I held back a sigh as I looked around the conference room.
Well, even if I did sigh, my mask would block it and only black smoke would come out.
‘I didn’t expect Director Ho to go this far.’
– This was a prototype piece of equipment, but I’m glad we get to try it like this!
He had just slipped me actual Security Team gear.
A so-called ‘reverse-side suit’.
Over the suit, a monster that looks like you appears.
That’s what was written in the developer’s notes included with the suit, which resembled combat gear from a game.
As for why the security team was developing a suit that lets a person pretend to be a monster, I desperately avoided asking and chose to ignore it.
‘Probably for some project.’
Anyway, I didn’t know the exact mechanics, but I’d heard about the features.
‘Supposedly, it manifests differently for each person.’
And in my case, it meant lugging around a pile of horns on my head.
My look was like… a monstrous being bursting out, yet forcibly crammed into a human suit.
‘Hmm.’
I made sure not to scratch my head by accident.
‘It feels strangely reminiscent of my original mask…’
Remembering the wooden antler mask that had earned me the nickname ‘Roe Deer’, I felt oddly nostalgic.
“Um, I’ll explain how to enter Cheerful Theme Park.”
Meanwhile, the briefing was nearing its end.
Entry method, huh.
‘I need to go to the theme park section with the blue dragon mascot.’
The only problem was whether that place would be chosen for the board this time, but I was strangely confident.
It was a kind of inductive certainty, gained from my experience with ghost stories up to now.
‘It’ll… probably call me.’
Like a certain TV-headed talk show host who once swore he’d show up whenever I just provided the ‘right medium’.
“……”
“Um, please draw a piece…”
The researcher politely held out the board game piece capsule with both hands.
For some reason, it was my turn first.
‘I think I’m actually the maknae[1] here…’
But I couldn’t show that, so I reached out as if nothing was wrong and took a capsule—
“Aaack!”
“……”
“Ah, s-sorry……”
This person… seems like someone who’ll have a hard time lasting long in the Research Team.
‘Please start looking for another job.’
I politely ignored the panicked researcher and grabbed another capsule.
And shook it.
With a rattling sound, a game piece fell out of the capsule.
A bright yellow.
“It’s a yellow piece!”
Okay.
I picked up the piece and passed the capsule to the next person.
“Ah…!”
It was Jang Heowoon.
…I have no idea why Director Ho recruited someone already busy working as a corporate spy, but I felt a cold sweat thinking of how I’d inadvertently forced him to spend his valuable day off on this.
I barely managed to get time off myself… he probably did the same.
‘Why did you sign up for this…!’
Last time, you almost threw up just from seeing the Magic Bunny area’s interior parade!
Of course, now wasn’t the time to ask.
And Jang Heowoon…
“Yellow!”
“Yesss!”
He drew the same piece as me.
For reference, that wasn’t Jang Heowoon who just shouted.
Other staff were clenching their fists in relief. With someone else getting yellow, their own chances of getting stuck with me had gone down.
Because they didn’t want to be in the same group as me.
‘Haha…’
Meanwhile, Jang Heowoon bowed his head to me.
“Um, please take care of me.”
“……”
I gave Jang Heowoon a small nod.
Thank you for understanding my situation… This is the best I can do…
But after that, a slightly awkward situation began.
“Please…!”
Everyone was openly hoping not to get yellow.
“Ah! Red!”
And when someone drew a red piece, they practically cheered.
“……”
Hey, you all read my previous expedition reports, right? Then as soon as you see the Magic Bunny, just run like crazy to the blue zone…
Still, it was reassuring to see that the familiar faces were calm about it.
Like this:
“Oh.”
I watched as Supervisor Lee Songhae drew a red piece. And then…
“Blue.”
…Section Chief Lee Jaheon drew a blue piece.
‘Why is Chief Lizard here anyway.’
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Director Ho put him here as the ‘stick’ among the carrots.
…He already knew I shared all my project outcomes with the D-squad.
It’s like a subtle reminder not to try anything funny.
‘He’s making sure I can’t let my guard down, even when receiving a favor.’
I seriously just want to quit my job already.
‘Phew.’
“We’re down to the last one.”
Anyway, the distribution was almost finished.
After drawing the yellow piece, I ignored the staff wearing a harvest mouse mask and a ladybug mask who stared at me stiffly.
‘Let’s just hurry up and get on the rides.’
I’ll send them off and then take care of my own business.
Clack.
And as the last person drew a piece—
– Departing for Fantasyland~!
The board game board flew up into the air and swallowed everyone’s field of vision.
We were entering.
Since I’d experienced it once before, I could calmly review my plans for what came next.
Let’s see. There’s no yellow zone though, right?
‘Didn’t that Magic Bunny kill the yellow mascot?’
So I remembered escaping by activating the gate to the ruins of the yellow zone, the resort.
‘I’ll head straight to the blue zone.’
I’d better make sure to check the souvenir shop. That’s what I thought as my mind blurred…
Not long after, my senses cleared again.
Now it should be time for the cheerful theme song of the theme park to play in my ears…
……
‘…Huh?’
Everything was quiet.
“……”
I opened my eyes.
In the dim indoor space, I saw walls with all the paint peeled off and a dust-covered light fixture.
There was no light, and even the windows were all broken.
A stale, dead space.
“……”
What… is this?
This isn’t inside the amusement park. This is definitely not the park…
“…!”
I immediately got up and ran to the window to look outside.
A huge, crumpled sign, with one side’s fixture barely hanging on and swinging dangerously in the wind, came into view…
[Flower Golden Resort]
“…!!”
I stared blankly at the distant, shining blue lights of the water park.
Looking down, I saw only ruins.
“……”
I had woken up in the ruined yellow zone.
‘What is this…’
At that moment.
Click—
The lights in the room I was in began to flicker back on.
“…!”
I realized I wasn’t just in a simple room.
Desk, chair, battered filing cabinet.
Through the open door of the worn cabinet, I saw a huge machine.
It was like a small office or management room.
And on the desk… was a single, formally presented sheet of paper.
“……”
I approached and read the paper.
Congratulations on your appointment as the new mascot of Flower Golden Resort!
“…!!”
Note/s:
[1] Maknae – youngest of the family or most junior of the team ↩