Supervisor Park Minseong suppressed a sigh as he sat down next to the sofa in the terrace room where he had been hiding.
'This is taking too long.'
It had been over 70 minutes since Kim Soleum went downstairs with his fellow new hires.
Though Soleum had mentioned that this amount of time might be needed, he had also left a caveat about what to do if neither he nor the others returned within two hours…
– …Don't bother waiting or looking for me.
In other words, if things went south, they should just leave him behind.
'I should've just gone with him.'
Park Minseong stifled another sigh. Even though Daydream Inc. thrived on a survival-of-the-fittest philosophy, there were still some squads in the Field Exploration Team with strong camaraderie, and D-squad happened to be one of them.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje, too, was sitting on the sofa, visibly unsettled as she revised a makeshift map of this Darkness. Every now and then, she sighed deeply.
'…I was hoping Roe would settle into our squad even after the rookie period ends.'
For now, though, making it out of here alive took priority.
Feeling slightly glum, Park Minseong still found some reassurance in one thing.
'Squad Leader Lee Jaheon approved this, after all.'
That meant the item was likely as reliable as it seemed. Minseong had no idea where the rookie had managed to get it, but occasionally, there were such cases—people who joined the company after being repeatedly caught up in urban legends or ghost stories.
'Is he a case like that?'
Perhaps it was more accurate to call it bad luck.
Even in the Field Exploration Team, it was rare for rookies to be deployed into dangerous Darknesses like this—maybe once a year, if that. Thinking about Kim Soleum, who had gone from one high-risk mission— like the theme park—to another, almost brought tears to Minseong's eyes.
'At least he's been earning points.'
Park Minseong suppressed another sigh and looked toward the terrace door.
There stood a figure, completely unbothered, in stark contrast to Minseong's restless thoughts.
Squad Leader Lee Jaheon.
Without the slightest movement, he remained stationed right by the terrace door.
He was likely measuring the passage of time with an unnervingly precise internal clock.
Once the countdown ended, he would undoubtedly rise and act according to plan—without hesitation.
Minseong could only hope that the plan didn't involve 'excluding Kim Soleum from the escape attempt due to a lack of survival prospects'.
'No, before that, I just hope Roe comes back…'
Outside, apart from the occasional scream, there was an unsettling quiet.
'No footsteps yet.'
If Roe had finished his task, surely the sound of three sets of calm footsteps would be the first thing they heard…
[Can you hear me?]
"...?!"
Park Minseong leapt to his feet.
Next to him, Assistant Manager Eun Haje reflexively did the same.
[This is an announcement regarding the escape route.]
[There isn't enough time to repeat myself, so please pay attention.]
It was the voice of the rookie who D-squad had been waiting for—Kim Soleum.
[The exit is at 0F.]
[Let me repeat: the exit is at 0F. You need to descend the stairs until the bronze glow transitions into brass…]
It was undoubtedly Roe's voice.
Given how extraordinary this rookie had proven to be, it wasn't even surprising if he had found a clever way to broadcast an announcement… but.
…What if it wasn't him? What if something not human was merely imitating Kim Soleum?
"..."
The two members of D-squad exchanged a glance, silently leaving the final decision to the person best equipped to handle this.
Their squad leader, who had a reputation for unerring judgment in these situations.
"..."
Lee Jaheon stood by the terrace door, having clearly heard the announcement. He stared blankly into space as if deep in thought.
[You must use the spiral staircase.]
After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.
"Move out."
[That concludes the announcement.]
I finally finished repeating the message for the sixth time. From the first to the sixth floor.
'That should cover all the surface levels.'
I'd debated whether to focus only on D-squad, stationed on the first floor, but Ms. Goral had been adamant.
– Y-You mean you can do that? Then we have to save as many people as we can!
It was such a statement befitting someone in the medical field. Now, however, it was up to everyone's individual judgment.
'I deliberately avoided introducing myself or mentioning the company, but I did include a few terms familiar to the Field Exploration Team…'
Even so, there might be people too suspicious to act.
If they encountered an usher machine on the stairs by chance, there was nothing I could do about that either.
Still, losing a body part or two was still better than dying here as a human grub.
'It also helps spread out the machines that might head toward D-squad.'
I cleared my throat.
"Ah, ah."
Braun seemed to have retracted his energy, as the strange resonance in my throat and lungs faded away.
'Thanks.'
– Gratitude is always music to my ears!
Braun sounded slightly tired but still cheerful.
Meanwhile, from the side, a voice filled with irritation broke the moment of appreciation.
"Why are you wasting points? The more people escape, the fewer points we get individually."
Here we go again with this guy's twisted logic.
And worse, it's an ignorant statement.
"Are you stupid? Do you think there aren't veteran employees who'll find the exit on their own without our help, even if a rookie like you escapes?"
"...!"
There are employees who are so well-equipped with items and specialized gear or just naturally talented that they'll escape without assistance. Even according to the , seven survivors escaping was already guaranteed, so the individual point distribution wouldn't have been above one-eighth regardless of whether I did this or not.
In short, trying to cash in on points from this ghost story wasn't worth it. But instead of explaining all this, I simply smiled faintly.
"This is the kind of situation where making a good impression ensures work becomes more enjoyable later. Plus, I get to observe different reactions."
"..."
Baek Saheon turned his head with an exasperated look.
'Do you even have a conscience?'
If he were to reflect on his previous statement, he'd realize that I should be giving him that exact reaction. What a sociopath, in this twisted ghost story world.
Still, worried that Ms. Goral might have been unsettled, I called out to her.
"Ms. Goral."
"..."
"Ms. Goral?"
"…Wait. Did you just call me?"
"...!"
No way.
"…I think… my hearing is starting to go, just a bit."
"..."
I looked at one of her ears, hidden beneath her hair, where the opening was now absent. Instead, there was a neatly stitched, hollow space. Whatever device had been 'rented' to her as a hearing aid was starting to fail. And in such a short time, too.
'Of all moments…'
"But I can still hear, somewhat. And since there's still plenty of the candle left, I think we can keep moving carefully."
"Yes."
To ensure clearer communication, I gently tapped Ms. Goral on the shoulder. She flinched slightly but then resolutely resumed her descent down the stairs.
Baek Saheon quickly spoke up.
"I should carry the candle. Hand it over to me."
"And what happens if Ms. Goral accidentally turns around because of that?"
"..."
Baek Saheon fell silent.
We began descending the six flights of stairs, tense and alert.
Step, step.
Only the sound of our footsteps filled the stairwell.
It didn't seem like anyone who had heard my broadcast had come out yet…
"Excuse me," Ms. Goral called out.
"Yes."
"..."
Could she not hear me?
"Excuse me, are you there?"
I softly tapped her back. Reluctantly, Baek Saheon also gave her shoulder a couple of light pats.
"Ah… Thank you."
Ms. Goral, reassured, gripped the candle tightly with both hands and continued descending the stairs.
Step, step.
The silence stretched on, feeling almost eternal… until we finally reached the first floor.
Creeeak.
The sound of usher machines echoed from all around, moving along their paths. One of them passed right by us, dragging a dead, human husk along the ground.
"…We'll head to the spiral staircase now."
"Yes."
Ms. Goral raised her voice. She probably couldn't tell how loud she was speaking anymore due to her deteriorating hearing.
'It's fine. We're almost there.'
To react quickly, I kept my ears sharp, walking cautiously but steadily. It wasn't the wrong approach.
But the problem with dangers like these is that they sometimes have nothing to do with how prepared you are.
For instance, you could be focused on listening for threats, only for an entirely unrelated obstacle to appear.
"Huh?"
I noticed that the person in front of me had disappeared from view. Looking down, I saw Ms. Goral's figure falling.
At her feet, something shiny was sliding across the ground. A telescopic lens.
It had fallen off the corpse the usher machine was dragging—an invisible rental item rolling at just the wrong moment into her path…
Thud.
I reached out and caught Ms. Goral.
But as her arm hit the ground, the candle flew out of her grasp.
"No…!"
I reflexively caught the candle and threw it toward Baek Saheon. But it was too late.
The candle went out.
"..."
…Gaaasp—
The usher machine turned to face us.
Whoosh.
A metallic blade flew toward us.
"Eek—"
I rolled to the side. A sharp gasp came from nearby.
The usher machine, having set down the corpse it was carrying, raised its gas lamp to illuminate us.
It must have confirmed that all of us were behind on our 'payments'. Reevaluating its 'priorities', the needle-like appendages mounted on the machine's abdomen flew toward us once again.
Its target: the nearest eye.
"Mr. Roe Deer."
A familiar voice.
"Duck!"
Instinctively, I pushed the heads of my two teammates down and threw myself to the floor.
BANG.
A deafening metallic clash and a shower of sparks erupted above our heads.
"...!"
It was Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
The impossibly strong Field Exploration Team member had ruthlessly deflected the usher machine's needle.
Ting—
The broken tip of the needle flew through the air and embedded itself in the corridor wall. The usher machine twisted its joints, emitting a strange grinding noise.
What madness.
'That thing can break?'
Lee Jaheon withdrew his gloved hand. Judging by the force involved, it wouldn't have been surprising if he had fractured something himself. Clutched in his hand, like a set of brass knuckles, was something metallic… The terrace doorknob.
"...!"
An alarm blared in my mind. That item…
'Exhibition property damage.'
All disruptions, theft, or property damage occurring within the exhibition hall are subject to immediate action by ushers, with corresponding fines collected.
He even broke an usher machine.
Even if the exhibition treated this as a civil issue and only demanded an apology and compensation fees instead of invoking criminal charges… One thing was certain.
The usher machines would now treat this as their top-priority. And it wasn't just the one machine in front of us. All the usher machines in this zone would react the same way…
"Squad Leader."
"Yes."
"Run."
I bolted.
Grrriiiik, grrrrk, jijijik— bzzzzzt, grrk— SCREEEECH!
The sound of the damaged usher machine moving more aggressively than ever filled the air.
Beside me, I could hear my squadmates running like mad. As for the Chief Lizard… wait, hold on!
"Squad Leader!!"
"Yes."
"Stop fighting and just run!"
'No matter how ridiculously strong you are, there's no way you can destroy every usher machine here!'
Just imagining the chaos spreading further was overwhelming.
'Even the Dark Exploration Records had those sections censored!'
I didn't even want to consider how such events might manifest in real life.
Screeeeeech!
'Fuuuck!'
We ran straight into another usher machine blocking the path to the staircase.
No, two more!
"Uuurgh!"
I threw myself through the descending needles, feeling a sharp pain shoot through my arm.
Even as I ran, my instincts screamed the truth.
'I'm going to get caught.'
With human limitations, it was impossible to avoid this. We would be captured and fined before reaching 0F.
A cold chill ran down my back.
'…Is there anything I can do?'
My breath was ragged. Oxygen-deprived, my thoughts became sluggish, giving way to resignation.
'Maybe I've lasted long enough…'
My dulled senses split the surrounding sounds into layers. The echo of footsteps rumbled in my ears, as if dozens of people were running. No, wait!
"...?!"
It hit me.
It wasn't just that the footsteps sounded like many.
There actually were more people now.
Instead of two, there were at least ten or more sets of footsteps.
– Mr. Roe Deer, these must be the folks who took advantage of your excellent broadcast to seize the opportunity!
"...!"
They were Field Exploration Team members.
Spectators who had been watching the situation unfold now seemed to be using the chaos as cover to approach the spiral staircase. This unexpected development had an unintended effect. The usher machines became confused, recalculating priorities based on the importance of tasks and proximity to the various individuals. Everywhere, unpaid participants were breaking into sprints, distracting the machines.
"Hurry up!"
Taking advantage of the brief window, we clenched our teeth and launched ourselves toward the staircase.
Screeeeeeeeeech—
We ran like mad.
The unsettling sounds of the machines grew closer behind us. The staircase ended, and a silvery hall spread out before us. The lobby.
And… the front door!
"Go!"
Assistant Manager Eun Haje and Supervisor Park Minseong were holding the doors open.
We sprinted with everything we had.
As I stepped onto the threshold of the main entrance, my superiors dove through the exit.
I followed, nearly collapsing through the doorway.
Breathless, I ran until the glowing doorway of light enveloped me.
"Huu!!"
When I opened my eyes, I saw a clean ceiling lined with fluorescent lights. A modern hallway of moderate width.
The corridor on the 31st floor of the company, just outside the meeting room.
We'd escaped.
"Hah..."
I collapsed onto the floor.
I could hear the sound of people rushing out from the conference room, but I had no mental energy or strength left to care.
Every ounce of strength had been wrung from my body as I drifted into a dazed state…
An alarm rang out.
[Dark Exploration Records Real Merch Box]
– New merch unlocked!