Episode 124: Nuclear shelter (2)

The basement was dark and damp.

And worst of all, an overwhelming stench assaulted my nose.

"Ugh… … ."

Jang Hyeon-deok suddenly starts shaking and making strange noises.

They were talking energetically just a moment ago, but things seem strange.

"The lights are on, but it's strangely dark."

This is Gu Jin-cheol's voice. He has a calm expression again.

"The atmosphere is strange."

When I look up, I see a large lighting fixture hanging from the ceiling.

It is not an object designed in a modern way. An unnecessarily dull lamp. It is an excessive design reminiscent of outdated steampunk genre ornaments.

"It's a light with magic stones embedded in it. "You're using that precious thing in something like this?"

"It's a magic stone… … ?"

"Yes, magicite lighting. "It's an object that shines semi-permanently."

There is no lighting more appropriate to place in a space created with the apocalyptic situation after nuclear war in mind.

"I was wondering where that thing went, and I saw that it was stuck here."

Gu Jin-cheol said in a pitiful tone.

"Well, it may be excessive, but considering the design intent, isn't there a more appropriate place than here?"

"No, that's not it. The chairman had been upset for a long time when he said it was gone. "It turns out that the chairman stole the money and blamed others for no reason."

"ah… … ."

It was information that would become a hot topic only within the Cheongho faction.

I remember a time in the past when I kept talking to all kinds of NPCs to check those meaningless settings.

'It's a shame. If there is a wiki, I want to update it.'

No, this is not the problem.

"Ugh… … . Something is strange. It's cold here, right? Am I the only one who is cold? The smell is also strange... … "I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"I can smell it too, but I think you're the only one who's cold?"

Jang Hyeon-deok's condition is becoming increasingly strange.

[Living Altar], so is your talent as a medium causing strange side effects? I don't know because I don't have that trait.

"Once you pass through that iron gate, you're in the game. how is it? "Are you okay?"

"Ugh, I think it's still okay."

"okay? Anyway, you take care of your life. "If you don't think it will work, tell me right away."

I said that, but I don't think we should leave it like this anyway. Several enchantments were cast on Jang Hyeon-deok's body.

Anyway, let's move on.

'Just past this passage was a warehouse, a storeroom, and a room.'

As Jang Hyeon-deok said, each space is separated by a heavy iron door reminiscent of a submarine.

It seemed appropriate to call the place where we were standing now a space created to separate sections in case of an emergency, rather than a passageway.

"wait a minute."

This time, Gu Jin-cheol stepped forward and opened the door.

I'm sorry.

There is a strange darkness beyond the door.

If you look closely, you can see that the lights across the room are still on.

There are eerie shadows here and there in the room. An unpleasant darkness crouching like a living being with substance or a ghost with a will.

When I look back, I see that the area beyond the door is filled with pitch-black darkness. The energy of the negative dimension that fills the entire air raid shelter blocks light.

'Oh, is this it?'

Fog of war.

This is a presentation that is often seen in games. Direction that does not allow you to see the inside of a room that has not yet been loaded, or a location that has not yet been checked.

It is implemented this way.

It is an artificial darkness set only in games to implement the character's field of vision, but when it is implemented in this way in reality, a difficult problem arises.

"I'm going to turn. "You look so lost in that small room."

"missing child? "Mia?"

"Should I say it's surreal? No, it would be better to say magical. Anyway, there is too much energy of the negative dimension here. So, to put it simply, the room is so full of evil magic that light does not travel well."

"You mean the devil worshipers, the tricks they make?"

Even among Paju residents, their understanding of the beings of the abyss is different.

I keep calling it the being of the abyss, but in fact, there are probably fewer people who use that name correctly. Some call them great beings, old rulers, great old beings, otherworldly beings, otherworldly gods, reapers, evil gods, or just devils.

"Yes, something like that. Anyway, don't fall too far. Even if we are only a few steps apart, we will no longer be able to see each other."

"Well, this is my first time seeing something like this. So, Shinhwa Kim, I would never… … never… … ."

Gu Jin-cheol is flustered with an anxious expression.

"I know it's not a trap. "Even if you plan and prepare, how can you create a trap like this?"

Now that I think about it, Jang Hyeon-deok, who is whining next to Gu Jin-cheol, has dragged me into an even worse trap before, right?

I can't say that Jang Hyun-deok did anything wrong, but thinking about what he went through back then makes me want to hit him in the head.

'Now that I think about it, I said I would get two hits, but I only got one hit. Should I hit you now?'

"Please take care of yourself, director, rather than me, or even that idiot if you can afford it."

"All right."

"Hey, Jang Hyeon-deok, are you a nuisance? uh?"

"Ugh… … sorry."

I can't say anything more because they forced me to say I wouldn't come.

"Anyway, let's go a little further."

He forcibly dragged Jang Hyeon-deok, who was unable to take his steps, and entered one more space.

Expensive magic stone lighting continues again.

And the dark scene beneath the lights... … It was very messy.

"This is my first time coming here, and it looks like this is the warehouse."

It is Cheongho's treasure trove, no, it is a secret warehouse.

Various artifacts and gold bars, works of art that were locked up in this room simply because of their high value, and personal collections that had no value to anyone other than Cheongho.

It's a room with something like that.

It's not an important space right now. What we should be interested in is the state of this space.

"It's no joke, considering it's a space where a man with limited living skills has been living alone for over a month."

"It's not like our chairman had enough energy to clean or cook for himself."

This is just a joke.

The sight before your eyes simply cannot be discussed at that level. The condition of the warehouse, which was strangely dark even though there was lighting, was serious.

It would be misleading to say it this way. Just about everything in this room was smashed, broken, dented, and dirty.

Small safes split in half and rolling around on the floor. Gold bars rolling on the dirty floor. Artworks with black soot as if there had been a small-scale explosion or fire. Broken ceramics, completely dented iron shelves, and even interior walls with large cracks.

In the case of iron shelves, the imprint of a person's hand is clearly visible.

"Did you crush it by squeezing it with your hand? Anyway, he's a strong guy."

"Kim Shin-hwa, the Chairman's condition is probably in danger… … Seems to."

"Well, I think it would be quite dangerous."

What Gu Jin-cheol is looking at is one wall of this space.

A large private photo that raises concerns about narcissism, a family photo hanging next to it, and a group photo taken with executives of the Cheongho faction.

This means that there was such a photo originally.

Nowadays, it is impossible to figure out what scene the photo hanging on the wall contains just by looking at it. charcoal? I don't know where I picked it up, but I scrubbed and erased all the photos with something like charcoal or charcoal.

Cheongho's self-portrait was especially spectacular, with a large black skull drawn over the area where his face was.

Cheongho survival score plus 1 point. Cheongho is fine, minus 10 points.

"Oh, my bone hurts."

Although he behaved badly last time, Cheongho is a pretty powerful NPC.

I tripped it once, but that was really like tripping on a crazed person.

If Cheong-ho, who is in a state of madness, makes up his mind and attacks, well... … . Although he is confident that he will not lose, he is not confident that he will be able to capture Cheongho's limbs intact.

Hehehehe… … .

The sound of laughter is heard again. It doesn't sound like a person, but like the sound of the wind or the creaking of some inanimate object.

"Is this starting again?"

[Ominous laughter is heard.]

A message window appears suddenly.

Is that the end of the explanation?

[This is a terrible laugh that can break your spirit just by hearing it. You use your sanity stat to make a sanity check. Judgment of reason... … .]

Oh, shit. When did you do it?

[success.]

It doesn't matter whether I succeed or fail. When I look sideways through the message window, I see Gu Jin-cheol's face. He's just a little pale, but there doesn't seem to be any major problem. thank god.

[You sense that that voice is Cheongho's. However, at the same time, I sensed that there was a deterioration in Cheongho's mind and body that went beyond simple insanity.]

The tone of information conveyed by the message window is different from usual. what? What are you trying to do to make this happen?

Kikigeek, kikigeek, baddeuk.

This is the signal Achilles gives. When I looked back, Achilles was nodding his head as if to check on Jang Hyeon-deok. Jang Hyeon-deok... … Ugh, not good.

"Oh, wizard… … I was wrong. I'm going back now. "Oh, I can't do that."

A face that goes from pale to black, and hands that tremble. Legs that feel weak, as if they are about to collapse at any moment. Gu Jin-cheol, who was nearby, supported Jang Hyeon-deok.

"Are you okay? Going back alone now is not a good option. "I'll hold it for you from the side."

From the looks of it, Jang Hyeon-deok failed the judgment of reason. A light madness is blooming. Perhaps [Status Abnormality – Fear]?

"Well, I was wrong! There's a monster in there! Can't you hear that sound? whisper! I keep hearing strange whispers! Ahh! eww!"

He begins to show hallucinations and even delusions of grandeur.

"Well, I guess that won't work."

"Are you trying to go in alone?"

"There hasn't been much up to this point, so in a sense, it can be said that safety has been secured. "The director is also waiting here."

"yes?"

"I think that would be better. Achilles, protect the two people here. Make decisions autonomously. "If the connection is lost-."

I took out two magic stones from my backpack. One of the two was thrown to Achilles.

"-Eat this, priority is protecting the number 1 escort target. Secure exit number 2. Number 3: Self-protection. "Do not stray more than 2 meters from the person being escorted, and since the person being escorted may give abnormal orders, follow their orders only as long as they do not violate points 1, 2, and 3."

Let's go, let's go.

I took out another magic stone and gave it to Jang Hyeon-deok... … No, I handed it to Gu Jin-cheol.

"If that dog explodes a magic stone, you're in trouble, so run away. "If you give your dog this when he won't move, he will start moving again."

"Well, I… … ."

"Well, I don't trust you that much, Director. But I believe in contracts."

Gu Jin-cheol patted his stomach with a prickly expression.

Gu Jin-cheol, whose mind was once completely broken and then reassembled, appears to have reformed, but what is it like in reality?

I'm not following Gu Jin-cheol like this because I trust him.

Just as I had done with the cult members before, I gave Gu Jin-cheol a contract fulcrum before leaving.

I showed you what happens if it explodes, so you'll be fine.

"Then see you later."

I left the two men behind and went deeper into the shelter.

short passage.

It is a device to disconnect each section if a problem arises.

I extended my magic power and opened the door on the other side.

Good profit… … .

The door opens. The pitch-black darkness visible beyond the door. The density of horsepower is increasing.

[System: The 'Enhanced Vigilance' trait is activated.]

The moment when you are about to step into the darkness.

"Brother."

Voice signals with meaning were transmitted through the atmosphere. I stopped walking and looked into the darkness.

"hmm… … ."

There is nothing to see here. It's just dark. I fiddled with the mask covering my face for a moment before replying.

"We became friends, but I don't really remember becoming sworn brothers."

Lurking in the darkness beyond the door, it made a strange, indescribably unpleasant and terrible hissing sound.

Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.

Oh, are you laughing?

"Isn't that right? President. Seeing you smile so much, I can see that you look much brighter than before. Anyway, let's go in now."

I took a step into the darkness.