Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 169
On the day of the appointment.
“Congratulations on your official appointment as Agent Podo~!!”
“......”
“Bwahaha! How about we go out for a meal tonight? We’ve accumulated quite a bit of overtime meal expenses for this month, right? How much was it again? Anyway, it’s on me!”
Wow.
I received the welcoming greetings from the agents of Team Hyeonmu 1 in the break room with eyes that had given up on everything.
Actually, it didn’t even feel like a proper welcome. I had seen them just a few days ago.
It was just that today, I was officially assigned to Team Hyeonmu 1!
“…I look forward to working with you.”
“......Yes.”
By the way, the senior who had promised to try their best to request a transfer to another team is also here.
Agent Cheongdong is avoiding my gaze while shaking my hand.
“......”
I see. Agent. I’m the one who dug this grave….
‘The Destroyer King... let’s try to work diligently and maybe make that nickname disappear.’
Even though I’m a spy, I’m wondering if this is okay.
‘Heh...’
In the end, I nodded to Agent Choi as well.
I’d be seeing them constantly from now on, so it would be foolish to say one more word about how I didn’t want to join Team Hyeonmu 1.
“...Thank you for the warm welcome.”
“Oh, no problem~”
Agent Choi smiled broadly and patted my back.
Anyway, they seem like a decent person….
“We’ll be working together for life, so shouldn’t the welcome be a bit more grand? Haha!”
“......”
The early mission-driven mindset of the agents is a bit scary.
“Let’s work together for a long time, Podo…”
No, a lot…
Anyway, Agent Choi’s suggestion for a meal became a reality that evening.
After finishing their work, the agents of Team Hyeonmu 1 moved together to go eat.
“This is a place we often visit. The owner used to be one of our retired agents. Ah, please bring us a large serving of beef intestines stew! And two bottles of soju.”
And so, at a table in the corner of a popular restaurant, we started eating and chatting casually, with a light drink.
During the meal, I was formally introduced to Team Hyeonmu 1.
“The team number doesn’t really matter much anymore, but when the team was first established, Team 1 had the tougher assignments, you know? So, you can definitely take pride in being part of this team with such senior members!”
I already knew this.
But hearing it directly from the person in charge was new.
It felt new to hear about the current situation.
“Originally, Team Hyeonmu 1 had five regular employees under the team leader… but two of them are on sick leave, and one is… well, on personal leave.”
“......”
They didn’t mention it, but I’m sure many of them passed away in the line of duty.
I recalled the various messages written on the whiteboard in the break room, and looked at the two remaining members of the team.
Agent Choi grinned.
“Finally, we’re back to having three members. It’s nice, huh? Hey, Jaegwan, don’t you think so?”
This person... maybe they were just happy to see a new face.
I suppressed a bitter smile. I just nodded to the two of them, lifting my glass.
“Thank you again for the warm welcome…”
“…!”
Even though they knew I had strongly wished to be assigned to another team, I was grateful they hadn’t scolded me once for joining Team Hyeonmu 1.
And it seemed like they understood what I meant.
“No, we should be the ones thanking you.”
Agent Choi waved their hand casually, saying it as they passed by.
“You didn’t want to join, right? Our team.”
“......”
I stifled a sigh and took a drink of soju.
“I don’t mind the rescue squad, it’s just... I couldn’t trust myself.”
“Solem.”
Agent Choi looked at me.
“It’s okay. There’s no one like that.”
“......”
“Who can say 100% that their actions in a supernatural disaster are correct? If someone does, that would be the supernatural phenomenon itself.”
The senior, who had started calling me by name and title instead of ‘junior,’ smiled as they served the stew.
“…But we have the advice of those who have gone ahead of us.”
“......”
“Trust that.”
The exploration records.
“And then, one day, you might want to try things first, ready for what comes next, and then you’ll be able to give advice to someone who comes after you.”
“......”
Agent Cheongdong’s eyes dulled, but he didn’t argue.
It seemed like the two of them had already fought and come to an agreement on this matter long ago.
“But no need to think that far ahead for now!”
Agent Choi smiled broadly and refilled my glass.
“You’ve had a hard time since joining, Solem.”
I couldn’t deny it.
“But honestly, incidents like these happen once every six months or so, or if you’re lucky, you won’t experience one for a few years. Don’t worry, it’s not like this happens all the time just because you joined our team.”
Agent Choi smiled and clinked glasses with me.
Cheers.
“You’ll do well.”
“......”
“I’m sure.”
I nodded.
And, just like that, those words turned into reality.
***
Three weeks after the official appointment to Team Hyeonmu 1.
“Podo, over there!”
I was performing rescue operations in the ghost stories much more smoothly than expected.
“Catch!”
“Yes!”
I grabbed a rescue requestor who was desperately trying to escape and shoved them into a washing machine.
“Ahh!”
Sorry, please hold on, it’s the escape route!
“Hey, it’s done! Run!”
Before the drying cycle was finished, I climbed into the empty washing machine, submerged myself in the spinning water, and...
“Phew!”
I successfully escaped.
“Rescue requestor and two others, successfully rescued from ‘Four-Way Laundromat.’”
Today, I saved three citizens from a crazy laundromat that remodels personalities and bodies.
And the last three weeks had been similar.
‘Once every three days, I get deployed….’
Honestly, it’s scary and intense.
But...
“Is that person... The Destroyer King? Wow, they handle things really efficiently!”
“Hahaha! Exactly, Team Leader!”
“......”
Surprisingly, the Destroyer King newbie image was surprisingly useful!
The Destroyer King newbie is adjusting smoothly ^^
Is this your room now?
It’s a bit funny and friendly, but with a positive character being established, adapting was easy.
Moreover, my character was getting stronger day by day. At this point, it wouldn’t be weird if it was listed on the wiki.
‘I’m a named agent in the Disaster Management Bureau...’
Honestly, it’s not a bad feeling.
And truly, I don’t know if it was the bad luck I went through before, but in the last three weeks, there hadn’t been any sudden incidents in the ghost stories.
All that was left was to follow the existing rescue manuals and bring people back.
As long as I can endure the terrifying things!
‘If the ghost stories have a disaster management number, it means the Bureau has already dealt with most of it.’
I could understand why solo missions are frequent.
‘This is bearable…!’
Even still, I was teamed up with a partner since I was a newbie.
Less scary and safer!
So, I casually mentioned this to Agent Cheongdong, and he quickly frowned.
No, it’s not safe.
…...
Your standards are a bit twisted.
You’ll understand after spending half a year at Daydream like I did....
‘It makes me want to cry.’
Agent Cheongdong, while trying to take care of me too much since I joined Team Hyeonmu 1, subtly avoids personal conversations. I think he feels a bit guilty about it. I understand….
Anyway, the last three weeks were bearable despite the tension.
I naturally blended into Team Hyeonmu 1, and now, when I meet people in the headquarters, I no longer need to introduce myself as part of Team Hyeonmu 1.
Everyone already knows that I’ve blended into this team.
‘...It was okay.’
There’s a sense of stability that comes from belonging, and I can’t deny it.
...The problem is, it’s about time that solo missions start coming my way.
Sigh.
‘Alone... It’s going to be scary.’
Having to experience ghost stories alone every three days. That’s the real problem.
But before that, this proposal came.
“Podo, want to take a break?”
It was when I was finishing up work at the break room after the transfer to the field cleanup team.
“You haven’t taken a proper break in the last three weeks, and you’ve been doing support work non-stop. You were hospitalized a month ago too, you shouldn’t push yourself. Now you need a break to cool your head and recover your stamina.”
Agent Choi made this suggestion.
And...
To be honest, this was a bit of a calculated situation.
‘It’s hard to use up vacation days as a newbie...’
So I deliberately extended my working hours as much as possible, hoping that a higher-up would suggest giving me a few days off.
‘Success.’
As soon as Agent Cheongdong made eye contact, he quickly nodded.
Good.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, don’t forget to attach your days off to the ones you already have!”
And just like that, I could take four days off at once.
When I added the two days off I get weekly, it became six days.
Of course, the reason for needing this free time was obvious.
[Mr. Kim Soleum, the psychological stability test results have come in. Please make an appointment when you have time^^]
I got a text from Ho, the director, last week.
...Soon, I’ll be entering the cheerful theme park.
‘Let’s get ready.’
And I’ll take care of the schedule I put off while working.
[Won’t you exchange?]
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[This is information you definitely want to hear.]
It seems Baek Saheon was ready.
And that evening.
I met him at a secluded room cafe in Seoul.
“Hurry up and speak.”
As soon as we met, Baek Saheon’s temples tensed at my urging.
“...Well, this is a transaction, you know. If you speak like that, it doesn’t make me feel good.”
“You like efficiency, don’t you? Isn’t it better to speak quickly, get the goods, and leave? Live your life calculating things.”
“~!”
Baek Saheon briefly made an expression of utter frustration but quickly masked it with a smile.
“...Alright, then!”
Oh. Looks like he's feeling confident.
I focused, ready to listen.
“Well...”
Baek Saheon spoke with a very significant tone, revealing something important...
“Two of our batchmates have disappeared.”
“......”
“Do you
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“Jang Heo-un.”
“…!”
Ugh.
“I know, move on.”
“Wait a minute. You don’t know where they went, do you, Chief?”
Yeah, I do.
I stared at Baek Saheon with cold, piercing eyes, and he started sweating nervously, continuing to speak.
“They went to the branch office!”
No.
“The branch office, you know? The one in the rural area. A lot of employees from there have recently been transferred to the head office, but it seems like a suspicious place. They cut off all contact...”
“Next.”
No, that’s not it.
I have a feeling Baek Saheon cursed at me in his mind.
‘Just do it...’
But I had to give him a little hope to get more information out smoothly. So, I changed the subject.
“Tell me something else. It’s tiring for you to keep babbling about things I already know.”
“......”
“Any other rumors?”
Baek Saheon briefly looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘How do you know this?’ but eventually revealed the next piece of information.
It was...
“I saw a researcher and a security guard fighting recently.”
Hmm.
‘Did the researcher get hurt…?’
I frowned, and Baek Saheon quickly continued as if he noticed my expression.
“No, listen. The researcher is someone you know, Chief. It’s Manager Kwak Je-gang from Research Team 1…”
“…!”
What?
I almost lost my composure right then and there.
I barely managed to widen my eyes and control myself, but it was already too late.
“You seem really interested in hearing more.”
Baek Saheon had a triumphant smile on his face.
“I’m eager to tell you too, but... well, let’s see the goods first, and then I’ll tell you everything. It’d be difficult if you said you didn’t want the items after hearing all this.”
“......”
“Oh, I don’t mean that you’re such a person, Chief... It’s just for mutual trust! Of course, speed is important, but trust is important for any transaction, right?”
He’s pushing it.
“Should I?”
“…!”
Good.
I pulled out the Necronomicon with a flourish from my wrist, as if performing a magic trick.
When Baek Saheon saw the ominous bookcase containing the powerful item, his eyes gleamed with greed.
He reached out...
Snap!
“You said you’d just look, didn’t you?”
“......”
Baek Saheon shot an aggressive look at me for a moment, but soon opened his mouth again, continuing to spill the information.
“He said the security guard started trouble with the researcher. Apparently, the guard tried to hit him because the researcher didn’t answer his questions properly?”
The following 'rumor' went like this:
A security guard was asking a researcher about something related to the facility while they were on duty, and suddenly the researcher’s boss showed up.
It was Kwak Je-gang.
And then he spoke to the guard.
“What did he say?”
“I don’t know. It didn’t seem like anything important. But then, suddenly, the guard attacked.”
“......”
For a moment, a scene popped into my mind.
The security team leader talking to Kwak Je-gang.
You know... I can’t enter the darkness, but... I can still kill people.
Wait.
‘Could that security guard... be Jae?‘
“I think it’s due to contamination. You know how security teams go crazy because of contamination…”
“Don’t make stuff up.”
“What?”
“Your imagination is mixed in.”
I said it as if I were crazy.
“If it’s obvious that you’re exaggerating... the dopamine will disappear.”
“......”
“Go on.”
Baek Saheon seemed to be a little intimidated, and his tone became more restrained.
Thank goodness.
“…Anyway, that security guard doesn’t usually come out much, but he’s been helping out with the annex work. I heard he was someone pretty well-known before.”
“Who told you that?”
“Managers, when they gather and chat. I don’t know exactly who, but anyway, they were all experienced people.”
“......”
‘The security team leader... used to be the elite team leader, right?’
It really seems like it’s Jae.
‘He’s really trying to find out about the cheerful research lab...!’
But I hope he doesn’t do anything dangerous; fortunately, he seems to be keeping a good boundary.
It’s a bit nerve-wracking that he bumped into Kwak Je-gang.
If Kwak Je-gang gets beaten, that’s one thing, but the security team leader should be fine. The scary part about Kwak Je-gang is the crazy exploration setup he’s creating!
‘It’s a lot easier to confirm like this.’
I don’t have to worry unnecessarily anymore.
“This is certain!”
“Right.”
After that, I pretended to listen to some irrelevant gossip.
By the time Baek Saheon’s patience had completely worn out, I sensed that the price was right.
“Honestly, the side stories weren’t that interesting.”
“......”
“The fight with the researcher was fun. Well done. Good information.”
“…!”
I smiled and released my hand from the Necronomicon, which I had been pressing.
“Take it.”
Baek Saheon grabbed the bizarre book as soon as I finished my sentence.
He scanned the bookcase with his eyes in excitement, then suddenly looked at me and spoke.
“Isn’t this the kind of thing... only someone like you, Chief, could read?”
“No.”
I turned my gaze directly to him.
“But don’t expect to use it with the same power I do.”
You’re not a ghost story fanatic!
“......”
Baek Saheon hesitated for a moment but eventually packed the book and put it away.
Phew.
I relaxed my tense shoulders.
Transaction complete.
‘Got the information and disposed of it.’
The fake Necronomicon. It had been bothering me to keep it around, but now it was taken care of.
Well, it wasn’t an item that would cause problems just by having it...
‘...I feel like I’ll want to keep using it for work.’
The power was too good.
If I have it, every time things get complicated, I’ll just want to flip through it and solve things ‘that way.’
People will listen to me.
But long tails get caught.
‘It’s perfect for getting caught.’
And... no matter how I think about it, if I push it just a little too far, I think I’ll either go insane or end up with permanent mental problems.
So, it’s perfect to sell to someone who isn’t a ghost story fanatic for the information value.
‘It worked out.’
Baek Saheon, as he packed the book, began to look happier, and finally, with a subtle expression, he turned to me and spoke.
“Hey, Chief. I’d like to hear more about the ‘good information’ criteria.”
It seems like he wanted to dig out more, now that the item’s performance was certain.
“If you can be more specific, then I…”
“Something interesting.”
“......”
“I already told you. Want me to elaborate?”
“…Yes. I’d appreciate it...”
I propped my chin up.
“The researcher story was interesting. It’s easier to imagine when it’s someone you know... Yeah. The security guard is also good. Unique.”
“…Then I’ll focus on those two, and see if I can gather more rumors and learn about other things too.”
“Right.”
I nodded.
And just like that, the unspoken deal began to wind down, and Baek Saheon, now with the fruits of the day’s harvest in his bag, stood up from the table.
Once he leaves, I can...
“Excuse me.”
Hmm?
Baek Saheon hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Chief, you’re with the Disaster Management Bureau, right?”
“......”
“You were rescued in the form of a child by the agents, weren’t you? Then…”
I quietly turned to look at Baek Saheon.
And I gave him some advice.
“You’re better off not knowing.”
It was the truth.
Unless you don’t want to disappear after receiving the ‘branch appointment.’
‘If that guy digs into my background and gets caught by Ho, it’s over...’
“Anyway, it’s not a place where you can earn wish rights.”
“......”
“You won’t gain anything from it.”
Noticing a shift in atmosphere, Baek Saheon rolled his eyes and nodded.
‘That’s enough.’
But he added something unexpected.
“…Yeah. Well... take care of yourself too, Chief.”
“Yeah, you too.”
With that, the transaction ended.
I waited until I saw Baek Saheon open the door and leave the room cafe, then sighed.
“Hah.”
Baek Saheon.
I already know what kind of person he is, both from his character and living with him in the dorm.
So, in a different sense, he’s a low-risk opponent.
‘He’s moving just as expected.’
Thanks to that, I’m still using him as a transaction partner... but, honestly, I don’t know much about his personal information aside from his character.
And when I think about it, that applies not just to Baek Saheon, but to almost everyone I’ve met here.
‘...I’ll be heading home.’
Maybe the only exception is the senior agents from Group D.
After hearing all those trivial gossip stories from Baek Saheon today, I realize how aware I am of it now.
So, I’m suddenly curious.
‘Why does Baek Saheon want to earn wish rights?’
Why is someone who bets everything on survival doing something so dangerous? It’s never really mentioned in the .
‘Well... it’s none of my business.’
Honestly, I’m more curious about the reasons of the other batchmates than Baek Saheon’s.
I’ll ask later if I get the chance, but for now, let’s focus on my wish rights.
And my survival.
“Phew.”
I checked that Baek Saheon had fully exited the building before pulling out my smartphone.
Then, I sent the prepared reply.
To Director Ho.
[I’d like to schedule an appointment, Sir.]
Let’s enter.
The cheerful theme park.
