Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 258

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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 258

“Grape?”

….

“Why aren’t you answering? I’m really curious about that talk show your friend Brown is hosting.”

It feels like taking a shower with cold sweat that shouldn’t be possible with this body.

[Oh. You must have watched this live broadcast. It wouldn’t be bad to have a meeting with viewers on this occasion!]

[But holding my cotton-stuffed body like this seems like rather excessive contact. Fan passion is a fate I must endure, but could you please tell them to put me down, Friend?]

I really do feel like breaking out in cold sweat.

“Ah, is this how you do it? Nice to meet you, children! I’m Brown!”

[Good heavens.]

“Agent.”

Bronze Agent stopped Agent Choi, who was doing an impression of Brown, and snatched up the rabbit doll.

However, his movements were as careful as if he were holding a bomb, and he soon placed it on the wooden floor.

[Hmm. This isn’t bad!]

No, now that I look, they had spread a silk handkerchief on the floor.

And on top of it, they made something like a circular compass formation with blue pebbles, placing Brown right in the center.

Anyone could see this looked like a makeshift way to appease or ward off something evil….

And then they look at me.

“….”

….

Eyes that could almost bore through a person… no,

‘How did they find out?’

The Xuanwu Team 1 agents shouldn’t even know Brown’s Late Night Talk Show exists.

And even if they did know, connecting it to my rabbit doll Brown would be too much of a logical leap…?

Even this live broadcast was officially hosted by Manager Lee Ja-heon!

‘Are they just probing?’

For now, I’ll try to brush it off appropriately….

“Grape, I can hear your brain working from here.”

Damn.

“…Should we move first?”

And the Xuanwu Team 1 agents silently stood up, stepped on something belonging to them, and transported me and Brown outside.

I faintly detected their intention to keep Brown away from the Disaster Management Bureau main building in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

During that process, not a single word was exchanged….

No, I did hear exactly one sentence when I tried to pick up Brown.

“Take your hands off.”

Yes….

The one consoling point was that the agents didn’t try to attack or dispose of Brown.

They simply carried the doll very carefully and almost respectfully. Thanks to that, no disturbance caused by Brown occurred.

Of course, it looked more like carefully moving some kind of cursed doll sealed in a temple rather than escorting a VIP guest….

‘Rather, it seems like they’re well aware of how serious the situation is.’

With the feeling of wanting to swallow saliva despite having none, I was transported.

This outing destination was located near the outskirts of Seoul, in a run-down, sparsely populated alley area where redevelopment rumors circulated.

It was one of the emergency rest stops used by the Disaster Management Bureau, a small, old and inconspicuous container space.

And there, I was able to learn the cause of this great disaster.

“Noru.”

Because Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je was sitting across from the old desk inside that container!

I realized like a bolt of lightning.

‘Information flowed both ways!’

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, who knew about the Tuesday Quiz Show and Late Night Talk Show, met with agents who knew the Good Friend doll’s name was Brown, surely causing this disaster.

And that means….

‘There’s nowhere to escape.’

I’m screwed.

“Sit down.”

….

I quietly sat at the prepared desk.

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je looked at the rabbit doll on the handkerchief with troubled eyes.

“That Brown… is this the same Brown?”

….

Yes….

Affirmative

Deputy Manager is cursing at me with her eyes.

She saw me working in a completely contaminated state on the late night talk show, and I’m quite afraid of what she must be thinking seeing me carry around a rabbit doll named after that talk show host….

And if she saw that marriage variety show that looked exactly like that late night talk show air after I went to rescue Manager Lee Ja-heon.

‘…Phew.’

[Oh my. Mr. Noru, you seem to have a lot on your mind.]

[How about taking this opportunity to introduce just how beneficial and charming your Good Friend is?]

That’s….

Wait.

Wait a minute…!

Request: Paper and pen

Reason: Explanation of the situation

Right. Didn’t I realize while communicating with Baek Sa-heon through paper boats? With written communication, I can also talk like a person!

And I thought of a very precise explanatory phrase to resolve this situation.

“…Um, do you have paper here?”

“Phew.”

I took the pen Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je offered and began writing urgently on the paper Bronze Agent handed me.

So, Brown is…!

Brown is an existence like Tiger General.

“…???”

“What is this supposed to mean now.”

I mean he’s a supernatural being I’m getting help from.

Right.

This doll also wasn’t actually received from Brown, but is an item I obtained that serves as a kind of sacred medium.

“What?”

Please keep listening!

Do you remember? I told you that I was missing for a month and was processed as resigned due to death at Baek Il-mong.

And do you also remember that I testified in the glass prison that this was the truth…!

I earnestly stared at the Bronze Agent. The other person flinched.

“…I do remember.”

Actually, during that month I wasn’t simply missing, but was working in a supernatural phenomenon called the Late Night Talk Show.

While there, I persuaded Brown, who is the Talk Show Host.

As a result, Brown accepted my resignation request, and since then has been dwelling in the doll to help me during the process of exploring supernatural disasters…

Just like.

Just like how agents receive help from dokkaebi.

“…!”

Right. This is a Disaster Management Bureau strategy.

‘Anyway, if agents can properly coax and appease them, they borrow power from supernatural beings…!’

Among them were many powerful and dangerous beings. Just look at the Tiger General that Agent Choi summoned – it’s an embodiment of the white tiger great killing star that can devour people.

‘Brown is no different!’

[Hooh.]

Although the party in question doesn’t seem pleased at all, if I can get by with this kind of analogy…

“Is that so?”

“That’s all lies. That bastard almost died in the talk show.”

No!

Thanks to Brown, I’ve overcome many life-threatening crises.

Deputy Manager, do you remember that crazy exhibition hall ghost story? Even there, Brown played a part with the megaphone and we all got out safely together…!

And my survival from the theme park was also thanks to Brown!

“But you almost died because you used it wrong.”

That was…

Not dying but contamination

“Are you serious?”

Ugh.

‘Right. Even I think this sounds ridiculous…’

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, who saw my contaminated state, would think so even more.

But still.

Of course, being a supernatural being, it’s true that its emotions are different from humans, and that does cause troublesome situations.

But if we’re going to argue that way, my current state is the same.

“…!!”

I felt the smoke flowing beyond my gas mask.

The lush horns on my head, and the amorphous flesh masses under my clothes.

Just having a being that could be with me when I was isolated gave me strength.

…It’s somewhat strange.

I was clearly creating plausible sophistry to persuade them, but as I wrote it, I found myself feeling that this was somewhat sincere.

I don’t mean to guarantee it’s not dangerous, or that I completely trust Brown.

But I’m certain that things are definitely better now than before.

And this was possible thanks to Deputy Manager, Team Leader, and Manager coming to find me even in the high-grade darkness.

Thank you.

“…”

I think of Brown in this doll as my friend.

At least, I think it’s okay to call it that now.

I put down the pen.

A complex, subdued atmosphere remained in the container box.

And…

[Noru.]

[Could you do me a favor? As a friend, that is.]

…

I agreed.

And after asking people for their understanding, I drew out black smoke and wrapped it around the desk.

A space created by smoke that was part of a supernatural being.

In the ghost story, the rabbit doll raised its body.

“…!!”

Good Friend dwelling in the rabbit doll looked around at each of the Disaster Management Bureau agents and Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, then politely bowed in greeting.

A slightly exaggerated gentleman’s bow.

As if introducing itself.

A polite gesture of bringing down an invisible hat to waist level, as if thanking the audience, came from the small stuffed doll.

Then it waved its hand and sat back down obediently on the handkerchief.

“…”

Silence flowed.

And.

“Grape.”

Agent Choi spoke up.

“You’re saying you’re ‘serving’ the Talk Show Host as a friend and borrowing its power?”

…!

Affirmative

“How powerful of an existence is it?”

“Powerful enough to turn a person to ash with a single finger flick.”

…!

“…Okay.”

At Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je’s addition, a smile appeared on Agent Choi’s lips.

Not in a positive sense.

‘That’s….’

It was a tense smile when facing a powerful supernatural disaster.

“Are there any other conditions for hosting it? I saw it making a hat-grabbing motion earlier, how about we get it a nice fedora.”

[Oho.]

[Mr. Noru. This one has quite good manners. Of course, considering their financial situation, it would be best not to expect too much from the quality of the gift!]

Brown is pleased

“Really? Okay.”

I looked at Agent Choi.

Agent Choi maintained an unreadable everyday expression and asked me.

“So how was it when it stayed with us for half a year? We kept it in the Hyeonmu Team 1 waiting room.”

….

I relayed Brown’s description.

Not bad:

▶ Being placed on a cushion and occasionally helping the team leader

▶ Being told about Agent Grape’s tracking progress

“Oh.”

Not particularly pleasant:

▶ Pretending to feed it food

▶ Being referred to as Pink

“Ah.”

And….

Areas for improvement:

The cushion material is excessively cheap

“….”

“….”

“Would changing it to cashmere work?”

Acceptable

“Its preferences are very clear….”

It does tend to be that way….

Anyway, thanks to the doll cushion complaint, the atmosphere that was about to become completely tense relaxed a bit.

‘Is it because Brown didn’t cause any trouble for half a year in the form of Good Friend.’

That was definitely a good factor.

But.

“And you know.”

The smile on Agent Choi’s face slightly faded.

“…There were casualties at the talk show, right?”

….

Yes.

“So the host there isn’t a stylish person who knows how to live a vegan lifestyle like Tiger General.”

I answered with difficulty.

That’s correct.

When it came to anything related to his broadcast, he didn’t give in easily.

“…So you tried persuading him. Okay.”

And the agents sat quietly exchanging glances with each other.

‘…Are they communicating through equipment?’

After a moment.

Agent Choi spoke again.

“Grape. We don’t trust your ‘wonderful friend Brown’ either. You know that, right?”

Of course they would feel that way.

“So we’d like to see some trustworthy behavior going forward. Like a friend would.”

…!!

“We’ll be watching continuously. You heard that well, didn’t you, Mr. Brown?”

I realized.

This definitely wasn’t ‘Okay, since Brown is a friend, you can stay together.’

‘They just think it might go to hell if they separate us….’

When left alone, it was ‘basically’ friendly, but they were keeping it close because they were afraid it might escalate into a major disaster if they scratched the wrong way.

As evidence of this, Bronze Agent had an expression like he was about to stab a knife into me.

[Oh my, it’s like dealing with an outdated guest who firmly believes they have control.]

[Of course, a trustworthy friend like me is hard to find anywhere, so it’s understandable that they find it hard to believe easily!]

“What did Mr. Brown say?”

…Phew.

Positive response

“Okay~ …Of course, we trust that our Grape isn’t just making up the doll’s responses, right?”

O-of course.

“Right. Didn’t it say anything else?”

….

Maybe this would be better.

I gave up on everything and relayed it exactly as it was.

Brown’s correction request:

A message that the talk show it hosts aims for high-quality entertainment and pursues a broader, more mainstream viewer base than children.

“…Hmm. I see.”

Correction request 2:

There is no correlation between vegan lifestyle and being stylish, and Brown is the owner of a generous and cheerful disposition.

“Oh, Candidate No. 2 is here too?”

It can be confirmed by oath that he did not reveal the Bronze Agent’s concerns he heard in the waiting room to anyone, and will not use them as broadcast material in the future without the party’s permission.

“…! J-just wait a moment please.”

Correction Request 3:

Do not be misled by Noru’s remarks attempting to treat a rough, old zoo tiger on the same level as a legendary host with culture, eloquence, and charm.

(This description is Brown’s personal opinion and does not match 130666’s impression.)

“No, our Tiger General is at least that much,”

Correction Request 4…

“Just tell them I understand.”

That’s a good decision….

So I spent time in the container box for a while, relaying Brown’s words.

Fortunately, when that time ended, Brown’s identity was transferred back to me without bloodshed.

“…Right. Let’s take it for now.”

The atmosphere seemed a bit better than before.

Of course, this wasn’t the end.

“Oh, it’s not a bowler hat, but we’d like to give Brown a commemorative gift.”

And the Bronze Agent carefully extended something to Brown.

It was… a thin silk string, a small decoration that could be tied with a ribbon knot.

Originally in a form that could be tied around a person’s ring finger or such.

“Kids these days decorate keyrings and stuff like that. Since you’re a talk show host, you’d probably be sensitive to trends~”

I guarantee it. That’s a status tracking item….

[Oh, then I’ll gladly take it as a memento!]

Fortunately, Brown readily agreed, and the agents only started moving after completely confirming that I had attached the decoration to the keyring attachment area near Brown’s head.

“Shall we go.”

Thus, the pink rabbit doll was registered with the Disaster Management Bureau as a ‘Ghost Story of 130666’s Friend’ – something dwelling in a doll from Cheerful Theme Park, and the incident was concluded.

The ‘Brown’s identity exposed’ commotion was settled for now.

‘Phew….’

…Incidentally, throughout this entire process, Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je only reacted with ‘I understand’ and continued to silently stare at the Brown doll with silence.

Still, when leaving the container, she had returned to her usual attitude.

With just one additional remark.

-Don’t trust it

….

I pondered, then nodded.

Thus, the Segwang Special City exploration team all came to know about the existence of Good Friend Brown.

What kind of impact this will have in the future is something we’ll only know with time….

And some time later.

“Sol-eum.”

‘Manager!’

Finally, Manager Lee Ja-heon came to find me, and preparations to enter Segwang Special City were finally complete.

…Or so I thought.

“I see. There’s a recommended candidate for this exploration.”

“Oh~ Who is it?”

“Team Leader Baek Sa-heon.”

I thought a gas mask was going to pop out.

—————
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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