Chapter 269.2 |
“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.”
“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?
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