GDCG c274

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Chapter 274

Director Cheong said she would present a new labor contract—one that would “generously” extract the re-education costs from Supervisor Park Minseong.

“How about it?” 

Director Cheong looked at me. 

And I remembered. 

The contract I had received from her.

That horrific process—my entire body melting away, my mind and flesh collapsing as I returned to my original form—standing on the brink of death, forced to make a choice.

That… that was…. 

A lifetime employment contract. 

Endless labor. 

Being buried beneath Daydream Inc. forever, without the possibility of retirement. 

‘No.’

Instinctively, I tried to raise black smoke to stop her—then clenched my teeth and halted.

Earlier, I hadn’t even been able to interfere with Supervisor Park Minseong’s recitation. Attacking her directly? That would be impossible. I’d be blocked. 

To begin with, even Director Ho had only acted physically after invoking the three-warning rule. 

And to oppose Director Cheong—who held my contract—I would need even stronger justification. 

For example— 

Confirmation:

Whether the ■■ Annex Kindergarten Training Manual was provided to the Badger employee

To clearly establish that Director Cheong had been involved in the escalation of Supervisor Park Minseong’s contamination.

‘I can also obtain testimony from the person involved.’

There was definitely evidence of her involvement. If so, I could somehow push this into liability and disciplinary grounds— 

“Do you think you even have the authority to ask such a question?” 

……!

“The moment you joined Director Ho’s project, you lost the authority to discipline other employees. You’re no longer security personnel.”

Executive Director Cheong raised her hand and grabbed my head. 

As if restraining a dog.

“And even if I answered ‘yes,’ nothing would change.”

……

“One should recognize and respond to their own contamination first. Blaming a superior’s orders for one’s own shortcomings is not the proper conduct of an employee, wouldn’t you agree?” 

I looked at her.

“And yet, you’re quite fortunate.”

……

“Even if you return after being dragged through Director Ho’s pitiful project, the assigned security staff will still remain in their positions… Forever.” 

In my dulled mind, something that had only lingered as a faint imitation in an empty space suddenly surfaced clearly….

Rage.

A seething, boiling emotion.

[Oh, my friend….] 

At that moment—

“My apologies for interrupting such a wonderful plan, but unfortunately, I don’t think it will become reality….”

……!

“What do you mean by that?”

“That employee—I intend to treat them in the Fox Counseling Room.”

Director Ho Yuwon pointed at Supervisor Park Minseong.

“It seems you’ve exaggerated the mere two or three occasions when the Fox Counseling Room was empty into something far more serious, Executive Director Cheong. So I thought I’d make up for it like this.”

A smile spread across his face. 

“By restoring someone in a fully contaminated state faster than any re-education facility… I’d like to show, even if only a little, my loyalty to the company.”

Director Cheong and Director Ho stared at each other.

“I’ll take care of the incident where you ‘accidentally’ worsened this security employee’s condition and report it to the company myself. So there’s no need for you to worry too much.”

“Worry, you say.” 

“Of course. Since you were concerned about my performance, I should put in the effort as well.” 

Director Ho met her gaze with a smile. 

“If I’m offering a far more effective method of contamination recovery than the re-education zone, surely someone as devoted to the company as you wouldn’t oppose it without reason?” 

"......"

"......"

The next moment— 

Executive Director Cheong’s hand, which had been gripping Supervisor Park Minseong’s head, loosened. 

Thud. The Sprout-Class instructor collapsed onto the floor, over their own blood.

“Remember this.” 

Executive Director Cheong looked down at her hand, stained with blood from the security team. 

The next instant— 

The blood vanished without a trace. 

“I don’t like stray dogs that covet and meddle with what belongs to others. Even less so if they’re diseased.” 

“I see. Personally, I have no interest in whatever you may be thinking.” 

Director Ho’s smile didn’t change. 

Director Cheong watched him for a moment—then suddenly burst into laughter. 

“Let me offer you some advice. Don’t let others notice that you’re impatient. It only makes you look desperate.” 

"......"

“And desperation is a weakness.” 

Her nose wrinkled slightly in displeasure between her laughter, but soon returned to normal. 

She looked at me. 

“Don’t misunderstand. All alliances are merely products of circumstance. There’s no telling how long Director Ho’s choices will continue to suit your tastes….” 

……

“And remember this.” 

Director Cheong pulled out a sheet of paper from her coat. 

A once-folded document. 

Beneath the printed text, a name had been scrawled messily, pushing past the designated signature line…. 

Kim Soleum. 

My contract. 

“In my possession.”

As the labor contract swayed at her fingertips— 

“Let’s meet again when the project ends.” 

Executive Director Cheong disappeared. 

As if it were a lie. 

"......"

"......"

From the far corner, where he had been hiding out of sight, Baek Saheon collapsed weakly and muttered a curse. 

"Roe Deer."

I supported Supervisor Park Minseong. 

“Let’s head back for now.” 

***

The security captain—J3—regained consciousness two days later. 

Inside the recovery room of the Fox Counseling Room. 

Lying on the bed, he opened his eyes quietly, like a dried, lifeless tree. 

And beside him— 

Question: Current condition

I was sitting there. 

"......"

The security captain stared blankly at the sunlight filtering through the curtain. 

Then, as if to confirm something, he raised one hand—but soon lowered it, as though realizing the light wasn’t real. 

Then he looked at me, as if checking my condition. 

I stood there intact, black smoke drifting from me, staring at him through my gas mask. 

At that, his gaze softened slightly in relief—but his next question came out in a low, rough voice. 

“…Badger…?” 

Next room. 

I turned my gaze toward one side of the comfortable recovery room.

Long-term Recovery Room

(No Visitors Allowed)

Behind the partition, there was a door leading to a sealed chamber. The security captain’s eyes slowly followed… and settled on it. 

Under Recovery

Location: Fox Counseling Room

For a brief moment, his pupils narrowed.

After scanning his surroundings, his movements gradually stilled. Once again, his body lay quietly on the bed—an empty, worn shell, as if lifeless.

Then, slowly, he asked— 

About the result of what his contamination had caused. 

“Badger… his arms…?”

Searching for regeneration method

"......"

His next words came painfully slow.

“I see….”

…….

“…Is there… a phone…?”

Question: Reason 

“To contact the security team… Badger’s recovery costs… just put them on me….”

Because you’re on a lifetime contract anyway? 

No matter how much debt piles up, it makes no difference—though there’s no guarantee the company would even accept such a proposal.

And then it hit me again. 

That the security captain, too, had become a lifetime employee through a process similar to mine. 

Looking at him now— 

'.......'

In the end, I picked up a memo pad and pen from the table, quickly wrote something down, and showed it to him. 

Don’t worry.

I’m discussing it with Director Ho, so you don’t need to worry about the cost.

"......"

The security captain didn’t respond.

It doesn't mean I trust Director Ho blindly—It means I understand what he needs right now, so things should be fine.

“……What… do you need…?” 

I didn’t answer. 

Would it really be okay to tell the security captain about Segwang Special City right now? 

He had only just recovered. 

If I told him about a 'ghost story where no one could escape once sealed inside,' wouldn’t that become another trigger? 

And besides— 

‘The Nostalgia Candy that only worked on him for a moment.’

That thing—

Was a different version. 

Indulge in even more distant memories!

Nostalgia Can-dy, a farther-away flavor

<Fantasy Edition>

I had thought earlier that the candy pieces felt strangely larger than before—but after checking here, even the description on the wrapper was slightly different.

[As expected, the usual marketing tricks of a food company. A seasonal edition!] 

That was right. And on the back, it read: “Contains ■■ 300%.” 

‘Three times…?’

Judging by the phrase farther-away….

‘Thirty years?’

Originally, Nostalgia Candy recalled the peak state from within the past ten years—so this guess wasn’t far off.

Then that meant— 

—The possibility that the security captain’s contamination hadn’t lasted ten years, but something closer to thirty.

To the point that using the original Nostalgia Candy would have had no effect at all. 

'......'

In the end, I deflected slightly and gave a different answer. 

Director Ho is trying to transfer both of you entirely into his project team.

I also wanted to reassure him.

‘At least then, we won’t have to get entangled with Director Cheong again.’

But—

“…That won’t… work……. At least… for me…?”

…….

A thought crossed my mind.

What if all lifetime employees in the security team had received Director Cheong’s labor contracts?

“I hope… the Badger… can… at least… make it……. ”

The security captain rolled his eyes again, looking toward the partition.

Toward the sealed room beyond it.

……

I’m sorry.

“.....?"

It’s because I asked for your help that the two of you got caught up in this. I’m sorry.

“No…….”

I lowered my head and apologized.

“The one who should be sorry… is me….”

When I didn’t respond, the security captain fell silent for a moment—then, as if changing the subject, spoke slowly.

“About that… thing I asked you to look into……. ”

Ah.

Request: Director Ho’s background

Right.

Before entering the Bride Training ghost story, I had asked the two security team members to look into it….

How Ho Yuwon had lived within Daydream Inc.

And his recent activities.

“Can I… tell you now….?”

…….

I nodded.

And so, belatedly, I heard about Director Ho’s past from the security captain.

How Ho Yuwon had lived within the company.

“Director Ho… apparently transferred to headquarters four years ago… suddenly, as a Development Director……. No one knew beforehand…. Before that, there were only rumors… that he was at a branch of Daydream Inc….”

A branch?

Come to think of it, I remembered that other Disaster Management Bureau spy employees—aside from me—had also been assigned to branches.

‘I wondered why it had to be branches.’

There might be some connection between Daydream Inc.’s branches and Ho Yuwon.I should remember that….

“They say… rather than the research team… he focuses more on the Field Exploration Team… so he has more people on his side……. And that Team A is completely aligned with him….”

Some of it I already knew.

And then—

It moved on to recent developments.

“Um… there were also rumors about the project team……. ”

The project team.

“They say… there haven’t been any notable results… so the pressure from above is pretty strong.”

…!!

“They said… something has to come out this year… I overheard the administration team talking about it…. ”

…….

“Um… is that… not enough…?”

No.

Thank you. Really.

I meant it.

Because I had realized something clearly.

‘Ho Yuwon is pushing himself.’

Now that the Segwang Special City exploration was becoming real, he was throwing everything he had into it.

And he probably didn’t even think of it as overexertion. If he could find what he wanted in Segwang Special City, he was prepared to endure anything.

But that wouldn’t work for me.

'......'

[Mr. Roe Deer, you seem deep in thought…. Have you made a new decision?] 

Yes. 

[Oh!] 

And the next day—

At the Fox Counseling Room, an early meeting regarding the Segwang Special City Exploration Project was held.

“I thought we’d need some time to introduce the new member, so I prepared this!”

But at the table, a deathly silence flowed.

Everyone already knew each other—and the “new member” was sprawled in a chair, silently staring with tense eyes at Baek Saheon, who wore a goat mask.

Baek Saheon desperately avoided the gaze, and the security captain slowly turned his eyes toward the table. Only Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae waved brightly.

It was then that someone who couldn’t possibly sit at this table was mentioned….

“It’s an unusual way to meet, but… nice to see you, Minseong….”

Recommendation: Adjust form of address

"...!"

A bitter smile appeared on Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s face.

“…Right. You were on duty with ‘Badger,’ weren’t you.”

I remembered.

—Then Park Min—

—Call me Badger!

Supervisor Park Minseong had been so contaminated that he couldn’t even be called by his real name. But he had slowly recovered—enough to smile and respond when Assistant Manager Eun Haje called him “Minseong.”

That had only been a few days ago.

And now, as if it were a lie, he had deteriorated this far again.

To a state beyond saving—completely overtaken by contamination.

—…Right. So that’s how it is….

When they first heard the news, Section Chief Lee Jaheon and Assistant Manager Eun Haje had both looked deeply troubled….

“Director, how is Badger’s recovery speed?”

“He’s recovering, but not to the state you’re hoping for. It’ll likely take at least several weeks.”

Silence fell again, but Section Chief Lee Jaheon calmly continued.

“I see. Please inform us of the condition of his arms.”

“The arms… the severed ends have simply healed over bluntly.”

"...!"

Right.

I had done everything I could to stop the bleeding. And I had tried to use a C-grade potion, but—

“He’s been completely contaminated by a darkness that extracts dream essence stronger than C-grade… so unless we obtain a higher-grade potion, it’ll be difficult.”

In other words, impossible.

But—

Director Ho smiled faintly.

“However, there is a method that could restore him as soon as tomorrow.”

"......"

“Does that method involve entering Segwang Special City?”

“Yes!”

That was right.

If we entered Segwang Special City, the ‘■■ Annex Kindergarten’ would also be cut off from external influence—which meant Supervisor Park Minseong had a high chance of momentarily recovering from the contamination.

Just like me, he would regain his sanity—and we could use potions.

Section Chief Lee Jaheon looked at Director Ho with piercing eyes.

“Are you inducing employee entry to accelerate the exploration ahead of schedule?” 

“Isn’t that obvious?” 

…!

“I want the exploration to progress as much as possible. So… do you perhaps dislike me?”

Director Ho’s gaze swept over Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had stood up, and Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae, who stared at him without blinking—his expression utterly calm.

“In truth, I didn’t do anything wrong in this situation involving Director Cheong. I merely assisted you all when you wanted to infiltrate the annex for equipment….”

“......"

“Perhaps the one you should resent… is someone else.” 

And he smiled brightly. 

“But I understand. Resentment tends to flow toward what’s easier, what’s closer. Isn’t that right? You’re free to resent me if you like. After all, there’s only one thing I want….” 

To find what he wanted in Segwang Special City. 

“That’s all.” 

……

But I thought differently. 

‘We need to stabilize this project.’

Only then could we prevent the security team—and myself—from falling back into Director Cheong’s hands when this project ended.

‘That contract.’

At least until I found a way to take it back.

To do that, we needed something.

‘Results.’

In this Segwang Special City exploration, we had to bring back 'results.'

Something that would satisfy Daydream Inc.

And without revealing too much about Segwang Special City itself, there was actually a simple kind of progress the company would accept.

Additional equipment recommendation for this exploration:

Dream Essence Extractor

“ ...! "

At the very least, we should check whether extraction was possible.

And so—

Before long, the exploration team—now including J3 and Supervisor Park Minseong as new members—entered Segwang Special City.

Carrying a Dream Essence Extractor.

 

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