Yui should've known something was wrong the moment Mr. Lee said:
"Congratulations."
She froze mid-bite of toast.
"…Why does that sound like a threat?"
Mr. Lee adjusted his glasses.
"You have been approved for your first official underworld assignment."
Yui slowly put the toast down.
"I want to decline."
"Denied."
"I didn't even fill the form!"
"You exist. That's enough."
"…I hate this system."
The Mission
Baek stood by the door, already ready.
Of course he was.
He was always ready.
Emotionally? No.
Physically? Unfortunately yes.
"Let's go," he said.
Yui didn't move.
"Where are we going?"
Mr. Lee flipped his clipboard.
"Location: convenience store."
Pause.
Yui blinked.
"…A convenience store."
"Yes."
"…Not a haunted temple?"
"No."
"…Not a cursed forest?"
"No."
"…A STORE?"
Baek nodded.
"High activity area. Easy access to humans."
Yui sighed.
"Of course. Even ghosts like snacks."
The Problem
They arrived at the store.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Jae-min squinted.
"I don't feel anything."
Yui crossed her arms.
"That's because nothing is happening."
Baek stepped forward.
"…Wait."
The automatic doors opened.
Then—
Closed.
Then opened again.
Then started slamming repeatedly.
SLAM.SLAM.SLAM.
Yui took a step back.
"…Okay yeah never mind. It's haunted."
Inside the Store
They walked in.
Lights flickering.
Fridge doors opening by themselves.
A cashier standing completely still.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
Jae-min whispered,
"…That's not normal, right?"
Yui whispered back,
"If it is, I'm switching schools AND countries."
Baek moved closer to the cashier.
"…He's possessed."
Yui groaned.
"Why is it always the workers? Let them rest."
The Spirit Appears
The cashier's head tilted.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
Then—
He smiled.
Wide.
Unnatural.
"Welcome."
Yui immediately stepped back.
"Nope. Don't like that tone."
The lights went out.
Then back on.
And behind the counter—
Something else was standing there.
A shadow.
Taller.
Distorted.
Its eyes glowing faintly black.
Baek's voice dropped.
"Corrupted spirit."
Yui sighed.
"Of course. Can't just be a normal ghost."
Fight… Kind Of
The spirit lunged.
Baek blocked instantly.
Scythe clashed against shadow.
Jae-min threw salt.
Missed completely.
"WHY AM I BAD AT THIS?!"
"Because you're aiming like a confused chicken!" Yui shouted.
"I'M UNDER PRESSURE!"
Yui Tries (Again)
Yui grabbed a spirit tag.
Ran forward.
"HEY!"
The spirit turned toward her.
Bad decision.
"Listen," Yui said,
"I don't know what your problem is, but this guy"—she pointed at the cashier—"is clearly underpaid. Leave him alone."
Silence.
Baek paused.
"…What are you doing?"
"Negotiating."
"You're talking to a corrupted entity."
"Let me cook."
It Works…? (Again)
The spirit hesitated.
Its form flickered.
Mr. Lee stepped forward quickly.
"Now!"
Baek moved.
One clean strike—
The shadow shattered.
Light burst.
Then—
Gone.
The cashier collapsed.
But he was breathing.
Alive.
Aftermath
Silence.
The lights stabilized.
Everything… normal again.
Jae-min looked shocked.
"…We didn't die."
Yui wiped her hands.
"Of course not."
Baek looked at her.
"You're improving."
She smirked.
"I told you. Communication."
Mr. Lee scribbled notes.
"Mission completed."
Yui lit up.
"WAIT—DO I GET PAID?!"
Mr. Lee looked up.
"Yes."
Pause.
Yui leaned forward.
"How much?"
Mr. Lee handed her a small glowing coin.
"…What is this?"
"Underworld currency."
"…Can I buy food with this?"
"No."
"…Clothes?"
"No."
"…Anything useful?"
Mr. Lee thought.
"…No."
Yui stared at the coin.
Then at him.
Then screamed.
"THIS IS SLAVERY."
Final Twist
As they left the store—
Baek stopped.
"…Did you feel that?"
Yui groaned.
"Don't say that."
The air shifted.
Cold.
Heavy.
A whisper passed through the street.
Soft.
Close.
"You're learning."
Yui froze.
Her smile faded.
"…I don't like that."
Baek looked around.
"He's watching."
Mr. Lee closed his clipboard.
"This is escalating faster than expected."
Jae-min whispered,
"…So what now?"
Yui clenched her fists.
"…Now?"
She looked ahead.
Trying to stay calm.
Trying to stay her.
"…Now we don't die."
END OF CHAPTER 20