Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 151
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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 151
…The phrase “I’m glad you’re alive” contains two implicit assumptions.
That you know the other person.
That you suspected the other person was dead.
All of this pointed to one thing.
The Security Chief recognized that I, sitting in the taxi driver’s seat, was Kim Sol-eum from the Field Investigation Team who had been declared dead.
‘…Since when?’
I checked the Security Chief sitting in the back seat through the mirror. The Security Chief was wearing an old security uniform like casual clothes with his cap pulled down low.
His face wasn’t clearly visible.
But somehow he seemed relieved.
Suddenly, I remembered what Park Min-seong had told me.
-Jay from the Security Team sometimes asked about you, but I just… didn’t tell him you went missing in the darkness. But a few days ago, he seemed to already know.
…Someone with the Security Chief’s experience would have already seen many new employees from Baekillmong Corporation’s Field Investigation Team get eliminated.
Still, it seems he worried about me because we were acquainted….
‘I’m grateful and sorry.’
Moreover, it was surprising that even after recognizing me, he didn’t let on and quietly waited until now, considering the situation.
Of course, since I was currently engaged in industrial espionage, I couldn’t easily have an emotional reunion.
Especially since Director Ho seemed to have figured out that Team D all knew about my survival, I couldn’t increase the danger level any further.
‘The Security Chief isn’t the type to go around blabbing that he saw me.’
I just needed to give him a brief suggestion to keep it secret when he got out.
After organizing my thoughts, I spoke in the most friendly taxi driver voice I could manage.
“Phew, what was all that about… I thought my heart was going to drop. Sir, you said you were going to Seoul Station, right? It’ll take about 40 minutes to arrive….”
“Ah, that… I don’t need to go anymore….”
“…Excuse me?”
I unconsciously looked at the Security Chief through the mirror.
The Security Chief met my eyes through the mirror and smiled faintly.
“Because there’s no reason to go anymore…?”
“….”
Wait a minute.
-Um, is this the right way to do this…. KTX Seoul Station… please take me there.
KTX Seoul Station.
…This was also the departure point for the Tamra Express, the darkness where I was officially reported as long-term missing.
‘No way.’
No. That can’t be it. I fixed my gaze forward.
But still… I ended up saying it.
“…Ah, did you decide to meet the person you were going to see somewhere else?”
“That’s not it… I already met them.”
“….”
“It’s fine….”
Ah, damn.
So he really came looking for me?
‘Someone who can only go out at night.’
He’d been missing for over a month and everyone had given up hope and declared him dead long ago, yet this person came to catch a high-speed train at dawn following traces just because he was somewhat acquainted with that employee… really.
Maybe it was because I knew his story from before he became part of the Security Team, when he was a named team leader in Team B. I felt strangely more grateful and emotional.
And it made me think.
“….”
At this level, wouldn’t he be trustworthy.
‘…The Security Chief was originally someone who had no loyalty or passion for the company.’
In that case.
I checked once more.
“Ah, sir. Are you out on official business by any chance? Does the company reimburse taxi fares, or, well, do they know your location and receive reports….”
“Um… No. They don’t know….”
The Security Chief stated firmly.
“They don’t pay that much attention to me anymore… They’ve been allowing a lot more outings lately too.”
“….”
Good.
“Then, would you like to take a short drive with me before sunrise?”
“…!”
I turned off the car navigation and set the route on my personal phone.
The destination was… a place accessible through the keywords ’empathy, attention, toys’.
The laboratory where Baekillmong Corporation’s prototype device was located.
I parked the taxi at the destination and as soon as I got out with the Security Chief, I called out to him.
“Jay.”
The Security Chief wasn’t surprised and quickly looked up.
But he seemed relieved about something.
“Ah, so the taxi wasn’t contaminated by darkness….”
“…Excuse me?”
“The high-speed train… you got contaminated while riding it… um… you might have been assigned to work as a driver for other transportation…?”
“….”
Wait. Did he think I had become contaminated by a ghost story to the point of actually becoming a ghost story taxi driver, so he was playing along with the atmosphere?!
‘If things went well, he might have dragged me out of the taxi.’
I broke out in a cold sweat. It was fortunate that the misunderstanding didn’t spread that far and we got out.
“No. But still… thank you for worrying about me.”
“Yes… I’m relieved….”
‘I almost had the rare experience of entering the mouth of a ghost story….’
I inwardly sighed with relief as I locked the car door that the Security Chief had gotten out of.
Then suddenly, I had this question.
“Um, but why did you suddenly hail a taxi on the mountain?”
Don’t tell me this person was trying to walk to Seoul Station and got lost….
“Mountain?”
A puzzled voice.
“I was… in front of the company.”
“…?!”
The explanation that followed was this.
As expected, the Security Chief had been blankly trying to walk from in front of the company to Seoul Station.
Since it was dawn, all public transportation was stopped, and he said he had forgotten how to call a taxi.
That’s when he discovered it.
A strangely conspicuous taxi.
“And I could hear radio sounds….”
“…!!”
“Listening to the radio, um, it reminded me of when I took a taxi…”
So he said he clumsily and impulsively followed and caught the taxi.
…There was only one possible cause I could deduce from this story.
‘…Brown!’
Edited space-time and spotlight.
If it was the work of the show business ghost story host, it was impressively spine-chilling.
And the method by which the Security Chief recognized me was also impressive…
“Smell.”
“…!”
“I have a good nose…”
It was a highly convincing statement from someone obviously contaminated by an animal ghost story with a snout…
Anyway, I roughly grasped the situation. I shook my head once and moved nearby.
The place I wanted to show the Security Chief.
“This way.”
On one side of the alley, a door disguised as a manhole cover leaning against the wall.
“It would be better to go inside and have a detailed conversation.”
And I opened the door and went down.
“Oh…”
The Security Chief followed down with a weak exclamation, trudging along, but froze for a moment when he saw the research laboratory nameplate.
Dream Cultivation Room.
“…”
“This place is… the company…”
“I don’t think so.”
I opened the research laboratory door and showed it to the Security Chief.
“But it seems to be related.”
“…!”
Among the people I knew, someone who had worked at the company the longest and was most deeply connected, but had no particular personal interest relationship.
The former Team Leader of Elite Team B’s eyes darkened as he looked at the fundamental research laboratory of Baekillmong Corporation’s pharmaceutical technology.
“Is there anything that catches Jay’s eye?”
The Security Chief explored inside the research laboratory with clean and quick movements instead of the sluggish actions that had shown not even an ant’s tear worth of motivation until now.
Even his eyes seemed like a different person somehow.
“Um, there are many unusual items here, so I hope you won’t overdo it.”
No answer came back.
He even tried to skim through the research journal I couldn’t endure and had thrown away, but I was startled and snatched it away when a bizarre black shadow tried to jump out over the Security Chief again.
“…”
“…”
Only after such a round of exploration did the Security Chief open his mouth.
“…Um, this place… who told you about it…? An employee?”
“That’s not it, I accidentally found a hint from another ghost story. When I found it, strangely it didn’t seem to belong to Baekillmong Corporation.”
“…”
“Even though it clearly looks like a prototype of the same technology.”
The Security Chief affirmed with silence.
“Do you have any guesses about this space? Even partial ones or just suspicions would be fine.”
“…Hmm.”
The Security Chief looked around the already dead-looking old laboratory space, then opened his mouth with a strange expression.
“Um, do you know…? About our company disposing of darkness…”
…!!
“No.”
Actually, I do know.
I had directly witnessed that setting being updated several times to be more plausible.
But it was information too awkward for a new employee to know, so it was right to hear it directly from the Security Chief.
“What does disposing of darkness mean?”
“Well… when people clear it but no more solution can be extracted… we throw it away…”
“…”
“Because it’s no longer useful…”
That’s right.
Ghost stories that are no longer productive from Baekillmong Corporation’s perspective.
Here, ‘losing supernatural presence’ usually means cases where too many exploration records have accumulated and the manual has become overly complete.
‘They’ve figured out that ghost story completely.’
When the extraordinary unknown and mystery disappear, and many employees just handle it routinely in daily life without tension.
When all mechanisms are identified and there’s no longer anything eerie or room for imagination, that ghost story eventually becomes reality.
Just a somewhat dangerous reality.
It becomes no different from a high-risk industrial site.
Of course, since it was originally a ghost story, there would still be some unrealistic triggers or creepy parts left.
Like the research journal covered in blood and filth that the Security Chief is tapping now.
“Things like this too… somehow it feels like disposed darkness…”
Hmm.
So there’s a high probability that this space itself was originally a ghost story?
If I piece it together…
‘Baekillmong Corporation extracted pharmaceutical technology from this ghost story… and in the process of squeezing it too thoroughly, the ghost story itself disappeared… maybe?’
Anyway, it meant this had become a relatively safe space now, so that was good information.
“And this…”
The Security Chief picked up the card key that had been placed in front of the dream cultivation device.
The ID card I had found on the dead researcher’s body.
Pleasant Researcher
■■■
“This… it says ‘Pleasant’, right…”
“That’s how I saw it too.”
“Ah, as expected.”
The Security Chief, who had been fiddling with the card key, spoke slowly with his gaze lowered.
“Then do you perhaps… know about ‘Pleasant Research Institute’?”
“…!”
The moment I heard that specific name.
I realized.
The reason I felt a strange sense of déjà vu about ‘Pleasant’.
‘…Pleasant Research Institute!’
From the mysterious candle kit I possessed to the theme park ghost story I had explored before.
The origin of those ghost stories I had consistently encountered but dismissed as supplementary information.
A force mentioned several times in .
Ghost story maker.
“Well… there are ghost stories that create ghost stories… and the company prefers such things…”
The Security Chief explains.
That Pleasant Research Institute is a force whose name can be encountered quite frequently within Baekillmong Corporation.
And also some information I’m hearing for the first time.
“I heard that the very first darkness registered in the company also had a Pleasant Research Institute tag…”
Huh?
“…What kind of darkness was that, by any chance?”
“I don’t know. It was already disposed of… I just overheard the Directors talking about it…”
My goodness.
“You… remember all of that?”
The Security Chief’s eyes stared at me intently.
“I remember everything about the company… Everything.”
“…”
“Other things… I’ve forgotten a lot of this and that though…”
“…Would you like to find them again?”
The Security Chief pulls down his hat.
“Not really… it’s not like there are only good memories.”
“…”
Isn’t he thinking that way because he forgot them?
“I understand. Still, wouldn’t it be okay to look for good memories next time if you get the chance? Like particularly delicious food or fun places.”
“Hmm.”
The Security Chief’s voice brightened slightly.
“That… might not be bad.”
“Right?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Thank you for kindly telling me various things even though I suddenly came to this strange place. There probably aren’t many employees who know that the first ghost story of Baekillmong Corporation had a Pleasant Research Institute tag…”
“Originally, you shouldn’t know that…”
“…”
No.
The Security Chief put his index finger to his lips.
“So don’t spread rumors… Unless you want to meet the Security Team…”
My spine went cold.
“Of course… since Noru pretended to be dead and escaped… it might take some time for the Security Team to find him.”
“…?!”
Pretended to be dead…? Ah, right.
“Um, I didn’t escape from the company.”
“…?!”
“I’m currently in Director Ho’s project team.”
I finally quickly explained my current situation. I appropriately omitted the part about being missing in a ghost story for a month, and mainly talked about how I was working under a Director’s direct TF team anyway.
“I applied because it seemed like the fastest way to get a Wish Potion.”
“…”
“This is also something I shouldn’t originally tell you, so I’d appreciate it if you could keep it secret.”
“I don’t have anyone to tell anyway…”
Huh.
The Security Chief casually said something sad and then looked into space as if thinking deeply.
“Director Ho… all the Directors in this company are insane though…”
Yes. I think I understand that well now too…
“Um, do you happen to know Director Ho well?”
“No… Director Ho… came as a Director after I became part of the Security Team…”
Ah.
“I’ve seen Director Cheong a few times… but that’s all old stuff…”
The Security Chief looked around.
“Anyway… don’t tell the Directors about this…”
“Of course.”
I don’t have even the slightest intention to do so, especially since the employee who originally discovered this facility and reported it to the company is already dead.
However, since things have come to this…
‘…Should I share a bit more definitively.’
Since I’ve already shared the location with the Security Chief. And he’s continuing to show trust and give me information even after seeing my extremely suspicious situation.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to solidify our trust relationship once more here.’
Let me also tell him what I know.
I’ve confirmed that he’s a decent human being, from the detailed records when he was a named character in to the actual person in front of me now.
‘Good.’
“…Jay, could you take a look at this then?”
I reactivated the dormant dream cultivator with the card key.
With a whirring sound, the panel and glass tube light up…
🥰🥸🤯🧐🤪🥱
“…!”
“It seems like pressing this can create a syrup similar to Baekillmong Potion.”
I explained while showing the pipe, including the method I used to charge dream essence.
“In the future, I’ll be able to charge dream essence separately…”
“That.”
Light enters the Security Chief’s eyes.
“Elite Team collector.”
Ah.
“Yes. I got one that wasn’t registered with a company number through a chance opportunity.”
“…”
The Security Chief carefully reached out his hand, very lightly touched the collector I was holding, then lowered it again.
“…They said they don’t make these anymore…”
“…”
Did the Security Chief use this type of collector when he was in Team B?
“You’re not being… tracked, right…?”
“Yes. It was an item that was never registered with the company at all.”
“I see…”
The Security Chief didn’t even ask where I got it from.
He just looked at the collector with eyes immersed in nostalgia, then soon turned his gaze to the buttons of the dream cultivator.
“…Do you know any of these emoticons?”
“No… but this machine itself… is similar to what I’ve seen at the company…”
“…!”
As expected.
“Does the company also make potions with similar machines?”
“Probably… hmm.”
The Security Chief looked at me and smiled faintly.
“If you’re curious… should I go find out…? About Pleasant Research Institute and… various things…”
…!
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous for you?”
“…”
The Security Chief returned with a listless expression and spoke as if even shaking his head was too bothersome.
“It’s not dangerous…”
Well, if you say so.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah…”
And so I gained an internal collaborator within the Company.
“Still, since it could be dangerous, please just follow these three guidelines.”
A veteran who lacked energy but was reliable, the Security Chief.
Some time later.
“Get home safely.”
“Yeah.”
Before dawn broke, the Security Chief safely returned home.
At the end of my conversation with the Security Chief, I pressed a new emoticon and obtained a potion.
By the way, what I pressed was… this.
🤯
…I admit it’s a button I would never have pressed if I were alone.
‘Phew.’
Originally I was going to give it to the Security Chief as a token of gratitude, but the Security Chief refused with dead fish eyes…
-I don’t… need that kind of thing.
-…Yes.
I’ll give him something else next time.
I saw off the Security Chief while fidgeting with the glass bottle that appeared in my pocket.
…By the way, (though not very surprising) the Security Chief didn’t have a smartphone, let alone a mobile phone.
I bought a prepaid SIM card from the convenience store, backed up my original smartphone, then reset it and inserted the SIM card before handing it over.
And I bought a new phone as soon as the store opened.
“You can contact me at this number.”
“Yes…”
How should I put it, he seems like someone who truly lacks worldly desires except for donuts…
‘Is this what happens when you reach a very deep state of contamination.’
I dropped off the Security Chief, who was about to trudge away, at a spot 12 minutes’ walk from the Company on my way to return the taxi.
“Whew.”
And so now, the long night shift was over.
‘The Disaster Management Bureau work was also wrapped up well!’
I returned the taxi on time and received an evaluation that I had successfully performed my assigned role!
“Good work.”
“Not at all…!”
It was damn hard work, but here it’s right to deny it. I deliberately ignored my right hand giving me a thumbs up and bowed my head toward the Bronze Agent.
And after resting well during my days off and learning to handle related paperwork over the next few days.
“Today you’ll be working at this location.”
Back at work at the Disaster Management Bureau headquarters, I got to see a familiar face again.
Jang Heo-un.
“Ah…!”
My colleague’s eyes lit up when he saw me, then he hurriedly bowed his head pretending to greet me.
The superior standing in front of him chuckled and extended his hand to the Bronze Agent beside me.
“It’s been a while, Bronze Agent. Ah, is this the new agent?”
“Yes, yes…! Please take good care of me.”
That’s right.
Today was the Field Cleanup Team work I had been waiting for…!
‘I’ll definitely show my aptitude!’
“…”
I couldn’t show 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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