1. Case File 0001 Opens Itself
Ne Job did not open the file.
The file opened him.
Paper unfolded from the air like a bad memory learning origami.
CASE FILE 0001 — THE FIRST EXCEPTION
Status: Active
Compliance: No
Temperament: Also No
Ne Job stared.
"…That's not a category."
The file responded by sighing.
Yue leaned over his shoulder. "Did it just—"
"Yes," Ne Job said. "The paperwork sighed at me."
Qi-Yun appeared behind them, already reading.
"Ah," he said softly. "It's sentient."
Ne Job buried his face in his hands.
"Of course it is."
2. The Exception Introduces Itself (Badly)
Ink bled from the page.
Letters rearranged.
NAME: UNRECORDED
FORMER STATUS: LOST
CURRENT STATUS: UNACCEPTABLE
REQUEST: TO BE LEFT ALONE
Ne Job blinked.
"That's… not how requests work."
The paper rippled.
OBJECTION: YOU ARE ALSO UNACCEPTABLE.
Yue laughed outright.
"Oh, I like this one."
Qi-Yun nodded. "It has spirit."
Ne Job groaned. "Why does everything with spirit end up on my desk?"
3. Location: Somewhere That Shouldn't Exist
The file projected a location stamp.
WHERE: Between Departments
WHEN: Not Now
HOW: Stop Asking
Ne Job felt a pressure behind his eyes.
"That's not a place."
The God of Exceptions appeared without sound.
"It is," he said.
"Just not one we acknowledged."
Ne Job looked at him.
"So this thing exists because we ignored it?"
The god nodded.
"Neglect is a powerful creator."
The file pulsed angrily.
4. First Contact Attempt (Fails Immediately)
Ne Job cleared his throat.
"Hello. I'm Ne Job. Intern. Acting Disaster Containment. I'm here to—"
—FIX ME? ERASE ME? FILE ME?
The words slammed into his mind.
Ne Job staggered.
"No! I mean— maybe— look, I don't know yet!"
The Exception flared.
The office lights dimmed.
Somewhere far away, a bell rang backward.
Qi-Yun snapped his fingers, stabilizing the space.
"Easy," he said. "You're not in trouble."
EVERYTHING THAT FINDS ME SAYS THAT.
Ne Job swallowed.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
5. The Truth Behind the Exception
The God of Exceptions knelt, eye level with the file.
"You were a clause," he said gently.
"A margin note. A 'we'll deal with this later.'"
The file trembled.
LATER NEVER CAME.
Ne Job felt something tighten in his chest.
"So you slipped between systems," he said quietly.
"And now you don't belong anywhere."
Silence.
Then—
…YES.
Yue crossed her arms.
"That's not an exception," she said.
"That's abandonment."
6. Oversight Notices (Too Late)
A warning flickered.
OVERSIGHT QUERY: UNREGISTERED ENTITY DETECTED
Ne Job's badge heated.
Qi-Yun grimaced. "They're faster this time."
The Exception recoiled.
THEY WILL DELETE ME.
Ne Job stepped forward before thinking.
"No."
Everyone froze.
He looked at the file.
"I don't know what you'll become," he said.
"But you don't get erased just because you're inconvenient."
The system stuttered.
Oversight's query stalled.
The God of Exceptions smiled.
7. The First Exception Chooses
Ink condensed.
The file folded—once, twice—
Until it became a small, glowing seal.
It hovered in front of Ne Job.
IF I STAY… I CHANGE THINGS.
Ne Job met it head-on.
"…Yeah. That's kind of my job."
The seal touched his badge.
STATUS UPDATE:
FIRST EXCEPTION — ASSIGNED
HANDLER: NE JOB (UNDEFINED CLEARANCE)
Somewhere, Oversight screamed internally.
8. The Calm After (Briefly)
The lights returned.
The office breathed again.
Ne Job slumped into his chair.
"…I just adopted a cosmic anomaly, didn't I?"
Yue patted his shoulder.
"Congratulations. It's paperwork-shaped."
Qi-Yun smiled.
"History has begun," he said.
The God of Exceptions turned away.
"And now," he murmured,
"the system must learn what mercy costs."
On Ne Job's desk, a second file began to print.
CASE FILE 0002 — THE EXCEPTION THAT FOLLOWS
Ne Job stared.
"…Why does it sound like it's already running?"
The file giggled.
END OF CHAPTER 264