Bow before me
I grant you permission
Something pressed heavily on my shoulders and back—
"That won't do."
"..."
Agent Choi raised his arm.
"There's already someone being served here. See? The Goblin Elder."
At the end of his arm, the Elder's goblin lantern swayed.
"Now that your procession is over, you should enjoy a grand feast. Please return before the food gets cold, Tiger General!"
Cheeky thing
There was a sound like a feline beast snorting.
The feast I was promised
Prepare it
And then.
Everything fell silent.
"..."
The blood that had rained from the sky, the crashing lightning, all vanished as if it had been a lie.
"Hoo…"
With a deep sigh, all three agents collapsed on the spot.
Barely managing, I opened my mouth.
"…That entity."
"Ah, the Daecheongbong Mountain Guardian, the Tiger General King Bodhisattva… It's a bit complicated, but you can just think of him that way. He likes to be called that."
Ah.
At that moment, I realized exactly what kind of ghost story this was.
Daecheongbong Tiger General
This entity originates from the 'Baekhodaesal', or 'the great killing spirit of a white tiger'. It is an aspect of the Four Pillars of Destiny associated with great misfortune and disaster, specifically relating to the 'Hyeongsal', which signifies punishment, bloodshed, and calamity. The Daecheongbong Tiger General is a ghost story derived from these concepts.
However, at the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, it was observed that, in cases where a person's Four Pillars contains this aspect and they are engaged in professions involving blades, blood, or punishment, the effect can be advantageous rather than harmful. Based on this observation, a method was developed to utilize this ghost story to absorb misfortune or bad luck.
For further details, refer to relevant exploration records here.
And that meant…
First, one must ascend to Daecheongbong Peak of Seoraksan, bearing the offering entirely by one's own strength.
Agent Choi had done that.
"..."
I struggled not to ask about it, and with difficulty changed the subject.
"…But according to Agent Bronze, it didn't seem to be a phenomenon friendly toward humans."
"Oh, that."
Agent Choi shrugged.
"Technically speaking… it just doesn't care. If you prepare a feast with sincerity, it'll grant your wish if it's in a good mood."
"That the feast accepts even a human as an offering is the real problem here!"
Agent Bronze's eyes flashed. Agent Choi gave a faint smile.
"Ehey, the Bureau is handling it all carefully. The General's been living a vegan lifestyle these days."
And then, in the next instant, Agent Choi's gaze immediately turned to me.
No, more precisely, to the back of my hand, which had been cleansed by the blood rain.
He tried to act casual, but I could see the tension in his eyes.
"It's really gone… right?"
"..."
Agent Bronze's eyes also fixed on the back of my hand.
After what they'd just seen, it would be easy to guess that the being who had possessed Assistant Manager Eun Haje's body might have left some kind of curse or misfortune on me.
"Agent Grapes, just what the..."
"We'll talk in detail when we get back. For now, let's just confirm it. …Grapes-ie, say anything."
I hesitated, then opened my mouth.
"…I am Roe Deer."
"...!"
I could say it.
With no resistance at all.
It worked.
"It worked!"
The binding was broken.
'Holy shit.'
In a daze, I stared at the back of my hand.
And just then, from outside the village, the sound of a bicycle bell began to ring.
"Here comes the Vermillion-Bird Unit."
Like a signal that things were wrapping up.
"There's still a lot that's suspicious about this Jisan Village… so from here, they'll begin a full-scale investigation. They'll search for people. The well, too."
Agent Choi tapped the ground beside the well, speaking cheerfully.
"There could still be other anomalies, but for now, not likely. Let's just head back today."
"…Yes."
A strange sense of relief started to spread through my chest.
Right. The binding was finally gone.
No more dying within a month. I was free…
...
Wait.
– What a pity, Soleum-nim.
"…Agent Grapes?"
I was mistaken.
For a moment, swept up in emotion, I'd let myself feel a baseless relief. This was no time to feel happy or at ease.
I needed to cool my blood.
'Shit.'
I couldn't afford to fall out with Director Ho here.
Failing my mission and dying in a month? That's a big problem, but even more important was to complete the mission safely and get a Wish Ticket for myself.
But if things went like this, it would be too blatant a betrayal. If I was to carry out Director Ho's mission, I couldn't do it like this…
No way.
I looked over at Agent Choi.
Was it possible he had aimed for this, to completely sever my ties with Director Ho?
"..."
"Grapes."
Agent Choi didn't meet my eyes.
Instead, still smiling, he drew his cleaver and as checked its edge, he spoke.
"But… On the way back, there's somewhere you need to go, as per Bureau procedures."
"…What?"
The blade spun smoothly in his hand.
"You were under a binding spell that the Bureau didn't know about."
"...!"
"Since an agent was under some strange binding, we need to examine exactly what happened. That's the protocol. For safety… in the quarantine area."
What he was holding with the blade now came into view.
A small glass orb.
"Let's go in."
It was the same thing I'd seen a few days ago.
The portable glass prison.
No.
"Wa—"
Thud.
"...!!"
Before I could finish speaking, countless hands sprang from the emptiness created by Agent Choi's orb and grabbed me.
"Agent…"
"Shh."
It all happened so suddenly I couldn't even try to resist. I was quickly restrained.
"If you cooperate with the interrogation, you'll be out in no time. Don't worry."
I gritted my teeth and glared at him.
Agent Choi blocked the startled Agent Bronze with his blade.
"He's back to normal enough. He'll be fine."
"Agent Choi, just what is—"
"Wait."
Agent Choi turned to me and spoke softly.
"Take a break. …Grapes-ie."
I was sucked into the void.
And just like that, I was transferred to the glass prison.
An underground location of unknown whereabouts.
A dark, iron-walled area, like an emergency shelter within a tunnel.
"..."
"Ah, Agent. This way, please."
The agent from Black-Tortoise Team 1 followed the guide.
There were no guards working in the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau's Glass Prison.
An unknown, supernatural power with neither sound nor shape acted as the warden, and one human staff member in shifts would monitor the 'warden's' status.
The human custodian asked carefully.
"…Are you here for the interrogation of Agent Gra— Rather, 37-999?"
"..."
"I see. This way."
The agent followed the custodian's cautious guidance, avoided the 'warden', opened the iron door, and entered inside. And that place…
It was a crystal cave.
"…!"
Countless quartz crystals scattered light in every direction, creating flickering shadows and shapes throughout the cave.
Yet strangely, there was no visible light source to explain the reflected light.
A spectacle of light and shadow with no origin.
Click.
"The cell is here."
The custodian willingly opened a rusty door located in a corner.
But there was no human figure inside.
Instead…
All along the walls, countless glass marbles were stacked, forming a structure that refracted and scattered light.
"..."
The agent looked at it with dark eyes.
Layer upon layer of glass orbs packed the space, forming a conical shape. It almost looked ornamental.
But within each individual orb, something could be seen moving.
Ahhh…
Letmeoutletmeoutletmeoutplease
You betrayed me.
Am I going to die here?
Isolated inmates.
Standing in front of them, one could feel like a giant, able to observe each and every being trapped inside a glass orb. A bizarre structure, reminiscent of a panopticon.
This was the true nature of the Glass Prison.
A solitary cell made of a single marble.
This crystal cave's exact location and method of existence were unknown to anyone except authorized personnel, and a person cannot leave unless the warden personally removes their glass sphere from within.
Even if someone managed to break their own orb and escape, it wasn't true freedom.
It only meant getting imprisoned in yet another orb.
A circular structure. An endless succession of interconnected glass rooms.
"This is the one at the very top. I heard it was specially requested for a bit more comfort, supposedly, since he's a former agent."
The agent's eyes stopped.
Exactly… The 37th floor. The very top of the pile of glass marbles.
A single marble.
With its tag.
37-999
"..."
Inside the glass marble, a black shadow could be seen, the figure lying as if on the floor, not moving.
"I'm rambling. I apologize. Here is the previous interrogation record for 37-999."
The agent barely took the file the custodian handed over, and began reading.
Inmate Number : 37-999
Inmate : Kim ■■ (Agent Codename : Grapes)
Affiliation : Black-Tortoise Team 1, Dispatch & Rescue Unit (Suspended)
Originally, the transfer was conducted for the purpose of a routine physical and mental evaluation, which typically requires 24 hours. However, due to unusual circumstances revealed during the initial interview, the subject's return has been delayed.
Formal detention is currently under consideration.
At the last line, the agent's hand clenched tightly, but soon turned the page.
Rustle.
Day 1
The inmate was transferred to the Glass Prison as part of standard procedure for screening agents previously subjected to special restrictive bindings.
It was confirmed that the binding had already been lifted (executed by : Great Tiger General of Daecheongbong). A routine interview and physical examination were conducted.
※ Anomalies were detected during the interview process.
The inmate voluntarily refused to answer any questions regarding the identity, timing, or nature of the supernatural entity responsible for the binding.
Screening procedures halted. Process switched to interrogation.
Of course, even then, the interrogation wasn't very harsh at first.
Why are you refusing to testify? Are you hurt anywhere? Is there any rough estimate of when the binding was placed? What kind of binding was it?
Believing the agent was displaying trauma responses after a shocking incident, the interrogators attempted a gradual approach.
But there was only one reaction to every question.
The inmate categorically refused to answer any and all questions.
That was when the people in charge began to realize the gravity of the situation.
Suspected of intentionally evading testimony with prior knowledge of the interrogation effects of the Glass Prison.
Thus, starting from the evening of the second day, the true interrogation of the Glass Prison began.
Interrogation Intensity : 3
Professional interrogator assigned.
Persistent and detailed questions, trap questions, suggestive implications hidden within everyday conversation, even silence becoming an answer…
The intensity gradually increased.
After three days, the Glass Prison's relentless tactics forced even this steadfastly evasive subject to break under the pressure.
Interrogation Intensity : 7
Inmate's body restrained. Head and eyes fixed to make it impossible for him to avert his gaze. Silence defined as affirmation.
To prevent attempts to evade questions by responding with meaningless exclamations or similar utterances, a gag is applied during questioning.
As a result, it became possible to determine clear 'yes' or 'no' answers from the inmate.
Fortunately, interrogation methods involving environmental manipulation or pressure within the cell weren't used.
This decision was out of consideration for the inmate's health, though it proved not particularly effective.
Day 5
Inmate Status : Poor.
The inmate consistently and politely refused recommendations for sleep and food intake.
The inmate requested the release of his assigned dokkaebi flame from the cell, citing how he 'felt sorry' for its condition.
Due to concerns about escape attempts or unexpected incidents, this was denied.
However, for emotional stability, a few items favored by the dokkaebi were allowed into the cell.
The inmate expressed gratitude for these accommodations.
Addendum : Interrogator's personal opinion
– At this point, it appears that another binding may be in effect. It is recommended that the subject be transferred to a specialized examination facility for further ritual or exorcism.
However, when asked directly if another binding was present, the inmate surprisingly replied, 'No'.
And the Glass Prison recognized this as the truth.
– It is possible that the inmate is under a suggestion causing him to believe no binding is in effect.
Despite this personal assessment, the transfer was put on hold for now.
The page turns.
The date changes again, and the inmate's condition reveals further deterioration.
Day 6
Inmate Status : Poor.
Due to concern for the inmate's health, a special meal (mung bean samgyetang) was provided. (The meal was left untouched through the following day.)
No interview responses were obtained.
A proposal was made to escalate interrogation intensity via the 'Labyrinth of Nightmares', however this was rejected due to strong opposition from field agents.
"..."
"These are the records up to yesterday."
And from the next page on, the contents are no longer records, but speculation.
Conjecture regarding the inmate's true identity.
With the stamp 'Removal from the premises strictly prohibited except by authorized personnel', this information could only be accessed by the current custodian and interrogator.
Suspicion of espionage confirmed.
The agent clenched his fist.
Although the inmate remained completely silent for all interrogations, certain truths confirmed under extreme circumstances allow inference as to which questions he most wished to avoid.
Points of suspicion are as follows :
– Source of information
– Purpose for employment at the Disaster Management Bureau
– The entity who placed the binding
– An unexplained gap period prior to employment
– Traces of various forms of contamination
And so, this conclusion was reached.
But the report did not end there.
However, considering the detainee exhibits no ethical disqualifications, has faithfully executed all assigned supernatural disaster response duties, and displays verifiably ethical tendencies, it is suspected that these actions may have been compelled by coercion, threats, or sorcery.
Because only limited information can be confirmed by yes/no responses, it is recommended to implement a method to elicit greater cooperation from the inmate.
The agent turned the page.
It was the last page.
A temporary addendum was attached.
This was the reason he was here now.
Addendum :
The agent of Black-Tortoise Team 1 who transferred the inmate to the Glass Prison had strongly requested to serve as an interrogating officer over the past several days, but this was denied due to policy violations.
Confirmation has been made of another Black-Tortoise Team 1 agent who was present at the original scene applying to support the interrogation.
Approval pending.
"..."
"The preparations are complete, Agent."
Ryu Jaekwan put down the records.
Then, for the interrogation, he approached the glass orb.
* * *
I blinked.
A transparent ceiling came into view.
The small, hemispherical space around me contained a bed, a desk, a chair, and a few books and meals arranged according to regulation.
Beyond that, it looked as if everything was shrouded in mist, but I could tell that the material composing the walls was transparent.
'…So this is what it looks like.'
The Glass Prison.
Once upon a time, there lived a dokkaebi who played a game of yutnori with Kim-seobang and, through his skill, won a grand tile-roofed house.
But Kim-seobang, unwilling to lose his home, devised a cunning trick. He accused the dokkaebi of using strange magic to cheat at the game, drove him out, and reclaimed the house for himself.
The dokkaebi was filled with anger.
So, he created a place where no tricks or deceptions could ever be used, and it was a space no larger than the tip of a thumb, sealed inside a glass bead. Into this bead, he invited Kim-seobang for a rematch.
And so, they played yutnori again.
The dokkaebi won.
He won again and again.
He won until everything belonging to Kim-seobang became the dokkaebi's.
His house, his fortune, his family, his face, his societal status, his lifespan, and his name.
At last, the dokkaebi took over the grand tile-roofed house and became Kim-seobang himself. As a consolation for his vanquished yutnori opponent, he left behind the cave where he once lived, along with the glass bead.
The defeated Kim-seobang— No, he was no longer Kim-seobang, or anyone at all. The one who became nothing remained in that cave.
To this day, the one who is nothing still lingers in the dokkaebi's old crystal cave, guarding the glass bead.
No one may ever practice 'trickery or deceit' within its bounds ever again.
The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau used this story to build the Glass Prison system.
These mysterious glass marbles, which block all supernatural phenomena, and the warden who guards them.
'This place… Someone said they also mixed in some kind of supernatural phenomenon related to the afterlife and judgment.'
Whatever the case, it didn't matter.
What matters is that, here in this place where I am now confined, only a clean and precise reality can remain.
Supernatural entities can exist here, but only in a state of pure existence. Nothing impossible in reality can occur.
It's just like… reality outside the wiki.
Here, all items are rendered useless, and tattoos are nothing more than tattoos.
'Even during the body search, they only took away things like the glass hand-cannon that I kept on me.'
Because the inventory tattoo couldn't be activated, there was nothing else for them to search.
But in the same sense, this is also the safest place imaginable.
'There's no chance I'll suddenly get caught up in a ghost story.'
Physically, it was just as Agent Choi said, that this was a place where I could rest 'safely'. I'd even heard that some people voluntarily asked to be placed here to escape curses or malevolent energies.
However…
"..."
I still can't sleep.
Tension and resignation continued to pulse through my entire body.
Just like the past few days of interrogation.
The interrogation in the glass prison keeps intensifying. Even though I'm desperately evading the questions, they've already extracted quite a bit of information.
'I'm sure they've already guessed.'
That I am suspicious.
That I might even be a spy.
'Since it's already like this, they might start using even harsher methods from here on out.'
The Disaster Management Bureau can become utterly ruthless toward those it deems malefactors.
Just remembering a few of their interrogation methods that I already know about makes cold sweat drip down from my temples.
'Damn it.'
Maybe Agent Choi was hoping that, with my binding lifted, I'd confess everything from the start…
Maybe he wanted me to give up, since I couldn't go back to Director Ho anyway.
The problem is, my secrets don't end there.
Among the things I know, there are many that can't be explained away as merely being a spy.
I don't even know how much I might end up revealing, and if I do, what will happen to me afterward—these are the kinds of secrets I hold.
My original world, the Dream Incubation Chamber, all the various contaminations, and… even the Dark Exploration Records.
'If I was going to talk, I should've confessed everything from the start and ended it at the 'spy' level.'
But then, what about Yeongeun-ssi and Heowoon-ssi who came in with me?
And what about my Wish Ticket?
'Back then, it was the right choice.'
...But I also know.
I'll soon reach my limit.
"..."
I was sinking into lethargy, but I still had to keep my wits about me.
Soon the time would come. The nerve-wracking interrogation time, full of traps and bait.
I swallowed hard, forced down my anxiety, and calmly sorted out in my mind the things I absolutely must not reveal.
And then…
Drrrrk.
I heard glass scraping.
Beyond the glass wall, a figure approached.
The interrogator, appearing with the wall between us.
But it wasn't the same person who handled things yesterday.
"…Inmate 37-999."
"…!!"
Agent Bronze.
Ryu Jaekwan stood on the other side of the glass, his eyes somber.
Wait a second.
'Agent Bronze… is today's interrogator?'
The interrogation method had changed.
I tensed up, quickly assessing the situation.
Agent Bronze didn't avoid my gaze and spoke slowly.
"…Prior to beginning the interrogation, allow me to inform you. You have the freedom to make false statements, but all lies will be transparently revealed."
I know.
If you make a false statement in the Glass Prison, the true answer will be projected onto the glass.
Only silence can protect you here.
– Inmate from Daydream
That's why I can't say anything.
In this place, lying is no different from telling the truth.
But, of course, my silence must have seemed suspicious too. They might suspect that I already know how this prison works. It's obvious.
'And that's… the truth, too.'
I would suspect me, too.
Gritting my teeth, I directed my gaze at Agent Bronze.
'So the direction of the interrogation is to bring in someone I know.'
It's a more lenient approach, but… I can't deny it will be effective.
"We'll begin the interrogation."
I gulped.
And then…
A question I never expected came out.
"Where is your home?"
"...!"
goblin notes:
Samgyetang – traditional Korean soup dish that is primarily made from whole chicken, garlic, rice, jujube and ginseng. It's considered as a health food.
Kim-seobang – check out the notes from Chapter 98.2 here
Yutnori – a traditional Korean game typically played during New Year's. Read more over here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnori
-x-X-x-
Home.
Destination.
The reason I'm striving for a Wish Ticket.
I had shortened my strong desire to escape from this world and return to my original home into that single phrase.
'I want to go back home.'
…But only internally!
Yet now, this private matter that I never openly spoke about suddenly emerged during interrogation.
'Where is my home?'
I deliberately forced my hands to relax so as not to grip the chair.
I mustn't lie.
"Why are you suddenly asking about that?"
"…I was told you value your home greatly."
Who told him that? Wait…
...
I remembered.
– So what's the wish you're trying to fulfill?
– I just want to go home.
Agent Choi must have told him.
I recalled that hellish night when we encountered Director Ho in the taxi.
And the conversation with Agent Choi that followed.
"..."
Home.
Had that been judged as unrelated to me being a spy and just personal talk?
'But even then, why even bother bringing that up in this place?'
Wasn't it too dangerous?
And knowing this didn't change anything for Agent Bronze.
I changed the subject.
"Should I just tell you where I commute from?"
"No. That's not your home, is it?"
…!
Agent Bronze watched me silently.
"I know you're living in a motel."
"..."
"I've also confirmed that your room has almost no personal belongings, let alone furniture you could call your own. …All you have is a few sets of clothes."
It felt like the things I'd kept hidden deep inside myself were being exposed.
"A place like that can't possibly be called home. Or rather, you've intentionally left it as such a place. You haven't even applied for the bureau-provided dormitory for agents either… Why is that?"
A question I couldn't answer.
"Agent Grapes."
"..."
"You don't need to answer what I'm about to ask you next. However, please understand this."
Agent Bronze spoke without hesitation from beyond the glass wall.
"This conversation is just between you and me."
"..."
"It's neither recorded nor documented. I'm the only one who will hear it."
I raised my head.
Our eyes met. Agent Bronze nodded slightly, lowered the documents he was holding, and spoke.
"I've never had a home from the very beginning."
"...!"
"My parents divorced when I was young, and after my mother passed away, I grew up in an orphanage."
Wait a second.
"Even though I ate and slept there, I never really thought of it as home. Rather, whenever I thought of home, I recalled the apartment where I lived with my mother. Even though it's more a feeling than an actual memory."
Someone's personal history poured into my ears. The past of a person not recorded in the wiki.
No, rather…
'Agent Bronze.'
…the story of someone I knew.
"Then, while heading to school one day, I encountered a supernatural disaster for the first time and learned about the Disaster Management Bureau. When I asked how I could work there, they smiled."
After hearing his circumstances, the bureau introduced him to a safe, student-appropriate job.
A strange bookstore affiliated with them.
"I worked there and attended night classes. Immediately after finishing university, I took the exam… and passed."
Agent Bronze looked at me.
"And now, I'm here."
"..."
"Now, when I hear the word 'home', I think of the waiting room of Black-Tortoise Team 1. I think of my room in the bureau dormitory, and I see people's faces."
Ah.
"That's why I want to ask you this."
Agent Bronze asked quietly.
"…Agent Grapes. Is your home… no longer in this world?"
"…!"
"Did you originally have one, but lost it?"
I could almost hear the unspoken words that followed.
'Like me.'
"..."
Unlike my previous interrogations, I wasn't bound.
I could freely evade his question.
However…
"Yes."
"...!"
"It's gone."
A spark lit in Agent Bronze's eyes.
"Is the reason you worked at Daydream. Is it because you wanted to get that home back?"
"It's a bit different."
I slowly shaped my words.
"I want to return to my home."
"..."
Agent Bronze was silent, seemingly chewing over the meaning of what I had said.
But soon.
"Agent Grapes."
A firm statement came back.
"You cannot return to a place that no longer exists."
"..."
"There will only be those who try to use you by deceiving you into believing you can return. …Don't let yourself be used in that way. You are stronger than that."
No.
I know that's not true.
The Wish Ticket is real.
I understand what you're trying to say, but that doesn't apply to my situation…
"You can create a new home, can't you?"
"...!"
"Just as I did."
I looked at him with a stunned expression, as if I'd just been struck.
"If you go out from here, meet good people, find a place that feels right to you… and create a place where you can rest comfortably and sleep with peace of mind."
Agent Bronze declared,
"That will become your home."
Just as he thinks of the Disaster Management Bureau's main building—its cozy waiting room, like a clubroom—as his own home.
The advice from someone with experience came across refreshingly clear.
And so.
"I'm not saying you have to be completely convinced of this, Agent Grapes. But… I do hope you'll at least consider it."
"..."
"Can you do that?"
Very slowly, I nodded my head.
And the glass wall reflected nothing at all.
Truth.
A faint smile of relief spread over Agent Bronze's face.
"Very good. That concludes today's interrogation."
"..."
"I hope you'll get some real rest tonight."
I can hardly believe myself.
What did I just say I'd consider?
But the atmosphere was surprisingly gentle, and my heart felt calmer than expected.
As if I hadn't made a bad choice.
And Agent Bronze didn't press me for further details about my situation.
"And please make sure to eat and sleep well. For the next week, I'll be assigned as your interrogator, so there won't be any harsh interrogations. Please don't worry and think of this as a time to rest."
He added that he could provide anything I needed, as long as it wasn't a prohibited or dangerous item.
There was no sign of falsehood in those words.
-x-X-x-
A video starts playing on the glass wall. Unbelievable! I'm trapped in this bizarre prison! Where could this place be? Aha, this is the crystal cave in ■■ City, you say? Thanks, Braun! What? You'll even explain how to get out? Thank you so much! As expected, we're the best of friends! It's a miniature-style classic animation. The main character, dressed exactly like me, and the rabbit doll have a conversation. Strange. Just strange…
I turn my head. But there's a video playing there, too. I see! I'm supposed to break the glass marbles around me, kill the other inmates, and use them as bait to lure out the prison guard!
'…!'
The video seems to follow my gaze, moving wherever I turn my head.
It's playing on every glass wall.
What an easy method!
You really are amazing, Braun!
The rabbit doll, identical in size to the me in the video, kindly explains how to escape, moving through the space as it demonstrates. How to move through the glass, how to torture the prison guard, even the maps and the escape routes. It calmly explains methods that are shockingly detailed and outrageously vicious.
Just like an instructional segment in a children's cartoon…
Ah.
– That's right! Doesn't it suit your preferences, Mr. Roe Deer? It's very immersive, isn't it? Truly quite excellent…
The cartoon, which has gone to extremes in its children's art style, shows blood and screams, the prison guard's severed limbs, Disaster Management Bureau staff fleeing for their lives.
And it ends with the 'main character' and the rabbit doll Braun high-fiving each other as they watch.
Alright! This is how you escape!
The final words of the video echo in my ears… and applause sounds.
Clap, clap, clap.
The crisp sound of gloves striking each other.
– Huu! It was a short but spectacular journey! So, what do you think, Friend? Are you now ready to escape, just as Mini-Braun taught you?
"..."
The video on the TV is intense, flamboyant, and all the more chilling for its old-fashioned style. It's just the sort of production I should have expected from Braun by now.
But I noticed one thing.
– Oh, don't worry. Like I said, watching TV is just an ordinary, everyday thing, isn't it!
'No.'
– Hmm?
I looked at the shadow of the rabbit doll.
'You didn't break the rules of the Glass Prison that way.'
– Oh?
Because…
'The video is being played outside the Glass Prison.'
It's only being projected into this cell. Just like when I was talking to Agent Bronze through the glass wall.
'That's where you got the idea from, isn't it?'
That's how it evaded the rules.
'It's designed to make it feel like it's happening inside the Glass Prison, for maximum impact.'
After a short silence.
– Heavens… Correct, Friend! Your keen eye and sharp reasoning would be any magician's nightmare!
– Such impressive talent. Oh, yes indeed. Every time I'm so impressed, it feels almost wasteful…
– But that's not what's important right now, is it? I still haven't heard your thoughts about the program!
"..."
– So, what do you think?
I opened my mouth to speak.
'I have a question.'
– Oh, a question about how to escape?
'No.'
That's not it.
What I'm curious about is…
'How much of my thoughts do you actually know?'
...
– Aha.
– I know as much as is needed for understanding between friends!
'Is that so.'
It was somehow the answer I expected.
Ever since the Late-Night Talk Show incident, I realized that the host could read quite a lot from inside my mind. Maybe even the stray bits of information I let slip through my thoughts.
Maybe even the Glass Prison escape method I just saw was based on that information.
But…
'Only until that point, huh.'
– ...
– Mr. Roe Deer. There's a rather strange nuance in your words… Oh, haha. That must be my imagination. Surely you don't mean that This Braun here doesn't understand my friend well enough?
'No.'
A faint, sardonic smile appeared on my lips.
'You understand exactly as much as you need to.'
And you're just picking and choosing.
Based on whatever is most important to you.
'Entertainment, of course.'
A cheerful voice rings out.
– There's nothing more important to an entertainer than that!
– And this is something you yourself willingly promised, Mr. Roe Deer. I distinctly remember you declaring that you'd entertain me…
'That's right. But… I realized I was a little mistaken.'
– Mistaken? Could you share what you mean by that?
I spoke, holding back a sigh.
Now I could finally face it.
'I unconsciously assumed you'd consider my perspective first, before the enjoyment of the show.'
Honestly, it was a completely unreasonable expectation.
I don't even know what I was hoping for from a bizarre talk show host straight out of a ghost story.
But after sharing so many secrets and incidents, and even escaping the talk show together by mutual agreement, I guess I developed a kind of vague trust that didn't align with rational judgment.
The sense that, 'somehow, it just feels like you would.'
I even forgot the logic I always used to persuade him was 'for a more entertaining show'.
That's probably because he helped me out at every crucial moment, and it inevitably led to an emotional bias.
Toward that 'Good Friend'.
It was a one-sided trust that had accumulated inferentially.
'I won't do that anymore.'
And honestly, even saying this doesn't mean much. I just need to be more careful.
But…
At least this much I can say.
'You said you felt hurt earlier, right? I felt the same.'
...
– Heavens.
The host let out a sigh.
– So that's what it was… I did suspect it, but now I understand. Mr. Roe Deer, now I see that you were deeply disappointed when I refused to help you a few days ago.
Huu.
– Such a misunderstanding! This Braun here only ever wanted to give the very best help to my friend. Now, let's think about this together…
The host's voice grows lower.
– If I had 'just' helped you then, what do you think would have happened? You would have vanished as if by magic.
– You wouldn't have been able to continue this wonderful spy role of yours, and would have had to just flee, completely out of context.
Unbelievable.
– All the stories you've built up until now would have ended in such a hollow and abrupt way. Is there a more futile conclusion than that? Is that really what you wanted, Mr. Roe Deer? Of course not.
"That's…"
At that moment, the dokkaebi flame that had been stuck to the wall drifted over to me.
Huh?
"What is it?"
I gently picked it up in one hand. The dokkaebi flame, as if summoning courage, stretched itself toward the rabbit doll and made a gesture.
A thumbs-down.
"..."
Then it (probably) buried its 'head' into my side and hid.
– Oh, dear.
'Don't be angry. It's kind of fun, right? So you have to endure it.'
– ...
'Sorry. But isn't this similar to what you said yourself?'
It felt a little crazy to do this so openly, but somehow it brought me some relief.
'Anyway… that's all I wanted to say. I'm not saying your actions were wrong.'
The host's reaction was just as I expected.
…I won't be disappointed from now on.
I'll just be content knowing I have someone I can talk to, someone who might, just by chance, help me.
– …Friend. You don't trust what I say.
– Very well. Misunderstandings always accompany any relationship. I suppose that's also my share to bear…
There were a few sounds of disgruntled footsteps, but soon they faded away.
That was a bit surprising. I didn't think he'd hold back.
'Is it because there's something more important ahead?'
– Right now, there's something more urgent than an argument between friends. It's not pleasant to see you wasting any more time trapped in this narrow, stifling place.
Escape.
– Do you feel ready now?
Hmm.
I got up from my spot.
A small glass orb, a circular solitary cell comes into view.
And by now, the 'escape method' from the video was etched into my mind.
Now, strangely enough, I know how to escape from this notorious Glass Prison by causing a horrific disturbance.
If I did as shown, it would become an irregular incident worthy of being recorded in the
But…
...
'No.'
I considered it.
And I came to a decision.
I would choose the best method available to me right now.
– You're not seriously planning to just undergo the interrogation, are you?
...
'Actually, yes, I am.'
I sat back down in my chair.
'…I'm going to go through with the interrogation. All of it.'
"..."
Agent Choi lowered his head.
Inmate Number : 37-999
Inmate : Kim ■■ (Agent Codename : Grapes)
Affiliation : Black-Tortoise Team 1, Dispatch & Rescue Unit (Suspended)
He held the updated interrogation records for the inmate in his hands.
Each page he turned showed the miserable week of interrogations.
Refusal to testify, deteriorating health, increasingly extreme forms of questioning.
But after that painful stretch, a change began to appear.
Like this.
Day 8
Inmate status : Poor. (Recovering)
After the previous day's interrogation, a significant change was observed in the inmate's attitude.
Non-cooperative behaviors, such as intentionally causing auditory or visual disturbances to avoid hearing questions or maintaining persistent silence during interrogation, were markedly reduced.
Time spent sleeping and eating increased to levels similar to the recommended amount. The inmate was also observed caring for his dokkaebi flame or checking on his doll (self-identified as a 'friend').
It is presumed that these changes resulted from the appointment of a new interrogator with whom the inmate is personally acquainted.
It started from the time Ryu Jaekwan arrived.
Officer's personal note : The inmate appears to be regaining stability. Rather than increasing the intensity of interrogation, it is likely more effective to encourage a natural confession through continued interaction.
The majority of relevant personnel concurred with this assessment without objection.
And so the pages accumulate.
Day 9
Inmate Status : Poor. (Recovering)
Special meal (galbitang) permitted. The interrogator brought the same menu and ate together with the inmate during questioning.
The inmate earnestly participated in Q&A.
He acknowledged that the traces of contamination originated from separate supernatural disasters experienced prior to his work at the Disaster Management Bureau.
The inmate, confined in the Glass Prison, began to talk about more and more things, and there are hints everywhere that the interrogator and inmate had deeper conversations.
Personal stories, character, affection for the bureau, fear of supernatural disasters, even the relief and sense of reward felt when rescuing civilians.
Several days pass like that…
Eventually, it reaches this point.
Day 12
The inmate testifies that he previously worked for ■■■ Inc.
He affirms that there was external pressure involved in the process of applying to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, and that there was a separate objective he had to achieve while employed.
However, it is established as fact that a binding as powerful as a death curse was placed on him, that there was no intention to harm the bureau, and that during his employment, no actual harm ever came to the bureau as a result of the inmate's actions.
It is confirmed that the inmate wishes to continue working, regardless of his initial reasons for joining.
The interrogator reports this testimony to the higher authorities.
"..."
The agent, whose hands had begun to tremble slightly, composed himself and turned the next page.
The final page.
Day 13
Inmate Status : Good.
And.
Testimony secured during interrogation was verified for credibility.
Release of 37-999 (Agent Codename : Grapes) from confinement and reinstatement of agent status approved.
Scheduled for release tomorrow.
And that 'tomorrow' is today.
Tak.
Agent Choi closed the file.
A mix of tension and relief crossed his tired face.
"He'll be coming out soon."
"Yes."
"Stop pacing."
"I should."
But even so, Agent Choi continued to pace back and forth in the waiting room.
Because his plans for the future were already taking clear, concrete shape in his mind.
'This isn't the end.'
Since it was all but officially recognized that he had been a spy, he might have to go through quite a difficult process.
But that was a matter of gratitude and discipline given to agents.
Kim Soleum would undergo the relevant investigation as a member of Black-Tortoise Team 1…
'Then, I'll be able to help somehow.'
That was what mattered.
Now, the being in charge of the Glass Prison would retrieve the glass marble in which Agent Grapes had been confined, lift the binding, and then transfer him into their custody.
Before the disciplinary process, there would need to be a proper conversation about Daydream Inc., as well as the secrets, items, and abilities he had been hiding…
'But that can be done gradually.'
The important thing was that the interrogation process had ended well, and that Kim Soleum had regained stability.
It had been a long way around, but it was a success.
Agent Choi finally let out a sigh of relief.
The nerve-racking past two weeks had come to an end.
He had no idea how many different methods he had tried to reach this conclusion. And then…
"…Jaekwan-ah."
"..."
"Thank you. You worked hard."
Agent Bronze, who was sitting across from him, gave a small nod.
His attitude was blunt, but Agent Choi could read a gentle gesture of reconciliation within it, and he simply gazed quietly at his junior.
A smile returned to Agent Choi's face.
Feelings of apology and gratitude mingled together.
"First, the three of us should go to the hot springs. Seriously. I'll pay for everything we do there."
"Yes."
It was as he was patting Ryu Jaekwan on the back—
Knock knock.
"…!"
The door opened, and the custodian appeared.
"The detention has been lifted."
"Then…"
"Yes. Agent Grapes is waiting in the lounge right now."
"Thank you."
Agent Choi hurriedly shook hands with the custodian, then quickly made his way forward.
"W-Wait…"
He already knew where the lounge was. Without hesitation, Agent Choi entered the cave and headed for the iron door with the nameplate near the entrance.
He should be inside.
Kim Soleum.
"..."
…He still had no idea where to start the conversation.
Honestly, he still didn't know the whole truth.
'What on earth was that?'
That bizarre laboratory and the appearance of the supernatural entity, too.
But what he could be sure of was that, on the night the binding was placed, Kim Soleum had tried to save him.
Risking his life.
"..."
So, he thought,
'I can start learning from now on.'
Without hesitation, Agent Choi swung the iron door open. And…
There was no one inside.
"..."
The lounge was completely empty. There was no trace of anyone.
As if there had never been anyone there at all.
"Agent?"
Agent Choi stood frozen for a moment, then looked around the lounge again.
On top of a steel chair, only something stark white remained, unnaturally out of place.
A single, neatly folded piece of paper.
On the front, just one word was written.
Resignation
Agent Choi picked it up.
Small objects tumbled out onto the floor. Round candies, stick-shaped syringes.
They looked like mere odds and ends, but each was probably an item.
"..."
He stood frozen for a moment, then unfolded the folded paper.
Handwritten, pressed-down letters appeared.
Hello, Agents.
I want to sincerely apologize for everything that's happened so far.
I am truly sorry.
Thus began Agent Grapes's letter.
The letter was calm and composed.
I am writing this to talk about the things I never had a chance to mention.
It felt like a note left behind by someone who was only going away for a while.
Kim Soleum talked about the spare glasses left on the sofa in Black-Tortoise Team 1's lounge, the flat rear tire of a bicycle in front of HQ, and the printer ink that was still in delivery.
For a handover, these were small and fragmented details.
There was a lingering sense of regret that seemed about to surface, but then vanished in the next paragraph.
Yet the letter's nonchalant tone maintained its course, and before you realized it, it would transition into meaningful advice, easy to overlook but significant nonetheless.
Things no new agent at the Disaster Management Bureau could possibly know.
…Advice about supernatural disasters.
It will no longer be safe to wear silk clothing in the pressing section of the coin laundry at the intersection, starting from after the rescue of the civilian in the blue dress.
Please make sure that no agent goes in wearing it, just in case.
These were the ghost stories that Black-Tortoise Team 1 had faced.
It sounded as if he'd figured it out by deduction, but strangely, the words had the certainty of someone who had known all along.
But it was clear the advice was written out of concern and care.
With trembling eyes, they skimmed quickly over the contents.
And… I'm sorry again.
The letter turned more personal.
The events of the night the binding was cast were written in extremely circumspect terms, in a way only those directly involved could decipher.
As if taking care not to expose anyone who might still be under a binding.
Next came gratitude and apologies directed toward Agent Bronze, who had given him room to speak the unvarnished truth without pressing him.
And then…
I still want to go home.
As a farewell.
I can't just give up without even trying to return.
But I feel heavy-hearted, because it seems like my feelings have only ended up wasting the time of the Disaster Management Bureau's agents.
Once again, I'm sorry. For not living up to expectations, for not sincerely submitting to the disciplinary action, and for resigning as if running away.
"..."
I know it's an inconvenience, but I've enclosed some items I found useful.
I hope they'll be of use to Black-Tortoise Team 1.
A detailed description of the functions and effects of the items he left behind was included.
And lastly.
Just in case, I'll mention it.
There's nothing significant about what I wrote on the whiteboard in Black-Tortoise Team 1's lounge.
I thought you might hesitate to erase it, wondering if it was a hint or a marker, so I wanted to let you know you can erase it without worry.
It was something I left on impulse. It doesn't mean anything.
The letter ended.
The agent hastily flipped the pages front and back.
…And, on the last page, in small writing.
Thank you for everything.
I hope you stay healthy and happy.
"..."
The two people reading the letter dropped their gazes to the items scattered on the floor.
Then, one bent down and slowly picked up one of those seemingly trivial things.
It looked like cheap candy.
But it was an item that could turn back time briefly to the 'good old days' and restore one's condition. It was a tool that would be invaluable to the Dispatch & Rescue Unit.
The little things glinted on the floor.
"..."
"..."
Agent Choi raised his head.
The subdued eyes of the two Black-Tortoise Team 1 agents met each other.
If he had just vanished, there was a good chance he hadn't yet left this place.
"Wait— Agents…!"
They dashed out of the lounge with the flustered custodian in tow.
To search the crystal cave.
And…
"..."
Kim Soleum, who had been standing absolutely still in the corner of the room, quietly walked out behind them.
Holding nothing but a single sheet of paper.
Through the door the agents had opened to enter this room.
* * *
– What an elegant and courteous exit. This method isn't bad, either.
"..."
I quietly looked at the sunlight pouring down.
'So I really made it out.'
I did my best to end things safely and smoothly… but honestly, I'm not sure. I don't know how the Disaster Management Bureau will take it.
Or how Black-Tortoise Team 1 will feel.
Earlier, I deliberately walked faster so I wouldn't be tempted to recall the faces of the agents I'd just passed by.
After exiting the crystal cave and walking to the bus stop, and all the way onto the high-speed train, I didn't forget to thank the host for dimming the spotlight for me the entire time.
– Oh, think nothing of it!
Thanks to that, I was able to slip out as quietly as this.
If he hadn't helped, I would've had to escape in a much more complicated and emotionally exhausting way…
"..."
[The train will be departing shortly…]
I tried not to think about it.
How thoroughly they might have searched the crystal cave after I escaped, how they would handle the items I left behind, how suspicious the Disaster Management Bureau would be of me, whether Black-Tortoise Team 1 would erase what I wrote on the lounge whiteboard…
Instead, I tried to sleep.
Fortunately, the high-speed train heading up to Seoul didn't invoke the horrors of the Tamra line, and I managed to doze off for a while before waking up.
And, just in case I was being tracked, I paid in cash and checked into any random motel.
Thud.
It was only after I closed the door behind me that I was able to calm down and start taking stock of things.
That's when a sense of reality finally returned.
'...Did I really leave almost everything behind?'
I only have one or two consumable items left.
Especially the ones purchased from the Space Shopping Mall, which guaranteed safety. I left most of those behind.
…Probably because I won't be needing them anymore.
'It makes more sense for people who face more danger than I do to use them.'
All I have left are a few equipment items and my tattoos.
However…
Pop.
A small light popped out from inside my clothes.
The dokkaebi flame.
"Are you really going to keep following me like this?"
The flame bobs up and down vigorously, as if in agreement.
This little guy followed me all the way up to Seoul.
It even left behind the glass lantern it used to inhabit.
I'd worried about being tracked, so this was less troublesome in a way, but…
"Everyone must be worried. Aren't you part of the bureau?"
The dokkaebi flame sparkled in defiance.
– …It says it's all grown up now, so it'll be fine. Heavens. What a stubborn and foolish creature this is. Huu!
According to Braun's reluctant interpretation, it's slow, but it can 'recharge' itself even when alone.
Apparently, it could recover faster if it absorbed the energy of a mystical lightning bolt, but… that might be hard to come by.
At any rate, the dokkaebi flame's intentions seemed firm.
"…Then, I'll be counting on you a little while longer."
The flame happily flickered as it zipped around the motel room.
...To be honest, it wasn't just troublesome.
'At least I still have one thing left.'
A trace that I once belonged somewhere.
Proof of the days I spent with good people… that's what it is.
'…Let me hold onto it just a bit longer.'
It won't last long anyway.
I patted the dokkaebi flame once, then let it settle into my right arm as it transformed.
– Now you're free again, Mr. Roe Deer! You can go anywhere you want. So, where will you go?
Strictly speaking, isn't it actually the opposite?
I'd consider myself lucky as long as the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau wasn't hunting me down as a wanted man, Daydream Inc. had already listed me as dead for a long time now.
There were only a few places I could go or contact.
'And Agent Choi even found out about the Cheerful Research Institute's Dream Incubation Chamber.'
Even if the binding prevents me from telling the bureau about that chamber, he himself can always come looking for it. I'll have to make preparations, but I need to be careful.
But it wasn't as if I'd escaped without a plan.
'I do have one.'
– Indeed!
…The problem is, it's an extremely uncomfortable plan.
"..."
I turned on the phone I had stored inside my tattoo.
Messages that had been left unattended for two weeks appeared.
'It's a relief I didn't slip up during the interrogation.'
If I had, Yeongeun-ssi or Heowoon-ssi's identities could have been exposed.
I shoved my phone into my tattoo as soon as I got caught in Jisan Village, and since the tattoo lost its function inside the Glass Prison, it was actually a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief and scrolled through the messages.
Most were advertising texts.
But among them, there were also several messages from acquaintances.
[ excuse me ]
[ Are u okay? ]
[ Let me knw when u get this ]
[ excuse me ]
[ If ur sick ]
[ If there's a problem, contct m e ]
It was the sergeant.
"..."
Somehow, I felt strange.
With this person, it feels like I've always just been on the receiving end of worry and help.
'Come to think of it, I haven't been in touch since the binding.'
After some thought, I replied.
[ Sorry, I had something come up. I'm okay now. ]
Then, after hesitating, I sent another one.
[ Thank you again for looking into that information for me. Would it be possible to talk tomorrow or the day after? ]
[ Let's get something good to eat, too. ]
Confirmation was quick, but the reply came slowly.
[ O k ]
"..."
That's enough for now.
Now it was time to take care of my business.
I picked my next destination.
I wasn't keen on it, but there wasn't a better option.
And…
I was already prepared.
[ Please prepare the Wish Ticket. ]
[ I've found the information you requested. ]
To Director Ho.
* * *
"Soleum-nim, you're back!"
"..."
I looked up.
At the familiar table in the Fox Counseling Office's waiting area, Director Ho was sitting there, smiling.
My stomach churned reflexively.
…A sense of resistance at the act of making this choice.
A strange feeling of guilt, as if I were betraying the people who'd even released my binding.
And at the same time, it was a contradictory feeling. Now that the binding was gone, I could finally negotiate in a way that felt like a real negotiation.
"I've come to collect my Wish Ticket."
"One moment, please. There's something I'd like to say first."
Director Ho, still wearing a gentle smile, hesitated a little awkwardly as he spoke.
That made my skin crawl even more.
"I think the binding regarding your death was a bit excessive on my part, Soleum-nim. Looking back, it seems I made a rather emotional decision because of the situation… I'm a bit embarrassed about it."
"..."
"It's a good thing that it's gone now though. Don't you agree?"
I recalled the strange shamanic ritual led by the Great Tiger General of Daecheongbong.
And Director Ho's bizarre reaction at the time when possessing Assistant Manager Eun Haje's body.
'…Even if I'm worried or curious about the assistant manager, I won't ask.'
If Director Ho noticed me showing concern or recognition, it would probably harm Assistant Manager Eun Haje instead. My insides twisted.
Instead of nodding along easily to Director Ho's words, I answered carefully.
"It doesn't matter. A promise is a promise, regardless of the binding. I came here to fulfill my promise to you, Director."
"Really? But that should be impossible."
"..."
"You don't even know exactly which 'annihilation-sanctioned disaster' I requested, Soleum-nim."
That's right.
Director Ho had said he'd give me more details if us spies managed to access the secret archives under Gangwon Province.
But…
I know.
I could already guess what Director Ho was after.
"I tracked it down through deduction."
"..."
"Just tell me the name of the disaster. If the information I brought doesn't match, I'll accept the penalty."
For Director Ho, there was no risk.
He could impose a penalty or another binding as he wished.
Either way, the situation had changed. I no longer had any agent allies to lift a binding for me.
So…
"Alright."
I knew it.
Director Ho smiled and laced his fingers together.
"The name of that supernatural disaster is 'Sekwang Special City'."
"..."
"Oh, and! Don't try to utter the name outside the Fox Counseling Office. Bad things will happen."
Director Ho looked into my eyes.
"So."
"..."
"Does it match the information you brought?"
I did not avert my gaze.
"Yes."
"…!"
"Here it is."
Thud.
A document was placed on the table in the waiting area of the Fox Counseling Office.
"This is the report regarding the 'annihilation-sanctioned supernatural disaster' you just mentioned, Director."
"..."
"Please check it."
Director Ho reached out, picked up the paper, and began to read.
And then…
"...!"
He covered the paper.
Director Ho stared at me, his expression now wiped blank.
"…How did you find out?"
So it was correct.
"That's not important."
The truth is.
It's not that I found it out.
'…I already knew.'
That's right.
This was why I'd been so confident I could bring the information within a month.
It was because I already knew.
The fastest and surest method.
To simply write down the information from the
It was a method I'd set aside because there was no way to convince or explain it to other spies, and because I was afraid Director Ho might become suspicious and do something terrible to me. I wanted to do it as safely as possible.
But with the whole situation in ruins, there was only one option left.
'I had no choice but to move quickly.'
If I delayed any longer, the Disaster Management Bureau would start checking for and rooting out other spies.
If Yeongeun-ssi or Heowoon-ssi got caught, they'd never be able to receive a Wish Ticket and would suffer doubly, bound by Director Ho's binding…
Before that could happen, I had to act first.
However…
"I'm certain you were still imprisoned in the Glass Prison until yesterday. So, how could you have found this…?"
"..."
"They don't store this kind of information in there."
He's right.
Naturally, the crystal cave that stores the Glass Prison doesn't keep valuable information inside.
Occasionally, reports on supernatural disasters, based on what is obtained from prisoners, are written for updates.
But…
'There are a few bureau-issued report forms lying around for that purpose.'
Like this, for example.
A blank Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau Disaster Report Form.
Since it's written inside the Glass Prison, of which the location was generally unknown, it comes in a format where the branch information is automatically redacted for censorship. So…
It's the most suitable paper to print out documents about annihilation-sanctioned disasters kept in the secret archives.
Ironically, being imprisoned in the Glass Prison became my chance to obtain exactly what I needed.
Thus, I was able to present to Director Ho the 'Sekwang Special City' document I'd crafted myself, based on what I'd read in the wiki.
"..."
But there's absolutely no need to explain any of this to Director Ho.
It would only be dangerous.
'I did bring my own last line of defense, just in case…'
Cold sweat beaded on my back.
Still, I had to say it.
"The important thing is that I brought the promised intel. And I received help from the other two people during this process. Without a doubt."
"..."
"Now, Director, it's your turn to keep your promise."
A smile spread across Director Ho's face.
"Very well."
"…!"
"Congratulations, Soleum-nim. As for the collection of your Wish Ticket…"
I clenched my fist tightly.
-x-X-x-
The Wish Ticket.
In this world of ghost stories, where bizarre bad endings appear everywhere, this is the most certain way for me to return home.
For this alone, I endured at Daydream Inc., and endured even becoming a spy.
And now, at last, with the conditions met to claim my Wish Ticket, Director Ho in front of me is lightly clapping his hands.
As if applauding me.
Clap, clap, clap…
"I'm genuinely happy to see you finally receive your Wish Ticket."
"..."
"But haven't you ever thought about this?"
The clapping stops.
"What if Director Ho never intended to give you the Wish Ticket in the first place?"
"..."
"Even if you did exactly as you promised, Soleum-nim, I could just change my words. Tell you to do something else, offer the ticket as bait again and again. Just endlessly string you along like that."
Director Ho smiled gently.
"Have you really never thought about that?"
"I have."
You'd be a fool not to.
How often in society does someone avoid paying after you've finished the work, or delay it, or just never pay at all?
Conversely, how many times does someone take payment in advance and never do the job right?
And in this situation, the Wish Ticket was Director Ho's one-sided promise.
And a promise from someone in a position of power can be broken at any time. There's no penalty for breaking it.
But…
"I also know that you, Director, take promises very seriously."
"..."
The bindings.
Director Ho was a type of supernatural entity who bound others by the form of a 'promise'.
Yes, it would be foolish to think of Director Ho as human at this point.
'And for supernatural entities, rules are a crucial element.'
From a semantic perspective on ghost stories, rules exist to foster a context of uncanny fear, and to dangle hope as a kind of torment for the victim…
In any case, that's why the rules are actually more trustworthy than if Director Ho were simply a malicious human.
There's a much higher chance that he'll have no choice but to keep his promises.
All the more so, when I recall how Director Ho would assert—almost unnaturally—about the trustworthiness of the counselor of the 'Fox Counseling Office.'
Even if he uses people while hiding other motives or sets traps, he never makes false promises.
I looked at the expressionless Director Ho.
"So I judged that any promise you made yourself, you would absolutely keep."
"..."
Clap.
"Of course!"
Director Ho laughed as he clapped his hands.
"I always keep my promises. I never make a promise I can't keep… Absolutely."
"..."
"Now then."
Director Ho lifted a briefcase from beneath the table and reached into it.
"It's time to receive your Wish Ticket."
And something radiant came out.
A small glass vial.
"…!!"
The waiting area of the Fox Counseling Office. In this comfortable place, an enchanting, otherworldly glow, like an aurora, began to shimmer.
It was hard to believe that such overwhelming mystery could come from a single small bottle.
The Wish Ticket.
"It's yours, Soleum-nim."
"..."
Tak.
"Go ahead."
I reached out my hand.
Just as my arm was about to touch the Wish Ticket set on the table…
"Ah, wait a moment."
Director Ho smiled.
"It's not just one bottle, is it?"
"…!!"
Tak. Tak.
Still smiling, Director Ho took two more dazzling glass vials, shimmering with pearly light, out of the briefcase and placed them on the table.
Three vials of Wish Ticket potions in total.
'Holy shit.'
On the table, waves of light reminiscent of pearls of the orient glowed, rippling like the Milky Way Galaxy.
"…These are."
"Yes. These are Wish Tickets for the other two employees who worked with you. You said it yourself, didn't you? That the other two also contributed sufficiently to this assignment."
That's right.
But… He's just handing them over like this?
And Director Ho wasn't finished.
"But since you came as the representative of the team to deliver the report, it's only right for you to receive them as the representative!"
"...!"
Wait a second.
"You mean I'm to receive all three bottles…and then give one each to the other two people?"
"Well, who knows."
…!
"You reported on behalf of the team, didn't you? Then isn't distribution up to the representative?"
"..."
"I don't mind either way."
A dark flame flickered in Director Ho's eyes.
But in the next instant, as if nothing had happened, his face returned to a gentle smile.
"I truly hope this Wish Ticket fulfills the wish hidden deep in your heart, Soleum-nim."
I spoke.
"Aren't you going to use one, Director?"
"..."
Director Ho looked at me for a moment.
"That's an item only regular employees can use."
"..."
"Unfortunately, executives are considered contract workers. That's the rule."
Director Ho's hand reached out as if he wanted to touch the Wish Tickets on the table… but soon withdrew.
"So."
"..."
"Will you take them now? Or later? Either is fine with me."
Whether to accept all three bottles, or to leave them all for now.
In truth, I only had one choice I could make.
"Yes. I'll take them."
I nodded.
And then…
"Excellent!"
With a bright smile, Director Ho took a box out of the briefcase and began packing the Wish Ticket bottles one by one, tying them with a ribbon and placing them into a bag, as efficiently and neatly as a salesperson.
"Instructions for use are included in the box! I'll put one bottle in each compartment."
Director Ho tidied up the box with swift, practiced motions, closed it with a ribbon, slipped it into a bag, and slid it across the table to me.
"Here you are."
"…Thank you."
I picked up the bag.
For a moment, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
'…I did it.'
It was finally starting to feel real, that I had finally gotten my hands on it.
It's here, in this black paper bag.
I got my Wish Ticket.
"Get home safely, Soleum-nim. I'll be in touch."
My mind felt blank.
I rose from my seat.
After politely bowing to Director Ho, who was waving, I left the waiting area of the Fox Counseling Office.
Creak.
I thought I heard the sound of the door to the Fox Counseling Office opening and closing behind me…
As if someone had entered.
And when I glanced back from the entrance, there was no one left at the waiting area table.
All that remained were the three bottles of Wish Tickets in my hand.
"..."
– Oh, congratulations, Friend! Now, do you just make a wish and blow out a candle?
It would be nice if it were that simple, but the problem is…
'I have two extra bottles in my hands.'
A little while later, at a nearby cafe.
'How am I going to hand these over?'
I sat down, clutching the bag, my mind racing frantically.
It felt like walking around with checks worth millions stuffed carelessly in my bag.
Every time I was conscious of the Wish Tickets inside, I was seized by the impulse to take them out and drink one immediately, but first I had to finish what needed to be done.
First…
'I need to contact Go Yeongeun-ssi.'
All I needed was to come up with some indirect way to deliver the item.
Then, that colleague could fulfill her wish and resign safely. She wouldn't have to enter any more ghost stories.
And…
'I can save Jang Heowoon-ssi too.'
If someone just wished for Jang Heowoon to be saved using a Wish Ticket, that would be enough.
Everything was perfect.
Once that's done, once I've finished distributing them…
'I'm going home.'
My heart pounded with anxiety and anticipation.
I put my hand in the bag, touching the box, running through in my mind what I needed to do first.
First, find a safe place…
Bzzz!
My smartphone vibrated and a message popped up.
[ today ]
[ Where shud I g o? ]
"..."
The sergeant.
We had planned to meet at sunset today.
'It was supposed to be to get information.'
But now, I no longer needed the information.
Whether it was the Cheerful Research Institute or the source of Daydream Inc., once I left this place, none of it would matter anymore.
However, leaving this ghost story world…
It also meant I would never see anyone I'd met here again.
"..."
After some hesitation, I sent a message.
[ I'd like to meet here. ]
And that evening.
"Hm…"
I met the sergeant at a corner table in a well-known donut shop that closed late.
I had already paid for some donuts, ones that were usually sold out by evening, since people bought them all during the day.
Seeing the donuts, the sergeant's tired face brightened a bit.
"Thank you…"
"No, it's nothing. I've received a lot of help from you. Honestly, this isn't enough to repay you, but…"
"No, it's more than enough."
The sergeant, looking a little happier, eagerly started eating the donuts.
And then, as if it were nothing, he dropped a bombshell.
"So, about that information… The Cheerful Research Institute… it's still in our company's basement…"
"...!!"
Wait a second.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said… hm."
The sergeant looked at me.
"Um, I actually saw you there once too…"
Me?
"Mmh… when we first met… That thing, when you got sucked into the scroll… you went to the restroom on basement level 2…"
"…!"
"Don't you remember?"
I do.
When I went down to the basement to track down the missing Section Chief Lee Byeongjin…
Strangely enough, the hallway was lined with ordinary offices back there.
– Shouldn't this floor have safety equipment or facilities…?
I distinctly remember thinking that.
And…
– Mr. Roe Deer?
That's right.
'Suddenly, the 'Good Friend' could speak to me…!'
That strange Daydream basement, lined with endless offices, was actually a ghost story.
And that ghost story, in fact… was the Cheerful Research Institute?
"How… did you find out?"
"Hm… We also only knew it by codename… I don't know, but… I found some documents that weren't redacted."
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders and continued.
"Anyway, if you go deeper underground… the same office corridors… just keep repeating…"
"You mean exactly the same corridor?"
"Yes. The exact same offices… same layout, even the scratches are the same so it's definitely the same place, but… the time… seems to shift, I think?"
Voices of people chatting, silhouettes of people in meetings, staff gathering things, people fighting, even offices filled with dust like ruins…
Every time you take the elevator down, the scenes change as if you're playing a hidden picture game.
Endlessly.
"…How many floors underground are there?"
"I'm not sure… Hm. The farthest I went… was basement 23, I think…? If I try further than that… I just get blocked…"
"..."
"I'm not sure, but… I think there was someone from the Security Team that went… up to basement 40…? But they died, so… hmm."
"..."
It was a chilling description.
'Those offices…'
A chill ran down my spine.
Why on earth is the Cheerful Research Institute there, why is it a ghost story, and what is Daydream Inc., which built its building above that, really doing? All sorts of questions flashed through my mind.
But I soon realized none of it mattered anymore.
Because I… would be leaving.
"..."
"Ah."
And it seemed the sergeant sensed it too.
"So I guess you don't need this anymore…"
"..."
He pulled his cap down low.
"Well, if that's the case…"
Then, easily guessing the most likely reason a Daydream employee would lose all interest in everything—
"Did you… get a Wish Ticket?"
"..."
I hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
A faint smile appeared on the sergeant's lips.
A pure, sincere congratulations.
"That's good news…"
"..."
"Um, you know how to use it, right…?"
"…Yes."
The sergeant nodded along with my answer, then seemed to hesitate a bit before asking,
"Then… this time… are you really quitting…?"
It was a question he could only ask because he knew I wasn't truly quitting, but just working undercover under Director Ho.
I nodded.
"I see…"
"..."
The sergeant bowed his head.
"Um, after you quit… would it be possible to… talk now and then…?"
"…I wish I could do that, too."
But I can't.
I avoided his gaze.
"Depending on the nature of my wish, I don't know what will happen."
"...Ah."
The sergeant stopped speaking.
"A world-changing… wish?"
"...Yes."
"In that case… there's nothing to be done."
"..."
He must have already known.
Right. As the squad leader of the elite team, it makes sense that the more obsessed the Field Investigation Team members are with the Wish Ticket, the more likely it is they'd know its true nature.
The essence of the Wish Ticket.
You want a tip on how to use it?
There isn't one. You just drink it and make your wish.
Everything will be granted.
…At least, from your perspective.
– Advice from the Assistant Manager of the Elite Team's C-squad
So… this is how it works.
If the drinker wishes to become younger, they'll become younger.
If they wish for a clean, tax-free 10 billion won to be deposited in their account, it will happen.
The Wish Ticket potion displays powers no different from a magical genie's lamp, changing only the state of the drinker.
But what if.
'What if the wish is on a much larger scale?'
Wishes that go beyond simply changing one's own personal circumstances.
Let's say, for example, the time is set in the past.
A wish like, 'I wish I could go back to when I was a child, living happily with my parents.,' or 'I wish I could go back to the moment when my husband got into the car accident and stop him'.
Or, perhaps much grander.
'I want the world to end,' or 'I wish everyone would become kind,' or 'I want a superconductor to be invented,' and so on…
Wishes that desire to change the world itself.
Of course, even in these cases, the potion still works.
Your wish will come true. However…
It only comes true from your point of view.
In other words…
You will be sent to such a world.
The Wish Ticket is a highly personal potion, its effects are omnipotent, but only for one person.
The one who makes the wish disappears from this world.
Sometimes they remain, but that only happens if they didn't wish properly, made a mistake, or if the wish was unexpectedly small-scale enough for the Wish Ticket to handle.
At any rate, in no case does the Wish Ticket bring about massive changes to this world.
Only the person moves.
'That's why the sergeant knew.'
If the wish is big enough to change the world, he knew that I might leave this place entirely.
That I might disappear.
"..."
I looked at the sergeant, who had finished eating his donuts.
Time was running out.
"Truly, thank you very much for everything."
"Yeah…"
We stood up from our seats.
I handed the sergeant a box of donuts I'd asked the counter to pack to-go, along with a leftover paper bag containing only a bread knife.
"By the way, Jay-ssi, what kind of wish did you join this company for?"
"..."
The sergeant stared into the empty bag.
"I… can't really remember."
"..."
"Don't worry about it… it wasn't anything important."
I couldn't bring myself to ask any more.
In the end, I nodded and parted ways with the sergeant in front of the donut shop.
He waved his hand.
"…Take care."
That was the end.
Through the shadows, I saw that the sergeant stood alone on the street for quite a while…
"..."
On the way back, I thought to myself.
…I should say a few more goodbyes.