A moment later.
I dialed the number I got from Deputy Manager Eun Haje.
The internal number that connects to Director Ho's private office.
[Hello.]
“…!”
“Hello, Director Ho.”
From the moment the call connected, my superiors fell silent and remained quiet.
I continued speaking as calmly and politely as possible.
“This is Supervisor Kim Sol-eum, who went missing a month ago. I finally escaped the darkness and am contacting you.”
[Wow. Hello, Mr. Sol-eum! How have you been over the past month?]
…An unusually calm and casual response came back.
It was as if he was talking to a long-lost guest, with a slightly warm and welcoming tone that sent chills down my spine instead.
This is absolutely not the kind of reaction someone should have when a presumed-dead employee suddenly calls.
'This isn’t normal.'
Director Cheong Dal-rae would have been better, but I couldn’t contact them right now.
So, I listened carefully to Director Ho’s words.
[I’m so relieved you’re not dead. It’s great to hear you’re safe.]
“Thank you.”
[But aren’t you in a tough spot? If you return as is, it seems like you’ll suffer a major loss in points….]
As expected, they know everything.
'They’re assuming the company will bill me for the costs.'
As the Director of Development, this is something they could easily prevent, but Director Ho seemed more interested in voicing concern than actually helping.
Of course, I wasn’t expecting much.
What I had prepared for was….
“Yes. That’s why I have something to discuss with you.”
I deliberately paused for a moment before calmly asking.
“Director, is the proposal you previously mentioned about joining your project still valid?”
…….
[Wow, Mr. Sol-eum.]
[What a great idea you’ve had!]
A bright voice bombarded my ears.
[You’re suggesting joining my project and framing your month-long disappearance as confidential work related to the project, so you won’t incur any point losses, right?]
A chill ran down my spine.
Next to me, Deputy Eun Haje clenched their fist.
[What a truly wonderful idea!]
I couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘Thank you.’
It was beyond the point of being pleased about good communication—it was almost like dealing with a yokai.
[And of course, it’s possible.]
“Thank….”
[So, from this moment onward, Supervisor Kim Sol-eum, you are officially a member of Director Ho Yoo-won’s newly established project team, and this is clearly recorded as your acceptance. Welcome aboard!]
“…….”
It felt like I was being pressured to sign off on a problematic property after a mere five-minute tour, and I was moments away from closing the deal without even realizing it.
“Thank you so much for your generous words. However, I only intended to inquire about your esteemed opinion, not to immediately express my intention to participate….”
[Ah, of course, you can feel that way.]
[Then, shall we meet in person?]
“…I’d be truly grateful if you could arrange that, but as you know, it’s currently difficult for me to visit the company in person.”
[Ah, I figured as much. I was already thinking it would be better to meet elsewhere.]
Such a surprisingly generous offer was made.
‘…Where does he want to meet?’
I vaguely imagined a private dining room or something similar.
[Fox Counseling Room.]
What?
[What do you think? Doesn’t it sound warm and pleasant?]
[I’ll send the nameplate over through Deputy Manager Eun Haje.]
“…….”
We slowly turned to look at Deputy Eun Haje.
‘They definitely said they were assigned work that required avoiding other employees.’
Director Ho spoke as if he knew the deputy was here with us….
[Please wait a little longer.]
“…Yes, thank you.”
With a polite and courteous farewell, the call with the director ended.
And immediately after.
Brrring!
Deputy Eun Haje’s phone rang.
The deputy quickly showed us the name displayed on their phone before answering.
[Director Ho Yoo-won]
“…….”
“Yes. Yes…. Hmm. Got it. I’ll return immediately.”
Click.
“You heard that, right? He’s no ordinary person.”
Deputy Eun Haje pulled their phone away from their face with a frustrated sigh.
“The Fox Counseling Room, huh… They’ll probably say something fancy like, ‘Mr. Sol-eum, you might be struggling with contamination, so let’s have a counseling session and chat,’ but it’s really just a way to take control of the situation.”
“…….”
“ Roe Deer.”
Deputy Eun Haje lowered their phone with a grim expression.
“Honestly, my advice is to avoid Director Ho’s project, even if it means taking a longer route. Losing points would suck, but… damn it.”
In the end, the deputy ruffled their hair and let out a deep sigh.
They likely understood just how vital and precious points were to field exploration team members—almost as important as life itself….
“I’ll get the nameplate for you, so don’t give in easily. Maneuver your way around and don’t let yourself get dragged into his plans. …You’re good with words, so I trust you.”
"Yes."
I nodded.
"I'll carefully listen and see what it's about."
"Alright."
A short while later.
Deputy Eun Haje, having returned from the company, handed me the item Director Ho had promised.
A nameplate that I’d grown quite familiar with.
Fox Counseling Room
‘Phew.’
"Roe, if the vibe is off, just run right out of there!"
"Thank you, Supervisor."
With encouragement and advice from my superiors, I hung the nameplate on an arbitrary door.
And for the first time in a long while, I opened the door to the Fox Counseling Room and stepped inside….
Creak.
“…….”
Before, it had been a changing room here, but this time, a different space appeared.
‘A waiting room?’
It was a small space where one might chat and wait or take psychological tests before a counseling session.
The ivory-colored room, furnished with a few cypress tables and chairs, had a quaint and simple charm, but the door leading to the counseling room was firmly shut.
And on the door, there was a notice posted.
Closed Today ^^
(Please take your nameplate with you!)
‘Wait, does this mean….’
Tap, tap.
“Hello, Mr. Sol-eum!”
I almost fainted.
I turned my head. A young man with a kind expression, tapping my shoulder, came into view….
Director Ho, smiling kindly like a good-natured person, bowed slightly at me.
“It’s perfect that the Fox Counseling Room is closed today! No one else will come in. What do you think? Does that work for you?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
How on earth does Director Ho know that the counseling room from a ghost story is closed?
‘It seems like he’s implying some kind of connection between himself and the Fox Counseling Room.’
For now, I decided not to poke at this point unnecessarily.
I need to stick to the main point.
What I need is the restoration of my points.
“Shall we sit down then?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Anyway, I sat down on the cozy waiting room chair and faced the director.
It wasn’t a particularly realistic scene.
‘Sigh.’
I brewed a cup of green tea from the waiting room tea bags and placed it in front of the director.
The director thanked me, but said nothing more, simply smiling cheerfully.
‘He won’t be the one to start the conversation.’
Well then.
"Director, the thought of someone as inadequate as me joining the project leaves me with some concerns…."
"Oh my, to think you feel that way. May I ask what exactly is troubling you? On the phone, you seemed open to the idea."
Stay calm.
‘Right now, I’m just an outsider who’s been terminated.’
If I don’t return, I’ll just remain a civilian, so the director’s influence over me isn’t as strong as before.
It’s only right to speak my mind.
I clasped my hands together and spoke.
"Yes, I’m afraid I might die."
“…!”
"Losing points is painful, but if I die before collecting them all, it’s meaningless, isn’t it?"
"Aha."
"If it’s more dangerous than the current field exploration team, the idea of joining the project feels incredibly daunting…. I’m even considering simply returning to work or quitting entirely."
"I see. Wow. You’re really smart!"
“…….”
Is he mocking me?
But the director’s sincere expression gave nothing away.
"And I think that’s a great point you’ve raised: ‘Is Director Ho’s confidential internal project more dangerous than the field exploration team?’"
“…….”
"My answer to that is…."
Director Ho smiled faintly.
"‘It’s not dangerous.’ In fact, your survival rate might even be higher."
“…!!”
"Oh, of course, there may be cases where certain tasks are more dangerous, but at least the work I’m proposing to you right now definitely isn’t."
"…I suppose you can’t go into specifics."
"That’s correct. This is as much as I can tell you."
Director Ho looked regretful and added in a gentle tone.
"But I can assure you that it’s a better situation than before, with a higher survival rate!"
“…….”
"So, will you join the project now? For your information… after this, our team will be fully staffed and unable to take on new members."
He’s making it clear that this is my last chance.
I looked at Director Ho and deliberately hesitated for a few seconds, as if deeply pondering….
I nodded.
"I want to do it."
"Oh! That’s wonderful."
Not ‘I will,’ but ‘I want to.’
It’s a phrase that leaves room to back out if necessary. Fortunately, Director Ho clapped his hands in delight.
He was so pleased that he refilled the hot water and placed a cup of green tea in front of me.
I wasn’t thankful at all, and it sent chills down my spine….
"You’ve made such a great choice. Really, I did say the working conditions would be even better."
"…Working conditions, you say?"
"Yes. It’ll be more comfortable for you."
The director sipped his green tea, squinting as he smiled.
"After spending a month in the darkness, you must have had a tough time. It would be hard to go back into a high-grade darkness, wouldn’t it?"
The director spoke in a tone as kind as a benevolent person.
"I thought, why not let you try something fun?"
Somehow.
It was a subtle nuance.
"…Something fun, you say."
"Yes! So, the task I’d like you to undertake is…."
And then, the absurd "Task for Supervisor Kim Sol-eum" was brought up as if it were nothing.
"You’ll infiltrate the Disaster Management Bureau."
“…!!”
"Isn’t this what they call being a spy?"
Director Ho winked.
"Under the guise of a new recruit with a perfectly clean background, infiltrate and live among them as an agent."
Oh my god.
"And from there, gather information about a certain supernatural disaster they’re managing. Simple, isn’t it?"
I swallowed hard.
"What kind of supernatural disaster are you looking for?"
Director Ho raised his eyebrows slightly, then smiled warmly again.
"Instead of asking how to do it, you’re starting with the target. Impressive, as expected."
“…….”
"We’ll reveal that gradually. For now, successfully infiltrating is what matters…."
Director Ho looked at me with a peculiar expression.
"I don’t think there’s anyone more suitable for the job than you, Sol-eum."
“…….”
Did he find out?
That I’ve had considerable contact with the Disaster Management Bureau.
And that I’m in possession of one of their items.
I tried not to think about the Silver Heart still in my pocket.
‘Director Ho seems to absolutely despise the Disaster Management Bureau.’
For now, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.
Because Director Ho’s shocking statements didn’t end there.
"And since it might get lonely on your own, others will be deployed with you."
What?
"…Who do you mean?"
I briefly thought of Deputy Manager Eun Haje, but the response I got was completely unexpected.
"Two of your colleagues."
“…!!”
"Want to see?"
I looked at the single page of documents the director handed me, with all details blurred except for names and affiliations.
Field Exploration Team R Division: Go Yeongeun (Employee)
Field Exploration Team F Division: Jang Heo-un (Employee)
…The two names listed seem to belong to colleagues who would fit in at the Disaster Management Bureau….
"So, Mr. Sol-eum."
Director Ho grinned widely.
"I’m looking forward to your brilliant work as a Disaster Management Bureau agent spy!"
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