"You, Choi! Agent Choi!"
Agent Choi did not turn his head.
He watched as the Mascots created a gate on the passageway, once been a maintenance track for the subway.
And he watched the Mascots install a banner in front of the gate that had finally opened.
Congratulations
Gate Opening
To Go Youngeun, who ran out the moment the lights came on, they even gave a map sold at the souvenir shop, calling it an 'Early Access Commemorative Gift'.
Golden Map Sketchbook
A map Item that can be obtained from the souvenir shop at Flower Golden Resort second branch. In the form of a sketchbook, if one walks with a blank page open, a rough sketch of the route from the holder's location to the destination is drawn like a doodle. There are testimonies that the said doodle resembles the Mascot's handwriting.
It was an Item that would have deserved such a description on a certain Wiki that the Mascot's main body reads.
"…! Th-thank you."
Go Youngeun left a short and sincere thanks and dashed through the gate, heading for Segwang Metropolitan City.
To find her family.
The most surprising thing was…
"Why aren't they stopping her?"
…that the Mascots did not stop her.
Though they stared intently at her retreating back as if somewhat worried, they waved their hands or, depending on their position, bowed deeply from the waist.
They did not stop her from heading to Segwang Metropolitan City.
That meant…
"…Is it over?"
....
"What you were trying to do is over. …I see."
The Mascots stand still and listen to Agent Choi's words.
Without being dejected or confused.
And so, they are certain.
The Supernatural Disaster outside has stopped.
They don't know if it's a termination or a temporary Seal.
But at this very moment, Segwang Metropolitan City was clearly not the product of an Extinction-class Disaster where humans went mad or died just by going out, but in a relatively safe, deactivated state.
However.
'Is the one who pulled that off okay?'
Neither conjecture nor prediction is possible.
Because there's no way of knowing what method worked or how.
Agent Haegum recalls the Daydream Executive who had vanished at some point.
What on earth happened up there?
It was a sentence that surfaced in this agent's mind, and probably in that Choi fellow's as well, as a very bad premonition.
And Haegeum is not sure…
Will that Choi bastard immediately chase after him into Segwang Metropolitan City right away?
Or if he will go outside and try to ascertain whether the Sealing Ritual is in progress.
And it was self-evident that Haegeum herself had to choose one way or the other.
"Are you not stopping her?"
When she asked the Mascots politely, as a courtesy to her former employers, the mass-produced Mascots nodded their heads.
Right.
Agent Haegum dusted herself off and stood up.
"Nunnim?"
"Let's go out to Segwang Metropolitan City together."
"..."
"It seems the situation is serious, so let's check the source of the situation right away…."
"Nunnim."
Agent Choi lets out a smirk.
"You're worried I'll interfere with the Re-sealing Ritual and move according to the original plan, aren't you?"
"..."
"Hey, you shouldn't be like that. We're Agents, aren't we? We have to think of the civilians' lives first…."
But even as he says that, Agent Haegum knows the look in Agent Choi's eyes as he glances at the gate connected to the vicinity of Segwang Station.
"Choi, you punk."
Team Leader Lee, who had been watching him silently, says this.
"Are many lives more precious than one?"
"What?"
"All people are equally precious."
"…!"
"I know it's rational to look at whether the number is large or small. But don't get too buried in that."
About you. And about Agent Grapes.
"..."
Agent Choi's eyes momentarily cloud over before becoming clear again.
"That's…."
It was at that moment.
♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
The sound of a Train approaching can be heard from afar.
To be precise, it's the cute Monorail of the Flower Golden Resort.
It was a familiar sound. While sitting here, the test-running Monorail had passed by several times.
This time, too, it would have been something they just noted and moved on from.
But…
Both Agents froze for a moment.
"..."
"Something… real proper seems to have arrived, Nunnim."
That's right.
The feeling of the sweat glands on their skin shriveling.
The sensation one would feel upon encountering a village guardian post, once a symbol of protection, tied with a red cloth and left standing alone on an abandoned mountain.
A chilling sense of crisis, a gut feeling for a Supernatural Disaster, stabs at the two Agents' brains.
And…
♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
The Train comes to a stop here.
Without a word to each other, the two Agents immediately headed down.
Extremely cautiously and quickly.
As they went down along the passageway… a voice is heard.
[My, thank you!]
It was the voice of a charming man, with a witty and prominent accent.
A clarity that seemed to pierce the ears.
A pleasant rhythm.
And…
[Haha, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to enjoy a short stroll before arriving at Monorail City Station.]
[Oh, isn't such a brief reprieve like cinnamon powder on top of hot chocolate? It's a kind of appetizer, stimulating the nose and building anticipation before the chocolate even touches the tongue and throat.]
An eloquent way of speaking.
"..."
The two Agents, having stopped in their tracks, look at the stopped Monorail Train.
It had a similarly round and elaborate shape to the ones that usually ran, but the decorations were subtly different.
For example, the Golden Mascot decoration near the front wore a red bow tie, and a neon-like sign flickered.
And the train door opens.
The wooden interior, with an overall slightly more antique and formal nuance, is revealed by the light pouring in from the garden…
casting a deep shadow at the train's entrance.
And.
[Hmm, we have company.]
Someone steps down from within the shadow.
Shiny, pitch-black men's dress shoes.
A leg clad in a fine, dust-free suit of a classic style smoothly emerges from above them.
The light travels up it, revealing the entire figure…
The body is wires light darkness vacuum tube flow of electrons light and shadow loud laughter applause cheers tears sparkling confetti band sound classic signboard cheers of the audience
A Braun-tube TV head looks at them.
"…!"
[Oh my, was this a situation that required a warning for photosensitive viewers? Hahaha, a pleasure to meet you….]
A huge figure got off the train.
At the end of the stylish suit, a firm, gloved hand extends forward.
[You must have become frozen from overwhelming emotion. It's fine! But wouldn't it be a shame to miss this opportunity?]
"..."
It was a suspicious statement.
Agent Choi took its gloved hand.
[Oh, you've mustered your courage. Very good!]
Body heat is transmitted even through the leather.
Agent Choi probably didn't know that he was feeling the exact same shiver his team's youngest Hubae had felt one day…
And at the next words, too.
[Well, I should introduce myself, shouldn't I? That's only polite! I'm Braun, the Host of the Late-Night Talk Show.]
Braun.
Talk show Host.
A title he'd heard before.
That was…
"…By any chance,"
The corner of Agent Choi's mouth twitches.
"…are you related in any way to a Rabbit Doll?"
....
....
[You've noticed.]
The old-fashioned TV head bends down to look at him.
[Haha, oh, haven't we met before? We did, when I was in the form of a small Plush doll.]
…!!
[Hmm, no need to worry that the reception was a bit shabby. Not all viewers are wealthy, after all.]
[Since you all prepared a place for the little Plush doll with all your sincerity, I, too, enjoyed that place with sincerity. However….]
The Host's eloquent voice cuts off.
[Pinky.]
Agent Choi thought, breaking out in a cold sweat…
[That mischievous nickname was not to my liking.]
Am I screwed?
[But an Entertainer must, by nature, let go of a certain part of themselves and endure some shame for the audience's enjoyment. That, too, becomes part of the fun for the audience.]
Phew.
"…Wow, you have a very strong sense of professionalism, Host?"
Grapes, that crazy bastard, what the hell had he been keeping on his chest?
Agent Choi, contrary to his inner self armed with a cool tension, smiles affably and releases the handshake.
[Oh, are you interested in show business?]
"…What?"
[Unfortunately, it would be difficult. Sadly, my talk show is not currently in a crew recruitment period, and it requires extremely strict selection criteria.]
Both Agents were momentarily relieved, but.
[However, your eloquence, wit, and unique situational conditions are not bad…. Hmm, I'll invite you once as a one-time guest.]
Fuck.
"…Wow. I appreciate the offer, but I've been very busy, so it'll be difficult for me in the near future."
A Q&A with a powerful and unidentified ghost story was the same as walking on thin ice or a razor's edge.
But Agent Choi, who had been through this sort of thing more than once, grins while sweating coldly and skillfully redirects the conversation.
"…I'm looking for the Agent who used to travel with you."
[Oh, you mean Mr. Soleum.]
'…!!'
Agent Choi raises his head.
A black-and-white emoticon with smiling eyes appears inside the old-fashioned TV.
"…You seem to have a good impression of him?"
[Oh, everyone has a Friend they are closest and most attached to.]
And the Host, in a voice everyone can hear, makes a hand gesture of exaggeratedly whispering.
[In fact, that is also the reason I visited this small, as-of-yet unproven Resort. Although it possesses a considerably excellent artistic sense, a place newly run by my dear Friend is certainly deserving of a visit from this Braun!]
Just then, the Mascots approach and stare at these visitors as if observing them carefully.
"..."
Agent Haegum, a former employee, reads a strange nuance from them, as if they were worried the visitors might fight, or as if they were observing them carefully.
The 'Host' jests to the Mascots.
[Haha, you need not worry! This Braun has visited this Resort in a formal and cultured manner, adhering to a rating suitable for television broadcast at any time.]
On the old-fashioned TV that served as a head, an emoticon that looked like it was whispering appeared again.
[The owner of this Resort places great importance on etiquette, you see. It would be wise to be careful, as one could easily be crushed under a mountain of astronomical debt that a poor government official would find difficult to handle.]
Agent Choi's mouth opens.
"That's… a great tip. Thank you."
[It is a good attitude to know gratitude. Then….]
"But by any chance,"
Agent Choi's voice rings out.
"do you know the whereabouts of that dear Friend?"
The Host's feet stop.
"…If you're truly a Friend who's with him at all times, you must know."
....
....
[Of course, I know.]
Agent Choi knew that Agent Haegum was glaring at him with terrifying eyes.
But he couldn't bring himself to turn his head and kept his gaze fixed on the Host.
On the old-fashioned TV monitor that was staring at him.
[That last statement was an indirect provocation! Is that a method you use often? Of course, the viewers will love it. However.]
The voice becomes softer.
[If you do it habitually, you will also hear voices demanding other forms of entertainment….]
"..."
[The voice of the public demanding retribution from you, that is.]
Agent Choi froze, then broke into a cold sweat and grinned.
"Anyway, I'm glad you like it today, right?"
....
[Hoh, that was quite witty just now!]
"Thank you. So, are you sure you know where your Friend is, Host?"
Agent Haegum almost yanked this damn brat's hair.
But the Host's eloquent answer came first.
[I know for certain. Oh, and… his location is changing right now.]
"…What?"
Agent Choi realized as he spoke.
Agent Haegum was tapping him.
'Why?'
To make him look around.
The Golden Flower Mascots had suddenly begun to show a bizarre phenomenon.
"…!"
All of them are suddenly trembling violently.
And various strange Symptoms manifest. One frozen with both arms raised, something squirming inside a Mascot's head, a Mascot's head collapsing powerlessly as if the inside had melted before being restored, one clutching its head and stuck to the wall as if about to be absorbed.
If the Mascots could scream, the air would have been filled with desperate, life-ending screams.
An eerie silence.
[Oh…. I see.]
....
[My dear Friend, he is now in the Burning Drought.]
* * *
I pant on the rooftop.
A giant eye that appeared in the sky.
The Burning Drought.
Director Cheong.
Gwang-cheol.
countlessrollinggazingnumerouspupilsinsidetheeyegoroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandround[1]
"Mr. Roe Deer."
Thereptilecalls?meaaaaahisthesame?isthesame[2] nonono this is different from what appeared in the sky.
Manager is carrying me to the rooftop door
Oh dear
A huge voice is heard from behind.
It grows distant.
You outsiders really don't know your place.
Not only do you place shop advertisements on the company network, but you also find loopholes in the employment contract to try and poach my employee through underhanded means like now
Thud.
The sound of the rooftop door closing behind me is heard….
Whatever, it doesn't matter
....
....
I didn't look back, but I knew.
The eye in the sky had disappeared.
"Gasp."
I start to go down the stairs, carried by Section Chief Lee Jaheon. No, I should get down and run myself now, but is there any point to this….
But it's a bother
The rooftop door swings wide open again.
Come here
A burning hand grabs me.
I was sucked up into the sky, screaming.
* * *
[Mr. Roe Deer!]
....
[Goodness. You seem to be in great shock. Are you alright?]
"I'm, I'm fine…."
I answered reflexively.
'Wh-what was that just now?'
I feel as if I had faced something absurd, or as if I had been swallowed into the maw of a tremendous monster and tumbled through its gastric juices.
Or the feeling of waking up with a start, terrified from a nightmare or sleep paralysis.
"..."
I raised my head.
It was an old office.
A desk, a whiteboard, a table for guests, a potted plant…
All of it was mundane, but from the types of furniture and office supplies used, I figure out the identity of this place.
"…Daydream?"
The style was identical to the office where I once worked as a new employee.
But it was completely worn out, and cobwebs and dust floated in the air.
"..."
What is this?
I was definitely in Segwang Metropolitan City.
On a rooftop in Segwang Metropolitan City, to be precise.
And Director Cheong, Director Cheong, a giant eye in the sky….
"Urk."
I held back my nausea. The mind of a human who has witnessed something absurd screams again.
'Calm, stay calm!'
I can do this.
First, I had to figure out what this situation was. I pushed myself up and looked around the dark office, finding a door.
The door was slightly ajar.
A yellowish light shone faintly through the crack.
"..."
I approached and put my eye to the crack in the door.
What I see there is…
"…!"
The hallway of a Daydream office, bizarrely splattered everywhere with a sticky liquid like blood.
The scents of flowers, blood, and something burning brush past my nose like a stale memory.
My eyes, adjusted to the Darkness, notice that the sticky liquid covering this place is a contaminated, dark golden color.
'…Hah.'
A ghost story.
Anyone could see this was inside a ghost story.
'…It doesn't seem to be a place that actually exists.'
I was 'sucked in' by Director Cheong.
Then, then… could this perhaps be something like Director Cheong's inner world?
Just the thought of it sends a chill down my spine.
But let's be calm. It's not like this is the first or second time I've fallen into a ghost story, and there must be rules and a way to break through here, too.
'I have to think that way.'
There was a high probability that this was one of Director Cheong's tricks.
I clenched my fists and resolved to look for a hint….
Snip.
…From beyond the hallway,
Snip.
a sound is made.
Snip!
I see something running, leaving a messy trail of liquid.
That is…
'…A cloth doll?'
It was something with the proportions of what could be called a Plush doll.
And in the faint light of the lamp, I recognized its identity.
130666.
'…!'
A horned, Deformed doll, almost identical in shape to when I wore the Security Team suit, is running down this hallway.
'What is that?'
I first hid myself further to observe the entity....
....
Ah.
I realized.
Snip.
This sound isn't coming from that 130666-like cloth doll.
From behind it.
Something is chasing it.
Snip.
A sound like something being cut.
The sound of a blade being sharpened, the sound of paper being cut.
The thing making the bizarre noise is getting closer. It's coming down this hallway.
The cloth doll wasn't running for no reason. I hurriedly almost closed the door. The sound was right in front of me…!
Thud.
I saw it.
Something in a Black Silhouette pounces on 130666's cloth doll.
....
Snip.
Snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip
It's being cut apart.
The cloth doll is being cut apart. From inside, cotton, smoke, organs, and a murky golden liquid ooze out.
Snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip
I finally see the form of the thing that pounced.
'Ah.'
It was, it was….
The Daydream Mascot Character.
A golden Dragon.
Dyed black and bizarrely twisted, it is cutting away at 130666's form with a pair of office scissors in its hand….
Snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip
What is that,
What, what is that?
I covered my mouth.
And I realized.
The soft, coarse texture.
"...."
I lower my hands and look.
I see a blunt lump of cloth with no fingers.
My breathing quickens.
I feel my entire body with those 'hands.'
This is, this is….
[Oh, so this is the appearance of the Good Friend you were thinking of.]
A Plush doll.
I was in the body of a dirty cloth doll, one that seemed to have copied the Exterior of Kim Soleum in a suit.
Just like the one being butchered outside the door right now.
I lower my head.
There's a label like a name tag attached to my chest.
Good Friend
(Daydream Main Building, ■■th Basement Floor
Product of Cheerful Research Institute)
"...."
Good Friend
Where, oh where are you hiding?
My eyes met with the Daydream Character's.
[1] countless rolling gazing numerous pupils inside the eye go round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round
[2] The reptile calls? me aaaaa his thes ame? is the same