episode_0099

I suppose a hospital is one of the symbols of life. A medical space for the injured, the sick, and the ill. Therefore, it would also be a place with a noble meaning.

But today, that meaning had greatly faded. The space that should be clean was stained with blood and flesh. Seeds of evil were created in a place where only medicine for life should exist. Death was layered upon a place where life should be prioritized.

Yeom Seongjin, the human who orchestrated all of this, is, in a sense, a formidable individual. If he had used his abilities for good, he might have been able to save people and even taken a leadership position. However, he exercised his abilities in a selfish direction, and the result has led to this. And in that process, I became entangled.

Now, as I’m almost untangling the end of this messy knot. The time to slaughter Yeom Seongjin is gradually approaching. Whether he knows it or not, he’s currently unconscious, but the fact that this guy will die today remains unchanged.

The third floor, which I quietly ascended to avoid people, was simply quiet. Only a couple of living presences could be felt inside. Other than that, a few more familiar presences could be felt.

‘No way….’

Setting other places aside, I first headed towards where the familiar presence was emanating from. That alien and faint sensation, not of living beings. As I drew closer, a faint, unpleasant scratching sound against my eardrums could be heard.

The large hospital room at the very end of the hallway. The door itself was heavily reinforced, hinting at what might be inside. Standing in front of the door, I quietly exhaled and pressed my face against it. Inside the hospital room, visible through the small, existing window.

“Grooan…”

Inside were four zombies. The zombies were tightly bound to hospital beds, whimpering faintly. Two zombies wearing black suits. One middle-aged zombie who looked quite old. One male zombie who looked quite young.

Perhaps because there were no living people in sight? The bound zombies merely growled quietly. I didn’t know why these zombies were imprisoned and tied up here.

‘…Were they experimenting?’

The young zombie and the middle-aged zombie were simply tied up. But the two zombies in suits had their bodies cut open. This was different from the dissected zombie I had seen in the Red Hospital’s emergency room. Just by seeing how cleanly their bodies were opened, I knew it was the work of a professional. If I were to look closer, I might learn more, but there was no need.

That was all I could confirm through the window, but one more thing became clear: you still had to crush their heads to stop them. Seeing the two zombies in suits still whimpering and writhing despite their bodies being slaughtered like that, I realized it once again.

I turned my gaze away from the zombies and looked down at Yeom. I would have to thoroughly question what on earth this human had done.

Leaving the zombies behind, I checked the remaining hospital rooms one by one. The rooms, which were slightly larger and more luxurious than the second-floor rooms, seemed to have been mostly used as living quarters for the gangsters. Among them, two hospital rooms contained food, supplies, and alcohol. A large quantity of alcohol filled one room.

“…So these bastards were planning to drink themselves to death.”

I was speechless seeing more alcohol than food. But I could somewhat understand. After committing such madness, there’s no way they could have endured it sober. Other than that, there was nothing particularly special. It seemed these bastards truly planned to live only for today, as no separate weapons were visible.

Confirming there was nothing else amiss, I headed for the last room.

『V.I.P.』

“…Huh.”

It’s quite large, but a V.I.P. room in a neighborhood hospital? Only a hollow, disbelieving laugh escaped me. It seemed Yeom had been staying here. True to its ‘V.I.P.’ title, even the door was clean. Beyond that door, two human presences could be felt. If I just got the two people inside, it would be over.

Thinking it was the last, I opened the door without hesitation and entered.

“Hiyah!”

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, something was brought down from the side. I instinctively blocked it. By lifting the Yeom Seongjin I was holding in my left hand.

Smash-!

Along with the dull sound of pottery shattering, dirt splattered. It was struck so hard that the object shattered into pieces, flying everywhere. Yeom, who had been hit squarely on the head, twitched but didn’t regain consciousness. I turned my gaze towards where the attack had come from and saw a young woman greatly flustered. With her round eyes wide open.

“Oh? Oh?”

Perhaps because a different scene than expected unfolded, the surprised woman stepped back, retreating. I turned my gaze to survey the interior and saw another young woman standing by the bed. Both of them had quite young faces.

‘So this is why they called her a child.’

They were pretty and slender, but definitely still had a youthful air about them. That’s why the woman I saw downstairs seemed to have referred to them as ‘children.’ I spoke to them.

“If you’re going to hit someone, hit this guy. I’m not a gangster.”

“……”

“You two. How old are you?”

I looked at the women again, who showed no reaction despite my words. The two stood frozen, their faces turning ghost-white and pale.

‘Ah…….’

Only then did I realize why they were reacting like that. It was because of my current appearance, covered in blood. Could a young woman see someone soaked in blood and remain unfazed? I suppose such a reaction is normal for most people.

I let out a bitter laugh and took a step back.

“If you go down to the second floor, other women are helping people.”

“…Huh?”

“Everyone has been freed, so go on down.”

I said it indifferently and then paid them no mind. They were quite surprised and scared by my appearance, so what more was there to say?

I quietly looked around the space where Yeom had been staying. There was nothing particularly special. A quaint potted plant and bonsai by the window enhanced the atmosphere. The expensive-looking sofa and the comfortable-looking large bed were certainly… And a sword decorated at the head of the bed.

‘…A sword?’

A black lacquered scabbard and a black hilt. It seemed a little longer than the crowbar I carried around. As I approached, I took off my blood-soaked gloves and tossed them aside. Gazing at the fine scabbard, I carefully lifted the sword with both hands.

Unlike its slender body, it felt quite heavy. It wasn’t as heavy as the crowbar, but it was definitely heavier than a sword of similar form.

“…There’s no sword guard either….”

The moment I carefully gripped the hilt.

‘…This is.’

A feeling came over me. I could use this. Slowly, I drew the sword and examined the blade.

“Oh, wow….”

Its sharp, menacing blade was perfectly and exquisitely honed. More than anything, its durability seemed to match the clearly felt weight. And correspondingly, the blade was twice as thick. It had an unusual shape, but tapping it with my fingertips confirmed it was truly sturdy. I didn’t have blacksmithing skills, so I didn’t know the details. But from my experience with countless weapons, I could tell. This sword might be even sturdier than a blunt weapon.

“How on earth was this made?”

For a moment, I suspected there might be dwarves hiding on Earth. To that extent, this sword in my hand was exceptionally excellent. It felt like it leaned slightly towards being a sword, on the borderline between a sword and a blunt weapon. At the very least, it was undoubtedly a perfectly fitting and useful weapon for me right now.

In my excitement, I forgot the situation and even abandoned Yeom. Just then, I saw a large ornamental stone. I approached the red ornamental stone, about the size of a bowling ball, displayed on a long decorative stand.

“Huu…”

I regulated my breathing and took a stance for drawing the sword.

Whoosh- whoosh-

I drew the sword, sliced, then pulled it back and sliced again. A swift slash, honed from the diagonal, that my body remembered.

Thwack-

I even sheathed it, but there was no change in the ornamental stone. I approached closer and lightly touched the ornamental stone with my fingertips.

Slide- thud thud

The pieces of the ornamental stone slid apart and fell to the floor, divided into three. The chilling sensation of the cut, transmitted through the sword tip, was satisfying.

“Fuck yeah….”

Simply excellent. I liked it so much that I forgot the unpleasant stickiness covering my body. A satisfaction incomparable to when I plundered the gangsters’ supplies. My mood improved, and a deep smile bloomed. It felt like a man’s fantasy was swelling up with just one sword.

No inscription or text was engraved on either the scabbard or the blade. I couldn’t obtain any information about the creator. That point felt regrettable.

‘I don’t know who you are or where you live, but I will make good use of it.’

I offered my gratitude towards the creator who left behind such a magnificent item. And as I was looking down at the sword in my hand.

“Wow….”

I was startled by the exclamation of awe coming from behind me. Perhaps it was because I was so excited by the feel of the sword in my hand after so long? I had momentarily forgotten that there were two young women behind me. And it seemed both women had witnessed me swinging the sword.

“…You didn’t go down?”

I turned around and chided the women, but it didn’t faze them in the slightest.

“Those gangster bastards couldn’t even properly lift it, saying it was too heavy, but you have such strength.”

“……”

Was it fearlessness, or was that just their personality? Just moments ago, they were terrified by my appearance, and now they were casually striking up a conversation. Moreover, it seemed they weren’t even listening to me; they were just doing their own thing.

“You should go down first.”

“I’m scared, so could you possibly come with me?”

A plump, young woman in a seductive outfit pleaded in a frail voice. In a word, she was currently flirting. Those women had now caught on. That I wouldn’t harm them.

I let out a small sigh and grabbed the collar of Yeom, who was sprawled on the floor, dragging him. The two women’s murderous gazes turned towards Yeom, but I didn’t care. Rather, I was concerned about the zombies trapped in the room at the end of the hallway. Taking the two women, who were in better condition than the people downstairs, I headed to the second floor. Their words about being scared didn’t seem to be a lie, as both of their breaths grew slightly ragged. It seemed these people were the last of the living; there were no more.

The building was more or less cleaned up. Now, all that remained was to check if Yeom Seongjin had done anything else. I wouldn’t leave any loose ends.

“Ugh….”

Had he somehow sensed his impending death? Just then, Yeom, who was being roughly shaken in my hand, seemed to be regaining consciousness. It wasn’t planned, but it was time to have a conversation in front of everyone. And I had some questions.

Organizing my thoughts, I arrived before the people on the second floor. The bustling hallway, which had been a bit noisy, instantly fell silent. The gazes of the scantily clad women converged on Yeom, who was gripped in my hand. Their eyes truly seemed capable of killing a person with just a glance. The atmosphere was that murderous.

It was a sorry tale, but it had nothing to do with me, so I ignored it.

Thump-

I strode forward and threw Yeom Seongjin in front of the old doctor who was tending to a patient.

“Please make this guy regain consciousness. If I do it, I think he’ll die.”

“Ha….”

At my blunt tone, the old doctor made a bewildered expression and laughed hollowly. Yet, the old doctor still listened to me. This old man also didn’t seem ordinary.