Before opening my eyes.
I heard a sound echoing in my head.
Instructions.
-You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher's instructions. You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher's instructions….
“Hello.”
I opened my eyes.
“Nice to meet you. I am your assigned… assistant staff member.”
The first thing I saw was a mask.
Not a face turned into a dripping mosaic, but a coated paper mask covering it.
It wasn't the mask of the Field Exploration team that I was familiar with. It looked like a child's crayon drawing mimicking it.
But I knew that animal.
“I’ll do my best not to get in the way. …I’m called Badger.”
Badger.
This person wearing the Security Team’s activewear—I knew him….
Team D’s Supervisor Park Minseong.
My Seonbae.
“Um, I look forward to working with you.”
And he doesn't recognize me.
“I, today is just a brief introduction….”
It was only natural.
My current state and my previous appearance as Kim Soleum shared nothing in common except for physical dimensions, and he had never seen this Exterior before.
But immediately after, something unnatural happened.
“…Why.”
A different person's voice.
From that inflection, from that characteristically slow and level tone, I knew who it was.
I saw the figure of a thin human wearing a guard uniform, standing by the door with his hat pressed down….
“Why… are you here.”
J3.
“Sergeant?”
“You… shouldn't be here….”
…….
I tried to open my mouth, but I realized my vocal cords weren't in their proper place, and I didn't know where they were in my melted Body….
Smoke forms words.
Labor Contract
“…You said, you were resigning.”
New Labor Contract
: Permanent Employment
“…….”
I lowered the smoke.
“Sergeant, what do you mean by resignation….”
The human wearing the Badger Mask was frozen, his tone bewildered.
The anxiety expressed in the following ragged breaths, the confusion, and the hesitation as he tried to grasp the situation….
And finally, as if he had guessed the shocking truth, the sound of a sharp intake of breath.
He had remembered.
A mutual acquaintance of the two who had recently successfully resigned from this company.
And the one whose contact had been cut off.
“……Roe?”
I did not answer.
“…….”
The one wearing the Badger Mask stared at me, frozen.
Then he looked back at the one in the guard uniform.
The Sergeant did not deny it.
Instead, he opened the door and left the space.
Click.
The sound of the iron door locking.
“N-No… no. This, I, I…. That…….”
The sound of catching one's breath.
It came from the Badger Mask.
Contamination symptoms tried to break through due to the agitation, but they were hidden by the mask.
Only after more than 40 seconds had passed did the Badger Mask, having completely shaken off the identity of the ■■ Affiliated Kindergarten teacher, take a deep breath.
And then I heard it.
“I-It’ll be okay.”
The sound of footsteps approaching.
“Being in the Security Team means, for now, well, it means communication is possible…? There must be a way. I recovered too…. Right?”
I moved the smoke.
Not Possible
“…!”
Contamination is the mutation of a being who was originally human due to a supernatural phenomenon.
Recovery from contamination means restoring the original human body and mind.
And.
“Roe.”
Not Possible
I lacked the former.
“…Soleum.”
…….
I tried to form words again, but I scattered the smoke and gathered it back inside the gas mask.
Because for some reason, I felt a sense of repulsion toward performing the act.
A desperate voice is heard.
“Hey… right, it feels strange to hear your real name, doesn't it?”
I feel nothing.
“Is there any rejection reaction? Or confusion… it’s only natural for there to be. So….”
Showing a strange reaction to one's original name is a typical symptom of contamination.
It has nothing to do with me.
“Soleum…….”
Tack.
Supervisor Park Minseong, who was about to call my name again, suddenly flinched and trembled, then tightly grabbed his own wrist.
The Security Team control wristwatch.
Tick, tock.
The sound of the watch ticking.
And the announcement, which I couldn't hear before, was now faintly audible to me as well, since I shared a similar contractual relationship.
-Danger of safety rule violation detected. Remaining time until confinement for retraining reduced by 7 seconds. 71 seconds, 70 seconds, 69 seconds….
It was similar to the guidance echoing in my head.
The restriction that controls the speech and actions of a Contaminated One in the Security Team.
It was likely because he realized himself that he had violated the safety rule that one must not use 'real names' during work.
In that way, I witnessed a specific mechanism that was not detailed in the <Dark Exploration Record>.
But it wasn't important.
What was important was….
-You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher's instructions.
Work.
“…….”
“…….”
What should I do?
In the silence, only then did I begin to look around the place where I was.
A rusted iron door. A blocked space. It was similar to Room 666 on Annex Basement Floor 13, but it wasn't there.
However, I could recognize where it was.
-Daydream Inc. Main Building Basement Containment Cell.
The place I had visited for cleaning as a disciplinary action back when I was human.
It was also the place where I had been transported along with Supervisor Park Minseong after losing consciousness upon clearing the 'Hungry Hangman' incident.
The Containment Corridor accessible only from the Security Team storage, the Containment Cells within….
However, I could feel it.
This place was much deeper inside than the Containment Cell I was held in when rescued from the ‘Hungry Hangman’ Darkness.
I knew by an employee's instinct that this place was located in the central containment area, far deeper than the place I visited for disciplinary cleaning, the inner part of the inner part….
And the layout of this closed room.
I ran my gloved finger over the lamp on the desk.
A lamp, a wooden desk, a bed, a towel.
It was a familiar layout.
‘Company housing.’
The interior was identical to Employee Kim Soleum's room when he stayed at the company housing.
Every single prop was obsessively arranged.
An arrangement that felt almost magical, ritualistic.
As if trying not to offend the temperament of the Darkness captured by the labor contract, as if trying to humor it.
At the same time, I could feel that they were expecting a reaction from me….
‘Is this Kwak Jekang’s doing?’
It was exactly the kind of thing that researcher would do.
I ran my gloved finger across the desk.
Should I be angry?
My crushed and melted brain tried to think similarly to before, but it was difficult….
‘Then, from now on, do I just need to handle the security of the Main Building Basement Containment Cell instead of Annex Basement Floor 13?’
This wasn't difficult.
But if that's the case….
I don't need that person.
“…!”
I stared at the Badger Mask.
I could feel the agitation of the Badger Mask.
I asked him, as he stood stiffly.
Request description of assigned duties
“…Working with Roe is the job.”
Improper form of address
Reason: Unofficial
“…Ah.”
The person wearing the Badger Mask turned his head, then made a small noise as he saw the CCTV in the corner.
Perhaps due to concerns about contamination, the CCTV had no audio-related functions, but I could feel a gaze observing from beyond it.
They were watching.
And there was no need to give the assigned researcher any certainty regarding my current state.
As if he had noticed the meaning of the warning made of smoke, Badger’s words changed.
“Then… what should I call you? Haha, let's just think of it as making another nickname. Originally, for Roe, the Assistant Manager would…….”
His voice, which had started brightly, blurred slightly before returning.
“Um… is there another animal you like?”
An animal I like.
I waited until something came to mind.
However, I felt no sentiment whatsoever.
Unknown
“…….”
…….
“It’s okay. Then I’ll think about it carefully.”
I heard the sound of him clearing his throat.
Request description of assigned duties
: Including specific examples
“Ah, um, well… when you receive a task, I’ll be accompanying you as you go about it. Helping so that there’s no discomfort.”
The person wearing the Badger Mask spoke kindly.
By the way….
“If there's anything uncomfortable, you can tell me first. Or the Sergeant…!”
What is he holding in his hand?
“…!”
Sensing my gaze, the person wearing the Badger Mask hurriedly tried to hide what he was putting in his pocket, but then, as if realizing something, he cautiously pulled it out again and showed it to me.
A syringe-shaped object.
It resembled a Dream Collector, but the purpose seemed to be the opposite.
Injector
For subduing Special Department employees
The other person slowly nodded at the words I made.
“Don't worry. I won't press it. Really. Really….”
Why?
Recommended use in appropriate situations
“……For example?”
“…When you seem anxious?”
▶When feeling extreme anxiety
Criteria: Emotions of the control tool user
“……. Haha….”
A sob came from the Badger Mask.
It was a sound that made it impossible to tell if he was crying or laughing, or if he was relieved.
“You’re still the same. Aren't you?”
…….
“Yeah…. Yes, it’ll be okay.”
And for some reason, as if he was relieved, as if his mind had become much more at ease, the vibrations and movements subsided.
And he reached out his arm as if to pat my shoulder… but soon lowered it.
…….
Click.
“Sergeant, we….”
The door opened and the Sergeant entered.
To judge him as someone who left because he couldn't accept an unexpected situation, no signs of repulsion were seen in his physical reactions.
On the contrary, he walked over without hesitation, making the Badger Mask flinch.
Then he extended his left arm toward me.
“Sergeant?”
“Here.”
From within the hand of the extended left arm, round things revealed themselves.
Nostalgia Candy.
“These, do you want to eat…?”
…….
I cannot eat.
I have no mouth. I don't know where the organ that could be called a mouth is.
Maybe I didn't make it in the first place because it wasn't necessary.
I only believed it was there.
More than anything… I cannot take off the gas mask.
“…….”
Quietly, I pushed the other's hand away with my gloved finger.
Not Possible
“Is that so….”
The Sergeant withdrew his hand, then stood still as if lost in thought.
Then he asked.
“What kind of Darkness did you enter…?”
Wish Ticket
“…….”
I scattered those words before the Badger Mask could see them.
J3 did not ask any more questions.
He just quietly lifted his hat-clad head. Then, through the appearance like a crumbling mosaic….
His face is visible.
‘…!’
“Roe, calm down…!”
What is it?
Why can I see it?
“Are you… in pain right now…?”
Even his voice is clear. I can distinguish it. I can recognize it! What is it? Why? Maybe there’s another truth I just hadn't recognized…….
…….
Ah.
I see.
“Why is the smoke…!”
It’s because the other person is a being closer to a ghost story than a human.
The Sergeant’s contamination is so powerful and deep that no matter how much it's removed in the Security Team curriculum, it makes him exist on the boundary of existence.
This means nothing.
“It doesn't seem like you're in pain…….”
But, even so….
“Then it’s okay…….”
I slowly felt the strange aching I had felt in the elevator arising again.
The Sergeant walked into the smoke as if it were nothing, then raised his hand in a somewhat clumsy motion… and patted my back.
As if he were doing it for the first time in a very long time.
“…It’ll be okay.”
…….
I inhaled the smoke. The black gas tendrils that were swirling on the floor were retracted.
The Sergeant looked at the Nostalgia Candy for a moment.
“Hey, I’ll try bringing something else…….”
I shook my head.
The Nostalgia Series is not necessary for work.
Now I need to hear what is necessary.
-It is your working hours. Please wake up. It is your working hours. Please wake up….
Because it was time.
Request work briefing
“Ah, that’s….”
[Aha, how passionate!]
“…!”
the two figures' heads whipped toward the direction of the sound.
[Haha, I contacted you right on time, didn't I? Good morning. I don't mean it’s actually morning, it’s just small talk for starting work.]
Sound was coming from the CCTV in the corner.
The Sergeant stepped out in front of me.
[Ah, the speaker and recording functions only work during mutual conversations like this. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such ethical and considerate working conditions. Hahaha!]
“Are you insane….”
[Well, moving on. As the researcher in charge, let me explain the work very clearly.]
I shook my head at the Sergeant. However, the Sergeant stood his ground silently.
Only Kwak Jekang’s voice coming from the CCTV echoed loudly in the closed room.
[This is, well, an important task directly related to our company's goal. Which is… producing a lot of good potions efficiently.]
[And for that, there’s a prerequisite, isn't there?]
The natural explanation followed.
[A smooth supply of Darkness suitable for extracting the potion's raw material, ‘Dream Essence’!]
[I’m talking about ghost stories that the company can ‘manage,’ where humans can be periodically deployed to extract Dream Essence.]
He sounded as if some absurd statement was about to follow.
[And someone powerful needs to steadily bring those ghost stories to the company….]
I could hear the excited breathing of one who researches Darkness.
[You are one of them.]
…….
[Subdue ghost stories that would be useful to the company. So that we can produce Dream Essence effectively.]
A new task had begun.
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