Chapter 79

Episode 79. Capturing the Mage (1)

***

I put down my coffee.

“Advisor An. So, has Administrator Lee Ji-hye been released? Or is she still under investigation? I heard someone impersonated her.”

Advisor An hesitated. The fact that he was struggling to answer meant there was some kind of problem.

“Ah, according to the HR team’s investigation, it was purely a cyber attack. Ms. Lee Ji-hye will return to her duties without any issues.”

“……”

I’ll believe it when I see her tomorrow.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Advisor An was a middle-aged man with a fatherly demeanor. He had also been helping me for a long time. However, his loyalty was always directed more toward the Foundation than toward me or humanity.

I don’t plan to trust him unconditionally.

By the way, who on earth would want to attack the Foundation’s intranet? Ganymede? Or some other hostile group?

***

*Bzzzt.*

The dimensional exploration equipment in the Expansion Physics Laboratory flickered. In a previously empty space, yellow lights began to appear like fireflies, drawing a magic circle…

*Crackle, bzzzt.*

Wires snapped from all directions, and sparks flew from the severed wires. Eventually, the damaged core melted, bending the iron. From the smoke, a figure clad in a black robe emerged.

[Intruder alert. Intruder alert.]

[Initiating lockdown-]

“Step aside.”

The surveillance cameras and speakers fell.

The black-robed figure, holding a staff, walked through the darkened corridors of the research wing. Beside the black-robed figure, a form composed of black eyes and black tentacles flickered.

Soon, the facility’s security team would arrive.

Though I don’t know which facility this is.

‘I need to rescue our hero. I followed the Holy Sword, but I don’t even know where this is or what this place is for…’

A forbidden spell. To find the hero, Hasti had to borrow the power of the King of Darkness and cross dimensional barriers. I have no idea where this is.

No one could follow Hasti this far. I had to come alone.

‘Who could have imprisoned the hero?’

Hasti removed the hood.

No guards in sight. The hero is alive nearby. Hasti was filled with anticipation. It was a long journey, but I can rescue the hero!

“Appear, Flying Polyps.”

Black entities.

The Flying Polyps, servants of the King of Darkness, began to reveal themselves around Hasti one by one. Their bodies were made of black fog, with countless mouths, eyes, and triangular feet clustered together.

Flying slug-like monsters.

They were monsters without equal.

“Find the hero and bring them to me.”

Hasti smiled.

***

Facility 82 was in a state of emergency. A containment breach had occurred in the Expansion Physics Research Wing. The affected floor was sealed off within 30 seconds, but…

Dr. Choi, the head of the Expansion Physics Department, looked as pale as a man about to die. Though, to be fair, he might as well be dead.

By my hand.

“Director Choi. Are you joking right now?”

“I’m sorry.”

“How on earth did someone get through your toys and enter the facility? You said there was no way anyone could bring anything in, so what is this?”

With a large-scale containment breach, the number of casualties could easily reach double digits. If this isn’t resolved, heads will roll.

Literally.

“I’m sorry. I have no words.”

“Explain the lockdown procedure.”

Director Choi nodded.

“The facility security team has sealed off the affected floor. All doors on the breached floor are closed. Security is stationed outside the doors.”

It’s an open secret, but…

The facility security team isn’t here to fight supernatural phenomena. They’re here to control the facility staff and handle necessary tasks.

The facility security team isn’t equipped or trained to fight supernatural phenomena. That’s the job of the Special Forces.

I loaded my weapon.

A Soviet-made laser gun I took from Lee Se-ah.

“This is the door to Basement Level 1, right?”

“Yes.”

I hesitated for a moment.

Most of the surveillance cameras were broken, but a few hidden ones showed the situation inside the floor. Most of the personnel had evacuated.

Flying Polyps were scouring every corner of the floor. Of course, it’s unlikely, but if a humanoid supernatural phenomenon hostile to the Foundation were to retrieve even one or two research subjects from the Expansion Physics Research Wing…

It would be a major disaster.

“……”

“Open the door. I’m going in.”

“Isn’t that too dangerous?”

I shook my head.

“The Special Forces are currently on another mission. Do you want to go in, Director?”

Director Choi shook his head. Right now, I’m the only one who can enter. Taking the security team in would just be a death sentence.

“All I need to do is turn off the dimensional exploration machine, right? I’ll go and shut it down. When Director Choi arrives, guide me via radio.”

“Yes. Good luck.”

*Bang.* The heavy door closed behind me.

***

Why did I go in? Well, there wasn’t any grand reason. I just wanted to go in and see for myself what had escaped.

A Flying Polyp took an interest in me.

Unfortunately, Flying Polyps are quite common. They were a species that ruled the Earth during the Ediacaran period, about 600 million years ago…

They can still be found in the deep sea, underground, or in very deep caves. Physical attacks don’t work on them, and there’s only one way to kill them.

I aimed the laser gun-

*Zing!*

The laser gun fired, and the Flying Polyp let out a horrifying scream. It sounded like beating a child to death with a whistle.

When the Flying Polyp died, eyes and teeth fell like a spilled bowl of ping pong balls. I winced at the gruesome sight. What on earth is that?

And what on earth breached the facility? Flying Polyps are too stupid to pull off something like this. Someone must have summoned them.

*Sigh.*

Or maybe they just appeared like pests. But that doesn’t seem likely. The Flying Polyps began to swarm.

I raised the laser gun again. The beams took down the Flying Polyps one by one. Their remains carpeted the floor.

“Hey, are you human?”

“It’s Director Kim.”

A person in a lab coat stood up.

“Th-thank you.”

“I’ve cleared the way to the door. Run.”

A couple of Foundation staff who had been hiding quietly expressed their gratitude and disappeared.

I turned my gaze back toward the center of the facility. Let’s move forward. I want to see what’s come for me.

“The appearance of a rival!”

I hid at the sound of something’s clanging voice. The crystal clock I had tied to my waist ticked loudly.

“What’s that?”

[I have no idea what language that is. It’s not Korean. It seems like a language mixed with telepathy to force understanding.]

“I agree.”

[It’s not dangerous, but it qualifies as a cognitive hazard. I recommend avoiding listening to it as much as possible.]

Hmm, that makes sense.

I turned up the noise-canceling on my tactical headset. With a flick of my finger, Popos began to appear around me.

“Check it out. Ambush when you get the chance.”

The Popos rushed forward.

“Rival! Show yourself!”

Did I say that?

Humanoid supernatural phenomena often suffer humiliating defeats at the hands of people armed with nothing more than guns. Every time. In a way, it’s only natural.

Humanoid supernatural phenomena are usually arrogant. They delude themselves into thinking they’re stronger and more special than other humans. Maybe they are. But death is fair to many.

Supernatural powers are one thing, but death can come in many forms. Whether it’s gaseous anesthetic, lead bullets, or laser beams.

“You’ve done well to kill the Flying Polyps. But a mere insect like you is no match for me. I am the Lord of the Dark Tower!”

“Huh?”

“The slayer of the Demon King, the mage of the hero’s party!”

“……”

Don’t tell me, are you Ahn Yuri’s friend?

I felt all the strength leave my body. Poor returnee. If she hears this news, she might actually kill herself this time. What should I do…

“There you are!”

An orange magic circle appeared-

*Boom boom boom!*

The force devastated the corridor. It seemed like some kind of attack magic, and the firepower was terrifying.

I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. I don’t want to kill Ahn Yuri’s former comrade, but I can’t just let them run wild in the most dangerous research wing of the facility.

[Just kill them. How do we subdue them?]

“That’s what I’m wondering.”

I switched to a handgun. There’s no real way to subdue them, but as long as it’s not a headshot, I can probably patch them up with some brute force.

Just empty the magazine while avoiding the head. The Foundation’s doctors and supernatural phenomena specialists will figure out a way to revive them.

A bitter taste lingered in my mouth.

Once this is over, I’ll send them both away. I’ll fix the dimensional exploration machine and let them live happily in another world.

For now…

I need to subdue that thing.

“Wilson. Go break their legs.”