Chapter 14 : Return to the Abyss

Abyss Entry Management Bureau Dongdaemun Branch.

During a quiet morning, the staff gathered in small groups here and there.

“Gatekeeper, are you reading the news?”

“Yeah, Youngmin, take a look at this.”

The gatekeeper handed his tablet to the youngest team member, Park Youngmin, showing him a news article.

“Oh, that name sounds familiar. Isn’t that the guy? Gwak Cheongrae got caught.”

“Eh, honestly, I don’t believe it. I’ve seen Gwak Cheongrae myself. His eyes are full of murderous intent. How could they have caught someone like him, especially with a gun?”

“Still, the police wouldn’t lie outright, would they?”

“They’re very good at lying. Haven’t you been in public service long enough to know? Just read that article.”

With a bitter smile at the gatekeeper’s sarcasm, Park Youngmin started reading.

“Huh?”

Rising star, actually a ‘weirdo’ — Abyss Herald >

< “Try this once.” A hero’s secret hobby. — All Daily >

< Big rookie who caught Gwak Cheongrae actually has a ‘special taste?’ — Dugyeore >

The tablet displayed various headlines from different media outlets.

“So these are all interviews with Baek Yuseong?”

“There’s barely any story about Gwak Cheongrae, just weird stuff.”

“Read the Goryeo Ilbo article; it’s hilarious.”

Among them was a piece from Goryeo Ilbo written by reporter Baek Mi.

The Goryeo Ilbo reporter detailed how Yuseong ate the fruit ‘Pilapple’ collected from the Abyss and even recommended it to the reporter.

The article even included the journalist’s personal experience trying Pilapple.

“The reporter tried Pilapple at Mr. Baek’s recommendation. It was a mental challenge, but perhaps a poor choice. The taste was so intense it made one wonder if it contained poison. While the reporter was struggling, Mr. Baek smiled and ate it. Although energy bars are said to be hard to consume for those with allergies, is eating dangerous Abyss creatures really the right thing to do? Maybe it’s time for some social debate… Haha, interesting article, isn’t it?”

The article was accompanied by a photo of Baek Yuseong smiling brightly, holding a bag of Pilapple Bars.

“Isn’t that hilarious? These days, all sorts of concepts come out.”

“Concept?”

“Well, that’s the concept, right? Not being able to eat Allergy Energy Bars, so you catch and eat Abyss creatures instead. Does that make sense?”

“Well…”

“Looks like they picked some flashy guy to use as a model. He’s not even that good-looking…”

Just as the gatekeeper said this, a female employee suddenly shouted.

“Gatekeeper! What are you saying? He’s handsome!”

“Don’t you know they edit photos these days?”

“No, no, look at this video. It’s an interview from a place called All Daily.”

“What, Mitube?”

“Yes, these days news outlets produce a lot of video news.”

She played a Mitube video on her smartphone.

A female reporter was interviewing Baek Yuseong, who was sitting in the passenger seat while driving.

“What kind of interview is this? It feels like some foreign variety show.”

“That’s not the point; look at this guy.”

“Look at what?”

“Just that he looks this good on video?”

“Heh heh.”

“This looks too natural to be photoshopped.”

She praised Yuseong’s jawline, gushing enthusiastically.

The male staff all wore indifferent expressions but seemed unfazed.

Unlike the superficial content of the articles, the video interview revealed Yuseong’s personal stories.

ㅡ “Ah, I see. You cook and eat creatures that grow in the Abyss. Some are non-toxic, but thanks to your Gift, you can eat even those that are poisonous.”

ㅡ “Yes, not completely resistant, though. I can’t eat really toxic ones. They also taste bad.”

ㅡ “Still, I heard you ate some things ordinary people would hesitate to eat. Do you have any memorable foods?”

ㅡ “Memorable?”

ㅡ “Like bad-tasting foods or tough experiences.”

ㅡ “Oh, there are plenty, lots. Hmm…”

ㅡ “I’m curious.”

ㅡ “Insects. I remember eating bugs. On the Third Layer, if you flip over certain world roots, insects swarm. When you catch and eat those, the bitter juice—”

The video suddenly skipped to the next question.

“… Ugh!”

“Gross.”

The male employees grimaced.

In an era when you only had to eat energy bars, cooking Abyss creatures was hard to understand.

And the idea of eating creepy bugs made it worse.

Their curiosity turned to wonder about the female employee’s reaction.

The same woman who had been praising Baek Yuseong’s looks now had to react to this disgusting story.

Had her ideal image completely shattered?

“Ugh.”

But it wasn’t her image that was shattered—it was the male staff’s expectations.

“How hard must it have been to eat bugs… so pitiful.”

The gatekeeper sighed in disbelief.

“Yunji, wouldn’t most people find that disgusting?”

“Gatekeeper, you’re too cold. Don’t you feel sorry for him?”

“No, think about it differently. What if Youngmin here said he ate bugs?”

“That’d be a little gross.”

“See!”

The bickering left the embarrassed junior staff looking awkward.

At that moment, someone spoke behind the gatekeeper.

“It tastes disgusting, but there’s no poison. If you want, I can catch some for you.”

“See? I told you it’s gross… Hey, who the hell are you?”

Perhaps distracted by the interview, no one noticed a stranger had entered the Dongdaemun branch.

The female employee immediately recognized the stranger.

“Oh! Baek Yuseong.”

“Yeah.”

Baek Yuseong gave a bitter smile.

Even on the subway ride here, people recognized him.

The All Daily interview video had surpassed 200,000 views in a single day.

He received a call from reporter Lee Yul Hee as soon as he woke up.

She said the video’s impact far exceeded their expectations.

Yuseong truly felt that his life before returning and his current life had turned 180 degrees.

“I used to be treated like a weirdo.”

And this time, he was of course still considered a weirdo.

Many extremists thought eating Abyss food was disgusting.

But surprisingly, some people were favorable or curious about the food.

“Awesome, awesome! Yuseong, nice to see you!”

“Yeah, haha.”

Just like the female employee who was so happy.

“Is there something you need…?”

The lowest-ranking staff member, Park Youngmin, cautiously asked Yuseong.

“I’m here to register my Explorer License.”

“Oh, may I see your license?”

Yuseong showed the license worn on his wrist.

The IC chip embedded in the license was recognized, and his information popped up on the screen.

“Oh, this is your first entry after obtaining the Explorer License.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have any weapons? No modern firearms, right?”

Although guns circulated in Korea after the Great Cataclysm, possession without a permit was still illegal.

He certainly didn’t have any.

“No guns… wait a moment.”

Yuseong placed a stainless steel bag on the inspection table.

The angular, vault-like container bore Cheonghwa’s logo.

When Yuseong unlocked it, the vault opened smoothly.

“Wow, Orehalcon…”

Park Youngmin was amazed.

The equipment inside radiated a subtle blue glow.

“Orehalcon – a titanium alloy material.”

“This kind of material is really rare… I’ve only seen famous explorers with this.”

“Money talks. Since the company is big, they provide stuff like this.”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

When Yuseong first saw the gear, he was even more amazed than Park Youngmin.

Orehalcon was a precious magical ore mined only in the deep layers.

Using Cheonghwa’s technology, titanium was mixed in to maximize strength and wear resistance.

Before his return, only mid-tier explorers could barely afford such equipment.

In terms of value, it was as precious as the supercar Yuseong had obtained.

“Is that a cleaver and a wok? You must have bought them as a set.”

Inside the box were tools longer than a knife but slightly smaller than a cleaver.

Also included was a round wok.

Park Youngmin took out the equipment and tried to register it in the computer.

But Yuseong shook his head.

“That’s a kitchen knife and a pot.”

“… What?”

Yuseong lifted the Orehalcon knife.

Whether it was someone’s preference or not, a delicate rose pattern was engraved on the blade.

The supposed cleaver even had a handle.

The handle could fold, allowing it to be used like a cleaver, but its shape was definitely not that of a typical cleaver.

Honestly, it looked more like a pot.

“It’s a Rose Knife and a wok.”

“Huh?”

Yuseong was initially shocked seeing a knife with a rose engraved on it.

Presumably, the chairman, who remembered his grandfather’s treasured Rose Knife, had given separate instructions.

Like Chinese cooking knives, the blade was wide but with a pointed tip for stabbing.

The wok was wide and deep enough to be used for frying, deep-frying, and stews.

Those were Yuseong’s weapons.

“T-then, the weapons’ names are Rose Knife and Wok…?”

Park Youngmin hesitated and tried to change the names registered on the computer.

“Oh, I’ll pick up the other gear and guitar from the company building on the Third Layer.”

“Yes, it’s been processed. Shall I guide you?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Well, you’ve probably been inside a few times even before registering as an explorer.”

After seeing the interview, they quickly understood.

But Yuseong didn’t enter right away.

He took something out from a shopping bag he had brought separately.

“I still have some fruit left from last time, so I made this personally. I want to give it to you all for your hard work.”

Yuseong, who seemed a bit blunt, showed kindness.

Curious, the staff peered into the box Yuseong took out.

“Uh, Abyss… will you eat this?”

The somewhat prickly gatekeeper asked cautiously.

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…”

Yuseong realized they had been watching the interview earlier and decided to joke.

“No bugs in here, so don’t worry. Hahaha.”

However, as Yuseong expected, no one burst out laughing.

Seeing the staff’s hesitant eyes, Yuseong simply opened the packaging.

Only then did amazement break out.

“Wow… it looks like a jewel.”

Inside a disposable container were bite-sized Pilapple Tanghulu skewers.

Since the melted sugar coating had hardened, the Pilapple glittered like a white gemstone.

“Hmm…”

The gatekeeper stirred it, but Jeong Yunji, who had been kind to Yuseong from the start, quickly grabbed a skewer.

“Here you go. Thanks for your hard work.”

Seeing that, Yuseong nodded without hesitation.

Though Jeong Yunji didn’t eat immediately, she thought this was more than enough.

“Then, I wish you a successful expedition.”

The staff cautiously waved as Yuseong strode toward the gate.

***

The gate into the Abyss was structured somewhat like an elevator.

But it was not like the elevators above ground.

When the gate opened, a large hexagonal platform appeared on the ground, and standing on it allowed entry into the Abyss.

Those with Gifts could sense the magical power emanating from the gate.

The Dongdaemun branch of the Entry Management Bureau was established because the gate here remained permanently active.

Temporary gates appear and disappear constantly, and even in Seoul alone there were countless such gates.

Sometimes monsters would leap out from them.

Yuseong stepped onto the gate.

Soon, a message sounded.

[Gift holder confirmed.]

[Do you wish to enter the Abyss?]

[Achievement record not registered.]

Currently, exploration extended to the 18th Layer.

However, one could only enter through the gate up to the layers they had explored before.

Since Yuseong had only entered up to the 4th Layer before his return, that was as far as he could go.

But today, he had to stop at the Third Layer first.

“Descending to the Third Layer.”

[Descending to the Third Layer.]

[Wishing you a successful expedition.]

The message sounded softly.

The descent began.

“Successful expedition, my foot.”

The gate was not made by humans.

Naturally, the message was not human-made either. Probably those who created the Earth also made these messages.

Thinking so, wishing a successful expedition sounded like a hollow joke.

Those who made the Abyss stole humanity’s food supply.

Such a pathetic cheer.

Swoosh.

After some descent, an unknown magical power thickly filled the surroundings.

No matter how deep you dug on the surface, you would not naturally connect to the Abyss.

This power must be the mechanism that sends entrants to the Abyss, another dimension.

Darkness filled the front, and numbers appeared.

01.

After a moment passed.

02.

He was descending to the Third Layer.

Yuseong suddenly caught a familiar scent.

“The Abyss smell.”

The Abyss, filled with unique magical power, had a distinct aroma.

Like the scent of life wafting from a fresh summer forest.

A rich scent, but at the same time a little nostalgic.

At that moment, a message rang nearby.

[Beautiful like a jewel.]

[Your Tanghulu has moved the recipient.]

[Charm slightly increased.]

One brave staff member had apparently tasted Yuseong’s Tanghulu.

“Experiment successful.”

Soon, others took bites, and sounds of charm increasing were heard one after another.

“Still, the effect is a bit weak.”

Yuseong handed the Tanghulu to the staff while analyzing its efficacy.

He wondered if the effect would persist even at a distance.

Whether food given on the surface would work inside the Abyss.

“The ability increase is a bit low, and it doesn’t heal. Well, if it healed, that’d be too broken.”

Fortunately, the results were successful.

It reduced the attack power of magical beasts and raised charm levels, affecting friendliness with Abyss species.

A smile appeared on Yuseong’s lips.

He took out the last Tanghulu from his bundle and ate it.

The sweet sugar coating might be too much when combined with other fruits.

But with the tangy Pilapple, it formed a perfect combination.

The sugar shell shattered like crystal, releasing sweetness that harmonized exquisitely with Pilapple’s tartness.

“Well, it tastes this good.”

Then the number in front finally changed.

03.

Arrival at the Third Layer.