I Activated Cheat Mode in a Bizarre Game

The day of the decisive moment had arrived.

Together, we submitted our resignations to Dongto.
Team Leader Park Cheolwoo went in himself as our representative and handed the documents to the HR department.
All of us secretly expected Dongto to try to stop us in some way—or at the very least, make the resignation process intentionally difficult.

“Team leader, how did it go?”
“...They accepted it cleanly.”
But unexpectedly, Dongto didn’t try to stop us at all.

They simply accepted the stack of resignation papers that Team Leader Park handed over and processed them without any questions, as if they’d been waiting for it. The smoothness of it all was suspicious, even unsettling.
As we walked down the hallway, the team leader spoke with a stiff expression.
“I’m not entirely sure, but... something must’ve happened with Team 5. The whole company is in disarray over it. I guess that’s why they’re rushing to wrap up our stuff as quickly as possible.”

The moment he said that, my heart gave a jolt.
Because at the center of that Team 5 incident flipping Dongto upside down—was me.
I had told our team members about what Dongto was doing in the underground hotel, but I never mentioned anything about Team 5.

That I’d threatened the monster into using Team 5 for the final banquet and told it to leave the underground hotel after that... was something I just couldn’t bring myself to say.
Team Leader Park probably didn’t have the faintest clue.
Thanks to that incident, unlike what we’d expected, we weren’t even asked to return the items we’d been issued. We were able to leave the company with barely any complications.

We’d prepared for ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) every possibility—built contingency plans, played out every scenario in our heads. But now that everything had ended this anticlimactically, I felt a little deflated.
We returned to our desks, packed up our personal items, and left.
That was it. Our time with Dongto was really over.

There was a strange mix of relief, anticipation, and unease about what lay ahead.
Today wasn’t just about quitting—we were also planning to visit the Baekho company right afterward.
I had already scheduled an appointment with Park Sunja.
Just as we were about to leave the Team 15 office, someone knocked on the door.

When we opened it, Rahee stood there, looking slightly awkward as she gave a small bow.
“U-Um… would it be alright if I came too?”
We were briefly surprised, but soon felt genuinely glad.

It looked like Park Sunja had extended an opportunity to her as well.
I heard she’d need to pass an interview, unlike us—but somehow, I had faith she’d make it.
Rahee was never suited to be on an exploration team, but when it came to diligence and thoroughness, she was second to none.

She would definitely excel in an office role.
“Of course. Let’s go together.”
Han Sora beamed as she welcomed Rahee, and we all headed out together.

***
We arrived at Baekho HQ in Team Leader Park’s car—and just like Dongto, it boasted a truly overwhelming scale.
Two ultra-high-rise towers loomed imposingly, tall enough to make us tilt our heads back instinctively.

I found myself blankly staring up at them, wondering if it was some kind of trend among big corporations to build these glass-clad skyscrapers.
Then, from the distance, a familiar figure walked toward us.
It was Park Sunja.

She wore a gentle smile on her lips.
“So you’ve all arrived. Welcome—to Baekho.”
She greeted each of us one by one, meeting our eyes. The team members and Rahee bowed back politely, though still slightly awkward.

“I’ll be handling your orientation today. As for Rahee… there’s a light interview scheduled later. It shouldn’t be too difficult, so don’t be too nervous.”
“...Yes!”
At her words, Rahee nodded several times with a determined expression—almost too determined.

She’s going to snap her neck at this rate.
We followed Park Sunja into the nearer of the two towers.
The lobby’s security system seemed even tighter than Dongto’s. Only after several layers of verification were we allowed to board the elevator.

The first place we visited was the office area where Baekho’s administrative employees worked.
In the wide, open-concept workspace, many people were focused on their respective tasks.
Park Sunja gave us a brief explanation and outlined the roles we were most likely to be assigned.

“There are many different positions within admin work, but broadly speaking, former Team Leader Park Cheolwoo will handle pre-briefings and general operational support for exploration teams. Han Sora will use her outgoing personality to manage real-time communication and orders with field teams. And Seo Jihyun will be responsible for data collection and research.”
She paused, then turned to Rahee.
“And if Rahee passes the interview, she’ll be working here in a special support role—assisting exploration teams remotely and activating specific items when needed.”

Park Sunja smiled warmly.
“All four of you will likely be assigned to the same team.”
Since everyone had different specialties, the idea of being together again brought a flicker of anticipation to their faces.

I felt a similar sense of relief—but also curiosity.
Why was Baekho trying to bring us in as a unit? If this were just about filling office positions, wouldn’t they scatter us?
Maybe reading my expression, Park Sunja explained with a smile.

“Just as Dongto recently expanded their exploration teams, Baekho is also increasing capacity and reinforcing our ranks. That includes bolstering support teams.”
Apparently, Baekho operated with dedicated support teams, each assigned to one or two exploration teams.
The members of Team 15 were to be assigned to such a support team.

Except me.
I wouldn’t be joining the support team—I was slated for an exploration team.
Just then, a man approached us.

“Hello. I’m Park Jiho from the support team.”
“He’ll be handling the support team briefing in my place. I’m technically part of the exploration division myself, so I don’t know all the details. Oh, and this here—”
“Ah, you’re the one interviewing, right? You can sit in on the support team explanation too.”

“Y-Yes…!”
So, leaving the team members and Rahee behind, I followed Park Sunja to a higher floor.
“This floor is used by the exploration teams.”

As we stepped off the elevator, the atmosphere changed—there was a noticeable tension in the air.
Without hesitation, Park Sunja strode down the hallway and stopped in front of an office door.
A nameplate read: [Temporary Team 10].

Creak.
She opened the door without pause—and inside, familiar faces looked up at me.
“…Huh?”

It was Shun, Bora, and Hanbit.
Back at Dongto, I had proctored their tests—and last I’d heard, they were part of Team 16.
Why were they at Baekho?

And why were they gathered under the name “Temporary Team 10”?
When they saw me, they exchanged quick glances, then gave small nods—like, so he really came.
As expected, Bora, the de facto leader, spoke first.

She stood up, walked toward me, and extended her hand.
“It’s been a while, Minjun.”
She paused, then gave a faint laugh.

“We’re on the same team now. Looking forward to working with you.”
I stood there frozen at the sudden handshake and those unexpected words.
I’d figured I’d be assigned to a new exploration team—but I hadn’t expected it to be with them.

And this was Baekho.
Why were people who should’ve still been at Dongto here?
Were they scouted like I was?

It seemed likely.
While I stood stiff, saying nothing, Bora’s expression hardened slightly. She looked at me with a hint of suspicion.
“…You’re not trying to take the team leader position, are you? I mean, even if you’re strong, I’ve built up a track record here. You can’t just become a leader because you’re fast, or powerful, or mentally tough, you know…?”

She launched into a full-blown monologue, clearly misunderstanding the situation.
I had no interest in her team leader spot whatsoever.
I was just stunned by everything and hadn’t collected my thoughts yet—but she was definitely jumping to conclusions.

I almost laughed, but held it in.
Just then, Park Sunja, who had been watching quietly, stepped in between us with a gentle smile.
“Kim Minjun, we’re glad to have you. Welcome to Baekho’s Temporary Team 10.”

With that official welcome, I suddenly found myself a new employee on a new team at a new company—
Alongside people I had once tested.
Life truly was unpredictable.

I gave an awkward smile and glanced at my new teammates.
Bora was still eyeing me warily.
Hanbit seemed a bit afraid of me, as always.

And Shun… looked at me not like a teammate, but like someone he might fight someday.
I had a feeling things were going to be lively from here on out.