The top floor of Daydream Inc.’s headquarters.
Knock, knock, knock.
I carefully knocked on the luxurious door with my knuckles.
Then, the door slid open automatically….
“You’ve come.”
The figure of the director sitting inside was revealed.
An executive with dark blue hair whose age was impossible to guess.
Director Cheong Dallae.
“You didn’t drag your feet unnecessarily, nor were you deceived by any schemes. A child who knows how to make a wise choice always lives a long life.”
That’s a rather terrifying way to give a compliment….
“You flatter me.”
Regardless, I had made my choice.
To accept Director Cheong’s proposal to ‘turn Team D into an Elite Squad.’
There were reasons, of course, but I decided to think about those a bit later. For now, I had to deal with the overbearing executive in front of me.
Director Cheong looked me over with a satisfied expression and smiled.
“The affiliation will be reorganized within the necessary timeframe, so I trust you will wait without making a pointless fuss.”
“Yes. I will work even harder so as not to bring shame to this promotion.”
I shook hands with Director Cheong as she held one out, maintaining a very polite attitude.
And standing next to me was….
“I assume the same applies to you, Section Chief Lee Jaheon.”
“Yes.”
The Lizard team leader was accompanying me.
…For the record, this was Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s reaction to my choice.
—I see.
That was it.
‘Is this… supposed to be comfortable…?’
He accepted it so quickly that it was hard to believe he was the same Lizard who had advised me to ‘refuse.’
‘Hey, you’re in the same boat now, you should at least listen to the details!’
Thanks to that, I had grabbed the Lizard team leader—who didn't even seem that curious —and explained the logic and reasons behind my choice while listening to him say “I see” and “Yes” about ten times.
I also explained how we would minimize Director Cheong’s ‘danger.’
“So, have you decided on the final team member?”
That topic just happened to come up.
Since Team D currently only had two members working normally, Director Cheong had suggested that I bring whoever I wanted for the remaining spot.
“Regarding that, I’ve come up with an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
I spoke as calmly as possible, getting straight to the point.
“It’s to make it so that anyone can join us.”
[Leave the third member of Elite Squad Team D as a blank space]
It was an opinion I could voice because Team D wasn’t being incorporated into the existing Elite Squad structure, but was closer to being a new trial operation.
The biggest advantage was this:
‘It prevents Director Cheong from blindly planting one of her own people.’
Didn’t she tell me to bring whoever I wanted?
If I could believe that at face value, this wouldn't be a company.
‘If she didn't like the person I brought, she would have asked if there was anyone else.’
And so, she would gradually push the candidates toward the person she wanted.
‘The moment I bowed my head and joined her line, she had nothing to lose.’
She would have stuck her own person in there, or at least persuaded the new recruit.
In my opinion, that’s where things would start to get ‘dangerous,’ just as Section Chief Lee Jaheon had said.
‘The person I’m moving around with can’t be Director Cheong’s minion.’
It was better for the third person to change with every exploration.
And I could create a plausible justification for this.
‘Since we’re trying something new anyway, why don’t you use the empty seat in Team D for Elite Squad interns?’
Like that.
Naturally, positions in the Elite Squad are limited, and only a few people get promoted from general teams.
So, unless they have good results from the start or are well-connected, it’s said that the majority of low-seniority employees just give up and focus on doing the bare minimum
for their pay.
However, from the management's perspective, they seemed to look down on employees who were supposed to be more proactive in sourcing raw materials with a sense of ownership, seeing their behavior as a drop in efficiency.
Something like, ‘They’re blinded by Points and have no company loyalty.’
Well, it was a ridiculous expectation… but anyway, seeing how this company operated, I thought it might work.
—In this Field Exploration team, where there’s no motivation for performance other than Wish Tickets, I wondered if this could be a new motivation for low-seniority employees who want to improve their results….
I gave Director Cheong a presentation along those lines.
To be honest, I wondered if the employees would actually be that interested.
At most, a few talented supervisors or assistant managers might try out the Elite Squad and rethink their career plans.
But the words sounded good, and it wouldn't be completely without effect, so it was fine.
‘It’ll at least help set the mood.’
And at the very least… it worked on Director Cheong.
—Not bad.
…For some reason, her reaction felt like she was just humoring me, which made me flinch, but the important thing was that it passed.
Sure enough, within a few days, rumors had spread through the Field Exploration team, and the synchronized group chat was active for the first time in a while.
[Does anyone know the details about the new team being formed in the Elite Squad? haha]
[I heard they’re picking someone from the 1st to 3rd-year employees, is that true?]
[I heard about Elite Squad interns, I’m curious what everyone else has heard ^^]
[Elite Squad welfare benefits….]
The interesting thing was… that no one talked to me anymore.
Even though the news that I had cleared an A-rank once more had broken, not a single message of congratulations or inquiry was posted.
‘Am I being… ostracized?’
I had put some thought into my responses to questions in the group chat so that people wouldn't look down on me, and eventually, the questions themselves had disappeared.
‘Come to think of it, I was invited to the group chat last to begin with.’
It’s a bit bittersweet….
[I heard the news! Congratulations, Soleum! That method really worked!]
[Thank you, Yeongeun.]
Still, I should be grateful that there’s a colleague who consistently sends me messages of congratulations.
While I was at it, I settled the debt for the help I received from Yeongeun during the last ghost story.
‘Since Yeongeun is an upright person who tries to give back as much as she receives, it’s better to keep building trust.’
I shared the method I used to clear it and offered to give her part of the ‘Boss Battle Reward’ I received.
‘Because of you, I cleared it without dying.’
…I’m talking about the location of the organs in the body.
Thanks to Yeongeun, I knew which parts had to be protected to the end to avoid instant death.
Of course, thinking about it again, it was such a crazy thing to do that it made my body tremble, so I suppressed the chill for a moment.
‘The Tattoo Stickers… I should use them carefully.’
The effect was certain, but it was no ordinary feat…….
[Ah…… um. Yes. I will gratefully accept.]
Yeongeun seemed a bit conflicted, but she accepted, and I met her in front of the employee housing to hand over several Guardian Talisman Beads.
And during our conversation, the rumor about the ‘new Elite Squad’ came up….
“Um, Yeongeun, do you have any intention of aiming for the Elite Squad…?”
“No. I’m really fine.”
“…….”
Please take a breath while you speak, Yeongeun….
For some reason, she seemed to have already strongly guessed that I would be included.
‘Actually, I had considered her as a candidate… was it a good thing I didn't push for it?’
Anyway, this situation was the best answer I could come up with using my brain….
Though, of course, there was someone who didn't agree with this opinion.
“To think you would actually join the Elite Squad…….”
“…….”
“Why did you make such a dangerous choice?”
It was a voice full of worry.
Sitting at my desk in the Team D office, I held my forehead.
“…Director Ho.”
“Yes?”
“If I have done something rude, I sincerely apologize.”
Why on earth are you here?
Why are you sitting so naturally in the Team D office—which we’ll be vacating soon— as if you’re a colleague from the office next door coming over to hang out!
“Pardon? You’ve never been rude, Soleum… I think you could afford to have a bit more confidence in yourself.”
“…….”
He really is no ordinary person….
Director Ho, looking slightly hurt, was acting as if he’d been rejected after asking a colleague out for a meal.
That was even scarier.
‘I thought he would either screw me over or ignore me.’
Why is he still the same?
To be honest, Director Ho was the one with more authority and had made a more exceptional offer, so it would have been perfectly normal for him to harbor a grudge over the rejection.
‘A sensible person would have chosen that side.’
Naturally, I had leaned more toward that side too. Until I asked this question.
—Director. If it’s not rude, I’d like to ask about the iteration count of this project.
—Iteration count? Ah, are you asking which number this is?
—Yes, that’s right.
—There isn’t really one for this. It’s a new attempt.
—……I see. Thank you.
In that moment, I made up my mind.
‘Let’s cut ties.’
When a project is created in a ghost story company?
Nine times out of ten, it’s because of a high-rank unknown ghost story.
‘It’s definitely A-rank or higher.’
From this point on, it’s not just that the ghost story is proportional to the danger level.
It involves horrors based on despair that individuals simply cannot handle, and for which prediction and preparation are impossible.
High-dimensional fears beyond things like death or disappearance are coming….
And yet, they even put up Wish Tickets, which any employee would lose their mind over, as a reward?
‘It feels like… S-rank?’
It looks like the highest rank for field exploration in this company is about to appear.
On top of that, it’s a first attempt with no prior information?
‘It’s a suicide mission.’
No matter how good the treatment is, it’s flawed from the very premise.
If it were certain that I’d be the team leader, maybe… no, actually, even if I were the team leader, it would just be a fancy title.
‘There’s no way the dream team employees handpicked by the director would listen to me, someone who hasn’t even been here for a year.’
Furthermore, as long as the director is there, a team leader is just middle management. I can only imagine a scenario where I struggle with the stress and either barely survive alone or die.
‘…I don’t want that.’
I’ve already collected nearly a third of the Points. I didn't feel the need to take such a risk just for a Wish Ticket.
…Besides, there was another reason why I chose to stay with Team D.
‘If I do this, then even if Supervisor Park Minseong or Assistant Manager Eun Haje return, they can naturally rejoin Team D….’
…It would be much easier for someone to fill a spot that was originally empty and used flexibly.
So… it was a complex choice.
But since I couldn't explain all of this, I just said:
“I chose this side because I thought it would be better for more people. I’m sorry.”
“…….”
In that moment, Director Ho’s kind expression seemed to waver.
And his voice.
“Kind people are so hard to understand….”
“…….”
Wait, just now……!
Click.
“Well, if you happen to change your mind, please feel free to contact me, Soleum.”
The voice was gone.
Director Ho nodded to me again as if nothing had happened and left the office with a smile.
“…….”
What happened just now felt quite ominous…….
—Mr. Roe Deer, I smell the scent of the Plague on that man.
Plague?
—When inviting him to a studio or private space, it would be wise to mind the quarantine!
“……."
‘An infectious disease… is it?’
I briefly tried to deduce Director Ho’s identity before eventually shrugging my shoulders.
‘Let’s do the urgent things first. Urgent things first.’
For now, I need to think about what I need before becoming part of the Elite Squad and regroup….
“Soleum.”
“Aaah!”
“T-Team Leader.”
Entering through the door Director Ho had just left, the Lizard bluntly handed me a document.
“Director Cheong told me to deliver this, saying you ‘might want to check it out.’”
“Yes. I understand…….”
‘Please, some warning next time….’
I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly as I took the document and read the title on the first page.
Qterw-C-1603
Unregistered Exploration Testimony #21
Security Clearance Completed [C]
…Eh?
“Is it… alright for me to read this?”
“Yes.”
Hmm.
It appeared to be a ‘pre-registration’ exploration report that could only be accessed with C-rank security clearance, and Director Cheong seemed to have specially released it to me….
‘That’s even scarier!’
But I was too intimidated to say I wouldn't read it. So, after a deep breath, I took the document and read it.
Just what kind of exploration record was it…….
…….
Eh?
Confirmed an advertisement flyer for a new product launch in Qterw-C-1603.
Product Name: Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros flavor)
Features: Wrapper featuring a caricature of a child’s face in a suit, wearing a mask with ram horns shaped like tree branches.
※The character on the wrapper is reminiscent of the attire for field exploration staff at headquarters.
Request confirmation of employees with similar mask shapes.
“…….”
Wait a minute.
Is this… me?
Discussion