Chapter 34

Chapter 33

Sejong Island is divided into various zones.

As the island itself is a city, it is also divided into administrative districts, but fortunately for me, these districts follow international standards.

The administrative districts are not named after historical figures like Jang Yeong-sil, Hwang Hee-dong, and Kim Jong-seo.

- Korean pronunciation is too difficult! Make the street names easy for foreigners to pronounce!

- Ah, if that's the case, we can't help it. We'll use easy-to-pronounce Korean words. Let's call this area Naro-dong for now.

- I am deeply moved by the grand decision of the minister.

- What, this person...?

The zones are divided using pure Korean words, making them easy for foreigners to pronounce, much like how typhoons are named.

This place is called 'Iden-gu.'

True to its name, which means 'kind' or 'benevolent' in pure Korean, this zone is a harmonious blend of traditional culture and modern sensibilities, reminiscent of Jeonju Hanok Village.

While the exterior maintains a traditional appearance, the interior structures are modern, Western, or modernist in design.

'A perfect place for a date.'

Unfortunately, at this moment, the seeds of evil are being created here.

By the position of the moon, it's around 1 AM.

Except for those who are up late doing something, most people are deep in sleep.

Most buildings are dark, immersed in the silence of the night, and I landed on the roof of a suspiciously quiet building.

'The mastermind is definitely capable.'

The building's exterior, which I had already studied from the documents, matched exactly with what I was now looking at from the roof of the pavilion.

Chunju Pavilion (春秋閣).

Even in a world obsessed with national pride, building a place with a Chinese name like this could be a sign of preserving tradition, or it could be a way to emphasize Korean language while being part of a Chinese-character culture.

It's absurd that a place like this is manufacturing the seeds of evil, a Western-style demon.

'To be so boldly situated in the middle of the street. They must be pretty confident they won't be discovered.'

Secret research facilities are usually built far from prying eyes, but these people, who could be considered an evil organization, have built their building in a busy area.

However, they are not a guild.

A guild does not create things like the seeds of evil; it is a place where individuals grow and develop their abilities without external influence.

In other words, the organization that creates the seeds of evil is a pure villain group, distinct from a guild.

They are enemies that can be executed more decisively than when dealing with Red Scarf or Demon Lilith.

'I'll enter as a ghost first.'

I lightly tapped my shoulder with the goblin club.

The world instantly turned monochrome, and I entered the roof of Chunju Pavilion as if I were a ghost floating in the sky.

'As expected.'

Electrical signals are detected throughout the building.

It's not just that the electrical wires are laid out, but they are intricately woven like a spider web.

'This is extreme, extreme.'

If someone were to make even a small hole in the building and enter?

The electrical wiring would immediately be cut, and the signal would go down.

If someone were to force open a locked window and enter, they would be detected immediately.

But there is something they have overlooked.

While they can detect intruders through electrical wiring and signals,

'They won't notice if it's not a mana signal.'

There's no way to stop a goblin that can move stealthily.

'Fairy tale.'

I placed my hand on the roof and the club on the roof.

'I can pass through.'

Like a breeze seeping in or heat penetrating, my body gradually passed through the roof and entered the building.

Swoosh.

'Phew.'

A considerable amount of mana was used to pass through the roof, but I cannot yet随意解除我的灵体状态.

'No one is inside the building.'

The people who should be here are not present.

There is no one in the bedrooms, and no one is sleeping on the living room sofa.

Of course not.

When I scanned the building's electrical wiring, I found an entrance leading to the basement.

According to the mastermind's investigation—

Creak.

The door opened.

I stopped against the wall and held my breath, observing the man who emerged from the room.

"Yawn."

He is not a person with special abilities.

I can tell by looking at his face and apparent age.

'If he says he's under 25, he must be crazy.'

Anyone can see he looks in his 30s, or even 40s.

Unless he is someone who uses his ability to make himself look older, the man in the white coat is definitely a researcher at this facility.

"Yawn."

The man took something out of the refrigerator.

And I knew for sure he was a villain.

'What, Asahi from there?'

Taking Asahi beer from the refrigerator at Sejong Island's Chunju Pavilion?

While I don't have any particular animosity towards the country, it is certainly suspicious.

"Yawn."

The man was about to leave the kitchen with the can of beer, and I slipped out before he closed the door.

Climbing walls one by one would result in a significant loss of mana.

It's best to conserve it when possible.

Pop.

The can's lid opened, and the man headed towards a wardrobe in what looked like an ordinary bedroom.

Not just any wardrobe, but a 'mother-of-pearl wardrobe.'

A wardrobe with a lustrous, silver-white mother-of-pearl inlay, something you'd be hard-pressed to find even in a rural grandmother's house.

'As expected.'

The man casually opened the wardrobe and stepped inside.

Before he closed the door, I confirmed there was another space behind the wardrobe and followed him.

"Ah."

The man shuddered.

While I didn't physically touch him, the presence of a mana mass behind him must have made his spine tingle.

Creak.

As soon as he entered the wardrobe, the man rubbed his Taeguk watch in the darkness.

Whirr.

It was an elevator.

"Yawn."

I held my breath and watched as the man operated the elevator, which descended to a considerable depth.

Thud, thud.

10 meters? 20 meters?

The elevator stopped after descending to a depth that was difficult to gauge.

The man, who had been looking sleepy, changed his expression and opened the door.

'Wow.'

A research facility entirely in white.

After detaching myself from the man, I scanned the area to check for any individuals with special abilities, just in case.

'None.'

There are no individuals with special abilities.

And there are no mana detectors to detect such individuals.

Not yet.

'Typical research facility, but it's so clean it gives me the creeps.'

It feels more like I've entered a semiconductor research facility rather than one that studies the seeds of evil.

If I were to materialize, I'd probably hear 'Dust off and come in!' rather than 'Who are you?'

It would have been better if that were the case.

'Tsk.'

Sure enough, as I moved further inside, the situation was horrific.

[Keaaah!!]

A space entirely in white.

In the center of a wide space, like a school gymnasium, a 'demon' tied to a pillar is screaming in agony.

A succubus.

[Now that the team leader is here, we will start again. The 3412th attempt at 'extraction'.]

Creak.

The sound of a microphone echoed in the room, and various machines approached the succubus.

The succubus struggled with all her might, but I immediately sensed that the restraints holding her were created by special abilities.

Whether hero or villain, the one with the stronger ability and higher magic power wins.

No, no, no!!

Screams echoed.

A mechanical arm approached the succubus, and something like a drill began to spin, as if to extract something.

Surely.

The seeds of evil—

"Will the budget be cut if we fail to extract it this time?"

"Who knows? They might even order the facility to be shut down."

The researchers yawned and sipped their canned beer, unfazed by the screams.

"Senior, why are you drinking Asahi again? Nakdonggang is so much better."

"I prefer foreign brands over domestic ones."

"Then why not drink European beer instead of Japanese?"

"It's just a personal preference."

They even laughed and chatted about trivial matters.

"What will you do after this research is over?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you need to have something else lined up after this project? Maybe, do you want to work on a project with me?"

"Senior..."

On the surface, it seems like they are having a touching conversation.

But in reality, it's completely different.

Aaaaah!!!

While a mechanical drill is piercing the succubus's abdomen, they are having this conversation, and there is no trace of emotion or excitement.

"I told you, after this project is over, I have something important to tell you."

The man finished his beer and took something out of his coat pocket.

"Here."

"...Can you propose like this here?"

"I don't think I can do it anywhere else."

Far away.

A mechanical drill is about to enter the lower abdomen.

The glass walls shook from the screams, but the researchers were unfazed.

'Good.'

It's time to show what villainous actions are.

"Kim, let's—"

Wham!!

I materialized and kicked the man's side.

Crash!!

The man flew into the room as the