Chapter 45
Vampire!
The moment I heard those words, my fist clenched and I could feel my fighting spirit blaze.
So these damn summer mosquitoes had finally shown up...!
After all the experiences I'd gone through, I'd grown a lot mentally. A mere vampire was nothing to me now. And with the Agency on our side, what could those mosquito bastards possibly do?
I'll rip their bellies open and kill them!
"Your eyes look dangerous, Gron. This is why I didn't really want to say anything."
"Team Leader Jaldi! I want to go too!"
"You want to fight vampires that badly?"
Jaldi's eyes narrowed.
She already had a sharp look, and now she looked even scarier.
"Of course! As long as those bastards are alive, I won't be able to sleep properly! I've survived plenty of scenes before! If I go, I'll be able to do something!"
Just because I'm a rookie doesn't mean I can sit around idle. I didn't join the Agency to coast in the first place. I need to see as much as I can with my own eyes.
"Gron. We don't normally send rookie agents to dangerous scenes."
Jaldi didn't seem to want to send me, a newbie, but this was something I could persuade her on.
"Still, I want to go! Please let me go!"
"Hmm."
No matter what happens, I want to go!
"Gron. Are you sure? It'll be dangerous."
"I didn't become an agent just to stay safe. How could I just leave those monsters alone? If I were the type to avoid danger, I never would've become an agent."
I stated my resolve to the worried Mr. Jemtree.
"Hmm, people like that tend to die young. If a vampire bites you, there's no cure, you know?"
"Then I just won't get bitten!"
Even Mr. Spangdal's threats couldn't break my resolve.
"I understand. I approve it. If you've become an agent, you'll end up going someday anyway."
"Thank you!"
"Don't go to the front. You're a marksman, so you can provide cover from the rear."
"Then I'll have to show off my shooting skills!"
I had practiced shooting to the point of exhaustion, so I was confident in that.
"Then let's go get supplies. Everyone, follow me."
And so we followed Jaldi.
"Team Leader Jaldi. But what exactly is going on? Where did the vampire appear?"
"The location is here."
Looking at the location shown on the phone, it was out in the provinces.
Probably a small city in the countryside.
"A large number of vampires and ghouls have appeared here. Expect a fairly big battle, so stay alert."
"Understood. Hm? But do vampires even operate during the day?"
Aren't they usually weak to sunlight?
Judging by the fact that they're weak to crosses and garlic, sunlight should probably work too. But it's morning right now. No matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem like time for those mosquito bastards to be active.
"Look at this."
Jaldi showed me a photo.
"What's this?"
A dim, gloomy background.
It was pouring rain, and thick fog covered everything.
"A large-scale fog and downpour occurred. It seems they used that to block out the sunlight."
"No way... vampires can do that too?"
Was there a Child of Weather among the vampires too?
"I don't know the details. Whatever the case, we'll eliminate every vampire and ghoul we see. Jemtree, explain the rest."
"Yes."
Mr. Jemtree took over the explanation.
"Since you're still a newbie, Gron, you don't know the details yet, so I'll explain it step by step. Right now, a powerful vampire called the True Ancestor has infiltrated this country. He's been slipping past the Agency's eyes and slowly building his power. I think this incident is probably part of that."
I knew about the True Ancestor.
"Out in the open like this?"
"Maybe it's past the point of doing it secretly... Anyway. When a vampire bites a person, that person turns into a ghoul. They become a monster crazed by blood."
I knew that too.
Because my mom and dad ended up like that and ate me.
"Is there any way to save them?"
"Sadly, no."
"..."
So there wasn't.
"So, Gron. Don't hesitate against the ghouls. Otherwise you'll be the one who gets taken down."
"Understood. Ending their suffering is the only salvation."
"That's right."
I don't have any half-baked sentimentality.
I'd already gone through the giant apocalypse and shot down countless skinwalkers. Many of those skinwalkers had been comrades of mine.
Rather than let them live as monsters, it's better to end their lives. Even if I weren't an agent, that's still the right thing to do.
In the first place, all of us survivors promised each other that if anyone turned into a skinwalker, we'd kill them on the spot. We swore it under a cherry blossom tree, sharing cups of alcohol, and became true comrades we could entrust our lives to. The only small difference between that story of brotherhood and the traditional tale is that there wasn't actually any cherry blossom tree there, and we didn't share any cups at all.
Especially Jinseop, who was practically my little brother.
What is that bastard up to now?
Before the apocalypse, he was just a high school student, though. Of course, I forgot the name of his school. Well, even if I knew it, going to find him would be weird in itself. I know Jinseop well, but Jinseop doesn't know me.
He's probably doing fine on his own.
Even if I want to see him, it's better to bury it.
"Your eyes look good. Gron. Remember this: you mustn't feel mercy for someone who's already been devoured. The only way is to eliminate them quickly. Only then can you prevent more victims."
"Yes. That's right. You have to make a cold decision to save more people."
"You know it well."
"But Team Leader Jaldi. We're basically going to war here, but even so, can you really hide the information if it turns into a shootout? As far as I know, if a gun battle happens in South Korea, it'd literally make front-page news..."
"No problem."
Really?
"We can disguise an incident like that somehow. We can erase the memories of the people involved or plant false ones, all of it. And as for shooting incidents, a few of the shocking domestic cases you know about were probably disguised as operations by our side."
"No way!"
"So if you run into civilians during the operation, rescue them proactively and get information from them. If you explain that we're something like secret government agents, they usually cooperate."
"That does sound likely."
If a vampire suddenly appeared in front of me as a normal civilian and weird agents showed up to save me and ask for cooperation, I'd cooperate right then and there.
Memories can just be erased.
And so we arrived at the Agency supply room.
It seemed we were supposed to receive our weapons here.
Once we went in, sure enough.
There were all sorts of supplies.
Creak.
Mr. Jemtree, wearing body armor, handed me a K2.
"Here, Gron. Take it."
"Ohhh...!"
The ultimate weapon that would accompany me for life!
With this, there's nothing to fear!
"This is a magazine for anti-vampire rounds. You went to the army, so you know how to use it all, right?"
"I was a top-class marksman too. Want me to tell you about the army? I was insanely good at soccer, really. I was also the company moth ghost!"
"Well, uh. I don't know what that means. I'll pass on the story."
I really wanted to tell Mr. Jemtree the moth-ghost story, though.
"By the way, senior Jemtree. The bullets are silver."
"Ah, that's because they're silver bullets."
"Wait, you use silver bullets too?! This is straight out of a movie!"
This is insane!
They really use silver bullets!
"Don't get too excited."
Vampires really did seem to have the same traits as in legend. If this K2 was loaded with silver bullets, then scumbags like vampires could be stripped down to the marrow in an instant. A literal vampiric bone marrow butter steak.
Maybe they'd be easier opponents than skinwalkers.
"Don't you have anything like garlic here? Like a garlic machine gun or minced-garlic bombs!"
"Here."
Mr. Spangdal held out a grenade.
"Oh, this grenade?"
"It contains garlic ingredients. Peel it open and eat it when you're hungry."
"I'll enjoy it!"
There really was a garlic bomb!
"Ah, Team Leader Jaldi! I have a suggestion! How about garlic body armor as an anti-vampire weapon! If a vampire attacks it, it tears open and the minced garlic inside sprays out—that's an all-purpose offensive and defensive weapon!"
"I was just about to give that to you. Take it."
"That existed?!"
These crazy bastards!
I put on the garlic body armor right away!
"Gron. Take these crosses too. It's safer to hang a bunch of them on you."
"Ohhh...!"
The Agency seemed to be more competent than I had imagined. At this point, they really did look like a vampire-hunting group. No, even more professional than that.
I too was once consumed by madness and became a vampire hunter. I gathered lots of garlic and crosses. Seeing that the Agency had all those weapons too, faith itself was practically explosive.
Didn't they have every method I'd imagined back when I was a vampire hunter?
This is the Agency's true strength.
"I shall arm myself with faith!"
Finally, I even took a stake as a melee weapon, completing my anti-vampire armament. It was more professional and transcendent than the gear I'd put together as a civilian.
Anyone looking at me would think I was the legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing himself.
"A little late to mention this, but..."
As I armored my mind with faith, Jaldi looked at me and said,
"Abandon faith. Agency agents must not believe in religion."
"Pardon? Why is that?"
As I tried to ask for the reason, Mr. Jemtree grabbed my shoulder.
"Gron. Just remember this: use religion and faith, but don't give them your heart."
Don't give them your heart.
It felt like a very ominous warning.
"Understood. So there's a reason for that."
"Yeah. Just know that it's dangerous."
I still had a lot to learn as an agent.
"Let's depart now."
"Yes. But we're not the only ones going, right?"
"The suppression team has already been deployed."
"Ah."
So Gorgodio and Mr. Curas had already gone. But they wouldn't be the only ones, so I'd get to see some new seniors from the suppression team.
"Ah, wait! Team Leader Jaldi! Would it be okay if I bought a ton of garlic at a nearby grocery store!"
"What? No, not that much."
"You don't get it! Garlic is essential! Ah, we need to keep garlic stocked in the supply room fridge at all times!"
I passionately voiced my opinion. War with vampires is no joke. Every available means must be mobilized. Garlic, especially, is a miracle cure. In a desperate moment, the garlic in your pocket could save your life.
That's how I survived.
I.
"Run and come back. There's a motorcycle in the first-floor parking lot, so you can take that. I'll wait in the parking lot, so don't be late. Vampires are active even at this very moment."
"Yes!"
I immediately sprinted to the parking lot, rode the motorcycle, and went to the grocery store.
I swept up every bit of garlic there.
Peeled garlic and minced garlic. I didn't care whether it was domestic or Chinese. It's said that ancient Celtic warriors used battle tattoos before combat to raise morale. Our Agency agents need to rub garlic all over our bodies and give ourselves garlic tattoos too. Not even Jaldi, Mr. Jemtree, or Mr. Spangdal can escape that. Garlic enchantments and garlic buffs aren't optional—they're mandatory.
"Young man. Are you buying that much garlic?"
"I like garlic. You could say I'm an onion holic."
After finishing my purchases, I returned to the parking lot.
I saw the van beeping. I got in right away.
"You're here. Did you buy enough garlic?"
"Gron. I didn't expect you to actually go buy garlic."
"This is essential."
Was the stored garlic enough?
"Here! Take one pack each of peeled garlic and minced garlic...! I recommend slathering on the minced garlic like it's cosmetics!"
"Gron, I really..."
Mr. Jemtree looked at me, but there was no compromise.
Just as I immediately tried to open the minced garlic,
"Jemtree, stop Gron."
"Ah! Gron! Don't actually do it!"
Why are you stopping me!
"You might think this is strange, but I actually did exactly this on the night I encountered a vampire. I stuffed myself with garlic like Ungnyeo after starving for three days and smeared minced garlic all over my body. Maybe that's why the True Ancestor didn't come that day."
"A bear-woman who'd been starving for three days... Gron."
"...Pfft."
"Hmm, that's full of madness. You're truly Agency material."
Is Mr. Spangdal the only one who understands me?
"Phew. That's a reasonable kind of madness. I should take you to the mental unit sometime. Jemtree, do something about this."
"Gron. Calm down. Silver bullets are stronger than garlic anyway. There's no need to do that right now. Let's calm down first."
"Understood."
Well, unlike me, they're specialists. They must focus on things other than garlic.
"Then I'll just eat this peeled garlic. Everyone, have a bite."
"I-I'm going to pass."
"Noona will pass too."
"Senior Spangdal!!! It's peeled garlic!!!"
I immediately held the garlic out to Mr. Spangdal.
"I-I'm not really tempted either."
Rarely, Mr. Spangdal avoided my gaze.
"Then I'll eat it alone."
I immediately shoved the peeled garlic into my mouth and ate it on the spot.
Vroooom.
The vehicle moved.
Was this the move to the scene now?
"..."
Honestly.
Maybe.
Maybe I just wanted to run away. Compared to something unknown and even more frightening, vampires were straightforward and already familiar.
It was just the act of running from the unknown to the known.
Was I simply trying to forget my fear by forcing myself to focus on vampires?
Even so, it didn't matter.
Because the fact that I had to take revenge on those bastards didn't change. In the first place, that's why I became an agent. I can never live under the same sky as those mosquito bastards.
* * *
We arrived at the scene.
Rumble!
Rain was pouring down. The sky was dark, the fog was thick, and thunder and lightning were crackling too.
It was literally the perfect atmosphere for vampires to appear.
"Are you nervous, Gron?"
As I swallowed, Mr. Jemtree grabbed my shoulder and said,
"Yes. I am nervous. I'm just worried we may not have enough garlic..."
"G-Can we stop talking about garlic? For now, there's no need to be too anxious. Team Leader Jaldi and Spangdal are very strong."
Strong?
"Now that you mention it, I don't really know. How strong are those two?"
Jaldi could at least be placed on a similar level as Salhyeong. If I had to compare their specific combat strength, she'd be weaker than Salhyeong, who summons terrorists, but she was still strong enough to break through all the way to a giant's core.
Then what about Mr. Spangdal?
The Mr. Spangdal I knew was a klutz who tormented his juniors mercilessly, yet the moment the lights went out in the Agency basement, he'd either turn into a monster or die instantly.
"Needless to say, Team Leader Jaldi is strong. Spangdal is also a powerhouse recognized even by the suppression team. This is a secret, but the real reason he's that strong and still isn't in the suppression team is simply because they wouldn't take him there..."
"Jemtree. Be quiet."
Swish.
Mr. Spangdal said, pulling a thorn from his fingertip.
"Heh-heh-heh, I'm kidding."
"Senior Spangdal. Please show me your power so I can respect you even more!"
"Pathetic. Truly."
"Don't get too playful."
"Yes!"
"Hoo."
Jaldi ground out her cigarette in a portable ashtray.
"That fog is the boundary between inside and outside. Let's go in."
"Yes."
Jaldi led the way, and we followed behind.
My heart was racing.
My thirst for revenge was hot, but at the same time, my nerves were boiling.
This was my first deployment as an agent.
Of course it would be dangerous.
I might die.
And dying meant that some unknown penalty would increase.
That being the case, I couldn't die.
Let's do our best.