Chapter 57: Mi-go's Laboratory (1)

"What's going on, Kim Shin-hwa? Why are you like that?"

It was Curtain Call who said that.

From her perspective, it must have seemed odd for me to stand still while gazing into the empty air. And with a mask on, it would have been impossible to guess what I was thinking.

"No, wait. Just give me a moment."

"You look like you're seeing a hallucination."

I doubted she could see my expression under the mask, but Curtain Call's observation was so spot-on that I hesitated for a moment before mumbling a response.

"Well... it's not that. It's because I'm a mage."

There were many things about mages that warriors didn't grasp, so that should suffice. Sure enough, Curtain Call seemed to contemplate this for a moment before nodding her head in agreement.

"Right, because you're a mage. I'll wait."

[How long can your previous knowledge protect you? As long as the beings from the abyss are watching, the day may come when that very knowledge turns into a curse. Yet, you might overcome even such obstacles.

Remember, time is running out!]

...Go ahead, pour on the scorn. Well, the message displayed isn't entirely incorrect. Someday, the knowledge I've relied on might indeed become a curse. That's all the more reason to understand how this world is changing and where it is heading.

Turning my head, I saw Curtain Call waiting with a look of boredom on her face.

This one is also a puzzle I need to solve... But for now, we are allies, albeit temporarily, as there was still some unfinished business we have to do.

"It's over now."

"Really? What were you saying?"

...Does this woman know something?

"Who said what?"

"Weren't you talking to the friend in your head?"

I almost misunderstood her but it turned out to be a different conversation.

"I can't claim my mind is entirely sound, but I'm not mad in that way, so don't worry."

"Is that so? How boring."

"Sorry for making you wait, but we need to get moving. The manager of Helistic might barge in at any moment."

"We're off to extract data from the lab, right?"

"Exactly."

"I'm not cut out for that sort of thing, so I'm counting on you."

"It's not a big deal."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, come on."

Curtain Call responded with a lack of enthusiasm and picked up her magic sword.

To prepare for any contingencies, I created a magical alarm and attached it to the window, and I was surrounded by protective spells as we moved.

The building, already in disarray from the stir caused by the test subjects, became even more dreadful with the marks of battle left by Curtain Call and me.

Fireballs, tidal waves, lightning strikes, earthquakes, and even holes in the floor—some of which went down to the first level. Through one such hole, the crushed wreck of a car was visible.

The third floor was littered with completely torn bodies.

"You've really turned this place upside down, Kim Shin-hwa."

"Well, I'm at a loss for words."

Even I had gone so far as to turn them into zombies, and I extracted their organs to use them as weapons, which made the chaos on the third floor even more horrific than when I first entered this place.

Everywhere, there were gruesome clumps formed by a mixture of charred black fluid, flesh, blood, and viscera.

All of this was my doing, but I had indeed gone to extreme lengths.

It was astonishing that the building was still standing intact.

Before long, we reached the office of the laboratory director which was located in the most secluded corner of the third floor.

As this room housed some of the most crucial and sensitive information in the building, it was secured with a specially reinforced security system, unlike other parts of the hospital.

"Only this wall is still in good condition?"

"The inner side of this wall is reinforced with metal. It's like they've created a sort of bomb shelter."

"Then, is it possible that the director is hiding here?"

"No. Since the face skin that Je Mu-gyeong was wearing belonged to the director, that's unlikely."

"Ah, that face was the director's?"

"Yes."

Moreover, this room was equipped with its own power supply and server and it was completely isolated from the outside.

If only this room remained intact, the dual contract quest could proceed without any issues.

The door was locked, but at this point, that was merely a trivial thing.

I didn't even pause in my stride towards the door before casting a spell.

[Unlock]

Click.

Creaaaaaaak....

Unless magically sealed, there was no door I couldn't open.

And even if it was magically sealed, it would only be a matter of time before it could be bypassed. It wasn't a significant obstacle.

"What? It doesn't open with that USB?"

"No, the USB is needed to access the main computer."

"This is unnecessarily complicated. What's all this about?"

The director's office was a very typical and outdated setup.

There was a large leather sofa, a bookshelf filled with volumes, and a desk with a computer on it.

There were bloodstains and books scattered randomly around the place. A large executive chair that had been beside the desk was now tipped over and pushed to the far corner.

The traces of Je Mu-gyeong's visit were all clear to see.

However, compared to other areas of the hospital, it could be considered relatively tidy.

There was no real need to investigate this room further.

Unless one was specifically interested in undeniable evidence of Helistic's involvement in the facility or the research processes of the test subjects, there wasn't much else to see.

Helistic was a corporation of mad scientists researching eternal life, immortality, and the supernatural potential of humans.

Well, anyway!

I set the overturned executive chair upright and took a seat.

"Phewwwwwwww."

How much does this chair cost? It's incredibly cushy.

The marshmallow-like cushion enveloped my hips, while the ergonomically curved backrest tenderly supported my back and waist.

"Ah..."

As I surrendered to the comfort of this large, luxurious chair, my tension naturally dissolved... and my eyes began to close...

"Kim Shin-hwa, what are you doing? Are you dumb?"

"Ah, please. I'm not as resilient as you."

I casually responded and plugged the USB into the computer.

It served as a sort of data key...

Upon inserting it into the computer, the dedicated program was automatically activated.

The specified program window opened on the monitor, and a message appeared.

- This program can only be operated by personnel with specified security clearance.

- Please enter the password if you seek authorization.

The password could only be discovered by solving a certain puzzle hidden on the second floor.

Even though I was a stagnant water who had cleared the same game numerous times, I couldn't possibly memorize a password meant for one-time use in such a place.

Moreover, the password was... M1g0'5WI+I1573I2.

Before acquiring such abilities in this world, it would have been a password impossible to memorize even if asked.

However, thanks to an intelligence stat of 30, I could recall every minor sentence and text I had seen in the game.

Therefore, I was able to effortlessly enter the 17-character password which was a random jumble of special characters, numbers, and letters.

- Authorization granted.

The program starts running with that robotic message.

Whirrrrr...

"What's that?"

"It's not a big deal, so don't worry and just wait."

Whirrrrr...

You could feel the slight feeling of floating that you often experience in an elevator, along with a slight vibration sound that echoed throughout the room.

Magic could unlock any door no matter how securely it was sealed.

However, there was no spell to operate an elevator that worked exclusively with a dedicated program.

This director's office was, in and of itself, a huge elevator.

The only way down to the basement was through this.

The elevator moved at a slow pace while continuing its descent.

The basement was not merely the depth of a single room.

If it were that shallow, it would have been easier to simply break through the floor with magic rather than go through all this trouble.

But this elevator was currently descending nearly ten meters underground, which was too far for my detection spells to feel.

Creaaaak...

The movement of the director's office came to a halt.

Now, if I were to get up and walk out the door... that would be it... that would be it... but my behind just wouldn't lift from the seat.

"Ugh..."

I wanted to stay seated a little longer, but this was not the time.

Haaah... Moreover, considering what awaited me outside, this was no time to indulge in such trivial stuff.

In the basement awaited an event even more unsettling than anything I had seen on the third floor.

Creak...

I opened the door of the director's office.

A scene completely different from the first floor of the hospital I had just seen unfolded before me.

The basement was dark. Lighting fixtures were installed, but knowing they wouldn't turn on, I felt no need to tamper with them.

[Dancing flames]

Whoosh—

A cluster of light flickered and danced into existence from the tips of my fingers.

The vast expanse of the basement revealed itself.

The size... appeared to be roughly 300 square meters.

Inexplicable machinery and boxes of goods were haphazardly piled up inside.

Normally, they should have been neatly arranged according to standard... but it seems that Je Mu-gyeong's condition became erratic and he caused a ruckus here.

Most of what met the eye here consisted of familiar equipment in the world of the game, or rather even outside it in the real world. However, I couldn't help but notice the occasional presence of strange devices that simply couldn't exist in our reality.

Special devices monopolized by large corporations operating in secret in the darkness of [Cthulhu World]. They are not the mainstream computers available to the public but are real computers crafted by stealing alien technologies.

Upon encountering these mysterious devices, Curtain Call remarked with a look of astonishment on her face.

"What are these... tacky toys?"

A sharp critique indeed.

Just because these computers were fashioned using alien technology and are ahead of their time doesn't mean their design is futuristic and sleek. The unveiled computers and mechanical devices bore a clunky and outdated appearance, reminiscent of what one might expect in a 60s or 70s sci-fi animation.

With their analog dials resembling clocks, brightly colored oversized buttons, inscrutable antennas, and thick glass domes, they seemed like relics from another era.

Even if viewed with the utmost generosity, these designs would not have emerged post-1990s.

"It might seem strange, but this is the result of downgrading alien technology to a form that humans can handle."

[Remarkable Achievement Unlocked! You have discovered the 'Mi-go Laboratory' hidden underground.

You have earned the 'Advanced Achievement: Seeker of Mi-go Traces'.

As a reward for this achievement, you receive Mi-go's gift and additional experience points.]

The sudden mention of the term "Mi-go" caught me off guard.

Mi-go. One of the many extraterrestrial species in the Cthulhu Mythos originated from a distant corner of the cosmos, far beyond Earth. These beings possessed advanced scientific technology and mythical knowledge far surpassing that of humans.

Naturally, since they were mythical creatures, merely witnessing their form poses the risk of mental collapse due to their dangerous nature.

Though, in the realm of [Cthulhu World] is there any monster that isn't dangerous....?

Their lore indicates that they have established outposts on Pluto and the Moon and were subtly snooping around to siphon Earth's resources.

And guests from beyond the galaxy who presented Helistic with wisdom that humans couldn't reach.

This was the Mi-go.