Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 302

302. Time of the Dog and Wolf (1)

[I’m not sure. I’m not a psychiatrist. And I haven’t met Adam in person.]

“Hmm, no. It’s understandable. Adam was crazy to begin with when it comes to Maria Keller.”

It’s clear that Adam Folt is completely obsessed with Maria Keller, whether she’s in Hell or not.

It wasn’t for nothing that Baekgol wrote phrases like ‘Adam Folt is treated like a madman.’

Because to anyone looking at her, she seemed crazy.

[Among the hunters who go in and out of dungeons, there are many PTSD patients suffering from hallucinations or auditory hallucinations. Adam is no exception. Besides, she’s… in a somewhat special environment.]

In short, Hyun-woo means that he must protect Adam not only from the world that is turning Adam into an enemy, but also from Adam herself.

Just carrying out the Leviathan mission was already pushing her mind to its limit.

‘It wasn’t like this in the original future…….’

In the original timeline, Adam Folt didn’t appear in the Leviathan mission until the situation had deteriorated considerably.

It was after it was accurately known that the creatures inside the shadows had no possibility of salvation and were more like monsters.

The targeted Leviathan was clearly turning the world into an enemy in order to survive.

In the end, when it was judged that there was no way to do anything, Chrome and Adam Folt stepped forward.

But Adam Folt ultimately failed.

The Leviathan mission failed, and the world was covered in shadows.

However, unlike now, Adam Folt and Chrome could have become pillars of humanity and hope.

Although the process was not smooth, it became clear that such a powerful person was on the side of humanity.

The reason for the failure at that time was not because Adam was weak, but because of internal strife and conflict.

‘It’s strange that the Leviathan mission started too early, but as Adam said, Maria’s response is strange.’

Something is wrong.

I had a strong feeling that something I didn’t know was controlling the situation. Adam was being forcibly driven out.

If a decisive blow that could mentally defeat her were to come out, what would happen to Adam… Hyun-woo stopped thinking there.

“We’re screwed.”

[Yes?]

“Yumin, find out more about Maria Keller’s whereabouts. And have Park Hwi-soo thoroughly prepare what I told you. That’s my life insurance!”

[Ah, I understand. But I’m doing it because you told me to, but how does that become insurance…]

“Sorry, I wish I could tell you everything, but this is…”

Chiiiiiik.

The radio waves were forcibly cut off. Hyun-woo frowned and looked up at the sky.

The magnetic storm triggered by the Cepesh case was spreading to the central United States on the wind.

The ominous appearance of the crying clouds foretold a typhoon.

***

Adam Folt was floating hundreds of meters above the ground. Because she was surrounded by clouds, she could not be discovered or found.

She was looking down at the ground from there, leaving the child in the air. Adam didn’t know what to do.

Her way of thinking is simple.

1. Must not harm Maria Keller.

2. Obey Maria Keller’s orders to the extent that they do not violate 1.

3. Protect Adam Folt herself to the extent that it does not violate 1 and 2.

As far as Adam knows, Maria is currently at the UN Special Inspection Department headquarters.

It’s not the safest place in the world, but it’s relatively safe.

Maria’s orders are clear: Annihilate everything inside the shadows.

The problem is number 3.

Adam Folt couldn’t die.

It’s not that she values her life.

First of all, Adam Folt is basically unable to harm herself.

When she tries to harm herself, the more she gets hurt, the more the monster suppressed by reason begins to awaken.

At a certain point, her physical restoration ability surpasses her self-harm ability, and she becomes a monster and runs wild.

For this reason, Adam could not commit suicide.

The nature of the star is only asleep, and if awakened, it will quickly devour her.

‘Professor Keller can’t possibly not know this.’

And above all, Adam Folt herself had no intention of dying.

If she dies, the person who protects, watches, restrains, binds, and captures Maria Keller will disappear.

Frankly speaking, to Adam, humanity was just a hostage to restrain Maria Keller.

If Maria didn’t love humanity that much, she wouldn’t need someone like her.

‘But why did the professor give such an order?’

Chrome agents may be lying. If so, she had to go to the Special Inspection Headquarters right away.

However, what the Chrome agents said was in line with Maria’s orders.

Adam didn’t know what to do.

She turned the radio frequency and tried to contact Maria, but couldn’t reach her.

[Adam.]

Tatatatata.

A loud helicopter sound was heard. Adam turned her head.

A helicopter was struggling to rise through the clouds. Chrome agents were on board.

The helicopter circled around Adam as if it was difficult to stay still.

[Why did you suddenly back down? It was an opportunity to wipe out the enemies all at once.]

Adam wasn’t surprised that they found her. There must be an inseparable tracking device attached to her body somewhere.

Because she is a beast that should not be released carelessly.

Adam took the radio away from her ear and smashed it.

The Chrome agents silently watched the scene.

[Where is Professor Keller now?]

Adam said loudly. Her voice echoed so loudly that it seemed to tear the sky.

The Chrome agents covered their ears.

It wasn’t Adam’s voice. It was the voice of an invisible, giant being bowing down and asking.

The Chrome agent threw away the radio and shouted at Adam.

“The professor is at the Special Inspection Department headquarters! She is doing her own important work, so you focus on your mission!”

The Chrome agent was worried that his voice would not be heard properly by Adam. But Adam answered properly.

[I will talk to the professor directly.]

“I told you, the professor is doing important work now…”

[With the professor.]

At that moment, the sound of metal tearing was heard.

The helicopter shook violently, and the agents barely clung to the helicopter.

The Chrome agent saw the helicopter propeller being torn like a piece of paper.

The helicopter, caught by something huge, was floating in the air, and only the propellers were being torn off like dandelion seeds.

[I will talk.]

The Chrome agent was forcibly deprived of the communication equipment he had.

It was a much stronger signal than the portable equipment Adam had.

Adam contacted Maria again with the communication equipment. But it was the same.

She didn’t answer.

A strong sense of foreboding came over her.

At that time, the Chrome agent shouted loudly.

“Will you be satisfied if I play a recording?”

[No, I’ll see you in person.]

Adam tried to move right away, leaving the Chrome agents behind. But at that moment, she felt her body suddenly fixed.

Adam felt a sense of constriction on her body for a moment. But there was nothing on her body.

Tatatatata.

Helicopter sounds continued to be heard from all directions.

Adam understood the situation.

[It seems you’ve finally completed my leash.]

“I wanted you to carry it out with the professor’s orders as much as possible.”

The Chrome agent answered while clinging to the twisted and crushed helicopter.

“But we can’t help but prepare for the worst. And you won’t be able to completely achieve your goal without a leash in the end.”

Adam forcibly twisted her arm and squeezed her body tightly. Her arm moved forcibly against her will.

Adam gritted her teeth. At the same time, a roar that shook the sky was heard from somewhere.

The Chrome agents tensed up with horrified expressions. The clouds began to rotate and move violently around Adam.

As the clouds receded, helicopters and long chains of steel that had been buried and hidden inside appeared.

It was the result of Chrome’s decades of research to find a way to restrain the monster Adam Folt.

Each chain was made of items made by grinding crystal moss.

Its length alone was several kilometers. In terms of price, it would have cost as much as a small national budget. Adam admired in the purest sense.

[You’ve collected more than I thought. You’ve really prepared a lot.]

“Do you know about this thing?”

[Of course.]

Adam answered with a snort.

[How much have I and the professor experimented with this?]

Because of this, Adam could also know that she had been completely defeated. She had no way to escape from this special chain.

The distance between the chains that were surrounding Adam greatly began to narrow slowly.

At the same time, a huge roar shook the sky once again. The chains swayed as if they were about to break.

[Bringing this chain means that the professor is serious.]

Adam said with a hollow smile.

The invisible monster howled and struggled.

However, the chain swayed but steadily, gradually narrowing towards Adam to a smaller size.

Adam did not move, feeling a nausea and claustrophobia that made her feel like she was going to throw up. At the same time, she felt her power diminishing.

Adam glanced back at the child floating with her.

[Okay. Please take care of this child instead. If my power gets weaker, the child will fall too. This child is not a subordinate. I’ve confirmed that it’s human, so I’d appreciate it if you could take care of it.]

“Child?”

The Chrome agent looked around Adam with a puzzled face. But he couldn’t see a child.

The other agents had similar expressions.

The Chrome agent, wondering if she had left it somewhere, was relieved by Adam’s human side.

“Adam, let me say again, our purpose is not to attack you! We don’t see you as a monster, and we don’t think of you as a beast that will bring the end!”

The Chrome agent shouted at Adam once again. Adam’s cooperation was essential to carry out their purpose.

However, they couldn’t let Adam act as she pleased. Therefore, the Chrome agent was desperate to persuade her.

“Professor Keller told us to save humanity with you! She said this is the best future!”

[The best future?]

Adam muttered blankly.

“Yes. Only in this way can humanity…”

The Chrome agent wondered if he had said something wrong when Adam’s face, which had been quiet, distorted.

But at that moment, Adam began to twist her body violently. At the same time, the chains in the air moved like crazy.

The Chrome agents couldn’t help but wonder if, even though they believed it couldn’t be true.

All the experiments so far had been conducted with Adam in a compliant state.

[Is this the best? No. That’s not it.]

But what if Adam and the monster go on a rampage at the same time?

“Stop her!”

At that moment, large arrows were fired from the helicopters.

They were the same arrows that had sniped Helen. Arrows the length of small spears pierced Adam’s shoulder blades, thighs, and other non-lethal areas.

[It may be the best for everyone in the world, but at least not for me!]

Adam screamed and struggled. However, the arrows accurately sniped her all over her body.

The moment more than ten arrows were stuck in her body, Adam staggered and slowly began to fall to the ground.

“Chain!”

Just before Adam collided with the ground, the chain, which had been pulled to the limit, stretched taut and lifted Adam’s body.

Adam gasped and looked at the arrows piercing her body.

These arrows were also specially made for her, and even the demonstration test was done with her body.

Adam had been making things that would strangle her neck.

The agents were seen jumping out as the helicopter landed urgently.

Adam blankly looked up at the sky. It was raining under the clouds.

Her blood was clearly staining the floor. At this rate, she would be able to die according to Professor Keller’s orders.

It would be impossible to clean the inside of the shadows, though.

‘Still, the Leviathan mission will be over. But what about next?’

Professor Keller may have gained confidence in carrying out the mission without her.

That’s how it is.

In the end, she will just find a more suitable tool.

So Adam was trying to remove that suitable tool as early as possible, but she was just one step late.

“Adam, are you okay?”

The agent approached and asked, pulling out the arrow. Adam almost burst out laughing at the sight of them asking if she was okay after they had stuck the arrows in her.

It was then. Adam discovered a streak of light crossing the sky.

She was able to discover it because she was the only one looking at the sky while everyone else was looking at Adam.

The streak of light pierced through the rain clouds and quickly covered the ground.

A piercing sound rang out.

No, in fact, some people lost consciousness and collapsed as their eardrums burst.

The agent who was right in front of Adam noticed the surprise attack and quickly raised his weapon. But before he could draw his weapon, a fist struck his solar plexus.

With a dull sound, the agent, one of Chrome’s high-ranking ability users, rolled his eyes and lost consciousness.

Adam stared at the man in front of her as if she couldn’t believe it.

A man with huge wings of light spread out was standing in front of Adam, getting rained on.

“Lee Ji-tae… I thought you were dead.”

The man with the wings of light roughly tore off the chains with one hand.

It would be a heavy weight of several tons, but it seemed to be no problem for him.

Adam felt the monster released from its restraints stretch greatly. But it was Lee Ji-tae who was grateful. He was looking at Adam with eyes mixed with pity and gratitude.

“I felt your performance in Saint Petersburg. Without you, there would have been terrible damage.”

Adam wanted to lash out that she hadn’t done it for him or for other people.

It wasn’t a good memory because Professor Keller got angry at her because of that.

But Lee Ji-tae didn’t know Adam’s feelings at all.

“The teacher told me to save you and take you in. The teacher has been waiting for this moment. Come to us, Adam Folt.”

Lee Ji-tae said, reaching out his hand to Adam, who was collapsed.

“Maria Keller has abandoned you, but the teacher will never abandon you. She wants you to be with us in the best future we dream of.”