Job reassignment.
It refers to a change in the duties or department one was primarily assigned to.
It’s something that usually happens after a few years of service.
Which means, it is absolutely not something you say to an employee on their third day!
“…If you mean a job reassignment, does that mean I have to move departments?”
I desperately suppressed the urge to ask, ‘What on earth are you talking about right after a good lunch?’ and asked politely instead.
“No, it’s… well, yeah. Have you seen the official notice? It just went up.”
“…?!”
Sensing an ominous premonition, I immediately checked the intranet.
[Notice of Employee Reward for Resolving Special Incident Qterw-D-43]
…Qterw-D-43 was the Tuesday Quiz Show.
And to summarize the contents….
-Wow! A certain team resolved a special incident that occurred in a D-class ghost story and extracted A-Class essence? Whoa, now that’s a performance! We’re awarding a total of 100,000 points to this team!
-Hey, see that? You guys can do it too! So throw your work-life balance to the dogs and work like oxen to get those points! Follow Team D’s
example!
……And there, in the list of major contributors receiving 40,000 points, the three syllables of my name, ‘Kim Soleum,’ were etched very clearly.
“…….”
I wish this were a dream.
And the even more terrifying part was this.
If this notice had influenced the job reassignment, then just what….
I felt a chill looking at the Assistant Manager, whose eyes had gone hollow.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah. Team D… well, they said we achieved some unique results this time.”
No way.
“Have we been newly assigned as a team?”
“It’s not quite a new assignment, but the workload is changing.”
The Assistant Manager downed his coffee in one shot.
“Until now, they mainly gave us ghost stories where the manuals had been completed by the higher-ups to manage.”
Wait.
“Now they want us to go into Darkness where the manuals haven’t been completed yet!”
“…!!”
To put it simply, they were going to throw us into ghost stories where there was no data!
“I mean, why do they try to shove you into somewhere harder just because you did something well… ha.”
The Supervisor had already heard the news and was slumped over his desk. It seemed even caffeine wasn’t working for him.
“Hello.”
And right on cue, the Section Chief Lizard walked into the office. The Assistant Manager fumed.
“Section Chief! Entering Darkness without a manual! Isn’t this just telling our whole team to die?”
“…? No, it’s not.”
“Excuse me?”
The Assistant Manager’s face flickered with a faint hope, wondering if there was a way out….
“There is no guarantee of safety even if a manual is completed.”
“…….”
Ah, he meant it in that sense…….
‘That lizard really has quite a personality….’
I barely managed to open my mouth.
“Still, wouldn't it be more dangerous without a manual? Since there’s no data.”
The Lizard tilted his head.
“I don’t know. I haven’t felt much of a difference.”
“…….”
Ah, right, he was an employee who performed Physical Exorcism….
‘Up until now, he probably just pushed through with force whenever things got tough….’
I decided to just ask point-blank.
“Are there any advantages to the current situation?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of advantages?”
“Additional points will be allocated.”
“…!”
Supervisor Park Minseong suddenly snapped his head up.
They truly were people obsessed with points.
“I-is it a lot, Section Chief?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“On average, three to four times more is allocated compared to Darkness of the same class.”
“…!”
“B-by any chance, what’s the maximum point multiplier you’ve seen…?”
“Fifteen times.”
Suddenly, the eyes of the Assistant Manager and the Supervisor changed.
‘Those are the eyes of people who trade stocks.’
It was the look of someone right before they buy a speculative bio-stock after hearing rumors of a new drug.
It seemed those 30,000 points had been irresistibly sweet….
Usually, in this case, a person with common sense would try to stop them, but… well, actually… as for me.
‘It’s a stock that’s guaranteed to succeed….’
It didn't make much difference to me whether there was a manual or not.
Because I already knew the Exploration Records in more detail than any manual!
If that was the case.
‘It’s just a 3x points event, isn’t it…?’
And so, a short while later.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Team D accepted their new duties and moved out without anyone protesting.
‘Let’s earn those points.’
The destination was the 17th floor.
“The Development Division mainly uses the 20th through 17th floors.”
The Assistant Manager grimaced as he tapped the buttons.
“And the 17th floor… is specifically where the researchers who look for new Darkness are located.”
Ding.
As the elevator doors opened, a white, artificial interior of a complex office —a typical combination of a laboratory and an office—came into view.
And the person already waiting in front reached out a hand.
“Whoa~ Is this guy the one? Amazing, truly amazing~”
He was definitely my superior.
I reflexively shook the hand that was offered.
“I am Kim Soleum. I look forward to working with you.”
“Oh, good manners, too.”
The man wearing a white coat and glasses looked quite young, but since this was such a bizarre worldview where you couldn't trust appearances, I decided not to jump to conclusions.
Anyway, that superior from the other department greeted the rest of Team D before looking back at me.
“I’m Kwak Jekang from Research Team 1. Nice to meet you. Please take care of me~”
“…! I look forward to working with you.”
The Assistant Manager of our team whispered.
“Don’t be intimidated. He’s just some lowly Section Chief.”
Aren’t you an Assistant Manager yourself…?
And the reason I was surprised wasn't because he was a Section Chief.
It was because he was a character I knew.
==========
Researcher Kwak Jekang
: An employee of Research Team 1 in the Raw Materials Development Department of Daydream Inc., appearing in the <Dark Exploration Record>.
One of the research staff frequently mentioned in the early records of exploring newly registered Darkness in the company.
==========
Another Named Character had appeared.
‘His personality is… well.’
==========
A rare case among employees who is directly described as ‘cheerful and sociable.’
However…….
==========
Hmm.
I walked quietly behind my teammates, not letting it show.
“Well, we’ll be seeing each other often from now on. Right, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?”
“Yes.”
…….
Ah.
“Could you tell me why?”
“Yes.”
The Lizard finally explained.
“Research Team 1 researches and standardizes the methods to enter new Darkness. Therefore, we will frequently meet with Team D, who will explore new Darkness that has not yet been manualized.”
In short, this was the team that gave us our work.
‘They find new Darkness here and hand it over to the Field Exploration team’s vanguard….’
“Aieee, Section Chief Lee always seems to speak so difficultly. And you’re not even a researcher!”
The Research Team Section Chief patted Section Chief Lizard on the back. The Lizard’s eyelidless pupils whipped around to look at him as if puzzled.
I felt like I was watching a thriller movie in person….
“Now, now, anyway, the Darkness to enter today is ready~ Grab your Dream Collectors, and let’s go!”
The expression of ‘What is this guy from another department doing giving us obvious instructions?’ flickered across the Assistant Manager’s face, but it didn't come out of his mouth thanks to the Supervisor’s desperate gesturing.
“Check the records of the civilians who went in and came out, and the record of the one team that entered before.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon took the documents handed over by the research team.
In the meantime, someone tapped me.
“…?”
Turning around, a certain research team employee was grinning as he spoke to me.
“Hey, do you want to bet on whether it’s D-class or F-class?”
“Excuse me?”
“No, we’re just placing small bets among ourselves. You should try too. It’ll be fun.”
“I’m fine.”
I answered immediately.
‘Is this employee sane?’
What if an audit happens… no, wait, he’s openly talking about gambling right in front of his direct superior.
I reflexively looked back at the Research Team Section Chief.
The Section Chief shrugged.
“What does it matter? It’s not like someone’s going to die just because of a little bet.”
“…….”
“Haha. Oh, look at his expression not changing. Does Soleum-ssi have some guts?”
It’s just that I’m so flabbergasted that my facial muscles forgot how to work.
‘Aren’t they crossing the line too much at work?’
I suppose I should say it’s typical of a researcher in an internet ghost story worldview.
“Well, I’m joking. This Darkness isn’t the kind where we’d talk about life or death. A lot of civilians have escaped after going in… phew, they said the planning team kids had a hard time smoothing over the Disaster Management Bureau’s constant bitching~”
“…….”
When Team D didn't particularly respond, the Research Team 1 Section Chief just smiled thinly and organized the remaining documents.
“Hmph.”
And the research team employee who had mentioned the bet also looked over here as if displeased, then crossed his arms in a spectator-like stance.
‘Is it okay to live your work life like that….’
I didn't feel very good, but then again, it was hard to feel good at work.
What was important was this Darkness we just received.
What kind of ghost story could it be?
“Ah, Roe needs to see it too.”
“Yes.”
I took the documents handed to me by my superior.
‘Hopefully, it’s something I know.’
Moreover, hearing that many civilians had escaped made it sound better. Even in the worst-case scenario, wouldn't it be around D-class?
I should be able to handle most things.
So, without getting nervous….
“Roe, did you read it? Something about clown portraits… ah, if you see a pierrot advertisement, you get dragged in?”
A pierrot advertisement…?!
No way, that…….
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[Clowns Hate You]
: A ghost story appearing in the <Dark Exploration Record>, identified by Daydream Inc. with code Qterw-D-210.
A ghost story where one wanders eternally in a place where hallways lined with various clown portraits continue endlessly.
If you look closely, they aren't actually wearing clown makeup, but are people grotesquely distorted to look like clowns, forced to wear smiling faces.
==========
“…….”
Wait.
==========
The longer you stay, the more distorted and strange the portraits that appear.
The people who go missing in this ghost story become new clown portraits. Honestly, an exploration record with such full-blown horror movie style is rare.
==========
Whoa.
I scanned the preliminary exploration records I had been handed with trembling eyes.
…….
It was right.
‘It—it’s here.’
A full-blown horror theme even scarier than the convenience store ghost.
“Haha, well then, go on in!”
Excuse me!
Please just cancel the 3x points event! I don’t want to go!
But there was no way such a thing would work in society….
“…….”
I opened my eyes. I saw a hallway that was as pitch black… no, as dark as my future.
Except the old walls were covered, plastered, and crammed with clown portraits of all sorts of bizarre expressions.
‘F—Fuck.’
Even the method of entry here was too terrifying.
I thought I was going to faint from that moment on.
‘This is insane.’
I rolled my eyes. The exploration records, where something terrifying happened no matter which wall you approached, were vividly reenacted in my head.
A cold sweat broke out.
‘Honestly, I think anyone would be scared here, not just me….’
“Hmm. It’s not that dark? No need to turn on the flashlights.”
“Section Chief! Should we move after we get a bit of dark adaptation?”
“Yes. Close your eyes for 60 seconds.”
“Yes, sir!” came the Supervisor’s cheerful reply.
“…….”
No, seriously?
You can say so nonchalantly that we should all close our eyes for a minute in a dark hallway filled with portraits that stare at people chillingly?
“Roe, you close your eyes too.”
I guess so.
“Yes.”
I pretended to close my eyes while looking at the floor, sweating coldly.
I just realized.
These people.
They aren't scared, fundamentally.
Unless it’s a situation where they’re actually going to die, their fear threshold is insanely high!
The type who wouldn't watch horror movies because they’re boring, making comments like ‘Hey, the truly scary things are people’!
‘I suppose that’s why they work as employees here!’
Even so, if those bizarre portraits started to come to life and move, it wouldn't be easy to react like that….
“Mmm… it says if you approach or poke the portraits, they occasionally pop out and crawl after you.”
“Ah, right. Then the painting becomes empty, and a few people have reportedly used that as a passage to return to reality.”
“I see.”
The Section Chief’s calm voice was heard.
“Poke every portrait you see.”
I almost screamed.
“Yes, sir! If any actually pop out alive, I’ll signal and run immediately!”
“Yes. We will repeat the attempts on an hourly basis.”
“Ah, you said they crawl? That’s good, since their mobility will be low.”
“Right? Oh, that’s right, Roe! I saw it earlier, there’s a clown with strange eyes over there on the left. Doesn't that look like some movie poster?”
“…….”
“The physical description is similar to the missing civilian. I guess that’s what happens when you go missing here.”
I ended up looking up.
In the eerie darkness, a portrait of someone with a button instead of a left eye, wearing messy, colorful clown makeup and forced into a broad grin that bared their teeth, was there.
‘…It moved.’
Clearly, the pupil of the remaining eye had moved.
“…….”
“Roe, do you want to touch that one first?”
Ah, ah!! No, seriously! Please, just stop!
“……Y—Yes.”
What do you mean ‘Yes,’ I can’t even get close to it.
A powerful premonition hit the back of my head.
I—I… I can’t survive here if I try to keep up with the tempo of these crazy people.
“Then Roe, the portraits on the top left, all the way….”
“Wait a moment.”
“Hmm?”
I have to go for it!
“I think I’ve figured out the escape method.”
“Wha—what?”
It hasn't even been a minute since we entered, but anyway, I figured it out! Please believe me!
“I deduced it by looking at the records of the previous civilian escapes.”
Has my brain ever worked this fast?
‘I can’t give a turn to these people who don’t believe in the uselessness of a courage test!’
“First of all, you must not touch the other portraits.”
“Huh? Why?”
Because I’m scared.
Of course, my mouth said something else.
“…There will be a specific correct answer.”
Is this what survival instinct is?
I immediately took out the toy coin I had pulled as equipment and summoned the translucent glove into the air.
And I gave twenty 500-won coins to the glove as if dumping them on it.
The glove stiffened for a moment like a W-Tuber who just received a huge donation, then happily turned around in the air and merged with my hand.
“Wait, is that Roe’s equipment?”
“Yes. I can touch objects remotely.”
“Oh.”
With this, at least I wouldn't have to personally approach a portrait and touch a clown.
However, I nodded seriously as if I had other intentions.
“From now on… I want to see as many portraits as possible while running. Because I have to find the correct answer.”
I looked back at Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
“And from now on, the portrait I describe is the correct answer.”
“…….”
“I’d like you to tell me as soon as you spot it, if that’s okay?”
And if this works, I won't even need to look closely at every clown portrait myself!
‘Of course, if the reaction is ‘Where does a rookie think he’s going?’ then it’s over….’
Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn't seem like the type steeped in a sense of authority!
Even if his head is a lizard! Even if his way of thinking is completely like a lizard!
“Yes.”
It worked!
The sense of relief washing down my spine almost made my legs give out, but I struggled to keep my composure and nodded as if it were natural.
“Then, I’ll run.”
I was acting as if I were trying to test a brilliant and wonderful hypothesis, and that running was necessary for that hypothesis….
‘Actually, it isn’t necessary…….’
The escape method here is surprisingly easy.
‘Even if you touch other portraits to your heart’s content, there’s no problem in finding the correct answer…….’
If you were a person with guts, you could do it while walking leisurely alone….
But I had already learned my lesson.
I had a lesson gained from playing tag with a ghost in a convenience store.
What is the way for a coward to survive?
‘A speedrun!’
Let’s go, mid-escape from the haunted house!
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