Chapter 4: Not Even in My Dreams
fo5BThere’s a phrase that says life is the C (Choice) between B (Birth) and D (Death).GWVo
bScAnd it’s true.5P0BG
ytfABecause the choice I made when I entered this place was complete garbage.vW1IUc
q4yi“Ah, employee Jeong. Did everything go well in Human Resources?”CYIYbr
Pl5n7pkAs soon as I left Human Resources, I immediately took the elevator.YXBgol
L6bD5vWhen I returned to the office feeling as though all the energy had been drained from my body, Manager Myeon stared at me with his seven faces.a61cPO
KW0wAnd there was only one answer I could give him.BSZGQ
femVrt“…Yes. I don’t think I’m going to quit.”w0K1
kI8ZcW“Oh, did something happen?”zsnyD
hCBKII“It seems there was a mistake on the hospital’s part. They said it’s not such a serious condition after all.”tvbOd8
0jfGhBMaybe because it was the correct answer, Manager Myeon didn’t continue asking about the call.j3LMO
FudPerhaps they were simply short on staff here.JqADQVc
G7tU“I see. What a relief, truly a relief. We just hired a new employee, and it would have been a shame if you quit on your very first day.”3eSUR
HWrrW99It had just seemed to me like the fifth face licked its lips.PfL
0Wm7lfBut surely that was just my imagination.a5iv
KL5GoRSWhen I responded with an awkward smile, Manager Myeon approached and patted me on the shoulder.EkS
wt3bT“It must have been quite a shocking day for you, so for today, finish up here and go home. It seems the others will still take a while to return, so I’ll introduce you to the rest of the team tomorrow morning. And starting tomorrow afternoon, we’ll begin the real training.”pMRt8p
Rb0Vadg“Go home…?”e95x
RkLtW7I carefully looked around while leaving the sentence unfinished.YHginJ
tcbbjsBeyond the open office door, I could vaguely see the hallway I had passed through earlier.LxVm7Bi
8jX“Don’t tell me there’s another problem?”21koJg
B5WmP9“N-no, it’s not that. Do I simply leave through there?”wsF
uBPManager Myeon nodded.dSYp
PbuHe was definitely holding back laughter.oVlF0j
fL5nNAs though he were watching a completely lost rookie who didn’t know how work functioned.FEdG
5ThI decided not to directly ask that thing how exactly “leaving work” functioned.ISx4
LJHEven so, this was at least a place where something called an “exit” existed.bASo
9euNsCjIt truly was fortunate that I hadn’t said in front of the baby monster that I wanted to quit.CG1nH
UxTIf I had spoken carelessly at that moment, that enormous red tongue would have tasted my flesh, and I never would have been able to leave this place.zjDj7
J7hNh— I’m Jeong Haeil, the new employee who just joined Extraction Team 1. I came to introduce myself. I hope we get along well.WVeZu
Pk11It wasn’t a bad improvisation.24X
QiuE2Being seen as an excessively polite employee was a hundred times better than losing my life.CACr
w0NRThe baby monster responded irritably that something like that could be confirmed from its own office, and I maintained my composure as best I could before escaping Human Resources unharmed.2Ek
UNTOIt was a little clumsy, but even that baby monster didn’t eat a hardworking rookie just because his face looked a little pale.Pyw
VsQShMAs for Lee Jihyun…ivY
1SBX6l‘Forget it. Don’t think about that and get out of here.’Xuk8T5
mQ40SL5I stood up from my seat, picked up my bag as naturally as possible, and headed toward the office door.vYq6v0c
71uRrL“Then, as you said, I’ll be leaving for today.”XcQ
xFpYRfUManager Myeon chose one of his kindest faces to smile at me.l6S3pHI
tpZh7T“Very well. You worked hard today, employee Jeong.”e3DNm
7DNJI bowed my head in farewell and headed toward the emergency exit at the end of the hallway.C1B
b7PVLfJFor some reason, I didn’t want to use the elevator I had taken to go to Human Resources again.sWwmw
0hSk2It had been a day full of absurd situations.IPWEKH
7NQBut even so, I managed to endure an entire day.lq1
owiUJFirst, let’s leave the company.8Rjgn
MegyLet’s go home and rest.sv4CuT
XgJZIFThinking only about that, I opened the door.GEiB
RPKClick—yZE
wTIUmHWCold air immediately rushed in.SYRfor
ky4mFAnd what appeared before me was unfortunately, my room.IUKBoWs
gUmA small, cramped but tidy studio apartment.YDPWu6
jW7gfThe clothes and bed were still perfectly arranged.wg8r
UNhAside from the deep darkness beyond the window, it was exactly the same room I had been in this morning.ET8j0
2VmwkpzJust in case, I carefully closed the door.2s8j4
e4yjAnd opened it again.e3J4
1ykMy room again.yq87
u4GGdI closed it and opened it again.9gDiS9d
k1lDnMy room.kgMl7
vIl07My room.zSkKR4B
Js9AMy room again.AhL0o7
jxLtmDI stared at that scene for several seconds, as though it had been sewn into place with a needle.yX3L
eIyxGOn top of the shoe cabinet by the entrance sat the book I had left reading last night.Rx9rA
H1jVAnd the goldfish inside the aquarium opened and closed its mouth as always.LGoZsE
gP56eT8Well, they had said they would come pick me up when it was time to go to work.3qXch
E77TI guess that made sense.mia
zthhBut.MuGZrD8
TmYaCould I really call this “leaving work”?jdhb
8jE1Xi4— Can we leave? Really? No…!wpn
zZUPI sensed malice and mockery organized at an institutional level.VON
SZjArTxQuit?Fk2RX4
JshCLeave work?viR
ctTJMMWas it even possible to leave this building from the beginning?wb7tI7
vqsNo.MOR3
bBqDHnIt wasn’t.ENgj
eAUII closed the door and pressed my hand against my forehead.an2ky6k
Ad9nOiSMy forehead was warm.fpQ
8x20eHBut my hands were freezing cold.HNWI9H
2Y9sbdWas I really going insane?BqZ52Cn
n5Z53“Employee Jeong.”ab2M
ZzTI flinched and violently turned my head.FZZz0U
XzafSgwI didn’t know when he had followed me, but Manager Myeon was standing several steps behind me.Pi3hK3
9FoqDqHis seven faces wore expressions of satisfaction, as though they had finally seen my true feelings.5LICcY
eLjjr7One laughed.DW7Zx
KPUAnother frowned.7jFezcS
BXGc2e3Another yawned.naohb
rcIyszAnd then one of them, the one with the most innocent expression of all, spoke kindly.ZAwiOoJ
5PbI1“Since you are a valuable talent, I made a special arrangement to improve your work efficiency. So you no longer have to worry about coming to or leaving work.”qIcvb2F
04IDManager Myeon brought his kind face closer and smiled at me once again before elegantly turning around and heading back toward the office.LVlEye9
EGwjAs a working adult, I no longer had any choice but to accept it.Sokru
7PNaNuI had already arrived home.eJVmJ
RlBvIn a way I could not escape from.mJ1K
IKTJPqS***b6itjjH
EJIphNkIt’s a new morning.MA6ggAa
bh4e6F9A quiet awakening, without sunlight or alarms.Kvv
sXK5QJiI pushed aside the blanket and lowered my feet to the floor.939
qbLZhLeaving the warmth of the bed is never easy, but this time it was difficult for a different reason.n7qcHB
g5abVmgEven so, I forced myself to get up, open the cabinet, and take out the bag of cereal I had left there two days ago.62KUeOS
bJ2rAQjThe milk seemed so old that I couldn’t even remember when I bought it, but at least the smell was still normal.4osC4
lnUD“…Haaap.”DXWHx
GYNLi5I scooped up a spoonful of cereal and brought it to my mouth.KF8g
YpFCrunch, crunch.Zx45P
4pgNormal sensations.1wnp
NrXxSweet, crunchy, and slightly rough as it went down my throat.9VPp
8789xbCThe kinds of sounds that belong in a place where a person lives.PFt
UO2zpLike remnants of a routine that still hasn’t collapsed.O6SQy
bH9JRI hadn’t collapsed either.pGdRnf
B23jHoI got up normally, I was eating cereal, and soon I would go to work.MwMO
Qxq0kSomehow, I would survive inside that organization and get something out of it.Xeu
0G4DEjDing.KfwaVNs
PYb7j6A notification appeared on the black phone screen.AeiBeHq
MCi9The first was a deposit of three million won from Citizens Bank, labeled as a welcome bonus and work support.SrB
koJVSgThe second was a notification indicating that points had been added to an internal company store application that I didn’t remember ever installing.UG8UH
hAQqLBut.0XIJS
bilkB6xWhere exactly was I supposed to use money or points like those?45H
54t“Well, I’d better take a shower.”U7Bdo
SOGGnI forced my voice while imitating Manager Myeon just to make myself speak.qaZ
4zSMgvFrom experience, I knew that if I didn’t mutter something even while alone, I would eventually lose my mind.qgDsK
bv9I opened the bathroom door, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and quickly rinsed my body with water.N5y
wU2Q0qThe face reflected in the mirror looked paler than yesterday.kplF6hN
FHfDThe dark circles under my eyes also seemed deeper.C3e1v
tUeUQi9“I’m fine.”fm3JJ
pvNKBhEven while saying it, my voice trembled slightly.WXJ
YDgIPI finished drying my face with the towel and put on my pants and shirt.
Then, absentmindedly, I opened the curtains.twbeD
TGEPcIt felt as though icy water filled my lungs.8rmUh
hI0kg‘I forgot.’kiH
4LO3ZYOutside the window, there was still nothing but empty darkness.mO8H
mxcNo light.gcCf
wm12No sound.x3qZ
tqONo outlines.70e
iaZdFVIt wasn’t night.WMK7sAe
HGnokbIt wasn’t even darkness.s8zN
mwxig7DIt was something nonexistent.Y16a6uc
lCnA void where everything seemed to have come undone.SnzaC
CUlhSlowly, with extreme care, I closed the curtains again.hAEo3
fx6QulCSince no one was watching me, my fingers trembled freely.0eC
YI0Today’s mental escape had failed.fZF
V4ulZpThe fact that my room was behind the company’s door and that nothing existed outside the window.HCZBRWe
2TY4AThis entire world seemed to be screaming at me that I had no choice.p66mX5
Pt3dKThen I saw something beneath the window, on top of the desk.JAYQ
RVABBeside my work clothes, the employee ID badge had been carefully placed there, as though someone had deliberately left it.0Qbsj
9rzHad I left it there myself?SimtVL5
U9ElZEmployee Jeong Haeil1rgdP
Jp3Limited Company Where the Dead End Up with Ghosts | Extraction Team 18zsUC1
X1V3I slowly picked up the ID badge.Rju
0npuMy name and department were engraved with an almost funerary clarity, like an epitaph.CkLC
1Q3w“Limited Company… Where the Dead End Up with Ghosts.”Yi4w
UebXwxWith my lips closed, I murmured those words to myself, as though trying to hypnotize myself.Whf1
nfd5I took one step toward the entrance.IpFUoSs
psEixIf there truly was nowhere to escape to and no time to do so then I had no choice but to enter.Tj9hT
cXqHmI silently turned the doorknob.3c6X
TRPurClick.u5pq41S
Ic4G2When I opened the door, the company’s fluorescent lights enveloped my face.2rR
1uNb5UThe faint smell of dust, the scent of detergent spreading through the hallway, and the cold air of a perfectly organized office space.eEH
WKaJuDJust as I expected, beyond the door I had closed after leaving work last night, the same company hallway still stretched out.wQOU67f
2U6DEhI took exactly one step.xkUq2
f4cMQKeAnd at that instant, as though the entire world had been waiting for me, the fluorescent lights began turning on one by one.WOZu
LrA97TChk, chk, chk—c4Q3w8
Now5EOThe electric buzzing accompanied the gradual lighting of the hallway, like a kind welcome preparing my place.jMHnE
8Pd2Was I already adapting to this grotesque office?ovErI4i
F2ed0btOr perhaps I was degrading?XMVT0Ax
ppzAMJGOr maybe, in order to say that someone has “adapted” to a company like this, every difference between the two first has to disappear?89WfkGt
9mwI continued walking straight toward the Extraction Team 1 office.gQOd
pOPThe doorknob was warm, as though someone had just touched it.xc8
vccT08mWhen the door softly opened, the exact same office space as yesterday appeared.HvRQ4
YkatuManager Myeon was already sitting down writing something.fHH2D
5D8sOne of his seven faces slowly turned toward me and lifted the corners of its lips.DHPbDfq
2bc20kR“Very good morning, Mr. Haeil.”hvsq8h
9NIlNI also put on the mask more naturally than yesterday before responding.OGTb8
NVyEQ4f“Good morning, Manager Myeon.”uTkZiLy
cfaI bowed my head and walked toward my desk.Zlt
Q8Hy9lEIt had begun.YLn
1HqA routine I never chose.zYHq
QNkA working life where no alternatives remained.6I5WW
6nZhouAMaybe, if I tried hard enough, I could survive one more day.tLOi8
IYvmt“Assistant Manager Son just went to the break room. It seems he was excited because a new employee joined, so wait a moment. I’ll introduce him to you when he returns.”ys4mDW0
ecS2C“Yes. Understood.”dXTmP
LZPhj5As I set my bag on the desk and slowly regained my breathing, the sound of someone coming out of the break room was heard.OjwV3Q
iwiThud.uOFJn
ExffHThe first step was heavy and long.MdJm3
6k8NFcoThud.fZtr6x
ID23ZThud.lWq2L4
STmYThud.4NU
df7FAfter those slow footsteps, the office door opened.Jd1pc2D
TMi9tNNaturally, I lifted my head.G9n
rB7And I saw him.PWgh2H
q9CvU5He was a large-built man.3tO
CoTrJHe wore a simple black suit and an immaculate red tie.oTMm
GkQr2The creases in his pants were sharply pressed, his shoes slightly shiny, and he carried a mug in his hand.imucz4w
pjEThe image of a completely ordinary office worker.HBS
JsEExcept for one single thing.GKAR
5N8The head on his shoulders.l0aE
ZLj4Ihr“Assistant Manager Son, this is employee Jeong Haeil. Introduce yourselves.”GYWQeA
DoxAssistant Manager Son.94bVg
TekCCVA word was missing.hggFn
uF6Because in reality, it was “Assistant Manager Hand.”8kTH
p9TEHis head was literally a hand.OC6IX
BuCluMore precisely, an enormous fist.WeF
A8qA gigantic pale-skinned hand was attached directly to his shoulders without a neck, clenched like the sturdy fist of a boxer.LV4x
N6uIt had no ears, eyes, or nose.oc8
epETOnly five bent fingers rising like a deformed crown.NX2xkCL
qzn46And that hand slowly began to move.h4tj1F
N8NThe thumb and index finger gently separated before coming together again.xWFbd1W
9AGZMJOThen the middle finger opened before closing once more.qebCMg9
AJ9It looked like a greeting.WELU6
TK8A handshake.RVY
2KPqVaOr perhaps the motion right before strangling someone.spnUwP
QaLJ3“Ah, so you’re the rookie?”aUk
FAnThe hairs on the back of my neck stood up.Q67T
cr8I9eThe voice came from his head.0hSgchE
Pzh92NNo rather, it was embedded directly into my mind.stuJwyD
vAIThat voice didn’t enter through my ears.b9J8
hBEDixwIt was as though it crushed and burst something between my eardrums and brain before being forced inside me.SnsKL
OZ17rt8Every time he pronounced a syllable, the fingers of that fist twisted in place of lips.f8PRVug
tV3d“Wow, a new employee finally joined. Call me Assistant Manager Son. I hope we get along well.”uTZ
AtkW4As he approached, the fist on top of his head slowly began to open.6nLWa
RxgqAs though politely offering a handshake.oCbtqM
eJ3He wasn’t extending a hand.TQfti
jMhXAkThat entire enormous head was what pointed toward me.Ozi0fO5
MXaVE“How about a handshake?”oczHxP
bk3Erasing the bewildered expression from my face, I extended my right hand.rbgnh
xZuKBecause I felt that the hand embedded in his head could clench into a fist and smash into my face at any moment.ReY
c0iy“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Jeong Haeil.”vvX4wk9
GTLprThe instant our palms touched, a chill ran through my body because of the abnormal warmth of that hand.sBMq0
y0PM3BAnd then came an absolutely inhuman pressure.PbaVqs3
zBE3Creeeak—F1VO
VufxA pain as though steel pincers were crushing my entire hand.tunehx7
990The strength he applied simply by shaking hands was in a completely different category from mine.HbSf
bzHwQ“You’ve got a tougher hand than I expected. Looks like you trained something, huh?”VDmzDWI
iCMPMZWWithout noticing my condition, Assistant Manager Son let out a loud laugh and lightly smacked my back.LHyI86
htoTap!gPc2y
hxNY0SzFor him, it was probably just a friendly pat.FEz
kxtTcFiBut for me, it was enough of an impact to force all the air out of my lungs at once.KHzd9I6
D8HpTkC“Guhk…!”qbjJk
gvxwSomething cracked inside my body.PaM
6CPMaybe no bones were broken.lKxcGBE
nssBut my brain was already slowly pulling down the emergency shutters in order to survive.0uGu45n
sdJZThinking I could endure an entire day here had been pure arrogance.xIhc7nT
tgtt‘…Damn monsters.’3EO7tPD
RcbVfThe last image I saw before collapsing was Assistant Manager Son’s enormous fist-shaped head tilting from side to side.RYF
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