19. Collision (3)

The lab was wider and cleaner than I expected.

Even though the passage was quite dark, probably because it was buried underground, the bright light of the LED lamps that immediately came into view created a contrasting atmosphere to the outside.

A few office computers commonly found in public institutions, and documents filled with writing scattered on the desk.

And when I turned my head further inside, a small room blocked by opaque glass came into view.

“Are they doing experiments here…?”

Unlike the entrance door, which had no separate locking device, it seemed impossible to enter because it was a system that could only be opened with a card key.

With no other choice, I decided to investigate the piles of paper scattered everywhere first.

After all, even if you combine all of areas 4, 5, and 6, it’s not that big, and it wouldn’t be so bad to slowly check around to see if there are any clues.

It would be best if I could get a clue about the magic power transfer project in the process.

First, I picked up the document on the table closest to me.

“Hmm… this doesn’t seem like it at first glance.”

[Analysis and Consideration of Special Magic Power Wavelengths of Artifacts]

[Ecology and Reproduction Process of Magical Beasts: Focusing on Interaction with Magic Power in the Atmosphere]

The titles smelled difficult from the start, so I immediately put them back down.

Perhaps decorating the title of a thesis with unnecessarily difficult words is a passive skill of scientists in any world.

Suddenly, my supervising professor in reality came to mind, and I shook my head to shake off the thought.

After looking around a few more desks, it seemed that there was no information in the room that would be useful to me now.

Just in case, I looked around here and there for a card key that the researchers might have left behind, but it was all in vain.

“I wonder if the others are doing well…”

In embarrassment, I unconsciously muttered to myself.

The silent space, with no one to answer, made me feel strangely awkward even after speaking.

To be honest, I’m not in a position to worry about anyone.

Leia originally lived here, so she knows the geography of this place better than anyone else, and Juha-ssi and Ryushin-gun are capable enough to take care of themselves, so if I had to pick one, I would probably be the weakest of the four.

As my thoughts reached that conclusion, I felt a strange sense of compulsion covering my body.

I can’t be the one to produce the most futile results when I planned it first and gathered everyone, so I have to do something for now.

“I don’t know if continuing to search is that meaningful… Hooo.”

When you think about it, the fact that they left the documents unattended like this implies that they are not important documents.

Thinking about it logically, it seems like a waste of time to wander outside when there is a so-called ‘restricted area’ that requires a card key.

Okay, change of plans.

From now on, rather than focusing on finding hidden clues, I should quickly look around the next area and aim to get a card key first and enter the controlled area.

If there is no key anywhere… then there is no choice.

I’ll just have to wait for Cyan to appear.

Who in the world would be stupid enough to fight with researchers just to get a card key?

* * *

“Card key here… card key there… Tsk, they built it underground so no one can invade, but why is the security so thorough?”

Seo Juha-ssi twisted her long silver hair with her fingers as she walked along the long corridor.

The scenery of area D was quite different from that of area E, where she had been until just now, creating an atmosphere as if the entire area was a darkroom.

A dark corridor with no lights and no end in sight.

Only the faint green emergency stickers installed at regular intervals barely illuminated her surroundings.

Was it originally designed like this, or was the electricity suddenly cut off temporarily due to some kind of accident?

In fact, it was not a big deal for Seo Juha-ssi.

Since her ability itself deals with shadows, she has already completely adapted to the darkness, so the tiny amount of light created by the luminous stickers was enough to secure a bright daylight-like view.

However, what was bothering her was another man who had headed to area D just like her, and the strange atmosphere that was slowly surrounding her.

“His name was… Go Ryushin-gun, right? He seems pretty strong too, so I’m not too worried…”

The strange tension flowing between the deep darkness and silence made Seo Juha-ssi feel a strange sense of unease.

But since all the doors on both sides of the corridor could only be opened with a card, she had no choice but to move forward, feeling uneasy.

‘There’s no need to waste energy using shadows in a place like this.’

If she wanted to, it would be possible to melt into the shadows and peek inside the tightly closed iron door, but it would require too much energy to explore every door one by one.

It would be cheaper to ambush a researcher, take the card key, and then send them to a remote place for a while using shadow movement.

Of course, that’s a strategy that would only work if there were researchers to encounter.

“Is there really no one…? I’ve been all over the corridor…?”

From area 4 to area 6.

Even after walking around the long, dark corridor, there was no sign of anyone, let alone the sound of people.

That suspicious point made Seo Juha-ssi feel even more uneasy.

It was as if only the people had disappeared, leaving the building intact.

Just as Seo Juha-ssi, judging that she could no longer delay, was about to contact Lee Jihu, she saw a green light flickering in the distance.

“Who’s there?”

She didn’t see the exact shape because she wasn’t concentrating, but she was able to recognize that something large had disappeared beyond the corner of the corridor.

Seo Juha-ssi prepared to escape into the shadows at any time in case of an emergency, and then carefully took a step towards the place where the light was.

‘It’s for my beloved Jihu, so let’s not make a mistake… If it’s dangerous, just run away. I’m just going to find out what it is…’

One step, another step.

She walked carefully, paying attention to whether an attack would come in the moment she was careless, and finally reached the end of the corridor.

If she just turned the corner, she would be able to find out the identity of the light.

However, the anxiety that had been growing since earlier was pressing down on her chest.

A strange intuition that she would never be able to turn back the moment she took another step made her hesitate to move forward.

Nevertheless, Seo Juha-ssi seemed to have made a decision and clenched her fist with a determined expression.

She only wanted to run away, but she thought of Jihu-gun, who was trusting her, and turned the corner with her legs stiff.

And Seo Juha-ssi was finally able to face it.

The intensely flickering green eyes, and the dark gray hair that protruded from outside the hood she was wearing.

The coldly refined anger-filled eyes were looking at Seo Juha-ssi with a gaze that seemed to pierce through even the pitch-black darkness.

“…You, how did you get that body?”

This body?

Ah, she’s talking about being half-human, half-demon.

Seo Juha-ssi was able to instinctively find the answer to the question with an unknown intention.

The person in front of her… the woman was also not entirely human.

The unique ability of the sleepers to sense magical beasts had been sending her a weak signal since just now.

The appearance that mostly matched ‘Cyan’ that Jihu-gun had mentioned, and the ominous characteristic of being a half-magical beast, led Seo Juha-ssi to one conclusion.

‘I have to go back to Jihu-gun and tell him quickly.’

It was a top priority to find an opportunity and move to Jihu-gun as quickly as possible through the shadows.

As if she didn’t notice Seo Juha-ssi’s stiffened face, the woman poured out words close to a monologue in an indifferent tone.

“Well, if you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to answer. I don’t know how you got here, but don’t think about staying here for long.”

Okay, let’s run away quickly while she’s off guard.

Set the coordinates of area E5 where Jihu-gun is… connect the shadow there with the shadow here to build a space passage…

“Ah, and one more thing.”

The woman, who was still looking at her with cold eyes, added a word as Seo Juha-ssi was about to enter the shadow passage that was about to be created.

“Because you have a 1% chance of winning, don’t go and say useless things, just tell them to run away quickly.”

Ah, I’ve already been caught.

“If you’re still here in 20 minutes, by 3 p.m…. then I’ll kill you no matter what. Now, go and tell them.”

Jihu-gun, I’m sorry.

We, I think we should retreat for now.

That person knew everything.

We were being played in the palm of her hand.

If we run away now, our lives will be safe…

Can’t we take a step back just this once?