Naturally, during dark explorations, one is bound to encounter nonsensical or chilling experiences.
Being chased by ghosts, public transportation suddenly heading to a strange and unheard-of destination, or everyone on the street staring at you as soon as you step out of the house….
However, many employees claim that over time, they’ve grown accustomed to such things.
‘Even I feel like I’ve somewhat gotten used to it.’
Although contaminated and using items, wasn’t it just the last ghost story where I succeeded in clearing a high-grade ghost story despite losing arms and legs?
However, some types of eeriness never become familiar.
For example,
A ghost story that suddenly recognizes 'me.'
"……."
I trembled slightly as I turned the page of the document.
There was even a clumsily recreated drawing of the packaging by the exploration staff who wrote the report.
“ – Oh, it seems the artist sacrificed aesthetic quality for the sake of conveying the information.”
It's horribly drawn, but the intent is to clearly identify who it is.
‘...Braun.’
“ – Feel free to speak, my friend!”
‘Doesn’t that look like me?’
“ – Considering the art style, the mask, and hairstyle, it seems we’ve both reached the same conclusion!”
“…….”
Even the product name is ‘Good Kid,’ and the flavor is ‘Cinnamon Churros’….
‘It’s the blue mascot from the theme park.’
And the featured ghost story is… ‘Qterw-C-1603’? Why did it appear in ‘that’ ghost story?
I reflexively glanced at my tattoo but restrained myself.
Then, I asked Team Leader Lee Jaheon, who was staring blankly at me.
“It’s correct that this hasn’t been officially listed in the manual yet, right?”
“Yes.”
Phew.
That’s rather fortunate.
‘If Director Chung specifically showed me this in advance….’
…Favor? Debt?
It’s probably both.
Once this becomes officially recognized as a record, any descriptions that could identify someone's identity will be censored with black boxes, depending on the security level.
Instead, the Research Team would likely conduct experimental investigations to figure out why such phenomena occurred.
They might send in employees dressed like me or assign me an investigation without providing any information.
‘Gwak Jegang might even catch on and try to send me back to the theme park.’
Wow, this is insane.
If it gets to that point and I ask Director Cheong for help, I might end up in a ‘30-year loyal employee with DirectorChueong’ kind of situation.
Why is it that despite working so hard, my life is riddled with potential disasters like this...?
‘That’s just how the ghost story universe works.’
Anyway, let’s be grateful I know this now. While it does mean I owe Director Cheong some psychological debt, it’s still better than having the Research Team latch onto this lead.
‘And the fact that she made a point to inform me of this in advance….’
“Is the darkness our team is exploring this week the one in question?”
“I don’t know.”
“…Do you think there’s more than a 50% chance of that, Team Leader?”
“Yes.”
Of course.
‘If they’re giving me a heads-up, it’s probably because I have to go in myself to make sense of it.’
If I have to face mental torment by entering the ghost story anyway, it’s better to pick the one with more value….
This criterion has always remained constant.
‘Let’s check it out.’
And this time, I have a very reliable companion with me.
The renowned exorcist recognized by everyone, none other than Team Leader Lee Jaheon!
…Although remembering the clown ghost story, he might issue commands with an utterly paralyzed sense of fear.
‘Hmm, if it's one-on-one, there should be a way to persuade or find an escape..’
Recently, it feels like I've somewhat grasped the art of conversation
In that sense, going with the fearless team leader felt reassuring and not a bad choice.
But there was one more variable.
"Sol-eum."
"Yes."
"Will you accept additional personnel?"
Ah, that's right.
Since field explorations are conducted in teams of three, this time, our team will receive one person for support.
‘ Maybe this could be considered a preliminary run for an Elite Team.’
Usually, they seem to just assign people randomly... Hmm.
"Is it possible to specifically request someone?"
"Yes."
Oh! ...Wait a moment.
"…I'll exclude the method of asking Director Cheong for help. Is it still possible?"
"No."
“…….”
‘Thank goodness he noticed…!’
I almost ended up doubling my debt.
I held back my words but eventually couldn't resist asking.
It was something I'd been curious about regarding the Lizard team leader for a while.
“Uh, Team Leader. You always keep your answers concise... If there's a reason for that, I'd like to know."
"I see."
The Lizard briefly shifted his pupils upward before focusing on me again.
"This reflects the feedback to provide detailed answers only when requested."
"…In what situation did you receive such feedback?"
"On my third day working at this company, during a darkness exploration."
“…….”
I see….
Even without hearing specific details, the situation vividly comes to mind like a picture.
"Uh, Team Leader. If it's not an urgent situation, I’d prefer if you spoke more comfortably when with me."
"Yes."
And then Team Leader Lee Jaheon... continued speaking!
"If you want to specify the traits of the applicant, report them to me. You cannot specify exact names, but you can request preferred traits for the sample group."
“…!”
He explained it on his own!
“ – Roe, you even have the talent of an interviewer!”
Th-thanks.
I almost got carried away by the sense of efficacy, but what’s important now is what Team Leader Lee Jaheon said.
‘It's hard to pinpoint exactly who would be good, but I can suggest a general type of employee, right?’
Hmm.
After some deliberation, I decided on one 'trait of the applicant.'
"I’d prefer someone among the employees."
There’s a hidden meaning here.
That is, all current employees are my peers.
‘It’s definitely not because I feel left out in the group chat with my peers…’
Well, to be honest, this exploration itself feels a bit uneasy, so I chose someone who’s not too familiar with how the company operates.
‘It’d be nice to get acquainted with someone in the process.’
I thought it’s about time I got to know more people at the company.
"Yes."
Team Leader Lee Jaheon readily accepted my request, and I became slightly excited.
What kind of new face will I get to see?
***
And a few days later.
“…….”
“…….”
I met Jang Heo-un, who greeted me with a friendly gaze, in front of the Team D office door.
"I’m Jang Heo-un from Team F...!"
It's a familiar face.
Still, it wasn't a bad result. At least it's not a superior, so the exploration will probably feel more relaxed.
I smiled and extended my hand to Jang Heo-un.
"Nice to see you again. Let’s do well on today’s exploration."
"Yes, Sol-eum! I’ll definitely be of help to ensure we clear it!"
Jang Heo-un firmly shook my hand. Hmm, he’s definitely a good person….
"Oh, yes, yes, I’ll also be counting on you~!"
“…….”
“……??”
Turning my head, I saw a smiling employee step out of the elevator and approach us with a polite bow.
A friendly-looking woman, seemingly around my age.
She was wearing a pony mask.
"I’m the support personnel from Team I. For this darkness exploration, the manual recommends even-numbered groups, so two members were assigned for support."
"I’m Kang Yihak~ Nice to meet you, Team Leader and employee!"
"Yes…!"
Jang Heo-un hastily bowed his head before exclaiming as if he realized something.
"Ah, you’re the one who often speaks in the group chat…!"
"Yes, yes, haha, it’s embarrassing, but that’s me!"
Ah.
[Kang Yihak: Is it true that you only received 40,000 points? Haha.]
I remember as well.
That’s the person who actively tried to dig up information in the group chat when I joined, so I had to keep them in check.
‘They seemed to dominate the atmosphere of the group chat.’
Making it revolve more around benefits than camaraderie.
That peer smiled and extended their hand to me.
"Wow, Senior Peer! This is the first time meeting you like this. Please take care of me~"
"Yes. Likewise."
I lightly shook hands.
…It was neat.
‘They’re lighter than I thought.’
I imagined someone more like a hypocrite with a hidden blade, but they seem straightforward.
It doesn’t feel like they’re hiding an ulterior motive behind their questions.
‘Well, if they’re a good person, I can only be grateful…’
Having someone like them for exploration is much better than dealing with someone like Baek Saheon, a trashy personality. It’s reassuring.
Those who haven’t experienced it wouldn’t know. That feeling when a ghost appears and you’re screaming internally, but the only person next to you is a sociopath… Hah.
"Let’s move."
"Yes."
Team Leader Lee Jaheon began walking with steady steps.
We quietly followed the team leader, got into the car, and I took the wheel to set up the navigation.
"We’re heading to Gyeonggi Province now, right?"
"Yes."
Yes, this time, the darkness is completely outside the Seoul area.
If you only read the exploration report I saw earlier, you might misunderstand, but Qterw-C-1603 wasn’t just a strange candy shop ghost story.
It’s bigger... and gloomier.
"Hmm, to enter this ghost story... Ah, is it because we have to wait until sunset that we gathered late?"
"It seems so."
I kindly answered Jang Heo-un and started driving.
To enter this darkness, both the time and location had to align.
To enter Qterw-C-1603, you need to move to the outskirts of ■■ City in Gyeonggi Province.
This residential area was once a trendy alley known for its restaurants and cafes in the early 2010s on social media but has now become desolate.
Promotional posters for local stores are rarely seen on the utility poles here.
In the center of the poster, there is a printed phrase, "Visit ■■ City's Dead End Alley," along with a QR code.
※Do not stare at the phrase on the poster for too long.
For reference, the company has pre-secured the poster and covered it so that only the QR code is visible.
"Team Leader, I’ll scan the QR code for you!"
"Ah, thank you."
Scanning the QR code connects to a download page for an event app certified by ■■ City's local government, and if the explorer is under 40, the download proceeds normally.
A little while later.
After arriving at our destination, we parked at a public lot and got out, walking into a quiet alley.
It was the time of day when the short winter sun set and dusk approached.
Most of the restaurants and cafes still remained, but the distinctive stagnant atmosphere of a once-popular district lingered.
"Now, run the app."
I looked at the screen.
After passing the slightly old-fashioned opening with ■■ City's old logo and mascot…
If the app is launched for the first time at this location before twilight completely falls, the navigation function for route guidance activates.
The app really starts guiding you.
The path to the Dead End Alley →
Follow the arrow!
On my smartphone, my location appears as if in augmented reality, on the GPS.
"Please walk."
“……”
We started moving together, each of us only looking at our smartphone screens.
Follow the arrow!
At first, it's normal.
The guide takes me along a relatively big street from the alley and gradually leads me towards the outskirts of this district.
But after a while…
The path begins to twist.
Follow the arrow!
It guides me through a narrow gap between houses where only one person can pass, then into the front door of a building, making me exit through the back.
It even leads me to a dead-end street, only to make me turn back.
A dark, narrow alley.
Gradually, everything around me feels increasingly unfamiliar and strange.
My neck feels cold, and I hear murmurs that don't follow the rules of grammar, while strange shadows seem to pass outside my line of sight...
'...I have to endure.'
But I mustn't turn my head.
While following the app’s directions, I must never take my eyes off the screen for more than three seconds, nor stray from the path.
If I fail to do so, I will be considered missing.
We continued walking in silence.
Trying not to bump into each other or be startled.
Follow the arrow!
"Did you just hear something strange...?"
"Shh."
After about 16 minutes of walking silently…
I knew it, the dim light of the setting sun had completely disappeared.
“……”
“……”
In the already dim alleyway, all light strangely vanished, plunging everything into complete darkness.
Only the light from our smartphone screens served as the source of light, illuminating the residential area.
Tap.
Tat tat tat.
One by one, lights began to turn on in the dark alley.
“…!”
The street shops began to light up.
Yellow and blue lights from the signs illuminated the alley.
...But this is not the familiar, old shopping district we saw earlier.
Murmurs.
A crowded alley filled with countless figures.
At first glance, it looks familiar, but upon closer inspection, the signs bear distorted names.
The various shops lining the alley had their doors wide open, welcoming customers…
Ding ding.
The app displays a congratulatory message.
You have arrived safely.
Welcome to the Dead End Alley!
"...Have we arrived?"
"Yes."
We had successfully arrived.
Right into the heart of the ghost story.
---------------------=
Chronicles of Darkness Exploration/ ghost story
[■■■ 16th]
A ghost story listed in <Chronicles of Darkness Exploration>.
Daydream Incorporation ID code: Qterw-C-1603.
An alley lined with shops where non-human entities engage in street marketing.
Explorers who enter this alley through the smartphone app must never exit the app.
---------------------=
"Walk slowly."
“……”
We nodded and followed behind Team Leader Lizard, stepping carefully…
Into the strange alley.
