---

“Here’s another one that’s clinging on.”

Though the building is large, it feels small. No matter how high it goes, how high can it really be? And even if it’s wide, how wide can it truly be?

In the vast expanse of America, Lucas’s building on Wall Street is just that—a mere structure amidst a forest of taller skyscrapers.

Yet, it’s surprising that such a ‘meager’ building attracts so many eyes and ears.

Not just people, mind you, but things that aren’t even human.

“Smintheus said that the rats in the light and those in the dark are all under his command, so he must possess the authority to know their city. Just as the sun shines brilliantly and the pure white marble retains that light, the four-legged rats, cloaked in fur, ought to live with gratitude for his grace.”

Reciting the invocation to detect the presence of the rats reveals a staggering number.

Moreover, if I looked for their positions, they were scattered evenly throughout the building.

This felt unnatural.

Rats have nests and dwellings; how could they be so evenly distributed?

They weren’t even searching for food or performing any other activities.

Clearly, someone was orchestrating this.

And that someone is…

“The government.”

There’s a strong possibility it’s the American government.

Of course, delving deeper would complicate matters.

Was it an agency solely responsible for New York, or an intelligence agency overseeing all of America? Or was it the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service pulling these stunts?

That’s something to investigate further.

But the undeniable fact is that the government has intervened.

It indicates that this building holds significant importance to warrant such ‘surveillance.’

And what could that importance be…?

“I don’t know.”

I truly don’t know.

Lucas had never seen or heard of anything like this in his future before the rewind.

However, it’s not hard to overall grasp that if the government is involved, it must be something very critical.

Especially for Lucas, who, though an American, seems to warrant this kind of attention…

The ‘reason’ must be heavy, surely indicating it’s not above board.

—

Days have passed since Jinseong used the building to invoke Loa.

Ghede, whom Jinseong summoned, despite appearing lively with a seemingly boisterous demeanor, quietly established itself in the building.

It seemed the promise of giving a graveyard-like atmosphere was no empty boast, as it dampened the building’s energy and calmed the spirits of those working within.

Of course, this calming effect wasn’t because they felt at peace; it was more akin to the stillness and eeriness experienced at a graveyard—a heavy, dark sensation settling over them.

This was the power of the magic Jinseong employed.

When the people in the building produced beta and gamma brainwaves exceeding 13Hz, he could lower those frequencies, keeping them in an alpha wave state. Admittedly, there was an unnatural essence to it, and due to the energy being dispersed throughout the building, the effect wasn’t overpowering…

But there was certainly an effect.

It lowered their high excitement levels to an irritating degree and calmed their frustrations and stresses to a tranquil state.

However, conversely, the brainwaves sometimes dropped too low, creating an environment conducive to the ‘slow-wave sleep’ brainwaves, leading to increased drowsiness compared to the past, and those with less stamina occasionally dozing off at work.

Consequently, coffee consumption surged in an attempt to combat that drowsiness.

But Lucas didn’t mind that.

A little sleepiness? Just drink some coffee or an energy drink to shake it off.

Employee health?

Who cares about that? Those who take care of their health do so of their own accord, while those who normally don’t managed to survive—that’s America for you.

If America were genuinely concerned about health, it’d be hard to find people with massive bodies roaming around. So whether they become caffeine junkies from coffee or suffer issues with their stomach or kidneys from energy drinks—well, that’s their problem to figure out.

Besides, the company provided health insurance; that ought to be sufficient.

Lucas genuinely believed that.

And Jinseong, likewise, paid little heed to employees excessively consuming coffee and energy drinks.

After all, the world is in a mess, and with a third world war unfolding, countless lives are lost.

Isn’t it silly to fret over health in such a scenario?

Those in the building aren’t his acquaintances or relatives.

They’re certainly not good people either, having racked up countless karmic debts while handling money…

What happens to them is of no concern to Jinseong.

In fact, the more they consume coffee and energy drinks, the better it is for him.

If they are seen indulging in such drinks, it would make it seem more normal for him to be seen at cafes.

And thus—

Flap, flap.

The number of birds that follow him whenever he steps outside would drop significantly.

“Using dead birds to create drones, huh?”

The variety and quantity of those birds increased.

Initially, there were pigeons with cameras implanted in them.

Next came owls equipped with thermal imaging cameras.

And then, there were even biological drones made from actual dead birds.

The will of the ‘organization’ to keep a close watch on him was unmistakable.

A constant swarm of birds followed him.

Once near the glass window, their eyes locked onto him. Anytime he turned his head toward the small window, he was bound to see a bird. Those inorganic eyeballs always followed him, no matter where he went.

Even if he just stepped outside, the sound of wings flapping would echo from somewhere as they continuously observed him from every visible vantage point.

Constantly.

Constantly.

Perhaps someone with weak mental fortitude would succumb to a mental illness.

In fact, Lucas did seem to have developed a mental illness.

“Always keeping an eye on me, accepting conspiracy theories to some extent.”

To anyone looking on, those birds didn’t look normal.

But saying they weren’t normal, yet also considering them government surveillance equipment, would only make him seem mentally ill too—

How frustrating that must be.

“Hmm.”

Amidst this, someone jumped from his building.

The money wasn’t trickling in as expected.

The global economy was also in a recession—

It must have driven him utterly mad.

He would have thought maybe he was cursed, or something had gone terribly wrong.

He probably hoped that Jinseong, a person from a faraway country unrelated to the American government, would resolve this miserable situation.

“Lucas, Lucas… you are fortunate.”

That thought probably veered close to skepticism.

Perhaps the instinct honed from living as a wolf had determined the choices he made.

And it seemed that choice wasn’t wrong.

Look.

Behold that man emerging from Lucas’s building right now.

Isn’t he wandering aimlessly, stepping away from the very spot designated for his death?

—

Have you ever been stuck in a swamp?

Each step feels like it’s sinking deeper, the sensation as if the dead below are dragging at your feet with rotten, foul hands.

One foot sinks in, reaching almost up to the knee. Gradually, it descends until it’s up to the waist—

And finally, when you’re submerged to your neck, do you know that feeling?

The sensation of being devoured alive by a monstrous entity.

Do you know what it feels like to end up in the gaping mouth of a gigantic snake?

As you quietly view the scenery of the Manchac Swamp in Louisiana, a shiver runs down your body. Rumors of ghost sightings linger, and a sinister energy permeates the area, leaving you with an unsettling feeling of countless eyes observing you.

Are those gazes belonging to ghosts, or the alligators hiding in the swamp?

Or perhaps they belong to a monster that roams somewhere within?

This unknown terror makes it feel as if the swamp itself is a singular, monstrous being.

The horrendous stench wafting from the swamp is the beast’s breath.

The sticky mud and water are the monster’s saliva.

The insects and leeches trying to feast on flesh and blood are the bugs living within its maw.

And the alligator, disguised as a log, suddenly opening its mouth wide, reveals its teeth.

As you stride through this swamp and sink into its horrid muck—

Ah, that’s when you realize.

You are slowly dying.

You are moving towards death right now.

Like melting within the belly of a monster, the poison is rotting your body from the extremities until it finally reaches your head.

You are dying.

Slowly, but surely.

This feeling is truly horrifying.

It’s dreadfully disgusting yet vividly palpable.

And so it eventually leads to an acceptance of death.

“I’m doomed.”

As the sticky mud wraps around your body, the gloom envelops your mind as well.

Staying still on the sweltering hot asphalt in mid-summer, it’s a relentless cycle of sweating and drying, leaving your body in a sticky state that’s hard to wash away.

“I’m bankrupt.”

This lethargy is indeed just like that.

Thus, a person moves to shake these feelings away.

Even if the means are extreme.

That’s why he decided to move.

To somehow cast off this overwhelming sense of helplessness and depression governing his body.

To bid farewell to a wretched life where no hope is in sight, no matter how much he ponders it.

So, he made his way to a building.

The name?

He doesn’t know.

He merely headed towards the place that caught his eye.

It didn’t matter where he jumped from.

Thus, he took a step forward, passing by those who paid him little mind, heading up, up, higher.

And just when he finally reached the rooftop and tried to open the door—

[Oh, hey there. Got something on your mind?]

Someone spoke to him.

 

---