Chapter 48
Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Rapid Promotion and Special Rewards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The conference room was a madhouse.
"Seventeen people made it back alive, right?!"
"Seventeen...? Wait, is that number even accurate? No counting errors?"
"Yes. Ah! It's up to twenty now."
The Field Exploration Team dispatched to a promising darkness that morning had suddenly returned in droves.
The complete opposite of predictions left everyone momentarily paralyzed, unable to respond.
"We just finished the case study saying they'd escape in small groups sequentially—what the hell is this?!"
Are these really the employees we sent in? Shouldn't we check them all in the lab? All sorts of shouts flew amid the unforeseen chaos.
But as the bewilderment faded, a sly thought crept into minds: the thrill of resounding success.
Wasn't this an encouraging result?
A similar idea dawned on those who had pushed for this operation.
'If this survival rate is real...!'
A bold and wise investment had paid off!
They hadn't anticipated such a high procurement success rate—it was downright staggering.
'Shouldn't we start shaping public opinion right away?'
'Hang on, I need to casually mention my contributions from now on.'
But all the confusion, excitement, and worry vanished in an instant.
After one more piece of news.
"It's B-grade."
"What?!"
The Dream Essence collector from the first escapee had been appraised, and the solution graded B.
In other words, the dreamed-of "high-survival-rate A-grade" was a no-show.
The conference room's atmosphere plummeted into disappointment.
"Ha... figures."
"We got backlash for hyping it as A-grade, didn't we?"
"Still, isn't a B-grade with this survival rate pretty rare? Right, Manager Kwak?"
Researcher Kwak Je-gang, hastily summoned, flashed a grin.
"Of course~ It's impressive."
No, impressive didn't even cover it—it was mind-blowing!
Did these people even know the initial employee survival rates by grade?
That's why they couldn't grasp how monumental this was! That's why they weren't foaming at the mouth to uncover the exploration details!
'Wow, impressive.'
Exchanging niceties like 'Tough luck, but our judgment was sound,' Kwak couldn't help but chuckle.
Did this look like a situation needing consolation?
'Do these folks have zero sense of reality?!'
The civilian average survival rate for B-grades was in the 2% range.
Throwing employees in en masse without proper manuals was a reckless gamble to begin with, yet here they were disappointed and self-congratulating over this jaw-dropping outcome?
And they'd hastily adopted the opinion of one research team manager who told them what they wanted to hear, just to check the box.
The reason was obvious.
'Because they wanted to!'
Thanks to that, Kwak was thrilled at the fascinating data for analysis, but he marveled at how the company functioned with such executives in development.
Kwak felt a pang of regret deep down. The company needed to last if he was to study these captivating anomalies in depth!
But wasn't the so-called "Innovation Development Strategy Office" full of such types—a company risk?
Family-run firms were often chaotic internally with no real structure, sure.
'I'd heard rumors, but... are all the top brass close to the owner like this?'
Not everyone in the room was like that, of course.
Kwak glanced at one person sitting a bit apart.
A new face since the last meeting.
'Someone from Director Ho's side.'
He'd been invited with, 'Could you attend briefly since you're interested in this agenda?'
Even if development execs meddled heavily in Field Exploration Team affairs, this was unusual.
And he was openly getting remote updates from his own people.
Like this.
"One employee greatly aided this mass escape."
"Pardon?!"
The mood shifted from bootlicking to wary tension.
But the next words stunned everyone.
"A newbie."
"...!"
"They apparently 'broadcast' the escape method to all employees... We need details on how."
"..."
"Someone's curious about it."
Director Ho.
The strategy office folks exchanged glances and mumbled excuses.
"Ah, we'll send the full exploration report as it comes in."
"Right. Field explorers fresh out are usually delirious and spout nonsense anyway."
"They wouldn't just make up a whole new story, though?"
"Well..."
"Speaking of which."
Director Ho's man cut in.
"Director Ho is also curious what the 'Innovation Development Strategy Office' decides."
"..."
"On employee rewards."
"Congratulations, Assistant Manager Kim."
"...Pardon?"
I nearly spat out my iced Americano on the medical bay bed.
After tear-jerkingly grateful words like 'The rookie worked hard—rest up,' I'd passed out post-basic checkup for hours.
I figured exploration debriefs would wait till tomorrow's shift end...
Assistant Manager?
"You heard right. Assistant Manager Kim."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je grinned.
"You've been promoted. Fastest in Field Exploration Team history since founding!"
"...!!"
"I kinda knew it'd happen. No more formal speech from our Deer."
"Hey, half a year more and you'd drop formal with me too, right?"
This wasn't some neighborhood shop—how was an employee hitting assistant manager in two months?
'Just office rumors, right?'
I asked politely, but the answer was firm.
"No, it was warranted. Know how many you saved?"
Deputy Manager crossed her arms.
"Twenty-six including you."
"...!"
"Deer, seventeen escaped just from your broadcast guide!"
"Add those who confirmed others out before following, and it's basically all you."
She added that civilians escaped too.
"Records like this happen once every few years if at all? Honestly, promotion's the least—they owe you more."
"Right? Let's probe the squad leader after tomorrow's meeting. Feels like they'll give something."
Grateful for excited bosses treating it like their win, but I was dazed.
Promotion.
...In a major corp, after 60 days on the job!
A modern heart races!
"Brace yourself. Special promotions spread fast."
And it happened just like she said.
The next day, I saw the intranet promotion notice.
There, plain as day: 'Kim Sol-eum'.
"...."
Bzzz...
My smartphone buzzed. Congratulations pouring in...
Hold on.
'They're rushing it to minimize internal backlash.'
Field Exploration Team was human-run. Gratitude swells when lives are saved.
Twenty-seven felt some thanks toward me—backlash minimal...
The announcement timing screamed intent to promote fast.
Why... promote me this much?
'H-How much more will they grind me?'
Manual-less new horrors weren't enough?
Horrific predictions loomed. I texted an elite from another squad...
[You idiot? Not promoting would be weirder.]
"...??"
[Manual reviewer came looking when you vanished, right? Word's out on your feats—tops notice obviously.]
A Squad's Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol tsked.
[Should've pulled you to us when spots opened. Tsk. Why refuse?]
"...."
[Congrats anyway. It was coming.]
"...Y-Yes, thank you."
I hung up feeling hollow.
Leaning back in my office chair, I thought.
Yeah.
Denied reality, but here we were...
'Me... an elite employee?'
A special character worth naming in [Darkness Exploration Records]?
The kind hardliner creators kill off for plausibility, only for vids to blow up on WyTube and let them stay...?
They called it a Mary Sue...
'How'd it come to this.'
Maybe inevitable.
Hell, reading the full [Darkness Exploration Records] was cheating!
'In life-or-death spots, this was low-profile max.'
Problem was...
'Now if they find out I'm a total wimp...'
Happy ending as cleanup duty felt naive.
No telling the ripple effects.
'Why's this coward got good results?'
Interrogation and experiments awaited...
Parallel dimension reveal? Research team lab rat future loomed.
Cold sweat beaded my forehead.
Oh no.
I stood, grabbed coffee, paced the break room.
Caffeine cleared my head a bit.
Right.
'Can't avoid? Boost survival here.'
Marked already? Consistent performance avoids excess scrutiny.
'Make 'em think I'm just this talented oddball.'
Not unheard of—like Lizard squad leader or Butterfly Mask Deputy Manager.
Just another named asset.
Riskier horrors ahead, sure... but ngh, could be good.
Elite treatment means fewer death traps!
'And faster points.'
Not bad for quick world exit...
But one essential step.
'Build the character...'
Naturally 'capable special unit' without suspicion.
Like acting nuts around Baek Sa-heon, toeing the line.
For that...
'...Need more character trait cards.'
"...."
I looked up.
Overhead, still sparkling since the exhibit escape:
Planned to open post-recovery for clear judgment.
One of my popup store buys.
'Time to claim.'
But what "usage rights" from the exhibit...?
Item slots?
I stretched toward the glowing black memo pad on my desk, brushing it lightly.
Click.
A clear chime, and a small, light vinyl-wrapped item dropped into my hand.
"...."
Silver-gleaming, shield-shaped with embossed 'CHARGE' calligraphy...
A badge.
'Ah.'
I got it.
Condition met: 'good deed'.
Dubbed the 'personality certification badge'.
Produced and distributed by the Disaster Management Bureau. It exploded in fame from a sealed train explosion record where someone shone.
Especially due to its unique trait.
Good people exclusive.
Lets good folks wield group influence.
'Me hitting this condition...'
A bit burdensome.
Rarely used wholesomely, but one insane disaster occurred.
'That's the lore.'
Records always slip in a scary case for tension.
Once distributed to kind civilians, now strictly loaned to affiliates.
I watched the wiki update live.
What this meant?
Nigh impossible to predict a Daydream Corp employee using 'Silver Heart' now!
'Perfect for surprise use.'
My nose to the grindstone—dunno future good deeds, but basic effects viable?
At least impress coworkers as 'impressively capable,' easing elite facade.
'Good. Keep it safe.'
No death sentence.
I pocketed the 'Silver Heart' and left the break room lighter.
Waiting: exhibit rewards.
"Deer! Not on the notice yet, but you get a bonus too!"
"...!"
"Ngh, our Deer deserves it, but this shock is tragic..."
"Right? B-grade like a kid's toy? Instant death pits... urban legends look like chump change?"
Y-Yes, thank you...
"But the bonus is solid."
'Solid'?
Deputy Manager's high praise.
Her face held genuine awe. Ominous.
"...What item?"
"Regeneration Potion."
"...!!"
"Name doesn't ring bells?"
Too perfect.
Too infamous to miss!
Not basic medical HP pot.
Proud [Daydream Corporation] product line. One of the magic potions. Miracle Healer.
Darkness Exploration Records / Daydream Corporation / Potion Regeneration Potion Regenerates all external wounds/missing parts. Stronger and greener by grade.
"Simply: regrows body parts... C-grade. Even limbs good as new."
"...!"
"No senior gear matches. Company exclusive. Ten thousand points retail."
She grinned, slapping my back.
"Handy later. Risky biz—limbs or face gone? Back like new."
No need to say that...
"And... mixed news. Wanna hear?"
"Pardon?"
"Not just you."
"Sol-eum-ssi!"
"Hello."
I greeted waving Go Yeongeun. Baek Sa-heon sat beside.
Company handed bonuses, snapped pics—gathered us three.
Faces unseen days post-exhibit.
Baek roommate? Barely leaves his room lately. Let me chill with Brown and living room TV.
"Rested well? Feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Go Yeongeun-ssi..."
I noticed mid-sentence.
She was lip-reading my words intently.
"Ears... still not working."
"...."
Figured.
Good—loaned earpieces auto-returned on exit; no 'exhibit staff' pursuit.
Plus, she held her fresh company bonus.
Opulent gold-foil box, mural-esque design. Inside: wax-sealed glass vial.
Tender green like new shoots swirling within.
Go Yeongeun raised the vial.
Eyes full of hope, anxiety, expectation.
"Th-Then, I'll drink first."
"Sure."
Go Yeongeun uncorked the 'Regeneration Potion'.
And gulped it down in one go.