Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Did I Hear Wrong?
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02.
Did I mishear that?
Am I hearing this right?
[January New Employee Recruitment.]
Scattered words pieced together into a single sentence.
If that announcement really was announcing new employee recruitment, even those who had come purely to apply would have fled.
Or...
Is this the MZ-generation idea I've only heard about?
Are companies attracting young people these days with horror-themed recruitment ads?
I'm not a fan, personally.
Or maybe I've just lost my mind from job-hunting stress...
I hope it's the latter.
It might be better for everyone if I was the only one going crazy.
Specific words that rang out clearly amid the incomprehensible static. And that bizarre announcement—was it something only I heard?
Thud.
The countless people who had come to the library like me began eyeing each other suspiciously, then gradually gathered in the central hall where I was.
"What's going on?"
Who knows...
"It's probably nothing."
I hope so too.
For some reason, my gaze drifted back to the flyer posted at the library entrance.
Maybe it's the influence of that flyer—who knows who put it up...
?
It's gone.
More precisely, an impenetrable darkness had descended outside, making the flyer impossible to see.
Wasn't it just 11 a.m. a moment ago?
I turned on my smartphone again and checked the time on the screen.
[14515 (hr) 12516124 (min)]
"......"
Okay.
I've definitely lost it.
Just as I was thinking I needed an emergency hospital transfer right now.
Someone raised their index finger and shouted loudly.
"Th-the time is weird!"
"My phone's not connecting!"
"14515 hours... What the hell is going on?"
"Those bastards locked the entrance too!"
Luckily, it seemed like this would end with everyone, not just Park Yeon-jeong, going crazy.
Static—
The announcement broadcast started again.
But this time, it wasn't the woman's voice from before. A cheerful middle-aged man grabbed the mic and spoke.
[Welcome, everyone!]
[Thank you so much for your interest in our new employee recruitment! Now, everyone, applause!!]
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
The sound of applause coming through the speakers from countless people.
It felt like all the library staff were gathered in the broadcast room watching this unfold.
And as the applause ended, the announcement continued smoothly, ignoring the panicked crowd.
[It's the perfect day for interviews!]
Huh? It's too dark.
[Since so many of you showed up today—unlike other days—we'll skip the boring introduction and get straight to the main point!]
Snap!
As soon as the announcement ended, all the library lights went out.
"Kya aa aah!!"
"What the hell! Let us out!"
"You lunatics! What do you think you're doing? Hostage situation in this day and age?!"
People's emotions were escalating.
If only the library lights had gone out, it might not have been a big deal—but outside the building was pitch-black darkness too.
In other words.
It's too dark.
I can't see a thing.
An utter blackness where I couldn't even see right under my feet.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't scared in this situation. But one man was preoccupied with other thoughts amid the chaos.
This is a [Ghost Story].
'That flyer... was real?'
Not just any ghost story. One from the [Ghost Story Archive] that he'd been enjoying until moments ago—created by someone there.
=======
/Ghost Story Log
[New Employees Are Always Welcome!]
:Identification Code Cd-F-1129
=======
Snap!
With another sound brushing past my ears, a single light turned on. There was an office desk, piled high with stacks of paper.
[I'm already looking forward to seeing what kind of applicants showed up this time! Right, everyone!!]
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.
Every time the man on the announcement mic finished speaking, applause followed at perfectly regular intervals, as if rehearsed.
Everyone gathered here would agree that the applause made the situation even creepier.
[Alright! The application form isn't difficult at all! Once you've finished filling it out quickly, please put it in the box next to it!]
[Easy, right!]
[Oh! Those who already prepared resumes don't need to fill out duplicates! Please stay right there.]
Was there really some crazy person already filling out that application form that no one in their right mind would touch?
Has their brain—the part responsible for judgment—broken down? How could anyone but a lunatic fill that out?
"...You gonna fill it out?"
"Are you insane? It screams 'you're screwed' if you do!"
"......"
A sea of agreement.
If I could help it, I wouldn't even go near that form.
I want to live.
Thud.
"...H-hey, look at that guy!"
"...What a nutjob. He's suicidal!"
"Hey, young man!"
Yeah, I want to live.
So.
"......"
Where my footsteps stopped, a spotlight illuminated the desk, with papers and a ballpoint pen on it.
I carefully picked up a sheet of paper and the pen.
'Of all things, a red pen...'
-----
Name: Park... Yeon-jeong
Age: 27.
Blood type: B.
Physical defects: None... um.
Aspiration: I will... work hard.
-----
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
An embarrassingly simple resume that barely qualified as an application.
But I double-checked it to the end to make sure there were no mistakes.
If every job application in the world used this format, it might have sparked some talk—for better or worse.
'This... should do it.'
As I said before.
I want to live.
That's why I filled out this resume.
If I didn't complete this form and held out until the end...
=======
/Ghost Story Log
/New Employees Are Always Welcome!
[Exploration Record 12th Attempt]
1. Resume Submission.
: Filling out the resume is simpler than you think, so don't worry too much. Surely there are no idiots who won't fill it out? (No maggots kicking away their own chance at survival, right?) Those who don't submit afterward... [Read More].
2. Aptitude Test.
: It's just a simple physical check, so no need to worry. (Holds the record for most casualties.)
3. Interview Review.
: Don't stress too much. It's all up to the interviewer's whim anyway. (Pray to the gods. Who knows? They might pass you?)
4. Results Announcement.
: Congratulations on joining as a full-time employee! When the selected passer 'Hansol' asked if she could go home now, the announcement responded with a grotesque, cracking laugh.
This is your workplace and home from now on.
Record End.
=======
Yes, to survive, filling out the resume is the right answer now.
While everyone avoided it, I wrote my name on the suspicious form and dropped the resume into the box beside it.
Static—
As if in response, the speakers hummed faintly, and the announcement began.
[Without a moment's hesitation, a big round of applause for applicant 'Park Yeon-jeong' who submitted to our company!!]
[You might be the first to fill it out this quickly.]
Luckily, the man on the mic sounded pleased, praising me.
Now I can live for the moment...
[But, we can't accept this resume.]
...Pardon?
The announcement suddenly refusing my resume.
Did I... do something to offend him?
I'm dead.
Static—
[No need to be so down.]
Snap!
The spotlight that had been on the desk now brightly lit up the top of Park Yeon-jeong's head.
[Applicant 'Park Yeon-jeong's' documents were already submitted to our company! We've seen your passion for our company!]
?
When did I ever apply to a company with no future like this...
...Ah.
That's right.
While messing around on the [Ghost Story Archive] out of job market frustration, I'd idly filled out and submitted an application for fun.
My own doing.
[Then, we ask the next applicants for your swift cooperation!]
"......"
"......"
"......That guy's crazy."
After I submitted, not a single person stepped forward.
I get it.
Even I wouldn't have filled out some unknown form so readily if it were me.
......Time passed.
If this continued, everyone here except me would die.
Maybe the other two who had seen the ad and applied via the [Ghost Story Archive] site beforehand still hadn't shown up.
Does that mean I'm the only pre-applicant here?
[10 minutes until application deadline.]
Just 10 minutes.
After these 10 minutes, the remaining people here would die. How? ...I won't go into details due to sensitivity issues.
I'll just say it's the most horrific death you can't watch with eyes open.
......
Just imagining it makes my stomach churn.
......Urk.
*****
"......"
"......"
[7 minutes until application deadline.]
The mechanical voice echoed in the hollow silence. But this sound would end in 7 minutes too.
Soon, this whole situation would resolve.
For better.
Or worse.
After finishing my resume, I hadn't made eye contact with anyone here.
They probably saw me—who filled out the form amid the unknown—as a total lunatic.
[3 minutes until application deadline.]
It's really over now.
The explicitly stated end of life.
Death.
Even if you survive here, you'll die in the next 'aptitude test.'
Harsh as it is, nothing to be done.
I coldly...
"......Mommy."
!!
From the crowd I'd been ignoring with downcast eyes, a student's sob rang out.
......Sigh.
Is it because I've been in this brutal job market too long?
My head must've gone funny for a moment.
Keep at least some dignity, Park Yeon-jeong.
"Ev-everyone. Fill out the resume here!"
"......"
"......"
My voice broke the several minutes of silence.
At first, everyone looked up at the sound of my voice.
But realizing it was me—the one who filled out the resume—they plugged their ears, sealed their lips, and bowed their heads again.
"...If you want to live, you have to fill out the resume!"
"......"
"Doesn't this feel wrong?! This situation, this space, the eerily quiet outside!"
[2 minutes until application deadline.]
My voice, awkward and stumbling at first from shouting, gained strength with each announcement of the dwindling time pounding in our ears.
"Now's the time to follow their conditions and observe! Don't provoke them!"
"......"
"You all want to go home safe, right!"
"Home......"
At my plea, a female student hesitated in her step.
But her short-haired friend, who seemed to be her classmate, blocked her.
"Are you crazy? Believe that nutjob? What if he's in on it with them!"
"...But Min-ji."
"Snap out of it, Kim Hye-seon!"
"......... "
Wrong move.
My voice, which had vented frustration until then, halted the steps of the others who had been faltering at that one girl's words.
That tiny brat!
[1 minute until application deadline.]
One minute left.
"Everyone!"
"Sh-shut up!"
"Yeah! No guarantee filling that out makes things better!"
"If you're gonna die, die alone!"
Panic.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
The situation was only getting worse.
In what seemed like the rock bottom.
Thud.
A woman in horn-rimmed glasses strode right up to Park Yeon-jeong.
And her one remark was.
"...I just need to fill it out, right."
"...Yes."
I knew her face.
The woman who had looked at me with contempt while I was messing around in front of the library.
She quickly filled out the resume and dropped it into the box.
Static—
[Our savior pitcher, perhaps?! Anyway, thank you for applying to our company!]
[We will close applications in 1 minute.]
The woman who finished her resume met my eyes once more.
And whispered softly.
'Liar and I'll rip out that tongue, you piece of shit.'
?!?!?!
Before the question marks and exclamation points could clear from my head.
The woman tossed off her horn-rimmed glasses and swept her bangs up with one hand.
"Less than a minute left! Bye, you idiot retards...! Oh, and those girls over there might fetch a higher price."
......Pardon?
Where are we getting sold to?
The woman suddenly spouting nonsense.
But with that one remark full of curses and insults.
"Y-you tricked us?!"
The fish started biting.
"Fill out the resumes now!"
"Moooom!!"
"Hey! Kim Hye-seon...! For real!"
And as if enjoying the chaos.
[10...]
[9...]
[8...]
The countdown to deadline.
Like watching a bargain sale frenzy at a mart.
[4...]
[3...]
[2...]
[1...]
[Deadline!]
[Thank you so much for all the applications!!]