Chapter 21

Episode 21. Museum (4)

***

I am also registered as a supernatural phenomenon in the Foundation’s database. That’s why I’ve studied humanoid supernatural phenomena diligently.

Humanoid supernatural phenomena are divided into several categories.

There’s the Gray Type, which is suspected to be influenced by or to be a supernatural phenomenon, but lacks concrete evidence.

Then there’s the Wizard Type, which wields supernatural abilities or tools imbued with supernatural power.

And finally, the Reality Adjuster.

Not just a supernatural phenomenon that affects its surroundings or manipulates its power, but an entity capable of dominating and controlling reality through its own abilities.

That’s the category my opponent belongs to.

I’m currently hiding, unable to see anything. My opponent, though limited to this confined space, wields god-like powers.

However. Right now, two machine guns are aimed at the Reality Adjuster, and the anesthetic gas released by the Foundation is gradually filling the underground area of the building.

It’s highly likely that the opponent is already affected by the anesthetic. That might be why I’m still alive.

How strong is the opponent?

It’s clear that the opponent has limits to their abilities. I’m still alive, the museum building is mostly intact, and the artworks aren’t as grotesque as expected.

The reason they fear bullets.

My opponent is weak. When measured elsewhere in the building, the reality adjustment levels didn’t even register.

The Special Forces are waiting somewhere in this area. They might just kill the Reality Adjuster for me.

“Head of the Mechanical Division, are you there?”

[Yes.]

“Inject the maximum dose of anesthetic and open fire.”

The Steel Spiders burst out from their hiding spots and opened fire. I ran away as fast as I could.

Again, the distorted voice.

“So you were there, Director! Come here!”

The concentration of the anesthetic is rising anyway. Soon, I won’t even be able to see. Since we’ve pinpointed the target area, we can pour the anesthetic in quite accurately.

Let’s see who runs out first. Your abilities, the anesthetic we’ve poured into this space, or our bullets.

Think from the enemy’s perspective. The enemy has to worry about both the anesthetic and the bullets. And lastly, they have to worry about me.

“Do you have any thoughts on my work?”

Keep talking, you bastard. I’m still running through the exhibition hall with my eyes closed. Even if I can’t see, I can feel the walls and escape.

The Special Forces.

The Special Forces are in this exhibition hall.

I was hoping that the Special Forces were alive and that they had a way to deal with the Reality Adjuster. If even one of them is alive, while the Reality Adjuster is moving-

Bang!

It was a gunshot different from the silenced rifle or the Steel Spiders’ machine guns. A sniper bullet pierced the Reality Adjuster’s head.

I don’t know if they’ll die from this, but if that monster’s concentration was broken even for a moment, the anesthetic would have started spreading through their body.

Thud.

The target fell.

Looking at the night vision goggles’ screen, it seems the cognitive disasters scattered around have also disappeared.

I couldn’t resist my curiosity and looked at the Reality Adjuster. Their form was collapsed on the ground, and I emptied my magazine into the target.

“Dr. Kim!”

Who’s that?

After a moment. The Special Forces appeared on the scene.

[Dr. Kim! Are you okay?]

“I’m fine.”

I wasn’t particularly staggering, but the Special Forces team leader held me steady. Foundation staff in protective suits rushed past the Special Forces.

Sigh.

I looked at the Foundation staff.

The Reality Adjuster, likely due to the anesthetic, was down. The current anesthetic concentration in Basement Level 1 is twice that used for general anesthesia in hospitals.

The Foundation staff placed an explosive collar around the Reality Adjuster’s neck, put an inhalation anesthetic mask on their mouth, and injected needles into both shins.

Situation over.

Let’s get out of this building first.

***

This is the field command center of the operation.

“Decontamination! Please raise your arms!”

My combat gear and equipment are now covered in a large amount of anesthetic. It’s not extremely dangerous, but we can’t just leave it like that.

Foundation staff in protective suits swept over my body with a large dryer-like tool.

“Dr. Kim. Please hand over your equipment one by one. It needs to be cleaned before reuse.”

I nodded and handed over my equipment one by one to the decontamination team. Gun, observation gear, bulletproof vest, protective gear, helmet, and communication equipment.

“Have you removed all electronic devices?”

“Uh, yes-”

Water shower.

Damn, what’s going on… I coughed in the gas mask, completely soaked. Foundation staff were spraying me with a hose from somewhere. I hurriedly covered my face.

“Hey, what-”

“You can take off the gas mask now.”

Sigh.

I handed the soaked gas mask to the Foundation staff and walked into the tent, dripping water. It’s freezing.

Sitting there dazed for a moment, a Foundation doctor handed me a towel and a foil blanket.

“Cold, huh?”

I nodded weakly. My hair and clothes were still soaked.

“Yes.”

“Dr. Kim, are you injured anywhere?”

“No.”

I looked up, and Dr. Lee was staring at me.

Dr. Lee. The doctor who performed the C-section on Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030 last time. I thought he was an obstetrician, but maybe the departments are divided differently within the Foundation? I’m not sure.

“Was the mission successful?”

Dr. Lee nodded.

“The Reality Adjuster has been dealt with. They’ll be handed over to the Humanoid Containment Department. They’re all veterans, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t worry. The Research Department Head won’t let them live more than two days. That’s usually the Foundation’s protocol for Reality Adjusters.”

I sighed.

I don’t fully understand the situation. In fact, there’s a lot I don’t understand. But since the outcome was good, I’ll wait for the Foundation staff.

“The mirror. Did you find the mirror?”

“I don’t know. It’s outside my medical department’s scope. But the Recovery Department took artifacts from inside the museum, so it might be among them.”

A small mercy.

***

After drying my wet clothes and hair, I headed to the field command headquarters.

It’s almost comical. Five helicopters flew in for this one incident, and dozens of Foundation staff are gathered here.

As I stepped into the command headquarters, all the Foundation staff working on-site turned to look at me.

Maybe it’s funny seeing me wrapped in a shiny foil blanket with my hair still damp, but I didn’t have time to worry about that.

“Chief Researcher. What’s the matter?”

My blanket rustled.

“I’m fine. Connect me to Recovery Team 1.”

A moment of hesitation.

“The Recovery Team 1 Leader is on-site. I’ll connect you via radio right away.”

“Thank you.”

I sighed. The Foundation staff checked the communication equipment and brought me a chair to sit and talk.

Ah, what was I about to say? I’m cold, miserable, and hungry, so I can’t think straight.

“Recovery Team 1 Leader. Can you communicate now?”

[Yes. Go ahead.]

“This is Chief Researcher Dr. Kim from the Director’s Office. Could you report the progress of the operation to the Director’s Office?”

A brief laugh came from the other side of the radio. Maybe it was a mocking laugh.

[Dr. Kim. You could’ve just asked for a report to yourself. I was about to do that anyway.]

“Then report to me.”

[Of course, Director. The operation was successfully concluded. The Reality Adjuster has been secured, and multiple humanoid supernatural phenomenon corpses have been found.]

Corpses, hearing that reminded me.

“Any casualties?”

[We’ve contacted the police. Currently, 11 museum staff are either dead or missing. Foundation staff only have minor injuries.]

“That’s terrible.”

[There’s static on the line. Dr. Kim, is the communication unstable?]

It’s my blanket. The sound of the foil blanket rustling must be audible on their end.

“It’s just my blanket. Please continue.”

[Ah, okay. The Wooden Dolls are being incinerated on-site, and the cognitohazardous paintings are being burned except for two kept for research.]

“Is there a mirror?”

[We’re looking. But there’s something unusual. Multiple supernatural phenomena were found inside the museum, apparently managed by the museum staff. Did the Foundation know about this?]

This is the first I’ve heard of it.

Of course, I didn’t come to the scene knowing everything. But if supernatural phenomena had been stored in the museum for a long time, someone would’ve mentioned it.

“Probably not. I’ll relay the reported information to the Director’s Office. For now, proceed as you see fit.”

[Dr. Kim. Aren’t you the Director’s Office soon?]

“No, I’m not. Anyway, get back to work.”

[Yes.]

Beep.

The radio cut off. Now, all that’s left is to return to the Foundation facility and wrap things up.