WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

The Legendary Newbie of the Ghost Story Labyrinth

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 42 - Sealed Underground Railway (1)

The TBU headquarters, located on Floor 7 of the Backrooms.

Recently, the organization had been closely monitoring the incident that occurred at the auction hall of the Liminal Grand Hotel on Floor 4.

However, at some point, all contact with the dispatched agents had been lost. Then the hotel itself became sealed off, making access impossible. Just as anxiety within headquarters reached its peak, a report finally came in from Team Leader Kim Sungjin.

-This is Kim Sungjin……Cough! Cough!

Even his voice sounded terrible, as though blood were bubbling in his throat. And the report that followed shocked headquarters.

-......To summarize, Agent Heo Areum died instantly on-site. Agent Cha Hyuncheol fled afterward and is currently missing. We are continuing the search for Agent Cha Hyuncheol…

Headquarters coldly interrupted him.

"More than the missing operative, I want confirmation regarding the report about the Hanged King.”

-……Of course. I can guarantee there has been no anomalous tempering or manipulation affecting my mind. The individual in question used Reality Manipulation and Reality Collapse abilities to permanently exile the Hanged King into the gaps of the Backrooms.

"......."

Eventually, the report escalated upward until the highest levels of TBU leadership became involved.

Through Kim Sungjin’s special secure channel, he was connected to a man known as ‘Director Yoon.' Ordinarily, someone like Kim Sungin, a mere team leader, would never even hear the man’s voice directly.

"Team Leader Kim Sungjin?”

At Director Yoon’s heavy voice, Kim Sunjin swallowed dryly, momentarily forgetting the pain of his injuries.

-Yes, this is Kim Sungjin. If you command it, I am ready to report everything in full.

The two spoke at length. And Kim Sungjin recounted everything he had witnessed in exact detail. When the story finally ended, there was nothing but silence on the other end for quite some time.

"......Verification procedures will still be necessary, of course. But for now, I believe you.”

-Thank you, Director.

Truthfully, Kim Sungjin had been terrified his testimony would just be dismissed as insane nonsense.

"Did you confirm the individual’s name?”

-His name is Park Minho.

At that moment, something flashed through Director Yoon’s mind. A prior conversation with Professor Kim, who was the figure secretly pulling the strings behind TBU.

[A young man named Park Minho. A promising talent among our ghost friends.]

In fact, because of Professor Kim’s request, they had once helped Park Minho after he’d been captured by the NCE.

While Park Minho was a common enough name, somehow, Director Yoon doubted this was a coincidence.

A bitter smile crossed his face.

'So Professor Kim had marked him from the beginning…? He’s far beyond merely a useful rookie, huh?’

Someone capable of Reality Manipulation and Reality Collapse with the anomalous world was effectively a walking nuclear weapon.

Director Yoon adjusted his grip on the receiver. The relaxed composure of a man of his position had completely vanished from his voice.

"Team Leader Kim, listen to me carefully.”

-Yes, Director.

"From this moment onward, Park Minho is a VIP. Do not offend him even slightly. Treat him with the utmost respect and escort him safely to headquarters. You know as well as I do that pressure against our organization has been increasing both inside and outside lately.”

Indeed. The NCE had been paying increasing attention to the Backrooms, and competition with rival organizations inside the Backrooms itself had become fiercer by the day.

-I understand.

"If he joins us, he would become an enormous asset.”

Then Director Yoon added quietly.

"No, you alone won't be enough. The moment the hotel lockdown is lifted, report back immediately. Headquarters will dispatch additional personnel. But I’ll place you in overall command.”

-Thank you, Director.

"And maintain the highest level of security. The people we send likely won’t understand what kind of existence this VVIP truly is."

After the call ended, Director Yoon sank into thought. But the thing circling through his mind was completely different from the reason he had given Kim Sungjin.

'Reality Manipulation……If I could wield that power myself, could I finally free myself from Professor Kim’s leash?’

Despite the calm image he presented outwardly, Director Yoon despised Professor Kim. The fact that a dead ghost continued manipulating TBU from the shadows filled him with rage. But Professor Kim’s preparations and web of influence were far too intricate. Until now, Director Yoon had never dared bare his fangs.

But Reality Manipulation? With power like that, perhaps even Professor Kim could be erased permanently.

* * *

Park Minho thrashed violently, gasping in the agony of being strangled.

"Uuugh……Ngh!”

His body twisted widely, then suddenly his eyes snapped open.

"Haah……Haah…!”

A hospital room. The smell of disinfectant mixed with lavender filled his nose. And slowly, the pain around his neck began to fade.

"Ah......"

Only after regaining his senses did he fully remember what had happened.

It all felt like an impossible dream.

But the vivid rope scar still wrapped around his neck proved it had all truly happened.

"Good god…”

Again and again, Park Minho recalled the moment he activated Reality Manipulation.

The massive sword of the king had crumbled into sand. Even replaying the memory sent shivers through him.

'I really did that…’

Of course, that power could only be used by gambling his very life. Its usage would inevitably remain limited. Still, he now possessed a force no ordinary Awakened could ever obtain.

After Park Minho woke up, Seol Suyeon stayed by his bedside every day during visiting hours.

"Oppa, there are apples in the Backrooms too? Where do they even grow them? What kind of fertilizer do they use?”

"Honestly… I think it’s better not to know.”

When visiting hours ended, Park Minho spent time using the laptop Seol Suyeon had brought him. There were already piles of DMs waiting from Admin.

▶Cheezza: It’s me.

▶Admin: Feeling any better? I told the doctors to pay special attention to you.

▶Cheezza: You’re not even trying to hide that you own the hotel anymore, huh?

▶Admin: At this point? LMAO Just don’t tell the gallery.

▶Cheezza: kk

Now that he heard it explained that way, it made sense.

Yet somehow, thanks to whatever treatment they had performed, Park Minho felt completely normal.

▶Admin: You ever heard of PTSD? You developed a case of it yourself this time. It’s just that the crow doctor performed special treatment on you, so you can’t feel it yourself. Normally, you’d be suffering from extreme phantom pain or rolling around foaming at the mouth.

▶Cheezza: Srsly?

▶Admin: You literally went right up to the edge of death. Expecting to come back perfectly fine would be stranger.

Now that he heard it explained like that, it made sense. Still, whatever kind of treatment they had performed, Park Minho felt fine.

▶Admin: Be more careful next time. You won’t always have access to the crow doctor’s medical services.

Being grateful was one thing, but Park Minho still had his suspicions.

▶Cheezza: You sure you didn’t deliberately give Seol Suyeon the Princess’ eyes? Knowing that this would happen?

▶Admin: Why would I? Even I didn’t know the king would be that obsessed with Princess Cavaletto’s body parts. Your partner lost her eyes, so I just attached some I happened to have.

Something still felt off. But it was hard to keep pressing the issue. After all, Admin had suffered enormous losses this time. The only person who truly profited from the whole incident was Park Minho himself.

Still, he mentally added another tally to his ‘suspicion stack.’

▶Cheezza: Is the hotel okay?

▶Admin: It’s completely ruined. It’ll probably take decades to rebuild trust.

The aftermath of the massacre at the Liminal Grand Hotel auction house had apparently exceeded all expectations.

Because of it, the Backrooms had reverted to being an insular, closed-off place. The Liminal Grand Hotel had been the only location in the Backrooms visited by wanderers from countless dimensions, but after this incident, visitors vanished completely.

▶Cheezza: More importantly, what did the king leave behind?

▶Admin: A map showing where the other body parts of Princess Cavaletto are buried.

▶Cheezza: What? There’s more besides the eyes?

▶Admin: Yeah. Along with the eyes, there's her hair, tongue, and right hand. They all share one trait. They’re connected to executions by hanging.

▶Cheezza: Feels like the king was trying to gather them all. Why?

▶Admin: No idea. But doesn’t that concern you now too?

Park Minho had become the owner of the noose. In other words, he now stood in the same position the king once had.

▶Admin: There must have been an important reason the king tried to gather the Princess’ remains.

Still, the relationship between the Hanged King and Princess Cavaletto and why he was collecting the body parts of his sworn enemy remained completely unknown as of now.

▶Admin: I’ll send you the map. Think it over.

▶Cheezza: Alright. Got it.

▶Admin: Also, I’ll give you the Shadow Modification Circuit for free as compensation for everything that happened. Hope it helps make up for the horrible experience you had at the auction house.

That was very welcome news. The Shadow Modification Circuit alone had a starting bod of 30 gold coins. Converted, that was well over 10 billion won. And there was no telling how high the bidding might have climbed during the auction.

Getting it for free? Park Minho couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

▶Cheezza: Now that I like. But what about all the coins the king dumped onto the floor? Don’t I deserve a cut too?

▶Admin: You really are a greedy little bastard. The king’s servants recovered the coins before leaving.

▶Cheezza: Shame. Anything else I can squeeze out of you?

▶Admin: Are you actually insane?

▶Cheezza: Ah, right. Can’t you do something about Suyeon’s eyes? You say it wasn’t intentional, but they stand out way too much.

If they didn’t come up with some kind of countermeasure, there was no guarantee something like this wouldn’t happen again.

▶Admin: Fine. I’ll enchant her glasses with anomalous properties. As long as she wears them, her eyes will look normal.

▶Cheezza: That’s not enough. Do more.

▶Admin: You’re really trying to strip me clean here.

▶Cheezza: Then maybe don’t create problems like this in the first place.

▶Admin: Haaah….srsly. Fine. Then I’ll throw in one of the hotel’s special services too. This is the last thing.

What Admin offered was an item called ‘Front Bell Badge.’ A blue bell-shaped badge that symbolized the special services of the Liminal Grand Hotel.

▶Cheezza: What’s it do?

▶Admin: If you activate it during a crisis, our hotelier will respond. It’s one-time use only, but he can fight, rescue, or help you escape. And you just wearing the badge makes people think twice before messing with you. Nobody wants to risk the hotelier showing up.

▶Cheezza: Didn’t the hotelier die? Is there a replacement already?

▶Admin: He resurrected.

▶Cheezza: What? That’s possible?

▶Admin: He’s a Spirit Staffbearer. That species is beyond human imagination. So just wearing the badge makes you significantly safer. Though normal entities probably won’t recognize it.

▶Cheezza: Nice.

▶Admin: Of course it is. Do you even know how expensive this kind of service normally is?

Somehow, Park Minho could already imagine the smug expression behind those messages. So he simply closed the laptop without replying.

After all, he had already squeezed everything he could out of her.

* * *

Five days later, Park Minho was discharged from the hospital.

The hotel’s atmosphere had completely changed. The lobby that used to bustle with all kinds of anomalous entities now felt as deserted as a business that had shut down. It was so lifeless that it seemed abandoned. Even the lighting had been reduced, as if they were trying to save electricity, making the entire place feel bleak and eerie.

[Dear guest.]

The hotelier appeared with an elegant greeting. He still carried himself with the same refined dignity, but beneath his collar, scars from where he had been hanged were clearly visible.

And notably, he was speaking through telepathy instead of using his voice.

"Mr. Hotelier. Are you alright? And why telepathy all of a sudden?”

[It is the aftereffect of resurrection. Every time one returns from death, something must be paid in exchange. Unfortunately, this time, I lost my voice.]

"That's…my condolences.”

[Your concern is comforting to hear. In any case, I came because there is something I wished to inform you of. A man named Team Leader Kim Sungjin from TBU is requesting an audience with you. How would you like me to respond?]

Park Minho thought for a moment before nodding.

"Tell him I’ll meet with him.”

There was no reason to refuse. Their first meeting hadn’t gone well, but in the end, Kim Sungjin had risked his life to buy him time.

[Understood. Would you care to join us for dinner this evening? We will prepare a special full-course meal.]

Park Minho headed to the dining hall together with Seol Suyeon. The thick-rimmed glasses imbued with anomalous properties concealed her eyes once again, making them appear their original dark brown.

But whenever she lowered the frames slightly, violet eyes sparkling like clusters of stars revealed themselves beneath them.

"It’s nice being able to hide them, but if I want to use the eyes’ abilities, I have to lower my glasses.”

"Can’t really be helped. At least they don’t stand out anymore.”

When they arrived at the restaurant, Kim Sungjin was already waiting for them in a suit. The moment he saw Park Minho, he sprang to his feet.

"You’ve arrived.”

His attitude was completely different from before. It was almost excessively respectful. Every movement Park Minho made seemed to put him on edge.

"It’s a pleasure to see you again, Team Leader.”

"The pleasure is mine. Thank you for coming."

The atmosphere between them was surprisingly amicable. After all, even if only briefly, they had fought side by side.

"I’m sorry about your team members.”

"No. If it hadn't been for you, I would’ve died too, Minho-nim.”

After exchanging a few formal pleasantries, Kim Sungjin finally made his proposal.

"If possible, may I ask where you plan to head next in the Backrooms? Provided it wouldn’t inconvenience you, I would like to formally invite you to the survivor settlement on Floor 7.”

From Park Minho’s perspective, it was a welcome offer.

If they went to the survivor settlement, they could finally start searching for information about Seol Suhyeok, Seol Suyeon’s younger brother.

And Park Minho himself had nothing to lose by maintaining a good relationship with TBU, the largest organization within the Backrooms.

"I was actually planning to head to Floor 7 anyway. If you’re inviting us, I’d be happy to accept.”

If they followed Kim Sungjin, they could likely bypass the dangerous Floors 5 and 6 entirely and travel straight to Floor 7.

"Although, if I accept this invitation, is there something you expect from me in return? If that’s the case, I’ll need some time to think about it.”

"Not at all. There’s nothing of that sort.”

Kim Sungjin hurriedly waved his hands.

"To be honest, we simply want to build friendly relations in advance. Explorers in the Backrooms usually end up affiliated with some organization eventually. Naturally, our side takes interest in individuals with exceptional abilities. Even if you choose to remain independent, we’d still like to maintain a good relationship.”

"I see."

"We can provide you with housing, equipment, and anything else you might need. We can even assist you with awakening! Though, considering the power you already possess, I’m not sure how meaningful that would be to you.”

That caught Park Minho’s attention. He was already on the verge of awakening.

'So it’s finally happening? I should make sure it succeeds this time.'

Besides, even if TBU had ulterior motives, he still possessed the Front Bell Badge. If things went south, he could escape.

"Alright. I’ll accept the invitation.”

"I’m very glad to hear that!”

And just like that, it was decided that they would head to the Floor 7 survivor base.

Two days later, the escort personnel sent by TBU arrived. There were over a dozen of them, all heavily armed. What stood out was how different they felt from the NCE’s elite special forces. These people resembled private mercenaries instead. Their clothing and equipment lacked uniformity, and the atmosphere around them felt noticeably looser.

Still, judging from their eyes and posture alone, it was obvious they were highly skilled.

“We’ll escort you safely!”

The guards treated Park Minho with extreme politeness.

"Thank you.”

After exchanging greetings, Park Minho turned to Kim Sungjin with a question.

"What route are we taking to reach Floor 7? Is it dangerous?”

"Please don’t worry. There’s a sealed underground railway passage that connects directly to Floor 7. TBU regularly exterminates entities and maintains the route, so it should be safe.”

"Well, with this many people.….."

Park Minho nodded in relief. But then Seol Suyeon tugged lightly at his sleeve and whispered to him. She had lowered her glasses slightly and was staring at the guards through her violet eyes.

"Oppa?"

"Yeah?"

"One of them has a strange color."

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