Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 88
Of course, when it comes to Darkness explorations, encountering bizarre or chilling events is par for the course.
Being chased by ghosts, public transport taking you to some unheard-of, eerie destination, or having everyone on the street stare at you the moment you step outside your home...
But as strange as these experiences were, many employees eventually got used to them.
“Even I’ve gotten somewhat desensitized, I guess.”
I mean, wasn’t my last ghost story the one where I cleared a high-grade case, surviving contamination and item use, despite nearly losing limbs?
But some types of unease never become familiar.
For example:
When a ghost story suddenly recognizes you.
“...”
I blinked nervously as I turned another page in the report.
It even had a rough illustration of the packaging, drawn by the reporting exploration employee.
- "Ah, it seems the artist sacrificed aesthetic value for the sake of conveying essential information."
The drawing was awful. But it was unmistakable who it depicted.
“...Braun.”
- "Yes, my friend? Speak freely!"
“Doesn’t that look like me?”
- "Considering the style, the mask, and the hairstyle—indeed, it seems we’ve reached the same conclusion!"
“...”
And the product name? ‘Good Kid.’
The flavor? ‘Cinnamon Churro.’
“That’s literally the mascot from the theme park story!”
And the referenced ghost story, ‘Qterw-C-1603’?
“Why did I show up in that one?”
I reflexively glanced at my tattooed wrist before catching myself.
I turned to Team Leader Lee Jaheon, who was watching me blankly, and asked:
“Is this still unofficial content, not part of the official manual?”
“Yes.”
Phew.
That was a relief, at least.
“If Director Cheong went out of her way to show me this early...”
...It could be goodwill. Or a debt.
Probably a mix of both.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is frёeωebɳovel.com.
The moment this report becomes officially recognized, the sensitive identifiers—like that drawing—will be redacted with black boxes according to security protocols.
But that would only be the beginning.
The research team would likely launch experimental explorations to investigate the phenomenon.
They might send in someone dressed like me, or even have me unknowingly lead the exploration myself.
“Or worst of all, Director Kwak Jaegang might notice and shove me right back into that theme park.”
What a nightmare.
Going to Director Cheong for help then would only solidify my fate as a ‘30-year veteran employee of Daydream Inc. under Director Cheong’s supervision.’
Why is it that, no matter how hard I work, the odds of everything blowing up in my face are always so high?
“It’s just the nature of this ghost story universe, I guess.”
For now, I decided to be grateful I was warned in advance. It meant I owed Director Cheong some psychological goodwill, but that was still better than the research team latching onto this mystery later.
And the fact she showed me this early probably meant something else:
“Is the Darkness we’re exploring this week related to this report?”
“I don’t know.”
“...Would you estimate the chances to be over 50 percent?”
“Yes.”
Of course.
“If she’s letting me know beforehand, it’s probably because I’ll have to confirm things myself.”
‘Qterw-C-1603.’
If I was going to endure the psychological torment of entering a ghost story, it might as well be one worth exploring.
That logic had always held true for me.
“Let’s find out.”
And this time, I had a reliable companion by my side: the legendary physical exorcist and Daydream’s own Team Leader, Lee Jaheon!
...Though, based on what happened in the clown ghost story, there was a chance he might freeze up and give terrifyingly indifferent commands.
“Still, if it’s one-on-one, I might be able to persuade him or find a way out.”
Besides, I’d recently gotten better at handling conversations with him.
All in all, having a fearless team leader along felt reassuring.
But there was one more variable.
“Mr. Soleum.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to request additional support personnel?”
Ah, right.
Field explorations typically involved a team of three, so this time, we’d receive one additional member to assist us.
“I guess this is part of the elite team trial run?”
Normally, they’d randomly assign someone, but... hmm.
“Would it be possible to request a specific type of individual?”
“Yes.”
Oh! Wait a second.
“...I’d like to avoid requesting someone through Director Cheong. Would it still be possible?”
“No.”
“...”
“Good thing I asked!”
That could’ve doubled my debt in an instant.
I suppressed a sigh but couldn’t help voicing something I’d been curious about for a while.
“Team Leader, you’re always very concise. Is there a specific reason for that?”
“Indeed.”
The lizard-man glanced upward briefly before returning his gaze to me.
“It’s based on feedback I received to only provide detailed answers when explicitly requested.”
“...What kind of situation led to that feedback?”
“On the third day of my employment, during an exploration of the Darkness.”
“...”
I see.
I hadn’t even heard the details, but I could picture the scenario vividly.
“Team Leader, unless it’s an urgent situation, I’d prefer you speak more freely with me.”
“Understood.”
And with that, Lee Jaheon began elaborating!
“If you’d like to specify the personality traits of the additional support member, please inform me. While specific individuals cannot be chosen, you may request preferred characteristics from the available pool.”
“...!”
He’s explaining things on his own now!
- "Deer, you have a knack for interviewing!"
Thanks, Braun.
Though I was momentarily basking in a sense of accomplishment, the key takeaway here was what Team Leader Lee had just said.
“I can’t pinpoint exactly who will join, but I can describe the kind of employee I’d prefer.”
Hmm.
After some thought, I settled on a particular characteristic for the support member.
“I’d prefer someone who is currently an associate-level employee.”
There was a subtle intention behind this request.
Currently, all associates in the company were my peers.
“This isn’t because I feel excluded in the group chat...”
Well, honestly, it was partly because this exploration seemed risky. I wanted someone who wasn’t overly familiar with the company’s inner workings.
“And it wouldn’t hurt to build a few more connections here.”
“Understood.”
Team Leader Lee readily agreed, and I found myself looking forward to seeing who the new face would be.
What kind of person would join us this time?
***
A Few Days Later
“......”
“......”
I found myself standing at the door of Team D’s office, facing a familiar face: Jang Heowoon.
“Jang Heowoon, Team F member, reporting for duty...!”
It was someone I knew.
Not a bad result, really. At least he wasn’t a superior, which would make the exploration somewhat more relaxed.
I smiled and extended my hand to him.
“Good to see you again. Let’s work well together on today’s exploration.”
“Yes, Mr. Soleum! I’ll do my best to help us clear it!”
Jang Heowoon enthusiastically shook my hand. Yep, still a decent guy.
“Ah, likewise! Let’s get along!”
“......”
“......??”
I turned my head to see another employee stepping out of the elevator, beaming brightly as they approached us.
She was about my age, with a pleasant demeanor.
And she was wearing a pony mask.
“I’m here as additional support from Team I. This exploration requires an even number of participants per the manual, so we were assigned two support members.”
“I’m Kang Ihak! Nice to meet you, Mr. Soleum and Mr. Jang!”
“Ah...!”
Jang Heowoon bowed his head quickly, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, you’re the one who often posts in the group chat!”
“Yes, yes, haha, that’s me. Embarrassing, isn’t it?”
Ah.
[Kang Ihak: Is it true you scored 40,000 points? lol]
I remembered now.
When I was first added to the group chat, she had been the one prying for details, prompting me to carefully guard my responses.
“She seemed to lead the group chat’s tone—less about camaraderie, more about extracting value.”
Now, she smiled and extended her hand toward me.
“Wow, Mr. Top Peer! It’s our first time meeting in person. Let’s work well together!”
“Yes, likewise.”
I shook her hand lightly.
Clean and professional.
“She’s more easygoing than I expected.”
I had imagined someone sly, full of hidden agendas, but she felt open and straightforward.
“Well, if she’s a good person, I’m grateful for it. It’s definitely better than being stuck with someone like Baek Saheon.”
Only those who’ve faced ghosts while silently screaming internally, with a sociopath for a teammate, would understand that kind of horror.
“Let’s move.”
“Yes.”
Team Leader Lee Jaheon started walking, and we quietly followed him to the car.
I got into the driver’s seat, adjusted the navigation, and asked, “We’re headed to Gyeonggi Province, right?”
“Yes.”
Another Darkness exploration outside of Seoul.
From the exploration report I’d read earlier, Qterw-C-1603 wasn’t just about a creepy candy shop.
It was bigger... and darker.
“To enter this Darkness... oh, is that why we gathered late, to wait until sunset?”
“That seems to be the case.”
I nodded at Jang Heowoon and started driving.
For this exploration, we needed to align both time and location.
Entry Guidelines for Qterw-C-1603:
Travel to the outskirts of ■■ City in Gyeonggi Province, specifically a deserted residential neighborhood.The neighborhood was popular in the early 2010s for its trendy cafes and restaurants, but it has since fallen into disuse.Occasional flyers advertising local businesses have been spotted on utility poles.These flyers include the phrase, “Come visit Death Street in ■■ City!”, accompanied by a QR code.Important: Do not stare too long at the text on the flyer.
Fortunately, the company had pre-obtained and covered the QR code for us to scan safely.
“I’ll handle scanning the QR code, Mr. Soleum!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Scanning the QR code directs explorers under 40 to a city-endorsed event app download page.
Upon arriving at our destination, we parked in a public lot and stepped into the quiet streets of the once-bustling neighborhood.
The short winter day had given way to dusk, leaving a faint, eerie gloom.
Though most cafes and restaurants remained, the faded glory of a bygone trendy district left a heavy stillness in the air.
“Activate the app.”
I opened the app and watched as its outdated design, featuring ■■ City’s old logo and mascot, gave way to the navigation screen.
App Feature:
When launched before nightfall, the app activates a navigation function guiding explorers through the area.
“Follow the arrow!”
The GPS displayed our position with an arrow pointing forward.
“Let’s go.”
“......”
Without a word, we moved as one, each focused on the arrow.
At first, the directions seemed normal.
The app guided us along main streets, steadily leading us toward the neighborhood’s outskirts.
But then the paths became... strange.
The arrow pointed us through narrow alleys barely wide enough for one person, into front doors of buildings, only to lead us out the back, or even down dead ends that forced us to retrace our steps.
The dim alleys felt increasingly unfamiliar, unnerving.
Chills crept up my spine. Faint, nonsensical muttering seemed to echo around us, and odd shadows flitted just out of view.
“Don’t turn your head.”
The app’s instructions were clear:
“While following the navigation, never look away from the screen for more than three seconds, and never stray from the path. Failure to comply results in disappearance.”
We moved in silence, careful not to startle or bump into one another.
“Follow the arrow!”
After about 16 minutes of walking, the last traces of twilight faded, plunging the alley into complete darkness.
“......”
“......”
The oppressive gloom swallowed the neighborhood. Only the faint glow of our smartphone screens lit the way.
Then—
Click.
Click-click.
Lights flickered on one by one in the shadowy alley.
“...!”
The storefronts along the path illuminated, casting yellow and blue glows across the surroundings.
But these weren’t the familiar shops we’d passed earlier.
Figures bustled about the alley, their silhouettes unnervingly human-like.
The signs above the shops bore names that seemed familiar but subtly wrong, distorted.
Every store had its doors wide open, eagerly welcoming customers.
Ding!
The app displayed a congratulatory message.
“Congratulations on arriving! Welcome to Death Street!”
“Have we... arrived?”
“Yes.”
We had successfully entered.
The heart of the ghost story.
Darkness Exploration Record / Ghost Story
[■■■ 16th Street]
A ghost story appearing in the , identified by Daydream Inc. as Qterw-C-1603.A street lined with shops run by entities that are clearly not human.Explorers must never turn off the app during their exploration.“Proceed slowly.”
“......”
We nodded, following Team Leader Lee into the bizarre alley, step by cautious step.
Into the unknown.
