What is the correct reaction for a new employee when they hear something like, "Newbie, you might die soon? Haha, just kidding~" on their first day at work?
In reality, there’s no such thing.
No, there’s simply no answer.
Fortunately, my superiors didn’t seem to expect a response from me and quickly changed the subject.
“First off… congratulations on passing the “Death Survival” test.”
Can we seriously talk about it in the company so openly?
“But are you really the top of your group? That’s amazing.”
“Tell us more about it.”
I’m curious about the reason myself.
“I just worked hard.”
“In that case, everyone who studied would’ve gone to Seoul National University.”
“Anyway, it’s impressive. Glad you joined our team.”
Since I was the top performer, the team wouldn’t give me a hard time. Looks like this department which is notorious for its workload doesn’t seem interested in bullying new employees.
“The team leader will be here soon. He’s out for some field work, so feel free to relax for now!”
“Ah, thank you.”
I followed my superior’s directions and walked towards the partioned area.
There were four desks in total, with two on each side.
Next to them was a sofa and a table for guests, on top of which was a radio from the 1980s.
As my superiors sat at their desks, they motioned for me to sit down.
“Sit over there on the sofa.”
“Yes.”
As soon as I sat down, to my surprise, the radio on the table turned on, emitting a creaky sound.
“…?”
The lively background music and the high-pitched voice of the broadcaster filled the room.
–Hello! This is the live traffic forecast. The current road conditions in Seoul are clear and calm, just like today’s weather, but starting in the afternoon…
I turned my head and looked out the window.
It was raining steadily.
A distorted reality.
‘Ah.’
That radio—it's part of a ghost story.
-------------------------------
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Ghost Story
[Hello, Traffic Information]:
A ghost story featured in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>
Daydream Incorporation ID code: Qterw-E-63.
A strange radio that tells you your fortune for the day through traffic conditions. Sometimes, it also offers advice, but being overly conscious of the advice can lead to not-so-nice outcomes.
-------------------------------
“Did you hear that?”
“…!”
“Wow, this new guy sure is sharp... He caught on so quickly.”
As the radio turned off, a male superior, who looked like a physical education major, walked over.
“This thing gives something like “Today’s fortune” through traffic reports, a relatively harmless urban legend. It’s been verified as a Twilight-grade ‘darkness.’”
“…”
“You’re probably thinking, ‘What’s this, urban legends and darkness, is this some kind of nerdy stuff?’ right?”
No, not at all.
“For new recruits like you, we’ve prepared something. Ta-da.”
A tablet PC was placed on the table.
The superior tapped the screen a few times, and a video began to play.
“Watch this.”
[Field Exploration Team New Employee Training Video]
With a retro vibe, low-quality sound, and cheerful orchestra background music, two cartoon characters, resembling the ones from the 1988 Olympics, appeared and bowed.
- New employees full of dreams and passion! Welcome to Daydream Incorporation’s Field Exploration Team!
- Today, we’ll give you a detailed introduction to what our team does!
‘A fox and a dragon?’
The red fox and yellow dragon characters, wearing traditional hanboks, smiled widely.
- But first!
Above the charming characters appeared a boldly old-fashioned font.
[What kind of company is Daydream Inc.?]
I already know the answer.
The company is widely known for its highly effective hair loss medication and skincare treatments.
But actually?
- You think we only make hair loss products? Oh my god! Daydream Inc. can make every kind of medicine you could imagine!
- It’s literally a magic company that makes magical potions!
They secretly trade these extraordinary potions, like ones that cure drug addiction or grant immortality, with political elites and high society.
That is the true nature of Daydream Inc.
A secret organization that creates potions exceeding our imaginations.
‘And those things are impossible to create with any existing scientific methods…’
The fox character winked and raised a finger.
- But! To make these magical potions, we need magical ingredients.
- Specifically… ‘Dream Essence!
The words ‘Dream Essence’ appeared in glittering golden letters on the screen, followed by shimmering liquid flowing enchantingly.
Hearts and stars popped up like something out of a children's animation.
But the truth is—this is a ghost story.
- ‘Dream Essence’ is gathered from supernatural occurrences!
The dragon character extended a hand, and the scene shifted to an illustrated alleyway in the city.
Suddenly, red eyes appeared from the shadows of the streetlights, turning into a monster that threatened pedestrians.
Then, an exaggerated animation showed a fan licking its blades and staring at a sleeping person.
- Did you know that supernatural phenomena still happen in modern society?
- If you sleep in a closed room with a running fan, you’ll die, or if you receive a lot of criticism, you’ll live long… These are all superstitions from urban legends!
- But sometimes, these urban legends come to life!
‘So, they call them urban legends…’
At least urban legends sound less frightening than “ghost stories.”
Then came the most important part of the message.
- Daydream Inc. manages these urban legends and collects ‘Dream Essence’ to make wonderful magical potions that grant people’s wishes!
- Yongyong, isn’t ‘Dream Essence’ the most important resource for our company?
- Of course! We always need it… but who will gather the ‘Dream Essence’ for us?
The dragon character named Yongyong tilted his head.
Indeed, I wonder who.
- That’s right! It’s the wonderful Field Exploration Team!
A team of office workers in suits appeared, giving a thumbs-up as they engaged in various supernatural situations.
- With the brave and wise actions of the Field Exploration Team, our ‘Dream Essence collectors’ are full again!
The screen showed an office worker character with prominent eyebrows, holding up a small cylindrical container.
A ‘Dream Essence Collector.’
-------------------------------
[Dream Essence Collector]:
An item listed in <Chronicles of Darkness Explroation>
A portable liquid storage device made by Daydream Inc., which is filled as you explore the ‘darkness.’ (Ghost Stories).
The liquid collected in it is called ‘Dream Essence.’
The ‘Dream Essence’ is the main ingredient used to create potions that transcend our imagination, and also the company’s primary source of income.
-------------------------------
Presenting the essential equipment of the Field Exploration Team, the two characters clapped.
- Now, take your Dream Essence Collector and bravely enter the darkness!
- The future of our company depends on your efforts! Fighting!
The typical new employee gaslighting video ended with fireworks and the Daydream Inc. logo.
“…”
“Did you watch it well?”
“Yes…”
I carefully chose my words.
“It was impressive.”
“Yeah… well, our department’s work is a bit like that.”
The superiors were kind enough to extend their hand for a handshake.
“Oh, I should introduce myself. You’re Kim Sol-eum, right?”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to working with you.”
“Great. Oh! Over there’s Deputy Eun hajae.”
The woman with a bob haircut, introduced as the deputy manager, waved her hand from her desk and then lowered it.
The male superior, resembling a physical education major, smiled widely and pointed his thumb at himself.
“I’m Park Minseong. I’m the supervisor.”
“Nice to meet you, supervisor.”
“Haha, no need to be so formal.”
“Uh, okay?”
“In this department, everyone gets promoted to supervisor after about a year. You’ll be there soon, too.”
The problem is there’s a good chance you could die before that, but let’s leave it out for now…
“Yeah, or you might die before that.”
Never mind, he just said it.
“Come on, senior!”
“Why? It’s better for him to know. As you saw in the introduction video, it’s dangerous work.”
Deputy Manager Eun Hajae gestured with her chin.
I see, to reach the position of deputy manager in this company, you must have this kind of mentality.
“Quitting isn’t a bad option either. There are plenty of other jobs in the world.”
In this world, no matter what job you choose, there’s always the chance of getting sucked into a ghost story…
“Thanks, but I’ll give it my best for now.”
“Hm, Alright.”
“Ooh, passion!”
The two of them nodded approvingly and the deputy manager added a few words of encouragement.
“Whether it’s a ghost story or an urban legend, we do have manuals for everything, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Yes.”
The supervisor muttered under his breath.
“Ah, here we call it ‘the darkness.’ If you don’t want people to think you’re some weird ghost story otaku, just call it ‘the darkness.’”
“…”
Does that mean I won’t be treated as an otaku?
But I kept quiet and nodded. I didn’t want to make a fuss on my first day at work.
“Got it, Did you go through the manual?”
“Yes.”
I nodded after thoroughly reading through the "work manual" handed to me by the supervisor.
“Hmm. Good, good.”
The two supervisors exchanged looks and smiled before turning their heads.
“Shall we get to work then?”
Excuse me?
* * *
14th floor.
The supervisors led me to this floor.
“Now that you’ve got the basics, it’s time for some hands-on experience.”
We stepped off the elevator and stopped in front of a small storage room next to an emergency stairwell.
“So, this afternoon, your task is… a light darkness exploration.”
Excuse me?
“Don’t worry too much.”
“No, no, you won’t die. It’s similar to those slimes you find in the beginner town of games!”
“…Yes.”
I knew I had to work, but I still felt dizzy just thinking about it.
‘There’s no way they’re going to send me to a place where I could die on my first assignment, right?’
They wouldn’t want to deal with a panicking new recruit either.
I tried to calm myself and focused on figuring things out.
The reason we stopped in front of this storage room... Ah, is this where the ghost story starts?
‘What ghost story is connected to a storage room again?’
As I was searching through my head for information from the wiki, my supervisors started giving me instructions.
The first thing they handed me was an item.
“You saw it in the video earlier, right? This is the Dream Essence Collector.”
I received a solid plastic sealed cylinder that looked like a die, which has been clearly used before.
‘Didn’t they sell this as a merch item…?’
Still, receiving the actual item made it feel somewhat surreal.
“Be careful not to lose it. Each one has a number, and losing it can be a real hassle.”
“Yes, Deputy Manager.”
I understood that it was like losing a bullet shell casing.
“Also, before you enter the darkness, it’s a good habit to wear a mask. Don’t ask why. Your mask is… umm.”
“…”
“…”
My supervisors blinked as they looked at my mask, which looked like a tree bark with antlers.
“…A deer?”
“A roe deer?”
I don’t know either.
“Nice antlers. Let’s go with roe deer. They’re stronger than deer.”
A roe deer?
“Anyway, wear that, and take a look at this.”
Supervisor Park Minseong handed me a tablet.
Ah, they’re going to brief me again with a manual video…
[Do this and get 20 million won vs Just live your life]
“…??”
It was an internet post.
- Play tag with ghosts at a convenience store with no one else in the range of 10km from you, for 3 days and earn 20 million won.
VS Just live your life.
By the way, here’s what the ghost looks like ↓
‘Ugh!’
I quickly scrolled down, but the image remained in my mind.
The ghost had bulging eyes and a forehead that looked like it had swollen blue lumps.
“What does it say?”
“It’s asking if you want to play tag with a ghost for three days at a convenience store and earn money…”
I still couldn’t believe it.
‘Why are they showing me this?’
There’s no way this is some kind of bullying in this company, right?
‘Why are they showing me this internet post when we’re supposed to go explore the darkness?’
“…”
“…”
I scrolled back up without looking at the screen.
[Do this and get 20 million won vs Just live your life]
Is this what I think it is?
-------------------------------
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Ghost Story
[Choose]:
A ghost story listed in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>.
Daydream Inc. ID code: Qterw-F-243.
Derived from the "do a scary experience and get money vs just live your life" kind of balance game that became popular on the internet.
It often happens irregularly when accessing a URL with specific numbers.
You’re usually chased by a murderer or a ghost, and if you’re caught, you have to start over from the beginning.
-------------------------------
This crazy world.
As everything around me distorted, I could still hear the supervisor’s voice.
“Just take it easy. Breathe in and out!”
Will I survive?
I was being sent alone into a ghost story on my first day at work, and before I could even scream—
I was plunged into the darkness, alone.
“…”
I staggered and stood up from my spot.
‘It’s dark.’
The air was cool and musty. My vision was extremely blurry.
The only thing visible was the cold and dim flickering light coming from the beverage cooler far away.
“...”
I held my breath and carefully walked towards the light source.
The dim outline of the convenience store slowly emerged and then vanished…
Silence. Complete stillness.
Every time my footsteps hit the floor, I felt a cold sweat dripping down the back of my neck.
It seemed like there was nothing around. At least not for now.
‘Phew.’
I swallowed a sigh.
My steps stopped at the place where the only light source, the cooler light, was close but not directly illuminating me.
I leaned against the faint and cold light and began looking around.
The convenience store was reasonably large, about the size of a franchise cafe.
Basic supplies and groceries were eerily well-organized, arranged neatly without a speck of dust.
‘No threats to basic needs… for now at least.’
Right, The “darkness” in this story itself wasn't a threat to physical survival.
It specialized in psychological shock and drawing out screams.
I soon understood the safest option.
‘I’ll just grab water and energy bars and hide until it’s over.’
Yeah, I knew my place. I definitely couldn’t handle playing tag with a ghost.
If needed, I wouldn't even bother grabbing the energy bars. I could just quietly grab whatever I could and leave.
Humans can survive for a day or two without food. It’s better than facing ghosts.
‘But water is essential.’
I had no choice.
I quickly found the water. It was in the beverage cooler.
It was the only light source, and luckily, it was at the far end, so I thought I could keep watch of the surroundings.
“...”
I cautiously moved my feet, avoiding the light, and made my way to the far end of the cooler.
‘Phew.’
The very last compartment at the front.
As I’d seen from afar, the top shelf was filled with bottles of water from various brands, with their labels blurred out.
But as I got closer to the front, I saw something else besides the water.
“...?!”
The internet page I’d seen earlier. I had scrolled past it in a hurry, but the horrible outline was unforgettable.
A ghostly face, with bulging, bloodshot eyes and a swollen forehead.
‘Fuck…!’
The moment our eyes met, its twisted face broke into a grin, and its eyes bulged out.
‘Why the hell is there a ghost’s face on the refrigerator…?!’
Instinctively, I tried to pull back. Just as I was about to turn and run, I realized.
The ghost wasn’t in there.
It was just a reflection.
“...”
Thud.
Something touched my back.
I felt a cold, thick, and rigid hand with hair that seemed alive grab my neck.
The hand of a drowned corpse.
And then….
- Gotcha.
The lights went out.
The game of tag over.
* * *
“Ugh!”
I opened my eyes.
There was cool air. My vision was extremely blurry.
The only thing visible was the cold and dim flickering light coming from the beverage cooler far away.
“...!”
I had returned to the starting point.
I was being chased by either a murderer or a ghost, and if caught, I would return to the beginning.
‘This is insane.’
Three days of this?
Just kill me already, damn it!
‘No, wait.’
I quickly deduced something even more unsettling.
‘If I can’t endure, I’ll return to the starting point, but... I don’t know if the time also resets with me.’
It could literally be an endless loop.
Someone like me would probably go mad before it’s even over.
‘No.’
Was there another way? Another option?
I decided to avoid the cooler this time and head toward the counter.
There were enough large structures and objects around the counter to hide behind, so I figured I could hide and buy myself some time to think.
‘If I crouch and hide under the chairs…’
That’s when I saw it.
Between the counter and the chair legs.
The ghost’s lower body silhouette.
“...”
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. thud.
Pale, bare feet moved in an odd rhythm, creating an unsettling sense of discomfort, the kind that makes your skin crawl.
I held my breath and lay down on the counter floor.
I kept quiet, no matter what happened, I endured it.
‘Lowering your guard thinking you’re safe but then the ghost pops our of nowhere. Yeah, the cliche is way too common.
But then, after what felt like an eternity, I slowly exhaled, trying not to make a sound.
“...”
‘I’m losing my mind.’
Cold sweat trickled down my chin.
I couldn’t do anything. Even if I had my smartphone, the light from the screen would attract attention, so I couldn’t turn it on.
I could only rely on my memory!
‘I’m sure… I’ve read of this ghost story multiples times…’
New employees are often subjected to F Grade ghost stories, so I had studied them like exam questions.
Of course, I never imagined I’d be the first to fall in one!
‘Damn it.’
I recalled the exploration records with a cold sweat.
‘Mountain cabins, basements, crosswalks, fast food places, abandoned schools…’
None of those were relevant.
But I was sure there was something peculiar about a case…
-------------------------------
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration / Ghost Story /
Choose
Exploration Record #23 (Irregular)
Chased by a mad doctor throughout the night (12 hours) in an abandoned hospital.
※Special Note: Exploration ended after 16 hours and 11 minutes.
-------------------------------
“...!”
This is it.
I began squeezing out information and tried to reconstruct the case.
