How a Veteran of the Urban Legend Gallery Survives – Chapter 19

In a back alley without even CCTV,

A street where lips touching wouldn’t be strange, I sniffed the air for a moment. A sweet scent tickled my nose.

Narae’s sweet body scent grew stronger. It was like entering a dessert shop, no, even more intense.

The scent had a strange addictiveness. It felt like my mind was slightly dizzy, as if I had sniffed drugs.

‘Get a grip.’

At that thought, the serum’s effect kicked in. A flood of related information poured into my mind.

———————

<Resit Witch (Fox Bride)>

: A horror story about a witch who ruins students’ retakes at Resit Comprehensive Academy.

The witch’s true identity is actually a fox disguised as a human.

She casts illusions related to relationships to drain life energy.

Those who lose their life energy don’t die, but often commit suicide due to the side effects of waking from the long illusion, unable to reconcile reality and illusion.

A well-received horror story on the Horror Story Gallery, blending Korean folklore of the nine-tailed fox with internet slang.

———————

The original version I read on the Horror Story Gallery only mentioned casting illusions to bewitch minds. But Narae in front of me didn’t seem to plan on just casting illusions.

She suddenly burrowed into my arms. Like an animal, she buried her face and took a deep breath. Humming a tune, she let out a low moan.

“Hmm… You’re full of yang energy.”

Her lips slowly moved toward my neck. A hot breath touched my skin, giving me goosebumps.

Narae pressed her lips to my neck like an animal marking its territory and sucked.

‘A hickey…!’

In slang, a ‘hickey,’ in technical terms, a ‘kiss mark.’

Thinking my chastity was at risk, I quickly reached into my pocket. The cold metal touch of the Zhiririt Gun met my palm.

Narae’s lips moved toward mine this time. The streetlight illuminated her face. In the dreamy atmosphere, her red lips drew closer.

That was the moment I pulled out the Zhiririt Gun.

“Huh?”

The moment she saw the Zhiririt Gun, her pupils elongated like a cat’s. But it was too late.

I pulled the trigger, and a blue electric current shot out. The current struck Narae’s body.

Zap!

Narae, electrocuted by the current.

“Ughhhhhh!”

Narae trembled all over and collapsed. Before she hit the ground, I quickly grabbed her wrist and cuffed her with the Handcuffs of Repentance. The cold metal sound echoed in the quiet alley.

“Ugh… who are you?”

Narae, regaining her senses late, gritted her teeth and asked.

“Taegukbang? Muryeon? Or…”

She thought for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and continued.

“National Abnormality Emergency Service?”

Names frequently appearing in the Catastrophe Foundation’s worldview came out one after another. She seemed to have been active in the underworld for quite some time. But I calmly replied.

“Catastrophe Foundation.”

Instantly, her face turned pale. The color drained from her flushed cheeks.

“F… Foundation?”

Narae’s pupils shook with fear. Suddenly, she grabbed my leg and began to plead.

“Oppa, please… not the Foundation. If I go to the Foundation, I’ll really die!”

Her voice trembled. But I ignored her and called the number of the containment team I received from Moon Jinwook.

“Please… just this once. I won’t come down from the mountain again. I won’t drain other men’s life energy. So…”

Her tearful pleading looked pitiful. The moonlight shining on her tears made her look even more pitiful.

But I knew well the fate of those who pitied horror stories in the Catastrophe Foundation’s worldview.

After sending the GPS coordinates to the containment team, Narae seemed to realize something.

She desperately tried to remove the handcuffs. But the Handcuffs of Repentance wouldn’t budge. Instead, they only hurt her wrists.

Soon, the containment team in white protective suits arrived. Without a word, they professionally loaded Narae, still cuffed, into the car.

“Oppa… please…”

Narae’s figure tapped on the window, shouting something. But I turned away and checked my smartphone.

[You have safely escaped from the ‘Resit Witch’ horror story.]

[You escaped faster than anyone from the horror story.]

[You have been awarded 50,000 Dalant as a basic reward.]

+ 50,000D

[You have been awarded an additional 25,000 Dalant.]

+ 25,000D

As the car left the alley, I touched the hickey on my neck. The spot where her lips touched was still warm.

‘How do I get rid of this…’

It didn’t seem like it would disappear by work time. I worried about how to explain it at the office tomorrow.

* * *

After work, I arrived home and accessed the Horror Story Gallery. Unlike usual, the traffic was good today.

Skimming through the posts, one of the regulars had passed the 7th-grade civil service exam and joined the ‘National Abnormality Emergency Service.’ Congratulations from the gallery users filled the comments.

The serum’s effect brought up related information.

———————

National Abnormality Emergency Service

: NAES is an abnormal organization under the South Korean government.

Unlike the Catastrophe Foundation, which has branches worldwide, NAES focuses on handling abnormal phenomena within Korea and related legal issues. It can freely collaborate with government agencies like the National Security Office, National Intelligence Service, Police Agency, and Ministry of National Defense, and can form task forces to adeptly respond to surreal situations.

———————

In short, it’s one of the organizations maintaining order in the horror story world, like the Foundation. I thought it was fortunate that one of the gallery users joined such a place and left a congratulatory comment.

Then, I decided to share today’s events. The sound of typing filled the quiet room.

─Title) Caught a Gumiho, Sharing the Story lol

─Author:[Baekyaⓖ]

─Content: Team leader told me to infiltrate a retake academy and catch the Resit Witch, so I knew it was that horror story from the gallery lol At a drinking party, the fox tried to get me drunk and cast an illusion, but no way, I used the ‘Golden Branch Brooch’ lol Electrocuted her with the Zhiririt Gun and subdued her, handed her over to the containment team. Easy, right?

Shortly after posting, a notification sounded. As expected, comments came in.

[Cryptidⓖ]: So, did you do it with the Gumiho?

└[Baekyaⓖ]: Do what?

└[Cryptidⓖ]: What do you mean what? You know, SEX.

Typical of the gallery, Cryptid asked if I had sex with the Gumiho, making me laugh incredulously.

└[Baekyaⓖ]: No;;; Who knows what could happen if I did

└[Cryptidⓖ]: Wow, you didn’t touch a Gumiho? I would’ve closed my eyes and gone for it. You’re really something, man

└[Jjolmyeon500wonⓖ]: Lol for real, you’re the perfect Foundation material

After that, comments calling me a fool, insensitive, or impotent flooded in.

Annoyed, I turned off the notifications. One characteristic of the Horror Story Gallery is that once they latch onto a topic, they won’t let go. Especially if it’s related to sex, they’d play with it for days.

Lying in bed, I thought about the day’s events.

‘Well, it’s better to be called impotent than to lose my mind and get involved with a Gumiho.’

With that thought, I pulled the blanket over my head and fell asleep.

* * *

The next morning, arriving at the office earlier than usual, Assistant Manager Kang Hana and Supervisor Moon Jinwook were already at their desks. Both looked tense.

“What’s going on this early?”

When I asked, Moon Jinwook shrugged and replied.

“Team leader said he has an announcement, so he told us to gather early.”

“Huh? I didn’t hear about that.”

Surprised, I checked the company messenger. Team Leader Cheon Seungsoo had sent a notice at 7 AM. I hadn’t checked it before coming to work.

As everyone sat in awkward silence, finally at 9 AM, Team Leader Cheon Seungsoo appeared in the office.

“Sorry for calling you in early.”

He said as he sat at the table.

“As part of the Horror Story Reformation Project, besides Baek Jeongwoo, another new member is joining our team.”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t believe Cheon Seungsoo’s words. The bandage on my neck was uncomfortable, but I had no choice to hide the hickey.

Horror Story Reformation Project.

The serum’s effect brought up related information. The Catastrophe Foundation uses horror stories friendly to humanity and the company to their advantage.

Among them, the Horror Story Reformation Project involves directly accepting horror story entities into the company’s teams.

For example, using werewolves as company security or immortal horror stories as ingredients for resurrection drugs.

‘No way…’

A bad premonition struck. But Cheon Seungsoo continued without concern.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a woman entered.

It was Lee Narae, dressed in a suit and wearing a choker. Unlike yesterday, she looked neat, but the bandage on her wrist caught my eye.

As soon as she entered, she glared at me intensely, then bowed her head to Kang Hana and Moon Jinwook.

“I’m Lee Narae, the new member joining Field Investigation Team 4.”

Her voice was completely different from yesterday. The sweet, flirtatious voice was gone, replaced by a cold, professional tone.

Kang Hana and Moon Jinwook looked at me and Narae with subtle expressions.

“Let’s all get along well from now on.”

Cheon Seungsoo said with a smile. It seemed like a normal new member welcome, but everyone knew. This wasn’t just a welcome.

“Oh, and.”

Cheon Seungsoo turned to Moon Jinwook.

“From now on, Jeongwoo will be Narae’s buddy. Keep that in mind.”

“…Huh?”

I responded with a surprised voice. Just yesterday, I had captured and handed over this horror story to the Foundation, and now I had to work with her.

“Alright, everyone, get back to work. Narae’s seat is…”

Cheon Seungsoo pointed to the seat next to me.

“Here.”

Narae walked gracefully to the seat next to me. As she sat down, the sweet scent brushed my nose again. It was the same scent from yesterday.

“Looking forward to working with you, senior.”

She said with a slight smile. But the smile didn’t seem genuine at all. Instead, it felt like a cold glare, as if she was vowing revenge.

Her gaze sent chills down my spine, and I touched the bandage on my neck. The hickey from yesterday throbbed warmly.

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

This is insane, really.