Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: No Choice - 2
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"Well, well. Figures you'd know."
The grumpy knight dude grumbled as he drove off in the taxi.
Things had felt off ever since earlier.
The moment I got in, the floor under the driver's seat turned pitch black, and a head popped out from it.
Good thing I'd answered his questions with as much enthusiasm as possible so he wouldn't notice.
-Riiip!!
So it's paved with good intentions, huh.
They'd said that spot was slated for apartments to house people displaced by the rift.
"Hmm... so you're saying that's connected to hell?"
-Whirr...!!
"Then why are ghosts showing up?"
-Riiip!!
"Imays and mangryangs? So you're saying they come out through the path connected to hell?"
-Rip!!
Affirmative, I guess?
I eyed the apartment complex while listening to the two grimoires' responses.
The sun was dipping low, all hazy and orange.
"Night's the time for ghosts and demons... Wonder if I should even go in."
-Riiip!!
-Whirr!
"So there's no point going in during the day?"
Makes sense.
You can't beat a problem if the culprits aren't around.
Before I knew it, the two grimoires had floated up beside me, and I headed toward the complex with them in tow.
"Hey!! No one's allowed in here!!"
The security guard blocked my path.
He had a giant mouth instead of a face, but he was wearing a uniform and sitting in the guard booth, so guard he was.
"No peddlers allowed. Can't you read?"
"Do I look like a peddler to you?"
"You scream peddler. Get lost. The residents will flip if they see you."
Sheesh.
Not even a chance to start.
"Guess no choice."
Plan B it is.
"Wha—what?! What's this?!"
"Delivery! For Building 108, Apartment 1102!"
A bag from a nearby joint stuffed with fried chicken.
I'd masked my face with sunglasses and a mask from the corner store.
Perfect delivery guy getup.
"N-no, a delivery?!"
"What, can't you tell? It's chicken."
"Damn it! No one's supposed to come in!"
"Hey!! Then you deliver it!!"
"Urgh..."
The guard glanced awkwardly toward the booth.
But from what I'd seen earlier, he was the only one in there.
"Fine. Go on in. But don't go anywhere weird."
"Like where?"
"Like the management office."
"Got it."
Through.
Easy peasy.
Back home, I'd pored over the grimoires and learned how to deal with these things.
Beings with roles are obsessed with playing them to the hilt.
No matter how strong, they can't break character.
"Alright then..."
Inside, it was pitch black—no lights anywhere.
I flicked on the flashlight at my waist, and things came into view.
"Whoa."
A massive snake slithered by.
Up close, every scale bore a human face.
Ignore for now.
First things first: close the path to hell.
Saint Martha's Staff from last time should do it.
A sturdy body, huh.
6'3", 220 pounds.
This muscle machine I've been training should be fine, right?
Plus, good luck finding someone with a saner mind than mine.
Got the holy water. For cow and pig blood, I'd grabbed some blood sausage packs from the place next to the chicken spot.
Last but not least...
This one was the real headache.
Churches everywhere in Seoul, but none nearby.
Ridiculous, but I'd managed to snag one anyway.
"Hey, young man. Young man."
"Yes?"
"That next to you. Chicken or person?"
"Chicken."
"Aw, man. No place fries people tasty anymore. Could you spare a leg? I could fry it up real good."
"Haha. I'm all muscle—not great meat."
I flexed my arm, veins and biceps popping through my short sleeve.
The old lady's face twisted like crumpled paper.
"Ma'am, you'd break every tooth chewing this."
"Pfft. That's why tender young girls are best. Can't even look these days."
"Korea's in a birth rate slump. Seoul's total fertility rate's under 0.5..."
"Tch. You kids. Back in my day, I'd pop out a dozen a day!"
"Whoa, impressive."
The old man clucked his tongue and slithered off.
His legs were snake-like.
Probably connected to that big snake from earlier.
Whatever. Not my problem.
"Mister! Mister!"
"Hey, it's bro."
"Uh... you look like a mister. Mister, I ain't got no ball. Can I use your head?"
A kid appeared, eyes sparkling—literally sparkling—holding a saw in one hand.
Hmm.
A head, huh.
"Arthur."
-Grrrr...!!
"My buddy lost his head to a kid like you, and he's suffering. Think you could spare yours?"
"Waaah!! Mommy!!"
Headless Arthur menaced with his sword, and the kid bolted into the dark, bawling.
If he'd just called me bro, I wouldn't have gone that far.
"Why'd you make my kid cry?!"
A woman with wild hair, torn mouth gushing blood, slashed at Arthur with her nails.
"Why're you picking on my Arthur?!"
No forgiveness.
I grabbed the water gun from the store.
Heh. Holy water squirt!
"Kyaaah!!"
The ghost hit the shadows running, tail between its legs.
"Arthur. Let's go."
-Grr...!!
After that, I ran into plenty more ghosts.
"Hey! Leash your pet!"
"How dare you call Arthur a pet?! He's family! Would you leash your family?!"
"What kinda nut is this?! Scram!!"
Some attacked with Arthur tagging along.
"Hear the good word! Good word here! Hey, handsome! Trust in Satan and go to hell!"
"What?! Sex here?!"
"Huh? No, Satan..."
"What?! Suck you off here?!"
"What a psycho!!"
Even proselytizers.
"You. Love those pecs and arms. Be my husband."
"Crazy hag. Snap out of it."
"Fuck off if you don't want it."
And clueless aunties trying to seduce.
But could any of that stop Yoo Wol-young?
With iron will, I repelled them all and reached my goal.
"You can't just barge in here."
The management office.
Heart of the complex.
Center of the path to hell.
"Mind if I pop in quick?"
"No."
"C'mon."
Not like the entrance guard.
This guy was solid steel—no cracks.
Time for force.
"You. What's your name."
"...Pardon?"
"Your name."
"Who are you to..."
"Hey!! Do you know who I am?!"
"..."
Steel face stiffened.
Well, he always looked stiff.
"I know someone higher up than the gold badge bigshot!!"
"Who would that..."
"Our Lord. Our God. The great and eternal Yahweh! He's got my back. You're a demon. Reveal your name!!"
"Kaaah!!"
The steel human.
Demon guarding hell's door—screaming.
Holy water squirt from the gun, black smoke billowing.
"You shan't pass!!"
"Not your call!!"
Another squirt.
"Kyaaah!!"
Reeking of sulfur, the steel demon rolled on the floor.
Just move aside already.
"You... won't... pass..."
"The path I take is His path. My will is His will."
"You... cowardly fake believer..."
This jerk?
I'd clocked it right?
Baptized, sure, but I'm a Christmas-and-Easter Catholic. Faith-based stuff won't cut it.
But back down? No way.
"The demon, coveting Saint Martha's faith, became a dragon to slay her. But fearless, she faced it alone!!"
I gripped the staff, reciting her legend.
"You wicked dragon!! How dare you block one who follows the Lord's will!!"
"Gr, graaah...! Stop... stooop!!"
"The demon-dragon couldn't defeat her! No demon can block her staff's proxy!!"
A woman who solo'd a dragon.
Mimicking that makes it holy.
"Evil! Evil!"
So I beat him.
Gripped the staff two-handed and whaled on him.
"Aaaah! Aaaah!!"
Sulfur stench grew with every hit.
Didn't matter.
He was blocking me—that's what counted.
"Demon! Reveal your name!!"
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Aaaah!! Satan! Sataaan!!"
"Call Satan all you want—Lord's behind me!!"
"Kraaah!!"
"Satan! Mess with me and die!"
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
How many whacks?
The demon finally spilled his name. Used it to banish him to hell.
Now just enter and seal the door?
Easier than expected.
Whistling, I stepped into the office.
Then, down to the basement.
"Huh?"
What the—
A redheaded woman in green, bow drawn, battling ghosts before a huge door.
"Human!? How'd you get here?"
"How? Walked in. Anyway..."
Obvious: demons and ghosts fighting.
So my job here?
I charged straight at her.
"No choice!! Temporary alliance—just this once!!"