Chapter 10
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Star Lord (2)
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Plip. Plip, plip.
A lukewarm spring rain was deeply soaking the asphalt pavement that morning.
A massive larva was crossing through smaller larvae, heading toward the south side of Jamsil Station intersection.
- Are we really going the right way?
- Since we can see the panda statue from Seoul World, this must be south.
Inside the "bug suit" that Min-jun and So-hee were wearing, the damp spring rain had seeped in, making the air so hot and humid it was suffocating, and the narrow field of view through the small holes only amplified the claustrophobia.
- Carrying this thing for 3 km is going to kill me.
- Better than being chased by bugs.
Even after removing the larva's innards, the rigid exoskeleton itself was incredibly heavy.
This was despite Min-jun's strength level having increased from killing the larva, so as So-hee said, carrying it would undoubtedly take at least twice as long as walking normally.
Grunting as she carried the suit, she opened her mouth to ease the strain a bit.
- By the way, now that I think about it, what the hell is that 'star' thing?
She was referring to the black stone at the intersection they'd seen before setting out.
- Calling that horrific thing a 'star' sounds contradictory.
- It fell from the sky like a shooting star, so it is a star. Anyway, what do you think, Min-jun?
- Who knows. Ever since things started defying common sense, I've stopped caring about stuff like that.
As I answered So-hee's question, I diligently scanned our surroundings.
The current situation mattered more than her question.
- Tch. You're no fun. Here's what I think: that star is like a 'hatchery' producing the larvae. So smashing the stone makes the bugs disappear.
That was something Min-jun had suspected too.
But if things played out as she imagined, they'd face a far graver situation than now, so he'd been ignoring it, unwilling to believe.
- Let's say you're right and smashing that 'star' makes the bugs vanish. Then where do we get survival time from? What happens if we smash that stone?
- Well...
- No good answer, right? So what we need to focus on right now is 'how to get to Garak Market safely.' Let's think only about that first.
- Okay... Got it.
Thoroughly dejected by Min-jun's response, So-hee began focusing on matching her steps to his as he walked ahead.
They advanced bit by bit like that, and when the "bug suit" passed Jamsil Station intersection and reached Seokchon Lake.
Thud thud thud.
- So-hee, hold on... Did you hear that sound just now?
- What sound?
- Didn't the ground just shake...
Thud thud thud thud—
The two faced a wave of larvae surging forth amid the earth-shaking rumble.
Why now? Was it because their narrow field of view prevented proper scouting? He shouted to So-hee as he saw the larvae suddenly spring up from the ground.
- Damn it. Turn the suit in the opposite direction!
- What? We've come this far with so much effort, why?!
- I'll explain later—hurry!
So-hee, handling the tail end of the bug suit where she couldn't see ahead, was puzzled but quickly turned the suit back the way they'd come at Min-jun's urgent tone.
Then something began shoving their backs.
- Wha... whoa!!
- Hold tight to the suit and go with the flow! Falling here means 100% death!
At Min-jun's shout, they gritted their teeth and clung to the bug suit.
Even without kicking off, they began surging northward like a surfboard riding a wave.
- Damn it! We just came down, and now we're heading back!
- We have to survive first to try again! Quit complaining and hold on!
Like that, the two covered the grueling 20-minute downhill distance in just 3 minutes, returning to Jamsil Station intersection.
Finally coming to a stop, they couldn't hide their bewilderment.
- What the hell is going on?!
- I don't know! Suddenly a horde of larvae swarmed in!
To assess the situation, Min-jun peered out through the narrow gap.
But all he could see filling his view were larvae packing Jamsil Station intersection.
- Let me see too.
- It's too narrow for two!
Despite Min-jun's complaint, So-hee squeezed into the head section, and jammed together like that, they shared the tiny field of view.
- How are there so many bugs... Huh? There! That white lump. Isn't that a cocoon?
- Cocoon?
It wasn't noticeable amid the enormous 'star,' but right beside it stood a 4-meter white cocoon.
And the gazes of the larvae, packed so densely there was no room to step, were all fixed on that cocoon.
A cocoon was an 'egg' protecting a larva or pupa.
For the egg to be that size meant the bug inside was that big too—and what emerged might not be a mere larva but something one level more evolved.
Either way, it was bad news for the two.
- Damn, this feels bad.
Was it Min-jun's murmur that triggered it?
With a cracking sound, fissures began spiderwebbing across the cocoon.
- ...Too late to run now, huh?
Seeing it, they swallowed hard.
At So-hee's words, Min-jun glanced around. Hundreds of variants stood motionless in the rain, watching the cocoon metamorphose.
- Doubt those guys would let a lone outlier act up.
As the two conversed, the cracks spread, enveloping the entire cocoon.
Finally, the lid popped open, and something began emerging.
- Whoa, shit...
- ...
Gradually, as its form revealed itself from the cocoon, Min-jun and So-hee's faces paled.
What fully emerged, shattering the cocoon, was a massive gray moth with feather-like antennae.
The only difference from a normal moth was the four tentacles extending from its tail end. Otherwise, it was a textbook moth specimen.
The creature writhed its furry tentacles as it crawled atop the four-story-sized 'star,' and at that moment, countless larvae bowed low.
Noticing this, Min-jun unhesitatingly dropped to a crouch, pulling So-hee down with him.
The bug suit lowered its body too, mimicking the worshiping larvae.
Crouched down, he whispered to So-hee.
- This feels like a ceremony, doesn't it?
- A ceremony?
- Like a coronation. How else do you explain this?
As they talked, various sounds rose around them, but with the suit bowed and vision fixed on the ground, all they could do was continue conversing.
- So that moth is the king of the larvae?
- Probably. Sigh... Survival difficulty just went up. Now the disorganized horde has a leader.
As Min-jun finished speaking, a new message appeared before them.
['Arktine' has become the owner of the star.]
[All living beings in Songpa 2 District must duly revere her.]
「[Star's Owner]
Songpa 1 District: Vacant
Songpa 2 District: Arktine
Songpa 3 District: Atlnak
Songpa 4 District: Hornet
Songpa 5 District: Vacant」
Confirming the message, the two met eyes.
- That's a message packed with info.
- Yeah. So five stars fell just in Songpa-gu alone, and there are two more monster-moth-like things out there.
- Fine, but how the hell do we get out of here?
- For now, wait for the right—
Piiiiiiiiieee!!
An ultrasonic screech suddenly pierced the air, interrupting Min-jun, and the sea of larvae rippled in response to the sound wave.
- Wha... whoa! They're moving!
At So-hee's words, Min-jun peeked out and replied.
- Damn it. The horde's heading east.
- Huh? That's the wrong direction!
- So put some muscle into it!
- You have the higher strength level! You do it!
- I'm already giving it everything!
They flailed to swim against the wave, but a mere individual defying a disaster-scale phenomenon was no easy feat.
Thus, the bug suit was swept gradually eastward with the larval tide.
- Whew, too late now.
- Guess we ride the flow.
Exhausted from their futile struggles, they soon accepted the inevitable and relaxed.
Drifting with the massive current, they flowed toward Bangi-dong food alley.
* * *
Bangi-dong food alley.
Dong-gil and Woo-jin ran gasping through the alley crammed with shattered buildings bearing no trace of their former selves.
Bar and karaoke signs whipped past their vision nonstop, vanishing behind.
"Huff... huff..."
A pack of larvae chased hot on their heels.
If not for their high agility as the recon team, they'd have been caught long ago.
"Team Leader! What now?!"
"What do you mean what? Shut up and run!"
"We can't run forever!"
"Rather than yapping, move those legs more! Figures from an elite— all brains, no brawn!"
But even as he said it, Dong-gil's mind was a whirlwind.
He'd scouted from afar, yet 'Arktine' had stared right at him through binoculars.
'Crazy...'
Even now, recalling it sent chills down his spine.
Ding!
Amid the desperation, a message popped up—as expected, a quest to shake the larvae and survive.
Brushing off the damn thing, Dong-gil pounded his feet harder.
'Who needs quests. Survival's the goal anyway.'
"Chick! Got that .38?!"
"Why?! Bullets don't work on them!"
Being chased anyway, a bit of gunfire wouldn't deter them.
"Still buys time! Blast 'em while we run!"
Bang!
No sooner said, flames spat from Dong-gil's revolver.
Gunpowder scent mingled with rain, tickling their noses.
Bang! Bang!
A few hit larvae faltered briefly—but only briefly.
'Damn, shoulda left when the chief offered...'
Days ago during the incident, the chief had given everyone a choice.
'Those leaving for family or personal safety, go. But those staying, let's maintain order in Songpa-gu with me.'
Back then, the chief's words had been enough to sway the one goose dad whose family was far away....
But now, life hanging by a thread, Dong-gil resented his past bravado.
'Sigh... No, Dong-gil. Pull yourself together. Twenty years serving the people—you can't waste it all on one bad call.'
Steeling himself, Dong-gil ran while racking his brain.
To survive, he had to find a way to shake them off.