Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 314

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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 314

 

I’m falling.

 

I knew it.

 

After I opened my eyes at the Daydream Company new employee orientation, I had been forgetting who I originally was, as if bleached away.

 

About my life as Kim Sol-eum.

 

I can’t remember my family or friends well.

 

I’m certain they existed. I remember the emotions and how precious they were, but the specific and detailed things are becoming harder to remember.

 

So perhaps I thought it wasn’t strange that nothing appeared on the scale of evil, in the place where something I loved should have appeared…

 

Because now there’s nothing left.

 

Only the feeling about home remains.

 

A place that wasn’t scary, an ordinary place, where I originally existed purely as myself.

 

Only my desire to return to that place remains, and that intense obsession has ultimately converged into one thing.

 

The grip tok.

 

A way to return home, something I felt I could accomplish, a method visible before my eyes.

 

Through the scale of evil, we have determined that the candidate’s heart contains psychological values that take priority over ethical and moral judgment.

 

The right scale containing the grip tok falls to the floor.

 

The left scale that contained the silver heart extracted from my chest shoots rapidly upward.

 

As this is an evil person who cannot be reformed under current circumstances, we permanently terminate the re-examination and

 

The heart bounces out of the giant scale.

 

sentence humane execution…

 

“Wait!!”

 

Someone who had left the line rushed into the courtroom.

 

And caught the knife handle stuck in the organ bouncing from the scale in mid-air.

 

“…!”

 

The person who put the heart back on the scale shouted.

 

“I’m also an agent!”

 

It’s Bronze Agent.

 

202■Management 370616 selection candidate…

 

The speaker stopped speaking.

 

Ryu Jae-gwan’s dead face standing before the courtroom is revealed.

 

Deceased.

 

We have confirmed a defect in candidate qualification requirements.

 

A person who is already dead has no qualification to be a candidate.

 

We revoke 202■Management 370616 Ryu Jae-gwan’s selection candidate qualification. Leave the tribunal immediately…

 

“Please wait a moment.”

 

Bronze Agent looked at the scale with sunken eyes, then turned his head toward the speaker.

 

“As I mentioned, I am also an agent. I have the qualification to be involved in this selection process.”

 

What is he doing right now?

 

Even if he caught something by watching the trial, this is too much. No, did he come in targeting this? Thinking he’d be safe since he’s not a subject of examination?

 

‘That won’t be the case.’

 

It only seems to increase the probability of being subordinated to the ghost story! Rather, he should just leave now. Both Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je and Bronze Agent…

 

“My agent name is Bron…”

 

“This person is not affiliated with Segwang Special City. He’s an agent from Seoul Headquarters.”

 

I interrupted.

 

“He has no qualification to be involved in the selection process. Since the jurisdiction is different…”

 

“No, I do.”

 

“…!”

 

Bronze Agent looked at the speaker.

 

His eyes showed he had already finished thinking.

 

“Didn’t the Segwang Special City branch office request support from Seoul Headquarters?”

 

“…!!”

 

Damn it.

 

“Since I came in response to that request, I have the qualification to be involved in this trial.”

 

“Agent,”

 

I urgently grabbed Bronze Agent.

 

“If you do it that way, you might become subordinated to this supernatural disaster, please stop…”

 

“Ah, right. I’m the same.”

 

Agent Choi!

 

“We are Seoul Xuanwu Team 1 agents.”

 

And he put his arms around both Bronze Agent and me.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Be quiet.”

 

Agent Choi looked over my heart placed on the scale as if wanting to retrieve it, but soon looked away as if gauging the danger and said.

 

“…Hey, Selection Officer Agent speaking through the speaker, come out and talk with us! It seems like the scale of evil is being misused. I originally thought it wasn’t a very good item anyway.”

 

Agent Choi grins.

 

“Do you think proper judgment is possible when you drive people to extremes and interrogate them in this kind of emergency? No, don’t you know that information obtained through torture isn’t accurate?”

 

The speaker didn’t react, which was frightening.

 

But Agent Choi shouted even louder.

 

“A silver heart came out but it still showed unsuitable. When we look at supernatural disasters, we’d consider this level an exceptional situation!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Bronze Agent agreed, but instead of cold sweat, the skin color of the dead was visible on his neck.

 

“So as personnel, I suggest… judging citizens’ rescue qualifications in this manner is not acceptable.”

 

Why are they doing this?

 

Anyway, even if I die by humane execution, there’s a high probability I’ll get out of Segwang Special City. I can prepare again and re-enter. Shouldn’t they be more concerned about their own situations?

 

Are they worried that I might die ‘permanently’ in this ghost story? Like that pile of corpses under the glass.

 

‘I don’t think that’s the case.’

 

They seem to be trying to think of a way to break the ghost story, but it would be safer to do it after my trial.

 

I spoke very quietly, low enough for only the agents to hear.

 

“Um, it’s really okay.”

 

“Shut your mouth.”

 

“It really is. I was originally just planning to break the scale anyway.”

 

“…!”

 

It’s exactly the same method as just setting fire to the Hannat Station Residential Area.

 

‘If there’s no way to judge, I have no choice but to terminate it.’

 

And since it wouldn’t break easily, I was planning to cause chaos by bringing out all kinds of contamination.

 

In that process, I figured there was a high probability I’d die.

 

“I did it expecting to die anyway. So it’s fine….”

 

“No. You are not fine.”

 

Bronze Agent cut me off.

 

“You’re the one most likely to be subordinated by this supernatural disaster.”

 

What?

 

“There’s no easier condition for being devoured by a supernatural disaster than being mentally cornered and falling into panic. So….”

 

“I’m not in a panic.”

 

“…Grape Agent.”

 

Bronze Agent glances at the grip tok on the scale with his eyes.

 

“Why is that precious to you?”

 

Why?

 

Is it okay to tell them?

 

I felt wary for a moment, but then realized Agent Choi, who had already heard my entire story, was right next to me, making it meaningless.

 

He’d share everything anyway.

 

So….

 

“…It’s a way to return home.”

 

“….”

 

“No, it’s like a symbol of that method.”

 

The more I spoke, the more I seemed to ramble, so I tried to organize my thoughts.

 

“Since it’s something I newly discovered, and because I never thought I’d find a way back….”

 

“….”

 

“Actually, I don’t remember much about home from before, but I can’t help it. If you see this as evidence that I’m excessively obsessed with home right now, I have nothing to say. If that seems strange….”

 

“No.”

 

“…!”

 

“As I mentioned before, I understand wanting to return home. That’s not the issue….”

 

Bronze Agent asks.

 

“Then why is the grip tok up there instead of the home you want to return to?”

 

…!

 

That’s,

 

“Even if your memories are hazy, there must have been symbols that clearly felt like home. Didn’t you see it earlier? What appeared on Agent Choi’s scale.”

 

The scene of the Hyeonmu Team 1 Waiting Room.

 

Though it was just an image, anyone who knew Agent Choi could guess what meaning it implied.

 

“But for Grape Agent, what appeared up there wasn’t home, but only the method to get home.”

 

….

 

The grip tok.

 

“Isn’t that backwards?”

 

It felt like cold water had been poured over my head.

 

‘Wait a minute.’

 

I looked at the grip tok in the scale again.

 

Right. Valuing the ‘means to return home’ more than ‘home’ itself is logically strange….

 

Is the scale wrong?

 

That doubt surged in my mind, but this time, instead of comfortably following that doubt, I forcibly suppressed it and brought up a difficult question to think about.

 

‘Then does it imply a different meaning?’

 

For instance… the Darkness Investigation Records themselves?

 

‘No.’

 

If that were the case, the scale wouldn’t have tipped over.

 

I think of the researchers.

 

The eerie feeling I had about their perspective on darkness being similar to mine was because I can’t just find horrific things happening in reality interesting….

 

‘That wasn’t inverted.’

 

Then….

 

There was only one answer.

 

I’m just obsessed with the situation itself of being able to go home.

 

Because it was too sweet.

 

Because I couldn’t bear it when I saw a way to get home right before my eyes.

 

Because it felt like I could do anything if I could just extract the real original Wish Potion from that dream incubator.

 

That moment had captured me.

 

‘Ah.’

 

The shock when the potion button was assembled in the dream incubator.

 

Calculation and catharsis.

 

Tremendous longing.

 

….

 

Could it be that the current me is….

 

‘Excessively captivated by… that intense impression?’

 

“….”

 

“Grape Agent.”

 

I looked around.

 

…For the first time, things are coming into view.

 

My companions’ expressions.

 

Their complex thoughts.

 

Worry about this supernatural disaster and my condition, concern about the long-term missing persons lined up behind us, tension….

 

Tension.

 

I looked down at my hands.

 

They’re damp with sweat, and my hands are trembling slightly.

 

…I’m putting excessive force into them.

 

But I’m not sure how to relax.

 

[Hmm. Shall we try taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling? Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. It’s a simple calming method. Now….]

 

I did as instructed.

 

[Good, Friend!]

 

Deep breathing.

 

….

 

Following my breath, the pulsing in my shoulders, chest, and extremities subsides.

 

I lowered my hands.

 

My head spins briefly, then clears and settles.

 

‘Right.’

 

…My condition was a bit strange.

 

Ever since learning the identity of that dream incubator’s button, I seem to have completely lost my mind and come here without considering anything else.

 

‘I thought I was being careful.’

 

I couldn’t.

 

I need to get a grip.

 

‘I might not be making sound judgments right now…’

 

I struggled not to give in to the impulse to somehow break the scale and escape again.

 

‘From now on… I need to keep checking and making judgments.’

 

“Thank you.”

 

“…!”

 

“I’ve come to my senses a bit.”

 

I looked at the Bronze Agent and nodded. Relief seemed to briefly cross his expression.

 

At that moment.

 

The small grip-tok placed on the giant gray balance scale rippled and flickered.

 

“…!”

 

The dream incubator, wish voucher, abstract landscape presumed to be the popup store, smartphone screen, and images within the scale shook…

 

They kept changing without being fixed.

 

“Look, it’s changing in real time! If you want to claim this is the Disaster Management Bureau, at least listen to the field agents!”

 

Agent Choi’s voice rang out as he shouted at the top of his lungs. He was waving his cleaver and iron badge around.

 

“Here! I have an agent ID too!”

 

However, the speaker remained silent.

 

“Please verify…”

 

At that moment.

 

Verification impossible

 

“…!”

 

Verificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossibleverificationimpossible

 

The speaker’s voice became distorted. Warped. Strange sounds filled the courtroom.

 

“…It’s similar to when we got ‘pending.'”

 

“It seems they can’t recognize that we’re agents.”

 

“Right.”

 

The two people stood on either side of me, looking up at the speaker with tense eyes.

 

Please submit evidence please submit evidence submission window verification personnel absent agent death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death confirmation death

 

Thud.

 

Currently, there is no personnel available to verify the identity evidence of personnel at the Segwang Special City ■■■■ Department Branch.

 

The agents’ shoulders stiffened.

 

Personnel approval request denied…

 

“But isn’t this something that can be said even if you’re not personnel?”

 

The sound of footsteps in dress shoes could be heard from behind.

 

“Ah, I’m not an agent, just someone who wants to say something.”

 

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je’s voice.

 

“This is a trial anyway, isn’t it? I mean, it’s being conducted in the form of a trial in a court at the very least.”

 

…

 

That’s right.

 

-Hmm. Then let us advance. This is a step toward receiving judgment, no, trial!

 

I recalled Brown’s words.

 

My mind became clearer.

 

“Then appeals should also be possible, shouldn’t they? And you should be able to appoint lawyers and call witnesses too.”

 

That’s the correct answer.

 

“Noru usually breaks through things this way… Well, this is a field I know better than you, so I spoke up.”

 

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je smiled at me and looked at the speaker.

 

“Isn’t that procedurally correct?”

 

202■ Management 370617 Selection Candidate…

 

“Yes, yes. I’m dead, that’s right. Want me to introduce myself a bit more? I was a journalist. You know Haengseon Daily, right? I’m from there.”

 

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je grabbed my shoulder and stepped forward.

 

“And let’s roughly say this person is a witness.”

 

Deputy Manager…

 

“Since this candidate is a special case, don’t handle it informally like this, but demand a proper trial. Let’s have a proper formal trial.”

 

Her voice echoed through the courtroom.

 

“Since you’re being stubborn about personnel verification not being confirmed, well, then just consider the people here as this person’s defense counsel and witnesses.”

 

…

 

The voice from the speaker stopped.

 

The long-term missing persons of this Scale Courthouse, who must be standing behind us, were also strangely quiet as mice.

 

And in the courtroom that had stopped in silence, the verdict finally rang out.

 

Confirmed.

 

“…!”

 

Taking into account the scale’s fluctuations and testimony, we cancel the selection process for 202■ Management 370614 Selection Candidate Kim Sol-eum and refer him to formal trial…

 

I clenched my fist tightly.

 

The courtroom twisted dizzily, the background rippled, and only the gray scale remained clearly visible…

 

The moment I blinked.

 

Darkness fell all around.

 

“…!”

 

I stood alone in the darkness.

 

And.

 

Thud thud thud thud thunk.

 

Pin lights fell one by one from far away.

 

A new space became visible.

 

Similar to the previous courtroom, but with seating areas on both sides for people.

 

Lights shone meaninglessly on dozens of empty seats, but my companions were seated on both sides near me.

 

I could see the agents and Deputy Manager exchanging glances with stern expressions.

 

And lastly.

 

Thunk.

 

Lighting falls upon me.

 

And across from me, a massive scale still sits in position, with my extracted heart placed upon it.

 

The voice from the speaker echoes through the air.

 

We will commence the formal trial of 202■ Management 370614 selection candidate Kim Sol-eum.

 

“This is it.”

 

But here, an unexpected situation unfolds that even Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je hadn’t anticipated.

 

All jury members, please take your seats.

 

“…!!”

 

Dark shadowy figures reveal themselves from dozens of empty seats.

 

They are wearing agent uniforms.

 

However, their forms are distorted and they’ve become grotesque figures that can hardly be seen as human—some missing their upper bodies entirely, others burned by fire, or transformed into indescribable states.

 

“These bastards… they’re using a jury system.”

 

Candidate, please step forward.

 

The dead agents of Segwang Special City looked at me.

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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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