Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 145

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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 145

Jang Heo-un.

This colleague who had received the ‘Buffalo’ mask was originally someone whose face was shadowed with a gloominess that didn’t match his large build.

Even during the new employee orientation, he was covered in blood when he received his mask last, and was assigned to the Cleanup Team where he performed work that bordered on workplace harassment.

But I thought he had become somewhat more spirited after surviving in this tumultuous crazy pharmaceutical company…

“I heard you went missing, and since then I’ve been infiltrating the Disaster Management Bureau so I couldn’t hear any news… But I’m really glad to see you like this.”

Surprisingly, he now seemed quite calm.

‘…I guess the Disaster Management Bureau suits him better too.’

However, he kept glancing at my empty right arm and his face was gradually turning pale, probably unable to ask because he thought it might be rude.

In times like this, I should give him an appropriate answer.

I deliberately shook my empty sleeve lightly and smiled bitterly.

“My first mission was unlucky and I got stuck with something difficult. But since the Disaster Management Bureau says they’ll treat it, it should be fine.”

“Ah… I see.”

I can feel Go Young-eun’s strange gaze somehow, but let’s move on for now.

“I heard you were assigned to the Field Cleanup Team, Heo-un.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jang Heo-un’s face brightened a bit.

“Well, sometimes I have to see terrible, yes, such sights…”

Ah.

Right. The Field Cleanup Team is usually the job category that cleans up messes.

“Everyone is considerate since I’m new, so I’m gratefully adapting well.”

That was fortunate, but Jang Heo-un’s face darkened slightly again.

“Well, but… that’s why I’m more worried.”

“Yes?”

“I heard earlier that we really need to steal documents about dangerous ghost stories, but are we really… is this really okay?”

“…!”

“The Disaster Management Bureau is really responding to supernatural phenomena with a sense of mission, so I’m worried we might cause great damage.”

Hmm.

“If that were the case, would you quit?”

“…”

I can tell the answer without hearing it.

-No.

Because only people who desperately need the ‘Wish Potion’ come here.

I know that if it were any other situation, these people wouldn’t have acted selfishly. Especially when I think of the consideration and willpower Go Young-eun showed at Lucky Mart.

But there’s something ‘non-negotiable’ inside these people.

…Right.

‘If nothing’s going to change anyway…’

It would be better to at least feel more at ease.

“It’ll probably be okay even if we steal it.”

“…! Is, is that so?”

“Yes.”

This is the truth.

“The company won’t rashly try to mess with such high-grade ghost stories either. And we’re not completely stealing that ghost story, we’re just giving them information.”

Of course, Baekillmong Corporation isn’t trying to use it for good purposes, but as a result, that Extinction-grade disaster didn’t particularly become more harmful to humanity according to the Darkness Investigation records.

…Because it was already as harmful as it could possibly be.

“I think it’ll be fine as long as we don’t show excessive loyalty to the company and steal the supernatural disasters that the government manages.”

“Ah, of, of course…!”

What I should be worried about is something else.

‘I’m worried they might abandon us after the job is done…’

…Will Director Ho really not dispose of us after we’ve served our purpose?

It doesn’t matter to me since I’ll return to where I originally was once I get the Wish Potion, but those two need to be more careful not to get marked by the Disaster Management Bureau if they want to continue living in Korea.

Hmm.

“Should we first share our agent codenames so we don’t make mistakes with titles in the future?”

I pointed to myself.

“I’m ‘Grape.’ What about you, Heo-un?”

“Ah, I received the agent name Hwagak.”

“Hwagak?”

“Yes. They said it’s a traditional craft technique using cow horns… I was recommended it.”

Like a lie, he received a cow-related codename here too.

“I’m… Mint.”

And Go Young-eun also spoke up.

“It was often used as medicine in the old days, and I didn’t want to choose a name that… stood out too much.”

“I see. It seems like a good agent name.”

And we had a brief warm atmosphere while sharing recent updates.

Oh, I got vitamins too.

“The New Investigation Team has a somewhat individualistic atmosphere. But since I came back after going missing, my superiors gave me vitamins as a gift… Please have some too.”

“Ah.”

“Th, thank you.”

Honestly, if this were a normal company, these were colleagues I’d be quite satisfied working with.

…If only we weren’t in a situation where we’re infiltrating the government as spies for a crazy pharmaceutical company in a ghost story world.

‘Sigh.’

I also reported my recent situation appropriately.

“…! You’ll be discharged within a week!?”

“That’s right.”

The wound where my right arm was cut off was quickly settling down and getting better, whether the Disaster Management Bureau affiliated hospital had taken some kind of supernatural measures…

‘I think I’ll be able to return if I stay hospitalized for about another week.’

“And as soon as I’m discharged, I’ll experience various departments for 3 weeks as a temporary agent. If we happen to meet, please take care of me.”

“Of, of course!”

I’ll definitely go to the Field Cleanup Team. Please take care of me, Heo-un…

That’s when it happened.

“Um, Sol-eum. About that discharge.”

“Yes?”

Go Young-eun suddenly brought something up.

“You’ll also receive settlement and counseling before discharge, right? I mean, since you suffered major injuries in a kind of distress situation… I think you should also have your psychological trauma checked.”

“Ah, yes. They’ll probably introduce me to someone… Don’t worry. I’ll proceed carefully without revealing our information.”

“…”

However, Go Young-eun shook her head.

“Since you’re bound by this prohibition anyway and can’t reveal anything, I think it would be good if you spoke more comfortably.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“…Yes.”

Go Young-eun nodded slightly.

“And since we now ‘officially’ know each other at the Disaster Management Bureau… I’ll visit you in the hospital and pretend to exchange numbers. So we can naturally have personal contact occasionally.”

“Good. Ah, we’ll create an appropriate opportunity when we meet Heo-un next time.”

“Yes, yes…!”

In that way, we decided on our future course of action.

1. Create natural connection points with each other outside of the Fox Counseling Room.

2. Contact via anonymous messenger when critical or important incidents occur. Disguise as spam messages at this time.

“Then I’ll see you safely next time.”

“Yes. Please….”

I held back a sigh as I left the Fox Counseling Room.

‘Being a spy isn’t exactly ordinary work either.’

Especially when your superior is in that state.

To be safer, I needed more preparations.

I had already decided to make full preparations to avoid encountering any more insane situations like Lucky Mart.

‘Good.’

One week left until discharge.

‘I’ll prepare everything that needs to be prepared.’

And the first start was this.

I checked the text message I had sent before entering the counseling room earlier.

[Team Leader, would it be possible to talk on the phone this evening?]

A quick and concise reply had arrived.

[Yes.]

D-Team Leader Lee Ja-heon.

A response from my former superior.

The purpose was simple.

‘Lee Ja-heon had a doll he bought from Lucky Mart.’

It was definitely the same item that had been on Lee Ja-heon’s desk. And I was confident this would be a useful item.

Safety and performance.

I had caught both rabbits I wanted.

If it were a dangerous item, Lee Ja-heon wouldn’t have left it on his office desk in the first place.

And considering the identity of that lizard, it was more likely to be an extraordinary and powerful item.

Even without thinking that far, an item that a Field Investigation Team manager keeps on his desk would naturally be helpful in ghost stories!

‘Good.’

Only one thing remained.

‘Find out how to use it.’

Lizard Team Leader would give me the answer!

And shortly after, during the phone call.

I immediately asked with a pounding heart…!

“Team Leader. In what situations did you use the lizard doll you kept on your desk?”

-? No.

“….”

Wait a minute.

This sudden denial… don’t tell me.

“The lizard doll… you’ve never used it at all?”

-Yes.

“…Wasn’t that item something you purchased, Team Leader?”

-Yes.

“….”

I’m screwed….

‘No, no.’

Let me narrow down the scope a bit more.

Like this.

“Do you know how to use that lizard doll?”

Please.

Please…!

-Yes.

Phew.

Thank goodness.

“I’ve also obtained one of those dolls now, but I have no idea how to use it. I’d appreciate it if you could tell me its specific purpose in as much detail as possible.”

And I eventually added.

“…The place I bought it wasn’t the Space Shopping Mall.”

I felt guilty for some reason and ended up saying it.

‘I don’t even have money right now, so I haven’t even been able to look at that place….’

Anyway, Lee Ja-heon was calm.

-Yes.

And he explained matter-of-factly.

-That’s a reptile ecology educational toy.

“….”

Excuse me?

“Educational, toy.”

-Yes. When given appropriate food items, it shows molting after eating.

“….”

-….

“….”

I barely managed to ask.

“Is the molted skin perhaps a defensive item?”

-No.

“…If you give it items or blood as food, does it display unique abilities….”

-No.

I wanted to get a refund.

‘Damn….’

Then why the hell did you put it on your desk to confuse people!

‘It’s just a food disposal unit!’

Of course, I couldn’t yell at the alien lizard that shoots lasers, so I barely managed to respond.

“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”

-Yes.

Right. It was my fault for betting on strange possibilities at that crazy mart in the first place. Sigh….

‘It really was just a toy.’

I eventually gave up and changed the topic of conversation.

“I’m sorry for contacting you like this over the phone instead of visiting you in person after such a long time.”

-It’s fine. That’s safer.

Was he being considerate in case the Disaster Management Bureau found out I was a spy?

“Thank….”

Just as I was about to say you.

The indifferent voice revealed a completely different ‘reason’.

-Director Cheong has noticed your whereabouts.

“…!”

What?

-Director Cheong suspects that your disappearance was fabricated, and that you’ve actually been working for Director Ho since a month ago.

Chills ran down my spine.

Wait a minute.

If he thinks my disappearance itself was fabricated.

‘Then the probability that he thinks I betrayed him from the beginning and conspired with Director Ho is… high?’

Cold sweat broke out.

“…Is there a chance he might retaliate against me for this misunderstanding?”

-Yes.

I swallowed hard.

-So be careful.

“Yes.”

I made up my mind.

‘Let’s run as soon as the spy work is over.’

I absolutely wouldn’t delay.

Wish Potion. As soon as I got the Wish Potion, I had to escape from this damn company and return.

To my home!

“Thank you.”

I thanked him and ended the call with Manager Lee Ja-heon.

Then I saw another notification that appeared on my smartphone.

[Baek Sa-heon : Hey]

[Baek Sa-heon : Aren’t you going to buy information?]

My former company housing roommate who had promised to bring me the latest gossip and information from this ‘damn company’.

[Baek Sa-heon : I’m asking if you need information]

Hmm.

I sent a text.

[You seem confident?]

But no reply came.

He must not have anything yet.

‘Then should I leave him alone until he gains confidence?’

So he’ll scrape together more information while being anxious.

‘Actually… I don’t have any items to exchange for information right now anyway…’

Of course, I don’t plan to live empty-handed like this.

Didn’t I just think about it? That I need to prepare.

‘…I also just heard something concerning.’

-That thing is all worn out.

Director Ho’s ominous remark.

‘If the silver ring’s mental protection effect has worn off, that’s dangerous.’

Fortunately, I hadn’t particularly wanted to enter ghost stories recently or become assimilated by viewing them favorably.

‘Unless I have nightmares about returning to the road.’

Still, it would be better to prepare for that too.

I briefly considered visiting the Fox Counseling Room, but canceled due to uneasiness.

Unlike last time, there’s a clear reason.

‘…It’s definitely connected to Director Ho.’

It’s better to avoid it for now.

And…

‘There are some newly unlocked places I can go to instead.’

That’s right. I’m now also an ‘agent of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau’.

With my changed affiliation, the range of specific places and useful groups I can visit without suspicion has expanded.

“Let’s see.”

I rested my chin on my hand.

A-Grade or Higher Dream Essence Solution for 10,000 welfare points.

And if I have the identity of a Disaster Management Bureau agent, there’s a place I can try probing.

“Hmm.”

I got up from the cafe where I was sitting, pulled my hood down, and started walking.

To the Meeting Square in Ghost Stories where real occult items are traded.

What I need to find is…

‘The manhole with human arms sticking out.’

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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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