First of all, a fairly reasonable guess as to why Baek Saheon was in this strange rural village immediately came to mind.
‘...Baek Saheon was on the Train Bound for Tamra!’
It was the same high-speed rail bound for Mokpo that I had taken today.
‘Was this his destination back then, too?’
It had seemed like he was on his way to his hometown, so if that were the case, was this Baek Saheon’s... family home?
A strange feeling washed over me.
The sight of a simple, friendly rural village festival and Baek Saheon somehow felt worlds apart.
Especially if that rural village festival was a cultish ghost story about a bizarre micro-society.
“Bring that over there!”
“Ah, yes.”
Even now, Baek Saheon, despite his grumpy face, was quietly complying with the instructions of other villagers, helping out by carrying food.
But....
Observe the villagers carefully, find the person who looks the most disgruntled, and ask for a night's lodging!
According to this comment from Agent Choi, could it be that this guy was also considered one of those 'suitable' people?
It was a bit unpleasant and strange, but I could grasp the situational context up to that point. However....
Why on earth was that person there?
‘...Assistant Manager Eun Haje.’
Desperately trying not to catch Agent Bronze's eye, I naturally turned my head to confirm that human figure once more.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje had received another serving of boiled pork and was eating it with soju.
As if she were in the company cafeteria.
“…….”
Seeing that natural, indifferent expression and movement made me feel strange.
Without realizing it, I leaned my gaze further in that direction....
Our eyes met.
‘...!’
At that moment, Assistant Manager Eun Haje casually picked up her plate of boiled pork and bottle of soju... and began walking toward us.
‘……?!’
Why, why is she coming this way?
Then, she plopped down at our table and naturally started talking to Agent Bronze!
“There’s quite a bit of boiled pork, would you like a piece?”
“……Who are you?”
“I’m a reporter. I heard there was a village festival, so I came to see if there was any story material... I wanted to ask for your thoughts as part of my coverage.”
‘A-Assistant manager!’
Assistant Manager Eun Haje nonchalantly ignored me and kept talking to Agent Bronze like a work-weary reporter.
The Agent’s eyes turned dull. It was the look of someone stuck with an annoying pest.
“I have nothing in particular to tell you.”
“Then just listen to me ramble. From what I saw yesterday, the way this festival attracts outsiders is....”
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!!
“...!!”
The loud sound of gongs and drums being hit together made my head turn.
The music stopped, and from among the people who had been performing something like a traditional folk play, a middle-aged man who looked generous rose up and shouted into a megaphone.
[Everyone! It’s time for the drawing! I hope you all receive prizes and enjoy plenty of the Blessing of Jisan!]
“Yeah. It’s exactly that. A prize draw to commemorate the holiday.”
It seemed they held a prize draw every day during the four-day festival.
The prizes are mainly agricultural products grown directly in the village, and occasionally crafts or jewelry appear.
In the case of jewelry, the Branch presumes them to be the belongings of missing persons.
The villagers scattered in all directions, carrying lottery boxes. Sounds of winning or losing were heard from everywhere. I even saw someone shouting for joy as they received a pair of gold earrings after drawing them.
“Oh, that’s nice. But those earrings look a bit like second-hand goods.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Well, someone probably donated them to be used for the festival.”
None of us could answer.
And someone approached us as well, carrying a lottery box.
A disgruntled person wearing a medical eye patch.
‘B-Baek Saheon.’
It wasn't as if this was some grand reunion of Daydream employees. I was suddenly faced with a three-way encounter.
The bigger problem was this.
Agent Bronze knew Baek Saheon’s face.
“That...!”
Agent Bronze’s face froze coldly as he recognized the face of my ‘colleague’ whom he had seen at the serial killer’s cabin.
As his gaze shifted back and forth between us, I shook my head.
“It’s alright.”
“...Yes.”
Agent Bronze calmed down quickly.
It was because he was certain my identity hadn't been compromised.
Because....
They won't recognize us anyway.
Villagers do not recognize acquaintances visiting from outside during the festival period.
They treat them strictly as thankful guests who have visited the festival. There are several testimonies from people who felt something was amiss, escaped, and avoided disaster.
-I even tried interrogating them just in case they were pretending, but they really didn't seem to know. It seems like some strange Binding Restriction is in effect. There’s no related information at the Branch, so just ignore it when I’m not around.
Baek Saheon drew closer.
His face was still unpleasant, but he showed no sign of recognition even when our eyes met.
Only....
“Draw one.”
He simply held out the lottery box to our table as well.
“…….”
“I heard they give out pretty good prizes... Oh, thanks.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje boldly pulled a stick from the box. The end of the stick had ‘Rice’ written on it.
“It’s your turn.”
I met Agent Bronze’s eyes.
Do not refuse the drawing. If you refuse, no villager will give you a place to sleep. Keep that in mind if you don't want to hurriedly call another Agent due to a rescue failure!
“Hey. Aren't you going to do it?”
“Ah. I will.”
I reached into the chicken-shaped lottery box made of wood. The box felt strangely damp and humid.
And what I pulled out was....
“It’s a blank.”
Phew.
Agent Bronze also carefully pulled a stick, and this time, a stick with 'Blank' written on it came out.
“That’s too bad. It would have been nice if you’d managed to get something.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje pointed to the middle-aged man in the center of the village holding the megaphone.
“It would’ve been a jackpot if it were that Special Prize.”
[If you win the Special Prize, a treasure will come!]
In the corner of the banner the man was pointing to, a statue of a rooster made of gold was printed very vividly.
Its size could only be estimated since it wasn't the real thing, but its detail alone suggested it was quite large.
“Wow, jackpot.”
“Looks like it’s worth at least 100 don!”
“Is there anyone who actually draws that?”
If you’re talking about that....
However, there have been no sightings of anyone winning the Special Prize yet.
That's right.
Considering that guests draw more than half of the lottery sticks, it is certainly statistically strange.
The author speculates that this is a type of selection ritual within this Supernatural Disaster.
(According to investigations by the Branch, there is a folk tale that a winner 52 years ago ended the village's drought and was enshrined as a god in the Seonangdang (Village Shrine), but its credibility has not been proven.)
And it was just as Agent Choi had said.
Once again, the Special Prize did not appear.
A deep sense of regret spread across the face of the villager holding the megaphone.
[Thank you all again today! May you receive the Blessing of Jisan!]
With that, that day's holiday festival came to an end.
“Aw, man.”
“Isn't this a scam?”
“Hey, hey, at least the alcohol and meat were free.”
The outsiders began to stand up, but the problem was that many had consumed the free alcohol, making it difficult for many groups to drive.
“Oh dear, look at the time....”
“It’s fine. This person here said he’d let us stay at his place!”
Quite a few outsiders decided to stay the night like at a guesthouse, swayed by the kindness and suggestions of the friendly rural village.
It was a rather warm sight.
However, if you looked closely, the villagers were quietly gathering here and there, out of sight, collecting the remaining lottery boxes and murmuring something.
And they, too, took turns pulling sticks from the lottery.
Once the drawing for outsiders is over, the villagers gather and take turns drawing the remaining wooden sticks in the lottery box.
Until they find the 'Special Prize' stick.
At this time, they recite a strange phrase.
“O Proxy, grant us the scattered white blessing of Jisan.”
“O Proxy, grant us the scattered white blessing of Jisan.”
-It’s likely a spell or a prayer... while it might not be an accurate shamanic expression, don't listen too closely. There are almost no cases where a spell from a Supernatural Phenomenon has a good influence.
And finally, one person finds it.
The stick with gold attached to the end.
“Ah...!”
Tears streamed from the eyes of the one who drew it.
People surrounded him and shouted as if in celebration.
“O Proxy, grant us the scattered white blessing of Jisan!”
“O Proxy, grant us the scattered white blessing of Jisan!”
There are rumors at the Branch that a villager who draws the Special Prize seems to take on a special role at the next festival.
“…….”
I turned my head.
Baek Saheon was watching the whole scene with sunken eyes.
“Excuse me.”
Baek Saheon only turned his eyes.
I asked quite politely.
“Is there anywhere we could stay for a night in this village?”
“……Surely you aren't saying you’re going to waste someone else's food and room for free?”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had picked up a sack of rice, suddenly cut in.
“I’ll pay. It’s fate that we met like this.”
“Pardon?”
“Here. Is this enough?”
And Assistant Manager Eun Haje held out a thick wad of cash to Baek Saheon.
Baek Saheon’s eyes looked slightly flustered, but his gaze soon sank as he snatched it away.
“...Follow me.”
“Okay.”
“Wait! Did you say you were a reporter? Please go back now. We were asking....”
“You want to kick out someone who paid? Capitalism is dirty, but let's at least maintain some standards. Old Man.”
“…….”
I heard Agent Bronze mutter “Old Man?” under his breath.
Oh my god.
Feeling like I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut, I followed Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had started walking nonchalantly after Baek Saheon, and asked.
“...Shall I carry that sack of rice for you?”
“Oh. Young man, is this a return for the lodging fee? This one knows how to maintain standards.”
I took the sack of rice from Assistant Manager Eun Haje, whose hands must still be uncomfortable. Then, Agent Bronze, with a disgruntled expression, helped me carry it.
“You’re too late.”
“…….”
It was the moment Agent Bronze looked at Assistant Manager Eun Haje with an incredulous expression.
“Hey! You fucking hicks! Cucumbers? You think I came to this backwater shithole to get cucumbers?”
Thwack!
High-pitched shouting and a smashing sound were heard nearby.
Cucumbers were being crushed and rolling on the dirt floor from a box thrown to the ground.
And a drunk outsider rolled on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Give me gold, gold!”
“Oh my, guest.”
“There are still two chances left!”
Smiling villagers coaxed and soothed him.
...An incredibly gentle kindness, hard to believe they had just heard such verbal abuse.
Enticed by words like they would serve him dinner, that he should sleep and draw again tomorrow, and that the hot spring water here is good, the nuisance followed those kind villagers and disappeared into a house.
Into one of the few tiled houses in the village.
The tiled house located in the center looked strangely large.
“…….”
I stiffly turned my gaze away.
The smiles vanished from the faces of the villagers remaining in their seats, and they silently put the broken cucumbers back into the box and carefully cleared them away.
Brushing the dirt off the cucumbers, they continued to mutter something.
“O Proxy, grant us the scattered white blessing of Jisan....”
The same prayer-like thing I heard earlier.
“…….”
I barely managed to look away and kept walking.
“...It’s this way.”
But do you know what the problem was?
Baek Saheon was also heading toward that tiled house.
‘Wait.’
Is it really okay to enter that place that looks suspicious no matter how you look at it?
But since Agent Bronze was walking without hesitation, I did not run away.
‘...Agent Choi wouldn't have written a lie in his advice for no reason.’
The tiled house drew closer.
“...Come in.”
The entrance to the tiled house was wide, and the wooden veranda, which now seemed to serve as an entrance hall, was also spacious.
However, Baek Saheon moved carefully and secretly to a corner as if he didn't even want to step on it and opened a side door.
But someone was already standing there.
The middle-aged man who had been holding the megaphone earlier.
“Guests are staying the night.”
“Ah, welcome. Haha! Saheon, make sure to treat them well. Don't do anything foolish.”
“…….”
“May you receive the Blessing of Jisan!”
Baek Saheon nodded slowly and then guided us.
The tiled house was strangely spacious; similar structures repeated, and Sliding Doors kept appearing until....
A corridor lined with old wooden doors came into view.
Creeeak.
Baek Saheon opened one of those doors.
Inside was a small single room that looked lived-in.
One neatly folded bedding set and one dusty bedding set that seemed to have been pulled out in a hurry.
“Sleep here.”
“Isn't this your room? Where are you going to sleep?”
“…….”
With an expression that said I was asking something pointless, Baek Saheon turned around and opened another door for Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
Then he disappeared down the hallway.
“A man who can't even provide his money's worth.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje shrugged and said to me plainly.
“Well then, sleep well. See you tomorrow if we get the chance.”
“...Yes. Thank you.”
I watched the back of Assistant Manager Eun Haje as she entered the next room.
……Surely, the assistant manager must have recognized Baek Saheon too. But she didn't show it.
She was aware that he wouldn't recognize her.
‘She knows this ghost story well.’
It meant that the assistant manager had also visited with a clear purpose.
And Assistant Manager Eun Haje is…… Director Ho’s Project team.
‘...What exactly is happening here?’
As much as I could guess what the Extinction-class supernatural disaster Director Ho requested was, various hypotheses came to mind. No, in the past, they certainly would have....
“…….”
I was tired.
Of all of it.
Let's stop.
Let's just think about the Wish Ticket....
“Agent Grapes.”
“…….”
“Do you remember what to do?”
“Yes.”
This ‘Jisan-so Offering Ritual’.
When a rescue request comes in, the Branch uses a Supernatural Phenomenon Auto-Responder to designate a meeting place and time for the rescuer.
So, let's go to the place received from the Branch.
“It’s here.”
Agent Bronze showed me a note.
1:00 AM
Village Well
The tiled house became dead silent after midnight.
Agent Bronze and I stepped out of the room very quietly and began to move.
-After midnight, it’s relatively safe to move around as long as it's not the Seonangdang.
Still, don't go making loud noises on purpose!
“The well is to the east.”
Crossing the dark rural village landscape where only occasional streetlights were visible, we finally arrived at a place with only a few houses that looked like abandoned homes where people had left.
The well was in the middle of it.
At the spot where the well was blocked with stones, a human figure was already standing as if standing guard....
It was Baek Saheon.
“...!!”
His one eye turned to us, and he spoke quietly.
“Are you the Agents?”
The next moment.
Agent Bronze lunged and subdued Baek Saheon.
-If you are caught by a villager at night, hide as quickly and quietly as possible.
What if it's impossible?
Subdue them and hide them in an abandoned house!
And just as he was about to roughly drag Baek Saheon to an abandoned house.
“Agh! Is this how a civil servant should treat a reporter?!”
“……!”
Agent Bronze’s arm stopped.
“You’re the reporter?”
“Yes! I’m the one who reported it!”
Baek Saheon irritably tried to shake off Agent Bronze’s grip but failed, so he hurriedly lowered his voice while watching for reactions.
“Please get me out of this village. ...Right now, today.”
“It feels like a trap.”
Agent Bronze immediately said to me openly.
“Villagers can leave whenever they want after the festival is over. There’s no way they would need help....”
“I can’t leave!”
Baek Saheon panted.
He looked back and forth between Agent Bronze and me with eyes searching for a way to survive, then finally swallowed hard and spoke.
“...Check my pocket.”
“…….”
I reached out and rummaged through Baek Saheon’s pants pocket.
What was inside was....
A lottery stick with gold leaf on the end.
The Special Prize.
“I, I drew that on the first day....”
-Regrettably, there hasn't been a case of successfully rescuing a villager from the influence of a Supernatural Disaster during the festival period yet.
If it's the Hubae Agent I've picked for our team, he's probably the type who would definitely try to rescue someone at least once, so I'm telling you in advance.
-Hubae. Let the Seonbaes try that; you don't do it. If you try to leave Jisan Village with a villager during the festival period...
“Get me out of here, please!”
-The Agent will go missing too.
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