Sleep-Well Powder
Sleep-Well Powder
Classification Code: QNSFB - 1587 - 01.
Temporary Entity Designation: Candy Store Clerk.
An anomaly that manifests within the phenomenon temporarily designated as QNSFB - 1587, the Sinus Candy Prison Break Incident.
It is a newly registered anomaly in the documents managed by the Management Bureau alongside the update to the Sinus Candy Prison Break Incident.
It is undeniably precious.
Because obtaining information about an unknown anomaly is no easy task.
The problem was the price paid to obtain it.
"Our greenhorn, no, Hamhami. You've caused quite a major accident, haven't you?"
"Ahaha..."
Looking at Intern Cha Jiyoung laughing sheepishly, Team Leader Jeong Yeongeun of Investigation Team 2 barely swallowed her sigh.
Exposing the Management Bureau's location to an anomaly. This was no ordinary problem.
Even worse—.
- C-Come to think of it, I gave that address because he said he would deliver snacks.
- As for when he's coming... ah, probably within a few days, right? We didn't really talk about that specifically...
—The anomaly in question will, with a very high probability, attack again in the near future.
'It was an excellent response.'
The response shown by Intern Cha Jiyoung was truly admirable when evaluated on an individual level.
Even after dropping into an unknown space before an anomaly about which she had zero information, she did not lose her composure.
Based on her theoretical training, she initiated conversation to grasp clues and extracted information related to the anomaly.
She saw through the lies told by other anomalies and used the anomaly's patterns to overcome a life-threatening crisis through quick wit.
Giving a false name instead of her real name, and giving a location where she believed they could hunt the creature down rather than her actual home address, was also an excellent judgment in and of itself.
It was a performance hard to believe coming from a rookie.
However.
"Intern Cha. This isn't something to laugh about right now."
"Yeees..."
As a superior, it was a problem she could not simply overlook.
She had held back her scolding because it felt wrong to scold a kid who had barely survived and returned, but if other teams saw that goofy grin, rumors would inevitably circulate.
The corners of the sheepishly smiling rookie's mouth drooped like a scolded hamster.
"At the executive meeting held this morning. Your disciplinary action was decided there."
Even if there was a justifiable reason, she exposed the location of the Management Bureau to an anomaly.
If it passed without punishment, an undesirable precedent could be set.
Therefore, while extenuating circumstances were considered, it was not a matter that could be brushed off lightly.
A gulping sound could be heard from the nervous Cha Jiyoung's throat.
"Suspension. The period is one week, starting right today."
"Y-Yes. Understood."
She accepted it quickly.
Honestly, Cha Jiyoung felt a bit wronged herself, but...
An emergency state declared for all personnel.
And the Management Bureau's facilities team busy with exterior wall repairs and defense system inspections.
She was not so oblivious as to think she could avoid punishment amidst such an atmosphere.
"Then should I go to the dormitory provided by the Management Bureau right now?"
"No. Your location of suspension is Urban Legend QNSFB - 3783."
"Yes, I underst— Whaaaat?!"
Cha Jiyoung's pupils dilated immensely.
Paying it no mind, Jeong Yeongeun continued talking.
"I will send a convict to relieve you after one week. I'll give you one hour, so familiarize yourself with the relevant rules."
"W-Wait. That's not a suspension, that's exile!"
"Yes. I have something to say regarding that—."
"No, exile at least lets you live! Putting someone into an urban legend makes them no different from a pig in a slaughterhouse! How can the Management Bureau, which protects people, use an urban legend for punishment?!!"
"...Calm down."
Clap.
As Jeong Yeongeun clapped her hands, a light vibration spread through the air.
It was a reverberation sufficient to calm down the rookie who had panicked over the absurd reality of surviving an urban legend only to be locked inside another one.
"Calm now?"
"Y-Yes... I've calmed down. I mean, yes, Team Leader."
"Good. First off, Urban Legend QNSFB - 3783 is not a dangerous urban legend. Though I told you to read the rules, look. The rules aren't even three lines long."
Anomalous Phenomenon QNSFB - 3783.
The official name is the Wandering Dutchman, or Flying Dutchman.
It triggers the moment one touches the treasure chest on the ghost ship.
The person who touches it becomes the captain of the ghost ship and cannot leave the outside of the ship until death—that kind of urban legend.
An anomalous phenomenon taking place in sub-space.
Being an urban legend with a long history, it is one that the Management Bureau has already figured out how to enter.
"U-Uh. B-But still. Not being able to leave the ship until death means...?"
"Don't be so hasty. Read the sub-rule beneath Rule 3."
[3 - 2. Provided, however, that it is possible to hand over the helm to another person through special procedures accompanied by mutual consent.]
"I see. That's what you meant earlier about sending a convict to relieve me."
Cha Jiyoung breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, you won't end up not sending a replacement, right? Last time with the prison, you mentioned that pulling convicts wasn't an easy task..."
"Do not worry. The Wandering Dutchman, the Flying Dutchman, is an urban legend controlled by the Management Bureau."
If only a captain—more accurately, a captain controlled by the Management Bureau—is placed in the seat, they can drop the ghost ship's anchor and fix its location.
In other words, should the captain be absent, the ship departs in search of a new captain.
Which means it escapes from the Management Bureau's control.
"In short, death row convicts are already being continuously sent there. Meaning there is no need to get separate approval to requisition personnel. What you worry about won't happen, so rest assured."
"Y-Yes..."
"And, this suspension is also a matter related to your safety."
Jeong Yeongeun's voice sank lower.
Another gulping sound came from Cha Jiyoung's throat.
"The target of the anomaly, tentatively named Candy Store Clerk, is you. Rather than remaining inside the Management Bureau whose location was exposed, entering another urban legend might actually be safer."
"Ah..."
Of course, the subject of the 'safety' being considered might change depending on the situation...
Putting her in a prison under the pretext of protecting the captive the opponent is targeting left room for various interpretations...
...However, sometimes there are things better left unsaid.
'It's simply a matter of subduing the anomaly when it manifests.'
Stories where saying them changes nothing or only makes the situation worse fell into that category.
Though it was an urban legend, it was under control.
This was definitely a different case from dropping into an unknown urban legend of obscure identity.
Fortunately, the rookie in front of her seemed sufficiently convinced despite the omitted explanation.
"S-So, speaking of which..."
"What is it?"
"T-This is just my personal opinion. That's why I didn't mention it during the interrogation."
"I don't like beating around the bush. Speak quickly."
"Th-The anomaly I met... In the end, he protected me from other anomalies. And even when he raided, there were no casualties."
"...So?"
"W-Well... at first I thought he was just playing with his prey, but surprisingly he brought me back completely safely. ...If that's the case, wouldn't it be o-okay even if I don't take refuge?"
Jeong Yeongeun bit her lip.
There were things she wanted to say. There were, but...
Seeing how the rookie initiated the topic with excuses like it being a personal opinion or something she left out during interrogation showed she was self-aware of what she was saying.
"Ah, don't get me wrong! I'm not trying to defend the anomaly! But if he invades again, the Management Bureau might get destroyed, so if I go out front to meet him..."
The time they had spent together was short.
Even so, Jeong Yeongeun was confident she had fully grasped the rookie named Cha Jiyoung.
Because of that, her suspicion that she was doing this out of reluctance to go to the Flying Dutchman was brief.
"That's a result-oriented perspective. He left room to visit next time. He might be aiming for you to think that way. There are plenty of anomalies that claim superficial harmlessness."
"Th-That's true... I saw it when studying theory."
"Especially since I heard the entity you saw took a human form despite having an amorphous body. What if the reason was to build rapport?"
"Ah..."
Jeong Yeongeun quietly watched Cha Jiyoung nodding.
She would need to do a thorough check later to be certain, but mental contamination did not seem to have occurred.
And at that point, looking at this green, hamster-like rookie...
"And one more thing. How can you be so sure?"
Jeong Yeongeun suddenly felt a streak of mischief.
"Huh? Sure about what?"
"How can you be so sure that the one standing in front of you right now is really your team leader, huhhhhh?!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaak!!!!"
When she suddenly yelled, Intern Cha was startled out of her wits and fell flat on her back.
The sight of her falling on her butt and cowering in the corner was quite a spectacle in many ways.
"I-I knew you tricked meee!!! I knew it! You evil monsterrrr!!"
"......."
"I was wrong! Don't eat meeeeee!!!! Save me, Team Leader-nim!!"
"...Haaah. Intern Cha. It was a joke, get up."
"L-Liar! The moment I take that hand you'll eat me instantlyyyyy!! Ow-ow-ow-ow! My cheek! My cheek hurts! I'm back to my sensessss!!!"
As Jeong Yeongeun pulled hard, Cha Jiyoung's cheek stretched like a glutinous rice cake.
When she let go, Cha Jiyoung pulled herself up while caressing her stinging cheek.
"As I said, your suspension starts right away. I'll give you one hour, so get ready immediately."
"Y-Yes. And just one more thing."
"A question, right? Make it fast."
"Uh, it feels weird saying this, but... if that anomaly comes again, can we stop him?"
"Of course."
Jeong Yeongeun's response was swift.
Perhaps excessively so.
"The reason it was easily breached last time was because you were accompanied by that anomaly."
"Pardon? Me?"
"Part of the Management Bureau's defense system failed to trigger. There are still many uncertainties, but... currently we speculate that it failed to activate because it recognized that you, registered as an employee of the Management Bureau, were present with him."
"Aha..."
"So do not worry. This time there are no hostages, and no letdown of our guard."
In short, if that vague speculation was indeed true.
Even if he came again, there was no way the anomaly in question would be recognized as a member of the Management Bureau.
"Defenses and barriers strengthened beyond before are waiting for him. Endure for just one week, Hamhami."
Jeong Yeongeun patted Cha Jiyoung's buttocks.
She really was fun to tease.
At her flinched reaction, Jeong Yeongeun chuckled despite herself.
"I'll come pick you up after you sleep for just seven nights. I promise."
"Y-Yes..!"
Thus, while reassuring the rookie so confidently...
Unlike last time when she had been helplessly dragged into an urban legend, Jeong Yeongeun vowed to protect her without fail this time.
###
Meanwhile, at Sinus Candy Store.
:: Hmmm... I stopped by just to test the waters. ::
:: He definitely seemed to recognize that personnel chief earlier. Even though he was supposed to have reincarnated into another world. ::
:: Tsk. As expected of an agent, huh. His mental fortitude is impressive... ::
"Hm? What are you muttering about like that, Bell?"
:: Ah. It's nothing. Just saying it was really fun going out with you. ::
:: More importantly, how about some Goodnight Powder for the first time in a while? ::
:: It was an exhausting day, wasn't it? You had a hard time worrying and running around in case you got reported to the Food and Drug Administration. ::
:: If you inhale it, you'll completely forget all the tiring things that happened today and fall into a pleasant sleep. ::
:: Yes, completely forget everything... ::
" Ah, then I won't refuse. Thanks, Bell. "
:: Don't mention it. This is why I stick by your side. ::
The deep fragrance of flowers that he recalled smelling once upon a time.
The anomaly temporarily designated as Candy Store Clerk became intoxicated by sweet dreams that day, forgetting all worries and anxieties.
###
"Excuse me, can I not leave yet? It feels like it's been way longer than a week..."
"Pardon? The anomaly in question hasn't manifested yet? My suspension period is extended accordingly to match...?"
"You clearly said you'd come pick me up after sleeping for just seven nights...!"
"Team Leader-nim, you're not abandoning me, right...?"
"Team Leader-niiim!!!"
On the ghost ship, Agent Cha Hamhami's screams echoed out.