Not Sugar - This Station is Homong Station
“Jeez, can't they just tell me the station name properly?”
The voice was garbled with heavy noise, making it hard to hear clearly, but it seemed like we'd arrived at Homong Station.
The company name on my employee ID was also 'Homong,' so this was probably the right place.
As soon as the doors opened, I jumped up from my seat and hurried out of the subway car.
“What the hell kind of commute is this brutal?”
The Association had made it sound like low-rank dungeons and all that crap, so I'd laughed it off, but this clearly wasn't some easy dungeon.
If I'd already died this many times just getting to work, the office was bound to throw even more crises at me.
Yeah, this dungeon's gonna have me rolling like a dog too.
“God, what the fuck's waiting for me at the company...”
My head was already starting to throb.
“Hello! I'm the new intern, Jeong Sion!”
“Yeah, you're the one starting today, right? Go sit over there. Kim! Give the intern some training!”
“Got it.”
Thankfully, the company folks looked like normal, ordinary people—no red flags there.
I'd been worried it'd be nothing but creepy black figures here too, but once I stepped out of the subway station, everyone looked perfectly normal.
Seemed like those black humans were confined to the station interior.
After arriving at the company, finishing greetings, and settling into my assigned seat, I started getting trained by my senior.
“Our finance team's job is simple. Basically just managing the company funds—that's it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, what you'll be doing, Sion, is just double-checking the documents other employees have already processed.”
Back at the Association's first training, a pretty senior lady had explained everything so gently and nicely, but this training session was pissing me off big time.
“Work email's this one, report anything to me if it comes up...”
“Ah, yes. Got it...”
Did I slather honey on my tits or something? Why's this fucker staring like he wants to drill holes in me?
This bastard's eyes were radiating raw, enthusiastic lust. He was kinda handsome in a friendly guy way, but sorry, I don't swing that way.
Leaning in close with that low, husky voice—it was straight-up sleazy.
Couldn't exactly deck him mid-dungeon raid, so this was awkward as hell.
“Alright, training's over. Start work once you get the email later.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ask me anytime if you're unsure! I'm heading back to my desk.”
“Sure!”
Fuck off.Won't be talking to you again.
I mentally flipped off Kim as he returned to his seat, calming myself down.
Time to hunt for攻略 clues.
To find hints for clearing the dungeon, I rummaged through the stack of documents on my desk.
And there it was, as if prepared just for me—a single folded sheet in the corner of the desk.
It was labeled [Company Rules].
“Yeah, this has to be the hint.”
A cryptic rulebook in a normal office? Classic analog horror bait—who wouldn't see it coming?
I dove right in and skimmed the rules.
0. This rulebook is compiled from records by your senior employees. If you discover any rules while working here, please write them down on this paper.
1. Do not press the B8 elevator button if it's lit up. If the elevator is already heading there, do not look in the mirror until the number changes.
2. The break room only has green tea and instant coffee. Do not drink the unnamed red teabag on the shelf.
4. If you hear high heels from above while using the emergency stairs and your name called from below, do not respond—immediately exit through the nearest floor door. But not the 6th floor.
5. If the copier keeps spitting out blank black paper, do not turn it off. *Do not examine the black paper closely.
13. This rulebook has 13 items. If any are missing in between, immediately discard thi?s? r?u?l?e?b?o?o?k? burn it burn it burn it burn it burn it
6. Fuck if I know, figure it out yourself.
7. I don't wanna die.
8. Me neither
“What the hell, they wrote this like a diary.”
Looking at the rules, it seemed like a compilation of incidents from my predecessors.
Different handwriting and tones for each one—probably different people.
Whatever, ignore the obviously corrupted Rule 13, the diary-like 6-8, and the missing Rule 3. Classic analog horror tropes.
If all the normal rules were listed perfectly, that would be the real horror.
Anyway, I memorized them all, then secretly crumpled the rulebook and tossed it out the window when no one was looking.
Getting caught with this would be bad news.
Analog horror cliché #1: Don't let the spooks find the rulebook.
No idea if that's a real thing, but better safe than sorry. I'd already committed it all to memory anyway.
“So, what now?”
According to my trainer, I'd start work when the email came, but no sign of it no matter how long I waited.
Couldn't just sit idle, so time to scout the building.
Emails worked on my phone too, so it'd be fine if one came while I was out.
Break room, elevator, emergency stairs—those are the spots mentioned in the rules?
Places a normie would avoid, but for a regressor like me? Different story.
Gotta verify if the horror's real or not.
“Team leader, mind if I use the restroom?”
“Do I need to approve that? Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
An intern wandering around would look suspicious, so I bullshitted about the bathroom and slipped out of the office.
First stop: the break room. Time to investigate that red teabag.
“Anyone in there...?”
I cautiously opened the door—empty, luckily.
Locked it quick before anyone showed, then dug through the box of teabags and found the red one.
Hmm... looks like a normal teabag.
Nothing special—just plain red paper wrapped around it.
Sniffed it: strong grassy smell, but nothing too weird.
Wait, suddenly feeling a bit fuzzy...
“...Should I try drinking it?”
If it's poison, I'll die and loop back. Can't die more than I already have.
Best way to figure out what this teabag really is.
Yeah, let's do it.
Made up my mind fast, steeped it in hot water for three minutes, and brewed a cup.
Smells like burning grass...?
Unlike the fragrant normal teas, it filled the room with a scorched herb stench.
Something's off, but whatever—loop if it goes south.
Brought the paper cup to my nose for another whiff, then chugged it in one go.
Whoa, this is...
Suddenly, that fuzzy feeling hit hard.
Not like the haze before death—something else entirely.
Ahh... kinda feels nice and floaty...
“Ugh... my head.”
Came to with a splitting headache.
No injuries, but my back ached like I'd been lying down forever—not the real issue.
“Fuck, what time is it?”
Pitch black outside the window.
Break room was a mess from spilled tea, body all stiff and sore.
Checked my phone: 11 PM.
“No way—one cup and I blacked out for 14 hours?”
Dozens of missed calls and piled-up work emails.
No helping it—a loop was inevitable. At least figure out the teabag.
Heavenly Eye.
Heavenly Eye
Activated Heavenly Eye on the teabag, revealing hidden text.
Damn, knew this would've worked—shouldn't have drunk it myself.
Regretting my rash call, I read the name:
(Hidden text revealed)
Angelica dahurica? Wait, no—opium poppy, right? The one that kills you if you OD.
“What kind of insane company puts opium in the break room!!”
I freaked and chucked the teabag far away.
The company I joined was way crazier than I thought.