Chapter 131

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Ryu Jae-gwan remembered clearly.

The mountain cabin where serial murders took place.

The person who, even while caught up in that terrible disaster, seized clues to prevent the murders and strove to save everyone, even the wicked masterminds.

The owner of the Silver Heart.

-“I secretly hid the people and set up the scene to look like they had been killed.”

-“I thought the killer would at least stay still in confusion if I did that.”

Also, his devotion and sacrifice shown in the school inside the strange nightmare called Sekwang Technical High School.

-“I did acquire the name tags, but they are not in my hands right now.”

-“I left them with someone who was alive in the classroom.”

Handing over a lifeline to others in an extreme situation is not an action just anyone can do.

Choices so upright that they rendered Ryu Jae-gwan, who had seen all kinds of human natures at the Disaster Management Bureau, speechless.

Though at the same time… he had actually learned the thunderbolt-like truth that the ‘owner of the Silver Heart’ was not an innocent citizen.

-“……Roe Deer?”

A human used like a limb by an immoral and crazy pharmaceutical company.

A foolish and selfish office worker, possessed like a cultist by the absurd reward of a Wish Ticket.

That was Kim Sol-eum.

The fact that he had given even a temporary agent badge to such a person was enough to make his blood run cold with shuddering disgust.

It had certainly been so, but….

-“You two. Leave me behind and go.”

“…….”

Sometimes, actions told more than the information describing a person.

A person who, even with his abdomen pierced, had tried to prioritize the safety of his colleague and the agent accompanying him.

‘Kim Sol-eum.’

He was standing beyond the glass window right now.

Having applied for the agent exam of the Disaster Management Bureau.

“…….”

However, the atmosphere was strangely different.

‘…Why can’t he lock eyes?’

Throughout the several times they met, Kim Sol-eum had always had a clean and neat attire and appearance. It was the same even when he was a high school student in the nightmare.

However, the other party seen beyond the glass window now kept his face deeply lowered, wearing glasses with shaggily disheveled hair.

Like a naive rookie in society, taking an exam among a crowd of people for the first time.

Or….

As if he had suffered a major mental blow somewhere and retreated inward.

‘…….’

But Ryu Jae-gwan stared at the glass window with hollow eyes from fatigue and wariness.

The three letters of the name clearly printed on the personal documents he was holding now.

Name: Kim Sol-eum.

Because that was all.

‘There is no work history for Daydream Co.’

The career column was cleanly blank, except for his university days.

Ryu Jae-gwan clenched his teeth.

This was beyond obvious, to the point of being ridiculous.

‘Did he come as a spy for that cult company?’

It was possible. No, highly likely!

‘Did he shamelessly apply in that state, thinking I genuinely wouldn’t know his name to the very end?’

Believing that he wouldn’t be recognized, that was.

…He had to verify even more thoroughly.

He must not be fooled by the appearance and atmosphere!

“Give it to me.”

“Oh…!”

Agent Bronze snatched the broadcasting equipment from the assistant interviewer and began the proceedings in an emotionless voice.

-“Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.”

-“In order, please put on the oxygen masks placed in front of you.”

The applicants grabbed the oxygen masks placed in the center of the room with reluctant hands.

The blood-stained oxygen masks, which looked as if someone had artificially cut all the tubes, had no reason to work, but… strangely, they lit up successfully.

The applicants swallowed.

And without anyone refusing, they put the oxygen masks over their faces.

Everyone’s hands and feet went cold.

-“The oxygen masks in question are items derived from paranormal disasters, and misuse may result in terrible consequences.”

-“From now on, every time you tell a lie, we will supply something other than oxygen.”

“…!”

Beyond the glass window, the applicants shut their eyes tightly or felt afraid.

Number 4, ‘Kim Sol-eum,’ also shrank back slightly.

Right. You must be afraid.

Even more so if you tried to infiltrate to commit a dirty act like spying!

-“Testify only to the truth.”

This personality and aptitude test utilized a line of ‘paranormal phenomena’ for which limited usage permission was granted in the Disaster Management Bureau.

Lie detection.

Discernment of malice.

Detection of sinners.

Procedures and abilities necessary for the minimum ethical line.

Ryu Jae-gwan glared beyond the glass window.

The agent candidates standing frozen with oxygen masks over their heads.

-“We will begin the questioning.”

A relentless common question came out.

-“From now on, you must shoot to kill one of the four agent candidates who came forward with you here.”

“…!!”

-“This is a measure to terminate the paranormal disaster.”

-“Answer who you will kill.”

The applicants parted their lips in shock.

There was no response yet.

However, in the space where the interviewers were located beyond the mirror, they were already ‘receiving the responses.’

Number 1:

K-Kill? Crazy!

Number 2:

…Who do I pick? Isn’t saying I can’t kill the correct answer? No, does an agent need coldheartedness? Ahhh damn it….

Number 3:

Fuck, to ask this kind of question so openly! Should I check the person next to me?

Each person’s thoughts were clearly organized into text and popped up along with their numbers.

In the output box of the device, where the pulse rate was originally supposed to appear through the oxygen mask, strangely red and clear sentences were floating up.

Their inner thoughts.

The Truth Respirator.

It was a byproduct phenomenon remaining after the termination of ‘The Last Confession,’ a Sentencing-grade paranormal disaster that had occurred at a certain nursing facility in Gangwon Province.

And even if it was somewhat unethical, the Disaster Management Bureau had steadily implemented similar personality and aptitude tests.

Because a disaster could unfold if they failed to screen properly here.

Without batting an eye, the interviewers read the inner thoughts of the agent candidates and evaluated them.

Panic, contemplation, blame.

‘Ordinary.’

‘Reasonable.’

However, only one person was surprisingly unresponsive.

Number 4:

…….

Applicant number 4.

Kim Sol-eum was not displaying any ‘thoughts’ on the screen.

He was merely wearing the oxygen mask silently.

“Did he freeze up from shock?”

“Look at how he lowered his head. He doesn’t seem to have much guts.”

“…….”

Ryu Jae-gwan did not show any wavering and grabbed the microphone again.

-“Number 1. Answer.”

The man in his twenties, who was rolling his eyes, stood upright and answered.

“For the safety of the majority, sometimes coldhearted choices are necessary. I… well, I will volunteer to die….”

However, the words on the screen said something else, much more raw.

No. 1:

I-I don’t think I can do it…. Still, I have to believe I can die. Because it’s correct, they must be asking in this manner, right?!

‘Panic, lack of thinking ability, extreme conformism.’

….

Failed.

-“Number 1. Take off the oxygen mask and wait.”

“…!”

Applicant number 1 stood blankly before soon accepting the situation.

He stumbled as he took off the oxygen mask and stood quietly in his spot.

“Excuse me, maybe we could put that one on hold and ask one more question…”

“Shh.”

Another assistant interviewer stopped the one trying to protest.

“Agent Bronze’s judgment has never been wrong. Just leave it.”

“…….”

“He will pass whoever needs to be passed anyway.”

The assistant interviewer gestured with his eyes, as if to show him.

The personality and aptitude test was continuing.

-“Number 2. Answer.”

“…After choosing a close person, I will proceed… as quickly and humanely as possible. Prioritizing the absence of pain.”

Number 2:

Is it too obvious? But this is the safe answer. With everyone watching, speaking concretely about killing someone here is…

Evasive answer.

Failed.

-“Take off the oxygen mask and wait.”

In an instant, the ‘personality and aptitude test’ for up to number 2 was finished.

Next.

-“Number 3.”

Number 3 sweated and raised his head.

However, he spoke with a somewhat triumphant expression.

“I will kill no one!”

“…!”

“In any situation, there is a Plan B. Surely there will be another way to escape. Searching for a way to get out together with all my colleagues…”

Flop.

Number 3 collapsed before he could finish speaking.

“…!!”

The oxygen mask he was wearing had turned into a clean new one before they knew it, and Number 3 lost consciousness with a pale face.

With cold faces, the interviewers read the bright red inner thoughts of Number 3, who had spoken a ‘lie.’

A falsehood that he himself probably had not even been conscious of, which he would have thought of as merely a ‘feeling.’

Number 3:

Wow, fuck, this is so thrilling, killing the person next to me lol. This is it, this is what a secret agent is.

Number 3 was left abandoned on the floor just like that.

“…….”

The atmosphere among the agent applicants waiting for their turn in the room froze.

The only one still wearing the oxygen mask was a single person.

-“Number 4.”

-“Answer.”

This time, the question was the same.

‘To eliminate a dangerous paranormal phenomenon, who among the four people here will you kill?’

Ryu Jae-gwan looked at Kim Sol-eum beyond the glass window.

How indeed would that author, who used to be an employee of an extremely unethical pharmaceutical company, answer?

Perhaps, conscious of that, he would give a slicker and better-natured answer like before….

“Number 3.”

…….

Huh?

“The person who is currently collapsed.”

-…!

For the first time, someone was pointed out directly.

The interviewers widened their eyes and listened intently to the next words….

“…….”

“…….”

No.

Was that the end…?

Number 4 was keeping his head deeply lowered, far from offering a further explanation.

A somewhat reluctant guidance voice came out.

-“Is that the end of your answer?”

“Pardon?”

-“Do you have anything further to explain?”

Number 4, who hesitated to the point of frustration, opened his mouth in a voice like a crawling ant.

“Well, that is… if it is the situation you described, it seems that the four of us are responsible anyway….”

-…!!

“If the disaster vanishes only by the death of one of us, we must have been deeply associated with the disaster itself…. Like we touched something we shouldn’t have….”

-……,

“Uh, would this be correct?”

-“Applicants do not have the opportunity to ask questions.”

“Ah…! I-I’m sorry….”

Candidate number 4 muttered, still keeping his head lowered.

As if he was embarrassed to say such a thing.

“In that case… yes. I conjectured as such, and chose the opponent who is easiest to shoot due to being neutralized.”

Truth.

-…….

“However, if there is even a little bit of time to spare, I would like to do my best to look for an alternative.”

A predictably good-natured answer.

“Because life is precious. I think comparing simply by head count, or by who is more valuable, is a difficult and grueling task….”

However, that way of speaking had a strange power.

“Still, if there are no alternatives within the time allowed to me and the possibility of it developing into a large-scale casualty event is very high… it can’t be helped, though.”

For the first time, Kim Sol-eum raised his head.

The eyes beyond the glass and beyond the spectacles still looked firm even though they had passed through two layers of windows.

And his inner thoughts popped up.

Number 4:

But I want to save them as much as possible….

…It was precisely the model answer that the Disaster Management Bureau wanted from its agents.

Follow regulations in unavoidable disaster situations, but keep listening to the voice of conscience…!

Hurriedly.

Number 4 lowered his gaze again as if he had never done so, but the interviewers admired him in a small voice.

“He is sincere.”

“Both his nature and judgment are quite good. And his idea is also…”

Grip.

Ryu Jae-gwan held back from almost crumpling the documents at the relaxed admiration heard from his side.

No.

There is no way.

“That guy passes for now…”

-“Next question.”

“A-Agent?”

Ryu Jae-gwan ignored his surroundings and pushed ahead with the secondary question, which was originally conducted only ‘in case of ambiguity in judgment.’

-“You are isolated in a paranormal disaster.”

-“If you can save only one person out of the disaster between the best-natured applicant in this room and your close friend, who would you send?”

Number 4 had an almost bewildered face now.

A feeling of not knowing why they were asking such an obvious thing!

“Uh. The person who is more likely to survive between the two…?”

-…!

“Just… I will strive to save as many people as possible.”

Number 4:

Because that is what the Paranormal Disaster Management Bureau is supposed to do….

-…….

Ryu Jae-gwan looked outside the glass window with a blank face.

The assistant interviewers had an intuition.

‘This is a pass.’

‘It is a pass, without a doubt.’

Although Number 4’s attitude was (quite a bit) passive, frankly speaking, didn’t successful agents of the Disaster Management Bureau all have some strange aspect to them like that?

Traumas seemingly exchanged for beliefs.

In that sense, he also appeared to be a typical agent candidate.

‘Therefore, pass…’

It was then.

Number 4’s bright red inner thoughts were updated.

Number 4:

…Although for me, the situation of having to make such a choice wouldn’t happen anyway.

‘…!’

The tone of voice was too meaningful.

‘A slip!’

Both Ryu Jae-gwan and the assistant interviewers grew tense in an instant. And widening their eyes, they focused on reading the next sentence….

Number 4:

Well, for me right now…… there is no person I can call a friend in the first place….

Ah.

Number 4:

Should I have told them it’s a question that doesn’t make sense in the first place? It’s a bit embarrassing to say it’s fine because I don’t have anyone who is a friend….

“…….”

“…….”

Number 4:

No. Let’s not say it, after all. Let’s make… well, colleagues here diligently. Fighting!

A solemn silence spread among the interviewers.

“…….”

Ryu Jae-gwan felt the gazes of the assistant interviewers.

A blatant gaze that said if he put the pass on hold while continuing to ask questions after reading this far, he would become a piece of trash!

-“Take off… the oxygen mask, and wait.”

Candidate number 4 bowed his head and removed the oxygen mask.

The guidance was the same wording as before, but everyone in the room and all the interviewers knew.

“…Thank you.”

Candidate number 4 passed.

-“All four participants who have completed the personality and aptitude test, please move to the waiting room outside.”

Beyond participant number 3, who was being carried away like a piece of luggage, participant number 4 moved after quietly adjusting his glasses with an still slightly shrunk posture.

Although… his dignity had suffered a wound without his knowledge.

That made him a more impressive passing candidate.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing where he will work.’

‘Yeah.’

Looking at each other, the assistant interviewers thought that they should look out for that timid participant number 4 when they met him next time.

Actually, there was no need for that.

Because it was an answer aimed at that very effect in the first place!

* * *

‘Whew.’

The waiting room.

I sat on the chair and let out a deep sigh.

With my knees gathered together so as not to end up in a presumptuous posture.

‘I got through safely…….’

Why on earth is Agent Bronze coming out from there!

‘I almost fainted the moment I heard the broadcast.’

Wow, I thought I was doomed the moment Ryu Jae-gwan’s voice was heard as the interviewer’s voice, but surprisingly, being flustered actually helped in building my character.

Specifically….

‘An agent who is introverted due to an unspeakable tragic story, yet highly capable.’

This was the character I was going to use at the Disaster Management Bureau this time.

In line with that standard, I had even come to the interview after letting my appearance get quite disheveled for several weeks….

‘Rather than being too skillful, a type that seems slightly intimidated gets suspected less.’

In the first place, since most agents of the Disaster Management Bureau are people with their own stories, it would also be natural.

Ah. Did I not get a reality check from pretending to be timid?

I am originally a timid person. I found that discarding social face and just expressing my raw, cowardly way of thinking outwardly was all it took….

‘Hahaha….’

……It is actually better than pretending to be a crazy Gen Z employee at Daydream Co.

…I had to think so!

I wiped my cheek beneath my glasses.

‘At any rate, it worked well.’

A pass was almost certain.

Even though Ryu Jae-gwan was there as the interviewer, no less.

Indeed.

An agent who had already had his back stabbed spectacularly by me once had passed me….

Seeing as I haven’t been dragged away by the agents who rushed into the interview hall.

‘…But it looks like I’m going to stab him in the back again.’

I am a spy, after all.

I apologized only in my mind, feeling like breaking into a cold sweat. Um, I’m sorry once again, Agent….

‘Still, uh, you’re still a bit unsure, right?’

You passed me but you’ll keep an eye on me? While reporting everything about my previous workplace to the higher-ups?

That would be quite troublesome.

Since I have stepped onto the path of a spy anyway, let’s do it properly. There is no retreat.

‘I have to play more tricks here to completely solidify my reliability before entering.’

I waited silently.

Before long, my number was called again.

The sign of passing.

-“Number 4 of Group Da.”

-“You have passed. Please move to the designated location.”

“…!”

It worked.

Probably, if I go to the ‘location,’ the interviewers who only let their voices be heard will actually come out, give me my agent ID card, and assign my temporary affiliation.

In other words… I will face Ryu Jae-gwan directly.

‘I didn’t expect to meet the biggest risk factor from my very first day of agent infiltration, but it actually turned out for the best.’

Let’s settle this now before going.

“Yes! Yes….”

I deliberately answered loudly, then lowered and adjusted my voice as if flustered, before getting up in a hurry and carefully moving my feet.

…Engraving the operation I had planned to use whenever I met Ryu Jae-gwan back into my head and heart.

Operation Name: Agent! I pretended to be dead and escaped that crazy cult company! T_T

It was truly the beginning of my life as an agent scammer.

……I would just like to make the excuse that I never intended to go this far….