Chapter 1: The First Descent
Ever just get totally obsessed with something?
Not just "oh, this is fun", but so impressed that you spent extra time and money on it?
You know, like that.
The director's cut if it's a movie, the artbook if it's a game, the preview if it's a webtoon, the concert if it's a singer...
If related, it counts as a sale.
Yes, what people call goods.
Figures, banners, badges, dolls…
He had never spent money on anything like that in his life.
Not until now.
This was a department store.
The pop-up shop was so popular that tickets for waiting lists had already been distributed by the time the department store opened at 10 a.m.
And he had gotten one of those waiting tickets.
"Time slot 2:30 p.m., we'll start letting you in now!"
"Ah, finally!"
"Hey, let's go."
Near him the big-eyed teenagers ran toward the staff, their eyes full of glee.
"2:30… right."
He pulled his hat as low down his forehead as it would go, and lined up.
But he heard murmurs behind him.
"Huh…"
"Is that a reseller?"
"Are they a professional dealer?"
"..."
He thought it was just unfair, but understood.
The only male of any of the line who actually looked the least bit like a salaryman.
Sigh…
He gazed glumly at the entrance to the pop-up store.
[Explorer of Darkness, welcome.]
"This is insane."
Black and red backdrop with caricatures of monsters, occult symbols, and images of different corporations, religions, and governments.
It was a worldview that would completely fascinate teenagers.
It was an artful title.
[Apocalypse Prophecy: Record of Darkness Exploration]
He found it difficult to keep one hand from covering his eyes.
Why am I seeing this at work?
Record of Darkness Exploration.
A widely popular recent internet horror universe.
People invent, create, and build their own stories in collective intelligence, open-source universes.
It originated as a spin-off of a famous urban legend, and was originally only known among students until it blew up on the YouTube algorithm.
Stories that revolve around the concept of "records exploring the various paranormal phenomena called
Eventually, it became its own independent wiki with hundreds, if not thousands, of stories, and he came across it.
…Being text-based, it became easy to read at work.
And anything at work could be fun if it weren't work itself.
He became completely engrossed in it and went so far as to write one of his own, which he posted online.
How had it come to this? Had his dopamine-deprived work life been the problem?
Furthermore, this Record of Darkness Exploration itself has grown massively.
It got this big?
It had become a major IP reigning on YouTube, almost like a "middle ruler".
Corporations almost immediately began to exploit it.
This pop-up store followed in its footsteps.
It also said it was "Recommended for ages 15+" on the wiki.
Why were there so many kids?
He could hear unsympathetic whispers behind his back.
"That's definitely a reseller…"
"Hey, hey, maybe they're buying it for a niece or cousin… let's not be harsh."
No. He would get it.
...Actually, he did come here last week but since all the goods had been sold, he had come here a second time.
He even called in sick once.
There had been women close to his age.
But it was a weekday afternoon, and any other time of the week you would just have your parents taking you around, so he wanted to hit the road but he didn't.
I don't even know why I'm trying to hold back...
He followed the staff into the store, anyway.
At least they remained calm, which was some comfort to him.
"Wow!"
"Hey, it really looks like it."
The middle schoolers gasped; the pop-up store on the inside was actually a theme park.
There were friendly exhibition categories too.
[Baekilmong Corporation]
[Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau]
[Nameless Radiant Church]
The universe centered on the three power structures of corporations, governments, and religions observing or trying to control paranormal activities.
At first it was just stories about the disaster bureau of the government, but more and more people joined and got excited.
The pop-up seemed to have found only the most talked about items online.
While obviously a commercial endeavor driven by money selling out with only popular characters and horror items, it was still good.
Yeah. When else would I come to a place like this?
Seeing their stares, he took what he desired and left.
The popular items he almost purchased last week weren't included and he wasn't blamed for trying to resell them for a profit.
"Would you like to purchase a size L eco bag to carry your items? It's 5,000 won."
"Yes, thank you."
He made his purchase but stayed behind instead of leaving.
He looked over to a space beside the checkout where people were forming a line.
[Roulette Event]
: Create your own Record of Darkness Exploration character.
That.
He had seen it last week, but he did not get in the line.
The pop-up ends tomorrow.
He was torn with whether he thought it was worth trading his social dignity for his social need.
A staff member at the counter smiled and spoke to him.
"The roulette event is today only! Would you like to participate?"
"…Yes."
Thank you. Truly, thank you, staff member.
"Great! Please come this way! Ah, stand here…"
The staff led him to the line in front of the huge black roulette, where he was able to merge with the end of the line.
The line moved faster than expected.
He was then brought to the front and handed a single button, which resembled a walkie-talkie.
"Now, let's spin the lucky roulette! Press the button to stop it whenever you like."
Frrric.
The roulette would begin spinning, producing an artificial sound.
Every segment had ranks and prizes.
Things he had already purchased, display-only items, and even Bluetooth earbuds.
Oh, and being in 7th place meant you'd receive a little memo pad, so go figure.
Still, it was fine. He almost quit and never participated.
Don't get your hopes up.
He pressed the button judiciously, thinking.
Drrrrr… Click.
His black roulette stopped, and eventually it, too, landed here.
A thin golden segment.
[1st Prize]
: Real Goods Box of Record of Darkness Exploration
"…!"
"Whoa! Congratulations!"
Was this real?
"Wow, insane!"
"Lucky you, so jealous."
Screaming and cheering and envious voices followed him.
"Finally, on the last day before the pop-up closes, the first prize comes out!"
The staff were so excited they ran behind the roulette and brought out a big box that was wrapped in plastic.
The black box bore a huge silver emblem and was clearly a manufactured object.
He could barely manage to hold the box.
"…Thank you."
He had to get out of there even if it meant slapping his face.
As he tried to leave the store, one of its employees stopped him.
"Ah! We're giving out on-site production goods. Just tell us your name!"
His name? Well, his private information had long been on portal sites. The important thing was getting this home safely.
"Kim Soleum."
"Yes! Ms. Soleum, please wait a moment."
The staff activated a black machine resembling a 3D printer.
The label said it was made for the pop-up.
[Record of Darkness Exploration Character Maker]
Ah, so this was the subtitle for the roulette event.
... "Create your own Record of Darkness Exploration character."
Truly, a taste of teenagers.
"Please enter your name here."
"…Yes."
He steadied himself on the goods box with one hand and typed his name on the pad.
The black machine behind it gave off a loud, creepy music-box trill, a flamboyant twisting of gears.
And it spat out a small object.
Click.
He picked it up.
It was... an ID card.
[Baekilmong Corporation]
Kim Soleum
Field Exploration Team
"Wow! Baekilmong Corporation. One of the three most famous powers in
"…."
Yes, he knew.
Roughly, it was the corporate cliché of a large company making money off paranormal phenomena.
And the Field Exploration Team...
Like a redshirt department in some sci-fi show.
But every time something happened, they'd explore the paranormal and wind up "ground to pieces."
Several named characters are members of this team.
"Wow! A Field Exploration Team ID. We can't wait to see what Ms. Kim Soleum accomplished in the world of
"Yes, thank you…."
He fought the urge to cringe.
Better it's a company ID than a government or cult ID.
It was a bit embarrassing, but the staff had fortunately heard it so often that they actually became desensitized.
That seemed to put an end to the roulette.
"Thank you."
He was staring sadly at the ID printed with his own name.
I have to hide this somewhere...
His mental fortitude would not last long.
Meanwhile, there were the staff:
"Do you like it? You'll treasure it, right?"
"Yes."
"Liar."
…?
He looked up, wondering if he had heard.
The staff members wore ear-to-ear grins all the time.
"…?"
At that moment.
Suddenly, his head began to spin.
"…!"
And there ended the pop-up store.
The vision fuzzed as if it were covered with black paint, blinking red and blue.
Once it wore off, however,
He could not have imagined the world had so completely changed.
[Welcome to Baekilmong Corporation!]
"…!?"
He was in the corner of a large auditorium, facing a podium set in the center.
And then.
Waaaaah!!
Along with this, the crowd's roar of approvals echoed as fireworks lit up PPT.
[New Employee Orientation]
An audience of new staff in suits politely clapped as the host clicked through the PPT.
You could tell this was a big company's orientation event.
The faces suggested pride and excitement finally breaking into the workforce.
[Our new employees, who survived a 145:1 competition, may be proud! Haha!] Let's start the orientation!
"…."
What was this?
He attempted to take a step back.
But he found himself already sitting.
In a suit. The same one he wore to an evening client meeting. He even looked like the other "new employees" in the auditorium.
The roulette goods box was on his knees.
"Where did you get that? Is it from the company?"
"…."
He did not have the strength to respond to the new hire next to him.
[You are chosen employees!]
[Of the applicants, only very special people are brought to this Room A for orientation!]
[Congratulations! You passed the aptitude test and are assigned to the special team,
"They've already assigned us?"
"Field Exploration Team? That exists at Baekilmong?"
"A pharma company with field exploration…?"
"Feels like exile, not HQ, right? Trying to sugarcoat it for us…"