NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22
Chapter 22 – A Peaceful Hell (5)
—–CROW—–
*Murmurs.*
“Who…?”
“I’ve never seen him before.”
“Was he here all along?”
“He must be new; we just haven’t seen him.”
Ignoring the commotion, Seong-ho calmly scanned the people gathered in the lounge.
“Gathering at this hour… the conversation you were having earlier… it seems you’ve noticed that something is amiss.”
Several people flinched at Seong-ho’s words.
“I won’t say this twice, so listen carefully.”
Seeing their reactions, Seong-ho continued,
“This place, the place you’re clinging to… is a cannibal camp.”
Words that were clearly understood yet utterly incomprehensible tumbled from Seong-ho’s lips. As expected, the people’s reactions were far from positive.
“Cannibal…?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“You… you… you want us to believe that nonsense?”
Instead of getting angry at their incomprehension, Seong-ho continued,
“It’s natural not to believe it, but you should try.”
He then tossed the sack he was holding. The contents spilled out as the opening had been loosened.
“Eek!”
“Aack!”
Those who saw what it was screamed in terror. Of course, not everyone reacted that way.
“…Seo Hyun-je.”
Song In-hye muttered in a strained voice, her face pale. As soon as she spoke, a second wave of commotion erupted among the people.
“H-Hyun-je?”
“No way…!”
“I-It… it’s really Hyun-je…!”
“He was taken out yesterday!”
If the fear had continued to spread, things might have been easier. But…
“D-Don’t be fooled! He could have killed him!”
“That’s right! Look at the blood on his hands!”
Foolish people, clinging to their denial, interfered. They went so far as to accuse Seong-ho of being a deranged murderer and shouted that he should be killed immediately. Seong-ho sighed in frustration.
‘It’s not a problem if they attack me.’
With his physical ability at 7, it wouldn’t be difficult to handle several ordinary people with no special powers. The problem was that even if he beat them, he couldn’t force them to leave. It would take too long to knock them all unconscious and carry them out. He had to make them leave on their own.
‘This won’t be easy.’
The people here hadn’t threatened him or tried to betray him like the Choi father and daughter. So, if possible, he wanted to evacuate them without any major casualties. Besides his personal desire, this situation was also tied to a Fate Pioneer exclusive quest. He had to rescue as many people as possible to receive a higher stat reward.
But should he go to excessive lengths to save them just because of a reward?
‘This isn’t my only chance.’
He had no obligation to persuade these people who refused to see the truth, even after he showed them the head of a brutally murdered person.
‘If they don’t believe me, it’s their responsibility.’
Seong-ho had to push forward with his plan, regardless of whether these people stayed or left.
‘They’ll figure it out and move on their own when they experience it firsthand.’
Seong-ho decided to focus on resolving the situation quickly rather than wasting more effort trying to persuade them. Just then, someone spoke to him in a trembling voice.
“C-Can you prove what you just said?”
Seong-ho, who had been turning to leave the lounge, looked back. Standing there, looking directly at him despite her apparent nervousness, was…
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I-I’m Song In-hye.”
After briefly introducing herself, Song In-hye continued,
“D-Do you have any proof…? Not just that head, which we don’t know who killed… but more concrete proof that this is a cannibal camp?”
Her gaze, fixed on Seong-ho despite her tension, was firm. Seong-ho decided to be patient just one more time and spoke,
“I do. I don’t have it on me, though.”
“…Where is it?”
“If you follow the underground passage I came from to the mortuary, you’ll see it. I think that’s where they do the butchering, cooking, and all that.”
“Underground passage…?”
Seong-ho briefly explained about the underground passage. The others, who hadn’t known about such a thing, began to murmur in surprise.
“It won’t be a pleasant sight… but if you want, you can go and see for yourself. I’m not lying.”
Seong-ho stepped aside from the doorway, as if to say he wouldn’t stop them if they wanted to go.
“H-How can we trust you and go all the way there…!”
“I’ll… I’ll go.”
As soon as someone yelled, Song In-hye stepped forward.
“I’ll go and see. Even if he’s lying, the only one who’ll be in danger is me, so it has nothing to do with you. So don’t try to stop me.”
Despite trembling, Song In-hye finished what she had to say.
“E-Excuse me. Could you wait a moment? There’s something I need to get…”
At Song In-hye’s polite request, Seong-ho readily nodded. He waited for a few minutes in the awkward silence and sharp gazes. When Song In-hye returned, she was holding something unexpected.
“You have a camera?”
It wasn’t an ordinary digital camera, but a Polaroid camera that produced instant photos.
“…If what you’re saying is true, I need to take some evidence so these people will believe me.”
She wasn’t sure how effective it would be against those who were desperate to avoid leaving, but it was her belongings, and he couldn’t stop her from using them. Instead of trying to dissuade her, Seong-ho turned around. After retracing the path he had taken to the underground lounge, they arrived at the stairs leading down to a deeper underground area in the corner of the basement. Song In-hye recognized the place.
“There’s no path here…?”
The door at the bottom of the stairs was locked, preventing anyone from entering. Of course, that was before Seong-ho arrived.
“There is now.”
The door was open because Seong-ho had unlocked it from the inside after coming out of the passage. Leading Song In-hye down, Seong-ho stood before the dark underground passage and gave a brief explanation.
“It’s not that far. About ten minutes at a normal walking pace. What you’ll see there won’t be pleasant, so brace yourself.”
“Ah…”
“As you go, you’ll see some tied-up people and a crow at the end of the passage. They’re also victims, so don’t touch them. It’s very dark inside, so use this lamp.”
Seong-ho pointed to the lamp he had left at the entrance of the passage, and Song In-hye immediately picked it up.
“Do you have a knife or anything sharp?”
“Oh, no, we’re not allowed to carry sharp objects according to the rules…”
“Then you’ll need this. Return it after you’re done.”
*I need it too.*
Adding those short words, Seong-ho handed Song In-hye a hatchet and some cable ties. She looked at the items in her hand with a complex expression, seemingly lost in thought because of Seong-ho’s casual handing over of dangerous objects. But Seong-ho wasn’t too concerned. He was confident he could subdue her even if she had ill intentions and swung the hatchet.
“It’s to the left.”
After giving her the final directions to the mortuary, Seong-ho climbed back up the stairs. A moment later, he heard the sound of footsteps fading away behind him. Song In-hye had left.
‘I like her quick action.’
Seong-ho also quickened his pace, observing his surroundings.
‘It seems there aren’t any members of the cannibal camp inside the building.’
Well, that’s why the survivors inside were able to hold a secret meeting at this early hour. It seemed the camp members didn’t care what happened inside as long as the survivors didn’t try to escape. This was good news for Seong-ho.
Just then, Yoo Min-sang awkwardly approached from the end of the hallway. Although they hadn’t formally introduced themselves, they clearly recognized each other. So, instead of ignoring him, Seong-ho spoke,
“Is there something you need?”
“Oh, no, I’m on the side of leaving this place… I’m planning to wait for In-hye.”
“Wise decision.”
Checking the wristwatch he had borrowed from Lim Chan, Seong-ho told Yoo Min-sang,
“When that Song In-hye returns, take the others and hide in the underground passage.”
“Yes…?”
“Don’t make a fuss about whether or not to leave the cathedral and end up getting eaten by zombies. Just stay hidden underground until this is over.”
After finishing his words, Seong-ho picked up the toolbox and headed for the upper floor. There was a main entrance at the top of the central staircase, but it was blocked by thick wooden boards. Judging by the seams on both sides, it seemed to be designed to be opened only from the outside when they wanted. As Seong-ho stared at the main entrance, Yoo Min-sang, who had followed him, spoke hesitantly,
“They won’t open it no matter how much noise we make inside.”
Seong-ho glanced at him.
“They only open it at the time they decide, when they want to come in. We’re… not being protected here, we’re trapped.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
As Seong-ho replied casually, Yoo Min-sang gulped. He then asked with a slightly urgent tone,
“Why… why are you helping us?”
“You seem to be mistaken. I’m not helping you. I’m merely giving you a minimal chance to avoid getting caught up in what I’m about to do.”
“…”
“Even if you stay in this building, I’ll continue with what I have to do.”
“What… are you going to do?”
It was something he would find out eventually anyway. And if he told him the truth, he would likely act quickly instead of dilly-dallying.
“I’m going to set this building on fire.”
“W-What? Set it on fire? Why would you do such a thing…!”
“Do I have to explain everything to you?”
Yoo Min-sang shut his mouth at Seong-ho’s cold retort.
“I have no obligation to explain everything that’s happening to you. I have no intention of making you understand the situation or seeking your agreement.”
He had already done his part as a human being by giving them a chance to live. Whether they took that chance or not was up to them. Seong-ho made this point clear.
“You have no power to stop me. You don’t even have the ability to demand anything from me. I don’t want anything from you.”
“…”
“All you can do now is choose one of the options before you.”
Whether to continue in ignorance and follow Seong-ho’s instructions. Or to ignore his words and act according to their own will.
“Of course, the responsibility for that choice lies with you.”
*If you understand, don’t bother me anymore.*
Ending the conversation coldly, Seong-ho walked away. A moment later, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him. It was probably Yoo Min-sang, having made up his mind.
Left alone, Seong-ho began to examine the building’s structure.
—–CROW—–