Ch.2Logistics Warehouse

“Let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.”

The unfamiliar woman pulls my hand.

“You probably haven’t been here long. We can’t get out through the stairs anyway.”

“Wait.”

[1st Floor]

I thought I saw something flash by in front of the emergency light.

Did I see wrong?

“This way.”

I followed the woman upstairs.

The surroundings gradually brighten, and “normal” stairs come into view again.

[6th Floor]

So I hadn’t actually gone down even one floor.

When we exit to the hallway, sunlight shines in again.

Seeming to judge it’s a safe place, the woman stops walking and turns to face me.

“I’m Yoon Daju. What’s your name, friend?”

“Lim Dabin. But—”

Why the sudden informal speech?

“Dabin? Right. I’m twenty-three. I’m older than you, right?”

“I’m twenty-four, you idiot.”

“Huh?”

“I said I’m twenty-four.”

Daju tilts her head.

“Really? You’re actually older than me? You don’t look it.”

“How do I look then?”

“Like a high school student?”

“Senior year?”

“First year. Freshman.”

Reality hits me hard.

“Listen, kid. Lying about your age is kind of cute?”

“I’m not lying! I’m—”

Daju firmly presses down on my shoulder. She’s not even 170cm tall but looking down at me from above…! Ugh.

“I have my circumstances.”

“What are they? Let’s hear it.”

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

“Hey. How long do you think I’ve been here? I believe pretty much anything can happen in this place.”

“I used to be a man.”

“Pfft!”

She bursts into laughter immediately.

“What? You were originally a man who became a woman?”

“Yes.”

“So you were actually a 24-year-old guy?”

“Is 24 that old to you?”

“Ahaha! Sorry. Hehehe.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Isn’t that actually good? You’re super cute now.”

“Talk sense.”

At this rate, I won’t be able to return to my life even if I get out of here.

“Oh my. Have you touched your chest? Ah, I can’t breathe.”

“Stoooop…”

“Do you scream every time you go to the bathroom?”

“Pleeeease…”

The long corridor railing. The sky is very blue.

With a cool breeze in the background, Daju leans against the railing.

“You realize this place is a bit strange, right?”

“Yeah. Even last night there were monster-like things wandering around.”

“If they just looked like monsters, you could avoid them. But there’s so much more here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hehe. You’ll find out as you live here.”

“Stop joking around.”

“Things like going crazy if you listen to certain broadcasts, or dying if you go down the wrong stairs.”

“That makes it sound like the place itself is dangerous.”

“Right. But how did you get in here, op… unnie?”

“Are you correcting yourself just to mock me?”

I’m already feeling miserable enough. Do I really have to be called “unnie” too?

“Ahaha!!! Do you know how cute your reaction is right now?”

“This is really annoying.”

This Yoon Daju girl. She’s expert level at teasing people.

She looks very cute, but she keeps needling me.

If I were still a man, I would have punched her, but now I’m smaller…

“So how did oppa get in here?”

“I just rented a place. Everything was normal when I checked out the apartment and moved in. But at night, some crazy person was walking around asking me to open the door.”

“That’s when you fell for it, right?”

“Yeah. I opened the door a little and nearly died of fear.”

“Exactly!”

Daju nods her head and then bursts out in frustration.

“I almost died after falling for it too! But everyone called me an idiot. Come on, couldn’t I reasonably think that electricity works differently in a rundown apartment?”

“Oh. So there are other people in the apartment?”

“Yes. I’ll introduce you later.”

With an “up we go” sound, Daju gets up from the railing.

“First, let’s find some things.”

Then she tosses her backpack to me.

“Oh right. Since I saved your life, help me out with something.”

“…If it’s something weird, I won’t do it.”

“It’s just something like shopping. You’ll do it, right?”

“Fine.”

She seems to know something. And since there are other people here, it’ll be helpful to stick with her.

Above all, I can’t do anything by myself.

“This way!”

Looks like she plans to use the elevator.

“You haven’t tried the elevator yet, right?”

“No.”

“Isn’t it a bit scary at first?”

“I guess so.”

“Right?! Getting on this thing without hesitation is what’s strange!”

“I see.”

I’m already tired even though we’ve been together for less than 10 minutes. My responses are becoming perfunctory.

– 6th floor. The doors are opening.

I examined myself in the elevator mirror.

A girl who looks like a high school student is staring blankly at the mirror. So this is me now. For the time being.

I don’t look bad. Actually, honestly, I look like a celebrity. Loose sweatpants. Messy hair that somehow gives off a sexy vibe. I wish I could have dated someone like this during my school days.

“Oh, I just remembered something.”

“What is it?”

“Not interested, huh?”

“Yeah. You talk too much about useless things.”

“I’ve seen people change before. Not into something as good-looking as you, though.”

“What? What happened?”

“There was this guy wandering around looking for an exit. I once found a library-like space with him. There, the guy found a book…”

“…Never mind.”

“Huh? Why did you suddenly stop?”

“I’ll tell you bit by bit if you react well to what I say.”

“Hey!!!”

– 11th floor. The doors are opening.

“Let’s get out.”

“Are you really not going to tell me?”

“No time now. I’ll tell you later, so hurry up and get out.”

“Fine. Got it…”

I’m completely drained.

A moment later.

What appeared before my eyes was a multitude of boxes.

An endless corridor. Apartment doors lined one side of the corridor, and occasionally there were packages delivered in front of the doors.

“What is all this?”

“You need to focus now. Only open the boxes I tell you to, and don’t touch anything else.”

“What is this place?”

“How would I know? I just use what’s here. Here!”

Daju tosses a small box.

“What’s this?”

“Read what’s on the box.”

Women’s Underwear Monday Bra [Functional]

-Shipping No. 124355

-Panda Home Shopping

“Underwear? Why?”

“You’re lucky. We found this right away.”

“T-this… Don’t tell me…!”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and put it in the bag. Are you going to live without wearing underwear?”

“Y-you want me to wear this? No way!”

“If the size doesn’t fit, it’s super uncomfortable. Listen to me. It’s hard to find the right size.”

“……”

“It must be uncomfortable moving around now with everything bouncing, right?”

Is this what it feels like when something breaks inside your mind?

I opened the box and threw the contents into the bag. I didn’t have the courage to look directly at what was inside, so I just closed my eyes tightly and got it over with.

“Good job, unnie~”

“……”

My face is burning.

“Let’s find something to eat. I don’t have time to waste on this nonsense.”

“Yes, unnie~”

I’m going to die… I’m really going to die…