GSGW c228

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Chapter 228

Right now.

Under the desk where I am.

Something is there.

It calls to me.

The employee of the resort from the ghost story—the one I called.

“Mascot?”

Contaminated Jang Heoun.

The colleague who had died has still not revived, remaining part of the ghost story, calling out to me.

To me, the one who turned him into a ghost story.

“Please give me instructions for what I should do. Thank you for calling me!”

A dizzying sensation.

In a way I did not welcome, I realized that I had once again begun to feel the sensation called “goosebumps.”

Almost like a spinal reflex, I formed words with smoke and sent them beneath the desk.

Question: Your current situation

Please.

“I am currently dispatched and working, following Mascot’s instructions, at the Yongcheon Fairy Hot Springs Special Recuperation Area of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, located in Gangwon Province. As long as what the ‘agents’ request does not harm the resort’s operations, I grant them whatever they ask!”

Yongcheon Fairy Hot Springs.

A well-known supernatural phenomenon listed on the wiki, used by the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau for decontamination and physical recovery.

'So that’s where he ended up.'

My confused mind settled as it encountered familiar knowledge.

The voice beneath the desk echoed.

“The agents ask me to look into the thirty-three puddles gathered around the hot spring water and check what form of mine is reflected on their surfaces.”

But—

“They ask whether the appearance of Agent Hwagak from before my contract with Mascot appears, but it has never happened even once. I answer them politely every time!”

……

No.

No, that’s not right. It’s only been half a year… maybe there hasn’t been any improvement yet.

Still, shouldn’t something have changed?

Even a little?

'Right.'

Suddenly, I caught onto a clue.

The name I used when calling him.

'He reacted to the name “Jang Heoun.”'

Because I had just met another “Heoun,” the strong impression made me call him by his real name, but I had originally made my contract with Mr. Jang Heoun under the nickname “Bison.”

But the fact that he responded to his real name—didn’t that mean he had recovered at least some part of his human identity? That he recognized his own name—

[Ah… Mr. Roe Deer, that is simply how subordination works. Even if the master calls with vague titles like “hey” or “you there,” if it seems to refer to them, they must gladly respond and present themselves.]

……

So.

All it really confirmed was that he was still completely subordinate to me…

'Then what about the wish ticket?'

He used the wish ticket… wait.

Question: Go Yeongeun’s situation

(including whether you have met her)

“That is information I do not know. If necessary, shall I look into it separately?”

Question: Whether a wish ticket was used

“That is information I do not know. If necessary, shall I look into it separately?”

……

Question: Your identity

“I am Bison, an employee currently dispatched after being honorably hired by Mascot at Flower Golden Resort!”

No.

Something was wrong.

Not just wrong—seriously wrong.

'What happened?'

If the Jang Heoun I summoned right now hadn’t recovered at all… if nothing unusual had happened to him and he had simply been under the Disaster Management Bureau’s care for the past half year—

Then just now…

Who was the employee who introduced himself to me as “Mr. Heoun” and recognized me?

And what happened to the wish ticket?

……

This won’t do.

'I need to contact Go Yeongeun.'

As soon as possible.

But I didn’t even have a smartphone, and someone as intelligent and cautious as Go Yeongeun would surely have changed her number long ago. How on earth could I contact her…?

“Um, Mascot.”

……!

“May I humbly ask a question?”

……

Affirmative

: Ask comfortably

“Thank you!”

The voice from beneath the desk—unnaturally bright and excessively polite—suddenly carried… a ripple.

“I… when will my dispatch assignment end?”

…!

“Was I perhaps called now so that I could return with Mascot to the resort?”

I could feel it.

Expectation.

A product of volition and desire.

Something that resort employees should not possess.

[Oh, I can sense a faint individuality.]

That’s right.

'Did something change?'

Maybe the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau’s measures were actually working.

To confirm it more clearly, I quickly produced an answer.

Answer: Negative

"......"

The sound beneath the desk stopped.

I continued speaking.

Condition for return: You must be able to request a personal desire unrelated to work from the Mascot.

“But I do not have any personal desires. My joy is already fulfilled, and what I wanted before becoming an employee has no meaning now!”

Sigh.

Find one.

“Mascot…?”

For a moment, I wondered if I should give Jang Heoun the bell I was holding. But I quickly realized it would be meaningless.

After all, the one who had taken custody of Jang Heoun in the first place was Agent Haegum. If that had worked, they would have given it to him already.

'More importantly…'

If I delayed longer, the agents might start tracking him or initiate emergency measures.

'If there is improvement, it’s better that he continues receiving treatment there without interruption.'

I decided to send Jang Heoun back immediately.

And to make the sudden absence seem natural, I instructed him to explain that the Mascot had summoned him for a “dispatched employee satisfaction inspection.”

“Yes. Thank you, Mascot!”

And just before I dismissed the call and sent him back—

“Um… will you call me again?”

……

Affirmative.

“Thank you, Mascot!”

A bright voice answered.

And the dead man who had been beneath the desk disappeared.

: 恩主 :

Inside the smoke, the red inventory tattoo beneath the guard on my left arm flashed briefly with a golden light…

As if the “Lodge Keeper,” who was currently working as a manager at the resort, had confirmed my orders.

'Phew.'

[My friend, you’ve learned how to handle subordinates. Congratulations. It would have been nice to celebrate with a fine bottle of champagne!]

I couldn’t bring myself to thank him…

Still crouched inside the transport cage, I waited until the dull resurgence of that sensation—goosebumps—finally subsided.

Then I asked.

'So the person who came to the annex earlier… wasn’t Bison, right?'

Because the Jang Heoun who had contracted with me was still exactly the same.

[Correct, Mr. Roe Deer.]

……

[However, every statement carries an intention. What intention that person had in speaking to you, even this host cannot know….]

Right.

Then in that case…

'I need to find out the basic information about that employee first.'

[Oh? Surely you don’t mean to make use of that vulgar researcher? Mr. Roe Deer, I recall you were reluctant to mention the matter to him directly.]

That’s right. It could end up encouraging him unnecessarily.

So instead…

'I’ll make him bring it up himself.'

Later that day, after my shift ended but before my break time.

“Well now. Did you enjoy your shift, employee?”

I quietly stared at Kwak Jaekwang, who had come to visit.

“…Hmm. Employee?”

And just as he began turning the situation over in his head, trying to figure out what was going on, I displayed a line of text.

Confession permitted

……. "

“…Confession? Haha, I suppose I’m someone with quite a lot to confess, but for you in particular….”

Topic: Today’s annex visitor

……

“Ah. Hahaha….”

Kwak Jaekwang picked up the file he was holding.

“You mean the new recruit Jang Heoun, correct?”

I didn’t react.

“Wait a moment. I wasn’t the one who sent him. No—really. I mean it. You know I can’t lie to you, right? And I couldn’t exactly stop him if he insisted on going….”

I remained silent, as if willing to hear his excuses.

As though I suspected he had provoked me deliberately to extract some kind of special data.

Until the fear branded into him during my escape—when he had felt his life was in danger—began to rise along the back of Kwak Jaekwang’s neck.

Because, after all—

'There’s no way you didn’t know.'

Even if you didn’t summon him yourself, you would have noticed the commotion and paid attention.

You must have watched through CCTV, observing and recording the conversation.

So then—

Prove it

“…In what way?”

Submit:

130666’s work log for today

“…Haha, yes.”

Kwak Jaekwang’s hand trembled slightly—whether from excitement or fear, it was hard to tell—as he handed me the file.

With my black-gloved hand, I took the folder.

I flipped through my profile, usage instructions, and observation records… until I found today’s handwritten entry.

Records of the visitors I had interacted with.

If I followed the record down to the time when I had interacted with the new recruit who introduced himself as “Heoun”…

2:12 AM

Interacting individual: Employee Kim Heoun

.....!!

Kim… Heoun?

130666 asked the employee whether they were acquainted.

Presumed to be a question originating from contact during the new recruit orientation experiment.

The employee responded affirmatively. Afterward, 130666 issued the annex access badge without further reaction.

…Up to this point, it was a properly refined description, written carefully enough that even Director Cheong wouldn’t find it suspicious.

But the next part—

Notable detail: During the orientation experiment, the employee used the name “Jang Heoun” instead of his real name.

……

During the interview conducted afterward, he stated that the reason for this behavior was “to gain courage.”

He repeatedly insisted that he was a long-time acquaintance of Section Chief Jang Heoun, who was working at another branch, and that he knew he was employed at this company.

“Ah, so you read that part?”

A glimmer of excitement returned to the researcher’s voice, which had been suppressed by fear.

“It’s a bit of a flimsy excuse… but at least that’s what he said during the interview.”

Then he added, watching my reaction.

“Haha, at the time I was curious how that name would sound to you. They even resemble each other a bit in appearance.”

Wait.

So it was just someone with the same name but a different surname?

And he’s an acquaintance of Jang Heoun?

That’s all?

'…No.'

Something felt wrong.

I remembered clearly. After the dead Jang Heoun became contaminated and rose as an employee of the resort, he once spoke casually about his past.

—I was an orphan, so I grew up in a facility. Three years ago there was a big fire, and everyone I lived with died in it. Somehow, I was the only one who survived.

And someone like that… had an acquaintance close enough to know about his employment here? Someone who would even claim such a thing?

Just the fact that he appeared saying that was strange and suspicious.

And besides—he recognized me.

That much I was certain of—

…..

Was I really?

What if he was simply showing goodwill to the kind monster he met on the 13th basement floor? What if I had misread the context? What if my damaged brain simply wasn’t functioning properly…? That—

Ding.

Phew.

'…Let’s not spiral too far.'

I secretly rang the bell once more inside the smoke and organized my thoughts.

At the very least, during the two times we encountered each other, he showed no abnormal behavior.

And since he was working as part of the Field Exploration Team, the dream essence collector was judging him to be human.

Those two facts were the ones I needed to remember.

[Suspicion is the companion of wisdom. However, when sharpened too much, it can wound. Oh, Mr. Roe Deer’s attitude of handling it slowly and carefully is admirable.]

Right. Thanks.

“…Ah, I see. That individual seems to concern you quite a bit.”

Damn it.

“In that case, perhaps I could designate him as someone under special management…”

Denied

“Ah… yes.”

Let’s not cross the line.

Prohibited actions

▶ Personal requisition of the individual in question

▶ Assignment to duties involving 130666

▶ Any other troublesome additional actions

Afterward, I added several more comprehensive restrictions on Kwak Jaekwang and suppressed a sigh.

'…The new recruit said he would come back again.'

In that case, I should simply keep open the access that allows him to visit the annex front desk while I’m on duty.

If I tried digging through Kwak Jaekwang’s side carelessly, I had a feeling it would poke somewhere it shouldn’t.

'And… I’m not planning to gather information only from here.'

The whereabouts of the wish ticket.

…No matter how I thought about it, the right move was to talk to Go Yeongeun.

…I needed to figure out a way to contact her.

“Hmm. Understood.”

Kwak Jaekwang wiped away cold sweat but soon recovered.

When I returned the folder, he almost looked disappointed that no further special circumstances had occurred.

“It was quite an interesting conversation, though….”

Surprisingly, aside from a bit of disappointment, Kwak Jaekwang didn’t seem particularly intrigued or scheming.

I realized why when I saw his expression.

He had another, more important matter.

“Now then, may I return to the purpose of my visit today?”

……

Affirmative

“…! Excellent!”

Excitement returned to his smiling face.

“Ah, it finally happened. An order has come down from Director Cheong!”

…!

“Employee, it’s time for you to prepare to excavate Darkness at the Cheerful Research Lab in the main building’s basement, hahaha!”

 

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