Chapter 43. New Beginning (15)
'... Well, of course.'
I brushed off the disappointment with effort. It made no sense to have gotten access with a fake identity in the first place.
But then again, those pureblood supremacists were worse than beasts and it felt wrong to compare them to dogs or cows. But anyway, the system security was not that lax.
We weren't going through all this trouble for no reason. Luckily, the chip given to us by the broker allowed us to borrow the rank of the deceased, but we hit an unexpected obstacle since the ghouls had scavenged all the corpses. The rank we managed to acquire was only that of a mid-rank worker, which was meaningless.
- Hyun-woo, I think we need to look around a bit. If we search here, we might find someone with mechanic's access.
Nadia was right. Unlike the repair cargo sector, mid to lower-level workers rarely came in here. Considering the strict asset management policy of SSTC, most people visiting here held the upper worker class as mechanics.
'If only we could find one.'
Getting operational console access within the system was possible, at least in part. The easiest path was blocked, but that didn't mean there was no way at all.
I operated the bracelet to project the pre-downloaded data into the air. The nearby structural map materialized in 3D form.
From where we were, the maintenance control room had multiple spaces to the left, and there was a passageway going down to the right. Presumably, the left side contained the locker rooms and miscellaneous areas, while the right side seemed to lead to the repair platform.
It wouldn't be too late to check the darkened repair platform after verifying the left side. If I could help it, it'd be better not to go down there.
"......."
I glanced at the forcibly closed door to our right and then turned away. For some reason, I felt like something might be beyond that door. No, there probably was something; there must've been a reason for sealing the door shut.
- Let's open the left door first.
- Sure, just give me a moment.
Our task was to search the left section to find an ownerless bracelet that would grant me access privileges. With the task set, Nadia approached the red-lit hologram on the door and tapped the nearby wall a couple of times.
After feeling around, she found a small groove and placed a separated metal plate on the ground. This exposed the control circuitry concerning the door's state.
Nadia took out a toolkit containing basic tools and began fiddling with the circuits. At times, she reached inside the wall to adjust something, and sometimes dismantled minor parts attached to the circuit.
For a moment, the clattering shifted to a clunking sound, indicating the door's state had changed. The door was no longer locked in place.
- We have to open this door manually. Normally, the system would reboot and reset it, but since there's a power outage, the system's gone offline.
It was time for me to take action. I nodded and stepped forward, inserting my fingers into the crack and began to pull it open.
The- Thunk....
A sound emanated as the metal door opened. In case something might spring out from inside, Nadia held a plasma cutter at the ready. Carry was prepared as well.
Even if I were attacked, I felt somewhat assured knowing the multi-purpose laser and blue blade attached to the backup arm would strike the enemy.
Before long, a gap wide enough for us to pass through appeared. We didn't open it entirely; if we had to flee, we'd need to close it again, and opening it wide would only delay closing time.
Even if it only took seconds, in a crisis, those seconds stretch into eternity. Time management was crucial. To prevent the door from suddenly closing, a mysterious metal rod found in the control room was wedged between the gap.
As soon as we passed through the door, what immediately greeted us was an eerily silent corridor, followed by a door in the same closed state as the one we had just opened.
There was a locker room with storage units, a break room, and restrooms; the path at the corridor's end was blocked by an indistinct pile of storage units.
'What could it be?'
There was definitely more space beyond that, sparking a natural curiosity. But risking my life on that curiosity was something I wasn't going to do. There must have been a reason to block it; they wouldn't block a corridor for no reason.
〈Repair Zone Locker Room〉
【Do not touch other people's lockers. Current status: Forced closure.】
After Nadia tampered with the circuitry to disable the forced closure, we quickly entered the locker room. Contrary to the tension we felt, there were no ghouls.
Only the completely trashed interior remained.
Blood splatters everywhere, lockers that looked like they had been torn apart by robbers, personal items scattered across the floor. But we weren't there to pick up random items.
We were looking for one bracelet, so we intensely searched the area. We checked each personal locker to see if anyone had hidden inside and died, but only found garbage.
We did find some pharmaceuticals, but they were unusable, being contaminated with what was surely ghoul blood. In the end, they were nothing more than trash. Even in urgent times, consuming something that was clearly dangerous was out of the question.
Having exited the locker room, we headed to the other rooms. But neither the break room nor the restrooms held what we sought.
A forced closure meant there were people once inside, yet none were present. Where had they all gone? The answer was provided by the punctured air vent on the ceiling, with blood droplets steadily falling from it.
It seemed they tried to hold out inside but failed to stop the ghouls that came through the ventilation ducts.
The only place left was beyond the barricade at the corridor's end. To be honest, I didn't want to venture beyond it. Why venture beyond without knowing what awaited?
However, if we couldn't acquire authorization beyond a mechanic, the looming uncertainty would be far greater than now. There were ways forward even without authorization verification. It's just that the alternative would likely generate a lot of noise.
'Just for confirmation.'
It wasn't wise to probe around excessively. Honestly, I didn't think what we were doing now was the best course of action. No matter how quietly we moved, there was no way to make absolutely no sound.
I opened and closed my tense hand to ease it. After roughly wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, I gestured to move.
Just for confirmation. I reminded myself of the thought I had earlier, as if believing if I did, nothing bad would happen.
My eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, but I could only make out faint outlines. Continuously closing and opening my eyes to see more clearly accumulated substantial fatigue.
Since I couldn't see properly, my nerves naturally became more sensitive. Moments ago, I even startled myself with the sound of my own footsteps.
As Nadia and I cautiously approached the barricade, our nervous hands landed on the storage unit. We couldn't tell what was inside, but the heaviness was apparent.
At that moment, a ghoul suddenly emerged. It appeared as if it had been waiting for this very moment.
"......!"
The emergence was so abrupt that I couldn't properly react until I saw it with my own eyes. The creature had silently hidden until now, sensing our presence, and began to tear its mouth into four parts to bellow.
The widening maw was chilling. I remembered the bone-chilling screech the creatures let out, filled with murderous intent, enough that those with weak wills would succumb immediately.
Succumbing to the screech meant death. It didn't take exceptional skills or enchanting looks—it required the determination to unshackle oneself from petrification at a critical moment to survive.
The slight difference could decide whether one could keep their life. I wanted to survive, and I moved to do just that.
My heart pounded. As the blood coursed quicker, everything around appeared to slow. Acting on instinct rather than thought, I brandished the plasma cutter. The tool, previously dormant, rapidly amped its power, forming a blue blade, which embedded into the ghoul's shoulder.
The creature's enhanced senses made it twist its body, dodging my targeted area—its neck.
'... No!'
A silent scream echoed within. My mind went blank. If the ghoul let out its scream, our efforts to move silently would be in vain.
As I hurriedly tried to pull out the plasma cutter and thrust it again, just as the gaping maw was about to unleash a violent cry,
【Kr-】
― Thwack!
A blue blade, newly formed beside me, sliced through the air, lodging into the neck I had missed earlier. The powerful energy blast easily pierced through flesh, emitting a foul burning stench. With its throat pierced, the ghoul could only gasp, unable to scream. Flesh crackled as it charred.
I took advantage of the opening, using my free hand to add force, sliding the plasma cutter sideways. A wet crackling sound followed as flesh and bone were severed, leaving the upper body mangled and limp.
The ghoul raised its arms towards its head, rather than towards us, as if instinctively trying to hold onto its slipping consciousness. Yet it was quickly incapacitated by continued attacks from Nadia. Shortly, the convulsing body sagged, confirming the creature's death.
We turned to each other, still panting heavily from the rapid sequence of actions, and bumped our fists lightly.
- Nice play.
- We're partners, after all. You can tell what we're going to do just by watching.
Though Nadia feigned composure, her shaky breathing betrayed her surprise from the sudden turn of events. Her tail twitched uncontrollably.
While catching our breath, Carry swiftly approached, torching the now-dead ghoul with a multi-purpose laser, as if frustrated at not having contributed. For a moment, I thought so, until I saw the bracelet it held out, realizing my misunderstanding.
【٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و】
- ... Carry, nice play from you too.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】
When I bumped knuckles with the additional arm extended toward us, Carry cheerfully gave a thumbs-up. It must have envied the interaction between Nadia and me.
Fortunately, there was only the one ghoul, and we dealt with it before it could make a sound, so no additional ghouls appeared. Having finally obtained the ownerless bracelet, we suppressed our gleeful feelings.
Being too overjoyed wouldn't suit the circumstances, and it wasn't quite the time for exuberant celebration. Nevertheless, it was something worth looking forward to.
Having completed our checks here, we decided to head back to the control room and inspect the bracelet.
【One voice recording found in the most recent data record. Do you wish to review it?】
I had worried it might belong to another pureblood supremacist using fake credentials. But thankfully, it belonged to someone linked with the base. After pressing the 'yes' button, only a series of unfamiliar voices could be heard. No hologram appeared.
「-Playback begins-
Close the door now! Seal it shut! They're coming!
I'm doing it! Damn it, I'm doing it...!
【Kiaaaah!】
They're breaking through!
Then block it more, you idiot! Block it!
Several frantic voices emerged, all clearly fearful. It seemed like several people were together. Had they hidden somewhere? Ghoul pounding echoed, but the voices went silent, holding their breath. When they heard the ghouls leaving out of frustration, they visibly sighed with relief.
Wh-what the hell are they? Wh—
... It was Alex.
What?
You couldn't tell? The face was Alex's... before it split into four parts.
Are you saying people turn into monsters? Is this reality, this crystal blue emerging from their bodies, not some hallucination?
Maybe. Don't ask me more, I have no clue. Damn it, he mentioned visiting the medical area. I thought he caught the cold going around recently.
... He came back saying the medical wing wouldn't admit more patients.
......
Silence followed, and then they murmured about how he seemed fine until a few days ago, when suddenly he turned into a monster. Then, as if struck by sudden realization, everyone fell silent.
H-do you hear that banging noise?
Oh crap, don't tell me—
Sounds of crumbling and bursting emitted simultaneously. More sounds followed—thuds and impacts.
Another voice abruptly cut off, almost as if ambushed, eerily quiet. As darkness enveloped them, shutting off the lights, a startled man called out for his companions.
... Evan? ... Jake? I can't see, nothing is visible. No, oh god... How did this happen... Please save me...
Finally, when he comprehended the simultaneous silence of his companions and the growling ghouls, understanding the situation took hardly any time at all. Perhaps he even realized too quickly, which was unfortunate.
It would have been better had he remained unaware, dying in ignorance shrouded in fear. If only he hadn't understood until his final breath, he would never have known when it happened. With a choked gasp, the playback ended.
― End of recording-」
"......"
"......"
Nadia, Carry, and I briefly paid our condolences to those slain by the ghouls and returned to the maintenance control room.