Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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Before opening my eyes.
I heard a voice echoing in my head.
Instructions.
"Hello."
I opened my eyes.
"Nice to meet you. I'm your... assistant employee."
The first thing I saw was a mask.
Not a face transformed into dripping mosaics, but a coated paper mask covering it.
It wasn't the familiar Field Exploration Team mask. It looked like a child's crayon drawing imitating one.
But I knew that animal.
"I'll do my best not to get in your way... They call me Badger."
Badger.
I knew this person wearing the Security Team uniform...
D Squad Foreman Park Minseong.
My senior.
"Well, let's get along from now on."
And he didn't recognize me.
"Um, today we'll just do a simple introduction..."
It was only natural.
My current state and the old Kim Sol-eum had no common points except body measurements, and he'd never seen this appearance before.
But right after, something unnatural happened.
"...Why."
A different voice.
From that intonation, the slow, flat tone unique to him, I knew who it was.
I saw a gaunt human figure in a security uniform pressing down his hat in front of the door...
"Why... are you here."
J3.
"Captain?"
"You can't... be here..."
......
I tried to open my mouth, but realized my vocal cords weren't in place, melted somewhere in my body...
The smoke formed words.
"...You said you quit."
New Labor Contract
: Perpetual Employment
"......"
I dispersed the smoke.
"Captain, what do you mean quit..."
The human in the Badger mask stiffened rigidly with a bewildered tone.
The anxiety, confusion, and hesitation to guess the situation leaking from his ragged breaths...
And finally, a sharp intake as if he'd guessed the shocking truth.
He'd realized it.
Their mutual acquaintance who had recently safely quit the company.
And the one whose contact had been cut off.
"...Deer?"
I didn't answer.
"......"
The one in the Badger mask stared at me frozen.
And turned to the one in the security uniform.
The security captain didn't deny it.
Instead, he opened the door and left the room.
Clank.
The iron door locking.
"Ah, no... no. This can't... I, I'm... that......"
Breathing steadying.
Coming from the Badger mask.
Contamination symptoms trying to break through due to agitation, blocked by the mask.
Only after over 40 seconds did the Badger mask fully shake off the ■■ Affiliated Kindergarten Teacher identity and take a deep breath.
And then it came.
"I-it'll be okay."
Footsteps approaching.
"Being in Security means... communication is possible, right...? There must be a way. I recovered too... yeah?"
I moved the smoke.
"...!"
Contamination is when a once-human being mutates due to supernatural phenomena.
Recovery from contamination means restoring the original human body and mind.
And.
"Deer."
I had no former self.
"...Sol-eum."
......
I tried to form words again, but scattered the smoke and tucked it back into the gas mask.
Somehow, the act felt repulsive.
A desperate voice came.
"Hey... yeah, hearing your real name feels weird, right?"
It didn't faze me.
"No rejection reaction? Confusion...? That's normal. So..."
Strange reactions to one's original name are a hallmark of contamination.
Not relevant to me.
"Sol-eum......"
Thud.
Park Minseong Foreman flinched suddenly as he was about to call again, gripping his wrist tightly.
Security Team control wristwatch.
Tick, tick.
The clock ticking.
And now, sharing a similar contract, I faintly heard the announcement that hadn't been audible before.
Similar to the guidance in my head.
A restraint controlling the speech and actions of Security Team contaminated.
Probably realized he'd violated the safety rule against using 'real names' on duty.
Thus, I witnessed one specific mechanism not detailed in [Darkness Exploration Records].
But it wasn't important.
What mattered was...
Work.
"......"
"......"
What should I do?
In the silence, I finally began to look around where I was.
Rusted iron door. Sealed space. Similar to Annex Basement Level 13 Room 666, but not there.
But I could recognize where.
The place I'd visited for disciplinary cleaning when I was human.
Also where I'd been transported with Park Minseong Foreman after clearing 'Hungry Hangman' and passing out.
Isolation corridor accessible only from Security Team storage warehouse, one of the rooms inside...
But I could feel it.
This was much deeper inside than the isolation room I'd been confined to after rescue from the 'Hungry Hangman' Darkness.
Far deeper than the disciplinary cleaning spot, in the innermost core isolation zone, I knew by worker's instinct.
And the layout of this sealed room.
I traced the lamp on the desk with a finger.
Lamp, wooden desk, bed, towel.
A familiar setup.
'Employee dorm.'
Identical interior to the room employee Kim Sol-eum stayed in at the dorms.
Obsessively furnished down to the smallest prop.
Felt almost ritualistic, ceremonial.
Arranged to appease the mood of the Darkness bound by labor contract, to humor it.
At the same time, expecting my reaction...
'Gwak Je-gang's doing?'
Something that researcher would do.
I ran a gloved finger over the desk.
Should I be angry?
My mashed, melted brain tried to think similarly to before, but it was hard...
'So... from now on, instead of Annex Basement 13, I handle security for Main Building Underground Isolation Rooms?'
That wasn't hard.
But then...
That person is unnecessary.
"...!"
I stared at the Badger mask.
I felt the Badger mask's agitation.
Asked the rigidly stiffened one.
"...Working with Deer is your duty."
Inappropriate Title
Reason: Unofficial
"...Ah."
The one in the Badger mask turned his head, glanced at the corner CCTV, and let out a small sound.
The CCTV had no audio functions out of contamination concerns, but I felt eyes watching from beyond.
Someone was watching.
And no need to give the supervising researcher assurance about my current state.
Noticing the warning in the smoke words, Badger's words changed.
"Then... what should I call you? Haha, think of it as making another nickname. Deer was already what Deputy Manager called you..."
The bright voice faded slightly then returned.
"Um... any other favorite animals?"
Favorite animal.
I waited for something to come to mind.
But no sentiment arose.
"......"
......
"It's fine. I'll think of a good one."
A throat-clearing sound.
Request for Assigned Duty Introduction
: Include Specific Examples
"Ah, um, so... when you get your assignment, I'll accompany you. Help with any inconveniences."
The Badger-masked one said kindly.
But...
"If there's any inconvenience, tell me first. Or the security cap...!"
What was he holding?
"...!"
Feeling my gaze, the Badger-masked one hurriedly tried to hide what he'd stuffed in his pocket, then cautiously pulled it out and showed it to me as if realizing something.
Syringe-shaped object.
Similar to Dream Essence Collector, but opposite purpose.
Injector.
The other nodded slowly at my formed text.
"Don't worry. I won't use it. Really. Really..."
Why?
"......For example?"
▶ Collapse of Bipedal Form
▶ Uncontrollable Smoke State
▶ Extreme Anxiety Detected
"...When you look anxious?"
▶ Extreme Anxiety Detected
Criterion: Emotion of Control Tool User
"....... Haha..."
A sob escaped the Badger mask.
Whether crying or laughing, relief or not, unclear sound.
"Still the same, huh?"
......
"Yeah... yeah, it'll be okay."
And somehow relieved, vibrations and movements calmed noticeably.
Then he reached out as if to pat my shoulder... but lowered it.
......
Clank.
"Captain, we..."
The door opened and the security captain entered.
No rejection in his physical response for someone who'd left unable to accept the unexpected.
Instead, he strode forward boldly, startling the Badger mask.
And extended his left arm toward me.
"Captain?"
"Here."
In the outstretched left hand, round things appeared.
Nostalgia candies.
"Want some...?"
......
I couldn't eat.
I had no mouth. No organ that could be called a mouth anywhere.
Maybe never made one since unnecessary.
Just believed I had.
Above all... I couldn't remove the gas mask.
"......"
Quietly, I pushed the other's hand away with gloved fingers.
"I see..."
The security captain withdrew his hand and stood still as if lost in thought.
Then asked.
"What Darkness did you enter...?"
"......"
I scattered the words before Badger could see.
J3 asked no more.
He just quietly lifted his hatted head. Then, through the crumbling mosaic-like appearance...
A face appeared.
'...!'
"Deer, calm down...!"
What?
Why visible?
"Are you... in pain right now...?"
Even the voice was clear. Distinguishable. Perceptible! What? Why? Maybe I just hadn't noticed another truth...
......
Ah.
I got it.
"Why the smoke...!"
Because the other was closer to a ghost story than a person.
The security captain's contamination was so potent and deep that no matter how much Security Team curriculum stripped it, it kept him on the boundary of existence.
This meant nothing.
"Doesn't seem painful..."
Still, even so...
"Then it's fine..."
Slowly, I felt that strange faint ache from the elevator return.
The security captain casually entered the smoke, awkwardly raised a hand, and patted my back.
As if doing it for the first time in ages.
"...It'll be okay."
......
I inhaled the smoke. Black gaseous tendrils swirling from the floor retracted.
The security captain glanced at the Nostalgia candy.
"I'll get something else..."
I shook my head.
Nostalgia series unnecessary for work.
Now needed work-related things.
Time was up.
"Ah, about that..."
"...!"
Both figures' heads snapped toward the sound.
Sound from the corner CCTV.
The security captain stepped in front of me.
"Are you sane...?"
I shook my head at the security captain. But he stood silently in place.
Only Gwak Je-gang's voice boomed noisily from the CCTV, filling the sealed room.
The obvious explanation followed.
But it sounded absurd somehow.
Excited breaths from the Darkness researcher.
......
A new duty had begun.