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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) · 121–150
121
Chapter 329
Kim Soleum meets with Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) in the passageway between Cars 2 and 3. Soleum successfully swaps the real 'Good Friend' plush doll for a decoy to avoid suspicion. Lee Jaheon explains that Agent Haegeum's team visited the Midnight Station and successfully shut down the Body Casino. The team used a strategy involving public official authority and the discovery of a secret space (not on the original blueprints) to trigger a business suspension order. While most agents returned safely, Agent Kang Yihak (Pony) remains hospitalized for contamination treatment. Lee Jaheon warns Soleum of the danger of the escalating atmosphere on the train and advises evacuation.
During this discussion, Soleum communicates with the 'Counselor' (the personality within the silver coin), who warns that the current festive atmosphere, while intended to be harmless, risks escalating into a violent 'execution festival' due to the psychological state of the residents. Soleum decides to take responsibility and resolve the situation quickly by confronting the Chief Conductor.
Using a distraction created by a raffle for Rabbit Doll merchandise and the President's storytelling, Soleum and Lee Jaheon orchestrate a breach of the engineer's compartment. Lee Jaheon assists by unlocking the door while Soleum slips inside. Soleum finds the Chief Conductor asleep, holding a pole and food. After subduing him by covering his mouth and threatening him with a non-existent knife, Soleum leverages the man's fear of the celebrating crowd outside. Soleum then reveals a Disaster Management Bureau jacket—the uniform of Agent Chogae—to intimidate the Conductor, claiming knowledge of the train's origin. Soleum begins interrogating the Conductor to gather information about the train and find a way to escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
20:05
Chapter 329
Kim Soleum meets with Section Chief Lee Jaheon (Lizard) in the passageway between Cars 2 and 3. Soleum successfully swaps the real 'Good Friend' plush doll for a decoy to avoid suspicion. Lee Jaheon explains that Agent Haegeum's team visited the Midnight Station and successfully shut down the Body Casino. The team used a strategy involving public official authority and the discovery of a secret space (not on the original blueprints) to trigger a business suspension order. While most agents returned safely, Agent Kang Yihak (Pony) remains hospitalized for contamination treatment. Lee Jaheon warns Soleum of the danger of the escalating atmosphere on the train and advises evacuation.
During this discussion, Soleum communicates with the 'Counselor' (the personality within the silver coin), who warns that the current festive atmosphere, while intended to be harmless, risks escalating into a violent 'execution festival' due to the psychological state of the residents. Soleum decides to take responsibility and resolve the situation quickly by confronting the Chief Conductor.
Using a distraction created by a raffle for Rabbit Doll merchandise and the President's storytelling, Soleum and Lee Jaheon orchestrate a breach of the engineer's compartment. Lee Jaheon assists by unlocking the door while Soleum slips inside. Soleum finds the Chief Conductor asleep, holding a pole and food. After subduing him by covering his mouth and threatening him with a non-existent knife, Soleum leverages the man's fear of the celebrating crowd outside. Soleum then reveals a Disaster Management Bureau jacket—the uniform of Agent Chogae—to intimidate the Conductor, claiming knowledge of the train's origin. Soleum begins interrogating the Conductor to gather information about the train and find a way to escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
20:05
122
Chapter 330
Kim Soleum interrogates the Chief Conductor regarding the origin of the train and the disappearance of Agent Chogae. The Conductor reveals the train is a repurposed 'Defective Train' that appeared suddenly at the station, providing safety for refugees. He admits to helping Agent Chogae operate it but claims the agents vanished while trying to gather supplies for the refugees. The Conductor defends his decision to prioritize the system over individuals, though Soleum notes names crossed out in the cockpit. Soleum discovers Agent Chogae's frayed five-colored escape rope in a drawer, realizing the agent was likely planning a rescue mission to reach the outside world. Soleum searches the engineer's seat and discovers a ritualistic talisman drawn with ash and liquid. Agent Bronze is brought to the compartment to decipher it. Bronze identifies it as a 'Destiny Amulet'—not meant to ward off evil, but to draw something in, specifically to make the train move to fulfill its role. Soleum observes that all subway stations in Sekwang Metropolitan City have names mutated to time-of-day descriptors (e.g., Midnight Station, Morning Station), except for 'Sekwang Station.' Soleum deduces that Sekwang Station remains unmutated because it serves as a major high-speed rail hub, not just a local subway. He concludes that Agent Chogae's goal was to use the talisman to switch the train from the local subway tracks to the high-speed rail tracks, allowing the train to escape the confines of the city entirely. The chapter ends with Soleum and Bronze deciding to attempt this escape.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:39
Chapter 330
Kim Soleum interrogates the Chief Conductor regarding the origin of the train and the disappearance of Agent Chogae. The Conductor reveals the train is a repurposed 'Defective Train' that appeared suddenly at the station, providing safety for refugees. He admits to helping Agent Chogae operate it but claims the agents vanished while trying to gather supplies for the refugees. The Conductor defends his decision to prioritize the system over individuals, though Soleum notes names crossed out in the cockpit. Soleum discovers Agent Chogae's frayed five-colored escape rope in a drawer, realizing the agent was likely planning a rescue mission to reach the outside world. Soleum searches the engineer's seat and discovers a ritualistic talisman drawn with ash and liquid. Agent Bronze is brought to the compartment to decipher it. Bronze identifies it as a 'Destiny Amulet'—not meant to ward off evil, but to draw something in, specifically to make the train move to fulfill its role. Soleum observes that all subway stations in Sekwang Metropolitan City have names mutated to time-of-day descriptors (e.g., Midnight Station, Morning Station), except for 'Sekwang Station.' Soleum deduces that Sekwang Station remains unmutated because it serves as a major high-speed rail hub, not just a local subway. He concludes that Agent Chogae's goal was to use the talisman to switch the train from the local subway tracks to the high-speed rail tracks, allowing the train to escape the confines of the city entirely. The chapter ends with Soleum and Bronze deciding to attempt this escape.
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18:39
123
Chapter 331
In the engineer's compartment, Kim Soleum discovers an 'Escape Talisman' under the engineer's seat. He realizes the former agents of the Train Shelter were likely searching for a power source—specifically Dokkaebi flame—to power this subway train for a high-speed railway escape, as the subway's standard electric current is incompatible with high-speed tracks. Go Youngeun joins them, explaining that she learned about subway/railway compatibility through her aunt and rumors. While the idea of using Dokkaebi flame as fuel offers hope, Kim Soleum remains cautious, noting that the Sekwang Metropolitan City lockdown is a sealing ritual, and he wants to consult veteran agents like Agent Choi and Agent Haegeum before attempting an escape. As they talk, the atmosphere in the shelter is uncharacteristically joyful, though Go Youngeun notes a strange silence. Kim Soleum realizes the subway's automated station announcements have stopped. Suddenly, the Escape Talisman begins to boil and turn black, activating. Kim Soleum observes through the window that the train has entered a maintenance area and is traveling in a straight line, meaning it has left the subway loop. Section Chief Lee Jaheon notes the altitude is rising, indicating they are heading toward the surface. Kim Soleum attempts to stop the train to prevent the group from emerging into the disaster-stricken surface as
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
11:19
Chapter 331
In the engineer's compartment, Kim Soleum discovers an 'Escape Talisman' under the engineer's seat. He realizes the former agents of the Train Shelter were likely searching for a power source—specifically Dokkaebi flame—to power this subway train for a high-speed railway escape, as the subway's standard electric current is incompatible with high-speed tracks. Go Youngeun joins them, explaining that she learned about subway/railway compatibility through her aunt and rumors. While the idea of using Dokkaebi flame as fuel offers hope, Kim Soleum remains cautious, noting that the Sekwang Metropolitan City lockdown is a sealing ritual, and he wants to consult veteran agents like Agent Choi and Agent Haegeum before attempting an escape. As they talk, the atmosphere in the shelter is uncharacteristically joyful, though Go Youngeun notes a strange silence. Kim Soleum realizes the subway's automated station announcements have stopped. Suddenly, the Escape Talisman begins to boil and turn black, activating. Kim Soleum observes through the window that the train has entered a maintenance area and is traveling in a straight line, meaning it has left the subway loop. Section Chief Lee Jaheon notes the altitude is rising, indicating they are heading toward the surface. Kim Soleum attempts to stop the train to prevent the group from emerging into the disaster-stricken surface as
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
11:19
124
Chapter 332
The train breaks out onto the surface into an Annihilation-sanctioned Disaster. Kim Soleum observes a grotesque, distorted reality where tracks appear to float in mid-air and the surrounding scenery is warped. Section Chief Lee Jaheon prevents Soleum from looking outside, warning that the environment is a lethal 'Darkness' that punishes those who look. Soleum realizes the train is likely surviving by being treated as a separate 'Subway ghost story' entity, providing a layer of protection from the external disaster.
As the train travels, Soleum notices the fuel and distance indicators are decreasing without physical fuel being added. Based on a maintenance sign about working in pairs, Soleum suspects the train is using Agents in the cockpit as human fuel. Agent Bronze, focused on a burning black Talisman, accepts this grim reality and instructs Soleum to live and report the findings to the Management Bureau.
Outside the cockpit, chaos erupts. The Chief Conductor attempts to seize power by claiming the Rabbit Doll has blessed the escape, but Go Youngeun publicly challenges his legitimacy and authority. A university student supporting the religion further marginalizes the Conductor. Soleum punches the Conductor and tosses him unconscious.
Desperate to save the Agents, Soleum uses his tattoo (a sub-dimension/ghost story) to pull Assistant Manager Eun Haje and Agent Bronze inside the tattoo just as the Talisman's task is completed. However, the Chief Conductor, having survived the scuffle, manages to sneak into the cockpit and opens the door. Soleum is thrown out of the train, plummeting toward Sekwang Metropolitan City. As he falls, he witnesses a colossal, spherical being made of countless people rolling through the city, devouring everything. Soleum is crushed and dies.
Suddenly, Soleum wakes up in a department store lobby, realizing the entire ordeal was a dream or a regression. He finds a Rabbit Doll and a silver coin in his pocket, leaving his true reality uncertain.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
20:28
Chapter 332
The train breaks out onto the surface into an Annihilation-sanctioned Disaster. Kim Soleum observes a grotesque, distorted reality where tracks appear to float in mid-air and the surrounding scenery is warped. Section Chief Lee Jaheon prevents Soleum from looking outside, warning that the environment is a lethal 'Darkness' that punishes those who look. Soleum realizes the train is likely surviving by being treated as a separate 'Subway ghost story' entity, providing a layer of protection from the external disaster.
As the train travels, Soleum notices the fuel and distance indicators are decreasing without physical fuel being added. Based on a maintenance sign about working in pairs, Soleum suspects the train is using Agents in the cockpit as human fuel. Agent Bronze, focused on a burning black Talisman, accepts this grim reality and instructs Soleum to live and report the findings to the Management Bureau.
Outside the cockpit, chaos erupts. The Chief Conductor attempts to seize power by claiming the Rabbit Doll has blessed the escape, but Go Youngeun publicly challenges his legitimacy and authority. A university student supporting the religion further marginalizes the Conductor. Soleum punches the Conductor and tosses him unconscious.
Desperate to save the Agents, Soleum uses his tattoo (a sub-dimension/ghost story) to pull Assistant Manager Eun Haje and Agent Bronze inside the tattoo just as the Talisman's task is completed. However, the Chief Conductor, having survived the scuffle, manages to sneak into the cockpit and opens the door. Soleum is thrown out of the train, plummeting toward Sekwang Metropolitan City. As he falls, he witnesses a colossal, spherical being made of countless people rolling through the city, devouring everything. Soleum is crushed and dies.
Suddenly, Soleum wakes up in a department store lobby, realizing the entire ordeal was a dream or a regression. He finds a Rabbit Doll and a silver coin in his pocket, leaving his true reality uncertain.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
20:28
125
Chapter 333
Kim Soleum exits Hanbit Department Store in a surprisingly good mood on Monday, May 4th, noting the pleasant weather. He reflects on his decision to take a day off, which feels irrational given he had a lunch meeting scheduled. At the meeting with Section Chief Park, the atmosphere is respectful. The client boasts about his child attending the nearby Sekwang Technical High School and praises its library. While leaving, Soleum spots a counselor running toward the subway station and feels a sense of familiarity. Suddenly, Soleum experiences a sharp, painful sting in his hand. Upon checking his pocket, he finds a silver coin that has become inexplicably tarnished and black. Attracted by a glint of light from a school window, Soleum approaches the school wall where a student with dyed hair asks him to pick up a dropped note. Soleum retrieves the note, which simply says "Just stay here," and throws it back up to the student. Later, at his apartment, Soleum finds a high-end pink Rabbit Doll in his pocket, despite having no memory of buying it. He places the doll on his side table, but feels an inexplicable discomfort while watching a mystery-thriller drama. After being startled by the doll's shadow on his wall, he falls asleep. Soleum wakes up abruptly in the lobby of Hanbit Department Store, having seemingly looped back in time. He finds both the tarnished silver coin and the pink Rabbit Doll in his pocket, with no memory of how he acquired them, and exits the store once more.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
12:45
Chapter 333
Kim Soleum exits Hanbit Department Store in a surprisingly good mood on Monday, May 4th, noting the pleasant weather. He reflects on his decision to take a day off, which feels irrational given he had a lunch meeting scheduled. At the meeting with Section Chief Park, the atmosphere is respectful. The client boasts about his child attending the nearby Sekwang Technical High School and praises its library. While leaving, Soleum spots a counselor running toward the subway station and feels a sense of familiarity. Suddenly, Soleum experiences a sharp, painful sting in his hand. Upon checking his pocket, he finds a silver coin that has become inexplicably tarnished and black. Attracted by a glint of light from a school window, Soleum approaches the school wall where a student with dyed hair asks him to pick up a dropped note. Soleum retrieves the note, which simply says "Just stay here," and throws it back up to the student. Later, at his apartment, Soleum finds a high-end pink Rabbit Doll in his pocket, despite having no memory of buying it. He places the doll on his side table, but feels an inexplicable discomfort while watching a mystery-thriller drama. After being startled by the doll's shadow on his wall, he falls asleep. Soleum wakes up abruptly in the lobby of Hanbit Department Store, having seemingly looped back in time. He finds both the tarnished silver coin and the pink Rabbit Doll in his pocket, with no memory of how he acquired them, and exits the store once more.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
12:45
126
Chapter 334
Kim Soleum wakes up on May 4th, feeling a sense of familiarity with the day. He meets a client and visits a high school where the client's daughter attends. During this, he observes a school counselor heading to the subway. Kim Soleum notices his silver coin has become pitch-black and grime-covered. While passing the high school again, a voice from an empty window tells him to "Just stay here" via a note. At home, he discovers the same note stuck to his Rabbit Doll. He writes "No" on the note, but when he returns to the high school to confront the situation, the school is eerily empty of people despite having lights on, and a sign reads "Nap Time."
Attempting to escape the loop, Kim Soleum finds himself back at the department store lobby at the start of another May 4th. He realizes he is trapped in a time loop. He attempts to break the cycle by running to the school, but a security guard informs him the counselor is on vacation and the school feels wrong. He catches another note from a window that simply says "Stop it." Back at home, he tries to communicate with the Rabbit Doll by leaving the note and a pen in front of it, but the message remains unchanged. In a fit of frustration, he breaks his window, but the world remains unchanged. He stays awake to wait for the day to end, but the loop resets again.
In the next iteration, after a public outburst at the department store, he returns home to find the window repaired and the Rabbit Doll back in his pocket. The silver coin is now completely black, losing its emblem. As he prepares to accept the loop and sleep, he notices a peculiar pattern on his blanket: a white lizard with red eyes. This sight triggers a sudden, intense realization regarding a "Manager" and "Mr. Roe Deer."
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:00
Chapter 334
Kim Soleum wakes up on May 4th, feeling a sense of familiarity with the day. He meets a client and visits a high school where the client's daughter attends. During this, he observes a school counselor heading to the subway. Kim Soleum notices his silver coin has become pitch-black and grime-covered. While passing the high school again, a voice from an empty window tells him to "Just stay here" via a note. At home, he discovers the same note stuck to his Rabbit Doll. He writes "No" on the note, but when he returns to the high school to confront the situation, the school is eerily empty of people despite having lights on, and a sign reads "Nap Time."
Attempting to escape the loop, Kim Soleum finds himself back at the department store lobby at the start of another May 4th. He realizes he is trapped in a time loop. He attempts to break the cycle by running to the school, but a security guard informs him the counselor is on vacation and the school feels wrong. He catches another note from a window that simply says "Stop it." Back at home, he tries to communicate with the Rabbit Doll by leaving the note and a pen in front of it, but the message remains unchanged. In a fit of frustration, he breaks his window, but the world remains unchanged. He stays awake to wait for the day to end, but the loop resets again.
In the next iteration, after a public outburst at the department store, he returns home to find the window repaired and the Rabbit Doll back in his pocket. The silver coin is now completely black, losing its emblem. As he prepares to accept the loop and sleep, he notices a peculiar pattern on his blanket: a white lizard with red eyes. This sight triggers a sudden, intense realization regarding a "Manager" and "Mr. Roe Deer."
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:00
127
Chapter 335
In a surreal, repeating version of May 4th, Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) encounters a human arm emerging from a white lizard-patterned blanket. The entity under the blanket, identified later as Lee Jaheon (Section Chief Lizard), explains that this world is a projection of Kim's wish to return home, influenced by the Sekwang Metropolitan City disaster. The entity warns that Kim's time in this safe projection is running out as the arm (a point of alien dissonance) emerges. Despite the warning that reality is traumatic, Kim decides to leave the projection to find the truth, bringing along a Rabbit Doll. The entity reveals the Rabbit Doll can speak and relays a message from 'Braun' to Kim. Kim also learns his silver coin is blackening as a Protection Talisman absorbs contamination. As the time limit expires, Kim grabs the arm and is pulled through the blanket. He experiences a horrific reality where Lee Jaheon is severed at the waist and a massive, screaming sphere consumes everything. Amidst chaos and a passing train, Kim is pulled into the sphere, loses his lower half, and dies. Kim suddenly wakes up in a department store lobby, having returned to a version of May 4th. However, this May 4th is different; he is dressed as Agent Grapes, the silver coin is gone, and he possesses the Rabbit Doll in his front pocket. A mobile alert announces a lethal biochemical terrorist attack in Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim realizes the terrifying truth: his repeated loops were not a peaceful reprieve, but a recreation of the actual Day of Disaster, looping endlessly for hundreds of days. Realizing his companions (Agent Bronze and Deputy Manager Eun Haje) are missing from his tattoo space, Kim rushes out of the department store into the beginning of the catastrophe to find them.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
17:05
Chapter 335
In a surreal, repeating version of May 4th, Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) encounters a human arm emerging from a white lizard-patterned blanket. The entity under the blanket, identified later as Lee Jaheon (Section Chief Lizard), explains that this world is a projection of Kim's wish to return home, influenced by the Sekwang Metropolitan City disaster. The entity warns that Kim's time in this safe projection is running out as the arm (a point of alien dissonance) emerges. Despite the warning that reality is traumatic, Kim decides to leave the projection to find the truth, bringing along a Rabbit Doll. The entity reveals the Rabbit Doll can speak and relays a message from 'Braun' to Kim. Kim also learns his silver coin is blackening as a Protection Talisman absorbs contamination. As the time limit expires, Kim grabs the arm and is pulled through the blanket. He experiences a horrific reality where Lee Jaheon is severed at the waist and a massive, screaming sphere consumes everything. Amidst chaos and a passing train, Kim is pulled into the sphere, loses his lower half, and dies. Kim suddenly wakes up in a department store lobby, having returned to a version of May 4th. However, this May 4th is different; he is dressed as Agent Grapes, the silver coin is gone, and he possesses the Rabbit Doll in his front pocket. A mobile alert announces a lethal biochemical terrorist attack in Sekwang Metropolitan City. Kim realizes the terrifying truth: his repeated loops were not a peaceful reprieve, but a recreation of the actual Day of Disaster, looping endlessly for hundreds of days. Realizing his companions (Agent Bronze and Deputy Manager Eun Haje) are missing from his tattoo space, Kim rushes out of the department store into the beginning of the catastrophe to find them.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
17:05
128
Chapter 336
On May 4th, in Sekwang Metropolitan City, a biochemical terror incident is reported near City Hall. Kim Soleum observes a bizarre phenomenon: a massive crowd of people, including first responders and injured victims, are walking toward the City Hall in a trance-like state with placid expressions and faint smiles. As the crowd advances, the disaster alerts on smartphones change from warnings to surreal messages encouraging people to 'walk together to paradise.' Kim Soleum realizes the victims are humming a specific melody and begins to hum it involuntarily. After a terrifying realization that he is being pulled toward the phenomenon, he escapes the main street by running into a department store and out through a cargo loading area. He decides to use his extensive knowledge of the city's geography—gained from repeating this day 613 times—to navigate the chaos. He steals a bicycle to avoid main roads and heads toward Sekwang Technical High School, suspecting it might be a relatively safe zone based on past experiences. While navigating narrow alleys to avoid the growing crowd, he stops to help a middle-aged man and a high school student who tripped during a pile-up. As a transformed civilian approaches, Kim Soleum realizes the danger is spreading into the side streets. He drags the high school student away to safety. Upon reaching a bicycle rack, Kim Soleum recognizes the high school student's uniform as being from Sekwang High and realizes the student is actually Ryu Jaekwan, Agent Bronze.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:28
Chapter 336
On May 4th, in Sekwang Metropolitan City, a biochemical terror incident is reported near City Hall. Kim Soleum observes a bizarre phenomenon: a massive crowd of people, including first responders and injured victims, are walking toward the City Hall in a trance-like state with placid expressions and faint smiles. As the crowd advances, the disaster alerts on smartphones change from warnings to surreal messages encouraging people to 'walk together to paradise.' Kim Soleum realizes the victims are humming a specific melody and begins to hum it involuntarily. After a terrifying realization that he is being pulled toward the phenomenon, he escapes the main street by running into a department store and out through a cargo loading area. He decides to use his extensive knowledge of the city's geography—gained from repeating this day 613 times—to navigate the chaos. He steals a bicycle to avoid main roads and heads toward Sekwang Technical High School, suspecting it might be a relatively safe zone based on past experiences. While navigating narrow alleys to avoid the growing crowd, he stops to help a middle-aged man and a high school student who tripped during a pile-up. As a transformed civilian approaches, Kim Soleum realizes the danger is spreading into the side streets. He drags the high school student away to safety. Upon reaching a bicycle rack, Kim Soleum recognizes the high school student's uniform as being from Sekwang High and realizes the student is actually Ryu Jaekwan, Agent Bronze.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:28
129
Chapter 337
Kim Soleum discovers that Ryu Jaekwan has been reverted to his high school student self, having been assimilated into the Sekwang Special City ghost story. To ensure his safety, Kim provides Ryu with a public bike, food, water, and an umbrella, while instructing him to avoid crowds and only listen for Disaster Alerts. While traveling toward Sekwang Technical High School, Kim raids a convenience store for supplies and warns the part-timer of the spreading biochemical terror. Upon arriving at the school, they discover the students are in a comatose state, protected by talismans set up by Team Leader Hong. Kim notices Ryu shows a fleeting, unconscious recognition of the talisman symbols. As they are approached by mutated, merged security guards and a massive, placid crowd of residents, Kim and Ryu flee. Kim encounters the Counselor (Ho Yuwon's true form), who is attempting to investigate a mutated security guard. The Counselor's arm becomes stuck and begins to melt into the creature; Kim heroically rescues the Counselor by snatching him away on his bike, despite the immense weight and mental strain. They escape to a sparsely populated area near the school's mountain. Because the Counselor's arm is dissolving, Kim performs an emergency amputation using a tool set, a task Ryu Jaekwan stubbornly assists with despite his terror. After the procedure, the Counselor asks for a ride to the station to attempt to end the Disaster, unaware that the cycle is destined to repeat. Recognizing a chance to bring Ryu into the fold, Kim claims to be an Agent of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau and promises to protect Ryu until he safely escapes the Disaster.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
19:51
Chapter 337
Kim Soleum discovers that Ryu Jaekwan has been reverted to his high school student self, having been assimilated into the Sekwang Special City ghost story. To ensure his safety, Kim provides Ryu with a public bike, food, water, and an umbrella, while instructing him to avoid crowds and only listen for Disaster Alerts. While traveling toward Sekwang Technical High School, Kim raids a convenience store for supplies and warns the part-timer of the spreading biochemical terror. Upon arriving at the school, they discover the students are in a comatose state, protected by talismans set up by Team Leader Hong. Kim notices Ryu shows a fleeting, unconscious recognition of the talisman symbols. As they are approached by mutated, merged security guards and a massive, placid crowd of residents, Kim and Ryu flee. Kim encounters the Counselor (Ho Yuwon's true form), who is attempting to investigate a mutated security guard. The Counselor's arm becomes stuck and begins to melt into the creature; Kim heroically rescues the Counselor by snatching him away on his bike, despite the immense weight and mental strain. They escape to a sparsely populated area near the school's mountain. Because the Counselor's arm is dissolving, Kim performs an emergency amputation using a tool set, a task Ryu Jaekwan stubbornly assists with despite his terror. After the procedure, the Counselor asks for a ride to the station to attempt to end the Disaster, unaware that the cycle is destined to repeat. Recognizing a chance to bring Ryu into the fold, Kim claims to be an Agent of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau and promises to protect Ryu until he safely escapes the Disaster.
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19:51
130
Chapter 338
The Agent and Ryu Jaekwan trek through mountain trails to avoid populated districts, using mountain bikes. While resting at a mountain cabin, the Agent senses sinister intentions from people watching them from the window. A middle-aged man from the cabin attempts to lure them inside by offering ramen, but his true intent is to steal their bicycles. The Agent recognizes the man's greed and realizes he is eyeing their transportation. The group quickly leaves, pursued by people from the cabin wielding hiking poles and cables. The Counselor provides Ryu Jaekwan with 'Fox Beads,' small red berries that prevent being mesmerized by Disaster Alerts. Ryu Jaekwan insists on staying with the Agent to reach Sekwang Station, despite the Agent's attempt to leave him in a safe area. They arrive at Ju-i Station, which is near a local broadcasting station. The Agent uses his tattoo to store the bicycles before entering the subway. The station concourse is in a state of total pandemonium, filled with panicked civilians and rumors of biochemical terrorism. They attempt to use the circle line, but the outer loop is blocked by station employees. As they move toward the opposite platform, a train arrives, disgorging wounded and dying passengers. Amidst the chaos, the Agent spots Eun Haje being carried off the train; she is dead.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:50
Chapter 338
The Agent and Ryu Jaekwan trek through mountain trails to avoid populated districts, using mountain bikes. While resting at a mountain cabin, the Agent senses sinister intentions from people watching them from the window. A middle-aged man from the cabin attempts to lure them inside by offering ramen, but his true intent is to steal their bicycles. The Agent recognizes the man's greed and realizes he is eyeing their transportation. The group quickly leaves, pursued by people from the cabin wielding hiking poles and cables. The Counselor provides Ryu Jaekwan with 'Fox Beads,' small red berries that prevent being mesmerized by Disaster Alerts. Ryu Jaekwan insists on staying with the Agent to reach Sekwang Station, despite the Agent's attempt to leave him in a safe area. They arrive at Ju-i Station, which is near a local broadcasting station. The Agent uses his tattoo to store the bicycles before entering the subway. The station concourse is in a state of total pandemonium, filled with panicked civilians and rumors of biochemical terrorism. They attempt to use the circle line, but the outer loop is blocked by station employees. As they move toward the opposite platform, a train arrives, disgorging wounded and dying passengers. Amidst the chaos, the Agent spots Eun Haje being carried off the train; she is dead.
Guest access includes first 17 of 163 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:50
131
Chapter 339
Kim Soleum arrives at the waiting hall after disembarking from a train, where he finds the companions of Assistant Manager Eun Haje sobbing over her corpse. Ryu Jaekwan, a high schooler, follows Kim to assist. Kim identifies himself to the distraught media group as an acquaintance of Eun Haje. The reporters recount the terror attack: while driving toward City Hall, they encountered a sudden traffic halt and saw pedestrians acting like possessed zombies after receiving disaster alerts. Eun Haje reportedly instructed them to turn off their phones and filming the scene as they fled. The video shows a car swerving onto the sidewalk to avoid the crowd, hitting Eun Haje, who pushed her colleagues out of the way. Kim observes the video and notices a strange, cocoon-like white object shimmering with rainbow colors growing on the Sekwang City Hall building. During the viewing, Kim, Ryu Jaekwan, and the reporters all fall into a trance-like humming. Kim snaps out of it by covering the screen, noticing Ryu Jaekwan is also being affected. Kim realizes the influence persists even after consuming the Counselor's fruit. To prevent the permanent death of Eun Haje, Kim uses the 'Flower Golden Resort Employment Contract' stored in his tattoo to transfer her status as an employee of the resort. This successfully resuscitates her. The revived Eun Haje is sharp and professional, lacking the vulnerability of her former self. Kim negotiates her cooperation by promising a scoop regarding the terrorism. The group decides to board a subway train heading toward Sekwang Station to gather more information and seek traces of the Counselor.
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18:24
Chapter 339
Kim Soleum arrives at the waiting hall after disembarking from a train, where he finds the companions of Assistant Manager Eun Haje sobbing over her corpse. Ryu Jaekwan, a high schooler, follows Kim to assist. Kim identifies himself to the distraught media group as an acquaintance of Eun Haje. The reporters recount the terror attack: while driving toward City Hall, they encountered a sudden traffic halt and saw pedestrians acting like possessed zombies after receiving disaster alerts. Eun Haje reportedly instructed them to turn off their phones and filming the scene as they fled. The video shows a car swerving onto the sidewalk to avoid the crowd, hitting Eun Haje, who pushed her colleagues out of the way. Kim observes the video and notices a strange, cocoon-like white object shimmering with rainbow colors growing on the Sekwang City Hall building. During the viewing, Kim, Ryu Jaekwan, and the reporters all fall into a trance-like humming. Kim snaps out of it by covering the screen, noticing Ryu Jaekwan is also being affected. Kim realizes the influence persists even after consuming the Counselor's fruit. To prevent the permanent death of Eun Haje, Kim uses the 'Flower Golden Resort Employment Contract' stored in his tattoo to transfer her status as an employee of the resort. This successfully resuscitates her. The revived Eun Haje is sharp and professional, lacking the vulnerability of her former self. Kim negotiates her cooperation by promising a scoop regarding the terrorism. The group decides to board a subway train heading toward Sekwang Station to gather more information and seek traces of the Counselor.
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18:24
132
Chapter 340
Kim Soleum manages to board a subway train at the end of a platform, accompanied by Reporter Eun Haje and the student Ryu Jaekwan, avoiding a stampede. Inside the train, Kim Soleum explains his identity as an official from the Disaster Management Bureau to a curious Eun Haje. He notes that his ability to use the Resort contract is being blocked by the nature of the disaster in Sekwang Special City. Suddenly, the overcapacity train derails and begins to overturn. Using Ryu Jaekwan's shoulder as a foothold, Kim Soleum opens the emergency door and grabs a flickering Dokkaebi flame (a trace of energy) from outside the window. He throws the flame under the train, using its power to force the derailed carriages back onto the tracks. Once the train stabilizes, Kim Soleum discovers that actual agents from the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau have arrived to assist. He meets an agent wearing a Lion Mask, who is wearing a blue jacket similar to Kim Soleum's. The Lion Mask Agent provides Kim Soleum with a spare Glass Hand Cannon. During a whispered conversation, the Lion Mask Agent reveals they smell a vile scent—the scent of Gangcheori—emanating from the area and, unexpectedly, from Kim Soleum himself. This leads the agent to suspect Kim Soleum may have a contract with a Daydream Director.
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15:59
Chapter 340
Kim Soleum manages to board a subway train at the end of a platform, accompanied by Reporter Eun Haje and the student Ryu Jaekwan, avoiding a stampede. Inside the train, Kim Soleum explains his identity as an official from the Disaster Management Bureau to a curious Eun Haje. He notes that his ability to use the Resort contract is being blocked by the nature of the disaster in Sekwang Special City. Suddenly, the overcapacity train derails and begins to overturn. Using Ryu Jaekwan's shoulder as a foothold, Kim Soleum opens the emergency door and grabs a flickering Dokkaebi flame (a trace of energy) from outside the window. He throws the flame under the train, using its power to force the derailed carriages back onto the tracks. Once the train stabilizes, Kim Soleum discovers that actual agents from the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau have arrived to assist. He meets an agent wearing a Lion Mask, who is wearing a blue jacket similar to Kim Soleum's. The Lion Mask Agent provides Kim Soleum with a spare Glass Hand Cannon. During a whispered conversation, the Lion Mask Agent reveals they smell a vile scent—the scent of Gangcheori—emanating from the area and, unexpectedly, from Kim Soleum himself. This leads the agent to suspect Kim Soleum may have a contract with a Daydream Director.
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15:59
133
Chapter 341
Kim Soleum confronts the Lion Mask Agent on the train. The Lion Mask initially suspects Kim of being a malicious entity/miscellaneous ghost, but Kim argues his innocence by noting the Agent provided him with equipment that facilitates escape. Kim reveals he is under contract with a Daydream Director and intends to rescue specific people and end the Disaster. After a period of suspicion regarding Kim's presence and timing, Kim turns the tables by pointing out the Lion Mask's lack of a Sekwang City patch, revealing him as an outsider. Kim then reveals his knowledge of the time loop—the fact that May 4th repeats indefinitely—which the Lion Mask finds plausible. Kim correctly identifies the Lion Mask as an agent from the Dokkaebi Workshop (formerly Kim Seobang) who has become an echo-like existence due to the Disaster. They agree to proceed in their respective roles, with the Lion Mask remaining to protect civilians while Kim heads to Sekwang Station. Kim mentions Lee Kangheon to the Lion Mask, who claims ignorance. Upon arriving at Sekwang Station, they witness a scene of chaos and death. Kim, accompanied by Ryu Jaekwan and Go Youngeun, navigates through crowds and corpses toward the machine room/Cheerful Research Institute. As Kim reaches for the door, a faceless man in a white lab coat approaches. Despite the terrifying appearance, the faceless man is identified by his ID card as Lee Jaheon, a Cheerful Researcher.
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16:55
Chapter 341
Kim Soleum confronts the Lion Mask Agent on the train. The Lion Mask initially suspects Kim of being a malicious entity/miscellaneous ghost, but Kim argues his innocence by noting the Agent provided him with equipment that facilitates escape. Kim reveals he is under contract with a Daydream Director and intends to rescue specific people and end the Disaster. After a period of suspicion regarding Kim's presence and timing, Kim turns the tables by pointing out the Lion Mask's lack of a Sekwang City patch, revealing him as an outsider. Kim then reveals his knowledge of the time loop—the fact that May 4th repeats indefinitely—which the Lion Mask finds plausible. Kim correctly identifies the Lion Mask as an agent from the Dokkaebi Workshop (formerly Kim Seobang) who has become an echo-like existence due to the Disaster. They agree to proceed in their respective roles, with the Lion Mask remaining to protect civilians while Kim heads to Sekwang Station. Kim mentions Lee Kangheon to the Lion Mask, who claims ignorance. Upon arriving at Sekwang Station, they witness a scene of chaos and death. Kim, accompanied by Ryu Jaekwan and Go Youngeun, navigates through crowds and corpses toward the machine room/Cheerful Research Institute. As Kim reaches for the door, a faceless man in a white lab coat approaches. Despite the terrifying appearance, the faceless man is identified by his ID card as Lee Jaheon, a Cheerful Researcher.
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16:55
134
Chapter 342
Kim Soleum encounters the entity known as Researcher Lee Jaheon, who possesses Lee Jaheon's build but lacks a face. Soleum uses Heo Un's stolen ID card to impersonate an acquaintance, successfully convincing the researcher to let him enter the Cheerful Research Institute's machine room. The researcher explains that the entrance is a type of "Darkness" that is imperceptible to those unaware of its function. Soleum is accompanied by Ryu Jaekwan and Eun Haje, who follow him into a surreal, vibrant, and toy-filled version of the institute's hallway, which contrasts sharply with the disaster-stricken reality outside. Upon entering Room 1004, Solem meets the living Lee Heowoon, who resembles the deceased Jang Heowoon. Soleum confronts Heowoon with a hand cannon, accusing the institute of causing the disaster via the Children's Paradise Syrup. Heowoon reveals that the institute was actually trying to research how to create a world without ghost stories by using "Dream Essence Liquid," a substance extracted from anomalous phenomena. Heowoon explains that they attempted an "invitation research"—a process of bringing a person from a world without ghost stories into their reality as a premise. Solem realizes that the current Supernatural Disaster was triggered by the ritual to invite him from his own world.
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16:26
Chapter 342
Kim Soleum encounters the entity known as Researcher Lee Jaheon, who possesses Lee Jaheon's build but lacks a face. Soleum uses Heo Un's stolen ID card to impersonate an acquaintance, successfully convincing the researcher to let him enter the Cheerful Research Institute's machine room. The researcher explains that the entrance is a type of "Darkness" that is imperceptible to those unaware of its function. Soleum is accompanied by Ryu Jaekwan and Eun Haje, who follow him into a surreal, vibrant, and toy-filled version of the institute's hallway, which contrasts sharply with the disaster-stricken reality outside. Upon entering Room 1004, Solem meets the living Lee Heowoon, who resembles the deceased Jang Heowoon. Soleum confronts Heowoon with a hand cannon, accusing the institute of causing the disaster via the Children's Paradise Syrup. Heowoon reveals that the institute was actually trying to research how to create a world without ghost stories by using "Dream Essence Liquid," a substance extracted from anomalous phenomena. Heowoon explains that they attempted an "invitation research"—a process of bringing a person from a world without ghost stories into their reality as a premise. Solem realizes that the current Supernatural Disaster was triggered by the ritual to invite him from his own world.
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16:26
135
Chapter 343
Kim Soleum realizes that the disaster in Sekwang Metropolitan City was caused by the Cheerful Research Institute's attempt to summon a person from a world without ghost stories to prove such a world exists. Kim expresses intense rage at the irresponsibility of the experiment. The Counselor (a supernatural being) reveals that the Institute likely used his sacred fox bead—a wish-granting orb—to facilitate the ritual, but the bead has disappeared. As the supernatural phenomenon protecting the research office begins to fail, the surroundings turn into plastic toys, and the researcher Lee Heowoon physically begins to transform into a toy. The Counselor explains that someone tampered with the ritual; the researcher identifies the culprit as Director Cheong, a dragon-type entity from a partner company who disappeared during the experiment. As Lee Heowoon's body continues to disintegrate into plastic, he advises the group to evacuate via the subway. Kim Soleum confronts Lee Heowoon, noting that the person summoned from the other world would never cooperate with the Institute. As the group prepares to leave, it is revealed that the office is located directly beneath the city hall rooftop where the incident occurred. Kim Soleum decides to head to the rooftop despite the extreme danger. In a shocking twist, the figure acting as Researcher Lee Jaheon reveals he has regained his memories and confirms he was part of Team D, suggesting he is the true Lee Jaheon.
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16:45
Chapter 343
Kim Soleum realizes that the disaster in Sekwang Metropolitan City was caused by the Cheerful Research Institute's attempt to summon a person from a world without ghost stories to prove such a world exists. Kim expresses intense rage at the irresponsibility of the experiment. The Counselor (a supernatural being) reveals that the Institute likely used his sacred fox bead—a wish-granting orb—to facilitate the ritual, but the bead has disappeared. As the supernatural phenomenon protecting the research office begins to fail, the surroundings turn into plastic toys, and the researcher Lee Heowoon physically begins to transform into a toy. The Counselor explains that someone tampered with the ritual; the researcher identifies the culprit as Director Cheong, a dragon-type entity from a partner company who disappeared during the experiment. As Lee Heowoon's body continues to disintegrate into plastic, he advises the group to evacuate via the subway. Kim Soleum confronts Lee Heowoon, noting that the person summoned from the other world would never cooperate with the Institute. As the group prepares to leave, it is revealed that the office is located directly beneath the city hall rooftop where the incident occurred. Kim Soleum decides to head to the rooftop despite the extreme danger. In a shocking twist, the figure acting as Researcher Lee Jaheon reveals he has regained his memories and confirms he was part of Team D, suggesting he is the true Lee Jaheon.
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16:45
136
Chapter 344
Kim Soleum experiences immense relief upon realizing that Manager Lee Jaheon has retained his memories despite being in an unfamiliar timeline. After a brief tension with the Counselor, who warns them against going to the Sekwang City Hall rooftop due to its uncertain state, Kim Soleum decides to accompany the Counselor to find his Fox Bead. Kim Soleum suspects Lee Jaheon's current role as a researcher is a facade and seeks to investigate his connection to Director Ho. Kim Soleum instructs Ryu Jaekwan and Eun Haje to evacuate via the subway station, entrusting their safety to Lee Jaheon. Lee Jaheon provides Kim Soleum with a 'We Help' button, implying a past connection to the Cheerful Research Institute's failed escape attempts. As the fire alarm blares, the group splits: Lee Jaheon, Eun Haje, and Ryu Jaekwan head to the subway, while Kim Soleum and the Counselor ascend the emergency stairs. During the climb, the Counselor begins to physically disintegrate or melt into a supernatural phenomenon. To keep the Counselor anchored to reality, Kim Soleum engages him in conversation, praising his counseling skills and reciting the meaning of his name, Ho Yuwon. This tactic successfully stabilizes the Counselor's existence through the climb. Reaching the 12th floor, Kim Soleum and the Counselor arrive at the rooftop access door and prepare to enter.
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14:54
Chapter 344
Kim Soleum experiences immense relief upon realizing that Manager Lee Jaheon has retained his memories despite being in an unfamiliar timeline. After a brief tension with the Counselor, who warns them against going to the Sekwang City Hall rooftop due to its uncertain state, Kim Soleum decides to accompany the Counselor to find his Fox Bead. Kim Soleum suspects Lee Jaheon's current role as a researcher is a facade and seeks to investigate his connection to Director Ho. Kim Soleum instructs Ryu Jaekwan and Eun Haje to evacuate via the subway station, entrusting their safety to Lee Jaheon. Lee Jaheon provides Kim Soleum with a 'We Help' button, implying a past connection to the Cheerful Research Institute's failed escape attempts. As the fire alarm blares, the group splits: Lee Jaheon, Eun Haje, and Ryu Jaekwan head to the subway, while Kim Soleum and the Counselor ascend the emergency stairs. During the climb, the Counselor begins to physically disintegrate or melt into a supernatural phenomenon. To keep the Counselor anchored to reality, Kim Soleum engages him in conversation, praising his counseling skills and reciting the meaning of his name, Ho Yuwon. This tactic successfully stabilizes the Counselor's existence through the climb. Reaching the 12th floor, Kim Soleum and the Counselor arrive at the rooftop access door and prepare to enter.
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14:54
137
Chapter 345
Kim Soleum reaches the rooftop of Sekwang City Hall, discovering a massive, iridescent, cocoon-like egg. Amidst scattered researcher belongings and the Dream Incubator, he finds a life-sized Yongyongi standee. Upon pressing a button, a recorded message from Director Cheong Dallae reveals a sinister plot: Daydream Inc. has sabotaged the Cheerful Research Institute's experiment. The 'Angel's Sigh' music box placed inside the incubator is a parasitic item that grants vitality but eventually consumes the host, intended to create a world of 'no Anomalous Phenomena' by turning people into toys or absorbing them into the music box's influence. As the recording ends, the rooftop door twists open, revealing the music box's melody and a threatening silhouette. Kim Soleum flees the rooftop with the help of a mysterious Agent, frantically descending the building while chewing Ho Yuwon's fruit to resist the music box's mental contamination. During the descent, Kim Soleum notices that Braun is still able to communicate despite being in an environment where ghost stories (anomalies) should not exist. Upon reaching the Institute, they find it engulfed in flames. Kim Soleum carries Ho Yuwon through the fire using a water-soaked jacket as protection. As they burst into the subway station, the ceiling collapses due to a previous impact, burying both Kim Soleum and Ho Yuwon under concrete and steel. As Kim Soleum loses consciousness under the debris, he hears the distant voices of Disaster Management Bureau Agents searching for missing personnel.
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15:35
Chapter 345
Kim Soleum reaches the rooftop of Sekwang City Hall, discovering a massive, iridescent, cocoon-like egg. Amidst scattered researcher belongings and the Dream Incubator, he finds a life-sized Yongyongi standee. Upon pressing a button, a recorded message from Director Cheong Dallae reveals a sinister plot: Daydream Inc. has sabotaged the Cheerful Research Institute's experiment. The 'Angel's Sigh' music box placed inside the incubator is a parasitic item that grants vitality but eventually consumes the host, intended to create a world of 'no Anomalous Phenomena' by turning people into toys or absorbing them into the music box's influence. As the recording ends, the rooftop door twists open, revealing the music box's melody and a threatening silhouette. Kim Soleum flees the rooftop with the help of a mysterious Agent, frantically descending the building while chewing Ho Yuwon's fruit to resist the music box's mental contamination. During the descent, Kim Soleum notices that Braun is still able to communicate despite being in an environment where ghost stories (anomalies) should not exist. Upon reaching the Institute, they find it engulfed in flames. Kim Soleum carries Ho Yuwon through the fire using a water-soaked jacket as protection. As they burst into the subway station, the ceiling collapses due to a previous impact, burying both Kim Soleum and Ho Yuwon under concrete and steel. As Kim Soleum loses consciousness under the debris, he hears the distant voices of Disaster Management Bureau Agents searching for missing personnel.
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15:35
138
Chapter 346
The narrator, trapped under collapsed concrete, listens to the distant, exhausted voices of the Sewang City Disaster Management Bureau staff discussing rescue versus termination. The Counselor (Ho Yuwon) discovers the narrator's location. Despite the agents' hesitation to prioritize an uncertain survivor over the thousands dying in the city, the Counselor reveals a horrific truth: the repetition of the May 4th cycle was part of a Sealing Ritual that used the citizens of Gwangjin as living sacrifices to maintain the seal. The agents eventually seal the platform, leaving the narrator and the Counselor alone. The Counselor, struggling to maintain his form, uses his power to send the narrator's consciousness back to their workplace. The narrator wakes up in Daydream's Underground Security Isolation Chamber, realizing they have lost their physical body and have been missing for a long time. Director Cheong Dallae informs the narrator that their
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16:36
Chapter 346
The narrator, trapped under collapsed concrete, listens to the distant, exhausted voices of the Sewang City Disaster Management Bureau staff discussing rescue versus termination. The Counselor (Ho Yuwon) discovers the narrator's location. Despite the agents' hesitation to prioritize an uncertain survivor over the thousands dying in the city, the Counselor reveals a horrific truth: the repetition of the May 4th cycle was part of a Sealing Ritual that used the citizens of Gwangjin as living sacrifices to maintain the seal. The agents eventually seal the platform, leaving the narrator and the Counselor alone. The Counselor, struggling to maintain his form, uses his power to send the narrator's consciousness back to their workplace. The narrator wakes up in Daydream's Underground Security Isolation Chamber, realizing they have lost their physical body and have been missing for a long time. Director Cheong Dallae informs the narrator that their
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16:36
139
Chapter 347
Kim Soleum wakes up in a natural cave hideout after being asleep for 293 days. He discovers he has been rescued from Sekwang Metropolitan City and Director Cheong by Agent Choi, who appears exhausted and covered in scars but maintains a bright facade. Nearby, Agent Bronze lies sleeping on a well-made bed, and a Ritual Bell stained with blood sits in a corner. Agent Choi reveals that he used a ritual involving the tiger general of Daecheongbong Peak to facilitate the rescue. Kim Soleum eats egg porridge provided by Choi and learns the outcome of the Train Shelter incident: the train successfully escaped the city, and all 104 civilians survived. Crucially, Go Youngeun (Agent Peppermint) was in the engineer's compartment and survived the incident. The civilians were returned to society after being classified as victims of a supernatural phenomenon involving a pink rabbit plush doll. However, Agent Choi reveals a dark side: several civilians went missing and were taken to Director Ho's counseling center, leading to more extreme experiments by Director Ho. Agent Choi explains that he smuggled Kim Soleum out to protect him and Agent Bronze from Director Ho, noting that the rest of Team Hyunmoo 1 has been placed on a leave of absence. Agent Haegeum arrives to join them. The mood turns dire as Agent Haegeum reveals the 'bad news': the escape of the civilians triggered a failure in the Sealing Ritual of the special city. The seal is cracking, and they have only seven days remaining before the ritual collapses and an Annihilation-sanctioned Disaster is unleashed on the land.
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13:33
Chapter 347
Kim Soleum wakes up in a natural cave hideout after being asleep for 293 days. He discovers he has been rescued from Sekwang Metropolitan City and Director Cheong by Agent Choi, who appears exhausted and covered in scars but maintains a bright facade. Nearby, Agent Bronze lies sleeping on a well-made bed, and a Ritual Bell stained with blood sits in a corner. Agent Choi reveals that he used a ritual involving the tiger general of Daecheongbong Peak to facilitate the rescue. Kim Soleum eats egg porridge provided by Choi and learns the outcome of the Train Shelter incident: the train successfully escaped the city, and all 104 civilians survived. Crucially, Go Youngeun (Agent Peppermint) was in the engineer's compartment and survived the incident. The civilians were returned to society after being classified as victims of a supernatural phenomenon involving a pink rabbit plush doll. However, Agent Choi reveals a dark side: several civilians went missing and were taken to Director Ho's counseling center, leading to more extreme experiments by Director Ho. Agent Choi explains that he smuggled Kim Soleum out to protect him and Agent Bronze from Director Ho, noting that the rest of Team Hyunmoo 1 has been placed on a leave of absence. Agent Haegeum arrives to join them. The mood turns dire as Agent Haegeum reveals the 'bad news': the escape of the civilians triggered a failure in the Sealing Ritual of the special city. The seal is cracking, and they have only seven days remaining before the ritual collapses and an Annihilation-sanctioned Disaster is unleashed on the land.
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13:33
140
Chapter 348
Kim Soleum (Grapes) experiences immense shock upon learning the Sealing Ritual for Sekwang Metropolitan City is collapsing and will fully unleash a disaster in one week. Soleum fears the Management Bureau is complicit, suspecting they might allow the seal to break to justify performing a new ritual using the surviving citizens as human sacrifices. Agent Haegeum and Agent Choi confirm they have seen no movements from the Bureau. Choi reveals they have been unable to interfere with the ritual despite seven days remaining. Amidst the crisis, Soleum seeks out Go Youngeun (Agent Peppermint), who has recovered her body parts from the Body Casino but lost her ring finger. Youngeun, driven by the hope of saving her parents, suggests letting the seal break to see if they might be restored to a living state, despite the risk of national ruin. Soleum, however, proposes a more proactive plan: ending the disaster before the seal breaks to potentially save the citizens. He intends to use a prepared method involving a dream incubator and a Daydream Potion Maker. Youngeun mentions rumors that Director Ho has secured the missing Daydream employees in a subway station. The group decides to meet Director Ho to attempt to end the disaster before the seven-day deadline.
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14:06
Chapter 348
Kim Soleum (Grapes) experiences immense shock upon learning the Sealing Ritual for Sekwang Metropolitan City is collapsing and will fully unleash a disaster in one week. Soleum fears the Management Bureau is complicit, suspecting they might allow the seal to break to justify performing a new ritual using the surviving citizens as human sacrifices. Agent Haegeum and Agent Choi confirm they have seen no movements from the Bureau. Choi reveals they have been unable to interfere with the ritual despite seven days remaining. Amidst the crisis, Soleum seeks out Go Youngeun (Agent Peppermint), who has recovered her body parts from the Body Casino but lost her ring finger. Youngeun, driven by the hope of saving her parents, suggests letting the seal break to see if they might be restored to a living state, despite the risk of national ruin. Soleum, however, proposes a more proactive plan: ending the disaster before the seal breaks to potentially save the citizens. He intends to use a prepared method involving a dream incubator and a Daydream Potion Maker. Youngeun mentions rumors that Director Ho has secured the missing Daydream employees in a subway station. The group decides to meet Director Ho to attempt to end the disaster before the seven-day deadline.
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14:06
141
Chapter 349
Kim Soleum, utilizing her authority as part of Director Ho Yuwon's project team, travels to a rural area in Gangwon Province to locate the Fox Counseling Room. Upon arriving, she finds the space cozy and well-prepared, reflecting the counselor's sincerity toward his clients. Inside the Long-Term Inpatient Room, she encounters Supervisor Park Minseong and Go Youngeun. Minseong appears recovered from contamination but expresses deep concern regarding Ho Yuwon's deteriorating condition, noting that many clients have gone missing and Ho is losing his humanity. Minseong also exhibits signs of being obsessed with the subway's influence, which seems to preserve the sanity of those within.
Sergeant J3 emerges from the inpatient room, appearing somewhat detached but showing a quiet kindness toward Soleum by offering snacks. J3 reveals he has been observing the researchers in the subway, acting more as a watcher than a protector. As Soleum prepares to confront the counselor, an automated voice calls her name for a session. Despite Go Youngeun's protests, Soleum enters the counseling room. Inside, the peaceful backyard has been replaced by pitch-black darkness.
Soleum encounters the Counselor, who attempts to interrogate her about what she saw. Soleum counters by accusing him of using his counseling persona to hide his true nature and his impulse to protect clients by isolating them. She reveals she is imitating him, specifically the version of him that counseled her when she was contaminated. Soleum realizes the truth behind his high honorifics and his behavior during their previous encounter: the small fox she saw was an avatar sent by him to help her escape. She concludes that they were separated by different timelines—he returning to his cycle and she waking up recently. Soleum thanks the Counselor for the assistance that allowed her to survive, and they shake hands.
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13:57
Chapter 349
Kim Soleum, utilizing her authority as part of Director Ho Yuwon's project team, travels to a rural area in Gangwon Province to locate the Fox Counseling Room. Upon arriving, she finds the space cozy and well-prepared, reflecting the counselor's sincerity toward his clients. Inside the Long-Term Inpatient Room, she encounters Supervisor Park Minseong and Go Youngeun. Minseong appears recovered from contamination but expresses deep concern regarding Ho Yuwon's deteriorating condition, noting that many clients have gone missing and Ho is losing his humanity. Minseong also exhibits signs of being obsessed with the subway's influence, which seems to preserve the sanity of those within.
Sergeant J3 emerges from the inpatient room, appearing somewhat detached but showing a quiet kindness toward Soleum by offering snacks. J3 reveals he has been observing the researchers in the subway, acting more as a watcher than a protector. As Soleum prepares to confront the counselor, an automated voice calls her name for a session. Despite Go Youngeun's protests, Soleum enters the counseling room. Inside, the peaceful backyard has been replaced by pitch-black darkness.
Soleum encounters the Counselor, who attempts to interrogate her about what she saw. Soleum counters by accusing him of using his counseling persona to hide his true nature and his impulse to protect clients by isolating them. She reveals she is imitating him, specifically the version of him that counseled her when she was contaminated. Soleum realizes the truth behind his high honorifics and his behavior during their previous encounter: the small fox she saw was an avatar sent by him to help her escape. She concludes that they were separated by different timelines—he returning to his cycle and she waking up recently. Soleum thanks the Counselor for the assistance that allowed her to survive, and they shake hands.
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13:57
142
Chapter 350
Kim Soleum reveals the truth to Ho Yuwon regarding the Sekwang Metropolitan City incident and the role Director Cheong played as the culprit. Ho Yuwon, initially appearing as a hollow remnant of the original Counselor, realizes that he is a distinct entity who inherited his name from Soleum during the events of May 4th. Despite the revelation, Ho Yuwon does not feel immediate anger but acknowledges his existence. Soleum proposes a partnership to end the Sekwang disaster and find a way home; Ho Yuwon agrees. Following this, Soleum meets Agent Haegeum in Gangwon Province to report the cooperation. Soleum reveals he secured a binding written pledge from Ho Yuwon via the Fox Counseling Room doorplate. They discuss the plan to resolve the disaster by installing the Daydream Potion Maker in the remaining Cheerful Research Institute facility (the rooftop), theorizing that Director Cheong left countermeasures within the equipment. Agent Choi arrives, confirming the countdown to the disaster has begun and noting that 'Bronzie' remains in a high schooler form. Soleum also contemplates searching Director Cheong's residence for his lost Fox Bead, despite intense fear. Finally, Go Youngeun returns with news from the researchers: they found a black music box engraved with unknown golden letters inside the repaired machine. Soleum recognizes the symbol as a conch shell and the name of the object as 'Angel's Sigh,' confirming Director Cheong's direct tampering. The countdown to the disaster stands at 5 days.
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14:42
Chapter 350
Kim Soleum reveals the truth to Ho Yuwon regarding the Sekwang Metropolitan City incident and the role Director Cheong played as the culprit. Ho Yuwon, initially appearing as a hollow remnant of the original Counselor, realizes that he is a distinct entity who inherited his name from Soleum during the events of May 4th. Despite the revelation, Ho Yuwon does not feel immediate anger but acknowledges his existence. Soleum proposes a partnership to end the Sekwang disaster and find a way home; Ho Yuwon agrees. Following this, Soleum meets Agent Haegeum in Gangwon Province to report the cooperation. Soleum reveals he secured a binding written pledge from Ho Yuwon via the Fox Counseling Room doorplate. They discuss the plan to resolve the disaster by installing the Daydream Potion Maker in the remaining Cheerful Research Institute facility (the rooftop), theorizing that Director Cheong left countermeasures within the equipment. Agent Choi arrives, confirming the countdown to the disaster has begun and noting that 'Bronzie' remains in a high schooler form. Soleum also contemplates searching Director Cheong's residence for his lost Fox Bead, despite intense fear. Finally, Go Youngeun returns with news from the researchers: they found a black music box engraved with unknown golden letters inside the repaired machine. Soleum recognizes the symbol as a conch shell and the name of the object as 'Angel's Sigh,' confirming Director Cheong's direct tampering. The countdown to the disaster stands at 5 days.
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14:42
143
Chapter 351
Kim Soleum enters the Sekwang Special City Subway via the Long-Term Inpatient Room, accompanied by Agent Choi. Upon arriving at Sekwang Station, Soleum is guided by Sergeant J3 to a hidden space inside a fire hydrant at Twilight Station, which has been expanded into a living area. There, Soleum finds the researchers Lee Yeonhwa and Kwak Jekang, who appear haggard from 293 days of being lost in the Darkness. Kwak Jekang attempts to recklessly open a drawer, but the Sergeant stops him. The Sergeant reveals a silver box containing a jet-black music box identified as "Angel's Sigh." Soleum realizes the music box was planted inside the Potion Maker as a trap; had it been operated normally, the music box would have come into contact with Dream Essence Liquid, causing a new disaster. Soleum concludes Director Cheong deliberately orchestrated the situation to lead him toward the discarded machine. Despite the trap, Soleum learns how to power the machine from the researchers, intending to use it on the roof of City Hall. Soleum also visits the Jang Heowoon twins at the Souvenir Pop-up Store, discovering they have been paying rent with their own blood due to financial strain. Seeking more information on Director Cheong, Soleum visits Baek Saheon's company housing and uses Baek's PC to access the Daydream intranet. While investigating, Soleum discovers an unusual concentration of Dragon-related Darknesses under Director Cheong's authority. Recalling a previous mention of
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18:57
Chapter 351
Kim Soleum enters the Sekwang Special City Subway via the Long-Term Inpatient Room, accompanied by Agent Choi. Upon arriving at Sekwang Station, Soleum is guided by Sergeant J3 to a hidden space inside a fire hydrant at Twilight Station, which has been expanded into a living area. There, Soleum finds the researchers Lee Yeonhwa and Kwak Jekang, who appear haggard from 293 days of being lost in the Darkness. Kwak Jekang attempts to recklessly open a drawer, but the Sergeant stops him. The Sergeant reveals a silver box containing a jet-black music box identified as "Angel's Sigh." Soleum realizes the music box was planted inside the Potion Maker as a trap; had it been operated normally, the music box would have come into contact with Dream Essence Liquid, causing a new disaster. Soleum concludes Director Cheong deliberately orchestrated the situation to lead him toward the discarded machine. Despite the trap, Soleum learns how to power the machine from the researchers, intending to use it on the roof of City Hall. Soleum also visits the Jang Heowoon twins at the Souvenir Pop-up Store, discovering they have been paying rent with their own blood due to financial strain. Seeking more information on Director Cheong, Soleum visits Baek Saheon's company housing and uses Baek's PC to access the Daydream intranet. While investigating, Soleum discovers an unusual concentration of Dragon-related Darknesses under Director Cheong's authority. Recalling a previous mention of
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18:57
144
Chapter 352
Kim Soleum, in his yellow feline Mascot form, meets with the Manager (the former Mountain Lodge Keeper) at the Flower Golden Resort. The Manager, acting as an assistant manager, reports on the resort's status. Soleum travels to the Bluedream Zone to meet the Blue Mascot, a blue dragon character. Through 'Mascot Language,' Soleum asks the Blue Mascot about its true origin. The Mascot reveals, through a traumatic psychic connection, that it was once a dragon from a destroyed deep-sea city—the Sparkling Dragon Palace—now transformed into the Mermaid Tomb due to a biological disaster instigated by Director Cheong of the Cheerful Research Institute. Soleum realizes the Research Institute processes dangerous entities from ghost stories into harmless-looking Mascots. During their interaction, Soleum receives a series of violent, fragmented images from the Mascot: the process of creating Mascots involves injecting flesh into costumes and crushing large creatures, accompanied by the familiar, chilling laughter of Director Cheong. Soleum deduces that Director Cheong is deliberately manipulating or suppressing dragons. The Blue Mascot warns Soleum that it is safe to stay within the theme park, but Soleum resolves to return to his human life despite the safety offered. Upon returning to the Resort, the Manager reveals that the Sekwang Metropolitan City lockdown is expected to lift in three days. The Manager proposes a radical expansion: devouring the Sekwang Subway ghost story to turn the underground into a resort branch. Soleum rejects the proposal for now. Later, Soleum meets with Agent Choi, who has been consulting with Ho Yuwon. They discuss the plan to swap the machine on the rooftop of Sekwang City Hall to prevent the disaster. Soleum insists on being the one to perform the task alone to minimize contamination. The chapter ends with the countdown: two days remaining until the Day of Disaster.
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17:17
Chapter 352
Kim Soleum, in his yellow feline Mascot form, meets with the Manager (the former Mountain Lodge Keeper) at the Flower Golden Resort. The Manager, acting as an assistant manager, reports on the resort's status. Soleum travels to the Bluedream Zone to meet the Blue Mascot, a blue dragon character. Through 'Mascot Language,' Soleum asks the Blue Mascot about its true origin. The Mascot reveals, through a traumatic psychic connection, that it was once a dragon from a destroyed deep-sea city—the Sparkling Dragon Palace—now transformed into the Mermaid Tomb due to a biological disaster instigated by Director Cheong of the Cheerful Research Institute. Soleum realizes the Research Institute processes dangerous entities from ghost stories into harmless-looking Mascots. During their interaction, Soleum receives a series of violent, fragmented images from the Mascot: the process of creating Mascots involves injecting flesh into costumes and crushing large creatures, accompanied by the familiar, chilling laughter of Director Cheong. Soleum deduces that Director Cheong is deliberately manipulating or suppressing dragons. The Blue Mascot warns Soleum that it is safe to stay within the theme park, but Soleum resolves to return to his human life despite the safety offered. Upon returning to the Resort, the Manager reveals that the Sekwang Metropolitan City lockdown is expected to lift in three days. The Manager proposes a radical expansion: devouring the Sekwang Subway ghost story to turn the underground into a resort branch. Soleum rejects the proposal for now. Later, Soleum meets with Agent Choi, who has been consulting with Ho Yuwon. They discuss the plan to swap the machine on the rooftop of Sekwang City Hall to prevent the disaster. Soleum insists on being the one to perform the task alone to minimize contamination. The chapter ends with the countdown: two days remaining until the Day of Disaster.
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17:17
145
Chapter 353
With only two days remaining before the Day of Disaster and the seal's release in the evening of the dog hour, Kim Soleum and Agent Choi are in a tense standoff at the hideout. Choi accuses Soleum's plan to terminate the disaster using a machine from the 'Potion Maker Repair Log' of being a reckless gamble based on unproven notes. Soleum realizes Choi has never truly intended to cooperate and was merely pretending to agree while planning to use a different, more "certain" method—likely interfering with the Disaster Management Bureau's ritual. A heated argument ensues, interrupted by Agent Haegeum, who reprimands them for fighting while the country faces destruction. In a moment of frustration, Soleum reveals his true motivation: he needs the original Dream Essence Liquid to make real Wish Tickets, not just the distorted versions produced by Daydream. He also accidentally reveals that he is not from this world, stating, "I'm not from here!" before fleeing to the Fox Counseling Room in distress. There, Soleum confronts Ho Yuwon, confirming that Choi has been asking for permission to put Soleum to sleep to prevent his entry into the special city. Soleum also reflects on the nature of Director Cheong, deducing she follows the rules of Daydream Inc. above all else. After a tense conversation, Ho Yuwon promises to protect Soleum's identity and sleep. While resting in the Long-Term Inpatient Room, Soleum is visited by Lee Seonghae, who offers her full support for the upcoming Darkness Termination.
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16:08
Chapter 353
With only two days remaining before the Day of Disaster and the seal's release in the evening of the dog hour, Kim Soleum and Agent Choi are in a tense standoff at the hideout. Choi accuses Soleum's plan to terminate the disaster using a machine from the 'Potion Maker Repair Log' of being a reckless gamble based on unproven notes. Soleum realizes Choi has never truly intended to cooperate and was merely pretending to agree while planning to use a different, more "certain" method—likely interfering with the Disaster Management Bureau's ritual. A heated argument ensues, interrupted by Agent Haegeum, who reprimands them for fighting while the country faces destruction. In a moment of frustration, Soleum reveals his true motivation: he needs the original Dream Essence Liquid to make real Wish Tickets, not just the distorted versions produced by Daydream. He also accidentally reveals that he is not from this world, stating, "I'm not from here!" before fleeing to the Fox Counseling Room in distress. There, Soleum confronts Ho Yuwon, confirming that Choi has been asking for permission to put Soleum to sleep to prevent his entry into the special city. Soleum also reflects on the nature of Director Cheong, deducing she follows the rules of Daydream Inc. above all else. After a tense conversation, Ho Yuwon promises to protect Soleum's identity and sleep. While resting in the Long-Term Inpatient Room, Soleum is visited by Lee Seonghae, who offers her full support for the upcoming Darkness Termination.
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16:08
146
Chapter 354
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) walks along the subway tracks with Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, heading toward the maintenance track that leads to the surface of Sekwang Metropolitan City. During their walk, Soleum reflects on a previous conversation with Agent Choi, realizing that Choi likely never truly believed his claims of being from another world, treating him instead with mere caution. Lee Seonghae attempts to brighten the mood by discussing the recent events at the Train Shelter, expressing a radical desire to wish away all "bad people" from the world using a Wish Ticket she has already saved 500,000 points for. This revelation shocks Soleum, who realizes her definition of "bad" is extremely broad and potentially dangerous. As they ascend the tracks toward the light, Lee Seonghae shares updates about former colleagues, including Agent Pony, who is frequently visiting the Body Casino. Upon approaching the exit, Soleum notices sunlight, whereas Lee Seonghae can only see pitch-blackness, suggesting a cognitive impairment caused by the blockade affecting those who haven't been to the surface. As they reach the exit, Soleum sees a distorted, shimmering view of the outside and identifies a familiar silhouette: Section Chief Lee Jaheon standing near the passage, accompanied by two other figures. Recognizing them as likely being a female Assistant Manager and an Agent, Soleum prevents himself from rushing out and instead writes "Roe Deer is here" on a piece of paper, throwing it through the light toward them.
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13:48
Chapter 354
Kim Soleum (Roe Deer) walks along the subway tracks with Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, heading toward the maintenance track that leads to the surface of Sekwang Metropolitan City. During their walk, Soleum reflects on a previous conversation with Agent Choi, realizing that Choi likely never truly believed his claims of being from another world, treating him instead with mere caution. Lee Seonghae attempts to brighten the mood by discussing the recent events at the Train Shelter, expressing a radical desire to wish away all "bad people" from the world using a Wish Ticket she has already saved 500,000 points for. This revelation shocks Soleum, who realizes her definition of "bad" is extremely broad and potentially dangerous. As they ascend the tracks toward the light, Lee Seonghae shares updates about former colleagues, including Agent Pony, who is frequently visiting the Body Casino. Upon approaching the exit, Soleum notices sunlight, whereas Lee Seonghae can only see pitch-blackness, suggesting a cognitive impairment caused by the blockade affecting those who haven't been to the surface. As they reach the exit, Soleum sees a distorted, shimmering view of the outside and identifies a familiar silhouette: Section Chief Lee Jaheon standing near the passage, accompanied by two other figures. Recognizing them as likely being a female Assistant Manager and an Agent, Soleum prevents himself from rushing out and instead writes "Roe Deer is here" on a piece of paper, throwing it through the light toward them.
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13:48
147
Chapter 355
Kim Soleum uses a crumpled paper to communicate with Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is located outside the sealed Sekwang Metropolitan City. Through the paper, Soleum discovers that while he escaped the station, leaving the city on foot is not viable for everyone. Most shockingly, Lee Jaheon reveals that time in the city is not resetting; instead, it is solidifying, meaning May 4th is becoming a fixed point in time. This complicates Soleum's plan to terminate the disaster in the early morning, as he will now have to act in the middle of the unfolding disaster. Soleum realizes that if the seal is resealed to restart the loop, he and others might lose all memories of the city.
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae suggests using a rebar to create a physical connection to the outside. By pulling the rebar, Soleum and Seonghae successfully pull two bodies through the exit: the corpses of Agent Ryu Jaekwan (high schooler) and Assistant Manager Eun Haje (reporter). Soleum observes that while their physical bodies have returned to the subway, their silhouettes still remain outside the exit. He deduces that these individuals might actually be beings from the past whose consciousnesses were drawn into the loop by the unstable seal. Ryu Jaekwan's note, written in trembling handwriting, confirms that both he and the reporter are safe.
After sending Seonghae to check on other agents, Soleum is restrained to the tracks by Seonghae using a 'Tagging Ghost' handcuff for safety. Agent Choi arrives, appearing weary. Instead of retreating, Soleum decides to use this encounter to negotiate and share information. The chapter ends as Agent Choi prepares to discuss his own method for dealing with the situation.
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16:12
Chapter 355
Kim Soleum uses a crumpled paper to communicate with Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who is located outside the sealed Sekwang Metropolitan City. Through the paper, Soleum discovers that while he escaped the station, leaving the city on foot is not viable for everyone. Most shockingly, Lee Jaheon reveals that time in the city is not resetting; instead, it is solidifying, meaning May 4th is becoming a fixed point in time. This complicates Soleum's plan to terminate the disaster in the early morning, as he will now have to act in the middle of the unfolding disaster. Soleum realizes that if the seal is resealed to restart the loop, he and others might lose all memories of the city.
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae suggests using a rebar to create a physical connection to the outside. By pulling the rebar, Soleum and Seonghae successfully pull two bodies through the exit: the corpses of Agent Ryu Jaekwan (high schooler) and Assistant Manager Eun Haje (reporter). Soleum observes that while their physical bodies have returned to the subway, their silhouettes still remain outside the exit. He deduces that these individuals might actually be beings from the past whose consciousnesses were drawn into the loop by the unstable seal. Ryu Jaekwan's note, written in trembling handwriting, confirms that both he and the reporter are safe.
After sending Seonghae to check on other agents, Soleum is restrained to the tracks by Seonghae using a 'Tagging Ghost' handcuff for safety. Agent Choi arrives, appearing weary. Instead of retreating, Soleum decides to use this encounter to negotiate and share information. The chapter ends as Agent Choi prepares to discuss his own method for dealing with the situation.
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16:12
148
Chapter 356
Agent Choi reveals the Sekwang Metropolitan City Re-sealing Ritual is already in progress and will align with the seal breaking in two days. He explains the ritual uses a myeongdo (brass mirror) and sacrificial blood to create a killing curse. Choi's plan is to switch the sacrificial blood with his own, effectively 'drawing aggro' by dying repeatedly—as many times as there are citizens—to change the ritual's direction. He intends to leave hints for his colleagues, Bronze and Grapes, to save him. Choi also reveals he is under a 'secured loan' from a mysterious entity; if he fails to provide a suitable gift, he will lose parts of himself or become a Dokkaebi flame. He admits he checked Kim Soleum's (Grapes) claim of being from another world through a divination ritual, which resulted in a negation of the idea that he is a lost child, leading Choi to believe Kim is a 'guest' rather than a lost wanderer. After a tense disagreement regarding trust and the danger of supernatural contamination, Kim Soleum proposes a non-interference pact. Kim suggests that they both pursue their respective goals—Kim's plan to install the Potion Maker and Choi's ritual—to increase the probability of success for the citizens. They draft and sign a contract on a piece of paper, with Choi stamping his Executioner's Sword as a signature. The chapter ends the next day as Kim Soleum exits the tunnel onto the surface of Sekwang Metropolitan City, one day before the seal is released.
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12:22
Chapter 356
Agent Choi reveals the Sekwang Metropolitan City Re-sealing Ritual is already in progress and will align with the seal breaking in two days. He explains the ritual uses a myeongdo (brass mirror) and sacrificial blood to create a killing curse. Choi's plan is to switch the sacrificial blood with his own, effectively 'drawing aggro' by dying repeatedly—as many times as there are citizens—to change the ritual's direction. He intends to leave hints for his colleagues, Bronze and Grapes, to save him. Choi also reveals he is under a 'secured loan' from a mysterious entity; if he fails to provide a suitable gift, he will lose parts of himself or become a Dokkaebi flame. He admits he checked Kim Soleum's (Grapes) claim of being from another world through a divination ritual, which resulted in a negation of the idea that he is a lost child, leading Choi to believe Kim is a 'guest' rather than a lost wanderer. After a tense disagreement regarding trust and the danger of supernatural contamination, Kim Soleum proposes a non-interference pact. Kim suggests that they both pursue their respective goals—Kim's plan to install the Potion Maker and Choi's ritual—to increase the probability of success for the citizens. They draft and sign a contract on a piece of paper, with Choi stamping his Executioner's Sword as a signature. The chapter ends the next day as Kim Soleum exits the tunnel onto the surface of Sekwang Metropolitan City, one day before the seal is released.
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12:22
149
Chapter 357
Ryu Jaekwan, Lee Jaheon, and Eun Haje have been moving through Sekwang Metropolitan City for hours following an agent's disappearance under rubble. After experiencing a terrifying existential phenomenon near a mountain path that forced a change in route, they arrive at a desolate maintenance track near Sekwang Station. While Eun Haje explores the subway tunnels, the agent—previously thought dead—supernaturally appears, clean and unharmed. The agent urgently directs them into the subway tracks, identifying it as the "Subway Domain," and departs wearing a horned mask, promising they will escape safely before the day ends. Kim Soleum (referred to as Roe Deer) observes the approaching climax at City Hall, where a massive biological cocoon is swelling. Using resources provided by Director Ho Yuwon and equipment from Agent Choi, Soleum prepares a ritualistic tool: the Mysterious Candle Kit. Through a ritual involving Go Youngeun (drawing 'Gaze'), Baek Saheon (drawing 'Protection'), and himself (drawing 'Meditation'), a special candle is created. Soleum realizes that as a person living in this world, he can finally light the candle. The candle's light allows him to perceive the true environment and navigate the rooftop of City Hall, ignoring the maddening music box sounds. He reaches the Dream Incubator and begins a high-stakes task of disconnecting its power and rerouting the Dream Essence Liquid into a Potion Maker. As the cocoon collapses, Soleum witnesses a horrific sight: the silhouette of a person connected to the lump, clutching a music box, which is revealed to be a version of himself. Despite the overwhelming psychological terror and the Host's interjections, Soleum remains focused on completing the installation of the Potion Maker.
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17:25
Chapter 357
Ryu Jaekwan, Lee Jaheon, and Eun Haje have been moving through Sekwang Metropolitan City for hours following an agent's disappearance under rubble. After experiencing a terrifying existential phenomenon near a mountain path that forced a change in route, they arrive at a desolate maintenance track near Sekwang Station. While Eun Haje explores the subway tunnels, the agent—previously thought dead—supernaturally appears, clean and unharmed. The agent urgently directs them into the subway tracks, identifying it as the "Subway Domain," and departs wearing a horned mask, promising they will escape safely before the day ends. Kim Soleum (referred to as Roe Deer) observes the approaching climax at City Hall, where a massive biological cocoon is swelling. Using resources provided by Director Ho Yuwon and equipment from Agent Choi, Soleum prepares a ritualistic tool: the Mysterious Candle Kit. Through a ritual involving Go Youngeun (drawing 'Gaze'), Baek Saheon (drawing 'Protection'), and himself (drawing 'Meditation'), a special candle is created. Soleum realizes that as a person living in this world, he can finally light the candle. The candle's light allows him to perceive the true environment and navigate the rooftop of City Hall, ignoring the maddening music box sounds. He reaches the Dream Incubator and begins a high-stakes task of disconnecting its power and rerouting the Dream Essence Liquid into a Potion Maker. As the cocoon collapses, Soleum witnesses a horrific sight: the silhouette of a person connected to the lump, clutching a music box, which is revealed to be a version of himself. Despite the overwhelming psychological terror and the Host's interjections, Soleum remains focused on completing the installation of the Potion Maker.
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17:25
150
Chapter 358
On May 4th, on the City Hall rooftop, the narrator frantically installs a Potion Maker under the light of a rapidly melting candle. A torn cocoon and a music box are revealed beneath a knocked-over Dream Incubator. Upon activation, the Potion Maker malfunctions due to the Dream Incubator's high output, allowing the being inside the cocoon—the summoned Kim Soleum—to communicate with the narrator through the machine's overload. The narrator realizes that Kim Soleum, an innocent man from a world without ghost stories, became a biological disaster host by listening to the 'Angel's Sigh Melody' from the music box. This entity, a mass of fused human bodies, spreads contamination by disseminating truths about the world. Crucially, the narrator discovers they are the 'Good Friend' version of this disaster: a successful experiment by the Cheerful Research Institute to extract Kim Soleum's mind and place it in a body made from a Daydream Dragon Mascot, designed to lack dissonance and retain a human ego. Despair sets in as the narrator realizes they are linked to the monster's head. However, the Rabbit Doll provides a replacement candle, providing a temporary reprieve. Simultaneously, in the subway below, the seal of the Sekwang Metropolitan City begins to break. Time accelerates, causing rapid aging and rust on the tracks. Two familiar figures, Jang Heowoon (Bison) and Lee Seonghae's former colleague (Dolphin), appear wearing masks. They announce that the Golden Flower Mascot has chosen the subway as a site for a theme park, as golden architecture begins to devour the tracks.
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14:38
Chapter 358
On May 4th, on the City Hall rooftop, the narrator frantically installs a Potion Maker under the light of a rapidly melting candle. A torn cocoon and a music box are revealed beneath a knocked-over Dream Incubator. Upon activation, the Potion Maker malfunctions due to the Dream Incubator's high output, allowing the being inside the cocoon—the summoned Kim Soleum—to communicate with the narrator through the machine's overload. The narrator realizes that Kim Soleum, an innocent man from a world without ghost stories, became a biological disaster host by listening to the 'Angel's Sigh Melody' from the music box. This entity, a mass of fused human bodies, spreads contamination by disseminating truths about the world. Crucially, the narrator discovers they are the 'Good Friend' version of this disaster: a successful experiment by the Cheerful Research Institute to extract Kim Soleum's mind and place it in a body made from a Daydream Dragon Mascot, designed to lack dissonance and retain a human ego. Despair sets in as the narrator realizes they are linked to the monster's head. However, the Rabbit Doll provides a replacement candle, providing a temporary reprieve. Simultaneously, in the subway below, the seal of the Sekwang Metropolitan City begins to break. Time accelerates, causing rapid aging and rust on the tracks. Two familiar figures, Jang Heowoon (Bison) and Lee Seonghae's former colleague (Dolphin), appear wearing masks. They announce that the Golden Flower Mascot has chosen the subway as a site for a theme park, as golden architecture begins to devour the tracks.
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14:38
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