Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 319

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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 319

This is bewildering.

I infiltrated as a Daydream researcher and ran into Baek Sa-heon.

But he’s recognizing me as ‘the agent he met in Jisan Village’ – what a complicated situation!

[Oh, but surprisingly, that’s the truth, isn’t it?]

That’s right.

‘Technically, I am that agent.’

I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.

But if I reveal that I’m Kim Sol-eum here, things will get even more complicated, right?

‘Damn it.’

Since it’s come to this, let’s just patch things up and push forward.

I deliberately put on a slightly resolute smile and spoke to him.

This is what a good agent would do.

“No. I wasn’t trying to get help. I just greeted you instinctively when I saw you were safe.”

“….”

“You’re right, citizen. I shouldn’t have done this while infiltrating.”

Ding.

Meanwhile, we arrived at the floor where Baek Sa-heon was supposed to get off.

“Well then, I’ll be going…”

“Wait a minute.”

Instead of getting off, Baek Sa-heon pressed the close button.

What the hell.

Then he pressed the floor number I had selected again, completely stopping the elevator, and looked at me with his arms crossed.

“What are you planning to do here?”

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

“Why do you get to decide that? I mean, you could be here to blow up the company for all I know. If I mess up my work today because I’m anxious about what you said, will you take responsibility?”

Is this guy crazy?

“You want me to take responsibility for speaking to you?”

This was unreasonable behavior I hadn’t experienced since the roommate incident when meeting him as Kim Sol-eum.

‘This annoying bastard…’

I almost seriously considered just revealing that I’m Kim Sol-eum and telling him to shut up.

But it would be better to go with the flow rather than make another risky move.

‘Let’s just scare him indirectly.’

I spoke with a tone suggesting ‘maybe I can say this much.’

“…Today, it would be safer for you, citizen, not to acknowledge me.”

“….”

“That’s all I can tell you.”

After saying this much, someone like Baek Sa-heon who prioritizes self-preservation above all else would quickly cut ties with the ‘Paper Boat Agent.’

…Or so I thought.

Instead of getting off the elevator, Baek Sa-heon flinches and continues speaking.

“What, are you going to steal information or items or something?”

“Rather than stealing, there’s something I’m trying to find out.”

Then he looks at me with a subtle gaze and says this as if he’s doing me a favor.

“Well, let’s go fifty-fifty.”

“Excuse me?”

“Share whatever you find out here. I’ll roughly forgive the debt you owe me.”

“….”

Why should I?

I swallowed the response that rose to my throat and probed back.

“Then… does that mean you’ll help me?”

I meant for him to leave since he wouldn’t help anyway.

But.

“Well, it’s like mutual assistance.”

Oh?

“Tell me if you need anything.”

[Surprisingly, your ordinary former roommate doesn’t seem to be dreaming of double betrayal!]

So that’s how it is.

In the end, I get off on the 20th floor with Baek Sa-heon’s promise of help.

He said to contact him if I need anything. That he’ll be on standby.

-I’ll be at the company all day today, so just contact me with a paper boat.

I thought I heard wrong.

‘Is this really Baek Sa-heon?’

But (unsurprisingly) Baek Sa-heon also left behind a few gem-like comments.

-If we get caught, I’ll say I was either threatened by you or controlled by an item.

Do whatever you want…

The Disaster Management Bureau doesn’t know about this anyway. Even if it comes up later, it’ll end with ‘That was an impersonator.’

-What should I call you?

-Ah, I’m Park Kyung-hwan Researcher.

-Damn, that doesn’t suit you at all.

-….

If the real Park Kyung-hwan had been here, he would have done his best to throw you into high-grade darkness without any information after making that statement….

‘Never mind….’

I’m not him anyway.

More than that, I can’t believe he’s cooperating like this on his own. To think he’d listen like this without being pressured by hierarchy.

Baek Sa-heon’s trajectory changed considerably after joining the company because of me, creating some differences from the ‘viper section chief’ I originally knew from 【Darkness Investigation Records】.

‘But that personality was still the same.’

Not caring whether others lived or died as long as he could survive.

‘But he seems particularly cooperative only with this ‘Paper Boat Agent’.’

No, rather than cooperative… his attitude seems to change strangely.

Goodwill? Trust?

‘…Familiarity?’

…Did something change due to the incident in Jisan Village?

It would be hard to know unless I directly questioned him about it.

‘For now, let’s be satisfied that I’ve gained another card.’

I moved my feet while reflecting on today’s purpose.

To the gathering place on the 20th floor.

“Hello~ There aren’t many people here yet.”

“That’s right.”

I entered the large conference room with the new researchers and ended up sitting there for a while.

While pretending to kill time by responding appropriately to meaningless chatter, the tension didn’t leave my body.

After some time.

At exactly 9 o’clock, the person helping with ‘guidance’ during the researchers’ probationary period entered.

But.

[New researchers! You who are the future of our company, today is the fifth day of your probation!]

…!

It was a familiar face.

‘The orientation host….’

The first day.

When I first opened my eyes as a Daydream Company new employee.

-We welcome everyone who has joined Baekillmong Corporation!

The superior who conducted the orientation.

The person who showed the performance of drinking the Wish Potion and becoming younger was holding the microphone with the same taut appearance without a single wrinkle, just as before.

[Now, follow me!]

….

Suddenly, memories from that time come flooding back like a tide.

Because that’s where everything started.

The Abyss Transportation Corporation ghost story, Baek Sa-heon with his eyes gouged out, the calm Go Young-eun, the new employees who survived the ghost story only to disappear at that host’s declaration of ‘fare evasion’….

The welcome gift.

And….

───

When needed

010-0153-24865

───

Back then… didn’t I receive a business card?

‘Wait a minute.’

That was a number Gwak Je-gang recognized too.

-…New employee Kim Sol-eum, didn’t you receive something like a business card?

-If you want to earn points faster, contact that number.

So much had happened since then that I had completely forgotten about it.

I spoke to the person next to me in as casual a tone as possible, as if I had just remembered.

“Oh, come to think of it, which department did you say that person was from?”

“Uh, well…. I’m not really sure.”

Then he shrugs his shoulders.

“Well, probably research, right? Surely not field work.”

“….”

Look at that researcher’s elitist attitude.

‘If you had gotten caught up in the disappearance incident, you would have died with your neck twisted….’

But at that moment, the horrific scene I witnessed at Ohu Station came to mind and my breath caught.

“….”

“Kyung-hwan?”

“Yes. I’m coming.”

‘Phew.’

I need to be careful.

Thinking like a human means that the mental trauma and shock that humans experience also manifest exactly the same way.

The chilling pain in my chest felt almost like an electric shock.

‘…Still, at least today I won’t have to enter any ghost stories.’

I’ll be facing more realistic fears instead. Since I’ve infiltrated a large corporation by stealing someone else’s identity.

‘Now that I put it that way, it sounds like a ghost story itself.’

Anyway, the orientation host….

[Oh my, rather than that title, how about we use the simple and appropriate expression ‘Host’?]

…I followed the Host as he moved.

While continuing to stare.

[Excellent. Friend!]

The new researchers’ footsteps stopped as they left the main building and entered the adjacent building.

This place I had visited once again.

“This is the Annex Building. You heard the explanation the day before yesterday that underground, supply darkness and darkness with exceptional production value are stored in isolation, didn’t you?”

“Yes!”

“That’s right. And on the upper floors of the annex building….”

The Host’s hand points beyond the front desk to the floor indicator of the elevator.

“Our company’s core facilities are located there.”

A place not easily accessible to the Field Investigation Team.

“Shall we go take a look?”

We move forward.

I was about to give a slight nod to the Security Team person sitting at the front desk, dressed entirely in black, but stopped.

Because none of the new researchers even bothered to greet them.

Rather than ignoring them, it was a reaction closer to wariness or fear.

‘…Have they already heard stories about the Security Team or Security Department?’

I reflexively recall for a brief moment the Special Department where I worked. My assigned Security Team members.

J3 Security Captain and Park Min-seong.

“….”

“Aren’t you getting on the elevator?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

I boarded the elevator.

…Thinking it was fortunate that the researcher whose identity I had stolen hadn’t made any close researcher friends yet.

[Going up.]

The elevator heads to the upper floors of the annex building I had never been to before.

And when the doors open on the 10th floor, what is revealed is….

“The dream processing machine that manufactures potions.”

There were no rooms there.

In the vast space with all the floors opened up, enormous machines were lined up in rows.

“…!”

Unlike what I had seen in the dream incubators, there were no visible pipes or plumbing.

Everything finished in clean white tones looked like products of modern science to anyone who saw them.

However, in that form, there were things remaining that made me guess it was a dream cultivator….

“Now, look here. This is the dream essence solution.”

I saw a machine with golden dream essence solution rippling inside.

‘It’s not there.’

There was no egg-sized something in the center of the tank.

And there were no emoticon-like buttons either. Instead, only a sleek electronic panel was attached within reach.

“You input the number corresponding to the potion on the panel to manufacture products. Newly developed potions receive new codes. I don’t think there’s anyone here who wouldn’t understand this.”

“Hahaha!”

“….”

However, just one thing.

There was a remaining button.

At the very bottom.

O

Only that was strangely attached in a similar form….

“That’s the wish ticket button.”

“…!”

I quickly turned my head.

The host was looking at me, smiling with a taut young face.

“Your name is… Park Kyung-hwan Researcher! How about it, are you interested in wish tickets?”

“…I was just looking because it was fascinating! I’m sorry!”

I stood up abruptly like a spirited new employee and answered.

The host chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“What’s there to be sorry about!”

“Ah, thank you….”

“I asked if you were interested in wish tickets.”

“….”

I swallowed my saliva.

Honestly, it wasn’t even acting.

“I am interested, but honestly the points are too high for us to collect… it would be difficult.”

Then I looked around cautiously and asked.

“…Excuse me, but what title should we use to address you….”

“Ah, me? Haha, just call me Team Leader Kim.”

Team leader.

With so many teams existing, it was a position that was hard to gauge.

“I’d like to ask which department you’re a team leader of.”

“Hmm~”

The host winked.

“Have you heard about branch offices?”

…!

“Right, right, these days young people all only like Seoul and when you tell them to come to the provinces, they all quit and transfer, don’t they.”

The Host shrugs his shoulders and rubs his hands together as if feeling sorry.

“Still, there’s no place like this if you want to collect a lot of points. Right? If you go to a branch office, you can become management instead of just getting promoted.”

….

Could it be that the business card I received right after the entrance exam was a route to go to a branch office in a high position?

Fortunately, the Host didn’t seem very interested in ‘Park Kyung-hwan Researcher’, so he shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to another researcher.

‘Phew.’

…The explanation for the trainee researchers continued for about 20 more minutes.

Patents for the Daydream processor, emphasis on confidentiality agreements, work done in the Potion Development Lab, the value of Daydream solution….

“So in the end, all the work you’ll be assigned to do in every team, diligently developing Darkness, recording manuals, managing potion production….”

Tap tap.

“It’s all in this processor.”

The Host tapped the Daydream device and grinned.

“So security would be very important, right?”

….

The Host points to something like a recorder attached to the wall.

“Now, what did we say this device was?”

“It’s a Security Team caller.”

“That’s right!”

Phew.

“What happens inside here mainly gets called to the Security Team. If anything happens, call immediately. And even if not…. Ah, they’re here just in time.”

Ding.

The elevator opened, and two Shadowy Figures wearing special uniforms that covered their entire bodies appeared.

It’s the Security Team.

“The Security Team will be patrolling this space periodically.”

….

I recognized the appearance of one of them.

I couldn’t tell if they recognized me too, but we didn’t make eye contact.

“Now, today you’ll help the Senior Researchers here and learn the basic operating methods.”

So we began following the Senior Researchers and observing the potion manufacturing process.

[Hmm, the security looks quite tight. How about it, Noru? Will you display mysterious skills like a professional thief in a detective novel? Or….]

[Will you get help from that acquaintance over there?]

‘….’

[Oh, I mean that has-been.]

I didn’t look at J3.

That gaunt employee wearing clothing similar to what I wore when I was in the Special Department.

‘No.’

[Oho.]

He was clearly assigned to Ho Yu-won’s project, but being here… maybe this was part of the preliminary work for Ho Yu-won to steal the machine.

So cooperation would be difficult.

‘It should be diversionary tactics.’

And besides.

‘I wasn’t planning to steal what’s here in the first place.’

[Hmm?]

‘Wait a bit.’

I spent the morning hours quietly, exploring the interior area.

I was planning to carry out the real work in the afternoon after lunch.

So I mixed in with the new researchers, quietly holding my breath and waiting to avoid standing out…

And it was the moment I returned to the 10th floor of the annex building after finishing the meal.

Ding.

The elevator door opened, and sounds of screaming and hyperventilation could be heard…

An unexpected situation occurred.

“Security Team! Calling Security Team. Something strange has happened inside…”

One Dream Machine had disappeared.

The empty space where the Dream Machine had been was blatantly exposed, as if it had been cleanly removed, with even its traces completely gone…

“All researchers this way! From now on, everyone will be isolated!”

“But our work…”

“Leave everything behind! No one can leave this building until all interrogations are finished!”

[Oh my goodness! Making the first move!]

“…”

Wow, please.

‘It’s Ho Yu-won, right?’

That bastard made the first move, right? Please tell me that’s the case. If that’s the situation, then I just need to change tactics from now on!

‘I could draw crazy aggro while letting him escape safely…’

Wrong.

…When I turn my head, the security team is entering through another elevator to escort the researchers away.

The Security Chief is just standing there too.

“….”

“….”

Why are you just staying there.

‘Wow, this is driving me crazy.’

If that’s the case, then this seems like a third party’s doing, not Director Ho’s…. Could it be that this wasn’t Director Ho’s doing after all?

My brain spins frantically in survival crisis mode as I look at the empty machine spot.

Right, if all possibilities are on the table….

“Park Kyung-hwan Researcher, move to the interrogation room!”

“….”

I have no choice.

I changed my plan.

‘I’ll do both.’

[What do you mean, Friend?]

This is what I mean.

As soon as I entered the interrogation room, I spoke up.

“There’s a bomb in the elevator.”

“…?!”

“I saw it.”

‘While drawing aggro like a madman, I’ll also steal…!’

I’m sorry. Park Kyung-hwan Researcher.

You’re getting fired today….

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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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