Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Grade 1 Blue Card Key
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[Title: Can I Touch the Princess???]
📰 Anonymous Post Can I Touch the Princess???
>
> What comment should I leave on this post?
This person seems genuinely curious if it's safe to touch my body.
I should answer kindly.
— 99999 It's fine to touch! I'm not a poison dart frog.
I don't spew out toxic substances or anything, so touching me won't kill you.
"Hehe. This must contribute to humanity's scientific progress, right?"
I helped someone satisfy their scientific curiosity.
Feeling proud, I click on another post.
📰 Anonymous Post One of the field agents here, spilling what I saw at yesterday's scene 💬 Comments — Anonymous Unconfirmed anomaly showed up, so we got dispatched to the scene. But by the time we arrived, the unconfirmed anomaly was already dead? Turns out the Black Princess killed it. With one punch, even. Chills. So if you don't wanna die, don't mess with the princess going forward. — 1 The report said she was strong herself. Looks like it's true. — 2 ↳ Reply They say she smashed through the triple doors of her containment cell and escaped? Lmao. — 3 Who'd win in a fight, her or the Doctor? — 4 ↳ Reply Playing vs games here lol. ↳ Reply You're curious too. ↳ Reply Yeah lol. — 5 No way she beats the Doctor. — 6 The Doctor's containment is a godsend as long as it's secure—he can't escape. Real talk. If that maniac busted out of his cell, Korea'd be toast. — 7 How'd they contain the Doctor in the first place? — 8 ↳ Reply Oh, you don't know...? Story for another time. ↳ Reply Tell me!!! "Brought your breakfast~."
While I was happily browsing the employee anonymous community, Se-hwa showed up with breakfast before I knew it.
Se-hwa unpacked the meal from the lunchbox container and laid it out, then jumped in surprise when she saw me at the computer.
"Huh? Wh-what? Why is this here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you move this? No, that can't be. What the heck happened?"
Se-hwa stopped unpacking the lunchbox midway, came over to me, and tilted her head while mumbling to herself.
She fiddled with the bulky CRT monitor and faded system unit here and there, staring at them like they were bizarre.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just... This computer's one we had in special storage. No idea how it escaped the warehouse."
"It was already here when I first came to this room. I figured this was the computer you promised to give me."
"Ah, ahaha. The one I promised you is still getting internet set up—it hasn't arrived yet. Can I take this one back?"
Se-hwa gave an awkward smile and plopped her hand on top of the system unit.
"I like this computer. I don't need another one."
"Uh, huh? This thing's ancient. I'll give you a way better one! Something incomparable!"
"No need. I like this one."
"Ugh... Um."
I'd grown pretty fond of this computer.
I couldn't pinpoint why, but it gave me a strange sense of kinship, and more than anything, it was the first thing in this room I'd developed any attachment to.
I didn't need a high-spec machine for anything anyway, so this one was fine.
Se-hwa pondered for a moment, then gave a helpless smile.
"Alright, if you like it, that's okay. I'll have to let the higher-ups know. Let's eat breakfast."
I sat down near the lunchbox Se-hwa had prepared.
It was a menu that felt like institutional food: rice, kimchi, seaweed soup with dried shredded pollack, and stir-fried pork.
"Thanks for the food."
I gave a quick thanks and started eating.
Se-hwa stared blankly at me as I ate.
"How is it? Tastes okay? Edible?"
"It's decently tasty."
Truth be told, it wasn't that great.
It had that bland hospital-food vibe, so I wasn't super satisfied.
But freeloading on bed and board, I couldn't complain about the side dishes.
Se-hwa kept staring at me straight-faced until I finished every bite.
"All done? Got a quick measurement test. Can you cooperate?"
"Sure, no problem."
"First up, grip strength test. Squeeze this as hard as you can."
Se-hwa handed me a round cylindrical metal rod.
I took it and applied a bit of force, and it crumpled instantly without any resistance.
"Next, this one."
I took a darker gray metal rod than the first.
A light squeeze, and it crumpled easily again.
"N-next, try this."
I crushed yet another metal rod I received.
After repeating the metal-crushing a few times, Se-hwa's eyes grew wider and sparklier by the second.
"That last one was the final. You're really strong."
"Strength's something I'm confident in."
I puffed out my chest proudly, and Se-hwa looked at me with genuine admiration.
Se-hwa jotted something down on her paperwork, then straightened her posture.
"Next test. Can you do anything special like telekinesis?"
"Huh? Do I look like a wizard to you? Can't do that."
"What about reading other people's minds, or creating objects that don't exist in this world?"
"I said I can't. What do you take me for, some monster?"
Se-hwa kept up the barrage of questions undeterred by my answers.
Does she think this is some fantasy world? I'm starting to worry about Se-hwa's mental state.
"But yesterday, you regenerated a severed limb, right?"
"Yeah, I did."
"How'd you do that?"
"Don't wounds heal on their own after some time?"
"Ahaha! Right, yeah. Okay, questions over. Thanks for answering."
Se-hwa laughed brightly like she'd heard a fun story and filled out her paperwork.
Then she carefully pulled a square box from her pocket.
"Next is pain perception test. Might sting a little. Skip if you don't want. What do you say?"
"It's fine. You provide bed and food; least I can do is help with tests."
"Thanks. I'll give you a shot—tell me if it hurts."
Se-hwa opened the box and took out a small syringe.
The syringe was filled with bright yellow liquid.
Even though it was me getting the shot, Se-hwa seemed more nervous—her hand holding it trembled faintly.
She rolled up my sleeve, took a deep breath, and carefully injected it.
"How's that? Hurt?"
"Not at all."
"R-really? Okay, next one."
Se-hwa took another syringe from the box.
Pale green liquid sloshed inside.
Another deep breath, and she injected my arm.
"...How's that?"
"No pain."
Se-hwa's eyes widened in surprise.
This time, she pulled out a small knife and lightly pricked my forearm.
"Stuff like this won't hurt no matter how long you do it."
I'd expected something more intense for a pain test.
This was nothing compared to what I'd endured in the Backrooms.
Afterward, Se-hwa poked my body with various tools.
From familiar stuff like electric shockers and lighters to weird gadgets I'd never seen before—she used everything on my arm.
"Whew... Whoa... You really don't feel a thing."
After all the tests, Se-hwa let out a small sigh.
She relaxed her body and tension.
Her expression held faint relief, like she'd survived a battle.
"Great! Tests done for today. I'll head out now. Anything to say?"
"One request."
"Shoot. I'll do my best."
"Can you let me open the door myself? It's annoying always going with someone else."
"Uh, huh? That's..."
Se-hwa made a troubled face.
The door I'd smashed yesterday hadn't been fully repaired yet; they had a temporary one blocking it.
Temporary or not, it was thick, and still needed a card key.
"Can't decide alone. I'll talk to the others and push for it."
"Thanks."
"You saved a bunch of people yesterday. I'm grateful to you too, Princess. Hehe. Gotta repay the favor somewhat!"
Se-hwa flashed one last bright smile before leaving the room.
Alone, I hooked up the TV and game console to play games and kill time.
The TV and console had appeared while I slept.
They must've set them up while I was out.
Days passed like that, alternating sleep, games, and occasional walks with Se-hwa.
Se-hwa entered the room with an especially bright expression.
"Ta-da! Card key for the Princess! You have no idea how much I struggled to get this made. Nearly died convincing everyone. Even used the Seoul Research Institute's roaming anomalies as leverage to negotiate."
Se-hwa pulled a blue card key from her pocket and handed it to me.
One side had my photo like an ID, with "Black Princess" written above it.
"This card key has security level similar to a Grade 1. Free access to your room and some staff common areas. Break room and vending area, stuff like that? Be careful not to startle people if you go. Might get taken away. Got it?"
"Yes, thanks. I'll be careful."
"Hehehe. Our Princess is such a good girl! No way she'd cause trouble. Right?"
Se-hwa grinned triumphantly.
Hm.
Finally got my freedom.
Wonder where I should go with this card key?