Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 88
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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 088
Naturally, during Darkness Investigation, you’re bound to experience absurd situations and eerie encounters.
Being chased by ghosts, public transportation suddenly heading to strange destinations you’ve never heard of, everyone on the street staring at you the moment you leave your house…
But after experiencing these things, many employees say they’ve somehow gotten used to them.
‘Even I seem to have gotten somewhat used to it.’
Even though it was because of contamination and items, wasn’t the ghost story right before this one where I went in trying to achieve a high-grade clear while getting my limbs cut off and succeeded?
But there are certain types of eeriness you never get used to.
For instance,
A ghost story that suddenly ‘recognizes’ you.
“…”
I turned the page of documents with trembling eyes.
There was even a roughly recreated drawing of the packaging that the Investigation Employee who wrote the report had sketched.
-Oh, it seems the artist abandoned the aesthetics of their drawing in favor of being faithful to the original purpose of information transmission.
It was drawn terribly, but that meant you could tell exactly who it was supposed to be.
‘…Brown.’
Friend
‘That looks like me, doesn’t it?’
-Considering the art style and focusing only on the mask and hair arrangement, it seems we both came to the same conclusion!
“…”
The product name was even ‘Good Child’ with a ‘Cinnamon Churros’ flavor…
‘That’s the Blue Mascot from the theme park.’
And the ghost story it appeared in was… ‘Qterw-C-1603’? Why on earth did it appear in ‘that’ ghost story?
I reflexively tried to glance at my tattoo but stopped myself.
Then I asked Manager Lee Ja-heon, who was staring blankly at me.
“This content hasn’t been officially registered in the manual yet… is that correct?”
“Yes.”
Phew.
That’s fortunate, at least.
‘If Director Cheong deliberately showed me this in advance…’
…Goodwill? A debt?
It’s probably both.
The moment this gets officially recognized as exploration records, descriptions that could identify someone would be censored with black squares according to security levels.
Instead, there was a high probability that the Research Team would attempt experimental exploration to figure out why this phenomenon occurred…
Either putting in an employee dressed like me, or making me explore without giving me information.
‘Gwak Je-gang might even notice and try to throw me back into the theme park.’
Wow, this is driving me crazy.
If I get to that situation and ask Director Cheong for help claiming I’m on his side, I might end up in a situation like ‘Outstanding 30-Year Employee with Director Cheong.’
Why do I only have so many possibilities of getting screwed over when I’ve been living diligently…
‘That’s just how the ghost story worldview works.’
Anyway, let me be grateful that I already know now. I’ll end up owing Director Cheong a reasonable level of psychological debt, but it’s still better than after the Research Team takes the bait.
‘And the fact that he deliberately told me this in advance means…’
“By any chance, is the darkness our team will explore this week that particular darkness?”
“I don’t know.”
“…In Team Leader’s estimation, do you think there’s more than a 50% chance of that?”
“Yes.”
As expected.
‘If he’s telling me in advance anyway, it would only be meaningful if I go in and confirm it myself.’
‘Qterw-C-1603’, huh.
If I have to go into a ghost story and get mentally tortured as a coward anyway, it was right to go into the more valuable one…
This standard hasn’t changed.
‘Let me check it out.’
And this time I have a very reliable companion too.
The universally acknowledged Physical Exorcism specialist employee, Team Leader Lee Ja-heon!
…Though thinking about the Pierrot ghost story, he might give orders with absurdly numbed fear senses.
‘Hmm, if it’s one-on-one, there should be some way to persuade him or find an escape route…’
I think I’ve learned some conversation techniques recently too.
In that sense, going with a fearless team leader felt quite reassuring and didn’t seem bad.
But there was one more variable.
“Sol-eum.”
“Yes.”
“Will you accept support personnel?”
Ah, that’s right.
Since Field Investigation is based on 3-person teams, this time our team would receive one person as support for exploration.
‘I guess you could see it as a preliminary run for the Elite Team.’
Usually it seems like they just randomly pick available personnel and put them in… hmm.
“Is it possible to specify and request a particular person?”
“Yes.”
Oh! …No, wait a minute.
“…I’ll exclude the method of asking Director Cheong. Would it still be possible?”
“No.”
“…”
‘Good thing I noticed…!’
I almost squared my debt.
I tried to hold back a sigh, but eventually couldn’t and asked.
Something I’d been curious about regarding Lizard Team Leader.
“Um, Team Leader. You tend to give concise answers… if there’s a reason for that, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me.”
“I see.”
Lizard briefly directed his pupil focus toward the sky, then stared at me again.
“It’s reflecting feedback to only give detailed answers when requested.”
“…In what situation did you receive such feedback?”
“On the third day after I started working at this company, I heard it during Darkness Investigation.”
“…”
I see…
Even though I didn’t hear a specific description, I could vividly picture the situation in my mind.
“Um, Team Leader. If it’s not an urgent situation, I’d appreciate it if you could speak comfortably when you’re with me.”
“Yes.”
And Manager Lee Ja-heon… began to continue speaking!
“If Kim Sol-eum wants to specify the disposition of support personnel, report it to me. While you cannot specify particular names, you can request preferred characteristics from the sample group.”
“…!”
He’s giving explanations on his own!
-Noru, you have talent as an interviewer too!
Th, thank you.
I almost got intoxicated by the sense of efficacy for a moment, but what’s important right now is the content that Manager Lee Ja-heon told me.
‘It’s hard to pinpoint exactly who should come, but I can roughly say what type of employee I’d like to have come, right?’
Hmm.
After some thought, I decided on one ‘applicant characteristic.’
“I’d like it to be one of the employees.”
There’s a hidden meaning here.
Namely, that all current employees are my colleagues.
‘It’s definitely not because I’m being excluded from the colleague group chat…’
Well, to be honest, since this exploration itself has some suspicious aspects, I chose this because I didn’t want someone too experienced in how the company operates.
‘It would be nice to get acquainted while we’re at it.’
I was thinking it would be good to increase the number of people I know at the company.
“Yes.”
Manager Lee Ja-heon readily accepted my request, and I became somewhat expectant.
What kind of new face would I get to see?
And a few days later.
“….”
“….”
I met Jang Heo-un, who was looking at me with welcoming eyes, in front of the D-Team office door.
“I’m Employee Jang Heo-un from Team F…!”
It’s a familiar face.
Still, it wasn’t a bad result. At least he’s not a superior, so it should be a more comfortable exploration.
I smiled and extended my hand to Jang Heo-un.
“We meet again. Please take care of me during today’s exploration.”p>
“Yes, Sol-eum! I’ll definitely be helpful for clearing!”
Jang Heo-un firmly grasped my hand and shook it. Mm, he really is a decent person…
“Oh, yes yes, please take care of me too~!”
“….”
“…??”
When I turned my head, there was an employee getting off the elevator, approaching us with a bright smile and bowing in greeting.
A woman around my age with a kind impression.
She was wearing a pony mask.
“I’m support personnel from Team I. According to the manual, this darkness recommends even numbers during exploration, so we received support of two people.”
“My name is Kang I-hak~ Nice to meet you. Team Leader, Employee!”
“Yes…!”
Jang Heo-un, who had been hurriedly bowing his head, exclaimed as if he realized something.
“Ah, you’re the one who often speaks in the group chat…!”
“Yes yes, haha, embarrassingly that’s me!”
Ah.
[Kang I-hak : Is it true you received 40,000 points? haha]
I remember too.
This is the person who actively tried to extract information when I joined the group chat, so I kept them in check appropriately.
‘It seemed like they were leading the atmosphere in the colleague group chat.’
Making it revolve around profit rather than friendship.
That colleague was already smiling and extending their hand to me.
“Wow, our top colleague! This is the first time we’re meeting like this. Please take care of me~”
“Yes. Likewise.”
I shook hands lightly.
…It was clean.
‘This person is lighter than I thought.’
I had imagined more of a scheming type, but they feel easygoing. Like their questions didn’t hide other meanings.
‘Well, if they’re a decent person, I can only be grateful…’
Since we have to explore together, it’s much better mentally than having a personality trash like Baek Sa-heon show up and be tiresome.
People who haven’t experienced it wouldn’t know. The feeling when ghosts appear and you’re screaming internally, but there’s only a sociopath next to you… *sigh*.
“We’re moving out.”
“Yes.”
Team Leader Lee Ja-heon started walking with heavy steps.
We quietly followed the team leader and got in the car, and I grabbed the steering wheel and operated the navigation.
“We’re heading to Gyeonggi Province now, right?”
“Yes.”
Right, this darkness also takes us completely outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area.
Looking at just the exploration report I read earlier might be misleading, but Qterw-C-1603 wasn’t simply a strange snack shop ghost story.
It’s bigger and… more sinister.
“Um, to enter this ghost story… ah, did we gather late because we have to wait until the sun sets first?”
“It seems so.”
I kindly answered Jang Heo-un while starting to drive.
To enter this darkness, we had to match both time and location factors.
To enter Qterw-C-1603, you must move to a residential area on the outskirts of ■■ City, Gyeonggi Province.
For reference, this company had secured the relevant poster in advance and covered it to show only the QR code.
“Team Leader, I’ll scan the QR code for you!”
“Ah, thank you.”
When scanning the QR, it connects to a download page for an event app certified by the ■■ City local government, and if the explorer is under 40 years old, the download proceeds normally.
A moment later.
Having arrived at our destination, we parked in the public parking lot and got out, walking into a quiet alley.
The time when winter’s short day was ending and it was getting dusky.
Most restaurants and cafes were still there, but the stagnant atmosphere characteristic of a commercial district past its prime remained…
“Now execute the app.”
I looked at the screen.
After passing through the opening with ■■ City’s old logo and characters in a somewhat tacky design…
When first executing the app at the relevant location before the early evening sun completely sets, navigation function route guidance is activated.
The app itself really starts providing guidance.
Route to Death Road →
Follow the arrow!
My GPS location appears on the smartphone like augmented reality.
“Walk.”
“….”
We all started moving together, each looking only at our own smartphone screens.
Follow the arrow!
At first, it’s normal.
Starting from the alley, it guides us along the relatively main road, seemingly leading us gradually toward the outskirts of this commercial district.
But after a little more time passes.
The path begins to twist.
Follow the arrow!
It guides us through narrow housing gaps where only one person can barely pass, makes us enter through the front door of buildings and exit through the back door.
It even guides us to dead ends, then makes us turn back.
Dark, gloomy alleys.
Somehow, the surroundings gradually begin to feel unfamiliar and strange.
The back of my neck grows cold, I hear grammatically incorrect muttering, and strange shadow-like things seem to pass by outside my field of vision….
‘…I have to endure it.’
But I mustn’t turn my head.
Navigation Route
We continued moving in silence.
Trying not to bump into each other or get startled.
Follow the arrow!
“Just now something strange….”
“Shh.”
After walking silently like that for about 16 minutes….
Even the dim sunset light completely disappears.
“….”
“….”
In the already dusky alley commercial district, all light disappears to an abnormal degree, leaving everything pitch black.
Only the light from our smartphone screens serves as a light source, illuminating the residential area, when.
Click.
Click click click.
One by one, lights turn on in the dark streets.
“…!”
The street shops begin to light up.
Yellow and blue lights from signboards illuminate the alley scenery.
…However, this is not the familiar scene of the old commercial district we saw earlier.
Murmur murmur.
An alley bustling with countless shadowy figures.
Signboards that look familiar at first glance, but upon closer inspection bear somehow distorted names.
Various shops lined up in the alley have their doors wide open, welcoming customers….
Ding-a-ling.
The app displays a congratulatory message.
You have arrived safely.
Welcome to Death Road!
“…Have we, arrived?”
“Yes.”
We have successfully entered.
Into the heart of the ghost story.
======================
“Walk slowly.”
“….”
We nodded and followed behind Section Chief Lizard, moving our steps….
Into the strange alley.
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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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