Director Ho's Project team.
It was a top-secret project with an incredibly unconventional reward: a Wish Ticket granted to every team member upon success.
‘And I turned it down.’
It was because the risk was too high and the whole thing was suspicious.
But now, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who took a leave of absence... is working there?
“Look at that expression, Roe. Yeah. I know you received the offer and rejected it outright.”
The smile vanished from Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s face.
“...You did well. Don’t ever join. It’s a real headache of a team.”
“…….”
But Assistant manager, you’re working there right now….
“What kind of work are you doing there…?”
“I can’t say.”
“…….”
Should I push it?
Let’s push.
“Actually, I was offered the position of Project Team Leader.”
“What?!”
“Of course, I think it was just a motivational offer, and I refused….”
“No, wait. Let me tell you this before you get any funny ideas later on….”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje lowered her voice and whispered.
“Director Ho is a madman.”
“…!”
“I don’t know what the other team members are doing in this project. Director Ho doesn’t let staff with different responsibilities talk to each other at all.”
She swallowed hard.
“I think… the reason he dragged me into this was that I submitted my leave request. He made the offer because I could work on the project without being seen by others.”
“…So that’s why you’ve been hiding?”
“Right. He demanded it.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje clicked her tongue, saying that was why she had broken into my residence so quietly.
“I was worried I’d get caught by that roommate of yours.”
“Don’t worry about that. He’s not at the residence.”
“He wasn’t? Damn, I went through all that trouble for nothing.”
Baek Saheon, at his seniority level, had managed to use his vacation days starting from January 1st. So he wasn’t at home right now.
“Anyway, I really can’t say any more. Just know that.”
And Assistant Manager Eun Haje truly did not answer any of my subsequent questions (why she needed a Wish Ticket, what exactly she was doing, how she was recruited).
She only said this:
“I’m someone who’s made a living out of digging into the business of crazy bastards. It’s nothing new.”
There’s a critical difference between those being human and this being a ghost story, Assistant manager…!
“You just worry about yourself.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje soon gave a bitter smile.
“Roe. Don’t worry too much about others. Even outside of this company, there are few paths in society that will exhaust you as much as that.”
“…….”
“It might sound ridiculous coming from someone like me, who benefited from your concern, but I’m not just saying this for no reason.”
“No. It’s not ridiculous at all. …Thank you.”
“…Haha, kid, you’re still the same.”
Even as she left the Annex, Assistant Manager Eun Haje repeatedly told me to stop worrying and take care of myself.
“Thanks again, and remember. January 2nd.”
Then, she vanished from the front of the Annex in an instant, as if disappearing into thin air.
“…….”
Director Ho’s Project team, huh.
‘It felt dangerous just hearing about it.’
I have enough on my plate right now to worry about it, but I should keep it in mind.
[In any case, we’ve secured many interesting statements! January 2nd, a vortex of conspiracy surrounding Mr. Roe Deer….]
[What do you think, Friend? Do you have any interesting plans to avoid your death sentence? Of course, never forget that your Good Friend Braun is always by your side when things get difficult.]
“Yeah. Thanks.”
[Don’t mention it!]
And so, I had my first plan for the New Year.
Finding a way to escape from whatever darkness I would enter on January 2nd.
And this plan was quite successfully developed throughout the entire New Year's Day holiday….
The day to return to work arrived.
***
January 2nd.
True to expectations, a new darkness investigation mission was assigned to me as soon as I arrived at work.
However, it was ‘only for me’.
“…So, you’re saying you ‘unavoidably’ have to sit out because you have an executive meeting this afternoon, sir?”
“Yes.”
“Is it possible for me to enter the darkness alone….”
“No. To comply with the 3-person-per-team manual, two support personnel will be assigned this afternoon.”
Yeah, I thought so.
At this point, I suspected Kwak Jekang was up to something.
‘Is he trying to burden me with strange employees?’
Group project villains always push the situation to the worst, after all….
‘I should be prepared.’
But the situation took a bizarre turn.
First, an announcement was posted even before my darkness assignment for January 2nd was finalized.
It was about the reorganization of Team D into an Elite Squad.
[Notice of Field Exploration Team Organizational Restructuring]
Director Cheong's unconventional proposal had finally surfaced.
The Field Exploration team was thrown into an uproar when they realized that the rumored event was actually a radical restructuring that ‘organized Team D itself as an Elite Squad’.
Moreover, it turned out that the remaining spot in the Elite Squad Team D could be filled by a regular employee on a short-term basis while receiving Elite Squad treatment!
People who wanted to ask anyone about these appointments… finally discovered the person with the lowest rank and the least experience among those involved!
Yeah.
It was me.
“…….”
Buzz, buzz, buzzzz!
[Hello, Supervisor~ ^^ Congratulations on becoming part of the Elite Squad! If it’s okay, could I ask a few things regarding….]
[I’ve only seen you in the group chat, this is the first time I’m contacting you directly. About that one remaining spot on the Elite Squad….]
‘This is really overwhelming….’
It was already the seventh message.
I wished they would think logically. There was no way a mere Supervisor had any personnel authority….
-Hmm? Friend, didn’t you have an opportunity to choose the colleagues you would work with? I vividly remember the moment you received that interesting offer!
That’s… water under the bridge…….
Since I refused to eat the poisoned apple, it was none of my business now.
‘Anyway, I have no authority.’
I spent the morning sending replies that translated to ‘What authority could I possibly have, I’m just a lackey’ into polite corporate language.
Regardless, I did realize something thanks to that.
‘I won’t be able to slack off on this investigation.’
Because today’s new darkness investigation on January 2nd held a strange symbolism.
The first trial run of the Elite Squad Team D!
With all the Field Exploration team employees watching, they couldn’t just attach any random person to me.
Otherwise, the image of the successful launch of the new Elite Squad would be tarnished.
‘Kwak Jekang won’t be able to pull any tricks.’
I wondered.
‘Who exactly will the two accompanying employees be?’
…And then, 2:00 PM.
“Oh, I look forward to working with you, Supervisor Roe Deer!”
I almost broke into a cold sweat when I saw the employee with a cheerful voice walking through the door of the Team D office.
It was Supervisor Dolphin from Team C.
The Elite Squad!
“Ah, do you know who the other employee is? I’m curious!”
“…Yes. I’m very curious too.”
An ominous feeling began to creep in.
And 10 minutes later.
At exactly the promised time, the door opened once more, and that premonition became reality….
“Both of you have a sense of time.”
Brisk footsteps entered as the door swung open.
A perfectly tailored suit, hair tied high in a ponytail, and a flamboyant Butterfly Mask.
It was Assistant manager Jin Nasol from Team A.
‘My god.’
They assigned two Elite Squad members!!
My vision blurred at the sight of this meritocratic superior I hadn't seen in a long time, but just as I was about to bow my head and greet her.
“Assistant manager, it’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. You, I heard you turned down Director Ho’s offer.”
“…….”
“You made another foolish choice, yet you still became part of the Elite Squad? If only everyone were as competent as you, work would be so much easier. At least I won’t have to see anyone whimpering today.”
…Yes.
It’s good to see you too, Assistant manager….
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I managed to respond.
I felt like I was losing my mind.
But my mouth was dutifully providing professional responses.
“What? This investigation is in the provinces. How annoying.”
“Yes. In return, I heard the company will be quite generous with travel expenses.”
Right.
This C-Class Ghost Story had to be handled in Mokpo, of all places.
‘Is it finally time for a business trip to the provinces?’
In fact, urban legends tend to arise in places where many people live. It wasn't logically inconsistent with the setting for them to occur frequently in the capital area.
‘Still, the fact that I’ve only been investigating darkness near Seoul until now… is almost bizarre.’
Regardless, I left the company and moved while carefully gauging the moods of the two Elite Squad seniors.
Supervisor Dolphin even struck up a friendly conversation.
“You haven’t moved upstairs yet! You’ll be doing that soon, right? I like how the Elite Squad gets individual offices; it respects your privacy!”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, speak comfortably! We’re the same rank.”
“Even so, you’re my senior, and there’s much I don’t know, so I might cause trouble. I can’t do that yet. I’ll remain polite.”
“Wow. You’re really courteous!”
Seeing Supervisor Dolphin give a thumbs-up, I relaxed a little.
Right. She seemed like a good person.
‘Let’s try some small talk.’
I smiled as warmly as I could and brought up an appropriate person as a topic of conversation.
From the ghost story where I almost fainted seeing the back-of-the-hand applause—the person from Team C who had been sitting next to Supervisor Dolphin!
“How is Assistant manager Leopard doing?”
“Ah, he’s dead.”
“…….”
“He bit it after acting like a prick to a member of the Cleanup team, so he got what was coming to him. The waste of points is a bit of a shame, though!”
“I see. May he rest in peace.”
This person’s sensibilities are not those of a normal human.
‘Save me.’
We finally arrived at the high-speed rail station.
Trembling inwardly, I sat down next to Supervisor Dolphin on the train with extreme politeness.
And I began to show all the deference due to a senior who had become part of the Elite Squad as a Supervisor….
‘Let’s never act out just because we’re the same rank.’
I have to make sure I don't get labeled as someone with a bad personality…!
…For the record, Assistant manager Jin Nasol, who was sitting in front of us…….
“I’m going to sleep, so don’t talk to me.”
“…Yes.”
I was actually grateful for that…….
[Oh, what a colorful cast of characters for companions you have, friend!]
Yeah, no kidding…….
And do you know what this means?
‘Two of the most successful non-executive employees in the company are attached as my companions.’
Let me say it again.
The two most capable and work-savvy employees at the associate level will be right beside me, seeing everything I do…!
‘Assistant manager, how am I supposed to escape without entering the darkness with these people around?!’
I broke into a cold sweat. Holes were appearing all over my established plan.
‘I didn’t think they would actually assign two Elite Squad members.’
I had simulated the case of them being trolls much more often.
Maintaining a calm exterior, I desperately racked my brain to quickly add a Plan B.
‘In the worst-case scenario….’
I'll say I'm going to the bathroom… and run away.
The thought alone was humiliating enough to bring tears to my eyes, but survival came first.
Then, when I return later, I can testify that I ‘accidentally’ got caught in another darkness and just made it out.
‘If I find a suitable darkness on the Wiki and actually clear a ghost story of the right grade that isn’t too difficult to match the solution grade… it’ll be plausible.’
It was a plan only possible because it was a provincial trip.
‘G-Good.’
I think I can pull this off.
Finally feeling relieved at the plausibility of the plan I’d woven, I only then looked at the destination displayed on the train’s electronic display.
Bound for Mokpo
Come to think of it, I think this is my first time going to Mokpo….
Bound for Mokpo
…….
Huh?
The destination text at the bottom of the flickering advertisement screen in the train cabin, in the next moment….
Changed.
Bound for Tamra
“……!!”
I bolted upright from my seat.
“Eh? What’s wrong, Supervisor… huh? The display?”
“Yes. We have to get off right now….”
…….
No.
No, you already know.
‘It’s too late.’
This… was something that ended the moment I got on the train, sat down, and the destination changed.
From that point on, you can't get off.
“…….”
It comes to mind.
-It was the longest document among the human error accidents recorded in the Disaster Management Bureau’s entries, a Wiki that had even been recorded as a short story.
What this was.
-The one and only time a massive catastrophe occurred because of the Silver Heart.
That train accident.
The desperate ghost story that I knew all too well.
==========
[Tamra-bound High-speed Train Incident]
This document is a record of an anomalous case that occurred under registration number ‘8008PSYA.2002.A88.’ and contains shocking content related to numerous casualties.
Since it contains detailed accounts of a tragic disaster, please check your psychological state before applying for access.
As it may cause severe mental instability or trauma, it is highly recommended to read it only in a stable condition.
—Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau
Notice from the Records Management Office
==========
The crazy high-speed rail where there was only one survivor from Daydream Inc.
‘…Ah.’
I realized it.
Today, January 2nd, the day my death was scheduled.
‘A C-Grade Darkness wasn't the problem.’
The threat prepared for me was not the darkness at the provincial business trip site that the company had designated and for which the manual was complete.
‘It was this train.’
This train, which was supposed to be nothing more than a means of transportation to get there, was the very threat.
“…….”
I looked out the window.
Instead of the outside, the electronic display was reflected.
Bound for Tamra
Departing
With a roar, the train departed.
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