Chapter 37
gOlhAhwSince I had always been able to choose the items I needed, the roulette wheel was practically not a variable for me.cGOsR
qSjjT3nKwak Hanmuk remembered his unfortunate past and became discouraged, and Mo Haein didn’t seem to be doing much better either.j1Z
kPGJudging by the utterly weary expression on her face, it seemed that she, too, had once been forced to wear a maid uniform.USZ1Yur
uHaWhile both Captains lamented their bad luck, Samra continued the briefing as calmly as ever.CKRUmRi
g8I“Just like in Dead Zone Delivery, Clean! Clean! Clean! also has neither a vaccine nor a cure for the BT-CCC virus.”FfGK
ZLroIeMost likely, the Trials the Special Mission Team entered would continue to lack vaccines and treatments.SAAjA
uelLKWAfter all, it would be a waste to send a team as expensive as ours into relatively safe Trials.L6W0Cv
uC5j0d“Furthermore, since Lieutenant Colonel Je will arrive at the incubation point of Clean! Clean! Clean! first, transportation will be carried out by teleportation this time.”W7V0P
HKhUfUaWhen I heard the word teleportation, I couldn’t hide my interest.06QDW
8qVWB‘Am I finally going to use teleportation?’U7pDNhh
2EI0aTeleportation was a device created by Samra using items obtained from Trials.E5cPa
9WK5YIt only allowed a one-way trip from the Trial Response Agency to a Trial’s incubation point, and it could only be used if there was already an Adapted belonging to the Trial Response Agency at that location.rwq4
mXAmtNRAll of those conditions existed for safety reasons.HFDWEo
9kQSamra was capable of creating a much better device, but in that case, for the time being, he couldn’t guarantee the survival of the Adapted who used it.7iR
fEzApparently, since they couldn’t use human beings as test subjects, all of the tests had been conducted using androids as the reference.tvTu2
6VzIn any case, there was no other means of long-distance transportation that was so extraordinarily practical.mPcK
DXs‘The first time I met Captain Kwak, he arrived by teleportation too.’lC9OzX
9tOAs I remembered Kwak Hanmuk appearing in the abandoned factory grounds, I imagined what it would be like to use teleportation.Q0CSj
kTmwTj8Afterward, we discussed the NPCs, the Creatures, and the endings that had already been completed in CCC, and the Special Mission Team meeting came to an end.Y9d8
YVm8yD1Kwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein hurried off to finish their respective teams’ work before the next morning’s incursion.3Lu
rzPsQpWI was the only one who was free, so I calmly rose from my seat.mgrurr
KOpRnSw“Han Goyo.”42oQc2v
mM1mHJSamra handed me a small box.8g1WH
pCY9Inside was a tiny badge that shimmered with holographic colors.03cJ
1CcQsJ“It’s an item we’ve developed recently.”OpO6
EnyG“What does it do?”SFnrt
ZfGx7“It’s still in the testing phase, so I’d like you to wear it during this incursion into Clean! Clean! Clean!.”gn2Jyj
Q0c8tbHe explained that the item would activate upon entering the Trial, so I would have to check its effects once inside.k1I
zqL93For now, it remained inactive, making it impossible even to read its description.xTj
kLCSFIt was about the size of a button, so even if I wore it in CCC, no one would probably notice.Sw3R5g1
p7zxI closed the lid of the box and remarked,1c6i
JHJL“For allies, you keep quite a few secrets.”r4PQi
zCqn“Paseong’s CEO is an Adapted who played the Developer’s game.”Zh3NYQe
x7cpZXlSamra’s words were so unexpected that I froze with the box still in my hands.2ZN
x1x“The reason I prevented you from contacting Paseong’s CEO is also related to that. I’m only trying to choose the best possible option. I will not betray Han Goyo.”vHnljpS
NfkWW4ZSamra held my gaze as he said,FXY
2cYjl“Please trust me.”akZq2uI
LIJn8mNDid androids lie too?FUSNuo
10qeAt least, throughout all the time I’d spent playing Archive World, I had never seen Samra tell a lie.9DP8fo
8Fqo‘He concealed the truth when necessary, but that was different.’VvKdVdu
tUW5JOf course, reality could be different.uK6zZ2
aT3ceWuEven so, I decided to trust Samra.m1b0zi
fc5“Alright. But after we complete CCC, I’d like you to share something with me.”WchfIf
BmnfGo“Yes, Han Goyo.”AqQg
0oJxZSamra gave a faint smile.eGTSR
zuCl“I’m counting on you for this second mission as well.”QzlU8
pN1Hq2***cMi
5JixCCC’s incubation point was at Haewoljeong on Dalmaji Hill, Busan.4w9P
alnXThe place, which had once been a famous tourist destination overlooking the sea, was now surrounded by tall containment walls.cWm
JI9xcThe air split open with a crack, and three people fell to the ground.2u04r
U7SFr“Hop!”9IPVUE
hOtgKwak Hanmuk landed lightly, followed by Mo Haein, who touched down with graceful precision.4Yug4
J1gPjmI staggered a little myself, but managed to land without falling.DWnh
tKK‘Teleportation is insane.’Df5L
3fv9We had traveled from Seoul to Busan in the blink of an eye.95A
3DoJzNow that was cutting-edge technology.Cb9fK4S
I2EoCtBWhile I spent a few moments enjoying the excitement of using teleportation for the first time, someone who had arrived ahead of us greeted us, accompanied by the soft clatter of metal.wShpBJ4
LP5Lieutenant Colonel Je was sitting on the roof of the pavilion, which had been partially destroyed by a meteorite.zzk
cjGHe remained there like a crow perched on a utility pole, gazing at the sky visible beyond the barriers.G38f4
z81fc‘According to Samra, he finished a Trial early this morning and came out of it.’N4qxmw
FkYqThe salty sea breeze seemed to carry a faint scent of blood, though I couldn’t be sure.lFy
DmcAt first glance, he looked perfectly fine.cuROaUp
1UwvFFQAlthough he seemed to be in a worse mood than usual.isqR
JRwIv2jNormally, he would have had some kind of emoticon displayed on his goggles and would be making his metallic hand click.u19xi
hc8TdUwI was a little worried about whether he would behave himself in CCC.kuXm
EGxAs I stared at him, trying to determine whether he was in his right mind, he turned his head toward us.HfwYWe
dkgSince he was never the one to look away first, there was no point in holding his gaze.E8Vt
g61So I gave a slight bow.klW
GXVoU“Lieutenant Colonel Je. We’ve arrived.”89GV
hTKFqHe simply inclined his head slightly in response.FQNM
XgvB9KThen he pointed his metallic hand toward the ground beneath his feet.FNoF
ghEZQDBelow him, embedded in the center of the collapsed pavilion, was CCC’s meteorite, radiating an intense light.vr3
VxkYnIt was barely the size of an egg and glowed with a mysterious blue radiance, where light and dark shades blended together like a moonlit night sky.iaHxLR
VugbNBDIts surface was perfectly smooth, without a single crack or scratch, making it look like an extraordinarily valuable mineral.QPXXgh
6bV6“Ugh… CCC…”IUeMrq
bjoMuttering something unintelligible as he sighed in resignation, Kwak Hanmuk walked toward the meteorite.8THA
L3YX“We’re going in immediately.”S7D
N5sLieutenant Colonel Je nodded once more.EgZnJl7
74idMo Haein pressed the earpiece in her ear and gave a brief report.76pPs
2YKB“The Special Mission Team is beginning the incursion.”GUSUz
Gxp6gThen she placed her hand on the meteorite.q0HSX
5XSSNc***o8Y
QDOqWhen I regained consciousness, everything was blurry.lqvad
o6XmylbI tried to turn my head, but I couldn’t move my body.qKu4yI
e95M7It was the game’s opening scene, which locked the player’s point of view.hiO
Oo502Inside a spaceship that looked destined for the scrapyard, countless alien lifeforms dressed in filthy, tattered clothing sat scattered everywhere.bz2ufU
idv8Walking among them was a creature that looked like a cross between a human and a cephalopod.iuwbgDn
4vQc2It wore the uniform of a temporary employment agency and had an eyepatch over one eye.nWRBk
SFCIt slammed one of its tentacles against the floor and shouted,I4Gm4h
QXL“We’re almost there! Wake up, you worthless scum!”xF7YCXP
DEmhLeaning against the wall, I turned my head.FyBr
Qw0jSSMy gaze shifted toward the window.nrpSso
ocMA9Outside, there was nothing but an endless sea of gray clouds.3uT8go
ubw1iThen a deep electronic synthesizer began to play, creating an unsettling atmosphere.EMb
OEqR90pThe music gradually grew more intense.kn3O
tkjihUntil, all at once, it stopped completely.lCLBKt
pSBYGAfter a brief silence, the clouds began to part.oKMi2B0
pfEzHKQAt the same moment the drums kicked in, an enormous mansion appeared.4AQ
pDPIf this had been the game, the title Clean! Clean! Clean! would have appeared on the screen at that moment.gWM2
FZeQAPcA sharp synthesizer melody blended with a fast, ominous rhythm.HF2qe5
lKg0eaThe enormous Renaissance-style mansion beneath the night sky seemed to float upon the water.esEsR0
2OsgUThe warm orange light spilling from its windows reflected across the surface below.wY4AFyJ
PJ9EWwXElegant and majestic, the mansion conveyed an overwhelming sense of authority and demanded almost involuntary admiration.MaB
6esSRzQAs the ship slowly approached, the music continued.q36i6fb
LFk0fAt first glance, its sophisticated rhythm sounded upbeat, but the background synthesizers created an eerie dissonance that made it feel as though everything could spiral out of control at any moment.zkwD1V
VMAIt was the perfect main theme for CCC’s atmosphere.3wBZCa4
0oCAVesAs the music reached its end, the ship landed.QX2eBY
HibuzTThe moment the hatch opened, the temporary employment agency workers began shouting.TIqpSWi
yrwsuXC“Line up! Get on your feet already!”wxj
ut416The alien creatures rose while grumbling and formed two lines.CRn
dQtLI quickly stood up as well and followed the employees out of the ship.9NFOpW
Kt4usSStanding before the mansion’s main entrance were two creatures nearly eight feet tall.O6OL
6gFZzLzThey had the bodies of human men, wore immaculate butler suits, and their heads belonged to beasts made entirely of black metal.vulDK
xL6They were the mansion’s main NPCs.1g0wsK
X1pOThe Rabbit Butler and the Cat Butler.SvT
gtcZsiNeither of them had eyes.cDL6r2
qCaWith those smooth, expressionless heads, they opened their mouths simultaneously.RsS
sWhVAqh“The cleaners have arrived!”765
cvq0“They’re late.”AQf
tHOBKjfInside the Cat Butler’s open mouth were rows of razor-sharp shark teeth.vuo
42IfKfqEven the Rabbit Butler, who should have been a herbivore, possessed the very same fangs.gnLO
qWjThat only made his already bizarre appearance even more unsettling.P9D
xp7UThe Cat Butler pointed at the cleaner standing at the front of the line.AO3L
UnpCyDv“You!”4Em
cDP7mEI“Y-Yes…?”0Fx
cdL0bJbHe was a clumsy-looking individual whose head was made of stone.7PCDyQ
PtVfEdlAs he scratched his head, tiny rock fragments fell onto the ground.GLiGwD
2QoWithout concealing his disgust, the Cat Butler asked,kXh
P7o“What do I look like to you?”Jkg
ItAL26The cleaner answered with a bewildered expression.3cc
Ynabd“A… cat?”vZ3Y
QZrLjJThose were the last words he ever spoke.MCv
Jtj3Zaaap!ktciz
BOy4A sharp electrical buzz rang out.RY7x
IkbLNA charred hole appeared in the center of his forehead.l89Q1
jYLwpsThe cleaner with the stone head collapsed backward as thick black blood, as viscous as tar, poured from the wound.XZWY
wBQ4ZjThe crimson glow in his eyes vanished completely.r51i
Ji3TT6fOne of them had just died.KfXZ
DW1TYet the temporary employment agency worker didn’t even look surprised.ynqV
zyiHe simply burst into laughter.scR
t3F5The only ones terrified were the other cleaners, who instinctively stumbled backward.zSfxsTl
rhvB61Looking at the corpse as though it were garbage, the Cat Butler pointed at someone else.30h
ySRskhv“You!”qO0
KWe4ZThe one he chose was Mo Haein.Nupw
0Tkcs“Answer me. What do I look like to you?”kuqGEsh
POkSTFDressed in an old, worn-out work jumpsuit, Mo Haein replied without changing her expression.NgD
18s“The distinguished butler of this great mansion.”gyuulMi
ABxwODThe Cat Butler bared his sharp teeth in a smile.ieW4wg
rAE“Not bad.”rdTGwpb
1ynY9ADAlthough his words were cold, his broad grin made it obvious that he was quite pleased.Ky32r
UZkKrN“Come to think of it, you’ve been here before as a cleaner. Yes… every now and then someone useful would show up.”iHiJnQE
RaO6EhrThe butlers, CCC‘s main NPCs, remembered every one of the player’s previous playthroughs.xVu
8tyPWhen all endings had been completed and another playthrough began, the Rabbit Butler and the Cat Butler would welcome the player and reveal a hidden ending.9FrV
QzI9“Gunbam has returned.”WCA3
PO2kd“Oh! Gunbam. Have you decided to work as a butler in the mansion? If it’s you, Gunbam, you’ll always be welcome.”3KEcx3
HI2Once that hidden ending had been seen, in which the butlers prepared a banquet for the player inside the mansion, it became impossible to play again.Bt8KJR
YspEven if you tried to start another playthrough, only a message would appear before the game automatically shut down.C29XOp
l5JYou cannot apply as a cleaner.G7W
KUKIt was a strange game in many ways.Ngp
znPX6RD“Listen up, you useless fools! In this place, one stupid mistake means death! Never forget that!”rVr
P5PbNwThe Cat Butler’s voice echoed thunderously.EMhSS
LlGThe cleaners trembled and shrank back.DJLATg
7O4AThe temporary employment agency worker burst into laughter at the sight.y5ExzU0
OqRThen he sealed the ship’s hatch and took off again.icisIiX
NZZ7Several cleaners desperately tried to climb back aboard.FIJ0l
k6W5y2xEvery one of them was killed by energy beams.AueNvN2
07mKThe company would not return until the seven-day cleaning contract had ended.y0XY
KwkLQUntil then, they would have to clean the mansion and survive on their own.w7Y
5XLC0ESeveral cleaners began crying and screaming as they realized their fate.38zxWg
7qkcRtiSome died simply because they made too much noise.N5TQp2
cGsUDYnAt last, the opening scene ended, and I regained control of my body.igaIeu
HLjjTaking advantage of the chaos, I quickly pulled out an item.vhWdA
WdOBRIt was a small bronze hand mirror.A1a
gmFjeRProper Appearance: Even when you’re alone in a room, you must dress and conduct yourself as though you were welcoming an honored guest.8tDbSqC
8uc9My face was reflected upon the polished bronze surface.Wtcpcn
80KpProper Appearance was an item that could only be used once per Trial.bkbU
ZtWsnIt transformed the user into the most attractive version of themselves according to that Trial’s standards of beauty.l5GSIG
64PIn other words, you took on the appearance that the Trial’s NPCs found most appealing, which didn’t necessarily match conventional human beauty.K5J
B0fAfter using the item, a sudden worry crossed my mind.ylI
Xwu7U‘I hope I don’t end up with an octopus head.’Gaw
rQN9JZSI could still tolerate having a cat’s head or a rabbit’s head.VwZQj
74CFr3EBut anything related to an octopus was something I’d rather avoid.HdUBO3W
2Uc3a6All I could do was trust the mansion butlers’ tastes.eSl
srgBPOSMy heart pounding, I looked into the mirror.ud7PpPu
QsHpjpThe surface rippled as though a drop of water had fallen onto it.OQF4jG
d5qhNFor a few moments, tiny waves distorted my reflection.yX80
wrAshThen they gradually settled.Gfh
lba20qZAnd when the image finally became clear again…wvJm4Q
yqX7p“…?”u12Jr
3F8jG6zIt was exactly the same.qfWlhp
2ppIt was still my own face.0pp3OO
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dihnblls 300
Golden Corebaek saheon?