Chapter 16.1 |
Change of position.
In other words, a change in the tasks or department where someone primarily works.
This typically happens when you’ve been with a company for several years.
So, it’s definitely not something you say to someone who’s only been here for three days!
“…A position change? Does that mean I’ll be transferred to a different department?”
I was desperately holding back from saying, ‘What are you talking about right after lunch?’ and instead asked politely.
“Well, actually… yeah. Did you see the notice? It just went up.”
“……?!”
With a sinking feeling, I immediately checked the company intranet.
…Qterw-D-43 is the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’.
And to summarize the contents…
– Wow! A team solved a special incident in a D-Class ghost story and extracted A-Class essence? Now that’s impressive! We’ll be awarding a total of 100,000 points to the team!
– You saw that, right? You can do it too! Forget work-life balance, work like a beast and earn those points! Be like D-squad!
…And right there, clearly listed as the key contributor receiving 40,000 points, was my name: Kim Soleum.
“……”
I wish this were a dream.
And the worst part?
If this notice was what caused my position to change, then…
I felt a chill seeing the assistant manager’s hollow expression.
“Finish reading it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Yeah. D-squad, well… we achieved something unusual this time.”
No way.
“Does that mean the entire squad is being reassigned?”
“Not exactly. It just means the type of work we’ll be doing is changing.”
Assistant Manager Eun downed her coffee in one gulp.
“Up until now, we’ve mostly been assigned to manage ghost stories with completed manuals.”
Wait a second.
“Now they want us to handle ghost stories without completed manuals!”
“……!!”
In other words, they’re going to throw us into ghost stories with no data!
“Seriously, just because we did well this one time, they’re shoving us into even harder situations…”
Supervisor Park was already slumped over his desk, seemingly aware of the news. Even the caffeine seemed ineffective.
“Hello.”
And right on cue, the squad leader with the lizard head walked into the office. Assistant Manager Eun immediately snapped.
“Squad Leader! They want us to go into ghost stories without manuals! Are they trying to get us all killed?”
“……? No, not at all.”
“Huh?”
Perhaps there was a loophole, as a faint glimmer of hope appeared on the assistant manager’s face…
“Even if the manual is complete, there’s no guarantee of safety.”
“……”
Oh, that’s what he meant…
‘What a pragmatic lizard this guy is…’
I barely managed to speak up.
“But isn’t it more dangerous without a manual? There’s no data to rely on.”
The lizard tilted his head slightly to the side.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t noticed much of a difference.”
“……”
Ah, right. He’s the guy who exorcises things with brute force…
‘So, you’ve been bulldozing through everything up until now…’
I decided to ask directly.
“Is there any advantage to the current situation?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of advantage?”
“Additional points are awarded.”
“……!”
Supervisor Park suddenly lifted his head.
Typical of people obsessed with points.
“H-How much more, Squad Leader?”
“A lot.”
“How much exactly?”
“On average, two to three times more compared to ghost stories of similar grades.”
“……!”
“What’s the highest multiplier you’ve seen, Squad Leader?”
“Fifteen times.”
Suddenly, the assistant manager and the supervisor’s eyes changed.
‘That’s the look of stock traders.’
It was the same expression people have right before they buy into a speculative biotech stock based on rumors.
It seems the allure of 30,000 points was too sweet to resist…
Normally, someone with common sense would try to stop this, but… well, to be honest, for me…
‘It’s basically guaranteed returns…’
There’s not much difference whether there’s a manual or not.
I already know more detailed information from the exploration records than any manual could provide!
So then.
‘It’s like a triple points event… right?’
.
.
And so, a short while later.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without any resistance, D-squad accepted the new assignment and set off.
‘Let’s earn those points.’
Our destination was the 17th floor.
“From the 20th to the 17th floor, it’s mostly used by the development headquarters.”
Assistant Manager Eun frowned as she pressed the buttons.
“And the 17th floor… is where the researchers who scout for new Darkness work.”
Ding.
As the elevator doors opened, a white, artificial-looking office space typical of a combined laboratory and office came into view. Standing there, already waiting for us, was someone who extended their hand.
“Wow~ Is this the friend I’ve been hearing about? Awesome, just awesome~”
Definitely someone above my rank.
I reflexively shook the outstretched hand.
“I’m Kim Soleum. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you’ve got good manners too.”
The man in a white lab coat and glasses looked fairly young, but considering the strange nature of this world, I decided not to jump to conclusions based on appearances.
After greeting the rest of D-squad, the man turned back to me.
“I’m Kwak Jaekang from Research Team 1. Nice to meet you. Looking forward to working with you~”
“……! I look forward to working with you too.”
Our squad’s assistant manager whispered to me.
“Don’t worry. He’s just a section chief.”
Aren’t you just an assistant manager…?
But that wasn’t what surprised me. I recognized this person.
========================
Researcher Kwak Jaekang
: An employee from Research Team 1 in the Raw Materials Development Department of Daydream Inc., featured in <Dark Exploration Records>.
Frequently mentioned in the early records of explorations into newly registered Darkness.
========================
Another named character appeared.
‘His personality, though… um.’
========================
One of the few employees described as ‘cheerful and sociable’.
But…
========================
Hmm.
I quietly followed the squad without revealing my thoughts.
“We’ll be seeing each other often from now on, right, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?”
“Yes.”
……
Aiyah.
“May I ask why?”
“Yes.”
Finally, the lizard explained.
“Research Team 1 studies and standardizes methods for entering new Darkness. So, you’ll frequently meet D-squad, as you’ll be the ones exploring the new Darkness that hasn’t yet been documented.”
In short, they’re the team that assigns us our work.
‘They find new Darkness here and pass it onto the Field Exploration Team’s advance unit…’
“Oh, come on, you always explain things in such a difficult way, Section Chief Lee. And you’re not even a researcher!”
The Research Team’s section chief patted the lizard section chief on the back. The lizard’s unblinking pupils shifted toward him, as if confused.
It kind of felt like watching a thriller movie…
“Anyway, today’s Darkness is ready for you to enter. Don’t forget your Dream Essence Collector, alright?”
Assistant Manager Eun’s face briefly flashed an expression like, ‘Why is this guy from another department telling us the obvious?’ but Supervisor Park’s frantic hand gestures stopped her from speaking out loud.
“Check the records of ordinary people who went in and came out, as well as the team that previously entered.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon took the documents from the Research Team.
Meanwhile, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“……?”
I turned to find a grinning researcher talking to me.
“Hey, do you want to bet on whether it’s D-Class or F-Class?”
“Pardon?”
“We like to place small bets among ourselves. You should try it—it’s fun.”
“No, thank you.”
I answered immediately.
‘Is this guy out of his mind?’
What if they get audited…? And this guy’s talking gambling right in front of his boss.
I glanced at the Research Team’s section chief reflexively.
But this researcher shrugged.
“Eh, it’s no big deal. It’s not like someone’s going to die because of a little bet.”
“……”
“Haha. Oh, look at that—your expression didn’t even change. You’ve got guts, Soleum-ssi.”
I was too dumbfounded to control my facial muscles.
‘Isn’t this crossing the line for a workplace?’
It’s certainly fitting behavior for a researcher in a world based on creepypastas.
Comments 15