Chapter 269: Ch 269: Rescue... Successful
Results of the second Sekwang Special Metropolitan City expedition.
"Rescue... successful."
News came in that Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae had regained
consciousness at the Disaster Management Bureau.
And the gimmick of ’if you die in Sekwang City’s subway, you wake up in
reality’ also worked successfully.
"Everyone was mostly fine, aside from the fact that their bullet-shot heads
hurt like hell. That Highborn Civil Servant even woke up smiling."
The party members died in the order they ’hit’ the jackpot in Russian
roulette, and then woke up in reality.
"They were smiling when they woke up, but once they understood the
situation, the smiles disappeared."
Except for me.
After that, for a little over an hour, I remained unconscious.
It seemed the others went through every possible worry, and eventually
things escalated to the point where they were half-threatening Ho Yoowon.
"If you’d been any later, we were seriously about to make actual plans to
head straight into the city. Thankfully you woke up before that..."
...Huu.
I looked at myself, once again returned to something not quite human,
wearing the black Security Team special uniform.
And then I saw the interior scenery, warm and soft, as if bright sunlight that
didn’t suit me at all were pouring in.
The Fox Counseling Office.
As promised, Ho Yoowon had ’intercepted’ the passage transmitted to the
Disaster Management Bureau through the well and connected it somewhere
else.
Inpatient
Rest Area ^^
This space, connected from a corner cabinet beside the waiting room,
looked newly built.
People woke up one by one on beds in this place that resembled a hospital
ward, and like chart labels, each bed had a name engraved on it.
For reference, right next door, the agents who had been relieved upon
seeing me wake up were now finally speaking with Ho Yoowon in stiff
voices about the situation.
"How is this even possible."
"Yes, it was barely a conversation! Earlier it was nothing but outright
threats, it was honestly terrifying..."
It didn’t seem like he had any intention of answering the Disaster
Management Bureau agent. That was expected.
Anyway, the important thing was that when it came to Sekwang City
exploration, Ho Yoowon would obsessively do ’whatever it takes’ to
provide support, anything he possibly could.
...No matter what happened in the process.
In any case, as soon as the agents confirmed that I had stabilized to some
extent, they tried to grasp what had happened...
"What reckless thing did you do this time."
[Oh. That sounds less like a question and more like certainty, Friend.]
N-No, I mean.
I hurriedly explained the situation.
With my explanation involving a quick game of charade and some written
words, the agents looked like they wanted to grab my head and shake it if I
weren’t a horned gas mask monster. But when they heard that Go
Yeongeun-ssi had carried me and fled, their momentum gradually died
down.
It was empathy from those who had already been through that kind of
miserable experience.
"...So Agent Mint helped you."
Affirmative
If it weren’t for Go Yeongeun-ssi, there was an extremely high chance that
all my body parts would have been stripped in there, and I would now be
working as a dealer.
And then...
"Did you hear why Agent Mint was in that disaster in the first place?"
...
"Roe Deer-nim? Why are you looking at me?"
Following my gaze, everyone’s eyes turned to Ho Yoowon.
Question : Criteria for spy personnel selection
"I’m not sure why I need to tell you that."
Criteria for spy personnel selection
Hypothesis: Selecting individuals connected to Sekwang Special
Metropolitan City.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
And he deliberately lowered his brows as if regretful.
"But that’s truly unfortunate... It seems she’s completely trapped inside
Sekwang City. Unable to escape even through death."
...
"But don’t worry. It’s fine if you help her while proceeding with my
project."
Bastard.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje asked for the others’ understanding, then
pulled me and Section Chief Lee Jaheon aside and spoke quietly.
"No matter how I think about it, this feels like bait... Doesn’t it seem like
he laid out a big picture to keep people tied to his project?"
With a cold feeling, I moved my smoke.
Affirmative
I don’t know when or how he drew up this plan, but there’s no way Ho
Yoowon didn’t know that Go Yeongeun-ssi was from Sekwang City.
’Someone that obsessed with Sekwang City wouldn’t miss a detail like
that.’
The thing he said right after I woke up was the same.
...As if he knew Go Yeongeun-ssi was trapped inside that city.
’It’s the same with picking Jang Heowoon-ssi, since he’s connected to the
Cheerful Research Institute.’
And... even choosing me.
– Have you found a reason to go back in?
I have a strong hunch that he didn’t simply pick employees with
personalities that would pass the Disaster Management Bureau.
I heard Assistant Manager Eun Haje let out a sigh.
"No wonder that bastard set this expedition’s objective so damn carelessly.
Was he planning to shove us back in?"
"Haje-ssi, everyone can hear you."
"Yes. Go ahead and listen. We’re talking about my cat."
It sounded like she was saying she’s sick to death of superiors and all that
nonsense.
And separate from how cathartic that felt, a complicated emotion rose up.
’How far ahead has that guy already planned.’
Of course, it wasn’t something that affected my decision.
From the start, I had decided to continue exploring Sekwang City in order
to learn more about this ghost story world and the circumstances of my
summoning.
Still, this strange sense of foreboding and unease lingered unpleasantly on
my palate.
"Be careful."
Affirmative
The one thing that was reassuring and comforting in this situation was this.
We achieved our objective.
"Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae is coming."
The fact that we properly rescued Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae. And
her mental state was astonishingly intact.
"Roe Deer-nim! Helloo!"
The very next day.
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae appeared at the Fox Counseling Office,
brought in by Ho Yoowon.
She was only released after passing the Disaster Management Bureau’s
’inspection’ and providing a thorough account of information, but the
surprising thing was that her eyes looked exactly the same as before.
Clear eyes gleaming with a green light.
"Thank you all so muuch!"
Moreover, there were no changes in her speech patterns, no signs of PTSD,
and no visible distress.
At most, she would occasionally slip into a dealer’s way of speaking or
casually let drop extensive knowledge about casinos.
"Hmm, I think the contamination I took on in the Casino of Corporeity was
stopped by the containment and couldn’t escapee."
"Putting contamination aside, it’s hard to believe you’re someone whose
entire body was taken apart piece by piece."
"Huh? The pain was only for a moment. It doesn’t hurt now, so why would
it be hardd."
She was even calm.
Considering how we suffered for weeks after getting caught in a noose at
the first station, it felt all the more bizarre.
[Ah, it’s like a wolf among sheep. You could say it’s an innate difference.]
That in itself felt strange, but something else caught us first.
An unmistakable aftereffect.
"But these don’t movee."
Her legs.
...The body parts of Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae that we couldn’t
retrieve from the casino didn’t move at all.
She had even come to the Fox Counseling Office in a wheelchair.
"Do you have any sensation?"
"Barely, I guesss? But there’s this strange phantom pain, and honestly,
’pawned’ feels like the perfect word. It feels like my will doesn’t reach
them."
Visually, there was nothing wrong with her legs, and even an examination
would probably find no abnormalities.
But the effect was unmistakable.
"The eye I exchanged barely sees too. Hmm."
’If I hadn’t stolen both arms and the pelvis from the rail...’
...I let out a quiet sigh of relief that the outcome hadn’t been more
horrifying.
However.
"...Grapes-ie."
Agent Choi looked at me.
"So Agent Mint carried you and ran, right? With her 150cm-something
height?"
Ah.
"Come to think of it, sitting all the time must feel stiff. Why don’t you get
up and try walking too, Grapes-ie?"
...
Huu.
Unable to use legs
Reason : Claimed as compensation by the casino
"...!"
Right.
Actually, my legs didn’t listen to me either.
That part couldn’t be helped.
But still.
"Mr. Roe Deer, are you unable to move?"
Negative :
Movement possible
It wasn’t like that.
"Show us then."
Like this.
Without moving my legs, I ’moved’ to another chair.
"...!"
Black smoke wrapped around me, and I appeared in another spot as if
melting into it.
It was a truly inhuman sight, but at least I did retain freedom of movement.
I manifested my body here and there, connecting through smoke like a
ghost.
Ta-da.
Haha, well, aside from not being human, it’s not too ba...
...
...Wait a second.
Did I just... use a word like ’ta-da’?
’...!’
After seeing an acquaintance left behind in an annihilation-sanctioned
disaster.
Calmly?
A chill ran down my spine.
’Again.’
The gravity and intense emotions I felt in Sekwang City were fading.
It was the same symptom as when Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae hadn’t
woken up.
’I was worried about what kind of situation Go Yeongeun-ssi was in just a
moment ago.’
...From now on, I should make a conscious effort to keep paying attention.
At least it wasn’t being forgotten entirely. I could still calculate and plan.
’Still, be careful.’
In any case, I stopped showing off and returned to the chair I had been
sitting in.
And Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, who had been applauding my little
parade of tricks, wasn’t finished speaking yet.
"Anyway, I should have said this first. This is late, but."
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae looked around at us as she spoke.
"Thank you so much. I survived because of you. Especially you, Roe Deer-
nim. You can’t even use your legs now either..."
And she stared at us intently, as if examining us.
"But none of you resent anything. Hmm."
As if confirming it.
"You all... really are such good people."
Our eyes met.
"I’ll make sure to repay you. I won’t forget."
"Hey, what are you talking about, repaying us. But if you really have to
repay something, how about quitting that nasty cult-like company of
yours!"
"Ack, that I can’t do."
"Aw. That’s too bad."
"Well, if there’s a chance to help someday, I won’t refuse. More
importantly..."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje tapped her missing part lightly.
"I figure Assistant Manager Dolphin might need something like what I have
too."
More precisely, equipment to replace an empty left hand.
That’s right.
Recommendation : Auxiliary equipment acquisition
Usage period : Until body is retrieved from the casino
In this setting, there are many ways to supplement missing body parts.
Just like the left eye of Baek Saheon, who was sitting quietly without
opening his mouth and calculating what to say for maximum safety and
benefit.
Honestly, I needed it too.
’If I go back into Sekwang Special Metropolitan City, I’ll be without legs.’
And there was also a promise.
’The coalition.’
The reptilian alien group that Section Chief Lee Jaheon belongs to said they
would bring me something that would let me take on a human appearance.
But if things stayed like this, I wouldn’t even be able to walk when I
returned to a human form, so either way, I needed equipment too.
"That seems to be the case."
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae smiled brightly.
"And we have to go rescue Ms. Goral tooo."
...!
"People as kind as her should be helped. I received a lot of help myself!"
Then she fell into thought, calculating carefully, before speaking.
"I guess I should go back to the company and make some equipmentt."
"If you’re making it..."
"That means going to the annex."
After a long time, memories surfaced.
The Twilight-class Darknesses stored in the annex, where Daydream
employees could prepare equipment.
[ Toy Maker of the Cheerful Institute / Qterw-E-07]
[Kind Seed Kit / Qterw-E-99]
[I Offer a Rite / Qterw-E-404]
Among these, the Field Exploration Teams used the ’Kind Seed Kit’ most
often, but this time... even if it cost more, the others seemed more useful.
However.
"Unfortunately, the company currently doesn’t support equipment
production using the annex’s Darknesses..."
"Then we can just do it secretly."
For a moment, Ho Yoowon was at a loss for words.
"What’s the reason support for equipment production was suspended?"
"I heard something happened in the annex, but I didn’t look into the details,
so I don’t know."
"I see. Please look into it then."
"Ghk."
From behind, I heard Agent Choi holding back laughter. It sounded like
Agent Bronze was patting his back.
"...Then I’ll take that as you agreeing to participate in my project, and I
should help you as well. You said you need equipment, right?"
"Yes. Will you give special permission, Director?"
"Hmm. Officially, it’s impossible, but..."
Ho Yoowon smiled faintly.
"Wouldn’t I be able to help you use it secretly?"
"...!"
"To do that..."
Ho Yoowon’s gaze turned toward me.
"We might need some internal cooperation..."
More precisely, the Security Team uniform I was wearing.
"Someone like a security personnel?"
And I already knew exactly who Ho Yoowon was referring to.
* * *
"Huu."
Park Minseong loosened the collar zipper of his uniform after a grueling
day.
Work had been piling up due to the recent incident at the annex.
After 130666 was pulled into Director Ho’s personal assignment, even
those who had been somewhat neglected were being mobilized
continuously.
’...Wonder if he’s alright.’
He had heard news once, but being accustomed to environments where
people died or went missing overnight, he alternated between worst-case
expectations and best-case hopes...
Since Guard Sergeant J3, wasn’t at his post yet for reporting, Park
Minseong sat expressionless on an old armchair in the Security Team living
area.
Just as he was about to close his eyes from fatigue.
"Minseong-ah."
...!
He turned his head reflexively.
"Assistant Manager...!"
A familiar face was standing behind him.
For a moment, he wondered if it was a Darkness-induced hallucination, but
the hand ruffling his hair carried a definite sensation.
"Been a while."
And behind Eun Haje, two more figures came into view.
"Roe, Section Chief..."
An unexpected reunion.
Although the situation and appearances were completely different from
before, that familiar composition made Park Minseong feel, for a moment,
as if he had returned to Field Exploration Team’s D-squad...
Question : Status of the Security Team personnel assigned to 130666
"We’ve been doing fine..."
With a lump in his throat, Park Minseong watched as the former members
of Field Exploration Team’s D-squad approached and sat down on the sofa.
"Alright. We have something urgent to talk about."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje casually draped an arm over his shoulder. Just
like back then.
’I used to hear this a lot when we were working...’
Slightly lost in nostalgia, Park Minseong smiled more broadly than he had
in days as he looked at them.
"Yes, what is it—"
"There’s something we need to steal from the company."
...Eh?