Even Falling into a Horror Story, I Must Go to Work Episode 007

What is the correct reaction of a newbie employee when they hear things like, “Hey, newbie might die soon? Haha, just kidding~” on their first day at work?

Actually, there isn’t one.

No, there’s just no answer.

Fortunately, it seems my superiors were not expecting any particular reaction from me, as they changed the topic.

“First of all… congratulations on passing the Death Survival.”

Is it even okay to say that out loud in the office?

“But are you really the top student? Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Let’s hear some bragging.”

I was curious about the reason too.

“I just worked hard.”

“Oh, then everyone must be from Seoul National University.”

“Anyway, impressive. You came to the right team.”

Having good scores on the entrance exam has its perks. It seems like, in this overworked department, they don’t bully newbies.

“The team leader will be here soon. He’s out on a field visit, so just make yourself comfortable for now!”

“Ah. Thank you.”

I followed my superior’s guidance and went to the partitioned space.

Four desks attached back to back.

And beside it was a guest reception sofa with a table, on which sat an old-style radio from the ’80s.

As the superiors settled into their seats, they beckoned me over.

“Sit over there on the sofa.”

“Yes.”

And just as I sat down on the sofa, as if on cue, the radio on the table turned on and emitted an old sound.

“…?”

With a cheerful background tune and a high-pitched announcer’s voice.

-Hello! This is your lively traffic report. Currently, the commuting roads of Seoul are as clear and calm as today’s lovely weather, but in the afternoon…

I turned my head to look out the window.

It was drizzling outside.

A dissonant reality.

‘Ah.’

This radio is a horror story.

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

[Hello Traffic Information]

: The horror story featured in Dark Exploration Records has the identification code Qterw-E-63 from Daydream Corporation.

A strange radio that tells the traffic situation as today’s fortune. Sometimes it gives advice or counsel, which may lead to chilling results when consciously considered.

———————=

“Did you notice?”

“…!”

“Wow, this newbie seems like a ghost… catching the weird vibes quickly, huh?”

A male superior approached, turning off the radio, looking like a sports major.

“This is the kind of thing that’s like today’s fortune, a relatively safe urban legend. It’s a verified Twilight Grade Darkness.”

“…….”

“Wait, did you just think, ‘What are urban legends and darkness, you otaku?'”

No, I did not.

“I’ve prepared this for the newbies. Ta-da!”

A tablet PC was placed on the table.

The superior touched the screen a few times and played a video.

“Just watch.”

<Field Exploration Team Newbie Training Video>

A retro vibe with low-quality sound and cheerful orchestral background music filled the room.

Then, two animated characters that seemed to fit the Olympic character from ’88 bowed their heads.

– Welcome, enthusiastic new employees! Come to the Daydream Corporation’s Field Exploration Team!

– Today, let me tell you all about the amazing work the Field Exploration Team does!

‘A fox and a dragon?’

A red fox and a yellow dragon character dressed in traditional clothing grinned widely.

– But first!

Amidst the two somewhat cute characters, an old-fashioned font popped up boldly.

[What kind of company is Daydream Corporation?]

I already know.

This company is a beauty-focused pharmaceutical company selling absurdly effective hair loss treatments and skin disease remedies.

But in reality?

– You think we just make hair loss treatments? Oh my god! In fact, Daydream Corporation can create any medicine you need!

– Literally a magic company that invents magical potions!

From drugs that cure addiction to elixirs of immortality, they concoct all sorts of fantastic potions and are secretly trading with political powers and the elite.

That was the essence of Daydream Corporation.

A secret organization creating transcendental potions.

‘And that’s impossible by existing scientific and realistic methods….’

The fox character winks and raises a finger.

– But! For magical potions, we need magical ingredients.

– And that is… ‘Dream Essence’!

The term ‘Dream Essence’ is emphasized in golden letters on the screen, with a sparkling liquid flowing beautifully in the background.

Hearts and stars pop out, resembling a magical potion from a children’s anime, but…

That was the essence of a horror story.

– ‘Dream Essence’ is collected from supernatural phenomena!

As the dragon extends a hand, the screen changes.

An adorable illustration of an urban alley appears.

However, red eyes emerge from the shadows of a streetlight, transforming into a monster threatening a passerby.

Then there’s an exaggerated animation of a fan leering at a sleeping person, sticking out its tongue.

– Did you know that supernatural phenomena occur in modern society?

– If you sleep in a confined space while a fan is running, you’ll die, and if you curse, you’ll live longer… all are superstitious urban legends!

– But sometimes, these urban legends manifest into reality!

‘Is it called an urban legend….’

Indeed, urban legends feel slightly less terrifying than horror stories.

And then the most crucial information appeared.

– Daydream Corporation manages these urban legends, harvesting ‘Dream Essence’ to create marvelous magical potions!

– Dragon-chan, ‘Dream Essence’ is the most important resource for the company, right?

– Of course! We always need it… but who will collect the ‘Dream Essence’?

Who else?

– It’s our fabulous Field Exploration Team!

Office workers in suits give a thumbs-up as an SD anime of them thriving in various unrealistic situations emerges.

– Thanks to the brave and wise Field Exploration Team, the Dream Collection Device is filled again today!

In the video, a character with thick eyebrows extends something magnificent in one hand.

It’s a portable cylinder with measurement markings.

‘Dream Collection Device.’

———————=

[Dream Collection Device]

: An item appearing in Dark Exploration Records.

A portable liquid storage device made by Daydream Corporation, filled with ‘Darkness (Horror Story)’ during exploration.

The company refers to the collected liquid as ‘Dream Essence’.

The collected ‘Dream Essence’ serves as the primary income source for Daydream Corporation, used to produce insane potions akin to reality manipulation.

———————=

The characters applauded as they viewed the essential item for the Field Exploration Team.

– Now, let’s grab our Dream Collection Device and bravely and wisely venture into the darkness!

– The future of our company rests on your shoulders! Let’s do our best!

The video ended with the typical new employee gaslighting, showcasing the Daydream Corporation logo amid fireworks.

“……”

“Did you watch it well?”

“Y-yeah….”

I chose my words carefully.

“It was impressive.”

“Uh… our department’s work is a bit like that.”

The fairly friendly superior extended his hand for a handshake again.

“Ah, I should introduce myself first. You’re Kim Sol-eum, right?”

“Yes. Please take care of me.”

“Sure. Ah! Over there is Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je.”

The short-haired woman introduced as Assistant Manager waved her hand from her desk.

The sports major smiled, pointing at himself with his thumb.

“I’m Park Min-seong, the Chief.”

“Nice to meet you, Chief.”

“Haha, no need to speak so formally.”

“Uh?”

“This department, if you stick around for about a year, everyone becomes the Chief. You’ll be one soon enough.”

Not to mention the odds of dying before that… such a considerate way to not mention it…

“Before that, you might die too.”

Oh, so you don’t have a sense of humor?

“Ah, senior!”

“Why? It’s good to know. As you saw in the introductory video, it’s a dangerous job.”

Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je gestured with her chin.

Indeed. To become an Assistant Manager in this company, one must have that level of mental strength.

“Quitting isn’t a bad option either. There are so many jobs in the world.”

And in this world, regardless of the job chosen, there’s a possibility of being sucked into a horror story…

“Thank you, but I’ll try hard at least for now.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

“Ooh, passion.”

The two nodded appreciatively, and the Assistant Manager added some encouraging words.

“Even though it’s a horror story or urban legend, we do have emergency manuals, so don’t worry too much.”

“…Yes.”

The Chief pondered.

“Ah, in this company, we call it ‘darkness,’ you know? If you don’t want to be looked at like, ‘Is that guy a horror story otaku?’ Just call it like that.”

“……”

Then wouldn’t I just get treated like an otaku?

But I kept my mouth shut and nodded instead. I didn’t want to nitpick my superior’s words on my very first day.

“Alright. Do you understand the manual well?”

“Yes.”

After thoroughly reading the ‘work manual’ that the Chief handed me, I nodded.

“Um. Good, good.”

The two superiors faced each other and smiled before turning back.

“Shall we get to work?”

Huh?

14th floor.

This is where the two superiors took me.

“Now that you’ve got the basics down, you’ll need to experience things firsthand.”

The spot where we stopped after getting off the elevator was in front of a small storage room next to the emergency stairs.

“So, in the afternoon, your task will be… a light darkness exploration.”

Huh?

“There’s no need to worry too much.”

“You won’t die, you won’t die. Think of it like a slime wandering in a beginner village in a game!”

“……Yes.”

It is about time to start working.

I was prepared, but the anxiety still creeped in.

‘They wouldn’t send me to a place where it’s easy to die on my first day, would they?’

They probably wouldn’t want to babysit a newbie who’s panicking.

I tried my best to calm myself down and put my head on straight.

First, let’s guess the reason for standing here… Ah, is the storage room a place connected to a horror story?

‘What horror stories start in a storage room?’

As I rummaged through the [Dark Exploration Records] wiki in my mind, my superiors began to give me various instructions.

First of all, I was handed an object.

“You saw it in the video earlier, right? It’s the Dream Collection Device.”

I picked up something that looked like a die, a worn-out, solid plastic sealed cylinder.

‘This was also sold as merchandise….’

But holding the actual item made it feel strange.

“Be careful not to lose it. That thing has a number engraved on it, so you’ll be in big trouble if you misplace it.”

“Yes, Assistant Manager.”

I understood it was similar to losing a bullet shell casing.

“And it’s also a good habit to wear a mask before entering the darkness. Don’t ask why; just do it. Yours is somewhere… um.”

“…….”

“…….”

The superiors blinked at my mask resembling a deerskin with horns.

“…A deer?”

“A doe?”

I don’t even know.

“The horns look nice. Let’s go with doe then. It’s more badass than a deer.”

A doe?

“Anyway, wear that and look here.”

Chief Park Min-seong handed me a tablet PC.

Ah, he probably wants to brief me again with a manual video….

[Do this and get 20 million won vs just live]

“…??”

It was an internet post.

– Spend 3 days playing tag with a ghost in a convenience store within 10km of nobody and receive 20 million won.

VS Just live.

By the way, the ghost looks like this ↓

‘Ugh!’

Suppressing a shudder, I scrolled down quickly, but the image was forever etched in my memory.

A ghost with bulging eyes and a grotesquely bloated forehead and head.

“What does it say?”

“Whether you’d like to play tag with the ghost for three days in a convenience store and get paid….”

I still didn’t really know.

‘Why was this shown to me?’

It couldn’t be workplace bullying, could it?

Going to ‘darkness exploration’ just to show me some internet post… Ah.

“…….”

“…….”

I scrolled back up without looking at the screen.

[Do this and get 20 million won vs just live]

Is this… a joke?

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

[Choose for me]

: The horror story featured in Dark Exploration Records has the identification code Qterw-F-243 and is derived from the internet trend ‘Experience horror and get paid vs just live’ balance game options.

It occurs sporadically when accessing a URL containing specific numbers.

You’re usually chased by a murderer or a ghost, and if caught, you have to start over from the beginning.

———————=

This insane world.

Amid the distortion surrounding me, I could still hear the Chief’s voice.

“Be easy about it, be easy!”

Is that possible?

Am I seriously expected to bring in a contract as a newly appointed newbie sent alone out in the field, amidst the horror stories?!

But there wasn’t even a moment to scream.

With that, I fell into the darkness all alone.

“…….”

I staggered up from the ground.

‘Dark.’

Chilly, musty air. My vision was incredibly dim.

All I could see was the distant flickering of the cold, murky light coming from a drink refrigerator.

“…….”

Holding my breath, I carefully walked toward the light source.

The silhouette of a deserted convenience store appeared dimly before vanishing.

Silence. Stillness.

Each step I took sent chills down my spine, causing the cold sweat to drip down my back.

There seemed to be nothing around. At least not for now.

‘Huh.’

I swallowed a sigh.

My feet stopped at a spot close enough to the shimmering fridge light but still hidden from its glow.

Leaning against the faint cold light, I observed the surroundings.

The convenience store was quite large, about the size of a franchise café.

Every essential item and food product was oddly well organized, arranged without a speck of dust.

‘Are there no threats of food and shelter…?’

Right. This horror, so-called ‘darkness,’ does not physically threaten human existence.

It was specialized in mental shock, drawing out screams.

Quickly, the safest option became clear.

‘Let’s just grab some water and an energy bar and hide to wait it out.’

Yep. I understood my place. I absolutely cannot play tag with a ghost.

If it comes down to it, even an energy bar might not be needed. Just grabbing whatever I could eat quietly would suffice.

A human won’t die from starving for a day or two. It’s better to starve than to encounter a ghost.

‘But I certainly need water.’

There was no other choice.

I swiftly located the water. It was inside the drink fridge.

Having a light there made it stand out to me, and luckily, it was at the very end, giving me enough time to survey the area…

“…….”

Carefully moving my feet, I headed to the end of the fridge, avoiding the light.

‘Huh.’

Facing straight ahead in the last compartment.

As seen from far, the upper shelf was packed with various brands of water with blurred labels.

But as I got closer, I noticed something else besides the water.

“……?!”

The very internet page I just saw. I scrolled past it crazily earlier, but the bizarre outline was unforgettable.

A ghostly face with bulging eyes, blue, and deformities.

A ghost.

‘What the…!’

As our eyes met, the face twisted into a grin, making its eyes bulb out.

‘Why on earth is a ghost’s face in the fridge?!’

Instantly, I recoiled back. And the moment I turned to run…

I realized.

The ghost wasn’t inside the fridge; it was being reflected on the glass door of the fridge.

“Ugh….”

Thud.

Something touched my back.

I felt cold, hard fingers wrapping around my nape.

Drowned hands.

And…

– Gotcha.

Lights out.

Game of tag over.

“Ugh!”

I opened my eyes.

Chilly air. My vision was incredibly dim.

All I could see was the distant flickering of the cold, murky light coming from a drink refrigerator.

“……!”

I returned to the starting point.

Usually, you get chased by a murderer or a ghost, and if caught, you have to start over from the beginning.

‘This is insane.’

Three days of this?

Just kill me already, dammit!

‘No, no, that won’t do.’

I quickly guessed a more chilling circumstance.

‘If I can’t hold on, I’ll end up back at the starting point… that means it could take forever.’

Endless loops.

A coward like me could very well go insane before that.

‘No way.’

Was there no other way, another method?

I now headed toward the checkout counter, avoiding the drink refrigerator.

There were plenty of large structures or items to hide behind around the counter, so I planned to hide here to buy some time to think.

‘If I crouch under the chairs….’

In the process, I saw it.

Between the counter and the chair legs.

The silhouette of a ghost’s lower body.

“…….”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A pale foot moved at an odd rhythm, an unsettling feeling unique to non-human things sending an uncomfortable chill alarm through me.

Holding my breath, I ducked under the counter.

Continuing.

The ghost passed by with its eerie steps, and I endured to the limit, keeping quiet.

‘The moment I relax, I’ll put my face in a cliché.’

After what seemed like ages, I finally slowly exhaled, fighting to make sure it made no noise.

“…….”

‘This is driving me insane.’

Cold sweat trickled down my chin.

I felt utterly helpless. Even if I wanted to use my smartphone, I couldn’t turn on the screen due to the glow attracting unwanted attention.

I could only rely on my memory!

‘I’m sure, I’ve seen multiple times about this horror story….’

There were many exploration records for F-grade horror stories that had newbies like me involved, almost like exam questions.

Though I never dreamed I’d fall alone on the first go!

‘Damn it.’

Sweating, I tried to recall the exploration records.

‘Cottage, basement, crosswalk, fast food restaurant, abandoned school….’

None matched.

But there was certainly, definitely a unique case….

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story /

Choose for me

Exploration Record #23 (Irregular)

Chased by a mad doctor for a night (12 hours) in an old hospital.

※ Special Note: After 16 hours and 11 minutes, the exploration ended.

———————=

“…!”

This is it.

I began to squeeze the content to reconstruct it.