Goshiwon (1)
"Agent Nam Seung-han reporting. Let's begin."
A man began his presentation in a flat voice before the gathered group. It was Nam Seung-han, who had voluntarily taken the lead during the hotel escape.
"As you all know, I got caught up in a monster newly created by the B-rank group, the Horror-Themed Escape Room Production Club."
-Yeah, what an absurd coincidence.
-Heard you went through something weird there.
As people chimed in, he nodded and continued.
"Yes. The monster had deliberately left an escape route, so getting out wasn't hard. But we encountered something monstrous in the process."
He frowned slightly as he spoke.
"Right after encountering the monster, I passed out from sheer terror."
-You?
-What kind of nonsense is that?
Association agents were different from the field investigation team, who just surveyed sites before and after monster outbreaks to gather intel. Agents directly confronted monsters. They were superhumans forged through hellish training via the Association and monsters alike. They could take on special forces in guerrilla fights outnumbered and win, or dominate every weight class in martial arts. They were monsters themselves.
Naturally, their mental fortitude had reached human limits. They barely flinched at anything, to the point where people wondered if they even had emotions. For such an agent to pass out just from encountering a monster, without even witnessing its power?
-A B-rank group made a 4th Grade monster?
Monsters were graded from 1 to 9. Unless it was a top-tier violet-grade, this was impossible.
"No. The monster we encountered was weak. If I had to grade it, maybe 8th Grade at best."
-Then why did you pass out?
"Something intervened."
Smoothly, he lifted a box from behind him and set it on the desk. He pulled a mask from his pocket, put it on, and said,
"Everyone, please put on your masks."
-...
One by one, they pulled masks from their pockets and donned them. Shoddy-looking, but these Association masks outperformed gas masks. No toxin could threaten them inside.
Screeech.
Nam Seung-han swallowed hard and opened the box.
-Gasp?!
-What the...!
But he'd overlooked one thing. The energy didn't pierce the physical realm—it invaded the mental one. Masks couldn't block it.
-What is this insane energy?!
Fortunately, it was just the lingering aura left by its owner. No mass blackout occurred among the agents and higher-ups.
"...This is the bottle I had during the hotel escape."
A small glass vial in the box brimmed with black energy. Normally used to collect intangible substances from sites. By sheer luck, Nam Seung-han had it when he passed out, and it dutifully absorbed the surrounding energy.
"This is probably what knocked me out."
-Holy...
They fell silent for a moment, then one spoke.
-A new 1st Grade has been born.
1st Grade. The highest rank designated by the Association upon observation.
-Any guesses on its identity?
"It's a low-probability theory, but may I share my opinion?"
-Go ahead.
He cautiously opened his mouth.
"The one who cleared the hotel escape was a woman named Heuk Seol-ah. The problem is, she was on my team. The other woman on our team, Kim Jin-ah, passed out like I did."
-Only she stayed conscious, moved freely, and even cleared the escape room?
"Yes. So it's unlikely, but... I can only speculate she might be connected somehow."
Nam Seung-han bowed his head and ended his report. The conference room hung in silence briefly before a conclusion emerged.
-Let's use 'Digital Aggregate' and 'Essays Capture Life' to investigate the identities and movements of everyone involved in the hotel escape.
Two days had passed since leaving the hotel.
Here's a surprising fact: I hadn't gotten tangled in a single monster incident yet!
'Is this normal?'
After a few days, the lack of monsters was starting to worry me. Not that I minded.
Anyway, what had we been up to for those two days? Landed a new gig.
"Good work~."
"Yeah, good work! Ladies, head in!"
Thinking about it, no place beat construction sites for work. No ID needed, good pay—perfect.
"Today's done."
Yoo Hwa said from beside me. Oh, and she was working with me too.
Tough? 'Not at all.'
Even as a monster, Yoo Hwa could slaughter humans effortlessly. Now a demon, her physical abilities were even higher. And I was way stronger. Hell, I could move buildings, not just bricks.
-These ladies wanna work?
-No way, no way! Even young guys bail after a few hours—what...
Of course, there was initial pushback. Would they let two TV-pretty beauties just waltz into a site and work?
-These girls got some serious strength...
-That needs a machine to lift...
Once we showed a bit, attitudes flipped.
"Heehee."
I grinned like an idiot, pooling my two days' earnings with what I had left. We'd risen to ace status in no time, scoring fat paychecks. Now I had 1.45 million won.
"Don't you need money?"
"I don't eat or sleep, and home's the Demon Realm—what's money to me? If I really need something, you'll buy it, right?"
She smiled. Yoo Hwa was the best.
"But what're you saving for?"
"A place!"
I'd been sleeping rough these past two days. I desperately needed a nest, but hotels were too pricey for long stays. Then I learned about the perfect option for someone without ID or cash.
'Goshiwon.'
For broke, ID-less me, it was ideal. I knew they'd be rough, but was I in a position to be picky? A bed to crash on was blessing enough.
"Why not just live in the Demon Realm with me, Seol-ah?"
"Don't say that."
Unlike Yoo Hwa, who saw the Demon Realm as home, it was just a shitty environment to me. Centuries there had me sick of it. Better to sleep on the street.
"That's why you came here?"
"Bingo."
Yoo Hwa pointed at a spot.
[GOSHIWON]
A building with a sign reading "Goshiwon."
"I checked it out—this one's the best."
After scouring at the PC bang, this goshiwon topped the list. Cheap, but facilities way better than others.
"Can I change clothes first? Feeling grimy."
"Go rest in the Demon Realm. I'll sign the lease and change in the room quick."
"Sounds good."
Opening the goshiwon door revealed corridors lined with doors marked by room numbers.
[BATHROOM]
I ducked into the bathroom quick, opened a portal to the Demon Realm, and sent Yoo Hwa through. No CCTV there, so no risk of her being spotted.
I hurried to the manager's room.
Creeeak.
"Hello. Available to move in right now?"
"Huh?"
The middle-aged woman eyed me curiously.
"Aigoo, why's a pretty girl like you coming here? Studying for civil service?"
"No, just need a place to crash."
"Aigoo, okay. Deposit to this account and I'll give you the key..."
"Cash."
Paid up, got the key with "104" on the tag, and hummed my way out. 450,000 won a month. I'd moved in on the 15th, so pay up to next 15th. Pricey? Consider my needs: no ID check, decent facilities. This nailed it. Others would've cost way more. Haggling further would be shameless.
Flop!
Burst in, stripped, crashed on the bed. Too lazy to change.
"Haaa..."
Snuggle.
Buried my face in the blanket—fresh scent. Crispy clean, recently washed.
'Oh yeah, Yoo Hwa...'
Wriggle.
Kicked vaguely, tore space. Yoo Hwa peeked from the Demon Realm door.
"Lease done?"
"Yeah...change your clothes too..."
"Put something on before lying down."
Yoo Hwa started changing out of work clothes nearby. Goshiwons were cramped by nature, so she bumped into me a lot while dressing.
"Phew, feels like living now."
She stretched in comfy clothes.
"Leave your stuff and head back to the Demon Realm."
"Sure, rest well."
Why not store clothes in the Demon Realm? Impossible. Harsh environment would shred them quick. Why else change here?
"Hnggg..."
Hugged the pillow, stared at the ceiling lying down. Human greed knew no bounds. Got my dream home, now craving more.
'Want a phone.'
Play games, veg out.
'Tough.'
Unlike goshiwons—cash, no ID—phones needed ID.
'Where to snag a burner phone?'
Illegal deals were hard to find. Sketchy even at PC bangs.
"Ughhh..."
Groaned in frustration.
'Just sleep.'
Didn't want to ruin the good mood. I didn't need sleep, but could do it. Sleep was just brain rest—I controlled that freely.
"Snoooore..."
Eyes shut, out like a light.
"Ex...cuse me."
A voice pierced my fading awareness.
"Over... here."
Who? Who's talking?
"Hey!"
"Gyaaah!"
The sudden loud voice jolted me awake in a panic.
"Haha, hello?"
"You're gorgeous!"
"Nice to meet you."
One woman, two men—all in hiking gear with trekking poles.
Hiking club? But this was...
'My dream?'
Why these people in my lucid dream?
"Sorry for the late intro! We're the Dream Exploration Team."
'Dream Exploration Team?'
I muttered puzzled, and the leader-looking guy explained.
"We love fun adventures but hate danger. So we explore others' dreams as mental forms."
"Super fun! Sometimes chased by monsters, or casting spells in fantasy worlds!"
"Kinda sucks when the dreamer wakes mid-key scene."
They bubbled excitedly.
"This is a first, though. Usually, folks don't lucid dream when we enter."
"We meet dream owners in all sorts of roles, but meeting your real mind like this? Wild!"
"Dream worlds are worth exploring, huh."
Thrilled by the novelty.
"Alright! Show us your dream!"
"Exciting!"
"Wonder what theme this time?"
"..."
Escape room club, now Association, now these randos. Why always me?
'My dream, huh...'
Come to think of it, I'd wanted to sim something. Could current me beat a Hero?
Boom!
"Whoa?!"
"It's starting!"
Time to find out.
A lone house in a remote rural backwater, people scarce. Of the 10-member Dream Exploration Team, three returned.
"Hiiik...! No, nooooo...!!!!"
"Th-the moon! The moon's black! The moon!!"
"Ground's hot, the ground's burning hot!!!!"
Their minds shattered.
"What the hell?!"
"Fuck...!"
A situation beyond anything they'd faced. The rest teetered on insanity.
They'd fled to dreams for safe adventures. Pain reduced to 1/100th, death just respawned you. Yet something pierced that, pulverizing minds.
The remaining team felt abject terror at the risk. No more expeditions until they knew the cause.
Thus, the C-rank group, Dream Exploration Team, went on indefinite hiatus.