Chapter 13: The Virgin Conception (１)

****

It’s been a while since I had a day off.

I didn’t know the Foundation observed red-letter days. Today I’m going to lie down and do nothing. Tomorrow’s going to be busy once I get to work, so I might as well rest.

****

The next day.

“Dr. Geum. Do you have a moment? The Humanoid Division of the Research Department would like to see you. They said they’d appreciate it if the Director’s Office could take a direct look at the anomaly ‘Antichrist.’”

I looked at Administrator Lee.

“Is that so?”

“It doesn’t seem to be anything particularly impressive. There’s one anomalous human currently in the humanoid containment cell, and they say there’s also a specimen. But they insist it has to be today.”

“Understood. I’ll go.”

I’d seen the relevant file before.

A small monster made up of teeth, bones, fingernails, biological tissue, and the like. I don’t know why it’s dangerous.

Most of the important content was access-restricted anyway. If I used the Director’s Office’s authority, I could probably open it, but I hadn’t had the time yet.

“Are you coming too, Administrator?”

“Sorry, but I’m rather busy. I think Nanami will have to go this time.”

“Alright.”

I threw on my lab coat and got up from my seat. Let’s see what they want from me.

“Let’s head over without delay.”

****

Humanoid Division, Research Department.

The scariest place in this facility.

Of course, the other divisions have plenty of scary people too.

The task forces and the Recovery Division could annihilate a small country with sheer force, the Precognition Division can predict or create the future, and the Intelligence Division knows everything under the sky and above the earth.

But…

The Humanoid Division is where humanoid anomaly are contained. It’s a place where things that look like people are dissected and killed every single day. The people who work there probably aren’t exactly normal either.

Nanami looked at me.

“Is it the Humanoid Division that’s got you down?”

“Yes.”

“They’re a nasty bunch, sure, but you don’t need to be that scared. The researchers at the Humanoid Division are still people. Dangerous ones, but people.”

“Is that so?”

“If today’s business was something shameful to show off, they wouldn’t have called you at all. They’d have just handled it quietly and filed a report.”

“Right?”

“The Humanoid Division has something they want to show off to you this time. I don’t know why they didn’t tell you in advance… but I don’t think it’s anything too unpleasant to look at, or anything strange.”

I nodded to Nanami.

****

Arrived.

The moment Nanami stepped into the Humanoid Division, she said she had urgent business and went back to the Director’s Office.

“Dr. Geum. Hello. It’s been a while.”

It’s Dr. Cheon Gyeongchae from the Medical Examination Division.

“What brings you here?”

“It’s because of anomaly P-3030, the Antichrist. An anomalous human in need of examination has been brought here. I came to check on them.”

The fact that this anomaly has a P classification means it’s not simply a human or a creature, but a phenomenon.

I still don’t quite get it.

“Would you show me?”

“Of course. Though it’s under the Humanoid Division’s jurisdiction.”

A moment later.

I looked into the containment cell.

A young girl was perched on the bed in the containment cell, and the Foundation’s doctors and researchers were surrounding her without leaving a single gap.

The child had a terrified expression, but she didn’t seem to be injured. The researchers didn’t seem to be trying to harm her either.

“Is that child the anomaly?”

“No.”

“May I talk to her for a moment?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I squeezed between the people in white coats, lowered my gaze, and brought myself to the child’s eye level. She looked back at me with anxious eyes.

“Hello?”

“Hello.”

“What’s your name?”

“Kim Yeon.”

“Do you know why you’re here?”

“No. They said I have a serious illness, and that I need to put everything down and get treatment right away…”

I slowly nodded.

“Nothing hurts right now?”

“I’m tired from all the tests. I want to go home soon.”

“Okay. I’ll do my best.”

No visible injuries, it seems.

That’s a relief, at least. Aside from looking tired, she doesn’t seem to be in pain, and it doesn’t look like the researchers experimented on this child.

What does the Foundation want from this child? The doctor standing beside me tapped my shoulder.

“Director. This is Professor Lee from the Humanoid Division. We need to proceed with surgery as soon as possible for the child’s sake, so please approve it while you’re here.”

Hmph.

“What kind of surgery?”

“We need to remove the anomaly from the child’s body immediately. There’s a day or two of leeway, but I believe it should be done today.”

I tilted my head.

“So you’re saying you want to proceed with surgery right now and physically remove the anomaly from the child’s body?”

“That’s correct. If possible, let’s start now.”

“I’ll approve it right away. In exchange, let me observe this surgery.”

The doctors in the containment cell all turned their eyes toward me at once. Why? It’s not that unreasonable a request, is it?

“And. From now on, in emergency situations, you may report to me after the surgery is done. I respect the Research Department’s judgment, so there’s no need to check with the Director’s Office every single time.”

“Thank you.”

Professor Lee’s expression grew complicated.

****

This is the Foundation’s Operating Room 8.

“I’m Lee Minsik, an OB-GYN specialist, and I’ll be leading today’s surgery. I appreciate Dr. Geum coming to observe, but inside the operating room, you must absolutely follow my orders.”

“Is the surgery preparation complete? Can you confirm the patient is properly anesthetized?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve heard the sterile technique briefing?”

I’d heard the briefing before coming in. That’s why I’m wearing a sterile surgical cap, disposable gown, and sterile gloves inside the operating room.

“Yes.”

“Patient Kim Yeon, age 18, blood type AB. Confirming she’s here for a cesarean section today?”

“Confirmed.”

The medical staff participating in the surgery answered.

The patient was covered with a surgical drape so only the operative area was visible. An orange liquid that looked like antiseptic was smeared over the surgical site.

“Then, we’ll begin the surgery.”

“Dr. Geum. You may come closer and watch, as long as you don’t interfere with the procedure. If you have questions, feel free to ask.”

Dr. Lee stood in front of the operating table.

Around the table stood Dr. Lee, one operating room nurse, two young Foundation doctors, and me. Five people in total.

Dr. Lee held out his hand.

“Then… Scalpel.”

The sharp surgical blade sliced through the patient’s skin. Everyone watching held their breath.

“Would you like me to walk you through the procedure?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“Don’t shake your head at the operating table. You can’t see anything anyway, and hair will fall out.”

“Ah, yes.”

The doctor began speaking without stopping his hands.

“Mature teratomas mostly occur in children under 18. We thought the same at first. We assumed anomaly P-3030 was just an oddly shaped teratoma.”

“Yes.”

“Incision complete. Retractors, please.”

Medical instruments were inserted into the incision, spreading the wound the scalpel had made. The outlines of organs began to emerge through the blood and connective tissue.

“You. Do you know where the uterus is?”

“Isn’t it this?”

“Right. Tissue forceps.”

One of the assisting doctors handed the professor a tissue forceps. Professor Lee didn’t turn his gaze toward me… He didn’t, but he spoke to me again anyway.

With his eyes fixed on the surgical site, his hands were dissecting the connective tissue around the uterus with what looked like tweezers.

“Do you know what the Chinese characters for cesarean section mean?”

“No.”

“Cesarean section — literally, the surgery that creates an emperor. According to legend, it comes from the fact that Caesar, the first emperor of Rome, was born this way.”

For a moment, Dr. Lee’s hands paused.

“Initiating uterine incision. Scalpel.”

The OR nurse took the tweezers from Dr. Lee, then handed him the scalpel.

“As you’ve likely noticed, this is not a simple teratoma. It’s something far more horrifying. You may find this unpleasant to hear… The easiest way to create a dimensional gate leading to hell is to use a virgin’s uterus as the medium.”

The already chilly operating room froze solid.

“I’m going to extract the target now. Is the liquid nitrogen ready outside the OR?”

“N-not yet.”

“You son of a bitch, that’s still not ready? Get out there right now and prep it!”

One of the doctors in the OR rushed out in a panic, and the professor sighed, lowering his head over the patient.

“You. Can you suture the wound?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll handle the organ closure myself. You close the wound and finish up. Get ready.”

“Needle holder.”

Dr. Lee looked at me again.

“Chief Researcher, prepare to receive the target. The nitrogen bucket is on its way. Once I extract it, run out of the OR immediately and drop it into the bucket. When it’s done, wait outside the operating room.”

“Me?”

“One person already left, didn’t they? The only spare hand left now is the Director.”

“Ah, yes.”

Dr. Lee reached into the surgical site, and something emerged from between the blood and amniotic fluid.

A twisted mass made of human flesh writhed… And at the center of that lump of flesh, a single bloodshot eye stared straight at me.

I barely managed to hold back my gag reflex.

What the hell is that thing.