Humanity Protection Company

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: posted in discord

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All accidents happen in an instant.

"Uh, uh, uh? No, if the output is like this, wait-"

An unfinished device could go haywire, turning a simple experiment into world-altering chaos.

"What the hell is the company doing! Why's it suddenly going berserk, damn it! I'll use up all the gold I've already offered to defend against this! Not enough? Well, I'll defend as much as I can with the gold I've given-"

Insufficient preparation might only block a little.

"Worshipper! Quick, get a worshipper- no, it's too late-"

Whether by choice or force, some might be unable to act against the accident.

"What's this? What's going on? Why do I feel uneasy? What is it this time! Dice! Block whatever it is, I don't know what's happening! No, create a way for me to survive!"

Clatter-

An uncertain factor might also interfere with the accident.

Success!

And twist it.

The world was altered. Both the world and the company's essence changed. The experiment succeeded, but in a world where success held no meaning.

------

After tossing and turning all night, Yeonwoo fell into a deep sleep without realizing when he'd dozed off.

When Yeonwoo opened his eyes, dawn light of unknown duration filled the room. The light held an ancient, weathered quality, making Yeonwoo idly worry that humans might have gone extinct, or the sun had drifted away.

But such fanciful thoughts were pushed aside by the reality of pain. With his head feeling like it was about to split open, Yeonwoo clutched it with both hands and let out a deep groan.

"Ah, my head. It hurts so bad."

The pain wasn't just physical. It felt as if the world was rejecting Yeonwoo's very existence, pushing away his body, mind, and soul with thorny walls, causing a loss of self.

"Who am I? What was I doing? Why do I feel like I'm in danger?"

Amidst hazy memories and confused identity, Yeonwoo wore a bewildered expression. Yet instinctively, he reached out and grabbed a certificate from the scattered items around him.

It was a crudely made Human Qualification Certificate on A4 paper. The moment he looked at it, his survival instinct screamed, the dice unleashed possibilities, and together they pushed back against the world's rejection.

Light gleamed in Yeonwoo's eyes. His memories became clear.

'Lee Yeonwoo. I encountered the Human Qualification Exam during my fourth civil service exam attempt and joined the company. The company's name is...'

Anomaly Protection Company.

Protect anomalies from the world.

A company that protects anomalies, arguing that even anomalies rejected by the world have the right to exist.

And he, having gone through various incidents, had become a Level 6 entity opposing the rejecting world, treated as an elite agent of the Anomaly Protection Company.

Is that right?

The next moment, Yeonwoo frowned.

"Is this correct? Something feels... off."

Yeonwoo tapped his fingers on the floor, deep in thought.

The memories of his past life seemed intact, but something felt wrong. The context didn't make sense.

'I twisted my body to reach Level 6, but why did I do that? It was to survive, right? But in this world, being Level 6 is disadvantageous.'

This world hated anomalies.

The higher the level, the more strongly the world rejected anomalies. At Level 6, one had to constantly fight against the world just to remain in it.

It was happening right now.

"Ugh."

Yeonwoo let out a strained breath. The world constricted around him, as if gravity had intensified several times over or he'd been plunged into the deep sea.

His survival instinct twisted his body, the dice unleashed possibilities, and the Human Qualification Certificate pleaded that he was an ordinary human, allowing him to endure somewhat more easily.

In this cruel world that discriminated against anomalies, wouldn't it be better to live as an ordinary person?

'...Or not?'

With this level of power, it might be better to survive even while fighting against the world. Maybe that's why he made the Human Qualification Certificate in the first place.

Yeonwoo wore a confused expression, caught between his persistent doubts and the somewhat rational reality.

"Ah, seriously, what's going on?"

As he scratched his head vigorously, it was about time to go to work.

Though he'd created the Gambling Eradication Center, he wasn't actually working there. He needed to go to the office, show his face to the Anomaly Rescue Team members, and maintain a peaceful daily life.

Yeonwoo set aside his unease and headed to the Anomaly Rescue Team office.

A department that searches for and rescues anomalies that suddenly appear in the world.

"Good morning."

"Oh, Yeonwoo. You're here?"

"Morning..."

The team leader greeted him normally, while Choi Jae-min nodded weakly, looking sickly.

Jae-min, an anomaly that could identify parents and was always sick from the world's persecution, looked at Yeonwoo with envious eyes. He coughed repeatedly.

"Do you think I could reach Level 6 too? Living is so hard."

Yeonwoo, who had suffered similarly, had suddenly reached Level 6 one day and was now fighting against the world's violence. Jae-min envied how normal and healthy he looked.

Yeonwoo exhaled uncomfortably and smiled awkwardly.

"I don't know. It might be difficult."

Though he felt sorry for the constantly sick Jae-min, the possibility seemed low.

'Can parent detection reach Level 6? By identifying the world's parents and cursing at them?'

He couldn't imagine it. Yeonwoo turned to look at Yoo Ji-yoo, who was sleeping face-down on her desk.

"Ji-yoo..."

"She said she was tired from staying up late yesterday."

And so began another day for the Anomaly Rescue Team.

Yeonwoo slumped in his chair, lost in thought.

A world where even breathing was uncomfortable. A world that oppressed him. A world where relaxing meant death or exile. This was too, too dangerous.

'Why is the world like this? Something's wrong. Something doesn't seem right.'

The sticky feeling of wrongness and unease wouldn't go away. It felt like watching a movie or reading a novel where the plot made no sense.

'But I can't figure out why.'

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. The thread of his thoughts wouldn't untangle, and a headache throbbed in his skull. No matter how hard he pondered, he couldn't understand.

In the end, Yeonwoo came to a simple conclusion.

'Anyway, the world is the problem.'

A dangerous light flashed in his eyes. There was no need to think so complicatedly.

If the world was the problem, then he should fix the world. Just as a farmer deals with wild boars or snails that damage crops, he should fix this hostile world.

Into a world where he could live safely.

Didn't the Anomaly Protection Company's dream of a strange world align with his intentions anyway?

Yeonwoo called Mark Jung.

"Yes, it's me."

"What's the matter?"

"It's nothing much. You know how the company dreams of a strange world. I want to help. Living like this is too suffocating."

A deep sigh came in response. Mark Jung spoke gloomily.

"The company tried this time, but it failed. They say the device just broke because we rushed things too much."

Yeonwoo lamented, hearing the voice filled with regret and disappointment.

"Ah..."

This meant they'd have to wait for a long time. After a brief silence, the call ended with a light farewell.

"We'll contact you if we need help, Yeonwoo. Take care of yourself."

"Okay."

Yeonwoo stared blankly at his phone.

'If the company failed... Is there no way I can do something? Maybe when the dice reaches Level 6? Or if I team up with Golden Omnipotence or the Association President?'

He couldn't tolerate this threatening world.

Just then.

Beep beep, a mission came in. The team leader fiddled with his computer, then stretched widely. His face brightened.

"We've got work. Apparently, there's been an increase in people suddenly claiming they're not human. Looks like some kind of anomaly has appeared."

Ji-yoo got up groggily.

"We'd better rescue them quickly."

They needed to save the weak anomalies before they collapsed and died. That was their job.

Yeonwoo raised his hand abruptly.

"I'll help too."

"...You?"

The team leader looked at Yeonwoo suspiciously. This guy who only cared about his own survival suddenly wanted to help?

Yeonwoo smiled awkwardly.

"My head's been complicated lately... I want to go out, like taking a walk."

It was true. The sudden problem had made his head cloudy. He wanted to move around without thinking for a while.

Ji-yoo hastily grabbed her coat. She patted Yeonwoo's shoulder.

"Then I'll go with you. Send us the information through messenger, please."

"Oh, alright. Um, be careful out there. Yeonwoo, don't go destroying things just because they look dangerous."

The team leader reluctantly tapped on his keyboard, then looked at Jae-min, who was groaning in pain. He seemed to want to volunteer but couldn't bring himself to do it.

Finally, the team leader said a few words.

"You just rest, man. When we capture the anomaly, it's enough if you identify its parents to check if there are other entities."

"But I still feel bad..."

Leaving that conversation behind, Ji-yoo and Yeonwoo left the rescue team's office.

------

They were under a bridge crossing a river. It was a sparsely populated area, overgrown with weeds and reeds, shadowed by the bridge.

Yeonwoo blinked as the cool riverside breeze hit his face.

"Is it here?"

"Mmm. Yeah. Apparently, people who were fishing or living rough around here suddenly started claiming they weren't human."

Ji-yoo tapped on her phone screen, then slipped it into her pocket. She rubbed her eyes and spoke with forced energy.

"Come on, let's hurry and rescue them! Before they catch a cold and die, or get destroyed by bumping into something!"

"...We should be careful. If they're really anomalies, they might have perception-distorting effects."

Yeonwoo spoke with concern. He'd be fine, but wasn't Ji-yoo a bit vulnerable?

Ji-yoo rolled her eyes.

"I know that. Do you know how embarrassed I was after that worm incident? I've mentally prepared myself this time, so I'll be fine."

Her own safety was less important than rescuing the anomaly, and above all, she was determined not to make a fool of herself again.

Yeonwoo said no more. They just rustled through the weeds and reeds, searching the area.

Soon, they encountered an anomaly under a thick bridge pillar.

Smooth gray skin, a large head, big black eyes, a protruding belly, and elongated arms.

The alien-like anomaly was shedding tears and muttering:

"I'm human, why is the world pushing me away? Cruel world, cruel world."

They'd found it. They'd found it quickly without much trouble. It should have been a good thing, but Yeonwoo frowned deeply.

'This feels bad.'

His thoughts spun. That thing is human. I'm different from that. I'm not human. This strange syllogism filled his head.

Yeonwoo shook his head roughly to push away the thoughts.

"I'm human. I even have a certificate."

The interference dissipated.

But Ji-yoo was different.

"Yeonwoo!"

She suddenly grabbed Yeonwoo's arm and started jumping up and down. Like an excited child, her face flushed red.

"I wasn't actually human! I was an anomaly all along!"

"Senior..."

Yeonwoo was at a loss for words as he stared at Ji-yoo for a moment. Hadn't she said she was mentally prepared?

Yeonwoo struggled to speak.

"Uh, I'll finish up the rescue work."

"Rescue? That person's human! You need to take me to the company and protect me!"

"Well, um, okay. Just wait a moment, please."

Yeonwoo painfully shook off Ji-yoo. Thoroughly affected by the anomaly, she bounced around excitedly on her own.

"Now I can live without working, just being protected! Isn't that great?"

Yeonwoo tried his best to ignore her and approached the alien-like anomaly. His voice came out firmly.

"I'm from the Anomaly Protection Company. We're a company that protects anomalies like you, so come with me."

The alien looked up at Yeonwoo with teary eyes.

"No. I'm human, unlike you. I'm not some strange thing, so I'm fine."

"No, you are an anomaly. Don't you feel the world's hostility towards you?"

"That's because the world is being cruel. How could it do this to a normal person like me, sob."

The alien covered its face with its four-fingered hands and started wailing.

Yeonwoo wore an expression of utter frustration. Come on, why are you refusing when I'm trying to rescue you? Finally, Yeonwoo pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"Look at this."

"What-"

Plop, the alien lowered its hands and stared blankly at the piece of paper. Yeonwoo's Human Qualification Certificate.

Its fingers trembled faintly, and its eyelids twitched. But Yeonwoo, oblivious to these signs, continued trying to persuade it.

"I'm human. You're different from me, right? So you're not human. Therefore, come with me to the company."

"You're... human? Then, then what am I?"

The alien spoke, trembling. Yeonwoo nodded, urging it to accept the truth.

"You're not human. The company is an organization for beings like you, so don't worry-"

At that moment, Yeonwoo's eyes widened in shock.

Splat!

The alien melted. Into gray mud. The moment the alien doubted its own existence, the world's pressure crushed it.

"Huh? What? No, rescue? What?"

Stunned by the unexpected situation, Yeonwoo remained dazed for a while before finally wearing a grave expression.

His voice came out low.

"The world really is the problem."

A world that would do this to an anomaly just for letting its guard down for a moment.

Looking at the gray mud that was all that remained of the alien, Yeonwoo felt sadness. He might end up like that too if he let his guard down. This wasn't someone else's problem.

'I need to change the world so things like this don't happen.'

Yeonwoo steeled his resolve.

---