Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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"Please!"
Baek Saheon was practically wailing.
Even as he did, he was desperately keeping his voice down, as if all he wanted was to slip away undetected from the tightening grip of the supernatural disaster.
But the Bronze Agent didn't untie him.
He merely glanced at the golden rod I'd pulled from Baek Saheon's pants pocket and asked his question.
Special Prize.
"What does drawing that mean?"
"What does it mean? It means we're fucked! So we have to get out before the holiday festival cleanup crews show up. Right now, from here..."
"Die?"
Baek Saheon froze.
I cut in and asked again.
"But earlier, it looked like the person who drew it got congratulations. And there was talk of them taking an important role at next year's event..."
"......"
Baek Saheon worked his mouth, but no words came out.
Yet terror and rage flickered in his eyes.
'A binding spell?'
I met the Bronze Agent's gaze.
He gave a slight nod and asked in an even tone.
"Then explain how you obtained the direct headquarters rescue number."
"Ha! You mean it's not one of the numbers you hid all over the village?"
"...!"
"I already know everything. The whole village does. They just leave it be. But how do you even contact them with that number?"
Sarcasm poured from Baek Saheon's lips.
"Wait. You noticed the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's notices but just left them alone?"
"Yeah! Outsiders drink the sacred mountain brew, realize the truths of the world, hang themselves, drown in the river, rot at the bottom of a well, or forget it all and go on living—doesn't matter to them. Whether they slip away one by one or not, they don't give a damn. They only manage it to avoid 'possessing negativity'!"
"'Possessing negativity'? What kind of negativity?"
Baek Saheon clamped his mouth shut again.
Cold sweat dripped from his jaw.
'Another binding spell.'
A strange calm settled over me at the sight of him suffering under supernatural terror and pressure.
'...Because it reminds me of myself?'
But that was just my perspective.
"Can't answer, it seems."
The Bronze Agent had no need to feel pity for Baek Saheon.
He was the one who'd killed the tape-holders at the lodge with his own hands.
Because the Disaster Management Bureau had selected him as the villain for the job.
And Baek Saheon had held one of those tapes.
"If you know so much, walk out on your own two feet."
"I told you I can't!"
At the agent's cold words, Baek Saheon seemed to size up the situation, eyes darting.
But in the next moment, his voice steadied.
"You know that thing, right? I know it too. The stone pile in front of the village pine tree. You stack a stone there, pray, and if the agents link arms on either side, you can leave the village safely."
"...!!"
He was spot on.
From the well site, walk ninety-nine steps east to a withered pine tree. Add a small stone to the cairn in front of it.
Then pray "May the stones turn and watch over" three times. Once the whole group links arms facing the entrance, you can return to normal life safely... or so the current rule goes.
It requires at least three people, which is why two agents are deployed.
So don't forget: the agents take the left and right ends, sandwiching the rescues in the middle!
"I-I saw it all. Decades ago. That's the rescue method, right? Do it for me! I reported it! That's gotta be it!"
Desperation and frustration overflowed in Baek Saheon's tone.
But...
"That doesn't work for village people."
Baek Saheon stopped.
"...What?"
"It means it won't work for you, who lives in this village."
That's right.
-Reiterating: this won't work on people from a village in the middle of festival, so don't try it rashly. Get lost between village and reality without proper prep.
"Village people can't get out safely that way."
"...I don't live here anymore. I live in Seoul."
The Bronze Agent didn't respond.
Baek Saheon lowered his voice and wailed desperately.
"I-I only come here once a month, no, every two or three months for a few days. I don't live here! You crazy bastards!"
"The criterion is wearing feathers during the festival."
"...!"
Baek Saheon's gaze dropped.
To the rooster feather still pinned to his chest.
"~!!"
He twitched as if to rip it off, but stopped, as if it was impossible.
And he muttered.
"Can't?"
"......"
"No. No way. I'm an adult, don't live here, so I'm an outsider. There... there has to be another way. You're supposed to save citizens. Save the reporter!"
The Bronze Agent declared coldly.
"Impossible at present."
......
......
"Then die."
......
What?
"Then you all die too."
Baek Saheon's mouth opened.
"Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy! Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy! Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy! Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy... Mmph!"
I hurriedly covered Baek Saheon's mouth.
A sharp pain shot through my hand as flesh tore away.
"...!"
He'd bitten me.
"Grape Agent!"
"These guests are stealing the proxy! Stealing the proxy! Possessing negativity!"
The Bronze Agent quickly pulled my hand free. The moment the pressure on his mouth eased, Baek Saheon's voice burst out again.
And.
Figures appeared behind the well house.
No, multiple.
I realized.
"Don't make such a fuss in the village."
"Yeah. Goodness, what's all this noise in the dead of night? Our bathwater's top-notch—nice and hot. Why don't you bathe and get some good rest?"
"Can't sleep? Maybe you didn't eat enough."
Why the Bronze Agent had said that if villagers might discover us, hide quickly or subdue and stash in the well house.
The treatment had changed.
"Time for a meal~"
After the encounter at the well site.
The friendly villagers guided us back to the tiled house.
And they'd swapped our lodgings from Baek Saheon's original cramped private room to a luxurious large one with sliding paper doors.
It wasn't a suggestion. They'd just done it naturally.
Then they urged us to bathe and brought out festival foods. With alcohol.
"Down it nice and cool. It's rice wine. Rice wine."
"Picked herbs, medicinal plants, and ginseng from these mountains—super nourishing, clears the eyes right up~"
Just like those who'd clung to the jerk who'd thrown the cucumber on the ground.
Baek Saheon was nowhere to be seen.
The villagers had led him off somewhere.
"......"
A chilling premonition passed between us with exchanged glances.
Had the people who'd seen the Disaster Management Bureau's hidden notices and sent rescue requests felt this same wrongness?
The villagers laid out the meal and left the room, leaving just the two of us—but faint presences lingered outside the door for a moment.
Then they vanished.
"......"
The Bronze Agent approached the door and pressed his ear to it.
Only after confirming no sounds did he cautiously reach to crack it open and peek...
Wait.
I grabbed the Bronze Agent's shoulder to halt him.
I rummaged the table, picked up the flat candle used to warm the food.
Held it up near the sliding door.
Shadows of people pressed tight against the other side of the door.
"...!"
They were eavesdropping.
Not gone, just moved away.
'Fuck.'
A shiver crawled up my throat.
I hastily set the candlestick down naturally, then spilled a bit of water from a cup to wet my finger and switched to writing on the table.
-Is slipping everyone drugs and sneaking out impossible?
-Difficult.
The Bronze Agent replied quickly.
-In ghost stories with blatant religious tones like this, sleep aids aren't always the best method.
"......"
Of course.
They'd probably tried all sorts of methods on this long-observed ghost story.
The help notes from the Bronze Agent I'd read couldn't cover every attempt. Only the effective, safe ones became rules.
...And not a single one for rescuing villagers amid disaster.
Still.
-So exactly how do outsiders visiting this village festival go missing?
I had to ask this.
But...
-Unknown.
...!!
-Villagers send outsiders away immediately after festival ends.
Records showed plenty who'd stayed just one night but insisted on leaving mid-festival and did so.
-The problem is... some never make it home.
"......"
-Occasionally, even those who return safely choose death on their own weeks later. Numerous cases witnessed.
Mostly using natural means.
Chilling.
-Cause unknown, but common procedure confirmed.
Entering this ghost story and following the kind villagers' guidance: receiving bath, food, alcohol.
-Unclear which of the three is the trigger, but we have a hint now.
I recalled Baek Saheon's shout.
-Outsiders drink sacred mountain brew, realize world truths, hang themselves, drown in river, rot in well...
Got it.
'The alcohol's definite, at least.'
I eyed the alcohol on the table.
Clear liquor in a plain white porcelain bottle.
But...
'Drink this and realize world truths leading to death... what the hell does that mean?'
What 'truth' could it be?
Ghost story worlds often slapped "truth" on brainwashing or hypnosis to shatter minds.
Scary enough.
But scarier still:
...A real truth, one that knowing alone drives people to choose death.
Humans learning what they shouldn't.
'...Feels ominous.'
A chill gripped my chest.
...Better to just leave.
Peripheral nerves screamed: don't dig deeper, it's wiser.
And a surefire way remained.
The Disaster Management Bureau's agent escape tool.
Five-colored shoelaces.
"......"
I'd already seen the Bronze Agent subtly peek into his jacket, conflicted.
-Just leave like this?
Not a rescue target, but leaving him meant he'd never make it home even after festival end.
The agent was by-the-book, but as one himself, he couldn't ignore it.
-If no quiet way out by festival end today, then yes.
He added, looking weary and guilty.
-Sorry. I was too harsh, giving him cause for outburst.
No.
'Should've known Baek Saheon would snap...'
Lived together in company housing after wiki deep dive.
...Exhaustion dulling prediction.
I shook my head and flopped into a corner.
Already dawn.
'Festival starts soon.'
And.
Hiyaahhh!
Outside, festival music and clamor swelled to a peak, and we couldn't leave the room.
'Won't disappear.'
Festival underway, yet someone periodically brought warmed food and drink to our room.
Always two or more at the door.
Persuasion or coaxing useless.
Polite, but no intent to converse.
'This thorough?'
Perplexing.
'How the hell did Baek Saheon tip off the villagers about us?'
Unsettling.
This way, we'd really tie shoelaces and bail.
Just as the Bronze Agent's judgment tilted that way.
A voice outside.
'People making a racket over there... report here?'
'Yes. Fighting. Spilled food or something... uh oh?'
Brief commotion outside, then stampede of footsteps.
Moments later.
Slide.
Sliding door opened, familiar face appeared.
"People here too, huh."
"...!!"
Eun Ha-je, the deputy.
Bronze Agent's eyes widened.
"You..."
"Shh."
Deputy held finger to lips.
Frowned, muttered.
"Human trafficking den or what? Locking up family, dissidents, outsiders. Anyway, you want out of this room?"
"Yes!"
"Then let's go."
Eun Ha-je guided us, slipping craftily out of the tiled house.
For some reason, the house was nearly empty.
"Why the sudden staff shortage?"
"Already thinned for festival prep, then village fight broke out outside—everyone went to break it up."
"...Anyone incite the fight?"
"Who knows?"
Eun Ha-je winked.
'That guy's doing.'
Impulse to yell stop dangerous shit mixed with gratitude, throat tightened.
"Anyway, get going. Not your average village."
"......Thanks."
"No biggie."
Out a back door she'd scoped, we faced yesterday's unchanged scene.
Holiday festival in full swing.
Hiyaahhh!
"Still chaos."
Eun Ha-je turned, scratching her head.
"Don't get caught and dragged back. In this mess, slip quietly to the entrance..."
"Wait."
Bronze Agent frowned, sternly to deputy.
"Come with us."
Deputy looked baffled, of course.
"No, I told you I have other business. Gotta report to eat."
"Dangerous."
"I saved you lot from danger?"
Bronze Agent sighed. Wasting time bickering irked him, but he wanted to convince her.
Probably worried someone who'd helped this much might vanish here. Wanted to save her if possible.
But I...
'Worried, but can't say which is riskier.'
Drag her out thinking village dangerous, she neglects work, Ho Director messes her up.
Just happened to me.
'Sigh.'
Head spinning.
One more worry.
'Really okay leaving Baek Saheon like this?'
Sure, he survives to promotion without dying. If home village, not my variable; wiki says he doesn't die here.
'But... that terror was real.'
Really fine to go?
Glanced around absently—spotted him instantly.
Baek Saheon himself.
"...!"
Guy still serving food, guiding people, helping village hands.
Hollow eyes, but calmer than expected.
Then.
Ding ding ding ding ding!
Drawing time again.
Villagers sprang into orderly motion with the drawing box.
"We have to go."
"No, I mean..."
Urgent Bronze Agent and deputy's words crossed amid.
"Receive Mount Jisan's blessings!"
Villagers dispersed to outsiders.
'...At this pace, even bolting straight for entrance would've got us caught.'
Unavoidable flow.
They spotted us.
One approached us.
Our turn came naturally.
"Receive Mount Jisan's blessings!"
Drawing box proffered.
"......"
Not drawing more suspicious?
Too many villagers.
'Can't make scene.'
To slip past tiled house folks unseen, refusing or raising voice bad.
'Even if win, just leave prize.'
After fierce debate, I reached, grabbed nearest rod...
But.
Golden tip gleamed.
"...!!"
Golden-capped rod.
The one from yesterday, in Baek Saheon's pocket.
Special Prize.
"......"
Sudden mad silence around.
Gazes—felt without looking.
And.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Aaaah!"
"Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy" "Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy" "Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy" "Blessings of Mount Jisan upon the proxy"
⟨ Proxy Chant ⟩
The voices echoed.
I barely tore eyes from rod, looked up.
And saw.
Over there.
Baek Saheon, holding the drawing box, grinning in ecstasy.