Chapter 97

Episode 97. How to Kill a God (2)

****

Dr. Chae. Her full name is Chae Ji-woo.

She earned her degree in linguistics. But that’s too simple an explanation. Dr. Chae’s background was a bit more complicated than that.

Dr. Chae was born into a family of shamans.

Her grandmother, who had been living an ordinary life, became a shaman at 18 after experiencing a divine illness. Her mother was also diagnosed with early-stage schizophrenia at 18.

And the year Chae Ji-woo turned 18, while she was still in high school. She had always seen strange things, but that day was particularly bizarre.

“Do you have five minutes?”

“No.”

“Follow me quietly.”

*Click.*

Chae Ji-woo was dragged into an alley with a gun pointed at her head.

The ghosts that usually lingered at the edges of her vision became fully visible. Was it because death was near, or was there another reason?

The man stared at her.

“We’ve done our research on you. You see things you shouldn’t, right?”

“……”

“We highly value your abilities. If you cooperate, we’ll not only take care of your financial worries but also help your family.”

“What do I have to do?”

“First, enroll in university. While you’re studying, you’ll assist the Foundation with some tasks. After graduation, you’ll be employed by the Foundation.”

“So, what exactly do I have to do?”

“Adjusting reality.”

What does that even mean?

“This is a notice. Uh… you don’t really have a choice in the matter.”

In the end, it went exactly as the Foundation employee said.

Dr. Chae received a scholarship from the Foundation, followed the courses they recommended, and became the expert they needed.

Double majoring in linguistics and history, with a Ph.D. in linguistics. The Foundation intended to raise Dr. Chae as a mage. To do that, she needed to understand incantations, most of which were written in ancient languages.

Linguistics and history were the most suitable fields for Dr. Chae. After a long process, she finally joined the Foundation.

But the process wasn’t smooth. As soon as Dr. Chae entered the facility, a director went missing, and shortly after, three senior researchers died.

It wasn’t until she met Dr. Kim that the situation stabilized. For both Dr. Chae and Facility 82.

Working for the Foundation was Dr. Chae’s destiny.

If she hadn’t been working for the Foundation, she might have ended up like her mother, a psychiatric patient, or like her grandmother, a shaman. The former was more likely.

****

Today’s mission was to kill a contained supernatural phenomenon named Niguras-1. A truck-sized octopus monster contained in the Large-Scale Containment Room.

“That thing?”

“Yes.”

The scene was surrounded by security teams. There were special forces with oddly shaped guns. Nanami… is never around when needed.

“Explain the plan again, Dr. Chae.”

The gathered researchers looked at Dr. Chae. She cleared her throat.

“The basic plan is as explained. We’ll neutralize the monster with a specific frequency of metallic sound, then spray carbon tetrachloride to melt its body. After that, I’ll use magic to seal it.”

Still, there were skeptical looks.

“What’s the basis for the monster being neutralized by a specific frequency? Is that true?”

“We’ve tried it before.”

“Have you considered special ammunition?”

“Past experiments showed that special ammunition commonly used for god-slaying isn’t very effective.”

“What’s the basis for using carbon tetrachloride?”

“The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons forming the monster’s body might dissolve in carbon tetrachloride.”

The scientists on-site murmured.

“So, the only thing we can rely on in this operation is Dr. Chae’s magic?”

“Uh… no. The specific frequency sound and carbon tetrachloride are both convincing control methods. They’ll work.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if this is a good plan.”

“There’s no other way. Niguras-1 survived a tactical nuclear warhead at the Yulje-myeon site. There’s no better method.”

I glanced at the team.

“Then let’s begin.”

The Foundation scientists moved to their positions. Some prepared containment devices, some observation equipment, and some carried weapons.

The containment wing alarm sounded. The metallic sound the monster hated was blasting from giant speakers. I covered one ear.

“Phase 1 begins! Containment release!”

*Screeeech.*

The door to the Large-Scale Containment Room opened. The massive iron door lifted, revealing the horrifying, enormous form of Niguras-1.

It looked even more disgusting than before.

Dozens of eyes, dozens of mouths, thousands of teeth, and dozens of tentacles scanned the surroundings. The staff stepped back in horror.

“Phase 2!”

“Adjust the frequency and increase the volume!”

I might die before the monster does. The metallic noise from the giant speakers was loud enough to cause a migraine.

I gritted my teeth.

“The monster is exiting the containment room!”

Under the bright fluorescent lights of the containment wing, the deep-sea-black monster slowly crawled out of the containment room. Taller than a basketball hoop.

“Phase 3!”

“Firing silver bullets!”

A few Foundation employees fired small-caliber silver bullets, but they didn’t seem very effective. The monster just looked at us annoyedly, slowly advancing toward Dr. Chae standing outside the containment room…

“Phase 4!”

“Spraying carbon tetrachloride!”

The truck behind Dr. Chae began spraying carbon tetrachloride in front of the containment room. It was a translucent liquid, and even through the gas mask, I could faintly smell its oddly sweet scent.

The effect…

The effect was incredible.

The monster spewed black sludge. Probably the black polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons being washed away by the transparent carbon tetrachloride.

“Phase 5. Begin the incantation!”

At least that’s a relief. Now, if Dr. Chae’s magic works properly… I looked over, and Dr. Chae was performing a strange dance.

She does this every time.

Every time I ask, she just says, “This is part of the incantation.” There’s no way to tell what’s necessary and what’s just decoration.

Dr. Chae raised her staff.

[Nothing from the north can harm me!]

[Nothing from the south can harm me!]

[Nothing from the west can harm me!]

[Nothing from the east can harm me!]

The staff pointed in all directions.

[Nothing from the zenith can harm me!]

[Nothing from the nadir can harm me!]

She must have connected her radio to the giant speakers because Dr. Chae’s voice echoed loudly throughout the building.

The monster hesitated, then stared at Dr. Chae with its dozens of eyes. Black tentacles wrapped around Dr. Chae’s defensive magic circle, but she paid no attention, continuing the incantation.

[Ancient order, ancient law, ancient providence. I humbly beseech you. Seal the monster that threatens the world’s order!]

I squinted slightly.

From the corner of my vision, I could see a red sphere surrounding Dr. Chae, and something like ribbons faintly emanating from it.

****

The incantation ended.

The monster’s tentacles began falling from the sky. Soon, its eyes and teeth followed. The carbon tetrachloride spray, silver bullets, and loud noise didn’t stop.

The monster tried to stand, but as the tentacles acting as legs collapsed one by one, the entire monster fell face-first to the ground.

“Situation resolved! The seal was successf—”

The carbon tetrachloride, now mixed with soot, dripped like pooled blood.

Was the seal successful? The temperature inside the containment wing began to drop rapidly. In an instant, it became painfully cold.

I buttoned my coat, but the containment wing turned as cold as a winter blizzard in a moment. Frost began forming everywhere.

“Dr. Chae! What’s happening?”

“Reality distortion field levels rising!”

“Evacuate!”

Something big seems to have gone wrong.

****

[Dr. Chae: Initial Personnel Evaluation]

[Author: Head of Personnel]

[These kinds of people are always the hardest to classify. Humanoid supernatural phenomena that cut the sky with swords, travel through time, or summon typhoons are clearly humanoid supernatural phenomena.]

[But what about someone who sees ghosts? Someone from a family of shamans who’s also a shaman?]

[Dr. Chae is openly a mage, but the mechanism is understood and controlled by the Foundation. Can that really be called magic? I’m not sure.]

[Dr. Chae is a smart and capable employee.]

[However, her research output seems a bit lacking. It might be because miracle studies or magic journals are scarce and hard to investigate, but it seems like it’s not her forte.]

[Also, her magic output varies greatly. Sometimes she can barely lift a baseball, and other times she hurls bowling balls like cannonballs. The reason is still unknown.]