Chapter 69
I’ll translate the chapter into the required HTML format, keeping the prose natural and converting the in-universe radio/system-style content into styled blocks where needed.CHAPTER_TITLE: Chapter 69
With Park Deokin having found a lead, we were suddenly standing at a crossroads: turn back now, or keep searching.
Should we return as things were?
Or press on with the search?
Just as I was wondering what choice we should make, Yu Jin decided first.
-“Then let’s keep looking a little longer.”
I agreed with that choice too.
From a rational standpoint, going back seems right, but...
We might have found a terrorist hideout. In that situation, shouldn’t we head back to the Association first and reinforce our forces?
But there could be more spies inside.
There might have been another spy besides Ma Dongin, and even if there wasn’t.
What reinforcement do we even need in this situation?
The man with us was Korea’s strongest.
Yu Jin was SS-class. With him here, was this really a situation that needed more strength from the Association?
Unless we were going for a full purge.
If our priority was search and reconnaissance, gathering more people mattered less than understanding the situation. For that, moving with a small team made the most sense.
“...It’s around here.”
So Park Deokin led the way, and Yu Jin and I chose to remain on Wolmi-do.
Park Deokin, tense to the point of looking ready to jump out of his skin, rolled his eyes as he scanned the area. The city, stripped entirely of human presence, was quieter than anything I had ever known.
That unnatural silence only made it feel more ominous.
It really is desolate.
So this was what a city looked like after people disappeared.
I could feel it in my bones.
“Just a moment.”
As we walked, Park Deokin came to a stop. Then he placed his hand on the ground and closed his eyes.
What was he doing? I watched him closely, focusing all my attention on him.
Eye of Enlightenment has activated.
Along with the notification, Eye of Enlightenment activated, and I felt my vision sharpen.
What is this?
I could see something. Something blurry hovered around Park Deokin. What was that?
It looked like mist taking shape.
[?????]
I couldn’t see a name, but the fact that the system was showing that meant one thing.
There is definitely something there.
Something was there around Park Deokin, and the vague shape drifted with tiny motions, drawing closer to his side.
...Something.
I still couldn’t identify it clearly, but if I had to describe it, I’d say it was like...
A whisper.
It looked as though it was whispering into Park Deokin’s ear.
“Ah. This way.”
Then Park Deokin moved again, as if he had noticed something.
That thing?
Whatever it was, it seemed to be guiding him. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it felt right.
We kept moving along the trail. Well, calling it a trail was strange, but the search itself wasn’t especially obstructed.
Now and then, Park Deokin would stop and press a hand to the floor or close his eyes like before, but it never lasted long.
After about thirty minutes of moving like that, we stopped in front of a hospital.
It wasn’t a large one, just a small, abandoned hospital.
“You mean inside here?”
“Y-yes. That’s right.”
“...I see.”
Yu Jin narrowed his eyes at the building. A small wind skimmed past us.
“...I can’t sense anything at all...”
It seemed Yu Jin had done something as well.
“I can’t make out anything beyond this... I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. The fact that we’ve managed to search this far is entirely thanks to you.”
Yu Jin smiled brightly.
“Just in case, I’d like you to wait here, hyung. Jinwoo and I will check inside.”
“I-I'm... alone?”
Park Deokin flinched hard at that. Apparently, being left by himself was frightening.
“Ah, don’t worry.”
Yu Jin reached toward him.
At that moment—
Whoooosh!
A blue light burst from Yu Jin’s hand and wrapped around Park Deokin’s body.
“T-this is...?”
“You could call it a formation, but that’s not quite right. It’s a barrier. As long as you don’t leave this area, you’ll be safe. And if anything happens to the barrier itself, I’ll know immediately.”
“Ah...?”
“It’ll last about two hours, but we’ll be back before then.”
He even set up a safety measure. Yu Jin looked at me.
“Let’s go.”
“...Yeah.”
Leaving Park Deokin behind inside the barrier, we went into the building.
As I said before, it wasn’t that large a hospital. I didn’t expect the search to be difficult. But...
Because it’s small,
there was also a higher chance that we’d run into someone—or find that something had already changed.
So I had to stay tense at all times.
About five minutes passed after we began the search. The first floor had nothing.
There was a staircase splitting up and down. Looking at it, Yu Jin said to me,
“What should we do? Split up, or search together?”
“Let’s split up.”
“...You sure?”
Yu Jin asked back after I answered without hesitation.
“Yeah. It’d be more efficient.”
“Still—”
“If something happens, I’ll shout.”
“What?”
Yu Jin’s eyes widened at my answer.
“Why? Were you hoping I’d fight?”
“...No, I just didn’t expect you to make that choice.”
“My life is precious.”
If I was going to be a half-baked powerhouse, I needed to survive.
What was the point of having Korea’s strongest here? This was exactly the kind of situation he was for.
“...Haha... Right. Precious, yes...”
Yu Jin nodded.
“Then I’ll search the upper floors.”
“Got it. I’ll sweep the basement.”
I decided to check up to the fourth floor, and Yu Jin went down below.
After we split up, I headed straight up to the second floor. The only difference from before was that I was a little more careful with every step.
...Four floors. Plenty of places to hide.
If terrorists were really hiding in here, just as Park Deokin had said...
Where would they be?
Was there even a reason to choose a place like this?
I pushed the question aside.
Hero's Super-sensory
I activated the skill, heightening every sense to the extreme.
I wanted to catch even the smallest movement.
...Hoo.
I was tense. I gripped my divine sword and moved slowly. Still, I couldn’t feel any presence yet.
It was the same as downtown. Like Wolmi-do’s restricted zone, there wasn’t a single trace of human life.
Are they really here?
If Park Deokin was right, they had to be somewhere.
...Hmm.
I still felt nothing at all.
I was just sweeping the second floor and about to head for the third when—
Wiiiiiiing.
“...!”
The sensation that hummed through my insides made me stop in my tracks.
I turned my head and looked toward the staircase I had just climbed.
Nothing was there. It looked exactly the same as before.
At least, it did on the surface.
Korca’s Illusion has activated.
Eye of Enlightenment has activated.
The two skills lit up in quick succession.
Wooooong.
“...“
Something alien appeared in the empty air. No, that wasn’t right. It hadn’t appeared.
I can see it.
Something that had been invisible was now visible, now tangible.
Something wavering. What floated in the air was a green line.
Yes, a line. A line that had formed in midair and extended upward to the next floor.
Watching it, I slowly followed it.
The line led to the third floor.
When I stepped into the third-floor corridor, the line was still there, piercing straight through the wall.
At this angle...
Past the passageway, far away at the very end—where the elevator should have been.
“...“
I stuck a hand into my pocket. My fingers found something. When I pulled it out, it was the walkie-talkie.
We had each taken one when I split from Yu Jin.
It was meant for calling if anything happened.
Beep—!
As I walked, I switched it on.
Crackle. Crzzzt—crackle crackle—
I could hear the sound of the signal moving through the line. Not long after—
Click.
The connection came through.
-...Jinwoo?
Yu Jin’s voice flowed out of the walkie-talkie.
“...I think I found something on the third floor.”
-The third floor?
“Yeah. I think there’s something near the elevator.”
-Ah, got it. I’ll head up right now—
Before Yu Jin could finish,
Crzzt—!
Suddenly, the static cut out.
“Hmm...? Yu Jin. Yu Jin?”
I called again, but nothing came back. What was this? I was starting to wonder if the walkie-talkie had broken when—
KUUUUNG—!!!
“...!”
The whole building shook violently.
The impact was strong enough to throw off my balance. Startled, I braced a hand against the wall.
“What the hell?”
What the hell was going on?
“...The basement?”
The vibration had come from underground. Something had exploded below. And Yu Jin was down there, wasn’t he?
“...Hah.”
Should I go down? The green thread was leading here, but what was that impact just now?
“For now—”
The shock seemed more urgent, so I decided to head down first. Turning around, I began to move.
Then—
Killing intent detected
A chilling sensation brushed past my body. I stopped and turned around.
Ring.
The elevator, which should have stopped working long ago, was running.
Wiiing.
The elevator that had stopped on the third floor opened by itself. Someone stepped out from inside.
So that’s who it is.
A figure draped in a red robe, wearing a smiling mask.
Long time no see, huh? Our rookie friend?
“...You.”
That voice was familiar. Without question.
Ahh... really...
The terrorist we had faced in Yeouido.
I missed you so much.
It was him.
* * *
Crackle—! Crzzt—!!
The walkie-talkie lying on the floor kept spewing noise. The hand that should have been holding it had let go, and as cracks spread across the floor, the radio dropped with a dull thud into the deep hole below.
KUUUUUNG—!!!
Amid the persistent tremors, someone began to shine.
Yu Jin, Korea’s SS-class superhuman, lifted his sword and wrapped himself in a brilliant blue aura.
His sword was gripped tight. His expression was taut with tension. In a mood unlike his usual self, Yu Jin stared ahead.
“Who are you?”
The cold voice cut through the shaking. At the far end of it, the owner of the tremor looked back at Yu Jin.
A person in a red cloak and a mask pulled over their face. Their appearance matched exactly the description of the terrorist they had been briefed on.
The problem was—
“...What are you?”
Their power. That was the problem that made even Yu Jin tense.
Ku-gugugung. Kuuugugugung—!!!
The force swallowing the surroundings was immense. This was absolutely not A-class. At minimum, SS-class.
No—among SS-class superhumans, this was the level of someone who had to stand near the very top.
Feeling that pressure, Yu Jin tightened his gaze.
The other man just kept staring at him.
“No intention of answering?”
Silence was the only response.
In that case—
“...Then I’ll have to make you answer.”
Whirling his sword once, Yu Jin leveled the point at the figure.
He was about to charge when—
Yu Jin.
The masked figure called him by name.
Do you think yourself special?
“What...?”
I asked if you’re under the delusion that you were chosen.
“What are you talking about?”
Then please, don’t mistake things. You are not special in any way.
“...“
In fact, before long, you’ll regret ever believing you were chosen.
Your ignorance is lamentable.
Do not assume that knowing many things makes them true.
Krrrgh—!! The shaking deepened, spreading through the whole basement.
Under that force, Yu Jin exhaled.
So that’s it.
He thought he knew who this was.
“...An apostle of Korca?”
Heh.
At Yu Jin’s question, the masked figure laughed.
Correct. Fake hero.
At those words, a vein pulsed at Yu Jin’s temple.