Chapter 22: The Lost World of the Corrupted (6)

We decided to avoid the main road and instead take the backstreets to bypass the zombies on our way to Chungmuro Station. The narrow alley was lined with half-eaten corpses.

“

Ugh

.”

“They weren’t here when we passed by earlier.”

It was my first time seeing human corpses up close like this, and I had to fight to keep my stomach from turning.

I glanced to my side at Seo Ho-Su, noticing that he kept a straight face, probably trying to hold it together for our sake. When our eyes met, he gave me a small, reassuring smile, as if to say he was fine.

“Looks like it’s been about four hours.”

Ha Hee-Jeong's voice was calm and steady, seemingly desensitized to this kind of violence. She examined the bodies in a detached manner, even estimating their time of death.

At that moment, I got a glimpse of what her life must have been like in her previous climb.

I thought she was just a good fighter...

While she stood there aloofly—surrounded by mangled corpses—I wondered what horrors she could have experienced to become like this. I was lost in thought, feeling a mix of pity and admiration, when our eyes met. As if she could read my mind, she flashed a quick grin. It seemed like she was telling me not to worry about her.

I didn’t hear what she said, but her mouth clearly formed the words, “None of your business. You should focus on yourself.”

Embarrassed, I quickly looked away, turning my attention to our other teammates. It turned out I wasn’t the only one handling the gore poorly, as Seo Ha-Rin was bent over, dry-heaving. Not planning to leave his daughter to suffer alone, Seo Ho-Su signaled that he was going to check on Seo Ha-Rin.

“

Blegh

.”

Right, she’s just a high schooler.

She probably hadn’t seen much combat during the tutorial for priests. She had been okay while we were fighting the zombies, but seeing human corpses like this must have been overwhelming.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Just keep your eyes forward, Ha-Rin.”

“O... okay.”

“Come on, don’t look down.”

Seo Ho-Su gently lifted her chin with his rough hand. She glanced at the corpses out of the corner of her eye, then gagged again.

“

Urgh

.”

She kept sneaking glances at the bodies, and I couldn’t help but be impressed. Even though she was dry-heaving, she didn’t let that stop her from becoming accustomed to corpses.

Or maybe she has... a weird sexual drive

[1]

? No, no, don’t go there. She’s only eighteen. She probably knows this won’t be the last time she encounters corpses.

As Seo Ho-Su guided Seo Ha-Rin past the corpses, he couldn’t help but voice his concern.

“But where did all the zombies go?”

“Good question. There were plenty in the alleys earlier. Now all we see are these bodies...”

“

Skreeeeek

!”

Before I could finish my sentence, the Queen's screech echoed through the streets, getting closer by the second. A tense silence followed.

Then, we heard something shatter from far away, followed by a sharp scream.

“That was definitely a person screaming, right?”

“Run.”

Seo Ho-Su nodded, still looking confused. I glanced back to see Ha Hee-Jeong and Cole both give small nods of agreement. Even Seo Ha-Rin, though her eyes were red from gagging, signaled she was ready. Doppy’s eyes were practically glowing with excitement.

I took the lead and started running, making sure to maintain a manageable pace. We needed to conserve our priest and mage’s stamina for the fight ahead.

Stay calm. Enemies could jump out at any moment.

We took a left at a half-shattered hair salon, then headed right down an alley lined with bars, followed by another right. Before we knew it, the main street in front of Chungmuro Station stretched out before us.

“

Skreeeek!

”

[Corrupted Queen ■■■ ]

As soon as I saw the Queen, a notification window popped up with just her name and no description. She was over two meters tall with two massive horns rising at least fifty centimeters above her head. Her pale skin was covered in sharp, rigid scales that bristled menacingly.

We were about fifty meters away from her. The Queen was standing in front of a coffee shop on the main street, swinging her fists at a group of people trying to flee. Calling it a “group of people” was generous as it was just five people scattering in all directions.

The ground in front of the shop was littered with mangled remains. The limbs and organs were a grim reminder of the people who had been present only moments ago.

Oddly enough, the zombies had formed a ring around the Queen, with none daring to approach her.

Seo Ho-Su broke the silence, his voice trembling with shock.

“Th-that’s the Queen, right?”

No one answered, but we were all thinking the same thing—even Ha Hee-Jeong.

I turned to look at her.

“... What the fuck? You said she wasn’t corrupted.”

Why the hell is she corrupted now?

The Queen was nothing like the figure I had imagined.

Could we even take her down?

Ha Hee-Jeong finally spoke, albeit a bit too calmly for my liking.

“... Yeah, something’s different. Why did she change?”

Her nonchalant tone irritated me.

How can she be so relaxed about a situation that could cost us our lives if we don’t start running soon?

Almost as if she could read my thoughts, Ha Hee-Jeong continued.

“She has changed a lot, but I think we can take her.”

“What?”

“I know your stats. They’re enough for what we need.”

Enough?

I glanced back at the Queen. One punch from her had just smashed a German car to pieces. Although my stats were high, I doubted they were enough to handle a punch like that.

“...”

“Su-Hyeok, you haven’t had a real fight since finishing the third floor, right? You can do this.”

Since the third floor?

She was right. I hadn’t faced a serious opponent since taking the Physical Enhancement Potion and absorbing the Lightning Essence.

“Unnie[2]? This doesn’t seem like a good idea...”

“Hee-Hee-Jeong, you’re not seriously expecting Su-Hyeok to fight that thing, right?”

“Don’t worry. Ho-Su, stay behind and protect us. Ha-Rin and Doppy, make sure to give Su-Hyeok all the buffs.”

She tapped her temple, trying to remind us of her foresight ability. Strangely enough, her confidence started to rub off on me. Our eyes met.

Do you not trust me?

She didn’t say it out loud, but her eyes spoke volumes. The certainty in her gaze was more convincing than her words.

“Su-Hyeok, let’s focus on saving those people first.”

Her words were the last push I needed. I launched myself toward the Queen. A few of the corrupted creatures that seemed to worship her turned at the sound of my footsteps.

“

Grahh!

”

The first zombie rushed at me, only to have its skull crushed by a downward swing of my mace.

Splat—

Thick brain matter stuck to my cheek, but there was no time to wipe it off.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

I covered my shield with lightning and slammed it under the chin of the next zombie that lunged at me from the left. While it still reeled from my shield slam, I finished it off with a quick strike of my mace.

“Over here!”

Out of the five people we had seen running from the Queen, two were already dead. The remaining three had been dodging through the zombie horde, and they turned toward the sound of my voice. Their eyes widened in disbelief, shocked that someone had come to save them. They quickly changed direction, heading straight for me.

“

Skreeeeek!

”

The Queen, who had been repeatedly pounding a half-mangled body, finally noticed me and turned her attention toward me. Our eyes locked briefly, and then she suddenly began charging at me.

Wait... Something feels off.

The Queen looked similar to the zombies, but there was something different about her. The zombies had pitch-black eyes, but hers were a pale gray.

In that split second, a thought struck me.

Right. We purified the corrupted egg, didn’t we?

“Ha Hee-Jeong! The egg!”

I spun around and ran, angling my path slightly to avoid leading the Queen directly toward the group.

As quick as ever, Ha Hee-Jeong tossed the egg to me from approximately thirty meters away.

... Wow. Even with the Queen hot on my heels, I couldn’t help but be impressed by her throw. It was as precise as a professional quarterback’s pass.

“Get ready to cast Purification!”

I dropped my shield to the ground and caught the egg in one smooth movement without missing a beat. Now it was time to test my theory. I turned to face the Queen, then tensed my leg muscles, ready to dodge in any direction.

“

Skreeeeek?

”

The Queen had been charging at me but froze suddenly when she saw me hold out the egg in my left hand. She was just two meters away, staring intently at the egg, seemingly weighing her options. Her gray eyes wavered, and she slowly reached out.

... Is this going to work?

“Skreeeeek!”

Damn it!

The moment I saw her eyes change, I rolled to the side as fast as I could. Mid-roll, I realized I had made a mistake—I hadn’t grabbed the egg tightly enough before dodging.

The egg rolled across the ground.

... I hope it’s okay.

A split second later, the Queen’s fist slammed into the spot where I had been standing. My reflexes kicked in, and I instinctively tried to raise my shield, only to remember I had dropped it. I rolled to the side again.

Forget the egg for now.

It was time to focus on the fight. Thankfully, Ha Hee-Jeong’s judgment had been spot on. Now that I was up close, the Queen’s overwhelming presence wasn’t as terrifying as it had seemed from a distance. Although insanely powerful, her movements were easy to read.

I wasn’t alone either, as Doppy and Seo Ha-Rin began casting spells at Ha Hee-Jeong’s command.

“Purification!”

“

Kriee!

Purification!”

Unlike when we purified the egg, the radiant light scattered quickly this time.

Is it because Chloe isn’t here? Do we really need three people?

“

Skreeeeek!

”

I dodged another of the Queen’s kicks and rolled toward my shield. I needed it quickly since dodging wouldn’t work forever.

Rising then pushing off with my back foot, I leaped toward where I had dropped the shield. As soon as I grabbed it, I surrounded it with lightning and deflected the Queen’s next punch. The electric shock made her hesitate for a moment.

Taking advantage of the opening, I forcefully flicked my wrist, driving my lightning-infused mace into her thigh.

“

Skreeeeek!”

The mace shattered the Queen’s scales as it drove deep into her thigh, causing her to hunch reflexively from the pain. Leveraging all the strength I could from my waist and shoulders, I yanked the mace hard to free it from the Queen’s leg.

“Guh...!”

The Queen cried out as my lightning-charged mace struck her chin, sending her head reeling skyward. She convulsed briefly, likely from the electric shock, before slowly collapsing backward.

“

Aaah!

”

Just as I was about to deliver the final blow to the fallen Queen, Ha Hee-Jeong’s urgent shout stopped me.

“Su-Hyeok! Wait!”

... Right, the purification spell. I got too caught up in the fight.

I had been completely focused on taking the Queen down and had forgotten our original goal. Now, she lay completely still, knocked out from the blow. Doppy and Seo Ha-Rin rushed over, chanting rapidly.

“Purification!”

“

Kriee!

Purification!”

This time, the radiant light that enveloped the Queen was even more vivid.

Did draining her strength finally allow the purification spell to work?

It felt almost anticlimactic, much like a game where the final boss was too easy.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“You’ve saved our lives! We will never forget this!”

“Nah, there‘s no need. We just did what’s right.”

The survivors had been hesitant at first but now bowed deeply in gratitude. Unlike the reactions of those we saved at the subway, they seemed genuinely grateful.

Is this what it feels like to save someone? I don’t mind this feeling at all.

“So, what now?”

“Well... she looks purified, but should we wait for her to wake up?”

Ha Hee-Jeong was holding the egg, and she looked unsure. Zombies had formed a circle around us, maintaining their distance but still surrounding us. They hadn’t dared to come closer, just like when we first encountered the Queen.

Who knows if they will maintain their distance?

With so many of them, defending ourselves would be a real challenge...

As I considered potential outcomes, Ha Hee-Jeong suddenly remembered something.

“The media center! Let’s head there.”

“The one inside Chungmuro Station?”

“Yeah, it’s the only place we know is safe for sure. We don’t know if these zombies are going to charge us, but the narrow corridor there would be easier to defend.”

“Alright, let’s go. But we’ll need to carry the Queen with us.”

I glanced at the survivors who were awkwardly standing nearby. There were two men and one woman. After seeing my look, they quickly moved closer to the Queen.

“We’ll carry her.”

“I’ll help too!”

“Mi-Jeong, it’s okay. Jong-Su and I can handle it.”

“Come on, it’s not like I’m weak. Let me help too.”

***

We arrived at the Media Center inside Chungmuro Station. Then, the Queen, who had been unconscious, suddenly stood up and spoke.

“Thank you, deeply, for saving me.”

So, she’d been pretending to be knocked out?

“Uh, since when have you been awake?”

“I awoke while we were descending the stairs. I apologize. I didn’t want to alarm you.”

“Oh, I see. That’s understandable.”

The Queen bowed deeply. Her frenzied bearing from earlier was gone, and now she seemed graceful and composed. Something about her presence made me want to respond politely.

The Queen straightened up and tore a rough hole through the black tendrils covering one wall. Previously hidden behind the dark tendrils, the gap now revealed a mysterious black door. It had a small keyhole and a recessed slot that looked oddly egg-shaped.

The Queen turned to Ha Hee-Jeong with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Um, my savior. Could you please... give me my child...”

“Oh, right, sorry.”

Ha Hee-Jeong carefully handed over the egg. The Queen slowly placed it into the slot. Resting her hand on the egg, she began murmuring something, almost like a spell.

Suddenly, white light burst forth from the egg.

“

Squee?

”

When the light faded, a small child that resembled the Queen appeared in its place. The child had tiny horns and scales and was holding a small key in its hand.

The Queen lovingly lifted the child into her arms and inserted the key into the keyhole before turning it around.

At that moment, an unknown energy pulsed from the door. I couldn’t tell what it was, but it didn’t seem harmful. Simultaneously, a notification window popped up.

[Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the sixth floor of the Tower of Ordeal: the Lost World of the Corrupted. Achievement points will be calculated.]

Didn’t we have more time left? Hmm, it seems that purifying the Queen also cleared the floor.

[Time remaining: 23 hours 8 minutes. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has completed the hidden mission ‘Lost World of the Corrupted Seraphim.’ Achievement points will be calculated.]

Oh, so they’re called seraphim.

The Queen bowed deeply once again.

“May I ask the name of my savior?”

“... It’s Kwon Su-Hyeok.”

“You have returned our world to us, Su-Hyeok. I can not express my gratitude enough... I will pray that you never lose your world.”

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been awarded 22,732 achievement points. Total achievement points: 42,048. He will now enter the waiting room.]

I smiled faintly at the Seraphim Queen. The newborn child waved at me while sporting a bright smile. That was the last thing I saw before my vision brightened and the familiar sensation of floating washed over me.

***

「Invisible Message: Hidden mission completed. All stats increased by 3.」

...

「Invisible Message: The fifth-class god ‘Horn That Splits Mountains’ expresses deep gratitude to the first-class god ‘Omniscient Thunder Axe’ and will partially take on the ‘share percentage’ of Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok in the future.」

1. He is talking about necrophiles. What the heck, Kwon Su-Hyeok ew ☜

2. "Unnie" is a respectful and affectionate term used by a younger female to address an older sister or female friend, reflecting the importance of age hierarchy and close relationships in Korean culture. In this case, Seo Ha-Rin is calling Ha Hee-Jeong “unnie.” ☜