“Think carefully.”
The civil servant, dressed in a quintessential serial killer outfit, spoke reliably.
“It is a seniority-based pay system where you can never be fired and can work until age 65. Since it’s a special occupational group, allowances are also set separately.”
Why was I listening to something like a Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau career fair here?
“If you have a ‘constitution’ that gets caught up in supernatural phenomena anyway, wouldn't it be better to receive proper pay and protection from the system?”
I’m already receiving those, though….
No matter how much I think about it, I don't think a Grade 8 civil servant would get paid more than a pharmaceutical conglomerate!
However, even if my mouth were torn, I couldn't say I worked at <Daydream Inc.> here.
I didn't want to be flagged as a person of interest and be reported to the Management Bureau!
‘Should I have just stuck to written conversation?’
I began to regret using my voice, which I had decided on after much deliberation for faster communication, more persuasive appeal, and impact.
I opened my mouth, feeling like I was about to break into a cold sweat.
For now, since he seems to see me as a ‘civilian who often gets caught up in supernatural phenomena,’ let’s lean into that….
“I really did try to do something this time because it was so scary, but I’m not someone with the ability to eliminate these kinds of supernatural phenomena. An agent? That’s out of the question.”
“…….”
The civil servant looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression.
No, why?
“Because you thought the culprit of this phenomenon was the Caretaker, you terminated the contract so that the next incident wouldn't occur, didn't you?”
“That’s… right?”
“Then, didn't you lead this supernatural phenomenon to a complete conclusion through your own arbitrary judgment?”
“…….”
“It’s an innate talent.”
No, it’s not.
It’s the power of the Wiki…….
“I’m sorry, but I really don't think it'll work. Actually, I did this after consulting with the friend I came with….”
Wow, please.
“In the first place, I’m not good at fighting or possessed of special abilities enough to be an agent.”
“Special abilities.”
The corners of the civil servant's mouth curled up slightly.
“There is… a separate ‘way to learn’ those.”
“…!”
“You will hear about it in detail after you are appointed.”
This is driving me crazy.
“No, what is it about me that makes you act like this….”
“Are you not currently in possession of a small silver shield-shaped badge?”
“…!!”
“That is the reason.”
Ah, damn it.
‘He’s sharp.’
I had considered this situation, but I deliberately acted startled, pretending to be more flustered.
“What? H-How….”
“That is Persuasion Equipment used by the Disaster Management Bureau. I heard that in the past, it was also distributed to civilians who had accumulated great karma… but this is the first time I’ve seen someone capable of using it.”
“Ah…….”
“Since it is an item that only a good person can use, it also serves as a kind of certification.”
Then he gave me a quick glance.
“Did you use it while keeping it in your pocket?”
This guy is smart too.
‘It’ll be more suspicious if I play dumb here.’
I might as well have its efficacy recognized and move on.
Don't forget, this only works for ‘good people’!
‘He won't necessarily confiscate it. Unless you’ve caused trouble, there are no such cases.’
Fortunately, after my brain worked like crazy, a response popped out without any gap.
With a bitter expression as if I had a backstory, I fumbled through my pocket, took out the small silver badge, and held it up.
While naturally mentioning the only legal route that wouldn't be strange for me to have this.
“…I inherited it from my family.”
The Goods Box is my family starting today.
“I heard I should use it when I need the right to speak in an emergency situation…….”
“Yes.”
The civil servant nodded and looked at me somewhat sympathetically.
“You had a wonderful family.”
“…….”
Did he just misunderstand that they’re ‘watching me from heaven’ right now?
In a sense, it wasn't a misunderstanding, but well….
I spoke while trying not to think of the black Goods Box floating in the sky.
“They told me not to volunteer for dangerous work, and I want to keep that word as much as possible….”
“…….”
The words my parents said while trying to stop me from going into finance were true, and I didn't really join this company voluntarily, so I didn't lie. No lies!
“…I understand.”
The civil servant looked at me with a bit of regret, but backed off obediently.
“Then there’s nothing that can be done.”
Phew.
And so, the nerve-wracking career fair came to an end.
Along with an unexpected gain.
“If you have any concerns or problems, please contact me.”
As we were leaving the mountain villa, I received another contact number from the civil servant.
However, the format was different this time.
Ryu Jaekwan
010-XXXX-XXXX
“It’s my work number.”
Oh.
“This will be better than the business card I gave you earlier. That one might take time before a dispatch team is assigned, and you won't know what kind of agent will come.”
In a word, it was a ghost story escape free pass.
As if exchanging a Cassette Tape, I exchanged the previous contact information with this one.
I didn't know I'd use it like this.
I should hurry back before he asks for my name... wait, will he do a background check anyway?
‘In that case.’
I deliberately scratched the back of my head as if embarrassed.
“Um, actually, during the Salmon Market incident, I was a bit scared, so I used written conversation… but I’d like to talk with my voice like this again the next time we meet.”
“Of course.”
“And… well, could my identity perhaps be kept secret? It’s a bit burdensome… and scary.”
“…….”
The civil servant was silent for a moment, but.
“You may go as you are.”
He let it slide.
Sweet!
‘This means he’ll leave me as unidentified, right?’
Since I also left room for a new deal, it was perfect.
‘Next time, I’ll be able to sell more food with less suspicion.’
“I hope you descend safely.”
“You too, Agent.”
I shook hands with the civil servant.
The civil servant then left on his bicycle.
Even when the civil servant made one last suggestion as we were parting ways, I handled it quite naturally.
-To be honest, this kind of situation is difficult for me… I’m near my limit even now. It seems it would be difficult.
This was truly sincere.
Baek Saheon, you put away those creepy eyes of yours.
Whether the civil servant had just asked out of regret, he nodded and got on his bicycle without lingering.
Along with a piece of vital advice to leave before the ‘Management Bureau cleanup team’ arrived.
‘I’ve got to run right now.’
I left the front of the villa, where the landslide debris and the bus stop had vanished like a lie, and began to walk along the hiking trail.
‘Whew.’
Only then did the tension release.
-This Braun knows of the effort you poured in over the past few days, giving up sleep for that artistic final cut! You worked hard.
Yeah. It was damn gross, scary, and tiring….
‘Being deployed alone into a ghost story like this, the Disaster Management Bureau is definitely not the way to go.’
Had there ever been a time when Daydream Inc.’s corporate score was higher in my mind than today?
‘Getting paid in money and points is a plus.’
They say even a servant should work at a grand house, and it was exactly that situation.
Though I don't think it’s particularly more rewarding….
I looked back at my colleague who was playing a part in this unrewarding job.
“Let’s go down right now. This damn villa…!”
“…….”
“Damn it, I got caught up in this kind of crap when it doesn't even make points or money!”
“I believe you have something to say before that.”
Baek Saheon shut his mouth tight.
Then he turned to look at me and spoke very defensively.
“I can’t pay anything for this. It’s not like I asked you to save me anyway.”
Look at him.
“The cassette exchange reward too… only you, Senior Staff Kim Soleum, took it. So that’s enough, isn't it?”
“Oh.”
I smirked.
“Interesting. You have the guts to say that even to the person who wasted their weekend and went AWOL because of you?”
“……”
Baek Saheon’s face turned pale and then back to normal.
Then he asked with difficulty.
“……What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“…?!”
“Actually, it was fun.”
“…!!”
I strode down the mountain path.
I heard Baek Saheon’s hurried footsteps following behind me and a late response.
“…Anyway, I’ll admit that I caused you harm regarding the weekend and the unauthorized absence.”
“…….”
“That’s how it is.”
Oh.
“I’ll deposit three days’ worth of wages, so just wait.”
“Sure.”
However, a moment later.
The moment we entered the reception area and data started working, Baek Saheon ended up screaming.
“The date is exactly the same!”
Exactly.
Don't you know it’s an unspoken rule that time flows differently in ghost stories?
“Anyway, I spent three days.”
“…!”
However, I secured the pay, and Baek Saheon looked at me with an expression mixed with injustice, relief, and anger before hurriedly casting his eyes down and running away.
-Haha, even without this incident, he seems like the type who would find it hard to live with a whole body!
A bit like that, right?
Actually, there were separate things that needed to be said.
‘I didn't think he would refrain from saying thank you until the very end.’
He was a remarkable guy in many ways.
Still, he seemed a bit less malicious and possessed a bit more blood and tears than what I saw in the <Dark Exploration Record>….
In fact, earlier, when the civil servant met this fellow in the basement, he looked at him with cold eyes for a moment and then advised me.
-So, someone inherited the Silver Heart, and someone inherited the Cassette Tape….
-…….
-You would do well to choose the people you associate with carefully.
-Mhm. Yes. Thank you.
Well, now.
The government had allowed Cassette Tapes to fall into the hands of villains while conscripting only those whose guilt was certain.
So this guy… meant he was a government-certified villain.
Even if I looked at him in the most generous light, there was at least a villain among Baek Saheon’s acquisition routes.
-…It was an item that was at home. I inherited it from a relative.
……A relative.
‘There might be a story there.’
But for now, I stopped thinking.
I didn't have the luxury to explore the behind-the-scenes stories of the characters in the Wiki.
‘I have to survive the ghost story company first.’
And before long, this damn company started doing company-like things again.
It brought something weird and unpredictable as if it were common sense.
A few days later.
“Senior Staff Kim!”
While I was buying coffee for my boss’s errand, a familiar face called me in the hallway.
It was Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin, the person in charge of manual review who had gone missing.
“Ah~ congratulations. I knew our Senior Staff Kim would do well!”
We’ve known each other for less than two months, though….
“Top of the entrance class, scouted by Team A, even saved me, uh, you have connections in the security team, and now a high-speed promotion? Man, that’s great.”
“Thank you.”
It wasn't particularly great, but I replied that way for now.
But instead of finishing the conversation and leaving, Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin lowered his voice and whispered.
“Director Ho is keeping an eye on you, Senior Staff Kim.”
“…….”
“He’s the most decent superior in this company. It’s an opportunity, so don't miss it.”
Opportunity…?
“There are rumors that the Director is running a top-secret project team under him… you might be transferred there.”
Haha. You don't know anything.
In a ghost story worldview, once ‘top-secret’ is attached, the survival rate drops to less than half….
Instead of saying that, I politely shook my head.
“It’s been less than six months since I joined, so I don't hope for such things. I’ll just work hard in the position given to me.”
“Hah, humility too! I judged you correctly. Haha!”
I was just thankful that he comfortably forgot all the high-handed attitudes I had when I was pretending to be a security guard. I guess humans really are creatures of their environment.
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin patted my shoulder a few times as if proud, then left after saying this.
“Anyway, I’m really curious where you’ll go!”
“……?”
The nuance is strangely different.
‘Why does he speak as if it’s a given that I’ll be going somewhere?’
This question would soon be clarified.
That afternoon.
“Hey, Roe. Even if you go to another team, let's see each other sometimes. I haven't even been able to buy you a meal a few times.”
Excuse me?
I blinked as I looked at the Senior Staff who was looking a bit dejected.
Another team?
Am I… perhaps being demoted to some strange place?
Was the Director keeping an eye on me actually a bluff to put me at ease and then give me a shock to draw out a reaction?
Why do such a useless and wicked thing to a mere employee…!?
“No, I’d like you to stay in our team if possible… but looking at how things are going right now.”
Fortunately, before I could fall into a panic, the Assistant manager kindly explained.
The Field Exploration team usually has a capacity of 3 people per squad, and assigning one or two extra people is usually for training new employees.
And until this employee is promoted, they sometimes stay with the same squad as an over-capacity member.
“But you’re a Senior Staff now.”
Ah.
I… was excluded from that general case.
“The probability of you being bounced elsewhere is quite high… well, you might not need to worry too much.”
I asked with a bit of hope.
“Is it perhaps being handled as an exception?”
“Not that… but I think the 3-person capacity will fit exactly. Keep this to yourself.”
“Yes?”
The Assistant manager smirked.
“I’m resigning soon.”
“…!!”
An escape notice from a colleague has appeared!
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