The Sergeant gave me a towel so I could clean up my blood-stained cleaning uniform.
I wiped the uniform mechanically, trying my best not to look beside me.
Because right there lay the bizarre corpse of the Church of the Luminous Unknown member, whose head had been burst open by the Sergeant.
-Hmph. Certainly not a pleasant sight! Soiling the floor without any sense of aesthetics... Oh, Mr. Roe Deer! An interesting phenomenon is occurring!
“…??”
I reflexively turned my head.
The spot where the blood, flesh, and crushed head had been tossed was already melting away.
As if time were rapidly rewinding, the things drying on the floor transformed into someone’s shriveled body….
A human corpse.
From the wide-open mouth of the person, who was so emaciated their identity couldn't even be identified, fell a piece of old, withered, rolled-up paper.
The inner side, which had been inscribed with unrecognizable golden characters, wriggled the moment my gaze touched it and changed into Korean.
Imitator Scripture Section 4
Story Snatcher
“…!”
It was the Divine Law.
In a sense, it was like a ghost story generator for the Church of the Luminous Unknown.
When an initiate swallows a fragment of the Sacred Law Scripture and performs a ritual at the altar, they become able to use the corresponding Divine Power.
The Sergeant slowly approached it and crouched down.
I thought he was probably going to take it….
“It’s Grade 4… Hey, do you want to have it?”
Excuse me?
“The company… seems to buy them for a bit of a high price…. Just sell it later and say you got it somewhere else…….”
“…Mr. Jay handled it, is it really okay for me to take it personally like that?”
“What does it matter……”
“…….”
“I don’t particularly… need money….”
No, I meant whether it was okay for me to take it personally when the company’s security squad was involved….
Anyway, since he was giving it to me, I snatched it up.
“Thank you.”
Because several uses immediately came to mind other than selling it to the company.
‘The more cards I can play, the better.’
Besides, I went through all this hell, so I might as well get something out of it….
To avoid any potential influence, I wrapped the item in ‘Wrapping Paper 12B357Na’ and put it into my inventory while pretending to put it in my pocket.
‘Whew.’
“Thank you… once again for your help. You saved my life.”
“It was nothing…….”
In the meantime, the memories of the past two days were slowly returning to my mind.
A dry, monotonous daily routine.
Moments that passed in an instant, with no particular peculiarities, so there was no need to even write them in a diary.
The kind of days that would vanish from memory after about a year… so, in terms of a novel, they would fall under a ‘narrative skip.’
That’s why it was chilling.
It felt like my time had been sucked away.
‘The Church of the Luminous Unknown… they really are the worst.’
There was a reason why they were the group I least wanted to get involved with among the three factions.
‘Ghost stories that blend into reality.’
I never expected to encounter one while cleaning. I knew there were members of the Church of the Luminous Unknown infiltrated into Daydream Inc., but to meet an escaping containment cell entity like this without any preparation….
‘I’m glad I’m alive.’
I let out a deep sigh of relief. Now I just wanted to go home and rest….
“Ah, he was here… in the corridor.”
Drrrr.
Beyond the door of Containment Corridor B, which the Sergeant opened, a man in an orange uniform who had lost consciousness slid down.
The cleaner who had entered with me.
“…Chief Badger!”
Argh!
You were here on the third day too!
Fortunately, Supervisor Park Minseong regained consciousness shortly after being moved to the breakroom.
“……Uh? What? What happened… someone pushed me,”
“There was an escape commotion in the containment cell.”
“Huh?!”
I explained everything I had experienced so far.
For the record, during this process, the Sergeant only nodded occasionally when prompted. He seemed to have absolutely zero desire to interrogate me about how I already knew about the Church of the Luminous Unknown.
It just…… felt like he didn't want to work….
‘…Well, he is a permanent employee, so I guess that makes sense.’
I understood.
And Supervisor Park Minseong’s complexion changed as he understood my explanation.
“Certainly, I don’t remember well what Roe did on the 1st and 2nd days… It just feels like we finished the cleaning well without any problems. That’s how it remains.”
“…….”
“That cult is scary.”
“I know, right?”
The Imitator of the Church of the Luminous Unknown had snatched and absorbed even the incidents it had caused itself.
As if nothing had happened, making it calm and ordinary.
‘To think that’s only Grade 4.’
A kind of reality manipulation, that is.
Actually, in terms of Daydream Inc., it was between Grade B and C, so it wasn't exactly low-tier.
The problem was that the Church of the Luminous Unknown was teeming with fanatics who had received ghost stories of Grade 4 or higher as ‘Divine Power’….
Recalling the Imitator from earlier, who could hardly be considered human, I swallowed hard.
Please, let me not cross paths with them again until I’ve collected all my Wish Ticket Points.
“Um… since the cleaning is finished, you should go change your clothes too….”
“Ah. You’re right. Roe, I’ll go change quickly then. Just a moment!”
“Okay.”
I waved to Supervisor Park Minseong as he left the room.
Beside me, the Sergeant was sweeping up a piece of paper Park Minseong had dropped with a broom and putting it in the trash.
That strange work tips note.
“…….”
“By the way. About this note….”
The Sergeant happened to speak up first.
“I was actually going to ask because it seemed so suspicious, but is that really a tip that was circulating within the Security Team?”
“Yes… it is. But… I’m sure it was never meant to be given to that person.”
“…Pardon?”
“Chief Badger….”
The Sergeant muttered softly.
While looking at the spot where Supervisor Park Minseong, who had already vanished from the room, had left.
“Since that man was a fully Contaminated One by the ‘Hungry Hangman’… he’s not supposed to come into contact with any form of work manuals…. Because he was contaminated by a similar Darkness….”
“…!!”
Wait, right!
‘Since Supervisor Park Minseong was in a state of being contaminated by a kindergarten educational manual, a similar form of text could be sufficiently dangerous.’
My stomach churned because I had experienced a similar contamination, albeit of a different intensity.
Preventing someone from approaching something that reminded them of their contamination was perfectly natural.
But what the Sergeant was trying to say didn't end there.
It was an even… more chilling fact.
“Chief Badger can contaminate a manual just by reading it….”
“…….”
What?
“If he realizes it himself, he might become too conscious of it… which could accelerate the contamination, so he probably doesn't know it himself yet….”
If so.
“…Are you saying someone intentionally gave the forbidden note to the Supervisor? So that I would read the work tips that Supervisor Park Minseong had contaminated?”
Nod.
The Sergeant nodded slowly.
-Aha, a trap! How classic.
My response also came from the classic and sure methods first.
“…Can we check the CCTV?”
“In the Security Team residential area, there are no CCTVs…. There’s a high probability of something bad being filmed, so…….”
“…They did it aiming for the fact that there are no CCTVs.”
“Yes, probably….”
Who on earth?
This was a move perfectly targeting Supervisor Park Minseong’s shift. It meant that the Imitator’s escape wasn't a result of coincidence and bad luck.
‘Did another member of the Church of the Luminous Unknown within the company cooperate?’
But it seemed unlikely that the member of the Church who was in the containment cell could escape properly through this method… it was just causing a commotion.
‘If so, the goal wasn't escape….’
If the target was the cleaning staff working that day.
‘If the goal was to screw me over?’
“……Mr. Jay.”
“Yes…?”
“Is it possible that research team staff also know the Security Team’s underground area well?”
“Hmm… depending on the team…?”
The Sergeant’s eyes narrowed.
“Is there… a research team employee… you suspect?”
“…A little bit.”
“Who…?”
“…….”
I hesitated for a moment.
But the Sergeant was the security officer in charge of this area today, so he deserved to hear it.
‘In addition, he could serve as a witness to the situation.’
Fine. I deliberately spoke up candidly.
“It’s Section Chief Kwak Jekang.”
“…….”
“To begin with, the reason I received this disciplinary action was that I didn't do what he ordered. …He told me to leave a colleague from the Cleanup team in a place where they would die, and I ignored him.”
“…….”
“Of course, rather than suspecting the Section Chief personally, it’s a guess based on the circumstances….”
“I understand.”
“…??”
“Hold on a moment…….”
Beep beep beep.
The Sergeant walked over to a landline phone on one side of the breakroom and picked up the receiver.
Then, after seeming to ponder something for a moment, he pressed the buttons.
There was a short dial tone… click.
[Yes, yes, this is Kwak Jekang!]
“…!!”
I stared with my mouth open at the Sergeant, who had called a Section Chief from another team directly in the middle of the night.
But he himself showed no change in expression.
“Hey… this is Sergeant J3 from Security Team 3.”
[…J3? ……Wait, who is this?? B-Squad Leader… oops, you’re not in the Elite Squad anymore, are you? Haha, I made a mistake with someone who isn't even in the Field Exploration team anymore!]
“…….”
[Anyway, it’s been a while, hasn't it! Yes! I heard you’re a Sergeant in the Security Team. Wow~ a competent employee is different! It must be a shame you can’t enter the Darkness.]
‘Is he mocking him?’
No, there was no need to wonder. It sounded like he was mocking him to the bone….
[Anyway, why are you calling all of a sudden? Are you on duty today? Is that a phone from the Security Team area?]
[Is there some kind of incident? Oh, if you really want to enter the Darkness, I’m sorry but I can’t grant that wish. Haha!]
I watched the Sergeant tensely.
“Hey.”
[Hmm?]
“Listen… I can’t enter the Darkness anymore…… but I can still kill people.”
[……!]
“Just… saying.”
And he hung up the phone.
“…….”
Wow.
“Is it… okay for you to do that?”
“Yes… well.”
The Sergeant shrugged his shoulders.
“But it probably… won't work that well……. The high-ranking ones in the research team…… hmm.”
The Sergeant chose his words.
“Are crazy….”
“…….”
It seemed he didn't choose them very carefully.
I barely managed to respond.
“In any case, seeing his reaction, well, I realized my suspicion was reasonable….”
Given that he subtly and indirectly asked if anything had happened during today’s shift in the Security Team area. No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed Kwak Jekang was involved.
‘I thought he lost interest after getting fed up with my MZ energy.’
It seems things don’t resolve that easily.
‘This is driving me crazy….’
…I’ll have to prepare countermeasures again.
Regardless, I nodded to my companion.
“Thank you, Mr. Jay.”
“Hmm, well… next time….”
Aha.
“I’ll come visit again with some snacks. Like donuts.”
“Okay.”
Surprisingly, his bribery code was simple.
“Anyway… be careful…. You never know what that guy might do….”
“…….”
I hesitated for a moment before asking.
“May I ask if you, Mr. Jay, also had a bad experience due to a conflict with the research team?”
“…….”
The Sergeant avoided my eyes.
“It’s not… a very interesting story.”
A short silence.
“I entered a strange fairy tale…. And I came out… much, much later.”
And the Sergeant said no more.
“…….”
‘A fairy tale ghost story that the research team caused problems with.’
In fact, I realized just from hearing that sentence.
Exactly what kind of Darkness the Sergeant had been contaminated by.
And there was a Named Character from the Elite Squad that naturally came to mind.
The harrowing Exploration Records of how that character… ended up in the Security Team.
For the recording of the employee who went missing during the research of Qterw-A-37, check the document ‘And They All Lived Unhappily Ever After.’
‘I could pretend not to know and ask more….’
And thus confirm one more Named Character.
“…….”
But I just remained silent.
I chose to respect the Sergeant’s silence.
A moment later. To Supervisor Park Minseong, who had returned after changing his clothes, the Sergeant said:
“Anyway, since you passed the three-day cleaning work… safely… well, now… it seems like you’ll be okay to work… for the Security Team roughly….”
It was the announcement of Supervisor Park Minseong’s primary recovery.
“…! Really?!”
“Yes……. And it seems like… you can go outside too.”
“Gasp.”
“Though it’s only possible after the sun goes down….”
Hmm.
“Then, is it possible today by any chance? The sun is down now.”
“Ro-Roe? I’m fine. We can go another day….”
“Wait a moment…….”
After uploading a report somewhere using an old computer, the Sergeant declared.
“Go today….”
“Gaaaaasp!”
“From now on… you’ll probably be able to go out once a week….”
“Haaaaaa!!”
The blood returned to Supervisor Park Minseong’s somewhat hollow complexion, and a smile spread across his face.
It was the same expression I had seen back when he was in D-Squad.
“…….”
“Um, just make sure to come back before the sun rises… and…….”
“What happens if the Supervisor can’t return?”
“We’ll end up… requesting a rescue service from the company…….”
“…….”
“Don’t do it……. Unless you want to be… a permanent employee.”
Supervisor Park Minseong lowered his head deep.
“Yes. I will definitely keep the time. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing….”
The Sergeant scratched his cheek.
And a moment later, I climbed the stairs with Supervisor Park Minseong, who had finished his preparations to go out in an instant.
“See you again….”
The Sergeant slightly raised his hand to see us off as we left the basement.
“Wow! It’s so good to walk outside!”
Supervisor Park Minseong smiled broadly and raised both arms.
Although there were few people around since it was past 3 AM, as expected of Seoul’s city center, lights were still twinkling here and there, and people were moving about.
“No, really, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve breathed the outside air… and seen the stars!”
Supervisor Park Minseong was wearing a mask and had his hat pulled down low. As if he were trying to hide his face as much as possible.
The outing time currently allowed for the Supervisor was three hours, conservatively estimated until dawn.
‘I guess it’s a relief it’s winter.’
“Supervisor, are you going to go home?”
“Ah, well… I’m thinking of going to the hospital.”
“…….”
“A family member is hospitalized. They’re probably sleeping… but I thought I’d go and at least see their face.”
Supervisor Park Minseong scratched his cheek with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Well, actually, I’m collecting Points for my family….”
Damn it.
“May I ask what kind of family member they are?”
“Ah, it’s my younger sibling. They’re really kind! And a genius? A violin genius!”
And Supervisor Park Minseong excitedly explained how kind and wonderful a child his sibling had been since childhood, and how much they loved and how well they played the violin.
However, there was not a single word about their current condition.
“…….”
“Anyway… that’s why I definitely need Points for my sibling. So, if possible, I don’t want to, you know, quit….”
“Then will you return to the Field Exploration team?”
“…Well. That, I think it might take too long.”
Supervisor Park Minseong’s voice trailed off for some reason, then he added with a brighter tone.
“Ah, surprisingly, there are departments in the Security Team that give a lot of Points. I heard they get even more than the Field Exploration team?”
“…!”
…Ah.
There.
“…Wouldn't there be a reason why they give so many?”
“Well. That’s true… but.”
Supervisor Park Minseong muttered.
“Sometimes, I think wishes only come true if you brave the danger….”
“…….”
“Ah, we’ve arrived at Roe’s company housing!”
Supervisor Park Minseong patted my back.
“Go on in. I can just take a taxi from here. Get some rest, Roe. You really worked hard!”
Then he spoke softly in a low voice.
“Um, you don’t have to worry about me too much…. Honestly, I worked with a certain level of resolve. This is a better result than I expected…. It’s all thanks to you. Roe. Thank you.”
“…….”
I ended up smiling faintly and shook his hand.
“Wherever you work, I’ll be rooting for you, but I hope we have a chance to work together if possible.”
“…Yeah. That would be nice.”
We said our goodbyes like that, and Supervisor Park Minseong left for the hospital in a taxi.
“Phew….”
I sighed and entered the company housing building.
If I wasn't mistaken, there was a strange hint of madness in Supervisor Park Minseong when he spoke about his wish….
-He was an ordinary person, but now he’s finally gained a bit of an interesting personality.
Let’s not say such scary things, Braun….
‘Anyway, I can finally sleep too….’
Having a day off on the last day of the year wasn't bad, but I didn't expect to spend it just sleeping.
I entered the pitch-black company housing in the early morning and, feeling a chill, turned on my smartphone flashlight warmly and brightly as I headed to my room.
And first, I slept.
‘As for the countermeasure against Kwak Jekang… I’ll think about it with a clear head when I wake up…… Please, let me just rest.’
My overworked body, exhausted from the nerve-wracking physical and mental labor of the night, welcomed sleep sweetly.
It had been a very long time.
Since I had welcomed sleep without watching children’s cartoons or comedies before bed.
I enjoyed a very deep, sweet, dreamless sleep to the fullest.
And the moment I woke up, feeling refreshed yet dazed, as if I had only just closed and opened my eyes...
“Ah. You’re awake.”
“…!”
I sat up at once.
-A guest has arrived without notice, Mr. Roe Deer.
Someone was standing by the dim window.
A tired face, casual clothes, hair tied back tight, and….
An empty left hand.
“It’s been a while, Roe. …I heard you cleaned with Minseong.”
It was really Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
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