Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 345

—————
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 345

 

The moment the rooftop exit door opened, piercing sunlight poured into my eyes.

 

And the moment my vision adjusted, I saw the appearance of Seegwang City Hall’s rooftop under the chillingly clear blue sky.

 

…The floor was covered like a membrane with some strange grayish-white substance.

 

It looked like the shell of a cocoon.

 

However, it was glistening with iridescent colors.

 

‘…An egg.’

 

I recalled the footage taken by journalist Eun Ha-je’s group.

 

The bizarre shape that had been swelling up on top of the city hall building.

 

It had ‘swollen up’ all the way to the rooftop floor.

 

“….”

 

I struggled not to let my hands shake as I put my hand in my pocket and carefully pulled out a bundle of convenience store receipts.

 

And threw them.

 

Thud.

 

The receipt that rolled across the cocoon surface of the rooftop floor hit the rooftop railing and fell down below.

 

Naturally, the view of the city spread out beyond that was….

 

“Don’t look.”

 

“….”

 

I suppressed the rising tension and turned my head back to the rooftop.

 

…In the middle of the rooftop, a single machine sat alone.

 

A dream incubator.

 

Around the floor near that massive machine, toy fragments and researchers’ lab coats, glasses, and clothes were scattered like trash.

 

And something was standing tall in front of it.

 

A shadowy figure the size of a person.

 

It was covered with cloth.

 

“….”

 

I carefully stepped forward.

 

Strangely, I felt a slightly soft texture while….

 

I walked forward.

 

[How bold of you, friend!]

 

After approaching right up to the dream incubator.

 

I reached out my hand and… swiftly pulled away the cloth from the shadowy figure.

 

“…!”

 

I met eyes with a retro-style drawing.

 

It wasn’t a person.

 

A character from Baekillmong Corporation.

 

It was a life-sized panel of a yellow dragon character.

 

That flat panel with the retro cartoon-style yellow dragon drawn on it stood incongruously next to the dream incubator, and in the margin was a single blue button with an explanation.

 

*CLICK*

 

-> Yong-yong-i’s congratulatory message is recorded.

 

(Different content comes out each time you press it!)

 

“….”

 

An ominous feeling rose from the sense of wrongness.

 

“Should I press it?”

 

“…No.”

 

I swallowed and raised my hand to press the button myself.

 

A cheerful voice came out through a low-quality recording.

 

Hello, Joyful Research Institute researchers!

 

I’m a commemorative panel created by Director Cheong Dal-rae of Baekillmong to celebrate the Joyful Research Institute’s experiment this time.

 

This Yong-yong-i is also greatly honored to attend this key experimental site for achieving the research goal.

 

You must be waiting for the experiment results, so I hope I can help relieve your boredom for a moment!

 

…But to be honest, I also came for company promotional purposes. Please treat our Baekillmong well as we launch a new product line this time!

 

That childlike voice, distorted and crackling, echoed through the empty rooftop.

 

If a researcher had pressed it while waiting for experiment results, they surely would have burst into laughter….

 

Now only this panel remained alone.

 

“….”

 

I pressed the button once more.

 

Our Baekillmong and the Joyful Research Institute have been in an active cooperative relationship from the start.

 

Under Director Cheong Dal-rae’s conducting, Baekillmong has been diligently supplying the dream essence solution needed for the Joyful Research Institute’s experiments.

 

This is because Director Cheong was greatly impressed by the Joyful Research Institute’s meaningful research goal.

 

‘A safe world without paranormal phenomena’! What a wonderful catchphrase.

 

You know what?

 

If that catchphrase came true, our Baekillmong would be screwed.

 

“…!”

 

The recording ended.

 

With trembling hands, I pressed the button again.

 

Hahaha! That was a joke!

 

Baekillmong has cooperated with respect for the Joyful Research Institute’s catchphrase until now.

 

This cooperation will continue in the future… probably?

 

Though the direction might change a bit!

 

So Director Cheong prepared a surprise gift for a very long time for today’s memorable and decisive experiment….

 

It’s a gift to reduce everyone’s hard work.

 

Curious?

 

….

 

Look at the dream incubator.

 

My head turned reflexively. My eyes began quickly examining every part of the dream incubator on the rooftop.

 

All over the dream incubator sitting alone… there were bloodstains as if scratched by fingernails.

 

Director Cheong put a small music box inside the incubator tank.

 

As a memento.

 

The moment your summoning succeeds, the arrived being will hear the music box.

 

The problem is that listening to this music box’s melody three times drives you insane?

 

“…!”

 

Ah, it’s about time the summoning succeeded.

 

I set the music box to auto-play, so it’ll be over in 5 minutes.

 

A timer is running!

 

In just 5 minutes, your grand plan to cultivate residents in the tank will end in an unfortunate accident… Oh? You’re trying to open the incubator?

 

Oh my, I changed the screw locking method yesterday. You can’t open it with your usual method.

 

If you’re not thinking of giving up, still… hmm, maybe you could force it open somehow?

 

The desperate numerous traces remaining on the incubator.

 

The traces that seemed like they tried desperately to tear it open until the very end were blatant and eerie.

 

You must be trying your best to open it somehow right now. Fighting! You must be running hard up the stairs to bring some strong toys. But….

 

Huh?

 

Something seems… strange, doesn’t it?

 

“….”

 

Huh? Wait, something strange is happening at the rooftop experiment site right now, isn’t it?

 

Suddenly parts of the researchers’ bodies are turning back into toy parts? The mysterious toys you brought to open the tank aren’t working?

 

If you’re curious why this is happening… Oh, the recording length is up! Please press the button again.

 

Thud!

 

I pressed the button almost frantically.

 

You’re pressing this again.

 

First of all, congratulations!

 

You have now achieved your goal.

 

A ‘world without paranormal phenomena’ is now arriving, centered around this city hall!

 

“…!!”

 

How is that possible, you ask?

 

I forgot to tell you the name of the music box! It’s called….

 

The ‘Angel’s Sigh’ music box.

 

“….”

 

Wait a minute.

 

That’s a name I’ve heard somewhere before.

 

That’s, that’s….

 

‘…The Mermaid Graveyard!’

 

The other side of the Sparkling Dragon Palace, a conch shell item that could be found in that place destroyed by biological disaster.

 

That item was called Angel’s Sigh.

 

And I had confirmed the melody that came from there in the Segwang Special City Subway as well.

 

-‘Angel’s Sigh’ tape recording. ‘Listen to heaven’s auspicious melody at a reasonable price.’

 

From the slot machine prizes at Body Casino Station.

 

“….”

 

Something that might be a thrill or shock creeps up chillingly.

 

‘Could it be that what the people who received the disaster text were humming was….’

 

That melody…?

 

Don’t worry. The function of that music box melody has already been thoroughly verified in a deep sea city!

 

This melody parasitizes people and gives them vitality and regenerative power, but if overused, the parasite eventually devours the person. It wasn’t originally a melody meant for humans, you see.

 

And it spreads mentally and physically in all directions!

 

It’s a perfect function for creating a world, isn’t it?

 

I clenched my hands tightly.

 

This is truly wonderful!

 

Your research goal has been achieved, hasn’t it? ‘The arrival of a world without paranormal phenomena’!

 

Of course, in the process, one ghost story has spread widely… but anyway, since there are no other ghost stories, it can be seen as a remarkable achievement.

 

You needed this kind of proactive attempt.

 

This experiment was too passive and sluggish compared to your grand goal!

 

Just summoning a single ‘resident of a world without paranormal phenomena’.

 

‘Researching the worldview using that resident as material’.

 

Too slow.

 

Too vague.

 

Both are directions that Director Cheong doesn’t prefer.

 

So Director Cheong personally took other measures.

 

He says he’ll receive thanks for the success later!

 

He’ll probably say something like this.

 

Director Cheong’s voice can be heard….

 

‘You should be grateful. I’ve achieved your slogan for you.’

 

‘However, since Daydream Company is a profit-seeking enterprise, it’s only right that our company has a stake in that slogan.’

 

And that’s how it will be.

 

We’ll efficiently add just one phrase to the catchphrase ‘a safe world without paranormal phenomena’.

 

….

 

‘Except for me.’

 

“…!”

 

‘A safe world without paranormal phenomena, except for me’!

 

Eliminating competitors is the monopoly market that companies prefer most.

 

Insane.

 

This insanity….

 

Unfortunately, the Joyful Research Institute may now disappear from the world.

 

But our cooperation will continue. Your dream incubators will be faithfully utilized in producing Daydream Company’s new product lines and will generate enormous profits.

 

Think of it as Daydream Company cleaning up after your lack of drive and unrealistic approach!

 

And….

 

Do you know why I’m explaining all this to you?

 

“…!”

 

I stood up from my seat.

 

Creak.

 

…There’s a sound from the rooftop door on the opposite side.

 

The fact that I wasted all the time for other actions and listened until here means it’s already too late.

 

You’ve either already returned to being useless toys or you’re inside me. In the flames.

 

Ahahahahaha…

 

I struck the panel.

 

Hahahahahaha!

 

Hahahahahahahahaha!

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…

 

Bang, bang, with several sounds the panel crumpled and the laughter crumpled along with it, crackling and making eerie distorted sounds before… cutting off.

 

“…Huff.”

 

The moment I gasped for breath.

 

Creeeeeak.

 

“….”

 

The rooftop door on the opposite side opens, twisting.

 

‘Ah.’

 

The swollen cocoons on the floor pushed between the rooftop door gap, eventually causing the door to twist open….

 

I didn’t see a person beyond it. However….

 

A clear music box sound can be heard.

 

“…!!”

 

Ominous yet clear, somehow warm….

 

‘Damn it.’

 

I covered my ears and stepped back.

 

But it wasn’t properly blocked the music box sound coming through the open rooftop door gap on the opposite side sounded pleasant gradually getting louder I approached closer….

 

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

 

“Agent.”

 

“…!”

 

“Let’s go back.”

 

I turned around and ran like mad.

 

The moment I left the rooftop, I heard the sound of the Shadowy Figure who had been following me closing the emergency staircase door.

 

Thud!

 

The music box sound disappeared.

 

I ran as if sprinting while pouring the fruit Ho Yu-won gave me into my mouth and chewing it.

 

‘It’s okay.’

 

I wasn’t enchanted yet. I barely managed not to bite my tongue as I opened my mouth.

 

“The fox orb you were looking for, huff….”

 

“It wasn’t… there.”

 

I didn’t even have time to feel despair. No, from then on, I didn’t even have time to speak.

 

We just ran downward like mad to escape the ground level.

 

Downward,

 

Further down!

 

[We’re almost there. Soon we’ll reach the research institute, Noru!]

 

Right, once we escape this insane building that came about from the twisted ‘world without supernatural phenomena’….

 

….

 

‘Brown.’

 

[Friend?]

 

My footsteps couldn’t stop.

 

However, this question rising from within me also couldn’t be stopped.

 

So I think while running.

 

This was a place where ghost stories disappeared.

 

But then, how is Brown….

 

‘How are you… able to speak?’

 

[Oh my, naturally I can give you all sorts of advice by your side, friend. The one-sided trials of the environment can no longer separate us.]

 

[Isn’t it quite touching?]

 

An exaggerated sound comes as if wiping the Brown Device screen with a handkerchief like wiping away tears….

 

That cheerful sound makes my heart sink instead.

 

Squeak, squeak.

 

This sound… how exactly can I hear it?

 

In a place where ghost stories cannot exist…?

 

[Oh, but this Brown had a similar question as well. Shall we ask once? You’re affirming! Good, then… one question.]

 

[How is Mr. Noru sane?]

 

….

 

What?

 

[Of course, ‘sane’ is by friend’s standards, not this Brown’s standards. In the same sense, shall we go deeper once more?]

 

[You’ve already heard that music box sound quite a lot, haven’t you? Yet my friend asserts that he isn’t contaminated!]

 

That’s… that’s because I had countermeasures.

 

‘Because I kept eating the fruit that the counseling teacher, Ho Yu-won, gave me.’

 

[Hmm. I see. Then.]

 

[How does that fruit have any effect?]

 

….

 

…!!

 

[Isn’t that also a ‘supernatural phenomenon’ as defined by the group Mr. Noru belongs to?]

 

[The person who made it is barely keeping up appearances by relying on the ‘counselor’ identity my friend gave him, so how effective could it possibly be.]

 

It was an accurate point.

 

….

 

What is this?

 

‘Why am I….’

 

Able to resist?

 

“Agent!”

 

“…!”

 

I quickly stopped my body and came to my senses.

 

[B3]

 

We’d arrived. I could see the door to the Joyful Research Institute ahead.

 

I immediately grabbed the handle.

 

There was no time to fall into contemplation. I had to quickly get to the subway….

 

Ah.

 

The handle was hot.

 

“…Counselor.”

 

I said quietly.

 

“There’s probably fire spreading inside.”

 

“….”

 

“Get on my back.”

 

“I’m fine….”

 

“Hurry!”

 

We had to go quickly.

 

I took off my jacket and poured almost all the remaining water from my backpack over it and onto the sleeves of the shirt I was wearing.

 

Then I threw it back.

 

“Cover yourself over your head. Make sure the wet cloth covers your respiratory system! I won’t look back.”

 

“….”

 

Fortunately, I heard the sound of the cloth being covered. I let out a sigh of relief and carried him on my back.

 

The strangely light feeling had disappeared, but he was light for an adult male.

 

As if several body parts were missing.

 

“…I’m opening it.”

 

I tried not to be conscious of that sensation and opened the door.

 

Heat suddenly stings my nose.

 

“….”

 

Flames were blazing throughout the core floors of the Joyful Research Institute.

 

But I could see a path.

 

‘I can make it.’

 

I covered my mouth with my wet sleeve and jumped into that space where smoke wasn’t yet thick.

 

Short breathing sounds come from my back and my mouth. I ran as fast as possible, but especially carefully avoiding the ceiling and walls while dodging the smoke.

 

‘I can do it.’

 

I can get out.

 

The office with its mysteries gone wasn’t very long. I ran that distance.

 

4 meters,

 

3 meters,

 

2 meters,

 

1 meter….

 

I grabbed the door handle.

 

I pulled it open forcefully.

 

Whoosh, the stuffy air of the subway stings my nose. Smell of corpses and all that aside, at least we escaped the inferno together….

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