Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Investigator VS Suppression Squad Showdown
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Guarding the door was tough work.
Actually.
To be honest, there was hardly anything to do.
You just had to stop and block anyone who approached.
But strangely, no one was coming to the meeting room today.
It was as if someone had canceled all the meetings.
At first, the people guarding the door with high spirits.
Couldn't endure the slowly dragging time and boredom, and started glancing at each other one by one.
Time flowed by relentlessly.
There was something he wanted to say.
But he couldn't abandon his post.
Information Junkie stood silently staring straight ahead.
For Information Junkie, who had zero social skills, the only familiar face in this spot.
Was his teammate senior, Ha-eun Seo, who apparently did shaman work as a side gig.
Then, his eyes met with his teammate senior Ha-eun Seo.
No words were exchanged.
But in that moment, they understood each other perfectly.
They conversed with their eyes.
'Gallery?'
'Yeah.'
'Wanna check reactions now?'
'Me too.'
'But no way to do it.'
'I have a way.'
'??'
When he looked back to ask what it was,
His teammate's eyes suddenly widened.
In response, Information Junkie pointed at himself with trembling eyes.
Nod nod—
He quickly shook his head.
But Ha-eun Seo's gaze wouldn't let go.
She ran her hand across her throat.
Flutter flutter— her hand moved.
Matching that, Ha-eun Seo's mouth slightly opened.
"Hoo—"
Her bangs fluttered up slightly, giving off a strange pressure.
To interpret it.
'You don't do it, I'll curse you ㅇㅇ'
Like a final ultimatum.
At the sight of her finger pointing at him, Information Junkie finally succumbed to authority.
He wasn't afraid of disadvantages at the company.
He was afraid of his senior.
Given her personality, she really seemed like she'd curse him if he didn't.
Especially after hearing the rumor a few months ago that a manager who was pestering her suddenly quit due to health issues.
Information Junkie finally opened his mouth.
Ahem—
A fake cough.
Naturally, gazes turned his way.
Now it was do or die.
"..We just have to block entry into the meeting room, right? As long as we guard the entrance well… couldn't we do other things… it shouldn't matter…?"
Just in case, he spoke as politely and cautiously as possible.
In times like this, his zero social skills were actually helpful.
It was already rock bottom.
Nothing he said could deduct more points.
Still.
There was a difference between a madman and someone who couldn't handle society, so he maintained minimal decorum.
At his words, a few people's gazes wavered slightly.
Information Junkie smiled.
Among the people here, there wasn't one who wasn't a severe Gallery addict.
And for such severe Gallery dwellers, the hardest thing to endure.
Was a party raging in the Gallery while they could only watch from afar.
No, in this case, they couldn't even spectate.
They were too aware of each other to just stand guard.
Information Junkie shifted his gaze to the person who seemed the most indecisive here.
"How do you think?"
And, as expected—
The man who received the gaze opened his mouth.
"…Ahem. Well… I think it's okay, but what about you, Dami?"
The baton passed naturally.
"Yes?! M-Me?"
The pointed-out person was startled.
Now, his and that person's gazes turned simultaneously.
"I think it's really fine… but I'm not sure about Dong-hoon."
Next.
"Y-Yeah?… I don't mind… but Narae."
Next.
Next.
And eventually.
All gazes focused on the person with the highest rank and seniority here.
Hoo—
A small sigh.
The most senior shook his head and opened his mouth.
"No helping it. That's everyone's opinion."
His words trailed off weakly.
As soon as he said that, everyone nodded.
Anyone could see it was an 'agreement pushed by momentum.'
The most senior, Ha-eun Seo, furrowed her brow as if thinking for a moment.
Then spun the pen in her hand and continued.
"Still, since we've said it. Then. First, let's block the door with obstacles."
"Obstacles?"
Someone cautiously asked back.
"Yes, like… chairs or something."
The most senior smiled.
"And if we sit in front of it… we can do our own things while still guarding the door. How's that?"
It didn't seem like something she just thought of.
Smoothly.
As the explanation ended, everyone's eyes lit up.
"I agree."
"Rightly said."
"Yes!"
Applause echoed enthusiastically down the corridor.
The atmosphere was as if a "major agenda" had been decided.
Information Junkie watched the scene with bewilderment.
…Office life is a jungle.
In front of the meeting room.
The entrance was now blocked by a huge chair.
People sat silently, spaced one seat apart on top of it.
Everyone silently turned their heads, met each other's gazes.
Nod—
They bowed their heads simultaneously.
A brief silence.
And soon—
Tap tap.
Continuous touch sounds filled the corridor.
***
As the newb's broadcast ended.
Gallery dwellers began gathering in the Horror Gallery one by one.
At first.
The 'Resistance' who had rejected the newb's broadcast thought that way.
'Feels like another huge wave is coming, so we should evacuate.'
Their thinking was always like that.
Whenever the newb's broadcast ended, something always happened.
But this time was different.
[Title: Causality of Horror Tales](+31)
[Title: Optimal Way to Handle Maze Horror Tales](+13)
[Title: The 'First Rule' I Think is Most Important in Rule Horror Tales](+24)
[Title: Newb Broadcast Kya- This One's Real All-Time Legend](+21)
[Title: Rule Structure Hinting at Watcher's Existence](+19)
[Title: Thoughts on the Origin of the 'Do Not Open the Door' Rule](+9)
[Title: Rule Violation's 3 Stages — Warning, Gaze, Punishment](+11)
[Title: Newb Kick! Newb Kick! Newb Kick! Newb Kick! Newb Kick! Newb Kick! Newb Kick!](+17)
[Title: Horror Tales with 'Exceptions,' Where Does It End?](+21)
The Gallery was buzzing again.
But this time, unlike before, it wasn't a storm.
People who had been prostrating, praying for the wave to pass, felt puzzled.
It was quieter than expected.
Cautiously, they peeked their heads up.
'Whoaaaa… run… huh?'
New posts appeared with every refresh.
But strangely, it didn't have the firepower of before.
It was like a faucet half-open, an ambiguous flow.
As relief that it wasn't a big wave settled.
Next, that thought surged in people's minds.
'…Isn't this doable?'
Fears that had been steeped in inertia shifted.
"This… seems doable?"
"We can win this?"
"Newbistance, full muster!"
Fear quickly turned to familiarity.
And familiarity soon became arrogance.
"Trolling? You think only you guys can do that?"
"Go to newb-related posts and spread our ideology… no, troll too!"
If there was one big misstep they made.
It was making people voluntarily click on newb-related posts.
They entered the eye of the typhoon without realizing it and came out.
Soon, the typhoon passed.
Rooooaaar—
Their advantageous position flipped to even.
Soon, even became a complete reversal.
By the time they noticed, they were swept away by the grand wave, drifting helplessly.
Casually exchanging Q&A?
Daring to do it inside the Horror Gallery?
Right after the newb's broadcast ended?
In front of Horror Gallery dwellers doped on dopamine, logic and communication held no power.
They met their end once again.
Regardless of the Resistance lightly trampled.
The Gallery blazed on, as if unaware of such a thing.
[Title: Everyone Move!!! Now Horror Gallery Belongs to Newb Squad!]
[Title: My Chest Swells… Is This the Newb I Knew? This is Real…]
[Title: Lick Lick Lick Lick Lick Lick Lick Lick Lick]
[Title: Kya- Thought I Got High.]
—Author: Beat Beat
As expected of Newb120053.
Always seemed talented.
But this time confirmed it, talent stands out.
Should come to Godgod Suppression Squad side?
[Recs 412] [No Recs 412]
[Parcheonal]: Talent is definitely there.
└[Flounder]: Real lol, movements like a 10-year vet.
[Human Centipede]: Been eyeing since last time. Form is there at a glance.
Corpses who saw the post hit recs agreeing 'true.'
Memes like 'Godgod Suppression Squad Let's Go' flew around.
Though it got some attention.
It was quickly buried by countless follow-up aggro and high-topic posts.
[Title: My Mom Ahem]
—Author: Future SCP
[Title: Kanagoku Liars!!!]
—Author: Narita
My friend went to Korea, said no such culture!!!
Defend yourselves!!!
[Hopeless Life]: Who's the friend?
└[Narita]: Hometown friend!
└[Hopeless Life]: Japanese friend?
└[Narita]: Obviously!
└[Hopeless Life]: Sigh… Narita… Narita. You're asking a Japanese person about Korean culture in front of Koreans, and getting mad at us because they said it's wrong? Is that right?
└[Beat Beat]: Real lol, we've lived in Korea over 20 years minimum. Blow up over foreign friend's words when Korea meme drops. Where to start?
└[Hopeless Life]: Is your friend wrong? Or are we wrong? Think rationally.
└[Narita]: …Uh..
└[Hopeless Life]: Answer.
└[Narita]: …..Um..
└[Hopeless Life]: Answer. Last chance.
└[Narita]: ..Just remembered something urgent.
But—
From some point on.
[Title: Kya- Thought I Got High.]
—Author: Beat Beat
One user discovered that post.
Said the right thing like 'Investigator has better talent.'
Then got comment terrorized.
Enraged, the user pinned coordinates on that post.
The comment section exploded in an instant.
Rome's Colosseum unfolded.
At first, it was weaklings fighting.
Then the loser.
Called in their buddies.
Escalating, eventually summoning name-brand veterans each.
A conversation that seemed like it would end peacefully—
[Flounder]: Starting again— isn't it obvious?
└[Parcheonal]: Real idiot? Obviously newb is clearly Suppression Squad lololol
└[Flounder]: …? Obviously Investigator lololol
└[Parcheonal]: Investigator wouldn't pick fights so openly like that? You got eyes?
└[Flounder]: Suppression trait: Brainlessly clash first, think later. Know it? Lol
└[Parcheonal]: Th—
In an instant, Investigator-Suppression civil war began.
This wasn't mere opinion clash.
Investigator faction and Suppression Squad faction.
The two major Horror Gallery powers surfacing for the first time.
Some unfolded horror research theories.
Some posted all-time legend Suppression Squad memes.
Not enough with that post, battles scattered.
[Title: Newb is Clearly Investigator]
—Author: Flounder
First, newb's combat style itself is observe-analyze-execute structure.
In last horror tales 'Gyeonggwangju Station', 'Maze Horror Tale', etc., mostly newb 'read' and 'analyzed' horror patterns.
Understood horror rules and reacted accordingly, observation-based tactics.
This is typical Investigator process.
Suppression Squad is “brute force suppression dumb manual labor workforce” — no rebuttal
Investigator is “dissects horrors, grasps structure, delicate intellectual analysis workforce”
Even neutrally, newb clearly fits one, right?
Conclusion:
Newb isn't Suppression Squad.
Born to dissect horrors, grasp, approach truth— fits Investigator type more.
[Recs 315][No Recs 313]
[Lostsoul]: Real lol this is right.
[Narita]: Analysis anyone does! Truly important is entering yourself!
└[Not Human]: Narita. Didn't you say you were meeting a friend.
└[Narita]: …I kn-know nothing!
└[Happy Storage]: Lololololololololol
Soon after, counter-fire post went up.
[Title: Newb is Suppression Squad, Not Investigator.]
—Author: Narita
[Title: No You're Wrong It's Suppression Squad.]
—Author: Parcheonal
First, “analysis” anyone does?
Suppression Squad does it too.
Simply put, dogs and cows? Lolololololol
Look closely.
Horror tales you mentioned, newb learned by directly clashing with body?
Directly?
What you just did is classic point dodging.
Obscuring the essence.
Entering horror interior = direct neutralization = Suppression Squad duty.
Why not know this?
Plus, actions shown this time clearly 'field response type.'
Beyond applying analysis to combat, 'instinct ahead of judgment' moves plenty — rebuttal pls
For example, just now in convenience store.
First thing after rule explanation: smash customer's head?
Kya—
High on sight.
Even I, from convenience phone.
Couldn't understand half of what they yapped.
Just.
Oh, can't smash head? But!!
Newb bam! Crack!
Did it?
Investigator: Retreat and record pussy group.
Suppression Squad: Approach direct suppression, even gather rule info— all-rounder talent.
Such 'proactive action' targeting horror core.
Not Investigator, Suppression Squad instinct.
No need to tire mouth saying which side newb is.
Conclusion:
Newb is instinct warrior Suppression Squad, not Investigator psycho.
[Flounder]: Lolololol Beat Investigators into pulp lolololololololololololol
└[Flounder]: You're dead!!! What's your rookie number?
By the time Information Junkie entered, the Gallery was already ablaze.
Dozens of posts per second.
Warzone shifted with every refresh.
Hot posts fell from top in under a minute from no-rec bombs.
Unsettling.
Chaos.
Itself.
Latecomer had to grasp situation from the center.
Gallery trait.
Situation understanding is each Geller's job.
Before, some kindly explained for late corpses.
Unfortunately, none so far.
Because even those kind corpses were now charging warzone for their beliefs, typing away.
So Information Junkie slowly scouted info as usual.
Snipped opinions.
Meaningless aggro.
Board tangled with all ideologies and claims.
Extracted only right info.
Context gradually formed.
So.
Essence of fight—
'Newb Investigator constitution or Suppression Squad constitution?'
"Is this worth fighting over…"
He muttered unwittingly.
Fortunately, when he looked up, atmosphere wasn't bad.
Pfft—
Heh heh—
Faces positive.
Like him, fake laughs leaked out.
As if not getting why fight over this.
Put phone down briefly, opened mouth.
They were all mature office workers.
"Childish."
"Yeah. We shouldn't fight over this."
"Of course. Was this even fight-worthy?"
Seemed peace might come briefly.
However—
"Just in case, shall we say it once?"
"It's the same, but… sure."
"Right. Just for fun. Fun."
"Yeah."
"Newb is obviously—"
"Yes, obviously—"
"Investigator."
"Suppression Squad, right?"
Smiles faded as words dropped.
Air changed instantly.
Faces that laughed moments ago hardened.
Uncomfortable gazes exchanged somewhere.
Gazes toward each other different from before.
Each plugged earphones, signaling no chat desire, bowed heads.
Then Information Junkie spotted a post.
Hot post that was 5th moments ago rose to 1st fast.
Now time for situation summary.
No hesitation.
Clicked immediately.
Situation summary not fully clear yet.
By nature, had to nail this down.
Origin of first spark, why it started.
Why Gallery reached this state.
Traffic surged, brief loading.
1 second felt like 1 minute.
Screen lit up bright, post unfolded.
What entered his eyes.
[Title: Current Gallery Situation - One-Line Summary]
—Author: Serious Junkie
lol
[Drawing 1]
[Drawing 2]
[Drawing 3]
Just.
Combine both into 'Mixed Team' how about?
[Crazy Woman]: …That sounds kinda;;;
[Parcheonal]: Lolololol Name sucks lolololololol
[Flounder]: Lolololol What mixed lolololololol
Information Junkie chuckled, fingers flew.
Light beat from keyboard taps.
Tap—tap—
Overlapping sounds from somewhere.
Tap tap, like knocking something.
But ignored.
Sound rang once more.
Knock knock—
'Rather, noisy.'
Raised earphone volume.
[Information Junkie]: Mixed Team lololol Who'd think only elite ranks there
└[Beat Beat]: Real lol
Phone light brightened.
Sunset glow spread from window.
Day began to dusk bit by bit.