It didn’t look like I’d be thrown into the Labyrinth of Nightmares anyti soon……
‘…Huu.’
Up to now, I’d only eaten the safest foods and barely slept, keeping myself in a state of desperate alertness to avoid falling into any traps during the interrogations. But now, that tension almost lted away in an instant.
Just as a wave of fatigue threatened to overtake —
“And, this is… a personal question.”
A slightly hesitant voice.
“Do you, by any chance, resent Agent Choi?”
“……!!”
“I would understand if you did. As soon as your binding was lifted, you were abruptly transferred to this prison. …And with no discussion with anyone, at that.”
A trace of anger flickered in Agent Bronze’s voice, only to be firmly suppressed.
‘Sounds like there was a fight.’
But not wanting to show it, Agent Bronze changed the subject.
“Over the past week, it’s not that Agent Choi put you here and then deliberately neglected you.”
He went on to explain that Agent Choi had repeatedly applied to serve as my interrogator in order to talk to .
However…
“Since he was the one who had you transferred you here, and because he didn’t et the objectivity requirent when he first applied to be your interrogator, he was blocked.”
“……!”
“Fortunately, I passed, so today… I was thinking about what to say.”
Agent Bronze bowed his head slightly.
“Thank you for giving your answer. I feel sowhat relieved.”
“……”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
After reminding again to take care of my health and get so rest, Agent Bronze disappeared back into the mist beyond the glass wall.
I was once again left alone in the Glass Prison with only the dokkaebi fla.
But instead of the alertness and tension I’d felt before, my mind was now engulfed in a dazed blankness, as if I’d been struck.
And I turned the recent conversation over and over in my mind.
‘Live here, in this world?’
Give up on going ho…?
He was suggesting I make a new ho and settle down here.
As an agent of the Disaster Managent Bureau.
‘…Is this just interrogation bait?’
But given Agent Bronze’s nature, it didn’t seem likely he would cooperate with such a deceitful approach.
If so, then it must be genuine.
There’s a prerequisite there, of course.
The Disaster Managent Bureau has not deed a malefactor.
And… It seed like they want to keep working for them.
“……”
My god.
‘This… actually seems better than I expected.’
If Agent Bronze is the interrogator, maybe I could just confess to being a spy at an appropriate point and bring things to a close. Maybe, I could walk out of the Glass Prison with all my most difficult secrets still kept safe.
And, and…
Maybe I could just work here.
“……”
To keep living as an agent of the Disaster Managent Bureau.
To keep working with Black-Tortoise Team 1 as I am now, spending ti with good people and doing good work.
And if things ever get too hard, maybe if I just admit I’m too much of a coward, they’d even transfer to a different team.
In that way, even in this world of ghost stories, I could build a relatively safe and peaceful daily life with good people.
‘There’s nothing bad about that… is there?’
No, it actually feels pretty decent.
Building a new ho……
‘No.’
I slapped my thigh hard enough to make a sound.
I can’t make a mistake and let my exhaustion, physical and ntal, make judge things just for my own comfort.
‘Agent Bronze only made that suggestion because he assus I lost my ho in an accident or disaster.’
I can’t let myself be confused.
‘My ho is still there, perfectly fine.’
It’s just that the way back is difficult. It’s not like I’m denying reality or obsessing over sothing impossible!
I can do this. I can do this…
……Besides,
The truth is, I know.
Truly deciding to live in this world is not actually a wise choice.
……Rember? The whole na of that wiki.
Prophecy of the Apocalypse : Dark Exploration Records
That’s right.
‘I can’t stay here long.’
Because this world, from the start…
– Oh dear.
A polite and cheerful male voice.
– You seem troubled, Friend.
“…!!”
I jerked upright.
‘A hallucination?’
– Hallucination? Is there such a thing as a hallucination this vivid? Oh, of course, I can certainly understand if you mistook it for one out of missing this Braun so much. Oh, absolutely…
That smooth, flowing speech was far too clear to be just my imagination. I hurriedly reached into my coat pocket and pulled it out.
A small rabbit plushie.
‘……’
A cold chill crawled down my spine.
‘How is it even talking?’
Inside this Glass Prison, all abnormal supernatural phenona were supposed to be blocked…
Ah.
‘But supernatural entities… are still allowed to exist here.’
Just like the dokkaebi-fla clinging to the wall, trembling.
So… the ‘Good Friend’, as a being present through this vessel, isn’t just a talking plushie, but is recognized as a sentient being, as an existence here?
– That’s right. Haven’t we often chatted even in your everyday life? One can’t just write off a close conversation between friends as re trickery. Oh, Mr. Roe Deer, how hurtful!
The host’s cheerful tone falters for a mont at the end.
As if realizing sothing.
– Yes… it is a little sad.
……
– Friend, it seems you’re not happy to see . Even though it’s been a week since we talked.
– I… thought you’d be as happy as a child, Friend, awaiting his favorite show that only cos on once a week, finally able to watch it at last…
“……”
Then.
This plush doll must have chosen to remain silent for a whole week, as if by so miracle…
– There you go again. Calling a ‘plush doll’.
A shiver ran down the back of my neck.
– Hmm. No matter. The host of a great talk show, a showman, must be willing to accept any and all nicknas or insults. If that’s what the audience chooses. And especially if it’s what my very dear friend chooses!
The host’s voice rings brightly inside the glass orb.
It even echoes, as if through a microphone…
– Very well. My friend, who’s had such a rough and exhausting week, deserves a great show.
– Surprise! Look up, Friend!
I stiffly raised my head.
Right there, on the glass wall where Agent Bronze had been standing…
– Let introduce it… ‘How to Escape the Glass Prison’!
A video began to play.
As if on a screen.
“…!”
– Isn’t this much more admirable than the children’s cartoon we promised to watch together? Haha, goodness! Friend, look at you, so flustered. Everything’s fine. Oh? You say it’s supernatural? What’s so supernatural about watching TV? It’s the most natural, everyday thing there is! Now then…
– Let’s watch together.
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