Chapter 88: Ch 88: CreepyPasta#12: [■■■ 16th Avenue]
During exploration missions into the Darkness, it’s only natural to
encounter absurd events or chilling experiences.
Being chased by ghosts, public transport suddenly heading to some
unknown destination, or people on the streets staring at you the moment
you step outside your home...
But over time, many employees say they’ve grown accustomed to such
things.
’Even I’ve gotten a little used to it, I think.’
After all, the previous ghost story, despite involving contamination and
items, was one where I managed to clear a high-grade mission by losing my
limbs.
But certain types of eeriness never become familiar.
For instance, a ghost story that suddenly ’recognizes’ me.
"..."
I nervously flipped through the documents.
The report even included a crude sketch of the packaging drawn by the
exploration staff who filed it.
– Oh, it seems the artist sacrificed aesthetics in favor of conveying key
information.
It was terribly drawn, but you could still tell exactly who it resembled.
’...Braun.’
– Speak freely, Friend!
’Doesn’t that look like me?’
– Taking into account the artistic style, as well as the mask and hairstyle, it
seems we’ve reached the same conclusion!
"..."
Even the product name was ’Good Child’, and the flavor was ’Cinnamon
Churros’.
’That’s the blue mascot from the theme park.’
And the ghost story it appeared in? Qterw-C-1603?
Why did I show up in that ghost story?
I instinctively glanced at my tattoo but stopped myself.
Then I turned to Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was staring blankly at me,
and asked,
"This hasn’t been officially added to the manual yet, correct?"
"Yes."
Huu.
That was a relief, at least.
’If Director Cheong went out of her way to show me this in advance...’
...A favor? A debt?
Probably both.
Once this is officially recorded as an exploration log, any identifying
descriptions would be censored with black squares, depending on the
security level.
Instead, the Research Team would likely jump at the chance to conduct
experimental exploration, claiming they needed to figure out why such
phenomena occurred...
Maybe they’d send in someone dressed like me. Or they’d send me in
without any information.
’Kwak Jaekang might even notice and shove me back into the theme park.’
What a nightmare.
If it came to that, asking Director Cheong for help would mean cementing
my fate as a ’Loyal Employee under Director Cheong’s wing, 30 Years of
Service’.
Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I’m surrounded by so many ways to
get screwed over?
’That’s just the nature of ghost stories, I guess.’
Anyway, I should be grateful I learned about this now.
Even if I ended up indebted to Director Cheong, this was better than having
the Research Team sink their teeth into it.
’And since she showed me this in advance...’
"Is the Darkness we’re exploring this week related to this case?"
"I do not know."
"...Do you think there’s more than a 50% chance it is?"
"Yes."
As expected.
’If the director’s giving me a heads-up, it only makes sense for me to check
it out myself.’
Qterw-C-1603.
If I’m going to face mental torture as a coward in a ghost story anyway, I
might as well make it count.
That principle has never wavered.
’Let’s confirm it.’
And this time, I had a solid companion.
The widely recognized brute-force exorcism expert, Section Chief Lee
Jaheon!
...Though, thinking back to the clown ghost story, his fearlessness could
lead to some questionable decision-making under pressure.
’Well, if it’s just one-on-one, I could probably find a way to persuade him
or find an escape route...’
Lately, I’d even gotten better at handling conversations.
So having a fearless squad leader as my partner wouldn’t be a bad thing—
it’s actually quite reassuring.
But there was one more variable.
"Soleum-ssi."
"Yes."
"Would you be requesting additional support staff?"
Ah, right.
Squads in the Field Exploration Team operate with a three-member
standard, so this time, our squad would get one extra member for support.
’I suppose this is like a pre-run for the elite squad.’
Usually, they just assign someone randomly, but... hmm.
"Is it possible to request a specific person?"
"Yes."
Oh! ...Wait, hold on.
"...I’d prefer not to go through Director Cheong. Is that still possible?"
"No."
"..."
’Good thing I asked...!’
That could’ve doubled my debt.
I suppressed a sigh but couldn’t hold back a lingering question.
It was something I’d always been curious about with Chief Lizard.
"Pardon, Squad Leader. You tend to give very concise answers. Is there a
particular reason for that?"
"Yes."
The lizard briefly looked skyward before refocusing on me.
"It’s based on feedback to only provide detailed answers when explicitly
requested."
"...In what situation did you receive such feedback?"
"On the third day after I started working here, during an exploration
mission into the Darkness."
"..."
So that’s why...
Even without a detailed description, I could vividly imagine the situation,
like a picture forming in my mind.
"Um, Squad Leader, if it’s not an urgent situation, I’d appreciate it if you’d
speak more freely when it’s just the two of us."
"Understood."
And then, Section Chief Lee Jaheon... began to explain!
"If you wish to specify the traits of the support staff, report it to me, Kim
Soleum-ssi. While specific names cannot be designated, you may request
preferred characteristics for the candidate pool."
"...!"
He’s voluntarily explaining things!
– Mr. Roe Deer, you have a knack for conducting interviews!
T-Thanks.
For a moment, I felt a surge of confidence, but the important thing was what
Section Chief Lee Jaheon had just shared.
’So while I can’t pinpoint exactly who should join, I can specify the kind of
person I’d prefer?’
Hmm.
After some thought, I decided on one characteristic for the ’support staff’.
"I’d prefer someone from among the current junior employees."
There was an implicit meaning behind this.
All current junior employees were my peers.
’Not because I feel isolated in the group chat or anything...’
Well, to be honest, there was something suspicious about this exploration,
so I didn’t want someone too high up the ladder, or rather, someone overly
familiar with how the company worked.
’It’d be nice to make more acquaintances, too.’
I figured it was about time to expand my network within the company.
"Yes."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon readily approved my request, and I found myself
feeling a little excited.
Who would the new face be?
A few days later.
"..."
"..."
I met Jang Heo-un, who was standing in front of the D-squad office door,
looking at me with a welcoming expression.
"I’m Jang Heo-un, from F-squad...!"
A familiar face.
It wasn’t a bad result, though. Since he wasn’t a superior, the exploration
would likely feel more relaxed.
I smiled and extended my hand to Jang Heo-un.
"Nice to see you again. Let’s have a good exploration today."
"Of course, Soleum-ssi! I’ll do my best to contribute to a clear!"
Jang Heo-un enthusiastically shook my hand. He was definitely a good
guy...
"Ooh, yes-yes, let’s work well together~!"
"..."
"...??"
When I turned, I saw another employee stepping off the elevator, smiling
broadly as she approached and greeted us with a slight bow.
A cheerful-looking woman, about my age, wearing a pony mask.
"This is the support staff from I-squad. The manual for this particular
Darkness recommends an even number of explorers, so two were assigned
as support."
"My name’s Kang Yihak~ Nice to meet you, Supervisor and fellow
employee!"
"Right...!"
Jang Heo-un, who had quickly bowed his head, suddenly exclaimed in
realization.
"Oh, you’re the one who’s always chatting in the group chat...!"
"Yes-yes, haha, embarrassing as it is, that’s me!"
Ah.
[Kang Yihak : Is it true you received 40,000
points? haha]
Now I remember.
When I joined the group chat, she was the one actively digging for
information, prompting me to hold back a little.
’She seemed to dominate the group chat’s atmosphere.’
More focused on extracting benefits than fostering camaraderie.
That same peer now smiled and extended her hand to me.
"Wow, the top new recruit! Nice to meet you in person. Let’s work well
together~"
"Yes, likewise."
I shook her hand lightly.
...Straightforward.
’She’s less sharp than I expected.’
I had anticipated someone more calculating, but she gave off an easygoing
vibe. There was no sense that her questions were laced with ulterior
motives.
’Well, if she’s genuinely a good person, I can be thankful for that.’
It’s much easier to work with decent people than deal with someone like
Baek Saheon, who was an absolute menace in a team setting.
People who haven’t experienced it wouldn’t understand—screaming
internally at ghosts while being stuck with a sociopath as your only
companion... uugh.
"Let’s move out."
"Yes, sir."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon strode forward, and we quietly followed him to
the vehicle. I got in the driver’s seat and set up the navigation app.
"We’re heading to Gyeonggi-do, right, sir?"
"Yes."
So, this Darkness was taking us entirely out of Seoul.
Judging by the exploration report I reviewed earlier, someone might
misunderstand it as just a weird candy store ghost story, but Qterw-C-1603
was far bigger... and gloomier.
"Um, to enter this ghost story... oh, we gathered late because we need to
wait until sunset, right?"
"That seems to be the case."
I kindly answered Jang Heo-un and started driving.
To enter this Darkness, both the time and location needed to align perfectly.
To access Qterw-C-1603, we had to travel to a residential area on the
outskirts of ■■ City, Gyeonggi Province.
The neighborhood, once a trendy alley business district in the early 2010s
with popular restaurants and cafes, had since become quiet and desolate.
In this area, promotional posters for local stores were occasionally spotted
on utility poles.
In the center of the poster, a QR code was printed alongside the phrase:
’Visit the Death Lane of ■■ City.’
※ Do not stare at the text on the poster for too long.
For convenience, the company had pre-secured a poster, covering
everything except the QR code.
"Supervisor, I’ll scan the QR code for you!"
"Ah, thank you."
When scanned, the QR code directed to the download page of an event app
certified by the ■■ City local government.
It was noted that the app could be downloaded only if the user was under 40
years old.
A short while later, we reached our destination.
After parking in a public lot, we stepped out and began walking along a
quiet alley.
It was the twilight hour, as the short winter day gave way to dusk.
While many restaurants and cafes still remained, the alley had a stagnant air
typical of once-trendy districts past their prime...
"Activate the app now."
I looked at the screen.
After an opening featuring ■■ City’s old logo and mascot, in a slightly
outdated design...
When the app was first launched at this location, just before twilight, a
navigation feature was activated to guide the user.
The app began directing us:
Head toward Death Lane →
Follow the arrow!
My current location appeared on GPS, like augmented reality displayed on
the smartphone screen.
"Let’s walk."
"..."
Keeping our eyes fixed on our respective phone screens, we moved
together.
"Follow the arrow!"
At first, everything seemed normal.
The app guided us along one of the main alleys, gradually leading us
toward the outer edges of the district.
But as time passed...
The path began to distort.
Follow the arrow!
It directed us through narrow gaps between houses, into buildings through
front doors and out the back.
Sometimes it even led us to dead ends, only to make us double back.
The dim alleyways grew darker and eerier, and an uncanny unease began to
creep in.
The nape of my neck felt cold, strange murmurs without proper grammar
reached my ears, and shadowy figures seemed to flicker just out of sight...
’...Stay calm.’
But I couldn’t turn my head.
While following the app’s navigation, do not take your eyes off the screen
for more than 3 seconds or deviate from the guided path under any
circumstances.
Failure to comply will result in being classified as missing.
In silence, we kept moving.
Carefully avoiding bumping into or startling each other.
Follow the arrow!
"I just saw something stra—"
"Shh."
After about 16 minutes of walking in silence...
The faint twilight glow completely vanished.
"..."
"..."
The already dim alley was now plunged into total darkness, all light gone.
Only the glow of our smartphone screens illuminated the residential area.
Tak.
Ta-ta-tak.
One by one, lights began to flicker on along the dark alley.
"...!"
The street-side shops lit up.
Yellow and blue lights from the signs bathed the alley in an eerie glow.
...But this wasn’t the familiar, worn-down district we’d seen earlier.
Rustle, rustle.
The bustling figures of shadowy people filled the alley.
The signs, though seemingly familiar at a glance, bore distorted and
unrecognizable names.
The various shops lining the alley had their doors wide open, welcoming
customers...
Ding!
The app displayed a celebratory message.
Congratulations! You’ve arrived safely. Welcome to Death Lane!
"...Have we arrived?"
"Yes."
We had successfully entered.
Right into the heart of the ghost story.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[■■■ 16th Avenue]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-C-1603
A street lined with shops where beings other than humans solicit
customers.
Explorers who access this alley through the smartphone app must
never close the app.
"Walk slowly."
"..."
We nodded silently and followed Chief Lizard, stepping deeper...
Into the strange alley.