Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 302

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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 302

 

Delusion Home Shopping #4-168 Studio.

 

In the filming set where darkness and silence had suddenly descended as the lights went out, only the pleasant male voice flowing from the smartphone I held echoed alone.

 

The Host’s voice.

 

[Come to think of it, ‘Friend of Talk Show’, I still don’t quite understand the forced broadcasting fee collection method.]

 

When I raised my head, I could see the terror-filled face of the Delusion Home Shopping show host.

 

Like a ghost screaming with every hole in their features expanded.

 

[Shall we take a look? You’ll be able to watch it in real-time right before your eyes…]

 

[No, don’t…]

 

[First, there’s the fee charged by the platform. Oh, the Late Night Talk Show is broadcast through the venerable ■■■■■rk. The price for other companies’ programs attempting to piggyback on broadcasts in such isolated, remote locations during the same time slot is…]

 

He explained kindly.

 

[Hmm, it would be about the rental deposit for this modest and insignificant studio.]

 

[No way!]

 

I raised my hand.

 

My hand was trembling.

 

No.

 

The entire studio was trembling.

 

[It’s begun.]

 

[Wait, stop for a moment!]

 

As if timed to that desperate cry, the studio began to lose its vitality.

 

“…!”

 

Like freshly baked hot bread becoming a cold, dried-out, moldy grain clump, the various lively feelings that had composed the studio were being sucked away.

 

Upward.

 

Toward an indescribably strange and vast and deep and distant and more multidimensional dimension

 

If the studio were alive, it would have died just now.

 

I thought I could hear its dying scream…

 

Soon everything grew coldly still.

 

[Now… the studio deposit has been seized.]

 

[Nooooooo!]

 

[Oh, you knew how to be quite dramatic. I thought you had no talent since you only repeated the same lines every time.]

 

The show host collapsed to the floor.

 

With arms stuck to the ground, creating a strange and disgusting terror.

 

The alien old voice from the smartphone spoke in a gentlemanly, soft manner.

 

[Then now…]

 

…

 

[There’s still the broadcasting fee that the Late Night Talk Show should receive.]

 

The show host suddenly lifted his head.

 

[The price for using my program for advertising, for this tremendous act of broadcasting home shopping survival in real-time on my program.]

 

[Oh, don’t worry too much. Just…]

 

[Taking this studio as is should be enough.]

 

[Wait! You didn’t say you’d take money! I only said I’d broadcast! If it meant paying money, I wouldn’t have…]

 

[My goodness, such obvious things don’t need to be explicitly stated, do they?]

 

[…!]

 

His own words had been thrown right back at him by the Host.

 

The show host, pale as a sheet, pleaded with his creditor in a trembling voice.

 

[Wait, wait… Mr. Brown, no, Host. Please listen to me. I’ve always respected you. Haha, entertainer of the era. How much I’ve worshipped your shows!]

 

[Oh.]

 

[Haven’t I been very cooperative all this time, and haven’t we had a good relationship? Delusion Home Shopping even provided teddy bears to the Late Night Talk Show for free!]

 

[Ah, of course I remember.]

 

For a moment, the show host’s face brightened.

 

But.

 

[Thank you. Then I’ll proceed with the seizure now.]

 

[Aaaahhh!]

 

Snap.

 

The sound of fingers snapping rang out.

 

Flames engulfed the entire corpse of the coldly cooled studio.

 

I could see the figure of the show host, Red Friday, screaming in the flames…

 

[Ta-da.]

 

Everything disappeared.

 

“…”

 

As if it had never existed.

 

Where the studio had been, there was now only an empty black space.

 

Leaving only a single A4 notice attached to the door at the far end that seemed to lead to the platform.

 

Rental Inquiry

 

■■■■-■■■-■■■■■

 

[That’s all. This was how to collect broadcasting fees from a scammer!]

 

Clap clap clap clap!

 

I enthusiastically clapped by hitting the back of my hand while holding the smartphone in one hand.

 

My goodness, what truly magnificent skill!

 

And what a refreshing ending – it was almost disappointing that it couldn’t be broadcast on the talk show!

 

“Are you planning to talk about Delusional Home Shopping on the next talk show?”

 

[Hahaha, friend, even mentioning it shows interest. We haven’t been putting jokes about Delusional Home Shopping in our scripts for no reason.]

 

“I see… I understand.”

 

But another question comes to mind.

 

“Um, what happened to the Show Host?”

 

[Hmm, he ran away during the collection process. He’s probably holed up at Delusional Home Shopping headquarters crying his eyes out.]

 

[Now, shall we walk a bit?]

 

I realized there was now a giant gentleman in a suit walking beside me.

 

The one who patted my shoulder as if praising an employee walked through the spot in the darkness where the empty ‘Delusional Home Shopping Studio’ had been.

 

Along with the sound of dress shoes.

 

And on the empty wall there, a black and white poster suddenly appeared.

 

A Friday gift for you

 

Miraculous prices! Magical new products!

 

Delusional Home Shopping

 

[Originally, Delusional Home Shopping was an advertising program that mainly aired randomly on Fridays. Though it seems to have lost its identity at some point.]

 

The poster disappeared like magic when a leather-gloved hand swept across it once.

 

[Now that they’ve lost their newly built studio too, they’ll realize their place and operate humbly.]

 

[Yes. ‘Returning to one’s roots’ – what a pleasant sound that has.]

 

“That’s really wonderful, Host!”

 

[Oh my, you don’t need to call me that, friend. I’m your friend Brown!]

 

But isn’t it natural to want to show heartfelt respect?

 

My heart swelled for a moment, but soon I remembered the important things.

 

“Um, what about the short-term contract employees who were in the studio… and what happens to us?”

 

[Oh, since the late-night talk show acquired this studio’s employment contracts as well, we’ll be moving to the Talk Show Studio soon.]

 

“Then, will the Seogang Special City residents who were tied up here also become Late-night Talk Show crew?”

 

[If they’re ready to work hard, the opportunity is open!]

 

What a relief!

 

‘They’re giving us a chance to work at the late-night talk show, and we’re escaping from Seogang Special City too!’

 

It was great that we could give new opportunities to the Seogang Special City citizens who must have had a hard time being subordinated to the Delusional Home Shopping studio that had no fun or fulfillment.

 

“What about our companions too?”

 

[If you work one day at the talk show, we’ll send you home with wages according to the contract. Oh, we must treat you according to the employment agreement.]

 

“Thank you!”

 

I smiled brightly and bowed my head.

 

‘This really worked out well.’

 

Everyone would get to enjoy a fun and fulfilling day at the late-night talk show!

 

So then…

 

…

 

‘Huh?’

 

A strange sense of unease churns in my stomach.

 

Haven’t I forgotten something?

 

[Now now, friend. You should enjoy your reward. Have you forgotten? You’re in first place!]

 

“Ah!”

 

I exclaimed and then became slightly dejected.

 

“But Host, the studio is already empty… so I probably won’t be able to receive the promised prize money.”

 

It would be difficult unless I went to Delusional Home Shopping headquarters and filed a lawsuit, wouldn’t it?

 

“That’s disappointing. I expected a certain percentage of sales revenue would be quite a lot of money. I thought I could pay back the money I borrowed from you, Host…”

 

Besides, didn’t the Host buy all those gifts for me! I’d have to pay that back too…

 

[Good heavens! You really don’t need to worry about that. Didn’t I say you could pay it back slowly? Friend, and let’s really count the gifts as gifts. Now…]

 

Snap.

 

With the sound of fingers snapping, an open storage room door appeared in the empty space where there had been nothing.

 

Inside… it was full of Delusional Home Shopping merchandise.

 

“…!”

 

[Now, these are items collected from this studio. Take as much as your prize money’s worth from these.]

 

Good heavens.

 

[I’ll bill Delusional Home Shopping for the payment. Now, hurry and pick out the items you want!]

 

“Thank you!”

 

I quickly opened the storage room door and went inside.

 

My heart was racing.

 

There was a variety of items. From things that made my heart race based on what I’d read on the wiki, to things whose purpose I couldn’t be sure of but looked so interesting I wanted to try them out.

 

First, what caught my eye!

 

‘Happy Maker.’

 

An essential item. I hurriedly packed a dozen of them. And, and…

 

‘…Crazy.’

 

Something huge was taking up a section of the storage area.

 

Blood Bath.

 

It wasn’t the modest foot bath edition I had bought.

 

The black checkered curved body, the elegant pure white ceramic bathtub gleamed, and its feet were finished in gold.

 

The golden, heavily gleaming faucet looked like hot water would pour out at any moment.

 

The Bath of Youth wrapped in plastic grabbed people’s feet.

 

‘…Should I take it?’

 

I thought it would make a good gift for the Host!

 

But I forced myself to look away.

 

‘F-first, I need to choose things that will help with exploration.’

 

Right. Things that would help make exploring Seogang Special City easier. So that my companions and I could discover secrets more safely and quickly…

 

…

 

Ah.

 

“Host.”

 

[My Friend is calling me.]

 

“…What happens to my dead companions?”

 

[Oh, we’ll do as they wish. They can work just one day as per contract and go home, or they can try to keep working at the late night talk show.]

 

[If they’re afraid of disappearing when the contract ends!]

 

“…”

 

Wait.

 

Wait, wait wait…!

 

“So, um… when the employment contract ends, they die?”

 

[Hmm? Hahaha, Friend, they can’t die again.]

 

[They’re already dead!]

 

My blood runs cold.

 

[Since they were working while dead, when it ends they’ll return to their original state. Unable to move, without will, without self… as corpses.]

 

“…”

 

Like Jang Heo-un at the resort, employed by a ghost story to become a ghost story himself.

 

Or return to being dead.

 

But if that happens at the late night talk show, that’s…

 

‘They’d be dying outside Segwang Special City…!’

 

That’s just death.

 

The end.

 

‘No way.’

 

Then couldn’t they just keep working at the talk show? No, that’s… no!

 

I placed my hand on my chest. Contamination, I need to escape the contamination. Right now I’m contaminated as a late night talk show crew member, making absurd judgments…

 

[Now, now… don’t strain yourself so much, Friend.]

 

The Host pats my back.

 

And speaks to me warmly.

 

[Isn’t this already enough achievement? Wonderful showmanship, and a thrilling climax, catharsis bursting like fireworks! It was magnificent.]

 

[Enjoy this achievement, Friend!]

 

[…Perhaps, this might be the end of one chapter… meeting an ending where you return to your true workplace.]

 

“…”

 

[Of course it would be difficult to enjoy celebrations in a space like this. Come, the crew members are cheering and preparing for a party. Let’s return to the talk show studio…]

 

“No.”

 

I forced the contamination back into my tattoo.

 

An overwhelming sense of resistance and pressure, like skin being peeled and flesh torn away.

 

“…!”

 

The late night talk show’s contamination is roughly organized.

 

The magically sparkling happiness, comfort, anticipation, and surging passion vanished like a lie.

 

And in their place, emptiness, fear, worry and pain revealed themselves again.

 

Like this empty rental space.

 

“Huff.”

 

I gasped for breath.

 

“That’s… sorry, but I’ll decline. Brown. I… want to continue exploring here.”

 

[…]

 

“I need to explore and learn the truth.”

 

About the Joyful Research Institute, and the truth of my summoning tied to this extinction-level disaster.

 

And a way to get the trapped people out.

 

…

 

[Very well.]

 

Brown’s hand fell away.

 

[I told you. Good Friend will always accompany your adventure, your journey…]

 

“…Right.”

 

But at the same time, the moment I show any opening, you’ll try to end my journey and drag me to a talk show ending.

 

If it seems to harm the ‘entertainment value of the scene,’ you won’t help even if I beg.

 

‘It’ll always be like that.’

 

Before, I used to feel confusion, fear, or disappointment about that… but now I know there’s no need for such feelings.

 

This TV-headed friend is a ghost story.

 

That was an unchanging truth.

 

But at the same time, let’s not forget that you’re also my friend.

 

“…Separately though.”

 

I said.

 

“Thanks for today. You had some fun too, right? We worked pretty well together.”

 

[Of course you’d say something obvious! Have you forgotten where your showmanship comes from? You learned it from this Brown…]

 

It’s precarious, but let’s maintain the balance well.

 

So as not to lose trust and friendship.

 

‘Phew.’

 

And I swallowed and said.

 

“So… about that first place prize money.”

 

[Hmm?]

 

“Could I choose something other than the items here? Like… employment contracts.”

 

[…Employment contracts, you say?]

 

“Day worker contracts. You took their labor as property too, right? Then I should be able to receive them as prize money. Not many…”

 

Two people.

 

“…I want to receive Bronze Agent’s and Deputy Manager Peregrine Falcon’s contracts.”

 

[They are already dead.]

 

“….”

 

[Yes. Friend. I understand what kind of creative thinking this is. You would receive the employment contract and set them free… That’s it! So they can escape this sealed city through death!]

 

[…But would that really be possible?]

 

What?

 

[Noru. You are not the Studio. The place you operate doesn’t exist in this isolated place, so how would you ‘set them free from here’?]

 

My vision turns stark white.

 

[It’s impossible! They would just become spirits remaining in dead bodies.]

 

[In a state where they can no longer escape this city through death. Oh, that’s right…]

 

“….”

 

[Even if you bring them back to this empty place that used to be the Studio and tear up the employment contract, that won’t change.]

 

“…Then.”

 

I opened my mouth, having turned pale.

 

“They’re trapped?”

 

[That’s right. Correct answer.]

 

Bronze Agent and Deputy Manager Peregrine Falcon can no longer wake up from Segwang Special City’s nightmare.

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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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