Chapter 343

In the first place.

Why had I kept exploring this dangerous Se-gwang Special City?

It was because of a vague sense of expectation.

The expectation that if I dug up this enormous, secret-riddled urban legend, I might be able to reach the fundamental truth of this urban-legend world.

And....

The expectation that then, I might be able to understand why this was happening to me.

The expectation that I might be able to learn the cause or reason why I’d been thrown into the world of and put through hell without even knowing why....

I realized just now that those expectations had been answered.

In a direction I never expected.

So this was a place that tried to invite me....

The Pleasant Research Institute had tried to summon me, a person from that place, for the purpose of proving "a safe world without urban legends"....

And because of that, the disaster in Se-gwang Special City happened.

My heart went cold.

Then... in the end, the fact that hundreds of thousands died in Se-gwang Special City and the city was sealed off is connected to me, too....

...No. Don’t get it twisted.

Did I ask them to summon me?

Not in a million years.

Just like the other citizens of Se-gwang City, I got dragged into this. Dragged into the insane attempt those damned institutions in this urban-legend world tried to pull....

Dragged in—and of all people, it had to be me.

"......"

In an instant, something like searing pain surged from my chest to my head.

It was anger.

I barely managed to let out a shallow breath and... looked at the Pleasant Research Institute researcher.

The words came out strangely dry.

In an agent’s language.

"So in the end, you're saying you tried to summon someone from a world without anomalous phenomena. And... you failed."

"......"

"An entire major city became an urban legend. Why did you do this without even having the ability to take responsibility? What kind of confidence did you have?"

"We didn't do it. Originally, it wasn't supposed to fail. This attempt is...."

"'It wasn't supposed to fail'—what kind of irresponsible nonsense is that? If you're a research institute, it's normal to assume failure and prepare for it."

Researcher Lee Heo Un’s expression went even paler.

Good.

"How are you going to clean this up? Where are all the other researchers right now?"

"Because of the fire, they evacuated. And there was definitely a contingency plan. But right now it isn't working. We were fooled, too. We...."

"What kind of irresponsible thing is that to say?"

"Exactly."

...!

I snapped my head around.

A member of this room I’d forgotten about was speaking quietly.

The Counseling Teacher with the missing expression.

"I think so, too. How can anyone be this irresponsible."

"......"

"I definitely received that kind of promise from them."

The air twisted strangely.

"That on the day their efforts succeeded, this city would become safer for people than anywhere else on the surface."

Lee Heo Un had no answer.

No—he couldn’t answer.

I saw the researcher twisting his own hands around his throat.

...!

In this fantastical space packed with colorful toys, he rolled on the floor with choking sounds.

But the Counseling Teacher smiled at me and explained, as if kindly going over pre-counseling notes.

"I’ve lived for a very long time in Se-gwang Special City—this region that in the past was called Gwangjin. At one time, I harmed people this way and that, but after I grew attached and gained reason, I kept looking after and protecting them. So those words sounded very pleasing."

His calm, rational way of speaking gradually turned softer and gentler.

As if he were returning to his original self.

"Because the government men who followed those people also guaranteed it, I yielded the underground of this land and listened to what they asked. And then, one day, I heard an earnest request."

"...What request was that?"

"A request asking whether they could borrow a wondrous orb for just a little while."

At the Counseling Teacher’s—no, the sacred being’s—gesture, the image of a bright, round sphere floated in midair above his fingertip.

Its many-colored brilliance glowed red.

I remembered how Deputy Eun Haje had used a similar orb on some previous day to let an old man infiltrate the Brilliant Anonymous Faith....

But that one had been finger-sized, and it hadn’t looked nearly as numinous.

"Have you ever heard the folk tradition about fox marbles? Not the berries—the orb a fox monster possesses."

It glittered.

"Some say it comes from a dragon’s wish orb, but it probably became a saying because similar stories were passed down.... The story that it grants wishes."

"...!"

Soon, that fantastic shape vanished.

But I noticed it reminded me of the egg-shaped form that had been sitting in the middle of the dream incubator’s tank....

...A wish.

No way.

"Are you saying what you lent them was used in this experiment?"

"That seems to be the case, doesn't it?"

A laughing sound rang out.

"Without knowing that, I hurried to retrieve my orb and take action. Protecting my domain and pushing out other unclean things was something the Bureau had repeatedly asked of me with great care, holding rites for me as well. But...."

His voice turned severe.

"They say the orb has disappeared."

"......"

"So now there’s no way. There is no way to protect this city from the unclean infiltration outside, and from the infection that spreads like a plague."

The researcher’s face turned bluish. His hands trembled thinly, as if he might lose consciousness at any moment.

Sending Lee Heo Un off like this is meaningless.

Besides, it wasn’t this person’s responsibility alone, and we’d lose information.

In the end, I spoke quickly.

"Can’t you track how the orb disappeared?"

"......"

"And if you can't, then we have to find some way to save the city by some other method. ...By interrogating the researcher."

......

......

"That's true."

"Kh—!"

Lee Heo Un flung both hands off his own throat as if jolted by electricity.

Then he gasped on the floor a few times, and even so, he spoke with eyes that still had focus.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...."

"Save the apologies. First we need to find a way to clean this up somehow. Explain how the experiment proceeded, starting from the beginning."

"Yes, cough, so, we...."

But at that moment.

Researcher Lee Heo Un’s right ear plopped onto the floor.

"...!"

"Ah."

The researcher fumbled along the floor and lifted the ear.

What had fallen was now, unmistakably, a plastic toy....

"......"

I turned my head and looked into the corridor.

The dazzling corridor visible past Lee Jaheon and the other two somehow felt quieter than before.

Among the colorful toys, several had stopped moving and stood still, or seemed to have lost their liveliness....

As if they had lost their mystery.

"...Run quickly. Th-this office won’t hold out much longer. You have to get out...."

Researcher Lee Heo Un blurted out urgently.

"Right now, we’re protected from the fire and the disaster outside, but the flames will break in here soon. There isn’t much time left!"

Wait.

"Is the thing stopping the fire from spreading to this floor also the power of an anomalous phenomenon... and it's disappearing?"

"It is...."

I remembered.

The moment the Counseling Teacher’s hand that had been shoved into the monster was severed—how it went limp and vanished, as if it disappeared.

...If that was the case.

No way.

"Right now, in Se-gwang Special City... are anomalous phenomena disappearing entirely?"

"......"

A faint smile formed on the researcher’s face.

"That's right."

...!!

"Then strictly speaking, our experiment’s objective has been achieved. The invitation must have succeeded...!"

There was even a faint thrill in the researcher’s voice.

"Someone... came."

My head went cold with an emotion I couldn’t tell was anger or fear.

But my reason caught the wrongness.

"That’s strange. If anomalous phenomena disappeared, it should be safer. Then why is it like that outside?"

"That's why I'm saying it wasn't our intention. This is an outcome that’s impossible given the goal...."

"An impossible outcome?"

"Yes. Today, we merely wanted to establish and prove the existence of 'a place without urban legends'...."

Their exhausted voice dropped lower.

"Someone interfered and subtly changed the ritual."

"......"

-This isn't what we research. Someone tampered with it!

"And I'm sure they set the fire so we couldn't respond. That is...."

"Usually, the culprit is the one who benefits the most."

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the door.

Reporter Eun Haje was scratching his head.

"I'll be honest, the content of this conversation makes me feel like, what the hell is this even about—but the context is definitely my specialty. Usually that's how the world works. Who benefits the most from things turning into this?"

The researcher’s eyes sank.

It was true, but it looked like it was hard for him to make that kind of guess by temperament.

In that case.

Then I’ll just make it more specific.

"Well said, citizen."

I asked, as if adding on.

"It sounds like a few people come to mind... among them, was there anyone who suddenly disappeared on site right after the experiment?"

"......!"

The researcher, wearing a blank expression, turned to me—and then, startled, spoke.

"There is."

"Wow."

I heard Reporter Eun Haje’s exclamation.

[Excellent interrogation. Friend!]

"Who?"

"A sponsor who came insisting they absolutely wanted to observe this experiment. A sacred being from the company that collaborated with us to develop dreamscape solution. That is...."

"Can you tell us their appearance or name?"

The researcher, fumbling, got up and rummaged through what looked like his desk.

Then he pulled a teal hardbound volume from the lowest drawer with the words "Published for the Pleasant Research Institute's Founding Anniversary" written on it, and started flipping through pages rapidly.

Then he stopped on one page.

A group photo of several people had the heading "Corporate Cooperation."

The researcher pointed to one person among them. It was....

"Ija."

Director Cheong.

The director in the photo, wearing a lab coat, looked not one bit different from when I’d seen him in the annex basement last time....

"......"

A numbing shock spread through my head.

"A being within anomalous phenomena, believed to be a kind of dragon. They were definitely there until we proceeded with the work on the city hall rooftop for today’s experiment, but at some point, they disappeared without even contacting us...."

"Hm...."

I heard Reporter Eun Haje’s reluctant voice.

"This sounds really obvious. The partner company stabbed you in the back and tried to walk away with just the development results, right? Or they tried to tweak the environment to get the result they wanted, and it backfired."

"...!"

Horror and rejection flashed across Lee Heo Un’s face, then quickly turned into resignation and bitterness.

"...That may be so. We already...."

The next moment, Researcher Lee Heo Un’s thumb fell to the floor.

It was plastic as well.

"...!"

"Now... now there really isn't much time left."

Impatience settled into Lee Heo Un’s face.

"Run to the subway. This experiment’s scope was limited to the 'surface,' so the subway, which isn’t the origin point, should be relatively safe. At least you should get out safely...."

And turning to the Counseling Teacher, he bowed his head deeply.

"I'm sorry. Given the situation, there's a high chance the sacred being’s treasure was used in this experiment."

"......"

"So maybe it’s still up on that rooftop... but I’m not certain. And in this institute, there are no longer any mysterious toys powerful enough to get there."

The Counseling Teacher didn’t answer.

Lee Heo Un couldn’t lift his head, and the movements of the dazzling toys in the corridor and office began to stop intermittently.

And then Lee Heo Un’s foot detached with a thud.

A toy shoe like a nutcracker soldier’s boot rolled across the floor. The researcher staggered.

The high school student, Bronze Agent Ryu Jaegwan, approached the doorway and asked carefully.

"Um, I can support you...."

"Thank you, but...."

A bitter smile spread across Lee Heo Un’s face.

"I can only live inside this institute. I’ve already lost most of my body."

"......"

"But that researcher... will be able to live even outside."

As he said that, he pointed to Researcher Lee Jaheon by the door.

"He’s from another division. He hardly participated in this research. Since he bears no responsibility, please take him with you as you escape, if possible...."

Lee Jaheon stared at him as if he felt no emotion at the thoughtful words.

"You should evacuate too... don't just trust that strange button item. Get out of the office now and escape. Hurry."

...A button item?

I couldn’t see Lee Jaheon’s face, but I could see him stepping out into the corridor instead of nodding.

"I will guide you to the subway entrance."

At that, Researcher Lee Heo Un seemed reassured.

"I'll look for another way, so it would be best if everyone left."

"Phew."

Starting with Reporter Eun Haje, everyone filed out of the office door.

And when even the Counseling Teacher had gone out into the corridor for the moment....

"......"

"Agent?"

I stood quietly in front of Lee Heo Un.

"Researcher. Are you almost certain that someone from a 'world without urban legends' came here?"

"That... yes."

"Are you happy about that result?"

Beyond his regret and despair, a researcher’s sense of achievement flickered briefly across Lee Heo Un’s face.

"About that, I am."

"I see."

I bowed my head and whispered into his ear.

"Then you don't care what happens to the existence you summoned?"

"...Pardon?"

"What you summoned isn't a sacred being. It's a person. Just a person."

My voice spoke slowly, languidly.

"Have you ever imagined what kind of life someone living an ordinary life—someone who’s never encountered anomalous phenomena—would end up living if they were suddenly dragged into an unfamiliar environment?"

"What are you...."

The puzzled look in Lee Heo Un’s eyes changed the moment his gaze met mine.

"......"

"W-wait a moment."

Lee Heo Un’s eyes trembled.

"Could it be...."

I looked down at the researcher without speaking.

Lee Heo Un’s eyes hurriedly scanned me.

Then they stopped on my clothes, and his pupils shook.

As if he’d realized it wasn’t a formal agent uniform, but the outfit of a cooperative sacred being—the Counseling Teacher.

"...Agent, what is your name?"

"Who knows."

"Are you... a citizen of Se-gwang Special City?"

"Who knows."

As if he wanted to find any clue at all—or remember something—Lee Heo Un was scrutinizing me from head to toe.

Instead of wavering, I lowered myself slightly and whispered.

"But there’s one thing I want to tell you."

"Y-yes! What is...."

"In my opinion, even if your invitation succeeded... the one you summoned would never cooperate with you."

"......"

"Never."

Lee Heo Un froze.

Biiiriririririck!!!

The fire alarm began blaring in the corridor.

Leaving the Pleasant Research Institute researcher sitting there in a daze, I stepped out into the corridor.

Of course, there was no way to save Researcher Lee Heo Un.

But with a small sense of desolation at the thought that even if there were, I couldn't guarantee I would have used it....

"......"

Let’s go.

There was something I had to do.

I have to get the two of them... no, three of them out.

And it was as I moved my steps into the corridor.

"Agent."

The Counseling Teacher spoke to me.

"Did you know? Based on what that researcher just told us, this place is beneath Se-gwang City Hall."

"...What?!"

I heard Lee Jaheon’s blank voice.

"He said this is beneath Se-gwang City Hall...."

"I heard that! Then does that mean we’re directly below the incident site right now?"

"Yes."

It was the moment a chill beyond unease crept over me.

A soft voice spoke.

"Then if we just go up, it'll be the rooftop?"

"Yes."

Damn it.

"However, the probability that it is extremely dangerous is exceedingly high."

"I know. But sometimes there are times when you have to, even if it’s dangerous."

...I could feel the Counseling Teacher’s gaze studying me.

"Agent."

"......"

"Shall we go together? To the city hall rooftop."

"......"

"Using the emergency stairs should do it. I’ll provide plenty of berries."

Just as I was about to turn to him with a stiff, frozen head.

"I do not recommend that action, Mr. Noru."

"......"

...?!

W-wait.

"...Section Chief?"

"Yes."

I whipped around to Researcher Lee Jaheon—no.... "Lee Jaheon."

My heart pounded.

Even without a face, instead of that same unpleasant, bizarre feeling as before, shock hit me first.

No way.

"Do you remember—"

No! That was too broad.

I hesitated, then chose one.

Trivial, if it was trivial—and fundamental, if it was fundamental.

......

"Do you remember what team we were in at the company?"

"Yes."

And for no reason at all, I knew.

"D Team."

If I could see his face, that lizard’s snout would have been curving into a smile right now.