Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 333

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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 333

 

Today, the weather in Segwang Special City was absolutely beautiful.

 

“Phew.”

 

Having come out of Hanbit Department Store, I took a deep breath in and out.

 

No yellow dust, and the weather wasn’t as hot as I thought—it was completely pleasant.

 

The expressions of people walking around also seemed bright. I smiled as I walked on the sidewalk, avoiding the broadcasting station vehicles driving around nearby.

 

‘Why is my condition so good today?’

 

My heart felt at ease, like when you finish a long trip and return home to rest peacefully.

 

Maybe it’s because I just came out of the department store.

 

Or maybe it’s because there’s less fine dust here than in Seoul…

 

‘Hmm. It could be because it’s the day before Children’s Day.’

 

I opened my smartphone to check the date.

 

May 4th, Monday

 

It’s Monday after the weekend ended, but the joy of being able to rest again tomorrow. Maybe that’s why my condition is better?

 

…Though I do have to go to work from now on.

 

‘Lunch entertainment…’

 

No, thinking about it again, it seemed better than dinner entertainment. Ugh.

 

But if this was the case, why did I use my annual leave? It’s not like I’m resting continuously from the weekend, so using annual leave just to visit the department store seems irrational no matter how I think about it…

 

‘…’

 

It doesn’t seem important!

 

The client meeting probably got scheduled suddenly after I had already planned to use my annual leave.

 

Right. What’s important is what I have to do from now on.

 

‘Let’s go do some entertaining…’

 

I held back a sigh and started walking.

 

I had some time left, and the weather was nice, so I thought I’d walk instead of taking the subway.

 

To the lunch appointment.

 

“Kim Sol-eum, I always say this, but… you seem like a really good person.”

 

“Haha, oh come on, Manager Park, it’s because you’re such a good person that you see me favorably.”

 

The client entertainment itself wasn’t that difficult.

 

Since it wasn’t dinner entertainment, there was no drinking involved, which made it less burdensome, and we already knew each other.

 

Platforms are always in the superior position everywhere, but if the company sizes aren’t too different, there’s an atmosphere of mutual respect.

 

At times like this, I really felt grateful for successfully getting a job at a large corporation…

 

That doesn’t mean the client isn’t in the superior position though.

 

“Huh? So even if you study hard and get into a good place, you still have to do this kind of unproductive work. How much this South Korea…”

 

“Hahaha…”

 

Making money isn’t easy…

 

This person probably likes talking with friendly young people, so they specifically sent me, a junior employee, to handle the entertainment…

 

‘Let’s just avoid stepping on any landmines… phew.’

 

I desperately tried to steer the conversation toward smoother, more personal topics with survival-mode maneuvering.

 

Fortunately, the moment we finished eating and came outside, I found other topics to talk about.

 

“My kid goes here.”

 

“Ah, is your child’s school right over there?”

 

I smiled brightly as I looked at the high school building the client was pointing to.

 

Sekwang Technical High School.

 

It seems to be a high school similar to a Meister school, receiving a lot of technical education support from the city level.

 

And the person next to me pointed their finger at the huge glass building beyond the high school.

 

“You see that? It’s a library, and I think it has a good influence on the academic atmosphere, which makes me really happy.”

 

“The academic atmosphere is definitely important. You sent them to a good place.”

 

You’re supposed to enthusiastically agree when superiors and important people brag about their children.

 

I looked at the huge library building visible beyond the high school and gave an appropriately sincere reaction.

 

Usually when I’m sweating like this, I get some reaction back…

 

-My, what excellent handling. Friend!

 

‘…?’

 

Was there someone who said such… phrases?

 

I felt like I should remember that pleasant voice. So, I must have heard it frequently somewhere…

 

‘…I think I heard it on TV.’

 

“…”

 

“Kim Sol-eum?”

 

“…Yes! Manager.”

 

Oh no, the entertainment!

 

I immediately stopped my deepening thoughts and smiled at the client. I can look into this later.

 

“Then your child must be in class right now.”

 

“That’s right! The school is as quiet as a mouse, doesn’t the atmosphere seem proper?”

 

“Hahaha.”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

I saw someone running out from the high school’s main entrance.

 

“Hmm?”

 

The person hurriedly leaving the school was wearing neat casual clothes, not a school uniform.

 

“Good-looking person. A student teacher?”

 

“Ah, that could be it.”

 

However, from across the crosswalk, I caught a glimpse of a cute name tag that read ‘Counseling Teacher’ on that running person’s chest.

 

A student probably made it.

 

I heard that high schools these days have teachers who specialize in counseling, so it was probably one of those counseling teachers.

 

“They’re going to the subway. Don’t they have a car?”

 

“Hahaha…”

 

You really like talking about other people…

 

“Ah. That taxi over there is the one I called. Well then, I’ll head in for today, Sol-eum.”

 

“Yes! Please take care!”

 

I saw off the client as they got into the taxi.

 

While doing so, I happened to look in the same direction one last time at that counseling teacher running toward the subway station in the distance.

 

…They looked somehow familiar.

 

I felt like I had seen that back somewhere before…

 

A stinging pain shot through my hand.

 

“…!”

 

I was startled and pulled my hand out of my pocket.

 

‘Static electricity?’

 

It was strangely painful enough to be numb, which seemed odd for static electricity.

 

Still, I took out the only metal object that was in my pocket.

 

A silver coin.

 

That object that had been in my possession since some point had somehow become tarnished black.

 

‘What’s this.’

 

Wiping it with my hand didn’t help much.

 

‘…Could it have some bad components?’

 

Just as I was considering throwing it away, the silver side of the coin glinted in the sunlight.

 

It was dazzling.

 

When I reflexively looked up, I saw a glass window reflecting the sunlight.

 

A window of Sekwang Technical High School.

 

“…”

 

With a strange feeling, I approached near the high school building.

 

When I got close to the school’s wall as if possessed by something.

 

“Excuse me!”

 

I looked up.

 

From a window at the end of the 3rd floor on the outskirts of the school building, someone was calling me.

 

A student with dyed hair and piercings, wearing a loosely fitted uniform, gestured at me and shouted.

 

What was he saying?

 

“Down there!”

 

I lowered my head again.

 

Looking again, there was a note that had fallen near the wall.

 

It seemed like that student had accidentally dropped this note below the window.

 

“Could you pick it up for me? You can just crumple it up and throw it.”

 

“Oh, sure.”

 

Was it a note he’d been passing with a friend during class? I picked it up and before folding the note to throw it back up, I casually read the contents.

 

Just stay here

 

“….”

 

I folded the note very small so it wouldn’t fly away, then threw it through the window.

 

“Thank you.”

 

The Dyed-hair Student, who despite his appearance was surprisingly polite in his greeting, caught the note in one go and disappeared beyond the window.

 

I stood there blankly in front of the school wall for a while, until I finished the americano in my hand….

 

Because I felt strangely unsettled.

 

I returned home.

 

“Phew!”

 

My studio apartment was a two-room setup, neatly divided into a living room and bedroom.

 

Even after taking the bus home, I still had some time left.

 

‘Let’s enjoy my day off.’

 

I ordered chicken first, then sat in front of the living room window, enjoying the comfort of being in a familiar place, and opened the window slightly.

 

“Ah.”

 

The wind blew and it was cool.

 

‘Living alone isn’t so bad after all.’

 

My parents live in Bundang, and my younger brother runs a dessert shop nearby that’s famous as a local restaurant.

 

I’m alone in Seoul….

 

…No, I was assigned to ‘Segwang Special City’ and I’m living here.

 

‘Well, I go down to see them every weekend.’

 

Sometimes when my younger brother says he’s busy with some trendy dessert, I get recruited as weekend labor….

 

-Wow Kim Sol-eum, you’re really good at this work. Just quit your company and come work here.

 

And when I hit him, he shouts ‘Cancel!! Cancel! Big brother!’ like it was just yesterday. Hmm. How heartwarming.

 

Come to think of it, it wasn’t like yesterday – it really was yesterday. I definitely went down there on the weekend.

 

‘It’s spacious so I can breathe easy.’

 

Speaking of my studio apartment. Since Segwang Special City doesn’t have insane housing prices like Seoul, I could have gotten a bigger place. Why did I specifically contract this one?

 

…I think I was trying to save money.

 

I shrugged my shoulders and took off my suit jacket, preparing to shower first.

 

But from the very first movement, my hand touched something soft and I ended up grabbing it.

 

“….”

 

I put my hand in my pants pocket and pulled out what was inside.

 

A pink Rabbit Doll.

 

The silver coin was one thing, but I really have no idea where this came from.

 

If I had to guess the possibility, I probably bought it at the department store.

 

‘Why did I even go to the department store after taking a day off?’

 

I really can’t figure it out. Was it impulsive?

 

Looking at it now, the doll seemed quite high-end. Soft and fluffy… frighteningly detailed yet somehow endearing.

 

I turned the doll around to examine its appearance.

 

There was elaborate golden text on the body, but I couldn’t read it since it wasn’t in Korean.

 

I pressed the Rabbit Doll’s belly firmly.

 

No sound came out.

 

“…Ah, seriously.”

 

I don’t know what I was expecting. The trend of dolls that make sounds when you press their bellies ended ages ago, so what was I thinking?

 

“Sorry. I was being stupid.”

 

I pressed the Rabbit Doll’s nose. I felt a smooth texture.

 

After some consideration, I washed my hands thoroughly again, then made a small spot on the bedside table with cushions and a blanket from home, and placed the Rabbit Doll on it.

 

The Rabbit Doll’s black nose gleamed in the soft lamplight.

 

“…Comfortable?”

 

Naturally, there was no answer.

 

But feeling strangely awkward, I fled to take a shower.

 

After washing well and receiving the delivered chicken, I sat in front of the TV.

 

Actually, it was more like just an OTT streaming service than a TV.

 

“Good.”

 

It was a mystery thriller drama.

 

As long as I skipped the slightly violent scenes, watching it was no problem. Well, it’s not like ghosts were jumping out.

 

But strangely, it was more uncomfortable to watch than before.

 

Why?

 

Especially whenever I saw people’s limbs being cut off or… people dying in someone’s place, my mood rapidly soured.

 

It’s not like they showed the severed cross-sections outright… so why am I like this.

 

‘I thought I was in good condition today.’

 

I guess the business entertainment drained my energy and the nice weather effect wore off. I held back a sigh and turned off the OTT.

 

And a little early, before today ended, I lay on my bed and turned on my smartphone.

 

“….”

 

Something… I feel like there was always something I used to watch at times like this, but I’m not sure. What was it?

 

‘Was it shorts?’

 

But I wasn’t that familiar with it.

 

I kept browsing the internet, but couldn’t find any particular comfort or dopamine, so I turned off my smartphone.

 

And as I turned my head, I was startled.

 

There was a huge black shadow of a person on the wall!

 

“Ah!”

 

…But looking again, it was the shadow of the Rabbit Doll I’d placed on the bedside table.

 

“Ha.”

 

This is so embarrassing when no one’s even here….

 

This isn’t even like being startled by a turtle and then startled by a pot lid.

 

I calmed my pounding heart, then looked at the Rabbit Doll’s shadow again.

 

The shadow swayed from the streetlight and car headlight beams streaming in from outside the window, making it look like it was moving….

 

But that was all.

 

The doll didn’t move.

 

Naturally.

 

“….”

 

Let’s just sleep.

 

I shrugged my shoulders, then buried my head in the pillow and strangely, as if with lingering regret, I lowered my head while savoring the remaining afterglow.

 

And I fell asleep….

 

May 4th came to an end.

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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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