Let's think.
Baek Saheon left this paper boat in Jisan Village. It was probably left for the 'Agent Grape' he met then.
Of course, he probably doesn't know the agent's name is Grape.
'If he had known that, he would have realized I was Kim Soleum already.'
Since he didn't know, he left the communication item.
So, in the current situation, it would be best to respond like an agent to continue the conversation.
I wrote as neatly as possible.
My body, crammed into the Melting Suit, had its power distribution uneven, causing my handwriting to shake slightly.
Are you the citizen I met in Jisan Village?
And if so, what will you do?
I'm glad you seem to have evacuated safely.
Baek Saheon did not reply.
However, as if confirming the characters I wrote, they naturally disappeared a moment later, and I continued writing.
I apologize for the late reply. It's because the discovery
was delayed.
I didn't know you had to unfold the paper boat to use it.
Are you an idiot? Why don't you know this?
Alright. I knew you'd be like this.
'The Viper-like Personality isn't going anywhere….'
While thinking about how to possibly get through to this guy productively while maintaining my agent identity.
Well, it's possible not to know...
...?
You don't have much experience with this, do you?
You can't even guess properly.
You haven't been an agent for long, have you?
Yes. That's correct.
Still, I think I handled it reasonably well back then.
Silence again.
'What is it?'
Anyway, you left this kind of Communication Paper...
Do you have something to report?
Report, my foot.
I left it because I have something to ask.
The characters that had been coming out without hesitation now updated with a slight delay.
What happened to the village?
Jisan Village?
Then would I be asking about some other village from here? Of course, that one.
What happened back then?
[Good heavens, bothering my friend over something from half a year ago. It wouldn't be strange if Mr. Roe Deer got angry at that laziness!]
Hmm... rather than lazy.
'I think it's closer to being too scared to check….'
It seems Baek Saheon hasn't gone anywhere near Jisan Village since he ran away then.
Perhaps even while running, he felt the sounds or pressure of what was happening in Jisan Village.
'And after that... all contact from the village must have been cut off.'
It's almost October. Chuseok is coming soon, so perhaps he's become more anxious. He might be wondering if he has to go down there, if the Disaster Management Bureau failed, and if the village became even more horrific.
I declared concisely.
The Supernatural Disaster you were worried about has disappeared.
There will be no more lotteries or festivals.
The Jinejiseung that the villagers brewed with alcohol and buried under the village shrine is gone, and it would have come under the jurisdiction of the Disaster Management Bureau.
You are free.
For a long while, Baek Saheon did not respond.
I continued.
However, I cannot say for sure what the current state of the village is, so it would be advisable to be cautious if you visit.
I have been working on other Supernatural Disasters since then, so I haven't been able to get detailed news.
It turned out to be the truth...
I almost felt a bit depressed, but I was able to finish speaking, providing the information an agent would have given.
Of course, since you are an experienced individual of that Supernatural Disaster, you will receive safer measures if you officially contact the Disaster Management Bureau.
Though, of course, you won't do that.
That's enough.
I knew it.
Your handwriting is really bad.
'But suddenly attacking my person…?'
I'm truly sorry. You'll learn that when your brain and body turn into mush, it's difficult to perform movements requiring delicate control…
It's a miracle I haven't crumpled this paper.
I'm sorry.
I injured my hand.
The reply stopped again.
Then, changing the subject, a reply came.
Excuse me.
Did you contact me from the Darkness now?
To some extent, yes.
But about the term 'Darkness' you used.
You already know where I work, so why are you pretending to ask? The agent who was with you seemed to recognize me.
Threatening me with this won't be effective.
Why does this guy always have such a sudden outburst, even from the new recruit orientation?
There's no need to threaten you, nor do I have any desire to.
And when conversing, if the other party is truly trying to threaten you, instead of responding like this, you should leave. That is safer.
Silence again.
I suppressed a sigh and continued.
I just had something I wanted to ask personally.
About Daydream.
Are you crazy? Do you think I'd answer something like that and create trouble for the company for no reason, just with my mouth? lol
Stop with the pointless attempts.
Understood.
I knew you'd say that. I was just choosing from the options of what bait to use.
Letters slowly appeared.
What are you curious about?
What are you trying to do?
But I threw out the prepared question anyway.
Are there any new recruits who were previously employed and have rejoined,
and did you see any familiar faces?
First, to confirm Jang Heo-un.
I could ask Kwak Jegang, but I don't want to give that mad scientist the impression that I'm particularly concerned about Jang Heo-un beyond a certain point.
'It sparks curiosity.'
Even with the 'Red Finger' restriction, it wasn't advisable to give that crazy person motivation to find a workaround. Especially not to those around him, not the one who made the promise.
'For the same reason, I'm not asking about Ms. Go Young-eun or Assistant Manager Eun Haje.'
Of course, it won't be for free with Baek Saheon either, so I was choosing between a carrot and a stick again...
Wait a moment.
I'll check when I go to work tomorrow.
'…??'
Did I… eat something wrong?
I really don't know what's happening.
Anyway, I'm happy if he's going to do it.
Thank you.
Don't forget to show your sincerity.
I mean, prepare some useful items. Don't send things like coffee gifticons.
Hey. I'm in a situation where I can't even afford a coffee gifticon...
Then it will be difficult.
I'm sorry. I'm currently not in a position to obtain items.
Don't you even plan to borrow and get them later? You have no sense and no flexibility, yet you've managed to work as an agent this long.
[He's like the Grinch.]
My point exactly.
Then I will pay you back when I obtain them later. Thank you.
'Hmm.'
It seems 'Agent Grape' gained some trust from Baek Saheon due to the Jisan Village incident.
'How did he do it?'
I don't know. It was completely unexpected.
'...And I'm not even an agent anymore.'
I'm bewildered that I'm still communicating as an agent.
In any case, I decided to wait for Baek Saheon's answer to this first question.
It was also a phase where I had to work quietly in the annex for the next step.
[Time to rest well and prepare for tomorrow's work, friend!]
That's right.
Several days passed like that.
I'm still working quietly at the annex front desk, and I'm continuously putting pressure on the company to pay me on payday.
For reference, I went out to collect Darkness once more in the meantime, and I successfully captured it again.
It wasn't particularly dangerous or difficult since it was Darkness listed on the
Other than that, it was quite peaceful. Surprisingly, Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae even brought snacks a few times during our annex duty.
'If I find my digestive organs and reassemble them, will I be able to eat someday?'
For now, I handed everything over to the Security Chief.
Baek Saheon's paper boat still hasn't responded. He probably hasn't confirmed all the new recruits' faces yet.
And so, today, time flows until the work format changes slightly.
[Solo duty! Don't worry about boredom, friend. This witty conversationalist is by your side!]
That's right.
It's the night shift, solo duty.
Seeing that I had been working quietly for over a week, the company seemed to think, 'Let's test this much,' and assigned me to the front desk alone.
'I wouldn't have tried this….'
But if I did, it would be a crazy company in the Ghost Story Worldview.
The Security Chief and Team Leader Park Min-seong are performing their original duties and will be dispatched if I call for security.
And so, I was left alone in the front desk as an open Transport Cage.
As a result.
"...."
"...."
Seven out of ten people approaching the front desk hesitate.
'Hoo….'
It's a good thing I've gotten used to the Transport Cage for a few days, otherwise, the Security Team would have been called by now.
"Um... Transport Cage? Employee? I'm trying to access the Twilight Grade 'Self Cookie'."
Issuing Access Card
I used smoke to create letters and, at the same time, extended only a part of my body, my left hand, from the Transport Cage to register the access card and threw it to the person.
"Th-thank you…?"
Please use safely.
I could hear them whispering that I was surprisingly good at my job as they fled into the hallway.
You shouldn't say such evaluations out loud in front of a Transport Cage that's presumed to be Darkness….
'Are they new recruits?'
I see a lot of them.
It's been a few days since the entrance exam, but it's about time to introduce the annex and other areas to the new recruits and let them use them themselves.
I did it too.
'…Did I make dedicated equipment around this time?'
I recall the days I received various help from my superiors in Team D.
'….'
While spending time quietly like that, with smoke.
The main entrance of the annex opened, and another person in a suit cautiously walked in.
"H-hello…."
He seemed to be a new recruit again. A tall man.
But as he walked in, he froze upon seeing me at the front desk.
'Hmm. That can happen.'
Question: Necessity of Access Card
"…!"
The new employee's steps quickened at the sentence I created, and he practically rushed to the front desk.
'…Huh?'
Specifically, seeing the Black Smoke and yellow light emanating from the open Transport Cage.
As if recognizing it….
....
...!
I urgently displayed a sentence.
Question: Circumstances at the time of hiring
Visit to Basement Level 13 of the Annex
"…!!"
The sound of footsteps approaching the front desk grew louder.
"Do you... remember me?"
This way of speaking.
His build, probably a polite expression, relatively long hair….
"I, I thought you probably wouldn't recognize my face, wouldn't be able to identify me…"
Question: Name
....
Slowly, his mouth opened from a face like a melted mosaic.
"It's Heo-un…"
....
As expected.
"...Employee."
I faced a colleague I had met again.
Numerous questions flashed through my mind.
Reason for joining
"...I have something to find."
My hand on the front desk desk tightened slightly, then loosened.
Since there was CCTV, we couldn't have a more detailed conversation.
'…Was my guess correct?'
It seems Jang Heo-un, who became human through a Wish Token, rejoined Daydream Inc. to achieve his wish.
"Um, Employee."
I want to talk more, but it doesn't seem appropriate in such a public place.
'For now, we've acknowledged each other, so that's enough.'
Issuing Access Card
"...Thank you."
I assigned the access authority to the Twilight Grade Darkness the other person mentioned.
However, Jang Heo-un glanced into the annex for a moment, then returned the access card to me and went outside.
"I will visit again."
Leaving those words behind.
....
'…Did he come here after hearing rumors from the start?'
That there's a Security Team employee using fog at the annex front desk.
In other words, that I am here.
It was possible.
'…Hoo.'
At least, I was relieved to confirm that he was safe as a human.
He wouldn't have passed the Field Investigation Team exam if he was still contaminated as a Resort employee and couldn't have his Dream Weave extracted.
'Did I ask Baek Saheon unnecessarily?'
I wonder if I should have asked for other information, but I didn't expect to meet him so soon.
Since there was no one around, I took out Baek Saheon's paper boat, which I had kept hidden in the smoke of the Transport Cage, and unfolded it in a CCTV blind spot, in the shade of the iron bars.
'Ah.'
Just then, a reply had arrived.
So, regarding my question about whether there were any new recruits who were previously employed and rejoined, and if I knew any faces, Baek Saheon's response was….
There are none.
....
What?
There are no new recruits who rejoined Daydream, and I don't know any familiar faces. There wasn't anyone who looked like a celebrity either.
Is this what you wanted to know?
....
Wait a minute.
Then….
What is Jang Heo-un, who just left the annex?
....
Hello?
I confirmed it, why aren't you responding?
Thank you. I will contact you again.
I folded the paper boat and put it back into the smoke.
All sorts of possibilities flooded my mind.
The possibility that one of them is lying, the possibility that both are lying, the possibility that both are telling the truth but there's a misunderstanding.
At the same time, the most primal method also came to mind....
The simplest method I hadn't thought of until now.
....
'Brown.'
[Oh, what is it, friend?]
My reason asks, with a clear mind thanks to the bell and the dull shock that passed by.
To my good friend, who can identify people's faces and is by my side.
'Was that person earlier, the Jang Heo-un I knew… an employee of Daydream Inc. wearing the Bison mask?'
And the answer was.
[Oh dear, Mr. Roe Deer would know that better than anyone!]
Me?
[Of course! But since you seem to have forgotten, here's a hint from your host...]
The announcer's voice, with a pleasant, classic intonation, spoke three words.
[Flower Golden Resort.]
…!!
'Ah.'
Although I was not in human form, I still had one identity that I had not lost.
The Mascot of Flower Golden Resort.
That was because it was created through contracts and achievements.
Then.
'I could summon Jang Heo-un, the Familiar of the Mascot and an employee of the Resort, at any time…!'
[That's correct!]
[You even formally hired him as a full-time employee at the Resort, so of course, you can know anything about him and command him as you please.]
'Right.'
That's why I was able to hand over his custody to the Disaster Management Bureau in the first place.
However, since his custody was transferred to the Disaster Management Bureau, they must be taking some measures to restore the contaminated Jang Heo-un to human form, so I hadn't interfered.
'But in the current situation...'
It's better to just call him once.
If he doesn't respond to the call, if I can't feel his presence, it means he has returned to being human, so I can be relieved.
'....'
I took a deep breath.
And 'called'.
Jang Heo-un.
"Yes? Mascot!"
I froze. Under the front desk desk where my Transport Cage was placed. Someone was crouched down.
"Good morning, Mascot! My current location is under the desk on the first floor of the annex of Daydream Inc., located in Seoul."
The contaminated Jang Heo-un, the Familiar of the Mascot of Flower Golden Resort, whose custody was handed over to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, appeared upon the Mascot's call.