It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 086

I’ve heard about Director Ho indirectly several times.

Mostly due to office politics.

He’s part of Manager Lee Byeong-jin’s line, who is in charge of the manual assessments for the elite team, Group A.

– “That manager is originally close to Group A. You know how it is, the so-called… ‘same line.’”

– “Director Ho is keeping an eye on Chief Kim.”

– “He’s the nicest superior in the company. Don’t miss the opportunity.”

So, I had received several suggestions from them about getting into the same line as Director Ho…

But I never expected him to suddenly appear in the Group D Office like an office staff member without any notice!

“…!”

I instinctively stood up and bowed my head.

“Hello, Director Ho.”

“Ah, you immediately caught on…”

What’s with this awkwardness after just calling Director Cheong without honorifics…?!

‘You just barged in saying you know all about the interesting proposal from Director Cheong…’

…Wait a minute.

‘Didn’t Director Ho just say he has a proposal of his own?’

A proposal, huh?

I looked at the young man with a friendly face.

He spoke in a friendly manner.

“I’m sorry. Did I scare you by suddenly bringing up something frightening?”

“No, I’m the one who should apologize. I didn’t properly greet you…”

“Ah! I find such formalities awkward and I’m not really interested. Please speak comfortably.”

Pfft, yeah right.

‘He must be the type with no conscience.’

Or maybe… he’s trying to create a tension on purpose.

Anyway, I nodded and took a deep breath as if to relax a bit.

‘This is roughly the reaction he wanted.’

True to form, Director Ho continued with a gentle expression.

Though the content didn’t sound all that gentle.

“Let me take a guess? I assume Director Cheong made a proposal related to the elite team. Hmm, something about newly forming the elite team?”

“…….”

Wow, seriously.

Can I just spill everything right here?

But I feel like I’d still have problems if I don’t just open up.

I quickly racked my brain.

“Well, that’s true but… Ah! I’m sorry, I’m a bit flustered… Let me guide you to a comfortable place first.”

Then, as if I just thought of it, I led Director Ho to the guest sofa in the Group D Office, breaking the flow.

– “Buying time to deal with a tricky guest. Well done, Doe! This is quite natural!”

If it wasn’t natural, I’d be forced to burn my identity as a quiz show host who scripts horror stories. It was chilling, but thankfully it worked out.

I dashed to the break room to prepare snacks, green tea, and coffee.

“Which would you prefer, tea or coffee?”

“Ah, just have whatever you like and give me the leftovers…”

Don’t these executives know it’s cruel to come out like this!?

I gauged the other person’s reaction and offered green tea, pretending I preferred coffee as I bowed my head.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“No problem.”

Director Ho took a sip of the remaining green tea and said a cliché line about it being warm and nice.

“Just so you know, I’m absolutely not here to pressure you, so I hope you feel comfortable. I thought it’d be nice to get to know each other and have a chat.”

But surely, no one would be oblivious enough to treat an executive too casually.

Yet the next thing he said was unexpected.

“Field exploration team members often can’t meet for long, so I tend to greet those I think I can see more often.”

“…….”

“Honestly, the contributions of the field exploration team are quite significant in our company, yet some in the development department treat them like short-term laborers, just sitting at their desks rolling pens and droning about efficiency.”

Director Ho’s eyes twitched slightly.

“You might think of me as an idealist, but I don’t find the situation pleasing, do you?”

“…….”

Isn’t that a warm statement?

No, it felt eerie.

‘…An executive shouldn’t say such things.’

If he’s of officer rank, he could directly fix these issues; why seek the agreement of a newbie like me with “Doesn’t this seem like a problem?”

‘This isn’t some kind of loyalty test.’

But there’s a chance he’s sincere, so I did my best to adjust my nuance.

No matter which way it went, it shouldn’t have been a problem, and I assumed he wouldn’t consider me a rebel.

“…But still, no one is being forced to work. At least I heard that resigning is free, and they definitely grant leave requests.”

“Yes. As you say, that is one relief.”

Director Ho smiled with a friendly face.

“When compared to those groups that condemn regular citizens to darkness without trial, at least we have some autonomy here.”

“…….”

This guy really hates the Disaster Management Bureau…

‘Let’s not get caught up in what happened.’

I still had my agent badge with me. Cold sweat ran down my back.

I pretended to take a sip of coffee to hide my expression.

“I think those who want to live like humans, even if just for a day, would refuse.”

“Exactly? You and I communicate well.”

It’s a misconception.

But please, let that misconception last a long time…

I struggled to switch topics before another ticking time bomb was brought up.

“Thank you. So, Director, about that proposal you were going to suggest…”

“Ah, right! I should discuss that.”

Director Ho smiled brightly.

“I’m actually in the process of forming a project team, and I’d like to invite some staff to that team.”

“…!”

“I’d like you to join this project team as well.”

What did you say?

It suddenly reminded me of a remark from Manager Lee Byeong-jin one day.

– “There’s a rumor that the director runs a confidential external project team under him… You might get transferred there.”

‘So that’s turned out to be true.’

However, what he said next was even harder to believe.

“To be precise, as a candidate for team leader.”

“…….”

Has this director lost his mind?

“I’m considering about three candidates, but honestly, if you had two years of experience, you’d be my top choice… For now, just know you’re one of the candidates.”

I felt like I was losing my mind.

– “Oh, it seems this side might promise even bigger authority than last time. Let’s hear more about the conditions, friend!”

No, checking conditions is something I do when I can at least negotiate, but right now…!

‘…Did I just ruin everything?’

Isn’t this just like Paris, who got the golden apple?

Choosing one option means the likelihood of getting roasted by the higher-ups increases significantly.

This is worse than just riding the line.

‘This is burning any chance of switching paths.’

What should I do?

Even maintaining a façade of calm on the outside was something I wanted to award myself for.

‘It’d actually be best to refuse both…’

“Oh, I must have acted rashly. I should have mentioned the compensation first.”

“…Compensation, you say?”

“Performance bonuses from the project.”

Director Ho smiled.

“If this project is successful, the team members will be granted a wish privilege.”

“…!!”

“One for everyone. No exceptions.”

Oh my god.

“And the team leader gets an additional benefit, but… I think it’d be better to discuss that in detail after you join the team.”

“…….”

“Oh, I enjoyed the green tea.”

Director Ho stood up from the sofa and placed his mug in the sink before heading towards the office entrance.

“So, take a few days to think it over, and please let me know. Though I think it’d be better not to take more than a week.”

Director Ho leaned in as if giving me friendly advice.

“Director Cheong isn’t particularly patient, you see.”

“…….”

“If you ever need someone to talk to while working, feel free to drop by my office. Well then, that’s all!”

That night.

I returned home with a clear mind, having recovered significantly from the corruption, yet my mood was far from calm…

‘This feels like déjà vu.’

“Ha.”

I sprawled out on my bed.

‘I can’t help but think… I’ve gotten entangled in the internal strife of the executives in the development department?’

It’s true I probably looked quite usable by their standards, but it seems the heated situation had arisen due to the two directors being conscious of each other.

The proposal was outlandish.

…Then.

‘It’s best to go with the one offering better treatment.’

At least that way, I could avoid ending up on the chopping block.

‘The problem is that I have no personal information about these directors.’

[Dark Exploration Records] mainly focused on the employees who create the exploration records.

In other words, while employee names or profiles were mentioned, the individual executives making decisions from above were not really featured.

‘Regardless, it’s clear neither are ordinary individuals, which is more infuriating.’

For Director Cheong, the Lizard Team Leader already referred to him as “existence,” which raised suspicions, and Director Ho seemed strange, both in appearance and manner of speaking.

He was too young considering his executive rank and had a tone like a charitable worker.

‘…There seem to be hints about their identity, but…’

At this point, it was all just speculation.

‘This is tough.’

I was struggling hard enough just entering the horror story, but dealing with this on top of it feels like a lie….

Anyway, after a fierce deliberation, I temporarily set a comma on this issue.

……Because there was a more pressing problem.

…

“Brown.”

– “You’re calling me, friend!”

Huh.

“About bathing in the bath of youth, could we possibly replace it with something else?”

A short silence passed.

– “You changed your mind in just one day, Doe! Breaking promises isn’t a good habit.”

“…….”

– “But I’m your good friend, so it’s all right, friend!”

“I’m sorry.”

I spoke up immediately.

“It’s true I shouldn’t change my words. I think I made a mistake because I wasn’t in the right state when I promised.”

– “That’s odd, Doe. It was just last night! I distinctly remember you didn’t have any peculiarities that would prevent an interview, like extreme fatigue, panic, or dizziness.”

‘Good friend’ had a cheerfully normal tone that felt unnerving.

– “I’m curious about what standard you’re using to claim I wasn’t ‘in the right state’…”

“…….”

Today was full of clammy sweat-inducing situations.

How had I not felt the weight of this terrifying presence…

I desperately tried to avoid looking at the plush doll and continued speaking.

“…But you knew my mind was being tainted by the educational material at that time, right? That document I brought out from kindergarten left a mark on my tattoo.”

There’s no way he wouldn’t know after all that.

Brown even pointed it out directly during the last session in the Bloodlust Bath.

– “Doe. Your bath bomb is blended for a reason.”

That I was being consumed by the horror story.

“However, you just thought that was a ‘change’ rather than calling it ‘corruption.’”

– “Correct, Doe!”

Hah…

‘So that was the case…’

I could barely keep from shuddering at hearing the word ‘correct’ again.

“But I think of it as corruption, and I don’t want to be corrupted.”

I raised my hand into the air.

My tattoo, which should have been perfectly clean, caught my eye.

“I’m more comfortable and like who I am now.”

– ……

“I also don’t like it when my standards suddenly flip like a piece of paper.”

But at the end, I added something that even he could understand.

“At least I absolutely don’t want to become some outdated Hangman or a kindergarten teacher.”

– “That’s… um. An undeniable statement.”

Brown seemed somewhat shocked.

– “Indeed. The thought of you being part of that drab kindergarten is unfathomable. That should never happen, such a loss!”

– “I acknowledge it. Looks like I wasn’t good at being a good friend again…”

– “Right. Let’s try getting a bit closer through other changes!”

“…….”

So.

“If I get corrupted, you’ll treat me more comfortably, so you want to let me be corrupted?”

– “Haha, there’s no need to ask so strangely. This has been the theory you’ve proven over the past few weeks!”

Reflexively, an image of myself emerged from the past few weeks.

Consumed by corruption, blabbering away and relying on the horror story residents without a care or thought.

– “Really, that’s a given. After all, isn’t it a rule for similar beings to become friends?”

Oh my god.

No, I could see this coming.

I took a breath.

Time to say what I had to.

“No.”

– “Not so?”

“Yeah. A friend isn’t someone with the same values as me.”

I carefully chose my words.

“And just feeling comfortable with one another isn’t the only thing that makes a friend.”

This was somewhat… sincere.

“I think friendships are about trying to understand each other’s differences, even when it’s hard, and giving for each other, you know, while talking.”

– ….

“And to reiterate, I don’t want to become corrupted.”

I lay my hand slightly on the plush doll resting atop the desk without turning my head.

“If you can’t understand this, then before making me do something I don’t want, please at least give me a heads up. You should at least let me have a chance to talk to you.”

– “Hmm.”

The sound of plastic being tapped by a finger echoed on the desk where the plush doll was placed, as if deep in thought….

And then,

– “Understood, Doe.”

– “Logical, rational, and even touching my heart. I have no reason to disagree now! After all, you are my friend.”

Phew.

“Thank you.”

…That seems to wrap things up well.

I let out a sigh of relief and finally turned to face him.

My summoned good friend.

A plush doll that was a bit scary and somewhat reliable.

I cautiously picked it up.

“Let’s keep doing well from now on.”

That was also heartfelt.

After that, I proceeded with the one decision I had made when I got corrupted.

That would be the aroma massage.

“I’ll be looking at the shadow, so if anything feels wrong, please tell me.”

– “Of course, friend!”

Honestly, I wasn’t a professional and was just proceeding based on silhouettes, so I doubted it would feel too refreshing, but Brown seemed quite satisfied.

– “Not everyone has to be a massage expert! That’s good enough.”

Even while gently rating it as three stars, he made some comments.

– “But I do miss taking a bath, regardless… If I want to always be with my friend in any situation, I’ll need to rejuvenate a bit more!”

“That’s something we should discuss further with some time.”

…This is hard.

Maintaining the relationship with my horror story resident ‘good friend’ was a challenge.

It wasn’t solely about fear and tension; it also wasn’t just about blindly trusting and being good.

‘Finding balance in between them would be the rational way of thinking.’

Be careful not to lose it.

I quietly listened as Brown, who felt better from the aroma massage, rambled on.

– “Speaking of which, I’m curious now. Which of the two monumental proposals you received at work will you accept!”

– “Still in thought? The advice of an industry professional like me is as valuable as gold… But I will serve generously for friend!”

Hmm. Well…

“Actually, I’ve nearly made my decision.”

– “Oh!”

“Tomorrow, I’m going to ask just one question and come visit right away.”

– “And if you’d share that pivotal question with this legendary host, I’d be very grateful!”

I lay my head on the pillow and laughed.

“It will be revealed tomorrow.”

– …!!

– “Somewhat, I’m touched. Doe…”

And thus, this eventful day came to an end.

And the next day.

I truly went to ask the ‘pivotal question’ before visiting the office of one of the two directors.