Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 86

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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 086

I had already heard about Director Ho several times indirectly.

Mainly through office politics.

He was the line of Team A, the elite team, and also Lee Byeong-jin’s line, who was in charge of manual review.

-That manager was originally close with Team A. You know how it is. What they call… ‘the same line’.

-Director Ho is keeping an eye on Team Leader Kim.

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

That’s how I had heard several suggestions from those in Director Ho’s line to join the same line…

I never expected the man himself to suddenly appear in the D-Team office like a neighboring office employee without any warning!

“…!”

I reflexively stood up from my seat and bowed my head.

“Good day, Director Ho.”

“Ah. You recognized me right away…”

What’s with acting embarrassed after just calling Director Cheong without honorifics…!

‘He came in assuming I knew all about receiving an interesting proposal from Director Cheong…’

…Wait.

‘Didn’t Director Ho just say he also has a proposal to make?’

A proposal?

I looked at the young man who still had a kind face.

He spoke in a friendly tone.

“Sorry about that. You must have been startled when I suddenly brought up scary people, right?”

“Not at all. I’m the one who should apologize for not greeting you properly…”

“Oh! I find that kind of thing awkward and I’m not really interested in it. Please speak comfortably.”

As if that would actually work.

‘Is he the type with no conscience?’

Or… he might be deliberately trying to create tension.

Anyway, I nodded and took a deep breath as if relaxing slightly.

‘This is probably the kind of reaction he wanted.’

Sure enough, Director Ho continued with a gentle expression.

Though the content didn’t sound particularly gentle.

“Shall I take a guess? Director Cheong probably made you a proposal related to the elite team. Something like forming a new elite team for you.”

“…”

Wow, really.

Is it okay to spill everything honestly?

But it seems like problems would arise if I don’t spill it either, which is maddening.

I quickly racked my brain.

“That’s true, but… Ah! I’m sorry. I’m a bit flustered… Let me guide you to a more comfortable place first.”

Then, as if I had just thought of it, I guided Director Ho to the guest sofa in the D-Team office, breaking the flow once.

-You’re buying time to handle a difficult guest. Excellent, Noru! This is very natural!

Was this certification from the ghost story quiz show host who used to incinerate unnatural responses? It was nerve-wracking but fortunate.

I quickly ran to the break room to prepare snacks, green tea, and coffee before rushing back out.

“Would you prefer tea or coffee?”

“Oh, just drink whichever you prefer, Soleum, and give me the other one…”

Doesn’t he know that an executive acting like this is even more vicious?!

I tactfully observed his reaction and offered him green tea, then took the coffee as if I preferred it and nodded.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Not at all.”

Director Ho took a sip of the remaining green tea and made some obvious comment about it being warm and nice.

“Listen, I absolutely didn’t come here to pressure you, Soleum… I really hope you’ll be comfortable. I came to get acquainted and have a conversation.”

I believe there’s no working adult who doesn’t know that actually treating an executive comfortably would be disastrous.

But I didn’t expect his next words.

“Since we often can’t see Field Investigation Team members for long periods… I frequently visit to greet those who seem like they’ll be around for a while.”

“…”

“Actually, the Field Investigation Team contributes a great deal to our company, but there are people in the Development Department who just sit at their desks talking about efficiency and treat the Field Investigation Team like short-term labor.”

Director Ho’s eyes flickered for a moment.

“You might think I’m an idealist, but I don’t like the situation. Don’t you agree?”

“…”

Isn’t that such a warm statement?

It actually made me feel uneasy.

‘…A company director shouldn’t be saying things like that.’

If he’s an executive, this is a problem he could fix directly, so why is he asking a new employee ‘Don’t you think this is a problem?’

‘It’s not like he’s checking for subversive thoughts.’

But since it might be sincere, I did my best to adjust my nuance.

In a way that wouldn’t be problematic either way, while making him think I wasn’t rebelling against him.

“…Still, everyone isn’t forced to work here. At least resignation is free, and I heard they reliably provide Wish Potions.”

“Yes. As you said, Soleum, that’s fortunate at least.”

Director Ho smiled with a kind face.

“Compared to groups that arbitrarily brand ordinary citizens as criminals without trial and sacrifice them to the darkness, this place at least has some autonomy.”

“…”

This person really hates the Disaster Management Bureau…

‘I should keep my involvement with them secret.’

The agent identification badge was still in my possession. Cold sweat ran down my back.

I pretended to drink coffee to hide my expression.

“People who want to live like human beings even if just for a day would probably refuse.”

“Right? I communicate well with you, Soleum.”

You’re mistaken.

But please, continue being mistaken for a long time…

I struggled to change the topic before more explosive subjects came up.

“Thank you. So, Director, about the proposal you mentioned…”

“Ah. Right! I need to talk about that.”

Director Ho smiled brightly.

“Actually, I’m forming a project team, and I’m recruiting employees for that team.”

“…!”

“I’d like to recruit you for this project team too, Soleum.”

What?

Something Manager Lee Byeong-jin had said one day suddenly came to mind.

-There are rumors that the director operates a classified external project team under him… You might be transferred there.

‘So that became reality.’

But the next words were even more unbelievable.

“To be precise, as a team manager candidate.”

“…”

Is that Director crazy?

“I’m considering about three people, and honestly, if Ms. Soleum had just two more years of experience, she would have been my first choice… Well, for now, just know that you’re one of the candidates.”

I feel like I’m going insane.

Friend

No, listening to conditions is something you do when you’re at least on equal footing with the other party, but right now…!

‘…This seems really screwed up?’

Isn’t this exactly the same situation as Paris receiving the golden apple?

In that if I choose one, there’s a very high chance I’ll get screwed over by the remaining higher-up.

This is worse than just picking sides.

‘It’s burning away any chance of switching sides.’

What should I do?

Just pretending to maintain my composure on the surface was already praiseworthy enough.

‘It would be best to reject both of them…’

“Ah, I was too hasty. I should have mentioned the compensation first.”

“…When you say compensation,”

“Project performance bonus.”

Director Ho smiled slyly.

“If this project succeeds, team members will receive Wish Potions.”

“…!!”

“One for everyone. No exceptions.”

Good heavens.

“And there’s one additional benefit for the team leader… I think it would be good to discuss this in more detail after Ms. Soleum joins the team.”

“…”

“Ah, the green tea was delicious.”

Director Ho got up from the sofa, even put the mug in the washbasin, then headed toward the office entrance.

“Well then, think it over comfortably for a few days and contact me. Ah, but it would be better if it doesn’t take more than a week.”

Director Ho whispered to me as if giving kind advice.

“Director Cheong doesn’t have much patience.”

“…”

“If you need someone to talk to while working in the future, feel free to visit my office anytime. Well then, goodbye!”

That night.

Even though I had recovered significantly from contamination and regained my clear mind, I went home feeling extremely troubled…

‘It feels like déjà vu.’

“Sigh.”

I lay down on my bed.

‘This seems like… I’ve gotten caught up in internal power struggles between Development Department executives, right?’

While it was true that I seemed quite useful and unconventional, the reason things had become this heated was probably because the two Directors were conscious of each other.

Since their proposals were at an absurd level.

…If that’s the case.

‘I should go with whoever treats me better.’

That way I can at least avoid becoming a kite with a broken string.

‘The problem is that I don’t know any personal information about the Directors.’

The were written mainly focusing on the employees who create the exploration records.

In other words, employees’ names and profiles appear, but they don’t bother writing personal details about executive-level individuals who make decisions from above.

‘Anyway, it’s certain that neither of them are ordinary people, which makes it even more maddening.’

In Director Cheong’s case, Lizard Team Leader had already called him an ‘entity,’ which was suspicious, and Director Ho was strange from his appearance and manner of speaking.

He was too young for an executive position, and his way of speaking was as kind as a social volunteer.

‘…From his surname and appearance, I have some rough guesses about his identity…’

But at this point, it was all just speculation.

‘This is difficult.’

It feels unreal that I have to worry about things like this when just entering ghost stories is hard enough to kill me…

Anyway, after intense deliberation, I decided to put a pause on this problem for now.

…Because there was another more urgent problem.

…

“Brown.”

Friend

Sigh.

“About bathing in the Bath of Youth, couldn’t we substitute it with something else?”

A short silence passed.

-…Your mind changed in just one day, Ms. Noru! Breaking promises isn’t a good habit.

“…”

But I’m your Good Friend, so it’s okay, Friend

“I’m sorry.”

I said immediately.

“You’re right that I shouldn’t change my words. I think I made a mistake because my condition wasn’t normal when I made the promise.”

-That’s strange, Ms. Noru. This was just last night! This Host clearly remembers that you had no special circumstances like extreme fatigue, panic, dizziness, etc. that would make an interview difficult.

‘Good Friend’ spoke in a terrifyingly cheerful tone as usual.

-Oh, I’m getting curious about what criteria you used to say you ‘weren’t normal’…

“…”

I’m really breaking out in cold sweat a lot today.

How did I not feel how scary this was, really…

I tried not to look at the stuffed doll and continued speaking calmly.

“…But you knew that my mind was being contaminated by the textbook at that time, right? I’m talking about the documents I brought out from that kindergarten that remained on my tattoo.”

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way it didn’t know.

Brown had even pointed it out directly in the blood bath last time.

-Ms. Noru. Your bath additive is blended.

That I was being eroded by the ghost story.

“It’s just that you thought of it as… just change rather than calling it ‘contamination.'”

-Correct, Ms. Noru!

Sigh…

‘I knew it…’

I suppressed the goosebumps that rose just from hearing the word ‘correct’ and barely managed to answer.

“But I think of it as contamination, and I don’t want to be contaminated.”

I raised my hand up into the air.

The tattoo on my wrist, cleanly hollow inside, came into view.

“I’m more comfortable and happy with who I am now.”

-….

“I also don’t like my judgment standards suddenly flipping like turning over paper.”

But at the end, I added something the other party could probably relate to.

“At the very least, I absolutely don’t want to become like that outdated Hangman or Kindergarten Teacher.”

-That’s… hmm. Quite an irrefutable statement.

Brown seemed somewhat shocked.

-That’s right. Good heavens, Noru being part of that stuffy kindergarten. That absolutely cannot happen, what a loss that would be!

I wasn’t being like Good Friend again

-Yes. Let’s try getting closer through other changes instead!

“….”

So.

“You’re saying you’ll let me get contaminated because I treat you more comfortably when I’m contaminated?”

-Haha, no need to ask so unfamiliarly. It’s a theory Noru has proven over the past few weeks!

My actions from the past few weeks reflexively came to mind.

My appearance when I was consumed by contamination, chattering and depending on ghost story residents without any hesitation or worry.

Friend

Good grief.

No, I expected this much.

I caught my breath.

Let me say what I need to say.

“No.”

-No?

“Yeah. A friend isn’t someone who has the exact same values as me.”

I carefully chose my words.

“And just feeling comfortable with each other isn’t all there is to friendship either.”

This was… somewhat sincere too.

“Friends try to understand each other’s differences, and even when that doesn’t work well, they give for each other’s sake. …Through conversation.”

-….

“And to say it again, I don’t want to be contaminated.”

Without turning my head, I gently placed my hand on the desk where the stuffed doll would be sitting.

“If you can’t understand these words, at least give me notice before doing something I don’t want. You should give me a chance to talk with you.”

-Hmm.

The sound of fingers tapping plastic as if pondering echoes from the desk where the stuffed doll sits…

And,

-Understood. Noru.

Friend

Phew.

“Thank you.”

…It seems to have ended well.

I let out a sigh of relief and finally turned my head to look at the other party.

The Good Friend I had summoned.

The stuffed doll that was somewhat scary, somewhat dependable.

I carefully picked it up.

“Let’s do well together from now on.”

This was sincere too.

Afterwards, I proceeded with one thing I had resolved to do when I was contaminated.

Namely, the aroma meridian.

“I’ll do it while looking at your shadow, so tell me if anything feels strange.”

Friend

Honestly, since I’m not a professional and was working just by looking at a silhouette, it probably wasn’t very refreshing, but Brown was quite satisfied.

-Not everyone needs to be a massage expert! This is sufficient.

Even while giving what amounted to about a three-star rating in such a very tactful and kind way.

They also made statements like this.

Friend

“That’s a bit… let’s take some time and talk about it more.”

…It’s difficult.

It was truly a difficult matter.

The relationship with ‘Good Friend’, a ghost story resident.

It wasn’t just scary and nerve-wracking, but it also wasn’t something I could trust and like unconditionally.

‘Maintaining balance between those extremes would be the normal way of thinking.’

Let me be careful not to lose it.

I quietly listened to Brown chattering away, feeling good from the aroma meridian.

-Come to think of it, I’m curious again. Which of the two proposals of the century that Noru received at work will you actually accept!

Friend

Hmm. About that.

“Actually, I’ve pretty much decided.”

-Ooh!

“I’ll ask just one thing tomorrow, and then come see you right away.”

-And about that decisive question, could you give this legendary host a little hint?!

I rested my head on the pillow and laughed.

“It’ll be revealed tomorrow.”

-…!!

-I’m somewhat… moved. Noru…

And so this eventful day came to an end.

And the next day.

I really did ask that ‘decisive question’, then went to visit the office of one of the Two Directors.

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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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