Gallery Before the Annex

I posted on the Gallery right before heading to the Annex Building.

As night fell, I grabbed just the key bundle from the Admin Office and posted on the Gallery.

Annex exploration. It wasn't something I was eager for. Honestly, I didn't want to do it. It was scary and terrifying. A place infamous for swallowing up predecessors who went in and never returned—not even as corpses. Why would I want to go?

But if I kept putting it off aimlessly, my drive would fizzle out and never reignite. This wasn't meant to disparage the long-timers on the Gallery. They must have been motivated to escape once too. A ball that loses momentum can't roll on its own. I still had some inertia left, so I wanted to keep pushing forward before it stalled. That was all.

At least this way, I wouldn't have regrets.

Conveniently, today's duty log had no special incidents. I was on pins and needles when I opened it after waking up, worried the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade might keep happening. But my fears were unfounded, so today I just needed to focus on securing the doors.

Focusing only on door checks meant no running around—no fatigue buildup. In other words, the perfect day for Annex scouting.

Of course, I could delay until exams ended. But what would change by procrastinating? Even if I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠maxed out affinity with Kim Eat-Chil, he'd flat-out said he wouldn't follow me into the Annex. Recruiting another youkai? Uncertain. Would they even come to the Annex? Unclear.

In the end, this was something I had to tackle alone, without relying on anyone. And if I had to take the hit someday, better sooner than later.

Chieon Nak-si-kkun had once said that if the day came when I went to the Annex, he'd share the info left by predecessors. But quite some time had passed since I posted, and he still hadn't shown up.

Something happen?

If even Deputy Admin Padak-i said it was fine, it probably was.

Waiting for Chieon Nak-si-kkun made me curious about where the other Gallery folks were located. Did they have Annex-like spots too? I asked on the Gallery, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answers poured in.

Hearing about other places sparked a thought. The odds of an exit being in the Annex were probably low. More precisely, it wasn't something you'd find just by combing every space.

First reason: In all these years, only one verified escapee on the Gallery. If an exit existed somewhere, how could only one out of so many find it? Even luck alone should've let someone stumble on it.

Second: Some places didn't even have an Annex equivalent. If this world was random with no oversight, maybe. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But with an intelligent creator and manager like Kkamang-i looming large? Would she set different escape difficulties per location?

If the exit was in the Annex, folks without one would be screwed—frustrated and cheated. Kkamang-i surely balanced it with exits elsewhere for them. Difficulty normalization, based on her malice.

So today's Annex goal wasn't exit-hunting. Just scout the unknown a bit. No greed for a first run—I planned to bail right after entering.

Per the Annex Rule Book, full entry drops you on a random floor. Today's plan: Land on random floor, find 1F fast, exit safely. Simple, fitting for a first scout.

Perfect timing—Chieon Nak-si-kkun appeared. I tried sharing my plan in comments.

The Annex Rule Book couldn't be posted—existence or contents. I looked like some overconfident fool claiming he could do it without explaining how.

But Chieon Nak-si-kkun handled it smoothly, used to this.

Finally, the moment for Chieon Nak-si-kkun's hidden Annex info. I tensed, eager.

'?'

'??'

'???'

Speechless. All straight from the basic rules. But I couldn't tell him that—couldn't post "I already know."

Did he hear from predecessors? Was the prohibition more than censorship?

I shook my head. Focus—hear him out.

Finally, new info. Just that the top had a creepy Auditorium, but after rules-only, it felt good.

Test echo—no block. Odd, since earlier it was prohibited.

Predecessors seemed amazing. Even with Soonbaek-i's help, figuring this without rules? And Chieon Nak-si-kkun stating it confidently—how many lives lost?

The curiosity from day one—answered. The cheered-on predecessor, called crazy. What was his final act?

1F Library. Predecessor's three-time haunt. No plans to go, but noted.

My courage plummeted. Thought rules alone would suffice, but even full clearer died. Could I?

Annex talk wrapped. I opened the fridge. Starved so long, I'd forgotten hunger. Menu: soybean sprout soup, braised tofu, stir-fried anchovies. Bland after yesterday's special, but umami exploded on tasting. Not mere food—MSG bomb.

Fridge feasts raising my standards. If I escape, could I enjoy outside food?

Munching while scrolling Gallery, it hit 10 PM. Posted "Off to duty"—comments flooded.

Leaving worries and cheers behind, I left the Guard Room. The familiar Central Entrance air welcomed me.