"Hey. Roe, you didn't forget me, right? It's been so long!"
The person standing in the dark corridor extends their hand, speaking in a cheerful tone.
It's my former superior from Team D, wearing a badger mask, whom I haven't seen in a long time.
"...Supervisor?"
I was certain.
It's Supervisor Park Minseong.
The person who was close to being my mentor seemed to have a clear sense of self, just like when we worked together.
I hastily shook his hand and asked, "Have you recovered?"
"I'm much better. Well, I'm slowly starting rehabilitation activities now. These days, I haven't had any major problems with daily life. Right, Captain?"
"Yes, well... I suppose..."
Phew.
'I didn't expect to meet like this.'
Seeing him in a normal state almost made me choke up. My voice brightened up in response.
"Then, Park Min-"
"Call me Badger!"
"..."
"No, um... That... I still have some issues when I hear my name."
"...I see."
I closed my mouth.
I was about to ask if he could return to work, but I didn't need to ask to understand.
Now that I looked closer, Supervisor Park Minseong's face, which seemed to be smiling cheerfully, somehow looked a bit pale and anxious...
His cheeks and the area around his eyes, hidden by the mask, seemed somewhat gaunt.
-Oh my, today's partner doesn't seem to be in good condition!
Right.
'He still seems to be... recovering.'
Is it okay to make someone in that state do work assigned as punishment together?
"Let's go, Roe. Let's finish quickly so you can rest!"
"...Yes."
But in my position of being punished, I had no authority to ask for a different partner.
I thanked the security captain who had guided us, and followed Supervisor Park Minseong, who was already wearing the cleaning uniform...
"Ah, wait a moment."
"Yes?"
The security captain held me back, briefly put down the donut box he was carefully holding, and took something out of his pocket.
Two old walkie-talkies.
"If it's dangerous... call me. I'm on night duty today..."
"Does this connect to J?"
He nodded.
I felt two conflicting emotions simultaneously: 'So it could be dangerous' and 'I'm really grateful'.
"Thank you."
"Yes..."
The security captain added in a low voice as he passed by.
Looking at Supervisor Park Minseong.
Quietly enough so that he couldn't hear.
"Be careful."
"..."
My hands grew cold.
I managed to nod and handed one of the walkie-talkies to Supervisor Park Minseong.
And we started walking down the basement corridor...
Towards the security team's rental storage.
Thud thud.
Thud thud.
Thud thud...
"Roe."
"Yes!"
"Ah, sorry. Did I startle you?"
"No, it's fine."
"Haha, that's good then..."
The voice of Supervisor Park Minseong walking beside me faded and then trembled slightly.
"Um, it's been a while since I've talked to someone not from the security team... Uh, did I say something strange? Was it awkward?"
"..."
Sigh.
"No. You're... still very much like yourself, Supervisor."
"Huh? Wait, that's not an insult, right?"
"Who knows."
"...! Hey, Roe's making jokes now?! Is this what comes with a promotion?"
The conversation lightened up with a hint of laughter.
"...May I ask how you've been all this time?"
"Of course, that's fine. Well... I've been here the whole time, continuously."
The supervisor muttered quickly.
As if spitting it out.
"I didn't know, but there's a treatment room down here, and something like a training center, and strange, really strange places... No, well, it's an area only the security team can enter, so I shouldn't say more..."
Damn it.
"Then you don't have to tell me. Let's talk about something else..."
"It's really strange. Why is the basement so deep? Come to think of it, I wondered why our company doesn't build a parking lot in the basement and has a separate parking tower instead. But now I understand why. The basement here is too deep and strange, really strange, I need to go back to where I originally worked..."
"Supervisor Badger!"
"...!!"
The supervisor stopped in his tracks and slowly exhaled.
"Sorry. ...Shall we talk about something else?"
"Yes. Let's do that."
I started rambling about recent popular programs. It was easier with Braun throwing in topics.
"Ah, I watched that too!"
"It was fun, wasn't it?"
Fortunately, it seemed he had free access to the internet and OTT services, so our small talk continued without any issues.
But my back was damp with cold sweat.
'This won't do.'
Staying in this vast underground sealed space without windows for too long would make even a sane person go crazy.
'Plus, Supervisor Park Minseong seemed to have a sick family member...'
-...With a hospitalized family member, it would be nice if someone could check on them after this filming! If possible.
...I couldn't bring myself to ask directly. I approached the subject indirectly.
"Do you have to stay in this basement all the time?"
"No. They said once I recover beyond a certain point, I can leave, whether my position changes or I quit."
Phew.
"The security team also seems to go outside or move around freely at night."
That was a relief.
"Ah, we've arrived."
And finally, today's work location appeared before our eyes.
[Security Team Rental Storage]
Wow.
'It looks even more intimidating at night.'
I swallowed hard in front of the steel door.
And then a cold voice rang from my pocket.
-Ah, this unpleasant place.
"..."
Ahhh! That's right!
This is the place where they threw Braun away for recycling!!
'Um, Braun. If it's unpleasant, do you want to stay home next time?'
-It's fine! Not projecting personal displeasure onto a location is also a virtue of a professional. However, friend,
Braun's voice lowered.
-I think I might get depressed. Please do your best to cheer me up...
"..."
'I'll... do my best.'
This is too difficult, Mr. Host...!
"Ah, right. This."
To me, lost in thought, Supervisor Park Minseong took something out of the pocket of his scarlet uniform and handed it to me.
It looked like a photocopy of a handwritten note.
"Here, I received this from the security team as work tips. I thought it would be good for you to read it too, so I kept it separately!"
"Ah, thank you..."
Work tips?
I quickly read through the note.
-----------
Night Cleaning Duty Tips
Hello! If you're reading this, you've probably been unlucky enough to get stuck with night cleaning duty.
Yeah, that's right. The security team's area is full of crazy guys and contamination, and going in alone at night is perfect for even weirder experiences.
But don't worry too much. If you read the golden tips I'm writing down, you can get through it without much trouble.
-----------
'Wait a minute.'
This is a typical introduction to a work rule-based ghost story.
You know, like those urban legends.
Where you go for a high-paying part-time job like night security or babysitting, and they give you strange work rules to follow.
A few indie horror games based on <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration> like this immediately came to mind.
'This is even scarier.'
I swallowed hard and hurriedly read the next sentence.
-----------
In a way, it's a sweet deal, you know? There's a bonus pay for this. Whether you want money, points, or Nostalgia equipment, just think about that and hang in there.
If it's a punishment... well, hang in there.
I hope you're from the field exploration team.
-----------
"..."
Yes. That would be me...
I gritted my teeth and quickly read through the remaining 'tips'.
...The cleaning was about to begin.
* * *
Splash.
I mop the floor of the rental storage.
It wasn't particularly dirty, but there were some unidentifiable colored stains stuck to it...
-----------
1. Wash the mop as soon as it gets dirty. That works better.
The cleaning solution is strong, so you just need to rinse it a few times. Easy, right?
-----------
'Well, that's somewhat reassuring...'
Fortunately, they left about half of the daytime lighting on in the rental storage, if not as bright.
It was enough to not hinder the cleaning.
'I can even read the notices.'
I glanced at a notice that read 'Always buying Nostalgia series / For details, inquire at the desk', then refocused on the floor.
"Roe, if you find any strange objects, don't touch them. Just clean around them."
"Yes, sir."
Splash.
"Have you done this before, Supervisor?"
"It's my first time cleaning... but I've done other security team work before."
Supervisor Park Minseong smiled. His voice was filled with a bit of anticipation.
"If we pass this, I think I'll get a passing recovery score... enough to transfer to the security team."
"...!"
That's great news.
I carefully asked.
"How about getting more treatment and returning to the field exploration team?"
"Haha... Would that be good? I'll have to try my best."
The conversation was quite hopeful.
And we continued cleaning mechanically and diligently.
'It's easier than I thought.'
Apart from the fatigue of working in the middle of the night, it wasn't bad.
The work tips were so clear from the start.
-----------
2. No matter what happens, just keep cleaning calmly.
All sorts of things happen when you enter the security team area at night. But the rental storage is not a bad place!
-----------
'Understood.'
This is pretty much a summary of the entire content.
'Keep cleaning without reacting, no matter what happens.'
Let's do this.
And the cleaning of the rental storage's front area finished quickly. It wasn't that big to begin with, and it only took an hour to remove all the grime stuck to the floor.
"We've finished half of our assigned area for today! What's left is..."
The supervisor and I turned our heads simultaneously.
"...over there."
One of the three doors leading to the isolation area.
[Isolation B]
'Sigh.'
-Ah, that's the corridor where you came out from that unpleasant experience last time.
That's right.
Of all places, it had to be the corridor with the isolation room where I was locked up, and now we had to enter there.
-----------
3. Don't open the door to any isolation room while cleaning. Well, no employee of our company wouldn't know this... but I'm writing it down just in case.
4. No, let me emphasize this again. Ignore any sounds from the isolation rooms. Don't answer.
No matter who begs from inside, even if they claim to be your family or friends, it's absolutely not true, so don't open it!!
-----------
Creak.
We opened the door to the isolation area, entered, and closed it behind us.
A gray corridor stretched out before us.
Steel doors of isolation rooms lined both sides.
'This is maddening.'
I wanted to leave the door open, but not being able to do so was extremely stressful.
I swallowed hard and continued mopping.
...The sounds I heard when leaving here last time were echoing in the quiet corridor.
Kik kik kigi kik kik.
Please save me please save me please save me
I'm not supposed to be here I'm not supposed to be here I'm not human
Kik kik kigi kik kik
You must die when you get out
'Oh, come on.'
This is driving me crazy.
I deliberately made noise while washing the mop, trying to hear less of it.
That's when it happened.
Supervisor Park Minseong stopped mopping and suddenly lifted his head.
Then he stared blankly.
...At one of the tightly closed isolation rooms.
[Isolation Room B14]
"Roe."
Damn it.
"Roe. I hear the Deputy Manager's voice from there?"
"No, you don't."
"But... I can hear it."
"No, you can't. Let's keep cleaning, Supervisor Badger."
"Ah... okay."
-----------
5. If your partner starts talking crazy, abandon them and run. Got it? You'll die too if you try to help. New security team members, remember this especially!!
-----------
Is this right?
Splash, splash.
An odd feeling came over me as I mopped the floor.
'...Anxiety?'
This was a bit different from previous darkness explorations.
Without manuals, wiki records, or escape pattern analyses, relying solely on the advice of an unknown veteran to clean all night.
It feels like I've come to do a part-time job in a truly bizarre place without any information.
What am I even...
Thud thud.
"Roe, be careful."
"...!"
I quickly stepped aside.
Someone was walking from the end of the gray isolation corridor...
Thud thud.
A person in black facility staff uniform.
They slightly bowed their head upon seeing us.
And then...
"Ah. You must be today's cleaning staff."
They spoke normally. Phew.
As the supervisor and I bowed our heads, the staff member quickly said in a slightly embarrassed tone.
"I'm today's night patrol member. ...Sometimes, the cleaning staff seem to get startled."
Ah.
-----------
7. You might occasionally meet night patrol members, and they like it if you give them a bottle of water.
Give them one if you have it. Well, it's not good to ruin the mood when working together at night.
-----------
"Hello. Would you like a bottle of water?"
"Ah, that would be great, thanks."
At the supervisor's signal, I handed the patrol member a bottle of water we received as supplies, and they gulped it down on the spot.
"Well then, I'll see you around."
And with the bottle still at their lips, they headed back towards the rental storage through the isolation corridor...
-----------
But you know what.
There's no such position as 'member' in this company's security team.
Remember. Don't say unnecessary things.
-----------
"My throat keeps getting dry..."
In the distance, on the back of the 'patrol member's' uniform, a blurred name '■■ Laboratory' was visible...
Thud thud... Gulp.
The sound of footsteps and swallowing disappeared as if it were a lie the moment they turned the corner.
"..."
Hah.
'It really feels like I've entered a horror movie.'
Splash.
I started mopping again.
Chatting with Brown and making small talk with Supervisor Park Minseong, trying my best not to pay attention to whatever sounds were coming from the isolation rooms.
And finally, we almost finished cleaning the corridor.
'Phew.'
The supervisor and I looked at each other with relieved smiles.
"Shall we finish up and head out?"
"Sure? We seem to have finished really quickly... Oh, right."
Supervisor Park Minseong suddenly startled and fumbled in his pocket, pulling out another note.
"This, this is a tip for after dawn. They said to look at it after some time has passed since starting work, as it might be confusing."
"Ah, thank you."
What else is going to happen...
'I'm glad we're leaving soon...!'
While internally screaming and crying, I quickly read through that tip as well.
But...
-----------
11. Sigh... it's time to tell this story. It's probably been about 3 hours since you started cleaning. Right?
...From then on, you'll start to hear a crazy bastard making noise from isolation room B14.
-----------
...Wait.
"Supervisor. It's... 3 AM now, right?"
"Yeah. It should be about that time..."
Is someone there?
"..."
"..."
Is someone there? Is someone there? Is someone there? Is someone there? Is someone there? Is someone there? Is someone there?
We both turned our heads.
[Isolation Room B14]
Do you want me to tell you how to get out of here? Do you want to know how to survive? Do you want to know how to revive the dead? Do you want to know the secrets of this company? I'll just tell you come closer just come a little closer and I'll tell you the truth of the world
I want to run away.
I want to open the door, sprint through the rental storage at full speed, and leave.
I want to tell the security captain "I quit today," dump all the remaining Nostalgia Candy on Supervisor Park Minseong, leave this place, and never come back...
But since I can't do that, I might as well read the tip...
-----------
Name? Anyway, there's a person who keeps babbling weird stuff and says she’ll tell you how to be happy, but if you just curse at her a bit, she’ll quiet down.
If you don't want to curse, it's okay to just tell her to get lost.
-----------
I really don't want to do this.
But I opened my mouth to tell her to get lost...
"..."
Wait.
"Roe?"
"Just a moment, please."
I took out the previous page of notes I had received earlier.
It clearly stated...
-----------
4. No, let me emphasize this again. Ignore any sounds from the isolation rooms. Don't answer.
-----------
"..."
Rules 4 and 11 contradicted each other.
'Which one should I follow?'
In these work rule urban legends, contradictory numbers often appear, but usually, it's not explicitly stated which one is correct...
Did the tip change over time? Or is this entire second page incorrect? Or...
"Roe."
"...!"
Supervisor Park Minseong pushed me back.
"Something's wrong.”
Creeeeak. The door of isolation room B14 started to open.
