Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 127

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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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Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work Episode 127

[What strange questions you keep asking! Did I enjoy it? Of course. I’m an entertainer who can enjoy any role…]

“So, Good Friend wasn’t particularly more fun than other roles? Not at all?”

[…]

Kim Sol-eum’s body, controlled by Lee Ja-heon, remains perfectly still and composed.

The giant TV screen lights up.

[I understand what you’re trying to say.]

[You want me to move that warm stuffed doll filled with cotton and become your Good Friend again? Hahaha!]

[Continue playing the delightful Good Friend role!]

A rabbit doll appeared on the giant TV screen and waved its hand. Just like a certain moment from a month ago.

But Kim Sol-eum didn’t waver.

“Then you must have enjoyed it. I miss it.”

[Oh. Kim Sol-eum.]

The TV speaks cheerfully as if mocking.

The rabbit doll on screen looks around fearfully before sitting in a corner.

[Unfortunately, this Good Friend has already been torn apart and turned to ash! You’ll never meet again!]

“No. That’s you.”

[…!]

“The cotton doll was just an appearance.”

That’s right.

In the end, the one who willingly accepted the constraints of Good Friend and moved using that stuffed doll as a body was… the host before his eyes.

Even showing that rabbit doll on screen now.

‘It’s you.’

He had told the story himself directly.

“I’ve heard such stories before.”

Kim Sol-eum’s calm voice is heard.

“Even actors, when they take on impressive roles, sometimes can’t easily break away from the character even after the role ends.”

Because.

“The role was very interesting or they became deeply immersed in it. It seems like traces remain even after it ends.”

[…]

He recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier.

The host who had frozen upon seeing the cotton doll he had inhabited burst apart.

‘Honestly, he would have known that the stuffed doll bursting wouldn’t kill me.’

Wasn’t he the one who put himself in there in the first place?

Going further, it was strange that the talk show host would allow silence to flow through the show just because one cast member died.

He was the type who would display crying emoticons on his TV head, pretend to mourn, and then use that as material for the next corner.

But if he panicked even briefly and tried to stuff the cotton back in.

That was definitely strange.

“I wondered if you might be like that too.”

[Oh. Are you saying that pathetic being pretending to be a great host has such amateurish professionalism that he’d be influenced by a mask he only wore for a few months…?]

“I don’t see why that’s amateurish. Originally, great actors suffer because they assimilate with their roles. It’s because they immersed themselves so vividly.”

[That’s…]

“Right?”

Lee Ja-heon continues to relay Kim Sol-eum’s words in a dry tone.

“And though it’s a bit different… I also received a lot of comfort from your ‘Good Friend.'”

[…]

“Thank you. In difficult situations, having you as a friend was a great help and comfort. And… there were many fun moments too.”

Kim Sol-eum’s voice resonates.

“Don’t you feel the same?”

[…]

[Oh my.]

The host’s voice becomes lower.

[Though embarrassing, I must admit it. Yes. It was a very fresh and enjoyable experience!]

[Outstanding talent as a show creator and performer is rare, so watching your progress and interfering was quite a unique pleasure…]

“I see.”

However.

“That’s exactly why I don’t want to work at the talk show even more.”

A calm voice emerges.

“First of all, I’m a bit scared of this talk show. It’s not that it’s boring, but honestly, it’s hard for me to work here. You know my personality too.”

Just thinking about people dying made him shudder. Contributing to that work here was truly chilling…

Moreover, Kim Sol-eum knew.

‘Just because I try to persuade him, would that host suddenly make ethical judgments?’

Absolutely not.

Just as Kim Sol-eum, remaining as Kim Sol-eum, would feel resistance to working as staff for this talk show.

And actually, not being able to feel that resistance would also be a big problem.

Whether brainwashing or contamination, it meant the disappearance of one’s self.

“Honestly, even though you called me a business partner, I unilaterally became a member of your crew. The atmosphere was that I should call you Host.”

Substance attaches to the joke-like words.

“In that state, we can’t continue being friends. I’d just become subordinated. I can’t act independently.”

Kim Sol-eum looked beyond his field of vision.

“Then you’d quickly find it boring too.”

[…]

“So I have to go back. …That way, it’ll be much more fun for you too.”

A strange light flickered across the TV’s surface.

Perhaps that’s why the host wanted to keep him working on the talk show in as moderate a state as possible, without drastically changing his way of thinking, Kim Sol-eum guessed.

Like getting soaked by a gentle drizzle.

‘That worked to some extent… but not like this.’

He couldn’t stay in this eerie place forever.

Still though.

“But that doesn’t mean I think we can’t be friends.”

[…!]

“Do you remember what I said?”

-Friends try to understand each other’s differences, and even when that doesn’t work well, they still care for each other.

-…Through conversation.

“We don’t have to work at the same workplace. We can be friends just fine by sharing our daily lives with each other.”

Since the water had already been spilled anyway, he needed to reestablish the power dynamic with that entity he had summoned from now on.

If he couldn’t avoid it, he had to face it.

“It doesn’t have to be Good Friend. Just being friends would be enough.”

The Stuffed Doll inside the TV seemed intrigued by these words, leaning its body toward the screen as if listening intently.

Kim Sol-eum wanted to smile.

“If you’re okay with it, how about we get along this way.”

[Oh ho.]

[But what if I’m not okay with it?]

The Stuffed Doll inside the TV was flustered, but the giant host’s voice became softer and more cunning.

[Look at this, Sol-eum. Look at how your barbaric Swordsman destroyed the set. This space filled with the staff’s sweat and tears, the cost of this ruffian who disrupted the broadcast is…]

That’s when it happened.

Thump thump thump!

The giant Rabbit Doll inside the TV suddenly jumped up and raised its cotton-filled hands to start hitting the screen.

As if protesting those words!

[…! Good heavens, this is…]

The TV hurriedly turned off.

The giant host’s hand adjusted the antenna as if controlling something. But the TV flickered, showing glimpses of the Good Friend Stuffed Doll rampaging inside.

Eventually the host gave up in frustration and withdrew his hand.

And then…

[There’s no choice.]

Flicker.

All the stage lights blinked briefly, and then in that moment.

[Very well.]

The host was suddenly standing before Kim Sol-eum in his original form.

-…!

[Yes… watching what kind of performance you’ll put on and interfering with it is quite enjoyable indeed.]

[Who would have thought my mask would be such a nuisance…]

The host spoke politely, with a somewhat resigned tone.

[This Brown acknowledges it.]

[That accompanying your unique, creative, and nail-biting developments has been very interesting and fun…]

[That playing the Good Friend role was uniquely enjoyable.]

“….”

Kim Sol-eum realized.

Naturally, it was the host himself who was controlling the Stuffed Doll inside the TV screen.

So, the Rabbit Doll’s rampage earlier was… because some part within that host’s existence felt that way.

Traces of Good Friend.

“….”

The Sacred Fire Bombardment that had struck the talk show had also ended at some point.

The lights returned, and in the set that looked like even its half-destroyed state was part of the design, Brown gazed at Kim Sol-eum.

At the friend beyond his sight.

[But now there’s no cotton-filled body.]

Ah.

[Of course… an excellent host always has a Plan B.]

As the host moved his gloved hand like magic, a silver-gleaming coin appeared between his fingers.

The Silver Snake.

-…!

It was the coin item that Kim Sol-eum had put in when summoning Good Friend.

When that item, which he thought had been burned away with the doll, appeared, Kim Sol-eum’s personality stirred from beyond.

“I definitely burned it…”

[Haha, an excellent entertainer always has some skill in magic as well. It’s just a modest little trick.]

Clink.

The coin fell from Brown’s hand into the front pocket of Kim Sol-eum’s business suit.

To the place where Good Friend had always been together.

Fingers tapped the pocket lightly.

[Take it! And if you call me once more with a suitable medium like before… I will come. Noru.]

-…!

Unlike the surprised Kim Sol-eum, Lee Ja-heon calmly pronounced his words with his mouth.

“That’s right.”

[Oh, but that friend might not be as kind as before.]

“Then that means he could also be kind.”

[…You’re acting like a language magician, friend!]

Brown’s TV still displayed nothing but black, yet the clean screen reflected Kim Sol-eum’s face.

Kim Sol-eum spoke with a desire to smile.

“See you again.”

[A preview for the next episode!]

[Not bad at all.]

The host raised both hands.

[Now then, let’s give a round of applause to my temporary crew who are leaving this enchanting and wonderful studio to challenge the terrible reality!]

Wow!!

Kim Sol-eum turned his head in surprise.

The audience seats were still filled, and the cameras had their lights on.

And on the stage, ‘Special Programming Bonus Time! Host’s Behind-the-Scenes (Sensitive personal information will be censored)’ was displayed.

‘Come to think of it, we were still in commercial break…’

It seems this was being broadcast too…

‘Really loves the show.’

I hope they at least censored my personal information properly.

Kim Sol-eum wanted to express both a sigh and a hollow laugh.

[Now, time to exit.]

The host requests a handshake from Kim Sol-eum.

Kim Sol-eum asked the mercenary controlling his body to accept that handshake.

And he hears it.

A low whisper.

[Mr. Noru.]

[It better be as entertaining as you guaranteed. We’ll see if you can manage that…]

-…

If Kim Sol-eum had a body, he might have frozen while breaking out in cold sweat for a moment.

However, controlled by Manager Lee Ja-heon, he was able to calmly bow his head toward the audience and then run out through the broken guest door with vigorous steps.

[Well then, have a pleasant exit!]

He exits the talk show set.

In the glimpse of the audience seats, he noticed that unlike before, they weren’t ordinary people but bizarre ‘viewers’…

Though eerie, strangely his mood felt lighter.

Waaaah!

From behind, the voice of the cheerful and eerie talk show host, his friend, can be heard…

[That was… Brown’s Late Night Talk Show!]

“…!”

I opened my eyes.

I could see the dim sky where dawn was breaking.

The everyday dawn that I knew.

‘…I’m out!’

“Ha.”

I took a deep breath and stretched out on the ground.

For some reason, I was lying against a park bench in an unknown park.

‘Did they leave me here.’

The sense of liberation was driving me crazy.

Being able to move my own body was good, and safely coming outside was good too…

Anyway, everything felt fine.

“Whew.”

Did Team Leader Lee Ja-heon return properly?

No, is my contamination state okay? I don’t understand how such clear and normal thinking is possible.

‘…Wait a minute. Could it be that eating those churros and vomiting…’

Hmm. This is still just speculation, so I’ll skip it.

What’s important is this.

‘…It’s an escape after a month!’

“Haaaah…”

I stretched out spread-eagle again.

What should I do now?

I had lost all the company items, so I didn’t have the Dream Essence Collector, employee ID card, or mask.

‘I think I should talk to the company first…’

…

…Wait a minute.

Did I just go AWOL for a month?

If so, then surely.

‘Termination processing…?!’

Then what about my points?

I sat up as if doused with cold water.

‘My phone.’

I had to check immediately.

Forget fatigue and liberation and all that – with blood running cold, I was about to figure out how to contact them when.

Something sparkled above my head.

A strange phenomenon that felt like I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

[Darkness Investigation Records Real Goods Box]

-New goods usage permission unlocked! (!)

“…!”

And what’s falling from the air is….

Thud.

I looked at the goods in my hand, still with the checkout barcode attached.

Goods made compact to reduce the price burden, but with such precision that the price was still considerable.

A cylinder with metal decoration.

Exactly….

Dream Collector (Elite Team Exclusive)

And inside that cylinder was already filled with a gleaming golden liquid….

I lifted it up with trembling hands.

A solution with a hologram-like radiance I’d never seen before.

‘This is….’

A-grade or higher.

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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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