Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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'That's right, Squad Leader!'
Since when had that pale reptilian head and vertical slit pupils started feeling so tearfully welcoming?
I nearly jumped to my feet upon seeing the lizard-masked lizard.
'Of course, it's not quite the time to be that thrilled right now...'
Still, the memory of him pulling off super saves thanks to his unmatched physical prowess amid those insane ghost stories was just too vivid.
Anyway, the Lizard manager, looking like he'd just returned from the Darkness, had started debriefing the research team.
"Clear time: 3 hours and 24 minutes."
"Ah, um, Manager. The details might be a bit...
"?"
"There are outsiders here."
The researcher nodded toward the chaotic office.
Nearly thirty injured children, agents, and groaning Daydream Corporation employees sprawled across the space.
"I see."
To Lee Jaheon manager's eyes, it must have looked like he'd cleared the Darkness as usual, only to find the office packed with civilians instead of staff—yet there wasn't a flicker of disturbance. Very lizard-like.
The only concerning thing was that no one followed behind him.
'The researcher definitely said D Squad had returned.'
But Lee Jaheon manager was alone.
...Had all the newly assigned employees died in an instant?
Whatever my doubts, the interactions among Daydream Corporation employees continued.
"Um, Manager. The Dream Essence collector over here..."
"Yes."
"Thank you...! Please wait just a moment."
Processing the cleared Mermaid Grave came first.
After handing over the Dream Essence solution to the researcher, the lizard scanned the unusually crowded research area—unlike usual.
His gaze swept across... and locked onto me with those blood-red eyes.
"......"
No way.
'Ah, he recognized me?'
But the gaze soon moved on, and the lizard manager silently walked to the center of the office and sat on the meeting sofa.
...Meaning he casually strode and sat right amid the bloodied, contaminated children.
"Th-that spot..."
Even the research team stammered.
His sheer intensity was otherworldly; even the agents were whispering.
"...Agent, do you know him?"
"Lizard mask? No. I'd never forget seeing one once."
Choi the agent seemed to be seeing him for the first time too.
Hm, that makes sense.
Lee Jaheon manager—or Employee D—was a character who appeared once the Darkness Exploration Records had grown larger and irregular gag clears were tolerated.
'His activity doesn't overlap much with Choi the agent, who shone in the early records.'
The kids, regaining strength after emergency treatment, stole glances at the lizard-masked man.
It could have ended there.
But as time passed and more 'kids regaining strength' piled up...
"Excuse me. Are we going to see our moms?"
"I-I wanna go to the bathroom..."
"Su-bin says she's hungry!"
The relatively better-off kids started raising hands after gauging reactions.
They'd had a horrific experience in the Dragon Palace, but the fairy-tale hallucinations had preserved their innocence.
Plus, being left sore on the uncomfortable office floor—holding it in this long was impressive for kids.
"I gotta pee..."
But now the researchers had perfect bait to lure them away separately. Damn it.
They'd soon start sorting kids with offers of bathroom escorts or food hall guides.
The agents would stick like glue, but the problem was some kids would lag behind, splitting us up.
'Peeling off the agents one by one would make handling the Daydream staff even harder.'
The agents were already at their physical limits, battered head to toe.
The agents foresaw this obvious scenario too—their faces hardened slightly.
In that case... no choice.
'Gotta strike first.'
And the safest employee here was...
'One only I know about.'
Suppressing a sigh, I whispered to one of the kids who'd said they needed the bathroom.
"Really? You know?"
"Yeah."
The kid shot up and shyly tugged at a nearby person's pant leg.
"Um, mister. Where's the bathroom...?"
"...!"
Lee Jaheon manager.
The lizard face on the sofa blankly turned to the kid.
"Kids, hold on..."
Before Choi the agent could speak, I rallied the other kids.
"You wanna go too?"
"Yeah!"
"Me too!"
No Kwak Je-gang, and all familiar staff were gone for treatment or interviews.
Half my face still bore ulcers, inflammation, and necrosis scars—unlikely anyone would recognize me.
'Just act the part.'
Mingling with the kids, I approached Lee Jaheon manager and asked innocently, just like them.
"Mister, can you take us to the bathroom?"
"Yes."
The flock of kids' eyes sparkled.
"You'll guide us?"
"Yes."
As Lee Jaheon manager stood, the kids finally giggled and clung to his legs and thighs.
"Wow!"
I subtly nodded to the two agents then.
Meaning: if things went south en route, I'd yell to signal danger.
Bronze agent realized I'd picked the 'safest' staff—complicated expression, but he stayed silent.
"We're heading out!"
Anyway, thanks to that, Lee Jaheon manager walked the hall like the Pied Lizard, trailed by seven or eight kids.
Fortunately, no issues until they safely used the nearby bathroom.
'Phew.'
After helping the too-young-to-go-alone kids, I washed my hands with cold water at the sink to clear my head.
'One hand makes it inconvenient.'
Using this familiar company sink again felt surreal.
'Wanna collapse into bed...'
Suppressing fatigue, I finished washing.
Then Lee Jaheon manager quietly approached beside me.
No way he's gonna babysit me too...
"Deer."
I nearly smacked the lizard head with my remaining hand.
"Anti-eavesdropping equipment is active. This conversation won't leak outside."
Phew.
Trembling, I turned the faucet and lowered my voice.
"How'd you recognize me? I mean, no arms, different age bracket now..."
"? Yes. Judged as the same individual with age regression and limb loss."
"......"
Whatever.
Reptilian alien with holy bombardment—he's got his ways...
"Anyway, thanks for the help. Research team nearly got my identity."
"I see."
"When we head back, please back us up so the kids don't wander off with researchers midway."
"Yes."
The lizard stared blankly into space with those lidless eyes, then turned back.
...Kids still in the stalls, so we had time for this much talk.
I hesitated slightly before asking.
"How have you been, Squad Leader? Any word on the new D Squad hires? How was the Darkness exploration?"
"No new hires."
"...!"
"D Squad is currently assigned solo Darkness entries. No anomalies."
"...Got it."
...Meaning Lee Jaheon was working alone.
'Abandoned, huh.'
Right when the squad was promoted to elite and starting trials, the directorate deal-maker—me—went missing/presumed dead.
D Squad ended up adrift like a kite with a cut string.
No wonder the company dragged its feet for months, unsure what to do with it.
But the realism left a bitter taste.
'Must've been some gossip.'
Even if the lizard squad leader didn't care.
......
"Squad Leader."
I spoke without thinking.
"If I buy from the space mall, would it help you, Manager?"
"Space mall purchases have no direct link to Lee Jaheon manager's livelihood."
However.
His snout curved slightly friendlier.
"But it helps us."
Odd phrasing.
'...Us who need help?'
Anyway, I got the indirect aid point.
In that case.
"Do I have to use cash at the mall?"
"No."
"...! So item trades are possible?"
"No."
Damn.
"Then how do other payment methods work?"
"Use the VIP card. Ending conversation. Someone's approaching."
I parsed the lines in sequence.
Click!
The frosted glass door swung open, and someone entered the sinks with light steps.
"Oh~ Having a fun chat with the kids?"
Kwak Je-gang.
"Guided them to the bathroom."
"Ah, bodily functions! Important~ Especially for kids."
Kwak Je-gang in his white coat crouched to my eye level.
'Damn it!'
Pretending scared, I ducked my head and backed away.
Kwak Je-gang's voice dropped conspiratorially, like offering special perks.
"Wanna go with uncle? Eat yummy snacks, play at the playground with friends, rest lots~"
"......"
"Just you kids here. Special, not the others."
"...Wanna see mom and dad."
"Yes! You can see them too?"
This bastard for real.
"No. Uncle's scary and ugly..."
"...!!"
Hearing kids emerge, I hid behind Lee Jaheon manager.
"Scary!"
"What's wrong?"
"She's scared!"
"That uncle seems scary..."
Kids catch vibes fast and easy. Consensus formed instantly—they hesitated, shied from the scary white-coat uncle, and flocked behind the kind mister.
"No, I'm not as handsome as Manager Lee, but still... Ah, this is embarrassing."
Kwak Je-gang scratched his head back, eyeing the lizard festooned with kids.
Regret and obsession flickered in his eyes.
"Manager Lee, you planning to lure the kids...?"
"?"
"Should've asked. Sigh."
Kwak Je-gang smacked his lips but finally turned and... left the bathroom.
Creak.
As the door shut, some kids unwittingly sighed in relief.
...Made me think.
Maybe the kids weren't just vibe-following—they'd instinctively sensed the threat...
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
Lee Jaheon manager became the Pied Lizard again, leading the kids back to the lab.
The agents, who'd watched the door tensely, let out short relieved breaths—tension eased a bit.
'...Thank you.'
I subtly nodded to Lee Jaheon manager, who kept his expressionless reptilian face and held the sofa spot...
And one or two hours later.
"...Disaster Management Bureau folks are here."
The awaited reinforcements arrived.
Things went smoother than expected after that.
The Disaster Management Bureau mobilized rescue vehicles right after Choi agent's emergency text, arriving at Daydream Corporation—and the research team finally backed off against their readiness to escalate.
"Just simple samples. No harm to anyone, right?"
Bronze agent nearly exploded, but they did take 'baby mermaid' tissue samples...
'Scraping from the severed tail stump.'
Harmless to the kids.
Slight worry: they took my flesh too... Gotta contact Ho directorate quick to handle it.
The important part.
"Wow!!"
We'd finally escaped the ghost story.
"Aigoo, all the kids are out cold."
The kids had crashed.
Loaded into the Bureau's ambulances, they'd been whisked to HQ.
Cleaned up, treated by medics, changed clothes, fed—and fatigue from the spectacle finally hit, letting them sleep soundly.
'...Good.'
The agents got hot showers and meals too, of course.
"And Grape's finally back to adult form."
Same for me.
Feeling security in my reattached right arm via emergency goblin fire recharge and restored adult male body, I leaned on the sofa.
The Hyunmu Team 1 lounge felt impossibly cozy.
Well, it was always clubroom-cozy, so maybe natural...
"Who knows what that company's schemed now."
"Yeah."
My hazy mind caught the adjacent agents' talk.
Bronze agent suspecting Daydream Corporation tricks...
"Analysis squad called—about the meds they gave the kids. Some had Daydream potions mixed in that ship you to 'somewhere' on sleep."
"...!"
Snapped alert.
"Figured they 'selected' potions carefully for the heavily mutated kids, so I kept an eye."
"Removed now?"
"Obviously!"
Phew.
Choi agent patted my shoulder.
"Grape, you did great earlier. Picked the one unplotted staffer and accidentally made him actually take 'em to the bathroom!"
"......Yes."
Bronze agent was desperately avoiding eye contact with me or Choi agent.
Thanks, agent...
"Now... gotta fix that. Right?"
Hm?
Choi agent suddenly pointed at me. Precisely... half my face with ulcer scars.
Yeah. Even back to true form, the infection marks lingered.
Mental contamination from assimilation was treated via conch, so I'd barely noticed till now.
"Infirmary would..."
"Nah. Faster way."
Choi agent stood. Bronze agent followed silently from the sofa, and they smiled at me.
"Let's go see the Elder directly."
"...!"