Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Wish Grant Simulator
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Research Team Manager Gwak Je-gang.
A mad scientist who once shoved his subordinates into the Jolly Theme Park ghost story.
He'd even played consultant during the 'Mansion of the Blind' incident, when the whole team nearly got wiped out.
"I've been dying to have a nice long chat with you, Mr. Deer. Finally got the chance."
The deranged ghost story researcher beamed as he extended his hand.
"Your exploits have been so impressive—I've been dying to share my thoughts!"
"Thank you."
Ugh, what a handshake I really don't want to give.
But I have to. That's office life.
"I heard D Squad's getting promoted to elite team status at the New Year meeting. Once that happens, we'll all be too busy with squad-level ops to chat like this before a darkness dive..."
Gwak Je-gang made a show of how hard it was to get me alone.
"Plus, I was just so curious."
Then, with a smile, he cut to the chase.
"How on earth did you win over Manager Lee Jaheon?"
"...!!"
"Whenever I tried to call you aside alone, he'd shut it down. And he's not usually that proactive~"
I screamed internally.
'Thank you, Squad Leader...!'
But honestly, it wasn't even about winning him over.
'I could've just said I didn't want to.'
Lee Jaheon was the type who diligently accommodated squad members' requests by nature.
No one had ever made such a request before!
No matter how sweet the gig, no one else in this ghost story company would wail that they'd rather share the dive than go solo...
No, even if someone had, they'd probably be dead or gone by now.
Anyway, this time even Lee Jaheon couldn't block it within his limits.
Or maybe no such excuse had ever come up.
"Anyway, don't worry—no hard feelings about not getting to borrow our Deputy Deer."
Gwak Je-gang grinned.
"It's just... you're so ridiculously capable, it's fascinating!"
"What do you mean by 'fascinating'..."
"You excel at work, communication, reputation management... Impressive stuff. But humans can't be good at everything! Myself included."
Gwak Je-gang patted himself on the chest.
"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. So..."
His eyes, swirling with manic zeal for darkness exploration, fixed on me.
"What's your weakness?"
"......"
"How does that weakness stay hidden while you bulldoze through bizarre phenomena? I'm dying to know!"
Fuck...
"If I could tell you, it wouldn't be a weakness."
"Haha, touché~"
Save me.
'He didn't peg me as a coward, did he?'
I subtly swallowed, careful not to show it.
Gwak Je-gang spread his hands wide.
"Anyway, I called you here for good news."
"Good news?"
"Something to celebrate! By my calculations... you've already amassed over half the points needed for a Wish Grant, Mr. Deer?"
"...!"
Damn ghost.
Yeah.
That was true.
I recalled my accumulated points up to last week.
It was already an astonishing figure.
Unimaginable for a newbie less than a year in—no way I'd brag about it anywhere.
Even in a department buzzing about quit dates, there were limits.
'Humans get ideas when you're this much of an outlier.'
But who could've guessed.
This week, my points went even more off the charts.
We're entering territory where people might whisper it's rigged.
'Thanks to Sekwang Industrial High.'
Consider base points by grade.
And I solo-cleared Sekwang Industrial High as A-Grade.
Sure, multiple people entered and cleared, but only I got A-Grade.
Plus, they counted the solutions as barely enough for solo clear.
Thanks to heavy endorsement from Directors Cheong and Ho—the dev team's twin peaks—it got approved as-is.
A happy yet eerie outcome.
'And this morning's registration finalized it.'
Thus, Kim Sol-eum officially surpassed half the points for Wish Grant.
'Way faster than I expected... insanely so.'
Everything fit perfectly to get here.
At this rate, just one year—or less—as elite team, and I can return to my original world.
To peaceful 21st-century Korea, free of ghost stories!
All this flashed through my mind in seconds, but I kept my expression neutral... or so I thought.
'Don't give them an opening...!'
"Does hitting half the points change anything?"
Instead, I furrowed my brow just a touch—an ambiguous reaction, hard to read if I was stung by having that much or offended by not having more.
"Not a change so much as... an opportunity?"
Gwak Je-gang smiled slyly.
"Heard of the Wish Grant Simulator?"
Simulator?
...Ah!
'Right, there was that ghost story entry.'
I remembered.
I obsessively recalled the wiki, now starting to fade from memory.
Meanwhile, Gwak Je-gang's chatter rang in my ears.
"The company gives employees on the cusp of a Wish Grant one chance to test their wish. In an 'appropriate' way."
The threshold for 'promising employee' was 250,000 points...
Or maybe reverse-engineered from time to Wish Grant receipt.
Either way, I had a shot at the simulator.
...If you could call diving into a ghost story an 'opportunity'!
"We could do it later, but if you don't go now, Sol-eum, the queue might push you back indefinitely. That's why I called you."
"......"
I thought it over.
Gwak Je-gang's arranged darkness dive?
'Definitely a trap.'
But I couldn't just refuse outright.
He seemed the type to hound me for reasons.
"Not scared, are you? Why dodge? Haha!"
Eek.
"Who says? Could be other reasons."
I sighed and stood.
Let's end this chat quick.
'If I'm diving into a ghost story anyway, better not give them leverage.'
"Fine. When do I enter?"
Gwak Je-gang smirked.
"Mr. Deer."
"......"
"You've changed. Lost that newbie vibe. Right?"
Hold up.
"No, I mean it positively! You finally feel like company—approachable. Skip the chit-chat, down to business~ Already elite-team material."
Gwak Je-gang's eyes sparkled with laughter.
"Let's do some proper company work!"
He placed a document on the table.
'This is...'
An employee's profile.
One I knew.
I looked at the photo: a gloomy, long-haired peer.
"Ah, you know him? Went into Jolly Theme Park together. Cleanup Team guy."
"He's not Cleanup Team now. Reassigned to F Squad..."
"Ah~ True, reassigned. ...But officially still Cleanup Team."
"...!"
"On dispatch to general team. Official transfer won't hit till next year, right?"
Gwak Je-gang tapped the document.
"So... still eligible for this kind of deployment."
"......"
This kind?
A chill crawled up my spine.
"What do you mean?"
"Simple. After your business in the darkness, call that employee to the remaining elevator and leave him there."
"...!"
This psycho.
No, stay calm. Can't show agitation here.
"Hm. Does this darkness require two people... or a sacrifice?"
"Haha... Testing that's our research team's purpose! Just follow orders, Mr. Deer. Easy peasy?"
Thud.
Gwak Je-gang tossed another document on the table.
My assigned darkness.
"The elevator ghost story."
-Then take care, Mr. Deer! Call the Cleanup Team newbie when you go.
"......"
I reread the manual I'd already memorized, then pocketed it.
How?
Not bringing him in.
And I knew.
'This is grounds for discipline.'
No matter my excuse, they'd bring it up.
Can't bend company rules as a wage slave.
But blocking at the source was key.
'High chance Gwak's tampered with Jang Heo-un himself.'
Prevent from the start.
And the effect I'm aiming for here is worth the discipline... I'll think after the dive.
The important part:
......Now I ride the haunted elevator alone.
"Hoo."
First time getting prep time before soloing a haunted spot...
'Maybe better to have rushed in blind.'
My hands shook with terror.
Left Brown behind too.
'Elevator's one-seater in this ghost story anyway.'
Didn't want to leave Brown at the elevator. ...Who knows what might happen.
Asked Manager Lee Jaheon to check on him periodically—should be fine.
'...Let's go.'
I entered the confirmed entry building for Qterw-D-718, isolated by the company.
A rundown rental apartment—water cut off, but company-supplied power.
Dim interior reeked of stale, unmanaged cold.
The shadowy hallway stretched endlessly ahead.
And the lone operating machine.
First-floor elevator doors.
"......"
I swallowed and walked the hall.
Emergency signs and dim lights revealed the elevator.
-Under Repair-
Will fix quickly.
Happy Land Apartment Security Office
Unlike the message, a tattered paper scrap dangled from yellow box tape.
Yeah. This one.
With trembling hand, I called the elevator.
It descended slowly.
5, F, 3, 2...
I took a deep breath.
Through the opening doors, the rusty, dim interior appeared.
Floor filthy with soot, uncleaned.
Still, I stepped in.
One step inside reveals them side by side on right and left...
Dirty mirrors with handprints.
'...Hoo.'
I pressed my back flat against the only mirrorless wall, watching the doors close with faint despair.
My heart pounded like it might burst.
Soon, doors sealed, plunging into darkness and silence.
I stand alone in the stopped elevator's gloom...
With the mirrors.
"......"
Eons pass in seconds.
Endure. Just endure...
Ding.
No button pressed, yet it starts moving.
...Summoned somewhere.
All floor buttons glow red as if pressed, bathing the interior in eerie crimson.
Now it begins.
"......"
I swallowed and barely turned my head... to the left mirror.
There, pale me stands in the elevator.
Infinitely.
Front and back views reflected endlessly in the right mirror, shrinking to points.
Smaller, hazier versions of me...
"......"
I wiped my trembling left hand's sweat on my shirt, then raised it.
And murmured softly.
"...Rock, paper, scissors."
Scissors.
Myriads of mirror mes show scissors.
Fronts and backs in rows...
"Rock, paper, scissors."
Fists glow infinitely.
I repeated several times.
Rock-paper-scissors.
Rock-paper-scissors.
Rock-paper-scissors...
"Rock, paper, scissors."
On the fifth round, as I threw a fist.
Something anomalous amid the repeating reflections.
...One spreads its hand wide.
Amid fists, a single back view with open palm, etched far in the mirror depths.
"......"
I froze, hand raised.
That distant Kim Sol-eum with open palm slowly turns its head...
Looks back at me.
And smiles.
Wide.