Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Vampire Uproar #1
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Spandal's explanation was utterly horrifying.
"So... places like Cheongak Mary Hospital aren't the only bizarre spaces out there."
"Right."
There were multiple bizarre spaces like Cheongak Mary Hospital. Resolving them through force was nearly impossible, and escape was only feasible by strictly following rules that defied common sense.
Apparently, the horrific entities in those spaces frequently killed agents in incomprehensible ways or stole body parts like organs.
Usually, they were recovered through dangerous operations in the relevant spaces, but sometimes cases like this came from the Tooth Fairies...
"So, do they just surgically reattach the organs they find? And what are the agents who lost their organs doing in the meantime? Do they slap on artificial ones or something?"
"That's the usual procedure. But if it's something irreplaceable... they turn them into frozen humans and pray. Hoping it'll turn up someday."
"..."
It was truly a terrifying story.
Having organs stolen?
Suppose I gained some powerful ability through the status window.
Would it even work properly against monsters?
This was a world where even Section Chief Lee Do-hyung got one-shot by the Hospital Director. In fact, Sal-hyung, the Sister, and Jaaldi had all been wiped out fighting mere minions of the Descendant of the Singing Star.
Anyway, the fact that the Tooth Fairies returned lost body parts seemed like highly valuable information. I had no idea how they did it from isolation, but it wasn't something I needed to understand.
As I was thinking that, we arrived at the office floor.
I paranoidly checked the lights.
They were on.
In a place like this, even if they were off, it wouldn't be a big deal.
There were windows everywhere, after all.
I followed Spandal into the office.
"Oh, Grong's here? How was the isolation duty experience? Did you meet Dejure?"
"Ah, Senior Jamtree."
As soon as I entered, Jamtree greeted me with a bright smile. After spending time with someone as indefinably unsettling as Spandal, meeting a normal person eased my mind a bit.
"Yes. I met Dejure. I greeted the Isolation Team Leader too. Took care of the Tooth Tree and got a gift from the Tooth Fairy."
"Sounds simple enough. Was it fun?"
"I'm not sure about fun. You never know what you'll run into. But it wasn't hard."
I wondered.
What if I mentioned the Reality Recognition Device here?
"Coming back from the Isolation Team Leader, huh. He might seem like a weird guy, but he'll adjust to you on his own."
Jaaldi chimed in.
"Heh heh heh, he didn't seem that weird to me."
Casual conversation.
With slightly odd workplace superiors...
That kind of talk.
Yet even as I spoke, suspicion bubbled up inside me.
Jaaldi...
Jamtree...
What if all these people were fakes?
Wasn't it possible everything was fake, just like Section Chief Jo Seong-chun said?
"You're the first to say that after meeting the Isolation Team Leader. Well, you're a weird one yourself, Grong. And Spandal—fresh off return duty, but you've got work. Take this."
"Yes, Team Leader."
Jaaldi handed documents to Spandal, who then left right away.
Nothing felt off.
These people didn't seem fake at all.
Jaaldi was pretty reliable.
Same with Jamtree.
"It's a bit early, but go ahead and clock out, Grong. You should head home and rest."
"Already?"
"You faced monsters in the isolation room, right? Must've been shocking in all sorts of ways. Take time to compose yourself. Humans can't help but suffer mental shock from seeing monsters."
"Such consideration...!"
The company itself seemed pretty good, after all.
"See you, Grong. Tomorrow you'll probably be doing something with your big sis."
"I'll study hard tomorrow too!"
With that farewell, I headed out early.
Time to go home and rest.
I definitely felt mentally drained. Riding the elevator felt scary, and I was anxious about any dark spots. The questions swirling in my head... Was this a mental illness? The Management Bureau had a Mental Health Team—maybe I should get counseling?
Lost in those thoughts, I reached the first floor and spotted a familiar man.
"Huh? Newbie! Why didn't you come to the Suppression Team!"
It was Quras, the reliable Suppression Team senior.
He turned and approached me warmly.
He usually came as a set with Gorgodio—was he not around?
"Senior Quras, right? But this is the first time we've met since I joined. My code name is Grong."
"Grong? What, like Pororo's Crong or something?"
Everyone thought the same thing?
"Don't tease me about my name."
"You don't remember Roy Mustang or whatever?"
"Heh heh heh, yeah."
Hearing that made me laugh.
"Anyway, I told them to send you to Suppression Team, but they snatched you for Comprehensive Response Team. We need talent like you! So hurry up and request a transfer!"
Quras grabbed my shoulders and insisted.
"You don't wanna work with scary folks like Senior Spandal either!"
"No, what exactly is up with Senior Spandal?"
How far did her notoriety spread?
"Even Dejure from Isolation seemed scared of her."
"Everyone's scared of her, pretty much."
"She does seem like it."
Gossiping behind her back.
Spandal's reputation must be huge.
Like a quirky sergeant major in the military.
"Still, how can a newbie request a transfer? Sorry, but no can do."
As I joked, Quras let go.
"Well, Suppression Team's door is always open. You look like a field specialist to me. Prefer getting out rather than desk work in Comprehensive Response. Anyway, come experience suppression ops if you get bored! See ya!"
Quras spun around, flashing his index and middle fingers.
He might be the nicest guy in the entire Management Bureau.
What the hell was Spandal...
On the way home.
Nothing was strange.
No issues, and the world didn't seem changed.
I'd wondered if it'd turned abnormal like when I escaped Cheongak Mary Hospital... but visually, at least, nothing had changed.
I got home.
Showered with hot water and sat on the sofa.
"..."
Then I checked the status window.
[●Status Window]
Name: Kim Geunhong
Age: 24
Title: One Who Activated the Reality Recognition Device
.
.
Loop: 2
Death Count: 13
[●Loop-by-Loop Death Count List]
[●Collected Endings]
[●Functions]
[●Resolution List]
[●Possessed Abilities]
[●Point Shop]
[...]
I organized my thoughts while reading the status window.
First off, I had no clue what the title meant. Why did the status window even have this feature? What good was a title? In RPGs, titles boosted stats, but who knew if this one did? Even if it raised strength, agility, stamina, intelligence or whatever, it probably wouldn't matter.
But it wasn't there for no reason...
"Reality Recognition Device."
Activating it earned me an achievement and title. So it must be something significant.
Achievements couldn't be erased.
The fact that I activated the Reality Recognition Device was permanent.
"What could it mean?"
I knew it was important.
But I had no idea how.
"And that red door..."
Why did it disappear?
Did Isolation Team Leader Gognija know?
Should I ask?
Doubts filled my head about both the Reality Recognition Device and the red door.
But what if asking led to something ominous and horrific?
That fear kept my mouth shut.
I sighed and let it go.
Oh, right—points.
[●Possessed Points: 2,001]
"What the fuck."
Was it messing with me now?
No matter how I thought about it, it made no sense.
After all that insanity in the Management Bureau basement, only 10,000 points?
This transcended my understanding.
"Ugh."
My head felt like it would split.
How much of what I saw in the Management Bureau basement was real? Was Section Chief Jo Seong-chun even real? Or was he a hallucination from that lung with the mouth? If so, where did his words come from? If he was a monster, why no status window detection alert? The ghost that stretched my neck triggered one.
I'd seen a lot, but knew nothing, so I couldn't interpret it.
I set a policy.
"Section Chief Jo Seong-chun."
I needed to verify if he was real.
Confirming that would be progress.
It'd be tough now, but I was essentially at odds with the fake Management Bureau guys. Fighting them might reveal something about him eventually.
Failing that, I could head back to isolation facilities, build rapport with Dejure, and learn about the isolates... Actually, that sounded good. Maybe straight-up ask Dejure what's in there?
Float the idea of fake Management Bureau agents imprisoned, or if there were 'ghosts.'
As a newbie agent, showing interest in isolation facilities and wanting to learn more should get me sent a few more times.
"Yeah. I have options."
Realizing that, I saw I did have choices.
I knew nothing, but I could gather clues through my decisions.
I concluded and closed the status window.
"..."
I turned my head and saw the window.
The window.
A sudden urge to jump out hit me.
Tonight, I'd sleep with the lights on.
The next day.
I went to work as usual.
"Morning, Grong. Nice day."
Entering the office, Jamtree greeted me with a bright smile. She was way more comfortable than someone dangerous-looking like Spandal.
"Yes. I'm at work. Very good morning, Senior Jamtree. Where are Team Leader Jaaldi and Spandal?"
"Who knows? They step out sometimes. They'll be back when it's time."
"I see."
"Yeah. So, Grong, what do you wanna learn today?"
Something to learn.
"There's so much, I don't know where to start. What should I do first?"
"Hmm, no real order. Here's the org chart—tell me what interests you."
Jamtree handed me the organizational chart.
Honestly, I wanted to go back to Isolation Team and dig for the truth.
Section Chief Jo Seong-chun's existence nagged at me insanely.
Was he really imprisoned in the Management Bureau basement?
Or was there no such person, just that lung?
But what if something weird happened again?
I'd struggle to hold it together.
"..."
Would it be safe with Dejure?
*Tap tap tap.*
Lost in thought, Jamtree poked my back with her fingertips.
"What's up? Can't decide? Then wanna do computer work with sis here?"
"Computer work? Like checking the shopping mall last time?"
"Yep. Lots of anomalies spread or occur online. Gotta monitor all sorts. You found Cheongak Mary Hospital through a job ad, right? That's an anomaly too."
"Ah! Really!"
Of course!
No way a normal ad like that just pops up!
"I'm motivated! Let's check some out today! Oh, Senior Jamtree, there's a site I'm personally suspicious of."
"Yeah?"
"Ever heard of World Politics Bulletin Board? I'd like to check it out."
This could reveal fake Management Bureau stuff.
Post secretly: 'Free Section Chief Jo Seong-chun...!' or something.
Or 'Lee Do-hyung Section Chief Legend.jpg.'
"Hmm, that place."
That's when it happened.
"Everyone's here."
The door opened, and Jaaldi entered.
Spandal followed.
"Good morning!"
I greeted energetically, and Jaaldi waved.
"Jamtree. Emergency situation. All Comprehensive Response Team, mobilize."
"What? Emergency? What about Grong?"
"Grong... as a newbie, better to stand by."
Wait.
"Team Leader Jaaldi! What's going on!"
"..."
Curious, I asked, and Jaaldi stared at me.
"Doesn't seem worth telling."
"Come on, don't hold out! Tell me too! We're teammates!"
"Sigh... fine, I'll tell you."
Jaaldi sighed and said,
"A vampire has appeared."