:: Did You Call? ::
:: Did You Call? ::
:: Y-You walked Hamham-ssi home, didn't you? ::
:: During working hours! ::
Rolling her eyes, Bell opened her mouth.
However, that was no excuse.
:: Because by that time, we were past closing hours. ::
:: Telling a customer who came here due to our mistake to get out because we're closed? That's unacceptable. ::
:: Therefore, I merely stayed with her after hours and walked her home because she wished for it. ::
Truthfully, because my memory was hazy with fatigue, I wasn't entirely certain, but I had no choice but to think that way.
If that wasn't the case, it would mean I had broken this store's code of conduct.
The store's sole clerk aside from Owner-nim, who slept every time,
and at the same time, someone who had never once missed the 'Yesterday's, Today's, and Tomorrow's Excellent Clerk' selected every Monday—breaking a rule?
That was a case that could never have happened.
:: U-Uh-huh—. ::
:: This won't do. ::
:: Looks like you need a spanking. ::
:: W-Wait a minute—! ::
Shouting urgently, Bell thrust both hands forward.
However, exceptions could not be made to the rules....
I opened my maw wide with a jjeo-eok.
And just like that, toward Bell—
:: That rule you're talking about! ::
...Rule?
:: The one about not being able to leave the store during working hours. ::
:: I remember there was an exception to that! ::
:: Yeah! If I remember correctly, it also included leaving one's post during a delivery. ::
" ...Is that so? "
An exception, huh.
It must have been because cleaning up the exploded popcorn earlier was arduous labor.
Wearing an expression that clearly showed how much energy she had spent in that short span,
an exhausted Bell handed me the manual she pulled from the drawer.
:: Look, right here! ::
Upon checking, it really was true.
Beneath Rule 6, which stated that the music playing in the store must never be turned off no matter what happened.
It was written as a sub-clause under Rule 7, which dealt with leaving one's post during working hours.
[7- 1. Provided, however, that cases where the clerk directly makes a delivery shall be an exception.]
Mmm. Was it because it was an old rulebook?
There were many rules that were worn out along with the paper or whose letters had faded.
"And yet, amidst all that, this particular rule is written so very distinctly...."
:: ...! ::
Just as if it had been newly written quite recently, that is.
:: Maybe so? ::
:: Rules are added and deleted all the time, you know. ::
:: Don't tell me you think a law forbidding shooting people with guns existed since the Paleolithic era? ::
...Makes sense.
Don't people say that rules are written in blood?
In fact, this rule was literally written in a bright red hue like strawberry jam, but that wasn't the important part.
Actually, when you think about it, it was strange.
To think one shouldn't leave the store no matter what happens during working hours.
What if a fire breaks out in the building next door? And what if that fire spreads to our store?
Are we supposed to just burn to death?
'That makes no sense.'
It was a rule full of loopholes and plenty of grounds for complaint.
Until now, somehow no such accidents had occurred, so it passed by without issue, but.
Something must have happened regarding the delivery issue.
That must be why the rule was added.
Since it was a relatively recent incident, it must have been added just as recently.
In the end, an incident had occurred, accompanied by change.
:: ...Calmed down now? ::
" Yeah. I got a bit worked up. "
:: No, it's fine. I'm the one who caused an accident with the popcorn machine. ::
Deflating my swollen body, I offered an apology to Bell, who must have been startled.
Hyu, Bell sighed, sweeping her chest in relief.
Since I decided to go directly, there was no need to call a delivery service.
Plugging the cord back into the telephone, I began tearing open a piñata.
" It'd be good to pack it generously. It's a rather late delivery, after all... and it's snacks to take to a former workplace. What should I wrap it with? "
:: Mmm. How about this? ::
" Ah. Stylish. "
A skull pattern. Wrapping paper that little pirates would likely use.
Since it was the first delivery, I wrapped it meticulously.
" Well then, shall we go? "
Since it was in the manual, this departure from duty was completely legal.
I took excited steps out of the store.
And.
:: Haa... Haa... ::
:: As expected.. this isn't easy. ::
:: I can't do this twice. ::
" Huh? What did you say? "
:: ... ::
:: .... ::
:: .......Ssseueup. Hoo.... ::
:: Let's go together! How can you go ahead of your guide! ::
"Then don't dawdle."
Since we're leaving our post during working hours, shouldn't we go and come back quickly?
Grumbling at my rational point, Bell followed behind me.
###
The anomaly that might invade the Management Bureau again at any moment—the clerk of the Sinus Candy Store.
They knew the bastard's stronghold was a candy store connected to Hanhyun Prison.
Only, they did not know the specific entry conditions.
Because of this, most personnel guarded headquarters,
and Investigation Team 2, which was previously in charge of the anomalous phenomenon, was dispatched to Hanhyun Prison once again to approach it by searching for a way in, but.
- It's troublesome if there have been no notable results so far. You must be exhausted, and the people here are also growing weary.
- From what I hear, disappearances at the prison have been dwindling recently, haven't they? Both in frequency and in the number of missing persons, I mean.
If both the clerk and the owner were asleep, the store could not open.
It was the result of the clerk's kind helper, the little fairy, temporarily suspending orders,
but there was no way the Management Bureau could know of such adorable wit.
- That's why we plan to change our approach. They say it shares many similarities with the anomaly that left the leader of Special Suppression Team 1 unconscious.
- We plan to approach it anew by focusing on that aspect. Even if it isn't the identical entity, we might obtain a clue.
- Investigations from now on will be conducted by a detached team. Investigation Team 2 shall return to base as of this hour.
...That was how it turned out.
For some reason, she had a premonition that that team would also fail,
but feeling it would be unseemly for someone who hadn't found a single clue herself to speak up, she didn't bother giving voice to it.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Right, keep up the good work."
The shift change and handover were completed on site.
Receiving the salutes of the security staff, she entered the Management Bureau headquarters.
"I'll park the car and come in."
"Don't bother. You must be tired, so go on up and rest first."
After giving instructions to her subordinate,
Cha Jiyoung's direct superior and Management Bureau Investigation Team 2 Leader Jeong Yeong leaned her back against the building's exterior wall.
"Haaa...."
...The newbie. Would she be alright?
The Flying Dutchman.
As it was an old ghost story, it had been researched just as thoroughly.
Therefore, its safety was guaranteed, but.
Even so, a ghost story was still a ghost story.
It did not change the fact that an intern who had only just returned alive had been thrown into another ghost story without a moment's rest.
'I heard they're periodically checking her survival and mental state, but still.'
Haa. Another sigh escaped Jeong Yeong's lips.
Just how long would they have to maintain this state of alert?
It wasn't as if she could pray for the anomaly to appear, either.
"Good grief, what are you worrying about so much again? Sighing like that will make the ground cave in."
...This irritating voice. How does she manage to find me the second I arrive?
My head was already pounding, and now a nuisance had been added to the mix.
"...Team Leader Han Taehee-nim."
"Yo."
Jeong Yeong turned around.
Her long-time nemesis and Head of the General Personnel Team at the Management Bureau, Han Taehee, was waving a hand.
"Shall I guess? You're worried about the newbie, right?"
"......."
"Aish. Honestly, our Team 2 Leader is too soft-hearted for her own good."
"And Personnel Team Leader-nim is too wicked for her own good."
"Hahaha. Our Yeong-ie is truly consistent as ever."
Making a middle-aged man-like grunt of "Eut-cha," General Personnel Team Leader Han Taehee leaned against the exterior wall beside Jeong Yeong.
"I told you that you could call me eonni. Why does our Yeong-ie hate me so much, sheesh."
"Are you asking because you really don't know?"
"I know, of course I know. That's why I'm even more hurt. I understand our Yeong-ie's heart so well. Why doesn't our Yeong-ie understand eonni's heart at all?"
Jeong Yeong was about to tell her to stop saying such repulsive things, but.
Feeling that talking back would only make the human before her eyes happier for some reason, she decided to just ignore it.
The Management Bureau. A paranormal institution that protects humanity from anomalies and ghost stories.
In such an organization, just how did a person like that, who views humans merely as numbers, rise all the way to the position of General Personnel Team Leader?
'If this isn't a ghost story in itself, I don't know what is.'
Whether she knew Jeong Yeong's inner thoughts or not, Han Taehee leisurely sloshed the canned coffee she brought along.
"Is there none for me?"
"How could I have known Yeong-ie would arrive right now to bring one? And even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't drink it, right? Because it's from me."
"You know me well."
"It's been years since we've known each other. By the way, what about cigarettes? Not smoking?"
"It's been ages since I quit."
"No wonder. I haven't seen you smoking at all lately. Could it be—."
"......."
"—Ahaha. Right, right, there's no way you refrained from smoking out of consideration for me. It's a joke, so don't scowl like that, Yeong-ah. Your mug looks murderous enough as it is."
...Right. She must have earned that position with that silver tongue of hers.
Both of them knew full well that wasn't what she originally intended to say.
She had brought up words meant to provoke, but realizing that the spot she was poking was an untouchable nerve, she slickly switched topics.
Even though Jeong Yeong disliked Han Taehee, she couldn't help but acknowledge this one skill in worldly navigation.
"By the way, what a shame. If you'd come just a little earlier, you could've attended the internal training session I conducted today."
"I came late specifically to avoid listening to that."
"Really?"
Chiik.
It was the sound of the canned coffee in Han Taehee's hand cracking open.
Watching Han Taehee chug the freshly opened canned coffee, Jeong Yeong felt a craving for the cigarettes she had quit.
At this rate, she would ramble on about the training she conducted.
She wasn't particularly curious.
Boredom was one thing, but a training session led by someone deemed less suited for the Management Bureau than anyone else...
"By the way, is that anomaly really that terrifying?"
Would it even be worth listening to?
This time, it was Jeong Yeong's turn to switch the subject.
"I read the opinion attached to the report section thoroughly."
"...!"
"Even though it was written in text, it felt as though I could see a prematurely terrified expression. It was quite vivid, you know?"
Just because one was a member of the Management Bureau did not mean everyone possessed combat capability.
The General Personnel Team was a department in charge of administration.
In other words, they were non-combat personnel equipped only with knowledge of paranormal phenomena, unable to directly confront anomalies and ghost stories.
Therefore, this topic change also carried a shade of intimidation.
Telling her not to even think about lecturing her on mental fortitude when she didn't even step into the field anymore.
If it was the quick-witted Han Taehee, she would fully comprehend the hidden meaning beneath the words.
"Ha, haha."
Indeed, a faintly trembling laugh came back in response.
Jeong Yeong could easily guess what words would come out of Han Taehee's mouth next.
- It came back once, didn't it? Didn't you see the building's exterior wall destroyed?
- And haven't you heard the news that Suppression Team 1 Leader got taken out by a similar anomaly? Are your eyes and ears just knot-holes?
- Honestly, our Yeong-ie is really something. For a field agent to have such poor judgment.
Something along those lines would come out.
The Han Taehee Jeong Yeong knew was that kind of person.
"...It's because you haven't seen it, that's why."
It wasn't.
"That dripping filth. That grotesquely distorted voice that doesn't belong to a human. Yeah, I understand why you look down on me. It's been a long time since I left the field, after all."
Jeong Yeong's prediction was completely off the mark.
"But it's not like I've never experienced anomalies and ghost stories either. What I saw that day was... unlike anything else."
What dwelled within Han Taehee's voice was pure terror.
The one who was rather taken aback by that fact was Jeong Yeong, who had provoked her.
"I'm an executive of the Management Bureau too. I have self-awareness. That's why I avoided discouraging personal opinions as much as possible, but..."
The Han Taehee Jeong Yeong knew wasn't a particularly brave person,
but even so, she wasn't such a coward that she would tremble just from recalling the appearance of an anomaly.
Heartfelt concern.
The moment she realized the meaning implied in Han Taehee's voice, Jeong Yeong couldn't help but be bewildered.
And before her bewilderment could even fade.
Kwaang-!
"W-What is that?!"
It was just like thunder, yet the sky was clear.
Jeong Yeong and Han Taehee looked up in confusion,
:: That just now. ::
:: Were you talking about me? ::
there was a voice chiming in at that brief moment.
"...!"
Dripping filth. A fluid form that seemed as if a shadow had been molded into human shape.
From the spot where the roar had echoed toward the place where the voice was heard, Jeong Yeong turned around.
:: Hello? ::
As if glaring down from the abyss,
her gaze met the dark-red pupils staring intently down at her.