Hearing Kim Jung-hwan and Yui Seul’s assessment of me, I fell into deep contemplation.
Was I… really a crazy person?
If a third party, someone completely unrelated to me, were to look at me, they would undoubtedly think I was insane.
And honestly, I couldn’t blame them.
Banging my head on the ground at random moments.
Worshipping some god with a name no one has ever heard of before…Yeah, that does make me seem like a lunatic.
But it’s unfair.
I was forced into this.
It’s not like I wanted to believe.
I was threatened with death if I didn’t believe.
I had no choice but to become a fanatical believer, so if people treat me like a madwoman, of course, I’d find it unfair.
What makes it even more frustrating—Kim Jung-hwan and Yui Seul aren’t outsiders.
They know my circumstances well.
When I was first investigated by Kim Jung-hwan, I told him almost everything about my situation.
Naturally, he must have reported it to the higher-ups.
And since Yui Seul is acquainted with Ye Jeong-hwan, the chairman of the Awakened Association, she must also know about my circumstances.
Even so, they treat me like I’m insane.
Saying things like, “Half-mad people have some immunity to mental attacks.”
If it were strangers calling me crazy, I could just shrug it off.
But hearing it from people I considered somewhat close to?
Ugh.
It kinda stings.
To put it bluntly—I’m sulking.
“What are you doing? Hurry up already.”
Without even looking back, Yui Seul urged me forward.
“…Let’s go.”
“What’s with your voice? Something bad happen?”
“Yes, unfortunately. Something bad did happen.”
“Not my problem. Your mind still intact?”
“Yes.”
“Then just hurry up and follow me.”
“…”
I was a fool for expecting Yui Seul to understand.
I followed behind her, walking along the Namsan hiking trail.
The Anomalous Phenomenon had appeared at the summit of Namsan.
It was eerie.
Even though the trees lining the trail hadn’t lost their green yet, they looked strangely lifeless.
As if they were already dead.
My memories of Namsan were hazy, like a poorly printed photograph.
They were from more than ten years ago.
Back then, I had been too young.
But one thing was certain—The Namsan I remembered had never felt this gloomy.
Lost in thought, I suddenly heard Yui Seul ask me again.
“Your mind still intact?”
“Yes. Um, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Are Anomalous Phenomenon Occurrence Zones always this dreary?”
After personally stepping into both the Occurrence Zone in Gyeonggi and now the one in Seoul, I had come to realize something.
There is no ‘light’ in these places.
The only source of illumination was the unnaturally large full moon hanging in the sky.
If there were no full moon tonight…I probably wouldn’t even be able to see the path.
For modern people, light is something too familiar.
Streetlights, the glow of convenience stores, car headlights.
No matter where you go, light is always present.
But in Anomalous Phenomenon Occurrence Zones,there is no light besides the full moon.
Once, Namsan had been a landmark bustling with people.
The trail was lined with streetlights every twenty steps or so.
But they weren’t working.
“Anomalous Phenomenon Occurrence Zones don’t disrupt electricity, right? Last time and this time, why are the streetlights turned off?”
“To eliminate variables.”
“What kind of variables?”
“Electricity itself is a variable.”
“Why?”
As I kept pressing for answers, Yui Seul frowned in irritation.
“Try using your own brain for once. Let’s say there was an Anomalous Phenomenon that feeds on electricity. What do you think would happen if the streetlights were on?”
“It would be a disaster, obviously.”
“Exactly. Now do you get it?”
The fact that she was taking the time to explain meant that, as expected, she was a total tsundere.
But I still didn’t fully understand.
“Then what about the trees? If you want to eliminate all variables, shouldn’t you cut down all the trees too? An Anomalous Phenomenon that feeds on trees could appear, right?”
“That’s right.
You’re asking the right questions.
The truth is, we have no way of predicting what kind of Anomalous Phenomenon will appear.
Just like you said, one could emerge that feeds on trees.
Or, on the contrary, one could appear that has streetlights as its weakness.”
“But then why…”
“Because perfect variable elimination is impossible from the start. That’s why…”
“You might as well just leave things as they are, because it’s easier to deal with that way.”
“Good, at least your brain works. That’s exactly it.”
I more or less understood.
There was no single ‘correct answer’ to handling Anomalous Phenomena.
There was no need to destroy nature just to prepare for every possible variable.
Even thinking about it in the simplest terms.
Rather than installing various artificial mechanisms in advance,It would be much easier and more reliable to start with nature as it is and add artificial measures when needed.
My curiosity was mostly satisfied.
Yui Seul suddenly looked at me like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“…You’re asking questions like that? Don’t tell me you still haven’t taken the basic Anomalous Phenomenon training?”
She looked at me like she was stating the most obvious thing in the world.
“I haven’t taken it yet.”
At that, Yui Seul let out a deep sigh, clearly exasperated.
“What have you even been doing all this time? Were you too lazy to move? Are you a pig or something? Actually, looking at those stupidly big tits of yours, you do seem like a pig.”
“I-I wanted to take it, but I didn’t have time…”
“That’s just an excuse. You’re saying you couldn’t because of streaming? Don’t give me that. I’ve been watching your streams lately, you know. You don’t even start streaming until after 7 PM. So what the hell were you doing before that?”
“…”
I had no excuse.
Yui Seul was right. I should have taken the basic training long ago.
I lowered my head and apologized.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Whatever. I never expected you to be diligent in the first place. But in exchange…”
Tok.
Yui Seul walked up to me and flicked my forehead with her finger before continuing.
“If you end up dying, I’m not taking responsibility.”
“…”
“I’m not invincible either.
Of course, if things get dangerous, I’ll protect you.
But don’t rely on me too much.
Handing your own life over to someone else?
That’s the dumbest thing you could ever do.
I’d never do something that stupid, not even if it killed me.”
In that moment, it felt like I’d been struck in the head with a hammer.
Ever since I became a devout follower of Beachy Mutbyeol,My life had no longer been my own.
Entrusting my life to someone else—I must have gotten used to it without realizing it.
I suddenly became aware of how complacent my mindset had been.
This… this was that kind of thinking.
The classic bus-rider mentality.
Not even a “Please do it for me, Yui-noona”.
I just felt pathetic.
I sincerely thanked Yui Seul.
“I’ll keep my head straight. Thank you, Yui.”
“…”
At that, Yui Seul stopped walking and turned to look at me, as if something was bothering her.
I asked, wondering why she was staring.
“What?”
“…You’re so damn rude. I was just wondering what it would take to get you to call me ‘Seul-unnie.’ Why?”
“That’s never happening.”
“Decision made. Forget the Awakened Association—you’re learning about Anomalous Phenomena directly from me.”
“…Huh?”
“Just take it as a fact.”
Uh.
This was one-on-one private lessons from the strongest Awakened.
Should I be happy about this?
I wasn’t really feeling it, though.
Not sure how to feel about this.
“So, your mind’s still intact?”
“Yes. But why do you keep asking if I’m sane?”
I wasn’t trying to argue.
I was genuinely curious.
“Sigh. If you’d taken the basic Anomalous Phenomena training, you wouldn’t even be asking this question.”
“…Sorry. I have no excuse for that.”
“At least you have some shame. Anyway, to answer your question, it’s obviously because of the mental attacks from the Anomalous Phenomenon.
I don’t know all the details, but apparently, the closer you are, the stronger the attack gets.”
“That part I get, but I was wondering why you keep checking on me so often. I mean, can’t you tell whether the mental attack is strong or weak?”
“I can’t.”
“…What?”
“I can’t tell.
I told you already—I’m completely immune to mental attacks.
Whether it’s a mind-shattering psychic assault or just a mild headache, to me, they all feel the same.
The best I can do is sense that something is trying to attack my mind.”
“That’s completely…”
I stopped myself from saying, That’s a totally broken ability.
But I couldn’t help but realize just how absurdly overpowered Yui Seul’s ability was when it came to handling Anomalous Phenomena.
This wasn’t partial immunity.
It was complete immunity.
Basically.
Even if she were to come face-to-face with the true form of some great Outer God governing the universe.
She’d be perfectly fine.
Well, I had no idea if such an Outer God even existed.
But considering that Beachy Mutbyeol was an actual, physical deity rather than just some illusion.
It wouldn’t be surprising if there was one.
“Anyway, you’re saying you don’t feel dizzy or anything at all?”
“Yep. This mind-protecting Cube—its performance is definitely top-notch.”
“It’s not because of the Cube, it’s because you…”
“Huh?”
“…Forget it. Too much trouble. I’ll explain later. We’re almost there. Stay sharp.”
Just as Yui Seul said—While we were talking, before I knew it, we had arrived at the summit of Namsan.
As we reached the top, I suddenly had the eerie sensation that the air had become denser.
The cause was obvious.
It was that painting, radiating its unsettling presence in all directions.
The painting was floating in midair.
As if the frame had holes in it, thick, sticky, dark-red blood was continuously dripping from its edges onto the ground.
Yui Seul spoke.
“I’ll ask you one more time. Are you mentally stable?”
“Yes.”
Since she kept checking my condition, I figured I should give a clearer answer.
“I feel exactly the same as usual. What am I thinking right now? Uh… My skirt is uncomfortable. The way my thighs touch each other feels weird. My shoulders are stiff. Happy now?”
“…I didn’t need to know all that useless crap.”
“Anyway, I’m completely fine. So—”
Leaving Yui Seul behind, I slowly approached the Anomalous Phenomenon.
“In the name of Beachy Mutbyeol, I will now verify it.”
The reason I deliberately invoked Beachy Mutbyeol’s name—Was to ask for protection from this disturbing painting.
Beachy Mutbyeol.
If I lose my mind here, that’s a loss for you too.
So please, watch over me.
Amen.
No.
Mut-men.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.