[Oh dear, the support staff is running late~ Security Team 3 squad leader, have you forgotten how to go out entirely from just playing cleaner or guard? Your hands have turned into paws, haha!]

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[......]

[Hey, are you listening?]

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[Anyway, it looks like the support staff is finally ready to properly escort the special department employee. Allow me to introduce today's work site.]

[That Badger fellow probably knows, but it's also something that was reported to the security team.]

[A suspicious request came from the sales team employees.]

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[As you know, our company is a pharmaceutical firm that makes some rather special drugs. So accordingly, we also have 'special customers'... well, useful people from high up in society, you could say.]

[Our Daydream Corporation sales reps visit those folks directly for sales calls. And if the payment is substantial, we even do regular deliveries occasionally.]

[Well, these sales team delivery guys who went to make a regular delivery of this potion just sent an official rescue request to Daydream Corporation... claiming they're experiencing something bizarre.]

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[And this one's got a fun—no, lucrative—whiff of Darkness about it, doesn't it?]

[Because this sales team guy isn't asking to be pulled out of there. He keeps begging for the answer!]

[He says he's barricaded in a room, being chased by something, but he doesn't know the correct answer. He's rambling about not knowing who to trust or which way to choose.]

[And he's been saying that every time he came for regular deliveries to this house before, he got weird vibes sometimes. Chills... exactly...]

[On rainy days like today.]

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

A steady drizzle fell outside the window. BOOM. Thunder rumbled past like an auditory hallucination.

With their nerves on edge, the two suited office workers had entered this house on the outskirts of Seoul and been shown to the sofa.

"Please wait just a moment."

"Yes. Thank you."

'Whew.'

Lee Jin-young, a Daydream Corporation sales rep—known among the sales team as a 'delivery guy'—sighed as he adjusted his tie. The middle-aged woman who had let them into the house and gone upstairs saying she'd 'announce their arrival' was already just a receding figure. Probably not family.

'Must be the housekeeper.'

People successful enough to receive highly custom drugs from the company weren't likely to do their own cleaning and dishes.

'Still weird that they buy the potions directly.'

He glanced at the case his superior was holding. They were here to introduce and sell a 'special' potion. It was only after joining the company that he learned Daydream Corporation didn't just make ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hair loss treatments—they developed and sold far more specialized drugs. And that their ingredients were... something not mainstream. Something special.

'Not like stuff extracted from human bodies or anything...'

It smelled a bit illegal, which made him uneasy, but what modern megacorp didn't skirt the edges of the law? He just had to do his job without getting too involved and collect his paycheck. Even if it felt a little dirty.

'That's sales for you...'

And this was his first time making a regular delivery to this house. His superior had brought him along to cover for someone on vacation.

"Are you okay, sir?"

"Hm. Not great."

The company man, whose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠digestion wasn't the best—his face was pallid—replied gloomily.

'They said this wasn't a tough customer.'

The rain? The junior recalled the conversation before coming here. About today's regular delivery customer.

- They're the kind where you just break a decent sweat and it's manageable sales work... but that house feels off on rainy days.

- Feels off?

- Yeah. You know that bad vibe some places have? Like a tunnel where an accident happened.

- Hm...

- I always bring a talisman just in case.

That serious?

'Maybe he's just not feeling well.'

Gray, humid weather always soured moods.

'Nice house, though.'

The junior shrugged inwardly and looked around the expensive townhouse in Seoul. Luxurious and spotless. It screamed rich people with servants. He felt a twinge of envy looking at the dust-free floor.

Then, he spotted it.

'... Huh?'

Something shabby under the sofa. He reached out absentmindedly and picked it up... Thin, smooth texture.

'... Sketchbook paper?'

The kind a kid might use. He flipped it over casually...

Hungry

Childlike scrawl, like a kid had written it. Around the letters, crude human figures made of circles and lines were drawn in various crayon colors. Family members, maybe?

"Hey, they're coming."

"Ah."

The junior set the paper aside by the sofa and greeted the customers descending from upstairs.

"Hello!"

"Hello. Nice to meet you."

Surprisingly gentle-spoken couple.

"Here for the delivery?"

"Yes!"

His superior switched to a professional smile and handled the clients smoothly.

"The usual C-grade you receive."

The sealed case passed hands. The couple checked the bottle of pale green liquid inside and nodded in satisfaction.

'What the hell is that stuff?'

The sales newbie, not privy to Daydream potions, just glanced. Fountain of youth or something? Anyway, they didn't pay on the spot for these special potions. Rumor had it money wasn't even the real payment.

'Something about helping with company business...'

Probably covering up shady dealings or bid-rigging scandals, the sales guy guessed. Not that he'd ever breathe a word.

Afterward, things proceeded as usual for regular deliveries. Schmoozing before leaving to keep the mood pleasant. Ensuring the deals continued. And as always, the sales guy tossed out some light small talk.

"Ah, looks like your kid enjoys drawing."

"... Pardon?"

"You left this behind."

Recalling the drawing, he reached toward the sofa. It was definitely right here...

"The cute crayon drawing that says 'hungry.' You know, the one..."

... Huh? He blinked.

Only the sofa's leather texture met his hand. A quick look around—no drawing in sight. Weird. He was sure he put it on the sofa...

"What paper?"

"Ah."

He turned to explain and saw the couple staring curiously.

"Our eldest is already independent. In college."

"I... see."

Like, no kids here, what are you on about?

Damn! The couple eyed him suspiciously but soon stood, saying they'd store the potion. The moment they left, his superior glared at him incredulously.

"Are you insane?"

"Sorry."

But he felt wronged. What the hell happened?

"No, it was definitely there. You saw it too, right, sir?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean, like a torn-out sketchbook page. Kid's doodle..." Something like that.

"Ah!"

The sales guy jumped up and approached something he'd spotted. Under the kitchen table, half-hidden beneath the carpet—a sheet of paper.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

"See this? This is what I meant."

He flipped it over. Probably more kid drawings or writing on the back...

It hurts

Hungry

It hurts

I wanna go out

Scrawled words filled the paper. And surrounding them, clumsy family drawings. The adults held black sticks and nooses, their faces replaced by grotesque, blood-red, pitch-black features. As if glaring out from the paper.

"......"

A chill crawled up his spine. This wasn't good. Stuff like this was what abused kids drew in therapy...

"S-Sir. We should check this out at least..."

"Hey." His superior tapped his back. "What was the first proverb they taught us in training?"

"......"

"Remember?"

"... Curiosity killed the cat."

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

- Do not pry into customers or the performance of the items being sold. Utter ignorance.

The training deliberately defied the expertise expected of sales staff. Hence why it was hammered in first.

"Right. You still don't even know what we're delivering, do you?"

"......"

"Better that way."

Customers too. Better not to know.

"......"

I wanna go out

The sales guy glanced at the drawing and text, then sighed and nodded. "Yes."

His superior patted his back. The sales guy folded the paper to put it back on the floor and bent down. "Good. Now let's head out carefully..."

[ Go out ]

Drip.

"......!"

Suddenly, all the lights in the house went out. In the pitch-black darkness, the two sales reps panicked and grabbed each other.

Dark.

"P-Power outage?"

"Y-Yeah, seems like it..."

Unnaturally quiet. Normally, when a house suddenly went dark, people would make noise or talk to check—like they were doing. But in the silent darkness, only the patter of rain outside filled the void.

Patter patter patter...

"Hello?!"

No reply. The dark house showed only faint outlines, as if holding its breath... Eerie.

"......"

"...... Let's go out and check outside first. See if other places are out too."

They headed for the entrance. The rain made it dim, but not pitch black—they could manage to the door. But something felt... off.

'... Smells like rain.'

Wet earth scent. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the smell of a well-kept house. The junior breathed shallowly against the unpleasant feeling and stepped forward. Ahead, his superior seemed to be fiddling with something from his pocket. That talisman?

"The lock... Hold on."

He was struggling with the door lock. Unfamiliar place, plus dark.

"Should I try?"

"Yeah. But..."

"Why do you keep holding that paper?"

He turned. Paper in his left hand. Drips of water falling from it... 'Ah.' That was the rain smell...

Beep. Creak.

"......"

A sound. The junior stiffly turned his head forward. His superior, who had been at the door lock, was looking back at him.

No. Just his head had turned.

Thud.

The neck snapped backward; the body collapsed like a toy.

"......"

Shock froze him. A corpse. From the dead superior's rotated face, fluids leaked from every orifice. Tears, snot, saliva pooling in the hall. Like rainwater.

"Hic, hiiik, hic..."

Roll roll roll...

A small round device tumbled from the dead man's hand to the employee's. He reflexively grabbed it, thinking. His empty mind rang with tinnitus. What is this? What the hell is happening?

That moment.

"Oh my, sorry! Sudden power outage must have startled you."

"Are you alright?"

The couple's flustered voices. Slightly muffled, like from upstairs, but human voices mattered.

"Ah...!"

Reality snapped back. Relief, terror, shock, helplessness. He couldn't tear his eyes from the dead superior as he barely moved his lips.

"No! No..."

"Where are you? You're okay, right?"

"Old house like this has outages sometimes... Goodness."

The sales guy steadied his breath, stood, and raised his hand to chuck the paper he'd been holding...

[ Liar ]

The paper's changed text. And... Something brushed his head.

"Where are you??"

......

"Hey."

His mouth opened. His voice trembled.

"You said it clearly. 'Our eldest is already independent.'"

"Yes? That's right. Why...?"

But.

"...'Eldest' implies there's a 'younger' one."

......

"So where's the 'little one'?"

Dead silence.

"Hello?"

"Too late."

"You're late."

The sales guy bolted madly. Opposite direction from the upstairs stairs.

"Too late."

"You're late."

His nape went numb with goosebumps. Survival instinct screamed. Something's wrong. Hide. But where?

With shaking hands, he unfolded the paper again. Plop. Wet dirt and dust fell to the floor. Before he could freak, the contents appeared. The text had changed again.

"......"

[ Bathroom tub ]

'Bathroom?'

He looked up—a door labeled 'Bathroom'. In a split-second hesitation, he yanked open the door beside it, entered, and locked it.

"Hic."

Dim pantry silhouettes loomed terrifyingly, but he caught his breath. And held it. ... Because footsteps were coming from upstairs.

Step, step.

"Too late."

Getting closer. Step step, louder and louder... "Too late." At the door. He stifled sobs and breath, but the doorknob rattled...

Click.

"......"

"......"

Next instant. He realized. He hadn't opened the door. It was locked from outside too.

"Too late."

"You're late..."

What is this? What decision did I just make? What?

"Ah..."

"Rest a bit."

"No way out now."

What should I have believed? In his confusion, hands trembling, he went to unfold the paper again—then noticed what was in his other hand.

'Superior's talisman.'

Shaking, he examined it properly for the first time... '... A pager?'

A relic from decades ago's fad: the 'beeper.' It already had '505' entered, like his superior had input it. That was... '... SOS!'

His desperate brain decoded it. 'Where does it connect?' Maybe 'talisman' didn't mean a charm... but something to call for help? Like a lifeline. He frantically jabbed what looked like the send button.

"Please, please..."

And then.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[Request in progress.]

"...!"

A businesslike voice emerged. Like a whisper in his ear.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[Call security team? Additional fees apply.]

"Yes, yes!!"

Whatever it was, he needed help. Help!! Please!

"Wh-Who to trust, no, where to go, pl-please tell me. I don't know the answer."

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[Request in progress.]

The employee rambled incoherently about everything: suspicious house, rainy day, drawings, lies. The kid!

"The child who drew this..."

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[Child in need of childcare?]

"Aaaah!"

The sales rep fell backward. The eerie voice from the pager clattered to the floor. And from the black shadow where it landed, a black figure began to rise.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

[Request received]

[Security team dispatched]

Employees in Daydream Corporation security team uniforms.