Application (before battle)

<I mean… I don't mind, but you two can't hear me anyway.>

I was too embarrassed to bring it up in front of the whole group, but actually, one of your… employees was an old friend of mine.

<Oh, who is it?>

And he wouldn't give me a nod, either. Perhaps he was embarrassed like me. It was a struggle to hide how disheartened I was.

<Maybe you weren't as close as you thought, then? …Wait, can you hear my voice?>

Mr. Dongrang, this individual is unable to communicate normally.

That's why I'm speaking, Mr. Samjo. It's like I'm back to being a child, muttering my woes to a wind-up toy, don't you think?

…That all was a monologue?

<What are you two even doing?>

It was mostly because of him that I decided to send my request to you. I can trust a familiar person better than a stranger.

See, this is why I can't let my guard down for even a second. You're too easily influenced by human attachment…

So, let me ask you a favor; use your tact and consideration to… pretend that you know nothing about the relationship between him and me, okay?

<You haven't even told me who that friend is…>

I could only let out a deep sigh and shake my head…

The conversation that never got through ended as arbitrarily as it began.

<This isn't asking a favor. You're giving me a notice.>

We're at the laboratory aisle. Ordinary visitors would not be permitted to go any further…

But since you've been invited by Mr. Dongrang… I will show you to the interior.

Wow… I hoped… I could work at a company as big as this.

Then, maybe you could've applied to one~ Why didn't you give it a shot?

You're joking, right, Rodion? Not everyone can join these companies. This kind of firm only accepts the very best of the elite.

Like Faust or Yi Sang, for example…

Ishmael's remark gave me a good opportunity to bring up my earlier question.

<Yeah, why did you choose to join Limbus Company out of all the options you had? There must've been better places to shoot for.>

Because I am Faust.

<……>

There was a certain energy in her confidently clarifying tone that discouraged me from asking another question.

<What about you, Yi Sang?>

Let me take the trouble of asking in return. Manager, why did you join the company you work for?

<I mean, that's because I had no other choice.>

…That should sufficiently answer your question.

<……>

It looks like Ishmael wasn't exaggerating about the qualifications it takes to join this firm.

The laboratory was dominated by a stillness that could only be achieved with everyone in total focus.

Dante, Dante, Dante, look, there… You see that? The fridge is full of snacks… We could take one… or ten, and they wouldn't notice!

And we would break that stillness with nonchalance.

Take as many as you'd like. Mr. Samjo, pack some snacks from the break room into small bundles to give them later.

Understood.

That's awesome, Ishy, maybe we should quit our job and join up here?

Everyone can hear you, Rodya…

Rodion, the work contract says…

Joking, Faust. Joking. See?

<……>

Let's move on to the request -

You're bringing outsiders into the building now… What are you, a field trip guide, Dongrang?

Ah. Pardon me for a moment. This is Shrenne. She's the manager of the department next to mine and a colleague who joined the company at the same time as I did. Visiting me to hurl hurtful words takes up much of her daily routine.

I figured someone's got to point out the massive drain on our company's welfare budget that is your team.

Ah, if you're wondering about how we spend our welfare budget… You'll see when the Department of the Year trophy is awarded. Right, Samjo?

It would take a full day to list the benefits the department chosen as the best receives.

Eugh, you're snobs, the both of you.

Hm. Is that a rival? I do suppose excellence is followed by envy wherever it is.

Envy fuels advancement, as they say, so it's only right for us to show a little generosity for those following behind. Should we give some of the pies we bought from that store to Shrenne's department, Mr. Samjo?

I was planning to do so. The pepper, chili, lettuce, and curry-flavored ones, specifically.

Gasp… That… also sounds tasty?

Haha… Now then, let's get back to the main topic.

I heard the rumors. They were about a newly formed company collecting organic objects called "Golden Boughs".

And those Golden Boughs are found exclusively inside the closed-down branch facilities of Lobotomy Corp.

How did you learn about the existence of Golden Boughs?

It was a recent discovery. We'd been using a Lobotomy Corp. branch near our research facility as a lab until a few months ago.

You… set up a lab in that horrible place?

But, I thought they were all buried underground…

Well… I guess there were rare resources and documents they could use…

…Did the scope of your research include Abnormalities?

Why, certainly. No researcher could overlook such intriguing subjects.

Researchers must be all soft in the head if that's what they're interested in…

…Hold on.

When you were mumbling rubbish and tossing a rock at one of them chickenheads, did you…

Ahrmhrm…

I will say, Heathcliff's unexpected fits of insight surprise me sometimes.

You led us into dealing with a Distortion in a "coincidental" encounter so that you could gather data for your research on Abnormalities.

Mr. Samjo here is no good at acting. I suppose it's due to his upright way of life.

Please understand. We had no means to clearly distinguish a Distortion from an Abnormality.

A person distorts "when the mind crumbles to figurative pieces…" was it? That was a stellar figure of speech. Did you restore his crumbled mind back to health, then?

There is no way to piece together someone else's broken mind.

We merely showed him the way. It was the choice of the restaurant owner whether to stay there or take that path.

Wow, you know so much. If I were just a bit younger, I'd have jumped and hopped trying to high-five you.

You're always unwelcome to try.

Mr. Dongrang, you're becoming sidetracked again.

Ah, you're right. Alright… Then, one day, while we happily indulged in research in that laboratory of the Lobotomy Corp. branch facility, armed terrorists attacked the place. It was all too sudden.

Have you ever seen a bomb set off before your eyes? It's quite the spectacle. It all starts and ends in a split second. Just like the universe, isn't it?

Where are the terrorists now?

The members have almost nothing in common, and their motive is unknown. They only showed up recently.

In the end, the terrorist organization took over the laboratory Mr. Dongrang's team had stayed in.

Mm. That must be when the lab was moved.

…How severe was the damage?

Dongrang turned his gaze from Yi Sang to the sporadically unoccupied seats.

You see, those empty seats…

They'll stay that way for a while. Their owners died - in that act of terror.

Looking closely, I saw snacks and flowers placed on their cushions, probably as a way to mourn the dead.

Ah, this fellow we only managed to recover a finger from. We couldn't find the right place to put it, so we've been keeping it in storage. It should be over at the display on the second floor.

A solemn silence filled the office, but Dongrang continued, brushing the empty desk with his hand.

There is so much we had to leave behind.

…Dongrang…

I especially miss the plaque modeled after the face of my character, that was a favorite souvenir of mine.

I'll be stumped, I can't tell how much of what he says is a joke and how much of it is serious.

What about that seat, then?

Our attention was brought to a white desk that was completely empty.

Ah, that one is reserved.

We're waiting for a new employee to take that seat.

Oh… Is there an application guideline for the position, then? Where can I see it?

Ahem.

Ishmael's bright-eyed inquisition was interrupted by Samjo's displeased utterance.

Oh dear, our Mr. Samjo is feeling all uncomfortable now. Shall we actually get to the point then, Samjo?

Let me be blunt; I suggest an accord that will benefit both parties.

If you help us retake the laboratory, we'll yield the ownership of the Golden Bough we found to you.

I have a question. Is this a fixed contract, or a post-fulfillment review contract? Will it be represented by delegate bodies or co-executive members?

Allow me to answer that. This will be an immediate delegate-body-represented contract with no warranty liability. A contractual signing overseen by an observer from a Grade 1 Contract Office will take place following due process.

<A Contract Office…? I-I dunno what's going on… Does it really have to be so complicated?>

In J Corp's District, we couldn't get the Golden Bough right away despite winning because we didn't have anyone overseeing the deal.

Oh… That Ayuda from the Merry Archils? She started a fight even after Rodya won the game.

It's Aida from Los Mariachis…

That's right. Instead of playing the role of the observer, she left us with no choice but to take the Bough with force.

Which is why it is safer to use the service of an Association or a Contract Office to stand as an observer or to notarize the contract even if it can be costly. That's what Faust probably considered most carefully, I think.

Ishmael explained like it was common knowledge. I guess it's something well-known among City folks…

This contract certainly favors our side.

As long as the goal is achieved.

…We watched with our mouths agape as the two declared the conclusion at once.

This is a secret, but, I frankly don't get more than half of what Samjo says. I just nod like "Oh I see~" and move on.

Isn't that a coincidence? It's the same for us, too.

Aren't you supposed to be the last person to be ignorant of your secretary's words…?

Aha, still, I guess making a contract with K Corp's laboratory means we won't be fighting against the Wing's staff for a while.

You know, those people who would keep healing their wounds.

The team fell into a somber silence. All the memories related to them were filled with misery and suffering.

Ah, so you've seen K Corp's regenerative technology already.

Ugh, we've more than seen it!

Had to deal with it over and over, I get sick of the thought…

Ah… Why don't I show you around my lab instead, then? It's not here, though… You'll have to take the elevator once more.

Geh? You would show them that much, Mr. Dongrang? That place is off-limits for unauthorized personnel…

Hah, you just made a really funny noise, Mr. Samjo. Well, it shouldn't hurt. We're hanging out a bit to celebrate the provisional contract being signed.

I wasn't sure if that was an appropriate way to celebrate things… but since no one on the team objected, I decided to follow him.