Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
64. Faith and test (3)
Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion, the side-building where Eun-ho was living in.
Hwang-ho in the appearance of the elementary school student glared at the hologram screen.
He waited for a few seconds, but the message sent by Hwang-ho wasn’t marked as read.
The target Hwang-ho was waiting for a message from was Jo Uisin, who didn’t read his messages again and was ignoring him.
‘Benefactor is ghosting me again, eh? Of all times it has to be now…’
Hwang-ho, who was fiddling with the device, checked on Eun-ho.
Eun-ho was looking at the hologram screen, while elegantly drinking tea, and he heard him say with a gentle voice ‘Dongha hyung has a lot of trivial worries.’.
It seemed that Eun-ho was exchanging messages and information with Cheon Dongha about the TC Research Institute.
When Hwang-ho aimed for the timing, while he moved his alter-ego located in a distant location.
He suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
“Hwangho-nim, Your hand has stopped. I guess Uisin hyung isn’t checking the device messages.”
At some moment, Eun-ho was looking towards Hwang-ho.
Eun-ho completely figured out the situation like he clearly saw through Hwang-ho’s head.
After taking out a lollipop[1] out of his mouth, Hwang-ho obediently admitted:
“Jo Uisin is not replying. He also isn’t reading messages. According to the last message he sent, it seems he is going to the TC Research Institute.”
“I probably have a way to contact him, but it seems that Uisin hyung is currently busy. Because Uisin hyung was talking with Yu Sang-hun.”
As if he finished his conversation with Cheon Dongha, Eun-ho closed the hologram and fell into thoughts for a moment.
Hwang-ho was bothered about what conversation Eun-ho was sharing with Cheon Dongha, but it wasn’t a mood for asking.
Eun-ho opened his mouth, as if he drew a conclusion.
“I don’t know much about Yu Sang-hun’s personality. However, from what I heard from people around and considering the character of Yu Sang-hun’s noona Yu Sang-hui, there is a chance that the two of Them will fight.”
“Jo Uisin and Yu Sang-hun?” [2]
“Yes, Yu Sang-hun will probably want to move with Uisin hyung. However, Uisin hyung will be against it.”
Hearing Eun-ho’s words, that situation played out in Hwang-ho’s mind right away.
Eun-ho elaborated on his explanation.
“Yu Sang-hun is the first Person Uisin hyung saved in this world and the first Friend He harmed. Even if Yu Sang-hun says He possesses a powerful superpower, Uisin hyung will be opposed to taking Him to such a dangerous place.”
“That’s right, eh?… First of all, I’m going to track Jo Uisin’s location. It’s an emergency situation right now.”
Hwang-ho put the lollipop in his mouth again and operated the device.
While he operated the device, he abruptly had a certain thought.
‘… Using that rule may be of help besides figuring out the current situation.’
As if it wasn’t only Hwang-ho, who had that thought, Eun-ho added:
“Hwangho-nim, Eungwang School’s students agreed to the rule that they location can be tracked through the device in emergency situations when the devices were distributed, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“As the Eungwang School’s student Tao Wonu is currently in a dangerous situation, there is sufficient excuse.”
And at the end of tracking the location of some students, an unexpected result was obtained.
Hearing what Hwang-ho conveyed and turning on his own device for a moment and checking the hologram, Eun-ho’s voice became a little hazy.
“… There is a variable, eh? We should hurry.”
* * *
The space leading underground became chilly.
At first he simply thought it was because he was getting further away from the surface, or perhaps his body functions were slowing down because Tao Wonu consumed his superpower wave.
However, when the temperature dropped to the point of abnormality and the density of the superpower wave increased, Tao Wonu felt that something was strange.
‘Are they using cold air for something? It doesn’t seem like there was anything about it in the research content… I don’t know what it is. I should be careful.’
Actually, there were Frozen Otherworlds, containing poisonous and cold air, located around the TC Research Institute.
Because they were still in an inactive state, they weren’t spewing miasma, but the cold air, particular to the Frozen Otherworlds, were spreading wide underground.
Although Tao Wonu didn’t know about the existence of the Frozen Otherworlds or about their true identity, he felt it was serious well enough.
‘I have to devise countermeasures, if I’m going to safely return, eh?’
When ‘safely’ condition came up, Tao Wonu scorned at himself.
Tao Wonu changed his thoughts.
‘… At minimum, I’ll leave a clue so someone else can solve it.’
Tao Wonu covered his body in superpower wave to protect himself from cold air, and silently headed to his destination.
He circulated the superpower wave, blocking his skin from freezing, but it was still cold.
‘It feels like it wasn’t a long time ago when I was so hot.’
Tao Wonu abruptly recalled his Student Council’s activities.
After he joined the Student Council, he had a lot of work, but the one year he spent as the Student Council’s president was busy and fulfilling.
If he was to point out the event he participated in as the Student Council’s president that left the biggest impression on him, it was the school exchange held with the Military Academy.
It wasn’t simply planning and carrying it out, the Student Council was even more busy with forming the first Eungwang School’s cheering squad.
The exchange was held in the middle of September, but when they were doing the cheering squad practice in the hot sunlight, it felt so hot the cheering uniforms were immediately soaked in sweat.
Among the 1st years the only one, who wasn’t tired and endured until the end was the 1st place An Dain.
The 2nd and 3rd years held somewhat better, but it was too much even for Gwak Gyeong-gu.
Gwak Gyeong-gu, who was sensitive to heat, was going around with ice packs and air-conditioning machine, and pleading Yeom Junyeol to suppress his superpower waves to the maximum, as Hongryong’s superpower wave was radiating heat.
‘The council members were too kind to me…’
To be a model for other students, Tao Wonu endured without showing how hot or difficult it was, but each time he approached his limits, the 3rd year students would notice and show him consideration.
Especially the Student Council’s vice president Ji Myeong-su and the Student Council’s secretary Yu Sang-hui were like this.
When he recalled the two people’s faces, Tao Wonu burst with anger at himself.
Recalling the two, who gave him most strength during the Student Council’s activities, he felt like he was looking for a place to lean on right now.
‘I have to do this alone! No back-pushers, why am I thinking about them…!?’
When facing extreme situations, humans would unknowingly recall the enjoyable and happy memories and helpful information.
As he was in exactly such a situation right now, Tao Wonu coldly adjusted his mindset.
When the biting cold air reached its peak, he saw the end of the stairs.
It didn’t seem like they went any deeper, but the first location Tao Wonu detected was much deeper.
Knock, knock knock.
Tao Wonu took out his superpower wave and tapped the floor for a moment.
As Tao Wonu predicted, it seemed that the facilities continued under the floor.
Because it was wrapped in a powerful barrier, it wasn’t easy to detect, but it wasn’t enough to fool Tao Wonu’s senses.
‘I’ll have to open the way with Iron Chain Lock, eh?’
Paaat!
Powerful superpower wave was released from Tao Wonu’s palm.
That superpower took on the form of a chain.
Tao Wonu’s Gwangrim, Iron Lock Chain, materialized his superpower wave in a shape he imagined and in a form of chain.
Swish!
When Tao Wonu’s hand moved, the chains he called started to densely weave into one.
Then, when they bundled up into one chain as thick as his body, he gestured.
“Go!”
Claang!
The enormous chain crushed through the floor with one hit.
The debris of the floor and barrier exploded out with a bang echoing wide, but nothing brushed Tao Wonu’s clothes.
Tao Wonu confirmed that the floor was pierced through and clenched his fist.
Shaaa….
The enormous chain that penetrated through the ground melted into air and disappeared.
Seeing the sight revealed in the big gap he opened, Tao Wonu was at a loss for words.
‘What the hell is that…!?’
The underground under the TC Research Institute’s floor was decorated like a botanic garden.
The underground botanical garden was emitting a purple light, but it wasn’t because of artificial lights, but superpower wave contained in the plants inside of it.
It was the first time in his life Tao Wonu saw something like that; and what he assumed were plants were spewing a pungent and toxic smell.
‘… plants showing such a power in this cold air? That’s not normal! What are they doing here!?’
Based on Tao Wonu’s investigation, this was the place where the ‘Higher Beings Artificial Descent Project’ involving Yu Sang-hui was carried out.
Tao Wonu felt like he was going to go crazy just imaging what Yu Sang-hui went through in this bizarre place.
Without stalling, Tao Wonu jumped down.
‘It was said that in the center of the Artificial Descent Project is a power medium to drag ‘higher beings’ into this world.’
Tao Wonu pulled on all his senses and superpower wave, to find that power medium.
But because of the superpower wave the poisonous plants were spouting, his mind kept becoming dull.
Tao Wonu got a hold of his mind and started to blindly walk.
Drawing a map of the TC Research Institute in his head, he tried to head to the center.
‘If I go through the proper procedures, they will hide that power medium away. I have no choice but to raid and personally destroy it!’
Tao Wonu didn’t walk for long.
Grrrr….
Kieek…
Kiek… Kikikek!
Tao Wonu stiffened at the sound that came from somewhere.
Tao Wonu knew nothing about the true identity of this greenhouse or the poisonous plants inside it, but he recognized that sound right away.
Anyone who was a Player conquering otherworlds would recognize that sound.
‘Enemies…! And not just one or two!’
Tao Wonu’s mind turned dark.
‘There are Enemies under the research institute with TC’s name?!’
One of the roles of the barrier underground must have been to prevent detection of Enemies by the Player Satellite.
Tao Wonu put strength into the hand he was wearing a supporter on.
One of Player duties was subjugation of Enemies.
As a Player, he couldn’t leave Enemies alone.
“A guest came, eh?”
At that moment, a voice rang out close to Tao Wonu.
Tao Wonu quickly turned around.
The opponent was wrapped in a robe.
“While priest-nim is away, this one is in charge of this place. Even if the other party is TC’s young master-nim, I can’t just let You go.”
Snap! Snap!
When someone wrapped in a robe snapped their fingers, seeds soared into the air.
The something containing ominous shining purple superpower wave, even at a glance, felt more dangerous than the roar of Enemies in the distance.
Tao Wonu figured it wasn’t some ordinary guy[3].
‘No way, they’re a Jin!? The TC Research Institute held hands with a Jin?’
Tao Wonu had little to no experience fighting with Jin people.
Yong Jegeon, when bored, requested a spar a few times, so he got to compete in strength, but it was nothing but a spar.
It was the first time he was in actual combat with a Jin.
‘I’m not in a perfect state, but I have to face Enemies and a Jin at the same time?’
Tao Wonu hardened his resolve.
Because even if there were no chances of winning, he had no plans of fleeing or giving up.
“I’ll end this quickly.”
The moment the Jin shouted like this, Tao Wonu pulled on the superpower wave from all his body.
The moment the superpower gathered at the tip of the supporter, and he was just about to summon a chain.
“…!”
Woosh!
The Jin wrapped in robe took a big step back.
At the same time, someone in front of Tao Wonu, blocking the way.
Tao Wonu couldn’t see everything in that quick movement, while he was gathering the power, but he saw a silhouette.
‘Crow mask…?’
The person who suddenly appeared was wearing a crow mask.
And there it wasn’t just one person wearing a crow mask.
‘Two people…!’
The two put superpower around their bodies, but though he didn’t know the other one, he recognized the second one at a glance.
Because not a long time ago he believed without a doubt that they would become a family.
‘… Why is Sanghun-i here?’
The two people wearing crow masks stood blocking the way in front of Tao Wonu.
One of them was Yu Sang-hun.
“… It’s not just us.”
As if noticing that he recognized him, Yu Sang-hun said a word from behind the mask.
Bang! Bang bang!
Kieeee!
Paaaat!
Like adding to those words, they heard the sound of explosions of superpower wave and gunshots in the distance.
Tao Wonu’s eyes shrunk like he couldn’t believe what he saw.
He saw Shooter of Divine Bullets firing a superpower gun and Hongryong burning the ominously shining plants.
Everyone’s faces were covered, but they were people Tao Wonu recognized without a doubt.
The Student Council’s members have come here.
*~*~*
[1] lollipop — in Korean ‘stick candy’.
[2] “Jo Uisin and Yu Sang-hun?” — okay so there is a very slight possibility that Hwang-ho said ‘Yu Sanghun-i’ here. I’m unsure, because it -이(i) could be just a subject marker (Which probably it is). (With any other character I would just check what they use in other instances, but this is freaking Hwang-ho, the man who is as inconsistent about his speech as Russian roulette.)
[3] some ordinary guy — I have been picking up on it only recently, but it feels like our third-person narrator doesn’t like demons very much. They’re often referred to as ‘저자(jeoja)’, which is old-fashion and a bit rude way to refer to someone in front of you. Also, the demon is speaking using a formal tone.
Translator’s note: You’re not doing this alone, you idiot! (no, I don’t know at which one I’m shouting)
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