Is the World Really Going Crazy?
Is the World Really Going Crazy?
"Registered as an Anomaly Investigator...?"
I stared blankly at the crude white text floating in the middle of the screen.
Honestly, I wondered if this was a dream.
I thought maybe I was dreaming because I'd been up all night and dozed off, but even after rubbing my eyes hard, the text didn't disappear.
[If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.]
"No, I'm fucking curious. But what am I supposed to ask?"
I muttered to myself like an idiot, then picked up my phone and started typing in the chat.
[What are you? And why was I suddenly registered as an Anomaly Investigator?]
As soon as I sent the chat, a loading screen that looked like an AI processing it appeared, and then the reply started scrolling down below.
[Welcome, Investigator. I am your dedicated assistant, here to help you with reporting anomalies and using the shop.]
[From now on, your mission is to find anomalies appearing in the world and report them using this chat.]
[You may describe them in text, or take a photo and upload it.]
So, are you saying that if something weird happens like before, I should report it?
Hearing that, I was reminded of some kind of "exit game" that streamers used to play a lot on their broadcasts.
I remember there was a rule where if something was different from usual, you had to turn back, and if it was the same as usual, you had to move forward.
So, is it like that, where if something weird happens that's different from the norm, I should report it here?
'What the hell kind of bullshit is this? Is it a hidden camera show? No, even if it were, Kwon Yuri's change in attitude earlier makes no sense.'
I recalled the bizarre situation a little while ago where Kwon Yuri was stroking my hair and making nasal sounds.
That bitch who usually looked at me like I was a bug was suddenly being kind to me.
Furthermore, there was absolutely no awkwardness that would suggest she was forced to act.
Unless Kwon Yuri was an actress capable of insane method acting, based on what I've seen while working with her, that wasn't it at all.
It was closer to just a natural expression of her liking me.
'This is crazy.... Then, is it true that, like this app says, anomalies have actually appeared?'
Thinking it wouldn't hurt to try, I placed my fingers on the chat window.
[Um... Sir/Ma'am, what is your true identity? And what am I supposed to do?]
I thought about asking informally like before, but suddenly got scared and hurriedly switched to formal language.
As soon as I pressed the send button, a sharp, immediate reply came back.
[I am a part of the system that collects and manages the anomalies occurring sporadically in this world.]
[The Investigator's mission is to report anomalies that defy common sense, discovered in daily life, to earn points.]
Points? Anomalies? System?
I felt like I intuitively knew what those meant, but seeing them in this situation, a flood of words I didn't quite understand came pouring out.
If I recall the memories of the countless games I've played so far, this seems like some kind of "spot the difference" game.
Why is that appearing in reality?
[What do I do with the points?]
I didn't even think to use formal language and just typed what came to mind, and the reply came back immediately.
[With the points you earn, you can purchase special items from the shop or activate control abilities to intervene with specific anomaly entities.]
"Items? Control abilities?"
As soon as I asked in the chat what those were, the app started displaying messages mechanically.
[Revealing a portion of the shop list.]
[- Anomaly Remover (15p): Permanently removes the identified anomaly and returns things to normal.]
[- Anomaly Controller (20p): Perfectly controls the cognition and behavior of entities affected by the identified anomaly. (Maintenance cost: 1p per entity/day)]
"Ha... fuck. What is this."
I eventually burst into a hollow laugh and closed the app.
I shoved my smartphone, screen blacked out, roughly into my pants pocket.
The world is going crazy, women who wouldn't even glance at me are hitting on me like I've become a handsome model,
I report that to a smartphone app to earn points,
And with those points, I either get rid of the anomalies or control the women caught up in them however I want?
'This isn't some erotic game. I must have really melted my brain working the night shift.'
It was just then, as I held my dizzy head and tried to deny reality.
- Kki-ik
The door to the supply storage room inside the convenience store opened, and Yuri walked out, having changed into her uniform.
"Oh? Oppa, you haven't left yet?"
Usually, she would have started by checking if the closing settlement was done or if the trash cans were emptied in a nitpicky and bitchy way.
But the Kwon Yuri approaching me right now was a completely different person.
Her form-fitting uniform was strangely disheveled, subtly revealing her curves.
Her legs, exposed beneath the short skirt, were slightly pigeon-toed and twisting as if she were impatient.
Above all, what caught my eye was her face, flushed with a faint blush, and her slightly ragged breathing, as if craving pleasure.
What is this, did something happen while she was changing clothes inside?
"Ah, yeah. The settlement just finished... I have to check the balance before I go."
"I can check it later. Oppa, you don't make mistakes with things like that."
"That may be true, but still..."
I instinctively took a step back, retreating to the end of the counter.
But Yuri followed my movement and came right up into the counter.
Inside the narrow counter, her sweet perfume scent hit me.
"Hey, Oppa."
"Yes? Why, why is it?"
"You know how you covered my weekend shift last time? I was really grateful for that."
"Yes...? Ah, right... that was nothing..."
Yuri looked straight into my eyes, lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, and smiled seductively.
To hear her thank me for covering her shift, how long has it been?
No, actually, it was the first time I'd ever heard it from this woman, Kwon Yuri.
Because she was a cold person who, whenever she deposited the wages for the shift I covered, would only leave a single "Thanks for your hard work" and wouldn't even look at my messages.
"Well... I did it because I got paid. Don't worry about it."
"Ayy, still, I would've been in big trouble if it weren't for you, Oppa. I'll buy you a meal later! Okay?"
"Yes? No, it's really fine..."
"I know a really delicious place! We definitely have to go later, Oppa."
Yuri lightly ignored my refusal and stepped one step closer.
Yeah, honestly, gratitude is one thing.
Since someone who doesn't express gratitude even after I covered their shift is a rude, insufferable person anyway.
But to bring up something that was already settled with payment and suddenly say she'll buy me a meal to say thanks?
This was something that couldn't possibly be said unless she suddenly started liking me.
Then, is that "anomaly" thing or whatever actually real?
"Uh, let's think about that later. I'm really going to head off now. Good work!"
"Oh? Oh... wait a second..."
I mumbled vaguely and tried to hurry out of the counter.
But maybe because I was in a rush, my legs got tangled without me realizing it.
At that moment, my body lurched toward Yuri.
- Malkang
"Ah!"
"Uh-oh?!"
My hand, flailing to keep from falling after losing my balance, landed firmly on something heavy and soft.
No, it wasn't just landing on it.
My entire palm was gripping Yuri's voluptuous breasts head-on.
The soft and hot sensation felt through the thin knit.
The elastic weight filling the gaps between my fingers.
I froze in that state.
'Ah, fuck, I'm screwed.'
That was the first thought that crossed my mind, which had gone blank.
Isn't this definitely sexual harassment?
Police station, settlement money, getting fired from the part-time job.
A scenario of ruin that I could never handle with my meager bank balance flashed by like a panorama.
"I, I'm sorry! I lost my balance...!"
I turned pale, immediately pulled my hand away, and stepped back.
To survive here, the best strategy is to apologize immediately.
I bent my waist 90 degrees and was about to pour out apologies as if I were ready to kneel down right then and there.
But the expression on Kwon Yuri's face that entered my eyes was completely off from my expectations.
"Uh, uhhh... It's, it's okay."
"Yes?"
Kwon Yuri didn't get angry, nor did she scream.
Instead, she was clutching her breasts, which had just been groped, with both hands, and making a voice that sounded strangely happy.
"Yu, Yuri-ssi...?"
"Oppa... now that your touch is on me, it feels so strange...♥"
She looked up at me with a face flushed bright red.
In her eyes, blatant lust was flickering, and her breathing had become noticeably ragged.
She even leaned her body against the counter, twisted her thighs, and pushed her hips slightly toward me.
This was, to anyone's eyes, the kind of movement a woman makes when she likes a man and is seducing him.
It was a movement so blatant that even I, who had no experience with women, couldn't miss it.
'If that's for real....'
At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
If, as the app said, Kwon Yuri had come to like me unconditionally due to an anomaly.
Then it was clear she wouldn't pull away even if I did something more explicit right here.
Besides, it wasn't just that she liked me; looking at her now, it was practically a situation where she was in heat.
Honestly, it was a crazy thought, but I decided to go for it, thinking "whatever happens, happens."
"Um, Yuri-ssi. Calm down. We have to do the shift change."
"Ah, yes.... I'm sorry. I lost my mind..."
"Now that I think about it, there's something I need to take out from the storage room, could you help me for a moment, Yuri-ssi?"
"Yes? In the storage room?"
"Yes. I think we need to lock the convenience store door for a moment to do it."
Upon hearing my words, Kwon Yuri's eyes widened for a moment.