Even if I fall into a ghost story, I still have to go to work
Chapter 99
I knew.
I knew that the Disaster Management Bureau strictly controlled information regarding this ghost story, the ‘Dokkaebi Workshop’, to prevent it from leaking.
To be precise… that was the extent of my knowledge!
‘I had no idea exactly how they were managing the ghost story….’
It wasn’t even mentioned in the Wiki!
Who could have possibly imagined they would go as far as conducting undercover operations inside the ghost story itself—weeding out visitors and monitoring the production of equipment?
An Agent of the Disaster Management Bureau, a human, pretending to be a Dokkaebi inside a ghost story!
[Oho? You are slow to answer!]
My head spun.
‘…What do I do?’
Wait, what have I been blathering about until now?
With a sensation like my blood turning to ice, I replayed our previous conversation in my mind like a panoramic film.
The fatal mistake… right, I hadn’t made one yet.
‘It’s okay!’
I can still salvage this. I can make it right….
If that’s the case.
I deliberately let a slightly pale, flustered expression wash over my face.
“I apologize, Elder, but… I haven’t received permission to speak of such things.”
[…….]
I don’t know anything.
I’m just a rookie who hasn’t noticed at all that you’re a person, or that you’re my senior Agent.
I’m just a newbie who’s startled because a Dokkaebi in a ghost story is prying into my personal details, and I’m struggling to respond appropriately while panicking!
‘Please!’
I lifted my head slightly with an expression that screamed, ‘What do I do about this Dokkaebi?’
[Hah, those Mr. Kims working for the government sure have a lot to worry about.]
“…….”
Whew.
[I heard those Mr. Kims call their departments ‘teams’. Why can’t you tell me which one??]
“Yes. That, well… yes. I apologize. The state has decreed it so.”
[Tsk, how boring!]
The Agent pretending to be a Dokkaebi clicked his tongue and backed off.
‘It worked.’
He took the bait.
[Still, since you’re a kind-hearted Mr. Kim who gave me ginseng, I’ll let it slide!]
It seemed the Agent intended to keep up the Dokkaebi act.
‘…The leading questions worked well enough.’
It was the classic ‘tease the rookie’ move.
I had fueled his desire to see this rookie’s face later when he hears from a senior, ‘That person was an Agent,’ and passes out from the shock.
I guessed as much when I saw the Agent sniffing the ginseng—which was stored in his tattoo—just like a real Dokkaebi would.
‘Perhaps by imitating a Dokkaebi, his abilities or personality have become similar to one.’
I wondered if he was using that kind of ‘equipment’.
And Dokkaebis simply can’t resist such pranks.
“Th-thank you.”
I bowed my head deeply to match the act.
[Kind Mr. Kim, I must at least give you something in return for the medicinal wine!]
[Now, tell me what Dokkaebi treasure you desire! You may recite it in song, or perform a dance….]
Now he’s trying to look out for the rookie.
He probably considered that the wild ginseng I held was a precious item I’d obtained from somewhere, and that I’d handed it over too readily in my flustered state.
‘…The most natural response would be,’
“I-it’s fine, Elder! Then… if you could just show favor to the next ‘Mr. Kims working for the government’ who visit. As much as your mood allows.”
[…Hooh, is that so?]
“Yes!”
[Fine, Mr. Kim. I always pay for my drinks!]
I nodded with a bright smile. The Dokkaebi looked at me with a somewhat satisfied expression and danced a little jig.
Good. It seems I passed on that topic.
Then, the conversation naturally moved to the Griptok I was holding.
[So, the reason Mr. Kim came here today… is that you want this trinket fixed up nicely?]
“…Yes.”
This was the problem.
This Agent recognized that my Griptok wasn’t made here….
Cold sweat pooled in my palms.
Sure enough, the Agent behind the Dokkaebi mask asked, pretending it was a casual inquiry.
[Where did this thing come from?]
“I, I’m not sure. I received it as a gift from the state….”
[Right, right. These days, even the Mr. Kims working for the government must be running factories; they keep bringing in goods from elsewhere….]
[It’s a dangerous business.]
“…….”
[You never know when a Day-Dokkaebi might show up!]
Right. The Disaster Management Bureau didn’t just use this workshop to manufacture gear for Agents anymore.
‘The Silver Heart came from somewhere else, too.’
Anyway, he seemed to have misunderstood that it was manufactured at one of those other facilities.
It was a very welcome misunderstanding.
‘I’m saved because of that.’
Seeing the Agent keep up the Dokkaebi act until the end, even mentioning the Day-Dokkaebi, made me feel a bit more stable.
Thanks to that, I could accept the situation with a hollow laugh.
‘Regardless, I’m screwed.’
That Agent will definitely remember me—the guy who suddenly visited today and even offered ginseng.
‘The moment he leaves this ghost story and talks to the people at the Disaster Management Bureau, I’ll be tracked as a person of interest.’
…Is there really no way out?
[Anyway, I’ll fix this trinket right up, so wait here!]
“Yes….”
The Agent mimicking a Dokkaebi took my Griptok and vanished into the tiled house—the ‘workshop’.
He was probably taking it to the other Dokkaebis inside.
I waited quietly.
Ominous imaginations made me break out in a cold sweat, fearing the Agent might realize the situation, confiscate my Griptok, and put out an emergency call to the Bureau.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long.
[Take your trinket!]
The returning Agent tossed the Griptok lightly to me. I suppressed a curse and caught it carefully.
The crack was still visible on the Griptok.
However, the groove was smoothly filled with something glossy.
An adhesive that shimmered with a jade light.
“Ah, is the repair finished with this?”
[Ahem, even rice needs time to steam. Do you think an Elder’s craft is finished as easily as eating cold porridge? You must wait until the adhesive is fully set!]
[Don’t wear it for a month; treat it as carefully as a swaddled babe. Make a wish for what you want it to become, too. Then it will become a truly magnificent trinket!]
A whole month?
“…Thank you.”
I gripped the Griptok lightly.
‘…It feels like it’ll split open if I put even a little strength into it.’
It meant I had to handle it with extreme care for the month it took for the adhesive to harden.
Which meant….
‘I won’t be able to access the Wiki for a month.’
Right now, I was trying my best to memorize as much as possible by re-reading it every day, but I wouldn’t be able to maintain that routine.
Naturally, human memory has its limits, which made me anxious… but there was no choice. I had to endure. Obtaining a new Griptok seemed like a distant dream.
‘Anyway, succeeding in getting it fixed is a win.’
Now, there was only one problem left.
How do I leave this place naturally?
[Now then, why don’t we have one of those buckwheat cakes young Mr. Kim brought… and hear about what the Mr. Kims working for the government are up to these days!]
I don’t know that either….
‘If I talk any further, it’s only a matter of time before I’m exposed.’
Forget being wanted; I might be bound in ropes right here, transported to the Disaster Management Bureau, and thrown into a glass cage.
…Fine.
I made up my mind.
‘I’m caught in the long run anyway.’
In that case… even if it leaves a stronger impression,
I’m going for it!
“Yes, Elder. I…”
Urgh.
I didn’t hold back the blood and let it spill from my mouth.
Clot. Thick blood trickled down my chin.
Hurriedly wiping it away with my sleeve, I looked at the Dokkaebi with a panicked face.
“I-I’m sorry….”
I wasn’t just trying to incite panic.
Blood.
[Mr. Kim…!!]
Traditionally, it was also a Dokkaebi’s greatest taboo.
Rumble, rumble.
The massive tiled house began to shake.
Scary! Scary! Scary!
Why is it scary? Why is it scary? Why is it scary?
[Aieee! Everyone, stop making a fuss! Nothing’s happening!]
Scary! Who is it? Scary! Who is it?
Even though the Agent shouted, the tiled house continued to vibrate. Turning deathly pale, I covered my mouth and gagged.
“I-I’m sorry.”
[Get out, quickly. That crazy bastard who sent a sick rookie into a Dokkaebi’s den, I’ll just…!]
“N-no! Elder, I… I came in without knowing any better.”
[What Elder?! You punk, do you still not know?]
It’s time to pretend I’ve noticed.
“…!”
My eyes widened, and I scrambled to my feet.
“Could it be….”
The Agent in Dokkaebi form crossed his arms.
[Be grateful this senior was here. Rookie.]
“Yes, yes… I’m sorry.”
I stood up, looking dazed as if I barely understood what was happening, my face a mask of ‘I have no idea what’s going on’.
Thump. Thump.
Now, sounds like brooms or wooden clubs banging against the doors of the tiled house could be heard.
Listening to the noise, the Agent clicked his tongue and barked at me.
[If you’re sick, you should be resting. Why are you crawling into a place like this? Did Headquarters order it?]
Oh?
If I weave this right….
“…No.”
I quickly searched my mind and pulled out one of the many episodes from the Disaster Management Bureau’s history.
‘…Back in the training center, there was a culture of making bets!’
A sort of test of courage to compete in competence and boldness.
Good. With this…!
“…My peers told me to fix the Memorial Griptok on my own, so…….”
The Agent flinched.
[…Do they still do things like that?]
I simply gave a bitter smile.
The Agent behind the Dokkaebi mask seemed to suppress a groan, rubbed his face, and then waved me away.
[……I’ll let it slide without telling Headquarters. Just get out.]
It worked.
“Th-thank you.”
[What’s your codename?]
“It hasn’t been assigned yet… I’m still thinking about what would be good.”
[…Right. We’ll see each other if our fates cross.]
The Agent pretending to be a Dokkaebi waved his hand.
Whoosh.
With that gesture, I was pushed back….
[Go back and rest.]
