Unfortunately, Braun's immediate and quick-witted request was denied.
Shouldn't I at least hear the full story before throwing away the talking coin….
And the 'Coin made from the powder of Juror Number 1,' which had suddenly found its voice, explained the situation plainly.
-I'm not quite sure myself.
Yes….
-I feel strangely energized, and my consciousness suddenly returned. I've become self-aware.
The rusty silver coin gleamed.
It seemed as if the rust was flaking off more and more each time it spoke.
-Still, it's a pleasure to be able to converse like this again.
Juror Number 1, a part of Ho Yuwon that had remained at Morning Station, had thus regained his ego and was speaking to me….
Calming my heart that felt like it would leap out of my chest, I reasoned through my throbbing head.
'Was the problem making the leftover powder into a Cheerful Coin….?'
Or perhaps it was because I had re-entered the Segwang Special City Subway.
'…In any case, it's a pleasure to meet you, too.'
-Thank you.
I heard a laugh from the coin.
'How much do you remember about yourself?'
-I remember everything up until the Day of Disaster. Feel free to ask me anything.
…!
'By any chance… who are you?'
-I am a Counselor who strives to comfort and encourage the people gathered in this city.
-My dream is to see their weary and wounded hearts recover, making this city a more beautiful and livable place.
'What is your relationship with the Disaster Management Bureau?'
-I am acquainted with the agents there. You could say we have a relationship where we do favors for each other.
The voice was gentle and warm.
Like the Fox counselor I met at the Fox Counseling Room.
-I don't know how much longer I'll be able to talk, but I look forward to working with you until then.
So, this is the Ho Yuwon from before all hell broke loose in Sekwang Special City….
Either way, it was a truly astonishing situation.
And for someone currently tucked into my front pocket, it seemed to be a tremendously shocking event….
[Yes, my friend. I knew this day would come. Oh, it's an unstoppable trend in the entertainment business. The fact that everyone loves a new face!]
I heard the sound of him theatrically dabbing at his tears with a very high-class handkerchief. Though it sounded more like someone delicately wiping a TV screen….
[I suppose this Plush Body will be cast out now. To think you'd consider befriending a scrap of a coin like that instead of the only friend who gives Mr. Roe Deer his full support….]
The situation was naturally being blown out of proportion.
If I listened without thinking, I would probably startle and shout, 'Of course not!' and then instinctively toss the coin out of the subway….
This is driving me crazy….
[Mr. Roe Deer, what are you thinking so hard about?]
'Um.'
Feeling like I was about to break into a cold sweat, I said.
'…How about we think of it as a guest making an appearance?'
[I'll fire you.]
Right….
[Haha! Oh, my friend, you're tense. There's no need for that. What I've said so far is merely my joke-like advice!]
The host's placating voice suddenly dropped.
[Surely my friend wouldn't betray the matters of contract and trust? I am already well aware that you yourself summoned this Braun to this position as a friend, and you bear in mind, deep in your heart, that this position cannot be replaced….]
This is genuinely scary.
[Isn't that right?]
'Of course. It goes without saying.'
The Good Friend ghost story is terrifying.
I answered with a smile, feeling like I was drenched in a cold sweat.
'But I need information. And I need to talk to him.'
[Hmm….]
'It's small and allows for real-time communication… It's hard to compare it to Braun by focusing only on these functional aspects. By that logic, a Smartphone would also qualify.'
Before he could make a remark like, 'Is that so? Then let's leave the Smartphone behind too, my friend!', I hastily added.
'It won't overlap with your position.'
Soon, a voice that sounded slightly displeased but acquiescent was heard.
[That's a sincere statement, Mr. Roe Deer.]
Phew.
[Very well. But I hope you won't place it next to me. A Plague, of all things.]
In the end, I took out the silver coin and put it in my pants pocket, as far away from Braun as possible. The 'Counselor' dwelling within didn't seem to mind much….
-You have a way with words, sir.
Thank you….
The Counselor actually seemed a bit amused, but he soon looked at the surroundings and murmured as if lost in thought.
-This is… inside a subway train.
It felt like a jolt to my senses.
Right. Juror Number 1 seemed to be from the Segwang Metropolitan City Disaster Management Bureau.
'They say this is a shelter created by an Agent from the Blue Dragon Team. …Do you happen to know anything about that?'
A voice that seemed to have considered the question carefully soon replied.
-My memory after the Day of Disaster is not entirely intact, but I can venture a guess.
-If an Agent created it, wouldn't they have tried to make the train itself safe?
The train itself?
'If that's the case, there should be a trace left in a place that would affect the entire train….'
When I think of the train's core facility, only one thing comes to mind.
'The driver's cab.'
The very first car of this train.
An area that was no different from a system window of sorts.
The problem, however, was that this Train Shelter was divided into two factions: the front cars and the back cars.
And the front cars were hostile and exclusive toward outsiders… and I sensed a strange sense of superiority or elitism from them.
'Now that I think about it, maybe it's because the driver's cab is there.'
…Hmm.
I let Agent Bronze, who was still sighing with a troubled expression, rest and went to meet someone else for the time being.
"Ms. Goral."
"Mr. Roe Deer…."
Ms. Go Young-eun, thankfully, looked better than last time.
But she seemed to be studying my complexion, then lowered her voice and asked.
"Is something wrong?"
"Pardon? Ah, well, there have been both good and bad things. Personally."
Getting my body back was good, the human sacrifice was bad. That sort of thing.
But Ms. Go Young-eun unexpectedly sighed in relief at my response.
"That's a relief."
"Pardon?"
"Your complexion wasn't great, but you look more at ease now."
"...Thank you."
I shared a brief smile with Ms. Go Young-eun, then got to the point with a serious face.
"For a while… it would be best if the people from the Train Shelter also avoided the casino."
"Pardon?"
Ms. Go Young-eun, who had a slightly bewildered look, sensed the mood, her expression hardened, and she quickly asked.
"I haven't gone since that time anyway, but… how long should we stay away?"
"You'll probably hear from them within a few days."
I recalled.
"Once it's all wrapped up, that team is supposed to give a signal."
* * *
Agent Haegeum raised her head.
Before her, a door that looked like the entrance to an illegal gambling den was squarely situated in the subway.
'Brings back old memories.'
Gambling den ghost stories were usually extreme.
Either a glamorous and luxurious casino, or a shabby gambling den that looked dangerous to anyone who saw it.
This one seemed closer to the latter, but Agent Haegeum didn't need to make any hasty assumptions. She had already heard all about it from someone with experience.
And behind her, two employees of Daydream were following.
"What do you make of it, Team leader?"
The young woman in the Pony Mask, who spoke politely, looked friendly at a glance, but her eyes were overflowing with desire.
A lust for wealth!
-My, my, it's a pleasure to meet you, Seonbae!
Agent Haegeum's face, as she looked back at this affable employee she had just met, was… covered by a Daydream Inc.-style mask.
A white owl mask.
She had originally considered wearing a Hahoe Mask, specifically the Jungtal, but… she decided it was better not to reveal her identity as an Agent.
From behind this unfamiliar mask, she scanned the next person.
"Are you going in now?"
The one wearing the butterfly mask was impeccably dressed, neat to a fault without a single crease. And down to the gleaming fingernails and high-end shoes.
But above the tall, slender frame, the eyes visible between the ornate mask were frozen cold and tinged with a faint irritation.
It was a good thing she had come as the team leader of this temporary team; otherwise, she would have had to fight for dominance at the start.
'Hmm. Good.'
She really looked like he had no blood or tears.
Most importantly, she recognized her.
Agent Haegeum felt a slight sense of nostalgia at the fact that the butterfly employee, whom she had once put in the Glass Prison, had been promoted to the Elite Team, and she looked back at them.
Concealing one's identity one-sidedly was advantageous in this respect.
"We're going in."
Agent Haegeum immediately took a pouch from her pocket. It was a pile of Body Casino Coins she had received from Agent Grapes.
The Mission Funds for this expedition.
After she took out the shiny Coins one by one and distributed them to her party, she entered the Body Casino.
"So that's the mission fund?"
The Pony Mask's eyes glinted as she looked at the heavy pouch.
"Haha, of course, I know we'll be playing as a team…."
"No. We're not doing that."
"…Pardon?"
Agent Haegeum smiled and divided the Coins into three equal parts on the spot.
"Here."
"…!"
"You can spend it however you want."
The stakes in the pouch were soon in each of their hands.
Agent Haegeum's eyes crinkled behind her mask as she looked at the two.
"However, I won't save you even if you go into debt."
"Understood!"
As if she was stating the obvious!
The Pony Mask, with a gleam practically shooting from her eyes, gleefully took the money, then gave Assistant manager Butterfly a suggestive look.
"Assistant manager, by any chance…."
"Get lost."
"Yes, ma'am!"
And so the party split up.
Kang Yihak ran toward a Slot Machine, and Jin Nasol entered a Dealer Room without hesitation.
Agent Haegeum watched them act as they pleased with a strange smile.
It was at that very moment that Kim Soleum was freaking out on the train after seeing the talking coin.
* * *
'Phew.'
I wonder if she's entered the casino by now.
Agent Haegeum will do just fine. I even made sure to tell her to prepare a means of escape from the casino, just in case.
I should focus on the train.
As part of that, I was currently in conversation with the person right in front of me.
It was Ms. Go Young-eun's aunt, also known as the 'station attendant.'
"You wish to settle on the train?"
"Yes."
"…Hmm. That will be difficult."
I knew it would be hard for them to accept more people, as they had already taken in two.
"Don't worry. I'm not asking to be accepted as a shelter resident, but I'd like to stay long-term in Car 8."
When I added that I would, of course, purchase an Accommodation Ticket officially, the station attendant nodded.
"You don't need to tell me that separately."
"Ah, there's one thing I'd like to request…. Is it possible to purchase other privileges as well?"
"What kind of privileges?"
"I'd like to sell goods in Car 7 as well."
"Hmm…."
The station attendant, who was pondering for a moment, nodded.
"I understand for now. But let's talk again after seeing the items."
"Thank you."
Done.
'I have some items in mind.'
I also nodded, adding crucial words.
"By the way, I think I'll be coming in a different appearance when I stay long-term."
"…Are you saying you'll be in disguise?"
"Rather than a disguise, you could call it a different identity. And from then on…."
In the end, people remember impressions more than details.
No one in the front cars would remember my face properly. It's not like they have clairvoyance, so they'd only remember my clothes or mask.
In that sense, if I take off my mask, mess up my hair, wear glasses, and slouch, it'll be hard to recognize me.
"You can call me Grapes."
…It's been a while.
Agent Grapes.
I immediately went down to the platform and started changing my clothes.
[So what bold choice will you make this time, my friend?]
[A wonderful train episode we experienced together comes to mind. My friend played the role of a cult leader quite audaciously and brilliantly….]
[How about it, will you once again teach the truth to those who seek a mark for their hearts to rely on in this extreme environment?]
Ughhh….
Just as I was choosing my words.
-Mr. Doll, have you ever considered that your way of speaking might be overly burdensome to the other party?
Wa-wait a minute.
[Oh.]
[Do go on.]
-Your friend must have a way of life he desires, and constantly being mindful of your reactions probably isn't entirely satisfying for him.
-Perhaps even you yourself don't find this atmosphere comfortable.
[Good heavens…. It's like I'm on some cheap therapy program.]
Please stop.
Feeling like I was about to break into a cold sweat, I quickly interjected.
'Um… thank you for your concern. But actually, the method I came up with was similar to what Braun suggested anyway.'
[Ah, I see!]
This wasn't an empty platitude meant to appease the ghost story host with a 'you really hit the nail on the head' kind of response.
'In a small, isolated society like this, there's nothing easier to wield influence with than a cult.'
I'd even used it once before on the Train Bound for Tamra.
But the conditions are different this time, so as an outsider, I plan to approach it a little differently.
'But I'm not the cult leader.'
[Hmm?]
'I'm going to be the sycophant.'
A suffocating silence fell.
-Pardon?
'The number one worshipper.'
[Mr. Roe Deer, whose sycophant do you intend to become? My goodness, to think my friend would play the role of a worshipper. In that case, the cult leader must be quite the character to even….]
'It's you.'
[Oh.]
And so, I began to secretly spread the Rabbit Doll worship ideology on the train.