Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 87

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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 087

The high floors of Baekillmong Corporation’s headquarters building.

Knock knock knock.

I carefully knocked on the luxurious door with the back of my hand.

Then the door automatically slid open smoothly….

“You’ve come.”

The figure of the director sitting inside was revealed.

An executive with dark blue hair whose age was impossible to gauge.

Director Cheong Dal-rae.

“You didn’t waste time dragging things out unnecessarily, nor did you fall for any schemes. Children who know how to make wise choices always live long.”

What a chillingly delivered compliment….

“You’re too kind.”

Anyway, I had made my choice.

To accept Director Cheong’s proposal to ‘make Team D into an elite team.’

Of course I had my reasons, but I’d think about those again later. Right now I had to deal with the intimidating executive before me.

Director Cheong looked me over with a satisfied expression and smiled.

“Your affiliation will be reorganized within the necessary timeframe, so I trust you’ll wait without causing unnecessary commotion.”

“Yes. I’ll work even harder so as not to shame this promotion.”

I shook hands with Director Cheong, who extended one hand, in a very polite manner.

And beside me….

“You’ll naturally do the same, won’t you, Manager Lee Ja-heon.”

“Yes.”

Lizard Team Leader was accompanying me.

…For reference, this was how Manager Lee Ja-heon reacted to my choice.

-I see.

The end.

‘Should I… consider this comfortable….’

It was unbelievably quick acceptance from the lizard who had advised me to ‘refuse.’

‘No, you’re in the same boat too, so you should at least listen…!’

Thanks to that, I grabbed hold of Lizard Team Leader, who didn’t seem particularly curious, and explained the basis and reasons for my choice while hearing “I see” and “Yes” about ten times.

And also about how I would minimize Director Cheong’s ‘danger.’

“So, have you decided on the remaining team member?”

That topic came up just then.

Since Team D currently had 2 people on active duty, Director Cheong’s proposal was to bring whoever I wanted for the remaining 1 person.

“Regarding that matter, I’ve thought of one idea.”

“What kind of idea?”

I spoke as calmly as possible, getting straight to the point.

“Making it so anyone can participate.”

[Leaving the third member position of Elite Team D vacant]

This was an opinion I could suggest since Team D was closer to being newly test-operated rather than being incorporated into the existing elite team structure.

The biggest advantage was this.

‘Preventing Director Cheong from arbitrarily planting her own person.’

Didn’t she say to bring whoever I wanted?

If you could believe that at face value, this wouldn’t be a company.

‘If she didn’t like the person I brought, she would have asked if there wasn’t someone else, right?’

That way she’d gradually drive the candidates toward the person she wanted.

‘Once I bowed my head and entered saying I’d join her line, she’d have nothing to lose.’

She would have either planted her own person or at least won over whoever newly joined.

I think that’s where it becomes ‘dangerous’ as Manager Lee Ja-heon said.

‘The person sticking with me can’t be Director Cheong’s lackey.’

It would be better if the person changed with each exploration.

And I could create a plausible justification for this.

‘Since we’re trying something new anyway, why don’t we use the vacant spot in Team D for elite team interns?’

Like this.

Naturally, elite team positions were limited and only a few people got promoted from regular teams.

So unless they had good performance from early on and got in good with the right people, most junior employees just gave up and focused on cost-effectiveness.

But from management’s perspective, they seemed to view it unfavorably when employees who should be more actively procuring materials with a sense of ownership acted that way, seeing it as inefficient.

Well, something like ‘they’re only blinded by points and have no company loyalty.’….

‘But why would anyone join here in the first place if there were no points.’

It was a truly absurd expectation, but… well, anyway, seeing how this company operated that way, I thought it might work.

-In this Field Investigation Team where there’s no performance motivation other than Wish Potions, I wondered if this might provide new motivation for junior employees to want to improve their performance….

I enthusiastically presented to Director Cheong in roughly that manner.

To be honest, I doubted whether employees would be that tempted.

At most, a few capable team leaders or assistant managers might experience the elite team and reconsider their work plans.

But the words sounded plausible, and it wouldn’t be completely ineffective, so it was fine.

‘It would at least create some atmosphere.’

And at minimum, it worked on Director Cheong….

-Not bad.

…It felt a bit unsettling since her reaction seemed like she was just letting it slide, but the important thing was that it passed.

Sure enough, within a few days rumors spread through the Field Investigation Team, and the colleagues’ group chat became lively for the first time in a while.

[Does anyone know details about the new team being created in the elite teams? lol]

[Is it true they’re selecting someone from 1st-3rd year employees?]

[I heard about elite team internships, curious what others have heard^^]

[Elite team benefits….]

What’s interesting is… no one talks to me anymore.

Even though news came out that I had cleared another A-grade, not a single congratulation or inquiry came up.

‘Ostracism… is it.’

I had carefully considered my responses to group chat questions so they wouldn’t look down on me, and before I knew it, the questions themselves disappeared.

‘Come to think of it, I was invited to the group chat last from the beginning too.’

It’s a bit bitter….

[I heard the news! Congratulations Sol-eum! You really succeeded with that method!]

[Thank you, Young-eun.]

Still, I should be grateful to have a colleague who consistently sends congratulatory messages.

While I was at it, I settled the debt for the help I received from Go Young-eun in the last ghost story.

‘Since Young-eun is the type of person who tries to return what she receives, it would be good to keep building trust.’

I shared the method I used to clear it and offered to give her some of the ‘boss battle rewards’ I had received.

‘Thanks to her, I cleared it without dying.’

…I’m talking about the locations of body organs.

Thanks to Young-eun, I knew which parts I had to protect until the end to avoid instant death.

Of course, thinking about it again, it was truly insane enough to make my body tremble, so I suppressed the chills for a moment.

‘Let’s be careful with the tattoo stickers…’

The effect was certain, but it wasn’t ordinary…

[Ah… Um. Yes. I’ll gratefully accept it.]

Young-eun seemed to struggle a bit but accepted, and I met with that colleague in front of the company housing to give her some protective charm beads.

And during our conversation, rumors about the ‘elite team establishment’ came up…

“Um, Young-eun, are you perhaps thinking of aiming for the elite team…”

“No. I’m really fine.”

“…”

Please breathe while you speak, Young-eun…

Somehow it seemed like she already had a strong suspicion that I would be included.

‘Actually, I had considered her as a candidate… Was it good that I didn’t push for it?’

Anyway, this was the best answer I could think of with my brain in this situation…

Of course, there were people who didn’t agree with this opinion.

“I never thought you’d really become part of the elite team…”

“…”

“Why did you make such a dangerous choice?”

It was a voice full of worry.

Sitting at my desk in the D-Team office, I held my forehead.

“…Director Ho.”

“Yes?”

“If I’ve acted rudely in any way, I sincerely apologize.”

Why exactly are you here?

Why are you sitting so naturally in the D-Team office that will soon be vacated, as if you’re a colleague from the next office over visiting!

“Huh? Sol-eum, you’ve never been rude… I think you could have a bit more confidence in yourself.”

“…”

Really not an ordinary person…

Director Ho, with a slightly disappointed expression, was acting like a workplace colleague who had been rejected after suggesting to have a meal together.

That was even more frightening.

‘I thought you’d either crush me or ignore me, one of the two.’

Why are you staying the same?

To be honest, Director Ho had more authority and made a more groundbreaking proposal, so it would have been perfect to hold a grudge over the rejection.

‘A reasonable person would have chosen that side.’

Naturally, I was more inclined toward that side too.

Until I asked this question.

-Director, if it’s not too presumptuous, I’d like to ask about the iteration number of this project.

-Iteration? Ah, are you asking how many times we’ve done this?

-Yes, that’s correct.

-If that’s what you mean, there isn’t really one. It’s a new attempt.

-…I see. Thank you.

At that moment, I made my decision.

‘Let’s cut ties.’

A project is created at a ghost story company?

Nine times out of ten, it’s because of a high-grade unknown ghost story.

‘It’s definitely A-grade or higher.’

From here on, it’s not a level where ghost stories are proportional to danger.

It’s absolutely impossible for an individual to handle, and it’s based on despair where prediction and preparation are impossible.

It means high-dimensional fears beyond things like death and disappearance are approaching…

And they even offered a wish potion as a reward that would make any employee flip out?

‘S-grade… right?’

This seems like it’ll be the highest grade for field investigation at this company.

Plus, it’s the first attempt with no prior information?

‘It’s suicide.’

No matter how good the treatment is, this is fundamentally screwed from the premise.

Maybe if I were confirmed as team leader… no, actually even as team leader it would just be a fancy title.

‘As if the dream team employees handpicked by the director would listen to someone who hasn’t even been here a year.’

Besides, as long as there’s a director, the team leader is just middle management. I can only picture myself suffering alone and barely surviving or dying.

‘…I don’t want that.’

I’d already collected nearly a third of the points. It seemed I didn’t need to take such risks just for the wish potion.

…Moreover, there was something else I considered in choosing to remain with Team D.

‘This way, if Park Min-seong or Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je return, they can naturally join Team D…’

…It would be much easier for people to fill positions that were originally vacant and used flexibly.

So… it was a complex choice.

But since I couldn’t explain all of this, I just said:

“I chose this side reluctantly because I thought it would be better for more people. I’m sorry.”

“…”

At that moment, Director Ho’s good-natured expression seemed to waver.

And the voice.

“Good people are hard to understand…”

“…”

Wait, just now…!

Thud.

“Well, if you change your mind, please feel free to contact me, Sol-eum.”

The voice disappeared.

Director Ho nodded at me again as if nothing had happened, then left the office with a smile.

“…”

That just now seemed quite ominous…

-Noru, I smell the scent of plague from that author.

Plague?

-When inviting to the Studio or Personal Space, it would be good to pay attention to quarantine!

“….”

‘An epidemic… perhaps.’

I briefly tried to deduce Director Ho’s identity, but eventually just shrugged my shoulders.

‘Let’s handle urgent matters first. Urgent matters first.’

For now, I need to reorganize while thinking about what’s needed before becoming an Elite Team…

“Soleum.”

Aaaaah!

“T-Team Leader.”

Lizard, who entered through the door Director Ho had just exited, immediately handed me some documents.

“Director Cheong said to tell you ‘how about taking a look at this once.'”

“Yes. I understand…”

‘Please give me some warning…’

I inwardly sighed with relief as I received the documents and read the title written on the first page.

Qterw-C-1603

Unregistered Investigation Testimony #21

Security Clearance Complete [C]

…Huh?

“Is this something I’m allowed to read… really?”

“Yes.”

Hmm.

It seemed to be an investigation report ‘before official registration’ that required C-grade security clearance to view, and Director Cheong had specially given me access…

‘Even more terrifying!’

But I was even more scared to say I wouldn’t read it. So after taking a deep breath, I accepted the documents and read them.

What kind of Investigation Records could this be…

….

Huh?

Confirmed advertising flyer announcing new product release from Qterw-C-1603.

Product Name: Good Child Chocolate Bar (Cinnamon Churros Flavor)

Features: Wrapper with caricature of child’s face in business suit wearing mask with tree branch-shaped horns.

※The wrapper’s character resembles the attire for Headquarters’ Field Investigation Department employees.

Confirmation needed for employees with similar mask shapes.

“….”

Wait a minute.

This… is me?

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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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