MTL
"Oh no! You can send that to the team leader's desk, Agent Park Ha."
"Yes...!"
Go Young-eun moved the pile of documents she had just organized to her
boss's desk. This was information about a new supernatural disaster that
was recently witnessed. I have a brief moment of appreciation for the fact
that the expression "disaster" is becoming more familiar than "darkness"
these days.
'Phew.'
Go Young-eun sat at her desk. Then, the chatter of agents sharing the same office could be faintly heard in the hallway.
"...It happened. Hyunmoo Team 1...."
"But I think that newbie would have been like that too..."
"..."
My nerves really got to the point. Just hearing that much, I could tell who it was about. It's been a hot topic among disaster management field agents for nearly two weeks, though they've been cautious about bringing it up.
Grape Agent. This is the story of her motives as a spy. Words about Kim Sol-eum's imprisonment, release, and disappearance. Yes, that's right. Ko Young-eun's motive was that she failed in her spy work and went missing. ...Can we say that it's fortunate that I didn't get caught?
It seems that something happened when the gold medal that Director Ho had been wearing was discovered, but it was difficult to ask about it in the quiet atmosphere.
Things got a bit worse while he was in prison, but then recovered. And even after her disappearance, the atmosphere among the field agents toward Kim Sol-eum wasn't that bad.
... that news from Hyunmoo Team 1 has decreased significantly.
This was the only thing that Go Young-eun could know for sure from her position as a new agent. Of course, it's difficult to find out anything more since Kim Sol-eum disappeared as soon as she came out of the glass prison. 'Run away... You must have hit me, right?'
Even though Go Young-eun's head would spin with worry, she would eventually finish with a sigh. You shouldn't leak information while trying to find out someone's whereabouts for no reason. If Kim Sol-eum had successfully escaped, it was likely a nuisance, and it was a dangerous attempt that could even lead to her identity being revealed.
It wasn't good for either of us. Especially since she is quite familiar with Kim Sol-eum and is also a new recruit, she might be under surveillance for safety reasons.
'... I think I'm suspected of being a spy.'
I don't know. The people at the Disaster Management Agency were certainly good-natured, but they were also good at pretending nothing happened and getting to the heart of the matter as if nothing happened. 'Of course. Because he's an agent.'
Anyway, unlike the spy's feelings of walking on thin ice, there was no particular change in the agents' attitudes. There was no such thing as being suddenly dragged into a glass prison.
'That's fortunate, but....'
... Honestly, I feel lost. Of the three that entered, one was quarantined due to contamination, and one went missing. All that was left was himself, and it was practically impossible for a rookie to steal the annihilation-level disaster documents on his own.
... If he were Director Ho, he would have cut ties at this point.
'But you have to hold on.'
And you have to do what you have to do. Go Young-eun did the math
calmly so as not to panic.
'One by one, calmly.'
First, let's clean up the traces more thoroughly. I only contacted Kim Sol-eum through a smartphone that she had opened separately and that was in a
different name. I decided that I had to sort that out too.
So that evening, after work, she went back to her officetel and immediately looked for the air conditioner. Instead of hiding it carefully, I just left it in a drawer where I kept old stuff like my old phone. It was easier to just pass it by without noticing.
And the moment you turn it on. Likewise, spam texts poured in, with numbers intentionally scattered here and there. Even Director Ho's contact, disguised as a recommendation for a counseling center, seemed like spam.
"Phew."
It was when Go Young-eun was clicking on the spam one by one and deleting them all.
[Don't just sit there and relax, get off! ★Special discount★ Gangnam
Station at this station...]
The hand stopped.
"...wait for a sec."
Peace, get off, this station... .
"...!"
I couldn't help but remember it as if I had been struck by lightning. Abyss Transportation Corporation's subway. This was a hint that only someone who had been through that crazy hiring horror story together would know. And at this point, who would send this as spam...?
There is only one. Go Young-eun immediately clicked on the text. [Don't sit still and get off! At this station, ★Special discount★ Gangnam Station discount phone sales office, left counter only until 9 PM on the 17th (free reception rejection)]
"..."
Place and time. Go Young-eun quickly searched the Internet. A discount phone sales outlet located in Gangnam Station. And an hour later. Go Young-eun discovers a storage locker near a discount phone sales outlet in Gangnam Station.
"..."
At first, I thought they were asking me to meet in front of the store, but no one showed up even after 9 PM, as stated in the text message. Then, when I
looked at the left side of the store with my eyes on the 'left counter', the passage leading to the storage lockers immediately appeared. 'Here?'
She hesitated and then looked at the compartments of the storage locker.
There was a 17th square. The number specified in the text.
"..."
Then. In the password field, enter the combination of numbers and letters,
1721... .
Beep beep.
"...!"
The locker is open. Go Young-eun hurriedly gathered up the card she had
used to pay the fee and looked inside the locker... . Inside, there was a small
paper bag. There was a crooked note attached, as if it had been written by
an unfamiliar hand on purpose.
"Open it at home"
"..."
Go Young-eun quickly packed the envelope and returned home. My heart
was pounding.
'What?'
Given the circumstances, it was almost certain that the person who left this was Kim Sol-eum. But what on earth are you handing over? Could this be the change in spy work policy to exchanging information through this?
With these thoughts in her mind, Go Young-eun opened the envelope at the table.
'Two boxes?'
There was a black box. The moment Go Young-eun opened one of the boxes, feeling puzzled... . A rainbow of colorful light streamed out. "...!!"
The daydreaming staff closed the box in shock.
'Cow, wish!'
That crazy glowing potion like a holographic aurora must have been a
wishing ticket!
'Mr. Kim Sol-eum!'
Did he solve the spy thing all by himself and get the wish ticket? No, how did he do it? Is this real? Is this real? The wish ticket is in the subway locker... Wait a minute.
'...There were two boxes.'
The sound of a heartbeat rang in Go Young-eun's head. Reaching into the other box, let's open it... . Likewise, a dazzling light comes out. 'Oh my god.'
But then, a small note fell out.
"...!"
I picked it up quickly.
Ms. Youngeun.
Our work is done.
Do what you want.
There is no need to return again.
"..."
A shock so severe that it leaves one dizzy. But the note's contents were not over.
P.S.) If possible, please deliver the other box to the person who should originally receive it. If not possible, please keep it until then. "No way...!"
What if I had decided to steal it?
And yet they just casually hand over two bottles of wish tickets with nothing but this note!
...But even while thinking that, this kind-hearted and intelligent spy already knew.
That she would keep this promise.
"..."
Gratitude, a sense of debt, joy, and burden—all these emotions churned in her mind.
And so... Go Young-eun made one more decision.
Then she grabbed something and rushed out of her home.
'It was delivered well.'
I looked at the bottom of my empty drink at the café. This was a café in the
Gangnam Station underground shopping center. It had already been an hour
and a half since I watched Ms. Go Young-eun take the phone from the
subway locker. There were no other unusual circumstances during that time,
so it seemed like I could leave soon.
'It's done now.'
...Ms. Go Young-eun would surely return the wish ticket to its rightful owner without keeping it for herself. And since she was still working at the Disaster Management Agency, she would have more chances to approach him than I would.
'...She seems to be more suited for the Disaster Management Agency anyway.'
Now that the spy work itself is over, she can continue working at the Disaster Management Agency if she wants.
Fortunately, there was no surveillance from Disaster Management Agency agents.
...It seems to have wrapped up well.
Now I have only one wish ticket potion left.
'So now if I drink mine...'
Just as I was thinking that. A familiar figure ran back toward the storage
lockers.
"...!"
...It was Ms. Go Young-eun. What went wrong?
But Ms. Go Young-eun calmly reopened locker number 17 where the wish ticket had been, put something inside, and closed it tightly. Then she left as if nothing had happened.
"..."
What did she put in the locker?
'Could it be... she returned the wish ticket that was meant for Mr. Jang Heo-un?'
That could be the case.
Even I would find it difficult to fulfill a request to deliver a wish ticket to someone else who's currently in quarantine and might not be seen again for
1 while.
'Right.'
It was an unreasonable request to begin with.
After making sure Ms. Go Young-eun had completely disappeared and confirming that there was no surveillance, I quietly left the café and headed to the storage locker.
And opened locker number 17.
...As I expected, there was a box inside. 'Can't be helped.'
I picked it up.
But... the weight was strangely different. "...?"
I quickly went to the bathroom and carefully opened the box in a stall. However, instead of the colorful light, a soft blue light appeared. A pale green light like a new sprout. It was a Grade C regeneration potion. "..."
I stared at it blankly.
There was a note attached inside the box. Just like the one I had attached. I'll do my best.
Thank you.
Take care of yourself.
An indescribable feeling surged through me.
She must have barely managed to buy one bottle with her points.
She probably thought that since I had lost my arm... and it had become
difficult to replace it with a will-o'-wisp after leaving the Disaster
Management Agency.
'...Thank you.'
I carefully put the box away and placed it preciously against my chest.
That night.
I drank the regeneration potion.
And with my restored hands, I left farewell messages.
Message sending scheduled. Set for tomorrow morning.
Messages to my former superiors in Team D... and some people who had helped me.
'Let me send one more to the security guard chief.' Mostly to tell them not to worry, that I had safely resigned.
I did break out in a cold sweat while writing a message to Director Lee Ja-heon, though.
'Alien shop installment plan...'
I'm really sorry. I'm running away right after starting the installment plan.
Instead, I've put all the equipment I had in a subway storage locker and sent
the location and password to Director Lee Ja-heon. I hope this will make it
up to you...
"Whew."
That concluded all the arrangements.
What remained was... the will-o'-wisp.
I showed my regenerated arm to the small blue fireball that had been hovering around me, watching what I did with interest.
"It's okay now. Look, I have my arm back! You can go back." But the will-o'-wisp flickered as if refusing and sat at my desk. It was troublesome... but I didn't feel bad about it.
"Then let's stay together for just a little while. ...When I'm gone, you go back to the Management Agency. Understood?"
The will-o'-wisp moved as if nodding its head, looking dejected.
Now there's really only one thing left.
The last one.
I took out a small, fluffy, pink rabbit doll.
"..."
Taking a deep breath, I placed the "Good Friend" doll against the bed leg and shined a light to cast its shadow. So we could talk in reality.
-Oh, friend!
The cheerful host's voice. That ear-catching accent and tone, now familiar, smoothly greeted me.
-This hotel today is not bad at all. The small, cozy space reminds me of the room where Mr. Deer stayed. Perhaps it's a night to celebrate your wish fulfillment?
"Something like that."
No need to save money anymore. And....
"..."
-Friend?
"Are you okay with this?"
-With what?
"With me using the wish ticket."
A question that had been bothering me but that I was afraid to ask in case the answer was terrible.
"You know what my wish is."
The host already knows.
If he can see my thoughts or knowledge to some extent, or at the very least, would have realized it when talking with the security guard chief. That I wish to leave this world.
"But you never asked me about it."
Looking at the shadow of the giant doll, I continued.
"It was strange."
-Oh...
"I wondered if perhaps you thought I would fail, and were quietly waiting for catharsis."
-Goodness.
-Let me say again, friend, I don't wish for your failure... I simply avoid inappropriate involvement that might ruin the flow and scene! -And in this case, I just...
A sound like tapping on gloves.
-The situation is so clear that no questions are necessary.
-Don't you want to go home, friend? Yet you refused Mr. Braun's invitation to a nicer, newer home...
I felt a chill down my spine.
But the host's tone was... still calm and cheerful.
-Then, as a host, it would be respectful to watch where your choice leads this show.
"..."
-Do as you wish, friend.
-You've worked for this until now, so it's time to see the results.
The rabbit doll's shadow wavered, as if pointing at something with its hand.
The wish ticket potion on the table.
"...Whew."
-Let's go. To the finale and ending!
I picked up the wish ticket.