9. Violation (3)
For the first time in a long time, he didn’t have nightmares.
It was a truly peaceful night.
Jin-woo opened his eyes inside the tent. He felt incredibly refreshed after a deep, uninterrupted sleep.
His tent was top-of-the-line.
With a bit of exaggeration, one could even call it a portable hotel room, that’s how comfortable it was.
It came equipped with temperature and humidity control, as well as a high-quality sleeping bag, perfect for a good night’s rest.
Originally, it had been prepared for Kim Jin-hyeok’s party, courtesy of Lee Min-cheol. However, even when Jin-woo blatantly claimed it for himself, no one dared to object. As a result, Kim Jin-hyeok and his party were forced to spend the night shivering in the cold.
Kim Jin-hyeok, with his ever-present, kind smile, simply nodded in acceptance. He could have easily shared a tent with others, but he chose the more difficult path, claiming he didn’t want to impose.
He was pouring all his effort into maintaining his pristine image.
Foolishly so.
Commotion stirred outside the tent.
Jin-woo snapped his fingers, and a magic circle formed beneath his feet.
It slowly rose, enveloping his body from toe to head.
In an instant, he felt refreshed and clean.
It was a cleansing spell he had developed himself.
The mana consumption was on par with a 7th Grade spell, but the complexity of the technique was closer to 6th Grade. Maintaining hygiene had been crucial for survival, so he often relied on this spell. Strong body odor could easily attract unwanted attention from monsters.
Stepping out of the tent, he found a crowd gathered, buzzing with anxiety.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Some covered their mouths in horror, while others wore expressions of utter shock.
“Park Chan-seok…?”
“You mean, THE Park Chan-seok? The one in charge of supplies…?”
“H-how…? They said there weren’t any parasitic monsters in Bukhansan.”
Their voices were laced with fear.
Park Chan-seok’s report had clearly stated otherwise. It might have been true during the second expedition, but things had changed drastically since then.
Parasitic monsters were a rare sight in Korea, especially small ones.
It seemed the parasites that had infested the blade-spiders had adapted to Bukhansan’s environment and begun to multiply.
Sunil Tech, during their import, had neglected proper quarantine procedures and had even secretly disposed of the monster carcasses near Bukhansan.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of a high-ranking military official responsible for Bukhansan’s security, who had accepted bribes.
They had even used unsuspecting soldiers for the disposal.
“Hmm?”
Jin-woo slowly made his way towards the crowd. He noticed Kim Jin-hyeok’s usually placid expression was replaced with a frown. His party members mirrored his concern.
Lee Min-cheol and the other members of the command, arriving a bit later, were also struck by the gruesome sight.
“Park… Chan-seok? What in the…?”
Lee Min-cheol was visibly shaken.
Park Chan-seok’s state was that horrific.
He was found near the tent where the supplies were stored.
They hadn’t been distributed yet, so a large variety of supplies were still piled high inside the tent.
Park Chan-seok was clinging to a crate of supplies.
Several empty water bottles lay scattered around him, as if he had been desperately trying to quench an insatiable thirst.
His body was grotesquely bloated, inflating and deflating rhythmically, like a grotesque parody of breathing.
“Ah… ah…”
He let out a strange, guttural sound.
A mix of a whimper and a muffled scream. His limbs twitched erratically, as if they belonged to a different creature entirely.
He seemed to be desperately pleading for help.
But it was nothing more than a cruel mockery of life.
“Q-quickly…!”
“G-get the medic!”
Park Chan-seok’s colleagues rushed towards him.
Kim Jin-hyeok and the surrounding guild members tried to stop them, but it was too late.
Jin-woo had already taken several steps back.
Just as they reached Park Chan-seok, their hands outstretched to help, his body contorted.
“Screee! Screeeech!”
His head twisted at an unnatural angle, spinning in a grotesque circle. The person who had been about to grab him flinched back, but it was too late.
Something writhed beneath Park Chan-seok’s skin, his body swelling even further.
“What the…?”
“Huh…?”
Bang!
Park Chan-seok’s body exploded, showering those nearby with its contents.
Thousands of tiny, insect-like creatures.
They were small, barely larger than a fingernail, but each possessed a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth.
“Wh-what? Aaagh!”
“Gyaaaah!”
Parasitic larvae.
Hundreds of thousands of them, bursting forth from Park Chan-seok’s body, swarming over everything.
Those closest to him frantically tried to brush them off, but the creatures latched onto their skin, their sharp teeth sinking deep.
Screams turned into gurgling moans as one by one, they collapsed.
The sight rooted everyone to the spot, a wave of horror washing over them.
Screech! Screech! Screech!
The ground turned black as the creatures spread.
“S-shit!”
“Stop them!”
“Burn them!”
Panic erupted.
The creatures swarmed, attacking anything and everything in their path.
They targeted those with the strongest scents first.
Everyone, except Jin-woo, was desperately trying to fend off the creatures.
Jin-woo simply watched from a safe distance.
‘How fitting.’
A fitting end for someone who had climbed his way to the top by exploiting and devouring others.
They were “Mimic Larvae,” a type of parasitic monster native to South America. They infested their prey, multiplying within, and eventually mimicking their host to lure in new victims. And just like with Park Chan-seok, those who got too close ended up as breeding grounds.
Humans, with their frail bodies, were the perfect prey.
The expedition’s arrival had attracted several mature Mimic Larvae, drawn by the scent of so many potential hosts.
Jin-woo had implanted the larvae in Park Chan-seok.
The magic circle he had embedded in his mind back at the expo had finally activated. While precise control was beyond his reach, he could guide the larvae to their target, given enough time.
Using bait to catch a bigger fish.
It was a tactic Jin-woo employed often.
‘It wouldn’t be a problem if they were wearing their protective gear…’
While their teeth were sharp, they weren’t strong enough to pierce through proper protective gear. It was only after Sunil Tech deployed their large-scale flamethrowers that the situation was brought under control.
Kim Jin-hyeok, surrounded by piles of dead larvae, caught his breath and looked at Jin-woo, who was standing calmly at a distance.
And he was smiling, as if he had been enjoying the show.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
He even started clapping, unable to contain his amusement.
Lee Mi-yeon and the other party members, witnessing this, frowned, a chill running down their spines.
“People just died…”
Lee Mi-yeon muttered.
People had died, and not peacefully.
She had committed her fair share of atrocities, but she never took pleasure in them, at least not so openly. There was always a reason, a purpose.
Jin-woo, sensing Kim Jin-hyeok’s gaze, turned to face him.
“Seeing people explode like that… it’s quite entertaining, don’t you think? Makes me want to see it again…”
He made an exaggerated motion with his hand, as if crushing something.
And he laughed, a chillingly cheerful sound.
Kim Jin-hyeok felt a shiver run down his spine.
This wasn’t just some eccentric rich kid.
This was a monster.
A true villain. That laughter, at least to him, sounded genuine.
The sudden and gruesome death of Park Chan-seok had left everyone shaken.
It was a chaotic start to the expedition. However, Park Chan-seok’s death would soon be forgotten.
As things calmed down, guild members began to assess the damage to the supplies.
“The rations…”
“This is…”
“They’ve infested the trucks!”
The Mimic Larvae had voracious appetites.
They had burrowed into the crates of combat rations, devouring everything in their path. The problem was their size; it was nearly impossible to determine the extent of the infestation. They could squeeze through the tiniest of cracks.
Larvae were even spotted crawling on the supply trucks.
Lee Min-cheol, the guild masters, and the officials from the Magic Association and the military paled as the reality of the situation sunk in.
‘We’re screwed.’
As Jin-woo predicted, thoughts of Park Chan-seok had already vanished from their minds.
Jin-woo smirked and retreated back into his tent.
He could see the dishes peeking out from his bag.
Dishes imbued with the Authority of Time.
* * *
They needed a solution, and fast.
The expedition hadn’t even begun, and they were already facing a crisis. Remorr, the Guild Master of Red Hand, the largest guild participating in the expedition, scowled as he watched the monitor, surrounded by other members of the command.
They had initially suspected foul play.
However, the single CCTV camera outside the headquarters had captured Park Chan-seok leaving his quarters, stumbling towards the forest. The footage put their suspicions to rest.
The medic from the research support team arrived at the headquarters.
While Lee Min-cheol and the others held considerable authority, Remorr’s words carried the most weight. He was the one leading the expedition, the one responsible for their safety in the field.
Moreover, he was the representative of the large guild alliance formed for this expedition.
Remorr turned to the medic.
“What’s the verdict?”
“The cause of death is consistent with a parasitic monster attack. While the body is… compromised, making a definitive diagnosis difficult, there were no other signs of struggle or external injuries.”
Magically induced attacks always left traces on the skin. While much of the body was beyond recovery, the lower half was relatively intact, allowing for a basic examination.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
The medic wiped the sweat from his brow and continued.
“According to those close to him, he had been having trouble sleeping… and was on medication. Apparently, he was also taking… other medications, so it’s possible this was a fatal drug interaction.”
“I see.”
“However…”
“Hmm?”
The medic hesitated, his expression grave.
He was a veteran expedition medic, well-known in the field, thanks in part to Hancheon Group’s backing.
“Shouldn’t we report this to the government and the Magic Association? Parasitic monsters are classified as High-Risk Level 1. We need to initiate quarantine procedures immediately. If they were to spread to the city…”
“That’s enough. You are dismissed.”
Remorr cut him off.
The medic fell silent and left the headquarters.
Silence descended upon the room.
Remorr looked at the people gathered. Kim Jin-hyeok was present as well, having been specifically invited. He was a skilled young martial artist, popular among the guild members.
Remorr held him in high regard.
“For now, I believe it’s best to keep this under wraps.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
A cover-up.
If word got out, quarantine would be enforced immediately. They might have been able to manage it outside, but this was Bukhansan.
Lee Min-cheol, picking up where Remorr left off, spoke.
“I agree. The expedition takes priority over a minor risk. This was an unfortunate accident. Parasitic monsters are incredibly rare in Korea. We’ll proceed with disinfecting the supply trucks and depart immediately. Remorr, how are we doing on rations?”
“We have about two days’ worth of individual rations left.”
“We’ll postpone the expedition by a day. We’ll resupply and depart tomorrow morning. Make sure this stays quiet.”
“Understood.”
The meeting concluded.
Kim Jin-hyeok had initially voiced his concerns, but he was eventually persuaded by Remorr.
The supply trucks departed, and a new day dawned.
The trucks didn’t return.
The expedition was forced to ration their remaining food. Communication with the outside world was spotty, but when they finally managed to get through, they were met with shocking news.
The command gathered at the headquarters once more.
“What in the world is going on?!”
Remorr roared, his fury echoing through the room.
Even his wolf ears twitched in agitation.
His gaze landed on Lee Min-cheol.
They maintained a cordial relationship, but it was built solely on mutual benefit.
Still, he was an heir to the Ilsin Group.
Remorr took a deep breath, calming himself.
“You reported the incident, didn’t you? Now the supply trucks are stuck in quarantine. Teams 2 and 3 have initiated their withdrawal, and we’re stuck here. Care to explain yourself, Representative Lee?”
Lee Min-cheol sighed.
It was Lee Jin-woo who had leaked the information.
And he hadn’t just casually mentioned it; he had gone to the press.
Reporters outside of Lee Min-cheol’s influence.
To make matters worse, traces of the parasites had been found in the trucks, turning public opinion against them.
“Do you really think I can control that lunatic?”
Lee Min-cheol’s words hung in the air.
The image of Jin-woo, laughing and clapping as Park Chan-seok died a gruesome death, was still fresh in their minds.
Lee Jin-woo was, for lack of a better word, insane.
If not for Chairman Lee Un-seon, they would have dealt with him already.
The emergency meeting continued.
“What about using helicopters?”
“The airspace around Bukhansan is restricted. They won’t grant us permission now.”
They had attempted aerial resupply in the past, but the scent of the supplies attracted flying monsters, leading them straight to the city.
Moreover, the mana particle density around Bukhansan was highly unstable, making it incredibly dangerous to operate aircraft.
It was akin to flying a helicopter in the middle of a hurricane.
“But this is an emergency…”
“They’ll send supplies eventually.”
“And how long will that take?”
“This is unprecedented… On top of that, the Magic Association assigned Lee Hwa-yeon as the commander for Bukhansan.”
They failed to reach a solution.
Two days passed, and the expedition was on the verge of collapse.
Remorr turned to Kim Jin-hyeok, asking him to placate the restless expedition members. The younger guild members seemed to respect Kim Jin-hyeok even more than Remorr.
Kim Jin-hyeok was well aware of the deteriorating morale. They had been stuck there for two days, with no updates and no clear instructions. To make matters worse, they had confiscated everyone’s phones, cutting off communication with the outside world.
It was no wonder people were on edge.
Even Kim Jin-hyeok was starting to feel the strain.
They were down to their last rations, and the taste was abysmal.
Rumors spread that Park Chan-seok had pulled a fast one.
“That damn Park Chan-seok!”
“He actually expected us to eat this garbage?”
“Good riddance.”
Some even resorted to cursing the deceased.
‘Lee Jin-woo… he must be running out of food too. Though, I doubt he’ll resort to rationing.’
Kim Jin-hyeok’s party had packed high-calorie energy bars.
They were now being sold at exorbitant prices within the expedition.
Growl!
Kim Jin-hyeok’s stomach growled, forcing him to clear his throat awkwardly. He stepped outside for some fresh air, but the sight that greeted him made him freeze.
Lee Jin-woo was sitting in front of his high-end tent, enjoying a multi-course meal fit for a five-star restaurant.
Where in the world had he gotten all that food?
Faint classical music drifted through the air.
It was coming from Lee Jin-woo’s phone.
“Hmm.”
Lee Jin-woo, humming along to the music, elegantly sliced a piece of steak and brought it to his mouth.
Everyone’s eyes, including Kim Jin-hyeok’s, were glued to that piece of meat.
“Ugh, disgusting.”
Jin-woo spat it out onto the ground.
“Needs more salt.”
He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.
At that moment, Kim Jin-hyeok knew.
This man was truly unhinged.
A devil in human skin, acting on whims and desires, with no regard for consequences.
It seemed calming down the expedition was a lost cause.
Thud!
Jin-woo picked up his plate and tossed the steak onto the ground.
Gasps of horror and disbelief rippled through the crowd.
Growl!
Kim Jin-hyeok’s stomach growled again, betraying his hunger.
His mouth watered as his eyes fell on the discarded steak.
He swallowed, unable to help himself.
How utterly pathetic.