“Excuse me….”
“….”
“Excuse me.”
I snapped my eyes open.
A familiar face entered my field of vision.
“…Head of Security?”
“Yes….”
A slender build in a security uniform, light hair, and the nameplate reading ‘J3’.
It was the very same security employee who had been caught in the Changwi-motif Darkness with me…!
I hurriedly tried to sit up.
An immense headache struck…… huh?
Clink.
I paused.
My hands, which I had reached out to support myself on the floor, were tightly wound with red yarn adorned with bells.
‘Yarn?’
A somewhat familiar use and appearance…… ah.
‘It’s equipment used by the Security Team….’
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Daydream Corporation
/ Item
Nostalgia Kitty
An equipment-type item in the form of red yarn with silver bells.
When worn, it fixes the target into the form they were in during the period when their body and mind were at their healthiest within the past 10 years.
The more severe the mutation, the faster it snaps.
※ Refer to usage records for the standard of health.
==========
It was an item that allowed anyone to temporarily regain their ‘best state from the past.’
Knowing its identity made me feel slightly more at ease.
I relaxed my body….
“….”
“….”
No, wait.
But why am I restrained??
I suddenly snapped my head up.
I met the eyes of the Sergeant, whose face showed a slight hint of welcome amidst an expression that said everything was a bother.
He then gave a small wave.
“We meet again….”
“Yes. But….”
I lifted my arms as much as possible.
“What on earth is this?”
“I heard… you rescued a contaminated employee…….”
“Yes, but why am I….”
The Sergeant pointed at me.
Ah.
“…Did the Security Team think I was contaminated?”
“Probably… yes……. Since there was no one else.”
Then, the Sergeant raised both hands, showing a faint sign of either expectation or embarrassment.
“Um, welcome Security Team……?”
Ah, no.
This person thinks I’m a new recruit…!
“It’s not me.”
“……Huh?”
“It’s not me.”
After emphasizing it twice, I finally came to my senses and looked around.
‘…Is this an isolation room or something?’
The interior space, enclosed by gray walls, was empty. Even the lighting was recessed into the ceiling with a solid finish, leaving no protruding parts.
‘It seems the Security Team did indeed respond properly.’
That must mean I made the call correctly.
[Security Team Rental Warehouse]
This facility, which I was authorized to use upon my promotion to Supervisor, was literally a warehouse where one could rent Security Team equipment via phone or visit.
However, if the Security Team determines a situation requires ‘subjugation,’ they may intervene directly like this….
‘I hit the jackpot.’
Seeing as I was currently detained in a Security Team facility.
I nodded slowly.
“This must be the company building. Seeing as the Head of Security is here.”
“Yes……. You’re quick on the uptake….”
“….”
I swallowed hard.
If I wasn’t mistaken, the contaminated Supervisor Park Minseong was currently inside the tattoo on my wrist.
‘I need to get him out of here and hand him over so the contamination can be handled.’
Would it be too foolish in the long run to have the fact that I possess such a tattoo officially registered with the Security Team?
In the end, I spoke as if testing the waters.
“Is there by any chance a CCTV installed here?”
“Probably not….”
Right.
Since it was likely the first time someone contaminated by the <Hungry Hangman> ghost story had emerged into reality, they probably wouldn't have set up recording media.
The CCTV footage itself could become contaminated.
‘Especially since Hungry Hangman is a ghost story with particularly strong mental pollution….’
At any rate, it seemed no one knew that the completely contaminated Supervisor Park Minseong was currently inside my forearm.
I swallowed hard.
“……Head of Security.”
“You can just call me Jay… since I’m the only J left in the Security Team…….”
“Yes, Mr. Jay.”
I made my request with a serious face.
“Can you keep what is about to happen a secret?”
He would probably say no.
Or he might pretend to struggle with it, only to convincingly agree and then immediately report it.
Either way, I should prepare a way to win him over….
“Sure, why not…….”
“….”
“As long as it’s not something like blowing up the company…… no, would that even matter…… then keep the fact that I heard it a secret too…….”
“….”
Is this the audacity of a permanent employee….
‘What is with this company.’
I pulled myself together as my mind threatened to go dizzy and spoke firmly.
“It’s nothing like blowing up the company.”
“Then…?”
“Actually, I rescued the contaminated employee and am currently subduing them separately.”
“….”
“….”
“…??”
The Sergeant looked at me with an expression that asked what on earth I was talking about.
“Are you perhaps hallucinating….”
“I’m perfectly fine. In the first place, am I not wearing equipment for subduing contamination?”
I lifted my arm.
“This yarn with bells… it seems to be equipment for subduing contamination.”
“Um…… that’s true.”
“Then you must know that I’m speaking with a sound mind.”
The Sergeant stared at me.
I swallowed.
“When you’re ready, I’ll bring the contaminated employee out here.”
“Ah.”
The other man blinked and gazed at me as if he didn't quite trust me, but he slowly opened his mouth.
“Okay…. Give it a try….”
“Do you need any separate preparation? I only have one chance using a disposable item.”
“Well…….”
The Sergeant tapped himself.
“Me.”
It was a statement that could have sounded arrogant, but his tired tone, as if everything was a chore, made it sound very matter-of-fact.
‘Besides, he’s a Sergeant.’
I had seen his abilities, reaching the rank of Sergeant in a Security Team specializing in ‘Darkness Subjugation,’ during the last Changwi ghost story….
…Good. In that case.
“Yes.”
I took a deep breath.
And then, I thrust my hand into the tattoo all at once.
“…!”
I didn’t even have to rummage around to find my target; I caught it immediately. To think I’d lock up a fellow teacher—to hell with breaking the rules!!
‘Pull!’
As my hand emerged from the tattoo, what I was holding was dragged out with it.
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
Making a bizarre sound, the ‘Teacher’ began to emerge from the tattoo.
And then.
Snap.
The moment the yarn broke from the impact,
Blood sprayed like a fountain from my forearm.
The wound I had made with the Blood-Sucking Knife had returned.
“~!”
F*ck! I should refrain from swearing, but it hurts so much!! The contamination, the contamination was also returning. But more important than that….
“Teacher Soleum! Such mischievous behavior is a matter for punishment in our ■■ Affiliated Kindergarten….”
I paused.
Supervisor Park Minseong—the ‘Teacher’—who had been smiling gently, stopped.
He then looked around blankly and.
“….”
“….”
“This isn't the kindergarten!!”
Damn it.
“This isn't the kindergarten! This isn't the kindergarten! I went out without permission, without permission, I wasn't a perfect teacher… I… I broke the rules…!”
I couldn't respond in any way, just… a wave of guilt washed over me.
I am truly sorry. Teacher, I made a wrong judgment. I shouldn't have done this, I'll even take Teacher's punishment for you and read the Educational Manual aloud. I grabbed the Educational Manual of our ■■ Affiliated Kindergarten….
“Whoops.”
Grip.
Someone grabbed my face.
And they put something in my ear.
“Sleep anesthesia… or something like that.”
…….
…….
Blink.
I blinked my eyes.
“Excuse me.”
“….”
“Excuse me….”
I opened my eyes again.
Everything was quiet.
“Are you okay…?”
“I’m fine.”
I knew reflexively.
“Did you make me lose consciousness?”
“Yes……”
I saw a capsule shell that had fallen from my ear to the floor.
‘Did he put medicine in?’
It seemed I had received a short-term fainting effect.
It was similar to the Baekseol Mountain Apple I had, but like a lower-tier version of the item.
‘Calm down.’
Thanks to that, I seemed to have escaped the influence of the contamination.
I caught my breath and looked down at my arm. A bandage was now wrapped where the wound had been.
And the yarn that had originally been wound around me….
“….”
When I looked up, it was now tightly wound around the limbs of Supervisor Park Minseong in the corner.
Yes. Not in the form of the Teacher.
As Supervisor Park Minseong!
‘…It worked.’
Supervisor Park Minseong, wearing a black suit and a mask, looked as normal as he did just before entering the ghost story.
Even if it was only a temporary effect from the subjugation equipment.
“…Ha.”
The strength left my entire body, and I leaned against the wall.
‘……Handover successful.’
I heard the Sergeant muttering beside me.
“He’s lucky, that guy……. Was it possible to come out that quickly… I’m jealous…….”
Wait a minute.
“Since he came out quickly, is it possible for him to fully recover from the contamination?”
“Um…….”
The Sergeant lowered his head as if even thinking was a chore, but when he met my persistent eyes, he eventually spat it out.
“That’s Gloom-level, isn't it…….”
“Pardon? Yes. That’s right. B-rank.”
“Then it’s fine…….”
B-rank?
“The company has the know-how… um. If it’s reasonably okay… a department transfer?”
“….”
Right. Working for the Security Team would be better than dying.
‘I hope he recovers as well as possible and either returns or resigns….’
“….”
I looked back at Supervisor Park Minseong again.
Perhaps it was because the tension had finally eased slightly.
I felt a bit strange.
A fellow employee who, just yesterday, had been working in the same office, sharing jokes and greetings.
That feeling that he would suddenly disappear from my daily life starting tomorrow.
“…Please take good care of him.”
“….”
The Sergeant nodded slightly.
He had an inscrutable expression.
……As my thoughts reached that point, my mind finally recalled the last sight I had seen.
…Assistant Manager Eun Haje!!
“By any chance, what happened to the corpse that was lying next to me? The one without a left hand….”
“I don't know…….”
Surely, by any chance, it wasn't incinerated or something. No, that can't be.
‘Since it was only missing a hand and not the head, they must have thought it was strange.’
But out of anxiety, I immediately urged the procedure and left the isolation room.
“Come out with me….”
“Ah, yes.”
Accompanied by some of the summoned Security Team employees, I walked out of the isolation room door, somewhere between being escorted and being monitored.
And the moment I stepped out, I realized.
This was the isolation room area attached to the side of the Security Team Rental Warehouse.
[Isolation B]
‘There were separate documents dealing with this place in the Dark Exploration Records too….’
Every single one was chilling.
The two summoned employees walked down that hallway at a calm pace with me half a step behind them, and I followed, suppressing my creeping dread….
Gig-gig-gigi-gig.
Oh, glorious Ireum-nim, shine upon me
Please save me, please save me, please save me
Bone-chilling sounds echoed from each of the isolation rooms lined up on both sides.
‘Don't, don't look.’
I didn't give even a single glance, walking while looking only at the light coming from the door ahead….
…….
Who's in the hallway?
Aaaaargh!!
Who's in the hallway? Who's in the hallway? Who's in the hallwa—
Please walk a bit faster! Faster!!
But these damn Security Team employees insisted on maintaining a constant speed until we exited the door.
And so, completely drained and as limp as pickled greens, I underwent the checkout procedure for the rental warehouse…….
“….”
The rental warehouse front desk just looked like a desolate facility team hallway.
When I went to the window, a silent Security Team employee brought out my belongings that had been in quarantine storage.
“Thank you.”
I took the briefcase. A sticker marked [Qualified / Risk Level D] was stuck on the surface.
‘It doesn't look like they inspected the items individually.’
I wasn't subjected to additional inspections regarding what I had pulled out of my forearm.
Surprisingly, Sergeant J seemed to have kept his word completely.
‘But he might talk someday.’
I can handle that much. I had intentionally mentioned it was a disposable item.
What matters is the resolution.
‘Let’s do this well.’
I took a deep breath.
‘Now, I need to hurry and find out Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s situation….’
—Friend!
—Friend!
Huh??
—Friend!!
“….”
Braun!!
“Is, is this all of my belongings?”
The employee pointed with a finger to a bin in the corner of the front desk.
[Waste Box]
There, my suit jacket, soaked and crumpled into a mess, was rolling around along with the small plush doll that had been tucked inside it…….
Gasp!
—This isn't even a studio, yet they dare to shove me in a place like this of their own accord!! This is an abuse of power and an insult! This never happened even when I was a rookie!
You, you crazy bastards!
I felt like I could take a bath in my cold sweat.
I hurriedly pulled out the jacket, smoothed out the doll, and put it in my shirt pocket.
‘You, you went through a lot. I’m sorry.’
—Phew…… it is not for Mr. Roe Deer to apologize. It is those people who acted recklessly!
He seemed to have calmed down a little. I quickly turned around and hurried away.
However, a somber voice followed behind me….
—But a Good Friend does not forget….
“….”
I should make sure never to leave Braun near the Security Team….
It was the moment I stepped out the door.
“Mr. Kim Soleum.”
“…!!”
Someone was waiting in front of the Security Team front desk.
“…Team Leader.”
Team Leader Lizard looked at me with his vertical pupils.
“Are you here to pick me up?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you taking me? No, I mean, I’d appreciate it if you could also tell me why you’re taking me there.”
“The infirmary. Assistant Manager Eun Haje is lying there.”
“…!!”
I,
after hesitating several times, finally managed to open my mouth.
“…Is she alive?”
Team Leader Lizard looked back at me.
And he answered clearly.
“Yes.”
“….”
A lump.
Something unknown suddenly surged up to my throat.
“……Team Leader. Supervisor Park Minseong also came out.”
“I see.”
Team Leader Lee Jaheon seemed to think for a moment, then asked:
“Is he alive?”
“…Yes.”
“Then it’s total survival.”
“……Yes.”
That alone made it worthwhile.
Definitely.
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