A new Mascot?
'What kind of crazy talk is this?'
I immediately jumped away from the desk. However, nothing changed.
Welcome to your appointment as the new Mascot of the Flower Golden Resort!
The text did not change.
And in the management office of the ruined Flower Golden Resort, the only one inside is… me.
Wearing a suit that looked like a monster.
“…….”
By any chance, did it judge me in this costume as a Ghost Story Resident and just hire me as a Mascot for the Cheerful Theme Park…?
It was a spine-chilling assumption, but the logic was somewhat shaky.
'In the first place, this was a place where things that aren't human came to play.'
Even in a ghost story, there is such a thing as plausibility. It was strange for it to suddenly target only me to be a Mascot. There must be a reason….
Ah.
I recalled my actions from the last time I entered this Theme Park.
The Yellow Zone, which was already in ruins.
It was I who had activated the gate leading there.
So, strictly speaking, I was the one who… ‘reopened’ this Resort.
'…….'
This is driving me crazy.
I swallowed hard.
'So I became the Mascot? Me?'
I hurriedly checked my appearance, but I was still in the same combat suit that looked like a monster.
'Another hint.'
I checked the desk where the card with the text was placed again.
Beside the card was an inkwell.
And an antique feather quill was dipped in it.
“…….”
Did it write the congratulatory message with this pen?
Recalling the gimmicks of various ghost stories, I sat at the desk. I wondered if I could escape the situation by politely writing something like ‘I decline’ on the document with that pen.
But the moment I grabbed the pen.
'…?!'
…My hand moved on its own and began to write.
Requirements to begin Resort operations:
Employees: 3
What the hell.
My hand continued to scribble. The sentences continued.
The employment contracts should be in the desk drawer.
And there are guests who just happened to visit outside. If there is a suitable candidate among them, why not politely scout them?
It was crazy talk. But….
…‘Guests who just happened to visit outside’?
It was then.
“This place is…?”
“It’s, it’s not the Resort?”
Voices could be heard from outside the door.
Feeling a chill run down my spine, I looked at the closed door.
The Daydream Inc. employees who had pulled the ‘Yellow Horse’ with me had fallen here together…!
'Damn it.'
I immediately stood up and opened the door.
Click.
The moment our eyes met through the open door, the employees were startled and froze up.
“Hup…!”
“Ugh.”
The fact that they didn't scream was likely thanks to their Dark Exploration experience.
The two employees sent looks of tension and fear from behind their masks, hovering and pressing their bodies against the wall as they looked up at me.
At least Jang Heowoon's face turned pale, but he didn't blatantly press himself against the wall. Did he hear from Director Ho that it was me?
Anyway, my head throbbed.
Inside the Theme Park, I cannot move more than a certain distance away from them.
'…Last time, the people who pulled the same horse were also sent to the vicinity.'
If they move further than the set distance, a string appears and a Noose is placed around their neck to strangle them.
'For now, I have to accompany them.'
And the method of escape was clear.
Be the first to board 3 Fantasy Attractions with your teammates and receive a prize!
We just had to ride three Attractions and get a stamp from the Mascot.
The problem was that it seemed like I was that Mascot.
“Excuse me.”
Jang Heowoon spoke to me.
“It doesn’t look like there are any Attractions to ride here… I was thinking we should move to another area and ride the rides there.”
I looked back at Jang Heowoon.
“Hiek!”
For some reason, the other employees let out a gasping sound.
'I'm agreeing with you!'
However, as I nodded slowly, only Jang Heowoon nodded back with a slightly pale face.
“Then we shall move….”
Phew.
We went outside.
The place we were in was a space like a corner of the lobby attached to the largest building.
We headed straight through the eerie Resort ruins toward the outdoor gate.
I took the lead. Toward the gate I had escaped through last time.
“Th-that thing… it knows the way.”
“Shut up.”
The gate I had come out of last time was… fortunately, operational. Although the lights were flickering and it wasn't in good condition, part of the gate was lit up.
…Exactly as I had left it on.
{◎WELCOME◎}
And entering the Theme Park from the Resort was fully possible with just an admission ticket that allowed for 3 Attractions….
However,
“…….”
I stopped in my tracks in front of the gate.
'I can't go out…!'
-The Mascot of the Theme Park cannot leave their own area.
Cold sweat poured down my back.
An immense pressure weighed down my limbs.
I must not interfere with other areas. That was a terrible violation that threatened the reason for my existence. I couldn't. No….
My strange identity, already defined as a Mascot, strangled me.
'But we have to go out of here to ride Attractions or whatever!'
Because there are no Attractions in this ruined Golden Resort.
Because it's a ruin!
I looked at the gate that led to the Blue Dream Water Park.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
'…I don't think this would work even if I died and became a corpse.'
Of course, just imagining my corpse being carried like luggage by them while riding rides in the Blue Zone gave me goosebumps to the tips of my hair.
But this was a matter beyond whether or not I could accept such a dog's death.
'I'm not even sure if they can go to another area while dragging a dead Mascot.'
No, first of all, I didn't know… what exactly would happen in this area if the Mascot died.
For those people, too.
'…….'
In that case.
I turned back to the employees.
“Hiek!”
The ladybug mask blocked the mouth of the field mouse mask that was about to scream.
Ignoring that sight politely, I blocked the front of the gate.
“Uh…?”
And then I pointed in one direction with my finger.
Toward the interior where we had started.
“Are we, perhaps… not allowed to go out? Do we have to go back?”
Nod.
“I-if we go back, is there another way?”
Nod.
“…!”
The employees' faces turned pale blue.
“I, I don’t want to….”
“Hahaha, sh-should we just follow? Is that it?”
While blocking the field mouse employee's mouth, the ladybug employee looked at me and shuffled backward.
'Damn it.'
Still, it was a relief that they were listening to me.
Holding back a sigh, I returned to the interior of the building where we had originally regained consciousness.
Then I opened the door to the office I had come out of and entered.
“Ah…!”
Blocking Jang Heowoon, who was trying to follow me in, I pointed to the worn-out Doorplate.
{ADMINISTRATOR AREA}
Rule violation.
No matter how I thought about it, one shouldn't enter recklessly.
Thump.
I intentionally slammed the door shut, entered, and squeezed my eyes shut.
Wow….
'This is driving me crazy.'
…I wondered if I would be stripped of my Mascot status if I took off this suit and was judged as a human again.
But on the contrary, the horrific ending of being remodeled into a ghost story to fit the qualifications was also very persuasive.
No, rather, this side was more of a standard in ghost stories.
'Ha.'
In the end… looking at the hints given now.
There was only one way for the group that pulled the Yellow Horse to achieve the conditions to escape this Cheerful Theme Park.
'…To operate this Resort and make it possible to use 3 Attractions.'
And what was needed was….
I approached the desk again and looked at the document card placed there.
Requirements for Resort operations:
Employees: 3
“…….”
I opened the desk drawer.
There, as written in the document, were employment contracts.
———
Employment Contract
I accept my employment at the Flower Golden Resort with gratitude and joy, and swear to dedicate my existence and sincerity to the operation of a cheerful and happy Theme Park.
Employer: _______
Employee: _______
———
It was a chilling document, like something for illegal test subjects.
'No matter what, it can't stay like this.'
I immediately picked up the pen and edited the contract.
———
Employment Contract
I accept my employment at the Flower Golden Resort with gratitude and joy, and swear to dedicate my existence and sincerity to the operation of a cheerful and happy Theme Park.
The employee may, at any time, safely return home if they wish to resign, and may refuse any action that threatens their safety.
Employer: _______
Employee: _______
———
I erased as many parts as possible that could be interpreted ambiguously.
'I can't write over the sentences.'
The pen refused. Having barely succeeded in only drawing lines and erasing, I scribbled additional measures in small letters in the blanks.
Then, taking the completed contracts, the existing document card, and the quill, I went back out the door.
Click.
The employees, who were gathered in the hallway in a state of high tension and whispering in a guarded posture, looked at me.
In the midst of that, Jang Heowoon was standing quietly a bit apart, as if he hadn't been included.
'Phew.'
I held out the employment contracts I had prepared to them.
“What is this….”
“…….”
“…!!”
As if confirming something horrific, the employees peered at the contract with trembling eyes and soon froze in horror.
Because it was telling them to get a job at the Theme Park.
“You’re telling us to… sign this?”
“Uh….”
Naturally, in ghost stories, signing an employment contract ends in a horrific disappearance more than 50% of the time.
The eyes of those who knew that changed.
The eyes of experienced people looking for a way out.
“Excuse me… since I already have a job, it’s difficult to sign suddenly. Could I think about it for just a moment?”
“M-me too. Please…!”
If they were given time, they would try to find a way to escape in the meantime, or frantically prepare equipment to temporarily suppress me while I was off guard.
'Since they’ve spent time in the Field Exploration team, they must all have a hidden trump card for their lives.'
Therefore, I couldn't wait for that.
'It can't be helped.'
Without a word, I stared at the person who spoke first.
“Uh, uh…?”
And they stopped breathing.
“…!”
Instead of being sucked in with my breath, the Black Smoke around my suit became even thicker.
The unrecovered smoke flowed heavily under the employee's feet and waist.
Something would happen if they didn't sign.
So that it would intensely reach their five senses.
So that they would feel like they were going to die right now if they tried to buy time.
I lowered my head and looked down at the field mouse employee.
Close.
The employee, completely enveloped by the Black Smoke and the dim light of the yellow lamps, trembled their hands.
“He-heuk….”
In the end, the field mouse employee, with tears streaming down their face, reached for the paper and, with a trembling hand, grabbed the pen I held out and signed the employee section.
'Please don't use your real name.'
I was going to take it back and guide them to a nickname if they tried to use their real name, but fortunately, ‘Field Mouse’ was written in the text.
'Phew.'
I immediately inhaled again and withdrew the Black Smoke.
“Ah…!”
The field mouse employee slumped down, pressed against the wall, and bowed their head to me.
And the ladybug employee, who had been watching all of this with rolling eyes, took the opportunity to slowly back away and….
“Urgh!”
They pushed Jang Heowoon and tried to dash down the hallway like crazy to escape.
However,
“Agh!!”
The running ladybug employee fell flat on their face with a thread wrapped around their neck.
'They tried to leave the Yellow Horse team.'
The yellow line tightened around their neck….
As expected, I was still recognized as part of the Yellow Horse team. I was also subject to the rules entered into the board game.
Holding back a sigh, I approached the person.
Fortunately, instead of running further, the person sat on their knees in the hallway.
“I-I’m sorry. I, I thought I saw something over there… so I was going to chase them out if they were a trespasser, haha….”
I wordlessly held out the employment contract again.
“…….”
The ladybug employee swallowed hard and, finally, with their eyes tightly shut, signed the paper.
Ladybug. Good.
And finally….
“……."
Jang Heowoon also looked up at my face for a moment, then hurriedly bowed his head deeply and signed the paper.
'Thank you.'
Thus, I received signatures on three employment contracts.
'Lastly….'
Employer. It was time to put in my signature.
I chose the most suitable pseudonym.
Employer: GOLDEN
At that moment.
Whoosh.
The employment contracts flared up and turned to ash.
Then they attached themselves to the foreheads of the three people.
“Ah…!”
Now, on the foreheads of the Daydream employees, something in an ornate cursive similar to the letter ‘G’ was engraved.
“…….”
I looked at the first document I had brought out of the room.
The moment I lifted the pen over it.
Requirements for Resort operations:
Employees: 3 complete.
The surroundings began to vibrate.
“…!!”
The old ruins we were in collapsed, and something new revealed itself.
A glittering golden light.
A wonderful and comfortable hallway where bright and beautifully colored wood and gold interior decorations surrounded everything.
Ornate and small chandelier-style lights swayed from the ceiling, and a huge and ecstatic lobby revealed itself at the end of that hallway.
A space where golden stairs like a fantasy in a cartoon, magenta velvet, and sparkling yellow crystal crafts bloomed like flowers.
And….
{𝓕𝓛𝓞𝓦𝓔𝓡 𝓖𝓞𝓛𝓓𝓔𝓝 𝓡𝓔𝓢𝓣𝓞𝓡𝓣}
Elegant cursive was written on the sign of the Flower Golden Resort, and the ecstatic Resort of the Cheerful Theme Park revealed its form.
“…!”
Unfortunately, the guests were not suitable candidates. However, I took pity on the weak lower organisms and hired them.
Although they lack the capacity to work as regular employees at the Flower Golden Resort, I expect them to work hard.
The pen moved of its own accord.
The document updated itself.
Since ■■ was lacking, it was decided to temporarily operate the lobby and basic lodging facilities first.
May many guests find comfortable rest.
And.
And for the guests who come seeking rest, I decided to show a friendly and cheerful appearance befitting a Theme Park.
The moment that sentence was recorded.
My appearance began to change.
“…!!”
Something warm, cozy, and suffocating began to surround my suit.
That thing, with soft fur, naturally enveloped my entire body like my own skin and created a thick form.
“…….”
Before I knew it, I saw my reflection in the window of the clean and sparkling hallway.
The Mascot was there.
“…!”
Something of the feline variety with twig-like horns… shaped like an infant's toy through being Deformed.
The new fursuit of the Cheerful Theme Park.
But I wasn't the only one changing.
“Aaaah!”
The employees' bodies were twisting and changing. Into a mass-produced version of the Mascot. Wait…!
I grit my teeth and moved the pen on the document with my blunt fursuit hand.
However, for general employees, wearing uniforms would better suit the elegance of the Resort than Mascot costumes.
“Heok!”
The mutation stopped.
Instead, the employees' suits transformed into formal uniforms with golden bowties.
I withdrew my hand, which was damp with cold sweat.
It seemed that I could write as long as it didn't go against the operation of the Resort.
And I… I would be okay. My flesh hadn't turned into a Mascot; I was just wearing a Mascot fursuit.
…Probably.
'Phew.'
I took a deep breath and waddled toward the lobby.
Horrifically, Mascots that looked just like me were already waiting there.
“…!”
Bellboys, cleaners, security, and information desk staff, all in various uniforms, were standing there.
No… I was standing there.
As the Mascot, I manage the Resort.
I can do anything and become anything. As long as it is for the operation of the Resort.
…It was exactly as written.
I could know what every version of ‘me’ was doing. If I wanted to.
'I feel like I'm going to throw up.'
My stomach churned. This didn't feel like a human sensation.
But I had to keep working. Because that was the only way for now anyway.
I approached the largest front desk in the lobby. Trying not to make eye contact with the Mascot standing at the reception desk, I scanned the desk.
There was a golden stamp.
'…!'
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed to be a stamp for confirming Attraction use.
It seemed that at the Resort, one could receive a stamp through the use of annexed facilities.
“Perhaps, this….”
I immediately tried to pick up the stamp to press it onto someone else's wristband, but a powerful resistance blocked my hand.
'No!'
HowdareyoueventhinkofdeductingthecountforaguestwhohasnotyetenjoyedtheAttraction! Thatgoesagainsttheoperatingrules!
I gasped for breath.
And then I held out the guest register to them.
“…!”
The employees seemed dazed by the situation, which had already strayed too far from the Manual, but eventually, they saw the stamp and wrote their nicknames in the guest register.
“I-I’m okay!”
Except for the ladybug employee.
“…….”
I stamped the guest register for Jang Heowoon and the field mouse employee.
[(Cheerful) Fantasy Land Ride Ticket ■□□]
[(Cheerful) Fantasy Land Ride Ticket ■□□]
“Ah…!”
“It was real.”
The atmosphere lightened slightly.
The ladybug employee glanced over as if regretting it a bit, but for now, they didn’t say anything.
‘I should set the mood so they’ll do it voluntarily later.’
Right now, it seemed like they would escape or neutralize me the moment they saw an opportunity, so it was dangerous to keep dragging this out.
I am not the real Security Team, and I don’t have any immense unknown power that transcends humanity.
‘One wrong move and everything falls apart, and I die.’
I had to manage this group stably somehow.
And another thing.
‘I wonder if I can get out if I stay for three nights like this?’
Since it mentioned three types of attractions, I wondered if staying in different types of rooms would work.
Hoping I might find a hint, I raised my pen to the document.
I should assign accommodations to the employees.
However, since they’ve come as guests today, let’s have them stay in a nice suite using their Boarding Passes.
Yes.
And the official opening starts after sunset.
…What?
I am very much looking forward to it.
I stared blankly down at the pen.
‘…Right.’
The resumption of the Resort’s operations means accepting guests.
And the guests of this theme park were originally….
‘Not human.’
That means….
Things that aren’t human will swarm here once the sun goes down.
‘…!’
I had to get out of here quickly before then.
‘Expansion!’
I have to increase the number of attractions immediately. I had to open other parts of the Resort and find new attractions!
A new page appeared in the document, and words were written.
Requirements for expanding Resort facilities
Employees 3
Damn it!!
‘Where am I supposed to find three more?’
Unless they’re crazy, people in other areas would finish their rides at Blue Dream Water Park and escape.
Because there’s no reason to come over here!
It was when I was anxiously biting my tongue.
…If business starts like this, there’s no telling what the guests will do.
‘That’s a ghost story in itself.’
Then.
My pen moved again.
Then let’s set the Resort Rules for the official opening.
“…!”
As the Mascot of this place, I must decide with all my heart and soul what kind of place I want Flower Golden Resort to be.
Just as the Red Mascot seeks endless stimulation and slaughter.
Just as the Blue Mascot values goodness and honor.
My Mascot values.
‘In that case.’
I scribbled it down immediately.
Flower Golden Resort Rules
1. Our Resort is a place of dreams for guests who possess manners and class.
Therefore!
Please be sure to adhere to Resort accommodation manners and etiquette.
No troublemakers allowed.
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