Chapter 22 - The Director's Secret
The Director's Secret
Translator : Elizabeth
Flutter.
A street where thick darkness has settled.
At a point reached by the dim flickering lights of the city in the distance—
A woman with red hair staggered and walked under the streetlight.
"...Team Leader."
"Ugh..."
Shin Hae-in, who was watching that appearance, called her urgently, but what returned was—rather than human language—
"Thought I waaasss dying.... Urup."
The sorrow and fatigue of a spicy office worker looking like she would throw up her insides any moment.
"Te, Team Leader."
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Running hurriedly and patting her back, the woman's face, already white, turned even paler.
"W, Wait. If you hit now. Ugh-"
"Are you okay?!"
Like that, the Team Leader, soothing her stomach for a long time, collapsed in place exhausted.
"I, I will call the support team."
"...It's okay yep, they sent me back intact anyway, and stopped at just a warning..."
"Warning..."
"It was fortunate they were entities who were less angry yep. It was truly a peculiar Anomaly as our junior said yep."
"....!"
"Somehow, for a while, it might be very, veery noisy in the upper echelons..."
Shin Hae-in's Team Leader, the red-haired woman, predicted so.
Hong-yeon.
The owner of that name recalled the pressure of the Anomalies she just experienced.
Two existences she should never encounter originally.
'That woman.'
A beauty with black hair and closed eyes that were impressive.
However, the moment she faced that face, and the moment she looked up—
Hong-yeon felt a sentiment like her insides twisting once again.
"...Urup."
It was clear she was a type of Anomaly one should absolutely never encounter.
The same goes for the Anomaly next to her, whose lower face existed in a terrible form.
Doctor's gown, saw held in hand.
According to important information literature, she could recall without difficulty that he was the owner of Sungjin Mental Hospital.
"Our junior agent-nim."
"...Yes?"
"Just who are you meeting and going around with...?"
Therefore, she could understand even less.
Just what is the identity of that tiny little Anomaly existing nonchalantly among such monsters.
According to her common sense, thinking based on the content learned at the Administration Bureau—
Information that such different Anomalies can be placed in one space is viewed as bizarre and grotesque to the extent that the precedent itself does not exist.
"B-Rank danger Anomaly, and an Anomaly whose rank cannot be judged."
Normally, it might have been impossible for her to escape from that spot itself.
Therefore, she couldn't help but be confused.
"....."
That existence harmless to the world, wearing a nurse uniform.
Why did she let her go from that spot?
'Somehow, this might turn everything upside down again.'
Administration Bureau.
Recalling her future self who will be tormented while uploading reports again, strength drains from her shoulders droop and motivation disappears entirely.
"Junior agent-nim, shall we just quit being agents yep."
"Te, Team Leader...!"
Together with the restless Shin Hae-in, Hong-yeon returned to the Administration Bureau sighing deeply phew phew.
.. ... ....
[Title: So what is this place doing?]
- First time seeing a new tab opened like this since entering the Administration Bureau, someone explain plz;
↳ Why ask r*tard-ah, just one more Anomaly appeared yep.
↳ Why is the guy above so angry?
↳ Leave him, probably looked in a mirror or something.]
[Title: As for what this place is doing...]
- If you don't know, post a worship post first and worship absolutely so our Gallery Owner-nim can visit.
If you go against them, it is only hell, and you will receive divine punishment.
So that we can all live in this harsh world under that person's protection—
↳ Uh-uh why is this guy like this.
↳ Leave him, it's the usual surprise worship.
↳ No, so why fuck is there Anomaly Theology I ask.
↳ Ah-ah, about that...
↳ Ah.]
[Title: Why are we worshipping?]
- Didn't you hear the news about Sungjin Mental Hospital this time?
This time, if not for our Gallery Owner-nim, precious agents would have all died.
Don't know the incident where she suddenly drew all aggro alone and saved them?
↳ Yep I'm an F-Rank agent so I don't know?
↳ Author: Ah fuck get lost.
↳ ?
↳ Ah, F-Rank transmitted;
↳ No wonder he said he knew nothing, tool-shack.
↳ No fuck what is this hate, this is rank discrimination.
↳ Yep discrimination correct.
↳ Surprisingly shameless wwww]
[Title: Anyway]
- An Anomaly favorable to humans even in the Administration Bureau these days? Can't resist this fuck soft-bread-cheek-fat tak-tte saying this and figuring out the location right now.
In the aftermath, even a gallery was newly established entirely and gathering like this.
↳ Teacher, isn't the middle part just self-interest?
↳ Author: Correct but what are you gonna do.
↳ But seriously can't resist.
↳ Heard she is seriously fuuuuuucking cute, if I could see just once;
↳ Crazy bastards, still it's an Anomaly.
↳ SafeToday: What? Are you insulting our Gallery Owner-nim right now?]
"Wh, Whaaat!"
SafeToday!
Why is this person doing this here again?!
Shoulders flinched automatically reacting to the welcome name, but confusing emotions were still there.
A point where a storm has passed.
I was enjoying healing in my own way, but suddenly a gallery named after me was established and people are gathering from here and there rolling baits...!
"...Oh."
Feeling the vibration trembling vrr unknowingly, I snapped back to my senses and looked for the 'Mod' I made a connection with last time.
**[↳ User: Nim!
↳ User: Seriously what is this?!]**
I tried to understand the situation by pressing the trustworthy information source hurriedly.
**[↳ I don't know either;
↳ Instructions came down from the top suddenly.
↳ User: This suddenly?! No! How was my name taken?!
↳ There is an ability user in the Administration Bureau upper echelon who can borrow and see an agent's gaze or experience.
↳ Probably found out through that.
↳ User: ???]**
"....?"
There is such an ability user?
Too OP isn't it...?!
"No wait, then in the Daycare...?"
Clearly I contacted several agents then too.
Why was there nothing then, and only after meeting Shin Hae-in and that red-haired Team Leader...
**[↳ Because they are Awakeners.
↳ User: Ah.
↳ In exchange for using a part of Anomaly or similar power, they receive various interferences from the upper echelon.
↳ Instead, survival rate in crisis situations goes up.
↳ User: I feel like my world is collapsing gradually.
↳ It's an inevitable choice, because to respond to Anomalies, one must become a monster.]**
Seems I faced a quite profound truth.
If I remained an F-Rank agent as is, wouldn't I have been caught by unidentified men wearing sunglasses as is...?!
Thump! Thump!
"Ei-it!"
I tried to calm down by patting chap chap my chest starting to beat thump thump for no reason.
This damn attention-seeker cell, hearing my name is starting to get attention somewhere, is starting to operate on its own...!
[Title: So is that thing about receiving help from Gallery Owner real?]
"Ugh..."
Shiver.
Fact that the entire gallery is agitated because of me makes me feel tingling dopamine continuously.
Detox, need dopamine detox!
"Director! Directoooor!"
"Hmm?"
I ran dododo to where the Director is immediately and held out one item.
Held in hand is an earpick.
Seeing the homely item with fluffy round fur at the end, the Director who was cleaning in the Daycare hallway sat down immediately and took a posture.
"Hihi."
Putting the back of my head on the fluffy lap, along with the touch stroking the head—
Swish, swish.
"Hit."
Inside the sensation carefully brushing inside the ear, the dangerously beating sensation began to calm down slowly.
For reference, the Director could materialize and exist in the Daycare for about two hours a day.
When I first came to the Daycare, I was surprised she disappeared immediately, but the next day she came back and was in the kitchen so I was surprised.
"Thank you!"
Casting dopamine detox, leaving behind the back of the Director resuming cleaning, I lifted the phone again.
**[↳ User: So!
↳ ...?
↳ User: If a gallery is established like that, what happens how?
↳ First of all, information collection about you would be the priority.
↳ User: Right!
↳ But the problem is, currently there is absolutely no method for the Administration Bureau to approach you via a standard route.
↳ User: ....?
↳ The method to go to the Daycare is completely blocked, and don't know how on earth you went to Sungjin Mental Hospital this time either.
↳ User: I don't know that either though?
↳ ...Exactly. For now, create a gallery and must find information about you! This is the key point but.
↳ When it comes to actual information, there are only favorable reactions from agents returned from Sungjin Mental Hospital, so this mess happened.
↳ User: Uh...
↳ Working as a Mod, it's my first time seeing everyone praising one Anomaly actively like this too.]**
What is it. Is it good?
Anomaly is Anomaly, but the Administration Bureau has no separate means to threaten me either.
And hearing that agents are pouring out praise posts everywhere saying I'm a favorable Anomaly because of things I helped some other agents in Sungjin Mental Hospital.
"Just what is this situation...?"
Turning round and round, can't understand what's going on...!
For now, can I be happy...?!
"Ah-nit."
Barely regaining senses, I looked into the phone.
**[↳ ...And.
↳ User: Yep?
↳ For now, the Administration Bureau defined your danger rank as F-Rank danger—meaning a single entity 'within the line not harmful to humans'. Simultaneously, your information was entered as a replacement for the 'Daycare' Anomaly that disappeared.]**
"....."
F-Rank. Same rank as our Director's time.
Then did I become a formal successor, something like that?
"Uhehe."
A proud laugh flowed out unknowingly.
And simultaneously, it was also the same rank granted to me for the second time.
In agent days, feeling like a meat shield or consumable who really knew nothing.
Now a peculiar entity receiving everyone's attention, a worshipped Anomaly, yep.
Ding!
While playing with the phone for a long time like that, suddenly I lifted my head sharply at the clear sound heard in my ear.
"Eng?"
「▶ 'Daycare Director' seems to have something she wants to say to you.」
Tat-tat!
At those words, I ran the hallway immediately and entered the office on the 3rd floor.
Just in time, saw the shape of the black-haired beauty sitting on the chair.
"Director, did you call?!"
To that, the Director handing over a note with writing engraved with a warm smile.
"....?"
Receiving that with a rustling texture, I read the writing engraved inside immediately.
**「- Mysterious Homework to become a Good Child!
Try going down to the basement.」**
"...Eh?"
"....."
Looking back at where the Director was, she had already disappeared from the seat whether she entered a rest state.
Suddenly, piercing emptiness makes my shoulders droop.
What returns instead is.
Ding!
**「A Quest has arrived.
▶ Find and try entering the Daycare's basement」**
As expected, quest content exactly resembling the content written on the paper.
Did the Director's note become the cause?
For now, as ordered, I walked down from 3rd floor to 1st floor at once.
Just in case, pack the doll too, and pack the phone tightly in the pocket too.
.. ... ....
Basement, basement.
"Originally there was no such thing as a basement though..."
This was true before returning the Director's memories, and same after too.
Originally there was no place called 'Basement' in the Daycare.
But originally a place called Anomaly is a place where this appears suddenly or that disappears.
Thinking like that, I can understand quickly.
"Found it."
End of the hallway.
On the wall where originally nothing existed, a door I really see for the first time had appeared!
...Gulp.
Composing my mind for a moment, I grabbed and turned the doorknob heading to the basement.
Creeeeaaak...
Basement door opening making an old hinge sound.
As expected, unsuited for our cleaned Daycare, a feeling very old and dirty exudes lushly.
Why did the Director send me here suddenly...?
Such doubt also brief, for now I stepped on the basement stairs where darkness unfolds endlessly one by one slowly.
In the midst of that.
Creeeeaaak....
"Uh-uh?"
Clunk.
Ending with the appearance of the door suddenly closing and locking from the outside, I became completely trapped in the basement.
Suddenly a dank smell, ugh... Icky.
Still, since it's a place the Director sent me, it won't be a dangerous place.
If push comes to shove, have the doll too, and the Director will come to save me too, yeah.
Ding!
「▶ You have discovered another Anomaly using the 'Basement' of the Daycare.」
「【Underground Grocery Store】」.
"....."
「▶ This is a space where you can purchase various groceries, or cook and taste them.」
「▶ Title, 'Graduate of Sunshine Daycare's special effect activates.」
「▶ Your role here is, 'Precious Guest (VIP)'.」
"Eng."
Facing the status window that popped up as it pleased like that, I became a VIP guest without even looking around properly.
Our Director, was actually a gourmet?
Thinking of the physical condition looking suuuuper healthy, doesn't seem particularly strange either...
"Uh..."
Since I arrived for now, shall I try looking around what kind of place it is?
Director too, and status window quest also seemed to wish for that.
Like that.
I continued to move forward following the light illuminating the stairs dimly.