Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 56

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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 056

“Think it over carefully.”

The Government Official in typical serial killer attire spoke reassuringly.

“You’ll never get fired, and it’s a salary grade system where you work until age 65. Since it’s a special occupation, there are separate allowances too.”

Why am I listening to something like a Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau job fair here?

“If you have a ‘constitution’ that gets easily caught up in supernatural phenomena anyway, wouldn’t it be better to at least receive proper money and institutional protection?”

I’m already receiving that though…

No matter how I think about it, an 8th grade Government Official probably doesn’t make more money than a major pharmaceutical corporation!

But here, I couldn’t say that I work at Baekillmong Corporation even if my mouth was torn.

I don’t want to be marked as a person of interest and reported to the Management Bureau!

‘Maybe I should have just continued with Written Communication.’

I began to regret using my voice after much deliberation for faster communication, more persuasive interaction, and impact.

I opened my mouth feeling like I might break out in cold sweat.

For now, they seem to see me as a ‘civilian who gets easily caught up in supernatural phenomena,’ so let me reinforce that…

“This incident was really scary so I tried to do something about it somehow, but I’m someone who doesn’t have the ability to eliminate these supernatural phenomena. Being an Agent is absolutely out of the question.”

“…”

The Government Official looked at me with slightly incredulous eyes.

Why though?

“You thought the Lodge Keeper was the culprit behind this phenomenon, so you terminated the contract to prevent the next incident from happening, right?”

“That’s… right?”

“Then didn’t you lead to the complete termination of this supernatural phenomenon through Autonomous Judgment?”

“…”

“It’s Natural Talent.”

No it’s not.

It’s wiki power…

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t think it’ll work. Actually, this incident was also done in consultation with the Friend who came with me…”

Please, I’m begging you.

“I don’t fight well enough to become an Agent or have any special abilities in the first place.”

“Special abilities.”

The Government Official’s lips curved up slightly.

“There’s… a separate ‘way to learn’ those.”

“…!”

“You’ll hear the details after you’re appointed.”

This is driving me crazy.

“I don’t know what you’re basing this belief on…”

“You’re carrying a Small Silver Shield Badge right now, aren’t you?”

“…!!”

“That’s the reason.”

Ah, damn it.

‘Sharp.’

I had considered this situation, but I deliberately acted more flustered and jumped in surprise.

“What? H-how…”

“That’s Persuasion Equipment used by the Disaster Management Bureau. I heard it was distributed to citizens who had accumulated great good deeds in the past… This is the first time I’ve seen someone who can use it.”

“Ah…”

“Since that’s an Item that only good people can use, it also serves as a kind of certification.”

And then he glanced at me.

“Did you use it by putting it in your Pocket?”

This guy’s smart too.

‘If I pretend not to know here, it’ll be more suspicious instead.’

I’d rather acknowledge its effectiveness and go with that.

Don’t forget, this only works on ‘good people’!

‘They won’t bother to confiscate it. There haven’t been such cases unless someone caused trouble.’

Fortunately, after my brain spun like crazy, a response came out without any gap.

I rummaged through my Pocket with a slightly bitter expression as if there was some story behind it, took out the Small Silver Badge, and held it up.

While naturally mentioning the only legitimate route that wouldn’t make it strange for me to have this.

“…I inherited it from family.”

The Goods Box is my family from today.

“I was told to use it when I need a voice in emergency situations…”

“Yes.”

The Government Official nodded and looked at me with a somewhat pitying expression.

“You had a wonderful family.”

“…”

Did he misunderstand it as ‘they’re watching from Heaven now’?

In some sense, it’s not really a misunderstanding, but well…

I tried not to think of the black Goods Box floating in the sky and said.

“They told me not to voluntarily do dangerous work, and I want to follow those words as much as possible…”

“…”

It matches what my Parents said when they stopped me from going into finance, and I didn’t really volunteer to join this Company either, so I didn’t lie. I didn’t lie!

“…I understand.”

The Government Official looked at me with slightly regretful eyes, but backed down obediently.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

Phew.

That nerve-wracking job fair came to an end.

Along with an unexpected gain.

“Contact me if you have any concerns or problems.”

When we were about to leave the Mountain Lodge, I received another contact from the Government Official.

However, the format was different this time.

Ryu Jae-gwan

010-XXXX-XXXX

“This is my work contact.”

Oh.

“This would be better than the Business Card I gave you before. That one might take time for a dispatch team to be deployed, and you can’t know what kind of Agent will come either.”

In other words, it was a free pass to escape ghost stories.

I exchanged the contact I had received before with this contact, like exchanging a Cassette Tape.

I didn’t know I’d use it like this.

Now, before they ask to exchange names, let me quickly go back… though they’ll probably investigate me anyway.

‘In that case.’

I deliberately scratched the back of my head as if embarrassed.

“Actually, I was a bit scared during the Salmon Market incident so I used Written Communication… but next time we meet, I’d like to talk with my voice like this again.”

“Of course.”

“And… could my identity possibly be kept secret and protected? It’s burdensome and… scary too.”

“…”

The Government Official was briefly silent, but.

“You should be fine going as you are.”

He let it slide.

Awesome!

‘This means they’re leaving it as unidentified, right?’

They even left room for new deals, so it was perfect.

‘Next time I can sell more food with less suspicion.’

“Please be careful going down.”

“You too, Agent.”

I shook hands with the government official.

The government official rode off on his bicycle right away.

Even when the government official made one last recommendation as we parted ways, I handled it quite naturally.

-To be honest, this kind of situation is difficult for me… I’m close to my limit even now. It seems like it would be tough.

This was really sincere.

Baek Sa-heon, you put away those creepy eyes of yours.

The government official also just nodded his head as if it was something he said out of regret, then got on his bicycle without any lingering attachment.

Along with the invaluable advice to leave before the ‘Management Bureau Cleanup Team’ arrived.

‘I need to get out of here right now.’

I left the front of the mountain lodge where the landslide debris and bus stop had disappeared like a lie, and started walking along the mountain trail.

‘Phew.’

The tension finally released.

-For the past few days, this Brown knows about your efforts poured into that artistic final cut, even giving up sleep! You worked hard.

Right. It was damn creepy, scary, and exhausting…

‘Being thrown into this kind of ghost story alone, the Disaster Management Bureau really isn’t the way to go.’

Had Daydream Corporation’s company rating ever been higher in my mind than it was today?

‘At least they give money and points.’

They say even a servant should work for a wealthy household, and that was exactly the situation.

Of course, it doesn’t seem like there’s more fulfillment though…

I looked back at my workplace colleague who was playing a part in that unfulfilling work.

“Let’s get down from here right now. This damn mountain lodge…!”

“…”

“Damn it, getting caught up in this kind of thing when it doesn’t give points or money!”

“Before that, you should have something to say.”

Baek Sa-heon shut his mouth tight.

Then he looked back at me and spoke very defensively.

“I can’t pay anything for this kind of thing. It’s not like I asked you to save me anyway.”

Well, well.

“The cassette exchange reward was also only received by Team Leader Kim Sol-eum… So that settles it.”

“Oh.”

I smiled slightly.

“Interesting. You have the guts to say that to someone who wasted their weekend and had an unauthorized absence because of you?”

“…”

Baek Sa-heon’s face turned pale blue then returned to normal.

And he asked with difficulty.

“…What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

“…?!”

“Actually, it was fun.”

“…!!”

I walked down the mountain path with big strides.

Behind me, I heard Baek Sa-heon’s footsteps hurriedly following and his belated response.

“…Anyway, I’ll admit that the weekend and unauthorized absence caused you trouble.”

“…”

“That’s right.”

Oh.

“I’ll transfer three days’ worth of salary, so wait for it.”

“Okay.”

But a little later.

The moment we entered the communication zone and data connected, Baek Sa-heon ended up screaming.

“The date is the same!”

That’s right.

Doesn’t he know that different time flow in ghost stories is the standard rule?

“Anyway, I spent three days.”

“…!”

But I managed to get my salary, and Baek Sa-heon looked at me with an expression mixed with injustice, relief, and anger, then hurriedly lowered his gaze and ran away.

-Haha, even without this incident, he seems like the type who’d have trouble keeping his body intact!

A bit like that, right?

Actually, there was something else I should have said.

‘I didn’t expect him not to say thank you until the very end.’

He really was an amazing guy in many ways.

Still, he seemed less vicious and had a bit more blood and tears than what I saw in …

Actually, when the government official met this guy in the basement earlier, he looked at him with cold eyes for a moment, then advised me.

-Someone inherited the Silver Heart, and someone inherited the cassette tape…right.

-…

-It would be better if you choose the right people to associate with.

-Mm. Yes. Thank you.

Well now.

The government had arranged for the cassette tape to fall into the hands of villains, only requisitioning from people whose guilt was certain.

So this guy… meant he was a government-certified villain.

Even being really generous, at minimum there was a villain among Baek Sa-heon’s acquisition routes.

-…It was an item at home. I inherited it from a relative.

…A relative.

‘There might be a story behind it.’

But I stopped thinking for now.

I didn’t have the luxury to explore the behind-the-scenes stories of characters from the wiki.

‘I need to survive at the ghost story company first.’

And not long after, this damn company started doing company-like things again.

It brought unpredictable strange things as if they were common sense.

A few days later.

“Team Leader Kim!”

While on my way to buy coffee for my superior’s errand, a familiar face called out to me in the corridor.

It was Lee Byeong-jin, the manual review person in charge who had been missing.

“Ah~ Congratulations. I knew our Team Leader Kim would do well!”

We’ve only known each other for less than two months though….

“Top of your class at entry, scouted by Team A, saved me too, and you even have connections with the security team, and now ultra-fast promotion? Wow, that’s great.”

“Thank you.”

It wasn’t really that great, but I answered that way for now.

However, instead of roughly wrapping up the conversation and leaving, Lee Byeong-jin lowered his voice and whispered.

“Director Ho has his eye on Team Leader Kim.”

“….”

“He’s the best superior in this company. It’s an opportunity, so don’t miss it.”

An opportunity…?

“There are even rumors that the director operates an External Confidential Project Team under him… you might get transferred there.”

Haha. You don’t know anything.

In ghost story worldviews, when ‘external confidential’ is attached, the survival rate drops to less than half….

Instead of saying that, I politely shook my head.

“I haven’t even been with the company for half a year yet, so I don’t hope for such things. I’ll just work hard in the position given to me.”

“Wow, even modest! I really picked the right person. Haha!”

I was just grateful that he had conveniently forgotten all the high-handed attitudes from when I was pretending to be a security guard. People really are creatures of their environment.

Lee Byeong-jin patted my shoulder a few times as if proud, then left with these words.

“Anyway, I’m really curious where you’ll go!”

“…?”

The nuance was strangely different.

‘Why does it seem like he’s speaking on the premise that I’ll definitely go somewhere?’

This question would soon be clarified.

That afternoon.

“Hey Noru. Even if you go to another team, let’s meet sometimes. I couldn’t even buy you meals a few times.”

Huh?

I blinked while looking at the somewhat dejected team leader.

Another team?

Did I… perhaps get demoted to some strange place?

The director was supposedly keeping an eye on me, but was that actually bluffing to reassure me and then shock me to extract a reaction?

Why would they do such useless and evil things to a mere employee…!?

“No, I’d prefer if you stayed on our team if possible… but looking at how the situation is going.”

Fortunately, before I could panic, the deputy kindly explained.

The Field Investigation Team usually has a capacity of 3 people per team, and when they assign one or two extra personnel, it’s usually for training new employees.

And this employee sometimes continues to stay attached to the same team as extra personnel until they get promoted.

“But you’re a team leader now.”

Ah.

I was… excluded from that general case.

“The probability of you getting bounced somewhere else is pretty high… well, maybe you don’t need to worry too much.”

I asked with a bit of hope.

“Will I perhaps be processed as an exception?”

“That’s not it… it’s probably because the 3-person capacity will fit perfectly. Just keep this between us.”

“Yes?”

The deputy chuckled.

“I’m quitting soon.”

“…!!”

A workplace colleague’s escape notice had appeared!

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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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