Chapter 404
#
“You’re not bowing down, are you?”
“Even if I were to do so, aren’t you the House Head of the Shinohara Family?”
“For the sake of the nation’s interests, one can bow as much as needed, can’t one? Above all, Korea is a nation that possesses Yu Jinseok.”
A nation possessing Yu Jinseok.
That single phrase summed it all up.
A figure who had made distinguished contributions to the subjugation of the Four Emperors that existed before Sin, and who stood at a level no Hunter in Japan dared to approach.
If Japan had many Hunters with solid foundations, Korea had a significantly high proportion of out-of-standard Hunters.
Compared to Yu Jinseok, Japan’s Hunters were just a drop in the bucket.
The prime minister knew this as well, so he couldn’t really say anything.
“That may be true, but… Ahem.”
“That existence known as Baekhwa can be seen as quite an irregularity.”
“Are you saying she’s helpful to us even though she has absolutely nothing to do with us?”
“Isn’t there a lot of noise in the cabinet right now opposing the exploration of the Erosion Zone?”
Japan was extensively cultivating Hunter personnel and developing equipment to explore the Erosion Zone.
However, of all things, a certain political party was blocking this.
Crushing them with force was impossible since this was the 21st century, not the actual Shogunate era.
Believing in that, they actively stepped up their opposition.
It was claimed that investing in the Erosion Zone would only make the people’s livelihoods harder. It was argued that it would be better to invest that money into struggling welfare programs instead.
Naturally, it was bullshit.
They were already providing enough welfare as it was, and if it weren’t for those people embezzling money behind the scenes, there would be more than enough funds to enter the Erosion Zone.
“Right.”
“But, what if that Korean Mutant streamer produces results? What if she shows at least a glimmer of hope that the Erosion Zone can be reclaimed?”
“Certainly. That makes sense.”
For Japan, it meant they could get something for nothing.
Rather than Japan investing its budget to suppress that backlash, if Korea took the lead and showed even a little progress, it would be preferable.
There would be no reason for this side to spend money.
If they just appropriately claimed the approval ratings later and kept a foot in the door with Korea while the Erosion Zone reclamation proceeded successfully.
Only then would they be able to trample the opposition.
“If we recover shinju again, wouldn’t all the citizens support Prime Minister, Your Excellency, and me?”
“That sounds quite plausible.”
“I know that Director Choi Cheolsik of the Korean Hunter Association has also made a move. He has gained a justification because of that Mutant streamer.”
“We just need to piggyback on that.”
“Yes. Therefore, cooperation with Korea is necessary.”
At this point, the prime minister didn’t complain either.
Of course, what matters most to a politician is ultimately approval ratings.
This means it wouldn’t be difficult as long as they could obtain that now.
'To be exact, I’m just interested in that Mutant.'
Unlike the original work, Baekhwa of Baekhwa TV captivated Yuzuki.
Since Yu Eunha was already exuding a demonic pheromone even through the monitor, it was quite a critical hit for Yuzuki, who had watched Baekhwa TV to research the Erosion Zone.
Of course, she was aware that she had been captivated.
That was why she wanted to see more.
So it would be good to meet that Mutant woman while she is at it later.
#
Not long after, we were able to freely look around the ruins.
Even within the ruins, I went inside while tightly squeezing the heroines' asses and breasts with both arms.
Before long, a restricted area with a sign saying “Under Construction” came into view.
“Hmm. That’s a restricted area over there?”
“Is it a different place from where they blocked the exploration earlier?”
“They say there’s nothing to see even if you go in. They just blocked it off because the building structure looks like it might collapse if you enter the wrong way.”
By nature, a hole is meant to be thrust into.
And when you see a stick, it’s meant to be thrust.
Usually, when you’re told not to enter, you want to enter even more. To think they just left it like that.
“How do you know?”
“That was blocked off when I came here before, too.”
“Ngh. Then we can just solve it with force, right, if we clear it all away?”
“Those ruins have value even in parts. They have to preserve them in that state and research them. It’s something like they can’t ruin them.”
“Then I’ll…”
“That won’t work either.”
Well, Ray was strictly an Elf-descended Korean.
Ray had even been here since she was a baby.
Even if such a Ray claimed ownership of these ruins, it probably wouldn’t work.
Then I’d have to get help from the Akashic Record.
“But what is this place?”
[Master. This is the Elf Archive that recorded the end of the Elves.]
“It says it’s an archive that recorded the end of the Elves.”
“This place?”
[The leaders of the Elf Kingdom recorded their end in the Historical Record Archive left by their founder before the Kingdom fell.]
After that, I was able to hear various things from the Akashic.
And if I had to be particular about it.
As a result, it was a good thing we came here today.
And the fact that we didn’t know when we’d be able to come here again.
“That archive itself survived even while the world went through countless rises and falls, thanks to tens and hundreds of layers of Barriers.”
“What do we have to do to get in?”
“Elf blood. Even if it’s only half, your blood is needed exactly here.”
I pointed my finger at the floor covered in dirt and dust.
This was what the Akashic Record had taught me.
It said we just needed to shed blood here. To be exact, not just any Elf’s blood, but the blood of Elf royalty was needed.
Surprisingly, Ray was the very descendant of that Elf royalty.
When I kicked away the dirt and dust with my foot, what appeared was a certain pattern.
“Is this the entrance?”
“Yes. It’s a chance to see the history of your ancestors. If not now, we don’t know when we’ll be able to come to the ruins again.”
Ray seemed to ponder for a while.
In the end, it couldn’t be helped.
If not now, she didn’t know when the opportunity would come.
Ray slightly cut her hand and dropped the drawn blood onto the magic circle.
And.
Pshhhhhhk!
Suddenly, the magic circle beneath it flashed.
“Kyaaaaak?!”
“Yu Eunha, is this okay?”
“Everyone, hold hands tightly!”
It couldn’t be helped.
Before we knew it, our bodies seemed to float up. Then we entered somewhere.
[You have entered the Elf Archive.]
[Warning! The aura of a Human and a heterogeneous lifeform has been detected. Blocking intruders.]
[Warning! The intruder’s status is too high, so the Barrier will not activate!]
[Warning! As an alternative to activating the Barrier, the intruder will be moved to the Archive of Records!]
Uh, fuck.
I started to feel like I was really fucked.
There was a high probability that it might be a place I had destroyed.
For now, it seemed there was no way out.
#
I woke up in a strange space.
It was a truly strange space.
There were floating masses of light of unknown origin bobbing around, illuminating the space.
This place was like the Archive of Records.
[This is the Archive of Records.]
“This is a bit ridiculous.”
No, I’m not a Human?
With that dog-shit logic, what about my heroines who are Mutants?
To separate me here all alone.
If things had gone as expected, I was planning to enjoy some outdoor sex in the ruins here and corrupt the women among the couples who came here too.
This made things difficult.
Right. Then what kind of place was this Archive of Records?
“Hey, Akashic Record. What kind of place is the Archive of Records?”
[The Archive of Records is a kind of trap created by the Elf Kingdom’s archive. Originally, it blocks intruders with a Barrier, but in cases where the intruder’s status is too high and the Barrier cannot prevent the intrusion, the Archive of Records was created as an alternative to trap the intruder. If the archive is a place that stores the official history of the Elves, the Archive of Records is a trash can that processes discarded materials, a place where discarded knowledge or logic, and unnecessary ancient information are piled up. It is also called the (Old) Archive.]
There was a trash can. It seemed I had definitely come to the wrong place.
If so, shouldn’t I get out of here?
It would be troublesome to be separated from the heroines by staying in a place like this for no reason.
Anyway, I needed the Akashic Record I possessed to even be able to escape.
Ultimately, if this place had '(Old)' attached to it, it meant it was an archive that was used previously.
“I need to find an exit first, but what is this?”
I pointed at an old bulletin board visible on the wall.
The language looked somewhat similar to Islamic script, yet a little different.
[It reads as Safety Protocols.]
“Safety protocols?”
[Please wait a moment.]
[The knowledge to speak all languages was transferred to the Master.]
Immediately, I became able to speak the Elf language.
I decided to read these safety protocols first.
-Welcome to the Elf Kingdom Archive of Records. The Archive of Records provides behavioral protocols for the safety of its staff. The contents below must never be leaked outside, and the authorities are not responsible for any accidents that occur due to ignoring or violating these items.
Ah, I know what this is.
It’s that Neapolitan urban legend or whatever, isn’t it.
I could easily figure out this much.
1. If you wander the Corridor or discover a “Closed Bookshelf” through the magic gear in the Control Room, cease all actions, immediately leave the Archive, and relay the information to the person in charge. At this time, you must never look inside the “Closed Bookshelf”, nor should you enter it. The closed Bookshelf is a bookshelf that has disappeared even from the Archive of Records. It does not exist. Therefore, there is no reason for a closed Bookshelf to be visible to the eye.
2. If a voice is heard through the Control Room magic gear that manages all areas of the Archive, stating that the records of the traitor Ralph have disappeared from the Bookshelf of Treasonous Records, you must never go looking for them. First, answer that you will take immediate action, then immediately replace the magic gear and close off the Bookshelf of Treasonous Records. The magic gear installed in this Archive of Records does not have a call function, and the Archive of Records is currently managed by only one security guard.
3. Occasionally, corpses may be discovered in the Archive. This is a common occurrence experienced by other archives as well, so simply follow the safety protocols. However, if there is wet paper on the face of the corpse, absolutely do not approach the corpse, and close off the corresponding area. And inform other workers of this as well.
4. While heading inward to go to the Back Door of the Archive, if it feels like you keep returning to the same spot in the Corridor, face a corner, crouch down, close your eyes, and cover your ears. The day staff check the Back Door Corridor first thing every day when they come to work. You must remain in that state until a staff member discovers you in the morning.
5. If you suddenly hear the sound of pages turning, immediately lie flat on the floor and make as little breathing sound as possible until the sound disappears. You do not need to hide behind cover or enter a room, so lower your body as quickly as possible. After that, call the cleaning staff to remove the stains on the bookshelf. Additionally, if other items exist after this item, you must never pay attention to them.
6. If scorch marks are discovered in the Corridor, immediately sound the fire alarm magic gear in the Control Room and evacuate all researchers. Check if the headcount is correct and re-enter only after more than 2 hours have passed. Please inform the patrons that the fire detector went off because a researcher smoked in the restroom. If there is a missing person during the headcount check, when you enter after 2 hours, go to the area with the scorch marks and follow the marks to the bookshelf they lead to. An Elf, dried up like a mummy, will be found unconscious.
7. Regardless of your gender, sexual acts in the Archive are strictly prohibited anytime, anywhere.
8. If the purple magic gear rings, among the magic gears placed in the Control Room, absolutely do not answer it. This magic gear is not supplied with magic power, and it does not have a call function.
9. On a rainy day, if a white-haired Human female with pale skin and bloodshot eyes comes visiting, and she has no wet spots despite not having an umbrella or raincoat, you must not chase her away. Check the Record Office documents in the Control Room from 3 years ago and only inform her of the location of the closed Bookshelf. Afterwards, even if you hear the screams of a man being beaten to a pulp for getting caught cheating on a rainy day, you must ignore them. You could get pointlessly dragged into it.
-Year xxxx, Month xx, Day x, Manager Maxim Western-
10. Ignore items 1~9 in these safety protocols. Currently, the Control Room is closed off in a blown-up state. Workers should just briefly finish their patrol inside and clock out immediately.
-Year xxxx, Month xx, Day x, Manager Raina Silverryuk-
11. Item number 10 does not exist in these safety protocols. No matter what content is written in item number 10, let that content go in one ear and out the other unconditionally. If by chance the manager’s name is registered as Raina Silverryuk, ignore it unconditionally. Raina Silverryuk is a dead Elf. Therefore, she cannot modify the safety protocols.
-Year xxxx, Month xx, Day x, Manager Maxim Western-
This is incomplete.
No matter how I look at it, it’s hard to interpret because it’s not a Korean concept.
This is all Elf-style. What do you want me to do about it?
In the end, shouldn’t I solve it the Elf way?