[Roe, don’t clock in today. Just stay put.]
“Pardon?”
I froze on my way to work after receiving a phone call.
Fifteen minutes before I was supposed to clock in, my immediate supervisor called me.
[Don’t come to the office. I’ll handle the fieldwork. I’ve already talked it over with Manager Lee Jaheon.]
“Understood. But may I ask why?”
[Eh… that’s just how things go for field staff here. It’s related to some Darkness, you know.]
Ah.
Deputy Manager Eun Hajae sighed audibly over the phone. In the background, Supervisor Park Minseong’s faint wailing could be heard.
It sounded like Team D had already shown up to work.
[You’re not the only one. All the new hires are excluded, so don’t overthink it. Just stay home.]
“What kind of darkness is it?”
[That’s classified. You’re allowed to know only if you’re directly involved.]
“…”
[Actually, it’s better if you don’t know.]
Don’t tell me… Is it one of those?
The kind of ghost story where knowing too much spells trouble—like the ones where just hearing about someone else’s nightmare dooms you to dream the same one, or where learning the name of a vengeful ghost ensures it will haunt you forever.
Fears like this—where just being aware of something leads to catastrophic consequences—are a common thread in humanity’s collective paranoia.
‘And if they’re telling us to skip work entirely, this has to be serious.’
Still, judging by their tone, they were more concerned about us newbies making mistakes than leaving us a grim farewell. That was… reassuring.
Unless they were pretending to sound nonchalant to avoid scaring us.
‘Either way, showing up now is probably a bad idea.’
They didn’t need me, and barging in would just be a hassle. A great way to get myself into trouble.
I told them I understood and hung up.
‘Might as well use the day to clean the Bloodlust Bath and re-read <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> five times…’
But a few hours later, another call came through.
[Kim Sol-eum.]
“Yes?”
[Report to work.]
“…What?”
Was this some kind of stress test for problem employees?
The Lizard Manager continued speaking while I was still in a trance.
[Arrive at the 31st-floor conference room by 2 PM.]
Wait, what? The 31st floor? I’d never even heard of a conference room up there!
“Excuse me, but earlier, I was told not to come in. Has the situation changed?”
[Yes. An executive personally requested you to be present.]
“…”
What now?
[See you at 2.]
Somebody save me.
* * *
“You’re here.”
Deputy Manager Eun Hajae was waiting by the elevator on the 31st floor, looking visibly anxious with her arms crossed.
I immediately lowered my voice to ask her, “Has the situation changed?”
“A bit. Damn it… That lunatic.”
Before I could process her words, I was ushered into the conference room. My mind was spinning.
“You’re here. Kim Sol-eum, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why was he called all the way up here? You could’ve just sent him in.”
A group of senior staff, whose affiliations were unclear, had gathered in the room. Their casual chatter stopped abruptly as they glanced at me, exchanged cryptic looks, and then resumed their hushed conversation.
‘Why is the corporate tension the same, no matter where you go?’
Eventually, their loud, animated debate revealed the reason for this bizarre summons.
It was a classic and frustrating problem.
They were understaffed.
“I’m telling you, it’s confirmed to be a high-grade darkness, but there are civilian survivors! This could revolutionize our high-quality resource procurement!”
“Exactly! Why are we wasting time deliberating, holding more meetings? We should be bold, Department Head Kang!”
“It’s not about whether we invest or not! Throwing in a mix of few rookies won’t fix anything…”
“Oh, stop being so cautious! Didn’t Manager Gwak from the research team already say we need more people?”
Manager Gwak?
I turned my head and—of course—it was none other than Gwak Jegang, the infamous research team leader. There he was, grinning smugly from his corner seat.
The same mad scientist who once sent his team researcher into a theme park haunted by ghost stories.
‘So he’s back from suspension, huh.’
Just seeing him made my head hurt.
“Isn’t that right, Manager Gwak? We just need more personnel, don’t we?”
“Oh, absolutely. All we need to clear the darkness is more personnel!”
“…”
I had a sinking feeling they didn’t actually need more people. He just wanted fresh, clueless recruits to generate new exploration data.
‘Still, it seems like I’ll be heading into this darkness regardless.’
And if they’re going to such lengths for this, it’s bound to be something big.
A high-grade darkness… with civilian survivors? That sounded unusual.
I quickly tried to recall similar cases from <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> while mentally steeling myself.
‘At least I came prepared.’
I’d packed every conceivable tool and supply I could think of. Full item loadout.
“We’re done here. You can all leave now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Deputy Manager Eun Hajae gave a perfunctory bow and led me out of the conference room.
Thunk.
As soon as the door shut behind us, she let out an exasperated sigh.
“How many more times do I have to watch these clueless amateurs who’ve never even set foot in a darkness, talk about ‘strategic solutions’? Ugh… This is why I can’t quit smoking.”
“Deputy Manager.”
“What? It’s not like they’d hear me with all the noise in there.”
I heard you, though.
“Those clowns probably couldn’t even pass the field exploration entrance test but somehow finagled their way into cushy executive seats using connections. Ugh, forget it.”
Then, with a resigned sigh, she added, “Anyway, you heard them, right? We’re going into a newly registered high-grade darkness.”
So I was right.
“Over 30 people have already been sent in.”
“…Does that include the Team Leader and Supervisor Park?”
“Yeah. They went ahead first… It’ll be dangerous. I won’t lie to you just to keep you calm.”
“…”
“But don’t worry too much. You got us out of that insane quiz show Darkness, alive. You’ll be fine.”
“…Understood.”
I adjusted the crossbody strap of my bag.
“Is that your equipment?”
“Yes. Food and other essentials.”
“Hmm. The size is decent.”
The deputy manager gave me a quick once-over and asked, “Nothing that’d get flagged during the security check, right?”
“…Yes.”
I’d made it past the front gate without issue. Hopefully, none of my supplies, like that cursed ginseng root, were confiscated.
But why was Team D acting separately, with only the deputy manager staying behind?
“Can I ask how the others entered?”
She gestured curtly with her chin.
“They vanished the moment they finished reading the manual.”
“…What?”
“This is that kind of darkness. Once you learn even a little about it, you get pulled in.”
Hoo.
“I’ve been holding off reading this, waiting to bring you along. Let’s read it together.”
“Yes.”
Oh, this is insane.
“It’ll be fine. They’re not the kind of people to die easily.”
Please don’t say lines that sound like ominous foreshadowing!
‘Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.’
I took a deep breath and accepted the manual the deputy manager handed me.
…Reading this would mean stepping into that high-grade darkness.
‘…I need to be mentally prepared.’
I read through it in one go.
+++
Hello.
You’re now accessing the manual summarizing the experiences of previous visitors to our exhibition.
+++
“…!”
+++
Before proceeding to the next section, we’d like to inform you that you’ve been invited to a magnificent exhibition.
+++
“……”
A shiver ran down my spine.
‘I’m screwed.’
I squeezed my eyes shut.
In my head, a fully formed Wiki page sprang into view.
-------------------------------
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Ghost Story
[Mansion of the Sightless Ones]:
A ghost story listed in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>.
Daydream Incorporation ID Code: Qterw-B-666
Hello, dear guest. This was written to invite you to a magnificent exhibition.
To ensure your journey is seamless, once you’ve read this, you will arrive at our exhibition no matter where you go.
The previous visitors’ records indicate up to 106 attendees.
Attempts to document this ghost story consistently resulted in the alteration of the information into invitations from the exhibition.
We’re honored to have the chance to invite you.
-------------------------------
A notorious ghost story synonymous with informational contamination.
The kind of topic that racks up hundreds of thousands of views on video platforms if it’s even briefly mentioned!
‘The Eye Collector.’
“……”
With a pounding heart, I returned my gaze to the manual.
The dreaded phrase was right there, just as expected.
+++
To ensure your journey is seamless, once you’ve read this, you will arrive at our exhibition no matter where you go.
+++
And just like that, it happened.
“Hah.”
As I stepped back, I realized the floor beneath my feet had changed.
From the matte office tiles to an old, polished marble floor.
Thud.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
A massive mansion, cloaked in eerie stillness, revealed itself. The kind of quiet where you could hear the flickering flames of candles.
The twilight and amber glow of candlelight illuminated the grand, antique interior in a reddish-gold hue.
Countless exhibits stood veiled in shadows, their outlines barely visible.
“……”
The deputy manager was nowhere to be seen.
But I didn’t do something foolish like calling out for her.
Instead, I carefully took a step back.
And hid in a corner.
‘…Huuu.’
Crouched behind a sofa, I opened the manual again with trembling hands.
+++
Daydream Incorporation has gathered and summarized the shared reviews of nine exhibition visitors:
1 - An opportunity to view unique and rare collections never seen elsewhere.
2 - Eating or drinking within the exhibition halls is strictly prohibited.
3 - Standard etiquette is highly recommended.
4 - Finding the exit is extremely challenging.
Please note that the exhibition strongly objects to the last statement. All emergency exits within the venue are appropriately marked.
Anyone may leave the exhibition at any time should they wish to do so.
+++
That must be true.
The problem is, that the “anyone” in question does not include humans.
People cannot use the emergency exits or entrances here properly.
“…Haa.”
An exhibition that so casually assumes its visitors aren’t human.
Modern humans, dragged unwittingly into this massive nightmare, serving as the hapless victims of cosmic horror.
That’s the unpleasant premise of this ghost story.
Honestly, I didn’t like it. I couldn’t even understand why it was so popular on YTube.
“– Friend?”
“…!”
“– Oh my, Roe Deer. Are you hiding right now?”
I never thought I’d be so relieved to hear someone to talk to.
I pulled Braun halfway out of my pocket.
“– My, this place isn’t bad at all.”
“– Why don’t you step out and take a look? This location seems quite suitable to introduce to potential patrons, wouldn’t you say?”
Step out?
‘No way.’
“– Oh dear, might I ask why? This seems to be quite the polite and comfortable invitation extended by a rather courteous host.”
As expected of someone who lures people with postcards, into a murderous quiz show.
My head was starting to hurt…
I pressed my temples and rose from the sofa.
“– Ah, so you’ve decided to explore!”
No.
‘I’m moving to a different spot.’
Carefully scanning the walls, I searched for a breeze.
Soon enough, I found what I was looking for in a dark, hidden corner blocked by a massive vase, far from the candlelight.
‘An air duct.’
I quietly slipped inside, leaving the latch unlocked, and held my breath.
A temporary safe zone I remembered.
-------------------------------
In the fifth visitor record, a gentleman entered the air duct and survived for over five days by licking condensation from water droplets.
On the sixth day, the guide found him.
Our exhibition is always prepared with guest rooms for long-term visitors, so please keep this in mind.
( ※The annotation from the 42nd visitor record to “absolutely avoid staying in the guest rooms” is deeply regrettable. Our exhibition operates in accommodations that befit the dignity of its collections, and it has always maintained an excellent reputation.)
-------------------------------
“– What? Leaving a perfectly good sofa for this filthy place!”
I ignored it. I need to come up with a plan here.
‘How do I get out?’
Or maybe, why did they think a large number of people would be necessary for this exploration in the first place?
A large team isn’t any more advantageous… Wait.
Could it be that they just didn’t know?
Is this still early in the exploration stages?
‘If that’s the case, wouldn’t this expedition already be documented in the early chapters of <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>?’
“……”
I pulled out my phone, dimmed the screen as low as it would go, and flipped through <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> while lying prone.
And there it was.
-------------------------------
In the 17th visitor record, 34 employees of Daydream Incorporation’s field exploration team were invited to visit the exhibition.
Seven of them safely returned.
-------------------------------
This is it.
I’m one of the 34 people in that 17th record.
Most likely the 35th person.
‘...Only seven returned.’
Just as I was about to cross-reference the manual and <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> to investigate further—
Creak.
“….”
From somewhere far off, a sound began.
The slow, deliberate noise of a machine moving.
And then—
Aaaah! Why is it chasing us?!! Go away! Go awaaaay!!!
Screams and the frantic pounding of footsteps.
“……”
Thud! Thud! Creeeak, thud! Thud-thud-thud-thud, creeeak, thud!
The sound reverberated through the marble floor, drawing closer.
A cold sweat slid down my cheek.
Help! No, noooo!!!
Let us out, let us oooouuut—!!!
The frantic sounds of people running, their desperate cries, grew louder and louder.
Until they were nearly right on top of me.
At least a dozen people, maybe more.
Behind them, the heavy mechanical noise of something slow but inescapable.
Creeeeeeeeak.
Plop.
Sweat dripped from my chin.
“….”
‘Just one person.’
After intense deliberation, I leaned out.
And, in a flash, I grabbed the back of one person fleeing at the tail end of the group.
“…!”
Practically hauling them into the air, I shoved them into the duct with me, ducking down as I did.
‘There’s just enough space for one more.’
And if they’re a field exploration team member, the chances of them being a liability are low. Probably.
“Huff.”
The person, trembling moments before, grasped the situation and immediately went quiet.
Good. They seemed sharp enough… Wait a second.
“…!”
“……!!”
‘Baek Saheon.’
My dorm roommate.
Wearing a goat mask, Baek Saheon swallowed hard, squeezed into the duct, and stared at me.
I saved this punk out of everyone.
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