Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 40

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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 040

[Noru. You stay put and don’t come in.]

“Excuse me?”

I stopped in my tracks on my way to work after answering the phone.

My direct supervisor had contacted me just 15 minutes before I was supposed to clock in.

[I’ll process it as external work, so don’t come to the company. Manager Lee Ja-heon has already been informed about this.]

“Understood. But may I ask why?”

[Well… it’s the same for all field workers in this company. It’s a darkness issue, darkness.]

Ah.

Along with the sound of Manager Eun Ha-je letting out a long sigh, I could faintly hear Park Min-seong’s wailing in the background.

It seemed like Team D had already all come to work.

[All the new employees except you are excluded, so don’t think about anything else and just stay home.]

“What kind of darkness is it?”

[Well. I can’t tell you unless you’re the one going in.]

“…”

[No, it’s better that you don’t know.]

Could it be… the type where ‘just knowing about it becomes a problem’?

The so-called information contamination type ghost stories.

From eerie rumors like hearing about someone else’s nightmare and then having that same nightmare yourself the next day, to ghosts that chase you until death just for knowing their name.

Stories derived from the delusional worry that ‘just by perceiving it, terrible things could happen to me’ were a universal human fear.

‘And if they won’t even let me come to work, it must not be an ordinary matter…’

Still, judging by the tone, it seemed more like worry about a new employee making a mistake rather than leaving a will, so it should be fine.

…Unless they were just pretending to be calm to avoid putting pressure on me.

‘Either way, I can’t go to the company right now.’

If they said it wasn’t necessary, I didn’t want to go and become a nuisance. That would be a perfect way to die.

I said I understood and hung up the phone.

‘Today I’ll clean up the blood bathtub and read through the wiki about 5 times…’

But a few hours later.

[Kim Sol-eum.]

“Yes.”

[Please come to work.]

“…”

Is this some kind of problem dog training or something…?

Whether I was confused or not, the Lizard Team Leader just said what they had to say.

[You need to come to the 31st floor main conference room by 2 PM.]

They even mentioned a high-floor conference room I’d never heard of…!

“Wait a moment. You told me not to come to work this morning… has the situation changed?”

[Yes. One of the executives has directly requested you.]

“…”

Excuse me?

[Then I’ll see you at 2 o’clock.]

Please save me.

“You’re here.”

I met the Team D Deputy standing in front of the 31st floor elevator with an anxious expression, arms crossed.

I urgently lowered my voice and asked Manager Eun Ha-je.

“Has the situation changed?”

“A bit. Hah… that crazy bastard.”

With those words, I was thrown into the main conference room. My mind became hazy.

“He’s here. Employee Kim Sol-eum.”

“Ah.”

“Why did you call him all the way to the conference room? You could have just sent him.”

Seeing supervisors whose departments I couldn’t even figure out sitting around chattering, then looking at me and shutting up to exchange glances with each other, made the back of my neck stiffen regardless of ghost story worldviews or whatever.

‘Why are the signals that company life is about to go to hell the same everywhere?’

And eventually, thanks to the supervisors getting excited and starting their conversation again among themselves, I also learned why I had been singled out and summoned to this incomprehensible situation…

It was a typical and troublesome reason.

Staff shortage.

“But civilian survivors came out of what’s definitely a high-grade darkness? This could be an innovative case that opens up a new source of high-quality raw materials.”

“Exactly. But what’s with all this long deliberation and meetings about this, honestly… They don’t know how to invest boldly, Manager Kang!”

“Who said they wouldn’t invest? This isn’t something that can be solved by throwing in a few more new employees…”

“Ah, this person is so frustrating. They’re saying we’re short on manpower. Right? Our Section Chief Gwak from the research team.”

Section Chief Gwak?

When I turned my head, there really was Research Team Leader Kwak Je-gang sitting in a corner spot, grinning.

The mad scientist who had thrown his researcher into the theme park ghost story.

‘Has his disciplinary action ended?’

Just seeing him gave me a headache.

“Right, Section Chief Gwak? We need to increase the headcount, don’t we?”

“Ah~ That’s right. It’s obvious this darkness needs more personnel to be resolved!”

“…”

That guy is an advisor?

I had a strong suspicion that they actually weren’t short on personnel, but just wanted to see fresh investigation results from clueless new employees.

‘Anyway, it seems like what I’ll be experiencing today is definitely darkness deployment.’

And if it’s serious enough to call me in so grandly for deployment…

The premonition that it would be a formidable grade sent chills down my spine.

High-grade with civilian survivors coming out… was that what they said?

While quickly trying to search through the in my head for similar cases, I calmly reminded myself.

‘…Still, I came well prepared.’

Just in case, I had brought everything I had today.

A full package of items.

“Now that we’ve done introductions, everyone can go.”

“Ah, yes.”

The Deputy bowed roughly in greeting and then took me out of the conference room.

Thud.

And the moment the conference room door closed, she opened her mouth.

“How many times do I have to watch these greenhorns who’ve never entered darkness once act all high and mighty while coming up with ‘strategic solutions’… Ah, this is why I can’t quit smoking.”

“Deputy Manager.”

“What does it matter. They’re too busy fighting among themselves to hear anyway.”

But I’m listening.

“Those bastards who couldn’t even pass the Field Investigation Team orientation or qualification, making full use of their connections and nepotism to squat up there… Ah.”

Manager Eun looked around the conference room several times with a face desperate for a cigarette, then finally let out a small sigh.

“…Anyway, you heard, right? From now on, we’re going into a newly registered high-grade darkness.”

As expected.

“Not just us, but over thirty people have already been deployed.”

“…Are the Team Leader and Team Leader Park also perhaps.”

“Right. They all went in first. …It’ll be dangerous. I won’t lie to you just to reassure you.”

“…”

“Still, don’t worry too much. You managed to survive that crazy quiz show and brought us all out alive. You’ll be fine.”

“…Yes.”

I adjusted the document bag I brought, wearing it as a crossbag.

“Is that your preparation?”

“Yes. Food supplies and various things.”

“Hmm. The size looks fine.”

Eun Ha-je checked my appearance several times and asked.

“You didn’t have anything that would get caught in security screening, right?”

“…Yes.”

I passed through the main gate safely.

For some reason, I felt like the Cursed Wild Ginseng would have been caught, but everything I have now are items, so it should be fine.

But why isn’t Team D moving as a team today, with only the manager remaining?

“May I ask how the others entered?”

The manager gestured with her chin expressionlessly.

“They all disappeared as soon as they read the manual.”

“…”

“This is that kind of darkness. If you know even a little about that darkness, you get pulled in.”

Phew.

“I was waiting without reading it to bring you in, so we’ll read it at the same time.”

“Yes.”

Wow, this is crazy.

“It’s okay. They’re not people who would die easily anywhere.”

Please don’t say such ominous lines!

‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’

I took a deep breath and accepted the manual the manager handed me.

…Once I read this, I’ll be entering that high-grade darkness.

‘…Let me prepare myself mentally.’

I read through it in one go.

+++

Hello.

You are currently viewing the manual document we’ve compiled about existing visitors to our exhibition.

+++

“…!”

+++

Before reading the following content, we would like to inform you that you have been invited to a very wonderful exhibition.

+++

“…”

The back of my neck went cold.

‘I’m screwed.’

My eyes squeezed shut.

A wiki page automatically completed itself in my mind.

======================

Darkness Investigation Records / Ghost Story

[Mansion of the Blind]

Darkness Investigation Records

Exhibition

To ensure your visit is not troublesome, after reading this text, you will arrive at our exhibition no matter where you head.

106 times

In the form of invitation letters sent by the exhibition

We are honored to invite you like this.

======================

Registered in , the epitome of information-contamination type ghost stories.

The representative attention-grabber that gets hundreds of thousands of views whenever covered on video sites!

‘The eyeball collector.’

“…”

With a trembling heart, I looked down at the manual again.

The phrase I expected was really written there.

+++

To ensure your visit is not troublesome, from now on you will arrive at the exhibition no matter where you head.

+++

And it happened just as it said.

“Ha.”

The moment I stepped backward.

I realized that the material of the floor my feet were stepping on had changed.

From the matte office tiles to old, glossy marble.

Thud.

Slowly, I raised my head.

I saw a massive grand mansion wrapped in silence so deep I could hear the sound of candlelight burning.

Twilight and candlelight illuminated the magnificent and ancient interior with a reddish golden glow.

Countless display items revealed only their silhouettes in the shadows…

“…”

Eun Ha-je was nowhere to be seen either.

However, I didn’t do something foolish like opening my mouth to call for the manager.

Instead, I slowly moved my feet backward.

And hid in a corner.

‘…Phew.’

Hiding behind a sofa, I opened the manual again with trembling hands.

+++

We will guide you through the common reviews from nine visitors to this exhibition temporarily collected by Baekil-mong Corporation.

1. You can view rare and diverse collections never seen anywhere else.

2. Eating in the Exhibition Hall is prohibited.

3. It is recommended to maintain conventional viewing manners.

4. It is very difficult to find the exit.

Regarding this statement, this exhibition strongly requests correction. The exhibition hall has all emergency exits properly marked.

Anyone can stop viewing and exit whenever they wish.

+++

It would be the truth.

The problem is that ‘anyone’ doesn’t include humans.

People can’t properly use the emergency exits or entrances of this place.

“…Ha.”

An exhibition that so naturally assumes visitors wouldn’t be human.

Modern people are just victims who accidentally get caught up in this massive nightmare and experience cosmic horror.

It was that kind of unpleasant ghost story.

Honestly, I didn’t like it. I couldn’t even understand why it was popular on WiTube…

Friend

“…!”

-Oh my, Noru… are you hiding right now?

Who knew having someone to talk to could be this joyful.

I half-pulled Brown out of my pocket.

-Oh my, this place is quite nice.

-How about going out to take a look? This seems like a place decent enough to introduce to the audience…

Go out?

‘No way.’

-Oh dear, could you tell me the reason? This seems like an exhibition run by someone who knows how to extend quite polite and comfortable invitations…

It was a statement befitting the host who used to lure people into murder quiz shows with postcards.

This is giving me a headache…

I pressed my temples and got up from the sofa I’d been sitting on.

-Ah, it seems you’re in the mood to tour around!

No.

‘I’m moving here.’

I carefully examined the walls, looking for places where I could hear wind sounds.

Before long, I found what I was looking for in a corner where the candlelight didn’t reach, under a dark wall hidden by a huge vase.

‘Ventilation duct.’

I quietly entered it and held my breath without closing the lock.

It’s a temporary safe zone I could remember for now.

======================

Ventilation Duct

On the 6th day, the guide found the gentleman.

Please note that our exhibition always has guest rooms ready for long-term visitors.

Never stay in the guest room

======================

-No, leaving a perfectly good sofa to go into such a dirty place!

Let’s ignore that. I need to make a plan here.

‘How do I get out?’

No, it was frustrating from the start why they thought this ghost story would need so many people.

Having a large group enter wouldn’t be advantageous at all… Wait.

Pushing them in recklessly like this…

‘Because they don’t know something?’

Is it because it’s still early in the investigation?

‘Then maybe the current investigation is also recorded in the early parts of .’

“…”

I took out my smartphone, lowered the screen brightness to minimum, then lay down and quickly flipped through .

And…

‘Found it.’

======================

This is the seventeenth viewing record, resulting from Baekil-mong Corporation recommending the exhibition to thirty-four Field Investigation Team employees.

Seven people safely returned home.

======================

This is it.

I’m here as one person in the seventeenth record where these thirty-four people entered.

Probably as the thirty-fifth person.

‘…Only seven people made it back safely.’

Just as I was about to open both the manual and to compare them for more detailed records.

Creeeeeeak.

“…”

From far away, sounds began to be heard.

The sound of slowly moving machinery.

And…

Aaaaah! Why, why is it chasing us…!! Get away, get awaaaay!!!

Screams and many urgent footsteps.

“…”

Thud thud! Thud! Creeeeak, thud! Thump thump thump thump, creeeeak, thud!

The sound echoing off the marble is getting closer.

Cold sweat ran down my cheek.

Save me, no, nooooo!!

Please let me out, please let me…!!

Thud thud thud, I can hear people running. The screams and urgent fleeing footsteps are getting closer.

And they’ve come almost right in front of me.

It seemed like at least ten or so people.

Behind them, the heavy mechanical noise is pursuing them slowly but surely, closing in like a tightening noose…

Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeak.

Drip.

Cold sweat fell from the tip of my chin.

“….”

‘At least one person.’

After extreme deliberation, I stuck my upper body out.

And quickly grabbed the back of the neck of one of the fleeing people.

“…!”

I practically lifted them into the air and shoved them into the ventilation duct, ducking my head down together.

‘There’s space for exactly one more person.’

And if they’re a Field Investigation employee, the chances of them being a troll are relatively low.

“Gasp.”

Fortunately, the person who had been convulsing understood the situation and immediately became quiet.

They seem to have some sense… wait.

“…!”

“…!!”

‘Baek Sa-heon.’

My company housing roommate.

Baek Sa-heon, wearing a goat mask, was swallowing his saliva as he squeezed into the ventilation duct, looking at me.

I had saved this guy.

—————
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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