“…Yes. I’m not planning to get a tattoo right this second.”
Given the insane power of the Tomato Tree tattoo stickers, I’d need to be extremely cautious about any permanent ink here…
Even if the artist had only the best intentions, everyone’s standards were subjective, and irreversible results could happen.
So, instead of a permanent tattoo, I asked again for a temporary effect.
“…Do you have stickers for, you know, simpler designs like this?”
The tattooist tilted her head and began reaching for the booklet of designs. The same ‘Royal Special Premium #1 (Customizable)’ I’d chosen last time…
No!
“That’s fine. Just the basic style, please.”
At last, a plain booklet appeared. Whew.
I’m such a beggar…
I don’t even have enough for pearls. I’d thought about scavenging something from Mermaid Grave, but judging by her reaction, I’m glad I didn’t.
I nodded at the very simple design she indicated.
“Great. Let’s go with that.”
Then came the real question. I forced out the words.
“So, about the cost—”
Tap, tap.
The tattooist knocked on another notice.
[Write a review and receive three free tattoo stickers (basic designs only)]
……!
……
“So… Where should I write it?”
And so I had the odd experience of tapping out a review with my forepaw: ‘The owner is kind and highly professional.’
Where that review ends up… well, let’s not think about that right now.
What mattered was this.
‘Escape safely from this crazy ghost story with the largest group possible.’
And I had just acquired the ability to do it.
In my quadruped form, I bowed politely and concluded my second visit to the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.
The agreed‑upon time with the agents was fast approaching.
“Agent Bronze.”
Ryu Jaekwan turned his head.
His senior, who’d been playing with the kids and just waved goodbye, was approaching.
“Agent Choi.”
The moment the children disappeared from view, Agent Choi’s smile faded.
“There’s none left.”
“……”
“I guess we really have no choice this time, Bronze-ah.”
“I…”
Jaekwan clenched his teeth.
“I told you we should leave yesterday…!”
“……”
“Breaking the rules, giving false hope…”
“I know.”
Agent Choi habitually mimed putting a cigarette to his lips, then caught himself and laughed softly.
“But at least we tried our best. No regrets that way.”
“……”
“That’s what I think.”
Ryu Jaekwan quietly clenched his fist.
“And besides, we didn’t break the one truly critical rule… not revealing the truth about this place.”
“……”
That was right.
The Bureau already knew.
Twinkle Twinkle Ocean Palace is a hallucination induced by hypnosis.
Many agents had confirmed this during missions.
And while they all tried rescuing the children in adult form, each attempt ended in utter failure.
If an infected child is forced onto the escape boat, they undergo acute molting and develop ulcers all over, losing all vital signs.
Never attempt this.
The children transformed into ordinary infected creatures and their bodies would burst, killing them.
After such missions, agents suffered severe trauma and nightmares, often never returning to duty. Since then, the Bureau stopped telling new agents the truth upfront.
“Grapes still doesn’t know.”
“……”
“Let’s keep it from him. Got it?”
Ryu Jaekwan nodded.
At that moment.
Whoosh.
A small shadow flickered near the alley entrance.
The two agents who’d been watching immediately turned to a defensive stance.
Ryu Jaekwan frowned.
“Just now… I thought I saw a cat’s shadow…”
“A cat?”
Agent Choi let out a nervous laugh.
“Aigoo, you mean something that just looked like a cat… probably nothing.”
“……”
That’s right. You can’t trust appearances here.
Though this place would dazzle you with the innocence of children, they had already seen what lay beneath.
Ryu Jaekwan slowly crouched and peered around the alley corner.
And… he saw the unexpected.
Life‑sized clockwork animal figurines walking down the alley.
“…Daydream Inc.”
“…!”
The Field Exploration Team of Daydream Inc.
Perhaps due to those eerie animal masks, they always appeared in the bizarre form of a ‘cute animal-themed drinking fountain’, making them stand out even to a child’s eyes.
This time was no different.
One had a beautiful butterfly perched on it, another was shaped like a cute pony, and the last resembled a friendly-looking goat.
To a child’s eyes, they were simply adorable decorations.
But.
“Hm.”
Approaching silently, Agent Choi pulled out something that glittered like wings.
It was a suncatcher made of glass.
‘Suncatcher’.
It looked crude, like something made by a child, yet emitted an uncanny light even though there was no sunlight. When raised to the eye…
The truth would become visible.
“…It’s them. Damn, these guys are good. They look totally normal, too.”
Ryu Jaekwan likewise raised his Suncatcher and checked them.
Three people in suits. Animal masks. Butterfly, pony, and…
Goat.
“……”
That one.
Ryu Jaekwan gripped the glass tightly, blood running cold.
He recognized that guy.
‘Kim Soleum’s coworker…!’
It was the man in the black goat mask he had seen at Sekwang Technical High School.
Recalling the conversation with the one in the buffalo mask at the time, it was clear this man knew Kim Soleum fairly well.
‘If that’s the case.’
If, by some chance, someone recognized Kim Soleum’s features hidden beneath a child’s appearance.
If they started asking questions.
‘No.’
He couldn’t allow that damn company to track down someone who had barely managed to get out and rebuild his life.
Ryu Jaejwan’s mouth opened on its own.
“Agent.”
“Mmh?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to subdue them and drive them out now?”
“Oh.”
Agent Choi shrugged his shoulders.
“Bronze-ah. We’ve got only one day left. Why stir up trouble now?”
Of course, the Disaster Management Bureau already knew that the damn company was sneaking into this place using some private route only they were aware of.
But they hadn’t acted on it. Fighting them might only lead to civilian casualties.
Resources were best used to save more people, to end the supernatural disaster more effectively.
“Let’s just keep an eye on the kids instead, just in case.”
“……”
“…Is what I should say!”
A twisted smile spread across Agent Choi’s face.
He looked at one of the staff.
The one wearing the butterfly mask, stamped with a gold emblem.
“…An elite team member is here.”
A dangerous glint flashed in Agent Choi’s eyes.
“If we toss them into a glass cell for obstructing official duties, I bet we’d get some prime intel.”
“……!”
“Let’s go.”
The agents began to move.
“A-Assistant Manager!”
Jin Nasol clutched her throbbing head and looked toward the dumb brat sprinting toward her.
“Over there, over there…!”
And behind him, there were mer-children chasing after him.
Only, they had no tails.
“Special variant, huh.”
Jin Nasol’s index and thumb extended unnaturally, revealing a sharp, chilling thread of silvery wire between her nails.
“…What a drag.”