It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story Chapter 019

The psychopathic doctor pushed his researcher into a horror story expedition as a sacrifice.

He probably wanted to observe how the Field Exploration Team members would die in even stranger ways by associating with that researcher.

The problem is, I’m in the same team as that researcher.

‘Huff….’

I snapped back to reality.

My ears grasped the horror story before my eyes did.

-♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪

The cheerful sounds of a melodion and orchestra.

A typical theme park’s BGM.

“Ugh.”

As I opened my eyes, we found ourselves in the middle of a whimsically colorful theme park.

-Ha ha ha ha!

The laughter of children echoed around us.

However, there wasn’t a single human face to be seen.

What was lingering around were only mascots.

From a distance, it looked like there were guests in mascot costumes, but once approached, they would vanish like a lie.

‘That’s just how it is.’

I immediately checked my wrist.

[(Cheerful) Fantasy Land Ticket □□□]

Three empty boxes.

‘I knew it.’

This was a crazy board game-themed amusement park where you could only escape by riding three attractions.

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

[Cheerful Theme Park!]

: [Dark Exploration Records] identifies the horror story of Daydream Corporation as Qterw-B-11.

An amusement park themed around various Fantasy Lands.

Once you enter this horror story, you can go home by using three large attractions.

This horror story gained extra notoriety from the appendix known as the “Cheerful Theme Park Usage Manual,” written by players in a delirious state.

If you’re looking for a game based on this horror story, find it using this link.

———————=

There are many amusement park horror stories. But this one gained extra fame due to its bizarre strangeness, uniqueness, and persistent fear, being one of the [Dark Exploration Records].

‘There were also goods based on this theme park motif at the pop-up store.’

The appendix, “Cheerful Theme Park Usage Manual,” became a cult favorite too.

They called it the so-called “Neapolitan Horror Story.”

‘Moreover, it’s rated B.’

A dim rating of darkness.

Civilian survival rate… 2%.

The four civilian survivors from our team must have been incredibly lucky.

Comparing this to the missing persons list, it seems like quite a few cases died in this horror story.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

‘…The people in Group D seem to be in danger.’

Of course, at the moment, I was in deep trouble myself.

Taking on the variable of “the researcher getting involved” falls heavily on this side!

“Ugh, ughhh…. P-please let me out! This is wrong, wrong…!”

“Quiet!”

I covered the researcher’s mouth as they started to panic and crouched down.

At that moment.

Thud.

All the mascots in the theme park turned to look at the screaming researcher.

“…….”

———————=

Cheerful Theme Park Usage Manual (Applicable to Exploration Record 64)

3. Please refrain from expressing negative and intense emotions such as crying, wailing, and screaming!

It does not suit the Cheerful Theme Park.

———————=

This was a nightmare of epic proportions.

I squeezed my eyes shut to avoid looking.

3.

2.

1.

The noise came back.

-Ha ha ha!

-♩♪♬♬~♩♬♬~♩♪♪

The terrifying gazes faded away.

As the theme park resumed its lively atmosphere, I slowly let go of the researcher.

An A Group employee slapped the researcher’s jaw.

“…!”

Thud. With a short and dull sound, the A Group employee pressed their butterfly mask-covered face close and said in a low, sinister voice.

“Hey.”

“……!”

“Cry one more time, and I’ll start by killing you.”

“Y-yes…!”

The researcher stepped back in fear, then sat down, burying their face in their hands.

They seemed to be muttering things like ‘This is a dream,’ ‘It’s a lie’ mixed with curses, completely panicking.

“…Isn’t your strength a tad excessive?”

A Y Group newbie spoke cautiously, but the A Group employee ignored it.

Instead, they turned to me.

“Hey, Newbie. You said you graduated top of your class, right? You seem to have a decent judgment.”

“…Thank you.”

“Did you acquire specialized equipment?”

Hmm.

Are they treating me like a fellow employee?

‘Not an Elite Team, but because I’m the top of my class?’

The criteria seemed a bit overly simplistic, but I didn’t let it show and responded politely.

Specialized equipment, huh?

“Yeah.”

“What is it?”

“It’s fingers that allow remote touching. There are limitations on time and usage.”

Just giving that much information should suffice.

And I felt like I needed to ask this.

“What weapon do you use, Assistant Manager?”

“None of your business… Hmm. Alright.”

The A Group employee pulled at their index fingernail.

It was a fake nail made for nail art.

From the fallen nail’s back, a sticky substance stretched out.

It was a translucent thread.

“It can stretch infinitely and has quite a decent hardness.”

“…That sounds extremely useful for various purposes.”

“Hmph. I suppose so.”

Their mood seemed to improve a bit.

I immediately nodded and asked.

“May I ask your name?”

“Just call me Jin Daeri. What’s with the formal introduction?”

Isn’t it normal etiquette to introduce oneself when meeting someone…?

Anyway, that name is distinctive enough to pinpoint.

‘Maybe… it’s this employee.’

-Jin Nasol entered the murderer’s bedroom, setting the clock to 4:44.

-The cucumber answered seriously to Jin Nasol’s question about whether it had any special grievances with carrots. No special notes.

-Cut off the teddy bear’s limbs (Executor: Jin Nasol).

And so forth.

Though there weren’t many descriptions to deduce the personality, they seemed to be quite capable and cold-hearted characters in the story.

At that moment, a Y Group newbie quietly asked me.

“…What exactly is specialized equipment?”

Ah, right. This person probably wouldn’t really know.

“Ah, you can adjust equipment using darkness at the company….”

“Hey. Let’s move quickly. In this scale of darkness, observation should be the priority.”

“…….”

“What are you doing, top of your class? I said let’s move, didn’t I?”

They cut me off outright.

I didn’t wait any longer and followed A Group’s Jin Daeri as I responded.

“Okay. I’ll explain the current situation to my colleagues as we move.”

“What? Why would you…”

A smile crept under the butterfly mask.

“You don’t know, do you?”

“…….”

“Do as you please.”

I didn’t argue back.

Instead, I briefly explained to the Y Group newbie what ‘specialized equipment’ was.

I felt like it would help lessen any awkwardness within the team.

“It was quite a dilemma, and I ended up spending quite a few points to get it. Given how frightening the situation is ahead.”

“……I see.”

I nodded while continuing my explanation.

“By the way, I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Kim Sol-eum.”

“…I know.”

A slightly gloomy voice came from beneath the cow mask.

“I am… Jang Heo-woon.”

“Okay. Nice to meet you.”

I made a point to try talking to the researcher, who was still sitting, but they merely whined in nearly a panicked manner.

“No, no! I can’t walk! Help me!”

“I could help you… But that would make it difficult for the Chief to move.”

I added with feigned concern.

“If that happens, the probability of the subject dying increases.”

Like magic, they miraculously stood up.

‘Just as I thought.’

The A Group employee shot a disapproving glance at us, yet chose to observe the surroundings as we walked.

I also quickened my pace, shifting my gaze.

It was a dazzling yet somehow dizzying and suffocating, dream-like theme park.

‘Is red the theme?’

The flags, buildings, and tents in this theme park area were all emblazoned with red symbols.

‘We must have drawn a red card and ended up in this area.’

The flags depicted a cute rabbit raising one hand and smiling.

[Magic Bunny Arcade Zone]

Directly translated, it means Magical Rabbit Adventure Space…

‘It’s very theme-park-like.’

That’s when it happened.

The rabbit mascot blocked A Group’s path.

“Oh, a roadblock…”

“Wait a minute.”

I tried to stop A Group’s employee from slipping past the mascot.

Because….

“…It looks like a parade.”

A line extended behind the rabbit mascot, and from further down came cheerful music accompanied by various colorful rabbits.

Yet, none of it made me excited.

I struggled to keep my face from being covered by my hands.

‘It’s starting….’

———————=

Cheerful Theme Park Usage Manual (Applicable to Exploration Record 64)

7. Please cheer for the parade with a joyful face!

Everything happening in the Cheerful Theme Park’s parade is fun and is never negative. Absolutely, positively never negative.

———————=

The parade was drawing closer.

A rabbit mascot in a dress waved their hands from atop a palace, and then….

Bang!

With a colorful wand, they struck nearby carrots.

Thus, all sorts of bright red objects rained down on the mascots.

-Waaah!

Candy, jewels, flower petals, and fireworks!

But that wasn’t the end.

Bang!

Next, something burst in succession, showering new red items.

Blood and guts, entrails!

-Ha ha ha ha ha!

It poured out chaotically.

Pouring, pouring, as the mascots danced while groping through the entrails, staining the stone floor right in front of me… Oh, this is madness.

‘This is the problem.’

This crazy theme park produced things that wouldn’t evoke laughter due to human sensitivity, and if one screamed or cried, they would be [Censored]!

-Waaah!

Splash.

The front of my shoes got splattered with blood.

Something rolled over and hit the tip of my shoe.

It was an eyeball.

‘!@#$!@%!%’

Ugh!! Ugh!!!

A silent scream coursed down my spine.

‘I feel like I’m going to be sick.’

I tried to squint as much as I could, not properly looking ahead and assuming a nonchalant demeanor to withstand this situation…

“Ugh.”

“…?”

Wait a moment.

Did I just make that sound?

A fleeting glance revealed a mouth covered by a cow mask.

‘Could it be…’

“Are you having a hard time with something cruel?”

“…….”

The cow mask slowly nodded.

The jaw not concealed by the mask was already pale with shock.

‘Ally…!’

My heart almost warmed.

Finally, someone else is experiencing the insane fear of this crazy situation with me!

‘Hey, you’re holding up quite well!’

I nearly blurted out that we should evade and conquer this predicament together… when suddenly.

“Ah, seriously… what are you saying?”

It was the annoyed voice behind me.

…It was A Group’s Assistant Manager.

“You can’t handle something cruel? That sort of tormentor isn’t foreshadowing but just a burden—why can’t you see that?”

“…!”

“Hey, Newbie. I’m telling you because you have potential. That over there.”

The fingertip of the A Group employee pointed at the Y Group newbie.

The Y Group employee flinched.

“Don’t get chummy with those labeled X, Y, Z for no reason.”

“…….”

I’d just heard nearly the same line from my direct superior a while ago.

-Deer. For the most part, just keep it simple with the other group members you see today. Get it?

… I already knew the reason.

‘The Field Exploration Team gives each group its alpha letter.’

And there’s meaning to that order.

Elite teams A, B, C.

General teams start from D to W.

And X, Y, Z are….

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Daydream Corporation

/ Field Exploration Team

Cleanup Team

These are members who passed the entrance exam but have some defects in performing proper exploration duties.

They are usually deployed to experiment with special situations.

Typically referred to by their last three letters (X, Y, Z).
———————=

“Groups marked by the last three letters are made up of that sort. They’re just meat shields. Think of them as spare lives given to employees with some common sense. So don’t worry too much.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I don’t think they’re properly informing the newbies under the guise of variables, but in any case, they’re going to die here, so it doesn’t matter.”

The employee wearing the cow mask stiffened.

“W-What does that mean…?”

“Cleanup Team, Cow Mask. Raise your left hand.”

“!”

As if it were a lie.

Jang Heo-woon raised their left hand toward the air.

“…!!”

The jaw that wasn’t concealed by the mask turned pale with shock.

“What the…!”

The A Group employee lifted their chin.

“That’s how you use a meat shield.”

———————=

If employees of a certain grade and higher enter the darkness with Cleanup Team members, they can demand unconditional orders from them.

Cleanup Team members must execute those demands.

———————=

That’s right.

‘…It’s a device to extract a more cruel and dramatic exploration record.’

In other words, akin to slaves or suicide squads.

But seeing in reality, it was even more bizarre. The cow mask employee seemed to be struggling against it.

‘What a nightmare.’

The golden mark near the butterfly mask of the A Group employee glimmered.

“When something seems dangerous but you want to try it, you use those sorts first. But it’s frustrating when they interpret it differently and die instead of following orders, you know?”

“Ugh….”

“Of course, if they had enough common sense to understand, they wouldn’t have been assigned to such teams in the first place.”

The verbal abuse continued blandly, and then ended in a tired voice of a workplace seeking to suppress annoyance.

“Seriously, why am I even working here to cause a nuisance. Every time, it’s really…. Psychopaths, cult members, criminals….”

“…….”

Surely, they had intentionally inserted personalities with defects into the Cleanup Team.

A device to lower the psychological hurdles for readers experiencing the horror story.

‘It feels a little better to think that if a bad, defective person dies rather than a good, decent person being used as a tool….’

Seeing it in reality tasted as bitter as sour grapes.

What has this cow mask employee done to warrant being treated like a suicide squad?

“That cowardly bastard too….”

Right, coward….

“……!?”

…One moment.

Wait a minute, Assistant Manager!

I think I just heard something monumental….

“…Did you just say ‘coward’…?”

“Yeah. There’s a coward who passed the entrance exam and kept whining? Can you believe it?”

The A Group employee made a gesture with their chin.

“Just like that Y Group newbie.”

……

‘Is that all it is?’

Seriously?

You mean that scaredy-cat is the reason they ended up in the Cleanup Team?

It couldn’t be that being a coward was the reason for disqualification?

Then…

‘What about me?!’

… I’m a coward!

In that instant, panorama-like flashes of my first day at work came back to me when I fled from the convenience store ghost after telling my superiors.

-Uh, actually… I was scared, so I tried to get out quickly.

“…….”

Only now did I realize how lucky I was that they didn’t believe me.

‘This means scaredy-cats are thrown into positions where they officially become social pariahs!’

Not just being eyed critically but shoved into the fatal positions!

‘I… I just thought I needed to keep my weaknesses hidden!’

It went way beyond that!

In an instant, the sound of plummeting survival rates echoed around me in surround sound.

No, no!

“Anyway, there’s no specific instruction right now. You seem like an obstacle, so let’s just move with you and me alone. Got it?”

No!

If I go with you alone, I feel like I’ll be targeted as a coward in just five minutes!

With the Assistant Manager’s statement, I can already see Kim Sol-eum getting exiled to the Cleanup Team tomorrow!

“So then, go on ahead.”

“What? What?”

For the first time in a month since I joined, I broke one of the newbie commandments.

I defied my superior.

It’s a pretty convincing justification.

“I will ensure my team members are safe.”

“…….”

The A Group Assistant Manager paused momentarily.

At that instant, I worried that this superior might use the Y Group newbie as a means to get rid of me.

“This idiot….”

The butterfly-masked assistant opted to sever ties with me and vanished.

But… Oh, well.

‘They’re unlikely to be able to go alone anyway.’

———————=

Cheerful Theme Park Usage Manual (Applicable to Exploration Record 64)

2. Always stay with team members of the same color inside the theme park!

If you stray 5 meters away while not riding an attraction, you will be executed. It will choke you. Please, no—don’t fall too far away!

———————=

‘There’s no way someone with a strong heart like that is just going to let me go….’

You must act as our tank.

I saw the A Group Assistant Manager suddenly choke, as if they had their nape caught.

“What the hell! Ah!”

The red cord.

That line resembling a collar tensed above our heads, and as the assistant manager deftly backed away, the force kept tightening.

“This…!”

“Jin Daeri.”

I gestured with my finger to my lips.

And rolled my eyes.

The mascots surrounding the parade all stared straight at Jin Daeri.

“…….”

The A Team assistant quickly calmed down.

Truly capable people make things so much easier…….

“Did you divide the teams, right…?”

“Yeah. Didn’t we also draw the red card together? So we were likely grouped together… We might be subjected to physical restraints.”

“……It can’t be.”

The assistant stared at me, then asked meaningfully.

“You… didn’t suspect this ahead of time, did you?”

…?

I just read this horror story ahead of time….

But I decided to play along.

I composed myself and spoke.

“You’ll recall, there were four civilian survivors.”

“Right.”

“Couldn’t it have been the same team?”

I spoke earnestly.

“I think the probability is highest that we were all assigned survivors in a single team since we ourselves were chosen as a group of four.”

“…….”

“So for now, we should ensure we look out for each other. I believe that’s how we’ll get out of this darkness safely.”

After a brief silence,

“…You make a good point. Sure.”

Fortunately, the A Group superior seemed to accept it rationally.

“Kim Sol-eum, thank you….”

“It’s nothing. Let’s do our best together.”

It seemed that the cow mask colleague was also somewhat moved, but now isn’t the time to get sentimental, my cowardly ally.

‘Let’s see.’

I looked at this team objectively.

An elitist superior filled with a sense of privilege.

A cowardly dunce and a working on-the-clock employee as a bonus.

‘Hoo boy, what a mess.’

If this were [Dark Exploration Records], it feels like they would all be dead before we even began the record and the perspective would shift back to Lizard Manager!

But there must still be a way to survive with this crew….

‘There is.’

If we adhere strictly to the operating procedures and look for an escape route!

“…Do you happen to remember?”

“What?”

“It was stated on the box of the [Cheerful Theme Park] board game.”

–Be the first team to board three fantasy attractions with your teammates and receive a prize!

The eyes behind the butterfly mask narrowed.

“Three attractions… right. There are exactly three slots on this bracelet.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded eagerly.

“I propose we do just that for now. If there are any requirements hinted at by the darkness, following them would be the standard for a clear exit.”

“…Is that what you learned after just a month at this company?”

Pfft.

“During that month, we were only thrown into darkness where there was no manual… so, um, I developed a habit of making such guesses.”

“Well, maybe.”

Fortunately, the A Group superior seemed to accept that with a nod.

It didn’t seem to be something said to rile me up.

“Your hypothesis is persuasive.”

“Yeah.”

They seemed to have slightly acknowledged my insight.

I raised my hand and politely suggested.

“So let’s ride the attractions immediately.”

Fortuitously, one of the nearby signs listed the attraction I was hoping for.

[Fantasy Train]

Directly translates to Magical Train.

“…Isn’t this the attraction that civilians testified about?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded nonchalantly, and the panicking researcher shouted out in agitation.

“Th-the people who rode it all died!!”

That’s right.

It’s a notorious hell train with a 3% survival rate!

‘But I’m not insane.’

[Dark Exploration Records] has its old-timers with ways to clear it!

…Well, a less horrifying way to clear it.