Episode 312
[Congratulations, friend! You have a new goal.]
I tucked the dream incubator back into the tattoo.
Now that I knew this incubator could create the potion to go home, I couldn't possibly leave it behind in this burnt-out office.
My heart continued to pound.
'If I end the Segwang Metropolitan City Ghost Story, I can go home.'
That sentence wouldn't leave my mind.
However.
"Grapes-ie."
"..."
"Are you going to wish to go home with that?"
I turned to look at him.
Agent Choi was observing me, too.
'He noticed.'
He had already read the documents in the Dream Incubation Room and seen the button I had assembled.
He must have already been certain that I had figured out how to make the potion that was the original form of the Wish Ticket.
The man, who had become noticeably quiet since a while ago, spoke up.
"Isn't there another way?"
"There might be."
I doubt it.
More than anything, with the most certain method right in front of me, suggesting we look for another way was probably an indirect expression of his desire to stop me.
So I, too, must speak gently.
As if I were open to the idea.
[Excellent!]
"For now, I plan to learn more about Segwang Metropolitan City while carrying out Director Ho's Project."
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. As I mentioned, going through Director Ho is the most direct way to get the Daydream Potion Device."
If I were to suddenly ask for the Daydream Potion Device, Ho Yuwon would surely try to find out why.
It was a request unrelated to exploration, after all.
'And the moment he learns of my situation, he'll try to use that, too.'
I couldn't know if Director Ho wanted the Segwang Metropolitan City Ghost Story to end.
But what if I tried to find what Ho Yuwon wanted in Segwang Metropolitan City and trade it for the Daydream Potion Device?
'That would definitely work.'
And.
If I install the Daydream Potion Device here, as Lee Kangheon's note said, then the Segwang Metropolitan City Ghost Story ends.[1]
"..."
My head throbbed. The mere possibility made me want to act immediately.
But I wouldn't know for certain until I installed it.
"For now, since there were no issues with the dream incubator itself, I think it would be fine to try installing it."
No, even if that wasn't the case, I couldn't fully trust the contents of Lee Kangheon's note, so I would continue exploring Segwang Metropolitan City.
To gather information for the conclusion.
Also, it was rare to find a place with such good dream essence efficiency.
'Just clearing the escape from the subway station extracts a grade close to A.'
It meant that just ending the subway stations one by one would be quite profitable.
Wait a minute, now that I think about it, I should have gotten quite a bit of liquid from burning down and ending Midday Station.
I hurriedly rummaged inside my tattoo.
'The Collector is…'
…There it is!
I saw the Collector glowing with a brilliant golden light.
'Is it really A-grade?'
Then it's between 100,000 and 200,000….
If I add the liquid I already had and the liquid I got from ending the Segwang High Ghost Story, it might really be 400,000 to 500,000.
'Not bad.'
It fills up pretty well. Right. I just have to repeat what I've done so far nine more times….
....
Hold on.
Can't I just keep killing myself here?
There are many particularly dangerous places among the Segwang Metropolitan City subway stations. If I just keep dying in those places and going outside, the Dream Collector should fill up.
Isn't that also a clear?
Then that's it. I can just keep coming back.
Then....
[That is efficient, friend! But isn't it often the case that theory and reality are different? Please consider it carefully….]
Ah.
…Right. The Dream Essence concentration would probably drop below a certain level.
'Just leaving without properly experiencing the Darkness will only produce low-grade liquid.'
It's not for nothing that Daydream manages the cycles with intervals instead of putting the same person in the same ghost story every single day.
'Thanks, Braun.'
[Oh, it's only natural for a Good Friend!]
Looking at the Collector sloshing with A-grade essence, I steeled my resolve once more.
So, for now, I'll fill it up with the Dream Essence Liquid I've gathered and….
"Are you going to use that?"
"Huh? Not now, but later…."
"Then I can hold on to the dream incubator until then, right?"
"No."
"..."
Damn it.
I answered too quickly.
I deliberately put on a dumbfounded expression and looked at him.
"I'm holding onto it because I have storage space. Agent, how on earth were you planning to carry it…?"
"Hey, I've got muscles and grit~"
Agent Choi joked and laughed, but his eyes were cold.
"How about putting that dream incubator back where it was."
"..."
"Well, in any case, Grapes is going to continue exploring the subway here."
"Yes."
"I see, heave-ho."
Agent Choi got up from his seat, then looked at me and smiled brightly.
"Let's go."
"..."
"I'm starting to want to meet the people left here, too."
That.
"Let's see, you said Jaegwan is in a place called the Train Shelter, right?"
"...Yes."
Guilt flared cold in my heart again, and my head cleared.
"I'll guide you."
We left the burnt-out hallway of the Cheerful Research Institute and headed for the platform.
* * *
A short while later.
Train G1572 appeared on the platform, and when I waved, the door to car 7 opened a beat later.
"Roe Deer… ah."
"Nice to see you, Agent Peppermint."
When Ms. Go Young-eun saw Agent Choi, her eyes wavered, and she greeted him with an expression that was both pleased and awkward.
And….
"Agent."
"Bronzie."
The dead come to car 7.
The Team Hyumoo 1 senior agent gazed for a long time at his junior—trapped and dead inside an Extinction-class Disaster—then gave a slight smile and spoke.
"You're looking well, Bronzie."
"Yes."
Agent Bronze smiled faintly.
Because of the train, the complexion of the dead did not show.
He looked just like when he was alive.
"I'm doing well."
"…Good."
An emotion similar to what I had just felt flickered in Agent Choi's eyes as he looked at Agent Bronze.
Guilt.
But he seemed to suppress that sign, and soon resumed his conversation with Agent Bronze in a placid tone.
And as he patted the other's back, they had a conversation that seemed ordinary but hinted at something more.
"What about your duties from now on…."
"Why are you worried about something like that? With this ace Senior here…"
It was clearly a conversation about how to deal with Agent Bronze's absence.
And….
"…Is there anything you want to pass on to anyone?"
It seemed he was taking a last will and testament, just in case.
'Ah.'
My toes felt like they were curling up.
Anxiety.
'I have to do something, quickly.'
I should have just guided Agent Choi to the Train Shelter, boarded any train, and gone to the next station....
"Anxious?"
"…!"
Deputy Manager Eun Haje, who had been glancing at the two agents' conversation just like me, turned to look at me.
"Noruya. We're seeing each other again sooner than I thought. You really ran off like some roe deer."
"Assistant Manager."
"What was so urgent that you just left a note…?"
Then she stopped, looking at my face.
"What's with your complexion."
"Pardon?"
"You're too pale. Anyone would think you're the corpse, not me."
She threw out a frightening remark like a joke.
"I'm fine. It's just that I've made a few discoveries."
"..."
Deputy Manager Eun Haje lowered her voice, pulled me to a corner, and asked in a small voice.
"Is it because of that dream incubator thing?"
I slowly nodded.
"To be precise, I need our company's potion-making machine."
"…That's so random."
I didn't explain further.
Right now, Deputy Manager Eun Haje must be having a hard time accepting the fact that she died and is trapped here, as well as adjusting to this shelter.
I felt like I had added to her burden by leaving that note.
And just then, the two agents finished their conversation and came over.
As soon as I saw Agent Bronze, I spoke urgently.
"Um, I'm sorry, Agent. I should have asked you about any useful items before I left, but I was in a hurry…."
"It's alright."
Agent Bronze shook his head.
"I've already told Agent Choi what I need. …Please don't feel too burdened."
"...Yes."
It was becoming increasingly difficult for me to just stand still inside this train.
Fortunately, it didn't last long.
This stop is Morning, Morning Station….
The train had made a full circle and returned to its destination.
I immediately moved toward the door.
"I'll be getting off now."
"Already?"
"Yes. If there's anything you need, please let me know. I'll find it for you."
"Hmm…."
Eun Haje, who had been watching me quietly, said nothing and returned to Agent Bronze and Ms. Go Young-eun.
I thought I made eye contact with Ms. Go Young-eun, but I quietly bowed my head and waited to get off.
The doors are opening.
And I stepped onto the platform of Morning Station.
The modern, clean platform was the same as ever. I diligently made my way toward the stairs….
"We're going together, Grapes-ie!"
"..."
I felt the weight of Agent Choi's arm as he slung it over my shoulder.
[Hmph. Still an excessive fellow, feigning friendliness.]
So you got off?
Well, if Agent Choi had decided to accompany me, it would be difficult to stop him.
And I had secretly been thinking that it would be nice to have Agent Choi's help at this station, so it was right to accept it gladly.
…If that's the case.
"Um, Agent."
"Yeah?"
I opened my mouth cautiously.
"By any chance, from now on during our explorations, if the Collector fills with liquid, could you… sell it to me?"
I had received his help in collecting liquid when we ended the Segwang High Ghost Story, too.
So this time as well….
"No."
"..."
"Grapes-ie. We agreed to split what I gave you before, fifty-fifty. Didn't we?"
Ah.
"…Yes. We did."
[Goodness. After all the help my friend has bestowed upon him, to make such an insolent and cold-hearted remark!]
No.
A surge of resentment welled up.
But I hurriedly suppressed it. Let's not be shameless.
'Let's try to talk to him later.'
It would be fine if I made a good offer.
I can do it. I can do it….
"Ah, right. I forgot about that. Mr. Civil Servant."
....
...!!
"First, take the Collector I have, Noruya."
I turned my head.
…Assistant Manager Eun Haje was standing there.
No, Agent Bronze was behind her, too.
Behind the two of them as they stepped onto the platform, the platform screen door closed.
Beyond it, the train was leaving the station.
"..."
Feeling like I'd been hit over the head, I looked at Agent Bronze and Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
"Why did you get off…?"
"Agent Grapes."
"Get back on! Quickly!"
"I don't want to."
"…!!"
I saw the vitality drain from the bodies of the two who had gotten off the train, saw the pale, ashen bodies of the dead.
But the two of them were calm.
Even Agent Choi.
'…Did they already talk about this?'
I gritted my teeth and looked at them.
"We gathered information about what kind of place this station is in the shelter."
"..."
"It's a good place for an agent and a reporter to explore."
"..."
"Agent Grapes."
Damn it.
'I thought they wouldn't know since I didn't share the Wiki content.'
I hadn't expected them to figure that much out from the testimony of a survivor who had visited this station in person.
"Do you know what was at this station?"
Morning Station (Scales Tribunal)
The subway station where the Segwang Metropolitan City district court was located.
"…They say there was a court."
"Yes. But that's not all."
....
Agent Bronze's gaze turned toward the top of the stairs.
Scales Tribunal
Next to the giant wooden plaque hanging above, there was a silver scales mark.
The small embossed pattern within those scales would be familiar to some.
Because it was identical to the one inside the Silver Heart.
A Disaster Management Bureau device.
The basement of this district court is also the location of a secret government agency.
"Circumstantially, it seems the Segwang City branch of the Disaster Management Bureau was at this station."
That's right.
This was the location of the Segwang Metropolitan City Management Bureau branch that had vanished entirely.
On the Day of Disaster, that government agency evacuated the largest number of survivors underground.
Afterward, the scattered government agents worked throughout Segwang Metropolitan City to rescue survivors and request aid from headquarters, but success stories were rare.
However, their desperate deliberation during that process over who should be rescued remained at the site even after their deaths.
So, do you know what is happening at this subway station that has mutated into a ghost story?
And so, at this Morning Station, that deliberation is endlessly repeated.
The Scales Tribunal will clearly determine whether you are worthy of being rescued.
Through a proven method.
Creeeak—
At the top of the stairs.
The door below the plaque opened, revealing the silver Scales Tribunal.
"Do you remember? How the people at Horizon Lodge were all criminals with bad records?"
"..."
"It seems the equipment used then was also left at this branch."
Your weight will be measured on the Scales of Evil.
The Scales of Evil.
The very scales used by the Disaster Management Bureau to conscript civilian sacrifices now dominate this station.
"..."
However.
It probably wouldn't be in the way Agent Bronze was thinking.
Because it was twisted and Contaminated.
Originally, this device used sin as its weight, but influenced by the Day of Disaster, it came to use something else as its weight.
I gasped for breath.
What you love most will be placed on the opposite scale.
[1] original: If I install the Daydream Potion Device here as Lee Kangheon's note said, and the Segwang Metropolitan City Ghost Story ends. (kinda hard to understand what it means)