MFM | Chapter 1.4

At that moment, he saw something like a faint lantern approaching from afar. It was advancing silently, without any sign.d306feae56f7b1fe4b00

But Gabriel held no hope. He didn’t even think of squeezing out his last strength to cry for help. That must be an illusion without substance. A final mercy shown by the goddess to the dying.3ab02ebc28f31955d486

“No one will save me.”5ed3ed824ee6fc034450

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That was Gabriel’s last thought. When the monster extended a part of its body towards the unconscious Gabriel.0dcca4684e273fc00c90

The monster was sliced in half with a sound like a bursting wineskin. Dark red, sticky liquid splattered violently to the sewer ceiling.d0629efc05055910a9f8

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The one who cut the monster with a longsword was a man in a suit, wearing a black coat. Blood dripped from the glove ends soaked in the gushing blood. However, the drops of blood that should have soaked the ground floated into the air one by one and were all absorbed into the lantern the man was holding.d9f88d6f1fe26e16f598

Soon, the man’s attire became completely clean. Thanks to the lantern’s greedy blood-sucking.8ad0ea8c016ec20c970a

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Holding the now more brilliantly shining lantern, the man walked through the middle of the corpse. Then, realizing he had stepped on something, he bent down and picked it up.36e7b0f22ab0ce50dc70

A half-cut bullet. As it gleamed between his thumb and forefinger, a look of interest passed through the man’s eyes.26ff2405c2cfb3300360

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The man, who had sat down next to the fallen person, brought the lantern to the person’s lips. A white breath fogged the glass surface. Proof that he was still alive.4864059e0edb3ad2fd5e

Amidst the stench of blood and filth, the faint scent of disinfectant and dense soap wafted. It seemed as if a cold and sweet scent had fleetingly passed by like an illusion.0b7e49d8fd2be0af887b

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The man slowly moved the lantern from top to bottom. He was tall for a Beta, but short for an Alpha, with a solid yet lean build. His disheveled black hair covered both his nape and forehead. His dirt and slime-stained white face resembled an ancient marble statue freshly excavated from a ruin. Every contour was elegant, noble, and delicate.044032b682956377a2d7

What changed the impression that might seem fragile at first glance were his large, clear eyes. The ends of his eyes were slightly upturned, with dark shadows underneath. It was a trace of someone who lived by overworking themselves. His slightly chapped cheeks and cracked lips carried the same meaning.96926379edb7cb66c82c

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His coat was of decent material, but the sleeves were short and the ends were worn out. He was still wearing clothes tailored for his affluent growth period. The man, with a familiar gesture, rummaged through the fallen person’s pockets and bag. Inside the worn leather wallet was a neat business card.411a963022dc61656f11

“Gabriel Valentin, Coroner. Eye examination 1 Leon, Autopsy 5 Leon. Swift and thorough resolution.”729da1363b8904b10ca7

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A deep smile spread across the man’s lips as he read the contents. He stood up and slung Gabriel over his right shoulder. With his other hand, he held both the lantern and the bag.278f144e8438f0de1d29

“Sweet dreams, Gabriel.”1b97fdb32a8b8aa87129

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The man kindly whispered to the one who couldn’t hear.39888928d8bc32345757

“Everything will be different when you wake up.”9a557d225ef88d516345

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⋆⋅☆⋅⋆db8582c2d1fc9c048f94

A faint light tickled Gabriel’s eyes. Gabriel felt a severe headache and chills. The pain that throbbed at his temples extended to his neck and shoulders, then invaded his insides, squeezing them tightly.1b29bb25b8eb61bb7af5

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Gabriel realized one important fact.a51c8d7e1f492fa905c4

‘I didn’t die.’9331001854863335251f

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If he had stopped breathing, it wouldn’t be this painful. At least not until he was led to hell.1f012f4884466cf4be97

Gabriel opened his eyes amidst the pain. Then he saw the bed he was lying on and the thin blanket covering his body. The heavy curtains surrounding the bed as well.d3b726cdaa5cf8b57f90

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The room was dim. The only light source was a lantern on Gabriel’s right. Someone was sitting next to it. The silhouette, faintly visible, looked large at a glance.3d30f48dcc18ce91a208

Gabriel instinctively sat up and searched inside his coat for his gun. But unlike the neatly placed cigarette case or envelope, he couldn’t find the cold handle.8ae3a2c7ad71c9808241

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“Looking for this?”79e106724ca5827fead7

Gabriel met the eyes of the voice’s owner. He was a blond Alpha who looked about thirty.3c2431b4936cec492785

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The entire suit he wore seemed to cost hundreds of pounds. It looked even more expensive than the clothes Lunggen boasted about, which cost 10 pounds just for the fabric. However, because he had loosened his tie, he was far from looking neat.06e17f64827b2984533c

The man spun the gun around his finger on the trigger. Leaning back against the chair, with one arm on the armrest and his legs crossed, he looked extremely relaxed. The man shrugged theatrically.12842ce6c35f895df430

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“I was worried there might be an accident.”e295fb560a41ed08c065

“……The bullets must be all gone.”61745dee407fb33f4582

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A voice, cracked with the pain of a scratchy throat, flowed out. As he reflexively touched his throat, a reply came from the other side.a0436a4d86a19988d649

“Your memory is clear. Right. But you could still bash my head with the barrel, couldn’t you?”d933efaaa5767a2a50b2

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The fingertip on the trigger pointed this way. The man smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.66be396454233f4a0bef

“I’d prefer a more friendly greeting to your savior, Gabriel.”61b926d14a24789810f3

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Gabriel wasn’t surprised that he knew his name. He must have rummaged through his wallet.805a1b7abccd6c81c3a0

‘Did he notice anything strange about the cigarettes?’23713ae94d7eca045ed4

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As he thought about it, his pulse began to race. Gabriel tightly gripped the blanket covering him. Assuming this man killed the monster, why was he there in the first place?4c55b2a155c1faae2e6b

There were more than a few things that bothered him. But one thing was certain: he had to get out of there as quickly as possible. Gabriel barely moistened his dry mouth. His nerves were on edge like prey in front of a predator.d86b6e3582f9789dbedf

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“Thanks for saving me. If it’s okay, I’d like to go home now.”a8c00d07c9e8afdd1044

“That’s not possible.”f513bf4ac4d5e9691770

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The man spoke leisurely. He leaned forward, clasping his hands, and met Gabriel’s eyes.3e855b763274721bb222

“We still have things to talk about.”2490fdb1521426b23e37

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“I don’t know what you mean.”028e577b66d45a9cfef5

“You saw something in the sewers.”d8a7ead1a66ab7709a5d

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His gaze seemed to tighten around him. Gabriel stiffened.59b0f79b0d22e8d268bb

“I didn’t see anything. If I saw something, it was all a nightmare. I lost consciousness as soon as I fell into the sewers.”bbec5c5b378c9517fabf

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“Then shooting the gun was sleep-talking?”4cced90b4a88515635bb

The man spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice.8937db9a9d83ea9e0e14

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“There’s no use running away with lies. I can’t just let a witness like you go. But you do have a choice. Live and become one of us, or die and keep silent. How about it?”aa7c94249cdcbe289465

“……’Us’?”ddbcd3c7357151d5ed1e

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He swallowed dryly. The man shrugged.746370c30f1d2dcd45f6

“Getting curious now?”7986513bec83322efe50

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“……”5c6de4aa292bbced7376

“But the questions come from this side first.”16688ba5c550d8afe301

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The man opened the drawer of the nightstand where the lantern was placed. He flinched back, thinking it might be a weapon, but what he took out was a bronze statue with a lion’s head.733204df921b1f5fa60e

The lion was roaring with its mouth open. The mouth was large enough to fit an adult mutant’s fist, and its wavy mane spread out in all directions. The man clicked his tongue lightly as he examined the statue.776ec2af994cfa210537

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“It looks crude, but it works. If you lie, it’ll bite your wrist off.”e5ad499b2dd839e40464

Gabriel couldn’t believe his ears.83daa9fb0d36e9081ddd

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“What?”fb07607d39726ed2ed68

“If you lie, it’ll close its mouth. Now, take off your gloves and put your hand in.”3da8930a2bb801a0f2b7

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The man gently urged, as if offering a box of chocolates.7bd2e928d3960f4e7a01

Gabriel looked at the statue, then back at the man. The man was watching him with a serene smile, as if there was no bluff or exaggeration in his words.ed4de1a2a15b63e7eb06

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‘No way.’00daed26bc49d4906936

There was no way such a statue could discern truth from lies. Such things only appeared in absurd ghost stories. Like portraits that supposedly devour souls or quills that grant wishes.5c9a8d96fc017be829d7

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So the man was probably trying to scare him into showing a more distinct reaction. Trying to read lies from his sweating or avoiding gaze.d462388934b665580f5a

‘But…’0cb4993e3a5d96e374b1

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Gabriel gritted his teeth, unable to be completely sure. That was a judgment within the realm of common sense. But hadn’t his most important common sense already been shattered?96fa25104ac31e715e3b

Even if the breath of the Goddess Anat existed, the city wasn’t safe.9507c6263c9d217c9dc8

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Monsters roamed beneath the city. The group trying to conceal that fact was probably the organization this man belonged to. So no matter how absurd the words, they could be true.2b0208571a07458083fd

Gabriel slowly removed his right glove. Hoping the man wouldn’t ask dangerous questions. Ignoring the dull pain pressing on his eyeballs, he placed his bare hand inside the statue.78cd7866802625da4b17

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The inside of the statue, which should have been cold and hard, was hot and damp. As if he had really put his hand inside an animal’s throat.d43bc5ac6ddae1cee957

‘No way.’9955e1d029ae5a6d7a6a

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The moment he reflexively tried to pull his hand out, the statue slightly closed its mouth. Gabriel’s wrist was precariously caught between the sharp teeth. The fear that his hand might really be severed sent a shiver down his spine.560123e96a59d7107ca8

Even if it meant getting scratched by the teeth, he tried to pull his wrist out, but the man was faster in grabbing Gabriel’s wrist. Just by lightly holding it, Gabriel’s movement was halted.6293c92e279abb2c7403

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“How can someone who works with their hands be so careless? It’s not like it’ll grow back if it’s cut.”4d1925f64e28c4aa3e41

The man clicked his tongue. Gabriel glared at him, giving up on meaningless resistance.27bb5fa95662ae899f92

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“What is this?”17dd14583ed5f675f7d4

“An ancient relic.”04b458766e50f9f6b51e

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The man answered brightly.32b1c0abceed8a056b76

“Even now, we make medicines or industrial goods from monster bodies, right? It’s similar to that. But since this was made hundreds of years ago, its effects and side effects are stronger.”cac2d697b14e56cf04bd

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Even now, such medicines had to be prescribed by a skilled doctor. For example, recovery agents helped new flesh grow and bones heal quickly, but abusing high doses could lead to unknown incurable diseases.e8cf9058eb8b36edddef

Side effects even led to the creation of new drugs, like sleeping pills or contraceptives. But if it was more potent than that, what else could it do?40075324b1bee654b19b

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“Who made this? A witch or a wizard?”01d3fda98310e6370025

Just uttering those titles made his spine tingle. Not out of fear, but because it was childish.51e8ad81a903e76a4c77

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History books explained that their alchemy and healing methods laid the foundation for technology and medicine, yet mocked their methods as not only evil but mostly meaningless. Even though forbidden and ancient books were piled deep in university libraries, few sought them out. Few were interested in outdated, absurd knowledge.a7f6b49f3a6e0334bdb4

The man curled his lips at Gabriel’s question.3d349ac9a0764fd172d7

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“Witches and wizards, sages and scholars, nobles and priests, monks and artisans, all of them. To worship something, to gain powerful strength, and out of curiosity to see if it really worked, they made relics. Feeling calmer now?”642b50709d88397b90c8

Not at all. But he had no choice but to calm down.fb2e788ecfb41fa8037f

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‘Stay calm.’e30cd82527288eb5369b

If you lie, you die. If you fail the test, you die. So even if his head throbbed and his bones ached, he had to stay sane and answer.e293535490403dd66a4f

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Gritting his teeth, Gabriel straightened his back and met the man’s gaze. The man smiled, stroking the statue.2e7fa11744c59af6f6d7

“Then let’s begin. Have you ever heard of the ‘Dark Guard’?”f66378e5806b2adcc0df

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There was no such name in his memory. Was it an organization affiliated with the royal family, like the Royal Guard? Or was it a name created to mock the Royal Guard? There were too few clues to make a guess. Gabriel slowly shook his head.16da5bbc939dd8a13bdc

“First time hearing it.”4bc7132f28bba55c15c8

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