One of the many offices in the Main Building of Daydream Inc.
A petite employee with long, curly hair sat in the meeting area of the neat space.
“Mmm-hmm-hmm.”
An elite member of the Field Exploration team, she was already wearing a Dolphin mask on her head.
The materials lying on the table she was reading were the special duties assigned for today, just yesterday.
Specifically designating her.
And….
“Hello, Assistant manager!”
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae looked up.
An employee opened the office door and walked in, greeting her with a brazen bow.
“My name is Kang Yihak. Ah, you can just call me Pony!”
“Yep. Helloooo.”
She was an employee Lee Seonghae was familiar with.
If one survived for about a year after joining the company, more and more employees began to remember each other.
There was even an event that served as proof of that.
Promotion to Assistant Manager.
“Ah, you were promoted to Assistant Manager this time, right?”
“Yes, yes, yup. We were all promoted together. Hahaha, it’s great not having to buy a promotion treat, you know~”
Kang Yihak laughed and thumped her chest.
It was true.
About half of the Field Exploration team rookies who had survived safely without dying or retiring were promoted to Assistant Manager almost all at once, just before the selection of new employees this year.
Of course, a few with good grades were promoted two or three months earlier… but that was something Kang Yihak had wanted to decline first.
Because she had recently realized something.
‘No need to create reasons to spend money!’
Isn’t it human nature for shameless people to want a handout when they see someone doing well!
The structure here wasn’t such that you earned a lot more or had good Darkness fall into your mouth just because you were promoted first.
Of course, it would be a different story if a substantial reward… that is, a sparkling gold or green reward, were given!
In the grand scheme of things, just having your salary go up a little was a loss.
Thanks to that, she was able to suppress her reward center, which craved the dopamine of short-term gains….
‘I guess some people just like being the boss first.’
Kang Yihak thought of her colleague who had been promoted before her.
The employee in the Goat mask who always wore an eyepatch, Baek Saheon.
That employee had been obsessed with information and items from the start, buttering up the superiors, and eventually got promoted first.
‘I thought he was investing a bit boldly in sucking information out of his Seonbaes from the start!’
Lately, he had become somewhat quiet for some reason. He must have realized the truth that it was better to invest in the Darkness.
And as her thoughts reached that point, other colleagues came to mind.
People who were no longer in the Field Exploration team at headquarters.
“Ah~ Originally, there was someone who got promoted to Assistant Manager really fast, and someone who was very exemplary… Ah, do you happen to remember them?”
Kim Soleum, Go Yeongeun.
The two people, thinking of the same employees, nodded.
“Right. They were good people, it’s such a shame….”
Lee Seonghae frowned as if it were truly unfortunate.
Kang Yihak tactfully smiled and changed the subject. No need to spoil the boss’s mood when there was no money in it!
“Congratulations on your promotion too, Assistant manager~ I heard the news that you were newly assigned to B-Squad along with your promotion.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Lee Seonghae nodded.
“Hahaha, how is B-Squad?”
“Well. Company work is all the same!”
However, information from the Elite Squad was worth money.
Kang Yihak’s tone became more swaying as if she were trying to be more pleasing.
“Ayy, but the people you work with have changed. If there’s anything you want to say, feel free to just tell me….”
“Eh, me?”
“You don’t have to. Yep!”
Don’t scratch the boss! Again, there’s no need to spoil the boss’s mood!
Especially if it’s someone rumored to have been sent to B-Squad after burying two of her superiors from C-Squad in the Darkness!
‘Long-term perspective, long-term perspective.’
Kang Yihak sat down briskly after a quick change in attitude.
“Then I’ll be working hard reading the materials too!”
“Okay, yep.”
Just like that, the pre-work small talk ended, and by the time they finished reading and familiarizing themselves with the work materials on the table….
“Hello there!”
A Research Team employee appeared.
The person who would brief them on today’s task.
Section Chief Kwak Jekang of Research Team 1. Everyone stood up with appropriate politeness at the appearance of a superior from another department.
“Did everyone look through the materials?”
“Yep. We did!”
“Wow~ Our Elite Squad’s Assistant Manager Lee is one thing, but Assistant Manager Kang is quite fast. Is it because you’re an Assistant Manager now!”
“Hahaha, thank you!”
No. It was because she had found a corner to extract extra income from the work.
And Kwak Jekang knew that, but anyway, he smiled, looked back at the two, and did the most important thing.
The introduction of the Darkness that held the power of life and death over him.
“Then… this is the higher-up you will be serving today!”
The office door opened.
A figure emerged along with Black Smoke.
Bizarre, bone-like horns were as large as a crown, and eyes like yellow lanterns and a light source shone from between the black Security Team uniform.
Lee Seonghae’s eyes widened at that familiar sight.
The owner of Flower Golden Resort!
“Masco… no, Mr. Staff Member!”
To think they would meet again like this!
Lee Seonghae, with a broad smile all over her face, stood up and approached.
“It’s really good to see you! Have you been well?”
The black Security Team Special Division employee looked down at her without moving.
One eye seemed to look at the researcher for a moment, but soon bowed his head toward Lee Seonghae and raised a hand….
Question: Current health status
“I’m always healthy, of course!”
As expected, he was still a kind and nice employee!
“As expected of the Elite Squad’s Assistant manager Dolphin. You’re even acquainted with such a strong-looking Security Team employee!”
And Kang Yihak, having grasped the situation, quickly looked for a place to fit in and approached.
“It’s a real pleasure to meet you. I would appreciate it if you could call me Pony, Mr. Staff Member!”
She actually asked for a handshake.
“…….”
“…….”
Ah.
I made a mistake.
The moment that chilling sensation passed through her head, a gloved hand came out from the Black Smoke and took the hand she had offered.
“…!”
To her surprise, the other party had accepted the handshake.
But a strange sense of crisis rose up Kang Yihak’s neck.
It was chilly.
A tingle ran down her spine.
A warning signal, the instinctive alarm bell given by power and greatness.
……But somehow, it felt like a familiar feeling?
As if she had encountered it in the Darkness once before….
“Now, now, anyway. It’s difficult for this gentleman to just walk into the broadcasting station, so we called you two from the Field Exploration team.”
But before Kang Yihak could remember something, the handshake ended, and the briefing related to the work continued.
Kwak Jekang smiled and explained why two members of the Field Exploration team were called.
Because they needed two people who were familiar with the Darkness but not heavily contaminated.
“The employees who originally assisted him are from the Security Team, so they can’t go to the broadcasting station during the day either. Haha!”
That’s right.
Because this ghost story occurred in a place where the public eye was focused, the broadcasting station, the cooperation of those involved was needed to properly check it.
It was naturally difficult for supernatural beings who stood out too much, or the Security Team, who could not go out routinely during the day, to take the lead.
Lee Seonghae smiled brightly at the researcher who explained that they had 'already recruited a PD.'
“Then we’re bringing back a dangerous Darkness from the broadcasting station!”
“That’s right!”
“Mmm, good!”
If Daydream Inc. isolated and secured that Darkness, ordinary people would no longer be caught up in the dangerous ghost story.
Lee Seonghae gladly welcomed this task, as its premise was one of those rare good deeds.
Soon, the ‘staff member’s’ transportation method was introduced.
“Now, he’ll be inside this, so you two just need to carry it and move.”
Watching the staff member being ‘stored’ in the black transport cage as if by magic, the two Field Exploration team members felt a strange sensation similar to what they felt in the Darkness.
And a communication device was also given in case of an emergency.
A small radio.
“It’s a radio connected to the Security Team managers… well, you just have to press it if an ‘emergency’ occurs.”
The researcher laughed, saying that this alone would have made a rookie nervous.
And a light preliminary call was also conducted.
Click.
[Um… can you hear me….]
“Yep. We hear you loud and clear!”
“Nng. This is Assistant Manager Pony from I-Squad, and I’m Dolphin from B-Squad! Please look after us.”
Silence.
[…B-Squad?]
“Yep.”
[……I see.]
[Um… be careful… when you carry it. Don’t drop it….]
The man with a languid voice explained slowly.
How to call them, the responsible Security Team, if a problem arose.
And even how to communicate simply with the ‘staff’ inside the transport cage.
[When agreeing… tap once, and when disagreeing, twice… tap.]
“Oh, I understand.”
Kang Yihak noticed.
That Section Chief Kwak Jekang was watching the conversation between the Security Team on the other side of the radio and Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae while suppressed a smirking laugh.
But that has nothing to do with me!
Kang Yihak, realizing there was no smell of money for the time being, immediately turned her head.
Toward something that smelled of money right now.
The transport cage containing the staff member.
Dark, black, and chilly, it exerted a strange presence even just sitting on the floor….
“Haha… then, should I carry it? Shouldn’t the subordinate do something like this!”
How much would it be worth?
What if I could just take this transport cage and whisk it away somewhere?
I heard there’s a Darkness somewhere in the Annex that returns gold equal to the weight of an interesting offering; what would happen if I offered this transport cage?
Kang Yihak approached the transport cage….
“…….”
Dolphin, who had been watching intently, opened her mouth.
“Excuse me.”
“……Yes?”
“I’ll carry it. The transport cage.”
“…Yep!”
Thus, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae picked up the transport cage.
It was cold and light.
There was a deep Darkness inside, but Lee Seonghae stroked the iron bars without hesitation and asked.
“Are you comfortable?”
Tap.
“That’s a relief!”
She hummed as she cradled the transport cage preciously.
And then she headed to the scene with Pony.
To the broadcasting station.
“Um, that, over there, that… the people introduced by the company… you’re them, right? Dreamwalking?”
“Yes, yes.”
They were guided to the variety department’s editing room through the entrance for related personnel that had been contacted in advance.
There, a PD with sunken dark circles met them alone in an inner private room with an anxious complexion.
Believing the sophisticated identity used by Daydream Inc. when they inevitably performed supernatural work in the civilian sector, he took a breath and continued.
“I didn't expect to really meet people who specialize in this kind of thing… that, is it true that real exorcism or something like that is possible?”
“Of course.”
Perhaps the two strange people in suits wearing masks gave him a weird sense of trust, as the PD calmed down a bit.
Still, his face was pale. That face, which had lost a lot of weight, was stained with worry and fear.
No, it wasn’t just the PD. The main writer, two assistant writers, and even the lighting director they had encountered on the way here all looked unwell.
Something that everyone knew to this extent.
“Um, you’ve heard the story roughly, right? That, regarding the current situation….”
Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae recalled.
An internet post that had been attached to the materials placed on the table.
A chilling urban legend floating around among civilians.
[Has anyone seen this man on PBS programs? (Photo Warning)]
==========
There are people who remember PBS, right?
Even kids going to school now have probably heard of it.
It’s an old broadcasting station from about 20 years ago, but it’s a defunct channel now.
Until twenty or thirty years ago, many variety shows that were popular at the time were aired on PBS. Things like Sarangbang Athletic Meet, Family is Rising, Hot Talk Talk, Joyful Saturday Night.
==========
Various images are attached.
Large, colorful subtitles, low resolution, and exaggerated audience reactions and sound effects.
Looking at them now, they are somewhat tacky but also evoke a strange nostalgia. Various variety show scenes from around the 2000s.
There was one thing in common.
Without exception, there were many cast members.
==========
You know those variety shows where a lot of people appear on TV.
A ton of panelists appear, and if there’s a special episode, dozens of participants, and if not that, catching hundreds of audience members reacting through sound or screen.
They were in full swing before observation variety shows or W-Tube content became popular. They say there are quite a few people who miss that now. On the other hand, there are many people who hate it, saying it’s distracting and tacky... Anyway, it seems that variety shows in that format almost dominated during this period.
But there’s something that was spreading among the PDs in charge and the editing room staff at that time.
Look at this.
(Photo)
==========
It was a photo that looked like a screen capture of people having an athletic meet on a set in the shape of an old-fashioned linoleum-floored house.
Sarangbang Athletic Meet, the PBS variety show just described.
And the photos don't end there.
Photos that seemed to be random captures of scenes from different variety shows continued to be listed.
Family is Rising, Hot Talk Talk, Joyful Saturday Night….
And at the very end.
==========
Did you notice?
==========
It shows the same photos again with a red circle in the corner.
One person.
==========
It's all the same person.
==========
A man with black eyes looking at the camera.
He is wearing a hat and has a smile that doesn't reveal his teeth.
==========
It is said that this man was witnessed among the cast, audience, and crowds in most variety programs aired on PBS.
The editor found it strange and looked into it, and he was really there.
And after people talked to each other, they realized something...
This man is always only seen in Episode 6.
==========
A description is attached under the photo.
==========
To be precise, rumors circulated that he only seemed to appear in episodes ending in 6.
Eerie, right?
But well, there are so many ghost stories in the broadcasting industry. Ghost sightings also occur frequently….
So it was just something related personnel talked about, and at the time, it was published in places like ghost story magazines and just became a slight rumor among general viewers.
Actually, the probability is low, but of course, the same person could continuously enter as a panelist or audience member for these variety shows.
But an anomaly occurs here.
==========
A newspaper article is attached.
A case where broadcast data was lost due to a power outage at a broadcasting station.
==========
Due to the power outage, there was a problem with saving the editing data for the filmed footage. They said there were problems with documentaries and news too… but the important thing is this.
Among them, there must have been the final edited version of Hot Talk Talk Episode 166.
In the end, Episode 166 was just aired as a collection of highlights from previous episodes...
And
From here on, something gets stranger and stranger.
......
This man was seen in every single highlight version.
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