Chapter 76

Episode 76. New Chief Researcher (2)

***

Nanami sat in front of me, holding a coffee cup.

“So. What’s up?”

“You brought me here to make me the Chief Researcher, right? What were the criteria back then? If there weren’t any, it’s fine to say so.”

Nanami hesitated.

“Probably similar to your current situation. Everyone inside the Foundation refused. So, I had no choice but to look outside the Foundation.”

Fair enough.

“Anything else?”

“This is just my opinion since you’re the one making the decision now. Your experience working at the Foundation probably played the biggest role. The Director’s Office thought so too.”

“How was it?”

“I’m just a soldier. I don’t really know.”

Nanami pondered for a moment.

“You worked at the Foundation for three years. Even if you don’t fully remember the past, you must have learned something in those three years. Even if your memories are suppressed, there’s definitely something deep in your mind.”

“Wait. During those three years, my handler was—”

“The Head of Research.”

I knew it.

“Nanami. Who do you think should be the next Chief Researcher?”

“My opinion is similar to last time. Someone from outside the Foundation. Other than that, it’s up to you.”

“I’d prefer someone from inside the Foundation.”

“Dr. Chae already said no, and realistically, Lee Se-ah or the Head of the Mechanical Division can’t be assigned. There’s no other choice, Dr. Kim.”

We can just create options.

We could look for someone outside, but let’s search the Containment Wing first. There might be someone useful there.

Or maybe we can create the person we need. I sighed.

***

Humanoid Containment Wing, free time.

“It’s the Director.”

“What’s the psycho fascist teacher doing here?”

“Uno. I pass.”

Cosmos, Ahn Yuri, and Kairos were sitting together. As I sat at the table, Kairos silently handed me a card.

All three seemed fine.

Cosmos still looked like a girl, Ahn Yuri was frowning at me as if I were unpleasant, and Kairos… poker face. He was seriously focused on the game.

“Hello, Dr. Kim.”

“Why are you here? Ruining my appetite.”

“I passed.”

“Does anyone here have a Ph.D.?”

The humanoid supernatural phenomena shook their heads.

“None of us do.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“I don’t have one.”

I drew a card.

“Understood. Do you need anything?”

“Birthday cake.”

“Why ask? Give us freedom.”

“Vodka.”

I nodded.

Birthday cake and vodka can be arranged today. Freedom is a bit harder.

“Miss Cosmos, wasn’t your birthday last month?”

I remember sending a card.

“Every day is my birthday.”

“What do the Foundation guards know?”

“Last time was the real one.”

Ahn Yuri put down a Spade, and Kairos sighed as he drew a few cards.

“Any proper requests?”

“Grand piano.”

“Freedom.”

“Library.”

I thought for a moment.

“A grand piano might be a bit difficult. Is a regular piano okay?”

Miss Cosmos nodded.

“Then, are there any other contained humanoid supernatural phenomena with a Ph.D.?”

“I don’t know.”

“Really, what do you want?”

“There’s one in the far corner of the Containment Wing.”

I pondered for a moment.

“Well… understood. If you need it, I’ll call a counselor or psychiatrist. Miss Ahn Yuri, you seem mentally strained.”

“Okay.”

“You’re the problem. Just send me home!”

“Understood.”

I sighed.

“Miss Ahn Yuri, you don’t have a home. No family or friends to return to.”

The Returnee put down the card she was holding.

“That’s harsh.”

“……”

“Uno.”

I also put down a card.

“Tell me what you really want, Miss Ahn Yuri. You don’t really want freedom, do you? Even if I sent you out into the world today…”

You’d be unhappy. Like most modern people.

Miss Ahn Yuri started to tear up.

“I’ve given you work to do, friends, food, and a bed. What could you do outside the Foundation, in modern society?”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“The order from the Foundation Headquarters was to eliminate all remnants of the Yulje-myeon incident by execution. I did my best to protect all of you.”

Everyone at the table fell silent. Was that too much? I looked at Miss Ahn Yuri.

“Miss Ahn Yuri.”

“Stop tormenting her, she’s dying.”

“Why?”

“Can I go back now?”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll send you back to the other world you came from.”

“Really?”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“Are you serious?”

I nodded.

***

I came here to solve a problem, but now I have more work. Miss Ahn Yuri’s hometown… is here. Anyway, finding the dimension she came from.

That aside, I went to the far corner of the Humanoid Containment Wing. They said there’s someone with a Ph.D. here. I’m not sure if it’s true.

Let’s see.

“Containee.”

“Are you the Director? It’s my first time meeting you in person. Nice to meet you.”

It was an oddly surreal sight. Inside the containment room, behind the glass, stood a man in a neatly pressed navy suit.

“Dr. Kang. Why is this person locked up?”

“Well… he’s a bit unique.”

“Right. A supernatural phenomenon.”

“This person is a fabrication. He was discovered working as an associate professor in the Physics Department at Seoul National University.”

“A physics expert?”

“No. Just, how should I put it… an expert at pretending. He forged documents and was found at Seoul National University. Before that, he was a doctor, and before that, a lawyer.”

“Ah.”

What a lunatic.

Is that how you want to live? I’m not saying he’s fake. It’s just a horrifying life, repeatedly taking on high-stress professions…

“Just by pretending, he can hold professional conversations with doctors, lawyers, and scientists. Imagine how much help someone like that could be if they actually learned properly?”

I thought for a moment.

“He’s a genuinely dangerous person. Shouldn’t we just kill him now? Isn’t it too risky to let him near the Foundation’s leadership?”

Bang bang bang. The containee knocked on the glass.

“Sir. Sir.”

I looked at the containee.

“I’m not a supernatural phenomenon. I’m just someone who’s good at pretending. Locking me up is better than a prison, but execution is a bit excessive, don’t you think?”

I pondered for a moment.

“I agree. But hiring this person as an employee is too difficult.”

“Director. My past proves how capable I am, and what I can do if given the chance.”

“Hmm. What do you think, Dr. Kang?”

“I’m not sure. It’s true there’s no evidence he’s a supernatural phenomenon. It’s just… judging by the results.”

I shook my head.

“Anyway, we can’t hire such a dangerous person in the Director’s Office. I’m sorry.”

Bang bang bang. The containee knocked on the glass again.

“Come on, that’s ridiculous. Are the Director’s Office’s attack dogs, the mage doctor, or the safe hires any better? What about you, Director?”

I crossed my arms.

“Let’s just kill him.”

“Director, let me work. Please, just give me one chance. I was wrong. I’ll wear an ankle monitor, a GPS chip on my wrist and neck, please—”

Dr. Kang sighed.

“Director. You’re not actually considering this, are you?”

“I’m considering whether to kill him or not.”

“What he’s saying isn’t wrong. If what you want is to prove your authority and convince others of your capabilities…”

“……”

“There’s no one who could assist you better than him. Not Nanami, who can single-handedly destroy armies, or Dr. Chae, who commands ancient gods, or the Steel—”

I stopped Dr. Kang.

“I understand what you’re saying. Hiring him might not be the best for the Foundation.”

“It might be the best for you, Director.”

I’m not sure. It’s not a pleasant thought.

“Well… good work, Dr. Kang. Find something for this containee to do. Of course, not in the Director’s Office.”

Dr. Kang nodded.

***

Lee Se-ah stared at the tank.

A monster died in the Aden Gulf. The navies of dozens of countries, the UN Peacekeeping Force, and the Foundation all moved together to kill the giant monster. The Foundation was using its fragments to create something.

There were several results. Of course, the facility was abandoned, and many employees died.

Since Dr. Kim arrived, the number of toys has only increased. Materials from dozens of Popos and items recovered from Yulje-myeon. We can create monsters patched together from the corpses of gods as we please.

“What do you think, former Director?”

There was no answer from the other end of the communicator. Just a cough.

The most important thing is…

That thing that chose Dr. Kim as its host.

We still don’t know exactly what it is, but we can’t keep experimenting on Dr. Kim, or rather, Director Kim.

We’ll have to tell him the truth and ask for his cooperation soon.

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