Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Management Bureau with Lights Out #3
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We arrived in front of the Isolation Team Lab.
If this were a normal day, I would've come here with Spandal to submit the gift from the Tooth Fairy. I never could have imagined ending up here like this.
"Urgh...! Hoo!"
My breaths came out ragged.
Truth be told, I had no idea what the inside of the Isolation Team Lab looked like. It was a space I'd never seen before. And since the entire isolation ward had turned into hell, the core research lab was probably a nightmarish otherworld too.
But now, this was my only hope...
If there was nothing here either, I really wouldn't know what to do.
Should I die, come to my senses, rush to find Section Chief Jo Seong-chun, take down Senior Spandal with him, then head to the first floor via elevator and escape?
Whatever it took.
-Roaaarrr!
-Patapatapata!
I glanced back and saw unimaginable monsters charging toward me. I pounded on the lab door frantically.
Bang!
"Open the door!"
I tugged at it, but it wouldn't budge. Of course—it was locked. What now? There was a lock mechanism beside the door.
"Card!"
I quickly pulled out my Management Bureau ID card and tapped it against the lock.
-Beep!
A sound rang out, and the door opened!
"Whoa!"
I threw myself into the dark lab. I tumbled inside, and the door shut behind me. I immediately pulled out my phone and turned on the light.
What I saw was...
Originally...
It must have been quite large.
A highly scientific, futuristic lab scene. Walls lined with displays and controls, experiment devices placed here and there.
But it wasn't normal.
-Squirm.
"Eek!"
Some pink slime-like thing approached, and I freaked out, kicking it away. The slime squirmed off swiftly into a corner. Even so, I couldn't tear my eyes from the massive "something" right in front of me.
It looked like a prophet nailed to a cross, half-fused with the wall display.
Exploded hair and round glasses made its head identifiable.
It extended a long arm that seemed fused with machinery, picking something from a container and shoving it into its mouth... On closer look, it was a familiar container.
Cheongak Mary Hospital medicine bottle!
That monster was eating Cheongak Mary Hospital meds!
"...!"
The moment I realized that, I was shocked but started thinking of ways to use those meds. Cheongak Mary Hospital medicine was powerful enough to collapse a Descendant of the Singing Star. Maybe I could do something with it?
But how was that monster eating it unscathed?
I didn't have much time to think.
I crept closer, trying to steal the meds.
Then.
-Creak.
The monster's head turned.
It stared right at me while chewing the meds.
In the hellish silence, it spoke.
"You... why are you fine..."
"What?!"
This bastard could talk!
"I don't know either! What the hell are you?!"
"I am... Research Team Leader... Gognija..."
Research Team Leader Gognija!
-Grrk!
Mid-sentence, its head jerked sideways fast, clacking as it shook wildly. Drool-like fluid dripped from its mouth.
-Hiss.
A speaker voice came from the side.
-Research Team Leader Gognija integrity check in progress...
-Fatal condition confirmed.
-...
-Management Bureau ID identified.
-Emergency protocol initiated.
-Transferring authority to management leader.
Transferring authority?
Frozen stiff, I listened to the broadcast.
-Clank.
The self-proclaimed Research Team Leader Gognija raised its machinery-fused arm. The Cheongak Mary Hospital bottle toppled, spilling meds.
"Uh..."
The arm pointed to the side.
There was a door there.
A red door that screamed danger.
"Go down..."
Go down.
"Go... activate the Reality Recognition Device..."
"Reality Recognition Device? What's that?"
It sounded like some important gadget.
"Before everything is corrupted... now..."
"Tell me what happens if I activate it!"
"..."
No response.
-Thump thump!
Encountering this new situation, my heart pounded like it would burst.
Activate the Reality Recognition Device.
What would happen if I did?
What the hell was going on?
"Tell me!"
I demanded again, but it flailed its arm. Then it grabbed the bottle and started munching the meds like snacks.
No answer.
"Hey!"
No communication.
-Squirm.
Before I knew it, the pink slime had crept up near me. It moved from my feet toward the red door and settled there.
-Bang bang bang!
The main lab door shook.
Monsters right outside.
"Fuck! What do I do?!"
In extreme chaos, I had exactly two forced choices.
Stay put until the door broke and die again, or go through that red door—whatever it was—and activate the Reality Recognition Device.
I'd reached the lab but learned nothing new beyond this info. Searching more wouldn't help. Even in the next loop, it'd be the same.
Choosing the former meant death again.
But the latter... might lead somewhere.
-Bang bang bang!
The banging rattled my mind.
I hesitated mid-motion.
"..."
What if this was all a trap?
What if I couldn't trust anything?
What if this anomaly was herding me to activate the Reality Recognition Device or whatever?
Endless suspicion surged. It was perfectly reasonable and fundamental. The only reason I didn't drown in it completely was knowing blind doubt and refusal meant infinite deaths.
-Bang bang bang!
-Rattle!
I instinctively turned at the rattling.
The door cracked open slightly.
Seeing it, chills ran through my body.
-Peek.
Don't imagine it!
I whipped my head away, spotting the pink slime by the red door slinking toward the main door. Was that bastard trying to open it?
Damn it!
-Pah!
I bolted to the red door.
Tapped my ID on the lock.
-Authority confirmed.
The door opened with a chime. Faint light seeped from within. The first light I'd seen underground. Who knew light could reassure like this.
Like a bug finding fire in the dark, I entered. The door shut immediately, and I followed the dim light onward.
Kept walking.
Down stairs.
An elevator appeared ahead.
"..."
I got in.
Buttons were there, but no clue if they went up or down. I pressed one.
-Vrrr.
Felt like it was going down.
"...Arrived?"
The door opened.
A short corridor.
A door at the end.
"..."
No choice but to go now.
Passed the corridor, stood before the door.
-Beep.
ID tap opened it.
The scene inside appeared.
"This it...?"
A massive machine filled the room. Too huge to tell if it was combined devices or one solid piece.
Approached the machine.
Tapped ID on a display-like spot.
(Checking...)
(Authority confirmed.)
The machine whirred to life, new message on display.
(Activate Reality Recognition Device?)
(YES/NO)
My hand trembled.
"What happens if I activate this...?!"
Was activating it right?
Maybe there was another way to fix this, and I was rushing to the worst bad ending?
No idea what pressing it would do. Doubt. Questions. Fear of the unknown. It all crushed my shoulders. In the frozen time, I reminded myself: no other choices now.
I.
Pressed the button.
(YES)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[You have achieved a new accomplishment.]
[Accomplishment: Activated the Reality Recognition Device]
[Unlocked 'Title' function as reward.]
[You can now set a title.]
.
.
.
I read all the message windows and opened my eyes.
"Ah."
My vision.
Was bright.
The elevator door was open, and the isolation ward corridor blazed like daylight.
Pure white strip lights covered the entire ceiling, illuminating the ward brightly.
"So this is the Management Bureau's underground isolation facility."
I flinched at the sudden voice.
Looking up, I saw Spandal's face.
"..."
I stared at it blankly.
No sudden shadow fell, no head came off. It was just the Spandal I'd always seen.
Back...?
"Grong?"
How?
What principle brought me back here?
A survival message had appeared, but... I had no clue what was what.
All that bullshit for 1 point reward?
And what kind of weird accomplishment and title...
I thought of the status window inwardly.
-Ding.
——————————
[●Status Window]
Name: Kim Geunhong
Age: 24
Title: Not Set
.
.
Loop: 2
Death Count: 13
[●Loop-by-Loop Death Counts]
[●Collected Endings]
[●Functions]
[●Resolution List]
[●Possessed Abilities]
[●Point Shop]
[...]
——————————
...A title slot appeared below age.
Title.
Thinking of it brought up a new window.
[●Activated the Reality Recognition Device]
[Set title?]
Nod.
[Title: Activated the Reality Recognition Device]
Title acquired.
"..."
That was it?
"Senior Spandal."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Seeing your face in such bright light feels great. Let's learn well today."
"You're overflowing with enthusiasm. Hope you don't mess up and die."
"Haha... Feels like I've died about twice already."
"Hehe, funny joke."
I stepped forward with Spandal.
A bright.
Non-dark isolation facility.
After a moment's thought, I asked.
"By the way, Senior Spandal. A question?"
"Go ahead."
"Is it okay to mention the Management Bureau rulebook?"
"Of course."
"There was a rule: if the lights go out, trust nothing and run. Management Bureau lights never go out."
"Just follow it."
"Yes. If an anomaly occurs in the Management Bureau, perform safety protocol."
"Yeah. Do as you're taught."
Natural response.
So I asked.
"Hypothetically. This isolation facility is underground, right?"
"Right?"
"If the basement lights go out... what's the best escape?"
Here, I tensed up hard.
My throat tightened, body floating.
What to do?
"Ufufu, what was I thinking. Why so serious?"
Spandal grinned slyly, grabbing my shoulder.
"You just go out that window, right?"
"Pardon?"
Where she pointed.
A window.
On the corridor wall...
Like mere decoration.
Doubted it functioned.
"..."
That window.
No idea when it appeared.