IRNH C57

• 57

Engraved on the floor was a geometric pattern. It was slightly inclined, seemingly designed to collect the blood splattered here and channel the liquid elsewhere. This was only the second time Sihyeon had seen such a mechanism since encountering a gate.

Sihyeon stared at it briefly before smashing the floor several times with the golf club. Though late, this vented his frustration.

“Master, this…” Taewoon handed him a palm-sized plastic card — a regular resident ID.

Sihyeon sighed heavily in disbelief, staring coldly at the floor. Only now did he realize the eerie atmosphere: despite many deaths, there was no battle evidence, only mutilated corpses stained by blades.

‘So they dragged civilians here, sacrificial offerings for these horrors?’

Jooyeon’s mention of the word “baptism” came to mind.

After a long pause, Sihyeon destroyed the only wooden low shelf inside and burned it with concentrated energy.

As flames spread, burning splinters floated and pierced between corpses. Although careful not to waste energy before the fight, this act was necessary and humane.

“These bastards have truly lost their minds.”

Sihyeon, burning with fury, gradually cooled. His expression stiffened into cold hardness.

Though he would never overlook being targeted, he felt less inclined to investigate the obvious madness of his enemies.

His golf club suddenly blazed dark red qi and shaped calmly but firmly.

Whatever weapon he held mattered less than its endurance to his infused power.

Swish— The intangible air shredded like paper as the golf club, armored with fierce energy, swung with unusual slowness but lightness.

Crack.

Four walls collapsed like falling blocks.

Normally, he’d check every cell, but it was clear: Kyu-min was not in this “floor.”

Sihyeon’s gaze darkened as he said, “Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

He stepped onto the ruined stairs without hesitation.

“Sigh.”

Sihyeon long wished to break his sighing habit but doubted that would happen.

“Where do these bastards keep popping up?”

Almost ten enemies crowded the narrow area immediately below the stairs.

Though he wanted to destroy it all, Sihyeon restrained himself and took a new golf club from his bag.

The atmosphere snapped tense.

A wary enemy stepped back.

Tension mounted, ready to burst.

Sihyeon checked Taewoon’s position, slightly bending his knees and shifting weight onto his toes.

Carelessness was forbidden.

Though dressed like previous foes, their aura was completely different.

They might still wield strange spiritual arts, so immediate elimination was necessary.

Bang!

Sihyeon and Taewoon broke through a half beat faster than the ambient breaths, charging into the group.

“Wait, Taewoon, just subdue them!”

But Sihyeon, noticing a torn mask, shouted sharply.

Slash

“Grahk!”

Simultaneous with Sihyeon’s yell came a pained cry from an opponent missing an arm.

His command was slightly delayed.

Sihyeon smoothly dodged incoming attacks, clicking his tongue, dispersing the built-up energy.

Whoosh.

The golf club, maintaining elasticity and hardness, struck a vital point precisely.

Continuous echoes of cries and hits filled and faded in the room.

Taewoon’s loud assault echoed from behind.

“Arrgh! Kill them!”

Sihyeon bit his lip at the familiar voice and grabbed an attacker’s throat, slamming him onto the floor.

The body went limp, not dead.

Sihyeon controlled blood points delicately, subdued, then threw the man aside.

The battlefield soon quieted.

The last masked man fell, struck by Taewoon and collapsing.

Taewoon raised no objections to Sihyeon’s judgments—killing when ordered, not when forbidden.

“Damn. Haah.”

His harsh words echoed and faded.

Sihyeon arranged the chaotic scene, cutting masks from faces confidently.

No fear of faces melting as before—he was sure.

Slap, slap.

“Kim Jeonghyun, wake up.”

After striking Kim’s cheek until groaning stopped, Sihyeon leaned close.

Kim Jeonghyun was the man who had been knocked unconscious by Sihyeon’s earlier blast and saved by a healing skill when near death.

Thus, suppressed men were missing Glory Guild members.

Pieces began to fit slowly.

“Hmm.”

Kim briefly stirred, opening eyes to try attacking with his head.

Thud.

Sihyeon caught his head firmly, immobilizing him.

His movements were sluggish, like a worm to Sihyeon.

Not a warrior, merely a healer’s strikes—they wouldn’t be fast.

Yet, as if chased by something, Kim shook obsessively, struggling to attack.

“D-Die.”

“Hmm…”

Sihyeon guessed the cause roughly and grabbed Kim’s face, lifting it to examine his pupils.

He seemed conscious.

Using [Protective Circle], Sihyeon checked his status.

Kim Jeonghyun [□□□(B)]
Title [Distributor]
HP -□□
Strength -□□
Dexterity -□□
Intelligence -□□
Magic -□□
Luck -□□
Status Ailment -□□(□□□)

“…Brainwashing or hypnosis?”

Though names were obscured, Sihyeon roughly knew the words.

These techniques were common in cults; he had been severely affected by them, remembering only bad memories.

His brows furrowed.

“Master, if you want, I can help.”

Taewoon, who had been lightly nudging the bodies with his foot, approached quickly.

“Should I?”

Whether internal energy or magic mattered less.

Both brainwashing and hypnosis affected the brain and needed delicate handling—Taewoon was best suited.

Touching Kim’s head, Taewoon’s red eyes shimmered oddly.

“This feels like ‘Loneliness.’ The energy clings tightly to the brain. If uncared for, it’s designed to melt the brain tissue.”

“What?”

Sihyeon expected Kim to recover swiftly but ‘Loneliness’ was the creepiest method he had heard of.

While he never witnessed it directly, he knew it involved implanting worms into the brain, which could later be manipulated.

Removal required killing the parasite or carefully incinerating the brain energy.

Though not the actual method controlling these guild members, it gave Sihyeon clues.

“We must keep him unconscious for now.”

“No choice…”

Reluctantly, Taewoon raised his hand.

Though saved by this man, Sihyeon worried seeing him behave wildly.

Thud.

Hesitating apologetically, Sihyeon’s careful white hand struck Kim’s neck sharply.

Kim collapsed unconscious alongside others.

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

“Not really.”

“Hmm…”

Better to knock out at once.