Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 226

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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 226

Evening with darkness settling in.

The front entrance of Baekillmong Corporation’s annex building.

Two black Security Team employees with transport containers are sitting at the front desk, attending to people.

“Corridor… 32. It’s over there…”

“Th-thank you.”

Of course, rather than proper service, it’s more like casually receiving greetings, opening corridor access permissions, and announcing precautions.

Since it’s usually a one-person job, and there aren’t usually transport containers placed nearby, employees sometimes hesitate or look like they’re breaking out in cold sweat, wondering if this is some kind of experiment.

And inside one of those ‘exceptional items,’ the transport container… I’m in there.

“You okay…?”

Tap.

“Mm… got it.”

The Security Chief does check on my condition occasionally, but basically he’s sprawled at the front desk with a face that finds everything bothersome.

Originally the Security Team wouldn’t handle this kind of public service work, but because they were designated as my supervising team, they ended up doing all sorts of odd jobs.

‘I’m sorry…’

“Still, this is nice. Peaceful! Right, No… I mean, Employee?”

Tap.

I agreed with Park Min-seong’s words.

Since the Security Team mainly handles mental control duties and rarely gets to do such peaceful work, Park Min-seong seemed to quite welcome this assignment.

And during today’s work hours, he was also very pleased that my attitude had become more stable than before during our communication.

-Your condition seems to have recovered a lot…! That’s a relief, Noru.

I haven’t told them yet that I’ve recovered my original mind. I plan to tell them after I adapt more to the bell and can completely compose myself.

‘First I need to be able to control my body too.’

So I was in the middle of examining my own body again inside the transport container.

First… hmm. It’s definitely mangled.

‘It’s completely pulverized…’

I tried my best to classify these crumpled things inside the Security Team suit based on a human body.

Brain, esophagus, eyeballs, ears, stomach… The parts that had pain receptors or that I had tried to be conscious of could be vaguely identified.

[It’s like a sliding puzzle. Good. Let’s try to put it together!]

Brown’s advice was quite helpful too.

Of course, if someone with professional medical knowledge, like Young-eun, helped me, I might be able to understand more broadly… but this is my limit for now.

‘What the hell is this? How many eyes do I have?’

…Each part felt somewhat alien to begin with.

[Oh, magnificent scales, Friend!]

I could also feel something with strange hardness at the end of my front paw, no, arm… like reptilian scales and bird claws.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Still, knowing was indeed power.

The problem was that if my emotions were functioning properly, I would have gone insane before it became helpful.

I was aware that I was doing quite bizarre work.

‘Hmm. Maybe I can calmly move the parts I’ve identified to reconstruct my body…’

Once I’m aware of them, I might be able to move them… I think.

But I’m not sure right now. I might be able to try once I take off the suit, but the risk seems greater, so I’m holding off.

Most importantly, I found what I was looking for.

: :

The inventory tattoo.

Fortunately, it was buried in my left forearm below the shoulder, not too far from its original location.

I couldn’t find the other tattoos – they were probably crumpled and buried deeper inside. I might be able to use them once I can organize my body…

My immediate expectation is this.

Can I use this tattoo?

[Ho, you’re looking forward to today’s work ending, Noru.]

That’s right.

‘I can’t stick my arm out directly to check while inside the transport container.’

So let’s safely finish the first day of work at the annex front desk.

Fortunately, the annex operated without major problems until late at night.

…I did see many familiar faces. Visitors to the annex were likely to be from the Field Investigation Team or Research Team, so naturally there was a high probability I’d seen their faces during work.

It felt strange.

“Corridor 12… Oh, would you like the employee to give it to you?”

“Eek.”

By the way, when I sent smoke through the transport container to display text and hand over an access card, the Seal Mask Field Investigation Team employee almost rolled backward and ran away.

Ah, that was the person who used the office next door.

“…”

“…”

“I’m sorry…”

Watching the back of the person who barely took the access card and ran off, I displayed text.

Survival Instinct: Excellent

-Talent suitable for Field Investigation Team

“Hahaha…”

Park Min-seong’s voice sounded like someone laughing because they couldn’t cry.

Well, anyway, it meant I’d done routine work for the first time in months.

And around 3 AM, a very familiar face appeared.

An unexpected big shot.

‘Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol!’

A sharp employee in a business suit with a butterfly mask, hair neatly tied back, and nail art.

Elite Team A Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol.

“Mm.”

Seeing Park Min-seong bow his head slightly, Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol, who had been touching her nails, seemed to finally make the connection.

“Team D?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“I heard you went to the Security Team, but you’re still alive.”

“Haha…”

Usually even when people recognized him, they either didn’t acknowledge him because he was Security Team or treated him politely with some fear, but this person was different as expected…

And at this exact timing, another Elite Team member also visited the annex.

“Hello there~”

It was Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae, who I had worked with just yesterday.

He was holding a large snack set wrapped in recycled paper, which he energetically placed down on the front desk.

“I heard you were here! I thought it would be nice for the three of you to share these while working!”

“Um… Thank you…”

For reference, it was kelp tempura.

I can’t eat it, but… well, the Security Chief seemed interested, so that’s fine.

But surprisingly, Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae didn’t stop there and lightly tapped the mobile unit I was sitting in, then whispered.

Huh…?

“Um, wouldn’t it be okay to come out? No civilians come here anyway!”

“Come out? What?”

At Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol’s question, Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly.

“Oh, you were here, Deputy Manager. I didn’t buy tempura for you though…”

“…”

The Security Chief, who had been sniffing the tempura and then stuffed a piece in his mouth, roughly turned his head to look at the two, then weakly pointed at the box…

“One…?”

“It’s fine.”

He didn’t offer twice.

Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol seemed indifferent to that, looking at Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae with an incredulous expression.

“You want to let out the Darkness that’s deliberately contained in the mobile unit? Are you sane?”

“It’s not contained, it seems like they’re just staying in there because it’s comfortable! Right?”

Partially correct.

: Adapting to civilian service

“…”

Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol came out of the mobile unit and watched my smoke drawing letters, her expression showing she had a lot to say, but surprisingly she immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

No… You made a sensible comment.

Team Leader Park Min-seong hurriedly interjected with a gentle tone, speaking to Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae.

“Well, thank you. Our team member who was with us got captured by the Disaster Management Bureau… You must be troubled, but thank you for caring like this.”

“Huh? Oh, the pony guy.”

Lee Seong-hae smiled brightly.

“He’s not the same team member.”

“Ah.”

…It somehow became quiet.

“Elite Team?”

“No?”

“I see.”

That was the end of the conversation.

…It seemed that Kang I-hak wasn’t considered a ‘good person’ in Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae’s view.

Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol had no interest at all. No, even though they both worked together at the Mermaid Graveyard…

‘Really consistent people…’

Feeling like my churning stomach might start hurting, I decided to shake the bell once more.

Shaking the bell every time stress signals came, it was now like some pain management doll they give you at the dentist… or a stress ball.

“Should I give you an access card?”

“Oh, yes.”

Team Leader Park Min-seong issued an access card to Deputy Manager Jin while chewing on tempura.

Then after some hesitation, he asked.

“Um, our Team Leader…, I mean, is Manager Lee Ja-heon from Team D doing well?”

“How would I know that?”

Deputy Manager Jin Na-sol frowned, but surprisingly answered obediently.

“Still, it’s probably better than before. New personnel were added this time too.”

“…Ah. I see…”

“Well, it’s not uncommon for all personnel except the team leader to change completely, so he’ll manage well on his own.”

“…”

“Ah! Speaking of Manager Lee Ja-heon, I think he went on some long-term Darkness Investigation the other day. What was it… a boarding school ghost story?”

Additional description was added that it would probably take about 4-5 days. Team Leader Park Min-seong finally smiled and nodded.

“I see. Thank you.”

And after the two left to attend to their respective business, Team Leader Park Min-seong whispered to me.

“If things go well, we might be able to see Manager Lee Ja-heon too. If he returns from the Darkness within this week, that is. …I’m a little excited. Right?”

Tap.

“Good.”

And to the smiling Team Leader Park Min-seong, I carefully and secretly made a request.

Since there were no people around.

Request: Secret transport

“…Huh?”

Then I poked an object with my smoke.

“Oh, you want… this?”

Tap.

“Um, that should be fine… Oh, Security Captain?”

“Here…”

Thank you.

I carefully gathered the various writing instruments from the front desk that the Security Chief pushed into the mobile unit with my smoke.

And after the first night shift at the Annex Front ended.

[Oh, a resting place! Of course, it’s a structure with no windows making ventilation impossible, but my friend is wearing a gas mask, so it’s not a major problem, they say.]

Returning to the containment room, I sat on the bed.

And very carefully, I tried to perceive the inside of my body…

I tried to move the part I perceived.

‘Come out.’

Outside.

To where it should originally be.

Crack.

Squirm squirm.

Strange sounds seemed to come from inside my body, and I felt like retching. But I could move it.

After time passed that would have left my body soaked with cold sweat if I could sweat.

‘…Done.’

I stretched out my arm and touched the Security Team uniform below my left elbow, near my wrist.

And I opened the zipper.

Ziiiiip.

Inside the opening zipper, amorphous strange flesh can be seen. Barely maintaining its shape.

But it’s also visible that it was sent to exactly the intended location.

The tattoo.

Its color changing as if activating.

: :

Inventory Tattoo.

‘Found it.’

I put my hand into the tattoo.

‘…!’

It worked. It still functions…!

[Ah, it’s the corridor connecting to the Manager’s Office of Cheerful Theme Park! I remember that wretched Lodge Keeper got to work in an undeserved position thanks to Noru….]

Not quite to that extent, but it’s definitely an expanded space.

And unfortunately, most of it should be empty and vacant since everything disappeared. I had organized everything before using the wish ticket.

I left some at the Disaster Management Bureau for now.

‘In the end, I handed everything over to Manager Lee Ja-heon….’

I recalled the time when I put almost all the equipment in subway storage lockers and sent the location and password to Manager Lee Ja-heon.

Right, it should be empty.

But… I sense a strange presence inside.

Things occupying my space.

‘It feels like… there’s something more.’

However, I couldn’t examine it further since I couldn’t keep the security suit open for long.

For now, I quickly checked only what I could grab with my hands, the things I had expected.

First, the blue scale.

It was given by the Blue Dragon Mascot from Cheerful Theme Park.

I didn’t hand this over to anyone because I was worried about the repercussions.

It said I could ‘summon’ it… but now… using it would probably just add another incident to the company’s accident reports, so I’ll hold off.

‘Let me just remember it.’

I withdrew my hand from the clear, smooth, cool texture.

And… what I was concerned about was the next item.

Second, the paper boat.

The very thing that Baek Sa-heon had left behind when he escaped from Jisan Village.

[Hmm. Let this Brown guess. It’s a somewhat personal item, and since its value is difficult to assess, you didn’t dispose of it to others, correct?]

That was correct.

And perhaps, thanks to that, it might be of great help.

A pathway to learn what happened during the past 6 months I spent without consciousness on Basement 13th Floor.

And about Jang Heo-un as well.

[Oh, a pathway.]

That’s right.

A boat is usually a means of transportation to send something somewhere.

And paper is for writing letters.

When you combine the two and think about it….

‘I wonder if it might be a communication device.’

I took the paper boat out of the tattoo.

And hastily closed the zipper while adjusting my clothes.

‘Phew.’

Good. I handled it stably and well.

And I examined the paper boat.

The boat made from somewhat used paper seemed to have been carefully preserved, and despite being a low-durability item, there were no messy or damaged parts.

‘Thinking of it as an item, considering how to use it….’

This would be it.

I carefully dismantled the boat and unfolded the paper.

Then the surface that had been hidden inside the boat was revealed….

[Oh, jackpot, Friend.]

There was writing inside.

Hey

Are you dead?

Letters that seemed to be written in pencil.

It was Baek Sa-heon’s handwriting.

Of course, I couldn’t tell when it was written.

But judging from the nuance of the message, it wasn’t something randomly written before escaping from Jisan Village.

‘It seems like a question aimed at me.’

More precisely, at the ‘Grape Agent’ who had pulled the golden rod in Jisan Village.

‘…Good.’

I rummaged through the writing materials the Security Chief had prepared for me and picked out a pencil.

And I wrote on the paper….

I’m not dead.

A moment later.

What the hell

A reply came back.

In handwriting that seemed hastily scrawled in surprise.

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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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