Ch.145The Fifth Apostle (2)

I have a broken leg. Heo Yoon is carrying me on her back, so she can’t use weapons.

Choi Serim is holding a shotgun, but she’s not very familiar with using weapons…

Without accurate information in this situation, we’ll all die.

I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and clutched it.

Soon, a sentence appears before my eyes.

[Checking authorization.]

Checking authorization.

It means the Library is considering.

Whether to allow me to use my ability, or to refuse.

This is the exact sentence I’ve seen countless times while using a Librarian’s abilities.

But now, it feels completely different.

Please.

It needs to be approved.

From far away, I can hear the screams of the crazed researchers.

I also hear Heo Yoon and Serim talking.

“Serim. Keep a good eye on our surroundings.”

“Yes, unni.”

The most basic request a Librarian can send.

If even this request is rejected by the Library, it’s truly over.

[Checking authorization.]

…

[Authorization approved.]

“It worked!”

Heo Yoon, who’s carrying me, flinches in surprise and turns around.

“Why so sudden? What worked?”

“It worked…”

“What exactly worked?”

A moment later.

An arrow appears floating in the air.

[Displaying location of the Infinite Archive.]

“Thank goodness.”

As expected.

Even with greatly reduced privileges, this was still possible.

A Librarian refers to someone who works at the Library.

It doesn’t make sense that someone working at a library wouldn’t know where the library is.

An arrow pointing toward the direction of the Library.

With just this, we can escape from this hell.

“What is that?”

“It’s an arrow. It’s pointing to the Library’s location.”

“Ah. So we’re using this to find our direction?”

“Yes.”

Inside the dust-covered research facility.

The white light emitted by the small arrow cuts through the dark air.

“With this, we can escape from here.”

“…”

Meanwhile, Serim is carefully observing the arrow floating above my head.

She has an expression like she almost remembers something.

Well, she was once a Librarian of the Infinite Archive too.

Even if her memories aren’t complete, she probably still has a vague sense of familiarity.

But that’s all.

She soon turns her gaze elsewhere.

Toward where the screaming sounds were coming from earlier.

“Unni. They’re coming.”

“How many?”

“I’m not sure. I can see about three.”

“Got it. Let’s move quickly.”

Heo Yoon quickly starts walking.

The arrow is pointing slightly crooked to the left.

“If we just follow that direction, we can escape, right?”

“Yes.”

“But what if it’s pointing in a different direction from where the elevator is?”

“To get to the Library, we must go through the elevator. If we follow the direction, we’ll definitely reach the elevator.”

In the darkness, gunshots occasionally ring out.

Choi Serim speaks quietly.

“What about the others?”

“They’ll be waiting in front of the elevator.”

“What about Daju? She stayed behind in the building.”

“She’ll manage on her own… No. Daju is also…”

Heo Yoon falls into thought for a moment.

“First, let’s reach the elevator. Then we can think about what to do next.”

“Yes, unni.”

“What do you think, Dabin?”

“I think the same.”

Yoon Daju will definitely return.

If she can’t return, I’ll bring her back.

So, let’s first get everyone else to safety.

That was the decision I made.

…Though I’m hardly in a position to take care of others.

The pain in my leg is getting worse.

Even the slightest movement causes a groan to escape.

Just now, I momentarily lost focus, and the surging pain snapped me back to awareness.

‘Ugh.’

I managed to hide my voice.

But I couldn’t stop my body from reflexively flinching.

It was only a matter of time before Heo Yoon, who was carrying me, noticed.

“Right. First, we need to get Dabin to a safe place. Then we can move.”

“Wait. That won’t work.”

“Huh? Are you saying we should go find the others right now?”

“No. We need to get to the elevator first.”

Heo Yoon lets out a small laugh.

“Ah. So after everyone gathers at the elevator, you’re going to go back to find Daju?”

“Yes.”

“Hey, Lim Dabin. Your leg is broken. How are you going to move?”

“Dabin…”

“To find Daju, I have to be the one to go.”

“Why? Does Yoon Daju only want to run to you when she sees you?”

Heo Yoon’s tone suddenly became sharp.

That’s when Choi Serim stepped in.

“Unni. Watch what you’re saying!”

“Huh? Serim…?”

To think that the usually quiet Serim would say something like this.

I understand why Heo Yoon is shocked.

Taking advantage of the moment, Serim continues in a gentle voice.

“Everyone’s on edge because of the atmosphere. People are going crazy… We can’t get caught up in it.”

“You’re right… I’m sorry.”

In a much softer voice, Heo Yoon asks me.

“Is there a specific reason why it has to be you, Dabin?”

“Yes.”

Another wave of pain forced me to take a sharp breath.

“Huff…”

“See? I told you you can’t move.”

I continued speaking, ignoring her concern.

“Once we open the elevator, the anomalous properties of this space will drain out.”

“What?”

“Like when you pull the plug in a full bathtub and the water drains down. This research facility will return to normal.”

“And then?”

“That’s when I’ll go rescue Daju.”

“Then couldn’t someone else go too?”

“No. Only the space will return to normal, but the madness will remain. If anyone else is exposed, they’ll likely go insane.”

“So because you have the strongest resistance to that kind of thing, you’re going to go back in there alone?”

“Yes.”

“You’re crazy.”

Heo Yoon mutters.

“Lim Dabin, you’re truly crazy.”

“There’s no other way.”

“You’re not completely immune either! You said you might go crazy if you stay here too long. And you’re not even a Librarian anymore!”

“Unni. Please don’t get angry.”

Serim calms the atmosphere again.

“Right. Dabin, wouldn’t it be better if someone else went quickly? If they go fast, they’ll reduce exposure time to the madness, so even if their resistance is lower than yours…”

“It’s not that simple.”

“What about Yebin? Her resistance is similar to yours, right?”

“Yebin is… actually at the level of a normal person now. I’ve lost my Library privileges.”

“So it has to be you.”

“Yes.”

The elevator gradually comes into view.

I can also see people standing in front of it.

I stopped Heo Yoon as she approached.

“Stop for a moment.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Why suddenly? Is there something strange over there?”

There was tension in Choi Serim’s voice, but that’s not what I meant.

“We need to signal that it’s us.”

“I’ll get my phone out.”

I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight.

The bright light cut through the darkness.

Then, I flashed it a few times.

Flash. Flash.

Soon, the same signal returns from the other side.

“Let’s go now.”

“If we approach incorrectly, we might end up shooting each other. This is the right way to do it.”

Heo Yoon mutters.

It shows her veteran experience from surviving in this apartment for so long.

There were six people in front of the elevator.

Seok Hyunmin, Riko, Jung Haewon, Dan and Robin, and Yebin.

Fortunately, everyone was gathered.

“Noona!”

Jung Haewon waves happily.

Robin also slowly approaches, then notices that I’m being carried by Heo Yoon.

“Wait. Dabin. Are you injured?”

“My leg. I think it’s broken.”

“Of all places, the leg…”

Robin clicks her tongue bitterly.

“If we could properly use the Foundation’s facilities, we could fix it right away. I’ll have to think about this.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The Foundation’s facilities. I think we’ll be able to use them soon.”

“Shut up. Just get ready to come down.”

Heo Yoon slowly lowers me to the ground.

“Phew… That was tough.”

“But I wasn’t that heavy, right?”

“Enough. Stop talking nonsense and answer this.”

Her eyes, burning with determination, meet mine.

It’s probably thanks to that will that she’s survived for so long.

Heo Yoon looks at me and asks.

“Lim Dabin. Can you really do this?”

“I have a plan.”

“You’re not going to die, right?”

“No. Me, Daju, and everyone else. We’ll all get out of here safely.”

“Okay. I’ll believe you.”

“Dabin… Can you really come back safely?”

“Wait. What are you talking about? Noona, what did you agree to do?”

To both Choi Serim’s question and Jung Haewon’s urgent interruption,

I answered with a faint smile.

“I’m going to find Yoon Daju. Only I can go.”

“I’ll definitely come back safely.”

Horrific screams can be heard from quite nearby.

Crazed researchers are coming this way in groups.

Blood-stained lab coats. Gouged-out eyeballs. Scarlet entrails dragging on the floor, leaving marks.

Even the armed security personnel who had shot themselves in the head are walking toward us.

Missing jaws. Half-destroyed skulls. Yet they still firmly grip their weapons.

“They’re coming this way.”

Heo Yoon takes a combat stance.

“Serim. The weapon from earlier.”

“Yes, unni.”

Heo Yoon takes the shotgun back from Choi Serim and aims it at them.

Others also prepare for battle with their own weapons.

Bang!

As the first gunshot rings out, the horrific screams fill the sky.

We must gather blood.

We must gather more sacrifices.

Gunshots continue to ring out.

Jung Haewon is fighting hard, but he’s trembling noticeably.

Bang!

Bang!

Enemies keep pouring in.

Some stop walking and squeeze blood from the corpses of their fallen comrades.

Almost there.

Just a little more.

Jung Haewon is fighting hard, but he’s trembling unusually.

“Wait! There are too many!”

“We just need to open the elevator doors. Then they’ll all disappear.”

“Noona, why are you only saying this now?”

“Because the timing has to be now!”

Open the elevator doors and let the madness out.

The moment I press the button.

Soon, the entire space will return to normal in an instant.

If it were too early, such a dramatic effect wouldn’t occur.

If it were too late, the madness would have completely filled this space.

The perfect moment is only now.

Click.

As I press the elevator button, the doors open.

Simultaneously, a tremendous wave ripples through the space.

Whoooosh-

With a gust of wind that seems like it will blow everything away.

“Everyone hold on tight!”

Voices of strangers mix with the sound of the wind.

“We will all die.”

“Everything will disappear into nothingness.”

“We will end up killing ourselves.”

“Let’s achieve our destruction with our current selves.”

I raised my voice, straining my vocal cords.

“Don’t listen to that nonsense!!!”

I have a backpack on my back.

A bag containing necessary items that I had packed earlier.

“Take shelter inside the elevator!”

Flash.

Suddenly, lights come on in the research facility that had been dark all along.

At the same time, I immediately rushed forward.

No.

Rather than running, I’m crawling on the floor, rolling, somehow moving forward with one leg.

I raised my head.

In the center of the now much narrower research facility is a red drawing.

A massive symbol drawn in blood.

A ritual to summon the power of the Fifth Apostle, turning the space itself into part of his body.

Though still incomplete, it could awaken with just a few more strokes.

In that sense, the timing of our entry was precise.

If I can just rescue Daju, everyone can return.

Yoon Daju.

Where are you?

I barely stood up on one leg, supporting myself against the wall.

My field of vision is higher now, but I still can’t see Daju.

“Yoon Daju!!!”

After a moment.

Daju appears.

Daju being dragged along the floor by two researchers, her body limp.

As the spatial anomaly drastically decreased, most of the researchers returned to being corpses.

However, some researchers still survive, continuing their mad slaughter.

“No.”

The two researchers are dragging Daju to where they want.

Blood marks are drawn on the floor along their path.

In the center of the now much narrower research facility is a red drawing.

A massive symbol drawn in blood.

A ritual to summon the power of the Fifth Apostle, turning the space itself into part of his body.

Though still incomplete, it could awaken with just a few more strokes.

The ritual is beginning to complete.

The name of the final sacrifice is Yoon Daju.

The Fifth Apostle comes to gather those accustomed to slaughter.

“No…”

I opened my bag and took out what was inside.