I decided to try using the Blood Bath one more time.
-If I were to rejuvenate a bit more, it would be much easier to travel with Mr. Roe Deer!
I had accepted Braun's argument.
The plush doll might get a bit bigger, but… well, one more time should be fine. He was still the size of an ordinary keychain doll.
However, Braun was appalled at the idea of casually using my blood as a bath product.
-My goodness! I respectfully decline. Heavens, there are fluids from sentient beings all over the place, so why is my friend always trying to see his own blood?
It seemed the time I had deliberately scared him before was still having an effect.
'Well, I wasn't even planning on pouring that much this time….'
I felt a bit bad, wondering if I had been too harsh.
Anyway, since he felt that way, we agreed to find another way to obtain blood.
-Good, good… Let’s look for a suitable bath product, friend!
Sure thing.
It was actually better to have something else to distract me in the middle of all this office politics….
'He's already proving helpful.'
I sighed as I headed to work.
For the record, Baek Saheon didn't come back to the company housing at all yesterday. I’ll see how long he can hold out like that.
In any case, I didn't know how long Director Cheong would wait, so I needed to make a decision soon….
"Soleum…!"
Huh?
As I turned my head while waiting for the elevator, a colleague holding a Bison mask walked in.
'Jang Heowoon!'
He was the employee I had briefly and tempestuously accompanied after meeting him at Sekwang Technical High School last night.
"You're safe!"
"Yes. It seems you escaped successfully as well, Mr. Heowoon."
"Yes, yes! Thank you. I cleared it safely…."
Yesterday was such a continuous series of shocks that I couldn't think about anyone else's well-being, but it was good to meet him like this.
Furthermore, Jang Heowoon seemed to have an unexpectedly good impression of the Agent, as his face brightened considerably when the topic came up.
"Um, he was a much better person than I thought. He didn't use me as bait… and I even got an explanation about the Management Bureau at the end."
Isn't your bar set a little too low….
Regardless, that man seemed to have a lot of resentment toward Daydream Inc., so I wondered if he'd had a change of heart after accompanying a decent employee.
In any case, since there were no major problems, Jang Heowoon’s complexion looked good.
'Maybe I can sell ghost story food again next time.'
A glimmer of hope for some side income appeared.
"And… that Agent seemed to be worried about you until the very end, Soleum. But, I didn't mention anything about the name tag you gave me!"
Ah, the name tag!
"I made good use of the name tag you gave me. Thank you."
In fact, even after borrowing the school uniform, there were other ways to get a name tag, but it was true that I was able to use it quickly thanks to him.
"It must have been a precious name tag for you as well, Mr. Heowoon. I won't forget that you gave it up out of worry for me."
"Oh, no… it was nothing. Compared to what you did for me."
"…?"
What did I do?
At that moment, Jang Heowoon clenched his fists and spoke with a joyful expression.
"Soleum. I… I’ve been assigned to a general team…!"
"…!"
"They really changed it after I held out for three months. Truly, truly… thank you. I think I endured because of you!"
Oh!
I hadn't been able to check everyone else's teams because there were so many incidents during the regular personnel reshuffle season, but this was very good news.
I asked warmly.
"Congratulations! Which squad are you in?"
"I was assigned to Squad F…!"
"……."
Uh-oh.
"You're in the same squad as… Baek Saheon."
"Yes! He was very kind."
"……."
It really seems this man's standards for a 'good person' have plummeted after experiencing the Cleanup team…….
'No wonder they were together in the last ghost story.'
They didn't just run into each other; they were in the same squad.
I said with a smile.
"What an interesting coincidence. I share company housing with him. …Next time, let’s get the colleagues together for dinner."
"Ah, thank… yes!"
And at that moment, another unexpected encounter occurred in front of the elevator.
"Good morning, Manager Lee Jaheon!"
"Yes. Good morning."
I ran into Section Chief Lee Jaheon on his way to work.
Manager Lee Jaheon responded to Jang Heowoon, who bowed politely to him, and then got straight to the point.
Meaning, he spoke to me.
"Soleum, you've been summoned."
Again??
"Do I… need to stop by the office, or should I just head there right now?"
"Just head there."
Feeling like I was developing a neurosis regarding these summons, I eventually pressed the button for the 25th floor instead of the 13th, as Lee Jaheon instructed.
'I'm away from the Field Exploration team floor again….'
I hoped it wasn't anything serious.
"Have a good day, Soleum!"
"Yes. You too, Mr. Heowoon."
After seeing Jang Heowoon off, I got off on the 25th floor with Manager Lee Jaheon.
Ding.
"Follow me."
"Yes."
I trudged along behind the manager.
'It seems further than I thought.'
After turning corners in the hallway several times, a door appeared instead of a meeting room.
There was an unexpectedly warm-colored wooden nameplate hanging on it….
Fox Counseling Room
"……."
Wait.
"Leader, here……."
Thud.
At that moment.
I was pinned against the wall by Manager Lee Jaheon.
…?!
"Kim Soleum. From now on, answer my questions immediately without hesitation."
-Oh dear! Could this be a situation where my help is needed, friend?
'No, wait…!'
The atmosphere was unusual.
I looked at the Lizard.
Red vertical pupils were staring intently at me.
"Do you remember the conversation we had yesterday?"
I swallowed hard.
"…Yes."
"What topic did the conversation end on?"
"That Squad D might become an Elite Squad—"
"That was not the last topic. Answer again."
What?
"It was the last topic!"
"It was not. We had a conversation on another topic afterward."
No!
We might have. But that was just small talk….
"Do not hesitate."
"…!"
"Answer."
Damn it!
"I don't remember well!"
"……."
"It was just… just small talk, wasn't it?"
A heavy silence and pressure followed.
And then….
Slide.
"I see."
Manager Lee Jaheon released me from the wall.
I didn't know what it was about, but for now, I was relieved….
"Kim Soleum."
"Yes."
"You are contaminated."
"……."
Huh?
But, that's….
"…Naturally, if you do explorations, to some extent…."
But I couldn't finish my sentence.
Thwack.
Lee Jaheon threw the counseling room door open in one go, grabbed me by the collar, and tossed me inside.
"…!"
"You cannot leave until you finish the session. I will wait outside the door."
Slam.
And the door closed.
"……."
No.
No!!
-How dare he be so rude to my friend!!
Wa-Wait.
Don't you start too, let's just calm down….
'It's okay. I think there's some misunderstanding.'
I held back a sigh and looked up.
I didn't really want to, but….
'I'll just get a session. It's good for mental health anyway.'
Side effects… let's try not to think about them; the probability is extremely low, right?
-Hmm…. If that is Mr. Roe Deer's opinion!
Phew.
It's decided then.
With a reluctant feeling, I dragged my feet forward….
The first thing I saw was a space that looked like a changing room.
And a floral sign was attached above the lockers.
[Welcome, dear client!
Please change into a gown before entering ^^]
And there was a row of hospital gowns with green grass patterns in various sizes.
A health checkup look…?
-If clothing only pursued comfort, we would be walking around naked.
-In that sense, this is a scrap of cloth that is even worse than that. It has no utility other than covering the body.
Point taken.
'Still, I have to wear it.'
A lizard that physically destroys ghost stories was guarding the outside. I had to go through a session to get out.
I finished changing.
'That curtain looks like the way to the counseling space.'
And just as I was about to pull back the curtain that appeared to be the exit of the changing room.
A message was posted.
[From here on, it is a space permitted only for the client ^^
Friends, family, and guardians, stay here!]
'Ah.'
Well… no matter how much they call it welfare, it's still a ghost story, so it's better not to break the rules.
"Braun, can you wait for a moment?"
-Oh, I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried, but in this case, I must naturally respect Mr. Roe Deer's privacy!
Okay.
I carefully placed Braun near a vase on the table in the locker room and pulled back the curtain.
Jingle…
Then, sunlight poured over my head.
"…!"
A small, cozy space was revealed before my eyes.
A warm midday room that even calmed the heart.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[Fox Counseling Room]
: A ghost story appearing in the <Dark Exploration Record>, identified by Daydream Inc. as identification code Qterw-E-925.
A counseling space consisting of a window where warm sunlight streams in, soft pastel-toned sofas, and a small silver bell doorbell with a clear sound.
As one of the E-level employee welfare benefits of Daydream Inc., it is somewhat effective for mental stability and recovery from contamination.
Refer to the relevant document for the full record of Fox Counseling Room usage.
==========
Certainly, it was… a room with a good atmosphere.
-I hope it will be a useful counseling session, friend!
I certainly hoped so.
I closed the curtain properly and walked into the room.
Another instructional message was visible.
[Sit comfortably on the sofa
And enjoy the view outside!]
As the instructions said, I sat on the sofa.
And I crossed my arms.
Well, the atmosphere is nice and all….
'I already know exactly what's going to happen.'
[It's truly amazing. It makes me regain the motivation I had lost and reminds me of things I had forgotten…….]
Interview after Counselor Lee Jungeun (Chief) session
Someone appears outside the window to counsel you.
What appears is customized for each person.
In any case, there's a high probability it will show a person or object related to my trauma and let me watch a situation where it's resolved.
The cliché of this 'Fox Counseling Room' ghost story record was that a person who becomes deeply immersed eventually gains a kind of emotional healing effect and leaves the place crying or with a peaceful face.
'I wonder if it will be effective since I already know everything.'
Thinking about it now, I was skeptical.
I crossed my arms and looked at the huge window that fully showed a beautiful outdoor garden filled with sunlight….
And at that moment.
Someone appeared from the side of the garden.
"…!!"
That was….
Me.
A tired and dark-looking 'me' stood in the sun-drenched outdoor garden, then looked back at the me inside the room.
And waved.
"…!"
I reflexively raised my hand… then lowered it.
'What is this?'
It's not like some doppelganger.
Unpleasantness and repulsion welled up.
However, the 'Kim Soleum' standing in the outdoor garden didn't stop there. He looked around, grabbed a suitable chair, and sat right in front of the window.
And then he smiled, facing me.
"……."
'Should I just get up?'
They say the door only opens after an hour, but it would be possible to just loiter in front of the door….
It was just as the seat was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
"Mr. Kim Soleum."
"…!!"
"Thank you so much for coming for counseling today. I am your Counselor."
The thing outside the window that looked like me began to speak.
"You seem very tired today. How have you been feeling lately when you fall asleep? How much do you sleep?"
I clenched my teeth.
"……I sleep well enough."
"I see…. Could you perhaps tell me in specific numbers? More than 5 hours?"
"……There are times like that."
"I see. Could it be… that sleeping for a short time is sometimes related to work being hard?"
Wow!
'This is driving me crazy.'
I barely managed to answer.
"I don't want to answer. Seeing you say those things with my face only makes me feel repulsed."
"Why do you feel repulsed, Mr. Kim Soleum?"
"Wouldn't any human feel threatened by their existence when they see someone exactly like themselves?"
"But… I am a sentient being with clear differences from you, Mr. Kim Soleum."
What?
"Would you like to try and find them? What differences could there be?"
I instinctively scanned the other person.
Eyes, nose, mouth, body, clothing.
"……They are exactly the same."
"Then shall we look in a mirror to compare better?"
Rattle.
Suddenly, the bookshelf next to the sofa I was sitting on moved, and a full-length mirror emerged from within.
I instinctively looked into it.
A tired office worker.
"……."
"Would you like to compare?"
Whether I compare or not, it's exactly the sa—.
"……."
"How is it?"
"……On my end,"
I looked into the mirror.
"I look… like I have a worse complexion……."
Is it just a feeling?
"I see."
However, the me outside the window nodded.
"Why is there such a difference?"
"I don't know."
"Then let's observe a little more. You might see something more."
I looked back and forth between the me outside the window and the me in the mirror again.
Eyes, nose, mouth, shoulders, arms….
Wrists.
"Tattoo."
I muttered as if possessed.
"You don't have a tattoo."
There was the tattoo that remained from the theme park.
But….
Benefactor :
That was missing.
The tattoo that had served as my inventory.
"What kind of tattoo is it? Ah, that one!"
"Yes."
"There must be a reason why you got such a tattoo. What kind of effect does it have?"
"I can store things inside it."
"I see. Are there various things in it now?"
"Yes."
"Could you show me? Oh, if you're reluctant to show me, you can just set them down where I can't see them."
"……Yes."
I pulled the items out of the tattoo.
Items, equipment, coins….
They were all things I knew.
"I've taken them all out."
I didn't know why I was being made to do this.
How was this different from the me outside the window?
"Mr. Kim Soleum."
"Yes?"
"I think there's still something left inside the tattoo."
Be quiet!
"Would you like to reach out your hand to me?"
I don't want to kn—
"No. You want to know, and you can do it."
"……."
I stood up from the sofa.
And I stepped right up to the window….
I reached out my hand.
"You've worked so hard."
The me outside the window took my hand.
And.
He thrust his hand deep into my tattoo.
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