1. Ne Job's Shadow Is No Longer Passive-Aggressive — It's Just Aggressive
Ne Job stared at the floor.
His shadow stared back.
Then it raised a hand.
Ne Job screamed.
"I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THAT."
The shadow tapped the desk.
A translucent document slid out of it and slapped onto the floor.
SHADOW SUBMISSION FORM
Filed by: Unresolved Matters
Status: Escalated
Reason: Handler Present
Yue leaned over.
"…Your shadow just filed paperwork."
Ne Job's voice cracked.
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENT IT'S FROM."
Qi-Yun pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's from all of them."
2. Case File 0003 Opens Itself (Rudely)
The new file on Ne Job's desk opened without permission.
Pages flipped violently.
Each page showed something Heaven had avoided:
A mission marked Deferred for three thousand years
A god declared Temporarily Missing and never followed up
A mortal complaint stamped To Be Resolved Later until the mortal died
An entire city categorized as Postponed
Ne Job felt sick.
"…These are real."
Qi-Yun nodded.
"Yes."
Yue folded her arms.
"And now they've found the intern."
The shadow tapped again.
A glowing stamp slammed down:
HANDLER CONFIRMED
Ne Job whispered:
"No. No. I'm still learning how to staple properly."
3. The Shadow Speaks (And It's Extremely Done)
The shadow peeled itself slightly off the floor.
Its voice sounded like Ne Job's—
but tired.
"I AM WHAT YOU DIDN'T REJECT."
Ne Job swallowed.
"I didn't know how."
"EXACTLY."
Qi-Yun stiffened.
"That shouldn't be able to speak."
The shadow turned toward him.
"YOU TRAINED HIM TO CORRECT."
Qi-Yun did not deny it.
4. Oversight Tries Again (Bigger Mistake)
The ceiling cracked open again.
This time, three Oversight Observers descended.
All identical.
All furious.
"THE HANDLER IS COMPROMISED."
"THE INTERN IS UNSTABLE."
"THE SHADOW IS ILLEGAL."
The shadow waved.
"HELLO."
Yue muttered, "I hate this day."
The Observers raised their hands.
"PREPARE FOR REVERSION."
Reality pulled toward them.
Ne Job felt himself unravel—
his badge flickering.
"WAIT—!" he shouted.
"I CAN FIX THIS—"
Qi-Yun shouted back:
"THEN FILE."
5. Ne Job Files Back (Against God)
Time slowed.
The shadow slid a pen into Ne Job's hand.
Not the Audit Pen.
Something darker.
Something heavier.
UNDEFINED INK — FOR CASES WITHOUT ENDINGS
Ne Job hesitated.
"What happens if I use this?"
Qi-Yun answered honestly.
"You become responsible."
Ne Job laughed weakly.
"…Too late."
He slammed the pen down.
The shadow unfurled behind him like wings.
The document wrote itself midair.
RESPONSE TO OVERSIGHT ACTION
Subject: Ne Job
Status: Active
Decision: REJECTED
The letters burned.
The Observers froze.
"YOU CANNOT—"
The stamp hit.
FILE CLOSED.
6. Oversight Is Forced to Read
The documents slammed into the Observers' chests.
Each froze as unread files flooded them.
Centuries of ignored consequences.
Unfinished gods.
Unanswered prayers.
They trembled.
"THIS… WAS DEFERRED."
Ne Job's voice shook—but held.
"Yeah."
The shadow stood tall.
"NOW IT IS NOT."
One Observer shattered.
Then another.
The third fled upward, sealing the ceiling in panic.
Silence.
7. Aftermath: Everyone Stares at the Intern
Ne Job collapsed into his chair.
His shadow returned to normal—
mostly.
Yue stared at him.
"…You just filed a rebuttal against Oversight."
Ne Job nodded faintly.
Qi-Yun exhaled slowly.
"You didn't just defend yourself."
Ne Job looked up.
"…What did I do?"
Qi-Yun met his eyes.
"You created precedent."
The printer beeped.
A new label printed:
DEPARTMENT OF UNRESOLVED MATTERS
Acting Handler: Ne Job (Temporary)
Ne Job screamed into his hands.
8. The Shadow's Final Warning
As the lights stabilized, the shadow whispered one last thing:
"THEY WILL NOT IGNORE YOU AGAIN."
Ne Job groaned.
"I didn't want that."
Qi-Yun placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Congratulations," he said dryly.
"You're officially indispensable."
Ne Job peeked through his fingers.
"…Is that good?"
Qi-Yun smiled faintly.
"No."
On Ne Job's desk, another file printed.
CASE FILE 0004 — THE FIRST VISIT
The door knocked itself.
END OF CHAPTER 266