I thought I’d seen it wrong.
But no matter how many times I looked, nothing changed.
The ‘insane person’ remaining in the Y-Squad dorm, Number Y491… was Assistant Manager Jin Nasol.
She was lying on the floor in a mess, wearing tattered work clothes.
‘What on earth happened?’
Reflexively, I lowered my body and began to examine her condition more closely.
‘……The more I look, the worse it gets.’
Every time I peered closer, only groans of dismay escaped me.
I thought back to the Assistant Manager Jin Nasol I first met as a new employee.
Recalling her appearance—so pristine it seemed like she wouldn’t let a single drop of blood spill on her—the way she looked now, a total wreck reminiscent of a derelict hermit, was almost terrifying.
And her hands, covered in broken nails, scars, and calluses.
‘The place where her special equipment used to be….’
The area where that perfectly groomed, flashy nail—imbued with powerful abilities—had been was now a gruesome sight. I was speechless at the disparity.
And… her eyes.
‘…They’re out of focus.’
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol looked as if she had lost her reason–perhaps even as if she were possessed.
She laid there muttering something under her breath like she had lost her soul.
“…….”
Why on earth was an Assistant Manager from the Headquarters’ elite squad here in this state?
In a place like this that lures in debtors and gamblers to put to work?
‘It’s strange to simply conclude that this is… contamination.’
Even recalling the records where Jin Nasol appeared in the <Dark Exploration Records>, this character’s end was never specifically described.
But she wasn’t in a position where she would be left contaminated and drift all the way down here. It would have made more sense for her to be transferred to the Security Team or to go missing in a Darkness.
‘Something is wrong.’
I pondered.
And I decided to cautiously try the most intuitive method.
Lowering my voice so as not to be caught by any potential wiretaps, I whispered very softly.
…….
“Assistant Manager Butterfly of Elite A-Squad.”
At that moment.
A flash of light flickered in Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s eyes.
“……!”
Just like back then, her eyes narrowed, twitching rapidly as if trying to grasp her current situation. Then she whipped around to look at me.
Her mouth opened, and a harsh, hoarse voice came out.
“…Roe Deer?”
“…!”
She recognized me.
“You… why are you here?”
That’s what I want to say.
“A-Are you alright?”
“Do I look alright to you?”
Unlike before, there was no sharp irritation to Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s voice, but that wasn’t a good thing.
It was a voice that sounded utterly empty.
‘Still, she recognizes me….’
In this baffling situation, if there was one advantage, wasn’t it that I hadn’t entered someone else’s body but appeared exactly as Kim Soleum?
It seemed my identity and appearance had remained the same this time as well.
And anyway, seeing a familiar face definitely seemed to help clear Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s mind, but….
“First, please stand up….”
“…….”
Jin Nasol’s reaction subsided.
The sharp intelligence in her eyes faded.
And then.
“Painkillers.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if you have painkillers.”
A hollow voice reached me.
‘Painkillers?’
“I-I don’t have any… but if I go to the medical room, they might give me some….”
“Shut up.”
“…….”
Is she… suffering from pain right now?
After a moment of thought, I pulled out one of the remaining items I had brought with me.
“U-Um… how about this?”
A beer can.
Since alcohol can sometimes act as a very primitive painkiller.
I had deliberately chosen something with a high alcohol content to serve the role of ‘liquor.’ I held it out in front of Assistant Manager Jin Nasol.
“How about….”
Snap.
A hand snatched the beer with terrifying, brute force.
“…!”
The other hand popped the can, and she poured the beer into her mouth as if she were shoving it in.
Crush.
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s fingers, gripping the beer, crumpled the aluminum can as if they could pierce right through it.
Gulp, gulp….
“…….”
Haa.
As she exhaled sharply, the can fell from Jin Nasol’s hand to the floor.
Thud.
“I wasn’t planning on drinking.”
She pulled herself up.
Her eyes were slightly blurred, but she spoke in a much calmer voice than earlier, when she had looked insane.
“That’s a bit better.”
I almost reflexively stepped back.
I barely managed to stop myself.
“Wow, that’s a relief….”
When I intentionally answered somewhat clumsily, her expression crumpled.
“Why is your way of speaking so….”
But soon, a sneering smirk hung sharply on Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s lips.
“Not that I’m in any position to talk, looking like this.”
“…….”
I shook my head slightly.
“Um… I don’t know who you are, but if it’s okay with you….”
“There are no wiretaps.”
……!
“I-I don’t know what you mean….”
“If they kept wiretaps running in all the rooms for these… cockroach-like humans, the data costs would be a waste. They turn them on and off, and I’m telling you they’re off right now.”
Like a rusty clockwork mechanism slowly restarting, Jin Nasol’s words initially came out blunt, but then creaked back into her original rational tone.
Finally, she pressed her forehead and gestured with her chin.
“Over there, near the door. It makes a high-pitched beep when it’s active, and it’s annoying.”
…It seemed she meant that when the wiretap is on, a high-frequency mechanical noise could be heard.
“Pardon? Oh, so the… beep… isn’t sounding…?”
“Yeah. Don’t make me say it twice. It’s annoying enough as it is.”
…….
“Understood.”
“…!”
I answered like the real Assistant Manager Kim Soleum.
“Even if the wiretapping is off, the CCTVs for worker observation must still be running, so I will continue the conversation like this.”
Then I looked at her.
Surprisingly, Jin Nasol avoided my gaze, looking slightly to the side.
“Assistant Manager. I suddenly found myself hired as a worker here after I regained consciousness. I was in the middle of assessing the situation, and now I see you are here as well.”
“…….”
“Why are you here?”
“What exactly do you think you can do by knowing that?”
“Just what on earth happened?”
“I’m asking what you’re going to do after hearing it.”
“We might be able to help each other.”
“Ha, after coming all the way in here, what….”
Her voice, which started mockingly, suddenly cut short, and she stared at me.
As if she had suddenly recalled something.
“You, you were the top recruit, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
And I was also promoted in the shortest period of time.
“…….”
“I regained my senses two days ago.”
I pointed to the sticker on my neck.
Z999.
“I was in this state then.”
“You…….”
“And currently, I am Number Y492.”
“…!”
In just two days, I had jumped from the very last number, skipped a whole squad, and reached a front number.
“…….”
I felt her assessing gaze.
Jin Nasol’s eyes sharpened slightly, then she gave a small nod.
“…Fine.”
It seemed like a silent passing grade.
Her voice calmed considerably, and her posture straightened.
Soon, Assistant Manager Jin Nasol began to speak as if giving a briefing.
“But why I’m here is none of your business. My situation has nothing to do with you.”
“Understood.”
I didn’t expect much anyway.
“What’s your other question?”
“Just what is this Namhae Branch….”
“Why is it filled with nothing but messy trash?”
A sneer hung on her lips.
“Can’t you tell by looking? This place was made to use these so-called workers once and then throw them away. If someone at headquarters wants to earn points quickly, they grab them and send them here as management.”
“…!”
“That’s what the ‘Remote Duty Allowance’ is.”
If the management here earns points quickly….
“As I thought, it must be true that there are Dream Collectors in the workers’ armbands.”
“You’re still quick on the uptake. Yes. The Dream Essence collected here is consumed by the person in charge. Though they probably get commissions stripped every time it goes up the ladder.”
It was a pyramid scheme.
‘That researcher bastard who was doing the announcements must have received more points than a field exploration position….’
“Instead, there’s no salary.”
Wow.
‘So it’s a choice between points and money.’
I clutched my throbbing head.
Then I remembered.
—…New recruit Kim Soleum, did you perhaps not receive a business card?
The business card I had received from the orientation host after the Daydream Inc. entrance exam.
Kwak Jekang’s voice echoed in my head.
-If you want to earn points faster, contact that place.
‘…Don’t tell me.’
That business card really was linked to a branch appointment…!
‘It’s almost frightening.’
To think that the route here had been open since back then.
I had guessed it once before, but I wasn’t at all happy about the confirmation….
Of course, I would have been in a position to use workers like consumables rather than being a worker myself, so the situation would have been completely different.
Regardless, the rumor that the branch was hell was certainly plausible given this working environment.
But….
‘Then it’s even stranger that Assistant Manager Jin Nasol is here.’
Shouldn’t she have come as a superior and be grinding down the workers?
‘Was there a special circumstance?’
Something like that….
…….
‘Wait a minute.’
There was one.
“…Is your presence here perhaps related to the disappearance of Director Ho?”
“…!!”
Ho Yuwon.
The supernatural being of Sekwang Metropolitan City.
I recalled the Fox Counseling Room with the long-term leave sign. That counselor who should be carrying out a long counseling schedule with his clients.
‘But from Daydream Inc.’s perspective… Director Ho suddenly evaporated from that day on.’
And Elite A-Squad, where Assistant Manager Jin Nasol was… was Director Ho’s line!
To the point where everyone had been drafted for Director Ho’s project.
“Could it be that after Director Ho’s project disappeared, problems arose within the company….”
“Shut up.”
“…!”
“I told you not to ask about things irrelevant to your situation. Do you not understand?”
I was right.
‘Seeing this hypersensitive reaction, I hit the mark…!’
I stood tall, putting strength in my feet as I looked at Jin Nasol staring at me with ominous eyes.
She seemed to have barely regained her reason, so let’s not provoke her. Since it seemed difficult to dig further in this direction, I asked another question.
Something I had wanted to find out for a long time.
“Then, how much time has passed since Director Ho disappeared?”
“What?”
“I am asking about the duration.”
Ho Yuwon and I must have disappeared around the same time.
How much time has passed here since I disappeared?
Her mouth slowly opened.
…….
“Three years.”
What?
“Yeah. It’s been about that long.”
Wait a minute.
Three years?
‘I spent one year at home….’
To think that several years had passed here during that time.
I felt a dull shock in the back of my head.
‘Then now….’
Just how much has the situation changed?
One year and three years feel completely different. How much time is left until this <Dark Exploration Records> world goes to ruin? The other people, could they perhaps….
‘No.’
Even if I think about it now, it won’t answer that question. Let’s not get anxious for nothing. I took a deep breath.
‘At any rate, one thing is certain.’
Even in this state, she must be the most competent Darkness explorer here.
I looked at my former boss, who had lost her special equipment and her position, and eventually said.
“I’m going to survive for 14 days and get out of here.”
“…….”
“I still have the confidence to do so.”
If there’s something this person still possesses, it would be that.
Her experience investigating the Darkness.
“I don’t know what your wish is, but we might be able to find another way besides the Wish Ticket. Daydream Inc. isn’t the only group that deals with supernatural phenomena.”
This wasn’t just a persuasive statement; it was a fact.
“For now, how about making it our goal to get out of here and find another way?”
“…….”
“I’d like us to move as a team, at least until we get out.”
I waited.
Jin Nasol seemed to look at the floor for a moment, then finally raised her head.
“Give it a try.”
The light had returned to her eyes.
After disappearing into the bathroom for a moment, Assistant Manager Jin Nasol emerged with her appearance neatly tidied up.
The wrinkles in her shabby worker’s clothes had been smoothed out, and her outfit looked decent.
And all the shoulder-length hair that had been a disheveled mess was gone.
“…!”
“It was cumbersome.”
The eyes visible between the bobbed hair, cut precisely to barely reach her chin, were ominous and sharp.
“What are you looking at?”
“…I was just thinking that you’re still neat when you work.”
“Ha.”
Jin Nasol snorted, but she didn’t get angry.
Beep.
At that moment, the lounge door opened.
“…I’m saying, what kind of cigarette costs five thousand won a stick?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. This company plays tricks because they really don’t want to give us any money… Uh?”
People from the Y-squad 490s flocked in.
And upon seeing Jin Nasol, one swaggering middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and pointed his finger.
“Oh, what’s this? This crazy bit— has come to her sen….”
“Hey.”
Ah.
“Don’t talk. You’re noisy.”
“Wha-what?”
“What.”
Jin Nasol, who had been pressing her brow, strode toward the man.
“Th-this one, she was muttering to herself and now she’s really gone cra—….”
“You didn’t understand me the first time?”
“What… Ack, gack…!”
I watched in horror as Jin Nasol choked the Y-squad member in the same lounge.
That’s right. This woman, she had this kind of personality…!
Muscles and veins could be seen on her arms beneath her tattered work clothes. Though her condition was a mess, that momentum was the same as ever… ah, no, that’s not it!
I hurried to stop her.
“U-Um…! Don’t waste calories. The alcohol buzz will wear off! Please stop…!”
“…….”
Thud.
Fortunately, Jin Nasol let go of the Y-squad man, dropping him onto the floor.
Though she threw out some more words.
“Keep your mouth shut from now on. Even breathe quietly. Got it?”
“U-Uh, uuuuh….”
“If you’re noisy, I’ll sear your tongue first.”
She seemed like a truly insane person.
This group of workers, the very definition of ‘strong against the weak, weak against the strong,’ glanced at Jin Nasol’s extraordinary way of speaking and momentum, then quickly slipped into their rooms instead of attacking.
They chose to avoid her for now rather than fight.
…Huh?
‘Wait, this way, we might actually avoid unnecessary trouble…?’
Since people who went into their rooms might still hear, I played my part.
“Um, i-it hurts if I get hit, so you shouldn't hit people….”
“That tone is annoying, so stop it already.”
“…….”
Yes, ma’am.
In any case, I decided to take on a new position.
Commonly known as the crazy thug’s lackey.
‘Good.’
It might be comfortable…!
“Um, then shall I go get some painkillers from the medical room…?”
Silence.
Soon, a flat voice answered.
“I have no money.”
“…….”
Just how have you been living….
“I-I’ll lend it to you….”
“Do whatever.”
And so, I voluntarily headed to the medical room….
Yes.
I hadn't been able to go earlier because I’d insisted to the researcher that I couldn’t get treatment in the medical room, but now I had an excuse to go voluntarily….
To anyone watching, wouldn't it look like I was being extorted?
‘Let’s take this opportunity to prepare a bit.’
For the record, there was no need to worry about how to go about purchasing things.
{Medical Room}
When I went inside, it was a self-service zone….
All medicines were to be purchased from a vending machine.
‘You crazy Daydream bastards….’
At any rate, I bought the painkillers.
Without hesitation, I also bought several spare first-aid supplies for myself, as well as several cliché medical items used as triggers or useful tools in ghost stories.
The price was horrendous.
‘210,000 won…?!’
One would think this was a dystopian country without health insurance. I swallowed a groan and paid the money with trembling hands.
Still, my heart felt light.
Walking down the hallway back to the Y-squad room, I organized my thoughts here and there.
‘I moved rooms, and I’ve gained a sort of ally.’
What will the next Darkness we’re thrown into be?
‘I wonder what the researcher chose after the wooden doll.’
I had a feeling they would give us something reasonably safe this time. It wasn’t just baseless optimism; it was because they seemed to have a long-term plan to ‘stably’ test my luck.
‘There’s a high probability we’ll be put somewhere with relatively low risk this time.’
And I thought the guess was pretty good.
…If it weren't for this variable.
[There is a special night assignment today.]
[All personnel from X100s, Y400s, and Z900s, begin moving to the workspace.]
“Huh?”
“What? Why are they saying we’re all going to the same place?”
That night.
We workers were all thrown into a single ghost story together.
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