Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Finally, Success
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93.
Finally.
Side job success.
Successfully took out the two headaches in one shot.
But....
One worrying point: A-rank 404's true power coming into play.
I know to some extent the strength that emerges from 404's true power. Which is why the question is how long 'Thousands of Gazes' can hold out.
It's an item bearing the title of cursed item, after all. So I don't think it'll go down easily to 404, but....
No downside to moving fast.
I quickly eyeballed the remaining ghosts in this place.
Even a sidelong glance made the result clear.
At least ten of these ghost bastards.
'Why are so many left?'
The Quill Pen's current max capacity for ghosts is '10'.
The instant it goes over ten, I can't contain them even if I want to. Which means I'd have to leave the extras behind.
'Troublesome.'
I'd love to take all of them if I get the chance.
......No helping it.
Gotta save myself first.
I promptly raised the Quill Pen, about to stuff in the ghosts right in front of me first—
Totototototo-!
!
Familiar footsteps halted me.
I whipped my gaze toward the source of those cute little steps.
There, a woman came into view, riding piggyback on our bulked-up Bear Doll, clutching a thick stack of photos in one hand, her face bright and cheerful.
"...Here!"
Totototo-
The distance to the Bear Doll shrank, and she quietly handed me the stack from its back.
"Here you go."
Unlike before, her expression was incredibly... bright.
In the short time apart, she'd come back like a different person, showing no more fear at the sight of me.
'......Good to see.'
Unlike the worries I'd had when sending her off, she looked like she'd pulled herself together faster than expected.
I took the photos she offered, speaking in a warm tone.
"You did really well."
"......N-no... I didn't."
Thanks to her stellar work, the safety of every human trapped here was secured.
All that was left was getting out of this place, but there were still unresolved issues.
Blank stare-
'Why are these guys suddenly staring at me like it's such a burden?'
I could feel the heavy gazes from the horde of ghosts blankly staring my way.
Sparkling.
....
Their eyes were blatantly begging me to take them along too.
I'd love to, but with the Quill Pen's capacity limit.
A way to take the other ghosts along right now......
Eh?
There is.
A way to take every ghost in this place at once.
My gaze shifted back to her, peeking out from behind the Bear Doll, wary of the other ghosts.
"By any chance, could I get 'that' back?"
"...Th-this?"
Our eyes met with instant understanding, and the moment she handed it over.
I turned to the horde of ghosts staring at me with sparkling eyes and said,
"Alright, everyone...... kimchi."
*****
Thud-!
A massive spotlight flicked on.
Zzzt-
Static grazed my ears alongside a goofy voice.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong... Employee Park Yeon-jeong!... Employee Park Yeon-jeong!! Loved your stellar company promo! You really pop on screen!]
[Countless customers saw your promo video and are lining up with purchase inquiries for our products!]
"Good to hear."
Noise's voice was far more excited than usual as a swarm of White Librarians appeared before me.
Every one clutched a small party popper, and without a moment's wait—
Pop-
Pop-
Pop-
Pop-
Pop-!
They set them off one after another.
Noise's congratulations kept rolling.
[You went above and beyond today, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
As Noise emphasized just how much, one of the White Librarians who'd been popping poppers approached me and extended a hand.
I knew what this gesture meant.
—Item collection procedure.
[And not just customer acquisition this time—you seem to have captured a ton of products too.]
'...They were watching everything, huh.'
I pulled something out from inside my Employee ID.
[...Photos this time.]
What I'd taken out were none other than dozens upon dozens of photos.
I handed over the stack of photos along with the Quill Pen, a faint smile on my lips.
"This time, I put in some real effort."
Even before Noise let out a groan.
A few minutes earlier.
*****
I'd figured there was no way I could take all these ghosts out of 404's content warehouse.
If not for this digital camera I'd snatched from that 404 bastard.
'I'll put it to good use.'
I took the digital camera from her right away.
Click-!
Click-!
Click-!
Shutter clicks filled the entire space in an instant.
While packing in ghosts up to the Quill Pen's capacity, I held the camera lens out to her last—the one who'd fought so hard all this time—with a faint smile.
"See you soon."
"......Okay."
Click-
*****
And that's the full story of what just happened.
The White Librarian bustled about with the dozens of photos and Quill Pen I'd handed over.
Zzzzt-
The speaker static dragged on longer than usual.
[Never dreamed you'd capture so many ghosts in one go like this.]
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong, you give you one and bring back ten. You're turning into an excellent employee just like me.]
[Truly, outstanding!]
I have zero interest in becoming an outstanding employee.
'I'm fine like this. Noise.'
After endlessly heaping praise on me, Noise shifted to the standard procedure.
The White Librarians taking the captured ghosts meant...
Time for the Performance Bonus payout.
Zzzt-
[So for this task's Performance Bonus...]
"Noise. This time, I have a request instead of the bonus."
[...A request to me, instead of the bonus?]
Noise quietly swallowed its static at my words.
I held out a photo I hadn't given the White Librarian—one I'd kept close—and continued.
"Please send these folks back to where they belong, just like you did for Hansol before."
[...Humans, got it. That's no big deal for me, but... you sure you don't want the bonus?]
"Yes, I'm sure."
I still had plenty of financial leeway.
So I figured this was something I had to do.
As a human, it was my duty—and since I'd dragged them here, it was on me to take responsibility.
Noise took one look at my resolved gaze and asked no more about my choice.
[Then rip up those photos. I'll handle the rest.]
At Noise's request to tear the photos and summon the humans here, I ripped them without hesitation.
Riiiip-!
A small echo rang out like space itself tearing, and in an instant, dozens of people materialized in the library's central hall.
They looked around in bewilderment, as if waking from a dream.
"Wh-where are we now?"
"No way... caught again......"
"......"
Even with dozens whispering.
It wasn't rowdy.
Or noisy.
Their voices stayed hushed, like they were hyper-aware of something.
Probably because they'd witnessed 404 mercilessly dealing with anyone who messed with its content, having watched the whole ordeal from the sidelines—their reaction was all too natural.
"......Huh?"
As the dozens eyed each other anxiously.
One of them locked eyes with me, their face lighting up.
I reflexively met her gaze.
The only thing I could say to her right now was this.
"If the chance comes, let's meet again."
"Huh?"
With that as my final line, a voice emerged from the speaker amid static.
[Then, dear audience, please return to your original seats.]
[This is the actors' stage, after all.]
Thud-!
The lights illuminating the dozens winked out, plunging the surroundings into utter silence.
By the time the stillness—not even a whisper of wind—brushed my skin.
"Thank you for granting my request."
[There's no reason I wouldn't grant Employee Park Yeon-jeong's request.]
It was truly over.
The Friday task signaling the end of the week was done.
Zzzt-
Noise's low voice grazed my ear.
[By the way, Employee Park Yeon-jeong. Just to check.]
[You should take that mask off now.]
"......Huh?"
At Noise's question, I belatedly remembered the mask I'd clean forgotten about.
I slowly brought my left hand to my face.
Sss-
The moment I saw the White Mask forming in my left palm.
....
....
....
'Ah, Soi's gonna chew me out again......'
Thud.
I collapsed right there.
No....
Fell fast asleep.