Chapter 95
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Special Hiring of Anomalies
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“You have the highest rank. You're the master of the fourth floor, aren't you?”
The Fixer’s question was met with a nod from the fourth floor’s sole Executive-level anomaly, the ‘Room Steward’.
Just because there are UFC fighters or national representatives among humans doesn’t mean all humans are that strong.
The same goes for anomalies.
Even among anomalies of the same grade, the differences in power can be vast.
Though called Executive-level, the Room Steward’s individual combat prowess wasn’t particularly outstanding. What truly mattered was the anomaly phenomenon it possessed.
[Name: Moss-Covered Room Steward of the Fourth Floor]
[Threat Level: Executive]
[Classification: Resentment Entity, Territory Dominator, Site-Bound Spirit]
[Origin: Desires of anomalies guarding the fourth floor]
[Exorcism Method: Burn the fourth floor of the Moss House or slay all anomalies on the fourth floor]
The fourth floor of the Moss House was a special zone.
A peaceful floor where Disaster-class and lower anomalies didn’t have to watch out for shamans or higher Executive-level anomalies.
The weak anomalies gathered on the fourth floor prayed for this place to be preserved forever.
Just as human resentment can create anomalies, the anomalies’ desires birthed another anomaly.
That was the fourth floor’s manager, the ‘Room Steward’.
“What... do you want...”
The Room Steward knelt unprompted and bowed its head. Not just it—the other anomalies dragged in by Eve and Baek Sowol were begging for their lives too.
They couldn’t even shake off a single human, and now a Calamity-level and an Executive-level anomaly that had swept through the fourth floor’s monsters appeared before them. They had no choice but to be terrified.
Some anomalies, like humans, felt fear.
Humanoid types or those below Disaster-class were like that.
“You, let’s do a job together.”
“A... job...?”
“Yeah. You don’t want to lose the fourth floor, right?”
“...Correct.”
“I’ll make sure you can keep living here. I didn’t come to take the fourth floor from you. Quite the opposite.”
The Fixer pulled out a single sheet of paper.
The paper boldly read “Employment Contract”.
“This is...”
“As the temporary representative of the Moss House, I want to hire you as guardians of the fourth floor.”
“Guardians... of the fourth floor...?”
“Yeah. If you go outside, you’d all die anyway, right? Surviving in the back world is tough. And running from shamans is hard too... In a way, you’re weaklings who crawled into the fourth floor to live like hikikomori, aren’t you?”
The fourth floor’s anomalies nodded.
In a way, they were hikikomori anomalies.
Too scared to fight humans or competitive among other anomalies, they had fled here.
They were the failed anomalies who had settled on the fourth floor thanks to the Moss House’s benevolence.
“Just... sign... this paper...?”
“Right. Room Steward, sign as the representative of the fourth floor’s anomalies. Then you’ll be officially employed by the Moss House. I won’t touch the rest. Use this as your nest.”
“What... do we have to do...?”
“Just keep kicking out any humans who come to the fourth floor, like you’ve been doing. Protect this place. That’s enough.”
“...Is that... enough...?”
“A lot of humans will come here soon. You’ll be the Moss House’s first line of defense. Get what I mean? You protect your own home yourselves.”
The Fixer hired the fourth floor’s master, the ‘Room Steward’, and all the other anomalies there.
In exchange for fully ceding the fourth floor, they would send incoming humans back out.
The employment contract the Fixer brought was prepared to use the anomalies as guards.
“I’ll... sign...”
The Room Steward scrawled its entity name on the employment contract in crooked letters.
Not knowing Hangul, it needed the Fixer’s help.
“A human... I can talk to... You’re the first. I’ve tried... talking to other humans before... but it never worked.”
“Yeah? It won’t work with others in the future either. So tell me the rules or code of conduct you want humans to follow when I’m around to make sure they obey.”
The Fixer began drafting a manual for the fourth floor.
Noting down what the gathered anomalies commonly disliked and liked, he created a total of 14 safety rules.
“Good. All noted. Kick out any humans who don’t follow the rules.”
“If... they attack us...?”
“The Moss House won’t attack you. If someone attacks you, they’re your enemy. Fight back if attacked. If you think you can’t win, hide. I don’t expect much from you. Got it?”
The fourth floor’s anomalies nodded at the Fixer’s words.
If attacked, counterattack without fail. Because they’d be intruders.
The Moss House shamans would never attack the fourth floor’s anomalies first.
“Then I’m off. If you need to talk to me, knock on the wall three times. The shamans will call me. Same for other humans—they knock three times to show they want to talk. Remember that. And don’t forget you have to follow the human rules too.”
“Understood... We’ll remember... and remember again.”
Now, smooth communication between the Moss House and the fourth floor’s anomalies was possible.
The Fixer normalized the fourth floor and headed straight down to the sixth.
That was when Baek Sowol glanced at the Fixer and asked.
“Hubby. Um... c-can I link arms...? We caught lots of anomalies... Reward me!”
“Reward? Sure. You worked hard.”
The bet’s winner was Baek Sowol.
Eve at Executive-level couldn’t beat the Calamity-level Baek Sowol.
“Next time... definitely...”
“Huh? Eve, what’d you say?”
“N-nothing. It’s nothing...”
“Wait, is it that? Do you want to link arms too, Eve?”
“W-well...”
Eve glanced at Baek Sowol.
She had clearly lost the bet. Baek Sowol wouldn’t allow it.
Sure enough, out of the Fixer’s sight, Baek Sowol shook her head vigorously and glared at Eve.
A warning to stay quiet since she lost.
“I’m fine...”
“I see. Then shall we head to the sixth floor?”
The Fixer and the two anomalies boarded the elevator again.
The sixth floor harbored far more dangerous anomalies than the fourth.
‘They said Executives are sealed there.’
The fifth floor: home to weak but human-friendly anomalies.
If one there suddenly rose in rank to Executive, it was sent to the sixth floor below.
Thus, the Moss House had sealed and abandoned uncontrolled anomalies on the sixth floor over time.
“The air feels different for sure.”
The atmosphere differed from the fourth floor full of cowards.
The sixth floor was fully otherworlded, and the moment the Fixer stepped forward, his mental strength dropped.
[Resentments of the impure attempt to invade.]
[Mental Strength decreased by 10.]
“Interesting.”
The Fixer cracked his knuckles.
He sensed five presences.
All Executive-level or higher.
“Sowol, Eve. You’ll help this time too, right?”
“Of course, hubby.”
“Y-yes... I’ll do my best.”
“Then handle one each, please. Capture without killing.”
The Fixer used the Boundary Key to release Eve’s rank.
In an instant, she evolved from Executive to Calamity-level anomaly, the ‘Threshold Guardian’, and quietly exhaled.
“...”
“Another... bet... this time too...?”
“...Sure, whatever.”
Eve proposed a second bet to Baek Sowol.
If she won, a five-minute hug with the Fixer.
Confident of victory, Eve made the bet.
“Bet? What bet? Tell me too.”
“It’s nothing, hubby.”
“Y-yeah... I’ll catch one quick. Do-hyun...”
Eve dashed down the hall.
Five presences.
She’d grab one first.
Bang-!
Room 606’s door exploded, freeing the sealed Executive-level anomaly inside.
Warning alarms blared throughout the sixth floor, speakers announcing an Executive awakening.
Normally, shamans would rush to reseal it, but no one entered today.
Everyone knew the Fixer was here.
“...If you don’t wanna die... crawl over here yourself.”
At Eve’s warning, the freshly awakened Room 606 Executive, the ‘Smiling Man’, raised his hands.
“Surrender. Don’t wanna die.”
Intelligent anomalies can gauge an opponent’s rank.
They could roughly tell if it was worth fighting or if they should flee.
The Smiling Man realized it the moment he saw Eve.
She was an existence where fighting wasn’t even possible.
A vast, unbridgeable gap existed between Executive and Calamity-level anomalies.
“Follow me. There’s a human in the hall who’ll hire you. He’s my master. If you’re rude... or defiant... I’ll ignore your exorcism method... and tear you apart.”
The nearly 3-meter-tall Calamity-level Threshold Guardian warned the trembling Smiling Man.
The Smiling Man’s face always smiled like his name, but now he couldn’t muster it.
An Executive-level was strong enough not to get beaten anywhere.
But before the berserk Eve, even replying was hard.
“I... will... obey... all orders.”
“Follow.”
Eve led the Smiling Man out.
Then she saw Baek Sowol dragging a half-dead Executive.
“...Fast?”
“You too.”
“Tie?”
“Dunno. I won’t accept it. Let’s settle it. Baek Sowol.”
Baek Sowol swallowed at Eve’s completely changed demeanor.
Her rank jumped two stages instantly, and now she wasn’t even polite. Mess up, and she’d fight until one side collapsed.
Was Eve scared?
No fear. But if they fought, the Fixer would mediate, and she didn’t want to bother him.
“Five-minute hug. I’ll yield it to you. I hug him plenty normally anyway.”
“Not greedy. Scared to fight me now that I’m like this?”
“As if. Even with your rank up, provoking me isn’t smart. I just don’t want to worry hubby. If he sees us fighting... he’ll get sick of us. So take the yield while I offer.”
“...Got it. Understood.”
Eve accepted Baek Sowol’s concession.
She didn’t want to fall out of the Fixer’s favor either.
“You two done already? Fast.”
“Yes! Hubby! Hehe, did I do good?”
“I-I caught one too... Do-hyun. Praise...”
Baek Sowol presented a severely beaten, half-blinded Executive to the Fixer, while Eve shoved the Smiling Man forward.
“Oh. They’re in pretty good shape. Lucky. All humanoid anomalies, so they should understand words well.”
The sealed ones on the sixth floor were all humanoid-like anomalies with high intelligence.
Meaning they could communicate—and feel fear.
“...”
“You... caught too...?”
“...How’d you... escape that... She’s a human with a Calamity as a subordinate... Terrifying...”
The three already-captured anomalies, fully overwhelmed by the Fixer, answered the newly arrived Smiling Man.
The Fixer’s ‘Intimidation Aura’ alone stripped them of any will to attack or flee.
“Now, you’ll all help me protect the Moss House.”
“Protect... this place...?”
“Yes. You two stay on the sixth floor and guard it. The remaining three go to the stairs, elevator, and first-floor wooden house respectively.”
“Where’s... the wooden house...?”
“The wooden house is the Moss House entrance. Need one to guard it. You there. You look the most presentable. You guard the first floor.”
The Fixer pointed at the Smiling Man.
In a neat suit, a modern anomaly perfect for gatekeeper at the entrance.
“Guard the entrance... from what...?”
“From anything trying to attack this building.”
“...”
Executives are foes even average shamans struggle against alone.
They only seemed weak compared to the Fixer.
Without Lunar Blossom Sect Division-level strength, solo exorcism of Executives is tough.
Raids in teams are needed.
Finding exorcism methods is one thing, suppressing until then requires separate manpower. Fail mental management, and team kills happen—extreme caution required.
“Understood...”
The Smiling Man nodded.
Guard the entrance. He said no other interference if followed properly.
Monthly three books of choice and unlimited coffee by type made him smile satisfied. That was his exorcism method.
“Here. This is the [Human Protection Manual]. All of you memorize it. If you mindlessly attack Moss House humans, I’ll chase you to hell’s end and make you suffer personally. This is a threat. Etch it in. Never mistake humans to process vs. let through. React if you understand.”
The five Executives nodded at the Fixer’s warning.
Distributing manuals to the anomalies, the Fixer finally sighed in relief.
“Now, to your positions.”
Thus, the Fixer secured five Executive-level or higher anomalies to guard the Moss House.
He was one of the rare few who could communicate smoothly with anomalies and suppress them, and the only human who knew their tastes and how to raise favor.
He promised each of the five Executives what they wanted—like coffee, books, blankets, or meat.
With clear rewards, no complaints arose among them.
Not that they could complain before the Fixer anyway.
“Then now...”
The Fixer prepared to return to the first floor where the elders were.
That was when Eve cautiously approached for her bet reward.
“Um, Do-hyun... can you reward me too?”
“Reward? Sure. Want to link arms?”
“Ah! N-no, not that...”
“Then what do you want?”
“Just... a hug for a bit.”
The Fixer naturally looked at Baek Sowol.
As if asking permission.
“Well, rewards are rewards. I’m fine with it, hubby.”
“Got it.”
The Fixer permitted Eve’s embrace.
Eve buried her face in his chest and hugged tight, as if waiting.
“...”
A grinding-teeth sound occurred, but the Fixer didn’t know the source.
“This... is enough.”
“Good if you’re satisfied. Let’s head up.”
Baek Sowol, arms linked with the Fixer again, and the satisfied Eve followed him to the first floor.
Time to give the Moss House people the ‘Anomaly User Manual’.
“That one is...”
“Eve. You might run into her in the elevator sometimes.”
Returning to the elders’ reception room, the Fixer briefly introduced Eve, back to Executive-level.
The elders gasped at the sudden new anomaly, but the Fixer paid no mind.
He believed elders could withstand seeing her directly. Indeed, they were surprised but showed no mental drain or pain. They could handle Executive-level.
“Now, please read the manual I made. Rules both humans and anomalies must follow.”
Anomalies had to distinguish and attack humans to prevent indiscriminate killing, and Moss House people needed the manual to avoid attacks from guard anomalies.
“This... is the rulebook.”
“Yes. Spread it to everyone in the Moss House ASAP. Five Executives roaming means mistakes could kill.”
“Got it... I’ll issue an emergency assembly now...”
Elder Bang Du-young relayed instructions building-wide.
Come to the first floor immediately. Always pray hands when using stairs or elevator.
Three knocks and prayer hands: simplest way to signal Moss House affiliation.
“Everyone’s gathered in the first-floor auditorium, Fixer.”
“Good. Distribute the printed safety rules properly. And call someone from the 18th-floor facility management?”
“Yes. Fetching now.”
The Fixer called the 18th-floor facility tech.
Said to be a half-blood who rarely came up.
“You called me. Heard.”
“Yes. Heard you manage Moss House internals. Straight to the point: can you connect ground first floor, fourth floor, and sixth?”
“...Pardon?”
“Meaning, screen people from the ground first-floor wooden house and send to different places.”
“So... send desired targets to desired floors.”
“Exactly. Good comprehension.”
“Seems possible. But budget’s a bit short.”
“Is it? Get it from the elders.”
“Pardon...? Me?”
“It’s for your use, so get what you need. If short, say deduct from my fee. Elders will panic and empty the accounts.”
“Uh... got it?”
Kang Yeon-hwi left dazed.
A barrier to teleport entrants from the ground first-floor wooden house to arbitrary spots would soon be built.
Then, Smiling Man screens first at first floor. Dangerous? Drop to sixth for scare and send back. Otherwise, to fourth.
‘Moss House elevators guarded by Myriad Forms Mirror in the glass. Stairs by Slime Secreter. Perfect.’
The Fixer assigned Executive anomalies to spots suiting their traits for best combat.
Hard for anyone to break through to the Moss House.
“This should do it. What do you think?”
“Uh... oh...”
In half a day, the Fixer tamed the sixth floor’s five headache Executives into guards.
The old elders couldn’t react to the absurd speed.
Fourth floor aside, even they avoided the sixth.
“How so easily...”
“Just asked, and they said okay?”
“...”
Elder Oh Mun-hak gave up understanding.
Too anomalous for common sense.
“S-so all entries blocked.”
“Even if they enter, problematic ones trapped on fourth or sixth. No worries. Dreamlike; don’t know what reward to give.”
“Just give money simply. Cleanest for both.”
The Fixer straightforwardly demanded cash.
Not just for money, but more’s always better.
“Oh, moderately please. Don’t dump all assets and ask me to take over. Got it?”
“Got it. Generous reward. Fixer, you worked hard today. Rest on ninth floor.”
“Ninth? That’s...”
Moss House ninth floor.
Strictly no children.
So-called entertainment district.
“Loosen up. Try Moss House specialties too.”
“Specialties too?”
“Yes. Plenty of food. Ninth is purely for entertainment.”
Ninth floor. The Fixer was already curious about it.
He’d heard from Yi Haeri in passing: floor where adult men and women—humans and anomalies—could date.
Probably that.
“Sounds good. Let’s go.”
The Fixer stood.
Baek Sowol immediately linked arms and stuck close.
“Hubby... no looking elsewhere, right?”
“I know. Just curious. You are too.”
“Yeah... hehe.”
Pure curiosity.
How do filterless humans date, marry anomalies? Half-bloods’ origins intrigued the Fixer immensely.
Ding.
At the elevator for basement ninth, call from Nam Yu-ha.
“What’s up?”
Should be time for Nam Yu-ha to finish school.
Normally, she’d call Jeong Ha-yeon and Go Yu-rim for meals or fun outside. Why call today?
The Fixer puzzled and answered.
-Uncle! Big trouble! Hurry! Unseal Haeyul...
The call cut before finishing.
Nam Yu-ha’s desperate shout.
And some explosion sound.
Simultaneously, an alert appeared before the Fixer.
[Unseal the Silent Sea Ghost King?]
-YES
-NO
The Silent Sea Ghost King requested unseal first from the Fixer.
Meaning Calamity-level power needed.
Nam Yu-ha under attack by someone.
The Fixer unsealed Haeyul without hesitation.
[Extreme shock received.]
[Mental Strength decreased by 100.]
In an instant, the Fixer’s mental strength was shaved off.
Seoul’s heart: Calamity-level anomaly, Silent Sea Ghost King, unsealed.
“Elder Ha!”
“Yes? What’s wrong, Fixer?”
“I’ll step out briefly. Guard well while I’m gone. Five Executives block all entries, but if any break through... You know. You’re the Moss House’s last bastion.”
“Don’t know what happened, but leave it to me. Guarding home’s my life’s work.”
“Good. Ah, if too much alone, wake sealed Yi Haeri.”
“Pardon? But...”
“I’ll take responsibility. Lunar Blossom Sect, church—I’ll block all. If you can’t handle alone, wake all sealed shamans on 16th. Got it? Never let anyone die to intruders.”
The Fixer entrusted Moss House defense to Yi Ha-il and rushed to the first floor.
Head to Seoul now.
“Boongboong! Sorry, super urgent now! Full speed!”
Boongboong, strolling reeds alone, honked and raced at the Fixer’s call.
No time.
Haeyul’s unseal activates in 3 minutes.
Fail to resolve by then, Nam Yu-ha’s life at risk.
Knowing it’d strain Boongboong hard, Fixer had no choice but full speed.
To reach Seoul fastest.
Vrooom-!
Explosive engine roar.
Bursting exhaust and deafening backfire.
Soon, car carrying one human and two anomalies sped through reeds.
‘Cloud Carriage’, anomaly after losing master, met new one.
Boongboong began folding space to run.