Chapter 41

Episode 41. Recommendation for Disposal of Humanoid Supernatural Phenomenon (1)

***

The Foundation had secured a safe zone around Yulje-myeon. The atmosphere at the scene was extremely somber.

It couldn’t be helped. The Foundation had ultimately failed to protect the city, and in the process, lost a significant number of staff.

However.

Contrary to the gloomy atmosphere at the scene, there was one department that, despite the massive tragedy, was oddly cheerful.

“Head of the Mechanical Division, Supernatural Phenomenon O-112 is now fully repaired! It’s ready for deployment at any time!”

The Head of the Mechanical Division smiled brightly.

“Ah, everyone, great job!”

Supernatural Phenomenon O-112, also known as Longinus’ Quadcopter.

A machine recovered from a research lab of a certain hostile group. Who came up with the name is unknown… but it’s definitely a hastily chosen one. Though it’s intuitive.

“This time, I’ll take charge personally. Engineers, please standby behind me just in case.”

The Foundation’s engineers nodded from behind. The Head of the Mechanical Division grabbed the controls.

“Then… let’s begin.”

The massive machine began to make a small purring sound, like a cat waking up. The sound grew exponentially, and soon, the ground around the quadcopter began to tremble.

“Tesla turbine online. Warming up.”

“Macro crystal oscillator warming up.”

“Causality Distortion Device online.”

“Ion thrusters online.”

“Quadcopter gyroscope functioning normally.”

“Commencing takeoff.”

The Head of the Mechanical Division bit his lip to keep from laughing. He knew the situation was serious, but honestly, it was just too fun.

It’s a horrifying scene. Truly horrifying.

But what is the Head of the Mechanical Division here to do today? His job is to pilot a giant robot and kill monsters.

“I have control.”

At the Head’s command, the blasphemous machine built for god-killing soared into the sky.

***

The next day. The Foundation resumed its offensive on the city swallowed by darkness. This time, instead of just five teams, they mobilized the main force.

The medical team on-site ordered me to return to the facility due to my health.

From the doctors’ perspective, I’m mentally unstable and not in a condition to command. And in that state, commanding is out of the question.

I had no choice but to return to the facility.

***

Returning to the office didn’t mean I could rest. There was no way to know the full details of the incident, but I could make some educated guesses.

Let’s think about it.

Multiple Divine-Class Entities were summoned to a small city in Korea, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties.

Fortunately, the cognitive disaster fog covering the city helped control the spread of information, but there’s still so much we don’t know.

This is just a guess, but the Divine-Class Entities probably didn’t want to be there.

They were killing each other the moment they were summoned. Several Divine-Class Entities also fell to the Foundation staff.

Perhaps someone summoned those monsters to kill them. The purpose is unclear.

Then, what about the other entities found at the scene?

A suspected dimensional portal artifact was discovered in the village’s library. Several Librarians were also sighted. If they’re the same group that tried to retrieve the Returnee…

Kairos explained it.

He said he tried to rescue the Returnee out of shallow sympathy for his fellow anomalies. If that’s true, Kairos’ comrades might have been at the scene to rescue someone.

“Doctor, what do you think?”

The Crystal Clock ticked in my hand.

[Do you know how to catch a lobster?]

That’s random. Of course, I don’t.

“With a trap?”

[Right. You put bait in the trap and wait for the lobster to enter. The lobster can get in, but it can’t get out.]

Or maybe the hostile group Kairos belongs to is the mastermind behind all this chaos. I thought so too at the scene.

“So, Doctor, you’re saying someone summoned the Divine-Class Entities and trapped them in that area? Like lobsters in a trap?”

[The amnesia fog limited the Divine-Class Entities’ powers, and their control over reality was either severed by the nuclear explosion or restricted by the God-Killing Gas.]

This means it’s not just a simple act of terror. Someone did this with a specific purpose. Who and what that purpose is remains speculative.

[That fog. No matter how I think about it, it wasn’t made by the monsters. It was made to trap and hide them. Whoever made it is incredibly skilled.]

I nodded.

“What about the library?”

From what we know now, they’re the most likely suspects. The group that tried to abduct the Returnee from the Foundation’s facility and freely commanded the black-robed tentacle monster, Kairos’ group.

The Followers of Truth. I thought I had a lead, but the Crystal Clock’s reaction was lukewarm.

[We’ll know when the retrieval team returns. They said they found the door, right? The archetype of the Akashic Records is a symbol borrowed by many occult groups.]

It’s a bit complicated.

The Followers of Truth and the Librarians were hiding in a library inside the forgotten city.

The library itself wasn’t a supernatural space.

It was just an ordinary library you’d find in a community center, but it served as a medium to summon something.

It’s likely that a passage to the Temple of Truth opened through the Mahogany Door, but that can’t be verified now.

I tilted my head.

[Considering their goals, the likelihood that they caused the problem directly is low.]

At the scene, I strongly suspected the Followers of Truth. I killed anyone who seemed related to them.

The thought that they might have actually come to help wasn’t exactly comforting.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I pondered.

Soon, the retrieval team and the Special Forces will return with their investigation results. The Mahogany Door from the library will likely be brought to this facility.

We’ll know then.

***

Despite the tragedy, the Foundation was bustling as usual. In fact, they might be even busier because of the tragedy and failure.

This incident is the worst terrorist attack of the century and the Foundation’s largest case. The Foundation is reacting extremely sensitively.

The Security and Retrieval Departments have switched to three shifts, and other departments are recommending all staff to come armed.

That’s not too difficult.

The most serious issue now is the official document from the Foundation Headquarters. I know why it was issued, but…

I sighed the moment I saw it.

[This is the Foundation Headquarters.]

[Combat readiness is elevated to the highest level.]

[We recommend the disposal of all humanoid supernatural phenomena currently isolated or managed within Foundation facilities that are not cooperative with Foundation activities.]

The Returnee, the father, and the daughter.

I don’t know how long we can keep them alive.

Time is urgent.

If I can’t convince the Returnee immediately, I might have to dispose of them according to the document. No, I will have to dispose of them.

I decided to trust the Returnee.

The circumstances are suspicious, that’s true. But.

The medical department determined that Ahn Yuri’s bone age is 17, and her mental age based on intelligence indicators is 16. Other results were similar.

With just this level of suspicion, I can’t execute and dissect a child like Ahn Yuri.

I banged on the isolation room door.

“Ahn Yuri, Ahn Yuri! It’s urgent. Come out of the isolation room right now.”

“It’s a door that locks from the outside.”

“……”

I opened the isolation room door, and the Returnee glared at me from inside. She looked confused and full of dissatisfaction.

“Ah, it’s you again?”

“Ahn Yuri. There’s no time for small talk.”

“Why should I listen to you—”

“Shut the hell up, you damn brat!”

The Returnee closed her mouth. I frantically pulled out my phone and started recording. She looked completely bewildered.

“Look at the camera and say your age and name.”

“Huh? What’s that—”

“Shut up. There’s no time.”

“Ahn Yuri, 17 years old.”

“Now… say, ‘I am a humanoid supernatural phenomenon cooperative with the Foundation’s activities.’”

“……”

The Returnee couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

“Ah, whatever. Fine. I am a humanoid supernatural phenomenon cooperative with the Foundation’s activities?”

I stopped the recording.

I’ve secured the evidence. The Returnee should be safe for now.

“But why are you suddenly… doing this?”

I ignored the Returnee’s words, closed the isolation room door, and left. Time is urgent. I have more than one person to meet.

The Humanoid Research Department has been clamoring to dissect the Returnee from the start.

They must have seen the document from Headquarters, so they’ll request to dissect her again. I need to stop that first.