Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 1
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Foreword
Have you ever experienced being completely hooked on something?
I mean, have you ever been so deeply impressed that you went beyond just thinking “this is fun” and actually spent additional time and money on it?
You know what I’m talking about.
Like watching the director’s cut of a movie, buying an artbook for a game, reading ahead on a webtoon, going to a concert for a singer…
Going a step further, you could include buying derivative merchandise as an example.
Yes, what we call goods.
Figures, slogans, badges, dolls…
I can say with certainty that I had never spent money on things like this in my life.
Until now.
This is a department store.
The popup store that opened to great success had already finished distributing waiting tickets the moment the department store opened at 10 AM.
And I had received one of those waiting tickets.
“2:30 PM time slot, we’ll help you enter now!”
“Ah, finally!”
“Hey, let’s go quickly.”
The cheerful teenagers standing next to me ran toward the staff with excited faces.
‘2:30 PM… that’s right.’
I got in line while pulling my cap down as much as possible.
However, I could hear whispering from behind me.
“Huh…”
“Is he a reseller?”
“Isn’t he a scalper?”
“…”
It was really unfair, but I could understand why they’d think that.
I was the only adult male who looked like an office worker in this line!
‘Sigh…’
I groaned while looking at the popup store entrance.
[Explorer who came from darkness, welcome.]
‘This is driving me crazy.’
A theme with black and red backgrounds featuring various monster caricatures and occult elements, along with symbols of corporations, religions, and government intersecting.
It was truly a worldview that targeted teenagers’ hearts.
The title was also truly artistic.
[Apocalypse Prophecy: Dark Exploration Records]
Hah…
I barely resisted the urge to cover my eyes with one hand.
‘Why did I have to read this at work…’
.
It’s an internet ghost story worldview that was really hot recently.
You know, those collective intelligence open-source worldviews where people can freely participate and create stories.
At first, it seemed to derive from some famous ghost story and spread quietly among students as rumors, but it apparently grew explosively after meeting the YouTube algorithm.
‘Records of exploring various strange phenomena called ‘. Ghost stories with this concept.
Eventually, it became an independent wiki with hundreds and thousands of stories recorded, which is how it caught my attention.
‘…It was so convenient to read at work since it was just text.’
And they say anything is fun at work as long as it’s not actual work.
I fell completely into this worldview and even reached the point where I created and uploaded my own ghost story…
How did it come to this? Is my dopamine-free work life really the problem?
Moreover, this itself is like that too.
‘Who knew it would grow this big.’
Now it’s apparently a major IP reigning over YouTube almost like a president.
So corporations quickly latched on to generate profits.
This popup store is part of that effort.
‘But still, this wiki even had a 15+ age recommendation label on it.’
Why are there so many kids here?
Listening to the whispering from behind is making me feel quite disillusioned…
“He really looks like a scalper…”
“Hey hey, he might be buying for his nephew or cousin… let’s not be too harsh.”
No. I’m going to keep it for myself.
…Actually, I came last week too but there was merchandise that sold out right in front of me, so I visited again…
I even used my vacation day.
‘At least there was a woman my age there then.’
Unfortunately, I got stuck with a weekday afternoon time slot when the only other adults were parents who came with their kids, so I’m really embarrassed and want to run away, but let me endure this.
‘Actually, I don’t even know why I’m trying to endure this…’
Anyway, I entered the store following the staff’s guidance.
The fact that the staff member didn’t seem fazed was my only consolation.
“Wow!”
“Hey, it looks so real.”
Along with the middle schoolers’ exclamations, I could see the popup store interior that was quite elaborately decorated like a theme park.
And there was even thoughtful thematic categorization for the exhibits.
[Daydream Corporation]
[Supernatural Disaster Management Agency]
[Nameless Radiance Cult]
In this ghost story worldview, there are three major forces – corporations, government, and religion – and each tries to observe and secure strange phenomena… that’s the setting.
‘At first there were only government disaster management agency ghost stories, but as various people got attached and excited, it became like this.’
Anyway, this popup store seems to have selected and gathered only the ones that became hot topics on the internet.
It felt like a popup obviously aimed at making money by lumping together popular characters and ghost story items, but the quality was still decent.
‘Right. When would I ever get to come to a place like this…’
I quickly gathered the items I wanted to buy while ignoring the stares.
Fortunately, since I had bought most of what I wanted last week, there weren’t many popular items among the things I put in my basket. At least the suspicious looks about me being a reseller disappeared.
“Would you like to purchase an L-size eco bag to carry your items? It’s 5,000 won.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I finished paying without incident, but I couldn’t leave the popup store right away and was hesitating.
I turned my head to look at the space next to the checkout counter where people were gathered in line.
[Roulette Event]
: Create your own Dark Exploration Records character.
That thing.
Actually, I saw it last week too, but I couldn’t bring myself to wait in line and participate in that, so I left…
‘I heard this popup ends tomorrow.’
I was intensely conflicted about whether it was worth trading my social dignity for this.
The employee who had just finished their shift at the register looked at me with a smile and spoke.
“The roulette event ends today! Would you like to participate?”
“…Yes.”
Thank you.
Really, thank you. Employee….
“Yes! Then please come this way! Ah, please stand here….”
The employee nimbly guided me to the line in front of the giant black roulette, and thanks to that, I was able to naturally stand at the end of the line.
The line moved faster than I expected.
I soon found myself standing at the front, receiving a button that looked like a walkie-talkie.
“Then we’ll start with the lucky roulette first! Please stop it with the button whenever you want.”
Whirrrr.
The roulette wheel began spinning with an artificial sound effect.
I could see rankings and prizes in each section.
Goods I had already purchased, goods not sold as exhibition items, and even random Bluetooth earphones….
Of course, the largest section for 7th place was just something like a small memo pad. I’d probably land there.
Still, it was fine. Wasn’t I about to leave without even being able to participate?
‘Don’t get your hopes up.’
I thought this while carefully pressing the button the employee gave me.
Whirrrrrr… click.
However, my black roulette slowly came to a stop and… surprisingly stopped here.
A thin golden section.
[1st Place]
: Darkness Investigation Records Real Goods Box
“…!”
“Oh! Congratulations!”
Is this… for real?
“Wow, crazy!”
“I’m so jealous, damn it.”
Screams, exclamations, and jealous voices could be heard from behind as it became noisy.
“Wow, finally a 1st place winner on the last day before the popup closes!”
The employee seemed more excited than me and ran behind the roulette, then returned carrying a large box wrapped in plastic.
The black box with a giant symbol embossed in silver foil looked like a carefully crafted product in itself.
I barely managed to accept the box without my hands trembling.
“…Thank you.”
Quickly… I need to quickly leave and slap my face or something. Is this really happening?
I tried to leave the Popup Store immediately, but the employee stopped me.
“Ah! We’d like to give you our on-site custom goods, we just need your name!”
My name? My personal information became public property long ago when portal sites got hacked anyway. The important thing is just getting this home safely…!
“Kim Sol-eum.”
“Yes! Sol-eum, just a moment please.”
The employee operated a black vending machine that looked like a 3D printer next to the roulette.
It seemed to be made for the popup store, with explanatory text attached above.
[Darkness Investigation Records Character Maker]
Ah. Is that the thing that was attached as a subtitle to the roulette event?
…’Create Your Own Darkness Investigation Records Character’, that is.
It really couldn’t be anything but teenage taste….
“Please enter your name here.”
“…Yes.”
I gripped the goods box tightly with one hand and quickly entered my name on the vending machine’s pad.
The black vending machine made quite a loud and ominous music box sound, then performed a flashy show of turning gears.
Then it spat out a small object.
Clack.
I picked up that familiar-looking thing.
It was… an employee ID card.
[Daydream Corporation]
Employee Kim Sol-eum
Field Investigation Team
“Wow! Daydream Corporation. That’s one of the three most famous factions in our !”
“….”
Yes. I know.
To put it simply, it’s the big corporation cliché that does business with supernatural phenomena.
And among them, the Field Investigation Team is….
‘It’s like a suicide squad department.’
Like the red shirts from that SF drama. They keep going in to investigate supernatural phenomena and getting slaughtered.
Of course, thanks to that, many named characters seemed to belong to this Field Investigation Team.
“Wow! It’s a Field Investigation Team employee ID. I’m really looking forward to what kind of activities Employee Kim Sol-eum would have in the world!”
“Yes, thank you….”
I felt like my hands and feet would curl up in embarrassment, but I endured it.
‘At least it’s not a government agency or cult organization employee ID.’
It was rather fortunate that it was a company employee ID.
Though a bit embarrassing, the employee seemed unfazed like a capitalist society worker, probably having built up immunity from saying it so many times.
Anyway, receiving this employee ID seemed to end the roulette event.
“Thank you.”
I looked at the employee ID with my name printed on it and groaned inwardly.
‘This… I need to hide this somewhere out of sight.’
No matter what, my resistance to embarrassment couldn’t seem to hold out this far.
Meanwhile, the employee excitedly asked.
“Do you like it? You’ll treasure it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Liar.”
…?
I thought I misheard and looked up.
Grin.
The employee suddenly looked at me with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Unnaturally elongated upward, as if reaching their ears….
“…?”
At that moment.
Suddenly dizziness struck my head.
“…!”
The noise of the Popup Store disappeared.
My vision swayed dizzily as if covered with black paint, flickering red and blue.
And when the dizziness finally subsided.
I never dreamed that the entire world would be completely changed.
[Welcome everyone who has joined Daydream Corporation!]
“…!?”
I found myself looking at the central podium from a corner of some large lecture hall.
And.
Waaaah!!
Along with cheers, fireworks effects burst from the large beam projector PowerPoint presentation on the podium.
[New Employee Orientation]
While new graduates in suits politely sent applause and cheers, someone who appeared to be the host smiled brightly and advanced the PowerPoint presentation.
Anyone could see this was a major corporation’s new employee orientation event.
Faces filled with happiness at finally breaking through the gates of employment were excited with pride and nervousness.
[Our new employees who broke through 145:1 competition to join us have every right to be proud! Haha! Now let’s begin the new employee orientation!]
“….”
What is this.
I hesitated and tried to step back.
But I realized I was sitting in a chair.
My outfit was a suit. It was what I wore because I had client entertainment in the evening, but coincidentally, it looked similar to the ‘new employees’ who filled this lecture hall.
Meanwhile, the goods box I received from the roulette event was sitting quietly on my lap.
“Excuse me, where did you get that? Is it something the company handed out?”
“….”
I couldn’t even respond to the question from the new employee sitting next to me.
[You are the chosen successful candidates!]
[Actually, among the personnel recruited through this new employee announcement, only very special people have been brought to Lecture Hall Room A for orientation!]
[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and been assigned to the special team, .]
“We already got our assignments?”
“Field Investigation Team? Does Daydream Corporation have such a place?”
“Field investigation at a pharmaceutical company…?”
“Uh, somehow it sounds like a place where you get exiled? Isn’t it a branch office, not headquarters? They’re just trying to deceive us with nice-sounding words….”
Whispered conversations could be heard from all directions behind the host’s back, but I had no time to focus on them.
Because I recognized the familiar company name and team name.
Daydream Corporation.
Field Investigation Team.
…Like being struck by lightning, a wiki page came to mind.
[Field Investigation Team] (Daydream Corporation)
: One of five teams under the Development Department of Daydream Corporation, a major force appearing in .
But thanks to that, people who write ghost stories have fun.
‘Wait a minute.’
…This is the original ghost story from the popup store I just participated in.
Then what will happen next is….
A crazy department that makes people go through death survival starting from the hiring orientation to filter out regular employees.
It’s also a consistently popular wiki writing subject because it reminds us what happens when ordinary people do dark exploration.
“…!”
“Uh, what, what are you doing….”
I immediately kicked my chair and stood up.
Forget understanding the situation, I was thinking of running straight outside.
But it was already too late.
[However, before official employment, there’s a brief probationary period, it’s not long! Your practical aptitude will be judged through absolute evaluation.]
[Of course, for proper individual evaluation, active participation is essential, right? We’ll catch all free riders!]
Bang, bang bang bang.
The lecture hall doors closed one after another.
‘Damn!’
Meanwhile, the innocent new employees who still thought was just a major pharmaceutical company hadn’t grasped the situation yet.
Thus, while about a hundred new employees listened attentively to the host’s words, the host shouted brightly and energetically.
[Now, let’s begin!]
Along with that cheerful voice.
The lecture hall lights went out.
“…?”
“Huh?”
Wondering if they were preparing to show a video or something, the new employees were still just slightly puzzled.
That was understandable.
‘How could they have expected such crazy things to happen suddenly after getting hired.’
For instance.
The surrounding scenery suddenly changing to inside a desolate subway train.
[Dear passengers, thank you for using Abyss Transportation Corporation today…. Our train does not stop.]
[For comfortable travel to the final destination, please listen carefully to the announcements.]
An announcement with an unfamiliar name I’d never heard before in my life.
“…!?”
“What, what is this!?”
The new employees who had been sitting in subway seats in their suits as if the lecture hall had been moved as-is, jumped up.
It was understandable to be flustered.
“Excuse me?”
“Is this like VR? Did we really move?”
Still, it seemed like many people who had been in the lecture hall until just now were still there. So perhaps feeling somewhat reassured, complacent reactions were the majority.
Looking around the subway here and there to find traces of the company, or searching for event hosts or people who appear to be company employees.
And soon they get a reasonable grasp of the situation.
“There are other people in the front car! The door is… huh, the door won’t open, what’s this?”
“Is this some kind of new technology?”
I closed my eyes tightly and opened them again, feeling like I might break out in a cold sweat.
Because I had already figured out what kind of ghost story this was in my head.
[Welcome to Abyss Transportation Corporation]
: A ghost story that appears in .
And the Field Investigation Team that suffers eternally
Explorations were recorded up to ■■ times.
.
As you can see at a glance, it’s a ghost story based on Korean subways.
-You fall asleep and wake up inside a subway. It feels like the commute home, but somewhere strange station names begin to be heard…
That kind of opening.
Since the ghost story’s prey had the comprehensive criterion of ‘people who have commuted by subway,’ most office workers qualified, which had the effect of making readers feel more chilled.
“….”
‘And this ghost story is… under Daydream Corporation’s jurisdiction.’
It seemed that with this ghost story, Daydream Corporation was going to ‘filter out’ new employees. …Damn!
“Is it like an escape room?”
“Why would a pharmaceutical company that makes hair loss medicine need an escape room for new sales employees…”
That’s when it happened.
[This station is Sorrow, Sorrow Station.]
“…!”
“Sor…row?”
The first announcement came out.
I held my breath and turned my head.
[The exit door is on the right…]
Clunk.
The train stops.
[The platform screen door is opening.]
The door opens.
It’s like any ordinary day.
[The doors will close in 30 seconds. There will be no turning back.]
[Passengers whose final destination is Sorrow Station must get off according to the announcement.]
A familiar voice kindly speaks, mixing strange words and phrases into the announcement.
But people tend to find something to feel reassured about and rationalize it.
“Look outside! It’s just a subway station!”
Literally so.
Outside the train door, the platform was clearly visible. It looked a bit dark and humid, but it appeared to be an ordinary subway station platform anyway.
Delighted by this, two or three people headed toward the door.
Ah, damn.
“I think it would be better not to get off.”
“Excuse me?”
This is driving me crazy. I held back a sigh and spoke quickly.
“You heard them say Sorrow Station just now. Where in Korea would there be such a station? Anyone can tell this is strange.”
“Ah….”
“Um, I think this person is right. You should observe the situation a bit more….”
One quick-witted person agrees with me. It’s the new employee who was sitting next to me.
Perhaps because of this, the people who were about to get off become more confused.
“Still….”
“Hey, the door’s closing!”
However, at the sound of the door closing, a few impatient people impulsively rush outside…
We’re screwed.
[The doors are closing.]
“Ah!”
“Couldn’t get off. Ah, damn.”
Seeing the ‘people who got off’ waving from the station platform, those who couldn’t get off sigh regretfully.
There’s even someone who glances at me and mutters curses under their breath.
I understand. In an unfamiliar and bizarre situation, they’d want to turn their brain off and just run away.
But still.
“Huh?”
“That….”
A grotesque scene unfolds.
As the people who went out to the station platform turn around and try to move,
suddenly countless silver droplets burst from the station platform ceiling and pillars, pouring down over their heads.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
They looked like giant tears.
However, the countless silver droplets poured onto human bodies like molten metal, creating terrible bursting sounds.
Screams. Screams. Convulsions.
Silence.
Blood mixed with silver liquid splattered on the glass window.
[The train is departing from Sorrow Station.]
The last view outside the window.
“….”
In front of the platform screen door, soaked with filth and blood, only the mangled remains of the new employees were left behind.
Writhing.
“Aaaaah!”
“Ugh!”
It was the fate of those who chose wrong.
[Please listen to the announcements for a comfortable journey to your destination.]
Among the people shrinking in terror, screams and shouts finally began to stain the air.
‘It’s starting.’
I squeezed my eyes shut tight.
I’ve entered a ghost story?
I don’t know how the hell I ended up in this situation, but I’m definitely sure I’ve become a new employee on a company team from within a ghost story.
And it’s a team with an extremely high mortality rate at that.
‘Real Fantasy?’
Right. To be honest, I’m probably in a more advantageous position than other new employees.
After all, I’ve read through this entire ghost story wiki, haven’t I?
3.2 Exploration Records
This means I remember up to roughly this level in quite detailed fashion.
And looking at it up to this point, I seem like a typical overpowered protagonist.
Can you picture my cool self escaping this situation by possessing into a world I love and enjoying the absolute superiority that informational advantage provides?
Do you think I should feel a bit confident about monopolizing future opportunities and items?
That could be the case.
But there’s one problem.
A very critical problem.
‘…I fucking can’t handle scary stuff!’
That’s right.
The fact that I’m… a coward.
Text is fine. I can read it with interest.
But the moment it becomes visualized, I’m a coward who absolutely can’t endure it.
And not just any coward, but a coward who gets mercilessly mocked among my friends!
-Is it true that Kim Sol-eum rejected his crush when she suggested watching a horror movie because he couldn’t handle it?
-hahahahahahahaha
-Shit, Sol-eum, your name literally means “goosebumps” but you can’t watch horror movies? lololololol
Even the girl you were talking to would run away lol
Haha-
Wanna die?-
-Sorry.
-Sorry.
I’m such a coward that even when reading ghost stories at the office during broad daylight, if scary background images or BGM played, I’d turn off data and make only text appear!
Such a coward that I couldn’t even put a single image in the ghost stories I submitted, a long-term resident of the scaredy-cat shelter!
“…”
I covered my eyes with both hands.
I’m already… screwed…
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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