Chapter 87: Ch 87: Good Child Chocolate Bar
The upper floors of Daydream Inc. headquarters.
Knock, knock, knock.
I carefully rapped on the luxurious door with the back of my hand.
The door slid open automatically, and...
"You’re here."
Inside, the figure of the director seated at their desk came into view.
An executive with dark, blue-tinged hair of indeterminate age.
Director Cheong Dallae.
"You didn’t waste unnecessary time, nor were you deceived by schemes. A
wise child always lives long, you know."
Quite the fierce way to deliver a compliment...
"Yes, thank you, ma’am."
In any case, I’d made my decision.
I chose to accept Director Cheong’s proposal: ’to turn D-squad into an elite
squad’.
There were reasons, of course, but I’d reflect on those later. For now, I had
to handle the intimidating executive in front of me.
Director Cheong examined me with a satisfied expression and smiled.
"I trust you’ll wait quietly while the reorganization takes place in the
necessary time."
"Yes, ma’am. I’ll work even harder to ensure I’m deserving of this
promotion."
I shook hands with Director Cheong, maintaining a perfectly polite
demeanor.
And beside me...
"You’ll do the same, won’t you, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?"
"Yes."
Chief Lizard was accompanying me.
...For the record, this is how Section Chief Lee reacted to my decision:
– I see.
End of story.
’Is it really fair to call that reaction... easygoing?’
It was hard to believe that this was the same lizard who had previously
advised me to ’refuse’.
’Seriously, isn’t he also in the same boat now? Shouldn’t he at least listen to
some of the reasoning?!’
Thanks to that, I ended up explaining my choice to the seemingly
indifferent Chief Lizard, hearing ’I see’ and ’Yes’ about ten times in the
process.
I also discussed how to minimize the ’risks’ associated with Director
Cheong.
"So, have you decided on the third squad member?"
Right on cue, the topic came up.
With only two active members currently in D-squad, Director Cheong had
suggested I bring in whoever I wanted for the remaining position.
"I’ve come up with an idea regarding that matter."
"What kind of idea?"
I spoke as calmly as possible, getting straight to the point.
"To ensure that anyone can work together."
* * *
[Leave the third member of Elite D-squad as an open slot]
Since D-squad wasn’t being absorbed into the existing elite squad structure
but rather trialed under a new system, it was a plausible suggestion.
The biggest advantage?
’It prevents Director Cheong from indiscriminately placing one of her own
people.’
Didn’t she say I could bring in whoever I wanted?
If I trusted that at face value, this wouldn’t be a company.
’If the person I picked didn’t meet her expectations, she’d just ask if there
was anyone else.’
From there, she’d gradually steer the selection toward someone she
preferred.
’Once I accepted the offer and willingly aligned myself with her line, she’d
have nothing to lose.’
She’d either insert her own person or, at the very least, try to sway whoever
joined next.
In my view, that’s where Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s warning about the
’danger’ came into play.
’The person working alongside me shouldn’t be a pawn of Director
Cheong.’
It’d be better to have a rotating roster for each exploration mission.
This approach even provided a reasonable pretext.
’Since it’s a new trial, why not leave a vacancy in D-squad as an internship
spot for aspiring elite squad members?’
Like that.
Obviously, elite squad positions were limited, and few people advanced
from regular squads.
Most junior employees tended to give up early, prioritizing cost-efficiency
unless they had exceptional performance or networked well.
From the management’s perspective, they likely viewed this lack of
initiative as inefficient, criticizing employees for being ’fixated solely on
points, with no loyalty to the company’.
’Seriously, without the points, why would anyone join in the first place?’
It was a rather ridiculous expectation, but... hmm, seeing how this company
operates, I thought it might actually work.
– I considered whether it might provide a new motivation for junior
employees in the Field Exploration Team, who currently lack incentives
beyond wish tickets, to want to improve their performance.
I gave Director Cheong a thorough presentation along those lines.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if the employees would really bite.
At best, a few capable supervisors or assistant managers might try the elite
squad experience and then reassess their career plans.
But it sounded convincing enough, and it wouldn’t be entirely ineffective,
so it worked out.
’At the very least, it should help set the tone.’
And at the very least, it... worked on Director Cheong.
– Not bad.
...I felt a little stung by her ’I’ll let it slide’ kind of reaction, but what
mattered was that it passed.
Sure enough, within a few days, rumors had spread through the Field
Exploration Team, and even the group chat among my batchmates was
buzzing for the first time in a while.
[does anyone know the deets on the new elite
squad? ᄒ]
[is it true theyre selecting employees with 1–3
years of exp?]
[I heard about elite squad internships. What have
you all heard? ^^]
[the elite squad’s benefits are incredible...]
The funny thing was... no one messaged me directly anymore.
Even after news broke that I’d cleared another A-grade mission, no one sent
congratulations or inquiries.
’Is this... ostracism?’
After carefully responding to a few group chat questions to avoid being
underestimated, the questions themselves stopped coming.
’Come to think of it, I was the last to be added to the group chat in the first
place.’
It was a bit bitter.
[Heard the news! Congrats, Soleum-ssi! You really
succeeded with that method!]
[Thank you, Yeongeun-ssi.]
Still, I was grateful that one colleague consistently sent congratulatory
messages.
Taking the chance, I also squared up with Go Yeongeun for the help she’d
given me during the last ghost story mission.
’Since she’s the type to return the favor, it’s best to keep building trust.’
I shared the method I used to clear the mission and offered her part of the
’boss fight rewards’ I’d received.
’Thanks to her, I survived the mission.’
Specifically, I’d learned from Go Yeongeun where to protect my organs to
avoid instant death.
Of course, recalling the experience sent goosebumps down my spine. It had
been utterly reckless.
’Note to self... Use tattoo stickers sparingly.’
They worked, but they weren’t something to mess with lightly...
[Ah... um. I’ll gratefully accept.]
Go Yeongeun seemed conflicted but accepted, and we met in front of her
dorm to hand over a few protective talisman beads.
During our conversation, the topic of the ’new elite squad’ rumors came
up...
"By the way, Yeongeun-ssi, are you thinking of aiming for the elite squad?"
"No I’m perfectly fine as I am thank you."
"..."
Please, breathe before you answer, Yeongeun-ssi...
She seemed to strongly suspect I might include her.
’To be honest, I’d considered her as a candidate... but maybe it’s good I
didn’t push for it.’
In any case, this seemed like the best answer I could come up with in the
current situation...
Though, of course, not everyone would agree with me.
"I really can’t believe you’ve become an elite squad..."
"..."
"Why would you make such a risky choice?"
The voice was filled with concern.
Sitting at a desk in D-squad’s office, I rubbed my forehead.
"...Director Ho."
"Yes?"
"If I’ve been rude in any way, sir, I sincerely apologize."
Why exactly are you here?
Why are you sitting in D-squad’s office, as casually as if you were a
coworker visiting from the next department, when we’re about to vacate
this place?!
"Pardon? You’ve never been rude, Soleum-nim. Honestly, you should have
more confidence in yourself."
"..."
This man is no ordinary character...
Director Ho, with a slightly disappointed look, acted as though I’d refused a
simple lunch invitation from a coworker.
That made it all the more terrifying.
’I expected him to either target me or ignore me completely.’
Why is he acting so... neutral?
To be honest, Director Ho had the authority and had made a more shocking
proposal, so rejecting him could’ve easily offended him.
’Any rational person would’ve chosen his side.’
Naturally, I was leaning more toward that side.
At least, until I asked this question.
– Director, if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask what iteration this project
is on?
– Iteration? Ah, you’re asking which one this is?
– Yes, that’s correct.
– If that’s what you mean, there’s no specific number. It’s a new initiative.
– ...I see. Thank you.
In that moment, I made my decision.
’Let’s cut ties.’
A new project in a ghost story company?
Nine times out of ten, a project like that’s established due to a high-grade,
unidentified ghost story.
’It’s definitely A-grade or higher.’
At this point, we’re not talking about ghost stories that simply correlate
with risk levels.
The projects are based on fears so devastating that no individual could
handle them—utter despair with no way to predict or prepare.
These aren’t just fears of death or disappearance—they’re existential,
higher-level horrors.
And now they’ve dangled wish tickets as rewards, the kind that would make
any employee lose their mind?
’It’s probably S-grade, isn’t it?’
This project seemed poised to be the company’s top-tier mission for the
Field Exploration Team.
On top of that, this was the first trial run, meaning there was no prior data
available?
’It’s a suicide mission.’
No matter how good the perks were, the premise was flawed from the start.
If I were guaranteed to be the team leader, it might’ve been different... but
honestly, even as a team leader, it’d be a hollow title.
’As if the dream team of employees handpicked by the director would ever
listen to someone like me, who hasn’t even been here a full year.’
Besides, with the director involved, the team leader would just be a middle
manager, caught in the crossfire and barely surviving—or not surviving at
all.
’...I don’t want that.’
I’d already accumulated nearly a third of the required points. I didn’t need
to take such a gamble for a wish ticket.
...Besides, staying with D-squad had another practical benefit.
’This way, if Supervisor Park Minseong or Assistant Manager Eun Haje
returns, they can naturally rejoin D-squad...’
...It’s much easier to bring someone into a spot that’s been kept open and
flexible.
So, it was a multifaceted decision.
But since I couldn’t explain all this, I simply said this.
"This seemed like the better choice for more people, so I had to go with this
side. My apologies."
"..."
In that moment, Director Ho’s genial expression seemed to falter.
And then he spoke.
"Kind-hearted people are always the hardest to understand..."
"..."
Wait, just now...!
Tak.
"Well, if you ever change your mind, feel free to reach out, Soleum-nim."
With that, his voice faded.
Director Ho casually nodded at me, smiled, and left the office.
"..."
Just now... that didn’t seem normal.
– Mr. Roe Deer, I detect the scent of pestilence on that man.
Pestilence?
– Be sure to take extra care with sterilization if you invite him into a
personal space or studio!
"..."
’Pestilence, meaning a plague...?’
I mulled over Director Ho’s identity for a moment before shrugging it off.
’First things first. Focus on the urgent tasks.’
For now, I needed to reorganize and prepare for what I’d need before
officially joining the elite squad...
"Soleum-ssi."
Aagh!
"S-Squad Leader."
Chief Lizard entered through the door that Director Ho had just exited,
holding out some documents.
"Director Cheong asked me to pass these along, saying, ’Perhaps it’s worth
checking out.’"
"Yes. Understood..."
’Please, a little warning next time...’
I quietly exhaled as I took the documents and read the title on the first page.
Qterw-C-1603
Unregistered Exploration Testimony #21
Security Clearance: [C]
...Huh?
"Am I allowed to read this...?"
"Yes."
Umm.
It appeared to be a ’pre-registration’ exploration report that required C-
grade security clearance for access. It seemed Director Cheong had given
me special permission to read it...
’That’s even scarier!’
But refusing to read it felt even riskier, so I took a deep breath and began
reading.
What kind of exploration record could this be...?
...
Huh?
Ad leaflet introducing a new product released, confirmed to be from
Qterw-C-1603.
Product name : Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros
Flavor).
Features : Packaging depicts a caricature of a child’s face wearing a
suit and a mask with tree branch-like goat horns.
※ The character on the packaging resembles the company’s Field
Exploration Team uniform.
Be cognizant in checking staff with a similar mask design.
"..."
Wait a second.
Isn’t this...
Me?