Chapter 420
[Choi Lee-kyung-ssi, please go another way for now!]
The caterpillar monster quickly blocked the way towards me as if it had anticipated this situation. Then, it spread its numerous arms to try and stop the octopus monster.
Cr-r-r-unch–!
However, at that moment, one of the caterpillar's thickest arms was torn off, and it rolled around on the floor. It sounded as if a sheet of fabric was being ripped apart. Then, rather than a worm or a bug's fluid I had expected, a liquid that was closer to human blood sprayed into the air.
[Graaagh!]
[What a fool.]
The octopus monster smirked as it flexed its agile legs and stared at me.
[Don't move, Choi Lee-kyung.]
I bit my lips as I rose to my feet. Then, leaving the caterpillar behind, I ran out through a different path towards the [Entrance to the second floor]. Though it was likely I would be caught, my destination was just around the corner.[Arrghh–!]
As I turned around and started to run, the caterpillar let out a roar as it started to grapple the other monster once more.
[…Haah. Unbelievable.]
The octopus coldly began to attack once more.
The scent of blood wafted past my nose, but I didn't dare look back. The monkey doll remained silent and led the way, as if urging me to run faster. I just continued to run ahead. When I noticed the absence of any sounds of struggle, tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
‘I'm sorry…'
Slither—!
However, there was no time for grief. As soon as I felt something touching my back, I turned sharply and dashed around the corner to escape.
The octopus monster was even faster than I realized. Even though I had turned almost instantly, I felt the back of my pajamas being ripped away. Thankfully though, I felt no pain; I wasn't injured.
Once again, I clenched my teeth and forced more strength into my thighs. My ankle started to throb.
‘Damn! If only I wasn't wearing these clothes…! It's so cumbersome!'
The damp fabric of my one-piece robes clung to my thighs and slowed me down, making it difficult to run. The monkey, sensing that I was struggling to run properly, glanced back at me with concern as it continued to run a few steps ahead of me.
[OoKkkeeKee!!]
Then, it suddenly whirled around and jumped into my arms. I instinctively caught the monkey with both hands, but instead of staying in my embrace, it quickly climbed up my chest and shoulders before launching itself backward.
"W-Wait..!"
I belatedly turned my head in the monkey's direction only to see the octopus's black tentacle reaching for my head. The monkey flung itself into the tentacle on my behalf. It probably judged that I would be caught and then sacrificed its body to save me.
Cr-r-r-unch–!
Nothing could be done–I saw the monster immediately crush the monkey doll with impunity. My body instantly went rigid.
The doll didn't bleed gruesomely, but the light in its strange, button eyes went cold; its eyes looked to the ground, motionless. I stared blankly at what seemed to be red sand spilling out from the monkey's broken sides.
Meanwhile, the octopus monster–without a hint of exhaustion in its movements–stood leisurely in front of me. It tramped the doll with one leg, as if it were showcasing its power to me.
[I ask for your cooperation, Choi Lee-kyung-nim.]
"……"
[If you resist, you'll be in a world of pain.]
As soon as it finished speaking, the monster showcased its cruelty by flicking the monkey doll with the tip of its tentacle.
I stopped rebelling and bowed my head as if I was stricken with fear. However, I held the dagger–hidden–behind my waist. Fortunately, the octopus monster was still quite placid as it narrowed the distance between us–it hadn't noticed my deceit.
"……!"
Then…the moment he wrapped his tentacles around my waist…
Plunge–!
[Grraughhh!]
I stabbed my dagger straight into the tentacle that wound around my stomach.
Contrary to its toy-like appearance, the dagger cut surprisingly well. The transparent blade penetrated through as if it was cutting tofu; black-ink blood spouted from the tentacle, dyeing my top black.
I twisted the blade forcefully–like tightening a screw with a screwdriver–tearing the wound open even further. The hot jet of blood spurted out even more fiercely.
[St-stop! Arghh–!!!]
The octopus monster seemed to be in tremendous pain; the tentacle around me stiffened like stone. And soon, it threw me against the wall.
Thud–!
My head slammed hard against the wall, and my vision went dark for a while. But as I struggled to regain my senses, I realized I was still gripping the sword tightly, even as I lay on the floor.
Meanwhile, the octopus monster, unable to attack me in my incapacitated state, was wrapping its tattered tentacle with another one. However, it wasn't able to stop the bleeding, and a pool of ink-like blood was already gathering on the floor.
[No, no. No…! It hurts…It hurts it hurts!!!]
Surprisingly, although I had only struck one of its tentacles, the skin all over the monster's body began to crack open like a drought-stricken field. Ink-like blood oozed out from between these cracks.
After staring blankly at the monster, I looked down at the dagger.
‘No way, this dagger… Can it do all that just from a mere scratch?'
That would be good for me. I finally had a chance of winning.
"Nngh…"
But soon, a wave of nausea hit me–perhaps I had a mild concussion. I spat out saliva–dry heaving–and then braced myself against the wall to stand up.
With trembling legs, I looked at the octopus monster, which now lay in pieces, almost as if it had been disassembled. Among its remains, I found and pulled out the shattered remnants of the monkey doll, soaked in the monster's blood.
"Haah…"
For some reason, it felt like something I had to do that. Then, in my bloodstained state, I continued down the long hallway.
* * *
‘Everyone seems wary of the dagger…'
As I walked down the hallway, I inevitably encountered more monsters. Most of them were just as large and grotesque as the octopus monster, and while they initially charged at me as if to kill me, they froze and recoiled in fear when they saw the dagger in my hand. They clearly recognized the dagger.
Of course, some monsters still approached me bravely, but I was able to pass safely and reach the [2nd Floor Entrance] by defeating those monsters with a brush of the blade. Just like I had defeated the octopus.
‘Honestly, why didn't Jo Chan-young properly explain…how to use this dagger?'
Surprisingly, the dagger had a function where the blade could be extended by twisting the handle to the right.
The second monster that approached me looked like a female ghost walking upside down on the ceiling; while struggling, I twisted the dagger's handle. The blade lengthened, and I managed to poke her eyes. The ghost then turned into a swarm of insects before scattering.
If I had known about this feature earlier, I could have attacked more easily… I was almost captured because Jo Chan-young hadn't mentioned this function. I'm glad I discovered this all by chance; I pressed and pulled at the blade more afterwards, but I didn't find any other functions.
"Haah, haah…"
However, I ran into a severe problem. I thought I had developed a mild concussion when I hit the wall earlier, but the injury must have been more severe than I initially thought.
Wiping the blood trickling from my nose, I barely managed to look up at the [2nd Floor Entrance]. There were no monsters or any particular decorations or furniture near the entrance, making the space both clean and somehow eerie at the same time.
Just as shown on the map, all this place had was the narrow stairs that went up to the second floor. I approached slowly, wary of my surroundings; I looked up at the dark stairs–not a single light in view.
The stairs were steep enough to be called a ladder, and it seemed almost impossible for me to climb them in my current state.
‘I might fall off since I'm so dizzy…'
But somehow–in anyway I can–I had to go up. Only then would I be able to find a way to subdue Dawon.
I clenched my teeth and inserted the dagger between the steps. Once again, the dagger penetrated through the stairs without much difficulty. Furthermore, even though I hung on with all my weight, the dagger didn't move. The blade only moved when I twisted the handle and pulled it out. In that way, I slowly climbed the stairs, using the dagger as a makeshift cane.
Creak, Creak….
I was drenched in sweat by the time I finally reached the attic. As soon as I looked around the room, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
"This is…"
The attic was filled with many versions of a particular doll, all crammed in without space to breathe. All of the dolls had their mouths wide open, and inside each one, there was a crumpled piece of paper.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing; shivering, I approached closer. But the closer I got, the clearer the doll's form became.
As I looked at the dozens of displayed dolls, I mumbled, "This is… Me."
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TL: Once again, the novel wants me to remind me that it's technically also a horror novel.
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