Chapter 55
Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Disciplinary Procedure
-----------------------------------------------------------------
55.
Tap!
Bright lighting scorches the crown of a man's head.
But that light wasn't shining solely on the one man. It was also heating up the spot where the wooden podium had been placed.
Static-
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
"......Yes."
No sooner had Noise finished speaking than I stepped toward the podium under the lights.
Step-
I stood on the podium.
The hot lighting beat down on me like a reprimand.
It felt as if I had become a heinous criminal.
Well, I did mess up....
Static-
Why was that?
The static I'd just heard sounded just like Noise's laughter.
'......Or maybe not.'
It meant I was that tense right now.
[Ahem!]
His throat-clearing snapped me back to attention.
Along with the sound of Noise clearing his throat.
Rustle-
A White Librarian entered my view, holding a sketchbook.
For a split second, her sketchbook-holding pose almost reminded me of a proposal, loosening my tension, but then Noise, having cleared his throat fully, began to speak.
[Then, a brief explanation of the disciplinary procedure. Please listen carefully, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
"Yes."
No sooner had Noise finished speaking.
Flip!
The White Librarian began turning the pages of her sketchbook one by one.
----------
[1. Confirmation of Violation.]
:Identified violation. (Damage and loss of company property.)
[2. Notification.]
:Currently in progress.
[3. Disciplinary Committee Convened.]
:Discussions with relevant executives just concluded.
[4. Decision.]
:Review result_(Left arm)
[5. Notification and Objection.]
:If necessary_(Think carefully, consider, think again, and then object.)
----------
The content written there was even sparser than expected—practically nothing.
The 'notification' step was even being handled as an on-the-spot notice, marked as 'in progress.'
Of course, I knew it made no sense for the guilty party to nitpick such details.
But.
Those two words 'left arm' written in the review result section kept catching my eye.
'......Noise. No way, right?'
I was fully prepared to sincerely apologize for breaking the quill pen, accept a pay cut, suspension, firing—anything. (Ah, firing is always welcome.)
I was ready to take any punishment handed down.
But....
But!!
-Review result_(Left arm)
'No way, Noise!!'
Surely it didn't mean they were taking my left arm?
Was it because I was so anxious?
I mustered courage I couldn't normally summon and asked Noise.
"Um, Noise. Does this 'left arm' mean perhaps......"
My voice trembled, and I desperately hoped he'd say it was a lie.
The response that came after hearing my pleading tone.
Static-
Was Noise's cheerful voice.
[Yes! Employee Park Yeon-jeong. We're ending this discipline by taking your left arm.]
[It's fortunate it ends with such a minor punishment this time, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
"......"
Ah, so this... was a minor punishment.
To you, Noise, cutting off one left arm counts as minor.
Park Yeon-jeong's eyes grew misty.
I'd gained one more piece of knowledge about Noise that I never wanted to know.
Tap!
But before I could sink into those sentiments, the lights that had been shining on Park Yeon-jeong went out, and when they came back on.
The podium was gone, leaving only the horde of White Librarians and Noise's voice.
[Then, as stated in the review result.]
[We will take Employee Park Yeon-jeong's left arm.]
Swish.
The White Librarians advanced toward Park Yeon-jeong without hesitation.
!
Unable to withstand the sudden, unrelenting pressure of the White Librarians bearing down on him without warning, Park Yeon-jeong.
"W-Wait a second!!"
Shouted urgently.
[...Yes? What's wrong?]
I succeeded in momentarily halting the approaching Librarians with my yell.
But it meant little.
The outcome wouldn't change.
I already knew subconsciously that there wasn't much I could do against a disciplinary decision already made.
The only thing I could say here was.
"......P-Please! Make it as painless as possible...."
A modest request, that was all.
'They can at least do this much.'
But Noise's response was.
Static-
[No need to worry too much, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[It won't hurt.]
"......"
'Hold on!'
You cut off mid-sentence!?
That's your Noise-style phrasing!
It definitely means it will hurt!
Yes! I heard that loud and clear!
I squeezed my eyes shut, leaving it to fate.
I bid a short farewell to my left arm, which had spent many years with Park Yeon-jeong.
'May you be born next to a healthy master in your next life!'
With that, his pathetic situation of parting with his left arm.
Chomp.
!!!
My body froze at the sensation of the White Librarians grabbing my left arm without hesitation.
Any moment now.
I could vividly picture the gruesome scene of them yanking and tearing off my left arm in one go.
It would hurt for sure.
It would hurt like hell.
"......"
If you're gonna do it, hurry up!
"......"
Amid the pounding heartbeat that felt like it would burst my heart, the sound piercing my eardrums was.
Static-
[It's done, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
"......Yes?"
A short voice slipped out of me unbidden.
Really done?
Just as Noise said, I felt no pain at all.
Even now....
My left arm's sensations were still vivid.
I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes, looked ahead, then shifted my gaze to my left arm.
Wiggle.
?!
My left arm, to which I'd just bid a tearful farewell, was still perfectly attached to its original spot.
Wiggle-?
Wiggle-!
I stared blankly at it for a while. Noise, watching my reaction.
Static-
Slowly raised the speaker's volume.
[The discipline is over, so you can go home now. You did great today too... Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
With those words announcing the end of the procedure.
And permission to clock out, I couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Really... it's over?"
I double-checked.
[Yes, it's over. If you need proof, check the back of your hand.]
At the sudden instruction to look at the back of my hand, my gaze naturally went there.
And on the back of my hand was an unfamiliar strange pattern I'd never seen before.
'A cross?'
A peculiar cross shape.
That was all I could infer from the design on the back of my hand.
I had no idea what it meant yet. Reading the puzzlement on my face, Noise added an explanation.
[We're already looking forward to Employee Park Yeon-jeong's next day at work.]
Static-
This time, Noise gave no clear answer.
Which meant.
This cross pattern held significant meaning, and it would be a lie to say I wasn't anxious about it.
But as I said earlier.
It was already too late.
The moment the cross pattern was etched on the back of my hand, it was too late to turn back.
Squeeze.
For now, all I could do was gaze at my left arm, still firmly attached, and feel relief.
Better to have it than not have it at all.
Feeling a slight unease but following Noise's words, I prepared to head home.
"Then, I'll be heading out......"
But.
My gaze suddenly caught the shattered Lie-Detecting Watch.
!
I belatedly remembered the existence I'd completely forgotten until now.
I quickly shoved my hand into the Employee ID hanging around my neck, pulled something out from inside, and called out to Noise.
"Noise, by any chance... are you good at sewing?"
[Sewing? Suddenly?]
I gently opened my palm holding the item. What appeared inside was.
Wave wave!
The Bear Doll's upper body alone, cheerfully waving toward the speaker.
[Oh dear, the damage is severe.]
"Can it be repaired?"
At my question, Noise replied with unabashed confidence.
[I'm an excellent boss! So this won't be difficult at all, but....]
[While we're fixing it, why not test some upgrades!]
"......Upgrades?"
[Yes! Just plain repair lacks efficiency.]
I was already anxious.
And my anxiety proved spot on.
[Let's attach legs from another ghost story to the lower body. Something that won't tear easily... No, while we're at it, replace the upper body too...!]
Abrupt!
"Can't you... just restore it to original condition?"
I hastily cut off Noise's increasingly excited words and steered back to the point.
Noise pondered for a moment.
Then spoke again.
[Hm...... For a simple restoration like that, she might be more suited than me.]
"She?"
I asked about the 'she' Noise mentioned.
The response was.
[So...i, was it?]
Ah......
You're talking about my daughter 'Soi.'
'My daughter is good at sewing too.'
Another useless TMI added.
*****
My footsteps home were heavy.
Not from the weight of meeting Soi.
Just simple accumulated fatigue.
Today, I'd unexpectedly toured three ghost story locations, leaving me with indescribable exhaustion that made my eyes droop on their own.
......Yawn!
A yawn escaped too.
I wanted to get home fast, lie on the bed, and melt away this fatigue there.
Step... step... step.
It took longer than usual due to my heavy steps.
Step.
I arrived.
My rundown house came into view.
Fortunately, Park Yeon-jeong avoided the homeless-ending of sleeping on the street.
I immediately reached into my coat's inner pocket and pulled out the key.
......Suddenly, I felt immensely grateful that I hadn't thrown this key away during the standoff with the Queen.
I shoved the key into the lock.
Click.
As the door opened, a beam of bright light shone on Park Yeon-jeong, and as always.
Her shoes were in the entryway shoe rack.
"Master is back!"
"Yes."
An inexplicable comfort brought a faint smile to my face unbidden, and Soi greeted me with a bright smile.
"You came straight home today without detours."
Hee hee.
Her laughter trailing at the end made countless events of the day flash through my mind in an instant.
But I knew that wasn't what I needed to say to Soi right now.
"Yes, since Soi is waiting for me like this. I can't worry you."
"!!"
It wasn't a grand statement.
Just gratitude for someone waiting for me.
Sleeping here felt safer than anywhere else.
"And to eat the miso stew Soi makes, I have to come no matter what."
"......"
This was true too.
Soi's miso stew was the best I'd ever had.
If nothing else, since coming here, it was what I craved most.
Sizzle-
?
The surrounding temperature suddenly rose.
......My imagination?
In the atmosphere tinged with an inexplicable heat, I looked down to see Soi with her head bowed.
Staring only at the floor.
And she muttered softly.
"Master really...... has no self-awareness."
"Yes?"
".........I'll prepare dinner today too."
As Soi spat out her words and turned toward the kitchen.
I hurriedly grabbed her wrist.
"!! M-M-Master!"
"Ah, sorry."
I'd grabbed it without thinking.
I worried if my sudden action was rude to Soi.
But a faint smile spread across Soi's face.
"Shall I...... prepare dinner later?"
"......Yes?"
Sensing something off in her hushed whisper and sparkling eyes, I cut straight to the point.
"By any chance, can you fix this?"
"......Yes?"
I pulled out the item from my Employee ID and handed it over. Soi took the Bear Doll, examining it closely.
"If it's Master's request. There's nothing I can't do."
"Thank you."
Good.
Now our Bear Doll should be safe.
Soi hugged the upper-body-only Bear Doll I'd handed her.
"Then, may I fix this first and prepare dinner after?"
"Yes, I'd be grateful."
"Understood."
Step.
Soi left with the Bear Doll, and in the meantime, Park Yeon-jeong lay down on the living room sofa.
Flop.
My legs gave out.
Maybe because so much had happened today.
Just leaning on the sofa.
Drowsy-
My eyes began to droop.
The heavy wave of fatigue built up over the day hit all at once, and I belatedly realized how perfectly the sofa lured one to deep sleep.
Park Yeon-jeong's heavy eyelids sank all too easily.
.....
And he fell asleep leaning on the sofa just like that.
Rustle.
"Master will take a while, so maybe I should shower firs—...Master?"
When Soi returned to the living room.
She gazed at her master sleeping soundly and quietly on the sofa.
Smile.
With a warm smile only for one person, she quietly fetched a blanket and gently draped it over him.
Gazing at his face for a moment, Soi blushed and whispered softly.
".........Sleep well, Master."
Their long night began like that.