Staff Impersonation Success

I'd successfully pulled off pretending to be a staff monster. I'd had a hunch it would work ever since I farmed their clothes, but seeing it actually pay off had my lips curling up in a grin.

Hell yeah. The rulebook really does have all the answers.

Of course, there had been a few close calls.

Like when the work monster foreman spotted the empty waste box I'd slipped out of.

It was a question I could've predicted from the rulebook, and Han Yujin pointed at the box where Kim Jah-ha was trapped.

The contents fell out over there. That was the message.

Kim Jah-ha's box was resealed and placed on the [Waste] conveyor line.

A moment later.

Kuuuung!

With a horrific explosion, the box and its contents vanished without a trace.

One crisis averted, just like that.

And another crisis.

A major violation of the rulebook.

But she was prepared for this too. All it took was a bit of acting.

"Haa..."

Han Yujin let out a deliberately exasperated sigh.

"...Excuse me, team leader."

The red-hatted monster's bandaged head tilted slightly. It seemed thrown off by a lowly worker daring to speak to it.

"They're all newbies."

Han Yujin nodded toward Yoo Se-rin, the mother, and Kruru, who were trembling like aspen leaves beside her.

"I'm already dying trying to keep an eye on them—what elevator? I barely stopped them from getting shoved into the [Waste] line! That faulty product earlier? They wandered out of the work zone because of them!"

The red-hatted monster's gaze shifted to Yoo Se-rin's group. Yoo Se-rin quickly faked being a worker, while Kruru desperately... well, did nothing.

"Yes! Newbies! I handled all the faulty products from their zone violations! But instead of helping a superior, you're nagging me about the elevator..."

There was a reason for her bold attitude.

Rule nine. It clashed somewhat with rule five. Depending on how "utmost effort" was interpreted, it could override five.

But the opponent was a monster. Better to guide the interpretation.

For dramatic effect, Han Yujin flung her hat to the ground.

"Argh, forget it! I'm exhausted! Might as well get crushed in the press and scrapped—that'd be easier!"

She strode confidently toward the [Waste] conveyor. A perfect tantrum betting her life on the rules.

The red-hatted monster panicked. Its massive body twitched visibly. A logic error.

Rule ten, applying to managers. It had to stop her from self-disposing.

But that seemed like breaking rule five? Yet rule nine? The foreman work monster stuttered.

Four rules colliding at once—naturally confusing. Han Yujin had thought the monsters in this horror were a bit dim from earlier stages.

Work, work, work, work.

She waited a moment.

The red-hatted monster pointed at the elevator.

"Phew..."

Han Yujin picked up the money bag from the floor with a short sigh. Yoo Se-rin stared at her in awe.

"Let's go, newbies."

Han Yujin nodded. The group hurried into the massive freight elevator.

It ascended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a gruesome racket.

At that moment, the bottom of her vision lit up.

"...Huh?"

There was a shelter?

Han Yujin nodded, entranced. Her vision flipped in an instant.

Han Yujin blinked dazedly. The industrial elevator reeking of oil was gone, replaced by plush sofas, luxurious furniture, a long table, and a buffet spread laid out before her.

"...What the hell is this."

Her bewilderment was brief.

"You've arrived?"

She turned toward the voice. Jeong Gongbeop greeted her impassively. Or... was it a greeting?

"Wh-what? A ghost? Am I dead? Is this heaven?"

Jeong Gongbeop sighed deeply at her words, answering calmly one by one.

"You're not dead, it's not heaven, and it's just a shelter where managers can invite specific users."

"Oh."

She'd thought a shelter would be some website, not a physical space.

"...But why dive in so eagerly?"

"Huh?"

"Shouldn't you hear the explanation first? What if you lost consciousness while entering?"

"What? Lose consciousness? Did I pass out in that monster elevator?"

Jeong Gongbeop let out a small sigh before speaking.

"Don't worry. Time doesn't pass here."

"Aw, man, you scared me."

"I mean, please listen to explanations fully next time before acting."

"Sure~ sure~"

Han Yujin clearly had zero intention of doing so. Jeong Gongbeop led her to the central table with a resigned look.

"Eat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first. You probably haven't had a proper meal."

Han Yujin's eyes widened as she scurried after him. Steak! Pizza! Pasta! Pork stir-fry! Tonkatsu! An incredible lineup!

She slid naturally into a seat at the table, drooling.

Seeing this, Jeong Gongbeop chuckled softly.

"Let's talk while you eat."

Her mouth was already stuffed with meat. Maybe talking while eating won't work, he thought.

"Ughblugh?"

"Just listen while eating."

Han Yujin nodded vigorously. Jeong Gongbeop continued.

"This is a supply base of sorts. For mental contamination treatment or resupplying food like this. One of the gallery manager perks."

"Ughbl."

"Ah, how to invite people?"

"Ughbl."

"Gallery manager perk. Uses management points to invite and treat one user."

"Ughmumble?"

"It costs a lot of points, so can't use often. Sometimes sending food is more helpful than inviting."

"Mmm~"

Jeong Gongbeop's eyes narrowed.

"You're not saying anything on purpose, right?"

"Huh? No wai."

Gulp. She'd already demolished a steak and half a tonkatsu.

"So where is this place?"

"One of the horrors. A room in A-Wing Hotel."

"Ughbl."

"The Horror Survivor Gallery is part of a larger horror."

Nod nod.

Han Yujin paused mid-pizza bite, startled.

"Wha, there's othew gallewies?"

"Yes. There are other galleries besides Horror Survivor Gallery."

"Oh."

"But this is the biggest."

Jeong Gongbeop slid orange juice and zero cola toward her. She bowed her head and chugged them down.

How does that tiny body hold so much food? Jeong Gongbeop marveled briefly before speaking.

"Tell me the horror's features. How is it classified?"

"Mm. A massive logistics center. Multiple floors. Classified as... Annex A-grade."

"A super-massive horror. Entry conditions?"

"I entered via the Emporium of All Things. Hold on—are you planning to enter?"

"Yes. I'll enter and help."

This guy... how far does his kindness go?

Han Yujin's eyes narrowed as she eyed him closely, spotting bloodstains on his arm.

Come to think of it, he always showed up bloody. Who knew what he was doing—probably rescuing newbies in trouble like this.

So.

Han Yujin swallowed her pasta and stated firmly.

"I'm good."

"Pardon?"

"I think I can handle it."

"It's a massive horror. How alone?"

"Not alone."

"...?"

"Got companions. And a guide sort of."

Referring to Yoo Se-rin. She seemed sharp enough to guide well.

Plus, Jeong Gongbeop might even be a hindrance here. Unique Company goons had mentioned him sometimes.

"It's a horror managed by Unique Company anyway."

"Ah."

Jeong Gongbeop sighed shortly.

"You don't get along with Unique Company, right? Feels that way."

"Correct."

"You'd just get in the way."

He pondered, then nodded.

"Fair. I'd be a hindrance."

"Yeah. I'll manage somehow. This food alone helped a ton—I was starving. Though I grabbed some from the money bag."

A brief silence.

Jeong Gongbeop hesitated, then spoke.

"Sorry."

"Huh?"

"What happened at the officetel I lent you. The Emporium of All Things was my fault too."

Ah, so he felt guilty. Han Yujin chuckled.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Pardon?"

"Unique Company's bastards did this. Field Team 13 or whatever."

"...Still."

"They'd have chased me anywhere and caused trouble somehow. Not your fault."

She'd make sure to settle accounts clearly. No need for him to feel guilty over nothing.

Han Yujin set down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.

"Instead."

She looked at Jeong Gongbeop with a firm expression.

He made a face inviting her words. She grinned.

"Can I pack up the leftover pizza?"