Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 290

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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 290

 

When I next opened my eyes, I was in reality.

 

“Noru-nim.”

 

My body was no longer even in the form of a student wearing a school uniform, but merely a silhouette created by the security team uniform, not even maintaining human shape.

 

…However, my mind still seemed to be at Sekwang Technical High School.

 

Among the students taking naps, in the corridor filled with sunlight.

 

Immersed in an indescribably poignant afterglow.

 

But I couldn’t remain lost in those feelings for long.

 

“What did you see?”

 

Right next to my bed, I see menacingly glinting eyes peering at me, though I don’t know when they arrived.

 

Ho Yu-won.

 

In order to sleep with the sleepless body of 130666, I had received a prohibition spell to ‘lose consciousness’ from Ho Yu-won at the Fox Counseling Room.

 

“Didn’t you go to Sekwang Technical High School? Noru-nim?”

 

[Good heavens, this guy must have waited all night just for news that Noru would bring. Like a viewer waiting for news of their favorite program’s rerun!]

 

I hear Director Ho’s voice pretending to be polite as usual.

 

“I’m really curious about what you were trying to do by going in there so desperately…”

 

…

 

I provided the plain truth.

 

Protecting the school students from supernatural disasters

 

Ho Yu-won stopped.

 

Result: Success

 

Conclusion of ‘In the Black Shadow’

 

Contributors: Disaster Management Bureau Agents

 

“…”

 

“And Grape is included among those agents too. Heave-ho.”

 

Agent Choi sat up from the next bed.

 

He slipped the back of his high school photo that he had kept under his pillow into his pocket with a wry smile, then looked at us.

 

With his hostility toward his opponent subdued.

 

“Ho Yu-won. I have something I want to ask you.”

 

“…”

 

“Is your grudge against the Management Bureau because of Segwang Special City? Because the Management Bureau sealed it off without rescuing people.”

 

Bronze Agent’s face hardens as he sits up beside us.

 

“The fact that you’re searching for something in Segwang Special City, isn’t it actually because you lived there before the blockade and left something behind…”

 

“…”

 

“That’s what I’m thinking, how about it.”

 

…Actually, I had made similar deductions.

 

More clearly because I had hints.

 

Confirmation of the counseling teacher’s (presumed: Ho Yu-won) actions at that time

 

-Requested student rescue from the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau

 

“…!”

 

If the counseling teacher really is him.

 

It means Ho Yu-won had known about the Disaster Management Bureau from the beginning and had built a considerable relationship of trust.

 

Ordinary citizens don’t even know the Disaster Management Bureau exists.

 

‘Moreover, since Ho Yu-won is something from within a ghost story, he’s not even an ‘ordinary citizen.”

 

It becomes even more certain that he had built friendly relations beforehand.

 

So, if it was a relationship where he could request rescue from the Disaster Management Bureau.

 

Question: Ho Yu-won’s past identity

 

Could it be this?

 

Deduction:

 

A cooperative spirit of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau

 

“…!!”

 

The agents’ eyes immediately turn to Ho Yu-won’s face. And…

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“Ah. That might be so.”

 

Ho Yu-won smiled.

 

“But all of that has now become something that never existed from the beginning. Since Segwang Special City was sealed off, everything there became meaningless.”

 

“…”

 

“Nothing from that place has any meaning in reality.”

 

No.

 

Denial

 

“What?”

 

The true identity of the ‘In the Black Shadow’ ghost story:

 

A student rescue request from agents who entered Segwang Special City for citizen rescue

 

“…!”

 

So, in the end, Ho Yu-won’s rescue request was definitely answered.

 

And the rescue request sent by those agents was also answered.

 

Result of the conclusion:

 

Successful delivery of the rescue request

 

Safe protection of students until they could be rescued

 

Now the students, though trapped within Segwang Special City, would be peacefully taking naps, free from the threat of contamination or death.

 

By the Disaster Management Bureau agents.

 

And if they just rescue them…

 

“But that rescue won’t happen.”

 

…

 

“Because the Disaster Management Bureau decided that way. Isn’t that right?”

 

Clap.

 

Ho Yu-won’s face as he applauded and shouted was grinning so wide it seemed like it might tear.

 

At the danger signal that made my hair stand on end, I reflexively sat up from the bed…

 

“We will do it.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“We’re going to rescue them.”

 

“….”

 

Agent Choi, who spoke as if throwing the words out, started stretching.

 

“We already know, so there’s no choice. We have to do it. Right, Cheongdong?”

 

“….”

 

“We can’t just leave the kids there.”

 

Bronze Agent only sighed.

 

It was tacit agreement.

 

“….”

 

Ho Yu-won had said that emotions are inherently irrational in response to my question about whether it was unreasonable to hold individual members of a group responsible.

 

Then what would he think about this result, which could move those very emotions?

 

This exploration result:

 

Multiple agents who sacrificed themselves and died or went missing to prevent the disaster at Sekwang Technical High School

 

“I see.”

 

Affirmation

 

“Because of the containment, those agents will also be treated as if they never existed.”

 

….

 

“Is there perhaps a better method?”

 

“What?”

 

“I mean another way to prevent the extinction-level supernatural disaster in Segwang Special City. …If there had been another way to deal with a ghost story that produced an estimated hundreds of thousands of deaths in just one day.”

 

Bronze Agent!

 

I was shocked for a moment, but then I realized.

 

“…If there had been, there would have been no reason to use such an extreme method as ‘Recognition Impossibility.'”

 

This wasn’t picking a fight, but a topic he had been genuinely and seriously contemplating.

 

“…The Management Bureau is not a perfect institution. The best decision that could be made at the time to prevent casualties couldn’t have been flawless for everyone.”

 

But Ho Yu-won didn’t even blink.

 

“Ah. Since there was no other way, it couldn’t be helped….”

 

“….”

 

“You seem to want to say that the Disaster Management Bureau made a very rational and correct judgment….”

 

“…At the very least, that judgment would have had the purpose of saving more citizens, not personal gain.”

 

Bronze Agent’s eyes darkened.

 

“But you….”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Cheongdong.”

 

“No. I really want to hear what you have to say.”

 

“….”

 

“So, ‘what about this Ho Yu-won?'”

 

Bronze Agent’s eyes looked at me, then he gritted his teeth.

 

“Aren’t you driving employees you want to exploit for your own gain into the danger of supernatural disasters? While luring them without giving accurate information.”

 

And his gaze turned toward Agent Choi.

 

“You also tried to kill an agent who had nothing to do with your grudge. …I assume this isn’t the first time you’ve attempted murder.”

 

“….”

 

“Do you believe your actions can be justified by the cause of revenge?”

 

“What? Why should they be?”

 

“…!”

 

“There’s no such thing as justified actions in this world. You just need to know that choices come with responsibility and be prepared to bear it.”

 

Ho Yu-won smiled faintly.

 

“Similarly, how the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau treated Segwang Special City. That choice also comes with a price.”

 

“….”

 

“If it was unavoidable for the sake of more people, then bearing the resentment of the selected few is only natural.”

 

However, the strange gleam that used to appear in Ho Yu-won’s eyes whenever he looked at Disaster Management Bureau agents had largely disappeared.

 

And he finished speaking gently.

 

“I’m grateful to you both. Because you made a promise with me. To rescue the students from Segwang Special City.”

 

Ho Yu-won turned to look at me and smiled.

 

“And please take good care of what I’m looking for too, Noru.”

 

…Phew.

 

[Oh my, I thought they’d fall to rock bottom and have a fistfight! It was quite interesting, but I guess that’s as far as it goes.]

 

[Then how about we go find another interesting story?]

 

An interesting story?

 

[I’m talking about that small item you entrusted to that government official.]

 

Ah, that thing.

 

I had been thinking about it anyway.

 

After Ho Yu-won left and while Bronze Agent was checking his belongings, I approached Agent Choi with a request.

 

Request: Item confirmation

 

“…Ah.”

 

Agent Choi, who had a complicated expression, chuckled and pulled something out from his chest….

 

“You mean this?”

 

Dream Fragment Collection device.

 

It was the elite team collection device that came from the ‘goods box’ I had.

 

It was fine in Segwang Special City, but I didn’t know what kind of judgment would come out in the 130666 state again, so I entrusted it to someone reliable.

 

And its condition was….

 

“…!!”

 

A strange light like a hologram was spinning.

 

The liquid brightness beyond golden was rippling with tremendous light almost comparable to a Wish Scroll.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Although no score was displayed at the ending, the result was certain.

 

“How is it.”

 

Estimated: Darkness(A) ~ Abyss(S)

 

Equivalent to highest grade

 

“…!!”

 

It was the highest concentration of dream fragments I had seen since joining the company.

 

‘This is crazy.’

 

And the reason something like this came out was… probably due to the characteristics of Sekwang Technical High School.

 

The extinction-level disaster of Segwang Special City.

 

‘The evil thing that ‘invaded’ Sekwang High School… was it part of the culprit that brought the day of disaster to Segwang Special City.’

 

At the very least, I thought there would be some connection.

 

“…Surprising.”

 

Agent Choi looks at me.

 

“You need it, right? Here.”

 

And he willingly handed over the dream essence liquid he had.

 

Even though he must have guessed at first glance that it wasn’t an ordinary item.

 

130666’s state: Gratitude

 

“What. Grape, there’s nothing to be thankful for….”

 

And he whispered ominously.

 

“Now if you find out anything or get something with that, it’s definitely fifty-fifty. You know? We’re a community of fate. Right?”

 

Ah.

 

“Haha, hey. Sounds like a joke? I’m serious.”

 

Yes….

 

“And now there’s something important left to do.”

 

Agent Choi removed his hand that had been patting my back.

 

“…We need to go see the Team Manager. Grape.”

 

….

 

I looked down at my condition inside the Security Team uniform for a moment, but eventually nodded.

 

 

Blue Hope Hospital was still a comfortable and quiet place.

 

Team Manager Park Hong-rim’s granddaughter wasn’t there, but the lived-in feeling of the guardian’s seat remained, as if she visited frequently.

 

“Ye-ji must have gone to school. Come.”

 

We stood quietly around the bed.

 

…Suddenly, as I was watching the scene of wind rushing in from the window and curtains fluttering.

 

[It’s Grape.]

 

The warm presence sitting on the bed takes my hand and helps me sit down.

 

“…Elder.”

 

I could somehow speak like a person now.

 

The powerful force of the Dokkaebi Fire had guided me, who cannot sleep, into its dreams in a different way from Ho Yu-won.

 

And I….

 

Now I also knew this being’s other title.

 

“Team Leader Honghwa.”

 

….

 

[Did Cheongdong-i tell you? You’re calling me by that nostalgic nickname.]

 

As expected.

 

That agent who had desperately tried to protect Sekwang Technical High School.

 

The broken upper body clutching the torn talisman belonged to this Team Manager Park Hong-rim, agent name Honghwa.

 

And I had to ask this question.

 

“Team Manager. …Do you remember what you did at Sekwang Technical High School?”

 

And.

 

[I remember.]

 

“…!!”

 

[But I only remember because you mentioned it just now. Normally I can’t recall it. Even though this is a dream, not reality.]

 

[Being erased from cognition means exactly that. It’s a terrible ritual.]

 

….

 

[But seeing you say those words, it seems our method succeeded in the end. Did you find the sleeping children?]

 

“…Yes.”

 

[Thank goodness. What a relief!]

 

Hearing those words filled with joy, I realized.

 

‘He doesn’t know.’

 

This Team Manager Park Hong-rim didn’t remember everything.

 

He doesn’t know.

 

What his upper body that remained in Sekwang Special City experienced.

 

How the students kept dying in the horror game that appeared in nightmares on new moon nights, and how he, the agents, and teachers were contaminated by evil-warding charms and became one with monsters.

 

It was fortunate.

 

But at the same time, my heart somehow ached.

 

The fact that Agent Honghwa and the Blue Dragon Team agents who experienced all of that no longer exist.

 

“….”

 

I remembered.

 

How the ‘In the Black Shadow’ ghost story I had originally read in had concluded.

 

Bad Ending 05 (School’s End) confirmed.

 

This ending could only be seen when witnessing the ‘Teacher’ conducting the entire horrific sacrificial graduation ceremony to the end.

 

Anomalous phenomenon confirmed: Strange sight of the auditorium melting and swallowing students. Glitches (errors) splashing onto the Teacher. Confirmation of ■■ that shouldn’t appear.

 

And.

 

 

…I had simply thought that too many errors occurred, and since errors pretending to be students kept seeing endings, the horror game eventually broke down.

 

I thought that was the entirety of this ghost story’s hidden truth.

 

A school devoured by a horror game.

 

But that wasn’t it.

 

…If it had concluded as written in , there would have been no tragedy more devastating.

 

Because it would mean students and agents were all devoured by supernatural phenomena.

 

Without any truth being revealed.

 

With all the efforts and sacrifices this agent before me had made turning to nothing.

 

All of that made my heart feel heavy and cold, but I tried not to show it.

 

But.

 

[Your hands have grown cold. Grape.]

 

[It seems like it’s difficult to rescue the Students right now.]

 

“….”

 

[Right. The Management Bureau probably can’t handle what would happen if they undid the Sealing Ritual either. But… there are many stories in this world, and who knows how things will flow – that’s the way of the world, isn’t it.]

 

I feel the Elder’s hand stroking my head.

 

[Oh, you’ve worked hard. Grape has done your best until now. Trying not to take the wrong path, trying to return to the right one.]

 

“…How do you know that?”

 

[Because you’re worrying and doubting yourself.]

 

[And….]

 

[I also heard that you used the Death Sword, Grape.]

 

“…!”

 

[My goodness. Now you could even take the Goblin Trial.]

 

What?

 

[Just kidding. …Now, when you wake up, there will be a Friend who can help.]

 

[Cheer up.]

 

The next moment.

 

I came to my senses.

 

Back as the strange being that spews Black Smoke, as 130666 standing in the Hospital Room.

 

While watching Agent Choi and Bronze Agent, who came with me, waking up from their sleep near the Window Side and Bed.

 

And I realized that the Agents in the Hospital Room weren’t all of them.

 

“You guys….”

 

“Hae-geum noona.”

 

Hae-geum Agent was looking down at us.

 

She seemed to have visited for the same purpose, her appearance clearly showing signs of hurried movement, but her eyes looking down at us were blatantly narrowed.

 

“You’re Grape?”

 

That….

 

“Fine. You’re speaking completely through body language.”

 

Good grief.

 

“Noona. Go Myeong-i and the other Kids are….”

 

“They can’t wake up. …Peacefully, while asleep.”

 

“….”

 

I have no idea.

 

Should I call it fortunate that their existence wasn’t forgotten because they didn’t die to the ‘Teacher’.

 

“Thanks to that, I’ll have to contact the people on leave soon. The hospitalized guys will have to come for personnel reinforcement as soon as they’re discharged too.”

 

Hae-geum Agent had a calm expression as if she was used to it, but a slightly troubled look subtly showed through.

 

And she looks at us with sharp eyes.

 

“I saw all those game-like credits. …Where exactly are those kids sleeping?”

 

“….”

 

“You guys seem to know.”

 

About that ‘Special City’.

 

“We’ll have a lot to talk about.”

 

It was the appearance of new Exploration personnel.

—————
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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