Cheerful Theme Park was a B-rank Darkness under Daydream Inc.
And its manual had already been written, with the analysis completed by the Research Team.
…I don’t have to make an effort to remember that I contributed to it.
: Socius :
Because the tattoo on my wrist, engraved as the admission ticket for that theme park, burned in as it activated.
And usually, the fate of a high-ranked Darkness that’s been fully analyzed goes one of two ways.
Assignment to the Research Team.
Or…
“It’s handled by the A-squad.”Elite team responsibility.
“Usually, the A-squad assembles three regular members, three round-off team members, and six general members, so twelve people enter at a time… Well, the last entry was three months ago, so there’s still some time before the next.”
Director Ho smiled as he handed over the documents.
The manual for Cheerful Theme Park, describing the twelve-person entry method using a board game.
And the work order.
[Special Research Entry]
“So I went ahead and scheduled it separately.”
“…Thank you.”
“No problem! It wasn’t even difficult.”
That might actually be true.
After all, the A-squad is part of Director Ho’s faction.
‘Since it’s a ghost story under his jurisdiction, it must’ve been easy for him to arrange it.’
Of course, that’s Director Ho’s situation, and as a mere regular employee who got special consideration from him, I should just bow my head for now…
But Director Ho’s explanation didn’t end there.
“And to make your entry easier, I’ve already gathered all the other staff who’ll be entering with you. Haha.”
“……!”
Why do I have such a bad feeling about this…?
“Ah, are you worried you’ll know someone among the group going in? Worried they’ll recognize you, Soleum-nim?”
“Yes. As you said, I am a bit concerned about that.”
“Right! That’s why, Soleum-nim, unfortunately…”
Director Ho pointed at me.
“You won’t be able to enter in your original appearance.”
I know.
“Yes. That’s why I was planning to use the welfare points you distributed to purchase a disguise potion and take it…”
“That would be so inconvenient for you. And, since you’re having to live as someone else even outside of work these days… I wanted to minimize that discomfort for you.”
“……”
“So, I found a way for you to enter that no one will suspect at all!”
Excuse me?
I looked at him warily.
In turn, Director Ho beamed at me.
“How about you go in with a special identity, Soleum-nim?”
“…!?”
* * * The next day.
Conference room of Daydream Inc. Research Team 2.
“I heard it’s B-rank today.”
“They’ll give us extra points, right?”
One by one, people appeared. Modern office workers in suits, each wearing a strange animal mask. Employees of the Field Exploration Team.
They were general team members who had gathered despite the ‘slightly special’ risk, drawn by the rumor that the point bonus would be better.
“Cheerful Theme Park, right?”
“Yeah, gotta go for that one.”
Word had gotten around.
Even though this Darkness was high-ranked, it had a thorough manual, and a certain staff member’s theories during previous expeditions had proven exactly right, so it was considered relatively safe.
So when news of a special entry came up, and it turned out to be the Cheerful Theme Park, people quietly spread the word and came together.
The fact that it was for research made people nervous, but as long as they weren’t the one to die, that was enough.
‘If only there were at least one round-off team guy, I’d feel safer.’
People kept their eyes narrow and scanned the room, pretending not to, but unfortunately, there wasn’t anyone who looked like round-off team staff.
However, there was someone who used to be in the round-off team.
“Huh?”
A tall figure with long, dark brown hair, standing quietly against the wall, wearing a bison mask.
“You were assigned to a branch, weren’t you? They let you sign up for this from over there? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Uh… Um, yes.”
It was Jang Heowoon.
He broke out in a cold sweat as an employee he barely knew came up and started talking to him.
A side effect of spy work…!
“How’s the branch? Surviving over there?”
“Haha, yes…”
Jang Heowoon gave an awkward smile and slipped away.
The people who spoke to him didn’t press further and simply ignored him.
They misunderstood, thinking he was just embarrassed.
‘I heard that it’s absolute hell in the branch offices.’
‘He’s basically done with Wish Tickets now.’
Anyone who managed to escape from a branch office back to HQ clammed up and refused to describe it, just shaking their head in disgust.
And a subtle stigma attached to them.
No doubt the entrance exam for HQ was more difficult.
Judging by the level of benefits and treatment, maybe at the branch offices even random nobodies could work there.
So there was no one here who’d share information or make friendly small talk with someone thrown out of HQ and dumped into a branch office.
‘If something happens, that guy can die for us.’
‘He was from the round-off team, anyway.’
And so, a tacit air of disregard settled around him.
“Are you okay?”
Except for this person.
“Hey, how have you been? Escaping the round-off team was pretty cool. Let’s do our best today!”
“T-Thank you…”
Wearing a dolphin mask, Supervisor Lee Songhae of the C-squad shook hands with Jang Heowoon and took a seat beside him
‘Acting all damn nice, huh.’
‘Such a try-hard.’
But since she’s from the elite team, everyone keeps their mouth shut and looks away in a different sense.
And here, there’s someone whose position is ambiguous. Hard to call elite, but not really general team staff either.
“It’s Section Chief Lee, isn’t it?”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon of the D-squad sat on a conference room chair, ramrod straight, wearing a lizard mask.
‘He’s going in too?’
‘He tanked in the elite team, and now he’s doing all sorts of odd things.’
‘What a waste of a good face.’
Still, people avoided making eye contact, as if they’re afraid.
A fist was closer than the law… especially if that fist could smash through iron.
Anyway, that was the end of the subtle sizing-up.
“Once everyone’s here, we’ll begin the briefing in a moment.”
Soon, a researcher entered and started setting up for the Darkness entry procedure, and the staff quickly scanned who was sitting at the table.
One, two, three…
“There’s only eleven.”
“Huh? Who’s missing?”
Some of the more impatient and senior staff glanced over at the researcher.
But—
“Uh, um…”
The researcher was sweating bullets.
“……”
…A bad feeling crept down the employees’ spines.