Chapter 10
Translator: IPO
Chapter 10
The underground world of Mapo District has a unique landscape that blends the dark back alleys of a modern city with the eerie atmosphere of an ancient dungeon.
The path downwards can be accessed through abandoned buildings or subway stations, and the ‘back door’ of the nameless bar run by Mr. Michelson is also one such passage.
The entrance to this place is always shrouded in deep darkness or so inconspicuous that even the government cannot properly monitor it.
Once you pass the entrance, a maze-like complex of corridors appears. Passing through areas once used as subway stations and heading further down, you encounter a space made up of tangled tunnels and large and small caves.
The ceiling soars high, almost unbelievable for an underground space, and the scattered debris and collapsed structures create a scene reminiscent of an apocalypse or end-of-the-world setting, which, from an aesthetic perspective, is quite impressive.
It may seem chaotic and disorderly, but even this underground world has its own rules and order.
“Hey, stop.”
If you step lightly, you’ll see the gatekeepers.
The gatekeepers differ by area, ranging from awakened individuals classified as criminals to wandering homeless people.
A variety of people guard the gates of the underground.
“Uh? This woman…”
From the way they looked at me, I could feel lust, desire, and covetousness thickly.
Ah, being beautiful really is a crime, isn’t it?
Even with my body tightly wrapped, my figure and the fit of my clothes cannot be hidden, and even covering my face with a veil cannot stop the spark of lust from igniting.
“…Wow, damn.”
“Brother, this is not the time. Um, access, inspection, check…”
“Ah, right. Yes. Um, access pass. Hey, do you have an access pass, miss?”
Ah, what a waste.
If their mental resistance were just a little lower, they would have been completely captivated by my appearance alone…
Then I’d have to bother speaking.
“Access pass?”
“Ha.”
“Wow, that voice…”
“Ah, damn it. No good. Hey, access pass or whatever, if you just step aside, we’ll let you through…”
Eventually, unable to resist their desire, their eyes met mine.
And I smiled.
When two people’s eyes meet, smile.
It’s common sense, isn’t it?
“…Ah…”
“Brother? Why…”
“Everyone.”
Although I hadn’t removed my veil, my voice echoed deeply in the dark cave.
A succubus’ charm cannot be cast with just eyes or face alone.
Voice, gestures, even the slightest movement—any part capable of drawing attention can be maximized.
“Unfortunately… I don’t have an access pass.”
“…….”
“Uh, hmm…?”
“Then, that’s, uh, inconvenient, inconvenient….”
Even as they said it was inconvenient, their already captivated face was slightly amusing.
No, rather, seeing them try to block me while in that state shows their mental barriers are stronger than ordinary people’s, doesn’t it?
Ahaha, I’ll compliment you.
Though it has no real meaning.
“If you all just cooperate with me a little… I don’t think anyone would be inconvenienced. How about that?”
“….”
“….”
“….”
I caress their ears with a delicate, beautiful voice.
I also tilt slightly, placing a hand on my cheek in a gesture as if feeling troubled.
Ah, they all gave in.
No one responded.
They didn’t respond, didn’t react.
They just stepped aside and opened the door, as if obeying my words.
“Hoho, thank you.”
Well then, gatekeepers of the underground world.
Take care today as well.
Ah, and…
“Please forget me.”
“….”
Now, there’s nothing more to worry about.
There might be nearby CCTV, but that’s fine.
Electronic devices like that are no problem for me.
Access pass?
There’s no way I’d have one.
I could get one from Mr. Michelson if I wanted, but since I passed through like this last time, it seems he no longer intends to give me one.
Just by making eye contact.
By letting me in.
If they forget me, it’s over.
Simple, right?
No access pass needed~
“Haah… The air is so stuffy compared to outside.”
Still, the scenery itself is art.
The first things visible are jade and black hues, massive pipes, slums, markets, and monsters’ nests.
The smell of mushrooms, sharp rock energy crystals, and melting acid hot springs.
Each area of the underground has its own name, but I call this place [Beetle Egg Nest].
During the early crack period, Mapo District experienced massive transfer phenomena, with gates and dungeons overflowing with monsters, creating enormous chaos.
Naturally, several hunters were deployed to suppress the chaos and hunt the monsters.
But coincidentally, there was a parliamentary hearing at that time.
And coincidentally, it occurred when the authorities were desperate to control hunters and awakened individuals.
The enormous budget allocated for the Mapo District overflow crisis was drastically cut due to various high-ranking officials’ excuses and nonsense, meaning hunters couldn’t receive proper compensation.
Naturally, hunters rebelled.
If it were now, a massive guild could have just bombed the parliament.
But in the early crack period, not only the government but the entire public forced sacrifices on hunters, caring nothing for their rights or interests.
When was it… Ah, only after several disasters, including the meltdown coup about six years ago, did awakened individuals’ rights start to improve.
I don’t really care, though.
At the time, the government probably felt they had adequately hunted the surface monsters in Mapo District and saw no need to invest more budget.
So, compensation payments were delayed, or they said scars were 1cm short, so achievements couldn’t be recognized, spouting nonsense about parents being odd.
Hunters were naturally angry, but the societal atmosphere demanded sacrifice from hunters and awakened individuals, so they had no choice but to give in.
Ah, and high-ranking officials didn’t know about dungeon and gate ecosystems.
At least now they receive nominal education, but back then, they thought real monsters were just like deer or wild boars.
So, the surface of Mapo District was cleared, but no one realized that underground, a huge calamity was laying eggs.
That calamity was the [Caclashtern Beetle].
Despite being a beetle, the queen hid underground like an ant, laying countless eggs and preparing for a surface invasion.
I don’t know how many eggs the beetle laid or how threatening it was to humanity, but according to hunters, if left unchecked, the entire Republic of Korea would have been covered with beetles.
A few righteous hunters and awakened individuals hunted and subdued the beetles.
Those awakened individuals who tackled the beetles risked their lives for people, for peace, for ordinary citizens, motivated by justice.
Naturally, many awakened individuals died, resulting in sad and regrettable sacrifices.
However, the government didn’t want to pay compensation or waste precious budgets on these awakened individuals. Moreover, fearing public approval would drop,
‘It’s a hunter hoax!’
‘Actually, there’s nothing in Mapo District underground.’
‘Some hunters actually died drunk driving; claiming deaths during the operation is a hoax.’
The media was used to bury the matter.
Ahahaha~ It’s actually fortunate that the roles of awakened individuals and the government were only reversed to this extent, isn’t it?
But in reality, hunters didn’t completely hunt the Caclashtern Beetles.
They just used rituals and seals to suppress them temporarily.
In other words, the seal could be removed anytime, unleashing them?
A threat that the Republic of Korea could be turned into a nest of beetles at any time.
Once the government realized this, they hurriedly bowed and tried to negotiate with the awakened individuals who had tackled Mapo District’s underground.
We’ll give compensation.
More once the budget is allocated.
Be satisfied with this for now.
Aren’t we all fellow citizens of Korea?
But public apologies via media couldn’t be made due to fear of losing support.
Hunters, already aware of such government tricks—nonsense, empty promises, and appeals to vanished patriotism—refused the offer sharply.
Instead, they accepted only what the government could provide immediately.
Mapo District, underground world, autonomy.
“What they received was precisely this beetle egg nest. They built Mapo District and its underground into their own world, right?”
No further compromise was possible, and otherwise, they would have unleashed the beetles.
Eventually, the government had no choice but to accept, retaliating politically and administratively by branding the autonomous awakened individuals and hunters as criminals or issuing bounties.
But they didn’t care.
Being first-generation hunters, battle-hardened, they were confident they could defeat anyone—soldiers or bounty hunters. Most importantly, having no trust left for the government or state, they had no intention of becoming citizens of Korea.
As a result, this vast and immense underground world was created in Mapo District.
Here, various drugs, smuggled goods, illegal weapons, unapproved monster byproducts, criminals, and homeless people gathered, but fundamentally, it was a place for awakened individuals.
So even I am visually pleased here, and sometimes can obtain good items—a place with rare yet crude beauty.
“Ahaha, brothers~ Good work today~ Come again~”
“Uh, uh. Hmm…”
Also, there are many succubus and incubus shops here.
As the Succubus Empress, seeing this gives me a strange feeling, but since being empress does not mean ruling or controlling the species, I ignore it.
Oh, but why is that outfit like that?
Of course, it’s normal for succubi to wear revealing, attractive clothes to seduce men, but oh… you can see everything?
The attire and behavior are vulgar.
Beauty and charm do not come from exposure or vulgarity.
Of course, desire from vulgarity and exposure is primal and stimulating, but ugh… I dislike it.
“…Gasp!”
Meanwhile, a succubus shivering looked around and disappeared.
Probably because of me.
Sorry.
Well, not really sorry.
The underground has a fairly large economy.
Not just smuggled goods or drugs, but most importantly, Caclashtern Beetle eggs.
The beetles, still alive but fully bound and sealed somewhere underground, are instinctively still laying eggs.
Extracting life energy from the freshly laid eggs instantly petrifies them. In this state, the hardened eggs, in mineral form, can replace magic stones. Considering how magic stones are used in all industries and daily life today, this place is essentially like an oil field.
Perhaps even more so.
Thanks to this, the government is in tears.
The awakened individuals controlling the nest, aside from combat abilities, can affect the nation’s economy.
Well, self-inflicted.
Walking, intoxicated by the somber yet vibrant underground scenery, I arrived at the auction site.
The most splendid and massive structure in the beetle egg nest.
Previously used as Hongdae Entrance subway station, after various renovations and expansions, it now looks almost like an opera house.
“Stop.”
As I approached the auction hall, several people in fully armored suits covering their entire bodies, including faces, surrounded me.
The suits likely have mental barrier reinforcement functions.
Well, with hypnotists and mind manipulators around, unverified individuals must be blocked.
“Who are you? No entry without an invitation.”
“Oh, I see. Hohoho.”
“External infrared identification shows no invitation held.”
“Very well. Then leave immediately.”
“Oh no… I was just here to observe the auction…”
“I’ll say it again. Leave now, and no one will be harmed.”
Apparently feeling threatened by me, those in suits switched to combat mode.
Oh, violence is bad.
“If you don’t comply, you will die.”
“This is the final warning.”
“Immediately…”
“Ah, I’m scared.”
So, I just smile.
Smile.
Smile.
To all those working hard today, a smile.
How is it?
Seeing my smile, aren’t you feeling better?
“…You may enter…”
Ah, the mental barrier!
Impressive equipment!
Not for me, though.
Anyway, smiles feel good.
Everyone, smile too.
Living with a smile brings fortune, right?
“Thank you~”
“Have a, good time…”
“Oh, right.”
I almost forgot.
“Please forget me.”
“…Yes.”