Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Forest
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A sigh escaped me naturally.
Was there really any need for this? If I'd just pushed through with my own strength, I wouldn't have had to join the Containment Team.
Lost in thought, I entered the Containment Team's office alongside Yoo Daon.
The Management Bureau was fairly flexible as an organization.
They'd even counted the unintended show we'd put on with the Troupe as overtime, earning me a legitimate day off.
What pissed me off the most was that now, instead of seeing me as some unlucky bastard, everyone looked at me like the inevitable had finally arrived.
It had been the same when I'd met the sunglasses guy.
"This is the second time, isn't it?"
"Looks that way."
"And how's Song Arin?"
"Are you worried about her?"
"She's a kid I was looking after, after all."
He fiddled with the bridge of his glasses as he spoke.
"She seemed... a bit shaken."
"Well, she's still young."
She really was.
"That wasn't quite what I meant... Anyway, she's been through a rough time."
"I imagine so."
He had the air of a seasoned office worker, but I was the youngest among us.
"Anyway, here's the incident rundown."
He handed me some papers.
On them was a symbol of a mask, along with lists of various details.
"You've met them, so you know. They're called the 'Troupe.' Their main gig is putting on plays to torment people, but we don't know exactly why."
"..."
I rested my chin on my hand and skimmed the pages.
"Most of this is based on victim and survivor testimonies, so nothing too surprising for you."
"...Most of it came from me, huh?"
"Yep. Even the stuff registered in the manual."
Anyway, he said, looking at me.
"There's a pattern."
"A pattern?"
"Strictly speaking, the plays always fail. The Red Lady one, A Midsummer Night's Dream—same deal."
"Right."
"But they always leave like they've accomplished something. Like a ritual."
A ritual, and success.
As I furrowed my brow, he spoke up.
"We don't have much intel, so that's all I can tell you for now. But..."
"But?"
"Be careful. I've told the Containment Team to work closely with you all, so they'll have your back."
"Not exactly thrilled about that condition, but... got it."
I nodded, and he gathered the papers before standing.
"Alright, I'll head out."
"Already?"
"Honestly, with you coming around so much, if I keep meeting you like this, HR will get treated like a second Containment Team."
"Get going, then."
He let out a big laugh at my words and left.
*
"What're you thinking about?"
"That my luck really sucks."
I kept walking, leaving Yoo Daon with a question mark on her face behind me.
-Thud, thud...
Each footstep echoed like we were walking through a cave.
"No one's here?"
-Here? Here? Here?
Yoo Daon's words echoed back.
"Yeah. Kinda ominous."
-Mi... no... us... mi... no... us...
My words echoed too, and then footsteps approached from far off.
"Come on in."
"Hel-"
I turned to greet them but lost my words for a moment.
Half his face was charred black.
One eye stared at me, yellowed and wide, while the burned side had a glass prosthetic.
"It's a bit shocking, huh. Office workers usually scream."
He chuckled.
Yellowed teeth flashed, and soon a translucent window appeared above his head.
[Name: Kim Seongdu]
[Age: 38]
[Talent: Flames]
[Talent: Flames]
[Background: Addicted to thrills, he wanders endlessly seeking stimulation even after losing half his face.]
[Weakness: Someone destined to self-destruct doesn't need one.]
"..."
His ability was flames.
But the weakness line stuck with me the most.
"I've heard a lot about you."
He bared his teeth, locking eyes with me.
Not sure if it was a smile.
"HR Team. The one everyone's talking about lately—Containment, Management, Response, doesn't matter."
He stared straight at me.
"The team that meets tons of containment objects in record time and somehow comes back without real damage."
His prosthetic eye rolled around.
"Sure, never mind why, but they have Jang Chaeyeon from the Gangdong Branch and Song Arin from Central. Still, the other two are total rookies."
"Jaeheon."
Feeling something in his gaze, Yoo Daon stepped in front of me protectively.
"Don't worry too much."
He let out a raspy laugh.
"Just called you here with a favor. Heard your team members helped out."
"..."
He kept looking at me and Yoo Daon with that not-quite-a-smile, teeth-baring face.
"...What do you want?"
"Nothing much."
He nodded.
"You've probably heard this a lot... but the Bureau's short-staffed these days."
"..."
Not good.
"So... we're calling in some Management Bureau help."
Worst-case scenario, the one I least wanted to hear.
"Us... helpful?"
Let's politely decline for now.
"Oh, come on. You'd be a huge help."
He continued as if it were obvious.
"This goes beyond a joint op between HR and Containment."
"...What?"
"Anyone in the Gangseo Branch who's not a civilian with some experience—everyone's getting drafted."
"..."
"Think I'm lying?"
Kim Seongdu pulled out a paper from his pocket, and Yoo Daon started reading it haltingly.
"...Gangseo Branch routine containment procedure..."
"Exactly."
He folded the paper and tucked it away, nodding.
"The Gangseo Branch manages a forest."
"A forest?"
"Yeah. So huge and dangerous, no one's ever come back alive."
I'm not an idiot; I'd never heard crap like that in my life.
Which meant the opposite—
"Right. It's usually hidden."
He smiled, reading my expression.
"Every year, we perform a 'ritual' there."
"...A ritual."
"But that's Containment Team business, so don't worry about it."
He waved it off.
"We're not saying you charge the front lines. More like backup and surveillance."
"So anyone with some ability from capable teams gets drafted, like you said?"
"Yep."
He nodded.
"Management Team's all in, some Response vets too, and Containment's rounding up the rest."
"...Then why call us here instead of just sending an official notice?"
"Ah. Well."
He stared at me.
"Curiosity."
"Huh?"
"The most talked-about team, big results in no time, names known in other branches, and they're office workers? Had to see for myself."
Then he turned.
"So I called you to look."
"...Just for that?"
"Yeah."
Crazy bastard.
"Prep's done. HR just needs to show up."
Then he turned and walked away.
What kind of person is this?
"Whatever. Let's go."
"...What the hell? Should I punch him?"
Yoo Daon whispered as we watched him go, thinking the same thing.
"Nah."
What good would it do? Sure, if we fought to the end, Yoo Daon would win.
"...But that guy. Kinda... yeah."
Yoo Daon frowned at him.
"What, you know him?"
"No, not that."
Still frowning, she spoke.
"He reeks of inferiority complex."
"...Does he?"
Couldn't tell myself.
She gave me a small smile.
"I'd know his type."
Her smile this time was a little chilling.
*
"...Yeah."
I checked with Jang Chaeyeon, and the Gangseo Branch's annual event was real.
"Each branch has its territory. Gangseo's the forest, Gangdong's the mountain."
Forest and mountain?
Reading my puzzled look, she shook her head.
"I know mountains a bit, but forests? No clue."
"...Me neither."
Song Arin chimed in.
Even after the Midsummer Night's Dream incident, she hadn't changed much from the Song Arin I knew.
Just occasionally avoided eye contact, stuttered a bit, or got jumpy.
"...Anyway. We'll see when we get there."
"And that's why we're going."
I stared out the window of the rattling van.
Same one from when we rescued Yoo Daon.
"Kids, is it okay to make the Team Leader drive like this?"
Team Leader grumbled from the driver's seat.
"You're not going into the forest, Team Leader."
"I wasn't invited. I wanna go too, y'know. Shame."
"You have the branch chief's direct line. Call and ask to come?"
"Jaeheon. My bad."
We bantered like that as the van drove to who-knows-where.
*
The van shuddered to a stop.
"Lemme see. Around here, I think."
Team Leader squinted at the navigation.
Dense forest, but sunlight still blazed through.
"Can't see shit."
"Hmm..."
Yoo Daon fumbled around with Team Leader to find the way.
"This way."
"Aha."
The van moved again, soon pulling into a massive campsite.
"Lemme check."
After getting out, Team Leader started unloading gear.
Camping stuff, cooler, jerky, combat rations...
...Combat rations?
"Team Leader, why combat rations?"
"Huh? Grab 'em."
He tossed some to me.
"Might need 'em."
His words amped up the unease as he unpacked.
This is exactly when to use the manual.
I pulled mine out and tried to open it.
Or tried to.
"..."
It wouldn't open.
"Ungh..."
I forced the cover, but no give.
"Grr..."
Held it tight, strained over and over, but the manual didn't budge.
"Ugh...!"
Even gripping with both hands and yanking full force, it was like the pages were glued shut.
"What the hell."
"What're you doing?"
"Manual won't open."
"For real?"
Yoo Daon widened her eyes, pulled out hers, and it flipped open smoothly.
"Works fine."
"..."
I stared at mine in disbelief.
Soon, it opened, revealing text.
[Employee Manual]
[Gangseo Branch, Forest]
1. Apologize.
The next page was blank.
"..."
What the hell is this?