Chapter 67

Episode 67. Abyss, Abyss, and Abyss (3)

***

I closed my eyes.

It’s more disgusting than I thought. The Foundation’s doctors said it wasn’t decompression sickness, but I still don’t know why it hurts.

Is it because of that alien aircraft?

Anyway.

The wreckage of the five aircraft was moved to the Large-Scale Containment Wing of Facility 82. The engineers are drooling over the wreckage. It’s a common sight. They can’t seem to control their curiosity.

I should go see it too. Once I feel better.

Sigh. I got up from my seat.

I went to see the wreckage of the aircraft, leaning on a cane. Walking is still a bit uncomfortable.

The Large-Scale Containment Wing isn’t usually crowded. Of course, it might be interesting for the first two minutes.

The Large-Scale Containment Wing is a scary place, and it’s actually dangerous. No matter how careful you are, it’s not like large-scale supernatural phenomena never escape.

I don’t know why these were moved to the Large-Scale Containment Wing instead of a hangar. Was there really a reason to put something that doesn’t even move in the containment wing?

Anyway.

The salvaged wreckage is in the containment wing. The Large-Scale Containment Wing is usually quiet, but today, the path was packed with people. A legion of engineers in work clothes and lab coats.

The Foundation’s engineers were swarming around like there was some kind of festival.

I walked slowly, leaning on my cane.

“How’s it going? Any progress?”

“Ah, Director! You’re here!”

The Head of the Mechanical Division walked over to me.

“Well, as you can see. Everyone’s not even sleeping, just staring at these things. The engineers are excited, wondering what’s inside.”

“I see. Did anything come out?”

“No? Well, it’s a bit difficult. We’re trying to analyze it, but every time, only the skeleton remains, and the rest crumbles.”

“It crumbles?”

“As you know, these aircraft aren’t just made of physical elements. We’re not sure how to approach them. Honestly, they don’t even seem like machines.”

I scratched my head. So, even the Head of the Mechanical Division doesn’t know what it is. Every time we deal with supernatural phenomena, the conclusion is the same.

“Why are you using a cane? Did you get seriously injured somewhere?”

“No. Just a bit tired.”

“That must be tough. If you ever need to amputate your leg, I’ll make you a prosthetic.”

I frowned.

What kind of crazy talk is this? Should I say thank you? Of course, I knew. The Head of the Mechanical Division is completely insane. Even if he seems normal.

Beep, beep, beep.

I glanced at my phone.

– There’s a guest in the reception room.

***

The Director of the Ministry of Defense’s Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau was waiting in the reception room. I quickly scanned my guest. He looked like an ordinary man you’d see on the street.

Though he was wearing a neat suit.

“Hello, Director. What brings you here?”

The Response Bureau Director bowed to me before I could even answer. I was stunned. What’s going on?

“What—”

“Please. Please, let our researchers see the crashed aircraft. Please, I beg you.”

“……”

I crossed my legs on the reception room sofa.

“What exactly are you thinking?”

“We’ll research this fighter and then provide some of the data to the Defense Science Research Institute. Isn’t it a burden for you to suddenly mobilize dozens of aerospace scientists?”

Hmm.

“If we provide it, you’ll use it to make weapons, right?”

“There’s a domestic fighter currently in development. It’ll probably be used for that.”

“Absolutely not. We can’t provide supernatural phenomena for the purpose of creating lethal weapons.”

“Please, reconsider.”

“First, stand up and talk.”

The Director stood up and bowed his head.

I sighed. It doesn’t seem like I can give permission. I shook my head.

“Dr. Kim. I’m sorry, but—”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you abandon the salvage of the aircraft after hearing the Foundation’s request? The salvage ship could have easily retrieved it. I’m sorry, but could you turn a blind eye just this once?”

That’s somewhat persuasive.

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon P-1947]

[Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon]

[Meeting audio recording.]

[Bishop Oh: What did you come to ask?]

[Dr. Chae: I’ve read the documents. Is there any evidence that this supernatural phenomenon can be summoned through crop circles? Does it make sense that drawing symbols in a field would make something fly in from another dimension?]

[Bishop Oh: I’m not sure what symbolism it has. Jung said it. UFOs are the new myths created by modern people facing the end of mythology. They’re the result of oppressive governments being expressed in humanity’s collective unconscious.]

[Dr. Chae: Honestly, it’s hard to accept.]

[Bishop Oh: I’m not trying to give a definitive answer now. We’re discussing possibilities. You can think of them as a kind of yokai or spirit.]

[Dr. Chae: Yokai?]

[Bishop Oh: Aren’t spiritual beings moving through objects in reality? You could think of them as yokai or spirits.]

[Dr. Chae: Symbolism is also science. Right now, it just sounds like grasping at straws. We’ll investigate the salvaged wreckage first.]

[Bishop Oh: This is just modern prejudice. Supernatural beings flying in the sky have been objects of worship for most of human history. This is just a new myth, a new kind of monster created by humanity.]

[Dr. Chae: It’s bizarre.]

[Bishop Oh: ……]

[Dr. Chae: The Director seems to think those aliens came from another dimension. The Metaphysics Division’s opinion is similar.]

[Bishop Oh: That’s also a possible explanation.]

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030]

[Popo]

[Author: Dr. Cheon]

[Another Popo host was recently discovered in Korea. We safely retrieved them. The patient has returned home.]

[After sending a Popo to the Foundation Headquarters for analysis, no significant supernatural characteristics were found in fully grown Popo.]

[It was ultimately deemed safe.]

[This might be a bit scary, but… we need to consider whether the source of the Popo’s power comes from the person who released them.]

[Yes, Dr. Kim is right.]

[Didn’t Director Kim personally remove a Popo from a girl’s womb? Didn’t the Director order the Popo to be thawed from their icy prison?]

[Director Kim is the master of the Popo.]

[This is also why other scientists couldn’t find anything strange about the Popo. The Popo were ultimately extensions of Director Kim. Whether consciously or not.]

[This is just speculation.]

[But doesn’t it explain everything?]

[Doesn’t it? The reason only the Director can communicate with the Popo, the reason only the Director can control the Popo, the reason only the Director knew about the Popo’s supernatural traits.]

[Well, just keep it in mind.]

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon L-1000]

[The Garden]

[Everyone probably knows that oil was discovered in the Garden. Currently, the Foundation’s experts are building a drilling site in the Garden.]

[The construction of the drilling site is progressing smoothly, but we need to think about how to handle the crude oil secured this way.]

[Another agenda.]

[The facility the Foundation abandoned long ago still remains at the center of the Garden. Cernunnos is still sealed inside.]

[It’s still a bit difficult to offer sacrifices to the Owner of the Garden. The Owner is still expecting the liberation we promised.]

[Currently, we’re offering human sacrifices to the Owner of the Garden every month. So far, there haven’t been any problems.]

[Below is a record of researchers conversing with the imprisoned Cernunnos. Surprisingly friendly, considering he throws a tantrum if he doesn’t get regular sacrifices.]

—

[Cernunnos: Mortal, scholar, what brings you to me today?]

[Researcher: Ah, hello. A humble being greets the great one.]

[Cernunnos: When will you finally come up with a plan to free me? This ancient prison is most unpleasant.]

[Researcher: I’m sorry. Are the sacrifices we offer insufficient in your eyes?]

[Cernunnos: I, the Garden, need more blood, more flesh. Bring more sacrifices.]

—

[Well.]

[The researcher left the isolation zone alive, but we had to sacrifice another person to appease that monster.]

***

[Yulje-myeon Siege Report]

[Author: Research Department Head Lee Se-ah]

[Although the situation has been resolved, Yulje-myeon and its surrounding areas are still under quarantine. About 10% of the fog remains, and monsters are still rampaging inside.]

[We’re periodically killing the monsters, but a problem that couldn’t be solved with nuclear warheads won’t be resolved with just management.]

[I’ll go check again next week.]