Jin Nasol frowned, looking inside from the restaurant door.
It was the type of place where you had to take off your shoes to enter. As is common for barbecue restaurants equipped with large private rooms, it was moderately bustling with office workers.
In other words, a typical company dinner spot.
Director Ho had summoned the employees who had come out of the Darkness with chillingly precise timing, but he had at least given them time to rest.
Thanks to that, they had caught up on much-needed sleep until lunchtime, before heading to the dinner location designated by Director Ho.
And…
"I can't believe a place like this is open for lunch."
"They probably focus on selling meal sets."
"Ooh."
That guy.
Jin Nasol stared at the masked employee conversing with Lee Seonghae as if trying to see right through him.
"Shall we go in?"
A man wearing a black, feline mask.
-Please make sure to wear your masks at this company dinner ^^
Normally, it would be natural for everyone to take off their masks at a company dinner, but this time, due to a strange rule, everyone was wearing one, so his bare face couldn't be seen.
And although this man was consistently using polite, formal language… he spoke in a strangely friendly and gentle manner.
"Assistant Manager, are the other members of Team A coming as well?"
"Why are you curious about that?"
"Ah, it's just that I've never seen the members of Team A during the Project. I guess I got curious. I apologize."
Even to her.
He even bowed his head gently without getting on her nerves.
He was a type of person rarely seen in this company, and what was more surprising was that he didn't seem like a pushover.
'What kind of person is he?'
Jin Nasol's sharp instinct, which judged rank and distinguished the strong from the weak, assessed her opponent as if slicing through him.
Strong.
Even without knowing the fact that he had unconventionally cleared a Darkness with a fixed escape time, she could feel it from his attitude and presence.
And her painfully sensitive senses detected it.
Stare[1].
'I feel like I've seen him somewhere before.'
But before her senses could properly articulate it, they were guided to the
reserved room.
"Ah, this is the room."
"Thank you."
And the moment the door opened…
"…!!"
Several people, upon seeing the man in the cat mask, shot up from their
seats or flinched. Their attitude was one of blatant joy and surprise…
'What the…'
Isn't that the kind of attitude one should have when seeing the company Chairman?
'What is he doing in this Project?'
Jin Nasol frowned, raising her assessment of the cat-masked man's position even higher.
"I'm here."
The cat-masked man smiled and bowed his head, then naturally approached that table to sit down.
Since the two members of Team A happened to be nearby, Jin Nasol also sat at that table.
But the majority of the people at the table were faces she'd never seen before.
She could clearly recognize about two of them.
A Falcon Mask and a Lizard Mask.
"That…"
"It's Lord Cat!"
"Ah. Lord Cat… right."
Falcon grinned upon seeing the cat mask.
"Eat a lot and rest well today. …I heard from the Section Chief."
"Yes."
The cat-masked man nodded amicably and took a seat next to Section Chief Lizard.
'....'
She felt like those two had a somewhat similar vibe.
"Assistant Manager Butterfly, you just came from an all-night Darkness run, right?"
"Ah. Yes."
But what did it matter?
Jin Nasol joined her team at the table and tried to tune everything out. She was tired and annoyed.
"Hello, everyone."
Only when Director Ho, who had suddenly appeared, began to say something like a toast, did she finally listen attentively, as one ought to for a superior.
"You've all worked so very hard, everyone."
This company dinner was probably arranged after the project team's unbelievable performance was officially reported to the company.
-Is it true that they can collect B-rank or higher Dream Weave without any casualties?
-It's true, I heard there haven't been any deaths so far. Does anyone have more details?
-What do I need to prepare if I want to get into Director Ho's project? I'll reward you if you send me a private message.
-For those in the project, is the point accumulation part still undecided...
It was truly a hot potato.
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol frowned, recalling the company group chat she had long since muted.
"Now that the Project is on track, I thought it was only right to celebrate…. There may be some of you seeing each other for the first time, but you have all been working on the Project."
Most of the participants were already aware that Director Ho had obsessively prevented the project members from recognizing each other by department.
Jin Nasol, too, was seeing the faces of the other members for the first time.
In the first place, Ho Yuwon had only used A Team as a sort of standby unit.
-Team A members, you just need to enter the designated Darkness when I call for you.
Thus, the people sitting diagonally across the table from her now were also people she was seeing for the first time.
Two men.
They were in suits, same as the Field Investigation Team, but their masks were different.
"It would be good for you to greet one another."
'What's that?'
A Hahoe Mask?[2]
Feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, Jin Nasol stared at it with a cold gaze.
The men in the perpetually smiling masks had been looking at the cat-masked man on the other side, but then, as if sensing her gaze, they looked at Jin Nasol.
And a strange aura emanated from them.
A sharp hostility, as if looking at prey.
"..."
But it was soon reined in, and a cheerful voice was heard.
"Hello. …You're the Elite Team, right? I look forward to working with you~ Hahaha."
Instead of accepting the handshake the man offered, Jin Nasol simply gave a curt nod and turned her gaze away.
'How annoying.'
She hated encounters where the hierarchy was unclear.
But where she turned her gaze, she saw an equally annoying sight.
"Dolphin, you don't look too happy."
"Nope. I was gonna go to a great restaurant with Lord Cat, but the Director called, so I couldn't and had to come here."
"Is that so? What kind of restaurant?"
"Ah! I don't wanna tell you!"
'She's still at it.'
Is she crazy? She had no idea why that Dolphin girl provoked her superiors every single time.
"We can just go together next time, Dolphin. I'll treat you then."
"Aww, it's okay, Lord Cat. I'll treat you!"
But what was more surprising was the cat-masked man's attitude, placating
her as if he were used to it.
"You're really too much…"
"Yep, yep."
He treats the Director like that?
No, it was too natural to be insubordination. And so, she instinctively understood…
That's no ordinary employee.
The strange reactions of the project members, his nonchalant and odd attitude.
An equal relationship with Director Ho, someone scouted for the project.
'…A director from another department?'
In the midst of that, she saw someone else butt into the conversation.
"Wait a minute. Did you say Lord Cat?"
It was a person wearing a Pony Mask.
Jin Nasol didn't know it, but this money-worshipping employee, who had
barely recovered from the 'Golden Canopic Jar' Contamination at the Fox Counseling Room, had overheard talk of the company dinner and, with gleaming eyes, had somehow managed to wrangle an invitation.
It was a waste to miss out on a free meal!
And now, he had met an employee who gave him a good feeling for some reason.
Strangely.
One who truly reminded him of Lord Cat.
"Lord Cat, that's a very nice title you're using, isn't it? Hahaha, throughout all ages and cultures, cats have a strong connection to elements like gold and wealth!"
"…Yes. I see."
The man in the cat mask responded gently, conversing with sincerity.
But Jin Nasol then saw the water cup in the man's hand get crushed.
"…!"
And then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, she saw
him slowly smoothed the cup back into shape and returned it to its place.
'....'
That confirmed it.
'He's a superior.'
And he's merely patient, but not a very nice person.
Jin Nasol judged coldly.
…
For the record, the truth was.
'Uwaaaah.'
He just can't control his strength!
***
'Oh, for crying out loud!'
I silently screamed as I put down the water cup.
So far, I'd almost accidentally chewed and swallowed my chopsticks three times, and my hair had stood on end about five times after almost breaking the table while fixing my leg.
'No, this is…'
This is driving me crazy.
But…
"That's right, that's right. Lord Cat. Try this, too. The galbi just melts in your mouth."
"…Thank you."
I carefully picked up the piece of galbi that Deputy Manager Eun Haje placed on my plate and put it in my mouth.
"Is it good?"
"Yes…!"
It's delicious.
The savory and crisp texture of the meat, well-cooked over charcoal, and the juices that burst from within, filling my mouth with umami.
This is what it means to be human.
'Though I'm actually a lizard, not a human.'
Even though there was the unfortunate incident where I almost chewed up my chopsticks.
'…It's hard!'
It feels like just yesterday that I was marveling at a lizard mukbang of it eating Korean beef, and now I'm the one wearing that lizard's head…
'You really never know how life will turn out…'
I gave the water cup I'd accidentally crumpled a quick glance to check if its shape was back to normal, then placed it back on the table.
…while trying not to break the table, that is.
'Gulp.'
Manager Lee Jaheon was watching the entire process intently.
Wait. Come to think of it…
"Section Chief Lizard."
"Yes."
"Could I possibly get some advice on strength control?"
"Yes. Think of every object you encounter in daily life as soft tofu."
I almost choked.
"S-Soft tofu, you say?"
"? Yes."
Where did he get a metaphor like that… no, never mind.
It was very intuitive and easy to understand.
"Thank you."
"Yes."
And the white lizard head smiled.
'…He seems slightly less scary now.'
Maybe it's because I see a similar face in the mirror now.
In any case, just from what I experienced today in the Darkness and at the barbecue restaurant, I had a realization.
"You must have had a lot of difficulties when you first came here."
"Yes."
"Why did you come?"
"Unable to answer."
"If I were to connect with 'us,' could I get an answer?"
The lizard's bright red vertical pupils looked at me.
"In that case, an answer will not be necessary."
"..."
Let's just eat the meat.
"Be careful not to eat your chopsticks."
Yes…
I realized that the chopsticks don't taste bad either. The salty and stimulating iron taste is somehow similar to meat.
'Is this… Manager Lee Jaheon's world?'
I never thought I wanted to know, but let's just think of it as an experience…
And I looked around the large room.
I could occasionally see the Hahoe Masked Agents, who kept looking back at me, and the employees who had entered Sekwang City with me, sitting and eating.
But.
'…The Security Team members aren't here.'
Neither J3 nor Deputy Manager Minseong, who was in quarantine due to Contamination, were here.
And instead, unfamiliar people filled more of the seats.
They were probably the personnel Ho Yuwon used for parts of the Project other than directly entering Sekwang Special City.
Like this person, for instance.
"I haven't seen you before, are you from the Field Investigation Team?"
Team A's leader, Mr. Baek Seok-ju.[3]
He spoke to me from the table diagonally across from mine.
The Elite Team leader in the Mallard Mask, whom I hadn't seen in a while, still exuded the air of a superior.
"You seem to be close with Section Chief Lee Ja-heon."
"…We're relatives."
"Oh my. I see."
And it seems he still detests Section Chief Lee Jaheon…
"I'd appreciate it if you spoke comfortably to me. Although I'm not in the Field Investigation Team right now, I haven't been working at this company for very long either."
"If you say so."
It really feels like a company dinner…
-Let's grab a meal together once we get out of here.
"..."
But the feeling that the 'meal' he mentioned in Sekwang Special City wasn't supposed to be like this left a strange sense of disappointment.
The people, too.
It even felt like the agents were attending almost solely to dig up information.
[Oh my, friend… Isn't the host what's important for any gathering? A dinner party hosted by a Plague, it sounds dreadful just hearing about it. If it's your boss, it's even worse!]
It's, it's not that bad.
I looked at Director Ho, who was sitting at a table far away.
It felt like an oblivious boss on a day off, forcing a meal on his employees and then just sitting there…
"Eat a lot."
"Th-Thank you."
No, that's exactly what it is.
'…I somewhat, Agree.'
[A wise judgment, my friend!]
Let's just eat more meat.
I enjoyed this reality as much as I could, talking with people, eating food, and fitting in with my newly acquired human Body.
And after lunch was over.
I realized why Ho Yuwon had done something like this.
"You've acquired a convenient body. In commemoration… could you take a look at this?"
Ho Yuwon, who had remained behind with me, handed me a file.
"It's a list of the employees who were participating in my project."
"…Why are you showing this to me?"
"Ah. It's simple."
Ho Yuwon smiled brightly.
"I was thinking, when you go on explorations from now on, you could requisition them if needed."
"…!"
"You just need to retrieve the Dream Potion and erase their memories as soon as the exploration is over."
This is insane.
"You could call them a type of day laborer. What do you think? Useful, right?"
I realized.
This is why he held the company dinner today.
It was to introduce the candidates for the exploration team, to show who was there and what kind of people they were.
'So that's why he gathered the people who continuously explore Sekwang Special City…'
I also realized why he went so far as to call the agents.
To make discussions easier.
"…I don't need them for now."
I held back a sigh and closed the file.
'This… I'll just keep it in mind as an option for now.'
I don't need it right now.
Because my goal for the next entry is clear.
"First, I'm going back into Midnight Night Station."
I kept trying not to forget.
Whenever I had a spare moment, I thought about it and replayed it in my head.
-It's that train. Train G1572, if I just get on that, if I just…
Right.
"I'm going to take the train there again."
I will find the train Yeongeun mentioned.
.
But at that station in Sekwang Special City, which I re-entered, I encountered a sight I had not expected at all.
***
"...!!"
Originally, if you went up the stairs from the subway platform of Sekwang Special City, a strange phenomenon would appear.
Whether it was the Noose Forest, the Body Casino, or the bizarre library.
The station, devoured by a ghost story, would reveal its form.
It was like that at every station in Sekwang Special City.
And at this station, Midnight Night Station, the passage to Hanbit Library, originally made of bookshelves, should have been visible at the top of the stairs.
The place that held Sekwang Technical High School.
But.
"…Wait a minute."
There was nothing at the top of the stairs.
The place where the library should have been had vanished as if by a lie.
Instead, there was just a single note stuck to the wall to the right of the stairs.
Closed
-Undergoing corner renovation-
"…Renovation?"
And what was more surprising.
"Mr. Roe Deer. Look over there."
As my eyes adjusted to the pitch-black darkness that had taken the place of the vanished passage, I realized that its identity was not a simple 'absence.'
A whitish form.
And a discernible sign.
Station Office
"…!!"
At the top of the stairs.
The complete subway station of Midnight Night Station was spread out before me.
[1] from the mtl tool I use it was “a gaze” but another mtl said “stare” and I thought it fit better
[2] (A Hahoe mask (Hahoetal) is a traditional Korean wooden mask used in the Hahoe byeolsingut talnori, a shamanistic ritual dance drama dating from the 12th century. The masks are national treasures, known for their expressive, often hinged jaws, and are used in satirical dramas that comment on social hierarchies.)
[3] Does anyone know their gender?