I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 191

Chapter 191: IF ━ If the Cathedral Was Still Standing （2）

Administration. A group I’ve never heard of.

The fact that such an organization had the everyday（?） words ‘Seasoned Seaweed Transportation’ attached to it made it incredibly suspicious.

“W-what business does the… Administration have…?”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out what the ‘Administration’ was, so I just asked. Is it actually a government agency?

The woman chuckled.

“To ordinary people, it appears as the ‘Seasoned Seaweed Transportation Association.’ We call it the ‘JoUnHyeop’ for short.”

“…Ordinary people?”

“For people who have been exposed to supernatural phenomena, the ‘Association’ part appears as ‘Administration.’ For example, someone who’s been abducted to another world by a divine being?”

It felt like my heart dropped to my stomach.

What is this? This person, no, this organization? Are they a group that specializes in hunting people like me, the possessed? All sorts of thoughts ran through my head.

The fact that they appeared in front of me so openly meant they had finished their background check. If that was the case, there was no guarantee I could escape even if I ran away desperately right now.

Could all the passersby be in cahoots with this woman? I looked around nervously.

“Don’t be too surprised. We’re not an organization that abducts aliens and dissects them…or anything like that. We’re a legitimate international government agency. Unofficial, but still.”

The word ‘unofficial’ was extremely unsettling.

“That was just a simple confirmation process. A formality.”

The woman from the Administration shrugged as if it was nothing and continued.

“Nothing bad that you’re imagining will happen, so don’t worry. If that were the case, would we come to you in broad daylight and ask for a conversation? There are so many ways to kill someone quietly. We’re really just here to talk.”

To talk about killing so casually, as if she was saying ‘eat your food.’ She looks like a Yakult lady, but she talks like an agent.

“Alright.”

Let’s just go along with it for now. I can’t risk causing a scene and putting my family in danger when I don’t know what I’m dealing with.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

We entered a nondescript building 10 minutes away. It was a building with a huge sign that read ‘Seasoned Seaweed Transportation Administration.’

Was this building even in my neighborhood?

“Before we start, shall we make a simple promise?”

The woman spoke after seeing me sit down.

“We’ll only tell each other the truth. What do you say?”

As soon as she said that, I felt an intangible pressure. It was a chilling feeling, even though it was midsummer.

…Is this woman some kind of psychic?

“Yes.”

I didn’t have the right to refuse anyway. I just agreed.

“A cooperative attitude, I like it.”

The woman gave a brief introduction to what the ‘Administration’ was.

It was an organization that protected Earth from threats from the outside world. The Seasoned Seaweed Transportation thing was, of course, a front.

It felt like the Earth Defense Headquarters that you see in fiction. That’s the positive view, and the negative view would be something like the SCP Foundation.

After some interrogation…no, questions and answers, it was over.

“Over a hundred people, including Mr./Ms. xxx, appeared in various countries around the world on the same day, at the same time. All of them were reported missing.”

The Administration, a global organization, had been watching us for a week.

Apparently, it wasn’t the first time that people like us, those they call ‘Returnees,’ had returned to Earth. It had been happening steadily since decades ago.

“There were Returnees who came back with special powers, Returnees whose contents were completely changed, and Returnees who came back with only their shells remaining. But usually, they don’t come back. The beings who do this are like stubborn children; they don’t easily let go of toys that have fallen into their hands.

So, the fact that you returned safe and sound is very unusual.”

This Administration had been aware of our existence from the first day we returned. They found out everything with the cooperation of various government agencies.

“We’ve been watching you for the past week. You and the other Returnees.”

The reason they didn’t contact us while observing us was that they were concerned we might have returned with hidden, or unknown powers that the Administration couldn’t measure.

After several verifications, they must have realized that we were harmless people and decided to contact us. If they had found us suspicious during their observation, they would have killed us.

“There are many evil and powerful beings in the universe. The evil spirits of the universe, called Watchers, subdue human souls and take control of their bodies. This ‘God of Games’ can be considered relatively humane.

Well, that was a brief guide according to the Administration’s manual. Quite a humane organization, isn’t it? Everything I’m saying is true, so you can believe me.”

The woman gave a kind smile.

So, the main point is from now on, right?

“Mr./Ms. xxx, you have two choices.

First, lose all memories related to this supernatural phenomenon. There are no side effects. We have people who specialize in this kind of work.

Second, keep your memories but live under surveillance for the rest of your life. Of course, we won’t create an atmosphere of fear by openly monitoring you. It’ll be as quiet as it has been for the past week.

Even though the Administration is unofficial, it’s an organization that operates within the law. We respect individual choices as much as possible.”

‘Unless something goes wrong,’ the woman muttered softly.

After much deliberation, I made my decision.

“I’ll choose the second option.”

I don’t mind being monitored. I don’t want to forget everything I experienced in that other world.

Rake. Paya. Kanto, and all the followers who served me. Although the faces of many of them have become blurred now, they were all precious connections.

“Good. We won’t have to see each other again. Most likely.”

The woman handed me something like a pamphlet.

“This is a kind of welfare policy for people who have lost their careers due to supernatural phenomena, so don’t feel burdened and take a look.”

With that, the woman left. Leaving me alone in the office.

She said I could leave whenever I wanted, just make sure to close the door behind me. If I didn’t, I might be dragged back to the office in the blink of an eye or something.

Like some kind of ghost story.

“Ha…”

It seemed like a simple and quick process, but it was a significant turning point in my life. No matter what choice I made, I couldn’t live like I used to.

I calmed my anxious heart and left the office.

After closing the door tightly and walking a few steps, I looked back and the office was gone.

Feeling like I had seen a ghost, I headed home.

Even though I wasn’t aware of it, strange things were happening on Earth too.

I don’t agree that the God of Games bitch is a humane god, but I was grateful that she sent us back safely.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

I came home, washed up, and lay down on my bed.

I thought about searching for ‘Administration’ on my smartphone, but I stopped myself. They’re probably monitoring my search history too.

I didn’t want to risk anything just to satisfy my curiosity.

“Damn, does this mean I can’t watch porn anymore? Can’t even jerk off?”

I could only hope they’d understand. It’s a physiological need, after all.

“Are they going to monitor the files on my computer and smartphone too? Damn it.”

Whirr━!

Click, click.

I turned on my computer and deleted all the ‘relatively extreme’ video records. It’s not exactly criminal, but they might see it and label me as socially maladjusted.

It’s not that I have any particular sexual preferences like femdom or age regression play. I just clicked on it out of curiosity.

Don’t think, ‘This is the strongest Loa who saved another world?’

“Maybe I should have just chosen the first option.”

Of course, I was just saying that. Even if I could choose again, I would have chosen the second option.

“…I miss Rake.”

Maybe it’s because I met someone who knows I’m a Returnee. Today, I felt an indescribable sense of absence.

It felt like my fading memories were resurfacing.

“Tsk.”

Wondering if the Administration was monitoring my social media too, I logged into Outstagram for the first time in two years and a week.

“I hope I didn’t tag anything weird…huh?”

I had a lot of messages, but only one caught my eye.

[Han_Na_Jo_123: By any chance, are you Mr./Ms. xxx, who played ‘Paladin Survival’ with me? Your nickname was ‘Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode’…]

The message had arrived a whole week ago.

“…Hanna.”

Even though the nickname wasn’t ‘Not a Netkama,’ it was definitely Hanna who sent the message.

Did she really search my name on social media as soon as she returned to Earth and contact all the people with the same name, including me?

I had been agonizing over it for a week, thinking that Hanna might not want it…

“What the hell, let’s give it a shot.”

I gathered my courage and touched Hanna’s phone number. As soon as the dial tone rang, it connected.

This is scary as hell.

━ Hello?

A slightly strong, clear voice. Hanna’s voice was the same as in the other world.

“Um.”

Oh, I’m nervous. What should I say first?

“Are you ‘Not a Netkama,’ by any chance?”

Screw it, let’s go with the standard.

━ Oh, Sanz…?!

An immediate response.