Chapter 95

Episode 95. Re-exploration of Yulje-myeon (3)

****

Here is the Director’s Office.

“Report the operation results, Ms. Lee Se-ah.”

“No casualties. We thought it would be too dangerous to touch the black flower, but we managed to pick one petal and handed it over to the researchers.”

“Good. And the results?”

“Organic matter, black tar, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It’s the same type of entity as the other manifestations of the King of Darkness we’ve seen so far.”

I nodded.

“Have you done a genetic test?”

“It’s questionable whether it even has genes. The PCR test results all came back as unidentified human DNA.”

Again?

“Is it human?”

“Well… the genetic test results showing human DNA are likely just contamination during the PCR process. You know how that happens sometimes.”

It’s a bit suspicious, but it’s entirely possible. If something goes wrong with PCR, even a droplet of saliva or dandruff can amplify the DNA.

Since the tester is human, if they make a mistake, the DNA could be amplified incorrectly, leading to such results. But is that explanation too simplistic?

“What does the Research Department Head think?”

“Have you not seen this before? They probably used human corpses to create the avatar. Or maybe they summoned it from a tank filled with human blood.”

“Well… that’s possible.”

“They are the enemies of humanity. There’s no need to feel sorry for hostile groups. They’re the kind of people who think of murder first when coming up with a plan.”

Lee Se-ah placed something like a flute bag on my desk. I looked at her.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an iron sword we found at the scene.”

It looks similar to the tactical longsword used by the Foundation. The concept of a tactical longsword is so outdated… but apparently, someone still uses it.

“Anyway, what about this iron sword?”

“It seems to have been used by one of the humanoid supernatural phenomena that died in Yulje-myeon. I was suspicious, so I analyzed its composition. I sharpened the edge and analyzed the outer layer.”

“Okay.”

“It’s 97% iron, about 1% zinc, and 1% copper alloy. It’s slightly porous, and a large amount of nitrogen oxide was detected in the tiny internal holes.”

Why would they use such a strange alloy?

“Could it be-”

“It matches the metal composition of human blood. If you boil blood, solidify it, and then burn it until only metal remains, you get a blade with 97% iron, 2% copper and zinc, and 1% other materials, with a fine porous structure.”

“……”

“It’s the blood of a thousand people. Of course, there’s no guarantee that all of them died. But it’s certain that someone paid a huge price during its creation.”

How horrifying. I sighed and took the sword Lee Se-ah handed to me.

“Honestly, that Hasti… the one who’s currently imprisoned, I also oppose keeping her alive. Why should we trust her? Hostile groups are ultimately the enemies of humanity.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Lee Se-ah bowed to me and left the Director’s Office. I still had some thinking to do.

****

Everything is connected. Hasti, the Lord of the Dark Tower. The Followers of the King of Darkness, and Niguras-1, one of the King of Darkness’s avatars.

Right, and the black flower found at the epicenter this time. Let’s name it Niguras-3 for now.

The monster contained in the Large-Scale Containment Department’s isolation room is Niguras-1. The traveler who came through the Dimensional Exploration Machine is Niguras-2. The black flower is Niguras-3.

“Dr. Lee, do you know what this is? A black flower was found at the epicenter in Yulje-myeon.”

[Do you know what the symbolism of black is?]

“Not really.”

[In the Foundation’s work, black symbolizes the outer cosmos. The Black Book, the Black Necronomicon, the Black Library, the Dark Forest of the Dark Ones. The Black God.]

“That could be it.”

[But that’s not the only symbolism. It can also represent the abyss, madness, or even prosperity. Fertile black soil, black ink.]

“So what’s the conclusion?”

[Even if we analyze it. No matter how much we analyze the gods and their symbolism, when we actually bring it in, it could turn out to be something completely different.]

I put down the crystal clock.

[If you’re asking about the King of Darkness itself…]

[It’s complicated. First, we need to understand what the concept of a god is. Do you know what a god is?]

“Not really.”

[Well… there are multiple perspectives, but a god is ultimately a collection of supernatural phenomena. Followers, artifacts, and miracles.]

I opened my mouth to refute but then closed it. It kind of makes sense.

[The Christian Trinity can be understood in a similar context. The virgin birth, the feeding of the five thousand, the resurrection, the wine turning into blood. It’s a collection of supernatural phenomena.]

“…..”

This is getting complicated.

[This is how you kill a god.]

[Kill their avatars, kill their followers, neutralize the miracles they’ve caused, and render their artifacts powerless. But they still crawl back like pests or weeds.]

“I see.”

[So, what we usually call a god is just one aspect of the many forms a god can take.]

I nodded.

It kind of makes sense.

The King of Darkness is also a collection of supernatural phenomena. Controlling all the supernatural phenomena related to the King of Darkness is like killing a god.

****

Hasti was waiting in the Humanoid Research Department’s playroom… I don’t know why they gave it such a strange name. It’s not like they’re children.

“Ms. Hasti. Hello.”

“Ah. It’s the Director.”

Hasti looked at me.

“When can I go back?”

“You’ve probably heard this before, but didn’t you turn my Dimensional Exploration Machine into dust? Do you know how much trouble that caused?”

“Ah.”

“We’re doing our best. Ms. Hasti, how did you come to this dimension? What kind of magic did you use?”

“Spatial teleportation magic. I used spatial teleportation magic targeting the hero, and that’s how I crossed dimensions.”

I wrote down Hasti’s words.

“So, can you go back?”

“No. Either because the machine is broken, or because there’s no suitable target on the other side, or because someone hit me on the head with a hammer…”

“……”

Who would do such a terrible thing?

“Then, can we research your spatial teleportation magic? Do you have any artifacts related to spatial teleportation?”

Hasti thought again.

“I’m not sure what I have. Didn’t you confiscate my staff when we fought? Can’t you research that?”

“What’s the incantation for spatial teleportation magic?”

*Ahem.* I turned on my phone’s recorder. Hasti cleared her throat and began reciting something. The incantation wasn’t understandable at all… but it wasn’t very long either.

“Confirmed.”

“Okay.”

“Do you know anything about the black flower? Since you visited our world, some strange things have been happening.”

“The black flower? I’m not sure.”

What exactly do you know, Hasti?

I expected more from someone called the Lord of the Dark Tower. From the wiretaps and everything, she doesn’t seem to know much or have any useful information.

Is she… an idiot? Or did I hit her too hard?

****

[Humanoid Containment Wing Log]

[Author: Dr. Kang, Humanoid Research Department]

[We prioritize documenting the most powerful and dangerous humanoid supernatural phenomena. We update regularly, focusing on changes.]

[Cosmos: One of the librarians of the interdimensional library. Appears as a young girl, capable of minor magic and opening spatial teleportation portals, making her a highly dangerous supernatural phenomenon.]

[Some opinions suggested releasing Cosmos from containment, but they were rejected. However, we are working to improve her treatment.]

[Click here to view opinions on releasing Cosmos and Kairos.]

[Kairos: Refer to the Cosmos document. Believed to be Cosmos’s adoptive father. Appears as a middle-aged man, generally not dangerous.]

[Hasti: A traveler from another dimension, a mage with firepower comparable to heavy weapons and tactical weaponry. Contact is strictly prohibited except for authorized personnel.]

[Appears as a young woman, related to the King of Darkness, and holds a high position in the religious hierarchy surrounding the King of Darkness. Comparable to a bishop or higher in Catholicism.]

[Claims to have worked at a place called the ‘Dark Tower,’ a kind of institution that researches and utilizes magic in another world. No evidence.]

[Freely uses magic, and continues to use it even while contained, but has not caused any issues since containment.]

[No escape attempts.]

[Acquainted with Returnee Ahn Yuri.]