Shadows in the Daejeon Research Complex
The Daejeon Research Complex, nestled right next to Shin Seoul, was where the most active core research in Korea took place. In terms of results alone, Korea's level was among the top in the world. But whenever a talented individual emerged, foreign countries snatched them away immediately. Overseas powers bought up promising talents with massive funding, leaving Korea with only those who lacked skill or pursued values beyond money.
For the nation. Because loved ones were in Korea. Because they couldn't speak foreign languages. Because they craved high positions in the government.
'Some of them must have joined hands with Seon Ui-cheol.'
Unlike those driven by patriotism or practical conditions, these were the ones who chose entanglement with power. They produced research results tailored to Seon Ui-cheol's tastes, which naturally translated into his approval ratings.
'And the place where the Pine Tree Unit is manufactured.'
I tailed the group dragging away the latent hero, suppressing my mana to the max so Gwanggeom wouldn't notice, pursuing their car. Even in human form, their foundation was that of a monster. Their physical abilities were near-superhuman. Chasing a car speeding through the night was a piece of cake.
Before long, the car entered the research complex.
'As expected.'
The vehicle quickly dove into the underground parking lot. The surface facilities looked unremarkable from satellite photos, but underground, there would be dozens of floors filled with various research wings.
'The Research Complex Underground Dungeon.'
Mid-story. A scientist studying the Cube at the Daejeon Research Complex realizes its danger and attempts to escape. The protagonists protect this scientist and battle the Pine Tree Unit, revealing the Cube's existence and Seon Ui-cheol's dark side to everyone. In other words, the Daejeon Research Complex was the dungeon where the Cube was first exposed in the original story.
'The scientist who flees with the Cube is the main heroine, but that's none of my business right now.'
She becomes an adult in 2025, the point when the original story begins. So five years ago, she's just a middle schooler—no way she'd be at a university research complex. She wasn't even in Korea at this point anyway.
"She won't suddenly pop out like Cheon Ga-eul, right?"
'No, focus on here.'
I slapped my cheek to refocus. Finding the Cube's location was more important right now. Hiding in the shadows of the building, I dodged the gazes of passing researchers.
'The problem is infiltrating underground.'
Even in the original, the protagonists avoided direct confrontation. It was essentially declaring war on the government and association. An elite few slipped past guard robots and surveillance cameras to find the Cube, while the protagonist bought time outside battling the Pine Tree Unit.
'That's why I don't know where the Cube is.'
I knew the building—it was right in the front yard where the battle happened. But not the interior. Only the three who went to retrieve the Cube knew the path, and after everything, the entire underground collapsed.
'Luckily, I know the dog hole.'
Clunk.
The manhole cover lifted. A stench assaulted my nose.
"Ugh."
Sewage mixed with all sorts of chemicals. A normal person would pass out just from the fumes near it.
'I feel so bad for Park Ra-on.'
In the original game, I always ordered Unsa, Park Ra-on, to tackle this underground passage. She complained the least, and any dropped affinity recovered quickly.
'But that won't happen anymore.'
Since I'm doing it myself now.
"I think I'm gonna puke..."
In the dead of night, when no one passed, I leaped into the manhole.
"Urp—blegh!"
Starting with vomiting right away.
* * *
Clunk. The stretcher cart's wheels bounced.
A researcher in a white coat yelled in panic.
"Watch it!"
"Sorry, sunbae!"
The other researcher bowed repeatedly like he'd committed a mortal sin.
The senior researcher quickly shoved the exposed arm back under the white sheet.
"Don't you know Professor will flip if even a little research material gets damaged?"
"Sorry. I didn't sleep last night..."
The junior's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging like they might burst.
The senior wasn't much different. He paused the cart and blinked his weary eyes.
"How many hours did you sleep?"
"Two."
"You got a lot. Back in my day, one hour was generous."
The junior's face paled at the senior's words. It wasn't just boomer talk—rumors said researchers back then were worked to the bone without sleep.
This was considered an improvement.
The junior hung his head.
"Makes me wanna join Professor Do's lab for real."
"Can't argue there."
Do Seon-jae. Portly in build, but matched by his vast knowledge and character—a Hero Studies professor. If not for his firm beliefs in his personal theories and his unfiltered government criticisms, he'd be hailed as Korea's top scholar, a once-in-a-generation talent.
"His grad students are probably chilling at home right now, huh?"
"They're not grad students. What grad student shows up whenever they feel like it to research and write papers?"
To the researchers, his lab was paradise.
The senior grumbled in front of the lab door.
"I just wanna sleep a full day."
"If Professor Kang hears that, he'll put you to sleep forever."
"Right? ...Ahem. Hey, did you wash off the chemical smell? Why's it so sour in here."
At the senior's point, the junior hurriedly sniffed his coat. Only the strong scent of fabric softener hit him—no chemical odor.
The junior blinked wide-eyed.
"Doesn't seem like me?"
"Then it's me?"
The senior scowled, and the junior made a miserable face.
"Spray perfume or change clothes—get rid of it now!"
As the senior berated the junior, a shadow flickered past the ceiling vent.
"The smell's gonna make me puke for real."
The vent rattled.
* * *
'That scared me.'
Midway, closed vents forced me to pry them open, letting air flow inward.
'Mana suppression makes this a pain.'
Phoenix's frame was a bit smaller than average, so no getting stuck, but crawling hunched for hours was infuriating.
"How about just burning it all down...?"
'...No can do. Why suffer this far then?'
Straight-line distance from Shin Seoul to here: about 15 km. Gwanggeom at full speed would arrive in under a minute. Without the Cube's exact spot, rash moves were out.
But I had a guess who hid it.
'Munsin-sa.'
S-rank villain who tattoos constraints onto bodies, mind and soul. Seon Ui-cheol's confidant, overseeing Pine Tree Unit production. Master of secrecy, never revealing his identity.
'His workshop's gotta be somewhere in this facility.'
The heroes who infiltrated found the Cube. And it was in Munsin-sa's Pine Tree production workshop. Following researchers through the building, I finally reached the target workshop.
"Hey, when's Professor Kang coming?"
"He said just leave it."
"Then let's go. Won't call when he starts work—catch a wink then."
The researchers abandoned Lee Gi-seong's rigid body and fled the lab. I blew dust from my eyes and peered through the vent slats.
'This is it.'
The lab visible through the ceiling vent matched my memory. A sleazy tattoo parlor vibe, like a seedy massage joint. Lee Gi-seong lay on the stretcher like a corpse. Munsin-sa returns, and the Pine Tree brand goes on soon.
'Time for prep work.'
I subtly leaked mana into the lab. Empty, good. I gathered it delicately.
Like cold-brewing coffee, drawing it out over ages so Gwanggeom wouldn't sense.
Fwoosh.
A mini-Phoenix appeared in the vent duct. Already tiny, now even smaller.
♩♬ The mini-Phoenix slipped into the lab through the vent. It hid amid the cluttered mess. Trap set—now wait for Munsin-sa.
'He'll come soon. Hang in there.'
...
'I'm Jiang Taigong, fishing for time. Patience is bitter, fruit sweet, right?'
...
'Seoul okay? Ji-hwa's unreliable. Ga-eul's been sharp lately.'
...
'Just smash it all and call Gwanggeom?'
Hours of waiting.
Screech.
Finally, a bite.
Bubble bubble. Shadows writhed beyond the gap by the bed.
I held my breath, peering down.
"......."
Munsin-sa appeared. Like my spatial transfer via mini-Phoenix, he returned via shadow-walking ability.
'Using it like it's his.'
Not originally his. Like Cheon Ga-eul copying abilities, Munsin-sa stole powers from those he tattooed. Mental restraints, brainwashing, speech curbs, disguise, shadow movement—all pilfered for Pine Tree Unit. Long-time Seon Ui-cheol ally, hundreds accumulated.
In that sense.
"Time to take him out, right?"
My body ignited. Consciousness shifting, I kicked the vent hard.
Thud!
The ceiling vent crashed to the floor. Munsin-sa's head snapped up.
"...!"
He startled, diving for shadows, but mini-Phoenix flew at them first.
Fwoosh.
Spatial transfer to mini-Phoenix. My manifested hand seized his throat first.
"Gack!"
Munsin-sa coughed, choked. Mana wavered; shadows stilled. I yanked him from the floor.
"!!"
He grabbed my wrist desperately. Ink oozed from special gloves.
"Where?"
I smiled sweetly, hoisting him vertical and slamming him down.
Boom!
Chokeslam. No mercy—headfirst impact spasmed his hands. I wiggled my remaining right hand over the prone Munsin-sa.
"Hi?"
Simultaneously, mana surged wildly from the hand on his throat.
Bang!
His internal mana shook. I jammed my thumb into his throat, injecting into bleeding vessels.
"Aaaagh!!!"
Munsin-sa screamed in agony. Azure Flame-infused mana rampaged, incinerating his mana throughout.
Crack, crunch!
His skeleton twisted. Cunning enough to alter appearance via body-mod ability, but mana sustaining it burned away—true form revealed.
I waved at the dazed woman staring blankly.
"Nice to meet you, deputy auntie?"
Jijeonggwan's deputy. Kang So-yeon.
* * *
The masked woman, gag in mouth, was Hero Association's PR head and Jijeonggwan deputy—Kang So-yeon Team Leader.
I shrugged, foot on her back.
"Well, association's spy sent to our country, right?"
Gagged Kang So-yeon glared venomously.