Ian and Kim Iseo boarded the elevator.
It was fairly spacious. Inside the lift, large enough to transport a patient without issue, she operated the buttons.
She did not simply press a button to go underground. Like the urban legend called “the elevator to another world,” she manipulated a great many buttons at once.
It likely was not actually using an urban legend. Unlike the Vatican, which rejected and exterminated mysteries, the Bureau focused on research and exploitation—but even so, they would not have left an urban legend roaming loose inside the building.
That was only natural. An elevator to another world? If something actually went wrong, who knew what might come bursting out from inside? Who would abuse something like that?
Mysteries were fundamentally hostile toward humans, and if their categories were similar, they often appeared together. Even in the library Ian had visited before, had there not been other eyeball monsters and the like loitering outside the door, aside from the library anomaly itself?
If the conditions were met and there was a passage, they would not hesitate to cross over into reality. The moment a clear entrance called an elevator opened, that place would become a living hell in an instant.
It might be different if it were the passengers who crossed over, but mysteries were not that kind.
It was always right to assume the worst-case scenario.
[Input confirmed. Descending to the isolation rooms.]
While he was thinking, Kim Iseo finished operating the buttons and took a step back. Then the elevator issued an announcement and began descending on its own.
A brief sensation of weightlessness brushed over his body, and Kim Iseo straightened her disheveled tie as she turned to Ian.
“The isolation rooms are an area under strict security even within the Bureau. It would be best to read the manual before you go.”
There was no particular need to refuse. Leaving her behind as she began tying up her hair, Ian leaned against the wall and took out the manual he had been handed, opening it.
It was a small guidebook in the form of a notebook.
The first page contained only an introduction. It recorded in detail the history of the Bureau and the time when the Korean branch had been established.
It was not important information, but since it piqued his personal interest, he read through it slowly.
[The global organization known as the Bureau was founded precisely in 1872. It began full-scale operations during the period of the Second Industrial Revolution and established branches in various countries amid the chaos of the World Wars. Naturally, permission was obtained from the respective governments.]
[The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were still an era when many cried out the name of God. However, as the state of the world at the time was far from stable, most citizens were more concerned with reality than with unknown beings called mysteries. Thanks to that, information concealment and manipulation could be carried out with relative ease. One might say the timing was fortunate.]
[The Bureau entered Korea in the early twentieth century. Its history is not very long, but even so, it achieved remarkable growth compared to other countries. Though it still falls short in many ways compared to the European Union, it can be said to be the most outstanding in the East.]
It was full of self-praise, but Ian simply accepted it as such and moved on.
Most companies started by explaining what kind of company they were and what strengths they had, did they not?
There was no need to shove the shortcomings in the face of a new recruit who had only just joined. Of course, Ian had no intention of joining the Bureau, so it was not a matter that concerned him much.
“Hmm.”
He turned the pages of the manual and skimmed the section on the isolation rooms. At that moment, inside the descending elevator, a barrier wall slid down and covered the mirror. Ian slightly furrowed his brow at the eerie metallic sound.
“……Why cover the mirror?”
“Mirrors are passages connected to the other side of the world. In reality, they do not possess any particularly overwhelming power, but the story changes inside isolation rooms filled with mysteries. There is a high chance that the person called ‘I’ will be replaced by something else, and there are also cases where the soul becomes trapped inside the mirror.”
Kim Iseo answered with a calm expression.
“For the same reason, there are no mirrors in the containment area, except in certain isolation rooms. If you discover a mirror in a hallway, restroom, or any other place where no mystery is confined, destroy it immediately or leave the area.”
“……”
“I do not believe you would be caught so easily, Mage, but there is always the possibility. Usually, a being reflected and projected in a mirror possesses the same abilities as the original. I am concerned that an entity copying you might use magic.”
It was a fairly reasonable concern. However, in Ian’s personal opinion, he did not think they would be able to use his magic.
Even if it had fallen low, a salted croaker was still a croaker; every spell Ian used was fundamentally derived from an Outer God. A spell to find lost items, a spell to dream of sheep, a spell to force one into a comfortable sleeping posture, and so on. Even spells that did not seem particularly remarkable in terms of effect were things where an Outer God directly designed the magic circle and controlled the flow.
There was no way a mere mystery could imitate that exactly. It would probably die, unable to withstand the strain while trying to cast the spell.
However, having an entity with the same appearance burst out from the mirror, or being trapped inside the mirror himself, was not exactly a good thing, so there seemed to be no need to act recklessly by looking into one.
If one appeared, he would break it. That was all there was to it.
Ian gave Kim Iseo’s words a casual nod and looked down at the contents of the manual.
An explanation of the containment area. It was rather lengthy, but summarized, it was as follows.
‘It’s divided from Area 1 to Area 5, and the closer it gets to Area 5, the more dangerous the mysteries stationed there are. Areas 1 and 2 are mostly composed of tool-type mysteries.’
Mysteries were divided into quite a few types, but those that could be directly contained were limited. Tools that bewitched others and living creatures that moved on their own. Those two were representative.
A tool was not weaker than a creature simply because it was a tool. A creature was not stronger than a tool simply because it was a creature.
To put it simply, one could think of the relationship between humans and wild beasts. No matter how strong a lion was, if a double-barreled shotgun was shoved between its eyes, it would die on the spot. In the same way, depending on how the user handled it, a tool-type mystery could easily kill a creature-type anomaly.
However, without a user, a tool was literally just a tool. There were no cases where a shotgun suddenly gained a sense of self, declared, “I’ll kill you,” and pulled its own trigger. In the end, it all depended on the situation and compatibility.
‘They placed the tools near the entrance so they can be used when needed. Seems they have no hesitation about actively handling mysteries.’
Bold if one called it bold, reckless if one called it reckless. But seeing as their policy had not changed until now, it likely meant no major problems had occurred.
There was no guarantee that would continue in the future, but there was no need to tremble in anxiety over a future that had yet to happen. Ian closed the manual and turned his head toward Kim Iseo.
“How are we planning to move through the containment area?”
“For now, we will not be going below Area 3. Only the containment team is permitted to enter below that point, so we cannot go in.”
“Even Area 3 has dangerous ones stationed there, doesn’t it? That’s what the manual said.”
“That is correct, but up to Area 3, as long as the rules are followed, there should be no major danger. We have no plans to do anything like a trial experience of the containment team’s work, so you need not worry too much.”
The moment Kim Iseo finished speaking, the elevator doors opened. She put on the gloves she had kept in her pocket and looked back at Ian.
“From here on, we will move while sticking close together. Please do not stray more than a handspan away from me.”
“……Isn’t that a bit too close?”
“It is for escort purposes, so I ask for your understanding. If one of us has to die, it would be better for that person to be me.”
He was sure she had said it was safe, so he had no idea why talk of someone dying had suddenly come up.
Still, if she was offering to sacrifice herself, there was no need to refuse. Ian held the grimoire in his hand and stuck close behind Kim Iseo.
[Wuuung.]
As if displeased by the distance between the two of them, the Deep Sea Travelogue vibrated briefly. Ian stroked the cover as though soothing the grimoire and followed her.
“There are no particularly impressive mysteries in Area 1. I will briefly introduce only the representative anomalies before we move on.”
She glanced at the grimoire in Ian’s hand, then walked down the pure white corridor and stood before the door at the end. A small lighting device above the door swept over her entire body once.
[Identity confirmed. Agent Kim Iseo. Entry permitted.]
After the brief scan ended, the door opened with a dry announcement.
The scenery beyond it was more ordinary than expected.
A long corridor. Various doors and windows lining its sides. Plaques bearing the names of the contained mysteries, containment team employees walking around in protective suits, and so on.
Aside from the fact that everything was white overall, it did not feel particularly alien. It was closer in form to a laboratory than a containment facility. The two entered without hesitation through the open door.
“Ah, Agent Kim Iseo.”
At that moment, one of the employees hurrying about called out to Kim Iseo. Kim Iseo lowered her head slightly with an expressionless face.
“Good to see you.”
“Yes, yes. But why has someone from the Response Department suddenly come to the containment area……?”
“I am currently guiding the Mage. I heard prior notice was sent.”
“Ah, aaah! That’s right. You may look around as you please. Of course, you must not enter areas restricted to anyone other than the containment team.”
“I am aware.”
“Then there should be no problem. Please act according to the manual, and if anything dangerous happens, call the containment team and the response team immediately.”
Kim Iseo nodded. The employee laughed good-naturedly, greeted Ian, and left.
The two slowly walked down the white corridor again, looking over the isolation rooms.
While moving with Kim Iseo, Ian gazed through a transparent window that looked as if nothing were there at a teddy bear displayed on a showcase, and let out a low hum. Sensing where his gaze had gone, Kim Iseo spoke.
“It is an anomaly called the Teddy Bear of Love. It is a guardian spirit-like existence that feels strong attachment to its owner and saves them when they are in danger, but if the owner shows interest in another human, doll, or animal, it will tear open the owner’s innards and kill them.”
“……Whoever named it, really.”
“Most mysteries already have names. If they do not, the first discoverer tends to name them.”
Kim Iseo looked at an employee entering the isolation room and continued.
“The Teddy Bear of Love is not a particularly powerful mystery. It can be suppressed by force, and if its head is blown off, it cannot move. If it is stitched back together, it moves again.”
“How strong is it?”
“Normally, it is no different from an ordinary doll. But if it is fed blood or feels jealousy, it can change its form into something like a bear, if only briefly. Most casualties occur at that time.”
“Bears do tear people apart.”
Ian tapped his cigarette pack for no reason and looked at the teddy bear sitting quietly.
It sagged limply, utterly lifeless. But when the employee approached, it moved its button eyes and brought her face into view.
It was an absurd sight, a doll moving on its own, but now he was not especially surprised to see it. Honestly, he felt like he would simply accept it even if a stray cat nearby walked up and started chattering in human speech.
“Would you like to continue, or would you like to observe it longer?”
Kim Iseo asked. Ian turned away without regret.
“Let’s keep going.”
“Understood. As I said, I will tell you only about the most famous mystery in Area 1, then we will head straight down.”
“What kind of thing is it?”
Ian asked, tapping the grimoire. Kim Iseo answered without hesitation.
“It is a figure.”
“……A figure?”
At his question, Kim Iseo gave a small smile.
“Do you know of Pygmalion?”