Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: How to Deal with Difficult Customers
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Fluorescent lights glistened over the file binders.
Kim Boram silently set down her coffee and flipped through the document in front of her.
"Why hasn't this team requested any personnel yet? As far as I know, Team Leader Kim, who's currently in charge, will be taking a break for a while due to his upcoming marriage."
Her voice rang out crisply and decisively.
At her words, the Information Junkie spoke up.
"Ah, that one? They said they've hired someone separately this time. They requested a bit more time. Until then, Team Leader Kim will keep handling it."
"I see."
A short reply.
And that was it.
If there were no issues, personnel supplementation was at each team leader's discretion.
As the pen in her hand, which had been scratching away as she wrote something, came to a stop, silence filled the room.
She glanced at the clock and closed the documents.
It was nearly 9 o'clock now.
Time to start the meeting.
"If there are no other announcements from anyone else, let's begin the meeting right away. We have the last dinner gathering and supply replenishment matters... This is a direct instruction from the lab director, so everyone knows we need to handle it properly this time. First off—"
At that moment.
A short notification chime rang out.
The eyes of everyone seated turned simultaneously toward the table and their pockets.
Screens lit up.
The once-quiet conference room grew bustling in an instant.
And moments later, their gazes met.
The Information Junkie stared at his phone screen in despair.
'Of all times.'
During the senior's meeting.
She was usually incredibly mild-mannered, but all business when it came to work—strict FM to the core.
On top of that, this involved instructions from the Moderator.
The incident where the 7th Floor General Team Leader had come and been sent packing last time seemed to have played a big role too.
Even the lab director wasn't attending.
If things went on like this, the meeting would start.
The Information Junkie had no intention of just accepting his fate without doing anything.
He had no plans to give up either.
If there was one thing he'd learned from Newb, it was not to give up even in desperate situations.
At the very least, he had to try before giving up.
'Go bold.'
Contrary to his thoughts.
What came out of the Information Junkie's mouth was anything but bold.
"...That's absolutely right, but personally... we have our own sense of responsibility too, so wouldn't it be more efficient for everyone to handle their duties autonomously.."
As her gaze turned to him, the Information Junkie pleaded for help with his eyes to those around.
'Is this just for my benefit?'
He couldn't tolerate just sitting back and enjoying the perks without lifting a finger.
For someone whose social life was already in ruins, he had little left to lose.
Responding to his pleading looks, one by one, people began to speak up.
"Indeed, the ones tied up with other tasks aren't really hindering our main duties, right? ...Excluding that last supply incident."
"Yeah, I agree. About 90%... no, thinking about it, maybe 60% or so."
"This is temporary anyway... what I mean is, maybe we should take a flexible view... it feels like a good idea... or maybe not..."
Voices piled on one by one.
Though they grew quieter and more hesitant with each glance they received, their original intent fading.
Up until then, Kim Boram's eyes, which had been silently watching, narrowed slightly.
"...Is everyone sure about what they just said?"
Her voice flowed calmly, yet chillingly.
But it ended definitively as a question.
'Chance.'
One that might not come again.
The Information Junkie nodded vigorously and continued.
"Yes, definitely. No matter what decision the Moderator... er, lab director makes afterward."
Kim Boram, whose brow had furrowed, set down the pen she was holding onto the table.
"...Then, let's just rubber-stamp it. Since everyone's intent is clear."
The file binder clicked shut.
"Today's meeting ends here."
The moment her words fell—
Cheers that had been held back erupted from all around.
"But... it could still cause issues. Don't leave."
Swish-swish-swish—
Curtains were quickly drawn, and soon all the lights in the conference room went out.
Seeing that, she cleared her throat and lowered her gaze.
On her phone screen was a notification about "Newb."
Her eyebrow twitched faintly.
She'd only glanced at it briefly earlier, but it was already up on the 'sticky post.'
She glanced around briefly and plugged in her earphones.
The others had already switched to viewing mode.
Truth be told, she'd been agonizing over it throughout the meeting just now.
'How can I wrap this meeting up smoothly.'
But that was all in the past now.
She turned on noise cancellation.
***
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[Horror Broadcast: Code 120053]
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By the time she entered the broadcast.
The screen was already overflowing with the resident corpses of the Anomalous Tale Gallery.
[Happiness Storage]: Convenience store?
[Crazy Woman]: No way, already in that short time?
[Narita]: It's out! Finally! If you show me that weird picture now, I won't snap your neck!
[Narita]: You're all idiots! Just stick to the 24-hour broadcast corner from the start, and you won't get baited! Super simple!
She moved her eyes along the scrolling chat.
Fortunately, confirming no other clickbait, she let out a small sigh of relief.
That meant it hadn't been going on for long.
From then on, Kim Boram set down her coffee and leisurely watched the screen.
By now, she was somewhat accustomed to Newb's broadcasts.
She already had five experiences under her belt.
—Gyeonggi Gwangju Station Horror
—New Employee First Day Anomaly
—Doppelganger Maze Horror
—Happiness Sharing Hospital Horror
—Devil's Gamble Horror
Having gone through each different horror tale, she had become a 'somewhat seasoned viewer.'
She no longer flinched at most situations.
Even when the receiver rang inside the convenience store and Newb quickly assessed and moved.
Even when the other 8th Floor folks made a fuss.
She just calmly took a sip of her coffee.
Scenes like this were nothing to her now.
The situation on screen progressed rapidly.
— Do you… hear me?
— Is that… a convenience store?
— Are you… here for the part-time job?
— …I see.
— Then, you absolutely must not go outside right now.
— '25-Hour Convenience Store' job posting.
— From 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m…. you have to stay inside during that time.
— I know… it sounds weird.
— But… that's the only way to survive!
The tremor in the voice transmitted vividly through her earphones to her.
Worry, fear, terror—
All those emotions flowed like electricity.
— So please, please… believe me and don't go out.
Desperation mixed between short breaths.
She was on the verge of tears.
Horror tales each had different abilities.
Some dug into humanity's deepest layers of 'emotion' and 'bond,' using them as weapons to break people.
No one knew that better than Kim Boram.
Staring at the screen, she clenched her fists tightly.
Logically, it was right not to believe.
It could be a trap.
But—
She already knew the answer.
Or rather, than knowing… she was certain Newb would do it.
'He'll say he believes.'
At that instant, a voice flowed from the screen.
"..I believe you."
Words without hesitation.
But she didn't think Newb had decided lightly.
Newb was an agent who'd survived six horror tales already.
Having crossed countless horrors, deceptions, survivals, and deaths—he couldn't be unaware of how cunning horror tales were.
So.
This was.
Accepting that risk as well.
Whew—
Something deep inside burst out.
It was right to give proper advice here.
But her hand didn't move.
Asking for help and then not helping in return.
After Newb's words, only faint breaths came from the receiver.
For a while, nothing more came from the receiver.
She could guess what the person on the other end was thinking now.
Even if she were in that position.
It would be the same.
From there, it followed the expected sequence.
At some point, their positions swapped.
The person on the receiver end now just answered Newb's questions.
"The light on the convenience store ceiling has been flickering since earlier. Is that related too?"
— You… need to hurry.
— If all the lights inside the convenience store go out, forced disposal happens!
— Location… behind the warehouse.
— Right end of the beverage corner… look below, there's an open button.
Rule discovered.
Inside the warehouse.
Acquired the jumper there.
Returned to the counter.
Newb interrupted her midway.
"I'm here. Warehouse door's open too."
— Pardon?
"I've put on the black jumper as instructed and am now standing at the counter."
— Al… already… that fast?
One step ahead action.
"Anything else I need to do?"
— …Ah, right…!
— You need to press the shift start button!
— You'll see it right away if you sit!
Pre-check.
Click—
With a short sound, the convenience store lights all turned on at once.
Fluorescent lights flashed on.
The refrigerator hummed lowly again.
Finally, light emanated from the electronic clock behind Newb.
The screen flickered as numbers redrew.
[09:00:01]
After that, it was about the tasks Newb had to perform at the convenience store.
The routine of a typical convenience store part-timer.
Hearing up to there, she made her judgment.
The structure of this horror tale.
And how to 'clear' it.
And she wasn't the only one watching the broadcast who realized it.
With profound knowledge of horror tales already.
And a certain understanding of Newb.
Seasoned veterans like that were scattered everywhere here, excluding her.
[Parachute Emperor]: Ahh, so that's it? Got it.
Mid-level Newb.
[Flounder]: For real lol, nailing the rules spot on.
Mid-level corpse.
[Crazy Woman]: Hng. So that's it?
Veteran.
And.
[Narita]: Ufufu— That's right! Exactly!
...Who was that?
She didn't know every Anomalous Gallery user.
Usually, she didn't chat to stay focused.
But judging it 'caution' level, other gallery users started typing too.
Even she felt her veteran instincts emerge after a long time.
When you know something, you want to share.
[Not Human]: Spoiler: Now Newb will perfectly distinguish customers from horrors.
Everyone knew this anyway.
And so, the proper shift began.
At that moment.
Ding—
The convenience store door opened.
First customer.
Kim Boram straightened her posture.
Her eyes fixed on the screen.
She'd analyzed Newb's patterns to some extent.
Clearly, this was entering the 'work routine' phase.
Having heard the explanation earlier.
He'd do normal duties.
It might be a bit boring.
21 hours.
Way too long.
The other gallery users felt the same.
They watched the screen leisurely.
"If a customer enters the convenience store from now on—"
— Ah! I get it!
— Yep! I'll keep my eyes peeled on the customers!!
— Make sure they don't steal anything!
"No. Just confirm their positions, please."
At that, she thought it was just like Newb.
Checking even small risks in advance.
Customer standing in front of the shelves.
Newb moved toward them.
The tile floor sounded in rhythm with his steps.
Crisp.
Tap— tap— tap—
As if approaching for work.
Ordinary path.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The customer just turned their head once and looked forward again.
Then.
Stab—
The customer.
…had become not a customer.
...Huh?
The coffee cup she'd been sipping fell.
Soon, greater bewilderment than hers exploded from the receiver.
— Huh?!