Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: The Cultists' God - 4
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Me, Sang-shin, and James headed toward the rednecks' settlement.
Sang-shin was reluctant, claiming he'd nearly died, but he caved at the promise of cow head soup.
"You're really making it? Cow head soup."
"But isn't all soup pretty much the same? Pig soup or cow head soup."
"Hey now. Those are totally different. You don't even know the difference."
I had a different opinion.
I liked soup well enough, but I preferred grilled meat above all.
Tastes differ, though, and that's fine.
Sang-shin asked casually.
"If we catch a cow, you can butcher it, right?"
"Who knows... Never tried."
I'd hunted pheasants and wild boars plenty, but a cow was just too damn big for a human.
Sang-shin nudged my shoulder.
"We've got James here. He's a rancher, so he oughta know how to handle cows, yeah?"
Fair point.
Anyway, our trio's goals aligned nicely.
We holed up in a nearby building and grabbed a quick bite.
James chewed on his hardtack and warned us.
"Be careful. Hate to say it, but those folks ain't right in the head. Not your average rednecks."
Sang-shin hesitated before speaking up.
"Uh, we kinda have some... prejudices about those guys?"
James gave a bitter smile.
"Redneck's fine by me. Even the feds picture one thing when you say Texas backwoods boy. Ain't far off. Hell, some fool even claimed Texas was nothing but cows and horses."
"How many cows we talking?"
"Maybe twenty million? Not sure."
Sang-shin and I whistled in shock.
That'd explain the saying.
James seemed surprisingly upbeat for a guy whose daughter got snatched by rednecks.
When we showed interest in Texas, he boasted about treating us to real barbecue sometime.
"After we get my girl back, of course."
"Getting her out shouldn't be too hard, but..."
"But?"
"Question is whether Paige even wants to leave. Sounds self-willed from what you said."
James's face darkened at my words.
He confessed the truth.
"...You're right. Paige likes the bastard too. He's got a big crew, guns, better food than me. But..."
This was the key part.
James seemed to trust us, spilling what he hadn't even told the estate owner.
Maybe he was leaning on us since we were the only ones who'd listened.
"You said they ain't right. Anyone could see that. They've got this weird woman with 'em."
"Weird how?"
"Didn't seem human. Like a doll... No life in her."
Interesting.
Might tie into that auction house story.
The crazy bitch screwing the half-dead Asian guy.
James stammered, recalling the shock.
"Truth is, Terence and his crew weren't always nuts. Just backwoods yokels—hunting, boozing, the occasional embarrassing romp. Then... that man and a few women showed up, and things changed."
"Changed how?"
"Started fighting over women, built a forge outta nowhere, making guns. Crazy, right? Guns from scrap metal."
Even gun-loving Americans needed proper facilities for that.
Had to be Ahn Geun-seok's doing.
Guy knew totems and now gun-making? Getting shadier.
"What happened after?"
James sighed long and hard.
"Dunno what the Asian and women talked about, but suddenly they were all about level grinding. Guys who used to say casual hunting was enough went berserk on monsters. Terence too."
"Must've been drop-dead gorgeous."
James looked ambiguous.
"Hard to say... Mesmerizing charm, maybe. I chatted with 'em a couple times—felt drawn in. And I'm no spring chicken."
Figured. Sex cult types.
But why? Sex wasn't Ahn Geun-seok's big thing.
I grabbed my backpack and stepped out.
Battlefield mode was active, but Su-yeon's buffs made it bearable.
Crop buffs too—stats good enough to run.
I pulled up my cloak and approached the redneck turf.
A few spotted me and came over.
I held dead still, breath shallow, waiting them out.
Thick forearms, tattoos, bandanas—straight outta media rednecks.
Two clutched pipe guns, chattering loudly.
"Heard the guys here ain't high-level."
"Barely any over 30. Higher than Terence, though."
"What's the point of hunting high-level guys anyway?"
A cigarette hit the dirt.
They stomped it and left.
I crept toward the center.
Sensing presences was tough like before, so I froze at any odd vibe.
Slipped by undetected.
For now.
Overheard more as people passed.
They needed a high-level guy.
Even my name came up.
Weird for random whites to know it.
Ahn tip them off?
Waiting cloaked, a woman appeared.
Doll-like refined face, slender figure.
Honest? Prettiest I'd seen.
But dead eyes, no spark.
Wished for super senses to hear her heart.
She stroked her lower belly, then looked up.
Space ripped; Ahn Geun-seok emerged.
"How's the seed?"
"None survived."
Her voice was flat, emotionless—stiff.
Watching her lips, it mismatched weirdly, like ventriloquism.
Questions burned, but I stayed patient.
Ahn placed a hand on her belly.
"Can't handle 20s, huh. Need high-level."
"Searched nearby. Even 30s are rare."
"There's a 40."
Me, probably.
She lifted her head defiantly.
"Tell me where. I'll harvest the seed."
Seed as I imagined.
Ahn smirked.
"Half-baked ghoul take on that guy? Dream on."
"..."
She bowed silently.
Damn, ghoul.
Crying mimicking human for sure.
But my Cryings weren't that human-like.
Slurred speech, crude features.
Modified ghoul?
Not impossible, like the doctor or nurse.
Ahn gripped the ghoul's chin.
"Gotta check other conditions... Tonight, gather the sisters for the rite. See if any seed survives."
"Understood."
"Test if your filthy body can bear His seed."
Ahn vanished after.
What? Acts like monster coexistence is the only way, but scoffs behind closed doors?
Ghoul couldn't even lift her head.
Seemed a flicker of emotion...
Maybe implanted memories into the ghoul body.
Happened with the nurse before...
Swamp labyrinth trio returned in new bodies.
Recall confirming non-human from cuts and points.
No more talk, though.
Prepping to bail, ghoul started trembling.
Kkiiiak! Kkiiiak!
Weird cries drew men from buildings.
Empty pupils, blank faces.
They spot me?
Ready to dimension gate out, but ghoul stripped suddenly.
I shut my eyes at her nudity.
Body stitched from human scraps—grotesque.
Guys who fucked that? Insane.
Squelching sounds soon followed.
Obvious what they were doing.
Disgusting pigs.
Wanted to gun them down, but Ahn nearby—held back.
Don't know his powers; too risky.
I slipped away carefully.
Now, find Paige.
.
.
.
The past few hours' sights were pure shock.
Rednecks orgied with ghouls and ripped raw flesh from live animals.
Screaming, thrashing deer.
I ate meat, but butchered after killing.
Not gulping warm blood from throats.
Witnessed unspeakable horrors too.
Wondered if this was really Earth.
"Or maybe..."
Others might see me the same.
Mass murderer of hundreds.
My deeds weren't fundamentally different.
Even with survival excuse.
Was that Ahn's point? We're alike?
Didn't wanna be lumped with them.
"That's not human."
Paige, finally found after circling, wasn't in that crowd—thank god.
Off alone, sobbing.
Pale skin, red hair, freckles—striking up close.
She ripped into Terence.
"Bastard! Son of a bitch! How could you treat me like that? Found Korean sluts, so I'm trash now?"
More blistering curses followed.
Hmm.
Cusses better than most guys.
Paige was clearly unhappy.
Watching longer, she buried her face in her knees, weeping.
"Sob sob... Sorry, Daddy... Wasn't the muscles... Wanna go home..."
But Korea was worlds away.
Texas ranch meant dimension gate through great labyrinth.
Checked her feelings, but taking to James now? Tough.
Battle royale zone.
Too many hitches to murderer status.
Note her first.
Cloaked, scribbled a note, flung it her way.
Crying, she startled at it.
"Wh-what? Who's there?"
...
No sound, so she cautiously picked it up.
Furrowed brow hard.
"What’s this weird writing? Japanese?"
Shit.
Language barrier on writing.
Texas Yankee wouldn't know Hangul.
She looked away; I scrawled English words, sent another.
She picked it, burst laughing.
"Spelling's wrong."
Ugh.
Embarrassing for basic English.
Anyway, tension eased; she scanned wide-eyed.
"Not the tooth fairy at my age. Who? Won't scream—come out."
Direct.
Even if caught, gate out—no worry.
Dropped cloak; she gaped, hand to mouth.
I pressed finger to lips.
"Shh. Came for you."
Suspicious glare.
"Don't know you. How'd you know me?"
"Your dad sent me. James Allen Ray."
"That's him... Where is he?"
"Long story. He's fine—relax. Can you move?"
"Leg's hurt... Here."
Showed bare leg.
Nasty wound bound in filthy rag—painful.
Call Su-yeon? Can't come here.
First aid only.
Rifled pack for Su-yeon's kit, salve, potion.
Paige eyed them warily.
"You ain't a doctor."
Ex-street food owner, current psycho. Why?
Gruffly.
"Eat this, rub that, drink this. You'll walk."
She eyed me, obeyed.
Wound healed fast.
I looked away.
"One question. Why not go with Dad?"
Paige's face fell.
"Love Terence."
"The musclehead?"
"Yeah... But he betrayed me. Banged other chicks! Jerk!"
Voice rose; I shushed her.
"That woman you curse? Not human. Monster-close."
"What? Makes no sense. Monster?"
"You know the deal. This world—superpowers, monsters."
She nodded slowly.
Months in, had to grasp it.
"Terence's girl? Modified ghoul. Someone's using ghouls to seduce folks."
"Ghoul...? Blech."
Recalled street ghouls, dry-heaved.
Cryings didn't look too gross, but monsters still.
No matter how hungry, wouldn't touch.
"Question... Wanna escape? Or wait for Terence to come around?"
Latter? Nothing more from me.
Report choice to James, wash hands.
But she picked escape.
"Wanna leave... These old guys? Watched long—not right. Totally crazy."
"Crazy how exactly?"
"K-kill people..."
Me too.
"And... experiments on bodies... Regret following Terence..."
Noise outside.
I cloaked quick, hid in corner.
Door creaked; musclebound guy entered.
You must be Terence.
The Cultists' God - 4
End