Bailonz Street 13-Chapter 251.3
[Oh, precisely so.]
That pleasant voice rang with a hint of mischief.
[A true entertainer knows how to wait for the moment of a grander reunion!]
[Someone discovered that this cotton-filled body originated from your modest, picturesque resort, and believed that one day this Braun would be guided back to you, Mr. Roe Deer. Oh, what a magnificent, serendipitous meeting!]
Wait.
‘So someone had my Good Friend in their possession?’
[Of course, those very agents who shared the dream of Sekwang Special Metropolitan City with you.]
Ah.
Aahhh!
‘So that’s how it happened!’
Word must have spread within the bureau that someone was trying to obtain an item related to the Cheerful Theme Park to give to me. Maybe an official notice even went around.
I don’t know how they managed to trace me down, but the agents of Black-Tortoise Team 1 (who most likely had my Good Friend) must have gladly handed over the rabbit.
After all, they knew it was only going back to Kim Soleum in the end.
They might even have been satisfied that they could deliver it properly instead of smuggling it out…
[What do you think, Friend? Do you like my surprise?]
Looking at the rabbit plush that somehow seemed proud of itself, I felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Familiar warmth.
‘Could this… be the effect of the Good Friend item, too?’
Maybe so.
‘Yeah. It left an impression.’
[As expected!]
The rabbit doll rejoiced.
‘But hey.’
[Oh? A question?]
‘You… knew, didn’t you. That entering Sekwang Special City was a dream.’
The rabbit plush paused.
‘That hundred million… you made me waste it on purpose!’
For your own amusement!
[…Friend! How could you suspect such a thing!]
It’s not suspicion. It really feels true!
[Good heavens. Very well. Then let’s think about it…]
[If, astonished by my brilliant insight, you, Mr. Roe Deer, had told others that place was a dream, wouldn’t you all have amicably taken your own lives together?]
‘……!’
[Oh, surely my friend wouldn’t expect a story development so implausible it’d be rejected even in the comedy corner of a show.]
[Obviously, doubt, anguish, and pain would have torn your group apart! It’s possible even more people would have failed to wake.]
[You wouldn’t have wanted me to cause something that dangerous, would you.]
That’s…
True, I suppose.
‘Still, you could’ve at least told me the evil-warding pollock worth one hundred million wasn’t necessary…’
Kuugh.
[Mr. Roe Deer, please don’t forget. It was you who insisted on repaying me, even after this Braun clearly said it was a gift…]
……
Yeah……
‘Let’s… make money.’
It’d be impossible to pry out the popsocket still embedded somewhere in my body, but I can at least search the wiki for any source of income…
[It’s fine to repay me slowly. What matters now is that you restore the trust you owe me, Friend!]
The fact that, after everything I’ve been through, I didn’t even find those words irritating… Well, that just proves the ‘Good Friend’ really does make its voice sound more familiar and warm.
‘Sigh.’
I tucked the rabbit doll, which somehow felt closer than when it was just cheap merchandise, into my pocket.
The mind of 130666, dulled by fear, couldn’t even feel a chill toward the ghost-story host who had become its creditor, and the Good Friend was now secured somewhere in my front pocket.
“So it really did come from the resort. Looks like you’re quite happy to see it?”
Let’s go with that…
“Actually… that item originally belonged to someone else.”
……Huh?
Agent Haegeum, sounding slightly conflicted, asked,
“By any chance, do you know a man called Agent Grapes?”
…!!
“I get the feeling that agent visited your theme park and got that doll there. But their whereabouts are currently unknown.”
It felt as if I’m about to break out in cold sweat.
“His team members were the ones keeping the doll. …If you can track that person somehow, I’d like to ask that you do. Or at least tell me if you learn anything.”
……
Tracking impossible
Reason : Product ownership has already been transferred
“…I figured as much.”
You guilty conscience!
Status of the doll’s purchaser
: Alive, stable
“……I see. That’s good to hear.”
Agent Haegeum calmly watched as I handed over a few Cheerful Coins in exchange for the rabbit plushie, along with information (such as the fact that the doll had been an event prize at the Cheerful Theme Park and was already discontinued).
Then she smiled and stood up.
“It’s really a relief that you’re friendly toward humans.”
……
“Then get some good rest.”
Agent Haegeum disappeared once more into the corridor beyond the sliding door.
Tak.
Hearing the door close, I finally sighed and came to a conclusion.
‘I can’t stay here much longer.’
It wouldn’t be wise to give the Disaster Management Bureau the impression that I’d completely registered here and would be cooperating with them as a spirit-being. That would just waste their time and money. They’re already a busy enough organization.
Besides, it’s getting harder and harder to keep ignoring the summons from Daydream.
But time keeps passing, and Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae still hasn’t woken up…
‘…I’ll have to go back in alone.’
For the rescue mission.
To Sekwang City.
Taking all of that into account, there was only one possible answer in the end.
And so, a few days later.
During an outing arranged again by Black-Tortoise Team 1, I made my announcement.
Declaration :
Formation of an independent Sekwang Special Metropolitan City Exploration Team
(with Ho Yoowon included)
“……!!”
Salt Goblin
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