The Machu Picchu Mayhem Begins
The trigger for the Yachu Kachu Great Commotion Incident was two days before Chuseok break, on an ordinary afternoon like any other. While Mad Woman and S-man were helping Kim Hakju readjust to society, I was sprawled on the office sofa, idly scrolling through the Mystic Gallery.
"Tsk tsk, you weaklings. Spitting blood over something like this? You're far from becoming grandmasters, you mere novices."
I was pondering whether to head to that popular chubby-chubby eatery down the street for a plate of carbonara when someone knocked on the office door.
"It's open—come in."
I'd half-risen to grab my coat but plopped back on the sofa instead, nodding curtly at the suited man who entered.
"...Is this the Supernatural Phenomena Resolution Office?"
"Unless you're blind as Father Sim, you came in after reading the sign on the building exterior, so yes."
"Why the weird speech?"
"Gal! If you've come with business, it's common courtesy on this street to show respect and get to the point! Do you take me for some guard dog?!"
"......"
The man peeked into the hallway, sighed, and stepped inside.
"You seem to hate chit-chat, so as you wish—straight to business. I heard a rumor in the Mystic Gallery that you cleared a stubborn backlog that ten mystics challenged over two years but couldn't solve. True?"
"True indeed. My might is like Mount Tai, my intellect enough to make Wolryong and Bongchu green with envy—how could I feign humility and call it false?"
"...Fuck, ahem! The boss who sent me said if you're the mystic who handled that infamous backlog, he really wants to hire you. This is a designated request: advance contract fee starts at one million, plus another million on completion—total two million. If you're interested, I'll explain the details. But once you hear them, no backing out."
"You think I don't see through the wicked traitors' preemptive ploy? But I'm short on cash right now, so I'll take it. Lay it out."
"Fuck, really. Ahem ahem! The request is... this."
He pulled a thick envelope from a specially made briefcase with a locking mechanism.
Inside were exactly a one-million-won check and photos that looked ripped straight from CCTV footage.
"You know the recently opened Machupicchu Amusement Park? Unlike outdated old parks, it's a next-gen mystery theme park packed with cutting-edge tech."
"Just hearing it makes my head spin. How's a theme park named Yachu Picchu..."
"Machu Picchu."
"I know it just opened—those YouTubers and influencers won't shut up about it on SNS and YouTube every damn day."
"Then this'll be quick. As you'll see in the photos, there's a bit of a problem inside the park—suspected supernatural phenomena."
"A bit?"
"A lot."
I nodded and flipped through the photos one by one.
Most were from night operations: a huge mascot costume-like figure staring at the CCTV from the park's woods, or standing blankly in staff-only areas no civilian could access.
"From the looks, it's got a big mask, leafy headpiece, and a massive furry body—that's all that's visible."
"Does it give off any spiritual vibes? Evil aura, or curses normals can't sense?"
"If I could tell from photos, I'd spread a mat in the middle of the road and charge for readings."
Irritation boiled over enough to drop the grandmaster act.
With Chuseok looming and bad memories surfacing, some weirdo barges in with a stack of photos asking if I "feel anything." Made me wonder if he was some slick salesman.
"I assure you, no edits or pranks. We do have mascot characters, but none look like this. Staff are drilled to stick to designated spots and manuals—no way these shots happen."
"Then what is it?"
"That's why I'm asking you."
"Ah."
The thing in the photos instantly evoked primitive tribes from ancient Central American jungles, but even those filthy, bizarre savages wouldn't look this fucked up.
I set aside the deliberate primitive vibes of the wooden mask and leaf headdress, focusing on the massive furry body and any Central American ties.
One suspect came to mind: Mapinguari.
A yokai, monster, or legendary beast from Amazonian indigenous folklore—matches perfectly.
When I first entered this biz, I holed up in PC bangs, devouring occult info online. KraWiki had an entry: aggressive toward humans, stinking beast trailed by swarms of flies. Hates light, nocturnal—fits the edgy archetype for today's personality-obsessed world.
"Machu Picchu's that one of the world's seven wonders in Peru, right? Inca Empire origin."
"Yes. Peru's unique geography packs diverse terrains into one country, centered on the mysterious Machu Picchu ruins. Marketing gold, so we built the park around it as the main theme. Huge hit since opening."
"Then this foreign contaminant shows up, staff gripe and panic—mix in some supernatural fix?"
"Not that simple."
He picked a few photos and spread them out.
"Check the timestamps on these."
"All same time frame."
"Yes. Started with one, then doubled: one to two, two to four, four to eight. Same time, different spots—like taunting the CCTV."
Yeah, that'd stir shit internally. Unknown freaks in creepy getups popping up simultaneously across locations, numbers doubling? Terrifying. I'd bail too.
"We doubled security via contractors, sicced trained hounds—combed the place. Nothing. Worse: they reappear right after patrols pass."
Explained the photo pile.
"Chuseok golden week soon—way more crowds than opening. The boss who sent me doesn't want his five-year dream project derailed."
"Heard the details—pro's gotta follow through. Come Chuseok, I'll bring the office crew. Don't interfere pretending to know me."
"...I'll notify staff in advance."
I'd settled Kim Hakju's tab with a bowl of loach stew, but sniffed the crisp paper and ink of this easy million-won check instead.
That's the whole setup.
As for my "struggle" (not Adolf Hitler) before that? Pfft. Too soon to spill about yanking out my eyes and tongue in front of a cemetery like a lunatic. We're not that close yet.
"What're you thinking, boss?"
"How they thought to theme a dreamland for kids around the blood-soaked madness of the Inca Empire."
"Machu Picchu's billed as a wonder, but dig into history—pretty sinister spot. Still, folks flocking for Chuseok probably don't care."
"Stop oppressing the weak."
We're on a slow train like a coaster, heading to the mountain stage.
Truth? Zero fucks about nightly spooks here.
"Ready, S?"
"Of course, Han."
Train halted midway—we started climbing for real.
No stamina? Tough luck, jamminis—beat it.
From now on, Machu Picchu's ours.