Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 327

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work Episode 327

 

Several days after Kim Sol-eum’s ‘Train Shelter Domination Operation’ was launched.

 

“Damn it.”

 

A Train Resident was irritably tossing a magazine around in Car 2.

 

The magazine with a posed celebrity on the cover was already tattered.

 

‘I’m so fucking bored.’

 

Today was another tedious day.

 

He had originally been a university senior before ‘the incident’ happened. He had been extremely stressed about finding a job, and had even thought it would be better if the world just ended.

 

But now that it really had ended, he missed that daily routine like crazy.

 

At least he could watch short videos back then.

 

‘This is annoying.’

 

He got up and looked around, trying to remind himself that he was living in the top 1% among the people in this city.

 

The comfortable Car 2.

 

Cars 3 and 4, which were worse than this.

 

The even more miserable rear cars.

 

And outside the train, weren’t monsters running rampant?

 

‘I’m a winner.’

 

If he stayed on this train, a way out would appear. He had heard information that the person who made this shelter had said ‘a way out will appear later.’

 

And since he was in the front car like this, he would be in the priority group and safe when that time came.

 

-You just found the train a little earlier than us! This train isn’t even yours!

 

By the way, the person who had said that was kicked out even when there were still seats available in the shelter.

 

It was natural since they were such a fucking troublemaker. It was somewhat satisfying too.

 

‘If you’re going to squeeze into a train that was claimed first, you should be polite, right? We’re the ones doing you a favor.’

 

This former ‘University Student’ quickly forgot the fact that he had also been lucky to get in thanks to a senior who was already here, and stepped out of Car 2.

 

He was so bored that he was wandering around looking for anything worth watching.

 

That’s when he saw it.

 

Between Cars 4 and 5.

 

In the gap separating the front and rear cars, people were gathered together, laughing and whispering.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Usually, people from the front cars tended to subtly look down on people from the rear cars.

 

Though the University Student didn’t realize it, this was close to squeezing out dopamine through a sense of superiority in a situation where they had to spend time trapped on a train in fear and boredom.

 

But now, strangely, there was less of that attitude.

 

Why?

 

‘That…’

 

The High School Student from the rear car was talking with a Middle-aged Woman from the front car with a bright face.

 

Then they showed each other something, nodded their heads, and the student returned to the rear car.

 

And the middle-aged woman put on a nonchalant expression as if trying to hide something and moved her steps…

 

‘What did they exchange?’

 

The university student immediately followed the middle-aged woman and struck up a conversation.

 

“Ma’am, what did you talk about with the person from the rear car?”

 

“Hm? Well, just asking how they’re doing and such…”

 

The university student clearly witnessed the emotions that flashed through the eyes of the person trying to brush it off so casually.

 

Superiority.

 

Pride in knowing something.

 

Pleasure.

 

Such things briefly overflowed and revealed themselves before being deliberately suppressed.

 

‘What is it?’

 

The university student’s mood instantly soured.

 

At the same time, he became anxious.

 

‘Something seems to be going around?’

 

If something was happening within the train that could change the hierarchy, shouldn’t he quickly get involved in it?

 

If he failed to join the trend and got pushed out, he might have to do dangerous day worker jobs like going outside to find food supplies.

 

Or get pushed aside during escape!

 

“Wait a moment, ma’am.”

 

In the end, he lowered his posture to the middle-aged woman more than he probably ever had before, persistently sticking to her, flattering her and questioning her.

 

The middle-aged woman, who had been saying things like ‘Oh please, there’s nothing like that,’ finally gave him a tip with an expression of doing him a favor.

 

“Go check out Car 7.”

 

So this university student stepped foot into the rear car.

 

Clatter.

 

The door opened and Car 7 came into view.

 

Since this was a place for exchanging supplies with outsiders, he hadn’t come here much unless absolutely necessary. Fights would break out here and several people would die and such.

 

But today was chaotic in a different sense.

 

“Get in line!”

 

“Come on, hurry up and move!”

 

A corner spot.

 

More than ten people were swarming in front of the most insignificant and narrow gap where items were originally stored.

 

Among them, he could see several faces from the front car.

 

‘What the…?’

 

While people from the rear car coming to the front car was tacitly almost forbidden, people from the front car came to the rear car quite often whenever they wanted, using various excuses.

 

Still, this was the first time he’d seen so many of them.

 

‘What are they selling?’

 

The University Student tried to push through the people to get to the front, but feeling conscious of the people in the front car, he got in line.

 

And only after dozens of minutes did he finally get to see the ‘merchandise’ in a worn-out state.

 

[Selling Snacks]

 

Though the makeshift signboard made from recycled cardboard read as such, the items on display were sparkling and elaborate.

 

Chocolate bars, cookie sets, popcorn… there were even salads with fresh green vegetables and hot dogs.

 

‘Huh…??’

 

All the surfaces had colorful theme park-like paintings on them.

 

“Where did you get these?”

 

When the University Student asked accusingly, the person who had set up the stall shrank his shoulders.

 

He wore glasses and had disheveled hair, making his face hard to see clearly.

 

“Th-the home shopping, at that station… it newly opened… I happened to go there…”

 

From what he heard, it seemed like a new place to obtain food supplies had appeared at Ohu Station.

 

Of course, he had never gone down to a station to do ‘such things’ since being first accepted into the Train Shelter.

 

Anyway, it seemed he had won as the 100th customer there and received loads of various snacks.

 

Including items that weren’t put up for sale there, so regular buyers couldn’t get them.

 

‘Lucky bastard.’

 

When the University Student frowned and glanced at him, he bowed his head even lower.

 

‘Can’t even make eye contact?’

 

It was amazing that such a loser had survived this long. He probably wouldn’t look normal if he got off the train.

 

‘So he’s trying to use this to become a train resident?’

 

Then he should have offered everything ‘for the Train Shelter,’ but where does he get off doing business like this.

 

But his mind probably didn’t work that far, as looking at the signboard, only timid phrases were written.

 

[Accepting Accommodation Passes]

 

‘Hmm.’

 

It seemed his only goal was to stay in Car 8 even a little longer.

 

Short-sighted and timid.

 

‘What a loser.’

 

Since it was his way to be strong in front of the weak, the University Student spoke casually.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“I-I… please call me Grape.”

 

This guy’s even hiding his name?

 

Anyway, the University Student looked greedily at the snacks and said.

 

“I’ll pick out some things and take them first, then find you an accommodation pass later. Got it?”

 

“Huh…? Th-that’s a bit…”

 

“I’m saying I’ll give you one, so why? Ah, you don’t trust me. If you don’t trust the train people, why are you doing business here?”

 

The other person was restless but eventually nodded.

 

“Two bags of snacks for one accommodation pass…”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

Giving a casual response, the University Students quickly picked out some snacks.

 

Even though the Front Car wasn’t short on Food Supplies, it was hard to enjoy the pleasure of taste.

 

There were limits to what items they could obtain!

 

On top of that, they brought everything from strange things that could hardly be called Food to rough, crude raw vegetables that were difficult to eat.

 

For People who had grown accustomed to such a lifestyle, new snack items provided more stimulation than Food Supplies.

 

There were things like keyrings and magnets too, but they didn’t even glance at them.

 

Chocolate Bar and Popcorn.

 

After exchanging for those and hastily stuffing them into the inner Pocket of their Padding Jacket, the University Students casually obtained an Accommodation Pass.

 

In the Rear Car, which avoided conflict with Front Car People, it was easy to just take an Accommodation Pass for free.

 

Then they quickly returned to the stall of that Idiot called ‘Grape’ and held it out.

 

“Here.”

 

“Thank you…”

 

Just as ‘Grape’ was about to bow with both hands and receive the Accommodation Pass.

 

“No, if you’re grateful, give me service.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

The University Students who snatched the Accommodation Pass back quickly grabbed several pieces of Candy from the stall.

 

“Just give me this one and we’re good.”

 

“No, you can’t!”

 

But as he was about to smile triumphantly at his opponent who couldn’t properly resist.

 

“Stop it.”

 

“Yeah. Why is he acting like that.”

 

…The People in the back of the line murmured and stopped him.

 

Among them were Front Car People too.

 

‘…Damn.’

 

What’s with this atmosphere?

 

Everyone used to do this kind of thing.

 

But in the end, he read the room and put down the bundle of Candy.

 

Just as he was about to feel ill will toward Grape out of embarrassment.

 

“Um… if you buy snacks from me right now, I’m giving out Lottery Tickets…”

 

“Lottery?”

 

“Yes. Here’s the list…”

 

Grape turned the Signboard around to show the ‘Prize Products List.’

 

7th Place – 1 Candy

 

6th Place – Perfect Button

 

5th Place – 1 bag of Popcorn (Small)

 

4th Place – Perfect Magnet

 

3rd Place – 1 Box of Cookie

 

2nd Place – Perfect Keyring

 

The somewhat flashily decorated first place was this.

 

1st Place – Perfect Stuffed Doll

 

‘Are you kidding me.’

 

What’s with that damn perfect series?

 

It seemed like they were trying to get rid of the non-snack prizes this way since they probably weren’t selling.

 

“Would you like to try?”

 

“Yes. Sure.”

 

Hoping desperately for snacks to come out, he put his hand into the box Grape held out and drew.

 

But…

 

“Congratulations, it’s 2nd place…!”

 

2nd Place – Perfect Keyring

 

A Golden Keyring settled into his hand.

 

‘Damn it, really.’

 

The metal keyring with the cute head of a Pink Rabbit Doll engraved on it looked utterly useless.

 

However.

 

“Oh my!”

 

“That thing…”

 

He could hear murmuring from the back of the line again…

 

Moreover, the stall owner called ‘Grape’ was also looking at him with surprise and newfound respect.

 

As if intimidated by seeing someone incredible.

 

“C-congratulations…”

 

Huh?

 

Furthermore, when he turned around, several people in line were looking at him with longing eyes.

 

Is this… better than I thought?

 

‘Then I should keep it.’

 

The University Student immediately stuffed the keyring into his pocket and returned to Car 2.

 

But after that, he was busy scheming how to secretly eat an entire chocolate bar away from his acquaintances’ eyes, so he almost forgot about that Golden Keyring.

 

However…

 

That night, the University Student had a dream.

 

-Ahahaha!

 

It was a dream where he spent an exciting day at a wonderful Golden Amusement Park.

 

The resort was both classic and luxurious, and incredibly fun.

 

There were some strange things wandering around making it a bit childish, but isn’t that the original charm of theme parks anyway.

 

He wandered through every corner of the Golden Amusement Park. Perhaps because it was a dream, many places were vague and unclear, but the joy was certain….

 

But at that moment.

 

Jingle.

 

Like a lie, something very realistic and vivid appeared before his eyes.

 

A Carriage-shaped Snack Kit.

 

♬♬♩♪♬♬♩♪♪♬-

 

From that stall adorned with soft pink and gold, some being was looking at him and gesturing.

 

As he approached as if enchanted, it extended a soft, round paw….

 

The Cookie inside those paw pads.

 

Only that was visible with crystal clarity.

 

Cute deformed style, with chocolate lines carefully drawn to depict a Pink Rabbit Doll in exquisite detail… a Sugar Cookie.

 

The University Student reached out with both hands.

 

And just as he was about to grasp the soft hand of whatever being was offering the Cookie….

 

He woke up.

 

“…!”

 

No colorful Theme Park, no exciting music or dopamine.

 

Just the moderately bright, shabby and stuffy Train Car again.

 

‘What, what was that.’

 

For a moment, unable to distinguish between Reality and dream, he gasped for breath and shot his upper body upright.

 

Then he dropped something from his Pocket.

 

Thud.

 

A Golden Keyring.

 

A pink Rabbit was smiling at him from within it….

 

‘….’

 

It was the Doll from inside that Cookie he had seen in his dream.

 

“…!!”

 

The University Student swallowed and got to his feet.

 

His heart was pounding.

 

‘That’s what they were selling there.’

 

He immediately ran to Car 7.

 

Clatter!

 

He roughly opened the Door, but Car 7 was quiet as if it wasn’t market time, and there was no stall.

 

But Grape was sitting next to his closed stall with his eyes closed, quietly sleeping.

 

And before the University Student could even call out to him, his eyes snapped open.

 

“You’ve come.”

 

“…!”

 

Grape’s impression was somehow different from before.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Gone was the servile appearance he had shown before, replaced by a confident, beaming smile as he looked at him.

 

He even seemed to show a hint of reverence.

 

‘What the hell.’

 

And before the University Student could even begin to speak, he held out an Accommodation Pass!

 

“Please purchase some snacks with this.”

 

“….”

 

“Would you select some snacks and draw a lottery for me?”

 

As if it wasn’t business, but some kind of sacred ritual.

 

“…Yes.”

 

The University Student was strangely tense, swallowing nervously as he quickly selected two Cookie Sets as if facing something momentous.

 

Then he put his hand into the lottery box that was brought over again….

 

Whether it was his imagination or not, a note immediately stuck to his hand as if drawn to it.

 

Like destiny.

 

The University Student pulled out his hand and opened the note with trembling fingers.

 

1st place.

 

“As, as expected!”

 

A reaction filled with joy and amazement burst out from beside him.

 

“I knew it. Ever since you visited last time, I had this feeling that…! Cotton-stuffed Body seemed to be guiding you…!”

 

“…Cotton-stuffed Body?”

 

“Have you seen that person’s body? So fluffy….”

 

Wait a minute.

 

Fluffy?

 

“Did you also have that… dream?”

 

“Of course!”

 

But soon his voice became smaller, as if embarrassed.

 

“Actually, I don’t have them that often. I heard that some High School Student in Car 5 over there has them almost every day….”

 

At that moment, a fact struck the University Student like lightning.

 

‘So this was it…!’

 

The conversations between people in the front and rear cars.

 

And what only they knew about was exactly this.

 

The amusement park in their dreams!

 

“Usually you don’t have them right away, but if you carry items related to Cotton-stuffed Body, you sometimes have them….”

 

“Aha.”

 

The University Student spoke as if it was nothing special, as if he was worried.

 

“I had the dream as soon as I got this.”

 

“That’s amazing…”

 

The University Student felt a sense of superiority rising in his heart.

 

At the same time, he felt a sense of kinship with his opponent who had seemed pathetic.

 

Since they were sharing this special experience.

 

And his heart was pounding.

 

Today, he might be reborn as a completely different person, chosen anew…

 

“Then, this lottery win truly seems to be the will of the Cotton-stuffed Body.”

 

Grape nodded and very, very carefully took something out of the box placed beside him.

 

It seemed to be placed on the finest fluffy cloth, carefully selected, and was a bit larger than a palm…

 

1st Prize – Perfect Stuffed Doll

 

It was a Perfect Stuffed Doll.

 

“Behold.”

 

He revealed its appearance.

 

It was a truly fluffy and soft-looking luxurious Rabbit stuffed doll.

 

Black button-like eyes, a nose that looked soft as velvet, and a plump pale pink body.

 

“This is the most ideal form of Cotton-stuffed Body.”

 

The University Student, intoxicated by the sensation that something tremendous was happening centered around him, stared at it intensely.

 

And Grape, who was looking at it with longing…

 

‘His dopamine must be exploding.’

 

Was thinking this.

 

Kim Sol-eum, who had invested several full days to find a candidate who was both gullible and had bad character so he wouldn’t feel sorry for deceiving them, was internally cheering at the prey that had finally taken the bait.

 

But his face still wore a fawning smile as he observed his opponent.

 

Do you know what?

 

Actually, the Amusement Park that appears in dreams isn’t real… it’s a kind of advertisement!

 

‘It would be more accurate to call it Advertisement Video Playback that plays in dreams using Goods.’

 

But even though the Goods were made with functionality minimized as much as possible to prevent People from being contaminated, it was more surprising that everyone accepted it so vividly.

 

To some extent, since he had put forward Brown as the TV show host, that might have had an influence too…

 

Anyway, he had smoothly filled out the entire ‘typical initiation characteristics of a successful cult religion’ checklist!

 

1. Target their deficiencies

 

2. Make them feel like a special being

 

3. Make them think they realized it themselves.

 

All of this had been accomplished smoothly.

 

However, there is a difference.

 

‘The interior of this train was already no different from a cult.’

 

Especially the sense of superiority they had in the front car.

 

In short, he’s just covering one sense of superiority with another sense of superiority…!

 

On a slightly broader scale!

 

Look, this bastard in front of me picked a fight with the elderly person in Car 6 for no reason and drove him out to get food supplies at Ohu Station, causing his death, but now he’s…

 

[Friend!!]

 

Trying to grab Brown!

 

[Good heavens!]

 

Hiiiiik.

 

“I, I will carry it.”

 

Kim Sol-eum spoke rapidly like a rap and quickly lifted Brown with both hands, holding it up like a scene from The Lion King.

 

Brown had been standing tall, about to unleash incineration on the cult leader candidate he had finally found.

 

“Moving the sacred statue is something for someone like me to do, and just by being here, the chosen one already has meaning!”

 

[It certainly has meaning. The meaning that it irritates my eyes.]

 

‘I’m sorry…’

 

Kim Sol-eum felt like he was going to bathe in cold sweat!

 

However, the University Student, who couldn’t hear the conversation between these two friends, was just nodding his head, intoxicated by being the ‘chosen one.’

 

“So… what do you want from me?”

 

He’s naturally dropping honorifics now.

 

Kim Sol-eum, who had been pondering a bit, felt that he couldn’t leave things as they were.

 

Actually, it was meant to create confusion to get into the engineer’s seat, but still, he shouldn’t cause harm to the Train Shelter.

 

‘Since I’ve given that bastard something like a cult leader role, I should manage it well.’

 

No matter how much he encouraged him as a follower, he needed to steer him in another direction too.

 

“He will tell you in your dreams.”

 

And that day, the University Student had a vague dream where he was shouting ‘Be kind to everyone’ while doing rhythmic movements in the Dream Theme Park.

 

Kim Sol-eum heard the University Student say with melancholy eyes, ‘The Cotton-stuffed Body emphasizes character’…

 

‘Phew.’

 

This should be enough.

 

Kim Sol-eum judged so.

 

And a week later.

 

As he had hoped, the Rabbit Doll worship cult did cause chaos in front of the Train Shelter’s engineer’s seat…

 

First, a declaration is recited.

 

“Everyone has the right to have their own Rabbit Doll!! Reform the train!”

 

‘…!?’

 

Something completely different from what I expected was being chanted. And….

 

“That’s right~ Do it!”

 

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je was standing at the very front…!

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————