Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 362

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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 362

Peaceful and warm sunlight bathes the rooftop in golden hues.

The unique element that the Fox Counseling Room’s interior possesses.

Even though there should be nothing outside that window, it’s a place where gentle sunlight of clear days always shines through the curtains.

A space prepared for clients.

Click.

The counseling room door beyond the waiting room is wide open.

Unlike the waiting room, the counseling room inside was usually kept closed.

Since it only opened during counseling sessions, or when the counselor called someone, I had only been inside a few times myself.

But it remains the same.

Whoooosh-

A comfortable space with soft sofas, where a blue garden can be seen beyond the large window.

The green leaves of the potted plant bearing fox orb fruit sway in the wind.

The counselor watching that scene with me smiles.

He speaks in a relieved voice.

“Since there are many people who have difficulty moving, the counseling room will come out to greet them directly.”

“….”

“Noru. Would it be alright for the clients to enter now?”

….

“Yes.”

The full view of the Fox Counseling Room covers the rooftop.

Peaceful sunlight touches the mutated face of Kim Sol-eum inside the torn cocoon.

Eventually, I am fully revealed from within the cocoon.

I am extracted.

The citizens of Segwang Special City clumped together beneath that upper body, all those distorted forms of human bodies, are gently embraced into the Fox Counseling Room.

A hidden place, visited by knocking, a small space of the counselor for the contaminated.

That space willingly received all those distorted things hidden beneath the rooftop as visitors.

No.

As clients who would be together for a long time from now on.

….

“Welcome.”

Beside me,

The counselor’s form completely melts away.

Like wrapping paper stuffed with unbearable things, like a bundle packed so full it might tear, it distorts and bulges as the outline of its contents becomes visible.

It grows faint.

The counselor’s ghost story, having swallowed the influence of Kim Sol-eum in the cocoon that ‘rejects all ghost stories except me’ and the mass of contaminated Segwang City citizens, was collapsing.

Unable to withstand that influence.

It becomes completely blurred like watercolor paint diluted in water….

“Don’t worry.”

“….”

“Hmm, but now… I’m worried because it seems difficult to receive existing clients. There will come a moment when I’m… needed.”

The voice grows faint.

As if it can no longer affect reality.

“…Don’t worry.”

I said with difficulty.

And I listen desperately.

“Based on the counseling experience they’ve received, everyone will find a way….”

“You’re giving me back the same words.”

Laughter can be heard.

“That’s right. And since I made my choice, I’ll go meet the moment I’ve been waiting for.”

“….”

“Noru.”

The warm atmosphere of the counseling room spread across the rooftop also begins to disappear the moment the last citizen of Segwang Special City enters the counseling room….

Ho Yu-won looks at me.

“Farewell.”

“….”

“No, this expression might not be appropriate. We’ll continue conducting counseling together.”

“….”

“It’s just that you won’t be able to perceive it in your current form.”

I finally opened my mouth.

“Even now, if I pull you out of the counseling room….”

“What? I can’t abandon the client who needs help the most. Did you really see me as that kind of counselor, Noru? That’s truly sad….”

I took a deep breath.

A gentle voice can be heard faintly.

“Actually, I’m joking.”

….

“I’m not sad.”

Ho Yu-won smiled and extended his hand.

“Ho Yu-won’s first client, and… last client.”

“….”

I also extended my hand toward him.

We shake hands.

“Thank you.”

Ho Yu-won’s form completely crumbled away.

The counselor’s form disappearing beneath my grasp is sucked into the counseling room and scatters….

Now, the door of the Fox Counseling Room closes.

Through the slowly closing door, perhaps, perhaps… I thought I saw the shape of a small fox’s tail moving….

Click.

The rooftop emergency exit gently locked.

All around became quiet.

The nameplate I had hung fell to the floor like an ordinary wooden decoration from the impact of the emergency door closing.

“….”

I caught it with both hands.

That nameplate which held no mystical feeling.

Fox Counseling Room

(CLOSE)

I flip it over to the back.

-Long-term Closure-

Thank you for everything until now.

“….”

I raised my head.

The sunset shines down.

Red and warm yellow light, like the sunlight from the Fox Counseling Room, emerges from between the clouds and casts over the rooftop.

Over the broken dream incubator, over the panel of the potion maker that had stopped working and gone dark….

Inside the empty cocoon.

“….”

Segwang Special City.

The day of May 4th was coming to an end.

‘Ah.’

Below the rooftop, I can see the broken roads and sidewalks, the deserted cityscape.

Everything was rapidly aging.

As if the years that had passed were pouring down all at once, the city catches up with the time outside.

However, the contaminated citizens in this city today would be safe within the flow of time.

Without being trapped in May 4th again to repeat their deaths, they would be receiving counseling in a safe state.

By a counselor who had desperately waited for that moment.

By a fox.

“….”

“Noru.”

I turned my head.

I see a lizard-headed shadowy figure coming out through the rooftop door.

“Manager.”

That form that had been a faceless researcher had returned with the familiar head of Manager Lee Ja-heon.

“You’ve returned.”

“Yes. I moved immediately after awakening outside the Special City.”

Ah.

“…The blockade is being completely lifted.”

“Yes. Currently, cracks and fissures are occurring, and more than twenty entry routes exist.”

Manager Lee Ja-heon’s gaze turns toward below the rooftop.

“The blockade will completely disappear soon.”

….

Segwang Special City would thus be reincorporated as part of reality.

And….

‘It’s the end.’

Finally, it was over.

It was the liberation of the city.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“…You came remarkably quickly. Did you receive our help?”

“I am we.”

That had returned too.

“However,”

I turned my head.

The corners of the lizard’s snout are slightly raised.

“Existing as a separate entity rather than we was a unique experience.”

“I see. …Really.”

I feel my state, which had been swallowed by the resort, slowly stabilizing.

My melting body regains its proper state.

And I also regain my identity as a person that had been completely covered by the Flower Golden Mascot.

Despite the bloated mascot’s identity and pressure, my identity maintains a precarious balance.

As if someone is observing my condition and constantly calming me down.

Even though the Good Friend’s consciousness, which doesn’t reflect madness, cannot know.

Just as I recognize someone who must surely be conducting counseling with me even now.

“It was a unique… experience.”

I carefully put the Fox Counseling Room’s nameplate into my chest.

I knew that the tattoo’s inventory function had come back to life, but I didn’t use it….

….

No.

‘Let’s not get too absorbed.’

I’m alive.

I’m recovering thanks to someone.

Deeply realizing that is the appropriate attitude for now.

I took a deep breath and spoke in a slightly brighter voice.

“…Are the other team members alright? I mean the Deputy Manager and the agent.”

“Yes. All those personnel showed signs of awakening.”

“…! That’s a relief.”

Really, it was a relief….

Deep relief spreads through me.

‘Now I should let people out of Resort Branch 2.’

Of course, as a mascot, I knew everyone was doing well….

I clenched my empty hand that had just been holding the counseling room nameplate and looked down.

Manager Lee Ja-heon, who had been watching me put the nameplate in my chest, asks.

“Did Director Ho reach this place?”

“…Yes.”

I said quietly.

“The Segwang Special City extinction-level supernatural disaster was terminated by Ho Yu-won.”

“….”

“….”

“I see.”

The lizard answers.

“However, Director Ho being able to arrive here was due to your influence, Noru.”

“….”

“This attempt was an extremely exceptional case of darkness termination that occurred through your choices and efforts, Noru.”

I barely managed to answer quietly.

“Yes.”

I swallow the welling emotion.

And try to produce a calm voice again.

“Also, the Fox Counseling Room will probably be difficult to visit now. They’re taking on a very… large-scale number of clients. They say they’re closing their doors. Even using the existing entry methods won’t work anymore.”

No matter how many times I hang the nameplate and open the door, the waiting room of the Fox Counseling Room bathed in warm sunlight will never appear…

“I see. I’ve confirmed the reason why you were in an external space rather than the long-term ward when you woke up.”

“…Yes.”

In the meantime, they released all the clients who were being ‘stored’ in the original ward.

Well, this is something.

“Well, Ho Yu-won wasn’t exactly a comfortable direct superior as the project director.”

I said in a bright voice.

“But he was really a good counselor to his clients, wasn’t he?”

…

“Yes.”

The wind brushes through my hair as it passes.

The empty shell of the cocoon is gradually crumbling and disappearing on the rooftop.

I sense it intuitively.

Once I leave this city, this ghost story will completely disappear from this place.

And…

“Director Ho’s project is over.”

I said, turning to look at Manager Lee Ja-heon.

“Since both the Baek Il-mong executive who was in charge and the darkness to explore have disappeared.”

“Yes.”

But I didn’t feel sorry about any of it.

No…

I don’t know.

A sadness that I can’t tell if it’s refreshing or lonesome spreads achingly in my heart.

I try to think of good things.

Things I can feel relieved about.

‘I wonder if Young-eun’s parents are safe.’

I really hope so. No, now that I think about it, Young-eun rushed out of the resort as soon as I opened the gate for her.

She’s probably heading straight to find her parents’ location right now.

I can see people who had been hiding coming out from various parts of the building.

Everyone will return home.

Home.

…

Will I be able to return home now?

If I leave here and the dream solution is safely extracted, and if I can make ‘Children’s Paradise Syrup’ with it, will I be able to go home…

‘I have a usable dream incubator.’

And I have the grip tok that will serve as the button.

A small hope springs up.

[Oh, hope is like an endlessly bubbling source of motivation. Congratulations, friend!]

…!

‘Brown!’

[I’ve just arrived at your newly opening resort, oh, you’ve prepared an advance entry ticket for me. Friend, the monocle suits your charming appearance quite well.]

I perceive the sound of the Host’s dress shoes coming from somewhere, and the mascot’s intention to welcome him and specially provide a personal monorail for this distinguished guest.

As well as my gratitude toward the being who helped me get this far.

‘…Thank you.’

[My pleasure, Noru!]

Warmth settles in my heart.

I hear the sound of two hands in gentleman’s gloves lightly dusting off palms and boarding the monorail…

Now when the agents arrive on the rooftop, I’ll hand things over and leave this place…

[Now… friend.]

Hm?

[The time has come to remember what you’ve forgotten.]

…

Something I’ve forgotten?

[Hmm. That seems like too serious a word. Yes, ‘overlooked’ would be more fitting!]

[Like when you watch an emotionally stirring movie, then completely forget about your dinner appointment that evening and go home completely absorbed in the afterglow.]

[And then you realize on the subway. ‘Oh no! I had an appointment!’]

What do you mean?

[Now, since the emotional climax has passed, let’s think about it.]

[At this ending point, let’s retrace the hints that were given to you!]

…

…

“Manager.”

“Yes.”

“About the project ending…”

“Yes.”

…

“Then, do the project employees now have no duties or affiliation at the company?”

If that’s the case.

“Do we have to… return to our original jobs?”

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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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