Chapter 174: Ch 174: First Death
A lizard, becoming a theme park employee.
No, for real!
Kim Soleum stared blankly at Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who had, instead
of suddenly checking out this morning, firmly expressed a desire to be
hired.
R e a l l y ?
"Yes."
And in a flash, he finished signing the employment contract. Section Chief
Lee Jaheon, now wearing the uniform, really, truly...
’Uh, it suits him.’
With that lizard appearance, he genuinely looked the part of a theme park
employee...
"Is it over there?"
Y e s
Naturally assigned to security, Section Chief Lee Jaheon ended up working
near the main entrance.
’Please take care of getting rid of the problem guests...’
By the way, standing next to him, Jang Heowoon was staring awkwardly at
the suite room voucher in his hand.
That’s right. I’d already heard it was all Jang Heowoon’s doing!
– Um, to tell you the truth, last night I went to see Section Chief Lizard
and asked him for help. We’re short on staff at the resort, and we can’t
leave...
And so, Jang Heowoon was promoted to HR manager.
"...?!"
So it was a multi-level promotion structure? But since everyone was just
trying to get through and escape, nobody cared!
However... Kim Soleum couldn’t shake a faint sense of dissonance.
’How did he know?’
That more staff were needed to escape the resort, I mean.
"Huh? Oh, well, it just seemed natural... I figured since we needed three
employees to run the resort and get a stamp, the next requirement would be
similar... that is, that we’d need more manpower."
Hmm.
It was quite the deduction, but the strange feeling lingered, so Kim Soleum
decided to remember it.
’Anyway, it’s a good thing.’
If it’s Section Chief Lee Jaheon, it’s not strange for a human being with
such values (well, alien, but still) to step in for the sake of everyone’s
survival.
Just like that, they were a step closer to escaping!
However, there was someone watching this with growing anxiety.
’Damn it.’
Ladybug’s eyes darted around.
Now that a manual had appeared for dealing with the crazy room service
requests, making the job a little more doable, he started plotting something
else.
Standing out in a ghost story is always dangerous, but falling behind and
getting left out of ’success’ is also a direct survival problem.
He looked at Jang Heowoon in the bison mask and barely held back a curse.
’Isn’t he just trying to save only himself?’
Ghost stories where only those who meet some bizarre criteria survive are
practically a cliché.
’No way.’
In the end, he convinced the weasel-masked employee who’d come during
check-out time—through lies and veiled threats—to sign an employment
contract.
The things he said were along the lines of, ’If you don’t become staff, you
can’t leave. That’s why Section Chief Lizard is working here, too." Terrified,
the weasel-masked employee, on the verge of panic, approached the
mascot.
’This is it.’
Ladybug was secretly hoping he’d be promoted too...
Y o u M a y G o
But the yellow mascot simply told Employee Weasel he could leave.
After staring intently for a moment, just— thump.
’Shit!’
Does that mean I’m useless?
...Still, since Weasel managed to get hired by clinging on, he was
somewhat satisfied.
Looks like we have another guinea pig... huuuuh?
At that moment.
The standard mascots suddenly appeared and began installing something in
the center of the lobby.
L o o k
A giant capsule machine had appeared in the middle of the lobby.
"...??"
For a moment, Ladybug forgot to say anything and just stared blankly at the
dazzling, glittering glass ornament that looked like a gigantic Christmas
tree.
Wh, what is this, even.
As if to explain, a colorful sign was attached to the front.
[Welcome Gift Capsule Draw]
Meet wonderful items to enhance your relaxation.
Inside, like a giant snow globe, it was filled with wrapped presents.
Guests could press a button to draw a gift from inside.
Inside the yellow mascot suit, Kim Soleum watched with satisfaction.
’Gacha never fails to trigger dopamine...’
Incidentally, the special gifts were wrapped in gold, and if you drew one,
your room was upgraded to the top-floor suite.
And besides, there weren’t any blanks. Every prize was a good one, so
there’s no way people wouldn’t like it... hahaha.
’Take this, and just have a nice, quiet stay in your rooms. Please.’
The yellow mascot threw out bribes like confetti in all directions!
"Oh my, oh my, it’s so sparkly! I love sparkly things! Can I draw one?"
Y e s
G i f t
And that wasn’t the end.
For each guest, for whatever reason, room upgrades were being handed
out...!
’W-What is this?’
Truly a giveaway-style operation!
Ladybug looked at the mascot in confusion and bewilderment.
And realized.
’Is this a ploy to charm guests and pressure them into lingering at the theme
park, to raise its own status as the resort’s owner?!’
No it’s not!
Kim Soleum, who was running this as a variety-show-style board game,
betting all the coins on escape, looked at the guests with satisfaction.
Incidentally, starting today, there was even a sign right on the lobby’s glass
door: ’A Space for Tranquil Rest’.
It seemed to work, as some problem guests were getting screened out right
at the entrance.
’Good.’
The yellow mascot let out a sigh of relief, picturing a pretty decent future.
It felt like they were finally getting a handle on how to run the resort on day
2.
But, just before closing that day.
An unexpected incident began to unfold.
I looked at the prospective staff in front of me... No, at a hopeful guest who
had run out of money.
The person, whose eyes were sunken but who still looked human, anxiously
rummaged through their pockets, then began to sob.
"I—I don’t have any... I don’t have any money...!"
Oh!
I held out my hand in welcome and spoke kindly.
T h e n
W o r k
Labor counts too!
"Hiiiieeeek!"
But instead, the person bolted for the front entrance. I mean, I was even
planning to let them camp out in the lobby...
I could only hope that they’d hurry up and leave the park before business
hours were over. I clicked my tongue and looked at my front paw.
’Recruiting even one last person... it’s hard.’
Failed to hire in lieu of lodging fee.
Still, I figured if I kept at it, at least one more person would get roped in.
’...How much longer will it take?’
I was starting to feel a little anxious at how much time it was taking, but I
suppressed it. This isn’t the time to panic in fear.
I am a mascot right now.
And then...
– See you again next time~
’It’s closing time again.’
Theme park operations have ended.
End of Day 2.
"Aaaaah!"
"It’s the resort!"
The last guests rushed in through the doors, and the standard mascots began
to prepare to close, lining up on both sides.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon was apparently still being trained, as the standard
mascot wielding the baton had him standing behind, giving instructions.
’The chief as a rookie...’
As I was thinking about how it was a rather amusing sight, at that moment
—
Thud.
"...!"
Someone forcefully pushed through the glass doors and appeared in the
lobby.
"Welco— hiiek."
Next to me, I heard Jang Heowoon gasp and struggle not to throw up.
...I also, at first, thought it was a monster.
A lump of flesh with human arms sprouting in place of its own.
But on closer inspection, it was a small person dragging two others along
by each hand.
...You could have called it a gruesome sight.
If what they were holding in both arms hadn’t been corpses, with every
limb broken and heads smashed, dragged along like trash.
"Uurrp—"
Harvest Mouse, who had been cleaning, clapped a hand over his mouth.
This was pure fear, not of the supernatural, but a primal terror for survival.
Leaving two thick trails of blood behind, it barreled through the other
guests and approached the front desk at terrifying speed...
"..."
Wait.
Instead of fear, a strange emotion welled up.
Displeasure.
’You shouldn’t cut in line.’
Isn’t that quite rude?
And what reason is there for blatantly dirtying the floor like that?
If they’d left the corpses in the lobby, or asked the standard mascots, they
would have been courteously ushered!
How lacking in class.
This does not suit our resort.
The standard mascots and I all stared at it together.
’...’
However, this odd and sudden displeasure vanished the moment our eyes
met at the front desk.
The small, blood-soaked figure, gasping for breath, looked up at me at the
front desk...
"One room, please."
’...!!’
A dolphin mask.
...it was Supervisor Lee Seonghae of the elite team!
’Why, why are you here?’
Weren’t you supposed to have left yesterday? Why are you still here, and
more than that...
’How did you even survive the night?’
In the closed theme park.
Dragging two dead bodies behind you.
’...Wait a minute!’
I managed to get a good look again at the horrifying bodies in Lee
Seonghae’s hands.
Masks and suits.
They were the teammates who, like Lee Seonghae, had drawn the red piece.
A chill ran down my spine.
’They died, so she had to carry them.’
If you let physical distance grow, you get strangled to death.
’...’
It felt strange somehow, but as a mascot, I responded with polite service.
R o o m F e e
"Ah."
Thud, thud.
Supervisor Lee Seonghae dropped the corpses on the floor and held out to
me a small bloodstained golden object.
"Um, how about this?"
It was pure gold.
Probably something that used to be a decorative item, now broken up.
’Gold, huh.’
If it were the old me, I would have gladly accepted it, thinking what a
windfall this was when funds were tight.
But as a mascot, I can’t do that... Huu.
N o
T h i s
I took out a plastic coin, a Cheerful Coin, from under the desk and showed
it.
But Supervisor Lee Seonghae didn’t react. Of course, it looked like she
didn’t have any coins...
Ah.
In that case.
T h e n
W a n t T o W o r k ?
Maybe it’ll work this time.
I nervously watched her mouth.
Lee Seonghae opened her mouth...
"Sure!"
Wow!
"But both of my legs are fractured, so... is it okay if I do a desk job? Hehe."
’...’
How can you say that so cheerfully.
Now that I look, she probably cut the line because she could barely move,
not out of any awareness of others.
In any case, she really needs to rest for now.
’I’ll ask for the details tomorrow.’
H e r e
I quickly handed over the employment contract, and Lee Seonghae
carefully read through it...
"But there’s no salary clause?"
Ah.
Right. From an employee’s perspective, that’s the most important part.
’Things have just been so hectic...’
We built this resort out of ruins and started normal business in half a day,
after all.
J u s t A M o m e n t
I quickly scribbled on the back of the employment contract.
The employee is entitled to guaranteed accommodation while working at
this resort.
Hmm.
And on top of that.
Furthermore, if the employee works until all three resort facilities are
operating successfully, they may take one item of their choice from the
souvenir shop that will open in the future.
That way, you can at least get an item.
’It’s worth a try.’
I don’t know if a real souvenir shop will ever open, but given what
happened in other theme park zones, it was a reasonable guess.
"Oh, nice."
Supervisor Lee Seonghae checked every line, then cheerfully signed her
name after receiving the pen.
Employee : Dolphin
At that moment, something amazing happened.
"Ah."
The traces of blood vanished from Lee Seonghae’s body, a clean uniform
covered her, and her messy, tangled hair was neatly tied back.
Over the most badly injured body parts, buckles or stickers in the style of
the mascot appeared, adding the kind of decoration you’d expect from a
theme park employee.
...As if it were magic.
"Oh."
Supervisor Lee Seonghae bounced on the spot and raised both hands.
"My body feels light!"
That’s a relief.
’It seems it’s not just about putting on the uniform, but about giving you the
appearance of an employee so you can work properly.’
G o o d
Now, since I have to process the next guests, I was about to show
Supervisor Lee Seonghae to her room... Ah!
She was trying to pick up the corpses again. Nooo!
N o
You’ll get your uniform dirty!
’Seriously creepy.’
I suppressed a shudder as I looked at the two corpses Lee Seonghae had
tossed carelessly on the floor.
Then I pointed with my finger.
L e a v e T h e m
"If I leave them, I’ll die..."
I n s i d e T h e R e s o r t
I t ’ s O k a y
Strictly speaking, all my employees are essentially part of me, since we’re
all mascots.
So, while working as employees—inside the resort—we seem to be
recognized as a single group.
’That’s why everyone is able to work in their respective positions right
now.’
And as for the corpses of teammates from the same group... hmm. It looks
like they automatically became part of my domain.
They’re mine now.
I watched as the standard mascots took the two corpses and carried them off
somewhere.
...Let’s not worry about what happens next. It’s bad for my mental health,
and I don’t have the mental bandwidth to care about that right now.
Let’s focus on the living.
T o d a y
R e s t
I handed Lee Seonghae a welcome gift I hadn’t yet put in the machine.
It was a golden flower-scented candle that cures insomnia.
"Ohhh."
She watched the tiny flame in the air, tracing the shape of a golden flower,
and soon smiled softly.
"You’re such a good mascot."
T h a n k Y o u
Lee Seonghae raised both fists into the air.
It looked like a dolphin doing a cheer.
"So, where do I work starting tomorrow?"
Well, about that... hmm.
’I bet she’d be amazing at filtering out problem guests.’
But she also seems like the type who would openly fight or even try to kill
guests making unreasonable demands...
’Ummm.’
I decided to put her assignment on hold.
W a i t F o r N o w
"Yes, yes."
Because it’s just about time for new positions to emerge.
’Resort expansion.’
After closing time that day.
Day 2 Performance
Visitors : 102
Guests : 67
Rooms Used : 41
Satisfied Guests : 33 / 45
Revenue : Cheerful Coins x62
’There we go.’
I managed to get a decent report card.
’The satisfaction rate was good even on the first day.’
It looks like I’ll be able to confirm tomorrow just how effective the new
’social distancing’ theme, which started today, will be.
What’s important is...
’Now I can expand the facilities.’
I looked at the document.
Requirements for Resort Facility Expansion
Staff: 3 – Complete.
Satisfied Guests: 30 – Complete.
Requirements to expand resort facilities
Employees : 3 complete.
Satisfied Guests : 30 complete.
The opening proceeded smoothly! The guests are generally satisfied, and
the top reason seems to be that it’s a ’theme-park-style accommodation’.
I’m looking forward to seeing what results come from the new bedding
and welcome gifts purchased with revenue investment.
And... It looks like this resort is now ready to open a new facility.
Which facility should I open?
I’m pondering the options below...
I looked at the pen moving as if flying in my hand.
The words I’d expected filled the page.
Spa
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Swimming Pool
’...Huu.’
It’s easy since I thought this through in advance.
Let’s see.
Given the personalities of the current staff and the clichés of ghost stories...
’This is it.’
I circled one facility with my pen.
Spa ○
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Swimming Pool
Restaurants are a classic horror story setting, fitness centers have a gore
risk, and the swimming pool overlaps with the blue zone so I have no idea
what kind of incident might break out.
’So it has to be the spa.’
Everyone, just go have a sauna and a massage!
I was pleased and satisfied.
Incidentally, this choice would bring about a completely unforeseen event.
Two days later—
Our resort’s number of guests would explode by a factor of seven...
’...?!’
And.
...On that same day.
The first death would occur.