Cheerful Theme Park was a B-Class Darkness of Daydream Inc.
Furthermore, a manual had already been written, and the analysis by the research team was complete.
…I remember, without even having to try, that I contributed to that.
: Socius :
Since the tattoo on my wrist was engraved when the ticket for that theme park burned away.
And usually, the destination of a High-Grade Darkness whose analysis is finished is one of two things.
Subordinated to the research team.
Or….
“It’s the Darkness managed by Group A.”
Managed by the Elite Squad.
“Usually, Team A recruits 3 members for the main roster, 3 for the cleanup team, and 6 for the general team, entering with a total of 12 people… Well, the last entry record was three months ago, so there’s plenty of time until the next one.”
Director Ho handed over the documents with a beaming smile.
It was the manual for Cheerful Theme Park, which described an entry method for 12 people using a board game.
And the work order.
{Special Research Entry}
“So, I’ve set a separate schedule.”
“…Thank you.”
“Not at all! It wasn't anything difficult.”
Those words might actually be true.
After all, Group A was under Director Ho’s line.
‘Since it was a ghost story under his jurisdiction in the first place, it must have been easy to pull out.’
Of course, that’s the Director’s circumstance, and as a mere rank-and-file employee who received a favor from him, I should probably bow my head for now….
However, Director Ho’s words didn't end there.
“And to make it easier for you to enter, I’ve already recruited all the employees who will go in with you. Haha.”
“……!”
What is this ominous feeling…?
“Ah, are you worried there might be someone you know among those entering? Worried they might recognize you, Soleum?”
“Yes. As you said, I do have such concerns.”
“Right! So, Soleum, unfortunately….”
Director Ho pointed at me.
“It seems you won't be able to infiltrate in that original form of yours.”
I know.
“Yes. That’s why I was planning to use the Welfare Points you distributed to buy and consume a Disguise Potion….”
“That would be too inconvenient. And recently, you’ll have to live as someone else even during normal times due to work… I want to minimize such discomfort for you.”
“…….”
“So I’ve found a way where you won't be suspected at all!”
Excuse me?
I looked at him with an ominous feeling.
Director Ho looked at me with a wide smile.
“Soleum, how about going with a special status?”
“…!?”
The next day.
Meeting room of Research Team 2 at Daydream Inc.
“You said it was a B-Class today, right?”
“You’re giving us more Points, right?”
People appeared one by one. Modern people wearing suits and strange animal masks. They were employees of the Field Exploration team.
They were also general team employees who had gathered despite the risk of it being a ‘somewhat special exploration,’ lured by the news that the Points would be better.
“Did you say it’s Cheerful Theme Park?”
“Then I have to go.”
It was because rumors had spread through word of mouth.
That although this Darkness was high-grade, the manual was well-prepared, and the conjectures of a certain employee who had explored it previously were so incredibly accurate that it was relatively safe.
So when it was said that a special entry had been scheduled, and the word 'Cheerful Theme Park' leaked out, everyone came while keeping it hush-hush among themselves.
It’s a bit unsettling that it’s for research purposes, but as long as it’s not me who dies, that’s all that matters.
‘It would be even more reassuring if there were at least one person from the cleanup team.’
People narrowed their eyes and scanned their surroundings, pretending they weren't. But unfortunately, there were no employees who looked like they were from the cleanup team.
However, there was someone who used to be in the cleanup team.
“Oh?”
A tall man with long hair. An employee wearing a cow mask and having auburn hair was standing quietly against the wall.
“You were transferred to a branch office. Was support for this available there too? It’s been a while.”
“That… well. Yes.”
It was Jang Heowoon.
He broke into a cold sweat seeing an employee who didn't even know his name come up and talk to him.
It was a side effect of spy work…!
“How’s the branch office? Is it livable?”
“Haha, yes….”
Jang Heowoon backed away with an awkward smile.
The people who had spoken to him didn't follow further and ignored him.
It was because they misread it as him being embarrassed.
‘I heard the branch office is like hell.’
‘He’s done for when it comes to getting a Wish Ticket.’
Every person who escaped to the head office from a branch office would just shut their mouths, shudder with disgust, and wouldn't even try to describe it.
And a label was subtly attached to them.
After all, wouldn't the difficulty of the entrance exam have been different from that of the head office personnel?
Though they didn't know for sure, looking at the treatment or welfare levels, they wondered if even some random leftovers from who-knows-where could work at the branch office.
So, there was no one here who would share information or have a friendly chat with a fallen kite who had been discarded from the head office to a branch.
‘If worst comes to worst, he can die for us.’
‘He was originally from the cleanup team, anyway.’
Thus, an atmosphere of implicit disregard was formed.
“Are you okay?”
Except for this person.
“Um, how have you been? It was cool that you left the cleanup team. Let’s do our best today.”
“Th-thank you….”
An Assistant Manager of Elite Squad Team C wearing a dolphin mask. Lee Seonghae sat down next to Jang Heowoon after shaking his hand.
‘She’s pretending to be so damn nice.’
‘Concept freak.’
But since she was from the Elite Squad, everyone kept their mouths shut and looked away in a different sense.
And here, there was also a figure whose position was ambiguous, neither clearly Elite Squad nor general team.
“It’s Section Chief Lee.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon of Team D was sitting in a meeting room chair in a rigid posture like a stone statue, wearing a lizard mask.
‘Is that person going too?’
‘He’s been doing all sorts of things lately after failing in the Elite Squad.’
‘What a waste of his face.’
But they avoided eye contact, perhaps out of fear.
Fists are always closer than the law…. Especially if those fists can even crush steel.
Anyway, with that, the scouting was over.
“Now that everyone has gathered, we will begin the briefing in a moment.”
Soon, as a researcher entered and began setting up the Darkness entry method, the employees quickly scanned the people sitting at the table.
1, 2, 3….
“There are 11 people?”
“What, who didn’t come?”
A few impatient and veteran employees stared at the researcher.
However,
“Well, um….”
The researcher was breaking into a cold sweat.
“…….”
……An ominous premonition, somehow, ran down the employees' spines.
“Excuse me, but who is the remaining person?”
“Assistant Manager Park. You know that notifying us of this properly is advantageous for the clear, right?”
“That, well.”
No matter how junior they are, a researcher is a researcher. Yet, the fact that they showed such signs of fluster made the people even more afraid.
‘What is it?’
‘Who on earth….’
Right then.
Knock, knock.
Suddenly, there was the sound of someone knocking on the meeting room door.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence descended upon the meeting room.
People turned toward the door.
The black door remained motionless after exactly two knocks. As if it could only enter upon receiving permission.
“…….”
“…Please come in!”
Click.
The door opened.
Black Smoke drifted in.
“…?!”
The smoke pooled thickly on the floor, then repeated the cycle of being absorbed as if sucked back out the door. And then, in the midst of it all...
A black combat boot stepped onto the meeting room floor, cutting through the smoke.
With every step, the smoke seemed to inhale and exhale, flowing around the figure’s feet.
And within the black smoke, a sturdy human figure was revealed.
Lights.
Ooooooong—
Yellow lantern-like lights shone from the figure’s waist and eyes.
People froze at that eerie sight.
However, they recognized the affiliation.
“Se-Security Team…!”
A mask that completely covered the face.
And atop it, countless horns stretched out, filling the top of the head like branches.
“…!”
Clad in black special equipment from head to toe, he looked as if he had fully armed himself with custom gear.
Or… as if he were restrained by that equipment.
“…….”
“…….”
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard.
Why is the Security Team… here?
—The Security Team does not enter the Darkness.
This proposition usually held true. It was because even if the Security Team entered the Darkness, Dream Essence could not be extracted from them.
They only ever appeared to suppress incidents….
Yet, sometimes, there were entities that exerted tremendous transcendental abilities depending on their specialty.
“Th-this is… the employee who will be conducting the exploration with us today.”
“…!!”
People looked at the strange employee standing quietly in front of the door with a feeling like they were going to faint.
That ‘employee’ from the Security Team department wore a special outfit with particularly many belts and a mask with a unique logo engraved near the head.
A strange shape that looked like a distorted square.
The employees recognized it as if struck by lightning.
‘It’s the Special Division…!’
Security Team Special Division.
In the Security Team, there were many departments whose exact groups were not even properly known, operating with only their names listed on the company intranet organizational chart.
So, rumors spread by occasionally encountering them due to unpleasant matters while working were all that was known.
Among them, the Special Division had particularly grim rumors.
It was because the prevailing reputation was that people had witnessed monster-like employees whose origins were unknown, and it was hard to believe they were originally from a Field Exploration team.
And this researcher, who was breaking into a cold sweat, had also heard more specific rumors….
—Assistant Manager Park, if people belonging to the Security Team Special Division appear, treat them with respect. …They aren't human. No, I’m not talking about Contamination….
—……Truly, they weren't human from the beginning.
‘A department that hired Anomalies within the darkness in human form…!’
A rumor that was like a ghost story in itself, saying they had signed employee contracts with the Darkness using Daydream Inc.’s ‘know-how.’
Cold sweat soaked the back of the researcher who was seeing the real thing for the first time.
Even while analyzing the Darkness and deploying Field Exploration teams, it was his first time personally meeting a monster.
“…….”
He swallowed hard and looked at the bizarre employee before him.
Somehow, the meeting room seemed to have grown a bit… darker….
The employee’s yellow lantern-like eyes and the glint at his waist flickered even more strangely in the black smoke.
Looking closely, the things wrapped around the lanterns on his waist were also horn-like structures that resembled ribs.
‘Ugh.’
The researcher, barely squeezing out his courage, spoke.
“Um… hello.”
Silence.
“Y-you can take a seat.”
No answer came back.
In the meeting room engulfed in silence, the researcher continued in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry.
“Well, the b-briefing… will proceed.”
Only then did the strange horned mask walk forward.
And he sat in the seat closest to the door.
…It was next to Jang Heowoon.
‘Phew.’
I’m glad it’s not me.
People swallowed hard and tried their best not to look that way.
‘Please let us not be in the same group.’
‘Please…!’
It was fine as long as they weren't in the same group!
The name or area of the theme park changed every time they entered, but the only thing that remained the same were the rules.
—Follow the Mascot’s rules.
—If you cannot follow the rules, move to another Mascot’s area.
And.
—The 4 group members who drew the same colored piece must always accompany each other.
In other words, if they weren't in the same group as that monster, it meant they could clear it without ever running into him.
If they were lucky with the area, they could just ride three attractions, obtain High-Grade Dream Essence, and take home a ton of Points.
The problem was… that this was a special entry.
A research entry that included other purposes.
And no matter how much they thought about it, this ‘variable’ was… that employee.
‘Please.’
The employees looked at the researcher conducting the briefing.
Surely he wasn't going to tell them to find that employee and follow him around, right?
“And as for special instructions for this entry… there are none in particular.”
Phew!
“However, th-that, well, the Security Team employee has asked… that you do not interfere with whatever he does inside.”
“…….”
“Everyone… understood, right?”
Yes.
The Field Exploration team gathered in the meeting room nodded their heads desperately.
And the culprit who had breathed this fear into them, the ‘Security Team Special Employee’….
‘Wow, the performance is really solid….’
Was breathing a sigh of relief.
That’s right. It was Kim Soleum!
I held back a sigh as I looked around the people in the meeting room.
Well, even if I did sigh, it would just be blocked by the mask and black smoke would come out anyway.
‘I didn't expect Director Ho to go this far.’
—It’s equipment that was produced as a prototype, and I’m so glad it can be used like this!
He had diverted Security Team equipment.
Namely, the Hidden Aspect Suit.
Through the suit, a monster resembling you can be seen.
That was what was written in the development notes that came with the suit, which looked like combat gear from a game.
I desperately avoided asking why they were developing a Security Team suit that made a person act like a monster.
I had a feeling that knowing wouldn't be good for my personal safety….
‘It’s probably for a project.’
Anyway, even if I didn't know the operating principle, I had heard a bit about its characteristics.
‘I think he said the manifestation differs for each person.’
And it seemed I was destined to carry a heap of horns on my head.
My appearance would probably look like… a grotesque creature trying to burst out, forcibly confined within a human suit.
‘Hmm.’
I tried my best not to accidentally scratch my head.
‘Somehow, it also feels like it reminds me of my original mask….’
I felt a strange sensation as I thought of the wooden horned mask that had given me the nickname Roe Deer.
“I will now explain the entry method for Cheerful Theme Park.”
In the meantime, the briefing had almost reached its latter half.
The entry method.
‘I need to go to the theme park where that blue dragon mascot is.’
Whether that exact place would be chosen as this playground was a question, but for some reason, I was certain about it.
It was an inductive certainty gained from my experiences with ghost stories so far.
‘Probably… that side will call me.’
Just like a certain talk show's TV-headed Host who had guaranteed that as long as I called him with a ‘suitable medium,’ he would go.
“…….”
“Um, you can draw a piece….”
The researcher politely held out a capsule containing board game pieces with both hands.
For some reason, it was my turn first.
‘Actually, I feel like I’m the youngest here….’
I couldn't show it, so I reached out as if I were composed and grabbed the capsule….
“Eek!”
“…….”
“Gasp, s-sorry…….”
This person… doesn't seem to have the temperament to last long in the research team.
‘I hope you look into changing jobs.’
I politely ignored the terrified researcher and grabbed the capsule again.
And shook it.
With a clack-clack rolling sound, a piece fell from the capsule.
A vivid yellow.
“It’s a yellow piece!”
Okay.
I picked up the piece and passed the capsule to the next person.
“Ah…!”
It was Jang Heowoon.
…I don't know why Director Ho recruited someone who was already busy as a spy, but seeing as he was made to use his precious holiday, I’m breaking into a cold sweat.
I barely managed to use mine, so didn't this person also barely scrape his together?
‘Why on earth did you apply…!’
Even though you almost threw up after seeing the internal organs parade in the Magic Bunny area during our last entry!
Naturally, I couldn't ask right now.
And Jang Heowoon….
“Yellow!”
“Alright!”
He drew the same piece as me.
For the record, it wasn't Jang Heowoon who just spoke.
Other employees were clenching their fists and rejoicing. Rejoicing that because someone else drew a yellow piece, the probability of them getting stuck with it had decreased.
Because they didn't want to be with me.
‘Haha….’
In the midst of that, Jang Heowoon bowed his head toward me.
“I-I look forward to working with you.”
“…….”
I gave Jang Heowoon a small nod.
Thank you for understanding that this is the best I can do in my situation….
However, from then on, a somewhat embarrassing situation began to unfold.
“Please…!”
Everyone was blatantly hoping not to get yellow.
“Ah! Red!”
And when they drew red, they almost cheered with joy.
“…….”
Excuse me, you’ve all read the Exploration Records I left, right? Then you just have to run like crazy toward the blue area the moment you see the Magic Bunny….
Still, it gave me quite a bit of peace of mind that the familiar faces were calm.
It was like this.
“Oh.”
I confirmed that Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae drew a red piece. And….
“It’s blue.”
…That Section Chief Lee Jaheon drew a blue piece.
‘No, why is that Section Chief Lizard here.’
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't shake the suspicion that Director Ho had put him in as a whip among the carrots.
Knowing already that as I joined his project, I had shared all the progress with Team D.
Stabbing me once more to tell me not to do anything foolish.
‘Does he make it so I can't let my guard down even when I receive a favor?’
ex
‘Phew.’
“Now, this is the last one.”
Anyway, the distribution was almost finished.
After drawing the yellow piece, I ignored the employees in the field mouse mask and ladybug mask who were looking at me, frozen stiff.
‘Let’s ride the attractions quickly.’
Because I’m going to send them off first and then attend to my business.
Rattle.
And the moment the last employee drew a piece.
—Departing for Fantasyland now~
The board game board flew up into the air and swallowed everyone's vision.
We were entering.
Since I had already experienced it once, I was able to review my plans for the future somewhat calmly.
Let's see, there was no zone for the yellow piece.
'Did they say Magic Bunny killed the yellow Mascot?'
I recall escaping by activating the gate to the Resort, the ruined zone of the yellow piece.
'I'll be going straight to the blue zone.'
I must check the souvenir shop. Thinking that, I blinked as my consciousness gradually faded....
Before long, my mind became clear.
Now it was time for the lively theme park's Theme song to reach my ears....
.......
'...Huh?'
It was silent all around.
“…….”
I opened my eyes.
In the dim interior, I saw walls with peeling paint and a dusty lamp.
In that lightless place, even the windows were all shattered.
A musty, dead space.
“…….”
What is... this?
It's not inside the amusement park. This was definitely not the amusement park....
“…!”
I immediately pulled myself up and ran to the window to look outside.
I saw a massive, crumpled sign swaying precariously in the wind, one of its brackets having fallen off....
{Flower Golden Resort}
“…!!”
Dazedly, I watched the lights of the blue water park glittering in the distance.
Looking down, I saw ruins.
“…….”
I had woken up in the ruined yellow zone.
'What in the world....'
It was then.
With a click, the lights in the room where I was began to flicker back on.
“…!”
I realized that where I was wasn't just a simple room.
A desk, a chair, an old cabinet.
Inside the open door of the old cabinet, I could see a huge machine.
It was a space like a small office or a management room.
And placed on the desk... a single sheet of paper written in a formal manner.
“…….”
I approached and read the paper.
Welcome to your appointment as the new Mascot of Flower Golden Resort!
“…!!”
TL Notes: -
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