Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 186

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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 186

My second investigation of Cheerful Theme Park finally came to an end.

And….

The Research Team in charge was turned upside down.

They apparently went through a persistent verification process that would have been summarized like that if it were a wiki.

The investigation period increased sixfold while the liquid grade went up one level – literally irregular.

And there was only one variable in this irregularity.

‘Me.’

The Security Team Special Department Employee.

However, as someone who appeared to be a ghost story creature or something contaminated, I was able to intimidate the Research Team and smoothly escape from interview hell to go home.

-Hey there! I’m totally grateful, so if you want to buy a meal, where should I contact….

-T-Team Leader!! You can’t!

…In that process, Lee Seong-hae thankfully tried to show me a friendly gesture, but was blocked by a Researcher.

‘That was actually fortunate.’

Since there’s no way to contact me anyway.

All of this is just a disguise created by Director Ho.

And….

I had to meet that very Director Ho before going home – a Superior more persistent and frightening than the Research Team.

-You must have really worked hard, Soleum!

As soon as I took off the Security Team suit, I confirmed my empty right arm and the dokkaebi fire that had returned to lantern form.

The dokkaebi fire seemed frightened, with the lantern completely stiffened.

Director Ho strangely narrowed his eyes and observed it carefully, but fortunately didn’t take the dokkaebi fire away.

Instead, looking at the Security Team suit I had taken off, he said this.

-Wow! It seems the Security Team uniform received some interesting influence while traveling with Soleum in this darkness.

-It’s quite an interesting outfit even without that, isn’t it? I’ll extend the rental period for you. You might have opportunities to use it again in the future.

I obediently nodded to that.

The atmosphere wouldn’t have tolerated refusal anyway. I was in a position where I had to make a request. Specifically….

-By the way, do you happen to know anything about Jang Heo-un’s whereabouts?

Phew.

-He’s an employee who was deployed together to help Soleum, so I’m not sure if you used him effectively.

…I told only the truth.

That a Disaster Management Bureau Agent suddenly entered, and Jang Heo-un, whose identity was exposed, was eventually taken away by the Disaster Management Bureau under the pretext of rescue.

-…Oh my!

Director Ho’s reaction was thoroughly one-dimensional.

‘…He must be angry.’

-But Director, since Heo-un’s identity as a Baekillmong Corporation employee wasn’t exposed, he should be able to continue his spy work.

-Ah, is that so?

My excuse disguised as reasoning – ‘However, Jang Heo-un’s movement will be difficult for a while due to examinations for contamination during the rescue process’ – seemed to work.

…For now, at least.

-Then was Jang Heo-un’s dream essence collector retrieved? The Research Team was making a fuss about A-grade liquid being collected in this investigation.

-…Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the process of retrieving it to prevent it from falling into the Disaster Management Bureau’s hands.

Actually, that’s not true.

I destroyed it.

To cover the logical holes in this story… just before escaping the theme park, I retrieved the dream essence collector Jang Heo-un had and crushed it in the form of a supply Mascot.

Because if Jang Heo-un had it and the Disaster Management Bureau found it, it would be tantamount to spy certification.

But if I just left the collector abandoned in the ghost story, it would automatically be sent back to the Company, and Director Ho might figure out exactly what state Jang Heo-un was in due to the recorded data.

Destruction was the only answer.

-That’s unfortunate. Collector destruction usually requires the Person in Charge to pay the cost in points… Ah, that’s right. This time it was a special work situation, so I’ll smooth it over at my level!

-…Yes. Thank you.

-Haha, it’s not like I’m doing Soleum a favor. Don’t mention it!

Fortunately, Director Ho let it slide appropriately.

I thought there might be chaos because the collected liquid was high-grade, but surprisingly he didn’t seem particularly obsessed with the liquid’s high grade.

‘…That’s strange.’

Anyway, A-grade is A-grade, so I thought I should check my Elite Team collector too… but it was difficult at the moment.

…Because I collapsed as soon as I reached my bed after going through all this and slept until the next morning.

‘I really thought I was going to die.’

The only consolation was that I was so tired I slept straight through without waking up in the middle.

And to put this another way….

…It means my 6 days of vacation evaporated like that.

This morning.

I went to work at the Disaster Management Bureau as soon as I woke up….

Ugh.

“Oh my, it’s been a while. The heartless MZ Grape who didn’t contact us once during your break….”

Agent Choi, who was entering Genbu Team 1’s waiting room with an americano in hand, stopped when he saw me.

“Did you train in the mountains or something during your break? The kid’s skin and bones! Hey, hey, Jae-gwan. Right?”

“Huh?”

Bronze Agent, who had been frowning as his Superior grabbed his arm and pointed at me, also stopped in confusion when he actually saw me.

“…Did something happen?”

I barely managed to answer.

“I couldn’t, sleep, well….”

“….”

“….”

It was the truth though.

I worked day and night as a Mascot at a ruined resort for 5 nights and 6 days….

Agent Choi and Bronze Agent momentarily looked at each other, then as if reaching a silent agreement, quickly approached me and sat on the nearby sofa.

“Didn’t rest well?”

I looked at them with an awkward expression without saying a word.

Ryu Jae-gwan asked cautiously.

“I heard you didn’t come to recharge your dokkaebi lantern during your time off. …Are you alright?”

Ah.

“Yes. I’m fine…. I think I forgot since there were no cases where I needed it.”

“….”

Phew.

For reference, the dokkaebi fire finally regained its energy after I coaxed and soothed it.

It seemed like something had gone wrong because it was overwhelmed by the mascot’s energy, but when it got recharged this morning on my way to work, it returned to my arm and seemed to regain its original cheerfulness.

Though it would probably tremble and give a vigorous thumbs down if I so much as mentioned the Security Team suit.

“I’m sorry. You went out of your way to let me use my annual leave.”

“That was something Grape could use anyway, right?”

Agent Choi completely dropped his playful attitude and continued in a comfortable tone.

“Hmm… Grape. There’s a hot spring with good water operated by the Bureau at Mount Seorak, you know? Should we all go there together on your next day off? The facilities are pretty good for employee welfare.”

“….”

A hot spring with workplace colleagues?

…But once I realized what that hot spring was, I quickly nodded.

I did want to see the Disaster Management Bureau’s welfare facilities at least once.

“Good. You made the right choice. …Damn, at least you have some motivation!”

“…?!”

Agent Choi ruffled my hair and patted my back.

“When you work hard and then rest, you can suddenly get hit with everything at once. Both your body and mind.”

“….”

“But you still came to work right on time. Well done.”

I came here to avoid being caught as a spy though….

Besides, after experiencing a Baekillmong Corporation-style ghost story this time, I realized anew that Disaster Management Bureau ghost stories are like angels….

Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I just nodded.

“Thank you.”

And I spent my waiting time leaning against the sofa….

Except for trying not to be surprised while declining Agent Choi’s board game invitation, there were no special incidents.

Fortunately, there were no calls either.

And in the afternoon after lunch break.

“Agent Grape!”

I met Go Young-eun from the New Investigation Team who visited with documents.

“Did you hear? That, Agent Hwagak from Jujak Team 2 who worked with you, Agent Grape.”

Ah.

Go Young-eun didn’t know about the theme park incident yet, but it seemed she had learned about Jang Heo-un’s condition through other channels.

“…No. This is the first I’m hearing of it. What happened….”

The expression on Go Young-eun’s face gradually became blurred, and she continued as if holding back tears.

“Yesterday, he was found in a severely contaminated state and is in an isolation recovery room. I heard he was transferred to Mount Seorak….”

“….”

“It seems he got caught up in a supernatural… disaster while resting.”

“Are you talking about our youngest member?”

“…!”

Go Young-eun and I turned our heads simultaneously. There stood the Jujak Team 2 Leader, Jang Heo-un’s superior at the Disaster Management Bureau, looking at us with a bitter smile.

Hah….

“Right. It might be scary for new agents. It’s strange when a colleague suddenly doesn’t come to work, right?”

“….”

“But this much is okay. Life goes on, we’ll find a way if we look for one. The important thing is that we rescued him.”

Behind the glasses of the Cleanup Team’s Jujak Team 2 Leader, I could see the characteristic willpower of an agent.

But at the same time, I felt something like familiar fatigue and sadness.

…As if recalling agents who couldn’t be restored to their original forms.

‘Damn.’

I held back a sigh and curse words.

Anyway, the fact that Jang Heo-un was in a treatment facility rather than a glass prison meant his identity hadn’t been discovered. That was fortunate….

“Still, what that guy rescued was something. Hey there, Hae-geum!”

“Huh?”

When the Jujak Team 2 Leader waved his hand, the person walking from the other end of the corridor came closer.

The team leader-level agent who had entered the theme park. Team Leader Hae-geum from Hyeonmu Team 3.

‘T-Team Leader…!’

I almost choked.

“Ah. New employees?”

“Yeah, that’s right. One friend who came in with our kid and… this one here is a new Hyeonmu Team recruit from this public hiring.”

“Ah. That Destruction King!”

….

“Agent Choi hides you so well, this is the first time I’m greeting you. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, hello…!”

I almost talked back, but it was rather fortunate I didn’t.

I held back a gulp and greeted Team Leader Hae-geum.

In my head, our ’employee dispatch deal’ was frantically passing by.

‘…It wouldn’t have been suspicious only if I received compensation for sending Jang Heo-un.’

So I received five jade amulets made by the Disaster Management Bureau from that team leader.

…While recalling the wiki’s description.

Currency of ghost stories.

I don’t think it would have been a big burden, but it was definitely useful.

“Still, I should properly greet our Destruction King new agent. Here. Handshake.”

“Yes…. Th-thank you.”

It happened semi-automatically even without trying to shrink my shoulders on purpose. Team Leader Hae-geum from Hyeonmu Team 3 patted my back once, then waved and walked away.

I also let out a sigh of relief internally and turned my gaze back to Go Young-eun….

“Wait a minute.”

….

“Haven’t we met somewhere before? You look somewhat familiar.”

Goosebumps rose on my spine.

“Actually, I once greeted you in the corridor in front of the waiting room…. You seemed tired and passed by without noticing….”

“Huh?? Sorry. I’ve been busy lately. I shouldn’t have blamed Mr. Choi for this. There was an opportunity.”

Team Leader Hae-geum scratched the back of his head and laughed.

“Then as you probably know, I’m the Team 3 Leader. If you’re bored on your way home from work, come visit the waiting room sometime. Got it?”

“Th-thank you….”

Phew.

Team Leader Hae-geum left while having a conversation with the Jujak Team 2 Leader.

“….”

When I turned my head, Go Young-eun, who had a ‘what on earth is happening’ expression, made eye contact with me.

Really, many things happened. Young-eun….

And at 6 PM.

I finally got off work.

‘Oh please.’

I was lucky it was a day shift.

It was fortunate that there were no emergency calls, but even though I desperately wanted to collapse and sleep more, I couldn’t do that.

‘I have things to do.’

“….”

I slipped my hand slightly into my inventory tattoo and touched the ‘thing to do.’

The soft cotton of the stuffed doll tickled my fingertips.

Right.

A stuffed doll sold at the gift shop of Cheerful Theme Park.

I had successfully smuggled out the original Good Friend.

I used various workarounds for this, which I’ll organize again while conducting the ritual… but the important thing is one.

Now I can completely summon Good Friend in an appropriate situation with an appropriate medium.

‘Let’s do it.’

I broke out in a cold sweat thinking I might see the same mess as during the late-night talk show if I delayed any longer. I quickly opened the door to my motel room and went inside.

But here’s the thing.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, someone was inside.

A lizard head.

“Noru.”

…??

The familiar lizard face I’d shared hardships with for the past 6 days was quietly looking at me.

I almost rubbed my eyes.

“M-Manager Lee Ja-heon??”

I looked outside the motel room once and then back inside, but it was definitely Manager Lizard.

No way…!

I hurriedly entered the motel room and carefully locked the door.

Don’t tell me….

“Did you come on Director Ho’s orders?”

“No.”

“Then how are you here…?”

“I infiltrated.”

“….”

Then you shouldn’t be standing there so confidently…!

‘Director Ho probably knows roughly that we’re in contact with each other anyway… but is this really okay?’

Is it okay to just visit a spy’s lodging like this? No, why are you casually sitting in someone else’s motel room without any notice in the first place?

“W-well… would you like to sit?”

“Yes.”

I sat across from Lizard at the dining table with a flustered face.

And I tried to explain my confusion….

“I see. However, I came to resolve a more important matter in terms of priority.”

Phew.

“I’m sorry, but I have something to do first.”

“What is it?”

“….”

Well.

So you remember the talk show ghost story where you rescued me while firing bombardment, right Manager?

Strictly speaking, I’m planning to summon the host again, who was the cause of all that chaos….

Should I tell him this? Or would I be a safety-insensitive fool for not saying anything?

I opened my mouth with a somehow entangled feeling and explained the general situation.

Judging that he would understand it was a situation where I had no choice but to summon.

“I see.”

Manager Lizard, as expected, immediately agreed.

However….

“Please follow safety protocols during the ritual. I will confirm.”

“….”

He doesn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.

So I ended up summoning Good Friend Brown in earnest with Manager Lee Ja-heon in tow….

‘Is this… right?’

This is maddening.

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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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