Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 246

—————
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 246

“Let me summarize this.”

Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae tells us our options with bright, clear eyes.

Option 1.

“Somehow find a way to clear the ‘Forest of Death’ in the waiting room above the stairs and see if we can return!”

And Option 2.

“Follow the railway tracks to find a train and go to another station! We saw people inside the train!”

…Well then.

“Both options are quite challenging…”

I agree…

I felt the same sense of helplessness as I watched the veterans sighing, but at the same time, I felt grateful.

‘If there were people experiencing ghost stories for the first time in this situation, someone would already be going crazy saying they’d chase after the train alone…’

Since there’s no trolling behavior or fights breaking out, I feel at ease in that regard.

“Do you have cigarettes?”

“Oh, I recently quit. But even if I had some, it probably wouldn’t be good to smoke in this situation.”

The Bronze Agent, who had been silently watching the two smokers, declared.

“It would be better for you to have a meal instead.”

“Ah.”

And so a light meal time began.

“I did bring some of these things.”

“Oh. You’re well-prepared?”

“It’s not just the Government Officials, is it?”

Since they’re in professions where emergency rations are frequently needed, most of the companions had some preserved food with them.

I used to be like that too. I remembered myself sweeping instant foods into my tattoo when I entered Lucky Mart…

“Oh, puffed rice.”

“It doesn’t smell and is easy to store. Haha! Though Cheongdong-i doesn’t like it.”

I was the only one who didn’t have anything.

It was natural.

Until just recently, I had a ‘body that was fine without eating.’

So I received food one-sidedly.

‘…At times like this, I feel a bit regretful.’

The body that was fine without eating, a bit more…

“Noru!”

“…!”

When I turned my head, Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae with a bright smile was holding something out.

A small packaged yakgwa.

“Please have this. It’s my favorite snack!”

“Then Dolphin should have it instead…”

“I want to see your reaction!”

“…”

I eventually smiled bitterly and accepted it.

“Yes.”

And as I put it in my mouth, I realized this was food I was eating for the first time in six months.

“…”

Sweet taste, savory taste.

Texture.

‘Ah.’

Really.

This was what it tasted like.

“Does it taste good?”

“It’s very delicious. Thank you.”

The biscuits and chocolate bars that people had were also distributed to me.

And pleasant banter too.

“Grape. When we get out, let’s eat something spicy too. We should go back to that gopchang hotpot restaurant, right?”

But,

When I get out of here, I…

…

“Yes. Thank you.”

My head shouldn’t be used for thinking about that right now.

‘Let’s do our best just to escape.’

Let’s earn our keep for what we ate.

Surprisingly, with calories going in, my head started working a bit.

I realized that I had been moving in a state of extreme tension and emptiness all this time.

I just didn’t notice because my head felt completely clear after so long, but my condition wasn’t that good.

‘Was I squeezing myself dry?’

And the sugar-fueled brain quickly reminded me of more things I should check.

Tattoo magic.

Is it working properly?

‘I couldn’t even think of it earlier even though I was thinking about it openly.’

Especially if the Lodge Keeper’s tattoo magic functions, I might be able to evacuate everyone to the resort when push comes to shove.

I slightly looked inside my sleeves and shirt collar to check my tattoos.

‘…They’re there.’

At least they were all in their proper places.

And once I check the urgent Lodge Keeper’s tattoo magic function…

…

‘It doesn’t seem like I can get in.’

To be precise, the function that could be called inventory is somewhat alive, but I’m not sure about the connectivity with the resort.

I can definitely feel that I won’t be able to send other living beings here to the resort through tattoo magic…

‘Hmm.’

Feeling mild regret that what could have been the easiest escape method had disappeared, I withdrew my hand.

But.

[Oh, is there another method left?]

Yeah.

‘This too… honestly, I think it might not work either.’

But since I confirmed it exists. It wouldn’t be bad to try.

After feeling under my tongue once more, I looked around at my companions who were still eating and spoke up.

“About Option 1 that Dolphin suggested earlier.”

“Ah. Clearing the Forest of Death?”

“Yes.”

That.

“If we have the right supplies, since we have experienced people even without a manual, there should be a few methods we could try, right?”

“…That’s true, but.”

“Why, did our Grape think of something good?”

I hesitated slightly, then nodded.

“As a way to obtain items that could serve as supplies, there’s something I could try.”

“Oh.”

“Really?”

“Yes. However… this attempt also requires preparation.”

“What kind?”

I averted my gaze.

“Does anyone have something… worth money?”

“….”

“We also accept cash. About… five thousand.”

“….”

“….”

“Is this perhaps a scam…”

“Oh come on.”

I almost cried from embarrassment.

Fortunately, despite my recent activities (spying, going into hiding, identity switching), my companions trusted me quite a bit.

So I finally got to attempt this. Namely…

‘Space Shopping Mall.’

Personal shopping using the VIP cell attached under my tongue.

“….”

A sensation I’d already experienced once before.

I remember recognizing and pressing the cell, but everything after that is hazy. As if I had dozed off for a moment…

“Dear customer.”

I raised my head.

Before I knew it, my companions had disappeared from beside the subway platform, and a figure in a business suit was standing next to me.

And it was turning its lizard head toward me.

“Would you like to begin personal shopping?”

Perfect.

“Yes.”

‘I thought there was a high chance it wouldn’t work since we’re outside.’

Since it’s implanted in the body, I thought it might work and tried it—good thing I did.

I clenched and unclenched my fist slightly in satisfaction, then made eye contact with the lizard.

Hmm.

‘This time it’s dark brown.’

Its mouth opened below the blankly staring vertical pupils.

“For smooth shopping, we recommend proceeding in a structure with a table.”

“…Yes.”

That’s how the environment turned out.

“Um, but how is this connected? Items and equipment that borrow external power don’t work here at all.”

“Do you mean this is a space where external unrealistic influences are blocked?”

“That’s right.”

“The Space Shopping Mall is not an unrealistic or fantastical space, but our actual existing shop.”

Hmm. So in other words.

‘Aliens are… classified as realistic beings…?’

Come to think of it, Manager Lee Ja-heon was extracting dream essence without any problems. That means he’s recognized as human.

‘…Hmm.’

Sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic… something like that?

Interest briefly raised its head, but this wasn’t the situation to explore that. I nodded.

“Thank you for the explanation.”

“Yes. Dear customer.”

And here’s the thing.

From here on, it becomes a bit difficult to bring up. I opened my mouth very carefully.

…Because as soon as I realized the Space Shopping Mall’s existence, something came back to me like a lightning strike.

Debt!!

“I had an item stored with the Space Shopping Mall.”

The Sacred Law Scripture Fragment from Mumyeong Chanran Temple.

Because of the negative effects the Mimic scripture was having on me, last time I paid storage fees to the Space Shopping Mall and entrusted them with keeping it.

…At almost nine hundred thousand won per month.

“Storage fees would have… accumulated monthly, right?”

“Yes.”

“If overdue, do I have to pay interest too?”

“Yes.”

Ha.

Ha…

‘The principal alone easily exceeded fifty million won…’

It’s surprising the alien lizards didn’t storm into Baekillmong’s containment room.

I wonder if alien lizards have something like legal interest rates.

‘Please don’t let it exceed 100 million.’

I looked up at the lizard with a feeling like I might break out in cold sweat and spoke earnestly.

Earnest enough that I could kneel if necessary!

“By any chance, would it be okay to be overdue just a little longer? To get money after leaving this place, I need items first…”

“You have no overdue payment record, customer.”

“…?!”

W-wait a minute.

“How… no, did someone pay on my behalf?”

“Yes.”

What?!

“Who was it?”

And a completely unexpected answer came back.

“One of us.”

No way.

“…I’d like you to be more specific.”

“Yes. We mean the entity called Lee Ja-heon who works at manager level at Baekillmong Corporation.”

“….”

“That entity is paying your storage fees on your behalf.”

I looked at the lizard feeling like I’d been hit in the back of the head.

‘…Why?’

Was that even okay to do? No, there was no need for him to do that.

‘Wait a minute.’

…Did he assess the value of the equipment and items I left behind… and pay that much on my behalf?

Really?

‘…Manager!’

Respect for that reliable reptile wells up from deep in my heart.

Thank you. Thank you so much…!

“Um, by any chance, how is Manager Lee Ja-heon doing?”

“That entity is currently at a boarding school.”

“….”

Suddenly?

‘Suddenly what boarding school.’

Isn’t the Lizard Manager at least in his thirties? He may look like a lizard to me, but if he’s at manager level, he can’t be in his twenties. Why….

….

…!!

-Ah! If it’s Manager Lee Ja-heon, I think he went into some long-term darkness investigation recently. What was it… some boarding school ghost story?

An answer flashing through my mind.

A story about Manager Lee Ja-heon’s current situation.

When was that already?

‘That was when I was working at the annex building.’

Why is someone who should have come out long ago still in the darkness?

“Is he in a dangerous state?”

“I cannot tell you.”

…Then.

“Is it voluntary?”

“It is not our intention.”

“….”

This doesn’t feel good.

“…Thank you for letting me know.”

Those aliens are bound together as one identity called ‘us’. Then, even if Manager Lee Ja-heon were in danger, would they really respect and try to save just one individual who is merely a part of their consciousness?

‘I think I need to look for Manager Lee Ja-heon’s whereabouts as soon as I get out.’

I felt a bit anxious.

I had to quickly find a way to return from this Segwang Special City.

Anyway, since there was a passage like a ‘well’, the idea that clearing the ghost story would allow me to return to where I entered was worth trying.

‘My condition… I’ll somehow find a way to handle it.’

The bell worked, after all.

For now, believing that.

‘Let’s get the supplies needed for clearing.’

“Then I’ll tell you what I want to purchase.”

“Yes.”

First priority.

Something I can use regardless of the situation.

“Can I purchase a ‘We Help!’ item?”

An option where the alien lizards directly help.

It’s the very item that helped me escape from Brown’s Late Night Talk Show.

However.

“Is the reason for purchase to escape from your current location coordinates to a safe place?”

“That’s right.”

“We do not recommend it.”

“…!”

“There are records of failed escapes.”

A more conscientious answer than expected came back.

It was definitely like a company that sells verified items. Though the prices are ridiculously expensive.

But the thing is.

‘Having records means… there was someone who tried to escape from this Segwang Special City using ‘We Help!’ and failed.’

An ominous premonition.

It seems like an unprecedented situation is really happening outside Segwang Special City.

‘Damn.’

I swallowed my saliva and nodded.

“I understand.”

Then next.

“…I need an item imbued with sacred energy.”

The dark brown lizard looks at me.

“Something that doesn’t draw from external sources, but inherently contains divine and good energy. So I can use it even at my current location.”

The explanation wasn’t finished.

“And it should be portable in shape, with an appropriate size that one person can carry and move around.”

Indeed.

“Do you have such a thing?”

“Yes.”

…!

“With the authority of a Personal Shopper, I will recommend suitable items.”

…And I finally selected the most suitable item for what our group is trying to attempt from several candidates.

‘Good.’

Hope flashes through my mind.

But there’s one problem.

The price!

“It’s ninety-four million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine won.”

“….”

‘Just say 95 million won….’

It was practically 100 million.

-I do have a bundle of 50,000 won bills. It’s project activity money anyway, so it’s not my money.

-Do cards work too?

-Ah, this is pure gold with gems, right? It’s jewelry from Baridegi Workshop….

-Agent, isn’t that a rental item!

After going through all that process, what we gathered was roughly a purchase price of just over six thousand.

This was also a price that ordinary office workers couldn’t have scraped together.

‘Phew.’

“Can’t you just deduct it from an account if I give you the account number?”

“Is it your own account?”

“….”

No.

It was Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae’s account….

‘Wow, what do I do about this.’

I had no choice. Just as I was about to somehow make another shameless request like installments sound plausible.

[Oh my, it seems my friend is in trouble.]

‘…!’

In the darkness where the platform’s lighting doesn’t reach.

At some point, a gloved hand appears in the light.

That hand quietly pulls out a classic-looking bronze chair from somewhere in the platform’s darkness, and the owner of the hand sits gracefully upon it.

A silhouette dressed in a fine suit.

Though the head is hidden in shadow and not visible, I know what’s attached there….

The voice that keeps following me as part of myself.

“…Brown?”

[Are you short on money for shopping, Friend?]

[Then let me make you a shocking proposal…. How about getting an advance from this Brown?]

“…!!”

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