Everyone Did Great!
Creak. The heavy iron door slid open again, and this time I went in with Han A-young in her hazmat suit and the agent uncles.
Even decked out in that ridiculously bulky hazmat gear that looked like it weighed a ton, Han A-young's steps were steady as ever. Maintaining balance like that takes more than just raw strength, so she must've worn this thing plenty of times before.
She seemed to figure she could talk directly to Anomaly-12 since it didn't look all that threatening.
"Huh? What's this?"
The first to react when we opened the door was Number Two. She'd just wiped down her chair again and froze when she saw us barge in.
"Hmmm..."
Number One, lounging with her legs crossed and that haughty look, glanced at me and the people behind me. She got the gist right away. Instead of asking why like Number Two, she jumped straight to something else.
"Does the Agency have any way to stop this?"
She'd instantly pegged Han A-young as the brains of the operation—talking to her instead of me, even though I'd just been hanging out with them. It stung a little, but Han A-young is smarter than me, so I kept quiet.
Time to play with puppy instead...
-Woof!
I eavesdropped on the two brainiacs' chat while vigorously scratching Baekgu's fluffy fur.
"Even if we physically restrain it, that doesn't solve the root problem, so it's meaningless."
"Hmm... Then maybe use the characteristics of the spirits here to..."
"But if we do that, the inherent abilities built into the chairs themselves would get diluted too..."
Anomaly-12 itself, who was an anomaly, chatting with Han A-young, the anomaly researcher.
I hoped something would come out of these two geniuses teaming up.
"In the end, removing the cause of this anomaly..."
"You mean get rid of me and this idiot at the same time?"
"No, not that—I mean analyze the background of the ghost story and then..."
Even these two smart cookies were deep in serious talk but coming up empty on solutions.
Hmmmmm...
One idea popped into my head, but it was too iffy to blurt out confidently.
As I pondered whether to say it while playing with Baekgu...
Shrrr... shrrr...
Dark cloud energy started slowly seeping from the chairs of Number One and Number Two, who were keeping their distance.
I closed my eyes and sharpened my senses, and it hit me clearer: envy, resentment, jealousy—emotions so heavy and vicious I couldn't believe they came from mere high schoolers.
The malevolent vibe weighed on me, and I opened my eyes. Number One and Number Two stared back with calm faces.
They were lucid and chatting now, but this showed just how much darkness lurked in their hearts.
They must've sensed the dark cloud energy too, because they braced themselves like they were about to get sucked in.
"No helping it. Looks like this is the end with our current memories. Bye, little angel."
"See ya, kid."
No one seemed to think they could resist.
"Hmm... For now, we should focus on observation."
Han A-young looked like she planned to study Anomaly-12's traits while Baekgu held out, rather than force a fix right away.
'No way...'
Even in this short time, I had memories of chatting with Number One and Two. If they forgot me while I remembered them, it'd break my heart.
I even wanted to see those two—with their surprisingly good chemistry—film a sweet romance.
-Grrrr... grrr...
Baekgu was already fired up, glaring into empty space like he was ready to battle the dark cloud energy.
A showdown: the energy trying to drag in Number One and Two versus Baekgu holding them back.
It'd be fierce, no doubt.
I gave Baekgu's face one last pat and closed my eyes.
The dark cloud energy on Baekgu and the soccer ball had been relatively easy to peel off. Baekgu's was weak to begin with, and the soccer ball's practically begged to be removed.
This time wouldn't be so simple.
But no pain, no gain!
I decided to give it a brave shot.
With my senses heightened, eyes squeezed shut tight, I reached out my tiny hands and grabbed the two clumps of dark cloud energy.
"Ugh..."
As expected, the backlash from seizing the energy pouring from the chairs was massive.
From Number One's chair: pressure to stay number one, obsession, arrogance, craving for recognition.
From Number Two's: inferiority, rage, despair.
A instinctive rejection surged back at me.
"N-No... I don't like this...!"
I gritted my teeth and yanked hard.
Pop.
A chunk tore off in my hands, but it was just a sliver—the rest still oozed menace.
Right then—
-Whoosh! Hands burst from the chairs like they'd been startled by my attack, lunging to wrap around Number One and Two and drag them in.
-Meeerrrgh!
Number One and Two nearly got sucked away in an instant, but thankfully Baekgu leaped in, clamping his jaws on the spirit hands to hold them back.
-Grrrrr.
"Hey, puppy. You don't have to strain yourself like that. Just come here."
Number Two, legs shaking as the dog tugged her back, tried to dissuade him.
Number One locked eyes with me as I got flung back.
Her gaze seemed to ask if I had a plan.
"I-I've got... one idea...!"
"Alright... You're the angel, so I'll trust you once."
Number One grabbed Number Two's shoulder without me showing any proof.
"Hey, idiot."
"What."
"You like me, right?"
Number Two's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what the...?"
"If you're this obsessed with me, that's love, duh."
"What kinda bullshit...!"
"Whatever. Just hug me already. You're stupid strong."
"I'd never like a bitch like you."
"Quit playing hard to get and hug me quick."
"..."
Number Two blanked out for a sec, then grumbled and pulled Number One into a hug.
Confirming Number Two's arms locked tight around her, Number One extended her arm to Baekgu.
"Easier for the dog to hold on like this, right?"
"Woof!"
Before, Baekgu had to bite both hands, looking awkward. Now it seemed way more manageable.
Seeing them lean on each other like that gave me confidence in my silly plan.
"Unni!"
I dashed to Han A-young.
Glancing at the agents behind her too, I said,
"What if... we merge those two chairs into one...?"
"Merge the two chairs...?"
Han A-young looked uneasy.
I got it—combining split anomalies could have unknown side effects.
But no time for a full explanation.
Time for my ultimate move.
I clutched her hazmat suit with my tiny hands, gazing up with desperate puppy eyes, pleading,
"I... don't wanna let those two go like this...!"
"..."
"P-please... just once... I'll be good...!"
Did my desperation get through? Han A-young's eyes wavered, then she squeezed hers shut and nodded.
"If the angel says so... maybe just once..."
"Yayyy... Unni's the best!"
I shot her a thumbs-up, and she radioed outside right away. Soon the iron door opened, and a few agents with toolboxes came in.
"Wh-what...?"
"Hmph."
Number One and Two had split reactions.
Number Two looked clueless; Number One seemed to have an inkling, staying composed.
-Clink clank.
Moments later, the agents laid out their tools and started joining the two wooden chairs into one.
"W-wait! What the hell are you doing?!"
Number Two flailed in panic, trying to stop them, but Number One blocked her with her whole body.
"Why not? Let's sit together."
"No... Aren't you okay with the chairs getting merged?!"
"Taming a monkey's a duty for the enlightened. You're filthy, but you seem to wash daily, so I'll endure."
"You... crazy bitch..."
The agents first unscrewed the bolts and nuts, separating the seats and backs.
Then they pressed the iron frames side by side into one.
They worked carefully to keep the heights even.
"Whoa... so pro..."
I was amazed at their focus—even with creepy hands popping from the seats, not a hint of hesitation.
After fusing the frames, they reattached the seats and backs as one.
Clink clank.
Finally, the completed chair.
It had shifted from standard school desks to something bench-like.
I hoped physically making it one chair would change the protruding hands.
"Still... the same..."
The hands went berserk like they sensed danger, but didn't vanish.
-Heeeek... heeeek...
Baekgu was starting to tire, though.
"This is it, huh..."
"Shit..."
Number One closed her eyes, sensing the pull.
"We don't know what'll happen—agents, prepare to destroy the chair immediately!"
Han A-young ordered them to smash it as a last resort.
"N-no... I don't like this..."
My ace plan failing. What now... what now...?
As I spun in circles worrying, I felt something in my pocket.
It was the leftover crayons from drawing on the chairs to reveal their forms.
"...!"
A sudden idea hit—I snatched the crayon and bolted to the newly fused chair.
Han A-young and Number One's earlier chat sparked it.
She'd mentioned analyzing the ghost story's background and removing the cause.
Time to follow her lead.
Anomaly-12's source—the Number One and Two ghost story—was a satire on Korea's student ranking pressure: Number Two murders Number One out of jealousy, then Number One's vengeful spirit haunts her.
So... how to resolve it?
'Just erase the Number One/Two divide!'
We'd already physically merged the chairs, blurring the line.
Now add the abstract concept to nix the distinction entirely.
"Angel! It's dangerous!"
Han A-young freaked as I charged, but it was too late to stop me.
I gripped the stubby crayon tight, ignored the dark, slimy hands, and drew a big stamp on the unified seat.
The kind from elementary school—for homework or tests, instead of ranks: a praise stamp.
Stamped on the hybrid Number One & Two chair!