Beacon of Light in the Dark Sea

Chapter 98

Kanu shook his head at Jihyuns answer and whispered, Christians turn all other religions into demons. Dagon was a water god worshipped in Mesopotamia.

This is the first time Ive heard of it. I guess theres no way I would know about a water god from another country. Even when I try to think of one, the only one that comes to mind is Poseidon, who frequently appears in Greek and Roman mythology. If someone were to ask me about air gods or fire gods from other countries, nothing at all comes to mind. Emma spoke in a frightened voice.

You dont know what lives at the bottom of the ocean.

Yoo Geum-yi answered Emma in a disgruntled tone, I know very well what lives there. I live there, and so do the people here. Jellyfish live there too.

Not that kind of thing!

Are you perhaps afraid of things with many legs? Youre managing to stay here quite well.

Yoo Geum-yi let out a small sigh as if she was very familiar with people like Emma. Being able to stay at an underwater base while disliking marine life Well, I guess if there are people who join cults for money, what cant they do? Yoo Geum-yi spoke to Emma as if grumbling.

I still dont quite understand why Westerners are so terrified of cephalopods like octopuses and squid. Mammals have hemoglobin, so their blood is red, but they have hemocyanin, so their blood is blue. Theyre the blue bloods you like so much, and theyre as intelligent as dogs or cats, so why do you dislike them so much?

One day, they will awaken from the darkness of the deep sea and invade the world!

When Emma answered Yoo Geum-yi with disgust, Yoo Geum-yi was taken aback and paused for a moment. Then she sighed as if to bring the elevator down.

Well. If octopuses and squid were to invade, I would gladly put water in a pot and prepare soy sauce. Yoo Geum-yi began to distance herself considerably from Emma, as if she would not waste her precious time on the bullshit of conspiracy theorists who claim marine life will one day attack humanity. I carefully asked Kanu, who seemed well-versed in religion.

Are there any gods related to sharks?

I asked thinking there wouldnt be, but Kanu answered with bright eyes.

Yes, theres Kmohoalii, Nanaue. Waua mau mau, Dakuwaqa.

Kanu began to say many more names after that, but I didnt know any of them. Listening to Kanus light explanation, it seemed that there were quite a few places that worshipped shark gods in warm Pacific island nations like Hawaii.

Korea has also gotten much warmer, so sharks have started to appear more frequently. Come to think of it, I dont know much about sharks. Im hearing the things Kanu is saying for the first time in my life. As I listened with an expression that showed I had never heard of them before, Kanu asked me.

What country are you from?

Im Korean.

In your country, the Dragon King would be similar to Dagon.

The Dragon King. It took a few seconds after hearing it for the meaning to be conveyed to my brain. I had only heard of it in old tales, like when a rabbit liver was needed or when Shim Cheong, who fell into Indangsu, was saved.

Carter, who had been hopping up and down towards the elevator ceiling, looked at the phone screen he had raised with his arms stretched out and spoke to us, who were calmly talking about legends and gods, with a face that looked like he was going to burst.

I dont care if its the Dragon King or a demon, whoever gets us out of here is the best! What are we going to do about the elevator? Are we just done for? Do we have to stay here stuck in a power outage?

No one answered. Everyones gaze just turned toward the engineer. Jihyun sat on the elevator floor, looking towards Carter, and said.

The backup power will kick in soon. Probably.

Probably? What do you mean probably? Youre the engineer, so you should know properly. Do your job right!

Jihyuns patience, which had been precarious, seemed to have completely run out.

I did everything right! You must know so much that youre stuck here with me who doesnt know shit, huh? If you dont want to wait for the backup power, open the elevator door and jump out.

What?

Before anyone could stop him, Carter threw the cell phone he was holding at the face of Jihyun, who was sitting. Kevin, who was next to Jihyun, moved at lightning speed.

Bang!

When I shone the light towards the sound, Carters shattered cell phone had hit the ocean-side window of the elevator with a loud noise and was rolling on the floor.

Since no one moved except Kevin and Carter, it seemed that Kevin had swung his axe head to deflect the flying cell phone. I froze with the flashlight in my hand at what happened in less than 3 seconds. Kevin strode forward.

Do you want your hand cut off!

As Kevin growled in a hoarse voice and approached Carter with an axe, Carter took a few steps back and spoke as if making an excuse.

I wasnt trying to hit her, I was just

Just what?

I was just trying to scare her a little. I didnt even throw it at you, so why are you being so sensitive

As Kevin got closer to Carter, Carters voice gradually grew smaller until it was almost inaudible. Jihyun was looking at Carter with a disgusted expression.

I ran over with the flashlight in surprise and examined Jihyuns face, and Kim Ga-young asked Jihyun from behind my back.

Are you okay? Is your face hurt?

I dont know.

Jihyun answered, frowning because of the flashlight. After thoroughly examining her head and face, I answered the two.

There are no injuries.

Fortunately, there were no wounds on her face or head. She hadnt been hit by either the cell phone or the axe swung at close range.

Both Yoo Geum-yi, whose face had turned pale, and Kim Ga-young, who heard my diagnosis, let out a big sigh. As my flashlight moved away from Jihyuns face, Jihyun leaned against the wall and looked at the people weakly like before.

At some point, Kevin had cornered Carter in the corner of the elevator and was pressing him. Sam and James were jeering at their opponent from the side. Logan stood with his arms folded, watching this sight. Emma was sitting still, watching this scene.

Suddenly, Carter, caught in Kevins grip, was dragged in front of Jihyun. As Kevin fiercely shook the elevator wall with his axe, Carter, standing in front of Jihyun, began to say something in a low voice with a dissatisfied expression.

Stop. But Jihyun, who was listening to Carters words, cut him off in the middle. She looked like she didnt even want to engage in conversation, but after looking at Carter for a moment, Jihyun spoke to the people in the elevator.

I should have taken the elevator up alone earlier. I keep thinking about why Im stuck here after meddling and trying to help people. Because of your one action, I deeply regret even saving other people. And I dont want to hear anything from you.

Im apologizing, arent I?

What value does your apology have?

Jihyun asked back, looking at Carters face filled with dissatisfaction.

It seems like not her face, but her feelings are very hurt. Teeth are easy to fix. No, I take that back. Feelings are easier to fix than teeth.

Right. When the elevator stopped at the 4th floor from the 1st floor, Jihyun would have had a chance to leave us all behind. If Jihyun had tried to escape alone in the elevator, even if she got stuck in the elevator alone, she probably wouldnt have had to go through this. Regret washed over me like a receding tide.

As Kevin let go of Carters clothes that he had been dragging and holding, Carter looked at Kevin and Jihyun, then walked towards the elevator wall farthest from the two. On the way, he checked the condition of the shattered cell phone and left it on the floor.

Kevin looked at Carters back and was touching his bandaged calf with his hand. It seemed like he was doing that because it was dark below the shoulders as my arms and flashlight were pointed towards the ceiling. I shone the flashlight on Kevins leg at his action that seemed to be checking if the wound on his calf had burst open or something from moving.

The calf was just as I had treated it. It wasnt bleeding or the knot wasnt coming loose. When I slightly nodded my head to indicate it was okay, Kevin stared at me for a moment, then nodded his head at me a couple of times. I hope he understood it the same way.

Kevin glanced at Jihyun, then sat about 1m away from her. Then he spoke very softly towards the side of Jihyuns face. My translator just barely caught that small sound and translated it.

Thank you for bringing me along. Even though I couldnt help with anything because my leg is like this.

When Kevin and Emma came down to the 2nd floor to use the elevator, Jihyun did not criticize or reproach them. She simply allowed them to board her ark, which she had worked three times harder than others to create, without any compensation.

No, thats not it. If Jihyun herself is included, she succeeded in saving 12 people. There are even two animals. Amazing. Im having a hard time just taking care of myself. Jihyun didnt respond to Kevins words and was looking at the flashlight beam illuminating the ceiling.

As we waited quietly, the elevator suddenly lit up. At the same time, the elevator began to move upwards again. I felt a bit of dizziness. It seemed like 5 minutes had passed since the power outage. As the elevator started to ascend again, people laughed or cheered. I turned off the flashlight.

Oh my Jesus! I knew you wouldnt abandon me! Amen! A~men! Sams loud voice was heard over Logans long whistle. Sam, who had been clasping his hands, spoke towards the elevator ceiling.

Ill diligently go to church as soon as I get out of here! Ill pray hard! Ill read the Bible hard!

Youre good at lying hard.

Sam, whose prayer was interrupted, bickered with James, who was picking a fight next to him. Kim Ga-young put her hands together and said softly.

Namu Amitabha Gwanseeum Bosal. [Buddhist prayer]

Yoo Geum-yi, who was next to her, clasped her hands together and said with a reverent smile.

Plankton.

Its a mess. But still, the elevator was going up. The faces of Benjamin, who was glaring around discontentedly, and Carter, who was sitting in the corner, also brightened up. I pressed the screen of the pad that had stopped at around 5 minutes to start counting numbers again.

When about 7 minutes had passed again, the elevator lost power and stopped again. As it was the second time, no one screamed. Only irritated curses were spewed out from here and there.