Team Hyumoo 1 and Deputy Manager Eun Haje, and I.
The Disaster Management Bureau, which had permitted this group's outing, had set similar conditions as last time, but their attitude was quite different.
'It seemed like they were trying to figure out the Supernatural Entity Management Act.'[1]
It's similar to offerings.
Rather than checking if I was safe to send outside, it felt more like the atmosphere of helping an elderly person from the countryside come out for a stroll in the city.
Or, a filial piety tour….
-Have fun sightseeing in Seoul! But please refrain from giving pocket money to passing children with theme park funds….
...Hmm. Recalling the words of my assigned handler, Agent Sumaeksae, it really seems like it.
Of course, I have no intention of doing something crazy like scattering Cheerful Coins to passersby.
The problem is that even without that, I'm making choices that would likely make the Disaster Management Bureau flip out if they knew.
Namely….
Exploring a colossal Extinction-class Disaster sealed by the Disaster Management Bureau, bringing in Director Ho from Daydream.
"Roe, so… you're saying you'll include Director Ho in the exploration?"
>Positive.
We cannot expect help from the Disaster Management Bureau regarding the Segwang Metropolitan City exploration.
And yet, we'll receive help from Daydream?
'There's no way that's going to go smoothly.'
They'll probably just research how to extract Dream Essence from Segwang Metropolitan City.
But at the same time, since I was still bound to that company, I need a way to ensure freedom of movement.
Thus, to satisfy all conditions, this sentence emerges.
-A third party with their own agenda, capable of exerting influence over Daydream.
Ultimately, it is Ho Yuwon.
Of course, he probably proposed it confidently because he knows that himself….
"…Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, since I work under that guy, I've got no choice but to follow orders… but the agents will obviously not like it."
"Eyy, come on. What's the harm if he dislike him a little!"
Agent Choi replied with a laugh.
But he's probably not genuinely happy.
"The problem is, something out of our control might happen."
"..."
"Grapes-ie. You've already experienced it, haven't you?"
There is a certainty in the agent's words, who almost died by Ho Yuwon's hand, that makes it impossible to refute.
However, I also have something to rely on.
>Variable:
>Ho Yuwon's desperation.
"…!"
The circumstances are different from back then.
'We're probably the only ones who have actually entered Segwang City and returned alive.'
That meant that he'd be desperate.
Even though it's a situation where he could afford to wait more leisurely since there are no other candidates besides himself, Ho Yuwon didn't stay still and butted in as soon as we gathered and brought up the related topic.
Even if he was watching through Deputy Manager Eun Haje, one thing is certain.
He's desperate enough that he's willing to let me place restrictions on him.
And.
>When someone desperate shares your goal:
>Possibility of betrayal ▼
"..."
"Well, that's true. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Of course, Deputy Manager Eun Haje, glancing at the cafe's smoking room with a look that suggested she craved a cigarette, muttered that he's a disgusting fellow to be considered a true comrade.
"In any case, I don't think it's bad to use what we can. Hmm… that guy probably has connections in the Disaster Management Bureau too."
"Of course I do."
…!!
"So you've finally made up your mind,it seems. Everyone."
A group of office workers passed by our table with coffee.
One of them, walking in the middle,smiled and turned to us.
"Hello?"
The cafe, near the end of lunch break, was crowded with office workers, and as if one person had seamlessly disappeared without anyone noticing, the group of office workers left outside as if entranced.
"..."
"..."
Ho Yuwon.
The person who appeared like a lie sat at our table with a smile, as if he were part of the group.
"To talk about me behind my back … that's hurtful."
"Well, they say you can even curse a king when he's not around, so please overlook this much. It's not a full-blown curse."
"Of course, of course, Deputy Manager Eun Haje."
And turning to me, Ho Yuwon put on a sad face.
"Actually, you've cursed me to my face several times already, but I was too scared to retort…."
Why on earth is he acting like this?
[Good heavens, how hypocritical.]
[But he does seem excited. He must have been desperately wanting to work with Mr. Roe Deer!]
That… might actually be true.
"How about it, Mr. Roe Deer-nim?"
....
"I trust you won't miss a good opportunity because of agents worrying about their affiliated organizations…."
....
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
>Exploration team members:
>Excluding Disaster Management Bureau agents.
"…!"
"…What?"
I have no intention of exploring with the agents.
I can't let them receive undue suspicion.
I only brought up the topic to make things clear and so they wouldn't worry, or try to look into it later.
"…You."
"Hmm. Well, I guess that makes sense. Public officials have a harder time taking time off, don't they? And it's hard to hide from the Bureau."
Deputy Manager Eun Haje nodded as if she understood.
"But Roe, your choice of words… if you call people 'unnecessary', that might sound a little hurtful, you know. We're human after all."[2]
....
"…No."
…!
"I know you said that out of consideration for our circumstances as agents."
Agent Bronze.
The agent, whose eyes had grown darker from sleepless nights wrestling with this unprecedented situation, looked at me and spoke quietly.
As though he'd already reached a firm conclusion.
"…However, excluding agents from a rescue operation is not a good choice. In the first place, both the supernatural disaster and the passage into it were under the jurisdiction of the Bureau."
Segwang Metropolitan City and the well.
"Ultimately, once it's all over, you will have to cooperate with the Disaster Management Bureau, for safety. Moreover…."
A hard glint shone in Agent Bronze's eyes, and he exchanged glances with Agent Choi.
Agent Choi smiled faintly.
"Grapes-ie. If your companion is trapped in a supernatural disaster, it's harder to not participate in the rescue."
Ah.
"Let's go together."
....
....
>Accepted.
>Exploration team members added: x 2 Team Hyumoo 1 agents.
"You made the right decision."
Agent Choi gave the dokkaebi perched on my horn a few light, encouraging pats, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"And, Hubae[3]. Without us, how would you plan to impose the restriction?"
At that, Ho Yuwon's smile deepened. Agent Choi smiled back.
"The Bureau has about nine hundred types of restriction spells they can cast on a supernatural pest, so why go through the trouble of looking for another?"
"I'd rather die than receive a restriction from the Disaster Management Bureau."
"Oh? Then I guess we can't work together."
"Well. In that case, wouldn't you be the one leaving the team? Unfortunately, it seems you barely managed to join as it is."
"Oh, then that just means the day you get formally registered as a supernatural disaster will come even sooner~"
Hmm.
Actually, I had something prepared for that as well.
I took out what I had prepared from my inventory tattoo.
A rolled-up paper. Its contents were….
Employment Contract
I accept //with deep emotion and joy// my employment at the Golden Fower Resort's mascot team and pledge to dedicate my sincerity //and my existence// to the cheerful and safe exploration of ■■■■ City.[4]
The employer must agree to the employee's request for resignation, and all actions that intentionally threaten the safety of team members must be avoided.
Employer:_______
Employee:_______
"…!"
It's a resort employment contract.
'Since I could take out Cheerful Coins, I figured I should be able to use this kind of authority too.'
It's one of the few advantages of becoming a non-human entity.
As a mascot and as the owner of the resort, I could act without worrying about contamination.
Now I could even modify the wording to sound more plausible. Although I still had to manually delete the mandatory clauses, this was sufficient as a recommended contract.
Therefore….
>Target: Ho Yuwon.
You are to become my subordinate.
"...Are you forcing contamination upon me? That's going too far, Roe Deer-nim…."
I wish you wouldn't tremble with such whining, even though you're not human….
And also.
>Mutual contractual relationship:
>Equal footing.
Since I am also bound to Daydream, I cannot exercise life-or-death authority over Director Ho Yuwon as an employer.
In other words, it's a position that allows us to maintain a good distance from each other.
[What a generous offer, Mr. Roe Deer! Will this person not enjoy the privilege of employment stability at the resort even after the exploration ends?]
[However, I, Brown, am concerned about my friend's business. Hiring someone like this cunning individual who seems to only scheme would undoubtedly harm the resort's dignity.]
That… it's fine. I will dismiss him immediately after the exploration.
'And we'll cut ties without looking back….'
This was purely a measure for safety.
So, I deliberately added a clause at the bottom of the contract where it would be clearly visible.
Official employment period:
Until the end of the special exploration project.
"…How humanitarian of you."
To be honest, I thought Ho Yuwon would struggle with the decision a bit more.
I expected some back-and-forth, maybe a few threats before it got done, but….
"Alright."
…!
Ho Yuwon picked up the antique golden pen that I brought out, the same kind kept on the resort's reception counter.
And wrote.
Employer:__________
Employee: Ho Yuwon.
And handed the pen back.
"Your turn, Mr. Roe Deer."
I took the pen.
And the moment I signed the employer section, just like before, the employment contract turned golden and became bound to me.
"..."
"..."
Thus, the employment relationship was reversed.
"Agent Grapes."
Of course.
"What… did you just do?"
It wasn't something a normal person could do, that's for sure.
"Is this not an action that accelerates contamination?"
....
>Current state: Stable.
"Please explain in more detail. For the past few days, you've been like thi–"
"Jaegwan-ah."
That is.
>Unable to form coherent speech.
>Please understand.
"…!"
Actually… although my mind has recovered, speaking like a human was no longer possible.
Forming natural, conversational sentences with smoke felt as vague and difficult as trying to do calculations in a dream.
'…Maybe it'll come back eventually if I keep at it.'
I'm a little anxious in case it stays like this forever, but I'm trying to calm my mind by relying on the bell.
>Apologies for discomfort and strangeness.
"No! That's, I mean–"
"Hold on, hold on"
Agent Choi cut in.
"Grapes-ie. When you went to see our Elder in a dream, did you feel uncomfortable or out of place?"
....
>Negative.
"Right?"
He patted my shoulder.
"It's like that."
I nodded.
"This guy's just speaking out of concern, that's all. No other meaning. Right, Bronze-ah?"
"…Of course."
>Gratitude.
Sitting beside me, Deputy Manager Eun Haje, smiled bitterly as she watched, then gave my back a strong pat.
"You rascal. Well, since we cleared that up… let's consider this the start of the exploration team's outing."
"Ooh."
The sound of applause echoed softly on the table.
And Ho Yuwon, with a face that looked like he was about to demand immediate re-entry into Segwang Metropolitan City, opened his mouth to speak, but….
There is something that must come first.
>Proposal: Recruit additional personnel for the exploration.
This was a major factor in accepting him into the team.
If we go like this, we'll all likely die together again and wake up with aftereffects in the Bureau's main building.
"Ah, right."
Deputy Manager Eun Haje spoke up energetically.
"Director, can you smuggle out our Section Chief from D-squad?"
"Are you referring to Section Chief Lee Ja-heon?"
"Yes. That person. He's so famous, you know his abilities, right? He'll definitely be needed for the exploration."
Deputy Manager Eun Haje must have expected a reaction like, 'Is he needed for the Segwang Metropolitan City exploration? Then of course, I'll kidnap him right away.'
However.
"Hmm… that might be a bit difficult."
"Eh?"
"It seems Mr. Lee Ja-heon hasn't been able to get out of the last darkness he entered."
"...!!"
I knew it.
>Question: Attempted rescue?
"Ah, of course, you thought the company would consider a rescue, right? Mr. Lee Ja-heon is a capable employee."
Naturally.
But to hint at this means….
"However, it seems it has been judged impossible for now."
Ha.
>Question: Reason.
"They say that darkness can no longer be entered using the existing methods."
…!
"Thanks to that, the company has lost a source of C-grade Dream Essence, so they are disappointed."
Wait a minute.
So… they're planning to just discard that darkness entirely?
Deputy Manager Eun Haje's voice sounded urgent.
"Are they giving up on it completely?"
"It would have been handed over to the research team… but if the grace period runs out, then perhaps so."
....
>Request: More detailed information available immediately.
"Hmm… Ah. Right. Among the employees who last explored that darkness with Section Chief Lee Ja-heon, there is someone you know, Roe Deer-nim."
Huh?
"The one with the Goat mask."
...!
'Baek Saheon!'
***
That evening.
~Citizen-nim
I intend to give you the promised item.
Where should I deliver it?
I apologize for being late.
~You said you couldn't give it.
Hey,just asking.
Did you get out of the cult?
~Yes. Just recently.
I succeeded in escaping.
Thank you for your concern.
>Concern, my foot.
Anyway.
Just hand over the item.
~How should I deliver the item?
~If it's small,
Put the item inside the paper,
And fold the paper boat back.
~Yes.
After item transmission.
~Are you playing with me?
What, a strap that clears your mind?
I have that too, lol.
~I'm sorry.
I had to get it in a hurry as soon as I got out.
It seems it wasn't very good after all.
Please just accept it as a gift.
It's okay if you don't return it.
~Don't get ahead of yourself.
I had no intention of returning it in the first place.
Well, this time too,
Are you contacting me because you have something to ask?
~May I ask about a specific supernatural disaster?
It seems to be darkness that your company handled.
~Oh wow.
You expect me to tell you? lolol
Are you kidding me? A public official prying into company information?
~I'm sorry.
A few minutes later.
~Fine whatever.
This company doesn't care about this sort of thing anyway.
~Yes?
~They don't even catch you if you steal items and resell them. They have no system.
What darkness are you curious about?
Oh.
'This works again.'
I read the text with a newfound gaze.
It seems Baek Saheon is also at an age where the initial excitement of working for a large corporation is wearing off.
And Daydream is no exception to the common grievances of all office workers.
'They really lack system in their work….'
Though, a company that pushes its employees into ghost stories and grinds them down might not have had one from the start….
'No, perhaps pushing them into ghost stories created a strange illusion of mysticism.'
Either way, I'm grateful it worked. It seems he wants to continue the trade.
'Was saying the item wasn't great also a way to haggle a bit?'
It was an item that Ho Yuwon distributed like supplies to project members, and I managed to get one. Anyway….
~You asked,
Don't make people wait
Okay.
~It's said to be a supernatural disaster set in a certain boarding school.
Have you entered such a supernatural disaster recently?
Surprisingly, a response came back immediately.
~The crazy school where they receive Groom's Class?
…?!
~Yeah I've been there before
It's one of those nauseating places where darkness tries to act all prim and proper
but why do you ask
Wait a minute.
Groom's Class?
'If that's the place….'
I realized what ghost story Baek Saheon was talking about.
And then, one after another, the pieces clicked into place.
'Ah!'
Why Section Chief Lee Ja-heon couldn't get out…!
***
A few days later.
>Question: Location of the crazy boarding school receiving Groom's Class.
"…!?"
With Ho Yuwon's help, I managed to extract all the information about that darkness and the Security Team's current situation from Kwak Jegang.
'Got it.'
And thus, I devised a method of entry.
To go and rescue Lee Ja-heon.
[1] fake name/group (I think). it’s kinda a joke? like they are trying to figure out how to manage a spiritual being but Soleum gave it a group name to make fun of them?
[2] I think that she’s saying that calling ‘people’ useless is a bit of a self burn since she thinks everyone there is human and Soleum is calling himself useless in a way? (other than Ho, idk what she thinks of him) Not completely sure but that’s how I interpreted it
[3] /Hoobae-nim. Refers to a junior, someone with less experience. Can also be translated as “youngest” sometimes
[4] the arts that are not in bold and are slanted are supposed to have the text cut through / strike through (basically scribbled over) but I can’t do that… Only those that make money or something like that(premium meme era idk) can use other formatting… it sucks but I can’t do anything about it.