Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 228

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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 228

Right now.

Under the desk where I am.

There’s something there.

It’s calling me.

The resort employee from the ghost story that I summoned.

“Mascot?”

The contaminated Jang Heo-un.

My dead colleague still hasn’t been revived, and has become part of the ghost story, calling out to me.

Calling out to me, the one who turned him into a ghost story.

“Please give me instructions on what to do, thank you for calling me!”

A dizzying sensation.

I realize, in an unwelcome way, that I can feel the sensation of ‘getting chills’ once again…

Like a spinal reflex, I create text with smoke and send it under the desk.

Question: Your current situation

Please.

“I’m currently working on assignment at the Yongcheon Fairy Hot Springs Special Care Zone of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau located in Gangwon Province, following Mascot’s instructions. I’m fulfilling any requests the ‘agents’ make as long as they don’t harm resort operations!”

Yongcheon Fairy Hot Springs.

It’s a representative supernatural phenomenon registered on the wiki, used by the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau for contamination and physical recovery.

‘So he did go there after all.’

My confused mind settles as it encounters familiar knowledge.

The voice from under the desk echoes.

“The agents have me look into thirty-three puddles around the hot spring water, checking what reflection of myself appears on their surface.”

However.

“They ask me if the reflection shows ‘Agent Hwagak’ from before I contracted with Mascot, but that has never happened. I always respond kindly to them!”

…

No.

No. It’s only been half a year, so… there might not be any improvement yet.

Still, shouldn’t something have changed a little?

Even just a bit?

‘Right.’

I suddenly caught a clue.

The name I called him by.

‘He responded to being called Jang Heo-un.’

Because I had just met another ‘Heo-un,’ the strong impression made me call him by his real name, but I definitely contracted with Heo-un using the nickname ‘Buffalo.’

But the fact that he responded to being called by his real name means he’s recovered some degree of human identity, right? So he remembers his name…

[Oh my… Noru, subordination is naturally like that! Even if the master calls with inaccurate terms like ‘hey’ or ‘you there,’ if it seems to refer to oneself, one must gladly respond and be present.]

…

So.

Instead, it only confirms more clearly that he’s subordinated to me… is that it?

‘Then what about the wish potion?’

Using the wish potion… wait a minute.

Question: Go Young-eun’s situation

(Including whether you’ve met her)

“That’s information I don’t know well. Should I look into it separately if you need it?”

Question: Whether the wish potion was used

“That’s information I don’t know well. Should I look into it separately if you need it?”

…

Question: Your identity

“I’m Buffalo, an employee gloriously hired by Mascot at Flower Golden Resort and currently on assignment!”

No.

Something’s wrong.

Very, very wrong.

‘What’s going on?’

If the Jang Heo-un I summoned hasn’t recovered at all… no, if nothing unusual happened to Heo-un and he’s just been under the Management Bureau’s care for half a year.

Just now.

Who was the one who introduced himself to me as ‘Heo-un’? Who was that employee who recognized me?

And where is the wish potion?

…

This won’t do.

‘I need to contact Young-eun.’

As quickly as possible.

But I don’t even have a smartphone, and someone as intelligent and cautious as Go Young-eun would have changed her number long ago. How on earth should I contact her…

“Um, Mascot.”

…!

“May I dare to ask you a question?”

…

Affirmative

: Ask comfortably

“Thank you!”

The voice from under the desk, unnaturally cheerful and polite, shows some… ripples.

“When… will my assignment end?”

…!

“Was I called to return to the resort with Mascot now?”

I can feel it.

Anticipation.

The product of autonomy and desire.

Something unnecessary for a resort employee.

[Oh, I can sense a faint individuality.]

That’s right.

‘Has something changed?’

Perhaps the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau’s countermeasures are having an effect.

To be more certain, I quickly pulled out an answer.

Answer: Negative

“….”

The sound from under the desk stopped.

I continued speaking.

Return condition: Must be able to request personal desires unrelated to work from the mascot.

“But I have no personal desires. My joy has already been fulfilled, and the things I wanted before becoming an employee are meaningless!”

Sigh.

Will find something.

“Mascot…?”

I considered giving Jang Heo-un the bell I was holding, but soon realized it would be meaningless.

After all, it was Hae-geum Agent who had taken custody of Heo-un. If that worked, I would have given it to him long ago.

‘More importantly…’

If I delayed any longer, the agents might start tracking or take emergency action.

‘If there’s progress, I need to make sure they receive it continuously without delay.’

I decided to send Heo-un back immediately.

And to make the sudden absence seem natural, I made Heo-un understand that he should explain the mascot called him for a ‘dispatched employee satisfaction inspection.’

“Yes. Thank you, Mascot!”

And just before ending the summoning and sending him back.

“Um, will you call me again?”

….

Affirmative.

“Thank you, Mascot!”

A bright voice answered.

And the dead one who had been under the desk disappeared.

: :

In the smoke, the red Inventory Tattoo under my left arm guard briefly flashed golden…

As if the ‘Lodge Keeper’ currently working as General Manager at the resort had confirmed my instructions.

‘Phew.’

[Friend, you’ve learned how to handle subordinates. Congratulations. It would have been nice to enjoy some fine champagne!]

I can’t quite bring myself to say thanks…

I waited, crouched in the Mobile Unit, until the sensation of ‘creepiness’ that had dully revived subsided.

Then I asked.

‘So in the end, the person who came to the Annex Building earlier… wasn’t the bison?’

Since Jang Heo-un, who had contracted with me, was unchanged.

[Correct. Noru.]

….

[But every utterance has intention. What intention they had when approaching Friend is something even this Host cannot know…]

Right.

Then given this situation…

‘I need to find out basic information about that employee first.’

[Oh. Don’t tell me you’re going to use that vulgar Researcher? Noru, I remember you were reluctant to mention the matter directly to him!]

Right. Because it could be unnecessary instigation.

So…

‘I’ll make him mention it himself.’

That day, the time remaining until rest after work ended.

“Well. Did you enjoy your work, Employee?”

I quietly stared at Gwak Je-gang who had come to visit.

“…Um. Employee?”

And when he started to wonder what this was about, I displayed text.

Confession permitted

“…Confession? Haha, I am someone with quite a lot to confess, but well, to you Employee, specifically…”

Topic: Today’s Annex Building visitor

….

“Ah. Hahaha…”

Gwak Je-gang picks up his file folder.

“You mean New Employee Jang Heo-un, right?”

I didn’t react.

“Wait. I didn’t send him. No… really? I can’t lie to you, Employee, can I? I couldn’t stop him when he said he wanted to go…”

I stayed still as if I would listen to his excuses.

As if I suspected he had tried to provoke me to extract special data.

Until the fear imprinted during my escape when I felt the threat of death rose behind Gwak Je-gang’s neck.

From the beginning.

‘There’s no way you wouldn’t know.’

Even if he didn’t call directly, he would have cheered and paid attention.

He definitely watched through CCTV, observing and recording the conversation.

So.

Prove it

“…In what way?”

Submit:

130666’s work record for today

“…Haha, yes.”

Gwak Je-gang’s hands trembled slightly with what might have been excitement or fear, then he held out the file folder he was carrying.

I took the file folder with my black-gloved hand.

And flipping through my profile, usage instructions, and observation records… I found today’s handwritten notes.

Records of the visitors I’ve interacted with.

Going down through the records to the time period when I exchanged with the new employee who introduced himself as ‘Heo-un’….

2:12 AM

Contact Person: Employee Kim Heo-woon

‘…!!’

Kim… Heo-woon?

130666 asked the employee if they were acquainted.

Presumed to be a question stemming from contact during the new employee orientation experiment.

The employee confirmed, after which 130666 issued an annex access card without any additional reaction.

…Up to this point, it was a well-refined, reasonable description that wouldn’t make ‘Director Cheong’ suspicious.

However, what came next was.

Special Notes: During the orientation experiment, the employee used the name ‘Jang Heo-un’ instead of his real name.

….

In the interview conducted after the experiment, he stated the reason for this behavior was ‘to gain courage.’

He repeatedly claimed to be a longtime acquaintance of Team Leader Jang Heo-un (working at the branch office) and knew he was employed at this company.

“Ah, you read that part?”

A spark of interest returned to the researcher’s voice that had been suppressed by fear.

“It’s a rather flimsy excuse… but that’s at least what he said in the interview.”

Then he glanced at me and added.

“Haha, at the time I was curious how that name would feel to you. He did look somewhat similar too.”

Wait a minute.

So it was just someone with the same given name but different surname?

And he’s an acquaintance of Jang Heo-un?

That’s all?

‘…No.’

Something was strange.

I clearly remember. After the dead Jang Heo-un was corrupted and rose as a resort employee, he casually told me about his past.

-I’m an orphan who grew up in a facility, and three years ago there was a big fire accident where all the family I lived with died inside. I somehow survived alone.

And such a Jang Heo-un… had an acquaintance with the same given name close enough to tell him about his employment?

The very fact that someone appeared making such claims was awkward and suspicious.

Moreover, that person recognized me.

I could be certain of this….

….

Was that really the case?

What if he just showed goodwill to the Kind Monster he met on basement 13th floor? What if I misread the context? What if my damaged brain isn’t functioning properly? What if….

Jingle.

Phew.

‘…Let’s not overthink this.’

I secretly shook the bell once more into the smoke and organized my thoughts.

First, at least during the two times we met, that person showed no erratic behavior.

And since he’s working as part of the Field Investigation Team, the dream collector is judging him as human.

I should remember just these two things for certain.

[Suspicion is a friend of wisdom. However, when overly sharp it can wound, so Noru’s attitude of trying to handle things slowly and carefully is excellent.]

Right. Thanks.

“…Ah, are you very concerned about that individual?”

Damn.

“Then shall I, even as special management personnel….”

Denied

“Ah… Yes.”

Let’s not cross the line.

Prohibited Actions

▶ Personal requisition regarding said individual

▶ Designation for 130666-related work assignment

▶ All other troublesome additional actions

I placed additional comprehensive restrictions on Gwak Je-gang afterward and held back a sigh.

‘…Certainly, that new employee said he would come back again.’

Then let me just keep open the access rights to continue working at the annex front.

I have a feeling that if I rashly investigate through Gwak Je-gang, I’ll end up poking something strange.

‘And… I’m not planning to get information only from there.’

The whereabouts of the wish ticket.

…No matter how I think about it, talking with Go Young-eun is the right approach.

…I need to think of a way to contact her.

“Mm. Understood.”

Gwak Je-gang seemed to wipe away cold sweat but soon recovered.

When I returned the file folder to him, he seemed somewhat disappointed that no more special situations would occur.

“It was quite an interesting conversation though….”

However, surprisingly, Gwak Je-gang didn’t seem to have tremendous interest or ulterior motives beyond slight disappointment.

I realized why from looking at his expression.

Because he had other more important matters.

“Would it be alright to return to the purpose of my visit today?”

….

Affirmative

“…! Excellent!”

Excitement filled that smiling face again.

“Well, Director Cheong’s orders have finally come down!”

…!

“Employee, now… let’s prepare to go excavate darkness at the Joyful Research Institute in the main building basement. Hahaha!”

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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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