Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 195

Chapter 195 – 195

“…”

I looked at the door to the Hyunmu Team 1 waiting room.

After everything that had happened, the fact that I was still standing here

felt so unreal it was almost surreal.

But habit was honest.

Click.

I opened the door and walked in.

And—

“You’re here?”

Cheongdong Agent stood up with a relieved smile when he saw me.

“Good morning… Podo Agent. You don’t look well.” Ah.

“Did you sleep poorly again?”

“Just… a bit restless. I’m fine.”

Fortunately, I had already treated any noticeable injuries.

“If you’re too tired, please speak up.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

I successfully carried on a normal conversation with Cheongdong Agent, then sat on the couch opposite him like usual. And I waited.

My palms were sweating.

But even after several minutes, the waiting room remained occupied by just the two of us.

The person who was supposed to show up… didn’t.

“Um.”

“Yes?”

“Agent Choi…”

“Ah. He’s unable to work today.”

“…”

What?

‘Wait a minute.’

Did something go wrong?

‘No.’

Did Director Ho come back for him? Or did he try to remove the geas and

get hurt in the process? I— “He came in early but said he wasn’t feeling

well, so he took personal leave.”

“…I see.”

There were witnesses.

A feeling too intense to be called relief brushed past my chest.

“No need to worry too much. That man… I mean, agent seemed perfectly fine. And…”

Cheongdong Agent took something out from the small refrigerator in the corner of the room.

A café drink carrier.

“He left this for you. Said he stopped by a café.”

“…”

“This one’s yours.”

I accepted the drink.

Green grape ade.

Attached to the cup holder was a packaged cookie like those sold in cafés, and above that, a trace of black marker. A handwritten note from Agent Choi:

[Go Hyunmu Team 1!]

Then, a line drawn through it.

“…”

“Podo Agent?”

“…Thank you.”

I picked up the ade.

It was shockingly sweet—like a slap back to reality.

Maybe it was the sugar high, but my mind stayed sharp through the morning.

Plans I’d made, all the tasks I needed to complete this month, rushed

through my head.

‘First, lay low.’

After what happened with Agent Choi, I’d stay under the radar for about a week—no drawing attention within the Disaster Management Bureau—just doing light groundwork before taking action.

My plan relied more on timing than having a long window of preparation.

But—

One concern.

‘…Should I tell Yeongeun about this?’

Sometimes it felt right to share what was happening, but I had no idea how much to say. It felt like walking a tightrope.

If I told her I was supposed to take care of everything in a month, how would she respond?

Was it really okay to talk about Director Ho’s plan—how they planted me here expecting I’d be found out, just to bait the real prize? Would knowing help? Or would it just make things worse?

“…”

Maybe it was better for a spy not to know. It’d be easier to blend in that way.

My stomach hurt. Probably from stomach acid.

‘No, it’s fine.’

Yeongeun just needs to hold out one more month.

If I did this right, I could deliver the intel Director Ho wanted, in the form

he wanted, and in that process— I could make sure Yeongeun got her share of the credit.

Then it would all be over without issues.

‘Good.’

Let’s keep going.

“Huu.”

I set down the empty ade cup.

As I did, Cheongdong Agent, sipping a vanilla latte while reviewing documents, spoke up.

“I don’t see that plushie today.”

“…!”

“You know, the little rabbit one you call Braun.”

“…He’s right here.”

I pulled the plushie out from my jumper and showed it before tucking it away again.

“So… uh, is it doing well?”

“Probably.”

I quickly pulled my hand out of the pocket where the plushie had been.

Then—

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

“…!”

An alarm blared from Cheongdong Agent’s wrist.

A dispatch call.

‘Rescue request!’

“Stand by.”

Cheongdong Agent threw aside his documents and stood up.

He checked the code on the pager to identify the type of cursed event and began preparing.

“…It’s a case that requires two agents for the rescue. We’ll enter together.” “Yes.”

I stood up immediately too.

The recent weeks of dispatches had trained my body to respond automatically—oddly, that helped anchor me back in reality.

“The incident is far from here. Normally, it would be handled by the regional branch… but this request came directly to HQ.” “Where is it?”

“Asan City, Chungcheongnam-do. The supernatural disaster has a large geographical range, so you’ll need to study up.” He pulled a small booklet from the bookshelf.

“This is a manual-slash-guide our team put together. Read it on the way.” “Yes.”

He called backup agents to cover us, and we immediately left HQ.

Our transportation—

“We’ll use public transit. The situation isn’t urgent enough to require

emergency deployment.”

…was a high-speed train.

Departing from Seoul Station.

Destination: Mokpo.

“…”

“Podo Agent?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I sat in my train seat.

Don’t panic.

‘That Tamna-bound train incident was a special case.’

It didn’t happen every time. Dream Inc. was surely observing it for research now…

It’ll be fine.

‘I can do this.’

No panic.

If I freaked out now, I’d never be able to enter convenience stores, ride elevators, or even get on subway trains… Departure.

The train departed safely.

I was okay.

‘Distract yourself.’

Right. The manual.

“It’s sealed so that only Disaster Bureau agents can read the actual contents, so feel free to read openly.”

As I opened the booklet, Cheongdong Agent kindly added that explanation.

Good.

Focus on the cursed manual and tips. Focus, and prepare for the rescue.

I turned the page—

-I worked really hard on this, Podo. Use it well LOL “…!!”

“What is—ah.”

Cheongdong Agent frowned slightly and sighed.

“Agent Choi wrote most of it. He left a lot of… unnecessary comments.

And I’m sure he added a few things since you arrived.”

I blankly flipped through it.

Different handwriting, different pens.

-WELCOME NEWBIE, FROM HYUNMU TEAM 1’s ACE, Agent Choi!

└ Please stop writing these kinds of things └ Includes some tips from

Cheongdong too └ Sigh…

-Read the next page carefully. It introduces the cursed zone. Might be a bit tough but try reading it like a novel I turned the page with trembling hands.

Tips and notes for Supernatural Disaster Case #1006PSYA.1941.A06:

“Jisan Village Sacrificial Festival.”

Our bureaucratic bureau classifies it as a “Shatter-Type” disaster, but I argued it deserves a higher grade—because even if rescue is possible, full closure is not. Multiple dokkaebi witnesses have hinted at a far more malicious entity within.

So don’t let your guard down.

Be ready for dispatch during the lunar months 4 and 5!

“We’re here.”

We got off at Cheonan-Asan Station.

From there, we borrowed government-issue bikes.

“It’s about a 30-minute ride.”

Just like he said.

[Incident Site: Jisan Village, Asan City]

As we left the city, the roads became winding dirt paths. The vibrations from the bike saddle buzzed through me. Then, ahead—

A small village came into view.

A normal rural village.

Modernized hanok houses, dirt roads recently paved. Electrical poles with wires.

Easily accessible with transport. But… highly insular. No real estate for sale. No chance to move in undercover. Except—

During the “Jisan Festival,” outsiders are welcomed, and visitors can participate.

“There it is… It’s started.”

A banner was visible.

Jisan Village Festival

Blessings from Jisan!

This festival itself was the supernatural phenomenon.

“This way.”

We parked our bikes at the village edge. A few cars with Seoul or Gyeonggi plates were parked haphazardly.

“…”

“Remember this.”

I nodded.

Then we walked into the village.

Hiyaaaa!

As we got closer, people came into view.

There weren’t massive crowds, but there were traditional performers,

visitors taking photos, and people seated, eating stew and boiled pork given

out by the village.

Also—bored-looking visitors scrolling on their phones.

Important Pre-Entry Tips!

DO NOT wear Disaster Bureau jackets

Bring: Earplugs, Matches, Bells

Most importantly…

DO NOT sit with the villagers

“Ugh, this is lame.”

“Wait, they’re doing a prize draw or something.”

We sat beside obvious outsiders.

Food was served lightning-fast.

“Have a bite! May Jisan bless you!”

A woman my age, wearing a feather brooch on her chest, grinned at me.

Jisan villagers were easy to identify.

If they wore feather brooches, they were locals.

-I stole one and tested it—rooster feather. The dokkaebi hated it.

Voices from all around.

“Oh, you’re from Mapo? My son works in Mapo too!” “This is a non-smoking area. Strictly forbidden!” “Have a sip! Home-brewed, but light as water!”

The villagers chatted up visitors, offered drinks, laughed.

It felt like a warm-hearted countryside.

Except someone was going to die.

Suppressing a sigh, I looked at my bowl.

The food was safe. (Tasty, even.)

But I personally wouldn’t recommend soup. Don’t ask why.

I wasn’t hungry anyway.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

“Thank you.”

Cheongdong and I barely touched our food.

Hiyaaaa!

The music continued, somewhere between traditional and eerie.

Should be familiar—but the rhythm felt… off.

-Ah. That’s because it serves a different purpose! The intent behind its creation!

“…!”

I instinctively glanced down at my pocket.

-Ah! You can hear me again, friend!

-Haha, I was a bit flustered when we couldn’t talk earlier. But it’s fine!

This cotton-filled body can wait when needed!

-We’re talking again now, aren’t we?

We’d entered a cursed zone.

So the plushie could talk again.

-Don’t worry. Even when I can’t talk, I’m always listening. As a good friend should.

…

-Oh, and no need to apologize for leaving me in your jacket yesterday.

It was better than nothing in that awful room.

‘…Really? That’s a relief.’

I turned back to the food.

-…Friend? You seem more tired than usual. Is it yesterday’s

adventure?

‘Maybe.’

-Then let’s watch TV together tonight! That cartoon or show you like! -And get a good night’s sleep. I’ll tell you a fun story so you can dream well!

…

-Friend?

‘Can I focus on work for now? I don’t know this cursed case very well.’ -Of course!

And finally, the plushie went quiet.

Thank god.

I turned to collect information like Cheongdong.

Who had sent the rescue call?

And—

Which villager was the right one?

The Jisan Festival lasted four days. As long as it hadn’t ended, we could still rescue them.

We’d watch, observe—and pick the most grumpy-looking villager to ask for shelter.

-Didn’t write a description in case it got confusing. Just remember this, Podo: NEVER trust a villager who’s overly friendly to strangers -You know those freaks who give candy to kids? Yeah, it’s basically that LOL

I looked around, keeping that in mind.

Let’s see, someone who looked the least welcoming— “…??” Wait a second.

I turned my head sharply.

I saw a familiar face.

A grumpy-looking guy among the villagers. A man in his 20s with a medical eyepatch.

A real jerk, and an employee of Dream Inc.

‘…Baek Saheon!’

He was here.

Wearing a rooster feather on his chest.

And—

Sitting at one of the visitor tables near Baek Saheon, with a tired expression and gloves on, was— A very familiar woman.

“….”

Eunhaje Deputy Manager.