It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 008

The horror stories in [Dark Exploration Records] have one common feature.

The more popular they are, the higher the probability of irregularities appearing in the exploration records.

“It’s because there are multiple creators.”

When the horror story first emerged, it was written strictly adhering to the rules.

But as it gained popularity and everyone started recording explorations about the same horror story, what happened next?

As the numbers grew longer, to break free from repetition and boredom, exceptions began to arise bit by bit, within a “reasonable level.”

The example I desperately recalled just now is one of those.

The exploration record of the [Daydream Corporation]’s Field Exploration Team Group J, which was supposed to endure for 12 hours in an abandoned hospital at night.

However….

※Special Note: Exploration ended after 16 hours and 11 minutes.

Ambiguously, the exploration ended after 16 hours and 11 minutes.

This was exactly the “temporal irregularity” I was looking for. However….

“It took even longer to escape.”

During the exploration, for some reason, they were trapped in the horror story longer than the required “enduring period” of 12 hours.

“Therefore… there must have been some mistake.”

I remembered!

“I didn’t receive the time alarm!”

———————=

(03:12) Employee Lee Jae-jin accidentally cut the counter phone line.

———————=

This caused the call that should have come to the patient desk to be missed.

It was the duty shift call.

As a result, the doctor, who was supposed to finish the night shift and go home after 12 hours, ended up continuing to work in a crazy situation.

———————=

(12:12) It surpassed 7:12 AM, but the sun did not rise.

———————=

No matter how much time passed, the night did not end.

As soon as they entered the horror story, the employee, who had set their wristwatch to 7 PM, panicked upon realizing this fact.

“If anything, it felt like one person was captured and they fought over whether to start over or not.”

Fortunately, a few hours later, another team member managed to reconnect the phone line, and the normal progression resumed, allowing them to escape at last.

———————=

(16:09) Phone line restoration successful. The phone rang immediately. Waiting more than 3m away from the desk.

(16:11) The doctor answered the phone and vanished. Escape attempt successful.

———————=

An agreed time passed, yet the horror story did not conclude. This was definitely a chilling irregularity.

“Still, there’s a hint.”

Although this was a case of extended time, there was a mechanism to extract.

Specifically, there was a trigger to notify the end of time.

“In that case, it was the duty shift call.”

And if that trigger didn’t activate, the horror story wouldn’t end.

Conversely, one might think….

“If the trigger that notifies the end of time works, could it end even faster?”

“……”

What can indicate the flow of time at a convenience store?

Tap.

“……!”

Wait a minute.

“…The sound.”

It’s coming from above my head.

I instinctively looked up from under the convenience store counter.

So what’s up there…?

The POS machine.

Beep.

Beep-beep-beep-beep-bip-bip-bip-bip-beep-beep.

A ghost was pressing the POS at the register.

The recorded voice according to that strange rhythm echoed throughout the convenience store.

“Calling for the staff… calling for the staff, calling for the staff, calling for the staff…”

“…!!”

I get it.

This means it knows I’m down here.

It’s intentionally toying with me.

…Even though I knew it, cold sweat ran down my back instead of anger.

Wow, this is really driving me insane.

“Let’s get out.”

I needed to run.

But my legs wouldn’t move easily and lightly as I wished. I was no different from an extra in a horror movie, sitting down and dying in fear after seeing a ghost.

“No way.”

Even if I were caught regardless, I couldn’t let helplessness set in.

In the end, I forced my way out of the register counter.

At that moment.

“Calling for the staff.”

A huge, swollen, blue face suddenly appeared right in front of mine.

It grinned wide enough to split its face.

– I got you.

Restart.

‘…….’

I took a very slow deep breath.

My heart was pounding so hard it gave me a momentary headache, but I endured it.

‘It passed.’

My whole body felt numb.

‘Just hold on.’

Instead of heading to the register, I faced the direction of the beverage refrigerator giving off light.

Right towards the entrance of the convenience store.

“…….”

Outside the glass door was pure darkness.

But as I tried to see as much as I could, something attached to the outside of the glass door caught my eye.

“…!”

An electronic clock.

[12:00⼁04⼁04]

April 4th, 12 o’clock.

Is that the current date setting for this horror story?

My eyes, adjusted to the darkness, also distinguished a chime bell attached to the glass door. I figured the moment I grabbed that door, the bell would ring and the ghost would come rushing over with those strange footsteps.

‘And it probably won’t even open….’

The spot I must endure has been set as the convenience store. There must be a restriction.

I tore my gaze away from the glass door and half-hidden myself behind a nearby display shelf.

Leaning against the wall, I kept my eyes on the various spots in the convenience store and continued to think.

Cold sweat trickled down my temples.

‘I must endure for three days.’

Then what would be the trigger that could tell me the time around my completion point…?

The thing that’s supposed to happen three days later in this convenience store is…?

‘Logistics?’

I glanced at the boxes piled near the glass door.

It’s the time when new products arrive.

‘If I could somehow confirm the items to arrive on the completion date three days from now. Then I could use that item to hint at the timing….’

No, that’d be too indirect.

There’s no way it would work after going through such a complicated and trivial processing stage.

[Dream Exploration Records] is an internet horror story.

‘And internet horror stories are intuitive.’

The more fiddly conditions and matchings increase, the less impact it has, and so people can’t be drawn in.

‘It needs to feel simpler and more precisely fitting.’

Then…what’s the easiest item to sense the flow of time in a convenience store?

“…!”

That’s right.

I looked at the closest display shelf to the entrance. Unlike the beverage refrigerator, it was a shelf from which cold air was flowing.

However, oddly enough, there weren’t many items on display there.

Few dairy drinks or coffee, and… ready-made meals and triangle rice balls.

Quickly perishable food items.

‘…Expiration date!’

I rushed to the shelf to check the ready-made meals and triangle rice balls.

‘Most triangle rice balls have an expiration date of 36 to 48 hours.’

The ready-made meals would be similar.

But intriguingly, a considerable number of the ready-made meals and triangle rice balls had an expiration date longer than three days or were completely smeared beyond recognition.

I patiently inspected both the back and front of the items without making too much noise.

And finally….

‘I found it.’

The current time in this horror story is April 4th at 12 o’clock.

An item with an expiration date that ends on April 7th at 12 o’clock.

[Gravy Hamburg Lunchbox]

I picked up that lunchbox.

Then I crossed the convenience store towards the POS.

‘Ugh.’

The ghost’s afterimage, frantically pressing the call button at the register, flickered in my mind.

But it was just my imagination. It hasn’t shown up yet….

‘Stay calm.’

After pressing the device settings on the POS, I selected “Change Date and Time”… Yes, there it is! I held my breath in relief while looking at the screen.

‘The set time is….’

From the start point at midnight on April 4th, exactly two days and 23 hours and 59 minutes later.

[April 7th, 11:59 PM]

‘Please!’

I mentally pleaded with impatience.

After pressing the change button, I confirmed……

[Change Complete]

“…!!”

It worked!

‘There are cases where you can’t change the settings occasionally; this is quite a blessing—no, really fortunate.’

My hands trembled with excitement and anxiety, but I managed to control myself.

I was almost there.

All I needed to do was register the items I brought as near-expiration….

Beeep!

“…….”

[Disposal Alarm]

[There is an item nearing expiration!]

The POS called out cheerfully.

In the dark convenience store, that recorded announcement echoed alone.

Beeep! Beeep!

“…….”

I turned my head stiffly.

From a distance, our eyes met.

It’s coming.

“This…!”

Don’t look, just look at the screen. Only at the screen!

Come on, please! Quickly!

Beep.

After three failed attempts to scan my hand over the barcode.

[Do you want to register?]

Rapidly tapping “yes”….

The footsteps were closing in on me way too quickly.

The strange sound of “titi-tit” getting louder, but still, I pushed my hands to continue….

[Registration for Disposal Complete.]

As the ghost’s footsteps, frantically running, reached right in front of the register, I felt a vibration in that very moment.

[Complete]

It disappeared.

“…….”

Click.

The lights turned on.

Inside the brightness that stung my eyes, the POS displayed a straightforward description.

[Registration Complete]

A white noise printed the checkout receipt.

Amidst that noise, I realized.

‘I did it.’

That I had succeeded.

“Phew.”

Leaning my body against the register, I bowed my head. My legs were trembling.

‘I can’t breathe….’

Humans really do rely on light!

Yet, just being bright brought a sense of calmness to my spirit.

‘Now, I just have to exit through the door….’

Ding!

The cash drawer underneath the POS automatically opened.

‘Huh?’

Inside was a thick brown envelope.

“This is….”

I picked up the envelope and opened it.

Inside were four bundles of thick, stiff golden bills.

“…!?”

Bundles of 50,000 won!

‘That’s, that’s two million won total?’

I’d never physically held so much cash before. But why is it in the convenience store’s cash drawer…?

Oh.

‘Prize money!’

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

/ Choose for me

By the Way

They really give money upon clearing. Isn’t this just a good friend who likes to scare people?

———————=

Oh.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“If you fill three days, I think you can leave right away.”

“Doing it in one go? Wow, that’s commendable, commendable.”

In [Daydream Corporation]’s Field Exploration Team Group D.

Two employees were taking a smoke break, having just sent off a newbie into the darkness.

They had just sent the new employee off into their first horror.

It was never easy to get accustomed to such things. Forcing a newbie into a phenomenon seemed cruel.

But generally, the darkness in [Choose for Me] was hardcore the shorter the setting time and looser the longer it was, so the newbie who got three days wouldn’t be too tough.

‘It’s about testing courage for two nights and three days.’

Of course, it was harsh. There’s no denying that.

However, both employees shared a common proposition in their minds.

– If you can’t endure this, you’re dead in no time.

Then it’d be better to quit.

In fact, several newbies had left because of this initiation ritual, and Group D often got a scolding from the HR department, yet they were muddling through somehow.

Witnessing a colleague, especially a fellow newbie, die right next to you was genuinely harmful to one’s mental health…

Yet, this time felt a little different.

A strange sense of anticipation.

“About this newbie.”

“Yeah?”

“They seemed different.”

“Yeah, they did.”

The newly assigned senior newbie in Group D, Kim Sol-eum.

“I’ve never seen a newbie act like that on their first day.”

Typically, when new employees realize that being thrown into the horror scenario could risk their lives becomes their “job,” they panic or get flustered. That’s the norm.

But in Kim Sol-eum’s case…she remained eerily calm.

“She didn’t seem nervous at all.”

“Yeah, she didn’t look surprised. Sipped her coffee just fine.”

She didn’t lose her composure for even a moment, nor did she lock herself in the restroom to cry or tried to run away.

Of course, Kim Sol-eum had spoiled everything and prepared herself mentally to give up on everything for three days.

But to someone seeing her for the first time, she just looked like a newbie with a crazy mentality!

“Seems you really liked her, Assistant Manager.”

“Yep. Very impressive.”

A strong heart was always welcome.

This was a department that had to face various horrid, bizarre, or chilling urban legends. Cowardice was problematic.

‘Well, after all, there’s no way a coward would pass in this death survival, to begin with….’

There were some!

Of course, the higher-ups had no way of knowing and were just nodding their heads, uttering how “this newbie seems fine.”

However, there was one slightly concerning point.

“But she doesn’t seem to be the type to cut corners. Why hasn’t she taken notes?”

“It’s her first job. She might not know better. We can just tell her.”

In a profession where one’s life is on the line, information and manuals are essential, and the two nodded.

“If we tell her, she ought to write it down. That way, she can review later and grasp it.”

“Right. It wouldn’t be something she knew in advance.”

She knew in advance!

The two, completely clueless, continued with the typical chatter of a newly-formed team until they organized themselves to head back.

“Let’s write up a situation report.”

“Ah, that darn report no one reads every time…”

The newbie wouldn’t even come out for at least three days.

Nonetheless, as this horror story had food and places to sleep inside, even a long battle wouldn’t be too much trouble.

They nodded, gathered the pads that had the internet articles about the newbie, and readied to go back.

“Then now we’ll head to the paperwork…?!”

Tick.

In that moment, the pad spat someone out.

The newbie who was supposed to come out in three days.

“…!?”

The newbie, Kim Sol-eum, stood up from the floor, shaking off the clean suit she was wearing an hour and a half earlier.

And she raised something in one hand.

It was the Dream Collection Device, fully filled.

“I’ve got it filled.”

“…?!?!”

Clearing time: 1 hour and 24 minutes.

The newbie, who made an unbelievable accomplishment, simply stared at her superiors with an impassive expression.

‘I thought I was going to have a heart attack.’

Of course, she felt drained after squeezing her way through a ghostly house’s walls!