Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 292

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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 292

 

Looking at it again doesn’t change anything.

 

On top of a human body, specifically one that appears to have the same conditions as when I was originally human…

 

There’s a lizard head attached.

 

‘….’

 

I turned my head with a creaking sound to look at the lizard.

 

“?”

 

Aaaah!

 

Question: Reason for similarity between mood light cultivation body and lizard manager’s body

 

“I don’t know.”

 

I feel like I’m going to burst.

 

Request: Speculation

 

“Yes. Referring to the product’s manual, there’s a possibility that ‘special effects’ have manifested.”

 

…!

 

Try using the nerves and muscles of the observed life form directly! And enjoy the wonderful special effects too!

 

Special effects.

 

“Considering the uniqueness of products made as gifts, it’s possible to speculate that some characteristics of the giver were mixed in to enhance its function as a gift.”

 

So.

 

‘The biological characteristics of the alien reptilians who gave the gift were manifested together and ‘gifted’?’

 

Since gifts usually occur in social exchanges. Like in SF movies where they give Earth creatures as gifts when making contact with aliens…

 

No, even without such an exact analogy to the situation, it’s like exchanging specialty products during international exchanges.

 

‘This is really like a ghost story.’

 

In that they give you something you don’t want!

 

“Wait, wait! Could it be that genetic information got mixed in? Does this body and some characteristic of Manager Lee Ja-heon appear meaningfully similar to your senses, Employee? That…”

 

You… go away.

 

I sent Gwak Je-gang away.

 

Gwak Je-gang was quite persistent, saying ‘at least a short interview, or even just questions and answers,’ but eventually got kicked out when he realized he couldn’t change the situation.

 

While staring obsessively at the wrapper and manual of the ‘egg mood light’ I had used as if memorizing them.

 

‘I’m tired…’

 

I’ve only used the mood light so far, but I feel completely drained.

 

I looked at the mood light’s body wrapped in a towel with troubled eyes.

 

“Do you need speculation from other fields?”

 

Pending

 

Let me organize this first.

 

Right. If I think calmly…

 

‘There’s nothing wrong with the conditions.’

 

What I wanted was a body that could communicate smoothly with other people, function socially, and live like a human being.

 

Although it has a lizard head attached, it will appear human to other people. Like Manager Lee Ja-heon.

 

‘Phew.’

 

Good.

 

I approached and looked into the body again.

 

※Warning: Never wake up the result.

 

Indeed, it was sleeping.

 

A body that breathed and gave off the distinct feeling of being a living creature.

 

‘…Ah.’

 

I realized.

 

Maybe I should be grateful it was a lizard head.

 

Because I don’t know what kind of feelings I would have had if a person who looked exactly like my previous appearance, ‘Kim Sol-eum,’ was lying there like this.

 

Phew.

 

‘…How to use it.’

 

To use the result’s nerves and muscles independently, open the adhesive part of the egg mood light.

 

I carefully closed the mood light’s groove and organized it again.

 

My blood, hair, and saline solution had dissolved inside to become a strange mucus, but I shouldn’t wipe the inside clean.

 

Instead, I peeled off the packaging on the bottom part of the mood light to expose the slightly sticky adhesive surface.

 

Please attach the opened mood light near the spine that’s connected to the user’s brain.

 

‘…Where exactly is that?’

 

The brain is… well, based on the melting sensation I felt last time, it was around the ribs… somewhere around here, so placing it in this vicinity should work.

 

‘Even if the organs are all mixed up, what needs to be connected should still be connected.’

 

The spine should be connected to the brain.

 

I lay down and opened the Security Team zipper in that area, then attached the mood light.

 

And after closing all the remaining gaps with the zipper as much as possible.

 

Once attachment is complete, you can operate the mood light.

 

We hope you enjoy your pleasant usage time!

 

I activated the mood light.

 

‘…!’

 

It shakes.

 

My senses became chaotic, a feeling like being sucked through a hose and completely extracted. Becoming something mushy, my consciousness and self moving somewhere…

 

A feeling of movement.

 

….

 

“Hup.”

 

I made a sound as I sat up.

 

Reflexively catching the towel that had been covering my body as it almost fell, I looked around with dizzy vision.

 

“Hands.”

 

Human hands.

 

My hands.

 

…I had risen up in the mood light’s body.

 

“…!”

 

I turned around to look.

 

130666’s body was lying on its side, stiff like a taxidermy specimen.

 

The sight of black smoke coming out and going in with each breath was eerily strange yet somehow peaceful.

 

And above the flesh near the ribs, something round like an egg, shaped like a mood light, was attached and blinking.

 

As if reflecting my consciousness.

 

‘Ha.’

 

Body swap.

 

I had literally experienced a horror movie cliché. For a moment, thinking my vision would become dizzy, I placed my hand over my eyes but….

 

‘…I’m more fine than I thought.’

 

My head feels cold.

 

Fear and terror do come. But I don’t feel the hot pounding sensation.

 

As if filtering out what doesn’t need to be expressed.

 

And that reminded me of a certain being who had been on the same team before, and was now watching me from the same space….

 

“…Manager.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“The body I’m currently using, is it ‘We’?”

 

An answer heard in the silence.

 

“Yes.”

 

…!

 

‘My God.’

 

I have truly become an alien reptile now.

 

Part of some intelligent collective that operates the Space Shopping Mall.

 

“But you are not connected.”

 

By connection, surely.

 

“…You mean becoming part of We?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When do We connect?”

 

Lee Ja-heon’s pupils look at me.

 

“Individuals born in the same colony become We at the moment of hatching.”

 

Colony.

 

Usually a word meaning settlement or community, but somehow the meaning seems different here.

 

‘…It seems closer to a biological meaning.’

 

Like microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria growing together to form a single colony.

 

Where the colony itself is defined and spreads as one rather than the individuals forming the group.

 

It was a strange ecology by primate standards like humans.

 

“Then this mood light, was it made by ‘We’?”

 

“No.”

 

“Let me correct that. Did you at least implement an environment similar to ‘We’s’ ecology?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The reptile’s eyes scan the mood light.

 

“The cultivation process of that product matches the method ‘We’ use to create new individual bodies in the colony. It was likely created with inspiration from colonies of similar ecological environments.”

 

And a smile appeared on Lee Ja-heon’s lips.

 

“We decided to give you goods verified through We in return.”

 

And it becomes certain.

 

…These aliens gave me a body that could become part of them as ‘repayment’ for me to use.

 

If I had expected it, it was a chilling kindness.

 

‘New individual body…indeed.’

 

Does this mean Lee Ja-heon’s body was also created through a similar process to blend in among humans?

 

I clenched and opened my hand.

 

Actually, it did meet my requirements.

 

‘Only I see it as a lizard head.’

 

Then there would be no problem naturally fitting in and communicating among people….

 

-…Oh my goodness.

 

Ah.

 

-Show business, my God. Friend! To think you’re the same species as that swordsman with no dignity, wit, or humor! What a terrible choice!

 

Eloquent. If words had form, Lee Ja-heon would have been sliced to pieces already….

 

-Noru, you’ve enjoyed enough entertainment and seen the results, so how about returning quickly?

 

….

 

‘Wait a moment.’

 

–Friend?

 

I found money in 130666’s pocket. I took out one coin and bent it.

 

…It bent like a lie.

 

“…!”

 

Tremendous physical strength.

 

‘This is Lee Ja-heon’s physical force…!’

 

No, he could probably bend steel bars like tteokbokki, so it might not be that much, but the important thing is I can use strength comparable to his.

 

“Noru. Please put on clothes.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

And strangely… I think I can read the lizard’s expressions better!

 

‘Come to think of it, I naturally grasped his friendly expression earlier too.’

 

I think I can even read a subtle sense of pride…. Hmm.

 

“…Then, in this state, can I also connect with ‘We’?”

 

“Yes. Do you need to?”

 

“No! I’m fine. …But what method is it? I’d like just a verbal explanation.”

 

“Yes.”

 

And I heard a detailed explanation about the method of connecting with ‘We’.

 

‘I can’t make even a mistake.’

 

No matter what, I didn’t want to start a new life as an alien reptile. But….

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I caught my breath while putting on the clothes borrowed from Lee Ja-heon.

 

Right. I can breathe, and I can make sounds.

 

‘I can do this.’

 

I can eat, and I can talk with people.

 

So then.

 

‘…Brown.’

 

-Noru is calling me.

 

‘I’d like to try doing some things I can do in this form.’

 

I hear the sound of the host tapping his fingers on the desk and sighing.

 

-Fine. Oh, I’ll watch to see if my friend can make witty decisions even as part of that swordsman….

 

I don’t know why it became like getting permission, but well….

 

‘Let me make good use of this body.’

 

I carefully read the recommendations on the back of the manual.

 

Product Usage Recommendations:

 

1. If using continuously for more than a week, stop usage and recharge.

 

2. Do not forcibly detach the attached mood light.

 

3. Stop usage if the mood light’s adhesion weakens.

 

4. Be careful not to let the product die during use.

 

Recommended usage period: Lifespan of the organism

 

And.

 

“Do you need advice?”

 

“If you’re offering, I would gratefully accept.”

 

“Yes. Please rest. Living organisms must secure rest time for survival and production efficiency.”

 

“….”

 

“There are several days until the next exploration. Please use them for rest.”

 

I nodded for now.

 

‘Though I can’t just rest carelessly.’

 

But if I could enjoy things I couldn’t feel as 130666, and rest even a little unrelated to Segwang Special City….

 

….

 

“I want to meet people.”

 

“Yes.”

 

 

That evening. Daydream Company Main Office Building.

 

“You’ve memorized the manual completely, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

‘Would I not have done it?’

 

Instead of glaring at the researcher stating the obvious, Baek Sa-heon smiled and sat down obediently.

 

It wasn’t just because of work life.

 

It was because of the deputy sitting across from him, whose eyes were strangely clear and sparkling.

 

Lee Seong-hae.

 

The Elite Team wearing the dolphin mask had, as declared in the Fox Counseling Room, been relentlessly monitoring him for the past few days!

 

Not in the amateur way of following him around.

 

-Chief Goat, Team B is calling for you again?

 

They were specifically assigning and taking him along…!

 

Thanks to this, even though Baek Sa-heon heard rumors that ‘Director Ho’s project’ had brought tremendous high-grade dream essence, he couldn’t subtly leak related information for profit.

 

Instead….

 

Going around with the Elite Team, he was collecting relatively easier high-grade dream essence and accumulating points.

 

‘It’s definitely not goodwill.’

 

I know.

 

‘So what am I supposed to do about it?’

 

Then what could he do? What mattered was that he could benefit from dream essence collection anyway.

 

And that was the same today.

 

“Then please take care of us.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Research Team finished explaining about the darkness they were entering today and left, leaving only Lee Seong-hae and him sitting at the table.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“Deputy Manager. Is there… anything you need?”

 

“No.”

 

‘Shit, damn it.’

 

Baek Sa-heon barely managed to overcome the strange pressure from Lee Seong-hae’s eyes with a smile.

 

Though he did break out in a cold sweat.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Knock knock.

 

Someone knocked on the door.

 

Wondering if Team A, who was supposed to enter with them, had come here instead of the darkness entry location, Baek Sa-heon turned his gaze that way somewhat welcomingly.

 

“Yes, come in!”

 

With Lee Seong-hae’s permission, the one who opened the door and entered was….

 

“Hello.”

 

A Black Cat Masked Male.

 

“….”

 

Various people wearing various masks work in the Field Investigation Team. So even including branch offices, it wouldn’t be that strange if there were masked employees that Baek Sa-heon didn’t know yet, but….

 

‘Huh?’

 

He felt familiar somehow.

 

Baek Sa-heon reflexively lifted his eyepatch and checked the silhouette of that halo just slightly….

 

…!!

 

‘Wait, hold on.’

 

The moment goosebumps ran through his head, he heard Lee Seong-hae’s voice from beside him.

 

“Mascot?”

 

The male turned his head toward the dolphin deputy and smiled.

 

“Hello. Dolphin.”

 

And he greeted him while looking at him too.

 

“Hello.”

 

…?!

 

“You look like you’re living well. Chief Goat.”

 

‘Shit, damn it.’

 

It was Kim Sol-eum.

 

‘What is this.’

 

Where did he put his mask and what is that thing? And….

 

‘Until a few days ago you were Security Team…!’

 

Why are you appearing in human form again!

 

In the midst of that creepy situation, infuriatingly, the dolphin deputy approached Kim Sol-eum with bright eyes and a happy expression.

 

“Now you can eat!”

 

“Mm. That’s right.”

 

Is that what’s important??

 

“Then shall we go eat? I know a really good restaurant. Abalone bibimbap!”

 

“…Sounds good.”

 

Why are you looking at me?

 

“Other people can come along and eat together too.”

 

“Ooh! Good!”

 

And Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae smiles brightly.

 

“If they’re good people.”

 

….

 

“…Deputy Manager, we need to depart to enter the darkness now.”

 

“Ah.”

 

At Baek Sa-heon’s words, Deputy Manager Lee Seong-hae clapped as if coming to his senses.

 

“Then would you like to come with us?”

 

What??

 

“This darkness is completely safe with Mascot, and when it’s over, we’ll go eat lunch right away!”

 

“…Should we?”

 

Don’t come!

 

“Wow! Yes!”

 

Baek Sa-heon screamed internally.

 

From serial killers to cats, was there any being that could confuse one’s mind this much.

 

…And here, the culprit behind Baek Sa-heon’s internal scream.

 

Speaking of Kim Sol-eum’s state of mind.

 

‘I can have a conversation!’

 

He was just satisfied!

 

Having sought out acquaintances who had time now, he had even obtained and was wearing an item similar to the ‘Field Investigation Team’s mask’ through Director Ho.

 

‘It’s essential to enter the company.’

 

He couldn’t risk the danger of walking around with Kim Sol-eum’s face.

 

‘Anyway, for information gathering, I needed an identity that could naturally blend in at Daydream Company too.’

 

And he was going to places that 130666’s body couldn’t reach, grasping the situation and feeling a small sense of satisfaction….

 

On top of that, Lee Seong-hae’s proposal made Kim Sol-eum formulate quite an efficient plan.

 

Darkness exploration.

 

‘I need to see if dream essence can be extracted with this body too.’

 

And if it could be extracted, he planned to convert that dream essence into bonus money through Ho Yu-won.

 

‘Even if not, can’t I clear darkness quite easily now?’

 

Since he could use tremendous physical strength with this body.

 

Kim Sol-eum thought he had nothing but reasons to gladly accept Lee Seong-hae’s proposal.

 

“Then shall we get up?”

 

“Sounds good.”

 

Thus, he came to join this darkness exploration team.

 

Safe darkness experience with Dolphin Deputy!

 

‘…Hm?’

 

Something like a strange déjà vu seemed to pass by, but Kim Sol-eum let it slide.

 

And.

 

He would come to bear the consequences of that karma.

 

“We’re all here. This is it!”

 

“….”

 

A mountain road at sunset.

 

A black cave-like tunnel cutting through the mountain was there.

 

“People kept saying they saw ghosts and kept going missing, so it seems to have been completely blocked off. There are so many ghost sightings that it’s famous among civilians too.”

 

“….”

 

“But it’s okay. It’s a darkness where you just need to walk around inside all night telling scary stories!”

 

What flashed through his mind was the scene when he first met Dolphin Assistant Manager.

 

That crazy ghost story where she clapped with the back of her hands.

 

“Whatever comes out, just ignore it. Let’s go!”

 

Ah.

 

Ahhh!!!

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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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