Have you ever had an experience where you became totally engrossed in something?
I'm not just talking about thinking, 'Oh, this is fun,' but being so deeply impressed that you ended up spending extra time and money on it.
There must be something like that, right?
If it's a movie, watching the director's cut. If it's a game, buying the artbook. If it's a webtoon, paying for early access. If it's a singer, going to their concert…
Going a bit further, buying related merchandise could be another example.
Yes, I'm talking about what they call merch.
Figures, banners, badges, dolls…
I can confidently say that I've never spent money on such things in my life.
Until now.
Here I am at a department store.
A popup store that opened to a great turnout, and by 10 AM, the moment the department store opened, all the waiting tickets had already been distributed.
And yes, I got one of those tickets.
"The 2:30 PM time slot is now open for entry!"
"Finally!"
"Hey, let's go!"
The cheerful teenagers standing next to me ran excitedly toward the staff.
'2:30 PM… that's right.'
I pulled my hat down as far as it would go and stood in line.
But then, I overheard whispers behind me.
"Uh…"
"A reseller?"
"Isn't he a dealer?"
"..."
I felt so wronged, but honestly, it made sense.
I was the only adult male who looked like an office worker in this line!
'Haa…'
I sighed as I glanced at the entrance of the popup store.
[Welcome, explorer of the darkness.]
'This is ridiculous.'
A theme with black and red backgrounds, caricatures of various monsters, occult elements, and symbols of corporations, religions, and governments all intertwined.
It's exactly the kind of universe that would captivate a teenager's heart.
Even the title is a masterpiece.
[Prophecy of the Apocalypse: Dark Exploration Records]
Ugh…
I barely resisted the urge to cover my eyes with my hand.
'Why did I have to see this at work…'
It's the world of a ghost story universe that's been super popular recently.
You know, the kind of open-source collective intelligence universe where people can participate and create their own stories?
At first, it seemed like it stemmed from a famous creepypasta and started spreading modestly among students, but then it hit the YouTube algorithm and started getting viral like crazy.
The concept of 'records of exploring various paranormal phenomena called
Eventually, it grew into an independent wiki with hundreds and thousands of creepypastas, and that's how it caught my eye.
'…It was so easy to read at work because it's just text.'
And isn't it said that anything other than actual work is fun when you're at the office?
I got so hooked on this universe that I even ended up creating and posting my own creepypasta…
How did things come to this? Is it because my office life is so devoid of dopamine?
And this
'Who knew it would get this big?'
It's now a massive IP that practically dominates YouTube as a major sensation for teenagers.
Naturally, companies jumped on board to make a profit.
This popup store is part of that.
'But come on, this thing had a 15+ age recommendation slapped on the wiki!'
Why are there so many kids here?
Hearing whispers behind me again, I couldn't help but feel increasingly self-conscious.
"He's definitely a dealer…"
"Hey, maybe he's just buying something for his nephew or a cousin… don't be too harsh."
No, I'm buying this for myself.
…The truth is, I came here last week too, but the merch I wanted sold out just before I got to it, so here I am again…
I even took a day off work.
'Last week, at least there were women around my age.'
Unfortunately, it was a weekday afternoon, and the only adults here were parents who had come with their kids, so I felt like I might die of embarrassment, but I held on.
'I don't even know why I'm trying to endure this…'
Anyway, I followed the staff's guidance and entered the store.
The fact that the staff didn't seem fazed was my only comfort.
"Wow!"
"Hey, it really looks just like it!"
I could hear the middle schoolers exclaiming in awe as I took in the intricately designed interior of the popup store, which felt almost like a theme park.
And the exhibit themes were thoughtfully organized:
[Daydream Inc.]
[Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau]
[Church of the Luminous Unknown]
In this horror universe, there are three major forces: corporations, governments, and religions, all trying to observe and secure the paranormal phenomena… that's the setup.
'At first, it was just stories about the government's disaster management bureau, but as more people joined in and got excited, it turned into this.'
Anyway, it seemed like this popup store had picked out the most popular parts of the universe and gathered them here.
It was clear that they were targeting fans' wallets by focusing only on popular characters and horror items, but the quality wasn't bad.
'Well, when would I ever come to a place like this again…'
Ignoring the stares, I quickly grabbed the items I wanted.
It was a relief that most of the popular items were already sold out, so there was less suspicion that I was reselling.
"Would you like to purchase an L-sized eco-bag to carry your items? It's 5,000 won."
"Yes, thank you."
I successfully completed my purchase, but instead of leaving the popup store right away, I hesitated.
I turned my head to see a line of people gathering near the cashier.
[Roulette Event]
: Create your own
That.
I saw it last week too, but I couldn't bring myself to join the line and participate…
'They said this popup ends tomorrow.'
It was a moment of intense inner conflict, wondering if it was really worth exchanging my social dignity for this.
Just then, the cashier who had just started her shift smiled at me and spoke.
"The roulette event ends today! Would you like to participate?"
"…Yes."
Thank you. Really, thank you, dear staff member…
"Great! Please come this way! Oh, just stand here…"
The staff member swiftly guided me to the line in front of a giant black roulette, and I naturally found myself at the end of the line.
The line moved faster than I expected.
Soon, I was at the front and handed a button that looked like a walkie-talkie.
"Now, we'll spin the lucky roulette! Please press the button to stop it whenever you're ready."
Beep.
With an artificial sound effect, the roulette started spinning.
Each section displayed a prize and rank.
There were merch I had already bought, merch that weren't for sale, and even some random Bluetooth earphones.
Of course, the largest section—7th place—was just a small memo pad. That's probably what I'd get.
But it didn't bother me. After all, I almost left without participating at all.
"Let's not expect much."
I thought as I pressed the button the staff gave me, carefully.
Rrrrr… click.
But then, the black roulette slowed down… and surprisingly stopped right there.
A thin, golden sliver.
-x-X-x-
[1st Place]
: Dark Exploration Records Real Merch Box
"...!"
"Oh my gosh! Congratulations!"
Is this… for real?
"Wow, no way!"
"So lucky, I'm so jealous."
Voices of astonishment, screams, and envy rose behind me.
"Wow, finally, on the second-to-last day of the popup, someone hit first place!"
The staff, even more excited than me, ran behind the roulette and came back with a large, plastic-wrapped box.
The black box, with a huge silver symbol embossed on it, looked like it had been carefully crafted.
I barely managed to keep my hands from trembling as I accepted the box.
"…Thank you."
I needed to leave immediately and slap my face to make sure this was real.
As I was about to leave the popup store, the staff stopped me.
"Oh! We're giving out custom-made merch here, so all I need is your name!"
My name? My personal information has long since become public property, leaked all over portal sites. The only thing that matters is getting this safely home…!
"It's Kim Soleum."
"Got it! Mr. Soleum, just a moment."
The staff started operating a black machine next to the roulette, which looked like a 3D printer.
There was even an explanatory note above it, made for the popup store.
[Dark Exploration Records Character Maker]
Ah, so that's the thing they mentioned during the roulette event.
The 'Create Your Own Dark Exploration Records Character' event.
How perfectly tailored to a teenager's tastes…
"Please input your name here."
"…Okay."
Holding the merch box tightly with one hand, I quickly entered my name on the machine's pad.
The black machine made a loud, eerie music box sound, putting on a show as gears turned.
And then, it spat out a small object.
Clank.
I picked up the familiar-looking item.
It was… an employee ID card.
[Daydream Inc.]
Employee Kim Soleum
Field Exploration Team
"Wow! Daydream Inc. It's one of the most famous factions in our
"..."
Yes, I know.
To sum it up, it's the cliché of a big corporation that profits from paranormal phenomena.
And the Field Exploration Team…
"That's the department where everyone dies, like the redshirts in that one sci-fi show."
It's the team that always gets sent to investigate the paranormal, only to meet their end.
Because of that, a lot of the named characters seemed to belong to the Field Exploration Team.
"Wow! An employee ID from the Field Exploration Team! I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of adventures Employee Kim Soleum will have in the
"Yes, thank you…"
I was about to cringe hard but managed to hold it in.
'At least it's not an ID from a government agency or a shady religious cult.'
Thank goodness it was a corporate employee ID.
Although it was a little embarrassing, the staff had clearly said this so many times that they had built up immunity to it, handling it all with professional poise.
With that, the roulette event seemed to be over after I received the employee ID card.
"Thank you."
I looked down at the employee ID card with my name printed on it and sighed inwardly.
'This… this needs to be hidden somewhere no one will ever find it.'
No matter what, my tolerance for embarrassment couldn't handle this any longer.
Meanwhile, the staff cheerfully asked again.
"Do you like it? You'll treasure it, right?"
"Yes."
"Liar."
…?
I looked up, thinking I misheard.
Smirk.
The staff was suddenly smiling at me with an unnaturally wide grin.
Their mouth stretched upward unnaturally, almost reaching their ears…
"...?"
In that instant.
A wave of dizziness overwhelmed me.
"...!"
The noise of the popup store vanished.
Everything in front of me blurred as if covered by black paint, flickering in red and blue.
And by the time the dizziness passed.
I had no idea the world would have completely changed… not even in my wildest dreams.
[Welcome to Daydream Inc., everyone!]
"...?!"
Before I knew it, I was standing in a corner of a large auditorium, looking at the central podium.
And.
Boom!
With a burst of applause, fireworks exploded from the PPT projected onto the screen at the podium.
[New Employee Orientation]
As the applause and cheers echoed, a person who seemed to be the host smiled brightly and advanced the PPT.
It was clearly a new employee orientation event for a major corporation.
The new recruits, dressed in suits, clapped and cheered with both excitement and nervous pride. They looked thrilled, having finally secured employment.
[Our new employees, who have successfully passed a 145:1 competition, should be proud of themselves! Haha! Now, let's begin the new employee orientation!]
"..."
What is this?
I tried to step back in hesitation.
But I realized I was sitting in a chair.
I was dressed in a suit. I had worn it because I had to meet with a client in the evening, but coincidentally, I looked similar to the 'new employees' filling this auditorium.
Meanwhile, the merch box I received from the roulette event was quietly resting on my lap.
"Excuse me, did you get that somewhere? Is the company giving those out?"
"..."
I couldn't respond to the question from the new employee sitting next to me.
[You are the chosen candidates!]
[In fact, only a select few of those who applied through this job posting have been gathered in Orientation Room A for this special session!]
[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and have been assigned to the special team, the
"They've already made the assignments?"
"Field Exploration Team? Does Daydream Inc. have a department like that?"
"Field exploration… for a pharmaceutical company?"
"Uh, it sounds like we're being exiled somewhere? Not the headquarters but a branch office? Are they trying to lure us in with fancy words…?"
I could hear the murmured conversations of the new employees around me, but I didn't have time to focus on them.
I recognized the company's name and the team's name.
Daydream Inc.
Field Exploration Team.
…Like a bolt of lightning, a page from the wiki flashed in my mind.
--------------------
[Field Exploration Team] (Daydream Inc.)
: One of the five teams under the Development Department of the massive organization, Daydream Inc., as featured in
Commonly referred to as the 'death squad'. A tragic team, but one that is fun for ghost story writers.
--------------------
'Wait a sec.'
…This is the ghost story from the popup store event I just participated in.
So, what happens next is…
--------------------
At the very new employee orientation, they're thrown into a deadly survival game to determine who gets full-time employment.
It's a consistently popular topic for wiki entries because it shows what happens when ordinary people try to explore the dark.
--------------------
"...!"
"Uh, wh-what are you doing…?"
I immediately stood up from the chair.
I didn't care about understanding the situation—my only thought was to run outside.
But it was already too late.
[Before official employment, there will be a brief probationary period, but don't worry, it won't be long! We will assess your practical abilities through an absolute evaluation.]
[Of course, full participation is necessary for a proper evaluation! Freeloading will not be tolerated!]
-x-X-x-
Bang, bang, bang!
The doors to the auditorium shut one by one.
'Damn it!'
While I was panicking, the naive new employees, who still thought Daydream Inc. was just a regular pharmaceutical company, hadn't realized what was happening.
And so, as about a hundred new employees listened attentively to the host, the host cheerfully shouted out,
[Now, let's get started!]
With that lively voice.
The lights in the auditorium went out.
"...?"
"Huh?"
The new employees, still confused, seemed to think it was a video or something being prepared, showing only mild curiosity.
That would be expected.
Who would expect such a crazy thing to happen just because they got a job?
For example.
The surrounding scenery suddenly transformed into the inside of a desolate subway train.
[Passengers, thank you for using Abyss Transpo today… Our train will not halt.]
[Please pay attention to the announcements for a pleasant journey to your destination.]
An unfamiliar announcement, with strange station names, started playing.
"...?!"
"W-What is this!?"
The new employees, still in their suits and seated neatly on subway chairs as if the auditorium had been transported as is, all shot to their feet.
It was understandable that they were startled.
"Excuse me?"
"Is this some kind of VR? Did we really move?"
Many of the people who were in the auditorium seemed to be there still, which offered some comfort, leading to complacent reactions.
They wandered around the subway, looking for any sign of the company or someone from the event, or searched for doors that might open.
Soon, they began to get a better sense of the situation.
"There are people in the next car! But… uh, the doors won't open? Is this some new technology?"
With a feeling of cold sweat creeping up on me, I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.
I already knew which ghost story this was.
--------------------
[Welcome to Abyss Transpo]
: A ghost story featured in
D-Class Darkness that boasts a ridiculously high difficulty for escaping and one of the most infamous stories. The Field Exploration Team suffers endlessly. Ꞧἁ₦օBĘs
Exploration Records indicate a total of ■■ entries.
--------------------
As you can probably guess, it's a ghost story based on the Korean subway system.
– You fall asleep and wake up on a subway train. It feels like your usual commute home, but strange station names start appearing…
That's how it begins.
The target of this ghost story is anyone who has ever commuted by subway, making it all the more chilling for most working people who read it.
"..."
'And this ghost story… it's under Daydream Inc.'s jurisdiction, isn't it?'
It seemed like Daydream Inc. was planning to 'filter out' their new hires through this ghost story. …Damn it!
"Is this something like an escape room?"
"Why would a pharmaceutical company that makes hair loss treatment bother with escape rooms for new sales recruits…?"
That's when it happened.
[This stop is Sorrow, Sorrow Station.]
"...!"
"S-Sorrow?"
The first announcement came over the speaker.
I held my breath and turned my head.
[The doors are on your right…]
Click.
The train stopped.
[The doors are opening.]
The doors opened.
It seemed like any other ordinary day, but—
[The doors will close in 30 seconds. Once closed, they will never open again.]
[Passengers whose destination is Sorrow Station should disembark according to the announcement.]
The familiar voice calmly mixed strange words and phrases into the announcement.
But people always try to rationalize things to find some form of reassurance.
"Look outside! It's just a subway station!"
And indeed, they were right.
Outside the train, the platform was clearly visible. It looked a bit dark and damp, but otherwise, it seemed like an ordinary subway station.
Relieved by this, two or three people moved toward the door.
Oh, no.
"I think it's better if you don't get off."
"Huh?"
This is bad. I sighed and spoke quickly.
"You heard them say 'Sorrow Station'. There's no station like that in Korea. Anyone would think it's strange."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, I think this guy's right. Maybe we should wait and see how things play out…"
One of the quicker-witted people backed me up. It was the new hire who had been sitting next to me.
Because of that, the people who had been about to step off hesitated further.
"But still…"
"Hey, the doors are closing!"
But the sound of the doors closing caused a few panicked individuals to impulsively jump out…
It was a disaster.
[The doors are closing.]
"Ah!"
"I missed it. Shit."
The people who didn't get off sighed, watching the ones who did wave back at us from the platform.
Some even glanced at me and muttered curses under their breath.
I understood. In such a strange, unsettling situation, their instinct would be to flee without thinking.
But still.
"What the…?"
"Look at that…"
A grotesque sight unfolded.
As soon as the people who got off turned around to move…
Silver droplets suddenly poured from the ceiling and pillars of the platform, cascading down on them.
Drip, drip, drip.
It looked like giant teardrops.
But the countless silver droplets fell onto their bodies like molten metal, producing horrifying tearing sounds.
Screams. Convulsions. Silence.
Blood mixed with the silver liquid splattered against the windows.
[The train is now departing from Sorrow Station.]
The last thing we saw outside the window.
"..."
In front of the sliding doors, now soaked in filth and blood, only the crushed remains of the new employees were left behind, twitching slightly.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Ahhh!"
It was the fate of those who chose wrong.
[Please pay attention to the announcements for a pleasant journey to your destination.]
Finally, fear began to spread among the people as screams and shouts echoed around.
'It's started.'
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I'm inside a ghost story?
I don't know how this happened, but I definitely seem to have become a new employee in a company from a ghost story.
And one in a department with an insanely high death rate.
'Is this for real?'
Sure, if I'm being honest, I'm probably in a more advantageous position than the other new hires.
I've read through all the
--------------------
3.2 Exploration Records (up to ■■ entries)
--------------------
I can remember things pretty clearly up to about this level.
From this point on, it sounds like the classic overpowered protagonist trope.
Maybe you're thinking I could escape this situation and look cool by using my superior knowledge of this world?
Maybe you're even imagining that I could monopolize the hidden treasures and items to come?
That might be true.
But there's one problem.
A very critical problem.
'…I'm fucking terrified of anything remotely horror!'
That's right.
I… am a coward.
Text is fine. I can enjoy reading that.
But the moment it's visualized, I can't handle it.
And not just a regular coward—a coward to the point where my friends would constantly tease me for it!
– kim soleum's crush asked him to watch a horror movie but he turned her down bc he's too scared? is this for real?
– lolololololol
– dude your name is literally the sfx for goosebumps but you can't even watch a horror movie lolololol
– shiieet no wonder your crush ran away lmao
lol –
wanna die? –
– sorry.
– sry.
I'm the kind of coward who, when reading horror stories at work in broad daylight, will turn off the background images and BGM just to focus on the text!
I was so scared, I didn't even include an image in the ghost story I posted!
A long-term resident of the Shelter for Scaredy-Cats, that's me!
"..."
I covered my face with both hands.
I'm screwed, big time…
-x-X-x-
[This stop is Resentment, Resentment Station.]
[The doors are on your right…]
A suffocating silence flows through the ghost-story subway.
I'm contributing to this silence as well.
Even though I already know this ghost story, I'm the type of person who gets startled just by the thumbnail when a related YouTube video pops up and immediately clicks 'Not Interested'.
And now I have to survive in this ghost story?
'Just kill me already…'
That would be a mercy.
I don't even have the energy to figure out what's going on.
I pressed my face into my hands, wanting to deny everything.
Then, it happened.
Blink.
[1st Place : Dark Exploration Records Real Merch Box]
"...?!"
I lifted my head.
Something like a notepad was flying around in my field of vision.
I could see it whether my eyes were open or closed.
It looked like a piece of paper, torn from a notepad and folded, fluttering around.
"This…"
Wait. No one else seems to be seeing it.
I quickly shut my mouth.
Drawing attention to myself in this situation would be foolish.
Instead, I discreetly pressed the notepad in front of me with my hand,
trying not to look too awkward.
Flap.
Amazingly, the notepad moved as if it were unfolding, spitting out something small.
"...!"
I quickly covered it with my hand, as if to hide it.
It was… a popsocket.
A very simple black popsocket with nothing remarkable about it except for a golden 'X' symbol in the center.
But with that design alone, I realized what this popsocket was.
'It's merch.'
One of the merch sold at the
It was one of the items I had purchased today.
With trembling hands, I picked up the popsocket.
In the story, what function did this item have again…
--------------------
[Memorial Popsocket]
: C-Class item featured in
When attached to a smartphone, it displays the text you remember in a clear, organized page format.
A standard issue item for ninth-level employees at the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau under the Ministry of Environment.
--------------------
'Displays memories as text…'
Then, perhaps?
With trembling hands,
I peeled off the adhesive backing of the popsocket and immediately attached it to my smartphone.
The moment I did, the scattered text I vaguely remembered from
--------------------
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Welcome to Abyss Transpo]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-D-16
An early-stage D-Class Darkness with overwhelmingly difficult escape requirements. A notoriously insane ghost story. Depicts the endlessly suffering Field Exploration Team.
Exploration Records indicate a total of up to 56 entries.
--------------------
"...!"
So this means…
'Did the merch I bought actually work?'
Come to think of it, the black merch box that had been resting on my lap had disappeared without a trace.
'So that merch box… turned into this notepad and spat out the merch I bought?'
What kind of crazy situation is this?
Still, it's certainly advantageous for me.
The ghost-story universe I've entered,
Do you know how many internet veterans have unleashed their creativity based on this?
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of ghost stories.
Of course, it's hard to recall all of them like flipping through a book in my mind.
Plus, these ghost stories don't directly tell you how to survive.
You have to infer the correct answers from the stories, which makes it even harder to figure things out in new situations.
'But if I can check the text of what I've read all at once…'
If that's possible, the first thing I need to look at is…
'Previous escape cases!'
I immediately scrolled down the wiki page.
I quickly read through section '3.2 Exploration Records', and then…
"..."
I came to a conclusion.
'I got it.'
I found my answer for which station I need to get off at.
But there's a problem.
"..."
I turned to look at the others in the subway car with me.
There were eight young new hires in total, including myself.
The people who had panicked after witnessing two live dismemberments were starting to regain their composure and talk.
"That station name, Resentment… it sounds like the kind of resentment people feel when they're angry, right?"
"Yes…"
"Ha, no cell service, no data… seriously, what is going on…?"
"..."
Yeah.
How am I supposed to convince these unfamiliar, untrustworthy people to get off at the right station with me?
'Somehow, I need to make as many people as possible get off with me.'
I clenched my fist.
Did I suddenly develop a noble sense of duty, feeling that these extras who are destined to die in this ghost-story world are real people whose lives I need to save?
Well, sure, I might feel that way as a human being, but that's not my top priority.
The real reason I'm so desperate is…
'I can't get off alone…!'
That's right.
A lot of these stations are just insane.
Walk alone through
(a) a station filled with eyeballs,
(b) a station shrouded in Darkness, or
(c) a station that's upside-down?
Just imagining it makes me break out in a cold sweat—and I'd probably end up crawling on all fours in terror.
'Chances of me passing out before making it to safety? Over 90%…!'
No way. Please, save me.
'I have to convince them, somehow!'
I opened my mouth to speak, but then quickly shut it.
'Still, blurting out things like 'supernatural phenomena' or 'darkness' would be idiotic.'
Who would want to believe they're trapped in a situation straight out of a ghost story?
They'd either refuse to believe it and mock me, or believe it and panic even more.
'Slowly… I need to build trust first.'
At least one person.
If I can just convince one or two people, the herd mentality will make it easier for others to follow.
'Let's see… someone who seems like they need help, or a clue to build a connection with…'
"Ha… this is like some YouTube ghost story."
Found one!
"You mentioned a ghost story?"
"Ah."
A woman with short hair and a calm demeanor nodded slightly, looking a bit flustered.
"Yes. I, um, watch ghost stories on YouTube sometimes, and this reminds me of one."
"Could you tell me more? This doesn't seem like a normal situation, so it's probably best to share any information we have."
"It's not really information… it just feels like everything is straight out of a ghost story. The lecture hall suddenly turned into a subway, and people… died like that."
Her face turned slightly pale, likely remembering the insane dismemberment that happened just moments before.
I understand. I want to throw up too.
Let's both try to erase it from our minds as quickly as possible.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suddenly—"
"No, it's the same for me. It's hard to think straight with everything that's happening."
The woman gave a weak laugh.
"You seem to be handling it more rationally than anyone else here."
That's only because you haven't seen me fainting in panic yet.
"Huh?"
And surprisingly, around this time, someone else approached me.
For a very good reason.
"Um, you were sitting next to me earlier, right?"
It was a man with curly hair who looked fairly innocent.
'Now that I think about it, he was sitting next to me in the lecture hall earlier.'
It seemed like this new hire wasn't part of any of the other conversations happening around us. He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced between the woman I was talking to and me before extending his hand like he wanted to shake mine.
"My name is Baek Saheon."
"...!"
I nearly forgot to shake his hand for a moment.
Baek Saheon?
'He's a named character.'
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Daydream Inc.
/ Characters
Baek Saheon
: An employee of Daydream Inc. in
Final rank – Section Chief
Total number of Exploration Records – 106
Of these, 17 are special cases recorded in the wiki.
Nickname : Viper.
========================
He was an employee who had appeared multiple times in
I looked up and stared at the man with the somewhat timid-looking curly hair, letting out a small sigh.
'This guy… is Baek Saheon?'
He doesn't really match the image in my head.
Still, it felt strange to meet someone in real life who I had only seen as a text-based character in a ghost story universe.
Meanwhile, the short-haired woman who had first mentioned ghost stories extended her hand as well.
"Given the situation, we might as well introduce ourselves. I'm Go Yeongeun."
It was a name I'd never heard before. And if I don't know a character's real name, it means one of two things:
Either she left early after handling the ghost stories relatively easily…
Or she died right away.
'Damn it…'
Sometimes, named employees only appear with nicknames or code names, but in those cases, their personalities are so distinct that you can identify them immediately.
This feels unsettling. I quickly pushed those thoughts aside and hid my discomfort.
"I'm Kim Soleum."
The handshakes were brief, and we naturally sat down in the subway seats to continue our conversation.
In the meantime, it felt like the people around us had started to split into groups.
"Ah, those people… it looks like they're trying to communicate with the front car somehow?"
"Seems so."
In this ghost story, moving between subway cars is prohibited.
As expected, they soon gave up trying to communicate and returned, using hand gestures to signal their failure.
"What should we do? We can't communicate with the front car at all. And it looks like there's a fight breaking out up there…"
As the tension and anxiety among the passengers grew, another station announcement played.
But this time, the atmosphere of the keyword was different.
[This stop is Euphoria, Euphoria Station.]
"Huh?"
The murmuring crowd suddenly fell silent.
"Euphoria?"
"Doesn't 'euphoria' sound kind of… positive? Maybe…"
No.
'You can't make such a simple judgment here…!'
I gritted my teeth as I recalled the Exploration Records I had just read.
In this ghost story, the station names change every time it appears.
That's why it's impossible to find a specific phrase or station like 'get off at this station' or 'this station is the answer' in the previous cases to guarantee an escape.
'But you can identify trends.'
Like this.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
/ Welcome to Abyss Transpo
3.2 Exploration Records (up to 56 entries)
1- Stations named after colors like red, yellow, blue.
: Two-person escape success (Attempt : Blue Station)
2- Stations named after body parts like left arm, cornea, heart.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : Cochlea Station)
3- Stations named after serial killers like ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.
: Twelve-person escape success (Attempt : ■■■■ Station)
4- Stations named after years like 2008, 2012, 2016.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : 2024 Station)
5- Stations named after illnesses like asthma, stroke, glaucoma.
: Three-person escape success (Attempt : Cold Station)
[Read More]
========================
See?
Even after 56 cases, there's no connection between the station's positive name and the likelihood of escape.
But people were about to get off en masse at Euphoria Station.
[The doors are on your left…]
The scenery of the platform that greeted us was bright and pleasant, adding to the problem.
'Damn it.'
The platform looked clean and bright, like a brand-new station in a newly developed city.
I could feel the mood of the people shifting in that direction.
"Ah…!"
"Sh-should we get off and look for help? This place actually looks fine…"
The excited crowd started to gather near the doors, peeking out.
No way!
'The number of people in my group!'
And my mental state after witnessing this!
'Damn it.'
In the end, I ran and blocked the doors again.
"...!"
"W-what's going on?"
"Please wait."
[The doors are opening.]
"Are you certain?"
"What…?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I mean, are you sure this place is safe? Or at least have a solid theory?"
I deliberately averted my gaze.
"I think most of us can agree that this situation feels like a ghost story."
Go Yeongeun, who had caught everyone's attention with my words, looked startled but didn't retract her statement.
[The doors will close in 30 seconds. Once closed, they will never open again.]
"But whether in ghost stories or horror movies, have you ever seen good things happen when you rely solely on luck or a hunch?"
"…Well, no, but—"
"Can you really risk your life without a solid deduction or theory?"
The anxious people paused for a moment, then someone shouted in frustration.
"Well, do you have some amazing deductions?"
"This guy's been spouting nonsense since the start…"
"Oh, just move already! What deduction? What is this, some kind of quiz show? Did someone give you a hint or something?"
"Yes."
"...?"
"I am giving you a hint."
I took a breath.
Then I raised my hand, pointing upward.
At the subway's electronic display, where the speaker was located.
"I'm talking about the announcements."
– Please pay attention to the announcements for a pleasant journey to your destination.
From the beginning, the subway announcements had kindly informed us of this.
"Haven't they been telling us to listen to and follow the announcements all along? They're being very obvious."
With that in mind, I added as I heard the next announcement.
[Passengers whose destination is Euphoria Station should disembark according to the announcement.]
"Is there anyone here whose destination is Euphoria Station?"
"..."
"..."
The people froze.
"Well, it sounds like a good thing, right?"
"Euphoria, like, living life to the fullest, that's the goal of life, right…"
"So, is your destination Euphoria Station?"
"..."
"..."
It seemed like most of them sensed something was off.
But a few people started to get angry with me.
"Hey, do we have any real 'destination' right now? Why are you butting in like you know everything, when you don't either?"
"If we can't get off and escape because of you, are you going to take responsibility? Will you take responsibility?"
Take responsibility?
"Yes."
"...!"
"Wh-what…?"
"I will take responsibility."
That's an easy question.
'I was planning to escape together with them anyway.'
If they get off here, it's a guaranteed wrong answer, after all. So, there's no way my answer could be worse than that.
But since they didn't expect my response, they stood there with their mouths open, frozen in their places.
"..."
Seeing me take such a firm stance seemed to shake them. I could see their internal struggle.
[The doors are closing…]
Meanwhile, the doors shut.
"Ah…"
I stepped aside. A few people who had been staring at the closed doors in disbelief clung to them.
But no one was yelling at me for blocking them anymore.
'Is this enough…?'
I was feeling somewhat satisfied when I suddenly heard a panicked shout.
"Hey, everyone in the front car got off!"
"...!"
They all got off?
I immediately looked beyond the train window.
Not everyone, but about five or six people seemed to have gotten off at once.
"..."
Sigh.
Honestly, I didn't want to watch what was going to happen next.
But I needed to see it to make a coherent argument later. Damn it…
Holding back a curse, I squinted through the window, my vision blurring slightly.
"Huh? They're running!"
The people who had gotten off seemed to have quickly decided to move. I saw five or six figures running toward the platform's exit, heading for the stairs.
But they were too late.
"Agh!"
The platform floor began to boil with a yellow hue, and the runners' feet started sinking into the ground as if melting.
"G-Gold…?"
It was a bizarre sight, as if their lower bodies were turning into gold and fusing with the floor.
They screamed and struggled to run, but their movements grew slower and slower…
Until finally, their bodies collapsed, leaving only their upper halves, which tumbled forward at the base of the stairs.
Even those were turning into shining gold.
The easiest way to experience happiness.
"Heuuuk—"
"Mmph—"
[The train is now departing from Euphoria Station.]
Inside the departing train car, only the sounds of people gasping in shock and sobbing filled the air.
One of the people who had been about to get off grabbed me in desperation and asked,
"Y-You said you'd take responsibility. Can you really guarantee we'll find a safe place? Huh?"
"Yes."
I answered firmly.
It was ridiculous how the conversation had jumped to me guaranteeing the correct answer, but honestly, that was the only answer I could give.
'This is crazy, really.'
My legs were shaking so badly I thought I'd collapse.
The image of their lower bodies disintegrating kept replaying in low resolution in my mind, making me nauseous.
One thing was certain.
Even if I were to survive this, I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
During all this, Baek Saheon spoke to me in admiration.
"You're amazing, Teacher."
"…Teacher?"
"Oh, I tend to call people 'teacher' when I meet them."
He awkwardly smiled and added,
"There aren't many people like you these days. You know, who can firmly say what's right or wrong, instead of speaking in vague terms like 'I think it might be…'" ℞äＮŎВÈṩ
"..."
"I hope the outcome matches your confidence."
Uh… thanks for the encouragement, but this isn't the kind of situation where vague words or detached speech will help.
'If we don't get a good result here, you're dead too, you know…'
Wait.
No, that's not right.
I had missed something while whining about how scared I was.
'If there's a record of Baek Saheon working as an employee in
If that's the case, couldn't I just follow Baek Saheon when he gets off at a station?
If I convince myself and Go Yeongeun, that makes three of us. When someone actively supports getting off, there's a higher chance others will follow as well.
'Is it really this simple?'
"Baek Saheon."
"Yes?"
"Is there a particular station you want to get off at? I mean… is there a word or name that, when it appears, makes you think, 'I should get off here'?"
"…Huh, suddenly?"
"I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts."
"Ah."
Baek Saheon seemed to ponder for a moment before shrugging.
"Not really. I'm not very knowledgeable about this stuff."
"I see."
So, he hasn't gotten a clear idea yet.
I nodded casually. In any case, this seemed like a decent idea, so I was going to keep an eye on it…
Ding, ding.
[Attention passengers, this is an announcement from Abyss Transpo to ensure a pleasant journey. Please pay attention.]
"...!"
The announcement started again.
Everyone stopped talking and immediately looked up.
[The train is about to pass through a curved section, which may cause noise and shaking.]
[Please be seated to prevent accidents.]
Ah, fucking hell.
"Everyone, let's sit down."
Without any objections, everyone quickly took their seats.
It was as if my earlier remarks about the announcements had sunk in.
Even the person who had been adamant about getting off earlier sat down quietly and was one of the first to find a seat.
But not everyone seemed to follow the same logic.
"Oh no! The people in the front car!"
"Those people…"
The passengers in the front car were still standing, seemingly too caught up in a heated argument.
Although I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, their raised voices must have drowned out the announcement.
It was clear just by looking at them. They were in complete panic after witnessing the unimaginable deaths of those who had gotten off earlier.
"Shouldn't we say something to them?"
"Hey! Can you hear us?!"
"Sit down!"
The new hires closest to the front car shouted, but the people there barely acknowledged them. One person who happened to make eye contact with us even walked over.
"Sit down!"
"No, don't come over here, just sit…"
It was too late.
[Entering the curved section…]
The lights went out.
"...!"
In the Darkness, the train began to shake violently with a loud rumble.
And amidst the rumbling, a sharp noise rang out.
Screams.
– Aaaaaah!!
– Agh, ah, ahhh…
The sound of something wet bursting.
Like squeezing a ripe grape too hard.
Then, a dull thud.
…As if it were happening just on the other side of a door.
"..."
"..."
The people in this car held their breath, trembling faintly, trying to stay silent.
Then the lights came back on.
– ...
Through the small window on the front door of the train, we could see into the front car.
It was covered in blood and filth.
It looked as if only living organisms had been thrown into a blender. There were no traces of people left.
Everyone was dead.
[You may now stand up safely. Thank you for your cooperation.]
In stark contrast to the calm announcement, the train was filled with the sound of people panicking.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
"Gaaasp, gaaaasp… what the hell is this? What is this… Mom…"
Even in that state, the new hires tried to cover their mouths and listen closely to the announcement, desperately trying to stay quiet.
After all, it had been proven to be their lifeline!
'Damn.'
While the situation was clearly favorable for my survival, the reality was so horrific that cold sweat formed on my forehead.
I wiped it away with my trembling hand and clenched my teeth.
I mustn't look at the front car anymore.
'Just focus on convincing them…'
A few stops later, when the right station comes up, I'm sure people will get off together…
[Attention passengers, this is an announcement from Abyss Transpo to ensure a pleasant journey. Please pay attention.]
Another announcement.
"Again?!"
"Hiic, hiiiic…"
Cutting through the sobs of the exhausted passengers, the crisp, mechanical voice continued with its strange message.
[There is a lost item.]
Wait a second.
I looked up sharply.
[If you've found the lost item, please disembark at the next station and hand it over to the station staff.]
I knew this scenario.
'…A rare escape case!'
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story /
/ Welcome to Abyss Transpo
3.4 Miscellaneous Records (Escape)
A document recording irregular survival cases where the individual successfully escaped by getting off at a station.
Several methods were repeatedly observed. (The most frequent cases involved 'temporary stops for train intervals' and 'lost item announcements'.)
========================
A guaranteed escape ticket.
As long as you had the announced lost item, you could safely get out!
But…
'Only one person can escape.'
For someone like me, who can't go alone, it's a survival ticket that's useless from the start.
I clenched my fists tightly.
'So, who should I send out?'
No, is sending someone out even the right answer?
And then…
[The lost item is the left eye of a type-A male in his twenties.]
The lost item was something I couldn't have imagined.
-x-X-x-
In the midst of the chaos of a ghost story where people were dying, a survival ticket appeared.
Just like in a movie.
And it wasn't an illusion.
'If you take the lost item mentioned in the announcement, you'll be guided out of the station as soon as you meet the station staff…'
It was indeed a glimmer of hope.
The problem was that the lost item mentioned in the announcement was absurdly grotesque.
"What did it just say? A male in his twenties…?"
"The left eye of a type-A male in his twenties."
Go Yeongeun dropped her head, her face hollow.
"Type-A must be referring to… blood type, right?"
"Yes…"
A heavy silence fell. Everyone seemed frightened already.
'…Should I just let this go?'
If we get off at the right station, everyone can survive. If one person escapes early, the mood might get weird and cause unnecessary conflict.
But things didn't unfold that easily.
"Still, wouldn't it be better to find it?"
"Yeah, you never know what might happen…"
These new hires were so focused on the announcement that they couldn't just let it go.
'…Let's see how this plays out.'
"By the way, how old are you…?"
"Oh, I'm in my 30s."
"You look young for your age. Oh, and I'm blood type B, so I don't count."
"Same here…"
Everyone started checking to see if they fit the description of a '20-something male with blood type A'.
But no one matched the conditions exactly, and soon the question turned to me.
"Kim Soleum-ssi, by any chance…?"
I answered simply.
"I'm type AB."
It was actually a lie.
I'm blood type A.
'But there's no reason to reveal that I'm the target.'
If people thought I was trying to gain an advantage, they might misunderstand and refuse to listen to me later.
"I see. Then, what about you, Baek Saheon-ssi…?"
"Wait a second."
Suddenly, the person sitting across from me raised his hand with a serious expression.
"Actually… I fit the criteria exactly!"
"Oh!"
He spoke in a rather grave tone, probably because he was worried he might die if things went wrong.
'He doesn't need to worry about that, though.'
And the reason he suddenly confessed became clear.
[This stop is Anger, Anger Station.]
The announcement for the next station had just been made.
The station where the station staff would be waiting to collect the lost item.
The new hire who had stepped forward looked tense.
"Is there no one else?"
"Yes… it seems that way."
"Damn."
Baek Saheon, who had been listening to the conversation next to me, sighed and then asked him—
[The doors are on your right.]
"You said you're blood type A?"
"Y-Yes."
"Too bad."
And then a fist flew.
"...?!"
A brutal, sickening sound echoed as Baek Saheon's fist mercilessly struck the left eye of the new hire who had confessed to being an A-type 20-something male.
Baek Saheon had struck him with his smartphone, using the corner to hit his eye, as if he didn't care if it burst.
"Ugh—!"
And just as the person collapsed without even managing to scream—
[The doors are opening.]
Baek Saheon leapt over the fallen man and exited the train.
"Wh-what… just…"
"AAAGH!!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
The others, too late to react, screamed in shock.
Baek Saheon chuckled softly.
"You morons. If one eye is all it takes to escape, just do it already!"
"...!"
"It said we could get off the train!"
It seemed Baek Saheon had accurately understood the nuances of the announcement.
– If you've found the lost item, please disembark at the next station and hand it over to the station staff.
Even though there had been a hint to pay attention to the announcements, it was an incredibly bold move.
"Well, it's hard to expect that kind of reasoning from someone who expects others to take responsibility for their own survival."
"What?!"
On top of that, Baek Saheon calmly continued his blunt remarks. It was as if he was certain no one would dare follow him off the train.
And he was right.
Everyone had already seen what happened when you got off at the wrong station.
"That, that guy…"
Go Yeongeun was so enraged that her face turned red, but for the first time, I felt a sense of clarity.
It made sense!
His nickname was 'Viper'.
The portrayal of Baek Saheon in
I thought he might be okay since he was a new hire and hadn't yet been corrupted by society, but it seemed this was just his natural personality.
[The doors are closing.]
Meanwhile, Baek Saheon waved towards the train with a smug smile, clearly pleased with his successful escape.
Even if it meant giving up someone's left eye.
'That guy…'
But… the thing is…
'It wasn't necessary.'
While everyone was focused on Baek Saheon, I quietly reached my hand up to the luggage compartment.
'I definitely saw it earlier.'
And as I reached deeper, I grabbed something hidden in a blind spot, like magic.
I pulled it down to check.
Inside a strange, portable lens case was… an eyeball.
And a label.
[Type A / Female / 27 / R]
This was… another lost item candidate.
'A lost item isn't something you lose yourself—it's something someone else loses, right?'
In fact, this announcement was more of a treasure hunt, where you had to disembark with the lost item that perfectly matched the description from among a few candidates in the luggage compartment.
There were even cases where people had randomly handed over what they had and managed to escape.
'So now Baek Saheon is part of that statistic.'
But what if he found out he didn't actually have to sacrifice that guy's left eye?
The screen door had already closed. As the train was about to depart, I briefly made eye contact with Baek Saheon, who was turning toward the platform.
I raised the lens case with the eyeball in it, making sure he could see it clearly through the window.
I had covered the label, so only one thing would be visible.
The eyeball.
-…!!
Through the glass door, Baek Saheon's expression changed as he realized what it was.
But by then, it was too late.
[The train is now departing from Anger Station.]
The train began to move.
I looked back at the new hire Baek Saheon had attacked.
Judging by the wound on his left eye, Baek Saheon had tried to eliminate another 'correct lost item' besides his own.
'He must have thought only one lost item would be acknowledged.'
I couldn't blame him for trying to survive by escaping on his own, but… he had crossed a line.
I turned my head back toward the door.
From far behind, I heard the sound of someone furiously pounding on the sliding doors.
And faintly, in the distance of the departing platform, I thought I could hear the agonized screams of someone enduring a strange kind of pain.
[The lost item has been successfully handed over to the station staff.]
-x-X-x-
One person had escaped the ghost story.
But, they did so with an eye gouged out.
"Huu…"
"Did you hear that?"
However, unlike the previous times, the passengers didn't show much pity, even though they were terrified and disgusted.
'Is this the result of violence without persuasion?'
The train became briefly chaotic as people checked on the condition of the person attacked by Baek Saheon.
[This stop is Hatred, Hatred Station.]
"Hatred, huh…"
"Haah."
The announcement only deepened the gloomy atmosphere.
Go Yeongeun, who had been looking after the new hire holding his injured left eye, stood up. Her face was dark.
"I'm almost certain his cornea is damaged. It's worrying…"
"Are you in the medical field by chance?"
"No. I studied it briefly in college but changed majors, so I never took the national exam. I'm not a professional."
Go Yeongeun sighed and sat down on the floor, cross-legged.
[The doors are opening.]
The train doors opened, but people only glanced outside, not making any moves. They simply looked out cautiously.
At the same time, they also glanced at me.
It seemed they were waiting to see if I would suggest we get off here.
'At least they're paying attention.'
I had worried that Baek Saheon's actions would make people more suspicious of each other, but instead, having a common enemy seemed to have calmed everyone down.
It also felt like, given the madness of the situation, they were waiting for the next statement from the person who had spoken confidently earlier.
In other words… me.
It even felt like they might leave the decision of which station to disembark at to me.
"You must feel a bit pressured."
"...?"
Go Yeongeun spoke with a complex expression.
"People keep leaning on you."
Uh, thanks…?
"They're scared and anxious, so I hope you don't find it too exhausting or distasteful… ugh. Sorry."
I'm scared and anxious too, which is why I'm trying to lead everyone…
"I've been trying to think things through in my own way too…"
Oh, I see. The floor is open to opinions. In fact, I welcome them.
"What have you been thinking about?"
"Well, I've been pondering what you said earlier about the 'final destination'."
Go Yeongeun lowered her voice.
"If it's the final destination for a person… could it be death?"
"...!"
"Isn't that what marks the end of human life? The more I think about it, it feels like that's what it means. So, I was wondering if we should get off when we see a word like that."
Oh.
"But then I thought… would that just mean we're going to die peacefully? So I couldn't say it for sure."
"No, that's a very convincing thought."
"Is it really?"
"Yes. However…"
I trailed off, and before I knew it, I smiled slightly.
"...?"
It was because I had just seen the name of the next station on the display.
"What does the term 'destination' really mean?"
"Huh, what?"
"If you look it up in the dictionary, a destination is defined as the place or goal someone is trying to reach."
And the theme of this train is very straightforward.
Sit down. Find the lost item.
The instructions are given clearly and without twists, and if you follow them, you stay safe.
Even those who got off at the wrong station died in a very straightforward manner.
So, I'm approaching the term 'destination' in the same way.
"I believe that the 'destination' mentioned by this train refers to a place or goal that we, in our current state, haven't yet achieved or reached."
If you think about it that way, the criteria for choosing the right station become very simple.
– Something I don't have.
If we apply this logic, we can reinterpret the previous escape cases as well.
========================
1- Stations named after colors like red, yellow, blue.
: Two-person escape success (Attempt : Blue Station)
2- Stations named after body parts like left arm, cornea, heart.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : Cochlea Station)
3- Stations named after serial killers like ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.
: Twelve-person escape success (Attempt : ■■■■ Station)
4- Stations named after years like 2008, 2012, 2016.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : 2024 Station)
5- Stations named after illnesses like asthma, stroke, glaucoma.
: Three-person escape success (Attempt : Cold Station)
========================
At Blue Station, the people who escaped were likely those who had nothing blue on their bodies or belongings.
And it makes sense that the station named after serial killers had many escapees.
No one in the train would have been one of those serial killers, so almost every station would have been the correct choice for them.
'On the other hand, stations named after body parts… the likelihood of someone missing a body part is lower, which is why they failed to escape.'
It's the same with stations named after years. Everyone had experienced the year 2024, which is why they failed to escape that time.
If we apply this logic, it becomes clear which station we should get off at now.
– An emotion I don't have.
"…So, we need to choose an emotion we would never feel in this situation."
"What?"
This is where it gets tricky.
'Most people have experienced all basic emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.'
Unless you're someone who lacks a particular emotion, it becomes very difficult to choose the right station. Even if the intensity of emotions varies, most people have felt them at some point.
Therefore…
We need to choose an emotion that isn't expressed in degrees but exists as a more neutral state.
'An emotion that conceptually exists but is extremely difficult to fully experience.'
That's what we need to choose.
[This stop is Serenity, Serenity Station.]
The announcement played.
It's easy to think that this is just another ordinary emotion as a station name. After all, we often say things like, That person looks so serene.
But…
'It's a phrase we often use when describing others.'
It's rare for someone to describe themselves as serene.
And it makes sense.
The dictionary definition of serenity is 'to be without any worries or concerns'.
But can a person truly be serene, without any worries or anxieties?
'The chances of that…'
Are almost nonexistent.
Especially in an extreme situation like this.
"This is the correct station."
"...!"
"We're getting off here."
I spoke confidently and without hesitation.
I stood up immediately. The others, startled, stood up as well, watching me.
"W-we're getting off here?"
"Yes."
I then approached the injured new hire, who was clutching his eye, and helped him to his feet.
"I'll help you."
"Ah, th-thank you…"
As I led the injured person toward the door, the others instinctively followed. No one could back out now.
We're all getting off together.
'Good.'
If we all escape together like this…
[The doors are opening.]
But outside the open door, there was a sea of blood.
"..."
No way… this is over the line, I mean, what the hell…?
'Dear fuck almighty. Save me.'
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
I almost hid behind Go Yeongeun.
But my last shred of dignity as an adult stopped me.
Instead, I awkwardly turned my head and looked at the others.
"Are you sure… this is the right station?"
"Yes."
It definitely is.
But I couldn't think of any fancy words to convince them to get off.
Actually, I didn't want to get off myself.
I wished someone would convince me that we didn't have to get off. Please, someone.
"…Excuse me! I still think we should get off."
Huh?
Go Yeongeun?
"You're the only one who's been certain of your decisions. Everyone else is scared, but you've stayed calm this whole time."
Me?
"That guy earlier tried to get off on his own, causing all that chaos… At least I'd rather listen to someone kind. I'm getting off."
And with that, Go Yeongeun bravely stepped out of the train first.
On the rusted platform, the eerie lights flickered, and liquid dripped from the exposed pipes above.
Blood dripped onto Go Yeongeun's shoulder. Ha, ha…
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
"..."
"Don't worry about me. I believe in you too! Let's go!"
The injured person I was helping urged me forward.
Maybe they thought I was hesitating out of concern for them. Honestly, I was starting to get confused myself about whether I was grateful or resentful.
In any case, I naturally followed Go Yeongeun off the train. The others, still hesitating, eventually followed as well.
At least I wasn't the last one off, which was a relief.
It's easy to overlook, but being the last one is the scariest position.
'…Ha.'
At this point, I just want to abandon myself.
"Should we head up the stairs?"
"Yes."
Even in this situation, Go Yeongeun yelled toward the other train cars.
"Hey! Get off! This is the right station!"
I wasn't sure how effective it would be. Some might have been too wary to get off, but…
'Still, if even one more person gets off because of that, we're saving them.'
I have to admire her.
No, I'm really trying to focus all my attention on admiring her right now…
Helping the injured person was definitely a good decision. Whenever my focus started to waver, I instinctively stopped myself from panicking.
I recommend it to all cowards.
Though, I doubt many cowards would ever be in such a ridiculous situation!
"Ugh…"
"Let's keep walking."
I tried my best to avoid looking at my surroundings as I walked with the group.
I saw the stairs ahead.
'Talisman-like symbols are plastered all over them…'
Realizing that even the stairs looked far from normal sent chills down my spine, but…
'I'll just focus on the feeling of going up.'
One step.
Another step.
I walked quietly.
Soon, I felt my vision blur slightly, and then…
[Congratulations, new employees!]
Suddenly, we were back in the lecture hall.
"...!!"
Bright lights.
A modern, comfortable, spacious room.
Reality came rushing back as I looked at the large screen in front of me, where bold text had appeared.
: Congratulations. You have been officially hired to the Field Exploration Team of Daydream Inc.
"Ha…"
"Ah!!"
The people who had escaped with me collapsed into chairs, their legs giving out.
I turned my head and counted.
One, two… three… seven.
Everyone who had been in our car survived.
'We made it.'
From the ghost story
[Now, it's time for the gift awarding ceremony!]
What happens when a new hire successfully completes their probation period, you ask?
Usually, there's a lighthearted celebration with a gift-giving ceremony.
I didn't expect a major corporation inside a ghost story to be the same.
[Let's see… oh my! We have 22 successful candidates this time, everyone! Wow, I wonder what the HR department thinks of this?]
No one is curious about that.
And I'm sure the other new hires sitting next to me feel the same.
[This is truly an amazing record. If this wasn't a case of miscalculated difficulty, you all are an elite group. Elites.]
The room fell into silence.
The host cheerfully continued, unfazed.
[Shall we pick out the top elite among our elite employees?]
[The top of this cohort from the Field Exploration Team! One of the fastest to complete the evaluation and escape, and the highest scorer in the overall assessment.]
The host raised his hand.
[Congratulations, Kim Soleum-ssi!]
Me?
[Kim Soleum-ssi, are you there?]
[The event won't end until the gift is presented~ Come up and accept it!]
For real?
'Why though…'
I stood up, since it would be foolish to stay seated after being given instructions. After all, we had just been stuck in a ghost story where failing to listen to announcements meant death.
[Ah, you're quick to get up. That quick comprehension will serve you well in our department. What a shame, such a shame.]
Was this a superior from another department? Somehow, that made him even more irritating.
I stepped up onto the stage and stood in front of the host.
[Come on, take your gift!]
What the host handed me was a sharp-edged paper bag.
Inside the silver shopping bag, stamped with the Daydream Inc. logo, I could glimpse a plaque, presumably an official certificate, along with some other items.
[Don't feel too bad that there's nothing extra special for being the top scorer.]
I wasn't happy at all.
I accepted the bag, nodding slightly to avoid glaring at the host, and began to head back down when…
"Take a good look inside."
What?
"What's in—"
[Now, let's call the next new hire!]
The host was already calling out the next person's name on the mic, as if we hadn't just exchanged a few words.
"..."
Hmph.
I didn't waste any more time and quickly left the stage.
After that, Go Yeongeun and the others who had been in our train car also went up to receive their gifts.
It didn't mean much, but Baek Saheon was called right after me.
"..."
"..."
He remained seated next to me afterward, not saying a word.
He didn't even make eye contact. Judging by how he was holding his left eye, it was clear he had 'returned' the lost item.
'He'll figure out how to get to a hospital.'
[Next up, Kim Jiwon-ssi!]
As more names were called, some of the people receiving their gifts looked strangely disheveled, with odd gaits or unfocused eyes.
'…Maybe they were stuck in the ghost story for too long.'
Even though we all seemed to regain consciousness at the same time in the lecture hall, there had clearly been a time difference between our escape from ghost story and now.
The thought of how long some others might still be trapped made a chill run down my spine.
At least I made it out, which is more than can be said for the other 78 people.
[Did everyone receive their gifts?]
Finally, the gift awarding ceremony ended.
There was no audible response, but a strange tension and sense of expectation hung over the room.
Perhaps we might finally be allowed to leave.
To be honest, even I was hoping for that. It seemed like things should be wrapping up soon.
But.
[However… this company doesn't hire all of the candidates who pass the probation period.]
"...?!"
[Sometimes, there are people who make it through purely by luck.]
No way.
[But Daydream Inc. is a company that never forgets the social value of fairness.]
[Such probationary employees are penalized heavily in the final evaluation.]
The host didn't do anything overt.
No dramatic snap of the fingers, no ominous glance, not even the lights in the hall dimmed.
And yet…
[As I mentioned, freeloaders are always identified.]
People started melting.
"...!"
All around, several people began to dissolve, their bodies collapsing as if they were being smeared away.
There were no screams or movements.
'Damn it!'
The person in front of me pressed their hands over their mouth to suppress a scream.
I hurriedly turned my head away.
But I had already seen it.
'They're gone.'
Of the ten people from our train car, only half remained.
Me, Go Yeongeun, Baek Saheon, and the new hire who had been attacked by Baek Saheon. Everyone else was gone.
"..."
[To the remaining 13 new employees, congratulations! You have successfully become full-time employees with excellent results!]
Not a single person clapped out of joy.
In the chilling silence, one person, overwhelmed with panic, fumbled and stuttered.
"I resign, I'll resign… I want to quit."
But the host remained calm.
[Oh? Leaving such a great work opportunity? Come on, at least hear about the benefits before deciding.]
Behind me, Go Yeongeun shouted desperately.
"So, can we quit after hearing about the benefits? Without any penalties?"
[Yes, absolutely. You can quit without a single scratch on you~]
The host's words were smooth and confident.
That's when I realized.
'It's here.'
The stick had passed.
Now comes the carrot.
…The 'benefit' I was expecting.
[Let me introduce our company's top employee benefit!]
The reason why, after going through such a crazy experience right upon joining, employees still stay with the Field Exploration Team.
[Employee Benefit]
Wish Ticket
Something appeared on the large screen in the lecture hall.
A beautifully sleek crystal bottle.
Plop.
Inside the bottle, a strange liquid shimmered with multicolored ripples.
It moved like waves.
The colors, textures, and rippling patterns were so beautiful and strange that they gave off an uncanny feeling.
Silence filled the room.
[Let's take a closer look, shall we?]
The host pressed a button, and the screen lifted, revealing a table that had been hidden behind it.
On the black table was the same dazzling bottle from the screen.
"...!"
The liquid inside the bottle shimmered on its own, reflecting the light in the room so brilliantly that it seemed otherworldly.
It made you question whether such a thing could even exist in reality.
[You all know Daydream Inc. is famous for being a highly successful pharmaceutical company, yes? I mean, how advanced must our technology be if we even developed a cure for baldness?]
[But in truth, our main product is something else… It's this.]
The host steadied his trembling hand and put on white gloves.
Then, carefully picking up the crystal bottle from the table, he held it up for the employees to see.
[The name of this medicine is the 'Wish Ticket'.]
[And its effect is… just as it sounds. When you drink it, any wish will come true.]
"...!"
[Don't believe me? But we have a whole truckload of your seniors and superiors who've taken this and had their wishes fulfilled.]
[Allow me to demonstrate.]
The host tore open the packaging of the bottle and downed it in one gulp!
[Today's the day I was scheduled to receive my Wish Ticket. Haha!]
And in that moment, everyone in the lecture hall immediately knew what the host's 'wish' had been.
The instant he drank the Wish Ticket.
The face of the host, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late 40s, rapidly tightened and gained a youthful, rosy complexion.
His body became fit, and his hair grew back, shiny and thick.
He had returned.
He looked exactly like a young man in his prime, full of energy and growth!
[Yahoo!]
The host, who now looked like a high school student, raised his fist in excitement.
[How about that? To put it simply—rejuvenation!]
Even his voice had grown young and youthful.
A stunned silence fell over the room for an entirely new reason.
It was a silence filled with disbelief.
The host pointed at the new hires in the lecture hall.
[The Field Exploration Team, your team, always gets great performance reviews. On average, they receive the Wish Ticket in half the time it takes other teams…]
[In fact, the ten employees who got the Wish Ticket the fastest were all from the Field Exploration Team!]
Gulp.
Someone swallowed nervously from somewhere in the hall.
Of course, it was all wordplay.
In reality, it was no different from hazard pay.
'Before those ten, dozens, maybe hundreds of people must have died.'
So, it was more like bait—a shiny, but deceptive promise.
But still…
'There are people who've taken it.'
It wasn't a scam.
[Now, let's take some questions—oh, you there!]
One of the new hires quietly raised a hand and asked in a rough voice,
"Can it bring the dead back to life?"
It was a tall man with brown hair.
[Ah. You always hear that question in these kinds of stories, don't you? 'The one thing that can't be wished for'…]
[…But!]
The host raised his hand dramatically.
[The Wish Ticket will grant a-n-y wish the drinker desires.]
"...!"
[Of course, as long as you use it correctly. For detailed instructions, please refer to the employee portal.]
"..."
The questioner fell silent again, but the unease among the new hires grew even stronger.
The host didn't miss the moment.
[For other benefits, please check the screen or the pamphlet included in your gift bag… So, shall we make a decision?]
With a swift motion, the back doors of the lecture hall swung open.
[If you want to resign, please go to the desk outside and collect your paperwork.]
[But if you've decided to stay with the company…]
The host gestured.
[Put on the mask that's inside your gift bag.]
A mask? Oh.
'So, this is when they hand those out.'
[You know how 'customization' is all the rage these days, right? The mask is designed to express your unique personality.]
[Well… this one doesn't have any special functions, though. That's all there is to it.]
I clutched my smartphone.
There were too many eyes watching to check properly, but if I could access the page of
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Daydream Inc.
/ Departments
Miscellaneous
Employees in the Field Exploration Team wear masks while on field duty, which are distributed after the new hire orientation.
According to Employee D, the design of the mask is determined by the year of hire.
For example, agents with ant masks and agents with mantis masks are likely to have joined in the same year.
========================
In short, it's a symbol of the 'Daydream Inc.' Field Exploration Team.
'I can't believe the day has come for me to receive this.'
It felt strange in many ways.
Of course, 90% of me wanted to run out of here and throw the mask aside, screaming that I was quitting.
Please, just let me go.
'But… even if I quit, this whole universe is a mess.'
The 'dark paranormal phenomena' are already scattered everywhere.
It's far too easy to end up as a background extra in a ghost story and have your life end in a rare and horrific way.
'Haa…'
It might be safer to work as an employee, collecting my paycheck, company gear, and ultimate reward while aiming for a department transfer. My survival chances might improve that way.
'Besides, if I want to return to my original world, that 'Wish Ticket' seems to be my best bet.'
Anyway, there's no way a coward like me will survive long in this universe. Escaping this world entirely is the only real option.
So logically, as painful as it is, if I choose the most reasonable answer…
'I have to join.'
As much as it kills me to admit it, there's no other choice. Damn.
In the end, I swallowed my tears and opened the envelope.
I reached in to pull out the mask.
"...?"
Something else came out with it.
───
If needed
010-0153-24865
───
A business card?
The space where a name and title should be had been whited out, replaced with scribbled text.
'…Did the host put this in here?'
I looked around, but no one else seemed to have a business card stuck to their mask.
'I'll deal with it later.'
I slipped the card back into the envelope and pulled out only the mask.
It was smooth to the touch, covering only until my nose—a basic mask in shape.
The surprising part was that everyone around me was already attempting to put their masks on.
Without a single exception.
'…Even after all that, no one's running away?'
There was only one wildcard.
The Wish Ticket.
'Did they filter out only those who would risk their lives for the Wish Ticket?'
As I looked around the lecture hall at the silent employees accepting their masks, I felt a complicated mix of emotions.
We're all about to do the same thing, after all.
'No choice, I guess.'
I brought the mask to my face.
As soon as I did, the shape of the mask began to change.
I could feel it stretching and becoming more uneven across my cheeks and forehead…
"..."
I reached up and touched it.
A mask with antler-like horns and a bizarre wood-grain pattern had formed.
Wait, antlers?
'…Reindeer? Deer?'
It looked too strange to just be a deer.
Reluctantly, I turned to look around. Go Yeongeun, who was wearing a sheep mask, made awkward eye contact with me.
Around us, other new hires, wearing masks resembling animals like elephants and goats, sat stiffly in their suits.
They looked just as unsettling as you'd expect from employees working at a company that manages ghost stories.
[Once again, congratulations on joining the company!]
Clap, clap, clap.
The slide on the PPT changed, playing a recording of applause.
[Employment Confirmed]
'So, it's come to this…'
Just as I was starting to feel overwhelmed thinking about my future with the company…
Flutter—
The notepad suddenly reappeared in midair.
"...!"
The same notepad that had spit out the 'Memorial Popsocket' merch earlier.
[Dark Exploration Records Real Merch Box]
– New merch unlocked! (!)
Huh?
'New merch?'
And if it's saying it's unlocked, that means I can use another one of the merch I bought.
'Based on what criteria, though?'
I wanted to click on the floating notepad immediately, but then I remembered I was still sitting in the middle of the lecture hall.
Not to mention, I could feel people glancing at me since the host had called me out as the top performer.
'Let's leave first and check it out later.'
The event seemed to be wrapping up, so I could head home… wait.
I suddenly realized something critically important.
"..."
Do I even have a home here?
I quickly pulled out my smartphone and started checking my records.
Just like that, all traces of my previous job and work history had vanished.
Even my family's contact information was wiped out.
'Please, no.'
The only records left were from my college days, which at least matched my memories, giving me a moment of relief.
But the problem is… I lived in a dorm during college.
'And I had a tough time getting my own place after graduation because of some schedule mix-ups.'
As expected, the most recent record I could find was a text conversation about going to see rental apartments and a chat with a friend complaining about staying in a motel because his studio lease fell through.
"..."
I raised my head and glanced at the screen still floating in the lecture hall.
Or rather, I focused on one word at the bottom of the screen.
[Employee Benefit – Miscellaneous]
Company Housing
Benefit, huh… I might as well take full advantage, right?
* * *
The 'company housing benefit' was processed shockingly fast.
"Ah, hello!"
"Hello."
In less than an hour after inquiring at the front desk, I was assigned a room number, given a key, and even an address. The location wasn't bad, either.
Of course, it wasn't out of the goodness of their hearts to make things convenient for employees.
'If they want to exploit me around the clock, it makes sense to keep the wage slaves nearby….'
Still, the building looked like a decent officetel. It was clean, recently remodeled, and had solid security.
Considering 'company housing' is usually a perk for working in remote areas, this was absurdly generous.
'This company just made me go through a death survival game, so sure, why not move in.'
But this cynical thought became reality soon enough.
When I bumped into Go Yeongeun outside the officetel, she told me,
"Did you hear? Seven of us got company housing."
"...?"
That's over half of us.
It seemed like Go Yeongeun had also come here to move in. They gave me a sheepish look, noticing my stare.
"It's a bit scary, but since we're already hired… turning down a free place near the subway would be hard to justify…"
"…Right."
Exactly. In capitalism, money is the scariest thing.
'Saving 1.2 million won a month? Anyone would move in, pretending to be crazy.'
(Approx. 900 USD)
Of course, there was a more crucial reason behind this.
"It seems like those who came from outside the city got notified about the housing and signed up as soon as they were hired."
"That makes sense."
Now I understand. The new hires had already celebrated and accepted the housing, making it hard for them to back out.
I had wondered how they arranged my room so quickly, but now it made sense.
'The room I'm getting must have belonged to one of the new hires who didn't survive the death game…'
The thought sent a chill down my spine, making me feel a little ashamed.
Anyway, after exchanging a few more words with Go Yeongeun, I headed up to the 12th floor, where my room was located.
So far, so good.
The problem?
The officetel unit had two rooms.
And my roommate was Baek Saheon.
"..."
"..."
Baek Saheon was sitting in the living room.
He had a medical eye patch over one eye, suggesting he'd received some sort of treatment—probably from the company, not a hospital, considering the timing.
I quietly nodded to acknowledge him and started heading to my room when—
"Hey."
What?
"'Hey'?"
I stopped in my tracks.
Baek Saheon flinched when I responded but, fueled by anger, he glared at me and spoke.
"You must've enjoyed watching while I had to gouge out a perfectly good eye because of that damn lost item, huh?"
It seemed he thought I'd known about the lost item and just stood by to watch him get his eye taken out.
'He's the one who ran off on his own, and now he's blaming me?'
He was perfectly fine punching someone else's eye out, but when it came to his own, I was supposed to help him?
What a creative way to twist the situation.
But at that moment, I realized something.
If I responded apologetically, saying, 'Well, you suddenly ran out, so…' or 'Why are you speaking informally all of a sudden, Teacher?' it would only make him feel more justified and lead to more nonsense.
There's a term I learned from dealing with difficult clients for people like Baek Saheon.
We call them 'Creationist Complainers'.
They make up situations in their head and stubbornly cling to them.
With people like this, explanations don't work.
It's better to just…
"Oh, I found it pretty amusing."
"...!"
Going on the offensive is the best strategy here.
I walked right up to Baek Saheon and gripped his shoulder firmly.
"Thanks for that. I had a great time. Is this what they call a dopamine rush?"
"Wh…"
"Make sure to share more good news with me. Actually, I hope we work together."
"..."
"Work's going to be a blast."
That should do it.
'Now, he probably thinks I'm crazy.'
Given his behavior so far and his performance in
'Baek Saheon seems like the type who, if he realized the other person was scared, would push them into a corner even more.'
In that case, it's better to plant the impression of 'I should stay away from this guy.'
'Consider it a bit of bluffing, too.'
I patted Baek Saheon's shoulder a couple of times, then stood up and walked toward my room without looking back.
'As long as he doesn't stab me in my sleep, I'll be fine.'
Of course, I was bluffing a bit just now.
The likelihood of working together with someone from the same squad is extremely low.
What company forms squads of only new hires? They split us up and assign us to different squads.
It's like a balancing act, similar to that famous ninja manga—assigning people based on their skills.
And besides, I was called first, and Baek Saheon was called second.
'So, he probably did well in the evaluations too, which makes it even less likely we'll end up on the same squad.'
We won't be working together for a while.
Let's just act like we don't exist to each other.
Clack.
I entered my assigned room with a sense of relief.
"Huu."
The clean room had fresh bedding, a desk, and even a private bathroom. There was a guidebook hanging on the door.
"If I apply, they'll change my bedding and clean the room every week for just 100,000 won a month?"
This company's over-the-top benefits seem designed to dazzle the new hires, making them forget all about the death game they just went through.
A lot of new hires will likely be confused by the sudden shift to this neat, friendly reality, as if the death survival ordeal had been a lie.
Given what I know about this company's motivations, it's all too obvious what they're trying to do…
'Yeah, they're desperate to fill positions in the Field Exploration Team.'
They want to make sure none of the new hires who've been deemed capable of doing the 'work' decide to quit.
'Well, might as well take full advantage of what they're offering.'
I've already decided to stay, after all.