“Ooh… is that even possiblee?”
“……”
Agent Bronze opened his mouth.
“It is possible, in principle.”
“Huu.”
Agent Choi gripped his head. It seed the two of them were pinpointing, at least in theory, a specific ‘kind of ceremony’ that could accomplish this…
“To my knowledge there’s no official record of it. Of course…”
“Right. If they really did it, they’d have wiped the agents’ mories afterward too. Anyway, Roe, keep going.”
“……Yes.”
Agent Bronze started to speak again, but shut his mouth when Agent Choi signaled at him.
Confirming that, I continued.
“And despite how frightening the situation is, the reason our imdiate environnt seems better than expected may be because this is the subway.”
I pointed to the platform screen door glass where I had checked my face.
“…Please look over there.”
Beyond the darkness.
There’s the configuration called facing platforms. Two platforms facing each other across the tracks, for trains going in opposite directions.
You can see the tracks of this platform, the tracks for trains heading the other way… and the opposite platform beyond.
That place.
“It’s all collapsed.”
Everything’s broken open, exposing steel beams. Concrete is spilling from collapsed stairs.
The difference is jarring.
In stark contrast to this clean platform.
And on the screen door glass of that half-collapsed side…
Please save
SOS
please
I love you mom
It’s covered in countless words.
Cries for rescue and dying ssages written in blood, dust, and filth.
Letters left from the other side, written backward from our vantage.
“…!!”
My body froze at the trace of an overwhelming Disaster that had swept the city.
‘Ha.’
And I rembered.
A docunt recording the process by which Sekwang Special City was sealed as an annihilation-sanctioned Disaster.
On the first day.
‘Many residents fled into subway stations, but the entrances collapsed and they’re all trapped inside. Sothing horrific is happening outside.’ — a call log records this, but the on-site situation cannot be determined in detail.
‘If it’s the subway, they might be able to hold out for a few more days,’ was also said, so we must comnce search operations imdiately!
– Claim by a field agent at the ti (dismissed)
“…From what I know, the subway station was among the last places rescue calls were sent from within the Disaster-stricken Sekwang Special City.”
aning the odds of safety are relatively higher than outside.
It didn’t specify Sekwang Station exactly, but this is still better than being dumped with people into the middle of an annihilation-sanctioned Disaster out of nowhere.
‘Though odds are it won’t help much…’
Huu.
Thinking of the wiki made my mouth go dry. Hunger and thirst felt like they were returning.
“So in other words……”
Wait.
“Agent?”
“Okay.”
While sighing, Agent Choi was already calmly attempting to open the screen door.
“Agent?”
“I’ll take a quick look and be right back.”
“Ah. Should I check the opposite side?”
“Hold, hold on. Please wait just a mont.”
Both of you, please!
“I just said this entire city is a completely ruined, sealed annihilation-sanctioned Disaster!”
I hurried over and blocked their way.
“It’s clear people fled down here, so it seems safer not to go to the half-collapsed side… it might connect to the outside.”
No doubt Agent Choi’s and Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae’s thinking was this.
‘When you’ve got no info, you’ve got to try sothing, right.’
However…
“And if it cos to it… I’ll go. I know this place better than—”
“Grapes.”
Agent Choi reached out. And…
Smack.
He flicked on the forehead.
“…!”
Aaaack!
“Do I look like I have a death wish to you? Of course I was only going to take a cautious peek and co right back.”
Even with a smiling face, Agent Choi looked pretty pissed…
But after a breath, it settled into relief.
“Of all people, don’t you pull any sudden moves here. Please.”
“……”
“And you too, Bronze!”
“Frankly, compared to and Agent Bronze, you’re the one who—”
“Oho.”
Mmph.
I quickly dodged Agent Choi’s forehead flick and stepped back.
I shot Agent Bronze a look of solidarity, but he looked back at with a face that said he had a lot to say.
“……”
“Once we’re in a safer spot, I’d like to have a talk.”
Please spare .
I stifled a sigh and rubbed my forehead.
…It’s been a while since I felt that kind of sting.
“Alright, since we’re all experienced, let’s move together for now and each check our condition?”
“Yesyes.”
In any case, we decided to gather what we could and inspect what we should on this relatively ‘okay-feeling’ platform, then head for the stairs.
So, while each of us checked our bodies—
“Mr. Employee!”
Supervisor— No, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae called out to .
But…
“What do you an, Mr. Employee…?”
“Ah, should I call you Supervisor Roe Deer insteadd?”
“Ah. No. ‘Roe Deer’ is fine.”
“Then don’t call Assistant Manager either, ‘Dolphin’ is fine for too, Roe Deer-nimm!”
Smiling, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae pulled a small glow-in-the-dark star sticker, a tube of effervescent vitamins, and what looked like a tail comb from her jacket and gave them quick checks.
“Hm. A few of my tools and items are deadd.”
“Sa here. Seems like… anything that draws power from sowhere else doesn’t work.”
“Oh, nice deduction, Assistant Manager!”
Everyone was smartly checking their gear.
And then…
“Roe Deer-nim, do you have any items?”
“……”
No.
I’m broke…
‘My items…’
I handed everything over to Section Chief Lee Jaheon to let go of them, so what’s left is probably—
[Oh. You’ve got my rchandise, Friend!]
R-Right.
‘At least this I have.’
It’s not even my real ‘Good Friend’, just a knock-off. Hiic.
[Just pop it in your breast pocket. Oh, splendid.]
I carefully took out the bunny plush and tucked it into my suit’s breast pocket as Braun asked.
For so reason, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae gave a thumbs-up. Uh. Thank you……
‘I wonder if Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s doing alright.’
Co to think of it, now that I’m back in human form, maybe I can use the VIP personal shopping at the Space Shopping Mall again.
I should be able to use the ‘VIP cell’ mounted under my tongue.
‘Unless that also counts as drawing power from elsewhere and won’t work…’
Either way, we just dropped into an annihilation-sanctioned Disaster as a five-man, no-gear party, so it’s useless for now, skip.
I sighed and, out of habit, fished around in my pockets like the others…
‘…Huh?’
My smartphone’s here.
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