Ch.191Dream (1)

The Empire’s largest underground city, Kingdom.

A domain ruled by the monarch once called the pinnacle of the underworld.

Kingdom boasts a massive scale worthy of its name.

A city that rivals even major metropolises… buried deep underground.

According to the original setting, the Empire’s capital was once located nearby.

It must have served as both a tourist attraction and evacuation shelter.

‘However.’

More than 100 years ago.

A major earthquake struck the area, causing extensive damage to the capital.

The ground became unstable, and the underground city faced the risk of collapse at any moment.

Because of these problems, people began leaving the area one by one.

The Emperor of that time also chose to relocate the capital.

Thus, the city was left with no inhabitants.

‘The bottom attracts those who belong at the bottom.’

The city rapidly deteriorated into a slum.

The anxiety of not knowing when the ceiling might collapse.

The wealthy departed, leaving only the poor behind.

Moreover, even the imperial family withdrew from the area.

Stagnant, putrid water collected in the underground where not a single ray of light penetrated.

‘A landfill.’

Typically, places beyond sight tend to crawl with vermin.

Law and order hit rock bottom, and crime became rampant.

A city where not even hope remained.

Discarded items gathered to form a landfill.

‘Afterward.’

A man who seized control of the chaotic city and began to reign over the bottom.

The one called the “Monarch,” the pinnacle of the underworld at that time, stepped forward.

He made the city his base and named it his kingdom.

They say the bottom attracts those who belong at the bottom.

The city became tainted with an even darker hue.

Until not even a trace of sunlight remained.

“Still… I remember it wasn’t this much of a mess.”

I mutter while surveying my surroundings.

Streets covered in thick darkness.

My indifferent steps tread at the entrance of the underground city.

The scenery of Kingdom, which I was visiting after several months, had a distinctly different atmosphere from before.

People sprawled along the streets, not a single ray of light in sight, the scent of blood brushing past my nose…

“How strange.”

Perhaps it was due to this sense of incongruity.

I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.

A thick silence hung over the city.

“Miss Neria.”

“Master.”

“It’s been this kind of scenery all along. A quiet landscape… without any sign of human presence.”

“It’s as if the entire city has fallen asleep. Even the homeless around us are all unconscious.”

“It’s not exactly a time for sleeping, considering the outside is still bright daylight.”

“Even for an underground city, there’s no reason for it to be this quiet during the day…”

“It seems there was a reason the Monarch requested support.”

“Yes… the atmosphere feels ominous.”

The gloomy air grew heavier by the moment.

Human figures sprawled here and there on the streets.

They lay collapsed without the slightest movement.

I thought they might be corpses, but upon closer inspection, they were breathing normally.

They simply lacked consciousness, as if they had fallen asleep.

It was truly a bizarre scene.

“…It’s quiet.”

As we approached the center of the city, the number of people on the streets only increased.

Thugs, beggars, merchants… all had lost consciousness and collapsed.

Now there were enough people to fill an entire alley.

I chew on a vague sense of discomfort.

Just as Neria said, it was as if the entire city had fallen asleep.

The occasional scent of blood adds to the unsettling scene.

Our gaze fixes on a certain point.

“Master, that is…”

“How horrific.”

A body stuffed into a secluded corner.

A corpse drenched in blood.

While most were unharmed, that didn’t mean everyone was.

Occasionally, corpses like this were scattered among the sleeping people.

The corpses consistently shared the same appearance.

“Hmm.”

Whatever had been done to them.

Their condition was a complete mess, as if they had been mauled by something.

Arms and legs were torn apart, with intestines spilled onto the floor.

And the head was in an even worse state.

“At least we can tell the culprit is violent.”

A forehead with a clean hole punched through it.

It looked as if the brain had been completely devoured.

I quietly click my tongue.

‘…Has the situation I feared come to pass?’

Kingdom.

The bottom of the continent.

It seemed that the seeds of disaster were beginning to sprout here as well.

No… perhaps they had already taken root long ago.

I expand my spiritual perception while maintaining a facade.

As we traverse the city…

“We should contact headquarters as well.”

“Understood, I’ll do so right away…”

Screech-!

A scream coming from somewhere.

It wasn’t human.

No human vocal cords could contain such a ghastly sound.

We turn around, following the source of the explosive sound.

Only a faint shadow appears in our vision.

“What is that…?”

A specter covered in blood.

At first glance, it resembled a wild beast; upon closer inspection, it looked more like an aquatic creature.

The malevolence gleaming in the pitch-black darkness was truly grotesque.

It was charging toward us with ferocious momentum.

Between its teeth was a half-chewed skull.

“Master…!”

Neria quickly steps forward.

A faint light flickers around the dagger in her hand.

However, despite facing the specter, I didn’t move a muscle.

I merely looked up at the massive figure with indifferent eyes.

Because I had certainty.

“You’re late.”

The certainty that those vicious teeth would not reach us.

I mutter at the faint presence I sensed.

Following that, an aged voice is heard.

“You’re still as cold as ever.”

The next moment.

A flashing light colors the passageway.

The specter is torn apart, powerless to resist.

In front of this scene stands an old man with white hair.

An intense killing intent swirls around him.

“It’s been quite a while since we last met.”

The Monarch.

The one-armed old man stood looking in our direction.

His dark-colored suit flutters in the backdraft.

His distinctive golden eyes flash.

“First of all, thank you for responding to my request for support, Leader of the Stars.”

“I came in a hurry… but the state of the city is terrible.”

“Let’s move first. We don’t know when another disturbance might begin.”

“By disturbance, you mean…?”

The old man walks ahead.

Without even looking back at us, he speaks.

“Hurry. The night has already begun, it seems.”

It was a meaningful statement.

***

The center of the city, where people lay sprawled.

We left that place and walked along a secluded alley.

Tearing apart the specters that occasionally appeared.

“I apologize. The situation isn’t good for welcoming guests.”

“It’s obvious just by looking. What exactly happened here?”

“Well… the usual affairs of the bottom.”

On the way to somewhere.

We listen to the Monarch’s story about Kingdom.

The subject that came from the old man’s lips was quite unexpected.

His suit, missing one arm, flutters in the breeze.

“Have you heard of Cauchemar?”

“Cauchemar… that’s a drug.”

“Yes, a new type of drug. It’s been all the rage in the underworld for the past few months.”

“I’ve heard it’s highly addictive and inexpensive. Plus, it supposedly has almost no side effects. Since our city doesn’t deal with drugs, I don’t know the exact details, but…”

“You’re well-informed. It was truly an innovative item. Strong, safe, and cheap… wasn’t it the perfect product for those living at the bottom? The response in Kingdom was enthusiastic.”

“Isn’t it quite common in these parts for new drugs to cause a sensation?”

“Yes, it happens as a regular occurrence.”

“Then?”

“The problem is that someone took advantage of this everyday occurrence.”

“…It seems someone tampered with this drug called Cauchemar.”

“More precisely, the drug itself was the bait.”

We listened to the explanation.

Cauchemar.

A new drug that recently caused a sensation in Kingdom.

A substance whose origin, composition, and production site remained unknown.

The Monarch mutters as he tears apart another specter.

“I was careless. Even detailed analysis didn’t reveal any suspicious elements. And now we have this disaster.”

“What exactly happened?”

“Haven’t you seen the citizens sprawled all over the ground?”

“They’re everywhere. They look like they’re taking a collective nap.”

“It happened exactly two days ago. Everyone lost consciousness as if they had planned it.”

“All the citizens of Kingdom… over 300,000 people?”

“It seems that’s what happens to anyone who has consumed Cauchemar even once.”

“Since it was popular for the past few months, the number must be quite significant.”

“Yes, that’s why there are Sleeping Beauties lying here and there.”

“From what I can see, this is neither a forest nor are they princesses.”

“I don’t think that’s the important part.”

A flippant joke in response.

Regardless of the conversation, the situation was extremely serious.

Kingdom is fundamentally a city for criminals, cartels, and drug addicts.

In other words, people who don’t use drugs are significantly fewer.

Even a rough calculation would put the figure at over 70%.

I scan the surroundings while asking questions.

“Your opponent is no ordinary one. Do you have any suspicions?”

“It must be those cultists. Considering the specters we’ve seen and the disgusting demonic energy I sense.”

“In addition to them… it seems former businessmen or external cartel forces have also lent their strength.”

“I never knew Kingdom had so many enemies.”

“As for why the cult would target Kingdom…”

“The reasons are abundant.”

The Monarch smiles as if to say, “Why do you even ask?”