Rabbit Hole
I heard Marcille landed a new gig, so I headed to the plaza...
Hey!
Marcille had arrived first and waved at me as she walked over.
There you are. Right on time.
Here. Your carrot juice. It's your advance.
Drinking one before work helps settle the stomach. Drink up.
Let's head to the site while you sip. Excited?
This one's a real whopper. I'll make sure you get a fat reward too! Ha-hah!
Nnngh...! Why won't this thing budge?! Rusted shut?
...Huh? You want to open it?
Hah! No need. A door handle like this...
Hrah!
Just needs a little wrench action.
That was less opening and more smashing...
No big deal! We were gonna replace the handle anyway.
Now, let me explain the job. Listen up.
Petra Construction is a general construction company founded by Petra.
So usually Petra, the boss, brings in the jobs, but...
Sometimes, when the timing works out, the members take on commissions directly.
This restaurant is the latter.
A landlord wanted to inspect an aging building and ask for some repair work, and it just so happened we already knew each other.
Normally, the members of Petra Construction all head out together, but...
The job was simple and located in NOA! So I just said I'd handle it myself.
That's the job briefing. Done.
Now, hard hat? Check! Safety vest? Check!
Before we get started, we do the sacred ritual. Safety!
First! First! First!
Perfect! Let's begin!
Oh! And by the way, the floor—
Too late.
I was gonna say the floor's worn down, so watch your step...
Thanks for the early warning!
Hey, how was I supposed to know it was this bad?
We'll need to rip out the whole floor. Hand me the pry bar and chisel.
...What should you do?
Toss the old boards out and carry the new ones in.
Let's begin.
Phew...
Wait, the floor's already done? In under ten minutes?
It's nothing. Don't go getting all impressed.
I noticed a crack in the wall earlier. That needs patching too.
That'll take five minutes tops... The frame and piping, maybe thirty...
All right, we've got our estimate.
The whole job was done in three hours...
Hmph! Told you it was no big deal.
Repairs go quick, especially with my hands on the job!
...But hold on a sec.
What's this hole?
Was it hidden behind the door? Well, whatever. I can patch it fast.
Let's check what's on the other side. Wouldn't want anything valuable in there.
Marcille pushed her body through the hole in the wall.
...Ngh! Tch!
Why's it pitch black in here? I can't see squat.
I'll just go back out and check again—hmm?
...Huh?
Nngh...?! Tch! What the heck...?!
I'm... stuck...! Ugh!
I can't get out...!
...What? You want to break the wall?!
No! Absolutely not!
That'll raise the costs! I'll lose money over this!
*Sigh* Guess there's no other way...
Captain, pull me from behind.
I'll push, you pull. We'll get me out like that.
...You asking if it's okay to touch me?
O-of course, you idiot! What kind of stupid question is that?!
Are you an idiot?! What's wrong with you?!
Seriously, are you actually stupid?!!
Just confirming so you don't change your story later...
Quit messing around and pull already! I swear I'll kick you if you don't!
Nngh...!
Ow ow ow!! Easy, you punk!
How did this even happen...?! You're way too small to get caught in anything!
Huh?! What did you just say?!
You're dead when I get outta here—KYAAAH?!
I-i-i-it's a...!
C-c-c-cockroach...!
!@#!@!@!!%^%*#@
She's totally malfunctioning!!!
...ash it!
Smash the wall! Hurry!
Break it, now!
After that, we busted the whole wall open and sealed it back up with cement.
No matter how many times I asked, she wouldn't say what she saw inside...
Kicked in the shin by Marcille as she pressed mewhat I'd said about her earlier, I returned to the quarters.