Getting Stabbed Has Its Own Charm
The Amryuhwe hideout was eerily quiet, like a dead rat swept clean, but I could sense someone was there. I hugged the wall tight, trailing right behind Nahee.
The corridor stretched out long, perfect for someone to hide in, with narrow passages branching off that didn't look too cramped.
It was the ideal setup for an organization thug to leap out with a sashimi knife. The space was too tight to swing a long weapon like my sickle—I'd be at a total disadvantage, getting one-sidedly fucked over.
Tricky.
Getting stabbed isn't my thing. If it were, I'd have gone to Thailand ages ago for some real-life gender swap. I had no desire to relive the cold slice of a blade ripping into my gut.
"Why break up? Oppa belongs to me."
I'd once dated a yandere girl by mistake and suffered for it. Just thinking about it still made my abdomen twinge.
"Die!"
A thug hidden in the corridor charged at us.
Team Leader snaps her fingers, hypnosis takes effect.
Snap!
With a flick of Nahee's fingers, the guy froze like stone and crumpled to the floor. Hypnosis ability.
Nahee made sure the downed foe was secured, then picked up his knife.
"Jeongchan-ssi, grab one too."
Thanks to her powers, we wouldn't end up with holes in our guts. The hideout sweep went smoothly enough.
She was better at beating down humans than anomalies, and her abilities suited a crime syndicate more than the Response Agency.
"Everyone, heads down."
I was even more convinced watching her bombard the thugs with headbutts while grinning ear to ear.
"Looks like just small fry. We can haul them back to the Agency like this. Shall we?"
"That would be a problem."
Where'd that voice come from?
A severed head rolling across the floor stopped at the doorway and spoke.
Blonde wavy hair, red lipstick—a classic Western beauty's head. Messy, but still.
Clack-clack.
Heels clicked closer.
A headless body dropped to the floor, picked up the head, and tucked it at her waist. Dressed in a formal vest and tie, a full-on dullahan.
She had a slumped figure slung over her shoulder.
"Cheonmyeongwi Iseol..."
Nahee tensed up just from seeing her.
An anomaly that anything below 5th grade had to run from—no exceptions. Despite all the Response Agency's efforts over the years, it was one they couldn't handle.
Powerful in its own right, it would suddenly appear on night streets, seducing passersby with its eerie allure and turning them into hotel guests. Unfathomable motives.
Elusive, unpredictable behavior, and the danger of its anomalous hotel space kept the Agency on constant watch.
Why her, of all things...
Nahee couldn't even swing her mace against something that could shred a 9th grader with a gesture.
"Good call. If you'd swung, there'd be no going back."
"...!"
Reading her mind, Iseol smiled at Nahee with her eyes.
"A 9th grader and someone below that, straight out of a family photo? Must be tough for just two of you..."
Iseol's eyes met mine. No fear in them—just curiosity.
"Because of you?"
"..."
Iseol covered her mouth and laughed.
"Fun. And talented, too. Want to work at the hotel?"
"..."
Iseol pulled a ticket from her bosom.
◈ Teleport to the hotel at any desired moment.
"Work or not, you can't refuse my ticket."
The ticket flew over, slipping naturally into my pocket.
"No need to decide now. The hotel's always open."
Iseol clasped her hands politely, like hotel staff.
"No murder on your hands, and you came nicely, so I'll send you off nicely. Any questions?"
Nahee seized the chance with the capricious anomaly.
"Why let us go?"
"The Agency has factions, and so does Amryuhwe. Taking out the ones behind the sewer mess benefits us both. I want to watch them crumble."
Iseol indirectly explained Amryuhwe's factions and her desire to eliminate one via the Agency.
"Brought some helpful info, too?"
Iseol set down the person she carried. Gills on the neck, rough skin like a diver.
"Tied to that faction. Interrogate him. Farewell."
Iseol bowed, gesturing to the door with her arm.
Nahee slipped past warily, and I pretended to leave before turning back to stand before her.
"Forget something?"
He fidgeted, pondered, then spoke politely.
"If it's not too rude, mind if I stick a finger in the hole?"
"...?"
"Just the throat once."
"Want to die?"
****
"Jeongchan-ssi, get treated first."
Nahee's face was still pale as a ghost.
I'd gone back to check why he hadn't come out, and found him covered in finger-sized holes oozing blood.
I barely managed a potion but lacked the strength to pour it, so I just watched. Still grinning like an idiot.
That creepy sight made me rush the potion and drag him to the Agency for stabilization. I begged the medics: severe mental pollution, needs long-term care.
That was why Jeongchan lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
I used to hate getting stabbed. But poked with fingers this time? Not bad at all.
Guess it depends on who's doing the poking, not the act itself?
You told him to go for it in that "Can't hold back anymore, advice?" post—said he'd regret hesitating later. Now that he actually did, why complain?
↳ Doll Bloodsucker: Didn't think he'd actually do it. He'd have anyway, comment or not.
↳ Management Director: Nah, if you'd said no, I wouldn't have.
↳ Doll Bloodsucker: This crazy fuck; bullshit
↳ Deputy Manager: See? Your fault, Bloodsucker-ssi.
↳ Doll Bloodsucker: Whoa. You old hag.
They bickered endlessly, as always. Fun to watch, so I'd toss in some fuel now and then.
Getting excited over a patient gown photo.
Crazy bastard?
The world's vast, but that was still a bit beyond my "possible" for now.
Need more training.
Everyone seemed a bit unhinged lately. Probably 'cause we weren't purifying our minds with Mary pics.
She was stronger than expected. Even with ghost advice, my only solid hit grazed her side.
"Mmm. Even scratched my sensitive side. You'll pay big later. See you then~"
Like inviting me back stronger. By then, maybe I could poke the hole?
I had 4 coins.
...
Nothing to say to that.
Time to kill some time on the Anomaly Gallery.
A disheveled, exhausted-looking doctor approached.
"Jeongchan-ssi, mental pollution test time."
"Passed last time though?"
"Someone insisted strongly this time."
"Got it."
****
"Is this true?"
Operations Planning Director Yoon Jong-gu adjusted his glasses in shock while reading Nahee's report.
"Found an escape from the anomalous space, survived Cheonmyeongwi?"
"And nabbed a valuable org member. Well, she handed him over."
"Unbelievable. This real?"
"Why would I lie?"
She could've hypnotized if needed—no lies required.
"Big ripple effect either way. Latter draws bad attention... but the escape method's useful. Matches other hideout anomalies."
Yoon pulled photos from his drawer: families with only parents left, agents trapped with agonized faces shifting.
"No external extraction. Lucky there's an internal way. What is it?"
"In the report."
Yoon read aloud.
"Standard approach... uh. Hug and kiss to enter room? Works? Jeongchan-ssi must've suffered finding it."
"...Probably."
"Tell him thanks later. He's fine now? Reported severe pollution."
"Tests normal."
"Good. Why the face?"
Nahee recalled Jeongchan's antics with the anomaly.
Sane person does that?
Incomprehensible. But she valued utility over understanding. His actions helped the Agency.
"Nothing."
Yoon handed her a file from the drawer.
"Extracted intel from your catch. Team up with Jeongchan-ssi next mission?"
"Possible. I'll ask. Tough combo though? Wiping them out?"
"Something like that."