Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 021
Chapter Title: Even at Dawn, the Cult Comes Knocking (8)
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It took less than ten minutes to reach Myeongdong, which clung right up against the northern edge of Yongsan-gu.
"How am I supposed to track down the cult leader from here...?"
I slowly scanned Myeongdong from above, its size roughly matching Hongdae's. My tail swished lazily as I took it all in.
If the Arhat Nirvana Cult's headquarters was in Myeongdong, there was a high chance their leader was holed up in the city too.
"...But was Myeongdong always this creepy?"
As I methodically surveyed the city, my eyes caught a version of Myeongdong that didn't match my memories at all.
Neon signs plastered across the buildings flickered with a seedy glow, while citizens steeped in booze and vice wandered aimlessly through the streets.
Myeongdong was supposed to be bright and bustling, not steeped in this kind of decadence.
"...And where the hell is Myeongdong Cathedral?"
In the spot where the landmark cathedral—boasting over a century of history—once stood, there was now a massive casino.
"Why the hell is there a casino instead of Myeongdong Cathedral...?"
The fact that the cathedral, a vessel of Korean history, had vanished hit me like a gut punch.
They say ten years can change mountains and rivers... but some things shouldn't change, right?
I made a mental note to ask Mi-ra Owner or Grandpa what the hell had happened over the last fifty years.
"This is seriously suspicious..."
I searched the entertainment-district-turned-Myeongdong more thoroughly, but aside from the casino, nothing else seemed off.
Hell, there was even a suspicious helicopter parked on the rooftop helipad.
...Why the hell would anyone park a chopper so blatantly?
I flew closer to check it out when I heard voices.
"Deputy Manager Park. You're in early today."
"Aw, come on... It's not like I'm clocking in. You know I haven't left this place in a month, Director."
"Oh right, yeah. Forgot about that."
Chiiik— The two men in suits who climbed up to the roof started chatting idly as they lit their cigarettes.
"So, how's it going? Manageable?"
"...It's pretty doable. If you ignore the fact that I can't go home and the VIP handling."
The director patted the back of Deputy Manager Park, who sighed with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
...From what I could overhear, they seemed like casino employees.
"Contract's got two weeks left, right?"
"Yes. The VIP contract ends then too."
Deadline in two weeks...? VIP contract?
It screamed Arhat Nirvana Cult connection, so I swooped in low and landed right behind the men.
"...VIP contract?"
"Yeah, we're handing over a massive shipment of philopon to the Arhat Nirvana Cult leader, along with a huge payout... Huh?"
"...Philopon? You guys sell drugs too?"
I popped my head between them out of nowhere, eyes gleaming as I asked.
"What the—?! Gah! Aaaagh!!"
The director, cigarette still in his mouth, freaked out and yanked a pistol from his suit pocket, pulling the trigger.
Bang bang bang—!!
The bullets couldn't pierce my body and ricocheted off somewhere, but my clothes? Not so lucky.
"My... clothes..."
The precious outfit Mi-ra Owner had bought me now had bullet holes punched through it.
Seeing those cute little finger-sized holes made something inside me snap.
Confirming their ties to the Arhat Nirvana Cult was enough.
...I'd have let them off if they'd just played nice, but shooting at a little girl like me without hesitation?
I fixed the director with an icy glare.
"You're not getting forgiven for this."
"S-stay back!!"
Faced with overwhelming killing intent, the director's legs gave out. He couldn't even pull the trigger as he comically tried to scramble away.
"Apologize."
Krunch—!! His arm tore clean off in an instant, blood spraying like a fountain.
"Gaaah!! My arm...! My arm!!!"
Thud. I tossed the severed arm to the ground and approached the screaming director.
"Gaaaaah!! Aaaagh!!!"
They put holes in my precious clothes.
No forgiveness.
"You get the same."
I picked up the gun from the floor and pulled the trigger exactly as many times as the holes in my outfit.
Bang bang bang—!!
Three precise shots rang out, turning the director into a cold corpse.
"...Hmph."
Leaving the body behind, I approached Deputy Manager Park and slapped his cheek.
"Guh! Heuk!!"
He snapped out of his daze from the stinging pain, unable to process what had just happened.
"Mister. Take me to that cult leader guy, the VIP."
"...Hiiiik!!"
"No running. You wanna end up like that guy?"
Deputy Manager Park glanced at the armless corpse and shook his head frantically, terror etched on his face.
"I-I'll take you... Follow me..."
He gestured for me to follow, dragging his shaky legs toward the rooftop door and flinging it open.
Creeeak—. The moment it swung wide, ear-splitting music blasted out.
It was the kind of repetitive melody designed to fry your brain.
Even the rooftop, with just elevators and stairs, reeked of casino debauchery.
Tears streaming, Deputy Manager Park approached the staff elevator, swiping his ID.
"—Beep. Authentication successful."
The announcement chimed, followed by the hum of the elevator ascending to the rooftop.
"—Rooftop level."
It arrived in under thirty seconds. He stepped in, hit the button for basement level 6—the lowest floor—and the doors closed.
As the casino music faded, I turned to the tense man beside me.
"Mister. You're not taking me somewhere weird, right?"
"N-no...! I swear!!"
"Good."
Instead of blindly loyal to the casino and shortening his lifespan, he'd made the smart choice.
If the destination was wrong, he'd have joined the director in the afterlife.
"—Basement level 6."
The elevator slowed with a soothing chime, easing the tense atmosphere a bit.
The doors parted to reveal an impossibly vast hallway for a basement.
This must be the hotel section where the VIPs gathered.
"Hey, mister. The room with that cult leader you mentioned... Huh?"
I was about to ask since searching hundreds of rooms sounded annoying, but he'd already collapsed to the floor, pupils fully dilated.
"Mister?"
Did he pass out from nerves? I checked him, but he was motionless, like a puppet with cut strings.
Looked like he'd lost control of his body, entranced by something.
"Hypnosis...?"
Slapping his cheek got no reaction. Pouting, I started poking around the rooms myself.
Oddly, this hotel with hundreds of rooms was completely empty. Not a soul in sight.
More like... people had been here moments ago and vanished into thin air.
A chill ran down my spine at the emptiness.
"...Sniff sniff?"
Then, from the room at the end of the hall, a familiar yet suspicious scent wafted out.
Thick, addictive, tickling my nose...
"Burger?"
My nose never lied.
This was the smell of a freshly made burger.
Following the dopamine-inducing aroma, I waddled to the door.
"...Talismans?"
The door was plastered with shamanic charms, the kind you see in a mudang's house.
I don't buy into superstitions, but the sheer volume was enough to make anyone second-guess.
"Hiss... This feels gross..."
Just looking at them creeped me out. I raked my claws across, shredding them.
Riiip—! They peeled off one by one until the door returned to normal.
"Hmph!"
The eerie vibe vanished. I grabbed the handle and flung the door open.
Inside, an old man wearing a crown of thorns was about to bite into a steaming burger.
"...W-who are you?"
Startled by the sudden dragon girl, he froze and demanded my identity.
I ignored him, zeroing in on the burger in his hand.
A black bun dyed with squid ink.
Patty made from premium goat meat.
Freshly harvested lettuce and tangy cheese to boot.
That was... a gourmet burger, no doubt.
"You gonna eat that?"
"Reveal your identity at once...!"
Instinctively setting the burger down, he grabbed a metal staff from nearby.
"Management Bureau?! How did you breach my infinite barrier?!"
"...You're not eating the burger, then?"
He'd put it down, so no intention of eating.
Means I can have it, right?
"Nom..."
I snatched the untouched burger and took a big bite.
"...Gasp?! W-when did you...!?"
Seeing the dragon girl who'd closed in without him noticing, the old man broke into a cold sweat.
"Wowm...! Myum!!"
As expected from a gourmet burger—pure bliss.
...Still not quite up to Lua’s Hamburger standards, though.
"You're mocking me...!"
Ignoring him completely as I devoured it in a trance, he raised his staff high.
"I'll kill you!"
Metal rings clinked as he slammed it down.
Boom—!!
A shockwave of devastating power obliterated the entire room in an instant.
"...Ah."
The blast just grazed me, leaving me perfectly fine.
But my burger? Not so much.
Plop plop—. The shockwave sent the patty sliding right off onto the floor.
"......"
I stared blankly at the fallen goat patty.
"Ha... hahaha!! Ignore me, will you? Serves you right!!"
Delighted at landing a hit, he raised the staff again.
"I don't know how you survived, but you'll be squished flat like that cheap patty soon enough!!"
Insulting my precious burger, he smashed it down once more.
Boom—!!!!
The shockwave, several times stronger, shook the entire casino. Everything in my hand ended up on the floor.
"........."
The burger, chilled and ruined, vanished without a trace in the blast.
"H-how are you still fine...!?"
Unable to comprehend my survival after the second strike, his voice mixed awe and fear.
"...My burger."
"Tell me!! How did you block my attack!!"
"......My buuuurger."
I gazed vacantly at the spot where it had been, mourning its loss.
Goat burger... I'll miss you...
"Refuse to speak, and you'll regret it!"
Furious at my silence, he moved to raise the staff again.
"Give me back my burger."
Krunch—! I snatched it with my tail and smashed it to pieces.
"Give me my burger back. Now."
"My staff...!? What the hell are you!!"
He danced frantically, weaving a strange flow of energy.
"Die!!"
A yin-yang pattern formed as he condensed the qi and fired it at me.
Krunch—!! The destructive torrent shredded everything in its path.
But...
"Guhoooogh!!!!"
I flicked my tail, redirecting the qi straight back at him.
Kaboom!!! Hit by his own attack, he blasted through dozens of room walls.
"Cough... I, the leader of the Arhat Nirvana Cult... the one who will lead the enlightened to annihilate foolish humanity...!"
Footsteps echoing through the hole, I approached. Bed-embedded and spewing blood, he muttered in disbelief.
In my burger-lost rage, I'd forgotten my goal, but now I remembered why I was at the casino.
"...You're the cult leader, huh?"
"Hiiik!! Stay away!!"
Finally, I'd found the head of the pests ruining my peaceful life.
"Because of you, our shop nearly lost two weeks of business."
Disrupting my cozy time with Mi-ra Owner, plotting to turn the city's civilians—and potential burger customers—into anomalies.
...And chasing this guy ruined the precious clothes she'd bought me.
"...Cult leader. You shouldn't exist."
"N-no...! Spare me!!!!"
I approached, radiating killing intent that warped the air.
Smack!! My tail whipped his jaw with devastating force.
"Guher..."
Jaw shattered, he rolled his eyes back and collapsed.
The chaotic mess fell silent in cold quiet.
"...Tch."
Tail lashing menacingly, I grabbed the cult leader by the collar and dragged him out into the basement hall.
"Gonna head home and scam Grandpa out of a ton of burgers..."
Arhat Nirvana Cult Leader.
Capture successful.