A man in his early thirties, dressed in ordinary clothes, was excitedly talking on the phone in his studio apartment.
"Yeah, yeah, that's right, I told you I got into Daydream! Uh-huh, I just applied on a whim."
He had applied for a sudden additional recruitment notice from Daydream Inc. and ended up passing the final round.
And now, he was calling everyone he knew to brag, all while pretending it was no big deal.
Especially, and more subtly, to a friend who had a worse academic background and was still unemployed.
'What? You said my gaze was off and I needed to prepare well for the interview?'
But look at the results!
"Well, I just sort of ended up getting the job, but I'm also a little disappointed, you know. Huh? I didn't get the chance to apply to various places. Like you."
The electrifying pleasure of putting down a competitor inferior to him.
He was even thrilled just thinking about his friend's self-esteem plummeting as they replayed this conversation later.
The new Daydream Researcher felt a thrill-like pleasure inwardly as he ran his mouth.
"You should've applied too, you know? Oh, you did? I didn't know. Sorry about that. Next time we meet, I'll treaaaaaaat!!"
Suddenly.
Thud.
Something black fell from the air.
And it snatched the Researcher by the neck.
"…!!"
It was a Black Silhouette.
'Wh-where from?'
There was definitely no passage or space in the ceiling where something like that could have been. He rolled his eyes to look at the ceiling, but there wasn't a single trace.
Then by what means?
"Shh."
The Black Silhouette brought a gloved hand up to its own black-masked face.
Then it whispered, very quietly and slowly.
'Hang up.'
Gulp.
"I, I'm ha-hanging up… See you later!"
Click.
The hand slowly moved down from the new Researcher's face after he hastily ended the call.
But the hand holding his neck remained.
The pressure.
'F-fuck…'
A robber?
As his mind froze with all sorts of speculations and pessimistic predictions for the future, and cold sweat trickled down his temples, a leisurely voice seeped in.
"Hello."
"..."
"I said hello, but you're not answering."
"Ah, hello…"
The new Researcher, his mind racing like crazy, swallowed hard and said.
"I, I don't have much money, but if you let me go, I'll– right now, I'll take out a loan right now and transfer it to your account…"
"What are you talking about. Do I look like a robber?"
You do!
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! If I may ask, what is the reason you came in here…"
"Me?… let's see."
A laugh could be heard.
"Shall we say I'm your Guardian Angel for a day."
"..."
He's crazy.
A real fucking lunatic. I'm in deep shit. He must be a psychopathic serial killer.
But the next words were even more shocking.
"Hmm? Mr. Park Kyung-hwan."
"…!!"
"You received your doctorate in bioinformatics and just graduated from grad school. In the process, you stole your labmate's thesis topic and published it first."
A revelation that turned his mind completely blank.
"Th-that…"
"Don't worry. I'm not here to grill you about that."
Poke.
The intruder raised the hand that had been pressing on the Researcher's face.
Something silver was glinting there.
"I was just telling you to stay still."
Soon, a muffled scream echoed through the studio apartment.
* * *
[That was quite a thrilling interrogation, my friend! It was a much more interesting scene, like something out of a spy movie, than when you were among those poor civil servants!]
Isn't this closer to a robbery and threat… than a spy movie…
'Breaking and entering, making threats…'
The thought that I was smoothly descending into a life of crime crossed my mind, but honestly, I didn't feel particularly sorry.
It was probably because I knew what that man would do once he joined the company.
Researcher Park Kyung-hwan.
What should I say? If Kwak Jegang was the type to commit crazy acts based on curiosity, that guy was the type to inflict cruelties on the Field Investigation Team or civilians based on the superiority complex of an office worker.
It was similar to what the Cleanup team went through.
Records of things that made your heart race and your stomach churn — acts of cruelty toward the weak.
'Well, that's just the personality of a Daydream Researcher for you…'
In that sense, I was grateful—he didn't make me feel particularly sorry.
I looked at the part of 'Researcher Park Kyung-hwan' that I had neatly clipped off.
It was… a fingernail.
'Ugh…'
Of course, I don't have a hobby of clipping other people's fingernails. But I had to do it out of necessity.
It was the part I needed to become a Daily Researcher in Park Kyung-hwan's place.
'And the fact that Park Kyung-hwan is a newbie is actually a good thing.'
The advantages of having no seniority are as follows:
•He doesn't know many people by face.
•He has few occasions to meet his superiors.
This meant that even if I swapped places with him as a Daily Researcher, the chances of someone being suspicious… or of me meeting a special team or a superior who could see through my identity were extremely low.
For instance, Director Cheong.
'What reason would a newbie have to meet a director, other than the first greeting after joining the company?'
I was only called in because I stood out so much from doing all sorts of acrobatics to collect welfare mall points.
…Though I did meet her unintentionally after that as well.
And in the end, I even signed a crazy contract to work permanently for the Security Team.
"..."
It naturally came to mind.
I thought deeply about my Security Team employment contract, which Director Cheong had taken.
'That contract.'
I don't need it anymore.
That fact even made me feel a little refreshed.
I could now maintain my current state. I could exist just fine, with both body and mind intact, without the identity of the Security Team.
I clenched my human hand tightly.
'The problem is that just saying 'I'm quitting' won't work.'
Because it's a permanent contract.
'Actually, it feels more like a restraint than a contract…'
[Ahem, would it be all right if this Braun offered a piece of advice?]
Hmm?
'…Sure. What is it?'
[Laws and rules are often superseded by a stronger priority.]
Swish.
A sound like the fingers of a luxurious white cloth glove being rubbed together came from the stuffed doll.
As if raising its index finger.
[If there is a regulation more powerful than your rude superior's contract, wouldn't the contract naturally become invalid?]
So.
'You're saying I should use another rule to override the contract?'
[Precisely! For instance, by signing another employment contract. Oh, with a more powerful and wonderful workplace, and employer.]
'…Like Brown's Late-Night Talk Show and the great Host?'
[Oh my! I shall not refuse that example!]
Yes. I had a feeling you were going to say that, Host…
But a slightly different idea popped into my head.
'Another rule.'
An idea flashed like a lightbulb turning on, but… it seemed like a method I could only use when the moment comes.
'I'll keep it on hold for now.'
Good.
For now, let's start with the 'theft of the Daydream Dream Machine' operation.
'I've gathered all the necessary items.'
With my mind racing, I completed the plan to infiltrate as a Daily Researcher.
And so, a week later.
I found myself standing in front of the Daydream Inc. Main Building at 8:10 AM, just like before.
"..."
But one thing was different from before.
My attire.
'Hoo.'
I was wearing a white lab coat.
—Don't people usually change into lab coats after they get inside?
—Everyone's a bit high on the novelty… yes, anyway, more than half of the new hires came to work already wearing them. During the probationary period!
Recalling the friendly Q&A with the researcher, I entered the Main Building.
The appearance of a plain-looking researcher with horn-rimmed glasses.
"Hello, Researcher Park."
The exact appearance of Researcher Park Kyung-hwan.
"Hello."
Inside the pocket of my lab coat, as I casually replied to the front desk employee, was a small, silver-glowing tool.
Its head was shaped like a rodent's snout.
Vole Nail Clippers
An item originating from a folktale where a vole that ate a person's discarded fingernails and toenails would transform into that person.
When this nail clipper is used, if it contains 'clipped nails,' the user's body will transform into the appearance of the nail's owner.
One nail sustains the transformation for about half a day.
If one meets the original owner of the nail in this state, they will feel an intense murderous intent towards each other, leading to various incidents of murder and assault.
In short, it meant I was currently transformed into a researcher's appearance using a researcher's nail.
'I snatched it up quickly because I thought it would had been sold for a pretty low price on Delusion Home Shopping.'
Looking at the situation, it seemed to have been an excellent choice.
…Though the fact that someone else's nail was attached to the tip of my own was unsettling.
'Hoo.'
And…
—Yes. Go straight and check for the facility with the electronic pad attached.
—That… um. I've seen it before…
I had figured out the entire layout of the Main Building and the Annex, as well as the location of the Dream Device, by listening to people who had worked at Daydream for a long time.
Of course, among them, the ones who knew the most about the research team's work and movements were…
'Naturally, the same research team.'
And two of them were currently alive in Segwang Metropolitan City.
With a connection to me, at that.
—Roe Deer-nim. Over here!
I recalled the letters from the researchers that Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae had delivered.
That's right. This entry into Segwang Metropolitan City was done by a three-person team of Daydream employees, without me.
It was a considerate measure, in case entering Segwang Metropolitan City again caused another shock that might destabilize my recovered form.
'And in this gap, I'll swipe the machine.'
Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae, one of those three, had willingly become my information courier. I was grateful for that.
Not only that, but she also told me about the condition of the others and the station.
—Deputy Manager Eun Haje and the agent arrived safely at the train! And…
—There's no such thing as a Scales Tribunal at Morning Station. There's just an old waiting room there.
'...'
The Disaster Management Bureau's Courthouse seems to be concluded.
'Then, I can visit the Cheerful Research Institute at that station…'
Not only that, but I might also be able to see other traces of the Disaster Management Bureau branch.
I decided to look forward to the next entry.
And recalling the contents of the letters the researchers had sent, I pressed the elevator button and got on.
'In any case, since I've announced it as 'my will,' even Kwak Jegang can't write nonsense in his reply or subtly try to trap me.'
And I recalled the part of the letter that was the reason I chose today.
—Instead of an orientation, the new research team members have a probationary period to learn what they'll be doing. Well, they give you tasks that are a bit different from what you'd expect, don't they? You need an adjustment period!
The Field Investigation Team also gets completely different tasks than expected, but they're just thrown into ghost stories without any adjustment period or whatever.
'I'm getting pissed off for some reason…'
In any case, they, who would now be researching 'ghost stories' that were likely quite unrelated to their own majors, would have a period of systematically experiencing the work of the research team one by one.
So today was…
The day to observe potion production.
The day to unconditionally get access to the Daydream Potion manufacturing machine.
—F-first, we were told to gather on the 20th floor and then move!
After cross-verifying the researchers' testimonies, it was certain.
'It was a good idea to come early on purpose.'
I glanced around the quiet lobby once, then, alone in the elevator, was about to press the close button.
But at that moment.
"Just a moment!"
Someone ran up to the elevator.
I obediently pressed the open button. It was also to avoid standing out by frantically mashing the close button.
But I was a little taken aback when I saw the person entering.
"…Thank you."
It was because it was Baek Saheon.
After checking my rank by my lab coat and the employee ID card around my neck, he put on a professional smile, nodded, and casually pressed a floor button.
'This guy is really working hard at the company.'
To think he was coming in this much earlier than the start of work. I guess he wasn't promoted to Head of section for nothing.
Ding.
The elevator doors closed, and it began to ascend quietly.
And I, looking at Baek Saheon, quickly racked my brain.
'He'll recognize me.'
That eyepatch.
How many times had he recognized my identity with the Reverse Eye Item[1] under the eye still covered by a medical eyepatch?
'Hmm.'
Rather than him recognizing me later and making a fuss, ruining my plans, wouldn't it be better to give him a little hint now so he'll know how to act?
I finally opened my mouth, looking at Baek Saheon.
"Saheon-ssi."
"...Yes?"
He was only showing a slight surprise, as if wondering how I knew his name.
But he was probably cursing me out internally for a newbie researcher calling a superior by his first name. I know your personality…
So I deliberately set the mood and quietly opened my mouth.
More subtly, but more shockingly.
'Let's see.'
Talking about the talk show would be too direct.
This is Daydream, so even if there's a listening device, something that wouldn't make them guess 'Kim Soleum,' but would be shocking to Baek Saheon… yes.
This is it.
"It's a shame what happened to the village, but I'm glad to see you're continuing your company life without any major effects, Saheon-ssi."
"…!!"
He must have gotten it by now.
Who else but me would know your origins, make such a meaningful remark, and suddenly appear in all sorts of different forms?
'Now, quickly lift your eyepatch to check and let's get this over with.'
I glanced at the elevator floor numbers and looked at him.
Sure enough, Baek Saheon reflexively had his hand on his eyepatch and was lifting the cloth, but…
'…Huh?'
The eye under the eyepatch was closed.
'Did he leave the Item behind?'
Why? With his personality, there's no way.
No, if this is the case, didn't I just reveal my identity for no reason? A bitter taste filled my mouth.
"Well then."
I just prepared to get off.
'If he roughly guesses my identity, he'll have the sense to keep his mouth shut.'
Then let's end it here…
"…Agent?"
Huh?
"It is you."
Seeing my reaction, whatever misunderstanding he had, confidence filled Baek Saheon's face.
"It is you, isn't it."
Wait a minute.
Seeing a strange vitality dawn on Baek Saheon's face, I realized there was some kind of communication error.
'How on earth did you deduce Disaster Management Bureau agent?'
That is…
"You kept prying about our company, so I guess this is what you were up to."
....
"The Paper Boat, I was wondering why you weren't using it lately."
Ah.
Ahhh…!
I stared blankly as Baek Saheon, having identified me as the 'agent he communicated with via the Paper Boat he left behind in Jisan Village,' spoke with a somewhat triumphant expression…
"Did you think I would help you? Sneaking in and even talking to me."
Yeah, no.
[1] in the fandom wiki it’s called “Black-Purple Eyeball”