Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 271

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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 271

I know it might sound strange to hear about darkness used for equipment manufacturing that the Baek Il-mong Research Team frequently uses.

After all, equipment is usually meant to help people survive in ghost stories.

You might wonder why the company’s research team would need such a thing directly, but if you actually see it, you’ll probably get the gist.

How the ‘Joyful Research Institute’s toy maker’ could be utilized by the research team.

And how it could replace Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae’s missing body parts.

“Good. Then let’s set our route to E07.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

And so the first equipment manufacturing location to visit in the annex building was decided.

…Now, it was time to head to our destination.

“Moving out.”

“Yep.”

As soon as Manager Lee Ja-heon made his decision, he began moving without hesitation. We also started following him, walking through the dark corridor.

Annex building basement level 3, darkness isolation area.

Strange noises could be heard from the tightly closed steel doors on both sides, but ignoring them, we carefully moved forward…

“Stop.”

EXIT

At the dead end.

An emergency door revealed itself.

Right. This time we planned to move directly to basement level 2, one floor up, through the emergency staircase here.

-Since we can’t get access authorization for basement level 2, we’ll enter from the upper or lower floors and move secretly.

The emergency staircase in the annex building is different from the bizarre emergency staircase on the Joyful Research Institute side in the main building’s basement, which has an ‘absolutely no entry’ warning.

‘This side has records in the of security teams entering or people escaping using it several times.’

Of course, this isn’t a normal movement route either, and strange things do happen during movement.

‘But it’s not unusable.’

Manager Lee Ja-heon raises his hand in front.

“Opening it.”

And this emergency door would actually lock down if an isolation failure occurred, and normally an alert would be sent when opened… but this time, the alarm system was ‘coincidentally’ broken and wouldn’t send any alerts.

Even if, for instance, someone with absurd strength forced it open.

Creak, …screech.

Presumably, the emergency door was opened by Manager Lee Ja-heon with such sounds.

…

“Noru?”

However, I couldn’t see any of this.

‘As expected.’

I can’t see any means of escaping from the annex building. Just like with the elevator.

It doesn’t let me perceive ways to exit the floor. Since I’m a special department employee who must work as a floor-level security manager.

‘I see.’

…It gives a strange feeling to become completely unable to see something I could once see.

I can’t perceive the emergency exit either, it just looks like an extension of the wall. A wall in smoke and darkness…

But.

Recommendation: Move in front of 130666

If there are other people, I can follow them.

“…Right.”

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je stood right in front of me.

“Be careful.”

“Whoa!”

Manager Lee Ja-heon, who seemed to have finished applying re-locking measures to the damaged emergency door, lightly lifted the wheelchair.

And taking steps, the people entered the wall.

I also followed them and ‘passed through’ the wall.

From my perspective, it looks like endless void.

“Are you okay?”

Affirmative

Even if I can’t see the emergency exit, I can see my companions, so it’s fine.

Everyone began climbing the emergency staircase.

I used smoke to blink, ignoring my immobile legs and continuously appearing near my companions…

In my mind, I was picturing the shape of the staircase.

‘Usually emergency staircases… go around in a semicircle and spiral upward.’

So normally, after turning direction once or twice, the upper floor should appear.

“…”

“…”

The people keep walking.

Continuously upward.

“Um, no door is appearing.”

“Be quiet.”

The space was somehow twisted.

But I advised.

Recommendation: Keep walking

Since it’s not a dangerous situation.

‘There’s a similar record.’

Qterw-E-352 isolation failure occurred.

Field Investigation Team F Group 2 members in the annex building used the emergency staircase to escape to avoid an entity that boarded the elevator.

Time required: 1 hour 21 minutes.

Beside me, Baek Sa-heon muttered something like curses quietly while moving his feet.

And after some time.

“…We’re out.”

The footsteps stopped.

B2F

“Basement level 2 emergency door. Arrival took 12 minutes and 53 seconds.”

And.

“Access prohibited, under Security Team control…”

The door is already sealed with Security Team warning signs.

Naturally, the annex’s emergency doors lock down during emergencies and won’t open, and Basement Level 2 is currently in that very ’emergency state’.

However, we’ve already finished talking with today’s person in charge of Annex Basement Level 2.

“I’ll knock.”

Knock, knock knock, knock.

Manager Lee Ja-heon knocked on the emergency door with the promised rhythm. The string instrument melody learned from the groom lesson ghost story.

Then.

Click.

The emergency door opened very slightly, and faded, pale, bright yellow beast pupils scanned us…

Soon the head withdrew and the door opened wide.

“Come in… quietly…”

We entered inside, being careful even with our breathing.

My cognitive abilities also recovered as I faced the corridor.

The familiar Annex Basement Level 2, which I had visited several times before.

[Oh, it’s just as boringly structured as Basement 3rd Floor.]

However, if there was a difference…

[There was no need to add character with filth!]

Eerie traces were scattered everywhere.

Sticky black water stuck to the floor, claw marks on walls, yellowed talismans half-fallen and clustered together, star powder, torn cloth pieces and smile graffiti…

Traces of the Security Team’s ‘suppression’.

Invoking ominous imagination.

“…”

“…”

J3, the Security Chief pulls his cap down low.

“Over there… other Security Team members are… ‘controlling’… so don’t go there right now.”

He willingly took on the role of opening doors so we could move through relatively safe routes without encountering the Security Team.

Alone.

-The Captain is so powerful, um… competent that he’s often assigned to handle entire zones by himself. It was the same this time.

-He’s probably patrolling half of the Basement Level 2 zone alone. Right?

-Yeah…

“So only the Captain is here?”

“Yes…”

We told him our destination, and the Security Chief nodded.

“Follow me… don’t turn on… hallucinations.”

The Security Chief looks down.

“It might provoke them unnecessarily…”

“…”

“Just quietly.”

People did as he said.

I quietly followed them from the back, moving while sensing danger.

J3 in security uniform was walking slowly with a flashlight, but his steps never hesitated once, as if sensing all presence and danger around us.

“Wait, standby…”

When he told us to stop, we stopped, and when he moved again, we followed.

After that suffocating time passed at corners and intersections…

We encountered it.

E-07

Our destination.

The ghost story.

“Just a moment…”

The Security Chief placed his access card next to the steel door.

With a beep, the closed steel door opened. And…

“Whew.”

Inside was, surprisingly, like a nighttime street.

A precisely recreated model alley. Under those streetlight illuminations sat an old shop.

On the dusty glass display window was an advertising poster saying ‘Special Sale for Birthday Gifts!’, but the door had a ‘Close’ sign hanging on it.

And all the toys displayed beyond the glass were…

“Dolls.”

That’s right.

Knitted dolls modeled after characters from fairy tales and old stories were displayed.

Elaborate yarn bundles instead of hair, and cubic gems instead of eyes glittered under the streetlights.

======================

Darkness Investigation Records / Ghost Story

[Joyful Research Institute’s Toy Maker]

: A ghost story appearing in <Darkness Investigation Records>, Baekillmong Corporation‘s identification code is Qterw-E-07.

A ghost story in the form of an old toy shop.

Specializes in knitted dolls, and can create birthday gift toys once per day when provided with the gift recipient’s name, birthday, hair and eye color.

To safely utilize this ghost story befitting its twilight grade, ‘night‘ state must be maintained at all times, and when ‘day’ arrives, ■■ ■■ proceeds.

A ghost story owned by Baekillmong Corporation since its early days, continuously utilized by the Research Team for darkness development trials.

======================

…A ghost story from ‘Joyful Research Institute’ that Baekillmong has owned since its early days.

‘Did they have it when they were established?’

Previously, I would have thought it was just phrasing to emphasize the connection with the Research Team, but now…

I get a strange feeling.

Anyway, equipment creation comes first right now.

“Let’s go.”

The group, having properly secured the steel door, walks through the midnight model alley toward the old shop.

And knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

According to the established manual, the safe phrase is recited…

“I’m urgently looking for a birthday gift, are you still selling by any chance?”

After a moment.

Twinkle.

“…!”

A soft light enters the dusty bulb in front of the store, and the glass door unlocks.

“…Excuse us.”

We carefully stepped inside.

The store seemed to have been closed for quite some time, covered in dust. There was the musty smell characteristic of old wooden spaces, along with the scent of mold and rusted metal.

But there was just one thing that had light coming from it.

A machine that looked like a vending machine.

“….”

Behind the machine, thick and complex connection sections like ventilation ducts were visible, and beside it was a rail for dispensing finished products.

The operating section, which looked like where you’d insert bills, had a light blinking at the top displaying text.

This was exactly the equipment manufacturing device we had been looking for.

“Want to try it right away?”

“Yes.”

Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae swiftly maneuvered his wheelchair forward.

The device that looked like a bill insertion slot actually required a different kind of paper to be inserted.

Specifically, an application form.

Tell us about the child receiving the gift!

Name: Lee Seong-hae

Birthday: May 20th

Hair color: White

Eye color: Black

While it felt uncomfortable to write down real names and birthdays, this ‘Joyful Research Institute’s Toy Maker’ had never had any problems related to real names or birthdays despite its long usage history, so we felt less worried inductively.

Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae, having finished filling it out, held up the application form.

“Then I’ll insert it.”

Yes.

And the application form disappeared straight into the toy maker’s insertion slot….

…No.

It should have disappeared.

Thud.

The machine spat the application form back out.

“…Huh??”

Above the insertion slot, a red light blinked while displaying a message….

– Under Repair –

If you want quick repairs, please contact a researcher.

“It’s… broken?”

The group momentarily looked at each other in confusion.

Of course, this wasn’t unprecedented.

Investigation Records #114

Research Team 1’s Manager Kwak inserted a forged application form. Device malfunction message displayed.

Left the darkness unobserved, visited 7 weeks later to find it automatically repaired and working again.

We had seen records of occasional malfunctions like this, but descriptions showed it would recover on its own if left unvisited for anywhere from a few weeks to several months….

The problem was that we needed to use it right now.

“Wait, did we break it?”

“I don’t think so…. We only inserted the application form. It seems like it was already broken!”

Then had there already been another incident in this corridor?

We reflexively turned to look at J3, but strangely, he was standing outside at a distance from the store.

Just as I was about to go out to talk to him.

‘…Wait a minute.’

I paused for a moment and read the message again.

If you want quick repairs, please contact a researcher.

Researcher.

And looking closely, there was a strange rectangular marking at the bottom of the device.

I realized that the size of that rectangle was almost identical to a certain item I was carrying….

‘…Could it be.’

After a moment’s consideration, I took out the item.

Yukwae Researcher

Lee Heo-un

It was the employee ID card of a Joyful Research Institute staff member that we had found in the Daydream main building basement.

“Noru?”

I brought that employee ID card to the rectangular mark at the bottom of the device.

At that moment.

Hello, Researcher!

“…!”

Similarly, lights came on in what looked like a braille-type blueprint at the bottom of the device.

And the lights moved chaotically, traversing various parts of the blueprint.

Self-diagnosis in progress….

Diagnosis complete!

Marking areas that need repair.

A red light came on in one section of the ‘Toy Maker’ blueprint.

I approached that area and carefully examined the connection section…. Then something strange caught my eye.

Something was stuck in the machine.

‘…!’

I carefully extracted the small object using smoke. It was….

‘An earring?’

It appeared to be some kind of rusted jewelry.

The old accessory, which looked like something that might be excavated from ancient ruins or tombs, didn’t fit the location at all and gave off an eerie feeling….

Repair completed.

-Normal operation starting-

In any case, it was fixed.

“Noru. What you just did….”

I showed my companion the earring I had been wearing, then first recommended making equipment. That was the urgent matter.

“I understand. Thank you, Noru!”

Lee Seong-hae looked at me with sparkling eyes, then immediately inserted another application form.

And….

This time it worked properly.

The machine sparkled and made music box sounds, urging Lee Seong-hae to choose the ‘desired size’.

“It has to be one-to-one size.”

Lee Seong-hae pressed the button, and again with loud mechanical sounds, we could hear something bumping, cutting, and assembling inside the machine….

And after several dozen seconds.

Thunk.

A ‘birthday gift’ popped out on the rail.

It was….

A knitted doll the exact same size as Lee Seong-hae.

“…!”

As if someone had carefully handmade it while looking at Lee Seong-hae, it was identical in hair shape, eyes, clothing, and body measurements.

Green-glinting black cubic stones were embedded as eyeballs.

Following the moving rail, it slowly slid out and naturally fell below the rail….

It stood up straight.

Greeting us.

No one answered.

The doll’s glowing eyes looked at Lee Seong-hae sitting in the wheelchair.

Tug.

…Lee Ja-heon pulled off the tag attached to the knitted doll’s head from behind.

At that moment.

The knitted doll fell back to the floor like a toy.

Having lost all movement.

‘….’

Dolls created by the toy maker display extremely similar speech and behavior to the ‘gift-receiving child’ written on the application form.

However, they are not recognized as human by the Dream Fragment Collection device, and since larger sizes have shorter operating times, the Research Team uses them sparingly for the limited purpose of experimenting with new Darkness.

Note that once manufactured, the same person cannot be used as a target for manufacturing again

“Now, I’ll tear it apart.”

Lee Seong-hae separated the doll’s legs.

I watched this scene in shocked silence for some reason….

I felt strange.

There are many ghost stories that mimic people. So even if other people feel a bit odd, they don’t seem greatly affected.

‘Why?’

I was greatly disturbed.

Was that knitted doll really just manufactured to imitate Lee Seong-hae’s appearance? Or perhaps, did it really have self-awareness….

‘…Let’s stop.’

It was meaningless.

I simply watched Lee Seong-hae carefully insert his immobile legs into the knitted doll’s legs that he had torn off.

And I watched Lee Seong-hae suddenly stand up from the wheelchair.

“Hmm. It works well!”

Right.

Since that doll can be controlled as the ‘gift-receiving child’ desires, it can be used in that way.

‘Phew.’

Let’s be relieved and happy that Lee Seong-hae safely obtained legs to use temporarily.

I actually think it’s fortunate.

“Will you use it?”

“No!”

“Yes.”

I watched Baek Sa-heon frantically backing away from the knitted dolls beside me, while Eun Ha-je recommended it to me.

“Noru. You should also get some legs here, shouldn’t you.”

….

The thing is.

Unusable state

Target: 130666

And I pointed to the precautions in the notice hidden in shadow beside the machine.

“…!”

※This toy was

manufactured for the enjoyment

of modern Earthlings.

For safety, aliens, otherworlders, non-intelligent

entities, gods, and all other non-human

intelligent beings cannot use it. 🙂

“Damn.”

Sorry, but that’s how it turned out….

‘Is this a characteristic of Joyful Research Institute’s products.’

The candle I used at the ‘Blind Man’s Mansion’ had similar conditions, so I couldn’t use it and had to ask Young-eun, I remember.

…Back then, I thought I couldn’t use it because I came from another world.

“Then let’s quickly find the next thing and go. This is really pitiful for contaminated people.”

…Thank you.

I nodded and left the store. Lee Seong-hae, who had regained his ability to walk, came out smiling, and we went together to the Security Chief who was leaning against the iron door.

‘If worst comes to worst, let’s just go back.’

Anyway, even without legs, I can move with smoke like this, so there should be another way to get legs before entering Segwang Special City.

But….

[Oh my, your condition seems quite strange!]

The Security Chief stands motionless, staring at the floor without moving.

‘…?’

I create smoke and bring it in front of the Security Chief’s eyes.

Concern: J3’s current state

“I’m fine….”

Only then does the Security Chief lift his eyes to look at me.

But the next moment, another eye pops out from his temple, spins around, and looks at the shop.

The dusty toys in the display case. Among them….

A red cloak.

‘…Damn!’

I take a defensive stance.

The moment I feel like J3’s gaze suddenly seems to bulge out strangely and fiercely.

“…Should we leave…?”

The Security Chief turns his head, then becomes the dry, sluggish employee again and drags his feet toward the iron door.

…That was fortunate.

Affirmative

I follow the Security Chief, covering his vision as much as possible with smoke. To prevent him from seeing the shop.

And the Security Chief in his unstable state slowly regains his composure and opens the iron door….

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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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