Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 63
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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 063
Faster. Faster.
“Team Leader, so your previous experience was the 35th round then.”
“Y-yes. That was the only round where we tried to bring in new employees.”
After exchanging brief and urgent questions and answers with Team Leader Park Min-seong, Kim Sol-eum instantly organized the key points in his head.
‘Team Leader Park Min-seong’s details as an experienced person…’
“Is this it? Is this really the necessary information?”
“I’m putting it together.”
-New employees were drafted into this darkness investigation for the first time and fell into complete chaos from fear.
-Several people used profanity and got penalized. A fight broke out over the Cheongshimhwan and both got penalized. Even the person who took it got penalized.
-The number of people who received 2 or more penalties and came close to contamination was 7.
-The new employee who became the hangman lost consciousness from panic in the middle, but there was too much panic and fear for anyone to care.
-A new employee was knocked unconscious when a falling corpse from the execution platform hit them on the head. They quit afterward.
“….”
Huh?
“After that, we never put in new employees again…”
“Wait a moment.”
“Yeah?”
“Do the corpses remain?”
Kim Sol-eum looked at the team leader urgently.
“I mean the people who die after becoming the hangman here.”
“Y-yeah? Of course. Though I don’t know about decay or anything like that. …I think they didn’t even have heads. It’s not like I went to the funeral and watched every procedure…”
“…!!”
Chills ran up Kim Sol-eum’s spine.
This, this…
“Why, why??”
Team Leader Park Min-seong urgently grabbed my shoulder.
“Is there some kind of hint? Is there?!”
“Yes.”
Kim Sol-eum nodded his head urgently.
However, cold sweat trickled down his neck.
‘Actually, I can’t guarantee it this time either.’
It seemed like a crazy thing to do. But, but…
How thrilling is the hope that there’s a possibility.
‘I have to try.’
Kim Sol-eum roughly combined the necessary things. …It seemed like it might barely work.
‘With this, I might be able to slip through the gaps without touching the rules…!’
However, if there was a problem…
There was one ability that was absolutely necessary, but it wasn’t on standby.
‘…Brown.’
I needed it again.
‘Disguise ability, how much longer do I have to wait before I can use it again?’
-Hmm.
-Don’t I need about half a day of rest too?
Kim Sol-eum immediately revised his question.
‘What if I change the conditions?’
-Conditions?
Kim Sol-eum explained about the ‘changed conditions’.
Then the answer changed.
-If it’s that, then about an hour of rest would make it possible!
-It’s a somewhat tiring schedule but… hmm, I’ll endure it. I’m a professional after all!
‘Thank you so much.’
-Don’t mention it!
Then one hour.
The conditions were reestablished.
‘I need to buy time.’
In this chaos, I had to prevent Manager Eun Ha-je from completely ascending the execution platform for one hour.
And that was impossible to do alone.
“Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“If possible, please act as lookout.”
“…?”
Kim Sol-eum quickly put the ‘Silver Heart’ into his pocket.
And shouted.
To the 9 employees who had already gathered in the room and were getting heated up over the hangman game.
“Seniors.”
“…!”
Nine pairs of eyes turned to look at Kim Sol-eum.
He swallowed inwardly.
What was needed now was…
‘…Aggro!!’
“If you could double your clear points, would you do it?”
Team D’s deputy, Eun Ha-je, raised her head.
For someone hanging in the air with black rope around her neck and limbs, sentenced to death, her mind was surprisingly calm.
‘This is pretty much a good death.’
Except for dying right before collecting points, honestly compared to the bloodbaths of employees who had died so far, it really wasn’t bad.
“Manager Eun!! What’s this transportation method?!”
“I don’t know. I told you I don’t remember?”
Especially considering she had to take those personality-ruined trolls with her.
The only regrettable thing was that even though she wasn’t being very cooperative, the correct answers would eventually go through anyway.
That’s just how hangman works.
“Damn… The last transportation method she took when she was a reporter? How the hell would I know that? I don’t know, damn it… A?”
[Correct answer!]
“It’s, it’s done!!”
Even if they couldn’t guess the initials through hints, eventually throwing out alphabets would lead to the correct answer.
_ _ _ _ A _ _ R
‘Ugh,’
Eun Ha-je looked at her vanished legs and felt the chilling fear of death creeping up her neck, but she didn’t show it.
She didn’t want to give the trolls any entertainment.
[Here’s a hint for the 3rd blank alphabet!]
[Why can’t Teacher Eun Ha-je ride airplanes again?]
Meanwhile, the two juniors from Team D were earnestly exchanging questions and answers in the corner.
‘What are those guys doing.’
After seeing her legs disappear, they seemed to grit their teeth and chatter even more desperately.
It seemed like they had the futile idea of trying to save her from here…
‘That might be better.’
She hoped they would just chatter away, realize there was no answer, and give up.
At least knowing they tried would be some comfort.
‘…’
Meanwhile, someone got the answer to this relatively easy question.
“Trauma? T!”
_ _ T _ A _ _ R
[Correct!]
Her entire left leg disappeared.
‘Damn…!’
“Waaaah! Got it!”
“Ah!! I should have gone first!”
The sound of trolls cheering as if watching sports after seeing someone’s leg disappear.
Eun Ha-je was starting to get angry from irritation.
‘Should I just actively troll too.’
But suddenly.
“Senior colleagues.”
Someone raised their hand from beyond the trolls.
“If you could double your clear points, would you do it?”
‘…Noru!?’
That’s right.
Team D’s new employee, no, the youngest member Kim Sol-eum who had escaped rookie status in record time was raising his hand with a calm expression.
“What?”
“That guy… isn’t that the one who got promoted recently?”
Around then, everyone recognized him.
The top new hire wearing a mask with deer-like horns. He had been promoted to team leader in just 60 days, so rumors had already spread openly.
Was it because of those rumors?
Strangely, they found themselves focusing on that new employee. He had a mysteriously… natural presence.
Moreover, just now.
‘Didn’t he say points…?’
“…”
Under the strange atmosphere of the playroom focusing on him, Kim Sol-eum opened his mouth.
“Would you like to make a bet?”
…??
“If you win this bet, I’ll give you all my clear points.”
“…!!”
“Huh?”
It was insane aggro.
“Is that guy crazy? Why is he acting like that?”
But at the same time, any field investigation employee hooked on the word ‘points’ could only say this.
“You’ll really give us all two thousand points?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, Team Leader Noru. You haven’t been at this company for many months and might not know well… but points can’t be transferred.”
“I know.”
“You know? Then what…”
“But there’s no problem with buying two thousand points worth of items from the employee mall and handing them over.”
“…!”
“If you beat me, I’ll let you choose what you want. I’ll even pay for specialized equipment production on your behalf.”
The atmosphere changed.
Since they had already avoided being the ‘sacrifice’, how useful would it be if they could gain additional points.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
He was serious.
Of course, if he could win.
“What kind of bet is it?”
Kim Sol-eum crossed his arms.
“Hangman word alphabet guessing contest.”
“Ah!”
“Whoever guesses more than me, the most correct, will get the points.”
Is that bastard crazy?
“For reference, I’ve only guessed one, so if you get just 2 right, you’ll meet half the criteria.”
“W-wait a minute!”
Park Min-seong from Team D, who had been listening nearby, stood up in shock.
“Noru, why make a bet in this situation…”
“B-grade ghost stories that are safe just by following the manual are rare. I thought we could use this opportunity to check if anything special happens when we get many answers right.”
Kim Sol-eum looked around at the employees seriously as he spoke.
“I hope you’ll stop if the atmosphere gets strange. I hope it won’t be dangerous.”
“Ha.”
Several employees snorted and looked at each other, then one of them eventually grinned and spoke up.
“Ah~ how noble. Making a bet to add details to the manual to make it safer?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kim Sol-eum answered immediately.
“I want to help people who come after us clear this a little more safely.”
“…Why?”
“There’s no particular reason. Um… I thought it would be good if someone did it, so I’m doing it since I can.”
“…”
The employee who asked closed his mouth.
Somehow… he felt strange.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t this new guy also rescue a missing person.’
He remembered again.
‘Last time too, he got promoted for saving all the other employees from some B-grade darkness.’
Coming to find an unpopular office job that no one wanted, for no pay, and doing dangerous things in high-grade darkness to save employees whose faces he didn’t even know.
‘He’s not in his right mind.’
Normally, I would have laughed at him for being a pushover, but strangely, this time I couldn’t.
Tiing-
A clear metallic sound spread through my head.
Strangely, my thoughts became clear.
A strange feeling, as if I was breaking away from the worn and comfortable methods and inertia I had been accustomed to using, and seeing the phenomenon straight.
…And then, really strangely.
Those foolish choices looked somewhat… impressive.
“….”
“….”
My mouth just opened.
“…Well, I don’t mind making a bet.”
“Ah, thank you!”
Kim Sol-eum bowed several times as if thanking the employees who had somehow become quiet, then moved his steps.
“Then I’ll see you when we get out.”
And he approached Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, who was watching this scene with her mouth agape, with a gloomy face.
“Deputy Manager.”
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je felt a strong headache.
‘This guy’s problem is that he’s too kind!’
He’s a smart junior, but this is his weakness.
‘He’s too sincere.’
He’s exactly the type to burn out or break down.
He desperately said nonsense about saving his colleagues and that the items belonged to his colleagues, but now he’s really doing this foolish thing…
“You, are you really serious…”
Kim Sol-eum lowered his voice and spoke quickly.
“I’m bluffing.”
“….”
Ah.
“I was just trying to draw some aggro to buy time.”
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je almost forgot that she was about to die, then barely managed to ask back.
“…You were trying to buy time?”
“Yes.”
Huh.
“Wait, if you’re thinking of trying something while stalling for time, don’t do it, it’s perfect for getting killed…”
“What if I said I’d do it anyway?”
“…!”
“We’re definitely going to do it. …If you cooperate with us, Deputy Manager, the success rate will be higher.”
This… disobedient kid!
Eun Ha-je gritted her teeth.
“Hey. I told you I’d handle it myself.”
“I can’t trust that. …You’ve already given up, haven’t you. You’re ready to die.”
“….”
He’s quick to catch on too.
‘Ugh.’
“…It’s not like I really had no ideas about what to try.”
Finally, Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je confessed.
The words she hadn’t brought up to avoid giving the supervisors false hope.
“You know this ghost story imposes all sorts of rules on the people it captured as new teachers, right. But do you know who the only exception is?”
“…That would be,”
“The hangman.”
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je smiled grimly.
“That’s me.”
The hangman didn’t receive punishment even for cursing or banging her head against the wall to make holes.
“The problem is that even so, it’s hard to move my body.”
Eun Ha-je gestured with her eyes at the ropes holding her.
“But… conversely, that means I can do whatever I want from the neck up.”
“…!”
Of course, the probability of anything working would be extremely low.
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je spoke calmly without showing it.
“Did you hear that? Only I can keep trying this loophole. Since I don’t get punished. So you guys who are subject to punishment should just sit there and…”
Kim Sol-eum’s eyes flashed.
“I’ll try to utilize that loophole in a way that maximizes survival rate.”
“What?”
“Please remember exactly what I’m about to tell you.”
Kim Sol-eum conveyed what Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je needed to do very clearly, distinctly, and simply.
So…
“…!”
“…That’s all.”
And Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je felt like she’d been hit with ice water.
He’s really going to do that?
“We’ll go and get to work quickly. We’ll see you shortly.”
“Hey!”
Wait a minute.
“Noru!! Badger!! You bastards!”
But the two were already walking out of the playroom.
“Hey! Come back here!”
‘Phew.’
Buying time, it seems to have worked though.
I’m walking through the kindergarten corridor with Team Leader Park Min-seong, which is too clean, colorful, and quiet, making it even more eerie.
‘Let’s hurry.’
Based on the testimonies of the team leader and deputy manager, the outline was becoming clearer. Anxiety and hope alternately took control.
Even in the midst of this, the background of this damn ghost story was scary.
But Team Leader Park Min-seong, who had no fear, kept looking back at me with a worried face and finally asked.
“No, Noru. Is that okay? Your two thousand points aren’t child’s play either… What are you going to do if someone comes out who gets 2 right!”
Ah.
Well, that.
“They absolutely can’t exceed it.”
“…!”
I smiled grimly.
“If their personalities are selfish and they’re in a situation where they’re checking each other, it’s absolutely impossible.”
“Huh?”
“Because they’ll interfere every time someone tries to get it right.”
“…!!”
According to the records, the time limit per question was at the ghost story’s discretion, between 7 to 10 minutes.
Most conservatively speaking, we’d have to go through this time limit fully 9 times.
So what would be the best method?
“They’ll probably keep checking and fighting each other until the very end, then someone will make a conditional attempt because they don’t want penalties to accumulate for everyone.”
And the probability of that being the correct answer is quite low.
‘In the end, they’ll keep taking turns enduring contamination while time continues to pass.’
Moreover, once contamination accumulates even once, they’ll hesitate to just throw out random letters, causing even more delays.
In that case….
“It’ll easily take an hour.”
I said with confidence.
“The prize isn’t even the 2,000 points themselves, but goods that can be bought with them, so it’s hard to suggest splitting it among everyone.”
It would be awkward for several people to team up and divide it, and it would be difficult to trust each other to share fairly based on verbal promises alone.
‘The only reason I gained trust with just a verbal promise… was thanks to the Silver Heart.’
I must never let them find out. I tried not to even be conscious of my pocket as I continued speaking.
“So don’t worry. We need to focus on saving Deputy Manager first.”
“….”
A choked-up expression flickered beneath Team Leader’s mask, then quickly subsided as she became conscious that time was running out.
“Right. Let’s hurry! Ah. We’ve arrived.”
“Yes.”
It was time to start preparing immediately.
‘Phew.’
I sat down on the floor in a suitable spot together with Team Leader.
It was the largest space in the kindergarten.
[Recreation Room]
I tried not to look at the scene directly in front of us.
Before our eyes… there was a colorful ball pit decorated with flowers and butterflies, and a platform.
However, on the cheerful platform, two chunks of flesh stood there incongruously.
Left leg. Right foot.
Eun Ha-je Deputy Manager’s body parts.
‘Ha.’
Whether it was chills, fear, or a sense of crisis, something made my hair stand on end.
‘Execution platform.’
The timing is only once.
I have to seize that opportunity here.
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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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