Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Witch of Rebirth - 2
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"Since Manager Moon, Deputy Kang, and I are all busy today, you'll have to infiltrate the academy alone."
Cheon Seung-soo's words carried no emotion. He spoke as if commenting on the weather, or perhaps even more dispassionately.
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I had so much to say.
Giving a solo mission to a rookie on his third day, and an infiltration at a re-taker academy in Daechi-dong of all places—this was far from normal. No matter how I thought about it, something was off.
Seung-soo seemed to enjoy my hesitation. He sat at his desk and crossed his legs. Then, as if finding the situation incredibly amusing, he tapped his desk with a finger.
"Team Leader, wait..."
"Do you have a question?"
For a moment, I met his gaze before looking away. Under the fluorescent lights, his pale face glowed coldly, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
If it were him, he would surely send me to the Backrooms or push me into an even more dangerous ghost story if I refused.
"No. Understood."
As I nodded, Cheon Seung-soo raised the corner of his thin lips in a smile. As if he knew I would respond this way. He slowly opened his desk drawer, took out an equipment rental card and a gray envelope, and handed them to me.
"Here are two million won in activity funds. You can use this blue card to rent equipment. Pick it up from the security team on the first floor."
He then patted my shoulder and added. His touch was light, but for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.
"Everyone ends up working alone after some time anyway. So don't worry too much."
His tone was still flat, but it seemed to hide a certain amusement. He stood up from his chair and walked to the window. The afternoon sun shone on his pale face.
Just then, Moon Jin-wook shot up from his seat. The chair scraped against the floor with a screech.
"Team Leader, but to send a rookie who just started three days ago alone..."
"Sir, it's alright."
I hurriedly cut Moon Jin-wook off. I appreciated his goodwill, but it could be counterproductive right now. My eyes met Cheon Seung-soo's. His pupils held a cold curiosity, as if observing a lab rat.
"Manager Moon is right. Normally, we don't give a rookie a mission like this."
Cheon Seung-soo said as he turned from the window.
"But Mr. Jeong-woo is special, isn't he? He escaped the Backrooms in eight hours, and at Hwagye Station's theater as well..."
He stopped and watched my reaction. I did my best to maintain a calm facade under his gaze.
"I believe Mr. Jeong-woo is more than capable of handling this."
I swallowed hard for no reason. I couldn't tell if Cheon Seung-soo was just playing with me or if he genuinely trusted me.
The security team was located in a corner of the first floor. At the end of a hallway bathed in cold fluorescent light, behind a thick fire door, was the security team. As I pushed the door open, a thick Gyeongsang dialect filled my ears.
"Hey, isn't that the ghost we saw last time?"
"Hello."
The security team leader I had seen before turned his head from his computer monitor and gave me a wide grin. His face was impressive, with deep-set wrinkles and a strong jawline.
"The rookie who escaped the Backrooms in eight hours, right?"
At those words, all the security team members turned their heads. The people sitting in front of computers, the staff monitoring CCTV, even the person drinking coffee—all eyes were on me.
"Is that why everyone's so worked up about the words 'Backrooms'?"
The team leader let out a hearty laugh.
"Still, I haven't seen anyone come out of the Backrooms looking this fine. Back then, you were scared stiff."
Some looked at me with suspicion, others with curiosity. It seemed everyone knew just how abnormal a time of eight hours was.
I awkwardly smiled and handed over the equipment rental card and the documents. The blue card in its transparent case glittered under the fluorescent light.
"Wait, are you going alone?"
"Yes, the Manager, the Deputy, and the Team Leader are all busy."
"What did you say?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Gibberish string detected and deleted: YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0ZGhacmk0ckpGZXhEOXVWVkNoeXZTOTdZbklBRmhURGQvVVUzcC9IY1NhSA
The team leader's eyes went wide. His face was a mask of shock.
"Are you seriously going to hunt a ghost story alone?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
The team leader pulled his chair over and sat in front of me. His gaze sharpened.
"That's strange. I never took Cheon Seung-soo for the type to leave a three-day rookie to work alone..."
The team leader stared intently at me for a moment before continuing.
"Looks like you've caught that ghost's eye."
Cheon Seung-soo, me?
That sociopath?
As I was lost in thought, a staff member came out from the inner equipment room carrying something. Silver metal glittered under the fluorescent lights.
"You got it?"
The team leader took the handcuffs and taser gun, examined them, and nodded.
"This should do. But hey, where are you going that you need this stuff?"
"Ilseong Academy in Daechi-dong."
"An academy, then..."
The team leader tilted his head.
He then handed the equipment to me and added.
"This is the Repentance Handcuffs and the Zzi-rit Gun. You know how to use them?"
They looked ordinary at a glance, but thanks to the serum, the relevant information surfaced in my mind.
『Zzi-rit Gun』
-Grade: D
-Description: At first glance, it looks like a standard taser gun, but in reality, a small electric spirit resides inside. When the trigger is pulled, the spirit discharges a current of up to 1200 volts towards the front 10m. It is easier to use than standard taser guns that require a cartridge to be charged for every shot.
『Repentance Handcuffs』
-Grade: D
-Description: Handcuffs made of high-strength tungsten blessed by CTP-12 'Angel'. If a sinner wears these handcuffs, they cannot be removed by physical force until a key is used or the sinner confesses their sins.
I didn't need the explanation thanks to the serum, but it would be strange for a three-day rookie to know the equipment in detail, so I listened to the security team leader's explanation.
"The Zzi-rit Gun is way stronger than a regular taser because of the electric spirit. If you get hit, you'll be knocked out cold, for sure."
The team leader rotated the gun as he continued.
"The Repentance Handcuffs are no joke either. Once you put them on, you can't get them off without the key. Use them carefully."
I nodded as I took the equipment. The team leader patted my shoulder and added one more thing.
"Ah, whatever you do, don't lose them. Got it?"
"Thank you."
I left the security team with my now-heavier bag. The preparations were complete.
I went home and changed clothes. Cheap jeans and a worn-out hoodie. As a re-taker, I had to dress the part. However, I didn't forget to pin on the Golden Branch brooch. I had to be prepared for any potential mental corruption.
Before leaving the house, I checked my reflection in the mirror.
From this angle, I looked like the perfect re-taker.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Here's the upfront payment of 1.2 million won."
The director of Ilseong Academy looked at me with the eyes of someone who had found a gullible customer as I handed over my card. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Ah, yes, yes. You're really determined to work hard. It's rare to see someone register from the very beginning like this..."
The director took the card and said. His voice was tinged with artificial kindness.
"I'd also like to buy all the past exam question books."
"You're going that far... I take it your parents are encouraging you a lot?"
The director opened his desk drawer to issue a receipt, nodding continuously.
"So, how many years have you been a re-taker?"
"This is my first time."
At my words, the director's eyes lit up. It was the look of someone who had found the perfect mark.
"Ah, I see. Then you should probably get these textbooks as well, they're essential..."
The director began stacking heavy textbooks on his desk.
"They're our academy's exclusive textbooks. You can't get them anywhere else..."
"Yes, I'll buy those too."
My words made the director's eyes shine even brighter. He seemed completely convinced that I was a gullible kid pushed by my parents to pay for a retake.
My current disguise was a 25-year-old, completely inexperienced re-taker. The bottom of the bottom of the barrel.
But it couldn't be helped. I couldn't afford to start studying for the college entrance exam from scratch just for one infiltration mission.
Fortunately, since it was Daechi-dong, there were surprisingly few empty seats, and the students weren't interested in each other. Everyone was engrossed in their own textbooks. It was a culture where they didn't care what happened next to them.
The first class, math, passed, and just as the second class, Korean, was about to begin.
That's when it happened.
The classroom door opened and a woman walked in.
Her long, flowing hair shimmered under the fluorescent lights. The corners of her sharp eyes were slightly upturned, looking both haughty and alluring. Her high nose bridge and red lips were in perfect harmony. A black dress accentuated her voluptuous figure, and her long legs were no less than a model's.
Her looks, which overshadowed even the celebrities you only see on TV, made my breath catch for a moment. Her appearance, shining under the fluorescent lights, was like a painting.
I looked around, and the gazes of the re-takers, who had been solely focused on studying, were all fixed on her. The hands solving math problems stopped, the eyes reading English passages followed her. Even the student who had been pretending to sleep during break time subtly lifted his head.
The atmosphere of the classroom changed. Her presence, which seemed to shine faintly even under the fluorescent lights, filled the space.
I instinctively knew. That was the Repeater Witch.
As I was contemplating how to subdue her without causing a scene,
"Hmm?"
A sweet, languid nasal sound echoed. With light footsteps, she approached me.
"I see you've just registered at our academy today."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, it's just that I haven't seen your face before."
She stood in front of my desk and leaned over slightly. A sweet perfume scent brushed past the tip of my nose.
An awkward silence fell, and she was the first to smile. A gentle smile lingered on her lips.
"I'm Lee Na-rae. What's your name, oppa?"
Oppa, a playful smile, and on top of that, the sweet scent of her body up close. As expected of the Repeater Witch, any ordinary man would be completely swept away.
The Zzi-rit Gun in my pocket felt heavy. But it wasn't time yet. I had to subdue her when we were alone.
Fortunately, thanks to the Golden Branch brooch, or maybe the green spray I used this morning, I was able to maintain my composure and converse.
"Baek Jeong-woo."
I answered indifferently and pretended to focus on my studies again. Then—
Screech—
With the sound of a chair scraping, Lee Na-rae sat down in the seat next to me. Her sweet scent stimulated the tip of my nose.
"Which university are you preparing for, oppa?"
She asked, tilting her head slightly. Her black pupils sparkled. I took a breath and answered.
"Korea University, Business Administration."
"Wow, the same major as me? I'm also planning to apply for Business Admin at Korea U."
She smiled faintly and touched my arm. A chill ran up my spine.
'Getting this close on our first meeting.'
The Repeater Witch was a tougher opponent than I thought.