I Activated Cheat Mode in a Bizarre Game

[Title: Could you live with a hot long-haired ghost (virgin type) for a month?]

Dongto? I just got an offer to join the Exploration Team here—are they really a major company?
They asked me to join the Exploration Team.
The conditions are way too good, which makes it feel sketchy—doesn’t this just mean they’re planning to use me as cannon fodder?
If there are any current employees or people familiar with this stuff, please give me some advice.
I heard new recruits don’t get sent into dangerous places right away—was that just bullshit?

As soon as I posted, the comments started pouring in.
I began reading them one by one.
ㄴ Suicidal guy, welcome LOL
 ㄴ Looks like we’ve got today’s lunch for a monster lmao
ㄴ Joining the Exploration Team is basically suicide. Ever seen a monster? It gives you real trauma.
ㄴ But if it’s Dongto, I bet they give good gear? Grab a survival kit and a hazmat suit and bail ASAP.
ㄴ It’s case-by-case. Dongto’s seriously a massive company, so each team is different. I’ve heard new recruits mostly do support or stay in the safer zones. But if you’re unlucky, you die on day one.
ㄴ My buddy joined Dongto’s Exploration Team and dropped off the radar a month later... think carefully.
 ㄴ For real? Damn;;
ㄴ But I heard the Exploration Team makes bank
 ㄴ Yeah, if you survive long enough to get paid, lmao
ㄴ So where the hell’s the hot ghost in the title? Get your act together, man.

Opinions were sharply divided.
Negative takes were slightly more common.
Most people said the job itself was inherently dangerous because you had to deal with monsters.

But what caught my eye was the comment saying, “New recruits don’t get sent into dangerous zones right away.”
Maybe that was just a rumor.
But if it were true...
Then maybe I could use my cheat mode to build up experience safely, rack up some money quickly, and get out to Seoul.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”
That phrase that had crossed my mind before echoed again.
Big money comes with big responsibility.

The power I had was definitely special.
Was I going to just run away using it—or take the risk to seize something bigger like real safety and a future?
I was scared—but...
The hesitation didn’t last long.

I sent a text to the number on the business card.
Telling them I’d accept the offer.
***
A few days later, I stood in front of Dongto’s headquarters.

“…Wow, they really are a major company.”
I’d come looking for their HQ, but there wasn’t just one building.
There were three towering skyscrapers standing side by side—you had to crane your neck just to see the tops.

All three belonged to Dongto.
Following the instructions I got via text, I entered the building closest to the station.
As I stepped inside, the lobby was practically airport-level.

A massive open space filled with people bustling around, and to get inside, you had to go through a security checkpoint like the ones at airports.
While I stood there dazed, a female staffer from the checkpoint approached me.
“What brings you here today?”

“Um… I’m here to go to the Exploration Team meeting room…”
“Oh, are you Mr. Kim Minjun?”
“Yes, that’s me.”

“Right this way.”
I followed her instructions and passed through the security checkpoint.
She told me to go to B2, so I got on the elevator.

The building had dozens of floors above ground—and apparently ten full floors underground. That was surprising.
How deep does this go?
As the elevator descended, I was reminded of the hotel basement from a few days ago. A chill ran down my spine.

The reason I was headed to the Exploration Team meeting room was because of a text I’d gotten a few days ago.
After I replied that I’d accept the job, I was assigned to Team 15 of the Exploration Division. Today was my first day.
Now, I was on my way to meet the members of Team 15.

As soon as I got off on B2, I saw a room labeled Exploration Team Meeting Room.
Hoo...
I took a deep breath to steady myself and pushed open the door.

Creeeak.
Three people were inside, looking at me.
Three men and women in black suits identical to mine stood there.

One was a middle-aged man. The other two were women around my age.
Rahee wasn’t among them. I guess she’d been assigned to a different team.
I bowed slightly in greeting and approached them.

The first person I noticed was the middle-aged man—he looked like the team leader.
He had a slightly thin frame and a hunched posture. When our eyes met, he looked away awkwardly. He gave off a timid impression.
Next to him stood a woman wearing glasses, her cold demeanor sizing me up and down with a sharp gaze.

The last was a short-haired woman who, unlike the other two, looked at me with wide-eyed curiosity and flashed a cheerful smile.
“Ah… um, you’re the new recruit, Kim Minjun, right?”
The middle-aged man was the first to speak, though his voice trembled a bit and trailed off.

He looked even more nervous than me.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Kim Minjun. I’ll be joining the team from today. I look forward to working with you.”
As I bowed, he hurriedly bowed in return.

“Ah yes, yes... I’m Park Chulwoo, team leader of Exploration Team 15.”
“I’m Seo Jihyun. I handle analysis and record-keeping.”
The woman in glasses introduced herself curtly and formally.

Her tone was cold and businesslike.
“Nice to meet you, rookie! I’m Han Sora! You can just call me Sora noona! If anything’s tough, let me know!”
The short-haired woman cheerfully tapped my shoulder as she spoke.

That loosened my nerves a little.
Though… was she really noona? She looked younger than me.
“Alright then… I’ll explain our team’s duties in more detail.”

Team Leader Park cleared his throat and started speaking in a much clearer voice.
“Dongto’s Exploration Division is divided into teams by number. Teams 1 through 5 are in charge of high-risk monster extermination and first contact with unconfirmed entities—very dangerous tasks.”
I swallowed hard.

Thank god I got assigned to Team 15.
“Teams 6 through 10 handle medium-risk monster investigations and manage danger zones. And us—Teams 11 through 15…”
He paused briefly.

“We’re mainly responsible for managing monsters that have already been thoroughly investigated and documented. It’s relatively stable work.”
“To be precise, most of our assignments are in controlled environments with low variability.”
Seo Jihyun adjusted her glasses and added to the explanation.

“So basically, our team’s pretty safe! No need to freak out, rookie!”
Han Sora smiled and gave me another friendly slap on the shoulder.
It seemed the comment I saw online about new recruits being kept away from danger wasn’t entirely wrong. That was a relief.

Still, hearing that there were fifteen whole teams, all tasked with managing monsters, made me curious.
“Um, but… how does this kind of job even make money? The contract terms were insane…”
How could managing dangerous monsters possibly be profitable?

That’s what I was most curious about.
Team Leader {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Park answered.
“Officially, we report our activities and results to the Monster Management Bureau, and receive funding from them. Of course, there are other sources of income too…”

He trailed off.
I didn’t press. I had no idea what those “other sources” were.
“Oh, right.”

When the briefing ended, Team Leader Park continued.
“Since it’s your first day, it’d be good for you to see a live ‘monster management’ session. Mr. Kim Minjun, just observe for today.”
“Understood.”

“Great! Then let’s head out!”
Han Sora led the way as we left the briefing room.
She moved so naturally that the others followed without hesitation.

We walked down the hallway and boarded a dedicated Exploration Team elevator in the corner. It descended again.
When the doors opened, we stepped into a different kind of corridor.
The walls were reinforced metal, and warning signs and security devices lined the hallway.

“This is the containment and management zone for low-risk entities.”
Seo Jihyun gave a concise explanation.
We walked down the corridor and finally stopped in front of a thick steel door.

It read Containment Room #11. Beside the door was a placard:
[Subject: “Wandering Eye”]
Wandering Eye?

Weird name.
Beep. Beep. Clunk.
Team Leader Park completed the authentication process and opened the door.

Whatever was beyond that door—I was about to find out.
Nervous, I followed the others into the containment room.
“…Ugh.”

I grimaced as I raised my head to look at the monster.
True to its name, a giant floating eyeball drifted midair—roots and all.
It was as big as a grown man’s torso.

The eyeball itself was fine—but the root part was nasty. I couldn’t help frowning.
“Here, this…”
Team Leader Park showed me his smartphone.

An app was open on the screen. It displayed information and management protocols for the Wandering Eye.
[Wandering Eye]
Risk Level: Low

Safe as long as you don’t touch it or hold eye contact too long
To harvest tears, use sad movies or dramas
“This is Dongto’s official monster app. You’ll get it too, Minjun.”

“…Sad movies for tear collection?”
What the hell?
I looked around the room and spotted a large TV on one wall.

“Watch and learn, rookie!”
Han Sora marched over, grabbed the remote from on top of the TV, and played a drama.
One of those recently popular tearjerkers.

Sssss…
The moment the video started, the giant eyeball floated gently toward the TV, aligning itself with the screen like it had been waiting for it.
Han Sora, moving like a pro, placed a big rectangular container beneath it.

Then she shouted:
“All done! Fall back!”
“…Huh?”

That was it?
That was seriously all?
The monsters I’d encountered before—

Sure, they hadn’t been too hard for me, but still—how much did I panic just trying to escape that haunted hospital and grotesque hotel?
I’d been forced to fight—no, survive.
But this one?

All they did was play a sad drama?
It didn’t even try to attack humans.
Was this really a monster?

“We should leave now.”
Seo Jihyun tapped my shoulder.
“Huh? Why?”

“If you’re around when it starts crying—it gets violent.”
“…Ah.”
Scrolling down on the phone, I saw the note:

[Caution: Becomes hostile if observed while crying]
Yup. Still a monster, alright.