I had already heard about Director Ho several times indirectly.
Mostly through company politics.
He was the one backing the elite Group A and the one Lee Byeong-jin, who was in charge of the manual review, reported to.
-That section head used to be close with Group A. You know how it is. What they call… the ‘same line.’
-Director Ho has his eye on Assistant Manager Kim.
-He’s the most decent superior in this company. It’s an opportunity, so don’t miss it.
I had been urged several times by those on Director Ho’s line to join them….
But I never expected the man himself to just pop into the Group D office like a neighboring employee, without any warning!
“…!”
Reflexively, I stood up from my seat and bowed.
“Hello, Director Ho.”
“Ah. You recognized me right away….”
To think he’s acting all bashful after just calling Director Cheong without any titles…!
‘He barged in here saying he already knew I got an interesting proposal from Director Cheong….’
…Wait.
‘Didn’t… Director Ho just say he had a proposal of his own?’
A proposal?
I looked at the young man, who still wore a pleasant expression.
He spoke in a friendly tone.
“I’m sorry. You must be tense because I suddenly brought up a scary person.”
“Not at all. I should be the one to apologize. For not greeting you properly….”
“Ah! I find that kind of thing awkward and don’t really care for it. Please, feel free to speak comfortably.”
As if that’s possible.
‘Is he the type who just lacks a conscience?’
Or… he could be intentionally creating tension.
Either way, I nodded and took a deep breath as if trying to relax.
‘This is probably the reaction he wanted.’
Sure enough, Director Ho continued with a gentle expression.
Though the content didn’t sound very gentle at all.
“Should I take a guess? Director Cheong probably made you an offer regarding the elite squad. Hmm, something like forming a new elite squad for you.”
“…….”
Wow, seriously.
Is it okay to just come clean about everything?
But it felt like there would be trouble even if I didn’t, which was driving me crazy.
I quickly racked my brain.
“That is true, but…… ah! I’m sorry. I’m a bit flustered… Let me show you to a more comfortable place first.”
And as if just remembering, I broke the flow by guiding Director Ho to the guest sofa in the Group D office.
-You’re buying time to deal with a tricky guest. Excellent, Mr. Roe Deer! This was very natural!
Was that a certification from the host of the Ghost Story Quiz Show, who used to incinerate things if they weren't natural? It was nerve-wracking, but a relief.
I quickly ran to the pantry, prepared some snacks, green tea, and coffee, and rushed back out.
“Would you prefer tea or coffee?”
“Ah, you can just have whichever one you like, Soleum, and give me the other….”
Does he not know that it’s even more malicious for an executive to act like this?!
I read his reaction, handed him the green tea, and then brought the coffee for myself as if it were my preference, giving a small bow.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“No, don't mention it.”
Director Ho took a sip of the remaining green tea and made some cliché remark about how warm and nice it was.
“Listen, I didn't come here to pressure you at all… I really want you to be at ease. I just visited because I wanted to get to know you and talk.”
I believe there isn't a single working professional who doesn't know that you’re screwed if you actually act "at ease" around an executive.
However, I didn't expect his next words.
“Since there are many cases where we don’t get to see those in the Field Exploration team for long… when I see someone I think I’ll be seeing for a long time, I come out to say hello often.”
“…….”
“Actually, the Field Exploration team contributes a lot to our company, but there are people within the Development Department who just sit at their desks, babbling about efficiency and rolling their pens, treating the Field Exploration team as short-term labor.”
Director Ho’s eyes twitched for a moment.
“You might think of me as an idealist, but it’s not a situation I’m fond of. Right?”
“…….”
Isn't that a heartwarming statement?
On the contrary, it made my skin crawl.
‘…A director of this company shouldn't be saying that.’
If you’re at an executive level, it’s a problem you can fix yourself, so why are you asking a rookie for agreement, saying, ‘This seems like a problem, doesn’t it?’
‘It’s not like he’s checking for dissident thoughts.’
But since it could be sincere, I did my best to adjust my nuance.
To make it sound like something that wouldn’t be a problem either way, while making him think I wasn't rebelling against him.
“…But it’s not like everyone is working here by force. At the very least, I heard that resignation is free and Wish Tickets are definitely provided.”
“Yes. As you said, Soleum, that is at least a relief.”
Director Ho smiled with a pleasant face.
“Compared to a group that frames ordinary civilians as criminals without a trial and throws them into the Darkness as a human sacrifice whenever they feel like it, this is a place that has some autonomy.”
“…….”
This guy really hates the Disaster Management Bureau….
‘Let’s not get caught having been involved with them.’
The iron badge certifying me as an agent was still in my possession. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I pretended to drink my coffee to hide my expression.
“I suppose people who want to live like human beings, even for a single day, would refuse them.”
“Right? We seem to communicate well, Soleum.”
You’re mistaken.
But please, keep holding onto that mistake for a long time….
I struggled to change the subject before a more time-bomb-like topic could come up.
“Thank you. So, Director, about the proposal you mentioned….”
“Ah. Right! I should talk about that.”
Director Ho laughed brightly.
“Actually, I’m in the middle of putting together a project team, and I’m looking for employees to recruit for that team.”
“…!”
“I’d like to have you on this project team too, Soleum.”
What?
The words Manager Lee Byeong-jin said one day flashed through my mind.
-There are rumors the Director operates a classified project team under his command… you could be transferred there.
‘So that was true.’
But what he said next was even more unbelievable.
“To be precise, as a candidate for Team Leader.”
“…….”
Has this director gone mad?
“I’m considering about three people, and honestly, if you had even two years of experience, Soleum, you would have been the first choice…… well, for now, please
just think of yourself as one of the candidates.”
I felt like I was losing my mind.
-Oho, it seems this side is promising a bit more authority than the last one. Let’s hear more of the conditions, Friend!
No, listening to conditions is something you do when you’re in a position to at least negotiate with the other party, but right now…!
‘…I think I’m screwed.’
Isn't this the exact same situation as Paris receiving the Golden Apple?
In the sense that if I pick one, there’s a very high probability I’ll be destroyed by the other superior.
This was worse than just picking a line.
‘It’s burning the bridge to any other option.’
What should I do?
I wanted to praise myself just for pretending to maintain my composure outwardly right now.
‘It would be best to just refuse both…….’
“Ah, I was too hasty. I should have mentioned the compensation first.”
“…By compensation, you mean,”
“The project incentive.”
Director Ho smirked.
“If this project is successful, a Wish Ticket will be issued to the team members.”
“…!!”
“To everyone, one each. Without exception.”
My god.
“And there’s one extra perk for the team leader… I think it would be good to talk more about that in detail after you join the team, Soleum.”
“…….”
“Ah, the green tea was lovely.”
Director Ho stood up from the sofa, even put his mug in the sink, and then headed for the office entrance.
“Think about it comfortably for a few days and let me know. Oh, but it would probably be better not to take more than a week.”
Director Ho whispered to me as if giving friendly advice.
“Director Cheong tends to lack patience.”
“…….”
“If you ever need someone to talk to while working, feel free to drop by my office anytime. Well then!”
That night.
Even though I had significantly recovered from the contamination and regained a clear mind, I returned home feeling incredibly troubled….
‘It feels like déjà vu.’
“Phew.”
I flopped onto my bed.
‘This is… it looks like I’ve been caught in a corporate power struggle between the Development Department directors, right?’
It was true that I probably looked quite exceptionally useful, but the fact that it had escalated this much seemed to be because the two directors were conscious of each other.
Because the proposals were at an absurd level.
……If so.
‘It’s right to go with the side that treats me better.’
That way, I could at least avoid ending up like a kite with a broken string.
‘The problem is that I don’t have any personal information about the directors.’
The <Dark Exploration Record> was written centered around the employees who were the subjects creating the exploration records.
In other words, the names and profiles of employees appeared, but the individual identities of the executive level who made decisions from above weren't necessarily recorded.
‘Either way, it’s certain that neither of them are ordinary people, which makes it even more maddening.’
In Director Cheong’s case, the Lizard group leader had already referred to him as an ‘existence,’ which was suspicious, and Director Ho’s appearance and speech were strange in themselves.
He was too young for an executive rank, and his speech was as kind as a social worker’s.
‘…I have a rough guess about his identity based on his surname or appearance…….’
At this point, it was all just speculation.
‘It’s tough.’
The reality of having to worry about these things when just entering ghost stories was killing me felt like a lie….
Regardless, after intense deliberation, I put a comma on this issue for now.
……Because there was another, more urgent problem.
…….
“Braun.”
-You’re calling me, Friend!
Phew.
“About bathing in the Fountain of Youth Bathtub, is it okay if we substitute it with something else?”
A short silence followed.
-…Your heart has changed in just one day, Mr. Roe Deer! Breaking a promise is not a good habit.
“…….”
-But it’s okay since I am your Good Friend, Friend!
“I’m sorry.”
I said immediately.
“It’s true that I shouldn't go back on my word. I think I made a mistake because my condition wasn't normal when I made the promise.”
-How strange, Mr. Roe Deer. That was only last night! This host clearly remembers that you had no peculiarities such as extreme fatigue, panic, or dizziness that would make an interview difficult.
The ‘Good Friend’ spoke in his usual cheerful tone that was terrifyingly consistent.
-Oh, I’m getting curious as to what criteria you used to state you were ‘not normal’….
“…….”
There were many things to break into a cold sweat over today.
How did I not feel how scary this was, seriously….
I tried my best not to look at the plush doll as I continued to speak calmly.
“…But you knew that my mind was being contaminated by the educational manual back then, right? I mean the documents I brought out from that kindergarten that remained on my tattoo.”
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no way he didn't know.
Braun had even pointed it out directly at the Blood Bath last time.
-Mr. Roe Deer. Your bath salts are blended.
That I was being eroded by the ghost story.
“It’s just that you… instead of calling it ‘contamination,’ you just thought of it as a change.”
-Correct, Mr. Roe Deer!
Sigh…….
‘I knew it….’
I barely managed to respond, suppressing the goosebumps that rose just at the word ‘correct.’
“But I consider it contamination, and I don’t want to be contaminated.”
I raised my hand into the air.
The tattoo on my wrist, which should be clearly empty, came into view.
“I like the current me better.”
-…….
“And I don’t like my standards of judgment changing suddenly like a piece of paper being flipped over.”
But at the end, I added one point that the other party might sympathize with.
“At the very least, I absolutely don’t want to become a kindergarten teacher like that old-fashioned Hangman.”
-That is… hmm. That is quite an irresistible statement.
Braun seemed a bit shocked.
-Indeed. Good heavens, to think Mr. Roe Deer would belong to that stuffy kindergarten. That absolutely cannot happen, what a loss that would be!
-I shall concede. I was being unlike a Good Friend again….
-Very well. Let us try getting closer through a different change!
“…….”
So.
“You were going to let me be contaminated because I’d treat you more comfortably if I were?”
-Haha, there’s no need to ask back with such a look of unfamiliarity. It’s a theory Mr. Roe Deer proved himself over the past few weeks!
Reflexively, my actions over the past few weeks came to mind.
My image of being eroded by contamination, chatting and relying on the ghost story resident as much as I wanted without any hesitation or worry.
-In fact, it’s only natural. Is it not true that those who are similar originally become friends?
My god.
No, I expected this much.
I caught my breath.
Let’s say what needs to be said.
“No.”
-No?
“Yeah. A friend isn't someone who has the exact same values as me.”
I chose my words carefully.
“And just feeling comfortable with each other isn't all there is to being friends, either.”
This was… also sincere.
“Isn't a friend someone who tries to understand each other’s differences, and cares for each other even if it doesn't work out? …While talking.”
-….
“And to say it again, I don’t want to be contaminated.”
Without turning my head, I lightly placed my hand on the desk where the plush doll would be sitting.
“If you can’t understand this, at least give me a notice before doing something I don’t want. You should give me a chance to talk to you.”
-Hmm.
The sound of a finger tapping on plastic as if in thought echoed from the desk where the plush doll sat….
And,
-Understood, Mr. Roe Deer.
-It is logical, rational, and it also moves my heart. Then there is no reason not to agree! Because you are my friend.
Phew.
“Thanks.”
…It seems to have ended well.
I breathed a sigh of relief and finally turned my head to look at him.
The Good Friend I summoned.
The plush doll that was a bit scary and a bit reliable.
I carefully picked him up.
“Let’s keep doing our best together.”
This was also sincere.
Afterwards, I proceeded with one of the things I had decided on when I was contaminated.
The aroma massage, that is.
“I’ll be doing it while looking at your shadow, so tell me if anything feels weird.”
-Of course, Friend!
Honestly, since I wasn't an expert and was doing it while only looking at a silhouette, I doubt it was very refreshing, but Braun was quite satisfied.
-Not everyone needs to be an expert in massage! This is sufficient.
Even while he gave a very roundabout and polite rating of about three stars.
He also made a comment like this.
-But I do miss a bath after all…. I need to rejuvenate a bit more to always be with my friend in any situation!
“Let’s… talk more about that over time.”
…It was hard.
It was a very difficult thing.
The relationship with the ghost story resident, ‘Good Friend.’
It wasn't just scary and tense, nor was it blindly trustworthy and good.
‘Balancing between those two would be the normal way of thinking.’
Let’s be careful not to lose it.
I quietly listened to Braun chatter away, his mood improved by the aroma massage.
-Come to think of it, I’m curious again. Which of those two proposals of the century you received at work you will actually accept!
-Are you still contemplating? The advice of a capable industry insider like me is as precious as gold… but I shall serve a friend at a low price!
Well, about that.
“Actually, I’ve almost decided.”
-Oho!
“I’m going to ask just one thing tomorrow and then go see them immediately.”
-And about that decisive question, would you care to tell this legendary host a little bit?!
I leaned my head against the pillow and smiled.
“It will be revealed tomorrow.”
-…!!
-I am, somewhat, touched. Mr. Roe Deer…….
Thus, today's eventful day came to an end.
And the next day.
After truly throwing that ‘decisive question,’ I visited the office of one of the two directors.
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