Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 213

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work Episode 213

Before opening my eyes.

I heard a sound echoing in my head.

Instructions.

-You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher’s instructions. You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher’s instructions….

“Hello.”

I opened my eyes.

“Nice to meet you. I’m your assigned… assistant employee.”

The first thing I saw was a mask.

Not a face that had turned into flowing mosaics, but a coated paper mask covering it.

It wasn’t the familiar Field Investigation Team mask I knew. It looked like a child’s crayon drawing imitating one.

But I know that animal.

“I’ll do my best not to be a bother. …I go by Badger.”

Badger.

This person wearing the Security Team uniform, I knew them….

Team D’s Park Min-seong.

My senior.

“Please, um, take care of me from now on.”

And he doesn’t recognize me.

“Well, today is just a simple introduction….”

It’s natural.

My current state and Kim Sol-eum’s previous appearance have nothing in common except body measurements, and he’s never seen this appearance before.

But right after that, something unnatural happens.

“…Why.”

Another person’s voice.

From that intonation, that slow and monotone way of speaking, I knew who it was.

I saw a thin human figure in a security guard uniform standing at the door with his cap pressed down….

“Why… are you here.”

J3.

“Chief?”

“You… shouldn’t be here….”

….

I tried to open my mouth, but realized my vocal cords weren’t in place and were somewhere in my melted body….

Smoke formed words.

Employment Contract

“…You said you were quitting.”

New Employment Contract

: Permanent Employment

“….”

I lowered the smoke.

“Chief, what do you mean by quitting….”

The person wearing the Badger mask was frozen stiff with a bewildered tone.

The anxiety, confusion, and hesitation trying to guess the situation expressed in the following rapid breathing….

And finally, the sound of sharp intake of breath as if he’d guessed the shocking truth.

He remembered.

A mutual acquaintance who had recently safely quit this company.

And someone who had lost contact.

“…Noru?”

I didn’t answer.

“….”

The person wearing the Badger mask stared at me frozen.

Then looked back at the person in the security uniform.

The Security Chief doesn’t deny it.

Instead, he opens the door and leaves this space.

Click.

The sound of the iron door locking.

“No, no… no. This can’t, I, I… that….”

The sound of steadying breath.

Coming from the Badger mask.

Contamination symptoms try to break through due to agitation, but are blocked by the mask.

Only after more than 40 seconds pass does the Badger mask, having completely shaken off the identity of the ■■ Affiliated Kindergarten Teacher, take a deep breath.

Then I hear it.

“It’ll, it’ll be okay.”

The sound of approaching footsteps.

“Being in the Security Team means, well, that means you can communicate, right…? There must be a way. I recovered too…. Right?”

I moved the smoke.

Impossible

“…!”

Contamination is when a being that was originally human becomes mutated by supernatural phenomena.

Recovery from contamination means recovering one’s original human body and mind.

And.

“Noru.”

Impossible

I don’t have the former.

“…Sol-eum.”

….

I tried to form words again, then scattered the smoke and gathered it inside the gas mask.

Because I somehow felt reluctant to perform the action.

A desperate voice is heard.

“Um… right, hearing your real name feels strange, doesn’t it?”

It doesn’t matter at all.

“Isn’t there any rejection reaction? Like confusion… it would be natural. So….”

Showing strange reactions to one’s original name is a typical contamination phenomenon.

It has nothing to do with me.

“Sol-eum….”

Thud.

Park Min-seong was about to call out again when he suddenly flinched and trembled, then gripped his own wrist tightly.

Security Team control wristwatch.

Tick, tick.

The sound of the clock ticking.

And the announcement that I couldn’t hear before now reaches me faintly, as we now share a similar contractual relationship.

-A violation of safety protocols has been detected. 7 seconds will be deducted from the remaining time until imprisonment for re-education. 71 seconds, 70 seconds, 69 seconds….

It’s similar to the guidance that rings in my head.

The restriction that controls the words and actions of Security Team contaminated personnel.

He probably realized himself that he violated the safety protocol of not referring to ‘real names’ during work.

Thus I witnessed one specific mechanism not detailed in the .

But that’s not important.

What’s important is….

-You have been assigned to a new position. Follow the researcher’s instructions.

Work.

“….”

“….”

What should I do.

In the silence, I finally began to look around at where I was.

Rusted iron door. Enclosed space. Similar to Annex Basement 13th Floor Room 666, but not that place.

But I can recognize where this is.

-Baekillmong Corporation Main Building Underground Containment Room.

The place I had visited before for cleaning as disciplinary action when I was human.

It was also the place where I was transported with Park Min-seong after losing consciousness following the ‘Hungry Hangman’ clear.

The isolation corridor accessible only from the Security Team rental warehouse, the containment room within….

But I can feel it.

This place is much deeper inside than the containment room where I was isolated when rescued from the ‘Hungry Hangman’ darkness.

Much deeper than the place I visited for disciplinary cleaning, located in the inner core containment zone deep within… I know this through a worker’s instinct.

And the appearance of this sealed room.

I ran my finger over the lamp placed on the desk.

Lamp, wooden desk, bed, towel.

A familiar arrangement.

‘Company housing.’

It had the same interior as the room where employee Kim Sol-eum stayed in company housing.

Every prop was obsessively prepared.

An arrangement that felt almost ritualistic, ceremonial.

Compositions that seemed to avoid offending the darkness bound by the employment contract, as if trying to appease it.

At the same time, I could feel they were expecting my reaction….

‘Is this Gwak Je-gang’s doing?’

This is something that researcher would do.

I ran my gloved fingers over the desk.

Should I be angry.

My crushed and melted brain tries to think similar thoughts as before, but it’s difficult….

‘Then I… from now on, instead of Annex Basement 13th Floor, I’ll be in charge of security for the main building’s underground containment room?’

This isn’t difficult.

But then….

That person isn’t needed.

“…!”

I stared at the badger mask.

I could feel the badger mask’s agitation.

I ask him as his posture stiffens.

Request introduction of assigned duties

“…Your job is to work together with Noru.”

Inappropriate designation

Reason: Unofficial

“…Ah.”

The person wearing the badger mask turned his head and made a small sound upon seeing the CCTV in the corner.

The CCTV has no audio-related functions due to contamination concerns, but I can feel the observing gaze from beyond it.

They’re watching.

And there’s no need to give the assigned researcher confidence about the current state.

Seeming to catch the meaning of my smoky warning, Badger’s words change.

“Then… what should I call you? Haha, let’s think of it as making another nickname. Originally Noru was also Deputy Manager….”

The cheerful voice became slightly blurred then returned.

“Um… do you have any other favorite animals?”

Favorite animals.

I waited for something to come to mind.

But I feel no sentiment whatsoever.

Unknown

“….”

….

“It’s okay. Then I’ll think about it carefully.”

I heard the sound of him clearing his voice.

Request introduction of assigned duties

: Include specific examples

“Ah, um, so… when you receive work assignments, I’ll accompany you and help ensure you have no inconveniences.”

The person wearing the badger mask speaks kindly.

But….

“If you have any inconveniences, you can tell me first. Or security team…!”

What is he holding in his hand?

“…!”

Sensing my gaze, the person wearing the badger mask hurriedly tried to hide what he was putting in his pocket, then seemed to realize something and carefully took it out again to show me.

A syringe-shaped object.

It resembled a dream collector, but its purpose seemed opposite.

An injector.

For subduing special department personnel

The other person slowly nods at the words I created.

“Don’t worry. I won’t press it. Really. Really….”

Why?

Recommended use in appropriate situations

“…For example?”

▶Collapse of bipedal form

▶Uncontrollable smoke state

▶When experiencing extreme anxiety

“…When you look anxious?”

▶When experiencing extreme anxiety

Criteria: Emotions of the control tool user

“…. Haha….”

A whimpering sound comes from the Badger Mask.

It was an unclear sound – whether crying or laughing, or feeling relieved.

“Still the same. Right?”

….

“Yeah…. Yes, it’ll be okay.”

And as if reassured somehow, the vibrations and movements subsided as if feeling much more at ease.

And they reached out their arm as if to pat my shoulder… but soon lowered it.

….

Click.

“Chief, we….”

The door opens and the Security Chief enters.

To judge them as someone who left unable to accept an unexpected situation, there’s no sign of rejection in their physical reaction.

Rather, they walk over without hesitation, making the Badger Mask flinch.

And they extend their left arm toward me.

“Chief?”

“Um.”

In the palm of the extended left arm, round objects reveal themselves.

Nostalgia Candy.

“Do you want to eat this…?”

….

I can’t eat it.

I don’t have a mouth. I don’t know where there might be an organ that could be called a mouth.

Maybe I never made one in the first place because it wasn’t necessary.

I just believed it existed.

More than anything… I can’t take off the gas mask.

“….”

Quietly, I pushed away their hand with my gloved fingers.

Impossible

“I see….”

The Security Chief withdraws their hand, then stands still as if lost in thought.

And asks.

“What kind of darkness did you enter…?”

Wish Scroll

“….”

I scattered those words before the Badger Mask could see them.

J3 asked no more questions.

They just quietly lifted their hatted head. Then through the crumbling mosaic-like appearance….

A face becomes visible.

‘…!’

“Noru, calm down…!”

What is this?

Why can I see it?

“Are you… in pain right now…?”

Even the voice is clear. I can distinguish it. I can perceive it! What is this? Why? Maybe I just couldn’t perceive it and there’s another truth….

….

Ah.

I understand.

“Why is the smoke…!”

Because they’re closer to being a ghost story than a person.

The Security Chief’s contamination is so powerful and deep that no matter how much the Security Team curriculum tries to remove it, it keeps them existing on the boundary of existence.

This is meaningless.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re in pain….”

However, despite that….

“Then it’s okay….”

I slowly felt that strange aching sensation I experienced in the elevator arising again.

The Security Chief casually entered the smoke, then raised their hand in a somewhat clumsy motion… patting my back.

As if doing it for the first time in a very long while.

“…It’ll be okay.”

….

I inhaled the smoke. The black gas streams that had been swirling on the floor were drawn back in.

The Security Chief glances at the Nostalgia Candy for a moment.

“Um, I’ll try bringing something else….”

I shook my head.

The Nostalgia Series is not necessary for work.

Now I need to hear what’s necessary.

-It is your work time. Please wake up. It is your work time. Please wake up….

Because it’s time.

Work briefing requested

“Ah, that’s….”

[Aha, how passionate!]

“…!”

The heads of both shadowy figures whip around toward the direction of the sound.

[Haha, contacted you at exactly the right time, didn’t I? Good morning. Not that it’s actually morning, just small talk to start work.]

Sound is coming from the CCTV in the corner.

The Security Chief stepped forward in front of me.

[Ah, the speaker and recording functions only work during mutual conversations like this. It’s been a while since we’ve had such ethical and considerate working conditions. Hahaha!]

“Are you sane….”

[Well, cutting to the chase. Let me explain the work very clearly as the researcher in charge.]

I shook my head at the Security Chief. However, the Security Chief stood silently in place.

Only Gwak Je-gang’s voice from the CCTV loudly echoed through the sealed room.

[This is, well, important work directly related to our Company’s goals. Specifically… efficiently producing large quantities of good potions.]

[And for that, there are prerequisites, aren’t there?]

The obvious explanation that followed.

[Smooth supply of darkness suitable for extracting potion raw materials, ‘Dream Essence’!]

[Ghost stories that the Company can ‘manage,’ where humans can be periodically inserted to extract Dream Essence.]

As if something outrageous was about to be said.

[And someone powerful needs to consistently bring such ghost stories to the Company….]

The excited breathing of one who researches darkness can be heard.

[One of them is you.]

….

[Please suppress ghost stories that the Company can use. So we can effectively produce Dream Essence.]

New work had begun.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————