Chapter 7: Ch 7: Dream Essence Collector
What is the correct reaction for a new hire when their team says something
like, ’Hey, newbie, you might drop dead soon! Haha, just kidding~!’ on
your first day?
The truth is, there isn’t one.
No, really—there’s no right answer.
Fortunately, my colleagues didn’t seem to expect much of a reaction from
me as they quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway... congrats on surviving the death survival test."
Are we seriously calling it that out in the open?
"But are you really the top of your batch? That’s amazing."
"Come on, let’s hear some bragging."
I’m curious about that myself.
"I just did my best, really."
"Oh, if that were enough, we’d all be at Seoul University."
"Either way, it’s impressive. You’re a great addition to our squad."
Being top of the batch comes with its perks. It seems like the department,
despite its heavy workload, doesn’t have the energy to haze new hires.
"The squad leader will be back soon. He’s out on-site, so just relax for
now!"
"Oh, thank you."
I followed my superior’s directions and went to the partitioned-off area.
Four desks clustered together.
Next to them, a small sofa and a coffee table with an old-style radio on top
—straight out of the 80s.
The superiors returned to their desks and gestured toward the sofa.
"Go ahead and sit there."
"Alright."
As soon as I sat down, the radio on the coffee table clicked on and emitted a
scratchy sound.
"...?"
Upbeat background music and a high-pitched announcer’s voice filled the
air.
– Hello! This is your live traffic update. The roads in Seoul are currently
clear, just like today’s sunny weather! However, starting this afternoon...
I turned my head to glance out the window.
It was drizzling outside.
A disconnect from reality.
’Ah.’
This radio... it’s part of a ghost story.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Hello Traffic Info]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-E-63
It’s a peculiar radio that tells today’s fortune through traffic reports.
Sometimes it offers advice, but the advice can be so unsettling that it
often leads to ghastly consequences.
========================
"Did you catch that?"
"...!"
"Wow, this newbie is sharp. You picked up on the weirdness quickly."
A male superior who looked like a physical education major approached
and turned off the radio.
"This thing gives your daily fortune through traffic reports. It’s a relatively
safe urban legend. Twilight-Class Darkness—verified."
"..."
"Hold up, were you just thinking, ’What the heck is an urban legend or
Darkness, you nerd?’"
No, not really.
"For newbies like you, we’ve prepared this. Ta-da!"
He placed a tablet PC on the table.
After a few taps on the screen, he played a video.
"Watch this through."
<Field Exploration Team New Employee Training Video>
Retro vibes washed over me as cheerful, low-quality orchestral music
played.
Two cartoon characters, resembling the mascots of the ’88 Olympics,
appeared and bowed.
– New hires filled with dreams and passion! Welcome to the Field
Exploration Team of Daydream Inc.!
– Today, we’ll explain the cool work that the Field Exploration Team does
in detail!
’A fox and a dragon?’
A red fox and a yellow dragon, dressed in traditional Korean hanboks,
smiled brightly.
– But before we begin!
An overtly old-fashioned font appeared above the two cute characters.
[What kind of company is Daydream Inc.?]
I already know.
To the public, this company is a highly successful pharmaceutical company
specializing in miracle hair loss treatments and skincare products.
But in reality?
– You think all we make is hair loss treatments? Oh my gosh! Actually,
Daydream Inc. can create any medicine you could ever need!
– A true magic company that makes magical potions!
From cures for drug addiction to elixirs for eternal life, the company creates
all sorts of fantastical potions and secretly trades them with the elite and
political circles.
That is the true nature of Daydream Inc.
A secret organization producing supernatural potions.
’Which is impossible with existing science or reality...’
The fox character winked and raised a finger.
– But! Magical potions need magical ingredients.
– That ingredient is... ’Dream Essence’!
The word ’Dream Essence’ appeared in bold, golden letters, and sparkling
liquid began to flow majestically across the screen.
Hearts and stars popped out as if it were some children’s cartoon about
magic potions, but...
Its true nature was something else entirely.
– Dream Essence is harvested from supernatural phenomena!
The dragon held out her hand, and the screen transitioned.
It showed a city alleyway in a cute illustration style.
But red eyes appeared in the shadow of a streetlamp, turning into a
monstrous figure threatening a passerby.
Then, the animation exaggeratedly depicted a fan licking its blades as it
hovered over a sleeping person.
– Did you know supernatural occurrences still happen in modern society?
– Fans running in a sealed room will kill you, or receiving lots of criticism
will help you live longer... these are all superstitions and urban legends!
– But sometimes, these urban legends become reality!
’So they’re calling these urban legends...’
Indeed, calling it an ’urban legend’ does sound a bit less unsettling than
’creepypasta’.
And then came the key point.
– Daydream Inc. manages these urban legends, collects ’Dream Essence,’
and makes wonderful magical potions that grant people’s wishes!
– Isn’t ’Dream Essence’ the most important resource for the company,
Yonyong?
– Of course! We always need it... But who’s going to gather the ’Dream
Essence’ for us?
The dragon character named Yonyong tilted her head to the side.
Who else, indeed.
– The brave Field Exploration Team, of course!
An SD animation depicted office workers in suits giving a thumbs-up,
bravely navigating spaces where all kinds of surreal events were taking
place.
– Thanks to the courageous and wise Field Exploration Team, the Dream
Essence collectors are full once again!
On the screen, a character with thick eyebrows proudly held up an object in
one hand.
A portable cylinder with measurement lines.
It’s the ’Dream Essence Collector’.
[Dream Essence Collector]
: An item featured in <Dark Exploration Records>.
A portable liquid storage container created by Daydream Inc., which
fills up as you explore the ’Darkness(urban legends/ghost stories)’.
The company refers to the liquid collected in the cylinder as ’Dream
Essence’.
This essence is the main resource used by Daydream Inc. to produce
the almost reality-altering potions that serve as the company’s primary
revenue source.
========================
The two characters clapped as they showcased the essential tool of the Field
Exploration Team.
– Now, take your Dream Essence Collector and bravely and wisely step into
the Darkness
– The future of our company rests on your shoulders! Good luck!
The typical new employee gaslighting video ended with fireworks and the
Daydream Inc. logo.
"..."
"How was it?"
"Uh... impressive."
I chose my words carefully.
"Very... memorable."
"Well... our department’s work is kinda like that."
The friendly superior reached out for a handshake again.
"Ah, let me introduce myself properly. You’re Employee Kim Soleum,
right?"
"Yes. Pleased to meet you."
"Great. Oh! Over there is Assistant Manager Eun Haje."
The short-haired woman at her desk gave a brief wave before going back to
work.
The guy who looked like a phys-ed major grinned and pointed to himself
with his thumb.
"I’m Park Minseong, contractual supervisor."
"Nice to meet you, Supervisor Park."
"Haha, no need to be so formal."
"Um, okay?"
"In this department, after about a year, pretty much everyone gets to this
position. You’ll get here soon."
There’s also a good chance I’ll die before then, but let’s not put that out
there in the universe...
"Yeah, or you might die before that."
Ah, guess he said it for me.
"Oh, come on!"
"Why? He should know the truth. As the video showed, it’s dangerous
work."
Assistant Manager Eun gestured casually, confirming the blunt reality.
I see... to reach her level in this company, you’d need nerves of steel.
"Quitting is always a valid option. There are plenty of other jobs out there."
Although in this world, any job comes with a risk of getting pulled into a
ghost story anyway, so...
"Thank you, but I’ll stick it out for now."
"Hmm, good choice."
"Ooh, such enthusiasm!"
Both of them nodded approvingly, and Assistant Manager Eun offered some
reassuring words.
"Even though we deal with urban legends, ghost stories and the like, don’t
worry too much. We have response manuals for everything."
"...Understood."
Supervisor Park leaned in conspiratorially.
"By the way, in this company, we call them ’Darkness’. If you don’t want
people thinking you’re some kind of creepypasta-obsessed otaku, just call
them that."
"..."
So I won’t be labeled an otaku?
I stayed quiet and nodded, not wanting to push my luck by arguing with my
superiors on my first day.
"Got it. Have you gone through the manual?"
"Yes."
I had read through the ’Work Manual’ that Supervisor Park handed me and
nodded to show I understood.
"Good, good."
The two superiors exchanged glances and smiled before turning back to me.
"Shall we get to work, then?"
Wait, what?
* * *
14th floor—
My superiors led me to a different floor.
"Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time for some field experience."
We got off the elevator and stopped in front of a small storage room next to
the emergency stairs.
"So, for this afternoon, you’ll be doing... just a light exploration of the
Darkness."
Pardon me?
"Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious."
"You won’t die, you won’t die. Oh, think of it like the slimes you encounter
in beginner towns in games!"
"...Right."
I mean, I was expecting work, but this is... dizzying.
They wouldn’t send me somewhere lethal on my first day, would they?
It’d be tough for them to handle a panicked rookie anyway.
I tried to calm myself and think rationally.
Why are we standing in front of this storage room...?
Ah, is this a location connected to a ghost story?
’Which ghost story starts in a storage room again?’
As I searched through the <Dark Exploration Records> wiki in my head,
my superiors started giving me instructions.
The first thing I received was an item.
"You saw this in the video earlier, right? It’s the Dream Essence Collector."
I was handed a sturdy, dice-shaped plastic-sealed cylinder that had clearly
been used.
’They sold this as merch, didn’t they...?’
Still, holding the actual thing in my hand felt strangely surreal.
"Be careful not to lose it. Each one is numbered, and it’ll be a real headache
if you misplace it."
"Yes, Assistant Manager."
I understood—it’s like losing a bullet casing.
"And make a habit of wearing your mask before entering the Darkness.
Don’t ask why—just do it. Now, where’s your ma— umm."
"..."
"..."
My superiors blinked at the sight of my mask, which looked like tree bark
with two antlers sticking out.
"...A deer?"
"A roe deer?"
I have no idea either.
"Nice antlers though. Yeah, let’s go with roe. Sounds tougher than a regular
deer."
Tougher?
"Anyway, put that on and look at this."
Supervisor Park handed me the tablet PC.
Ah, so they’re going to brief me with another video...
[Do this and get 20 million won VS just live your life]
"...??"
It was an internet post.
– Playing tag with a ghost at a convenience store with no one else within
10km for three days and get 20 million won.
VS just living your life.
By the way, the ghost looks like this ↓
’Ugh!’
I shuddered as I quickly scrolled past the photo, but the image was already
burned into my mind.
A blue ghost with bulging eyes and a swollen, grotesque forehead.
"What does it say?"
"It’s asking if you’d spend three days playing tag with a ghost at a
convenience store for money..."
I had no idea why they were showing me this.
Surely, this wasn’t some kind of workplace hazing?
We’re about to go on a ’Dark Exploration’, and yet they’re showing me
some random internet post...
Oh.
"..."
"..."
I scrolled back up to look at the post again.
[Do this and get 20 million won VS just live your life]
Wait no way.
[Make a Choice]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-F-243.
It originates from balance game posts on the internet, like ’Would you
do a scary challenge for money VS just live your life?’
This Darkness appears sporadically when accessing URLs with certain
numbers.
It often involves being chased by a murderer or ghost, and if you get
caught, you must start over from the beginning.
========================
What a nightmare.
As the world around me warped, I heard Supervisor Park’s voice clearly.
"Just take it easy, alright? Heave ho!"
Take it easy?
I was about to protest—how could they send a new hire on their first solo
assignment into a ghost story!—but before I could scream...
The world twisted, and I was thrown into the Darkness.
"..."
I staggered to my feet.
’It’s really dark.’
The air was cold and damp. My visibility was incredibly poor.
The only light came from the faint, flickering glow of the drinks fridge in
the distance.
"..."
Holding my breath, I cautiously moved toward the light.
The dim outlines of the convenience store flickered in and out of sight as I
approached, disappearing into the shadows again...
Silence. Stillness.
Each step echoed on the floor, sending shivers down my spine as cold sweat
trickled down the back of my neck.
There didn’t seem to be anything around. At least, not yet.
’Huuu.’
I swallowed my sigh.
I stopped walking just outside the fridge’s dim glow, where the light
couldn’t reach me.
Leaning into the cold, hazy light, I surveyed my surroundings.
The convenience store was quite large, about the size of a franchise café.
The shelves were neatly stocked with everyday necessities and food items,
meticulously arranged with not a speck of dust.
’At least survival essentials aren’t an issue.’
Right. This ghost story—this ’Darkness’—wasn’t one that physically
endangered you.
It was designed to shock and scare you out of your wits.
The safest course of action quickly became clear.
’Just grab some water and energy bars and hide until it’s over.’
Yes. I knew my limits. There was no way I’d play tag with a ghost.
I didn’t even need the energy bars, really. Just grabbing something quiet to
eat would be enough.
Humans can survive a day or two without food. Better that than meeting a
ghost.
’But I definitely need water.’
There was no other choice.
I spotted some water bottles in the drinks fridge.
It was easy to spot because of the light, and thankfully, it was in the far
corner, where I could keep a close eye on my surroundings...
"..."
I cautiously stepped forward, avoiding the light and moving toward the far
end of the fridge.
’Huu.’
At the very last compartment, just as I had seen from afar, the top shelf was
packed with water bottles, their labels blurred out.
However, standing this close, I could see something else besides the water.
"...?!"
That wiki page I saw earlier. I had scrolled past it so quickly, but the
grotesque outline was unforgettable.
A blue, bulbous face with bulging eyes.
A ghost.
’Fuck...!’
As soon as our eyes met, the ghost’s face twisted into a sinister grin, its eyes
swelling grotesquely.
’Why the hell is this ghost’s face in the fridge?!’
I instinctively pulled back, turning to run. But at that moment, I realized.
The ghost wasn’t inside the fridge.
It was reflected in the fridge’s glass door.
"Huu...ugh..."
Thud.
Something touched my back.
A cold, hard, damp grip tightened around my neck.
A drowning victim’s hand.
And then...
—Gotcha.
Pitch black.
Tag, you’re it.
* * *
"Huuhp!"
I gasped and opened my eyes.
Cold air. My vision was dim.
The only light was the faint, flickering glow from the drink fridge in the
distance.
"...!"
I had returned to the starting point.
When you’re caught by the ghost or killer in this ’Darkness’, you start all
over again.
’This is insane.’
I had to endure this for three days?
I’d rather die than keep going through this!
’No, no, calm down.’
I quickly pieced together a more terrifying possibility.
’If I can’t make it through, I’ll keep resetting... so who knows how long
this could actually last.’
It’s an endless loop.
People like me, who can’t handle even the slightest bit of horror, might lose
their minds before it’s over.
’I can’t let that happen.’
I needed to find another way.
This time, I avoided the drink fridge and headed toward the counter.
There were plenty of large objects and structures around the counter to hide
behind, so I figured I could take cover there and buy some time to think.
’I’ll crouch under the chair inside the counter area...’
But then I saw it.
Between the legs of the chair and the counter,
the silhouette of the ghost’s lower half.
"..."
Tap. Tap, tap. Taptaptaptaptap.
Pale, bare feet moved with an odd rhythm, their steps unnaturally spaced.
The eerie, unsettling way it moved, so inhuman, sent shivers down my
spine like an alarm.
Holding my breath, I crouched under the counter.
I stayed still for as long as I could, even after the ghost’s bizarre footsteps
faded, pushing my limits of endurance.
’There are too many clichés where the monster shows up just when you
think you’re safe.’
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I slowly exhaled, straining to make
no sound.
"..."
’This is driving me insane.’
Cold sweat dripped from my chin.
I couldn’t do anything. Even using my phone was out of the question, since
the screen light would give me away immediately.
My only hope was my memory!
’I’ve gone over the records of this ghost story many times...’
F-Class ghost stories often involved multiple new hires in the exploration,
so I’d studied them like exam questions.
Of course, I never imagined I’d be thrown in alone from the start!
’Damn it.’
I racked my brain, sweating as I combed through the exploration records.
’Mountain lodge, basement, crosswalk, fast-food restaurant, abandoned
school...’
None of them matched.
But there was one unusual case... I was sure of it.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
/ Make a Choice
Exploration Record #23 (Irregular)
A night in an abandoned hospital, chased by a crazed doctor
throughout the night (12 hours).
※ Note : Exploration ended after 16 hours and 11 minutes.
========================
"...!"
That’s it.
I began piecing together the relevant details, forcing my memory to
reconstruct the scenario.