Chapter 269.1 |
Results of the second Sekwang Special Metropolitan City expedition.
“Rescue… successful.”
News came in that Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae had regained consciousness at the Disaster Management Bureau.
And the gimmick of ‘if you die in Sekwang City’s subway, you wake up in reality’ also worked successfully.
“Everyone was mostly fine, aside from the fact that their bullet-shot heads hurt like hell. That Highborn Civil Servant even woke up smiling.”
The party members died in the order they ‘hit’ the jackpot in Russian roulette, and then woke up in reality.
“They were smiling when they woke up, but once they understood the situation, the smiles disappeared.”
Except for me.
After that, for a little over an hour, I remained unconscious.
“If you’d been any later, we were seriously about to make actual plans to head straight into the city. Thankfully you woke up before that…”
…Huu.
I looked at myself, once again returned to something not quite human, wearing the black Security Team special uniform.
And then I saw the interior scenery, warm and soft, as if bright sunlight that didn’t suit me at all were pouring in.
The Fox Counseling Office.
As promised, Ho Yoowon had ‘intercepted’ the passage transmitted to the Disaster Management Bureau through the well and connected it somewhere else.
Inpatient
Rest Area ^^
This space, connected from a corner cabinet beside the waiting room, looked newly built.
People woke up one by one on beds in this place that resembled a hospital ward, and like chart labels, each bed had a name engraved on it.
For reference, right next door, the agents who had been relieved upon seeing me wake up were now finally speaking with Ho Yoowon in stiff voices about the situation.
“How is this even possible.”
“Yes, it was barely a conversation! Earlier it was nothing but outright threats, it was honestly terrifying…”
It didn’t seem like he had any intention of answering the Disaster Management Bureau agent. That was expected.
Anyway, the important thing was that when it came to Sekwang City exploration, Ho Yoowon would obsessively do ‘whatever it takes’ to provide support, anything he possibly could.
…No matter what happened in the process.
In any case, as soon as the agents confirmed that I had stabilized to some extent, they tried to grasp what had happened…
“What reckless thing did you do this time.”
[Oh. That sounds less like a question and more like certainty, Friend.]
N-No, I mean.
I hurriedly explained the situation.
With my explanation involving a quick game of charade and some written words, the agents looked like they wanted to grab my head and shake it if I weren’t a horned gas mask monster. But when they heard that Go Yeongeun-ssi had carried me and fled, their momentum gradually died down.
It was empathy from those who had already been through that kind of miserable experience.
“…So Agent Mint helped you.”
Affirmative
If it weren’t for Go Yeongeun-ssi, there was an extremely high chance that all my body parts would have been stripped in there, and I would now be working as a dealer.
And then…
“Did you hear why Agent Mint was in that disaster in the first place?”
……
“Roe Deer-nim? Why are you looking at me?”
Following my gaze, everyone’s eyes turned to Ho Yoowon.
Question : Criteria for spy personnel selection
“I’m not sure why I need to tell you that.”
Criteria for spy personnel selection
Hypothesis: Selecting individuals connected to Sekwang Special Metropolitan City.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
And he deliberately lowered his brows as if regretful.
“But that’s truly unfortunate… It seems she’s completely trapped inside Sekwang City. Unable to escape even through death.”
……
“But don’t worry. It’s fine if you help her while proceeding with my project.”
Bastard.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje asked for the others’ understanding, then pulled me and Section Chief Lee Jaheon aside and spoke quietly.
“No matter how I think about it, this feels like bait… Doesn’t it seem like he laid out a big picture to keep people tied to his project?”
With a cold feeling, I moved my smoke.
Affirmative
I don’t know when or how he drew up this plan, but there’s no way Ho Yoowon didn’t know that Go Yeongeun-ssi was from Sekwang City.
‘Someone that obsessed with Sekwang City wouldn’t miss a detail like that.’
The thing he said right after I woke up was the same.
– Have you found a reason to go back in?
…As if he knew Go Yeongeun-ssi was trapped inside that city.
‘It’s the same with picking Jang Heowoon-ssi, since he’s connected to the Cheerful Research Institute.’
And… even choosing me.
I have a strong hunch that he didn’t simply pick employees with personalities that would pass the Disaster Management Bureau.
I heard Assistant Manager Eun Haje let out a sigh.
“No wonder that bastard set this expedition’s objective so damn carelessly. Was he planning to shove us back in?”
“Haje-ssi, everyone can hear you.”
“Yes. Go ahead and listen. We’re talking about my cat.”
It sounded like she was saying she’s sick to death of superiors and all that nonsense.
And separate from how cathartic that felt, a complicated emotion rose up.
‘How far ahead has that guy already planned.’
Of course, it wasn’t something that affected my decision.
From the start, I had decided to continue exploring Sekwang City in order to learn more about this ghost story world and the circumstances of my summoning.
Still, this strange sense of foreboding and unease lingered unpleasantly on my palate.
“Be careful.”
Affirmative
The one thing that was reassuring and comforting in this situation was this.
We achieved our objective.
“Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae is coming.”
The fact that we properly rescued Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae. And her mental state was astonishingly intact.
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