Yu-geon's body, which had been holding up well until now, began to tremble like an aspen tree. Even though he had no bullets, the gun he had been holding as was his habit slipped and hung precariously in his fingertips. He inadvertently took a step back. Then his foot got caught on the track. His center of gravity tilted back.
He thought he was going to fall helplessly like this, but a large hand suddenly came out of the darkness and grabbed his arm. I could feel his warm body temperature even through his leather gloves. Yes, there was a new festival. Even though he was a person he hated and disliked, there was someone else by his side right now. That fact alone was comforting. Yoo Geon regained his composure, which had been collapsing out of control.
When Yoo-gun's reaction was weaker than expected, he soon changed his target. He changed his voice in an instant, as if he were doing a one-man show.
"Captain Woo Shinje. Are you sure that Brigadier General Woo Seong-yeon was killed within the gate?"
It was a story Yoo Geon did not know. The rank name of the Awakened Management Headquarters appeared very naturally after the god's name.
"Answer only yes or no. Punishment will be determined based on your statement."
"I heard you do all sorts of things."
The priest who had been silent muttered. A faint smile spread across his lips.
"You were the bait?"
Shinje left Yoo Geon behind and walked forward quickly. Step by step. Step by step. Step by step. The sound of impatient shoe-stomping echoed throughout the community.
Pow! One of the mutant's heads exploded without warning. It was not an explosion that occurred internally. A strong, invisible force was applied from outside, and it couldn't withstand the pressure and burst. That was the beginning. The heads hanging from the mutant's body exploded one after another like rotten cherry tomatoes. Brain fluid and blood were sprayed on the wall like graffiti.
"Kyaaaaak!"
The mutant twisted its body and howled. It had numerous skinny limbs on its huge body, so when seen from a distance, it looked like a plump centipede screaming after being sprayed with insecticide. Shinje did not stop there. I'm in a really low mood because of my stupid moves, but there's no way I'm going to get angry over just getting rid of a few heads.
The mutant gradually leaned forward. My whole body was shaking. As if desperately resisting something.
"Off… … "Ugh, ugh!"
However, the force exerted from above did not disappear. On the contrary, it became stronger. The legs that were barely supporting the heavy body snapped and snapped. It desperately tried to open its mouth and spit out deadly venom again. The priest frowned slightly and stretched out his hand into the air, pretending to press something.
"How dirty."
bang! Her head fell to the floor. The mutant stretched out its limbs and fell down like a frog. The jaw joint was crushed into a bizarre shape, and foul-smelling bodily fluids leaked out from between the snout and spilled onto the floor. Phudduddduk. The sound of the spine being twisted and broken was clear.
"Kyaak! Squeak! "Keeeeek!"
The mutant struggled like crazy even while being pressed flat. Tunnel walls and tracks were randomly destroyed.
"okay… … . Does it hurt? It's going to hurt... … ."
The priest shook his shoulders and smiled slightly.
"Are you still watching? Your 'real' boss. "Tell that guy to stop doing this nonsense and come out himself."
The mutant species was no longer able to imitate human sounds as precisely as before. I picked up only a few mangled words and struggled to get my battered body up. It busily used its crowded legs to hide deeper into the darkness. It didn't seem like he really understood Shinje's words; he just seemed scared by the overwhelming difference in power.
They could have tracked him down to the end and attempted to kill him. But the new emperor did not do that. No matter what, he was the boss. The level of difficulty was significantly different between just suppressing someone and completely killing them. Right now, I was just temporarily scared and my momentum had subsided, but if I fought with the determination to die, it would be quite annoying. In the process, I couldn't guarantee whether Yoo Geon would be okay.
In any case, we have already achieved results that are as good as we expected, no, they far exceeded our expectations. I lost interest in insignificant mutants.
"Captain!"
Yoo Geon, who had lost his mind for a moment, hurriedly chased after Shin Je. I don't know what happened, but he couldn't just watch like this.
"What did that mutant say earlier? "It wasn't like that when it first appeared."
"Because that was also manipulated. To a higher being."
"yes?"
"That other guy hiding behind there deliberately tried to call us out."
"What do you mean!"
The priest suddenly turned around. Yoo Geon stopped in shock. The priest tilted his head at an angle and closed the gap between him and him. In the light Yoo Geon was holding, his face, neckline, and shoulders covered with a tangled shirt stood out pale.
"first second… … . And the third."
From less than a hand's distance away, Shinje lowered his eyes and looked at Yoo Geon as if he were going to devour him, and whispered softly. Kindly folding her fingers one by one according to the numbers. His voice was a little rougher than usual due to his breathing being disturbed, and was strangely sensational.
"It was like that when we first met, right? "When Almuten appeared, he just floated in the air and then suddenly disappeared."
Why is this story suddenly brought up? What does the unidentified mutant species that killed his parents and caused his older brother to go on a rampage have to do with the current situation?
"It was strange. why? Why would a guy whose hobby is killing people like ants make an exception? "What was it about Baek Yu-geon's guide that caught your interest?"
"… … ."
"So I did some research. The Hwangan Bridge incident 13 years ago. At that time, there were one or two survivors, but I didn't pay any more attention to the fact that they were children who didn't know anything and were lucky to survive... … . "Baek Yu-geon, that was you."
The stories he quietly told were creepy. 13 years ago, Hwangan Bridge, a survivor. These were words I never thought I would hear from Shinje. The horrors of the terrible past came flooding back. The voice of my parents that the mutant imitated earlier rang in my ears. Yoo Geon backed away without realizing it. That's how close the new festival came.
"Almuten must have thought you were dead. No, he probably didn't care whether he died or not in the first place. But, unexpectedly. Not long ago, he got to see Baek Yu-geon's guide, who was alive and well, for the second time. Even though it was a guide, it didn't cause a runaway. That's probably what he thought."
Shinje recited the sentences without any agitation and grabbed Yugeon's arm and pulled him towards him. The distance between them became closer, as if I would collapse in his arms at any moment. Their chests briefly brushed against each other.
"Why isn't that thing dead and still alive? why?"
In the darkness, the god's eyes glowed with an eerie silver light. He lifted his mouth and smiled.
"That's fun… … . do."
At that moment, Yoo Geon forgot to breathe. A bitter chill enveloped my entire body, as if I had fallen into the deep sea.
"And the third, right now. I guess I came here to 'check' this time. "Is it really worth playing with Guide Baek Yoo-geon?"
"… … ."
"From now on, Almuten will follow you around for the rest of your life. Living doesn't seem like living. If you forget, he will appear, and you will be toyed with until you go crazy, tremble with fear, and die a miserable death. In other words, if he has Baek Yu-gun's guide next to him, you can often see his face."
The arm held by the priest trembled slightly. Is it because of fear or anger?
"Why am I shaking like this? scary?"
Shinje looked into Yugeon's eyes. In contrast to his friendly tone, his gaze was persistent as he traced every detail of the other person.
"If you're scared, you can run away right now. Sorry, but I'll try to find another guide. This is your last chance. I won't be able to save my brother, and disaster will follow me for the rest of my life... … . "Anyway, your life will be saved."
The priest smiled generously. It's as if Yoo-geon would really let him go if he wanted to run away. There was silence. The intermittent tremors gradually stopped. Yoo Geon finally opened her mouth.
"Would you have come all this way just to save my life? and."
"… … ."
"Anyway, do you have any other options?"
He asked provocatively, looking at me with squinty eyes that had a scar on one eyelid. It was a question I asked in the first place because I knew he wouldn't run away. Still, for a moment, I felt a tingle down my spine.
want to kiss. Shinje thought so without thinking. Like the time I impulsively rushed at Yoo Geon, who had fallen on the asphalt floor. Like an uncontrollable animal, I wanted to climb on top of him, bite his flesh, draw blood, tear into his body, and see his face fall apart.
"that's right. I was blind... … . "You can't take a single step without a guide."
He admitted it obediently. His heart is straight and strong, and he has a lot of combat experience as a guide, and he is even under the curse of Almuten. It seemed as if everything Yoo Geon had been made for him. No guide in the world could replace Yoo Geon. He had to be Yoo Geon to wander to the bottom of the abyss with him.
He looked like he was going to say something more, but suddenly lowered his head and covered his mouth. Under the dim lighting, a black-looking liquid gushed out and flowed beyond the leather gloves. It was blood. Warm blood soaked the front of his shirt and dripped down.
The whole mutant species, which was hundreds of times larger than a human, was crushed and pressed. It's not something that even an S-class can do easily. The side effects that inevitably follow awakened people become more severe the stronger the ability and the more frequently the ability is used on a large scale. Even Hee-seong, who was in F grade, suffered from chronic physical ailments, so what about Shin-je?
"Are you okay?"
Meanwhile, Yoo Geon checked on Shin Je's condition. Even if all of Shinje's limbs were cut off, he would still be much stronger than Yoo Geon. Does the guide know what could happen if he acts carelessly in front of an awakened person who is suffering from side effects and is out of his mind? His foolish pity was funny. But at the same time he was very willing.
The new emperor raised his head. His own blood was all over his mouth. It also resembles the appearance of lipstick applied messily. With red-stained lips, he smiled like a Chong-hee who wanted to be liked.
"What if it's not okay? Are you going to take pity on me?"
A man who is far from being called pitiful, and who seems to have always lived a life of domineering over others, casually begs for sympathy. He couldn't tell if it was a joke or not. Yoo Geon couldn't find the words to answer, so he started talking about something else.
"How did you know about that mutant species called Almuten?"
"The person he predicted must have existed before Guide Baek Yu-geon, right?"
"… … ."
"I have been a target of Almuten since I was born. Brigadier General Woo Seong-yeon, so… … . "My father created me for that purpose."
The priest asked indifferently, wiping his blood-soaked mouth with the back of his hand.
"Do you feel sorry for me now?"
At first, Yoo Geon just stood there blankly. Then he gradually understood what the other person was saying. Astonishment spread across pitch black eyes, like dropping paint into clear water. Looking into those eyes, Shinje suddenly remembered a passage from a book he had read a long time ago.
If you want to get out of this forest, you must take a different path. I have decided that it is best for you to follow me, and I will be your guide and lead you from here to eternity.[2]
* * *
The situation was quickly resolved. Moonyoung went to the opposite intersection and returned after confirming that there were no mutants. Hunters on the platform on the other side of the line also thought it was strange that communication from their colleagues had been cut off and came to help.
The boss has already been put to death by Shinje. The joints of his entire body were crushed, his jaw joints and esophagus were damaged, and he was unable to attack by spewing venom. In addition, Moonyoung, who had already dealt with the enemy, understood their characteristics and patterns and skillfully gave instructions. The attack is much easier than the first time. After dozens of people carefully attacked it, it finally died with a bizarre cry as it grabbed its neck and twisted it. After confirming that the gate had disappeared, I went up to the ground.
Thanks to sending a hunter in advance to report the situation, the crowd in front of the subway station was much larger than before. Rescue workers quickly took care of the injured. Someone silently prepared to collect the body. The dead hunters' companions grimaced as they disinfected the equipment, which had become a mess of the monster's bodily fluids, mold, and moss. No one was sobbing. After Outbreak, humanity had to get used to lack and loss. Every time a gate was attacked, there were always casualties, whether large or small. This time it was Type 2, which was unexpected, so the damage was only slightly greater.
"Moonyoung… … . I was really worried. As I was waiting in the car, I heard an ominous radio sound outside, and Espers kept coming and going... … ."
"What are you worried about? I told you to believe and wait. Look, I'm fine."
In the other corner, Moonyoung and her guide were having an emotional reunion. They had only been away for a few hours, but she must have been quite scared. The guide hugged Moonyoung as her tears filled her eyes.
Yoo Geon looked fine on the outside. The mutant's bodily fluids splashed out, corroding his outerwear and causing minor scratches here and there, but there were no injuries. Instead, the priest was seriously injured while protecting him and even vomited his blood.
I only found out when I got close to Shinje's car, which was parked before entering the station. A familiar car was parked next to it. Taein, who was leaning against a sleek sports car and smoking a cigarette, looked over. A look of puzzlement appeared for a moment as his eyes scanned Shin Je and Yoo Geon, but then disappeared. He stubbed out his cigarette and came over.
"Are you here? "After receiving the news that it was Type 2, I was on standby in case a request for recruitment came."
The priest just nodded his head half-heartedly.
"Are your injuries okay? Bleeding... … . "No, is it coughing up blood?"
"I've been relying on guidance lately and neglecting my medication, and this is what happened. "I need to become a sincere smoker like Taein, but my willpower keeps getting weaker, which is a big problem."
He leisurely told a joke that didn't seem like a joke. Taein sighed and held out the coat he was holding in one arm. The priest accepted it familiarly and put it on. His gray shirt, bloodied and tattered, was hidden under his coat.
Next was the problem. Tae-in looked down at Yoo-geon with a frown and was lost in thought. She said Yoo Geon did not have a coat. However, we can't let him walk around like a mixed breed dog that just rolled around in the mud. He is an exclusive guide in name only. It wasn't because I was worried about Yoo Geon, I just didn't want Erewhon's image to be tarnished.
After some conflict, Tae-in decided to pretend that he was throwing away a piece of clothing. He took off the coat he was wearing and draped it over Yu-gun's shoulder. The size was quite large, so it would be more appropriate to say that it was covered rather than put on. The wool coat, with a faint scent of men's perfume, was heavy. The silk lining flowed smoothly. It was warm because Taein was wearing it just a moment ago.
"ah… … ."
Yoo Geon reacted a beat late. From earlier, he looked strangely dazed. Like a person who has lost his mind and left it at the station. Had I witnessed a shocking scene down there? Are you going to lose your mind just because you saw some mutant species? This is why I hated the guides.
"I'm just blankly wondering what I did well."
A sharp voice suddenly intervened. Chan, who was standing far away in the back of the car talking to someone on the phone, ended the call in annoyance and trudged out. Unlike Taein, who was dressed in a neat suit, he was wearing a simple T-shirt and a hat. His broad shoulders and chest stood out. Combine that with his beautifully tanned skin, and he looked just like a surfer riding the waves on the sunny southern coast.
"Woo Shin-je said that shit, but you're okay? "I don't know who the guide is?"
The thing you say as soon as you see it is an argument that is almost unreasonable. But it wasn't wrong and I couldn't refute it. Yoo Geon looked down silently.
"I wanted to take you on a raid, so I came to see how great your abilities were. What were you doing next to Woo Shinje when he exploded? "Did you at least eat popcorn while wearing 3D glasses?"
"Chan, you're going to explode. "It wasn't that bad."
Chan snorted. In fact, he was not impressed by the topic, and he was tired of seeing Shinje pretending to be sad and sad on the outside.
When I first met him, the new body was so foreign that I wondered if he was a human being, or rather a living creature. However, starting from a certain moment, his facial expression, tone of voice, habits, and even the slightest movement completely changed. Like a machine programmed to imitate human behavior patterns. I was so horrified at that time. But now I'm used to it, and I don't even blink at that bastard's most eccentric behavior.
"How on earth is this guy so pretty?"
Chan muttered as if chewing and spitting out, and tilted his head crookedly to be at eye level with Yoo Geon. The yellow cat-like eyes of a wild beast glared fiercely at the opponent in the shadow cast by the brim of the hat. Yoo Geon thought without thinking. I think I've seen those eyes somewhere before.
"Hey, guide. I still can't acknowledge you. "Others might say it's okay to be a guide, but I say no."
"… … ."
I had to accept something from Chan's words. She knew it in her head. But his body did not move as it wanted. When was the last time you had a decent meal? Have you ever slept soundly without having a nightmare or waking up in a seizure?
A mutant species that imitated human words, hunters who died horribly, the words the priest said, and the blood stains that stained his chest. All kinds of images were mixed together and moving around inside my eyelids. His head felt like it was going to explode. Fatigue that I had forgotten until now came flooding back to me.
"You're not answering?"
Even though Yoo Geon was scolding him right in front of his nose, he just bowed his head in silence. Chan, who thought he was deliberately ignoring him, eventually exploded.
"Fuck, this is really… … ."
He roughly grabbed his shoulder, which was wearing a coat larger than his body size. At that moment, Yu-gun's body leaned forward. The black head fell down on Chan's chest.
The sound of someone shouting urgently rang in my ears. Even those sounds gradually became muffled. At the same time, my vision darkened from the edges. That was all Yugeon remembered.
〈Continued in Volume 2〉
annotation
[1] Dante Alighieri,
[2] Dante Alighieri,