IH Ch 108

Chapter 108

At that moment, what looked like a hand rose atop the crumbling vehicle. As the mass twisted solid metal with force, it emitted sharp, screeching sounds. The creature’s body jerked—though it seemed to lash out threateningly, there was, conversely, a sense that it was in pain.

“……”

Dohwa continued watching the heads, arms, legs, and tails that kept protruding from the mass. Why was it doing that? It was as if it were borrowing forms that weren’t its own.

With a hardened expression, Dohwa examined closely and noticed something pressed flat against the vehicle’s roof. From that section, two small, round protrusions like eyeballs appeared and then vanished. But soon they returned, blinking rapidly, and began to leak something transparent.

“Dohwa, you need to step back for now.”

“……”

“More guards will be here soon, and the Guild Master too…”

Even as Ahn Yuna tugged at his arm, Dohwa remained still. Standing his ground, unmoving, Ahn Yuna looked back at him, confused by his refusal.

“Looking at that thing too long won’t be good for your mental health.”

Just as she tried to urge him away again, a fully armed guard appeared from the far end.

“Quick response this time.”

Speaking with dry sarcasm, Ahn Yuna raised her arm to signal. Suddenly, the screeching of tires filled the parking garage—and a sleek black vehicle came barreling their way. Alarmed, Ahn Yuna stepped protectively in front of Dohwa. Then, exactly one meter away, the car came to a screeching halt, and Hwang Jae-i stepped out.

The smell of burnt rubber made her wrinkle her brow in annoyance, but as soon as she saw Jae-i, visible tension drained from her shoulders and she exhaled in relief. Then she pointed toward the yet-unresolved monster.

“Guild Master! Over here! Go finish it off already!”

“……”

Her gesture resembled someone telling their dog to “go fetch.” A faint line creased Jae-i’s brow. But after confirming Dohwa’s presence, he smoothed it away.

“I’ll take care of it quickly. Stay there.”

Gesturing for the guards to hold position, Jae-i stepped forward with a wide stride.

“Jae-i.”

At the sound of Dohwa calling out, Jae-i turned his head. Dohwa gently removed Ahn Yuna’s hand and approached him.

“Um, so, I think… it might be that thing. You know, from when we went to the ocean.”

One of Jae-i’s eyebrows lifted, as if the words struck a chord. Quickly turning his gaze back to the large mass crouched atop the half-crushed vehicle, his expression changed. So that’s where it came from. Could it really be that one? Back then, it hadn’t been bigger than his fist.

“I think it ate something strange. Look—over there.”

Following Dohwa’s pointed finger, Jae-i looked again.

As soon as he appeared, a monstrous head jutted out from the blob’s side—swelling like it was about to burst through thin skin. The creature hissed and opened its mouth wide.

It was grotesque—enough to make one’s stomach turn. But after hearing what Dohwa said, Jae-i began noticing new things. That twisted, disgusting head had been trying to escape from within the mass itself.

Narrowing one eye, Jae-i focused his gaze. The monster’s protruding head shifted toward him—stopped—then the blob sprang violently from the hood of the car.

“Guild Master!”

Though it looked bulky, the mass moved deceptively fast as it launched itself at Jae-i. Standing firm, he simply pushed off the ground with one foot and delivered a powerful upward kick that landed square at its center.

“……!”

The point of impact was disturbingly soft. Disgusted by the squishy sensation, Jae-i followed through with a spinning kick from the opposite leg. Slammed twice in succession, the creature convulsed. Its upper body suddenly snapped open and, with a gurgling retch, it spewed a massive object from within.

“Ugh! Gross!”

Witnessing it up close, Ahn Yuna winced in horror and even Dohwa instinctively staggered backward.

Transparent liquid splashed onto Jae-i’s legs and chest. The fluid quickly dissolved parts of his clothing and left light burns on his skin—but he didn’t so much as flinch.

The mass continued coughing up appendages, and when the grotesque tail was finally expelled, the original blob—now the size of a fist again—teetered and collapsed backward.

Gurrrrk. A belated belch echoed, and Ahn Yuna muttered,

“What is even that thing…”

“……”

“How the hell did we get here?”

No one responded.

Staring flatly at the now shapeless black puddle and the mutilated monster it had regurgitated, Jae-i gave it a tap with his boot.

“Don’t touch it, Guild Master. It’s acting weird,” Ahn Yuna warned.

Jae-i ignored her and tapped it again. Then said flatly:

“It’s dead.”

He had considered incinerating it on the spot but instead turned back to the shrunken black orb.

“Burn that. But that one—keep it.”

“Sorry, what?”

It was illegal to bring monsters outside of a gate except for research. Given how bizarre both were, wouldn’t it be simpler to just incinerate both right now?

“They’re the same creatures that were sent after me before. I thought I got rid of all of them—but I guess not.”

“……”

“Then how did one we didn’t catch back then end up here?”

“Probably snuck aboard.”

Jae-i pointed to the delivery van—now crushed in half.

“…”

How could a monster passenger go undetected? Recalling the bloated form that had just attacked them, Ahn Yuna winced, then glanced down.

Now reduced to a small orb, it was hard to believe that thing had housed something a hundred times its size. Disgusted by the memory of that massive blob bursting out earlier, she murmured,

“It’s probably best to eliminate it now…”

But just as that thought crossed her mind, the lump on the ground stirred—then lunged at Hwang Jae-i.

“Guild Master!”

While Ahn Yuna shrieked in alarm, Jae-i’s face remained blank. He calmly swung his arm and smacked the creature aside. The fist-shaped blob hurled straight toward Ahn Yuna and Dohwa.

Everyone assumed the protective barrier from earlier would repel it—but the black sphere passed right through and latched smack onto Dohwa’s chest.

“…You!”

For once, visibly rattled, Jae-i reached out to rip the monster off—but the blob had already scrambled up Dohwa’s body, perched on his shoulder, and opened its jaws wide.

Then—chomp. It bit and tore off a chunk of Dohwa’s hair.

It was a mess.

Sprawled lazily across the sofa, Dohwa recalled the events from earlier and lifted his head. His eyes landed on the small steel cage on the coffee table—and the black blob that lay quietly inside.

At first, it had played dead. But now, perhaps sensing Dohwa’s gaze, it gave a tiny tremble and slowly opened one eye. Its round gaze blinked open and shut for a while, then both eyes opened and stared at him directly.

“……”

The two stared warily at one another.

This time, the creature moved first. Its body fluffed slightly, then it somersaulted forward, stopping just short of the bars and pasted itself against them. Eyes wide, it stared at Dohwa.

At a glance, it no longer seemed that threatening. Even earlier, all it had done was… eat some of his hair.

“……”

Dohwa lowered his gaze to examine his head.

His long hair had been an annoyance when pulling up his hoodie, and today he’d quickly tied it back. During that scuffle, while stumbling and getting dragged around, his hair had fallen out of place—and the creature had chomped off a good chunk of it.

Now, his once-long hair barely reached to his shoulders.

Tearing his eyes away from the evidence, Dohwa looked again at the blob inside the cage.

This time, it bounced lightly in place. The motion looked strangely happy—like it enjoyed being watched. Cautiously, Dohwa extended his hand.

The bars were spaced so tightly—less than three millimeters apart—that even a finger wouldn’t fit through. Uncertain, he clenched his hand instead.

As though disappointed by the lack of contact, the blob sagged flat again and let out a soft grunt. Then it squeezed its eyes shut, sulking.

“…But you get angry when you’re touched.”

Muttering softly, Dohwa lifted his head.

Jae-i had stepped out not long ago, so he likely wouldn’t come back just yet. Softening his voice further, Dohwa looked back toward the cage.

“You were experimented on too, weren’t you?”

Of course there was no response. Dohwa had expected as much—but still, he waited.

Then, the expressionless blob slowly puffed back into a round shape and stuck firmly to the bars again. A tiny slit opened below its wide eyes.

Seriously? Dohwa leaned in, peering closer.

“…Is that… a mouth?”

But it was tiny.

He leaned in even more to get a better look—

—and a sharp voice rang out.