Chapter 108

The Tenant II

As everyone knows, navigating the Inunaki Tunnel is exceedingly difficult.

Even as a regressor, I had to sacrifice hundreds of lives across five runs to finally conquer it.

At that moment, I thought,

‘...Isn't this the best security facility?’

It was a complete reversal of thought.

From the perspective of an intruder, the Inunaki Tunnel boasted an incredible level of difficulty, but from a defender's viewpoint, it was an impregnable fortress.

Moreover, this ironclad security applied only to intruders. For those who had already mastered the ‘strategy,’ the Inunaki Tunnel was just a slightly tricky path.

Thus, starting from the 197th run, I did not fully disclose the tunnel strategy on SG Net.

Instead, I posted warnings such as "Entering without caution leads to certain death," "No entry," and "Even the most skilled Void explorers can't avoid instant death." A guilty conscience? None at all. It's not a lie.

After conquering Inunaki alone, I set up a guild hideout in the underwater tunnel. I then sent ‘invitations’ only to a select few trustworthy acquaintances.

The invitations, of course, kindly detailed the walking method for the Inunaki Tunnel.

Now, without an invitation, no one could visit my café hideout.

“A shop that only accepts customers by invitation? Is this a VIP golf course or something...?”

Noh Do-hwa turned the invitation over and over, making a sour face.

“The insane idea of privatizing an anomaly and using it is just what I'd expect from your filthy brain... But this means you're not planning to do business with the general public, right?”

Noh Do-hwa fluttered the invitation.

“Now, I see that our Undertaker is becoming quite the noble. Soon, you'll want to be king? Shall I hand over the position of National Road Management Corps Chief to you? Hoo, great. I've been wanting to quit this shitty job anyway. Congratulations in advance, Your Majesty...”

“Oh. Don't worry too much about that part. Corps Chief, do you see the number written at the top of the invitation?”

“Hmm...?”

Noh Do-hwa re-examined the invitation.

[Invitation - Café Hideout]

[Depth 1200m]

Noh Do-hwa tilted her head.

“Depth? 1200 meters? What does this mean...?”

“It’s the grade of the invitation.”

“Graaade...?”

“Yes. I have prepared invitations in segments of 100 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, and so on. For instance, a 100-meter invitation contains only enough strategy to safely cover the first 100 meters of the Inunaki Tunnel.”

“Hmm...?”

“The 1200-meter invitation is the highest grade, containing the complete strategy for the Inunaki Tunnel. The 100-meter invitation is the lowest grade. And I will make all 100-meter invitations public on SG Net.”

I took Noh Do-hwa into the Inunaki Tunnel to show her an example.

“This is the 100-meter point.”

“Oh...?”

Noh Do-hwa looked around.

“This is... a café.”

Noh Do-hwa's observation was spot on.

From now on, I hope you’ll listen to all my descriptions in the voice of a friendly home shopping host.

Instead of always damp mold where water trickled from the cracks in the wall, a tiny artificial waterfall had been installed, showcasing its aesthetic point.

Where moss once flourished, there were now colorful aquatic plants. These plants weren't ordinary vegetation but had mutated in the void, thriving without sunlight.

Amidst these artificial waterfalls and planters were antique-style sofas and chairs.

Above all, the chairs sought comfort. Tables of perfect height for sitting were arranged, with small lamps adding to the ambiance.

Victorian-style tables from the 19th century were minimal in number, while the other tables revealed the natural beauty of the wood.

Of course, the lighting was indirect. The overall space was enveloped in a cozy darkness, but the faint outlines of tables and chairs added an edge even to the shadows.

A true space starts with vision and ends with hearing.

From one end to the other, the sound of water trickling from the artificial waterfall filled the air. If sunlight is the mirror of the eyes, darkness is the mirror of the ears. The sound of water flowing beyond the darkness completed this space as the pinnacle of Baroque aesthetics.

If you went up to the tunnel wall, you’d find unexpected graffiti on the concrete surface, adding a unique charm without traditional framed pictures.

The touch of the soft wood of the table and the comfort of the chair. The auditory experience of a Baroque space. And the hidden visual art of graffiti.

If the old-fashioned aroma of coffee were added, it would appeal to the senses of smell and taste――a café that satisfied all five senses, complete.

Even more, the fact that this unique scenery was in the middle of an underwater tunnel stimulated the imagination of the guests.

As the Undertaker, I was confident that even if it weren't for the apocalypse, this place could aim to be the best café in Korea.

Home shopping broadcast, over.

“...There's no natural light, yet the space doesn't feel cramped.”

Noh Do-hwa touched the table.

She seemed quite shocked.

“Was this really an anomaly that devoured hundreds of people...?”

“Hehe.”

“Even that ridiculous regressor's laugh sounds different now. I'm surprised. Undertaker, I didn't expect you to have this talent...”

Considering Noh Do-hwa's personality, this was the highest praise. But there was more to surprise her.

“Noh Do-hwa, Corps Chief.”

“Yes...?”

“Do you see those thin strings next to the bookshelf? They are puppet strings leading to the tunnel's deepest part. I had Hayul set them up. Just a slight tug on them...”

Ting- The string vibrated pleasantly like a cello's string.

“Even just by infusing aura, the vibration reaches my private room at the deepest part of the tunnel.”

“Oh...”

“Then I can immediately respond knowing there's a guest. No matter how far the distance, I can reach here in an instant.”

“Indeed. This is... quite something.”

“The treatment for the 100-meter and 200-meter levels is different. The deeper the depth, the different the interior, and the more diverse the menu will be. In other words...”

“Yes. It might be a small motivation for the awakeners. There aren’t many enjoyments these days... Hmm. Being isolated from the outside world might actually be a good thing. If one can momentarily forget the ruined outside world and enjoy a cup of coffee...”

“Oh. It’s okay. I’ve dug a tunnel to your place as well.”

[What?]

This was another reversal of thought.

As everyone knew, the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel was a fictional construction, yet it was completely devoured by Inunaki.

Then, wouldn’t it be possible to create a ‘man-made’ tunnel and have it infected by Inunaki?

The result of my idea was located at the southern end of the Han River submerged bridge. I took the Saintess there.

“...My goodness.”

The Saintess, wrapped in a white coat, opened her mouth slightly.

“Why is there a tunnel here...?”

Indeed.

Beyond the ruins of the convenience store where we first met, a small tunnel led down into the Han River.

This was the so-called ‘Han River Submerged Tunnel.’

“I’ll lead the way. Please follow me.”

“...Wait a moment, Mr. Undertaker. Did you create an anomaly artificially?”

“No. There were several tunnels planned for the Han River. Some were never completed. I superimposed multiple tunnels and ‘asked’ Inunaki to infect them.”

“‘Asked’...”

“It’s a communicative friend. Well, it’s a kind of loophole, so I can’t expand these ‘portals’ recklessly. The limit was creating emergency exits in only three places.”

One in Gangnam, right here. Another in the coffee farm in Kyushu, Japan. The third location will be mentioned in another story.

Hearing my explanation, the Saintess was astonished.

“A limit? Even so, isn’t that incredible?”

We entered the submerged tunnel.

All Inunaki Tunnels were connected.

However, to travel from the ‘Han River Submerged Tunnel’ to the ‘Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel,’ one had to follow several specific procedures precisely.

For security reasons, I won’t detail them, but from the Saintess's perspective, it only took five minutes to walk leisurely.

After walking through the tunnel.

“......”

The Saintess paused.

“...Here.”

“Depth 1200 meters. This is the deepest part of my hideout café. Welcome, Saintess.”

Before us was an underwater tunnel.

But it wasn’t made of concrete; it was made of glass.

The tunnel stretched 400 meters from a depth of 1200 meters to 1600 meters, all constructed like an aquarium's underwater tunnel.

Colorful fish swam in the azure water.

“......”

The Saintess’s eyes widened. She stared blankly at the glass tunnel.

Water shadows gently swayed, casting ripples over her hair.

She always enjoyed keeping fish as a hobby. To her, this place must have seemed like Eldorado.

“Mr. Undertaker, how on earth...?”

“The Inunaki Tunnel is connected to the Samdo River. It’s the concept of the underworld, the water flowing in the afterlife. That’s why one can drown if walked incorrectly. It also matches well with underwater or submerged tunnels. Though it was tricky, as you can see, it was possible to manifest it as an aquarium's underwater tunnel.”

“......”

In the 117th cycle.

When I confronted the outer god-class anomaly Infinite Void, I met the Saintess. Though it was merely an illusion.

On the silver moon in the night sky, the Saintess looked down at the Earth. She said this:

-Just a layer beneath that planet, it’s all turned into hell.

Her words lingered like soot in my heart.

And now, in the 197th cycle, the Saintess was looking up at the sea from the depths of the Earth’s surface.

Beyond the tunnel, starlight jellyfish floated. They were void creatures, making the deep sea look like the Milky Way.

An inverted universe.

“How do you find it?”

I asked her impressions of the hellish scenery.

“Do you like it?”

“......”

The Saintess remained silent.

Every aquarium was a lonely structure.

But a glass tunnel crossing a sea was the only aquarium where one could view fish without confining them.

Having a home while still being free.

I wondered if my metaphor reached her silently.

After a long time of closed lips, the Saintess nodded, and I wanted to believe the tunnel's significance was fully conveyed.

“...Yes. Very much.”

“I’m glad.”

“Thank you, Mr. Undertaker. ...I’ll never forget this view for the rest of my life.”

I smiled.

“Neither will I.”

There are countless stories related to this ‘café hideout.’

But today, I will end the story here without any epilogue.

Let me simply add that from that day on, there was one more stop added to the Saintess's morning walks.

Footnotes:

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