Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 52

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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 052

3 minutes after getting caught up in a serial killer ghost story and ending up in front of a forest mountain lodge.

The used market trader who got off his bicycle after us approached the door of the mountain lodge.

And seeing me and Baek Sa-heon standing there first, he hesitated for a moment.

‘…It seems like he recognized me.’

The used market seller recognized me, that is.

However, I kept my mouth shut, pretending not to notice him yet.

Baek Sa-heon quickly started talking in an innocent voice.

“Excuse me, are you perhaps the owner of this house? Sorry, but I think we took the wrong bus. The phone doesn’t work because it’s in the forest, so we were wondering if we could make just one call…”

“I also took a wrong turn and came here to ask for help.”

“Ah… I see.”

Only then did I turn to look at him and pretend to be surprised.

“…!”

Just widening my eyes and giving a slight bow.

He must have already noticed, as he didn’t seem particularly flustered and returned a slight nod.

Meanwhile, Baek Sa-heon was subtly probing the other person’s background.

He was probably trying to gauge whether this was someone weaker than him.

“Did you come trekking since it’s the weekend? This seems like a remote place, so you must be a local resident.”

“…No. I’m not sure how I got here either. I definitely started from Seoul.”

“Oh, really? Same with us, but the phone doesn’t work here. Do you happen to know the way out or where this place is…”

“…I’m not sure. Let’s go inside and ask.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Baek Sa-heon seemed to smack his lips at the unproductive conversation, then glanced at the bicycle the other person had ridden.

And he finally seemed to confirm it.

The mark printed on the handle.

[Seoul Metropolitan Government #2153]

It was obviously for government official business use. Baek Sa-heon, who had spotted an opening for extracting personal information, brightened up.

“Excuse me, by any chance…”

I poked Baek Sa-heon in the ribs.

He stiffened and closed his mouth, turning to look at me.

I slowly mouthed the words.

‘Disaster Management Bureau.’

“…!”

‘You must have heard at least once while working that the Company and the Management Bureau have a deadly bad relationship.’

If we get caught…

When I made a slight gesture as if drawing a line across my throat, Baek Sa-heon’s complexion changed.

He never again actively spoke to the government official. Hmm. Good attitude.

“I’ll open the door.”

I nodded to the government official who had already grasped the door handle, and he lightly opened the wooden door of the mountain lodge.

Creeeeak.

“Is anyone there?”

The midday sunlight poured into the somewhat dark interior of the mountain lodge.

And…

“Oh oh oh? Someone else came!”

“Are you the owner here??”

People who had arrived earlier revealed themselves.

A man and woman who appeared to be a married couple, three people in their twenties, and one middle-aged person.

Six people.

Including the three of us… 9 people.

‘It’s started.’

Suppressing the urge to squeeze my eyes shut, I stepped into the mountain lodge.

And everything proceeded in a clichéd manner…

The married couple who said their GPS malfunctioned and brought them here.

“I mean, the GPS guides us to a strange place, the car breaks down, the phone doesn’t work… This is driving me crazy!”

“Oh my, honey, that’s what I told you. Let’s go to Sapporo instead of Sokcho!”

Three university students from a mountain climbing club who got lost.

“We even left our car down there in the open.”

“Right… ah, this is maddening.”

Even a middle-aged man who was looking for the nearest bus stop to go home after finishing his substitute driver job.

“Well, at least meeting people gives me great relief. If we wait, won’t the owner come?”

-And now when the lodge owner appears, will the bloody party begin?

Something like that.

I looked around with the dead fish eyes of someone who had given up on everything.

I couldn’t even properly bring any items.

It’s really hard to survive…

‘Let me just worry about myself. Only myself!’

We did get some questions as newcomers.

“What do you young people do for work?”

“Ah, we’re just office workers, but we took the wrong bus route while trying to go on a business trip. This is our team leader, and I’m an employee.”

Look at this bastard Baek Sa-heon subtly shifting responsibility.

I took out my notebook.

Since I was still in my outdoor clothes, having it in my pocket allowed me to maintain my character.

[Hello.]

“Huh? Why are you writing…”

[My throat is a bit uncomfortable.]

“Ah.”

The three university students turned their heads with expressions that said I was being dramatic. And the married couple glanced at me and distanced themselves slightly.

“Oh my, they say colds are severe these days, so you must have caught something like that?”

“You should at least wear a mask or something. What if you infect others.”

[I’m sorry. I’ll try not to talk and be careful.]

Baek Sa-heon looked at me with eyes like he was seeing something disgusting. He’s been having the reactions I should be having since earlier.

“But is that young man over there also from the same company?”

“No, we met in front of the door… hmm.”

The Salmon Market cool trader had a large build and sharp eyes giving him quite a fierce impression, but he replied politely.

“I’m a government official from Seoul City Hall.”

Oh. So he’s telling the truth about this.

He gave a reasonable explanation about being a government official and getting lost while riding his bicycle.

Of course, that was the end of it.

He didn’t breathe a word about being part of the Supernatural Disaster Management Agency, or that they were all trapped in a ghost story where Russian roulette would determine whether they’d be killed by a serial killer or not.

Still, people weren’t fools, so they seemed to sense something was strange.

“So all these people got lost in broad daylight and ended up at this countryside pension?”

“It’s like we were bewitched by ghosts.”

“Hey! Honey, don’t say such unlucky things.”

Numbers make people brave.

Even while mentioning ghosts, people now glanced around as if watching a spectacle.

“Come to think of it, this place…”

“Looks like a well-off house, right? You know, like those rich houses every neighborhood had when we were kids.”

That was exactly right.

The wooden mountain lodge built in a style popular decades ago had a slightly rustic but endearing sense of abundance and luxury.

“Oh my, look over there. There’s even a gold frame!”

A large picture frame hung on one side of the living room, and the frame did indeed appear to be pure gold.

But I noticed the contents inside rather than the frame first.

There was a poem.

+++

Pleasant Mealtime

Rabbits roasted in the kitchen

Deer caught in the backyard

Pigeons fattened in the room

Lamb sliced fresh in the living room

Sounds of joyful hopping and laughter

Wooden floors thumping underfoot

The dining table grows abundant

Humming can be heard

The whole family sits together

Bon appétit

+++

“…”

No way.

‘This is such obvious foreshadowing.’

-Ho. Could this be a metaphor for the serial murders that will unfold?

It certainly seems that way.

However, there didn’t seem to be anyone here interested in horror or mystery genres.

A few university students from the mountain climbing club giggled among themselves, then even committed theft by slipping an ivory ornament from the table next to the sofa into their pocket.

‘Oh.’

I wouldn’t be surprised to see them as tomorrow’s first corpses.

The moment I thought that.

Clatter.

“…!!”

A sound came from behind the kitchen.

I could see the shadow of the back door opening.

And a shadowy figure slowly walking through the open door.

Wearing a worn hood, hunched over with face hidden, that figure was…

“Greetings, visitors to the mountain lodge.”

“…?!”

“I am the lodge keeper here, and I will attend to you during your stay.”

It was a deep voice.

He bowed to us with very polite, old-fashioned Seoul speech.

-Oh, a suspicious person involved!

Right. The character who usually appears as ‘the butler managing the murder mansion.’

Unlike me with my dead-fish eyes, people were flustered by the speech and content that didn’t match his shabby appearance.

“Um, excuse me, but we’re not guests. We got lost and came to borrow a phone…”

“No, that’s not right. You have come at the proper time.”

“Pardon?”

“Haven’t you come to exchange cassette tapes?”

People hesitated.

“The ones you have in your pockets right now.”

“…!”

As if bewitched, each person searched their pockets and pulled out items.

Old ivory-colored cassette tapes with smudged titles, similar to what Baek Sa-heon had.

“…What!”

“How does everyone have those…”

“The master of this lodge was quite wealthy, and during his lifetime, he distributed those cassette tapes to various places.”

People flinched.

“And he made a promise.”

“Wh-what kind of promise?”

“‘If you visit the lodge with that cassette tape, I will let you exchange it for anything I possess’… that promise.”

“…!”

“That remains valid even now that he has passed away.”

-Legacy inheritance! What good bait.

Isn’t it obvious bait…

‘No, maybe it’s obvious because it works so well.’

Money always has magical power.

People laughed awkwardly, but their eyes reflexively turned to the various precious metals and Goryeo celadon in the display case.

A middle-aged man burst into hearty laughter and grabbed the pure gold frame as if joking but seriously.

“Ha, so I can just take this?”

The lodge keeper answered smoothly and politely.

“Of course. However, you may take it and leave after three days.”

“What?”

Hmm. As expected.

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

Strong Financial Reward

Here, the ‘certain time period’ ranges from a maximum of one week to a minimum of 12 hours, presented within what entrants can handle for the financial reward.

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

“To ensure you don’t waste your one-time exchange opportunity, we’re giving you three days to think it over.”

“No, I said we don’t need that!”

“Then you can leave now. However, the exchange won’t be possible.”

At the Lodge Keeper’s words, the Married Couple shut their mouths tight. It seemed they felt reluctant to give up free money.

One of the Mountain Climbing Club members raised their hand from behind.

“Excuse me. Then… would something like this work too? Like, give me all the inheritance of the deceased person?”

“That’s possible.”

“…!!”

The playfulness completely disappeared from the University Student’s tone.

“Would asking for this mountain lodge work too?”

“Yes.”

“…”

People’s eyes changed.

‘They want to believe it.’

The uncomfortable eeriness vanished completely, replaced by an atmosphere as if financial luck they’d only seen on the internet had come to them.

After checking the will and documents the manager showed them, it turned into conviction.

“This seems to be real.”

“Crazy…”

Even the cursing Married Couple’s demeanor changed.

“Weekend trip or whatever, let’s endure it. If push comes to shove, huh? We can just call the police.”

“Exactly. Oh my, did some spiritual fortune teller put a talisman in the tape? People have gathered. How interesting, so interesting.”

The Lodge Keeper even gave us time to make individual phone calls.

After everyone finished their contacts, the atmosphere became excited as if this were some kind of event.

The watching Lodge Keeper bowed his head deeply.

“When so many people visit at once like this, the exchange order would be important.”

“Ah, that’s right!”

“If the first person to speak says give me all the inheritance, it’s over!”

“Therefore… we’ll give exchange priority to those who possess the most cassette tapes first.”

“…!”

Instantly, people looked around at each other.

Especially the three College Students who came together exchanged glances among themselves.

If divided into groups, they had the most tapes.

“Wait, are you telling us to buy other people’s cassette tapes?”

“I’m merely explaining the method. It’s not mandatory, and it would be interesting for each of you to wisely create exchange conditions. The order would be important too.”

“…”

A meaningful tension passed between the people.

“Shall I prepare rooms for you? There are suitable bedrooms on the 2nd Floor.”

“Ah, right.”

“Yes. Let’s start with the bedrooms…”

“Wait a moment, excuse me.”

Baek Sa-heon’s voice was heard from among the people.

“I might have to go back due to urgent business. Could you tell me the way out of here?”

“Of course.”

However, that didn’t happen.

A little later.

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

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

Weather anomaly

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

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

“They say heavy rain has fallen and the outside has been buried by landslides. Fortunately, the power hasn’t been cut off, so there shouldn’t be any problems with your stay.”

“…”

Baek Sa-heon looked at me with an expression that said ‘Aren’t we screwed?’

‘Right.’

I shrugged my shoulders.

Anyway, now that things had come to this, no one could leave here until everything that was going to happen had happened.

‘Thanks to that, I’m currently racking my brain thinking of ways to get through this.’

Still, if there was one good thing, it was that at least no ghosts would appear…

‘…But a killer will appear.’

And isn’t it obvious?

It’s a commonly used twist in all movies and novels, and it’s the same in ghost stories.

The killer is…

Special role

Among these people.

Serial Killer

I had to find and avoid the person among these who would transform into a killer.

This person will firmly believe they are an entity that has inherited the inspiration and legacy of a legendary killer derived from this place, and will experience mental and physical transformation.

‘Hmm.’

Or… I could use a slightly different method.

Just as I was stroking my chin, I happened to see the Government Official quietly leaving his seat.

“I’ll go check the weather outside for a moment.”

“Please do.”

I followed him out to the veranda.

Strong rain and wind began to blow, the outside became dark, and raindrops made my clothes somewhat wet.

The heavy rain seemed like it would cover the sound of conversation.

I carefully held up my notebook to keep it from getting wet.

[Excuse me, you’re the person who bought cookies, right? I was worried I might be mistaken.]

Fortunately, the Government Official didn’t pretend not to know.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

However, he was looking me up and down as if sizing me up.

Hmm.

I pretended to look around, and after confirming that no one was looking this way, I quickly scribbled small text in my notebook with a tense expression.

[Sorry, but do you think this… might be a strange situation?]

“…”

[No matter how I think about it, it’s strange that only people with cassette tapes all got lost and arrived here]

[Could it be… ghosts or something?]

[Could it be… a ghost?]

Anyway, they probably already know that I’m someone who has experienced supernatural incidents. Since I even sold food that came out of a ghost story.

They wouldn’t find it strange if I asked questions to this extent.

‘The problem is whether they’ll judge that I came here on purpose.’

I’d prefer to be treated as an innocent civilian if possible.

I was planning to decide my future course of action based on how they reacted here.

‘Honestly, there’s a high probability I’ll safely answer ‘I don’t really know’…’

“That’s correct.”

…??

Right away?

The Government Official seemed to hesitate slightly, but asked me.

“How did you obtain the cassette tape?”

[Actually, I don’t have one… I saw my Company Colleague had one]

[It looked ominous somehow, so I told them to throw it away, then we got on the bus and ended up here]

“….”

The Government Official put his hand to his chin and fell silent for a moment.

“Do you get caught up in these kinds of incidents often?”

I deliberately just smiled as if troubled.

[Sometimes?]

“I see.”

The other person hesitated before continuing.

“I’m… um, well, something like a government agent.”

He’s revealing this much?

[Really? Like a ghost-catching 007?]

“Um… yes.”

[Wow!]

…The expression ‘this isn’t the time to be impressed’ is showing way too obviously on your face.

“Anyway, this place is indeed within a supernatural phenomenon. Please be careful. …Stay with me as much as possible, and if absolutely unavoidable, move around in groups of three or more.”

Wait a minute.

‘It seems like they’re treating me as an even more innocent civilian than I thought?’

I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s a good thing. I quickly answered.

[Thank you. But… what about the other people?]

The Government Official answered firmly.

“You don’t need to worry about them.”

Hmm.

[Can I tell my Company Colleague about th-]

“No.”

Oops.

The Government Official glanced around the living room, then lowered his voice and spoke quietly.

As if confessing an enormous secret.

“Actually.”

Actually?

“…There’s a killer among us.”

Mm.

Yes.

I know…

Of course, I couldn’t show it, so I pretended to be shocked and quickly scribbled the next words in my notebook.

[A killer? How do you know that??]

“…This mountain lodge isn’t an ordinary place. It’s never been disclosed to the media, but similar situations have already repeated several times, with visitors being murdered by killers.”

-Ah, the nightmare of that day recreated at a historic, legendary murder scene… What excellent taste.

No, not you, Host.

“No matter how close someone is, don’t trust them, and when you’re alone, it would be best to never open your door to anyone in your lodging room.”

‘Usually, isn’t the person desperately trying to stay in their room the first to die…’

Anyway, through this conversation, I think I’ve confirmed several facts about the other person.

And about this ghost story as well.

[Thank you]

I expressed my gratitude and evening greetings to the Government Official, then left the veranda.

And I was able to go to my assigned room with a more comfortable feeling.

Since I had decided what to do.

“Phew.”

I searched the room.

There was something I was looking for.

Specifically…

-As murder weapons.

When I opened the wall closet in this room, I could see two fairly large hand axes hanging as decorations.

“….”

It’s really scary and tiring, but there’s no choice.

-Ah, this will be really interesting!

Since it’s come to this…

‘Should I make the first move?’

I pulled out an axe.

Serial Killer, I’ll give it a try.

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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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