After that, everything was processed fairly quickly.
It seemed I had gained some remarkable recognition at the company again.
Apparently, rescuing a contaminated colleague by yourself wasn't entirely unheard of, but most cases involved months or even years of preparation and a desperate determination to pull it off.
There were countless cases where the people supposedly on a rescue mission would disappeared together with those contaminated people while attempting it.
But to pull someone out immediately after contamination? It was apparently unprecedented for a new hire.
"Look, that guy with the deer antler mask…"
"Oh, is that him?"
"Wow… How many times is this now?"
Sometimes, as I walked through the company corridors, I overheard whispers behind me.
Come to think of it, I remembered experiencing something similar while eating with D-squad at the cafeteria a few times before.
But maybe because I was walking alone now, the comments felt especially clear.
Though it didn't last long.
"Kim Soleum-ssi."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't come to work for the next ten days."
"...??"
"It's paid leave."
With half the team gone, D-squad operations had already been temporarily suspended, and now I was being granted leave.
'I was still coming in regularly to write the situation report, though.'
I'd been curious about how we'd managed to twist the rules of a B-class Darkness, where the Hangman had to die to clear it, and bring Assistant Manager Eun Haje out alive.
'Someone must've reported that Supervisor Park Minseong and I tried to do something.'
It even seemed there had been discussions about scheduling interviews with the Research Team to strengthen the reliability of the exploration records.
– Ah, Supervisor Kim. Why bother with that! Take a break, take a break. You've done something huge!
– …Um. Thank you.
It appeared Section Chief Lee Byeongjin, who's in charge of manual revisions, and Section Chief Lee Jaheon from our squad had cut off the talks at their level.
It was a bit funny, but during the reports from the employees who had been with us, they had apparently testified, 'Kim Soleum-ssi must have acted to save his squadmates without any ulterior motive.'
They essentially made excuses on my behalf, claiming it was all a fortunate combination of quick thinking and good luck.
'They all bolted the moment the clear door opened, yet they still spoke up for me.'
The former was only natural, but the latter was something I was grateful for, so I decided to accept it.
Thanks to all this, my name kept circulating on internal calls, and the manual now had a 'Possibly Subject to Revision' label attached to it.
In the group chat with my fellow new hires, people kept trying to dig for information from me.
[Go Yeongeun : You've been through a lot. Great job.]
"..."
Some even sent texts to comfort me.
'Thanks. Truly.'
For the record, Baek Saheon hadn't even asked how I was doing, even when I live with the guy.
'That punk's personality has always been like that, anyway.'
I didn't expect anything different.
Overall, the situation so far hadn't been bad for my survival.
'Actually, isn't this good?'
I was steadily building an impressive career.
Specifically, I was establishing a reputation as a standout employee known for 'quick clears using unconventional methods outside the existing manual' and for 'benevolence'.
And now, a ten-day paid leave.
I thought I'd either be pleased about distancing myself from ghost stories for ten days or feel disappointed about slowing down the pace of accumulating points.
I expected it to be one or the other, but I felt neither particularly.
So, I ended up doing nothing at all.
-Mr. Roe Deer, would you like to hear my thoughts on why that abysmal comedy show failed to captivate the public? It'll be fascinating!
"Why not."
I spent a few days just sitting in the living room, watching TV.
Then, about three days in…
…a text arrived.
[Eun Haje : Come to the hospital.]
"...!"
* * *
"Roe, you're here."
"…Assistant Manager."
I placed the get-well gift I'd brought on the side table and stood next to the bed.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje let out a faint chuckle.
"Soy milk? Nice choice."
"…Thank you."
It was the first time we were meeting since the brief communication we had in the infirmary, right after she regained consciousness.
The assistant manager's complexion was slightly pale, but her face otherwise looked fine.
The Snow White Mountain Apple had apparently done its job to some extent.
"Not bad for someone who came back from the brink of death, right? …That item was great. Thanks."
Thanks to that item, Assistant Manager Eun Haje had appeared to be a corpse. Luckily, the unique condition of her missing hand rather than her neck led to her being preserved in isolation.
'Section Chief Lee Jaheon reported her survival and had her moved to the infirmary at sunrise the next day…'
Now, she had been transferred to a hospital with some sort of partnership with the company, and the urgent treatments had just been completed.
"Oh, by the way, I just said the apple was something I had on me. People usually prefer to keep their sources a secret."
"…Thank you."
"Gratitude? If anything, I should be the one thanking you and Minseong."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje started to raise her left hand as if to wave it and dismiss the notion, but then froze.
Because it wasn't there.
"..."
Her bandaged left arm ended abruptly at the wrist.
With such a loss, company-issued supply potions wouldn't be able to regenerate it.
"Um, Assistant Manager."
I voiced what I'd been considering.
"I have that C-grade regeneration potion with me…"
"You're not about to offer it to me, are you?"
"I was planning to sell it… for money."
"Hah."
Eun Haje clicked her tongue.
"Listen up, Roe. Items that are only tradeable for points? You can't just buy those outside, no matter how much money you have."
"..."
"And using that potion just because I lost a hand? That's wasteful. It's the kind of thing you save for when half your body's gone."
"But still—"
"It's fine. I'll handle my hand. You keep it for emergencies."
Her gaze grew faintly shadowed.
"If you keep going into the Darkness, you'll face situations far worse than losing a hand. Trust me."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Actually, I've got something for you."
With the grace of someone who'd been using just one hand for years, Eun Haje reached into the bedside drawer…
And pulled out a luxurious gold-embossed box painted with an oil painting design.
"...?!"
[Daydream Potion]
'W-Wait.'
That's the kind of box Daydream Inc. uses for their premium potions!
And it looked even fancier than the box my C-grade regeneration potion came in.
"Assistant Manager, what exactly are you…"
"See this? There's only one left."
She opened the box with an exuberant gesture.
Inside, the molded silk lining held spaces for two round glass vials—but one was already empty.
Eun Haje took the remaining vial and casually tossed it to me.
"Take it."
"...!"
Oh my God.
I lunged forward, catching the vial before it could fall.
Inside, a liquid shimmered like flowing silk, blending hues of deep purple and silver.
: Daydream Potion :
Venom
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Outstanding)
Venom?!
"Assistant Manager, you bought this with points—"
"Yup."
Eun Haje grinned, showing her teeth.
"Handle it carefully. That's a 170,000-point death note."
"...!!"
"You can kill someone remotely without leaving a trace."
W, Wait a minute.
With trembling hands, I read the description on the vial.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Venom assists with silent and ruthless revenge.
Through a simple ritual, breathe the target's name into the vial…
That very night, a horrific death shall find them.
"In short, it's perfect for getting rid of someone you want dead without any fuss."
"..."
"Before they die, they'll experience excruciating, searing pain and horrific mental torment, enough to curse the world itself, before falling into a coma. Over the next four hours, they'll endure what feels like four years of agony."
You're giving me a murder weapon…?
Assistant Manager Eun Haje further grumbled about how the venom always came in sets of two vials because of the 'damn concept', so she had to work twice as hard and twice as long just to get it.
But eventually, she smiked mischievously at me.
"Use it if someone you want to kill shows up."
"...!"
"Because I had someone like that."
I glanced at the empty slot in the box, feeling a lump in my throat.
…Did she already use the first one?!
"Curious? About who I used it on?"
My mind instantly flashed to the revelation from the
– The word that best represents Teacher Eun Haje is 'Betrayer'!
"If it's a personal matter and you're uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me…"
"Uncomfortable? Please. I've been dying to talk about it."
If that's the case, by all means.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje leaned back against the bed with her arms crossed.
"To cut to the chase… Yes, I got into trouble as a journalist and ended up switching careers."
"..."
"There was this second-generation politician who dabbled in everything from drugs to human trafficking. I was chasing an exclusive scoop on him, but I ruined myself in the process."
Her tone was casual, as usual, but the content was anything but.
It was the kind of story that felt polished through years of introspection and regret.
Her article was killed at the desk, and the very next day, immense pressure came down on her entire team. She was stalked, her family received threatening calls…
"The team decided to drop the whole thing and pretend it never happened. But I couldn't let it go and tried to blow the whistle through a foreign media outlet. Sure, that could be considered betrayal. But…"
A small sigh escaped her lips.
"On the day I was supposed to leave the country, I got a call. Four of the informants had died as if it were some sort of cruel joke."
"..."
"Officially, it was ruled as suicides due to despair… but they obviously weren't. Either they were killed outright or driven to the point of death."
"..."
"I was stupid to think that just publishing the story would fix everything."
"It wasn't stupidity."
"It was stupid, no matter how you look at it. Anyway…"
Eun Haje quit being a journalist.
She said she simply couldn't do it anymore.
"But I still needed a job. I had a family to support at home."
Fortunately, she found a company that fit.
A place where the age range for new hires was relatively broad, where experience in diverse fields was valued for sales positions, and—since it was in a different industry—she wasn't on any blacklists.
"A pharmaceutical company called Daydream Inc.."
And at this company, she encountered something extraordinary—
A wish ticket.
"At first, I thought about bringing the dead back to life, but that felt like an insult to them."
Eun Haje adjusted her arms, crossing them more comfortably.
"Trying to bring them back just because I felt guilty would've been self-serving. Respecting the dead as they are… that's the right thing to do. Plenty of people in this company wouldn't agree, but that's my stance. Anyway…"
Her story ended with a faint smile.
"So last night, I got my revenge. And that's the end of it."
"..."
"If you hear about a second-generation politician dying a horrible death in the news, just know that I was the one responsible."
Eun Haje stretched her arms high with a relieved sigh.
"Ah… Fuck, I'm finally done with this cursed Darkness exploration!!"
"Are you quitting?"
"You never know in life."
Despite her bold declaration, her face was slightly stiff.
Even though she mentioned it casually to avoid burdening me, it was clear that she felt conflicted about leaving Supervisor Park Minseong behind.
"Either way, I'll be taking a break for a while… but I guess that means I won't be working in the D-squad anymore."
"..."
She gave a slightly bitter smile.
"I made such a fuss about you staying in our squad, and it ended up happening after all."
"…Yes."
I realized it reflexively.
From now on… I wouldn't see Assistant Manager Eun Haje sitting at the desk next to mine anymore.
"..."
"Roe."
"..."
"Is it hard on you?"
"...!"
"Yeah. If it weren't, you'd have to be some kind of psychopath. You've been so capable that it's just hitting you a bit later than usual, but everyone goes through this at some point."
Eun Haje smiled and lightly thumped her chest.
"Not being able to see the squadmate who used to sit next to you the very next day."
"..."
"But you should give yourself some credit for this. It's the best-case scenario—you're not seeing us anymore for a good reason, thanks to your own abilities."
"…Supervisor Park Minseong, he…"
"That's a debt I'll keep on my own tab."
Eun Haje cut me off firmly.
"You rescued him too. Be proud of that. He's strong in his own way. He'll recover… Focus on yourself for now."
She glanced at me and smiled.
"Even the squad leader seems worried about you."
"...?"
The lizard… worried?
"Roe, hasn't the squad leader been barely showing up at the office lately?"
He hadn't.
"Usually, when half a squad gets wiped out, the norm isn't taking a break—it's stepping in to support another squad."
Ah.
"But he made sure to keep you out of that."
"...!"
"Whether it's by pulling strings or stepping in himself."
Goodness.
"Trustworthy, huh? He's been like that since I joined. Not exactly flexible, but dependable."
Eun Haje placed her intact hand on my shoulder.
"It's not easy finding people you can rely on in this company. That's part of your good fortune. Work well with the squad leader moving forward."
Then she grinned and extended her hand.
"Whoever ends up taking my spot, with Squad Leader Lee Jaheon and Kim Soleum, I'm sure the D-squad will be fine."
She firmly shook my hand with her uninjured right one.
"Earn plenty of points safely, Roe."
And she added with a smile,
"I hope your wish comes true."
"...Yes."
That was my last handshake with Assistant Manager Eun Haje from the D-squad.
* * *
When I returned to work after my short leave, I saw that all of Assistant Manager Eun Haje's belongings had been cleared from her desk in the D-squad's office.
Supervisor Park Minseong's desk had been left alone, but who knew how long that would last.
"..."
I quietly went to my desk and sat down.
Just like that.
I was the last remaining member of the D-squad here.
-x-X-x-
Morning.
I sat quietly in the office.
– Ah, what a refreshing winter morning. How about a cup of coffee, friend?
Sure. Let's have some at lunchtime.
While tidying up my desk and chatting with Braun to chase away the silence, around 8:50 AM, my lizard-headed superior entered through the door.
I approached and greeted him politely.
"Good morning, Squad Leader. It's a pleasure to see you."
"Yes."
I lifted my head and continued.
"Um, I heard you helped arrange my paid leave. …Thank you."
"Yes."
The lizard moved only his eyes to look at me.
"Can you perform your duties as you did two weeks ago?"
"Yes. I can work as before. Even if my initial results are lacking, I'll regain my rhythm as quickly as possible."
"I see."
His vertical pupils scrutinized me intently.
"I'll be the judge of that and provide any necessary support."
Hmm.
By now, I've become fluent in interpreting his words.
'Whether you excel or stumble, I'll back you up—just keep working hard like you always do.'
Honestly, even if he looked and talked like a lizard, he's a good boss. So who cares?
Still, that didn't mean I can let my guard down.
'I have to clear the Darknesses perfectly for a while.'
I'd already been granted paid leave.
If someone known for their swift, efficient work like me—the kind of employee who hit supervisor rank in just 60 days—came back from a break and couldn't deliver results?
That would become a hot topic around the company.
It wouldn't look good.
[Wait, nobody even died—everyone survived, didn't they?]
[Hmm… Employee Kim Soleum seems oddly fragile emotionally.]
[But how could someone with such a weak mentality have achieved so much before?]
…That kind of talk.
'It's no good if suspicion starts swirling.'
I couldn't give them any reason to doubt me.
'I need to clear everything cleanly.'
Though… I hadn't been able to purchase any reliable new items.
I recalled the message on the alien shop's website that had been up during my entire vacation.
※ Redecorating (Temporary Closed) ※
>>I understand!
Alright.
The website was under maintenance.
'I wonder when it'll reopen.'
I haven't seen any documents related to the site's redecorating, so it should reopen soon.
Once the alien shop is back, I'll check out the new stock and secure some items within my budget.
For now, I'll focus on clearing Darknesses properly, getting back to basics.
'They won't send me into high-grade Darkness again for a while, I think.'
The strange emptiness left by reduced squad members was unavoidable, but quitting isn't an option… so I'll manage somehow.
I asked a bit more cheerfully on purpose.
"Do you think I'll be deployed to a Darkness today? I heard there's a high chance we'll be sent to support another squad since we're down to three members."
"That's correct."
Oh.
"Which squad will we be supporting today?"
If I'm lucky, I might run into one of my yet-unmet peers…
"An elite unit."
...
Huh??
Again?
"Do you mean the A-squad?"
"No."
"…Then which team?"
"The C-squad."
I knew no one at all from that squad.
The fact that it was an elite unit made me wary, but at least I wouldn't have to see both the A-squad's leader and Squad Leader Lee Jaheon in one place.
Wait.
Now that I think about it, I wasn't entirely unfamiliar with the C-squad.
[K.LEE : This is Assistant Manager Lee Kangheon from the C-squad haha]
The suspicious assistant manager who introduced me to Salmon Market!
'He did say he was from the C-squad.'
Maybe this time I'll finally see him in person.
But a more pressing question came first.
If it's an elite unit's mission…
"Could it be a high-difficulty Darkness that's hard to clear?"
"What criteria are you using to make that judgment?"
"…I apologize. That was thoughtless."
"?"
"Um. Could you tell me its letter-class and whether a manual exists for it?"
"It's D-class. The manual is fully prepared."
Oh, then there's little chance of seeing some crazy stunt where they use the Round-Off Team as human meat shields. Feeling relieved, I asked calmly.
"Understood. When should we depart?"
"We'll move out in five minutes."
Yessir.
We grabbed our gear and left the office, walking toward our destination.
But…
"..."
"..."
"Squad Leader."
"Yes."
"Why are we heading toward the annex instead of the C-squad's office?"
"Because the C-squad has already entered the Darkness."
"..."
Huh?
After a few more exchanges with Chief Lizard, here's what I gathered:
[C-squad's leader is on leave, leaving only two members in the unit.]
[Today's mission involves a D-class ghost story.]
[Instead of adhering to the standard three-member team, the C-squad decided to fudge the numbers and dive in on their own, prompting the admin office to hurriedly assign additional personnel.]
"..."
Wow.
Back when I first joined, Assistant Manager Eun Haje had blown up in rage, swearing over how they counted a newbie as part of the three-person minimum.
'And here we are with people willingly entering as just two…'
Ominous.
– Hmm, a member who doesn't follow orders! A truly skilled host knows how to handle all elements of a show, especially human resources.
– Could today be your chance to learn that, Mr. Roe Deer? Let's find out. Let's charge forward, shall we, friend!
I want to sink to the ground in despair…
But I need points, and it's true that I need to start diving into the Darkness again.
'None of the elite units I've encountered so far have been normal…'
And I have a strong feeling this will be no different.
Still, as a half-year rookie supervisor, I have no choice but to follow orders. If I didn't want this, I should've joined the A-squad… though if I had, I'd probably already be in the Round-Off Team as a corpse.
'…Am I already feeling nostalgic?'
I forced myself to avoid thinking about my two superiors from the D-squad as I moved forward.
Squad Leader Lee Jaheon handed me a tablet.
"Spend the next ten minutes reviewing the manual."
"Is there a reason I only get ten minutes?"
"Because time is tight before the entry closes, and the survival rate for the past two quarters has been 97%."
Thank you for the reassuring explanation…
So we've reached the point where a 3% fatality rate is considered acceptable.
Honestly, in a scenario like this, the 3% who die even with a manual likely made terrible decisions or were extraordinarily unlucky.
'It'll be fine.'
With a mix of unease and resignation, I looked down at the tablet…
"..."
"..."
– Hmm? Mr. Roe Deer, it looks like your mind just went blank.
Yup.
Because I'm screwed.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Ignorance is Bliss]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-D-2367
A textbook horror story where you must survive a full night among ghosts—an utterly nerve-wracking classic.
========================
"..."
Wait.
Wait just a second, Squad Leader…!
Instead of going on a mental break down and refusing to go in, I managed to make a rational suggestion.
"Sorry, could we possibly prepare for just thirty more minutes before entry, sir?"
"That is not possible."
"..."
Right, they said the entry closes…
Not exactly a rational suggestion on my part.
"..."
Aaaaah! Seriously!!
Why does it have to be this one for my return mission?!
-x-X-x-
"There have been no fatalities aside from two cases of heart attacks. It's safe compared to other Darknesses of the same letter-grade."
"…Understood."
'It's not that I didn't know that…!'
I had simply been deluding myself.
Drunk on the image of myself as the 'elite rookie', I'd forgotten something.
Even before my paid leave, I was someone who silently wept in fear while speedrunning through horror scenarios.
And now my comeback mission is the kind of classic horror I'm weakest against—a true nightmare.
'New squadmates, half of them from an elite unit, meaning no room for nonsense.'
On top of that, the low Darkness grade made it wasteful to use the tattoo stickers here, so I'd have to endure it with sheer grit.
This wasn't the kind of situation where survival instincts would kick in as you frantically search for a way out.
No, I'd have to experience everything raw.
Exactly as the wiki entry intended for the horror to be felt.
'Huu…'
At least when I played tag with the convenience store ghost, I stumbled in without realizing it.
Now, it felt like I was being dunked in cold water, jolted back to reality. Call it shock therapy, maybe.
With a sinking feeling, I trudged into the Darkness, like a condemned soul walking to the slaughterhouse.
My legs wobbled.
"This way."
At least the entry wasn't one of those warped spaces that swallow us into bizarre, twisted worlds.
This time, the entry process was very straightforward.
Knock on the door of a sealed space that meets specific conditions, then enter. That space becomes the ghost story.
The space must be sealed with no one within 100 meters.
All four walls and the ceiling must be enclosed with no windows or elements revealing the outside.
It must contain an analog clock.
The space must be approximately 40 cubic meters—a deviation of more than 4 cubic meters will prevent the Darkness from manifesting.
Our company had built a dedicated separate space that met these conditions and used it for this purpose.
Specifically, a room measuring 4m x 4m x 2.4m…
[Break Room]
Squad Leader Lee Jaheon and I stopped in front of a door bearing that plaque.
The break room was attached to a regular office, but all the conditions were satisfied.
It was a Wednesday with a date ending in '4'.
Knocking on the door in a specific rhythm would trigger the ghost story.
"..."
I… I'm the one who has to knock, right?
Seniority, after all?
Knock, knock. Knock-knock. Knock-knock-knock.
Trying not to let my trembling hand show, I knocked on the door.
And, as if on cue, the door clicked open.
"Huh?"
"Who are these pe… oh!"
Inside, two employees were sitting comfortably. Upon seeing us, they waved their hands.
"Oh, you're the reinforcements?"
"Yes."
"Wow, we really didn't need anyone, but they insisted on sending you."
They muttered amongst themselves about how increasing the number of clearers would diminish points and reduce the concentration of Dream Essence…
Then, Chief Lizard responded curtly.
"If you have complaints, submit a department transfer request and revise the exploration manual yourself."
"..."
"..."
The two employees' mouths were wide open, then eventually nodded awkwardly, their faces turning sheepish.
"No, um… We weren't criticizing you specifically. Sorry about that…"
"Hahaha, we must've sounded rude. Really sorry. You're, uh, from the D-squad, right, sir?"
"Yes."
"Then this person is…?"
"Supervisor Roe Deer."
"Ohhh!"
Both their expressions changed again.
"You're the new hire who almost joined the A-squad? I heard Assistant Manager Butterfly had her eye on you!"
"And there's a story about you saving someone who was supposed to die… Wow, please tell us all about it when this is over!"
"It's not much of a story—just some good luck—but sure. It's nice to meet you."
Ushered by them, Chief Lizard and I sat at a small table in the corner of the break room.
"We'll be spending the night together, so let's introduce ourselves. That's Supervisor Dolphin over there."
"Pleasure to meet you, Supervisor Roe Deer!"
A petite woman wearing a dolphin mask waved energetically when called. Her tone was bright and bubbly.
Then a tanned man with a sociable demeanor extended his hand with a smile.
"And I'm Leopard, Assistant Manager Leopard."
"Understood, Assistant Manager Leopard."
Hmm.
[K.LEE : Oh hello, Mr. Employee lolol]
The profile picture of 'Lee Kangheon' on the work chat had been set to a Hawaiian beach, and the tanned skin seemed to fit perfectly.
The matching rank and outgoing personality further aligned.
'It's probably this person.'
Still, I kept the possibility open. I didn't know his real name for sure yet, and I wasn't about to show any familiarity in front of a superior.
"Looking forward to working together, sir."
"Same here! Let's get through the night snacking and chatting in this cozy break room!"
For now, it felt like we were gearing up for an office all-nighter.
And indeed, nothing outlandish happened—the walls didn't suddenly bleed, the ceiling didn't flip, and the coffee machine didn't turn into a murder bot.
But…
'The ghost… it's already here.'
One or more explorers would have already been replaced by a ghost.
That's right.
One of us wasn't human anymore.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Oh, I'll get it!"
"No need—our squad doesn't do the 'newbie fetches coffee' thing. Just sit back."
You never know exactly when it happens—perhaps as soon as you cross the threshold, or maybe during introductions.
'It's easier if you're the one replaced by a ghost.'
In that case, you just black out after entering and wake up the next day.
The real problem is the manual for those who aren't replaced.
"..."
The rule I had to follow:
Ghosts mimic the appearance, personality, and behavior of explorers but exhibit subtle, unnatural actions, which no human would do, that cause unease.
However, you must never show that you've noticed who the ghost is.
Every explorer who blatantly revealed their suspicion disappeared without a trace.
I-I can do this.
'I just have to ignore the weirdness and brush it off.'
I can do this!
If someone starts grinning with their mouth unnaturally wide or something, I'll just look away and endure it.
'If it happens, I'll just very naturally act like I'm looking at someone else.'
With multiple people in the room, I felt like I could manage.
Maybe I wasn't as much of a coward as I thought. Despite everything I'd gone through, I was surprisingly composed—not breaking into a cold sweat at the mere thought of what was to come.
"Ah! The entrance just fully closed. This is the group we'll be working with!"
"Oh~!"
"Great, let's give it our all!!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
All the employees clapped cheerfully, creating a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Except for one thing.
"Wow!"
Everyone in the room was clapping… with the backs of their hands.
"..."
Ah.
"Huh? Mr. Roe Deer, why aren't you clapping?"
"..."
"Why aren't you, hm?"
Assistant Manager Leopard leaned in close to my face.
"Is something bothering you?"
-x-X-x-
Who could have imagined something like this.
Being trapped in an enclosed space with three ghosts imitating humans, all while sitting in a cold sweat, pretending to act normal.
And worse…
However, you must never show that you've noticed.
'…I can't let it show.'
Even if every person in front of me—no, every ghost—was clapping cheerfully with the backs of their hands.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
'Don't, be ob, vious.'
Then, one suddenly turned to me and asked,
"Why aren't you clapping?"
"..."
Oh, fucking hell.
I barely kept myself from trembling as I raised my hands.
And then…
Clap, clap, clap.
I placed one hand politely over the other and produced a quiet sound. I glanced around as if embarrassed, offering a slightly awkward smile like a rookie trying to gauge the situation.
"…I missed the timing to clap and got flustered. It's a bit embarrassing."
"..."
Please.
Please let this slide.
"Eyy~ No worries at all!"
"Hey, Leopard sunbae, don't pressure the competent newbie. Sit back down."
"Aigoo, alright."
The Leopard employee—or rather, the 'thing' pretending to be Leopard—shrugged and sat down as instructed.
'Huu...'
But my relief was short-lived.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
Suddenly, the Dolphin employee dropped her head to the floor and started banging it sideways.
Expressionlessly.
"There's… there's a bug, a bug, a bug I can't catch…"
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
"…I heard no other creatures can enter this Darkness. Perhaps you were mistaken?"
"Ah."
The Dolphin employee stopped banging her head.
Her disheveled hair was now a mess, and her skull was crushed.
"That makes sense. Thank you, Supervisor Roe Deer."
"Not at all."
And then, as if nothing had happened, she resumed chatting naturally with Assistant Manager Leopard.
"..."
If I pass out here… would I disappear?
I'm going crazy.
'Why did everyone but me get replaced…!'
If only I could've blacked out and been replaced too—waking up tomorrow morning oblivious.
"Supervisor Roe Deer, have some food."
"Ah, thank you very much, Squad Leader…"
The lizard mask-wearing ghost—no, don't think like that—Squad Leader Lizard handed me some food.
It was kimbap from a rather tasty snack shop near the office.
'I need to eat to survive the nearly 24 hours until tomorrow morning.'
It was a rational decision… If only I didn't feel like I'd throw up or get indigestion the moment I put anything in my mouth….
'Urgh.'
"Ohh, how about sharing? We brought some sandwiches, too."
The two employees from the C-squad took out their sandwiches. I reflexively responded out of social courtesy.
"I should've brought something, but I was unprepared. I'm truly sorry and grateful."
"Eyy, maknae, come on. No need to worry about stuff like that! Even this squad leader here doesn't seem to care about formalities, right?"
"Yes."
With the lizard's short reply, Assistant Manager Leopard gave a thumbs-up with a grin.
"Ee-yah~ Our C-squad's leader is like that too. Hey, you know Squad Leader Teal Duck from the A-squad, right? Our squad leader is on a whole different level." ṝΆ𐌽ՕΒËᶊ
Ack.
"…Sounds like someone worth respecting."
"Right? The squad leader even used that wish ticket to take a vacation… Eyy, hope it doesn't lead to retirement though."
I avoided commenting on the subtle criticism against A-squad's leader and turned the conversation with gentle praise instead.
Not that it matters since they're ghosts… But yeah, I'll keep this up.
'Forget it, forget it…'
Honestly, it felt less like a ghost story and more like awkward small talk during a team-building retreat with senior employees from related departments.
Of course, it didn't last long.
Right after the meal, Assistant Manager Leopard yawned and stood up.
"Ah, we'll be here all night… Mind if I take off my shoes for a bit?"
"Aww, you should've brought slippers like me!"
"Eyy, what can I do if I didn't? My socks are clean anyway."
Assistant Manager Leopard chatted nonchalantly with Supervisor Dolphin while starting to take off his shoes.
'Sure, I won't even be surprised if he suddenly starts tap dancing on the table…'
Instead of feet, there were hands.
Crammed and forced into the shoes, the hands unfolded and pressed onto the floor as they emerged.
"..."
"Ah, since I'm already up, I'll grab more coffee~ Everyone wants a refill, right?"
Thup.
Suddenly, Assistant Manager Leopard stood on his hands.
The hands attached to his feet swung up and waved.
Thup… thup.
A company employee walking on his hands.
"Supervisor Roe Deer."
I swallowed a scream.
"Yes, Assistant Manager Leopard."
"Can you help me carry the coffee? It's hard to see straight for some reason. U-Uh—"
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His inverted body kept bumping into the counter where the coffee was placed.
"Not trying to boss you around just because you're the junior—it's just you're seated closer. Sorry if it feels like I'm pressuring you."
Sh-Shit.
"Of course. I'd be happy to help, sir."
I stood up immediately and moved toward Assistant Manager Leopard.
Now that I think about it, sitting next to a ghost with a crushed skull might be worse than assisting the upside-down ghost.
Right?
Riiight??
– Fascinating! Could this be a deliberate uncanny valley effect?
– An entertaining performance, Mr. Roe Deer. Let's enjoy it to the fullest!
Enjoy it?
To the fullest?
'Just keeping my eyes open deserves a self-pat on the back right now…!'
Enjoyment is way too high a bar!
"Now then, let's move these."
"Yes, sir."
I handed cups of coffee to the hands attached to his feet, holding two cups myself, and placed them on the table.
I was proud of not spilling or trembling, despite the sheer absurdity of it all.
The real problem, though, was that with coffee refilled, the mood shifted into casual conversation.
"Now then."
Supervisor Dolphin, smiling brightly despite her caved-in skull, suggested,
"How about we go around and share stories of the Darknesses we've cleared? Let's be honest, it's hard to stick with this job without finding some fun in it!"
Assistant Manager Leopard waved it off.
"What if the ghosts overhear us and do something crazy? Let's just talk about our favorite foods or something."
"Ah, that's good too."
"..."
He wasn't wrong.
Discussing the ghost-switching itself would not cause anomalies.
However, it greatly increased the risk of someone noticing who the ghost was, which was highly discouraged.
But they're all ghosts.
"I like things crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. Like fried eggplant, you know?"
"Oh, really? I like food that pops when you bite into it. Like eyeballs?"
Fwick—
Dolphin leaned right into my face.
"Supervisor Roe Deer, you've got eyeballs, don't you? I can see them. You brought them under the mask, right? To share? Let's share."
AAAAACCKK!!
-x-X-x-
"They're not for eating, unfortunately."
I politely folded my hands under the table to hide the trembling.
"And it seems like we have similar tastes. Texture really is important."
"Oh~ Comrade!"
The ghost mimicking Dolphin beamed.
"Supervisor Roe Deer doesn't seem like a ghost. Talking so normally about food and all."
Wow.
'I can't keep this up.'
If I stayed in this conversation any longer, there'd definitely come a moment I'd scream.
– Oh dear, Supervisor Roe Deer seems particularly sensitive to the uncanny valley effect! Such reactions are appreciated in an audience, though unfortunate in this situation…
– But worry not. Isn't having this Braun by your side the greatest comfort? Your friend is right here!
…Wait.
That's right.
'What Braun said is right.'
– A great host always adapts to the situation!
Exactly. What I was experiencing now was a situation where fear had been heightened to the extreme by the uncanny valley effect.
'Fear when something looks human but isn't.'
In this ordinary break room, watching coworkers casually display grotesque, inhuman behaviors was deeply unsettling.
And being the only human amplified the sheer terror.
'If that's the case…'
I glanced to the side.
The lizard was casually eating a sandwich snack with the wrapper still on.
"..."
"..."
Not particularly less scary!
Even if he suddenly flicks his tongue, walks backward with a grin, or gets up and starts shaking his head while crazily dancing yet casually chatting—it's all the same. Ṝ₳ɴỐʙÈṨ
Because he was already terrifying!
Because he already looked like a lizard!
There's no longer any uncanny valley to feel.
'I'm sticking with the section chief no matter what.'
Finally, a solution appeared.
Suppressing my cold sweat, I turned my chair naturally toward Chief Lizard, as if I had an urgent question to ask.
"Section Chief Lee Jaheon."
And I did genuinely have something I wanted to ask.
According to the
This means that if you ask something natural and unpressured, there's a high chance the answer will mirror that of the 'original'.
Unless they suddenly start acting ghostly, of course.
'This might even make it easier to ask.'
Since it wasn't really them.
I pulled my chair closer as if I wanted to have an open and honest conversation with a squadmate.
I aimed to create an atmosphere that discouraged the other ghosts from interrupting, and it seemed to work.
Then I asked,
"We don't usually have time to chat during work. Would it be alright if I asked you a few things now?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. I was wondering… how did you become so strong, Section Chief?"
"Right."
Thankfully, Lee Jaheon didn't seem annoyed.
"It's the result of a combination of innate factors and acquired learning."
"..."
The perfect, universal answer for any question!
It felt like asking the top student how they aced their exams, only to hear, 'I studied hard with my good brain.'
'I want to hear more details, though.'
With anyone else, this might be a brush-off, but with Chief Lizard, it's hard to tell.
I decided to play along and smiled sheepishly before responding.
"I see. I asked because I'd like to improve my strength too—without relying on items or contamination."
"Follow a protein-based diet and combine aerobic and anaerobic exercise."
"…Will doing that make me as strong as you?"
"No."
"..."
Excuse me, I can already muster strength proportional to my physique.
I almost gave my superior a look of incredulity.
"…If you have any other advice for me, I'd love to hear it."
"Yes. Supervisor Roe Deer, you have other strengths. Focus on developing those."
The lizard spoke dryly.
"No individual excels in all areas. Don't waste resources on inefficient or unnecessary things. Use others to your advantage."
…Wait a second.
"Are you saying that when strength is needed, I should rely on you for that role, and instead focus on honing my own strengths?"
"Yes."
The lizard nodded.
"Your strengths lie in creativity and decision-making, Mr. Roe Deer."
"…Thank you."
Well.
'Should I consider this high praise?'
It's definitely better than being told to handle everything on my own. I'm grateful, of course.
'Still, it feels like a missed opportunity.'
I debated for a moment, then decided to dig a little deeper.
"However, we do occasionally enter Darknesses alone. Strength is a universal and effective means, so I feel I might need it for situations like that."
"I see."
The lizard stared into the void for a moment, as if in deep thought, before giving a confirming nod.
"I'll introduce you to an item."
"...!"
Jackpot!
"Does it enhance strength?"
"Something similar. Use it as a parent item when crafting a new special equipment."
"...! Thank you."
I'd been meaning to enhance or expand my dedicated equipment anyway.
'At least I gained something from this.'
Even amidst a ghost story full of ghosts, while sweating bullets, I managed to obtain something… wait.
Come to think of it, the lizard sitting in front of me isn't even the real Lee Jaheon—it's a ghost.
'Can I really trust this promise?'
I panicked for a moment but recalled the manual.
People who were replaced by ghosts retain indirect memories of what occurred within the enclosed space.
Given Lee Jaheon's personality, he was highly likely to keep the promise.
'That's settled.'
Phew.
Accomplishing something gave me a sense of achievement, even if I had to endure terror.
'Let's use this sense of accomplishment to push through the fear…'
Pretending to stretch, I avoided looking at the two C-squad ghosts who were now doing handstands and grinning eerily at me.
At this point, I didn't care who among them introduced me to the Salmon Market.
'Empty your mind…'
I kept making small talk with the lizard, avoiding direct interactions with the ghosts.
The ghost posing as Chief Lizard couldn't get up to anything mischievous because I kept bombarding him with questions, forcing him to respond endlessly.
'I learned a profound fact—that the section chief prefers beef over pork…'
– Friend, this seems less like an interview and more like a tedious amateur biography investigation…
I know, Braun-ah, but what choice do I have…?
When even that small talk ran dry, I pretended to doze off, playing word games with Braun, who was in my pocket, to pass the time.
No matter what nonsense echoed in my ears, I stuck to one response: 'Sorry… I'm too tired. Let's continue this conversation after we're out.'
'It's 3 a.m. Please, let this end.'
I felt like I was drowning in cold sweat, but no emergency occurred.
Clutching Braun in my pocket, I survived the harrowing hours that felt like an eternity.
"..."
"..."
Click.
Finally, the pantry door opened.
I had endured the entire night alone.
"…Done."
I made it, dammit!
I wanted to stand up and punch the air in triumph despite my foggy mind.
'I can feel tears in my eyes.'
It was the first time I had endured ghostly horror this raw and alone, without cutting corners.
It felt like I had overcome a personal limit.
'I should give myself a pat on the back…'
I wobbled as I stood.
No one knew how much of a struggle even a D-class challenge was for me, and that was a relief…
"Mr. Roe Deer."
"...?!"
H-Huh…?
Turning my head, I saw the lizard calmly standing there, wide awake.
He looked fine, as if he had never stayed up all ni… Wait.
'...?'
He's awake?
"S-Section Chief?"
"There's no need to wait for the members of C-squad to wake up. You may clock out."
I stared at the lizard, perfectly upright, and then turned to look at the sprawled, sleeping C-squad members.
"..."
"..."
No way.
"You weren't… a ghost last night?"
"I was not."
"…You were clapping with the backs of your hands though?!"
"?"
The lizard tilted his head, then seemed to realize something and replied,
"I thought it was a popular trend."
"..."
Ah.
Ahhhhh!
-x-X-x-
…The situation quickly settled afterward.
Or rather, it couldn't not settle.
The lizard had doubts about my earlier behavior.
– Mr. Roe Deer, were your questions last night intended to engage in lengthy conversation with a ghost because you mistook me for one?
That moment was genuinely spine-chilling.
– …How could that be? I was simply keeping both possibilities in mind after seeing you clapping with the backs of your hands, sir.
And I raised an imaginary thumbs-up toward the respected superior.
That means I smoothed it over with flattery.
– I couldn't afford to miss the first chance to have an in-depth conversation with you, even if it meant risking a misunderstanding.
– I see.
– Thank you for kindly consulting with me for such a long time.
– Yes.
Phew.
For the record, the C-squad members, who had slept peacefully through the night, woke up before Lee Jaheon and I left.
They chuckled casually.
"Ah~ It just had to be the two of you, huh? What a coincidence."
"Wow. That must've been really scary."
"Right? Pretty chilling~"
Liars!
Watching them laugh as they recalled the things the ghosts imitating them had done, I was once again struck by how bold the so-called elites of this company were.
Oh, before I forget.
'Now's my chance to figure out who referred me to the Salmon Market.'
"Um, would it be alright if I ask for your names, please?"
"Of course!"
Supervisor Dolphin raised her hand energetically.
"I'm Supervisor Lee Seonghae, and over there is Assistant Manager Kang Dojun."
"..."
Huh?
Wait a second.
The assistant manager who introduced me to the Salmon Market was… Ah!
"By any chance, is C-squad's manager named Lee Kangheon?"
"Huh? No."
"..."
'I've been had.'
No wonder that person had been so quick to share their information. They were all lies.
'They must've counted on the fact that the elite units, A, B, and C, are off-limits for direct contact via the company directory for regular employees.'
Well, it didn't really matter. It just made me glad I'd created an alternate ID to bypass their scheme.
As I was about to wrap up the conversation with some casual remark along the lines of, 'I must have confused that person with someone else'—
"Pardon me, Supervisor Roe Deer."
While Assistant Manager Leopard was talking to Section Chief Lee Jaheon, Supervisor Dolphin suddenly turned to me, speaking in a hushed tone.
"By any chance… Did you also get a katalk message about making money?"
"...!!"
"…From someone with a Hawaii beach background on their profile?"
"Famous, huh?"
"Is it a word-of-mouth thing?"
Supervisor Dolphin glanced at her colleague to ensure they weren't paying attention, then quickly continued.
"Um, well, I was also the top recruit in my batch when I joined."
Ah.
"They contacted me too. That… fish bears eat a lot of… oh, Salmon Market! Yeah, Salmon Market."
So she'd been fished—or maybe phished—too…
"I've heard a few other promising recruits got contacted as well!"
According to her, the identity of the sender varied each time, but two details always matched.
[K.LEE: Oh hello, Mr./Ms. Employee lolol]
The profile photo and the name "K.LEE."
Supervisor Dolphin whispered conspiratorially.
"Want to hear my theory?"
"Of course."
"I think the site admin sent it. Like, they're recruiting people to sell actual items from the Darknesses on their secondhand platform!"
Oh.
"You think the site was created by a company employee?"
"They must at least be connected! They knew way too much about the Field Exploration Team."
Interesting.
I rubbed my chin.
'If such an employee really exists…'
A named character?
I mentally sifted through the profiles in the company wiki for employees who might pull something like this.
"Thank you. That clears up some of my questions."
"No problem."
Supervisor Dolphin grinned and shrugged.
"By the way, are there that many employees using Salmon Market within the company?"
"Quite a few, actually. The company doesn't care as long as we're not selling Dream Essence Collectors or masks. It's like how looting gets overlooked in wartime to keep soldiers' morale up. Ugh."
Supervisor Dolphin grumbled.
"Honestly, this company is so annoying."
I nodded without thinking.
"There's definitely a tendency to disregard human casualties."
"Well, I mean… technically, people dying is eco-friendly, so whatever."
"..."
"But it's the randomness that bugs me. If it were me, I'd send them off in order of personality. Ugh."
I… think I'm scared of the C-squad.
"Anyway, that's just my take."
"Thank you."
"No worries."
Supervisor Dolphin tied her long hair into a ponytail and answered cheerfully.
"You know, you were so polite even when I was a ghost, Supervisor Roe Deer. I think good people should live long."
She gave me a thumbs-up and a bright smile.
Um. Thank you.
In the end, I parted ways with C-squad on a relatively pleasant note.
"Next time, let's meet in a Darkness that gives lots of points! We'll show you how awesome we are then!"
"And it'd be even better if only the person giving us points shows up! Hahaha!"
Hmm.
'I'd rather not encounter the greatness of the elite unit in Darkness…!'
Still, working with C-squad seemed smoother and less friction-filled compared to A-squad.
Of course, C-squad also appeared to have a certain sense of elitism, but that could be chalked up to being an inherent trait of elite units.
…Except for the endless replaying in my head of the shocking ghost-version C-squad I saw today.
'Ugh.'
Let's go home.
Let's indulge in the luxury of sleeping while the sun's still up in the sky…
Feeling a small sense of gratitude for having the day off, I bowed to Lee Jaheon.
"Squad Leader, thank you for today. Once again, I appreciate you patiently answering my questions in the chaos of the Darkness."
"Yes."
"Please feel free to ask me anything in return anytime, Squad Leader!"
"Yes. Then I'll ask now."
"..."
Already?
Lee Jaheon asked bluntly.
"Supervisor Kim Soleum, have you used the 'Fox Counseling Room' before?"
"...!"
That was one of three locations I gained access to after becoming a supervisor:
1- Security Team Rentals Warehouse
2- Annex (two free equipment customizations per year)
3- Fox Counseling Office
It was the only one I hadn't used yet…
"No, I haven't."
Of course, I hadn't had the time or opportunity.
"Do you plan to use it?"
"..."
Hmm.
"…Squad Leader, you're suggesting the Fox Counseling Room to help me recover from the psychological effects of contamination, correct?"
"Yes. I recommend scheduling a session soon."
That was reasonable advice.
Except for one issue.
'There's a side effect to that place.'
The Fox Counseling Room had a severe, unwritten side effect not mentioned in the employee manual.
Granted, it was a very low probability, so regular employees didn't need to worry about it.
Still, I didn't want to take that risk, no matter how small.
…With everything that's happened lately, I'm a bit tired of dealing with probabilities.
-x-X-x-
'I think I can manage for now.'
Unless I'd deliberately think about strange inner whispers or a sudden urge to read the employee handbook, such feelings didn't surface.
Nights could be rough until I fell asleep, but having someone to talk to made it manageable.
That someone being Braun.
– Goodness! What an honor, Friend.
Yup.
Never would I have imagined a monster from a ghost story could feel like such a lifeline…
'Humans are truly creatures of adaptation, aren't we?'
Anyway, since I had the day off today and could sleep during the day, I figured I could compensate for my lack of sleep this way.
Of course, outwardly, I nodded politely.
"Yes. I'll schedule it when I have the time."
Though that 'time' might not come for a while—maybe even months.
But hey, I wasn't lying.
"…Yes."
Chief Lizard stared at me for a moment before nodding and leaving.
And with that, I returned home safely…
"Huu."
Click.
I entered my room.
The officetel building was quiet, probably because everyone else was at work. Baek Saheon wasn't around either.
'Time to sleep.'
After washing up, I lay on my bed, intending to check the latest information and websites one last time…
"...!"
And immediately lost all thoughts of sleep.
'It's open!'
The alien shop had finished its renewal and launched a new homepage.
The colorful screen stabbed at my eyes as I clicked on it.
>>I'll take a look at the items
★ Grand Reopening Sale! ★
Shocking prices!
Wow, really… shocking.
The design, I mean.
'How could it look even worse?'
As pixelated fireworks burst across the screen, the increasing colors and effects made it even more hideous.
If these aliens were outsourcing their design work, someone needed to intervene.
– Mr. Roe Deer, please have mercy on this host and move me far away from that awful advert.
I gladly propped Braun on a towel on the desk.
I'd endure this design terror alone.
'Anyway, a grand reopening sale sounds like a good opportunity.'
It might even mean more products were available now.
Excited, I clicked the entry button.
Items
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999 ★
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999 ★
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
Necronomicon – ₩49,999,999
We Can Help! – ₩66,666,666
Buy over ₩100,000,000 and get a 20% discount!
Become a Space Shopping Mall VIP!
"..."
Wait a minute.
"It's here!"
– Mr. Roe Deer?
I nearly jumped out of bed in excitement but managed to calm myself.
"The armor finally showed up!"
– Oh, you've found the item you were looking for? Congratulations!
Absolutely.
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
'I have to buy this no matter what.'
It was even the cheapest item. What kind of jackpot was this?
I added it to my cart and only then realized it was 10 million won, momentarily struck by reality.
But canceling the purchase? Not a chance.
As I tried to calm down and scrolled through the rest of the items:
"..."
– Friend? Did something happen?
"No."
It was the opposite, actually.
I checked the list again, a bit startled, but it was real.
'I recognize all of these items.'
That was a first.
Even when an item wasn't listed in the
Granted, some items seemed so ominous they bordered on ghost story material, but since they were just descriptions for now, I could still focus on their usefulness and applications.
'This is amazing.'
And then, I noticed a peculiar mark next to some items.
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999 ★
What does this star mean?
When I hovered my finger over it, a description popped up:
★ Similar to something you've purchased before!
'Oh.'
These aliens… So this is why they revamped the site.
They'd implemented an algorithm. Items related to past purchases were marked with stars and listed at the top!
'But shouldn't it work the other way around?'
For clothing, I could understand, but why would I buy a similar item?
It might work for consumables that could run out, though.
Like this one.
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999 ★
'The Nostalgia series.'
It was from the same place as the red yarn control gear that had been wrapped around my wrist during my time in the Security Team's isolation room.
A series themed around returning to 'a better time in the past'.
Since this was candy, it probably had a similar effect when consumed.
Looks like it showed up because I'd bought several edible products before—similar to the Snow White Mountain Apples.
'This is a must-buy.'
Especially since I was almost out of those mini-apples, whether in juice or pill form.
I immediately added it to my cart and continued browsing the rest of the list.
Painkillers, healing items, armor, intimidation tools, escape items…
And then it hit me:
'These are all good.'
Every single one was practical. Knowing their uses made it easy to discern their value.
And then, of course:
Buy over ₩100,000,000 and get a 20% discount!
"..."
A discount, huh?
'Opportunities like this don't come often.'
When I combined my salary, extra earnings, performance bonuses, and subtracted living expenses, my available funds came to…
'Up to 140 million? No… maybe even 150 million?'
"..."
– Friend, are you managing to enjoy shopping despite that visual torment?
"No."
– Hmm?
"It's over."
I looked at my cart.
Happy Maker – ₩27,999,999
Nostalgia Candy – ₩12,999,999
Wrapper 12B357나 – ₩9,999,999
Necronomicon – ₩49,999,999
We Can Help! – ₩66,666,666
= ₩167,666,662
※ Discount Applied! ※ : ₩134,133,329
Let's go. Buy every single thing!
-x-X-x-
I had just purchased everything from the alien shop.
'Wow.'
My hands trembled slightly. It was the first time I'd blown 130 million won on a few items.
(Approx. 90,000 USD)
Still, having spent millions a few times before, I was a bit more used to it.
'Let's make the most of this.'
It would all serve as stepping stones for survival.
I boldly hit the checkout button.
PURCHASE SUCCESSFUL!
Your item is on a rocket!
Soon, just like before, a spatial rift opened mid-air, and a delivery box appeared.
With a pounding heart, I waited for the box to drop to the ground…
But—
"...??"
The package remained suspended in mid-air.
Someone was holding it, gently and politely.
…With tentacles.
"...?!"
The tentacle softly shook the delivery box, as if asking, 'Here? Is this okay?'
"...! Please place it on the ground."
The package was smoothly set down with care.
"Thank you very much."
But the tentacles didn't disappear immediately.
Instead, they swiftly retrieved something from the spatial rift and handed it to me.
A small, golden, shimmering card.
I am a Space Shopping Mall VIP!
~ Special Thanks Included ~
"…Thank you?"
When I accepted the card, the tentacle waved—almost like it was saying goodbye—before retreating back into the rift.
"..."
Huh.
It seemed the alien shop had decided to treat me as a VIP…
'That's a good thing… right?'
I decided to keep the gratitude card. It shimmered brightly in golden hues…
– Good heavens, how could even a tag card look so appallingly designed?
Apparently, expecting decent design from the alien shop was a mistake.
I mean…
'The important thing is functionality.'
I turned my attention to the delivery box.
It was time for the unboxing.
"Huuu."
When I opened the box, the first thing I saw was the largest item.
A product priced at 28 million won.
'Happy Maker.'
The pastel-toned box was cheerful and colorful, like something containing liquid antacid or vitamin drinks.
Inside were twelve glowing sticks, about the size of highlighters.
However, needles protruded from the ends of these glowing sticks.
An impeccable painkiller that was sold under the same name in the ghost story Delusion Home Shopping.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Delusion Home Shopping
/ Items
Happy Maker
Is life painful?
Do you dread sleepless nights caused by mysterious aches or fear accidents?
Introducing your perfect savior: 'Happy Maker,' a rapid pain eliminator!
– September 9, 20XX, item description from 'Delusion Home Shopping
========================
It was exactly as described.
I looked at the instructions on the box.
A quick and comforting shot
Say goodbye to pain!
The stick-type auto-injector pressed against the skin would automatically administer a shot that eliminated pain completely for a set period of time.
'This is true overtechnology.'
Although the mechanism wasn't scientific but rather paranormal, it didn't change the fact that pain could cloud judgment in extreme situations.
Based on my experiences navigating countless injuries and threats, I could confidently say this would come in handy someday.
'I hope I never have to use it… haah.'
I decided to let go of wishful thinking…
'This damned creepypasta world…'
Resolving to carry the item carefully, I noted a tiny, unsettling addendum to its usage on the back.
In irreversible situations, use for euthanasia.
Nope. Absolutely not.
'I'll only ever use it as a painkiller.'
– Ah, painkillers. I used to take headache pills myself! The agony of creation… Such is the fate of an entertainer and show creator.
How would a ghost story resident with a TV for a head even take headache pills… No, let's not imagine that.
I hurriedly erased the mental image and gave Braun a few compliments to lift his spirits before turning back to the box.
Phew.
'Next item…'
Two items caught my attention simultaneously.
One was a dusty, ominous book sealed completely with dark red wax.
The other, rolled up neatly in the corner, was a modern, eco-friendly packaging material.
As literal as it gets, it was packaging material that functioned as an item itself.
Wrapper 12B357나
The wrapper bore an engraved barcode and description but lacked any further instructions.
Looks simple, right?
Wrong.
'Here it is. Armor!'
A unique armor-like buffering material, this packaging material would prove to be my lifeline.
I carefully stored it away, resolving to use it only when necessary.
Then, I turned my gaze back to the box…
Necronomicon.
The sealed, dark red wax-covered book glared at me ominously.
Necronomicon
The infamous Book of the Dead.
A quintessential example of a magical tome of forbidden knowledge.
It's a staple in countless stories spanning decades, so much so that it's become synonymous with all things evil and arcane.
Of course, it was listed in the
Let's review the typical clichés associated with the Necronomicon.
1- Reading it drives you insane.
2- It's bound in human skin.
"..."
Right.
Bound. In. Human. Skin.
The book's cover—beneath the red wax—subtly revealed grotesque, twisted faces, as if preserved in eternal torment.
'Ugh.'
It was the last thing I wanted to touch.
– Mr. Roe Deer, did I hear you say Necronomicon? Oh, that old translated classic—such a delight to recall!
Of course, Braun, the host of an American-themed talk show, recognized it. That wasn't even surprising anymore.
But sadly…
'This is not the Necronomicon you're thinking of.'
– Hmm?
It's something worse.
Without another word, I carefully tucked the wax-sealed Necronomicon into my arm tattoo inventory.
'Phew.'
That took care of my intimidation tool.
Next, I turned to the Nostalgia Candy, a familiar item that I knew would be invaluable.
This was my emergency recovery tool.
If I ever found myself dangerously contaminated, it could stabilize me until I reached safety.
'This will be a lifesaver.'
Finally, my attention returned to the smallest item in the package—a red button.
Its design was simple, almost cartoonishly so.
There was no doubt. This had to be:
We Can Help! – ₩66,666,666.
Ever hear of those creepy internet stories?
The kind where someone gives you a button and says, "Press this, and someone somewhere dies, but you'll receive a billion won. Would you do it?"
This button seemed straight out of one of those tales.
On closer inspection, faint text was engraved along the edges.
'What does this say?'
– Need a translation, Friend?
With Braun's help, I deciphered the text:
– 'Emergency Escape'.
'So… pressing this activates an alien-assisted emergency escape?'
It sounded straightforward, but at 66 million won, it was an expensive gamble.
'Let's hope it's worth it.'
Sure, it was a leap of faith, but I trusted the alien shop's reputation.
If this button had come from another ghost story, I'd be worried that pressing it might eject my brain and serve it up as dinner.
But the alien shop? I'd take my chances.
"That's everything."
– Ah, my meticulous friend. Such admirable organization!
I carefully stored all my purchases in the tattoo inventory, confident that they'd stay safe until I needed them.
Not that I wanted to prove the inventory's reliability again…
'Haa.'
No use dwelling on it.
Thankfully, the unboxing hadn't taken up the entire day. I had just enough time to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
But before I could even rest, my comm device buzzed.
[Go Yeongeun: Have you checked the intranet?]
[Go Yeongeun: The regular personnel transfer notice just went up!]
"...!"
Regular personnel transfers.
That meant the vacant position in D-squad was about to be filled.
"..."
Who will it be?
-x-X-x-
A few days later—
"Hello."
"Oh, yes, yes."
I found myself face-to-face with a newly assigned D-squad employee at the office.
The position was the same as mine: supervisor. He seemed to be around my age before I got involved in all this ghost story nonsense.
The bespectacled employee glanced me up and down briefly.
"Ah, so you're that supervisor? The one promoted in just 60 days?"
"Yes."
"Then you're basically still a rookie, huh?"
"..."
I silently stared at him.
"Oh~ Look at that glare. What? You expect to be treated the same as a supervisor with three years under their belt?"
He smirked.
"Of course not. I look forward to working with you, sunbae-nim."
"Sure. Hey, I heard you're pretty quick on the uptake?"
"Haha…"
"You know, in the Field Exploration Team? It's all about teamwork, you know. The key to surviving? Reading the room! Got it?"
Is that so?
"If you go around whining about being promoted early and demanding to be treated like a senior, you'll just end up marked and left to die without help. That kind of thing happens all the time."
He scanned the office lazily.
"I heard the assistant manager and supervisor who used to work here both lost their hands and got contaminated. That could be you next."
"..."
I turned my head slightly to look at the one clean, empty desk in the office.
That had been Supervisor Park Minseong's desk.
A few days ago, I came in to find all his personal items, cups, and picture frames had already disappeared, just a day after the new personnel announcement went up.
"True. It could be you, Supervisor."
"…What?"
"The work here is dangerous enough. I'll do my best to assist you so that doesn't happen. I'll be in your care."
I politely extended my hand for a handshake.
"Uh…"
The employee, who had been eyeing me with a faintly unpleasant expression, must have decided it was just his imagination and shook my hand.
Shortly after, another voice rang out.
"Squad Leader! Supervisor Yoon Johoon reporting for duty. I look forward to working with you!"
The lizard-like Lee Jaheon, our squad leader, nodded briefly at our new squadmate.
"Yes."
"Haha, did you know our initials are the same? It must be fate for me to work under you, Squad Leader!"
(T/N: In Korean, the surnames are 이(Lee) and 윤(Yoon), that's why Johoon mentioned 'same initials'. Technically in modern Korean, 'Lee' is pronounced more like 'Yi', too.)
"Yes."
"...No, I mean… uh, doesn't it feel like destiny?"
"No."
"..."
Yoon Johoon, the new addition to our squad, failed miserably at small talk.
As soon as the squad leader left for a meeting, Yoon sidled up to me, whispering conspiratorially.
"Hey. Is D-squad's leader, like, mentally not all there or something? I heard rumors."
"Is that how he seems to you?"
"You don't see it? Were we even talking to a person back there? It felt like chatting with some free AI."
He let out a long sigh.
"Damn, this company's already enough to drive you insane, and we get stuck with a leader like that? Ugh. What's the deal with him?"
"Squad Leader Lee Jaheon is attentive to his squadmates' well-being."
"So what? You still die if it comes to that, right? And if he's out there doing his own thing in the Darkness, no wonder A-squad's leader hates him. That rumor's true, isn't it?"
"..."
"It is, huh. Ugh, you'd better watch yourself, too. Seriously, of all squads…"
Yoon Johoon grumbled something about needing the restroom and then didn't come back for nearly half an hour.
"..."
Do I really have to work with people like these?
– Oh dear… You seem to be in low spirits, Mr. Roe Deer.
– Would you like assistance from your good friend, Braun? You know I am always ready to help.
– Just say the word, and I'll gladly—
'Let's watch some variety shows together after work.'
– Ah, now that sounds delightful!
The conversation helped calm my mood a bit.
Right.
To be fair, I'd been ridiculously lucky with colleagues before.
'This is what life in a company is normally like, after all…'
At least these supervisors weren't a step above me in the corporate ladder. For that, I was thankful.
I quickly composed myself and moved on.
Later that afternoon, Lee Jaheon returned from his meeting, holding a PDF file for distribution.
"We'll now begin the briefing for tomorrow's entry into a Darkness."
The newly added Yoon Johoon recoiled in horror.
"Undetermined grade? What is this, some undocumented Darkness?"
"No."
The lizard turned his vertical pupils on Yoon Johoon.
"Each time it's cleared, the grade of the liquid in the Dream Essence Collector changes."
"...!"
An anomaly?
"T-Then why isn't this assigned to an elite unit instead of a regular unit like D-squad?"
"It's not limited to D-squad. All regular squads under the Field Exploration Team are attempting entry."
Lee Jaheon turned his gaze toward me.
"This Darkness is entered through dreams, and the chance of successful entry is low."
"...!"
"Here are the basics: On a full moon night, read a specific book and fall asleep. You may wake up in a school at night."
Wait a minute.
"If the school's name is 'Sekwang Technical High School', you've successfully entered the Darkness."
Sekwang Technical High School.
"..."
I knew this ghost story.
But it wasn't just a matter of knowing it…
'This is a ghost story I'm directly involved in.'
Exploration Record #13
The 13th entry in the Dark Exploration Records.
I was the one who wrote it.
-x-X-x-
A ghost story set in a school.
It's a concept with ancient roots, passed down over generations.
When hundreds of teenagers are confined to a single building for hours on end, it's only natural that eerie rumors, strange rituals, or ghost stories start circulating. The Seven Wonders, Bunshinsaba rituals…
Of course, having gone through school myself, I always thought those were pretty entertaining.
Isn't it a classic, widely appealing horror narrative?
'That's why I was bold enough to contribute to the exploration records for the first time.'
Luckily, my entry didn't get bombarded with 'Not Recommended' votes, and it stayed up. Encouraged by that, I even ended up crafting and posting an entirely original ghost story…
But now.
'I'm… actually going in there?'
The idea gave me a strange feeling.
Sure, hearing about entering a ghost story was chilling enough to make my spine tingle, but there was also this odd queasiness.
It wasn't like the unease you feel holding a company manual.
It was…
Anticipation? Fear?
'I don't even know how to describe it…'
In any case, the manual had already been distributed, and I had to at least attempt to enter.
So, the question became how.
– Perhaps a brief ritual before bedtime is in order? I'd love to know your secret to falling asleep so easily, Mr. Roe Deer!
"It's not that."
I quietly made my bed.
"I'm planning to dream the 'special dream' the company told us about."
– Ah, you're aiming to go to that 'high school,' then?
Exactly.
'Even if it's not this, I'll have to enter some other ghost story anyway.'
Since only a select few met the conditions for entry each time, the company assigned higher point values for successful entries into this one.
'Huu.'
In the dead of night at the officetel, I opened the 'specific book' given to me by the company.
– On a full moon night, read a specific book and fall asleep. You may wake up in a school at night.
It was just as Squad Leader Lee Jaheon had explained.
What was unusual was that the "book" was actually a text file.
Within the Shadow of Darkness.txt
This file was rumored to occasionally pop up in the '2000s Horror Classics Compilation', a sketchy collection of novels you could download online (completely disregarding copyright laws).
It looked like it could hold enough content for two books. But when I opened the file…
"It all began on our graduation day."
That single sentence was the entirety of its content.
Then, as I scrolled further, the text broke into gibberish.
₩ub124₩uac00₩u0020₩uc774₩u0020₩uae00₩uc744…
And after a moment.
File cannot be opened.
The file vanished.
"..."
Ha.
Nothing comes easy, huh?
'I'm going to die of a heart attack at this rate…'
Just then, I heard cursing from the room next door.
Baek Saheon was likely preparing to enter this ghost story too. It was open to all employees, after all.
'There's a chance we might run into each other inside.'
Though the odds of Baek Saheon meeting the conditions for entry were slim.
This ghost story's entry conditions changed every time it was accessible.
'But I know the guaranteed entry method mentioned in the mid-to-late exploration records…'
I'd already prepared accordingly.
The critical question was how much information the employees had at this point.
'Even if the records aren't fully compiled, rumors might still circulate given the nature of this ghost story.'
With every employee preparing to enter, this aspect was a bit concerning.
Hmm.
'Maybe I should check.'
It seemed like a good time to deter any unnecessary meddling.
I walked up to Baek Saheon's door and knocked politely.
Knock, knock.
"W-What the…!"
"I'm coming in."
The door creaked open. Baek Saheon glared at me with a mix of surprise, fear, and irritation before forcing a smile.
"Knocking means waiting for a response like 'Come in'. Isn't that basic courtesy?"
"Oh, is that so?"
I stepped back out and knocked again.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock.
Knock—
"You little— Aauugh! Just come in already!"
I opened the door and gave him a look of feigned pity.
"The outcome would've been the same either way."
"..."
"You… live a really inefficient life, huh."
Baek Saheon seemed on the verge of bursting with frustration but managed to suppress it successfully. Hmm, it felt like he was finally starting to grasp the basics of social etiquette—what a relief.
"Anyway, I'm really curious about what made you suddenly decide to barge into someone else's room in the middle of the night for the first time…"
As he spoke, it seemed like he simultaneously came to his own conclusion.
"…Hey, wait. Don't you have to enter the Darkness according to the company's instructions, too? You know, that high school?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, I figured. So you're preparing for it right now?"
Baek Saheon's eyes darted greedily toward my open door, scanning the area near my bed's pillow with focused determination.
He was obviously trying to squeeze out any hints.
'Wow.'
I didn't bother closing the door, smirking openly.
"Yeah. That's right."
"Really? I heard you don't know if you'll actually enter until you fall asleep… But you seem so confident. Got some kind of secret method, huh?"
"You sure have a lot of questions."
"Well, you came all the way to my room, so I figured I should return the favor by listening."
I casually threw out,
"Need a hint?"
"…Well, if you're willing to share?"
"Why should I?"
"..."
Baek Saheon ground his teeth and forced a smile.
"…How about three days' salary transferred to you as a bribe?"
"I don't need money. But I do want to know something."
"...!"
"You want to enter, right? Why?"
A brief but intense conflict flickered across Baek Saheon's face.
It wasn't that he didn't want to answer. It was that he was calculating if giving me the reason could somehow benefit him further.
Eventually, he came to a decision, speaking with an air of nonchalance.
"…I mean, there's this rumor going around the company."
A rumor?
"Apparently, whatever items you obtain in that ghost story can be brought back into the real world… So, it's a no-brainer to go in and come out with something, right?"
"..."
"They say it's nearly impossible to die in there, too."
Hmm.
So that's how the employees currently perceive it.
A ghost story labeled as 'profitable to enter'.
-x-X-x-