"drive… … "I know how to do it."
Should I put them all in Jang Hyeon-deok's call van and go back? I don't want to make that choice... … .
If you are caught stealing a secured taxi, you will become an enemy of the Paju Transportation Association. Not only is it a problem to have a bounty on you, but you cannot use any means of transportation in Paju until you pay the bounty and end the hostilities.
"But that doesn't mean it'll be impossible to find a taxi to get you here… … ."
There is no choice. I scratched my head and walked to the place where Jang Hyeon-deok had collapsed.
"Oh, shit… … "It's really different tonight."
Although I confirmed the message a little while ago that I had become a firm ally with Jang Hyeon-deok, there is no way he is alive.
Even if a trivial ghost or a suitable demon appears, the body will be damaged. However, Jang Hyeon-deok directly embodied the will of the abyss. He may have become a medium and share in the damage, but he still cannot survive. Even if one survives thanks to heavenly luck, one's body may soon be crushed by the unending divine heat, or the body and mind may collapse under the influence of the abyss, turning one into a madman or a monster.
If you become a golden dancer, you're lucky because you've maintained your human form. You can also become an ugly descendant of Carcosa or a fulfillment of your oath.
But I soon faced an unexpected situation.
"How about it? "Is this guy alive?"
Amazingly, he was still alive. He was even in fairly good health. Of course he was knocked out and dirty here and there, but he didn't have any major breaks or spills that shouldn't have been spilled, and all ten of his fingers were still attached to his arms.
It was almost disgusting compared to my scorched, torn, broken and burst state.
"Umm… … "You didn't become a monster."
It doesn't end just because it looks fine on the outside.
"But the contents won't be fine… … ?"
For a moment, I remembered the situation that occurred right before I fell into confusion. The appearance of Jang Hyeon-deok praising the dancers' dance while bursting into laughter.
"If I try to wake it up, it will be broken and talk nonsense… … ."
In the worst case, it will attack me while yelling 'Aaaah!'
I thought for a moment, tapping my fingers on the mask covering my face.
The thought didn't last long, and I came to a conclusion.
[Prayer of Protection]
[protection team]
[Fox's agility]
That and a few more. Every time I cast a spell, I felt pain as if my fingers were being torn apart, but I couldn't let my guard down even for a moment.
"You'll be lucky if tentacles don't suddenly erupt from your mouth… … ."
However, seeing as the [Enhanced Vigilance] attribute is not activated, I guess it wouldn't have been such a dangerous trap, right? I activated a new magic while maintaining a distance of about 2 meters from Jang Hyeon-deok.
Since I learned a new tier 2 spell, I should try using a tier 2 spell as well. Although it is not a flashy magic, it is one of the important magics needed to survive in [Cthulhu World].
[knowledge]
If [Identification] of the 1st level is a spell to confirm the origin or composition of an object, [Inquiry] of the 2nd level is a spell to determine the identity of a place, a person, or an unknown race. Simply put, the ability to check other people's status windows.
Of course, there is no power that allows me to know what I do not know. In any case, it only provides information that 'A = B'. But that's enough.
'Anyway, no one knows more information about Cthulhu World than me.'
Giiiing… … .
The magical antennae realized by the blind eye approaches Jang Hyeon-deok. From his head to his toes, I slowly checked out his external changes, his internal condition, and the characteristics he possessed.
"I'm fine… … But?"
Surprisingly, Jang Hyeon-deok's mind was as clean as his healthy appearance. Of course, that doesn't mean it's completely normal.
I saw something shocking and gained knowledge I shouldn't have. Although there was minimal madness, trauma, and mental scars given to those who confirmed the truth of this world, everyone who lives in this dangerous night of Paju has that degree.
This means that the abyss is too intact for a body that was inhabited by a being.
The appearance of Lee Chang-hyuk, who became a satyr after coming in contact with the bodily fluids of the [Black Goat that Gives Insanity], the ghoul magician who became intoxicated and ruined by the power gifted by the [Father of All Ghouls], and the image of a ghoul surrounded by ghouls and offering it to the [Father of all Ghouls] Lee Seon-bin's mind was broken just because she witnessed the ceremony.
Those who have approached the beings of the abyss generally say something like this.
"But why is this kid so fine…?" … ? Ah, is it because of this?"
The effect of the discovery detected the flow of magical power in Jang Hyeon-deok's body and how it operates. Although it was my first time checking the flow and path of someone else's magic power, thanks to my knowledge as a magician and the [Spell Mastery] trait that was artificially built in my head, I was able to understand the meaning of Jang Hyeon-deok's magic power structure.
If we were to reconstruct that form in the form of a characteristic window, it would be as follows.
****
[Living Altar]: The effectiveness of Spirituality, Possession, Advent, etc. increases by 1200%. Minimizes penalties due to power, possession, descent, etc. Ignores most of the restrictions of Spirituality, Possession, and Advent.
// You are a psychic with a natural talent. He is closer to a living altar than to a human being with free will.
****
Shaman, shaman, channeler... … Alternatively, it is a top-level trait required for a cult character, and it is a rare trait that cannot be obtained just because one wants to. I've played a lot of shamans and cultists in the past, but I've only played with the Living Altar trait a couple of times.
Look at that 1200% increase in efficiency.
Why does the taxi driver NPC have this?
Of course, it is not an exclusive characteristic like [Madness of the Abyss] or a hidden characteristic that can only be obtained through a specific method. Since it is a type of talent, it is a trait that random characters may have.
Is this perhaps an aftereffect of the [King in Yellow Clothes] coming in? Before leaving, I modified Jang Hyeon-deok's magical qualities... … No, why would the Yellow King do such a thing? Use Kim Shin-hwa well as a subordinate? Or do you want to get in easily when you visit again?
This is a problem that cannot be answered in this state anyway. If you try to figure this out through thought and reasoning alone, you will be stuck in endless thoughts and can't do anything. After all, is the answer just to stick your head in the grass and check?
"Hey, wake up."
[Benu's cry]
Bennu's Cry is a second-tier enchantment. It has a nutritional tonic effect, such as temporarily strengthening mental power stats and increasing physical strength, and prevents several status abnormalities. It can also be used to wake up an unconscious subject.
The moment this activates, it has the side effect of hearing an incredibly loud bird sound in your head.
Whyeeeeee!!! Queeeeeeeeeee!!!
To be exact, it is the sound of a heron crying.
"Ugh!"
As soon as the magic was activated, Jang Hyeon-deok stood up, covering his ears. There is no use covering your ears because the sound is coming from inside her head.
"Are you awake?"
"Hey, wizard! "There's a strange sound in my head!!"
I was tempted to leave him alone for a little longer because I was annoyed, but I decided to hold back because Jang Hyeon-deok didn't actually do anything wrong and conversation was the priority. With a snap of her fingers, the spell was lifted.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"this… … How did this happen? This mess… … "What's wrong with your hands, wizard?"
Still, I see that he is a smart young man who puts my worries before his own.
"If I were to explain it, there's a lot to talk about. How much do you remember?"
"hmm… … ."
Jang Hyeon-deok looked around with a serious expression for a moment.
"I even remember deciding to come in here... … . But I… … Wizard… … ."
"why?"
"I… … "Would you believe me if I told you that I was out of my mind right after I met the wizard?"
"There's nothing you can't believe."
When I responded somewhat leniently, Jang Hyeon-deok spoke urgently.
"I felt strange from the moment I saw the wizard's mask! I think that mask is freaking me out! I didn't even know about this place before! Besides, I didn't pick up that piece of mask here! I also got it from Mr. Myeong, right? Seungjae and Gilyoung also have that! Something is wrong! "It's not that I was trying to trick the wizard, I was taken advantage of too!"
Meanwhile, Jang Hyeon-deok urgently added a few more nonsense. Also, about the orphanage, the rabbit-like younger siblings are only looking at me. I plan to buy gifts and meet the younger siblings at the orphanage soon, but the kids will be waiting impatiently for me to come! But if I don't leave without any news… … . He was like that when he came here earlier, and the fact that he spouts nonsense when he's embarrassed seems to be his natural personality and has nothing to do with mental control.
However, if you think about what kind of punishment the solvers, monster hunters, treasure hunters, etc. in this ugly Paju usually inflict on those who threaten them... … Jang Hyeon-deok's behavior like that cannot be said to be oversensitive. It's not that I didn't think that cutting off Jang Hyeon-deok's head while he was unconscious was the safest course of action.
"Hey, I understand."
"Please believe me! "I feel so wronged!"
"Okay, okay. "It's okay if you don't make any more excuses."
I really meant to tell him to shut up, but Jang Hyeon-deok seems to have misunderstood my words as 'There's no need to make any more excuses, just die, Jang Hyeon-deok.' He clung to me with even more desperation.
"iced coffee! please! At the very least, I hope to be able to deliver at least the shoes I had planned to gift to Hyeonji... … ."
"Oh, just leave it alone! I understand! "My back hurts!"
"Wizard! please! Help me!"
I took Jang Hyeon-deok off my belt, looked down, and gave up.
"Yes, Jang Hyeon-deok, I understand. "I got it, I got it."
"You believe me!"
"okay. So shut up and take two hits."
"yes?"
Sigh.
I immediately grabbed Jang Hyeon-deok's head.
"Ugh… … my hand... … ."
It wasn't something I should have done with my hands.
I spoke to Jang Hyeon-deok, who was holding his head and groaning.
"I tried to hit you twice, but my hand hurts, so I'll just give it one hit."
Jang Hyeon-deok, who was crouching, looked up at me with a puzzled expression.
"You're saying you'll look after me?"
"okay. "Let's pretend this is Teacher and stop."
"Really?"
"okay. Instead, there is a lot to do. Follow me."
"Oh, I understand!"
I dragged Jang Hyeon-deok and headed to the place where the dancers' bodies were. Jang Hyeon-deok, who saw the fascinating yet gruesome sight of golden corpses scattered in a mess, stepped back with an expression of disgust.
"At first, we decided to split it in half."
"yes? uh… … I did, but… … that… … ."
"I'm going to take care of that. Are you going to have that?"
"… … ."
Jang Hyeon-deok could not answer quickly. No, I think he said everything he wanted to say with his expression. Well, that's the reaction of a normal person. Although it is a treasure, it is an ominous and terrible object. It is normal to have the fear of being cursed and dying first rather than greed.
In front of Jang Hyeon-deok, I put my hand into the belly of the completely destroyed corpse of a dancer and ripped off the scales.
Although the stomach of a human-like being is turned upside down, there is no feeling of rejection or emotional disturbance. Rather, the pain coming from the damaged finger was more painful.
Rather than being a living thing in the first place, it is closer to a foreign, inanimate object that moves through magic. Rather than a dead body, it is more appropriate to describe it as an object that has stopped working.
I pulled out something truly meaningful from inside the destroyed dancer.