Seoul Station’s Necromancer Chapter 203:
Chapter 203 – The Boundary between Reality and Virtual Reality (1)
Meeting Room inside Bibi’s Castle Control Tower .
The news was running on the large monitor . The voice of the news anchor rang out inside the silent room .
「An explosion of unknown cause has created a large sandstorm inside the Gobi desert . A research team was dispatched to see if a Dungeon Break had occurred nearby . We have a satellite image taken right before the explosion… . . Our next story… . 」
In the past, this story would have been treated like breaking news . However, it was now being treated as a passing news story .
There were too many Dungeon Breaks occurring everywhere now . It wasn’t treated as breaking news unless a Dimensional lord powerful enough to destroy a country had appeared .
The people of Alandal was looking at a figure within the blurry satellite image . Their expression didn’t look too good .
“Doesn’t that look like our king?”
“Mmmm… . ”
Woo-soonghoon’s words broke the silence, but everyone fell silent again .
“Uh? There are more details on the internet . ”
The explosion at the Gobi desert was a nuclear weapon level explosion, and the related information was being quickly uploaded onto the internet .
There was also a video being circulated aside from the satellite image .
「Oh shit! What the hell? It’s a pegasus . 」
The person filming the footage spoke as he recorded the sight of the Phantom Steed streaking across the sky .
“Isn’t that Shing Shing?”
“Correct… . ”
“Where was this filmed?”
The description under the video said it originated from China .
“All right . It says he was heading west . ”
“… . ”
Jung-minchan was silent for a brief moment before he asked the question .
“He’s still alive, right?”
“Of course, he is . Our king was fine after taking a direct hit from a missile . Ha ha . ”
At Woo-soonghoon’s words, everyone’s expression relaxed a little bit .
“Master is alive . I still exist . ”
“Ah, of course . ”
A definite sense of relief was felt when they heard Bibi’s words .
“Whew . Recently, I don’t know why, but every little incident makes me anxious . ”
Minchan was barely able to calm his racing heart . It was akin to letting a child play near the river . Whenever Woojin went somewhere, he became anxious .
“So did he go to the Moon World or whatever?”
At times, Woojin went to visit his Dimensional Domain or Alphen . So his absence wasn’t a surprise . However, they were afraid of the piece of truth he’ll bring back .
“I guess so . What happens if this place is really a virtual reality?”
At Soonghoon’s worried voice, Minchan spoke in a low voice .
“That means we aren’t real either . ”
“Hmmm… . ”
If the virtual reality disappeared, would only the Roused wake up in reality?
Minchan, Soonghoon and Haemin weren’t Roused . They had a complicated expression on their faces as they kept their silence .
「This is breaking news . The members of a Chinese guild called Limsum guild was dispatched to investigate the explosion that had occurred at the Gobi desert . All communications with the team was severed . This footage was sent before… . 」
As the anchor spoke, the footage filled the screen .
The dust clouded the field of vision . It was as if one was walking within a fog .
「I detect a strong magical energy in front of us . 」
「Clear this away . 」
Soonghoon understood Chinese as if he was a native to the language .
The Roused used his power to stop the flow of air . Afterwards, he gathered the dust in a single location, and he sent it away .
When the field of vision cleared, one could see a large doll standing in place . It was wearing an armor that looked like a vest .
“Is it a Golem?”
It didn’t look like a human . Moreover, it didn’t look like any of the analogous races . It looked more like an inorganic object than a living being .
It looked like a Golem similar to Dolsae .
The unique characteristic of its body was the fact that the body was made out of a black substance that made it impossible to tell if it had a solid or a liquid body . It was roiling as the substance moved like oil .
It looked like a clump of oil . It also looked like a collection of black clouds .
However, the important part was what happened afterwards .
Hooooong . Kwahng!
The strange monster swung his hand, and all the members in front was sent flying after being hit by a force .
「Koo-koo-koohk . 」
It let out a bizarre laugh . The person holding the camera was dead, and the footage shook as the camera was dropped to the floor . The camera was lodged in the ground, and the footage came to an end .
「The Chinese authorities are assuming that this being is a new Dimensional lord . They are in the process of gathering a special task force . Moreover, they are thinking about approving the use of a tactical nuke… . 」
“Huhk . What the hell? They are thinking about using a tactical nuke over that?”
Minchan was showing his dismay over the news when an employee ran in .
“Prime Minister . The Chinese government is asking for our assistance . ”
“Is it because of that?”
A still image of the monster was filling the screen . When Minchan pointed at it, the employee nodded his head .
“I believe so . The situation is much worse than what the news is reporting . The monster is bulldozing through cities as it destroys everything in its path . It has already reached the western region of Zhangjjakou . ”
“…isn’t it traveling way too fast?”
“The more important fact is that our king isn’t here . ”
“That’s true . ”
Kim-haemin quickly minimized the news as the screen of the computer was projected . His expression hardened after opening up a map .
“It is traveling in a straight line . ”
Jung-minchan groaned as he looked at the red line .
“Mmmm . It is almost at Beijing . I can see why they are so nervous . ”
“No, you should look beyond it . ”
Kim-haemin spoke with a serious expression . The flight path was was extended in a straight line, and the line came to an end at a city .
Minchan’s expression stiffened as it turned cold .
“Seoul… . No, is it aiming for us?”
It was an uneasy prediction, but he somehow felt he was right .
“An incredible **** appeared accompanying an explosion and the king went missing…”
He had been barely able to tamp down his anxiousness, yet the feeling was getting larger again .
A different employee ran into the room .
“Prime Minister . South Korea is on the line . There’s been a large Break in Busan . They are asking for help . ”
“Prime Minister . New York has…”
Employees kept coming in with a phone in their hand . Minchan massaged his temple as he watched them .
“The king isn’t here, so what can we do… . . ”
Kahng-woojin was a one man army . Kahng-woojin was missing, and it was as if the monsters all over the world had agreed to go crazy all at once .
This **** like world was a problem if it was the real world . It was a problem if it was a fake world .
***
It felt as if his limbs were missing .
No, was his entire body gone?
He started having auditory hallucinations .
Help me .
Please don’t abandon us .
You could have protected them!
Don’t go!
I want to live . Please save me .
Faces brushed by him .
These were familiar voices and shapes… .
Was he dreaming again?
Was he being tormented by the vicious evil spirits again?
His vision was blurry, and he could see the despairing souls approach Woojin . The souls were tangled up with each other, and it was a sight that could probably be seen in **** . They started to touch his body .
It felt itchy and hot .
The funny part was that he no longer had a body .
He was conscious, and he had self awareness . However, he couldn’t feel his body . It was as if he had melted into the air, and the only thing he could see around him were the evil spirits .
He watched them swipe at the empty air, and he felt some unidentifiable emotion . Maybe this was a wish he had desired for all this time .
‘It’s freedom . ’
It felt as if he had been freed from everything that had been put on his shoulders .
Release .
In this state, he felt as if he would be able to run away from the outcry of the evil spirits .
‘I’ll leave . ’
He tried to leave . He was about to leave, but… .
Hwahhhk .
A butterfly flew in, and it landed in front of Woojin . It slowly fluttered its wing as dusts scattered into the air . Soon, the butterfly disappeared, and a girl took its place .
Her face was familiar . She was the girl sacrificed in the terror attack .
Thank you .
The armless corpse, who had crawled across the ground, had reappeared in front of Woojin . She coalesced from dust, and the arms she lost in death was back . She looked normal .
It has been an honor to fight with you .
He remembered him .
During his mercenary days, he was a free knight, who had fought with Woojin in the battlefield .
The old man bleeding from the head solidified from smoke, and he bowed towards Woojin .
I do not resent you .
His memory was fuzzy . These were people, who had died by his hands… .
The tormenting evil spirits reverted back to the appearance they held at the time time of their deaths . They appeared in front of his eyes .
They all bowed towards him as they smiled . Woojin was swept up by an unidentifiable feeling, and he had no idea what expression he should put on his face .
Thank you for not giving up on us .
Each of them spoke similar words to him .
He felt sorry, because he hadn’t been able to protect them… .
This was the space of emptiness .
The state of his body was uncertain… He was unable to perceive himself in this space, yet the souls surrounding him confirmed his existence .
These were the lives, who he hadn’t been able to protect . They were all looking at him .
As if they were protecting him… . .
***
Leone’s ship landed at a desolate basin .
Psssshk .
The door opened, and armed soldiers wearing gas masks descended the stairs .
“We are ready to wheel him out, captain . ”
A cart was floating in the air . It was akin to the ones that were used to transport patients . It was questionable to call it a stretcher, but all the preparations were complete .
“Has the professor contacted us?”
“The professor failed to convince him . ”
“Mmmm . ”‘
Captain Leone let out a groan as he activated the device on his wrist . A holographic screen came alive, and one could see Dr . Toppler .
“Professor . If he doesn’t have the Code, it’ll be meaningless to log him out . ”
「I know . This is why I ordered Kim-kahngchul to acquire the Code . We have to bring him out too . 」
“Mmm . All right . We’ll rescue the Recovery Code first . ”
「Understood . When he acquires the Code, I’ll notify you immediately . 」
They needed both the Earth’s Code and the Recovery Code .
“Where’s Kim-kahngchul located at?”
“He is at the Seoul Station . ”
Fortunately, they were located in the same sector .
“Please ready another stretcher . ”
“Yes, sir . ”
Another stretcher was taken out of Leone’s ship . When the crew was ready, Captain Leone stepped forward first .
The road was desolate, and after walking for 10 minutes, a stairway heading below suddenly appeared . The stairs were damaged in places, and it looked pitiful . However, it was good enough to allow people to enter underground .
Before they entered the entrance, Captain Leone warned his crew members .
“The defense system will be neutralized for only 10 minutes . If we want to save both of them, we’ll have to move quickly . ”
“Yes, sir!”
“We are ready to deactivate it, captain . ”
Captain Leone looked up, and he stared at the words engraved on the ceiling of the stairway .
It had been eroded away by time, but he was sure it said Seoul Station .
He had found the right place .
This was where Kahng-woojin’s real body was jacked in . They just had to extract him after saving him .
“Start it . ”
“Yes, sir!”
The crew members moved efficiently as they activated the device that will neutralize the Guardians .
***
The place with the most security guards and security measure inside the Flying Fortress was Sooah’s room . In recent days, she hadn’t been able to go out even if she wanted to . She wasn’t a prisoner, but she lived the life of a prisoner . It was tortuous for Sooah .
However, Sooah had matured too much to express her feelings . She struggled to keep her feelings to herself .
“Isn’t this too suffocating for you, Sooah?”
“No, mother . ”
This was for Sooah’s protection, but it wasn’t as if she could live by herself . This was why Lee-soogyong stayed next to her daughter .
“Why doesn’t oppa come and visit me?”
“Huh? Maybe it is because oppa is busy?”
The flustered Lee-soogyong gave an answer . Kahng-woojin had been purposefully distancing himself from Sooah, and it seemed the little one had realized it .
“Hoo . I hope the war ends soon . ”
“I wish so too . ”
“When is Jiwon-unni coming?”
“She’ll be here soon . ”
This thread of conversation had been repeated a dozen times before by the mother and daughter .
While they were having this exchange, a guest arrived .
“Is it Jiwon?”
Lee-soogyong opened the door in a welcoming fashion… .
“Excuse me . ”
A stranger walked into the room .
He wasn’t the usual employee, who cleaned and brought food everyday .
Moreover, this man didn’t look anything like a security guard…
Lee-soogyong instinctively pushed Sooah behind her as she regarded the man .
“Who are you?”
The man let out an agreeable laugh as he scratched the back of his head .
“Ah . I’m Kim-kahngchul . ”
“W…what do you want?”
“I’m here to save the world . ”
Kim-kahngchul smiled as he stepped forward .