A Clever Trip to Hell (7)
Now it was really time to say goodbye.
Pushing aside my reluctance, I was about to bid farewell to the two of them.
"Angel, hold on a sec—come here and lend me your ear?"
"Yup?"
Persephone unni beckoned me over with a hand gesture.
I trotted up and tilted my head to listen, and she whispered,
"Never tell the agency about the horn pipe."
"Yup?"
"You could end up in real danger."
Persephone unni's voice was grave and heavy, like a strict mom laying down the law.
"Promise me? No matter what happens, don't mention the horn pipe or blow it."
I had no idea what was wrong with the horn pipe.
But unni was being so serious—I wasn't about to ignore her.
"Yup, promise."
"Good girl, that's our sweet angel."
"Hehe…"
Persephone unni patted my head approvingly.
Every time she did, her breasts jiggled…
Uuuugh… so hot…
Unni's smoking hot…
Finally, she gave my squishy cheek a gentle pinch and let me go.
With a relieved expression, she waved.
"Now off you go."
I fidgeted a bit before asking,
"Um… ma'am… does that mean I'll never see you again…?"
"Hmm… It's about time for me to head up to the surface. If I can, I'll come visit you this time."
I blinked.
Persephone unni was coming to me?
"Yeah, I'm the queen of hell and all, but I can spend more than half the year outside."
"Ooh… But the agency's security is pretty intense…"
"Hehe, I've got my ways. Don't worry about it."
I could trust unni's words.
Satisfied that it wasn't a forever goodbye, I flashed a big smile.
"See you next time, then!"
"Yeah, get home safe."
"Yup, ma'am."
I waved back and kept walking with doggo.
Luckily, the path here had been straightforward, so finding our way back wasn't too hard.
I carefully dodged the hot lava.
Whenever weird cries echoed, I plugged my ears tight and hurried on.
Soon, I spotted the agents with their guns from afar.
They were right up against the boundary line, watching intently. The second they saw me, I heard frantic radio chatter.
"You guys must be beat."
I wished I could give those agent uncles a cookie each.
But they'd probably freak out and run if I tried.
"Stop! Halt!"
"Yup."
The shiny guns used to scare me, but now they were old news.
So I stood there casually, and soon enough, thudding footsteps announced Han A-young's arrival.
"Huff… huff… Angel!"
"Mmm…"
She'd run here so desperately she was gasping for breath, and she looked rough—deep dark circles, messy hair.
"Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness."
Looks like she'd been super worried about me.
Sorry…
"Lower your weapons first."
Click.
At Han A-young's command, the agents lowered their guns in perfect sync.
She started toward me but noticed the boundary and stepped back.
"Can you cross over from there?"
"Gotcha. C'mon, doggo."
I crossed the boundary with doggo, who was loaded up with cookies fit for a king.
The moment we did, the sticky, unpleasant air vanished clean away.
Fresh air flowed into my lungs instead.
Breathing it in lifted my spirits.
This would've been perfect for some good ol' army calisthenics.
But seeing the super tense agents made me hold off.
"Phew…"
Han A-young let out a huge sigh of relief, like parents watching their kid nail their first flip.
Then she looked a little apologetic.
"Um, Angel?"
"Yup."
"Sorry, but you can't go back to your usual containment cell just yet."
Eh…?
I'd been all geared up to play block game.
No usual cell?
"We need to monitor you for any anomalies in your body for a bit. So you'll have to stay in a deeper containment cell."
"Wh-what about… internet…?"
"Mmm… We'll put in a TV at least, and I'll do my best to stick to our promised internet time."
I swallowed hard and asked my final question.
Honestly, if this worked, I wouldn't mind switching cells.
"Um… what about block game…?"
If there was a computer with block game…!
I could totally tough it out.
"Mmm… Sorry, that's gonna be tough."
But reality was cruel.
Han A-young shook her head apologetically.
"You got dragged here because of block game, so it's banned for a while."
"Uuu…"
"But the agency's developing a block game without the hell system. Just hold on a little."
"Ooh… How long?"
"Probably real soon."
If block game worked…!
Not a bad deal.
"By the way, what's all this on Baekgu's back?"
"Ah, a gift from Hecate unni."
"He… Hecate?"
She seemed a bit flustered, jotted something down, then said,
"Do you remember what it's called?"
"Mmm… Ambre… something? Anyway, started with 'amb'!"
"Tasty?"
"Super tasty! Best cookies I've ever had!"
Han A-young's throat bobbed as she swallowed.
"An… Angel? Can unni take some?"
"Uuu… Was gonna eat 'em with block game…"
"Not all of them, promise—just half, and I'll fill the rest with other snacks!"
"Other snacks…?"
"Yeah, Pringles, Hot Chicken Chips—whatever you want!"
My ears perked right up.
Any snacks I wanted…
Unlimited…?
"Of course, portioned out for your health, but I promise—name any snack, and it's yours."
The cookies were that good, so it stung a little, but unlimited snacks…!
Couldn't say no to that.
I beamed and stuck out my hand.
"Deal…!"
Grrrrr.
Grrrrrrrowl.
"Uuu…"
On the way to my new digs, the upgraded containment cell, I was totally spooked.
Everyone's… so scary…
I was being moved to a Level 3 containment facility, the agency's highest security.
We passed all sorts of other containment setups along the way.
They're all… so mad…
The anomalies inside every cell were fuming.
Even closing my eyes, I could feel the massive dark energy.
"Um… wh-what's in there…?"
I clung to Han A-young's side and whispered.
No matter how I looked, those things inside weren't normal.
"Mmm… A bunch of really scary friends."
"Eek…"
"But we're managing them fine, so no worries."
"…"
We shuffled along uneasily until the new cell came into view.
Tougher-looking than my old one, with way stricter guards.
Beep-boop.
Opening the door took way more steps.
She poked at the complex machine, beeping away.
Hiss.
The door slid open.
"Mmm…"
The inside wasn't much different from my old cell.
Except…
My massage chair…
No sign of the chair I used for a third of my day.
It kneaded my shoulders so nicely.
Gonna miss it bad.
"Hng hng."
A little bummed, I stepped inside.
At least there was a bed—no sleeping on the floor.
Seeing it made drowsiness hit hard.
All the fatigue from hustling around hell was crashing down now.
"No block game either…"
Nothing to do without it anyway, so I decided on sleep.
"Heave-ho…"
I gave the heavy mattress a good shake.
Pat pat.
Shook out the cute blanket nice and soft.
Finally,
"Doggo… c'mere…"
- Woof!
Pulling our fluffy-furred doggo onto the bed.
A-young unni always nagged about no doggo on the bed.
But…
"Hehe… so warm…"
Doggo's fur was so plush and toasty—perfect for sleep.
I hugged my living body pillow tight and mumbled,
"Nighty night…"
