Chapter 5 Part 5: New Employee Recruitment

From. Son.

Mother, Father, how are you?

I’m doing well. (Well, I was doing well……)

The reason I’m writing this letter so suddenly is… I got a job. (At a மோசமான company.)

To my parents who raised and cared for me all this time, your eldest son, Park Yeon-jung.

Has finally become a respectable man who plays a role in society.

You must be happy………….

…Ah, the introduction got too long.

I have to go now.

Both of you, please take care of your health, and with this last farewell, I… will try to live my life to the fullest from now on.

P.S……………Please save me.

Park Yeon-jung, a job seeker who had been in the job market for several years.

He finally!

Overcomes the huge hurdle of employment.

Now he is a full-fledged member of society.

And Park Yeon-jung’s first impression as a member of society?

‘F*ck!’

Is he so happy that the curse word just came out naturally?

[I would like to hear how you feel about becoming a regular employee. New employee Park Yeon-jung.]

That ‘feeling’ he asks about again.

How do I feel?

I barely managed to stop myself from cursing. (…………Come to think of it, I already did earlier?)

…Anyway.

This can’t go on.

The original plan of escaping from the interview room is out the window.

Squeeze.

I covered my head with both hands.

I have to think.

No, I have to come up with something!

Another way to escape from here.

Move!

My neuron army!

<Exploration Record 15th.>

Employee Kang Hoon escaped from the interview room in the same way as written in the manual.

No.

There must be another way!

<Exploration Record 1■th.>

Employee Kim ■■ did ■■ to the interviewer

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

There are gaps in my memory.

I can’t…remember.

More than that.

Really.

…..

Was there really another way to escape besides the interview room?

It makes me doubt myself.

The previous contents that I had been recalling were distorted.

In a situation where I felt like I would lose my mind at any moment.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung.]

“!!”

My frozen gaze turned to the speaker.

The announcement calls me in a very stable tone.

I was more nervous than ever, and I even held my breath.

Until the next announcement was heard.

My time was as good as stopped.

[Could it be…………are you still worried about the remaining applicants?]

What?

No.

Of course not.

As if I would have time to think about other people’s lives when I’m about to die.

[You are truly an altruistic person. A type of human that is rare in this day and age.]

…… Thank you for misunderstanding me like that.

[To commemorate Employee Park Yeon-jung becoming a regular employee of our company, we will allow you to say goodbye to them.]

Thud!

The lights went out again this time.

Not all the lights.

All the lights except for the spot where Park Yeon-jung was standing went out.

Thud!

When the lights came back on.

“……Wh, where are we.”

“We, we’re back where we started!”

“We’re alive! We’re alive!”

Pale faces as if a screw was loose somewhere.

Everyone except Park Yeon-jung must have been dragged to the interview room and interviewed.

‘Six people?’

The number of people has decreased.

There should have been 12 people besides Park Yeon-jung himself, but the number was halved.

Which means.

They died.

It’s obvious without looking.

The remaining six people who are not here must be cold corpses in the interview room.

I quickly checked the condition of those who had been with me for a short time.

The horn-rimmed glasses woman was sweating profusely, and the female student I saved earlier and her friend were also sitting on the floor, terrified.

Their conditions all didn’t look good.

But, they are still alive.

The people gathered here seemed to not know why they were back here, but since they had been here once, some of them sighed in relief.

Crackle-

The announcement’s lively voice is heard again.

[Applicants! I’m sorry to have called you out during the interview. But, now! It’s a really joyous occasion, so I committed a little discourtesy.]

Thud!

A few more lights were added and shone brightly on where Park Yeon-jung was standing.

[It’s the happy news that applicant Park Yeon-jung has become a ‘regular employee’ after a meeting of the executives!]

[Now! Everyone, applause!!]

[Congratulate him! Bless him! Look forward to his future!]

Clap clap clap clap clap

Clap clap clap clap clap.

An excessive overreaction that was different from before.

And even mysterious bouquets flying from around.

“A regular employee…does that mean that person can get out of here?”

“Did he use us?!”

“Then……………all the actions that helped us until now were for this. F*ck! I knew it!”

What?

You misunderstand it like that?

It’s not that I don’t understand their reaction.

They are also humans who are quite frightened.

Maybe if I was in the opposite situation, I would have done the same.

But.

Understanding is not a cheat key that makes everything acceptable.

I frowned without realizing it.

The horn-rimmed glasses woman, who had been quietly watching the situation, saw the overheated situation and said.

“Everyone, calm down.

The moment she tried to calm them down belatedly.

[…Really. Didn’t I just, say? To clap.]

Thud!

The lights went out.

To be precise, the lights that illuminated the three people who had raised their voices at Park Yeon-jung went out at the same time.

“…Wh, what……!”

“Wa, wait!”

Splat!

An unpleasant bursting sound was heard at the same time the lights went out.

While sensing that it was an unusual sound, no one screamed.

Maybe.

It was probably to avoid further provoking Mr. Announcement.

It was as if the current situation of not screaming was ingrained in their bodies.

Crackle-

He spoke again.

[…………Sigh. Why can’t humans be happy for other people’s happiness.]

It was a voice that truly sounded disappointed.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung. Unlike your thoughts, it seems that some people were not suitable for our company.]

[But don’t be too discouraged. You’re just a human who trusts others too much.]

The moment I saw the three people who died before my eyes just because they were a nuisance.

I realized once again that the place I was in was a ghost story.

And.

My celebration time is not over yet.

[The other applicants, you’re not like those people who are ‘envious and jealous’ of others, right?]

[You’ll congratulate your colleague on becoming a regular employee, right?]

The horn-rimmed glasses woman looked at me at the same time the announcement ended, after witnessing the tragedy that happened right next to her.

Her pale face.

There was desperation in her eyes.

…Right.

It’s not over yet.

There’s still a chance.

I nodded very slowly at the horn-rimmed glasses woman.

At my sign.

Clap!

The horn-rimmed glasses woman started clapping without any hesitation.

“Congratulations, Mr. Park Yeon-jung. Congratulations!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The sound of applause began to spread.

She approached the two female students who were collapsed on the floor and জোর করে raised them up.

And shouted.

“You two should congratulate him too!”

“…….”

“Hurry!”

Her lips were smiling, but there was an unknown desperation in her eyes.

…Clap.

At her look, the short-haired female student named Minji weakly clapped her trembling hands together.

“Co, congratulations, congratulations. Mister.”

The other female student, Hye-sun, who was watching her friend’s actions, met my eyes between her swollen eyelids.

I also forced a faint smile.

‘That’s how you survive.’

I don’t know if my lip-reading was conveyed well.

Clap.

‘…Good.’

Fortunately, the last female student also started clapping with difficulty.

Is this enough?

It has to be.

Everyone, including Park Yeon-jung, waited with bated breath for the next announcement.

[…………Sob.]

A sob from the speaker.

Freeze!

Everyone froze at the sound and swallowed their saliva.

[Indeed…………The sight of people sincerely congratulating each other is the most beautiful thing, I think.]

[Don’t you think so! Employee Park Yeon-jung!]

“Yes, I agree.”

I couldn’t think of a better answer.

If I added more unnecessary words here.

I have no idea what will happen to these three people in front of me.

I was afraid that someone would die because of me.

‘How can I………….

Escape from here?

Is it even possible to escape?

Is it already…………over………………’

Countless thoughts messed up my head.

I wished that the irritating noise in my ears would never be heard again.

Crackle-

Damn it.

[Then, since the farewell greetings are over.]

[Now, the remaining three applicants must finish what they were doing.]

!!

No.

With this pattern, they will be dragged back to the interview room.

At this rate, these three people will surely die.

It’s confusing…

Three people will die.

So what? They’re strangers?

People will die!

Do you want to pretend to be a protagonist?

You murderer!

I’ve done enough. I’ve done enough, you idiot!

“Wa, wait a minute!”

I shouted without realizing it.

The lights on those three people……………haven’t gone out yet.

Fortunately, the announcement seemed to be focusing on my voice.

[…………This is the second time.]

Chilling.

My spine tingles.

Second time?

This is definitely…’a warning’.

A warning sign from the guy who has been friendly to me until now.

There is no next time.

My lips are trembling.

My thoughts are frozen, and my ability to organize my thoughts properly is impaired.

I closed my eyes tightly.

And when I opened my mouth again, swallowing dry saliva endlessly.

“The, the remaining…………applicants, how about…scheduling an additional interview date for them, later?”

….Crazy b*stard.

“There were a lot of things going on today….”

The bullsh*t doesn’t stop.

“……Still. It’s too soon for these people to be eliminated here….”

Just repeating the same thing as before.

“Don’t you…think so?”

[······.]

With these words, I smiled stupidly.

I dropped my stiff face to the floor.

It’s over.

I thought so.

My words just now were obviously forced.

It was just a monologue to buy time.

We’re all going to die here.

Clap.

Huh?

Clap clap clap.

Did I finally go crazy?

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!

The artificial applause from the speaker.

At first, I thought I misheard.

That persuasion that wouldn’t work anywhere, did it really work?

[Even to the point of sacrificing himself until the end. That part of Employee Park Yeon-jung that thinks of others!]

[You pass! You pass! Employee Park Yeon-jung, you are the very model of the talent this company has been looking for!]

It really, worked?

[As Employee Park Yeon-jung said, the interview for the remaining three people will be postponed to the next day.]

[When the next interview date is set, we will see you again then.]

The white glove, which had been holding the banner until just now, grabbed the doorknob of the library entrance.

Creak.

With an eerie sound.

The glove standing still next to it, as if indicating the way out.

The three people looked at the wide-open entrance they had been waiting for, but no one took a step forward.

The horn-rimmed glasses woman met my eyes several times, but this time I couldn’t give her a ready answer either.

I wasn’t sure either.

The horn-rimmed glasses woman stared at the dark entrance for a while.

Bow.

She bowed deeply towards me.

And that was the last I saw of her.

The horn-rimmed glasses woman walked briskly and passed through the entrance first.

The two female students, who were just staring blankly at it, also looked at each other.

Then, following the horn-rimmed glasses woman, they slowly walked towards the entrance hesitantly.

Everyone passed through the entrance.

…Everyone left, leaving only me behind.

The white glove, I don’t know where it got it from.

It was holding a handkerchief and pretending to wipe away tears.

I quietly held my breath until the guy continued his next reaction.

Crackle-

He’s really something.

.Sigh.]

A deep sigh.

A suffocating atmosphere where even swallowing saliva seemed to be disallowed.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung……Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day!]

Huh?

Why is he suddenly bursting out like this?

Hearing it with the crappy sound quality.

It felt even more like the madness of the speaker was coming through.

Being left alone, I was somewhat prepared for death, but I was reminded once again that a ghost story is truly a place where you can’t know what will happen next.

Thud!

The lights went out.

When I was lost in the thought that I was finally going to die.

Thud!

When the lights came back on and illuminated me.

In front of my eyes was.

Not a gallows.

On the contrary, an elaborately prepared table setting was waiting for me.

[I sincerely congratulate you on joining our company! Employee Park Yeon-jung!]

Excessive to the point of being suffocating, this kindness.

“…Th, thank you.”

I blurted out a thank you without realizing it, but I still didn’t understand the situation.

Crackle-

After that, a tearing sound was heard.

[Employee Park Yeon■! To tell you the truth, I didn’t need any of the other ■■ applicants.]

[Only •What?

ᅵshin! I’ve had my eye on you since the ■■beginning.]

Why someone like me?

I’m just a person who fits the description of an ordinary ‘job seeker H’.

But at my ‘I don’t know anything’ face, Mr. Announcement kindly.

He explained the reason why he chose me.

The sound quality returned to normal just for this moment.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung! Let’s be honest. You know, don’t you? About me…………Ah, should I have said ‘us’?]

No way.

It can’t be.

It won’t be.

There’s no way.

I prayed that the intention of his words was not that direction.

Even if I showed a little bit, there’s no way that guy was an intelligent being capable of that level of inference.

It’s an F-grade ghost story, right?

Also, there was no mention of such an intelligent being on the site in the first place.

No matter what happens now, I have to deny it.

“What are you….

[No lying.]

“!!”

He suddenly cut into my words.

[…………Well, well.]

[I thought it was strange. From the moment you filled out our company’s resume. To the way you wholeheartedly encouraged others to fill out the resume.]

[As if. You knew what would happen next if you didn’t fill out the resume.]

It was from the beginning.

[Employee Park Yeon-jung…I’ll ask you one more time.]

The speaker’s noise gets worse.

[Let’s be honest.]

[You, you know ……………us, don’t you?]

The worst route, even worse than death.

To the ghost story.

My identity has been revealed.