Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Even If You Fall Into a Ghost Story, You Still Have to Go to Work
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Daydream Corporation sets the escape point to the company when clearing their managed Darkness.
It's not strange. But...
'If the entry route was different, couldn't we each exit back to where we came from...!'
I swallowed.
Looking around, everyone who had been at the escape point seemed to have landed in the research team's office without exception.
No, why had all these people who escaped ended up dumped straight into Daydream? If it's an escape station, at the very least it should ask passengers where they want to go...
Ah.
'No way, the very first person who boarded the escape station and calibrated it was someone from Daydream Corporation...?'
So the destination had been set based on that.
'More than possible.'
The problem was that thinking about it now was pointless.
I broke out in cold sweat and quietly flicked my eyes toward the Bronze Agent facing off against Manager Kwak Je-gang.
"That uniform means you're from the Disaster Management Bureau, right? Looks like a rescue request came in from our Darkness this time. Haha!"
"Supernatural disasters aren't private property. Refrain from inappropriate language."
Agent!
"Ah, well. You can say that, Agent sir, but..."
Kwak Je-gang smiled thinly from behind his glasses.
"Either way, you intruded into a private company without permission, didn't you?"
"......"
"But well, you cleared it while helping each other out, right? Haha, then if you just do a quick interview, we won't send a separate bill..."
"Bill?"
"No, you used our clear passage! Things like information usage fees, labor costs, expert consultation fees... You're a government agency—you wouldn't stiff us, would you?"
I wouldn't have been shocked if the Bronze Agent decked Manager Kwak right then.
But surprisingly, instead of getting angry, the Bronze Agent shot him a look of utter contempt and said,
"We never sought consultation. The escape method we just used is already public knowledge."
"Huh... Then it's not collaboration—it's straight-up trespassing."
Kwak Je-gang stared at the Bronze Agent with a smile.
"......"
The Bronze Agent silently slipped a hand into his jacket while watching.
A bizarre tension settled in.
Yeah.
'This is... smack in the middle of the psycho mega-corp's headquarters.'
The research team, no less.
Just hit the call button, and security team employees would swarm in to subdue the 'trespassers' however they liked.
And those security employees were already far beyond human, so even two veteran agents had a real chance of ending up horribly restrained.
In a word: the heart of an enemy stronghold where social norms didn't apply.
...A chill ran up my spine.
'This insane company could just write off a few civil servants as missing and turn them into test subjects...'
"Aigoo, my poor aching back..."
"...!"
At that moment, the figure sprawled on the floor let out an obvious groan and sat right up.
It was a brazen attitude that shattered the tension completely.
'Agent Choi!'
"Can't even lie down scared anymore. Trespassing this, trespassing that... Hell, even crash-landing after a ghost story counts as trespassing now? Man, that's petty—how's anyone supposed to work like that?"
Agent Choi hauled himself up, locked eyes with Kwak Je-gang, and flashed a grin.
"Our Disaster Management Bureau doesn't get that stingy with folks who wander in during safety checks..."
"......"
Ah, right.
The real reason Daydream Corporation was sick of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau wasn't some pointless publicity stunt.
Of course, the government didn't recognize ownership of ghost stories. Officially, anyway.
So whenever the Bureau spotted a ghost story under Daydream management that looked clearable, they'd barge right in and wrap it up.
Under the guise of a 'safety inspection.'
'From Daydream's view, the Bureau's the real disaster—smashing their raw materials supply.'
That's why clashes between the two forces in ghost stories weren't too common; they even set rules to curb the frequency.
Because all those reckless, entertaining records were on the verge of exploding.
...Just like this case.
"Keep pushing like this, and things might get real bloody between us~ Scary, huh?"
In other words, Agent Choi was pressuring Kwak Je-gang: keep it up, and he'd hound their managed ghost stories relentlessly.
And while the two forces' veterans traded blows without drawing blades, the unattended Bronze Agent glanced around like he was checking on kids—and our eyes met.
I read his lips.
-Stay put.
Obviously.
'Keep quiet and don't stand out.'
If I got spotted here, shit would hit the fan on an epic scale.
The Agent figured I was playing dead and had ghosted the company after going missing, so he was shielding my identity. But reality was messier than that.
'My cover's faked as dead inside the company for spy work.'
If the research team blew my cover and it reached Executive Ho's ears... I couldn't even imagine.
And if Executive Cheong—who thought I'd stabbed him in the back and bolted—learned 'Kim Sol-eum' was still in-house?
I swallowed hard.
'...Dead.'
Or worse than dead. This was a ghost story company, after all.
'Can't get caught. Ever.'
I blended seamlessly among the kids, dialing my presence way down.
Anyway, Agent Choi's veiled threat—we'll obsessively audit just your territories—was steering toward a resolution.
"We'll just take the civilians and go. Oh, and for saving your staff—no need for separate thanks~ Haha!"
Clean mediation.
But Kwak Je-gang was nuts.
"...Ah, of course. We get it—you're always swamped serving the public."
He flung his arms wide, clutching his binder.
"Then take just the civilians!"
"...!"
Kwak Je-gang headed our way.
'...!'
I quickly steadied my breathing and ducked my head, feigning disorientation.
Footsteps.
Thud, thud.
Closing in.
Sound from right overhead.
"But these contaminants here... no matter how you slice it, they don't look like normal citizens of our society."
Fuck.
"Look here. Wait, gills instead of ears—can't be our citizens! Ah, extra arm here, and this one..."
Gaze.
"Missing a right arm."
Goosebumps prickled straight up.
"Ah, sure, could be some poor civilian—no, citizen—who lost their right arm in an accident... but that needs checking!"
Excited tone.
"Contamination's bad overall, so we'll inspect 'em properly and sort the real citizens for safe release."
If not 'citizens.'
They'd handle it themselves.
"Then you busy agents can clock out~"
That's when the Bronze Agent's patience snapped.
"Cut the crap."
"Crap?"
Damn.
"Unclear if it's even Bureau jurisdiction... Jeez. Push this, and... Right. Let's hear from our staff. Hey, Deputy Jin!"
Noise of Kwak shaking Deputy Jin Na-sol awake nearby.
And a dry voice thick with annoyance.
"...What."
"Oh, you're up. Elite team eyes: these kids look like innocent civilians to you? Nah, I'm the wronged one here!"
"You're always wronged, Manager."
But Deputy Jin Na-sol clocked the situation and stuck to plain, favorable facts. Damn it!
"...Those are juvenile mermaids."
"Oh!"
Kwak's steps grew bustling.
"Juvenile mermaids! This is too fun—no, a huge new find. So really... not innocent civilians, but Darkness collaborators!"
"Hold up."
Agent Choi's voice hardened.
"Bureau judges that—not a private firm jumping to conclusions. Especially."
Couldn't see, but felt it.
"You, personally."
Pressure.
"......"
"......"
"...Haha, looks like we disagree!"
Clap. Kwak clapped.
And eased back a touch.
"You're right—I got ahead of myself. How about... rest up and chat later?"
"......"
The two agents seemed to be weighing options.
Precarious.
No.
'Can't let this escalate.'
Best to slip out smooth and whole.
Open hostility in our ghost-story-exhausted state? No telling what'd happen.
So...
"We can talk plenty~"
Phew.
"We'll chill here with the kids. Hit us when you're ready."
"Haha, sure. Got it."
Agents plopped down, eyes glued to the kids like hawks; Kwak finally backed off, no choice.
But...
'Their schemes won't stop there.'
I cracked my eyes open naturally.
Suddenly, the agents—now casually seated beside me like they'd drifted there—were talking.
Loud enough for me to hear.
"How long?"
"Eh~ Half a day tops."
Agent Choi's voice regained its lazy sigh-tinged ease.
"Not our first rodeo with clowns like that. Just hold till backup."
Good.
Looked like we'd bought solid time to call the Bureau for reinforcements.
Problem was...
"One sec. Our duties..."
...the research team scheming hard till then.
I slitted my eyes, spotting someone approaching the group.
A deep dark-circle glasses researcher was corralling the Field Exploration Team staff for treatment and ushering them to an interview room.
[Lee Yeonhwa]
Research Team 1 Deputy.
The badge name matched a researcher from the Darkness Exploration Records wiki. Which meant...
'Notable enough for wiki mention.'
That trait...
One of Daydream's rare researchers who actually gives a damn about ethics.
That's how it showed in her demeanor.
If not for this mess, I might've been glad. But not now.
Probably Kwak's deliberate pick.
To drop the agents' guard.
"Um, the kids and... you agents should get basic first aid. Kids especially—lots of heavy bleeding, some in shock."
"...Mm."
Hard to turn down.
With her cleared of malice, the Bureau agents scanned the recovery potion with their gear and gave the okay.
They skipped drinking themselves, though. Kids had endured brutal stuff like tails ripped off, so urgency forced the call.
"Drink up."
And just like that, a recovery potion came my way too.
Standard-issue red potion stocked in the medical bay.
'Been a while.'
I reached with both hands—remembered one was gone—grabbed it left-handed.
And instead of drinking... faked it, stashing the liquid into my wrist tattoo.
'Might've clocked me and spiked it.'
Even if not, could be rigged to 'study' the kids.
...I'd seen it, clear as day.
A few researchers signaling, cherry-picking 'special' potions for certain kids.
'Legit treatment, but laced with something.'
Maybe paranoid, but no harm.
Then, mid-motion, I felt it.
A new item's weight in my coat.
'...Glass lantern!'
The goblin fire—now a glass lantern from my right arm—tucked inside my outer layer.
"...!"
If spotted, agent cover blown.
Kwak's spotlight magnet.
'No.'
I played scared civilian kid, huddled in the group for cover, and tried slipping the glass lantern into my tattoo.
But the goblin fire inside recoiled violently.
"...!"
Didn't want the tattoo?
'Damn it!'
No choice—I shielded it best I could with my baggy jacket.
Sat back down and timidly handed the empty vial to the researcher.
Then locked eyes with Baek Saheon, who'd just blinked awake.
"......"
"......"
-Act like you know me, you're dead.
-Got it.
Something like that eye-talk passed. Baek Saheon twitched his eyelids and snapped front.
Hell, he might've pictured ratting me out for a promotion...
'But he's got loot to claim—can't move reckless.'
Profit-maxxer through and through.
I recalled our pre-escape chat—using him as transport to read the Necronomicon.
-Do it right, and it's yours.
His greed-pounding heart.
'Good.'
I could hunker quiet.
Sat still, eyeing the kids' shock-dazed states, killing time low-key.
But then.
"D Squad returning!"
A lab announcement, and a new figure entered.
I jerked my head up.
"Ah, you're back."
"Yes."
Flat voice.
And... a white lizard head.
'S-Squad leader...!'
Manager Lee Jaheon.