Moving Mountain

"Everyone, run!"

We started running.

It's best to run away when we don't know anything about it.

It's a look that really fits a horror game!

"I've never seen a monster like that. No, it's the first time I've seen a combination like that."

Is it similar to how the spider monster fused with the Buddha statue?

...No, it was more like parasitism than fusion.

Could it be that monsters of the same kind could merge? No way!

In the midst of the confusion, a strange noise came from inside James' coat.

Beep beep beep...

It sounds kind of familiar.

He took out the machine he had used on me the other day from his coat and checked it. It's the measuring instrument. I wondered why he brought it out in this situation.

He said in a slightly stiff voice.

"That's a demon."

"What?!"

That is a demon?

"The machine is reacting. It's not a perfect demon because it doesn't have a soul, but it definitely falls into the category of one."

Then you're saying that is not a cryptid? Such an unexpected enemy makes my head hurt.

"This demon... Why is it here? What does it have to do with the monsters merging?"

James seemed to know more about demons than I did, so I started questioning him.

"I don't know why it's here. Maybe it was born here."

"A demon born here..."

He threw out some examples for me who didn't exactly understand.

"If you receive a crown rightfully through a succession ceremony of a country, a crown demon is born. If you try making people mistake an ordinary snake for a dragon and then perform an appropriate ritual, a dragon demon is born."

It was possible for demons from the outside world to be born that way.

...Fucking world view! Only what the creators have implemented in the game will come out! That's why the children were set-up...!

Let's calm down. Let's sort it out.

"...Does that mean its possible to create a particular demon if you establish a story and context?"

James nodded as if I was correct.

"It's a theoretical idea. The details are unknown. Besides, it's not easy to do that. My guess is that the Devil here is frighteningly efficient at creating demons. I don't know what context they established, but they seem to have quite a bit of power."

You call tell by looking at that huge body.

Considering it was that huge, I wondered if it would be stronger than Mary.

At least it's not a opponent we can win against.

-Sswaaaaaa.

My whole body gets wet in the cold rain.

I can't read its expression because the head is a radio, but the fact that it got rid of the crew in charge of the firepower means that it's quite smart.

Perhaps there was a reason it aimed to make rain.

Bzzz-

"This! Ha-rim, take the white doll out of the bag!"

[Breaking news. A large amount of acidic components were detected in the rain. Citizens, I hope your brain melts. May you make a mountain of bones. I hope you return your soul and become a piece of meat.]

Water droplets full of acid cut through the air and viciously attacked.

But the droplets never reached us.

It was thanks to the doll Ha-rim took out.

In Korea, it's a talisman called sunny doll, and in Japan, it is called teru teru bōzu.1

Because is has the power to clear the weather, it was able to block attacks that used rain.

Kyeong-min exclaims.

"Water droplets are floating in the air!"

Literally, the acid rain was floating in the sky.

If you look closely, you can see it moving back to the clouds.

Even though Ha-rim used the doll, the weather wasn't completely clear.

"It looks like a power struggle."

A conflict between the power to make rain and the power the clear the weather.

This is an item that specializes in clearing the weather. It doesn't seem like the doll will be pushed back as much as other items.

Since the rain does not reach the ground, the water mist is no longer created and was lifted. The demon's figure was clearly visible.

"...Do we have to get rid of that?"

Eun-jeong asks me in a frightened voice. I patted her on the shoulder to soothe her.

"We have no choice but to do it."

[Backwards.]

A sign suddenly emerged from the air.

We started going backwards, in the opposite direction we were running.

"My body moves on its own!"

We were going to the direction of the radio demon.

It seems to be a ploy to induce us to get closer to it.

[Right. Left. Straight.]

"I'll use the cross!"

Maria's cross radiated light.

Then the evil power that had been affecting us disappeared.

That cross is close to all-purpose, but it can't be used a lot.

If we don't find a way, it's nothing more than an emergency measure.

After the sign attack was blocked, the junk demon immediately changed the attack.

Bzzz-

What are you going to do again this time?

[Ah- To Seoul- To Seoul- The train is leaving.]

Paaaaaaaaang-!!

A train came out from the right side of the road and attacked.

Even to me, it would be fatal if hit.

"Everyone, avoid!"

The children screamed and twisted their bodies, barely getting away.

That ability is too dangerous.

We were in a wide area so we were able to avoid it.

There's no guarantee that I, James and Maria will be able to avoid it in a confined space, much less the kids.

Radio broadcast... It's a much more powerful ability than I thought.

In the end, the ability was synthesized with monsters as materials, so there must be a method of eliminating it. We just need to find it.

[We are a bunch of junk. It's empty, so we clutter. All of us are given meaning by becoming one. A father's approval is a son's primordial desire. Now, it seems we don't matter.]

My body throbs.

Is it a curse this time?

Sensitive to the strange power, I could sense that this was an instant death curse.

If you get hit, all your internal organs will go out and your body will be empty.

[First question. Does your father want your grandfather's approval? It's painful.]

"It would be nice if it attacked in moderation, and I hope the trains honk next time."

Jingle- Jingle- As Eun-jeong shook the bell, the curse disappeared. Then, as she waved the bell in the other direction, I felt lighter.

Since she used the speed buff, it became easier to run.

As our movement speed increased, I thought about what to do as I felt a little more relaxed.

"Where should we go?"

"..."

It's hard because it's quite far from school. But even if we entered somewhere, we would hear the radio broadcast in a narrow place and not be able to deal with it.

Then Ha-rim asked me.

"Hey. Ella. Didn't you say there was an art gallery nearby?"

"That's right. Do you have any thoughts?"

A protagonist who specializes in survival. If it's Ha-rim, I think she will suggest a way to solve this.

"I saw the gallery on a publicity poster before, and there was a picture of an art piece pasted on it. It was a large art piece in the shape of a sun and moon! I think it was exhibited in the back and front of the gallery respectively."

Come to think of it, it seems that there was such a thing as a background object that couldn't be interacted with in the game.

Paaaaaaaaang-!!

A train jumps out and cuts off the conversation.

I was able to avoid it with a slight movement because I noticed that it was deliberately aiming at me from a blind spot.

"The material of those two works of art are mirrors! Mirrors big enough for a train to pass through!"

"...!!"

'Enough to pass a train?'

No way.

"You plan on using it's own attack against itself!"

An unexpected idea. That's also the quality of the main character.

However, moving between mirrors and sucking into mirrors are completely different abilities.

I don't know if I can combine them in an instant.

It is possible to move between mirrors with objects.

Nonetheless, this time it was no different from creating a portal that connects between spaces.

...It's worth a try.

"It might be possible. But how are you going to lead it there?"

It doesn't move it's massive body. It shows a relaxed attitude as if it was only a matter of time to catch us.

"...Maybe like this?"

Ha-rim took out her cellphone and played loud music.

The sound of the radio demon was buried in the ringing so loud that hurt my ears, so I couldn't hear the broadcast well.

[...]

"It's quiet. Since sound is the medium, can we block it with noise?"

James was amazed. So was I.

"Last time at school, we exterminated a monster that was made of sound. If this works, maybe-"

[...Bzzz...]

Before Ha-rim could finish her words, it moved. The ground shakes.

Scythe-shaped legs protruded from its gigantic body, raising itself.

[Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

The demon immediately pursued us with a sharp metallic sound.

It looks like a centipede. Even though the body wasn't long, I couldn't think of the appearance of running with many legs except for a centipede.

Clackclackclackclackclack!!!

"-I expected it to come catch us itself, but it's scary to see it! Ella, step away for a moment and head to the art gallery. I need to listen to the broadcast to guide it."

"Are you sure, Ha-rim? It'll pursue you guys who can't hear the broadcast instead of Ella who can hear it."

"Leave it to me!"

Ha-rim's face was full of determination rather than fear. When I saw it, a baseless belief welled up in my heart.

"In that case, I'll get ahead of you and clear out the dangerous monsters."

So I did. The speed I got from absorbing monsters was not comparable to anyone else.

Oh, I found a small worm in the way.

"Move!"

POV Switch - Ha-rim

An exclamation burst out at the sight of Ella moving at such terrifying speed.

It seems like there is a crack in the asphalt she stepped on.

At that speed, at least I won't have to worry about her getting hit by the train.

"Let's speed up too."

"Even if you say that, I'm already at full speed."

Bam! Crash!

The walls of the buildings are torn down, and strange trees that have grown here and there are cut into chunks by the monster's legs.

When the sound of "clack" pierces through the noise of the cellphone and rings in my ears, I get chills.

Above all, the vibration I feel is getting closer and closer.

"Eun-jeong, keep shaking the bell so we don't slow down. Suho, block the flying debris with your shield."

"Ah, my arms hurts, but I got it!"

"Okay. I'll protect everyone!"

Next.

"Kyeong-min, can you stop that with your book?"

"I'll try."

He opened the book and waved his hand strangely, as if using magic.

Then, a chain came out from the concrete floor and grabbed the monster's leg.

It stumbles.

"Did it work?"

Crack.

The concrete is pulled out through the chain.

To be honest, I didn't expect it to work.

"It's impossible!"

That said, it bought time.

I have no doubt that if we get caught in the broadcasting ability, we will be defeated.

The distance between us and it is still far, so it should be fine up to the target point.

"...It's condition is strange."

I looked back at Uncle James' words and saw that the monster has stopped.

As I observed what it was about to do, its body twisted and bulged, then something came out of it.

"...Wings?"

The bulging things were junk with bee wings.

From desks to erasers, wings flapped.

The monster, after producing that, started chasing us again.

"It will hinder our progress."

Suho beat the bugs away with his shield. The bug monsters reached us, but there were only a few of them.

"Ha-rim, they're targeting you!"

As the bugs that broke trough Suho's defense approached, Sister Maria ran towards me holding the cross.

I'd like to save it for later if possible!... Should I try to avoid it?

"Don't worry! Sister, please save the cross too."

I took a shinai out of my bag.

This was no ordinary thing.

Ella told me it has a special power, it specializes in pushing something away, and it can damage really weak monsters.

I dodged all of the bugs' attacks with a small margin and swung the bamboo sword.

[Luck], [Survival]

Crash. Crack.

"You avoided everything. Ha-rim, are you really an elementary school student?"

The junk were surprisingly weak in body connection, so they quickly collapsed. Maybe the junk monster weakness is the weak link between pieces.

Swoosh!

"Ah."

A desk bug that is hard to push away with a shinai attacked me.

As I struggled, Uncle James pressed a button on his glove and intervened.

"What great moves. She's a coveted talent."

Bam!

He blew away the desk bug with one fist.

"Thank you!"

We are almost there.

I could see a moon-shaped statue made of huge mirrors.

Judging by the traces of broken ornaments everywhere, Ella must have already moved through here to the back.

"It caught up. Avoid it!"

Uncle James shouts at me.

When I turned around, the monster scythe-shaped arm was swinging.

"Ah."

Suho ran and raised his shield.

I almost screamed.

It is different from the usual attack. A future was drawn in which Suho could not withstand the mass of the attack and was seriously injured.

"Maria!"

"Got it!"

As Maria raised the cross, the shield of protection shone.

James reached out from behind Suho and supported the shield.

Bang!!!

There was a huge impact sound like a lighting strike.

Nevertheless, Suho and James were unharmed.

"Half of the glove's energy is exausthed."

[Bzzz...]

The monster staggers.

"What did you do?"

"I just gave it back."

As the monster stumbled, we entered the building behind the moon-shaped mirror statue.

All we need now is Ella, but she hasn't arrived yet?

The size of the gallery is large, so it takes time to move around from front to back. But it's not impossible.

Then Suho said.

"Let's go trough the building!"

"No! It will be full of monsters."

If we go deeper into the building and avoid the trash monster, the strategy of using the mirror to reverse the train will fail.

It is not completely safe to enter either.

We need the train to win.

"It's difficult to block further attacks. My arm is..."

It is unreasonable for Suho to stop it any longer. It's really a dead end now.

My judgment is clouding.

I need to control the noisy fear in my head.

I took a deep breath and made up my mind.

As long as people try to live, they will wander.

And as you wander, you must not lose the mind of working hard every moment.

I opened my eyes.

"We have to stop that here!"

"How? None of us can stop it now."

"Hmm..."

...Wait a minute, you don't need to fight with people, right?

"Kyeong-min, use the book to restrain the shield! Create a new wall by connecting the pillars and walls that support the museum to the shield with the iron chains!"

"Okay!"

If the power went through the chains into the pillars of the gallery, there would be no need for people to bear the burden.

Clank clank clank. Chains connect to walls and pillars and cover the shield.

The hardness of the shield isn't originally from itself. It's because it contains the spiritual power to protect people, so it will exert its powerful ability just by being connected to the chain and standing between the pillars.

[Bzzzzzzzzz.]

Bam-!!!

The monster appears and attacks. Fortunately, a single attack cannot break trough the wall.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Crunch. Crack.

The walls and pillars that received the recoil instead were cracking.

It doesn't think it failed.

Rather, noticing the attacks work, it didn't stop attacking.

Now it's a game. A game of chicken that depends on whether or not Ella comes.

"One more attack and the wall will collapse. Me and Maria will stop it. You guys should run away for now."

"I'm sorry for not being able to protect you until the end."

Before I could stop them, Maria and James stepped out.

The monster's arm rushes at Uncle James, who pushed the button on his gloves and at Sister Maria holding up the cross.

And the mirror statue shakes at that moment.

Ella!

POV Switch - Ella

Mark the moon-shaped mirror statue and stand in front of the sun-shaped one.

Paaaaaaaaang-!!

Goodbye to the train that is relentlessly pursuing me.

Although it was useful for clearing out the monsters!

I went into the mirror and faced the train.

Must not fail.

Deep down, I knew that what I was doing was a little beyond my abilities.

Nonetheless, I was selfish. Do not conform to my abilities and become more selfish.

Recall the senses. Senses as a monster. No, a more fundamental sense.

It is to achieve the mysterious phenomenon that was manifested to meet Smiley Face.

Someone whispered, selfishly. Demons do whatever they want.

Paaaaaaaang!!!!!

I see a demon staggering as if it has been hit by a train and took a great shock.

The joint of the junk that was forming the body weakened, and the body fell apart.

[Not yet-]

[Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.]

"This!"

Are you saying that wasn't enough?

It was recovering with junk and getting itself up.

Madness emanated from the radio head, even though it had no eyes.

Terrifying.

I bit my lip and steeled my mind.

I have no choice but to stick to the front.

It was the moment when I took a step towards the demon.

"...A balloon?"

Hundreds of balloons emerged from the demon's body. They bloomed like flowers and eventually floated up.

At the same time, the junk that made up the demon's body was kidnapped to heaven.

It's radio-shaped head creaked and said.

[Pierrot...]

"That is correct!"

I turned my head in the direction I heard the voice. There was someone there.

An obstacle in the last chapter.

The boss with the most power.

Pierrot!

"I can hardly contain my admiration! I never thought you'd use the train like that! It weakened the joints and made handling things easier."

[Annoying enemy.]

"Shh. Quiet."

Pierrot created a ring of fire.

When he passed through it as if it were a stunt, he was standing in front of the demon in an instant.

Slash.

He removed the demon's head with ease and turned his face to us.

"Is there anything uglier than something who longs for what he cannot have? Miss Ella."