Even if I fall into a ghost story, I still have to go to work
Chapter 87
High up in the headquarters of Baekilmong Corporation.
Knock, knock, knock.
I knocked carefully on the luxurious door with my knuckles.
Then, the door glided open automatically…
“You’ve come.”
The Executive Director sat inside.
An executive with dark blue hair whose age was impossible to guess.
Executive Director Cheong.
“You didn’t waste time dragging things out, nor did you fall for petty schemes. A child who knows how to make a wise choice always lives a long life.”
What a terrifying way to give a compliment…
“You flatter me.”
Regardless, I had made my choice.
I had decided to accept Executive Director Cheong’s proposal to turn Team D into an elite team.
Naturally, I had my reasons, but I’d save those thoughts for later. For now, I had to deal with the overbearing executive before me.
Executive Director Cheong scanned me with a satisfied expression and smiled.
“The reorganization will take place within the necessary timeframe. I trust you’ll wait without causing any unnecessary fuss.”
“Yes. I will work even harder to ensure I am worthy of the promotion.”
I shook Executive Director Cheong’s outstretched hand with the utmost politeness.
And beside me…
“I expect the same from you, Section Chief Lee Ja-heon.”
“Yes.”
The lizard-masked Team Leader was accompanying me.
…For the record, Section Chief Lee Ja-heon’s reaction to my choice was as follows:
—I see.
That was it.
‘Should I… call this convenient, or what?’
He had accepted it so quickly that it was hard to believe he was the same lizard who had advised me to “Refuse.”
‘I mean, he’s in the same boat now, he should at least listen to the details!’
Thanks to that, I ended up grabbing the seemingly uninterested Section Chief and explaining the basis and reasons for my choice, receiving about ten “I sees” and “Yeses” in return.
I also explained how I planned to minimize the “risk” posed by Executive Director Cheong.
“So, have you decided on the final team member?”
The topic came up just in time.
Since Team D currently only had two members on active duty, Executive Director Cheong had suggested I bring along whoever I wanted for the third slot.
“Regarding that, I’ve come up with an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
I spoke as calmly as possible, getting straight to the point.
“It’s to make it so that anyone can join us.”
[Leave the third slot of Elite Team D vacant.]
This was a suggestion I could only make because Team D wasn’t being integrated into the existing elite team structure, but was instead operating as a new pilot program.
The biggest advantage was this:
‘It prevents Executive Director Cheong from blindly planting one of her own people.’
Didn’t she tell me to bring whoever I wanted?
If I believed that at face value, I shouldn’t be working at a company.
‘If she didn’t like the person I brought, she would have asked if there was anyone else.’
That’s how they gradually herd the candidates toward the person they actually want.
‘The moment I bowed my head and entered her line, I lost my leverage.’
She would have either inserted her own person or, at the very least, swayed the newcomer to her side.
In my opinion, that’s exactly where things would start becoming “dangerous,” just as Section Chief Lee Ja-heon had warned.
‘The person I’m stuck with can’t be one of Cheong’s lackeys.’
It was better to have a rotating roster for every exploration.
And I could create a plausible justification for this.
‘Since we’re trying something new anyway, why not use the vacant seat in Team D for elite team interns?’
Like that.
Naturally, spots on elite teams are limited, and only a few people from general teams ever get promoted.
So, unless someone has great results from the start or picks the right line, most junior employees simply give up and settle for a low-effort, cost-effective work life.
But from the management’s perspective, seeing employees who should be actively securing raw materials with a sense of ownership act that way was seen as a lack of efficiency and frowned upon.
They’d say things like, “They have no company loyalty because they’re blinded by points.”
‘I mean, why else would anyone join this place if not for the points?’
It was an absurd expectation, but… well, seeing how this company operated, I figured the pitch might work.
—I wondered if this could provide a new motivation for junior employees who want to improve their performance in this Field Exploration Team, where there is no incentive other than the Wishrights…
I gave Executive Director Cheong a passionate presentation along those lines.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if the employees would actually be that interested.
At most, a few capable Assistant Managers or Deputy Managers might try out the elite team experience and reconsider their career plans.
But the pitch sounded good, and it wouldn’t be entirely without effect, so it was fine.
‘It’ll at least set the mood.’
And at the very least, it worked… on Executive Director Cheong.
—Not bad.
…Her reaction felt a bit like she was just humoring me, which made me flinch, but the important thing was that it passed.
Sure enough, rumors must have spread through the Field Exploration Team within a few days, as my cohort’s group chat became active for the first time in a while.
[Does anyone happen to know the details about the new elite team being formed? lol]
[I heard they’re picking someone from the 1st to 3rd-year employees, is that true?]
[I heard something about elite team interns, curious what everyone else has heard ^^]
[The welfare benefits for the elite team are…]
The interesting thing was… no one talked to me anymore.
Even though the news had broken that I had cleared another A-rank, not a single message of congratulations or inquiry was posted.
‘Is this… ostracization?’
I had put some thought into answering questions in the group chat so that I wouldn’t be seen as an easy target, and eventually, the questions themselves had stopped.
‘Come to think of it, I was the last one invited to the group chat in the first place.’
It was a bit bitter…
[I heard the news! Congratulations, Sol-eum! That method actually worked!]
[Thank you, Young-eun.]
Still, I should be grateful that I had a colleague who consistently sent me messages of congratulations.
While I was at it, I settled the debt for the help Go Young-eun had given me during the last ghost story.
‘Go Young-eun is the type of person who tries to give back as much as she receives, so it’s better to keep building trust.’
I shared how I cleared it and told her I would give her some of the “Boss Battle Rewards” I had received.
‘I cleared it without dying thanks to her.’
…I’m talking about the location of my internal organs.
Thanks to Go Young-eun, I knew which parts I had to protect until the end to avoid instant death.
Of course, thinking back on it, it was such a crazy stunt that it made my body tremble, so I suppressed the chill for a moment.
‘The tattoo stickers… let’s use them carefully.’
The effect was certain, but it was no ordinary feat…
[Ah… um. Yes. I’ll gratefully accept.]
Go Young-eun seemed to hesitate for a moment but accepted, and I met her in front of the employee housing to hand over several Protective Talisman Beads.
And during our conversation, the rumor about the “new elite team” came up…
“Um, Young-eun, do you have any thoughts about aiming for the elite team…”
“No. I’m really fine.”
“…”
Please remember to breathe, Young-eun…
Somehow, it seemed she already strongly suspected that I would be involved.
‘I actually considered her as a candidate… maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t push it.’
Anyway, this situation was the best answer I could come up with…
Though, of course, there was someone who didn’t agree with this decision.
“To think you would actually join the elite team…”
“…”
“Why did you make such a dangerous choice?”
His voice was full of concern.
Sitting at my desk in the Team D office, I grabbed my forehead.
“…Executive Director Ho.”
“Yes?”
“If I have done anything rude, I sincerely apologize.”
Why on earth are you here?
Why are you sitting here so nonchalantly in the Team D office—which we’ll be vacating soon—as if you’re just a colleague from the next office stopping by for a chat!
“Pardon? You’ve never been rude, Sol-eum… I think you could afford to have a bit more confidence in yourself.”
“…”
He really is no ordinary person…
Executive Director Ho, looking slightly hurt, was acting as if he’d been rejected after asking a coworker out for a meal.
That was even scarier.
‘I thought he’d either crush me or ignore me.’
Why is he still the same?
To be honest, Executive Director Ho had more authority and had made a more exceptional offer, so he had every reason to hold a grudge over the rejection.
‘Any rational person would have chosen his side.’
Naturally, I had leaned that way too. Until I asked this question.
—Director. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to ask which iteration this project is.
—Iteration? Ah, are you asking which number it is?
—Yes, that’s right.
—In that case, there isn’t one. It’s a new attempt.
—…I see. Thank you.
At that moment, I made up my mind.
‘Cut ties.’
When a project is created in a ghost story company?
Nine times out of ten, it’s because of a high-rank unknown ghost story.
‘It’s definitely A-rank or higher.’
From this point on, it’s not just a matter of the ghost story being proportional to the danger level.
We’re talking about horrors that individuals cannot possibly cope with, based on despair that is impossible to predict or prepare for.
High-dimensional terrors beyond mere death or disappearance are coming…
And yet, they even put up a Wishright—something any employee would lose their mind over—as a reward?
‘It feels like… S-rank, doesn’t it?’
It felt like the highest rank for field exploration in this company was about to appear.
Furthermore, it was a first attempt, meaning there was no prior information?
‘It’s a suicide mission.’
No matter how good the treatment was, it was flawed from the premise.
If it were guaranteed that I would be the team leader, maybe… no, actually, even if I were the leader, it would just be a fancy title.
‘There’s no way the “dream team” staff handpicked by an executive would listen to someone like me with less than a year of experience.’
Besides, as long as an executive is involved, a team leader is just a middle manager. I could only see a future where I suffer from stress and either barely survive alone or die.
‘…I don’t want that.’
I’ve already collected nearly a third of the points I need. I didn’t feel the need to take such a risk just for a Wishright.
…Moreover, there was another reason why I chose to stay with Team D.
‘If I do this, even if Assistant Manager Park Min-seong or Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je return, they can naturally rejoin Team D…’
…It would be much easier for someone to fill a position that was originally vacant and used flexibly.
So… it was a complex choice.
But since I couldn’t explain all of that, I simply said this:
“I felt this way would be better for more people, so I felt compelled to choose this side. I’m sorry.”
“…”
In that moment, Executive Director Ho’s friendly expression seemed to waver.
And his voice.
“I just can’t understand ‘good’ people…”
“…”
Wait, just now…!
Thud.
“Still, if you happen to change your mind, please feel free to contact me, Sol-eum.”
The voice vanished.
Executive Director Ho bowed to me again as if nothing had happened, then left the office with a smile.
“…”
That just now, it didn’t seem normal…
—Roe Deer, I smell the scent of pestilence from that man.
Pestilence?
—When inviting him to your studio or private space, you should be careful about disinfection!
“…”
‘Is it… a contagious disease?’
I briefly puzzled over Executive Director Ho’s identity before eventually shrugging it off.
‘First things first. Let’s focus on what’s urgent.’
For now, I needed to regroup while thinking about what I needed before becoming an elite team…
“Sol-eum.”
“Aagh!”
“T-Team Leader.”
Entering the door just a moment after Executive Director Ho had left, the lizard abruptly thrust a document toward me.
“Executive Director Cheong told me to deliver this to you, saying it might be worth ‘checking out.’”
“Yes. Understood…”
‘Please, give me some warning…’
Swallowing my heart back down, I took the document and read the title on the first page.
Qterw-C-1603
Unregistered Exploration Testimony #21
Security Clearance Completed [C]
…Huh?
“Is it… alright for me to read this?”
“Yes.”
Hmm.
It seemed to be a “pre-registration” exploration report that required C-rank security clearance to view, and Executive Director Cheong had specially granted me access…
‘That’s even scarier!’
But I was too intimidated to say I wouldn’t look. So, after a deep breath, I took the papers and read.
Just what kind of exploration record was this…
…
Huh?
[Confirmed an advertising flyer for a new product launched in Qterw-C-1603.]
Product Name: Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros Flavor)
Features: Packaging featuring a caricature of a child’s face wearing a business suit and a mask with branch-like sheep horns.
※The character on the packaging is reminiscent of the field exploration staff’s attire.
Requesting verification of employees with similar mask shapes.
“…”
Wait a minute.
Is this… me?
