Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 58

 

ep11. Depriving the Five Senses (3)

 

Manager Kwon Mu-seop was truly a good person.

 

But if you asked whether he was a respectable superior, well.

 

For starters, Manager Kwon Mu-seop, whom I observed for a day, was more human than I had thought.

 

“Mu-mu… Cha Si-eon… take care of Mu-mu…”

 

First, I thought it was a joke, but he really did talk in his sleep severely.

 

Trudge trudge, thump-!

 

He also had low blood pressure and couldn’t get his bearings in the morning.

 

Clatter- thud, thud-!

 

Moreover, his eating habits were blatantly unbalanced.

 

I mean, if this is how it’s going to be, why not just ask him to remove carrots from his own meals?

 

A person of considerable age acting like this…

 

Well, fine.

 

There’s no need to find fault with someone over such trivial lifestyle habits.

 

There are authors whose main bodies are unremarkable but who write tremendous works.

 

Manager Kwon Mu-seop also holds a heavy position, so it would be fine as long as he does his job well.

 

The problem was that even this was somewhat questionable.

 

“Team 1 broke through H-3 Area around 6 AM this morning. Currently reorganizing in the Corridor.”

 

“Team 2 finished their mission at ‘The Church that Extracts Revelations’ at 13:03 the previous day and started their mission at ‘The Abandoned Factory that Captures Movement’ at 5 o’clock today.”

 

“Team 3 completed their mission at ‘The Amusement Park that Seeks Angels’ at 17:35 the previous day. Currently on standby in the entry area for ‘The Water Park Connected to All Water’, and will enter the mission after cooling down until 20:00.”

 

“Team 4’s stay time at ‘The Funeral Home Where the Dead Visit’ is getting longer. Due to combat and collapse burial accidents that occurred in the morgue, they haven’t been able to get out yet. 7 minor injuries, 2 serious injuries, and follow-up mission support is needed.”

 

“Team 5 continues deep exploration.”

 

“Team 6 is on standby. We’ll prepare to enter ‘The Meditation Center Where Bodies Change’.”

 

The situation reports from the command division executives ended.

 

“…”

 

But Kwon Mu-seop, sitting at the head seat, said nothing either way.

 

“Manager.”

 

Yun U-jeong waited and then called out to Kwon Mu-seop.

 

Kwon Mu-seop still had his chin propped up, scribbling something in his notebook.

 

“Manager Kwon?”

 

“Ah, yes. I’m listening. I was just thinking for a moment.”

 

At Kwon Mu-seop’s excuse, I looked into the distance.

 

I saw it.

 

Kwon Mu-seop was drawing sparrows in his notebook…

 

Leaving me alone in my bewilderment, Kwon Mu-seop played innocent and asked.

 

“Have any mercenary entities appeared?”

 

“Yes, Team 4 encountered ‘Echo’ in the morgue and engaged in combat for 1 minute and 6 seconds.”

 

“What happened to ‘Echo’?”

 

“When pushed into a defensive position, it destroyed the morgue entrance and fled.”

 

“I see. Please report immediately if ‘Big Cat’, ‘Gardener’, or ‘Alpha’ also appear. I’m counting on you all today as well.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The executives answered loudly and stood up.

 

Their disciplined appearance was quite heroic.

 

But my head was filled only with the sparrow doodles that Kwon Mu-seop had drawn.

 

* * *

 

Ba-ba-ba-bam bam-!

 

-Today we’ll learn about ‘mercenary entities’!

 

-Most entities only operate within the Special Zone where they originated!

 

-But in Type 1 Special Zones, there are very rare entities that move to other Special Zones. These are mercenary entities!

 

Four photos filled the screen instead of Mu-mu.

 

-There are a total of 4 confirmed mercenary entities so far!

 

-‘Big Cat’ from ‘The Bleeding Island’.

 

-‘Gardener’ from ‘Blooming School’.

 

-‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’ from ‘National Theater that Detects Fakes’.

 

-‘Echo’ from ‘The Funeral Home Where the Dead Visit’.

 

The appearances of the mercenary entities were uniformly menacing.

 

Even ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’, who at least had human forms, were the same.

 

Perhaps because I had experienced that murderous intent directly, they just looked like monsters to my eyes.

 

-As their name suggests, mercenary entities specialize in combat, and they don’t cease their activities even when their home Special Zone enters a reorganization period!

 

-Due to these characteristics, they’re also the greatest threat to our agents!

 

-So before entering Type 1 Special Zones, make sure to prepare for combat with mercenary entities!

 

The educational video ended with Mu-mu’s earnest warning.

 

Then I heard Kwon Mu-seop’s voice from outside my earphones.

 

“You’re diligent, keep studying.”

 

Looking to the side, Kwon Mu-seop was looking at my tablet screen.

 

He was still in combat uniform, but leaning back against the sofa, he looked very comfortable.

 

Manager Kwon Mu-seop had been in this state continuously since the meeting ended earlier.

 

Yesterday he seemed busy with work, but today he’s strangely idle.

 

“Is that material somewhat helpful?”

 

“Yes, it’s good to search by keywords and view.”

 

“That’s fortunate. We made it with effort but couldn’t even use it.”

 

“Couldn’t use it?”

 

“The General Affairs Department made it newly thinking we’d get personnel reinforcement. But the higher-ups cut all the personnel, so in the end we couldn’t use any of it…”

 

Kwon Mu-seop sadly confessed the past failure.

 

That appearance was, to put it nicely, unpretentious, and to put it badly, looked frivolous.

 

I wondered if it was okay for someone who’s a manager to be like this.

 

Since we’re being frivolous anyway, I should also casually ask.

 

“I have something I’m curious about.”

 

“Yeah, what is it?”

 

“It’s about something different, but I received more compensation than the Management Bureau regulations. When I came out of ‘Train Station’.”

 

Good, that was natural enough.

 

“Ah, that? I just gave you extra. You were quite impressive back then.”

 

But Manager Kwon Mu-seop is also natural.

 

Very naturally, he tries to slip away like a snake over a wall.

 

Haha, this fellow?

 

“What I received was over 3 times the maximum payment amount though?”

 

“That’s how impressive you were.”

 

“That would all be tax money too.”

 

“Yeah, no. The executives created a scholarship foundation. It came from there, so you don’t need to worry. It’s not tax money.”

 

…he said while laughing heartily.

 

To lie while smiling so benevolently like that…

 

This person has absolutely no intention of saying he spent his own money.

 

Right, it might be embarrassing to say ‘Actually, I gave it to you’.

 

He might be the type who can casually give out 100 million won when impressed.

 

Then why not give it alone? Why did he give it together with Team Leader Cha?

 

My head became more complicated with his evasive words mixed with lies.

 

Then, Manager Kwon Mu-seop’s phone rang.

 

“Yes, Deputy Manager.”

 

-Manager, Team 1 has spotted ‘Alpha’.

 

“…!”

 

I was startled by the sound coming through the phone.

 

-There was no engagement, and “Alpha” failed in their surprise attack and fled. They also found traces suspected to be from “Gardener.”

 

Two mercenary entities had appeared.

 

And both were targeting Team 1.

 

“Is that so? Yes, I understand.”

 

But Manager Kwon Mu-seop just listened and hung up the phone.

 

There was no sign he would move from leaning against the sofa.

 

“Don’t you need to get up?”

 

“Hmm? It’s fine. The kids will handle it well.”

 

“Still….”

 

“Do-un.”

 

At Kwon Mu-seop’s call, I thought ‘oh no.’

 

Wondering if I had dared to object to a commander.

 

I thought I’d get scolded for sure.

 

“Actually, I can’t get up.”

 

“…?”

 

“It’s been too long since I wore full gear, so it’s hard to move.”

 

“….”

 

“So let’s just rest. The Deputy Manager will handle things well.”

 

At Kwon Mu-seop’s words said with a smile, I was at a loss for words.

 

Manager Kwon Mu-seop was truly a good person.

 

But if asked whether he was a reliable superior, I’d find it hard to readily nod.

 

* * *

 

Another day passed.

 

On the third day, the field became more intense.

 

Team 2 had casualties during their mission, and some members of Team 3 nearly drowned after falling into water.

 

Team 1 engaged in combat while responding to the combined attack of “Alpha” and “Gardener.”

 

The Command Division and Control Team were also constantly on alert, monitoring the situation.

 

But Manager Kwon Mu-seop remained leisurely.

 

As if he was alone in another world.

 

He kept doodling and spent most of the day sitting as if lying on the sofa.

 

He even said he couldn’t get up because his gear was too heavy, then added more supplies and hung them all over his body.

 

So now he looked almost like a Christmas tree.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with being well-prepared.”

 

Kwon Mu-seop making excuses to himself without anyone saying anything.

 

Yun U-jeong had just left after scoffing at him, so he must have felt embarrassed alone.

 

“Yes, preparation isn’t a bad thing….”

 

Moreover, all of this was effort to save me.

 

So I should be grateful.

 

But why was it that I was becoming more anxious instead?

 

Being grateful and being reliable were separate things, and I found myself praying.

 

Please let nothing happen.

 

Please don’t let the situation of being dragged to the Special Zone with Manager Kwon Mu-seop happen.

 

It was a useless wish.

 

As always, God was not on my side.

 

* * *

 

It was when I had fallen asleep at night.

 

“…un, Do-un. Wake up.”

 

A hand shaking my shoulder.

 

“Uh, yes…?”

 

I rubbed my eyes and got up as Manager Kwon Mu-seop woke me.

 

Then I flinched and shrank back.

 

It was too cold. And the surroundings were bright white.

 

I looked around in surprise.

 

Here… in the mountains?

 

Under the pale sky, bare trees stood densely packed.

 

The grass had all withered and turned yellow, bent over.

 

It was May now, but the seasonal feeling didn’t match at all.

 

As I froze for a moment, Kwon Mu-seop grabbed my arm and asked.

 

“Do-un, can you hear my voice?”

 

“Yes? Yes. Where on earth is this….”

 

“What do you see right now?”

 

What do I see? I see you, Manager Kwon Mu-seop.

 

-Manager, can you hear me?

 

Then Yun U-jeong’s voice echoed from Kwon Mu-seop’s chest.

 

It was sound coming from a radio attached near his shoulder.

 

“Yes, I can hear you.”

 

-You’ve entered the “Ant Hill that Steals the Five Senses.”

 

“Ah, is that so? No wonder it’s cold.”

 

-Nothing’s been cut off, right?

 

“Yes, we’re safe.”

 

-That’s a relief, but we’re already in an emergency and you had to cause an incident….

 

Yun U-jeong laughing as if dumbfounded.

 

But I couldn’t laugh.

 

—

 

Survival Rules for Missing Persons in “Ant Hill that Steals the Five Senses”

 

“Ant Hill that Steals the Five Senses” is a Special Zone inhabited by “Execution Ants” that are hostile to humans.

 

To escape from this place, you must survive 29 hours while avoiding dangers such as “Execution Ants” and “Ant Lines.”

 

The methods to avoid danger are as follows, so please refer to the content below and return safely.

 

■ Individual Precautions within “Ant Hill that Steals the Five Senses”

 

People who enter this Special Zone will lose one of their five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste).

 

This sensory loss persists while staying in the Special Zone and recovers when returning to reality.

 

Please do not panic at the sudden disability and respond calmly.

 

—

 

I checked my senses first.

 

My eyes could see and my ears could hear.

 

The skin’s sensation of feeling cold was also normal.

 

Now what remained….

 

I put my hand to my nose and tried to smell.

 

There should be lingering scents of soap or skin care products I used before sleeping, but I couldn’t smell anything at all.

 

I was actually relieved by this fact.

 

The dangerous senses to lose in this place.

 

In order: sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste.

 

Especially losing sight would be fatal, so I wondered what this was about.

 

“My sense of smell is paralyzed.”

 

-If it’s smell, you did well. What about you, Manager?

 

Yun U-jeong sighed and asked Kwon Mu-seop as well.

 

“Ah, me…?”

 

Kwon Mu-seop smiled awkwardly and confessed.

 

“I can’t see what’s ahead.”

 

“….”

 

At this point, I think I have to believe it.

 

The existence of a god who’s obsessed with tormenting me.

 

Despite my earnest prayers, I was ultimately dragged to the Special Zone with Kwon Mu-seop.

 

And right now, he can’t see what’s ahead.

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