Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 187

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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 187

Good Friend.

The preparations for the summoning ritual are already complete.

The tearful ordeal of using substitutes for substitutes at the theme park resort just before this—using gums when there were no teeth—is all over.

This time, I prepared all the same items I used when I first conducted the Good Friend summoning ritual.

Necktie, silver coin, and… most importantly, the stuffed doll from the theme park gift shop.

I picked up that stuffed doll.

That doll with fluffy fur is surprisingly… keychain-sized and a pink rabbit doll!

How did I manage to get a rabbit instead of a yellow-horned cat when I took over the gift shop from the Yellow Zone?

Simple.

‘I created a special display stand using my mascot authority.’

[Stuffed Doll I Choose and Customize]

Custom Good Friend creation, in other words.

Thus, I succeeded in obtaining an original Good Friend with an appearance almost identical to what I got from the Real Goods box—the ‘Good Friend Keychain’ made as merchandise.

Though it doesn’t have the keychain attachment.

Now I just need to avoid thinking about the raw materials of this stuffed doll…

Everything’s fine.

But, but…

“….”

“….”

The stare is piercing.

“Just follow the manual written here to conduct the summoning ritual.”

“Yes.”

Lizard’s unblinking eyes are burdensome…

But Lee Ja-heon seemed to have absolutely no intention of looking away or compromising, so I ended up conducting the ritual while he checked the manual.

‘It didn’t specifically say to conduct it alone…’

Somehow I’m proceeding with deep sighs rather than tension.

This time I drew lines of the appropriate size, placed Good Friend’s small body in the center, added the silver coin, and conducted the ritual exactly the same way.

‘The necktie too… the same product.’

Hold salt in my mouth.

Burn the necktie with a lighter.

Hissss.

…I remember when I first attempted this.

When I was a bit less afraid than now, less resigned than now, when I desperately searched for an escape route in a suddenly trapped ghost story and attempted this ritual.

The being that responded to that ritual.

Flicker flicker.

The necktie burns and flames rise. In that flickering light, the doll’s shadow also sways as if moving.

And…

The doll’s mouth opens.

-Aaaahhhhh!

….

Huh?

-Stop! Stop! I came firstforgive me honored guestthere are manyone who knows honorTeacher? This type of consultationrock paper scissorsyou who call me worthless things, begone! Mountain Lord’s processionaaaahhhhh!

The small doll thrashes about as if containing countless things. But soon…

-Oh.

It stops.

-Ohhhhh the great Master of Direction comes!

They chorus.

As if someone already holds full authority and is inducing audience response.

-오셨다! 오셨다! 돌아오셨다! 당신을 보러오셨다! 당신을 보러오신—— 그분은!

The doll raises both hands high.

And…

Says cheerfully like a child.

-Wow! Friend called me again!

“…!”

The next moment.

Everything disappeared.

The six-pointed star drawn with water, the necktie I was holding, the coin, the salt in my mouth.

As if it had been that way from the beginning.

All that remained was the doll sitting alone on the motel room floor.

A fluffy stuffed doll.

“…Brown?”

But there was no response.

I almost panicked for a moment, but I soon realized the situation.

‘Originally Good Friend only moved and talked inside ghost stories!’

And this is reality. If the doll wasn’t enhanced by a blood bath, various conditions were needed. So…

‘Conversation preparation!’

I quickly hung Brown on the bed frame and turned off the lights, leaving only one lamp under the bed.

So the lamp light would shine on the doll and cast a shadow on the wall.

My hands trembled slightly throughout.

Whether from anticipation or because of the tremendous thing I just witnessed, I’m not sure.

‘…What just happened?’

It seemed like countless somethings were invited into the Good Friend doll, but it passed too quickly to analyze.

I reflexively looked at Lizard, but he nodded.

“It proceeded safely.”

“….”

Yes…

Anyway, having finally finished preparations to talk with Good Friend in reality, I leaned against the bed and looked at Good Friend’s giant shadow cast on the wall…

And.

-Friend!

“…!”

A lively and familiar voice echoes through the room.

The voice coming from the rabbit doll.

“…Brown.”

-Finally, we meet again! How deeply moving this is. Ah, what a perfect scene for a talk show opening!

-Mr. Noru, I heard you’ve been through many hardships. But worry no more. Your most faithful advisor, your best guide, your one and only friend in this world has returned to your side!

That tone filled with showmanship.

Strangely, hearing that voice spreads a peculiar… sense of welcome and emotion.

-At times like this, hugs and cheers are perfect! Right now the audience… Hmm. You’re not moving.

-Mr. Noru, somehow my body feels as heavy as waterlogged cotton… but with my friend’s support, it might be possible. Come, shall we stand before the camera together?

“Haha… No. It’s fine.”

It was nostalgic enough to feel fond of such creepy sounds.

I leaned against the bed, looking relatively comfortably at the shadow of the stuffed doll cast on the wall.

“Let’s talk a bit more first. How’s your condition?”

-Couldn’t be better! If I can talk with my friend, heavy limbs are a bearable comfort. I’ll gradually get used to it too!

-Then once again, to the starting place where we’ll spend delightful days together with this Brown…

From somewhere came a sound like rustling clothes, as if looking around the surroundings.

The voice hesitated.

-…Oh my goodness. Friend, where on earth are you staying?

Ah.

I looked around the room.

Like cheap motel rooms in back alleys near stations, well, it’s that kind of run-down room…

-Was my body just leaning against this filthy wall? Good heavens!

“It’s not dirty. I cleaned it thoroughly before conducting the invitation ritual… It’s just old.”

It just looks dirtier because of the floral pattern!

However, it wasn’t enough to convince the talk show host.

-‘Just old’? No, this is an insult to housing. My friend is staying in a place worse than a trailer that even third-rate actors wouldn’t use!

-What happened to Mr. Noru’s humble sanctuary where you stayed before?

“That’s… well. My work changed so I can’t stay there anymore.”

-What a terrible company!

Well… that’s the thing.

Actually, Director Ho had suggested getting an officetel for the stability of spy activities and reliable identity verification.

He said he’d cover the costs.

But I refused.

How should I put it… I didn’t want to create something I could call a ‘home’ here.

The company housing definitely felt like something provided by the company so it was less of an issue, but if I created my own space, I was afraid my resolve might weaken.

“This place is surprisingly livable too. I’ll take good care of your spot.”

-Good heavens…

–Friend, I supported your independent and autonomous choice and even cheered for your resignation, but to think you had to stay in such a place.

The stuffed doll speaks in a mournful voice.

-Please don’t forget that this Brown’s talk show is still wide open for you, friend. Though you’d have to go through a light interview now…

“Mr. Noru, is this stuffed doll currently tempting you with talk show-type darkness?”

“No, well, it’s always like that…”

…

…?!

I turned my gaze to the lizard.

The white lizard head sitting on the bed was looking at me nonchalantly.

Nonchalantly?!

“Can you hear it!?”

“Yes.”

I almost fainted.

Wait. Then you’ve been listening to our entire conversation? Even when I left Brown with Lee Ja-heon and went to the ghost story… No, more than that!

“Due to this item’s characteristics, usually only I should be able to hear it, but by what mechanism can you hear it…?”

“? The other party is expressing intent for communication.”

I stared at him with my mouth open.

“…Normal humans can’t hear it.”

“Yes.”

“It would look suspicious to other people.”

“I see.”

The lizard faced me blankly as if asking what I wanted him to do about it.

“There are no other people in this space.”

“…”

I gave up on everything.

Come to think of it, didn’t Lee Ja-heon recognize me even when I turned into a child, when I wore a security team suit, and when I put on a mascot costume?

‘Maybe he’s specialized in mental identity or communication…’

It would be better to think of it as a reptilian alien’s ability.

That’s more comfortable…

“Mr. Noru.”

“Yes.”

“Would you like some advice?”

“…Yes?”

“Burn the doll immediately.”

-Oh.

Aaaah.

“The invitation ritual was conducted following safety procedures, but the invited entity shows the danger of being able to break free from the ritual’s restrictions at any time.”

-This rude swordsman still doesn’t know his place.

Oh, please.

-If one finds themselves intruding in a place where they weren’t even invited, they should at least follow the unspoken rule of keeping their mouth shut. Such ignorance in running their mouth carelessly! Though I can hardly believe it, out of respect for my Friend, I’ll say a few words.

-I am a being who respects my Friend’s privacy and is ready to help with anything for my Friend. Because….

-I’m a Good Friend!

“As a result of trusting that Prohibition Spell, Mr. Noru went missing for a month. Don’t forget that.”

-Oh, that was entirely an expression of my caring heart worrying about my Friend’s wellbeing. Thanks to that, Mr. Noru spent an incredibly safe and happy month at a workplace that was fulfilling for both body and mind…. That is, until you dared to set your dirty feet in the great Studio.

“You’re making threats.”

“W-wait a moment.”

Since I’ve already made a contract, as long as I’m in this ghost story world, I can’t escape anyway, so there’s no need for things to get hostile…!

“When I firmly said I would quit, you were eventually persuaded and let me go.”

-Of course!

“What logic did you use to persuade them?”

That was….

“…I said I would show them something more interesting.”

-Ah, yes. I was quite curious about the result of that promise….

-Of course, even if it’s not interesting, Good Friend will always protect you. Because enjoying a Friend’s pain is not what a Good Friend does!

“….”

Strange tone.

Come to think of it, this Stuffed Doll Brown is using vocabulary that seems much more friendly and completely on my side compared to when we talked on the phone at the theme park.

Just like before.

‘I summoned it to the Good Friend stuffed doll… so it’s bound by those rules again?’

But unlike before, now I could tell for certain.

That the other party was accepting Good Friend’s Prohibition Spell as a kind of entertainment.

That despite the spell being useless now, it was showing this attitude out of a kind of nostalgia and playing along… that’s what it was.

If it found it boring, it might break through the spell and drag me back to the Talk Show as an employee.

‘…Thanks to Manager Lizard, I’ve become more alert.’

I almost got swept up in the atmosphere and became overly attached to Good Friend.

Right. Let’s not believe everything ‘Good Friend’ says on the surface.

I need to prevent the same situation as last time.

“Yeah. Thanks. Then… Brown. Would it be okay if you went back into my front pocket for now?”

-Oh, I won’t refuse that!

I managed to change the subject and naturally ended the conversation with Brown.

‘Phew.’

As soon as I put Brown in the front pocket of my clothes, I let out a sigh of relief.

A strange sense of stability, feeling like I had somehow returned to the original track.

By the way, the Goblin Fire on my right arm trembled when trying to grab the stuffed doll, so I handled it with my left arm.

‘Since when did using my own body require so much consensus….’

I feel like I’m reaching enlightenment.

“Are you finished.”

“…Yes.”

Fortunately, Lizard didn’t make any sudden moves like snatching Good Friend and throwing it out the window.

Though he did stare intently at the Rabbit Doll.

‘…If Brown could move, they would have fought.’

The current state was rather fortunate.

I spoke up again to clear the atmosphere.

“Um, Manager. Then if the reason you visited today was because you noticed this….”

“No.”

Then what else.

“Then is there another reason?”

“Yes.”

“Wait a moment.”

Phew.

I finally sat back down at the dining table and offered Manager Lizard some simple snacks and coffee.

Manager Lizard didn’t refuse and drank the coffee, and I also drank coffee from across the table.

“I’d like you to tell me now.”

I was ready to talk.

…I thought it might be about Team D.

“Yes.”

After Lizard put a snack in his mouth, shell and all, and swallowed it, he looked at me and spoke.

About a topic I never expected.

“Mr. Noru, did you have a dream collector with you during the last ‘Cheerful Theme Park!’ exploration?”

….

Hm?

“The Company didn’t give me one.”

“I see.”

Right. Because I pretended to be from the Security Team’s special department.

Usually the Security Team doesn’t get collectors because of severe contamination. The collector only gives dream essence liquid when it judges someone as human, and they can’t get that judgment.

But I did bring one separately.

An Elite Team collector.

This item I received from the goods box had provided ingredients several times for me to extract potions from the Dream Cultivation Room.

‘This exploration was said to be A-grade.’

Should I check it briefly now.

I opened my mouth and checked the Elite Team collector I had stored in my Inventory Tattoo.

“But why are you asking about that….”

The Elite Team collector was completely empty.

“….”

Huh?

“Mr. Noru.”

I carefully took out the collector again to check for sure, but it still had nothing in it.

‘That’s strange.’

I definitely escaped the Darkness and cleared it. Then the dream collector should be full.

Why isn’t it filled?

‘When clearing Darkness doesn’t fill the collector….’

The sentence I just thought of.

-The collector only gives dream essence liquid when it judges someone as human, and they can’t get that judgment.

….

Wait a minute.

I’m not human?

I’ve… been judged as a ghost story?

But….

‘I’m completely myself though?’

I didn’t show any erratic behavior or strange appearances like when I received counseling at the Fox Counseling Room.

So, I seem to be maintaining my identity….

“Manager.”

“Yes.”

“Am I… contaminated?”

I made eye contact with Manager Lizard.

The manager opens his mouth.

“Yes.”

“…But I’m normal. It’s different from when I went to the counseling room….”

“Because you’ve been contaminated by different darkness.”

…Ah.

‘That… could be possible.’

That’s when it happened.

A brilliant beam of light descends from above my head.

When I unconsciously look up, I see a familiar memo pad and text….

[Darkness Investigation Records Real Goods Box]

-New goods usage permission unlocked! (!)

A special phenomenon I haven’t seen in a while.

I unconsciously reached out and caught the item falling from the box.

A small silver music box.

“….”

The item I bought at the popup store.

Goods from Mumyeong Chanran Temple.

Here, ‘those assimilated’ refers to those who have mutated enough to not be judged as human in ghost stories, a term used by Mumyeong Chanran Temple.

So… the fact that I received this means.

I’ve met the item usage conditions.

I’ve been completely contaminated by ghost stories.

And I’m aware of it.

“Noru.”

“….”

“If you still don’t want to visit the Fox Counseling Room, nod your head.”

This is driving me crazy.

“If you cannot decide, implement the alternative immediately.”

What’s….

“That?”

“Take out the gratitude card you received from the Space Shopping Mall.”

I reflexively performed that action.

A golden card popped out from my wrist, but Manager Lee Ja-heon didn’t even blink.

“Now take out the cell enclosed in the card.”

Cell?

The golden chip in a SIM card-like form that was enclosed in the card, is he talking about this?

“Attach it under your tongue.”

“….”

“Position it so the circuit faces upward, and push it under your tongue.”

Normally I would have pondered this and that and taken more time.

But this time, a chilling sense of crisis rang alarm bells.

“Yes.”

I attached the ‘cell’ under my tongue.

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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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