Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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The Fox Counseling Room exuded a cozy, warm atmosphere.
In front of the nameplate that read 'Closed Today,' Director Ho was waiting for me at a table in the corridor-like waiting area.
And the moment I politely greeted the director and sat down across from him, those were my first words.
"You want industrial accident processing...?"
"Yes."
I proudly displayed my empty right arm stump on the table.
"On my first mission deployment from the Disaster Management Bureau, I had to have my arm severed."
"......"
The director must remember it if he had any brains.
-It'll be more comfortable for you.
He had introduced me to the spy role, claiming it was a job with better working conditions and safety.
Yet after more than half a year rolling around at Daydream Corporation, during which I extracted two A-grade solutions unscathed, one of my limbs flew off just three days after passing as an agent.
'It's practically fraud.'
Of course, I was fully prepared in case he tried to pin it on my bad luck or incompetence...
"Oh dear! Of course we have to take care of that!"
"......!"
The director's face crumpled sympathetically as he nodded.
"That must have been incredibly painful, Sol-eum. So, you need Daydream Corporation's regeneration potion right now, correct?"
"Exactly."
"Of course, I'd love to hand over as many potions as you want right away. But... I'm worried if you can handle it."
"...Pardon?"
The director glanced at the empty space where my arm should be.
"If your arm suddenly regenerates... the Disaster Management Bureau won't have any excuse to accept it. It could put you in a tough spot."
"......"
"And the Bureau surely has ways to deal with missing body parts anyway, so is there some urgent reason you specifically want Daydream Corporation's regeneration potion...?"
The director trailed off with a concerned expression, then suddenly clasped his hands together as if realizing something.
"Ah, I'm overthinking it. Of course you have some clever plan in mind, Sol-eum."
"Yes."
"......"
"Hm, I must have misspoke and caused a misunderstanding."
I smiled faintly.
"I'm not bothering you to use the regeneration potion right now, Director."
"I wouldn't dream of thinking it a bother! But if not, then...?"
"It's for immediate regeneration in case 'another body part gets lost' in the future."
"...!"
"The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau operates on a one-agent-per-unit basis by default, right? So if I regenerate before coming out of the ghost story and filing the report, that should cover it."
How about that.
"They also strongly recommend retirement if bodily damage becomes unbearable, so this is to prevent that too..."
"......"
"Of course, if it's difficult for the company, I'll tough it out."
But would Director Ho coldly refuse, claiming the company was really struggling?
'No way.'
If he wanted to refuse, he'd either hem and haw regretfully or suddenly pull rank to pressure me.
'Neither fits Director Ho's style.'
I trusted he wouldn't skimp on a single C-grade regeneration potion...
"Do you know what, Sol-eum?"
The director stared straight at me.
"Looking at you reminds me of my past self......"
The Fox Counseling Room shook strangely.
A dilapidated earthen wall, papered windows, rafters, moldy wooden floor.
"I miss it so much..."
For some reason, a vision of a crumbling thatched house flickered into view. Beyond the cozy modern interior, that eerie ruin overlaid the scene...
Click.
"Ah, you've arrived."
"...!"
The door to the Fox Counseling Room opened, and everything froze.
Two men and women entered the cozy interior of the waiting area with tense faces.
Familiar faces.
"H-Hello."
"...!"
Go Yeongeun and Jang Heo-un.
The two who had infiltrated the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau as spies alongside me had also been invited here.
It was touching to see them.
"Come on in, both of you."
Director Ho smiled and seated them at the table.
I glanced at Go Yeongeun, who gave a small nod, then at Jang Heo-un, whose delighted expression turned pale upon seeing my right arm.
"Ah, Sol-eum came up with a great idea, so everyone gets a regeneration potion. Isn't that wonderful?"
"...? Y-Yes..."
"...Yes. Thank you."
Go Yeongeun managed okay, but Jang Heo-un looked like a mouse before a cat.
Meaning he was extremely tense.
'That's appropriate in front of an executive...'
Especially one from a ghost story company you meet in a ghost story.
"Um, are you not happy?"
"I-I'm happy."
"...It's happy and grateful, but I was tense ahead of the mission report. Sorry."
"Ah, of course. That's plenty tense-worthy. Then let's quickly chat about that!"
Director Ho smiled understandingly and turned to one of them.
"I heard Yeongeun was nearly missing but got out safely thanks to help from a colleague here. What a relief! See? Worth sending you three in together."
"......Yes."
I heard Go Yeongeun sharply inhale.
"Heo-un's doing well too, I heard. Joined the site cleanup crew? Good for accessing documents."
"Y-Yes. That's right..."
Jang Heo-un couldn't lift his gaze.
Director Ho smiled and picked up the green tea I'd brewed.
"It's great meeting and talking like this. Don't be nervous since it's your first time—relax."
"......"
"......"
If this was our first status report as a trio...
Then who exactly 'heard' about our individual placements?
'...The Bureau has other tentacles.'
I knew he'd set the mood to prevent reckless actions.
I really hate superiors like this...
But we three lowly employees had no choice but to stiffly nod and silently gulp down the instant green tea.
"Um, excuse me."
"...!"
No, I thought that was it, but surprisingly one spoke up.
Even more surprisingly, it was Jang Heo-un.
"If it's not rude, there's something I've wanted to ask all along..."
"Ah, what is it?"
"Exactly what documents we need to find in the Bureau,"
"Not something for you to worry about."
Silence fell.
"I'll let you know when the time comes! Once you can access the info needed for our project."
"......"
"For now... that should suffice."
Director Ho smiled.
"It's documents on a certain supernatural disaster."
I'd expected that much.
"Located in the archive on basement level 33 of the Gangwon Branch of the Disaster Management Bureau. Classification-wise... Extinction-grade."
"...! Th-That's......"
"Ah, you heard about it in training! Correct."
"The highest official danger rating issued by the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau for supernatural disasters."
...Yes.
The designation for supernatural disasters that even the Bureau, which handles only casualty-producing ghost stories, deems unmanageable in terms of human losses.
The criterion is...
Estimated deaths exceeding five hundred thousand.
In short, a name slapped on insane catastrophes that reap lives like a major city. Truly cosmic horror fitting the 'disaster' label.
But here's the thing.
'I... think I know what it is.'
The ghost story Director Ho just mentioned.
-Among the Bureau's Extinction-grade ghost stories, the one tied to Daydream Corporation's 'project.'
That clue alone narrowed it down too much.
'Only one in the Darkness Exploration Records.'
Thanks to that, I now knew what Director Ho was after and what that damn project aimed to do...!
'This is insane.'
To think we'd been digging into the aftermath of that mind-shattering ghost story just by recalling it.
My heart pounded wildly as my head cooled sharply.
This won't do.
'Wish Grant... won't get it for years at this rate.'
Time to cut losses.
But I didn't want to imagine what would happen if this perceptive, terrifying director caught on that I already knew.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The wisest choice was...
'Just shut up for now.'
Don't get caught in the whale fight.
I stared at the table, forcing a tense face like the others, avoiding the director's eyes. It wasn't hard since I was already tense.
Fortunately, he didn't notice.
"Um, is that answer sufficient?"
"......Yes."
"Great!"
The conversation continued.
"Ah, and about the 'industrial accident' processing."
Regeneration potion.
"Formal execution might be tricky. After all, you three aren't officially under headquarters."
Fortunately, he wasn't backtracking now.
"So we'll handle it as activity funds."
Director Ho raised a finger.
"10,000 points monthly."
"...!!"
"I'll give you temporary welfare mall accounts. Spend freely, but they vanish if unused within a month."
My god.
Enough to buy C-grade regeneration potions every month.
"So, everyone satisfied?"
Director Ho looked each of us in the eye, even me.
I bowed politely.
"Yes. For now, we're just grateful."
For now, that is.
"Perfect!"
Director Ho beamed.
And went one further.
"Ah, mind if I offer one more help for your activities? All three, extend your hands."
"Ah."
The two politely raised both hands, palms up.
I raised one hand, palm up, and placed it on the table...
"Not like that—backs up."
"......"
The moment I adjusted.
"There."
Something began drawing on the back of my hand.
"...!!"
"Careful. Moving might require a regeneration potion..."
This madman.
Countless circles like holes rippled across the hand backs like waves.
'What is this?'
A strange, constricting stuffiness spread...
"......!"
Thud.
Thud.
Something round hammered into the hand backs. The vibration spread from hands to whole body. And...
"Gasp!"
It vanished. Without a trace.
"......"
"......"
Sweating coldly, the three spies lifted their hands from the table.
"...Wh-What is this."
"Just a little preparation to help if you make a mistake."
Director Ho smiled kindly.
But none of us could smile.
"I just heard 'punishment.'"
"Yes?"
"You said we'd be punished."
"Ah, it's nothing major, just obvious stuff... If you're forcibly breaking this restraint, something big might be wrong anyway."
Director Ho smiled and cracked his knuckles.
"Then as 'punishment'... you'll meet what you value most."
"......!"
"I'll take good care of it."
"Wait! That's..."
I locked eyes with Go Yeongeun, who was about to protest.
"......"
"Yes?"
Go Yeongeun slowly calmed herself and asked in a composed tone.
"...So, we bear this restraint until the 'project' succeeds?"
"No. It's a device to help with your work!"
So sly with words.
'Help?'
"Once you bring the info on that Extinction-grade disaster I mentioned, it'll vanish. And..."
Director Ho rested his chin.
Leaning toward us.
"Whoever contributes will get the potion right then."
"......"
Hold on.
Jang Heo-un's trembling voice came from beside me.
"P-Potion means."
"Wish Grant."
"...!!"
"Just fulfill your roles, and you'll get Wish Grants immediately! Amazing, right?"
My god.
"No need to wait for project success—I pushed hard for this."
The Wish Grant acquisition timeline just shrank dramatically.
This spy gig was starting to feel insanely tempting.
'Do well, and I can get it ridiculously fast.'
If I do well!
"......"
At the same time, my back chilled.
'He revealed it on purpose now.'
Double motivation to cling desperately.
Instead of disclosing everything upfront for deliberation, he controlled info.
'Made it feel right in reach.'
I'd thought it before, but his tactics were chillingly layered and cunning.
'...Not just that.'
I recalled Director Ho's past words.
When assigning me to spy duty.
-And since you'd be lonely alone, others will join you.
Sounds like assigning others for my sake.
But reality was opposite.
'My colleagues were already deployed to the Bureau before me.'
Director Ho doesn't lie about facts.
But he freely shifts frames of intent and interpretation to manipulate...
Look at the colleagues' faces.
'Eyes sparkling.'
'Wish Grant after this job'—how sweet.
But.
"May I ask if everyone gets credit?"
"Hm?"
Can't miss details now.
"If we all 'cooperate' to hand over the data, do we all get Wish Grant potions?"
"Ah, of course."
"...Then, do you judge if we 'cooperated' properly, Director?"
"......"
Director Ho met my eyes briefly, then smiled.
"I'll trust your reports!"
Whew.
"Thank you."
This blocked him denying joint effort to pick one MVP and save on Wish Grant potions.
"Ah, time's up."
Director Ho checked his watch and stood.
Clapped once, then spoke amiably with a pleased face.
"You three, chat slowly. It'll be hard to gather 'outside' now. That's why I set this up."
Don't create suspicion by meeting as spies.
At least he showed minimal conscience.
Meaning 'get out of the underling meeting.'
"I'll be going then."
'I'll arrange more meetings if possible,' he said with a bright smile, waving as he rose.
We hurriedly stood and bowed.
"No need to stand! Thank you."
At the door, he gripped the handle, then turned back as if struck by a thought.
Our eyes met.
Director Ho subtly nodded at the silver ring on my left finger.
Silver ring.
My mental protection item.
"That's worn out."
"...!"
Shh.
"See you at the next counseling, everyone."
The Fox Counseling Room door closed softly, kindly.
Thud.
"......"
"......"
Director Ho was completely gone.
And.
"Ha......"
A deep sigh filled the waiting area.
The exhale of lowly field agents after facing a lofty mad superior...
'At least not one-on-one gave some strength.'
And reuniting with one after so long.
"Um... long time no see, Sol-eum."
I turned to my colleague.
A former wrap-up team employee.
The long-haired man spoke with delight mixed with worry.
"Have you been well?"
It was Jang Heo-un.