Chapter 53 (1/2)

Chapter 53 –  Day 13 Natural Enemy

Reality in the movies was a lot different from the real world. For example, the CIA wasn't an adventurous group that took missions like Mission Impossible everyday. It was just a government organization that had a lot of tedious paperwork.

Of course, this was just a pa.s.sage that I read in a book, but it was something that I unconsciously accepted. Actual reality was far less than virtual reality. Funnily enough, I still thought like this despite the existence of the dungeon.

”…”

I couldn't help feeling surprised. Although this might be slightly exaggerated, it seemed like the whole mountain had been hollowed out to become this facility. It felt like a military base from a movie. There were armoured cars and tanks scattered throughout the wide s.p.a.ce.

”Wait in the car for a moment.”

Once the car parked inside the tunnel, Director Oh got out of the car. The facility was very wide, but the figures of people could rarely be seen. It looked like there was only a maintenance crew.

“…Sheesh.”  Kim Tae-hyuk clicked his tongue from the front seat. It seemed like the sound wasn't directed towards me.

“I guess this is something that you can't resolve.”

”…!”

Kim Tae-hyun blushed at my words. Now his reaction was clearly visible. It seemed like Director Oh's request was something that incited jealousy in Kim Tae-hyun. Was it due to an enormous reward? No, Director Oh hadn't said anything specific about a reward. Then… Maybe it was something not connected to Director Oh. There might be someone else involved.

“Do you have some advice as a person who failed? I would really appreciate it.”

”…I could succeed. I just encountered a natural enemy…”

“Natural enemy?”

Kim Tae-hyun didn't say anything else. He just looked irritated.

-A delicious smell.

”What?”

“…What?”

Kim Tae-hyun turned around at my question. The voice I heard wasn't his.

-A delicious smell.

It was a voice I had heard before. And it wasn't a sound from the 'outside.'

”I'm sorry. I have a habit of talking to myself.”

After that, I closed the soundproof barrier. Then I once again started 'talking to myself'.

”What is with this b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”

The voice was coming from the divine creature. Isaiah had planted the bug in me and said it would soon wake up. Instead of answering, a shape popped out from my chest. It fell onto my thigh and then the backseat before wriggling its four legs.

”…Dog?”

It wasn't a curse. It didn't look like an alien creature from the movies. Instead, it was like a puppy that wasn't even one month old yet. The breed… Siberian Husky? No. That wasn’t the important thing. The tail that hadn't fully grown wagged excitedly as he approached the nearest window. He lifted his legs and somehow raised his head to the window.

–Delicious! Delicious…

Deopsseok.

I grabbed the back of the dog's neck. There was a whining sound as the puppy's eyes met mine.

–It hurts!

I had no idea he could look so pitiful and cute but I ignored him. It was just like looking at a child throwing a tantrum.

“What are you doing?”

–I was wrong! I won't do it again. I won't. There is a delicious smell coming from there...

I had footsteps stop outside the car. I growled at the sacred creature.

“Whatever it is, enter my body again. If you look out then you will die.”

Of course, I didn't really intend to kill it. The body of the small dog trembled with terror. It was shaking so much that I felt like I was holding an electric ma.s.sage machine.

”Come along.” I followed Director Oh.

I could see hatches placed at regular intervals on the walls. Finally, there was a steel door with locks that could be turned, like a bank vault. Maybe the real bomb shelter was beyond that door. It was a place where someone could survive a nuclear weapon.

Director Oh didn't take me through straight away, but instead moved to a control room where people were watching the situation.  They had communication equipment and monitors on their desks. Just like a CCTV system, different areas were being shown on the monitors.

“Has anything been caught?”

“No. Perhaps they are asleep. The sleep cycle is becoming noticeably irregular…”

Director Oh clicked his tongue. Then he looked at me and said.

”My request is simple. You would've seen the door as we pa.s.sed. There is someone I want you to restrain beyond that door.”

“Restrain? Not kill?”

Director Oh nodded. “You absolutely can't kill or create a serious injury. If you think that you can't win then just give up and go. After the suppression is over, we should be able to put restraints on the person without any problems.”

“I understand. I still haven't heard about the compensation.”

“If this is completed successfully, I won't ask you to 'restrain' someone again in the future.”

The meaning, “Does that mean you will accept the offer from me?” I asked.

“I will permit it.”

Director Oh nodded and we left the control room. Outside, armed soldiers were waiting. Their uniform wasn't that of simply soldiers.  Although they were armed with tasers instead of normal guns, there was clearly tension on their faces.

”Based on the premise that you successfully subdue the person inside… I will accept all your requirements.”

”Okay.”

We crossed the bomb shelter. As we moved, I asked Director Oh.  “Is there anything else I should know?”

“Not really. But is there anything that you want to ask?”

There were many things. “Who is inside?”

“I'm not in a position to say.”

But the candidates had already been narrowed a lot. A human who could use this shelter at their own discretion.

“In the first place, they aren't 'confined' in there are they?”

”…” I understood the director's silence as agreement.

I had looked at the CCTV. It looked like a comfortable living s.p.a.ce. It was a place suitable for 'refuge' rather than 'confinement.' Even if this was a bomb shelter, there were various places more suitable to confining someone.

Therefore, I guessed that the person wasn't trapped because they couldn't be controlled. A person might abuse the secure air base for dungeon exploration. In addition, the location of this place was confidential. There was virtually no threat to reality.

Ching.

The door to the bomb shelter was opened. The soldiers aimed their tasers at the entrance. Director Oh's body was shaking.

“Close the door as soon as I enter.” I stated.

”Then…”

“I won't even think about running away.” I a.s.serted before taking a step inside.

“Rather, it stops a path of retreat.”

“You look confident.” Director Oh laughed bitterly. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Ching.

The door closed and I looked at the open s.p.a.ce before me. It was the living s.p.a.ce that I had seen on the CCTV. It looked like a VIP room from a luxury hotel.  Of course, that wasn't what I was looking at.

“…Well.”

I took a few steps and saw the bodies. They wore suits instead of soldier uniforms. The bodies of unarmed men. Next to the couch, there were the bodies of two men in uniform, like the ones outside. I now knew for certain. The extent of the corruption was confirmed. The men in the suits died much earlier.

–Delicious… The smell…