Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Buddy
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There was no CCTV in the back alley, and we were close enough that our lips could have touched. For a moment, I sniffed the air. A sweet scent tickled the tip of my nose.
Narae's sweet body fragrance was growing thicker. It was like stepping into a dessert shop, no—far more intoxicating than that.
The scent had a strange, addictive quality. It made my head feel slightly dizzy, as if I had just inhaled a narcotic.
I need to stay focused.
The moment I thought that, the serum's effect activated. Related information flooded my mind like a tidal wave.
📜 Ghost Story Alert 📜
Repeater Witch (Fox Bride)
A ghost story about a witch at a cram school who ruins students' gap years. In truth, the witch's real identity is a fox disguised as a human.
She casts illusions related to romance to drain one's vital energy. The victim does not die, but many commit suicide due to the disorientation between reality and the illusion after waking up.
A highly praised story in the Ghost Story Gallery, blending the Korean motif of the Gumiho with the internet term 'Repeater Witch'.
The original story I had read in the Ghost Story Gallery only involved casting illusions to bewitch the mind. But the Narae standing right in front of me seemed to have more than just illusions in mind.
She suddenly burrowed into my arms. She buried her face in my chest like a beast and took a deep breath, letting out a low moan as if humming a tune.
"Hng... You're overflowing with Yang energy."
Her lips slowly moved toward my neck. A hot breath brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
Narae pressed her lips to my neck, like a beast marking its territory, and sucked hard. Schllp.
A kiss mark...!
She had left behind what was colloquially known as a 'hickey,' or technically, a 'kiss mark.'
If this keeps up, my chastity might be in danger. Thinking that, I quickly reached into my pocket. The cold metal texture of the Chiririt Gun touched my palm.
Narae's lips were now heading for mine. The pale yellow streetlight illuminated her face. In the dreamlike atmosphere, her red lips grew closer and closer.
I drew the Chiririt Gun at that exact moment.
"Huh?"
The moment she saw the Chiririt Gun, her pupils slitted vertically like a cat's. But it was already too late.
I pulled the trigger, and a blue electric current shot out. The current struck Narae's body directly.
⚡ ELECTROCUTED! ⚡
System Shock!
Target has been stunned.
Narae convulsed violently all over and collapsed. Before she hit the ground completely, I grabbed her wrist and slapped on the Repentance Handcuffs. The cold sound of metal rang out through the quiet alley.
"Ugh... Who are you?"
Narae, having regained her senses, ground her teeth and asked.
"The Tai Chi Sect? The Mu Lien? Or perhaps..."
She thought for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and continued.
"The National Abnormality Emergency Service?"
Names frequently mentioned in the Catastrophe Foundation's lore spilled out of her. It seemed she had been active in the underworld for quite some time. But I answered calmly.
"The Catastrophe Foundation."
In an instant, her face turned pale. The color drained completely from her cheeks, which had been flushed red.
"The... Foundation?"
Narae's pupils trembled with fear. Suddenly, she grabbed my legs and began to beg.
"Please, big brother... Not the Foundation. If I go to the Foundation, I'm really dead!"
Her voice was trembling. I ignored her and dialed the number for the Disposal Team that Moon Jin-wook had given me.
"Please... Just let me go this once. I'll never come down from the mountain again. I won't drain anyone else's vital energy. So..."
She looked pathetic, begging with tears welling in her eyes. The moonlight happened to be shining on her tears, making her look even more pitiful.
But I knew all too well what happened to those who took pity on ghosts in the Catastrophe Foundation's world.
After sending the GPS coordinates to the Disposal Team, Narae seemed to realize something.
She desperately tried to break free from the handcuffs. But the Repentance Handcuffs would never come off. They only left wounds on her wrists.
Not long after, the Disposal Team arrived, dressed in white protective suits. Without a word, they professionally loaded the handcuffed Narae into their vehicle.
"Big brother... Please..."
I could see Narae banging on the window and shouting something. But I turned away and checked my smartphone.
✅ CLEARANCE NOTIFICATION ✅
[You have successfully escaped the 'Repeater Witch' ghost story.] [You escaped the ghost story faster than anyone else.] [Basic reward granted: 50,000 Talents]
+ 50,000D
[Additional reward granted: 25,000 Talents]
+ 25,000D
As the car drove away, I touched the kiss mark left on my neck. The spot where her lips had touched was still hot.
How do I get this off...?
It didn't look like it would disappear before I had to go to work. I was worried about how I would explain this at the office tomorrow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After getting home from work, I logged into the Ghost Story Gallery. Unlike usual, the traffic was good today.
Skimming through the feed, I saw a post from a veteran user saying they had passed the 7th-grade civil service exam and joined the National Abnormality Emergency Service. A line of congratulatory comments from other Ghost Story Gallery users followed.
Thanks to the serum, related information surfaced.
⚙ INFORMATION ⚙
National Abnormality Emergency Service (NAES) A government-affiliated abnormality organization of South Korea. Unlike the Catastrophe Foundation, which has branches all over the world, NAES focuses on handling abnormalities occurring within South Korea and resolving related legal issues. They can freely cooperate with government agencies like the National Security Office, NIS, National Police Agency, and Ministry of National Defense, and can form task forces capable of skillfully responding to supernatural situations.
In short, it was one of the organizations that maintained order in the ghost story world, much like the Foundation. I thought it was fortunate that a fellow Ghost Story Gallery user had joined such a place and left a congratulatory comment.
Then, I decided to share what had happened today. The sound of typing filled the quiet room.
📰 Post
Title: Story about catching a Gumiho lolAuthor: [Baekyaⓖ] My team leader told me to infiltrate a cram school and catch the Repeater Witch, so I immediately knew it was that ghost story from the gallery lol. The fox tried to get me drunk and cast an illusion on me at a bar, but no chance. I immediately used the 'Golden Branch Brooch' lol. I tased her with the Chiririt Gun and subdued her, then handed her over to the Disposal Team. How was that?
Not long after posting, a notification chimed. As expected, a comment was posted.
— Cryptidⓖ
So did you do it with the Gumiho?
— Baekyaⓖ
↳ Reply
Do what?
— Cryptidⓖ
↳ Reply
What else? Sex, obviously.
Typical of a 'Monster Hunter', I laughed in disbelief at Cryptid's question about whether he did it with a Gumiho.
— Baekyaⓖ
↳ Reply
No way;;; I didn't do it, afraid of what might happen.
— Cryptidⓖ
↳ Reply
Wow, you didn't touch a Gumiho? I'd have just closed my eyes and done it. You're one cold bastard.
— Jjolmyeon-500wonⓖ
↳ Reply
Fr lol. He's the perfect recruit for the Foundation.
Reactions like 'You'd get laid even if you were offered it,' 'Totally insensitive,' and 'Impotent' followed.
Getting fed up, I turned off the constantly chiming notifications. One characteristic of the Ghost Story Gallery was that once a topic came up, they would latch onto it and not let go. Especially a topic related to sex, they would play with it for days.
Lying in bed, I thought about it. The events of the entire day swirled in my head.
Well, it's better to be called impotent than to lose my mind and do something with a Gumiho, only for something to explode.
Thinking that, I pulled the blanket over my head and fell asleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual. Kang Ha-na and Moon Jin-wook were already at their desks. Both looked tense for some reason.
"What's going on, so early in the morning?"
When I asked, Moon Jin-wook shrugged and answered.
"The team leader said he has an announcement and told us to come in early."
"Huh? I didn't hear anything about that."
Checking the company messenger in confusion, I saw a notice sent by Team Leader Cheon Seung-soo at seven in the morning. It was before I had arrived, so I hadn't seen it.
As everyone sat in awkward silence, nine o'clock finally arrived, and Team Leader Cheon Seung-soo appeared in the office.
"Sorry for calling you in so early."
He sat at the table and spoke.
"As part of the Ghost Story Rehabilitation Project, another new hire is joining our team besides Mr. Baek Jeong-woo."
"Pardon?"
I couldn't believe what Cheon Seung-soo was saying. The band-aid on my neck was uncomfortable, but it was necessary to hide the kiss mark.
Ghost Story Rehabilitation Project.
Thanks to the serum, related information surfaced. The Catastrophe Foundation tends to use ghost entities that are friendly to humanity and the company in ways that benefit the company.
Among them, the Ghost Story Rehabilitation Project was a project to directly accept ghost entities as team members within the company's organization.
For example, using a werewolf as company security, or using an immortal ghost as a material for a resurrection potion.
No way...
A bad feeling washed over me. But Cheon Seung-soo continued, ignoring it.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and a woman entered.
It was Lee Na-rae, wearing a suit and a choker. Unlike yesterday, she was neatly dressed, but the bandage wrapped around her wrist caught my eye.
The moment she entered, she glared at me intensely, then bowed her head to greet Kang Ha-na and Moon Jin-wook.
"I'm Lee Na-rae, a new employee joining Field Investigation Team 4."
Her voice was completely different from yesterday. The sweet, coquettish voice was gone, replaced by a professional and cold one.
Kang Ha-na and Moon Jin-wook looked at me and Na-rae with subtle expressions.
"Well then, I hope we can all get along."
Cheon Seung-soo smiled as he spoke. He acted as if it were a normal welcome ceremony for a new hire, but everyone knew. This was no simple welcome ceremony.
"Ah, and."
Cheon Seung-soo said to Moon Jin-wook.
"From now on, Jeong-woo will be Na-rae's buddy. Keep that in mind."
"...Pardon?"
I let out a confused voice. The ghost I had captured and handed over to the Foundation just yesterday, and now I had to work with her.
"Alright then, everyone, get back to your seats and get to work. Ms. Lee Na-rae's seat is..."
Cheon Seung-soo pointed to the seat next to mine.
"Here."
Lee Na-rae walked gracefully to the seat next to mine. The moment she sat down, a sweet scent brushed past the tip of my nose again. It was the same scent from yesterday.
"Please take good care of me, Senior."
She said with a slight smile. But that smile didn't look sincere at all. Rather, it felt like a cold gaze filled with the determination to get revenge.
For some reason, a shiver ran down my spine at that gaze, and I touched the band-aid on my neck. The kiss mark made yesterday throbbed hotly.
I couldn't help but laugh.
I'm totally screwed. For real.