Chapter 1
Have you ever been completely captivated by something?
I mean, have you ever been so deeply impressed that you went beyond just thinking “this is fun” and ended up spending extra time and money on it?
You know what I’m talking about.
If it’s a movie, you watch the director’s cut. If it’s a game, you buy the art book. If it’s a webtoon, you pay for early access. If it’s a singer, you go to their concert…
If you go a step further, buying derivative merchandise is also an example.
Yes, what they call “goods.”
Figures, slogan pins, badges, plushies…
I can say with certainty—I had never spent money on this kind of thing in my life.
Until now.
This is a department store.
The hugely popular pop-up store had already finished distributing waiting tickets the moment the department store opened at 10 AM.
And I had received one of those tickets.
“2:30 PM time slot—we’re now ready for entry!”
“Oh, finally!”
“Hey, let’s hurry.”
The bright-faced teenagers standing next to me ran toward the staff with excited looks.
2:30… That’s right.
I stood in line, pulling my cap down as low as possible.
But I could hear murmuring from behind.
“Huh…”
“A scalper?”
“Isn’t he a reseller?”
“……”
It was really unfair, but I couldn’t really blame them.
After all, I was the only adult office worker in this entire line!
Sigh…
I looked at the entrance of the pop-up store and groaned.
[Explorer who came through the darkness, welcome.]
This is insane.
A black and red backdrop featuring various monster caricatures, occult elements, and symbols of corporations, religion, and government intersecting.
It was a world-building concept that perfectly targeted the hearts of teenagers.
The title was truly artistic too.
[Apocalypse Prophecy: Darkness Exploration Records]
Heh…
I barely held back the urge to cover my face with one hand.
Why am I seeing this at work…
<Darkness Exploration Records>.
A recently very popular internet horror story universe.
You know, that kind of open-source, collective-intelligence world-building where anyone can participate and create stories.
At first, it apparently started as a small rumor among students, derived from a famous horror story. But then it hit the W-tube algorithm and spread like wildfire.
Horror stories with the concept of “records exploring various paranormal phenomena called ‘Darkness’.”
Eventually, it became an independent wiki with hundreds or thousands of stories recorded, and that’s when it caught my eye.
…Since it was text-based, it was just too easy to read at work.
And they say anything you do at work is fun as long as it’s not work.
I fell deep into this world-building, and eventually reached the point where I even created and uploaded my own horror story…
Why did it end up like this? Was it really my dopamine-deprived work life that was the problem?
And this <Darkness Exploration Records> itself too.
I never thought it would grow this big.
I heard it’s now a major IP reigning over W-tube like a king.
Naturally, corporations jumped on board to turn a profit.
And this pop-up store was part of that.
But still, this thing had a 15+ age recommendation tag on the wiki.
Why are there so many kids here?
Having to hear the murmuring from behind was giving me secondhand embarrassment, but…
“I think he really is a reseller…”
“Hey, hey, maybe he’s buying for his nephew or cousin… Let’s not be too harsh.”
No. I’m keeping this for myself.
…Actually, I came last week too, but some goods sold out right in front of me, so I came back again……
I even used a paid vacation day.
Last time there was at least a woman around my age.
But this time, on a weekday afternoon, the only adults were parents accompanying their kids. It was so humiliating I felt like running away—but let’s endure it.
No, I don’t even know why I’m putting myself through this…
Anyway, I entered the store following the staff’s guidance.
The fact that the staff didn’t flinch was my only consolation.
“Wow!”
“Hey, it looks so real.”
With the middle schoolers’ exclamations of admiration, I could see the inside of the pop-up store, which was quite elaborately decorated like a theme park.
And there were even friendly exhibition theme categories.
[Daydream Corporation]
[Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau]
[Nameless Brilliant Cult]
In this horror world-building, there are three major factions—corporations, government, and religion—each trying to observe and secure paranormal phenomena… that’s the setting.
At first, there were only the government-side Disaster Management Bureau stories, but then more and more people joined in and it ended up like this.
Anyway, this pop-up store seemed to have curated only the most talked-about ones from the internet.
It was blatantly a cash-grab, featuring only popular characters and horror items, but the quality was decent.
Yeah. When would I ever get to come to a place like this…
Ignoring the stares, I quickly grabbed the items I wanted to buy.
Thankfully, most of what I’d wanted last week was still in stock, and nothing was too popular. At least the “reseller” stares stopped.
“Would you also like to purchase an L-size eco-bag to carry your items? It’s 5,000 won.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After safely paying, I didn’t leave the pop-up store right away but hesitated.
I turned my head to look at the space next to the counter where people were lining up.
[Roulette Event]
: Create Your Own Darkness Exploration Records Character.
That thing.
Actually, I’d seen it last week too, but I couldn’t bring myself to stand in line and participate… I just went back.
I heard this pop-up ends tomorrow.
As I was fiercely debating whether it was worth exchanging for my social dignity, a staff member who had just switched at the counter smiled and spoke to me.
“The roulette event ends today! Would you like to participate?”
“…Yes.”
Thank you.
Really, thank you, staff member…
“Great! Then please come this way! Oh, stand here…”
The staff quickly guided me to the line in front of a giant black roulette wheel, and thanks to that, I could naturally take my place at the end of the line.
The line moved faster than I expected.
Soon, I was at the front and received a button that looked like a walkie-talkie.
“First, we’ll spin the lucky roulette! Stop it whenever you want with the button.”
Piririk—
With artificial sound effects, the roulette wheel began to spin.
Each slot showed ranks and prizes.
Goods I’d already purchased, display-only goods not for sale, and even random Bluetooth earphones…
Of course, the largest slot, 7th place, was just a small memo pad. I’d probably land there.
But that was fine. At least I wouldn’t have left without participating.
Let’s not get my hopes up.
I pressed the button the staff gave me cautiously, thinking that.
Drrrr… ruk.
But my black roulette wheel slowly came to a stop… and surprisingly, it stopped here.
A single thin golden slot.
[1st Place]
: Darkness Exploration Records Real Goods Box
“…!”
“Whoa! Congratulations!”
Is this… real?
“Whoa, no way!”
“Man, so lucky. I’m so jealous.”
Voices of screams, gasps, and envy rose from behind, stirring up noise.
“Wow, on the last day of the pop-up, we finally have a first-place winner!”
The staff, even more excited than me, ran behind the roulette and came back with a large plastic-wrapped box.
The black box, stamped with a huge foil emblem, looked quite well-made in itself.
I barely kept my hands from trembling as I received the box.
“…Thank you.”
I need to leave quickly and slap my face. Is this real life?
I tried to leave the pop-up store immediately, but the staff stopped me.
“Oh! We’d like to give you an on-site custom goods item—just tell us your name!”
Name? My personal info has been public property ever since portal sites got hacked. What matters is getting this home safely…!
“Kim Soleum.”
“Got it! Soleum-nim, just a moment.”
The staff fiddled with a black vending machine that looked like a 3D printer next to the roulette.
There was an explanation label on it.
[Darkness Exploration Records Character Maker]
Ah. That thing that was the subtitle for the roulette event?
…The “Create Your Own Darkness Exploration Records Character.”
Truly the perfect taste for teenagers……
“Please enter your name here.”
“……Yes.”
I gripped the goods box tightly with one hand and quickly typed my name into the machine’s keypad.
The black vending machine made a rather loud and eerie music box sound, then performed a flashy display with turning gears.
And then it spat out a small object.
Clack.
I picked up the familiar-looking item.
It was… an employee ID card.
[Daydream Corporation]
Kim Soleum, Employee
Field Exploration Team
“Wow! It’s Daydream Corporation. One of the three most famous factions in <Darkness Exploration Records>!”
“……”
Yes. I know.
To put it simply, it’s the big corporation trope that does business with paranormal phenomena.
And among those, the Field Exploration Team is…
A department like a death squad.
Like the red shirts in some sci-fi drama. They go into paranormal phenomena to “explore” and get shredded.
Of course, that’s why many named characters belonged to this Field Exploration Team.
“Wow! A Field Exploration Team ID card. We’re really looking forward to seeing what kind of adventures Kim Soleum-nim will have in the <Darkness Exploration Records> world!”
“Yes, thank you…”
I felt like cringing into a ball, but I endured.
At least it’s not a government agency or a cult ID card.
It was a relief it was a corporate ID.
It was a bit embarrassing, but the staff, probably desensitized from doing this so many times, remained calm like a proper capitalist worker.
Anyway, it seemed the roulette event ended with receiving this ID card.
“Thank you.”
I groaned looking at the ID card with my name printed on it.
This… I need to put this somewhere out of sight.
No matter how much, my tolerance couldn’t handle this.
In the meantime, the staff asked cheerfully.
“Do you like it? You’ll treasure it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Liar.”
…?
I thought I misheard and looked up.
Grins—
Suddenly, the staff smiled at me with a grin splitting their face.
The corners of their mouth stretched unnaturally high, as if reaching their ears…
“…?”
At that moment.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over my head.
“…!”
The noise of the pop-up store vanished.
My vision swirled as if covered in black paint, flickering red and blue.
And when the dizziness finally subsided—
I never dreamed the world would have completely changed.
[Welcome to everyone who has joined Daydream Corporation!]
“…!?”
I was somehow in the corner of a large lecture hall, looking at the central podium.
And.
Waaaaah—!!
With a cheer, a firework effect exploded from the large beam projector PPT on the podium.
[New Employee Orientation]
New graduates in suits were sending polite applause and cheers, while what appeared to be the host smiled brightly and clicked to the next slide.
It was unmistakably a large corporation’s new employee orientation event.
Faces filled with the joy of finally breaking into employment, buzzing with pride and nervousness.
[Our new employees, who passed a 145:1 competition, should be proud of yourselves! Haha! Now then, let’s begin the new employee orientation!]
“……”
What is this.
I tried to step back hesitantly.
But I realized I was sitting in a chair.
I was wearing a suit—I’d worn it because I had a client dinner that evening—but coincidentally, it looked similar to what the “new employees” filling this lecture hall were wearing.
Meanwhile, the goods box I’d received from the roulette event was sitting neatly on my lap.
“Excuse me, where did you get that? Is it something the company gave out?”
“……”
I couldn’t even answer the new employee sitting next to me.
[You are the chosen passers!]
[Actually, among the recruits hired through this new employee announcement, only very special individuals have been brought to Lecture Hall A for this orientation!]
[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and have been assigned to a special team—the <Field Exploration Team>.]
“They already assigned us?”
“Field Exploration Team? Does Daydream Corporation even have something like that?”
“Field exploration at a pharmaceutical company…?”
“Hey, it sounds like a place they exile people to. Isn’t it a branch, not headquarters? Are they trying to fool us with fancy words…”
Whispers from all directions reached my ears, but I had no time to focus.
Because I recognized the familiar company name and team name.
Daydream Corporation.
Field Exploration Team.
……Like being struck by lightning, a wiki page flashed in my mind.
[Field Exploration Team] (Daydream Corporation)
: One of five teams under the Development Department of Daydream Corporation, a major faction appearing in <Darkness Exploration Records>.
A so-called “death squad”—an unfortunate team. But that’s why horror writers love it.
Wait.
…This is the horror story from the pop-up store I just participated in.
Then what happens next is…
An insane department that filters out regular employees by making them go through a death survival challenge right from the orientation.
It’s a consistently popular wiki material because it reminds people what happens when ordinary people explore the darkness.
“……!”
“Hey, what are you—”
I immediately sprang up from my chair.
Whatever the situation, I was going to run outside.
But it was already too late.
[There is a short probation period before formal hiring—don’t worry, it’s not long! It’s an absolute evaluation to assess your practical aptitude.]
[Of course, to ensure proper individual evaluation, active participation is essential! We’ll catch all free-riders!]
Bang, bang bang bang—
The doors of the lecture hall closed one after another.
Damn it!
Even so, the naive new employees who still thought <Daydream Corporation> was just a big pharmaceutical company had no idea what was happening.
And so, with about a hundred new employees listening to the host, the host cheerfully and energetically shouted:
[Now, let’s begin!]
Along with that cheerful voice.
The lights in the lecture hall went out.
“…?”
“Huh?”
Still thinking they were just preparing to play a video, the new employees were only mildly puzzled.
That was understandable.
There’s no way they expected something this insane to happen right after getting a job.
For example—
The surroundings suddenly changed to a desolate subway train.
[Dear passengers, thank you for using the Abyss Transit Corporation today… Our train does not stop.]
[Please listen to the announcements for a pleasant journey to the final destination.]
A strange announcement with a name they’d never heard before played.
“……!?”
“Wh-what is this!?”
The new employees, still sitting in their suits on the subway seats as if the lecture hall had been moved intact, jumped up.
They were understandably flustered.
“Excuse me?”
“Is this VR or something? Did we actually move?”
Still, it seemed like most of the people who had been in the lecture hall were still here. So perhaps somewhat reassured, their reactions were generally complacent.
They looked around the subway for traces of the company, or searched for the event host or company staff.
And soon they roughly assessed the situation.
“There are other people in the front cars! The door… uh, the door won’t open. What’s this?”
“Some new technology?”
I closed my eyes tightly, feeling cold sweat forming, then opened them.
Because I’d already realized which horror story this was.
[Welcome to the Abyss Transit Corporation]
: A horror story appearing in <Darkness Exploration Records>.
A crazy story that, among the early D-class Darkness entries, boasts an overwhelmingly high escape difficulty. And the eternally suffering Field Exploration Team.
Explorations have been recorded up to ■■ times.
<Welcome to the Abyss Transit Corporation>.
As you can see at a glance, it’s a horror story set in the Korean subway.
- You fall asleep and wake up on a subway. It feels like rush hour, but strange station names start being announced…
That kind of opening.
Since the prey was “anyone who’s commuted by subway,” a broad criterion, it had the effect of sending chills down the spines of most office workers.
“……”
And this story is… under the jurisdiction of Daydream Corporation.
Looks like Daydream Corporation was planning to “filter” new employees using this horror story. …Damn it!
“Is this like an escape room?”
“No, why would a pharmaceutical company making hair loss medication make sales newbies do an escape room…”
That’s when it happened.
[This stop is Sorrow, Sorrow Station.]
“…!”
“Sor…row?”
The first announcement came.
I held my breath and turned my head.
[The doors will open on the right….]
Clunk.
The train stopped.
[The screen doors are opening.]
The doors opened.
Just like any other day.
[The doors will close in 30 seconds. There is no turning back.]
[Passengers whose final destination is Sorrow Station, please exit according to the announcement.]
A familiar voice kindly mixed strange words and phrases into the announcements.
But people always find ways to rationalize and reassure themselves.
“Look outside! It’s just a subway station!”
It was exactly that.
Beyond the train doors, the platform was clearly visible. It looked a bit dark and damp, but still like an ordinary subway station.
Cheering at this, two or three people headed for the doors.
Ah, damn it.
“I don’t think you should get off.”
“Huh?”
This is insane. I suppressed a sigh and spoke quickly.
“You just heard them say Sorrow Station. Where in Korea is there a station like that? Anyone can tell it’s strange.”
“Ah……”
“I think this person’s right. Let’s wait and see the situation a bit more…”
One quick-witted person agreed with me. The new employee sitting next to me.
Because of that, the people who were about to get off hesitated further.
“But still…”
“Hey, the doors are closing!”
But startled by the sound of the doors closing, a few impulsive ones dashed outside….
It was over.
[The doors are closing.]
“Ah!”
“Couldn’t get off. Ah, shit.”
Watching the “ones who got off” waving from the platform, those who didn’t make it sighed regretfully.
Some even glanced at me and muttered curses under their breath.
I understood. In a strange, bizarre situation, they just wanted to shut off their brains and run.
But.
“Huh?”
“That’s…”
A grotesque scene unfolded.
As the people who had exited onto the platform tried to turn around and move—
Suddenly, countless silver droplets emerged from the platform ceiling and pillars, pouring down over their heads.
Tututututuk.
Like giant tears.
But the countless silver droplets poured onto the human bodies like molten metal, creating horrific splitting sounds.
Screams. Screams. Convulsions.
Silence.
Blood mixed with the silver liquid splattered onto the glass windows.
[The train is departing from Sorrow Station.]
The last view through the window.
“……”
In front of the screen door, soaked with filth and blood, only the crushed remains of the new employees remained.
Twitching.
“Aaaah!”
“Aaagh!”
The fate of the wrong answerers.
[Please listen to the announcements for a pleasant journey to the final destination.]
Among the people frozen in terror, screams and shouts finally began to erupt.
It’s started.
I closed my eyes tightly.
Fell into a horror story?
I don’t know how I ended up like this, but I was apparently a new employee in a team in a horror story company.
A team with a remarkably high mortality rate.
Is this for real?
Yeah. To be honest, I’m probably in a better position than the other new employees.
After all, I’ve read this horror story’s entire wiki.
3.2 Exploration Records (Recorded up to ■■ times)
Meaning I remember it in quite a lot of detail up to roughly this level.
And looking only at this much, I seem like a typical overpowered protagonist.
Feel like painting a picture of my cool self escaping this situation by transmigrating into a world I love, using the absolute advantage of information?
Feel like getting a little confident about monopolizing future opportunities and items?
Maybe.
But there’s one problem.
A very decisive problem.
……I can’t handle scary things!
That’s right.
I’m… a coward.
Text is fine. I can read it with interest.
But the moment it becomes visual, I just can’t handle it.
And not just any coward—the kind of coward who gets ruthlessly mocked by my friends!
- Is it true Kim Soleum turned down a movie date with his crush because he couldn’t handle horror?
- Lolololololol
- Dude Soleum your name sounds like “creepy” but you can’t watch horror movies?? LMAO
- The crush probably ran away too lol
- Want to die?
- Sorry.
- Sorry.
I’m the kind of coward who, even when reading horror at work in broad daylight, would turn off data and only display text if there were scary backgrounds or BGM!
I’m a long-term resident of the Coward’s Shelter, who couldn’t even put a single image in the horror story I submitted!
“……”
I covered my eyes with both hands.
I’m… already screwed……
