Department Store of Desire - Grand Opening (2)
A black van screeched to a halt in front of the massive gate. I stepped out alongside Han Jun-hyun.
Ri Wei, who had arrived first, approached with his neck cracking left and right.
"This is a pain. If it weren't for the Dungeon Festival, I wouldn't set foot in a dump like this."
Han Jun-hyun replied while pulling a bag from the trunk.
"Let's wrap it up quick and get some rest."
"Hmph. At least it'll be a warmup."
Ri Wei pulled a fist-sized metal lump from his pocket. It morphed into black iron gauntlets that enveloped both hands.
Han Jun-hyun grabbed his own weapons with practiced ease—two sleek silver revolvers etched with intricate magic circuits along the barrels.
"Ready?"
"Always."
Ri Wei grinned and took the lead. Heukryonghoe members and Anomaly Management Team agents fell into formation behind him. I stood beside Han Jun-hyun as we stepped through the gate.
Woooong—
My ears rang, and my vision warped.
When I opened my eyes again...
"......!"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Ornate chandeliers adorned the ceiling, and the marble floor gleamed like a mirror. Display shelves held luxury goods and products in perfect, dust-free order.
"No way......"
Han Jun-hyun muttered in stunned disbelief. Unease rippled through the agents.
"Why is the department store ghost story here?"
"Isn't this Hwarong Department Store?"
"We knew there was a ghost story, but......"
"Why'd it have to be this one?"
Then, a voice emanated from the ceiling speakers.
Aa, attention all customers.
Static, crackle.
We are now commencing the Grand Opening event.
We hope you enjoy your shopping.
However, failure to follow staff instructions may result in penalties. Please take note.
"They're playing tricks!"
Ri Wei shouted.
In that instant—
Flash!
The world flipped. Dazzling lights vanished, plunging everything into pitch-black darkness.
"Argh!"
"What the— I can't see!"
One by one, they were sucked into the void. I was no exception.
When I opened my eyes again, I stood alone in an empty corridor. Ahead loomed an iron door with a sign: STAFF ONLY - NO ENTRY.
Without hesitation, I pushed it open and descended the dark stairs.
Basement Level 1.
I opened the door marked Integrated Disaster Control Center.
Click.
The door slid open smoothly without a sound. Unlike outside, the interior was spotless, not a speck of dust.
I approached the main console with familiarity.
"Time to get to work."
I moved exactly as practiced over the past ten days.
Fizz, pop.
Flipping the power switch brought dozens of monitors on the wall to life simultaneously. The entire department store layout appeared at a glance.
I sank deep into the chair and scanned the screens.
"Let's see."
First floor, food court.
There was Ri Wei with ten Heukryonghoe members. The moment they scattered, they started rampaging and yelling.
The agents were different. Han Jun-hyun and four team members had drawn weapons but held position, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
They'd realized the "customers" wandering nearby weren't registering them.
"Agents are sharp, as expected."
Other floors had scattered hunters, but the main stage was definitely the first floor.
"Time to cook."
I closed my eyes and focused on the deepest part of the food court. My consciousness linked to the entity steeped in the stench of blood and rancid oil.
Possessing target: Head Chef
The acrid stench of searing meat assaulted my nose. The floor slicked with greasy oil.
"Ptooey."
Ri Wei spat on the ground and stood. The surroundings were utterly alien—an endless buffet table, glistening butcher corners under red lights, mountains of ingredients piled high.
Then, an urgent voice called out.
"Team leader! You okay?"
Flame mage Cheon Hao rushed over, subordinates in tow.
"No big deal. Spatial transfer trap."
Ri Wei casually brushed dust from his shoulder.
That's when something off caught the corner of his eye. Hundreds of people, noses buried in tables, silently chomping meat without a word.
"What are those pigs?"
Cheon Hao scowled and jabbed a fat customer's back with his staff.
"Hey, you."
No response. The customer just worked their jaw, shoving red meat chunks into their mouth.
Chomp, slurp.
Cheon Hao's eyes narrowed. The meat looked wrong.
"All of it...... raw?"
Uncooked, dripping blood. They chewed and swallowed raw flesh.
His gaze shifted to the bone piles beside the meat. Too thin and elongated for animal bones—eerily like human arm bones.
His brow furrowed.
"You disgusting bastards! Die!"
Whoosh!
Fireballs erupted from his staff tip. An explosion engulfed an entire table. Three customers rolled on the floor, wreathed in flames.
No screams.
Crunch, crunch.
Even burning, they scooped melting flesh into their mouths. The stench of cooking meat and flesh mingled grotesquely.
Heukryonghoe hunters recoiled at the horror.
"F-Fucking insane......"
"They don't feel pain?"
"This place gives me the creeps."
Ri Wei clenched his fists, muttering.
"Battle stations, everyone. Clear a path to the second floor. Shove aside anything in the way."
As he moved to kick a blocking table—
Thud!
The floor shook. Dishes on tables clattered noisily.
Thud!
All customers halted eating in unison. Hundreds of eyes locked on one spot.
The kitchen entrance, tattered white cloth stained red. A monster emerged.
Over three meters tall. A bloated frame of fat and muscle. No eyes, nose, or mouth—just three charred black holes in its face.
The Head Chef.
......This body's heavy.
Han Suho, wearing the Head Chef's shell, cracked his neck.
His vision was narrow, hazy. Each breath brought rotten oil fumes from deep in his lungs.
A violent urge slammed his mind.
Eliminate business disruptors.
Maintain silence for the finest cuisine.
The instinctual command gnawed at his reason.
Han Suho clung to his fading mind and opened his mouth.
A roar erupted. Against his will, the massive body lurched toward the hunters.
"What the hell is that monster?!"
Cheon Hao freaked, swinging his staff.
Whoosh!
A massive fire pillar swallowed the Head Chef—force enough to char any normal monster.
As flames cleared, the Head Chef stood unscathed, merely singed.
"M-Magic doesn't work?!"
Cheon Hao's face drained pale. He backpedaled, sweating coldly.
The Head Chef crouched low, like a sprinter at the start, legs coiled with power.
Crack!
Tile shattered. The recoil launched his bulk like a cannonball.
"Urk! Block it! Block that thing!"
Tank Wang Jun jumped in at Cheon Hao's desperate cry, tower shield forward.
Boom!
Shoulder and shield collided head-on. Mana-infused steel crumpled like a soda can.
"Gaaah!"
Wang Jun's arm twisted unnaturally.
The Head Chef didn't stop. He lifted the screaming Wang Jun by the collar with one hand, like a feather.
His gaze flicked to a bubbling deep fryer nearby. Yellow oil boiled like hellfire.
Splash!
"Aaaagh! Gaaah!"
Wang Jun plunged into the boiling oil. The stench of burning flesh and agonized screams filled the restaurant. Splattering grease flew everywhere.
"Uh, uwaa......"
Heukryonghoe hunters blanched watching their comrade deep-fried.
Then—
Bang!
A STAFF ONLY - NO ENTRY door at the first floor's corner burst open. Ten burly security guards in black suits appeared.
Interfering with others' shopping constitutes "business disruption"!
Violence within the store is strictly prohibited! Please cooperate!
Bloodstained batons gripped in their hands belied the polite words.
"Crazy! What the hell are those?!"
Ri Wei yelled in shock.
Head Chef ahead, guards behind. Hundreds of customers awaiting their meal. Perfect encirclement.
"R-Run! To the second floor!"
He bolted first. To survive, they had no choice but to run. Heukryonghoe members screamed after him.