Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Night Guard Duo (5)
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15 minutes.
Exactly during this 15-minute window, according to the host's words, the guard monsters halted all activity.
We quickly began sharing as much information as possible.
And after exchanging every last bit we could...
"There's less escape-related info than I thought."
"We've already noted all the basic survival rules in the Rulebook..."
The people kidnapped into this world overrun with ghost story dungeons weren't just Koreans.
Everyone here except me and Anonymous 1 were Japanese, and they all knew each other.
And...
"I never dreamed the 82 in the GY-82 code for accessing the Gallery was the country code."
We realized the 82 in the GY-82 code that granted access to the community was South Korea's country code, 82.
"GY-81 connects to the Japanese community? That's something I never saw coming."
"And there are 37 survivors still alive there..."
With three times as many Japanese survivors as Koreans, they'd unlocked this Night Guard Duo ghost story long ago.
That's why so many Japanese had come to conquer it, but unable to find each other, they'd been figuring out ways to distinguish humans from monsters...
And also...
"No wonder I thought it was too stingy to only give us one hour of lockdown per week."
"Them living right near us is a bit of a shock."
"Well, those merchant monsters couldn't make bank just taking Koreans."
They'd been living in the same slum neighborhood as us.
We'd never overlapped even once during exchange times, so we just hadn't realized Japanese were living alongside us.
"We definitely need to report this to the Moderator once we get out alive."
"Yeah. Yawn..."
Leaving behind Anonymous 1, who was thrilled about more accessible Galleries, I closed my eyes to catch a bit of sleep, worn out from pulling an all-nighter as night guards.
"Sleep quick."
"You not sleeping?"
"I slept before the survivor meeting. I know Big Whale didn't sleep to watch over me in case something happened while I was out."
A little embarrassed by Anonymous 1 recognizing my quiet good deed,
"This time, I'll make sure no one gets in. Sleep easy."
"Then, without refusing your kindness, I'll take a short nap."
"Night."
With a peaceful mind, eyes shut, I fell straight asleep to prepare for night shift day two.
...
Night Guard Duo, day two.
About 50 minutes into the shift, the moment we stepped out of the guard post for our first patrol,
'That one's heading into the apartments too.'
We spotted other guards walking toward the apartments, probably called out from their posts as well.
'That pair's got only one human.'
A quick camera check revealed one was the survivor we'd coordinated with yesterday.
But his partner was a monster with eyes, nose, and mouth freakishly jumbled.
'Even monsters follow the night guard rules?'
I started getting curious about how humans teamed up with monsters for these two-person shifts.
'Gotta ask later if we escape.'
Shelving those questions for now,
During patrol, I kept checking cameras now and then for more survivors when suddenly,
'...But why are they trying so hard to learn us...?'
I began wondering why the monsters were so keen on mimicking us.
'They're learning our speech, striving to copy human faces perfectly—what's the point...?'
No clear answer came as I pondered deeply,
Then yesterday's call from room 1001 popped into my head.
'Why was the person in 1001 clearing a different ghost story alone, not as a night guard?'
Clearly... the voice on the other end of the handset had said as much.
'Wondering why no one came to save them...'
Why no one came to rescue them.
That falling asleep meant getting eaten...
'Room 1001 has its own Rulebook inside?'
Meaning there was a Rulebook in room 1001 we hadn't found.
It might not apply to all us night guards,
But whoever was summoned there clearly had different rules to follow than us.
"What've you been thinking about so hard?"
"...About room 1001."
"Huh?"
The reason that man on the handset hadn't called his Japanese friends by name to come save him...
What if it was because he was new to this ghost story-infested world...?
Just like when I first dropped into Bellierd Library, a total newbie knowing nothing...?
"Maybe room 1001 in this apartment is like... the tutorial for ghost story dungeons? Like my first time in Bellierd Library..."
"Meaning a new newbie's there?"
"...It crossed my mind, yeah."
The Rulebook clearly said to leave 1001 to kill themselves.
Why?
Why did the Rulebook say to let 1001 commit suicide?
"...Can't get eaten? They can only eat the living?"
Details would need a direct check,
But if room 1001's rules included something like 'The moment you sleep, you're eaten'...
Wouldn't it make sense for people to choose death over eternal torment by monsters?
And on top of that...
"...Big Whale."
"Yeah?"
"What if clearing this ghost story dungeon... means helping that newbie clear theirs?"
"...!"
What if we weren't the ones who needed to clear this Night Guard Duo story, but the newbie kidnapped into 1001?
Beeeep-
The call bell rang right on cue, and we whipped our heads around.
As if someone eavesdropping on our talk was playing a prank... a call from 1001.
"I'll take it."
"Okay."
However.
Whether it was divine mischief or a monster's test...
I had to pick up for any extra info.
The moment I answered the call from 1001,
- "Wh-where... is this place...?"
A woman's voice, sounding brand new to this world, came through.
"..."
Hesitation dragged on.
- "I-I was definitely... definitely...?"
Was she really human?
Was the thing on the other end truly not a monster imitating a human...?
- "At school... st-studying... and then suddenly everything went all white... all blurry..."
If I slipped up even slightly, would I ruin all the hard-earned survival rules here? The hesitation gripped me.
- "Why... why's the call limit... just 3 minutes...? And why... won't anyone answer...?"
"...?"
She mentioned the call limit being max 3 minutes.
- "You're... coming to save me... right...? Really... right...?"
In the end.
"Answer... carefully."
"..."
We began the life-or-death gamble for all the survivors here.
- "...Huh? An-answer...?"
"Movies. Three."
- "...Movies? ...Why movies...? Hello...? Movies? Movies? Three movies?? Were there three m-movies...?"
"..."
- "Oh, y-you mean name three movies...! Love Letter... and...? Th-that... Death Note, the anime turned movie...! And... and another horror one... Ring too!"
That sealed the gamble's success.
Click.
The line cut after the 3 minutes, as expected.
"She's human."
"Definitely human."
"Going now?"
"It's not about leaving her to suicide anymore—we've broken the rules. To minimize variables, we move now."
"Spot on. Let's go."
We'd confirmed a total newbie to this world was in 1001.
To clear this Night Guard Duo ghost story,
With variables kicking in, no reason to delay.
We bolted into the apartments with Anonymous 1, hit the elevator button, and waited briefly.
"..."
Less than a minute later, doors opened, and as we stepped in,
"...!"
The elevator mirror showed every floor button stuck on 3. I yanked Anonymous 1 out just in time.
"?"
Ignoring his startled look from my sudden grab,
I shook my head frantically to signal no entry.
He got it, gave a grateful nod.
"...3rd floor."
"Pepper... market more war."
Turning to dash up the stairs to the 10th,
'Damn, seriously. What the hell...'
The spot marked 2nd floor had a 3rd floor sign.
"..."
"..."
Elevator, stairs—
Every path blocked us from 1001.
As I wondered if we should just watch powerlessly,
"...Fucking bastard."
"...Big Whale?"
My conclusion was.
"I'll say it once, so listen up, you fuck."
"Wh-what...?"
"This awl in my hand—the Awl Made from Teeth—once it pierces, no healing. Even if I die, I'll wreck this place however I can. Know what that means?"
"...!"
I was threatening the apartment itself.
"I'm pressing the elevator button again. No bullshit pranks. Curious what I'll do? Wanna see, you fuck? Send it back. That elevator with only the 3rd floor button."
"...Ooh."
"I'll show you assholes what happens when you fuck with the wrong human. I die? I'll haunt Bellierd Library as a ghost and spill everything. Tell 'em you made me this way."
"..."
"This ghost story world's all connected, right? No matter what, everyone ends up here? Yeah? Watch and see if I'm bluffing. I'll make you feel it."
Of course.
I wasn't truly angry.
In a situation where we didn't even know if the apartment was alive, if I hit the button again and another 3rd-floor-only elevator came...
We just wouldn't ride it, right?
Then head back to the post with Anonymous 1 like nothing happened.
"I respect your choices. So respect mine."
I lightly tapped the elevator button with the awl...
Viiiing-
The elevator hummed to life...
"Whoa..."
Our normal elevator arrived.
"See? Talking it out works wonders. Cooperate like this, and I won't harm you. Oh, any tenants you hate? Tell me. I can handle 'em for you."
"...You sure you're human?"
"Let's roll."
In front of the firmly shut door to 1001.
As I raised the awl high to smash the handle and force entry,
Click.
"?"
"?"
The lock we'd battered in vain before unlocked...
"Huh... it opens fine?"
Room 1001's door swung open suddenly.
'...What? Is this apartment really alive?'
Anyway.
Good things are good.
No need to break the door, so we just opened it.
"...!!"
We saw a woman who flinched at our sight, legs giving out as she collapsed.
"S-save... save me..."
"You called the guard room earlier, right?"
"...Yes?"
"We're here to rescue you. Come on out."
"Ah...! Y-yes. Yes... B-but... why... why do you look... like that...?"
"If you judge by looks, it'll hurt our feelings..."
"This isn't the time for jokes..."
"I really get hurt if you say that about my face."
"..."
"...You really are... human, huh."
"Eek."
"?"
Somehow, we'd proven to the woman that we were human.