A brightly lit classroom within the ghost story.
"Die! Die!"
Behind me, people were desperately striking at the unmoving, eerie student.
"Let's wait until they pass by."
In front of me, the government agent glared at my fellow company employees walking by, his gaze a mix of wariness and disdain. And stuck in between them…
Me.
No colleagues, missed timing, and the task of clearing this nightmare of a ghost story safely while pretending to be an innocent civilian to the agent beside me.
The truth? I'm actually from the pharmaceutical company this agent loathes.
"..."
How much harder can this get?
'This is insane.'
The employees had moved far ahead by now. I might have made eye contact with a few of them, but as I avoided their gaze, they refrained from approaching me and walked off quickly.
At least that was a relief.
For a moment.
Flicker.
The lights went out again.
"Hieek!!"
This time, however, people reacted faster than the incoming darkness.
"...I-It's not moving!"
"It worked!"
I took a deep breath.
When the lights flickered back on— The 'Sekwang Technical High School student', who had been frozen like a statue, was now lying on the floor near the back door.
"Waaah!"
The frenzied attacks had evidently worked.
This time, even when the lights went out, the student couldn't move. Instead, it appeared to have succumbed to the accumulated violence and now lay on the floor as though dead.
However, its outstretched right hand still reached toward the back door, as if trying to grab hold of it…
"..."
The people cheered in triumph, holding bloodied mops and chairs in their hands.
"It worked! This is it!"
"..."
We need to run.
When one student entity becomes immobilized, resembling biological death —
quickly—
All nearby student entities are summoned to the scene.
[Ding- dong- daeng- dong-]
[A death has occurred in Class 1-5.]
"Huh…?"
The school's announcement played over the intercom.
The voice was heavier this time, somber.
A slow funeral march played in the background.
"Now."
The agent poked me in the back.
"Run."
[The deceased is first-year student Lee Wonyool.]
I immediately bolted out the door.
I tried to take in as much of the hallway's layout as possible while running, noting key details and pressing myself close to a nearby wall to minimize my profile.
"Should we press our backs to the wall?"
"Exactly."
[Let us observe a moment of silence for five seconds.]
I complied without resistance as the agent pushed me to sit against the wall. Then—
Thuk.
The lights went out.
[5]
Through the faint sound of the funeral march came the creak of the back door opening.
[4]
"AAAHHH!"
"Ack!"
"W, what… keuuugh—"
[3]
"Help…"
"Huk—"
[2]
Screams.
Short, desperate screams.
[1]
...
...
Silence.
The funeral march continued.
[The moment of silence is over. May the deceased rest in peace.]
Forcing my trembling head up, I looked back into the classroom. I had to look.
Flicker.
As the lights returned, the scene came into focus.
The classroom was a wreck, smeared with blood and filth. Bodies were strewn everywhere, slammed against walls, collapsed on the floor, or sprawled across desks.
'…Hah.'
And among the carnage, only two figures remained standing. Two Sekwang Technical High School students, frozen by my gaze. One stood atop a decapitated corpse, while the other smiled as it clutched the front door, staring at me.
"..."
They'd noticed me.
'Damn it.'
Sweat dripped down my chin.
"…I'll step back, just slightly. I'll continue to stay in view of the classroom."
"..."
The agent gave a slight nod.
Still keeping my eyes on the front, I groped along the wall, retreating cautiously.
The reason I'd chosen this wall:
[Portable Light Source]
A red emergency flashlight was mounted nearby.
It was an essential tool—a portable light source capable of freezing the students even during a blackout.
'Absolutely necessary.'
However, where three lights should have been mounted, only one remained.
'The employees must have taken the others.'
What surprised me was that, even with Baek Saheon among their group, they hadn't taken all three lights for backup.
On top of that, they'd cleverly inserted a wad of paper into the release sensor to prevent the alarm from sounding when the lights were removed. Clearly, these were experienced ghost story explorers.
They had even left behind one of the crumpled papers in the empty slot.
'They thought that far ahead.'
Reaching back, I grabbed the paper.
As I brought it forward, the folded back of the paper caught the edge of my vision.
– Debt
"..."
Not bad.
I crumpled Baek Saheon's note, shoved it into the sensor slot as a makeshift stopper, and extracted the flashlight.
'Huu.'
With this, I had taken the first step in preparing for potential blackouts.
'Next…'
"...! Did you grab the flashlight?"
"Yes."
"…Excellent. Keep it on at all times. Now, let's retrieve the name tags."
The agent strode briskly toward the classroom's front door.
Right up to the face of the student entity that was glaring at me.
'Huuuuu…'
Just watching the scene made every alarm in my head scream. Yet the agent moved swiftly and tore the name tag from the mannequin's chest.
Then, without hesitation, he collected the tag from the entity lying by the back door—the first one to 'die'.
"..."
I could feel my stomach churn.
'This is an irreversible move.'
When a student's name tag is stolen in its presence, that student will pursue the thief relentlessly until you die.
Given that the students had already locked eyes with us, perhaps it was a foregone conclusion.
'No matter what, they'll chase us.'
Even with a flashlight, moving through this haunted school while being hunted by two entities was sheer madness for an ordinary person. It was a choice only a Disaster Management Bureau agent, equipped with tools and experience, could reasonably make.
'Still, I would've done it differently.'
But spilled milk is spilled milk. Thinking rationally, I had to admit— Being discovered by the agent was far riskier than dying within this nightmare. Not only would death here be just an unfortunate side note, but I'd likely face interrogation and an investigation.
'I have no choice but to trust the agent's judgment for now.'
Still, I had to hold my weight—at least do my part.
'If I'm going to act, it needs to be now.'
As the agent moved, I followed him into the classroom.
I reached toward the student by the back door and snatched their name tag.
'Uuuugh!'
This was nerve-wracking.
The unmoving student, frozen in place, seemed ready to whip around and crush my skull at any moment.
But nothing happened, and I succeeded.
'Huu.'
As my hand trembled with a mix of relief and revulsion, I heard something.
"S-Save me…"
I froze.
"..."
The student entity appeared to be stepping on a severed neck, but there was more.
Beneath them, someone was still alive.
Tears streamed down the face of the survivor, who whispered weakly, as though they lacked the strength to scream or curse.
"P-Please…"
"..."
After a brief but fierce internal debate, I made my decision.
...
"...! Hicc, sob… o-okay…"
I couldn't be sure since my gaze was fixed on the student entity, but it seemed like the person beneath them gave a faint nod.
"..."
Slowly, I backed away and rejoined the agent. Together, we exited the classroom and began moving swiftly down the corridor.
"Keep looking ahead. I'll keep an eye on the classroom."
"…Understood."
The agent turned on his flashlight, focusing on the back of the entity that had been watching us from the front door.
Meanwhile, I kept my eyes on the corridor, ready to 'freeze' any new entities that might appear.
We hugged the wall as we moved, ensuring no blind spots for either of us.
"..."
Our movements were silent yet desperate.
Finally, as the classroom faded from view, and I was certain one of the two entities was no longer visible, the agent muttered in confusion,
"Why aren't they chasing us? Don't tell me…"
A ripple of unease emanated from the agent's back, pressed against mine.
"Was there someone alive in the room? Are they watching the students?"
"…Yes."
The agent exhaled deeply.
"They must have been too injured to move. …You did well. During a Disaster, securing your own safety comes first. Helping others comes after."
"..."
"Head for the staircase. We'll stop briefly by the fire hydrant."
"Understood."
I resumed walking.
And then…
Flicker.
…The lights went out again.
"I'm shining the flashlight."
"Yes."
I kept moving forward, and that's when it hit me.
During the blackout just now—
The person I'd given the name tag to had died.
'They're coming.'
The two entities would be leaving the classroom now.
But since my job was to watch the front and freeze anything new that appeared, I couldn't look back to confirm it.
The thought alone made my hair stand on end.
"Do not panic. You still have a chance."
"..."
"You obtained a name tag earlier, correct?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, you just need to commit suicide."
I almost passed out.
"Let's do it as soon as we stop by the emergency light. You look so pale— it'd be best for you to wake from this nightmare quickly. With the name tag, there shouldn't be any issues."
"…Wait."
But there's something.
I swallowed hard.
"I did acquire a name tag, but I no longer have it in my possession."
"...!"
"I gave it to the person who was alive in the classroom."
That's right.
Earlier, I deliberately dropped the name tag on the floor so the person beneath the 'student' could grab it.
– If you hold onto this, you'll wake up from this dream.
– ...! Hicc, sob… o-okay…
"Since they have the name tag, they'll wake up safely."
And they even bought us some time by doing so.
"...!"
The agent let out a sharp breath, heavy with frustration and stress. Then, in a more fatigued and businesslike tone, he spoke,
"…You must have assumed I had a spare name tag."
"No. You don't need to give me one. That's something you obtained yourself."
"..."
"You need more name tags, don't you? You'll likely need to distribute them to your colleagues."
"…That's…"
Of course.
I wasn't saying this because I was a fool with no plan.
'I'm fine, really.'
Why?
'Because I never intended to acquire a name tag and commit suicide in the first place!'
Exploration Record #13
The log I had used as the basis for my escape plan—the wiki entry I had written—was the record of an explorer who had never obtained a name tag to begin with.
I had analyzed this ghost story extensively, thinking through its variables, and had come to one conclusion.
'To clear this without physically dying, you need to perform a specific action without possessing a name tag…!'
Moreover, this method allowed you to bring back the highest-grade Dream Essence solution as a reward.
'So I have to do it.'
The D-squad—or rather, my new squad—needed proof that I could maintain similar levels of performance even under unfamiliar circumstances.
"Do you know what happens if you die without a name tag?"
I do.
"Each new moon, you'll be dragged back here when you sleep. And when you wake up, you won't remember anything, making it impossible to prepare."
"..."
"Can you handle that?"
I probably couldn't, but I didn't have much choice.
Ideally, carrying the name tag until the critical moment and then relinquishing ownership would be the safest strategy.
But with this agent as my companion, there was no way I could obtain a name tag and later abandon it.
So instead, I chose to take the risk and give it away.
"There will be another opportunity."
Even if there were, I'd give it up again.
At least as long as I was traveling with this agent.
"And I'll handle that opportunity myself. Don't worry, I won't ask you for anything."
"..."
At this point, it was worth trying.
I decided to push forward with a determined tone.
"…We should part ways here."
"...!"
"If you need it, I'll even give you my flashlight."
'I brought a high-powered flashlight anyway.'
Along with several other tools.
As long as I separated from him, I could stop pretending to be a civilian and use them. Separation was the key!
Though walking alone would be terrifying, staying in this restrained state wasn't viable either.
Whether it was with civilians or my coworkers, any other group would be better.
'I need to join a larger group.'
This ghost story's structure made it safer the more eyes were watching, but it grew riskier the louder things got.
'I need to form a party of around four people quickly.'
With my connection to Daydream Inc. posing a constant threat, traveling with this agent wasn't an option.
I needed a scenario where I could act more decisively.
'I'll pretend to give in and suggest parting ways.'
"I feel like I'm just getting in your way. I'll figure things out on my own… somehow."
After all, didn't you say civilians caught in Disasters are as good as dead? Consider this an unavoidable situation and move on!
But then, an unexpected response came.
"...I believe apologies are in order."
"...?"
The agent looked at me with a resolute expression, as if he'd made an unshakable decision.
"As soon as you obtained the name tag, I was planning to humanely execute you."
Excuse me?!
'This lunatic.'
Even if you wake up after dying, to say something like that so casually, right to someone's face…
Feeling cold sweat trickling down my back, I forced a smile.
"Ah, yes. Even in a dream, suicide isn't exactly an easy thing to do…"
"Indeed. However, if you're willing, I'd like you to accompany me for the remainder of this Disaster investigation."
...What?
The agent spoke quickly.
"Temporarily, you could act as an agent. Normally, this would require approval from another agent since it isn't a solo mission, but… ah."
The agent rummaged through his pocket and handed me something.
"If you consume this, it will serve as an expedited authorization."
I looked at the small caramel candy, wrapped in a rectangular foil, that had landed in my hand and felt my eyelids twitch.
…This was Disaster Management Bureau equipment!
========================
Tangy-Sweet
A caramel-like chewy candy.
Upon consumption, lying induces unbearable discomfort, compelling the user to tell the truth.
"This is a light truth verification procedure."
No, this is practically a confession-inducing torture tool!
"If you take this and accompany me, you'll be compensated accordingly."
"..."
"If it's too difficult, I'll simply give you a name tag and execute you to send you back."
Wow. For real?
"Civilian?"
If only I could fake eating it and stash it in my tattoo, but in this dream where I'd fully reverted to a high schooler, I had no tattoos. After an intense internal debate, I made my decision.
"...Alright."
I reluctantly chewed and swallowed the truth-inducing candy. Its tangy-sweet flavor caught in my throat, but I forced it down.
'Getting caught throwing it away or not consuming it would be a bigger problem.'
It would reveal that I knew exactly what this candy was.
"I've swallowed it."
Tears welled up.
But as they say, the stick is often accompanied by the carrot. To my surprise, the unexpected carrots started rolling in.
"Well done. Now, take this."
"...?"
The agent swiftly handed me something else, placing it in my empty hand. It was a metallic badge, vaguely resembling a silver heart.
Huh?
"This is an identification badge for agents. Wearing it will allow you to receive assistance if you encounter other agents."
"..."
"And this."
No sooner had I clipped the badge on than a small ivory-colored pistol was placed in my hand.
The translucent cylinder gleamed with multicolored glass beads that served as its ammunition.
It looked extraordinary at a glance…
========================
Glass Handgun
A specialized exorcism pistol manufactured by the Disaster Management Bureau.
It uses custom glass beads as ammunition and is so compact it resembles a toy or lighter.
"This is a weapon for dealing with supernatural Disasters. It should be effective against those 'students'. Keep it with you."
"..."
Wow.
This was the standard issue gear for Disaster Management Bureau agents, the kind I'd only ever seen on the wiki.
Like the Dream Essence Collectors and masks used by Daydream Inc., this was iconic agent gear.
'And now I'm wearing it all.'
Somehow, I'd ended up playing the part of a Disaster Management Bureau agent.
'What is even happening?'
It was absurd, but oddly thrilling. At the same time, I had a strong urge to run for my life.
But for now…
'There's no time to dwell on this.'
"…It's starting."
Flicker.
"We're almost at the end of the hallway. From here on, you must also face this way. …Do not, under any circumstances, drop the flashlight."
...
I adjusted my grip on the unfamiliar pistol.
They're coming.