Chapter 144: Ch 144: Punishment
A cozy and warm atmosphere filled the Fox Counseling Office.
In front of the nameplate that read ’Closed Today’, at a table in a waiting
area that resembled a hallway, Director Ho was waiting for me.
And the moment I greeted him politely and sat down across the table, the
first thing out of his mouth was this.
"So, you want... to file for workers’ compensation?"
"Yes, sir."
I confidently brought out the empty sleeve where my right arm should’ve
been and displayed it on the table.
"I was forced to cut off my arm during my very first mission with the
Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau."
"..."
If Director Ho had any sense, he’d remember it too.
– It’ll be much more comfortable for you.
He was the one who introduced this spy job to me, all the while saying that
there were better working conditions and safer assignments.
But after crawling through Daydream Inc. for over half a year and
extracting two A-grade solutions without a scratch, I lost one of my limbs
just three days after becoming a civil servant.
’This is basically fraud.’
Of course, I was prepared for the possibility that he might try to spin it as
bad luck on my part, or a lack of competence...
"Oh dear! Of course we should take care of that!"
"...!"
Director Ho’s face crumpled with concern as he nodded.
"That must have been incredibly painful for you, Soleum-nim. Then...
would it be correct to assume you need a regenerative potion from
Daydream Inc.?"
"Exactly as you say, sir."
"Of course, I’d love to give you as much potion as you want right away,
Soleum-nim. But... I’m just a little worried whether you’ll be able to
manage it."
"...Sorry?"
Director Ho glanced at the empty space where my arm used to be.
"If your arm suddenly reappears... there won’t even be any room to make
excuses to the bureau, right? It might cause some issues for you."
"..."
"And I’m sure the bureau must have its own procedures for handling lost
limbs, so... is there a particularly urgent reason why you’d want Daydream
Inc.’s regenerative potion...?"
He trailed off with a worried expression, then caught himself and clasped
his hands together.
"Ah, I suppose I may be overthinking this. I’m sure you have a brilliant
plan in mind, Soleum-nim."
"Yes."
"..."
"Hm, I think I might’ve phrased things poorly and caused some
misunderstanding."
I gave a slight smile.
"I’m not bothering you right now because I want to use the regenerative
potion immediately."
"Of course not! I didn’t think it was a bother, but if that’s what you meant?"
"I need the potion so that I can immediately regenerate if I lose another
body part in the future."
"...!"
"The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau fundamentally operates
with one-man teams. So I figured... if I regenerate before I report back
from the ghost story site, it’ll all go without a hitch."
How’s that?
"I also heard that if your injuries reach an unmanageable level, they
strongly recommend retirement... so it’s also meant to prevent that
outcome."
"..."
"Of course, if it’s too difficult for the company to provide it right now, I’ll
hold out as best I can."
Now, if Director Ho were going to turn me down by saying the company’s
in dire straits?
’There’s no way he’d do that.’
If he were going to refuse, he’d either start saying regretful things and
hemming and hawing, or he’d abruptly switch tactics and try to assert
dominance by pulling rank.
’But neither of those is Director Ho’s style.’
I could at least trust that he wouldn’t try to act all stingy over one measly C-
grade regenerative potion...
"Did you know, Soleum-nim?"
Director Ho stared straight at me.
"When I look at you, I often feel like I’m seeing my past self..."
The Fox Counseling Office wavered strangely.
The worn dirt walls, paper sliding doors, exposed rafters, and the moldy
wooden floor.
"I really miss those days..."
For some reason, a rundown thatched cottage flickered at the edge of my
vision.
Beyond the comfortable, modern interior, there lay a bleak, abandoned
house...
Ka-chak.
"Ah, you’re here."
"...!"
The door to the Fox Counseling Office opened, and everything came to a
halt.
Through the door stepped a man and a woman, their faces tense as they
entered the cozy waiting area.
Familiar faces.
"G-Good afternoon, sir."
"...!"
Go Yeongeun. Jang Heowoon. [1]
The two who had infiltrated the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau
with me as spies had also been invited here today.
I was on the verge of tears from how happy I was to see them.
"Welcome, both of you."
Director Ho smiled and seated them at the table.
I looked at Go Yeongeun, who gave a small nod, and then Jang Heowoon,
whose face lit up with relief... before going completely pale the moment he
saw what happened to my right arm.
"Ah, thanks to Soleum-nim’s suggestion, all of you will be receiving one
regenerative potion each. Isn’t that wonderful?"
"...?! Y-Yes..."
"...Yes, sir. Thank you."
Go Yeongeun-ssi was holding up better, but Jang Heowoon-ssi looked
exactly like a mouse in front of a cat.
Meaning, he was extremely tense.
’Well, that’s probably the right attitude in front of an executive...’
Especially an executive from a ghost story company, the kind you
encounter in a ghost story.
Note/s:
[1] Heo-un —> Heowoon. Still the same pronunciation, just a different way
to spell it in English. I’ve been on the fence about this for a while now, but
’Heo-un-ssi’ just doesn’t look good on the page ahah >.> Hope yall
understand~! When I have time, I’ll go back to the past Chapters and edit
his name for the sake of continuity. ↵
"Um, aren’t you happy?"
"I-I’m happy, sir."
"...Of course, it’s something to be happy and grateful about, sir, but I’m
nervous about the upcoming report. I apologize."
"Ah, of course. That’s perfectly understandable. Then let’s quickly touch on
that topic!"
Director Ho smiled like he understood everything and swiftly turned to one
of them.
"Yeongeun-ssi, I heard you were nearly declared missing, but thanks to this
batchmate of yours, you made it out safely. That’s truly fortunate, isn’t it?
Seems like it paid off for the three of you to infiltrate together."
"...Yes."
A short, sharp breath escaped Go Yeongeun-ssi.
"I also heard you’re doing well, Heowoon-ssi. You joined the Site Cleanup
Unit, didn’t you? That team has good access to documentation, right?"
"Y-Yes, sir. That’s correct..."
Jang Heowoon couldn’t lift his gaze.
Director Ho smiled and picked up the green tea I made for him.
"It’s really nice to meet and talk with you like this in person. Since it’s your
first time, please don’t be too nervous and just relax..."
"..."
"..."
If this was the first report for all three of us...
Then who exactly did he ’hear’ our assignments from?
’...So there are other hands and feet in the Disaster Management Bureau.’
He knew exactly how to set the tone to keep us from making any careless
moves.
I really hated this kind of higher-up...
But as low-ranking employees who had to follow orders, the three of us
stiffly bowed our heads and silently sipped our instant green tea.
"E-Excuse me."
"...!"
No, I thought that was it—but surprisingly, one of us spoke up.
Even more surprising, it was Jang Heowoon.
"If it’s not rude, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask..."
"Ah, what is it?"
"What exactly are the documents we’re supposed to locate in the Disaster
Management Bureau—"
"That’s not something you need to worry about."
Silence fell.
"When the time comes, I’ll let you know! Once you’ve gained sufficient
access to the information we need for this project."
"..."
"For now... Hmm, I think just this much is enough for you to know."
Director Ho smiled.
"They’re documents related to a certain supernatural disaster."
That much, I expected.
"They’re stored in the archives on the 33rd basement floor of the Gangwon
branch of the Disaster Management Bureau. If we’re calling it by
classification... Annihilation-sanctioned."
"...! T-That’s..."
"Ah, you must’ve heard about it during training! That’s right."
Annihilation-sanctioned.
"It’s the classification for supernatural disasters that the Supernatural
Disaster Management Bureau has officially designated as the highest level
of danger."
...Exactly that.
Even within the bureau that handles ghost stories resulting in casualties, this
label is only given to supernatural disasters that cause uncontrollable,
massive loss of life.
The standard is...
An estimated death toll of over 500,000.
In other words, it’s the kind of absurd catastrophe where a whole metropolis
gets wiped out. The kind of cosmic horror ghost story where the term
disaster truly applies.
But here’s the thing.
’I... think I know what it is.’
That ghost story Director Ho just mentioned.
—An Annihilation-sanctioned ghost story from the bureau, connected to
Daydream Inc.’s ’project’.
Just from that one clue, the possibilities narrowed dramatically.
’There’s only one in the Dark Exploration Records.’
Thanks to that, I now knew exactly what Director Ho was looking for, and
what the hell this ’project’ was trying to accomplish...!
’This is gonna drive me insane.’
Just thinking about it made my mind reel. I had been digging into the
background of that completely deranged ghost story.
My heart pounded like mad as my head went cold.
This won’t do.
’At this rate... I won’t get the Wish Ticket for years.’
I have to cut ties.
However, I didn’t even want to imagine what might happen if that sharp,
frightening director realized I already knew.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The wisest choice was...
’Just keep my mouth shut for now.’
Don’t get caught between fighting whales.
I kept my gaze on the table, avoiding eye contact with the director, trying to
look as tense as everyone else. It wasn’t hard—I was already tense.
Thankfully, the director didn’t seem to notice.
"Um, would that answer suffice?"
"...Yes, sir."
"Wonderful!"
The conversation continued smoothly.
"Ah, and about that ’workers’ compensation’ matter."
The regenerative potion.
"It seems formal approval might be difficult. Officially speaking, the three
of you aren’t registered as headquarters employees."
Thankfully, he wasn’t about to backpedal or say something else entirely.
"So let’s categorize it as an operational expense."
Director Ho extended his fingers.
"Ten thousand points. Monthly."
"...!!"
"I’ll issue you temporary Welfare Mall accounts. You’re free to spend it
however you like, but if unused after a month, it will disappear."
Holy shit.
That’s enough to buy a C-grade regenerative potion every month.
"So then, are we all satisfied?"
Director Ho glanced at each of us, including me.
I bowed politely.
"Yes. For now, I’m simply grateful."
For now, that is.
"Excellent!"
Director Ho beamed.
And then he took it one step further.
"Ah, would it be alright if I offered you one more little aid for your
activities? All three of you, please hold out your hands."
"Ah."
The two of them politely raised both hands, palms open.
I also lifted my one hand, palm up, and reached toward the table.
"No, like this. With the back of your hand facing up."
"..."
The moment we adjusted the position...
"That’s right."
Something began to form across the backs of our hands.
"...!!"
"Careful now. If you move, you might end up needing a regenerative
potion..."
Oh, this is insane.
Dozens of punctured circles rippled like waves across the back of my hand.
’What the hell is this?’
A strange sense of pressure, like being bound, began to spread...
– Man, woman, man. From this point on, the three of you will be unable to
call one other by your codenames.
"...!"
– If there are any watching eyes, you will not be able to share any
information that hints at your true identities.
Thump.
Thump.
– Should you attempt to break this, you will be punished.
Something round struck the back of my hand, as if burrowing into it.
The pulse spread from the hand across my entire body. And then—
"Haaah!"
It vanished. Without a trace.
"..."
"..."
The three spies, drenched in cold sweat, pulled their hands away from the
table.
"...T-This."
"I worked hard on this, just to help prevent any possible slip-ups from you
all."
Director Ho smiled benevolently.
But none of us could smile back.
"Just now... I heard the word ’punishment’."
"Yes?"
"You said we’d be punished."
"Oh, it’s nothing major—just the usual. If someone’s trying to forcibly
break this restriction, wouldn’t that mean something serious has gone
wrong?"
Director Ho smiled, lacing his fingers together.
"And as for that ’punishment’...
You’ll be reunited with whatever you hold
dearest."
"...!"
"I’ll make sure to take good care of it."
"Wait a second! That’s—"
I made deliberate eye contact with Go Yeongeun-ssi, cutting off her protest.
"..."
"You were saying?"
Go Yeongeun-ssi slowly calmed herself, then spoke up again in a steady
tone.
"...So, will we be bound by this restriction until the ’project’ succeeds?"
"No, this is merely a support measure to help you during your assignment!"
He really knew how to twist words.
’Support’, huh?
"As soon as you bring back the information I asked for regarding the
Annihilation-sanctioned Disaster, this auxiliary measure will disappear. And
then..."
Director Ho rested his chin on his hand,
Leaning toward us.
"Whoever contributes to the success of this mission... will receive the
potion right then and there."
"..."
Wait a second.
Beside me, I heard Jang Heowoon’s trembling voice.
"P-Potion... you mean..."
"The Wish Ticket."
"...!!"
"You’ll receive the Wish Ticket as soon as you fulfill your assigned role!
Isn’t that amazing?"
Goddamn.
"I worked hard to make it so you wouldn’t have to wait until the project
succeeds."
Suddenly, the timeline to receive the Wish Ticket had been drastically
shortened.
This spy work was starting to feel absurdly enticing.
’If I do well, I could get it unbelievably fast.’
As long as I perform well!
"..."
At the same time, a chill crept down my spine.
’He revealed that on purpose.’
It was a secondary incentive, meant to make us cling to this like our lives
depended on it.
Instead of disclosing everything from the start and letting us make a careful
decision, he controlled the information.
’So now it feels like it’s just within reach.’
I’d thought it before, but his methods were sweat-inducingly elaborate and
layered.
’...And that’s not even all.’
I recalled something Director Ho had said previously—
What he told me when he assigned me to the spy role.
– And since I figured it’d be a bit lonely for you to go in alone, you won’t be
infiltrating by yourself.
Just hearing that, it sounded like he was sending others into the bureau for
my sake to join me in the infiltration.
But once I agreed and confirmed the details, it turned out to be the opposite.
’My batchmates had already been deployed to the bureau before I was.’
Director Ho never lied about the facts of a situation.
But he would freely manipulate the framing of intent and interpretation to
steer people exactly where he wanted them...
Just look at my peers’ faces.
’Their eyes are shining.’
The phrase ’you’ll get the Wish Ticket once this is done’—how sweet that
must sound.
But.
"Then, may I ask whether we would all be acknowledged equally?"
"Hm?"
Now’s not the time to miss the details.
"If we ’contribute’ in the delivery of the documents, will we all receive a
Wish Ticket potion?"
"Ah, of course."
"...Then, will you be the one to determine whether we ’contributed’
properly, Director?"
"..."
Director Ho locked eyes with me for a brief moment, then smiled again.
"I’ll trust your report, of course!"
Huu.
"Thank you."
With that, I prevented the situation where Director Ho might deny the
group’s joint effort and designate only one MVP to skimp out on
distributing the Wish Ticket potion.
"Ah, it’s time."
Just then, Director Ho glanced at his wristwatch and stood up.
And then, clap! After bringing his hands together once, with a cheerful
expression on his face, he spoke to us in a friendly tone.
"Take your time chatting, you three. You won’t get many chances to gather
together like this ’outside’ anymore. I set this up just for that."
In other words, don’t gather together and raise suspicion.
Still, he left us with at least a sliver of professional courtesy.
And that’s the signal that the senior officer was finally excusing himself,
leaving his junior staff to have their meeting.
"Well then, I’ll be off."
He waved, beamed as he left us with the parting words that he’d try to
arrange for more chances to meet in the future.
We hurriedly stood from the table and bowed.
"You didn’t have to stand! But thank you."
He walked all the way to the counseling room door, and just as he grabbed
the doorknob, he turned back as if something had occurred to him.
Our eyes met.
Director Ho gave a subtle nod toward the silver ring on my left hand’s
finger.
The silver ring.
My mental protection item.
"That thing. It’s completely worn down, you know."
"...!"
Srrrk.
"Well then, I’ll see you at the next session."
The Fox Counseling Office door closed with a soft, courteous sound.
Thuk.
"..."
"..."
Director Ho was completely gone.
And then—
"Haah..."
A heavy sigh filled the waiting room.
It was the sigh of low-ranking staff who’d just faced off with an absolutely
insane, far-above-them superior...
’Still, I guess it helped that it wasn’t a one-on-one meeting.’
And I had the chance to reunite with these guys after a long time.
"Um... It’s been a while, Soleum-ssi."
I turned to look at my fellow batchmate.
A former member of the Round-Off Team.
The long-haired man greeted me with clear relief and concern in his voice.
"Have you been doing well?"
It’s Jang Heowoon-ssi.