Lee Seonghae was in a very good mood!
'I helped good people.'
She paid no mind to the sight of the strange underground bunker's interior visible through the iron gate.
Because she had found the person she needed to meet inside.
She reached out and pointed at that person.
"Mr. Employee is right over there."
The Security Team Special Division employee, enveloped in Black Smoke.
The Golden Mascot.
Even now, the sight of that 'Employee' carrying an elderly woman in his arms, perhaps out of consideration for the weak, only made her feel more pleased.
'As expected, he’s a good employee!'
If so, introducing him to other good people couldn’t possibly be a bad thing.
...Whether the agents she intended to 'introduce' him to were actually looking at that Employee with the same expression, or feeling the same emotion, was another matter entirely.
She was a person who was naturally insensitive to other people’s feelings. Combined with her self-centeredness, her habit of trying to do the right thing drove the execution of her ethics and morals to an extreme.
Just like now, which led to this situation.
'This worked out well.'
Lee Seonghae recalled what had happened a few days ago, after she captured the 'Man on the Screen' ghost story onto a USB drive.
"Mmm-hmm~"
She was happily on her way home from work. Today's exploration had ended safely, and she was planning to stop by the annex at dawn to meet the 'Employee'.
Thus, there was a spring in her steps.
Bzzzzt.
Her smartphone buzzed with a notification.
[K.LEE: Hello, Assistant Manager lol]
A profile picture and name that felt almost unfamiliar.
But her extraordinary memory came into play.
'The person who recommended Salmon Market.'
It was recruiting season at the company, so she was able to make the association promptly.
A mysterious KakaoTalk message from someone calling himself Assistant Manager Lee Kangheon of C-Squad, who frequently contacted 'promising rookies.'
[K.LEE: It's been a while~ I heard you got promoted?]
Lee Seonghae typed a reply.
[Yup]
[K.LEE: Kkkh, congratulations!l lol We should meet up, i’ll buy you a meal!]
[I don't think you can afford it.]
[K.LEE: Hey, I can at least afford to treat a colleague lol]
Really?
But then.
[You're not actually a colleague, are you?]
Because it was a lie.
And Lee Seonghae hated liars.
[There's never been anyone named Lee Kangheon at this company, so who are you?]
This was the truth derived from combining the intranet and office rumors.
A moment of silence passed.
[K.LEE: You didn't just find out now, did you?]
Lee Seonghae stared blankly at her phone screen.
[K.LEE: And that's not what matters, is it?]
[K.LEE: Isn't this what's important? I might be able to tell you the whereabouts of Supervisor Kang Yihak, who disappeared recently haha]
"Huh?"
At the mention of an employee whose disappearance she had facilitated herself, Lee Seonghae blinked.
In fact, she had already forgotten about Kang Yihak. There was no need to worry about a 'bad person' who had already been dealt with.
But this mention itself was significant.
Because Kang Yihak hadn't just disappeared.
[Are you perhaps from the Disaster Management Bureau?]
After all, it was the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau that had taken her away.
[K.LEE: Sure we could go with that?]
"Ooh."
The other party's reaction was surprisingly casual, but given the circumstances, it was likely a bluff to avoid being caught in a lie.
Which was fine! She could tolerate liars who had a good enough reason to lie.
[So, what do you want to ask in return for telling me Kang Yihak's whereabouts?]
[K.LEE: wanna meet up and talk in person?]
[Sure!]
If this person wasn’t actually an agent, meeting in person would just make it easier to deal with them
.
And so, an hour later, Lee Seonghae found herself sitting in a corner of a cafe chain, waiting to meet 'Lee Kangheon.'
She was natural, like the personification of striking while the iron is hot. Moreover, she was in an especially good mood.
Because she’d just had a marvellous idea.
And finally,
"Nice to meet you, Agents!"
Sitting down now...
Were the very agents she had met when dealing with the 'Man on the Screen.'
'Ooh.'
The one with the scar on his neck, and the tired-looking one who had escorted Kang Yihak.
And among them, Lee Kangheon was...
"Wow, hello? Assistant Manager."
The man with the scar on his neck smiled faintly and sat down across from her.
Lee Seonghae immediately picked up that the smile was just a habit and that he was actually on edge, highly alert.
'This must be important to him.'
"Seems like you have something to ask of me."
"Ooh, if I ask, will you just do it?"
"Yes. I'll just help you!"
"...Wow, really?"
The other's smile didn't crack, but his voice softened.
"Really! But can you do me a favor later? It's not a bad thing, it's a good thing!"
"What's your standard for distinguishing good from bad?"
"Naturally, it's me."
Lee Seonghae grinned.
"But I don't do bad things to good people!"
After a brief silence.
"Alright!"
'Lee Kangheon' replied cheerfully.
"Provided it doesn't harm the Disaster Management Bureau."
"Of course!"
As the two smiled circularly, the sturdy agent with the tired impression looked at her.
"Ms. Lee Seonghae."
"Yes?"
"If you truly want to help good people, shouldn't you reconsider working for a company that harms society?"
Hmm.
Lee Seonghae noticed that Lee Kangheon hastily stepped on the other agent's foot under the table, but she kindly pretended not to see it!
Even though she herself had asked a similar question last time.
Lee Kangheon threw in a remark that could be either protective or probing her.
"Hey~ Don't you have a wish you really want to fulfill?"
"I do!"
"As expected, right? But you know."
His voice lowered slightly.
“Are there really employees who keep in touch after getting a wish ticket? I mean, ex-employees who consistently stay in contact after their wish has been granted.”
Hmm.
The A-Squad leader... is still employed, so not considering him.
Then there’s the C-Squad leader who resigned, and three other members of the Field Investigation Team who quit after claiming their wish tickets last year. Of those, the two whose wishes weren’t world-changing still kept in touch just fine.
"Of course! Everyone is doing well?"
"...Really? Then what about the employees who disappear?"
"Ah, of course, there are also employees who went missing. But only if they made that kind of a wish."
"..."
"..."
A deep, heavy silence sank over the table, but Lee Seonghae's bright voice cut through it.
"Anyway, what can I help you with?"
"...Ah, it's not difficult, something you might already know, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae."
Lee Kangheon said as if casually tossing it out.
"You were next to him when we met last time, weren't you? Holding the black carrier."
"Ah, you mean the Employee?"
Strangely, the agents fell silent.
As if Lee Seonghae was about to say something shocking.
"He's a really good person. Kind, and tries to help people!"
"...Ah, really?"
His voice was strained.
"But I guess none of you thought twice before cramming that good person into a pet carrier?"
"Agent."
The other agent cut in and stopped Lee Kangheon. But Lee Seonghae understood the implication of that question.
"Hmm. But the Employee probably uses that Transport Cage because it's comfortable..."
"..."
"Maybe it's because people get scared if he just comes out. It's probably out of consideration!"
“Scared, huh.”
"Because some people are affected by appearances?"
"..."
The agent parted his lips but then hesitated and closed it again.
And when his mouth opened again, his voice had gone all business-like.
"Understood. In any case, the request is straightforward: we want access to that carrier."
Hmm.
"Nothing grand, just that. It would be enough to inform us of its location when the carrier goes to another site."
A rather plausible assumption popped into Lee Seonghae's head.
'Are they scouting?'
Come to think of it, the Disaster Management Bureau said they would cooperate with benevolent supernatural entities to eradicate malicious Darkness.
The Employee was certainly a perfect fit.
'Hmm. It seems like a good thing!'
Much better than being overworked and underpaid under a rotten superior like Director Cheong?
Still, she needed to confirm first.
"Are you going to help the Employee change jobs?"
"...and if we intend to do so?"
"Then I'll help you."
"...!"
"It looked like he's not even getting paid right now. He's still in the annex, and the conditions seem subpar..."
"Right now-"
The agent stood up.
"He’s at the annex?"
"Yes, yes."
"Daydream Inc.’s annex."
"Yes. But..."
Are they really going to storm in right away?
Lee Seonghae grinned.
"You won't be able to enter there as humans, you know?"
Such was the security system at Daydream Inc.
Darkness sneaking in or captured darkness breaking out were frequent occurrences. But infiltration from intruders attempting to steal darkness were guarded against with extreme thoroughness.
Typical of an evil corporation like Daydream Inc. Prioritising raw material supply chains over human lives.
In any case, impulsive break-ins attempts would be very difficult.
Unless you had an inside collaborator.
"Please wait a moment."
And Lee Seonghae was confident she could be a very good collaborator. Especially as she already had plans to go to the annex today!
Over the next few days, she continued to bring snacks (she had intended to gift them anyway!), gathered intel and established contact with the Security Team members who worked alongside the Employee.
Simply put, this preparation would naturally allow her to learn about when and where the carrier would head out next. And when it did, she intended to pass that information to the Disaster Management Bureau agents.
The only problem was that she hadn't expected the Employee to be assigned to a task that delved deep into the company's inner core.
Nor could she have predicted that some chain of events would cause the Employee to go missing entirely.
Internally, the incident was recorded as ‘Transferred for special duty under Director Ho Yuwon.’ But that had been kept under the wraps.
The Employee's assigned Security Team also remained silent. Although it seemed they were doing something amongst themselves.
"Ughh..."
The one silver lining in this situation was that Lee Seonghae had realized that the Employee was no longer confined inside the carrier.
'I can sense his absence.'
The ability to sense the presence, or the lack thereof, of the Mascot.
It was a lingering instinct left by her experience working as an employee at Flower Golden Resort. It was the same phenomenon as Agent Haegeum had experienced and described.
In any case, Lee Seonghae conveyed this disheartening news to the agents, and the
agents...
[K.LEE: He disappeared]
They requested that she bring something to their next meeting, if possible.
Something that could serve as a trace of the Employee.
[K.LEE: A body part, or a piece of clothing he wore regularly is also fine.]
[K.LEE: Simple personal belongings won’t count. Things like dolls or toys won’t do.]
Hair, nails, or fragments of his horns.
Of course, Lee Seonghae didn't have the Employee's hair. It seemed the other party was desperate to grasp at any possibility.
However.
[I think I have something similar!]
An item that could almost be considered a part of him.
"It's the Mascot's flower accessory!"
It was a 'souvenir' that she had chosen as employee compensation at Cheerful
Theme Park.
Lee Seonghae had boldly plucked off one flower from the horn of the Mascot itself.
Of course, Kim Soleum had been rather miffed by that, but Lee Seonghae was unaware of this fact...
Is that really
Okay?
Recalling the question the Mascot had asked, Lee Seonghae readily took out the single flower and showed it to the agents.
The agents' faces fell as they looked at the tiny golden wildflower.
"This... is supposed to be 'part of the Employee'?"
"Yes!"
The atmosphere somehow became even stranger, but Lee Seonghae didn't mind.
Then the agents used some spiritual technique akin to dowsing and managed to ascertain one piece of information from that keepsake.
Direction.
"Is it pointing towards the southeast?"
The agents seemed ready to immediately start tracking, standing up and preparing to thank her for her 'cooperation.'
"Hmm... but that flower is precious to me too."
Lee Seonghae declared with a bright smile.
"I’ll come along. I'll take today as my paid time off!"
...And so, after several stops and transfers, Lee Seonghae finally arrived at Jisan Village and was able to arrange a meeting between the Employee and the agents!
And finally, the Employee's very first reaction upon seeing the bureau agents was...
>Request: Do not move
Huh?
*******
I hadn’t expected to meet like this.
I stared blankly at those faces.
Agent Choi.
Agent Bronze.
The elder’s light flickered from the Dokkaebi Lantern in Agent Choi's hand, and a restraining rope was neatly coiled on Agent Bronze's shoulder.
The same sight I used to see every time I was dispatched.
And our eyes met. I slowly widened my field of view to retreat backwards...when suddenly.
I saw the black box again, it’s two hands extending.
Right next to the exit.
'...!'
A sense of crisis sent a shiver up the back of my neck.
>Request: Do not move
>Reason: The box three steps away (extremely dangerous)
'No.'
It's too close...!
'If I'm not careful, it might lock onto a target.'
The trait of the ‘Ascetic in the Box.'
It 'prefers' to accept those with a richer story to fulfill its quota.
Meaning, it could just as easily go after two of those three.
'I need to send them out safely.'
Somehow.
Should I scare them? I want to get Assistant Manager Eun Haje out with them somehow, but how?
...If I deliberately lure the box,
"Grapes-ie."
...
...!
"Let's calm down."
At the entrance, Agent Choi slowly set down the Dokkaebi Lantern.
And raised both hands.
"Look. We won't do anything. Then it's okay, right?"
...
"Shall we communicate only just by nodding? If it's hard to speak, just move your head."
I slowly nodded.
A smile appeared on Agent Choi's face...
"Oh dear...why would you put it like that?"
Ho Yuwon.
"It's not that it's hard to speak, you just physically don’t have vocal cords due to your structure, right?"
My heart felt like it was shriveling.
[What an ill mannered fellow! My friend has vocal cords somewhere in his body, he is merely favoring a more comfortable means of communication at the moment!]
And.
Ho Yuwon and Agent Choi knew each other.
Moreover, that director harbored immense resentment towards the Disaster Management Bureau...
"You went running to the reclusive old man wheezing on the mountain top to undo the restriction I placed upon you. Truly a way of handling issues befitting your organisation."
"Agent Grapes."
Agent Bronze opened his mouth.
"If a sapient entity inside a Supernatural Disaster is constantly inflicting harm to a government agent, they can be immediately transferred to the Disaster Management Bureau."
He looked darkly at Ho Yuwon.
"It can even be carried out right now, given the testimony of the party involved.”
Ho Yuwon's smile deepened.
[Oh, it seems there's no one here who is inclined to favour that person. After all, who would ever like a plague? And he's so insufferable.]
[And so a potential candidate emerges.]
...Candidate?
[Candidate to fill the two person quota. How about putting that person in the box?]
And I realized that Braun was talking about a very simple way to escape this situation.
[Oh, a notice of departure is sad, but it's also an essential element of running a show.]
[Let's notify the two least valuable ones.]
['Unfortunately, you will no longer be able to continue with us’!]
Six entities were present here.
The quota demanded two.
[Let's pick the two.]
TL Notes: -
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