anwhile, Agent Choi narrowed his eyes as he caught a glimpse of the item I’d handed over.
“…A coin?”
“Oh, it’s not just a regular coin… I, uh, got it from another ghost story.”
That part was true.
Though the fact that the ghost story was a custom equipnt line from Daydream Inc.—a Twilight-grade ghost story called the ‘Kind Seed Kit’—was a secret.
Right.
That coin was the first custom equipnt I ever created at the Field Exploration Team.
‘The Third Hand…!’
A coin-shaped item that could summon a phantom hand in midair.
Given the nature of this arm, the required item was blatantly obvious.
It had to be sothing from a ghost story originally developed, contained, and utilized in Daydream Inc.’s early days.
It had to be this.
But because Daydream Inc. employees were essentially blacklisted from this marketplace, the trade had failed to go through for five years and had just been left there, untouched.
‘Got it.’
Gripping the scrap of paper, I felt a small but thrilling sense of accomplishnt.
And it’s not that I had rashly sacrificed my custom equipnt. I’ve got plans to retrieve it later.
Right now, the priority was Agent Choi.
I gave the excuse I’d thought up.
“I figured currency would be imdiately useful in a ghost story… I, uh, just rembered what happened at the supermarket.”
For reference, the Looky Mart’s vouchers had vanished the mont I left the store, balance and all. That ghost story supermarket really was run by vicious scoundrels.
Anyway, I thought that ca off suitably rookie-like.
It probably looked like I didn’t realize different ghost stories use different currencies and just gave it a shot.
And luckily, it worked.
Ti to stick with that ta.
“Hmm… Hoobae-nim. That arm’s been left untouched for five years—didn’t it occur to you that any ergency might already be over?”
“Even so… the arm was still there, sir.”
I finally gave a small smile.
“I figured… if a barter was accepted, that ant there had to be soone on the other end ready to take it. Um, well, it’s just a theory, and I could be wrong.”
“……”
Agent Choi stared at for a mont, then—
“Ah~ I really like this!”
“…?!”
“Khheuu, right. This is it! Hard to find soone who actually uses their head and imagines things with internal logic!”
He ruffled my hat-covered hair. Aack!!
Then, lowering his voice so others wouldn’t hear, he spoke quietly.
“As I thought…”
As you thought?
“You really should join our Turtle-Snake Team 1.”
“I apologize, sir.”
“Hiing.”
I was seriously fed up…
Still, at least I seem to have avoided suspicion for now…
“But didn’t you say you’re too scared to join the Dispatch & Rescue Unit? And yet you’ve got the guts to co into a dangerous place like this alone?”
“……”
“Then… maybe you can survive in Turtle-Snake Team 1, huh?”
Damn it.
Was that a threat? Join if you don’t want to be suspected?
My head was spinning.
But then, the next words ca.
“That fear of yours in the first place. Honestly, it’s probably just a hallucination brought on by overexertion during your first mission…”
I exploded.
“No, I’m scared to death! I’m really scared!!”
“…?!”
“But I have no choice but to endure it, right?! I can’t just say I’m too scared to do anything! I’m a rookie!”
At this mont…
Act or die!!
“Of course I’m scared of not having an arm! I was terrified sothing might go wrong, but I still ca all the way here!”
I practically coughed up blood as I shouted.
It was partly intentional, but as the resentnt that had built up from working at a certain insane ghost-story pharmaceutical company burst out, I genuinely felt wronged.
…Agent Choi was staring at , mouth open.
“S-Sorry?”
“……”
“Alright, alright. Hoobae-nim, congrats on your first trade, and um… Right, the note! Gotta check the note, right? How about it?”
“……Yes, sir.”
I took a deep breath.
Still, I couldn’t rember the last ti I’d been in a situation where I could speak this honestly… in that sense, it felt a little refreshing.
Surely, even after all that, he wouldn’t try to drag into the Dispatch & Rescue Unit… please.
“I apologize for yelling, sir.”
“Eyy, don’t worry. You’re not the only one doing crazy stuff around here. Think of it as a good 3-second spotlight.”
So I looked that unhinged, huh. Good to know…
I let out a sigh.
“I, um… It’s been a long ti since I shouted like that.”
“Aigoo, guess your place doesn’t have good soundproofing, huh?”
“No. I… don’t have a place to go ho to right now.”
“……”
“I’d like to have one, though.”
“Okay.”
Huu.
I finally cald my breathing and opened the note in my hand.
‘Feels like Agent Choi suddenly went quiet.’
Still, since he wasn’t provoking anymore, it was better this way.
I turned my attention back to the note.
The blood-soaked scrap of paper I carefully unfolded with one hand had—
Dried letters, written in sared blood.
LOOK HERE
THAT WHICH RESPONDS TO EMPATHY AND ATTENTION
THERE IS A TOY
The dried, crusted blood that stained the entire page had caused the letters themselves to blur and run…
‘Ha.’
It looked like a prop straight out of a horror movie. I wanted to throw it away right then, but.
“Wait a sec.”
Agent Choi casually took the note from my hand.
I didn’t stop him on purpose.
Agent Choi began inspecting it using sothing like a strange form of dowsing.
That was a Disaster Managent Bureau-issued tool too.
Tracking Rod
: A curved stick made of glass and brass.
When placed over a substance derived from a ghost story or a dium that triggers a paranormal phenonon, it spins in place.
But the rod showed no reaction at all to the note I’d just bought.
“Hmm, no mysterious response. Just an ordinary note. The ssage though…”
Agent Choi chuckled.
“Looks like it’s ant to lure people in through a ghost story, huh?”
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