NOVEL WEB Chapter 204
As I descended the stairs heading underground, the surroundings were filled with chunks of flesh exposed in an explicit manner.
This was a scene you could see anywhere on this street. The only unexpected thing was that they were all men.
Including the visitors and the receptionists.
“…”
Why on earth did Mok Jinwoo choose this place as a hidden base?
I scanned the area, trying to shake off the sticky gazes. At the central bar, a bald bartender was wiping a glass with a dry cloth.
It was quite unsettling to see him only wearing a garter belt… but the spade tattoo on his belly and the number 316 etched below it were surely as I had been informed.
As I approached with reluctance, it was he who showed interest first.
“Oh, what a surprise. To see such a cute guest.”
I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut. He was clearly a girl trapped in a man’s body. How could someone be so nonchalant about it?
“Good evening. I was introduced by the big rooftop house’s old man. I heard there’s a new dancer.”
Holding back the urge to hurl insults, I struck up a conversation, to which the bartender brought his finger to his lips and chuckled.
“Hehehe. Sweetie, saying it like that makes me not know who you’re talking about. There’s a bunch of dancers coming and going.”
“I heard I was the thirteenth to be nominated during the break on Friday. I danced the Swan’s Wings…”
In an instant, a sharp light flickered in the eyes of the man in the garter belt.
“…If you go into the left hallway, that’s the last room.”
It was just for a moment. The bartender pointed gently with his chin and then went back to concentrating on polishing the glass as if nothing had happened.
I quickly made my way toward the spot he indicated.
As I opened the door to the guest room, I immediately sensed someone inside. A familiar, charismatic man greeted me with a friendly wave.
“Director.”
“You’re here? It’s been a long time. Come in. Don’t just stand there.”
“Why did you call me to a place like this? Do you have a secret taste…”
“Ugh! Where did you hear that nonsense? I’m a guy who likes women way too much.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Mok Jinwoo exploded in anger.
Thinking back on past events, it didn’t seem like a lie…
“And what’s wrong with a place like this? These people are citizens of the Republic just like you. They’re also the ones you need to protect as a wizard.”
He shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner.
“Sure, they look rough, but they’re doing their best to live. They’re not like warlocks who eat people’s insides, so what’s the big deal? Right?”
“…That’s not what I meant. But still, for the Information Bureau’s branch…”
“Actually, it’s more suitable here than anywhere else. Who would have guessed? Everyone thinks like you. And…”
He paused for a moment, smirking.
“Isn’t it better for you? Rather than seeing women who are all naked.”
“…”
He was absolutely right, but why did it make me feel so strangely uncomfortable?
“If my sisters find out I came to a place like this, they will come looking for you with fire in their eyes.”
To that, he waved his hands dismissively.
“Come on, come on. I took the time to meet you despite being busy. Do you have any idea how fierce those women are…”
“You seem to have been very busy.”
“Of course, I’ve been busy. Did I even sleep for two hours in the last week…”
Mok Jinwoo pointed at his sunken eyes with his finger.
“There have been quite a lot of incidents recently. The domestic and international situation is tense. People are dropping like flies…”
“…”
Suddenly, as I watched him vent his frustrations, I felt a strange sense of unease.
His usual habit of joking around while grumbling was there, but somehow it seemed exaggerated and more ridiculous than usual… and yet, there was still a sense of tension in his eyes… What was going on?
The fact that he specifically carved out time to meet me seemed to imply that there was something more to it, right?
Even though we’re on friendly terms, I wouldn’t expect him to prioritize answering a mere curiosity over public matters.
‘Perhaps…’
My curiosity, the recent events he mentioned.
Could it be possible that there’s a connection between them? That felt like a stretch.
After venting for a while, Mok Jinwoo gulped down his drink as if he was thirsty.
“Cough… yes, seeing as you rushed over after Mu-young’s summons, I guess your body was quite eager, huh?”
“Isn’t that obvious? Will you really answer all my questions? Every single one without missing a beat?”
“If it’s something I know.”
He nodded casually.
“Well, if it’s something I don’t know, then I can’t help that.”
“Why? Haven’t you been hiding it all along? So why all of a sudden?”
“Seriously, even if I tell you…”
Trying to hit me, Mok Jinwoo soon sighed and sank into the sofa.
“Situations are always changing. I just thought it was more advantageous that way, for you, for me, and for this country.”
“What situation…?”
“Alright, let’s save that conversation for later. So what exactly do you want to ask, hmm? Do you want me to give you a list of the prettiest noble ladies living in the capital?”
“You know it’s the questions I have.”
I immediately replied to his remark.
“The reason I, a complete non-responder, can now use magic, the power that isn’t even called a divine power, and who the underground city woman who knew the true nature of that power is.”
“…”
“…And whether all those things are connected.”
“…I thought you’d be curious about that.”
He replied, managing a somewhat resigned smile.
“And that’s why I called you here.”
*
Beneath the large sofa in the guest room was a concealed underground passageway.
We moved along it. Even with enhanced physical abilities for quick movement, it seemed endless.
“Where are we going?”
“To the Republic’s confidential archives.”
“Confidential… archives?”
I still couldn’t make sense of it. The thought that I needed to go up to such a place to reach my questions was bewildering.
“Well, even if you’re the branch chief, am I allowed to just waltz into a place like that? I don’t even have clearance for level ‘E’ yet…”
“There’s no legal issue. That place doesn’t exist in the current information handling system.”
He replied without looking back, relying on the faint light.
“Can’t you just tell me about it there…”
“You’ll understand better if you see it with your own eyes. Just wait a bit. You’ll know what I mean soon.”
After a few hours of rushing, at last, we emerged from the passage to find a building that looked like an old, closed research facility.
There were no signs of life, nor a single light around, suggesting it was situated in a quite secluded area.
“It’s been a while since I last visited. Has it really been nearly 10 years…”
He casually approached and aligned a pattern with the lock, breathing particles into it. Soon, a heavy iron door opened with a screech.
“…Follow me.”
Mok Jinwoo gestured in front of the door. The interior, devoid of any light, was filled with scattered documents and dust.
Inside was a spacious research wing. The pungent smell of chemicals grew stronger the deeper we went.
“Hey… you asked me for information on spirits not too long ago, remember? It was around the time you just started your admission.”
He suddenly asked while walking ahead and exaggeratedly dusting off the furniture.
“About seducing the Jeokhwa lady.”
“I never said that.”
“That was what it meant. And it practically turned out that way.”
He shrugged.
“…”
“Anyway… do you still remember the knowledge you gained about spirits back then?”
“To some extent.”
I was curious about the sudden topic change. Was he trying to ease the tension or something? Not really…
“It’s the only extraterrestrial creature among monsters that entered the Earth with the meteorite. It allows a wizard in its wavelength to use spirit magic…”
“Good memory. That is indeed what’s publicly known about spirits.”
Mok Jinwoo nodded in satisfaction at my recollection.
“If it’s publicly known, does that mean there are other pieces of information not disclosed?”
“Right.”
He kept walking while speaking. The increasingly pungent smell of chemicals made it hard to breathe.
“There was another extraterrestrial species that fell with the meteorite apart from spirits. And it’s very dangerous.”
“…?”
It was difficult to grasp the context of his words. The monster encyclopedia I had poured over endlessly didn’t seem to contain any mentions of what Mok Jinwoo was referring to.
If it was a very dangerous monster type, it should be depicted prominently…?
In the midst of those questions, we finally stepped into a lab filled with samples of monster immersion.
Various monsters swam in transparent tanks filled with liquid. The pungent smell must have originated from here.
At the center stood a particularly large and elongated tank.
I discovered something floating inside, and I was immediately captivated.
It appeared to be about 3 meters in length with an entirely soft body lacking any exoskeleton. Its limbs were thin, elongated tentacles, so many that it seemed the body itself was composed of tentacles.
A bizarre creature I had never seen before. Its non-earthly appearance awakened an instinctive revulsion and imbued me with an ingrained fear.
Before I realized it, I was completely engrossed in imprinting that existence in my memory, forgetting the purpose of my visit.
“There’s no need to be too tense. Even though it looks like that, it’s definitely in a dead state.”
Mok Jinwoo, seeing me swallow hard, spoke to reassure me.
“What is this… Could it be the monster you mentioned…?”
“Yes.”
He nodded heavily.
“I don’t even know if this can be classified as a monster…”
“I’ve never seen such a creature before.”
“Neither have we. Just as we can’t trace the origins of spirits, we cannot know this one’s either.”
He placed his hand on the tank holding the monster and said.
“Does it have a name?”
“Well, as far as I know, people call it by the names they desire. The wrath of the gods, the end from another world, our natural enemy, silicon life form, aberrant type, etc… One of those should sound familiar to you, right?”
“I’m seeing this creature for the very first time…”
In that moment, an eerily familiar voice brushed against my ear—a resonance I had definitely heard before.
“Witch.”
*
“Wow…!”
Seeing the newly constructed buildings and the garden spreading widely between them, Yeon Minha couldn’t help but express her joy.
The Jeokhwa mansion, which she hadn’t seen in weeks, showed no sign of the brutal battle that had left its mark there.
As she stepped out of the vehicle, a servant rushed to her, bowing deeply.
“Welcome back home, my lady.”
“Good work. What’s the progress?”
“Just as I mentioned in the previous letter, we are currently about 90 percent finished. Especially the bedroom has been embellished further…”
Even while walking briskly, she paid no mind to the housekeeper’s explanation. There mustn’t be any flaws in this place that would soon become her marriage home.
As she arrived at the main building and began checking this and that, the housekeeper brought out a small box from somewhere, presenting it to her.
“What’s this?”
“It’s an item discovered while repairing the main building. It was found in a secret space beneath the previous head’s bedroom. I thought it worthy for you to see it yourself…”
“…”
A sudden painful memory resurfaced. Yeon Minha bit her lip unknowingly but quickly shook her head to discard it.
She didn’t want to be trapped in the past any longer. All Yeon Minha desired was a bright, shining future.
“Hmmm…”
She took the box and examined it. It was clearly a vault that could only be opened by aligning the unique locking pattern.
“…Alright. You can go for now. If I need anything, I’ll call again.”
After sending away the housekeeper and servants, she placed her finger on the box.
Having undergone successor training from a young age, she quickly deciphered the unique pattern necessary to open it. The box opened easily as if it had always belonged to her.
After revealing the contents, Yeon Minha tilted her head in confusion.
“…A journal?”
Expecting it to contain valuables or a heirloom, she felt a bit disappointed.
She picked up her father’s journal, hesitated for a moment, then ultimately laid it on the table.
Carefully, she began to read it.