Chapter 186: Ch 186: I’m about to lose it
My second expedition to Cheerful Theme Park has finally come to an end.
And...
The assigned Research Team was thrown into chaos.
Expedition Results:
Of the 12 personnel dispatched, 8 returned.
Among the returnees, 2 completed the expedition within the scheduled time.
Meanwhile, 6 were found in the conference room where the board game
began, on the sixth day of the expedition.
Among them, an employee displaying symptoms of complete contamination
(mask deformation) was identified and transferred to the Fox Counseling
Office.
Among the 4 who did not return, eyewitness accounts confirm the deaths of
3. All had drawn the red pawn, and one was transported by a survivor as
only a head but was lost in the yellow zone.
Additional Special Note 1) Upon visual inspection, the collected Dream
Essence was found to be of higher quality than usual. Classified as similar
to A-grade.
Additional Special Note 2) Several of the employees who returned on the
sixth day reported having worked as theme park staff. They claimed to have
received items from the gift shop as their wages.
This summary looked as though it was organized and had gone through a
thorough confirmation process as if it had been a wiki entry.
The expedition duration was multiplied sixfold, yet the resulting essence
was a grade higher. Truly, an irregularity.
And there was only one variable responsible for the irregularity.
’Me.’
A staff member of the Security Team’s special division.
However, seen as something like a ghost story creature or a contaminated
being, I managed to scare the Research Team just enough to smoothly
escape the interview hell and head home.
...During this, Supervisor Lee Seonghae kindly tried to make a friendly
gesture toward me but was blocked by a researcher.
’Which was a relief in the end.’
There was no way to contact me in the first place.
After all, all of this was just a disguise created by Director Ho.
And...
– Excuse me! I’m really really grateful for everything. How can I contact
you so I can buy you a meal...
– S-Supervisor!! That’s not allowed!
Before going home, I had to meet that very Director Ho, a boss even more
relentless and frightening than the Research Team.
As soon as I took off my Security Team suit, I checked the empty right arm
and the dokkaebi flame that had returned to its lantern form.
The dokkaebi flame, as if frightened, had its lantern completely hardened.
Director Ho, strangely, smiled with his eyes as he looked at it closely, but
fortunately, he didn’t take the dokkaebi flame away.
On the contrary, after seeing the Security Team suit I’d taken off, he said
this.
I nodded obediently.
It was clear that refusal would not be tolerated. I was in no position to
complain, either. Because, right then...
– You must have had a tough time, Soleum-nim! – Wow! After traveling with you through this Darkness, Soleum-nim, it
seems the Security Team uniform was affected in an interesting way.
– Even aside from that, it’s quite an interesting outfit, isn’t it? I’ll extend the
rental period a bit longer. You never know when you might have another
chance to use it.
– By the way, do you know anything about Jang Heowoon’s whereabouts?
Huu.
...I told only the truth.
That agents from the Disaster Management Bureau suddenly entered, and
Jang Heowoon, whose identity was divulged, was eventually taken away by
them under the pretense of rescue.
Director Ho looked unphased.
’He... looked kind of pissed, too.’
Disguised as deduction, I gave the excuse that ’because of the
contamination checks during the rescue process, Jang Heowoon’s
movements will be restricted for a while’. Somehow, it seemed to work.
– He’s the staff member sent in with you to assist, but I wonder if he was of
any use to you.
– ...Oh dear! – But Director, since Heowoon-ssi’s status as an employee of Daydream
Inc. wasn’t exposed, he should be able to continue his spy work.
– Ah, is that so?
...For now, at least.
In truth, that’s not what happened.
I destroyed it myself.
To patch this logical hole... Right before escaping the theme park, I
retrieved Jang Heowoon’s Dream Essence Collector and crushed it in the
form of a standard mascot.
If Jang Heowoon were caught with it by the Disaster Management Bureau,
it would be no different from confirming he was a spy.
But if I just left the collector inside a ghost story, it would automatically be
sent back to the company, and because of the recorded data, Director Ho
might find out exactly what state Jang Heowoon was in.
Destruction was the only answer.
– Then, was Jang Heowoon’s Dream Essence Collector recovered? The
Research Team was in an uproar, saying that A-grade essence was collected
during this expedition.
– ...Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the retrieval process so that it
wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Disaster Management Bureau.
– That’s unfortunate. Normally, the person in charge would have to pay
points for destroying a collector... Ah, right. Since this was a special
situation in the line of duty, I’ll smooth things over on my end!
– ...Yes. Thank you, sir.
– Haha, it’s not like I’m doing you any special favor, Soleum-nim. Really!
Thankfully, Director Ho let it go without further issue.
I thought there might be an uproar because the collected essence was high-
grade, but unexpectedly, he didn’t seem particularly attached to the high
grade of the essence.
’...Strange.’
Anyway, A-grade was A-grade, so I figured I should check my own elite
team collector as well... but for now, that wasn’t possible.
...Because after going through all of that, I collapsed onto my bed and slept
straight through until the next morning.
’I really thought I was going to die.’
The only consolation was that I was so tired I slept straight through the
night without waking up.
And to say it another way...
...It means my six days off vanished just like that.
And this morning.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I went to work at the Disaster Management
Bureau...
Uuugh.
"Aigoo, long time no see. Not a word from our cold-hearted MZ Grapes the
whole time you were off..."
Agent Choi, who was walking into Black-Tortoise Team 1’s waiting room
with an Americano in hand, paused when he saw me.
"Did you go off training on some mountain while you were off? You look
totally skin and bones! Hey hey, Jaekwan-ah. You agree, right?"
"Pardon?"
Agent Bronze, who was frowning as his superior pulled his arm and pointed
at me, also froze and looked flustered as he realized what condition I was
in.
"...Did something happen?"
I barely managed to answer.
"I didn’t, sleep, very well..."
"..."
"..."
It was the truth.
For five nights and six days, I’d worked day and night as a mascot at a
ruined resort...
Agent Choi and Agent Bronze exchanged glances for a moment, then, as if
coming to a silent agreement, quickly moved to sit on the nearby sofa next
to me.
"You didn’t get enough rest?"
I looked at them with a feeble expression, saying nothing.
Ryu Jaekwan asked carefully,
"I heard you didn’t come in to recharge your dokkaebi flame lantern during
your time off. ...Are you all right?"
Ah.
"Yes, I’m fine... I guess I forgot since I didn’t need it."
"..."
Phew.
For reference, the dokkaebi flame finally regained its energy after I coaxed
and comforted it.
Apparently, something had gone wrong because it was overwhelmed by the
mascot’s energy, but when I recharged it on my way to work this morning,
it seemed to regain its usual cheerfulness as it returned to the form of my
arm.
Though now, just mentioning the Security Team suit makes it tremble and
give me a dramatic thumbs-down.
"I’m sorry. You even made sure I could use my vacation time."
"That’s something you were entitled to anyway, wasn’t it?"
Agent Choi dropped his playful tone and continued comfortably,
"Hmm... Grapes-ie, you know there’s a really nice hot spring run by the
bureau out by Seoraksan, right? How about we all go together next time
we’re off? It’s pretty nice for an employee benefit."
"..."
With coworkers... to a hot spring?
...But realizing what exactly that hot spring was, I quickly nodded.
I did want to see what the Disaster Management Bureau’s facilities were
like at least once.
"Yeah. Good choice. ...Still got some spirit, huh!"
"...?!"
Agent Choi ruffled my hair and patted my back.
"When you work hard and then suddenly rest, it all catches up to you at
once. Physically and mentally."
"..."
"But you still made it to work right on time. Good job."
I only came to avoid getting exposed as a spy...
And after going through a ghost story under Daydream Inc.’s jurisdiction
this time, the Disaster Management Bureau’s ghost stories honestly felt like
fairytales in comparison...
Of course, I couldn’t actually say that, so I just nodded.
"Thank you."
Then I leaned back on the sofa and spent the waiting time...
Except for the effort it took not to be startled when Agent Choi tried to
suggest playing a board game—which I absolutely refused—there was
nothing of note.
Fortunately, there were no calls for me either.
And in the afternoon, after lunch.
"Agent Grapes!"
I met Go Yeongeun from the Preliminary Investigation Unit, who had come
by with some documents.
"Did you hear? You know, Vermilion-Bird Team 2’s... Agent Hwagak, who
worked with you, Agent Grapes..."
Ah.
Go Yeongeun didn’t yet know about the theme park incident, but it seemed
she’d learned about Jang Heowoon’s condition through other means.
"...No, this is the first I’ve heard. What happened...?"
Go Yeongeun’s face gradually lost its expression, and as if holding back
tears, she continued speaking.
"Yesterday, he was found in a severely contaminated state, and I heard he’s
now in the isolation ward. I heard he was transferred to Seoraksan..."
"..."
"They say he must’ve gotten caught up in some sort of supernatural...
disaster while you were on break."
"Are you two talking about our rookie?"
"...!"
Go Yeongeun and I both turned our heads at the same time. There stood the
Vermilion-Bird Team 2’s leader, Jang Heowoon’s superior at the Disaster
Management Bureau. He gave us a bitter smile.
Haa...
"Yeah. I guess for new agents, this could be a bit scary. When your
coworker suddenly doesn’t show up to work, it’s unsettling, right?"
"..."
"But he’s all right, given the circumstances. That’s just how it is with
people. If you look for a way, you’ll find one. What’s important is that we
got him out."
Behind the glasses of the Site Cleanup Unit’s Vermilion-Bird Team 2 leader,
I could see that unique determination agents have.
But at the same time, there was a familiar sense of fatigue and sadness...
...As if remembering the agents they’d never managed to return to their
original selves.
’Damn it.’
I suppressed a sigh and the urge to curse.
In any case, the fact that Jang Heowoon was in a treatment facility and not a
glass prison meant his cover hadn’t been blown. That was a relief...
"Still, it’s impressive that friend of mine brought him back. Hey, Haegeum-
ie!"
"Huh?"
When the Vermilion-Bird Team 2 leader waved his hand, someone
approaching from down the hall came closer.
It was the team leader-level agent who’d entered the theme park, Team
Leader Haegeum from Black-Tortoise Team 3.
’T-Team Leader...!’
I nearly choked.
"Ah. The rookies?"
"Ahh, right. These rookies entered in the same batch as our kid, and... this
one’s the new hire for the Black-Tortoise Team this year."
"Oh. The destroyer!"
...
"That Agent Choi has been doing such a good job at hiding you away that
it’s only my first time saying hello to you. Nice to meet you, by the way."
"I-It’s nice to meet you...!"
I almost retorted, but just barely held it in.
I forced down my embarrassment and greeted Team Leader Haegeum.
In my head, our ’employee dispatch deal’ was running through my mind.
’...I had to get something in exchange for sending Jang Heowoon, or it’d
look suspicious.’
That’s why I received five jade badges made by the Disaster Management
Bureau from this team leader.
...Recalling the wiki entry:
Jade badges made by Baridegi[1] Workshop are frequently used as currency
in supernatural phenomena.
Although they are known to be produced for ritual purposes, permission is
requested for them to be issued as agent supplies.
A currency of ghost stories.
It probably wasn’t a huge loss for the team leader, but it was definitely
useful.
"Still, I should properly greet our destroyer rookie agent. Here, shake my
hand."
"Yes... T-Thank you."
Even without meaning to, my shoulders tensed automatically. Team Leader
Haegeum from Black-Tortoise Team 3 gave my back a light tap, waved, and
walked off.
I let out a sigh of relief and turned my attention back to Go Yeongeun...
"Wait a sec."
...
"Haven’t we met somewhere before? You seem a little familiar."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Uh, actually, I greeted you once in the hallway outside the waiting room...
But you seemed tired and just walked past..."
"Oh?? Sorry. I’ve been busy lately. I guess I shouldn’t blame Choi then. So
there was a chance after all."
Team Leader Haegeum scratched the back of her head and laughed.
"In any case, I’m Team 3’s leader. If you’re bored on your way home, stop
by the waiting room sometime. Got it?"
"T-Thank you..."
Huuu.
Just like that, Team Leader Haegeum left while chatting with Vermilion-
Bird Team 2’s leader.
"..."
When I turned my head, Go Yeongeun was looking at me with an
expression that said, ’What in the world is going on?’
Really, a lot has happened, Yeongeun-ssi...
* * *
And then, 6 p.m.
I finally got off work.
’Wow, please.’
It was a relief that I had a day shift.
The fact that there hadn’t been any call-outs was a stroke of luck, but even
though all I wanted was to collapse and sleep even more, I couldn’t afford
to do that.
’I have things to do.’
"..."
I slipped my hand into the inventory tattoo and touched the ’thing’ I had to
take care of.
The soft plush of a stuffed toy tickled my fingertips.
That’s right.
A stuffed toy from the Cheerful Theme Park’s souvenir shop.
I’d succeeded in smuggling an original Good Friend out.
I’d used various loopholes to manage it, but I’d have to review all that again
as I went through the ritual... There’s just one important thing.
Now, I can finally summon a Good Friend under the right circumstances,
with the right medium.
’Let’s do this.’
If I delayed any longer, I might end up repeating that late-night talk show
fiasco, and just thinking about it made me break out in a cold sweat. I
quickly opened the door to my motel room and went in.
But here’s the thing.
As soon as I opened the door, someone was inside.
A lizard head.
"Mr. Roe Deer."
...??
The familiar lizard face I’d spent the last six days with quietly looked at me.
I almost rubbed my eyes.
"S-Section Chief Lee Jaheon??"
I glanced outside the motel room and then back in, but no matter how many
times I checked, it really was Chief Lizard.
No way...!
I hurried inside and carefully locked the door.
Don’t tell me...
"Are you here on Director Ho’s orders?"
"No."
"Then how did you get in here...?"
"Infiltration."
"..."
If that’s the case, you shouldn’t just stand there so brazenly...!
’Director Ho probably already knows we’re meeting in secret anyway,
but... i-is this really okay?’
Can you just drop by a spy’s lodging like this? No, seriously, why are you
in someone else’s motel room without even a word?
"W-Would you like to sit down?"
"Yes."
Flustered, I sat facing the lizard at the table.
I tried my best to explain my confusion...
"I see. But I came here to resolve something more urgent, given the
priorities."
Huu.
"I’m sorry, but I have something I need to do first."
"What is it?"
"..."
Well.
You know that talk show ghost story, the one where you rescued me with
bombs galore?
Strictly speaking, I’m planning to summon the host who was the cause of
all that chaos again...
Should I even say this? Or, no, would not saying anything just make me a
clueless idiot with no sense of danger?
For some reason, I felt like I was getting swept up in things, so I opened my
mouth and explained the general situation.
I figured he would understand that it couldn’t be helped.
"I see."
Sure enough, Chief Lizard nodded without hesitation.
However...
"Please follow proper safety protocols during the ritual. I’ll be checking."
"..."
It doesn’t look like he’s planning to leave.
And so, with Section Chief Lee Jaheon in tow, I began the official
summoning of Good Friend Braun...
’Is this... really okay?’
I’m about to lose it here.
Note/s:
[1] Baridegi – An onomatopoeic word that refers to how you’d shake a bag
or a box to guess what’s inside. ↵