Have you ever had an experience where you were totally engrossed in something?

I'm not talking about just thinking 'oh, this is fun', but being so deeply impressed that you ended up spending extra time and money on it.

There has to be something like that, right?

If it's a film, watching 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, go to their concert.

Going a little further, buying related merchandise could be another example.

Yes, I'm talking about what you call merch.

Figures, banners, badges, dolls...

I can confidently say that I've never spent money on such things in my life.

Until now.

 

Here I am in a department store.

A pop-up store that opened to a huge crowd, and by 10am, the moment the store opened, all the waiting tickets had been distributed.

And yes, I got one of those tickets.

"The 14:30 time slot is now open!"

"Finally!"

"Hey, let's go!"

The happy teenagers standing next to me ran excitedly towards the staff.

"2.30pm... that's right.

I pulled my hat down as far as it would go and got in line.

But then I heard a whisper behind me.

"Er..."

"A dealer?"

"Isn't he a dealer?"

"......"

I felt so wronged, but honestly, it made sense.

I was the only adult male who looked like an office worker in this line!

"Haa...

I sighed as I looked at the entrance to the pop-up shop.

 

[Welcome, explorer of darkness.]

 

This is ridiculous.

A theme with black and red backgrounds, caricatures of various monsters, occult elements and symbols of corporations, religions and governments all intertwined.

It's exactly the kind of universe that would capture a teenager's heart.

Even the title is a masterpiece.

 

[Prophecy of the Apocalypse: Dark Exploration Records]

 

Ugh...

I barely resisted the urge to cover my eyes with my hand.

Why did I have to see this at work...

<Dark Exploration Records>.

 

It's the world of a ghost story universe that's been super popular lately.

You know, the kind of open source, collective intelligence universe where people can participate and create their own stories?

At first it seemed to come from a famous creepypasta and spread modestly among students, but then it hit the YouTube algorithm and started going viral like crazy.

The concept was 'records of the exploration of various paranormal phenomena called <Darkness>'.

Eventually it grew into an independent wiki with hundreds and thousands of creepypastas, and that's how I noticed it.

It was so easy to read at work because it's just text.

And isn't it said that everything but actual work is fun when you're in the office?

I became so addicted to this universe that I ended up creating and posting my own creepypasta...

How did that happen? Is it because my office life is so dopamine deprived?

And this <Dark Exploration Records> itself...

Who knew it would become so big?

It's now a massive IP that practically dominates YouTube as a major teen sensation.

Naturally, companies have jumped on board to make a profit.

This pop-up store is one of them.

But come on, this thing had a 15+ rating slapped on the wiki!

Why are there so many children here?

Hearing whispers behind me again, I couldn't help but feel increasingly self-conscious.

"He's definitely a dealer..."

"Hey, maybe he's just buying something for his nephew or a cousin... don't be too hard on him."

No, I'm buying it for myself.

...The truth is, I came here last week too, but the merch I wanted sold out just before I got there, so here I am again...

I even took a day off work.

Last week at least there were women my age.

Unfortunately, it was a weekday afternoon and the only adults here were parents with their kids, so I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment, but I persevered.

I don't even know why I'm trying to put up with this...

Anyway, I followed the staff's instructions and entered the shop.

My only consolation was that the staff didn't seem bothered.

"Wow!"

"Hey, it really looks like that!"

I could hear the middle school students exclaiming in awe as I took in the intricately designed interior of the pop-up store, which felt almost like a theme park.

And the displays were thoughtfully organised:

 

[Daydream Inc.]

[Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau]

[Church of the Luminous Unknown].

 

In this horror universe, there are three major forces: corporations, governments and religions, all trying to observe and secure the paranormal... that's the setup.

At first it was just stories about the government's emergency management office, but as more people got involved and got excited, it turned into this.

Anyway, it seemed like this pop-up shop had picked out the most popular parts of the universe and gathered them here.

It was clear that they were targeting the fans' wallets by concentrating on popular characters and horror items, but the quality wasn't bad.

When will I ever come to a place like this again?

Ignoring the stares, I quickly grabbed the items I wanted.

It was a relief that most of the popular items were already sold out, so there was less suspicion that I was reselling.

"Would you like to buy an L-size eco-bag to carry your items? It's 5,000 won."

"Yes, thank you."

I successfully completed my purchase, but instead of leaving the pop-up store immediately, I hesitated.

I turned my head to see a line of people gathering near the cashier.

 

[Roulette Event]
: Create your own <Dark Exploration Records> character.

 

That.

I saw it last week too, but I couldn't bring myself to join the line and participate...

They said this pop-up ends tomorrow.

It was a moment of intense inner conflict, wondering if it was really worth exchanging my social dignity for this.

Just then, the cashier, who had just started her shift, smiled at me and spoke.

"The roulette event ends today! Would you like to participate?"

"Yes."

Thank you very much. Really, thank you, dear employee...

"Great! Please come this way! Oh, just stand here..."

The staff member quickly led me to the line in front of a giant black roulette, and of course I found myself at the end of the line.

The line moved more quickly than I expected.

Soon I was at the front and was handed a button that looked like a walkie-talkie.

"We're about to start the Lucky Roulette! Please press the button to stop it when you're ready."

Beep.

With an artificial sound effect, the roulette began to spin.

Each section showed a prize and rank.

There was merch I'd already bought, merch that wasn't for sale, and even some random Bluetooth headphones.

Of course, the biggest section - 7th place - was just a little notepad. That's probably what I'd get.

But I didn't mind. After all, I almost left without taking part at all.

"Let's not expect much."

[1st place] .
: Dark Exploration Records Real Merch Box

 

"......!"

"Oh my God! Congratulations!"

Is this... for real?

"Wow, no way!"

"So lucky, I'm so jealous."

Voices of amazement, screams and envy rose behind me.

"Wow, finally, on the penultimate day of the popup, someone got first place!"

The staff, even more excited than I was, ran behind the roulette and came back with a large plastic-wrapped box.

The black box, with a large silver symbol embossed on it, looked as if it had been carefully crafted.

I could barely keep my hands from shaking as I accepted the box.

"Thank you."

I had to leave immediately and slap my face to make sure this was real.

As I was about to leave the pop-up shop, the staff stopped me.

"Oh! We're handing out bespoke merchandise here, so all I need is your name!"

My name? My personal information has long since become public property, leaked all over portal sites. The only thing that matters is getting this home safely...!

"My name is Kim Soleum."

"Got it! Mr Soleum, just a moment."

The staff began to operate a black machine next to the roulette that looked like a 3D printer.

There was even an explanation above it, made for the pop-up shop.

 

[Dark Exploration Records Character Maker]

 

Ah, so that's what they were talking about during the roulette event.

The 'Create Your Own Dark Exploration Records Character' event.

How perfectly tailored to a teenager's taste...

"Please enter your name here."

"Okay."

Holding the merch box with one hand, I quickly entered my name on the machine's pad.

The black machine made a loud, eerie music box sound, putting on a show as the gears turned.

And then it spat out a small object.

Clank.

I picked up the familiar looking object.

It was... an employee ID card.

 

[Daydream Inc.]
Employee Kim Soleum
Field Exploration Team

 

"Wow! Daydream Inc. It's one of the most famous factions in our <Dark Exploration Records> universe!"

"......"

Yeah, I know.

In short, it's the cliché of a big corporation profiting from the paranormal.

And the Field Exploration Team...

"That's the department where everyone dies, like the redshirts in that one sci-fi show".

It's the team that's always sent out to investigate the paranormal, only to meet their end.

So a lot of the named characters seemed to belong to the Field Exploration Team.

"Wow! An employee ID from the Field Exploration Team! I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of adventures Employee Kim Soleum will have in the <Dark Exploration Records> universe!"

"Yes, thank you..."

I was about to cringe, but managed to hold it in.

At least it's not an ID from a government agency or a shady religious cult.

Thank goodness it was a company ID.

Although it was a little embarrassing, the staff had clearly said this so many times that they had built up an immunity to it and handled it all with professional poise.

With that, the roulette event seemed to be over after I received the employee ID.

"Thank you."

I looked down at the ID card with my name on it and sighed inwardly.

This... this must be hidden somewhere where no one will ever find it.

No matter what, my tolerance for embarrassment couldn't take much more of this.

Meanwhile, the staff were asking cheerfully again.

"Do you like it? You'll treasure it, won't you?"

"Yes."

"Liar."

...?

I looked up, thinking I had misheard.

Grin.

The staff suddenly smiled at me with an unnaturally wide grin.

Their mouths stretched unnaturally upwards, almost reaching their ears...

"......?"

At that moment.

A wave of dizziness washed over me.

"......!"

The noise of the pop-up shop disappeared.

Everything in front of me blurred as if covered in black paint, flickering in red and blue.

And when the dizziness passed.

I had no idea that the world had completely changed... not even in my wildest dreams.

[Welcome to Daydream Inc, everyone!]

"......?!"

Before I knew it, I was standing in the corner of a large auditorium, looking up at the central podium.

And.

Boom!

With a burst of applause, fireworks exploded from the PPT projected onto the screen at the podium.

 

[New Employee Orientation]

 

As the applause and cheers echoed, a person who appeared to be the presenter smiled brightly and advanced the PPT.

It was clearly a new employee orientation event for a large corporation.

The new recruits, dressed in suits, clapped and cheered with excitement and nervous pride. They looked thrilled to have finally secured employment.

[Our new employees who have successfully passed a 145:1 competition should be proud of themselves! Haha! Now let's start the new employee orientation!]

"......"

What is this?

I hesitantly tried to step back.

But then I realised that I was sitting in a chair.

I was wearing a suit. I had put it on because I had a meeting with a client that evening, but it just so happened that I looked a lot like the 'new employees' who filled this auditorium.

Meanwhile, the merch box I had received from the roulette event was resting quietly on my lap.

"Excuse me, did you get this somewhere? Does the company give these out?"

"......"

I couldn't answer the question of the new employee sitting next to me.

[You are the selected candidates!]

[In fact, only a select few of those who applied through this job posting have gathered in Orientation Room A for this special session!]

[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and have been assigned to the special team, the <Field Exploration Team>].

"They've already made the assignments?"

"Field Exploration Team? Does Daydream Inc. have such a department?"

"Field exploration... for a pharmaceutical company?"

"Uh, it sounds like we're going to be banished somewhere? Not the headquarters, but a branch? Are they trying to lure us with fancy words...?"

I could hear the mumbled conversations of the new recruits around me, but I didn't have time to concentrate on them.

I recognised the name of the company and the name of the team.

Daydream Inc.

Field Exploration Team.

...Like a bolt of lightning, a page from the wiki flashed across my mind.

 

--------------------

(Field Exploration Team) (Daydream Inc.)

: One of the five teams under the development division of the giant organisation Daydream Inc. as mentioned in <Dark Exploration Records>.

Commonly referred to as the "Death Squad". A tragic team, but a fun one for ghost story writers.

--------------------

 

Wait a minute.

...This is the ghost story from the pop-up store event I just attended.

So what happens next...

 

--------------------

At new employee orientation, they're thrown into a deadly survival game to determine who gets full-time employment.

It's a popular topic for wiki entries because it shows what happens when ordinary people try to explore the dark.

--------------------

 

"......!"

"Uh, wh-what are you doing...?"

I jumped out of my chair.

I didn't care about understanding the situation - my only thought was to run outside.

But it was too late.

[There will be a short probationary period before you are officially employed, but don't worry, it won't be long! We will assess your practical skills through an absolute evaluation].

[Of course, full participation is necessary for a proper evaluation! Freeloading will not be tolerated!]