Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Monkey Dream
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[Filleting Station]
A man lit a cigarette in front of a shabby station bearing that sign. He inhaled the smoke slowly and stared at the stationary train.
“Gaaahhh!!! Uwaaaahhh!!!”
A scream came from beyond the blood-smeared train window. Chunks of flesh and blood oozed out through the door cracks, and the silhouette faintly visible through the window trembled intermittently before going still.
“Dead.”
That made one more offering. The man flicked away his cigarette as he watched small monkeys wielding sashimi knives head off somewhere else.
At that moment, someone approached from behind him.
“What are you doing here, Eddie?”
Eddie turned his head toward the voice. A woman in pitch-black Gothic Lolita attire reflected in his eyes.
Eddie stared at her for a moment before shifting his gaze back to the train.
“Just watching.”
“You into cruel stuff? Should’ve said something. I could’ve made it more fun for you.”
The woman wrapped her arm around Eddie’s body. He chuckled dryly and pushed her away.
“The number of humans offered up already exceeds a thousand. This anomaly won’t be confined to dreams anymore—it’ll manifest in reality too.”
“Perfect for harvesting. We raised them so carefully. Yeah, it’s about time to reap.”
The more anomalies devoured lives, the higher their level grew. Even among the same type, the gap between one that had consumed hundreds and one that had only eaten dozens was like night and day.
Naturally, anomalies of superior quality held far greater magical value. Not only were they top-tier in purity, but they also carried the life force of the humans they’d indulged in, making them ideal materials for spells or rituals. That was why mages went out hunting anomalies in the first place.
But Eddie had no particular desire to get his hands dirty.
Should a noble mage run around on foot like the Management Bureau’s slave-like grunts?
Mages were exalted, beautiful beings. Far superior to humans, they were a race that could rule the world if they so desired.
The Management Bureau? The Papal Curia? The Cartel?
All mere human organizations. How could creatures bound by frail human flesh and minds stand before a mage?
They might hold their heads high now, but in time, they’d kneel faster than anyone. When that day came, they’d serve as faithful dogs to mages, procuring whatever supplies or materials were needed.
But not yet.
As irritating and repulsive as it was, he still had to play it safe. He needed to grow stronger, lay the foundations to place the world at his feet.
For that, he required higher-quality materials. But as mentioned, Eddie wasn’t fond of barbaric acts like running around on his own two feet.
So he had chosen this.
“Kyaaahhh!!! S-save me, pleeease!!!”
Commonly known as the Monkey Dream.
A creepypasta that started in Japan but had since taken physical form—an anomaly that appeared only in dreams, slaughtering humans in brutal fashion.
Since it didn’t exist in reality, even the Management Bureau struggled to track it down. There was no better anomaly for force-feeding offerings, raising it up, and summoning it into the real world for the hunt.
Having devoured over a thousand humans, its quality was undoubtedly exceptional.
A single hunt would yield materials equivalent to dozens of anomalies.
More than worth closing his eyes and going savage for once.
“Keep an ear out for the news. If a pile of corpses turns up on a train in a specific country, that’s the most likely place it’s nested.”
“Hmm. Not a big fan of overseas trips.”
The woman sighed deeply and unfurled her parasol.
The stationary train began moving forward again. Passing through red mist so thick it obscured everything ahead, it let out a monkey’s cry and vanished from sight.
“Most likely Japan, the origin of the creepypasta, right? But those shrine maidens there give me the creeps.”
“Could be Japan, or somewhere nearby. It tends to show up where the story spread.”
“Hmm… What about Korea?”
The woman said.
“With how advanced the internet is there, pretty much every creepypasta and urban legend is alive and kicking in Korea.”
“Strange place, yeah. Their Management Bureau’s pretty competent too, for that matter. But we can’t be sure it’ll appear there. If it does… we’ll have to move faster than they do.”
“What a hassle. I’d prefer it pop up somewhere in Africa.”
“Not fazed by dealing with voodoo priests?”
Eddie asked with a laugh. The woman folded her parasol.
“They’re less than necromancers. What’s so hard about killing them?”
Instead of replying, Eddie drew a knife from his pocket.
“Wait for the news. Won’t be long.”
“If the monkey doll at home starts moving, give me a call right away. And keep an eye on world news, just in case.”
With that, the woman pressed the sharp tip of her parasol against her throat.
Then—pierce. She stabbed without hesitation. Eddie sliced off his own head with the knife he held.
The moment his severed head hit the ground, he awoke from the dream.
On the bedside table, the monkey doll clutching a kitchen knife glared right at him, its mouth torn into a wide grin.
*
Ian boarded the KTX to Busan right on schedule for his reserved time. First time riding it, but it wasn’t all that impressive. The seat was uncomfortable like any other train, and the person next to him was a stranger.
Still, the speed was a blessing. His battered lower back could handle this much.
‘Time’s… noon-ish.’
Normally he’d still be asleep, but with the appointment, he’d rushed down as fast as possible.
No fatigue to speak of. Thanks to becoming a mage.
‘The workshop’s near a subway station.’
Ian punched the provided address into his phone and followed the shortest route.
His shoulder bag held alchemy materials and a grimoire. He could summon the grimoire anytime, but he’d brought it along anyway—just in case.
He’d also packed the Primate Slayer Knife, a finished product.
Ian thought it was pretty well-crafted, but he had no idea what another mage might think. Since the opportunity had arisen, getting some advice wouldn’t hurt.
Beep.
He exited the station and headed straight down to the subway.
Being the weekend, the station was fairly crowded. Not enough to hinder movement, but sitting on the subway was out of the question.
Wondering if any anomalies were among the crowd, Ian scanned around, but nothing felt like an anomaly.
Feeling more at ease, he grabbed some food from a subway vendor for lunch and picked up a small gift for the workshop master.
Nothing fancy—just a little diffuser.
Living off part-time work, Ian couldn’t splurge. With alchemy costs already unpredictable, a modest housewarming gift was his limit.
‘Gotta figure something out with money.’
He’d never felt strapped before, but things were different now. Being a mage meant expenses everywhere.
Forget the workshop—even the alchemy materials would drain his account dry if he kept buying them.
Time to ditch the part-time gig and find real ways to make money.
‘I’ll ask the workshop master if he knows anything good.’
Ian waited patiently for the subway, thinking that.
It arrived shortly after. Crowds poured off, matched by crowds pouring on. Ian slipped in among them.
As expected, no seats. He sighed, slung his bag to the front, and held the strap until his stop.
Fortunately, passengers thinned out at each intermediate stop. Ian stood still until a spot opened and sat down to catch his breath.
[Next station is…]
He counted the remaining stops while listening to the announcements.
‘Four to go.’
Not far now. Ian idly stroked the grimoire and knife tucked deep in his bag as he waited.
Ten minutes passed.
The remaining stops were still four.
“…”
No arrival at the next station despite ten minutes.
A clear anomaly.
Ian didn’t panic like a rookie. He swiftly unwound the bandage from the knife and gripped it tight, taking the grimoire in his other hand.
“…Why hasn’t it reached the next station? Excuse me, sir. Did we pass it?”
“…No. I’m getting off there too, but it hasn’t arrived.”
“We’ve been going for a while now. Why isn’t it stopping…?”
Ian narrowed his eyes sharply at the voices.
That instant.
[Announcement.]
The subway broadcast rang out.
[Next station is Filleting Station. Filleting Station. All passengers, please take your seats.]
No time to react to “Filleting Station.” Every light in the subway went out, and standing passengers were hurled toward empty seats.
“Kyaaah!”
“Ugh, urk!”
“What the fuck!”
Thuds rang out as the flung passengers screamed in confusion. But none got back up.
More precisely, none could.
The moment they hit the seats, all strength drained from their bodies. Like the unconscious, they slumped in their chairs, staring blankly into space.
“…”
Not Ian. But he leaned against the strap, feigning weakness to match the mood.
Peeking through slitted eyes, he surveyed the silent subway.
Then, at the edge of his vision, brown-furred creatures approached.
He turned his head with the train’s jolt to confirm their identity.
[Ook.]
Monkeys. Ones clutching sashimi knives, kitchen knives, scalpels, and such—stopping right before a certain woman, chattering among themselves.
Then.
[Ook!]
One monkey with a sashimi knife suddenly raged and slashed down on the woman’s thigh.
Blood sprayed. Light returned to the woman’s dazed pupils, and she screamed.
“Kyaaaaah!! Save me! Pleeeease!!!”
Her screaming mouth tore vertically—from lips to tongue.