Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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Evening, as darkness fell.
The entrance to Daydream Corporation's annex building.
Two black-suited security team employees wearing portable containment cases sat at the front desk, greeting visitors.
"Corridor... 32. That way......"
"Th-thank you."
Of course, it was less "greeting" and more just a cursory acknowledgment, granting corridor access, and issuing warnings.
Usually it was a one-person shift, and cases like these containment units weren't common, so employees occasionally froze or looked like they were sweating bullets, wondering if this was some kind of experiment.
And inside one of those "exceptions"—the containment case where I was.
"You okay...?"
Thud.
"Mm... Got it."
The security sergeant checked on me now and then, but otherwise lounged at the desk with his usual everything's-a-hassle expression.
The security team never handled public-facing duties like this, but since I'd been assigned to their team, they ended up doing all sorts of odd jobs.
'Sorry...'
"Still, it's nice. Peaceful! Right, De—no, employee?"
Thud.
I agreed with Foreman Park Minseong.
He said the security team mostly handled mental control duties and rarely got peaceful gigs like this—he seemed pretty pleased about it.
And during today's shift communications, he was thrilled that my demeanor seemed more stable than before.
I hadn't told them I'd regained my sanity yet. I planned to wait until I adapted more to the bell and could fully compose myself.
'Need to control my body first.'
So inside the containment case, I was checking my body again.
For starters... yeah. Smushed flat.
'Like a puddle of mush......'
I tried sorting the crumpled mess inside the security suit into human body parts.
Brain, esophagus, eyes, ears, stomach... The parts with sensation or that I'd focused on were vaguely discernible.
Brown's advice was quite helpful.
Of course, with someone who had medical knowledge—like Yeongeun—it might be easier to map out, but this was my limit for now.
'What even is this? How many eyes do I have?'
...The parts felt somewhat heterogeneous to begin with.
I could feel strangely tough... reptile scales and bird talons at the end of my foreleg—no, arm.
'This is insane.'
Still, knowledge was power.
The problem was that if my emotions were functioning normally, I'd have gone mad before it empowered me.
I was acutely aware this was a grotesquely bizarre task.
'Mm. If I calmly move the identified parts... maybe I can reconstruct my body.'
Now that I recognized it, movement felt possible... sort of.
Not yet. Taking off the suit might allow it, but the risk seemed higher, so hold off.
Above all, I'd found my goal.
The inventory tattoo.
Fortunately, it hadn't strayed far from its original spot—buried in my left forearm below the shoulder.
The other tattoos were more deeply crumpled and hidden inside; maybe usable once I sorted my body...
For now, my hope was this.
Could I use this tattoo?
Right.
'Can't pull my arm out directly in the containment case.'
So first, let's finish the first day at the annex front desk safely.
Fortunately, the annex ran smoothly until late into the night.
...I saw a lot of familiar faces too. Most annex visitors were Field Exploration or research team, so naturally high chance I'd seen them on duty before.
It felt weird.
"Corridor 12... Ah, want the employee to hand it over?"
"Eek."
By the way, when I sent smoke through the case to write letters and passed the access badge, the seal-masked Field Exploration employee nearly tumbled backward in escape.
Ah, someone from the next office over.
"......"
"......"
"Sorry...!"
Watching their back as they snatched the badge and fled, I displayed text.
Survival Instinct: Excellent
- Suitable talent for Field Exploration Team
"Hahaha..."
Foreman Park Minseong's voice sounded like laughing to keep from crying.
Well, anyway—it'd been months since a normal shift.
And around 3 a.m., a very familiar face appeared.
An unexpected big shot.
'Deputy Jinna Sol!'
A sharp employee in a suit, butterfly mask, hair neatly tied back, nails done.
Elite Team A Squad's Deputy Jinna Sol.
"Mm."
Seeing Foreman Park Minseong bow slightly, she finally made the connection while fiddling with her nails.
"D Squad?"
"Ah, yes."
"Heard you went to security. Still alive, huh."
"Haha..."
Most recognized but either ignored it due to security or treated politely out of fear—this one was different...
And at that exact timing, another Elite Team member visited the annex.
"Hellooo~"
Deputy Lee Seonghae, who'd worked with yesterday.
She plunked down a large snack set wrapped in recycled paper on the desk with gusto.
"Heard you were here! Thought it'd be nice for the three of you to share!"
"Mm... Thanks..."
By the way, it was kelp-flavored oranda.
I couldn't eat it... but the sergeant seemed interested, so fine.
Surprisingly, Deputy Lee Seonghae didn't stop there—she tapped my containment case lightly and whispered.
Uh...?
"Hey, wouldn't it be okay to come out? No civilians come here anyway!"
"Come out? What?"
At Deputy Jinna Sol's retort, Deputy Lee Seonghae scratched her head sheepishly.
"Ah, Deputy, you're here too. Didn't get yours..."
"......"
The sergeant, who'd sniffed the oranda and popped one in his mouth, turned vaguely, weakly pointing at the box...
"One...?"
"No thanks."
No second offer.
Deputy Jinna Sol looked at Deputy Lee Seonghae with an incredulous expression, apparently unconcerned about the snacks.
"Letting the Darkness locked in there out? You sane?"
"Not locked—just comfy inside! Right?"
Partial agreement.
"......"
Deputy Jinna Sol watched my smoke form letters outside the case, her expression saying volumes, but surprisingly apologized right away.
"Sorry."
No problem... That was a reasonable take.
Foreman Park Minseong hurriedly interjected softly toward Deputy Lee Seonghae.
"Th-thank you. With your teammate nabbed by Disaster Management... must be tough, yet you care."
"Huh? Oh, Pony."
Lee Seonghae smiled brightly.
"Not teammates."
"Ah."
...The air grew quiet.
"Elite Team?"
"No?"
"Right."
Conversation ended.
......Apparently, to Deputy Lee Seonghae, Gang Ihak wasn't such a "good person."
Deputy Jinna Sol didn't care at all. Even after working the mermaid grave together...
'Truly consistent people...'
Feeling a pang like my mashed stomach hurt, I shook the bell again.
Shaking it every stress signal now, I felt like one of those stress dolls dentists give you—or a stress ball.
"Badge?"
"Ah, yes."
Foreman Park Minseong issued Deputy Jinna Sol's badge, oranda in mouth.
Then, hesitating, he asked.
"Um, our squad leader... er, D Squad's Section Chief Lee Jaheon... doing okay?"
"How would I know?"
Deputy Jinna Sol frowned but answered readily enough.
"Better than before, probably. Got new blood this time."
"...Ah. Right..."
"Whole squad turnover minus leader isn't rare; he'll manage."
"......"
"Ah! Section Chief Lee Jaheon—heard he went on a long-term Darkness expedition the other day. Some... boarding school ghost story?"
About 4-5 days, she added. Foreman Park Minseong finally smiled and nodded.
"I see. Thank you."
After they left for their business, Foreman Park Minseong whispered to me.
"If all goes well, might see Section Chief Lee Jaheon. If he returns from Darkness this week... Kinda looking forward to it. Right?"
Thud.
"Good."
To the smiling Foreman Park Minseong, I made a cautious, secretive request.
Perfect—no one around.
"...Huh?"
And poked an item with smoke.
"This... you want?"
Thud.
"Mm, should be fine... Sergeant?"
"Here..."
Thank you.
I carefully gathered the front desk stationery the sergeant pushed into the case into my smoke.
And after the first night shift at the annex front desk ended.
Back in isolation, I sat on the bed.
And very carefully, focused on sensing inside my body...
Sensing the parts, trying to move them.
'Out.'
Outside.
To where they should be.
Crunch.
Squish.
Strange noises from inside, like vomit rising. But it moved.
After time that would've soaked me in cold sweat if possible.
'......Done.'
I extended an arm, touching the security suit below my left elbow, near the wrist.
And unzipped it.
Ziiiip.
Inside the opening zipper, amorphous strange flesh. Barely holding shape.
But precisely where intended too.
The tattoo.
Activating, color shifting.
Inventory tattoo.
'Found it.'
I reached into the tattoo.
'...!'
Worked. Still functional...!
Not quite, but definitely expanded space.
And regrettably, mostly emptied as expected. Sorted before using the Wish Grant.
Left some at Disaster Management.
'Last minute, handed most to Section Chief Lee Jaheon...'
Remembered stuffing gear into subway lockers and sending him locations/passwords.
Yeah, should be empty.
But... a strange presence inside.
Occupying my space.
'Something... more in there.'
Couldn't check long with suit open.
Quickly grabbed what I expected.
First, blue scales.
From the Jolly Theme Park's blue dragon mascot.
Worried about fallout giving it away, so kept it.
Said it "summons" him... but now it'd just add a company incident, so hold.
'Just remember.'
I withdrew from the clear, smooth, cool scales.
And... the next item I'd been concerned about.
Second, paper boat.
Left by Baek Saheon escaping Jisam Village.
Correct.
And maybe, hugely helpful.
A way to learn what happened in my 6 months on sublevel 13 without self.
And about Jang Heowoon too.
Yes.
A boat is usually transport somewhere.
And paper is for writing.
Combine and associate...
'Makes me think it's a communication tool.'
I pulled the paper boat from the tattoo.
And hastily zipped up, straightening my clothes.
'Whew.'
Done. Stable success.
Then examined the paper boat.
Made of somewhat used paper, yet preserved carefully—no tears or damage despite fragility.
'Treat as item, think usage...'
Probably this.
I carefully disassembled the boat, unfolding the paper.
Revealing the hidden inside surface...
Text written inside.
Pencil-like handwriting.
Baek Saheon's script.
Of course, no date.
But from nuance, not randomly scribbled before fleeing Jisam Village.
'Targeted at me.'
Specifically, the "grape agent" who pulled the golden rod from Jisam Village.
'...Alright.'
I rummaged the stationery from the sergeant, picked a pencil.
And wrote on the paper.
Moments later.
Reply came.
Shocked, hastily scrawled handwriting.