Jin Nasol looked up.

Something peeked its head out from beyond the alley and stared at her.

A tailless baby mermaid.

It threw something at her.

Swish.

The thrown object shimmered in the light.

Without hesitation, Jin Nasol reached out and grabbed the collar of the employee who had been running toward her as if fleeing—using him to block it.

"Eek!"

As the employee screamed in a high-pitched voice after being hit by the shard, bubble-like glass exploded around him, trapping his head and hands in a binding hold.

And above it, traditional geometric patterns floated into view as if stamped.

‘…The Bureau!’

[Warning. You are currently obstructing a rescue operation within a supernatural disaster.]

[Cease obstruction of official duties and surrender. Surrender. Surrender…]

A recorded warning began to sound from the pattern.

A mandatory broadcast from the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau when subduing civilians obstructing official duties.

At the same time, it was an item. Upon hearing that sound, one’s hostility fades and a sense of authority compels obedience.

That is, for ordinary people.

‘What a hassle.’

Veins bulged at Jin Nasol’s temple beneath her elite team's golden mask.

So they weren’t merfolk—they were Bureau bastards disguised as special entities.

"What a nuisance."

"Tch..."

Jin Nasol kicked the restrained agent aside and, as if by magic, slipped on her monocle to identify the other agents.

Two beyond the alley.

‘Should I engage?’

No, that’s not it. The priority is to complete the mission quickly and rack up points—with minimal energy used for maximum efficiency and productivity.

In this case, it would be smarter to skip the tedious item scavenging and just get on the evac boat and finish the mission.

But…

"But it’s annoying."

A detached fingernail shot forward, stabbing into the alley beyond.

“…!”

Her irritation passed the threshold, merging with her chronic headache and ultimately pushing Jin Nasol into action.

The nail scratched violently along the wall, digging in until it caught on a corner.

Along with a few strands of Agent Choi’s trimmed bangs.

"Agent!"

"Ack, she’s got some bite."

But her opponent was Team Hyunmu 1, trained for close-quarters combat. Even in a child’s body, their instinctive movements helped them dodge with ease.

"Chase her when she retracts the wire."

Just as they moved…

The deputy in the butterfly mask grabbed the wire and launched herself forward like a slingshot.

The two Bureau agents immediately rolled to the side and returned fire.

Glass Handgun.

"Ack!"

Jin Nasol pulled the restrained agent in with her wire and used him as a shield.

The Daydream employee screamed after getting hit by one of the Bureau’s non-lethal suppression rounds.

"Aaargh! Baby mermaids! Mermaids!!"

The idiot wasn’t even hurt, but he was wailing over a single harmless round from the Bureau.

And he still thinks that’s just a baby mermaid? His brain must be full of holes….

……Hmm.

‘…Wait, there actually is one?’

Jin Nasol looked through her monocle and scanned the area.

Behind the two Bureau agents, there was one more.

A baby mermaid.

……!

At that moment, one of the larger ‘agents’, presumably a special entity—shifted slightly.

To shield the baby mermaid better.

"Aha."

The Deputy from Team A narrowed her eyes.

Then, she threw the restrained employee at the agent and shot her wire again.

At the baby mermaid behind the agent.

“…!”

Ping.

With a crisp sound, the nail bounced off.

The Bureau agent moved.

"Hah."

Using that moment, Jin Nasol slipped out of the standoff like a shadow.

Her headache momentarily forgotten, her mind thrilled. If a Bureau agent deliberately protected it… there was only one answer.

‘The baby mermaid is a civilian?’

This was…

–Manual-update-worthy intel!

High-value points.

Jin Nasol’s eyes gleamed sharply.

Forget anger, what mattered now was getting to the evac ship and reporting back. Priorities were clear.

‘If needed, take the baby mermaid hostage.’

Jin Nasol casually broke off a nail-mounted part and threw it forward.

Smoke rose.

Using the obscured vision, she slipped back into the alley, just barely making it out.

Her instincts screamed for violence, but her obsession with points urged a smarter, more effective approach to leave her lips…

"Hey."

Jin Nasol yanked over a rookie employee who had been spying with a wire, calculating a route to escape.

A woman wearing a pony mask.

"Y-Yes?"

"Draw their attention."

"Me?"

Pony mask wearing Kang Yihak pointed to herself in shock, eyes wide.

"Worst case, they bind you and toss you in holding for a bit before letting you go. You’re a rookie, they’ve got no obstruction record on you. No grounds for prison time."

"Oh…"

Kang Yihak looked back, then grinned brightly.

"Brilliant plan, Deputy! Then let’s make Goat over there do it! He’s been lurking like a ghost."

"One gram of gold per day of detention."

"I’ll go."

The gold-obsessed one smiled brightly and gave a thumbs up.

While smiling.

"But Deputy! If you’re lying, I’ll report all your personal info to the Bureau and take out a long-term loan in your name on the way out."

"Go ahead."

Jin Nasol left the rookie as a decoy and began retreating at a run to escape quickly…

Kiiiiing—

Blades rained down.

“…!!”

Bell-adorned guillotines poured down from all sides, blocking her escape and stabbing into Jin Nasol’s leg.

‘…!’

A searing pain shot up her leg, paralyzing it.

Most of the Bureau’s anti-personnel gear was designed for supernatural disaster zones, programmed to identify and eliminate “villains” only when minimal necessary death was required.

In other words, weapons meant to suppress in ways that enabled justifiable killing.

"Oh, come on!"

A Bureau agent disguised as a special entity, a tailless baby mermaid was now laughing as they shoved Kang hak aside and rushed toward her.

‘That son of a b—.’

He’s targeting the Elite Team.

Among veterans, there were occasionally agents like that.

Because the Elite Team’s records and testimonies were valuable intel.

Plus, to rise to “elite” status while working at Daydream Corporation—they must be villains, surely.

Once thrown in jail, something always comes up to grab onto.

‘Should I kill him?’

Whoever he is, he’s clearly been interfering non-stop.

Jin Nasol crawled along the ground and reached into her suit to retrieve a lethal weapon.

Bow.

A colossal will slammed down upon the entire alley.

Everything froze.

The fleeing Daydream employees, the goat mask with its head lowered, the baby mermaid, the Bureau agents, and the pony mask with raised hands—

All of them could only roll their eyes upward.

A massive eye was watching.

No—it was language.

----------------------------------

The sound of evil phrases chanted, becoming a gaze that stared into humans.

Indescribable, incomprehensible, extra-dimensional language—unexplainable even in concept—came pouring down.

Be grateful you can’t understand it! For the moment you do, there is no going back!

One of the fallen Daydream employees convulsed with foam at the mouth—then began to strangle himself.

Speak.

The baby mermaids laughed and then fainted.

Bow.

Kang hak stared blankly, mouth agape, then slammed her head against the ground.

Murmuring voices.

Speak.

It wasn't originally that kind of word! But when filtered through what humans can understand, that's what it sounded like.

Oh, whisper of the abyss. So deep, too deep… how enthralling… We must flee… but we cannot…

So captivating and profane… we must worship…

"D-Die…" 

Someone whispered. Murmured.

"They said we’re all going to die… prepare for death, uh…"

"What are you saying?"

Jin Nasol barely managed to grab someone by the collar—no, not just anyone, it was the rookie in the goat mask.

"They said prepare for death! Death! The cat! The monster, Kim Sol…!"

A mouth appeared above the alley—a massive shadow of a mouth opening as if to swallow everything whole.

“It’s pronouncing something. It's still reading! It's reading! No—no… Damn it.”

Agent Choi, feeling like he wanted to bite his tongue off, loaded the strongest mental defense round he had into his glass hand-cannon. He only had three shots—so priority was key.

"What? Wait. Thoughts and words are changing."

"Even the thoughts and words of the Daydream employees were now comprehensible.”

Agent Bronze swallowed hard.

...The supernatural trait of the ghost story—showing hallucinations only to children—was being overridden.

"Hold on."

A chilling sense of danger crawled up from the scar on his neck.

"This phenomenon appearing now… this is…"

"…Is this an extinction-class event?"

"What the hell do you want?! What are you doing this for?! Why do we have to die?! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! Whatever you want—I'll do it! Just go away!"

"I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do, but I’ll do it! I swear I will! Just please, go away!"

That scream resembled a prayer to a god.

And at the same time, the words were truly being understood.

Even as she crawled along the floor, Jin Nasol could feel it.

Something was accepting their sincerity, will, and wishes.

And yet—

"Shut your damn mouth."

Agent Bronze muttered as he raised his Glass Handgun.

First round, fired.

The giant mouth turned its head.

And there was…

Embedded in the round was data—willpower and intention.

‘We are not ready yet.’

‘Humanity must live longer.’

That message was understood—not through language, but through meaning.

Second round, fired.

The mouth momentarily paused.

It was understanding.

But—

The third round was not yet loaded.

"Damn it."

Just as Agent Bronze grit his teeth and tried to reload—

"It's enough."

The giant mouth stopped moving.

Within the shadows, it faded—like it was vanishing somewhere else.

The speaking ceased. The whispers, the demands, the cursed phrases—all stopped.

"...Is it gone?"

Silence.

Amid that silence, time passed—and above the alley, the sky returned to its usual dark and quiet state.

Someone cautiously took a breath.

Then, they collapsed.

"Recover the ones who didn’t have proper mental protection first."

As Agent Bronze gave the order, the agents began moving quickly.

Jin Nasol rose from the ground, her teeth chattering.

"So this… is extinction-level…"

"First time seeing one?" 

Agent Bronze asked.

Jin Nasol nodded. There was no blood left in her face.

"Everyone’s like that the first time."

Agent Bronze lowered his Glass Handgun and murmured softly.

"Still, you held out. That’s impressive."

Jin Nasol didn’t speak. She simply inhaled, then exhaled quietly.

Her mouth tasted bitter, and her knees were trembling.

Those were signs that everything was finally over.

"Deputy!"

Kang hak with the pony mask came running, her face still blank with shock.

"A-Are you okay? That… what the heck was that? Just now… that thing just now….”

"Don’t ask." 

Jin Nasol bit her lip as she replied

"Just… pretend you didn’t see it."

"O-Okay..."

Agent Bronze approached Jin Nasol.

"I’ll file the report."

"……." 

Jin Nasol nodded.

"In return, I want one Wish Token."

Agent Bronze replied with a face devoid of humor.

"If I could give you one."

Jin Nasol let out a short, dry laugh.

"Then at least buy me a coffee. The expensive kind."

"That, I can manage."

A short silence passed between them before Jin Nasol steadied herself and stood up.

Agent Bronze looked at her for a moment, then quietly averted his gaze.

"We should clean up the scene."

"…Yeah."

Kang hak nodded belatedly and followed along.

That day, both the Elite Team and the Disaster Management Bureau filed their reports as if nothing had happened.

No one said a word.

Because—

There was no way to explain what had happened.

It lingered not in words, but in sensation and silence.

"......."

"......."

It vanished.

The Sparkling Dragon Palace and the Mermaid’s Grave returned.

Thud.

The eyes of those who collapsed to the floor were blank.

As the indescribably massive ■■■ disappeared, the void was very slowly being filled again…

And then. A chilling premonition.

"Just now, you said you’d do anything…"

All eyes turned toward the black goat mask. Baek Saheon.

"If it goes away, you’ll do anything, you said..."

The moment Baek Saheon’s face turned pale. 

Ding.

"...!" 

Something calmly walked out from the darkness at the end of the alley.

"That..."

It was a black cat.

The four-legged beast with blood-red eyes was quietly observing the humans.

A symbol of misfortune, a history of fear and persecution, a street animal that passes by in familiarity and ordinariness.

The protagonist of the most famous short ghost story.

The cat approaches.

"...!"

The shape crackled as it moved.

The people, engulfed in tension, momentarily forgot their complex rivalries and conflicts, and stared at that moving figure…

The creature standing before the black goat opened its mouth.

[This way.]

"...!" 

A will was spoken.

[This way.] 

The cat gazed toward the other side.

Baek Saheon staggered to his feet, stared at the cat with a pale face, then began to move.

The black four-legged beast walked alongside him, and the people, along with the baby mermaids, began to stumble after them…

‘It worked. It worked!’

Even if, inside, Kim Sol-eum was swallowing back cold sweat and tears!

“ – Do you have a sticker like a tattoo that reads out loud like a text-to-speech app?”

“ – ...Ah! So you can print it on the spot?”

“ – That’s right.”

Kim Sol-eum had bought a tattoo sticker with a musical note pattern from the Moonlight Tattoo Shop, which conveyed thoughts into audible voice — and stuck it onto his paw.

He was desperately walking on all fours, trying to act calm and mysterious.

Relieved that, at least, things were going according to plan.

‘I thought I was going to lose my mind!’

A few hours earlier.

‘Whew.’ 

Exiting the Moonlight Tattoo Shop, Kim Sol-eum temporarily shed his cat form and returned to that of a child.

He looked around at the surroundings, which had transformed once more into a blissful paradise, and held back a sigh.

The stamp was now tattered — maybe usable one more time at most — but…

This time, he had to do it in human form.

"Finally, I get to use this."

Because there was an item he needed to take out.

From deep within the ‘Graceful Master’ tattoo, Kim Sol-eum finally retrieved an item he had purchased a long time ago from the Space Mall.

"Whew."

It was… a bizarre book, bound in screaming human faces, made of human skin, and sealed with dark red wax.

Necronomicon.

The Book of the Dead.

Kim Sol-eum stared at the ancient book, sealed in red wax as if it had been forbidden.

‘Braun acted like he knew what this was.’

But then again…

–It’s probably not the Necronomicon you think it is.

It was exactly what he said back then.

He turned back into a cat and moved his front paws.

It was to reduce any sense of discomfort.

If he carefully rubbed the waxed part with his paw like this…

He would find it.

There was a hinge on the corner.

That’s right. This…

‘The ancient book form is just a bookcase.’

And when he opened it…

Clack.

A clean, softcover, perfect-bound book with standard font and cover design appeared.

Necronomicon – Easy Hangul Revised Edition Released!

It was a neat yet tacky modern publication.

"......."

At this point, your head is probably filled with “????”, but let’s keep going.

He opened the cover.

Then, passing the table of contents, something like this starts to appear…

Wija ei wija ei unkru ga jacakaipe hirigev somerka buat ni arlath hotep purgive winiwik jaicheruge

...Did you notice?

It’s just a bunch of sloppily romanized alien gibberish.

Yeah. This book is a terrible misprint, in the worst possible sense...!

According to a researcher in the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration, even this version is full of typos and totally unusable.

It’s not just a bad translation — it’s a sloppy mimicry of how someone once tried to pronounce some old version of the Necronomicon!

Considering how languages from beyond in cosmic horror are supposed to be unpronounceable or incomprehensible to humans, this is utterly pointless.

Obviously, this thing could never actually summon the power of a true being from cosmic horror filled with madness and fear. Its true nature was…

A ghost story parodying fraudulent crowdfunding books.

Yep, that’s what kind of item it was.

Still, since it’s part of a ghost story, it had to bring about at least one terrible effect.

So, there was exactly one aspect of its content that could produce an effect as dreadful as the original.

A fitting ability for a scam-themed ghost story. That is...

Psychological effect.

When read aloud, the reader falls into the delusion that a great being has truly descended, plunging into madness and fear.

It was assumed that anyone within 10 meters who heard the reader’s voice would experience a similar effect.

The more of a horror fanatic and immersive the reader was, the more vivid and potent the effect became.

“At least it lets the reader feel something intense — so I guess it’s a slightly more ethical scam.”

From Lee Yeon-hwa, Deputy Manager, Research Team 1.

In short, it was a bluff item used for intimidation!

And though it was a bit embarrassing…

The more the reader is a horror fanatic with strong immersion tendencies, the more vivid and certain the effect becomes.

…Kim Sol-eum had decided this was basically the perfect item for him.

‘Khugh.’

Of course, while reading it, he thought he was going to lose his mind.

If it hadn’t only been psychological, he might’ve been bleeding from every orifice again.

Maybe it was thanks to the lemonade he had at the Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

Anyway.

‘I can’t do that anymore either.’

He couldn’t read the book anymore.

First of all, he nearly went insane reading it, and if anyone caught him reciting it in cat form, the entire plan would go to hell.

But that terrifying psychological effect only manifests while reading the Necronomicon.

In other words, right now as a cat, Kim Sol-eum had the same stats as any regular street animal…

‘C-Can I really fool them…?’

But he had to try.

[This way.]

And so, Kim Sol-eum steadfastly pretended to be an extraordinary being, leading the Daydream Corporation employees and the Supernatural Disaster Bureau agents onward.

‘Please… just help me make it to the escape point.’

The destination was…

A place where an angel’s sigh still lingered.