WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

The Legendary Newbie of the Ghost Story Labyrinth

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 45 - Backrooms within a Dream (1)

The heavy armored vehicle provided by Director Yoon glided smoothly down the road.

The sight of the fortress city beyond the window far exceeded Park Minho’s imagination.

"Wow......"

The first thing that stood out was the sheer number of different ethnicities. It looked as though every race in the world had gathered in one place.

Kim Sungjin, seated nearby, noticed Park Minho’s gaze and explained.

"This is where everyone who’s passed through the local Backrooms of the world eventually gathers. Naturally, all sorts of people end up here.”

"Local Backrooms?”

"Yes. Places like the Underground Shopping Mall or Goshiwon are uniquely Korean Backrooms. People from other countries experience Backrooms that reflect their own culture and urban legends.”

For example, in Japan, Floor 3 was apparently called the ‘Saitama Underground Drainage System,' an endless expanse of massive underground concrete tunnels and infinitely repeating stairways.

"That’s fascinating.”

"It is. But in the end, everyone ends up here eventually. TBU itself was formed by people like that gathering together.”

Kim Sungjin explained that the Backrooms had existed for a very long time and that TBU had already maintained this fortress city for over half a century.

-Vroooom.

Three enormous trucks tumbled past beside them in succession. Each cargo bed carried a gigantic entity the size of a house, hidden beneath blue tarps.

Green bodily fluids dripped steadily through gaps in the tarp onto the road, yet nobody around them seemed remotely bothered by it, as though it were an everyday occurrence.

Meanwhile, the marketplace district swarmed with explorers and mercenaries of every ethnicity imaginable.

"Are those people explorers of the Backrooms?”

"Yes, that’s right. Anomalous objects recovered from the Backrooms sell for enormous amounts of money. They’re the sort who risk their lives chasing a quick fortune, like moths to a flame..."

No sooner had Kim Sungjin finished speaking than angry shouting erupted outside the car.

“TBU must abolish its unfair discrimination!”

"Put an end to its endless profiting off of human lives!”

In a nearby plaza, hundreds of explorers and mercenaries were staging a furious protest, veins bulging in their necks as they screamed.

Facing them stood TBU riot-control forces holding shields, staring back with cold, steely expressions.

"And what’s that about?”

"There are always conflicts over taxation with the explorers. And disputes over control of critical supplies never truly end.”

By now, the vehicle was passing through the fortress city’s second defensive wall.

It resembled the inner keep of a medieval castle. A district where the city’s most important facilities were concentrated.

"You’ll be taken to your accommodations first.”

"That’s a relief.”

Honestly, after walking for more than 10 hours, Park Minho had no desire whatsoever to meet anyone.

* * *

After being assigned lodging, they rested deeply. When Park Minho woke up, more than 15 hours had already passed. Apparently, he’d been far more exhausted than he realized.

"Uugh......"

"Oppa, have some barley tea.”

It had been made using the Manager’s Tumbler, an anomalous object obtained from the Goshiwon floor. Thanks to that, they could drink precious barley tea whenever they wanted.

"Phew…”

Enjoying a rare moment of rest, Park Minho browsed the gallery. Everyone seemed obsessed with the fact that he had obtained Reality Manipulation and Reality Collapse abilities.

ㄴ(LostHassan) Isn’t that guy the first Backroomer who actually got Reality Manipulation and Reality Collapse?

ㄴSo does that make Lord Chizza a god-class entity now?

ㄴEven if he got it, can a human actually use it properly?

ㄴ(DaeguBadass) Even if he can’t use it properly, isn’t he already a walking disaster?

ㄴTrue.

Then a DM arrived.

▶KimChilsung: Got a moment? It’s about something important.

The tone was completely different from his usual demeanor. Kim Chilsung was the gallery user who constantly peppered his posts with exclamation marks.

▶Cheezza: Sure, Kim Chilsung-hyungnim. What’s going on?

▶KimChilsung: I wanted to tell you something about Director Yoon.

▶Cheezza: Director Yoon?

▶KimChilsung: Yes. You’d do well to be careful around him. His ambitions are far from ordinary.

Then Kim Chilsung revealed something about himself.

▶KimChilsung: You’re sharp, so you might have already suspected it, but I’m Professor Kim. I’m the one who intervened when NCE captured you.

▶Cheezza: So I was right. You really weren’t someone ordinary. Honestly, I figured you had to be someone important, but I never imagined the Professor himself. Thank you again for before.

▶KimChilsung: I’m glad I could help. I am merely able to exert a bit of influence. Nothing that impressive. There are clear limits when you’re locked away in a White Room.

According to Professor Kim, despite appearing loyal to him, Director Yoon was anything but.

▶Kim Chilsung: He’s the sort always waiting for a chance to stab me in the back. A hyena through and through. The textbook definition of someone whose insides and outside are completely different.

▶Cheezza: This is the first I’ve heard of internal conflict within TBU.

▶KimChilsung: It’s a huge organization, so naturally it’s complicated. But the people with the most real authority are the Directors. Director Yoon has risen particularly quickly. The President above him is little more than a puppet. More of an elder figure than an actual leader.

▶KimChilsung: Director Yoon will try to win your favor however he can. Gifts, special treatment, whatever it takes.

▶Cheezza: What does he want badly enough to do all that?

▶KimChilsung: Simple. Your Reality Manipulation and Reality Collapse abilities.

▶Cheezza: Can these abilities actually be stolen?

The gallery ghosts hadn’t been especially worried despite Park Minho obtaining power far beyond his station.

Even if someone threatened or imprisoned him, if he truly unleashed Reality Manipulation and Collapse, the inevitable result would be utter chaos.

The threat itself could become something that never happened. The person threatening him could disappear from reality altogether. Park Minho had become someone extremely difficult to touch carelessly.

▶KimChilsung: You shouldn't think only in ordinary terms. Director Yoon has a special method, and that’s what you need to prepare for.

▶Cheezza: What do you think he’ll do?

▶KimChilsung: He’ll probably rap you inside a Dream Backroom. Dreams are the weakness of reality manipulators. Because dreams aren’t reality.

After that, he explained that Director Yoon would brainwash Park Minho inside the dream and turn him into a puppet in reality.

▶KimChilsung: If he succeeds, Director Yoon gains everything. He’d win the struggle inside TBU completely, and troublesome old figures like me would disappear too. Meanwhile, you’d be forced to repeatedly use Reality Manipulation and Collapse until your mind was ground to dust.

▶Cheezza: I thought this was supposed to be a survivor zone. Turns out it’s a demon’s nest.

▶KimChilsung: Your first priority is getting out of Director Yoon’s grasp somehow. I think I know when he’ll make his move. I’ll help you.

▶Cheezza: Are there really others capable of throwing people into Dream Backrooms?

▶KimChilsung: It’s an extremely rare ability. As far as I know, Director Yoon is the only one.

Park Minho fell into deep thought at that.

'If someone has an ability like that, how long can I keep avoiding them? Can they drag me in the moment I fall asleep?'

If that was the case, wouldn’t it be better to remove the threat completely and gain something huge in the process?

Eventually, Park Minho made his decision.

▶Cheezza: I’m not going to avoid Director Yoon. I have an idea. Wanna hear it?

After Park Minho explained his plan, even Kim Chilsung couldn’t hide his shock.

▶Kim Chilsung: That’s far too reckless. If you fail, there’ll be no taking it back.

▶Cheezza: But if I succeed, the reward would be priceless, wouldn’t it?

Because all of Director Yoon’s power would become mine.

Kim Chilsung couldn’t argue with that. And after everything he’d seen so far, Park Minho was exactly the kind of person who would choose a path that perilous.

▶KimChilsung: Because of you, my old heart is racing, Park Minho.

▶Cheezza: If this fails, Professor, your entire faction is getting purged. I’ll be relying on your full support.

▶KimChilsung: Haha. At this rate they’ll rip out my beard from the roots.

Even so, Kim Chilsung had to admit that he really liked Park Minho’s plan as well.

* * *

That afternoon, Team Leader Kim Sungjin came to visit.

"How are you feeling, Park Minho-nim?”

"Maybe it’s because I stayed somewhere nice, but I feel completely refreshed.”

Especially soaking in a hot bath had been an incredible luxury, something nearly impossible to enjoy in the Backrooms.

"That’s good to hear. Ah, I actually came because I have something for you.”

What Kim Sungjin placed down were 60 Gold Coins.

30 were to reimburse what Park Minho had spent previously using his abilities, and another 30 had been added as compensation.

Exchanging 30 coins would be worth nearly 10 billion won.

"Wait, this is double the amount, though.”

"Director Yoon asked me to convey his gratitude for helping TBU personnel.”

Just as Professor Kim predicted, the bribery campaign had begun.

"By the way, Park Minho-nim, have you considered selling your Energy Core to us? We’d be willing to purchase it at a price far above the auction value.”

"My Energy Core? Hmm…I still need it for Awakening……”

"As I mentioned before, you don’t need to worry about that. In your current condition, our side can assist you perfectly.”

Just as expected, the conversation had gone exactly where Park Minho thought it would.

Park Minho knew Kim Sungjin wasn't trying to lure him into danger intentionally. He could genuinely feel how grateful the man was toward him.

But Kim Sungjin was still Director Yoon’s subordinate.

'He probably doesn’t even realize what he’s doing himself.'

Park Minho deliberately put on a conflicted expression before answering.

"This Awakening Support Device…Is it really safe? I mean, if I use the Energy Core, it’ll take longer, but I could awaken safely anyway, so why would I need it……?”

Kim Sungjin answered immediately, as though he had been waiting for that question.

"It has the highest level of safety possible. Honestly, the machine itself isn’t what matters, but the skill of the Awakened operating it is more important. And this time Director Yoon himself has offered to oversee the process.”

Director Yoon was apparently a high-ranking Awakened. If someone that powerful assisted in operating the Awakening Support Device, Park Minho could supposedly gain far greater power.

'So in martial arts novel terms, it’s like having a grandmaster directly assist your qi circulation?’

Kim Sungjin sincerely wanted Park Minho to seize this opportunity.

"It’s incredibly rare for Director Yoon to personally assist with Awakening. In the past, there was even a candidate who jumped directly to mid-ranking Awakener in a single attempt. This is an amazing opportunity. Please consider it seriously.”

Jumping directly to mid-ranking Awakener in one go? That really was the kind of temptation people called a fortuitous encounter. Almost nobody could refuse something like that.

Sure enough, Park Minho looked conflicted for a while before finally accepting.

“Very well. But only on the condition that Director Yoon personally helps me. Can that be arranged?”

"Of course. I’ll make sure to pass along your request.”

Park Minho decided not to finalize the sale of the Energy Core yet and only accepted Director Yoon’s help for now.

"Oh, there’s one thing I’d like to ask, Team Leader Kim."

"Just say the word."

Park Minho looked toward Seol Suyeon. She stepped forward.

"Team Leader Kim, could you perhaps help find someone named Seol Suhyeok? If he’s not here, then maybe at least look through the records.”

"Seol Suyheok?”

"Yes, he’s my younger brother. He entered the Backrooms, but I still don’t know where he is."

"Ah! I understand. I’ll search through every record if I have to and let you know.”

* * *

Three days later.

TBU security zone.

Beneath cold, sterile white lighting stood the gigantic Awakening Support Device.

It resemble a metallic operating table, tangled with numerous tubes meant to connect to the body. Near the headrest were multiple sharp electrodes designed to manipulate brainwaves.

Countless Awakening candidates had received help from this very device over the years.

Because becoming a true Awakener instead of just generating Noise for the first time is incredibly difficult. It was like breaking through a wall. Having access to assistance from a device like this was considered a blessing.

And during the process, the most important factor was the skill of the Awakened individual precisely controlling the target’s anomalous energy.

Which was why the current situation was truly surprising. Director Yoon was personally stepping in to assist someone who wasn’t even part of TBU. The specialists waiting in the operating room quietly whispered among themselves.

"Director Yoon himself is personally handling this?”

"Hasn’t that happened a few times before?”

"Only for the most important people in TBU. But this time it’s a complete outsider, you know?”

"Huh......"

As Director Yoon entered, everyone immediately fell silent and lowered their heads.

He nodded once before examining the control panel.

"The subject?”

"Currently waiting.”

Beneath his mask, a greedy smile spread across Director Yoon’s unseen lips.

'No matter if you’ve obtained power equal to a god’s, you’re still just a brat. That power doesn’t suit you. This old man will make proper use of it.’

Director Yoon genuinely believed this was for the greater good.

Someone ignorant holding such power would obviously run wild like a wild, untamed beast. But if Park Minho fell under his control, things would be different.

He could completely drive out the NCE. He could eliminate those impure fools who dared oppose his rational path. And finally, he could deal with Professor Kim, the ghost clinging to the organization and manipulating it from the shadows.

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