"Think carefully about it."

The government official, dressed like a stereotypical serial killer, spoke with conviction.

“You’ll have job security until the age of 65 under a rank-based pay system. As a special position, you’ll also receive additional allowances.”

Why am I suddenly being pitched a recruitment fair for the Agency for Supernatural Disaster Management here?

“If you’re naturally prone to getting involved in supernatural phenomena, wouldn’t it be better to at least have proper protection and financial stability?”

I already have those things, thank you very much.

I highly doubted an 8th-grade government official could out-earn what a major pharmaceutical corporation pays me. But there was no way I’d admit to working for Daydream Inc. I didn’t want to be flagged as a person of interest and reported to the agency!

Maybe I should’ve stuck to writing notes.

I regretted deciding to use my voice for better communication and impact. Now it was backfiring.

I opened my mouth cautiously, hoping to reinforce his assumption that I was just an ordinary civilian who happened to get caught up in these supernatural messes.

“Honestly, this whole thing was terrifying, and I only managed to do something because I was desperate. I’m not someone capable of handling supernatural phenomena. Becoming an agent? That’s way beyond me.”

The official gave me a look of mild disbelief.

What now?

“You thought the lodge keeper was the source of the phenomenon and terminated the contract to prevent further incidents, didn’t you?”

“Well… yes?”

“Then you independently resolved a supernatural phenomenon. Isn’t that correct?”

“…”

“That’s natural talent.”

It’s not. It’s Wiki-level research.

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t. This was a joint effort with a friend, and—”

Oh, please stop.

“Besides, I don’t have the combat skills or special abilities needed to become an agent.”

“Special abilities?”

The corners of the official’s mouth quirked up slightly.

“That can be learned.”

“…!”

“You’ll be properly trained after you’re hired.”

I’m losing my mind here.

“What makes you think I’m qualified for this?”

“You’re carrying a small silver badge with a shield emblem, aren’t you?”

“…!!”

“That’s why.”

Oh, crap.

He’s sharp.

I’d considered this possibility but still feigned surprise, acting flustered.

“W-what? How did you…?”

“That’s a persuasion tool used by the agency. I’ve heard it was once distributed to civilians with significant merit, but this is my first time seeing someone who can actually use it.”

“Ah…”

“That badge can only be used by good people. It serves as a kind of certification.”

He gave me a pointed look.

“Did you keep it in your pocket while using it?”

Smart guy.

If I play dumb, it’ll only make me look suspicious. Better to own it.

Never forget: this thing only works for “good people.”

They wouldn’t confiscate it unless I’d done something seriously wrong, which I hadn’t.

Fortunately, my brain kicked into overdrive, and I reacted seamlessly.

I pulled the badge from my pocket with a faintly melancholic expression, as if it had a story behind it.

“…It was passed down in my family.”

The goods box is now officially my family heirloom.

“They told me to use it in emergencies when I needed to be heard…”

“I see.”

The official nodded, looking at me with a mix of respect and sympathy.

“You come from a remarkable family.”

“….”

Did he just assume they’re watching over me from the heavens? Technically, he’s not wrong… though I’d prefer not to think about that ominous floating goods box.

“I was told not to volunteer for dangerous tasks, and I’d like to honor that as much as possible,” I added.

“…”

It wasn’t a lie. My parents had said something similar when I wanted to work in finance. And Daydream Inc. wasn’t exactly my dream job either—it wasn’t like I volunteered for it.

“Understood.”

The official looked mildly disappointed but backed off.

“In that case, I suppose there’s nothing more to discuss.”

Phew.

And with that, the nerve-wracking recruitment fair came to a close.

With an unexpected bonus, no less.

“If you ever have concerns or need help, please contact me.”

As I prepared to leave the lodge, the official handed me another contact card.

This time, it was personal.

Ryu Jae-gwan
010-XXXX-XXXX

“This is my work number,” he explained.

“It’s more reliable than the business card I gave you earlier. That one might take time to reach a response team, and you can’t be sure what kind of agents will show up.”

In other words, I’d just been handed a supernatural escape pass.

I swapped the old contact card for the new one like I was exchanging cassette tapes.

Didn’t think it’d come in handy this way.

Before he could dig any deeper, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

“You know, back at the salmon market, I was so scared I could only communicate through notes… Next time, I’d like to talk properly like this.”

“Of course.”

“And… could my identity remain confidential? It’s just… a bit overwhelming and scary for me.”

“…”

The official paused briefly but eventually nodded.

“You’ll be fine as you are.”

Yes!

So he’s letting me stay anonymous? Perfect.

I’d even left the door open for future negotiations. This was flawless.

‘Next time, I’ll face less suspicion and sell more goods.’

“Take care on your way down,” the official said.

“You too.”

We shook hands, and the official pedaled off on his bicycle.

Even when he made one last pitch as he left, I managed to deflect it naturally.

-“To be honest, situations like this are too much for me. I’m already at my limit.”

And that was the truth.

Baek Saheon, stop staring at me with that creepy look in your eyes.

The official, seemingly understanding, nodded and pedaled away without further insistence.

“Leave before the cleanup team arrives,” he advised as he rode off—a lifesaving tip.

Time to get out of here.

I left the lodge behind, its landslide debris and bus stop having mysteriously vanished, and began walking down the mountain trail.

Phew.

Only then did the tension finally ease from my body.

-“The efforts you poured into crafting an artistic finale over these sleepless nights… This Braun knows all too well! Excellent work.”

Yeah, it was horrifying, exhausting, and downright disgusting…

“Being sent alone into a ghost story like this proves the agency isn’t for me.”

For the first time, I appreciated Daydream Inc. more than ever.

“Money and points, at least, make it worthwhile.”

Like they say, if you have to be a servant, serve a rich master.

Not that the job feels particularly fulfilling.

I glanced at my colleague, my unwilling partner in this nightmare.

“Let’s get off this damned mountain already!”

"……."

"Damn it, this isn’t even worth any points or money, and I still got dragged into this mess!"

"Before you go on, there’s something you should say first."

Baek Saheon clamped his mouth shut, then glanced at me nervously, speaking in a defensive tone.

"I’m not about to pay for something like this. I didn’t ask you to save me, anyway."

Wow.

"And you think that’s enough? The cassette reward went entirely to you, Kim Soleum. That’s fair, isn’t it?"

"Oh."

I smirked.

"Funny. You have the guts to say that to someone who lost their weekend and risked getting fired for skipping work because of you?"

"……."

Baek Saheon’s face turned pale, then flushed as he struggled to find words.

"…What do you want, then?"

"Nothing."

"…?!"

"Honestly, I had fun."

"…!!"

I turned and began striding down the mountain path.

Behind me, I heard Baek Saheon’s hurried footsteps and a delayed, flustered reply.

"…Well, okay, I’ll admit you lost your weekend and skipped work because of me. That’s on me."

"……."

"I mean it."

Oh?

"I’ll transfer three days’ worth of pay to you. Just wait."

"Sure."

But moments later, as we re-entered an area with cell service and our phones reconnected, Baek Saheon’s voice rang out in shock.

"The date is the same as when we left!"

Of course.

Didn’t he know it’s a rule in ghost stories that time flows differently?

"Anyway, I still spent three days on this."

"…!"

Still, I got my compensation. Baek Saheon, however, stood there with a mix of frustration, relief, and indignation etched on his face. After a moment, he averted his gaze and stomped off.

-"Ha! Even without this incident, he seems like someone who’d have a hard time staying out of trouble!"

Kind of true, isn’t it?

Honestly, I had expected something else.

I can’t believe he didn’t even say ‘thank you’ at the end.

What a guy.

Still, he seemed a bit softer and less ruthless than the version of him I’d read about in the Dark Exploration Records.

Earlier, when the government official encountered him in the basement, there had been a chilling moment when he looked at Baek Saheon with cold eyes before offering me some cryptic advice.

-"Some inherit the Silver Heart, while others inherit the cassette tape…"

-"……."

-"Choose carefully who you entrust things to."

-"Hmm. Yes, thank you."

That was something.

The government had made sure the cassette tapes ended up in the hands of those with confirmed criminal records.

Which meant Baek Saheon, by some connection, had ties to someone the government had labeled as a villain.

No matter how generous I tried to be, it was clear—someone in Baek Saheon’s inheritance chain was no saint.

-"It was just something at home. I inherited it from a relative."

…A relative, huh.

Sounds like there’s a story there.

But I decided not to dwell on it.

I didn’t have the luxury of digging into the backstories of characters from ghost story archives.

Surviving this nightmare of a company comes first.

And before long, true to its nature, my company started acting like itself again—dragging me into another absurd, unpredictable situation disguised as "business as usual."

***

A few days later.

“Kim Supervisor!”

I was on my way back with coffee for my boss when a familiar face called out to me in the hallway.

It was Lee Byungjin, the manual review manager who had previously gone missing.

“Ah, congratulations! I always knew you’d do well!”

We’ve known each other for less than two months, but okay.

“Top of your class when you joined, scouted into Team A, saved me, got connections with the security team, and now, rapid promotion? Man, you’re killing it.”

“Thank you.”

I wasn’t thrilled about any of it, but I responded politely anyway.

But instead of wrapping up the conversation and leaving, Lee Byungjin leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Director Ho has their eye on you.”

“…….”

“They’re the best upper management in this company. Don’t let this opportunity slip by.”

An opportunity…?

“Word is they’re running a classified external project team. You might get transferred there.”

Ha, you don’t understand at all.

In the ghost story universe, anything labeled “classified external” cuts your survival odds in half.

Instead of saying that, I bowed politely and replied, “I’ve only been here for less than six months. I’m not aiming for anything like that. I just want to focus on doing my best in my current position.”

“Wow, humble, too! I knew I had a good read on you. Ha-ha!”

I was just grateful he seemed to have completely forgotten his past condescending attitude when I was undercover as a security guard. People really are creatures of their environment.

Lee Byungjin patted me on the shoulder a few times, as if proud, then left with a parting remark.

“Anyway, I’m curious to see where you’ll end up!”

“……?”

Something about his tone felt… off.

Why does it sound like he’s already decided I’m going somewhere?

This question didn’t stay unanswered for long.

That afternoon.

“Hey, Deer. Even if you end up in another team, let’s make sure to catch up sometimes. I still owe you a meal or two.”

Huh?

I blinked at my slightly dejected supervisor.

Another team?

Wait… Am I being reassigned to some awful department?

Was all that talk about the director watching me just a ploy to soften the blow before dropping me into some nightmare role?

Why would they bother messing with an ordinary employee like me?!

“Well, honestly, I’d prefer if you stayed with us… but seeing how things are going…”

Thankfully, before I could spiral into panic, my supervisor kindly explained.

Apparently, field exploration teams are typically capped at three members. However, sometimes an additional rookie is assigned temporarily for training purposes.

It’s standard for new hires to remain as extra personnel until they receive a promotion.

“But now you’re a supervisor.”

Ah.

I had… been excluded from the usual case.

“There’s a good chance you’ll get shuffled to another team… but don’t worry too much.”

I latched onto a thread of hope.

“Is there a chance I might be an exception?”

“No, not really… but it looks like this team might be perfectly balanced soon. Just keep this between us.”

“Huh?”

My supervisor smirked.

“I’m quitting soon.”

“…!!”

A colleague announcing their escape?!

This was breaking news!