Chapter 50

The isolation room echoed with the hollow sound of the TV, and I was writhing in boredom.

“Late-neee… Yerin…”

Lately, Yerin hasn’t been able to visit often, so I’ve been feeling pretty bored.

While wandering around the research institute to pass the time, I stumbled upon a new isolation room.

A new object had been delivered to the research institute.

During my exploration, I discovered three new objects.

Two were found by “Cute Puppy,” and one was transferred from another research institute.

Back in the day, objects were rarely brought in, but lately, it seems like they keep increasing the number of isolated objects whenever they’re bored.

One of them was an unsettling object crawling around in a sand-filled isolation room.

Its name was bafflingly vague—was this really correct?

[Skeletal Spider].

Should I even consider this thing a spider?

It looks more like a hand made of bones…

This “Skeletal Spider” looked less like a spider and more like a hand whose bones were crudely tied together with spider webs.

Actually, it didn’t even look like a human hand—there were over 20 fingers!

If we count those as spider legs, it far exceeds the usual number of legs for a spider.

After observing it for a while, its behavior seemed somewhat insect-like.

It would burrow into the sand, hide, then suddenly leap out to ambush prey when something vulnerable passed by.

Strangely, despite being bone-dry, it didn’t eat anything. It just bound its victims with spider silk and buried them in the sand.

It also used its silk to glide or shoot threads out like projectiles.

Watching it closely, it did have some spider-like qualities.

Since it was creepy enough to avoid touching, I decided to move on to the next isolation room.

This isolation room was drastically different from the others.

It resembled a racing circuit, set up outdoors with wide-open spaces.

The isolation room featured a large courtyard with roads and intersections modeled after real-life scenarios.

The object contained within was named [Perfect Navigation].

An elegant navigation system that incorporated the flowing grain of wood, giving it a refined, artistic feel.

The only problem? It was attached to a tricycle.

When I secretly entered the isolation room and climbed onto the tricycle, the navigation system turned on automatically, even though there was no power source connected.

“Please state your destination.”

The navigation system emitted a crisp, clear voice. Its screen displayed a detailed map of the surrounding area, including real-time updates showing people and vehicles moving around—it truly lived up to its name as a “perfect” navigation system.

Typically, such useful objects are kept by their discoverers and rarely make it to the research institute, but since it’s here, it must have some fatal flaw.

Still, it looked fun!

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

As I slowly pedaled the tricycle, a clear ringing sound came from the metal parts connected to the wheels.

Probably a device to help locate the tricycle easily within the expansive isolation room.

As the tricycle moved forward, a voice came from the navigation system.

“Switching to free-drive mode.”

The tricycle followed my pedal speed, ringing melodiously as it glided ahead.

The isolation room was designed like a bicycle-themed amusement park.

It was enjoyable, aside from being dangerously unpredictable.

Every now and then, a steel ball would roll toward me or a metallic doll would jump out at a crosswalk. Each time, the navigation system perfectly detected these hazards and provided precise instructions to avoid them.

With its guidance, I could probably drive blindfolded!

As I rode the tricycle through the winding paths, fog began to rise.

Wow, they even implemented weather effects like this?

Despite the dense fog that obscured everything ahead, I had no trouble navigating thanks to the navigation system, which projected light to simulate the external environment.

Feeling exhilarated, I gradually increased my speed.

Riding through the white-out conditions was surprisingly thrilling—a mix of unease and wonder created an intense adrenaline rush.

But even the fun times in the thick fog eventually came to an end when the mist abruptly vanished.

“Huh?”

And then I tumbled down a steep hill.

Tumble-tumble-tumble.

I landed in what appeared to be a graveyard of tricycles.

A pile of wrecked tricycles.

Thanks to my immunity to physical harm, I was fine, but for an average person, the fall could’ve been fatal.

Using ghosting techniques, I exited the isolation room and read the object’s description.

[Perfect Navigation]

[No electricity, sensors, or data connection required.]

[Newly constructed roads are instantly recorded and navigated.]

[Road accidents and crash sites are immediately documented and navigated.]

[Traffic congestion is instantly updated for the fastest route.]

[Warning: Once reliant on the navigation, it randomly generates fog. Trusting it during these periods can lead to fatal accidents.]

[Commonly guides users off cliffs.]

Turns out it was an evil navigation system masquerading as a good one…

***

I picked up a photograph drenched in blood lying on the floor.

“Aww, a cute puppy picture?”

A dismembered corpse, a shredded notebook, and a photo of a cute puppy.

Something feels familiar, but I can’t quite place it.

It’s something I should definitely remember…

“‘Maker’ tested ‘Nameless,’ huh. The criminal tried to solve a global-scale object issue and stole the cube for it, maybe?”

“Nameless?”

In the eerie basement setting, a black figure covering a young woman’s eyes spoke cryptically.

“Nameless” sounds familiar somehow.

What was it again?

“Don’t bother trying to recall. It’ll just give you a headache.”

“Eh, overthinking isn’t really my style anyway. This must be related to some object mystery.”

Frustrated, I brushed my hair back.

“So, did we learn anything useful from this carnage?”

“Not much. Just evidence of useless attempts.”

“Guess Maker slipped through our fingers this time.”

Blue-uniformed employees descended into the basement, equipped with specialized gear to comb through every clue.

Chasing after Maker sounds intriguing, but without a request, I’ll head back to the office and wait for the next job.

“Junior! Let’s go!”

“No way, Senior! What about Hyejin?”

***

Moving past the skeletal spider and the navigation system, I arrived at a sturdier isolation room housing another object.

The moment I saw it, I knew this would be interesting.

It was a walking doll.

A round face like a ball.

Its eyes and mouth were roughly stitched shut, and its attire was garishly clownish.

Aside from its face, it was a rather nice-looking doll.

The problem was its face—it gave off an unsettlingly realistic vibe.

The doll wandered around the isolation room, bowing politely and extending an envelope.

On the envelope, it read [You’re Invited to Smile Theme Park!]

Thus, the object was aptly named:

[Theme Park Invitation Doll].

The doll pitifully roamed alone, offering invitations, but none of the institute employees dared to accept.

Accepting an invitation from an object implies willingly taking on the risk of death.

Just as the doll toddled over to offer me an invitation, I hesitated. Would accepting this invite lead to something exciting?

***

A somber cemetery enveloped in loneliness.

Leaning against a tree, I waited endlessly for someone.

Secret agents from the Central Research Institute were stationed throughout the cemetery to guard me.

Instead of sending me back to prison, the Central Research Institute appointed me as deputy director.

Even though summoning the director-level object was no longer possible, they left the director position vacant and placed me as deputy director.

My first duty as deputy director was waiting for someone at a certain grave.

Now that he’s free, I’m confident he’ll come here.

To my mother’s grave.

Thud-thud.

Familiar footsteps approached.

Looking up, I saw the man, his face unchanged from 30 years ago, staring at me with emotionless eyes.