Elite Squad.
In Daydream Inc., a company that values the lives of its Field Exploration team less than B-Class essence, this is the rank where they finally begin to evaluate you as an "employee with long-term value."
You are given a private office, and a separate pay scale is applied. Furthermore, new items become available in the welfare mall.
Above all….
So they can be used like extra lives in an emergency, a member of the Cleanup team is assigned to you.
It was a policy that made one feel like trash, but there was no denying that it increased the survival rate regardless…….
And now.
The Director of the Development Department before my eyes was making a proposal to me.
"As it happens, the agenda to increase the number of Elite Squads is consistently being raised… Wouldn't it make for a nice picture if that became Team D?"
She was saying she would turn Team D itself into an Elite Squad.
She was offering to keep my environment exactly as it was while overwhelmingly improving my treatment.
"The alphabet sequence fits perfectly, and it's convenient for administrative procedures in many ways."
"……."
"Choose one employee you'd like to work with and bring me the name. It would be fine to provide a list of two or three candidates as well."
Wait a minute.
I couldn't follow this flow at all….
"I am grateful, but… why are you making such a grand proposal to me?"
To put it bluntly, I would understand if she said she wanted to send Leader Lee Jaheon to an Elite Squad.
According to my memory, he was originally someone who was supposed to serve as an Elite Squad leader for a short time before being promoted through another route.
But why… is she speaking with me as the standard?
'It's strange to call in a rookie and say things like this while leaving the leader aside.'
I knew I had achieved non-standard results by creating Manuals and extracting A-Class essence twice, but there were other Named Characters who cleared ghost stories in ridiculous ways.
In fact, it was through the accumulation of such Exploration Records that Manuals were made.
However, no one had ever heard anything like, 'I'll turn your whole team into an Elite Squad just for you~.'
'Something is wrong.'
It was a situation that looked unnatural to anyone.
"I am a mere rookie. I am already receiving enough Points and allowances from the company for the work I do, and the fact that my promotion is so fast is already…."
"Assistant Manager Soleum. Have you ever heard the name Yoon Johoon?"
My back almost froze.
I barely managed not to show it. I succeeded in responding with a tone that merely suggested I was nervous about the situation.
"…Is he perhaps an employee?"
"That's right."
Director Cheong, who answered readily, gave me a thin smile.
"Actually, he was the Assistant Manager who was newly appointed to Team D in this recent periodic personnel reshuffle."
"……."
"But even if you check the company database now, he won't show up. He won't be in your memory either."
I didn't react.
"In high grades, there is occasionally a Darkness like that. Where a person who 'fails' has their very existence erased. However……."
Director Cheong set down the documents and lifted something from under the desk.
A Dream Collector.
"The Dream Collectors of deceased employees are repatriated to the company."
"…!!"
"It's a shame, but it's a self-powered type that uses the Dream Essence collected up until the moment of death as fuel. And…."
Director Cheong flicked the end of the recorder.
"A simple recording function is included here as well."
"……."
"That is why even the exploration records of employees erased from reality can be confirmed and referenced in this company."
My god.
"I suspect someone like you might have wondered about it before. 'Just how are the records of dead employees being referenced in the Manuals?'"
Wait a minute.
Right. Of course, the results of dead employees' investigations were written in the <Dark Exploration Record>.
It was only natural. To build the atmosphere of a ghost story, they obviously had to write records where the explorers were wiped out. Because that was effective at invoking fear!
There are even perfectly intact records of employees or items whose very existence has been erased.
But….
'A Wiki is bound to be recorded from an omniscient point of view anyway.'
And the reason why that was possible was roughly rationalized conceptually.
Exploration records are transmitted to the company upon the death of Field Exploration staff.
Just like that.
The specific items or methods used weren't described simply to avoid lore contradictions….
So when I fell into this place, I just naturally glossed over that gap.
Because this was originally a Wiki-based creative worldview!
'But to think there was such a specific and certain setting value…….'
In an instant, all the questions I had dismissed because 'it's that kind of world anyway' flooded back into my mind.
Could it be that those, too, all have 'plausible additional background settings'?
In this manner?
It was the moment my mind was becoming complicated.
Mr. Roe Deer! The opponent is still looking at you. It seems she wants to continue the interview.
'…!'
They seem to be the type who wants a humble attitude from a star, so let us focus….
Right.
Right now, I had to focus on the conversation.
Fortunately, my agitation ended at a level appropriate for an 'employee who just realized the company's secret know-how,' and the Director continued speaking.
"Based on these audio records, it seems Assistant Manager Kim Soleum explored and seized control of the Darkness in quite a unique way."
"……."
It seemed Assistant Manager Yoon Johoon had recognized me when I became a student.
"Becoming a part of the urban legend yourself. 'Assimilation'… it is a method that ordinary people, being fearful and unwise, cannot choose…."
What kind of terrifying things are you saying…?
"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that even such exploration records are being collected without any gaps."
Director Cheong looked at me.
"What do you think, is it more systematic than you thought?"
"……."
"I've heard there are employees who say this company is run in a haphazard manner."
Th-this… a cold sweat characteristic of a corporate man broke out.
"I have met them and listened to their stories too. Most of them are clever fellows."
Her voice was somewhat benevolent.
"But as you stay, you will realize that there is no other enterprise in this world where rewards and punishments are as certain and rational as here."
"……."
"As long as your abilities are outstanding, you can smoothly climb to the top even if you make a mistake once or twice."
I never agreed.
However, Director Cheong gave the order of dismissal with a smile, as if I had replied, 'I will think about it positively, Director!'
"You may go. Give my regards to Section Chief Lee Jaheon."
Friend. Do you happen to know this proverb? 'Cream always rises to the top.'
It means that something excellent will eventually stand out anywhere. It is a proverb perfectly suited to describe you right now, Friend!
Wouldn't 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered down' be more accurate….
I returned to the Team D office feeling as though my soul had been drained.
It felt like I had read a plausible book of pseudo-science, only to realize that it was actually reality….
Eventually, unable to hold back, I spoke to Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
"Manager."
"Yes."
"What I just had wasn't an interview."
"I see."
"……."
"……."
"Do you need help?"
"Yes."
"Please explain."
I poured out what had happened as if I were rapping.
The statements Director Cheong made, the Dream Collector, the vanished Team D employee.
And even the proposal I received!
'Section Chief-level staff probably already know the information about the Dream Collector anyway.'
Furthermore, it was because I knew Section Chief Lee Jaheon wasn't the type of person to get angry that a mere rookie was given an exceptional offer over him, nor was he the type to gaslight me into making him part of the Elite Squad.
That's because… he's a Lizard.
"I see."
Sure enough, the Lizard just nodded.
"Do you need my advice?"
"Yes."
"Reject it."
"…!!"
To reach a conclusion so instantly?
"I'd like to know the reason."
"Yes. Director Cheong Dallae is a being with a powerful sense of ownership over the company."
"……."
Does that mean she thinks this company is hers?
No, wait a minute.
"Did you just say 'being'?"
"Yes."
That's a very suspicious way to refer to someone.
"…Is Director Cheong, by any chance, not human?"
"I cannot answer that."
"……."
That's practically the same as saying yes…!
At the very least, I certainly knew there was something fishy about Director Cheong.
Well, she is a Director of a ghost story company!
"A-anyway, please continue."
"Yes. Therefore, if an opportunity arises to subordinate a talented individual to this company that she believes she owns, Director Cheong Dallae will not hesitate."
"…!"
"In this process, there is a high probability that an act will occur that would cause extreme repulsion based on Assistant Manager Kim Soleum's ethical standards."
My god.
"Do not take the risk. There is also a high probability that you will be placed in an Elite Squad within six months."
"…Leaving Team D and joining another team, you mean?"
"Yes."
"……."
"Do you wish to remain in Team D?"
"If possible, I would like to."
"I see."
Whether I'm a rookie or not, you really don't seem like you'd miss me at all, Manager….
He was a truly consistent human… no, Lizard.
'Well, I wasn't expecting much anyway.'
Regardless, he wasn't a Lizard who would intentionally try to deceive me, so I could just take his words at face value.
"Thank you for the kind explanation, Leader."
"Yes."
Hmm.
I hesitated before asking.
"Um, by any chance, do you not wish to become the leader of an Elite Squad, Leader?"
"I have no preference."
It meant he didn't care one way or the other.
It also meant he was of no help whatsoever to my decision….
'This is driving me crazy.'
I shared a few more words with Leader Lee Jaheon after that, but there were no distinct gains.
My worries only deepened.
'An Elite Squad….'
Section Chief Lee Jaheon advised me to refuse in the name of logic and rationality, but corporate life often ran on irrationality and emotion.
Why else would Section Chief Lee Jaheon have so many enemies in the company, and why would the Team A Leader look like he wanted to kill him every time they met!
'I appreciate the advice, but it's hard to approach it that way….'
To begin with, an executive of a ghost story company seemed like someone who wouldn't take no for an answer.
I didn't think slipping away like I did with the Team A Leader would work. The fact that Director Cheong mentioned it so openly meant that I'd be screwed if I did.
"Sigh……."
No, why do I have to worry like this even when I've been promised a promotion and exceptional treatment…!
'I want to quit this ghost story company so badly…!!'
Eventually, that evening.
I ended up heading home feeling like a piece of mental washed-out kimchi….
"……."
It had been a while since I felt this drained, even though I hadn't gone on a darkness investigation and had just been stuck in the office writing reports.
Oh dear, my friend's mind and body seem to be quite exhausted.
Let us go inside the house quickly first. Is rest not also important for a good performance!
'…Yeah.'
Meeting a high-ranking person, hearing worldview information, receiving an exceptional proposal….
'I'm exhausted…….'
As soon as I washed up, I sprawled out on the living room sofa.
Friend, how about we have a conversation this evening over a cup of hot chocolate? Let us relieve the day's fatigue that way!
Hot chocolate… isn't in this house, but having a cup of honey water wouldn't be bad….
After placing Braun on the dining table, I boiled water in the kettle and produced some honey water.
I was planning to continue a light conversation with my back slightly turned to Braun while mechanically gulping it down….
Friend. This Braun will tell you a secret.
A secret?
That is right. I hid it well with my professional cheerfulness, so it was likely difficult for Mr. Roe Deer to notice, but actually…….
Braun took a breath and then said dramatically.
I was quite shocked by the events of last night!
"……."
A secret…… is it?
Regardless, his intention to comfort me seemed certain, so I responded sincerely.
"What… was so shocking?"
A 'Good Friend' accompanies their friend anywhere if they wish…. However, this Braun could not do so.
Somehow, the shadow of the Rabbit Doll I glimpsed looked slumped.
It is truly a shameful and embarrassing matter.
D-do you have to go that far?
It was just a dream anyway.
My guess was that because Braun is not my possession but an equal personality, we would have had to perform a separate ritual.
'Anyway, you don't have to worry about it. Things like that won't happen much in the future.'
Oh, my friend is so considerate. If so, let us think about it this way….
If I, your best and Good Friend, had been with you until last night's intense dream graduation, would the awkwardness you faced today not have been much better?
…….
That…… might be true.
To begin with, the situation where I was captured by Assistant Manager Yoon Johoon might not have happened at all.
If Braun had turned off the lights.
Exactly! That is my role!
…It has been a long time since I felt such anxiety. For the sake of our friendship, and so that this Braun can fulfill his role, hmm…….
From behind my head, there came a sound like someone pacing the floor in leather shoes while lost in anxious thought….
And then, he came to a dead stop.
That's it! It would have been grand if I could do it myself… but with this Plush Body, I require Mr. Roe Deer's help.
We will be much better with just one very simple action, Friend. May I ask a favor of you?
Braun spoke in a polite and friendly voice.
If you would help me bathe in the Fountain of Youth Bathtub just one more time, it would be an unparalleled joy!
Ah.
'That.'
…….
…….
"Shall we do that?"
Ah! Thank you so much, Friend…!
I readily agreed!
Seeing my Good Friend looking happy made me feel a bit better.
You will never regret this choice.
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