-Friend, your boss is an uncreative and boring swordsman….
‘I-I see.’
I had come to find Braun after thanking Lee Jaheon.
One thing I felt slightly sorry to both of them for was that, because it was late, Section Chief Lizard had taken this plush doll all the way to his staff quarters when he got off work.
Thanks to that, Braun had visited my boss's house—a place I had never seen (and didn't particularly want to see in the future). I thought he would find it quite interesting, but.
-Ah, I would rather sit alone on the cold tile floor of a studio's backstage.
‘……Right.’
It seemed he had been extremely bored….
I broke out in a cold sweat as I watched Braun lamenting, saying things like, ‘There is nothing in that man’s house; time passed in silence without him even talking to himself or humming.’
“But it was such a messy place. As a friend, I felt like I couldn't just leave you abandoned in that abandoned building.”
-Friend…!
I think I’m starting to get the hang of it now. The ‘Good Friend’ shows the most moderate reactions when I treat him as a friend too….
‘Well, it’s the truth anyway.’
Regardless, I recalled the conversation I had with Section Chief Lee Jaheon just before receiving Braun back.
-Thank you.
I said that and bowed my head low.
-And I’m sorry. I committed an act worthy of disciplinary action and caused trouble for you as well, Section Chief.
Honestly, if this were a normal company, I would have been hit with a file folder by my direct superior.
However, even after hearing the whole story, Section Chief Lizard remained calm.
-Yes.
-……I couldn't just push my colleague into a position where he would clearly die for no reason….
-I see.
Then he stared at me and said this.
-Bear the responsibility of your choice.
-…Yes!
It was a bit scary, but it seemed he had let it slide for now.
‘Thank goodness.’
I apologized and thanked Section Chief Lee Jaheon a few more times and handed over the gift set of snacks I had prepared.
And now, I was heading down the stairs of the staff quarters.
-Ah, then are we returning to Mr. Roe Deer's modest and cozy room to rest like this?
“No, not quite.”
I walked straight out of the staff quarters building.
“I have one more thing to do.”
Today was the day to draw the tarot for the F-Rank Darkness I manage, ‘Quantum Choice.’
I think it’s been two months since I last visited the Annex to see the tarot cards.
While I was on sick leave, someone else had covered the duty once, and now the turn had come back to me.
“Hello.”
I greeted the dark human figure of the Security Team employee working at the desk, received the key, and moved down the hallway.
‘Last time, I pulled the Moon card reversed.’
-Ah, are you going to use that trick again this time? Picking up the card upside down!
Well, about that.
“I’ll use it if I have to… but I’d rather not.”
-Ho-ho?
Something… concerning regarding that came to mind.
‘You said that when the Moon card is drawn reversed, uncertainty is resolved.’
-That is correct. Is there some problem with that?
There’s no problem with that in itself.
Because in the month after drawing that card, there were several instances where uncertainty was resolved or things became clear.
For example… my affiliation.
‘It was confirmed that I would stay in Team D.’
…As two team members disappeared.
“…….”
But there is a premise to all of this.
‘For uncertainty to be resolved, one must experience an uncertain situation in the first place.’
In other words, drawing a bad card reversed….
‘Is based on the premise that one must experience the bad state regardless.’
Because to recover or escape from it, one needs to be in that state at least once.
-Aha, what an interesting approach. It’s quite persuasive!
Exactly.
Moreover, no matter how much one recovers, in a Ghost Story Worldview, falling into a ‘bad state’ itself is a massive risk….
I must not forget the Contamination Incident.
‘It seems safer to try and draw something good in the upright position if possible.’
So please, I hope a situation where I have no choice because both cards are bad doesn't occur.
‘Phew.’
I entered the Containment Area and released the containment of ‘Quantum Choice.’ Then, I took out two black tarot cards, face down, and placed them on the table.
And taking a deep breath, I flipped the two cards.
The first card.
The Devil.
Dammit.
‘That damn Devil card keeps coming up.’
What’s surprising is that this time, it was reversed from the start.
-Ah, a reversed Devil!
-The card of liberation, ‘escaping from the devil.’ it signifies a future decision to overcome addiction or obsession, or to conquer fear.
-It suits Mr. Roe Deer quite well, with your prominent willpower and creativity.
I appreciated the commentary.
But my gaze was immediately fixed on the second card.
…The Sun!
An upright, red and yellow sun was blazing intensely, coloring the card’s illustration with brilliant hues.
This was….
‘Isn't this unconditionally good?!’
-Oh, the Sun!
-What joy and blessings one enjoys under the clear light of the Sun! It is an omen of career success, improved relationships, and ultimate positivity. It guarantees happiness in the near future.
-That is why some consider it the best card in the tarot deck, but I wonder…. Isn't unconditional success and happiness a bit boring?
I’m sorry, but that boredom is exactly what I need right now, Host…!
‘There’s nothing to even think about.’
I reached out and picked up the Sun card.
Just like that, I confirmed an upright card and a stably good future.
-It is a somewhat unexciting choice! But I shall respect that choice as well, Mr. Roe Deer!
‘Thanks.’
And then I wrapped up the ritual.
‘Success and joy.’
It’s definitely not something that hurts to have.
For now, let's at least feel a sense of relief at the prophecy that such things will happen within this month….
‘Shall I head back to the quarters now?’
-Excellent, friend!
I ended a long and eventful day by returning home late at night. For the record, I couldn't take the elevator and had to walk up.
‘Walking up the stairs in the middle of the night is scarier than I thought, even if it's not a ghost story…….’
I felt a bit sorrowful.
But that truly was the last incident of this eventful year.
Surprisingly, the short time remaining in this year passed peacefully.
For the remaining month of December.
Kwak Jekang did not call me for unnecessary things after that incident. Even projects from the strange research team were rarely assigned to me.
‘I guess the MZ energy worked well….’
I was worried the research team might call Jang Heowoon again, but that didn't happen either.
[Jang Heowoon: Soleum! There’s no special change in my affiliation either. I’m still in Team F.]
It seems Jang Heowoon has safely and officially settled into Team F after the year-end personnel reshuffle.
‘That’s something to celebrate.’
Even though his teammate is Baek Saheon… well, seeing them at Sekwang Technical High School, it didn't seem like he was using Jang Heowoon as bait recklessly.
Everything else was ordinary.
‘I just went into ghost stories diligently.’
There were no instances of entering high-grade ghost stories of C-Rank or higher.
Thanks to that, it ended with my internal screams, fear, and the viewing history of children's animations—which prevent my insomnia—increasing….
Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin, who is in charge of evaluations, whom I met in the hallway, lightly tipped me off that ‘the company is damn busy with year-end specials like accounting and audits.’
It’s still uncomfortable when he occasionally rambles about Director Ho, but I’m thankful for him giving me information like this….
“Aha, since Supervisor Kim enters High-Grade Darkness and clears them left and right to gather points, you have nothing to worry about, right? You must be very disappointed that there are no high-grade ones lately, haha!”
“…….”
I am not disappointed at all….
Anyway, even by calmly clearing low-grade ones, points accumulated, and I was able to take a breath and compose myself.
However, throughout this time, strangely, there was one thing that remained unconfirmed.
“Um, Section Chief. Is my disciplinary action still under discussion?”
“Yes.”
My disciplinary action.
-Oh. My, this is interesting…. Didn't you expect the results to come out immediately, Mr. Roe Deer?
That’s right.
Honestly, I didn't expect it to be dismissed, but I didn't think it would take this much time.
I just thought a level of discipline to break the spirit of a cocky but capable rookie and make them behave would fall right at my feet.
‘…Why are they being so complicated up there?’
It even seemed like some rumors had spread within the Field Exploration team itself, which was a bit strange.
[Kang Yihak: Supervisor! I heard the news haha! I heard you decided not to do inefficient work that isn't included in your salary! Wow! I respect you!]
“…….”
Ru…mors like that?
‘I was trying to build a character with a clear moral line, but has even that been distorted…?’
Fortunately, it didn't seem to have gone that far, and it just seemed the development department was agonizing over whether to treat me as an exception or follow the rules.
And in late December.
“The date for the disciplinary action has been confirmed.”
“…….”
Whew.
Finally, the official notice came down.
Disciplinary Notice
Content: Performance of night cleaning duties for the Security Team.
Period: 3 days.
This disciplinary measure is intended to improve the individual's work attitude. Please ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
A very ghost-story-company-like variety had appeared.
‘Where did the general private company disciplinary items like training, pay cuts, suspension, or removal from position go?’
So, are three days okay? Didn't I do well?
That’s true. However….
“The schedule is from December 29th to the 31st.”
“…….”
Who was it.
‘I can feel the desire to screw me over as much as possible in the selection of dates…!’
I can feel the malice of wanting me to welcome the New Year at the company, staying up all night through the end of the year. I was really curious who it was.
But since I already pushed back once, I guess I have to follow orders this time.
‘Sigh…….’
Finally, at midnight on December 29th. I went down to the Security Team area on the first basement floor of the company.
And I met a familiar face.
“Hello, Mr. Jay.”
“Wow… it’s been a while….”
It was Sergeant J3.
From the Sangun ghost story to the containment incident after escaping the Hungry Hangman ghost story, the lanky employee I had met a few times raised his hand toward me with a fairly welcoming face.
Of course, looking bothered was more prominent, so I quickly pulled out the bribe I had prepared.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be in your care for the next three days.”
“You don't have to be sorry…….”
The face of Jay, the Sergeant, brightened as he accepted the two large boxes containing 12 sugar and cream donuts each.
“Supporting this was worth it……. Thank you…. I’ll enjoy these as my snacks…….”
“…….”
‘I brought two boxes so you could share them with the Security Team employees….’
But since he seemed to firmly believe they were 24 donuts just for himself, I kept my mouth shut. I think it was a wise decision.
“Well, come this way for now….”
The Sergeant began to guide me further inside than the CCTV room.
‘It’s an area only the Security Team can enter.’
I’ve ended up here again.
I swallowed hard and began to walk down the hallway following his footsteps.
It means I have to clean somewhere around here.
“May I ask where… the place I have to clean for the three days is?”
“Yes…. Since it’s a place you’ve been to once… it might be better? Probably…. Um.”
A place I’ve been to?
“Since the area to clean today is Containment Corridor B…. You know… there, the place where you pulled out the contaminated employee….”
“……!”
Dammit.
He’s talking about that containment cell area that was attached next to the Security Team's rental warehouse.
The hallway lined with secret rooms where I was briefly confined after being rescued from the Hungry Hangman…!
‘That place… was no ordinary location.’
I swallowed hard, recalling all the mutterings and strange phenomena I had heard while walking out of the containment hallway.
‘…Cleaning the Security Team area.’
The premonition, almost a certainty, that I would encounter an anomaly made my heart race.
“This way… the locker room.”
I swallowed hard and headed to the locker room following the Sergeant’s guidance.
And in the process, I also caught a glimpse of the Security Team’s quarters with the door open.
[Bedroom]
I could see through the gap in the door.
They were secret rooms with a lived-in feel, equipped with curtains, blankets, steel desks, and cabinets, mostly gray-colored supplies.
…Strangely, it felt like a staff dormitory in a prison.
‘It seems… worse than the staff quarters.’
First of all, being underground seemed like it would be bad for health.
“Do all Security Team members live here?”
“No. Only the Security Team…… um.”
The Sergeant narrowed his eyes slightly as if measuring how much he could say.
But soon, with an expression that everything was a bother, he answered vaguely.
“The Security Team… actually, they branch off from a higher department called the Security Management Department…… this is mainly where the Security Team stays….”
“I see.”
Anyway, we soon arrived at the locker room, and I quickly changed into the provided clothes.
It wasn't the Security Team clothes I had worn before, but clothes with a bright orange color that stood out. It strangely felt like an engineer’s work clothes.
“The cleaning uniform… isn't bad…… the color is pretty, too….”
“…….”
Are you… serious?
Anyway, it was time to change and move to the cleaning location.
‘Phew.’
I looked at the Sergeant with the feeling of being led to a slaughterhouse, but he stopped and didn't leave the locker room, as if waiting for someone.
“Cleaning… is usually done in pairs.”
Hm?
Surely the Sergeant wouldn't be paired with me… is it another employee?
At that moment, the Sergeant looked outside the locker room and beckoned me.
“Here they come…. Today’s partner.”
I also looked outside the locker room.
Someone was walking from the hallway where the bedrooms were earlier.
…A familiar face.
“Roe.”
“…!!”
In the hallway, Supervisor Park Minseong raised his hand toward me with an awkward smile.
“Good to see you. How have you been?”
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