A dark ventilation duct inside a creepypasta.
A situation where I had to hold my breath to escape terror.
And to top it off, I'd just saved Baek Saheon's life.
'Why you, of all people.'
What's worse, he was now desperately avoiding my gaze.
"...?"
This wasn't like him at all…
'Wait a second.'
A sudden realization hit me.
watch out for serial killers –
Was it because I'd been sending him serial killer alerts every day as a 'friendly reminder'?
He seemed a bit intimidated.
Well, fair enough. It is, um, creepy.
'Actually, this works out.'
In truth, that was partially intentional. I hadn't bothered to send those messages anonymously precisely to achieve this effect.
Seems psycho, doesn't it? Exactly. Keep your distance, buddy.
Given Baek Saheon's personality, which was clearly strong against the weak and weak against the strong, he'd likely choose to avoid me rather than use this opportunity to eliminate me.
'Which suits me just fine.'
…The only issue was that, for now, we were stuck together in this vent.
I held my breath. Thankfully, Baek Saheon was also quiet as a mouse.
Outside, shadows of people who had failed to escape flickered faintly in the candlelight, shrouded in Darkness.
Creeeeeeeeak, thud.
The machine came to a halt.
In front of the shadows of people cornered at a dead end, something thin suddenly emerged.
The silhouette of what looked like spider legs.
And then—silence.
"..."
"..."
Only the strange mechanical noise echoed.
Whoosh.
The spider-like silhouette stretched wide in front of the humans.
Hiiieeeek!!
Through the flickering shadows, eight sharp and delicate appendages grasped a human torso.
Save me, please save me… AAAHHHHH!!!
Thwack.
One of the spider legs pierced into the gap in a human's head.
Then, with a plop, it pulled something out of the head.
"..."
I already knew what it had taken.
'…An eyeball.'
That was it.
This was why this exhibition was called the 'Manor of the Blind'.
========================
Numerous visitors testified to the ushers that they had lost body parts, most commonly their eyes, as the first part to go.
========================
The 'usher'.
Encountering that thing here meant having your eyes plucked out.
If you met it again, you'd lose a limb, or perhaps your tongue or ears.
Eventually, you'd end up blind, mute, and crawling helplessly through the dark exhibition hall—a slug-like, pitiful existence.
The fact that this wasn't done all at once made it even more brutal.
Ironically, it was because this exhibition was 'considerate'.
To the extent that it provided 'convenience' without you needing to ask.
========================
For your convenience, sensory enhancement devices are always available for free rental.
(Currently supported devices : visual, olfactory, auditory, tactile, gustatory, sixth sense, panoramic vision)
========================
Creak, creeeeak.
A spider leg-like silhouette elegantly and delicately approached the eyeless person.
The shape attached to the end of the leg was briefly illuminated under the candlelight, casting a sharp shadow.
A thin thread and needle.
'Fucking hell.'
I held my breath and waited for all the commotion to subside.
Cold sweat poured from my body.
A moment later.
Thuk, thuk, thuk…
The machine's sound receded.
The person who'd just lost their eyes began to stagger away, their footsteps uneven.
Of all places, they moved toward this vent, their blood-soaked face briefly visible before disappearing from view.
Their eyes had been replaced with camera lenses.
"...!"
Baek Saheon, crouching beside me, silently mouthed a curse.
It wasn't hard to relate.
'With those lenses, you might be able to see for a few hours or maybe a day or two at most.'
But since it was a rental device, the functionality would gradually deteriorate, plunging them into greater terror.
And the next time they encountered the usher, that device would be 'collected' as well.
It was a rental, after all.
'I'm gonna go crazy.'
It felt like a prelude to even more horrifying things to come, making me instinctively squeeze my eyes shut.
'But I can't show fear. I can't let him see.'
Conscious of Baek Saheon beside me, I waited until everything went silent before climbing out of the duct.
'We can't stay here.'
We had to move quickly and escape. I'd organize the exploration records and the manual after splitting up with Baek Saheon…
"Um."
Hm?
"Thank you, sir."
Suddenly, Baek Saheon addressed me politely.
As if it were normal, he nodded slightly in a show of courtesy, much like the first time we met on the subway.
And then, subtly, he began to edge away, clearly planning to run off.
"Then, I'll be off…"
"Wait."
Baek Saheon stopped in his tracks.
I asked,
"How long has it been since you entered?"
"..."
"Don't wanna answer?"
"…About two hours, I think."
He'd entered quite a bit ahead of me.
Since this wasn't a creepypasta that distorted the sense of time, it meant rookie Baek Saheon had been summoned early in the morning, just like I was.
'So my D-squad superiors kept me out of the loop on purpose!'
For a moment, I felt touched.
The thought of finding my squadmates quickly and getting out motivated me.
'Chief Lizard would've probably made it into the final seven survivors anyway.'
But I had to find the other D-squad members soon.
…Though honestly, stepping out of the vent and looking at the hallway made me want to sigh…
'Wow, I have to search this entire place on my own?'
I'm gonna have to comb through every corner of this creepy mansion while dodging that usher monster while looking for clues?
No wonder they made a horror game based on this Darkness. I'd never played it, but I'd seen clips on WeTube…
…while covering half the screen with my hand.
"..."
Um. As much as I didn't want to admit it, going with someone else…even if he's got a personality defect…seemed like the better choice.
I turned to look at Baek Saheon.
* * *
In the dark—
Baek Saheon swallowed hard next to Kim Soleum.
'Fucking hell.'
Of all people, why did it have to be this lunatic?
-x-X-x-
Nothing had gone right ever since Saheon had gotten stuck with this guy as his dorm roommate.
Just hearing the bastard spout insane remarks in that perpetually sarcastic tone, as if he'd never start trouble even if drunk.
It made Saheon's head spin.
'Do I really have to stick with this guy?'
The other employees who entered with him seemed to have woken up scattered throughout the bizarre mansion.
And the civilians he'd encountered earlier? Well, they got obliterated.
Still, was it better to wander around alone than to stick with this deranged nutjob…
He was frantically weighing my options when Kim Soleum suddenly spoke.
"You're using formal speech now? All of a sudden?"
Son of a bitch.
Cold sweat trickled down Saheon's back.
"…It was a highly urgent situation back then, so I accidentally slipped into casual speech… but now I think it's better if we speak politely to each other again."
Kim Soleum stared at Saheon for a moment, then replied nonchalantly,
"I see. Understood."
"…Yes."
Should I… run for it?
Baek Saheon glanced at Kim Soleum.
He'd already heard all the absurd rumors about this guy.
The Field Exploration Team's 'monstrous rookie'.
– I heard he cleared an A-rank Darkness all by himself.
– He was almost scouted for the elite squad, too. But he turned it down?
– Wow, I heard he even found a missing section chief. Is this guy really just a new hire?
– And he's had two manual revisions approved? Isn't this some kind of propaganda rookie to scam the regular staff…
The rumors got so ridiculous that some even joked he was just company propaganda.
But Baek Saheon didn't doubt the rumors.
'Isn't it just because he's a fucking lunatic?'
This guy's monster-like results probably just… stemmed from his monster-like mindset, right?
A mind so different from normal people's that he could come up with ideas no sane person would even inside these ghost stories.
Baek Saheon, for all his self-centered pragmatism, felt a unique pressure from someone so damn unpredictable.
The fear of the unknown.
'Honestly, if someone told me he himself was a ghost story, I'd believe it.'
Baek Saheon wiped away cold sweat.
Still, he wanted information. At the very least, he could listen.
"Where are we headed? Judging by how that monster attacked people, this Darkness seems to treat us as intruders…"
"It doesn't."
"Sorry?"
"This exhibition definitely treats us as guests."
What the hell was he talking about now?
Baek Saheon looked at Kim Soleum, who continued speaking with unwavering confidence.
"That's why it collects fees. It only takes eyes. It's just charging admission fees."
"..."
"Didn't you read the manual?"
Of course he fucking did.
That cursed, bizarre document contaminated by the exhibition's invitation.
"It's an invitation. People who are invited don't get treated as intruders."
"…But it didn't mention anything about fees."
"Read it again. Near the end of page three."
Baek Saheon unfolded the paper.
+++
This exhibition is free for one hour as part of our open-minded appreciation of art.
+++
"Free for one hour implies that fees will either be collected or you'll be kicked out after that time."
"...!"
"But instead of kicking you out of the venue, they take your eyes. That thing earlier… it's probably a 'staff member' of this exhibition."
It was disturbingly convincing.
Without thinking, Baek Saheon asked another question.
"Why do you think human eyes are considered the payment?"
"Well, maybe because they're the most valuable part of the human body?"
"...!"
"Looks like the things we carry don't hold any value to them."
"…'Them'?"
Kim Soleum shook his head expressionlessly.
"No idea."
And no one caught up in this mess would know either.
A chill ran down Saheon's back.
"In any case, sir, whoever's running this exhibition seems to believe that human body parts are the most valuable things we possess."
"..."
"I guess eyes are prolly considered the most appropriate starting payment, so yeah."
Eyes.
Baek Saheon had only one.
He almost instinctively pressed a hand over his covered eye.
He still remembered that day vividly.
Kim Soleum staring at him on the subway, casually lifting his 'answer key' of an eye.
The unnerving calmness, the calculated observation, waiting for Baek Saheon to realize his own eye had been plucked pointlessly.
That mocking gaze.
This Darkness takes eyes as payment, but what in the world had made this guy so disturbingly nonchalant?
"But…"
"...!"
Kim Soleum was staring directly at him.
"You've slipped back into informal speech." [1]
A chill ran down Baek Saheon's spine.
He forced himself to speak calmly as he now dropped to casual speech for good.
"Fine. Should we just keep it casual then? We're from the same batch after all, and we need to escape together…"
"Don't wanna," Kim Soleum answered back.
"..."
For a moment, irritation flared, but Baek Saheon forced a smile.
"Don't say that. You hid me in the vent earlier—doesn't that mean you wanted to save me as a colleague?"
"Nah. I just figured I could use you as bait if needed."
"..."
Baek Saheon gave up on manipulation and shifted to persuasion.
Kim Soleum seemed to have a good understanding of this horrifying exhibition ghost story.
"If we stick together, exploration will be easier. Especially in a dark place like this."
"Not really."
"..."
"But for the sake of dopamine, sure, let's stick together. Having more people means more unpredictability."
This demented fucker.
Baek Saheon was certain now.
He had never encountered someone so blatantly deranged, even in his tumultuous life.
Still…
'Do you have to be this crazy to survive in this godforsaken company?'
Feeling a strange sense of defeat, he clenched his teeth under his black goat mask.
"Let's move."
Kim Soleum ignored Baek Saheon's frozen expression and started walking.
Then, out of nowhere, he said,
"Thanks. That's a relief."
"What?"
What was he thankful for?
Before Baek Saheon could question further, Kim Soleum raised a hand to his mouth.
"Quiet. I'm talking to Braun."
"..."
Baek Saheon barely managed to force word out.
"Braun?"
"Yeah."
Kim Soleum reached into his suit pocket and pulled something out—a cute, plush rabbit keychain.
"Braun's saying hi to you right now."
"..."
Baek Saheon suddenly wanted to run far, far away.
Of course, he couldn't have guessed that Braun was actually 'saying', Oh! Greetings to you, Mr. Scapegoat, soon-to-be victim of the next room!
Nor did he realize that Kim Soleum was thinking this,
'Phew. Having another person around makes this a bit less terrifying.'
The thought of wandering this place alone with Braun made him feel as scared as during the changgwi incident.
'This was a good choice after all!'
"Are you planning to search for another place like that vent earlier?"
"Nope."
Kim Soleum gave Baek Saheon an incredulous look, as if staring at a truly ridiculous person.
"I'm looking for the exit. Why would I search for a vent?"
"..."
"I mean, if you like vents so much, just stay in one. If you get caught though, just pay the fee."
Kim Soleum knew exactly what kind of person Baek Saheon was.
'This guy, he's the kind of person you can't just let loose.'
He was someone who'd exploit any opening, just like how he had ruthlessly attacked someone during their first meeting without even batting an eyelid.
Never forget that Baek Saheon's nickname in the
Never let your guard down!
'Aight, I'll act crazy too.'
Thus began the uncomfortable and uneasy Darkness exploration of two certified lunatics.
Note/s:
[1] About Baek Saheon's shifting speech levels, sorry about this again but I don't know a more effective way to differentiate other than sometimes adding 'sir' if he goes up to the highest level.
But since Soleum's being so petty about pointing out Saheon's slips, it can get more obvious lol ↩
-x-X-x-
Step, step.
I was quietly walking through an exhibition that plucked out human eyes.
And next to me was someone who perfectly fit the 'human trash' archetype in a horror story.
'I really wish Baek Saheon would just keep quiet and act like a human totem.'
On the way here, I'd seen horrifying shadows crawling on the floor a few times from a distance. Each time, I couldn't be more thankful to have someone with me…
'As long as I don't let my guard down. That's the key.'
Braun spoke to me in a tone that suggested he was amused.
– Mr. Roe Deer, this fellow talks in such an interesting way. It's almost like he's someone else entirely.
'Do you hate it?'
– Not at all! It's utterly fascinating. It's as though he's created a more exaggerated… persona for the sake of a show.
Hm. That's a fair point.
– So, is leaving this magnificent exhibition your ultimate goal?
That's correct.
And…
'I've already made my escape plan.'
I'd confirmed that this exploration was recorded as the seventeenth entry in the
I'd even decided which of my items to use.
– Oh!
– But is it necessary to use the word 'escape'? Wouldn't it be easier to just grab any staff member and ask them to guide you to the exit? They'd surely oblige politely!
That's where the problem begins.
'The staff in this exhibition are machines.'
The kind with spider-like legs that swing ominously.
– Hmm. And?
'And each machine only knows information about its designated area.'
========================
Each area of this exhibition is equipped with an usher for the convenience of visitors.
While some past visitors referred to these ushers as 'monsters', they are, in fact, vintage mithril automated-kiosk steam dolls, a model from Imperial Year 62627. ŘÁ₦Ŏ฿ƐS̩
Though their memory units are somewhat limited to information about their specific areas, they are historical and meaningful artistic artifacts.
For the sake of a constructive viewing experience in our exhibition, we kindly request refraining from using derogatory terms.
========================
What this means is that if you want to ask about the exit, you must go to the area where the exit is located and talk to the staff there.
And by the time you get there… if too much time has passed, you'll be 'charged the fee' and turned into a grotesque human slug.
Even identifying which area contains the exit is a monumental challenge to begin with.
'But there's a hint.'
I stopped walking.
I had found what I was looking for.
"…An elevator?"
Standing in front of me and Baek Saheon was an antique-style elevator, glowing faintly with brass tones.
The elevator was caged in iron bars, and a small light bulb flickered in front of it.
Like any elevator, a guide panel was attached to the wall beside it, displaying floor numbers and usage instructions.
The only problem was that the text was written in a script we couldn't understand.
'Just one more way to raise the exploration difficulty.'
The disconnect created by the script.
Baek Saheon frowned.
"…Are you planning to ride this thing?"
"Dunno."
"We can't even check the floors. Are you out of your mind?"
I stared at him without a word. He quickly looked away.
'As if I'd do something that reckless.'
But I had Braun, the creepypasta talk show host who claimed to be fluent in every language!
'Braun, can you read this elevator's guide panel?'
– That's hardly a difficult task, Friend!
– Ahem ahem,
Braun cleared his throat and began explaining in a friendly voice.
– This elevator comes with a stationed usher who will press the button for your desired floor upon request. Quite a quaint and sophisticated service, isn't it?
This meant that you couldn't use the elevator without meeting an usher, which also meant getting your eyes plucked out.
Even knowing this, I swallowed involuntarily.
'Does it mention anything about the exit?'
– Unfortunately, no! It mostly describes the floors and their exhibitions.
– Oh, and by the way, you're currently on the second floor. …Ah, wait a moment. There's also a description of this mansion's history!
"...!"
This was information not included in the
'Keep going.'
– Of course, Friend!
– This is the grand estate of a most noble… and refined collector. Through their charitable spirit, they've dedicated this endless exhibition to sharing their art and philosophy.
– Furthermore, this historic mansion is composed of seven floors above ground… and 7,221 floors below ground.
"..."
Wait.
What?
'Below ground… 7,221 floors?'
– That's correct. Hmm, it seems they've been collecting for quite a long time!
I froze.
'…I already knew there was a basement.'
It wasn't described at first.
The early exploration records of this ghost story,
Those records drew readers in, sparking popularity.
As the records expanded and the world of the story grew, some explorer inevitably made a discovery.
========================
The 23rd record is a testimony left by a visitor who entered the basement floors via the elevator.
========================
The existence of the basement floors.
From then on, records detailed people descending into the basement after failing to find a way out on the floors above ground.
The relentless descent in search of an exit—down and further down—conveyed an overwhelming, chilling fear.
At this point, the ghost story became categorized as cosmic horror.
-x-X-x-
These exploration logs aimed to make readers feel suffocated and disoriented.
In some records, explorers even gave up on escaping, descending further into madness as they ventured endlessly downward.
========================
This is testimony from a visitor who viewed the exhibit on B105.
Employee 753 : The unspeakable, dreadful things I cannot see are truly beautiful. Structures made of ■■ and humans' ■■ are ■ing. Die for this purpose.
No further records exist.
Thank you for your meaningful feedback. We shall strive to improve exhibition management for an even more profound experience.
========================
The deeper you go, the more grotesque and incomprehensible the collection becomes. At some point, language fails to capture what is seen, leaving censored fragments and overwhelming blanks filled with terror.
Thousands of unknowns lie down there…
Slap—
I slapped my own face.
"...?!"
Get a grip.
'There are multiple exits.'
Even though their locations change every time the exhibition begins, that fact doesn't.
There were records of people escaping through different exits on different floors in the same iteration.
'I can do this.'
It doesn't matter how astronomically vast this place is or how incomprehensible the space becomes.
An exit might be closer than I think.
I have over 100 iterations' worth of exploration data, including records from this very round.
Sitting here overwhelmed would make me an idiot.
'Even if the exact floor isn't specified, I already know the hints.'
I had to move quickly instead of being paralyzed by the scale of the ghost story.
Don't be foolish… stay sharp!
'…Alright.'
I took a deep breath and began walking.
To the staircase next to the elevator.
"Wait, so you're not taking the elevator… how do you even know where you're going?"
"We're at the second floor."
"...?"
"I'm heading to Basement 1 from here."
"Basement? There's a basement—wait, this is the second floor? How can you be sure?"
"Braun told me."
"..."
"Grateful, aren't you?"
"..."
– No problem at all, happy to help!
Surprisingly enough, Baek Saheon still didn't run away.
Hmm. I'll have to keep my interactions with him at this level moving forward.
* * *
Even as we descended down the staircase, the grand mansion's decor didn't change at all.
The dim brass lighting and shadowy atmosphere continued endlessly, making it feel like we were looping through the same floor.
And then, at one level below, the stairs disappeared entirely.
'…These stairs don't lead to the basement.'
For now, since we're at the ground floor, I decided to search for a new staircase or another way to move.
There was no more idle chatter with Baek Saheon, either.
The sound of machinery was growing more frequent around us.
'The main exhibition hall must be nearby, with ushers stationed almost constantly.'
Moving silently, practically crawling on the ground, I looked up and spotted a large sign just beneath the ceiling.
'Found it.'
The sign for the main exhibition hall.
Carved with ornate designs, it bore a flowing, elegant inscription… in an incomprehensible script.
– 'The Power of Emotion.' What a unique title for an exhibit!
"...!"
It was an exhibit I'd read about in the
Just seeing its name in print had sent chills down my spine…
'What the hell.'
I suppressed the urge to turn back immediately.
'If I'm going to map out the escape route, I'll have to face it at least once.'
Avoiding a 'safe' exhibit while trying to secure a path would be idiotic.
So I gritted my teeth and moved forward, step by step.
The moment I peeked through the ornate, gilded doorway into the exhibit…
The exhibition space unfolded before me.
A wave of sound crashed over me.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
Countless mouths shouting.
More precisely, rows of teeth and tongues.
An entire massive wall filled with ornate Baroque-style frames, each containing a human mouth, all arranged in horrifying beauty.
It seemed like artificial voice boxes had been attached to the mouths, each reciting poetry in different voices and languages.
The hundreds or even thousands of frames harmonized to create a bizarrely strange medley of sounds and notes.
And beneath them…
On the floor, human slugs were writhing.
Huuuuuurgh… huuurgh…
People who could no longer speak human words, with extinguished buttons fixed into their eye sockets, were writhing in agony.
They were those who had been repeatedly 'charged' to the point where they'd nearly lost all semblance of humanity.
The contrast between their grotesque forms and the neatly framed mouths displayed in a beautiful arrangement made the scene horrifying… more… and more…
'Ah.'
I felt like vomiting.
The dizzying dread made me look at the floor.
Stay calm. I need to calm myself.
'They're not company employees.'
These were probably people who'd been trapped here for days.
Those poor… No, I couldn't let myself focus on them now. I had to push it out of my mind as much as possible…
Screeeeeeech—
In the distance, the shadow of an usher machine began approaching.
Baek Saheon and I held our breath and crawled into a nearby vent.
The usher machine's shadow moved among the human slugs, as if searching for unmoving bodies to pick up and carry away.
The sound of dragging bodies mingled with the mechanical noise.
"..."
"..."
After a suffocating few minutes…
"Hey."
"..."
"They took the corpses. Do you think even the corpses have value? As payment for the fee?"
What the hell is wrong with this punk?
"If they had value as payment, they wouldn't have just left them there alive until they died without collecting."
"Ah, makes sense."
Even in this situation, I had to listen to this kind of nonsense? My exhaustion was reaching its peak.
And I had to lie, too.
'If I were honest… of course they have value. Obviously!'
Since they treat us as 'visitors', they only seem to charge for things that don't affect our survival, like eyes, noses, or mouths.
But wouldn't they also find brains and spinal cords valuable? I think there were floors displaying such items, too.
But I couldn't tell this guy that. He'd probably suggest we carry around the corpses and offer them as payment if things got bad.
-x-X-x-
While I remained silent—
"...!"
The usher machines disappeared, leaving the first floor's main exhibition hall empty.
From various shadowy corners, people hiding under tables quickly emerged, whispered to one another, and scattered in different directions.
All of them wore masks.
'Employees…!'
Their masks and suits confirmed it.
They were from our company's Field Exploration Team, cautiously dodging the machines by sticking to areas outside their paths.
"Hey."
What now.
"If you spot any rookies among them, let's bring them along. It's better to have one or two more people with us."
"Why?"
Baek Saheon looked at me as if I were asking something obvious.
"We need bait for when we run into a monster."
Ah, this sick bastard, seriously.
I tilted my head in mock confusion.
"We already have bait."
"What?"
"You."
Baek Saheon's face froze momentarily before relaxing again.
"Whatever. I'll bring someone else along to use as bait, too."
"Great. Just make sure to tell them you'll use them as bait."
"..."
"I told you, didn't I? I'm at least polite enough for that."
Baek Saheon fell silent again, his expression one of exasperation.
I was equally exasperated. This exhausting little shit…
'I miss you, Chief Lizard.'
I missed the straightforwardness of a taciturn colleague.
But then, as I caught sight of a familiar figure darting out from behind a sofa at the edge of the exhibition hall, I froze in surprise.
"...!"
It was someone I recognized.
"..."
"...! What are you…"
After a moment of hesitation, I climbed out of the vent.
When I waved, the person also froze in shock before quickly lowering her voice.
"...! Sol— I mean, Mr. Roe Deer? Is it okay if I call you that?"
"Yes, Ms. Goral."
It was Go Yeongeun.
The new hire who had fully supported my words during the subway incident was standing there. Didn't she say he'd dropped out of medical school?
"Did you get sent in too, Mr. Roe Deer? Anyway, I'm glad to see you're safe."
"…Thank you."
In any case, Go Yeongeun, who was now wearing the mask assigned to her, seemed much calmer than when I'd last met her.
Though there was some redness in her eyes.
'Has she already adapted to this…?'
The fact that I could have a rational conversation in this insane situation was almost moving.
Go Yeongeun glanced around warily and spoke in a whisper, lowering her voice as much as possible.
"Um, there's a blocked window nearby, and I was thinking of trying to open it. Have you seen anything that could work as a lever on your way here? I don't think we're supposed to use the exhibits…"
"You can't."
"Sorry? What do you mean?"
"You're thinking of escaping through the window, aren't you?"
"…Would that be a problem?"
Yes, it would.
This ghost story's exploration records mention windows exactly once.
Do you know what it says?
========================
The 19th record is a testimony from a visitor who attempted to pass through a window. However, due to credibility issues, it has been omitted.
This exhibition does not have windows.
========================
It's a trap.
I quickly made up a plausible reason.
"If you go out through the window, I have a feeling you'll physically leave the mansion. But… not return to the real world."
"…Oh."
Go Yeongeun's face turned pale.
"You're right. This isn't reality… so finding a door that counts as a proper exit makes sense."
"I think so, too."
"But we don't even know what floor we're on…"
"I checked. We're on the first floor."
"...! How did you… Wait, hold on. The first floor?"
A glimmer of hope lit up in Go Yeongeun's eyes.
"Then there's a good chance there's a door nearby! Exhibition entrances are usually on the first floor, so if we search thoroughly…"
I forced my reluctant mouth to speak.
"…The reason doors are usually on the first floor is because we live on the ground level."
"That's—"
"Do you think the original visitors to this ghost story did the same?"
"..."
Go Yeongeun closed her mouth. She understood immediately.
'How can you be sure a monster would place a door on the first floor?'
Soon, the same despair that had clouded my face earlier spread across hers.
"Then… W-What do we do? Was asking the monster machine earlier the right answer? But… I can't encounter another machine. I don't have any chances left…"
"You don't have any chances left…?"
"..."
Go Yeongeun hesitated before brushing her hair back slightly.
Beneath her hair, where there should have been an ear…
There was only a stitched scar.
"They… took my ear."
"..."
"They kept saying, 'Ear instead of eye, ear instead of eye!' while gesturing… and I guess they accepted it? It didn't even hurt. It was so strange…"
Go Yeongeun shivered slightly.
"And they seem to have put something weird in its place… but I can still hear. I don't know how it works, maybe some kind of artificial cochlea or eardrum?"
Ah, damn it.
"It'll be fine, right? I mean, uh, the employee store sells those organ-regeneration potions and all…"
"You'll be fine."
I spoke firmly.
"You'll be fine. Let's focus on getting out."
"…Okay."
Go Yeongeun's breathing calmed again. For someone who'd just lost an ear, her mental strength was superhuman.
I couldn't help but admire her.
But someone else apparently didn't feel the same way.
"Shall we get moving? Let's not waste too much time."
"...! Baek Saheon-ssi."
The moment Baek Saheon, wearing his goat mask, emerged from the vent, Go Yeongeun's eyes lit up with alarm.
"Wait. Are you traveling with him?"
"Somehow, yes."
"…I see."
Go Yeongeun glanced warily at Baek Saheon but didn't refuse to continue traveling with me.
'Thank you…'
It had been so long since I'd had a normal companion.
After dealing with psychopaths and people possessed by ghosts, I felt tears well up at the relief.
Still, Go Yeongeun muttered quietly.
"That guy… he even managed to pick a mask that suits him. You know goats are a symbol of the devil in Western cultures, right?"
"Wow. Did you know lambs are a symbol of sacrifice?"
"Lambs are more associated with helping humanity than with devils, though."
Baek Saheon smirked dismissively at Go Yeongeun, who ignored him in turn.
– Is this an intermission skit? They're like a comedy duo.
Yeah.
Except it's not a skit—they're actually dissing each other, and that's the problem…
'This party composition feels doomed.'
But our destination was steadily drawing closer.
"...!"
I found it.
At the end of the hallway, a staircase leading to the basement had appeared.
T/N:
Saheon and Yeongeun's masks are both kinda goats, I guess? Here's the scientific name for both:
Saheon: Capra hircus – the goat or the domestic goat is a species of goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock.
Yeongeun: Naemorhedus caudatus – gorals are small goat relatives, and they are agile over the rocky crags and cliffs they inhabit.
The lamb comment earlier is (I'm assuming) stemming from how goats were referred to as 'sheep' in the olden times, given that cotton/wool sheep were introduced to the East much later.
After these actual sheep were introduced, the existing 'sheep' were hence distinguished and called goats or mountain goats. Until then, in the East, the term 'sheep' referred to the current goat.
So basically, our comedy duo's kind of doing the spiderman meme calling each other scapegoat and sacrificial lamb lol
-x-X-x-
"There's even a basement floor here…"
In front of the staircase leading to the basement, half fear and half anticipation were written on Go Yeongeun's face.
Baek Saheon scoffed.
"Yeah, I know how you feel. And the person standing next to us? Without any explanation, he somehow knew there was a basement and insisted we had to go to the first basement floor."
"If you don't want to go, we can just split up here."
"..."
Baek Saheon fell silent.
Now that he had confirmed the basement existed, it seemed he wasn't willing to miss the opportunity to see whether 'Kim Soleum has something up his sleeve.'
I briefly explained to Go Yeongeun that I had used some special equipment to decipher the guide notice posted near the elevator and had identified a potentially useful space.
And so, we finally started down the basement stairs.
"..."
"..."
The further we descended, the clearer it became.
'The style has changed.'
The mansion, previously shimmering with a brass hue, now took on a darker bronze-like tone.
More avant-garde decorations began to appear.
For some reason, it felt like we were descending much deeper than the distance from the second floor to the first.
"..."
"..."
Eventually, stately, old-fashioned double-doors appeared beside the staircase.
– B1. That's what it reads.
We had arrived.
I cautiously gripped one of the doors' handles. After confirming that no mechanical noises could be heard from the other side, I carefully opened it.
What was revealed beyond the door wasn't an exhibition hall or a corridor.
Go Yeongeun's eyes grew wide.
"This is…"
"A lounge for visitors, I assume."
It was a type of resting area.
The large hall was designed for comfort.
Luxurious armchairs and vintage tables were arranged throughout, and a bronze-hued fireplace burned warmly in one corner.
"Is this what you read about in the elevator?"
"Yes."
"Ah, places like this are usually near a lobby. Maybe there's an exit nearby?"
"I don't know. But…"
"But?"
"The manual mentioned certain actions that were prohibited in the exhibition hall. I thought a 'resting area' might have fewer restrictions."
That's right.
The hope was that some actions forbidden in the exhibition hall might be allowed here.
"Things you couldn't do… Oh, like eating!"
"Yes."
2- Eating or drinking in the exhibition hall is prohibited.
"…But it's not like we need to eat anything right now."
That's true.
"Not exactly. What I'm trying to do is something that's considered part of eating and is therefore prohibited."
"…What do you mean?"
I pulled out an item I had prepared from my bag.
[Easy and Fast Candle Making Kit]
"Open flames are prohibited, too."
Now, it was time to create an escape tool.
* * *
Go Yeongeun gulped nervously.
Right in front of her, an unbelievably capable colleague was doing something utterly ridiculous.
"Like this?"
Kim Soleum pulled a strange box from his satchel and quickly skimmed through the enclosed instructions.
But the box didn't look ordinary at all. Why on earth would someone bring a candle-making kit?
'I've never seen a brand like that before.'
The logo, 'Cheerful Research Institute', gleamed tackily alongside a bright smiley face, but the instructions Kim Soleum held were scrawled in messy handwriting with dark red ink.
It felt eerily strange.
Something you might encounter in a ghost story…
At that moment, Baek Saheon muttered,
"…An item?"
An item?
Instinctively, I turned to Kim Soleum, who answered quite kindly.
"Yes. A tool imbued with supernatural abilities."
...!
"T-Then, isn't that considered… Darkness?"
"It might depend on the classification method, but… it seems that objects with stable irregularities, portability, and no defined domain are referred to as items."
"..."
How does Soleum-ssi know all of this…?
'Aren't we… both new hires?'
Why is there such a difference in knowledge?
And where on earth did he get that…?
For Go Yeongeun, who had prided herself as being among the top three most capable among the new recruits, the situation was bewildering.
'And to top it off, he looks incredibly skilled at handling it…?!'
Noticing her gaze, Kim Soleum glanced back and, as if to justify himself, said,
"This is my first time making one too."
It's the truth!
While he had read the instructions several times and pondered how to use it, this was Kim Soleum's first time actually crafting something.
However, from the perspective of a colleague who didn't know he had already conducted three similar rituals, it was simply overwhelming.
No, someone like him… shouldn't he be starting his own business instead of just finding a job?
Why is he tangled up in a horror show of a company like this??
But soon, cold reality brought her thoughts back into focus.
'…It must be because of the Wish Ticket.'
A wish that couldn't be given up.
Go Yeongeun nearly sank into mutual pity for their respective circumstances but quickly steadied herself.
For now, she just needed to focus all her energy on escaping.
…Even the rage at her R-squad leader, who had ditched her the moment a monstrous machine appeared, would be turned into fuel!
She only wished she could take back her earlier thoughts that this team, at least, wouldn't have the usual workplace hierarchy issues or the stress of human relationships.
'Die, Squad Leader!'
Still, thinking that her R-squad superiors might actually end up being brutally killed, with their eyes, noses, and mouths torn apart, felt oddly unsettling…
"It's ready."
"...!"
Go Yeongeun, who had been lost in thought, snapped her attention back at Kim Soleum's voice.
Before she knew it, he had laid out a black piece of paper on the floor and drawn a small design on it with the provided crayon.
It was… um.
'…A candle?'
Yes. It looked like a candle… or rather, a flat drawing that outlined a candle's shape.
But Kim Soleum paid no mind and pointed with one hand to the cards placed near the drawing.
"You can see the cards, right?"
"Y-Yes."
"Pick one of them."
"..."
"It determines the item's attribute."
-x-X-x-
Would she be tricked or caught up in something by doing this?
Go Yeongeun hesitated for a moment but then reached out.
So far, there hadn't been anything suspicious or unpleasant about Kim Soleum's actions, and objectively speaking, he had always treated her with goodwill.
'Let's try it.'
Her brain, which she trusted as a reliable data processor, urged her forward.
She flipped over one of the scattered cards on the floor without much hesitation.
The card's face depicted a vibrant blue figure raising one hand. At the top of the image, a white star sparkled like a jewel.
[Honor]
A faint smile appeared on Kim Soleum's face.
"You picked well."
Did she?
'I don't think I particularly need honor right now…'
Anyway, if he said it was good, that was a relief.
Kim Soleum then turned his head and, in a voice that sounded less than enthusiastic, called out to Baek Saheon.
"Pick a card."
"..."
Baek Saheon seemed to be calculating the situation in his head, narrowing his eyes as he reached out his hand.
The card he flipped over showed a grinning mouth and a red iron cage.
[Interference]
"Suits you."
"What?"
Kim Soleum ignored him and continued with the process!
"I will now flip over the remaining cards."
"Yes, yes."
Whatever it was, let's just do it!
Go Yeongeun watched as Kim Soleum swiftly flipped over the cards with his precise movements.
There were ten cards left.
Confusion, Healing, Meditation, Wound, Deceit, Dream, Rage, Protection, Strike, and Gaze… the ten remaining cards were revealed and laid out on the floor.
'What in the world is this?'
After having them draw cards as if it were some kind of tarot reading, why reveal all of them at the end?
Seeing Kim Soleum's next action, she understood.
The last card could be chosen directly.
[Deceit]
Kim Soleum picked out a card with a golden gear drawn next to a black heart.
He then burned all three cards they had chosen using a lighter.
Flames burst into vivid colors as the cards turned into shimmering ashes.
"...!"
Gathering the ashes from the cards, he carefully spread them over the crayon-drawn candle outline he had created earlier and folded the paper.
"It'll need about 30 minutes to set now."
Kim Soleum lifted the folded paper off the floor, tucked it neatly into the front pocket of his suit, and gave a faint smile.
"This thing you just made…"
"This candle will help us get out of here."
"...!"
"If it doesn't work, I was planning to try again a few more times, but the keywords turned out well on the first attempt—"
Screeeeeeeeeeeech—
"..."
"..."
All three of them turned their heads at once.
In the distance, under the bronze light, a massive shadow emerged.
Eight straight legs resembling those of a spider.
And then…
Screeeech—
The glowing eyes of a machine, leaking light like that of a gas lamp.
"..."
"..."
"Run!"
The three of them immediately bolted in the opposite direction at full speed.
* * *
I knew.
Even in a lounge, the machines could appear.
Still, I guessed that they would patrol less strictly than in the exhibition hall and had been willing to take the risk…
'There wasn't even anywhere to hide like in the vents, but why now of all times!'
Clenching my teeth, I sprinted across the corridor.
Once we're detected, even hiding in another vent wouldn't help—the machine would simply follow.
It was equipped with that level of tracking capability!
"Should we keep going straight?!"
"For now!"
Straight ahead led to the main exhibition hall.
Once there, they could only hope to draw the machine's attention away with a higher-priority problem…
'But who knows how much more dangerous the exhibitions have become now that we're in the basement!'
And then.
Fwick—
"...!"
Baek Saheon grabbed for my suit.
'What now, you lunatic?!'
The punk shouted right at me,
"That item! The candle! Let's offer it up! It's valuable, isn't it?"
I slapped his hand away and yelled back.
"No, you idiot!"
"What?!"
"Look at the exhibition theme!"
+++
This exhibition is being conducted free of charge for one hour under the open spirit of admiration for art.
+++
"Art!!"
"...!"
"Specifically, living beings, civilization, and history!!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"What does this item have to do with that? Why would they accept it as payment?!"
If items had any real value, wouldn't the employees of our company have already offered their own equipment before getting their eyes gouged out?!
Besides, the candle wasn't even finished yet!
But Baek Saheon once again reached for my bag, and Go Yeongeun, clearly fed up, let out an exasperated groan.
"Let's at least try! What's the alternative—dying here?!"
"Ugh! Seriously! Stop it and just keep running—"
I turned my head.
At that moment, our feet…
…crossed through the large doors into the main exhibition hall.
"..."
Catching my breath, I lifted my gaze.
Starlight twinkled everywhere
No . . . were those fragments of stone ?
Countless pairs of glowing circles, all the same color, lined the walls and ceilings, gazing down at us
The walls were packed, covered in countless human eyes staring back at me…
The eyes… taken by the usher machines.
"Eek—"
I stopped in my tracks and lowered my head. Beside me, I could hear Baek Saheon striking his remaining eye in frustration.
My chaotic thoughts slowly settled.
– Ah. They've arranged them like stars in the universe. It's called 'Glistening Gaze'. A rather cliché yet popular name! They must have been mindful of the contributors to the materials for this piece.
"..."
Three walls of the vast black exhibition hall were completely covered in eyeballs, with not a single gap visible.
The only entrance or exit was the door we had just come through.
And through that very door, the usher machine was steadily advancing… without pause.
We were trapped.
– Mr. Roe Deer, your choices intrigue me! You're at a dead end now. A place to run… Hmm, seems like there's none. Fascinating!
– But my friend, you can escape anytime, anywhere. Because you have me, Braun!
That much… I already knew.
If I were alone.
I could escape safely anytime.
Braun would gladly use his ability, which he called 'Lights Out', to erase my presence entirely.
Then, while the others drew its attention, getting their eyes and ears gouged out, I could carefully slip away.
– In that case, wouldn't it be fitting for Mr. Baek Saheon to pay the price? After all, he doesn't have much of a life left anyway!
True. We successfully created the candle, which required a recommended group of three, so Baek Saheon was no longer necessary.
'I mean, I only kept him along to avoid a mental breakdown after all.'
Honestly, would it even matter if he died? In fact, his death might even be a net positive for society.
In the chaos, perhaps Go Yeongeun might also manage to escape…
…Wait.
Hold on.
-x-X-x-
"Let's split up! That way, if even one of us escapes—"
"Ms. Goral!"
"Yes?"
"You're safe."
"...?!"
"Didn't you recently pay the fee? There should still be time left until the next cycle."
"Ah!!"
Since Go Yeongeun had recently had her ear taken, she likely still had 'time left' in her usage cycle!
Hope flickered in Go Yeongeun's eyes.
"Then I'll go and try to distract—"
Screeeeeeech—
"..."
"..."
It had entered.
The usher machine.
Drrrrrrk.
Under the bronze candlelight, I saw the machine clearly for the first time.
It was mercilessly sharp and intricate.
Its form resembled a spider, with metal parts added as though the steel had been grafted onto flesh. Its head and thorax were oddly connected, with an abdomen and lower body beneath.
Yet its vaguely humanoid, bipedal shape evoked a sense of uncanny dread, as if it was toying with the boundaries of intelligence and form.
Its jagged, needle-like legs moved erratically, with joints bending at bizarre angles.
From its head, eight gas lamps shone yellow light, piercing through the pale shadows.
"..."
Go Yeongeun, who had been moving forward, froze in place.
It seemed as if the trauma from losing her ear had surged back into her mind.
Understandable.
Screeech—
The machine passed right by her.
'I knew it.'
Which meant the machine was chasing…
Me and Baek Saheon.
Screeeeech.
I deliberated for the briefest moment.
If the machine's attention shifted to Baek Saheon, I could quickly erase my presence and escape.
It would be difficult while the machine focused solely on me, but with two targets, Braun's ability might still work.
– Oh, shall I use it now?
I made my decision.
"No."
Instead, I shoved Baek Saheon aside.
"...!"
"Run."
Baek Saheon already had only one eye left.
He knew that meant the machine might take more than just his remaining eye this time.
'Who knows what kind of reckless actions he might resort to?'
Even if it took his ear as a substitute, the rejection of someone who had already lost one eye would likely be far more extreme.
I couldn't predict the lengths he might go to.
It was better to let him run.
"I said run."
Baek Saheon hesitated for a moment.
But as the machine moved toward me, he backed away cautiously before breaking into a full sprint toward the door and disappearing through it.
At the same time, Go Yeongeun, understanding my glance, tightly shut her eyes and darted toward the door as well.
"..."
Now then.
– Do you have any questions for the usher, Mr. Roe Deer?
I lifted my head.
The machine stood before me, its gaslamp light illuminating the grotesque form that resembled a hybrid of a spider and a woman, as if someone had attempted to mosaic the two together.
Its appearance was grotesque and sent chills through me.
The usher machine, its eight legs and needle-like arms extending outward, began to twitch one of its limbs toward me.
I bowed politely.
"Good day. I've just arrived here."
I knew it wouldn't respond.
Sure enough, the machine emitted an unintelligible noise and bent one of its massive needle limbs.
– It says that 1 hour and 54 minutes have passed since you entered, and additional charges have been calculated.
I took a deep breath.
"Just a moment. Before I pay the fee, may I ask a question?"
– Of course, it says!
"Do you take reservations for a guest room at the front desk? …If you agree with my question, please nod your head once. If you disagree, shake your head from side to side."
...
A nod.
"Thank you for the guidance. Then…"
I stifled a sigh and asked what I had been leading up to.
The critical question for escaping.
'These machines only remember information about their assigned zones, so they wouldn't know where the exit is.'
Even if I asked where the front desk was, it likely wouldn't have an answer.
But, if I rephrased the question to pertain specifically to its own zone, it might respond.
Like this.
"After completing their visit and returning home, do guests on this first basement floor proceed to a lower floor?"
...
"Or did they go to an upper floor?"
A nod.
"They're ushered to an upper floor, I see. Thank you."
That's it.
By asking each usher machine the right questions about its own floor, I could eventually narrow down the location of the exit…
…assuming I didn't lose my eyes, mouth, or limbs before then.
'If it's above the first basement floor… that means it's in the ground-level floors.'
Just knowing that was a significant breakthrough. The ground level included seven floors, so the exit must be among them.
'This is a good lead.'
But the sense of relief was short-lived, like a candle burning out.
Now, the unavoidable moment had arrived.
Screeeech.
—It says it will now collect the fee.
Payment collection.
"..."
If I think about this rationally, it's not a huge problem.
'They'll plug a rental item into the empty eye sockets, so I'll still have vision until we escape this Darkness.'
Besides, I know this world well. I'm already familiar with several methods for restoring lost body parts, and I'm confident I can use them more easily than others…
That's precisely why I'm standing here.
'It's a situation I've calculated and come to terms with.'
The problem is… this overwhelming revulsion!
Who could accept this so calmly and indifferently?
Having both eyes plucked out raw by a monster!
Especially in a room surrounded by the displayed eyes of others who were taken!
Cold sweat dripped down my chin.
'Even so, I have to go through with this.'
I gritted my teeth.
It wouldn't be completely detrimental to have my eyes removed.
'If I can't endure under these conditions, I might as well give up on surviving here entirely.'
Honestly, there would never be better conditions than now to test whether I, with my cowardly heart, could endure the horrors of this ghost story.
Learning to withstand recoverable losses would help build my resilience.
Yet, my clenched hands trembled.
'Shit…'
Ziiing.
A massive needle, sharp and metallic, like the leg of a spider, moved toward my face.
I held my breath.
Whoosh—
The needle was raised, ready to pierce my eye…
Ziiiiiiiing.
"..."
I rolled my eyes to the side.
In the darkness, a massive, spider-like form was approaching from the distance…
Ziiiiiing, screeeeech.
Another usher machine.
"..."
What's this?
'Aren't the machines supposed to have a programmed route?'
Shouldn't it be impossible for their paths to overlap?
Sure enough, the machine that was about to extract my eye seemed to malfunction for a moment. Then, as if recalibrating its route, it moved away from me.
It was as though it adjusted its trajectory on its own.
Screeeeeech…
"..."
I couldn't even exhale in relief.
The new machine would just extract my eyes instead.
I simply held my breath and stared at the newly arrived machine.
It lifted its spider-like appendages high, stopping right in front of me.
Then suddenly…
"Huu."
...?!
"You okay, Roe?"
The spider-like form crumbled away, revealing a human wearing a badger mask.
"…Supervisor!"
It was Supervisor Park Minseong, his face drenched in cold sweat, grinning slightly.
"Phew… That was close!"
-x-X-x-
A dark, bronze-hued mansion.
I followed Supervisor Park Minseong, walking silently behind him.
The supervisor, who had accomplished the insane feat of 'disguising himself as an usher machine, fooling the system, and rescuing a poor new hire,' evaluated the situation in his own way.
"It's not like their AI is particularly advanced. Maybe about as smart as a roomba? So I figured I could trick it for a moment by mimicking its appearance!"
I wasn't entirely convinced the machine's intelligence was that rudimentary, but the timing had worked out, and he had saved me. For that, I was eternally grateful.
"Um, but how did you disguise yourself…"
"Ah! My special equipment."
Supervisor Park grinned and pointed to a cloth draped around his neck.
Oh!
I recalled his earlier explanation about his personal equipment.
– Mine is a camouflage item. It can't transform me into a person, and its duration is short, so I only use it as a last resort.
Until now, I had only heard about such things in ghost stories where they didn't work or were otherwise meaningless, but this was my first time seeing it in action.
'Under the right circumstances, it's actually pretty decent??'
I was tempted to borrow it as a parent seed to make a new customization for my personal equipment.
But that's not the priority right now!
"Alright. Phew. Now that I've found you, Roe, let's get out of this insane place."
"Have you found an escape route, sir?"
"..."
Supervisor Park didn't answer. He just smiled faintly.
'He must have some kind of plan.'
For now, I decided to trust him and quickly followed.
"This way."
We climbed the stairs from the basement back to the ground floor.
Before long, the surrounding area shifted from bronze to brass, and a grand corridor bathed in a golden hue came into view.
'We're above ground.'
That was enough to feel somewhat relieved, but…
The first floor was chaos.
AAAAAHHHHH
MMPH!!! UUUUUURGH!
M-My— MY EAR!
Screams echoed from all directions.
'Two hours have passed.'
Even the employees who had been hiding were now being caught by the usher machines, losing another body part… just as I nearly had earlier.
"..."
Supervisor Park didn't glance toward the sources of the screams. He simply kept walking.
"Don't look back, Roe."
"..."
I clenched my fists so tightly that veins bulged on the backs of my hands.
"I know it's hard, but right now, we need to focus on saving our own team. If we're going to keep collecting points here… we need to learn how to let go."
"..."
Suddenly, I recalled the moment during a talk show when Supervisor Park had resigned himself to surviving.
– …I have a family member in the hospital. I hope someone could check in on her after this filming. If possible.
For some reason, I felt like I understood how this cheerful supervisor had managed to endure in this place.
At any rate, I didn't argue.
Before long, Supervisor Park scouted the area and seemed to have arrived at his destination safely.
And that destination was…
"Here."
"..."
A window.
The same tightly sealed opaque glass window Go Yeongeun had tried so hard to open earlier.
'Don't tell me he plans to go through here?'
But instead of desperately prying it open, Supervisor Park raised a finger and knocked on the glass softly.
Knock, knock.
The window suddenly slid open.
"...?!"
No, it wasn't just opening.
It slid downward all the way to the floor, revealing itself to be…
'A terrace door!'
This wasn't a window at all!
'Was that why the exploration records said…?'
========================
The 19th record is a testimony from a visitor who attempted to pass through a window. However, due to credibility issues, it has been omitted.
This exhibition does not have windows.
========================
What I had dismissed as a typical ghost story manual phrasing turned out to be literal. There really weren't any windows.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
Without hesitation, we stepped through the open terrace door. Beyond it was a small hexagonal terrace with a long sofa and table.
However, the view beyond the terrace was obscured by dense black fog, as if visibility was intentionally denied to us.
Tap.
As Supervisor Park warily closed the terrace door, someone seated on the sofa rose and tapped my shoulder.
"I knew you'd make it."
"Assistant Manager."
It was Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
And next to her, the slit pupils of Squad Leader Lizard met my eyes calmly.
"Our squad leader suggested expanding the search range since you weren't nearby, and it turns out you were just downstairs."
"Thank you very much."
"Did you purposely head to that eerie basement to find an exit? That's very like you."
I glanced at Supervisor Park with newfound appreciation.
Descending to the basement, with no clear information about the floors, had been an incredibly bold decision.
'Thank you… truly.'
Thanks to him, I still had both eyes intact.
Still…
"How exactly did you open this? Someone else tried earlier but failed to open it as a window."
"? I just used my hands."
"..."
Of course you did.
'If the body suffers, the mind suffers even more… right…'
Looking closer, the terrace door handle seemed a bit wobbly.
Wouldn't it be a disaster if the ushers discovered this?
However, my D-squad superiors, including Chief Lizard, seemed unfazed by the unusual situation. They simply began discussing the next steps calmly.
"Well then, now that our squad's back together… should we attempt an escape, Squad Leader?"
"Yes."
"…Do you have a viable escape plan?"
"Yes."
"…Could you share what it is?"
Chief Lizard answered succinctly.
"We're going to tie a rope to the terrace railings and explore the outer walls of this exhibition space."
"..."
Eh?
"From the outside, there's got to be a floor with the main entrance. We just need to head there."
That's… quite the idea.
"I see."
If this cursed mansion didn't have seven thousand underground floors, it might have sounded tempting.
And if I didn't already have an easier escape item in my satchel, it might have been worth considering.
'I could just use this to get out.'
Thinking about the candle, which should be solidifying nicely, I raised my hand.
"Please wait a moment."
If I showed it to them and explained, I might be able to convince them.
I just needed to stall a bit more time until it was ready—and perhaps rescue some others while I was at it.
"I was with two fellow new hires earlier, but we got separated. They should still be nearby. If you could give me a moment, I'll go and find them…"
"..."
"..."
Ah.
"Roe."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje spoke bluntly.
"There are exactly three new hires in this mission, including you."
"..."
"They said they picked a few high-performing rookies and dropped them in here. But we all know—they just needed to fill the numbers."
"Sunbae—"
"Let me speak."
Supervisor Park, silenced by Eun Haje, stayed quiet as the assistant manager continued.
"Remember lunch earlier? The higher-ups in the meeting room—they're hoping this might be an A-grade zone."
It came back to me.
– Look, it's confirmed to be a high-grade Darkness, but there are civilian survivors. This could be a revolutionary case for sourcing high-quality materials.
"They were so thrilled, talking about how it might be the most survivor-friendly A-grade resource site in history. A-grade Dream Essence is always out of stock, after all."
"..."
"New hires? From the beginning, they were considered expendable, written off as company expenses."
Extracting high-quality materials from an A-grade site was far more valuable.
It was true that the longer members of the Field Exploration Team survived, the more their lives were valued, but ultimately, consumables were still consumables—disposable compared to more valuable resources.
"Remember this: the further up top people go, the less they value human lives. To them, people are just flies."
Eun Haje sighed and put his cigarette back in its case.
"So, focus on saving yourself."
"..."
"We don't have time, so let's move. If you start feeling sympathy, it'll only make things harder for you."
I barely managed to open my mouth.
"That's not it."
"Ah, a kind soul. Fine, if we're lucky, maybe they'll get out too—"
"One of my fellow rookies is holding the escape item!"
"...?!"
Of course, it was a lie.
"We don't even know what's outside. There's no need to recklessly climb down with a rope."
But one thing was true.
"With that item, we can escape safely."
* * *
I'm back underground.
Though my legs wobbled from walking around alone, the clarity of my goal seemed to dull the fear.
Find my fellow new recruits.
– You have 20 minutes. If you don't find them by then, we're heading back.
My lie about the universe-gasping, world-amazing escape item had somewhat worked.
The time they gave me was short, but manageable.
'They couldn't have gone far.'
Shock reduces mobility. They're probably hiding nearby right now, trying to collect themselves.
Besides, I had given them a hint earlier—about good hiding spots.
'The vents.'
At the 7-minute mark of my search, I finally found someone crammed into the outer corridor vent on the basement floor.
It was Baek Saheon.
"..."
"..."
"Hey."
Baek Saheon avoided my gaze.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
Baek Saheon looked at me suspiciously, then slowly nodded.
"Then tell me where Ms. Goral is."
Uh, this felt oddly like threatening someone for their comrade's location…
"She went into the left exhibition hall. Probably hiding behind a sofa or something!"
"..."
Without hesitation, he gave up her location. What a spineless guy.
In any case, I soon managed to find Go Yeongeun as well.
By then, 14 minutes had passed.
"Mr. Roe Deer…! Thank goodness, truly…!"
I briefly explained to the teary-eyed Go Yeongeun that a superior had come to help us and urged her to keep moving.
I also gave her a specific instruction.
"I told them one of you's holding the key escape item, so please back up my story."
"...!"
I handed her the paper in my satchel with the candle outline drawn on it.
Carefully, she slipped it into the front pocket of her suit and nodded.
"So I just have to keep quiet and play along?"
Yes!
Baek Saheon, who had been effectively ignored during this process, looked like he had a lot to say but kept his mouth shut.
He must have realized we were getting closer to escaping.
When we reached the terrace door and stepped outside together, 19 minutes had passed.
We had made it within the 20-minute window. Phew.
"I found them."
"Wow."
"I had a feeling this would happen because it's Roe."
Assistant Manager Eun and Supervisor Park threw in their remarks as the two rookies nervously looked around. It wasn't exactly a warm welcome.
Meanwhile, Chief Lizard was already tying a rope to the terrace railing.
"Uh, um…"
"No need for introductions."
Supervisor Lee Jaheon spoke in a flat tone as he tied a secure knot.
"Explain your item within 200 seconds."
The two rookies gulped audibly.
I immediately stepped in.
"May I explain on their behalf?"
"Go ahead."
Now it was time to make a proper case.
Based on the keywords I had combined, this candle…
"This item can deceive the usher machines."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon stopped what he was doing.
"Is… is it really okay for us to go by ourselves? Is this the right way?"
"It should be fine."
Probably.
Understanding the omitted words, Go Yeongeun swallowed a scream.
After persuading his superiors, Kim Soleum had taken his two fellow new hires with him to 'use' the item and left the terrace.
'He probably said that to make it sound logical.'
Since he had claimed one of them owned the item, it only made sense for that person to take the lead.
…Although, being lumped together with Baek Saheon under the umbrella term 'us' felt a bit unsettling.
'Still, he's unusually quiet right now.'
But for the moment, what lay ahead concerned him far more.
"Then I'll take out the candle."
Yes!
Go Yeongeun returned the paper Kim Soleum had given her, and he unfolded it. What happened next was astonishing.
A cylindrical, heavy chunk of pale purple wax rolled into his hand.
It was a real candle.
"...!"
The outline drawn with crayon remained imprinted on its surface, like a stamped pattern, revealing its transformation from a mere sketch into reality.
'…Whoa.'
Kim Soleum momentarily forgot the situation, marveling at the sight.
Knowing what they planned to do with the candle only heightened his anticipation.
"Please wait a moment."
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out a lighter and attempted to ignite the candle's wick.
Fwoosh.
The flame brushed the wick…
And nothing happened.
"..."
"..."
Why… isn't it lighting?
Kim Soleum even demonstrated his bizarre ability to flick a coin in midair, summoning a third hand to try igniting it, but to no avail.
"…Ah."
As if recalling something, Kim Soleum hastily retrieved the candle kit's instructions and skimmed them.
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
He lowered the instructions with a strangely dry expression.
"No, I don't think so."
But he knew the problem.
At the bottom of the chaotic, dark-red scribbled manual, in the section labeled 'Precautions for Use and Handling', one particular note stood out:
The 'recommended users'.
※ This toy is designed to alleviate the fatigue of modern Earthlings.
For safety reasons, extraterrestrials, beings from other realms, non-intelligent entities, gods, and all other non-human intelligences cannot use this product. :) ṙάΝȯ฿ĘŞ
'…I might not qualify.'
After all, Kim Soleum was not a native of this place.
A chill ran down his spine, but he knew that wasn't the priority right now.
He needed to entrust it to someone reliable.
Someone with a low chance of acting rashly, someone with social and moral sense.
"Ms. Goral."
"...!"
"I'll leave it to you."
Go Yeongeun hesitated before taking the candle.
She received the lighter as well and, with trembling hands, held the flame to the wick.
Fwoosh—
The flame brushed the wick…
And it lit.
"...!"
Words began to emerge from the body of the candle, glowing faintly as if illuminated from within.
The keywords from the cards they had drawn earlier.
[Honor] [Interference] [Deceit]
– Do you remember the cards we drew when creating the candle? They indicate the abilities it will manifest.
Kim Soleum's earlier explanation resurfaced in her mind as more phrases appeared on the candle.
The bearer of this candle must present a deceitful form, empowered by the authority of interference, directed toward an honorable target.
And the bearer will be granted a blessing.
Impersonator of Nobility.
Go Yeongeun raised the candle high.
A round orb of flame emerged from the candle like a lantern, hovering above her head before disappearing. The space around her softly lit up, resembling a subtle spotlight.
'Wow…'
"As expected, it works as planned."
Kim Soleum, watching with a faint smile, nodded.
"This candle's effect can extend to two people near you, Ms. Goral. Goat and I will follow behind you."
"Yes."
Go Yeongeun wondered if someone other than Baek Saheon could have been chosen, but since the item was Kim Soleum's creation, she complied without complaint.
Kim Soleum spoke again in a hushed tone.
"Still, please be careful. Don't turn around to look at us. The effect only works if we remain hidden behind the candle bearer."
"…Understood."
"And don't stare at the candle too closely. It might eat away at your mind."
Go Yeongeun nodded slowly.
Though tension gripped her shoulders, she managed to regain her composure.
That was her specialty.
"You mentioned the exit is on the upper floors. So, starting from the middle—on the fourth floor—makes the most sense. It reduces the number of possibilities."
"Yes, good plan."
Their steps began to echo.
The thought of what lay ahead sent shivers down her spine, but Go Yeongeun clenched her teeth.
Here she was, probably the most timid of them all, tasked with holding the candle.
'I have to do my best.'
Little did she know, the most cowardly of their group was right behind her!
Step, step.
Their footsteps reverberated through the brass-lit hall. As they ascended toward the fourth floor, no sounds of the usher machines could be heard.
But it wasn't reassuring.
Because their destination was…
"Found it."
It was right in front of the usher machine.
"..."
The new hires from
Screeeech.
"Hey, if you run out of the candle's range now, it'll chase after you."
"You think I don't know that?"
The cold exchange between Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon sent a chill down Go Yeongeun's spine. It felt like the needle-like components of the machine might move at any moment to gouge out her eyes…
But swallowing her fear, Go Yeongeun stepped forward.
One step at a time.
Each step closer caused the reflection of the machine in the candlelight to waver. Standing before the grotesque spider-shaped machine, Go Yeongeun gave a slight nod.
"Hello."
Screeech—
The usher machine moved. Its eight needle-like legs raised into the air… then slowly settled around its body in a neat formation. The machine lifted its head and respectfully shone a gaslight near Go Yeongeun's feet.
"...!"
It worked.
Go Yeongeun swallowed hard. The candle's blessing was successfully working for her. The blessing to impersonate an honorable being.
– The first card determines the purpose of the effect, the second dictates the method, and the third reveals its essence.
– When combined properly, it creates a deception targeting something honorable to hinder others…
– This ability is likely related to impersonation or trickery.
Right now, Go Yeongeun was impersonating the most appropriate 'honorable being' for this scenario.
The most favorable target for the usher machine.
A guest who had paid in full!
-x-X-x-
In the calmest tone she could muster, Go Yeongeun addressed the usher machine.
"If your answer is 'no', please remain still. If it is 'yes', nod your head."
Silence.
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this fourth floor go upstairs?"
...
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this fourth floor go downstairs?"
Nod.
"...!"
It worked!
Overwhelmed with relief, the candle bearer barely managed to conclude the interaction.
"Thank you. I'll continue enjoying the exhibition now."
The usher machine remained quietly in place as the three within the candle's radius left. As they rounded the corner, Go Yeongeun couldn't help but exclaim.
"It worked…!"
"Move slowly. The candle will burn for about two hours, so it's critical not to let it go out midway."
"Yes!"
And then the process repeated.
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this third floor go downstairs?"
Nod.
"Thank you!"
It worked again. The three new hires were now walking with cautious but hopeful steps, fueled by the thrill of escape.
If this kept up…
"Either the first or second floor…!"
The same thought occurred to everyone.
Go Yeongeun bit her tongue to keep her excitement in check.
"Stay calm, stay calm!"
If she were to drop the candle, it would all be over. To avoid escaping with her eyes, tongue, or limbs taken, she needed to remain composed.
As she took a careful step forward…
Grab—
Something seized her foot.
Go Yeongeun froze and looked down.
There was a human being, his eyes replaced with telescopic lenses, crawling desperately on the floor and clutching at her pants leg.
"Goral! Ms. Goral!!"
"...!!"
"Take me with you!"
It was R-squad's leader.
Go Yeongeun's superior.
* * *
I looked at the person who had stopped ahead of me.
I knew why.
Someone was clinging desperately to the leg of the person ahead, shouting.
"Ms. Goral! If— If you get me out of here, I'll make equipment for you! The kind only a section chief can access! Right away, too! Okay?!"
'So Go Yeongeun is from the R-squad.'
Seems like this was R-squad's section chief.
But for someone supposedly in charge of a squad in the Field Exploration Team, he looked utterly pathetic.
His limbs weren't taken as payment but seemed completely broken, leaving him unable to stand.
'Did infighting break out?'
If he were a proper squad leader, he should have been able to hold out with his equipment and items while moving stealthily. His current state made it almost certain that hadn't happened. ɽΑΝồᛒĚS̈
He must be on the verge of death.
And in this desperate moment, seeing a rookie from his squad wielding a remarkable item, he had lunged forward, recognizing his last lifeline.
"Ms. Goral! That's an item, isn't it? Woooow, i-it looks great! Um, uh, t-take me with you, please! Okay?"
"Whoa, not even scared, huh? Babbling away."
Baek Saheon muttered under his breath.
Then he turned to Go Yeongeun and said,
"Let's see if the monster machines hear him. Not like he's in any condition to run away anyway."
"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that…"
"..."
R-squad's leader, who had been begging to Go Yeongeun, turned to look at Baek Saheon. The gleam of his telescopic lenses flickered.
"You. Which squad are you a rookie from?"
"..."
"Oh, right. It doesn't matter… What matters is getting out of here. But look… the item my squad's rookie is using—it's shaped like a candle. A consumable, huh?"
"...!"
"Fl…Flame-based… yeah, defensive item, right? Right, yeah, that must be it… So, then, what if I shake it, shake it like this, and put the flame out?"
"Ugh—"
Go Yeongeun, who nearly stumbled, quickly steadied the candle in her grip.
'This lunatic.'
I was about to summon my special equipment to use a third hand to pry him off, but the squad leader clung to Go Yeongeun's leg again.
"Do you think I, even in this state, know less than a rookie? Take me with you!"
"…You left me behind, Squad Leader."
Go Yeongeun muttered in an eerily quiet voice.
"When the machines came, you pushed me aside and ran."
"...!"
I thought Go Yeongeun hadn't met any teammates and had been wandering alone because the team had split up when they entered.
So that's why she was by herself.
"No! I did what I could! I couldn't die trying to save a rookie, so I left you behind. But now you can take me with you! If the conditions allow, humans should act humanely!"
The squad leader screamed desperately, clutching at her. Tears didn't even flow from the lens-replaced eyes.
"If you don't take me with you, it's murder! Murder! Just try leaving me behind. I'll destroy that item! Somehow!! I'll—"
Thud.
"...!"
Srrrrrk—
R-squad's leader's body went limp and collapsed sideways.
Baek Saheon retracted his left foot, which had just struck the squad leader in the temple.
"..."
And me too.
I recalled the third hand back into the glove, which struck the back of the R-squad's leader's head.
'H-He's still breathing, right?'
I hadn't meant for both of us to hit him, but here we were.
At least the situation seemed to have settled.
I glanced down at the disheveled middle-aged office worker sprawled on the floor.
'…Well, he does have experience in field exploration.'
He had crafted a balance of pleas that could tug at a rookie's heartstrings and threats that could instill fear. A manipulative mix.
Go Yeongeun still held the candle steady, but her trembling gaze betrayed how shaken she was by the pitiful state of her superior.
Baek Saheon casually remarked,
"Now we just take his head and leave, right?"
…What?
"No, we can't."
"He's going to die anyway. It'd make it easier for him and give us spare payments for a Plan B. There's literally no downside."
"Think of Ms. Goral's mental state if we decapitate someone she knows. It's hard to maintain composure after killing someone you're familiar with."
As Baek Saheon and I spoke on either side, Go Yeongeun's face grew increasingly pale.
"This is ridiculous. No, I can't…"
"What are you talking about? People can do anything to survive. Of course, it's possible."
"No, it's not. Don't listen to him, Ms. Goral."
"Goral—"
"Wait!"
"..."
"..."
"I'll just do this."
Go Yeongeun tightened her grip on the candle, then kicked the squad leader toward a shadowy sofa corner. His body slid into the dim recess.
She exhaled deeply.
"This way, the machines won't spot him immediately. Let's go before the candle burns out."
"..."
I nodded.
Baek Saheon, however, scowled.
"Making things complicated. He's going to die anyway."
"…If you owe your life to someone kind, you should stop saying things like that, don't you think?"
"..."
Go Yeongeun sighed deeply.
"Still, thank you, both of you. I almost got caught up in that."
"It's nothing."
Surprisingly, Baek Saheon didn't say another word. I thought he'd make a snide comment or demand something in return, but he didn't.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
We descended the stairs once more.
The disruption and the incident were behind us.
The end was in sight.
-x-X-x-