Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 287. The Sound from the Basement
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An Sanghyeon.
Before coming to the Gangseo Branch, Song Arin had already heard about him.
Crazy bastard. Living disaster. If there was a Destruction Team instead of the Containment Team, that's where he should've been sent. No good labels stuck to him anyway.
They said logic didn't work on him, and he just went around destroying everything.
"...It's really true."
Song Arin muttered in a dazed tone as she took in the scene before her.
*
Overwhelming force and destruction.
That was the carnage spread out before my eyes.
Remnants of what had once been people, and what had been parasites, lay scattered about, and An Sanghyeon, drenched in blood, wore a refreshed smile.
"This is great!"
"...Is this the kind of guy he is?"
"I told you he was crazy."
Song Arin replied to my mutter in a sullen voice.
I'd thought it was a joke, but it was real.
"Anyway, Kim Jaeheon! Thanks so much for calling me!"
He waved at me cheerfully.
"Ah, yeah."
I turned my head away from the carnage.
The problem had been solved, at least.
The horde of parasites following us had been dealt with by Eileen and An Sanghyeon.
But we hadn't solved the root problem.
"An Sanghyeon."
"Yes!"
"No records of finding anything else?"
Like a nest, for instance.
"I didn't know until Eileen the Team Leader here caught me! I was just wandering around lost."
Just wandering around?
"So you've never encountered any parasites at all?"
"Yes, that's right."
...
I exchanged glances with the other three.
It didn't make sense. Well, it did make sense, but...
"Looks like you're right."
"Then what's the reason?"
"Heh heh, seems there's more I don't know."
As Song Arin and I started talking with serious expressions, staring at each other, An Sanghyeon looked at us with a hearty laugh.
"Anyway, can I stick with you and help out?"
"That would be a huge help."
"If you say so..."
No sooner had I finished speaking than he began rolling forward very slowly.
"Hup, then, like, hup, this, hup. Shall we, hup, go!"
"...What are you doing?"
What the hell.
At my genuine question, An Sanghyeon rolled forward slowly, giving me a look like I was asking the weirdest thing.
"No, hup. In case something, hup, happens... You just walk calmly? Hup...!"
...
So that's what they meant by crazy.
I stared at An Sanghyeon, who was rolling along in sync with our steps, shock on my face, then looked at Eileen, who had come with me.
"Eileen, thanks for coming. You saved our lives."
"...I like hearing that I saved your life. Feels good."
Eileen gave a small smile in response.
Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon watched her sullenly, but Eileen continued undeterred.
"I checked the records. From the Butterfly's Dream incident."
"Oh, really?"
When?
Perhaps sensing the surprise in my voice, Eileen nodded slowly.
"Yeah. After reading that and hearing your story now."
Eileen looked at me.
"Doesn't it seem like these things are targeting you?"
"...You're right."
With her experience as Team Leader, Eileen's judgment was sharp.
It felt like I had more people for strategy meetings besides Song Arin.
I felt a bit more secure.
"...Anyone with eyes could see that much."
Song Arin muttered in a grumbling tone, clearly displeased.
"The important thing is what we do next."
"Well, yeah..."
"Given their range of activity so far, it won't be hard."
Song Arin and Eileen cut in at the same time.
"Actually, confirming they're only after Kim Jaeheon makes wiping them out easier than expected."
"Right. I can be the bait."
"If anything, if he slips away somewhere or tries to leave, it'd turn into guerrilla warfare and be harder."
I nodded in agreement with Eileen and glanced at An Sanghyeon.
He was still rolling along with a smile.
No telling what was going through his head.
"...It's annoying how well you all agree."
Song Arin muttered and nodded.
"Fine, say that's the case. So what's the plan? Drag him inside and charge in?"
"...That is the best option."
"Right. I think that's the right call too."
"Hey, you, you're really... insane...?"
Eileen and I nodded, and Song Arin stared at us in horror.
"You're really going to risk your life?"
"I'm not risking my life."
"Then what the hell is that!"
"Won't you all watch out for me?"
At my question, Song Arin's mouth snapped shut like she'd been struck dumb.
"Don't worry, Jaeheon!"
"Yeah, I'll make sure nothing happens."
"Haha! I'll... hup! sweep them all away!"
"See?"
"...Ah... My head hurts..."
Song Arin clutched her temple and staggered, then gritted her teeth.
"Fine, got it. If you're so eager to die, preventing that is part of my job too. It's my fate!"
"Arin, you don't even need to get close anyway, and you can't fight from afar?"
"Black hair, shut up."
At Yoo Daon's innocent words, Song Arin muttered lowly and looked at me.
"So, what's the plan."
"We push through now."
Unlike before, we now had a bulldozer that defied common sense by our side. No reason not to use him.
"An Sanghyeon."
"Hup, hup... Yes!"
"You heard that? Clear a straight path."
"Haha, well now..."
He looked up at me.
His face was filled with eagerness.
"No one but Kim Jaeheon would ask me to do something this fun."
...
Suddenly, regret about my choice started creeping in.
But before I could back out, he curled into a ball.
"I'll go first. Follow carefully."
"Ah, yeah—"
-Boom!
Before I could finish, he started rolling, blasting forward at sonic boom speeds,
-Kwachak!
-Kwajijik!
-Kung!
Smashing flesh chunks to pieces as he rolled far ahead.
Eileen and I poked our heads out beyond the massive hole.
"Path's clear, so just follow along."
"You're sure that's the way?"
"We came from that side. Should be right."
"I see."
"These guys are really crazy..."
Song Arin sighed after overhearing us, and Yoo Daon started crossing the hole.
"Alright, shall we head this way?"
"Yeah, be careful if anything's ahead."
"Don't worry about me, Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon smiled happily at my words and stepped forward.
"Same formation as before?"
Jang Chaeyeon stared at me blankly.
"With Eileen here..."
Hmm. Where to put her?
"I'll go with Yoo Daon."
"Me?"
Eileen unslung the rifle from her back and stood beside Yoo Daon, who widened her eyes in surprise.
"I move around a bit wildly."
"Then move more carefully. Anyway, Yoo Daon..."
Eileen looked at Yoo Daon.
"You're always out front without ranged sniping, so you're great at taking hits, but interception is severely lacking."
...
"Whether you can't shoot or just don't, I'll cover that gap beside you."
"Sounds good."
She wasn't wrong.
If Yoo Daon got hit on purpose, it'd hurt her too, and create variables.
"But be careful you don't get hit, Eileen."
"I've never heard anyone say my shooting skills have slipped."
Seeing her shoot earlier, her words weren't off.
"Don't drag my ankle."
"What sin did I commit to babysit another team's member now..."
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin spoke to Eileen in prickly tones, though.
"Opportunity. Let's go."
"Sure."
Eileen looked smug, while the three just stared at her.
*
Honestly, nothing happened.
With An Sanghyeon rolling around like he was scorching the floor, it was only natural.
Thanks to that, we walked without spotting a single thing, let alone fighting.
"But is this the Riverside?"
If anything, this felt more like the Butterfly's Dream headquarters.
"It's part of the Riverside."
Jang Chaeyeon replied calmly.
"The Riverside is... small in reality, but big."
"Doesn't make sense."
"Like how we have Gangseo, Gangdong, Gangbuk, Gangnam branches, think of Riverside divided into districts too."
"So this is Gangseo Riverside or something?"
"Different... but that'll be easier to understand."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded, and Yoo Daon, walking ahead, sniffed and raised her hand to halt us.
"Sweet smell."
...
We all tensed and moved more cautiously.
How long had we walked?
There was a wall that felt like we'd slammed into something massive.
Unlike the flesh walls we'd seen, this one was truly made of stone.
And it hadn't broken.
"...Where's An Sanghyeon?"
I looked around for him, but he was gone.
-Drrrk...
From the opposite wall, a scraping sound came.
-Drrrk... drrrk... drrrk...
The sound grew louder.
"...It's coming."
Song Arin muttered, raising her hand, while Eileen and Jang Chaeyeon readied their weapons.
...
I raised my gun too.
-Drrrk.
The scraping stopped,
-Aaaah...!
Followed by a scream echoing from deep within, and the stone wall crumbled.
...
We all peered beyond the wall.
A staircase to a small basement lay before us.
At the same time, a translucent window appeared.
[Name: Butterfly's Origin]
[Age: X]
[Talent: X]
[Specialty: X]
[Background: Every action has its reason.]
[Weakness: Give it the food it wants.]
-Aaaah...!
The deep wail grew louder.