Bailonz Street 13-Chapter 213.2
I could feel the badger mask’s unease.
He stood stiffly as I asked.
Job description requested
“…My job is to work with you, Roe.”
Inappropriate designation
Reason : Informal
“…Ah.”
The one in the badger mask turned his head, glancing at the CCTV in the corner and letting out a small sound.
Maybe out of concern for contamination, the CCTV lacks audio functions, but I can feel someone watching from beyond it.
They’re watching.
And there’s no need to give that supervising researcher unnecessary reassurance about my current state.
Noticing the meaning of the warning I made with smoke, Badger’s words change.
“Then… What should I call you? Haha, let’s just say we’re coming up with another nickname. Even ‘Roe Deer’ was something that you originally…”
His bright tone faded for a moment, then returned.
“Um… Is there any other animal you like?”
Favorite animal.
I waited for something to come to mind.
But I felt nothing.
Unknown
“……”
……
“That’s okay. I’ll think it over.”
I heard him steady his voice.
Job description requested
: Include concrete examples
“Oh, um, so… when you receive an assignment, I’ll accompany you and go around with you. I’ll help make sure you’re not uncomfortable.”
The one in the badger mask spoke kindly.
But then…
“If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me first. Or the sergea—!”
What’s that he’s holding?
“…!”
Sensing my gaze, the one in the badger mask hastily tried to hide what he’d been taking out of his pocket, but as if realizing something, he carefully took it out again and held it up for me to see.
A syringe-shaped object.
It resembles a Dream Essence Collector, but it appears to serve the opposite purpose.
Injector.
For subduing Special Division employees
He slowly nodded at the words I formed in smoke.
“Don’t worry. I won’t use it. Really. Really…”
Why?
Recommended for use in appropriate circumstances
“……For example?”
► Collapse of bipedal form
► Loss of smoke control
► When extreme anxiety is observed
“…When you seem anxious?”
► When extreme anxiety is observed
Criterion : The emotional state of the control tool user
“…… Haha…”
A wavering sound came from the badger mask.
I couldn’t tell if he was crying, laughing, or relieved.
“You haven’t changed, have you?”
……
“Right… Mm-hm, it’ll be fine.”
And for some reason, as if reassured, the trembling and movement seemed to calm down, as if feeling at ease.
He reached out as if to pat my shoulder, but… soon let his arm drop.
……
Click.
“Sergeant, we…”
The door opened, and the sergeant entered.
There was no sign of resistance in his physical reaction, as if he had accepted the unexpected situation rather than run away from it.
Rather, he walked over without hesitation, making the one in the badger mask flinch.
Then he stretched out his left arm in front of me.
“Sergeant?”
“Here.”
From his outstretched left hand, some round objects appeared.
Nostalgia candy.
“This, do you want some…?”
……
I cannot eat it.
I have no mouth. I don’t even know where any organ that could be called a mouth is.
Maybe one had never been made in the first place, since there was no need.
I just believed I had one.
Above all… I cannot remove the gas mask.
“……”
Silently, I pushed his hand away with my gloved fingers.
Not possible
“I see…”
The sergeant withdrew his hand and just stood there as if lost in thought.
And then he asked,
“What kind of Darkness did you enter…?”
Wish Ticket
“……”
I dispersed the word before the badger mask could see it.
J3 asked no further questions.
He simply raised his head beneath the hat in silence. And then, through the melting, mosaic-like features…
I saw his face.
‘…!’
“Roe, calm down…!”
What is this?
Why can I see it?
“Are you… in pain right now…?”
Even his voice is clear. I can distinguish it. I can perceive it! What is this? Why? Maybe there is another truth I simply haven’t realized……
……
Ah.
I understand.
“Why is there smoke…!”
Because, more than a human, he is something closer to a ghost story.
The sergeant’s contamination is so powerful and deep that no amount of Security Team training can ever remove him from the boundary of existence.
None of this means anything.
“I don’t think you’re in pain, at least……”
And yet, nevertheless…
“Then it’s okay……”
I felt the same strange ache that I’d felt in the elevator slowly start to return.
The sergeant stepped right into the smoke, then, with an awkward motion, raised his hand and patted my back.
As if doing it for the first time in a very long time.
“…It’ll be alright.”
……
I inhaled the smoke. The swirling black tendrils on the floor were gathered up.
The sergeant glanced briefly at the nostalgia candy.
“Um, I’ll try bringing something else……”
I shook my head.
The nostalgia series is not necessary for my work.
What I need now is something relevant.
– Your work shift has begun. Please wake up. Your work shift has begun. Please wake up…
It was time.
Requesting work briefing
“Ah, that’s…”
[Ah ha, so passionate!]
“…!”
Both figures whipped their heads toward the source of the sound.
[Haha, see, I’m contacting you at exactly the scheduled time, right? Good morning. Well, not that it’s really morning, but I thought some small talk to start the shift would be nice.]
The voice was coming from the CCTV in the corner.
The sergeant stepped forward to stand in front of me.
[Oh, the speaker and recording function are only enabled for two-way conversation like this. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such ethical and considerate working conditions. Hahaha!]
“Is he out of his…”
[Anyway, let’s get to the point. As your supervising researcher, I’ll explain your duties very clearly.]
I shook my head at the sergeant, but he simply stood there in silence.
Only Kwak Jekang’s voice from the CCTV rang out noisily through the sealed room.
[This is very important work directly connected to the company’s goals. That is… to efficiently produce as many good potions as possible.]
[And there’s a prerequisite for that, isn’t there?]
The explanation continued as if it were the most obvious thing.
[A smooth supply of Darknesses suitable for extracting ‘Dream Essence’ as potion ingredients!]
[The kind of ghost story that can be ‘managed’ by the company, into which humans can be periodically sent to extract Dream Essence.]
Only, it sounded as if something absurd was about to come next.
[And someone strong needs to consistently bring those ghost stories to the company, you see…]
The heavy breathing of someone researching Darkness echoed.
[And one of those people is you.]
……
[Please subdue suitable ghost stories for the company. Ensure efficient production of Dream Essence.]
A new assignment had begun.
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Chapter 213.2
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