episode_0317

Someone said.

Ignorance is not a sin, but the foolishness that comes from ignorance may be a sin.

After that, all that remained was regret.

“What are you talking about?”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”

anyway,

A nightmare of someday.

In the case of researcher B.

… … .

“Sigh… I want to get out of this job quickly.”

Mr. B, who works at a research facility called [Facility].

He dragged his tired body from the continued research and drank coffee from the vending machine.

‘Life… is it worth living?’

A life where coffee is more familiar than water.

If I donate blood, won’t coffee come out of my veins?

A boring white lab. A white hallway.

We found a monthly rental house, but Mr. B’s bed was a study sofa.

B also bought winter clothes through home shopping, but he only wore a white lab coat.

“Senior, I’m ready for the next experiment.”

“Thank you for your hard work… What was next?”

“This is a rejection experiment.”

There is no name for this place.

It’s just called [the facility].

Like everyone else in the world, it’s a somewhat secretive facility that studies how to live longer.

There’s a lot of gossip coming from above, like we need to find information on the now-disappeared ‘orphanage’… but anyway, I don’t know much about it.

As long as you get paid well, that’s enough. Why think about anything else?

“What are the ingredients?”

“Two C-class hunters. I just barely managed to get these.”

“The materials are getting smaller and smaller. This is also because of Dojongha.”

Hurrup…

Mr. B, leaning against the central entrance of the research building, took a sip of his freshly brewed black coffee.

After this sweet time passes, I’ll once again be rotting away in a laboratory filled with the smell of blood.

When I first came here, I felt nauseous a lot, but… now it’s a lot better.

As long as the salary is good, everything else is part-time work.

Mr. B sighed deeply, thinking that he would have to work overtime again today.

“Haa… So, where do these things go that you don’t even send home?”

“I heard it’s going to the association. It’s said to be the successor to the now discontinued [Galaxy Potion].”

“Association? They’re doing well with [Silver Potion] right now.”

“I don’t know. I heard that they are close with the Association Potion Dispensary upstairs… We just need to accept the support money they send us.”

Chatting with a junior.

That’s why I hate political fighting. It just gives me a headache.

Mr. B bit his lip as he recalled the Hunter Association’s [Silver Potion].

A potion that the association began supplying primarily to hospitals.

Are all the cancer patients discharged and the intensive care units across the country are empty?

There was even a strange rumor that if you lose your leg in [Crack Field] and go to the emergency room with the severed leg, you will be able to walk out in just an hour.

‘Where did that rumor come from? Was it Euncheon-gu’s [Neulpureum Emergency Center]?’

Anyway, I’m jealous.

How much money has the force that created [Silver Potion] earned so far?

And how many humans were involved in the development process?

Just like them.

‘Compared to them, we are very moderate. We don’t use living materials.’

Slurp…

We are cleaner than those guys.

Mr. B drank his coffee while thinking like that.

“Senior, stop drinking coffee. You’ll die if you do.”

“You drink it because you’ll die if you don’t… Oh, you know what? If an infectious disease is too toxic, it won’t spread, right? The host dies before it can spread. ”

“You’re talking nonsense again. You’re not even sure. Just drink some coffee.”

Crunch. Crunch.

That was when.

A middle-aged man who was the head of the ‘Data Recovery Team’

He entered the central entrance of the research building with a blank expression.

“… … That guy… Are his arms and legs that long?”

Crunch. Crunch.

‘That thing’ passed in front of Mr. B, its strangely long limbs dangling.

The atmosphere was different than usual.

It was as if a long scarecrow had been covered in human skin.

The long arms extending from the sleeves of the pure white gown were stretched taut, as if someone had pulled at their skin.

A man who appears to be over 2 meters tall.

However, the researchers gathered in the central lobby felt only a sense of discomfort at the sight of ‘that thing’.

I didn’t really think there was anything strange about it.

“… … .”

Eyes gathered in a sense of discomfort.

The air became quiet in an instant.

Crunch.

After a while, ‘that thing’ started to walk slowly,

He stuck something in his hand onto the central bulletin board and then quietly left.

‘That thing’ disappears from sight.

Only then did Mr. B let out the breath he had been holding and head towards the central bulletin board.

What did you stick on it?

“… … What the.”

And, Mr. B was able to find the ‘guide’ posted on the bulletin board.

[Guide to living together] with strange rules written down.

Mr. B, who ‘recognized’ its existence, pours all the coffee remaining in the cup into his mouth.

“… Oh, I guess that’s it. They created a new decryption team because something came out of the ‘orphanage’ yesterday. ”

“Why did you put that here? So everyone can see it?… Didn’t you throw it out there for anyone to decipher because the deciphering failed?”

I don’t know what to do.

I’ll figure it out. There’s no mention of additional pay, and I’m already busy enough.

Rattling.

Mr. B threw the coffee he had finished drinking into the trash can and returned to the lab with a deep sigh.

“Sigh…… I’m tired. Is there anything new?”

It was an ordinary day.

Until this point.

… … .

As time goes by,

Until everyone in the [facility] discovered the ‘Guide’ posted on the central bulletin board.

I thought nothing was wrong.

… … .

“Eat lots.”

It was dinner time.

[Facility]’s main dining room. When each research team gathers to eat.

‘It’ came without warning.

Blinkㅡ.

There was a brief power outage.

The researchers who had been sitting at the table and chatting looked around the darkened restaurant, and the commotion lasted for a few seconds.

Soon after, I tried to continue the chat with the thought that ‘if I wait, it will get brighter again’, but a cold wind blew from somewhere and I closed my mouth.

“Oh, what the… It’s scary for no reason.”

“Did you see the ‘Guide’ posted on the bulletin board? Doesn’t it make you feel a little creepy?”

“A guidebook?”

“It was posted on the central bulletin board earlier. It was something about communal living, I think? There was something like ‘rules’ written in red letters on black paper…”

Blinkㅡ.

The blackout then ended.

The lights come on in the dark restaurant.

Researcher B sighs with an inexplicable sense of relief and looks down at his plate.

Sigh…

A sigh let out without thinking.

Pure white breath clung to the spoon.

“… … Uh.”

A spoon that has become cloudy after being touched by breath.

One’s own reflection in a spoon.

“Eat lots.”

reflected in a spoon,

There is ‘something’ stuck behind your back,

Stretch out your long arms,

I patted Mr. B’s head.

“Eat lots.”

Researchers were having dinner at a restaurant,

Her lips were tightly shut as if there had been a power outage.

Squeak…

An old man with long limbs.

‘That thing’ was hunching its back like an old man.

The limbs are so long, the curved back touches the ceiling,

The face of ‘that thing’ with its long neck is reflected in Mr. B’s spoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. Focus on the food while eating.

– Small talk is possible.

– Don’t get up from your seat before you finish your meal.

– Do not hold anything other than utensils with your hands.

– If you hear a strange noise or someone calls you,

– Don’t take your eyes off the table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knock knock!

Mr. B, who looked up at ‘that’ without thinking,

He is grabbed by a long, outstretched arm and his neck is broken.

Knock knock!

A dangling head looks at the table.

“Eat lots.”

“… … Gyaaah!!!”

Suppressed screams erupted from all sides.

Ugh!

… … .

… … .

“Haa…! Haa…!”

There was a person.

There were a lot of people.

A screamer.

A person running away from a restaurant.

A person who uses skills and weapons to rush at ‘that thing’.

A person praying to someone he or she trusts.

People. People.

A lot of people.

“Haa…! Haa…! Haa…!”

and,

Only those who were so terrified that they couldn’t move,

He was still human.

“Eat lots.”

“… … .”

It smelled.

The stench of blood is terrible,

The rough breathing of ‘people’,

A space that covers the scent of food.

Those who are still human,

Those who were human,

Everyone sits around the table and bows their heads.

Knock… knock…

‘People’ sitting next to corpses with broken necks, looking down at the table.

Their sobbing is mixed with intense resentment.

No one raised their head.

If you look away from the table, you’ll end up in the same situation as them.

“… … .”

Knock… knock…

And, Mr. B.

He was the first to break his neck.

I glanced at the junior sitting next to me, who was shaking like a poplar tree.

He looked down at his dinner, which had grown cold.

A body that is drooping and sagging.

Dangling hair.

My neck is broken and I can’t raise my head.

Knock… knock…

Just drops of blood flowing from the eyes and nostrils and falling onto the table,

As black as coffee,

Oh, I drank too much coffee,

As I thought, my blood vessels were filled with only coffee…

Just grumbling.

Suddenly.

Those were Mr. B’s last thoughts.

… … .

… … .

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“You crazy kid! What did you bring from the orphanage basement!”

Emotions are frozen.

A heavy feeling rises in the space where life is fading away.

What some might call resentment.

Dark resentment spreads to others and swells their size.

“Damn it! My phone isn’t working! My internet is down… What do you want me to do!”

There are now a number of researchers who can safely be called survivors.

Their white gowns are dyed red by the blood of others, and they hide in places they feel safe, even in the [Facility].

Those who were engaged in experiments that involved grinding up humans.

I thought I was used to the smell of blood, but it would be different if it became my own smell.

And the smell of blood that flows out brings about more resentment.

(Third from the right. Go down the stairs and left.)

Resentment never goes away.

‘Those things’ come to those who open their eyes.

To those who don’t even have an ‘inverted cross’,

To let out the grudge.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I came to tell Mr. ‘Mouse’ the results of the investigation…”

“The results of the investigation? What did you investigate?”

“… … List of sponsors… I’ve been researching…”

On the other hand,

Eunha hears an unexpected story from Kim Yu-hee, the leader of the Dark Dragons, who bursts into the cafe.

Click!

Before she could say anything, the break room door opened and a ‘mouse’ dressed in a cafe uniform came in.

“Mr. Mouse?”

“… … Kim Yu-hee. Why that of all things… Haa, are you thinking?”

‘Mouse’ wearing a pure white shirt and jeans, with a checkered apron over it.

Could it be the clothes borrowed from Banharin? The ‘mouse’ that came into the break room glared at Kim Yu-hee, who was kneeling at Eunha’s feet.

She wrapped her long rat tail around Eunha’s waist and pulled gently.

Po-ok.

The rat tail wrapped around her waist was quite strong.

Galaxy, who was dragged away, gets up from the sofa and hugs the ‘mouse’.

“Oh my…”

The galaxy’s superior grudge bag is pressed against the mouse’s body and crushed like a hotteok.

The ‘mouse’ quietly accepted the dragged galaxy and took a couple of steps back, pushed by inertia.

Kim Yu-hee, who was watching the scene, got up from the floor and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Wow. Did you see that? It bounced off the squirrel.”

“Shut up, sister.”

“… … Ms. Eunha, can you take Kang Na-ri out for a moment? It’s a personal matter.”

Kim Yu-hee said she has been investigating the list of sponsors.

‘Mouse’ seemed to hope that Eunha wouldn’t hear that story.

“… … Sure. Call me if you need me. ”

“Yeah.”

The worries were short.

The thought was long.

Eunha waved to Kang Na-ri and turned around, smiling as usual.

I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t think it’s harmful to those around you.

If so, it doesn’t matter.

Galaxy, who hugged the ‘mouse’ tightly with both arms open,

She left the break room with Kang Na-ri without asking any questions.

… … .

“Ms. Kang Na-ri. I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”

Click-.

Galaxy leaves the break room.

Afterwards, she asked Kang Na-ri for understanding and headed to the cafe’s bathroom.

[Self-healing] Thanks to this, I never used the cafe bathroom except to wash my hands.

Eunha stares at herself in the bathroom mirror.

The always smiling face was there.

“… … What does it mean that you investigated the sponsor? It has nothing to do with me, right? Then let’s not worry about it. ”

Why is that?

When I heard the word sponsor, I felt sick.

I don’t know exactly where, but anyway.

I don’t know why it hurts, or which sponsor it is referring to, but anyway.

Something hurts.

‘I… have forgotten something. Did the [Forgetful Saint] downstairs take it?’

I never locked the veranda window.

weird.

Eunha brought both hands to her face.

Press the corners of your mouth with your fingertips and lift them slightly.

“… … .”

She laughed.

… … .

… … .

“Whew… Sorry. My stomach hurts for a moment.”

“Are you Ms. Eunha? This is a big deal.”

Ten minutes later, Eunha came out of the bathroom and spoke to Kang Na-ri with a much more refreshed face.

Kang Na-ri, who always faces her with a smile, blushes and twists her blue hair.

Today is an ordinary day.

Peaceful cafe work.

“… … Huh?”

Kang Na-ri said to Eun-ha who came out of the bathroom,

I could smell a faint scent of blood.

“Unnie Galaxy~! The package just arrived. Can you open it for me?”

“Okay, Bangul. What about the delivery?”

“Under the checkout counter. Would you like a knife?”

“It’s okay. I have a cutter knife.”

“… … .”

Kang Na-ri frowned and watched Eun-ha’s back.

… … .

… … .

“Kim Yu-hee, why are you saying that in front of Eunha?”

“I’m embarrassed. I didn’t want to lie to Eunha.”

And, the break room where only the dark dragon and the ‘mouse’ remain.

I don’t know why only outsiders were left in the employee break room, but whatever.

The ‘mouse’ with its long tail wagging gets into the main topic.

“So what happened? Did you find sponsors for the orphanage?”

“I found about three. They’re all familiar faces.”

Orphanage sponsors… that is, the ones who will be the ones to get hurt in the future.

It is an absolutely necessary process for a peaceful life in the galaxy.

Kim Yu-hee, who had glimpsed the tragedy of the ‘Hanbit Orphanage’ through Do Jong-ha’s skills, was ready to help Eun-ha at any time.

Snap!

She swept her orange hair up,

Kim Yu-hee sat down on the lounge sofa facing the ‘mouse’ and began to honestly tell him about the things she had researched over the past few days.

“No, can’t you talk in a slightly quieter place? Like a soundproof booth.”

“Okay. What if they eavesdrop?”

“The captain is strangely clumsy.”

“Shut up, sisters.”

The members of the Dark Dragon Corps, sitting side by side on either side of Kim Yu-hee, looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping.

The sight of them resembled a pack of alert meerkats, and only the ‘mouse’ could not help but laugh.

“As you know, one of them is the chairman of the [Cheongryong Family]. The other elders heard the rumor and sent money.”

“Just one guy… Who else is there?”

“The Hunter Association also sends sponsorship money to other orphanages.”

Chairman of a conglomerate family.

Hunter Association.

Things are already getting complicated.

Moreover, [the Blue Dragon Family] has Kang Na-ri,

The Hunter Association is related to Banharin and the ‘mouse’…

‘Coincidence…? Does it make sense that only related people gathered at the cafe?’

Could this also be fate?

The ‘mouse’ stroked his round, flat ears.

“… … Hmm. Anyway, those two guys… So, where is the other one that you investigated? Could it be [Changcheon Sword]?”

“That’s not it…um…”

And, one last thing.

Sponsors of orphanages investigated by Amryongdae.

Of course, there are other sponsors as well…

The third sponsor we found this time is,

He was quite an unexpected person.

“Um… um… this may be a bit out of the blue, but um…”

“Why don’t you speak quickly?”

“Saetbyeol Apartment… Did you know that the building owner position recently became vacant?”

“Why all of a sudden……”

“Previous building owner, sponsor.”

Saetbyeol Apartment where Eunha lives.

Why did she come to live there?

Thump. Thump.

The connections that stretch out one by one point to the orphanage that burned down.

The ‘mouse’ began to worry with a pretended serious face.