DP Episode 92

Deep Pivot, Episode 92

Shoggoth. The name given to a slime-like creature that was first discovered in the United States, lacking a consistent shape.

The amusement park, already evacuated of civilians on its opening day, was now enveloped in an eerie atmosphere that didn’t suit midday due to the corpses of various anomalous creatures scattered throughout.

Just emerging in protective gear and battle equipment, Yeon-woo stepped on and burst a small Shoggoth eye with his military boots.

“The guides will handle disinfection from the rear, and Lieutenant Ji is in charge of the core stuck on the drop tower. Blinkers and Salamanders will support Lieutenant Ji, and the rest of the Espers will deal with the Shoggoths wreaking havoc nearby. Okay?”

“Roger…”

Lieutenant Jang Su-ho answered perfunctorily while checking his equipment. Despite their repulsive and intimidating appearance, Shoggoths weren’t particularly difficult anomalous creatures to eliminate.

However, teams working before the SAU was deployed had already spent three days attacking the gate, leaving them too fatigued to handle the Shoggoth core.

Yeon-woo was the only one who seemed tense among his teammates, who appeared unfazed. Seo-joon, who was adjusting Yeon-woo’s mask exhaust valve and checking his equipment, followed his gaze.

In the distance stood the towering drop tower, about 70 meters high. It was an attraction that offered the thrill of ascending to the top of its roughly 40-seat platform and then rapidly plummeting.

At the tower’s peak, the horizontally opened gate spewed tentacle-laden slime endlessly downward. Since the gate’s appearance, the amusement park had been operating in a limited capacity. Fortunately, the gate had opened during a break, resulting in minimal casualties.

A deep rumble echoed faintly like a monster’s roar, and the ground trembled heavily. The precariously leaning tower was covered in a thick layer of Shoggoth slime, making its original shape unrecognizable.

Tentacles swayed loosely in all directions. Hundreds of red eyes embedded in the brown slime flickered menacingly. Mesmerized by this intimidating sight, Yeon-woo’s gaze was suddenly diverted to his side.

“Don’t be too scared, Yeon-woo.”

Seo-joon, who had grabbed his chin to make him look at him, spoke.

“Remember your first on-site mission, Yeon-woo? The Hyoseok-dong nematode disinfection site. You handled that well. This isn’t much different. There’s no need to be scared.”

“I’m not scared; I’m worried.”

Yeon-woo wrapped his arms around Seo-joon’s waist.

“I’m in the rear, but the lieutenant is going up there directly.”

His gaze kept drifting back to the drop tower. His face showed he was anxious about not being able to join. He knew he wouldn’t be much help if he was there, likely just a hindrance.

Seo-joon gently turned his face back.

“You can guide me afterward, right? But for that to happen, your safety comes first, Yeon-woo, so that’s all you need to—”

“What are you two doing?”

Min-gun’s voice cut between them, drawing everyone’s attention.

“What, are you two dating?”

Seo-joon quickly took a step back from Yeon-woo. Before Yeon-woo could open his mouth, Seo-joon shook his head with an embarrassed expression.

“I was just checking his equipment.”

A couple of beats later, Yeon-woo’s hands, which had been around Seo-joon’s waist, slowly withdrew.

“Suspicious…” Yeong-gyo grinned playfully while glaring at them. Lieutenant Jang Su-ho, who was supposed to support Seo-joon up close, signaled with a nod towards the drop tower, indicating it was time to start.

Although the area was swarming with writhing anomalous creatures, for these veteran Awakeners, it was just another ordinary day.

✽✽✽

Whoosh! A blaze erupted from a high-output flamethrower.

—Did that really make you feel so disappointed?

Pop! Pop! Crackle! The eyes burst into flames and split, forming new smaller eyes. Yeon-woo, persistently burning them until they turned to ash like frog eggs, answered honestly.

“No, it’s not about being disappointed.”

A tremendous roar came over the radio, likely the cry of a Shoggoth. There was no time to worry as a slightly amused voice pierced through the noise.

—If not disappointment, then what?

“When you pushed me away in disgust, I felt… strange for a moment.”

Yeon-woo, who had left the private communication line with Seo-joon open, aimed at the mucus on a monorail pillar. Whoosh! The crimson blaze cast a glow across his face.

—When did I ever show disgust? Don’t exaggerate.

“It’s not an exaggeration.”

—This is Ringostar, anyone near the Mars Express?

Cheong-oh’s transmission came through the other earpiece. Yeon-woo tapped the radio and turned off the flamethrower valve.

“This is baby near the Mars Express.”

—Oh, baby! I need some help; I’m out of gas.

“Yes, I’m on my way now.”

Yeon-woo answered the radio and headed toward the entrance of the Mars Express, then asked Seo-joon, “Are we secretly dating?”

Kieeeek! Kieek! A Shoggoth, its mouth full of rows of sharp teeth, approached, wobbling. Sizzle! Flames from Yeon-woo’s flamethrower engulfed it entirely. As its eyes burned and melted away, they fell to the ground one by one.

—What would you like us to do?

Yeon-woo continued walking, stomping on the rolling eyes to crush them with his boots.

“As long as it’s not troubling for you, Lieutenant, I’m fine with anything.”

―I don’t think we need to keep it secret, but I didn’t want everyone’s attention on us like before.

Yeon-woo suppressed a silent laugh inside his mask.

“But since we live together, everyone will eventually figure out that we’re dating, right?”

―There’s a difference between people finding out naturally and being caught loudly.

Yeon-woo, who had now entered the dark interior, passed the guide ropes for the waiting line and headed toward the boarding area. Tentacles, sticking out from the cracks in the broken wall, brushed against his arm.

Tentacles wrapped around the rail and train swayed in all directions. The passage where the train should run was completely blocked by Shoggoths with hundreds of glaring eyes.

Cheong-oh, stuck atop the asteroid-shaped front of a halted train, watched Yeon-woo with a strangely amused expression.

“My bold little baby.”

The Shoggoth that had been swaying in rhythm to the flamethrower flames squirmed away and retreated into the passage. Yeon-woo, firmly grasping Cheong-oh’s hand, pulled him off the tentacle-filled rail with a puzzled look.

“What?”

Cheong-oh gave Yeon-woo’s helmet a light tap and gently patted his cheek.

“Baby, let’s relearn how to use the radio.”

“What…?”

For a moment, his heart sank.

“Oh…”

Had he forgotten to close the mic after responding to Team Leader Jin’s earlier call? Before Yeon-woo could realize the situation, laughter erupted from the other team members.

―What the heck! Lieutenant, have you no shame!

―What a time to be alive… Toasting slimes in a theme park while eavesdropping on someone’s love life in real time.

―You, seriously… Agnes, you crazy dude! Going after baby, a young baby…

Voices buzzed with all kinds of chatter, most of them criticizing Lieutenant Ji for having no conscience, calling him a thief, or other similar complaints.

“…”

What now… It’s ruined. Yeon-woo buried his head in his hands, which already covered his face behind his mask. This was the fate of a rookie guide who had to focus on both the group radio and his private conversation with his partner while dealing with slimes.

Cheong-oh, who was nearly doubled over with laughter beside him, echoed through the dim interior. On the other side of the radio, where Seo-joon’s voice had been, only the crackling sound of flames could be heard.

With his face still buried in his hands, Yeon-woo murmured blankly.

“Lieutenant…”

―Don’t talk to me, I’m busy getting scolded right now.

His firm voice, uncertain whether joking or serious, cut Yeon-woo off. Sigh… A deep sigh seeped into Yeon-woo’s ears.

―Agnes will be entering the core within five minutes. Espers, be ready.

―Lieutenant should change his codename to ‘baby’s Lover.’ Agnes is too sacred.

―You kidding? Not a lover, he’s a thief, a shameless baby-stealing thief.

―Where’s Salamander? The shameless baby-thief needs backup right now.

The team erupted in laughter again at Seo-joon’s response, humorously but firmly addressing the comments. Cheong-oh, pulling Yeon-woo, who was almost red-faced and about to cry, behind him, took his flamethrower with a chuckle.

“Baby, stick close behind me. And…”

He grabbed Yeon-woo’s hands, which were ready to dig for a hole to hide in, and handed him a grenade. But even if a hole existed, his large frame would not fit.

“Keep this and roll it over that way when we get close to the entrance. Then run like hell. Got it?”

“Yes…”

Yeon-woo’s voice came out sounding almost like a sob. Instead of a mouse hole, he crammed his large body behind Cheong-oh’s back with a deep sigh.