Chapter 156.2

So… the children.

Once they’re fully infected, their bodies overrun by those ulcerous growths, they lose their humanity and transform into those bio‑horror lifeforms.

That’s why every time agents visit, the children vanish.

They die, become part of the grotesque cluster, and are absorbed…

‘…Damn it.’

I clenched my forepaws against the urge to swear.

Even though I’d read about this in the <Dark Exploration Records>, the visceral revulsion still made my fur stand on end.

“Evidence collected!”

“Shut up.”

“Y‑Yes, ma’am.”

At last, the three employees succeeded in hunting down the ‘merfolk’ and retrieving a sensory organ from its tail as proof.

The sight—so reminiscent of the mer-children extracting blood and mucus from victims—was strangely overlapping.

With that proof, they could now escape this place.

But instead of heading straight for the boat, they continued scouring alleyways, pushing forward.

‘…Because they have a second objective.’

Anyone familiar with Daydream Inc. employees would realize immediately.

‘An item.’

That’s why this Darkness, despite being only C-grade, was still under the Research Division instead of handed over to general teams.

They judged, ‘Given its scale and clues, a greater secret must be hidden here.’

They always recruited volunteers for these missions, and there was never a lack for applicants.

‘There’s a reason.’

Because the very ‘clue’ they seeked was an item found only here. A remnant of a wondrous, lost civilization in this ruined city.

Namely…

‘Angel’s Sigh.’

“Aargh, there is no ‘sigh’ or anything here!”

“Quiet.”

A Daydream Inc. employee, wearing a suit and a bizarre mask, grumbled in a side alley.

They weren’t here just for points. They knew rumors of a hidden, ancient technology beneath the ruined streets,

And this squad was composed of volunteers more interested in loot than glory.

The Angel’s Sigh.

It was a conch‑shaped artifact sometimes found inside or outside the city’s ruined homes.

Its true power would be revealed when you press it to your ear.

A beautiful hum emanates from inside the shell, calming the mind, healing wounds, and restoring vigor.

A healing item.

It was one of the few that Daydream Inc. would purchase, so employees scour every ruin looking for it with bright, eager eyes.

But they had searched these streets dozens of times already. Finding it was no easy task.

They would have to venture deeper into danger or uncover secret chambers overlooked by all others.

And, just like now, many end up infected by the creatures before they find it.

“Argh!”

‘Idiot.’

Hearing a scream from the alley they’d passed, Baek Saheon allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction with the companions he’d chosen.

‘Good thing I shoved them and came first.’

These people were crazy, but at least they weren’t short‑sighted fools who’d do something that dumb just for an item.

He discreetly touched the ‘ticket’ to the escape launch he’d cut from a tail and let one corner of his mouth twitch.

‘All preparations for a clear are also done.’

Now he could go and look for items. If anything were to happen, he’d just toss the others to the merfolk and…Wait a sec.

Just now.

Something went by?

‘…Huh?’

Baek Saheon blinked.

He could have sworn something darted out of the street‑lamp shadow and slipped around the corner, right at the edge of his vision.

He checked his companions, but neither reacted.

‘Did I imagine it?’

Baek Saheon had always trusted only his own senses, so he couldn’t accept that.

Yet he had no wish to tell the A‑squad assistant manager.

…More than anything, that woman was the least likely person to get lured into taking action.

– Hey. If you’re going to talk about some new monster coming out of a Darkness that’s only produced merfolk for seven whole years, at least try and describe it properly.

– Get in my way again and I’m leaving you behind.

‘And she actually would, that prick.’

Ah, fuck. No time to spare, not even for items.

Grinding his teeth, Baek Saheon kept his eyes on the corner of the alley.

Then, at that moment.

Swish.

A shadow flitted across the lamp.

It was the same black thing that he had seen earlier.

Triangular ears, sleek body, four legs.

…Huu, what the hell.

A familiar thing.

‘It’s just a kitten.’

Baek Saheon let out a sigh of relief, laced with irritation. That was just one of the common, cumbersome stray animals often seen on the roads.

That’s what he thought…

‘……Huh?’

In that instant, a cold shiver ran down Baek Saheon’s back.

In the darkness where no life forms had ever been found aside from the biohazard-merfolk…

There was no reason for a stray cat to be there.

“…!”

Baek Saheon’s mind went through many different calculations.

And quietly, so the other employees wouldn’t notice, Baek Saheon gently lifted his eye patch… to check for danger using the violet inverse eye hidden beneath it.

And then.

He saw danger.

“…!”

A terrible crimson halo surged beyond the corner of the alley.

Even in its shadow, it was visible. Rats, cockroaches, wings, teeth—a writhing mass that resembled a swarm of all the vile, harmful vermin one might encounter on the streets.

No.

It wasn’t a cat!

That wasn’t a four-legged animal. Something’s wrong! It’s the merfolk! No, something even more dangerous than merfolk. That particular shape of the halo… he had seen it somewhere before…

‘……Kim Soleum?’

Baek Saheon suddenly lifted his head.

“What are you doing?”

“N-Nothing.”

With a stiff neck, he looked again toward the corner of the alley…

The shadow was gone.

The crimson halo beyond the corner had vanished as if it had never been there.

“……”

Feigning a search, he moved toward the corner with rigid steps.

His heart pounded.

And the moment he turned the corner, he saw it.

…On the ground, a phrase had been carved as if with sharp claws slicing through the dust.

Prepare for death.

“……!!”

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