Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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A video plays from the glass walls. No way! I'm trapped in a bizarre prison! Where is this place? Ah, this is inside the crystal cave in ■■ City? Thanks, Brown! What? You're even going to explain how to escape? Thank you so much! We're the best of friends!
It's a miniature classic animation. The protagonist, dressed exactly like me now, converses with a rabbit doll. Something's off. Something's wrong...
I turn my head. But a video plays there too. I see! I have to break the glass around me to kill the prisoner and use him as bait to lure out the guard!
'...!'
As if tracking my gaze, the video follows wherever I turn my head.
It plays from all the glass walls.
Such an easy method in the world!
You're amazing, Brown!
The rabbit doll, the same size as me in the video, kindly hops through the space, explaining the escape method. How to move through the glass shards intact, how to torture the guard, even the map and escape routes. It calmly describes methods that are shockingly detailed and outrageously cruel.
As if explaining instructions in a children's animation...
Ah.
The video, pushed to the extreme of children's art style, shows blood and screams, the guard's severed limbs, and disaster management bureau staff evacuating.
And it ends with the 'protagonist' and rabbit doll Brown high-fiving as they watch.
Great! That's how we escape!
The final words of the video echo in my ears... and applause rings out.
Clap clap clap.
The crisp sound of gloves colliding.
"......"
Intense, ostentatious, and all the more eerie for its classic TV style.
Brown's handiwork, which I'm starting to get used to.
But I noticed one thing.
'No.'
I saw the shadow of the rabbit doll.
'You didn't break the rules of the glass prison like that.'
Because...
'The video was played from outside the glass walls.'
It's just projected into this prison. Just like how I talked to the bronze agent standing outside the glass wall.
'You got the idea from that?'
That's how you circumvented the rules.
'Making it feel like it's happening inside the glass prison for a more shocking effect.'
A short silence follows.
"......"
I opened my mouth.
'I have a question.'
'No.'
That's not it.
What I'm curious about is...
'How much of my thoughts do you know?'
......
'I see.'
It was somehow the answer I expected.
After the late-night talk show incident, I realized the host could read quite a bit of my mind. Maybe even the info I casually think of.
The glass prison escape method I just saw was probably based on that info.
But...
'That's the end of it.'
'No.'
A hollow laugh rose to my lips.
'It means you understand exactly as much as you need to.'
You're selectively picking and choosing.
Based on what's most important to you.
'Namely, entertainment.'
A cheerful voice rings out.
'Right. But... I was a bit mistaken.'
Suppressing a sigh, I said,
Now I could face it squarely.
'I unconsciously thought you'd prioritize my position over the show's fun.'
An utterly unreasonable expectation, really.
What was I expecting from the bizarre talk show host in a ghost story?
But after sharing so many secrets and incidents, even successfully escaping the talk show by agreement, some vague faith beyond rational judgment formed.
A 'somehow it feels like he would' kind of feeling.
Forgetting the 'for a more entertaining show' logic I always used to persuade him.
Understandable, since he helped at every critical moment, leading to emotional bias.
Toward that 'good friend.'
A one-sided trust built inductively.
'I won't do that from now on.'
And honestly, saying this was meaningless too.
I'll just be more careful.
But...
This much should be okay to say.
'You said you felt hurt earlier? I felt the same.'
......
The host's sigh rings out.
Whew.
The host's voice lowers.
I'm going crazy.
"That's..."
At that moment, the will-o'-the-wisp stuck to the wall floated toward me.
Eh?
"What's up?"
I carefully picked it up with one hand. Then the will-o'-the-wisp stretched out as if gathering courage, forming a shape toward the rabbit doll.
A thumbs-down.
"......"
And it (probably) burrowed its head into my side and hid.
'Don't get mad. It's fun. So you have to accept it.'
'Sorry. But isn't it similar to what you said?'
I know it's a bit crazy, but doing it openly felt refreshing.
'Anyway... that's all I wanted to say. I'm not saying your actions were wrong.'
The host's reaction was as expected.
...I won't be disappointed from now on.
I'll just be satisfied with having a conversation partner who might probabilistically help.
A few dissatisfied shoe steps sounded, then faded away.
This surprised me a little.
I didn't expect him to hold back.
'Because something more important is at hand?'
Escape.
Hm.
I stood up from my seat.
A small circular solitary cell inside the glass shard is visible.
And the 'escape method' from the video is already etched into my mind.
Now, strangely, I know how to cause a horrific disturbance and break out of this infamous glass prison.
If I did that, it'd become an irregular incident worthy of record in the Darkness Exploration Records.
But...
......
'No.'
I pondered.
And reached a conclusion.
I'll choose the best method available to me now.
......
'Yes, I do.'
I sat back in the chair.
'...I'll go through the full interrogation.'
"......"
Agent Choi lowered his head.
The updated interrogation record of the prisoner was in his hand.
With each page turned, a week's worth of records, dismal even to behold, appeared.
Refusal to testify and deteriorating health. Interrogation methods growing ever more extreme.
But past that painful period, changes began to show.
Like this.
Day 8.
Prisoner Condition: Poor. (Recovery trend)
A significant change in the prisoner's attitude observed after the previous day's interrogation.
Drastic reduction in uncooperative responses such as inducing audiovisual disturbances to avoid questions or maintaining silence.
Sleep and meal times increased to near recommended levels; observed caring for the will-o'-the-wisp or checking the doll he called his 'friend'.
Presumed influence of appointing a familiar agent as new interrogator.
Since Ryu Jae-gwan arrived.
Handler's Personal Opinion: The prisoner clearly seems to be regaining stability. More efficient to continue naturally drawing out confession than intensifying interrogation.
Multiple associates agreed without objection.
The pages piled up like that.
Day 9.
Prisoner Condition: Poor. (Recovery trend)
Special meal (galbitang) permitted. Interrogator brought the same menu, dined with prisoner while conducting interrogation.
Prisoner responded sincerely to questions.
Admitted that his contamination traces originated from separate supernatural disasters experienced before working at the Disaster Management Bureau.
The prisoner in the glass prison began sharing more and more, with hints of deeper conversations with the interrogator scattered throughout.
His personal history, personality, fondness for the Disaster Management Bureau, fear of supernatural disasters, relief and fulfillment from rescuing citizens.
Days passed like that...
Until finally reaching here.
Day 12.
Prisoner testified to having worked at ■■■ Corporation.
Confirmed involuntary pressure during application to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's public recruitment and separate goals to achieve during duty.
However, verified as truth: strong prohibition akin to mortal peril, no intent to harm the Bureau, no actual damage to the Bureau during duty.
Confirmed prisoner's desire to continue working regardless of initial purpose.
Interrogator reported testimony to higher agency.
"......"
The agent steadied his slightly trembling hand and turned to the next page.
The final page.
Day 13.
Prisoner Condition: Good.
And.
Testimony secured during prisoner's interrogation passed reliability checks.
Detention of 37-999 (Agent Name: Grape) lifted; agent status restoration approved.
Scheduled for release tomorrow.
And that tomorrow is today.
Thud.
Agent Choi closed the pages.
Tension and relief crossed his fatigued face.
"He'll be out soon."
"Yeah."
"Stop pacing."
"Right."
But Agent Choi was still pacing the waiting room.
Because plans for the future were crystallizing clearly in his mind.
'This isn't the end.'
Since his spy status was essentially acknowledged, there might be quite a thorny procedure ahead.
But that would be commendation and discipline for an agent.
Kim Sol-eum would undergo that investigation as a member of Xuanwu Team 1...
'Then I can somehow help.'
That was what mattered.
Now, the glass prison handler would retrieve the glass shard containing the agent Grape, lift the prohibition, and hand him over to them.
Then, before discipline, they'd have a frank talk about Daydream Corporation, and discuss the secrets, items, and abilities he hid...
'That can proceed slowly.'
The important thing was that the interrogation ended well, and Kim Sol-eum regained stability.
A long detour, but success.
Agent Choi finally exhaled in relief.
The bloodcurdling last two weeks were over.
I can't even count how many things I tried to reach this conclusion. And...
"...Jae-gwan."
"......"
"Thanks. You worked hard."
The bronze agent sitting opposite nodded slightly.
Stoic demeanor, but reading the soft gesture of reconciliation within, Agent Choi simply gazed calmly at his junior.
A smile returned to Agent Choi's face.
Regret and gratitude intertwined.
"First, all three of us need to hit the hot springs. For real. I'll cover all the fun there."
"Yes."
As he patted Ryu Jae-gwan's back.
Knock knock.
"...!"
The door opened, revealing the handler.
"Detention lifted."
"Then..."
"Yes. Agent Grape is waiting in the waiting room now."
"Thank you."
Agent Choi hurriedly shook hands with the handler, then quickened his steps.
"Wait a sec..."
He already knew the waiting room location. Agent Choi strode into the cave without hesitation, heading for the iron door with a nameplate near the entrance.
He'd be inside.
Kim Sol-eum.
"......"
...What to talk about first was still a mystery.
Honestly, I still don't know his true identity.
'What the hell was that.'
That bizarre lab and supernatural being's appearance too.
But one thing I could be sure of: the night the prohibition was placed, Kim Sol-eum tried to save me.
Risking death.
"......"
So.
'We'll figure it out from now on.'
Agent Choi opened the iron door without hesitation. And...
No one was there.
"......"
The empty waiting room held no trace of a person.
As if never there to begin with.
"Agent?"
Agent Choi froze, then looked around the waiting room again.
Only something stark white remained incongruously on the metal chair.
A single neatly folded sheet of paper.
One word written on the front.
Resignation
Agent Choi snatched it up.
Small items inside the paper scattered to the floor with a rustle.
Eyeball candies to syringe sticks.
Looking like junk, but all undoubtedly items.
"......"
He froze again briefly, then unfolded the paper.
Handwritten words pressed firmly into the page.
Hello, Agent.
I wanted to sincerely apologize for everything that's happened so far.
I'm truly sorry.
The letter from Agent Grape began like that.