I had heard about Director Ho indirectly several times. Mostly due to internal office politics.
He was in 'line' with the elite A-squad and Lee Byeongjin, who was the one in charge of manual evaluations.
– That section chief was close with A-squad. You know, like… 'on the same line'.
– Director Ho has his eye on you, Supervisor Kim.
– The director is the best superior you could ever have in this company. Don't miss this opportunity.
I had been encouraged multiple times to align myself with those on Director Ho's 'line'.
But I never expected the man himself to suddenly show up, unannounced, in D-squad's office like a casual neighboring coworker!
"...!"
I instinctively stood up and bowed.
"Good day to you, Director Ho."
"Oh, you recognized me right away…"
What was he trying to act sheepish about after casually addressing Director Cheong without honorifics earlier?!
'He barged in as if he already knew about Director Cheong's "interesting proposal" to me…'
Wait a second.
'Didn't Director Ho just say he had a proposal of his own to make?' A proposal?
I glanced at the young man with a pleasant demeanor. In a friendly tone, he continued speaking.
"Sorry about that. I must've made you tense by bringing up someone so intimidating, right?"
"Not at all. If anything, I'm sorry for not properly introducing myself earlier…"
"Ohh, no need for that! I'm not big on formalities, so feel free to speak casually."
As if that were possible.
'Is he the type who lacks basic decency?'
Or perhaps he was intentionally trying to create tension. Either way, I nodded and took a deep breath to appear slightly more relaxed.
'This must be the reaction he wanted.'
Sure enough, Director Ho continued with a calm expression, though his words didn't sound so benign.
"Let me take a guess. Director Cheong likely made a proposal related to the elite squads—perhaps about forming a new one?"
"..."
Wow. Seriously. Should I just come clean and tell him everything? But even if I didn't, it felt like I'd still end up in trouble.
My thoughts raced.
"Well, yes, but… Ah! My apologies. I've been a bit flustered. Let me show you to a more comfortable spot."
Feigning sudden realization, I guided Director Ho to the guest sofa in D-squad's office, breaking the flow of conversation.
– Ah, you're buying time to handle a tricky guest. Well done, Mr. Roe Deer! That was perfectly natural!
The ghost story quiz show host who incinerated anything unnatural in his show might've approved, but I still felt uneasy. At least I'd bought some time.
I quickly dashed to the break room, prepared some snacks, green tea, and coffee, and hurried back out.
"Would you prefer tea or coffee?"
"Oh, just have whatever you like and give me the other."
Does he not realize how insidiously passive-aggressive that sounds coming from an executive?!
I gauged his reaction and handed him green tea, pretending to prefer coffee. I bowed slightly as I brought it over.
"Thank you for your consideration."
"Not at all."
Director Ho sipped the tea and made a generic remark about how warm and pleasant it was.
"Really, I didn't come here to pressure you, Soleum-nim. I just thought it'd be nice to get acquainted and have a conversation."
As if anyone in the working world didn't know that being too casual with an executive could end in disaster.
But his next words caught me off guard.
"We don't often get to see members of the Field Exploration Team for long periods, so when I come across someone I might see more frequently, I make sure to check in often."
"..."
"Frankly, the Field Exploration Team contributes greatly to this company. Yet even within the Development Department, there are people who sit at their desks ranting about efficiency and treating the Field Exploration Team as disposable short-term workers."
Director Ho's eyes flickered briefly with emotion.
"You might think I'm an idealist, but this isn't a situation I find agreeable. Don't you agree?"
"..."
Doesn't that sound like a kind statement? But actually, it gave me a foreboding feeling.
'…An executive in this company shouldn't say things like that.' If he's at the executive level, he has the power to fix such issues directly. Why was he seeking agreement from a new hire, asking, 'Doesn't this seem like a problem?'
'It's not like he's conducting a loyalty test for subversive ideas.' But since he might be sincere, I carefully adjusted my tone. I aimed to respond in a way that wouldn't cause trouble, regardless of his intent, while giving the impression that I wasn't opposing him.
"…At least no one here is forced to work. I've heard the company allows resignations freely and ensures the wish tickets are properly distributed."
"Yes, as you said, that's one silver lining."
Director Ho smiled warmly.
"Compared to organizations that brand ordinary citizens as criminals without trial and sacrifice them to the Darkness, at least this place offers some autonomy."
"..."
Wow, this man really despises the Disaster Management Bureau. 'Better not let him find out I was involved.'
The agent ID badge was still in my possession, and a cold sweat ran down my back. I hid my expression behind a sip of coffee.
"Still, people who want to live even one day like a human being might reject such a place."
"Right? It's easy to talk with you, Soleum-nim."
That's a misunderstanding. But please, hold on to that misunderstanding for a long time… Before the conversation turned into a ticking time bomb, I desperately steered it elsewhere.
"Thank you. By the way, Director, about that proposal you mentioned…"
"Ohh, right! We need to talk about that."
Director Ho's face lit up.
"Actually, I'm in the middle of forming a project team, and I'm recruiting employees for it."
"...!"
"I'd like to invite you to join this project team, Soleum-nim." What?
I suddenly recalled something Section Chief Lee Byeongjin had once mentioned:
– There's even a rumor that Director Ho runs a top-secret project team under his department… You might get transferred there.
'And now that rumor's become reality.'
But what came next was even more shocking.
"To be precise, as a candidate for team leader."
"..."
Has this director lost his marbles?
"There are three candidates I'm considering. Honestly, if you had just two more years of experience, you'd be my top pick. For now, consider yourself one of the finalists."
My mind was reeling.
– Oh, this offer seems to promise more authority than last time. Let's hear out the conditions, Friend!
No, hearing the conditions only works when I have some leverage to negotiate! Right now…!
'…This feels like I'm doomed, huh?'
Isn't this just like Paris receiving the golden apple? Whichever choice I make, I'll likely anger the remaining superiors. This is worse than just joining a line.
'I'd burn all bridges for switching sides.'
What do I do? I could barely maintain my outward composure, and even that felt like an accomplishment.
'Refusing both offers might be the best option…'
"Oh, I might've been too hasty. I should've mentioned the compensation first."
"…Compensation, sir?"
"A performance bonus for the project."
Director Ho smiled.
"If the project succeeds, all team members will receive a wish ticket."
"...!!"
"One for each member, no exceptions."
Holy shit.
"And the team leader will receive an additional perk, but we can discuss that in more detail once you've joined the team."
"..."
"Oh, and thank you for the tea."
Director Ho got up from the sofa, placed his mug in the sink, and headed for the office door.
"Take a few days to think it over and let me know. But I suggest not taking longer than a week."
He leaned in slightly, as if giving friendly advice.
"Director Cheong isn't known for her patience."
"..."
"If you ever need someone to talk to while working, feel free to stop by my office anytime. Then, bye!"
That night.
Though I had mostly recovered from the contamination and regained a clear mind, I returned home feeling incredibly unsettled.
'This feels like déjà vu.'
"Phew."
I collapsed onto the bed.
'I'm definitely caught up in some internal power struggle between the executives in the Development Department, aren't I?'
It's true I might seem like an exceptionally useful outlier, but the situation has escalated this far because the two directors are clearly aware of each other. Their proposals were ridiculously excessive.
...If that's the case.
'I should go with the one offering better treatment.'
At least that way, I won't end up as a discarded pawn.
'The problem is I have no personal information about either director.' The focused primarily on the employees who conducted the exploration.
In other words, while it included staff names and profiles, it didn't bother to detail the personal information of the executives making decisions from up top.
'In any case, it's clear neither of them is ordinary, which only makes this more maddening.'
Director Cheong was already suspicious because Chief Lizard referred to her as a 'being', while Director Ho seemed off from his appearance and overly friendly speech. For an executive, he looked too young and spoke like some social service worker.
'…I do have a rough idea about his identity from his surname and appearance...'
But at this point, it was all just speculation.
'What a headache.'
Dealing with ghost stories is hard enough. Having to worry about this on top of it feels unreal…
After agonizing over it, I decided to temporarily set the issue aside. …There was another more urgent matter at hand.
...
"Braun."
– You're calling me, Friend!
Huu.
"About bathing in the Bloodbathtub. Can't we replace it with something else?"
There was a brief silence.
– …You've changed your mind in just one day, Mr. Roe Deer! Breaking promises isn't a good habit, you know.
"..."
– But since I'm your good friend, it's fine, Friend!
"Sorry."
I immediately apologized.
"You're right—I shouldn't have gone back on my word. I think I made a mistake because I wasn't in the right state of mind when I agreed."
– How strange, Mr. Roe Deer. This host distinctly remembers that just last night, you had no signs of extreme fatigue, panic, dizziness, or anything else that might hinder an interview.
The 'good friend' spoke in his usual cheerful tone, which only made him more terrifying.
– Oh, I'm now curious by what standard you're claiming you weren't in your right mind…
"..."
Today was full of cold sweat moments. How had I never realized how scary this thing was?
I tried my best not to look directly at the plushie as I continued. "…But you knew my mind was contaminated by that handbook, didn't you? The one I brought back from that kindergarten, which was still in my tattoo."
It was obvious Braun knew. He had even pointed it out during the last Bloodbathtub session.
– Mr. Roe Deer, your bath additive is blended, isn't it?
He had to have known I was being consumed by the ghost story. "You just didn't think of it as 'contamination'… more like a transformation."
-That is correct, Mr. Roe Deer!
Haah...
'So that's how it was…'
Even the word 'correct' gave me chills, but I managed to respond calmly. "But I see it as contamination, and I don't want to be contaminated." I raised my hand into the air.
The tattoo on my wrist was now empty and clear.
"I like myself better as I am now."
– ...
"I also don't like having my judgment flip like a coin."
To end, I added something I figured even Braun could empathize with. "At the very least, I never want to become a teacher at some outdated kindergarten running creepy Hangman games."
– Hmm… yes. That is quite an irrefutable statement.
Braun seemed somewhat shocked.
– Right. Mr. Roe Deer, belonging to that old-fashioned kindergarten? Impossible! Such a waste would be unthinkable!
– I must admit, I haven't been acting like a true good friend…
– All right. Let's work on getting closer through a different kind of transformation!
"..."
So then.
"If I let myself get contaminated because it makes interacting with you easier, does that mean you'll just leave me contaminated?"
– Haha, no need to ask in such an unfamiliar tone. That's simply the theory you've proven yourself over the past few weeks, Mr. Roe Deer!
Images of my actions over the past few weeks flashed through my mind. Consumed by contamination, I had talked freely and relied on the ghost story resident without hesitation or concern.
– It's only natural, isn't it? After all, similar people tend to become friends.
Good grief. No, I had anticipated this much. I took a deep breath.
It was time to say what needed to be said.
"That's not true."
– Not true?
"Yeah. It's not really necessary for friends to share the same values as each other."
I carefully chose my words.
"And being comfortable with each other doesn't automatically make someone a friend, either."
This part… was honestly true.
"Friends try to understand each other's differences, and even when they can't, they still care for one another… by talking things through."
– ...
"And to reiterate, I don't want to be contaminated."
Without turning my head, I gently placed my hand on the desk where the plushie sat.
"If you can't understand that, at the very least, let me know before doing something I don't want. Give me a chance to talk to you about it."
– Hmm.
A sound like plastic fingers tapping on the desk echoed as if Braun were thinking deeply.
And then,
– Very well, Mr. Roe Deer.
– Logical, reasonable, and it even moved my heart. I see no reason not to agree! After all, you are my friend.
Huuu.
"Thank you."
It seemed to have ended well. Breathing a sigh of relief, I finally turned to face my 'good friend'—the slightly scary but strangely dependable plushie I had summoned. I carefully picked it up.
"Let's keep working together from now on."
That, too, was sincere.
Afterward, I proceeded with one of the decisions I had made while contaminated: an aromatherapy massage.
"I'll do it while looking at the shadow, so let me know if anything feels off."
– Of course, Friend!
Honestly, I wasn't a professional, and working just by observing the silhouette probably didn't feel very refreshing, but Braun seemed quite satisfied.
– Not everyone needs to be a massage expert! This will do just fine.
Even as he gently gave it a three-star rating, he still added,
– But I do miss bathing… To always be by my friend's side, I'll need to rejuvenate a bit more!
"That's something… we'll discuss over time."
…It's tough. Maintaining a relationship with a ghost story resident like the 'good friend' wasn't easy.
It wasn't purely terrifying or nerve-wracking, but it wasn't entirely trustworthy or comforting either.
'Finding balance between those extremes is the rational approach.' I needed to be careful not to lose that balance.
As Braun, refreshed from the aromatherapy massage, chattered away, I listened quietly.
– Come to think of it, I'm curious again. Which of the two legendary proposals you received at work will you accept, Mr. Roe Deer?
– Still deliberating? While my advice as an industry expert is worth its weight in gold… I'm happy to offer it free of charge for a friend!
Hmm. Well…
"Actually, I've almost decided."
– Oh!
"I just need to ask one last question tomorrow, then I'll pay them a visit."
– And if you could share a little about that decisive question with this legendary host?!
I rested my head on the pillow and laughed.
"You'll find out tomorrow."
– ...!!
– I'm somewhat moved, Mr. Roe Deer…
Thus ended the tumultuous day.
And the next day, I truly did ask my 'decisive question' before heading to the office of one of the two directors.