Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 61

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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 061

Suddenly, the bath additive made from squeezing out 500ml of my blood was being appraised by Brown.

‘…Unique?’

I was flustered.

‘I almost turned to look at the bathtub.’

I kept my head fixed and asked.

“What do you mean by unique?”

-Exactly what I said! Well, there are different types of bath additives, aren’t there? Salt, oil, bubbles… Noru’s has quite a few differences from that wild ginseng. There are similarities too.

Well,

That one’s a ghost story wild ginseng, and I’m human…

‘Wouldn’t they naturally be different?’

-They are different. But why does Noru have similarities with that wild ginseng?

“…!”

-Hmm… Ah. I understand the reason.

Brown smacked his lips again as if tasting wine, then said this.

-Noru. Your bath additive is blended.

Blended.

Literally meaning mixed.

Mainly used in coffee or cocktails to combine various ingredients and create new flavors…

-That’s right. There’s an ingredient mixed in that’s similar to wild ginseng somewhere…

“…”

Is this talking about ghost story contamination?

I thought of the Security Chief.

That appearance when something like a twisted wolf emerged, tearing through human form.

Is that phenomenon of being contaminated and eroded by supernatural occurrences happening to me too?

-Contamination! That’s too extreme and negative an expression. Life is originally a process of change, isn’t it? Influencing each other, that’s what makes it enjoyable!

Damn.

I reflexively looked down at my body. If there’s the most noticeable influence of ‘supernatural phenomena’…

“Do you think that ‘influence’ is caused by the tattoo?”

-Hmm. Guessing the origin of something already mixed is quite difficult…

-Some connoisseurs claim they can identify the farm just by touching wine to their tongue tip, but I’m not the type of host who likes such pretentious behavior!

“…”

-Anyway, well, it’s not like Noru will meet a new version of yourself next week or anything, so there’s nothing to fear!

Theoretically, that’s correct.

‘As long as I live and work here, being contaminated by ghost stories to some extent is unavoidable.’

Making a fuss about it was meaningless.

The stronger the supernatural abilities I can originally use become, and the more types there are, the greater the eroding power becomes.

I have to maintain balance between them.

Though it didn’t seem like I had abilities to the extent where I needed to worry about that balance yet.

‘…I’ll have to manage this too from now on.’

Among the facilities opened when I became Team Leader, there happened to be a place where I could get this managed.

I should visit once after safely getting through this ghost story.

-Hmm. There seems to be something very unique mixed in as well… Ah, it’s all dissolved.

Brown, who had been sniffing as if trying to appraise the bath additive more, let out a long, satisfied sigh.

-I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly!

How nice that at least you enjoyed it.

Inside the bathtub, neon lights flickered several times as if changing TV channels.

And the shadow of the stuffed doll lying comfortably against the bathtub wall crossed energetically.

-Shall we go out now?

I walked over and picked up Brown.

This time too, the stuffed doll looked mysteriously more luxurious, but there was no difference in size.

Still, Brown’s voice sounded somewhat clearer and more intelligent.

I covered the doll with a towel to block it from view and asked.

“Are you overflowing with power?”

-More than enough!

-Mmm, it feels like returning to the awakened state of my busy days…

It seemed there wasn’t as dramatic a change as when using that contaminated wild ginseng, but it appeared rejuvenation had occurred.

And the moment I lifted the towel covering Brown, I confirmed something I hadn’t seen before.

‘…A tag?’

I could see a piece of cloth that looked like a cut-off tag on the stuffed doll’s nape.

‘Was there originally an intact tag attached to this spot?’

It seemed like a part that had been cut off was restored during the rejuvenation process.

‘Strange feeling.’

I should remember this.

-Ah, how comfortable.

“That’s good.”

After removing the moisture from the stuffed doll, I placed it carefully on the towel on the table where I usually kept it.

Preparations were complete.

“I have a favor to ask.”

-Ah, I had a rough idea!

Friend

“Right.”

The rejuvenated Brown would be able to use more powerful abilities.

-Understood. How many people?

“Two people.”

Two days later.

Following the official document I received, I went to work at a different location instead of the company.

It was a closed private kindergarten building, and company people had already settled inside.

“You’re here.”

“Noru came early!”

As I stood near the entrance of the kindergarten that hadn’t been properly cleaned up, the team members soon arrived.

“Please let those bastards die instead of us.”

“Please… definitely…”

“…”

Thank you for speaking in small voices.

But actually, even if they had been heard, it probably wouldn’t have mattered much since everyone was making the same expression.

“Noru, Noru! Do you see that person who brought a rabbit’s foot? That’s an item that supposedly improves luck.”

“Does it really improve it?”

“Would it? Some guy who wore a similar item in the exploration before last got caught and went to the afterlife in one shot.”

“…”

“Deputy Manager is right. Here, all those items are ineffective… they say the selection is done ‘fairly.'”

I looked back at the Team Leader who was smiling awkwardly.

His face was pale, so even though he had prepared himself, he seemed very nervous.

“Team Leader.”

“Yeah?”

“Would the company have a problem if I tried something like that too?”

“Ah, trying to devise countermeasures to avoid being selected as a sacrifice?”

“Mm, something like that.”

The Team Leader smiled and patted my back.

“Oh Noru, of course! Everyone does it!”

“I bet my monthly salary that all the humans here have done all sorts of crazy things for three days trying to get out of this somehow.”

How bold of you, Deputy Manager…

Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je chuckled.

“How do you think they found out it doesn’t work in the first place? Even bastards who tried everything got caught as sacrifices.”

“…”

“What. Noru wants to try something too?”

“Yes.”

After thinking, I took Brown out of my pocket.

“Ah, the keyring you carry around.”

“It’s my lucky friend, would it be okay if I lent this friend’s ability to you two as well? In secret.”

Both of them smiled with slightly deflated expressions and nodded.

“Well… thanks.”

“I hope there’s some luck, really!”

Okay.

‘I’ve also handled things in advance so there won’t be any gossip later.’

“Phew.”

-Now, let’s get ready.

“Entering soon.”

Like the others, I looked at the single old pendulum clock hanging in the entrance.

Tick.

The clock hand passes 8:59:56 AM.

-Now you will enter the studio.

-Don’t be nervous even if you see cameras, think of them as starlight. You’ll feel very comfortable.

Tick.

57 seconds.

Strangely, my heart was calm.

Confidence in my identity.

-You happen to be wearing a mask! Oh, good.

-That mask is now you.

Tick.

58 seconds.

I raised my head.

My horns were itchy. They have a wood-like texture, but only I know that they’re not actually wood but ■■…

-There are other animal friends! Two of them.

Tick.

59 seconds.

When I turned my head, I saw Badger and Peregrine Falcon. They were observing the humans around them.

And…

-No one here seems to be more powerful than you.

I know.

I blinked. My temperature detection vision confirmed the cold-blooded animals around me.

The body temperatures of humans heated up from tension.

And…

Tick.

9 o’clock.

The pendulum clock rang its alarm loudly.

Clang…!!

“…!”

I drew in a breath.

The kindergarten building that had looked like an abandoned house had somehow transformed into a clean space with the smell of a new building.

It was like a new building just before opening for operation.

And I was standing in the toy storage room together with Peregrine Falcon… no, Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je.

…I had entered the ghost story.

“….”

I slowly looked down at my neck.

It was clean.

“Ha.”

I released the tension from my body.

‘I avoided it.’

The strange thickness sensation throughout my body as if wearing a costume suit, and the feeling of horns gradually disappeared.

So did the strange certainty of identity.

-Well, your brief role ends here.

Thank you.

‘So this is what a mask is like.’

It was such a strange feeling that I was glad it ended after using it briefly.

Perhaps because I had designated three and used them very precisely right to the limit, Brown’s voice also sounded drained.

It was impressive that it endured those few seconds.

‘Good work.’

I tried to gently pat Brown in my pocket….

-Now… wait a minute. What on earth is this?

“…?”

Why is this guy panicking?

I immediately pulled Brown out of my pocket.

Then I saw something around the stuffed doll’s neck that hadn’t been there before.

…A black rope hologram.

It was the mark of a victim.

“…?!”

Did Brown just get selected as a victim?

‘A ghost story resident?’

Just as I was getting frantically confused about whether the possibilities had completely gone awry or if this was a situation to worry about.

Brown started chattering.

-What? Participate in an educational demonstration? What are you talking about… I’m in the profession of interviewing teachers, not teaching kids myself. Good heavens!

-Show business, for crying out loud! You people are too boring. You’re stuck in mannerisms, inflexible, and have no charm that the public would like.

-I’m out.

And it flicked its cotton ball hand.

Then… amazingly, the rope disappeared from the stuffed doll’s neck!

“…!!”

-Trying to drag someone in with talk of rules even when they’re not a suitable participant! What a kindergarten with no professional consciousness at all.

“….”

‘Being judged as non-human… that really did have an effect.’

Though it felt a bit different from what I expected.

Seeing how the ghost story transferred the rope to another target because the opponent refused to participate even though Brown was caught, it’s certain.

“….”

Wait.

‘It transferred?’

I hurriedly looked down at my neck.

It was still clean.

‘Who did it go to?’

While it was fortunate that it wasn’t me, was this really the situation where a ghost story resident refused to take the baton and someone else randomly dies?

“Noru.”

I turned my head toward Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je in confusion.

“Deputy Manager, I just….”

“….”

“….”

Before my eyes as I turned my head.

“Don’t panic and take a deep breath, slowly.”

The Deputy Manager smiled grimly.

“Now I’m going to ask you a favor… refuse if you think it won’t work.”

“Deputy Manager.”

“I’d like to do it myself, but that won’t work.”

The Deputy Manager smiled grimly and tapped.

“Because it’s confirmed.”

Her own neck where the black rope hung.

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Darkness Investigation Records / Ghost Story

[Hungry Hangman]

: A ghost story appearing in , Daydream Corporation’s identification code is Qterw-B-191.

It allows no exceptions to any rules.

There is absolutely no escape.

The psychological conflict and terror that arise within it are exquisite.

Hanging

There are no exceptions.

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

“Still, I should be grateful that there’s time to leave last words.”

No.

“Wait, please wait just a moment….”

“Forget it.”

The Deputy Manager’s smile turned into a bitter smile.

“Hey… I’m going to die anyway.”

“…!”

“The difference is whether you guys live or die, or we all die together.”

…It was true.

If participants fail to guess the correct word by the end of the game, they will be disposed of.

The hangman will also be disposed of.

There are no exceptions.

Damn it.

“So, listen carefully to what I’m saying. If I die from a workplace accident, there are things I’ve set to auto-purchase from the Point Mall.”

“….”

“Just make sure the Team Leader checks properly. That guy can be pretty absent-minded too.”

That moment, I realized.

This person had completely accepted the situation.

Crackle-

“…!”

“Get it together. It’s starting now.”

One corner of the playroom.

The old TV flickered to life with crackling sounds.

[Hello, ■■ English Kindergarten childcare teachers! Today we’re going to learn a fun game you can play with the students!]

[It’s… Hangman!]

The rope around the Deputy’s neck moved violently.

“…!”

The rope, now taking physical form, wrapped around each of the Deputy’s limbs and lifted him into the air.

[Today’s teacher, New Teacher Eun Ha-je will lead the game!]

And huge blank spaces appeared on the TV.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Hangman! Let’s guess the word together!]

The execution had begun.

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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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