A third-day rookie at <Daydream Inc.>.
“Whew.”
Go Yeongeun cautiously took her seat at her desk as lunch break was coming to an end.
This quack medic, who hadn’t even taken the national exam, thought she was adapting quite well to the situation in her own way….
The superiors of Team R, the team she was assigned to, weren't exactly the warm and fuzzy type, but they didn't haze her much, nor did they recklessly push her into death traps.
Above all, she had successfully cleared two F-Class ghost stories so far…!
‘Did they say the average performance for a rookie is about one or two a week?’
Two in three days—even if they were the lowest grade of Darkness— was pretty good for a rookie!
She was doing her absolute best to adapt to this crazy company….
Even if she almost fainted after seeing the price of a Wish Ticket.
‘I only got 66p after clearing two of them. How long is it going to take to reach five hundred thousand…?’
“…….”
But she couldn’t give up.
‘I can do this.’
Go Yeongeun braced herself.
‘…I wonder if the other recruits feel the same?’
She absentmindedly checked her phone.
A group chat was pinned to the top of her messenger.
[Daydream Inc. Recruit Group Chat]
It was a group chat where the new employees gathered.
However, only one person had not been invited.
It wasn’t that they were ostracizing him; it was just that no one had his contact information.
It was the top recruit of the class, Kim Soleum.
‘We should probably invite him too.’
Even that Baek Saheon was in this group chat, but strangely, she hadn't run into Kim Soleum once inside the company, so she never had the chance to let him know.
From the perspective of someone who didn't know just how insanely grueling Kim Soleum's first two days had been, it was a perfectly reasonable thing to wonder about!
‘Should I try contacting him through the company messenger?’
She logged into the intranet and searched for his name to try and message Kim Soleum….
It was then.
Buzz, buzz, buz-z-z-buzz.
Suddenly, the group chat began to blow up.
-Did you guys see the official notice that just went up?
-Does anyone happen to be close with Employee Kim Soleum…?
-That’s the guy who was the top recruit, right?
-What does "A-Class clear as a major contributor" mean…?
-Is Kim Soleum the one who wore that weird mask with horns…?
“…?!”
“Wow, Roe, someone among the higher-ups is saying you should be promoted to Supervisor right now.”
“Cough.”
I almost choked while taking my medicine.
“But apparently, some guys from other departments are foaming at the mouth in opposition, saying it’s unprecedented, so it was blocked immediately.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Should I say I was disappointed? But the truth was, I wasn't disappointed at all, so that was as far as I could go.
I put down the empty medicine bottle and rubbed my stomach.
After barely escaping the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’—which had mutated into an A-Class ghost story—we were immediately transported to the infirmary and were currently taking emergency medicine.
Because we had been bleeding from every orifice on our faces.
“Your stomach feels much better now, doesn't it?”
“Yes.”
The medicine seemed to work well.
The drugs at <Daydream Inc.> were suspicious, but these ordinary over-the-counter medicines usually just performed exceptionally well.
—It’s a recovery potion for when you take supernatural damage from Darkness… you know, those bizarre creatures from urban legends.
In other words, it was a health potion for ghost stories.
‘I’m pretty sure they sold this as a cherry-ade flavored drink at the collaboration cafe near the pop-up store….’
In reality, it just tasted like cold syrup.
‘Anyway, it feels like a lie that I'm alive and drinking a potion.’
After escaping, everything just felt great.
Living in the bright daylight is a truly wonderful thing….
However, my superiors seemed to be more concerned with something else than this emotional moment.
Namely, how this matter had been reported to and handled by the higher-ups!
They were busy trying to grasp the situation by mobilizing all their personal connections.
“Honestly, this was an unprecedented special situation. I wish the Leader would push a bit harder, but he’s just not that kind of person….”
“Please do that yourself once you get promoted to Assistant Manager, Seonbae.”
“Uh, I’m going to quit before that.”
“Actually, me too.”
I desperately want to do that too.
Amidst a strange sense of solidarity, we each sprawled out on our infirmary beds.
Supervisor Park Minseong stretched and let out a sigh.
It was a long sigh of relief.
“…I really thought I was going to die, but living is definitely better! Roe, thanks.”
“No. I just did my best.”
To be honest, the <Dark Exploration Record> wiki did everything.
But if I made more excuses, the conversation would flow in a burdensome direction, like ‘we were all going to die, but you were smart and did well,’ so I just remained silent.
“We aren’t usually such incompetent seniors, but we were careless because it was D-Class.”
“Assistant Manager, I think that excuse is a bit pathetic.”
“Then I’ll prove it in the next Darkness.”
‘I just wish there was no "next Darkness"….’
That peaceful period of paid rest didn't last long.
“The Manager’s meeting is over.”
“…!”
“He’s coming to the infirmary.”
The Assistant Manager, who was holding his smartphone, jumped up. Since the Supervisor also stood up in succession, I stood up as well.
‘Am I finally seeing him in person?’
Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
Employee D, nicknamed Lizard!
One of the most famous Daydream Corporation employees in the <Dark Exploration Record>. There was even a rumor that due to his popularity, a corporation was attached and a character design would be released soon.
Honestly, I was a bit curious.
What kind of person was he?
‘Thinking back to the conversation when I pressed the call button, he didn't seem to have a normal personality….’
Still, considering he made a super play with the AAA battery shot, I was at a point where I could romanticize everything.
Knock, knock, knock.
“The door’s open. Please come in, Leader!”
The infirmary door opened.
Standing beyond it was a tall Human Figure.
Wearing a perfectly tailored black suit and even sporting an employee ID, his very standard and classic office worker appearance looked quite impressive.
The long-awaited Section Chief Lee Jaheon, the Named Employee D of the <Dark Exploration Record>….
“Hello.”
“…!? …!!”
It—it’s a Lizard.
No, I mean, not a mask, but for real…….
‘He… he actually has a lizard’s head.’
“…….”
Wait a minute.
No… that can't be.
The afterimage of that TV-headed Host must have remained, and the excessive stress was surely causing me to have hallucinatory symptoms.
Right? My brain was probably mistaking a mask for an actual lizard head….
‘Now that I look again, there’s a mask hanging at his waist.’
“…….”
This is crazy.
“I’m so glad to see you, I could cry.”
“Please come in, Leader!”
Why is everyone being so calm?
If a Lizard is going to show up in a suit, shouldn't they at least give a rookie a warning like ‘Don’t be surprised’?
Why are you just naturally creating an atmosphere for introductions!
“Ah, this is Roe. And this is Manager Lee Jaheon. Greet him.”
“Wow, did Roe get surprised because the Manager is too handsome? Haha! He doesn't look like he's the same species as us!”
Could you please tell me specifically whether that's professional social talk or a suggestion, please….
The white lizard head turned toward me without expression.
Glowing red, vertical reptilian eyes shimmered.
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
“…….”
“Can you see?”
F—Fuck.
“Pardon… Ah, my eyes weren't injured. My vision is also fine.”
I was impressed by my own quick wits.
“…….”
Excuse me?
“I see.”
The pale reptilian head turned away with a ssshhh.
I almost fainted.
‘Please, just stop already, seriously.’
The worldview where I have to suffer like this even after getting out of a ghost story seems too unreasonable….
‘What on earth is going on?’
But I won’t utter a word.
From the atmosphere, it was clear that I shouldn't be seeing a lizard head!
‘Everyone else is seeing a normal human face.’
Don't stand out.
I will never show any suspicious signs to that walking human… no, lizard excavator.
I succeeded in managing my expression, and fortunately, thanks to the other team members, the conversation flowed smoothly.
And then, the main point.
“Manager, did the higher-ups explain why things turned out like this?”
“Yes.”
The white reptile—no, Section Chief Lee Jaheon—nodded.
First, the cause of this incident.
The employees who barged in midway….
“They say that due to human error, the ‘Tuesday Talk Show’ was redundantly assigned to both Team D and Team L.”
“Seriously.”
“Ugh….”
No wonder the work was assigned so urgently; it seemed there had been a mistake.
The Manager's briefing continued.
—The start time for Team L to write the medium (postcard) to enter the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ was similar to Team D’s, but while writing, they went outside the company building for a moment, causing a time difference of about 50 minutes until completion.
“…Did they go buy the rookie a coffee or something?”
“That team was uniquely composed of people who really took care of their team members.”
The two team members looked a bit bitter as they thought of Team L, who had all perished, before hiding their expressions.
“Anyway, so it seems it was transmitted at a strange time. It just so happened that our team proceeded first.”
“Yes.”
Lee Jaheon replied simply and continued the briefing.
The problem was that the next part was a bombshell statement.
“And the reclassification of the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ to A-Class was not recognized.”
“…?!”
“Wh—What?”
—Due to the absence of other groups that could mutually verify the situation, and the relatively high initial survival rate (43%), etc.
It has not been proven whether it is a Darkness suitable for an Amhyeok (A) Class.
“No, Team L was completely wiped out, so what kind of bullshit is that?”
“The collector! The essence in the Dream Collector was golden! I’ve heard more than once or twice that that’s the A-Class color….”
—Although the essence in the Dream Collector is at a concentration comparable to A-Class, the possibility of a special situation where high-class essence is extracted from a low-class Darkness cannot be ruled out.
“Therefore, since the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ was originally a D-Class in the company’s official classification, they say no exception will be approved.”
“…….”
So the company’s stance is….
‘Something happened due to our mistake, so why make it a bigger deal? Let’s just handle it quietly.’
Well, typical management.
In the sense that they drive employees crazy.
“This won’t do. I should go see them in person….”
“Assistant Manager, wait a second, wait.”
The Supervisor asked in a tone of disbelief.
“The higher-ups took all the A-Class essence. And yet, it really ends with just a D-Class performance record?”
“No.”
“…!”
“Compensation has been set separately.”
Honestly, it wasn’t surprising.
‘They’re just putting something in our mouths to tell us to hush….’
Unless the company was a complete fool, it was common to prepare some kind of conciliation measure.
The key was just how much that conciliation measure would be.
Trying my best not to make eye contact with the lizard, I watched Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s snout… no, his mouth.
“They say they will acknowledge that it was an exploration worthy of A-Class, as the special nature of the situation and the color of the essence in the Dream Collector have been confirmed.”
“Then…?”
“Additional points will be paid.”
—Limited to this ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ clear, additional points corresponding to A-Class will be set as a one-time occurrence.
The amount was….
“30,000 points per person.”
“…!!”
The Supervisor and the Assistant Manager stopped as if struck by lightning.
“30,000??”
“Yes.”
“Waaaaagh!”
The base points for A-Class were 100,000.
Assuming that was split among the people who went in to tackle it, even assuming only two teams survived, the expected amount per person would be less than 17,000 points.
‘But we just got almost double that.’
That wasn't the end of it.
“And an incentive was paid separately to the employee who played a decisive role in the clear.”
The lizard’s head turned back to me.
“Mr. Kim Soleum.”
—Additional 10,000p paid to the top contributor.
“40,000 points will be paid.”
“…….”
In one go, I had filled 8% of the way to a Wish Ticket.
‘Wow.’
I was almost dazed.
Was it a shame that an official A-Class clear didn't remain on my record?
No, it was actually better!
‘In this world, there’s nothing good about standing out and getting a super-fast promotion.’
What would happen if expectations rose beyond the norm?
I would surely be forced into even more difficult ghost stories, and the more I stood out, the harder it would be to use the ‘goods.’
Of course, there were special spaces and items that became accessible as you were promoted, but you shouldn't mistake your priorities.
This is a world where you could die at any moment!
‘And considering I really went to the brink of death… I don't ever want to go near an A-Class again.’
Looking at the points, it seemed the hardship wasn't for nothing.
And it seemed the other two felt the same.
“…I just heard the sound of my resignation getting three years faster.”
“Me too.”
But they soon came to their senses and said this to me.
“Points can’t be transferred… this is a bit embarrassing.”
“Truly. Roe basically earned it all.”
“No. It’s fine.”
To be honest, even if transfer was possible, I suspected they wouldn't have given them to me, no matter what excuse they made.
This was a matter unrelated to personality.
‘These are people who got jobs in places where they could die just to collect points and buy a Wish Ticket.’
To most Field Exploration team members, their points would be something they could never give up.
Hm. Let's make sure to keep that in mind.
“Waaaaah!”
“It’s really coming in.”
We went straight back to the office and registered the points.
[Employee Kim Soleum / Accumulated Points: 40,100p]
‘Wow.’
I looked at the monitor.
A five-digit number.
Honestly, I was moved.
“Alright, we lived, and we pulled in a lot of points….”
The Assistant Manager grinned.
“Shouldn’t we go for a team dinner on the corporate card!”
“Oooooh!”
“Let’s go, Roe!”
The answer came out frankly and readily.
“Yes!”
And now.
I am watching the rare sight of a lizard eating Hanwoo beef…….
Sizzle.
I am trying my best to naturally look past the sight of the exquisitely cooked beef on the grill disappearing into the lizard’s mouth.
“The Leader has a bit of a unique personality, but his abilities are for certain.”
“Exactly. You really came to the right team.”
“……Yes.”
It’s almost certain that I’m the only one seeing him with a lizard face.
If they had seen Section Chief Lee Jaheon physically smashing a ghost story a few times, their favorable attitude made sense.
Anyway, the beef was delicious regardless of ghost stories or whatever, and I enjoyed the team dinner more than I expected.
‘He doesn't act uncomfortably.’
I was also experiencing firsthand how a bit of alcohol definitely helped in making the fear fade away.
‘I’m going to go home like this, watch ten episodes of a kid’s cartoon, and sleep with all the lights on.’
It was when I was devising such an extreme sleeping method.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was eating green onion salad, suddenly asked.
“Are you going to save those 40,000 points?”
“Pardon?”
It was an obvious question.
“Ah, yes. Since I have to buy a Wish Ticket.”
“I see.”
“…….”
Wait. This conversation pattern is somehow familiar.
I retraced our previous conversation.
In other words….
“Is there perhaps another useful way to use the points?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Right. This was how I should have approached him….
Only now did I realize how to use the Lizard Leader. It was somewhat refreshing. I asked in a much more relaxed voice.
“What kind of use is it?”
“Custom Equipment.”
“…!”
I didn’t expect this to be mentioned here and now….
‘It finally came out.’
One of the main characteristics of a Daydream Corporation employee.
‘Exclusive Equipment!’
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