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I stood alone in the break room, maintaining silence for a moment.
I had never experienced a situation where I had to go through dangerous incidents in the convenience store directly. Although there were customers who were no different from armed robbers, it was all just an occasional happening caused by the intelligence on Universe-1221.
– Store Manager –
[Currently, I am managing the universal disposal bin myself, but once you officially start start working, it will become your responsibility, Mr. Kim Hyunwoo.]
– Kim Hyunwoo –
[I'm not sure what exactly I have to do but it sounds risky. Wouldn't it be better for you, as the store manager, to continue managing it?]
– Store Manager –
[Why do you think I hired Mr. Kim Hyunwoo for?]
Before me lay something inexplicable, defying description – an ordinary-looking trash can.
– Store Manager –
“It seems like you got scared after reading the new rules, but you can rest assured. Until items are discarded into the universal disposal bin, they're just ordinary waste. There might be occasional exceptions, but for the most part, it's nothing to worry about.]
Suddenly, with a thud, the lid of the universal disposal bin opened on its own. I used to believe that anything thrown into it vanished like a fourth-dimensional trash can.
Yet, after the store manager's explanation, the simplicity of that notion seemed to fade.
With a deep breath, I swallowed nervously and peered into the depths of the universal garbage bin.
As expected, it was just an ordinary trash can.
However, even though the inside was illuminated by a small light, a thick darkness enveloped it.
– Store Manager –
[Visual information regarding the space garbage bin is censored for the sake of Mr. Kim Hyunwoo’s mental health. Normally, such action should not be taken for the sake of maintaining a sense of reality, but it was deemed necessary because we judged that Mr. Kim Hyunwoo wouldn’t be able to handle]
– Kim Hyunwoo –
[Censored visual information? Where and to what extent is it being censored?]
– Store Manager –
[As mentioned before, censoring information that directly affects a person’s brain can cause severe mental damage. At our U.C Convenience Store, we only censor the minimum amount of information for the safety of our staff.]
I couldn’t see anything.
All thanks to the U.C Convenience Store that manipulates my senses and reality…
– Store Manager –
[However, in order to entrust you with this special task, we need to temporarily suspend the censorship. The censorship will be temporarily lifted in 5 seconds. I hope that you will be able to see what needs to be seen.]
“…huh?.”
After 5 seconds, the interior of the space garbage bin slowly became visible.
What was inside was the background of space.
It was an eternal and vast space where stars whispered and silence took its place. The universal garbage bin was, quite literally, a place connected to outer space and fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the worst-case scenario that I had imagined.
Was I just being scared for no reason?.
– Store Manager –
[The universal garbage bin is an item belonging to the U.C Convenience Store headquarters, which is connected to the ‘Multipurpose Space Gate’ that connects to a destroyed universe. There are no intelligent beings living in that space, making it an excellent space for disposing of infinite waste.]
I couldn’t see any of the convenience store disposals I had thrown away just now.
In other words, what unfolded within this place was simply space.
Space, known as the vast canvas that cannot be comprehended by a human’s senses is used to thrown disposals away.
– Store Manager –
[However, even the headquarters discovered a serious flaw about the space garbage bin after developing it and after decades have passed. The Multipurpose Space Gate itself has no flaws, but problems arose when disposing of waste in this place.]
Rsss!
Suddenly, a green, translucent entity leaped out from the space, grabbing my wrist.
Its form was indiscernible, shrouded in ambiguity, leaving me unable to grasp its true nature.
Yet, I could sense it murmuring something, ”Save me!!!!!.”
I repeated what the entity said, “Save me…”
"Step back," an urgent voice commanded, accompanied by a blue light. A girl with a voice still raw with youth emerged, capturing the green entity.
"This is the anomaly," she explained, "When the consciousness of a destroyed universe merges with memories and information contained within discarded goods, it creates an identity. Its physical form brings a metamorphosis, driven by instinctual survival."
I looked at the girl, but I couldn’t see her.
Her face is obscured by a dense blur, making it impossible to recognize.
"It's not just about survival; these entities inject malicious information into sentient beings simply by existing. Prolonged exposure erodes the mental barriers of intelligent beings, laying bare their true selves," the girl explained solemnly, as she tossed the entity back into the infinite expanse of the universe.
"If the self is laid bare, the mind becomes tainted irreversibly. So, exercise caution," she warned.
As the green entity faded from view amidst its screams, its pleas of help didn’t sway the young girl.
Eventually, it dwindled into nothingness, a mere speck in the vastness of space.
“So, Mr. Kim Hyun-woo, all you have to do is push those things trying to escape from the space disposal bin back into space with this mop. Unless they escape from the disposal bin, they’re nothing more than worthless waste. Simple, right?.”
“Is it that simple?!.”
The girl who casually gave me the mop didn’t seem normal at all.
What was that just now? Why did the entity suddenly appear and grab my hand and beg for help?.
Could it be that the waste I threw away before has transformed like that?
And yet, what kind of being is that girl? How can she ignore the desperate plea for help and push it back into eternal despair?.
"Don't misunderstand. It's merely a remnant of the intelligent beings from destroyed universes, born from the fusion of these remnants and discarded items. That's all," she clarified.
“…Nothing at all? But it was desperately pleading for help with an agonizing scream!.”
“To explain it in the words of the universe you used to live in, Mr. Kim Hyun-woo, it is a presence similar to a ghost. It is something that wishes for the existence that no longer exists and has a negative influence on the universe. In other words, it’s like a virus of the cosmos.
When I came to my senses, I found myself sitting on the floor.
“But even if it’s a virus, there is no danger until it completely crosses over to another universe.”
“So, you don’t need to be so scared. Most problems can be solved on my end, and as long as I’m watching, I won’t just leave Mr. Kim Hyun-woo, a somewhat important human resource, to be disposed of.”
…Somewhat important?.
The girl laughed, as if mocking my scared appearance, covering her mouth with her hand.
She placed the broom on the floor and disappeared.
-Store Manager-
[Your scared expression looks quite delightful. This is a gift for that interesting sight, so how about calming down and enjoying a cool drink?]
It wasn't until that cursed Ion drink appeared before me that I realized the girl was none other than the elusive "store manager."
First, I promptly sealed the lid of the dimensional disposal bin.
This damn universe seemed beautiful initially, but it hasn’t been the same since strange things started popping up.
-Store Manager-
[In that universe and Universe-1221, gravity differs. Adjusting to the environment takes approximately 6 hours. During that time, you're free to utilize any means to repel the waste attempting to infiltrate this universe]
Once the waste exited, there was no returning.
It was nearly impossible to stumble upon this narrow passage after being cast adrift in the infinite expanse of the universe.
Yet, through sheer desperation to survive, it barely grazed the entrance.
That was the fate of the waste I had encountered earlier – if that desperation manifested, it would sustain its existence.
Taking a sip of the Ion drink provided by the store manager, I rose to my feet. Somehow, it did manage to alleviate some of my anxiety.
-Store Manager-
[So, what did you think when experiencing the special task?]
I conveyed my sincere feelings to the store manager’s question.
-Kim Hyunwoo -
[I just want to go home, damn it.]
-Store Manager-
[What did you add at the end?]
-Kim Hyunwoo-
[I said,“damn it.”]
-Store Manager-
[I don’t understand why that is included in your impression. Did you hurt your head when you fell?]
Surprisingly, it seemed that the store manager didn’t understand the true meaning of “damn it.”
I should use it often in the future.
-Store Manager-
[I hope there are no problems with your ability to handle accidents. There is more to learn before your official duties.]
But there’s more…?
I really feel like I’m losing my mind.
What kind of crazy job is she trying to assign me this time?.
Now, the white mage who came with a gun seemed better.
