Call of Abyss

Chapter 11

Nia, Kim Soo-jung, the Ghost Guard members, and Sungmin's group were walking along a mountain path in Gangwon-do, where the trees were densely overgrown.

Sungmin felt a momentary illusion of being in another world as he stepped on the soft soil.

Just a few days ago, he had witnessed unspeakable horrors on a remote island, but this mountain path in Gangwon-do was so peaceful and quiet that the occasional chirping of birds was all that echoed through the mountains.

Kim Soo-jung and Sergeant Shin told the surviving Marines to hide until the right time came.

Sungmin could not forget the sight of them trembling in fear until they parted.

"There, you can see Lady Ada Lovelace's mansion."

Nia, who was walking at the front, pointed with her finger at a mansion that had appeared small in the distance.

The path to Ada Lovelace's mansion, also known as the Yellow Mansion, was lined with blooming yellow roses on both sides.

"I will accompany you only up to here.

Lady Ada's mansion has a force that repels beings like me, so it seems difficult for me to go any further with you."

Nia stopped and turned around to speak.

"Nia, are you leaving?"

"Don't worry, Kim Soo-jung.

If you ever find yourselves in danger, I will return to your side at any time."

After finishing her words, Nia gently lifted Kim Soo-jung's left hand and lightly kissed her wrist.

A slender black snake tattoo was engraved on Kim Soo-jung's left wrist.

"This means I am always watching over you, Kim Soo-jung.

If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, just raise your left hand and call my name."

"Nia... thank you."

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew around Nia.

Kim Soo-jung couldn't open her eyes properly and stepped back from Nia, shielding her face with her hand.

After a moment, the gust subsided, and when Kim Soo-jung opened her eyes, Nia had disappeared.

Kim Soo-jung gently stroked the black snake tattoo on her left wrist with a sense of longing.

"Sister, it's not my place to interfere, but don't trust Nia too much.

Beings like Nia don't have much affection for humans."

"Seoyeon, Nia saved me."

"She must have had her reasons.

If you trust Nia too much, you'll end up being used."

"I... still want to believe for now.

Without Nia, I would have died on that rooftop."

"Sister..."

Seoyeon let out a small sigh and said nothing more.

She judged that it would not be wise to stir up unnecessary trouble as long as Nia was still helping them.

"There come Lady Ada's knights."

Baeksan said as he watched two men walking toward them from not far away.

Dressed neatly in black suits, they wore silver belts and carried silver swords at their waists.

"Hello, Baeksan. It's been a while."

The two men who approached Baeksan crossed their thumbs and touched the rest of their fingers together to form an A shape, bowing slightly toward Baeksan.

Baeksan also formed an A shape with his hands in the same way and bowed to the two men.

"Baekho, Jujak, it's good to see you."

"We have come to welcome you on behalf of Lady Ada.

Lady Ada is already waiting at the mansion, so let's go together."

"Indeed... since Lady Ada is already waiting, there's no need to prolong our conversation.

Baekho, Jujak, please guide us.

I will introduce our group to Lady Ada myself."

"Yes, let's do that."

The two men, whom Baeksan called Baekho and Jujak, nodded toward Baeksan and turned to walk toward the Yellow Mansion.

Baeksan gestured to his group and followed Baekho and Jujak.

Sungmin's heart began to race with anticipation.

Over the past year, he had heard the name several times but had never met Ada Lovelace, the de facto leader of the Ghost Guard and the Abyss Hunters.

As Baeksan's group followed Baekho and Jujak toward the Yellow Mansion, a group of people in military uniforms knelt on one knee in front of a middle-aged woman in a wheelchair in the Yellow Mansion's reception room, forming an A shape with their hands in salute.

"Hyunmu, thank you for bringing the Army Chief of Staff's group here."

"No, Lady Ada. I'm sorry I couldn't bring them sooner."

A man dressed in a black suit with a silver sword at his waist, kneeling at the front of the group, bowed his head even lower before Ada.

"Hello, Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il. You may rise now.

The matter is urgent, so let's get straight to the point."

"Yes, understood, Lady Ada."

Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il, who was kneeling beside Hyunmu in military uniform, spoke respectfully to Ada as he stood up.

"Jisoo, could you bring me the documents I mentioned earlier?"

"Yes, Lady Ada."

A small girl, who looked about ten years old and was standing next to Ada, took a bundle of documents from the reception room table and handed them to Ada.

Ada sighed softly as she flipped through the documents one by one.

"Over the past hundred years, good people have suffered little by little due to the abyssal monsters, but each time, the Abyss Hunters of Ada's mansion cooperated with the central government's soldiers to successfully eliminate the abyssal monsters.

However, the situation is truly difficult this time.

I never imagined that the power of the Medici Family, a pseudo-religious group, would be this strong."

"It was only recently discovered that President Choi Sang-beom might be behind the Medici Family.

Even though we secretly formed a special unit called the Ghost Guard at Sergeant Shin's request, it seems challenging to reinforce further as long as President Choi Sang-beom protects the Medici Family."

Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il lowered his head in shame before Ada.

"The Medici Family not only possesses people with abyssal powers, like elders and evangelists, but they also have acquired monsters called Abyss One.

And as long as President Choi Sang-beom supports them, they can be said to have the large-scale military mobilization capability.

In contrast, we have only a few remaining Ghost Guard soldiers, Abyss Hunters, and the trainees at Ada's mansion.

Although Seoyeon and Sungmin are here, it would be overwhelming for just the two of them to deal with the Medici Family's evangelists.

If only I had the strength from my prime, the situation would be better now... it's truly regrettable."

"Lady Ada, we also have the four knights, including Cheongryong, Baekho, Jujak, and Hyunmu.

Please don't worry too much."

A man dressed similarly to Hyunmu, standing beside Ada and Jisoo, spoke to Ada with a slight bow.

"Cheongryong, you four knights are the last hope of Ada's mansion that must not fall until the end.

Do not overexert yourselves and conserve your strength to survive.

Surviving to carry on the will of Ada's mansion is the true duty of you four knights."

"Yes, understood, Lady Ada."

Cheongryong was about to say more but observed Ada's serious expression and quietly stepped back.

"Given the circumstances, it seems we have no choice but to strike first."

"Lady Ada, what do you mean by that?"

Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il was startled by Ada's strong tone and asked.

"The gap in power between the enemy and us is widening seriously.

I've heard that President Choi Sang-beom is considering martial law, and if martial law is actually declared and the military is mobilized, we will be helpless.

Before that happens, we must strike the Medici Family first.

If we can defeat the Medici Family, President Choi Sang-beom will have no choice but to change his stance."

"Don't worry about martial law actually being declared.

Even if President Choi Sang-beom decides to declare martial law, I will do my best to delay it."

"Thank you, Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il. I trust only you with the government and military matters."

"Yes, Lady Ada."

Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il bowed respectfully before Ada, forming an A shape with his hands again, raising them to forehead level.

"Then let's change our strategy to launch a preemptive strike against the Medici Family.

We'll come up with a detailed plan once Baeksan's group arrives."

"Yes, understood, Lady Ada."

Ada nodded as she listened to the responses from Chief of Staff Nam Sung-il and the others in military uniforms.

For the past hundred years, Ada's mansion had never launched a preemptive strike against the abyssal monsters.

When abyssal monsters appeared and began to disturb the world, Ada's mansion would send Abyss Hunters to subdue them.

The reason Ada's mansion had taken such a passive and defensive stance until now was not only due to the lack of Abyss Hunters but also to act discreetly so that ordinary people would not know about the Dreamer in the Abyss and his monsters, beings akin to gods.

However, this time, the situation was different.

A cult organization called the Medici Family, which skillfully utilized abyssal monsters, existed, and President Choi Sang-beom, the leader of this country, was protecting that cult organization.

In other words, this time, it wasn't the abyssal monsters causing chaos in the world, but evil humans using the abyssal monsters to disrupt the world.

A battle between humans fighting against abyssal monsters and humans exploiting abyssal monsters.

This was the true nature of the current conflict.

Before the power gap with the Medici Family widened further, and before the general public noticed the existence of the abyssal beings due to the Medici Family and chaos ensued, it was imperative to crush the Medici Family as quickly and decisively as possible.

Sungmin and his group, along with Baekho and Jujak, finally entered the Yellow Mansion.

A garden composed solely of yellow roses encircled the Yellow Mansion.

Sungmin thought that the garden of yellow roses surrounding the mansion emitted a refreshing and mysterious fragrance for some reason.

"Thank you all for your hard work traveling such a long way."

A middle-aged woman, riding a wheelchair pushed by a man dressed similarly to Baekho and Jujak, emerged from the direction of the mansion and spoke to Sungmin's group.

The man pushing the middle-aged woman's wheelchair had a large yellow bow slung over his shoulder.

Following behind the middle-aged woman in the wheelchair was a rather sharp-looking young girl holding a sword wrapped in white cloth with both hands.

"Glory to Lady Ada!"

As soon as Baeksan, Baekho, Jujak, Sergeant Shin, and the Ghost Guard soldiers saw Ada, they knelt on one knee, forming an A shape with both hands.

Sungmin, Seoyeon, and Advisor Kim Soo-jung, caught off guard by the sudden situation, stood there staring blankly at Ada before coming to their senses, bowing their heads to greet her.

"Everyone, please rise. You've endured enough hardship coming here; there's no need for such formalities.

Hello, Sungmin, Seoyeon, and Advisor Kim Soo-jung.

I am Ada Lovelace, the owner of this mansion."

"Hello, Lady Ada. I've heard so much about you."

Seoyeon said with a deeply moved expression as she looked at Ada.

Although it had been three years since Seoyeon, alongside Sergeant Shin, had been investigating the Medici Family and fighting abyssal monsters, this was also her first time meeting Ada Lovelace, the leader of the Abyss Hunters, in person.

"Seoyeon, are you feeling alright after entering the mansion?"

"Actually, I've been feeling a bit weak since earlier.

It must be because of the mansion's influence, right?"

"Yes, this mansion is surrounded by a barrier designed to block beings that draw power from the Dreamer in the Abyss.

While you are human, your strength originates from the Dreamer in the Abyss, so your power is naturally halved once you enter this mansion."

"I see. It's unfortunate, but on the bright side, it means I'm safe from my father and the Medici Family while staying here."

"Yes, exactly, Seoyeon."

Ada said with a smile as she spoke to Seoyeon.

She is truly a cultured and graceful person.

Seoyeon admired her inwardly as she thought.

Since Ada was the leader of the Abyss Hunters and someone who could issue orders to the Ghost Guard and even some high-ranking military officers, Seoyeon had expected her to be a stern and rigid individual. However, the Ada Lovelace she met in person was more like a gentle noblewoman with a soft personality.

"Baekho, please guide the Ghost Guard soldiers to the dining hall first.

Jujak, please escort the guests in the reception room to the dining hall as well."

"Yes, understood."

Baekho and Jujak quickly led the Secret Shield soldiers into the mansion after receiving Ada's instructions.

"Cheongryong, give the Yellow Bow to Baeksan.

After all this time, it seems the day has come for it to finally return to its original owner."

"Thank you, Lady Ada. I never imagined I would use this bow again."

"You know, using Hastur's weapon requires a great deal of determination.

Sooner or later, there will be a price to pay.

Baeksan, let me ask you one last time. Are you prepared for that?"

"If it were just a matter of fighting abyssal monsters, this Yellow Bow wouldn't be necessary.

But the opponent I'm facing this time might be impossible to defeat without it."

Baeksan said, gazing at the Yellow Bow he received from Cheongryong with a pensive expression.

He recalled the days twenty years ago when he had been actively exterminating abyssal monsters with the Yellow Bow.

Back then, he had trusted the power of the Yellow Bow and feared nothing.

It felt as though he could defeat any abyssal monster.

However, a moment of carelessness had cost Baeksan his wife, who was also an Abyss Hunter, and on that very day, he returned the Yellow Bow to Ada's mansion. For the past twenty years, he had tried to forget the Yellow Bow.

"Baeksan, one cannot completely sever ties with their past.

I believe that only those who accept their past and courageously continue walking their path can discover the true meaning of the life given to them.

The fact that the Yellow Bow has returned to your hands must also have its own divine significance.

Even if the journey ahead is painful and difficult, and regardless of the price you may pay in the future, you must not hesitate to draw the bowstring for the sake of your goal this time."

"Thank you, Lady Ada."

Baeksan knelt on one knee before Ada, holding the Yellow Bow with both hands and bowing his head.

Ada was fully aware of how many lives Baeksan would take with this Yellow Bow in the future and how great a price he would eventually pay.

However, knowing that stopping the Medici Family and Blaze was worth the sacrifices and costs, Baeksan once again took up the Yellow Bow, and Ada was encouraging him to remain steadfast in his resolve.

Baeksan was moved by Ada's meticulous and warm encouragement and couldn't help but kneel.

"Next is the Yellow Sword.

Jisoo, bring the Yellow Sword to me."

"Yes, Lady Ada."

Jisoo approached Ada, holding the sword wrapped in white cloth.

"I've already decided who will receive this sword."

Ada smiled as she extended one hand toward Jisoo.

At that moment, with a loud crash, the window of the reception room on the second floor of Ada's mansion shattered, and a black figure leaped onto the garden of yellow roses.

"Abyss One! How on earth did you get here?"

Advisor Kim Soo-jung exclaimed in shock.

A monster with countless tentacles, claw-like hands, and feet.

Advisor Kim Soo-jung could never forget the horrifying monster, even in her dreams, standing in the garden of Ada's mansion.

Abyss One was holding headless human torsos in each of its sharp hands.

"An abyssal monster... How did it break through the mansion's barrier...

It seems the soldiers in the reception room have fallen victim to it."

Ada spoke in a trembling voice, looking at Abyss One in shock.

"Lady Ada, Jisoo, please step back.

I will handle this monster."

Cheongryong said to Ada and Jisoo as he drew the silver sword from his waist and stepped forward.

"Be careful, Cheongryong.

This Abyss One is far stronger than any monster our Ada Mansion has ever defeated."

"Yes, Lady Ada. I will face it carefully."

Cheongryong gripped the silver sword with both hands, stared directly at Abyss One, and pointed the sword at it.

Seoyeon and Sungmin also carefully observed Abyss One's movements and slowly approached behind Cheongryong.

If necessary, they intended to assist Cheongryong.

Abyss One looked at Cheongryong, Seoyeon, and Sungmin, then threw the human torsos it was holding into the garden.

Part of the garden of yellow roses turned red with human blood.

Sungmin, who had only recently escaped an island soaked in blood, couldn't help but feel deeply unsettled at the sight of human blood again.

A strong sense of unease suddenly swept through Sungmin's mind as he thought that not only in Ada's mansion but also in the remainder of his life, he might witness even more bloodshed.