Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 45
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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 045
“A-are you sure it’s really okay for us to go by ourselves? Is this right?”
“It should be fine.”
Probably.
Go Young-eun swallowed her scream, understanding the omitted words.
After persuading the supervisors, Kim Sol-eum came out of the terrace room with his two colleagues to ‘use’ the item.
‘He’s probably doing that on purpose to look logical.’
Since he had said that one of us was the item owner, it would be natural for that person to make the move.
…Though being grouped together with Baek Sa-heon as ‘us’ feels somewhat unpleasant…
‘Still, he’s strangely well-behaved right now.’
But for now, what was about to happen ahead was much more concerning.
“Then I’ll take out the candle.”
Yes!
Go Young-eun returned the paper she had received from Kim Sol-eum, and Kim Sol-eum unfolded it.
Then something amazing happened.
A cylindrical, heavy light purple wax mass rolled down into his palm.
It was a real candle.
“…!”
The crayon-drawn outline remaining like an embossed pattern made it intuitively clear.
That the candle that had been a drawing had become real.
‘…Wow.’
I was amazed, forgetting the situation.
Excitement swelled in my mind, having heard a brief explanation of what we would do with that candle from now on.
“Please wait a moment.”
After taking a deep breath, Kim Sol-eum took out a lighter and tried to light the candle’s wick.
Whoosh.
The flame crossed the wick and…
Nothing happened.
“…”
“…”
Why… won’t it light?
Kim Sol-eum even demonstrated the crazy ability of flicking a coin into the air to summon a third hand and tried to light it with that, but it still didn’t work.
“…Ah.”
Kim Sol-eum suddenly seemed to remember something and took out the candle kit’s manual, quickly reading through it again.
“Is there a problem?”
“…”
Then he lowered the manual with a somewhat dry expression.
“No. I’m not sure.”
Actually, he knew.
At the end of the instructions written in messy dark red letters, one of the phrases written in the ‘Handling and Usage Precautions.’
The ‘recommended users.’
※This toy was created to relieve the fatigue of modern Earthlings.
For safety reasons, aliens, otherworlders, non-intelligent beings, gods, and all other non-human intelligent beings cannot use it. 🙂
‘…I might not qualify.’
Because Kim Sol-eum wasn’t actually from this place.
Though his spine grew cold, he knew that wasn’t the priority right now.
He had to hand it over to someone trustworthy.
Someone with low probability of impulsive actions, possessing social skills and morality.
“Sanyang.”
“…!”
“Please.”
Go Young-eun eventually swallowed and accepted the candle.
Then she took the lighter and held it over the candle’s wick with trembling hands.
Whoosh.
The flame crossed the wick and…
It lit up.
“…!”
And letters began to appear as if light was shining through from the candle’s body.
The keywords from the cards they had drawn.
[Honor] [Interference] [Falsehood]
-Do you remember the cards you drew when making the candle earlier? They tell you what kind of ability the candle will have.
The explanation she had heard from Kim Sol-eum came to mind, and at the same time, other phrases appeared on the candle.
Honor
Divine protection is granted to the prayer holder carrying the candle.
Impersonator of nobility.
Go Young-eun held up the candle.
A round fireball rose from the candle like a lantern, circled above her head, then disappeared.
And her surroundings gently brightened like a small spotlight.
‘Wow…’
“Just as we expected it would work.”
Kim Sol-eum, who had been watching with a faint smile, nodded and spoke.
“Up to two people around Sanyang will be affected by this candle’s range, so Yeomso and I will follow from behind.”
“Yes.”
Though she wondered if they couldn’t have recruited someone other than Baek Sa-heon, since Kim Sol-eum was the one who made this item, Go Young-eun nodded without complaint.
Kim Sol-eum whispered again.
“However, there’s something you need to be careful about. …Don’t look back at us. We need to be hidden behind the candlelight bearer to receive the effect.”
“…Yes.”
“And don’t look too closely at the candle. …Your mind could be eroded by the candle.”
Go Young-eun slowly nodded.
Though tension gripped her shoulders, Go Young-eun somehow regained her composure.
Because this was her specialty.
“Since you said the exit is on the ground floor earlier… then we’re starting from the 4th floor, which is the middle level, right? That would reduce the number of possibilities the most.”
“Yes. Good.”
Their steps began.
Though thinking about what was about to begin made one’s spine run cold, Go Young-eun gritted her teeth.
I seem to have the smallest courage here, yet I’m holding the candle.
‘I have to do my best.’
Little did I know that the biggest coward of all was right behind me!
Thud, thud.
The footsteps of three people echoed in the bronze-colored hall. Until they climbed to the 4th floor, strangely enough, no sound from the guide machine could be heard…
But that didn’t bring any relief.
Because their destination was…
“Found it.”
Right in front of the guide machine.
“…”
The new employees of who had climbed to the 4th floor finally found the guide machine in charge of the 4th floor corridor after following the mechanical sounds.
Creeeeeeak.
“If you run away now and get outside the candlelight range, it’ll chase after you.”
“I know that too.”
The chilling exchange between Kim Sol-eum and Baek Sa-heon made Go Young-eun’s heart turn cold as well.
It looked like it would move those needle-like appendages at any moment to pluck out their eyes…
Go Young-eun swallowed and stepped forward.
One step at a time.
With each approach, the machine’s image flickered in the candlelight.
Standing before the grotesque spider-shaped machine, Go Young-eun nodded slightly.
“Hello.”
Creeeeeeak.
The guide machine moved.
Eight needles rose up into the air…
Then they were neatly arranged and gently settled around the machine’s body.
And the machine lifted its head, politely shining its gas lamp near Go Young-eun’s feet.
“…!”
It worked.
Go Young-eun swallowed.
The candle’s divine protection was currently being successfully applied to her.
Divine protection that allowed impersonation of the honorable.
-The first card drawn is the purpose of the effect, the second is the method of the effect, and the last is the essence of the effect.
-If combined well, it creates falsehood that interferes with others targeting something honorable…
-It’s probably an ability related to impersonation or deception.
And right now, Go Young-eun was impersonating the most suitable ‘honorable person.’
The target the guide machine was most friendly toward.
Namely…
‘A customer who properly paid all their fees!’
Go Young-eun asked the guide machine in the calmest tone she could manage.
“Please stay still if you disagree with my questions, and nod if you agree.”
Silence.
“…Did the customers who finished viewing and were heading home go upstairs from this 4th floor?”
…
“Did the customers who finished viewing and were heading home go downstairs from this 4th floor?”
Nod.
“…!”
It works!
The candle holder was swept up in euphoria but barely managed to finish the conversation.
“Thank you. I’ll go view the exhibits now.”
The guide machine stood there obediently.
Until the three people in the candlelight left.
The moment they turned the corner, Go Young-eun couldn’t help but exclaim.
“It worked…!”
“Take it slowly. The candle burns for about 2 hours, so it’s important not to extinguish it midway.”
“Yes!”
And it repeated.
“Did the customers who finished viewing and were heading home go downstairs from this 3rd floor?”
Nod.
“Thank you!”
It worked this time too. The three new employees now moved their steps, filled with the thrilling hope of escape.
At this rate.
‘Either the 1st or 2nd floor…!’
The same prediction settled in everyone’s minds.
Go Young-eun bit her tongue and struggled not to get carried away.
‘Carefully, carefully!’
If she accidentally knocked over the candle, it would be the end.
She had to stay calm if she didn’t want to escape with her eyes and tongue, or arms and legs plucked out.
Calmly, at the moment she took a step.
Grab.
Something caught her foot.
Go Young-eun froze and looked down.
There was a human with telephoto lenses shoved in place of eyes.
In a disheveled state, crawling on the floor and struggling as they grabbed her pant leg.
“Sanyang! Sanyang!”
“…!!”
“Please take me with you!”
Team R Leader.
Go Young-eun’s superior.
I looked at the person in front who had stopped walking.
I understood the reason.
Because someone who had grabbed the trouser leg of the person in front was desperately shouting!
“Sanyang! Equipment, if you take me out I’ll make you equipment! You can use the equipment that section chiefs have right away! Huh?!”
‘Go Young-eun was from Team R.’
He was probably the section chief of Team R.
But his appearance was too pathetic to be seen as the leader of a Field Investigation Team.
His arms and legs weren’t collected as fees, but they seemed completely broken as he couldn’t get up from the floor.
‘Did internal conflict break out or something.’
If he was section chief level, he should be able to endure to the end with his own equipment and items and hide around well, but seeing him alone in this state made it almost certain.
A sense of mortal crisis had risen up to his chin.
And in that situation, when a new employee from his team appeared holding what looked like a very extraordinary item, he jumped out.
Instinctively recognizing it as his last lifeline.
“Sanyang! That’s an item! Huhhhh, it looks good. Hey, let me come along too, huh?”
“Wow, isn’t he even scared? He’s just chattering away.”
Baek Sa-heon muttered quietly.
Then he said this to Go Young-eun.
“Should we check if the monster machine comes when it hears sounds? He doesn’t seem like he can run away in that state anyway.”
“What? What kind of bullshit is that…”
“…”
Team R Leader, who had been pleading with Go Young-eun, looked up at Baek Sa-heon.
The telephoto lens glinted.
“Which team are you a new employee of?”
“…”
“Ah. Right. That’s not important… What’s important is getting out of here. But you know… The item our team’s new employee is using is candle-shaped? It’s a consumable.”
“…!”
“Flame… using flame as a medium, hmm, is it for defense? Yeah, it seems like that… Then like this, if I shake it like this! What happens if the flame goes out?”
“Ugh,”
Go Young-eun, who almost staggered for a moment, quickly grabbed the candle firmly.
‘This crazy bastard.’
Just as I was about to summon my specialized equipment into the air and tear off Team R Leader with three hands, the leader clung to Go Young-eun’s leg again.
“Even in this state, would I know less than new employees?? Take me with you!”
“…The team leader left me behind.”
Go Young-eun muttered gloomily and quietly.
“When the machine came out, you pushed me and left.”
“…!”
Since all the employees had scattered and entered separately, I thought Go Young-eun hadn’t met anyone from the same team and had been alone all this time…
So that’s why she was alone.
“No! I did what I could! I couldn’t die trying to save a new employee, so I left you behind! You can take me with you now! When circumstances allow, humans should act humanely!”
The team leader clung desperately while shouting.
No tears flowed from the eye sockets that had turned into lenses.
“If you don’t take me, it’s murder, murder! Just try to leave me behind. I know how to destroy that item. Somehow!! Uh…!”
Thud.
“…!”
Thump.
Team R Leader’s body went limp and collapsed to the side.
Baek Sa-heon returned his left foot, which had struck the leader’s temple, to its original position.
“…”
And I too.
Called back the Third Hand that had struck Team R Leader’s back of the head into my glove.
‘He’s still breathing, right?’
Well, only one of us should have hit him, but this happened to overlap.
Anyway, the situation seemed to have calmed down.
I looked at the collapsed shabby 40s office worker.
‘…Field investigation experience is still experience, I guess.’
He had mixed appeals that would make new employees feel guilty and threats they would fear in a balanced way to spout sophistry.
Go Young-eun was holding the candle stably, but seemed to be looking down at her direct supervisor’s miserable state with shaking eyes…
And Baek Sa-heon said lightly.
“Good. Now should we just tear off the head?”
…What?
“That won’t do.”
“He’s going to die soon anyway, so he’ll be comfortable and we’ll get fees to use when we need Plan B. There’s not a single bad point, right?”
“Consider Sanyang’s mental anguish when cutting the neck. It would be hard to maintain composure after directly killing an acquaintance.”
The more Baek Sa-heon and I spoke from both sides, the paler Go Young-eun’s face became.
“No, what is this, no…”
“What are you saying. To survive, people can do anything, it’s perfectly doable, right?”
“It’s not doable. Don’t listen to him, Sanyang.”
“Sanyang…”
“Wait!”
“…”
“…”
“I’ll just… do it this way.”
Go Young-eun gripped the candle tightly, then kicked Team R Leader and pushed him into the dark sofa corner.
And let out a deep sigh.
“This way he won’t be immediately discovered by the machine… Let’s go now. Before the candle burns out.”
“…”
I nodded.
However, Baek Sa-heon frowned.
“Making things complicated. He’s going to die anyway.”
“…If you saved your life thanks to a kind person, don’t say things like that.”
“…”
Go Young-eun let out a long sigh.
“Still, thank you both. I almost got caught up in it with my eyes open.”
“Not at all.”
Surprisingly, Baek Sa-heon kept his mouth shut. I thought he would sneer or try to tear something away, but it was unexpected.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
We went down the stairs again.
The disturbance and incident had ended.
Our destination was right before our eyes.
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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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