Episode 129. Once things go wrong, they spiral out of control (6)

The structure of the fort was very complicated.

They said the architect designed it based on a maze from a foreign myth.

It was designed this way so that if the monsters broke in, they wouldnt be able to find their way.

As a result, even ordinary bedroom walls were made of the hardest material on earth so that steel-crushing monster teeth couldnt break them easily. And so that powerful monsters couldnt crumble the walls.

The inner maze also contributed partly to the forts name, the -Wailing Wall-.

Theres even a rumor that if you enter this place unknowingly, youll end up wandering here for the rest of your life.

I could feel the cool metal on my fingertips.

It was the standard method to avoid getting lost in the maze.

Si-woo, you know the way, right? It might be better for us to go back. It takes most experienced hunters at least 30 minutes, even when they have a map. I get confused sometimes, too.

Its okay. Ive got something better than a map.

I replied with a smile to Kim Seung-hyun, who asked worriedly.

[Information Access is currently activated.]

I could see the entire structure of the maze on a transparent screen in front of me. Ordinary people would frown and puzzle over it no matter how long they looked at it. But I was not an ordinary person.

This way.

If I could see the inner structure, I could readily escape the most difficult mazes. I walked without stopping, running my hand against the wall.

Are you sure?

Why are you so worried? Its Mr. Si-woo.

Kim Seung-hyun asked again, and Han Yeon-soo sharply retorted.

I ignored their conversation and just focused on walking forward.

And after walking for a while.

You were right. There was no need to worry!

I took my hand off the wall. Or, to be exact, there was no longer a connected wall.

[Caution: Area inhabited by multiple dangerous creatures.]

[Only 1st class hunters with an SS-grade Total Ability Assessment rank to enter.]

A large door that reminded me of a castle gate had a sign written on it.

Total Ability Assessment rank SS-grade Mr. Si-woo, are you sure you can go in? Your grade is between A+ and S.

Thats because I didnt renew mine. How about you?

I got an SS grade, of course.

.

I awkwardly scratched my head, and instead of replying, I took a step forward and pushed the door.

Whew.

In theory, it was the strongest door on earth that could even withstand a nuclear missile with ease. It was a very heavy door. I drew up my mana, planted my feet firmly on the ground, and pushed with all my might. The door then creaked, and dust billowed up into the air.

Creaaaak.

It seemed like the door hadnt been opened for a long time. The strong odor of monsters came from the slightly open door. At the same time, I began to feel slightly tense.

The front line was a dangerous area, but -The Land of Death- was on a completely different level. In my past life, I had to brace myself for the worst whenever I entered, even if it was just for a brief moment. The Land slowly revealed itself.

Hmm?

However.

Why are you so late? You told me to come and wait! You took forever.

.

It wasnt a wasteland nor a terrifying monster that welcomed us beyond the door.

What are you doing here?

What am I doing here? You told me the coordinates. But I thought Id get caught if I went inside the fort, so I teleported here.

Oh.

The first individual I encountered in -The Land of Death- after coming back in time was Sung Hyun-woo.

The cheeky boy looked at me innocently.

Si-woo, long time no see!

I heard Yoo Ji-yeons voice from behind Sung Hyun-woo. I glanced over and saw all the members of the -Jeong Si-woo Division- gathered there. Yoo Ji-yeon, Zhang Wei, Lee Jin-woo.

Wait, why did you bring her?

Huh? You told me to bring them all. Everyone on our side.

I couldnt help but sigh at Sung Hyun-woos reply.

Our side? Yeah, she did help us a bit, but that wasnt enough to bring her here.

Hey, why are you looking at me like that? Im here to help!

Sitting on the floor, she shouted sharply. It seemed like she read the meaning behind my gaze.

Yes, thank you.

Seol Ah-rin.

The -Third Disaster- was helping the process of stopping the -Fifth Disaster-. It was such an ironic sight.

Well, in that case, Hyun-woo is also a Disaster.

But they were different. This one was an uncontrollable bomb.

She was a powerful bomb that everyone acknowledged, but there was no telling whether our allies or our enemies would be caught up in her explosive power..

Whew Oh well. We dont have time for this, so Ill start the briefing.

I shook my head from side to side and clapped my hands.

Whatever.

There wasnt a moment to lose.

* * *

We need to find a creature that looks like a human. Around this time He will be about this tall, and hell look like an elementary school kid.

Elementary school? And that tall? Are you serious?

Im not kidding. If we cant find him on time, or if we provoke him by mistake, itll be over. Hyun-woo, you saw it in my memory, right?

Yes.

Sung Hyun-woo nodded at my question.

If things go wrong, that fort will be gone in three days. There wont even be a brick left.

.

The others faces hardened at my words.

Sung Hyun-woo wasnt the kind of person who joked around in situations like this.

You said not to provoke him, right? Is there anything we should be careful about?

To make it simple Dont ever try to harm him. And dont threaten him, either verbally or physically. You have to respond to him as if youre really soothing a child. Its quite straightforward, isnt it?

But there must be something special.

Something special? Of course, there was.

Dont ever kill monsters.

What?

You must never kill a monster in front of him. If you do, everything will be over.

-The Fifth Disaster-

He was born as a child of monsters. The Land of Death was his home, and his only family and friends were the swarming monsters.

So, what would happen if we trampled his home and killed his friends and family in front of him?

I assure you, when that happens, itll be the end of humankind.

I still remember it vividly.

When he lost control and went on a rampage, he suited the name Great Overlord so well.

The legions of invaders from an unknown place trampled on the worldon humanityand wiped out all living creatures. Cities and states collapsed, and the civilization that humans had built up melted away like a sandcastle.

You have to keep it in mind.

If it happened this early, if we ended up facing him without preparing perfectly.

Honestly.

I wasnt confident that we could win.

* * *

Inside the Land of Death was just like its name.

The ground was dry and barren without a single plant and partly eaten dead monsters were strewn about.

Ugh I hate it.

Yoo Ji-yeon muttered in disgust. It wasnt a very pleasant sight.

Ajusshi, further out, its swarming with monsters. Are you sure about this? I dont think even we could handle them beyond that hill.

We need to go, so we have to. We can run away immediately, anyway.

Thats true, but I think its too dangerous.

Sung Hyun-woo said in a worried voice.

I answered him firmly.

But we still have to. You know that itll be more dangerous, otherwise.

Okay.

It wasnt that I didnt understand Sung Hyun-woos concerns. He probably saw the horrible sight beyond the hill with his X-ray vision, and he would have seen the horrors in my mind with his ability to read memories.

Although he didnt experience it in person, -The Land of Death- was most likely a scary place for Sung Hyun-woo.

Come on, lets start walking again.

I hastened my steps again after stopping for a moment. It wasnt a good idea to stay in the Land of Death for a long time. It was overflowing with monsters that could gnaw away at your life force just by existing. So, staying here for a prolonged period could cause serious damage to your body.

What are you doing? Lets go. Why are you standing still?

But even after I said lets go, Lee Jin-woo didnt budge.

What you said earlier.

Huh?

You said he looks like an elementary school kid And that hes this tall.

Yeah, I did.

In the Land of Death Theres probably no chance of an ordinary elementary school kid wandering around unless its him, right?

What?

What was he talking about?

Thereover there.

I was about to ask, but Lee Jin-woo pointed upwards with his finger.

Not beyond the hill or far away, but over there.

He was pointing at a big tree. A bare and dry tree that didnt have a single leaf.

Over there Do you see?

Youre right.

And there was a boy sitting on the tree branch.

What? Did you finally find me? Ive been watching you guys forever.

A playful face and a clear voice.

He looked human, no matter how you looked at him. Some of my members hands shook at his appearance. It was because I had defined him as a monster, and depending on the circumstances, they might have to kill the creature that looked like a child.

Are you my new friends? Amazing. My other friends dont look like me, but you guys look just like me. Hehe. Are you my family? Family?

The Great Overlord smiled brightly.

Hey, Jeong Si-woo. What should we do? How do we respond?

Im thinking, so be quiet. Whew.

Lee Jin-woo asked impatiently, and I replied, annoyed.

I couldnt think properly. It was all so sudden. Damn it. What should I do?

Why arent you answering me. Oh, oh. Is it because youre excited to play? Hehe.

The way he talked while hanging from the tree branch irritated me even more.

And then.

Okay then, lets all play together-!

When we didnt respond enthusiastically, the Great Overlord shouted loudly. It was a dry and cracked voice that was so different from the boys voice we had just heard. It sounded like something that most likely came from a monsters throat, not a humans.

Hey.

.

At the same time, Lee Jin-woo turned even paler.

I think you need to tell us how to respond as soon as possible.

The reason was simple.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

Starting with the Great Overlords shout, footsteps were echoing all around. It was like an earthquake. I mean, being this conspicuous, even a child could know that monsters were coming.

And that we were now fuc.

Wh-what should we do!

Lee Jin-woo wasnt the only one startled. Even Mr. Zhang Wei and Seung-hyun Hyeong, who usually kept calm, looked visibly alarmed.

What we should do is.

I bit my lower lip and said.

I mean, was there any other solution?

Run for now.

We could never beat that.

As soon as I finished talking, Sung Hyun-woo put his arms around us and used teleportation.

And while I watched the landscape in front of us change, I could hear a faint voice.

Where are you going! Youre it, and you cant just disappear!

A bizarre and creepy voice, which was half a boys voice and half a monsters voice mixed together.

Simultaneously, Information Access, which I had activated to figure out the forts structure, automatically scanned his information.

.

.

.

[Name: Great Overlord]

[Detailed information not available.]

[A creature defined as the Fifth Disaster.]

[Confirmed Abilities]

[ Leadership]

[ The power to lead a group or an organization. Can control the minds of creatures defined as monsters and make them do as commanded.]

[ Pheromone]

[ Loved by creatures called monsters. Becomes immune to all mana attacks. The greater the number of monsters, the more the ability is amplified.]

[Cannot access abilities that havent been observed.]

No matter how many times I saw him, he was always one hell of a monster.