episode_0027

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you alone at least once. You joined the Bureau so suddenly, and you were just an ordinary person until recently, right?”

After saying that, Eun No-eul smiled, brushing her frivolous blonde hair behind her ear.

“So I thought I needed counseling.”

“What, was that something like that…?”

Well then. What is a date?

I was excited for no reason.

I’m glad I only fantasized about getting married and having two sons and a daughter.

If I had turned on the happiness circuit any further, I would have suffered a tremendous sense of loss and would have been unable to turn back.

“So, brother. It’s a little late, but how do you feel about joining the Bureau?”

After mixing wasabi in soy sauce, she sucks on her chopsticks and looks at me with raised eyes.

Perhaps it was because she was the succubus queen, but every little movement was so bewitching that it was difficult to find a place to place my eyes.

“Hmm…well, I guess it’s more fun than I thought.”

“Really? That’s fortunate. Is there anything difficult or difficult about it?”

“Not much. As you know, there isn’t much to do when you go to work.”

“Ahaha. That’s right? That’s why our team is so good. Well, I’m the branch manager, so I have to work separately, but…”

She pouted her lips with a sullen expression and picked up the salmon sushi.

“Mmm~ It’s delicious~”

I felt like I would get strange thoughts when I looked at the plump, red lips that were pursed, so I quickly looked away.

“Then, brother. How are your teammates?”

“Ah, Sae-ron and Gyeong-gyeong? They’re all good people, so I have no complaints. Ah, it’s a bit difficult when I exercise with Gyeong-gu, but…”

“Ah… Gyeong-gu oppa is a bit of a serious hell-chang. Sometimes I see him and he’s not normal.”

“Ahaha. I guess I have to do that to maintain that body.”

I ate octopus sushi dipped in soy sauce.

The chewy texture and savory flavor spread throughout your mouth.

It’s been a while since I’ve had sushi, so it’s really delicious.

“Oh, that’s right. Now that I think about it, what are Saeron and Gyeonggyeong’s superpowers?”

“Huh? Oh, come to think of it, you didn’t know yet?”

“Yes. It will be posted in a day from now, but it’s a bit awkward if you don’t know anything about your colleagues, right?”

“Well… um, but then I guess I’ll have to reveal your abilities too, right? It wouldn’t be fair if only you knew about it.”

“Really? Sure.”

He nodded calmly.

Even though we only saw each other for a few days, I felt like our team members were trustworthy people.

“Let’s see…this for now.”

When I showed him the eye tattoo on the back of my right hand, she nodded as if she guessed it.

“So that was one of your abilities? What kind of ability is it?”

“Damage reflection. It can return all the damage I have taken, regardless of whether it is a physical or mental attack. It can even amplify it and return it several times… oh, and it can also specify a target.”

“…Yes?”

As she pondered over the power of the Mirror of Resentment, her eyes widened.

“Isn’t that a fucking scam?”

“Do you think so too?”

“No…does that make sense? There are no risks or costs?”

“Nothing in particular.”

Even if there is, there is a high possibility that it has already been paid.

Because I sacrificed myself to the mirror of resentment.

“…Brother. You were bigger than I thought.”

“Hey, even if I launch it like that, nothing comes out. I’ll continue. The next ability is summoning. How many times have I seen this?”

“Things like that giant boar or Sahagin?”

“That’s right. Other than that, I can summon guns, spiders, food, etc.”

“Wow…! You really are a talented person, aren’t you? I won’t starve to death no matter where I drop him!”

“Ahaha. I think so too.”

I shrugged my shoulders and showed one last [cry of despair, pain, and grief].

“Ah, that mouth…”

“When this snout screams, it can remove all status ailments on me. Of course, it can also attack things around it, although it cannot block enemies.”

“……”

She was staring at me and burst into laughter as if she was dumbfounded.

“What is that skill set? Isn’t it too perfect?”

“It just happened to be like this.”

“Killing Hinds wasn’t an accident… So now it’s my turn?”

Admired, she looked around and revealed her horns and wings.

“You do know that I am the Succubus Queen, right? My specialties are charm, brainwashing, and the ability to inflict sleep abnormalities. Oh, and I can also control dreams.”

“Well, it’s roughly as I expected.”

When I nodded, she smiled happily and hid her horns and wings.

“Then now it’s my turn to explain about Sae-ron and Gyeong-gu… Oppa. Do you know the phenomenon called erosion? It was probably written about in the manual.”

“Ah. I definitely remember reading it. Did you say that it was a phenomenon where the abnormality of a supernatural entity is transmitted? Are these two people doing that?”

“That’s right. Saeron was invaded by a supernatural entity called ‘Nonexistent Danger’, and Oppa Gyeong was eroded by a supernatural entity called ‘Guardian Tree’.”

She purses her lips with a happy expression after eating flounder sushi.

“Guardian trees are green-level safe supernatural entities that only protect designated beings. Because of that characteristic, they were also beings that management bureau personnel took with them when carrying out missions. This was the case with Gyeong-gu… One day, he made a mistake and his life was in danger. “It was said that it became one at the moment of destruction. This did not happen to anyone else, so it is still unknown why and how the erosion occurred only to Gyeong-gu.”

“oh…”

“But that’s not a good thing. Since that day, Gyeong-gu’s body has been slowly changing.”

“Change? How?”

“It’s turning into a tree. It’s very slow, but I estimate it will completely turn into a tree in about 10 years or so.”

“……”

It was a more serious and heavy story than I thought.

“Thanks to that incident, the guardian tree’s rating has been raised to yellow. The management bureau is also looking for a way to return it to its original state, but so far, there is no improvement.”

“hmm…”

“But it’s not like there’s no hope at all.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Constellation community and points. With that, we can eliminate the erosion of the guardian tree.”

“ah…”

Only then did I remember how much I liked Gyeong-hyung even though he was included in the post.

It wasn’t just that there was a lot to gain.

“I see… Then what about Saeron? What did you say? ‘Non-existent danger’?”

“Yes. It’s a special yellow-level supernatural entity… but it’s actually a kind of ‘phenomenon’ that can’t even be called an entity. It has no substance.”

“There is no entity? Hmm… I think I read in the manual that there is such a supernatural phenomenon… Are you talking about ‘higher dimensional beings’ or something like that?”

“Ah, it’s a little different from that. It’s the same in that it can’t be recognized or recognized, but unlike ‘high-dimensional beings’ that definitely have substance, ‘dangers that don’t exist’ literally only occur as phenomena.”

“It’s difficult…”

“Isn’t that right? Anyway, ‘non-existent danger’ is a bad supernatural phenomenon that creates an impossible sense of danger and ominousness and shows hallucinations. If you suffer from it, you will see or hear hallucinations as if you are suffering from schizophrenia, and you will have firm beliefs in the wrong direction and suffer damage. Saeron suffers from delusions and begins to think and act abnormally.”

“You look more serious than Gyeong-gu…”

“That’s right. The bureau predicts that Saeron will go crazy or disappear from existence within three years.”

“……”

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I remembered Saeron’s fondness for the constellation community.

“Ha…I guess this is an opportunity for you two.”

“That’s right. But Han-gil oppa. But there’s no need for you to do anything for the two of us.”

“huh?”

She looked at me with an attentive yet gentle gaze.

“You just have to figure out how to protect your life. It’s my role as team leader and branch leader to take responsibility for my team members.”

As she said that, she popped the tuna belly sushi into her mouth.

“…I want to help too.”

“Ah, I don’t plan on stopping you from that. If there is someone with a lot of points, I can use them when I need to.”

“Yes…?”

She smiled mischievously and stuck out her tongue.

“So, if you need points later, sell them cheaply, okay?”

“Ahaha… I understand.”

I felt like I could have given it to them for free, but I stopped because I felt like saying something like that to two people who had just met each other would seem like lip service.

“Oh, now that I think about it, when I was kidnapped by Pandora of the Salvation, I think they said that I couldn’t transfer my points for free. Is that true? Because of that, they even attacked me mentally and made me sign a contract.”

“That’s right. The management bureau hasn’t figured it out exactly, but the point itself is a supernatural entity. It’s a special commodity with high volatility and versatility that can cause miracles or disasters.”

“That’s really interesting…”

“By the way, brother. Have you seen the newly released movie?”

“Huh? Suddenly? No, I didn’t see it…”

“Then let’s eat this and go see it.”

“Huh? Uh…sure.”

She casually decided on her next schedule and ate her sushi, smiling like a fox.

…Isn’t this just a date? is not it? Am I getting excited?

***

We bought movie tickets while eating and went straight to the movie theater as soon as we left the restaurant.

“…But Noeul. Are you…are you usually this close at a distance?”

I couldn’t come to my senses as I felt an inexplicable sweet scent, hot body temperature, and soft texture from her as I held my arms close to her.

“Well, what do you think?”

“……”

“Fuhuhu. Just kidding. Just kidding. Do you think I would do this to just anyone? Of course I only do this to special people.”

“special?”

I reacted indifferently and looked at him.

“Whoop…!”

She was smiling mischievously.

“…You did that on purpose.”

“Ahahaha! I’m sorry! I stopped because the reaction was so funny. Ah, but it’s not a lie!”

She hugs him tighter and looks up with raised eyes.

The long, dense eyelashes and large, round sparkling eyes are so fascinating that it makes my heart beat like crazy.

“Even if you say you’re special, there are many different types, right? Same team members from the same company. At this level, wouldn’t we be able to say we’re a little more special than others?”

“…is it?”

If it’s simply a way of expressing a closer relationship, there’s nothing strange about it being special.

Except that the choice of words is too provocative.

“Of course, there may be someone who is more special than them. That’s how you think of yourself? Is he even more special to me?”

“…Isn’t that right?”

I wasn’t sure what she was trying to say, but I was certain that my heart was pounding like crazy.

“No? Why did you think that?”

“No, it’s just been a while since we met…”

“The period doesn’t matter, brother. What if this is a test?”

“test?”

“It could be to see the qualities of a team member, or it could be to figure out the brother’s tendencies. Or, it could be the process of a female searching for a male.”

“Ahm…what are you talking about?”

“Hehehe. Why are you embarrassed? Are you saying it could just be that way?”

My head is spinning.

So, this isn’t a date but a test?

“Oppa, you’re really bad at managing your facial expressions. I can see what you’re thinking.”

“…This is my first time hearing such a thing.”

I have lived a pretty bleak and dry life.

Of course, my facial expressions and emotional expressions also became stiff, so I was often told that I was quiet or like a stone Buddha.

“Really? I can see everything? Is it because my brother is such a special person to me that he is sensitive to change?”

She smiled mischievously and poked my cheek.

“……”

You pierce my heart with your words and actions. I don’t know how to react.

“Hehe. You just have to act normally. I will make the decision. Isn’t that what human relationships are like? Then, naturally or by chance, we might be able to open the door to the fence in each other’s hearts.”

She said that and pressed closer to me.

“I think that’s fate, too. There are definitely people who have no intention of opening the fence no matter what they do… No, wouldn’t that be the case for most people?”

She takes a long stride, pulls me in, and smiles brightly.

“So, please try harder. So that I can open the fence in my heart to you.”

“…okay.”

“Well, it looks like it’s already half-open. So, if you push even a little bit, wouldn’t it easily open? Like an automatic door.”

“……”

My heart hurts so much.

First of all, one thing is certain: the fence in my heart has already been wide open.

I’m sure you’re not under fascination, are you?

It didn’t seem like she had pulled out her tail, but she hallucinated a heart-shaped tail fluttering around her tailbone.

“Ahaha! Oppa. Your face is so red!”

“…It’s noisy. Let’s go see a movie quickly.”

“Are you embarrassed? Huh?”

“……”

The movie I actually saw was mediocre, but with Noeul by my side, I had an amazing experience that was surprisingly fun and touching.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a date course that any other couple would do, such as going shopping, taking a walk, or eating snacks.

Literally, it was a day like a dream.

***

[Defeating evil spirits]

[Transmission waiting time: 00 hours 11 minutes 05 seconds]

“Whoa…everything is ready, right?”

“Yes! No problem! Sis!”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this secure…I don’t think I’ll lose no matter what monster comes.”

Eun No-eul, Heo Sae-ron, Gyeong-hyeong, and even me.

We gathered together and checked the equipment, feeling both excitement and tension.

The management bureau’s special combat suit and various equipment, emergency food, a ‘potion’ that can instantly cure even a serious injury, a gun loaded with ‘ghost bullets’ that are said to be especially effective against spiritual beings, and ‘invulnerable throat lozenges’ and ‘attacker detection sunglasses’ that were given to each person. until.

It’s incredibly reassuring.

Oh, by the way, the phrase ‘space cham’ was decided to belong to the older brother.

This is because there was no one else who was a proper martial arts expert.

“There’s no need to talk too much, right? Let’s all do our best. Let’s get as much as possible without anyone dying or getting hurt.”

“Ahaha! I’m looking forward to it! I think it’ll be fun!”

“Saeron. You should have at least a sense of crisis.”

“Whoa…”

At Eun No-eul’s words, Heo Sae-ron smiled brightly and jumped up and down. Gyeong-gyeong calmed him down and I took deep, tense breaths repeatedly.

[Transmission waiting time: 00 hours 00 minutes 01 seconds]

And, finally, it was time.

“…uh?”

“This is…”

“House… no, a mansion?”

The moment I blinked once, we were standing in the hallway of a mansion with a gloomy and heavy atmosphere.

“oh…”

It’s an old-fashioned and splendid place, like a medieval nobleman’s mansion, so it’s fascinating to look at.

Even though the dust was thick and it was a mess.

“Everyone calm down and let’s do a reality check first.”

When Eun No-eul takes out the flashlight she was wearing on her belt and presses the button, a bright yellow beam of light illuminates the hallway.

“Well, it certainly seems real.”

“Is that also a paranormal phenomenon object?”

“That’s right. This is a ‘special wavelength flashlight,’ and it is a supernatural entity that appears even in dreams or hallucinations once you have it. If it is reality, it emits yellow light, if it is a dream, it emits purple light, and if it is a hallucination, it emits red light.”

“There are all kinds of things…”

She turned off the flashlight, hung it on her belt, and carefully led the group.

“Let’s explore this building first. There must be an ‘evil spirit’ here somewhere that we need to defeat.”

“okay.”

“huh.”

I started looking around the inside of the mansion, but even after several hours, I couldn’t find anything unusual.

The numerous rooms were all luxurious and gorgeous, but even though the sun was shining, the atmosphere was so gloomy that it felt as if an ‘evil spirit’ was coming out of anywhere.

“Let’s rest here for now.”

As we continued to move around in a nervous state, we quickly became mentally fatigued, so we decided to rest in a room with a large sofa and table, where we simply filled our bellies and stretched out.

“Ha, what kind of house is this big?”

“That’s right. If you have a lot of money, you can live in a place like this.”

“Hmm… Hangil oppa. As a victim of the Constellation community, what do you think?”

“Huh? If you asked me… I still don’t know.”

“So do i.”

Outside the window, the sun had just set and it was getting dark.

“Should we look around the garden as well as the inside of the mansion? Or…”

Knock knock.

At that time, a clear knocking sound was heard from the closed door.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

We all closed our mouths, looked at each other, and stood up quietly.

Knock knock.

Someone standing at the door kept knocking on the door even though we didn’t respond.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

Knock knock. Knock knock.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

Knock knock knock. Knock knock…

***

Knock knock.

At that time, a clear knocking sound was heard from the closed door.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

We all closed our mouths, looked at each other, and stood up quietly.