Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Flower Golden Resort
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The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's Hyunmu Team were the ones who directly experienced all sorts of bizarre horrors.
It was a bit different from initial investigations or cleanup work. In the process of rescuing survivors, they often ended up fully immersed, getting a proper taste of the horror.
But a case like today was rare.
"Tea, Team Leader."
"Shh."
It had already been five hours since they arrived at this bizarre place.
And the agent had noticed quite a few odd incongruities.
The resort's staff were all human.
And among those they had found, everyone except the newbie from the Disaster Management Bureau at the front desk seemed to be in their right minds.
No, at least they appeared that way on the surface.
Was this even possible in a supernatural disaster?
"Bu, but. There's another weird one."
Her team member whispered.
"The room service guy!"
Their gazes turned to the side of the front desk.
"Hello! This is the room service attendant, Ladybug!"
The cheerful-voiced staffer introducing himself as Ladybug over the phone wasn't a ladybug at all—he was wearing a mask mimicking this bizarre resort's mascot.
...Just like the cleanup team newbie.
'What the hell happened here?'
The two of them were the only ones wearing mascot masks, as if their human egos had been stripped away.
When she asked if they'd been "corrected" for slacking on the job, they all shook their heads.
"That's not it!"
"If anything... it's kindness?"
Kindness?
The strange word choice sent a wave of unease through her.
But no one could properly explain what had happened.
"The mascot said no."
"Check the work rules."
Right, those damn work rules.
The team leader had opened the "Resort Staff Work Rules" that the mascot had kindly provided, only to squeeze her eyes shut at first sight.
There were 37 rules.
The densely packed text hinted at all the creepy outcomes that could happen while working at this resort.
"Typical, right, Team Leader?"
That was true. But somehow...
"Welcome!"
It was too peaceful.
The staff showed no sign of feeling the pressure or anxiety from the work rules.
They weren't even remotely terrified by the sight of the two who had completely lost their egos and become resort fixtures. Instead, they calmly went about their duties.
They greeted the mascots and even struck up conversations with them.
And whenever she approached, they would glance over from their occasional chats and quietly disperse.
"......"
An eerie feeling.
Strange and dangerous guests kept entering the beautiful resort, but all they had to do was greet them at the entrance.
Strict division of labor.
Her team member had been assigned elsewhere. The civilian to rescue had been assigned elsewhere too.
Isolation.
But she could go greet them anytime. The work rules encouraged it, but didn't force it, they said.
'This is weird.'
Time flowed by so naturally and calmly, yet bizarre events seeped in like shadows.
"......"
Clap.
The team leader slapped her own face.
'Gotta stay sharp.'
Even if today's entry goal was just a simple rescue rather than ending the supernatural disaster, this resort felt strangely different from the usual ones...
She had to stay on high alert for two days.
And a few hours later.
-See you next time~
"Aaack!"
"Let me in! Let me in!"
Ignoring the desperate figures pounding on the outer door, the hotel's business hours ended.
The chilling madness revealed itself for just a moment before vanishing, and the staff didn't even glance that way as they casually chatted.
"Can we go to bed now?"
"I'm sleepy."
That was even creepier.
No matter that they came from that crazy cult company, this was off.
'These bastards are the ones who cling to their lives like crazy.'
She'd bribed one staffer in a field mouse mask with a cigarette to get a bit more detail on this horror.
"Ah! This place was originally a theme park horror, but suddenly a new resort popped up..."
A newly created place.
"Anyway, they say if you just work as staff, you can leave!"
"Who said?"
"Huh?"
"Who said you can leave? No manual, right?"
"Uh... the mascot!"
Asking other staffers got similar answers.
-Once the third facility opens, we can all leave.
-We're waiting for the third facility... Aren't you scared? I was, but now it feels okay... The mascot takes care of everything.
-? Yes. That's right.
"......"
It really was... bizarre.
The icing on the cake came from the rescued target who had worked elsewhere.
The one who said they'd cleaned the spa hallway looked somehow relieved.
"The mascot helped me... The work isn't hard... Just one more day, right? They even give souvenirs when you leave."
"......"
"We can leave soon!"
This lukewarm goodwill, the seeping peacefulness, the bright and luxurious resort, the tightening psychological unease.
The team leader truly craved a cigarette.
Nothing beat it for shaking off the creeps.
'I'm weak to shit like this, damn it.'
If she had to classify, she was strong against traditional ghosts and shamanic supernatural disasters.
But assignments were assignments.
Truth be told, if the rescue requestor's call button hadn't been so special, Hyunmu Team wouldn't have stuck their necks in so quickly.
A call button that, when pressed in a supernatural disaster, even indicated the entry route—practically equipment itself.
Call buttons that high-grade were used by government bigwigs or VIPs, but usually by rescue requestors with special status.
Closest kin of fallen agents, among others.
'...Sigh.'
...That made it psychologically hard to just abandon the rescue and escape on their own.
Plus, the rescue target nagging at her wasn't just the caller.
"Hey."
"Yes, staffer!"
The team leader met the person waiting in the third-floor hallway.
A male staffer with long reddish-brown hair.
The front desk worker in a yellow mascot mask, emerging from the elevator on his way off-duty, smiled kindly and responded.
The team leader gritted her teeth briefly.
...It was the field cleanup team newbie, all right.
Agent... Hwagak, was it?
"Got a question."
"Ask away!"
"Wondering if you remember what you did before coming to this resort."
"Yes! Of course I do! You're from the Disaster Management Bureau, right? I worked there too."
He remembered?
"Right. Then I can pass on regards. Zhuque Team 2, yeah?"
"Yes! Thank you."
The team leader chose her words carefully, like a pro.
"But regards—what, can't you deliver them yourself? Once you leave here..."
"No."
"......"
"I swore to the mascot to devote myself to this resort and signed the contract. I won't leave. And the contract is eternally valid until it ends."
"What about vacation?"
"I don't rest."
"......"
The former field cleanup team newbie, now resort staffer, just smiled silently at the team leader.
Silence.
"I should head to my room now. Gotta follow the work rules! You too, staffer—get to your room quick and don't open the door for anyone else."
Then he walked down the hall to his room.
Thud.
"Fuck..."
The team leader spat out a sigh-like curse.
Doing anything eye-catching in a supernatural disaster was for idiots, so the only regret was not being able to smoke.
'How the hell do I get that guy out.'
She couldn't open a window, so she just stood at the end of the hall, staring out the one beyond. As if smoking.
Even this might help sort out her thoughts...
Wait.
'...?'
Something was beyond the window.
"...!"
The team leader immediately pulled away from the window and pressed against the wall.
Noticing something in a supernatural disaster didn't always work out well.
Instead, she organized it in her head.
What she'd just seen.
'So...'
The resort grounds, lights all off, showed only dim silhouettes. And beyond that, traces of flashy lights and music.
'...Felt like an amusement park.'
But the "something" wasn't there.
Right beside it.
In the ruins beyond the resort's lights... something bulged and moved.
'...Woods?'
Maybe tree leaves rustling in the wind.
But surely, something was looking up at her... right?
Something like the mascot.
"......"
The team leader peeled off the wall.
And squinted as she approached the window once more...
"...!"
She spun around.
In the middle of the dim, cozy, antique hallway stood a cute doll mask.
...The yellow mascot was right in front of her before she knew it.
Why
did you
come
"...Ah. Just checking on my group."
The yellow mascot stared at her expressionlessly from its cute face.
Cold sweat trickled down the team leader's back, but years of experience let her play it cool.
"Actually, I was craving a smoke, but I held back."
Surprisingly, the mascot patted the team leader's head like a proud pup.
And even gave her a small gift.
...A sleep mask.
"......"
She took it for now and tucked it away. She'd hand it to forensics later.
And the weird thing she'd seen outside...
'Don't mention it.'
Intense survival instinct pricked her back, but the agent's instinct to grasp the disaster came first.
'Damn.'
"Curious—what's over there?"
She finally pointed toward where the thing had moved.
And twisted her hand slightly.
"Ah, a theme park, huh. So this is the theme park, and that side... doesn't seem like it."
The team leader twisted her hand again, adjusting the position.
To the woods.
Far
Outside
The yellow mascot peered into her.
Don't
go
"......"
The yellow mascot escorted her to her assigned room and opened the door.
And until she fully entered and closed the door, it stood quietly in front of it.
The team leader heard the mascot's mutter from beyond the closing door.
"If it's my
job...
all done."
And the next day.
The agents were finally allowed outside for the first time since entering the resort building.
Because the resort's rear had been opened.
Before the resort operations began, the mascot gathered the staff and brought them to the ruins behind the resort.
And the moment the mascot raised both arms into the air...
Woooong...
The fragments of ruins sank into the ground.
Instead, beautiful garden trees began to rise.
"...!"
Landscaping was taking place.
Lush green-leaved bushes, trees, sparkling golden flowers. Small buds of various colors swayed, making the massive golden flowers even more prominent.
And fountains too.
"Wow! Is this the new facility?"
'...Ceremony?'
The team leader looked around.
Supply mascots were busily carrying something.
...Flyers.
Over the beautiful nighttime garden backdrop, promotional text in antique, sparkling golden light.
...Something was being prepared.
Day five of resort operations. Night.
The time had come.
I checked my outfit in the facility office.
Over the yellow mascot's signature fur, I tied a formal golden bowtie.
And on the horns, golden glass ornaments like flowers...
Finally, I gathered countless glow sticks in my arms.
All preparations complete.
By performing the ceremony ritual, the true master mascot of the resort would open the third facility.
Thanks to settling the event budget perfectly with the blue mascot, funds were ample.
I stepped out of the office.
Heading to the lobby in full evening swing, guests turned to look at my appearance.
I handed out glow sticks one by one.
Supply mascots waved hands, generously distributing small glow sticks to visitors.
The ceremony ritual I'd decided on was illumination. A feast of beautiful lights.
A perfect choice for Flower Golden Resort. It would establish itself as the flawless ceremony, elevating the resort's status with dignified elegance incomparable to noisy parades.
I led the guests to the rear of the resort building.
The massive, beautiful back door I'd prepared in advance
opened.
Ooooooh!
It looked desolate.
The dark resort grounds, long after sunset, pitch black, with only the theme park lights twinkling far beyond.
But that was ending now.
Golden
Flower
The moment the mascot raised its hand.
Lights sparkled all at once over the garden.
Ooooooh!
The nighttime garden bursting in golden light danced bizarrely, twinkling.
The glow sticks guests held—shaped like flowers on branches—lit up with sparkling lights on each petal.
Ooooooh!
Cheers and shouts from guests filled the garden. Some wept, laughed, or collapsed in感動.
Preparations complete.
-Thank you for visiting the Jolly Theme Park today.
Soon, Twinkle Illumination begins at Flower Golden Resort. Please join us to witness the birth of the great Flower Golden...
I caught my breath.
'Let's nail this.'
The mascot had to cap the show from center stage.
After that...
"Oh, now opening the third facility!"
I proudly nodded to the approaching Assistant Manager Lee Sung-hae.
"Good. Other zones have like ten attractions each. This place could use a few more too."
No. I'm cutting losses and bailing right after...
But as the mascot, I couldn't say that, so I just stood there.
Change the subject... Ah, right.
"Yep?"
I'd been curious for a while.
How the hell did Assistant Manager Lee Sung-hae escape the red zone, and how did she survive a whole day raw?
Good to hear while loosening up in this gap.
"Ah, I got one ride ticket stamped, but that rabbit chased too hard! Couldn't ride more. Blue zone was completely blocked off."
As expected.
"So I went the opposite way!"
......
Eh?
"The opposite woods were accessible? When operations ended, weird noises from the theme park, but that crazy rabbit chased into the woods too, just slower."
Because it wasn't its zone.
No, wait...
So she circled all night through the opposite woods to reach that forest?
'Holy shit.'
"And when I got here, there was the resort!"
"Pretty cool, right? Hehe."
Yeah. Really cool.
Evading the pursuing Magic Bunny to get here.
Even if slower outside its zone...
......
Eh?
Wait a sec.
"Yes!"
"Yep yep!"
If the woods weren't someone else's zone and accessible, that made sense.
The problem was elsewhere.
"Yep yep! It chased almost all the way! Got blocked when I came here!"
......
The Magic Bunny
knows the way
to the yellow zone.
-♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
-Kyahahahaha!
"......"
"......Mascot?"
I turned my head.
With the garden's creation, the ruined land was developed.
And now even closer, fully adjacent.
The woods.
And the garden lights illuminated deep into the woods.
Revealing it.
The red walkway.
Standing quietly atop it.