Supervisor Park Minseong suppressed a sigh as he sat down next to the sofa in the terrace room where he had been hiding.

‘This is taking too long.’

It had been over 70 minutes since Kim Soleum went downstairs with his fellow new hires.

Though Soleum had mentioned that this amount of time might be needed, he had also left a caveat about what to do if neither he nor the others returned within two hours…

– …Don’t bother waiting or looking for me.

In other words, if things went south, they should just leave him behind.

‘I should’ve just gone with him.’

Park Minseong stifled another sigh. Even though Daydream Inc. thrived on a survival-of-the-fittest philosophy, there were still some squads in the Field Exploration Team with strong camaraderie, and D-squad happened to be one of them.

Assistant Manager Eun Haje, too, was sitting on the sofa, visibly unsettled as she revised a makeshift map of this Darkness. Every now and then, she sighed deeply.

‘…I was hoping Roe would settle into our squad even after the rookie period ends.’

For now, though, making it out of here alive took priority.

Feeling slightly glum, Park Minseong still found some reassurance in one thing.

‘Squad Leader Lee Jaheon approved this, after all.’

That meant the item was likely as reliable as it seemed. Minseong had no idea where the rookie had managed to get it, but occasionally, there were such cases—people who joined the company after being repeatedly caught up in urban legends or ghost stories.

‘Is he a case like that?’

Perhaps it was more accurate to call it bad luck.

Even in the Field Exploration Team, it was rare for rookies to be deployed into dangerous Darknesses like this—maybe once a year, if that.

Thinking about Kim Soleum, who had gone from one high-risk mission—like the theme park—to another, almost brought tears to Minseong’s eyes.

‘At least he’s been earning points.’

Park Minseong suppressed another sigh and looked toward the terrace door.

There stood a figure, completely unbothered, in stark contrast to Minseong’s restless thoughts.

Squad Leader Lee Jaheon.

Without the slightest movement, he remained stationed right by the terrace door.

He was likely measuring the passage of time with an unnervingly precise internal clock.

Once the countdown ended, he would undoubtedly rise and act according to plan—without hesitation.

Minseong could only hope that the plan didn’t involve ‘excluding Kim Soleum from the escape attempt due to a lack of survival prospects’.

‘No, before that, I just hope Roe comes back…’

Outside, apart from the occasional scream, there was an unsettling quiet.

‘No footsteps yet.’

If Roe had finished his task, surely the sound of three sets of calm footsteps would be the first thing they heard…

[Can you hear me?]

“……?!”

Park Minseong leapt to his feet.

Next to him, Assistant Manager Eun Haje reflexively did the same.

[This is an announcement regarding the escape route.]

[There isn’t enough time to repeat myself, so please pay attention.]

It was the voice of the rookie who D-squad had been waiting for—Kim Soleum.

[The exit is at 0F.]

[Let me repeat: the exit is at 0F. You need to descend the stairs until the bronze glow transitions into brass…]

It was undoubtedly Roe’s voice.

Given how extraordinary this rookie had proven to be, it wasn’t even surprising if he had found a clever way to broadcast an announcement… but.

…What if it wasn’t him? What if something not human was merely imitating Kim Soleum?

“……”

The two members of D-squad exchanged a glance, silently leaving the final decision to the person best equipped to handle this.

Their squad leader, who had a reputation for unerring judgment in these situations.

“……”

Lee Jaheon stood by the terrace door, having clearly heard the announcement. He stared blankly into space as if deep in thought.

[You must use the spiral staircase.]

After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.

“Move out.”

[That concludes the announcement.]

I finally finished repeating the message for the sixth time. From the first to the sixth floor.

‘That should cover all the surface levels.’

I’d debated whether to focus only on D-squad, stationed on the first floor, but Ms. Goral had been adamant.

– Y-You mean you can do that? Then we have to save as many people as we can!

It was such a statement befitting someone in the medical field.

Now, however, it was up to everyone’s individual judgment.

‘I deliberately avoided introducing myself or mentioning the company, but I did include a few terms familiar to the Field Exploration Team…’

Even so, there might be people too suspicious to act.

If they encountered an usher machine on the stairs by chance, there was nothing I could do about that either.

Still, losing a body part or two was still better than dying here as a human grub.

‘It also helps spread out the machines that might head toward D-squad.’

I cleared my throat.

“Ah, ah.”

Braun seemed to have retracted his energy, as the strange resonance in my throat and lungs faded away.

‘Thanks.’

– Gratitude is always music to my ears!

Braun sounded slightly tired but still cheerful.

Meanwhile, from the side, a voice filled with irritation broke the moment of appreciation.

“Why are you wasting points? The more people escape, the fewer points we get individually.”

Here we go again with this guy’s twisted logic.

And worse, it’s an ignorant statement.

“Are you stupid? Do you think there aren’t veteran employees who’ll find the exit on their own without our help, even if a rookie like you escapes?”

“……!”

There are employees who are so well-equipped with items and specialized gear or just naturally talented that they’ll escape without assistance.

Even according to the <Dark Exploration Records>, seven survivors escaping was already guaranteed, so the individual point distribution wouldn’t have been above one-eighth regardless of whether I did this or not.

In short, trying to cash in on points from this ghost story wasn’t worth it.

But instead of explaining all this, I simply smiled faintly.

“This is the kind of situation where making a good impression ensures work becomes more enjoyable later. Plus, I get to observe different reactions.”

“……”

Baek Saheon turned his head with an exasperated look.

‘Do you even have a conscience?’

If he were to reflect on his previous statement, he’d realize that I should be giving him that exact reaction. What a sociopath, in this twisted ghost story world.

Still, worried that Ms. Goral might have been unsettled, I called out to her.

“Ms. Goral.”

“……”

“Ms. Goral?”

“…Wait. Did you just call me?”

“……!”

No way.

“…I think… my hearing is starting to go, just a bit.”