“Excuse me…”

“……”

“Excuse me.”

I opened my eyes wide.

A familiar face appeared in my blurry vision.

“…Captain?”

“Yes…”

A slender figure in a security uniform, with light-colored hair and the badge labeled "J3."

It was the same security guard who got caught up with me in the Darkness inspired by the Chang-gwi motif…!

I tried to get up in a rush.

A massive headache hit me—wait, what?

Jingle.

I froze.

My hands, which I had instinctively placed on the ground for support, were wrapped tightly in red yarn adorned with tiny bells.

‘Yarn?’

Something about its appearance and use seemed… familiar.

‘Oh.’

It clicked.

‘This is the equipment the security team uses.’

Dark Exploration Records / Daydream Inc.

Item: Nostalgia Kitty

A red yarn with silver bells attached, classified as an equipment-type item.

When equipped, it temporarily reverts the subject to their most physically and mentally healthy state from the past ten years.

The more severe the mutation, the faster the yarn breaks.

Note: Health standards are determined based on user records.

It was an item that could temporarily return someone to a better version of themselves.

Knowing what it was brought me a faint sense of relief.

I relaxed a bit, letting the tension leave my body—

“……”

“……”

Wait, hold on.

Why am I tied up?

I quickly raised my head.

The security captain's face showed the same "I'm so done with everything" expression as before, though now there was a faint trace of amusement.

He waved slightly.

“Good to see you again.”

“Yeah. But…”

I raised my arms as much as I could, the yarn jangling.

“What’s all this about?”

“You rescued an infected employee, didn’t you?”

“Right, but why am I—?”

He pointed at me.

Ah.

“…Do the security team think I’m the one infected?”

“Looks like it… yeah. There wasn’t anyone else around.”

Then, the captain lifted his hands slightly, his expression somewhere between shy and expectant.

“Well, um… welcome to the security team?”

What.

He thinks this is some kind of initiation?!

“I’m not infected.”

“...Huh?”

“I’m not infected.”

I emphasized this twice before finally regaining enough composure to look around.

‘…This must be some kind of quarantine room.’

The gray-walled space was bare, with no furnishings or even visible lighting fixtures. Everything seemed built-in and indestructible, even the recessed ceiling lights.

‘Looks like the security team really got involved.’

That means my call had gone through successfully.

[Security Team Equipment Depot]

After my promotion to team leader, I’d been granted access to this facility. It was essentially a storeroom where you could request or borrow equipment for containment purposes.

However, if the security team deemed the situation severe enough to require direct intervention, they would take action themselves, as they had now.

‘Lucky me.’

Judging by the fact that I was currently detained in one of their facilities, that was exactly what had happened.

I nodded slowly.

“So, we’re in the company building, aren’t we? Since you’re here, Captain.”

“Yeah… sharp observation.”

“……”

I swallowed hard.

If I wasn’t mistaken, Park Minseong, my contaminated colleague, was still sealed within the tattoo on my arm.

‘I need to extract him and hand him over for containment.’

But officially registering myself as someone carrying a tattoo containing contamination? That was idiocy on a long-term scale.

I decided to test the waters.

“By the way, is there any CCTV installed here?”

“Probably not…”

Good.

Considering this was the first time someone contaminated by the Hungry Hangman ghost story had manifested in reality, they likely wouldn’t risk using recording devices.

There was always a chance the footage itself could become corrupted.

Especially given the mental contamination strength of Hungry Hangman.

Either way, it seemed like no one else knew that Park Minseong’s contamination was currently stored in my arm tattoo.

I swallowed again.

“…Captain.”

“Just call me Jay… I’m the only ‘J’ left in the security team anyway…”

“All right, Mr. Jay.”

I put on my most serious face.

“Can you keep what happens from now on a secret?”

He’d probably say no.

Or he’d pretend to hesitate, then agree, only to immediately report everything.

Either way, I needed to be ready with a backup plan.

“Sure, whatever.”

“……”

“Just don’t, like, blow up the company or something… though even then, who cares… but yeah, make sure to keep it a secret from me too…”

“……”

Is this the confidence of a lifelong employee?

‘What kind of company is this?’

I forced myself to stay calm and replied firmly.

“It’s not about blowing up the company.”

“Then what?”

“Actually, I rescued an infected employee and am currently suppressing the contamination.”

“……”

“……”

“…What?”

The security captain gave me a look that screamed, What are you even talking about?

“Are you hallucinating—”

“I’m fine. And I’m wearing equipment to suppress contamination, aren’t I?”

I raised my arms.

“This yarn with bells… it’s contamination-suppression equipment, right?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Then you know I’m of sound mind.”

The captain stared at me.

I swallowed again.

“When you’re ready, I’ll extract the infected employee here.”

“Oh.”

Jay blinked at me, his expression remaining doubtful but eventually nodded slowly.

“Okay… go ahead…”

“Don’t you need any preparation? I only have one chance to do this with the item I used.”

“Eh…”

Jay tapped his chest lightly.

“I’ve got it.”

It might’ve come off as arrogant, but his exhausted tone made it sound completely matter-of-fact.

‘And he’s the captain.’

Considering his rank in the security team, which specialized in handling contamination, and his performance during the Chang-gwi incident…

Fine. This might work.

“Okay.”

I took a deep breath.

And plunged my hand into the tattoo on my arm.

“…!”

I didn’t need to search. My target was right there. Trapped inside, screaming about rules and discipline.

Pull.

As my hand emerged, it dragged something out with it.

Crack, crack.

A grotesque sound accompanied the process as the “teacher” figure began to materialize.

And then.

Snap.

The yarn broke.

Blood spurted from my arm like a fountain.

The wound from the vampiric knife reappeared.

“~!”

Shit! Swearing is bad, but goddamn it hurts!! Contamination was returning—but more importantly…

"Mr. Soleum! Such mischief is considered a punishable offense in our ■■Affiliated Kindergarten…."

I froze.

Supervisor Park Minseong, now embodying the "teacher," stopped smiling and stood still.

Then he glanced around, looking dazed.

"……."

"……."

"This isn’t the kindergarten!!"

Crap.

"This isn’t the kindergarten! It’s not! I left without permission—I broke the rules! I’m not a perfect teacher! I violated the rules…!"

There was no way to calm him down; guilt just hit me like a wave.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Teacher, this was my fault. I made the wrong call. I shouldn’t have done this. I’ll take your punishment. I’ll recite the educational handbook myself. I grabbed the handbook for ■■Affiliated Kindergarten and—

“Oops.”

Slam.

Someone grabbed my face.

And something slipped into my ear.

“It’s like… a sedative.”

……

……

A flash.

I blinked.

“Hey.”

"……."

“Hey…”

I opened my eyes again.

Everything was silent.

“Are you okay…?”

“I’m fine.”

I instinctively realized what had happened.

“You made me lose consciousness, didn’t you?”

“Yes…”

I looked down and saw a small capsule shell drop to the floor from my ear.

‘A drug?’

It must’ve been a temporary knockout item. Similar to the effects of the Snow White Mountain Apple, though likely a cheaper version.

Stay calm.

It seemed to have broken the contamination’s hold on me, at least for now.

I steadied my breathing and glanced at my arm. The wound from earlier was now bandaged.

And the red yarn that had originally been wrapped around me…

"……."

I looked up to see that it was now securely tied around Supervisor Park Minseong’s limbs.

That’s right. Not the teacher anymore.

But Park Minseong.

‘…It worked.’

Standing there in a black suit and mask, Park Minseong looked just as he had before entering the ghost story. The suppression equipment must’ve restored him temporarily.

“…Hah.”

All the strength drained from my body, and I slumped against the wall.

‘…Mission accomplished.’

Beside me, the security captain muttered to himself.

“He’s lucky… that guy. Didn’t think it was possible to get out that quickly… Jealous…”

Wait a second.

“Does that mean he’s completely recovered from the contamination?”

“Hmm…”

The security captain looked as if even thinking was a chore, but when I stared at him persistently, he finally spoke.

“That was a Darkness-grade contamination, wasn’t it…?”

“Yes? Yes, B-grade.”

“Then it should be fine…”

A B-grade? Fine?

“Well, the company has protocols. If recovery goes well… maybe a department transfer?”

"……."

Sure, working for the security team beats dying.

‘I just hope he recovers enough to return to work or resign peacefully….’

"……."

I looked back at Supervisor Park Minseong again.

Now that the tension was easing a bit, an odd feeling started creeping in.

Just yesterday, he was my coworker, someone I joked and chatted with in the same office.

Now, from tomorrow onward, he’d suddenly vanish from my daily life.

“…Take care of him.”

"……."

The security captain gave me a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

As that thought lingered, my mind suddenly brought up the last thing I saw before losing consciousness.

…Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je!!

“What happened to the body that was lying near me? The one missing its left hand?”

“I don’t know…”

No way. They wouldn’t have incinerated him, would they? No, that’s impossible.

‘They would’ve noticed something was wrong since it wasn’t a headless corpse.’

Still, the anxiety gnawed at me, and I quickly pressed for the procedures to leave the quarantine room.

“Follow me…”

“Oh, yes.”

With a few security staff accompanying me for what was clearly a mix of escort and surveillance, I stepped out of the isolation room.

And as I exited, I realized something.

This was the quarantine zone adjacent to the security team’s equipment depot.

[Quarantine B]

‘There’s a document about this place in the Dark Exploration Records.’

Every mention of it gave me chills.

Two staff members walked a half step ahead of me, moving steadily down the corridor, while I forced myself to follow despite the eerie atmosphere.

Kikikikikik.

Aaaah! Shine your brilliant name upon me!

Save me, save me, please save me!

The sound of chilling cries echoed from each isolation room we passed.

‘Don’t… don’t look.’

I kept my eyes fixed on the light spilling from the door ahead, refusing to glance to the sides. But then—

……

Who’s in the hallway?

Aaaaaaahhhh!!!

Who’s in the hallway? Who’s in the hallway? Who’s in the—

Please, just walk faster! Walk faster!!

But these security staff members insisted on maintaining their steady pace as we finally stepped out into the main equipment depot.

I was utterly drained.

The equipment depot’s front was stark and lifeless, resembling any mundane corporate maintenance facility. At the counter, a silent staff member handed me a bag containing my belongings, which had been held in quarantine.

“Thank you.”

I accepted the briefcase. A sticker labeled [Approved / Risk Level D] was stuck to the surface.

‘Doesn’t seem like they inspected my items thoroughly.’

No one questioned what I’d pulled out of my tattoo. They didn’t even subject me to an additional check.

Surprisingly, Captain Jay had kept his promise completely.

‘Though he might spill later.’

That was manageable. I’d intentionally mentioned the item was single-use, so it wouldn’t be suspicious.

The important thing now was to focus on the next step.

Keep it together.

I took a deep breath.

‘Next, I need to check on Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je’s condition as soon as possible—’

Friend!

Friend!

Huh?

Friend!!

"……."

Braun!!!

“Are these all my belongings?”

The staff pointed to a corner of the counter, where a disposal bin labeled [Waste] sat.

Inside, I saw my soaked and crumpled suit jacket, and stuffed in alongside it… was a small plush doll.

Gasp!!

Not even in a studio, and they have the audacity to throw me here! This is overreach! It’s an insult! Not even as a rookie did I endure such indignities!!

This… these bastards!!

I felt like I could sweat a river. Hastily, I pulled out the jacket and fished out Braun, brushing him off before tucking him into my shirt pocket.

“Good work. I’m sorry about that.”

Ah… this wasn’t your fault, Soleum. It’s those hooligans’ reckless behavior!

He seemed to calm down somewhat. I quickly turned and headed out.

But Braun’s ominous voice followed me.

But a good friend never forgets….

"……."

I resolved never to let Braun near the security team again.

As I reached the door to the main hall—

“Kim Soleum.”

"…!!"

Someone was waiting.

“…Captain Lee Jaheon.”

The lizard-eyed captain stared at me with his vertical pupils.

“Are you here to pick me up?”

“Yes.”

“Where are we going? And, if you could, please explain why.”

“To the infirmary. Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je is there.”

"…!!"

I hesitated several times before I finally found my voice.

“…Is he alive?”

Captain Lee looked at me.

And then he gave a clear answer.

“Yes.”

"……."

A lump rose in my throat.

"…Captain. Supervisor Park Minseong has also been extracted.”

“I see.”

Captain Lee paused as if considering something before asking,

“Is he alive?”

"…Yes."

“Then everyone survived.”

"…Yes."

That alone was worth it.

Absolutely.