I knew it.
I knew that the Disaster Management Bureau had strict control over information about the ‘Dokkaebi Workshop’
To be precise… only that much!
‘I had no idea exactly the Bureau was directly managing the ghost story….’
It hadn't even been mentioned in the <Dark Exploration Record>!
Who would have thought they were actually working undercover within the ghost story, weeding out visitors and monitoring the creation of equipment?
An employee of the Disaster Management Bureau, a human, pretending to be a Goblin inside a ghost story!
[A-raya? You’re slow to answer!]
My head spun.
‘……What should I do?’
Wait a second, what have I been blathering about until now?
With a feeling of my blood running cold, I mentally reviewed our past conversation like a panoramic flash.
The decisive mistake… right, I didn't make one.
‘…It’s okay!’
I can still make up for it. I can, make up for it….
If so.
I intentionally let my pale complexion and flustered demeanor show.
"I am sorry, Elder, but I haven't received permission to speak of such things…."
[…….]
I don't know anything.
I'm just a rookie who has no idea that you're a person, or that you're a Seonbae Agent.
I'm just a guy who was startled because a Goblin in a ghost story started prying into my personal life, and now I'm flustered and struggling to respond properly!
‘Please!’
I slightly lifted my head with an expression that seemed to say, ‘What do I do with this Goblin?’
[Iya, the Kim Seobangs doing national business sure have a lot to worry about.]
“…….”
Phew.
[I heard the Kim Seobangs over there call their group a 'team', why can't you tell me??]
“Yes. That, yes…. I am sorry. The country has set it that way.”
[Well, that’s no fun!]
The Agent pretending to be a Goblin smacked his lips and took a step back.
‘It worked.’
Did it land?
[Still, I’ll let it slide since you’re a kind-hearted Kim Seobang who gave me ginseng!]
It seemed the Agent intended to keep pretending to be a Goblin.
‘…Did the bait work well?’
The so-called ‘teasing the Hubae’.
It must have fueled his desire to see this rookie’s face later when he finds out from a Seonbae that ‘that person was an Agent’ and faints from shock.
I guessed as much when I saw that Agent sniffing the Mountain Ginseng stored in his tattoo just like a real Goblin would.
‘Isn’t he becoming similar in ability and personality while imitating a Goblin?’
I wondered if he was using that kind of ‘equipment’.
And Goblins are suckers for that kind of mischief.
“Th-thank you.”
I bowed my head deeply to match the act.
[Kind-hearted Kim Seobang, I must repay you for the drink!]
[Now, tell me what Goblin item you desire! You may recite it in song, or perform a dance….]
Now he’s trying to take care of the rookie.
Perhaps he considered that the Mountain Ginseng I held was a precious item I'd obtained somewhere, and that I'd handed it over too readily out of panic.
‘…The most natural response is,’
“I-it is quite alright, Elder! Then… if you could show favor to the next ‘Kim Seobangs doing national business’ who visit. As much as your mood allows.”
[…Ho-oh, is that so?]
“Yes!”
[Fine, Kim Seobang. I’ll earn my keep for the drink!]
I nodded with a bright smile. The Goblin also looked somewhat satisfied and danced around.
Good. I think I passed this topic.
And naturally, the conversation moved to the Pop-socket I was holding.
[So the reason Kim Seobang came here today is… you want this trinket fixed up nicely, is that it?]
“…Yes.”
This was the problem.
This Agent recognized that my Pop-socket wasn't made here….
Cold sweat broke out on my palms.
Sure enough, the Agent wearing the Goblin mask asked, still pretending.
[Where did this object come from?]
“I, I am not sure. I received it as a gift from the country….”
[Right, right. Do the Kim Seobangs doing national business run factories these days? They keep bringing in goods from elsewhere….]
[It’s a dangerous thing to do.]
“…….”
[Who knows when a Day Dokkaebi might appear!]
Right. The Disaster Management Bureau didn't just have this workshop for making Agent supplies anymore.
‘The Silver Heart also came from somewhere else.’
At any rate, he seemed to have misunderstood that it was produced at one of those places.
It was a very helpful misunderstanding.
‘I’m saved thanks to that.’
My heart settled a bit seeing the Agent keep up the Goblin act until the end, even mentioning the Day Dokkaebi.
Thanks to that, I could accept the situation lightheartedly.
‘Anyway, I’m screwed.’
That Agent will definitely remember me, the one who suddenly visited today and even offered Mountain Ginseng.
‘The moment that person leaves this ghost story and talks to the people at the Disaster Management Bureau, I’ll be tracked as a person of interest.’
…Is there really no way out?
[Anyway, I’ll fix this trinket right up, so wait here!]
“Yes….”
The Agent imitating a Goblin took my Pop-socket and vanished into the tiled house—the 'workshop'.
He was probably handing it over to the other Goblins inside.
I waited patiently.
Evil imaginings of the Agent realizing the situation, confiscating my Pop-socket, and making an emergency call to the Disaster Management Bureau made me break into a cold sweat, but.
Fortunately, it didn't take long.
[Take your trinket!]
The returning Agent lightly tossed the Pop-socket to me. I suppressed a curse and caught it carefully.
The crack was still on the Pop-socket.
However, the groove was smoothly filled with something glossy.
A glue that sparkled with the color of Jade.
“Ah, is the repair finished with this?”
[Ahem, even rice needs time to steam, do you think an Elder’s skill is as easy as eating cold porridge? You must wait until the glue has fully set!]
[Don't wear it for a month; treat it like a swaddled baby, as precious as gold and jade. Make a wish for how you'd like it to turn out as well. Then it will become a very fine trinket!]
An entire month?
“…Thank you.”
I gripped the Pop-socket lightly.
‘…I feel like if I apply even a little pressure, it’ll break apart.’
It meant I had to handle it very carefully for the month it took for the glue to harden.
Which meant….
‘I can’t access the Wiki for a month.’
Right now, I was trying my best to re-read it every day to remember as much as possible in detail, but it meant I couldn't continue that routine.
Naturally, human memory has its limits, so I felt anxious… but there was nothing I could do. I had to endure. Obtaining a new Pop-socket seemed out of reach.
‘Anyway, at least I succeeded in getting it fixed.’
Then only one problem remained.
How on earth do I leave here naturally?
[Now then, while we enjoy the buckwheat cakes young Kim Seobang brought… why don't you tell me what the Kim Seobangs doing national business are up to lately!]
I don't know either….
‘If we talk any further, it’s only a matter of time before I’m exposed.’
Forget being wanted, I might be bound by an Arrest Rope right here and transported to a glass cage in the Disaster Management Bureau.
…Right.
I made up my mind.
‘I’m caught in the long run anyway.’
If so… even if it leaves a stronger impression,
I’m going for it!
“Yes, Elder. I…”
Urgh.
I didn't hold back the hematemesis and just let it out.
Urgh, clumps of blood flowed down my chin.
Hastily wiping it with my sleeve, I looked at the Goblin with a panicked face.
“I-I am sorr….”
It wasn't just to incite panic.
Blood.
[Kim Seobang…!!]
Traditionally, it was also the Goblin's Achilles' heel.
Rumble, rumble.
The massive tiled house shook.
Scary! Scary! Scary!
Why is it scary? Why is it scary? Why is it scary?
[Geez! Everyone stop overreacting! Nothing happened!]
Scary! Who is it? Scary! Who is it?
Even as the Agent shouted, the tiled house continued to vibrate. Turning deathly pale, I covered my mouth and gagged.
“I-I am sorry.”
[Get out, quickly. That crazy bastard who sent a sick rookie to the Dokkaebi Realm, I’ll just…!]
“N-no! Elder, I… I came in without knowing anything.”
[Elder, my foot! You brat, do you still not know?]
It’s time to pretend I’ve realized.
“…!”
My eyes widened, and I scrambled to my feet.
“Could it be….”
The Agent in the Goblin form crossed his arms.
[Be grateful this Seonbae is here. Rookie.]
“Yes, yes… I am sorry.”
With a hollow face that said ‘I have no idea what’s going on,’ I stood up as if I’d finally come to my senses.
Thump. Thump.
Now, sounds like a broom or a wooden club hitting the door of the tiled house could be heard.
Listening to that, the Agent clicked his tongue and yelled at me.
[If you're sick, you should rest. Where do you think you're crawling in? Did Headquarters order this?]
Oh?
If I weave this well….
“…No.”
I quickly searched my mind and pulled out one of the many episodes from the Disaster Management Bureau.
‘…There was a culture of making bets during the training center days!’
A sort of test of courage, competing in competence and boldness.
Good. With this…!
“…My peers told me… to fix the Memorial Pop Socket on my own…….”
The Agent flinched.
[…They still do that these days?]
I just gave a bitter smile.
The Agent behind the Goblin mask seemed to suppress a groan, rubbed his face, and then waved me away.
[……I’ll let it slide without telling Headquarters. Just go.]
It worked.
“Th-thank you.”
[What’s your Codename?]
“It hasn't been assigned yet… I’m, I’m still thinking about what would be good.”
[…Right. We’ll see if our paths cross again.]
The Agent pretending to be a Goblin waved his hand.
Whoosh.
At that gesture, I was pushed back….
[Go home and rest.]
Thud!
I landed on my backside.
“Ha….”
When I looked up, I was on the streets of Hongdae.
It was as lively as ever, the day was bright, and the cafe with the blue roof across the way was doing a brisk business….
‘…I’m alive!’
I got out without being caught.
-That was an excellent ad-lib, Friend!
I let out a long sigh and covered my face.
I almost sprawled out right there on the street.
I spent the next two days truly resting.
I felt anxious because I couldn't use the Pop-socket, so I tried writing down the contents from my head onto paper, but then I stopped, worried that I might be creating distortions in the details.
Instead, compulsively reviewing it in my head made the time fly by.
And….
“Kim Soleum.”
“Manager.”
Three days later, I returned to work and met Section Chief Lizard again.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. Kim Soleum, please receive additional counseling within this month.”
“……Yes.”
Fortunately, he seemed fine too.
Furthermore, Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn't ask me any more questions.
Not about Braun’s abilities like ‘Lights Out’, nor about the black water mass Mascot that was chasing me.
Even as he listened to what I told him within the limits of what I could say, he only responded with an ‘I see’.
‘He’s consistent.’
Because of that, it became difficult for me to ask Section Chief Lee Jaheon anything more….
To begin with, after taking three days of sick leave, there was so much work to do that it wasn't a situation where I could set the mood and pry.
‘Wow, when am I going to finish all this?’
I'd escaped an Irregular again, and the entire Group D, except for the two junior employees who came for support, had taken a break immediately after?
The nagging from all sides was no joke.
I spent the day writing reports with Section Chief Lee Jaheon, conducting interviews, and even making thank-you calls to Director Cheong.
In the midst of that, I had to mention the taxi Darkness I used to escape Death Road in the report, so I racked my brain over how to write that I’d known to call it.
‘Should I say I saw a flyer advertisement in Death Road?’
But wouldn't that be Manual Contamination?
Just as my head was spinning.
“The taxi you called is a Darkness currently pending Manual Review.”
“…!”
“It means it’s information that cannot be obtained through normal use of the company’s system.”
Wow.
As I turned back to Section Chief Lee Jaheon with a chilling feeling,
The Lizard said this.
“So I changed the person who called the taxi.”
“……To whom?”
“Me.”
Wait a minute.
“You changed the report to say that you called the taxi, Team Leader?”
“Yes.”
Now I roughly understand this Lizard’s principles of action.
“…Was this a reward for my active contribution to the escape from Death Road, and as the Team Leader, taking responsibility for the joint operation?”
“Yes.”
And that wasn't all.
“By any chance, do you remember, Team Leader? There was equipment you promised me back during the pantry ghost story….”
“Yes. It will be ready by next week.”
Wow.
I decided to sincerely respect Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
So what if he’s a bit stifling? He’s truly a dream boss!
‘You just deal with the stifling part yourself!’
Got it, Kim Soleum!
I scolded myself and diligently worked on the paperwork.
Production of new Exclusive Equipment, a team with a new rank.
A new chapter of my corporate life was right before me.
Although, a new Darkness was waiting for me even before that.
…Along with a face I wasn't happy to see at all.
“Iya, it’s been a while, Mr. Roe Deer!”
Kwak Jekang from the research team smiles and waves at me.
“Are you interested in an abandoned elevator by any chance?”
No! I said no!!
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