Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Unfair Hospital (2)
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One year ago, the individual known as 'ㅈㅎ' had posted the exact same message to the community... but they never showed up again.
The community moderator seemed to view the current situation as gravely serious.
They had postponed the exploration of the new area that was scheduled for this exchange period.
[Notice: There will be no exploration of the newly opened sector this time.]
A new sector has opened after clearing the 2-man night guard horror tale.
However, due to special circumstances related to Unfair Hospital, sector expansion investigations will be postponed to next week.
Since we need to determine if those who can post in our Gallery are monsters, please be cautious with all posts.
Not sure if they're human?
Yes, we haven't been able to identify them yet.
Should I try sending a whisper?
That's too dangerous.
Should I tell Big Whale to send a whisper?
Am I being treated that roughly...? (Edited) (Deleted)
lolololololololololol damn don't make me laugh in this serious situation Big Whale lololol
Hey ultimate Big Whale!!! Can't you see our situation is serious right now?!?!?!?
Not Choi. And you're the ones dropping jokes in a serious situation... (Edited) (Deleted)
'It must be pretty serious after all.'
Seeing how seriously the moderator was taking this, I resolved to be more careful about posting to the community for now.
"If you've ever used a convenience store in Korea, it's just like that. This is the last place I'll introduce you to."
"It really... looks like a place where people live..."
"That's what I thought at first too. Now, shall we go meet the others?"
After spending about 45 minutes guiding Choi Min-a through pretty much everything here,
I headed with her to the central plaza where everyone was gathered.
"Oh, Big Whale's here."
"Big Whale!!!!"
"Hey West Big Whale!!! Why are you late!"
"Not West... And I was a bit late showing the new newbie around."
"Whoa... up close like this, Big Whale really is handsome?"
This was pretty much the first time.
Having a proper conversation face-to-face with the community folks outside the Gallery—it was an experience I'd barely had before.
"Big Whale, thanks to you, this is the first time we've all seen each other's faces today. For real."
"Haha, no way. Everyone came here together. It's not like I cleared the horrors alone."
"Right. It was mostly thanks to me."
"Ugh... I want to deny that so bad, but I can't..."
Now that we could clearly see each other's features,
I felt a bit embarrassed by the kind words from the others but still chatted as much as I could.
"Oh right. Anonymous 1."
"Yeah? What?"
"Here's that item I mentioned."
"Oh!"
Remembering I'd promised him an item, I handed over the guard gear right there in front of everyone.
"Here."
"Whoa!! Fuck, whoaaaa!!!"
"Wearing that will boost your total Sanity by 14."
"Kyahaaaa!! Kyahahaaaa!!"
The others eyed the item enviously as Anonymous 1 received it from me.
I promised them I'd get items for everyone soon too.
"Just bring me monster corpses, and I can craft them right away."
"What does that mean, Big Whale...?"
"Uh, yeah... We'll try bringing stuff in our inventories."
"Oh! You have inventory?"
"That's why we're saying we'll try."
"?"
"Hey rental Big Whale!!!"
"Yes?"
"Here, payment for the item."
"Huh? Not rental, I was just giving it... ...What? Where'd he go?"
Anonymous 1 had casually shoved a heavy leather pouch into my hands and bolted off somewhere.
"????"
We'd already agreed via message that it was free...
"Big Whale. That's it."
"Huh? What's that...?"
"We call that a 'sneak stuff' in the lingo."
"????"
14,000 doll.
Thanks to Anonymous 1 pricing it at 1,000 doll per Sanity point and handing over a whopping 14,000 doll...
[Withdrawal: ] [Sales: ]
'Whoa... this guy is loaded.'
I now had about 75,000 doll on hand.
'Next exchange period, I gotta buy an item for sure.'
Might as well—next exchange time, I'd head straight to the monster-run forge and snag that item I'd eyed before.
'Still, living with someone else means it's not as boring as before.'
As I chatted idly with Choi Min-a and shared an F-set meal...
Opponent: Big Whale
Me: Yeah?
Opponent: Tsk-tsk
Me: Monster
Opponent: (Photo)
Opponent: Hello, this is the guard.
Me: It really was a monster... Am I dying now?
Opponent: Yes, if you don't post this message to the community 5 times repeatedly right now, you'll die.
Me: Gasp, what's going on?
When Anonymous 1 suddenly messaged me out of the blue, I asked what was up.
Opponent: The mod asked a bunch of questions, so I answered honestly?
Me: What about?
Opponent: About Sanity copying.
Me: Huh? Suddenly?
Opponent: Yeah, so I let them know first. No issue, right?
Me: What issue? I was gonna tell everyone anyway.
Opponent: As expected of leader Big Whale. Such a big heart.
Me: Uh? No surnames...!
I learned the moderator had asked him about Sanity copying.
Opponent: Just passing it along so you know.
Me: OK OK thx. I'll let you know if I get more new info.
Opponent: Whew... From today, I'm copying 1,000 doll worth per day too~
Opponent: Oh right. When selling items to people, always charge 2,000 doll per total Sanity point.
Me: ? Why?
Opponent: Giving stuff free looks bad. For both receiver and giver.
Me: Huh? If both are happy, isn't that fine?
Opponent: Humans are super jealous creatures by nature.
Opponent: Once you start giving freebies, you might end up giving to every Japanese person later too. Just settle it with money. Got it?
Me: But Anonymous 1 gave 1,000 per Sanity.
Opponent: That doesn't matter.
Me: ???
Opponent: Anyway, just wanted to tell you that. Have a good day.
Me: OK OK you too
Impressed by the deeper reasoning behind his actions,
'What, he had more to say...'
Speak of the devil.
Opponent: Hello, Big Whale.
Opponent: This is the community moderator.
The moderator messaged me.
Opponent: To the point.
Opponent: We're forming a rescue team for the Unfair Hospital incident.
'...Forming a rescue team?'
Plenty of food stocked.
Every item equipped without exception.
Even the moderator's advice.
Rescue team or not, it boiled down to me being the only one entering Unfair Hospital.
Opponent: Are you prepared?
Me: All set ☆
Opponent: Once more: We don't want info at the cost of your life, Big Whale.
Me: Obviously, I'll return if it gets dangerous.
Opponent: Inside the hospital, Sanity must not drop below 80. Keep it at 80 or above at all times.
Me: I'm super tough, it'll be fine.
"Where'd they get that Sanity must stay above 80?"
Amazed by the moderator's info network,
I entered the code as instructed and began entering the horror tale.
"I'll be back."
"Come back safe..!"
Choi Min-a couldn't copy Sanity for a bit, but just in case, I withdrew 20,000 doll and gave it to her—no way she'd starve while I was gone.
Lost in such thoughts, my hazy vision cleared to normal.
Before I knew it...
'Whoa... ...why is it so huge...'
I opened my eyes inside the massive hospital.
'Time to gather some info?'
[Return Uses]: 2
[Craftable Uses]: 11
Input:
As long as Sanity didn't drop below 80 per the moderator, there shouldn't be major issues.
I stepped toward the reception desk in sight—
Thud...
"...Huh?"
One step.
Just... one step toward the reception desk ahead.
'Why... is this happening...?'
I realized my right leg wasn't moving as I willed it.
'...Fuck...'
The moment I sensed something was wrong, I hit the return button without hesitation.
No matter how confident I was in tackling horrors...
I wasn't insane enough to push on in an emergency. Return... return... ...return...?
'...What? Why, why won't it work...? Why isn't it returning...!'
No matter how frantically I mashed the return button,
Return uses didn't decrease, and I didn't return to safety. Panic set in briefly.
Suddenly...
A certain rule from the rulebook flashed in my mind, explaining this.
9. If you see someone hanging themselves in the room across from you, immediately press the help request bell.
Leaving the hospital without a doctor's permission is forbidden here.
'Leaving the hospital without a doctor's permission... is forbidden...'
Ah...
Ah...
Ha....
'That's why... ...no one ever escaped from inside the horror...'
...We're properly fucked now.
[Entered Unfair Hospital]
(Photo)
(Photo)
(Photo)
From the moment I entered the hospital, my right leg stopped obeying.
Tried return button immediately, but return is impossible.
Seems like Rule 9 from the rulebook is preventing escape.
The four who entered first probably died or went missing because return was impossible.
Sigh...
Just hoping I can make it back alive...
????? Why'd you go in there???
Yeah... I should've refused. Must've been some hero complex... Sigh..
Refused? ...What do you mean?
Entry to that horror dungeon is prohibited. Why, and how did you enter, Big Whale?
...What do you mean? You messaged me to go in?
...Huh? I've been tracking the IP that got cut off in Unfair Hospital...
...Ah
Ah... fuck2...
Messages fuck... it was a monster...
...Situation too serious, can't even speak. Post immediately if urgent... We'll all brainstorm to help.
Right leg not responding? Ah, no way... Hospital horror, so a body part gets crippled on entry? Needs treatment?
...Seems spot on...?
When I posted to share the situation,
One fact hit me immediately.
That was...
'I got tricked...'
The thing that lured me into the horror...
Was a monster impersonating the moderator...
'...But wait, ...monsters can't use messages, right?'
However...
Did that mean monsters couldn't message first until I did?
No, ...that had to be right.
If monsters could message first... there'd be no living survivors.
Which meant...
'Not a monster or monster post.'
The one who tricked me here... was human, not a monster.
Me: Who are you?
Opponent: lololololololololololololololololololol
Me: Who.
Opponent: lolololololololololololololololololololol
Me: ...No energy to curse. Just tell me. Who.
Opponent: If you were me, would you tell?
Opponent: (Photo)
Opponent: Your go-to mental attack law book lololol eat this and fuck off.
Now I had one more reason to survive no matter what.
'You can be tracked by photo, you're dead meat. I'll make it back and rip you apart.'
Inside the massive, empty hospital with no one in sight.
From here on, I'd give my all to survive.
With one leg unresponsive, standing was nearly impossible...
'Hoo... I can do this.'
I stretched my hands forward and started crawling toward the reception desk.
"...Here for admission procedures."
"Wherewhere-doesdoes-it-hurt-hurthurt-thatthat-youyou-cameherehere?"
"...My leg, won't move."
"Confirmedconfirmed.Wewillwill-guideguide-youyou-rightright-awayaway-to-to-roomroom-403403."
"...Thank you for your hard work."