Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 48
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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 048
The conference room was in chaos.
“Seventeen people have survived and returned, haven’t they!”
“Seventeen…?! Wait, is that number correct? Isn’t that a counting error?”
“Yes. Ah! It’s increased to 20 now.”
The Field Investigation Team that had been deployed to Gidae-ju Darkness in the morning had suddenly returned en masse.
The situation was completely opposite to predictions, causing an instant paralysis in response.
“Wait, they said the case study was finished, that they’d escape sequentially in small groups, so what is this?”
All sorts of voices erupted in chaos over this unexpected situation, questioning whether these were really the employees they had sent in, and whether everyone should be examined in the research laboratory.
But as the bewilderment subsided, the thought that crept into their minds was… a thrilling premonition of success.
Wasn’t this an encouraging result?
Similar thoughts arose in the minds of several people who had pushed for this operation.
‘If this survival rate is real…!’
Their bold and wise choice had made their investment successful!
They hadn’t expected such a high success rate in procurement, so they were stunned.
‘Shouldn’t we quickly start building public opinion about this?’
‘Wait, I need to mention my contribution starting now.’
But all this confusion, excitement, and worry was instantly erased.
After just one more piece of news was delivered.
“It’s B Grade.”
“Huh.”
The appraisal result of the Dream Essence Collector from the first employee to escape showed the solution was rated B Grade.
In other words, the ‘high survival rate A Grade’ they had dreamed of… didn’t exist.
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly sank with disappointment.
“Sigh… I figured as much.”
“Didn’t we get our hopes up talking about A Grade and jinx it?”
“Still, wait? This survival rate for B Grade is rare, isn’t it? Right, Section Chief Gwak?”
Researcher Gwak Je-gang, who had been urgently summoned, smiled broadly.
“Of course~ This is amazing.”
No, actually it wasn’t just amazing… it was astounding!
Don’t these people even know what the initial employee survival rates are by grade?
That’s why they have no idea how incredible this situation is! That’s why they’re not foaming at the mouth wanting to find out the exploration details right now!
‘Wow~ Amazing.’
Watching them exchange pleasantries and consolations with nuances like ‘We were unlucky, but our judgment was correct,’ even Gwak Je-gang found it amusing.
Does this look like a situation that needs consoling?
‘Do these people have no sense of reality at all!’
The average survival rate for B Grade civilians was in the 2% range.
The mass deployment of employees without proper manuals was itself a reckless adventure, yet they respond to these astounding results with disappointment and self-praise?
They had even hastily adopted only the opinion of one research team section chief who gave expert advice tailored to their preferences, just to keep up appearances.
The reason was obvious.
‘Because they wanted to do it!’
Thanks to that, he was pleased to have such interesting results to analyze, but it was just amazing that this company functioned properly with such upper management in the Development Department.
Gwak Je-gang felt inwardly sorry. This company needed to last long for him to research these fascinating anomalous phenomena in various ways!
However, wasn’t it a risk for this company that the members of the ‘Innovation Development Strategy Office,’ which only had a fancy name, were like this?
Though it was normal for family companies to be complete chaos with no system when viewed from the inside.
‘I heard rumors, but… are all the upper management attached to the owner’s side like this?’
Of course, not everyone in this room was like that.
Gwak Je-gang glanced at one person sitting somewhat apart.
This was someone who hadn’t been in the previous meeting.
‘Someone from Director Ho’s side.’
They were sitting here after saying they were ‘interested in this agenda and could briefly attend.’
No matter how much the Development Department upper management interfered with the Field Investigation Team, this was unusual.
Moreover, they were openly having their person report the situation remotely.
Like this.
“One employee greatly helped with this large-scale escape.”
“What??”
An atmosphere filled with wariness and tension rather than trying to look good.
But everyone was shocked by what followed.
“It’s a New Employee.”
“…!”
“They apparently ‘broadcast’ the escape method to inform all employees… We should look into what method was used in detail.”
“…”
“There are those who are curious about this.”
Director Ho, of course.
The Strategy Office people exchanged glances and rambled as if making excuses.
“Ah, we’ll send detailed information as soon as the exploration report comes out.”
“Right. Usually when people just come out of field investigation, they’re not in their right minds and talk nonsense.”
“But they wouldn’t make up stories that didn’t happen, would they?”
“That’s…”
“So I’m saying.”
Director Ho’s person cut off the conversation.
“They’re curious about what decision the ‘Innovation Development Strategy Office’ will make.”
“…”
“About the employee’s reward.”
“Congratulations, Team Leader Kim.”
“…What?”
I almost spit out my iced americano while drinking it on the medical room bed.
After hearing the tearfully grateful words ‘our youngest worked hard, just rest,’ I had been lying down for a few hours after a simple physical examination.
I thought I’d gradually leave work and only hear about this exploration tomorrow after coming to work…
Team Leader?
“Oh, you didn’t mishear. Team Leader Kim.”
Eun Ha-je grinned.
“You got promoted. The shortest record since this company’s Field Investigation Team was established!”
“…!!”
“I honestly saw this coming. Now the days of hearing formal speech from our Noru are over.”
“Hey, if you wait just six more months, won’t you be speaking casually with me too?”
Wait, this isn’t some neighborhood corner store, how can an employee become a team leader in just two months?
‘Isn’t this just common office rumors?’
I asked this more politely, but the answer was firm.
“No, it was deserved. Do you know how many employees you saved this time?”
Eun Ha-je crossed her arms.
“Including you, a total of 26 people.”
“…!”
“Noru, seventeen employees escaped just by listening to your announcement broadcast!”
“If we include the people who came out late after confirming others were escaping, you practically saved them all.”
The assistant manager added that there were even several civilian escapees.
“Records like this come out maybe once every few years, right? Honestly, it shouldn’t just end with a promotion – they should do something more.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Let’s probe around tomorrow after the team leader finishes the meeting. It seems like they’ll definitely give you something.”
I was grateful to my supervisors who were excited as if it were their own achievement, but I felt bewildered.
A promotion.
…A promotion after just 60 days of work at a major corporation!
A modern person’s heart would be racing!
“Get mentally prepared. Special personnel changes like this come up quickly.”
And it really happened just as they said.
The very next day, I saw the promotion-related official document posted on the intranet.
[Special Personnel Announcement]
As if it were natural, the three characters ‘Kim Sol-eum’ were written there.
“…”
Bzzzzzz.
My smartphone was ringing. It seemed congratulatory calls were coming from here and there…
W-wait a minute.
‘This looks like they’re processing it quickly to minimize internal backlash.’
The Field Investigation Team is also a place where humans work. Naturally, when their lives are saved, they feel emotions like being moved or grateful.
In that sense, well, twenty-seven people would be feeling something like gratitude toward me anyway, so there would be little backlash…
I could sense from the announcement timing their determination not to miss that moment and promote me.
But why…? Why are they going this far to promote me?
‘J-just how much more are they planning to work me?’
Isn’t it enough that I mainly go into newly registered ghost stories without manuals?
The more I imagined, the more terrifying predictions came to mind, so I contacted an elite supervisor from another team, but…
[Are you stupid? It would be stranger if you didn’t get promoted.]
“…??”
[Didn’t the manual review person in charge also come looking for you when you went missing? With the kind of results you’re producing that create buzz, it’s obvious someone higher up would take notice.]
Assistant Manager Jin Na-sol from Team A clicked her tongue.
[I should have just brought you to our team when there was a vacancy. Tsk. Why did you refuse for no reason?]
“…”
[Anyway, I’ll congratulate you. It was a promotion that was going to happen anyway.]
“…Yes, um, thank you.”
I eventually had to hang up feeling deflated.
And I leaned back against my office chair and thought.
Right.
I denied reality, but it seems I’ve finally reached this stage…
‘Me… an elite employee?’
A special character worthy of being listed by name in ?
The kind that some hardline creators would try to kill off plausibly somehow to maintain the worldview’s atmosphere and remove from the wiki…
But the kind that gains popularity and recognition through videos on WeTube and such, so they just leave it alone in the end… that kind of character?
I think this is also called a Mary Sue…
‘How did it come to this?’
No, maybe it was inevitable.
Honestly, having read all of was cheating!
‘In situations where I might die immediately if I don’t use it, this is me being as subtle as possible.’
The problem is…
‘What happens now if it’s discovered that I’m a coward?’
Even thinking it would just end with assignment to the cleanup team had become wishful thinking.
I couldn’t tell how far the ripple effects would reach.
If the question arises ‘Why has a coward had such good performance until now?’…
‘It feels like interrogation and experimentation await me…?’
The moment it’s revealed that I came from a parallel dimension, I could see a future of being dragged to the research team.
Cold sweat seemed to be streaming down my forehead.
Oh, no.
I got up from my seat, took my coffee, and walked around the break room once.
After consuming caffeine, my head cleared up a bit.
Right.
‘If I can’t avoid it, I need to increase my survival rate here.’
If I’m already marked, continuing to show performance worthy of that would actually help me avoid unnecessary attention.
‘I just need to make them think this person is naturally this competent and special.’
It’s not like there aren’t such employees. Like Lizard Team Leader or Butterfly Mask Assistant Manager Jin.
I’d be classified as one of the named characters and that would be it.
Although the probability of being deployed to more dangerous ghost stories has increased, increased… *gasp*, no. It might actually be good.
If I’m treated as high-level personnel, they might send me less to places where I’d definitely die!
‘And I can earn points faster too.’
The more I thought about it, it wasn’t bad for escaping this world quickly, but…
To do that, there was an essential step needed.
‘Character, I need to build a character…’
I had to appear naturally as a ‘competent and special unit’ without raising suspicion.
Just like how I acted crazy toward Baek Sa-heon, maintaining an appropriate line.
To do that…
‘…I need more cards I can use for character traits.’
“…”
I looked up.
Above my head, what had been sparkling continuously since escaping from the exhibition was still in that same place.
[Darkness Investigation Records Real Goods Box]
-New goods usage permission unlocked! (!)
Since I’d need to make plans again after opening that, I’d been postponing this confirmation until my stamina recovered and my judgment returned.
One of the goods I bought at the popup store.
‘It’s time to receive it.’
But I have no idea what this ‘usage permission’ I achieved at the exhibition actually means.
Number of item uses?
I slightly touched the black notebook glowing by my head, moving as if I were stretching.
Click.
With a somewhat clear sound, a small, light object wrapped in plastic fell into my hand.
“…”
Shining silver, shield-shaped with ‘CHARGE’ calligraphy engraved in relief, it was…
A badge.
‘Ah.’
I understood.
The condition I fulfilled was ‘good deeds.’
======================
Darkness Investigation Records / Supernatural Disaster Management Agency
/ Items
Silver Heart
Altruistic Behavior
The creator’s strong belief that ‘it is socially most efficient for altruistic people to gain power’ is heavily reflected.
Item usage condition: Those who have achieved the merit of saving 12 or more people in supernatural disasters.
======================
Also known as the ‘Character Verification Badge.’
It was an item produced and distributed by the Disaster Management Agency. It gained explosive recognition by playing a major role in the exploration records of a certain sealed train explosion ghost story.
This unique attribute made it even more so.
As you can see, it’s an item exclusive to good people.
An object that allows good people to exert influence on groups.
‘To think the day would come when I’d meet this condition…’
It’s almost burdensome.
It was an item that was rarely used in mostly heartwarming ways, but just once there was an insanely catastrophic disaster.
‘That’s how ghost story worldviews are.’
When records accumulate, there’s always one terrifying incident mixed in to create tension.
So while there were records of it being distributed to very good civilians in the past, it was changed to only being loaned to subordinate civil servants through strict regulations.
I had watched the wiki being updated in real time.
What does this mean?
It means it’s almost impossible to predict that a Daydream Corporation employee would suddenly use this ‘Silver Heart’ at this point!
‘So I can actually use it.’
I don’t know how many good deeds I’ll be able to do in the future since my nose is three feet long, but I should at least be able to receive the basic effects, right?
At minimum, if I give my coworkers the impression that ‘this person seems pretty remarkable,’ it’ll be much easier to appear like a competent employee.
‘Good. Let me take good care of this.’
There’s no law saying I have to die.
I carefully put the ‘Silver Heart’ in my pocket and left the break room with a much lighter heart.
Then the reward for this exhibition exploration was also waiting for me.
“Noru! It hasn’t appeared in the official document yet, but they say they’re giving you a bonus too!”
“…!”
“Ugh, our Noru should naturally receive it, but this reality where you’re surprised is truly regrettable…”
“Exactly. Do you think B-grade is some kid’s name? Those who go in will die immediately… Do they think urban legends are a joke?”
Th, thank you…
“Still, it’s good that the bonus came out pretty decent.”
‘Decent’?
That’s high praise by Manager Eun’s standards.
Looking at her expression, there was even a hint of admiration. This was unusual.
“…What kind of item is it?”
“Regeneration Potion.”
“…!!”
“You can’t really tell what it is just from the name, right?”
I understood it too well.
It was an item so famous that I couldn’t possibly not know it!
This wasn’t like the health recovery potions they used to give out at the medical room.
-One of the official product lines that is proud of. One of the magic potions.
A miraculous cure.
======================
Darkness Investigation Records / Daydream Corporation
/ Potions
Regeneration Potion
Regenerates external traumatic defects
Becomes more powerful as the grade increases and takes on a deep green color.
======================
“Simply put, it’s a medicine that generates body parts… and it’s C-grade. Even if limbs disappear, they’ll just regenerate.”
“…!”
“Even manager-level and above specialized equipment doesn’t have this kind of ability. It’s this company’s special medicine. If converted to points, it’s worth 10,000 points at regular price.”
The deputy manager grinned and patted my back.
“You’ll be able to use it handily later. It’s such a dangerous industry. How great is it that even if arms and legs fly off or eyes, nose, and mouth disappear, they’ll grow back.”
You didn’t really need to tell me that part…
“And… this might be slightly disappointing or good news, want to hear it?”
“Yes?”
“You’re not the only one receiving this.”
“Sol-eum!”
“Hello.”
I greeted Go Young-eun who was waving her hand. I could also see Baek Sa-heon sitting next to her.
The company had gathered the three of us in one place while distributing bonuses and performing the photo-taking ceremony.
These were faces I was seeing for the first time in several days since escaping the exhibition.
What about Baek Sa-heon being my roommate? These days he doesn’t even come out of his room. Thanks to that, I comfortably watched living room TV with Brown.
“Did you rest well? Is your body okay?”
“I’m fine. How about you, Young-eun…?”
I stopped talking mid-sentence when I realized.
Go Young-eun was observing the shape of my mouth, trying her best to read my pronunciation.
“My ears still can’t hear.”
“…”
Of course that would be the case.
Fortunately, the rental device that had been in her ears was automatically returned the moment we left the exhibition, so it seemed there was no chance of ‘exhibition staff’ chasing after us.
Moreover, Go Young-eun was holding the bonus she had just received from the company.
Opening the luxurious box decorated with gold leaf and mural-like designs, inside was a beautiful glass bottle sealed with beeswax.
A fresh green light like new sprouts rippling inside the glass.
Regeneration
C (excellent)
C-grade Regeneration Potion.
Go Young-eun lifted up the glass bottle.
Her eyes were filled with hope, anxiety, and anticipation.
“Well then, I’ll drink mine right away first.”
“Yes.”
Go Young-eun opened the ‘Regeneration Potion.’
And gulp, she downed it all at once.
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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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