How a Veteran of the Urban Legend Gallery Survives – Chapter 9

A rich coffee aroma wafted from the coffee machine tucked in the corner of the office.

“Escaping the Back Room in just 8 hours… That’s impressive, honestly.”

The male supervisor’s voice was filled with genuine admiration. I awkwardly smiled and replied.

“It was just luck.”

In truth, this wasn’t a humble answer. If it weren’t for the Dalant Shop and the tracking scent, I would still be wandering the Back Room like the other newbies. Maybe I would have even become Entity’s snack by now.

“Luck is part of the skill in this field.”

The man smiled brightly and extended his hand. It was a natural gesture, as if greeting an old friend.

“Ah, I’m late with introductions. I’m Moon Jinwook. I’m a supervisor.”

“Baek Jeongwoo. Nice to meet you.”

As we shook hands, Kang Hana extended her hand next. The faint scars I had felt on her hand the last time we met came to mind. They were traces of facing horror stories head-on.

“We’ve met before, right?”

I took her hand and replied.

“Yes, nice to see you again here.”

A week ago, we had first met in my studio apartment. I hadn’t expected to see her again so soon.

“You two know each other?”

Moon Jinwook’s eyes widened. The fluorescent office lights made his surprised face even clearer.

“Yes, remember the survivor who escaped first from the Monkey Dream and Subway Sleep Gas horror stories? That was Baek Jeongwoo.”

At Kang Hana’s words, memories from the subway flashed back like a flashback.

“Ah, that time…”

Moon Jinwook trailed off. His expression subtly changed. It seemed he knew the specifics of that incident.

“Rookies really stand out from the start.”

He gave me a thumbs-up and spoke in a bright voice, as if trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.

Following Kang Hana and Moon Jinwook, we moved to a partitioned space.

An old leather sofa and a CRT TV, the kind you’d see in the early 2000s, were placed there. A thin layer of dust had settled on the TV, and my reflection was faintly visible on the CRT screen.

“I explained the basics of horror stories last time, but there’s probably still a lot you don’t know about the company.”

Not really.

There are probably few people in the world who know as much about the Catastrophe Foundation as I do. Especially now that the horror stories from the Horror Story Gallery have become reality.

But I didn’t show it and accepted the thick white binder Kang Hana handed me.

The cover read [Catastrophe Foundation New Employee Training Material].

“Let’s start by familiarizing yourself with the basics of the company.”

Opening the binder, the first page had the Foundation’s logo and an introduction. The logo, a simple black-and-white design, had a strange, almost alive quality to it, as if it were writhing.

Externally, it was known as Siegfried Group, a pharmaceutical company. One of the top five pharmaceutical companies globally, specializing in treatments for incurable and rare diseases. Graphs and statistics showcased the company’s achievements.

Cancer cure rate over 90%, thousands of rare disease cures… Numbers that seemed impossible with modern medicine. But I knew the truth hidden behind them.

Turning the page revealed the Foundation’s true nature. A secret organization that collects and researches horror stories to create surreal products. And the fact that these products were sold to politicians and the elite.

Detailed descriptions of each department’s roles and the organizational chart followed. The Research Department analyzed the essence of collected horror stories, the Development Department turned them into products, and the Sales Department handled transactions with high-ranking individuals. And at the starting point of it all was the Field Investigation Team.

With each page turn, various horror story cases and the products made from them were listed. Drugs to resurrect the dead, elixirs to regain youth, potions for immortality… Everything that seemed impossible with science was laid out.

‘To think something like this is really possible…’

The contents I had seen in the Horror Story Gallery had become reality before my eyes. What I once thought were mere creations were now actual products.

One that particularly stood out was ‘Hair Growth Treatment-X-102’. Marketed as a groundbreaking hair growth solution, it was actually made from ingredients extracted from the ‘Hair Ghost’ horror story. The side effects listed, like ‘hair moving on its own at night’, were chilling.

After skimming through the file and closing the binder, Moon Jinwook spoke.

“So, how about it? Got a grasp on our company?”

I was lost in thought for a moment.

“It’s more… systematic than I thought.”

“Systematic, huh…”

Moon Jinwook chuckled.

“Right. We’re not just a bunch of mad scientists. There are rules and procedures for researching and utilizing horror stories.”

“But I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“The material says we collect horror stories to make products… but what’s the specific process?”

Kang Hana stood up and said.

“Normally, we give newbies a day to familiarize themselves with this…”

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Moon Jinwook. He nodded.

“But Baek Jeongwoo is a special case. He seems to have a high understanding of horror stories…”

“Huh?”

“Someone who escaped the Back Room in 8 hours can’t be clueless about horror stories.”

Moon Jinwook grinned.

“So, how about going for a field experience right now?”

My heart sank.

“There’s a suitable E-class horror story about an hour’s drive away.”

Moon Jinwook twirled the car keys on his finger.

As we moved to the underground parking lot, the fluorescent lights flickered irregularly, as if someone was signaling.

Moon Jinwook’s car was typical of a company worker. A neatly maintained midsize sedan, but the various receipts scattered on the passenger seat mat hinted at frequent field trips.

As we left the city and headed to a quiet outskirts, Kang Hana showed me materials on a tablet. The city’s nightscape quickly passed by outside the window. Gradually, the streetlights dimmed, and even the last convenience store disappeared from view.

“It’s a new building construction site. A construction site in the middle of a redevelopment area…”

The tablet screen showed the skeleton of a high-rise building rising among old buildings waiting for demolition. Like a monster growing among dead trees.

“There’s a hamburger shop there?”

“Yes. It’s in a temporary building at the construction site. Strange, right?”

Kang Hana swiped the screen. A shabby temporary building at the construction site came into view. And the neon sign above it.

[Jack’s Hamburger]

The moment I saw the sign, the effects of the Retrospective Thought Enhancement Serum flooded me with related information.

‘Jack’s Hamburger Shop… A horror story inspired by a popular horror game from the early 2010s.’

A horror story where the dolls in the shop move during three nights of security duty. Thankfully, as an E-class horror story, even if caught by the dolls, you don’t die, but you have to start over from the first day. Worst case, you could be trapped in this horror story forever.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the eerie construction site. The concrete skeleton of a high-rise building rose towards the sky, with containers and temporary buildings scattered below.

And among them, the fluorescent neon sign I had seen earlier flickered.

Just after escaping the Back Room, another horror story. My head spun. I wish I had taken a day off.

Noticing my pale complexion, Kang Hana spoke.

“Don’t worry.”

There was something in her voice that inspired trust.

“Most newbies need an adjustment period, but Baek Jeongwoo already has two survival experiences.”

“Right. And the sooner you adjust, the better.”

Moon Jinwook added.

“Horror story investigations are best when you’re in the groove. Like now, when your senses are sharp.”

As the hamburger shop’s door opened, the dark interior was revealed.

“Alright, from here on out, you’re on your own.”

Kang Hana said. I turned to look at them.

“Don’t worry. At least you won’t die.”

Moon Jinwook grinned, but his words were no comfort.

Entering the hamburger shop and closing the door, their figures disappeared, and I was left alone in the darkness.

The task manual clearly stated my mission. For three nights, I had to guard the place and make ten ‘Jack’s Special Handmade Burgers’. A special burger that, once eaten, keeps you full and energized for a month. Probably a product the Foundation sells to the elite or employees.

With trembling hands, I turned on my smartphone’s flashlight. The white light cut through the darkness, illuminating the direction to the security room.

With each step down the corridor, the sound of footsteps echoed. It felt like someone was following me.

I reached the security room door. As I grabbed the doorknob, my palm was sweaty.

The moment I opened the door, a sharp phone ring started.

Now it really begins.