Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Cute!
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Cute!
The moment I saw that an anomaly was locked up in the basement of those cultists' building.
I was pretty surprised.
Doing something like that? Do they have two lives or what?
But the anomaly trapped there was just four at most.
On the other hand, this building?
There have to be at least dozens.
Beep-.
While I was thinking that.
The car the woman was in turned to the side.
Heading not to the big gift-box-looking main building, but to the smaller one next to it.
"Please move."
Then, people holding guns spoke in tense voices.
The woman and the others in the car followed them.
What is this?
This woman clearly seemed pretty high-ranking.
But now, they're treating her like a criminal.
"Please enter. We'll proceed with the inspection."
I soon figured out why.
It looked like they were going through a 'containment' procedure.
And guessing the reason wasn't hard.
They must have made contact with an anomaly.
Pretty smart guys.
Contact with anomalies is dangerous at any time.
Because you might get enthralled by one without even knowing it.
"Hoo."
The woman was soon isolated too.
The isolation room was like a bare little cell.
A stark room with just a bed and a toilet.
She sat blankly on the bed looking exhausted, then slowly lay down.
She fell asleep soon after.
Bored, I checked on my shadows.
All locked up, huh?
More thorough than I thought.
I'd attached parts of myself to everyone they'd made contact with, and without exception, they were all isolated.
Even the vehicle I left a shadow in was being moved somewhere.
Good. So, what now?
"Hmm."
I decided.
And the moment I did, I slipped out of the shadow.
The woman was still asleep.
In her current state, even a light poke wouldn't wake her.
But I had no intention of touching her.
'Might as well stick around and see more.'
If it were boring, I'd have bailed without a second thought.
But this seems way more interesting than I expected.
At least more fun to watch than that cult.
"I'm hungry."
But then. I got hungry again.
Compared to when I first followed the cult leader, it was barely noticeable.
But since I'd filled up properly for the first time in a while before coming here, the hunger felt stronger.
There must be something tasty in there......
No, wait.
I don't need to fill up on just that when I'm already out.
I'd stocked up plenty of anomalies to play with for a while anyway.
"Cake."
Right now, I want cake.
Black tea too, if possible. With tons of sugar and milk.
After pondering for a bit, I poked the sleeping woman's cheek.
"Mm..."
She stirred.
"Wake up."
So I poked her cheek mercilessly.
After about five pokes, she finally opened her eyes. And saw me.
Thud crash!
Her reaction was intense.
She rolled backward off the bed onto the floor and started rummaging through her clothes.
Looking for her gun, probably.
Even though she turned it in when she came in.
"Y-you're the one from before......"
Realizing there was no gun, she tried talking.
"Cake and black tea."
So I told her my demands.
The woman glanced at one side while listening.
There was a red button there.
"That?"
I walked over there.
The woman bit her lip.
I could tell what she was thinking just from her expression.
She thought I'd rip out the button.
Squish-.
So instead, I silently pressed it hard.
Wheeeeeen-!
Right after.
A shrill alarm blared through the place.
The woman's eyes went wide. Her face said, 'What the heck is this?'
She hadn't expected me to activate the alarm myself.
I'd already stated my demands, though.
Tatata-!
A few seconds after the alarm started, footsteps approached, and armed people rushed in.
"Don't provoke it. Try talking first."
They didn't panic at the sight inside and talked among themselves.
If they'd been noisy, I'd have quieted them down.
Good kids.
So I kindly repeated what I needed.
"Cake and black tea."
Confusion spread across their faces at my words.
"Cake and black tea...? If we give you that, you'll let the team leader go safely?"
"Yeah. Strawberry cake. And black tea with sugar and milk."
Soon, someone who looked like the leader hesitated, then replied.
"If you cooperate, we'll provide as much as you want."
"Okay."
Deal done.
The room changed.
Not as nice as the one the cult leader gave me, but it had a wide, fluffy bed and even a tea table.
The only downside? I couldn't leave freely.
Yeah.
This was the building full of those anomaly rumors.
But it didn't matter much.
I could leave whenever I wanted, after all.
And this room had one more good point.
Squish-.
A button on one wall that delivered cake anytime I pressed it.
"Wow! Yummy!"
I don't know where they got the cake from, but it was really delicious. Even better than the fancy cake the cult leader had a patissier make.
The amazing thing was that the taste was always consistent.
Not just similar.
Exactly the 'same'.
Down to the components beyond the flavor. Perfectly.
Impossible with human tech.
"Fun."
So the cake was tasty and fun. Very satisfying.
After stuffing myself with cake and rinsing my mouth with black tea.
Ding-.
A bell rang.
I went over and opened the door.
It was like a prison visitation room.
The difference? One wall was entirely glass.
I tested by knocking; it was super sturdy.
Took 50% of my power to break it.
"Oh, hi."
While I was tapping the glass. Someone came to the other side.
It was the woman I'd ridden with to get here.
"Have you been well?"
She gave an awkward smile as she spoke.
Her name was Jo Yuna.
Apparently the Field Response Team 3 Leader.
I sat in the chair and answered.
"Yeah."
"Anything uncomfortable or missing?"
"Hmm. Not yet."
Cake comes whenever I press the button.
Black tea arrives the moment I ask. I brought my bear doll, so that's fine.
"Glad to hear it. If anything's wrong, tell me anytime. I'll get you whatever you want."
"Really? Anything?"
"Huh?"
"Anything's okay?"
Her face got a bit complicated at my question.
Like she was wondering how to answer.
"Hehe."
It was funny, so I laughed.
Yuna awkwardly laughed back and said.
"Within reason. I'll definitely get it for you."
"Okay. But I have a question."
"What?"
"What's my rating?"
"Huh?"
"You assign ratings to everything you lock up here. What's mine?"
Her face got even more complicated.
Which makes sense.
I'd never mentioned locking up other anomalies or assigning them ratings.
"H-how did you know that?"
"Dunno?"
Of course, no plans to tell her.
Sensing that, Yuna's eyes twitched as she answered.
"I don't know. The researchers handle that."
"Got it."
I nodded. Then stood up.
"See you tomorrow."
"Ah, yeah! Get some good rest!"
As I left the room, Yuna waved late.
Teasing Yuna is fun, but there's even more fun stuff here.
Flop.
I lay on the bed and closed my eyes. Then focused on the shadows.
Flash-.
My view shifted.
A place with a computer.
I moved the shadow to the computer, then entered the password.
Beep-.
The Anomalous Phenomena Management Foundation's internal intranet screen appeared.
I controlled the shadow to move the mouse. Then headed to the anomaly management list.
"Let's see."
Click-.
Scroll, scroll.
All labeled with letters and numbers, so picking any was random anyway.
I clicked around randomly, reading descriptions to pass the time.
Then.
Something caught my eye.
[ARE-JE-117]
Name: Pierrot Joe
Rating: SAFE (Caution Advised)
This entity resembles an ordinary Pierrot doll.
Specifically, it closely matches the "Fun Friend Pierrot Joey" from Heirev Co.
The site where it was first discovered had 4 human corpses.
Analysis post-recovery confirmed activation occurs when left alone with exactly one human.
Upon activation, it sheds its original form, assuming the shape of ■■■ and performing ■■.
No activation observed in containment, hence rated SAFE.
Management Notes: Minimum 3 personnel for research.
"Hmm."
A doll, huh.
I looked down at the doll in my arms.
Come to think of it, I'm short one doll.
I'd meant to take the cult leader doll, but it turned out too ugly once made.
"Great!"
Perfect timing, since I was bored.
I focused my mind and quickly checked the other shadows.
They think they've thoroughly isolated me here.
My main body is here, after all.
But.
The shadows have already spread across half the building.
"Found it!"
And soon, I located the containment cell with the Pierrot doll.
I pushed the nearby shadows into the cell.
Then focused my mind.
"Ta-da!"
Teleported to Pierrot Joe's spot!
Unlike my room, this place was stark and barren.
Only one thing there.
The Pierrot Joe doll dangling in the middle of the room.
"Cute!"
The Pierrot doll was even cuter than expected.
The moment I grinned wide.
Pierrot lifted its head, looked at me, and grinned back.
Great minds think alike. Pierrot Joe definitely likes me too.
Swish.
And this doll even had moving functions.
Speaking functions too!
Crack!
Transformation functions......?
Hmm.
"No."
Snap!
I grabbed it as it tried to transform.
"That's not cute."
The original form is cuter.
"Stay like that, and I'll rip you to shreds and swallow you."
So I told my new friend sincerely.
Good thing Pierrot understood and went back to normal.
"Good kid."
Obedient one.
I picked it up and returned to my room. Ten minutes later.
"......What is that in the room?"
Yuna came panting and asked me.
So I smiled and answered.
"New friend."