The meeting room was in chaos.

"17 people have returned alive!"

"17...?! Wait, is that number correct? Isn't there a counting error?"

"Yes! Oh, it's now increased to 20 people."

The Field Exploration Team that had been deployed to the anticipated darkness in the morning had suddenly returned en masse.

Faced with a situation completely opposite to their predictions, they were momentarily paralyzed in their response.

"What's going on? We finished the case study, and they said they'd escape in small groups sequentially, but what is this?"

Amidst the unexpected turn of events, all sorts of comments flew around, questioning whether these were really the employees they had sent in, and whether they all needed to be examined in the research lab.

But as the initial shock subsided, a subtle thought began to creep into their minds... a thrilling premonition of success.

Isn't this an encouraging result?

Similar thoughts arose in the minds of several people who had pushed for this operation.

'If this survival rate is real...!'

Their bold and wise investment choice had paid off!

They were so stunned they could hardly believe it, as they hadn't expected such a high success rate in personnel retrieval.

'Shouldn't we start shaping public opinion right away?'

'Wait, I should mention my contributions from now on.'

However, all this confusion, excitement, and worry were instantly erased.

After one more piece of news was delivered.

"It's B-Grade, they say."

"Huh."

The dream essence collector of the first employee to escape was appraised, and the liquid was judged to be B-Grade.

In other words, the 'A-grade with high survival rate' they had dreamed of... didn't exist.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the meeting room sank into disappointment.

"Ah... I should have known."

"Didn't we bring this bad luck on ourselves by getting too excited about it being A-grade?"

"Still, isn't this survival rate unusual for a B-grade? Right, Manager Gwak?"

Researcher Gwak Jegang, who had been urgently summoned, smiled faintly.

"Of course~ It's quite remarkable."

No, in fact, it's not just remarkable... it's astounding!

Do these people even know what the initial employee survival rates are for each grade?

That's why they don't realize how incredible this situation is! That's why they're not foaming at the mouth wanting to know the details of the exploration right away!

'Wow~ This is amazing.'

Gwak Jegang found it amusing to see them exchanging platitudes and consolations with nuances like 'We were just unlucky, our judgment was correct.'

Does this look like a situation that needs consolation?

'Do these gentlemen have no sense of reality at all?!'

The average survival rate for B-grade was in the 2% range.

The very act of deploying a large number of employees without proper manuals was a sloppy gamble, and yet they respond with disappointment and self-praise to this astounding result?

Even though they hastily adopted the opinion of just one research team manager who told them what they wanted to hear, supposedly as expert advice!

The reason was obvious.

'Because they wanted to do it!'

Thanks to that, while he was excited about analyzing the interesting results he had obtained, Gwak Jegang found it surprising that this company could function properly with such higher-ups in the development department.

Gwak Jegang felt sorry inside. This company needed to last long for him to be able to research these fascinating paranormal phenomena extensively!

But isn't the caliber of people in the so-called 'Innovative Development Strategy Office' a risk for this company?

They say family-run companies are usually a mess with no real system when you look inside, but still.

'I'd heard rumors, but... are all the higher-ups attached to the owner's side like this?'

Of course, not everyone in this room was like that.

Gwak Jegang glanced at one person sitting a bit apart from the others.

This was someone who hadn't been present at the last meeting.

'One of Director Ho's people.'

He was sitting there after saying he 'could attend briefly if there was interest in this agenda.'

Even though the development department higher-ups often meddled with the field exploration team in various ways, this was unusual.

Moreover, he was openly receiving remote reports about the situation from his own people.

Like this.

"I hear one employee greatly assisted in this large-scale escape."

"What??"

An atmosphere tinged with wariness and tension rather than a desire to look good.

But everyone was shocked by what followed.

"It's a new hire."

"...!"

"Apparently, they 'broadcasted' the escape method to all employees... We should look into the details of how this was done."

"..."

"There are some who are curious about this."

It must be Director Ho.

The strategy office people exchanged glances and started babbling excuses.

"Ah, we'll transmit the detailed contents as soon as the exploration report comes out."

"That's right. Usually, when they come out right after field exploration, they're not in their right mind and might say nonsense."

"But they wouldn't make up stories out of nowhere, would they?"

"Well..."

"That's why I'm saying this."

Director Ho's person cut in.

"I hear they're also curious about what decisions the 'Innovative Development Strategy Office' will make."

"..."

"I'm talking about rewarding the employee."

* * *

"Congratulations, Supervisor Kim."

"...Pardon?"

I almost spit out the iced Americano I was drinking on the medical room bed.

After a simple physical examination, I had been lying down for a few hours, hearing the tearfully grateful words, ‘You, our youngest, had a hard time, just rest.'

I thought I would only hear the details about this exploration after coming to work tomorrow, after going home...

Supervisor?

"No, you didn't hear wrong. Supervisor Kim."

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae grinned.

"They say you’re getting promoted. In record time since the establishment of the field exploration team in this company!"

"...!!"

"I honestly saw this coming. Now, I can’t hear Roe speaking in formal speech anymore."

"Hey, just wait another half year and you'll be speaking informally with me too, okay?"

Come on, this isn't some neighborhood corner store. How can an employee be promoted to Supervisor in just two months?

'Isn't this just a common company rumor?'

I asked this more politely, but the answer was firm.

"No, it's deserved. Do you know how many employees you saved this time?"

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae crossed his arms.

"A total of 26 people, including you."

"...!"

"Roe, I heard 17 of them escaped after hearing your broadcast!"

"If we include those who escaped later after confirming others had escaped, we can say you essentially saved them all."

The deputy manager added that there were even a few civilian escapees.

"Isn't this kind of record something that happens once every few years? Honestly, it shouldn't end with just a promotion, they should do something more."

"That's right. Let's try to find out more after the team leader finishes the meeting tomorrow. I have a feeling they'll give something."

I was grateful for the superiors who were excited as if it were their own affair, but I felt dazed.

A promotion.

...A promotion after just 60 days of work in a large corporation!

It makes a modern person's heart flutter!

"You better prepare yourself mentally. Special Promotions tend to come out quickly."

And it really happened.

The very next day, I saw the promotion-related document posted on the intranet.

[Special Promotion Announcement]

As if it were natural, the three characters 'Kim Sol-eum' were written there.

"..."

Zzzzing.

My smartphone is ringing. It seems congratulatory messages are coming from here and there...

Wait a minute.

'It looks like they're handling this quickly to minimize internal backlash.'

The field exploration team is also a place where humans work. Naturally, it means that when they receive help for their lives, they feel emotional gratitude or appreciation.

In that sense, well, about 26 people will probably feel something like gratitude towards me, so there won't be much backlash...

The will to promote me without missing that timing was felt in the announcement timing.

But why...? Why are they promoting me like this?

'H-How much more are they planning to use me?'

Wasn’t it enough to go into newly registered ghost stories without manuals?

The more I imagined, the more terrifying predictions came to mind, so I contacted a superior from the elite team...

[Are you stupid? It would be weirder if you weren't promoted.]

 "...??"

[I heard even the manual revisor came looking for you when you went missing? It's obvious you’d catch the attention of the higher-ups with achievements like that.]

Deputy Jin Nasol from Team A clicked her tongue.

[I should have just brought you to our team when there was a vacancy. Tsk. Why did you refuse unnecessarily?]

"..."

[Anyway, I'll congratulate you. It was a promotion you were going to get anyway.]

In the end, I had to hang up the phone with a hollow feeling.

And leaning back in my office chair, I thought.

Right.

It seems I've come to this stage despite denying reality...

'Am I... an elite employee?'

A special character worthy of being registered as a named entity in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>?

The kind of character that some hardcore creators might try to kill off plausibly somehow to maintain the atmosphere of the world view, to be removed from the wiki...

But then as videos go viral on YouTube and such, gaining popularity and recognition, they end up just leaving it be... that kind of character?

I think they call this a Mary Sue…

[TL/N: Mary Sue is a term used to describe a character archetype in fiction, usually a young woman, who is often portrayed as inexplicably competent across all domains, gifted with unique talents or powers, liked or respected by most other characters.]

'How did it come to this?'

Well, it might have been unavoidable.

Honestly, having read all of <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> was cheating!

'I've been trying my best not to show it in situations where I might die if I don't use it.'

The problem is...

'What do I do now if they find out I'm actually a coward?'

It would be wishful thinking to assume this will end with just an assignment to the residual team.

I couldn't tell how far the ripples would spread.

If the question arises, 'Why have your achievements been so good until now despite being a coward?'...

'It seems like interrogation and experiments await me...?'

The future of being dragged to the research team the moment it's revealed I came from a parallel dimension flashed before my eyes.

Cold sweat seems to be trickling down my forehead.

Ah, no.

I got up from my seat and took a lap around the pantry with my coffee.

The caffeine cleared my head a bit.

Right.

 'If I can't avoid it, I need to increase my survival rate here.'

If I've already been noticed, continuing to show performances worthy of that might actually help avoid unnecessary attention.

'I need to make them think this person is naturally this capable and unique.’

It's not like there aren't such employees, right? Like the Lizard team leader or Butterfly Mask Jin Deputy.

I'll just be classified as one of the named entities and that's it.

Although the probability of being deployed to more dangerous ghost stories has increased… Ugh, no. It might not be that bad.

If I'm treated as high-level personnel, they might send me to fewer completely deadly situations!

'And I can earn points faster too.'

The more I thought about it, the better it seemed for escaping this world quickly, but...

There was an essential step needed for that.

'I need to build a character...'

I needed to appear as a 'capable and special unit' naturally enough not to arouse suspicion.

Just like how I acted crazy in front of Baek Saheon, while maintaining an appropriate line.

For that...

'...I need more cards I can use for character traits.'

"..."

I looked up.

Above my head, what had been constantly sparkling since escaping the exhibition was still there in its place. 

[Chronicles of Darkness Exploration Real Goods Box]

– Unlocked the usage rights for new merch! (!)

I had been putting off checking this until my physical strength recovered and my judgment returned, as I would have to make plans again if I opened it.

One of the goods I had bought at the pop-up store.

'It's time to open it.'

But I have no idea how I unlocked this ‘usage right’ at the exhibition.

I lightly touched the black notepad glowing at my bedside, moving as if stretching.

Click.

With a slightly clear sound, a small, light object wrapped in plastic fell into my hand.

"..."

Shining silver, in the shape of a small shield with 'CHARGE' engraved in relief calligraphy...

It was a badge.

'Ah.'

I understood.

The condition I fulfilled was 'doing good deeds'.

-------------------------------

Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau

/ Item

Silver Heart:

The wearer gains others' reverence according to their accumulated altruistic actions.

Strongly reflects the creator's value that 'it is socially most efficient for altruistic individuals to gain power.'

Item usage condition: Those who have achieved the merit of saving 12 or more people in a supernatural disaster.

-------------------------------

The so-called 'Character Certification Badge'.

It was an item produced and distributed by the Disaster Management Bureau. It had exploded in popularity after playing a big role in the exploration record of a certain sealed train explosion ghost story there.

This unique attribute made it even more popular.

As you can see, it's an item exclusively for good people.

An object that allows good people to exert influence on a group.

'To think the day would come when I fulfill this condition...'

It's almost burdensome.

It was an item that was used in mostly heartwarming ways, uncommonly so, but there was just one instance where it led to an insane-level catastrophe.

'That's how the ghost story world works, I guess.'

When records accumulate, there's always one terrifying incident mixed in to create tension.

So in the past, there were records of it being distributed to very kind civilians, but it was changed to only being lent out to government employees under strict regulations.

I had watched the wiki being updated in real time.

What does this mean?

It means that at this point, it's almost impossible to predict that a Daydream Inc. employee would use this 'Silver Heart'!

'So I can actually use it.'

I don't know how many good deeds I'll be able to do in the future with my nose three feet long, but I should at least be able to receive the basic effect, right?

At the very least, if it gives the impression that 'This person seems quite extraordinary' to the people I work with, it will be much easier to appear as a capable employee.

'Good. Let's keep it safe.'

There's always a way out.

I carefully put the 'Silver Heart' in my pocket and left the pantry with a much lighter heart.

Then, a reward for this exhibition exploration was waiting for me as well.

"Roe! It's not on the official document yet, but they say you're getting a bonus prize!"

"...!"

"Ugh, it's really sad that our Roe is surprised by this when you obviously deserve it..."

"That's what I'm saying! Do they think B-grade Darkness is some kid's playground? Some people die as soon as they step in… You think this is a joke?"

U-Ugh. Thanks, I guess.

"But it's good that the bonus prize turned out to be quite decent."

'Decent'?

That's high praise by Deputy Eun's standards.

Judging by her expression, there's even a hint of admiration. It wasn't ordinary.

"...What kind of item is it?"

"A regeneration potion."

"...!!"

"You probably can't quite grasp what it is just from the name, right?"

I grasped it too well.

It was an item so famous that it was impossible not to know!

This wasn't just some health recovery potion you'd get from the medical room.

– One of the official product lines that <Daydream Inc.> prides itself on. One of the magic potions.

A miracle cure.

-------------------------------

Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Daydream Inc.

/ Potion

Regeneration Potion:

A magic potion that regenerates all external injuries.

It becomes more powerful as the grade increases and has a deep green hue.

-------------------------------

 "To put it simply, it's a potion that regenerates body parts... and it's C-Grade. It should be able to regenerate even if you lose your limbs."

"...!"

"Even the equipment exclusive to manager level and above doesn't have this kind of ability. It's this company's special potion. If converted to points, it's worth 10,000 points at regular price."

The deputy patted my back with a grin.

"You'll find it very useful later. It's such a dangerous industry, after all. How great is it that your arms, legs, eyes, nose, and mouth will grow back even if they're blown off?"

I think she could have done without saying that last part...

"And... there's news that might be a bit disappointing or good, want to hear it?"

"Yes?"

"You're not the only one receiving this."

* * *

"Sol-eum!"

"Hello."

I greeted Go Yeongeun, who was waving at me. I could see Baek Saheon sitting next to her.

The company had gathered the three of us for a photo op while distributing compensation.

It had been a few days since we escaped the exhibition.

Baek Saheon, my roommate? These days, he barely leaves his room. Thanks to that, I could watch Braun on the living room TV comfortably.

"Did you rest well? Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine. As for Go Yeongeun..."

I started speaking, then realized.

Go Yeongeun was observing my lip movements, trying her best to read what I was saying.

"My ears, they aren’t working still."

"..."

Of course, that would be the case.

Fortunately, the rental device in her ear was automatically returned the moment we left the exhibition, so it seemed there was no chance of 'exhibition staff' coming after us.

Moreover, Go Yeongeun was holding the compensation she had just received from the company.

When you open the box decorated with luxurious gold leaf and mural-like designs, inside is a beautiful glass bottle sealed with wax.

A spring-like light green color rippling inside the glass.

: Daydream Potion :

Regeneration

C (excellent)

C-grade regeneration potion.

Go Yeongeun lifted the glass bottle.

Her eyes were filled with hope, anxiety, and anticipation.

"Um, then I'll drink it right away."

"Okay."

Go Yeongeun opened the 'regeneration potion'.

And gulped it down in one go.