NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
Chapter 20
I remember when I first started working here.
At the time, I had no idea what I was getting into, thinking it was just like joining the National Intelligence Service or something. But how was I supposed to know that it was a place dealing with monsters and containment objects?
The first time I received the manual, I recalled the words I heard back then.
“Everyone, the manual is not all-powerful. But remember, this manual is built upon the experiences and data diligently accumulated by your seniors.”
But why did they have to keep a place like this?
I turned to Jang Chae Yeon, who was calmly surveying the surroundings, hoping to catch even a glimmer of hope, and asked her,
“Have you been here before?”
“For the first time during my life in the Management Agency. But I’ve heard rumors. Don’t worry.”
“Oh, really? It doesn’t seem like such a dangerous place after all?”
“Yeah. It’s a safe location with a survival rate around 40%.”
“Eh?”
“Uh?”
Since when did a 40% survival rate become a safe zone? Even flipping a coin gives a 50% chance.
Isn’t my life converging towards a probability lower than tossing a coin?
“…Isn’t that high?”
I conveyed my thoughts straightforwardly to Jang Chae Yeon, but she just tilted her head in confusion as she replied.
She genuinely thought a survival rate of 40% was high.
What kind of life had the isolation team in the Management Agency been living?
“Just do as you’re told.”
“Well, there was someone who didn’t do as told already.”
I pointed at Yu Da On, and she made an awkward expression.
“Me? I usually don’t know much since Kim Jae Heon reads the manual for us… But I just read it all now! No more problems!”
“Um…”
“…?”
When I stared blankly at Yu Da On, she looked back at me with a puzzled expression.
By the way, when Yu Da On’s head got chopped off earlier, wouldn’t she have been able to escape?
It may sound a bit inhumane, but what can I do? Those who can escape should just go out and call for help.
I relayed this theory to Yu Da On, but she shook her head with a troubled look.
“No matter how you put it, when your head’s gone, the vision kind of goes dark for a moment. My body doesn’t really listen either.”
“…That’s true. Thank you.”
Right. When a person’s head and body are separated, the body usually doesn’t listen.
I expressed my gratitude for her serious answer and looked around again.
A dim red light illuminated the surroundings. The metal chairs in the basement were all rusty, and sitting on one would probably ruin my clothes.
At the end of the room was a door that had been mentioned in the manual.
It was a brown wooden door, but under the red lights, it felt oddly eerie.
I looked at the manual once more.
[Manual for Office Staff]
1. Finding this manual means you have taken a wrong turn and ended up in the basement.
2. Please act according to the manual. Not following the manual can have a severe negative impact on your body or mind, and the Management Agency does not take responsibility for this.
3. Open the door in front of you and enter, but absolutely do not respond if anything speaks to you.
4. If something speaks to you and you replied, close your eyes and crouch down until it passes.
5. Please check the subsequent manual on the wall you can see after passing the room.
6. Absolutely do not go back up the stairs.
So, it says to open the door and go in.
Before entering, I firmly cautioned the remaining two.
“Listen carefully. You must absolutely ignore whoever calls from behind that door, and if you accidentally reply?”
“Close your eyes and sit!”
“Well done.”
“…Don’t worry too much.”
Jang Chae Yeon spoke reassuringly to me while Yu Da On glanced at her and then back at me.
“But when did you get so close?”
“…It’s a secret.”
“…”
Yu Da On made a slightly dissatisfied face, but shrugged as if to say it didn’t matter.
“Nothing can be done about it.”
“Then shall we go?”
Both nodded, and at that signal, I opened the door.
“…”
If darkness had a physical form, wouldn’t it feel something like this?
It seemed less like I was stepping into darkness and more like darkness was swallowing me whole. Beyond that door, I couldn’t see anything.
I turned briefly to look back at the two, and Jang Chae Yeon, without any hesitation, grabbed my shoulder with one hand and pointed ahead.
It was a sign to move forward.
Soon, Yu Da On grabbed my other shoulder.
So now it was like I was dragging them along.
“…”
Yeah. The one leading does need to take charge. If I can’t even do this as a man, what’s the point?
I stepped into the darkness behind the door.
The sensation of their hands on my shoulders disappeared.
I hurriedly turned around, but where the door had been, there was only darkness left; nothing else was visible.
Don’t make a sound. Don’t talk back if someone calls.
I repeated that to myself several times as I moved forward.
“…Is someone there?”
Soon, a voice began to echo. A man’s voice I had never heard before.
“Don’t worry. We are Management Agency staff! Please respond so we can find you!”
“Quickly! This place is dangerous!”
“…”
There’s no way I’m falling for this trick.
What do they take me for? I’m the guy who survived two accidents in a week. I won’t fall for such pathetic tactics.
I muttered to myself that I wouldn’t be fooled and kept walking resolutely.
“…Help me.”
Then I heard Jang Chae Yeon’s voice, weak and fragile.
I shut my ears and continued walking.
“…Please, help me.”
Jang Chae Yeon is not someone who would say such things.
Ignoring that, another voice started to call out.
“Kim Jae Heon!!! Stay still!! I’ll help you!”
That made me flinch.
Yu Da On is someone who would say that.
I looked around, my eyes darting in search of her, but I couldn’t find her or even a reflection of her anywhere.
“…”
Should I scream?
In that moment of hesitation, a strange sound began to echo in my ears.
– Thud, thud
It sounded like someone walking.
And then, as if my eyes finally found something amid the shadows, I saw them.
People.
About eight or nine of them.
They had all sorts of different genders, ages, and clothing.
Not a speck of dirt on their faces, and they all had their eyes closed as if they were asleep.
The odd thing was that they were all standing in a circle, holding hands.
A translucent window appeared before me.
[Name: Crowd Psychology]
[Age: One day since creation]
[Characteristic: Enchantment]
[Talent: X]
[Background: Those dwelling in this cursed basement possess a terrible predilection. Those who fall victim to this bad taste seek the next sacrifice to liberate them from this endless agony.]
[Weakness: Cut the connection among them and grant a fair end to all.]
A bad taste, a sacrifice.
And dwelling here.
I want to make some arrangements, but right now I don’t have a gun.
Not even a gun—just the electronic devices I bought while shopping earlier.
I feel like I need to leave those behind, but should I really just leave them?
While pondering this, I gradually moved my feet, only to feel someone’s gaze, and without realizing it, I turned to look.
The eyes of eight people met mine.
My steps froze unintentionally.
An older man looking at me opened his mouth.
“Kim Jae Heon! Over here!”
Yu Da On’s voice flowed from his lips.
He grinned as he made eye contact with me.
“…Help me.”
Next to him, a girl in a school uniform spoke in Jang Chae Yeon’s voice.
“Come on, it’s too cold and scary here.”
“You’ll be warm with us.”
“Right. I’ll beg like this.”
They all looked at me, wide-eyed and smiling.
I forced my frozen feet to move.
As long as I don’t make a sound, I should be able to escape safely.
Ignoring their laughter with all my might, I moved forward, and soon enough, I began to see a door.
I quickly opened it and stepped out when someone grabbed my shoulder.
“Ah! You scared me!”
“Kim Jae Heon!”
Yu Da On held my shoulder with a relieved expression.
“…Where’s Chae Yeon?”
“…I don’t know.”
Yu Da On blinked as she replied.
“…She hasn’t come out yet?”
“She is a member of the isolation team after all; it might take some time, right?”
“…”
Should I go back in? While I was pondering, Yu Da On stared at me intently.
“Are you thinking of going back?”
“If she’s not out, then I should.”
“…”
Yu Da On let out a long sigh and then started stretching.
“Shall we go together?”
“I’ve always gone with you.”
As if it were a matter of course, Yu Da On smiled while saying it.
“Got it. Then let’s go.”
Yu Da On nodded and opened the door, stepping back inside.
This time, I sensed her presence nearby, unlike before.
“…”
I tapped her hand gently, and she replied in kind.
I looked around.
Someone was crouched down, hugging their knees.
It was Jang Chae Yeon.
And surrounding her were the eight people.
“Hahaha, hahahaha!”
“Hehehe! Hehehe!”
“Hehe, hehe!”
Everyone was smiling happily, rotating around her, while Jang Chae Yeon was crouched with her eyes closed, her face pale, as if something terrible was about to happen.
I looked at Yu Da On, and it seemed she read my thoughts, nodding as she charged forward and kicked one person in the back.
With a crash, people began to topple like dominoes.
In that moment, I rushed to Jang Chae Yeon and grabbed her hand. She looked up at me and finally showed a relieved expression.
Quickly, I pulled her along, swapping places with Yu Da On while throwing the bag of electronic devices I was holding.
A heavy sound echoed as it hit the ground.
“Sound.”
“Sound.”
“Sound!”
The eyes of the eight turned toward the ground, and in that instant, I pulled Jang Chae Yeon and dashed toward the exit.
All three of us dashed outside without making a single sound, and only after the door closed behind us did we exhale deeply and finally slump down.
“Phew…”
“Ugh…”
“…”
It had been much too easy. …Something felt off about it.
But that wasn’t what mattered right now.
After a bit of catching my breath, I turned to look at Jang Chae Yeon.
“…You made a sound?”
There’s no way she could have made any noise. She’s a professional after all.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon hesitated for a moment before slowly opening her mouth to answer.
“I did because you asked me to save you.”
“…”
I found myself at a loss for words.
“Sorry.”
Jang Chae Yeon brushed off her knees and stood up, slightly bowing her head.
“I was too hasty.”
“…It’s okay.”
I waved my hand dismissively to accept her apology.
“…And thank you.”
“……Yeah.”
Jang Chae Yeon and Yu Da On continued to speak awkwardly.
After watching them for a moment, I began to look for the next manual.
The manual for Room One was relatively easy to find.
Found it.
[Manual for Office Staff]
1. First, congratulations on safely getting out of this place.
2. As you proceed forward, information contamination becomes severe, and many people are sacrificing themselves. Thus, the Management Agency has decided to implement new measures. Please be aware that the information written from now on will be subject to some censorship.
3. Among all the manuals you will see, only the odd-numbered manuals are correct.
4. If you have correctly checked the above manual, please nod your head.
5. Move forward. You will see two doors. Enter through the left door.
6. After entering the left door, pick up the handgun from the right nightstand. It will be helpful to you later.
7. If —— is asleep, sneak past quietly. If awake, speak with it. Never let it know you’re human.
8. If you are found to be human, shoot it with the handgun. You may buy yourself some time.
9. Good luck.
– Whirring,
The chilly breeze of the basement made me shudder slightly.