'Company employees?'
They were clearly from a different squad in the Field Exploration Team.
I recognized one mask—likely a new hire, someone from my training group.
That much I understood. But…
'Why did they overlap?'
Is it even possible to overlap and enter the ghost story like this? I mean, whether it's possible or not…
'…This is a broadcast accident.'
A tense silence filled the studio.
1 second.
2 seconds.
3 seconds.
"..."
Something's wrong.
The employee wearing the zebra mask standing next to me seemed to sense it as well.
"Wh-why are the people who arrived first…"
[Oh no.]
The flames ignited.
"...!"
The employee in the zebra mask was consumed in a silent blaze, their mouth still open in shock, unable to comprehend the situation, before collapsing like a lie.
All that remained were ashes, shaped like their shoes.
The camera hurriedly panned away.
[…Surprise!]
[This was a special preview of next Tuesday's contestants!]
The noisy band sound blared, as if trying to cover up the incident.
The camera now focused on me.
"...!"
Damn it.
Damn it, damn it!
I desperately waved the gift box I was holding in the air, pretending to be excited!
Pop.
Confetti rained down again, and the drums roared loudly. The host encouraged the audience's cheers.
[We'll see you tomorrow with an even more exciting show!]
[So… have a good night!]
Bam!
With the sound of a cheerful guitar riff, the camera lights turned off.
"..."
It's over.
It… is over, isn't it?
Why are we still here?
[Phew, that was a close one. Almost ruined the live broadcast. Glad everything was handled smoothly!]
The cameras were definitely off.
Faceless staff rushed onto the stage, and the lights in the audience seats went out.
The band disappeared.
Backstage, filled with noise and murmurs, was revealed like cold steel beams.
But we didn't disappear.
…A chilling feeling crept up my spine.
[Mr. Roe Deer! That was great thinking. Are you perhaps interested in becoming a regular panelist?]
"…I already have a job."
[Oh no! Well, our talk show applications are always open, so feel free anytime!]
Why is this ghost story continuing?
The reason was simple.
The thoughtful host was about to kindly explain to the contestants why this situation had occurred.
[Ah, and to the new participants!]
[You must've been shocked, thinking you almost ruined the broadcast. I trust it wasn't intentional. Don't be too hard on yourselves!]
[And don't worry. We'll give you another chance as well!]
With a friendly and affable demeanor, the host addressed the employees who had suddenly entered—our 'new contestants', as if they had always been part of the show.
In the meantime, the staff swept up the ashes left behind by the incinerated person with a broom.
I felt like I was losing my mind.
[I'd love to give you all a chance to participate right now, but unfortunately, our show is live. So, see you next week!]
But we could leave now.
Please, please let it end like this! End it here!
[For now, you can all go home… hm?]
It was then.
Someone holding a megaphone suddenly ran onto the stage.
That person's face was indistinct in the lighting, but unlike the other staff, they were wearing sunglasses.
The figure with the megaphone whispered urgently to the host.
[...! Ah, I see.]
The host turned to look at us.
[You see, it's hard for me to say this, but… uh.]
The emoticon on the TV monitor showed a sad face.
[Our show… was just canceled.]
"...!"
[To be precise, it's the Tuesday Quiz Show that's ended. Technically, my show isn't over, yes.]
[The quiz segment has been replaced.]
What?
[We won't be able to have you as the 100th winning contestants. I sincerely want to apologize from the bottom of my heart.]
The host bent forward, even lowering the antenna on the TV head as if truly apologetic.
"So… is it… cleared?"
"Hu. Huu…"
I could faintly hear the voices of the other members of my squad, filled with confusion, fear, panic, and yet, hope.
But a cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
'No.'
This development…
========================
Exploration Record #100
The show began in the same studio as previous sessions.
However, the program name had changed.
The host explained to the confused employees that the 'Tuesday Quiz Show' had been canceled.
Since the contestants had answered correctly 99 times in a row, the penalty had become meaningless, and the segment was no longer appealing to the viewers, leading to its discontinuation.
The new segment was chosen to be more engaging was…
========================
[Ah! Hold on a moment!]
The host's TV antenna suddenly sprang up after receiving a signal from the staff.
[Good news! You've all been selected as contestants for the new segment!]
"...!!"
[And since it's pre-recorded this time, it'll be even easier than before! Haha!]
[Let's start filming right away! Although I'll only be playing a supporting role, I'll do my best to ensure it's a great show…]
"Wait."
The assistant manager from our squad raised her hand with a grim expression.
"We've already participated in the show, so we'd like to go back…"
[You want to leave before the filming is finished?]
"...!"
The TV screen buzzed as it got close to Assistant Manager Eun's face.
[Oh dear… it was all written on the application postcard. But if you truly can't participate… well, there's no helping it.]
"..."
[So, tell me. Can't you do it?]
Assistant Manager Eun slowly moved her eyes, meeting mine from across the way.
I shook my head ever so slightly.
She must have realized it too.
'No helping it' didn't mean they would let us leave. It meant they would incinerate us.
[You can do it, right! Good.]
An ominous silence.
The studio was filled with the sound of the shallow breaths of pale, terrified employees.
I was surely one of them.
Was I even breathing?
[Oh! The tension is palpable. That's how it always is with new programs.]
[Let's stay strong! Mr. Roe Deer, you performed wonderfully in the live broadcast! I'm sure you'll do great again this time…]
Was there no excuse I could give?
No plausible way out?
"Yes. But I didn't expect to appear on the show consecutively."
[Hoh.]
"I could make a mistake, couldn't I?"
I gripped the podium so tightly my knuckles turned white.
"I should prepare a bit more and come back next Tuesday…"
[Aah! Look at that, the lights are coming on! 3, 2, 1…]
The host mumbled in an excited voice.
It was no use.
Completely absorbed in the broadcast, the host dashed toward the camera.
[Good evening, viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]
[You're now watching the new segment of our talk show!]
I'm going crazy.
[Are you sad that the quiz show is gone? No need to be! Because this is an even more advanced form of quiz show!]
[Something has been added to the quiz! What could it be?]
The host waved both hands as he read the teleprompter.
[What pulls at the heartstrings more than anything is melody.]
[Especially voices! Choirs, ah, such a beautiful sound!]
...
[Haha, no need for our band to feel left out. We've invited a true master of an entirely different genre!]
[A new guest is about to appear!]
The set opened up to reveal a new figure.
The stench of rusted iron and filth filled the air, accompanied by a massive, dark pig's head.
[The conductor of the Choir of Purgatory, the filthy, the vile, the master of great melodies, the Butcher!]
[That's right. The new segment is… the Tuesday Choir!]
Hell has arrived.
A terrible stench spread through the studio.
Walking into the spotlight was something with the head of a pig, walking on two legs.
Its body was emaciated, and from its large, dead pig's eyes, blood dripped down.
[Hold on a moment. He's a silent artist… Ah! His equipment is coming in now!]
Thirteen silver trays descended from the air, suspended by wires.
The large, round silver trays were intricately and boldly decorated.
Screaming faces. Countless of them hung like clusters of grapes.
[Shall we meet the passionate contestants who have volunteered to join the choir?]
The lights on each podium came on.
The six podiums revealed the pale, terrified faces of the humans standing on them.
[You recognize some faces from last week, don't you? Haha, will our contestants who defended the 99th win record set a new record with this new segment?]
[Stay tuned! We'll reveal the results soon!]
Waaaah!
The audience seats were empty. But a canned applause filled the space mechanically.
[But the first glory must go to the first contestant!]
The host stood in front of an employee I didn't know.
The employee wearing the mole mask hunched her shoulders.
[Here's the question.]
Flash.
[Question : Which of the following creatures has the longest lifespan?]
1- Pig
2- Human
3- Rabbit
4- Flea
"H-Human. Number 2, human…!"
[Correct!]
A sigh of relief crossed the mole mask's eyes.
Yes. In the original Tuesday Talk Show, the segment would have moved on with cheers.
But the new segment had a new phase added.
[Congratulations on passing, Ms. Mole!]
The conductor with the bleeding pig's head raised his skeletal arms and swung a silver baton.
The mole mask's head was ripped off.
[Such a beautiful harmony!]
Thud.
The headless contestant's body collapsed beneath the podium like a broken puppet.
"...!"
The employee's remaining head floated into the air and was displayed on the silver tray.
It was still mouthing words.
[Each contestant's unique talent will be awakened. Oh, it's incredible. Truly incredible…!]
When the pig raised its arms, the gaping mouth of the head suddenly began emitting a clear, piercing scream in tune.
"H-Humans. It's human, humannnnnn!"
It was as if someone had forcibly squeezed the vocal cords, producing a sound like a woodwind instrument.
[The first choir member has taken their place!]
The choir practice had begun.
They endlessly repeated the last words they spoke before losing their heads.
========================
The 'Chorus of the Sacrificial Lambs' consists of one conductor and 13 silver trays that are summoned.
The heads of talk show contestants are placed on the silver trays, and their selection process is determined by that day's broadcast corner.
Each head fused to a tray produces different phrases and instrument-like sounds, forming an acapella.
The highest number of heads recorded is 7.
One (1) head : Causes mild headaches, anxiety, and sudden mood swings.
========================
If you were just comfortably reading this ghost story.
You might think, 'Only one head? For such a terrifying situation, it's manageable.'
But if you found yourself in this insane scenario, that thought wouldn't come to you.
Not like the employee who was directly affected.
"Aaaaaagh!! S-Siyeon, Si…!"
Incineration.
Another podium's light went out. The charred body stuck to the floor.
The head that remained continued its eerie melody.
"H-Human. Number 2. Humaaaan!"
[Next up… Ah, we have another new face. Hello, Mr. Jellyfish! Let's see if you can create a beautiful harmony with the successful contestant!]
[Now, the question is…]
"I don't know! I don't know the answer!"
The employee wearing the jellyfish mask screamed before the question was even asked.
His instincts seemed to tell him that getting the question wrong and facing punishment would be better.
[How surprising!]
It was a remarkable judgment.
…A meaningless one, though.
[Failure.]
His head exploded.
Like a firecracker, sparkles from the studio's mirror ball and a shower of confetti filled the air.
The recorded audience's reaction mixed with both disappointed sighs and cheers filled the studio.
[Oh no, disqualified! How unfortunate…]
[He didn't make it into the great choir!]
"..."
Right.
'There are no punishments anymore. If you get the quiz wrong, you're simply disqualified.'
I blinked.
It didn't feel real.
Half the people died in just five minutes after the recording began.
And there was no escape.
Three of us remained.
D-squad's assistant manager and supervisor.
And me.
[Let's meet our next contestant! Oh, familiar faces!]
"..."
I recalled one fact I had been avoiding.
…These superiors' names were also not mentioned anywhere in the
It's the same as with Go Yeongeun, my fellow new recruit.
I remembered what I thought when I first heard Go Yeongeun's name.
– Either she left early after handling the ghost stories relatively easily…
– Or she died right away.
[Mr. Badger!]
Supervisor Park was called next.
Park Minseong.
While standing at the farthest podium from me, he had turned completely pale.
It was a death sentence, and it would soon be mine too…
[It's your turn to answer!]
No.
'Get a grip!'
I punched my stomach, hidden by the podium.
The pain cleared my head slightly.
'Being scared doesn't justify an excuse.'
This wasn't a situation ruled by that kind of fear.
'It's a disaster.'
It was like witnessing a natural disaster up close—the overwhelming force of it.
I had been swept into an unexpected catastrophe. That's right… If I panic here, it's all over. I won't even have a chance to survive.
I can't forget. Of all the people here, you have the best chance of survival!
I have to think.
'Right.'
I have information and items.
[Mr. Badger, are you ready?]
Could I use this moment when the host and staff's attention wasn't on me? Was there really nothing I could try?
I desperately recalled the items I had. I frantically reviewed the characteristics of this ghost story.
'I don't expect much, but.'
If I could just get out of here.
I wasn't hoping for something as grand as this insane talk show getting canceled. Just stop for a second… just for a moment…
Ah.
I raised my head.
The host's back was right in front of me.
He was about to ask Supervisor Park a quiz question.
[You're ready! Great…]
He's close.
'…In that case!'
I hid my trembling hand beneath the podium. Then, I slightly lowered my body and pulled out two items from the inside pocket of my suit jacket.
A cheap sticker with a smiling emoticon and a can labeled 'Drink me'.
'Hurryyy.'
I opened the can-bottle.
Then, I stuck the Smiley Sticker onto the can-bottle.
Hurry up, hurry the fuck up.
"…Ah. May I say something to the viewers before I answer?"
[Oh, of course!]
Supervisor Park glanced toward the camera, pretending to address it but actually looking toward me and Assistant Manager Eun.
He was looking at the podiums where we stood.
"…I have a family member in the hospital. I hope someone could check in on her after this filming. If possible."
[Wow, how touching!]
[So, what's your answer?]
Supervisor Park gave a nervous smile, sweating profusely.
"I don't know…"
"Wait a moment."
I raised my left hand.
"Mr. Host."
At the same time as I drew his attention…
I stretched out my right hand and quickly slapped several wet smiley stickers under the spherical TV that was the host's head.
"..."
Splat.
A drop of water hit the ground.
Did the cameras catch it? Did anyone notice?
No, if they had, my head would have already exploded.
[Oh, Mr. Roe Deer! Do you have something to say?]
They didn't notice.
I swallowed hard.
When I looked over, Supervisor Park was staring at me in shock.
He seemed surprised that I hadn't been incinerated after interrupting the flow and speaking out of turn.
It was definitely a gamble.
'But I have a reason.'
Didn't the host say it earlier?
– It's pre-recorded this time, so it'll be even easier than before! Haha!
In other words, this was not a live broadcast.
'So as long as I don't outright ruin the flow or act uncooperative, it might not count as disrupting the broadcast.'
Simply raising my hand and making a personal comment wouldn't be a problem!
[Mr. Roe Deer?]
They let it pass.
"Yes."
I glanced at the area beneath the host's TV where the water had dripped.
Then, lowering my voice just enough for only the host to hear, I said,
"My head feels very dizzy. Could I… rest for a moment?"
[...]
What I had just done was…
The 'Smiley Sticker'—an item that induces mild feelings of friendliness when attached to a sentient being.
And, the 'Alice Picnic Set / canned drink'—an item that doubles the effect.
I soaked the sticker into the can and stuck it to the host.
…Of course, this was still debatable.
– Can we consider the host a sentient being?
The host was clearly not human.
But it must have some kind of intelligence, right?
No, it has to. I'm betting my life on this.
And now, there's no turning back.
What if I'm incinerated for disrupting the broadcast? Well, if I'm going to die anyway, I might as well go out a little more peacefully.
The shirt clinging to my back was soaked with cold sweat.
The host made a noise…
[Goodness!]
"..."
[Was the passion for the broadcast a bit too much? Yes, I understand that… Hmm. Mr. Roe Deer, you did work hard.]
[In that case…]
The monitor of the host's head turned black.
He raised his right hand…
[Cut! Let's take a short break!]
The band's sound stopped.
The staff began murmuring.
[Haha, I'm sorry. My screen went blurry. Makeup!]
The camera lights were quickly turned off.
[Carefully clean it, please. Oh, excellent!]
A faceless staff member carrying makeup tools rushed up and vigorously cleaned the old TV screen.
And as the host finished his task, he grabbed the makeup artist by the arm and pointed at me.
[Ah, on your way, could you guide this contestant to the waiting room? They were supposed to bring me water.]
Then, the host winked the TV-screen emoticon eye at me, briefly displaying and then erasing text.
[Take a break and have some water!]
"…Thank you."
I had succeeded.
'At least for now.'
I staggered off the podium, following the makeup artist as I walked.
Even though the filming had been paused, the ominous, grotesque pig-headed conductor was still standing at the center of the stage, swinging its baton without moving.
The horrifying silver trays continued to emit eerie songs from the human heads.
'Hold it together.'
Don't look.
With stiff legs, I crossed the center of the stage…
[Filming will resume in 30 minutes!]
As I passed the podium on the opposite side, Assistant Manager Eun slipped something into my hand.
"...!"
I quickly looked at her.
I could read her lips.
– Check it. Alone.
What is it?
* * *
I was guided to the door behind the stage.
Inside was a typical old Hollywood-style waiting room.
Aside from the unsettling number of black-and-white broadcast posters plastered all over like talismans.
"Thank you."
The makeup artist gave a silent nod and disappeared in a flash.
Click.
"Huu."
…I'm alive.
Only for 30 minutes, but I had at least delayed my scheduled death.
'I need to do something during this time.'
And I had a new clue.
I immediately opened my hand to check what Assistant Manager Eun had slipped me.
The item they had somehow managed to give me in this dire situation was…
"…A button?"
It was a button, the kind you'd attach to a suit.
But it was also a button in the sense of something you could press.
It seemed like it had a mechanism inside that would trigger something when pressed.
"..."
There was only one way to find out, and I didn't have much time.
'They gave this to me thinking it would help.'
I pressed the button immediately.
Beep beep beep…
...
Click.
[This is Lee Jaheon.]
"...!"
[Who's this? This is Assistant Manager Eun Haje's call button though.]
Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
The squad leader of the Field Exploration Team's D-squad, who was supposed to be on a field assignment, had answered through the button.
In
'This is the typical structure of a ghost story.'
But stories become more interesting when there is interaction and conflict.
I vaguely remember reading in a ghost story that some teams in
'Is this button one of those?'
While my mind raced to deduce the situation, my mouth started talking immediately. Time was of the essence!
"Are you the leader of D-squad?"
[Yes.]
"I'm Kim Soleum, the new recruit in D-squad. I have something urgent to report."
I decided to lay it all out!
"In 30 minutes, all of D-squad will be dead."
Even if the other person was startled, it couldn't be helped. This was the most efficient way. I needed to calm him down and explain…
[I see.]
[I'll take a five-minute briefing.]
"..."
Why is he so calm?
Sure, mass deaths are a routine occurrence in the Field Exploration Team, but this is a bit…
'Is there something wrong with his humanity…?'
I almost got confused, but the situation was urgent, so I let it go. I quickly summarized everything that had happened so far.
"There was an anomaly during the D-Class Darkness, Tuesday Talk Show."
I explained about the members of another squad who had intruded mid-show, the quiz show's sudden cancellation, and the insane choir segment that had just begun.
[How many employees are left?]
"Three out of seven remain. All of D-squad is still alive, but once the break ends, we'll all be dead."
The D-squad leader responded concisely.
[I see.]
[Buy yourself another 30 minutes.]
"..."
Is that even possible?
"I don't think that's feasible."
[In that case, there's nothing we can do.]
He has a knack for enraging people who are about to die in less than 30 seconds.
'I don't have time to waste on this nonsense.'
It's true that the higher you go in the Field Exploration Team, the more some employees seem to lack basic morality or common sense, but experiencing it firsthand is truly infuriating.
'Does he think his team members' lives are a joke?'
I was about to hang up and figure things out on my own when…
"..."
Wait a second.
"What would change if we had 30 more minutes?"
Why did he ask for more time?
[Right.]
[If you could hold off until 55 minutes from now, I could get approval from the security team and rent the strongest weapons and entry devices.]
His low voice explained calmly.
[The entire process, even if handled retroactively, would take about 40 minutes, and it would take an additional 15 to 20 minutes to enter the Darkness.]
"…If that process is completed, could D-squad be rescued?"
[Probably, yes.]
"..."
A Field Exploration Team member capable of entering an A-Class Darkness alone and suppressing the supernatural phenomenon using special equipment?
The only people capable of that would be…
'A named character.'
The person I was talking to had to be one of the employees I'd read about in the
'Someone with a significant or memorable role…'
Chills ran down my spine.
Several candidates flashed through my mind. My brain was spinning.
"Stealing equipment from the security team… yeah, that's impossible."
[...? Correct.]
The security team's operations are heavily restricted to maintain narrative coherence in the ghost stories, and their security is airtight. It's true that such an act would be impossible based on the rules.
'But if this person really is one of the employees I think he is…'
There might be a way!
I swallowed nervously and asked,
"…May I ask what mask you wear, sir?"
If he said the nickname I was thinking of…
[Lizard.]
"..."
Ah.
It's you.
"Section Chief."
We had 20 minutes left.
"Based on what you've told me, I've come up with a plan."
Let's go with this.
* * *
[Ah, Mr. Roe Deer!]
Break time was almost over.
Holding a water bottle from the waiting room, I returned to the talk show set.
Human. Number 2. Human, human!
Against the backdrop of two employees who had been exposed to 'choir practice' for several minutes and whose complexions had drastically worsened, the host with the old TV for a head extended his hand toward me.
[Are you feeling better? Ready to create the best broadcast ever?]
"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
[Haha, a contestant's condition is key to delivering the best moments on the show!]
His tone was surprisingly friendly, considering the host's previous behavior.
It seemed the Smiley Sticker's effect was still active.
'So far, things are going as expected.'
I carefully chose my next words.
"…You really put a lot of passion and energy into this show, Mr. Host. I think that's why you always make such captivating broadcasts."
Perhaps it was the most extreme situation, but flattery was coming out of my mouth effortlessly, without a trace of shame.
[Such high praise! But a broadcast is something everyone creates together. Mr. Roe Deer, you are a part of that too!]
No, that's not the direction I was going for…
"I appreciate your kind words, but there's no comparing me to you, the one who leads this great talk show."
This was the direction I needed.
"But I was surprised that the format of the show changed without notice to someone as important as you…"
[...]
"There's no live audience, we're using recorded applause, the punishments are gone… even the band has fewer members."
I recalled the black-and-white broadcast posters in the waiting room.
They were all talk shows with live audiences, where real-time communication was part of the experience.
If that waiting room was the host's personal space…
'There's a good chance the host doesn't like this new format…!'
"It feels like the changes were made to cut costs across the board."
There was a risk of being beheaded if the host misinterpreted my comment as an insult to the talk show. But staying silent would lead to death anyway.
I had to do this.
I glanced back, pretending to look at the stage, and managed to continue speaking.
The conductor with the dead pig's head.
"…Could the reason for this revamp be that it cost a lot to book that guest over there?"
[!]
The emoticon on the host's TV screen disappeared.
But it soon returned with a smiling emoticon.
[That's none of the contestant's concern.]
"I apologize."
Please, spare me.
Honestly, I'm so scared I haven't even properly looked at that pig-headed creature.
"I was just such a huge fan of the Tuesday Quiz Show and was really looking forward to participating. I must have said something rude because I was disappointed by its cancellation…"
[Ah, what a kind thing to say! But… show business is ruthless.]
The host's TV screen quietly turned black.
[If the viewers prefer this format, then as an entertainer, it's my job to adapt quickly to what they want…]
"I see."
I swallowed hard.
"But isn't it still uncertain how the viewers feel? …At least for me, I preferred the old format. The real-time interaction with the audience and the excitement of the live Tuesday Quiz Show."
[...]
"To change the show so abruptly, without even discussing it with the host… ah, never mind. I'm sorry. I've spoken out of turn."
I pretended to hesitate, then added,
"I just… I had a lot of fun earlier during the live broadcast. My heart was racing, and it was quite exciting."
[ – ]
The host stood silently.
The TV screen made a faint static noise…
Beep-beep-beep!
[…Ah! There are only 60 seconds left before filming resumes!]
At the sound of the alert filling the set, the emoticon returned.
[Alright, everyone, let's give it our all until the end!]
[Mr. Roe Deer, you should get back to your podium.]
"…Yes."
[We're starting! 10, 9, 8…]
The host resumed the countdown, looking into the camera as usual.
But it seemed like my conversation had left an impression, as he didn't seem as entranced by the camera as before.
'Good.'
The groundwork had been laid.
I nodded to the host and headed back to my podium.
And moments later.
[Now! Mr. Badger!]
[It's finally time to give your answer!]
The show had resumed.
[Will Mr. Badger become a proud member of the choir?]
Supervisor Park Minseong seemed to have come to terms with his fate, his expression bitter but resigned.
I saw him mouthing something quickly at me.
– Thank you.
What was he saying? 'Thanks for helping me get prepared…' No, wait. Let me talk too!
I mouthed the words back.
– Give the correct answer.
"...?!"
Supervisor Park looked at me as if I were insane.
I understand.
'Being incinerated is probably better than becoming a living instrument that repeats the last thing you said before your head was cut off…'
But this was necessary.
Supervisor Park, still confused, shook his head and glanced at Assistant Manager Eun.
She nodded too.
[Mr. Badger? You have 3 seconds.]
"Ah! Umm, yes. I'll give my answer…"
Supervisor Park squeezed his eyes shut and shouted,
"Number 4, burns!"
[Oooooh!]
As the recorded audience murmured,
I finally saw it.
Flutter—
In the corner of the stage where the lights had gone out, something appeared.
A postcard.
The strange postcard we used to enter this place.
I remembered the conversation I had with Section Chief Lee Jaheon just before.
– So, Section Chief, you're saying we can use that equipment to access the ghost story through an object?
– Yes. However, the equipment I have is for emergency supply drops, only for delivering small items into the Darkness.
– That's enough. Let's use it…
I looked at the postcard.
It quietly fell to the floor from the shadows where the light didn't reach…
And then, with terrifying speed, a small AAA battery shot out from it.
"...!"
The battery shot toward the ominous conductor with tremendous force, closing the distance in an instant.
It struck one of the silver trays.
– Throw it with all your might, sir.
The thick tray crumpled as if pierced by the battery.
The sheer physical force was unbelievable.
'As expected.'
I recalled the description of Section Chief Lee Jaheon from
========================
Employee D
Nickname : Lizard
Final position : Team Leader
One of the few combat specialists in the Field Exploration Team.
Known for solving ghost stories, which usually require wit and strategy, by brute force.
??? : "Shouldn't it normally be that the brain has to work harder if the body's terrible?"
Conversely, when his brute force doesn't work, it signifies that true doom is upon you.
========================
If we had tried to attack the pig-head conductor directly, I might have experienced that 'doom' firsthand.
But a silver tray?
'He's a staff member with a 'physical exorcism works in ghost stories' gimmick, so I thought it might work…'
And I was right.
The tray was almost punctured, leaving a deep dent.
'In that case.'
Despite sweating profusely, I couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
[Wow! Mr. Badger, that's the correct answer!]
Normally, this would be the point where the correct contestant's head would be ripped off and added to the choir on another silver tray.
But the conductor's reaction to his precious 'instrument' being damaged…
[…Mr. Conductor?]
The dead pig opened its mouth wide.
Its decaying flesh tore apart, and its jaw dislocated unnaturally.
The canned applause abruptly cut off, leaving the atmosphere confused and disjointed.
[…It seems our guest is thinking of a new way to perform! I wonder what brilliant method they're coming up with? My heart is racing!]
The pig began to scream.
The split mouth emitted a horrific sound…
[…The contestant is waiting. Mr. Conductor, please welcome him into the choir!]
A terrifying scream rose in my throat.
What did I just do? What kind of horrific mistake have I made? Did you see the worm that spawned from the ground? How I want to sing, how I made the wrong choice, judgment, indeed—
Praise to the silver throne, death—
The band's sound drowned out the scream.
"Hah!"
This is insane.
Drip. Drip.
Red spots appeared on the podium.
It was my nosebleed.
But I had to cover my ears. I had to block out the sound… but the band's sound was fading away.
[You—]
Drip.
[Do not respect the show.]
I lifted my head.
Amidst the silence.
Whoosh.
The grand and ominous guest at the center of the stage burst into black flames and turned to ash.
It was a scene I had seen many times before.
'Incineration.'
A punishment the host carried out autonomously. In the D-Class Darkness known as the 'Tuesday Quiz Show', this was the fate of any contestant who disrupted the broadcast.
But now…
'Did a D-Class Darkness… incinerate an A-Class Darkness entirely?'
Something's wrong… something's very wrong.
All I intended was for the host to lose his temper at the guest's incompetence, causing today's broadcast to be cut short.
[As expected, the essence of a show isn't in flashy guests, but in staying true to its core.]
I looked around.
The staff, the lights, the band, the recording equipment, the cameras.
All of them were burning and turning to ash.
Only the host's old TV screen flickered with color, glowing brightly.
[The joy of witnessing, the thrill of communication, the excitement of unpredictable developments, anticipation…]
[You ■■■ creators don't understand that. You don't deserve to make shows.]
[But I do! I can make them!]
The host raised his arms majestically, like a liberator.
He turned to me.
[Mr. Roe Deer!]
[Thank you! You've given me a new vision!]
[My mind feels so clear. Ah… yes! From now on, I'll accept participants for the show on different days of the week.]
The host stared directly at me.
[I can tell. You have the talent of a show creator.]
[I hope you join the crew of my new talk show as well, Mr. Roe Deer, Mr. Roe Deer!]
This is bad.
[New participants, a new set, new music, a new season… I'll invite you when the filming is ready!]
But.
[It's such a pity today's broadcast had to end this way… but your passionate participation was very impressive.]
[Let's meet again in the next show!]
It worked.
I blinked.
Beyond my blurring vision, I saw the suited figure with a TV for a head wave as he disappeared…
In the next moment—
"..."
I realized I was sitting on a brightly lit, quiet office sofa.
I turned my head.
Supervisor Park and the Assistant Manager Eun, both bleeding from their noses and ears, were staring at me with dumbfounded expressions.
And I realized.
I'm alive.
"Waaaaah!!"
"You amazing bastard! You crazy idiot!"
Amid the shower of cheers and hugs, I slid down onto the sofa.
I'm alive.
I escaped…!
"...! The collector!"
But that wasn't the end.
Supervisor Park, still hugging me, quickly pulled something out of my suit pocket.
It was the 'Dream Essence Collector'.
It was filled with golden liquid.
Unlike the time when I cleared the F-Class ghost story, this time, the color was…
"A-Class."
"..."
"Roe, you cleared an A-Class Darkness after just two days on the job…!"
A new employee on their third day at
"Huuu."
Go Yeongeun cautiously sat down at her desk just as lunch break was ending.
This self-taught medical professional who hadn't even taken the state exam believed she was adjusting well to the situation…
Her superiors in the R-squad weren't particularly warm, but they weren't overly territorial, nor did they push her into life-threatening situations.
Most importantly, she had successfully cleared two F-Class ghost stories so far…!
'Didn't they say the average for new recruits was one or two per week?'
Clearing two in three days, even if they were low-level Darkness, wasn't bad for a rookie!
She was doing her absolute best to adapt to this insane company…
Though she had nearly fainted when she saw the points for the Wish Ticket.
'After clearing two, I only got 66 points. How in the world will I ever get to 500,000…?'
"..."
But giving up wasn't an option.
'I'm going to do it.'
Go Yeongeun steeled her resolve.
'…Are the other rookies feeling the same?'
She absentmindedly looked at her phone.
At the top of her Kakaotalk messenger, there was a pinned group chat.
[Daydream Inc. New Hires Group Chat]
It was a chat room for all the new recruits.
However, one person had yet to be invited.
It wasn't because he was being excluded—no one had his contact information.
That person was none other than the top recruit, Kim Soleum.
'We should invite him, too.'
Even Baek Saheon, the well-known figure, was already in the chat room, but strangely, none of them had ever run into Kim Soleum in the company, so they hadn't had a chance to inform him.
It made sense to be curious about what kind of intense first two days he had gone through!
'Should I try contacting him through the company messenger?'
She connected to the intranet and began searching for Kim Soleum to send him a message…
That's when it happened.
Ka-talk, Ka-talk, Ka-ka-ka-talk!
Suddenly, the group chat exploded with notifications.
– Did you see the announcement just now?
– Does anyone know Kim Soleum personally…?
– He's the top recruit, right?
– Did he seriously clear an A-Class ghost story as a major contributor…?
– Was Kim Soleum the one wearing that weird horned mask…?
"...?!"
* * *
"Wow, Roe, someone from upper management is saying you should be promoted to supervisor right away."
"Cough—"
I nearly choked on my medicine.
"But apparently it got immediately blocked because some people from other departments are foaming at the mouth in opposition, saying it's unprecedented."
"…Ah, I see."
Should I have said I was disappointed? But I wasn't disappointed at all, so that was the limit of my response.
I set the empty medicine bottle down and rubbed my chest.
We had narrowly escaped from the 'Tuesday Quiz Show' that had transformed into an A-Class ghost story, and we were now being treated in the infirmary, taking emergency medication.
After all, we'd been bleeding from our facial orifices.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes."
It seemed the medicine was effective.
Though the medicine from
– Darkness… you know, those bizarre creatures from urban legends. This is the kind of recovery medicine you take when you suffer supernatural damage from them.
In other words, it was like a health potion in these ghost stories.
'It was probably sold as cherry-ade flavor at the collaboration café near the pop-up store…'
But the actual taste was just like cold syrup.
'Anyway, it feels unreal that I'm alive and drinking a potion.'
Everything felt great now that we had escaped.
Living in the bright daylight—it's really such a good thing…
But it seemed like my superiors were more concerned about something other than our sense of relief.
How had this situation been reported and handled by the higher-ups?
They were busily tapping into every network they had to figure it out.
"Honestly, this was an unprecedented special situation. I wish the Squad Leader had been more assertive in pushing the issue, but he's really not that kind of person…"
"Please do it when you get promoted later, Assistant Manager."
"I'll quit before then."
"Honestly, me too."
I really want to say that as well.
Amidst a strange sense of camaraderie, we each collapsed onto the infirmary beds.
Supervisor Park Minseong stretched and let out a sigh.
It was a long sigh of relief.
"…I really thought I was going to die, but living is definitely better! Hey Roe, thank you."
"No, I just did my best."
Honestly, the
If I tried to explain any further, the conversation would shift toward something uncomfortable, like 'We were all about to die, but you were smart and did well,' so I just stayed silent.
"We're not that incompetent as seniors, but we let our guard down because it was categorized as D-Class."
"Assistant Manager, that excuse sounds a bit pathetic."
"Well, then we'll prove ourselves in the next Darkness."
'I just hope there won't be a next Darkness…'
The peaceful, paid rest time didn't last long.
"The Section Chief said the meeting is over."
"...!"
"He's coming to the infirmary."
Assistant Manager Eun, holding her smartphone, shot up. Supervisor Park quickly stood up as well, so I instinctively followed suit.
'Am I finally going to see him in person?'
Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
Employee D, nickname Lizard!
One of the most famous employees of
Honestly, I was a bit curious.
What kind of person could he be?
'Judging by the conversation we had when I pressed the call button, he didn't seem like an ordinary person…'
But considering his super play with the AAA battery shot, everything about him seemed almost glorified.
Knock, knock, knock.
"The door is open. Come in, Squad Leader!"
The infirmary door opened.
Standing there was a tall figure.
Dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit and even wearing an employee ID, he looked every bit the classic, polished office worker.
Finally, the appearance of Section Chief Lee Jaheon, the 'named' Employee D from the
"Hello."
"...!? ...!!"
It's… it's a lizard.
No, not a mask, but literally…
'He literally has a lizard head.'
"..."
Wait a second.
No… that can't be right.
I must be suffering from some kind of mental breakdown due to excessive stress, leaving an afterimage of that TV-headed host in my mind.
That's it, right? My brain is mistaking someone wearing a mask for a real lizard head…
'Now that I look closer, there's a mask hanging at his waist.'
"..."
Oh, I'm going to lose it.
"It's really so great to see you that I'm about to cry."
"Please, come in, Squad Leader!"
Why is everyone so calm?
If a lizard in a suit is going to appear, shouldn't there at least be a warning to the new recruits, like 'Don't be shocked'?
Why is everyone acting like this is a normal meet-and-greet!
"Ah, this over here is Roe Deer, sir. And Roe, this is Section Chief Lee Jaheon. Go ahead and introduce yourself."
"Wow, Roe looks like he's shocked by how handsome the Section Chief is! Haha! Like he doesn't even look like he's the same species as us!"
Can you please clarify if this is just office banter or a hint for social survival…?
The white lizard head turned toward me expressionlessly.
Its red, reptilian vertical pupils glinted.
"Mr. Roe Deer."
"..."
"Can you see?"
Shit, oh shit fuck…
"What do you mean…? Oh, no, I didn't hurt my eyes. My vision is fine."
I was impressed by my own quick thinking.
"..."
Um, hello?
"Hmm, alright."
The white reptilian head turned away with a faint hiss.
I nearly passed out.
'Please stop this, for real.'
This world is too unfair if you have to suffer even after escaping a ghost story…
'What the hell is going on?'
But I wasn't about to say a word.
Judging by the atmosphere, it was clear I wasn't supposed to see the lizard head!
'Everyone else must be seeing a normal human face.'
Blend in. Don't stand out.
I would never show any suspicious reaction toward this walking human… no, lizard excavator.
I successfully maintained my composure, and fortunately, thanks to the other squad members, the conversation flowed smoothly.
Then, we got to the main point.
"Section Chief, did the higher-ups give any explanation about why this happened?"
"Yes."
The white lizard—no, Section Chief Lee Jaheon—nodded.
First, the cause of the incident. The employees who barged in…
"They said it was a human error, with the 'Tuesday Talk Show' being assigned to both D-squad and L-squad at the same time."
"Oh, seriously."
"Good grief…"
It made sense that the assignment had felt rushed; it seems there was a mistake.
The Section Chief continued his briefing.
– L-squad began writing the medium (postcard) to enter the 'Tuesday Quiz Show' at a similar time to D-squad, but a 50-minute delay occurred as they left the company building during the process.
"…Did they go out to buy coffee for the rookie?"
"L-squad did have members who were particularly good at taking care of their teammates."
The two employees briefly looked bitter as they recalled the now-deceased L-squad, but quickly concealed their expressions.
"Anyway, it seems it was transmitted at an odd time, and our squad happened to go in first."
"Yes."
Lee Jaheon answered briefly and continued the briefing.
The next part, however, was the bombshell.
"And the reclassification of the 'Tuesday Quiz Show' to A-Class has not been acknowledged."
"...?!"
"W-What?"
– The absence of another group to cross-verify the situation, and the relatively high initial survival rate (43%), leaves it unproven whether the Darkness was truly suitable for A-Class classification.
"What the hell are they talking about, when L-squad was wiped out?"
"The collector! The Dream Essence Collector's liquid was gold! I've heard many times that gold signifies A-Class…"
– While the liquid in the Dream Essence Collector does have a concentration comparable to A-Class, the possibility of extracting higher-class liquid from lower-class Darkness in special circumstances cannot be ruled out.
"So, since the official company classification was D-Class, no exception has been granted for the 'Tuesday Quiz Show'."
"..."
In other words, the company's stance is…
'Let's not escalate a situation caused by an error, let's just quietly resolve it.'
Typical corporate behavior.
They drive their employees mad, that's for sure.
"This is unacceptable. We should go and talk to them directly…"
"Assistant Manager, wait— wait just a sec."
Supervisor Park asked, in disbelief.
"The higher-ups took all the A-Class liquid, didn't they? And yet, it's still ending as a D-Class result?"
"No, that didn't happen."
"...!"
"Separate compensation has been arranged."
Honestly, I'm not surprised.
'They're basically trying to keep us quiet by offering something in return…'
It's normal for a company to prepare some kind of hush money, unless they're utterly clueless.
The only question was how much that compensation would be.
I tried to avoid making eye contact with the lizard as I focused on Section Chief Lee Jaheon's… not snout, but mouth.
"Given the uniqueness of the situation and the verification of the Dream Essence Collector's liquid color, they've agreed to acknowledge that it was an exploration comparable to A-Class."
"So…?"
"Additional points will be awarded."
– For the successful clearance of the 'Tuesday Quiz Show,' a one-time bonus of points equivalent to A-Class will be awarded.
The amount is…
"Thirty thousand points per person."
"...!!"
Supervisor Park and Assistant Manager Eun froze as if struck by lightning.
"Thirty thousand??"
"Yes."
"Waaaah!"
The basic point reward for A-Class is 100,000 points.
Assuming the points are divided among the number of people entering the Darkness, with only two squads surviving, the estimate would have been under 17,000 points per person.
'But we just got nearly double that.'
And it didn't stop there.
"And a separate incentive has been awarded to the employee who played a decisive role in clearing the Darkness."
The lizard's head turned toward me.
"Kim Soleum-ssi."
– An additional 10,000 points awarded to the top contributor.
"A total of 40,000 points will be granted to you."
"..."
I just filled 8% of the Wish Ticket in one go.
'Wow.'
I was almost in a daze.
Am I disappointed that the A-Class clearance didn't officially get recorded?
No, it's actually better this way!
'There's no benefit in standing out and getting a super-fast promotion in this world.'
What happens if expectations rise beyond reason?
I'd surely be forced into even more difficult ghost stories, and the more I stand out, the harder it becomes to use the 'merch'.
Of course, there are special spaces and items that become accessible with a promotion, but priorities must not be mistaken.
This is a world where one wrong move means death!
'And considering I was at death's door… I definitely don't want to go near A-Class again.'
Looking at the points, it didn't feel like my efforts were wasted.
Apparently, the others felt the same.
"…I think I just heard my resignation come three years earlier."
"Same here."
But soon they composed themselves and said to me,
"Points aren't transferable, so… this feels a bit awkward."
"Right? Roe practically earned them all."
"No, it's fine."
Honestly, even if transferring was possible, I don't think they would have given them to me for any reason.
This isn't about character.
'These are people who got jobs in death zones to collect points for a Wish Ticket.'
For most members of the Field Exploration Team, their points are something they would never give up.
Hmm. I'll make sure to keep this firmly in mind.
"Woo-hoo!"
"They really came through."
We immediately returned to the office and registered the points.
[Kim Soleum / Accumulated Points: 40,100P]
'Whoa.'
I looked at the monitor.
A five-figure number.
Honestly, it hit me differently.
"Whew, I survived, and I scored big points…"
Assistant Manager Eun grinned.
"We should use the company card for a team dinner!"
"Ooooh!"
"Let's go, Roe!"
Without hesitation, I replied cheerfully.
"Yes!"
* * *
And now.
I'm watching the rare sight of a lizard eating premium beef…
Sizzle.
I'm trying my best to look natural as I watch the perfectly cooked beef disappear into the lizard's mouth.
"The Squad Leader's personality is a bit unique, but his skills are solid."
"Yeah. You're really lucky to be in our squad."
"…Yes."
It's almost certain I'm the only one seeing a lizard face.
Having read about Section Chief Lee Jaheon physically destroying ghost stories a few times, I could understand why the team members were so favorable toward him.
Anyway, ghost stories or not, the beef was delicious, and I found myself enjoying the dinner more than I expected.
'At least it's not uncomfortable.'
I also realized that having a little alcohol really helps ease the fear.
'Once I get home, I'm going to watch ten episodes of kids' cartoons and sleep with all the lights on.'
While I was planning this extreme bedtime routine, Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who had been eating green onion salad, suddenly asked,
"Are you going to save the 40,000 points?"
"Pardon?"
It was a natural question.
"Oh, um, yes. I need to buy a Wish Ticket."
"I see."
"..."
Wait a minute. This conversation pattern feels familiar.
I retraced our previous conversation.
So…
"Is there perhaps another useful way to spend points?"
"Yes."
"..."
Ah. So this is how I should have approached it…
Now I think I'm starting to understand how to deal with the Lizard Squad Leader. I felt a bit of relief as I asked in a more relaxed tone,
"What would that be?"
"Custom equipment."
"...!"
I didn't expect this to come up here…
'It finally came.'
One of the main perks of being an employee at
'Personalized equipment!'
-x-X-x-
This raises a question.
– If you recklessly throw employees into high-level, extremely dangerous ghost stories, won't they all die and fail to extract the concentrate?
To address this concern and make the progression of ghost stories more convenient, there's a setting where 'employees can obtain custom equipment that becomes more powerful as they are promoted'.
However, this isn't overly detailed. If they started breaking down the equipment into specific tiers and classifications, it would no longer be an internet ghost story but a massive game setting.
To make it easier for anyone to participate in the storytelling, a more convenient system was added.
– Customized personal equipment.
Employees who have proven their usefulness can receive supernatural equipment supported by the company.
Of course, this doesn't mean that ordinary employees wield cartoonish superpowers—just a slight boost in special abilities.
It's more about creating convenient situations.
'Still, it's great that it even exists.'
I unintentionally looked at Squad Leader Lee Jaheon with hopeful eyes, but when I made eye contact with the lizard, I quickly lowered my gaze.
I'm really not getting used to this.
"Oh, can I make custom equipment?"
"Yes."
"…Could you explain it to me?"
"Yes."
After asking three times, I finally got a detailed explanation.
Still, it was fascinating.
'This is something I only knew bits and pieces about.'
The scattered mentions from
"Custom equipment can be made using specific ghost stories owned by the company."
Right. They'd use the ghost stories, of course.
[Toy Maker of the Cheerful Lab / Qterw-E-07]
[Kind Seed Kit / Qterw-E-99]
[The Offering of the Ritual / Qterw-E-404]
In my memory, these were the three ghost stories mentioned in connection with equipment creation by
Among them, the one most used by the Field Exploration Team is…
"…That."
Oh!
* * *
"It just so happens this is a ghost story that can only be used during moonlit nights!"
While my squad members gladly accompanied me for the experience, I headed with the section chief to the annex next to the company building.
Seizing the moment while the iron was hot, my superiors urged me to go now.
"Oh… this place is where relatively safe and useful ghost stories are kept in isolation."
Assistant Manager Eun explained.
"The company usually calls these 'Twilight-Class'."
I already knew that.
Officially, these ghost stories are classified as E-Class.
However, simply calling them E-Class doesn't quite fit the classification system.
'They're carefully selected useful ones.'
Some are far stronger than D-Class or less dangerous than F-Class, which is why most people refer to them by their unique name, 'Twilight'.
"Roe, you saw that radio on your first day, right? It's useful because it tells you your fortune for the day. It's similar to that."
After Assistant Manager Eun scanned her employee ID, the first-floor entrance to the annex revealed a staircase leading down.
And as we descended the stairs… we found a dimly lit reception desk with a figure sitting behind it.
The figure was peculiar, dressed entirely in black with a mask, sunglasses, and even a hat.
Was this an employee?
Supervisor Park immediately rushed forward.
"Hello! We're Field Exploration Team's D-squad, visiting for new recruit training."
"..."
"We're requesting access to Twilight-Class ghost story number 99."
The dark figure gave Supervisor Park a brief, scrutinizing look before nodding.
With a nod, they pressed a button on the desk, and one of the emergency doors behind them opened.
Creak.
Beyond that door was a corridor lined with countless other doors.
"Don't open any other doors by mistake. Actually, they're probably locked, but let's not even touch the handles."
That's sound advice.
I nodded silently and began walking.
Soon, we stopped in front of the door labeled '99,' and Assistant Manager Eun placed her employee ID on the reader.
Click.
"Let's go in."
I lifted my head.
Moonlight was pouring into a greenhouse overgrown with weeds.
And in the center, a rusty machine stood bathed in moonlight.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Kind Seed Kit]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-E-99.
It treats objects as plants, extracting genetic information to crossbreed and sow them. Operates using moonlight as an energy source.
========================
That's right.
'If you put two objects in, it mixes their traits to create a new item.'
This was the ghost story primarily used by the Field Exploration Team for making custom equipment, and it certainly had the atmosphere of a ghost story. ŔαΝՕΒÊ𐌔
"This is the Darkness our department almost exclusively uses!"
I stood in front of the rusty machine and asked.
"Does it cost points to use this?"
"Yes. For the Twilight-Class Darkness stored in the annex, you have to pay a usage fee to activate them."
"Oh…"
"By the way, this one costs 1,000 points per use."
Wait a minute. Isn't that a bit odd?
"If it's equipment necessary for exploring ghost stories, shouldn't the company be subsidizing it instead of charging fees?"
As hopeless as this company is, they should at least cover that… right?
"Oh, once you become a supervisor, you can use it for free twice a year."
"..."
Maybe I should've gotten promoted after all.
-x-X-x-
"So most people wait until they're supervisors before using it. Usually, you only have to hold out for a year at most."
Hmm.
I thought it over.
'There's definitely a reason Section Chief Lee Jaheon considered this useful, even though it costs points.'
Even though he's known for relying mostly on brute force, I figured his instincts are sharp, too.
If a high-survival-rate employee gave special advice…
'It's probably the right decision to follow it.'
If investing 1,000 points could increase my survival rate early on, that would be the right call.
…Though my hands are shaking a bit!
"I'd like to try using it now."
"Okay!"
Supervisor Park gave a cheerful response, but then seemed to realize something and whispered.
"…But first, you know you need existing equipment to put in, right? Something with useful abilities to use as a genetic marker."
"Oh… right."
I'd already confirmed that in this ghost story's exploration records.
========================
Exploration Record #05
Employee N inserted a tumbler* and a backpack.
The tumbler* was a special item (liquid poured after sunrise doesn't empty until sunset, owned by Section Chief Choi ■■), while the backpack had no special attributes.
Seed result : Backpack
(Special attribute : Similar abilities to the tumbler, but empties after dispensing more than 87 liters of liquid.)
========================
"Don't worry! When a squad member is creating their first custom equipment, there's a tradition where someone from the squad lends them their equipment for free once."
"Yeah, but it's just one item, not both. For the other one, you have to either use your own stuff or pay to borrow it."
Assistant Manager Eun glanced at the Squad Leader Lee.
"And, well… the Squad Leader's equipment is the best among us."
As expected, he's the boss here.
"If you wouldn't mind, could I see your equipment, Squad Leader?"
"Sure."
The lizard pulled something out of his pocket.
It was a small, ash-colored knife.
"This is a butter knife. If you cut the medium for entering the Darkness, it tears the space, allowing the transfer of small items."
Oh.
"This is the equipment you used when you threw the AAA battery, isn't it?"
"Right."
I looked at the butter knife with newfound appreciation.
'I was hoping for some defense-related equipment… but I guess that's not easily found.'
Though a bit disappointed, none of the higher-ups' equipment seemed to be defense-related either.
There was one for tricks, one for communication, and that's about it.
'If push comes to shove, I can probably get something with a similar effect from the alien shop…'
I made up my mind.
"So, you'll put the Squad Leader's equipment in?"
"Yes."
Out of courtesy, I bowed my head.
"Thank you, Squad Leader."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon gave a slight nod and approached the machine.
On the old LCD screen, some archaic-looking text appeared.
[Give me plants 0/2]
I watched as the Squad Leader placed his equipment into the machine to scan its 'genetic information'.
[Plant information stored]
[Give me plants 1/2]
"Now you just need to put in the other item you want. …Oh, wait a second."
Assistant Manager Eun quickly spoke up.
"If this machine isn't completely weird, most things will work. But there's just one thing that doesn't."
He tapped the sign attached to the machine.
※ Do not insert actual plants.
"Whatever you do, don't literally give it plants, even though it's asking for them."
"..."
"The sensor at the door filters out all plants anyway, but I'm just telling you to be safe."
Now that my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I could see the nature of the overgrown weeds around us.
They were all fake. Artificial plants.
…One exploration record came to mind.
========================
Exploration Record #14 (Irregular)
Employee R picked weeds (presumably dandelions) growing near the Darkness and inserted them into the machine twice.
As a result, [redacted] burst out with a scream of [redacted], and then [redacted].
– It took 7 days for the Security Team to subdue the situation. All three employees present, including Employee R, were confirmed dead. All plants were removed. ṝＡΝꝋＢЕṣ
※ Notice: Repetition of this action will result in disciplinary action and termination.
========================
Yeah. I definitely need to remember that.
"Yes, thank you for letting me know."
"No need to thank me."
Meanwhile, the section chief finished registering the equipment and retrieved the knife, placing it back into his suit pocket.
"Generally, in the other slot, you'd insert ordinary items, but in that case, the supernatural characteristics may be weakly inherited, or, in rare cases, not inherited at all."
I nodded seriously, even though I already knew this.
"I understand. I'll accept the result, no matter what."
I reached into my pocket and pulled something out.
"Oh~ So you did stop by the dorm earlier. Looks like you found something you want to use?"
"Yes."
In my hand was a silver coin.
– Silver Serpent Coin. An item I had bought at a huge discount from the alien shop.
"I plan to use this."
I'll just put an item in the other slot.
I had quite a few supernatural items on hand!
That's why I was so pleased when I found out the ghost story the Field Exploration Team used was the 'Kind Seed Kit'.
'I have more sources for items than most people.'
From the black notepad that gave out merch from the void to the alien shop.
As soon as I stepped into this room, I had been mentally running through my lineup of items.
'And the one with the highest grade is…'
This one, of course.
I rolled the round coin with the snake engraving in my hand.
'It's the most expensive when you consider the original price.'
Besides, considering that Section Chief Lee Jaheon's butter knife was for 'resource supply', I hoped that this 'currency' would create some interesting synergy.
I brought the coin close to the machine.
The lizard's pupils widened as they saw the silver glint.
"That?"
"A commemorative coin. I bought it as a souvenir during a trip… but it just felt right."
"…I see."
…Did he realize it was an 'item'?
It didn't matter. This is a world where encountering ghost stories is commonplace. It's not too far-fetched for someone to unknowingly carry a supernatural object…
'And it's just a coin, so it doesn't look suspicious.'
It's a small, everyday item.
"It looks easy to carry. Seems like a good fit."
"Thank you."
I listened to my superiors' words of encouragement as I completed the scan.
[Plant information stored]
[Give me plants 2/2]
"Oh, now we're at the final step."
[Please provide the gardener's information]
That's why it's called 'custom equipment'.
I don't know what effect it has, but apparently, it requires the genetic information of the 'gardener' who will tend to the plant.
'This step seems to have different effects depending on various factors.'
Though conflicted, I completed the scan.
[Information confirmed]
Here it comes.
[Combining genetic information]
[Kit in progress…]
Colored smoke billowed from the machine, accompanied by the creaking sound of gears turning.
[Sowing complete]
Hiss.
The front drawer of the machine opened, revealing a small object.
A gray coin.
It looked like a toy coin you'd use in an arcade. Its shiny surface bore the engraving of a glove on the front.
"Oh, it's out."
"Congrats, Roe."
I carefully reached out and picked up the item.
It was my first piece of custom equipment.
* * *
I headed straight back to the company dormitory afterward.
My superiors also left, saying, "Get some rest, and we'll see you tomorrow."
It seemed they didn't want to make me do something stupid like test the equipment's abilities while still recovering from entering the Darkness.
"…Alright."
I sat on my bed and took out both coins.
One was the Silver Serpent Coin I had used as the "parent plant".
The other was the gray coin that had been created by combining the Silver Serpent and the Section Chief's butter knife.
Everything was great. But then…
"…How do I activate this?"
It wasn't moving at all.
'Now that I think about it, the Silver Serpent Coin wasn't exactly an item with explicitly stated supernatural powers either.'
Could this toy coin, which looks like it should be used as currency, really be the equipment I got? Sweat began to form on my forehead.
Fortunately, my worries were soon dispelled.
"So it does work like this."
I tried a classic action.
I flicked the coin with my thumb.
At that moment, the glove engraved on the front of the coin popped out, becoming real.
"...!"
A translucent silver glove appeared in midair.
The glove moved as if miming, writing something in the air.
[Insert coin]
…It's asking for a coin?
I rummaged through my wallet and pulled out a 100-won coin, offering it to the glove.
But the glove rejected it.
"What?"
Is it asking for a different currency? Or perhaps…
"How about this?"
I offered a 500-won coin.
The hand happily accepted the coin, slipped it between its fingers, and vanished with a magical gesture.
'Was it about the amount?'
This equipment operates strictly on capitalist logic.
As I stared in disbelief, the translucent glove floated toward my hand and merged with it, as if it were being worn.
"...!"
A strange sensation washed over me.
'A third… hand?'
In front of me, a shadow-like projection of my hand appeared.
It moved according to my will.
I could push against walls, open bathroom doors, even write with it.
'Its strength and precision are… about the same as mine.'
In summary, if I feed it a coin, it becomes a telekinetic third hand that can move for a few seconds.
The range is roughly… about 3 meters.
"If 500 won gets me 5 seconds, that's not bad."
Soon after, the shadow hand disappeared, and the translucent glove smoothly detached itself from my hand.
With a wave, as if bidding me farewell, it re-engraved itself onto the front of the coin.
"Hmm."
Not bad at all.
This isn't a tool that overcomes spatial limitations between ghost stories and reality, like the Section Chief's butter knife.
But in exchange, it feels like I have a wider operational range within a ghost story itself, making it seem quite versatile.
Of course, there's the limitation of how many 500-won coins I can carry in my suit while running around…
'But this is a successful pull.'
It's great that the coin didn't reveal itself as a supernatural item and just blended in.
"Work hard for the 1,000 points I invested."
I pocketed the coin alongside my other items.
While I was at it, I restocked my used-up 'Smiley Sticker' and grabbed another 'Can'.
'Humans really are creatures of adaptation.'
I lay down on the bed.
Surprisingly, I felt pretty good.
Even though closing my eyes brought back vivid images of that terrifying talk show, I could sleep decently as long as the lights were on.
Maybe it's because the situation ended well.
'…I did have some decent luck.'
My squad assignment worked out well, too.
'Maybe because I earned so many points at once, things feel a bit hopeful…'
Sleepiness started to wash over me, and I blinked slowly.
But then again, I still had a mountain of points to earn for that Wish Ticket, and I had no idea how many more ghost stories I'd need to clear.
Still, for the first time, I felt like I might be able to survive through it.
'Maybe I can quietly endure this.'
* * *
…That naive optimism lasted until only the next day, when I arrived at work and saw a company notice.
[Wow! A new recruit on their second day clears an A-Class crisis!]
"Roe, have a seat. It looks like we… well, your position is about to change."
"Pardon?"
I've only been working here for three days though?
-x-X-x-
Change of position.
In other words, a change in the tasks or department where someone primarily works.
This typically happens when you've been with a company for several years.
So, it's definitely not something you say to someone who's only been here for three days!
"…A position change? Does that mean I'll be transferred to a different department?"
I was desperately holding back from saying, 'What are you talking about right after lunch?' and instead asked politely.
"Well, actually… yeah. Did you see the notice? It just went up."
"...?!"
With a sinking feeling, I immediately checked the company intranet.
[Notice of Employee Rewards for Resolving Special Incident Qterw-D-43]
…Qterw-D-43 is the 'Tuesday Quiz Show'.
And to summarize the contents…
– Wow! A team solved a special incident in a D-Class ghost story and extracted A-Class essence? Now that's impressive! We'll be awarding a total of 100,000 points to the team!
– You saw that, right? You can do it too! Forget work-life balance, work like a beast and earn those points! Be like D-squad!
…And right there, clearly listed as the key contributor receiving 40,000 points, was my name: Kim Soleum.
"..."
I wish this were a dream.
And the worst part?
If this notice was what caused my position to change, then…
I felt a chill seeing the assistant manager's hollow expression.
"Finish reading it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yeah. D-squad, well… we achieved something unusual this time."
No way.
"Does that mean the entire squad is being reassigned?"
"Not exactly. It just means the type of work we'll be doing is changing."
Assistant Manager Eun downed her coffee in one gulp.
"Up until now, we've mostly been assigned to manage ghost stories with completed manuals."
Wait a second.
"Now they want us to handle ghost stories without completed manuals!"
"...!!"
In other words, they're going to throw us into ghost stories with no data!
"Seriously, just because we did well this one time, they're shoving us into even harder situations…"
Supervisor Park was already slumped over his desk, seemingly aware of the news. Even the caffeine seemed ineffective.
"Hello."
And right on cue, the squad leader with the lizard head walked into the office. Assistant Manager Eun immediately snapped.
"Squad Leader! They want us to go into ghost stories without manuals! Are they trying to get us all killed?"
"...? No, not at all."
"Huh?"
Perhaps there was a loophole, as a faint glimmer of hope appeared on the assistant manager's face…
"Even if the manual is complete, there's no guarantee of safety."
"..."
Oh, that's what he meant…
'What a pragmatic lizard this guy is…'
I barely managed to speak up.
"But isn't it more dangerous without a manual? There's no data to rely on."
The lizard tilted his head slightly to the side.
"I'm not sure. I haven't noticed much of a difference."
"..."
Ah, right. He's the guy who exorcises things with brute force…
'So, you've been bulldozing through everything up until now…'
I decided to ask directly.
"Is there any advantage to the current situation?"
"Yes."
"What kind of advantage?"
"Additional points are awarded."
"...!"
Supervisor Park suddenly lifted his head.
Typical of people obsessed with points.
"H-How much more, Squad Leader?"
"A lot."
"How much exactly?"
"On average, two to three times more compared to ghost stories of similar grades."
"...!"
"What's the highest multiplier you've seen, Squad Leader?"
"Fifteen times."
Suddenly, the assistant manager and the supervisor's eyes changed.
'That's the look of stock traders.'
It was the same expression people have right before they buy into a speculative biotech stock based on rumors.
It seems the allure of 30,000 points was too sweet to resist…
Normally, someone with common sense would try to stop this, but… well, to be honest, for me…
'It's basically guaranteed returns…'
There's not much difference whether there's a manual or not.
I already know more detailed information from the exploration records than any manual could provide!
So then.
'It's like a triple points event… right?'
.
.
And so, a short while later.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
Without any resistance, D-squad accepted the new assignment and set off.
'Let's earn those points.'
Our destination was the 17th floor.
"From the 20th to the 17th floor, it's mostly used by the development headquarters."
Assistant Manager Eun frowned as she pressed the buttons.
"And the 17th floor… is where the researchers who scout for new Darkness work."
Ding.
As the elevator doors opened, a white, artificial-looking office space typical of a combined laboratory and office came into view. Standing there, already waiting for us, was someone who extended their hand.
"Wow~ Is this the friend I've been hearing about? Awesome, just awesome~"
Definitely someone above my rank.
I reflexively shook the outstretched hand.
"I'm Kim Soleum. Nice to meet you."
"Oh, you've got good manners too."
The man in a white lab coat and glasses looked fairly young, but considering the strange nature of this world, I decided not to jump to conclusions based on appearances.
After greeting the rest of D-squad, the man turned back to me.
"I'm Kwak Jaekang from Research Team 1. Nice to meet you. Looking forward to working with you~"
"...! I look forward to working with you too."
Our squad's assistant manager whispered to me.
"Don't worry. He's just a section chief."
Aren't you just an assistant manager…?
But that wasn't what surprised me. I recognized this person.
========================
Researcher Kwak Jaekang
: An employee from Research Team 1 in the Raw Materials Development Department of Daydream Inc., featured in
Frequently mentioned in the early records of explorations into newly registered Darkness.
========================
Another named character appeared.
'His personality, though… um.'
========================
One of the few employees described as 'cheerful and sociable'.
But…
========================
Hmm.
I quietly followed the squad without revealing my thoughts.
"We'll be seeing each other often from now on, right, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?"
"Yes."
...
Aiyah.
"May I ask why?"
"Yes."
Finally, the lizard explained.
"Research Team 1 studies and standardizes methods for entering new Darkness. So, you'll frequently meet D-squad, as you'll be the ones exploring the new Darkness that hasn't yet been documented."
In short, they're the team that assigns us our work.
'They find new Darkness here and pass it onto the Field Exploration Team's advance unit…'
"Oh, come on, you always explain things in such a difficult way, Section Chief Lee. And you're not even a researcher!"
The Research Team's section chief patted the lizard section chief on the back. The lizard's unblinking pupils shifted toward him, as if confused.
It kind of felt like watching a thriller movie…
"Anyway, today's Darkness is ready for you to enter. Don't forget your Dream Essence Collector, alright?"
Assistant Manager Eun's face briefly flashed an expression like, 'Why is this guy from another department telling us the obvious?' but Supervisor Park's frantic hand gestures stopped her from speaking out loud.
"Check the records of ordinary people who went in and came out, as well as the team that previously entered."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon took the documents from the Research Team.
Meanwhile, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"...?"
I turned to find a grinning researcher talking to me.
"Hey, do you want to bet on whether it's D-Class or F-Class?"
"Pardon?"
"We like to place small bets among ourselves. You should try it—it's fun."
"No, thank you."
I answered immediately.
'Is this guy out of his mind?'
What if they get audited…? And this guy's talking gambling right in front of his boss.
I glanced at the Research Team's section chief reflexively.
But this researcher shrugged.
"Eh, it's no big deal. It's not like someone's going to die because of a little bet."
"..."
"Haha. Oh, look at that—your expression didn't even change. You've got guts, Soleum-ssi."
I was too dumbfounded to control my facial muscles.
'Isn't this crossing the line for a workplace?'
It's certainly fitting behavior for a researcher in a world based on creepypastas.