Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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My second expedition into the Jolly Theme Park had finally come to an end.
And…
The research team in charge was in an uproar.
They said it had gone through that meticulous verification process, as if it were being compiled for the wiki.
The expedition duration had stretched six times longer, yet the solution grade was one rank higher—a true irregularity.
And there was only one variable in that irregularity.
'Me.'
An employee from the Security Team's special division.
However, I—who appeared to be some kind of ghost story entity or contaminated something—managed to scare the research team just enough to smoothly escape the interview hell and head home.
"Over here! Thank you so much. If I wanted to buy you a meal, where should I—"
"J-Junior Manager! No, you can't!"
…In the process, Lee Seong-hae, the junior manager, graciously tried to show me some friendly gestures, only to be blocked by a researcher.
'Actually, that was for the best.'
There was no way to contact me in the first place.
All of this was just a disguise crafted by Executive Ho.
And…
I had to meet that very Executive Ho—my boss, far more persistent and terrifying than the research team—before heading home.
"You must have had a really tough time, Sol-eum!"
The moment I shed the Security Team suit, I checked my empty right arm and the goblin fire reverted to its lantern form.
The goblin fire seemed frightened, the lantern completely rigid.
Executive Ho curiously squinted at it but, fortunately, didn't confiscate the goblin fire.
Instead, she looked at the Security Team suit I'd taken off and said this:
"Wow! It looks like the Security Team uniform picked up some fun effects from hanging around with you in that Darkness, Sol-eum."
"It's already a pretty fun outfit even without that, right? I'll extend the rental period a bit. You might have more chances to use it in the future."
I nodded along obediently.
Refusal wasn't an option in that atmosphere. I was in a position to make disappointed noises. Right away…
"By the way, do you happen to know anything about Jang Heo-un's whereabouts?"
Sigh.
"He was the employee deployed alongside you to assist, Sol-eum. I wonder if you found him useful."
…I told the truth.
A Disaster Management Bureau agent had suddenly entered, and once Jang Heo-un's identity was exposed, he was taken away under the pretext of a rescue by the Bureau.
"…Oh dear!"
Executive Ho's reaction was thoroughly curt.
'…She must be pissed.'
"But Executive, since it wasn't revealed that Heo-un is a Daydream Corporation employee, he should still be able to continue his spying duties."
"Ah, is that so?"
'However, due to contamination checks during the rescue, Jang Heo-un's movements will be restricted for a while'—my excuse disguised as deduction seemed to work.
…For now, at least.
"In that case, was Jang Heo-un's Dream Essence Collector recovered? The research team was buzzing about an A-Grade solution being collected this expedition."
"…Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the process of ensuring it didn't fall into the Disaster Management Bureau's hands."
Not true.
I destroyed it.
To cover the logical flaw… right before escaping the theme park, I'd retrieved the Dream Essence Collector from Jang Heo-un and crushed it into mascot supply form.
If Jang Heo-un had been caught with it by the Bureau, it would have been as good as spy credentials.
Leaving it in the ghost story would have auto-returned it to the company, and the recorded logs might let Executive Ho figure out exactly what state Jang Heo-un was in.
Destruction was the only answer.
"That's a shame. Normally, the person in charge has to pay points for destroying a collector… Oh, right. This was a special on-duty incident, so I'll smooth it over on my end!"
"…Yes. Thank you."
"Haha, it's not like I did you any favors, Sol-eum. No need!"
Fortunately, Executive Ho let it slide easily.
I'd thought there might be a fuss over the high-grade collected solution, but surprisingly, she didn't seem too attached to its grade.
'…That's odd.'
Anyway, A-Grade was A-Grade, so I figured I should check my elite team's collector too… but not right then.
…Because after all that, I crashed into bed and slept straight through until the next morning.
'I really thought I was gonna die.'
I was so exhausted I slept solid without waking once—that was my only consolation.
And to put it another way…
…That meant my 6 days off had evaporated just like that.
This morning.
I dragged myself to the Disaster Management Bureau the moment I opened my eyes…
Ugh.
"Ouch, long time no see. No contact at all during your break—you heartless MZ Grape…"
Agent Choi, entering the Black Tortoise Team 1 lounge with an Americano in hand, froze upon seeing me.
"Did you go train in some mountain during your break? You look like skin and bones! Hey, Jae-gwan. Right?"
"Yes?"
Bronze Agent, who had been frowning as his boss yanked his arm and pointed at me, also startled upon actually seeing me.
"…What happened?"
I barely managed a reply.
"I… didn't… sleep well…"
"……."
"……."
It was the truth.
I'd worked nonstop as a mascot in that ruined resort for 5 nights and 6 days…
Agent Choi and Bronze Agent exchanged a glance, then swiftly came over and sat on the sofa beside me as if by silent agreement.
"Didn't rest well?"
I just gave them a pathetic look.
Ryu Jae-gwan asked cautiously.
"I heard you didn't come to recharge the goblin lantern during your days off. …Are you okay?"
Ah.
"Yes. I'm fine…. I just forgot since there was no need."
"……."
Sigh.
For reference, the goblin fire finally perked up after I coaxed and soothed it.
It seemed something had gone wrong under the mascot's influence, but after recharging it this morning on the way in, it returned to my arm with its usual cheerfulness.
Though it would probably tremble and thumbs-down furiously if I even mentioned the Security Team suit.
"Sorry. You went out of your way to let me use my paid leave."
"That was leave you were entitled to anyway, Grape."
Agent Choi dropped his playful tone and continued in a gentle voice.
"Hey, Grape. There's this nice hot spring up in Seoraksan that the Bureau runs. How about we all go together on your next day off? The facilities are pretty good for employee welfare."
"……."
Onsen with coworkers?
…But realizing what hot spring it was, I nodded quickly.
I was curious to see the Bureau's welfare facilities at least once.
"Good call. …Heh, you've still got some spirit left!"
"…?!"
Agent Choi ruffled my hair and patted my back.
"You work hard, then crash hard when you rest. Happens to the body and the mind."
"……."
"But you showed up right on time anyway. Good job."
I'm only here to avoid blowing my spy cover…
Plus, after one round of Daydream Corporation-style ghost story, the Bureau's version suddenly felt like a fairy tale…
Of course, I couldn't say that, so I just nodded.
"Thank you."
And leaned back on the sofa to kill time…
Other than struggling not to freak out when Agent Choi suggested a board game, nothing notable happened.
Fortunately, no call came.
And after lunch, in the afternoon.
"Agent Grape!"
I ran into Go Yeongeun from the New Investigation Unit, who had come by with some documents.
"Did you hear? That… Vermilion Bird Team 2 Agent Hwagak you worked with."
Ah.
Go Yeongeun didn't know about the theme park incident yet, but she'd learned of Jang Heo-un's status through other channels.
"…No. First I'm hearing of it. What hap—"
Go Yeongeun's expression gradually clouded over, and she continued as if holding back emotion.
"Yesterday, he was found in heavy contamination and is in isolation recovery. I heard he's been transferred to Seoraksan…"
"……."
"They say he got caught up in some supernatural… disaster during your break."
"Is that our maknae?"
"…!"
Go Yeongeun and I turned at the same time. There stood Vermilion Bird Team 2's team leader—Jang Heo-un's Bureau boss—giving us a wry smile.
Ha…
"Yeah, rookies might find it scary. Suddenly a teammate doesn't show up for work—feels weird, right?"
"……."
"But this is fine. That's life; we'll figure something out. The important thing is we rescued him."
Behind the整理班 Vermilion Bird Team 2 team leader's glasses, I could see the signature agent resolve.
But at the same time, familiar fatigue and sorrow too.
…Like he was thinking of agents who couldn't be fully restored.
'Damn it.'
I swallowed a sigh and curse.
At any rate, Jang Heo-un being in a treatment facility instead of a glass cage meant his cover wasn't blown. That was a relief…
"Still, that kid brought back something good, right? Hey, Haegum!"
"Huh?"
Vermilion Bird Team 2's team leader waved, and someone approached from down the hall.
The team leader-grade agent who'd entered the theme park. Black Tortoise Team 3's Haegum Team Leader.
'T-Team Leader…!'
I nearly choked.
"Oh. Rookies?"
"Yeah. One who went in with my kid, and… this one's the latest Black Tortoise recruit from public hiring."
"Ah. The destruction king!"
"……."
"Choi's been dodging proper intros after all he's done. Nice to meet you."
"H-Hello…!"
Good thing I didn't snap back.
I held back a groan and greeted Haegum Team Leader.
My mind raced through our 'employee dispatch deal.'
'…Sending Jang Heo-un over only worked if I took compensation; otherwise it'd look suspicious.'
So I'd received five jade plaques made by the Bureau from that team leader.
…Recalling the wiki description.
Jade plaques crafted at the Baridegi Workshop are often treated as currency in supernatural phenomena.
I know they're made for rituals, but please approve them for agent issuance and removal.
Ghost story currency.
Not a big burden for them, but definitely useful.
"Anyway, our destruction king rookie agent needs a proper greeting. Come on, handshake."
"Yes……. Th-Thank you."
I didn't even try to hunch; my shoulders did it automatically. Black Tortoise Team 3's Haegum Agent patted my back once, waved, and left.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief and turned back to Go Yeongeun…
"Hold on."
"……."
"Haven't we met somewhere? You look kinda familiar."
A chill ran down my spine.
"U-Um, actually, I greeted you once in the hall outside the lounge… But you seemed tired and walked right past…"
"Oh?? Sorry. Been swamped lately. Wasn't Choi's fault after all. Good timing."
Haegum Team Leader scratched the back of his head and laughed ha-ha.
"As you know, I'm Team 3's leader. If you're bored after work, swing by the lounge. Got it?"
"Th-Thank you…"
Sigh.
Haegum Team Leader chatted with Vermilion Bird Team 2's leader as he left.
"……."
I turned to find Go Yeongeun staring at me with a 'what the hell just happened' look.
Really, so much had happened. Yeongeun…
And at 6 p.m.
I finally clocked out.
'Please, no.'
Lucky it was day shift.
No dispatches was a silver lining amid misfortune, but even though I desperately wanted to collapse and sleep more, I couldn't.
'Gotta do it.'
"……."
I slipped my hand into the inventory tattoo and touched the 'to-do.'
The soft stuffing of the plush toy tickled my fingertips.
Right.
The plush toy sold at the Jolly Theme Park's souvenir shop.
The original Good Friend—I'd successfully smuggled it out.
I'd used various loopholes for it, which I'd sort out during the ritual… The key point was one.
Now I could summon Good Friend Brown in a fully appropriate situation with an appropriate medium.
'Let's do it.'
Delaying further might lead to another late-night talk show fiasco. Cold sweat broke out. I quickly unlocked and entered my motel room.
But.
The moment I opened the door, someone was inside.
Lizard head.
"Deer."
"……??"
The familiar lizard face I'd shared trials with for 6 days stared quietly at me.
I nearly rubbed my eyes.
"L-Lee Jaheon Section Chief??"
I checked outside the motel room, then back inside—nope, definitely Lizard Section Chief.
No…!
I hurriedly entered and carefully locked the door.
No way…
"Did Executive Ho send you?"
"No."
"Then how did you…?"
"Infiltrated."
"……."
Then don't stand there so brazenly…!
'Executive Ho would roughly know if we met anyway… B-But is this okay?'
Was casual spy lodging visits allowed? No, why barge into someone else's motel room without notice like it was nothing?
"F-First… have a seat?"
"Yes."
I sat across from the lizard at the table, flustered.
And tried to explain my fluster…
"I see. But I came for a higher priority matter."
Sigh.
"Sorry, but I have something to do first."
"What is it?"
"……."
Well.
You remember that talk show ghost story where you blasted shells to rescue me, Section Chief?
Strictly speaking, I planned to resummon the host—the root cause of that mess…
Should I say it? No, wouldn't not saying make me some oblivious idiot?
Feeling inexplicably dragged in, I opened my mouth and roughly explained the situation.
Judging he'd understand it was unavoidable.
"I see."
As expected, Lizard Section Chief accepted it immediately.
However…
"Follow safety protocols during the ritual. I'll confirm."
"……."
He showed no sign of leaving.
And so, I ended up conducting the full Good Friend Brown summoning with Lee Jaheon Section Chief in tow…
'Is… this right?'
I'm going insane.