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Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work — Part 2
Secretiv_Sorceress · saltgoblin & I_Love_Kim_Soleum
Completed
Horror
4.9
326 chapters
558 views
A pop-up event for some 'modern fantasy' media I loved so much that I even took a precious day off work to attend. On that day, I ended up transmigrating as a character in that very fantasy world. As none other than a newly hired employee at a famous large corporation! A dream job with great benefits, an excellent salary, and even kind and... Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still gotta Work. Part 2.
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I'm an Infinite Regressor, But I've Got Stories to Tell
Audio chapters (163) · 31–60
31
Chapter 239
Lee Seonghae, motivated by her extreme sense of morality, decides to help the 'Employee' (the Golden Mascot) by introducing him to the Disaster Management Bureau agents she met during the 'Man in the Screen' incident. Following a cryptic KakaoTalk exchange with an individual claiming to be 'Assistant Manager Lee Kangheon,' Lee Seonghae meets the agents in a cafe. She discovers that the man she believed was Lee Kangheon is actually a disguised agent (Agent Bronze) accompanied by another agent with a neck scar. The agents express interest in the Employee's black carrier, which Lee Seonghae defends as a comfort measure rather than a restraint. After the agents question her about the ethics of working for Daydream Inc., Lee Seonghae agrees to help them locate the Employee's carrier.
Over the following days, Lee Seonghae gathers intelligence from the company's Security Team. However, she discovers the Employee has been secretly transferred for special duty under Director Ho Yuwon and has gone missing. To assist the agents in tracking him, she provides them with a golden wildflower, a souvenir plucked from the Mascot's horn, which acts as a spiritual compass. The flower points southeast, leading Lee Seonghae and the agents to Jisan Village.
Upon arriving in Jisan Village, the group encounters the Employee, who is currently in a state of non-verbal communication. The Employee perceives a crisis: the 'Ascetic in the Box' is near the exit and may target the agents. As the agents (Agent Choi and Agent Bronze) attempt to communicate peacefully, a tense standoff occurs involving Ho Yuwon. The chapter concludes with the 'Man in the Screen' (Braun) suggesting a dark solution to the situation: to satisfy the 'Ascetic in the Box' quota of two people, they should select the two 'least valuable' individuals present to be taken by the box.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:13
Chapter 239
Lee Seonghae, motivated by her extreme sense of morality, decides to help the 'Employee' (the Golden Mascot) by introducing him to the Disaster Management Bureau agents she met during the 'Man in the Screen' incident. Following a cryptic KakaoTalk exchange with an individual claiming to be 'Assistant Manager Lee Kangheon,' Lee Seonghae meets the agents in a cafe. She discovers that the man she believed was Lee Kangheon is actually a disguised agent (Agent Bronze) accompanied by another agent with a neck scar. The agents express interest in the Employee's black carrier, which Lee Seonghae defends as a comfort measure rather than a restraint. After the agents question her about the ethics of working for Daydream Inc., Lee Seonghae agrees to help them locate the Employee's carrier.
Over the following days, Lee Seonghae gathers intelligence from the company's Security Team. However, she discovers the Employee has been secretly transferred for special duty under Director Ho Yuwon and has gone missing. To assist the agents in tracking him, she provides them with a golden wildflower, a souvenir plucked from the Mascot's horn, which acts as a spiritual compass. The flower points southeast, leading Lee Seonghae and the agents to Jisan Village.
Upon arriving in Jisan Village, the group encounters the Employee, who is currently in a state of non-verbal communication. The Employee perceives a crisis: the 'Ascetic in the Box' is near the exit and may target the agents. As the agents (Agent Choi and Agent Bronze) attempt to communicate peacefully, a tense standoff occurs involving Ho Yuwon. The chapter concludes with the 'Man in the Screen' (Braun) suggesting a dark solution to the situation: to satisfy the 'Ascetic in the Box' quota of two people, they should select the two 'least valuable' individuals present to be taken by the box.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:13
32
Chapter 240
The group faces a dire dilemma caused by the 'Ascetic in the Box,' a supernatural entity that requires two sentient victims to be trapped inside to fulfill its quota and close itself. Kim Soleum explains the box's mechanics: once it acquires a target, it will relentlessly follow them until the quota is met, at which point the victim is trapped in a slow, agonizing death. The box is currently moving closer to the group. Assistant Manager Eun Haje reverts to her true form after being released from her marble guise, and Agent Bronze recognizes her. Kim Soleum realizes the box is actively closing in. Agent Bronze surreptitiously provides Kim Soleum with his agent jacket, which contains 'Five Colored Shoelaces'—an emergency escape item—suggesting a plan to save him. Meanwhile, a moral rift forms: Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae proposes sacrificing cult members to satisfy the box, a suggestion supported by Ho Yuwon and Eun Haje. Agent Choi attempts to maintain order, but the consensus shifts toward using the cultists. However, Agent Bronze insists on following Bureau protocol, which prioritizes agents' lives, and attempts to select a verified villain to sacrifice to save time. As the box draws closer, Agent Choi suddenly moves to lure the box away, attempting a self-sacrificial distraction. In the chaos, Ho Yuwon pushes Agent Bronze into the box, causing him to disappear. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control and witnessing the group's willingness to sacrifice others, Kim Soleum uses his smoke ability to launch himself into the box to stop the cycle or intervene.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:13
Chapter 240
The group faces a dire dilemma caused by the 'Ascetic in the Box,' a supernatural entity that requires two sentient victims to be trapped inside to fulfill its quota and close itself. Kim Soleum explains the box's mechanics: once it acquires a target, it will relentlessly follow them until the quota is met, at which point the victim is trapped in a slow, agonizing death. The box is currently moving closer to the group. Assistant Manager Eun Haje reverts to her true form after being released from her marble guise, and Agent Bronze recognizes her. Kim Soleum realizes the box is actively closing in. Agent Bronze surreptitiously provides Kim Soleum with his agent jacket, which contains 'Five Colored Shoelaces'—an emergency escape item—suggesting a plan to save him. Meanwhile, a moral rift forms: Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae proposes sacrificing cult members to satisfy the box, a suggestion supported by Ho Yuwon and Eun Haje. Agent Choi attempts to maintain order, but the consensus shifts toward using the cultists. However, Agent Bronze insists on following Bureau protocol, which prioritizes agents' lives, and attempts to select a verified villain to sacrifice to save time. As the box draws closer, Agent Choi suddenly moves to lure the box away, attempting a self-sacrificial distraction. In the chaos, Ho Yuwon pushes Agent Bronze into the box, causing him to disappear. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control and witnessing the group's willingness to sacrifice others, Kim Soleum uses his smoke ability to launch himself into the box to stop the cycle or intervene.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:13
33
Chapter 241
Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) realizes he has been swallowed by the 'Ascetic in the Box,' a 6th-ranked authority of the Quota Worship Sect. Inside the box, victims are held in digestive fluid that prevents death but ensures continuous, excruciating pain while their consciousnesses are linked. Kim Soleum, Ryu Jaekwan (Agent Bronze), and an unnamed schoolboy are trapped in separate membranes within the sac. As the Ascetic's digestive fluid is secreted, Kim Soleum uses his smoke transformation to manifest a horn and ring a bell, which helps restore his willpower. He attempts to use his tattoo to absorb the membrane, but the attempt only causes the sac to constrict and produce more fluid. Realizing the Ascetic's whispers link the pain to thought, Ryu Jaekwan begins to realize the nature of the pain. Kim Soleum decides to use the "Overwrite" ability to edit the box's description. He changes the rule from the box being unopenable to it being able to burst open if subjected to a powerful shock from within. Kim Soleum uses his hand to strike the membrane, providing that shock. The box bursts, liberating the victims and causing the Ascetic's narrative to collapse. Kim Soleum loses his human identity and consciousness in the process, being spat out alongside the others. Ryu Jaekwan regains consciousness first, finds the schoolboy, and then finds the unconscious Kim Soleum, noting that Kim Soleum's mask is intact but his eyes have lost their light. Ryu Jaekwan realizes they are back in the desolate underground bunker, which has been breached. He hears a roaring sound and the ringing of a bell, indicating a ceremonial jakdu is striking, and rushes outside with Kim Soleum.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:36
Chapter 241
Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) realizes he has been swallowed by the 'Ascetic in the Box,' a 6th-ranked authority of the Quota Worship Sect. Inside the box, victims are held in digestive fluid that prevents death but ensures continuous, excruciating pain while their consciousnesses are linked. Kim Soleum, Ryu Jaekwan (Agent Bronze), and an unnamed schoolboy are trapped in separate membranes within the sac. As the Ascetic's digestive fluid is secreted, Kim Soleum uses his smoke transformation to manifest a horn and ring a bell, which helps restore his willpower. He attempts to use his tattoo to absorb the membrane, but the attempt only causes the sac to constrict and produce more fluid. Realizing the Ascetic's whispers link the pain to thought, Ryu Jaekwan begins to realize the nature of the pain. Kim Soleum decides to use the "Overwrite" ability to edit the box's description. He changes the rule from the box being unopenable to it being able to burst open if subjected to a powerful shock from within. Kim Soleum uses his hand to strike the membrane, providing that shock. The box bursts, liberating the victims and causing the Ascetic's narrative to collapse. Kim Soleum loses his human identity and consciousness in the process, being spat out alongside the others. Ryu Jaekwan regains consciousness first, finds the schoolboy, and then finds the unconscious Kim Soleum, noting that Kim Soleum's mask is intact but his eyes have lost their light. Ryu Jaekwan realizes they are back in the desolate underground bunker, which has been breached. He hears a roaring sound and the ringing of a bell, indicating a ceremonial jakdu is striking, and rushes outside with Kim Soleum.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:36
34
Chapter 242
Ryu Jaekwan emerges from a bunker in the destroyed Jisan Village, where he encounters Lee Seonghae. She explains that Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) is stronger than the box that trapped them. Ryu Jaekwan observes Agent Choi, who is in a state of extreme distress and fury following Director Ho Yuwon's cruel comments regarding the fate of the agents trapped in the box. Agent Choi has impaled Director Ho Yuwon with two massive azure jakdu blades, pinning him to the ground. Ryu Jaekwan realizes Agent Choi was attempting to perform a Sacrificial Ritual to summon a divine being to break the box. After a brief emotional reunion, Agent Choi reveals he has placed the civilian, Eun Haje (Falcon), inside a protective glass bead. A tense standoff ensues between the agents and the unphased, smiling Director Ho Yuwon. The situation escalates when Kim Soleum's body undergoes a transformation, manifesting as a horned, black-smoke entity. This entity refuses to be addressed by his former name, insisting on being identified only by his registration number, 130666. The entity forcefully removes the jakdu blades from Director Ho Yuwon and blocks Agent Choi's attempts to restrain him. Amidst the chaos, Agent Choi officially declares Director Ho Yuwon a Supernatural Disaster.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
10:45
Chapter 242
Ryu Jaekwan emerges from a bunker in the destroyed Jisan Village, where he encounters Lee Seonghae. She explains that Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) is stronger than the box that trapped them. Ryu Jaekwan observes Agent Choi, who is in a state of extreme distress and fury following Director Ho Yuwon's cruel comments regarding the fate of the agents trapped in the box. Agent Choi has impaled Director Ho Yuwon with two massive azure jakdu blades, pinning him to the ground. Ryu Jaekwan realizes Agent Choi was attempting to perform a Sacrificial Ritual to summon a divine being to break the box. After a brief emotional reunion, Agent Choi reveals he has placed the civilian, Eun Haje (Falcon), inside a protective glass bead. A tense standoff ensues between the agents and the unphased, smiling Director Ho Yuwon. The situation escalates when Kim Soleum's body undergoes a transformation, manifesting as a horned, black-smoke entity. This entity refuses to be addressed by his former name, insisting on being identified only by his registration number, 130666. The entity forcefully removes the jakdu blades from Director Ho Yuwon and blocks Agent Choi's attempts to restrain him. Amidst the chaos, Agent Choi officially declares Director Ho Yuwon a Supernatural Disaster.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
10:45
35
Chapter 243
In a tense standoff, Agent Choi declares his intent to register Director Ho Yuwon as a Supernatural Disaster for termination, challenging the protection offered by the Daydream company. Ho Yuwon responds with a smooth, sinister tone, questioning the morality of the Bureau choosing who is allowed to die. Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae intervenes, accusing Ho Yuwon of being unethical for not cooperating with the group, but Ho Yuwon retorts by pointing out she is technically off duty and thus unable to make personal accusations. Ho Yuwon then turns his attention to the employee, Kim Soleum (130666), asking him to continue his project and requesting that he restrain the interfering agents.
During the interaction, a tear in Kim Soleum's coat reveals amorphous, flesh-like matter seeping out, which he attempts to hide with black mist. Agent Choi attempts to recruit Kim Soleum to the Bureau, offering to fix his uniform and provide transportation. Kim Soleum refuses all proposals, citing work regulations, including the impossibility of resignation. Agent Choi, planning to trap Kim Soleum in a 'makeshift glass prison,' lies to the group, claiming he can use a nearby old well—which he falsely claims is an abandoned Bureau transport route—to teleport them to Seoul. He intends to drop Kim Soleum into the well and use a transport item to corner him.
As the group gathers at the well, Kim Soleum descends, accompanied by Agent Choi and Ryu Jaekwan, who leaps in to assist. Lee Seonghae also jumps in to 'help.' Suddenly, the Dokkaebi Lantern placed on the well floor reacts to the convergence of ley lines, triggering an unexpected transportation. Kim Soleum is seen checking an ID from the 'Cheerful Research Institute' before the light engulfs everyone. Moments later, Kim Soleum wakes up on a subway platform in Sekwang Station, finding himself in human form with ordinary hands, surrounded by the other displaced individuals.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
11:03
Chapter 243
In a tense standoff, Agent Choi declares his intent to register Director Ho Yuwon as a Supernatural Disaster for termination, challenging the protection offered by the Daydream company. Ho Yuwon responds with a smooth, sinister tone, questioning the morality of the Bureau choosing who is allowed to die. Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae intervenes, accusing Ho Yuwon of being unethical for not cooperating with the group, but Ho Yuwon retorts by pointing out she is technically off duty and thus unable to make personal accusations. Ho Yuwon then turns his attention to the employee, Kim Soleum (130666), asking him to continue his project and requesting that he restrain the interfering agents.
During the interaction, a tear in Kim Soleum's coat reveals amorphous, flesh-like matter seeping out, which he attempts to hide with black mist. Agent Choi attempts to recruit Kim Soleum to the Bureau, offering to fix his uniform and provide transportation. Kim Soleum refuses all proposals, citing work regulations, including the impossibility of resignation. Agent Choi, planning to trap Kim Soleum in a 'makeshift glass prison,' lies to the group, claiming he can use a nearby old well—which he falsely claims is an abandoned Bureau transport route—to teleport them to Seoul. He intends to drop Kim Soleum into the well and use a transport item to corner him.
As the group gathers at the well, Kim Soleum descends, accompanied by Agent Choi and Ryu Jaekwan, who leaps in to assist. Lee Seonghae also jumps in to 'help.' Suddenly, the Dokkaebi Lantern placed on the well floor reacts to the convergence of ley lines, triggering an unexpected transportation. Kim Soleum is seen checking an ID from the 'Cheerful Research Institute' before the light engulfs everyone. Moments later, Kim Soleum wakes up on a subway platform in Sekwang Station, finding himself in human form with ordinary hands, surrounded by the other displaced individuals.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
11:03
36
Chapter 244
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) wakes up in human form at Sekwang Station, located in the heart of Sekwang Metropolitan City, an annihilation-class disaster zone erased from public memory. Braun, the TV-headed host, communicates via a 'Well' to reveal that Kim's human form is the desired appearance. Kim is reunited with Agent Choi, who is relieved to find Kim unharmed. The group—comprising Kim, Agent Choi, Agent Bronze, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, and Assistant Manager Eun Haje—realizes they are in a supernatural phenomenon. Kim informs the group that the entire city is an annihilation-class disaster.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje discovers her previously missing hand has regrown, suggesting the high-level Darkness might have regenerative properties. Kim notes that the subway station seems unusually calm compared to the ruins seen through the platform screen doors, which are covered in blood-stained SOS messages. Agent Choi attempts to investigate the collapsed side of the platform, but Kim stops him, fearing it connects to the outside. After checking their equipment—noting that items drawing power from external sources are malfunctioning—Kim discovers his smartphone still works and possesses a unique property: only he can see the 'Dark Exploration Record' wiki on its screen. He realizes the phone and its popsocket (which is now red) were merged with his own body during his previous transformation.
The wiki updates to include 'Sekwang Subway Map' with several unregistered pages. As the group ascends the station stairs, they emerge into a vast, foggy forest where the subway structures are overgrown and unnaturally large. A station signpost reveals the location is 'Sekwang Station (Forest Path of Death).' Upon closer inspection of the 'trees' surrounding them, Kim realizes they are actually corpses hanging from branches by their necks. The chapter ends with Kim in a state of terror.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
19:26
Chapter 244
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) wakes up in human form at Sekwang Station, located in the heart of Sekwang Metropolitan City, an annihilation-class disaster zone erased from public memory. Braun, the TV-headed host, communicates via a 'Well' to reveal that Kim's human form is the desired appearance. Kim is reunited with Agent Choi, who is relieved to find Kim unharmed. The group—comprising Kim, Agent Choi, Agent Bronze, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, and Assistant Manager Eun Haje—realizes they are in a supernatural phenomenon. Kim informs the group that the entire city is an annihilation-class disaster.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje discovers her previously missing hand has regrown, suggesting the high-level Darkness might have regenerative properties. Kim notes that the subway station seems unusually calm compared to the ruins seen through the platform screen doors, which are covered in blood-stained SOS messages. Agent Choi attempts to investigate the collapsed side of the platform, but Kim stops him, fearing it connects to the outside. After checking their equipment—noting that items drawing power from external sources are malfunctioning—Kim discovers his smartphone still works and possesses a unique property: only he can see the 'Dark Exploration Record' wiki on its screen. He realizes the phone and its popsocket (which is now red) were merged with his own body during his previous transformation.
The wiki updates to include 'Sekwang Subway Map' with several unregistered pages. As the group ascends the station stairs, they emerge into a vast, foggy forest where the subway structures are overgrown and unnaturally large. A station signpost reveals the location is 'Sekwang Station (Forest Path of Death).' Upon closer inspection of the 'trees' surrounding them, Kim realizes they are actually corpses hanging from branches by their necks. The chapter ends with Kim in a state of terror.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
19:26
37
Chapter 245
The group finds themselves in a forest of countless hanging corpses, an annihilation-class Disaster. Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) struggles with intense nausea and dread while examining a corpse. Agent Choi finds that talismans are ineffective against the fog, but they discover a corpse with a message written on its palm: "No one is coming to save us... So we will become trees instead." This suggests the victims realized they were abandoned in the station and chose mass suicide. The group locates an information board detailing the "Sekwang Station (Forest Path of Death) Etiquette," which includes rules like "Please do not hang yourself from a tree." Kim Soleum deduces that the forest and the subway station have fused due to human perception. Suddenly, Kim Soleum is separated from the group in a thick fog. He navigates a terrifying labyrinth of appearing nooses and silhouetted corpses, realizing the forest itself provides the means for suicide to satisfy the perception of a "suicide hotspot." He manages to find the stairs by remembering the layout of a subway station and descends to the platform, where he discovers he has been unknowingly dragging a corpse with him. The group reunites on the platform, exhausted and lacking supplies. While discussing how to combat the area's malevolence, a subway announcement chime plays and a train rushes through the station without stopping. Kim Soleum notices people are inside the passing train, presenting a new potential path for escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:51
Chapter 245
The group finds themselves in a forest of countless hanging corpses, an annihilation-class Disaster. Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) struggles with intense nausea and dread while examining a corpse. Agent Choi finds that talismans are ineffective against the fog, but they discover a corpse with a message written on its palm: "No one is coming to save us... So we will become trees instead." This suggests the victims realized they were abandoned in the station and chose mass suicide. The group locates an information board detailing the "Sekwang Station (Forest Path of Death) Etiquette," which includes rules like "Please do not hang yourself from a tree." Kim Soleum deduces that the forest and the subway station have fused due to human perception. Suddenly, Kim Soleum is separated from the group in a thick fog. He navigates a terrifying labyrinth of appearing nooses and silhouetted corpses, realizing the forest itself provides the means for suicide to satisfy the perception of a "suicide hotspot." He manages to find the stairs by remembering the layout of a subway station and descends to the platform, where he discovers he has been unknowingly dragging a corpse with him. The group reunites on the platform, exhausted and lacking supplies. While discussing how to combat the area's malevolence, a subway announcement chime plays and a train rushes through the station without stopping. Kim Soleum notices people are inside the passing train, presenting a new potential path for escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:51
38
Chapter 246
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae presents the group with two options: clear the 'Forest Path of Death' in the upstairs waiting room to check for a way back, or follow the tracks to find the train seen earlier. Kim Soleum notes the veterans' composure prevents panic. The group shares a light meal of preserved foods. Lee Seonghae gives Kim Soleum a piece of yakgwa, marking Kim Soleum's first meal in six months. The sugar rush improves Kim Soleum's mental clarity, allowing them to verify that their tattoos, including the Inventory tattoo, are intact, though the Inventory tattoo cannot currently transport living beings to the resort.
Kim Soleum decides to attempt Option 1 by using the 'Cosmic Shopping Mall' via a cell under their tongue. Upon activation, a lizard-headed man in a suit appears on the subway platform. Kim Soleum learns that the mall is a real store and that external unrealistic influences are blocked there. Kim Soleum discovers that Lee Jaheon has been paying the monthly storage fees for a fragment of the Mimicry Sect scripture Kim Soleum previously stored there. The lizard-man reveals Lee Jaheon is currently at a 'boarding school,' hinting he is trapped in a dark exploration. Kim Soleum asks for an item with sacred aura/divine power capable of being used in their current location. The lizard-man recommends an item costing nearly 95 million won. After the group agrees to use Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's account to cover the cost, a mysterious figure—Braun—appears from the shadows of the platform, offering Kim Soleum a loan to fund the purchase.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:22
Chapter 246
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae presents the group with two options: clear the 'Forest Path of Death' in the upstairs waiting room to check for a way back, or follow the tracks to find the train seen earlier. Kim Soleum notes the veterans' composure prevents panic. The group shares a light meal of preserved foods. Lee Seonghae gives Kim Soleum a piece of yakgwa, marking Kim Soleum's first meal in six months. The sugar rush improves Kim Soleum's mental clarity, allowing them to verify that their tattoos, including the Inventory tattoo, are intact, though the Inventory tattoo cannot currently transport living beings to the resort.
Kim Soleum decides to attempt Option 1 by using the 'Cosmic Shopping Mall' via a cell under their tongue. Upon activation, a lizard-headed man in a suit appears on the subway platform. Kim Soleum learns that the mall is a real store and that external unrealistic influences are blocked there. Kim Soleum discovers that Lee Jaheon has been paying the monthly storage fees for a fragment of the Mimicry Sect scripture Kim Soleum previously stored there. The lizard-man reveals Lee Jaheon is currently at a 'boarding school,' hinting he is trapped in a dark exploration. Kim Soleum asks for an item with sacred aura/divine power capable of being used in their current location. The lizard-man recommends an item costing nearly 95 million won. After the group agrees to use Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's account to cover the cost, a mysterious figure—Braun—appears from the shadows of the platform, offering Kim Soleum a loan to fund the purchase.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:22
39
Chapter 247
Inside a Personal Shopping Space, Kim Soleum interacts with the manifestation of Braun, the host of the Late-Night Talk Show. Braun offers an "Advance Payment" for the shopping trip, which Soleum realizes is actually a promise of future labor. To avoid an emotional or professional debt, Soleum negotiates to treat the money as a formal loan to be repaid within six months. Braun agrees, offering the funds without interest. After the transaction, Soleum acquires an "Evil-warding Pollack talisman" made of Persimmon Tree, an item designed to ward off evil within a five-meter radius until the carving breaks. Soleum returns to his companions: Eun Haje, Agent Choi, Lee Seonghae, and Agent Bronze. The group moves through a foggy, dangerous station toward an escape route. As they travel, the talisman begins to rot rapidly, indicating its protection is weakening. They successfully use a Transit Card Charger to obtain five disposable transit cards. Guided by Agent Bronze's observations, the group reaches a ticket gate. After tapping their cards to enter the paid area, they trigger a phenomenon where a train, which previously passed without stopping, begins to approach the platform. The chapter ends with the group sprinting toward the approaching train in an attempt to escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:10
Chapter 247
Inside a Personal Shopping Space, Kim Soleum interacts with the manifestation of Braun, the host of the Late-Night Talk Show. Braun offers an "Advance Payment" for the shopping trip, which Soleum realizes is actually a promise of future labor. To avoid an emotional or professional debt, Soleum negotiates to treat the money as a formal loan to be repaid within six months. Braun agrees, offering the funds without interest. After the transaction, Soleum acquires an "Evil-warding Pollack talisman" made of Persimmon Tree, an item designed to ward off evil within a five-meter radius until the carving breaks. Soleum returns to his companions: Eun Haje, Agent Choi, Lee Seonghae, and Agent Bronze. The group moves through a foggy, dangerous station toward an escape route. As they travel, the talisman begins to rot rapidly, indicating its protection is weakening. They successfully use a Transit Card Charger to obtain five disposable transit cards. Guided by Agent Bronze's observations, the group reaches a ticket gate. After tapping their cards to enter the paid area, they trigger a phenomenon where a train, which previously passed without stopping, begins to approach the platform. The chapter ends with the group sprinting toward the approaching train in an attempt to escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:10
40
Chapter 248
Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) leads a group through Sekwang Station (Forest of the Dying) toward the platform. They realize they mistakenly went toward an 'exit' instead of the platform, a gimmick designed to make travelers forget etiquette rules. By running toward the exit, they broke the rules, causing their protective items—including Kim Soleum's amulet and Exorcism Fragment—to rapidly rot and fail due to the station's influence. To avoid further rule violations, the group walks slowly back to the ticket gate and eventually reaches the platform, arriving just as a train enters. A brief moment of relief occurs as the group from Daydream Inc. and the Disaster Management Bureau share tentative camaraderie, joking about a future team dinner. However, the relief is short-lived; once the amulet's protection fails entirely, the station's true nature—a forest of suicide victims—descends upon the platform. The group is attacked by supernatural nooses emerging from the fog. Agent Choi is killed first, followed by Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's disappearance. Agent Bronze (Ryu Jaekwan) is caught in a noose while Kim Soleum tries to save him, and Kim Soleum is subsequently yanked upward by a rope as the train doors close. Kim Soleum wakes up in the Disaster Management Bureau's contamination ward, discovering that the entire ordeal was a shared dream entered via a well. While most people are regaining consciousness, one Daydream employee remains unconscious.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:29
Chapter 248
Kim Soleum (Agent Grapes) leads a group through Sekwang Station (Forest of the Dying) toward the platform. They realize they mistakenly went toward an 'exit' instead of the platform, a gimmick designed to make travelers forget etiquette rules. By running toward the exit, they broke the rules, causing their protective items—including Kim Soleum's amulet and Exorcism Fragment—to rapidly rot and fail due to the station's influence. To avoid further rule violations, the group walks slowly back to the ticket gate and eventually reaches the platform, arriving just as a train enters. A brief moment of relief occurs as the group from Daydream Inc. and the Disaster Management Bureau share tentative camaraderie, joking about a future team dinner. However, the relief is short-lived; once the amulet's protection fails entirely, the station's true nature—a forest of suicide victims—descends upon the platform. The group is attacked by supernatural nooses emerging from the fog. Agent Choi is killed first, followed by Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's disappearance. Agent Bronze (Ryu Jaekwan) is caught in a noose while Kim Soleum tries to save him, and Kim Soleum is subsequently yanked upward by a rope as the train doors close. Kim Soleum wakes up in the Disaster Management Bureau's contamination ward, discovering that the entire ordeal was a shared dream entered via a well. While most people are regaining consciousness, one Daydream employee remains unconscious.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:29
41
Chapter 249
In a shabby meat restaurant, Agent Choi, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, and Agent Ryu Jaekwan share a meal to recover from the Sekwang Metropolitan City incident. Agent Choi and Eun Haje are recovering from severe aftereffects; Eun Haje is eating with gloves to avoid electric shocks from her returned equipment. Ryu Jaekwan, feeling conflicted, observes the group. The group reflects on the Bureau's classification of their experience as "contamination" caused by an unsafe well, noting that the Bureau views the situation as a dream-based incident.
Kim Soleum (codenamed 130666), a supernatural entity in a gas mask, observes them from the table. It is revealed that Kim Soleum is actually the former Agent Grapes, who lost his humanity and is being treated as a phenomenon rather than a person. Ryu Jaekwan recalls the aftermath of the incident, where Agent Haegeum successfully stabilized Kim Soleum's condition using the Grand Jade Bell and Jade Drops, implying she treated Kim Soleum as a supernatural entity rather than a human. This realization led Ryu Jaekwan to suspect that the purification methods were designed for phenomena, not humans.
As the meal concludes, the conversation turns to the whereabouts of Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae (Dolphin), who has remained in a coma for two weeks. Kim Soleum worries that Lee Seonghae may have become a permanent resident of the ghost story due to total contamination. If she remains missing for a month, Daydream Inc. will treat her as deceased, resulting in a "point reset" where all accumulated Wish Tickets are lost. Agent Choi asserts that rescue is the Bureau's specialty, but Kim Soleum contemplates the difficulty of countering the noose-based threat. Kim Soleum suggests a potential solution: employing Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) to physically smash through the obstacles of the ghost story.
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15:58
Chapter 249
In a shabby meat restaurant, Agent Choi, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, and Agent Ryu Jaekwan share a meal to recover from the Sekwang Metropolitan City incident. Agent Choi and Eun Haje are recovering from severe aftereffects; Eun Haje is eating with gloves to avoid electric shocks from her returned equipment. Ryu Jaekwan, feeling conflicted, observes the group. The group reflects on the Bureau's classification of their experience as "contamination" caused by an unsafe well, noting that the Bureau views the situation as a dream-based incident.
Kim Soleum (codenamed 130666), a supernatural entity in a gas mask, observes them from the table. It is revealed that Kim Soleum is actually the former Agent Grapes, who lost his humanity and is being treated as a phenomenon rather than a person. Ryu Jaekwan recalls the aftermath of the incident, where Agent Haegeum successfully stabilized Kim Soleum's condition using the Grand Jade Bell and Jade Drops, implying she treated Kim Soleum as a supernatural entity rather than a human. This realization led Ryu Jaekwan to suspect that the purification methods were designed for phenomena, not humans.
As the meal concludes, the conversation turns to the whereabouts of Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae (Dolphin), who has remained in a coma for two weeks. Kim Soleum worries that Lee Seonghae may have become a permanent resident of the ghost story due to total contamination. If she remains missing for a month, Daydream Inc. will treat her as deceased, resulting in a "point reset" where all accumulated Wish Tickets are lost. Agent Choi asserts that rescue is the Bureau's specialty, but Kim Soleum contemplates the difficulty of countering the noose-based threat. Kim Soleum suggests a potential solution: employing Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) to physically smash through the obstacles of the ghost story.
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15:58
42
Chapter 250
During a team dinner with Daydream Inc. alumni and agents, Kim Soleum (Grapes) engages in a secret communication with Agent Choi via smoke under the table. Agent Choi reveals that 'Lee Kangheon' is an identity used by an elite Bureau agent who infiltrated Daydream by hijacking a deceased retiree's messenger account. This revelation clarifies how Choi has gathered extensive intelligence on Daydream employees. The conversation shifts to Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is currently trapped in a "boarding school ghost story" within Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim Soleum contemplates the difficulties of entering the city again, including the risk of Bureau detection and the danger of contamination for his companions, leading him to consider acting alone. The dinner is interrupted by Ho Yuwon, who has been disguised as a restaurant part-timer. Ho Yuwon reveals his awareness of the group's visit to Sekwang Metropolitan City and proposes a deal. Since he cannot enter the city himself, he offers to support the rescue of Lee Seonghae in exchange for Kim Soleum finding a specific object within Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim Soleum accepts, proposing a mutual restriction pact to ensure neither party betrays the other until the task is complete. Following the dinner, Kim Soleum is returned to his security space in the Main Building. He reflects on his stability and the absence of Brown's voice, wondering if the silence is due to the time lag in his recovery. The chapter ends when a visitor arrives, carrying a Dokkaebi Flame—formerly Kim Soleum's arm—inside a small lantern, sent by the elder of Team Hyunmoo 1.
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13:58
Chapter 250
During a team dinner with Daydream Inc. alumni and agents, Kim Soleum (Grapes) engages in a secret communication with Agent Choi via smoke under the table. Agent Choi reveals that 'Lee Kangheon' is an identity used by an elite Bureau agent who infiltrated Daydream by hijacking a deceased retiree's messenger account. This revelation clarifies how Choi has gathered extensive intelligence on Daydream employees. The conversation shifts to Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is currently trapped in a "boarding school ghost story" within Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim Soleum contemplates the difficulties of entering the city again, including the risk of Bureau detection and the danger of contamination for his companions, leading him to consider acting alone. The dinner is interrupted by Ho Yuwon, who has been disguised as a restaurant part-timer. Ho Yuwon reveals his awareness of the group's visit to Sekwang Metropolitan City and proposes a deal. Since he cannot enter the city himself, he offers to support the rescue of Lee Seonghae in exchange for Kim Soleum finding a specific object within Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim Soleum accepts, proposing a mutual restriction pact to ensure neither party betrays the other until the task is complete. Following the dinner, Kim Soleum is returned to his security space in the Main Building. He reflects on his stability and the absence of Brown's voice, wondering if the silence is due to the time lag in his recovery. The chapter ends when a visitor arrives, carrying a Dokkaebi Flame—formerly Kim Soleum's arm—inside a small lantern, sent by the elder of Team Hyunmoo 1.
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13:58
43
Chapter 251
Kim Soleum is visited by a Dokkaebi Flame that emerged from a gourd lantern, recognizing him and acting affectionately. Agent Haegeum visits him, noting his good compatibility with the flame. She informs him that the Disaster Management Bureau is considering him as a cooperative supernatural being and offers him a chance to settle his entanglement with Director Cheong by staying at the Bureau. Kim Soleum considers the offer but feels unqualified due to his current state as a synthetic mass of flesh. To establish a mutual exchange, Kim Soleum uses his inventory tattoo to provide thirty Cheerful Coins from his Resort to Haegeum, hoping they can be used for easier movement within the Resort. This act successfully proves his utility, leading the Bureau to send various offerings to him. After several refusals, a pink rabbit doll—the 'Good Friend'—is delivered by the Bureau. The doll is revealed to be the sentient being Braun, who has returned to him. Through their conversation, Kim Soleum realizes the Bureau agents likely facilitated this encounter to return his property. Haegeum also inquires about the whereabouts of Agent Grapes, whom she suspects acquired the doll, but Kim Soleum can only confirm the doll's status as no longer being an event item. Realizing he cannot stay at the Bureau indefinitely and feeling the pull of the Daydream, Kim Soleum decides he must return to Sekwang Metropolitan City alone to complete the rescue, specifically for Lee Seonghae. He announces the formation of an independent Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration team, including Ho Yuwon.
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14:43
Chapter 251
Kim Soleum is visited by a Dokkaebi Flame that emerged from a gourd lantern, recognizing him and acting affectionately. Agent Haegeum visits him, noting his good compatibility with the flame. She informs him that the Disaster Management Bureau is considering him as a cooperative supernatural being and offers him a chance to settle his entanglement with Director Cheong by staying at the Bureau. Kim Soleum considers the offer but feels unqualified due to his current state as a synthetic mass of flesh. To establish a mutual exchange, Kim Soleum uses his inventory tattoo to provide thirty Cheerful Coins from his Resort to Haegeum, hoping they can be used for easier movement within the Resort. This act successfully proves his utility, leading the Bureau to send various offerings to him. After several refusals, a pink rabbit doll—the 'Good Friend'—is delivered by the Bureau. The doll is revealed to be the sentient being Braun, who has returned to him. Through their conversation, Kim Soleum realizes the Bureau agents likely facilitated this encounter to return his property. Haegeum also inquires about the whereabouts of Agent Grapes, whom she suspects acquired the doll, but Kim Soleum can only confirm the doll's status as no longer being an event item. Realizing he cannot stay at the Bureau indefinitely and feeling the pull of the Daydream, Kim Soleum decides he must return to Sekwang Metropolitan City alone to complete the rescue, specifically for Lee Seonghae. He announces the formation of an independent Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration team, including Ho Yuwon.
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14:43
44
Chapter 252
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) meets with Agent Choi, Agent Ryu Jaekwan, and Assistant Manager Eun Haje to finalize the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration plan. Soleum decides to include Ho Yuwon (Director of Daydream) in the team to leverage his influence and desperation to access the area, despite the agents' concerns regarding potential betrayal or Bureau oversight. During the discussion, Ho Yuwon unexpectedly appears, having been observing them from a nearby group of office workers. To prevent the Bureau from imposing restrictions on him, Soleum uses his authority as a resort owner to present Ho Yuwon with an employment contract. Ho Yuwon signs, becoming Soleum's subordinate, which stabilizes Soleum's current state of non-human speech but limits his ability to form coherent sentences. The team is finalized with the addition of the two Hyunmoo 1 agents.
Eun Haje inquires about the status of Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who remains trapped in a darkness. Ho Yuwon reveals that Daydream considers the darkness unreachable via current methods and is prepared to abandon it. Through a text-based exchange with Baek Saheon (the Goat mask), Soleum discovers that the darkness in question is a supernatural disaster located within a boarding school known for 'Groom's Class.' This realization reveals why Lee Jaheon is trapped. Using information gathered from Kwak Jekang via Ho Yuwon, Soleum identifies the location of the school and devises a plan to enter the darkness to rescue Lee Jaheon.
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16:10
Chapter 252
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) meets with Agent Choi, Agent Ryu Jaekwan, and Assistant Manager Eun Haje to finalize the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration plan. Soleum decides to include Ho Yuwon (Director of Daydream) in the team to leverage his influence and desperation to access the area, despite the agents' concerns regarding potential betrayal or Bureau oversight. During the discussion, Ho Yuwon unexpectedly appears, having been observing them from a nearby group of office workers. To prevent the Bureau from imposing restrictions on him, Soleum uses his authority as a resort owner to present Ho Yuwon with an employment contract. Ho Yuwon signs, becoming Soleum's subordinate, which stabilizes Soleum's current state of non-human speech but limits his ability to form coherent sentences. The team is finalized with the addition of the two Hyunmoo 1 agents.
Eun Haje inquires about the status of Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who remains trapped in a darkness. Ho Yuwon reveals that Daydream considers the darkness unreachable via current methods and is prepared to abandon it. Through a text-based exchange with Baek Saheon (the Goat mask), Soleum discovers that the darkness in question is a supernatural disaster located within a boarding school known for 'Groom's Class.' This realization reveals why Lee Jaheon is trapped. Using information gathered from Kwak Jekang via Ho Yuwon, Soleum identifies the location of the school and devises a plan to enter the darkness to rescue Lee Jaheon.
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16:10
45
Chapter 253
At St. Anticus Boarding School, a surreal and gruesome institution for training Grooms, Lee Jaheon endures a rigorous fifteen-day curriculum. The rules are strict: trainees must wear uniforms, tidy their pajamas and the Bride's white dress, maintain correct eating etiquette, and ensure the Bride's goblet remains filled. Failures result in Penalty Points. The curriculum includes learning wedding poems, playing string instruments, and preparing evening meals. During a break, Lee Jaheon is approached by a terrified civilian who realizes they are trapped in a supernatural phenomenon rather than Korea. The civilian attempts to threaten Lee Jaheon to coordinate an escape, but their loud behavior draws the attention of a disciplinary supervisor. The supervisor punishes the man by cutting open the soles of his feet and forcing him to use sound-dampening materials to walk silently, a process meant to prevent noisy footsteps. Lee Jaheon observes this with clinical detachment, noting that most trainees die from Penalty Points or training complications. After returning to his room, Lee Jaheon discovers a fellow trainee has died from eating unsuitable ingredients. Suddenly, Kim Soleum enters Lee Jaheon's mind by reversing the 'We Help!' mechanism, offering to take control of the body to navigate the ghost story based on research from <Dark Exploration Records>. Kim Soleum aims to use information gathered from Kwak Jekang and others to guide Lee Jaheon through the training. However, Lee Jaheon refuses the help, revealing he has already passed the trial and is a formal Groom Candidate for the White Bride. He reveals the true horror of the curriculum: every night, trainees must undergo massive blood collection to achieve the pale complexion required for the wedding, a process that puts him at high risk of death from anemia.
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14:57
Chapter 253
At St. Anticus Boarding School, a surreal and gruesome institution for training Grooms, Lee Jaheon endures a rigorous fifteen-day curriculum. The rules are strict: trainees must wear uniforms, tidy their pajamas and the Bride's white dress, maintain correct eating etiquette, and ensure the Bride's goblet remains filled. Failures result in Penalty Points. The curriculum includes learning wedding poems, playing string instruments, and preparing evening meals. During a break, Lee Jaheon is approached by a terrified civilian who realizes they are trapped in a supernatural phenomenon rather than Korea. The civilian attempts to threaten Lee Jaheon to coordinate an escape, but their loud behavior draws the attention of a disciplinary supervisor. The supervisor punishes the man by cutting open the soles of his feet and forcing him to use sound-dampening materials to walk silently, a process meant to prevent noisy footsteps. Lee Jaheon observes this with clinical detachment, noting that most trainees die from Penalty Points or training complications. After returning to his room, Lee Jaheon discovers a fellow trainee has died from eating unsuitable ingredients. Suddenly, Kim Soleum enters Lee Jaheon's mind by reversing the 'We Help!' mechanism, offering to take control of the body to navigate the ghost story based on research from <Dark Exploration Records>. Kim Soleum aims to use information gathered from Kwak Jekang and others to guide Lee Jaheon through the training. However, Lee Jaheon refuses the help, revealing he has already passed the trial and is a formal Groom Candidate for the White Bride. He reveals the true horror of the curriculum: every night, trainees must undergo massive blood collection to achieve the pale complexion required for the wedding, a process that puts him at high risk of death from anemia.
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14:57
46
Chapter 254
Section Chief Lee Jaheon is trapped in a boarding school ghost story as a Groom Candidate. He must undergo nightly bloodletting to prepare for a wedding ceremony scheduled in four days, which is likely a euphemism for death. The consciousness of Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) is linked to Lee Jaheon's mind, sharing sensory data and memories. During a night exploration, they discover the dormitory is a labyrinth and the main gate has been replaced by a wall, indicating the school has entered a ritualistic phase where no one can enter or leave. The environment is surrounded by impenetrable fog, cliffs, and forest. At breakfast, Kim Soleum observes grotesque scenes: experience trainees are being mutilated, and Groom Candidates—whose faces are blurred due to the reptilian aliens' sensory filtering—sit at the head of the table. The Housemaster reveals that all Groom Candidates, including those who fail, will attend the wedding, where failed candidates serve as "souvenirs" (mementos/gifts) for the guests. Realizing Lee Jaheon is being treated as an expendable cell by his collective hive mind, Kim Soleum asks if Lee Jaheon wants to live. Upon Lee Jaheon's affirmation, Kim Soleum proposes a desperate plan: Lee Jaheon should stop drawing blood and instead hand over body control to Braun, the Late Night Talk Show Host, to facilitate an escape.
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17:32
Chapter 254
Section Chief Lee Jaheon is trapped in a boarding school ghost story as a Groom Candidate. He must undergo nightly bloodletting to prepare for a wedding ceremony scheduled in four days, which is likely a euphemism for death. The consciousness of Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) is linked to Lee Jaheon's mind, sharing sensory data and memories. During a night exploration, they discover the dormitory is a labyrinth and the main gate has been replaced by a wall, indicating the school has entered a ritualistic phase where no one can enter or leave. The environment is surrounded by impenetrable fog, cliffs, and forest. At breakfast, Kim Soleum observes grotesque scenes: experience trainees are being mutilated, and Groom Candidates—whose faces are blurred due to the reptilian aliens' sensory filtering—sit at the head of the table. The Housemaster reveals that all Groom Candidates, including those who fail, will attend the wedding, where failed candidates serve as "souvenirs" (mementos/gifts) for the guests. Realizing Lee Jaheon is being treated as an expendable cell by his collective hive mind, Kim Soleum asks if Lee Jaheon wants to live. Upon Lee Jaheon's affirmation, Kim Soleum proposes a desperate plan: Lee Jaheon should stop drawing blood and instead hand over body control to Braun, the Late Night Talk Show Host, to facilitate an escape.
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17:32
47
Chapter 255
Kim Soleum, currently inhabiting Lee Jaheon's consciousness, contemplates how to escape the 'Groom Training' ghost story at St. Anticus Boarding School. Realizing that following the rules or finding loopholes leads to a gruesome death, Soleum decides on a 'frontal assault' by involving Braun, a powerful entity embodying entertainment. Soleum persuades Braun by appealing to his pride as an entertainer, promising him a non-predictable and witty scenario to participate in, rather than a one-sided service. Braun agrees, though he warns Soleum that their paths may clash again in the future.
In Lee Jaheon's physical body, the grooming and preparation for the wedding proceed. Lee Jaheon, acting with professional poise, undergoes purification rituals. During the announcement of the wedding roles, the housemaster reveals that none of the Groom Candidates will actually become the Groom; instead, they will serve as the 'Wedding Cake'—specifically, the candidates are to be slaughtered and served. Lee Jaheon is singled out for the most 'honorable' role: the top tier of the cake. This involves having his tongue removed and being filled with rose cream to be consumed by the 'White Bride.'
As the ceremony approaches in a dark, quartz cavern, Braun (possessing Lee Jaheon) begins a verbal onslaught. He insults the ceremony's lack of creativity, calling it stale, predictable, and a futile formality, mocking the school for trying to interpret a terrifying entity through human cultural frameworks. This is Soleum's plan: to cause such a massive disturbance that the ghost story's logic breaks, forcing a postponement. As Braun declares that the goal is 'survival' through a desperate struggle, the scene shifts to Eun Haje, who is watching the chaos unfold on a late-night TV broadcast of a dating show hosted by the possessed Lee Jaheon.
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14:27
Chapter 255
Kim Soleum, currently inhabiting Lee Jaheon's consciousness, contemplates how to escape the 'Groom Training' ghost story at St. Anticus Boarding School. Realizing that following the rules or finding loopholes leads to a gruesome death, Soleum decides on a 'frontal assault' by involving Braun, a powerful entity embodying entertainment. Soleum persuades Braun by appealing to his pride as an entertainer, promising him a non-predictable and witty scenario to participate in, rather than a one-sided service. Braun agrees, though he warns Soleum that their paths may clash again in the future.
In Lee Jaheon's physical body, the grooming and preparation for the wedding proceed. Lee Jaheon, acting with professional poise, undergoes purification rituals. During the announcement of the wedding roles, the housemaster reveals that none of the Groom Candidates will actually become the Groom; instead, they will serve as the 'Wedding Cake'—specifically, the candidates are to be slaughtered and served. Lee Jaheon is singled out for the most 'honorable' role: the top tier of the cake. This involves having his tongue removed and being filled with rose cream to be consumed by the 'White Bride.'
As the ceremony approaches in a dark, quartz cavern, Braun (possessing Lee Jaheon) begins a verbal onslaught. He insults the ceremony's lack of creativity, calling it stale, predictable, and a futile formality, mocking the school for trying to interpret a terrifying entity through human cultural frameworks. This is Soleum's plan: to cause such a massive disturbance that the ghost story's logic breaks, forcing a postponement. As Braun declares that the goal is 'survival' through a desperate struggle, the scene shifts to Eun Haje, who is watching the chaos unfold on a late-night TV broadcast of a dating show hosted by the possessed Lee Jaheon.
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14:27
48
Chapter 256
A surreal and unsettling matchmaking television program titled "Your Perfect Groom" is broadcast. The show features tall, dapper groom candidates, including Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who appears as an infiltrator and host. The program's atmosphere is jarringly cheerful, masking horrific details: candidate profiles list impossible weights and heights, and their photos appear to be of dressed-up corpses. The audience/experience trainees are also visibly disfigured or tortured, yet they cheer with painted smiles. As the program progresses through challenges like poetry recitation and meal preparation, the "elimination" process involves candidates being physically thrown from a high tower or ejected from seats to their apparent deaths, all accompanied by comical sound effects and bright music that desensitizes the viewers. Eun Haje watches, feeling a disturbing sense of dopamine-driven immersion and ethical numbness. During the grand finale, instead of a bride, a massive, grotesque, pale white hand emerges from the end of the wedding aisle. The hand violently grabs a groom candidate and drags him away amidst screams and chaotic, glitching footage. The broadcast ends with celebratory music and credits sponsoring the show via "Braun's Late-Night Talk Show." Eun Haje realizes the connection between the show, the name "Braun," and the pink rabbit doll carried by Kim Soleum. She contacts the Disaster Management Bureau to inquire about the show, discovering that the doll Soleum carries is named Braun. She looks around the actual wedding venue—now a scene of blood and struggle—realizing the gravity of the situation.
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13:23
Chapter 256
A surreal and unsettling matchmaking television program titled "Your Perfect Groom" is broadcast. The show features tall, dapper groom candidates, including Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who appears as an infiltrator and host. The program's atmosphere is jarringly cheerful, masking horrific details: candidate profiles list impossible weights and heights, and their photos appear to be of dressed-up corpses. The audience/experience trainees are also visibly disfigured or tortured, yet they cheer with painted smiles. As the program progresses through challenges like poetry recitation and meal preparation, the "elimination" process involves candidates being physically thrown from a high tower or ejected from seats to their apparent deaths, all accompanied by comical sound effects and bright music that desensitizes the viewers. Eun Haje watches, feeling a disturbing sense of dopamine-driven immersion and ethical numbness. During the grand finale, instead of a bride, a massive, grotesque, pale white hand emerges from the end of the wedding aisle. The hand violently grabs a groom candidate and drags him away amidst screams and chaotic, glitching footage. The broadcast ends with celebratory music and credits sponsoring the show via "Braun's Late-Night Talk Show." Eun Haje realizes the connection between the show, the name "Braun," and the pink rabbit doll carried by Kim Soleum. She contacts the Disaster Management Bureau to inquire about the show, discovering that the doll Soleum carries is named Braun. She looks around the actual wedding venue—now a scene of blood and struggle—realizing the gravity of the situation.
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13:23
49
Chapter 257
After the conclusion of the Groom Training Ghost Story, Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) observes the survivors of the experience trainees. Only eleven out of fifteen survived, a 30% survival rate. Kim Soleum reflects on the brutality of the event, noting that deaths occurred for the sake of television ratings. The host, Braun, expresses satisfaction with the live broadcast ratings and hints at producing a second season. As the faceless crew dismantles the set, Kim Soleum observes the destroyed altar and a mysterious black hole from which the 'bride' emerged.
Control of the body is returned to Section Chief Lee Jaheon. Kim Soleum advises Jaekwan to remove the presence of Braun from his mental system to ensure safety, which Jaekwan complies with, despite Braun's protest. As the survivors exit through the main gate into the sunlight, Kim Soleum finds himself in a white space, having been transported by the Cosmic Shopping Mall's mechanisms. He meets the Lizard, a greenish-brown alien reptile representing the 'We' (the collective consciousness of the Cosmic Shopping Mall).
Kim Soleum requests to speak with Lee Jaheon directly, which the Lizard facilitates by explaining that Jaekwan is part of 'us.' Kim Soleum then negotiates his reward for the successful rescue. Instead of a material item, he requests help in regaining a human body. The Lizard confirms this is possible by utilizing the body of a human whose self has been lost and promises to deliver this reward once preparations are complete. Kim Soleum also asks that his assistance be credited toward his shopping records, resulting in an upgrade to VVIP status and a golden 'Thank You Card.'
Kim Soleum finally wakes up on the floor of his residence provided by the Disaster Management Bureau. He finds himself surrounded by Team Hyunmoo 1, including Agent Choi, who had been monitoring his vital signs. Kim Soleum reports the successful rescue of the Manager Lizard and recovers a small rabbit doll that had fallen from his pocket during the ordeal. Agent Choi shows him the doll and asks a question regarding Braun.
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13:05
Chapter 257
After the conclusion of the Groom Training Ghost Story, Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) observes the survivors of the experience trainees. Only eleven out of fifteen survived, a 30% survival rate. Kim Soleum reflects on the brutality of the event, noting that deaths occurred for the sake of television ratings. The host, Braun, expresses satisfaction with the live broadcast ratings and hints at producing a second season. As the faceless crew dismantles the set, Kim Soleum observes the destroyed altar and a mysterious black hole from which the 'bride' emerged.
Control of the body is returned to Section Chief Lee Jaheon. Kim Soleum advises Jaekwan to remove the presence of Braun from his mental system to ensure safety, which Jaekwan complies with, despite Braun's protest. As the survivors exit through the main gate into the sunlight, Kim Soleum finds himself in a white space, having been transported by the Cosmic Shopping Mall's mechanisms. He meets the Lizard, a greenish-brown alien reptile representing the 'We' (the collective consciousness of the Cosmic Shopping Mall).
Kim Soleum requests to speak with Lee Jaheon directly, which the Lizard facilitates by explaining that Jaekwan is part of 'us.' Kim Soleum then negotiates his reward for the successful rescue. Instead of a material item, he requests help in regaining a human body. The Lizard confirms this is possible by utilizing the body of a human whose self has been lost and promises to deliver this reward once preparations are complete. Kim Soleum also asks that his assistance be credited toward his shopping records, resulting in an upgrade to VVIP status and a golden 'Thank You Card.'
Kim Soleum finally wakes up on the floor of his residence provided by the Disaster Management Bureau. He finds himself surrounded by Team Hyunmoo 1, including Agent Choi, who had been monitoring his vital signs. Kim Soleum reports the successful rescue of the Manager Lizard and recovers a small rabbit doll that had fallen from his pocket during the ordeal. Agent Choi shows him the doll and asks a question regarding Braun.
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13:05
50
Chapter 258
Kim Soleum (Grapes) is interrogated by Team Hyunmoo 1 agents regarding his relationship with the rabbit doll, Braun. Agent Bronze treats the doll with extreme caution, placing it in a protective silk and pebble circle as a makeshift ward. The agents escort Kim and Braun to a container near the outskirts of Seoul, where Assistant Manager Eun Haje is waiting. Kim realizes the catastrophe occurred because information about the 'Late-Night Talk Show' and the doll's name flowed between the Bureau and Eun Haje. Using written communication via Paper Boats, Kim explains that Braun is a powerful supernatural entity that he has 'persuaded' to be his friend, using the analogy of an agent receiving help from a Dokkaebi. While Eun Haje and the agents remain skeptical—noting Kim's previous contamination and the casualties on the talk show—the tension eases when Kim relays Braun's specific, slightly arrogant personality and preferences (such as a desire for cashmere cushions and a dislike of being compared to a zoo tiger). Agent Choi offers a silk ribbon as a memento, which Kim realizes is a tracking device; Braun accepts it as a souvenir. The Bureau officially registers the doll as '130666's Friend Ghost Story.' Despite Eun Haje's parting warning not to trust the situation, the incident is temporarily resolved. Later, Section Chief Lee Jaheon arrives to prepare for the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration, but he instead recommends Supervisor Baek Saheon as the candidate for the mission, much to Kim's shock.
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14:46
Chapter 258
Kim Soleum (Grapes) is interrogated by Team Hyunmoo 1 agents regarding his relationship with the rabbit doll, Braun. Agent Bronze treats the doll with extreme caution, placing it in a protective silk and pebble circle as a makeshift ward. The agents escort Kim and Braun to a container near the outskirts of Seoul, where Assistant Manager Eun Haje is waiting. Kim realizes the catastrophe occurred because information about the 'Late-Night Talk Show' and the doll's name flowed between the Bureau and Eun Haje. Using written communication via Paper Boats, Kim explains that Braun is a powerful supernatural entity that he has 'persuaded' to be his friend, using the analogy of an agent receiving help from a Dokkaebi. While Eun Haje and the agents remain skeptical—noting Kim's previous contamination and the casualties on the talk show—the tension eases when Kim relays Braun's specific, slightly arrogant personality and preferences (such as a desire for cashmere cushions and a dislike of being compared to a zoo tiger). Agent Choi offers a silk ribbon as a memento, which Kim realizes is a tracking device; Braun accepts it as a souvenir. The Bureau officially registers the doll as '130666's Friend Ghost Story.' Despite Eun Haje's parting warning not to trust the situation, the incident is temporarily resolved. Later, Section Chief Lee Jaheon arrives to prepare for the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration, but he instead recommends Supervisor Baek Saheon as the candidate for the mission, much to Kim's shock.
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14:46
51
Chapter 259
Agents meet in a suburban park to discuss the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration. Ho Yuwon and Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) are present. Lee Jaheon reveals he has been paying Kim Soleum's rent using items Kim Soleum previously entrusted to him, though Kim Soleum currently owes 2.3 million won in debt. To facilitate the mission, Lee Jaheon recommends recruiting Baek Saheon (Goat) due to his unique vision-enhancing ocular device, which is essential for navigating the thick fog and suicide-related obstacles in the target area. Director Ho Yuwon uses his influence to essentially kidnap Baek Saheon for the project.
Baek Saheon arrives at the Fox Counseling Room, gagged and hooded, only to find a group of masked individuals. The meeting consists of Daydream Inc. staff and Disaster Management Bureau agents wearing Hahoe masks for anonymity. Baek Saheon recognizes two agents from a previous mission at Jisan Village. The group is joined by Kim Soleum, who appears in a bizarre, monstrous form involving black smoke and horns. It is revealed that Baek Saheon, Lee Jaheon, and Kim Soleum have been drafted into the same team to explore the Sekwang Darkness. The chapter ends 30 minutes before the mission begins.
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14:39
Chapter 259
Agents meet in a suburban park to discuss the Sekwang Metropolitan City exploration. Ho Yuwon and Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) are present. Lee Jaheon reveals he has been paying Kim Soleum's rent using items Kim Soleum previously entrusted to him, though Kim Soleum currently owes 2.3 million won in debt. To facilitate the mission, Lee Jaheon recommends recruiting Baek Saheon (Goat) due to his unique vision-enhancing ocular device, which is essential for navigating the thick fog and suicide-related obstacles in the target area. Director Ho Yuwon uses his influence to essentially kidnap Baek Saheon for the project.
Baek Saheon arrives at the Fox Counseling Room, gagged and hooded, only to find a group of masked individuals. The meeting consists of Daydream Inc. staff and Disaster Management Bureau agents wearing Hahoe masks for anonymity. Baek Saheon recognizes two agents from a previous mission at Jisan Village. The group is joined by Kim Soleum, who appears in a bizarre, monstrous form involving black smoke and horns. It is revealed that Baek Saheon, Lee Jaheon, and Kim Soleum have been drafted into the same team to explore the Sekwang Darkness. The chapter ends 30 minutes before the mission begins.
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14:39
52
Chapter 260
Kim Soleum returns to human form on a dark, clean platform at Sekwang Station within the dream. He has prepared a strategy to ensure the successful infiltration of Sekwang Metropolitan City, which includes using Ho Yuwon's passage to relocate agents and employees to a safe location upon waking, and providing 'Euthanasia Pills' to agents to prevent permanent comas. The group consists of Kim Soleum (Roe Deer), two Hahoe Masked agents (including Agent Choi and Agent Bronze), and Daydream Inc. staff: Lee Jaheon, Eun Haje, and Baek Saheon. The group finds the subway station reset, but the fog is encroaching from the stairs, accompanied by the sound of hanging corpses. Kim Soleum forms a three-person vanguard consisting of himself, Lee Jaheon (the physical specialist), and Baek Saheon (the navigator/eyes). To prevent the group from being targeted by the 'noose' entities, Kim Soleum uses 'Cuffless Handcuffs' to keep the group together while they move. Upon reaching the ticket gate, Kim Soleum strategically tags six cards alone to ensure the others are not identified as passengers, while he remains the sole target of the fog's aggression. As the group nears the platform, the fog and nooses attack aggressively. Lee Jaheon uses overwhelming physical strength to crush falling nooses and obstacles, clearing a path. Upon reaching the stairs, Kim Soleum instructs the others to descend immediately; because they are no longer 'passengers,' the fog does not follow them. Kim Soleum stays behind on the stairs to draw the noose's aggression. As the train arrives, Kim Soleum throws the five remaining cards onto the platform. The team members grab the cards and sprint into the train just before the doors close, successfully escaping the station as the train departs.
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15:27
Chapter 260
Kim Soleum returns to human form on a dark, clean platform at Sekwang Station within the dream. He has prepared a strategy to ensure the successful infiltration of Sekwang Metropolitan City, which includes using Ho Yuwon's passage to relocate agents and employees to a safe location upon waking, and providing 'Euthanasia Pills' to agents to prevent permanent comas. The group consists of Kim Soleum (Roe Deer), two Hahoe Masked agents (including Agent Choi and Agent Bronze), and Daydream Inc. staff: Lee Jaheon, Eun Haje, and Baek Saheon. The group finds the subway station reset, but the fog is encroaching from the stairs, accompanied by the sound of hanging corpses. Kim Soleum forms a three-person vanguard consisting of himself, Lee Jaheon (the physical specialist), and Baek Saheon (the navigator/eyes). To prevent the group from being targeted by the 'noose' entities, Kim Soleum uses 'Cuffless Handcuffs' to keep the group together while they move. Upon reaching the ticket gate, Kim Soleum strategically tags six cards alone to ensure the others are not identified as passengers, while he remains the sole target of the fog's aggression. As the group nears the platform, the fog and nooses attack aggressively. Lee Jaheon uses overwhelming physical strength to crush falling nooses and obstacles, clearing a path. Upon reaching the stairs, Kim Soleum instructs the others to descend immediately; because they are no longer 'passengers,' the fog does not follow them. Kim Soleum stays behind on the stairs to draw the noose's aggression. As the train arrives, Kim Soleum throws the five remaining cards onto the platform. The team members grab the cards and sprint into the train just before the doors close, successfully escaping the station as the train departs.
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15:27
53
Chapter 261
Kim Soleum and his companions board a clean, seemingly normal subway train within Sekwang Metropolitan City. They observe that the passengers are expressionless and non-reactive to their presence. Upon inspecting the interior, Soleum notices that advertisements are dated but unidentifiable, and the train features a subway map. A smartphone notification reveals that the Sekwang Subway is a loop line circling the city's major districts. Soleum discovers that items brought onto the train, such as his torn gloves, are restored to their original pristine condition, suggesting a restoration effect exists within the train. After moving to a less crowded car, Soleum uses his repaired Memorial Pop Socket to gain information, explaining to the group that he obtained it from an elder. He discovers the passengers are actually long-term missing persons who have been completely contaminated by addiction; they are merely reenacting daily routines through meaningless motions (e.g., reading upside down or making knitting gestures) and do not react to stimuli except for whistling. The group experiences tension when Agent Choi's whistling draws the intense, unblinking gaze of the passengers. A heated discussion ensues regarding the identity of Eun Haje (a former reporter/Feast Guest) and the mysterious status of the 'Jisan Village agent.' Soleum experiences a sudden, heavy realization regarding the disappearance of Lee Seonghae, fearing she is trapped in a similar state of contamination on another train. As the train arrives at Midnight Station, which is advertising a Royal Casino, the contaminated passengers rush out of the doors. Facing a crisis of decision, Soleum decides to exit the train onto the platform at Midnight Station.
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15:59
Chapter 261
Kim Soleum and his companions board a clean, seemingly normal subway train within Sekwang Metropolitan City. They observe that the passengers are expressionless and non-reactive to their presence. Upon inspecting the interior, Soleum notices that advertisements are dated but unidentifiable, and the train features a subway map. A smartphone notification reveals that the Sekwang Subway is a loop line circling the city's major districts. Soleum discovers that items brought onto the train, such as his torn gloves, are restored to their original pristine condition, suggesting a restoration effect exists within the train. After moving to a less crowded car, Soleum uses his repaired Memorial Pop Socket to gain information, explaining to the group that he obtained it from an elder. He discovers the passengers are actually long-term missing persons who have been completely contaminated by addiction; they are merely reenacting daily routines through meaningless motions (e.g., reading upside down or making knitting gestures) and do not react to stimuli except for whistling. The group experiences tension when Agent Choi's whistling draws the intense, unblinking gaze of the passengers. A heated discussion ensues regarding the identity of Eun Haje (a former reporter/Feast Guest) and the mysterious status of the 'Jisan Village agent.' Soleum experiences a sudden, heavy realization regarding the disappearance of Lee Seonghae, fearing she is trapped in a similar state of contamination on another train. As the train arrives at Midnight Station, which is advertising a Royal Casino, the contaminated passengers rush out of the doors. Facing a crisis of decision, Soleum decides to exit the train onto the platform at Midnight Station.
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15:59
54
Chapter 262
The group disembarks at Midnight Station, a decaying casino-themed station characterized by flickering red and yellow lights and a pervasive sense of neglect. The platform is crowded with long-term missing persons whose true forms are revealed: emaciated, disheveled, and missing various body parts (arms, legs, eyes, etc.) through unnaturally smooth, clean-cut edges. The group realizes this is a 'body part trafficking casino.' An unmanned booth serves as a pawn shop where body parts are exchanged for casino coins.
To enter the casino, the group members must trade a body part. Assistant Manager Eun Haje impulsively trades her left hand for 32 coins, receiving a pouch of currency. Section Chief Lee Jaheon trades his right ring finger, and Baek Saheon follows suit. To ensure the group has sufficient funds for the casino's high costs, Kim Soleum trades his right eye for 35 coins, causing him significant pain but securing extra capital.
Inside, the casino is a grim scene of broken slot machines and missing people sitting in corners. A nearby storage booth reveals that traded body parts are kept behind glass. A prize list shows that basic supplies like water and food are available for coins, but the ultimate prize—an 'Emergency Exit'—costs a staggering 10,000 coins. Kim Soleum discovers Lee Seonghae's green-irised eye in the storage booth, confirming she had previously been here. As they prepare to search for her, they are approached by a casino dealer who greets them because their combined exchange value exceeds 50 coins. The dealer is Lee Seonghae, appearing with one eye missing.
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17:00
Chapter 262
The group disembarks at Midnight Station, a decaying casino-themed station characterized by flickering red and yellow lights and a pervasive sense of neglect. The platform is crowded with long-term missing persons whose true forms are revealed: emaciated, disheveled, and missing various body parts (arms, legs, eyes, etc.) through unnaturally smooth, clean-cut edges. The group realizes this is a 'body part trafficking casino.' An unmanned booth serves as a pawn shop where body parts are exchanged for casino coins.
To enter the casino, the group members must trade a body part. Assistant Manager Eun Haje impulsively trades her left hand for 32 coins, receiving a pouch of currency. Section Chief Lee Jaheon trades his right ring finger, and Baek Saheon follows suit. To ensure the group has sufficient funds for the casino's high costs, Kim Soleum trades his right eye for 35 coins, causing him significant pain but securing extra capital.
Inside, the casino is a grim scene of broken slot machines and missing people sitting in corners. A nearby storage booth reveals that traded body parts are kept behind glass. A prize list shows that basic supplies like water and food are available for coins, but the ultimate prize—an 'Emergency Exit'—costs a staggering 10,000 coins. Kim Soleum discovers Lee Seonghae's green-irised eye in the storage booth, confirming she had previously been here. As they prepare to search for her, they are approached by a casino dealer who greets them because their combined exchange value exceeds 50 coins. The dealer is Lee Seonghae, appearing with one eye missing.
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17:00
55
Chapter 263
Kim Soleum, Agent Choi, and their party enter the Midnight Station Body Casino, guided by a dealer who has been transformed into the form of Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae. Upon entry, they explore three distinct zones: the Slot Machine Zone, filled with addicts; the Dealer Zone, featuring broken tables and contaminated visitors; and the VIP Room, which requires 999 coins to access. Kim Soleum observes that the dealer's physical proportions and hand structure are unnatural, leading him to conclude that the dealer's body is a crude assembly of parts, likely acquired through gambling. This raises a debate within the group: Agent Bronze suggests neutralizing the dealer by shooting her in the head to wake her up, but Agent Choi and Kim Soleum argue that if her consciousness is no longer recognized as her own, she might simply die. They decide to prioritize gathering information about the casino and Sekwang Special City. The group disperses to different areas. Kim Soleum borrows 20 coins from Eun Haje and returns to the Dealer Room to probe the dealer's memory. During the card game, a mysterious, hooded resident of Sekwang Special City sits next to Kim Soleum and bets heavily. Kim Soleum wins the game using the resident's coins. When Kim Soleum attempts to leave, the hooded resident reveals their face, appearing to be Go Youngeun.
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16:40
Chapter 263
Kim Soleum, Agent Choi, and their party enter the Midnight Station Body Casino, guided by a dealer who has been transformed into the form of Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae. Upon entry, they explore three distinct zones: the Slot Machine Zone, filled with addicts; the Dealer Zone, featuring broken tables and contaminated visitors; and the VIP Room, which requires 999 coins to access. Kim Soleum observes that the dealer's physical proportions and hand structure are unnatural, leading him to conclude that the dealer's body is a crude assembly of parts, likely acquired through gambling. This raises a debate within the group: Agent Bronze suggests neutralizing the dealer by shooting her in the head to wake her up, but Agent Choi and Kim Soleum argue that if her consciousness is no longer recognized as her own, she might simply die. They decide to prioritize gathering information about the casino and Sekwang Special City. The group disperses to different areas. Kim Soleum borrows 20 coins from Eun Haje and returns to the Dealer Room to probe the dealer's memory. During the card game, a mysterious, hooded resident of Sekwang Special City sits next to Kim Soleum and bets heavily. Kim Soleum wins the game using the resident's coins. When Kim Soleum attempts to leave, the hooded resident reveals their face, appearing to be Go Youngeun.
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16:40
56
Chapter 264
In a casino located beneath Sekwang Metropolitan City, Kim Soleum encounters Go Youngeun (Ms. Goral), a former Disaster Management Bureau agent who appears to be in a state of physical loss, having traded her left ear as an admission fee. Go Youngeun reveals that staying in the Body Casino too long causes gambling addiction and warns that one must leave and return after a rest period. She provides information regarding the casino's mechanics: the dealer is Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, who has lost most of her body and is likely being used in the VIP Room. It is deduced that Lee Seonghae likely used a specific method to win 1,000 coins quickly to enter the VIP Room. Kim Soleum explains to Go Youngeun that regeneration potions might fail because the casino claims ownership of the 'function' of the body parts, not just the flesh.
The group is joined by Section Chief Lee Jaheon, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, Agent Choi, and Agent Ryu Jaekwan. Agent Choi reveals they have found Lee Seonghae's body parts (elbow, hand, and foot) stored as 'special products' in a pawn shop. The group concludes they must find a way to exploit loopholes to accumulate 1,000 coins to enter the VIP Room and rescue Lee Seonghae. The chapter ends abruptly when Baek Saheon wins a jackpot on a slot machine, causing a crowd of patrons to rush toward him, prompting him to flee toward the group.
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15:50
Chapter 264
In a casino located beneath Sekwang Metropolitan City, Kim Soleum encounters Go Youngeun (Ms. Goral), a former Disaster Management Bureau agent who appears to be in a state of physical loss, having traded her left ear as an admission fee. Go Youngeun reveals that staying in the Body Casino too long causes gambling addiction and warns that one must leave and return after a rest period. She provides information regarding the casino's mechanics: the dealer is Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, who has lost most of her body and is likely being used in the VIP Room. It is deduced that Lee Seonghae likely used a specific method to win 1,000 coins quickly to enter the VIP Room. Kim Soleum explains to Go Youngeun that regeneration potions might fail because the casino claims ownership of the 'function' of the body parts, not just the flesh.
The group is joined by Section Chief Lee Jaheon, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, Agent Choi, and Agent Ryu Jaekwan. Agent Choi reveals they have found Lee Seonghae's body parts (elbow, hand, and foot) stored as 'special products' in a pawn shop. The group concludes they must find a way to exploit loopholes to accumulate 1,000 coins to enter the VIP Room and rescue Lee Seonghae. The chapter ends abruptly when Baek Saheon wins a jackpot on a slot machine, causing a crowd of patrons to rush toward him, prompting him to flee toward the group.
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15:50
57
Chapter 265
The team flees a horde of long-term missing persons—insane individuals from the casino ghost story who have traded limbs for coins. Baek Saheon is being chased specifically because he is carrying the coins he won from a slot machine. To escape, Kim Soleum suggests heading to the Dealer Room, reasoning that the 50-coin limit of the missing persons in the Slot Machine Zone might prevent them from entering. The group manages to reach the Dealer Room by using agents to block and trip the pursuers. Although some missing persons breach the room, the group finds breathing room when the pursuers focus their pursuit on Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is carrying Baek Saheon.
When the missing persons cause damage to the Dealer Room, a Dealer (who appears to have Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's head) intervenes. The Dealer issues a bill for the damages, and as a consequence, the limbs and organs of the missing persons fall off and vanish. The group settles in the Dealer Room and tallies their funds, totaling 256 coins. Baek Saheon also reveals a slot machine prize: a small, rectangular voice recorder with a conch shell embossed on the back, named 'Angel's Sigh.' Go Youngeun warns that the device is highly addictive, claiming it provides peace and healing but becomes irreversible after three uses. Kim Soleum suspects the device is a lower-quality imitation of the conch shell from the Mermaid Tomb, potentially linked to a biological disaster. Kim Soleum also deduces that the slot machines are actually 'beings' from a ghost story. After observing the Dealer Room and applying the methods used by Lee Seonghae, Kim Soleum manages to triple their war funds to 924 coins within 73 minutes.
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15:59
Chapter 265
The team flees a horde of long-term missing persons—insane individuals from the casino ghost story who have traded limbs for coins. Baek Saheon is being chased specifically because he is carrying the coins he won from a slot machine. To escape, Kim Soleum suggests heading to the Dealer Room, reasoning that the 50-coin limit of the missing persons in the Slot Machine Zone might prevent them from entering. The group manages to reach the Dealer Room by using agents to block and trip the pursuers. Although some missing persons breach the room, the group finds breathing room when the pursuers focus their pursuit on Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is carrying Baek Saheon.
When the missing persons cause damage to the Dealer Room, a Dealer (who appears to have Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's head) intervenes. The Dealer issues a bill for the damages, and as a consequence, the limbs and organs of the missing persons fall off and vanish. The group settles in the Dealer Room and tallies their funds, totaling 256 coins. Baek Saheon also reveals a slot machine prize: a small, rectangular voice recorder with a conch shell embossed on the back, named 'Angel's Sigh.' Go Youngeun warns that the device is highly addictive, claiming it provides peace and healing but becomes irreversible after three uses. Kim Soleum suspects the device is a lower-quality imitation of the conch shell from the Mermaid Tomb, potentially linked to a biological disaster. Kim Soleum also deduces that the slot machines are actually 'beings' from a ghost story. After observing the Dealer Room and applying the methods used by Lee Seonghae, Kim Soleum manages to triple their war funds to 924 coins within 73 minutes.
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15:59
58
Chapter 266
The group enters an underground casino filled with low-quality jazz and outdated, worn-out facilities. Kim Soleum (Grapes) and Agent Choi use the casino's poor maintenance to their advantage. By observing minute scratches and wrinkles on the back of the old playing cards, Agent Choi successfully identifies cards, winning a large sum of coins (904 coins) through a loophole in the outdated equipment. Kim Soleum observes, noting that in a modern casino, these marks would be irrelevant, but here they serve as a giveaway.
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae approaches and reveals she knows their trick, stating she used a similar method when she was a visitor. She takes over the table, replacing the previous dealer, and implies the casino will no longer allow such exploits. To avoid suspicion, Kim Soleum requests to move to Lee Seonghae's original table. There, Kim Soleum employs a more direct fraudulent method: using the large, reflective eyes of Section Chief Lee Jaheon (who is acting as a lizard-like figure leaning against a wall) to see the reflection of the card being dealt. This allows Kim Soleum to correctly bet on hearts and win a massive payout, bringing the total to 924 coins.
Having surpassed 999 coins, the group is granted access to the VIP area. Upon entering the maze-like, luxurious VIP room, they find a silver .38 caliber revolver on the table. The dealer announces the game is Russian roulette. The rules state players take turns shooting; if one is too afraid, they must forfeit or sacrifice a body part. The dealer reveals that prizes can include body parts. Kim Soleum notes the presence of various limbs and organs hanging on a rail, realizing they must win to rescue Lee Seonghae. The chapter ends as the dealer asks who will play the game.
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17:25
Chapter 266
The group enters an underground casino filled with low-quality jazz and outdated, worn-out facilities. Kim Soleum (Grapes) and Agent Choi use the casino's poor maintenance to their advantage. By observing minute scratches and wrinkles on the back of the old playing cards, Agent Choi successfully identifies cards, winning a large sum of coins (904 coins) through a loophole in the outdated equipment. Kim Soleum observes, noting that in a modern casino, these marks would be irrelevant, but here they serve as a giveaway.
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae approaches and reveals she knows their trick, stating she used a similar method when she was a visitor. She takes over the table, replacing the previous dealer, and implies the casino will no longer allow such exploits. To avoid suspicion, Kim Soleum requests to move to Lee Seonghae's original table. There, Kim Soleum employs a more direct fraudulent method: using the large, reflective eyes of Section Chief Lee Jaheon (who is acting as a lizard-like figure leaning against a wall) to see the reflection of the card being dealt. This allows Kim Soleum to correctly bet on hearts and win a massive payout, bringing the total to 924 coins.
Having surpassed 999 coins, the group is granted access to the VIP area. Upon entering the maze-like, luxurious VIP room, they find a silver .38 caliber revolver on the table. The dealer announces the game is Russian roulette. The rules state players take turns shooting; if one is too afraid, they must forfeit or sacrifice a body part. The dealer reveals that prizes can include body parts. Kim Soleum notes the presence of various limbs and organs hanging on a rail, realizing they must win to rescue Lee Seonghae. The chapter ends as the dealer asks who will play the game.
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17:25
59
Chapter 267
The party enters a VIP-only gambling room to play Russian Roulette, a high-stakes game where the goal is to obtain body fragments to reassemble Lee Seonghae. Agent Choi first volunteers, but Eun Haje intervenes, using her prosthetic hand to claim she has nothing to lose. Eun Haje plays first, successfully firing three consecutive shots before being killed by the fourth shot. Agent Choi, acting as the identifier, retrieves Lee Seonghae's shoulder from the rail. The party decides to continue the gamble to obtain more fragments, despite the lethality. Kim Soleum takes his turn, firing three empty chambers before the fourth shot kills Agent Choi. Following this, Baek Saheon is coerced into playing via a coin reward; he dies on his third shot. Section Chief Lee Jaheon follows, dying on his first shot. Kim Soleum then proposes a high-risk variant rule: using two bullets and requiring the winner to shoot themselves once more to increase the reward. During the final round between Kim Soleum and Agent Choi, Kim Soleum realizes Agent Choi and the dealer are acting on information from Lee Seonghae's remaining consciousness, who attempted to subtly guide them toward survival. When the dealer accuses Kim Soleum of cheating by manipulating the rules, Kim Soleum lunges and tears Lee Seonghae's head from the rail. He quickly attaches the head and other fragments to the reassembled body and forces an Euthanasia Pill into her mouth. As security approaches, Kim Soleum shoots himself. Instead of waking up in reality, he finds himself in a human body being carried by Go Youngeun toward a subway station.
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16:33
Chapter 267
The party enters a VIP-only gambling room to play Russian Roulette, a high-stakes game where the goal is to obtain body fragments to reassemble Lee Seonghae. Agent Choi first volunteers, but Eun Haje intervenes, using her prosthetic hand to claim she has nothing to lose. Eun Haje plays first, successfully firing three consecutive shots before being killed by the fourth shot. Agent Choi, acting as the identifier, retrieves Lee Seonghae's shoulder from the rail. The party decides to continue the gamble to obtain more fragments, despite the lethality. Kim Soleum takes his turn, firing three empty chambers before the fourth shot kills Agent Choi. Following this, Baek Saheon is coerced into playing via a coin reward; he dies on his third shot. Section Chief Lee Jaheon follows, dying on his first shot. Kim Soleum then proposes a high-risk variant rule: using two bullets and requiring the winner to shoot themselves once more to increase the reward. During the final round between Kim Soleum and Agent Choi, Kim Soleum realizes Agent Choi and the dealer are acting on information from Lee Seonghae's remaining consciousness, who attempted to subtly guide them toward survival. When the dealer accuses Kim Soleum of cheating by manipulating the rules, Kim Soleum lunges and tears Lee Seonghae's head from the rail. He quickly attaches the head and other fragments to the reassembled body and forces an Euthanasia Pill into her mouth. As security approaches, Kim Soleum shoots himself. Instead of waking up in reality, he finds himself in a human body being carried by Go Youngeun toward a subway station.
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16:33
60
Chapter 268
Kim Soleum regains consciousness in a state of severe physical trauma, discovering he is missing both legs from the thigh/joint down due to the events at the Body Casino. He is being carried down subway stairs by Go Youngeun. As they reach the platform, Kim realizes he has survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, which he suspects was a misfire or a non-lethal graze. Go Youngeun hides them both inside a spacious Fire Hydrant to avoid casino dealers and addicts. During the hiding, Kim secretly takes a C-Class Regeneration Potion from Go Youngeun's pocket to save it for her, intending to die rather than waste it, as he believes his end is imminent. Go Youngeun, unaware of the stolen potion, explains her tragic backstory: she had made a wish using a Wish Token to gain the ability to hear news about her estranged family. Kim realizes with horror that her wish was granted in a cruel way—she was transported into the sealed Sekwang Special City, a place where news of her family cannot exist, effectively trapping her in a loop of false hope. As a train approaches, Go Youngeun tries to drag Kim toward it, but Kim's strength fails. He dies as the train arrives. Kim suddenly awakens in a new location, finding himself in the presence of Ho Yuwon, who notes that everyone thought Kim would not wake up. Ho Yuwon asks Kim if he has any lingering attachments left in Sekwang Special City or a reason to return.
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12:24
Chapter 268
Kim Soleum regains consciousness in a state of severe physical trauma, discovering he is missing both legs from the thigh/joint down due to the events at the Body Casino. He is being carried down subway stairs by Go Youngeun. As they reach the platform, Kim realizes he has survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, which he suspects was a misfire or a non-lethal graze. Go Youngeun hides them both inside a spacious Fire Hydrant to avoid casino dealers and addicts. During the hiding, Kim secretly takes a C-Class Regeneration Potion from Go Youngeun's pocket to save it for her, intending to die rather than waste it, as he believes his end is imminent. Go Youngeun, unaware of the stolen potion, explains her tragic backstory: she had made a wish using a Wish Token to gain the ability to hear news about her estranged family. Kim realizes with horror that her wish was granted in a cruel way—she was transported into the sealed Sekwang Special City, a place where news of her family cannot exist, effectively trapping her in a loop of false hope. As a train approaches, Go Youngeun tries to drag Kim toward it, but Kim's strength fails. He dies as the train arrives. Kim suddenly awakens in a new location, finding himself in the presence of Ho Yuwon, who notes that everyone thought Kim would not wake up. Ho Yuwon asks Kim if he has any lingering attachments left in Sekwang Special City or a reason to return.
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12:24
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