Plundering the Anomalies (4)
After rapidly firing off the posts in quick succession,
Han Yujin turned her head, meeting the gaze. In the darkness, bright yellow eyes stared back. Blink. Blink. The slowly closing and opening eyelids resembled a cat's.
Han Yujin's eyes mimicked the motion. No tension at all. If it wanted to kill me, it would've done it ages ago.
"Hi?"
The eyes blinked.
"Can't talk?"
Blink blink again. Han Yujin let out a sigh of relief. That spider monster's creepy imitation of human speech was the real PTSD fuel. Even a dragon character could endure without sanity corruption.
The silence stretched on for a moment.
"Fear me!"
"Whoa, you scared me!"
Han Yujin yelped involuntarily. Why were there so many non-human anomalies in this horror story that could talk? Hearing a human voice from something inhuman was a trauma gift from that dying spider. No thanks, I don't need that inheritance!
"Hmph! Yes! Fear this body, human!"
The being looked triumphant and pleased. The dragon character could talk well too. And the voice was clear, almost human. Han Yujin's wariness faded further. Once her eyes adjusted, it even looked kinda cute. Overall, it was a cat. A fluffy black-furred cute cat. The only odd bits were its child-sized largeness and the multiple tentacle-like legs.
"What's your deal?"
"Hmph! As you see, Cthul… no. Human!"
"Cthul? Krut? Kru?"
"Cthulhu!… No, I said human!"
Han Yujin tilted her head. Cthulhu? She'd heard of that. Some transcendental horror from scary movies. ...This thing? Probably misheard. Kruru or something. That name.
At Han Yujin's narrowed gaze, it bristled.
"You're thinking something rude!"
"Nah. Kruru. Nice name."
"Hah! Fine. I'm human now, so just fear me."
"Human? Not a cat?"
"Huh? Your eyes broken?"
[Title: (Pongye) Meet My New Companion]
Author:
(Photo of a black-haired beauty with glowing yellow eyes in the darkness)
Han Yujin glanced at the comments, then back at the cat in front of her. She looked at Kruru, then the gallery window. Human to others. Cat to her. Who knew the real form? But anyway.
[Title: Can Anomalies Be Friendly to Humans?]
Author:
Are there anomalies that talk human, seem harmless, etc.?
Hmm. Were there really no good anomalies in the world?
[Title: There Are No Bad Anomalies in the World]
Author:
Decided. Kruru, be my companion.
Of course, she wrote that, but Han Yujin didn't trust the anomaly. They existed in realms humans couldn't comprehend. In other words, what they saw as kindness could be torment to humans.
But. 'Anomalies' logic is trustworthy.'
From what Han Yujin had observed, anomalies were endlessly logical beings. They operated within logic and rules. Even if humans couldn't grasp it.
In that sense, Kruru was the perfect companion to Han Yujin. What the kid wanted was obvious as day.
Han Yujin's lips curved slyly.
"Anyway, Kruru, you're human, and you want fear from me, right?"
"Yes! Exactly! You finally get it, dull human!"
Truth be told, Han Yujin was sneakier than the anomaly. She'd already analyzed Kruru somewhat. Full of bravado, weak to attention. Handling this type was child's play. Flatter a bit, nudge gently.
"Ahh, I see. No wonder you're scary. Got this majestic aura or something."
"That is this body. Cthulhu."
"Yeah yeah. Kruru's strong, right?"
"Hahaha! Of course!"
"Then about those work-clothed guys over there."
Han Yujin pointed toward the work anomalies with her fingertip.
"Looks like they've got the rulebook in their pockets. We need to snag it."
"…!"
Kruru's yellow eyes rolled thoughtfully.
"A-hem."
"Can't our scary, fearsome, majestic Kruru grab it?"
With the rulebook, she was confident escaping this hellhole. But snatching paper from an anomaly's back pocket? Beyond her. So, use Kruru. Smart move.
Kruru blinked a few times before speaking.
"Do you know what I am? Why should I listen to a human?"
Tch. Han Yujin clicked her tongue softly. Thought it'd bite. Even anomalies had the brains not to fall for that offload?
After a quick think, Han Yujin switched tactics.
"You're human, right?"
"Obviously!"
"Then you know this?"
Han Yujin held out her hand. Extended middle and index, then fist, then all five fingers.
"The human ritual for big decisions. Rock paper scissors."
"Rock… paper?"
Kruru's eyes blinked in confusion.
"What, you don't know? Don't tell me you're… an anom…."
"N-No way nyang. Of course I know! This body is a rock paper scissors master!"
Gotcha.
And the result.
"Aww, I win."
"N-No way! That last one's invalid! Again!"
"Special, one more time."
"A-Ah!"
"Win again. 3-0."
"Th-This…!"
Tricking rock paper scissors? Han Yujin knew the gimmick.
Kruru's body trembled in despair. Perfect. Hook set.
[Title: Off to Pluck the Work Anomalies Now]
Author:
Thought of a good way.
♬~ Today's work is finished. ~♬
A cheery melody that sent chills instead. The conveyor belt stopped. The deafening roar crushing the factory vanished, leaving only intermittent cooling machine sounds.
The workers froze mid-task. They creaked around mechanically, heading for the elevator.
Thud, thud. Dry, rhythmic footsteps echoed.
At that moment.
"F-F-Fear me!"
A human-shaped being leaped from the box pile, shouting. The worker creaked its head around. Contaminant from the box. Rule. Eliminate immediately.
The worker turned. A shrill 'Eek!' escaped Kruru's mouth. The worker now held an electric grinder.
As the worker lunged—
♬~ Today's work is finished. ~♬
The bell rang again. Rule. Return before elevator departs. The worker twisted toward the elevator.
A whisper from the box pile.
– "Kruru, hurry. One more time! That's the timing."
– "I-It's not fear. I'm not going. That's w-weird."
– "Hurry. You're human, right? We promised."
The voices stopped. The black-haired girl burst out again, shouting.
"F-F-Fear meee!"
The worker's head swiveled back. Contaminant from box. Rule. Eliminate immediately.
As it charged through the parcel pile toward Kruru—
"Watch the blind spot!"
With the sudden yell, Han Yujin leaped from beside the boxes, swinging the money bag.
Crack!
The worker's neck snapped at a grotesque angle.
♬~ Today's work is finished. ~♬
Its neck still twisted toward the elevator. Caught between action rules, it glitched forward.
"Kruru, now!"
"Kyaaah!"
At Han Yujin's command, Kruru pounced. Cat-like agility. Before the work anomaly reacted, Kruru's long leg hooked the back pocket.
Swoosh!
The rulebook slid out clean.
The work anomaly reached for the rulebook—
—Screeech!
The elevator began ascending. It bolted toward it.
[Title: Post-Pluck Anomaly Review.jpg]
Author:
(Photo of the rulebook)
Did it