Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Comfort and Encouragement
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We left the kidnappers' corpses in the rift behind and took the elevator back up to the upper levels of the Backside World.
While the lift ascended, Yu-ha seemed to fall into a deep sleep, snoring softly.
Status:Sleep, Despair, Void
The 'Despair' in Yu-ha's status hadn't faded yet.
She frowned and squirmed several times, as if trapped in a nightmare.
"Darling, are you okay? Should I carry her?"
"No. I'll carry her. It's fine."
"Okay."
It seemed better if I carried her myself.
Sowol's chest was large, so piggybacking Yu-ha might be more comfortable for her, but it could wake Yu-ha up.
I figured it was best to just take her like this. It wasn't uncomfortable, and Yu-ha wasn't heavy.
-Playground.
-Playground it is.
Before we knew it, the elevator had reached the upper levels of the Backside World and dropped us off at the playground.
A few charred black trees grew on the playground, where quite a few crawling anomalies lurked on the ground. But as soon as we stepped out, they all fled in terror.
They didn't even think to attack. I glanced at the fleeing anomalies and asked Eve.
"Eve-chan, how do we get back to reality now?"
"Well... The hole we used to enter got sealed up... So to return to reality, we need to find another spot inside the Backside World that's connected to it."
"Then if we find that spot, we can head straight up?"
"Yeah... Is there somewhere specific you want to go? The office? Or Moss House? Moss House might take a while."
I wanted to check on Moss House too, since it worried me...
- Became an ally of Moss House.
- Reward granted.
'What?'
The quest completed out of nowhere.
Guess the Oracle protected Moss House successfully?
Then Moss House should be fine. Better head to the office first.
"The office worries me more right now. Moss House should hold out on its own."
"Got it. I'll search for the hole connected to the office. Just a moment... It takes a bit."
Eve closed her eyes to scan for a spot linked to the Fixer Office and soon found the hole connected to it.
"Found it... Let's move right away."
"Faster than I thought."
"Do-hyun's office is a place I visit often... And it's close to where we entered the Backside World."
Thanks to Eve-chan, we ascended quicker than expected.
The office should be right ahead. It took about 40 minutes total.
It could've taken longer, but Eve made it possible. Lucky.
'Still, riding Boongboong was the right call.'
Boongboong got us right to the hole the kidnappers dug in 30 minutes.
If we'd tried tracking Yu-ha via elevators, we'd have started over from the office after descending.
And if we'd gone from Moss House via elevator, the distance to Seoul would've added more time.
Elevators excel in versatility and duration, but Boongboong's superior for tracking and navigation.
"By the way, how did you always appear right away when I called?"
"Oh... You called me with the Key of Boundaries... It felt more like you summoning me than me finding you..."
That's why she came almost instantly.
A literal summon.
Anyway, we made it to the Fixer Office after 40 minutes.
"Thanks, Eve-chan."
"N-No big deal... I'll head out then..."
"Wait, one favor before you go, Eve-chan."
"A favor...? What is it...?"
Without us, Eve-chan could move faster.
So I wanted her to investigate what those cultists planned in the depths while unburdened.
"Find out what those heretics were up to in the depths...?"
"Yes. Thanks, Eve-chan."
"Got it. Leave it to me."
Eve hopped on the elevator and descended immediately.
After seeing her off, we entered the office, where Ha-yeon and Ye-rim greeted us enthusiastically after waiting endlessly.
"F-Fixer...!"
"You're back! Finally!"
"You two aren't hurt anywhere?"
"Some weird people kept showing up after dark, but none got inside. We're safe thanks to that. But Yu-ha..."
I laid Yu-ha on the sofa.
With her possessing spirit gone, she'd likely show early symptoms of spirit loss upon waking.
It'd be great if her spirit mother, Taoist Moon Seon-woo, were here. Unfortunately, no contact with her.
Same for Moss House and the Oracle. They must be too busy to answer calls.
"Huh? The spirit left Yu-ha?"
"Seems so. Ripped out forcibly."
"Oh no... What do we do? Fixer, do you know any other spirit mediums?"
"They're all from Mujin City, so no one can come right away. Can't reach anyone."
"What about Yu-ha unnie? I heard spirit mediums suffer mentally without their possessing spirit..."
"We'll find a way. For now, everyone wait here. I need to retrieve Boongboong."
"Want us to come...?"
"No. Sowol, stay and guard them?"
"Got it. Leave it to me."
Before leaving, I took Hongran back from the girls.
With Sowol here now, it should be fine.
Need Hongran to wake Haeyul anyway.
"Be safe, Fixer."
"Sure, Ha-yeon. If Yu-ha wakes, look after her. Text me right away. Got it?"
"Yes, I'll let you know immediately. Don't worry, Fixer."
I left the office with the girls and Sowol seeing me off.
Several presences had been nagging near the Fixer Office for a while.
They noticed I was back but weren't fleeing—instead, provoking?
Better lure them to Boongboong's alley and deal with them.
-Oh dear, what's all this? Weird things targeting us from every direction?
"Long story."
-Hmm. I see. No injuries?
"No, Hongran. I'm fine."
As I turned into the dark alley, the presences tailing me drew closer.
I clenched my fist, pondering how to handle them, when Hongran spoke again.
-Listen, Ahmaya.
"Yes, Hongran. What is it?"
-Are you really okay?
I paused at Hongran's question.
Am I really okay?
I am.
Mana and vitality full.
I'm fine.
"Why ask?"
-Your aura's fiercer than usual. Heavy scent of blood. Did you kill someone?
I nodded at Hongran's question.
Four killed. Brutally.
Probably more to come. Too many sinners to kill.
"...Yes. Killed what needed killing. As painfully as possible."
-I see. That's why you feel different. As painfully as possible... So you tormented them before killing?
".....Yeah. Couldn't kill them quick. They didn't deserve it."
-Right. The world overflows with villains. Can't know details of how you did it, but I understand it had to be done. Sometimes you must stain yourself with evil... I get it.
Hongran fell silent after saying she understood.
What was she thinking?
Reflecting on her time as an anomaly?
Or scolding me for mercilessly torturing enemies?
No, didn't seem like it.
After carefully choosing words, Hongran spoke again.
-Yu-ha too. Haeyul sleeping deeply. Your state. I don't grasp human world well, but something bad happened to everyone. Right?
"...Yes."
-Not specifically for you, but your face is so grim, so one word.
Hongran steadied herself, voice more awkward than usual.
Like she was embarrassed.
-Uh, well. If it's really tough, lean on me! Ahem.
"....Pardon?"
-On me. I mean... lean on me...
"Hahaha. What's this suddenly? Pretending to be serious."
-Pretending!? I'm always serious! What's funny! Back in the day, I was worshipped as a god! Now stuck in this bracelet as a hand warmer, but I was big once! People prayed to me! Hmph!
"Got it, Hongran. Leaning on you... Was that to comfort me? Or encourage?"
-Not that! Just... cheering you on?
"That's encouragement. It comforts me anyway. Thanks, Hongran."
No problems solved, but I appreciated Hongran wanting to cheer me up.
I stroked the Ashen Silence.
Hongran purred happily, then suddenly snapped.
-Hey..! Don't stroke so nicely! Don't try taming me! I won't be tamed!
"You liked it though."
-Th-That wasn't... Not at all! Hmph!
What an obvious god.
It put my mind at ease.
Dealing with transparent anomalies like Hongran or Haeyul after black-hearted humans purified me.
Why are humans more horrific than anomalies?
-Don't hate humans too much. They're cute in their way.
"Hongran, I'm human too. You talk like I'm an anomaly. Or do you find me cute?"
-What!? No! You're not cute at all! Just big! Sly fox or weasel inside!
"Ouch. Denying so hard hurts a bit."
I lowered my voice sadly, and Hongran panicked to backpedal.
-No, not that. You're... uh... not cute but... cool? Ugh..
She sounded mortified after saying it.
So dishonest.
"Cool? Hongran, you like me too much? Keep showing it, it's troublesome."
-You brat! You sulked first to make me praise you! Now teasing after? Fun playing with me?
"Wasn't sulking from the start."
-Urk! Hate humans! Always acting! Scheming! Sly thing!
Hongran, annoyed, set the stalkers' bodies ablaze.
"Gaaah!"
"F-Fire!"
Two guys tailing us.
Repentance Crusade assassins? No, too weak for that.
Just surveillance.
"Was luring to alley, but you torched them first."
-Hmph! You teased first, so I vented.
The burning Repentance Crusade watchers realized I spotted them and tried fleeing.
Sorry, no easy escape.
"Urk!?"
"Where rushing off to? Huh?"
"W-Wait! Why! I'll call the cops!"
Crushed throats to silence their yells.
Dragged the two to a deserted, anomaly-infested alley.
"Codex. Come out."
A pale pink organism slithered from my pocket.
Time for one of its functions.
Test-run on Daniel worked great.
"Remember Park Daniel's knowledge you absorbed?"
Codex wriggled affirmatively.
"Suck out all memories of Human Front radicals from these guys. Wreck their egos if needed. Erase every scrap of radical faction memory."
Through silent Codex, I'd drain and erase their Human Front radical memories and beliefs.
Basically, superior to Anomaly Management's memory wipe.
"Quung."
Codex rummaged their brains, sucked the ordered info, and flopped full-bellied.
Good performance, low capacity. After two brains, it bloated, then burped like a milk-fed baby.
-That thing. Strange anomaly.
"Right? Seems unique even to me."
I picked up limp Codex. It wrapped my hand naturally.
Wondering why, I watched. It slipped into a hand crack.
What did it want?
Never harmed me, so I observed. Codex streamed info from the followers to me.
"This... You have this function too? Amazing!"
-What? What is it?
"Showing me the absorbed memories directly."
-Reads and projects memories? Amazing. Unique creature... Or not quite...
Who knew it could project memories like this?
Would've used sooner if known.
Didn't expect this ability.
"So, New Country New Love Church in Dan-yang, Chungbuk? People captive under prayer center? Crazy bastards!"
Filtered junk, pinpointed New Country New Love Church—Human Front radicals' front—in Dan-yang.
Got follower count and underground facility under prayer center too.
-Ugh... Dizzy...
While extracting via Codex, Haeyul woke.
Holding Ashen Silence (Hongran) and Breath of Silence strengthened her seal, cracking it enough to regain senses.
"Awake?"
-Yeah... Where...?
"Looking for Boongboong in alleys."
-Yu-ha? What of her?
"Alive, luckily."
-...Ah... Good. Really... so good...
Haeyul sighed in relief at Yu-ha surviving.
Then apologized gloomily.
-Sorry. Failed to protect properly. Mission failed... Punish me... I'm trash...
"No choice. You last 3 minutes."
-Still... You trusted me. No face... What to do... Punish me...
"No. Enough. Don't be so down."
Disaster Kings don't suit guard duties.
Seals incomplete. Not full disasters.
Even max mana (100) unseals for 5 min max before resealing.
Ultimate firepower, but single-use, long recharge.
Enemies stall 5 min or flee to neutralize.
In urban centers, they'd hesitate to unleash fully.
Like nukes: devastating, but city detonation causes catastrophe.
Misuse sweeps innocents.
"Worried about bystanders, right?"
-If excusing, yes. But poor control is my fault. No face.
"Just do better from now."
-Truth... Feared disappointing you. Hate losing trust... Wanted to impress... Ruined... Lost purpose...
"Why so down today? Not disappointed. You did your best. Cheer up. Yu-ha lost something precious... but alive, so it'll improve."
-Sniff... Tears... So sorry to Yu-ha... Useless god, sorry...
No disappointment. Enemies were prepared.
Ambushed knowing Disaster King counters. Unavoidable.
Even Lunar Blossom Sect Oracle can't preempt all schemes.
-Guard properly next time. Sigh. You shamed us Disasters, Haeyul.
-Urk... Hongran... Shut it! You weren't there!
Haeyul exploded at Hongran's jab.
Tears dripped from Breath of Silence. Salty—real tears.
How to console a crying Disaster King?
Haeyul usually cool and chic, but failure crushed her to tears.
"Oh. Boongboong's there. Boongboong!"
Spotting it roadside while consoling Haeyul.
Boongboong flashed headlights joyfully at me.
"Let's see. Fuel half full. Good job alone, Boongboong. Sorry late."
Boongboong's fuel half-up.
Enough to move.
"Alright, Boongboong. Head to office. Rest. I'll drive."
Mounted somewhat recovered Boongboong and drove to office.
Ha-yeon texted: Yu-ha woke.
Holy war important, but check Yu-ha first. Moss House status too.
Invade Chungbuk Dan-yang tomorrow once ready.
Today, rest. Day dragged forever.