Chapter 17: The Invasion from Beyond, and the Counterattack (1)

Supernatural Science Research Institute, Field Team 1.

The Institute’s resident researchers believed that they could kill all the creatures that emerged from Gate No. 1 with DDT.

There was a hypothesis that DDT would target the relatively vulnerable cellular respiration process. It wasn’t unreasonable, but until they checked it themselves, no one could be certain.

“Releasing high-pressure gas valve. Commencing spray.”

“Confirmed, spraying has started.”

On the other hand, that also meant they would know the result immediately after trying it.

The field team from the Supernatural Science Research Institute grabbed the hose and began spraying. In the middle of the forest, a white powder spread out.

The Institute’s staff who were watching the scene held their breath.

It was a moment of destiny.

How would the creatures react…

The effect was immediate. Silence began to spread outwards from the large truck spraying the white gas.

In the wake of the DDT mist, there was neither the sound of crawling insects nor the movement of small animals.

“Experiment, success.”

It was an utterly bleak sight.

The vehicle continued to spray DDT over a wide area, and nothing moving remained where the white powder had passed.

In the world of Gate No. 1, where the native flora and fauna had perished, invasive species brought from Earth would take their place.

***

I let out a sigh of relief.

The conversation took a little longer than expected, but the National Intelligence Service had promised to support us and left.

They had also asked the Institute to monitor the situation in North Korea and, in case of emergency, to support the National Intelligence Service’s operations in North Korea.

That was to be expected. They needed to keep an eye on North Korea and other international situations, acquire Magic Stones, and monitor dangerous domestic Awakened—all of which required cooperation from the authorities.

There were things the Institute simply couldn’t do alone.

I returned to the containment sector of the Supernatural Science Research Institute.

This was the Containment Room for the Golem Core retrieved from the Ruins of Gate No. 1.

The Golem Core I had brought last time—a small, gold-veined crystal sphere—was placed at the center of the Containment Room.

On the other side of the glass, which allowed us to see inside the Containment Room, Dr. Kang and other researchers were waiting.

I connected the Mic Device to my ear.

“Test subject: temporary name, Golem Core. Gate No. 1, sample number five. Chief researcher, Lee Han. Beginning experiment.”

“Confirmed.”

I touched the core with my fingertip.

Mana flowed, and once again, I established a magical link with the Golem Core.

“Connection confirmed. A small amount of ionizing radiation detected, but it’s within the safe range. Please proceed with the experiment.”

Dr. Kang’s voice came through, and I nodded.

The core seemed to respond slightly to my gestures, as if it wanted to move, but merely making it move wasn’t the purpose.

Let’s move on to the next stage of the experiment.

I turned my head to look at Dr. Kang on the other side of the glass, watching the situation.

“If the Golem Core is a type of computational device, wouldn’t it be possible to infer its internal state through methods like brainwave analysis?”

“I’ll look into that.”

“Let’s move to the next step. Bring in the doll.”

This was the goal of today’s experiment.

The research staff brought in a doll made of aluminum plates into the Containment Room.

It was modeled after the original form of the Golem observed at the Ruins.

It was hollow and surely much lighter than the real thing.

I affixed the Golem Core where the doll’s head would be.

The researchers gathered and held their breath.

Just in case, I activated my Explorer trait.

[You have successfully created a Golem.]

[Exploration Stat +20.]

[Progress to Enlightenment, Stage 2: 50/200.]

Before anything else, the status window notified me of success.

-Clang.

The aluminum Golem moved as if trying to take a breath. The sound of metal grinding and scraping rang out.

I stepped back for now.

“Activity is increasing. Please check the ionizing radiation levels again. Are we still within safe limits?”

“Uh, it’s about the level of an X-ray.”

That could still be dangerous, couldn’t it? Not exactly reassuring.

For now, let’s solve the immediate problem.

I tried to issue a command to the Golem mentally.

“Rise.”

The doll was simply made of aluminum plates and had no power source, yet it was definitely moving.

“The test subject is moving. Recording in progress.”

“It’s dangerous, Dr. Lee. Please step back.”

It’s not dangerous.

It’s moving according to my command.

Just as I thought, the Golem stood up on two legs and began to walk.

I could see the inside of the Golem filling with Mana.

“Dr. Lee, is that thing really under control?”

“Yes. I’m controlling it.”

I nodded.

The aluminum Golem seemed to nod its head in response.

It was a peculiar sight.

I had been surprised seeing the Golem at the Ruins, but now that it was moving according to my gestures…

“Is this what it feels like to be Frankenstein, creating a monster?”

My proficiency was still low, so issuing commands wasn’t easy, but making it walk or pick up objects was possible.

At this level, it seemed it could be used immediately in actual combat. The next Gate would open in a few days, after all.

“Looks like I’ve gained another trump card for the next battle.”

I removed the core from the Golem’s head.

As soon as the core was pulled from its head, the aluminum Golem gradually stopped moving and froze.

I placed the Golem Core back in its place.

“Chief researcher Lee Han. Ending the experiment.”

As I finished the experiment and left the Containment Room, the researchers who had been watching finally let out a sigh of relief.

Dr. Kang put down his Tablet and walked over to me.

“By the way, how did you know it would work properly?”

“I just tried it and it worked.”

Once I secured enough Magic Stones, I would even attempt to create a Golem Core myself.

Controlling it had been a complete success.

Dr. Ryoo was glancing at the summary of the experiment on his Tablet. I thought he’d show up too.

“Amazing. When I first saw the Golem Core, I was skeptical, but it really does move by magic?”

“Yes, something like that.”

It’s just a matter of practice.

It was my first time moving a Golem, so I was clumsy, but with practice, I could use it for tasks or combat.

Just like issuing commands to a Summoned Beast.

“I’ve been thinking about why Magic Stones emit a small amount of ionizing radiation. From the perspective of Particle Physics—”

“From what perspective?”

Dr. Ryoo tilted his head.

“If the Law of Physics breaks down at the microscopic particle level, perhaps that’s when ionizing radiation occurs. Kind of like how an Event Horizon generates Hawking Radiation.”

“I get what you mean, but that’s a pretty abstract explanation.”

It was, indeed, a rather vague explanation, but magic isn’t something that can be purely explained by science in the first place.

Still, the idea that radiation could occur at a singularity where the Law of Physics doesn’t apply—there was enough logic there.

That phenomenon had already been observed in Celestial Physics.

Dr. Ryoo nodded.

“We’ll need to research Magic Stones more to know for sure… Still, I’m glad we found a clue we can pursue experimentally.”

I continued moving the Golem. I should test it in real combat soon—there was still much left to explore in the second Gate.

***

Eight days since the Gate Incident began.

Whirrr, clank. Whirrr, clang.

A machine built by the Supernatural Science Research Institute was walking through the space beyond the Gate. A quadrupedal robot, large enough for a person to ride.

“Why did you make something like this?”

This was the Hunter Association President. It had only been about a week since the Gate opened and the Awakened appeared.

The Hunter Association wasn’t properly established yet, but on paper it existed, so for now, he could be called the President.

We were wearing protective suits equipped with a clear plastic observation window about the size of a smartphone, just enough to see our faces.

The Association President gestured at the machine he was riding.

“It’s an operational vehicle designed for use in terrain where tanks can’t enter. Not very practical, though.”

To be more specific,

It was a vehicle designed for urban warfare in Seoul after nuclear war or massive bombardment, when the city was reduced to ruins.

Even if buildings made of reinforced concrete collapsed, they wouldn’t disappear—they’d just become piles or hills of reinforced concrete.

The terrain would be almost impassable. Even tracked vehicles would break down, and hoofed animals would slip as soon as they set foot.

There’s historical precedent.

After the Dresden Bombing in Germany, when the Allied Forces tried to enter the city, even tracked vehicles, horses, and cattle couldn’t get through the ruins; in the end, only soldiers walked in.

Anyway, this machine was designed with such a scenario in mind.

A small vehicle with legs instead of wheels, capable of carrying two unarmed people and a bit of cargo.

It hadn’t been mass-produced, since it wasn’t all that practical, but the Institute had a few in reserve.

I had to speak a little louder for the robot to hear. As I continued explaining, the Association President frowned beside me.

“I sense Mana. What did you do?”

“I upgraded it with a Magic Stone we found this time.”

“The government moves faster than I thought.”

I’m just fast. It’s a small difference, but still.

Ming Ming was perched on top of the walking robot, surveying the surroundings like a crow on a power line.

“Well… survival’s on the line.”

Next to Ming Ming, the President’s crows were also scattered about, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

“Anyway, I’m finally starting to understand how things are moving. You’re the one directing everything, aren’t you, Doctor?”

“What do you mean?”

“Government response and all that.”

The area was quiet.

It seemed the Steel Spider and the monsters hadn’t returned yet. It had only been about a day, so it was understandable.

“I think I finally get what you’re getting at. Regarding the Gate incident—the response, the fighting, the strategy—all of it is being led by you, isn’t it, Doctor?”

“In the end, yes, that’s how it turned out.”

Honestly, things have been going too smoothly. In other countries, the Gate incident put them in almost a wartime state, but in our country, it’s just a few emergency text messages.

The Association President nodded as if he understood.

“You must have something up your sleeve, after all.”

Let him think what he wants. The more highly he thought of me, the better for me.

After returning, I was able to secure the Association President’s cooperation more easily than before—thank goodness for that.

And even before the Association was formally launched. Gaining the President’s trust early would be a major asset in the future.

“Anyway, I don’t see any Monsters around.”

“Let’s expand the search area.”

To the right, Ming Ming spread her white wings; to the left, the President’s crows spread their black wings and flew off.

Still, since I brought the Association President into the Gate, it would be a waste of time to leave without catching a single Monster.

“Let’s see who finds one first.”

The Puppet Master folded his arms, full of confidence.

Ming Ming was faster and smarter than the crows. Even if her flying speed was a bit slower, I had no doubt Ming Ming would come out on top.