SBTGC 09

Chapter 09

Anyway, this is quite surprising. I thought it would be some shady, strange place since I’d never heard the name before, but it’s a government-managed organization with considerable scale? And Genzer is a member of it?

“Then he really was human…”

“Human?”

“No, never mind.”

At that moment, Genzer, observing my awkward reaction, asked.

“Have you ever looked into Lajazert, by any chance?”

“Ah… yes.”

Of course not. Why would I bother looking that up! Before you showed up, I was even avoiding thinking about it!

“Then shall I tell you something else?”

“No, no. That’s fine…”

I shook my head, clamped my mouth shut, and lowered my gaze. I had nothing to say anyway, and it was awkward.

Then the man, Genzer, looked at me for a moment before speaking again.

“About earlier, I’ll apologize.”

At those words, I lifted my lowered gaze.

“I didn’t mean to startle you to the point of tears. Of course, it’s not that I didn’t anticipate you might react that way, but…”

Genzer continued, gazing at me.

“I said I would come find you, so it seemed right to come directly.”

If that was the reason, you didn’t have to keep that promise.

After swallowing those words back down, I opened my mouth this time.

“But… how did you find out where I live?”

At that question, Genzer paused for a moment before answering.

“Through means that aren’t exactly legal.”

So he used the dark web, huh.

Come to think of it, Genzer had also quickly figured out where I was when I ended up in Lajazert. It seems that organization, Lajazert or whatever, has resources.

…Wait a minute.

Does that mean he can come find me anytime, like today? Even right up to my front door?

Cold sweat ran down my back once more. I felt the urge to quickly end this conversation and leave this place.

“So… what exactly is it that you want…”

“Then shall we get straight to the point? Honestly, that’s more my style anyway.”

When I nodded at that, Genzer cut straight to the chase without hesitation.

“Our headquarters hopes to have you, Ms. Myeongse-na.”

“……”

…Excuse me?

“We want you to become a member of our headquarters and work with us.”

Pardon?

I sat there dumbfounded for a moment, bewildered.

What is he talking about? He wants me to join? That Lajazert place?

No, why on earth would I do that unless I was crazy?

I pictured the moments I’d spent with Genzer in my mind. First, I got into the car he brought, then I tearfully jumped out with him when he said we had to, and then we walked along the road and I was suddenly shot.

And… that was it.

No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for him to say that.

If I’d shown some amazing ability, maybe. What did I even do to deserve this?

I was momentarily at a loss for words, but finally managed to squeeze out my voice.

“So… you’re saying you want to… recruit me?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

“As I explained last time.”

Genzer explained with a hint of impatience in his expression.

“I told you that you, Ms. Myeongse-na, belong to a very rare case. Do you remember?”

Ah. It’s vaguely coming back to me.

What did he say then? Something about how for a few days out of the year, the boundary between reality and Lajazert becomes blurred?

And around that time, I ended up entering Lajazert without going through the designated passage.

“Yes…”

“That’s precisely the reason.”

Genzer said.

“Before we enter Lajazert, we always follow a set procedure. And in that process, we disguise ourselves as souls. We become similar to souls for a certain period of time. Because only souls can enter that place. That’s how we can enter Lajazert.”

So, they mimic something like a soul to enter a place where only souls live… is that it?

“But your case, Ms. Myeongse-na, is an exception.”

He continued.

“You can enter Lajazert without any disguise.”

…Me?

“Uh, how? Why?”

“We don’t know the details. There’s talk of you having received Lajazert’s favor, and a hypothesis that you were affected by the moment the boundary between reality and Lajazert blurred… The exact reason hasn’t been determined, but what is certain is that you can enter Lajazert while bypassing all procedures.”

“……”

“And the cultists believe you are a deity who descended for their sake. You are, in effect, the antithesis of what they believe in.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but frown.

“What exactly do those cultists believe in?”

“Immortality.”

Immortality?

“‘Infinity and eternity’ is their doctrine. They desire to become beings without end, where life and death are one. A gathering of those who wish to become a single, complete being.”

…Alright. Let me summarize what I’ve heard so far. It’ll help me get a grip on things.

First, to enter Lajazert, the condition of being a ‘soul’ must be met. In other words, a non-soul cannot enter.

But for some reason, I can ignore that condition, right?

That means I can come and go freely without restrictions? Like a free pass?

And the cultists… they see me, who has become that way, as the realization of their doctrine.

What I really want to do is dismiss this as nonsense and get up. In summary, this means I’m in deep trouble.

“I… have no intention of going back.”

“Someone like you, Ms. Myeongse-na, is what we call a valuable asset. You are that much of a necessity.”

Despite my refusal, Genzer didn’t back down.

“If a situation arises where we can no longer disguise ourselves as souls to enter Lajazert, we can call upon you for help.”

So that’s why the cultists came after me?

Suddenly, the memories I had tried so hard to bury resurfaced. Hearing that made me think of something else.

<Rather than having them taken by those cultists, isn’t it better to send them to me?>

<……>

<At least I don’t have a crazy cult leader. And I pay well.>

Back then, the man in the helmet had definitely said that. I wonder if that’s related to this too?

“So, that man in the helmet from before… he came to me for that reason too? Because he was after me?”

“Similar.”

“…Similar means there was a different purpose too?”

“That’s also similar.”

Genzer replied in a dry tone, then added.

“But I can’t give you any more information than this. At least, not for now.”

The reason he says that is probably because I haven’t made any choice yet.

So, if I want to know more, I need to make a decision.

Whether to join them, or join others. Or choose nothing at all.

And… my thoughts are still the same as before.

I agreed to talk with Genzer to learn what I didn’t know. Not to blindly accept his offer.

And besides, after hearing all that, could I just readily agree to join? Absolutely not.

Before indirectly refusing, I gave an awkward smile.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

“I’m sorry, but… I’m just an ordinary, average person.”

“I’m an ordinary person too.”

Excuse me. You look anything but ordinary to me.

“I really don’t know how to do anything, and I didn’t even understand the explanation you just gave… I think it would be better for you to find someone else.”

“If you don’t know how, you can learn; understanding can come later; and there will be people to help you until then.”

No, it’s not about ‘later’ or anything, I just don’t want to do it!

Just as I was about to speak, intending to make my refusal crystal clear, he said,

“And, there is no one else to find.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Because you are the only one, Ms. Myeongse-na.”

What does that mean?

“You said earlier that I’m a rare case. Doesn’t that mean there are more people out there who have experienced something like mine?”

“There were.”

Then Genzer added one more line.

“In the past.”

…Why the past tense? That’s unsettling.

“And what about now?”

At that, Genzer replied calmly.

“They’ve all been reported missing.”

“……”

“As of now, you are the only one.”

Wow… this can’t be happening…

I feel like I’m still having a nightmare. Maybe I’ll wake up and find myself back in the hospital bed.

The only ‘unique’ thing I ever wanted was to win the lottery or a sweepstakes! Not the ability to freely enter and exit a ghost city!

“So consider it. If possible, lean towards accepting the offer.”