Chapter 35: The Mystical Perspective (2)

The Supernatural Science Research Institute had, until now, been maintained by four permanent researchers.

First, the first permanent researcher—me.

Then, the second permanent researcher, Dr. Min Hyeongjin.

Dr. Min is a specialist in chemistry and materials engineering, but he’s proficient in various research fields.

Next is the third permanent researcher, Dr. Ryu Ji-hye.

Dr. Ryoo is an expert in molecular biology, a genius, but frankly, a serious eccentric.

The fourth permanent researcher is Dr. Kang Suhyeok.

Dr. Kang is a computer and mechanical engineering specialist, and he’s usually so quiet it’s almost unusual.

And today, the fifth permanent researcher has been selected.

Dr. Wi Sujin.

Dr. Wi’s research field is Analytical Psychology.

We brought her in because we needed research that analyzes reality through Symbols and consciousness.

Dr. Wi glanced at the four permanent researchers gathered in the conference room.

Everyone had assembled to meet Dr. Wi.

“Uh, I’m Dr. Wi. I was a psychiatrist researching Jungian Analytical Psychology. Nice to meet you.”

No matter if it’s a child or someone whose school bag strap could double as a jump rope, introductions always seem awkward.

In fact, maybe the latter looks even more awkward.

Dr. Min was the first to look up.

The voice of reason among the permanent researchers.

Dr. Min glanced between Dr. Wi and the thesis displayed on her tablet, as if trying to match the paper to the person.

“You majored in Analytical Psychology, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, do you think the study of Analytical Psychology and mysticism is related to the magic of Awakened individuals?”

“That was Dr. Lee Han’s opinion.”

Dr. Min nodded.

“I’m not sure if that really makes sense. Not that I’m opposed, but it kind of does… and kind of doesn’t…”

I pondered.

There were similar contents in Dr. Wi’s papers and books. How did it all connect?

“Jung introduced the concept of the Collective Unconscious to explain human behavior. To analyze such collectives, he extracted the concept of Archetype from legends and Myth.”

“Yes.”

“There’s more. Jung also believed that this Collective Unconscious causes Synchronicity in a person’s life. It’s a concept similar to Fate as spoken of in fortune telling, or Causality according to circumstances.”

“Oh-ho.”

“Myth and Belief influence the Collective Unconscious, and the Collective Unconscious, in turn, affects human life.”

Dr. Min looked like he understood something.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ryoo, with a puzzled expression, raised a hand.

The ball passed to Dr. Ryoo.

“So. Is there any evidence that this isn’t just idle fantasy, but is actually closely related to the manifestation of real abilities?”

Dr. Ryoo’s eyes grew round.

I glanced across the desk at Dr. Wi. Dr. Wi hesitated a moment, then tilted her head.

“Shall I do a Tarot Reading for you?”

“Huh?”

Dr. Wi smirked.

Hard to tell if she was joking or not.

Dr. Wi snapped her fingers, and a few Tarot cards appeared from her sleeve.

“Let’s think of it like this. Magic does exist.”

“Yes.”

“And from a mystical perspective, we need systematic tools to analyze it. It could be the Archetypes described in Analytical Psychology, or Astrology, or Symbols. Not necessarily because they’re effective, but because there are no alternatives.”

I nodded.

“I said something similar myself.”

Well, to be honest, it was a secondary issue.

From a practical standpoint, what mattered was that Dr. Wi could predict the future or see what was hidden in the present.

I looked at Dr. Kang.

“Dr. Kang hasn’t said a word this whole meeting.”

Even so, this was a meeting to welcome a new colleague.

“Dr. Kang, do you have anything to add?”

“No. She seems like a good person.”

“I see.”

“I’ll read her papers slowly.”

With this, the recruitment of a new talent was successfully concluded.

I intended to establish the Korean Mage Tower.

With Dr. Wi at the front of the Research Institute, we’d begin the world’s first systematic research into Magic and take the lead.

***

I sat alone in the office, deep in thought.

“Traitors.”

The Supernatural Science Research Institute had been Korea’s hope even before my regression.

To people, it was symbolic, and in reality, it was the core of our response to the Gate crisis.

Of course, the Supernatural Science Research Institute wasn’t without faults or limitations, but its importance as a facility never changed.

So, the Traitors who sought to burn the world had repeatedly targeted the Supernatural Science Research Institute.

We lost countless colleagues in the process, and in the end, we were annihilated on the 1,500th day, losing everything we had left.

If I wanted to avoid repeating the same mistake…

“Ming.”

“Yeah. I think so too.”

Preemptive strike.

We have to attack the enemy before they attack us.

We need to quickly get a lead on those who will betray humanity to side with the otherworldly—the Gate Worshippers.

We’d already once gotten a lead on the Gate Worshippers.

“They left traces in the nth Gate.”

Ever since we succeeded in controlling the Gate, things had gone quiet.

The main stage for the Gate Worshippers’ activities was Mujin City, Gyeonggi-do.

A kind of headquarters existed there.

Before my regression, it took several months to subjugate the first site, but this time, we could start right away.

The problem is, our own side’s lukewarm response could actually worsen the situation…

We needed to demonstrate overwhelming force.

“Ming Ming. Remember the fight in Mujin City?”

“Ming.”

There were countless issues to resolve.

Fighting people, especially Awakened ones, was always the toughest.

This time, we really needed to be fully prepared.

Ming Ming cocked her head for a moment.

The biggest problem in fighting Traitors was always that.

The fake Gate we’d seen even at the Seoul Gate.

So.

Fighting in Mujin City wasn’t going to be much different.

We just had to find the enemy’s main base and destroy their Artifact.

That’s how far I got in my thoughts when I connected a call to the Hunter Association President.

“President.”

“What is it?”

“We’ve received intelligence that there are people illegally trading Monsters and Artifacts—using the power of the Gate.”

“Are we going to have to fight people?”

“That’s the plan.”

“What exactly is the operation?”

“Same as always. We subdue the Monsters and secure the Gate. There may just be other people there this time.”

The Hunter Association President let out a sigh.

It might be a bit early, but striking first before the enemy attacks us is probably the best option.

“We don’t know much, but the risks seem huge.”

“Then… let’s do a little reconnaissance together.”

I could hear the President’s sigh through the phone.

***

And the next day.

I sat in a tactical vehicle of the Supernatural Science Research Institute in downtown Mujin City, together with the Association President.

The Institute’s Siga Jeon-yong Pigeon Drone Team had come along.

Dr. Kang was staring at four monitors at once.

The view of Mujin City as seen from the Pigeon Drones.

“So. We’re going to use the Pigeon Drones to scout the surroundings?”

“Yes.”

At a glance, there was a suspicious building.

Mujin City has several huge abandoned buildings, including a deserted Underground Shopping Center.

If I were a group of human Traitors, I would have set up my base there.

“There are at least five people inside the abandoned building.”

“Are you sure?”

“They seem to be conducting most of their activities underground right now. They’re hiding well. The drones can’t get a good look.”

The Association President nodded.

“I sent in a Crow.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a smell of blood. For some reason…”

It must be related to the method of creating fake Gates.

Remember at the Goblin Gate? We discovered a black obsidian Artifact next to the corpse of a giant rat.

It seemed closely related to that.

“Do we need to go in for confirmation?”

“First, let’s gather evidence that something strange is happening.”

“My instincts tell me something’s off.”

“The Hunter Team and Police Riot Squad are standing by nearby. If we find evidence of a crime, or anything dangerous inside, we’ll breach immediately.”

Dr. Kang looked away from the Pigeon Drone feeds.

“Where is the Gate?”

“It must be somewhere inside the building.”

“There are three communication vehicles on site, but there’s no Gate electromagnetic wave response. Are you sure it’s inside?”

The Association President suddenly stood up.

“Oh, I found something!”

“What is it?”

“They shot at my Crow with a shotgun.”

“So, they’ve sensed something.”

Well, after an hour of watching drones and Crows, I suppose it was inevitable…

The Association President frowned, and a Crow appeared at the President’s feet.

Its feathers had a few wounds.

The Crow checked its feathers with a curt expression.

That was the signal to breach.

I quietly readied my weapon.

This time, instead of protective gear, I put on a Ballistic Suit. I also brought a Ballistic Shield.

“Let’s prepare to breach.”

Honestly, fighting people in the middle of a city is messy and unpleasant, but since I’m the highest level here—

If I don’t move directly, unnecessary casualties will follow.

“I guess I’ll just have to go in myself.”

Thinking about it, if only I’d been like this before my regression.

Back then, I had to fight and beg every day to get help from the police or the Hunter Association.

“At least that’s not the case this time.”

The Hunter Association has two volunteer assault teams standing by.

The Police Riot Squad is on standby with hundreds of people.

I checked my equipment.

Institute Ballistic Suit, Ballistic Shield, Hunter Rifle, handgun. And one magic item found in the Kobold Ruins.

[Enchanted Cloak of the Kobold Magician]

[Grade: A]

[Efficiently blocks a portion of attacks.]

I lowered the Ballistic Visor on my helmet.

Thick, transparent acrylic covered my face.

Well… to be honest, I was nervous.

This was going to be a real battle.

Fighting Hunters is no easy feat.

Like humans, the moment they saw the Crow, they pulled out their guns.

“You didn’t bring the machine?”

“Pineapple? It’s difficult to deploy robots when fighting people. I’m not sure how they’d distinguish friend from foe.”

If Pineapple failed at friend-or-foe identification, even for a moment, someone could die.

Not a gamble I was interested in.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Let’s move.”

The Hunter Team and Police Riot Squad might be here, but ultimately, I’d be the first to face the enemy.

The Association President was getting ready beside me as well.

He had one or two Artifacts he’d picked up from somewhere.

“Wait a moment. Dr. Lee, take a look at this.”

Dr. Kang showed me a monitor. There’d just been a Gate electromagnetic wave reaction lasting about five seconds.

“…Looks like something’s happened.”

Who knows what they’re doing inside, but in the worst case, the Gate may have opened.

We had to breach immediately.

If a Gate opened in the city, it would surely lead to mass casualties.