Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 133
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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 133
Me, a Disaster Management Bureau rescue team member.
When I can barely take care of myself, I have to enter ghost stories to save citizens.
‘Is this a dream?’
But it was reality.
I even had to enter a ghost story right now to rescue people.
7:30 PM.
It was exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes after the aptitude test ended and I was appointed.
But I had already received agent equipment from headquarters due to a Bronze Agent’s emergency request.
And I was riding a Disaster Management Bureau public bicycle, racing toward the ghost story incident site.
‘…The sun has completely set.’
Riding a bicycle in this cold and looking at the dim outside makes me shiver and think many thoughts…
“Citizens caught up in supernatural disasters can also request rescue through the number on the guidance notice the Bureau has prepared in advance.”
Yes…
‘And I also know that number is a mysterious rescue number that sometimes works even inside ghost stories.’
Listening to the Disaster Management Bureau-style ghost story rescue briefing makes my mind feel hazy.
I pedaled the bicycle almost mechanically, following the agent.
“When entering supernatural disasters, bicycles are actually safer than traveling by car.”
‘Yes. Most transportation methods either don’t work in ghost stories or can cause the worst kinds of accidents…’
It was fun when reading the setting, but actually doing it was really cold and difficult.
By the way, the equipment was more abundant than what I received as a temporary agent.
Glass cloth, iron badge, notebook, and… fishing line.
“You must never lose the fishing line. It’s a necessary tool when you need to make an emergency escape alone from this supernatural disaster.”
“…Yes.”
I felt a bit guilty remembering what happened when I was a temporary agent before, but I won’t deny that I was somewhat excited.
Of course, the most important thing is this.
So which ghost story am I entering right now!
“The supernatural disaster we’re entering now to rescue citizens is…”
The disaster is?
The Bronze Agent glanced back at my expression, hesitated for a moment, then continued in a slightly kinder tone.
“…You don’t need to be so nervous. The citizen who requested rescue won’t die during the time it takes to hear the explanation.”
“…Yes.”
The direction of that kindness is wrong…
“Let’s start with the explanation.”
“Yes.”
I said I understand.
The Bronze Agent turned his head forward again and spoke while cycling through the desolate neighborhood with no people around.
“Kim Sol-eum, do you remember a chain called Lucky Mart?”
“…”
“It’s a chain that withdrew from Korea 11 years ago, but it’s famous in English-speaking countries… Agent?”
“Yes. I’ve heard of it.”
‘Oh my goodness.’
It’s not just that I’ve heard of it.
I know it so well it’s problematic.
A giant mart chain called Lucky Mart.
…A ghost story based on that motif.
Back in the very early days when 【Dark Exploration Records】 was still a record of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau. It was also the seventh creative ghost story written.
People who urgently went out to find a mart at night accidentally discovered a Lucky Mart branch and entered it.
And they disappeared.
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story [Looky Mart]: A ghost story that appears in 【Dark Exploration Records】, the registration number of the Supernatural Disaster Management Agency is 1793PSYA.2001.Na31. A ghost story about wandering forever, unable to escape from a bizarre phenomenon that mimics a large-scale shopping mall. It is a strange phenomenon that has been involved in the disappearance of at least 300 people over several decades, and is classified as a wave-level disaster by the Supernatural Disaster Management Agency. The currently known termination and sealing method is None It is also impossible to proactively prevent disappearances. However, Guidelines to help missing individuals escape were placed inside the Ghost Story Mart, and the investigative records were written based on reports from citizens who returned to reality with the help of the guideline.
=======================
A large shopping mall.
It was a familiar everyday space, but at the same time, an exciting and chilling story that maximized the fear caused by the mechanically repetitive, massive-scale space.
That is, when reading it.
‘It’s Catastrophic-class.’
That’s two levels higher than the mountain lodge with the serial killer where I met the Bronze Agent, according to the Disaster Management Bureau classification.
In Baekillmong Corporation terms, it’s close to B-grade!
I broke out in cold sweat and racked my brain.
‘…Were there more cases where Disaster Management Bureau agents successfully rescued civilians from Lucky Mart?’
Most… seemed to have been successfully rescued.
Of course, there were many cases in the exploration records where special situations occurred and things went wrong. But usually, those special cases are what get recorded in detail on wikis, so I shouldn’t be too nervous… damn it.
‘I want to check it directly.’
I don’t know why the item repair isn’t completed.
Memorial grip tok!
I sighed, thinking of my item for checking 【Dark Exploration Records】, where the adhesive still hadn’t hardened and remained as is.
‘They definitely said the repair would be finished after a month.’
The agent who was imitating a dokkaebi didn’t seem like they were lying.
‘…It must be one of two things.’
Either the item that popped out of the goods box couldn’t be properly repaired.
…Or because I spent the past month in ghost stories, it wasn’t properly counted as a ‘period.’
‘Either way, I need a backup plan.’
Lucky Mart was such a famous ghost story that I remembered almost every detail. In that sense, it might actually be fortunate that a well-known ghost story appeared…
‘But there will come a time when this kind of luck won’t work anymore.’
Remembering how I couldn’t recall the Silver Heart Owner’s identity during the Tamra Express incident still makes my heart feel cold.
To avoid facing such a situation again, the Memorial grip tok was absolutely necessary.
‘Now that I’m an agent, getting a new one should actually be easier.’
Let me keep getting a new one as Plan B in my head, in case this one continues not being repaired.
I pondered while thinking of the broken Memorial grip tok I had carefully stored in padding in my pocket.
Meanwhile, the Bronze Agent’s ‘Lucky Mart’ briefing continued.
“It’s a disaster that can only be entered after sunset, but the rescue caller’s timing was lucky.”
“…May I ask about the rescue caller’s appearance and clothing?”
The Bronze Agent spoke matter-of-factly.
“Two high school first-year students.”
Wow.
‘Of all things, minors…’
Now I can’t even cut and run in the middle due to guilt.
I held back a sigh and studied the appearance description and explanation given at the time of the report that the Bronze Agent handed me.
The Bronze Agent looked at me with what seemed like an empathetic gaze and said.
“…Don’t worry too much. The explanation about being able to survive for about half a day applies to high school students too.”
“…Yes.”
I’m really starting to feel guilty.
“However, two agents who entered earlier are currently in short-term missing status in that supernatural disaster.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. They weren’t rescue agents. It was an accident that happened during routine sealing method exploration.”
What hopeful news, Agent…
“Since we need to proceed with the rescue operation with vigilance, please refrain from impulsive actions. Absolutely.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Words like ‘Do we really have to bring a new agent in there?’ rose to my throat, but I held them back.
Anyway, that person knows I’m an experienced new hire, so there’s no way they’ll go easy on me.
Ding.
I listened to the cheerful sound from the bicycle bell with not-so-cheerful feelings as I continued pedaling.
And the Bronze Agent naturally slowed down and began letting me take the lead.
“…Agent?”
“We’ll be ‘wandering around’ like this for over 20 minutes. …Since someone who doesn’t properly know the location of that building needs to lead the way, please move ahead.”
I remember.
In the cold, I silently pedaled my bicycle around the unfamiliar neighborhood.
With the constant purpose of finding a mart in my head, looking around and wandering without navigation…
“…Bronze Agent.”
I stopped my bicycle.
“I think I found it.”
And I saw a fairly large 3-story building standing tall between the dark streetlights…
Green sparkling mart signage.
Saengsaeng Mart
It wasn’t a chain store, but a local mart with its own brand that you’d find one of in any neighborhood.
“…”
No.
The moment I blinked again…
LUCKYMART
In front of the mart building, I can see the familiar chain store logo.
As if it hadn’t been maintained for several years, the electronic display letters were covered in dust or some sections weren’t lit at all.
“…”
If I look more closely, more carefully at the unlit sections here…
Flicker.
The lights come on.
LOOKY MART
A different phrase from what I had casually read was there…
“Don’t be too conscious of it.”
“…!”
That’s right.
LUCKYMART
I saw Lucky Mart.
‘Good thing I was looking for a mart.’
I parked my bicycle nearby and approached the mart building that was still lit and open for business.
Let’s naturally enter ‘Lucky Mart’ like this.
After all, Lucky Mart is a huge mart chain spread throughout this country, so if I don’t intentionally think about it, there’s no reason to be nervous…
When spotting the mart after sunset, one enters with the illusion that Lucky Mart hasn’t withdrawn yet.
The automatic door opens smoothly as I enter the bright interior.
It was a typical mart.
Somewhat old-fashioned and cheap, but with enough everyday familiarity that you could casually pass it off as an old neighborhood mart.
First Floor. Daily necessities section.
Children’s toys are piled up on seasonal special display stands.
An out-of-season pop song plays.
“Is that the idol song you like?”
“No mom! They’re rookies who just debuted from MS Entertainment…”
Shopping people pass by.
…A family holding old smartphones, dressed in clothes that were trendy over 10 years ago.
Past shoppers.
Upon entry, shoppers casually doing their shopping can be seen, and these have been confirmed to be actual past shoppers from when Lucky Mart was in operation.
“…”
“Hahaha!”
The shoppers passed by to the side.
Not only were their clothes out of fashion, but considering the cold winter outside, their thin clothing created a sense of disconnect.
As if only inside this mart, with just one door between, the flow of time was different.
“They’re not people caught in a disaster. Ignore them.”
“…”
I slowly nodded my head.
‘The rescue reporters are… estimated to be somewhere on basement level 1.’
Reporter 1: Pl-please help us. We came into a mart but something’s wrong…! N-no one can see us, and it’s like, like an old mart.
Reporter 1: Our surroundings? Uh, w-well… we’re near the snack corner right now. Yes, w-we’re thirsty too…
“Moving to the basement.”
I nodded and slowly followed the agent.
This place, which seemed to perfectly recreate the past Lucky Mart, still looked fine for now.
No, I might have even felt wonder and nostalgia as if I had entered the past.
That is, if I didn’t know this was a ghost story.
“…”
My throat tightened with tension.
Damn, this is driving me crazy.
All the terrible cases I saw in the Darkness Investigation Records are coming to mind.
Come to think of it, ‘Lucky Mart’ was also a ghost story with particularly many unexpected situations in the investigation records…!
‘C-calm down.’
The Bronze Agent wouldn’t have suddenly brought a new employee on hardcore difficulty rescue work.
I swallowed as I rode the escalator down.
Then… between the two escalators going up and down, I discovered what looked like a receipt-like piece of paper that had fallen.
Wait a minute.
‘Could that be…’
I quickly reached out and grabbed that receipt-like note.
“…! You found it already. That’s a guidance document distributed by the Management Bureau.”
Right.
An escape assistance guide placed here and there, avoiding the eyes of employees, for civilians innocently caught up in this ghost story.
‘The reporters probably saw this too.’
I checked the contents of the receipt.
Take a deep breath slowly.
You are caught up in a supernatural disaster.
However, there is no need to despair.
There are at least dozens of cases of successful escape from this disaster, and the government has recorded escape methods here for you.
Check the guidance document on the back page.
…Hmm, just reading it makes me feel like I’d get anxiety – it’s really a typical manual ghost story guidance document.
‘Before making people take deep breaths, they should probably fix the red color and font first….’
But the content itself was exactly as I knew it.
When I turned to the back page, the guidance document was the same too.
‘…I’m not sure which version this is.’
Among the escape methods written in the guidance document, there are several that no longer work as exploration rounds accumulate.
This is because situations change as objects, targets, and structures change over time.
‘Of course, there are also contents that don’t change.’
Like this.
The ghosts standing at all entrances do not move until business hours end. Don’t worry.
“….”
Right.
At the entrance I came through, there would also be a bizarre ‘ghost’ standing there by now….
And sneaking out while that ghost wasn’t looking was the easiest escape method.
If business hours haven’t ended even once since you entered, there’s still a chance.
You can get out by blocking the ghost’s view.
However, not everyone is lucky.
Reporter 1: Sob, yes. I saw the escape method in the guidance document, but we can’t do it…. We don’t have anything to throw over the ghost…. We couldn’t steal any products either. Our, our arms can’t reach…!
‘This is when an agent is needed.’
More precisely, someone who has useful items for this situation and knows how to use them properly.
So we had to secure the reporters’ identities and get out of here right before business hours ended.
‘When business hours end, it really becomes a horror escape game.’
And very fortunately, we were able to immediately spot two people in school uniforms near the escalator on Basement Level 1, at the Snack Corner.
“Huuuuung….”
Two High School Students stuck in the corner, crying loudly.
They’re the reporters.
“Would you like to speak to them directly?”
“…What?”
“Try it calmly. This is also practice.”
“Y, yes….”
For some reason, Bronze Agent looks at me with warm eyes.
I broke out in cold sweat for a different reason.
I carefully approached the two teenagers, crouched down in front of them, and made eye contact.
“Hello. You’re the ones who made the rescue report, right?”
“…!!”
“Uh, uhhhhh!”
Thud.
The two High School Students fell on their bottoms.
“You, you’re human, right?! You can see us, right?”
“Yes. I can see you clearly.”
I smiled as much as possible.
“We came after receiving the report. You’ve had such a hard time until now.”
“Huuuuung….”
The kids are shedding tears like faucets.
Even considering it’s midwinter and the sun set early, they would have been trapped for about 3 hours, and they seem completely fed up during that time.
“Wh, what about the entrance ghost? Can we really get out?”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
I pointed behind me and tossed all responsibility to Bronze Agent!
“The person behind me is a really capable agent…. Um, we’ll be able to get out.”
“Wow….”
And the High School Students seemed to gradually compare my disheveled appearance with Bronze Agent’s proper look, then slowly moved toward Bronze Agent.
‘Their survival instinct is working.’
“Um, are we leaving now?”
“That’s right.”
One kid completely stuck close and stood next to Bronze Agent like grabbing a lifeline.
Well done. That’s it!
I sighed in relief and checked the electronic watch on my wrist.
‘Then if we head to the entrance from now….’
[ 20 : 24 ]
8:24 PM.
As far as I know, the ‘Lucky Mart’ ghost story had time flow synchronized with reality down to these hours, minutes, and seconds.
‘Closing time is 11 o’clock.’
There was still plenty of time. We could manipulate with items and get out sufficiently.
And Bronze Agent seemed to be trying to explain the same thing.
“Closing time is 11 o’clock, so there’s still plenty of time. Calmly….”
Na na na na na na nan na na na na na nan~
“….”
…I unconsciously looked up.
The Lucky Mart logo song flows out cheerfully….
Like some kind of notification sound.
-Hello customers. Thank you for visiting Lucky Mart again today.
-As announced, our mart will close at 8:30 PM today, May 1st, in commemoration of Labor Day.
“…!”
-Customers still inside the store, please follow the staff’s guidance and exit outside.
Thud thud thud thud thud thunk.
The store lights slowly go out from far in the distance.
As if preparing for closing, only minimal lighting began to remain in the store.
…The escalator stops operating.
-We will make the announcement once more.
-Please follow the Employee’s guidance and exit outside.
“Why…!”
I covered the High School Student’s mouth and crouched down.
Do not be spotted by the Employee organizing the mart after business hours. They will guide you outside.
Outside is not Reality.
Na na na na na na nan na na na na na nan~
“…”
Damn it.
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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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Emily1811
What’s with the huge untranslated Korean text in the middle of the chapter TT