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[Dream Essence Collector]
: An item featured in <Dark Exploration Records>.
A portable liquid storage container created by Daydream Inc., which fills up as you explore the ‘Darkness(urban legends/ghost stories)’.
The company refers to the liquid collected in the cylinder as ‘Dream Essence’.
This essence is the main resource used by Daydream Inc. to produce the almost reality-altering potions that serve as the company’s primary revenue source.
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The two characters clapped as they showcased the essential tool of the Field Exploration Team.
– Now, take your Dream Essence Collector and bravely and wisely step into the Darkness
– The future of our company rests on your shoulders! Good luck!The typical new employee gaslighting video ended with fireworks and the Daydream Inc. logo.
“……”
“How was it?”
“Uh… impressive.”
I chose my words carefully.
“Very… memorable.”
“Well… our department’s work is kinda like that.”
The friendly superior reached out for a handshake again.
“Ah, let me introduce myself properly. You’re Employee Kim Soleum, right?”
“Yes. Pleased to meet you.”
“Great. Oh! Over there is Assistant Manager Eun Haje.”
The short-haired woman at her desk gave a brief wave before going back to work.
The guy who looked like a phys-ed major grinned and pointed to himself with his thumb.
“I’m Park Minseong, contractual supervisor.”
“Nice to meet you, Supervisor Park.”
“Haha, no need to be so formal.”
“Um, okay?”
“In this department, after about a year, pretty much everyone gets to this position. You’ll get here soon.”
There’s also a good chance I’ll die before then, but let’s not put that out there in the universe…
“Yeah, or you might die before that.”
Ah, guess he said it for me.
“Oh, come on!”
“Why? He should know the truth. As the video showed, it’s dangerous work.”
Assistant Manager Eun gestured casually, confirming the blunt reality.
I see… to reach her level in this company, you’d need nerves of steel.
“Quitting is always a valid option. There are plenty of other jobs out there.”
Although in this world, any job comes with a risk of getting pulled into a ghost story anyway, so…
“Thank you, but I’ll stick it out for now.”
“Hmm, good choice.”
“Ooh, such enthusiasm!”
Both of them nodded approvingly, and Assistant Manager Eun offered some reassuring words.
“Even though we deal with urban legends, ghost stories and the like, don’t worry too much. We have response manuals for everything.”
“…Understood.”
Supervisor Park leaned in conspiratorially.
“By the way, in this company, we call them ‘Darkness’. If you don’t want people thinking you’re some kind of creepypasta-obsessed otaku, just call them that.”
“……”
So I won’t be labeled an otaku?
I stayed quiet and nodded, not wanting to push my luck by arguing with my superiors on my first day.
“Got it. Have you gone through the manual?”
“Yes.”
I had read through the ‘Work Manual’ that Supervisor Park handed me and nodded to show I understood.
“Good, good.”
The two superiors exchanged glances and smiled before turning back to me.
“Shall we get to work, then?”
Wait, what?
* * *14th floor—
My superiors led me to a different floor.
“Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time for some field experience.”
We got off the elevator and stopped in front of a small storage room next to the emergency stairs.
“So, for this afternoon, you’ll be doing… just a light exploration of the Darkness.”
Pardon me?
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.”
“You won’t die, you won’t die. Oh, think of it like the slimes you encounter in beginner towns in games!”
“…Right.”
I mean, I was expecting work, but this is… dizzying.
They wouldn’t send me somewhere lethal on my first day, would they?
It’d be tough for them to handle a panicked rookie anyway.
I tried to calm myself and think rationally.
Why are we standing in front of this storage room…?
Ah, is this a location connected to a ghost story?
‘Which ghost story starts in a storage room again?’
As I searched through the <Dark Exploration Records> wiki in my head, my superiors started giving me instructions.
The first thing I received was an item.
“You saw this in the video earlier, right? It’s the Dream Essence Collector.”
I was handed a sturdy, dice-shaped plastic-sealed cylinder that had clearly been used.
‘They sold this as merch, didn’t they…?’
Still, holding the actual thing in my hand felt strangely surreal.
“Be careful not to lose it. Each one is numbered, and it’ll be a real headache if you misplace it.”
“Yes, Assistant Manager.”
I understood—it’s like losing a bullet casing.
“And make a habit of wearing your mask before entering the Darkness. Don’t ask why—just do it. Now, where’s your ma— umm.”
“……”
“……”
My superiors blinked at the sight of my mask, which looked like tree bark with two antlers sticking out.
“…A deer?”
“A roe deer?”
I have no idea either.
“Nice antlers though. Yeah, let’s go with roe. Sounds tougher than a regular deer.”
Tougher?
“Anyway, put that on and look at this.”
Supervisor Park handed me the tablet PC.
Ah, so they’re going to brief me with another video…
[Do this and get 20 million won VS just live your life]
“……??”
It was an internet post.
– Playing tag with a ghost at a convenience store with no one else within 10km for three days and get 20 million won.
VS just living your life.
By the way, the ghost looks like this ↓
‘Ugh!’
I shuddered as I quickly scrolled past the photo, but the image was already burned into my mind.
A blue ghost with bulging eyes and a swollen, grotesque forehead.
“What does it say?”
“It’s asking if you’d spend three days playing tag with a ghost at a convenience store for money…”
I had no idea why they were showing me this.
Surely, this wasn’t some kind of workplace hazing?
We’re about to go on a ‘Dark Exploration’, and yet they’re showing me some random internet post…
Oh.
“……”
“……”
I scrolled back up to look at the post again.
[Do this and get 20 million won VS just live your life]
Wait, no way.
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