Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Mountains Beyond Mountains
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I stare at the dreary hospital entrance.
On the white wall of Building A, "A Building" had been painted in black, with half the paint already peeling off.
"Everyone, open your manuals."
"Already did."
Song Arin sighed while holding her manual and gazing at the door.
The half-broken automatic door stood wide open, as if someone had forced it apart.
"Never thought I'd live to see the day I have to rescue someone from a 'hospital.' This is one I figured we'd skip."
"Have either of you been here before?"
At my question, both Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin shook their heads.
"Containment Team doesn't come here."
"Me neither. If I had to put it... this is Response Team territory."
"Response Team?"
Was there a Response Team too?
"Simply put, they deal with organizations like 'hospitals' or 'theaters.'"
Song Arin continued as she checked the chamber of her pistol.
"Usually, it's the guys those organizations have a grudge against who end up here. Atmosphere's brutal every day."
"Oh. We might run into Response Team if we're lucky?"
"Get real. Kangseo University Hospital's been off-limits for the Management Bureau for ages. Manual's already complete."
No wonder it was loaded with annotations.
I unfold the manual in front of the broken automatic door.
[Office Manual]
[Kangseo University Hospital Manual]
[Never use force directly.]
[2.2 - In front of you will be a broken automatic door. Force is a last resort. Even if you reading this possess branch chief-level combat prowess, remember that an individual can be utterly powerless against group imbalances and information asymmetry.]
[2-3. Once you enter the door, receptionists who have already undergone sufficient assimilation will greet you. Say you have come from the hospital entrance, and never mention the name of the person you're looking for. You must name someone who absolutely isn't here. Then, take the stairs to the third floor. If you hear hallucinations or illusions urging you toward the second floor, please self-harm, and note that if you enter, the Management Bureau will be unable to recover your body.]
A name that doesn't exist.
One person immediately came to mind.
"Ready?"
Both nodded, and I took the lead, stepping inside.
Fluorescent lights flickered, illuminating the half-destroyed reception desk, where a man in receptionist attire stood.
"..."
His face was inverted.
Lips where eyes should be, eyes where lips should be.
"What brings you here?"
Yet a woman's voice, brimming with kindness, flowed out.
"Ah, I'm here for a visit."
"Oh~ Visiting, are you? If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me which patient?"
"Patient Kim Wanwoo."
I'd only seen him twice, but I recited the name of the regressor burned into my brain.
No particular reason—just a gut feeling that this was the way.
"Patient Kim Wanwoo~ Let me see. Oh dear, looks like he's not here... Our records have been a mess lately..."
The receptionist smiled apologetically and pointed down the right corridor.
"He's probably on the third floor! Ask the nurse there—they'll know! Sorry about this!"
"It's fine."
I head down the right corridor.
Soon, an elevator and stairs appear before us.
Stairs it is.
Clutching the butane gas in my pocket, I cautiously set foot on the stairs.
My temples immediately start throbbing.
"Song Arin."
"Yeah."
"Can you put both Chaeyeon and yourself under a brief mental hypnosis so they just follow behind me?"
"Now you're casually trying to coerce me into hypnotizing myself..."
"You can do it, right?"
"When I snap out, flick to the forehead."
After a brief grumble, Song Arin reached out, grabbed my hand, then took Jang Chaeyeon's with her other.
Soon, emotion drained from both their faces.
I quickly waved my hand in front of Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon's eyes—no reaction. Satisfied, I climb the stairs.
The throbbing intensified, but compared to the turntable agony, it was nothing.
Passing [2nd Floor. Radiology], I head for the third.
[3rd Floor, Patient Waiting Room]
Emerging onto the landing, I immediately flick the foreheads of Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon with my index fingers.
As if on cue, both snap awake, and I open the manual again.
[2-4. Upon reaching the third-floor patient waiting room, first count the number of nurses around.]
I quickly scan the surroundings.
Three nurses total.
[One nurse: safe. Two: caution advised. Three: dangerous. Four: leave immediately.]
Three. Talk about rotten luck.
[2-5. More nurses mean tighter security and crankier doctors ahead. Approach a nurse and say, 'I heard on the first floor that the patient roster got mixed up.']
[That will send the nurses down to the first floor. But more nurses means less time before they return—you must break through the third floor in that window.]
[2-6. Once the nurses descend, sprint across the corridor. You may hear pleas for help from patient rooms, but do not interfere. The corridor stretches longer than it appears. Beware the darkness, and if a shadow grabs you, shake it off with all your might.]
[2-7. After reaching the connecting corridor, you are safe.]
I finish reading the manual and look at the two.
"Please."
"You can count on us."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded at my words, and the moment she did, she headed for the nurses.
"Excuse me."
A nurse turns to look at me.
Nothing where a face should be.
The nurse rigidly turns her body toward the three of us, and I recite the manual line.
"I heard on the first floor that the patient roster got mixed up."
The three nurses glance at each other, then hurriedly dash toward the stairs.
I eye the corridor.
Shorter than expected. Looks like 300 meters, but the manual says it's longer.
"Go!"
Confirming the nurses vanish down the landing, I bolt down the corridor.
Countless patient rooms whip by, pounding sounds echoing from behind doors.
-Save me!
-Aaaagh! My arm!!!
-It hurts...! It hurts!
-...Jaeheon.
The last voice makes my legs falter for a moment, but Jang Chaeyeon shoves my back, her voice steady.
"Don't believe it."
"...Got it!"
I pour power back into my legs and run.
It's long.
Feels like I've covered 200 meters already, but it seems I've barely done a third.
"They're coming!"
Song Arin glances back and yells urgently. I turn too.
The nurses are charging up like mad.
Faster than track athletes. At this rate, we're done for.
Jang Chaeyeon whips around, waves her hand—cabinets or beds pile up, blocking the path.
-Thud!
Of course, it only buys a few seconds.
"Damn it!"
Song Arin occasionally hypnotizes them to stall, while Jang Chaeyeon topples objects to barricade.
Soon, ceiling lights flicker, shadows writhing.
I could rip the shadows... if it were me.
[Coordinate Rip: 3 uses remaining]
"Chaeyeon!"
She instantly looks where I'm staring, and the world turns graph paper-like.
I designate every visible part between shadows. About 17 current threats.
"Grab them!"
"...!"
At my word, Jang Chaeyeon thrusts her hand out, clenching her fist—shadows burst, lights brighten again.
The connecting corridor is right there. I shove the two inside, then leap and roll across the floor.
"Ow!"
"Eek!"
"...!"
After a brief commotion, I spin around—the nurses stand just steps away, staring at us.
"..."
After a tense standoff, they turn and retreat.
I exhale in relief, catching my breath.
Song Arin panting a bit, Jang Chaeyeon pale-faced and barely breathing from exhaustion.
"You okay?"
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon nods without proper words, so I rub her back and open the manual.
[2-8. Reaching the connecting corridor means facing rational entities from here on. Don't forget: the doctor who appears depends on the number of nurses you saw on the third floor.]
Jang Chaeyeon's breathing steadies a bit. I soothe her and resume walking.
[Time is short, so we recommend reading while moving.]
[One nurse: 2-9 <Surgeon>. Two: 2-10 <Neurologist>. Three: 2-11 <Orthopedist>.]
[2-11. Orthopedists are extremely ferocious, with unpredictable responses.]
[Physical restraint not recommended.]
[Orthopedists have an appearance that screams no chance in a physical fight. In fact, expect it won't resolve easily.]
[However, their minds fixate solely on research and experiments, making rational conversation relatively harder than with other doctors—keep this in mind.]
[When meeting him, utmost caution: do not provide info on who you're seeking.]
[Deceive him, and find what you want.]
Soon, a clear sign appears.
[Welcome to A Building 3rd Floor, Inpatient Ward.]
An empty corridor, spotlessly clean—no different from a normal hospital. Photos alone would fool anyone.
Only one difference.
"..."
"Customers! What brings you here!"
A cheerful man appears, greeting our trio.
No face.
Not even human-shaped exactly—head to toe, pure shadow.
Only gums where teeth should be.
"Fracture? Or amputation? Or..."
He grins at us.
"Looking for someone?"
This won't go smoothly.