Chapter 441: The Stationery Store
Stationery store? Or is it an art supply store?
Whatever it is. I’d been invited a few times, but honestly, I never really wanted to go, and it’s also true that I never had the time.
Based on the funny box the Branch Chief sent, it doesn’t seem particularly harmful... But then again, just because something doesn't look harmful doesn't mean it's guaranteed to be safe.
If it's something meant for enjoyment, doesn't it feel like an isolation object from the start? In that case, I don't really want to get close to it...
But since I've been summoned this explicitly, I suppose getting a consultation is the right move.
Maybe I should ask the Branch Chief to keep an eye on things.
I left a message for the Branch Chief, but there was no reply.
For a moment, I wondered if something had happened to her, but then I heard a rumor that she was away on a business trip.
The Branch Chief really has a busy job. I should definitely never become something like a Branch Chief.
In the end, the people you consult with are always the same ones.
"Hmm..."
Song A-rin frowned as she looked at the invitation.
"Hey, it looks like we can't really skip this one."
"Is that so?"
"Well, what can you do? The fact that they're pointing it out so specifically is like an unspoken threat that not coming isn't an option."
I see.
"Can't we just fight them?"
Yu Daon raised her hand slightly as she spoke, and Jang Chae-yeon shook her head.
"If it were someone like Aestheticism, we would have tried to stop you or even prepared for war, but..."
"That side probably wouldn't have been a problem."
"What do you mean, 'wouldn't have been a problem'?"
"From what I know, they basically have no hostile relationship with the Management Bureau."
The stationery store?
"It's more of a mutual non-interference vibe."
Song A-rin shrugged her shoulders.
"Since they haven't caused any trouble, the Management Bureau has no reason to pick a fight with them."
"Aren't they causing trouble right now by summoning me?"
"Well, that's true."
Song A-rin closed her mouth, and surprisingly, it was the Team Leader who continued.
"Go, Jae-heon."
"Huh?"
"From what I see, it's worth going."
Suddenly?
I looked at the Team Leader with that sentiment in my eyes, and he tapped me on the head.
"Hearing that makes me feel like it's not dangerous. No, on the contrary, I feel good about it."
"Isn't that just because you're not the one in danger, Team Leader?"
"But if you say you're not going, I break out in a cold sweat."
"I guess I have to go, then."
One of the absolute rules I follow while working at the Management Bureau.
There's no harm in listening to the Team Leader's advice.
Professionally, he's the god of paperwork. When it comes to incidents, he has a sense for detecting danger.
A very useful person.
"You're making a very arrogant face there, Jae-heon."
"Not at all."
He's a reliable person, so trusting him is best.
Thinking that, I folded the letter.
"But wait, they didn't say where to go. How am I supposed to find the place?"
As soon as I said that, the letter unfolded again.
[The address is as follows.]
[XX-dong, XX-XX]
It tells me right away.
Now there's really no excuse to run away.
"Are the rest of you coming too?"
"Is that even a question?"
Jang Chae-yeon tilted her head, and the others also looked at me with expressions that asked what I was talking about.
Yeah, I figured as much.
Nodding with that thought, I asked, "Shall we go tomorrow, then?"
It felt like we shouldn't delay even a day.
"Should I go too?"
Park Ye-eun, who had been quiet until then, raised her hand and looked at me.
"No, you stay put."
"But I'm in the HR team too, you know?"
"You're not a veteran."
"And you're a veteran, Oppa? You're such a veteran..."
Park Ye-eun grumbled and sat back down.
Turning my gaze away from her, I looked at the other three.
"So you're all coming?"
"Yes!"
"Uh-huh."
"Got it."
"Since it'd be a hassle to meet up first, is it okay if we just meet directly in front of the stationery store?"
At my words, the three nodded.
"Good. Then I'll see you then."
Saying that, I turned my computer back on.
Sure enough, Manual was waiting in front of the mailbox.
She seemed to have given up on playing games with her body size; she was back to the body I remembered from the old days.
Manual opened her mouth as if to say something, but I quickly reached out to stop her and opened a notepad.
Talking to the screen isn't my style.
With the notepad open, I started typing.
[How much do you know about the stationery store?]
Manual looked at me with a dissatisfied expression, then skillfully moved her hands to type out a response.
[According to records, there's nothing particularly strange about it.]
[If you had to say what's strange?]
[Like, people died or got hurt or something.]
[So there are no other records, I see?]
Manual looked at what I typed, stayed still as if thinking, then started typing again.
[There are records, alright.]
[There are?]
She seems somewhat dissatisfied.
[How should I put it... Should I say they seem to like people mingling with each other...?]
[What do you mean by 'mingling'?]
[Anyway, you need to be careful.]
[Careful of what?]
[Even if others say, 'Hey, let's have some physical contact with each other,' don't do it.]
[Are you my mother?]
[I know your mother well, you know?]
Well, that's true.
[Anyway, I got it.]
[Make sure to take me with you.]
[When have I ever not taken you?]
This is one thing I can say with confidence. I have never, ever forgotten to take Manual with me.
Reading that, Manual smiled as if pleased.
[Is there any work I can help you with?]
[How far can you help?]
[Opening programs for you?]
[Just cheer for me from the background.]
[Yeah, fighting!]
Then Manual raised both arms and started waving them enthusiastically.
Is this kind of thing actually helpful?
Thinking that, I started working.
Surprisingly, Manual, who cheered me up from the background whenever I got bored, turned out to be quite helpful.
*
The next day, following the Team Leader's words that I didn't even need to file a business trip report, I stood in front of a place presumed to be the stationery store, not knowing whether I should be happy or upset about this.
Yu Daon had arrived first and was waiting, and soon the other two followed.
"Is this the stationery store?"
Song A-rin muttered in a dubious voice, looking at the building in front of us.
Well, it's understandable. It was more... impressive than I'd thought.
"It's big, isn't it?"
"That's what I'm saying."
Just judging by the size of the building, it looks like something built by a major corporation.
A majestic building stood before us.
"Let's see. About... 20 stories... I think."
Jang Chae-yeon narrowed her eyes and started counting the floors.
"But there are people inside?"
Yu Daon said, sniffing with her eyes closed.
"People?"
"Yes."
"...Really?"
Hearing Yu Daon, Song A-rin closed her eyes and concentrated, then soon opened them.
"There are just some people."
"What do you mean, 'just some people'?"
"Just what I said. Ordinary people."
Why are there ordinary people here?
Aren't they all brainwashed?
I'm just getting needlessly worried.
While I was thinking that, someone walked up to us.
Yu Daon hurriedly stepped in front, while Jang Chae-yeon and Song A-rin stood by my side as if to protect me.
It was a young woman with a pleasant impression.
"Ah, might you be Kim Jae-heon?"
"...That's me."
"I see!"
Hearing my answer, the woman smiled and nodded.
"We've been waiting for you!"
"For me?"
"Yes!"
This is getting more unsettling by the minute.
As if I wasn't the only one feeling that way, the others moved even closer to me, shielding me.
The woman's eyes lit up seeing that.
"You're all so close!"
"Well... I suppose so."
"There's no need to worry so much!"
She beamed.
"People from the Management Bureau always seem so worried! But you really don't need to worry about that here!"
"..."
"Our goal is purely to make fun toys!"
"Why?"
It was Song A-rin, who had been standing protectively beside me, who spoke up.
"What's the reason for making fun toys? What are you trying to achieve with them?"
"Huh...?"
The woman looked confused by the question, as if she didn't understand what was being asked.
"Isn't it good?"
"What?"
"If we make fun toys, everyone is happy, and more people smile, right?"
"...Happy?"
"Honestly, you had fun, didn't you?"
The woman looked at us as if asking something obvious.
"We're just playing a fun game, you know?"
"..."
"There might be some, um, intensity along the way, but ultimately, we pursue a fun game!"
None of us said anything to the smiling woman.
Well, to be honest, the stationery store's games were less exhausting. Of course, the way they sometimes acted like they knew me was a bit, no, very annoying.
"Anyway, you are an excellent customer, and moreover, you always serve as the first tester of our toys for the Management Bureau folks."
The woman smiled and gestured as if clearing a path.
"Welcome!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
There's no choice. Refusing to go here would probably just cause unnecessary trouble. Let's trust the Team Leader and go for it.
"Understood."
I replied and stepped into the building.
*
Is this what an amusement park that little kids would love feels like?
The moment we entered, a character similar to a mascot greeted us.
A mascot with an elephant's trunk and raccoon-dog-like ears, giving a sort of deformed feel.
"Welcome!"
It even talked while moving.
I looked around at the people.
Everyone seemed to be bustling about.
"Are they all in their right minds?"
"They are."
Song A-rin answered calmly to my question, and Yu Daon sniffed the air again.
"Everyone smells like normal people, though?"
"We don't do things like brainwashing our employees! We always have to make fun toys, so brainwashing is bad for creativity!"
The woman answered in a bright voice.
"Now, now, follow me quickly! The Owner is waiting!"
The Owner.
That makes me uneasy for some reason.
Following the woman, I kept looking around.
Soon, we all entered a huge elevator, and it slowly ascended.
With a ding!, the elevator doors opened.
"Welcome!"
An old man with a bulging belly and a white beard was greeting us.
"..."
I feel like I've seen this person somewhere before.
No, where have I seen him...?
And I wasn't the only one thinking that; Jang Chae-yeon and Song A-rin were also frowning.
Only Yu Daon frowned, pinching her nose.
"Cigarette smell!"
It feels like I should know, but I'm not sure.