Chapter 80

Episode 80. Capturing the Mage (2)

****

An unidentified humanoid supernatural phenomenon from another dimension, a research building turned into a wasteland, and me, isolated on the scene with no backup.

This time, I walked in on my own, but honestly, I’ve gotten used to this kind of situation.

“Wilson. Go break their legs.”

Wilson rolled away diligently. Now, all I had to do was find where our target was. But I had no idea where they were.

Oh right, I just had to follow Wilson.

The sound of a bowling ball rolling echoed through the corridor. I used the corner of the hallway as cover and slowly followed Wilson.

[I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Dr. Kim, can you even hit anything with that gun?]

Pistols are a bit hard to aim with.

I thought for a moment, then holstered the pistol again. But the wounds from the laser gun wouldn’t be fixable with surgery.

For now, the laser gun is a no-go.

The night vision goggles’ optical devices are functioning normally.

I handed the laser gun to Popo, and one Popo returned with a rifle in its mouth.

*Click.* I picked up the rifle—

*Boom!*

***

Ugh, damn it. I blinked at the devastation in front of me. The entire corridor ahead was blown away. Almost died there.

That thing. It has enough firepower to destroy anything in its line of sight. I need to avoid being in its direct line of fire.

Let’s think of it as a heavy machine gun.

There must be something useful in the Expansion Physics Research Building. But it’s probably all destroyed already. Or maybe there’s something I can find…

The radio crackled.

[Dr. Kim! What’s the situation inside?]

It was the voice of the Recovery Team 1 leader.

“A humanoid supernatural phenomenon from the dimensional exploration device is wreaking havoc in the research building. I’m currently engaging it.”

[Dr. Kim, it seems like you’re under some kind of influence. The doors are all broken, and there’s some kind of barrier inside. Could you be under the influence of a cognitive disaster?]

I pondered for a moment.

That’s a possibility. If I’m under the influence of a cognitive disaster, it’s natural that I can’t trust my own answers or thoughts.

[I don’t see a way to help you.]

“Stay calm and prepare to come in. I’m holding out.”

Again, a sharp voice filled the corridors of Basement Level 1. I found cover.

“Just a fish in a barrel. Let’s see who wins! Show me your face.”

So noisy. I rummaged through the research building’s storage noisily. Particle detectors, xenon gas tubes, fragments of supernatural phenomena…

All useless.

“Over there.”

“Ah, that thing that looks like a weapon—”

*Crash.* I tripped over something. Almost died. I looked around. There was nothing visible or tangible under my feet…

Another cognitive disaster?

“Dr. Lee. Do you see anything under my feet?”

[It’s a cognitive disaster stealth cloak. The Expansion Physics Department scientists made it, then dropped it and forgot about its existence.]

That makes sense for a cognitive disaster. Unless you use unusual means like I do, you might even forget that you’re looking for it.

A stealth cloak that erases its existence. Once you drop it, you forget it exists, forget you need to find it, and it becomes a forgotten object forever.

How long has this cloak been sitting in this storage? Unseen, unable to announce its existence to anyone.

If I put it down, I’ll probably forget about it. I used the string on the corner of the cloak to tie it to the crystal clock.

Now I won’t lose it.

I draped the cloak over myself.

“Will that thing not see me now?”

[Only one way to find out.]

Still, I found something useful.

I carefully stepped into the corridor. Moments later, I locked eyes with the humanoid supernatural phenomenon in question. Well, not exactly locked eyes.

It wasn’t looking at me.

I was just staring at its eyes. I carefully put on the gas mask and pulled out an anesthetic grenade from my bag.

What happens if I throw it? I carefully placed the anesthetic grenade on the ground. Throwing it might break the stealth.

Unfortunately, the humanoid supernatural phenomenon was stepping on Wilson. Wilson wasn’t moving. Did it kill Wilson?

I held my breath.

About 15 meters to the target. The humanoid supernatural phenomenon looked around. It was a surprisingly pretty girl. Light brown hair, kaleidoscope-like colorful eyes.

Let’s back off for now.

The mage’s staff began to glow with mana again, and I pressed myself against the wall. Another corridor was devastated by a magical attack.

I narrowed my eyes. Faint magic circles surrounded the target. If I shoot now, will it die? Can I subdue it?

The anesthetic grenade doesn’t seem effective.

Should I shoot?

I aimed the gun’s sights at where the target’s heart should be. About 20 meters away. Hitting it shouldn’t be hard, but…

Will bullets even work? What if it’s too effective and it dies instantly?

Let’s just shoot.

I pulled the trigger.

****

The effect wasn’t great. At least, the flying polyps suddenly obscured my vision, so I couldn’t confirm if it died.

[When you’re cornered, you just throw anything.]

It doesn’t feel like that at all.

“You’ll have to take responsibility for messing with my comrades.”

You’re the only one with comrades? The research building staff you blew up are my comrades. But, that voice is familiar.

“……”

Not that I know them, but that emotion is familiar.

Now I get it.

I’m not the one being chased.

My adversary is in another dimension with unknowable rules, facing an enemy they can’t see or possibly defeat. I’m not the one trembling in fear.

That thing might have power.

But. Is that humanoid supernatural phenomenon stronger than a Reality Adjuster? Stronger than the Divine-Class Entities I met in Yulje-myeon? Are we stronger than other beings?

Absolutely not. Just pests. They don’t even know what the Foundation is, just another lamb sticking its head into the wolf’s den.

I grabbed the radio.

“Team Leader, are you still there? Contact the medical department immediately and have the trauma team on standby.”

[Team Leader standing by. Did the Director get hurt?]

“That thing’s about to get hurt.”

I picked up a monkey wrench from the wreckage of the Expansion Physics Research Building. No need to overthink it. I’ve used anesthetic, killed flying polyps for a while, and even shot it.

I’ve tried everything. Time to finish this.

I handed the rifles to Popo. Popo disappeared somewhere with a rifle in its mouth.

Where is it?

I followed the footsteps of my adversary. It’d be nice to catch it from behind, but the stealth cloak seems to be working fine, so it doesn’t matter much.

The research building was dark, and the fires here and there reduced visibility to a minimum. Thanks to the optical devices, I could pinpoint where the target was.

Let’s see…

I walked toward the target with the stealth cloak on, holding the monkey wrench in both hands. Now I could only see the back of its head.

10 meters.

5 meters.

“……”

Now it’s within arm’s reach.

I raised the monkey wrench—

*Thud!*

I smashed the back of its head with all my strength.

“Wilson! Hang in there!”

The mage didn’t even scream, just turned around, but I didn’t think and swung the monkey wrench again. Again—

*Thud!*

Was that the sound of the barrier breaking?

Luckily, Wilson wasn’t dead. The red bowling ball knocked my adversary over, and I pinned the target down with a kick.

“Where did you—”

*Thud.*

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

“……”

I shook the blood off my hand.

Why won’t it stop moving?

“P-please, spare me—”

Oh right, killing it wasn’t the goal.

*Clang,* the monkey wrench fell. I stepped on the wrench with one foot and pointed the pistol at my adversary’s head.

Situation resolved.

“Ugh…”

Luckily, it seems to still be breathing. I picked up the radio with my left hand.

“When is the trauma team coming in? I’d like this anomaly to be saved if possible.”

*Roll.* Wilson rolled away.

****

A six-member trauma team.

“Stabilize the patient’s neck!”

“Patient. Multiple head traumas from blunt force, smoke and neuromuscular relaxant inhalation, femur fracture from a bowling ball, and a gunshot wound on the back!”

“Patient’s blood pressure is 88 over 60. Not breathing normally. Massive internal bleeding!”

“Ambu bag! Bring oxygen!”

It’s ironic.

We’re the ones who nearly killed it, and now we have to save it. At least it’s a situation where we can save it.

“Vasopressors! Administering epinephrine!”

“Patient in hypovolemic shock.”

“Ventricular fibrillation detected!”

The trauma team began CPR. An ECG was connected on one side.

“Pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Cardiac arrest. Defibrillating! One, two, clear!”

*Zap.*

Defibrillator shock.

“Pulse restored.”

“Spontaneous circulation confirmed.”

I looked down at the target. I don’t plan to keep it for long. Patch it up and send it back to its original world, as much as possible.

“Let’s move it to the ward for now.”

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