"Just kidding. The Darkness we're dealing with today isn't life-or-death serious. A lot of regular people escaped from it… though the Planning Team did have a hard time covering up all the fuss the Disaster Management Bureau made about it~"
"..."
When none of D-squad's members responded, the Research Team 1 section chief just smiled and organized the remaining documents.
"Hoh."
The researcher who had been talking about bets looked over at us with a sneer, crossed his arms, and took on a casual, spectator-like stance.
'Is it really okay to act like that at work…?'
I wasn't feeling great about it, but it's not like work in this company is ever exactly pleasant. What mattered now was the Darkness we'd been assigned.
What kind of ghost story was it?
"Oh, Roe, you should take a look too."
"Yes."
I took the documents my superior handed me.
'I bet it's something I'm familiar with.'
And considering many civilians had escaped, it seemed like it wouldn't be too bad. At worst, maybe a D-Class story?
I should be able to handle it without too much trouble.
So, no need to panic…
"Roe, did you read this? Something about portraits of clowns… oh, if you see a clown ad, you get pulled in?"
Clown ad…?!
No way, it couldn't be…
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[The Clown Hates You]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-D-210.
It involves an endless hallway lined with various clown portraits, where people are doomed to wander forever.
Upon closer inspection, the portraits aren't of actual clowns but grotesquely twisted people forced into clown-like appearances, with distorted grins.
========================
"..."
No way.
========================
The longer you stay, the more distorted and bizarre the portraits become.
Those who go missing in this ghost story become new clown portraits.
This is a rare, full-blown horror movie-style ghost story in terms of exploration records.
========================
Wow.
I scanned the exploration record with trembling eyes.
...
It's really that.
'Wow, it's here.'
A full-on horror theme, way scarier than the convenience store ghost.
"Haha, well, let's head in then!"
Excuse me!
Forget the triple points event—just cancel it! I don't want to go in!
* * *
But of course, in society, words like that don't really fly…
"..."
I opened my eyes. Before me was a dark, pitch-black hallway—no, more like a corridor, just as gloomy as my future.
The walls were plastered with grotesque clown portraits, each bearing twisted, unsettling expressions.
'F-Fuck.'
The method for entering this place was terrifying from the start:
1- Watch a YouTube ad featuring a clown with a red nose laughing maniacally while staring directly at the viewer.
2- In any enclosed indoor hallway, a clown's hand suddenly appears from around a corner.
3- If you get too close, it grabs your wrist and pulls you into this hallway.
I nearly passed out just from that part.
'This is insane.'
I looked around nervously. The exploration records played vividly in my mind, warning me of all the terrifying things that would happen no matter which wall I approached.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
'Honestly, anyone would be scared of this place, not just me…'
"Hm. It's not that dark. We probably don't need to turn on our flashlights."
"Section Chief! Shouldn't we wait until our eyes adjust to the dark?"
"Right. Close your eyes for 60 seconds."
"Yes, sir!" responded Supervisor Park in a clear, confident voice.
"..."
Are they serious?
To calmly suggest closing our eyes for a full minute in a dark hallway filled with unsettling clown portraits?
"Roe, close your eyes too."
I guess that's the plan.
"Yes, sir."
I pretended to close my eyes but instead stared at the floor, sweat pouring down my face.
I just realized something.
These people.
They're basically immune to fear.
Unless it's a life-threatening situation, their threshold for fear is absurdly high!
They're the kind of people who would say things like, 'The scariest thing in life is people,' and find horror movies boring!
'Well, that's probably why they work here!'
But no matter how brave they are, surely they wouldn't be able to stay so calm if those grotesque portraits started moving…
"Hmm… If you get too close to the portraits or stab them, sometimes they crawl out and chase after you."
"Oh, right. When that happens, the painting becomes empty, and a few people have used that as a way to escape back to reality."
"I see."
Section Chief Lee's voice remained calm and composed.
"Stab every portrait you see."
I nearly yelped.
"Yes, sir! If anything comes to life, I'll signal and run immediately!"
"Yes. We'll repeat the attempt every hour."
"Oh, did it say they crawl? That's good, less mobility."
"Exactly. Oh, Roe! I noticed earlier—there's a clown with strange eyes over there on the left. Looks just like a movie poster, doesn't it?"
"..."
"It resembles the description of a missing civilian. I guess when you go missing here, you end up like that."
I couldn't help but look up.
In the eerie darkness, there was a portrait of a clown, with a button for one eye, smeared in colorful clown makeup, baring a forced, toothy grin.
'…It moved.'
I was sure of it—the pupil of its remaining eye just shifted.
"..."
"Roe, want to try touching that one first?"
Ah, no!! Please, just stop!
"…Uh, yes."
Why did I say yes? I can't even go near it!
A strong sense of foreboding hit the back of my neck.
If I keep matching the tempo of these lunatics, I won't survive here.
"So, Roe will start with the upper-left portrait…"
"Wait a second."
"Hmm?"
This is my chance!
"I think I've figured out the right way to escape."
"W-What?"
It's been less than a minute since we got here, but anyway, I've figured it out! Just trust me!
"I deduced it from reading the records of civilian escapees."
Has my brain ever worked this fast before?
'I can't let these fearless maniacs take the lead!'
"First, we must not touch the other portraits."
"Huh? Why?"
Because I'm terrified, that's why.
But my mouth said something different.
"…There must be a specific correct answer."
Is this what survival instinct feels like?
I immediately pulled out the toy coin from my equipment and summoned the translucent glove into the air.
Then, I handed over twenty 500-won coins to the glove as if I were dumping them on a big-time YouTuber.
(T/N: Approx. 8 USD total)
The glove froze for a second, like it was in shock from the generous donation, then happily spun around in the air before merging with my hand.
"Wait, is that your equipment, Roe?"
"Yes. It allows me to remotely touch objects."
"Whoa."
At least now I didn't have to approach the clown portraits and touch them myself.
But I pretended I had a different plan, nodding seriously as if deep in thought.
"From now on… I want to run and see as many portraits as possible. We need to find the correct one."
I looked at Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
"And starting now, the portrait I describe will be the correct one."
"..."
"If you spot it, please tell me immediately. Is that okay?"
If this works, I won't have to examine each and every clown portrait myself!
'Of course, if he responds with Who's this rookie to boss us around?, it's all over…'
But Section Chief Lee didn't seem like the type to be obsessed with authority.
Even though he had a lizard's head! And maybe even thinks like a lizard!
"Sure."
It worked!
Relief coursed down my spine, almost making my legs give out, but I held on, nodding as if everything was still under control.
"Then, I'll start running."
I acted as if I were testing out some brilliant new hypothesis, one that required running to test properly…
'Though it's actually not necessary at all…'
Escaping from here is surprisingly simple.
'You can touch any portrait you want, and it won't affect finding the correct one…'
If you're brave enough, you could just stroll around casually and figure it out.
But I had already learned my lesson.
I learned the hard way during that game of tag with the ghost at the convenience store.
What's the key to survival for a coward?
'Speedrun!'
Haunted house midway escape.
Let's go!
-x-X-x-
Around the time Field Exploration Team's D-squad entered the ghost story,
"Section Chief, what do you think the grade will be this time? D-Class again, most likely?"
"Hey, Supervisor Lee. You should be more tactful about these things, yeah?"
"..."
"It's fun and all, but let's keep it within the Development Department. Don't bring it up when other teams are around. Got it?"
"…Ah, yes."
The Research Team supervisor, who had been grinning as he talked about betting with Kim Soleum, finally shut his mouth.
How annoying. He had underestimated Section Chief Kwak Jaekang, thinking he was young and easygoing, so it was unpleasant to be scolded over something like this.
And this irritation reminded him of someone else who had seemed even more irritating—an easy target.
That rookie from the Field Exploration Team!
'The nerve of him, staring down at his superiors.'
He had tried to include the rookie in the bet, but the new hire had outright refused, looking completely unimpressed.
Kim Soleum, wasn't it?
'You're just a lab rat for human experiments, so where's your attitude coming from?'
If you're a rookie in the Field Exploration Team, half of your life is already forfeit. But seeing him act all stiff-necked just because he made some achievement? It was laughable.
He had heard stories of clueless rookies like this every year, and now, he was seeing one for himself.
'Will he die? It'd be hilarious if he did.'
His morally numb brain anticipated a rush of dopamine, making him salivate a bit at the thought.
He quickly sent a message in the company's anonymous betting group chat.
– am betting 10 on d-class
– kk
It was more than a bet—it was his hope. The chances of them dying would be much higher if it were D-Class!
Then, a superior interrupted his thoughts.
"Supervisor Lee, make sure the preliminary report is ready by the end of the day."
"…Yeees."
'Not like the lab rats will make it out of the Darkness before my shift ends anyway.'
His boss was making him handle the kind of tasks he'd normally pass on to his junior during a shift change. Why did he have such bad luck with supervisors? ȓἈɴȰβÊŝ
Grumbling internally, the Research Team assistant supervisor continued writing the preliminary experiment report.
3.2 Test Subjects
Adults over the age of 18 who have seen the five-second video ad titled 'The Clown Hates You', played as a promotion on a certain video platform 4.
'After watching that, they approached the clown's hand, which then dragged them in, right?'
Isn't approaching something like that just stupid?
If you see something suspicious, you should run away. From that point, it's already natural selection at work.
'But then, there are the lucky civilians who manage to escape.'
According to the testimonies of surviving civilians, they managed to return to reality by jumping into the empty portrait after a clown left.
'The test subjects know that going in.'
However, there wasn't any clear indication of which portrait was the right one.
The hallway types, the sizes of the portraits, the frame designs, even the timing—it all varied.
It seemed that most people who escaped had simply jumped into the empty portraits by chance and got lucky.
'Finding the correct portrait is going to be a real grind.'
The Darkness required a lot of stamina, with people having to wake up clowns, evade them, and sometimes even fight them off.
At the same time, not knowing which portrait was the right one must have been nerve-wracking!
At least one or two deaths were practically guaranteed in this scenario. They'd probably make sacrifices as they tested out different portraits.
'For someone to escape, it'll take at least half a day, maybe even a few days…'
"Waaaaah!"
"Clear!"
"..."
"..."
Wait, what?
The researcher turned his head.
From the corner of the lab, a group of people suddenly poured in.
…It was the entire Field Exploration Team D-squad!
"...?!"
"Is the Dream Essence Collector full?"
"Yes! Oh, it's D-Class!"
He reflexively checked his watch.
It was 2:41 PM.
'They entered at 2:15 PM…'
Only 26 minutes had passed since they entered.
Wait.
'…26 minutes?!'
Seeing the four members of D-squad emerge from the ghost story in less time than it would take for a quick coffee break, a heavy silence settled over Research Team 1's office.
'Am I dreaming?'
No.
'Are we the ones trapped in a ghost story?'
Not that either.
"…My goodness! How did you all get out so quickly? Section Chief, did you smash your way through again?"
Kwak Jaekang's admiration was met with an immediate response.
"No."
"Right."
"He did it."
Kwak Jaekang's gaze shifted to the D-squad superiors speaking in unison.
"…Nice to see you again."
The rookie who had quietly been standing at the back bowed his head.
It was Kim Soleum.
"…This friend did it?"
The unspoken question, 'Isn't he just a rookie?' was met with a casual reply.
"What's new?"
"Roe was like this on his first day, too."
"...??"
The assistant manager and supervisor of D-squad didn't say anything more and began organizing their equipment. Section Chief Lee Jaheon nodded.
"That's how it is."
"..."
"This ghost story is D-Class."
"Ah, yes, of course."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon promptly started his report. Kwak Jaekang, accustomed to his efficiency-driven, stream-of-consciousness style, responded right away.
"So, what's the clear mechanism?"
"? I don't know."
"..."
"Oh. May I explain?"
The rookie raised his hand from the back.
"Uhh, sure… go ahead."
"First, to enter this Darkness, you must have seen the pre-entry ad, 'The Clown Hates You,' right?"
"That's correct."
"But, the clown is not actually a clown."
"...??"
"Clowns wear colorful makeup, smile cheerfully, and perform tricks. They're a type of traditional entertainer."
And?
"But this clown wears monochromatic makeup and has a frowning face."
"...!"
"There's a clear distinction."
A faint smile flickered on Kim Soleum's pale face before disappearing.
"And since the ad says, 'The Clown Hates You,' I assumed it wouldn't chase us."
After all, entertainers don't chase people they dislike.
"So I looked for the portrait with monochromatic makeup and only red lips, and I avoided all the other portraits."
"..."
"To be cautious, I kept a safe distance of 3 meters and remotely touched the portrait."
He considered all that while clearing a ghost story in just half an hour? And based on the outcome…
"The clown didn't come out of the portrait."
"...!"
"Instead, it quietly disappeared from the painting."
This rookie had identified the correct solution.
While previous civilians had been chased by clowns falling out of various portraits, D-squad, interacting only with one from a safe distance, had figured out the situation perfectly.
The researcher felt chills running down his spine.
The rookie even factored in other variables.
"There was a record stating that shining light on the portraits would cause all the clowns to jump out, so we didn't use any light sources."
"Huh? Then how did you manage to identify the portraits from 3 meters away in such Darkness?"
"Oh."
Kim Soleum blinked.
"The Section Chief could see them just fine."
"..."
Ah.
Kwak Jaekang tried not to turn and look at D-squad's section chief, who seemed like the embodiment of 'strength in human form'.
"From now on, I believe future entrants should bring night vision goggles, and they should have no problems."
"Ah, I see… that makes sense."
"That concludes my report."
Another heavy silence followed.
Kwak Jaekang muttered quietly to himself.
"He figured all this out just from reviewing the pre-entry information?"
"Yes."
The rookie added, as if he'd just realized something.
"Maybe none of the people who entered before were familiar with American pop culture."
"..."
Could it really be explained that simply…?
"Uh, Soleum-ssi, did you study abroad or something?"
"No, I didn't."
Kim Soleum answered immediately.
"I just happen to know a lot of random stuff."
"..."
The researchers witnessed the rare sight of Kwak Jaekang, usually a smooth talker, at a loss for words!
"Oh, I've also written a temporary manual based on this theory. Supervisor Park Minseong was kind enough to lend me a notebook…"
"Oh, I didn't do anything~ Roe, you did it all~"
As Park's words echoed in the background, the researchers watched as Kwak Jaekang received the notebook from him.
They craned their necks to peek inside.
Sure enough, the hypothesis Kim Soleum had explained earlier was neatly organized in the notebook.
'...!'
Kwak Jaekang quickly skimmed through it, then closed it with a smile.
"…Interesting. Let's test it."
"Yes."
Thus, the prototype manual was completed, all thanks to a single person—a rookie, no less.
"..."
The researcher who had made the bet earlier briefly wondered if he was dreaming. Even if Soleum had known about clowns by chance… how could someone come up with a theory and escape in just thirty minutes, even in a life-threatening situation?
No. Does that even make sense?
'Could he be some kind of monster pretending to be human?'
But then again, there's no way something like that would get hired by the Field Exploration Team. And besides, the Dream Essence Collector only reacts to humans, right?
"Squad Leader, the Research Team wants that piece you brought back from the Darkness."
"Alright."
Meanwhile, Section Chief Lee Jaheon handed over a piece of cloth he had been holding.
"What is that…?"
"Oh, Squad Leader Lee grabbed it when the portrait clown tried to escape…"
It was a torn piece of fabric from when Squad Leader Lee had sprinted 3 meters to grab the clown by the collar, preventing its escape.
"..."
'Are they birds of a feather?'
Were the two somehow related? Now that he thought about it, they did resemble each other a bit. Both had a slick, sharp appearance. The researcher nearly let his imagination run wild with absurd thoughts.
And, back to the rookie who had caused such shock and alarm…
'I, I'm alive.'
His heart was still racing from acting impulsively, not thinking of the consequences.
'Why did the clown have teeth?! Why was it peeling off people's skin?! Why was it sucking people into the sewer like balloons?!'
Having witnessed all sorts of terrifying, animated clown portraits, he'd probably developed a fear of clowns for life.
'Another reason for insomnia added to the list…'
What amazed him was how he had managed to bluff his way through the situation, talking his way out of it.
'Wait, did I really pull it off?'
Wasn't I acting too suspicious?
I hope they don't think I had a cheat sheet and end up dragging me to some secret lab in the basement of Daydream Inc.!
Just as Kim Soleum was about to let his anxiety take over, Kwak Jaekang, who had quietly been holding the notebook, finally spoke.
"…New Hire Kim Soleum. Haven't you gotten your business card printed yet?"
Kim Soleum, snapping back to reality, responded promptly.
"No, new hires don't receive business cards yet…"
"Oh, don't play dumb. You know what I mean."
"..."
Suddenly, something came to mind.
The business card the host had handed him at the welcome party.
───
If needed
010-0153-24865
───
The Research Team 1's section chief smirked.
"If you want to earn points faster, contact that number."
"..."
"I have a feeling you'll be calling soon."
It sounded like a tempting offer.
However.
"No, thank you."
Kim Soleum responded without hesitation.
"…Hmm. If that's your decision."
Kwak Jaekang shrugged and let it go lightly.
"Is there any particular reason not to? Haha."
"..."
The reason was simple.
'More terrifying events? No, thank you.'
His heart, still shaken by the recent ordeal, couldn't take it.
Kim Soleum had already decided to settle for the current 'triple points event' and leave it at that!
-x-X-x-
I'll be honest.
Now, it's been a month since I joined.
Surprisingly, working at a ghost story corporation… it's actually bearable!
"Wow, crazy, another clear in 30 minutes!"
"Are they actually doing better than C-squad?"
Hearing lines that sound like they belong in some YouTube web drama, spoken in real life, is surreal.
"Hey, enjoy it. All of this is your achievement."
It was lunchtime.
Assistant Manager Eun, proudly carrying both the A and B menu options from the cafeteria, spoke coolly.
By the way, we'd already cleared one case this morning.
"Thanks to Roe, I'm doing the crazy thing of clearing twelve new ghost stories in a month."
"No, it's all thanks to your excellent leadership."
"Leadership, my foot. I'm just enjoying the ride."
"That's right. I'll buy beef today, Soleum-sunbaenim."
"Minseong-ah, that's a bit…"
"Hey, what's wrong with that? Roe's definitely more of a sunbae than me."
When a superior makes jokes like this, it can be surprisingly hard to react without feeling awkward…
But, whether it was a joke or genuine, Supervisor Park didn't wait for my reaction. Instead, he showed off his excitement, proudly displaying a screenshot of his monthly point accumulation.
"Already 5,000 points!"
Yeah.
[Supervisor Park Minseong / Accumulated Points: 5,200P]
That's also how many points I earned in a month.
'Speedruns do work…'
I never imagined my survival tactics would end up like this.
Most of the ghost stories were F-Class or D-Class, so it was manageable.
'It seems like high-level ones don't come around often.'
If they did, the world would have ended already with a 'And so, the world perished' finale for this universe.
Anyway, my superiors were more excited than I was. They seemed to find it more amusing since it wasn't their work.
"Probably the fastest record for a new hire in the company's history, right?"
"Oooh!"
Ah, now that I think about it, I've barely seen any of the other new recruits.
Since I've been going in and out of the Research Team's office at the 17th floor daily, I haven't had many opportunities to meet the other squads of the Field Exploration Team. RÁNՕ฿ĚȘ
'And Baek Saheon and I are still pretending the other doesn't exist.'
To maintain the crazy persona I adopted, I'd sometimes throw in over-the-top work-related jokes.
– You're going on a ghost investigation today, right? Wanna bet on how many civilians die?
– ...
The researcher who liked to gamble gave me some inspiration. Thanks, buddy.
Anyway, seeing Baek Saheon gritting his teeth and ignoring me showed that my approach was effective.
'Smooth sailing.'
I finished the last sip of my galbi-tang (short ribs soup) and set the bowl down.
Clocking out on time, and getting bonuses.
'The cafeteria food's not bad either.'
In terms of benefits, this company would probably get a 3.5 rating or higher on sites like 'Employment Korea'.
Of course, there's the massive stress that comes with essentially spending every day in haunted houses where ghosts appear…
'Things I would've refused to do no matter what before… Well, that's just typical corporate life now, I guess.'
And just like any other job, the sense of accomplishment from getting results somehow makes you think it's not so bad.
"Roe."
Assistant Manager Eun spoke softly and quietly.
"At this rate, higher-ups are bound to take notice."
"…Pardon?"
"Your performance, I mean."
"..."
"You can chalk it up to luck once or twice, but not ten times in a row."
Assistant Manager Eun squinted and grinned.
"Someone higher up will definitely want to take a closer look at you. When that happens, make sure to let us know. Tell the squad leader too."
Hmm.
If this were a normal company, I'd be worrying about credit being stolen and might've considered keeping quiet. But here?
This is the world of horror stories, and my superiors had already experienced me saving their lives before.
I nodded obediently.
"Yes, I will."
"See, even though he may not look like it… or rather, just by looking at him, you can tell our squad leader is quite exceptional, right?"
Our eyes followed Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was finishing his meal quickly and leaving the cafeteria.
"If you ever get an absurd request, just ask for his help once. He'll cover for you."
That lizard?
"…Understood."
"Okay. Roe, you're good at understanding things."
To be honest, I wasn't fully convinced, but I just nodded. That's something I'll have to keep secret for the future.
Anyway… So, they might start talking about me in the higher-ups, huh?
I stood up, clearing my tray, while thinking.
'At this point, it's inevitable that I'll stand out.'
I've pretty much accepted that.
After all, if I'd seen a clown crawling out of a portrait with only its upper body, I probably would've passed out on the spot…
But there's one thing I can rely on.
'They can't give a newbie anything harder than this, right?'
If they do, it wouldn't be a simple job dump but actual core tasks for the department.
Making a new recruit, who's only been here a month and isn't even experienced, handle the department's core responsibilities?
That's something you'd only see in a crazy YouTube skit. Plus, it would go against the unwritten rules of any big corporation.
I'll just chalk this up to my work evolving into 'unhandled ghost stories' and consider myself lucky.
If this becomes a regular thing, they'll just think, 'Oh, this guy's specialized in that area,' and get used to it.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yes, ma'am."
I made my decision and returned my dishes.
However, at that moment, as I was getting used to this strange world and work life, I forgot one universal truth about society.
The one about…
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down!
-x-X-x-
At the same time, in the office of Research Team 1.
'They cleared it again in just over an hour…'
One researcher, who had been slacking off while reviewing Team D's records, gritted his teeth.
'How many points have they earned so far? 5,000P?'
At this rate, within a few years, they might break the record for fastest Wish Ticket acquisition…
"..."
"Lucky you, huh?"
The researcher muttered bitterly.
"Some of us are stuck in the lab, facing all sorts of horrors, and we can barely scrape together 500 points a month without hazard pay."
"..."
"Meanwhile, a newbie racks up 50,000 points in a month…"
"Hey, cut it out."
The researcher clammed up.
The fact that he couldn't even complain about the situation made him even more frustrated inside.
Something wasn't right.
'Some people get lucky and pick the best equipment, making points easily.'
Meanwhile, others don't even have access to those kinds of points or privileges, not even in their wildest dreams.
'The Field Exploration Team should be below research positions. We're the elite, and we should be treated better—this isn't fair.'
It was truly unfair.
That thought was genuine.
Of course, he conveniently forgot that he had often mocked the Field Exploration Team employees, calling them 'lab rats'.
"Well, sometimes things just fall into place during ghost explorations. That's how it goes."
Section Chief Kwak Jaekang commented with a smile, throwing a casual remark toward the researcher.
"Though, I admit, this case is something else."
"..."
Ignoring the researcher's sour expression, Kwak Jaekang flicked through the documents.
"Oh, and I hear this ghost story requires more than 10 people to enter?"
"..."
"Supervisor Lee?"
"Ah, yes. That's correct. You need ten people to enter the ghost story."
"Hmm."
With a smile, Kwak Jaekang picked up a pen.
"Looks like this will be a team effort, then."
– Assigned : Squads A, D & Y
"..."
The researcher watched as Kwak Jaekang pulled out the roster and marked the squads.
And then it happened.
"Supervisor Lee."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what the alphabetical order of the Field Exploration Teams means?"
He did not.
Since he was just doing his job on autopilot and keeping his head down, there was no way he would be well-versed in the organizational structure of other departments.
Kwak Jaekang laughed and casually tapped the documents. It was a strange kind of laughter.
"In a word, it's ranked by performance."
"...!"
"You know how schools have honors classes, regular classes, and remedial classes?"
The researcher suddenly realized something.
"Then… is D-squad an honors class?"
"No."
A firm denial came back.
"A to C. Those are the elites."
Kwak Jaekang tapped his pen on the corresponding teams.
"The rest are just expendables."
"…Ah."
For a brief moment, the researcher felt a little better.
"But you know, just between us… D-squad's performance has been so good lately that there's some talk about a big promotion during the next assignment cycle. Haha."
"...!"
As with any corporate gossip, such overly bold statements were usually not reliable rumors.
Still, the researcher felt a bit anxious.
'Is there any bad news?'
As if on cue, Kwak Jaekang mumbled something in a seemingly regretful tone.
"But man, what bad timing. They're entering together with A-squad…"
"...! Is it bad to go in with the elite team?"
"Well, of course. You know why, right?"
Kwak Jaekang stroked his chin.
"There are times when a sacrifice is needed to open an escape route in certain ghost stories."
Especially…
In those that require large teams.
Kwak Jaekang shrugged.
"This exploration is going to give us plenty to talk about."
* * *
A few days later.
Just like the past month, D-squad received a call and headed up to the 17th floor. There, they were met with an unexpected sight.
"Hello."
"...?!"
There were other visitors in Research Team 1's office.
People wearing various masks.
'Are they from another squad in the Field Exploration Team?'
I quickly counted the heads.
There were about seven of them.
Among them was someone I recognized.
– Can it bring the dead back to life?
It was the same new hire who had asked about the Wish Ticket at the orientation.
That one wearing a cow mask was quietly standing with his head bowed, leaning against a desk. There was a slightly gloomy aura around him.
His hair was long, especially for a man, to the point where you might expect the company to give him a hard time about it.
Of course, it didn't seem like anyone in this room cared about such things.
"Oh."
"This… Ahem…"
As D-squad's seniors reacted to the people filling the office space, with some mixture of admiration and sighs…
"Oh, D-squad is finally here! Come in, come in~ Let's start the briefing."
Kwak Jaekang appeared and began leading everyone into the attached meeting room.
As we walked, I overheard Assistant Manager Eun asking a question.
"Are we going in together with the other teams?"
"That's right, that's right."
"..."
Assistant Manager Eun glanced around, then quietly walked over to me and whispered low enough that others couldn't hear.
"See those employees with the gold-marked masks?"
"Yes."
"That's the A-squad."
I knew.
'They're the elite team.'
In Daydream Inc., the company could only function if someone cleared the ghost stories and extracted the resources.
'To avoid a plot hole where the company collapses, there has to be a group of people inhumanly good at their job…'
That's why A-squad was known for having so many notable figures in the
-x-X-x-
A-squad consisted of three people wearing a butterfly, praying mantis, and teal duck mask.
Then, the person wearing the teal duck mask from A-squad spoke up.
It was the voice of an energetic, older woman.
"Oh, so you're that famous Employee Kim Soleum?"
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you."
I instinctively bowed my head, but cold sweat started to form.
'That' Kim Soleum? What kind of rumors are circulating about me?
"Right, right. If we get the chance, let's meet sometime. You've got a bright future ahead, kid."
The woman passed by me and took her seat.
…That must be the leader of A-squad.
Assistant Manager Eun continued explaining.
"And… the ones without the gold marks on their masks are the Y-squad."
"..."
Three people wearing masks without gold marks, plus the new employee with the cow mask that I recognized. There was a somewhat gloomy atmosphere surrounding them.
"The leader of Y-squad isn't a manager, just a regular employee, but don't worry about it. Just stay quiet."
"Yes, ma'am."
I already knew that, too.
Supervisor Park whispered to me.
"Um… Roe. The people you met today from the other squads, especially the Y-squad, just keep things light with them, okay? I'll tell you why later."
"Yes, sir."
I nodded without question. I already had a rough idea of what that 'later explanation' might be.
But suddenly, Supervisor Park sitting next to me seemed touched.
"Huh. Honestly… I love that you're like a more tactful version of the section chief."
"I think so too."
"..."
Was that… a compliment?
"Alright, if everyone could take their seats, let's get started with the briefing."
Kwak Jaekang stood in front of the board without even turning on the prompter.
"I was going to explain the ghost story you'll be entering today, but…!"
Kwak Jaekang let out a chuckle.
"The truth is, we don't know much."
"...??"
"What do you mean by that, Section Chief Kwak?"
"There's only one piece of information from a civilian escape!"
"…Hoh."
In the silence, a few documents were handed out. I looked over the brief page, which was more like a memo.
While playing a board game during a club retreat at Hanmaeum-gadeuk Pension in Gangwon-do, all 12 university students went missing.
The board game in question is presumed to be a creation of Cheerful Research Institute* under the trademark 'Cheerful Theme Park! ~Joyful Fantasyland Adventure~'.
The survivors stated that the board game was 'already placed inside the pension'.
The pension owner denies this.
Result : After 17 hours, some members returned.
They testified to 'living inside a theme park within the board game'. Various symptoms such as delusions, PTSD, and mild to severe neuroses were reported.
Survivors : 4
Missing : 1
Deceased : 7
The next page contained brief statements from each survivor about their time in the 'board game theme park'. The descriptions were fragmented, likely due to their severe psychological trauma.
But even that was enough for me to recognize it.
I swallowed hard.
'It's about time for this one.'
It finally arrived.
A ghost story requiring a large group to participate!
"The player limit for this board game must exceed 10 people? That's why the group size is so large?"
"Yes, yes, we tried to recreate the conditions as closely as possible."
Kwak Jaekang winked.
"But! Despite the harsh circumstances, my team has figured out the best way to enter."
"You just brought the board game, didn't you?"
"Haha! Don't be so harsh, Assistant Manager Jin. We even got the game rules."
The A-squad employee in the butterfly mask didn't respond, but Kwak Jaekang didn't mind as he placed the board game on the table.
"Here it is."
[Cheerful Theme Park!]
~Joyful Fantasyland Adventure~
: Be the first team to ride all three fantasy attractions with your teammates and win spectacular prizes!
The front of the nearly brand-new box was adorned with a colorful depiction of Fantasyland.
When the box was opened, it revealed a map of the theme park divided into zones and brightly colored coins.
"Now, let's split into teams and start the board game."
He says it so cheerfully, urging us to enter a ghost story where more than half the people died.
"Should we just form teams based on our squads?"
"Oh, actually… you'll draw game pieces from these capsules, and your team will be based on the color you draw!"
Kwak Jaekang pulled out a small capsule from one side of the box and showed it to everyone.
"If you shake it, the piece will drop from this hole."
"It's random, then."
With sighs, people began shaking the capsules and drawing game pieces one by one.
'Blue, yellow, red… huh.'
As expected, this kind of thing usually goes in order of seniority, so my turn was almost last.
The piece I drew was…
"Employee Kim, you've got red."
Of course, I got the red piece. In the world of ghost stories, red isn't exactly a lucky color, and I wasn't feeling great about it.
'Well, the color doesn't really matter in this ghost story.'
Even if people draw the same color, different things happen, after all.
I swallowed hard, feeling nervous.
Anyway. Are we entering now?
"Once the game board is set up, we'll begin the entry!"
However, even after Squad Leader Lee Jaheon unfolded the game board, nothing happened.
"..."
Um?
A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I counted the number of people.
Four with yellow, four with blue.
And those who drew red, like me…
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad, the new employee from Y-squad that I recognized… and me.
Three people in total.
"..."
Ah.
'The red team doesn't have enough players.'
"We're missing one person," Lee Jaheon said, turning his vertical pupils toward Kwak Jaekang.
"It seems we can't enter with just 11 people. We need all 12 to try again."
"Oh, that?"
Kwak Jaekang casually responded and tossed the capsule containing the game pieces.
"Supervisor Lee, catch!"
He threw it to the gambling-addicted researcher standing nearby.
"Wh, what?!"
The researcher caught the capsule reflexively.
Thud.
Inside, the remaining red piece fell out.
"...?!"
"I…I drew it?!"
Wait a second.
– Departing for Fantasyland~!
The game board shot up into the air, swirling before swallowing our surroundings.
"Uwaaahhh!"
"Hahahahaha!"
I heard the researcher's scream echoing in my ears, followed by Kwak Jaekang's laughter.
"..."
I recalled the back pages of Kwak Jaekang's
========================
Ghost story-obsessed psycho.
Mad scientist.
When exploring ghost stories with little information, he often manipulates the situation by suggesting dangerous combinations or actions, leading to obvious deaths in order to gather peculiar data. He is a major contributor to expanding exploration records.
For details on
Kwak Jaekang's disciplinary records, see the
#ExplorationRecords(Supplementary) page.
========================
…I had always been wary that a day like this might come.
"What the— What is this?!"
I had a suspicion when we were grouped with a large number of people, including both A-squad and Y-squad…
'He intentionally messed up our survival chances.'
This wasn't about trying to clear the ghost story with the highest survival rate.
The setup was for everyone except A-squad to die.
-x-X-x-
The psychopathic doctor pushed his researcher into the ghost story exploration as a sacrificial lamb.
He was probably trying to observe how the people from the Field Exploration Team would die in even stranger ways by creating synergy with that researcher.
The problem is that I'm on the same team as that researcher.
'Phew…'
I pulled myself together.
My ears, rather than my eyes, were the first to sense the ghost story.
– ♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
The cheerful sound of a melodica and orchestra.
It was the typical BGM of a theme park.
"Hah…"
When I opened my eyes, we found ourselves in the middle of an old-fashioned, colorfully painted theme park.
– Hahahaha!
The laughter of children echoed around.
However, there were no bare human faces to be seen anywhere.
The only things wandering about were the mascots.
In the distance, I thought I saw visitors in mascot costumes, but if you tried to approach, they would disappear like a lie.
'That's the kind of place this is.'
I immediately checked my wrist.
[(Cheerful) Fantasyland Admission Ticket □□□]
Three blank spaces.
'As expected.'
It's that insane amusement park inside a board game, where you can only escape by riding three attractions.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Cheerful Theme Park!]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-B-11
An amusement park within a board game themed around various fantasy lands.
If you use three major attractions after entering this ghost story, you can return home.
This ghost story became more famous because of the supplemental booklet titled 'Cheerful Theme Park User Guide', written by people who played the game while in a state of delirium.
If you're looking for a game based on this ghost story, click this link.
========================
There are many theme park ghost stories. But among them, this one is particularly famous in the
'They even had goods inspired by this theme park at the pop-up store.'
It also gained a cult following through the supplement,
They call it a so-called 'Neapolitan ghost story'.
'And it's a B-Class.'
Gloom-Class Darkness.
Civilian survival rate… 2%.
The four civilian survivors must have been extremely lucky to make it out alive.
If we compared the list of missing persons who disappeared without a trace before, we'd probably find quite a few cases where they all died in this ghost story.
Cold sweat trickled down.
'…The people in D-squad are probably in danger.'
But for now, I had my own crisis to deal with.
Because I was the one stuck with the variable called 'the researcher got dragged into it'!
"Uwaah, huff… huff… Let me out, this is wrong, wrong…!"
"Quiet!"
I covered the researcher's mouth, who was having a fit, and made him crouch down.
At that moment.
Clunk.
All the mascots in the theme park turned to look at the researcher who had been wailing.
"..."
========================
Cheerful Theme Park User Guide (Applicable up to Exploration Record #64)
3- Please refrain from expressing negative and intense emotions such as crying, wailing, or screaming!
They do not suit the atmosphere of the cheerful theme park.
========================
It was nothing short of a nightmare.
I fought hard not to close my eyes.
3…
2..
1.
The noise returned.
– Hahahaha!
– ♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪
The stares disappeared.
As the lively atmosphere of the theme park returned, I slowly let go of the researcher.
An employee from A-squad struck the researcher on the jaw.
"...!"
Thud.
After the short, dull sound, the A-squad employee, wearing a butterfly mask, gripped the researcher's jaw and leaned in close, speaking in a low, eerie voice.
"Hey."
"...!"
"If you whine like that one more time, I'll start by killing you."
"Hiie, hiiieek—"
The researcher, with a terrified expression, stumbled backward and collapsed to the ground, clutching his head.
He seemed to be muttering things like, 'This is a dream,' 'It's a lie,' mixed with curses, clearly in a state of panic.
"…Wasn't that a bit excessive?"
A new employee from Y-squad spoke cautiously, but the A-squad employee ignored him.
Instead, she turned to me and asked.
"Hey, newbie. I heard you were the top recruit? Your judgment's pretty good."
"…Thank you."
"Did you get your specialized equipment?"
Hmm.
So, she's treating me as a fellow employee, at least.
'Not part of the elite team, but still the top recruit?'
I thought it was a ridiculously one-dimensional standard, but I answered politely without showing it.
Yes, I had specialized equipment.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"A finger that can remotely touch things. It has limitations on time and usage."
That was all I said.
And I had a question of my own to ask.
"What kind of weapon do you use, Assistant Manager?"
"Not that it's your business… Hmm, fine."
The A-squad employee pulled at her index fingernail.
It was a fake nail, the kind used for nail art.
A sticky substance stretched out from the underside of the detached nail.
It was a translucent thread.
"It can stretch endlessly, and it's pretty strong."
"…That sounds extremely useful for various purposes."
"Hmm. Yeah, I guess so."
She seemed to be in a better mood.
I immediately nodded and asked.
"May I ask your name?"
"Just call me Assistant Manager Jin. What's with the awkward introductions?"
Isn't it just basic courtesy when people meet for the first time…?
Anyway, her surname's unique enough to identify her right away.
'Maybe… it's this employee.'
– Assistant Manager Jin Nasol sneaks into the murderer's bedroom, sets the clock to 4:44.
– When asked, "Do you have any particular grudge against carrots?" Jin Nasol answers seriously. No special remarks.
– Cuts off the limbs of a teddy bear (Executor: Employee Jin Nasol).
And so on.
There weren't enough descriptions to deduce her personality in detail, but she seemed to be portrayed as a competent and rather cold employee.
At that moment, the new recruit from Y-squad quietly asked me.
"…What exactly do you mean by specialized equipment?"
Ah, right. It made sense that he wouldn't fully understand yet.
"Oh, you can customize equipment using Darkness from the company—"
"Hey. Let's move quickly. Observation comes first in large-scale Darkness like this."
"..."
"What are you waiting for, top recruit? I said, let's move!"
She cut me off without hesitation.
Without waiting any longer, I followed Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad, who had already started walking, and responded.
"Yes. I'll explain the situation to my colleague as we move."
"What? Why bother with that… oh."
The mouth beneath the butterfly mask curled into a strange smile.
"What, you really don't know?"
"..."
"Well, do as you please."
I didn't argue back.
Instead, I roughly explained to the new recruit from Y-squad what 'specialized equipment' was.
I added this to ease any tension within the team.
"I thought long and hard about it and ended up using quite a lot of points to get mine. Things can be scary from now on."
"I… see."
I nodded and continued speaking.
"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kim Soleum."
"…I know."
A slightly gloomy voice slipped out from beneath the cow mask.
"I'm… Jang Heo-un."
"Nice to meet you."
I tried to speak to the researcher who had collapsed to the ground, but all I got was a whimpering close to panic.
"No, no, I can't walk. Someone save me!"
"I could help you walk… but your mobility would be compromised, Supervisor."
I added, as if concerned,
"In that case, it would increase your chance of dying."
He got up like magic.
'Just as I thought.'
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad glanced at me with a look of disapproval but didn't interfere and just scanned the surroundings as she walked.
I, too, quickened my pace and shifted my gaze.
It was a flashy yet somehow dizzying, stifling theme park, like something out of a dream.
'Is red the theme here?'
There wasn't a single place in this park—flags, buildings, tents—that didn't feature a red symbol.
'We must've drawn the red piece and ended up in this zone.'
On the flag, a cute rabbit was raising one hand and smiling.
[Magic Bunny Arcade Zone]
In other words, it's a magical rabbit adventure zone…
'It's really got that theme park vibe.'
That's when it happened.
The rabbit mascot blocked Assistant Manager Jin's path.
"Ah, a roadblock…"
"Please hold on a moment."
I stopped Assistant Manager Jin, who was about to walk around the mascot.
Because…
"…It looks like a parade."
A line was drawn behind the rabbit mascot, and from afar, cheerful music and various colorful rabbits began to appear.
But not a single thing about it was exciting.
I tried my damnedest not to cover my face with my hands.
'It's starting…'
========================
Cheerful Theme Park User Guide (Applicable up to Exploration Record #64)
7- Cheer for the parade with a joyful expression!
Everything that happens during the parade at the cheerful theme park is pleasant and never negative. Absolutely, absolutely not negative.
========================
The parade drew closer.
The rabbit mascot in a dress waved its hand from atop a palace and then…
Bang!
It struck nearby carrots with a colorful wand.
And then all sorts of red, sparkling things began to pour down on the mascots.
– Uwaaahhh!
Candy, jewels, flower petals, fireworks!
But that wasn't all.
Bang!
The next one burst open, spilling out new red objects.
Blood, entrails, organs!
– Hahahahahahaha!
They came tumbling down.
Tumble, tumble.
The mascots danced, wading through the entrails. The cobblestone right in front of me turned red…
Wow, this is insane.
'This is the problem.'
This crazy theme park spits out things that no human could ever smile at as if they were glitches, but if you scream or cry, you'll get [redacted]!
– Wowww!
Splatter.
The area in front of my shoe was soaked in blood.
Something that had rolled over bumped into the tip of my shoe.
An eyeball.
'!@#$!@%!%'
Ack!! ACK!!!
A silent scream burst from within me, running down my spine.
'I feel like I'm going to throw up.'
I squinted my eyes as much as I could, trying not to look directly at what was in front of me, pretending to be calm…
"Ugh."
"...?"
Wait a second.
That wasn't my voice, was it?
When I glanced to the side, I saw the cow mask with its mouth covered.
'Could it be?'
"…Do you have trouble seeing violent things?"
"..."
The cow mask slowly nodded.
The lower part of the face, which wasn't hidden by the mask, had already turned pale.
'A comrade…!'
I almost felt my heart warm up.
Finally, someone who was sharing the madness and terror of this insane situation with me!
'Hey, you're doing a great job holding it in!'
I was about to suggest that we find a way to navigate this nightmare together when…
"Ah, seriously… what the hell are you saying?"
It was a voice full of irritation.
…It was Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad.
"Can't handle seeing gore? How can you not understand that a wimp like that is just dead weight, not a backup life?"
"...!"
"Hey, top recruit. I'm telling you this because you have potential. That."
The tip of Assistant Manager Jin's index finger pointed at the new employee from Y-squad.
The Y-squad employee flinched.
"Don't bother making friends with those X, Y, Z-tagged guys."
"..."
I'd heard something similar from my direct superior earlier.
– Roe. The people you met today from the other squads, just keep things light with them, okay?
…I already knew the reason.
'The Field Exploration Team assigns an alphabet to each squad.'
And there's a meaning to that order.
Elite teams, A, B, C.
Regular teams from D to W.
And then X, Y, Z are…
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Daydream Inc.
/ Field Exploration Team
Round-Off Team
A part of the Field Exploration Team that consists of individuals who passed the entry test but have some defect that makes them unfit for normal exploration tasks. ṛАℕöᛒƐs
They are mainly used for experimenting in special situations.
Usually referred to by the last three letters of the alphabet (X, Y, Z).
========================
"The last three letters of the alphabet are where they put people like that. They're just meat shields. They're like extra lives given to employees who know how to do their jobs, so don't pay attention to them."
"…What?"
"They talk about variable elimination or whatever, and they don't properly explain it to the newbies, but since they're going to die here anyway, it doesn't matter."
The employee in the cow mask stiffened.
"W-What are you…"
"Round-Off Team, cow mask. Raise your left hand."
"?!"
Like a lie.
Jang Heo-un raised his left hand into the air.
"...!!"
The lower part of his face, not covered by the mask, had turned deathly pale with shock.
"W-What…!"
The A-squad employee lifted her chin.
"That's how you use a meat shield."
========================
When an employee of a certain rank or higher enters the Darkness with a Round-Off Team member, they can issue absolute orders to them.
The Round-Off Team member must obey the command.
========================
Right.
'…It's a system to extract more brutal and dramatic exploration records.'
In short, they're like slaves or suicide squads.
But seeing it in reality was more grotesque than I'd imagined, especially since it seemed like the cow mask employee was trying to resist.
'This is insane.'
The gold mark near the chin of the A-squad employee's butterfly mask glinted.
"If there's something dangerous that you want to try, just make those guys do it first. But sometimes they misunderstand the orders and end up dying. That just drives me nuts."
"Ugh, uuugh…"
"Well, if they had enough sense to understand properly, they wouldn't have been assigned to a team like that, would they?"
The insults continued casually, ending with the tired voice of someone suppressing their irritation, like a weary office worker.
"Why do they even bother applying to jobs like this and being a burden? Every time it's just… lunatics, cultists, criminals…"
"..."
No doubt, they deliberately placed individuals with personality defects in the Round-Off Team.
It was a plot device to lower the psychological barrier for people reading the ghost stories.
'It's like it feels better when someone evil or flawed dies as a tool rather than a kind and normal person…'
Seeing it in reality, though, left a bitter and disgusting feeling.
What did the employee in the cow mask do wrong to deserve being treated like a suicide squad member?
"Even that pathetic coward…"
Yeah, a coward…
"...?!"
…W-Wait just a second.
Hold on, Assistant Manager!
I feel like I just heard something huge…
"…Did you just say 'coward'?"
"Yeah. Can you believe there's a coward who passed the entry exam and still whines like that? Like that newbie from Y-squad."
...
'That's it?'
Seriously?
That newbie in the cow mask got assigned to the Round-Off Team because he's a coward?
Being scared was considered that big of a flaw?
Then…
'What about me?'
…Aren't I a coward too!
Suddenly, memories from my first day at work flashed like a panorama. The things I said to my superiors after running away from the ghost at the convenience store.
– Uh, actually… I ran out quickly because I was scared.
"..."
Now I realize.
I was so lucky they didn't believe me.
'So cowards get marked as trash and ostracized in the company…!'
Not just shunned discreetly, but officially pushed into death traps!
'I just thought I needed to hide my weakness… but it's worse than that!'
I could almost hear my survival rate plummeting in surround sound.
No way!
"Anyway, there's nothing specific to order him to do right now. He'll just be in the way, so let's move, just you and me. Got it?"
Hell no!
If I go alone with you, I feel like I'll be exposed as a coward in five minutes!
I can already see my future, where Employee Kim Soleum ends up exiled to the Round-Off Team after Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad testifies, 'What, this guy was a coward too!'
"In that case, please go ahead first."
"W-What?"
For the first time in my month here, I broke the rookie's ten commandments.
I defied my superior.
And my reasoning was pretty solid.
"I'll bring my teammate along."
"..."
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad paused.
For a moment, I worried that this superior might use the Y-squad newbie to get rid of me.
"This moron…"
The butterfly mask assistant manager seemed to choose to cut ties with me and disappear instead.
But… well, here's the thing.
'You won't be able to go alone anyway.'
========================
Cheerful Theme Park User Guide (Applicable up to Exploration Record #64)
2- Make sure to stay together with teammates of the same color inside the theme park!
If you are more than 5 meters apart while not riding an attraction, you will be executed. You will be strangled. It hurts, so don't move further apart. Don't do it.
========================
'There's no way they'd just let someone with your nerves wander off with their eyes open…'
You need to be our tank.
The butterfly mask assistant manager made a choking sound and stopped, as if grabbed by the nape of her neck.
"You damn… ah!"
A red cord.
Like a leash, the line connecting us stretched taut above our heads, but when the assistant manager smartly backtracked and closed the distance, it disappeared again.
"You…!"
"Assistant Manager Jin."
I made a gesture, placing my index finger to my lips.
And I rolled my eyes.
The mascots around the parade were all staring directly at Assistant Manager Jin.
"..."
The A-squad assistant manager quickly calmed down.
It's really convenient when someone competent gets a grip fast…
"Could it be that the teams were split like this…"
"Yes. Didn't we draw the red pieces together? We were grouped as a team, and it seems there are physical restrictions as well."
"…No way."
Assistant Manager Jin looked at me, then asked meaningfully.
"Did you… anticipate this?"
...?
I mean, I just read this ghost story in advance…
But I decided to roll with it.
I assumed a serious tone and began to speak.
"As you may recall… there were four civilian survivors."
"So?"
"Weren't they probably on the same team?"
I spoke earnestly.
"Since we were also assigned as a team of four, I thought it was likely the same for them. It seems most probable that a whole team survived together."
"..."
"So, for now, I suggest that we look out for each other, assuming this is how we'll get out of this Darkness safely."
After a brief silence.
"…Makes sense. Fine."
Luckily, the A-squad superior seemed to accept the logic.
"Kim Soleum-ssi, thank, thank you…"
"It's nothing. Let's work together and do our best."
The cow mask colleague also seemed moved, but this is no time for sentimentality, my fellow coward.
'Let's see.'
I took an objective look at this team.
A superior drenched in a sense of elitism.
Cowardly Dumb and Dumber.
And an extra employee from another department tagged along.
'Haha, what a mess.'
If this were an actual story from the
But there's still a way to survive with this team…
'There is.'
If we follow the rules carefully and aim for an escape route!
"…Do you remember, by any chance?"
"Remember what?"
"The phrase written on the
– Be the first team to ride all three fantasy attractions with your teammates and win spectacular prizes!
The eyes beneath the butterfly mask narrowed.
"Three attractions… I see. There are exactly three slots on this wristband, too."
"Right."
I nodded.
"For now, I believe we should proceed as it is. Following the demands hinted at by the Darkness is the standard method for clearing."
"…A newbie who's been here a month talks like an expert, more than someone like me who's been at this company for three years?"
Oops.
"Well, I've been sent into Darknesses without manuals for the past month, so… um, I guess I've developed a habit of making these kinds of guesses."
"Sure, whatever."
Fortunately, the A-squad superior casually nodded.
It seemed she hadn't said it out of spite.
"Your hypothesis is persuasive."
"Yes."
She appeared to accept it reasonably enough.
I raised my hand and politely made a suggestion.
"So, I think we should go ahead and ride the attractions."
Luckily, one of the signs nearby had the attraction I had been aiming for.
[Fantasy Train]
Literally, a magic train.
"…Isn't this the attraction the civilians talked about?"
"That's right."
I nodded calmly, and the panicked researcher shouted hysterically.
"They said everyone who rode it died!!"
Yes.
This is the hellish train of doom with a 3% survival rate!
'But that doesn't mean I've lost my mind.'
For veterans of
…A less scary way to clear it.
Any well-known amusement park usually invests in three types of attractions.
One is a roller coaster, another is a carousel.
And the last, which costs the most due to the heavy use of special effects and animatronics, is…
'The dark ride.'
An indoor ride where you can explore a meticulously crafted and enormous set that introduces the theme of the park itself.
In Korea, rides like 'Sinbad's Adventure' or 'It's a Small World' are well-known examples.
And in this 'Cheerful Theme Park' ghost story, that role belongs to this attraction.
"Fantasy Train!" the researcher spat out in exclamation, frantic. "This is the one where everyone died! I'm not getting on! I won't ride it!"
Testimony #4 (Survivor : Park Yae-in)
– All four who boarded the 'Fantasy Train' went missing.
Later, their clothes and bones were found repurposed into plush dolls at a souvenir shop. (Presumed deceased)
Yes, that's what it said.
And in the
But that's not the whole story.
'The fact that there were so many casualties means this attraction appears quite frequently!'
Like any board game with random elements, the 'Cheerful Theme Park' ghost story changes its zones and mascot combinations each time you enter.
However, the 'Fantasy Train' attraction would likely always appear as a common feature.
Because… its theme was so clear-cut.
"Please look at the description under the sign."
I pointed to the words beneath the
– Meet the residents and stories of each area in Fantasyland! A delightful train ride!
"It seems like it's the attraction that introduces this theme park."
This was also the most crucial element for escaping this ghost story.
'How are the zones in this theme park divided, and what colors are used?'
Let's not forget. This all originates from a board game.
What does it mean to choose a faction in a game?
It means you're selecting your traits.
'And the fact that the teams were divided by color suggests that advantages or disadvantages arise based on those colors.'
So, understanding that was the most important thing here…
What color team you belong to, which zone your color represents, and what unique traits it has.
========================
Cheerful Theme Park User Guide (Applicable up to Exploration Record #64)
4- Each zone in the theme park is colored according to its theme! The place where you first open your eyes is the zone your team belongs to!
Respect the zone. The zone is more important than anything. Look at the colors, don't upset the mascots, the mascots are everything in the zone.
========================
However, to persuade those who don't yet understand this, I needed a different kind of logic.
'Work, brain, work.'
The first target… as expected, was the top superior.
"Hmm. But everyone who got on it died, didn't they?"
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad, wearing the butterfly mask.
To win over this elitist, self-important person… right, flattery would do the trick.
"They were civilians, weren't they?"
"Hmm?"
I deliberately adjusted my tone to sound slightly confused.
"They approached it without any awareness, riding it like any other amusement park ride. The chances they properly responded to a supernatural situation were low."
"And so?"
"Comparing them to the professional Field Exploration Team, who clears Darkness with a purpose… well."
I furrowed my brow slightly.
"It seems a bit harsh on the civilians."
"…Hah."
The A-squad superior snorted.
"Smooth talker, aren't you? …Well, you're not wrong."
"N-No, we can't, absolutely not…!"
"Hey."
The A-squad superior grabbed the researcher by the head.
"...!"
Sharp fingernails pressed against his temple.
"Do you think you have the right to speak?"
"..."
"Do you want to die here and become trash that doesn't even make it as a souvenir, or do you want to get on that thing?"
The researcher went silent again. No need for a bully here…
"Move."
"..."
The researcher, looking like death, started dragging his feet toward the Fantasy Train.
'Two birds with one stone…'
It was a success.
Now, there was only one person left.
The Y-squad newbie, Jang Heo-un.
As I followed the sign to the 'Fantasy Train,' I subtly slowed my pace to walk alongside the new employee and whispered to him.
"Don't worry."
"Yes…?"
"What I said just now was just to convince that person… actually, I'm going because I thought of a different trick."
"A trick…?"
"Consider it insider knowledge."
I smiled slightly.
"I used to work part-time at a theme park."
"Oh!"
Sorry, that's a lie…
But in this harsh environment that's so unfriendly to cowards, isn't it fine as long as we survive, no matter what it takes?
Trust me, you'll end up saying, 'Wow! Thanks for lying, colleague!' too.
"I-I see. In that case…"
"Yes. It should be relatively safe."
Just take my word for it.
Anyway, as we followed the sign, the boarding entrance for the 'Fantasy Train' soon appeared.
It was a model station with an elegant sign, decorated with intricate, realistic steam engine parts and brick patterns… but.
"No one's here."
"..."
Inside, it was eerily empty.
No one was there.
– Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride! Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride! Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride…
The cheerful amusement park music mingled with an odd sense of unease.
What I could see was a train waiting beyond the queue.
And in front of it, a rabbit mascot dressed as a conductor.
"Another mascot, huh."
"Is that the staff for this attraction?"
That was correct.
As we quickly passed through the empty queue, the conductor mascot with hollow eyes reached out a gloved hand and stamped our wristbands.
[(Cheerful) Fantasyland Admission Ticket ■□□]
So that's one.
Next, we were guided to board a small train that looked like a colorful, fairytale steam locomotive.
The mascot then returned to its position and began waving both hands.
It seemed to mean something like, "Have a pleasant ride!"
Since nothing unusual had happened so far, the researcher and the Y-squad newbie seemed somewhat relieved without realizing it.
Unfortunately, I was about to do the unusual thing now.
'The only place it could be… hmm. It must be over there.'
After checking my surroundings, I fixed my gaze on the mascot.
Then I spoke.
"Assistant Manager Jin."
"What?"
"See where that mascot is standing, playing the staff role? You can see the platform there."
I pointed to a sort of mock ticket booth table right in front of the conductor rabbit.
"Could you, with your specialized equipment, quietly turn that platform slightly toward us? Without damaging it, and quietly."
"Why?"
"There's something behind it."
The A-squad assistant manager gave me a somewhat puzzled look, but soon pulled out her fake fingernail.
Quickly and quietly.
Tick.
Scrape, scrape…
The retro teal platform shifted, the fake fingernail thrown onto the edge making a faint scraping sound as it turned.
As it rotated halfway, instead of the expected wooden finish, there were buttons and circuits visible.
An emergency control panel for the attraction.
"...!"
Found it.
The control panel!
'I definitely read about this in the
There was a scene describing how these theme park rides had control devices implemented as if they were real!
========================
Right after boarding an attraction named 'Tomato Express', shaped like a basket, a label was found inside saying
Immediate search for the emergency stop button.
Found successfully at the attraction's starting point. However, all attempts to press the button failed. (Executor : Assistant Manager Lee Jiwon / Number of Attempts : 6)
All participants perished.
========================
Even though it failed that time.
'I can do it this time.'
I quickly flipped a coin, summoning a translucent glove, tossed a 500-won coin, and gestured to merge them.
'Five seconds will be enough.'
My hand floating in mid-air moved toward the back of the partially exposed platform.
The target… a lever.
MIN MAX
∥ ----------------- ∥
▲ .
"Hold on a moment, Soleum-ssi. What is that? That label…"
"Hold on tight."
"Excuse me? Hold… what?"
"Grab onto the train seat handle—"
My hand pulled the lever all the way down.
"And hold on tight."
MIN MAX
∥ ----------------- ∥
. ▲
At that moment, the train shot forward at a crazy speed.
Screeeeech!!
– The Fantasy Train is departing!
"Ugh!"
"What the hell?!"
Clutching the train seat handle tightly, I shouted back.
"I pulled the speed lever! To maximum speed!"
"Why the hell would you do that, you crazy idiot!"
Because I have a plan.
"If we rush through, it won't have time to mess with the train!"
"...!"
It's all about skipping the events.
'A dark ride usually moves slowly, letting you see and experience the decorated interior.'
But if you speed through it like a maniac?
'You'll skip over everything!'
The interior decorations, the effects…
And even the life-threatening dangers that come with them!
In the
I figured there was a high chance it would work here, too.
'Good!'
It's a success!
However… the next step is the problem.
I glanced outside.
Screeeeech!
I could feel the wind pressure.
It was almost as fast as a roller coaster.
This was clearly a speed meant only for safety checks.
…Meaning, it wasn't designed for actual operation.
'…If someone gets scared and faints, they might get thrown off the train.'
In that case, it would mean certain death.
You could call that the side effect of this runaway train ride.
For a coward like me, it was a fatal flaw…
'But there's a backup plan!'
Afraid you might faint?
Just don't look!
[Dear passengers, welcome to beautiful Fantasyland!]
As the narration began, I shouted,
"I'm closing my eyes!"
"What?!"
I shut my eyes tightly, acting crazy.
"This narration seems important, so I'm going to focus on it as much as I can!"
"...!"
"If you feel like you're about to die let me know!"
"This guy is totally insane, huh?! Haha, fine!"
Just as the A-squad assistant manager's laughter was trailing off, the narration whizzed past my ears.
[How did this Fantasyland come to be?]
[A long, long time ago, 403930291928494 hours ago, a yellow flower, a blue dragon, and a red rabbit lived together on this land.]
[This wonderful place, right here!]
"T-That strange flower… the flower is calling to me…"
"Duck down!"
[But they were too different!]
['You're too noisy!']
['You're too dirty!']
['You're too boring!']
[In the end, they couldn't accept each other and began to fight. This is my land!]
"Ahh! Snake, snake monsters, there are monsters slithering on the ground! Eek! They tried to cling to the train… but got left behind…"
"Gaah—!"
[The yellow flower said,]
['I hate you! Get out of here!']
The attraction passed by in an instant.
The train sped through, and the ride time was fast-forwarded as if on double speed.
[The blue dragon spoke.]
['I hate you! Get lost!']
'Looks like it's near the end of the fight…'
Now, for the final part.
'This was described a few times before, too.'
Those mascots ultimately just want to live their lives as they wish.
So, they each divided Fantasyland into zones based on their colors and peacefully lived how they wanted to…
[The red rabbit spoke.]
[Die.]
...
Well.
[The red rabbit decided to eliminate his friends by any means necessary. No, they weren't friends anymore. Enemies! Enemies! Enemies!]
[One by one, one by one, one by one! Dropping them into pits, drowning them in water, pushing them off cliffs!]
[Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!]
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
The narration cut off.
And then it suddenly started again.
A strangely cheerful voice.
[The red rabbit won!]
The voice crackled.
[The one who rules this land is only the red rabbit, Magic Bunny.]
[Magic Bunny is the dream, the fantasy, the rule, and only his ideology is worth enjoying.]
Silence.
The passengers, who had been making a racket as if they had seen all sorts of horrors, now only let out heavy, ragged breaths.
The sound of terrified panting.
And then.
…The train was slowing down.
I swallowed hard.
'…It's the end of the line.'
No matter how fast a ride is, it always slows down when it ends.
[Magic Bunny's Fantasyland]
The back of my neck was wet with cold sweat.
A sense of foreboding was creeping in.
I finally lifted my head.
[The Great Magic Bunny!]
A giant rabbit mascot's head appeared right in front of us.
Its bright red eyes spun wildly, and its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged, hideous teeth that jutted forward.
[Become a part of the Great Magic Bunny!]
A scenario I'd never seen before.
[Die]
The air was filled with a disorienting noise.
Red rabbits were pressing their heads against the windows from all directions, looking like their mascot suits were about to burst, staring at us intensely.
[Die]
I almost fainted.
"Haaaah… haaaaaah…!!"
"D-D-Die…"
The giggling narration went berserk. Red lights flashed, blinking throughout the train, and panicked mutterings filled the air, making it hard to think clearly.
The voice pierced through.
"Ah. I get it now."
"…What?"
"It's like an initiation ceremony for new employees, huh? Making them kill each other… Classic."
What is she even talking about?
"You saw it just now, right? The rabbit killed all its friends. Oh, you had your eyes closed, so you missed it. But you heard the narration, didn't you?"
It was the calm voice of the A-squad employee.
When I turned my head, I saw the butterfly-masked employee looking at the rabbits on the windows, as if this was an everyday occurrence.
"So, who should we kill?"
"What…"
"Shh."
The eyes beneath the butterfly mask turned sinister.
A gaze that assessed value.
"Hmm."
Y-squad.
The researcher.
Me.
Y-squad.
The researcher.
Y-squad.
The researcher.
The researcher.
Y-squad…
"You."
Singled out.
The Y-squad newbie's jaw turned pale blue for a moment.
The A-squad assistant manager's finger pointed.
"Grab that guy in the white coat."
The researcher.
"...!"
A death sentence.
"Uh, uh…"
Snap.
The Y-squad newbie, with a stiff, unnatural motion, grabbed the researcher's limbs and restrained him.
"W-What are you, what… wait, wait a second."
"Cover his mouth. Oh, and keep yours shut, too."
"Mmmph!"
"Ah… do we have to kill one each, directly? Hey, top recruit."
I reflexively looked at her.
"Why don't you kill this one? I'd like to observe."
"Mmm! Mmmmmm! Mmm!"
"Don't use your specialized equipment, do it yourself… Ah, right. Earlier, that rabbit threw the dragon off the cliff, right? Try tossing him out of the train. Let's see if that counts, too."
Me?
"Go on."
I slowly turned my head and glanced out the window, then quickly snapped it back.
'The mascots are crying blood…!'
Look at them, stuck all over the windows.
There's no way in hell I'm opening that train window. If I did, I'd collapse and become a screaming mess.
Besides, what… you want me to kill someone as casually as eating instant noodles?
No, no. Putting that aside…
'…This is a death route!'
I realized it now, after another irregular event threw everything into chaos and scared the wits out of us, but it was clear.
'If we comply with the mascot, we're all dead!'
This… if we go down that path, we'll all be killed!
But how do I convince her?
If I say, 'I've seen over 70 exploration records from the future,' she'd probably decapitate me on the spot.
'So, so…'
To hell with it!
"Wait a moment!"
"What?"
"This is a trap."
I decided to lie my way out.
I started spouting a lie without even a drop of hesitation!