Chapter 43
Ta0kAs soon as I finished reading the article, only one thought crossed my mind.4OxMz
dBxc‘How are we supposed to get back?’dsUsSlu
oSlwDIn every ending of CCC that I knew, we always left the mansion aboard a spaceship.Um1xRU6
KFLdsPOThe game ended as the mansion faded into the distance while the ending theme played.VfLU3fd
dSuSince I remained frozen, holding the newspaper, the Cat Butler spoke.UWKKZt
gne“Don’t worry too much, Gunbam. I’ll get us a transport ship. It won’t be difficult to send you home by yourself.”iERz
Azwp9jAs I listened to the Cat Butler assuring me to leave everything in his hands, Lieutenant Colonel Je’s words crossed my mind.RH6t
cMzw34p‘Are you really going to believe that?’YFrUU
A5bvbYEBut anyone could see that they were genuinely trying to help me right now.K0nF
no5qfHM“However, as you already know, Gunbam, we rarely leave the mansion, so it will take us some time to obtain a transport ship. I’m afraid it will take longer than the week we originally agreed you would stay.”VbS7xhT
XmG7“Gunbam. Stay with us.”ibuL
99jCuThe Cat Butler and the Rabbit Butler looked down at me.Bxr1
iAaoUpI remained silent for a few seconds with the newspaper in my hands before looking up at them.fDErB
Vddm“And… will you really be alright with that?”WbTLv
pLIYU“Of course.”Z5SG
GQoIxP“Why would it bother us? If Gunbam stays with us, it will only make us happy.”6A5B
1PmxH1I carefully folded the newspaper and handed it back to the Cat Butler.K8sf7
lfo“Then I’m sorry for causing you trouble, but I’ll have to rely on you for a few more days.”8eE
KhkHKP“Trouble? What are you saying! Gunbam must work diligently. Aren’t you already a respectable Butler apprentice?”xSWOTPC
Gc8qAs if he were proud of me, the Cat Butler patted my head.0DQucr
HDSHAhmHowever, he immediately pulled his hand back in surprise.CiiQV
sdOx“Forgive me. I treated you like a child.”kGou
BTOhrY“It’s alright.”aS6
jBmAI had no idea how old the Butlers were, but they had surely lived far longer than I had.1JRGyW
miwZyCgSomething like that seemed insignificant to me.zA4kq4
PMtqKkD“Gunbam. Me too.”s0iJCy
HyAtThe Rabbit Butler placed a hand on my head.F2CdZ
0oLrviOInstead of messing up my hair, he carefully straightened the strands the Cat Butler had disturbed.KLWW6
pW3giIt felt as though they were grooming me after turning me into a pet.p0zjx2
1P1j2As the Rabbit Butler fixed my hair, I thought,2jKJqg5
SqWca0L‘I wonder how long it’ll take them to get a transport ship.’cT507Xe
0r9pKWIEither way, the Butlers would do everything they could to find one as quickly as possible, so it probably wouldn’t take too long.yA9em
EpyThat would delay the completion of the Trial, but a few extra days wouldn’t be a problem.Qc8
wiNkHjOnce the ship arrived, we’d simply bring Lieutenant Colonel Je and the captains aboard with us.WPg
OuPI decided that would be the first thing I’d tell Lieutenant Colonel Je when he came that night.zZD
fqV6n“Could you wait a moment? I’ve already sent out the urgent request. I just need to take care of one matter first, and then I’ll prepare some black tea made with a new blend of leaves especially for Gunbam.”cpCBs9
CnTTcnBut I had work to do.FfjVpfb
0INIt felt a little embarrassing to call myself a Butler apprentice when all I did was eat and rest.2i6
szJI was about to tell him we could have tea after he finished his work when, all of a sudden, the atmosphere turned icy.fOU
6Gio0opThe Cat Butler was staring at the Footmen with his arms crossed and an unmistakably displeased expression.4HkGNv
wS0All the Footmen stood with their heads lowered, their bodies trembling.ONv
Zf5NUNow that I thought about it, they had gathered all the Footmen first thing that morning.ecKEHs
45R1It looked like something had happened.FbR
Vnty7Concerned that something might have gone wrong in the mansion, I watched the scene.oo0X
IIQxUSuddenly, the Cat Butler spoke with obvious irritation.kpiHn6C
XHaX“Only four cleaners died last night.”nLR
uW4What?07RPMW
FTe7My eyes widened, but the moment I noticed the Rabbit Butler beside me, I immediately regained my composure.UEoJj
WXl5‘That doesn’t make any sense.’Ic1KE
kvXPIf Lieutenant Colonel Je had truly passed my plan on to the captains and acted accordingly, the cleaners should have been massacred by the Creatures during the night.uJwji
D1ytJuWhich meant Lieutenant Colonel Je was doing the exact opposite of what I had asked.gMXfITh
a5NAmhJInstead of letting the Creatures kill the cleaners.VgDXum
4nWeHe was killing the Creatures and saving the cleaners.7Ev
ZLITozWI felt curses rising to my throat, but I couldn’t utter them.E4mHXCN
X3ju5‘But why?’OIu
Ws74PThat was the only question I could ask myself.Phh9dnM
feL7Even if all of us worked together, there was no guarantee we’d achieve the True Ending.86i
Uiq2YFSo why was he sabotaging it?NKed
TQD5On top of that, it seemed he hadn’t even passed my instructions on to the captains.vbMj
6LyNPBCOtherwise, there was no way only four cleaners would have died.OSjoQR
mmGapIf Lieutenant Colonel Je had been standing in front of me, I would have shamelessly abused my authority as a Butler apprentice to give him a good smack.fPJAO
sgjAs I ground my teeth and silently cursed him, the Cat Butler spoke coldly.KhXUylY
yo3N9“It was my mistake to accept such useless fools as Footmen.”eaUliy
ktmIt wasn’t the Butler’s fault.bxC
kaIWAJust as I thought this was all Lieutenant Colonel Je’s fault.IGBPoK
kr8uA beam shot forward.QxF9iW
Z7DOJdTwo Footmen were pierced through the head and immediately began melting where they stood.jtkMx
iz3l3Their bodies turned into liquid metal, like mercury, forming two puddles on the floor.4iDx4
BAJhNThe remaining Footmen brought out buckets and calmly swept the liquid metal into them with brooms.a9N7ZXf
mgzcfCFrom how naturally they handled it, it was obvious this had happened many times before.12m
Q7AThe Cat Butler muttered in disgust.Wpg0a
tcbnLV“I wanted to keep the number at thirteen. I’ll have to recruit more Footmen.”M0j
uMpsqnHe then gave an order to the ten remaining Footmen.4rdRB
abTfqk“Tonight you will patrol the entire mansion and check on the condition of the Creatures and the cleaners! Dismissed!”BiMLd
ZhwlAll of them bowed simultaneously before vanishing in a shower of sparks.GZJJ
xkRCtkjThe Cat Butler shook his head several times before taking me with him for tea.bGgxl9
kaCI decided to accompany him, if only to lift his spirits.sJc
bluThe Cat Butler spent the entire time lamenting how wayward young people were these days, while the Rabbit Butler simply listened in silence.BcXi
AMD8zI nodded from time to time, waiting for the right moment.u0ZjJYT
WVnhjAnd when it finally came, I asked my question.UvX
N440“May I walk around the mansion tonight?”qRVi5Lh
gVjThe Cat Butler set his teacup on the table and looked at me in surprise.e36NY
3aU3w“You want to personally inspect the cleaners and the Creatures, Gunbam?”VPA
8MvSv“Yes. Even though I’m only a Butler apprentice, I don’t actually do much work… I’d like to help, even if only in that way. Besides… I’m worried about the mansion as well.”B5Yz6sq
0xEThe moment I finished speaking, the Cat Butler spread his arms and exclaimed,Ti0ct7S
hevi9s“If only all the Footmen were like Gunbam!”KjkPMfo
UElgDerHe looked deeply moved and began showering me with praise.TWdw
MWCda7He then added that I could do whatever I wished, as long as I didn’t overdo it.OMgWs
naaW7I smiled modestly and replied that I would be careful.CCzp
gAjZAt last, I had obtained permission to move around the mansion at night.dTzI
RQ1XIf I kept relying solely on Lieutenant Colonel Je, everything would end up going wrong.e1wP
woBMnjI needed to act on my own.OyXB
WONFB‘First, I have to find the captains.’DvOnj
j5ZAs I headed toward the areas assigned to Kwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein, I figured I could throw a few cleaners to the Creatures along the way.DP3r8nM
apsXgVAfter that, I planned to search the third floor of the main building.AkU4p
PMgZThe Master’s bedroom and study were there, so I might find some clues.PgZg
fuxlJkuAs I organized my plan for that night, I took a sip of the red tea.F1VF
ZMpoU“Drink some more, Gunbam! And have some cookies!”ly5EUld
sytbThe Cat Butler continued enthusiastically serving me tea and snacks.kZv
0JOx4I was convinced I couldn’t fit another bite.3mEol5P
7niBut once I started eating, everything somehow kept going down.CY0I
HE4I refused nothing and accepted everything he offered me.e2L
XIr***ctFZai
YtzThe duties of a Butler apprentice were nothing special.Xb8
P2iWqESince I was still an apprentice, they couldn’t entrust me with important responsibilities, so they only assigned me tasks so simple that I almost felt embarrassed to receive a salary.LYoKvqj
QszDuring the day, my only job was to inspect whether the cleaners in the East Wing had properly cleaned their assigned areas.06HA
jbLFQIn CCC, cleaning assignments were determined daily by roulette.sYNoSBM
7KH6pWmThe result decided the contamination level of the assigned area.tQUT
TMNgRa7If the worst possible result came up—a 100% contamination rate—the place became a complete dump.lxVnapv
bEaYjIn that case, it was absolutely impossible to finish cleaning before inspection without high-tier items.Jzw
2rJFailing the inspection meant instant death.DRcrfJ
yWFBut the captains had good equipment, so even if they got a 100% contamination rate, they had probably finished without any problems.Qjy7
PhO‘And there’s no need to worry about Lieutenant Colonel Je.’gxe
TyygKwak Hanmuk had been assigned to clean the hallway floor on the second floor of the East Wing, while Lieutenant Colonel Je was in charge of pruning the ornamental trees in the East Wing garden.o5Ddj
s1xgU2eHowever, although I went to the areas assigned to them, I couldn’t find either of them.2fv
9b6dIt was one of the fundamental rules for clearing CCC.tems
xuIGRDuring the day, you had to keep your assigned area spotless while avoiding encounters with the Butlers.HYD
Xyeg7yYou absolutely had to avoid crossing paths with them and getting shot by a beam.fr7x
FtwThey probably hid the moment they spotted a Butler in the distance.SV3TKd
he7ZThat said.tuZ0Yf
Yoa14dLieutenant Colonel Je had pruned the trees so perfectly that it actually irritated me a little.I4qu
fbpA7uh“The cleaner assigned to this area is quite talented.”3A61
Zn2bMizThe Cat Butler praised Lieutenant Colonel Je’s work as he admired the perfectly rounded boxwood shrubs, increasing his Affinity with him.Kr47K
aEukHe was also pleased with Kwak Hanmuk’s area, and I couldn’t help but feel quietly proud.Z1ZtT
4468At last, night fell.GkdlQwu
OPIAfter eating an early dinner and resting for a while in my room, I lit my lantern.JYHzWk
kNKOThe Rabbit Butler had prepared one that was the perfect size for me.uBPc18
63IAlthough it looked like a gas lantern, it actually ran on an unknown fuel and lit up simply by touching it.YUuqR
pOlrI was about to leave with it when I stopped.9B1u1EP
3lxaQ‘I feel like I’m forgetting something…’7OdEmVI
YAnyAs I tried to remember, the item Samra had given me came to mind.qo9tFKP
4wRThe holographic badge was still quietly sitting in my inventory.KRS6
wcRay0CBut there was no reason to check it right now.E56yZ
Z7YmBMy work as a Butler was more important, so I decided to leave it for later and stepped out into the hallway.BwX4Oq
RIl4X4cThe moment I set foot in the dark corridor, I heard a scream.a33
cIW“Aaaah!!”xXbv
Uw7I saw a cleaner running desperately.4dM6
Xl5I waved my lantern and shouted,Jmj
nMH“Over here! Hurry!”3xVq
O6POLAThe cleaner rushed toward me.3IW9I
fXmhf“I’m… saved…! Hah!”GtD
KpyfXThe moment he saw my Butler uniform, he froze in confusion.Zg4y
hg6EEaI gestured for him to stay quiet.7Tpd
4ghAnother voice echoed from the distance.mvZeNIV
NxU“■■? Where are you? It’s too dark… ■■… You didn’t abandon me, did you…?”JNF
U5DOFIIt sounded like the companion he’d been fleeing with.jTu
XJJThe cleaner hesitated.U0F9K0
EZYCEI held out the lantern.WRH
ZyvoAlthough he still looked at me suspiciously, he finally snatched it from my hand and ran toward the voice.7TmT3
7Q4EHe probably thought that, with the light, he’d somehow be able to fight the Creature.2IKXYo
42tgHowever, moments later, a desperate scream rang out.dJz
Tgv8xiS“Aaah!! Please, save me!”gsB0lh7
rsv6wI walked forward slowly.TEE
WO0IQ6When I reached the area illuminated by the lantern.cKGgL
dc6qThe cleaner was gone.ebrSfOw
R8muWqBIn his place, an elegant gentleman dressed in a flawless tailcoat was calmly walking down the hallway, opening one door after another.YBRulJ
XV17XFrom beneath the smiling white mask worn by the gentleman came the voice of the cleaner who had fled.FS66
mQ1i“Aaah!! Please, save me! Aaah!! Please, save me! Aaah!! Please, save me!”7jcn
s822The gentleman walked toward me.G8mGY
n811daSwaying the tails of his coat, he respectfully handed me the lantern the cleaner had taken.G6S
lFVCp8“Good work.”pudI76
msRWhen I praised him, the gentleman trembled with delight.k3Y9U
qOkGHe then cheerfully left in search of new prey.LcH
1cjGI resumed my own walk, lantern in hand.wQe26B0
5YB6kZAfter descending to the second floor of the East Wing, I first inspected the hallway.bBP
e9ibbbrKwak Hanmuk was nowhere to be found.QjX
EWiK0VxInstead, a group of cleaners came running around the corner.wnHX
9plz14They were fleeing in desperation.u70
ovFxI quickly waved the lantern.fo9wOd
wPd5“Over here! Come!”LFxNuFq
8zU6qSeeing the light, the cleaners rushed toward it like moths drawn to a flame.uSB8qh
lUWBEThere were five of them.MdWVc
tgTXqqD‘That’s quite a few.’oYd1
ABPM0In that case, the dance practice room would be perfect.TDl
uvSfNWPI opened the door to a nearby room and stepped inside.VWGR
16Nc81iAll five cleaners immediately followed me.Id0SJt
HAk25FIt seemed a Creature was chasing them, because every one of them had gone deathly pale.kIvA
BBM“Hah… hah… You…”FA1P
H0GOne of them recognized me.YXYo
pFCXWxY“Damn it! You arrived as a cleaner! Why are you the only one wearing a Butler’s uniform!?”o9Uqxp
svGrKhnBut instead of getting angry, the others tried to persuade me.SeBE0YC
VchKcCr“Come on… You were a cleaner too, after all.”pjie2Zt
BSA“You’re still trying to save us, aren’t you?”orJj
9AKFV0PIgnoring their forced smiles and wary gazes, I switched on the room’s lights.0YQR
9omM34A single spotlight illuminated the room.DSY
QKaIt was mounted above a small stage at the back of the dance practice hall.Eaw
ywyStanding beneath the circle of light was a ballerina made of white metal.AcTYHN
clRiFHer face was completely smooth, without eyes, a nose, or a mouth.shU
WxQThe ballerina gave us a graceful bow.6Bx
IH9I requested a piece of music.lKVrH95
vmUYqZT“Since we have quite an audience, play the Allegro version.”YxL
G4QThe crystal-clear sound of an oboe filled the room.jRPzk
lwb3CIt was the Black Swan Dance from Swan Lake.lfL4
t4Ta9mNormally, either the slow Adagio version or the fast Allegro version would play at random.kuGRl
08qBut at my request, the Allegro began.hpV
p0NThe metal ballerina, dressed in a black tutu, began dancing to the fast, energetic music.43SmU1P
nixYCBEThe cleaners knew they had to escape immediately.NdnW
JPQVtTBut they remained motionless, completely entranced by the ballerina.BJIz1m
yfbXtqI, too, found myself captivated by every one of her movements.ckW5K
s9wxqsAs she moved gracefully across the stage, seeming almost to float.N9MUR9
OTEf2eThe cleaners gradually drifted toward her.yUZKz
xZWzICQThey weren’t even aware they were doing it.aRgfeyv
oceJvWhen the music reached its climax, the ballerina turned her gaze toward me.oFB
9EHlNpEThe sequence of thirty-two consecutive fouettés began.VGl12
Fs4CRShe balanced perfectly on one leg while the other whipped through the air with each spin.wXm
4PHEvery time her leg sliced through the air.m6pSy
idNiThe cleaners’ bodies twisted.rKf
YiJThe quiet sounds of bones cracking and flesh contorting accompanied the beautiful melody.CBL
6zVfrFinally, when the series of fouettés ended.OAGW
7Ip1Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!Vpj
iO31lI applauded enthusiastically.8wQ1ON
c1zcAThe metal ballerina responded with another graceful bow.ieR7YD
eK2At her feet lay the cleaners’ bodies, twisted like screws.7KEYGD
6I10But neither she nor I paid them any attention.oGEVid
Zpl8v1Every Creature in the mansion was beautiful and elegant, worthy of such a refined place.ju6
F0eThe only beings that were truly unpleasant there were the cleaners.gHK0
yl6Ol3‘Now I completely understand why the Butlers dislike cleaners so much.’Vmr9i
TLNmH0As a Butler of the mansion, I felt a strange sense of pride that made my chest swell with satisfaction.lsn
LOXSXcI pretended not to notice as the ballerina eagerly devoured the cleaners’ bodies.BeTrH
K03FPIt wasn’t proper to interrupt a lady’s dinner.uHZoD
36GRLJust as I was about to step back into the hallway, I heard a voice calling for me from outside.o0h4N
ju7LE1“Goyo! Han Goyo! Gunbam! Albam!”61ppL
zlNCIt was Kwak Hanmuk’s voice.hvsG3q
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dihnblls 300
Golden Corehes going insane