NoveLight ™
The green magical potion flowed into Go Yeongeun’s mouth.
Gulp. Gulp.
The liquid disappeared, and by the time the glass bottle was empty—
“…!”
Go Yeongeun put the bottle down.
Eyes wide open, her hands instinctively moved toward her ears.
And from her trembling palms, as if new flesh were sprouting from a wound, rounded pieces of tissue began to grow where her ears had been torn off.
They rapidly took shape.
The auricle, tragus, and earlobe all formed clearly around the cartilage foundation.
And then—
They became complete.
“……”
“W-wow…!!”
My God.
“Go Yeongeun?”
“Yes!! Ah! I can hear! I can actually hear….”
Go Yeongeun exclaimed in disbelief as she touched her newly formed ears, then quickly turned on her phone to inspect them using the camera app.
Naturally, they looked exactly like her original ears.
“Does it hurt at all?”
“Not at all! It just felt a little itchy for a moment, but now… wow, I think I can hear even better than before!”
It was truly incredible.
So astonishing and wonderful that it felt like a small miracle.
But—
‘…This might encourage even riskier decisions.’
In this company, if a high-level Darkness mission was determined to inevitably cause severe physical harm, the manual allowed for the issuance of low-grade regeneration potions as standard equipment.
And once employees got used to that…?
They began to lose their fear of bodily injury.
The first time might be hard, but after that, it became easier.
‘Is that really a good thing?’
I glanced sideways.
Baek Saheon was staring into the ornate box containing his regeneration potion with a dark expression.
With his one remaining eye.
“…Um. Baek Saheon.”
“……”
Go Yeongeun hesitated before speaking cautiously.
“Losing an eye affects more than you think. Depth perception, field of vision, even balance… it might be better to use the potion and regenerate it, even if it feels wasteful.”
“Mind your own business.”
Go Yeongeun nearly made a face as if to say, What’s wrong with this guy? but perhaps because she was still relieved about regaining her ears, she chose to ignore him.
I considered for a moment before adding,
“Given the risks of our work, further injuries are always a possibility. Saving the potion for later isn’t a bad idea either.”
“Ah… That’s true.”
“……”
Baek Saheon’s pupils suddenly quivered, and he looked at the box more intently.
Hey.
Why did my comment make him look like he was considering using it right now?
Anyway, I chose to ignore him as well and made sure to store my own box carefully.
My heart was pounding slightly.
Seeing such a famous and powerful, yet terrifyingly symbolic item in person for the first time was an experience.
Daydream Inc.’s emblem.
The magical potion.
‘I’d better keep this safe.’
It was then.
“Excuse me, Soleum.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been meaning to say this, but… I really want to thank you properly.”
Go Yeongeun looked at me and bowed her head.
“Thank you so, so much.”
What?
“For what?”
“For facing that machine alone and letting us escape.”
“…Go Yeongeun, you weren’t even in danger at that point.”
She had already paid the price—her ears—so there was no further fee to be collected. In truth, I had only really saved Baek Saheon.
‘And that ungrateful jerk hasn’t even said thank you once….’
As expected, his personality was rotten to the core.
But Go Yeongeun firmly shook her head.
“No. You came back to save us afterward. Even lied about the candles being ours.”
“……”
“There was absolutely no reason for you to do that. You could have just stuck with Team D.”
“Hmm.”
There was, though.
‘Do you really think those thrill-seekers would have ensured safety just by holding a candle? Oh, great. Let’s try this and that too, squeeze points out of the manual review!’
I could already imagine collapsing from a heart attack after watching them pull every crazy stunt imaginable.
The truth was, I only risked the terrifying return to that exhibition to find those two because the alternative scared me even more.
‘And… if I can save someone, then I should.’
I’d only done what I could.
So I simply shook my head.
“It was something anyone would have done.”
“Are you serious? I don’t think so….”
“To be honest, if you ask me, both of you deserved promotions too for your contributions. I feel a bit guilty being the only one who got one.”
Go Yeongeun frowned.
“Oh, no. I’m not ready for a promotion yet.”
“……”
“I mean, I’m sure you’ll handle it well, though!”
Suddenly, I felt like crying….
“But why do you think we should’ve been promoted? Don’t you remember? Every item we used in that exhibition came out of your pocket, Soleum.”
Go Yeongeun gave me a pitiful look.
“Honestly, being too kind in the workplace can lead to people taking advantage of you. You don’t have to be overly generous with everyone.”
What?
She seemed to be seeing me through rose-tinted glasses thanks to the life-saver effect. I sighed and nodded, thinking of the Silver Heart badge.
“I appreciate the advice.”
Baek Saheon glanced at us with a look that screamed disbelief before leaving without a word.
Well, let him be.
After exchanging polite farewells with Go Yeongeun, I turned away, rolling the badge between my fingers.
‘When should I start wearing the Silver Heart? Only during missions?’
I mulled over the possibilities as I pocketed the badge.
At that moment, a familiar silhouette appeared down the hallway.
A white, lizard-like head.
“Team Leader.”
“Soleum.”
Apparently, while I was receiving my awards, the team leader had been busy.
‘The life-saver effect must be working again, making even those vertical pupils feel familiar.’
I briefly recalled the sight of the lizard’s brutal punches splitting the needle of the usher machine.
The lizard’s vertical pupils shifted to the empty potion bottle and box.
“Did you use it?”
“Ah, no. It wasn’t mine. It was Go Yeongeun, my colleague, who used hers.”
“Good day, sir! My name is Go Yeongeun!”
Go Yeongeun politely bowed to the unfamiliar lizard… no, the other team leader.
The lizard regarded her with unblinking eyes.
“I have a question.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Are you the owner of the escape item?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Three days ago, during the B-grade Darkness exhibition, did you possess a candle-shaped cognitive interference item?”
Ah.
“Oh… um, something like that….”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Go Yeongeun faltered but didn’t deny it outright, quickly grasping the situation.
However, it seemed she decided she should leave as soon as possible.
“Well, then, I’ll be going now.”
With those courteous parting words, she quietly disappeared down the opposite end of the hallway.
‘A wise decision….’
I sighed in relief and took a sip of water from my bottle.
“Soleum.”
“Yes?”
“Please refrain from repeating lies.”
I almost spat out the water.
“The more you mention them, the less effective they become.”
“……”
When did he figure it out?
For now, I bowed my head.
“My apologies.”
“Very well.”
I decided it was best to remain silent.
Surprisingly, the lizard team leader’s expression softened into what almost resembled a smile.
“All humans lie.”
“……”
“What matters are the intention and the outcome.”
It was a statement so philosophical that it caught me off guard.
‘…So as long as my lie was well-intentioned and had a good result, it doesn’t matter?’
“……”
Oh, whatever.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Understood.”
With that, the conversation ended.
The lizard returned to its usual stoic demeanor.
‘I had always thought there was something off about its personality….’
Now I felt that even more deeply—but in a good way.
I picked up the box containing my regeneration potion and prepared to move.
—Friend, are you done with work?
Braun spoke from my pocket.
We had agreed not to talk openly at the office, but since the timing seemed right, I decided to ask.
I discreetly pulled the plush toy slightly out of my pocket.
‘Braun, the employee next to me. What do they look like?’
—Oh, you mean the tall and elegant superior of yours?
‘Yes. How do they look to you?’
—Hmm.
There was a brief silence as if Braun were inspecting something.
—Eyes, nose, mouth, and hearing organs—all perfectly intact!
‘…As a lizard?’
*—A lizard? Haha, what a mischievous comparison
, my dear friend. Who are you trying to tease? Surely not your superior!*
“……”
Even Braun doesn’t see a lizard?
Could it be… I’m the only one seeing them like this?
“Soleum.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
I made a firm decision. Never again would I utter the word “lizard.”
“Let’s move.”
The lizard team leader walked toward the elevator.
I followed casually, asking,
“Are we heading back to the office?”
“No.”
Hmm?
“…Then where are we going?”
“To a restricted area accessible only to supervisors and above.”
“…!”
“I will explain how to use it.”
It was time.
***
In this company, the higher an employee’s rank, the more privileges they receive.
It was a benefit, a capability, and also a place.
“Now that Kim Soleum has been promoted to Supervisor, three facilities are available for use.”
In front of the annex building, I took the folder from Section Chief Lee Jaheon.
“From now on, Kim Soleum can access the Security Team's rental storage to withdraw non-magical items.”
“…….”
“You can also customize equipment using the Twilight-grade Darkness in the Annex without a senior’s accompaniment, and if needed, you can register at the Fox Counseling Room.”
These were all benefits I had already known.
Some spaces that had been noted in the Darkness Exploration Records but were previously inaccessible were now unlocked.
There was a sense of achievement and exhilaration.
And anticipation.
‘There are more ways to survive in this crazy world now…!’
But, like everything, there’s a flip side.
Better treatment means the company has higher expectations from its employees.
For this company, that meant…
‘Danger.’
As expected from a company dealing with urban legends, the areas only accessible to higher ranks were the ones that could become so dangerous that no civilian could handle them.
Like this.
“Additionally, as a Supervisor of the Field Exploration Team, you will now be assigned a Darkness to manage.”
“…….”
That’s right.
In addition to the team, I would now be personally responsible for managing a specific urban legend!
“Typically, even when an individual is in charge, it’s managed jointly by the team, but the primary responsibility will fall on you, the employee.”
Spreading out the responsibility to the field staff.
A very corporate move. I’m getting a taste of what 21st-century office life feels like…
According to Section Chief Lee Jaheon, as the years of service and rank increase, the assigned Darknesses become more numerous and more dangerous.
But at least I’m a rookie for now.
“Since Kim Soleum has less than one year of service, you will be assigned an F-grade Darkness.”
Whew.
“Please manage it according to the schedule and check the special conditions on the registration form.”
“Understood.”
Anyway, when you have no choice but to do something, it’s better to spend your energy on meaningful prayer than complaining.
‘Please! Please! Let it be a regular low-grade Darkness!’
If it turns out to be a show like The Tuesday Quiz Show, I might as well quit and start preparing for the disaster management exam!
But then I heard something surprising.
“You’ll be given a choice?”
“Yes.”
Section Chief Lee Jaheon said he would show me a few options, and I could choose from them!
“Is that normal?”
“No.”
The lizard stared at me intently.
“It’s my discretion.”
…?!
So, he was using his authority to give me options more flexibly…? This lizard?
“Thank you so much for your consideration. But may I ask why you’re doing this?”
“It’s a reward.”
“Reward?”
“It’s a reward for guiding the entire Team D safely back from the B-grade Darkness, finding the correct escape route without anyone being injured.”
“…But you saved my life from the usher machine, too.”
“That’s a matter of responsibility.”
The lizard said flatly.
“As a team leader, it’s my duty to take responsibility for my team within my capabilities.”
“……”
Wow, what a good boss…
‘I almost got emotional there.’
If I were a newcomer, I would’ve postponed my resignation for at least a month after that.
No wonder Assistant Manager Eonhae and Supervisor Park Minseong are so eager to look out for their team leaders.
I was starting to think I should do my best too.
“…But thank you.”
“Yes.”
I nodded respectfully and followed the lizard to the F-grade Darkness containment room.
It was an unexpectedly good situation.
‘If I play this right, I could actually come out ahead.’
Darkness Exploration Records is like a wiki.
What that means is, since various creators contributed while following the basic rules, the standards for different grades can vary slightly.
‘Even if it’s the same F-grade, its potential could be really useful.’
As long as I know how to handle it properly.
And from the Darkness Exploration Records, I already knew how.
If it’s a Darkness recorded there…
“This is a 3-point F-grade Darkness.”
I looked up.
Before me were three items…
An old teddy bear.
Two black cards.
A model airplane.
“…!”
‘I know all of these.’
It was a jackpot.
Amidst it all, Braun’s voice came through, sounding a bit uneasy. Was the good friend effect making it cautious about the doll?
I hesitated.
And then I reached out.
“I will take responsibility for this Darkness.”