Chapter 38.1
The first thing I felt was dampness.
Squelch.
As I reached into the snake hole with my saltwater-soaked hand, a peculiar coldness, like submerging my hand in ink, washed over me.
Then, I was pulled in.
“……!”
The suction that began at my hand soon engulfed my entire body.
‘I-I can’t breathe.’
It felt like wet paper was wrapping tightly around my whole body, suffocating me. My vision spun, dark and dizzy, until finally…
Gasp!
With a sudden gasp, I was able to breathe again, as if emerging into cool air.
I opened my eyes.
Instead of stars, the neon lights of a provincial city stretched out before me, twinkling against the autumn night of Korea.
‘I… survived.’
I was back in reality.
“Huu…”
I tried to stand, but my legs were shaking so badly that I almost fell. Dark red ink was dripping from my feet, trailing onto the ground.
“……”
Following the ink trail with my gaze.
I saw an old piece of hanji paper with a faded ink wash painting smeared and blurred, lying on the ground.
It was as if, after countless years, the image had faded entirely, and new ink had been splashed over it, leaving barely any recognizable shape.
‘…That must have been one of those cursed paintings connecting to that insane mountain.’
Shuddering, I quickly tore my gaze away and turned to check on the others scattered on the ground.
One, two, three… seven. Everyone was here.
It seemed the painting had spit them out right after me.
“Ugh…”
“Are you alright?”
“Oww… Huh! W-We’re outside!!”
Section Chief Lee Byeongjin looked around, then yelled out in shock.
“Haha!! W-We made it!! We’re alive!!”
Then, filled with relief and gratitude, he turned to me and bowed deeply.
“Thank you… for saving us…”
“You saved yourself, Section Chief. You were the one who carried out the ritual, after all.”
“…Haha, so m-modest… I’m ashamed.”
Section Chief Lee bowed again, looking rather moved. I figured it was best to let him believe it was humility rather than flattery.
“O-Ohhh!”
The next ones to come to their senses were the middle schoolers. As I helped them get their bearings, I listened to their surprised chatter.
“This place… it’s where you were supposed to stay on your school trip?”
“Yes!!”
Now that I looked around, it did resemble the description they’d given of ‘the gazebo behind our lodging’.
‘So we all got spit out here.’
…It was lucky we didn’t wake up in that strange office in the basement of the company.
I reassured the kids who were hugging each other in relief, crying, and ready to run straight down the mountain.
“Be careful where you step. When you get down, find an adult and call your parents, alright?”
But the kids looked nervous, hesitant to leave.
“Aren’t you coming with us…?”
Well… they had a point.
Whether I was treated as a hero for rescuing them or mistaken for a kidnapper, if I went to the police, the company probably wouldn’t be thrilled…
‘As long as the kids get back safely, that’s what matters.’
I slowly shook my head.
“We need to go somewhere else. You just keep going straight down and don’t look back.”
Just in case you trip.
“……! Okay.”
The kids seemed to muster some resolve, nodding with determined faces, and carefully started down the mountain, relying on each other for support.
‘Good.’
Since it was a well-maintained path on a shallow mountain, it would only take them about five minutes to get down.
As I watched them go, ensuring they were safe, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“Excuse me…”
It was the security sergeant, who had already gotten to his feet and was slightly swaying as he held out the stick with the greenish wild ginseng still attached.
“Hey kid, take this…”
“Oh.”
The sergeant held out the stick with the unconscious wild ginseng dangling from it.
‘I mean, we could’ve just left it there.’
Still, I took the ginseng without protest. The sergeant turned and started walking away, trudging off with heavy steps.
“…Where are you headed?”
“The office… still on duty…”
Ah.
‘But we’re in Gyeongju right now.’
(T/N: A KTX ride from Gyeongju to Seoul is about 2 hours and 40 minutes, while a bus ride would be about 4 to 5 hours)
By the time he gets back, his shift would probably be over anyway.
In any case, I followed him since I also needed to get back to Seoul, carrying Go Seonha, the exhausted university student, slung over my shoulder.
‘I’ll drop her off in front of the police station on the way.’
Then, at that moment—
“Aah… Both Security Team officers need to return quickly! I-I’ll follow along then! Haha! Isn’t it only right for me to accompany you as the missing person you found? Let’s go together!”
I glanced at Section Chief Lee Byeongjin, who was scrambling to catch up, looking every bit like a sycophant afraid to lose his backup.
Well, now that we’d escaped… maybe it was time for him to know the truth.
“And, uh, after everything’s settled, I’ll stop by your department to properly thank you two! Haha, where exactly does the Security Team work…?”
“No.”
“……?”
“Even if you come to the Security Team, you won’t be able to meet me.”
“Huh?”
“I’m with the Field Exploration Team.”
A heavy silence followed.
“But, uh, your clothes… you’re in a Security Team uniform—”
“It was just lent to me…”
“……?!”
With that comment from the security sergeant, Section Chief Lee’s face became a mix of confusion, and then, after a moment, he seemed to piece things together in his mind.
“Ahh! Ah! I-I see, so… but you don’t seem familiar. Don’t you get administrative support? Ah! Maybe you’re in a special team? And that’s why you’re in the security uniform…?”
“I’m a new hire, sir.”
“……?”
“D-squad’s rookie.”
“……???”
