rank hero team, but for some reason, the entire team disappeared. They immediately upgraded the rating and dispatched B-rank heroes.
However, the moment that B-rank hero entered the building, they vanished too, leading to the dispatch of two A-rank heroes.
But among those dispatched A-rank heroes, Isis was subdued by mental manipulation, and it was only through the desperate efforts of the other A-rank hero that the situation was barely resolved.
“The mission report is unusual. Now, onto the investigation results.”
The investigation confirmed it was a research lab used several years ago, with corpses presumed to be test subjects found inside.
Additionally, examining the monster corpse that A-rank hero Ha Do-yoon claimed to have exterminated revealed traces of experiments, but its cellular structure differed from that of common Earth lifeforms.
No animals of the same species had been identified on Earth, and signs of dimensional distortion were found.
“We haven’t yet confirmed which organization conducted this research. However, we have verified circumstances indicating attempts to forcibly inject superpowers into otherworldly creatures to create new lifeforms. And furthermore…”
Displaying images of the monster corpses and failed experiment traces, the explanation continued.
“It appears they completely failed the experiments and abandoned them. However, it was confirmed to possess mental manipulation abilities strong enough to affect even A-rank hero Isis, as well as spatial manipulation that dominated the entire abandoned building.”
“What? Does that even make sense?”
“Yes. We judge it unlikely they would have left such a creature in a sealed lab if they had succeeded in creating it.”
In other words, this monster must have appeared after the lab was sealed.
In a way, it was fortunate they discovered it first now.
If they hadn’t been the first to find it, and it had fallen into the hands of those researching it, who knows what would have happened.
It wouldn’t threaten South Korea’s safety, but it would certainly add another annoying enemy.
But that was it.
Something far more important remained.
“Hmm… the monster is one thing, but there’s a bigger problem left, isn’t there.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Huh? Was there a more important issue?”
“What a foolish question. Isn’t it obvious?”
Giving the questioning officer a pitiful look, he pointed to the traces of failed experiments.
“Look closely at those traces. They opened dimensional gates to drag monsters into this world. And not just once or twice.”
Every time they conducted research, they brought monsters here.
“There’s only one organization capable of such research.”
The Doomsday Cult.
“The Doomsday Cult again?”
“Hmm… we can’t just let them run wild. At this rate, civilians will be in danger.”
“Shouldn’t we declare war on them right now?”
“That would be premature. We haven’t even properly located their Korean branch yet.”
However, it was also true that time was running out.
It had already been several years since they began research dragging monsters from other dimensions here.
It was hard to even imagine how far they had progressed now.
Declaring war rashly in such a situation could lead to unpredictable consequences.
“We don’t know what the Doomsday Cult is up to right now, but we need to buy as much time as possible.”
At least until they could afford a war with them, it was best not to confront them.
“Step up the investigation into the Doomsday Cult.”
For now, this was the best course.
Word that Isis had been seriously injured must have spread, because a call came from Kinesis soon after.
As expected, it was asking if Isis was okay.
“Ah…”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if she was okay.
She looked fine on the outside, and her life wasn’t in immediate danger, so I vaguely assumed she’d be alright.
I planned to visit her once she recovered and regained consciousness.
Even though she was under mental manipulation, it was a fact that I had injured her.
But that would have to wait until she recovered somewhat.
For now, meeting her was impossible.
It was a reasonable precaution, in case some accident from the mental manipulation occurred if she woke up.
I replied first that she was okay but I didn’t know her current condition well.
- Hmm… Visiting her right now probably isn’t possible…?
“Probably not. Since she was hit with mental manipulation…”
I couldn’t even meet her myself right now.
- She’s not the type to fall for mental manipulation…
Suddenly, her voice sounded strangely lacking in confidence.
‘…Come to think of it, she said she’s been having a lot of worries lately.’
After the last incident, she said the little confidence she had in herself had completely vanished.
Isis had told me she’d overcome it on her own, so not to worry too much, but how could I not?
‘Hmm…’
There was only one way, after all.
“Um… Seo-yul?”
- Yes?
“Want to meet up for a bit?”
There was a long silence after my question.
Maybe she hadn’t expected me to say that out of the blue. After a prolonged silence, she asked what I meant.
‘It’s exactly what I said…’
Her reaction felt a bit off. Was it just my imagination?
“No particular motive or anything. I just heard some things from Isis and wanted to talk about that.”
Of course, it was about the worries she’d been having lately.
I couldn’t bring it up directly over the phone, so I phrased it that way, but she took it differently and said she’d come since it sounded important.
‘Uh…’
It didn’t seem like something to get so serious about.
Well, from her perspective, it was serious, I guess.
It felt a bit like I was deceiving her, which didn’t sit right.
But dragging out explanations here would be pedantic, so I decided to meet and talk properly, then hung up.
“Hoo…”
I’d clearly resolved everything neatly.
No one died, and all the missing people were rescued.
Honestly, when I blew away the entire first floor, I worried someone might have died because of me, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
The space itself was weird to begin with.
Even as I moved at tremendous speeds, the damage strangely didn’t spread to the surroundings.
Thanks to that, I could move freely, though.
‘But why do I still feel stuffy…’
It felt like nothing had been resolved at all.
I hoped it was just my imagination…
…
…
…
“Uh…”
Seo-yul recalled the call she’d just had, her face gradually flushing red.
Up until he suggested meeting to talk, she wondered what his intentions were, and when she heard his sincere motive afterward, she responded seriously herself.
At least, that’s what she thought while the call was connected.
“Ahh…”
But the moment the call ended, she realized this would be the first time meeting again since she’d drunkenly made a fool of herself last time.
‘Ugh… is this okay…’
It was embarrassing, to say the least…
She wondered if meeting like this was right.
She definitely didn’t dislike him.
‘If anything, I like…’
She immediately clutched her head.
Wasn’t she just going with the flow too much?
‘What am I even thinking…’
Had she ever been this nervous about meeting someone?
Without a doubt, Do-yoon was the first.
‘What did he want to talk about…?’
The reason he wanted to talk this time was based on what Isis had said.
She was definitely close friends with her, but their personalities were so different that she wasn’t sure what Isis truly wanted.
‘I’ll find out when we meet…’
She was personally curious about what had happened there.
Especially since it was Isis, of all people, succumbing to mental manipulation—a hugely significant factor.
It even sparked anxiety that it might affect her too someday.
The monster was already exterminated, but for an A-rank hero reputed to be nearly immune to mental manipulation to fall so easily…
‘Isis…’
Recalling Isis, who had been smiling at her just moments ago, she wore a complicated expression.
She could only hope she’d be okay.