Chapter 31: Home base assault

Lee Seonghan thought about Mirginos.

“Has it been about a month already?”

It was a new feeling, but his head stung. His arms, his limbs, everything. He felt a strange phantom pain.

“…….”

Kang Miyoung asked with trembling eyes. Her gaze was directed at his arm. Like a startled rabbit looking at a cliff.

‘I’m going crazy. To think I tried to do such a thing.’

It’s understandable that she would feel self-loathing. Because I didn’t care about the consequences and bought time, she must be remembering how everything exploded at the last minute.

“I’m fine.”

“……”

“Major?”

“Ah, yes.”

The silence didn’t last long. Indeed, dealing with it is the only option. Isn’t the situation serious?

If that guy comes out into the real world, the current Republic of Korea cannot defend itself.

There are S-ranks, but one was expelled, and the others are currently dispatched to block the Japanese gate. Even the last remaining person has a shaky mental state.

“We should deal with it. How about contacting the headquarters through a personal message? Through the system, I mean.”

“Hunter Management Bureau?”

“Yes.”

Hunter Management Bureau.

If they can bring in manpower from there, they can tie it down to Gongbang-ro.

It’s an organization established to prevent such disasters.

But it was the first time he had seen Kang Miyoung’s face turn ashen.

“Unfortunately.”

Kang Miyoung began, biting her lower lip. A trickle of blood flowed from her lip and stopped.

“There was a terrorist attack during the day.”

It was the first time he had heard of it. It was fine when he came out in the morning.

“Terrorist attack?”

When he asked back, the silent Kim Seojeong added an annotation.

“It’s a terrorist attack by awakeners against civilians~”

“It was simultaneous, and when I last contacted them, they hadn’t even grasped the situation.”

What, a terrorist attack?

Is this really 21st century Korea?

Moreover, if it’s simultaneous, it means it’s on a certain scale, and it’s probably the dolls.

It’s likely that Kang Jinyoung’s side, who sent the message, will also be delayed.

It’s like arriving late to a feast and finding it already over.

They were caught off guard. Because of Hong Seomin, that cunning b*tch.

“Why are you l-looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. I just remembered a familiar face.”

“It’s a good thing, right?”

“……”

“Ah, ahahaha.”

Alright.

To summarize it clearly.

1. A terrorist attack occurred, so manpower reinforcement and additional hunter dispatch are impossible.

2. The three of us have to attack the Gakryeong Market gate and subdue Mirginos.

3. But one of them has the strongest physical ability but suffers from PTSD, and another is a radical who believes that psychics should do everything (presumably)?

How do we overcome this shitty situation?

The answer is obvious.

“Let’s go for now.”

Betting on the favorite has always been right.

Even if Kang Miyoung’s mental state is improving day by day, if she meets that guy and her PTSD flares up, it’s game over.

After a bitter rest in the square, they entered deep into the market.

[Welcome to the Gakryeong Market Theater!]

“These buildings are all made of cardboard. Made of magic, at that.”

“Cardboard?”

Kang Miyoung tapped the outer wall of a store. The wall was momentarily crushed.

Is the quest concept a play? Heh, I’m looking forward to it.

A bloody battle with dolls.

“The atmosphere is strangely bright, isn’t it? The monsters that appear have also changed. Demon-type monsters like puppets.”

Pink streetlights lined the street.

Music was playing here and there as if a festival was taking place.

“They’re all dolls.”

“Wooden dolls, at that. They’re not difficult to deal with, but…”

“There are many of them.”

Kim Seojeong, who had been walking ahead hesitantly, stopped quietly.

“B-but should I, an assassin, be going ahead? M-maybe it’s better if I go to the back and take a position.”

“No.”

“You can’t.”

They cut her off at the same time.

This woman also stepped forward, saying she would contribute to the battle. Saying she would provide support from the rear.

But how can they trust her when they’re suspicious? She said she knows the location of the quest. But it was hard to believe, and he didn’t want to believe it.

Because she takes orders from Hong Seomin.

The dolls she controls were all like that. Even if they had a self.

That goes for the rogue doll. In other words, Cheongjinho was the same.

‘Can you check if the quest is open? For her.’

[I cannot.]

‘Why?’

[It is an individual’s systemic area.]

[It is possible to intrude, but there will be a penalty.]

‘Tch. How much?’

[I cannot disclose that, but it is something that will greatly affect your survival.]

‘I understand.’

Lee Sunghan was uneasy inside. So he decided to send Kim Seojeong far away.

“Was it Seojeong?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please scout ahead. Make a detailed map if possible.”

“Understood!”

Kim Seojeong disappeared like a shadow.

It’s a relief.

She didn’t attack, saying, “Hehehe, you found out.”

Suddenly transforming into Hong Seomin with a poof.

“You, PTSD.”

The moment she casts it, Kang Miyoung is K.O’d.

She’s the type to tie me to a cross and have a witch hunt. It’s truly a life-or-death dilemma.

Revolution or death.

That is the question.

“Will you be mine? There’s a spot for a wife! I’ll treat you well if you come.”

“No. I believe in premarital chastity and natural encounters, and such sexist and illegal proposals to men are a serious crime.”

Hong Seomin crossed her legs haughtily.

She was playing around, throwing the torch she was holding at the firewood and then catching it.

“Will you do it or not.”

“…If the coup succeeds, will you discharge me?”

“Yes.”

“I will serve you with all my heart, sister.”

“Yes, that’s the spirit.”

If he said that, she would burn Kang Miyoung with the torch she was holding.

If the revolution succeeds?

It would be completely reversed.

“What did you say?”

“I, I want to apply for discharge.”

She would grab his limbs and lay him down.

“You’re not listening to me.”

“Y-you said you’d discharge me!!”

“Do you want to die? How dare you talk back to a woman who is like the sky to you! F*ck, I can’t do this. Lie down.”

And so he would be laid down.

“S-sister, I’m scared.”

“You caught an S-rank, reformed the Republic of Korea’s military, marched north for unification, flattered and seduced me every day, stopped assassinations, and now what? You suddenly want to run away?”

Lee Sunghan, who abandoned the right path and chose the wrong one, was sure to be used as a living sperm bank.

Lee Sunghan was certain.

“By the way, isn’t it strange?”

“What is it?”

“How can you summon a being bound to the tower? Even reviving a dead one! Isn’t the difficulty strange too?”

He paused for a moment.

He wondered if he should be quiet in front of Kim Seojeong. Maybe she could hear from afar. Moreover, this was her domain.

But Kang Miyoung didn’t stop him.

She just gestured with her chin as if to tell him to continue. Because of that, Lee Sunghan continued speaking, licking his lips.

“At first, it’s a hatchling, but from the next floor, slimes suddenly appeared. It’s not normal, I tell you.”

Mirginos.

A body the size of a house.

A golden carapace.

A gaze filled with intense killing intent.

The hatchling, or the dragon’s offspring, that he met on the first floor.

In human terms, it’s about a teenager.

From Lee Sunghan’s point of view, this level of power balance was just arranged to make people feel like sh*t.

2nd floor, King Slime.

3rd floor, Goblin King.

4th floor, Orc Captain.

5th floor, Lizard Girl.

Monsters belonging to the Great Forest lineage, they are quite dangerous.

“Can I offer my opinion?”

“Yes.”

Kang Miyoung swallowed as if choosing her words carefully.

“That b*tch must have made a deal with the tower. To be precise, with the system.”

“Huh?”

Crazy talk.

Making a deal with a murderer who is trying to kill him? There’s no way such an idiot would exist… it’s possible.

Lee Sunghan wiped his forehead.

There’s a cliché, isn’t there?

A cliché.

A human traitor who made a deal with the devil? A typical villain narrative.

What’s the motive?

What happens to us after that?

There was no time to think.

“It’s a huge theater.”

“It looks like something that wouldn’t even be used in the 80s. I saw this in a drama.”

A huge theater made of cardboard. It looked like a design from the 1950s or 60s. Paper trees and flowers.

Kim Seojeong had not yet returned from her reconnaissance. Or she might have run away first or be waiting to ambush them.

[Will you enter the center of ‘Gate: Gakryeong Market’?]

‘Yes.’

Flicker!

The inside of the theater was quiet. The entrance was firmly locked, and the lights were completely turned off.

Unlike the outside situation, as if reflecting reality, some parts had collapsed, and dust was piled up so much that he coughed every time he breathed.

It seemed like it hadn’t been maintained for a long time.

“The flashlight is…”

He rummaged through his backpack. There were only torn clothes.

“There are no more batteries either.”

“Can you use magic?”

“I can do light ones. But not for long.”

Lee Sunghan carefully turned his steps.

“Light.”

He cast the magic. The mana in his blood vessels flowed out, and a light source appeared in the air.

As the surroundings became brighter, he could finally see.

Dolls.

There were all kinds of dolls. All of them had their strings cut. Men, women, and children, all of them were beautiful in a way that was hard to find in reality.

Is this their hideout?

But the dolls were not in good condition. Their chests were torn as if their hearts had been extracted.

“You. Over there.”

“Is it a person?”

“I’ll go ahead.”

“I’ll link the light to you.”

A silhouette could be seen in the distance.

It’s Kim Seojeong. Strangely, the strings were not visible. Kang Miyoung drew her sword and approached cautiously.

“Is this the main body that makes up the doll?”

“It seems so. It’s the same as what I saw.”

“To touch civilians.”

“If you summon something by using lives as collateral. This could be the case.”

“I see.”

Tied up like a spider catching its prey. She was indeed a fake. Well, just by guiding them here, she has fulfilled her role.

Lee Sunghan unclenched his fist. Thin strings crossed each other alternately on his palm.

“With this.”

[Detecting the source of the string.]

[‘Auto Battle’ is activated.]