On my first day at work, when the team said something like, "Newbie, you might croak soon? Haha, just kidding~," what should a new employee's proper response be?
Honestly, there isn't one.
No, there just isn't an answer.
Fortunately, they didn't seem to expect a reaction from me and quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway... congrats on surviving Death Survival."
Is it okay to call it that so openly in the office?
"But you're really top of the class? That's insane."
"Let us hear some bragging."
I'm curious about the reason myself.
"I just worked hard."
"Oh come on, then you must've gone to Seoul National University."
"Anyway, it's impressive. Welcome to the squad."
There are perks to having good entry scores. Like how this department, swamped with grueling work, doesn't bully new hires.
"The squad leader will be here soon. He's out on field duty, so just relax for now!"
"Ah. Thank you."
I followed my superiors' guidance to a partitioned space.
Four desks lined up front to back.
And next to them, a guest sofa and table with an '80s-style radio on top.
The superiors sat at their desks and beckoned me over.
"Sit on that sofa there."
"Yes, sir."
The moment I sat on the sofa, like magic, the radio on the table turned on and let out a crackling noise.
"...?"
A cheerful background tune and a high-pitched broadcaster's voice.
-Hello! This is the lively traffic report. The roads to work in Seoul are as quiet and clear as today's sunny weather, but from the afternoon onward...
I turned my head to look out the window.
It was drizzling steadily.
A disconnected reality.
'Ah.'
This radio... it's a ghost story.
⚙ Darkness Exploration Records ⚙Ghost Story [Hello Traffic Report] A ghost story from [Darkness Exploration Records]. Daydream Corporation's ID code: Qterw-E-63. A bizarre radio that tells your horoscope through traffic updates. It sometimes offers advice, but following it can lead to eerie consequences.
"You noticed?"
"...!"
"Whoa, this newbie's got ghost senses... Picks up on the dissonance quick?"
The athletic-looking male superior approached while turning off the radio.
"It's like a daily horoscope thing. A relatively safe urban legend. Verified Twilight Grade darkness."
"..."
"Hang on, you're thinking, 'What's an urban legend? What's darkness? You otaku?' right?"
No, sir.
"We prepared this for newbies like you. Ta-da."
A tablet PC was placed on the table.
The superior tapped the screen a few times and played a video.
"Watch it all the way through."
📺 Field Exploration Team New Hire Training Video 📺A retro-feeling video with low audio quality and upbeat orchestral BGM played.
Two animation characters that looked like they were from the '88 Olympics era bowed their heads.
-New employee full of dreams and passion! Welcome to Daydream Corporation's Field Exploration Team!
-Today, we'll tell you all about the cool work the Field Exploration Team does!
'A fox and a dragon?'
The red fox and yellow dragon characters were wearing hanbok and grinning broadly.
-But first!
A blatantly old-school dot-matrix font floated up over the subtly cute characters.
[What kind of company is Daydream Corporation?]
I already knew.
This company was publicly known as a beauty-focused pharmaceutical firm selling impossibly effective hair loss treatments and skin disease cures.
But in reality?
-Think we only make hair loss meds? Oh my god! Actually, Daydream Corporation can make any medicine you need!
-A magic company that makes literal magic potions!
From drugs curing drug addiction to elixirs of immortality, they produced all sorts of fantasy potions and traded them discreetly with politicians and the elite.
That was the true nature of Daydream Corporation.
A secret group crafting transcendent potions.
'And that's impossible with existing scientific, realistic methods...'
The fox character winked and raised a finger.
-But! Magic potions need magic ingredients.
-Namely... 'Dream Essence'!
'Dream Essence' was highlighted in golden letters, growing larger as a sparkling, ecstatic liquid flowed in the background.
Hearts and stars popped up, like a magic potion from a kids' cartoon... but its true nature was a ghost story.
-'Dream Essence' is harvested from supernatural phenomena!
The dragon extended a hand, and the screen changed.
An illustration of an urban alleyway.
But red eyes appeared from a streetlamp's shadow, morphing into a monster threatening a pedestrian.
Next came an exaggerated animation of an electric fan licking its lips while peering at a sleeping person.
-Did you know supernatural phenomena occur in modern society too?
-Falling asleep with a fan on in a sealed room kills you, people who get cursed live longer... all superstitious urban legends!
-But sometimes, these urban legends become reality!
'They call them urban legends, huh...'
Yeah, 'urban legend' sounded a bit less scary than 'ghost story.'
And the most important core info came up.
-Daydream Corporation manages these urban legends, harvests 'Dream Essence,' and creates wonderful magic potions that grant people's wishes!
-Dragony, 'Dream Essence' is the most important resource for the company, right?
-You bet! We always need more... but who will gather the 'Dream Essence' for us?
The dragon character called Dragony tilted its head.
Who else?
-It's our awesome Field Exploration Team!
Suit-wearing office workers thumbs-upped in SD animations amid all sorts of unreal scenarios.
-Thanks to the brave and wise Field Exploration Team's exploits, the Dream Essence Collectors are full again today!
A bushy-browed office worker character in the video dramatically held out an item.
A graduated portable cylinder.
'Dream Essence Collector.'
⚔ Item: Dream Essence Collector ⚔An item from [Darkness Exploration Records]. A portable liquid storage container made by Daydream Corporation. Fills with markings when exploring 'darkness (ghost stories).' The company calls this solution 'Dream Essence.' Using collected 'Dream Essence' as raw material, they produce reality-warping reagents. This is Daydream Corporation's main revenue source.
The two characters clapped at the sight of the Field Exploration Team's essential item.
-So grab your Dream Essence Collector and bravely, wisely enter the darkness!
-The company's future rests on your shoulders! Fighting!
The typical new-hire gaslighting video ended with fireworks and the [Daydream Corporation] logo.
"..."
"Good watch?"
"Yes..."
I chose my words carefully.
"It was impressive."
"Uh... yeah, our department's work is kinda like that."
The somewhat kindly superior extended his hand again for a shake.
"Ah, introductions first. You're Employee Kim Sol-eum, right?"
"Yes. Please take care of me."
"Sure. Ah! That's Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je over there."
The short-haired woman introduced as the deputy manager waved enthusiastically from her desk before lowering her hand.
The athletic type grinned and pointed at himself with his thumb.
"I'm Park Minseong. Assistant manager."
"Nice to meet you, Assistant Manager."
"Haha, no need to be so formal."
"Pardon?"
"In this department, everyone gets assistant manager after about a year. You'll be there soon enough."
Not mentioning the high chance of dying before that shows some tact...
"You might die before that, though."
Never mind.
"Ah,前辈!"
"What? It's true, like you saw in the intro video. It's dangerous work."
Deputy Manager Eun jerked her chin.
Indeed. To make deputy manager here, you need that kind of mentality.
"Quitting's not a bad choice. So many jobs out there."
And in this world, whatever job you pick, there's a chance of getting sucked into a ghost story...
"Thank you, but I'll work hard for now."
"Hm. Alright."
"Ooh, passion."
The two nodded approvingly at the attitude and added encouragement.
"Ghost stories or urban legends, we have response manuals for everything, so no need to worry too much."
"...Yes."
The assistant manager muttered.
"Ah, we call them 'darkness' here. If you don't wanna get those 'ghost story otaku' stares outside, just use that term."
"..."
So I'd just get labeled otaku anyway?
But I kept my mouth shut and nodded. No point picking fights with superiors on day one.
"Good. You get the manuals?"
"Yes."
I nodded after thoroughly reading the 'Operations Manual' he handed over.
"Mm. Good, good."
The two superiors looked at each other, grinned, and turned away.
"Then shall we get to work?"
Pardon?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
14th floor.
The floor the two superiors brought me to.
"You've got the basics down, now time for some hands-on experience."
We got off the elevator and stopped in front of a small storeroom next to the emergency stairs.
"So. Your task this afternoon... light darkness exploration."
Pardon?
"No need to worry too much."
"You won't die, won't die. Uh, like slimes in a beginner village in a game!"
"...Yes."
It was about time to start working.
I'd steeled myself, but my mind still reeled.
'They wouldn't throw a newbie into an easy-death spot on the first shift, right?'
It'd be hard for them to handle a panicking newbie too.
I tried to calm myself and think rationally.
First, guessing why we're here... Ah, the storeroom connects to a ghost story?
'What ghost stories start in a storeroom?'
As I rummaged through my mental [Darkness Exploration Records] wiki, the superiors started giving instructions.
First, they handed me an item.
"You saw it in the video? Dream Essence Collector."
I took a sturdy, used-looking plastic-sealed cylinder that resembled a die.
'They sold this as merch too...'
Having the real thing felt oddly exciting.
"Be careful not to lose it. It's all numbered, and losing one is a real headache."
"Yes, Deputy Manager."
I figured it was like losing spent casings.
"And get in the habit of wearing your mask before entering darkness. Don't ask why. Your mask is... uh."
"..."
"..."
The superiors blinked at my wooden, horned mask.
"...Deer?"
"Doe?"
I don't know either.
"Cool horns. Doe, right?"
"Not sure."
"Doe it is. Tougher than deer."
Is a doe?
"Anyway, wear that, and check this."
Assistant Manager Park Minseong held out the tablet PC.
Ah, briefing via manual video again...
📰 Internet PostDo This for 20 Million Won vs Just Live Normally Play hide-and-seek with a ghost for 3 days in a convenience store within 10km with no one around and get 20 million won. VS just live. Reference: Ghost looks like this ↓
"...??"
It was an internet post.
'Ugh!'
I suppressed my chills and scrolled past the photo quickly, but the afterimage lingered.
A huge-eyed, forehead and head bulging blue ghost.
"What does it say?"
"Whether you'd play hide-and-seek with a ghost in a convenience store for three days for money..."
Even saying it felt off.
'Why show me this?'
Not workplace harassment, surely.
We're going 'darkness exploration,' why an internet post...? Ah.
"..."
"..."
I scrolled back up without looking at the screen.
📰 Internet PostDo This for 20 Million Won vs Just Live Normally
This... no way.
⚙ Darkness Exploration Records ⚙Ghost Story [Choose for Me] A ghost story from [Darkness Exploration Records]. Daydream Corporation's ID code: Qterw-F-243. Darkness spawned from viral internet 'horror experience for cash VS live normally' balance games. Occurs irregularly when accessing URLs with specific numbers. Usually chased by killers or ghosts; if caught, restart from the beginning.
This insane world.
As the surroundings warped, the assistant manager's voice rang out unnecessarily.
"Do it easy, come back easy!"
Easy for you to say?
Sending a fresh newbie out alone to close a deal in a ghost story world!
But there was no time to scream.
With that, I was dropped alone into the darkness.
"..."
I staggered to my feet.
'Dark.'
Chilly, musty air. Visibility extremely low.
The only thing visible was the faint, flickering cold light from a distant beverage fridge.
"..."
Holding my breath, I cautiously approached the light source.
The silent convenience store's outline emerged dimly, then faded...
Silence. Stillness.
Cold sweat trickled down my neck with every sound of my footsteps on the floor.
Nothing around, at least for now.
'Whew.'
I even swallowed my sigh.
I stopped just before the fridge light could reach me, fairly close to the sole light source.
Leaning on the hazy, cold glow, I surveyed the surroundings.
The convenience store was fairly large, about the size of a franchise cafe.
Daily necessities and food were eerily neatly arranged, not a speck of dust.
'No threats to food, clothing, or shelter...'
Right. This ghost story—this 'darkness'—wasn't the type that directly threatens physical survival.
It specialized in mental shocks and screams.
The safest answer came quickly.
'Grab water and energy bars, hide, and endure.'
Yes. I knew my place. No way I could play hide-and-seek with a ghost.
If push came to shove, skip the bars. Just grab a couple quiet snacks.
Humans don't die from a day or two of hunger. Better than meeting the ghost.
'But water's essential.'
No helping it.
I spotted water quickly. Inside the beverage fridge.
The light made it visible, and luckily the far end shelf, so I could watch surroundings...
"..."
Cautiously stepping, avoiding the light, I headed to the fridge's end.
'Whew.'
The very last compartment head-on.
As seen from afar, the top shelf was packed with various brands of water, labels blurred.
But up close, something else was visible besides water.
"...?!"
The internet page from before. I'd scrolled past madly, but the grotesque outline was unforgettable.
Protruding eyes on a pale, lumpy face.
The ghost.
'Crazy...!'
The moment our eyes met, its face twisted into a grin, eyes bulging.
'Why the hell is the ghost's face X in the fridge...!'
I recoiled instantly. As I turned to run—
I realized.
The ghost wasn't inside the fridge,
it was reflected on the fridge's glass door.
"Hrrgh..."
Thud.
Something touched my back.
A cold, thick, rigid, stringy grip on my nape.
Drowned hand.
And...
-Got you.
Blackout.
Hide-and-seek over.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hah!"
I opened my eyes.
Chilly air. Visibility extremely low.
The only thing visible was the faint, flickering cold light from a distant beverage fridge.
"...!"
Back to the start.
💥 CAUGHT! 💥
Usually chased by killers or ghosts; if caught, restart from the beginning.
'This is insane.'
For 3 days?
Just kill me already!
'No, wait.'
I quickly grasped an even creepier fact.
'Can't endure? Back to start... so no telling how long it'll actually take.'
Endless loop.
A coward like me might go mad first.
'No.'
Another way, another way?
This time, avoiding the beverage fridge, I headed to the counter.
Lots of large structures and items around the counter to hide behind, so buy time to think.
'Curl up completely inside the chair area...'
In the process, I saw it.
Between the counter and chair legs.
The ghost's lower silhouette.
"..."
Thud. Thud thud. Thud thud thud thud.
Pale bare feet moved in unnatural spacing and rhythm. The inhuman dissonance rang alarm bells of disgust.
Holding my breath, I flattened under the counter.
And kept going.
Until the limit I could hold without making noise as the ghost passed with its eerie gait.
'Too many cliches where it peeks if you relax.'
And after a long while, I slowly exhaled. Even that with all my effort to stay silent.
"..."
'Going mad.'
Cold sweat dripped from my chin.
Can't do anything. Not even my smartphone—screen light would agro for sure.
Only my memory to trust!
'I reviewed this ghost story over and over...'
F-grade ones had lots of records with new hires, like past exam questions.
Though I never dreamed I'd solo first round!
'Damn.'
Sweating, I recalled exploration records.
'Cabin, basement, crosswalk, fast food joint, abandoned school...'
None match.
But there was definitely a special case...
⚙ Darkness Exploration Records ⚙Ghost Story / Choose for Me Exploration Record #23 (Irregular) Chased by a mad doctor in an abandoned hospital at night for one night (12 hours). ※ Note: Exploration ended after 16 hours 11 minutes.
"...!"
This is it.
I started piecing together the details from memory.