Chapter 19

Episode 19. Museum (2)

***

“Special Forces, entering the operation zone!”

Once again, I stared at the rope today. The experience of descending from a hovering helicopter via rope never seems to get any easier, no matter how many times I do it.

But at least I made it to the rooftop alive.

The museum is a four-story building. The Special Forces swiftly and silently entered the building.

I had read the Special Forces’ action manual beforehand. Once inside the building, they would thoroughly search every corner until hostile elements were found.

The principle is to have one person check one room while keeping the group together. My current task is to assess the characteristics of this space.

I held my gun in one hand, took cover, and quickly checked my observation equipment.

No radiation. No electronic malfunctions. Air dust levels, carbon monoxide levels—nothing unusual. No spacetime distortions.

It doesn’t seem like a supernatural space either. If what the Mechanical Division confirmed is true, there likely aren’t any hostile supernatural phenomena inside the building other than those wooden dolls.

I hope we can secure the mirror quickly and safely.

*Beep.*

The radio built into my helmet buzzed.

[Area clear. Moving to the next zone.]

“This is Dr. Kim. No supernatural characteristics detected in the current space, and no other hazardous elements found.”

[Confirmed.]

The Special Forces rushed forward.

The robots that had already entered the building had confirmed most of the museum’s interior zones. Aside from the wooden dolls, there were no dangerous supernatural phenomena.

The critical areas now are the ones the Mechanical Division’s robots couldn’t access. The target mirror is likely in one of those zones.

Again, the radio in my helmet buzzed. This time, it was an external communication.

[This is the Head of the Mechanical Division. Science Officer, are you there?]

“Go ahead.”

[The Mechanical Division’s robots have secured all zones of the museum. For some reason, there are no civilians inside the building.]

[The zones with supernatural phenomena are believed to be Basement Level 1 and Exhibition Hall 2, where the robots were blocked from entering.]

“Understood.”

[The support team will inject Benzodiazepine Dust and Isoflurane Gas into the building. Please distribute Flumazenil Pills to the team now, and under no circumstances remove your gas masks afterward.]

I’m not sure why they’re explaining this to me. Probably because I’m the only one here who isn’t in active combat.

“Confirmed.”

After ensuring there was nothing behind me, I ran back to the zone where the Special Forces were conducting their search.

Benzodiazepine-based drugs are a type of sedative or anesthetic, and Flumazenil is the antidote.

I’m not entirely sure, but it seems the Foundation believes there are hostile humans or creatures inside the building. Hence, they’re planning to flood the building with anesthetics.

“Team Leader. The Foundation is going to disperse Benzodiazepine-based drugs, and we’ll need to distribute the antidote. Please secure a safe zone.”

Two Special Forces soldiers ran toward me.

We’re securing a safe zone and shifting from the rear formation to the central formation. I followed the soldiers to the secured safe zone.

[Dr. Kim, entering the safe zone.]

The Special Forces Team Leader signaled for us to stop.

I removed my gas mask and hastily opened my mouth, catching the attention of a few Special Forces members.

What needs to be done now: distribute the antidote before the Foundation disperses the anesthetic inside the building.

“As I explained over the radio earlier, the Foundation is currently dispersing anesthetics inside the building. Take one Flumazenil pill each, and do not remove your gas masks after this.”

[Understood.]

The Special Forces members silently took the pills I handed out.

Flooding the building with anesthetics might seem like a crazy strategy, but judging by the reactions of those involved, it must be a common tactic.

“The Mechanical Division just finished their investigation. The supernatural phenomena are believed to be in Basement Level 1 and Exhibition Hall 2. We should aim for Exhibition Hall 2 while searching the building.”

[Confirmed.]

Everyone took the Flumazenil pills.

A moment later.

The Special Forces Team Leader raised his hand, and the team reassembled their combat formation and advanced.

***

[Wooden dolls spotted. Engaging.]

This is the Team Leader’s voice. I can’t see them yet, but it seems the front of the formation has encountered a hostile entity.

[Eliminated.]

The formation advanced, and I got a good look at the fallen wooden doll.

The wooden doll appeared to be made of solid wood, with no facial details—just simple wooden joints.

At least they’re easily neutralized by bullets.

I tried my best to capture the wooden doll’s appearance on my body cam. I’m not sure why, but every time I see these dolls, I feel a sense of disgust.

[Advancing to the first floor.]

***

We encountered a few wooden dolls along the way, but most were completely destroyed. The ones that were moving were quickly taken down by gunfire.

Soon, we reached Basement Level 1.

“Wait. Team Leader. The observation results are a bit strange. I think we should halt our advance.”

[Is that so? Then—]

As soon as we entered Basement Level 1, we were met with resistance.

[Hostile entity spotted.]

The soldiers who entered the basement first shouted over the radio. A humanoid figure brushed past the edge of my vision, and the Special Forces opened fire.

The wooden dolls moved with impossible fluidity.

It’s a person.

The suppressed assault rifle made a peculiar sound instead of the usual gunfire. I gripped my weapon tightly and looked for cover.

“Missed!”

It’s not that I missed. Whatever it was, it just walked away after being hit by bullets. The Team Leader signaled for us to stop again.

No time to analyze the situation…

The wooden dolls began swarming toward us like zombies, from both the front and rear. I raised my assault rifle and aimed at the rear.

*Beep.*

My radio connected again.

[This is the field support team. The intel team has gathered some information on the wooden dolls. Can you receive the file now?]

“They’re coming from the rear too!”

[Dr. Kim. Don’t engage, take cover!]

We’re in combat. The field support team and Special Forces’ radio communications started overlapping.

This isn’t the time to casually pull out a phone or tablet to read files.

A few Special Forces members ran toward me to provide cover. I left the rear to them and hid behind a pillar to resume communication.

*Boom!*

A grenade thrown by the Special Forces vanguard exploded ahead, scattering wooden doll fragments everywhere. I gripped my gun and took cover in a corner.

“Explain. I can’t pull out a terminal right now.”

[Understood. But there’s a lot of information, so you’ll need to listen carefully. First, the wooden dolls are tools used by a specific hostile group—]

*Boom!*

Another explosion from a grenade thrown by our side rang in my ears. The Geiger counter on my waist started beeping.

Found it, the supernatural space.

[Seeing the large number of wooden dolls on-site, it’s clear that a hostile supernatural group is inside the museum. So—]

My patience was starting to wear thin.

“Dammit, just say it quickly! We’re in combat!”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the radio.

[Understood.]

[The wooden dolls are a supernatural phenomenon used by the hostile group ‘Reality’s Image.’ Most of them aren’t dangerous, but the Blue Type, which is currently utilizing the supernatural phenomenon, is believed to be on-site, so you need to be extra cautious. The Foundation is increasing the dosage of the anesthetic being injected into the building and plans to destroy the building once the targets are retrieved, so evacuate quickly.]

They really talk fast.

***

[Supernatural Phenomenon O-2119]

[Wooden Dolls]

[Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous]

[Classification: Object-Type Supernatural Phenomenon]

[As the name suggests, Wooden Dolls manifest as wooden dolls animated through supernatural means.]

[Individually, they aren’t particularly dangerous. Being made of wood, they might be a bit tough to handle bare-handed, but they can be easily subdued with something like a fire axe.]

[Wooden Dolls have limited intelligence, relatively simple behavior patterns, and a fairly restricted range of actions.]

[But don’t let your guard down.]

[Considering that this phenomenon primarily appears in densely populated areas or facilities, often in groups, and most importantly, frequently in the activity zones of specific hostile groups, it’s correct to regard Wooden Dolls as an extremely dangerous supernatural phenomenon.]

[Wooden Dolls are believed to be tools used by the hostile group ‘Reality’s Image.’ The method of creating Wooden Dolls is unknown, and the exact goals of ‘Reality’s Image’ members are also unclear.]

[Additional information attached.]

***

[About Wooden Dolls]

[Author: Dr. Crow]

[I don’t know why the supernatural phenomenon documentation says the method of creating Wooden Dolls is unknown.]

[The main material of Wooden Dolls is collagen fibers, with keratin and phosphates also found in certain parts.]

[The Materials Engineering Division doesn’t have a PCR machine right now, but if we ran a genetic test on Wooden Doll fragments, we’d probably find traces of human DNA.]

[These are people. They’re made from people.]

[The hostile group ‘Reality’s Image.’ They’re small in scale, most of their activities aren’t dangerous, and they often take the form of art, so many people underestimate them.]

[These guys are also turning people into dolls. There’s a reason most members of hostile groups are marked for elimination. I urge that these individuals also be designated for immediate elimination.]

[I hope this serves as a reminder of what the Foundation does and why we risk our lives fighting.]