Author note: Updated
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"..."
I stared at the Black-Tortoise Team 1 waiting room door.
After everything I'd gone through, it felt strangely unreal that I was still standing here in front of it.
But habits were such honest things.
Click.
I opened the door and went inside.
And…
"You're here?"
Agent Bronze stood up to greet me with a welcoming expression.
"Good morning. …Agent Grapes, you don't look well."
Ah.
"Did you have trouble sleeping again?"
"Just… didn't sleep very well, that's all. I'm alright."
Thankfully, I'd treated any visible wounds in advance.
"If you're too tired, you need to let us know."
"…Yes. Thank you."
I managed to smile as usual and chat with Agent Bronze, then sat down on the sofa across from him.
And I waited.
"..."
My palms were sweaty.
But after several minutes, the only people in the waiting room were the two of us.
The person who should have appeared… wasn't here.
"Um."
"Yes?"
"Agent Choi is…"
"Oh. Agent Choi won't be able to come in today."
"..."
What?
'Wait.'
Did something go wrong?
'No.'
Could it be Director Ho went to him again? Or maybe he tried to break the binding and got hurt? I…
"He actually came in a little early, but said he wasn't feeling well and took the day off."
"...I see."
There was a witness.
A feeling swept through my chest. It was too strong to call it relief, but something like it.
"You really don't need to worry. That person… I mean, Agent Choi looked totally fine. And also…"
Agent Bronze went over to a small fridge in the corner of the waiting room and took something out.
A drink carrier with café drinks inside.
"He left these. Said he stopped by a café on the way."
"..."
"This one's for you, Agent Grapes."
I accepted the drink.
It was a can of green grape ade.
A café-style packaged cookie was tucked into the cupholder, and above it, there was a mark in black marker.
A handwritten message from Agent Choi.
[Black-Tortoise Team 1, fighting]
And then it was crossed out with a line.
"..."
"Agent Grapes?"
"…Thank you."
I picked up the ade.
It was so sweet it shocked me awake.
Whether it was the sugar or adrenaline, my head was clear all morning.
My plans, all the things I needed to accomplish in the next month, spun through my mind.
'For now, keep a low profile.'
Since there was the incident with Agent Choi, I'd keep quiet for about a week, try not to stand out at the Disaster Management Bureau, quietly do some groundwork, then take action.
RᴀŊôBĚ
For me, timing was more important than simply having a lot of time.
But…
There was one thing I worried about.
'…Should I tell Yeongeun-ssi about this?'
It seemed like I should share my current situation, but it was hard to judge exactly how much to say. I wasn't sure where the line was.
How would Yeongeun-ssi react if I said I'd have to resolve everything within a month?
Was it right to tell her about Director Ho's malice, that we'd been sent in as decoy spies, expecting we'd be discovered from the start?
But even if she knew, is there really anything she could do about it...
"..."
Wouldn't it be easier and less conspicuous for her spy work if she didn't know?
My stomach hurt.
It felt like acid.
'No. It's alright.'
Yeongeun-ssi only has to work here for one more month.
If I do everything properly, I'll be able to deliver the information Director Ho wants, in the form he wants. And in that process, I'll be able to assert Yeongeun-ssi's share.
Then it will all end without a problem.
'Alright.'
Let's do this.
"Huu."
I set down the empty ade.
Agent Bronze, who was reviewing documents while sipping a vanilla latte, spoke up.
"I don't see your doll today."
"...!"
"You know, the little rabbit plush you call Braun."
"…It's right here."
I pulled the plush out of my jacket and showed it, then put it away again.
"Is it doing well?"
"Probably."
I quickly withdrew my hand from my pocket, the one that had touched the plush.
Then—
Beep beep beep beep beep beep!!
"…!"
A shrill alarm sounded from Agent Bronze's wrist.
A call.
'Rescue request!'
"Please stand by."
Agent Bronze tossed the documents aside and got up from his seat.
He checked the code displayed on the call device to see what kind of ghost story it was, then began to get ready…
"…Looks like this is a case where two people are required for the rescue. We'll go in together."
"Alright."
I got up right away, too.
The experience of the past few weeks had conditioned my body to move automatically. And that, ironically, helped ground me in reality.
"The dispatch site is a little far away. Normally, the local branch would get the call, but this time the rescue request came straight to headquarters."
"Where is it?"
"Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do. Also, this particular supernatural disaster… is rather large in scale, so there's a lot to keep in mind."
Agent Bronze quickly pulled a small booklet-style document from the bookshelf.
"This is a manual and set of tips put together by our team. Please read it while we're on the move."
"Yes."
As soon as Agent Bronze sent out a call to the off-duty members, we immediately left headquarters to travel.
And our means of transport…
"Since the rescue window for this disaster isn't that tight, we'll use public transportation."
…was a high-speed train.
Departing from Seoul Station.
Bound for Mokpo
"..."
"Agent Grapes?"
"I-It's nothing."
I sat in a seat on the train.
Don't panic.
'The Tamra Express incident was a special case.'
It doesn't happen all the time, and Daydream Inc. is probably already monitoring the conditions for its occurrence for research purposes…
It's okay.
'I can do this.'
Don't get anxious.
If I can't handle this, then I wouldn't be able to do anything, not even go into a convenience store without flinching, or take the elevator, or step onto a subway train…
Departing
The train departed without incident.
I'm alright.
'Distract yourself.'
Yes. The manual.
"There's a binding on it, so unless you're from the Disaster Management Bureau, you'll see different content. So feel free to read it."
When I took out the booklet, Agent Bronze kindly added this explanation.
Good. I'll focus on reading the ghost story manual and tips, and plan a rescue.
I turned the pages of the booklet—
– I really worked hard on this, Grapes-ie. Use it well, okay?
"…!!"
"What's wr… ah."
Agent Bronze frowned and sighed.
"Agent Choi wrote most of it. There are a lot of unnecessary comments… and since he joined, he's added quite a few more."
I blankly turned the pages.
There were entries that looked like they were written earlier.
– New recruits are totally welcome, here are Agent Choi's ace tips for Team Black-Tortoise 1
└ Please stop writing stuff like this
└ also includes agent bronze's less-sweet tips
└ ha…
Different handwriting, different pens.
– Be sure to read the next page thoroughly. It's an introduction to this supernatural disaster. It's a bit hard, but try reading it like a novel.
My eyes trembled as I read on.
A field manual and tips for supernatural disasters, handwritten by Agent Choi, something I'd never seen even in the
This guide is solely for smooth human rescue in incident registration number 1006PSYA.1941. 06, a.k.a. 'Jisan-so Facility Offering Ritual'.
While the strict bureau classified this supernatural disaster as fracture-sanctioned, the author strongly argues for a higher grade.
Even if the rescue itself isn't difficult, the disaster cannot be completely resolved, and according to the testimony of several dokkaebi, there is something even more malevolent inside.
So don't let your guard down, and be prepared for dispatch during the 4th and 5th lunar months!
"We're here."
We got off at Cheonan-Asan Station.
Then we rode government-issued bicycles stored at the station.
"It's about thirty minutes by bike."
Just as he said.
Site: Jisan Village, ■■-ri, Asan-si
The farther we left the station and the city, the more winding unpaved roads appeared, making the bike seats rattle.
And then, in the distance, a small village came into view.
A typical rural village.
Old houses and tiled-roof homes, patched here and there with modern repairs, power lines along the streetlamps, the unpaved road was maintained at least through the village.
It's a place you can easily get to as long as you have transportation, but it's mostly families and is closed to outsiders. (No real estate on the market. Moving in undercover is impossible.)
However, during the 'Jisan Festival', they welcome outsiders, and visitors can participate in the festival events.
"There it is. …It's begun."
A banner comes into view.
Jisan Festival
May the fortune of Jisan be with you
This festival is the supernatural phenomenon.
"This way."
We parked our bikes at a corner near the village entrance. There were a few cars with 'Seoul' or 'Gyeonggi' plates parked haphazardly.
"..."
"Remember this."
I nodded.
Then, together with Agent Bronze, I entered the village.
Heeyaaaaaah!
As we drew closer, people came into view.
It wasn't a huge crowd, fitting for a small rural festival, but there were traditional performance groups, people taking photos, people sitting and eating boiled pork and soup distributed by the village.
RåƝö Èṩ
And others, bored, fiddling with their smartphones.
※Quick tips before entering!
Never wear your Bureau jacket, bring earplugs, matches, and bells.
Most importantly…
Don't sit among the villagers.
"Hey, what the heck. This is shady."
"Just wait it out. They're about to do a raffle."
We sat next to them, playing the part of uninterested outsiders.
Food was quickly served to us.
"Please have a bite! May the fortune of Jisan be with you!"
A villager who made eye contact with me grinned.
She seemed to be a woman around my age, and there was something like a bird's feather pinned to her chest.
It's simple to distinguish villagers at the Jisan Festival.
If they're wearing a brooch made of feathers, they're a local.
– I swiped one and analyzed it, and it turned out to be a rooster feather. The dokkaebi hated it.
All sorts of voices rang out here and there:
"Oh my, you're from Mapo? My son works in Mapo too! In Seoul!"
"No smoking here. Absolutely forbidden!"
"Have a drink. I made it myself, it's real homemade rice wine."
The villagers chatted up the outsiders or treated them kindly, offering drinks as well.
It seemed like a generous countryside village.
Except for the fact that someone would soon die.
I stifled a small sigh as I looked at the bowl of food.
Festival food is safe to eat. (Honestly, it tastes pretty good)
But personally, I wouldn't recommend eating anything with broth. You probably don't want to hear the reason.
Not that I had much of an appetite anyway.
"...Thank you for the food."
"Thank you for the food."
Agent Bronze and I just idly moved our spoons.
Heeyaaaaah!
Meanwhile, the sound of music kept flowing throughout the village.
It was like a traditional band, but the rhythm felt oddly unfamiliar, not quite like the traditional style I knew…
– Ah. It's because the purpose is different. For what purpose was that music composed!
"…!"
I reflexively glanced down at my pocket.
– Ah! So you can hear me now, Friend!
– Haha, I was a little flustered when we couldn't talk for a moment. But it's fine! If you're worried that this stuffed body might fall off somewhere, we can always stop talking for a while.
– As long as we can talk again like this, right?
A supernatural disaster.
Entering a ghost story means this plushie could speak to me again.
– Don't worry. Even when we can't talk, I'm always listening. As a good friend should.
...
– Oh, and you don't need to apologize for leaving me in your jacket yesterday. I was actually grateful. It was better to have something to block my view in that terrible room.
'…Really? That's good, then.'
I turned my gaze back to the food.
– …Friend? You look more tired than usual. Oh dear, are you still worn out from last night's adventure?
'Maybe.'
– If so, how about we go home and watch TV together? That cartoon or variety show you like would be good.
– And then get a good night's sleep. This Braun here will tell you a fun story so you can have sweet dreams!
...
– Friend?
'For now, is it okay if I focus on work a bit? I'm not too familiar with this ghost story.'
– Ah, of course!
And finally, the plushie went quiet.
Thank goodness.
I turned and, like Agent Bronze, started gathering information.
Who sent the rescue request.
And…
Who among the villagers fit the bill.
The Jisan Festival lasts for four days, and as long as the festival isn't over, you can rescue the person no matter when the rescue signal was sent.
Observe the villagers carefully, and try asking to spend the night at the house of the least friendly-looking person you can find!
– I didn't describe appearances in case it got confusing. Anyway, never! Trust someone who approaches outsiders first and acts all friendly, Grapes-ie
– You know those creeps who lure kids with candy? It's basically the same thing haha
I remembered that as I observed the villagers.
Let's see, someone who looks as unfriendly as possible…
"...??"
Wait a second.
I quickly turned my head.
I saw a familiar face.
A young man in his twenties, standing among the villagers with a sullen expression.
A notoriously nasty employee from Daydream Inc. who wears a medical eye patch.
'…Baek Saheon!'
That guy's here.
With a rooster feather pinned to his chest.
And…
Near Baek Saheon, I spotted a woman with a tired expression, sitting among the villagers and some outsiders whom the villagers were chatting up or taking care of.
Wearing gloves, scanning the area with an indifferent face.
A very familiar face.
"..."
It was Assistant Manager Eun Haje.