Even just counting the number of fixers gathered in this hospital lobby comes to dozens. And on top of that, there are cultists who came to carry out surreal terror.
But at Yang Seoho’s shout through the megaphone, no one dares step forward, instead hesitating and retreating.
They seem genuinely afraid of catching Yang Seoho’s eye.
“Ha—”
“Ah, no. Holly, please don’t say anything!”
“Ugh, Holly, don’t do that!”
It felt like Curtain Call was about to say something, but thankfully her comrades clung to her and stopped her. Curtain Call... you really have good allies.
And even if Curtain Call doesn’t step forward, there’s someone else who will.
A man in a necktie storms toward Yang Seoho, wagging a finger.
“Hey! If you really are from the Authority, you need to follow proper procedure. What is this harassment?”
As I saw earlier, Paju Central Hospital takes immense pride in itself.
“We protect our own. And no one may interfere with our medical care.”
The interior of Paju Central Hospital is effectively extraterritorial. Yang Seoho has trampled it underfoot.
To the man who stepped up and began to argue, Yang Seoho gave a splendid smile. Then he slowly removed the megaphone from his mouth...
Yes, there are days when common sense prevails! Yang Seoho was going to lower the megaphone and calmly explain his mistake.
Crack!
Of course that didn’t happen.
Yang Seoho showed that a megaphone can also be used as a weapon. Then he brought it back to his mouth.
“Next!”
Yang Seoho wore a look of mild inconvenience for a moment, then kicked the man sprawled on the floor toward where the nurses had gathered.
“Just like this person a moment ago! If anyone here thinks they are Kim Sinhwa, or can point to who Kim Sinhwa is, come forward!”
This is no joke.
I knew he was hot-headed, but why so angry today? Did he call us here for this?
Be that as it may, just as I expected, all of the hospital’s combat personnel began pouring into the lobby.
The monks of Sangdubu Temple, who had been confidently chanting spells, now look sullen and pessimistic about their lives and futures. So, what will you do? Will you carry out the ritual as your god commands?
“Hmm....”
Originally I had planned a slightly different strategy, but now that things have gotten like this, I can use an easier method.
Focusing on stealth, I slowly moved to a corner of the lobby. There, hidden, was the grotesque monster born from the tentacles of [Predator ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) in the Mountains].
[Corpse Maggot].
Although its form differs from the [Blood Leech] and [Visceral Snail] I saw before, it belongs to the same lineage of creatures. The only difference is that it was created by [Quiet Watcher], an avatar of [Predator in the Mountains].
It seeps forward slowly, growing by consuming mana and corpses.
They likely planned to feed it mana provided by the false monks serving Sangdubu, rapidly grow it, and then launch simultaneous attacks.
Moreover, the placement suggests they considered ley lines and geomancy—the method used by the [Blood Demon King] in Paju Samneung.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter. Since they drew their swords, they’ll have to do something.’
I quietly handed a mana crystal to the [Corpse Maggot] that was quietly gathering strength in the corner.
“Here, eat well and grow big.”
Crack—crunch—crackle—
A few more times. I fed the mana crystals to the maggots that possessed unusually strong power.
“Now, please come over here and see for yourselves.”
It seems the hospital administration has begun a persuasion tactic.
“Awhile ago in the hospital courtyard, during a Class 7 close encounter, individuals who mutated to Grade 4 or higher clearly chanted the name Kim Sinhwa. How about verifying those people now?”
Ah, I wish you had done this sooner. I hope my earlier interruption isn’t considered rude.
Ah, yes. It’s not rude, so please come this way...
Such hushed conversation was taking place.
‘No, they can’t be allowed to do that.’
The cultists glancing at them show no intention of abandoning their plan.
This hospital was never an easy target.
Those who decided to openly cause trouble here won’t stop at this level of disturbance.
Whether Yang Seoho is here or not, whether they die or not, they intend to carry out their plan.
Right now they’re merely waiting for an opportunity.
‘If there’s going to be chaos anyway, I’ll decide when it starts.’
The starting point is now.
If things go well, I can deal with [Predator in the Mountains] and its avatars all at once.
Whiiiiiiiir—
I carefully drew up my mana, overloading the mana crystals the [Corpse Maggots] had eaten.
“Brrr— brrr—”
Crrrack— cradaddle—
“Grr, grulk— grrrr—”
The maggots all began to swell.
No, “swell” isn’t the right description.
Kraaaaang! Boom!
They’re gigantifying. They’re becoming enormous.
“Wh- what is that!?”
“What is this? Why are such monsters in Paju Central Hospital!?”
In an instant, the [Corpse Maggots] grew larger than humans, horses, even trucks, and began to writhe uncontrollably under the surging mana.
“Chirrrrk! Chirrrrk!”
“Khirrk! Khirrrrk!”
Perhaps infected by the excitement of the giant ones, the smaller maggots all burst forth at once.
“Insects! Monsters!”
“Uaaaah! Bugs everywhere!”
Screams erupted simultaneously from all directions. Under different circumstances, I wouldn’t have used a strategy that risked civilian casualties, but today is an exception.
There are far too many people here who are anything but ordinary civilians.
“It’s Kim Sinhwa! It’s the work of Kim Sinhwa!”
“Capture them! Kill those maggots first!”
The Authority’s civil servants surged forward.
“Protect them! Protect the patients!”
“Nurses wielding sharpened greatswords and clubs charged forward.
“Damn! Now that it’s come to this, let’s begin!”
“Great Sangdubu! Grant us infinite power and immortality!”
The cultists, perhaps in despair, revealed their true colors.
“Let us out!”
“Let’s escape!!”
Those trying to flee outside the hospital.
“Haha! What a mess!”
“If we catch some of these things, maybe there’s a bounty?”
“What? A bounty?”
“Alright! I’m in!”
And the fixers, excited by blood and monsters.
Kraaaaang!
Suddenly part of the wall collapses.
Ah, and there’s one more thing.
“Everyone halt!”
“Where is Kim Sinhwa!?”
“Revenge! Bloody revenge!”
Every single one grotesque cultists.
Remnants of the Gourmet Expeditionary Corps.
Kraaaaang! Boom! Block! Capture! Kill! Save! Where are they! Kraaaang! Crack! Thud! Uaaaah! Is that Kim Sinhwa? What on earth is happening!? Bang bang bang! What the hell, who’s firing a gun? Chirrrrk! Kim Sinhwa! Who the hell is Kim Sinhwa? Save me! I’m getting out! Chirrrrk! Uaaaah! Save that person! Great Sangdubu will consume your souls! Grrrurk! Bind them! Bind them! Subdue them! No, just kill them! What are you doing! Kim Sinhwa! Where’d that bastard go! Cover your heads! Uaaaah! Holly, don’t! That’s not them! Everyone get out now! Bang bang bang bang! Boom! Kim Sinhwa! Thud! Crash! Krawkk! Oh no! Please don’t go that way! Protect the ward! Kraaaaang! Stop! Uaaaah!
Now it was such utter chaos that nothing made sense.
“Emergency! Emergency!”
“Aah! What is happening!?”
Through the corridor prepared on one side of the lobby, more personnel from Paju Central Hospital poured in.
They stared in stunned silence at the rampaging lobby. They’d come because there seemed to be chaos, but what on earth should they do? That seemed to be their thought.
I decided to give them a target. Remaining in stealth, I shouted to them.
[Voice of Authority]
『Immediately, guide the patients to the West Wing!』
An authoritative message formed by mana. And it conforms to the instructions in their manual.
“R-right! Move the patients to the West Wing!”
“Everyone this way!”
“This way! This way! Please, to the West Wing!”
Good, well done.
Meanwhile, I helped the powerless ones escape—launching a few mana crystal bombs or casting levitation spells—then slipped out alongside them.
“Phew, everyone’s so aggressive, it’s dangerous.”
I picked up a pair of glasses and a doctor’s coat along the way, donned a light disguise, and walked slowly down the West Wing corridor.
From afar I could still hear explosions and screams.
I’ve rescued everyone who needed help, so there should be no problem. After all, this is still a hospital.
I have the layout of the hospital memorized.
I’ve forgotten some parts near the North Wing lobby because of my ichthyophobia, but I can recall every other area without omission.
“Ah, here it is.”
A sturdy metal door marked “Authorized Personnel Only.”
To the eye, just a solid door, but it’s made of the same material as the door that sealed Cheongho’s bunker.
A silver door.
Powerful security magic is in effect. I curiously extended my mana to examine the structure of the spells.
‘It is indeed at least twelve times more sophisticated than the defensive magic Cheongho hastily set up.’
I could dismantle it myself if I wanted, but there’s no need right now.
Beep—
Using Yi Haseo’s ID card, the door opened with a cheerful sound. At the same moment, a message appeared.
[System: “Enhanced Vigilance” trait is activated.]
It’s not that Yang Seoho followed me here.
This secure ward itself is as dangerous a location as Yang Seoho, hence the message.
“Hm, let’s see....”
I peered into the corridor of the secure ward. A chill, dry air flowed through the hall.
I sensed more presences inside than I expected.
There must be patients confined here, but also many guards who, no matter what chaos erupts elsewhere, do not leave their assigned positions.
“All right.”
I took from my pocket, along with the ID card, another stolen item.
Long, tangled hair.
The mana flowing from my fingertips absorbed the information contained in that hair.
“Hmm, it is indeed Yi Haseo’s hair.”
Although it wouldn’t matter much if I was wrong.
[Form Absorption]
Vwoooooom—
Mana from my entire body was drawn in, and using the data absorbed from the hair, it adjusted my appearance.
In an instant, my hair grew long, and the contours and thickness of my limbs changed. Soon I had completely transformed into Yi Haseo’s form.
I lifted my hand to slightly adjust the glasses, then checked my body’s status.
“Good. Now, is this the speech pattern—like this—?”
My body’s structure hasn’t actually changed. It’s merely an illusion superimposed over me to project Yi Haseo’s appearance.
I took a yellow folder from my backpack, held it to my chest, and slowly walked down the corridor.
The folder was labeled [Paju Central Hospital Secure Ward Admission Records].
Although I had already checked it, I reviewed its contents once more.
Y-2-307.
Admitted Patient: Gong Isu.
Discharge Record: None.
The so-called Round Room.
The only room of its kind in this hospital, indeed in all of Paju. A space with every corner removed.
It’s a room intended to “protect” and “isolate” someone who cannot live in a place with corners, and it has appeared several times in the game as well.
‘I remember it always stayed empty for the player.’
But now someone is using that room instead of me, whom I thought to be the only one who could occupy it.
And they’ve been there six years before the day I was drawn into this world.
Even if Gong Isu doesn’t have the [Sacrificial Feast] trait, I need to confirm what happened.
Because....
The Round Room is meant to isolate a “time traveler.”
