“Right. Thank you. Then… Braun, is it okay if you go back into my front pocket for now?”
– Oh, I certainly wouldn’t refuse that!
I barely managed to smoothly shift the topic and end the conversation with Braun.
Phew.
As soon as I put Braun into the front pocket of the top I was wearing, I let out a sigh of relief.
Still, there was a strange sense of stability, like I’d sohow gotten back on track.
For reference, the dokkaebi fla substituting as my right arm shook so badly when I tried to grab the plush toy with it, and I just ended up using my left arm.
‘Since when did it take this much negotiation just to use my own body…’
I feel like I’m reaching enlightennt.
“Is it over?”
“…Yes.”
Fortunately, the lizard didn’t do anything rash like snatching up the Good Friend plush and throwing him out the window.
Though he did stare at the bunny for a while.
‘…If Braun could move right now, a fight clearly would’ve broken out.’
In a way, it was a relief things were as they were.
To clear the air, I spoke up again.
“Um, Section Chief. Then, if the reason you visited today was because you noticed this…”
“It is not.”
Then what is it?
“Is there another reason?”
“Yes.”
“One mont.”
Huu.
I finally sat back down at the table and set out so simple snacks and coffee for Chief Lizard.
He accepted the coffee without hesitation, and I also drank mine across from him.
“I’d like to hear it now, please.”
I was ready to listen.
…It even crossed my mind that this might be about the D-squad.
“Yes.”
After swallowing a snack, packaging included, the lizard looked at and spoke.
It was an utterly unexpected topic.
“Mr. Roe Deer, during your last ‘Cheerful The Park!’ expedition, did you have a Dream Essence Collector with you?”
……
Hmm?
“The company didn’t provide with one.”
“I see.”
Right. I had been pretending to be part of the Security Team’s special division.
Normally, the Security Team isn’t given a collector because they’re too contaminated. The collector only dispenses Dream Essence if it recognizes the user as human, and they can’t pass that assessnt.
But of course, I had brought one of my own.
An elite team collector.
The one I’d received from the rch Box had, several tis now, provided with raw material so I could extract potions in the Dream Incubator.
‘This exploration is supposed to be A-grade.’
Should I check it now?
I opened my mouth as I checked the elite team collector I’d stored in my inventory tattoo.
“But why are you asking about—”
The elite team collector was completely empty.
“……”
Huh?
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
I carefully took out the collector again and checked to be sure, but still, nothing was inside.
‘That’s, strange.’
I definitely cleared the Darkness and escaped. That ans the Dream Essence Collector should be full.
Why isn’t it filled?
‘Even if you clear the darkness, if the collector doesn’t recognize you as human, it won’t fill with essence…’
The phrase that just popped into my mind.
– The collector only dispenses Dream Essence if it recognizes the user as human, and they can’t pass that assessnt.
……
Wait a minute.
I’m not human, is that it?
I’ve been classified as a ghost story entity?
But…
‘I’m still completely myself, aren’t I?’
I didn’t show any sudden or bizarre behavior like the ti I went to the Fox Counseling Office.
So I feel like I’m maintaining my own sense of identity…
“Section Chief.”
“Yes.”
“Am I… contaminated?”
I t Chief Lizard’s gaze.
He opened his mouth.
“Yes.”
“……But I’m normal. It’s different from when I went to the counseling office…”
“It’s because you’ve been contaminated by a different Darkness.”
……Ah.
‘That… could be possible.’
That’s when it happened.
A brilliant shaft of light descended from above.
I looked up without thinking, and there was the familiar notepad and ssage…
[Dark Exploration Records Real rch Box]
– New rch unlocked! (!)
A special phenonon I hadn’t seen in a long ti.
Almost unconsciously, I reached out and caught the item that dropped from the box.
A small silver music box.
“……”
It was the item I’d bought at the pop-up store.
Church of the Luminous Unknown rch.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Church of the Luminous Unknown
/ Items
Music Box of Praise
A replica of the music box acquired through a certain ritual at the Church of the Luminous Unknown.
It’s said that the inside of the genuine article was engraved with the words ‘Knowledge of the Truth is Power’.
If soone who has beco assimilated with a ghost story listens to the lody of the music box, there is a chance they may regain their human rationality and sense of self.
However, if listened to repeatedly more than three tis, it can instead lead to falling into madness and committing unpredictable and horrific acts. See usage records here.
So claim this is rely a side effect of realizing the unknowable truths of this world, and that the music box’s true usage only begins after listening more than three tis.
As soon as the music box is closed, the lody is forgotten, and only the feeling remains, never to be recalled in your mind again.
Usage Requirent : One who has been granted the sacred scriptures of the Church of the Luminous Unknown, and has beco assimilated.
========================
Here, ‘assimilated’ ans those who have mutated so much within a ghost story that they can no longer be recognized as human, according to the Church of the Luminous Unknown’s terminology.
So… the fact that I received this ans.
I’ve t the item’s usage requirents.
I’ve been completely contaminated by the ghost story.
And I’m aware of it.
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
“……”
“If you still do not wish to visit the Fox Counseling Office, please nod your head.”
This is driving crazy.
“If you are unable to decide, please execute the alternative imdiately.”
That is…
“What is it?”
“Please take out the thank-you card you received from the Space Shopping Mall.”
Reflexively, I did as he said.
A golden card popped out from my wrist, but Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn’t so much as blink.
“Now, please take out the cell enclosed within the card.”
A cell?
Was it referring to the gold chip, shaped like a SIM card, that had been enclosed inside the card?
“Place it under your tongue.”
“……”
“Make sure the circuit is facing up, and press it under your tongue.”
Normally, I would’ve hesitated and wasted more ti.
But this ti, a cold sense of crisis spurred to act.
“Yes.”
I pressed the ‘cell’ under my tongue.
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