"Top performers?"
Naviq kindly explained in response to my question.
"Yep. You can receive up to three at a time, and since there's a set expiration period, they're not easy to use."
'Tell me what you want. One item.'
'Senior?'
'You still have a chance left!?'
So that's why the other senior attendants were so shocked.
"Also, I heard that while the briefing report's contents are one hundred percent accurate, they're not written by a person. So who writes them?"
"My, someone's getting ahead of the curriculum. It's fine to learn things gradually, you know."
Naviq laughed heartily and ruffled my hair.
"The briefing reports are assisted by one of the ghost stories that's cooperating with Cheonsu Airlines."
"A cooperating 'ghost story' writes them directly?"
"We call them official ghost stories, or cooperative ghost stories. The briefing reports are written through a form of limited precognition."
"Precognition...."
"That's how it knows the ideal number of people to send in, the suggested time limit, and what special conditions to note—so we can prepare before going in."
Naviq patted my shoulder, saying I'd learn the rest in due time.
Just then, I spotted Gam Doyeong approaching with a lighter in hand.
When our eyes met, he scowled and made a U-turn.
"Oh, wait!"
"What? Wait?"
Gam Doyeong stopped walking and only turned his head.
Even just being looked at, his presence was something else.
"Ahem, sorry—that came out wrong. Please, go ahead and smoke, Senior."
"Forget it. Who said a newbie could share the booth with me?"
Gam Doyeong scoffed, then lit a cigarette three steps to the side.
The crooked, insufferable attitude and words were back in full force.
"Ugh! That rotten personality really doesn't change, does it!"
"Ha! I don't know what you mean."
Naviq clicked his tongue and gave a thumbs-down—a 'dislike.'
"Senior."
"What."
"I just wanted to thank you for using your chance token and trusting my jud—"
At that, Gam Doyeong exhaled smoke and let out a small laugh.
"What a comedian. In that situation, the only way to find the character counterfeit was that lamp—of course I'd use the chance. The token was two weeks from expiring anyway. So don't kid yourself—I didn't do it because I trusted you."
"Ah, I see."
"Where'd that confidence even come from?"
"Still, the fact is you used it."
"...Uselessly optimistic. We really don't mesh."
Gam Doyeong took a few more drags, then said he was annoyed and left first.
"That guy's had such a rotten personality for so long he's been a loner for ages. Just bear with him."
"Haha, but if he has chance tokens, that means he's the best of the best."
When he'd flat-out ordered the attendants to touch the genuine products, he was absolutely the worst kind of senior.
His way of speaking and how he treated people were genuinely uncomfortable... but he didn't seem like someone who was thoughtlessly cruel.
***
The remaining month of training came to an end as well.
Under a strict safety instructor, we went through slide drills, emergency water landing exercises, simulated training for fires and door malfunctions, and even subduing disruptive passengers.
With the lives of fifty-plus passengers in my hands, I got scolded plenty when I deserved it, and nothing about it was easy—as expected.
'But still... today is finally the day!'
Having completed safety and service training, the other new recruits and I were finally going on our OJT flight—the on-the-job training flight.
With a touch of excitement, I checked the schedule.
[CQ117 DSG1210-KIX1410 /
TURN 1410-1510 /
CQ118 KIX1510-DSG1700]
This meant departure from Doseong International Airport (DSG) at 12:10 on Cheonsu Airlines flight CQ117, arriving at Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX) at 14:10.
TURN was the turnaround time—the gap between arrival and the next departure for preparation. After that, flight CQ118 would depart Kansai at 15:10 and arrive at Doseong at 17:00.
'I'm finally going to board an aircraft...!'
I checked the weather outside.
Clean, spotless white clouds clustered together, and dazzling sunlight slipped through the window cracks, riding the wide-open, expansive sky.
They'd said the weather would be like this all week.
My long-awaited first flight really was going to be meaningful. The thrill and the nerves competed for dominance, and I couldn't rein either in.
Maybe that's why, on the day of departure to Osaka, I arrived far earlier than the assembly time.
A spotless white shirt and a navy necktie with a distinctive pattern.
Black slacks and low-heeled dress shoes for the bottoms. A badge reading '天守' (Cheonsu) nestled between perfectly symmetrical silver wings, and below it, my name in clear print—
Yoo Cheong-Ho.
For today, I'd practiced in front of the mirror to perfect a natural, non-frightening smile so the passengers wouldn't be scared. I can't tell you how much effort that took.
Cheonsu Airlines' appearance standards for cabin crew were quite liberal.
Regardless of gender, there were few restrictions on hair length or makeup, and even dyeing was allowed as long as it wasn't too flashy.
So I'd tried my best to tame my rough hair, sweeping it half to one side.
My skin was sensitive, but since it was my first flight, I told myself 'just this once' and covered the scar with foundation.
The bumpy texture meant you could still sort of see it, but...
'Better than nothing.'
Three whole hours until briefing. I'd come way too early.
With nothing to do, I left the headquarters building and was heading to the smoking booth.
Ding.
[EMERGENCY NOTICE]
"Ugh...."
The blaring notification arrived simultaneously with an emergency notice that clearly screamed 'you'll regret reading this right now.'
"Why in the world is an emergency notice going out right now?"
I couldn't ignore an emergency notice regardless, so I opened the crew announcement channel.
=============================
[Cheonsu Airlines Crew Announcements — Cabin / Ground]
[Senior Kang Naju (Cheonsu Airlines)]:
Emergency Notice.
-Ghost story detected on the moving walkway connecting the domestic and international terminals at Doseong International Airport. T/H: Type 2, 4 persons.
-One crew member from the Osaka-bound CQ117 (12:10) and one from the Taipei-bound CQ133 (12:20) are needed.
-The two nearest crew members, please report to the bus stop by 8:00 sharp.
=============================
Just as I finished reading the final paragraph, someone spoke in a cheerful voice.
"As expected, the number-one rookie of this class arrives on scene before the emergency notice even drops."
"So you're that number one! Naviq's told me all about you. He's my smoke-break buddy."
Startled, I looked beside me. There stood Kang Naju and a young man. The man wore jet-black sunglasses and a sharp-looking uniform.
Right outside the cabin building of headquarters was the bus stop for airport transfers.
I'd just happened to be standing there, and through sheer coincidence, I'd become the outstanding new hire who arrived on scene first.
"Uh, no, that's not why I—"
"Nice to meet you. Today's an emergency notice, so I'm specially joining the ghost story team too. How about that—honored?"
The man approached with a beaming smile and a friendly tone.
'I've definitely seen this guy somewhere.'
...The moment I thought that, the Cheonsu Airlines website flashed through my mind.
At the top of the official homepage, standing confidently with arms crossed in jet-black sunglasses, facing straight ahead—the figure who looked like the captain.
"I'm Gong Gyedo. Just call me First Officer. Let's have a good run today."
Ah, on closer look, his epaulettes only have three stripes...... Wait, that's not the point!
Of all times. Right now. My first flight—my mood had been soaring.
Shock and despair surged up, but I forced a professional smile and didn't refuse the First Officer's handshake.
"It's... a pleasure, First Officer."
***
"Thank you all for gathering. We're just as caught off guard by the sudden notice. In return, I'll make sure this reflects favorably in the performance review."
Kang Naju smiled at the assembled group.
"Now then, let's start the briefing while we move to the airport."
Four people total had gathered at the bus stop, including me.
The First Officer and Kang Naju, both scheduled for the Osaka flight, plus one female attendant assigned to the Taipei-bound flight—everyone assembled quickly.
Before boarding the small bus to Doseong International Airport, we launched into a hasty briefing with the hurriedly assembled team.
"Supervisor is Kang Naju—that's me. GN is Domestic Terminal Moving Walkway Ghost Story. Type 2, four persons total. Reports of suspicious cracks appearing at various points along the moving walkway. Time limit is one hour forty minutes, and the item is 'restricted access' stickers."
Ghost Story Briefing Report
[Cheonsu Airlines / no. 455]
1. GN: Moving Walkway Ghost Story
2. T / H: Type 2 / 4 persons
-Reports of suspicious cracks appearing at various points along the moving walkway.
-Seal the cracks to prevent danger.
3. TL: 1 hour 40 minutes
4. Item: 'Restricted Access' advisory stickers
Report Prepared by: [ Kang Naju ]
Moving walkway cracks? As in, the walkway is fractured?
"No need to overthink this, everyone. Simply apply the restricted access stickers wherever you see cracks to prevent people from approaching."
Kang Naju distributed bundles of stickers to the First Officer and the attendants.
⚠RESTRICTED ACCESS⚠
The palm-sized triangular stickers had a yellow background with a large exclamation mark.
"We have flights this afternoon, so let's make this quick."
At Kang Naju's smile, the First Officer went "oof" and broke into a nervous sweat.
Come to think of it, Jeong Siun had said during his ghost story training...
'Cleared it in two hours, but my supervisor was Senior Kang Naju. She's brutal....'
'I couldn't even help before Senior Kang Naju handled everything herself. All I did was run. That woman's slightly Spartan.'
'Oh no, the Spartan route.'
The senior looked so composed on the surface—the type to solve things with her head rather than her body.
Kang Naju had her bright auburn hair tied neatly in a single bun, with light makeup.
Her sharp, cool eyes and impeccable bearing gave off an air of elegance and aloofness simultaneously.
Female attendants in particular didn't have epaulettes like the male crew uniforms, so I'd wondered how rank was indicated—Kang Naju's badge was different.
All crew badges featured the character '天守' centered between two spread wings.
Kang Naju's badge, however, had the characters written vertically inside a circle, with wings extending high above and below on one side.
A special design exclusive to the Manager rank.
"Let's go."
Inside the small bus, we took our seats for the transfer to the airport.
"Hup."
The other female attendant visibly flinched when she boarded the bus and got a look at me. Then she turned away and headed for the very back seat.
"What's with that face? You look like a ghost."
The sunglasses-wearing First Officer sat down right next to me despite all the empty seats, and spoke.
"Oh, my face is just naturally... a bit rough. I hear that a lot."
From gaunt specter to delinquent's sidekick, thug, loan shark's errand boy—I'd heard it all, more times than I could count.
Come to think of it, I really ought to thank Hyena and Siun for treating me normally. Hahaha.
"Hmmmm, no, that's not it. I caught a glimpse of you before. You look different now. Right now you could slap the Grim Reaper across the face."
The First Officer turned on his phone's selfie camera and showed me the screen.
'...Oh, there was a reason to be alarmed.'
With my excitement about the first flight crushed by the ghost story, my eyes and expression had turned twice as menacing.
To exaggerate a bit, I looked like someone on their way to bury a body....
"It's not like this is your first ghost story, so I doubt you're scared. Something wrong?"
"No, sir. I'm just having an off day."
I couldn't exactly say 'I was over the moon and then completely crushed, so here we are.'
"Nothing a smoke can't fix at times like these, haha. Next time, let's shoot the breeze with Naviq—the three of us."
"By the way, First Officer, you're incredibly young compared to the captains."
"You bet—I'm Cheonsu Airlines' youngest-ever First Officer. My skills are just that outstanding!"
The First Officer peppered me with questions the entire bus ride, like a kid bursting with curiosity.
From the Chinese characters in my name to where I was from, whether I had siblings, my favorite cigarette brand, what time I woke up, and when I brushed my teeth.
Hmm, why would he ask that last one?
After enthusiastically answering the chatty First Officer, I looked out the window again.
The clear weather genuinely felt wonderful, but the fact that our destination was a ghost story was honestly a bit funny.
Still, we've got an excellent senior and even the First Officer with us. Should be quick.
I tried to comfort myself, putting on a show of composure.
Little did I know that my hair, my clothes—everything I'd carefully set up that morning—would be an absolute wreck by the end.
The moving walkway area was already blocked off with [UNDER MAINTENANCE] signs and tape.
Thanks to the security guard standing firm, travelers had no choice but to take the ground-level detour.
Come to think of it, this was my first time officially entering a Type 2 space.
Just as I was wondering how we'd cross into the secondary space, the four of us showed our employee IDs to the staff.
"Watch out for motion sickness."
"Huh?"
As we passed through the tape barrier, the First Officer lightly tapped my shoulder.
Instantly—
WHOOSH—
"Urgh—"
My stomach lurched violently, as if I'd washed down a mayo-drenched pizza with grease-soaked bread.
Everything around me echoed and reverberated, like stepping into a swimming pool or a massive cave.
My vision went blank for about five seconds, then when it returned, we were standing in the middle of the moving walkway corridor.
However, the staff member who'd checked our IDs, the 'Under Maintenance' sign, and the tape blocking the area—all gone without a trace.
Without a single sound of people nearby, only the four of us stood in the empty corridor.
And one peculiar detail: the motionless moving walkway and the straight corridor stretched on endlessly—the far end was completely invisible.
'It really is another space.... Amazing.'
The corridor and walkway connecting the domestic terminal to the international terminal were lit by soft yellow lighting. And along the walls at intervals, large posters were lined up in a row, like an exhibition.
[Super-Deal Macau Trip—Bring the Whole Family!]
[The Best Service for My First Flight—Daehwan Airlines]
[Don't Miss Out! Asiago Air Spring Special OPEN! First 3 Customers Get Big Perks!]
[Departing Seoul: Western Europe Package Tour—Apply Now at 'Travel Go UP.']
"Oh, tons of posters."
The First Officer wandered along, looking them over—commenting on this one's design, critiquing that one's layout.
The posters, encased in clear glass, were filled with travel destination photos, related illustrations, and promotional slogans.
"Memorize the text and details on the posters you've seen so far."
The First Officer said, pointing at the posters with his thumb.
"Also check where floor tiles are cracked. For the record, phones don't work at all in the secondary space, so you'll have to memorize everything yourself."
I decided to look around and collect as much information as I could commit to memory.
Based on what I could currently observe:
1. Endless moving walkway
2. Uniform floor tiles and ceiling
3. Soft yellow lighting
4. Advertising posters lined up in a row
Neither the starting point nor the endpoint was visible, and I had no idea where along the corridor we even were.
And they wanted us to find cracks here?
"What do you think, star rookie?"
"Feels like a treasure hunt."
"Hahahahaha! You're right, it does!"
"Since nothing suspicious is visible yet."
CRACK, CRACKLE.
No sooner had I spoken than the sound of floor tiles fracturing rang out, and a straight fissure began shooting forward.