Chapter 33

Chapter 32

Saturday.

After finishing work and on my way home, I bought 'spicy chicken' as instructed by the message on my smartphone.

- No fried chicken.

Fried chicken was apparently not allowed.

When I asked if it was a matter of personal preference, I was told that while fried chicken is something that came from America, spicy chicken is a unique creation that we made our own, so it was fine.

This world is truly bizarre.

A world where fried chicken is more expensive than spicy chicken.

There are plenty of signs that something is quite twisted, and I have to live in this world.

I work as a librarian during the weekdays.

But on weekends, I am a goblin officer of the organization.

Ding-dong.

I stood at the door and pressed the doorbell.

I placed my Taeguk watch on the electronic panel of the front door to transmit my personal information to the person inside, then waited for the door to open.

"......."

The door didn't open.

The chicken in the bag in my hand was getting cold, but the person inside wasn't opening the door.

Why don't I just open the door and go in?

This is not my house.

Since it's not my house, I can only wait quietly outside.

Until the woman inside opens the door.

[Oh, did I get the right spicy chicken?]

"Bone-in."

[Good. What about the beer?]

"Draft beer."

I heard footsteps from inside.

It sounded like someone was shuffling in slippers, and soon the door opened.

"Hey, honey?"

The woman who opened the door was a foreigner with red hair.

"You got what I asked for. Come in."

"Excuse me."

I immediately closed the front door and came in.

"Is this the first time we're meeting in person?"

"Yeah. I noticed it from afar, but you're quite good-looking. Do-"

"Dojiwan."

"...Yes, yes. You're really careful. I understand, Mr. Dojiwan."

The woman, who almost called me a goblin, took the spicy chicken from me and—

Click.

put it directly into the refrigerator.

I felt an indescribable horror at the thought of putting warm chicken straight into the fridge.

"Spicy chicken is best eaten in the morning, after all."

"...I think it's a bit much to put it in the fridge without even tasting it."

"Since we're not eating it together right now, right? Isn't that so?"

"That's true."

I bought the chicken, but it wasn't for us to eat together.

It was just a pretense to visit a friend's house and avoid being seen by others.

"Have you eaten dinner? What can I make for you? A hot bowl of soup, maybe?"

"Spicy chicken?"

"Stop joking around."

"Just kidding. I don't plan on eating dinner."

I took a protein bar out of my pocket.

"I don't like eating before a mission. Let's start, [Madam]."

"Sure."

The woman, who has red hair but is known by the code name 'Madam' in the organization, has been an agent on Jeju Island for a very long time, connecting me with the organization's headquarters.

"I like how you take care of your body. Alright, let's get to the mission."

As Madam lightly clasped her hands, the talismans stuck on the walls began to shimmer.

"...The barrier is set. It will last for 20 minutes, so I'll quickly pass on the information and finish."

Madam handed me a stack of documents, and I took it and sat on the sofa.

It was a document written entirely by hand from start to finish.

Since it's an analog item that doesn't go through electronic data or computer systems, it doesn't get caught anywhere.

"Is this the Seed of the Devil?"

"Yeah. You saw it while dealing with the Red Scarf?"

"I didn't see the actual item. The president's dogs took care of it."

"Is that so? It looks something like this. See below."

At the bottom of the paper, there was a drawing of the Seed of the Devil, like a Western still life.

Thanks to the drawing, which seemed to be copied directly from a photo, I could see what the Seed of the Devil looked like.

"It looks like a starfish."

"Not just a starfish, but a starfish with long legs. It's about the size of a 500-won coin. The tentacle legs vary."

"If it's 500 won, it would be hard to find wherever it's attached in the body."

"Where else would it be if not 10 won?"

Even if the Seed of the Devil is attached somewhere in the body, if it's large, the attack range is wider, making it easier to target.

If you attack the Seed of the Devil, the transformation stops immediately.

"Is my mission to find and destroy the facility that makes this?"

"You know more than I thought. Did you get a hint?"

"No, just a guess."

The problem is that the place where the Seed of the Devil was researched, developed, and produced is this 'Jeju Island'.

"Light is often dim under the lamp."

"Right. There's a research facility somewhere on Jeju Island, underground or elsewhere. They must have developed and produced the Seed of the Devil there, the mysterious substance that turns superhumans into demons."

"...I have one question."

A fundamental question.

"If it was made on Jeju Island, why is it called the Seed of the Devil?"

"Are you asking why it's not called the Seed of the Yōkai? Well, it's simple. If we called it the Seed of the Yōkai, we'd have to treat the yōkai in our traditional culture as 'evil spirits'."

"...So it's okay to treat Western devils as evil?"

"Not just Western."

Madam shrugged and pointed around.

"In the East, it doesn't matter much if things other than Korean ones are considered devils, right? According to the higher-ups."

"I don't care where the name comes from, but I hope it doesn't cause international problems later."

"Who knows? There are already so many things from outside that have entered Korea. Is it possible to turn them all into enemies?"

Night was slowly approaching, and Madam pointed outside the balcony.

"There are crosses on Jeju Island too."

"...Is it different from the mainland, where the 'Hellification' has ended?"

"Is it a problem for a goblin to say that? Huh. Time's running out. Have you read the operation outline?"

"Of course."

While talking, I had memorized all the documents she had written by hand.

"Move as soon as the barrier is lifted."

"Right. Wait, hold on!"

Before lifting the barrier, Madam shouted at me.

"Do that thing, that thing."

"What thing?"

"That thing you did in front of the restaurant!"

"...Transformation?"

"Yeah!"

Madam sparkled like a child.

"Do you say 'transformation' every time you transform?"

"It's more like the release of magic power, but I don't say 'transformation' when I just do it."

"Then you only say it when you transform into the Dojiwan rider form?"

"Are you curious about that?"

"I can't resist the real thing."

Madam gave me a thumbs up.

"Do it. Please?"

"...I'll do it as a favor for doing a good job with the organization's work."

"Wow!"

Madam stepped back with a can of beer, and I released magic power from my fingertips to create a goblin mask.

"Actually, you know this is all meaningless, right?"

"Ah, it feels like I've just learned a cold, hard reality."

"Transformation is just transformation. Shouting 'transformation' is a way to reinforce the change in your appearance through self-suggestion."

"A little...sad."

Madam fiddled with her can of beer, looking a bit bitter, and I reluctantly spread my legs a bit.

"I don't do this every day. I don't do it every time. I'm doing it because you asked. Got it?"

"Ooh, ooh...?"

"Then..."

Click.

"Ah, hold on. I have one thing to tell you. A 'secret' I have, with the boss's permission."

"...A goblin's secret with the boss's permission?"

Madam's eyes started to shine.

"What level of secret is it...?"

"A secret that only the boss and the four officers know. The boss said it's okay to reveal the truth to Madam, the local assistant, so I'm telling you before transforming."

"Ooh, ooh...!"

Madam knelt down.

"......"

"...Why are you doing that?"

"A, ah. Sniff. It's just that..."

Madam suddenly started crying sadly.

Sometimes it seemed like she was laughing, and her crying and laughing made me feel a bit scared.

"Knowing a goblin's secret means...that the organization trusts me. Sniff, all the time I've spent living as a foreigner on Jeju Island...hasn't been in vain."

Madam wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled widely.

"Great. I'll protect any secret with my life. Even if a knife is at my throat, I won't say anything about goblins."

"You can say it if you think you're going to die."

"What?"

"I understand your spirit, but losing someone who knows my mission and has been infiltrated on Jeju Island for years would be a huge loss for the organization. If your life is in danger, just say it."

"You...?"

Madam smiled wickedly, looking touched.

"I understand why the boss and other officers favor you so much. When 'Do