Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 284

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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 284

 

“With this many exploration attempts accumulated, it’s about time to find out…”

 

Ho Yu-won’s voice was strange.

 

It seemed like joy, but also like sadness or dark fear, trembling. It also seemed to smoothly conceal all of those emotions.

 

What was certain was the content.

 

‘About time to find out?’

 

The content of my question, the traces of the Blue Dragon Team discovered in Segwang Special City, was what Ho Yu-won had been expecting.

 

Question: What you know about Emergency Rescue Team Blue Dragon Team

 

“Huh? Shouldn’t Noru be the one explaining that to me? That’s the reason I planned this project. Finding out about a certain extinction-level supernatural disaster. So…”

 

Ho Yu-won grabbed my shoulder and looked into me.

 

“What did you find out in Segwang Special City?”

 

There I became certain.

 

“About the Blue Dragon Team.”

 

This person had known about the Blue Dragon Team from the beginning.

 

And that was deeply connected to Ho Yu-won’s purpose of exploring the ‘sealed Segwang Special City’…

 

‘Is it resentment?’

 

Though I couldn’t be certain, a causal relationship formed in my mind based on circumstantial evidence.

 

Ho Yu-won’s deep resentment toward the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau was surely connected in some way to the disappeared Blue Dragon Team.

 

After pondering, I explained the facts as they were.

 

Discovery at Sekwang Technical High School

 

: Traces of the Blue Dragon Team confirmed at said high school

 

“Ah.”

 

He stopped.

 

“So it was accessible from the subway station platform after all…”

 

‘After all.’

 

The joy of someone whose guess was correct.

 

What you know about Sekwang Technical High School

 

“Huh? Daydream Company enters that high school every new moon. Seeing the name, I figured it must be connected to Segwang Special City.”

 

Judgment: False

 

“…”

 

Ho Yu-won’s eyes darkened to black.

 

He looked at me.

 

Question: What Ho Yu-won did in Segwang Special City before it was sealed.

 

“…Are you curious?”

 

Affirmative

 

“I used to do exactly the same work I do now.”

 

The other person’s pupils moved to look at the nameplate in front of the waiting room.

 

Fox Counseling Room

 

“Counseling.”

 

…

 

“It’s rewarding work. Because of that, I would periodically visit certain high schools to counsel students.”

 

…!

 

The Fox Counseling Room seemed to distort.

 

“I did various things for my clients…”

 

And the next moment.

 

“Though it’s all in the past now.”

 

Everything returned to normal again.

 

Ho Yu-won was looking at me with a bright smile.

 

…

 

Question: What Ho Yu-won is looking for in Segwang Special City

 

“I.”

 

Ho Yu-won’s voice lowered.

 

“What I’m looking for is in a facility connected to one of the Segwang Special City subway stations.”

 

…

 

“Please continue in the direction you’re currently exploring, Noru. Explore the subway stations and try to guess the outside situation. I think you’ll find it that way. And when you encounter it…”

 

A smile spread across his lips again.

 

“At that time, you’ll recognize it immediately without me having to tell you. What Ho Yu-won is looking for.”

 

…

 

Question: Ho Yu-won’s feelings toward the Blue Dragon Team

 

“Well. I probably dislike them? Since I hate the Disaster Management Bureau.”

 

But the voice answering was strangely dry.

 

I fell into an even more incomprehensible mood.

 

Blue Dragon Team.

 

Segwang Special City.

 

And… about Ho Yu-won.

 

 

That evening.

 

“Grape.”

 

I finally got to meet with the Disaster Management Bureau Agents.

 

The other Team Members had left the Fox Counseling Room for reporting interviews and personal security management related to the dream collector.

 

So only I, who was 130666, was there, but honestly I had more urgent things to discuss, so confusion aside, I immediately got up and welcomed them first…

 

“…Let’s move locations first.”

 

The Agents’ expressions were not normal.

 

Under the cognitive distortion provided by Dokkaebi Fire, I followed them and once again entered a nearby Disaster Management Bureau Container.

 

I didn’t even have a moment to worry ‘What if the Disaster Management Bureau discovers my location?’

 

“…Grape. What we confirmed is…”

 

These agents had actually raided the secret archives on the underground 33rd floor of the Gangwon Province Disaster Management Bureau branch to find materials related to Segwang Special City.

 

‘No wonder they withdrew from the exploration so obediently…!’

 

Question: Concerns about disciplinary action if discovered

 

“Grape Agent doesn’t need to worry, it’s fine…”

 

“Right. I already received it. Pay reduction!”

 

“…”

 

Bronze Agent is holding his forehead…

 

“Anyway, what’s important isn’t that, but what we found out.”

 

Agent Choi smiled habitually.

 

But cold sweat was beading on his temples.

 

“…When we checked the sealing records, there were censored words even in the secret archives.”

 

The agents’ faces were grim as they added that it was a bad omen.

 

“But we roughly understood the progression. Now, listen…”

 

And Agent Choi explained.

 

The Disaster Management Bureau’s response records written on the paper, up to ‘Extinction-level supernatural disaster – Special City deletion.’

 

“At first, contact came from the branch. The Disaster Management Bureau branch in that very special city.”

 

Support request from ■■ Special City branch:

 

Investigation of newly discovered supernatural disaster.

 

Rapidly increasing impact, serious projected casualty trends.

 

“Naturally, according to Management Bureau protocol, they tried to identify what kind of disaster it was first. …But here’s the thing. Three White Tiger Team veteran agents who entered the special city went missing within two hours.”

 

Communication lost, all attempts to locate them failed.

 

: Processed as missing

 

But this was only the beginning.

 

“Five hours later, the branch itself in that special city lost contact.”

 

…

 

“And it says no one from that branch was ever seen again after that. …This was the last communication record.”

 

Unidentified caller: Don’t come! Don’t come here! This is something we absolutely can’t handle… (communication noise*)

 

Call ended.

 

*Identified sounds: Glass breaking, screams, loud crash of something heavy collapsing, music box melody, joyful muttering.

 

“After that, all records about what kind of supernatural disaster it was were censored. Except for the casualty section.”

 

Estimated deaths: 620,000 people.

 

“That… all happened in just one day.”

 

…

 

Hell had descended upon one region.

 

“The Management Bureau that confirmed the situation hastily officially prohibited agents from entering the special city.”

 

In an uncontrollable situation, they probably tried to at least prevent additional agent casualties.

 

“…But here’s the thing.”

 

Agent Choi smiles bitterly.

 

“It seems other agents took group leave and infiltrated the area on their own. Trying to save whoever they could save. …More than half of the entire Emergency Rescue Team personnel went there.”

 

Ah.

 

“And.”

 

Agent Choi slightly lowers his head.

 

“None of them made it out. Not until the entire special city was sealed along with the extinction-level supernatural disaster.”

 

…

 

The Disaster Management Bureau… must have ultimately decided to seal the extinction-level disaster in the face of countless casualties and the fear of nationwide spread.

 

By deletion, so it wouldn’t be perceived.

 

“That’s how the Emergency Rescue Team ended up with almost no personnel left.”

 

…

 

“So it says they completely disbanded that team ‘to reduce discomfort’ and reorganized it together with ‘some team with similar duties.’ All those team names were completely censored.”

 

Bronze Agent and Agent Choi.

 

Both of them look at me.

 

“In that sense, I’m asking.”

 

A strained smile spreads across Agent Choi’s face.

 

“While exploring that special city from now on, could we also look for traces of Disaster Management Bureau agents?”

 

Whew.

 

Trace confirmation complete.

 

“…!”

 

During this exploration, traces of Disaster Management Bureau agents confirmed in Hanbit Library interior facilities

 

Items: Broken glass lantern and letter

 

“What?”

 

And.

 

Team name: Emergency Rescue Team Blue Dragon Team

 

Agent Choi’s eyes sink to a blue color.

 

“Blue Dragon Team.”

 

…

 

“Right. So the Emergency Rescue Team was originally there. Haha, Jae-gwan, no wonder our work was so intense… We were doing two teams’ worth of work. Right?”

 

“Agent.”

 

“No wonder, you know, if we’re talking about the Four Divine Beasts, Blue Dragon should be included too. But even though only that team was missing, none of us thought it was strange. Never made a single joke about it…”

 

“…”

 

“They deliberately made us unable to remember.”

 

Bronze Agent speaks heavily.

 

“…It’s a disaster that caused over 600,000 casualties in just one day. It would have been a necessary measure. …For the sake of more lives.”

 

Normatively, it’s correct.

 

‘The Disaster Management Bureau branch in the special city itself lost all contact and all personnel were presumed dead.’

 

The problem is, that’s the perspective from the outside.

 

‘…From the perspective of people who are still alive but being sealed away, it’s just being buried alive.’

 

And there’s an existence that remembers all of that.

 

‘Ho Yu-won.’

 

Whatever method he used, Ho Yu-won clearly seems to know about Segwang Special City and the disaster that occurred within it.

 

In that sense.

 

Ho Yu-won’s ill feelings toward the Disaster Management Bureau might have started from when the Disaster Management Bureau decided to seal Segwang Special City.

 

‘…Whew.’

 

I don’t know what emotions I should be feeling.

 

Perhaps it’s because I’m 130666, whose physical form has collapsed and can’t even maintain a proper shape, that I’m relatively less disturbed.

 

‘…For now, let’s start with the urgent matters.’

 

Let me do what I can.

 

Request confirmation and judgment

 

: Torn talisman

 

“…A talisman?”

 

It’s directly related to Sekwang Technical High School.

 

Discovery location :

 

Inside Blue Dragon Team’s glass lantern

 

“…!”

 

I explained the Blue Dragon Team’s letter and the state of Sekwang Technical High School as quickly, concisely, and intuitively as possible.

 

Tension rises on the faces of the agents listening to the explanation.

 

“Wait. Can you tell me more details about that talisman?”

 

I immediately drew the talisman I remembered.

 

The half-torn form that was inside the glass lantern.

 

Also, along with the discernible lines from the completed forms of talismans that had covered the 5th floor.

 

(Protect)

 

“…”

 

Bronze Agent’s pupils dilate as he looks at the smoke figure I drew.

 

“This is… a ward talisman.”

 

Ward .

 

“It’s made to block evil things and protect spaces or people.”

 

“Jae-gwan, have you ever used this kind at a field site?”

 

“No. Originally, these kinds of talismans would have rarely been used once glass hand grenade production increased. I learned it was due to stability and cost issues.”

 

Bronze Agent raises his finger to trace the smoke lines I’m drawing.

 

“They’re powerful, but the cost is equally strong. Since they have to invoke supernatural phenomena, they’re the type that burdens agents.”

 

“…”

 

“And… this isn’t originally a commonly used format either.”

 

Bronze Agent’s blue eyes look at me through the smoke.

 

“Could you describe what kind of paper or ink was used? Even a rough color or feeling would be good.”

 

Paper source : Scrap paper

 

Library checkout slip from a library used as sanctuary by some great being

 

“…! Based on a supernatural disaster… Wait, that’s.”

 

And Bronze Agent, who stopped speaking, quietly looks again at the half-remaining lines of the torn talisman I drew…

 

“When it comes to talismans and scriptures, Jae-gwan is one of the top experts in all of Xuanwu Team. It’s because of where he used to work.”

 

‘…Where he used to work?’

 

But before the thought could continue, as he said, Bronze Agent soon raised his head.

 

“You said this was torn when it was there? Inside the lantern?”

 

Affirmative

 

“…Was there no Dokkaebi Fire inside it?”

 

…!

 

No Dokkaebi Fire present

 

Only traces of flames remained to guide the way

 

“…I see.”

 

Bronze Agent’s complexion darkened.

 

“It seems this ward talisman used dokkaebi tricks based on the power of supernatural phenomena in the Special City, instead of borrowing power from other spiritual beings.”

 

Dokkaebi tricks.

 

“Is the broken glass lantern that Grape Agent found larger or smaller than the standard lanterns Grape Agent has received before?”

 

…!

 

Affirmative

 

It was definitely smaller and more ornate than mine. That characteristic is…

 

“It’s a lantern made according to one’s birth chart.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Agent Choi clenched his hand.

 

“It seems some agent who passed the ‘Dokkaebi Trial’ tried to protect that high school by borrowing the power of their Dokkaebi Fire… but the talisman got damaged.”

 

…

 

If that’s the case, then.

 

Request : Creation of a new version of that talisman

 

“…!”

 

An attempt to restore Sekwang Technical High School to the form that agent originally tried to protect.

 

“We can try that.”

 

Light returns to Agent Choi’s eyes as he looks at me.

 

“But we’ll have to do it unofficially.”

 

Affirmative

 

“Good. Still, there’s a way. Let’s go.”

 

And the agents get up from their seats.

 

‘Wait, if we’re going to the Disaster Management Bureau’s workshop, it’s a bit awkward for me to follow…’

 

It would be strange for a spirit candidate who fled leaving just a letter to suddenly appear. I can’t walk the streets in this condition anyway.

 

Since there’s still no word from the Reptilian Aliens, just as I was about to suggest bringing a mobile unit myself.

 

“Hmm. No, the place we’re going now is fine.”

 

Huh?

 

When I turned my head, surprisingly, Bronze Agent was smiling very slightly instead of sighing.

 

“It’s Jae-gwan’s old workplace.”

 

…!

 

“Have you heard of it? It’s a very spiritual bookstore.”

 

 

 

‘And one of those clerks was Bronze Agent in his childhood.’

 

My goodness.

 

I raised my head to look at the bookstore.

 

Under a clear night sky where a bright crescent moon and unusually sparse stars could be seen twinkling.

 

There was a small, quiet shop.

 

Lee

 

Jeong

 

Book

 

Store

 

On the glass door, old and slightly opaque but well-maintained and glossy, hung a metal bookmark wind chime.

 

A small space that contrasted with Hanbit Library we had just explored.

 

“Restaurant Owner. Dong-i has come.”

 

Ding.

 

With a light sound, the three entered the small bookstore.

 

Into the sparkling, quiet mystery of dust.

—————
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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