# Chapter 104
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Walker II
Shin No-a
## 4
The subjugation was not a choice but a necessity.
If left unchecked, the tunnels across the world would be infected by 'Inunaki Tunnel' one after another, transcending the Korean Peninsula.
The awakeners of both Korea and Japan agreed to combine their forces. In this apocalyptic era where distribution networks had already collapsed, losing the tunnel routes entirely was unacceptable.
However, what kind of people were the nations of East Asia?
"A undersea tunnel has just appeared off the coast of Busan, so why not just conduct the subjugation there...?"
"Nyah. While I appreciate the suggestion, cleaning up one's own mess is the proper attitude of a responsible adult, nyah. The Magical Girl Association will take the lead in the Inunaki subjugation, nyah!"
When three nations gather for a conference, Korea calls it 'Korea-China-Japan,' China calls it 'China-Korea-Japan,' and Japan calls it 'Japan-China-Korea'—such is East Asian etiquette.
The question of whether nations had long since perished held no meaning. The people come first, and the state follows—that is the natural order.
Even if already destroyed, or precisely because they were destroyed, those who styled themselves as 'representatives' of each region clung to authority.
"Hmm. Your spirit is admirable, but I heard your situation has been rather difficult lately... We've just had an undersea tunnel open up here, but hasn't your entire country become an anthill? We're ready to help at any time..."
"Nyahaha. Thanks for your concern, nyah. It would've been nice if we had an unparalleled awakener like Undertaker too, nyah! My, it's so sad that we have worse luck than our neighbors, nyah!"
Pleasant conversation continued.
The conversation must have looked quite entertaining. Chinese awakeners, whose tunnels hadn't yet been infected by Inunaki, began subtly transmitting messages: 'Hey hey? What are you guys doing? Why are you only having fun? Can't we join in too? Huh? Let's play together.'
As both sides' expressions grew increasingly sour, I interjected politely.
"Neither the National Road Management Corps nor the Magical Girl Association will lead this subjugation. I, Undertaker, as an individual, will lead it. I'd like to invite awakeners I personally know one by one to form a temporary party. I would appreciate your participation in consideration of your connection with me."
"Hmm..."
"Nyah."
This too was the long tradition of the Korean Peninsula—'volunteer forces.' Since we all respect tradition, my proposal passed easily.
A multinational party was formed under the premise that all would participate in their personal capacity and voluntarily. The party members were as follows:
- Korean Peninsula side: Undertaker (Party Leader), Saintess (Secret Participant), Yu Ji-won (Vice Party Leader)
- Japanese Archipelago side: Manyeokmyo (Vice Party Leader), Heosugeom.
Though it might seem like a meager number for all the fanfare of forming a joint Korea-Japan subjugation force, this was actually sufficient.
It's embarrassing to say this myself, but I, Undertaker, was essentially a walking legion. I only needed people to fill in 'areas I couldn't cover myself.'
The Magical Girl Association side—well, since we had stated 'two or three people are enough for us,' they had no choice but to dispatch a comparable number.
"Excuse me."
"Nyah! Make yourself at home, nyah!"
Manyeokmyo guided us, who had come to Japan on business, to a high-end ryokan while whispering to me.
"Undertaker, Undertaker."
"Hm?"
"I know Yu-sang is the Director of the National Road Management Corps, but who is that woman with the colored hair, nyah? First time I've seen her, nyah..."
The person Manyeokmyo indicated with her gaze was the Saintess. Only Yu Do-ha and I knew her true identity even in Korea, so it was natural for the Magical Girl Association to be completely unaware.
"She's my girlfriend."
"...!"
"We've been dating for two months now. She followed me saying she was worried when I said I was going to Japan. She'll be staying here until the operation ends, so please take good care of her."
"Isn't Undertaker's girlfriend the Diva of the Three Thousand Worlds, nyah?"
This is insane. Why has that rumor spread all the way across the sea?
"...Completely unfounded. She's my first girlfriend."
"Ah, aah. Is that so, nyah. My apologies, nyah. There are quite a few Walpurgis among magical girls too... Anyway! If she's Undertaker's girlfriend, we'll treat her as a complete VIP, nyah!"
The Saintess tilted her head with a "?" as she watched our whispered conversation. Among our group, she was the only one who didn't understand Japanese.
After unpacking at the inn, we began the formal meeting.
"Japan will conduct the subjugation. However, if this operation ends successfully, the Association must provide me with compensation."
"Compensation? What kind, nyah?"
"A spirit camera."
"Ah..."
"Specifically, the Polaroid OneStep. The 1977 model, please."
"Nyahaha, nyah. Undertaker, you're really into that item, nyah?"
Manyeokmyo scratched her cheek.
"I'd love to give it to you, but, nyah. That's an extremely rare artifact, one of only three in the entire Association... Urgh, nyah, I'll transmit the request upstairs for now, nyah."
As one could tell from the organization's name 'Magical Girl Association,' the awakeners of the Japanese archipelago were not strictly hierarchical.
Each shrine had one magical girl who had received 'divine possession,' and each managed their own territory.
While the Association headquarters was located on the Noto Peninsula, compared to the status the National Road Management Corps held on the Korean Peninsula, it was closer to a nominal headquarters.
In other words, rather than saying 'the Magical Girl Association possesses three spirit cameras,' the proposition 'three magical girls who own spirit cameras are members of the Association' was far more accurate.
Unless persuaded individually, there was no way they would simply hand over such a precious item.
I naturally knew the Association's situation inside out. That's why I first made a difficult demand, then subtly pulled back.
"Then can you at least tell me where the Polaroid camera was first farmed?"
"Nyah?"
"I'm personally a huge fan of that item. You can think of me as a collector. Getting the actual item would be best, but if that's not feasible, I want to obtain as much information as possible."
That way, I could cut in line next cycle and quickly snatch up the item.
Manyeokmyo's expression brightened.
"Nyah! If it's just that much, I'll work something out, nyah! Leave it to me, nyah!"
Normally, 'important item farming locations' would be classified information, but this side had publicly declared they would subjugate Inunaki in Japan rather than Korea.
Sure enough, just a few days later, Manyeokmyo returned with good news.
"I found out the farming location, nyah. And also..."
"And?"
"Tadaah, nyah!"
Manyeokmyo dramatically revealed an item she had hidden behind her back.
"Gasp."
It was a camera. The Polaroid OneStep (Land Camera 1000), released in 1977.
An item I'd had my eye on for dozens of cycles was now held in the cat magical girl's hands.
It was the same camera that would later play an active role when I went on a hot spring trip with Sim A-ryeon to the 'Tower of Sauron.'
My eyes waverered.
"Don't tell me, Manyeokmyo, you..."
"Nyahahah. Even so, Undertaker came to our neighborhood with his girlfriend and close aides—I couldn't just tell you the farming location and keep my mouth shut, nyah. So... ahem. On the condition of subjugating the Inunaki Tunnel, the owner agreed to hand over the camera too, nyah!"
"Manyeokmyo. We're friends from now on."
"Yay-! Tomodachi, nyah!"
Smack! We high-fived.
The subjugation team's morale was at an all-time high.
With the Saintess remaining at the inn, the first official Korea-Japan joint operation party of four—me, Yu Ji-won, Manyeokmyo, and Heosugeom—departed.
## 5
Upon arriving at the destination, the two local magical girls stepped onto a platform (a rock).
"Nyah! Thank you so much for deciding to help with this subjugation operation, nyah!"
"...... ......"
Manyeokmyo pointed with the tip of her umbrella behind her. The Inunaki Tunnel lay there.
The entrance was about 90% blocked by a stone wall. That stone wall was defiled with all sorts of colorful graffiti and tags.
"This place was originally called Sorojidani Tunnel, nyah. But as you can see, it's been infected by Inunaki, nyah!"
"...... ......!"
"It wasn't a path where passersby frequently walked, so I thought, well, people can just take a detour through the mountain path—and left it alone, nyah. Nyahahah. Actually, the god I serve is at a shrine nearby, nyah. It kept bothering me, nyah."
Flash! Manyeokmyo opened her umbrella.
This umbrella was bizarre. The outside was painted gold, but the inside was pitch black like the night sky with stars twinkling.
It wasn't a fashion item—that was Manyeokmyo's divine artifact. All magical girls carried such artifacts.
"Thanks to Undertaker and the awakeners of the Korean Peninsula cooperating, we can once again challenge the surgery to remove this cancer of the archipelago, nyah! Please take care of us, nyah!"
"......! ......!"
"We're the ones who should be asking for your care. Since we haven't worked together for long, minor mistakes and misunderstandings may occur. I'll calmly ask for understanding each time, so I'd like to get your understanding in advance as well."
"Of course, nyah!"
"......! ......!"
Just then.
Yu Ji-won, who had been quietly holding a trunk bag beside me, raised her hand. For reference, Yu Ji-won was also fluent in Japanese.
"I have a question."
"Nyah?"
"Why does the awakener next to you just go '......! ......!' and move their mouth? Are they mute?"
Our gazes turned toward Manyeokmyo's side.
There, a loner who hadn't been able to join our conversation until now was standing on tiptoes with all her might. She seemed to be trying to assert her presence.
That's right.
All the dialogue marked with '......' until now had actually been expressing this mute magical girl fidgeting.
For reference, this magical girl wasn't just mute—she also had no right or left arms. If a god existed in heaven, this was excellent proof that they were a sadist who took pleasure in abusing humans.
"Ah. Heosugeom, did you forget to use telepathic magic, nyah? I can't hear anything right now, nyah."
"......!"
At Manyeokmyo's point, the mute armless magical girl hopped up and down. Then, a voice began to be heard inside our heads.
[Oh my, my apologies. Undertaker-sensei. Yu-sensei. I was under the delusion that I was sending telepathy this whole time, haha. I thought you two were intentionally ignoring me.]
Her tone was archaic, completely at odds with her cute appearance.
Heosugeom.
Literally 'Armless Sword.'
I was familiar with this person's way of speaking. Readers with good memory would have already noticed—the magical girls who fought alongside me against UFO aliens in the 99th cycle were Manyeokmyo and Heosugeom right here.
They were also among the Japanese awakeners I trusted most.
"Hmm..."
On the other hand, the magical girls before her eyes seemed to Yu Ji-won like they were all quite unhinged lunatics. Her expression became strange.
That was an undeniable fact.
Yu Ji-won whispered in Korean.
"Your Excellency. Why do magic-type awakeners all seem to have mental issues? That witch cosplay Tang Seo-rin, and that uniform cosplay Cheon Yo-hwa too. And now magical girls? It's ridiculous that even the neighboring country's awakeners are like this."
"Tell me about it... I didn't know [Minimap] was a magic-type ability either."
"...?"
I looked around at the group.
"Alright. Though we're only four, each of us is worth a hundred warriors. Today, the anomaly known for having the deepest hollowness in the Japanese archipelago will be subjugated. Manyeokmyo, are you ready?"
"Nyah! As of today, Inunaki Tunnel will be renamed Nekonaki Tunnel, nyah!"
"Heosugeom?"
[Hm! The Magical Girl Association has previously attempted to subjugate Inunaki a total of four times, and that data is perfectly stored in my head. We are fully prepared!]
"Yu Ji-won."
"I will follow Your Excellency's orders."
I glanced up at the sky. As if waiting, the Saintess's voice rang out.
[We're ready, Mr. Undertaker.]
Perfect.
Rarely had I felt this secure before an anomaly raid. We advanced while maintaining an extremely positive atmosphere.
'I have a good feeling about this.'
We confidently destroyed the stone wall at the entrance and entered the tunnel. The tunnel's cozy darkness embraced the backs of us four.
66 minutes later.
The Korea-Japan joint awakener party was utterly wiped out.
## 5
Again.
Next, the 142nd cycle.
"Nyah! As of today, Inunaki Tunnel will be renamed Nekonaki Tunnel, nyah!"
"Splendid spirit. Excellent. But before that, there's something we need to confirm first."
"...Nyah?"
I wore an extremely serious expression in response to my party member's cry to boost morale, lowering the surrounding temperature by exactly 1 degree.
Of course, I hadn't suddenly awakened temperature manipulation abilities. Literally, exactly as stated, the temperature around the Inunaki Tunnel entrance was dropping in real time.
"That anomaly bastard has already noticed our approach. Manyeokmyo. You brought the spirit camera, right?"
"Nyah? I did bring it..."
"Take it out and take a photo."
"...Understood, nyah. Captain."
Sensing my atmosphere had completely changed, Manyeokmyo's face grew cold as well. She pulled the camera straight from her backpack without any fuss.
Yu Ji-won was expressionless, as if used to my attitude. Heosugeom was also calm.
Manyeokmyo carefully lifted with one hand the spirit camera, one of only three in Japan.
"Where should I shoot, nyah?"
"The tunnel entrance. Include the surrounding scenery in one shot."
"Roger, nyah."
Click-
The flash burst. The instant camera soon spat out the film through its thin lips.
All five of us—me, Yu Ji-won, Manyeokmyo, Heosugeom, and even the absent Saintess—looked down at the photo together.
Heosugeom's expression hardened.
[This is...]
In the spirit photograph.
On each cedar tree lining both sides of the tunnel like temple pillars, corpses were nailed with large spikes. The corpses wore outfits with flashy frills and decorations that would be rather burdensome for ordinary people to wear.
They were magical girls' corpses.
"Do you recognize any faces?"
[...I do. The photo quality isn't great so I can't be completely certain, but judging by their costumes, they all appear to be comrades who went missing in previous subjugation operations. Some I haven't seen in 7 years.]
As expected.
I maintained a composed expression. The leader of a subjugation party must always be steadfast.
A team member voiced the question instead.
"What is this, nyah. How could this be..."
"It's a provocation. As I said, that anomaly already knew we were approaching. So it's provoking us, saying 'come if you dare.'"
"No, but still... this doesn't make sense, nyah. Neither I nor Heosugeom are shrine maidens who would lose in spiritual power to anyone. Yet how could we not notice anything until we took the photo..."
[Wait a moment.]
We turned our heads.
Heosugeom was quietly staring at one corner of the grayish instant photo.
[These corpses here. Right here, the ones hanging right next to the stone wall.]
"Nyah?"
[It's a bit blurry but... don't their faces resemble us, nyah?"
"......"
Cicadas cried.
Japanese people described it as "kana-kana." But like all languages, it was a cry that could never be fully captured in characters, perhaps not even a cry at all but merely a gasping, a choking sound. That sound echoed repeatedly from the cedar forest surrounding us.
"Take another photo, Manyeokmyo. Center on the stone wall this time."
"Understood, nyah."
Click.
The flash burst.
In that instant, the cicada sounds from the entire forest stopped. It might sound strange, but it felt as if thousands of insects were all looking this way simultaneously.
Bzzzzzt-
The photo developed slowly from the Polaroid camera, making an excessive amount of noise.
We looked at the photo once more.
"......"
The corpses in the photo had become slightly lighter.
Everything was the same as the first photo, but they were hanging from the cedars with only their heads and arms missing.
No, upon closer inspection, there was one more thing that had changed.
On the stone wall at the tunnel entrance, defiled with all sorts of graffiti and tags in various colors, letters that were definitely not in the previous photo were written in bright red.
-Welcome back.
An infinite returner telling a story.