Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 17

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 17

Episode 17. ep4. Welcome to the Special Management Bureau (2)

-It seems like you’ll continue to be dragged to Special Zones in the future.

This sentence is an informal colloquial expression.

‘In the future’ is a syntactic compound word indicating temporal repetition.

‘Continue’ is an adverb indicating the persistence of an action.

Since similar meanings overlap, deleting one of them would be advantageous for sentence conciseness.

‘-It seems like’ is a sentence ending that implies speculation.

It tends to avoid responsibility for explanation, making it inappropriate as a formal expression.

Also, specifying the subject would enable more intuitive information delivery and minimize confusion.

Considering these points, the revised sentence would be as follows.

-Mr. Seo Do-un will continue to be dragged to Special Zones.

…After fixing it, it’s Cha Si-eon. Damn it.

“Hyung, are you okay?”

When I remained frozen in place, Kwak Jae-gyeom asked.

But instead of answering, I thought calmly.

What did I do wrong?

I did assume God’s existence and curse at him for the past few days, but could it be because of that?

No way. If God exists, he wouldn’t be such a petty person.

Then is it because I survived by a stroke of luck but kept being obsessed with Special Zones?

But I said I’d cherish daily life…?

No, more than that.

Why did Cha Si-eon and Kwak Jae-gyeom speak so indirectly about this one thing?

Ah, they built it up because they were worried I wouldn’t understand.

Since you need to know what hell is to be scared of being dragged there. Damn it, damn it.

“Hyung, Do-un hyung?”

When I kept my mouth shut, Kwak Jae-gyeom called me.

So I cut off my thoughts and asked briefly.

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“What’s the basis for making such a definitive statement about my future?”

“Ah, that. Hyung’s current condition is really special. The numbers are definitely normal and there’s no trait transformation, but it seems more contaminated than most contaminated people, so it’s presumed to be bound to Special Zones in a completely different pattern from existing frameworks… does that make sense?”

“Would it make sense?”

I unintentionally asked back in a contemptuous tone.

If you ramble on about strange settings only you know and ask me to understand, would I?

That’s the kind of mistake only novice authors make, and I don’t have the luxury to humor that right now.

At my cold immediate response, Kwak Jae-gyeom scratched his head.

“Then let me explain what contamination is first. Hyung, you remember the rulebook you saw at the railroad station, right? The precautions there said not to eat, drink, or read anything in Special Zones.”

Of course I remember.

When I was grilling Cha Si-eon to write the rulebook properly, I pointed out exactly that part.

—

All receptive acts such as eating, drinking, or reading are strictly prohibited in Special Zones.

Such acts may cause serious damage to your body and mind.

—

“That’s a warning created because of contamination. Contamination can occur when Special Zone substances are injected into the body, or when senses are exposed for long periods to texts, images, sounds, and such things in Special Zones.”

“What happens when you get contaminated?”

“It varies by situation, but you remember the short, chubby guy we met in the Hospital Special Zone this time, right?”

“You mean Rescuer 12?”

“Yes. That guy changed in a unique way at the end, right? That’s also a type of contamination.”

At those words, I stiffened slightly.

In the final moment, Rescuer 12 had transformed into something that could hardly be called human.

Could it be that I’ll become like that too?

When I turned pale, Kwak Jae-gyeom hurriedly explained.

“But physical transformations like that only happen in really extreme cases. That guy changed because he directly injected Special Zone substances into his body, but not everyone who gets contaminated transforms like that.”

“…That injection thing was a mission you guys ordered.”

“Huh? Oh, right. Hahaha, I don’t know about that. We’re the Response Team and that’s the Exploration Team’s doing.”

Don’t laugh, you devil’s neighbor bastard.

“So you’re saying I’m also contaminated?”

“We don’t know that yet.”

“You don’t know?”

“The contamination defined by the Management Bureau is ‘all types of trait changes caused by Special Zone influence,’ but we haven’t seen such changes in you yet.”

“Then aren’t I normal?”

“That’s right. If you hadn’t been dragged away again this time, we would have just passed it off as normal too.”

What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier…

“Ah, wait a moment. Do you know you’re really scary when you stare seriously like that?”

Kwak Jae-gyeom complained with a somehow wronged expression.

But I wasn’t particularly being serious.

I was just looking at him to mean ‘say something that makes sense.’

“There was a similar case before. Just one person, but despite having normal contamination levels and no trait changes, he kept getting dragged to Special Zones for some reason. At intervals ranging from two days to three months, over twenty times.”

“What happened to that person now?”

“He died in service while dedicating himself to the nation and people. He was a Management Bureau agent.”

At Kwak Jae-gyeom’s matter-of-fact explanation, I was speechless again.

Come to think of it, it was natural.

Being dragged away over twenty times meant escaping over twenty times.

It’s an Achievement that would be difficult for an ordinary person to accomplish.

And it’s a reality that’s hard for me, an ordinary person, to accept.

“So you’re saying I’ll keep getting dragged away like that too?”

“That’s what we’re presuming.”

“Isn’t that too much of a leap? Me getting dragged away again this time could really be just a coincidence.”

“You’re right. So if you don’t get dragged away, that’s great, but we’re preparing just in case.”

Great? But I don’t know what will happen to me in the future?

When I got emotional, Kwak Jae-gyeom quickly added.

“It’s also standard procedure for the Management Bureau to isolate contaminated people or suspected contaminated people. It’s a measure for the safety and well-being of our society!”

…When you put it that way, I have nothing to say again.

I don’t know about other things, but if there’s a possibility I could become like Rescuer 12, then staying here is right.

“But your case is a bit different, so once the detailed examination results come out, you’ll probably be able to visit home occasionally or go out.”

“If I’m fine, you should naturally send me home, so why are you acting like you’re doing me a favor by letting me visit occasionally?”

“Ahaha, you’re incredibly sharp.”

Kwak Jae-gyeom laughed pleasantly while I just let out a long sigh.

My situation, having heard this much, was extremely frustrating.

It’s not certain, but I’ll probably get dragged to Special Zones again.

It’s not certain, but I might be contaminated.

Both are life-threatening matters that can’t be brushed off carelessly.

Damn it, trials can come in life, but this is too much.

I pitied my thoroughly tangled future and asked again.

“Then what should I prepare and how? If I really do keep getting dragged to Special Zones.”

At my question, Cha Si-eon took out a small box as if he’d been waiting.

When I received it and opened it, a smartwatch was neatly placed inside.

“It’s a watch with communication functions. You can wear it right now.”

I put the smartwatch on my wrist as instructed.

“Unlike regular communication devices, it can receive signals even within the Special Zone. Please wear it at all times and don’t remove it even when sleeping or bathing. When it’s time to replace the battery, we’ll provide you with a new one.”

Even when bathing….

At those words, a terrifyingly embarrassing scenario came to mind.

What if I really fell into the Special Zone while completely naked and bathing?

What would happen to my social life in that case?

I broke out in a cold sweat silently, and Cha Si-eon continued speaking.

“From now on, when Seo Do-un is dragged into the Special Zone, we’ll transmit survival guidelines through that watch.”

So this is like a device police give to people under witness protection.

But wait, is that all the explanation?

Just transmit survival guidelines and that’s it?

I asked back with a sinking feeling.

“The rescue team comes after that, right?”

“No.”

No?

“Due to internal circumstances at the Management Bureau, we recommend self-evacuation for citizens who enter the Special Zone. So it’s realistically difficult for the rescue team to deploy every time Seo Do-un falls in.”

“So you’re telling me to escape on my own?”

“For now, yes, but we have a proposal for Seo Do-un regarding this matter.”

What kind of damn proposal after declaring you’ll abandon me?

I looked at Cha Si-eon with an annoyed expression.

But unexpected words flowed from his mouth.

“Are you interested in working as a Special Management Bureau agent?”

Special Management Bureau agent?

Who? Me, a humanities major to the bone?

“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”

“Then we can consider Seo Do-un, when dragged into the Special Zone, as an agent isolated during exploration.”

“If you consider me that?”

“It becomes possible for us to rescue you directly.”

Then I’ll do it.

I almost blurted out an immediate answer at the word “rescue.”

But I swallowed my excitement that had risen to my throat and asked back.

“Why are you suddenly making such a proposal?”

“The Management Bureau highly evaluates Seo Do-un’s abilities.”

“I have a herniated disc and a fragile body though….”

“Seo Do-un’s memory, judgment, and decisiveness are objectively excellent. Poor physical condition can be improved anytime.”

Poor? I didn’t say it was that bad.

But when they’re offering me a way out, does my pride really matter?

The proposal was too ideal, making it rather suspicious.

I suspected Cha Si-eon’s ulterior motives and casually asked.

“Is the rescue team unable to directly rescue citizens because of manpower shortage?”

“That is the main reason.”

“So you’re recruiting talent?”

“Something like that.”

“But having an agent in the organization who keeps getting dragged into the Special Zone would increase workload, not manpower.”

Cha Si-eon, who had been answering mechanically, glanced at me.

“What’s the real purpose behind offering me an agent position?”

When I looked straight at Cha Si-eon and asked, a brief smile crossed his gloomy face.

Why is he smiling?

Is he embarrassed because his attempt to sweet-talk me didn’t work?

As if my guess was correct, Cha Si-eon spoke as if confessing.

“The agent Jae-gyeom mentioned earlier used the phenomenon of being dragged into the Special Zone to explore it. That resulted in many achievements. So we’re hoping Seo Do-un will play a similar role.”

“Didn’t you say that person died in the line of duty?”

Heavy silence flowed.

But only for a moment.

Snap, snap, snap-!

Kwak Jae-gyeom efficiently spread out some documents.

And Cha Si-eon spoke solemnly.

“These are the Management Bureau employment contract terms.”

Ugh, groan!

I moaned like a demon drinking holy water while looking at the contract.

No, is money important right now?

That’s all hazard pay!

I knew it logically, but for a poorly paid editor, the contract terms were too dazzling.

No, no! Still, get a grip.

Since my life is on the line, let me think clearly and consider this.

Not becoming an agent

1. If dragged into the Special Zone, survive on my own.

2. Have a smartwatch and only need to worry about staying alive.

3. Can’t work at the company since I might get dragged away again even after returning home.

4. Career-interrupted unemployed person.

5. Have 100 million won in compensation but don’t know when I’ll die.

6. Possible to live it up and die, no future.

Becoming an agent

1. If dragged into the Special Zone, agents will come to rescue me.

2. But I’ll have to do whatever tasks they assign.

3. Get paid monthly even when not dragged into the Special Zone.

4. I’m a civil servant.

5. Have 100 million won cash at home plus monthly salary but don’t know when I’ll die.

6. Obviously going to be worked hard, but there’s some possibility of survival.

Both options really suck.

Still, if I had to choose, “becoming an agent” would be somewhat better.

But there’s a very concerning problem with this option too.

“What’s there to think about, hyung! The Otter Rescue Operation headquarters warmly welcomes Seo Do-un!”

I don’t need that.

I ignored the nonsensical persuasion and looked at Cha Si-eon.

Then I asked straight to the point.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————