Even if I fall into a horror story, I still have to go to work, Episode 1.

**Foreword**

*This e-book is optimized for default settings in mobile EPUB viewers.*

*It is recommended to keep the [Background Color] setting at its default or a light color.*

*This book is rated for ages 15 and over.*

*All backgrounds and settings in this book are fictional and unrelated to any actual regions, institutions, or organizations.*

**Even If You Fall Into a Horror Story, You Still Have to Go to Work**

**Episode 001**

Have you ever been utterly obsessed with something?

I mean, beyond simply thinking "this is fun"—have you ever been so deeply impressed that you ended up spending extra time and money on it?

You know what I'm talking about.

For movies, it's watching the director's cut; for games, buying the artbook; for webtoons, purchasing advance chapters; for singers, attending concerts…

Going a step further, you could even include buying derivative merchandise.

Yes, the stuff they call "goods."

Figurines, slogan items, badges, dolls…

I can say with certainty: I had never spent money on such things in my life.

Until now.

This is a department store.

The pop-up store, opened to great success, had already distributed all its queue tickets the moment the store opened at 10 a.m.

And I, too, had managed to get one of those tickets.

"2:30 p.m. time slot! We'll now begin admitting this group!"

"Ah, finally!"

"Hey, let's go quickly."

The bright-faced teenagers standing beside me ran excitedly toward the staff member.

*2:30… That's right.*

I stood in line, pulling my cap down as far as possible.

But whispers reached me from behind.

"Huh…"

"Is that a reseller?"

"Are they a scalper?"

"……"

It was truly unfair, but it was understandable.

In this line, I was the only adult male who looked like an office worker!

*Sigh…*

I stared at the pop-up store entrance and let out a low groan.

**[Welcome, Investigator Who Came from the Darkness.]**

*I'm going insane.*

A theme of black and red backgrounds, interspersed with caricatures of various monsters, occult elements, and the symbols of corporations, religions, and governments.

It was a worldview designed precisely to capture the hearts of teenagers.

The title was truly a work of art, too.

**[Apocalypse Prophecy: Records of Darkness Investigation]**

*Hah…*

I barely resisted the urge to cover my eyes with one hand.

*Why did I have to see this at the office…*

**<Records of Darkness Investigation>**

A recently extremely popular internet horror story universe.

You know, the kind where people can freely participate and create stories—a collective intelligence open-source universe.

At first, it seemed to have spun off from a certain famous horror story, circulating quietly among students, but after meeting the YouTube algorithm, it reportedly exploded in popularity like crazy.

*'Records investigating various paranormal phenomena referred to as <Darkness>.'* Horror stories with this concept.

Eventually, it became an independent wiki with hundreds, thousands of recorded tales, catching even my eye.

*…Because it was text, it was just too convenient to read at the office.*

And isn't it said that anything you do at work—as long as it's not work—is fun?

I fell headfirst into this universe, to the point where I ended up creating and posting my own horror story…

How on earth did it come to this? Is my dopamine-deprived office life really the problem?

Moreover, this **<Records of Darkness Investigation>** itself…

*I never imagined it would grow this big.*

Now it's said to be a major IP reigning over YouTube, almost like a mid-tier celebrity.

And of course, corporations quickly latched on to generate profit.

This pop-up store is part of that.

*No, but seriously, even the wiki had a 'Recommended for Ages 15+' label on it.*

Why are there so many kids here?

Hearing the whispers from behind was giving me a serious reality check, but…

"He definitely looks like a scalper…"

"Hey, hey, maybe he's buying it for a nephew or cousin… Don't be like that."

No. I will have it.

…Actually, I came last week too, but an item I wanted sold out right in front of me, so I visited again…

I even used a paid day off.

*Last time there was at least one woman around my age.*

But of course, on a weekday afternoon, the only other adults are parents who came with their kids. It's so embarrassing I feel like running away, but I'll endure.

*No, I don't even know why I'm trying to endure this…*

Anyway, following the staff's guidance, I entered the store.

The fact that the staff member didn't bat an eye was my only consolation.

"Wow!"

"Hey, it looks just like it!"

Amid the admiring exclamations of middle schoolers, the interior of the pop-up store came into view—decorated quite elaborately, as if it were a theme park.

And even neatly categorized by theme:

**[Daydream Inc.]**

**[Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau]**

**[Nameless Splendor Cult]**

In this horror universe, there are three major forces: corporations, the government, and religions, each trying to observe and secure paranormal phenomena… or so the setting goes.

*At first, there were only horror stories about the government's Disaster Management Bureau, but as more people joined in and had fun, it ended up like this.*

Anyway, this pop-up store seems to have gathered only the topics that became popular online.

It felt blatantly like a cash-grab pop-up, lumping together only popular characters and horror items, but the quality was decent.

*Right. When would I ever come to a place like this…*

Ignoring the stares, I quickly gathered the items I intended to buy.

It was somewhat fortunate that among the things I almost bought last week, few were popular items. The suspicious glances mistaking me for a reseller disappeared.

"Would you like to purchase an L-size eco bag for your items? It's 5,000 won."

"Yes. Thank you."

And though I finished the transaction safely, I couldn't bring myself to leave the pop-up store immediately and hesitated.

I turned my head to look at the area next to the checkout counter where people were gathered in line.

**[Roulette Event]**

*Create Your Own Darkness Investigation Record Character.*

That thing.

I actually saw it last week too, but I couldn't bring myself to line up for it and left…

*They said this pop-up ends tomorrow.*

I was fiercely conflicted over whether it was worth trading my social dignity for this.

Just then, a staff member who had just finished a shift at the counter looked at me, smiled, and spoke up.

"The roulette event is only until today! Would you like to give it a try?"

"…Yes."

Thank you.

Really, thank you, staff member…

"Great! Then please come this way! Ah, stand here…"

The staff member nimbly guided me to the line in front of a large black roulette wheel, and thanks to that, I naturally ended up at the end of the line.

The line moved faster than expected.

Soon, I was at the front and received a button that looked like a walkie-talkie.

"Now, we'll start with the Lucky Roulette! Please press the button to stop it whenever you like."

*Whirrr.*

With an artificial sound effect, the roulette wheel began to spin.

Each section showed a rank and a prize.

Goods I had already purchased, items not sold as merchandise, even random Bluetooth earphones…

Of course, the largest section, the 7th prize, was just something like a small memo pad. *That's probably what I'll get.*

But it was fine. At least I didn't almost leave without even participating.

*Don't get your hopes up.*

I thought that even as I carefully pressed the button the staff had given me.

*Drrrrr… clunk.*

But my black roulette slowly came to a stop… and surprisingly, it stopped here.

A thin golden section.

**[1st Prize]**

*: Darkness Investigation Record Real Goods Box*

"…!"

"Gasp! Congratulations!"

Is this… for real?

"Wow, insane!"

"Lucky them, ah, I'm so jealous."

From behind, screams, exclamations, and voices tinged with jealousy erupted, creating a commotion.

"Wow, the 1st prize finally appears on the last day before the pop-up ends!"

The staff member, even more excited than I was, dashed behind the roulette and returned carrying a large box wrapped in plastic.

The black box, embossed with a large symbol in silver foil, looked like a fairly well-crafted piece on its own.

I barely managed to receive the box without my hands trembling.

"…Thank you."

*Quick… I need to leave quickly and maybe even pinch my face. Is this real?*

I tried to leave the pop-up store right then, but the staff member stopped me.

"Ah! We'd like to give you an on-site manufactured goods item! Just tell us your name!"

My name? My personal information has long been public domain after being leaked on portal sites anyway. The important thing is just getting this safely home…!

"Kim Soleum."

"Okay! Soleum, just a moment."

The staff member tinkered with a black vending machine that looked like a 3D printer next to the roulette.

It seemed made for the pop-up store, with explanatory text on it.

**[Darkness Investigation Record Character Maker]**

Ah. That's the thing that was subtitled in the roulette event, right?

…'Create Your Own Darkness Investigation Record Character.'

It really couldn't be more tailored to teenagers…

"Please enter your name here."

"……Yes."

Holding the goods box tightly with one hand, I quickly typed my name on the vending machine's pad.

The black vending machine emitted a rather loud and eerie music box sound, then performed a flashy gear-turning display.

And it spat out a small object with a *clunk*.

*Click.*

I picked up the familiar-looking item.

It was… an employee ID card.

**[Daydream Inc.]**

**Employee Kim Soleum**

**Field Investigation Team**

"Wow! Daydream Inc. That's one of the three most famous factions in our <Darkness Investigation Record>!"

"……"

Yes. I know.

Roughly speaking, it's the cliché of a large corporation that does business with paranormal phenomena.

And among them, the Field Investigation Team is…

*That's the department like a death squad, isn't it.*

Like the red shirts in a certain sci-fi drama. They're the ones who go in to investigate any paranormal phenomenon and get torn apart.

Of course, because of that, many notable characters in the wiki also belonged to this Field Investigation Team.

"Wow! It's a Field Investigation Team employee card. I really look forward to seeing what kind of achievements Employee Kim Soleum would have in the <Darkness Investigation Record> world!"

"Yes, thank you…"

I felt like cringing but held it in.

*At least it's not a government agency or a cult organization employee card.*

It was somewhat fortunate it was a company ID.

It was a bit embarrassing, but the staff member, perhaps desensitized from saying this so often, remained composed like a proper office worker in a capitalist society.

Anyway, receiving this employee card seemed to mark the end of the roulette event.

"Thank you."

I stared at the employee card with my name printed on it and groaned.

*This… I need to stash this somewhere out of sight.*

No matter what, I don't think my mental resistance can endure this much.

Meanwhile, the staff member asked cheerfully,

"Do you like it? You'll treasure it, right?"

"Yes."

"Liar."

……?

Thinking I misheard, I looked up.

*Grin.*

The staff member suddenly looked at me, smiling with a grin that stretched ear to ear.

Unnaturally elongated upward, as if reaching the ears…

"…?"

At that moment.

Suddenly, dizziness washed over my head.

"…!"

The commotion of the pop-up store vanished.

My vision swayed dizzyingly as if covered in black paint, flickering red and blue.

And when the dizziness finally subsided…

I never could have dreamed that the entire world would have changed.

**[Welcome, everyone, to Daydream Inc.!]**

"…!?"

I found myself in a corner of what seemed like a large lecture hall, looking toward the central podium.

And.

*Whoooa!!*

Amid cheers, fireworks effects exploded on the large beam projector PPT on the podium.

**[New Employee Orientation]**

Amid the polite applause and cheers from fresh-faced new employees in suits, a person who appeared to be the host smiled brightly and flipped the PPT slide.

To anyone, it looked like a large corporation's new employee orientation event.

Faces filled with the joy of finally breaking into employment were buoyant with pride and tension.

**[Our new employees who have broken through a 145:1 competition ratio have every right to be proud! Haha! Now, let's begin the new employee orientation!]**

"……"

What is this?

I staggered, trying to step back.

But I realized I was sitting in a chair.

My attire was a suit—the one I wore because I had a client dinner that evening—but coincidentally, it looked similar to the 'new employees' filling this lecture hall.

Meanwhile, on my lap sat the goods box I had received from the roulette event.

"Excuse me, where did you get that? Is it something the company gives out?"

"……"

I couldn't even respond to the question from the new employee sitting next to me.

**[You are the chosen successful candidates!]**

**[In fact, among the recruits from this new employee opening, only very special individuals have been invited to this Lecture Hall A for orientation!]**

**[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and have been assigned to the special team, <Field Investigation Team>.]**

"They've already decided our placement?"

"Field Investigation Team? Does Daydream Inc. have such a department?"

"Field investigation at a pharmaceutical company…?"

"Uh, somehow it sounds like a place you get exiled to? Not headquarters but a branch, right? Are they trying to trick us with fancy words…?"

Whispers sneaked around the host from all directions, but I had no time to focus on them.

Because I recognized the familiar company name and team name.

Daydream Inc.

Field Investigation Team.

……Like being struck by lightning, a page from the wiki surfaced in my mind.

-----

**[Field Investigation Team]** (Daydream Inc.)

: One of the five teams under the Development Department of the giant faction Daydream Inc., which appears in <Darkness Investigation Record>.

Also known as the so-called death squad, an ill-fated team. But thanks to that, horror story writers find it fun.

-----

*Wait a minute.*

…This is the original horror story from the pop-up store I just participated in.

Then what happens next is…

-----

A crazy department that puts new hires through a death survival game starting from the orientation itself to filter out regular employees.

It's also a consistently popular wiki writing material because it shows what happens when ordinary people investigate darkness.

-----

"……!"

"Uh, wh-what are you…"

I immediately pushed off the chair and stood up.

Forget assessing the situation—I was thinking of running outside.

But it was already too late.

**[However, before formal employment, there is a short probation period. It won't be long! We'll conduct an absolute evaluation solely to judge your practical aptitude.]**

**[Of course, for individual evaluations to be properly conducted, active participation is essential! Free-riders will all be caught!]**

*Bang, bangbangbang.*

The doors of the lecture hall closed one after another.

*Damn it!*

Meanwhile, the naive new employees who thought <Daydream Inc.> was just a large pharmaceutical corporation still hadn't grasped the situation.

Thus, amid about a hundred new employees listening attentively to the host, the host shouted brightly and energetically:

**[Now, let's begin!]**

Along with that cheerful voice.

The lights in the lecture hall went out.

"…?"

"Huh?"

Wondering if they were preparing to play a video, the new employees were still only slightly puzzled.

That was understandable.

*Who would have expected that after getting a job, such crazy things would suddenly happen?*

For instance.

The surroundings suddenly changing to the bleak interior of a subway train.

**[Dear passengers, thank you for using Abyss Transit Corporation today…. Our train does not stop.]**

**[For a pleasant journey to your final destination, please listen carefully to the announcements.]**

Or hearing an announcement with an unfamiliar name I'd never heard in my life.

"……!?"

"Wh-what is this!?"

The new employees, who had been sitting neatly in suits on subway seats as if the lecture hall had been transplanted, sprang up.

It was enough to be bewildered.

"Excuse me?"

"Is this like VR? Did we actually move?"

Still, it seemed like most of the people who were in the lecture hall were still here. So perhaps feeling somewhat reassured, complacent reactions were the majority.

Peering around the subway here and there for traces of the company, or looking for anyone who seemed like the event host or company personnel—that sort of thing.

And soon, they roughly assessed the situation.

"There are other people in the front car! The doors… uh, the doors won't open, what's this?"

"Is it some new technology?"

In a mood that made me break out in a cold sweat, I tightly closed and then opened my eyes.

Because I had already realized in my head which horror story this was.

-----

**[Welcome to Abyss Transit Corporation]**

: A horror story appearing in <Darkness Investigation Record>.

Among the early D-grade Darkness entries, it boasts overwhelmingly insane escape difficulty alone. And the eternally suffering Field Investigation Team.

Investigations have been recorded up to ■■ times.

-----

**<Welcome to Abyss Transit Corporation>