Chapter 105: Ch 105: Did you figure it out?
I stood frozen, staring at Isolation Room B14.
Creak, creeeak.
The rusty hinges groaned like a scream as the door to the isolation room
began to open.
It was a door that should never have opened. And from within, a dark
figure...
"Run."
I immediately turned and sprinted toward the exit of the isolation corridor.
Beside me, I could hear Supervisor Park Minseong running just as
frantically. Survival instincts pushed my legs forward while my mind raced
in confusion.
’What the hell is this?’
What’s going on?
’In the work tips...’
Tip 4 said to ignore the sounds coming from the isolation rooms. Tip 11
said to yell and tell it to shut up to quiet it down.
But before I could decide which rule to follow, the door opened?
What on earth is in there...?
"Guys."
Both of us nearly stumbled at the same time.
That voice—we both recognized it.
But without looking back, we kept running, rounding the corner toward the
green emergency exit sign at the end of the hallway. Cleaning tools
clattered to the floor as we abandoned them. My chest burned as I gasped
for air.
Just as Supervisor Park Minseong reached the emergency exit and grabbed
the doorknob—
[BEEEEEEEEP!!]
"...!!"
[Unauthorized opening of Isolation Room detected.]
[Corridor lockdown initiated.]
Red emergency lights began flashing in the hallway.
Accompanied by the cold, emotionless voice of the system, the sound of a
security shutter descending outside the emergency exit echoed through the
air.
Park Minseong and I exchanged looks in the momentary pause.
"..."
We were trapped inside.
’We’re fucked.’
Damn it. Damn it!
I fumbled in my pocket. Maybe there was something in the work tips about
what to do in this situation...
"Unbelievable. You two are the very definition of Dumb and Dumber. Did
you trade your exploration manuals for candy? Where the hell did all your
composure go?"
...
’What?’
The voice was dry, laced with exasperation. Annoyed, but strangely...
casual?
Step, step.
"This is driving me crazy. No, wait, maybe I should commend you for
being cautious... Hah."
A voice that was now right behind us.
But there was no eerie laughter, no cold hand reaching out from the
darkness, no spine-chilling phenomenon like I expected.
"..."
"Damn it. Hah, no, calm down... Listen, guys. I know I sounded nuts
earlier, okay? But I had no choice—I needed to use an escape item. I didn’t
have time to explain. Just wrap your heads around it already, will you?"
The voice grew more urgent.
"What else could I do? I acted crazy to try and extract some info while I
was at it, but then the item activated, the door opened, and I escaped."
That voice...
"Snap out of it. I’ll give you ten seconds. Hurry."
...
...
"...Assistant Manager?"
"That’s right."
Before I could stop him, Supervisor Park Minseong turned around. And so
did I.
And there, standing in the hallway, was a familiar silhouette.
Bobbed hair.
Sharp, piercing eyes.
A cold-looking woman in a crisp suit.
Standing in the corridor was none other than Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
She scanned the scattered cleaning tools we had abandoned with a faintly
displeased expression.
"Are those supposed to just lie there? No, whatever—let’s sort that out later.
First, let’s deal with this."
"..."
"..."
The grip of Supervisor Park Minseong’s hand on my shoulder slackened.
We stared blankly at her.
"Badger, and... Roe."
Eun Haje’s face softened, a trace of an expression forming.
"How have you been?"
Calm, poised, with a slight undertone of fatigue and exasperation—she
wore the face of a boss who’d seen too much. And on her lips, a sharp-
edged smile.
"This goddamn company... Hah."
She shook her head with a deep sigh, then gestured toward us.
"Sorry to trouble you, but can you help me out? Just open the door to the
isolation corridor for me."
Her voice was calm.
"After that, I’ll handle the rest and get out."
Supervisor Park Minseong and I didn’t respond. It was as if we had made a
silent pact to say nothing.
My head felt like it was going to explode.
Eun Haje smirked wryly.
"Can’t even respond? Well, that’s a wise choice. I would’ve done the
same."
What is this?
’Why does it... sound so convincing?’
Why does it feel so real...?
’No, that can’t be!’
"Supervisor."
I swallowed hard and spoke quickly, as if to remind myself, keeping my
voice low and directed at Supervisor Park Minseong.
"Remember. The Assistant Manager resigned. There’s no way she’s here..."
...
’Wait.’
Is there really no way?
I suddenly recalled all the strange things that had left me uneasy until now.
The abrupt loss of contact with Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
Passing her equipment without meeting her in person, unanswered text
messages except for read receipts, phone calls that never connected—all of
it, only hearing about her through Section Chief Lee Jaheon...
Could it be?
’Is it because she’s trapped here?’
I quickly ran through the criteria for being transferred to the isolation zone
by the Security Team.
Emergency contamination, internal anomalies, dangerous individuals, spies,
disciplinary actions, and other ominous, censored conditions marked with
black boxes.
’Plenty of possibilities.’
Even Supervisor Park and I had been briefly detained here once.
If that’s the case...
Could Assistant Manager Eun Haje also fit one of those criteria?
"...Roe?"
"Hold on... just hold on."
It’s possible, isn’t it?
I wanted to immediately interrogate this person who looked like Assistant
Manager Eun Haje, confirm the situation, and figure out what had
happened. But I couldn’t take the risk of relying on a possibility.
’Let’s try another approach first.’
I turned to Braun for help.
’Braun, the person in front of us... is this really D-squad’s Assistant
Manager we worked with months ago?’
Braun responded cheerfully.
– Oh, what a shame. As much as I’m a legendary host, I’m no investigative
expert!
– My discerning eye is sharp, of course, but alas, even my button eyes have
their limitations.
– Outwardly, they do appear identical, but who can say? There are masters
of disguise out there in the world, after all.
Damn it.
I pressed further, desperate.
’Can you at least confirm one thing for me? Just based on what you see,
what’s your gut feeling? I trust you.’
– ...! If that’s the case, I’d be happy to answer, Friend!
’Thank you. So...’
I took a deep breath.
’Is the person in front of me, in every mental and physical aspect...
human?’
– Ah, now that’s a question I can answer definitively.
Braun’s voice turned confident as he declared cheerfully,
– Yes, indeed!
Haa...
’So, she is human.’
This is driving me nuts.
It would’ve been easier if Braun had said the person wasn’t human. That
would’ve settled it once and for all.
...That this wasn’t Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
But the familiar figure in front of me continued speaking in a voice just as
familiar.
"I’d prefer to take my time convincing you properly, but there’s not much
time, kiddos."
Her complexion seemed a bit pale.
"The Security Team will be here soon to assess the situation. If I want to get
out of here, I have to leave before they arrive."
"..."
"I’m not asking for much. I’ll just hide for a bit. When the door opens, let
me slip out."
I admitted to myself,
’I can’t figure it out just by looking.’
That left me with no choice but to take a slight risk.
I turned to Supervisor Park and spoke directly.
"Supervisor."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Don’t you think encountering the Assistant Manager on leave in the
Security Team’s isolation area is an impossible scenario?"
"That’s... true, yeah?"
"Oh. Indirect dialogue—interesting approach, Roe."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje chuckled softly before muttering quickly
under her breath.
"They probably stuck me here, telling me to think it over until I changed
my mind about resigning. In hindsight, trusting this goddamn company was
my mistake. Fuck."
"Supervisor, if someone escapes the isolation corridor, wouldn’t they be
captured almost immediately?"
"I’m not an idiot, you know? I’ve got an item ready. The problem is time.
There’s no time. The Security Team is probably on their way right now. I
can’t even confirm anything—this is driving me crazy..."
Confirmation.
’...Wait!’
I remembered what was in my back pocket.
’The walkie-talkie.’
Pressing my back against the door, I carefully reached behind me, grabbing
the walkie-talkie from my pocket without making it visible. Slowly, I turned
up the volume just a notch...
Bee-bee-beep.
[Currently in lockdown...]
Damn it!
’The Security Sergeant has been trying to contact us all this time!’
I immediately turned the sound off, but it was too late.
"I just heard a walkie-talkie."
"...!"
"Well, whoever has it can use it as they like, but I’m curious..."
Curious?
"They don’t give walkie-talkies to cleaning staff, do they?"
"..."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Did someone give it to you especially? That’s... odd. Cleaning staff
usually just scan in and read the manual on automated devices. The system
is designed so they don’t need to meet anyone else."
Eun Haje’s voice carried a mix of suspicion and tension.
"That thing... are you sure it actually connects to the Security Team?"
"..."
"Roe, who exactly did you meet?"
Sweat soaked my palms. This was the first time I’d ever been in a situation
like this.
’I have no idea what to believe anymore.’
There were no hints, no clear answers. Even if this was really Assistant
Manager Eun Haje, how could she possibly help us? Could she truly hide
from the Security Team? Was that even possible?
’If I want to figure out the situation even a little more...’
Oh!
I remembered what I’d originally planned to check—the second sheet of
tips.
’If I read all the remaining tips, maybe I can piece together the truth.’
I quickly pulled out the sheet and scanned the next number.
12- If you notice a strange smell or something starts seeping from
under a door, run immediately.
That’s always a warning sign before a door opens. Conversely, if you
don’t notice anything, it’s usually safe.
Exceptions to this will be explained in the next section. It’s
recommended to take a break before reading further.
I moved on to the next point without hesitation.
13- Oh? The door’s open?
Kekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekeke
kekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekeke
Reflexively, I crumpled the paper in my hands.
My pulse pounded in my fingertips as if the paper itself were alive.
"Roe, are you okay?"
Calm down. Stay calm...
"Let’s just think rationally. The Security Team is on their way, so now’s the
time to figure out the best course of action."
Supervisor Park Minseong patted my back, but as he did so, I felt him
tracing something on my back with his finger.
N
O
T
H
E
R
...
It’s not her.
I froze and slowly lifted my head.
"Wow."
Eun Haje—or rather, the thing wearing her face—tilted its head toward us.
"How’d you figure it out?"
How’d you figure it out? How’d you figure it out? How’d you figure it out?
How’d you figure it out? How’d you figure it out? How’d you figure it out?
How’d you figure it out?
HOW DID YOU FIGURE IT OUT?
Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehe
eheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehe
eheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehe
eheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehe
eheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehe
eheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehee!!
Thud.
Eun Haje’s head dropped to the floor.
And then... it stood upside down.
Two legs and arms pointed stiffly to the sky as they turned to face us.
Hiya!!!
Do you believe in Ireum-niiiiiiiimmmmmm??
Right then and there.
I...
...fainted.
* * *
"Roe."
"..."
"Roe?"
Ah.
I lifted my head.
"You must be really tired. Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll take over."
Supervisor Park Minseong, holding a mop handle, looked at me with
worried eyes.
I glanced around. The isolation corridor looked normal, with all the doors
firmly shut.
"Ha..."
I grabbed the mop handle and lowered my head.
"Are... are you okay?"
"Yes... I’m sorry."
Was it a nightmare?
’The whole thing didn’t make any sense anyway.’
The isolation room doors suddenly opening, Eun Haje turning into some
kind of ghost... It was all absurd.
I rubbed my temples.
"...I’m sorry. I must have dozed off for a moment."
"You don’t need to apologize! It’s fine. You were working during the day
too—of course you’re tired."
Supervisor Park Minseong gave my back a reassuring pat.
"Let’s hang in there just a little longer. We only have two days left."
"..."
Two days?
Not three?
"Supervisor, what day is it today?"
"Uh... it’s past midnight now, so it’s the 30th. December 30th."
"..."
Not the 29th.
The 30th.
"Since yesterday’s cleaning went smoothly, let’s finish today’s as well
without any problems."
"..."
"Oh, here’s a new tip sheet! They told us to read this on the second day. It’s
for you... Roe? Roe!"