It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story Episode 82

This morning, having cleared the terrifying horror game set in high school.

Still, I must prepare to go to work, a fact far scarier than the horror itself.

Fortunately, today’s commute wasn’t too grueling.

There’s something reassuring about it.

An A-grade solution piled high in the Dream Collection Device.

“That’s a solid backup.”

I stowed the Dream Collection Device, filled with golden liquid, carefully in my document bag.

It was the harvest from last night’s labor.

Moreover, the moment I fully returned to consciousness from bed, I discovered quite a unique “bonus harvest.”

Thud thud thud.

Something that had covered my body spilled onto the floor.

Dozens of… beads?

They looked like transparent orbs that could be loaded into a glass launcher.

I picked one up to inspect it, reading a single Hangul character inscribed within.

護

Protect…?

-Ah, it’s a character frequently used to mean someone is being protected or guarded. Quite straightforward and intuitive.

Oh.

I realized right away.

“This must be the final clear reward from that game!”

So, I had brought back items from the dream game into reality.

Just like Baek Sa-heon, who had dashed off with a fountain pen item from the teacher’s office.

“…Hmm.”

Now that I think about it.

As I stepped out the front door, Baek Sa-heon’s shoes were already gone.

“He left in a hurry for work.”

Guess I’ll see him later.

Regardless, these dozens of glass orbs imply they could serve a role as “protective charms.”

“There might be a use for these.”

I carefully placed the “protective charms” into my tattoo and pocketed one or two before continuing my preparations for work.

But then.

-…….

-…….

It was strangely silent.

“…Brown.”

-Oh, you’re calling for me, friend?

I wondered.

“Were you… uncomfortable last night?”

The charismatic host of the Tuesday Quiz Show, whose cotton cover was nearly flattened thanks to my sleeping habits…

– Haha, it wasn’t the best feeling in my life!

-It seems my friend had quite an amusing experience alone last night, and I wasn’t invited, which isn’t great at all…

Heh.

– Ah, but I’m glad. While this Brown enjoyed a special experience like the flavor of waffles, at least my friend felt special too!

“…….”

Hmm…

“I did feel special.”

-Indeed!

“I conducted a vibrant graduation ceremony.”

-Did you deliver a speech or something?

No.

“My mentor, displeased with my hosting, attacked me. I managed to endure until it ended, even while losing limbs one by one.”

-My goodness!

Brown, who seemed somewhat miffed, quickly became excited as I explained what happened in the dream.

Let’s arrange for that… aromatic massage the tattooist gave me last evening.

– That’s an excellent attitude, Doe! I’d love to hear all about it.

Sure, sure.

While heading to work, I recounted everything that had happened to me.

How I was chased by students, and how I had become that student myself.

-Oh!

And finally, I was on my way upstairs to my office.

“Sol-eum!”

I bumped into a familiar face.

“Oh, Manager Lee Byeong-jin.”

It was Manager Lee Byeong-jin, the missing person I had rescued during the ghost story, the manual review supervisor, looking pleased to see me.

“The Field Exploration Team apparently attempted everything on that promising horror story!”

Ah, he knows I’ve already been deployed to the high school horror story.

Well, it makes sense. A notice was sent around for all the Field Exploration Team to attempt entry.

“How did Sol-eum’s team fare?”

“Oh, I managed to enter and exit, but… I’m not sure about the others.”

I assume the Lizard Manager didn’t make it in.

“If he had entered, he would have surely been documented in the Dark Exploration Records…”

No, he probably wouldn’t have even bothered to document it. This horror’s counter is Manager Lee Ja-heon.

“There’s no way an individual capable of completing any physical attack could have a pursuit like that…”

What a hassle for a horror story.

Even if I had intruded on the exploration and caused a butterfly effect, if the Lizard Manager had been present, he would have caught onto my presence anyway.

“He likely wasn’t there.”

……And.

Another member of Group D…

Died.

“Phew.”

Just as I opened my mouth to voice that thought,

“Oh, it looks like there are only the team leader and Sol-eum left in Group D? You two haven’t met yet, I see.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Even so, it’s a personal endeavor! Ah, our company’s future! I hope you didn’t hinder the capable Sol-eum, haha!”

…What?

“Wait a moment. You said there are only two in Group D…”

“Huh? No, during the personnel announcement, there was a pause, right?”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin said, looking puzzled.

“Group D was, well, told to skip this season since the contaminated individual might recover, so they’re on standby for support duties…”

“……!”

Ah.

In the next moment, I realized.

Manager Yoon Jo-hoon.

That person, newly assigned, was eliminated in the dream by the “teacher” as an error…

In reality, he’s been removed.

He’s literally been deleted.

As if he never existed in reality at all.

“…….”

That’s right.

‘So that’s why people mistook that there were no deaths in this horror story.’

Even in the worst case, I had thought I would be dragged back to that school on the night of a new moon.

Everyone!

Because…

Those who gathered numerous name tags and barely managed to ride the high floors ‘were deleted.’

They became people who never existed from the start.

……What a terrifying ability to manipulate reality.

‘……It’s no wonder the solution came out as A-grade.’

I can feel there’s something deeper associated with this…

A chill ran down my back.

In fact, this might be a situation where there’s nothing objectively bad for me.

Anyone could see a person difficult to work with naturally vanished.

But……

‘It’s not much different from being erased from records.’

My stomach churns. Moreover, this feeling of being the only one who remembers is very strange.

Wait a moment.

‘Why am I the only one remembering this?’

Shouldn’t everyone have forgotten?

Could it be that I received after witnessing the death firsthand?

Ah!

Or perhaps because I was eating Nostalgia Candy at that time, the effect bypassed me?

Now that I think about it, when I ate Nostalgia Candy…

…….

…….

“Sol-eum?”

“…Ah. It seems I’ve misremembered something.”

Anyway, it’s not an important matter, so let’s focus on the conversation for now.

Even if they’re from a different team, a superior is still a superior.

Just then, Manager Lee Byeong-jin was looking at me with a mildly hopeful expression.

“Ah, by the way, Sol-eum, how did you clear the challenge? If you show me the collection device, I can estimate the solution concentration and tell you the grade…”

“Ah.”

I cheerfully took out the collection device from my document bag to show him.

The golden liquid sloshed within.

“This is it.”

“…….”

After a moment of silence.

“…?!”

Lee Byeong-jin wiped his glasses.

“Ha ha, have I aged and started to lose my vision? Is it reflecting light far too much…?!?”

“Ah.”

I made a delighted exclamation.

“Do you think it looks like an A-grade, Manager?”

“…….”

Lee Byeong-jin returned his glasses back on.

“……Right now,”

“…?”

“Why are you just sitting there? Hurry and report it! Go quickly!”

I was instantaneously summoned.

That means before I could even arrive officially at the Group D office, my collection device was taken from me by the officers.

“My goodness!”

The looks from the officers saying, “Is it you again?” might be, well, a good sign.

And the rated grade is……

“Kim Sol-eum.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“The solution collected by Kim Sol-eum last night from the dark has been confirmed as grade A.”

That afternoon, while I was at my desk writing a report on the exploration, the Lizard Manager matter-of-factly conveyed this.

I had anticipated as much.

However, the next statement was the issue.

“And regarding this exploration, there has been a request for a solo interview with Kim Sol-eum.”

“…….”

Well, I couldn’t avoid this one…

My second A.

Especially since this one also emerged from an unprecedented horror story.

‘That A-grade from that horror story barely even existed in name!’

Most of the grades were D or F.

A few individuals gathered items and name tags, managing to procure an A-grade solution once or twice but that was about it.

They probably just let it be a jackpot, used for farming items, and now the higher-ups are discussing it here and there.

But you know.

‘This is actually the end.’

Just give me the credit for the first clear, please…

After attempting similar methods to clear it again, I extracted solutions one or two grades lower from an ending and…

‘That’s just how games work, right?’

If it’s not the first, they don’t recognize it as an achievement…

Of course, I don’t plan to say all this, but if I sprinkle some clues, I might avoid some astonishingly absurd responsibility like “I thought you could invest in this A again!”

‘For the entire afternoon, I’ll be running around…’

Just as I was feeling sad about that.

“Kim Sol-eum.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you dislike interviews?”

Uh, could you take that away, please??

But after a moment’s thought, I shook my head.

“No, it’s fine. I should do it.”

I need to avoid somehow being slapped with some shocking responsibility like, “You caused this not to clear with your status report!”

“Yes.”

Manager Lee Ja-heon didn’t urge me twice. Indeed, he was very much like the Lizard.

Then, shortly after, at the scheduled time.

I left the Group D office for the interview.

‘Called to a high floor too.’

Descending from the 31st floor where designated invitations awaited, I sought out the meeting room.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

At the invitation echoing from within, I cautiously opened the door.

The meeting room, filled with sunlight pouring through the blinds, was grand.

And it had a large, black round table.

However…

“Hmmm.”

The research team members for the interview were not there.

Instead, there was only one person sitting alone at the most prominent seat of that large desk.

A woman with deep blue hair, dressed sharply in a three-button suit, gazed at me with a gentle expression.

She didn’t seem frail, but there was an air about her that made her age hard to pinpoint.

And before her, prominently displayed, was a black nameplate.

Executive Director Cheong Dal-rae.

“…?!”

T-This Director??

Wait, so I’m now in a meeting room where a Director is sitting alone…?

Even including Manager Lee Byeong-jin or that Manager Ho associated with Group A, it wasn’t him.

However, that last name…

‘I’ve heard it before…’

When Manager Lee Byeong-jin went missing.

The office staff speculated about who might arrive as his successor.

– Honestly, it’s mysterious what kind of person will come, but the odds are low it’ll be from the same line. Someone from Director Cheong’s side will probably come!

Director Cheong.

It was one of the senior officials of this company’s development department, someone I’d never had any relation with before, suddenly calling for me!

‘What the hell…’

Of course, while I was in shock, I was effectively smacking myself.

I can’t forget the basics of social life simply because I’m surprised!

“…! It’s an honor to meet you, Director.”

“Good. Nice to meet you.”

Director Cheong waved her hand and gestured toward the chairs lined up at the round table.

“Let’s sit down first.”

“Yes.”

Where exactly should I sit?

I pondered for a moment and sat in a place not too prominent, that was okay for chatting with the Director.

Just then, a person who appeared to be from the secretary’s office walked into the meeting room and placed some confidential document in front of the Director, then left.

I feel cold sweat beginning to form.

‘What is going on here?’

I couldn’t grasp the context, so let’s start with that.

“So… Sol-eum? Still in your twenties, huh?”

“Born in XX year.”

“You’re young. I’ll speak comfortably, so feel free to relax. This is a good reason for calling you.”

“A good reason means…?”

“It means I’ve heard quite a bit about the rumors surrounding you.”

Director Cheong smiled warmly.

“Very impressive. If only new hires like you came aboard, we wouldn’t have any issues with material procurement.”

“Thank you.”

When someone of a high rank expresses such sentiments, it’s best to maintain polite listening posture.

If I forcefully try to guess and cater to your needs, it might lead me to trouble…

‘Did you come here today to compliment me for doing a good job on the A-grade manual?’
Just to leave your mark, perhaps.

“So, Sol-eum.”

But really, that was just the beginning.

Without any notice.

“Are you interested in the Elite Team?”

I almost choked.

“Well…”

“Ah, I know you were offered the position from Manager Seok from Group A last time and turned it down.”

“…!”

“‘Building from the basics’… it’s a nice excuse. You handled that well.”

Oh my goodness.

“That team is… well, maintaining hierarchy is good, but sometimes priorities can exchange, valuing hierarchy over exploration.”

“…….”

“It doesn’t look good, but, well, knowing how to ride the tide is also a talent. Haha!”

He openly hinted that Group A belongs to another faction.

‘This isn’t something I’m going to respond to, Director…’

I just smiled awkwardly and nodded.

If things went wrong here, I’d end up behind the back of that Director along with A Group.

I suppose the Director would be fine!

But I, a fresh recruit who hasn’t made connections, would be the one facing consequences…

I felt at a loss but tried to maintain a calm facade while hesitatingly speaking up.

“Well, I haven’t been in the company for too long, and I recognized that I needed that foundation… so I’m currently learning diligently…”

“Hahaha! That’s fine, that’s fine. It’s an okay situation to be in, Sol-eum!”

Director Cheong burst into laughter before turning serious.

“You don’t have to just agree with everything I say. I don’t like sycophants.”

“…….”

“Right. I should clarify my wording, after all. Shouldn’t I?”

Director Cheong, as if lost in thought for a moment, then closed the document and stated.

“I’m not saying I’m going to put you on an Elite Team.”

“…?”

“I’m asking if you are interested in receiving the treatment of an Elite Team. So… I guess I could ask this way.”

Director Cheong smiled brightly.

“What would you think if Group D were to become the Elite Team?”

“…!!”

“Add in a member you want, and just like that.”

My goodness.