Director Ho’s project team.
A top-secret project with an unparalleled reward—granting a wish ticket to every team member if the project succeeds.
‘And I turned it down.’
The risks were too high, and it felt suspicious.
But now, Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had taken a leave of absence, was working there?
“Look at your expression, Roe. Yeah, I know you were offered a spot on the team and rejected it outright.”
The smile faded from Eun Haje’s face.
“…Good call. Don’t ever join. It’s a headache of a team.”
“……”
But you’re working there, aren’t you, Assistant Manager?“What kind of work are you doing there exactly…?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“……”
Should I push it?
Let’s push it.
“Actually, I was offered the position of team leader for the project.”
“What?!”
“Well, I think it was more of a motivational offer, but I still turned it d—”
“Wait a minute. Let me tell you this before you get any funny ideas later on.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje lowered her voice and whispered,
“Director Ho is a nutjob.”
“…!”
“I don’t even know what the other team members are doing. Director Ho doesn’t allow us to talk to each other if our roles don’t overlap.”
She swallowed hard.
“I think the only reason I was pulled into this is because I applied for a leave of absence. It made me invisible to the rest of the company, which was perfect for him to drag me in.”
“…So that’s why you’ve been hiding?”
“Yeah, it was a requirement.”
That explained why she had snuck into my officetel room quietly, like a ghost.
“I was worried your roommate might catch me.”
“Don’t worry. He’s not here.”
“Oh? Damn, I worried for nothing.”
Baek Saheon had cleverly scheduled his vacation leave with the New Year’s holiday, so he wasn’t here.
“Anyway, I can’t tell you any more than that. Just take it as is.”
And true to her word, Assistant Manager Eun Haje didn’t answer any of my follow-up questions—whether it was about why she needed a wish ticket, what exactly she was doing on the team, or how she was recruited.
She only said,
“I used to make a living uncovering dirt on crazy bastards. This isn’t new to me.”
But those were humans, and this is a creepypasta-infested corporation, Assistant Manager…!
“Take care of yourself, Roe.”
She smiled bitterly.
“Don’t get too invested in other people’s problems. Whether it’s this company or society at large, nothing will exhaust you faster.”
“……”
“I know it sounds ironic coming from someone like me who’s benefited from your help, but I’m serious.”
“It doesn’t sound ironic at all. Thank you.”
“…Ha, you’re still the same.”
As she left the annex, she repeated the same warning several times: take care of myself, mind my own business.
“Thanks again. And remember—January 2nd.”
Then, just like that, she disappeared into the night.
“……”
Director Ho’s project team.
‘It already sounded dangerous just hearing about it.’
For now, I had too many immediate problems to deal with, but I made sure to remember it.
– Well, we’ve gathered quite the collection of intriguing revelations, haven’t we! January 2nd, the swirling conspiracy surrounding Mr. Roe Deer…
– What now, Friend ? Do you have a clever plan to avoid a death notice like that? And remember, when things get tough, your good friend Braun will always be by your side.
“Yeah, thanks.”
– Think nothing of it!
And so, I had my first goal for the New Year: find a way to escape whatever Darkness awaited me on January 2nd.
And this plan worked surprisingly well as I spent the entire New Year’s holiday preparing…
And soon, it was time to head back to work.
* * * January 2nd—
Just as expected, the moment I arrived, I was assigned a new Darkness exploration mission.
But it was assigned ‘only to me’.
“So, you’re saying the section chief has an afternoon meeting with the executives and can’t join today?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m going into the Darkness… alone?”
“No. To comply with the 3-person protocol, two support staff will be assigned to join you in the afternoon.”
Of course. I figured as much.
At this point, I suspected Section Chief Kwak Jaekang was pulling strings behind the scenes.
‘Is he pairing me with some weird employees on purpose?’
Group project villains always knew how to create the worst-case scenario.
‘Better brace myself.’
But things started taking a strange turn.
Before the Darkness exploration mission on January 2nd was assigned to me, an announcement was posted early in the morning.
It was about the restructuring of the elite D-squad.
[Notice of Field Exploration Team Reorganization]
Director Cheong’s groundbreaking proposal had finally been made public.
The Field Exploration Team, which had been buzzing with rumors, finally confirmed the shocking reorganization—the entire D-squad was being promoted to elite status.
The team was turned upside down with excitement.
Moreover, there was one remaining spot in the elite D-squad that would be open to general employees on a short-term basis, with full elite team benefits!
Naturally, those who were curious about this staffing decision… had identified the person with the lowest rank and shortest experience among the related parties.
Yep.
That would be me.
“……”
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
[Hello, Supervisor~ ^^ Congratulations on joining the elite team! I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions…]
[This is the first time I’m messaging you outside the group chat! I wanted to ask about the last open spot on the elite team…]
‘This is really overwhelming…’
That was already my seventh message.
I wished people would think logically—there was no way someone at my level had any say in personnel decisions.
– Hmm? But Friend , didn’t you have an opportunity to select a colleague to work with during that exciting offer? I vividly recall that moment.
That was a bus that had already left the station.
I had declined the poisoned apple, so this wasn’t my business anymore.
‘I have no authority here.’
I spent my morning responding politely with a variation of, ‘I don’t have any authority in this matter either. I’m just a lowly supervisor like you.’
Still, this influx of messages did help me realize something important.
‘I can’t just be sent off randomly on this exploration.’
The January 2nd Darkness exploration had symbolic significance.
It marked the first trial run of the newly restructured elite D-squad.
With the entire Field Exploration Team watching, there was no way they’d assign random, unqualified personnel to me.
That would ruin the image of a successful elite D-squad launch.
‘It’s unlikely Kwak Jaekang can mess with this.’
I couldn’t help but wonder…
‘Who exactly are the two support personnel assigned to accompany me?’
Then, at two in the afternoon—
“Oh, let’s have a good time working together, Supervisor Roe Deer!”
I nearly broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the cheerful staff member entering the D-squad office.
It was Supervisor Dolphin from C-squad.
An elite team member!
“Oh, do you know who the other staff member is? I’m curious!”
“…I’m curious too.”
I started having a bad feeling.
And ten minutes later, right on the dot, the door opened again, confirming my fears.
“We’re both punctual.”
Through the open door came the confident steps of someone in perfectly fitting formal wear, her hair tied high, and wearing a flashy butterfly mask.
It was Assistant Manager Jin Nasol from A-squad.
‘Oh, god.’
They had assigned me two elite team members!
The sight of her, a sunbae known for her ability-driven, cutthroat mentality, left me dizzy. I immediately prepared to bow and greet her, but before I could—
“Long time no see, Assistant Manager—”
“Uh-huh. I heard you turned down Director Ho’s offer.”
“……”
“You made another stupid choice, and yet you still ended up on the elite team? If only everyone was as competent as you, my work would be much easier. At least today, I won’t have to deal with anyone whining.”
…Right.
Nice to see you too, Assistant Manager.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I barely managed a response.
I felt like my soul was about to leave my body, but my mouth continued to function in perfect corporate-mannered form.