Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Happiness General Hospital Horror (7)
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The line slowly shortening.
I could see the papers each of them held in their hands.
"Ah. Please."
I pressed my hand to my face.
I glanced at the chat window.
Just in case I might pick up even a slight hint.
[Crazy Woman]: Hurry up and save it. Newb!
[Not Human]: You just did that bullshit lolololololol
The same advice as before.
Just a few loops ago, I'd followed it and gotten my arm grabbed by the security guard anomaly, dragged all the way out the hospital's front gate.
There didn't seem to be any security guard anomalies nearby right now.
But the moment I "relocate" by stealing one of these waiting patients' registration slips—
'More than that... don't I not even have a registration slip this time?'
...The moment I steal one, it'll probably show up.
My hesitating eyes scanned the chat window.
In the previous loop, three Anomalous Tale Gallery survivors had taken turns egging me on to steal one.
But now, only two were typing away enthusiastically, while the remaining one seemed to have gone silent.
'...Did they leave?'
As that thought crossed my mind, the vanished nickname lit up the chat window like a flare.
[Sky Emperor]: But if you've already entered the clinic building, can't you just say you lost your registration slip and get a new one issued?
[Crazy Woman]: lololololololol that'd work?
[Not Human]: Tell the anomaly "I lost it, can you find it for me~" Super polite lolololololololololol
[Devil Artisan]: Ooh... maybe I should try that too?
Sky Emperor's words made even me, like the other two users Crazy Woman and Not Human, stroke my chin thoughtfully despite having no real expectations.
Come to think of it, it wasn't completely unreasonable.
The more I chewed on it... the more strangely persuasive it seemed.
'...Not a bad idea after all?'
Stealing a registration slip would just get me caught by the security guard anomaly and booted out for sure.
On the other hand, doing nothing would lead to death eventually anyway.
In that case, trying a new approach was the better bet.
And if it led somewhere?
No need to hunt for other options.
I stood up, ignoring the dolls, and started walking. Not Human messaged me.
[Not Human]: You really going? You even know where it is?
Of course.
"You've been to a hospital before, right? They have places that handle that stuff."
Maybe because it was the Anomalous Tale Gallery?
My words came out casually.
[Not Human]: No way?
"Yeah. Planning to find the admissions office or something."
I walked slowly, scanning my surroundings.
Inside here, long lines of people and signs overhead.
Those two things kept repeating.
What changed was the number on the signs.
[Clinic Room 1]
[Clinic Room 2]
...And now [Clinic Room 11].
No idea where it ended, but I memorized each one.
[Not Human]: What if there's no admissions office or whatever?
"If there isn't..."
I'd actually considered that.
No matter how much this place looked like a hospital, it wasn't actually operating normally.
“It's fine. Just means one possibility's eliminated.”
That wasn't so bad.
It even sharpened my train of thought.
No wasting time on dead ends, just focus.
[Not Human]: Hey, you know this is your 4th time entering an anomaly, right? Not few, but not a lot either.
Not Human kept messaging as I walked.
Was she... worried?
[Not Human]: Normal Foundation or Control Bureau folks get deployed at least ten times a year—for managing neutralized anomalies or neutralizing them yourself.
The Foundation was more capable than I'd thought?
Ten times.
I'd barely hit four.
Pros really were on another level.
I was just an amateur.
[Not Human]: Of course, they don't send you to hell-d difficulty spots like this.
[Not Human]: Not trying to get you killed.
[Not Human]: Even after training, most don't last the year—die or go nuts.
...Never mind.
[Not Human]: But the survivors are all aces. Survive three years, you're team leader material.
Oh.
Survivors = the strong ones.
Elite squad vibes?
[Not Human]: I'm an 8-year veteran team leader, naturally.
My trust plummeted again.
‘Shithead's a team leader?’
The thought was there, but I didn't dismiss her.
Just... it stuck in my memory hard.
First impression, I guess.
Eight years surviving proved her experience wasn't lightweight.
[Not Human]: You, what's with that shit-eating face now that I said I'm team leader?
"Huh? Oh, the air's stale. Makes my face scrunch up."
I shrugged it off.
Hey, if it loosened the tension, it was good.
Repeated buildup of stress dulled senses and slowed judgment.
Humans can't stay on edge 24/7.
Gotta vent the extreme pressure.
That nurse anomaly earlier mentioning high blood pressure and sedatives? Probably why.
But who knew how outdated those drugs were? I bolted.
If I'd taken a hit and my body went limp, no escaping.
[Not Human]: Oh ho. When this anomaly's done, I've got something super badass I did—recommend it, buy permanent collection edition. I'll give you the number, listen up. 1-
I cut off the shithead.
"So... nothing on Happiness General Hospital?"
[Not Human]: ..14122.
That's not yours.
***
Chatting sporadically with Not Human as I walked, soon a sign reading [Admissions Office] emerged from the darkness.
Luckily, this hospital had it implemented too.
Didn't look the part, though.
At the end of the corridor stood a dimly glowing directory sign.
[Admissions Office – Registration Management]
A sigh of relief escaped me.
If I hadn't found this, no clue how many deaths it'd take to try something new.
Even in this bizarre hospital, "formality" existed, it seemed.
Pushing open the admissions office door, the inside was silent.
Air hung heavy, crushed by the stillness.
Desk piled with file folders like a mountain, faded reception counter scattered with old stamps.
And beyond, the staff seat.
A doll without eyes or nose sat there.
Its hollow sockets stared into space, but as I approached, it creaked—head swiveling this way.
Body unmoving, just the head turning 180 degrees.
Straight out of a horror flick.
I calmly recalled the location.
I'd entered the admissions office.
So the monster just staring without acting meant...
'It's asking my business.'
I opened my mouth steadily.
“...Lost my registration slip.”
The doll creaked—again, twisting its head.
Stiff joint sounds tore through the silence.
Moments later, a drawer clunked open, a paper sliding out.
Old form clearly listed [Name], [Illness], [Address], [Incident Cause].
Probably fill this out.
‘...Smooth so far.’
I grabbed the pen by the table, filling the first field.
[Name: Kang Do-yoon.]
[Illness: Wrist Injury]
[Address: Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do]
[Incident Cause: Injured catching a falling heavy object.]
Finished, the doll's hand extended creakily, taking the paper.
The staff doll spoke in mechanical tones.
“…Name not found. Issuance denied.”
Creak—creak—.
Room's fluorescent lights flickered uneasily.
“…No prior registration slip on record. Confirmed without possession.”
Beeeeeeeeee—
Ominous mechanical whine filled the admissions office.
Metallic screech dragged along the walls.
I sensed things going south and spun for the door.
But...
Too late.
BOOM!!!!!
Door exploded inward, shattering.
From the debris, a familiar silhouette appeared.
Security guard anomaly.
Its massive frame slowly raised its head, forcing through the doorframe into the room.
Thud... thud...
Each step shook the room's air.
Stacked file folders rattled, finally collapsing in a heap.
“...”
Breath caught.
The faceless gaze pinned me, pressure from its bulk freezing my limbs.
Instinctively backed up, but behind: desk and paper piles.
Dead end.
Security guard's arm creaked—rising slowly.
Abnormally elongated forearm, end no longer human hand.
Its hand slashed the air—
BAM!
Stopped midway by the ceiling.
Impact shattered the fluorescent light—pop!—plunging us into darkness.
Thud...
Thud...
Thud...
In the dark, only rhythmic footsteps drilled into my ears.
My heart pounded in sync, but I forced steady breaths, clawing back calm.
‘...This one's pattern matches the nurse's after all.’
Just a doll following inputs.
Memories of countless prior deaths surfaced.
Security guard anomaly always grabbed, dragged me to the front gate.
Caught = instant "ejection."
But conversely...
'It can't kill me directly until we reach the front gate.'
Another hypothesis ready.
Time to prove it...
With my body.
In the faint light reflecting in my eyes, papers scattered on the floor came into view.
The bundle the security guard had knocked down approaching earlier.