[Don’t come in today, Roe. Just stay home.]
“Huh?”
I stopped in my tracks on my way to work, having just received a call.
It was from my direct superior, fifteen minutes before I was supposed to clock in.
[I’ll handle this as an on-site matter, so don’t come to the office. I’ve already discussed this with Section Chief Lee Jaheon.]
“Understood. But may I ask why?”
[Well… that’s just how it goes for field staff in this company. It’s an issue with some Darkness, you know. Darkness.]
Ah.
I could hear Assistant Manager Eun Haje letting out a long sigh, accompanied by the faint wailing of Supervisor Park Minseong.
It seemed like the rest of D-squad had already clocked in.[All the new hires are being excluded, not just you. So don’t overthink it and stay home.]
“What kind of Darkness is it?”
[Oh. If you’re not directly involved, I can’t tell you.]
“……”
[Actually, it’s better if you don’t know.]
Could it be one of those? The kind where just knowing about it causes problems?
Like the infamous ‘informational contamination’ ghost stories.
For example, hearing someone’s nightmare only to start dreaming the same thing yourself, or a ghost that relentlessly pursues you until death once you know its name.
The idea of ‘something terrible happening just because I’m aware of it’ stems from humanity’s shared primal fear.
‘And if they’re telling me not to come in because of it, it must be pretty serious…’
Still, judging by their tone, it sounded like they were more concerned about a new hire making a mistake than leaving a dying message, so it should be fine.
…Unless, of course, they were pretending to stay calm just to avoid causing me stress.
‘Either way, I can’t go to the office now.’
If they don’t need me, forcing my way there would only cause trouble. That’d be a perfect recipe for disaster.
I told them I understood and hung up.
‘Guess I’ll clean up the Bloodbathtub today and skim through the <Dark Exploration Records> wiki about five times…’
But just a few hours later—
[Kim Soleum-ssi.]
“Yes?”
[Report to work.]
“……”
What is this, some kind of problem-dog training program…?
While I was still stunned, Chief Lizard continued speaking without missing a beat.
[Be at the main conference room of the 31st floor by 2 PM.]
A conference room on a high floor I’d never even heard of before!
“Wait a moment. I was told not to come in this morning… has the situation changed?”
[Yes. One of the executives has specifically requested your presence.]
“……”
Excuse me?
[I’ll see you at 2.]
Please spare me.
* * * “You’re here.”
At the elevator on the 31st floor, I ran into D-squad’s Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who was anxiously crossing her arms.
I lowered my voice and urgently asked her,
“Has the situation changed?”
“A bit. Ha… that insane bastard.”
And with that ominous comment, I was ushered into the conference room, my head spinning.
“He’s here. Employee Kim Soleum.”
“Ahh.”
“You called him all the way to the conference room? Well, Just send him directly.”
A group of superiors, whose exact affiliations I couldn’t even guess, were sitting around talking.
The moment they noticed me, they fell silent, exchanging glances.
The eerie tension stiffened the back of my neck.
‘Why is the office tension always the same, no matter where you are or what the setting?’
Eventually, their excitement led them to resume their discussion, and I finally figured out why I’d been singled out and summoned to this baffling situation…
It was a classic, annoying reason.
They’re short-staffed.
“Look, it’s confirmed to be a high-grade Darkness, but there are civilian survivors. This could be a revolutionary case for sourcing high-quality materials.”
“That’s what I’m saying. So why are we having endless debates and more meetings about it? Honestly, Department Head Kang, we need to make bold investments!”
“Who said we’re against investing? But this isn’t the kind of issue you can solve by throwing a few more rookies into the mix…”
“Ah, this guy, seriously. Didn’t I say we’re short on manpower? Huh? Our Research Team’s Manager Kwak says so.”
Manager Kwak?
I turned my head to see none other than Section Chief Kwak Jaekang of the Research Team, grinning while occupying a corner seat.
The very mad scientist who had once thrown his own researcher subordinate into a theme park creepypasta.
‘So his disciplinary action is over.’
Just looking at him gave me a headache.
“Isn’t that right, Manager Kwak? We need more people, don’t we?”
“Ah~ That’s right. It’s obvious that we need to increase the number of personnel to deal with this Darkness!”
“……”
Was that guy the consulting expert?
I had a strong suspicion that this wasn’t about a lack of personnel but rather about wanting to see the fresh exploration results of a clueless new hire.
‘In any case, guess I’m heading into this Darkness today.’
And if I was being called in with such grandeur…
The thought that this would be no ordinary mission sent chills down my spine.
They mentioned it was a high-grade Darkness with civilian survivors, didn’t they?
While quickly running through similar cases from the <Dark Exploration Records> in my head, I tried to calm myself.
‘…At least I came prepared.’
Just in case, I brought everything I could today.
A full item package.
“Introductions are done, so you can leave now, everyone.”
“Yes, understood.”
Assistant Manager Eun gave a quick bow and left the conference room with me.
Ka-chak.
The moment the door closed, she muttered under her breath.
“How many more times do I have to watch these bean counters, who’ve never set foot into a Darkness, puff up their chests about their so-called ‘strategic solutions’? Ugh. This is why I can’t quit smoking.”
“Assistant Manager.”
“What, it’s not like they’d hear us over their own bickering.”
But I can hear you.
“Those who couldn’t even pass the Field Exploration Team orientation test but climbed up the ladder using their connections and nepotism… Ugh.”
Assistant Manager Eun glanced around the conference room a few times, her face betraying desperation for one long drag of a cig, then let out a small sigh.
“…Anyway, you heard, right? We’re going into a newly registered high-grade Darkness now.”
So it’s confirmed.
“Not just us—over thirty people have already gone in.”
“…Does that include Section Chief Lee and Supervisor Park?”
“Yeah, they’re already in. …It’s going to be dangerous. I won’t lie to reassure you.”
“……”
“But don’t worry too much. You got us all out alive from that crazy quiz show, didn’t you? We’ll be fine.”
“…Understood.”
I adjusted the strap on my satchel, slinging it across my chest.
“Is that your gear?”
“Yes. Food and other supplies.”
“Hmm. Looks about a good size.”
Assistant Manager Eun scanned my appearance a few times and asked,
“Nothing that would get flagged during security checks, right?”
“…No, ma’am.”
I made it past the front gate without issue.
Though I felt like the cursed wild ginseng could have caused problems, I’m technically not carrying anything illegal, so it should be fine.
Still, I wondered why D-squad wasn’t moving as a group today, leaving only the assistant manager behind.
“May I ask how the others entered?”
She pointed with her chin, her face expressionless.
“They disappeared the moment they read the manual.”
“……”
“That’s the kind of Darkness this is. The moment you learn even a little about it, you’re pulled in.”
Huu.
“I haven’t read it yet so I could take you in myself. We’ll read it together.”
“Understood.”
Wow, this is actually going to drive me insane.
“It’ll be fine. Neither of them are the type to die easily.”
Please don’t say ominous lines like that!