Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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I knew that.
The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau was strictly controlling information about this ghost story, the "Goblin Workshop," to prevent any leaks.
Precisely... only up to that point!
'I had no idea how they were managing the ghost story...'
It wasn't even mentioned in the [Darkness Exploration Records]!
Who would ever imagine they were going undercover right inside the ghost story itself, weeding out visitors and monitoring the equipment production?
Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau agents—humans—pretending to be goblins in a ghost story!
[Huh? You're taking a while to respond!]
My head was spinning.
'...What do I do?'
Wait, what had I been babbling about up until now?
A chill ran down my spine as I frantically replayed our recent conversation in my mind like a panorama.
The critical mistake... right, I hadn't made any.
'...I'm good!'
I could still salvage this. I could salvage it...
So.
I deliberately let a slightly pale, flustered expression show fully on my face.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I haven't been given permission to share that kind of information..."
[......]
I played dumb.
I was just a newbie who had no clue this guy was human, let alone a senior agent.
Just some rookie startled by a goblin prying into my personal details, fumbling awkwardly but trying my best to handle it!
'Please!'
I lifted my head slightly with an expression that screamed, "What do I do with this goblin?"
[Man, you government Kims sure have a lot to worry about.]
"......"
Phew.
[I heard you government folks call your teams 'squads.' Why can't you tell me??]
"Yes. Um, yes... I'm sorry. That's just how the higher-ups have it set."
[Such a buzzkill!]
The agent pretending to be a goblin smacked his lips and backed off a step.
'Good.'
Did it work?
[Still, you've got a kind heart giving me that ginseng. I'll let it slide!]
The agent seemed intent on keeping up the goblin act.
'...Looks like the bait took.'
The classic "tease the junior."
He was probably nurturing a desire to make this newbie faint in shock later upon hearing "that was an agent."
I'd guessed it when I saw him sniff the ginseng scent from the tattoo storage like a real goblin.
'Maybe imitating a goblin rubbed off on his abilities and personality.'
Probably using some kind of "equipment" like that.
And goblins loved pranks like this.
"Th-thank you."
I bowed deeply, playing along perfectly.
[Kind-hearted government Kim, I still owe you for the booze!]
[Tell me what goblin trinket you want! Recite it in song, dance it out...]
Now he was even trying to give the newbie something.
He must've figured the wild ginseng I'd offered was a precious item I'd gotten somewhere, and I'd handed it over too hastily in my panic.
'...The most natural response is,'
"N-no, it's fine, sir! Instead... next time other 'government Kims' visit, please show them the same kindness. As much as you're feeling good right now."
[...Ho, really?]
"Yes!"
[Got it, Kim. I'll make it worth the booze!]
I nodded with a bright smile. The goblin looked somewhat satisfied and did a little jig.
Good. That topic passed.
And naturally, the conversation shifted to the GripTok I was holding.
[So, what brings government Kim here today... you want this charm fixed up nice?]
"...Yes."
This was the problem.
This agent had spotted that my GripTok wasn't made here...
Cold sweat beaded in my palms.
And sure enough, the goblin-masked agent asked without pretense.
[Where'd this thing come from?]
"I-I'm not sure. It was a gift from the higher-ups..."
[Yeah, yeah. These days, government Kims run factories too? Keep bringing stuff from elsewhere...]
[Dangerous business.]
"......"
[Never know when a day goblin might show up!]
Right. The Bureau wasn't just using this one workshop for agent gear anymore.
'The Silver Heart came from somewhere else too.'
Anyway, he seemed to have mistaken it for something made at one of those other places.
A very welcome misunderstanding.
'Saved by it.'
Seeing him mention day goblins at the end while sticking to the act to the finish settled my nerves a bit.
Thanks to that, I could admit it casually.
'Anyway, nailed it.'
This agent would definitely remember me—the guy who showed up out of nowhere today and even offered ginseng.
'The moment he leaves this ghost story and chats with the Bureau folks, I'll be a person of interest on their radar.'
...Was there really no way out?
[Anyway, I'll fix that charm right up, so wait here!]
"Yes..."
The goblin-impersonating agent took my GripTok and dashed into the tiled house—the "workshop."
Probably handing it off to the other goblins inside.
I waited obediently.
For a moment, grim thoughts of him assessing the situation, confiscating my GripTok, and emergency-calling the Bureau made sweat trickle down my back.
Fortunately, it didn't take long.
[Here's your charm!]
The returning agent tossed the GripTok lightly my way. I caught it carefully, swallowing a curse.
The cracks were still there.
But the grooves were smoothly filled with a glossy substance.
Jade-colored adhesive that shimmered.
"Ah, so this finishes the repair?"
[Hey now, even cooking rice needs steaming—think an old master's handiwork finishes smooth as congee? Wait till the adhesive fully sets!]
[Don't wear it for a month. Treat it like a bundled newborn, precious as gold or jade. Make a wish on what form it'll take. Then it'll be one fine charm!]
A month?
"...Thank you."
I gripped the GripTok lightly.
'...Feels like it'll split if I squeeze even a little.'
Meaning I had to handle it with extreme care until the adhesive hardened in a month.
In other words...
'No wiki access for a month.'
I was pushing myself daily to reread and memorize as much as possible crystal clear, and now that routine was shot.
Of course, human memory had limits, so anxiety bubbled up... but no choice. I'd endure. Getting a new GripTok seemed impractical.
'At least the repair worked.'
One problem down.
Now, how to exit naturally.
[Come on, have a buckwheat cake the young Kim brought while you're here... Tell me what you government Kims have been up to lately!]
'Like I'd know...'
'More chit-chat like this, and it'll blow up any second.'
Wanted poster or not, I could end up bound and shipped to a glass prison at Bureau HQ right here.
...Yeah.
I steeled my resolve.
'Long-term, I'm screwed anyway.'
So... even if it made me more memorable,
Go big!
"Yes, sir. I..."
Hack.
I didn't hold back the blood surging up—I just spat it out.
Hack. A clot trailed down my chin.
I wiped it frantically with my sleeve and looked up at the goblin with a panicked face.
"S-sorry..."
It wasn't just to amp up the panic.
Blood was
[Kim!!]
a traditional goblin taboo.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The massive tiled house shook.
Scary! Scary! Scary!
Why scary? Why scary? Why scary?
[Hey! Everyone calm down! It's nothing!]
Scary! Who's that? Scary! Who's that?
Even as the agent yelled, the house kept vibrating. Pale as a ghost, I clamped my mouth and dry-heaved.
"S-sorry."
[Get out now. Whoever sent a sick newbie to goblin turf, I'll...!]
"N-no! Sir, it was me... I came in blind."
[Sir? What sir! This punk still doesn't get it?]
Time to act like I caught on.
"...!"
I widened my eyes, then scrambled to my feet.
"Could it be..."
The goblin agent crossed his arms.
[Thank your lucky stars I'm here, newbie.]
"Y-yes... Sorry."
I pulled myself up with a dazed look screaming "What the hell is going on?"
Thud. Thud.
Now came sounds like brooms or wooden clubs banging at the workshop door.
Tsking at that, the agent barked at me.
[If you're sick, rest up—why crawl into a place like this? HQ's orders?]
Huh?
If I spun this right...
"...No."
I quickly dredged up an episode from the Bureau in my mind.
'There was that betting culture at the training center!'
A kind of guts test, competing on skill and nerve.
Perfect. This would work...!
"...My classmates said to get the Memorial GripTok fixed on my own..."
The agent flinched.
[...They still do that crap?]
I just gave a wry smile.
The goblin-masked agent seemed to swallow a groan, rubbed his face, then shooed me away.
[......I'll let it slide without reporting to HQ. Just get out.]
It worked.
"Th-thank you."
[What's your code name?]
"Haven't gotten one yet... Been thinking about it."
[...Right. I'll see it when it comes through.]
The fake goblin waved me off.
Whoosh.
With that gesture, I was pushed back... and
[Go rest up.]