Deep in the mountains at night, where a courage test was taking place.
An old-fashioned telephone attached to the wall of the lodge.
“A phone…!”
“Don’t grab it!”
I snatched the silhouette of the worker who was about to move.
“If you pick up the receiver, the light will turn on, won’t it?”
“…Ah!!”
“And in the first place, we don't even know if that thing works properly in this situation.”
It was obvious.
‘How can I trust a phone inside a ghost story?’
Even if it actually worked… there was no need to take the risk right now.
‘…Let’s just verify it.’
Whether there really was a device here that could send a rescue request to the Disaster Management Bureau.
It was a case I hadn't seen specifically in the Exploration Records, but just because it wasn't written didn't mean there wasn't a chance it existed.
“Hold on.”
I approached the phone and examined it.
It was a classic, ordinary telephone dial with about six speed-dial buttons above the number pad.
And on one of the speed-dial buttons, number 3, there was a label.
It was a phrase that seemed to be phrased indirectly so the ghost story wouldn't notice, but which could be understood intuitively just by looking at the flyer.
{24-hour Professional Call}
“…….”
This must be it.
I instinctively etched it into my mind. From behind me, I heard Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s indifferent voice.
“If there’s no danger, let’s move. There’s no need to dawdle.”
“…….”
“Why contact the Management Bureau anyway? They’ll only get in the way.”
From the perspective of only escaping, she was right.
But… the fact that I had to endure for two weeks as a worker of the Daydream Branch was a risk in itself.
‘You never know what crazy situation might happen in the meantime.’
Wouldn't it be good to connect with the Disaster Management Bureau just in case?
‘Let’s just look at it one more time.’
I looked at the flyer.
But why did it have to be in the form of a trashy leaflet?
‘It looks like an illegal debt collection company….’
Of course, it was likely made to blend in with the lodge’s flyers, but for some reason, it made me want to squeeze my eyes shut.
The phrasing was also… extreme. ‘Immediate Safe Escape, Unconditionally Available’? Just how badly did they want people to call?
‘They’ve packed it full of promotional text.’
I scanned through it with a bitter taste in my mouth until I reached the very bottom…….
I snapped my head back.
“……!!”
“W-what is it?”
At the very bottom of the flyer.
A phrase written in tiny print.
TheDisasterManagementBureauDoesNotDistributeNoticesInThisFormatIfYouSeeThisPhraseTurnAroundAndRunAwayImmediatelyHurry
It’s a trap.
‘This is insane.’
It’s imitating the Disaster Management Bureau.
A chill ran down my spine. I instinctively backed away.
“Assistant Manager, we’re moving!”
I shouted to Assistant Manager Jin Nasol and began to leave the lodge.
‘Let’s just go.’
“Uh, aren’t you going to use the phone?”
“No. It’s a trap.”
“Hiek!”
The terrified worker hurried after me. Instead of letting go of his clothes I had grabbed, I simply dragged him along roughly.
‘If I had seen that and hurriedly picked up the phone….’
The light would have turned on, and I would have gone missing?
‘Ha.’
This is why you can’t let your guard down, even with cases that aren’t in the Exploration Records…!
Fortunately, I had noticed the measure the Disaster Management Bureau put in place. I wiped my forehead. However….
‘…Why did it say to turn around and run away?’
I was following it for now, but questions began to rise.
Given the circumstances, it seemed like a phrase put in place by the Disaster Management Bureau with the same method used to prevent Supernatural Disasters from imitating them, but….
‘Turning around and running away is a very proactive and conspicuous action.’
It wasn't a suitable behavior for every ghost story. It was the kind of instruction that would only be given when absolutely necessary.
‘What is it?’
In this ghost story where you have to ‘walk the mountain path at night while avoiding light,’ isn't running blindly a foolish move?
The key is to move carefully and quickly while avoiding light and not falling for tricks or fear.
Why did they ring the warning alarm so violently?
Can I trust this instruction?
No, isn’t it already too late since we moved immediately?
‘Let’s stay calm.’
I thought about it again.
Would the phone suddenly ring and the light turn on, or something like that? But there's still been no reaction so far.
‘If it's not the phone, is the notice itself dangerous?’
Since the notice itself was a trap.
‘But… come to think of it, it was tucked away too inconspicuously for a trap.’
It was also strange that I found it in the darkness of the lodge. That means….
…….
“A-Are you alright?”
It's this person.
“I meant, why did you suddenly stop walking like that….”
The worker I was holding.
This person had found the notice.
“…….”
When we first entered this ghost story. This was the person who tried to turn on the flashlight.
So I pinned him down to prevent him from seeing the light. Because I realized the ghost story’s gimmick.
The most terrifying thing here is that not only the person who turned on the light but everyone who sees what the light illuminates goes missing.
Right.
That’s why it was important not to see the light, even by mistake. All Exploration Records were written with a focus on that.
However.
If we interpret that sentence from the Wiki literally, rather than that principle.
Not only the person who turned on the light
‘Doesn't that mean the person who turned on the light is guaranteed to go missing…?’
Whether they see the light or not.
Whether I covered their eyes immediately or not.
“…….”
If that’s the case.
‘The person I’m holding right now is….’
“…….”
“…….”
“Excuse me.”
“…Yes.”
“Did you happen to notice?”
“……What?”
“You did.”
I ran.
The clothes I had thought were a worker's uniform until now somehow felt better to the touch as they slipped through my fingers. The worker tried to grab my arm from behind. I pushed him away and went for the door. I grabbed the doorknob….
Thump.
I was shoved to the side.
‘You…!’
I barely managed to keep my balance and didn't fall despite the irregular attack, but my body slammed violently against something….
Click.
The moment I felt something press against my back.
I realized.
‘…The switch!’
“Eyes!”
I barely managed to close my eyes.
At the same time, light pierced through my eyelids.
‘Crazy.’
My back was damp with cold sweat.
Just now, the light switch behind my back was pressed.
I tried to press the switch again, but….
Slap.
The worker high-fived my hand as it groped up the wall.
“There.”
It was deathly chilling.
With my eyes closed, I fumbled and backed away, grabbing a frame. It felt like a door. Light scattered beyond my eyelids. I swallowed hard.
Wait, what about the others?
“Assistant Manager!”
“I turned it on because it seemed too dark,
even for a courage test.”
“Are you there?”
“Yeah.”
I felt incredibly relieved for a moment.
Where was the voice coming from? It wasn't that far. I have to keep making noise to lure it… I have to open the door and get out! I moved my foot….
“With this light, I think people will be able
to find their way safely! Right?”
It was right in front of my nose.
I could almost feel its breath.
It was putting its face right in front of mine.
‘Damn it, damn it!’
Groping the door frame with both hands behind my back, I slowly searched for the doorknob. And I spoke as calmly as possible.
“If you turn on the light, won’t the people who see it disappear?”
“They didn’t disappear!
I think they went to a better place.
After all, bright places are better than dark ones.”
I grabbed the doorknob….
“Hahaha, why are you moving so uncomfortably?
You're trying to find the doorknob, aren't you?”
“…….”
Creeeeeak.
“I opened it for you!”
I lost my grip on the handle.
The lodge door had been opened by someone.
“Shall we go
get our next stamp then?”
I couldn't see, but my movements were completely exposed to the opponent.
A surge of biological revulsion washed over me.
‘What do I do?’
With my vision sealed, how can I deal with an unknown entity that has its eyes open?
‘…No.’
That's not it.
“Assistant Manager. Just ignore it and move!”
Let's not deal with it!
‘The more you lose your composure and react, the more you get caught up.’
When a person loses their reason, they eventually act on instinct, and there's a very high probability they'll look at the light.
Because the body unconsciously considers having vision to be safer…!
‘And if this ‘worker’ intended to attack us directly, he would have done it already.’
So I have to walk. It’s better to trip and get a bit hurt than to open my eyes and go missing.
The problem was….
“Are you going to walk a mountain path
at night with your eyes closed?”
Damn it.
Ignoring him, I groped my way step by step out of the door.
Tuk.
‘I just have to follow the dirt path.’
If I hit a tree, I can just grope my way along. Yes, slowly, slowly….
“You're moving too slowly.”
This thing right now.
It was speaking with its head right next to my face.
It was following me, walking beside me.
“I’ll guide you. A fork in the
road is coming up soon. If you
go right, you'll find the place
to get your stamp.”
This is driving me crazy, seriously.
“Assistant Manager! At the fork, we unconditionally go left!”
“What?”
“The people from the first group who appeared behind us said they brought water from the mineral spring.”
They followed the path and caught up to us.
“If so, this course is circular.”
Silence.
“So if we follow the path, we’ll have to keep going left like before to reach the mineral spring.”
“Wow, your brain really works,
doesn't it? I’ll really treat you
to some proper tteokbokki when
this courage test is over!”
I wish he would just shut up.
I struggled to walk without staggering.
Tug, someone grabbed me from the side.
“…!”
“It’s me.”
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol pulled me along without hesitation. I don't know how it was possible with her eyes closed, but I followed her and whispered again.
“Ignore it, Assistant Manager. If it had intended to harm us, it would have done so already.”
“I told you I get it.”
…What if Assistant Manager Jin Nasol failed to close her eyes properly when the lodge light turned on?
What if this wasn't actually Assistant Manager Jin Nasol?
If that were the case, it was already over anyway.
‘I have to assume it’s her.’
I took a deep breath.
But.
“But… aren't you really anxious?”
“…….”
We walk.
“You can’t see what I’m doing.
I could totally trip you right now.”
Endure it.
“Should I?”
…!
“Should I? Should I?”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The voice got closer.
“What am I doing right now? What
do I look like? Where are you going
right now? Aren't you curious?
Aren't you?”
I mustn't open them, even by mistake.
I mustn't just run, even by mistake…!
I wait.
I wait, and then….
“You're curious. Just a peek….”
Now.
“……!”
I reached out violently and grabbed the thing in front of me.
“Huh?”
I couldn't go on like this.
“Assistant Manager! Now!”
The person who moved without hesitation even with her eyes closed.
“Go get your stamp….”
Thwack!
“…….”
Just now.
Was that the sound of a massive beating in front of me…?
“Keep your eyes closed.”
That was all Assistant Manager Jin Nasol said.
After that, I heard muffled noises, something being dragged, and then a slamming sound from the side.
“Done.”
Muffled ‘mmph-mmph’ sounds could be heard from near the ground….
“He was so chatty I thought I’d go crazy.”
“…….”
I almost hesitated to open my mouth….
“Did you…subdue him?”
“Subdue? I sealed this bastard's vision too. While you were messing around looking at the phone, I tore down the curtains.”
“…!”
She covered him with curtains to block the opponent's vision too…!
“You said if he could harm us, he would have done so already, right?”
“…Yes.”
That was true, but how on earth did you find the opponent’s head, throw a cloth over it, and tie it up with your eyes closed….
‘Is this what it takes to be in Squad A….’
The bar for Daydream’s elite squad is high.
I marveled at her while my mind raced.
“Then we should go back and turn off the lodge light first.”
“Why?”
“It’s so bright that it’ll probably be visible even from quite a distance. We can’t keep moving with our eyes closed like this.”
…And I didn't want to make innocent people go missing, either.
“How annoying. Hold onto this. If you get possessed and let him go, I’m leaving you behind.”
Yes.
And surprisingly, Assistant Manager Jin Nasol went back to the lodge as if she teleported.
‘Whew.’
In the meantime, I was holding the head of the ‘thing that looked like a worker’ as it squirmed.
A moment later, the light that had been seeping through my eyelids vanished completely.
“It’s done. Open your eyes.”
I very carefully opened my eyes while looking at the ground.
Fortunately, Assistant Manager Jin Nasol didn't shove her face right in front of mine and say something like, ‘Did you believe me?’
‘Phew.’
I stood up, still wordlessly holding the ‘thing that had been a worker’…….
…….
“It’s gone.”
There was nothing under the curtain I held.
“…….”
“Move out.”
“Yes.”
A chill ran down the back of my neck as if I were possessed.
And after walking in silence, we arrived at ‘Osaek Mineral Spring’.
“That’s the stamp.”
The final moment had finally come.
Refreshing Courage Test
Collect all 43 stamps and receive a prize.
Visit the famous spots of Sagyeong Mountain within the sunless darkness to develop courage and self-control, and to train your mind.
Fairy Rock – Sagyeong Lodge – Osaek Mineral Spring
Prize Collection Point:
Information desk in front of the 1st floor entrance of the Retreat Center
It's done.
‘Now… now all we have to do is get the prize and leave.’
The tension left my body, and I felt like I might collapse from relief.
Besides, having Assistant Manager Jin Nasol here was just so reassuring….
“Assistant Manager, how can you move like that with your eyes covered?”
“You can’t?”
“…….”
“Train harder.”
I wondered what she did before joining the company.
I almost looked at Jin Nasol with a bitter expression. Well, it wouldn't have mattered since she wouldn't have been able to see me clearly in this darkness anyway….
Splash.
…?!
“W-What are you doing?”
I was horrified.
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol was dipping her hands into the mineral spring and splashing the water onto her face…!
‘What… what are you doing?!’
I almost turned around and ran, thinking she might be in that ‘worker’ state too.
But in the next moment, my eyes caught something.
The sign hanging above the mineral spring
“…….”
I recalled the comment from a worker in that other group who had visited the mineral spring first….
-Oh, the mineral spring. We even had a sip of the spring water, gah~ it was refreshing. Felt like my headache and toothache just vanished."
‘No way.’
She remembered that and was trying it now after reading the sign…?
Because of the pain-relieving effect?
“This… the pain is really subsiding?”
This is insane.
Her remark was like a confirmation, and I clutched my forehead.
“Why did you do that…?”
“Why?”
Her dripping face snapped toward me.
Her eyes looked like they were about to turn fierce, but then they relaxed.
“This is an element unrelated to the light. The guy who drank it was fine too. What's the problem?”
“…….”
The problem is that it doesn't seem like something the original you would have done.
‘If it were back when you were in Squad A, you wouldn't have experimented on yourself in a ghost story without a manual.’
You would have fed it to someone else first, or at least found a plastic bottle to collect the water.
But she didn't do that now.
‘She couldn't resist putting it directly into her own body.’
It seemed like the keyword ‘painkiller’ was a trigger for the current Assistant Manager Jin Nasol.
Enough to cloud her reason.
‘…Let’s not provoke her for now.’
I should talk to her after we get out; doing it now would only be asking for trouble. Let’s not act like a supporting character in a B-grade horror movie who dies in the middle because they caused a rift.
“…Yes. I understand. I was just startled because I didn't expect it.”
“Really? I guess you would be.”
Fortunately, Jin Nasol was more generous than usual.
Probably… thanks to the ‘painkiller’ she had just put into her stomach working well. Phew.
“Then, let’s go get the prize at last.”
“We should.”
I left Osaek Mineral Spring with a strangely more relaxed Jin Nasol.
And instead of retracing the path we had taken, we kept going straight. Because it felt uncomfortable to approach the lodge again.
In that way, we finally saw the first sign we had encountered.
{«-Fairy Rock
Shinmaru Retreat Center-»}
Phew.
I turned right.
To receive the prize and leave this place.
And I was even a little excited for this process, which was rare.
#Exploration Record 11
Three civilians who entered via an uncontrolled method (members of a mountain climbing club) were found in the hallway of the company's containment zone.
They stated they won the 3rd place prize at the Prize Collection Point after performing the courage test.
The prize (ebony prayer beads, silver ornaments) was determined to be an item.
You can get an item as a prize here.
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