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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Control Center
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Ever since I was a kid, I never particularly disliked horror movies.
Of course, if a ghost suddenly popped out with a "boo!", I'd jump a little, but I wouldn't be trembling in fear.
Especially when watching horror movies, it was often more entertaining to see the people around me get startled than the movie itself. Last time, we all watched a horror movie together at night with the lights off in the living room, and Seeun jumping nearly to the ceiling in surprise was more fun than the movie.
Anyway, the bottom line is, horror movies don't really faze me. Plus, my mental fortitude was further strengthened after walking through hordes of monsters in the Haneun Group's basement last time.
And thinking about it now, I realized how fortunate that was.
Why?
Because this place looks exactly like a horror movie set...
A dark basement.
I stood alone in the middle of a place where sticky, black, jelly-like goo clung to every wall.
No, to be precise, I wasn't alone.
"..."
I had this jellyfish-like machine floating and following me in the air beside me.
It was a robot that came along at Seeun's earnest request—or rather, a half-threat that she'd cry if I didn't bring it—to accompany me if I was going to venture beneath this dangerous Demon Castle.
Its main feature is a camera that lets our Egostream members see the situation here in real-time... Apparently, it also has some weapon for self-defense, but I'm not sure about that.
...By the way, getting here wasn't easy at all.
Everyone was worried, asking where I was going when I hadn't fully recovered, and whether I'd get injured again if I went alone.
Of course, when their concern started veering towards the strange idea of locking me up at home, I had no choice but to quickly persuade them. No, I was planning to kill that villain first anyway, so surely they didn't think I wouldn't know its weaknesses?
Of course, I understand their concern, as this Demon Castle's exterior alone has a terrifying visual presence, like something out of a video game where the final boss would reside...
Especially to Subin and Seeun, it must have looked like I was walking into a tiger's den alone. Indeed, even Eunwol and Hayul, who usually just smiled and nodded at my words, opposed it...
Still, after several rounds of persuasion, I finally managed to get out. On the condition that I bring Uncle Deshik, Behemoth, and this jellyfish-equipped robot with me.
"Hmm... So, where exactly are we?"
"Oppa. Try turning right first."
"Okay?"
And so, I was finally able to walk beneath this Demon Castle.
...The floor is sticky and dim; I really don't like it. No, it's not exactly scary... but it's just... *this*.
"...No, Oppa. But why does this place look like ghosts are going to pop out? Even on screen, it's scary."
Seeun's voice came through, accompanied by her jellyfish robot looking around nervously.
No, Seeun. Ghosts don't come out here. Demons do.
...Well, they're called demons, but they're just interwoven biological tissues.
Lost in these thoughts, I gradually went further inside.
Crossing strangely twisted terrains, I finally spotted Stardust.
"..."
Hmm. Still safe.
It was only after seeing Stardust with my own eyes that I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Hah. Thinking about how many near-death experiences she had here in the original story, I couldn't just sit still with all that anxiety. It's so much better seeing it with my own eyes.
Hiding myself, I first headed up to the second floor.
And just as in the original story, demons appeared on the first floor.
Soon after, Stardust arrived.
And finally, the first battle began.
"...Hmm."
Thanks to the gaping hole in the center, I could observe the entire scene.
After several minutes of quite intense fighting, the battle finally ended in Stardust's victory.
She quietly brushed herself off and exited.
Watching Stardust, who was clearly fighting better than in the original story, from behind, I finally relaxed a bit. Right, with this, she should be able to make it to the final boss battle without much trouble.
And as I thought that, something else came to mind.
"..."
...Hmm, did I come here for nothing?
Now that I think about it, rushing here in such a hurry might have been overkill. Stardust will surely handle it fine on her own.
With the tension gone, my rationality finally returned.
Hmm, now that the anxiety is gone, I wonder if I overreacted. I just suddenly panicked and rushed here at the thought that Stardust might get hurt.
....Should I go back?
No matter how I look at it, I think I might have been too overprotective. Stardust would surely do well on her own.
"Oppa? Why are you just standing there?"
After a moment of deliberation, I made up my mind.
Right. Still, I don't know what might happen to Stardust, so I should at least check on her. There's no point regretting it after something goes wrong. I should prepare in advance.
...If I think about it that way, there's an even better method than this.
With that thought, I headed in the opposite direction from where Stardust was going.
"Huh? Oppa, where are you going?"
At my sudden U-turn, the jellyfish robot followed me obediently, albeit with a confused hum.
My sudden apparent turn-around led to a small incident where Seeun, thinking I'd finally decided to go home, expressed relief and said it was a good idea, but I quickly cleared up the misunderstanding by explaining otherwise. ...Though she grumbled a little.
So I walked back the way I came. Again, stepping on those sticky black liquid monsters.
...Sigh. What's the use of having teleportation if I have to conserve it and can't use it much normally?
Crossing through the deserted cultural center, which was eroded by the black goo, I took the escalator upwards.
Hmm. This kind of feels like I've been dropped into an apocalyptic world. A deserted, damaged department store... It has a bit of a zombie movie vibe.
Lost in such idle thoughts, I soon looked around and clicked my tongue. ...Seriously, the power inflation is completely out of control. What is this already? It feels like just yesterday guys like Monkey Wrench were causing trouble, and now strong beings like these are suddenly popping up. Just as expected.
...At least it's a relief that they all still have clear weaknesses, sigh.
Lost in these thoughts, I returned to the first floor, my cloak billowing behind me. Hmm, now I can finally see some sunlight peeking through the black-stained windows. Right. It was too dark before.
There was only one reason I returned to the first floor.
Since I've seen with my own eyes that Stardust is fine, I can just observe from the control center now.
Compared to the eerie basement, which looked like something could pop out at any moment, the ground floor felt strangely empty. It looked like there would be nothing there.
But actually, this is a trap.
The control center is hidden here.
With that thought, I walked towards some corner on the ground floor and eventually found a door that, while appearing to be nothing, was faintly visible if one looked closely.
Right. This is the place.
"Come forth!"
I shouted that, and simply kicked the door open.
-Krieek?
What appeared then were a few strangely shaped monsters.
Unlike the demon-like creatures Stardust fought earlier, these were black, golem-like beings inside.
-Kukieeeek!
Upon seeing me, they all charged at once, but...
"Holy Punch!"
-Kuaaaaaaak?!
I simply brandished the Holy Cross I had prepared beforehand from within my cloak, and they all just melted away.
Phew. Done!
Pretty easy, right?
"...It's still amazing every time I see it. Oppa, what's its principle?"
"Hmm... A product of science and magic?"
Now that Stardust wasn't nearby, I spoke freely and loudly, rummaging around to find a chair to sit on.
After wiping off the strange black goo, I plopped down and felt a wave of relief.
I placed my Holy Cross next to the chair.
In the original story, this mission ultimately failed, and several demons were unleashed into the ecosystem, hiding amongst society, which led to this weapon being developed much later to hunt them down.
Of course, since I roughly knew the principle, I had already prepared the materials and sought out the Vine Witch again—the woman who enchanted my diary—to have her create this weapon.
Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be cross-shaped, but there's a certain aesthetic to it...
Anyway, there's only one reason I came here.
Because this is the Demon Castle's control center.
And as if to prove my words, numerous monitors were set up in front of me. The picture quality was a bit grainy... but either way, they showed all the corrupted spaces below, like CCTV.
By the way, this wasn't originally here. It was newly built by a guy named Demonz, who caused all these incidents. Though it's abandoned now.
"...He's quite the formidable one."
Demonz. The one who showed the greatest impact before the final Moonlight Church terror yet to come. He's the guy who prepared all this chaos with the sole purpose of bringing hell to the mortal realm. Unlike other villains who relied on their abilities rather than their brains, this guy actually had some intelligence.
By the way, he's currently accumulating power, self-sealed in the deepest part of this place.
And the day he's unleashed will probably be the day hell descends upon South Korea, but...
'Well, it failed in the original story anyway.'
Right. Even in the original story, he failed to revive. More precisely, he half-revived, but Stardust and the Association barely managed to stop him with all their might.
Of course, a few demons were released, but isn't it enough that they prevented South Korea from being destroyed?
With those thoughts, I leaned back against the chair's backrest.
Then I found a hidden control panel somewhere and touched it, revealing Stardust's figure on screen. She seemed to be walking down a corridor.
"...Hmm, this is good. If you just stay here, Oppa won't be in any unnecessary danger."
"Right?"
At Seeun's relieved words, I nodded. Right, I can just watch from here and go down if something happens. And anyway,
'Stardust usually only goes halfway down on the first day, then comes back.'
Right. This event is a large-scale one, lasting about a week. Stardust, too, doesn't know what lies ahead, so she proceeds very cautiously. She'll also get exhausted from continuous battles.
In other words, she'll probably be back in a few hours. So I can leave around then too.
I settled my mind with that thought.
Several hours later.
"No... Why is she still going?"
I muttered in confusion, watching Stardust's figure continue to descend on the screen.
No, she's fought so many battles since earlier, she should be regrouping soon. How far is she going?
I slowly began to feel uneasy.
Hmm. Should I use Plan C?
"Oppa... What are you thinking about now, with that serious expression..."
Seeun merely mumbled that upon seeing my expression.