Mary-san's Late-Night Call

But hey, it's easy to remember.... Work Negligence Prohibition becomes Taeman. Magical Girl's Birth becomes Matan. They were straight-up intuitive names that perfectly evoked their original natures.

For instance, if I introduced Miyeong to someone else and they asked, "Why's her name Miyeong?" I could just say, "She's a hairdresser, so Miyeong. Ambiguous type, surname Joo." Everyone would nod along.

Anyway, with Taeman's go-ahead, we decided to bring in "Mary-san."

"Boss, long time no see."

And on the day we took custody of "Mary-san," the one who delivered her was Jeong Woogyoem, the Special Forces intel chief.

"Oh, the intel chief came in person?"

"Gotta put faces to names in this line of work, right? Connections are everything, haha."

Jeong Woogyoem set down a box. It wasn't too big—about the size of a styrofoam cooler for frozen delivery food.

He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unlocked it to reveal a doll inside. A Western-style doll. The blonde hair was kinda dull, the face uncanny-valley creepy in a human-but-not-quite way, and the dress had that old, worn vibe.

The urban legend about a doll you throw in the trash that comes chasing after you for revenge. Or maybe out of love, following its owner forever. Either way, no one wants to be loved by an urban legend.

Still, it was one I personally wanted to get my hands on, but the Special Forces had it contained.

I stared blankly at the doll.

Let me talk a bit about my past life. One of the Muksi Saengmyeongche I'd faced in the monster game was "Mary-san." Not just fought—I'd contained and managed her too.

She kills people, but handled right, she's useful.

If you just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get Mary-san obsessed with the person or Muksi Saengmyeongche you're after, she shows insane tracking skills. Perfect for filling the gap in our office's search capabilities!

Of course, she's a pain to handle.

In the game, I died a few times managing Mary.

She'd occasionally obsess over the player instead. Too much affinity and she fixates on you; too little and she doesn't cooperate. Tricky one.

"Well then, she's all yours, boss."

"Ah, yeah... Leave her to me."

"FYI, feel free to exterminate her. The Foundation might not like it, but I can handle the fallout."

With that, Jeong Woogyoem left.

In simple terms, we'd rented "Mary-san" from the Special Forces until the Foundation took her back. Technically, they outsourced containment to us since their budget was tight.

Just keeping her meant steady cash. When the Foundation staffed up, they'd reclaim her, but until then, we could do what we wanted. Even if I wiped her out, no liability.

...Which means if I girlify Mary with the Cute Girl Mod, I could keep her from the Foundation.

I'd run into Foundation and Special Forces folks plenty, but no one had clocked the mod. Only high-rank Muksi Saengmyeongche like "Nightmare-Devouring Fox," "Deal with the Devil," or "Magical Girl's Birth."

Theoretically, girlify "Mary-san" and the Foundation wouldn't notice. I'd snag her tracking powers....

Another cute girl? Here?

We just added one—the magical girl psycho. Seeing Matan made me realize: gotta be careful adding more.

I'm not in the business of supporting a harem of cute girls. They won't go independent, and the independent one like Matan lacks social skills.

So, girlifying "Mary-san" was on hold for now.

"The Foundation won't staff up anytime soon anyway...."

Plenty of time to think it over.

"Nao, move Mary to that room."

The office had plenty of empty rooms. We stashed her in one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unused vacancy.

FYI, "Mary-san" and "Bloody Mary" are separate legends despite similar names—urban legend doppelgangers. "Bloody Mary" is the Western mirror ghost one; "Mary-san" is the Japanese doll stalker.

Hmm, but the room felt kinda empty with just the doll. I added some miniatures I'd bought for Taemi, and it looked a bit better.

"Want Nao to handle management?"

"Me?"

I nodded. I couldn't touch her myself, and if she fixated on office staff, trouble. But Nao was an immortal vampire. Even if obsessed, she wouldn't die.

"Ugh, that doll creeps me out. But I'll do it."

And so Mary-san's management began.

Wasn't hard. Just don't let her feel abandoned. Spend time with her periodically, done.

Max abandonment time was about 15 hours. Super lenient—just don't forget.

A checklist would keep Nao on track.

But don't hug her or anything.

Doll thing, I guess. Hugging ups affinity. Talking to her, new clothes, cleaning, repairs—all raise it. Total gold-digger doll.

"No hugging? ...I'm too scared to hug that thing anyway."

Nao shook her head—no worries there. Why's a vampire scared of a cursed doll? Whatever.

Seemed fine for Nao, so I relaxed.

Night. We'd clocked out and were home. I was alone in the bedroom for once.

Lisa was asleep in her room. Taemi sometimes gazed at the moon at night—clear tonight, so probably at the living room window.

And rare no Nao—she was collab streaming with Ari.

"Ari collabing? Wild."

Ari's recognition was rising: "Who's that cute girl who just eats silently?" She might actually make it as a streamer. Hoped she'd go independent someday.

Supporting her for 50+ years in Invasion was nightmare fuel....

"Taeman's doing okay, right...?"

Suddenly thought of "Mary-san" left at the office. Too hassle to bring home, and she kills people—not house-friendly. Plus Taeman's assurance.

Taeman ate a "pale ghost." She'd handle "Mary-san" no problem.

With that, I hit the hay.

-♪♩♬♪♪♩

?

A call this late? Meant trouble. I bolted up and checked.

Sender: "Our office number?"

I blanked. Ari and Nao collabing. Lisa asleep. Taemi moon-gazing. Office empty.

"Who the hell...?"

Mary-san popped into mind. Legend recap: Doll in trash. Late-night call: [I'm Mary. At the dump.] Then mart, your house, behind you.

Had she fixated on me unknowingly...?

"...I-It's fine. So many guardians here."

Voice shook. Gulped, ready to call Lisa. Answered.

"Hello."

[Hello.]

Cute girl's voice. I held my breath.

"Wh-who...?"

[It's me, boss.]

"Who're you...?"

[Me, duh! The manager!]

??? Not Mary? Blinked, listened closer.

[Y'know, the office manager!]

"...Nayana the scammer?"

[No! Too harsh calling me a scammer! Hmph... It's Taeman, boss.]

"Taeman...?"

[Yeah, Mun Taeman! Hate this name...]

Sulky tone. Scammer faking Taeman with a girl's voice? Nah.

"Our Taeman... was a girl?"

[Crude wording, boss! Anyway, not the time. Calling about that entity.]

"Entity? Mary-san? Did she escape?!"

[Not exactly, but... she didn't leave the office, but she got out of containment...]

Taeman trailed off, hesitant.

What happened?

[She went into the hair salon...]

"What?"

[She barged into the salon, boss! Hurry over!]

Then, system window popped up.