Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 341

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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 341

 

I swallowed my saliva.

 

The Lion Mask’s sacred and terrifying face was looking at me.

 

The two yellow, jagged eyes moved within the mask as if they were alive.

 

“You know what? Lion masks have various traditions in different regions… one of them is to drive away evil spirits.”

 

“…”

 

The Lion Mask’s hair cascaded down onto my shoulder.

 

It seemed like the mask would open its snout lined with sharp teeth at any moment.

 

“Wouldn’t someone possessed by Kkwang-cheol and harming citizens also be an evil spirit~?”

 

I saw that eerie thing approaching.

 

As I watched…

 

“…No.”

 

I answered.

 

“I have no intention of impersonating an agent and causing chaos in this large-scale disaster situation.”

 

“Oh really.”

 

“And you must know of my innocence, Agent.”

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

The Lion Mask’s head tilted, and its hair flowed down below my back.

 

It felt cold and strange.

 

A drop of cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.

 

‘I need to organize this properly.’

 

I suppressed my anxious feelings as much as possible and spoke calmly.

 

“You must think I’m innocent since you lent me agent equipment.”

 

“…!”

 

“If you were suspicious, you wouldn’t have given me equipment that would help me escape. Isn’t that right?”

 

I barely managed to turn only my eyes to check on my companions.

 

Thinking we were having an ‘agent-to-agent conversation,’ I could see the two people looking at the devastation around us instead of this way, without any particular suspicion.

 

“If you can truly distinguish evil things by smell, Agent, you would know that I have no malice or guilt.”

 

Perhaps seeing those people I was trying to rescue, and my attitude toward them… they judged me to be sincere.

 

‘Please.’

 

I tried to relieve the tension that made my hands feel like they were cramping as I continued speaking.

 

“It’s true that I made a contract with a Daydream Company Director. But that has nothing to do with what I’m about to do in this situation.”

 

“…”

 

The Lion Mask swayed as it moved to peer at me.

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

“As I said, I’m going to rescue those two people. I have people I need to save. And…”

 

I hesitated before speaking.

 

“If possible, I want to terminate this disaster.”

 

The Lion Mask fell silent.

 

Then the mask shook and…

 

“You’re sincere!”

 

The hair swept away with a whoosh.

 

I gasped for breath.

 

Meanwhile, the Lion Mask, having regained its playful movements, grabbed my arm.

 

“Then please take good care of the rescue. Fellow Agent!”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Whew.

 

I secretly let out a sigh of relief as I looked at the Lion Mask Agent who had somehow returned to their friendly demeanor.

 

But tension still lingered in my body.

 

…The Lion Mask wasn’t letting go of my arm.

 

‘…Strangely, it feels like I’m facing an entity from a ghost story.’

 

Was it because of that Lion Mask? I could barely feel any humanity from that agent.

 

The Lion Mask Agent tilted their head quite affectionately.

 

But they didn’t move away from me, never letting go of my arm.

 

As if ready to drag me away if necessary.

 

“But how did you end up letting that wicked Kkwang-cheol coil around your body?”

 

“…”

 

First of all, I don’t know who Kkwang-cheol is…

 

‘Is he one of the Daydream Company Directors?’

 

But I can’t say here…

 

-I made contracts with two Development Department Directors, but one of them ate a local cooperative spirit and went crazy. Oh, and I also made an employment contract before that, so I might be contracted with another HR Director too. Like octopus legs, you could say?

 

…I couldn’t say something like that. I swallowed my words and gave a comprehensive, roundabout summary.

 

“You’re asking how I came to contract with Daydream Company?”

 

“That’s right!”

 

Then there’s a simple and clear answer.

 

“I was deceived.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“And I’m currently looking for a way to break free.”

 

The Lion Mask Agent seemed to fall into deep thought, then the Lion Mask’s white hair began to float.

 

“Hmm. So you’re on leave to avoid being a burden to the Management Bureau?”

 

“It’s not just that… it’s also for my own safety.”

 

I was a spy, after all.

 

But I’m really not one now, so it’s frustrating…

 

“Of course, that makes sense!”

 

Fortunately, they responded agreeably. Whew.

 

Letting out a sigh of relief, I looked at the remaining stations.

 

…About 8 minutes left, I think.

 

‘We’ll arrive at Segwang Station soon.’

 

If I get caught up with agents at this timing and get delayed further, I might not be able to find the Counseling Teacher at Segwang Station.

 

Then I’d lose everything.

 

‘I need to lighten the mood quickly…’

 

But suddenly a chilling voice reached my ears.

 

“That’s also quite strange.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“Then how did a fellow agent on leave know about the disaster and come into this city to rescue someone?”

 

“…!”

 

“It hasn’t even been a few hours, let alone half a day since the disaster broke out. Yet you’re here having found citizens to rescue!”

 

“…”

 

“Even if news reached the outside, well, it’s too short a time. How coincidental!”

 

It was a sharp question.

 

And an accurate observation.

 

‘The timeline doesn’t match.’

 

I had been in this city from the moment the disaster text arrived.

 

And agents from other cities entering Segwang City from outside would only happen quite some time later.

 

So my claim that ‘I entered because there were rescue requesters’ doesn’t work. The timing doesn’t add up.

 

…I need to buy time to think of an answer. But there’s no time. Damn!

 

‘I need to counter-attack…’

 

I was racking my brain when I noticed something.

 

Over there, the agents visible in the front car.

 

…!

 

“…If we’re going to argue like that, you’re also suspicious, Agent.”

 

“Huh? Me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I spoke calmly.

 

“You’re not from the Segwang City branch either, are you?”

 

“…Why do you think that?”

 

“Look over there.”

 

Following my gaze, the Lion Mask Employee’s eyes turn.

 

Toward the agents in the front car who were handling the accident and explaining the ‘supernatural disaster’ to the citizens.

 

“The agents over there and the Lion Mask Agent in front of me have slightly different jacket details.”

 

“….”

 

The agents in the front car had patches with the Segwang City logo on their jacket pockets.

 

But the Lion Mask Agent checked his own jacket pocket, which was clean without anything, and raised his head.

 

“…Fellow agent. You have very good eyes!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

However, the Lion Mask doesn’t waver.

 

“But I’m here temporarily as support work for this branch! So naturally I had no choice but to respond together.”

 

Phew.

 

“But your clothes… did you say a cooperative spirit lent them to you?”

 

Let me come to my senses and choose my words carefully.

 

Cleverly.

 

“They do belong to a cooperative spirit. And… that person definitely knows I’m wearing these clothes.”

 

I didn’t say they lent them to me.

 

But even that alone makes the Lion Mask tilt his head.

 

“Strange. That cooperative spirit must have known too. That you’re suspicious!”

 

“…!”

 

“But they just gave you the jacket, it’s enough to make a ghost cry. Did you perhaps bewitch the fox in reverse?”

 

I shook my head.

 

“I don’t know about that either. But I’ve never lied.”

 

“Hmm. I understand.”

 

The Lion Mask sways as if going backwards then returns.

 

“Then let’s return to the main point and try to figure out your true intentions, Agent!”

 

“….”

 

Damn.

 

The Lion Mask stares at me.

 

That strangely swaying hair spills over my shoulder once again.

 

“How exactly did you know today’s disaster would happen, quickly decide who to rescue, and end up here?”

 

I thought this Lion Mask felt almost eerily strange….

 

‘He seems to lack humanity…’

 

….

 

That means, in other words, he might be able to handle truths that would be difficult for a human to bear.

 

‘If that’s the case.’

 

This might be a move that could change the situation.

 

…There wasn’t much time left until arriving at Segwang Station.

 

“Agent.”

 

I lowered my voice even more.

 

“What if this incident keeps repeating, what do you think?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“What if this day of disaster has actually been repeating dozens, hundreds of times….”

 

I stared at my counterpart.

 

“And if I’ve become aware of it, what would you think?”

 

“…!”

 

The Lion Mask Agent froze.

 

* * *

 

I roughly conveyed to him what I knew about ‘what happened on Segwang Special City’s day of disaster’ like rapid fire.

 

“So, you’re saying we’re endlessly repeating May 4th… is that it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That… well.”

 

The Lion Mask sways anxiously.

 

-Actually, I don’t know the details very well either. My memory is hazy, I just know it’s been repeated hundreds of times.

 

In reality, I had experienced the peaceful May 4th in Segwang City over 600 times, so it was easy to speak more specifically while mentioning place names.

 

Understanding was quick.

 

And the Lion Mask, who once again sensed that my words weren’t lies, darkly lowered his yellow eyes.

 

“Time repetition… I’ve seen this kind of supernatural disaster a few times. That trendy thing these days… what was it called, route stories?”

 

“…Loop stories?”

 

“Ah, right. That.”

 

The Lion Mask Agent, who giggled saying he had a friend who liked that stuff, soon sighed deeply.

 

“But that doesn’t make sense either! From what I can see, this chaos isn’t the kind of disaster where you get trapped in some haunted drama video!”

 

“….”

 

He seems to suspect I’m not in my right mind.

 

But it was fine. Better than being suspected of having ulterior motives.

 

So I changed the subject.

 

“Were you originally from headquarters?”

 

“That’s right. Yeah. I’m from the Blue Dragon Team at headquarters.”

 

The Lion Mask Agent, whose speech had become casual, revealed his affiliation in a strange tone with frank familiarity.

 

…A team that had already disappeared.

 

“….”

 

“Actually, I usually handle other duties rather than rescue as my specialty, but occasionally I come out for support work like this. They say if you stay in the workshop too long, you might get tainted.”

 

Wait, workshop?

 

I looked at the Lion Mask Agent again.

 

Speech pattern.

 

Olfactory abilities.

 

The attitude of calling Dokkaebi Fire….

 

“By any chance, is your specialty… infiltrating the Dokkaebi Workshop and pretending to be a dokkaebi?”

 

“…!”

 

I recalled memories from what felt like ages ago, from when I was a New Employee at Daydream Company.

 

The agent from the Dokkaebi Workshop who put adhesive on my phone grip.

 

-Kim Seobang. Looks like you have a good item!

 

‘But I haven’t seen him even once since joining the company.’

 

No, I hadn’t even heard him mentioned.

 

If he were an agent, I should have heard about him returning to his position or at least through rumors.

 

Perhaps that’s because he lost his original self, not the ‘pretending to be a dokkaebi’ appearance.

 

Like Team Leader Hong who left half of himself at the high school here, like the Hyeon-mu Team 1 Elder.

 

Right here.

 

An echo-like existence trapped in an extinction-level disaster.

 

“…How did you know?”

 

“…You probably don’t remember, but we’ve met before.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

The Lion Mask sighs.

 

And….

 

“I understand.”

 

The oppressive feeling that the Lion Mask had been giving off diminished slightly.

 

“So that’s why I couldn’t take off the lion mask. It was because I was tainted by the disaster!”

 

The agent spoke seriously in a serious tone while tapping the lion mask, but covered by that comical face, it looked like an exaggerated gesture.

 

He seemed to accept it that way.

 

The fact that he might be trapped on May 4th.

 

‘Phew.’

 

I held back a sigh of relief.

 

…This agent seemed to be lost in deep thought instead of falling into panic.

 

“So… you’re heading to Segwang Station to properly confirm what exactly is happening.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then I’d like to go too, but I have duties assigned to me.”

 

The Lion Mask Agent turns around.

 

To look at the citizens panicking in the train.

 

“Even if your story about the day repeating is correct, and even if the disaster ends, it would be meaningless if there are no living citizens when the day ends.”

 

“…”

 

“Someone has to protect the citizens’ safety and rescue them.”

 

I slowly nodded my head.

 

“You’re absolutely right.”

 

This is Segwang, Segwang Station…

 

“…We’ve arrived.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Lion Mask quietly listened to the announcement, then finally extended his hand to me and said:

 

“Alright. Then let’s each work hard in our respective positions!”

 

And he hurriedly added the next words in an exaggerated manner.

 

“Don’t think that being under those damn Daydream bastards is your position!”

 

No.

 

I said without thinking.

 

“…Not all Daydream employees are necessarily bad people.”

 

“Then try naming even one for me!”

 

I barely managed to turn my eyes away from looking back at Journalist Eun Ha-je.

 

Instead, I recalled something.

 

If these agents were the ones who entered the subway and took control of the citizens…

 

They might also be connected to the train shelter.

 

“Do you happen to know a Daydream employee named Lee Kang-heon?”

 

“Lee Kang-heon? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that name!”

 

“If you happen to meet him, I hope you won’t be too blindly hostile.”

 

“Do you know him?”

 

“…Somewhat.”

 

I nodded with a faint smile, recalling the note he had left behind.

 

“Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind!”

 

And only then did the Lion Mask lift his head and speak in what seemed like a smiling voice.

 

His tone had returned to normal too.

 

“Agent! When you get near Segwang Station, you’ll definitely meet the Hyeonmu Team agents from the branch office here. Try cooperating with them! I’m counting on you.”

 

It meant the conversation was over.

 

“Yes.”

 

I bowed my head inside the train that was beginning to stop.

 

“Thank you.”

 

The Lion Mask’s yellow eyes looked at me with a strange expression.

 

The exit door is on the left, on the left…

 

And finally, before the doors opened, the agent extended his hand to me and said:

 

“Fellow agent, if it’s alright, shall we exchange names? Our agent names, that is!”

 

The Lion Mask was grinning comically.

 

“I am Chogae Agent.”

 

…!!

 

“Agent?”

 

I barely managed to open my mouth.

 

“…I think it would be difficult for me to tell you.”

 

“That’s understandable too!”

 

The Lion Mask tilted his head.

 

“Then if you’re ever in a hurry, feel free to use my agent name. Hahaha, today only free pass!”

 

“…!”

 

Beep beep beep beep beep…

 

The doors opened with the notification sound.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Oh, don’t mention it! Let’s both do our best.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

I gathered my companions and barely managed to safely get off at Segwang Station, avoiding the rushing crowd.

 

Through the closing platform screen doors and train doors, I could see the Lion Mask Agent waving at me while trying to control the chaotic crowd.

 

The train departed.

 

“…Phew.”

 

“You had quite a long and detailed conversation there, did you gather a lot of information about the situation?”

 

“Yes. We had a very beneficial conversation.”

 

I wanted to show at least a faint smile to Journalist Eun Ha-je, who had an expression that said ‘I’m going to squeeze every detail out of you the moment I get a chance.’ But it was difficult.

 

It was because of the environment.

 

“Agent…”

 

Segwang Station already had countless people.

 

People wailing, people who had lost their minds, people who had died crushed under the tracks while trying to board trains.

 

As if various chaotic acts had already swept through once, there was a feeling of despair that had settled in devastatingly.

 

“…”

 

I know.

 

That all these people would be trapped in the station without being rescued, and eventually all hang themselves.

 

And the fact that I had died strangled by a noose in the ghost story that resulted from that.

 

“…”

 

“This way.”

 

We moved carefully.

 

High School Student Ryu Jae-gwan kept trying to clear a path ahead, but I went as far forward as possible to prevent that behavior.

 

Since Journalist Eun Ha-je was also the type to charge ahead first, unlike Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, we ended up jostling back and forth as we rushed through the gaps between refugees.

 

“…People have already blocked all the exits.”

 

I ran while looking at the exits with shutters down and objects piled in front of them with a somewhat eerie feeling.

 

People who had left friends or acquaintances outside were wailing in front of them.

 

We crossed the waiting room and headed to the platform on the opposite side…

 

“There’s no station master here either.”

 

“…”

 

The opposite platform also had many people, but this side had more corpses.

 

Since no trains were coming, it seemed like they had temporarily placed the dead here as if stacking objects.

 

And…

 

“This is the place you were looking for?”

 

The machine room.

 

The entrance to the Joyful Research Institute.

 

“…Yes.”

 

A place I had never entered before, and probably the ‘place I must go’ that the counseling teacher mentioned on the day of disaster.

 

Right now, I don’t know what might be happening inside there.

 

I held my breath and grabbed the door handle… then realized I needed to unlock it first.

 

‘Ah.’

 

I hurriedly searched through my tattoos to check if I had the ID card of a research institute employee disguised as a ‘subway employee’.

 

But at that moment.

 

I heard footsteps approaching from behind.

 

The clear and quick sound of someone walking with purpose.

 

Coming toward us.

 

“Agent!”

 

“…!”

 

I turned my head at Ryu Jae-gwan’s urgent call.

 

And I froze.

 

Someone in a white lab coat was walking toward us without hesitation through the corpses on the platform. But…

 

There was no face.

 

The area where a face should be was completely empty, showing a hollow black void.

 

“Wow.”

 

Wow?

 

Does that kind of exclamation fit? That thing… that thing has no face?

 

What is that?

 

I reflexively tried to step back, but then remembered I had people under my care and firmly pressed my feet down. Hold it together!

 

And then…

 

“Why does a person look like that.”

 

Exactly!

 

“Really handsome.”

 

…

 

…!!

 

Wait a minute.

 

I looked at the opponent’s lab coat again with trembling eyes.

 

…They’re wearing an employee ID card.

 

Yukwae Researcher

 

Lee Ja-heon

 

“Do you have access to the machine room?”

 

This is insane.

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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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