Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 16

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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 016

Position change.

It refers to changing the duties or department from where you mainly worked.

It’s something that usually happens when your tenure reaches the yearly mark.

So, it’s absolutely not something you’d say to someone on their third day of work!

“…If it’s a position change, does that mean I have to transfer departments?”

It was when I desperately held back from asking ‘What are you talking about after I had a nice lunch?’ and politely questioned him instead.

“No, well… that’s right. Did you see the official document? It just came up.”

“…?!”

With an ominous feeling, I immediately checked the intranet.

[Qterw-D-43 Special Incident Resolution Employee Compensation Notice]

…Qterw-D-43 is the Tuesday Quiz Show.

And to summarize this content…

-Wow! Which team solved a special incident that occurred in a Grade D ghost story and extracted a Grade A solution? Damn, this is what performance looks like! We’ll give this team a total of 100,000 points!

-Hey, you saw that, right? You can do it too! So forget about work-life balance and work like cattle to earn points! Follow Team D’s example!

…And my name ‘Kim Sol-eum’ was very clearly stamped under the main contributor receiving 40,000 points.

“…”

I wish this was a dream.

And the more terrifying thing is this.

If this official document influenced the position change, then what exactly…

Looking at the assistant manager with sunken eyes, I felt a chill.

“Did you see it?”

“Yes.”

“Right. Team D has… achieved some unusual results this time.”

No way.

“Did the entire team get new assignments?”

“Not quite an assignment, but the work will be different.”

The assistant manager downed his coffee in one shot.

“Until now, they mainly gave us ghost stories with completed manuals from above to manage.”

Wait.

“Now they want us to mainly go into darkness where manuals aren’t completed!”

“…!!”

In simple terms, they want to throw us into ghost stories without data!

“No, what is this… doing well at one thing just to get shoved into something harder… sigh.”

The team leader must have already heard the news as he was lying face down with his head buried in his desk. Even caffeine didn’t seem to work.

“Good day.”

And just then, the lizard-headed section chief walked into the office. The assistant manager erupted.

“Section Chief! Going into darkness without manuals! Isn’t this basically trying to kill us all?”

“…? No.”

“Excuse me?”

Wondering if there was a way out, a faint hope appeared on the assistant manager’s face…

“Even with completed manuals, there’s no guarantee of safety.”

“…”

Ah, in that sense…

‘What a personality this lizard has…’

I barely managed to speak up.

“Still, wouldn’t it be more dangerous without manuals? Since there’s no data.”

The lizard tilted its head.

“I wonder. I didn’t feel much difference.”

“…”

Ah, right, this was the physical exorcism employee…

‘Has he been pushing through with force whenever things got tough until now…’

I decided to just ask directly.

“Are there any advantages to the current situation?”

“Yes.”

“What advantages?”

“Additional points are allocated.”

“…!”

Team Leader Park Min-seong suddenly lifted his head.

They were all crazy about points.

“Is, is it a lot, Section Chief?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Compared to darkness of the same grade, it’s typically allocated at three to four times the average.”

“…!”

“Wh, what’s the maximum point multiplier you’ve seen, Section Chief?”

“Fifteen times.”

Suddenly, the eyes of the assistant manager and team leader changed.

‘Those are the eyes of stock traders.’

It looked like the expression right before buying some biotech penny stock after hearing rumors about a new drug.

It seems the 30,000 points were irresistibly sweet…

Usually in this case, a rational person would stop them… but, well, honestly… for me.

‘A guaranteed winning stock…’

Whether there’s a manual or not makes no big difference to me.

I already know the exploration records in more detail than any manual!

In that case.

‘This is just a 3x points event, isn’t it…?’

And so, shortly after.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Team D accepted the new duties without anyone’s objection and moved out.

‘Let’s earn points.’

The destination was the 17th floor.

“From the 20th to 17th floors are mainly used by the development headquarters.”

The assistant manager frowned as he tapped the buttons.

“And the 17th floor is… especially where the research staff looking for new darkness are located.”

Ding.

When the elevator doors opened, the white and artificial interior of a typical laboratory-office complex was visible.

And someone who was already waiting in front extended their hand.

“Hey~ Is this the guy? That’s amazing, amazing~”

Definitely a superior to me.

I reflexively shook hands with the person extending their hand.

“I’m Kim Sol-eum. Please take care of me.”

“Oh, good manners too.”

The male wearing a white lab coat and glasses looked quite young, but since this was such a bizarre world to take at face value, I decided not to jump to conclusions.

Anyway, after that supervisor from the other department greeted the Team D members, he turned back to look at me.

“I’m Gwak Je-gang from Research Team 1. Nice to meet you. Please take care of me~”

“…! Please take care of me too.”

Our team’s deputy whispered.

“Don’t be nervous. He’s just some manager wannabe.”

Aren’t you just a deputy yourself…?

And I wasn’t surprised because this person was a manager.

It’s because he’s someone I know.

======================

Researcher Gwak Je-gang

Darkness Investigation Records

Early Records

======================

Another named character appeared.

‘His personality is… hmm.’

======================

A rare case among employees directly described as ‘cheerful and sociable.’

However…

======================

Hmm.

I quietly followed the team members without showing it.

“Anyway, we’ll be seeing each other often from now on. Right, Manager Lee Ja-heon?”

“Yes.”

…

Oops.

“Could you tell us the reason?”

“Yes.”

Finally, Lizard explains.

“Research Team 1 studies and standardizes methods for entering new darkness. Therefore, we’ll frequently meet with Team D, which explores new darkness that hasn’t been manualized yet.”

In other words, this is the team that gives us work.

‘So they find new darkness here and assign it to the Field Investigation Team’s advance unit…’

“Oh my, this manager always seems to speak so difficultly. And he’s not even in research!”

The research team manager patted Lizard manager’s back. Lizard’s lidless pupils swiftly turned toward him with a puzzled look.

Somehow it feels like watching a thriller movie firsthand…

“Well, anyway, today’s darkness to enter is ready~ Make sure to bring your Dream Essence Collectors, that’s right!”

An expression of ‘What’s this guy from another department telling us obvious stuff for?’ flashed across the deputy’s face, but the team leader’s desperate hand gestures prevented it from being expressed aloud.

“Check the records of civilians who went in and came out, and the records of the team that entered before.”

Manager Lee Ja-heon received the documents the research team handed over.

Meanwhile, someone tapped me.

“…?”

When I turned around, some research team employee was grinning and talking to me.

“Hey, want to bet on whether it’s D-grade or F-grade?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, we’re placing small bets among ourselves. You should try it too. It’ll be fun.”

“I’m fine.”

I answered immediately.

‘Is this employee in their right mind?’

What if an audit comes up after doing that… No wait, come to think of it, he’s openly talking about betting and gambling in front of his direct supervisor.

I reflexively looked back at the research team manager.

The manager shrugged his shoulders.

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like people die from a little betting.”

“…”

“Haha. Oh, look at that unchanging expression. Do you have guts, Soleum?”

It’s because I was so dumbfounded that I forgot my facial muscles were supposed to work.

‘Isn’t this crossing the line too much at work?’

I guess this is what you’d expect from research staff in an internet ghost story world.

“Well, I’m joking. This darkness isn’t serious enough for life-or-death talk. Many civilians went in and escaped… Ugh, the Planning Team Members had a hard time smoothing over the Disaster Management Bureau’s complaints again~”

“…”

When Team D didn’t particularly respond, the Research Team 1 manager just smiled and organized the remaining documents.

“Huh.”

And the research team employee who had been talking about betting also looked at us with displeasure, then crossed his arms and took a spectating stance.

‘Is it okay to act like that at work…’

I wasn’t feeling great about it, but it was hard to feel good at work anyway.

What’s important is this darkness we just received.

What kind of ghost story could it be?

“Oh, Noru should look at it too.”

“Yes.”

I received the documents my superior handed me.

‘It’ll probably be something I know.’

Plus, with many civilian escapees, it sounded even better. Even in the worst case, wouldn’t it be around D-grade?

I should be able to handle most things.

So don’t be nervous and…

“Noru, did you read it? Something about clown portraits… Oh, you get dragged in if you see pierrot advertisements?”

Pierrot advertisements…?!

Could it be that…

======================

Darkness Investigation Records / Ghost Story

[The Pierrot Hates You]

Darkness Investigation Records

A ghost story of wandering eternally in a place where corridors lined with various clown portraits continue endlessly.

People grotesquely twisted to look like clowns

======================

“…”

No.

======================

The longer you stay, the more twisted and strange portraits appear.

Honestly, such full-scale horror movie-style investigation records are rare

======================

Wow.

I skimmed through the preliminary investigation records I received with trembling eyes.

…

That’s right.

‘Wow, here we go.’

A full-blown horror theme scarier than the Convenience Store Ghost.

“Haha, then let’s go in!”

Excuse me!

Just cancel the 3x points event! I don’t want to go!

But such words would never work in society…

“…”

I opened my eyes. I saw a dark corridor, as dark as my future… no, just dark.

But on the worn walls, packed densely together, were all sorts of bizarre-looking Clown Portraits.

‘F-fuck.’

Even the method of entry here was too scary.

1. You watch a YouTube ad where a red-nosed clown looks at people through the screen and laughs maniacally.

2. In any enclosed indoor corridor, a clown’s hand appears jutting out from around a corner.

3. If you approach, your wrist gets grabbed and you’re dragged into this ‘corridor’.

I thought I’d faint from this point on.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

I rolled my eyes. Exploration records of encountering terrifying situations no matter which wall you approached were vividly replaying in my head.

Cold sweat broke out.

‘Honestly, anyone would be scared of this place, not just me…’

“Hmm. It’s not that dark? We don’t need to turn on the flashlight.”

“Manager! Should we do some Dark Adaptation before moving?”

“Yes. Close your eyes for 60 seconds.”

I heard the Team Leader’s clear “Yes!” in response.

“…”

No, seriously?

In a dark corridor filled with portraits eerily staring at people, you can so casually suggest we all close our eyes together for a minute?

“Noru, close your eyes too.”

I guess so.

“Yes.”

I pretended to close my eyes while looking at the floor and breaking out in cold sweat.

I just realized.

These people.

They basically don’t get scared.

Unless it’s a truly life-threatening situation, their fear threshold is insanely high!

Like the type who says things like ‘the really scary thing is people’ and doesn’t watch horror movies because they’re boring!

‘That’s why they work here as employees!’

Even so, when those bizarre portraits start moving and coming to life, it would be hard to react like that…

“Hmm… if you approach or poke the portraits, sometimes they jump out and crawl after you.”

“Oh right. Then the painting becomes empty, and a few people have used that as a passage to return to reality.”

“I see.”

The Manager’s calm voice was heard.

“Poke all the portraits you can see.”

I almost screamed.

“Yes! If anything really comes out alive, I’ll signal and run immediately!”

“Yes. We’ll repeat attempts every hour.”

“Ah, they said it crawls? Good that its mobility is limited.”

“Exactly. Oh right, Noru! I spotted it earlier, but there’s a clown with weird eyes on the left over there? Doesn’t it look like a movie poster?”

“…”

“The appearance matches the missing civilian. I guess this is what happens when you go missing here.”

I looked up.

In the eerie darkness, a portrait showed someone with a button instead of a left eye, wearing gaudy colorful clown makeup and forcing a toothy grin.

‘…It moved.’

Definitely, the pupil of the remaining eye moved.

“…”

“Want Noru to touch that one first?”

Ah, no!! No, really! Please, stop!

“…Y-yes.”

What do you mean yes, I can’t even approach it.

A strong premonition hit the back of my neck.

I-I… can’t survive here keeping up with these crazy people’s pace.

“Then Noru will go along the upper left portraits…”

“Wait a moment.”

“Hm?”

I have to speak up!

“I think I’ve figured out the escape method.”

“Wh-what?”

It’s been less than a minute since we entered, but I figured it out anyway! Please believe me!

“I deduced it from looking at previous civilian escape records.”

Had my brain ever worked this fast before?

‘I can’t give these fearless people a turn!’

“First, we shouldn’t touch the other portraits.”

“Huh? Why?”

Because I’m scared.

Of course, my mouth said something different.

“…There must be a separate correct answer.”

Is this what survival instinct is?

I immediately took out the Toy Coin I had drawn as equipment and summoned the Translucent Gloves in the air.

Then I handed over twenty 500 Won Coins to the gloves like I was passing them off.

The gloves froze for a moment like a YouTuber who just got a big donation, then excitedly turned in the air and merged with my hands.

“Wait, is that your equipment, Noru?”

“Yes. I can touch objects remotely.”

“Oh.”

With this, at least I won’t have to personally approach the portraits and touch the clowns.

But I nodded seriously as if I had other intentions.

“From now on… I want to run and see as many portraits as possible. We need to find the correct answer.”

I turned to look at Manager Lee Ja-heon.

“And from now on, the portrait I describe will be the correct answer.”

“…”

“I’d like you to tell me as soon as you spot it, if that’s okay?”

And if this works, I won’t need to personally examine every Clown Portrait closely!

‘Of course, if I get a reaction like ‘where does a newbie get off acting up?’ then it’s over…’

Manager Lee Ja-heon didn’t seem like the type obsessed with authority!

Even if his head is a Lizard! Even if his way of thinking is completely like a Lizard!

“Yes.”

Got it!

The relief flowing down my spine almost made my legs give out, but I struggled to maintain composure and nodded calmly.

“Then I’ll run.”

I’m acting as if I’m about to test some brilliant and amazing hypothesis, and running happens to be necessary for that hypothesis….

‘Actually, it’s not really necessary….’

The escape method here is surprisingly simple.

‘I can touch the other Portraits freely without any problem finding the answer….’

If someone has guts, they could just leisurely walk around by themselves and do it….

However, I’ve already learned my lesson.

There’s a lesson I gained from playing Hide and Seek with the Ghost at the Convenience Store.

What’s the way for a coward to survive?

‘Speed Run!’

Let’s go, mid-way escape from the Ghost House!

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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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