Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 371

—————
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 371

“….”

I hold my breath as I look at the stairs leading down below.

It’s the way back.

At the end of the long, dark stairs stretching down beneath the box….

There was a place for me to return to.

[Oh, you’ve finally achieved your long-standing goal. Congratulations. Friend!]

…!

“Brown!”

I picked up the Rabbit Doll that was lying on my ruined suit beside the tank.

[That’s right, Noru. You found the way. And fortunately, the reception seems to have improved too!]

In my quiet mind, I hear applause and the friction sound of tapping the antenna on the TV screen.

‘Was I unable to hear that voice again….’

Just like when I was 130666 right after contracting with Director Cheong.

The lump that only had thinking ability left couldn’t perceive Good Friend. Probably… because it was in a state where it couldn’t make friends.

Thinking about that crushed state I was in made me nauseous, but joy came first.

Not being alone is always reassuring.

Even if what’s beside me is the great Host with a TV head who wants to make me a talk show staff member… we’ve been together for a long time.

Words come out naturally.

Starting with curiosity about the membrane surrounding me, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Could it be that I… entered the egg that was in the Dream Incubator Tank?”

[Hmm. An interesting and clever guess! Whether that’s true or not, anyway, isn’t this a space created by a bottle of syrup from that incubator to grant your wish?]

…My wish.

I reflexively looked at the stairs inside the box again.

Even the paper guide that read ‘Way back, 【Darkness Investigation Records】 Popup Store’.

That’s when it happened.

-Grape Agent?

…!

A faint voice was heard from outside the egg membrane.

“Hae-geum Agent!”

I reflexively shouted against the membrane.

“I’m safe. I’m okay!”

-Good!

The outside of the membrane seemed somewhat noisy, but it was completely blocked, so only frustratingly small voices reached my ears.

-Is there anything different?

“Excuse me? I… there’s a path here.”

-A path?

“Yes. …It’s a path back home.”

….

After a moment of silence, the voice is heard again.

-Does it look safe?

“I can’t be certain. But judging from the circumstances….”

The prototype of the wish ticket. Since the complete ‘wish-granting syrup’ containing 5 million dream essence worked properly.

“I think… I might be able to return home safely.”

-….

A subdued voice is heard.

-And you want to take that path.

I steady my breathing.

“…Yes.”

-Alright. I understand.

And again the surroundings seem to become slightly noisy.

Could it be that Young-eun or the Security Chief is trying to say something? It was frustrating not being able to hear properly.

‘I want to have a conversation.’

I spoke while pushing against the membrane.

“Excuse me, are there others present? At least to say goodbye….”

But.

-No, it would be better not to do that.

“…Excuse me?”

-The egg is gradually getting smaller.

Ah.

I noticed.

The membrane surrounding me is gradually shrinking.

Getting smaller and smaller as if it would collapse, or as if I could break through it… that is.

-It’s been happening since we started talking.

-It seems external interaction has an effect. It would be safer to minimize it.

“….”

I naturally realize.

The ‘children’s paradise syrup’ even gave me time to choose.

Either break through that shell and go out.

Or return home.

“….”

I look at the stairs.

-Grape Agent. Have you decided which path to take?

“…Yes.”

I say it.

The goal I kept repeating to myself.

My wish that these people tried to listen to.

“I want to… go home.”

-…I see. Understood.

I hear Hae-geum Agent’s voice.

-Then don’t look back for no reason, just keep walking straight.

-If you look back, you’ll lose your way.

“…Yes.”

I nodded while taking a deep breath.

Meanwhile, the barrier becomes even smaller.

‘Ah.’

There isn’t much time left.

I spoke urgently.

“Thank you!”

Yes.

“Could you please tell them that I was truly very grateful.”

I could have met my end at this resort.

Adding another missing person to the ghost story, leaving behind another eerie investigation record ending on the wiki.

I was grateful they prevented that from happening.

“I received so much help until now.”

To my supervisors in the same team who helped a new employee who appeared and disappeared out of nowhere.

To my colleagues.

To the security team leader.

To the 007 Officer I met through a secondhand transaction.

And… to a certain agent who suspected me until the end but still listened to my rescue request.

“Thanks to you, I’m returning home safely from a supernatural disaster.”

-….

-Yes. I will definitely tell them.

“…Yes.”

Something hot seemed to surge up to my throat.

Hae-geum Agent speaks to me slowly, as if reciting.

As if conveying the words of someone who had been in the room all along but hadn’t announced it to me, someone standing beside me.

-Please return safely. Citizen.

And that was the end.

No more sounds came from beyond the barrier.

“….”

I stood up and checked my body.

…I’m wearing a black suit.

Just like….

[You look the same as when you started, Noru!]

“….”

[Oh, are you also pondering farewell words with this Brown?]

“…!”

[Hmm. A stylish ending comment is every entertainer’s concern! But since we’re friends, you don’t need to worry about such trivial matters….]

A voice suddenly emerges.

“…Are you okay with ending it like this?”

[Hm?]

Good Friend said it would follow me anywhere.

Watching my every move and commenting like a live broadcast, lending me a huge sum of money, dropping advice only at crucial moments….

Even knowing there was no need to create unnecessary trouble by saying such things, I said it anyway.

And….

[Oh my, Noru.]

The Entertainer says.

[All broadcasts are more enjoyable and anticipated because they have endings.]

[However, when you’ll visit the studio again to tell another enjoyable story depends on the guest’s own will.]

“….”

[Was it enjoyable?]

Objectively, it was terrible.

But somehow, I didn’t feel like answering that way here.

“…To some extent.”

[An answer that shows ambition. Not satisfied but enjoyable, excellent!]

[In that sense, it seems like it’s time to wrap up this filming.]

A cheerful host’s voice comes from the rabbit doll.

[It was a great honor to accompany this program as your Good Friend, a witty host.]

“…Me too.”

I swallowed.

“I was grateful too.”

[My pleasure.]

[Well then, that’s all for today’s broadcast…]

…

[Cut!]

I carefully tucked the Rabbit Doll into my arms.

And,

I stepped down below the black box.

Thud.

Dark stairs support my footsteps.

My body enters inside the box.

It’s dark, and I can’t see anything.

It feels narrow and stuffy.

However, there seemed to be a whitish light source down below.

I continue walking.

Thud.

Each time I descend the dark stairs, new thoughts arise.

The things I’m leaving behind.

The stories still in progress.

Thud.

What will happen to Segwang Special City now?

Will the Agents be able to solve the Disaster Management Bureau’s problems?

I feel like I should have helped clean up too.

Maybe I could have come up with good ideas.

Thud.

Director Cheong’s contract has been nullified, so what will happen to the Security Team in this gap?

Will Jay be okay?

Min-seong Supervisor will need a way to recover from contamination.

I feel like there was a way I could have helped…

Thud.

What happened to Chogae Agent too?

Did the Lion Mask appearance disappear, leaving only the Dokkaebi Workshop agent? Or did they merge?

Did the Students, Teachers, and Agents from Segwang High School escape safely?

…Is Ho Yu-won still conducting counseling sessions?

Am I still there?

Thud.

With each step down the stairs, the urge to look back grows stronger.

I’m gradually moving away and separating from the story that once included me.

People I wanted to talk with more, whose futures I wanted to know, come to mind…

Thud.

I want to know the next story.

It feels like there’s still a lot of work to be done.

I’m curious.

I want to see.

I imagine what would happen if I turned around right now and ran up the stairs, tearing through the curtain…

…

But I don’t look back.

Thud.

I moved forward.

Thud.

I walk while watching the whitish light source gradually get closer.

I continue walking straight down the narrow stairs.

Thud.

At some point, I can no longer hear any other presence.

And…

“…”

I stopped in front of the light source.

It was a door.

The light leaking through the door gap was the whitish light source…

I had reached the end of the stairs.

Click.

I opened the door.

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