It was only natural that one would encounter nonsensical events or chilling experiences during a darkness investigation.
Being chased by ghosts, public transport suddenly heading to strange destinations never heard of before, everyone on the street staring at you the moment you step out of your house, and so on….
However, many employees say they’ve eventually grown accustomed to these things as they gain experience.
‘I think even I’ve grown a bit used to it, at least.’
Even if it was due to contamination and items, hadn't I just succeeded in a ghost story where I entered to achieve a high-grade clear while getting my limbs severed?
But some kinds of eeriness are impossible to get used to.
For instance,
A ghost story that suddenly recognizes 'me.'
“…….”
My eyes trembled as I flipped through the documents.
There was even a crude drawing of a wrapper, clumsily recreated by the explorer who had written the report.
-Oh, it seems the artist was so faithful to the original purpose of conveying information that they abandoned any sense of aesthetic beauty.
It meant that while the drawing was terribly done, the subject was clearly recognizable.
‘…Braun.’
-Speak freely, friend!
‘That looks like me, doesn't it?’
-Considering the art style and focusing only on the mask and hair, it seems we have both reached the same conclusion!
“…….”
Even the product name was ‘Good Child,’ and the flavor was ‘Cinnamon Churros’….
‘It’s the blue mascot from the theme park.’
And the ghost story it appeared in was… ‘Qterw-C-1603’? Why on earth did it appear in that ghost story?
I reflexively tried to glance at my tattoo but caught myself.
Then, I asked Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was staring blankly at me.
“Is it correct that… this information hasn't been listed in the official manual yet?”
“Yes.”
Phew.
That’s actually a relief.
‘If Director Cheong intentionally showed this to me in advance….’
…Was it a favor? A debt?
It was probably both.
The moment this is officially recognized as an Exploration Record, descriptions that could identify someone would be censored with black squares depending on the security level.
Instead, the research team would likely attempt experimental investigations to see why such a phenomenon occurred….
Like putting in an employee dressed like me, or sending me on an investigation without giving me any information.
‘Kwak Jekang might even catch on and try to throw me back into the theme park.’
Wow, this is driving me crazy.
If things went that far and I asked Director Cheong for help because I was on her line, I might end up in a situation like ‘A model employee with 30 years of service alongside Director Cheong.’
Why is it that even though I've worked hard, there are only possibilities for me to be ruined…?
‘Well, that’s just how the ghost story worldview is.’
Anyway, let's be grateful for knowing now. I’ll end up owing a certain level of psychological gratitude to Director Cheong, but it’s still better than having the research team take the bait.
‘And the fact that he specifically told me this in advance….’
“By any chance, is the Darkness our team is investigating this week that specific Darkness?”
“I don't know.”
“…In your estimation, sir, do you think the probability of that being the case is over fifty percent?”
“Yes.”
I knew it.
‘If he’s going to tell me beforehand, it only makes sense for him to go in and check it himself.’
‘Qterw-C-1603,’ huh.
If I had to go into a ghost story and be mentally tortured as a coward anyway, it was better to enter one that was more valuable….
This standard had never changed.
‘Let's check it out.’
And this time, I had a very reliable companion.
The publicly recognized named character for physical exorcism, Section Chief Lee Jaheon himself!
……Though, thinking back to the clown ghost story, he might give orders with a ridiculously paralyzed sense of fear.
‘Well, if it's one-on-one, there’ll be some way to persuade him or a way out….’
I felt like I’d learned how to talk to him a bit lately, too.
In that sense, going with a fearless leader felt quite reassuring and not too bad.
But there was one more variable.
“Soleum.”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to receive support personnel?”
Ah, right.
Since field investigations are based on a three-person team, this time our team would be receiving one person as support to conduct the investigation.
‘I guess you could call it a preliminary run for the Elite Squad.’
Usually, they just seem to pick whoever is available at random…… hmm.
“Is it possible to designate a specific person?”
“Yes.”
Oh! …No, wait.
“……I will exclude the option of asking Director Cheong. Is it still possible?”
“No.”
“…….”
‘I’m glad I realized that…!’
I almost doubled my debt.
I suppressed a groan, then finally couldn't help but ask.
It was something I had been curious about regarding Section Chief Lizard for a while.
“Um, Section Chief. You always tend to give very concise answers… if there’s a reason for that, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me.”
“I see.”
Lizard’s pupils briefly focused upward before looking back at me.
“It reflects feedback I received to only provide detailed answers upon request.”
“…In what situation did you receive such feedback?”
“On the third day after I started working at this company, during a darkness investigation.”
“…….”
So that was it….
Even without a detailed description, the situation flashed vividly in my mind like a picture.
“Um, Section Chief. If it’s not an emergency, I’d like you to speak comfortably when you’re with me.”
“Yes.”
And Section Chief Lee Jaheon… continued speaking!
“If you wish to specify the tendencies of the support personnel, report it to me. You cannot designate a specific individual, but you can request preferred characteristics for the sample group.”
“…!”
He’s explaining on his own!
-Mr. Roe Deer, you have a talent for being an interviewer!
Th-thanks.
For a moment, I was almost intoxicated by the sense of efficacy, but what mattered now was the information Lee Jaheon had given me.
‘So, while it’s hard to pick exactly who I want, I can say I want an employee of a certain type, right?’
Hmm.
After some thought, I decided on one ‘characteristic for the support.’
“I would like them to be one of the Associates.”
There was a hidden meaning here.
Specifically, that all the current Associates were my peers.
‘It’s definitely not because I’m being alienated from the peers' group chat….’
Well, to be honest, since this investigation itself felt suspicious, I chose it because I didn’t want someone with too many years of experience who was overly familiar with the company's inner workings.
‘And I can make an acquaintance while I'm at it.’
I’d been thinking it was about time to increase the number of people I knew in the company.
“Yes.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon readily accepted my request, and I began to feel a bit of anticipation.
I wondered what kind of new face I would see.
And a few days later.
“…….”
“…….”
I met Jang Heowoon, who was giving me a welcoming look, in front of the D-Team office door.
“I’m Associate Jang Heowoon from F-Team…!”
It was a familiar face.
Still, it wasn't a bad result. Since he wasn't a superior, at least the investigation would be more comfortable.
I smiled and reached out a hand to Jang Heowoon.
“We meet again. I look forward to working with you today.”
“Yes, Soleum! I’ll make sure to be helpful in the clear!”
Jang Heowoon took my hand and shook it vigorously. Hmm, a good person as expected….
“Ooh, ye-yes, I look forward to working with you too~!”
“…….”
“……??”
Turning my head, I saw an employee with a beaming smile getting off the elevator and approaching us with a bow.
A woman about my age with a friendly impression.
She was wearing a Pony Mask.
“Support personnel from I-Team. Since the manual for this Darkness recommends an even number of people for investigation, we received two support personnel.”
“I’m Kang Yihak~ Nice to meet you. Assistant Manager, Associate!”
“Yes…!”
Jang Heowoon, who had been hastily bowing, cried out as if he’d realized something.
“Ah, the one who talks a lot in the group chat…!”
“Yes, yes, haha, I’m embarrassed, but that’s me!”
Ah.
[Kang Yihak: Is it true you received 40,000 points? hehe]
I remembered too.
The person who had actively tried to dig for information when I first joined the group chat, whom I had kept at a distance.
‘She seemed to lead the atmosphere of the peer group chat.’
Making sure it revolved around profit rather than socializing.
That peer was now smiling and reaching out a hand to me.
“Wow, our top peer! This is the first time we’ve met like this. I look forward to working with you~”
“Yes. Likewise.”
I gave her a light handshake.
…It was clean.
‘She’s more lighthearted than I thought.’
I had imagined a more two-faced type of person, but she felt quite easygoing. It didn't feel like she was hiding other motives behind her questions.
‘Well, if she’s a good person, I’m just grateful….’
Since we had to investigate together, it was much more mentally reassuring than having someone with a trash personality like Baek Saheon, who would just be exhausting.
Someone who hasn't experienced it wouldn't know. The feeling of screaming internally because of a ghost, while having only a sociopath next to you…… sob.
“Let’s move.”
“Yes.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon started walking with heavy steps.
We quietly followed the Section Chief and got into the car, and I took the wheel and operated the navigation.
“We’re heading to Gyeonggi Province now, right?”
“Yes.”
Right, this Darkness was also completely outside the Seoul area.
Judging only by the investigation report I had read earlier, one might misunderstand, but Qterw-C-1603 wasn't just a ghost story about a strange snack shop.
It was larger and… more dismal.
“Um, to enter this ghost story…… Ah, did we meet late because we have to wait until sunset first?”
“I believe so.”
I answered Jang Heowoon kindly as I began to drive.
To enter this Darkness, two factors had to be aligned: time and place.
To enter Qterw-C-1603, one must travel to a residential area on the outskirts of ■■ City, Gyeonggi Province.
The residential area in question was an alleyway commercial district that was popular on SNS in the early 2010s due to its many restaurants and cafes, but foot traffic has now dwindled.
On the utility poles here, local commercial promotion posters are very rarely spotted.
In the center of the poster, a QR code is printed along with the phrase ‘Come visit ■■ City’s Death Road.’
※Do not stare too closely at the text on the poster.
For the record, the company had secured the poster in advance and covered it so that only the QR code was visible.
“Assistant Manager, I’ll scan the QR code for you!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Scanning the QR code connects to a download page for an event app certified by the ■■ City local government, and if the explorer is under 40 years old, the download proceeds normally.
A short while later.
Having arrived at our destination, we parked in a public parking lot and walked out into a quiet alley.
It was the time of day when the short winter sun was setting and it was getting dusky.
Most of the restaurants and cafes were still there, but the stagnant atmosphere characteristic of a commercial district whose trend had passed remained….
“Execute the app now.”
I looked at the screen.
Passing through the slightly tacky opening design that included the old logo and character of ■■ City….
If the app is executed for the first time at that location before the early evening sun sets completely, route guidance through a navigation function is activated.
The guidance truly starts from within the app itself.
The way to Death Road →
Please move according to the arrow!
My location on the GPS appears on the smartphone like augmented reality.
“Walk.”
“…….”
We all began to move together, looking only at our respective smartphone screens.
Follow the arrow!
At first, it’s normal.
It provides guidance along the relatively large roads in the alleys, seemingly leading me further toward the outskirts of this commercial district.
But after a little more time passes.
The path begins to twist.
Follow the arrow!
It guides us through narrow gaps between houses where only one person can barely pass, and makes us enter through the front door of a building and exit through the back.
It even leads us to a dead end before making us turn back.
A pitch-dark alley.
Somehow, the surroundings gradually begin to feel unfamiliar and bizarre.
The back of my neck feels chilly, ungrammatical mumblings are heard, and strange, shadow-like things seem to pass by outside my field of vision….
‘…I have to endure it.’
But I must not turn my head.
While moving according to the app’s route guidance, never take your eyes off the screen for more than 3 seconds or deviate from the guided path.
Failure to follow this will result in being reported as missing.
We continued to move in silence.
Struggling not to bump into each other or be startled.
Follow the arrow!
“Just now, something strange….”
“Shh.”
After walking silently like that for about 16 minutes….
Before I knew it, even the dim light of the sunset completely vanished.
“…….”
“…….”
In the already dark alleyway commercial district, all light had strangely disappeared, leaving it pitch black.
At that moment, when only the light from our smartphone screens became the light source illuminating the residential area.
Tak.
Ta-ta-tak.
One by one, lights begin to turn on in the dark path.
“…!”
The shops on the street began to light up.
The yellow and blue lights of the signs illuminated the view of the alley.
…However, this was not the familiar scenery of the old, worn-out commercial district we had seen earlier.
Murmur, murmur.
An alley crowded with numerous human figures.
Signs that looked familiar at a glance, but upon closer inspection, bore somewhat distorted names.
Various shops lined up in the alley had their doors wide open, welcoming customers…….
Ding.
The app displays a congratulatory message.
You have arrived safely.
Welcome to Death Road!
“…Have we, arrived?”
“Yes.”
We had successfully entered.
Into the heart of the ghost story.
==========
Dark Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[■■■ 16-ro]
: A ghost story appearing in the <Dark Exploration Record>, identified by Daydream Inc. code Qterw-C-1603.
An alleyway lined with shops where things that are not human engage in solicitation.
Explorers who have entered this alley through the smartphone app must never close the app.
==========
“Walk slowly.”
“…….”
We nodded and followed Section Chief Lizard as he moved forward….
Into the strange alley.
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