I’m the Only One Who Can’t See Ghosts

43 – Captured in the Tiger’s Den (1)

* * *

Cheonji is the strongest organization of psychic abilities.

While it may be doubted in foreign countries, no one dared to challenge it, and in Korea, everyone recognized that title except for three people.

Like any organization, Cheonji had various departments. And because Cheonji is the strongest organization of psychic abilities, these departments could be called the strongest departments.

Among them, there was a department that was highly underrated.

It was the Information Division of Cheonji.

With agents with abilities in stealth, disguise, and manipulation working in the field, and remote viewers, precognitionists, and information analysts providing support as backup agents, this organization was called the CIA of the modern era.

No, it was often said that it surpassed the status of the CIA.

The leader of the feared Cheonji Information Division read the classified documents and said a word.

“A investigation about a psychic called Cheonma. And it’s decided as one of the most urgent matters by the higher-ups. Who the hell is this person?”

But questioning such doubts was not his job. His job was simply to create the information that the higher-ups wanted as the eyes and ears of Cheonji.

“Surely, it won’t take more than a week.”

And a week later, the leader of the Cheonji Information Division despaired.

“No, couldn’t they even guess what ability he has?”

As the leader watched the officers debating in front of him, he was left speechless.

“Cheonma is said to have a similar ability to demons and evil spirits. He probably possesses a power from the spiritual realm that would be categorized as hell…”

“Nonsense. In the myths that criminals believe in, Cheonmama is described as a being that tempts Buddha to fall. Cheonma is undoubtedly a psychic specializing in mental abilities. And it’s focused on seducing and brainwashing the opponent.”

“Hmph, that’s why they don’t out in the field. You guys don’t know the nature of the Sapa organization. Most of the leaders who use the term ‘Cheonma’ are violent and ruthless abilities. And with the addition of the character ‘heaven’ in Cheonji. It’s the dark form of one of the three supreme gods, Lord Nayu’s ability…”

What nonsense is this? Why are they doing things without investigating the Cheonma Religion that worships Cheonma? The leader of the Information Division, annoyed, scolded the officers.

“Everyone, be quiet. Have you investigated the Cheonma Religion that worships Cheonma? Isn’t there a high probability that Cheonma is there?”

“We kidnapped a few believers and interrogated them…”

“Why didn’t you finish your sentence?”

One of the officers who received the leader’s reprimand slowly opened his mouth.

“Apparently, we couldn’t interrogate them through abilities because they deal with illegal activities, and they didn’t provide any information about Cheonma due to their fanatical dedication. And because there is an agreement between the Cheonma Religion and our Cheonji, there is no official way to put pressure…”

“Enough with the excuses. What happened with the project we were working on last time? The project to infiltrate our agent into the Thousand Demon Sect.”

“Oh, that…”

When the leader glared, the subordinate quickly spoke.

“There seems to be evidence that the agent has betrayed us.”

“Have you seen this pathetic traitor? Bring me a written statement about this immediately regarding the matter.”

The leader slammed the table, focusing the attention of the subordinates.

“What about the old records?”

“They have all disappeared. It seems that someone wanted to completely erase the history of the existence called Thousand Demon.”

“And what about the prophets?”

In response to the leader’s question, the subordinate answered.

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“Thousand Demon’s abilities don’t just involve manipulation. Apart from that, we have not obtained any further information through the prophets. It will be impossible to obtain any more information through them.”

“So it’s not just about manipulation abilities. Is Thousand Demon not closely related to the Thousand Demon Sect?”

So that’s why.

That’s why the subordinates had various speculations about Thousand Demon’s abilities.

The leader wiped his face once and spoke to the subordinates.

“Mobilize all the information gatherers.”

At that moment, a goddess in the form of a young girl smiled.

“Plan. We will hide the real information about Thousand Demon.”

“Execution. Borrow the domain of the Thousand Demon Sect and set up countless traps, then store false information about Thousand Demon at the end of that labyrinth.”

“Execution. Store false information about Thousand Demon in the deepest part of the distorted site as an abnormal phenomenon.”

“Execution. Regarding Yu Hajin, no special abilities. We will disguise him as an ordinary man.”

In this way, the information gatherers became engulfed in manipulation while looking at the Thousand Demon Sect’s homepage, and also went insane while looking at the site that had been distorted, gathering information about Thousand Demon.

A liaison from another department, watching this scene, commented.

“Is this information reliable?”

“The information gatherers affiliated with Cheonji are the world’s best information gatherers. There is no reason to doubt the information they bring.”

And so, the gathered information was as follows:

Thousand Demon is a woman.

Thousand Demon is incredibly wealthy.

Thousand Demon is a shaman who resonates with darkness itself…

* * *

Today, morning came again.

I looked at the refrigerator while grilling tteokgalbi in the air fryer. There were three eggs left in the refrigerator.

“If I and Nayu and Jamsoon each eat one, it’ll be gone.”

Should I go grocery shopping again today?

But I don’t have much money left in my bank account.

“Sigh.”

When will I be able to live comfortably?

I cracked the egg, holding back tears in my heart.

That’s how the morning preparations went.

Kimchi, spicy chili pickles, three fried eggs, and tteokgalbi. Kyah, with this kind of breakfast, even the youngest granddaughter, a chick, would come running while drooling.

As I finished placing the last fried egg on the plate, familiar voices could be heard.

“The smell of tteokgalbi is crazy.”

“Nayu is hungry, gulping.”

It was Nayu and Jamsoon’s voices. Nayu and Jamsoon naturally served themselves rice from the rice cooker and sat in their spots.

I also sat down after turning on the news through the computer monitor. And I casually looked at the news reporting the collapse of Big Hand Casino.

“Yes, the scene is still chaotic. It has been three days since the collapse of Big Hand Casino, and the Chungsu Group, who managed the casino, has not released any statement.”

Not releasing any statement.

Does that mean that Chungsu died?

Chungsu fought desperately, even when getting beaten up by the VIPs. I didn’t know that he would fight so well even in such a blurry state of vision and hearing.

And according to my hazy memory, Chungsu made a promise to kill me. Since I’m alive and well, I will have to pay the price for breaking that promise.

Wasn’t it said that the punishment would be nine times worse than the luck gained?

So he’s probably dead.

But I couldn’t confirm his dead body.

“Egg looks delicious.”

“This, this is Nayu’s! Nayu’s fried egg!”

Did Chungsu really die?

My heart became complicated.

But the news didn’t care about my feelings like that.

“Cheonji has classified this murder game hall as a serious violation of regulations and has declared a hunt for the superhumans belonging to the Chungsu Group. Therefore, from now on, the Chungsu Group will···.”

Did Cheonji really not know about that murder game hall?

I don’t think so.

Since things have gotten big, they must be trying to cut me off.

“Hoo.”

When I get this angry, I had to eat egg fried rice.

Protein is always right.

But there was no egg fried rice left on the plate.

“Huh?”

When I glanced ahead, Nayo was avoiding my gaze, looking uneasy.

“Nayo, you look like you don’t know anything.”

***

So I had to come out to work without even eating eggs.

Today’s part-time job was delivery service.

“Could strange things happen again?”

Lately, I’ve been involved in many strange incidents while doing delivery service.

On the way back from the delivery job, I even enjoyed a full-course dinner at a fancy restaurant, and watched a risqué acrobatic show by Kiryeon.

But now I’m giving up on such things.

Those incidents didn’t bring me any money.

After receiving the delivery items, I took a picture of the location on my phone. Then, the map app displayed the label “Dangerous Area.” I slowly looked at the place on the app.

“It’s the Tiger’s Den.”

It’s one of Seoul’s three dangerous areas known as the Tiger’s Den.

But even though I live in one of the three dangerous areas, something like the Tiger’s Den doesn’t scare me. And in fact, I’ve done many deliveries to the Tiger’s Den.

But I’ve never seen a tiger before.

It’s supposed to be the scariest and most fearsome existence in the world?

I really wish I could see it once.

So I carried the delivery items on my back and rode an affordable electric kickboard towards the Tiger’s Den.

***

And as expected, nothing happened.

It seems like today’s delivery job will end without any incidents.

“Ah, young man. Did you recklessly ride the kickboard and make everything fly again? If it were in the old days, you could have become a superstar on a variety show.”

“Ahahahaha. I have good balance, you know.”

I carefully unloaded the burdens hanging on my back one by one. Today, my client was the owner of the supermarket in the tiger’s den. He was a reliable person who frequently entrusted me with delivery requests.

“Here’s the money.”

“Thank you. Please call me again.”

“No need. I should be the one thanking you. But, um…”

Suddenly, the sound of people running away filled the air. The supermarket ajumma wiped away tears, leaving the items behind, and hurriedly ran to the back, making a loud noise.

“Ugh, again today?”

Since I had received the payment, should I just leave?

But if I leave the items like this, people might steal them.

The poor people living in the tiger’s den couldn’t resist the temptation of the supermarket items.

Look, when I glance back, that girl is already eyeing them. Oh, by the way, she is really beautiful. It’s unusual for her hair to be white.

It’s surprising that her long-necked white shirt can’t hide her curves. And even her arms and legs showed some muscles. Then, what’s up with that face that could outshine visual members of an idol group?

If a graceful beauty was a soft beauty, then that girl could be described as a sharp beauty. She’s so pretty that she almost doesn’t look human.

However, the expression on her face seemed very melancholic.

She even seemed like she was about to cry.

“I, I just came out to buy some ramen.”

At that moment, my phone started ringing.

—-

[Web message][Safety Alert]

[Seoul]

A tiger has appeared.

Citizens, please evacuate.

—-

As soon as I read the message, I muttered to myself.

“Damn.”

I had to run away first. The tiger’s den had become a damn dangerous neighborhood just because of one tiger.

For some reason, I couldn’t help but get annoyed at the fact that I was running away from things like these. Every time, it felt like something inside me was laughing at me. The word “inevitable” suddenly came to mind.

“…”

There’s no other choice.

I have to leave these items behind.

I tried to find a refuge quickly.

The moment the woman behind me collapsed and started sobbing uncontrollably.

“It’s not working. If this doesn’t work either. Just, even the detergent is running out, so I came out like this.”

Damn it.

I’m not helping this woman because she’s pretty.

I’m just helping because I’m a pushover.

“Do you have a phone? It’s not the time for this now.”

“Ah, really? Did you say that to me?”

I grabbed the woman’s hand.

And I lifted her up and said.

“Well, who else would you have said it to? No, let’s go to the shelter first.”