Chapter 15: Central Research Institute (6)

My eyes reflect a moment from the past.

A strange phenomenon that can be seen because this Research Institute is free from time.

A fragment of the past from when the Central Research Institute was newly established.

The era when Objects were national secrets.

When researchers conducted secret studies, government officials collected Objects, and the media manipulated information.

A memory from 30 years ago, when only government researchers could barely obtain that information and conduct research.

She had said,

"Director, cheer up. Objects must have appeared to grant wishes. They are gifts from someone like fairies trying to help humans. I think a happy world where wishes will surely come true if you keep wishing is coming."

A woman who was neither a researcher, elite, nor a government official.

Just a woman caught up in Objects.

A woman who would say such ridiculous things even after becoming paralyzed from the waist down due to a poltergeist.

"I can no longer ask, but I still have the desire to ask once more."

"Why are Objects so cruel?"

"Can you give the same answer as back then?"

The woman in the illusion was smiling brightly.

"If Objects grant wishes, then humanity's desires must be this ugly."

As I let go of the illusion of a woman who once existed in this director's office, I waited for another illusion.

A scene of the future that will unfold in the director's office.

The future that everyone at the Research Institute longs for.

The time of advent that will surely come, though the when is unknown.

***

An awkward standoff with the yellow man.

Unlike the highly tense man, I had no reason to be tense, but this atmosphere was still uncomfortable.

I released my ghostification and set foot on the ground.

The man and woman were startled to see me suddenly appear out of thin air, but their subsequent reactions were quite different.

The man became more guarded and tense, while the woman's wariness clearly faded.

Usually, people are scared of me due to the ominous rumors, but there were a few who felt an inexplicable liking and approached me. This woman seemed to be the type who felt an inexplicable liking as well.

The woman bent her knees to match my line of sight, smiled brightly, and slowly began approaching me.

"????"

The man seemed seriously taken aback by the woman's actions. He had an expression like 'why is she suddenly acting so stupid and careless?', but the woman paid no attention to the man and focused all her efforts on getting my attention.

Though it looked like she had discovered a strange wild animal and was trying to coax it with clapping and calling, I started slowly moving my feet towards her as she wanted.

"Senior! She's coming this way!"

"..."

The woman excitedly said, and the man was at a loss for words. The woman seemed engrossed to the point of being unable to read the man's mood.

Did she not have many reasons to be happy usually? Just slowly approaching was enough to make the flame in my heart burn brighter.

"Hmm, do you remember that the Gray Reaper, is an Object that received a special danger rating?"

"..."

The woman was trembling and slowly reaching her hand out towards me. Her expression was so serious that it looked scary. If a wild animal was in the same situation as me, it would probably run away immediately from that scary expression.

Her hand was coming too slowly, making me feel impatient, and she was trembling too much from tension, making me feel sorry for her. So I just reached out and caught her hand.

"Woahhh!!!"

The woman suddenly let out a loud exclamation. I tried to let go of her hand, but the woman had already tightly grasped my hand and wouldn't let go.

"I'm holding her hands!"

"So small!"

If they hadn't made those efforts, I might have run off in ghost form out of boredom even after hearing about Lophiomus.

Unexpectedly, the more entertaining part was the stories told by the man.

Though exaggerated, the tales of cases he worked on as a detective were quite amusing when strung together as stories.

However, they had absolutely no effect on the flame in my heart. The male detective seemed to have neither affection nor dislike towards me.

In contrast, the woman's approach was more like playing with a doll - not very fun, but her goodwill was excessive, the opposite effect from the detective.

"It'll be 3 days soon."

"You've worked hard until now."

During those 3 days, their efforts went beyond just keeping me entertained.

The woman, being a part-time employee at the Research Institute, had to go out for work shifts periodically.

The man had to constantly evade periodic searches, erase any traces left behind, and ensure I didn't appear on surveillance cameras - he was quite busy.

It was fortunate the woman could bring food, water, etc. as an employee.

If they had to periodically steal food and water, the difficulty would have been several times higher.

The woman stood next to the detective, arms full of documents, while the man checked his pocketwatch to keep track of time.

The man placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and tapped the floor twice with his cane.

With a troubled expression, the man tapped the floor again but nothing happened.

"It's not working."

"Huh? Then what do we do?"

I didn't know what, but their plan seemed to have failed.

***

3 days had passed. It seemed like my junior spent the time happily without much thought, but it was quite a difficult schedule. Fortunately, the Reaper showed interest in my stories, which was a relief.

Now, if we escape, the request will be complete.

My junior was standing next to me, arms full of documents. I placed my hand on her shoulder and tapped the floor twice with my cane. The destination was the detective office!

"It's not working."

"Huh? Then what do we do?"

No matter how many times I tried, the Object that allowed spatial movement wouldn't transport me to the desired location. I've never heard of it malfunctioning, so is something interfering with it?

No way, I glanced towards the gray Reaper, but it was still puffing out its cheeks like a hamster and endlessly eating snacks while observing us.

"The Object is acting up. It's time for a Plan B."

"Wow! There was a Plan B too?"

"No. I have to make one now."

I lit my pipe tobacco and earnestly called out.

"Watson, have you found anything here?"

"Watson, have you found anything here?"

"Watson, have you found anything here?"

The smoke rising from the pipe turned a reddish hue, like the light of Watson's gas lamp.

And before I knew it, Watson's gas lamp was in my hand.

"Eh, are you going to use that? It seems a bit ominous..."

My junior's usual concern was brushed aside as I asked Watson a question.

"Watson, someone is blocking my movement. Do you know what the cause is?"

[Director's Office]

The smoke drew blood-like letters.

Hmm, is there an Object in the Director's Office that is interfering with my movement? I'll have to go check to get an estimate.

I skillfully extinguished the gas lamp's flame. I thought I heard a giggling laughter at that moment.