A peculiar space, as if a laboratory and an office had been merged into one.
The Ghastly Gallery’s head moderator.
GraduateStudent12 was diligently immersed in research, paper writing, and experiments.
Although there had been a minor commotion a few days prior, one that had forced her to briefly burrow under her blanket.
That unfortunate incident was smoothly resolved with her secretary, based on the perfectly logical explanation that her hand had simply started itching, causing her to get up and inadvertently trigger the events.
As she swiftly moved around the lab, dragging her chair with her, a knock at the door made her turn her head.
“Come in.”
Moments later, the door opened, and her secretary entered, a heavy file visible in their arms.
“This is the newly submitted report. It seems you’ll need to review it personally and make a decision.”
The secretary’s face was rigid with concern.
Noticing the secretary’s uncharacteristic expression, Han Serim tilted her head.
“By your expression, it seems… rather urgent?”
“To be precise, it’s not urgent. The incident itself has already concluded. However, problems were discovered during the follow-up process.”
Han Serim unfolded the report the secretary handed her.
Bold type stood out against the rough texture of the paper.
[An Anomaly in the Gyeonggi-do Underground Waterway Ghastly]
–After the disappearance of the entire first investigation team, a second investigation team was deployed.
–Among the ten teams dispatched to Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, two teams successfully neutralized the ghastly and rescued three survivors.
–During the investigation, agents from Team 2 raised questions.
Point of contention: The timing of the doppelganger’s emergence and its connection to the underground waterway.
Cost issue: It was confirmed that even after the underground waterway was discovered, the city was still receiving subsidies from the government for ‘existing sewage treatment costs.’ However, current sewage treatment costs had noticeably decreased due to the ghastly.
Suspicion: There were no changes in any cost items until attempts were made to neutralize the ghastly, suggesting that someone had intentionally manipulated or concealed documents.
Overlap timing: The emergence of a doppelganger capable of mimicking other ghastlies, just before the ghastly’s disappearance, was suspiciously coincidental.
Conclusion: Considering that access to this ghastly is currently restricted to a limited number of individuals, this suggests the possibility of an internal collaborator, and it is highly probable that the anomalous phenomena of this ghastly were artificially created rather than being natural occurrences.
Team 2 Personnel: Team Leader Kang Suji, Investigator Kim Sera, Mercenary Alpha.
Han Serim’s gaze, which had been rapidly scanning down the report, stopped at the last line.
‘Alpha?’
It was a name she had heard many times before.
The ecosystem disruptor who had recently been causing a stir in the Ghastly Gallery.
It was identical to Newbie120053’s nickname.
“…Do you happen to have any more information regarding the Alpha agent mentioned here?”
“Conveniently, a request for identity verification came in, and we have a compiled document.”
The secretary handed over the documents, adding an explanation.
“Their designation is Alpha. They were a mercenary who hadn’t displayed any particular abilities until then. However, starting with the ‘Gyeonggi Gwangju Station’ ghastly, then the ‘New Employee Commute’ ghastly, and now the anomalous ghastly with the temporary name ‘Doppelganger Overlap Maze’ where this overlap phenomenon occurred—they’ve achieved unprecedented results in all of them.”
Han Serim nodded at the secretary’s explanation.
‘There’s no need to see more.’
Closing the open report, a smile spread across her lips.
It was certain.
Newbie120053.
‘More importantly, we were on the same world line, weren’t we?’
“…It seems the recorded information and abilities are too disparate, so an additional verification request has been submitted for processing—”
Just as the secretary was about to continue, Han Serim decisively cut them off with a gesture.
“That’s enough. Tell them to stop. I will vouch for Alpha’s identity. So, there are no issues now, correct?”
The secretary’s eyes momentarily widened with confusion.
“That is true, but… why would the Director personally…”
Han Serim slowly swiveled her chair to face the secretary at an angle.
The light streaming through the window cast a dark shadow across her partially obscured face.
“Because I know him well, of course.”
Leaning back in her chair, Han Serim spoke in a solitary tone.
Her complexion slowly emerged from the shadows, a bitter smile spreading across her lips.
“We’re… people who’ve seen things together that we could never show anyone else.”
In the cold, lingering silence, the secretary carefully opened their mouth.
“…Even if you try to speak with such gravity… you’re the one who just stopped a ghastly all by yourself—”
*Bang!*
“What?!”
“Ahem. Oh, now that I think about it. The Director-General of Research asked me to convey that they’d like all tasks assigned by them to be completed by the end of this week, but I forgot to mention it.”
*Bang!*
“What?! That’s outrageous! Do you have any idea how much work I’ve already been given? That old geezer!”
The secretary quickly bowed to their Director, whose target had shifted, and exited the room.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
****
A new post appeared on the Ghastly Gallery.
The author was Newbie120053.
In response, the ‘dead souls’ who had been fanning the flames of resentment in the Ghastly Gallery, feeling relatively deprived just moments before, began to flock to the post one by one.
However, the content of the post was different from what they had been expecting (teabagging) (TL Note: A slang term in gaming, referring to repeatedly crouching over a defeated opponent’s character in a taunting manner.).
The post meticulously detailed the aftermath of the recent ghastly incident, along with the conflicting interests and complex issues that had emerged during the process.
Finally, Newbie120053 announced that he had submitted a request for handling the matter to the Bureau of Ghastly Management, and the results had at last arrived.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
[Official Reply Email from the Bureau of Ghastly Management]
Sender: Bureau of Ghastly Management Investigation Committee
Subject: [Confirmation and Approval] Report on the Gyeonggi-do Underground Waterway Ghastly
Greetings.
We hereby inform you of the review results regarding your follow-up report, “An Anomaly in the Gyeonggi-do Underground Waterway Ghastly,” as follows.
The possibility of artificial occurrence for this matter, as raised by you, has been confirmed as fact.
After cross-referencing with internal records, we concluded that the emergence of the doppelganger just before the ghastly’s disappearance was an anomaly caused by intentional intervention, not a natural phenomenon.
The suspicions regarding sewage treatment costs that arose during this process also clearly revealed evidence of document manipulation, and we have requested follow-up actions from the relevant departments.
Accordingly, we inform you that your report has been officially approved.
Furthermore, the early detection and accurate identification of this matter provided our agency with an opportunity to take swift follow-up actions. We extend our deepest gratitude for this cooperation.
The Bureau of Ghastly Management will continue to do its utmost to verify facts and ensure safety regarding anomalous phenomena.
Thank you.
Sincerely, The Bureau of Ghastly Management Investigation Committee
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
At the end of the post.
An email, indicating ‘approval’ and ‘fact confirmation,’ was captured and enclosed.
And soon.
The Ghastly Gallery, which had been ablaze with outrage over Newbie120053’s actions just moments ago, now began to burn with an entirely different kind of fervor.
[Subject: So.]
–Author: HeavenBreaker.
…A demon was just about to be born.
Is that what you’re saying?
I’ve never actually seen a demon before.
But looking at the state of that thing that briefly emerged from the black orb on the screen at the very end.
I have a really strong gut feeling, don’t I?
With those half-grown horns on its head.
And what looked like wings about to sprout from its back.
Its black skin.
Given that it was a premature infant and died from a gunshot to the head.
It was definitely a doppelganger.
But I have a feeling that if it had just had enough time, it could have become something more.
But then.
All of this started because of sewage treatment costs?
[Upvotes 512][Downvotes 0]
[Subject: Is This For Real?]
–Author: FrozenTuna.
Is this for real?
The motive for the overlap phenomenon and an entire city almost being wiped out, lol.
They ended up like this trying to save on sewage treatment costs? LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
It wasn’t even some grand reason; I could at least understand if they were trying to overthrow the country.
But the reason?
S-E-W-A-G-E- T-R-E-A-T-M-E-N-T- C-O-S-T-S- ???????
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
Why not just say they unleashed doppelgangers to save on water purifier costs?
[Upvotes 612][Downvotes 0]
[OldestGhastlyGalleryMember]: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
[PoisonousChingbung]: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
[Lmao]: The reason I don’t watch TV these days.
–[SeriousGuy]: Why watch fantasy movies when reality is even more fantastical, lol.
[BusyInRealLife]: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
[NotHuman]: This seriously deserves a Darwin Award.
[Subject: Suddenly a Revelator?]
–Author: ButterMelon.
Curious if it was the same in my world line, I investigated like Newbie120053.
And it was.
They were already using these guys.
The only difference was that, unlike Newbie120053’s situation, there was nothing demon-related underground, so it didn’t escalate.
They were diligently siphoning off all the taxes provided by the government.
And the doppelgangers were doing all the work.
Because of this, people looked up to me, asking how I knew.
So, I, a hikikomori (TL Note: A Japanese term referring to reclusive individuals who withdraw from society) outcast stuck in my room, am to become a revelator starting tomorrow?
–That was a pipe dream, of course.
A really pretty girl approached me and started talking, but my mind instantly went blank.
I stammered and fumbled over my words terribly.
Her eyes grew incredibly cold, as if realizing I’d just guessed correctly, and she simply walked away.
….LOLOLOLOL.
More importantly, what do I do about this?
They say the doppelgangers are at stage three.
How much have they been nurturing them, lolololol.
Go ahead, try it~
If I die, I die.
Just kidding.
Seriously, how do we stop this? I think we’re screwed.
[Upvotes 563][Downvotes 0]
[NotHuman]: It’s even sadder because I can imagine it.
[DarkMatter]: Sorry. I can’t think of a solution. With doppelgangers, there’s no telling what variables might arise. Just give up quickly, lol.
–[ButterMelon]: No, this is the world I live in!!! Give up?! I’ll really die if I do that!!!
[CoffinFairy]: Were you looking for me?
–[ButterMelon]: Not yet. Go away.
[Subject: What happened? Everyone was saying the live stream was on, so I quickly tuned in.]
–Author: Veteran84.
…It seems there’s no need for advice anymore.
[Upvotes 112][Downvotes 0]
[HeavenBreaker]: Latecomer cut.
[Veteran84]: No, seriously, explain a bit. The live stream ended, so now I have to pay coins to watch it. That stingy head moderator.
–[GraduateStudent12]: …?
–[Veteran84]: …..
–[Veteran84]: Didn’t you say you were busy?
–[GraduateStudent12]: I just finished. And you will too, soon.
[Subject: One-Line Summary]
–Author: SeriousGuy.
[Paint Image 1]
[Paint Image 2]
[Upvotes 312][Downvotes 1]
[Veteran84]: Why do you always just show these kinds of pictures?! Explain it!
–[RealReal]: Lol, what better explanation could there be?
–[SeriousGuy]: Real lol.
–[UpvoteFairy]: Real lol.
