The morning after clearing a high school ghost story inside a horrific horror game. preparing for the day.
However, the commute didn't feel so grueling this time.
Because I had something to rely on.
The A-Class essence filled to the brim in the Dream Collector.
'This is reassuring.'
I carefully packed the Dream Collector, full of golden essence, into my briefcase.
It was the harvest from last night’s labor.
Moreover, the moment I fully pushed myself up from the bed, I confirmed a rather unique 'additional harvest.'
Clatter, clatter.
Something that had been covering my body spilled onto the floor.
Dozens of... beads?
They were transparent beads that looked as if they could be loaded into a glass hand cannon.
I picked one up to examine its shape and read the single Hanja character written inside.
protect
Is it... Helpful Ho?
-Aha, it's a Hanja that often appears with the meaning of guarding or protecting someone. It’s quite cliché and intuitive.
Ah.
I realized what it was immediately.
'This is the reward for clearing the game's final chapter!'
Successful Graduation Ceremony (2 Deaths, 1 Survivor)
Confirmed that the Field Exploration staff who died as students woke up safely in the morning.
A large quantity of reward items was found in the bed of the sole survivor. (Analyzed to be a type of Guardian Talisman that is somewhat effective for exorcism and protection.)
In other words, I had brought items from the dream game into reality.
Just like Baek Saheon, who had run off with a fountain pen item from the faculty office.
“...Hmm.”
Now that I think about it.
When I went out to the foyer, Baek Saheon’s shoes were already gone.
'He rushed off to work to avoid me.'
I’ll see him later.
In any case, it meant these dozens of glass beads served as a 'Guardian Talisman' to some extent.
'I think I might have a use for these.'
I tucked those 'Guardian Talismans' into my tattoo and put one or two in my pocket before continuing my preparations.
But.
-.......
-.......
An unusual silence seemed to hang in the air.
'...Braun.'
-Oh, you’re calling me, Friend?
By any chance.
'Was it... very uncomfortable last night?'
The host of the Tuesday Quiz Show, whose stuffing almost got flattened because I used him as a pillow...
-Haha, it certainly wasn't the best feeling of my life!
-When it seems my friend had a very interesting experience all by himself last night, but I was the only one not invited, no one would be in a particularly good mood...
Oops.
-Ah, but it is a relief. While this Braun was having the special experience of feeling like a waffle, it seems my friend at least felt something special too!
“…….”
Well...
'I did feel something special.'
-Indeed!
'I carried out the graduation ceremony with a bang.'
-A graduation ceremony? Did you perhaps give a congratulatory speech?
No.
'A teacher who didn't like my hosting attacked me. I endured until it ended safely, even as my limbs were being blown off one by one.'
-My goodness!
Braun, who had seemed somewhat offended, quickly became excited once I explained the events that occurred in the dream in detail.
I should probably give him that... aroma massage or whatever it was the tattooist did tonight.
-That is an excellent attitude, Mr. Roe Deer! I wish to hear more.
Right, right.
I continued explaining what had happened to me while on my way to the company.
Everything from being chased by students to the part where I became a student myself.
-Ooh!
And finally, I arrived at the building and was heading up to my office.
“Soleum!”
I met a familiar face.
“Ah, Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin.”
The missing person I had rescued from the Changwi ghost story, the Manual Review manager Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin, brightened up upon seeing me.
“I heard the entire Field Exploration team tried to enter a ghost story with a good yield this time!”
Ah, so he already knows about the high school ghost story deployment.
Well, an official notice was sent out for all Field Exploration team members to attempt entry.
“How did Soleum’s team do?”
“Ah, I did manage to go in... but I’m not sure about the others.”
I suspected Section Chief Lizard hadn't been able to enter.
'If that man had entered, it would have definitely been recorded in the <Dark Exploration Record>...'
No, he probably wouldn't have even written it in the record. Because Lee Jaheon was the direct counter to this ghost story.
'There's no way such a chase would be meaningful to someone who can crush everything with physical attacks...'
It would just ruin the ghost story.
Even if my interference in the exploration caused a butterfly effect, I would have noticed Section Chief Lizard's presence if he had been in this exploration.
'He wasn't there.'
......And.
The other person in Team D was...
Dead.
'Phew.'
Just as I was about to open my mouth to say that.
“Ah, Team D only had the team leader and Associate Soleum, right? I guess you guys didn't run into each other.”
“...Pardon?”
“Still, since it was an individual match, huh? I’m sure you weren't hindered by anyone, the future of We Help! Our talented Associate Soleum, haha!”
…….
What?
“Wait a moment. You said Team D only had two people...”
“Eh? No, the personnel appointment was put on hold for a bit, wasn't it?”
The Section Chief said to me with a puzzled look.
“That, for Team D, since that Contaminated person might recover, they were told to skip this season and focus on support duties... weren't they contacted separately?”
“……!”
Ah.
I realized it in the next moment.
Associate Yoon Johoon.
That newly appointed person was removed as an Error by the 'Teacher' in the dream...
And he was removed from reality as well.
He was literally deleted.
As if he were a person who never existed in reality to begin with.
“…….”
That's right.
'That's why people were under the illusion that there were no deaths in this ghost story.'
They understood it as being dragged back to that school on the night of the new moon even in the worst-case scenario.
Everyone!
Because...
The people who collected many name tags and endured on the upper floors without being retired were all 'deleted.'
Because they became people who never existed in the first place.
...It was a terrifying reality manipulation ability.
'......The essence didn't come out as A-Class for nothing.'
I can feel that something deeper in the Darkness is involved...
Goosebumps erupted down my spine.
In fact, objectively, this might not be a bad situation for me.
Someone who would clearly be difficult to work with had naturally disappeared.
But...
'It's no different from suffering a damnatio memoriae.'
My stomach churned. Moreover, this feeling of being the only one who remembered was truly strange.
No, wait.
'Why am I the only one who remembers in the first place?'
Shouldn't everyone have forgotten?
Is it because I personally witnessed the death?
Ah!
Or was it because I was eating Nostalgia Candy at the time, so the influence bypassed me?
Come to think of it, when I ate the Nostalgia Candy, I...
…….
…….
“So, Soleum?”
“...Ah. I must have been mistaken about something.”
Anyway, it's not important right now, so let's focus on the conversation.
Even if he's from a different team, a superior is still a superior.
Just then, Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin asked me with an expectant face.
“Ah, speaking of which, how did Soleum do? What grade did you clear it with? If you show me the Collector, I can roughly tell you the grade by looking at the essence concentration...”
“Ah.”
I readily pulled the Collector out of my briefcase and showed it to him.
The golden liquid sloshed inside.
“It's this.”
“…….”
After a moment of silence.
“…?!”
Rub, rub. Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin wiped his glasses.
“Haha, I must be getting old, my eyes are dimming, the light seems to be over-reflecting...?!?”
“Ah.”
I spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Does it look like an A-Class to you as well, Section Chief?”
“…….”
Lee Byeong-jin put his glasses back on.
“……Right now,”
“...?”
“What are you doing? Go report it right now! Hurry!”
I was summoned and called in an instant.
It meant my Collector was snatched by the officials before I could even clock in at the Team D office.
“My goodness!”
The gaze of the officials looking at me with 'It's you again?' expressions was, well, I suppose a good thing is a good thing.
And the measured grade was...
“Kim Soleum.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“It has been confirmed that the essence Kim Soleum collected from the Darkness last night is Grade A.”
That afternoon, Section Chief Lizard calmly informed me as I sat in the office writing an exploration report.
I had guessed that much.
However, the next words were the problem.
“And regarding this exploration, a request for a solo interview with Kim Soleum has come in.”
“…….”
Well, I couldn't avoid it this time...
The second A.
Especially since this one had popped out of a ghost story that had no such precedent.
'In that ghost story, A-Class must have existed almost in name only.'
Most were D or F.
Someone who endured for a long time, sweeping up items and name tags, might have pulled a C-Class essence once or twice, but that would be it.
It seemed the higher-ups were buzzing again because a jackpot had been hit in a ghost story usually used just for item farming.
But you see.
'This is actually the last one.'
Only the first clear counts for that...
Afterward, even if one attempts to clear it in a similar manner, essence one or two grades lower than the same ending (B) would be extracted.
'That’s just how the game format is.'
If it’s not the first time, it’s a repeat, so it’s not counted as an achievement...
Of course, I don't plan on saying all of this, but I should drop some hints so I don't get hit with ridiculous shifting of responsibility like, 'We invested in you and didn't get another A!'
'I'm going to be run ragged all afternoon...'
It was just as I was sadly anticipating this.
“Kim Soleum.”
“Yes?”
“Do you not want to do the interview?”
Are, are you going to let me off??
But after thinking for a moment, I shook my head.
“No. It's fine. I should do it.”
To avoid being blamed with something absurd like, 'We didn't get an A-Class clear because you tried to end it with a situation report!'... Sob.
“Yes.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn't ask twice. He was truly lizard-like.
A short while later, at the appointed time.
I left the Team D office for the interview.
'They even called me to a high floor.'
I got off at the designated 31st floor and headed to the meeting room.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
At the permission from inside, I opened the door very cautiously.
A meeting room with a grand atmosphere, sunlight streaming through the blinds.
And a huge, black circular desk.
However...
“Hmm.”
The research team members for the interview were not there.
Instead, at the very head of that massive desk, a single person sat alone.
A woman with dark blue hair, wearing a sharp three-button suit, looked at me with a benevolent air.
She didn't look frail, but her aura made it difficult to guess her age.
And placed on the desk was a black mother-of-pearl nameplate that caught the eye.
Senior Managing Director Cheong Dallae
“…?!”
A, a Director??
Wait, in the meeting room I was called to... a Director is sitting alone?
It wasn't even Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin or that Director Ho who was associated with Team A.
However, the surname of that name...
'I’ve heard it before...'
Back when Section Chief Lee Byeong-jin, who was in Director Ho's line, went missing.
In the gossip among the office staff as they speculated who would come as his successor.
-To be honest, it's a mystery what the new person will be like... but the probability of someone from the same line being appointed is low. Someone from Director Cheong’s
side will probably come.
Director Cheong.
A distant superior I had never been associated with until now, one of the executives of this company's development department, had called for me...!
'This is crazy...'
Of course, while being shocked, I was bowing my head deeply.
I couldn't forget my social manners just because I was surprised!
“…! It is an honor to meet you, Senior Managing Director.”
“Yes. It's a pleasure.”
Director Cheong, who accepted my handshake, waved her arm and pointed to the chairs lined up around the circular desk.
“Let's sit down first.”
“Yes.”
Where on earth should I sit?
After some thought, I sat at a spot that wasn't the head of the table but close enough to have a conversation with the Director without difficulty.
Then, someone who appeared to be from the secretariat entered the meeting room, placed some unknown documents in front of the Director, and left.
I felt like I was breaking out in a cold sweat.
'What is this situation?'
I couldn't even grasp the context, so let's start with that.
“So... Associate Soleum? Are you still in your 20s?”
“I was born in year XX.”
“You’re young. I’ll speak casually, so you can be at ease too, Associate. I called you for a good reason.”
“By a good reason, you mean...?”
“It means I’ve heard many rumors about you.”
Director Cheong smiled broadly.
“It was very impressive. If only new recruits like you joined, there would be no problems with raw material supply.”
“Thank you.”
When a high-ranking person is like that, it's best to just sit politely and take a listening stance.
If I try to speak up too actively, acting as if I'll perfectly meet her needs, it might just end up looking like I'm overstepping...
'Did she personally come to the meeting room today to give me a pat on the back and take credit for telling me to write the A-Class Manual well?'
To make an impression.
“So, Associate Soleum.”
But the main point started from there.
Without warning.
“Are you perhaps interested in the Elite Squad?”
I almost choked on my own saliva.
“That is...”
“Ah, I know you were offered a spot by Section Chief Seok of Team A last time and turned it down.”
“…!”
“‘I’ll build from the basics’... A good excuse. You handled it well.”
Oh, my goodness.
“That team is... hmmm, it’s good that they try to maintain hierarchy, but sometimes their priorities shift, and they value hierarchy more than exploration.”
“…….”
“It’s not pleasant to see, but well, isn't being good at picking a side also a skill? Haha!”
You’re quite blatantly revealing that Team A is a different faction.
'I will not respond to that statement with even a single word, Director...'
I'll just smile awkwardly and nod my head.
If I get caught up in this, it'll be like I'm badmouthing Team A with the Director.
The Director will obviously be fine!
But a new recruit like me who hasn't picked a side will be screwed...
I tried to appear as if I was struggling but trying to stay calm, and spoke up as if it were difficult to say.
“Um, since it was certain that I, who haven't been with the company for long, needed the basics... I am actually working hard to learn right now...”
“Hahaha! It’s okay, it’s okay. Yes, it’s a situation where you’d be nervous, Associate Soleum.”
Director Cheong burst into a hearty laugh and then turned serious.
“You don't need to agree with everything I say. I don't like flatterers like that.”
“…….”
“Right. I should be more precise with my choice of words. Shouldn't I?”
Director Cheong paused as if lost in thought for a moment, then closed the documents and spoke.
“I’m not saying I’ll put you into one of the Elite Squads.”
“…?”
“I meant, are you interested in receiving the treatment of an Elite Squad. Yes... I could also ask like this.”
Director Cheong smiled broadly.
“What would you think if Team D became an Elite Squad?”
“…!!”
“Wholeheartedly, with you adding any team member you want.”
My goodness.
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