Humanity Protection Company

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: posted in discord

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Counseling took time. While the ghost received counseling, Lee Yeonwoo finished contemplating and spent time doing useless things.

- From cradle to grave, the insurance company responsible for your afterlife -

"I'm not buying. I already have insurance. Wait, how did you get my number?"

He grumbled after receiving an advertising call.

- There's a problem with your bank account. We're collecting account information. The issue will be resolved automatically. (Withdrawal in progress... 25% complete)

His phone got infected with a virus. He stared blankly at the screen for a moment, an annoying emoticon smiling on a blue background.

"Huh? What? What's going on?"

Ding-

By the time Yeonwoo came to his senses and frantically tapped his phone, the withdrawal was already complete.

The virus disappeared, and so did the money he had in one bank. He stared blankly at the empty bank app screen for a while.

Yeonwoo's fingers trembled as he frantically pressed his phone. His fingers slipped several times before finally accessing the transaction history.

- Goldberg Club Co., Ltd. -1,000,000,000

"Uh..."

The money he'd received for solving the climate anomaly. The money deposited in a few other banks was fine, but the 1 billion won he'd put in his usual account had vanished. It went into the hands of an unknown club member.

"Goldberg Club!"

The sound of teeth grinding could be heard. Flames shot up in Yeonwoo's eyes.

It was 1 billion won. Of course, he had much more money left, but it was by no means a small sum.

It was an amount that could disappear after changing houses a few times. He couldn't let it go easily.

'Even though I've stolen their stuff before, it wasn't worth 1 billion. Just wait. As soon as a safe opportunity arises, I'll steal your assets.'

The moment the Goldberg Club unintentionally became Yeonwoo's target.

Belatedly, the company's notifications rang.

- The Goldberg Club is spreading virus-type anomalies targeting company employees. Please be cautious, colleagues. Check the following link for basic security procedures. (Intelligence Department)

- Simultaneous attacks by the Goldberg Club and the Free Artists Association have been confirmed. Employees outside, please return to your departments immediately.

Also, elite agents in the field, please respond from your current positions. (Humanity Protection Company Korea Branch)

- Additional attacks by doomsday cultists and demon worshippers expected. War preparation level 3 issued. (Special Forces Headquarters)

Consecutive notifications.

The skirmishes seemed to be developing into full-scale battles, but Yeonwoo's eyes only saw the empty bank account.

His eyes were a mix of emptiness and anger.

- Hello!

At that moment, Yeonwoo's eyes turned towards the window outside. A voice he'd heard before came.

- I'm Leonardo da Seoul, the Leonardo of Seoul! It's been a really long time since I've performed!

Yeonwoo stood up abruptly, stomping his feet as he moved towards the window. As he pushed the curtain aside, he saw Leonardo da Seoul riding what looked like an election campaign truck.

A singer who led people's minds into ecstasy. The artist he'd seen and caught during training was holding a microphone and saying something.

- It's my first performance since coming back to the world, so I'm really nervous. Well then, the first song!

The intro burst from the speakers.

Suddenly, Yeonwoo's complexion turned pale. He recalled what had happened at the end of his training. Like someone whose blood had drained, all emotions drained away as his mind regained clarity.

His dull, sleeping brain, his intelligence awakened.

'Wait a minute. War? The current situation. ...Ah. Money isn't important right now.'

First, he needed to stop that artist's song.

Drivers on the road wouldn't be able to drive and would cause a chain collision accident, and above all, it would put Yeonwoo in a state of carelessness.

Creak-

Yeonwoo opened the window just a little. Just enough for the muzzle of the gun to fit through. The cold winter wind brushed against the back of his hand, and the dark muzzle peeked through the gap in the curtain.

The moment Leonardo's mouth opened, Yeonwoo's finger pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed through the city center.

The bullet grazed the asphalt road. Screech, the speaker let out a scream, and ugh, a rough cry burst from the prepared throat.

- What the!

Leonardo ducked in panic, frantically turning his head. But he couldn't find who shot or from where. He threw himself towards the drawing on the truck floor.

- The company's already chasing me? I can't get caught again after just getting out.

He escaped to the gallery through a disposable door. Only the truck and the clueless truck driver remained on the street.

Yeonwoo quietly watched the escape. He had no intention of killing him here. He didn't have the shooting skills for that anyway.

More importantly, the current situation was the problem.

'Suddenly war? Has the situation gotten this bad?'

The door behind him burst open and the footsteps of two people were heard. It was the ghost and the counselor. They came out, startled by the gunshot.

"How did the situation turn out like this..."

The ghost muttered, pulling out a tightly folded fluorescent vest from her bag.

"Why are they rebelling against the company... The headquarters seems to be considering starting a war. Are they oblivious?"

"Um, senior. Is the current situation-"

"Prepare for war. There's not much for an investigator to do, but you're not just an investigator, right? You'll probably be deployed in various operations?"

That was the end of it. Swish, the ghost put on the fluorescent vest. And disappeared from perception.

Yeonwoo's eyes widened. Ugh, he bit his tongue to awaken his senses, but he still couldn't see or hear. Only after the door closed belatedly did he hear the bell on the door jingle.

'I can't even notice at all?'

It wasn't just invisible man level. He didn't even realize the door had opened. He only realized after the ghost had left. Literally a ghost.

Yeonwoo broke out in a cold sweat. His palm gripping the gun was sticky.

'If something like that attacks me. How do I respond?'

He was confident he could struggle in the face of danger, but if he couldn't perceive the danger itself. If he got shot without knowing anything.

Yeonwoo's eyes sank.

'I need sensory enhancement. Or cognitive enhancement.'

That's when it happened.

The counselor with a gentle impression gave an awkward smile. She looked at Yeonwoo.

"Would you like counseling?"

"...I'll contact the team leader first."

Yeonwoo tapped his phone. The call connected immediately.

- Yeah. What is it?

"Team leader. Should I return immediately?"

- Did you get counseling?

"No."

The sound of the team leader scratching his head could be heard.

- Then get counseling and come back. There's nothing for an investigator to do if a real battle breaks out. Let's finish managing your mental state first.

"Understood. Oh, and I chased away Leonardo da Seoul when he tried to perform."

- Huh? Just now? Oh, oh, good job. Anyway, see you later.

He seemed to have something to say, but the team leader ended the call. Yeonwoo looked at the counselor.

"I'll get counseling right away."

"Then please come inside."

---

---

The counseling room had an overall green tint, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The scent was also natural, and the soft singing was pleasant. Yeonwoo sat in a plush chair, placing his bag on his lap.

The counselor held something like a medical chart and a pen, flipped through a few pages, then glanced at Yeonwoo.

Yeonwoo was busy rolling his eyes, scrutinizing the counseling room. As if looking for a bomb. Actually, he felt similarly.

'It's company counseling. Is it just simple counseling?'

Won't they use some kind of anomaly? Like truth serum, hypnosis, lie detection, or mental manipulation.

He wrinkled his nose, suspiciously sniffing the air, staring intently at the interior decor wondering if it was an anomaly, and suspecting whether the soft singing affected his mind.

The counselor, having seen countless company employees before, understood Yeonwoo's wariness. A voice mixed with laughter came out.

"There are no anomalies. Many company employees dislike using such things."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Um, the situation is a bit difficult for counseling. Because of other groups..."

She opened the conversation on the current situation.

Naturally, various conversations followed.

The conversation soon deepened, and at some point led to Yeonwoo's concerns and pains. Without the influence of anomalies, Yeonwoo was led by the counselor's words to pour out his innermost thoughts.

"It's the job after all, isn't it? The stress is considerable. How long can I do this job? Will the day come when I can safely retire? Can I survive without dying as I carry out missions repeatedly?"

He'd survived, but each time he went back and forth between life and death. The pressure and stress of those moments.

The counselor looked into Yeonwoo's eyes with a serious gaze. Without replying, she nodded.

Yeonwoo continued speaking.

"Even if I survive safely and retire, will the problem end? Can I be at ease as long as anomalies don't disappear?"

"You have the same concerns as many company employees."

At that point, the counselor opened her mouth.

"Many people experience PTSD. Like soldiers who've been through war. They're shocked by ordinary objects or peaceful daily life, experiencing flashbacks and panic attacks. They have nightmares too. Is it the same for you, Mr. Yeonwoo?"

"I..."

Yeonwoo pondered, recalling his memories.

There were some issues right after going through the Human Qualification Exam. His mind couldn't handle noisy sounds or the exam questions themselves.

But now...

"No. I don't usually dream much, and I don't have panic attacks. Ah. I'm afraid when I see erasers."

Except for erasers, not really?

The Dying House was the most stressful at that moment, but he vented all his emotions while wielding the eraser to erase things directly.

The eraser remained like a trauma. Yeonwoo looked at the stationery on the corner table. There was an eraser.

'Ugh. Terrible. How can such an anomaly exist in this world?'

The counselor carefully observed Yeonwoo like this, then made a subtle expression. Her expression quickly changed. To the face of a gentle counselor.

"Um. I check your history in advance for counseling. I hope you don't find it unpleasant."

"Well, whatever."

Yeonwoo listened calmly. The missions he'd carried out as an investigator would have been recorded as achievements and experience. It was natural.

Some parts would be hidden due to security measures, but still.

"Mr. Yeonwoo, you seem to be extremely afraid of death. Do you have any trauma or bad memories from before joining the company?"

Seeing someone's death. Or a near-death experience. Such memories leave deep marks.

But Yeonwoo looked at the counselor strangely.

"No. Isn't that normal for humans? No one wants to die. I think it's natural to struggle not to die."

The counselor listened quietly, and Yeonwoo pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

"I don't think I particularly fear death or cling to survival. You know, those people."

"What kind of people?"

"People who worry about every single ingredient that goes into their mouths or touches their skin for the sake of health. I'm not that extreme."

He was living very carelessly.

If he had feared death in the first place, he would have managed his health extremely difficultly.

He would have avoided things like caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, sugar, flour, and paid attention to all cosmetics, dish soap, fabric softener, shampoo, soap, and such.

Just, when a life-threatening crisis was right in front of him, he struggled with all his might.

The counselor nodded, writing letters on the paper with her pen. Then she put the paper aside. It went on the table.

"Let's wrap this up now. I'll ask one last question."

"Go ahead."

"What's your dream, Mr. Yeonwoo? A goal you want to achieve in life or something you want to get right now?"

"Dream... I don't really have one..."

Yeonwoo stroked his chin. It was enough to just survive day by day. If he had to wish for something grand.

"Safety. I wish the world would become safe. Without anomalies."

If anomalies could just be reduced a lot, wouldn't we be able to live comfortably at ease? It would be good enough to live in a world where we could survive without dice, erasers, or rainwater.

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