Work Text:
[Qterw-C-114]
[A bridal altar that promises you life after a peaceful, love-filled marriage.
Put on your wedding attire! Clap your hands if you are a guest! Don't forget to kiss your bride!]
---
December 01, 20XX
The 8 employees who went missing inside Darkness Qterw-C-114 have been found; half of them appeared dazed, while the other half were wailing continuously.
Their interviews are scheduled one week from the day the missing employees were found.
December 08, 20XX
Kwak Jekang sat in the monitoring room. The contaminated employees were separated to undergo further recovery. There were 3 employees left on the interview list, who would subsequently be ordered alphabetically from A to C.
Question: What do you remember about the day of the incident?
Employee A: My only memory is listening to wedding bells, predominantly white decorations, and flowers in full bloom. Two children approached me and said that I was the chosen groom.
After that, my memory went blank. The next figure I saw was someone from the Security Team.
Employee B: I saw Employee A designated as the groom, while I became a guest.
I don't remember what the bride looked like, but I felt like I couldn't accept them getting married. I felt—I had to crash this wedding, tear the groom to shreds, and snatch the bride away for myself.
Then I recalled someone in a security team uniform dragging me away.
Employee C stated the exact same thing as Employee B, with a slight addition: The Security Team member stepped up onto the altar and threw the groom out of the wedding area. Could it be... could he have wanted to monopolize the bride for himself?
---
Kwak Jekang searched through the list, a name so deeply familiar was written in the report.
"Him?" Kwak Jekang chuckled dryly. Once again, it was that Security Team member who always brought trouble.
J3.
"Call him in for an interview today, and get me a coffee."
"Sir, the security team member in question is currently on a mission."
"Reschedule the interview for when he returns."
---
December 12, 20XX
The second round of interviews was conducted after 2 contaminated employees regained consciousness. These two employees would be referred to as D and E.
Question: What do you remember about the day of the incident?
Employee D: I saw my ex-girlfriend about to marry Employee A.
Employee E (reported missing for half a month): I got married! I am a family man now. My wife's name is ◾◾◾◾ and she's extremely beautiful. She's the kind of wife who welcomes me home every day. We're married! I HAVE A FAMILY. A FAMILY MAN SHOULD NEVER LEAVE HOME ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾
Question: Did the bride's presence affect you?
Employee D: Yes. It was as if I possessed feelings of affection toward that entity. I—I was going to ◾◾◾ the man standing beside my bride. I had to ◾◾◾◾◾◾ and ◾◾◾◾◾ to protect my lover.
Employee E (reported missing for half a month): SHE IS ◾◾◾◾◾◾ AND ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾ WE WILL NEVER ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾
---
The isolation room fell into absolute chaos.
---
December 15, 20XX
Lee Yeonhwa arrived with a transcript of the report, a tablet containing interview recordings, and a judgmental expression—as if Kwak Jekang, who had just returned after buying some instant noodles and snacks, had committed a cardinal sin.
"What?" he asked. Kwak Jekang raised both eyebrows, looking curious.
Wasn't today J3's scheduled interview time?
Honestly, it was a pity he had to attend to something else and handed the interview duty over to another researcher. But what was with the way Lee Yeonhwa was glaring at him?
He adjusted his glasses and leaned in slightly. A few people were quietly watching them.
What was going on, really?
"Please refrain from workplace harassment against someone helpless."
Okay? Kwak Jekang smiled, he didn't promise anything. Instead, he took the recording tablet from his assistant.
"Are you guys working overtime?"
"We'll be heading home right after packing up."
"Then, where is the Unit 3 security sergeant?"
"He went back to the basement." Seriously, Lee Yeonhwa's glare looked as if she wanted to eat Kwak Jekang alive. "Sir, my warning still stands. Don't bully a helpless person."
Was she referring to J3?
Kwak Jekang smirked in amusement. That creature, helpless?
J3 could easily slam him against a wall, crush his bones, or eat him alive. There were no signs of being 'helpless' like Lee Yeonhwa claimed—unless, of course, the sergeant's anemia symptoms were counted.
Kwak Jekang shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?"
He promptly left the room, after all, lingering there would waste his time. He had an appointment with J3, though it was entirely one-sided. Kwak Jekang simply wanted to see the man after weeks of not meeting.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, nobody was inside, and he immediately stepped in. The basement was his next destination.
Ah, right.
He clicked the play button on the screen. A CCTV recording displayed J3 sitting in the middle of the room. His posture was deeply hunched, Kwak Jekang couldn't even see the sergeant's face because strands of hair obscured most of it.
Gloomy, that was the most fitting word.
The standard interview questions then echoed crystal clear. He knew them by heart, naturally, because Kwak Jekang himself had drafted every detail of the interview protocol.
[What do you remember about the day of the incident?]
J3 briefly explained the rescue mission. The man was only supposed to search for Employee E, but ended up stepping into the wedding ceremony triggered by the presence of several Field Exploration Squad members.
[Did the bride affect your actions?]
J3 shook his head.
Of course. A C-rank Darkness wouldn't have much of an impact on someone contaminated by an A-rank Darkness.
[Who did you see when you looked at the bride?]
That was the crucial question. Kwak Jekang suspected that the Darkness influenced its victims through love. The targets would likely experience immense longing, visualizing the ideal image of someone they wished to make their wife.
In the video, J3 paused for a long time before finally answering.
'There was no bride.'
Huh?
Kwak Jekang's brow furrowed. He didn't understand how a Darkness centered around a wedding could omit its most vital element. He made a note, promising himself to add that to his private log later.
[Then what did you see at the wedding altar?]
'Kwak Jekang.'
Kwak Jekang wanted to laugh, wasn't that a insane revelation?
The researcher couldn't hold back a whistle that slipped out. Perhaps he needed to visit J3 more often to confirm his suspicions.
[W-What?]
The next question strayed from what Kwak Jekang had drafted. Nevertheless, he openly wanted to ask the exact same thing.
[You saw Kwak Jekang in a wedding dress?!]
'No... he was wearing his lab coat....'
Didn't that mean J3 wanted to marry him even when he was in his ordinary work clothes?
Truly extraordinary!
[Was there a kiss during the ceremony?]
'Yes.'
[Did you two kiss?]
[How did it feel to kiss your bride?]
[Did you enjoy the kiss?]
The questions poured in rapidly, this interview sounded more like gossip coverage now. Yet, strangely, Kwak Jekang kept listening.
'I didn't... kiss that creature.'
[WHY?!]
[OH, OR WAS IT BECAUSE THAT CREATURE KISSED YOU FIRST?]
Researcher, please calm down!! Kwak Jekang was definitely going to issue a direct reprimand regarding that behavior.
J3 answered, a hint of suppressed amusement in his voice. 'Kwak Jekang would pout.'
[Isn't that normal?]
J3's cap shifted left and right with the movement of his head. Though slow, it felt strangely firm.
As if Kwak Jekang pouting was the end of the world.
'He... might do something crazy...'
Yeah, that was true.
'And...'
'I... don't like it... when he sulks.'
Ding.
He stepped out. The dark basement hallway greeted him with irregularly flickering lights. The researcher appeared unbothered, striding toward his destination.
[Did you experience the marriage phase?]
The phase mentioned by the contaminated Employee E.
'Yes.'
[What did you experience?]
'The creature was well-behaved... but...'
He hesitated briefly. J3 pondered a little longer.
'I... didn't like it.'
Of course, J3's sharp instincts must have known what would happen if he remained trapped in a Darkness like that.
It was a Darkness that would make anyone addicted. You would enjoy blissful days as the husband of the bride you loved most, lose all self-control, and stop thinking about reality. Then, if the entity resembling your beloved bride stood at the altar with someone else, your heart would shatter; you and the affected guests would go mad, attacking the groom.
A married life, huh?
More like a honey trap.
The researcher's green eyes shifted. The security sergeant's face in the video now looked up directly toward the CCTV camera.
'Can I... go back now?'
[There are a few more questions!]
Kwak Jekang observed the sergeant's weary face as he slouched back down.
After his contamination, the man he knew so well truly loathed interviews or writing reports.
[How did you break out of the Darkness?]
'Divorce....'
Ah, that made sense.
A Darkness about a happy marriage could only be breached by shattering that happiness, provided the employee placed as the husband realized it and was willing to abandon that peaceful marital life just to return to the capitalist reality of being a Daydream employee.
The theory was proven.
Sure, let's hear J3's reasoning.
[What happened that made you decide on a divorce?]
'Um... wasn't it just... a fake marriage?'
That was true, but the brainwashing effect should have still taken hold.
[Specifically.]
'Ah.'
Silent again. J3 was sorting through information, deciding what was necessary to share and what wasn't.
'That creature... tried very hard to be a very good wife... but it was passive.'
A conventional wife in general.
'It was quiet there...'
'Kwak Jekang... the one I know... wouldn't stop talking about his research...'
Kwak Jekang didn't fit the picture-perfect wife offered by that Darkness. It was unique, confirming that the Darkness merely executed generic brainwashing without being able to read the victim's heart. The intended brainwashing might simply be 'See me as the person you want to marry, and I will become your best wife.'
And it mimicked conventional wives because that best suited the generic version of a 'good wife', without accounting for the actual personality of the person it tried to imitate.
[Did—]
The interviewing researcher's voice trembled, nearly choking.
Kwak Jekang really needed to discipline his subordinates to act more professionally.
[We suspect that the figure the subject saw in the bride is someone the subject loves and hopes to marry.]
No response.
[Do you love that bast —I mean, do you love Kwak Jekang?]
'Can I... leave now?'
[This is the most important question!]
[You—you are a subject sane enough to confirm this theory, I beg you to speak truthfully.]
Kwak Jekang stopped near a room where the light was still on inside. He found J3 lounging on an old velvet sofa that was nearly collapsing.
Scoffing inwardly, the Security Team's waiting room atmosphere was indeed as old as its occupant.
"What are you thinking about?" Kwak Jekang asked. He smiled in amusement as J3 turned toward him, but helplessly chose to stay lying down, letting out a slight grumble. "I listened to part of the recording. You almost ruined its, but I'll make sure the report redacts any unnecessary confessions."
"Mm... yeah."
"Aren't you curious about what I heard?"
J3 wasn't curious, in fact, he barely cared.
Kwak Jekang rolled his eyes, J3's reaction was still utterly boring. The researcher then set the bag of food he brought onto the table. The security sergeant took a bag of potato chips, opened it, and enjoyed the food without bothering to sit up. After all, it had been bought for him anyway.
Kwak Jekang didn't complain. Instead, he sat on the open portion of the sofa, half of which was taken up by J3's legs. He began rambling about the report. "I really like the type of Darkness that relies on brainwashing and mental manipulation. There are so many interesting interviews, of course, I have to be careful not to get contaminated myself."
"If you want to know, these past few months I've specialized my observations on Darkness like that. The interviews are truly amazing, I like seeing my guesses about certain people proven right. They no longer bother keeping up the facade of a good employee, they start turning into entities with personalities completely different from their usual selves."
He had once hoped that such an influence would work on J3.
That was also the real reason the man hated interviews even more. Kwak Jekang would fire off a barrage of questions as if chatting with a mental therapy patient.
"Darkness of that type can sometimes dissect a person's heart. Quite beautiful, isn't it?"
Instead of an answer from the man beside him, J3's voice from the video, which was still playing, made Kwak Jekang's jaw instantly snap shut.
'Confirmed.'
'It... is confirmed.'
He knew.
Kwak Jekang finally knew.
He turned toward J3, who had now sat up. The man's intense gaze locked Kwak Jekang's attention onto a single point. J3 reached out, leaning his body closer to him. Kwak Jekang burst into a broad laugh, almost mockingly.
"Do you want to kiss your bride, or should I—the aggressive one—kiss you again?"
Just like in the Research Team's office weeks ago.
J3 didn't answer. Instead, he took Kwak Jekang's wrist, looking down at his fingers for a long moment. J3's thumb pressed into Kwak Jekang's fingers as if playing piano keys.
"...Mm."
Kwak Jekang watched as the man before him pulled off his hair tie, letting J3's hair fall loose. It obscured his face and the expression Kwak Jekang wanted to see.
The man in front of him slipped the hair tie onto his ring finger like a ring.
Kwak Jekang chuckled.
J3's raspy, faint voice instantly shattered Kwak Jekang's sanity, "Don't... be jealous."
J3 read him far too well. Kwak Jekang laughed, there was no kiss this time.
He simply raised his hand toward the brightest light, making sure the hair tie fit his finger properly.
It was quite amusing.