Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Figure Containing a God
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Ian and Kim I-seo boarded the elevator.
A fairly spacious area. Inside the elevator, large enough to transport patients, she manipulated the buttons.
She didn’t simply press the button for the basement. Like the urban legend called the “Elevator to Another World,” she operated a great many buttons at once.
It probably wasn’t actually using the urban legend. Unlike the Vatican, which rejected and exterminated anomalies, the Management Bureau focused on research and exploitation, but even they wouldn’t let an urban legend roam free inside the building.
It was only natural. An elevator to another world? If something went wrong, who would abuse it without knowing what might come bursting out from inside?
Anomalies were inherently malicious toward humans by nature, and those of similar categories often appeared together. Just look at the library Ian had visited—creatures like eye monsters other than the library weirdness had been prowling outside the door, hadn’t they?
If the conditions were right and there was a pathway, they wouldn’t hesitate to cross into reality. The moment a clear entrance like an elevator opened, the place would turn into hell in an instant.
If it were a case of the passengers crossing over, that might be one thing, but anomalies weren’t that considerate.
It was always best to assume the worst-case scenario.
[Input confirmed. Descending to the isolation rooms.]
While he was lost in thought, Kim I-seo finished her manipulations and took a step back. The elevator issued a guidance tone and began descending on its own.
A brief sensation of floating passed through their bodies, and Kim I-seo straightened her loosened necktie as she turned to Ian.
“The isolation rooms are places with extremely strict security even within the Management Bureau. It would be best if you read the manual before we go in.”
There was no need to refuse the offer. Ian stepped behind her as she began tying her hair and leaned against the wall, pulling out the provided manual and opening it.
A small notebook-sized guidebook.
The first page was nothing but an introduction. It detailed the history of the Management Bureau and when the Korean branch was established.
It wasn’t important information, but personal curiosity drew him in, so he read it slowly.
[The global organization known as the Management Bureau was established precisely in 1872. It began full operations during the Second Industrial Revolution and took advantage of the world wars to set up branches in various countries. Naturally, they obtained government approval.]
[The 19th and early 20th centuries were still times when many cried out the names of gods. But the state of the world wasn’t good then, so most citizens were more focused on reality than on unknowable entities called anomalies. Thanks to that, concealing and manipulating information was relatively easy. One could say the timing was fortunate.]
[The Management Bureau entered Korea in the early 20th century. Its history isn’t deep, but it has achieved explosive growth compared to other countries. Even if it falls short of the European Union in many ways, it could be called the best in the East.]
Full of self-praise, but Ian let it slide.
Ordinary companies started by explaining what kind of place they were and their advantages, didn’t they?
There was no need to shove the downsides at a brand-new recruit. Of course, Ian had no intention of joining the Management Bureau, so it didn’t matter to him.
“Hmm.”
He flipped through the manual to the isolation rooms section. At that moment, a partition quietly descended inside the descending elevator, blocking the mirror. Ian furrowed his brow slightly at the eerie metallic sound.
“……Why cover the mirror?”
“Mirrors are pathways connected to the other side. They don’t have much power in reality, but in the anomaly-filled isolation rooms, it’s a different story. There’s a high chance that the ‘you’ in the mirror could be replaced by something else, or your soul could get trapped inside.”
Kim I-seo answered with a calm expression.
“For the same reason, mirrors are absent from the isolation zones, except in specific isolation rooms. If you find a mirror in a hallway or restroom—anywhere without an anomaly confined—destroy it immediately or leave the area.”
“…….”
“I don’t think the wizard would fall for it easily, but you never know. Typically, the beings reflected and projected in mirrors possess the same abilities as the original. I’m worried that a copy of you might use magic.”
It was a reasonable concern. However, Ian personally didn’t think they could use his magic.
Even rotten fish was still bonito: all the magic Ian used derived fundamentally from outer gods. Spells to find lost items, to dream of sheep, to force a comfortable sleeping position, and so on. Even spells that didn’t seem all that impressive were ones where outer gods themselves designed the magic circles and controlled the flows.
There was no way some mere anomaly could replicate that perfectly. They’d probably overload and die trying to cast it.
Still, having something with your exact appearance burst out of the mirror or getting trapped inside wasn’t ideal, so there was no need to tempt fate by staring at one.
If it appeared, he’d smash it. That was all.
Ian nodded vaguely to Kim I-seo and peered into the manual.
Explanation of the isolation zone. It was fairly verbose, but condensed, it came down to this.
‘The zones are divided from 1 to 5, with more dangerous anomalies concentrated closer to Zone 5. Zones 1 and 2 consist mostly of tool-type anomalies.’
Anomalies came in many types, but only certain ones could be directly contained. Tools that bewitched others and living creatures that moved on their own. Those were the main two.
Tools weren’t necessarily weaker than creatures. Creatures weren’t necessarily stronger than tools.
Think of it like humans and wild beasts. No matter how strong a lion was, shove a double-barrel shotgun between its eyes and it died on the spot. Similarly, tool-type anomalies could easily kill creature-type weirdnesses depending on how the user wielded them.
But without a user, a tool was just a tool. Shotguns didn’t suddenly gain sentience, declare “I’ll kill you,” and pull their own trigger. In the end, it all came down to circumstances and matchups.
‘Placing the tools near the entrance is so they can be used when needed. They have no hesitation about actively utilizing anomalies.’
A design that was bold if you called it bold, reckless if you called it reckless. But since the approach hadn’t changed so far, it meant no major issues had arisen.
There was no guarantee it would stay that way, but no need to tremble in anxiety over unhatched futures. Ian closed the manual and turned to Kim I-seo.
“How do we plan to move around the isolation zone?”
“We won’t go below Zone 3 for now. Anything lower requires containment team clearance, so we can’t enter.”
“Isn’t Zone 3 still full of dangerous ones? That’s what the manual says.”
“You’re right, but up to Zone 3, there’s no major danger if you follow the rules. We’re not planning any containment team fieldwork, so no need to worry too much.”
The elevator doors opened just as Kim I-seo finished speaking. She put on gloves from her pocket and turned to Ian.
“From now on, stick right behind me. Don’t stray more than a handspan from me.”
“……Isn’t that a bit too close?”
“It’s for your protection, so please bear with it. If one of us has to die, better it’s me.”
She’d said it was safe, so why was talk of someone dying coming up?
Still, if she was offering to sacrifice herself, no reason to refuse. Ian gripped his grimoire and stuck close behind Kim I-seo.
[Bzzz.]
As if displeased by their closeness, the Deep Sea Chronicles vibrated briefly. Ian stroked the cover to soothe it as he followed her.
“There aren’t any remarkable anomalies in Zone 1. I’ll briefly introduce the notable ones and move on.”
She glanced at the grimoire in Ian’s hand, then walked to the end of the pristine white hallway and stopped before a door. A small lighting device above the door scanned her from head to toe.
[Identity confirmed. Agent Kim I-seo. Entry permitted.]
After the brief scan, the door opened with a dry guidance tone.
The scene beyond was more ordinary than expected.
A long hallway. Various doors and windows along it. Plaques with the names of contained anomalies, containment team staff in hazmat suits wandering about, and so on.
Aside from the overall whiteness, it wasn’t particularly alien. More like a lab than a containment facility. The two entered without hesitation.
“Ah, Agent Kim I-seo.”
At that moment, one of the busy staff spotted Kim I-seo and approached. She gave a slight bow with an expressionless face.
“Nice to see you.”
“Yeah, yeah. More importantly, why is someone from the Response Division suddenly in the isolation zone…?”
“I’m currently guiding the wizard. I heard prior notice was sent.”
“Oh, oh! Right. Feel free to look around. Of course, no entering containment team restricted areas.”
“Understood.”
“Then no problem. Follow the manual, and if anything dangerous happens, call the containment and response teams immediately.”
Kim I-seo nodded. The staff chuckled dryly, greeted Ian, and left.
The two slowly walked the pristine white hallway, touring the isolation rooms.
Ian let out a low groan as he stared through a transparent window that seemed like nothing was there, at a teddy bear displayed on a shelf inside. Sensing where his gaze was directed, Kim I-seo spoke up.
“It’s an anomaly called Love’s Teddy Bear. It feels strong attachment to its owner and acts like a guardian deity that saves them in danger, but if it takes interest in another human, doll, or animal, it rips out their guts and kills the owner.”
“……Who the hell named that?”
“Most anomalies already have names. If not, the first discoverer names them.”
Kim I-seo continued as she watched a staff member enter the isolation room.
“Love’s Teddy Bear isn’t that strong an anomaly. It can be subdued with raw force, and it stops moving if you blow its head off. Sew it back, and it moves again.”
“Strength level?”
“Normally, it’s just like a regular doll. But if you feed it blood or it gets jealous, it can briefly take on a bear-like form. Most casualties happen then.”
“Bears tear people apart.”
Ian tapped his cigarette pack idly as he watched the teddy bear sitting primly.
Completely limp, devoid of life. But as the staff approached, it moved its button eyes to take in her face.
Absurd as it was to see a doll move, it no longer surprised him much. Honestly, even if a stray cat walked up and started babbling in human speech, he’d probably just shrug.
“Shall we keep going, or observe more?”
Kim I-seo asked. Ian turned away without regret.
“Let’s keep going.”
“Understood. As I said, I’ll tell you about the most famous anomaly in Zone 1, then we’ll head down.”
“What is it?”
Ian tapped his grimoire as he asked. Kim I-seo answered without hesitation.
“A figure.”
“……A figure?”
At his echoed question, Kim I-seo gave a small smile.
“Do you know of Pygmalion?”