* * *

“Roe, you hit the jackpot.”

“……?”

“You… earned 20,000 points.”

Pardon?

I looked up and checked this morning’s point total.

[Employee Kim Soleum / Earned Points : 20000P]

It’s for real.

‘They definitely told me yesterday it’d only be 10,000 points…?’

Supervisor Park slapped my shoulder repeatedly.

“Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad reported that you absolutely deserved the extra points!”

Assistant Manager Jin…!

Thank you, Assistant Manager Jin, for recognizing my desperate efforts to get us all out, even to the point that you had to drill a hole in my palm.

In my mind, I raised my evaluation of the butterfly-mask-wearing assistant manager from a cold, work-driven psycho to a quick-witted and fair superior.

“Originally, our squad leader was also supposed to be named a primary contributor for the mission, but the A-squad leader threw a fit…”

Ah.

Well… honestly, I could see why she would react that way from her perspective…

‘Did I benefit unintentionally from the fallout?’

Not sure if I should feel pleased, but I’ll accept it gratefully.

“Anyway, Roe, it’s a big win for you. You’ve already broken the fastest point-earning record since joining! Insane.”

“Thank you.”

Though I may have to give up on staying unnoticed in this company soon…

‘Still, points are sweet.’

And that wasn’t even the end of it.

Before the morning was over, I got a call.

“…Assistant Manager Jin?”

– Yeah.

I had just been expecting to relax a bit after finishing a B-level ghost story exploration yesterday and working on some paperwork.

A call came in over the internal network from the A-squad Assistant Manager.

Naturally, I began with gratitude.

“Thank you. I heard you recommended me as a primary contributor for clearing the theme park Darkness…”

– Things work best when the person who does well gets more points. No need to thank me for that.

Ah, yes.

– Anyway, get up here.

“……?”

– My team’s going into a Darkness mission today, but we’re short-staffed. So, you’re coming to help.

“……”

– Don’t want to?

Yes, I don’t want to! I’m a poor rookie who nearly kicked the bucket yesterday—would it hurt to give me a break today?!

“Please hold on a moment… Assistant Manager Eun, there’s a call for you.”

“Oh, what’s up?”

Help me out here, dear superior!

I tried passing the call over to my superiors in hopes of dodging it, but it didn’t work.

“A-squad is short-staffed? Is this an A-squad backup call?”

“……!”

Uh-oh.

Even Supervisor Park, who had been slumped over his desk, sprang up with his chair and started whispering with interest.

“Wait a second, did A-squad really ask for Roe to fill the spot?”

I don’t know, supervisor. My shoulders hurt. Please stop shaking me.

“Got it, yes.”

In the meantime, Assistant Manager Eun ended the call, then shook her fist at me with a gleam in her eye.

“Hey. Go.”

…Pardon?

“That’s right! With A-squad as it is right now, it’s a golden opportunity! Safer conditions and more money—don’t let this slip by!”

“All those points, Roe. Points.”

“……”

…So, basically.

‘The elite A-squad gets extra points for each assignment.’

That’s a pretty sweet deal.

And since there’s no call for Y-squad or the other round-off squads, it doesn’t sound like a sacrificial type of Darkness either.

On top of that, they even called a rookie like me as a stand-in, so it likely isn’t a tough mission.

In short, it’s overtime work with good pay and an easy win!

“With the vacancy, they needed to bring someone along. They must’ve liked what they saw in you yesterday and thought they’d give you a chance. Go for it!”

“……”

I have no excuse left…

Saying something like ‘I was so scared that I couldn’t even sleep, so now I just want to rest’ would sound completely ridiculous now.

‘If an employee from the Field Exploration Team talks about being scared when a relatively safe situation with substantial points is on the line… they’d look suspicious…!’

If I didn’t want to be branded a coward and sent to the Round-Off Team, I’d have to keep my mouth shut.

So, with reluctant steps, I dragged myself toward the 15th floor…

“That’s right, rookie spirit!”

It feels more like defeat than spirit, honestly.

I trudged to the elevator, trying not to look too miserable. When I reached the top floor of the Field Exploration Team, the 15th floor, and the doors opened, I was in for a surprise.

“……!”

There were no cramped desks or partitions typical of an office.

Instead, it looked like a luxurious lounge you’d find in a hotel, with separate, private glass-walled spaces beyond, each marked with a staff member’s name.

‘My god.’

A personal office for each person.

It was the kind of benefit you’d expect for executives.

‘Is this some kind of motivation?’

Apparently, becoming an elite team member in the Field Exploration Team granted access to private space like this.

‘It’s every office worker’s dream…’

Just then, a familiar face stepped out from the glass door next to me.

It was my superior, already wearing her butterfly mask.

“Hello, Assistant Manager Jin.”

“Hey.”

Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad looked more human than she had in the ghost story.

“The Squad Leader said she’d like to see you again.”

Then, from the larger office opposite, A-squad’s leader emerged, holding a cup of joe.

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

“Good morning, Section Chief.”

The middle-aged A-squad leader smiled warmly and patted me on the shoulder as if she hadn’t been glaring at Squad Leader Lee Jaheon like she was about to kill him back at the theme park.

“Assistant Manager Jin isn’t the type to praise others, but she seems to think very highly of you, Mr. Roe Deer. I’ve heard great things.”

Is it really that much…?

“So, I thought I’d call you over today. It’s the first time I’ve seen Assistant Manager Jin compliment someone like that.”

Reflexively, I glanced over at A-squad’s Assistant Manager.

Wearing her butterfly mask, she smirked with a slight scoff.

“I was simply reporting the facts.”

“Oh, there you go again.”

The butterfly-masked superior frowned as she made eye contact with me, but her tone softened.

“What? You did a good job, didn’t you?”

“…Thank you.”

“Yeah. Do well today too.”

“Ah, youngsters, learn to get along.”

With a chuckle, the A-squad leader, who was wearing a teal duck mask, watched the scene unfold.

“Welcome to A-squad, Kim Soleum.”

“……”

“Alright then, let’s get to work.”

* * *

Honestly, I was a bit curious.

‘Do elite teams have a different approach?’

There was a sense of anticipation that perhaps A-squad’s process would be different from the regular team’s, who get thrown into Darkness with only a quick briefing and the manual to read on the day of the mission.

And it is different, alright.

“Collector confirmed, data recorder confirmed, mask confirmed, equipment confirmed, basic supplies confirmed. With 31 minutes remaining until entry time of ‘Identification Code Qterw-C-402’ at 1100H, preparation check completed.”

Umm… this is intense.

The atmosphere here was entirely different from D-squad, where we’d sit around a couch, exchange jokes, and head off into the Darkness, often with the squad leader not understanding half the humor.

Despite being down a member and with only two people left, A-squad maintained a strict hierarchy and protocol.

Right as I arrived, they immediately had me run through the equipment check briefing.

“…All done.”

“Good. Let’s head in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Temporary or not, it was clear that the lowest-ranking member would do the grunt work here.

‘Come to think of it, Assistant Manager Jin isn’t the easiest person to get along with, yet she was formally respectful to the squad leader…’

Well, at some point, I’d have to experience a team like this.

It might be good to go through this kind of experience at least once.

‘As long as they don’t find out I’m a scaredy-cat…’

If only I knew what kind of ghost story we’d be entering today, I could mentally prepare.

Just then, A-squad’s leader, holding the manual, addressed me.

“Oh, Soleum-ssi, you haven’t read the manual, have you?”

“I haven’t, ma’am.”

Trying to stay positive, I reached out politely to receive it from the squad leader.

But just as the manual for this Darkness exploration was about to be handed to me, she paused.

……?

“Actually, Soleum-ssi, why don’t you try going in without one this time?”

Pardon?

“I heard your specialty is figuring things out without a manual.”

I looked up in shock.

Underneath the teal duck mask, I could see A-squad’s leader smiling.

“If it seems dangerous, I’ll give it to you immediately. Got it?”

“……”

So, what she’s saying is… she’ll decide if it’s dangerous, not me.

Meaning she might never hand it over until the end.

“……”

They both know what’s in the manual, yet I’m supposed to go in blind?

“Alright, shall we go? Ah, it’s been a while since work has felt this fun~”

Wait. Is this…

‘Bullying in the workplace?’

It’s so stereotypical it feels like a joke. I feel light-headed.

But why would a squad leader from another squad that I just met yesterday go out of her way to do this… oh.

‘…Lee Jaheon!!’

Could it be that our D-squad’s Lizard Chief really rubbed her the wrong way, and now she’s taking it out on me, his rookie?

Why must I be dragged into this mess as well?!