Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Peaceful Daily Life
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Getting the bag of money was great.
But...
Holding the bag, I looked around.
Yoo Daon stood there with a bag the same size as mine, looking dazed. Song Arin was with a familiar guy, her purple hair framing a face full of irritation as she scanned the surroundings. And...
...
"Could you... loosen these a bit?"
Jang Chaeyeon stood there handcuffed, head bowed.
No matter what, she'd been someone I'd gotten close to over the past few months.
I was thrilled about the money, but seeing her shackled like that next to me made me uncomfortable—embarrassed, even, for enjoying it so much.
...
"I have no idea when you two got so chummy."
Well, we'd just spent different amounts of time together.
The man stared at me, and I stared right back.
"Isn't it resolved? You could cut me some slack on this."
...
"You might not know this, but smuggling a containment object is the gravest of crimes."
Song Arin whispered it, listening in.
She wasn't wrong.
I worked for the Management Bureau, after all, and having dealt with containment object incidents twice firsthand made it hit even harder.
...
In the end, I could only lean back in my chair with a deep inner sigh.
Seeing that, the man slowly nodded and looked at me.
"How much do you know about the Cube?"
The Cube.
...
"Another deal?"
"I can guess what you're after. Just answer well."
The Cube, huh.
...
"It's called reality alteration, but there were too many weird things about it."
"Like?"
"It was too violent for 'alteration.'"
We don't call sucking things up "alteration." We call it "cleaning."
Spewing things out or sucking them in—both were far too brutal to label as alteration.
"And that's not all. It had a sense of self. That's weird."
Even granting it reality-alteration powers, speaking and expressing murderous intent were separate issues.
If we compare it to humans, it's like a robot vacuum suddenly yelling "Die, human!" and cursing at us.
...
"You know your stuff."
The man widened his eyes slightly in surprise at my explanation.
"You always manage to surprise me."
"No big deal."
He smirked at my response and placed the Cube on the desk.
"You're mostly right. It's not a reality-alteration device. More like a viciously huge vacuum cleaner—one with a sense of self, even."
"Huh."
"But we named it a reality-alteration device for another reason."
"What's that?"
"It sucks up abstract things too. Like... memories, concepts, culture."
The man tapped the Cube.
"It's got enough ego to lure people in, and its insides are so complex we still can't fully explain it."
...
"How the hell did Chaeyeon smuggle something like this?"
"That's what I'd like to know."
The man stared at Jang Chaeyeon, and only then did she lift her head to meet his gaze.
"How'd you snag it?"
...
"I don't remember."
Jang Chaeyeon shook her head, and the man smiled softly.
"Interesting. If the Cube absorbed her memories, they should come back when it spits them out—but they haven't."
...
"Does that mean someone else was involved?"
Someone tricked Jang Chaeyeon into taking this? Who? Why?
The man shrugged at my question.
Suddenly, I got curious.
"Hang on."
"What?"
...
"Back there, we heard about a 'contract,' and it attacked us out of nowhere."
Even a crazy AI doesn't just attack humans on sight.
...
"Do you know why?"
The man's expression grew odd.
...
"That's not a trait of the Cube I've heard of. First time for me too."
...
"What?"
"We have to keep all possibilities open."
...
"What if there's an organization hostile to the Management Bureau—"
"There is. Plenty. But don't worry about that."
The man smiled softly.
"From the moment humanity's survival was decided, the Management Bureau has never lost. Not once."
...
"Thanks for the story—and for listening."
"I—"
"I'll handle Jang Chaeyeon with the higher-ups. But you might have a slight headache ahead."
...
...
"What was that about?"
"Who knows."
With that cryptic expression, the man left, leaving just me, Yoo Daon, and Jang Chaeyeon behind once more.
*
Whatever the man said about taking care of it, it wasn't empty talk—Jang Chaeyeon was free soon enough.
"Here's Jang Chaeyeon, newly assigned to our HR Team. Introductions. She was at the Gangdong Branch."
...
"I'm Jang Chaeyeon."
Introduced by the Team Leader, Jang Chaeyeon bowed politely.
Honestly, I wasn't surprised.
What pissed me off was how it felt like that guy was slowly turning this place into a Containment Team.
But that was fleeting.
"Shopping."
"Suddenly? What about work?"
"Salary came in yesterday—I'm free."
Right after lunch, I declared slacking off, and Yoo Daon looked at me in bewilderment.
What can I say? Why else did I get the money? Time to shop, if only out of spite.
"Come on, Daon. Shop with me. We both got a ton."
"Ah, I already spent some."
"What?"
When did she spend it without me?
I shot Yoo Daon a betrayed look, and she waved her hands.
"I paid the Management Bureau to get it done!"
"What?"
"You know, my clothes got torn up so much... I asked for tear-proof suits."
"Why pay them for that?"
"They told me to pay!"
They're making me buy my own gear with my own money?
Is this a job?
Rage boiled up.
Someday you'll pay, Management Bureau. When that day comes, I'll be first in line to spit on your grave.
"Shopping sounds good anyway. There's a department store near Gangdong—shall we take the Management Bureau train?"
"Sure."
For now, I'll make sure not to forgive you on this train ride, Management Bureau.
I told the Team Leader, and he just said, "Yeah, go ahead," before diving back into his phone game.
Ever since the Butterfly's Dream incident, the Team Leader seemed to have really let go.
Thanks to that, we could go shopping.
"Here."
As soon as we hit the department store, I handed thick wads of cash to Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon.
"What's this?"
"Clothes money."
...
"Not shopping together?"
"Me?"
Yoo Daon widened her eyes at me, and I widened mine right back.
Why would I?
The thing I hate most in the world is trailing after a sister figure while she shops. Doesn't matter who.
"I'll browse my stuff. Meet at the rendezvous in an hour?"
"I don't need anything—can I tag along?"
"Nope. Enjoy your own time."
Jang Chaeyeon looked up at me with the wad in hand, but I ignored her and pointed at the main entrance.
"One hour till rendezvous. Dismissed!"
...
...
They exchanged awkward glances, then Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon walked into the entrance.
Finally, my freedom.
What to buy? Earphones—the priciest ones. And a gaming console.
Shopping around, peace finally settled in my heart.
Yeah, humans live to consume. This must all be happiness.
Working for the Management Bureau was the right call.
The hour flew by faster than expected. Hands full of bags, I waited in the lobby.
...
"Where are they...?"
Soon, I spotted the two.
Both carried paper bags—must've bought something.
"Here!"
I waved, and they slowly walked over.
"Good lord, what's all this?"
Yoo Daon eyed my haul, eyes wide, and snatched a few bags.
"It's mine."
"I know. Just helping with the heavy stuff."
...
"Sorry. I'm weak. Telekinesis okay?"
"Want to write a report?"
Chatting amiably like that, we headed back to the Gangdong Branch and stamped our Manuals at the turnstile for the train.
[This is your priority card.]
The turnstile glitched with that sound. Maintain it properly for once.
Grunting under the heavy bags, we descended the stairs.
Soon, a metallic, blood-like stench hit my nose—
Wait, what?
I looked around.
This wasn't the grand station I'd ridden from twice before.
Red lights bathed everything, the iron stench thick in a neglected basement that looked fifty years old.
...
"Huh?"
...
Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon followed me down and reacted the same.
...
"Wrong stop?"
...
"Doesn't seem like it."
No way.
I quickly set down the bags and opened the Manual.
[Office Manual for Desk Workers]
Q – Inter-Branch Travel
1. The Management Bureau provides various transport options for employees always strapped for time.
2. At Seoul Station or Gangdong Station, head to the subway turnstiles.
Hold your Manual—not a transit card—to the Line 1 turnstile. Descend the stairs to find the employee subway waiting.
3. Rarely, you may end up in a basement instead of the subway. Stay calm and consult the Manual.
Flutter.
A paper slipped from the Manual.
I picked it up slowly and read.
[Office Manual for Desk Workers]
1. Finding this Manual means you've taken a wrong turn into the basement.
2. Please follow the Manual's instructions. Non-compliance may gravely harm your body or mind; the Management Bureau bears no responsibility.
3. Open the door ahead and enter, but do not respond to anything that speaks to you.
4. If you respond to something speaking, close your eyes, crouch in place, and wait for it to pass.
5. Further instructions are on the poster after the room.
6. Do not climb back up the stairs.
"No way, if we just go back—"
"Wait!"
Before I could stop her, Yoo Daon started up the stairs,
—slash!
Something sliced, and her head fell.
Gushing blood, and...
...
"Whoa, that startled me."
Yoo Daon casually caught her falling head, and it soon reattached good as new.
"What the hell is this?"
...
I made a solemn vow to myself.
If I survive this, I'm quitting.