"Team Leader, I've finished compiling the Risk Management Team's payroll for this month."
"You need to double-check that. Two people died yesterday because a containment object escaped. I'll give you their personnel details, so change it from payroll to condolence payments and compensation, then send it to their families."
"If there are no next of kin this time too, should we just donate it?"
"Yeah, no other procedures needed."
"Got it."
With a sigh, he sat back in his chair and started reorganizing the spreadsheet.
There was a rumor that once circulated in the world.
"What if the world we live in is actually full of monsters and superpowers, and there's a group of humans secretly managing it all without our knowledge? What if they hide those monsters' existence, and to do so, they commit all sorts of atrocities, even grinding up humans without hesitation?"
To cut to the chase, that's real.
"Team Leader, what happened this time that got them killed?"
"From what I heard, two of them accidentally entered a room where you die if you don't do XX."
"Oh, they failed to manage the room? But why did they kill each other?"
"They didn't get along."
"Oh dear."
"You wouldn't kill me if we went into that room together, right?"
"That's something the room knows better than me."
"See? You're not denying it."
In the small office, he bantered idly with the Team Leader as they worked.
It was long past dark outside the window, the clock pointing to 11 p.m.—a time when anyone would call it real overtime—and the two of us mechanically kept preparing the payroll list.
Yes. The so-called National Management Bureau really exists, and I work there.
But my job isn't the tough stuff like saving people or handling containment objects.
Even if someone dies tomorrow, this is still an organization with employees. They get assigned, they work, and they get paid accordingly.
HR Team payroll specialist at the Management Bureau—that's my job.
Compared to going out there and losing limbs or dying all the time, this is pure bliss. A bit of overtime aside.
Pausing work, I looked at the Team Leader, and a translucent window popped up above his head.
[Name: Heo Chan]
[Age: 49]
[Trait: Complacency]
[Talent: Crisis Detection]
[Background: Living as the breadwinner, he pulls another overtime shift today for his family's next meal.]
"What's up? Did I mess something up?"
"No."
The middle-aged man with a full head of hair looked at me puzzled, and I shook my head as if it was nothing, turning my eyes to the small mirror on my desk.
[Name: Kim Jaeheon]
[Age: 27]
[Trait: -]
[Talent: Insight]
[Background: His eyes are different from others'.]
Right after taking my college entrance exam, these things started appearing in my vision.
If I'd been a little younger, I might've blabbed about this ability to everyone, but luckily—or because I'd grown some brains—I kept quiet about it.
Instead, I tested it diligently, investigated on my own, wondering if there might be some greater power.
In the end, nothing changed. It just let me see people's traits, talents, and a single glimpse into their lives. That's it.
I couldn't change or invest in those abilities by viewing the info. It only let me see a bit clearer, that's all.
So it wasn't much help in my life. Well, it did help in a few ways.
In the military, I spotted what kind of guy my senior was ahead of time and had an easier time than others. Or I tailored my studying to professors' tendencies so midterms and finals went smoother with less effort.
But compared to the superpowers I knew of, it was trivial.
So I planned to live quietly, using it for a slightly easier social life. I thought that until after college graduation, military discharge, and job hunting.
But then they came for me.
They appeared out of nowhere, dragged me to a room, grilled me about my ability, then suddenly offered me a job. They called themselves the Management Bureau.
"How about working in HR?"
"Out of the blue? That's... startling..."
"Your salary would be as follows."
"You know, that doesn't sound bad at all."
It was too much to turn down. I wasn't getting into a big corp anyway—wasn't this a gift from the gods?
Plus, HR meant no dying on the job. On second thought, this was a pretty sweet gig.
"Team Leader, all done."
"You checked including the deceased, right? Go ahead home first. I'll stay and finish the paperwork."
"Sure."
If I said here, "No way, how could I?" and stayed, it'd be me and this uncle pounding soju and pig's blood soup till dawn before heading home. Bonus: breadwinner woes and life advice from a senior.
I nodded vigorously, grabbed my laptop, slung my bag over my shoulder, and stood.
"I'll head out first."
"Yeah, go on. Get some rest."
With a quick bow, I stepped out the door—then the Team Leader called me back.
"You got the manual? Can't leave without it."
"You think I'm an idiot, Team Leader?"
No employee ID here.
Just a small notebook labeled [Employee Manual]. No idea what insane crap they pulled to make it, but this is my ID, my employee badge. And a magic manual with all the emergency procedures.
Of course, I'd never need to use it. What crisis hits HR? The worst for me is overtime from payroll errors.
"Anyway, I'm really heading out."
"Yeah, go."
After the goodbye and closing the door, a standard office hallway greeted me.
But underground here was a containment facility holding things beyond human comprehension—and sometimes humans who threatened humanity.
Of course, that didn't really hit home for me. I'm just an HR peon.
At least until now.
I mechanically pressed the elevator button. Even if I went home now, it'd just be sleep then back to work, so getting home quick was priority one.
Ding. The elevator rose with a clunk, reached my floor, and the doors opened.
One man stepped out.
Wearing the suit everyone here does, tie and all, he brushed past me.
End of month or not, coming in this late—must be a Security Team shift change?
Passing him with idle thoughts, I hit the first floor and close button.
Then, as always, I unconsciously glanced at him, and a translucent window began rising above his head.
[Name: ? ? ?]
[Age: ? ? ?]
[Trait: Mimicry]
[Talent: Acting]
[Background: This one wears human skin turned inside out.]
"...What?"
I muttered without thinking, slamming the close button. As the man turned at my voice,
the doors shut, and the elevator descended.
My heart started pounding like mad.
What the hell was happening? Why now? Major containment failure? Could I even go home?
Sorting frantic thoughts, the elevator hit first floor.
Ding. Doors opened to a quiet hallway.
Security Team first.
Trembling, I reached into my inner pocket for the Office Manual. As if reading my mind, it flipped open.
[Office Manual]
[D. Crisis Situations]
1. If something happens, go to the Security Team and explain. Their location is as follows.
Reading as I went, I slowly headed to the marked spot.
Soon, a sign reading [Security Team] welcomed me.
Easing open the door, a burly man stared right at me.
"What is it?"
"Uh—"
Before speaking, I instinctively checked above his head.
[Name: ? ? ?]
[Age: ? ? ?]
[Trait: Mimicry]
[Talent: Acting]
[Background: This one wears human skin turned inside out.]
"...Nothing."
"Pardon?"
The man eyed me suspiciously.
"Actually, I heard a close coworker was on night shift tonight, so I came to say I'm heading out first... but looks like the schedule changed."
"I see."
He stared at me intently.
"Then... I'll be going."
With a quick bow, I bolted out.
My palms were slick with cold sweat.
Backing away fast from Security, I checked the manual again.
[Office Manual]
[D. Crisis Situations]
1. If something happens, go to the Security Team and explain. Their location is as follows.
1-1. If you judge the Security Team not to be human, slip out quietly without being noticed.
1-2. There may be other Security Teams to help besides first-floor ones. Head to ground level 3 and contact the Security Team Leader. However, if you deem the entire branch compromised, skip this and proceed to 1-3.
1-3. Head to Basement Level 1. In emergencies, Office workers are permitted entry.
"Basement 1, Basement 1..."
I hurried toward the elevator.
Bang—the Security room door flew open behind me.
My steps quickened naturally, eyes scanning the next item.
[Office Manual]
1-4. Elevators to basement are usually locked. Emergency code for Office workers is as follows.
Press [3rd~7th-2nd~9th-Emergency button twice] in order.
Now half-running to the elevator, I arrived, hit open, then rapidly punched the floors.
3rd, 7th, 2nd, 9th, emergency twice.
Footsteps grew closer.
[Doors closing. Destination: Basement 1.]
Doors shut, elevator plunged underground.
"..."
Manual again.
[Office Manual]
2. Upon reaching basement, proceed straight ahead. No matter what you see, keep going forward. You might think you're veering right or left, but that's wrong. Trust only your senses.
"Damn it."
Did it have to be this convoluted? Couldn't they just say "go straight" or something simple?
How much time passed? Far longer than to first floor, then the doors opened.
"..."
A clean, mazelike hallway stretched before me—no doors in sight.
Manual once more.
[Office Manual]
2-1. Advance. No matter what, you must go forward.
Ah, this is really scary.