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 apany for several years.
So, it’s definitely not something you say to someone who’s only been here for <i>three days!</i>
“…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 thepany intr. <b>[Notice of Employee Rewards for Resolving Special Incident Qterw-D-43]</b>
…Qterw-D-43 is the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’.
And to summarize the contents…
<i>– Wow! A team solved a special incident in a D-ss ghost story and extracted A-ss essence? Now that’s impressive! We’ll be awarding a total of 100,000 points to the team!</i>
<i>– You saw that, right? You can do it too! Forget work-life bnce, work like a beast and earn those points! Be like D-squad!</i>
…And right there, clearly listed as the key contributor receiving 40,000 points, was my name: <i>Kim Soleum</i>.
“……”
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 withpleted manuals.”
Wait a second.
“Now they want us to handle ghost stories withoutpleted 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 <i>killed?”</i>
“……? 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 isplete, 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 <i>exactly?”</i>
“On average, two to three times morepared to ghost stories of simr 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 spective biotech stock based on rumors.
It seems the allure of 30,000 points was too sweet to resist…
Normally, someone withmon 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 whileter.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without any resistance, D-squad epted 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.”
<i>Ding.</i>
As the elevator doors opened, a white, artificial-looking office space typical of abinedboratory 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 whiteb coat and sses 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 <i>you</i> just an assistant manager…?
But that wasn’t what surprised me. I recognized this person. <b>========================</b>
<b>Researcher Kwak Jaekang</b>
<b>: An employee from Research Team 1 in the Raw Materials Development Department of Daydream Inc., featured in <Dark Exploration Records>.</b>
<b>Frequently mentioned in the early records of explorations into newly registered Darkness.</b> <b>========================</b>
Another <i>named</i> character appeared.
‘His personality, though… um.’ <b>========================</b>
<b>One of the few employees described as ‘cheerful and sociable’.</b>
<b>But…</b> <b>========================</b>
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 exined.
“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,e on, you always exin things in such a difficult way, Section Chief Lee. And <i>you’re</i> 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 shed 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-ss or F-ss?”
“Pardon?”
“We like to ce 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 nced 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.”
“……”
<i>“Haha. </i>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 workce?’
It’s certainly fitting behavior for a researcher in a world based on creepypastas.