Chapter 78
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Daily Life at the Fixer Office
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From the morning, I'd gotten a weird phone call that left a bad feeling, so I logged into the World of Doom Gallery for the first time in a while to leave a question for the veterans.
Truth be told, aside from posting question threads, I'd pretty much left the gallery alone. Now that I had some free time, I figured I'd do a bit of maintenance.
Block the malicious users reported in the complaint section. Give warnings to those spamming nothing but lewd photos. That was the plan when I opened the app...
[Hyung, total rec. Disaster monster runs if you upvote (777)]
[Plz come back to the gallery, owner (21)]
[Safety Rules for World of Doom Gallery Users (111)]
[Clicking the top post drains your mental strength (222)]
[Finally cleared 'Hong Kong Ham Market' (999)]
[If gallerying is hard, just don't do it (7)]
In the time I'd been away, the World of Doom Gallery had been torn apart by anomalies.
Posts with over 100 comments, abnormally high views, and recommendations were all content that gnawed at the mind or photos that drained mental strength the moment you saw them.
"These crazy bastards."
It had been fine just yesterday. What the hell had happened?
Wondering if the 30-day block had lifted, I checked the IP list of the anomalies I'd banned.
'No. The bans are still in place. Same as the first day.'
That narrowed it down to two possibilities.
One was new anomalies infiltrating from somewhere into the World of Doom Gallery, and the other...
'No way anomalies can make throwaway accounts, right? Nah. No way... right?'
Throwaways, aka dummy accounts.
These were alternate accounts.
The World of Doom Gallery was a kind of 'possessor privilege.'
It was a 'interdimensional communication portal' and 'possessor-exclusive community app' created so people possessed into the World of Doom could strategize anomalies from their worlds and share info to boost survival.
That's why ordinary people didn't know about the World of Doom Gallery properly or couldn't use it.
In a way, the gallery itself could be seen as an anomaly or urban legend.
And this app automatically generated only one account per possessor and didn't allow alternates.
In short, normal possessor users couldn't use the gallery if their main got banned.
But anomalies were different, it seemed.
'The banned posts and formats are identical. The tactics and methods to destroy the gallery users' minds are the same. Hard to believe completely new anomalies infiltrated. It's the same ones that got banned before.'
Looking at the post list, it seemed more reasonable they'd returned with throwaways rather than new inflows.
'What the hell are these anomalies? How did they make throwaways?'
Truth be told, I'd been curious about their true nature from the start.
What were they that they could access the 'interdimensional communication portal' only possessors could touch?
And how could they terrorize a gallery outside the system, run reverse gears, and now even make throwaways that possessors couldn't?
That's when I reached a terrifying thought.
'No way these things...'
Existences outside the system?
The ones I'd dismissed as mere demons and anomalies...
What if each was an anomaly on par with a disaster?
The ones I'd banned with a single click might be far more fearsome than I thought.
Wait, then no way...
Disaster-level or higher anomalies strong enough to access the interdimensional portal were posting nothing but these mind-breaking shit memes?
Why? Got time on their hands?
...Huh? Were they so bored they bypassed the system to make throwaways just for this nonsense?
'Terrifying.'
Disaster-level or higher anomalies with time to kill engaging in the worst trolling.
The moment I grasped the nature of the trolling, horror flooded in at their 'pointless time-wasting.'
These frightening things were doing shitpost terrorism against possessors?!
"Master, your coffee."
"Oh, yeah. Thanks."
Sipping the morning coffee Sowol had brewed, I hit [Block All Suspicious IPs].
[Suspicious IPs fully blocked]
Click.
This blocked all the cosmic anomalies' throwaways.
The anomaly posts flooding the board were swept away, and countless shit images deleted.
Probably quiet for a while until they make new throwaways.
[Where'd you die this time lol (2)]
[This owner's luck is insane]
[If you're gonna neglect the gallery, why be owner? (11)]
Posts from buried gallery users under the reverse gear started appearing.
And among them, I spotted ones condemning me.
Comments were cursing the poster, saying we'd all die if the owner fled, but I could understand their feelings.
With my work keeping me busy, I'd basically neglected the gallery.
It made me question if I even qualified as owner, but no one else could block these 'external existences' trying to intervene, so I couldn't hand it off.
And picking a sub-admin... that was tough too.
'Human minds can't bear the weight of a sub-admin badge.'
Sub-admin elections had failed multiple times.
The veterans seemed to know something from the start and refused the badge outright. Newbies who took it out of curiosity...
'All turned into blue people, from what I heard.'
Late discovery, but there was a rumor that getting sub-manager powers turned your skin blue like painted.
It stemmed from a photo and post by a former sub-admin, but when I looked, they were treated as nonexistent, post deleted.
And all listed sub-managers in the admin section had vanished.
Humans not chosen by the gallery can't manage WoD Gal.
Seemed like a hidden rule of the World of Doom Gallery...
'I was directly chosen by the gallery, so I'm fine... Can't give to humans, so maybe to an anomaly? Nah, won't work.'
Couldn't dump it on anomalies either.
All anomalies that could access were weirdos.
'Oh well. Can't be helped. They're used to it anyway.'
Surviving this long meant they were strong enough.
Even if the gallery got dirtier, the users could handle it.
"What're you doing alone? Show me too."
"Ahh... Don't suddenly sit me on your lap, Lady Hong-ran."
"Hmph, time to get used to it. Now, stroke my hair."
As I wrote a question post, bored Hong-ran clung to me demanding playtime.
Unlike Haeyul quietly watching TV, Hong-ran was fidgety from boredom. Wanted to play with me, but I was busy.
"Sorry, got work to do. Play with Haeyul for a bit?"
"But she's so quiet. No reactions. No fun!"
Haeyul, sitting beside me watching TV, muttered coldly at Hong-ran's complaint.
"Annoying one."
What a chilly response from the Ghost King.
Same era great ghosts, yet personalities so different.
"Hey! What'd you say? Called me annoying?"
"Yeah. All day 'play with me, pet me, brush my hair.' Obviously annoying. Think she doesn't find you annoying?"
"Don't lie! I'll ask her! Hey, Hyun-ah. No, I'm not annoying, right?"
"Pfft, annoying? Haha."
Laughing and saying no, Hong-ran eyed me suspiciously.
Haeyul sniped again.
"Hong-ran, stop acting childish. That child isn't your servant."
"What? Ridiculous! You always beg to peel that ge-mat-sal or whatever! You could peel it yourself!"
"That's 'cause it feels like receiving offerings if she peels it. Can't help it."
"You nag too, but only pick on me."
"Still less than you, Hong-ran."
Watching the two Ghost Kings bicker as usual made my head spin.
Hope they don't suddenly fistfight and wreck the office.
"Both of you, stop and eat fruit. Morning apples are good for you."
"Apples? I like pears..."
"Just eat what's given, Hong-ran."
"You picky eater! You don't eat bananas!"
"That's... they look too gross. Long, yellow, big... reminds me of that."
They ate the apples Sowol peeled and bickered on.
Seeing them squabble, probably just venting excess energy.
That bored, huh. Maybe take them for a walk.
"Jeez. Keep this up, no snacks after breakfast?"
"What? No threatening with snacks!"
"Yeah, snacks are serious. Can't miss ice cream 'cause of you, Hong-ran. Apologize to me first."
"You first!"
While they tugged cheeks, I quickly posted the question.
Title: Got a question to ask
Got a weird call this morning saying the fourth something won't close, hand comes back if twisted, so go there.
Kept saying backward backward something. Anyone know this call? Anomaly?
Who're you? Where's our cheat owner?
This guy's obviously an anomaly
Dunno what the post even means
Did I write it too messily?
Mind was scattered, sentences not smooth.
Still, veterans would get what I meant.
They deduce anomaly type and countermeasures from tiny hints.
'While waiting for replies, might as well claim rewards.'
Can't waste time.
Claimed rewards for the uncollected apartment purification quest.
Again, hefty cash... and...
Some peculiar organic lump dropped.
What is this? Twin Embryo? An anomaly fetus maybe?
"Hm? What's that thing?"
"No idea. What is it?"
Hong-ran and Haeyul didn't know either.
From beyond the door, definitely not of this world.
Unknown nature, but reward item, so keep it.
Plastic might spoil it, so sealed glass jar, marked 'Seal' with oil pen.
Won't escape easily.
Put in fridge, might spoil.
"Hm."
"What's wrong, Master? Too salty miso soup...?"
"No, not that. Waiting for a reply that's not coming."
Finished Sowol's breakfast, she did dishes, still no veteran comment.
No usual 'Owner~' speedy reply.
What? Comments were there before Hanmasae Apt normalization.
That great veteran gone in two days?
'Busy? Yeah, they have their own stuff.'
But one concern: veteran always online, replies in 20 min. Today, over 2 hours, nothing.
Asking directly where veteran was, no one knew.
They hadn't seen in two days either.
After replying about Hanmasae Apt two days ago, veteran vanished.
"Uncle! Off to school!"
"Hey, Yu-ha. It's past 9, aren't you late?"
"Late! Be back!"
Waiting for reply, Yu-ha rushed to school late.
Stayed up late yesterday, as expected.
Close to school, easier to be late ironically.
"Off to academy, Fixer."
"M-Me too..."
By 11, Hayeon and Yurim headed to GED academy.
Only me and 1F cafe girl left in building.
Veteran still AWOL.
"Still no reply."
"Who've you been waiting for...?"
"That veteran I mentioned. First time over half-day MIA."
"No way..."
"Probably not dead. But absolutes don't exist. Unsettling."
Rumor: veteran was Anomaly Management Dept agent possessed.
Longest veteran, cracked most anomalies, 7+ extra lives guessed.
What could keep such a one out two days...?
Guess I'd relied on them. Felt bad thinking unknown face might be dead.
"Yes, Lee Do-hyun of Fixer Office."
Waiting, got call not from regular like Park Jae-hyeon, but high Anomaly Management exec.
Sincere thanks for Hanmasae Apt help, notified of hefty request fee.
Gov't org, loaded. Bonus for all response team survival and saving Yoon Jae-beom, billions in account.
Unlike church splitting for taxes, gov't instant deposit.
-Oh, and Fixer. Time to visit Central Safety Bureau?
"Me?"
-Yes. Item to give you. Something need your check... We'll pick you up if you contact.
"Uh... sure. Will when free."
-Thanks. Have good day.
Call ended, inviting to dept sometime.
What to show? Don't wanna go basement. Not malicious, but entrusting something obvious.
Still, fat account feels good.
'Money again.'
Last week Lunar Blossom Sect rewards, this week Management fee, account stuffed.
'Buy kids furniture, clothes. Ah, Haeyul's dragon ice cream freezer too...'
Planning spending, called to Sowol prepping lunch.
"Sowol."
"Yes?"
"Want anything?"
"Already too satisfied, Master."
"Clothes you wanna wear?"
"Clothes?"
"Yeah. Hanbok good, but casual comfy too?"
"Uh... yes. Anything you buy, I love."
"Okay, department store next time. Clothes and such."
Buy Sowol clothes first before others.
Summer soon, need cool, loose fits.
Even if anomaly no heat, tight mourning clothes stuffy to watch.
Never properly gifted her.
Buy tons clothes, cosmetics, etc. Yu-ha, Hayeon know trends, bring them.
"Time up. Be right back."
"Yes... come safe. Quick."
"Got it. Quick trip."
Now 4 PM.
Solo, to roof by 4:04 as asked. Time to meet Eve.
Morning call clue-less, off to Eve.
She said yesterday had something to show. What?
Curious, pressed roof door button from 6F, waited. Exactly 4:04 PM, Eve walked to elevator.
"Ah, hi... waited..?"
"No. Just arrived."
"Good.. then.."
Eve boarded, elevator descended automatically.
Passed 1F, to basement?
Kept going down without stop.
"Going deep."
"Y-Yeah.. it's.. deep.."
Indicator neared -50.
How deep?
Over 10 min descending, no stop.
Speed increasing, left reality at least.
"Eve, where we going?"
"Well.."
She hesitated.
Looked tense, held hand to reassure, she mustered reply.
"The place we're going... no one should reach."
Elevator accelerated past -222, eerie announcement from speaker.
"...Announcement for passengers. You are descending toward the end of ██. This floor has no records. No stairs exist. Note no emergency exits."
Hidden floor reachable only by elevator.
Eve led me there.