[Lobotomy Corporation] I'm an Abnormality...

The end is coming.. EP. 34

"I, I'm really fine—"
"I spend my idle time guarding their coffins, making offerings for those who cannot even go to the underworld."
"..."
"It's one of the few things I do."

This person named 'Binah' isn't trying to listen to me.

What should I do? Should I run away now?

"If you spend a very, very long time inside this tomb, you can hear the whispers of the dead."

Wow, really?

That was information I really didn't want to know.

Hearing that in a cemetery is making me get goosebumps.

It's scary. Help me. Someone get me out of here.

"Come to think of it, I said I would show you something interesting."

As soon as Binah finished speaking, a figure appeared from the corner.

A blank expression as if possessed by something, and their eyes lack focus.

This is insane.

A real ghost actually appeared.

"Aaaah!"

I ran as fast as I could in the direction I came from, as if my life depended on it.

I can't stay here any longer.

I shouldn't have come in!

...

And the extraction team lobby, where only silence descended.

Binah, after sending away the employee she called, continued to stare at the door the 'little girl' had escaped through.

- Creak...

After watching for a while, a small hand emerged from outside the door and carefully closed it.

"...How very curious.

Among those sent upwards to start anew,

and those stuck in these pillars, spending an infinite time here,

among the beings of this world's past, present, and future,

I've never seen a child like that."

Binah, still wearing a faint smile, looked up at the ceiling as if a good idea had suddenly struck her and spoke.

"It seems I'll be able to see you kneel to fate, despair, and give up, Manager."

And after a small chuckle, she averted her gaze from the 'door'.

...

Fortunately, the door wasn't locked.

I hurriedly opened the door, moved outside the extraction team, and carefully closed the door.

- Creak...

No, why is it making such a loud sound?

- Creeeak...

'Ugh, why are my hands shaking so much...'

As if to make things worse, my hands were trembling like during an earthquake.

...I tried to ignore it and closed the door all the way.

- Tip-toe.

And tiptoed so not a single footstep could be heard.

Carefully moving away from the door.

- Swish.

I looked back just in case, but neither Binah nor the employees were following.

Whew, that's a relief.

I let out a sigh of relief.

...

I should just go back to my containment cell.

I just wish I could meet the bald man again and go home.

I'll just tell him honestly that I wasn't trying to escape on purpose.

...Of course, I have to be prepared to get scolded a bit.

"...Did you say?... Th-that..."

Huh, it seems employees are coming this way.

Wait, there's nowhere to hide in this hallway. And behind is that cemetery extraction team.

Huh?

...

"So, that bird with many large eyes, its identification name is just 'Big Bird'— Huh?"
"What, why did you suddenly stop?"

I am an ant right now. I am an ant...

Ants marching, working hard... Oh, that's not it.

"...What are you doing here?"

Startled.

"..."
"Why are you crouching in the corner of the hallway?"

...Oh well.

Damn, my plan to disappear by erasing my presence has failed spectacularly.

Honestly, it was a ridiculous plan. Who would fall for that?

"Hmm, a new recruit for the extraction team? You must be quite shy."

One of the employees keeps tapping my back.

"Hey, turn your head this way."

Just go away.

Just leave me alone.

...But I've been smelling something sweet, is that chocolate?

Pretending I couldn't resist, I turned my head to check the source of the smell.

Oh, it's a chocolate bar.

"..."

- Glance

"..."

- Glance, glance.

"...Do you want this?"

- Nod, nod

Thankfully, they offered me the chocolate bar first.

If they're giving it to me, I shouldn't refuse. Of course.

I quickly took the chocolate bar and took a big bite.

Munch, munch.

This is the taste. The sweetness that relieves stress!

"My... snack..."
"...Uh, do you want to drink Welch's instead?"

I heard a somewhat aggrieved voice from the side, but I cheerfully ignored it.

...

"But, do they accept such a young child as an employee?"
"I don't know either."

- Tap, tap.

When I had eaten about half of the chocolate, a dull sound began to be heard from the far end of the hallway.

- Thump, thump, thump, thump.

"Huh, that sound..."
"Looks like that bully is at it again. Is that Shepherd guy getting beat up again?"

Shepherd, is that a person's name? Sounds like someone who would lie a lot.

Well, it's none of my business, I should just eat my chocolate.

- Thump, thump, thump.

But the sound is getting closer.

What?

Is it coming this way?

"Oh, it's Shepherd. I knew it was you getting beat up."
"It hurts like hell, don't say things like that..."
"See, the person being attacked is always the bad guy, right?"
"Damn it, why do I always lose these bets..."

- Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

It's surprisingly loud being this close.

Be quiet.

I need to replenish my sugar.

- Thump, thump, thump.

Ugh. What kind of creature is it anyway?

I wanted to see its face, so I lifted my head and looked in the direction of the voices.

"Huh?"

The creature that was indiscriminately beating up the employee was completely different from what I expected—just a small bird.

A small, white, tiny little bird.

Oh, isn't that it?

A long-tailed tit. Also known as a bushtit.

But it has a starfish pattern in red on its belly.

"Hello?"

Since it's a normal abnormality I've seen in a long time here, I greeted it out of joy.

...However, the creature that was pecking at the employee suddenly stopped moving.

"Huh? Why did it suddenly stop?"

And it slowly turned its head and looked at me.

"..."

In that moment, pitch-black darkness descended upon the hallway.

...

...

...

"A long time ago, there was a person who wandered around various parts of the world."



[Once upon a time, in a warm and lush forest, lived three happy birds.]



[ One day, a traveler came to the forest where the three birds lived. ]



[ The traveler, who had been roaming around for a long time, was very tired. ]



[ The traveler sat down under a large tree in the forest and began to rest for a while. ]



[ The three birds watched the traveler from afar. ]



[ The birds were curious about the traveler. ]



[ The birds had never seen a human before. ]



[ The smallest bird among them bravely flew towards the traveler. ]



[ The little bird chirped and asked the traveler. ]



[ "Hello? Who are you? Why have you come to our forest?" ]



[ The surprised traveler looked up at the little bird. ]



[ The traveler smiled and replied. ]



[ "Hello, little bird. I am a traveler. I came to this forest because I was tired and needed a place to rest." ]



[ The little bird tilted its head. ]



[ "A traveler? What is a traveler?" ]



[ The traveler chuckled. ]



[ "A traveler is someone who journeys to various places. I travel to see new things and meet new people." ]



[ The little bird exclaimed in admiration. ]



[ "Wow! That sounds amazing! I want to be a traveler too!" ]



[ The traveler smiled warmly and said. ]



[ "If you want to be a traveler, you need to be brave and have a curious mind." ]



[ The little bird nodded vigorously. ]



[ "I am brave! And I am very curious!" ]



[ The traveler laughed and said. ]



[ "Then you can become a great traveler." ]



[ The other two birds also flew over, having watched the conversation from afar. ]



[ "We want to be travelers too!" ]



[ The traveler smiled at the three birds. ]



[ "Alright. If you all want to be travelers, I will show you the way." ]



[ And so, the traveler and the three little birds began their journey together. ]