Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“What. Roe, you didn’t forget about me, did you? It’s really been a while!”
The person standing in the dark hallway spoke in a still cheerful tone and extended his hand.
The former boss of Group D whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, wearing a badger mask.
“…Supervisor?”
It was certain.
It was Supervisor Park Min-sung.
The person who was close to my mentor seemed to have a clear sense of self, just like when we used to work together.
I hurriedly accepted the handshake and asked.
“Have you recovered?”
“I’ve gotten a lot better. Well, I’m slowly doing rehabilitation activities now. I haven’t had major issues in daily life lately either. Right, Leader?”
“Yes, well… that’s right…”
Phew.
‘I didn’t expect to meet him like this.’
Seeing him looking fine, I felt slightly choked up. A bright voice came out of me in response.
“Then Park Min…”
“Call me Badger!”
“……”
“No, well… that… if I hear my name, I still get a little, well, problems arise.”
“…Yes.”
I shut my mouth.
I was going to ask if he could return to work, but I knew the answer without asking.
Looking closely now, Supervisor Park Min-sung’s face, which had been smiling cheerfully, somehow looked a bit pale and anxious…
His cheeks or around his eyes, which weren’t clearly visible due to being covered by the mask, also seemed a bit gaunt.
-Oh dear, today’s partner does not seem to be in good condition!
Right.
‘He still seems… to be recovering.’
Was it alright to make someone in that state do a job assigned as a disciplinary action together?
“Let’s go, Roe. We should finish quickly so you can rest!”
“…Yes.”
But in my position of being disciplined, I had no authority to tell them to give my partner another job.
I thanked the Security Team Leader who guided me, and walked along, following Supervisor Park Min-sung who was already wearing a cleaning uniform…
“Ah, wait a minute.”
“Yes?”
“Take this…”
The Security Team Leader caught me, put down the donut boxes he was holding protectively for a moment, and pulled something out of his pocket.
Two old walkie-talkies.
“If it’s dangerous… call me. I’m on night duty today…”
“…Does this connect to you, J?”
Nod, nod.
‘As expected, it can be dangerous’ and ‘I’m damn grateful,’ arose in me at the same time.
“Thank you.”
“Yes…”
The Security Team Leader added in a low voice as if passing by.
While looking at Supervisor Park Min-sung.
So softly that it was inaudible to him.
“Be careful.”
“……”
My hands grew cold.
I barely managed to nod and handed one of the walkie-talkies to Supervisor Park Min-sung.
And I began to walk down the basement hallway…
Toward the Security Team rental warehouse.
Step, step.
Step, step.
Step, step…
“Roe.”
“Yes!”
“Ah, sorry. Did I startle you?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Haha, that’s a relief then…”
The voice of Supervisor Park Min-sung walking beside me quieted down, then trembled slightly.
“Well, it’s been a while since I talked to someone who isn’t on the Security Team… uh, did I speak strangely? Wasn’t it awkward?”
“……”
Phew.
“No. You… were still like yourself, Supervisor.”
“Uh-oh? Wait, that’s not an insult, is it?”
“Who knows.”
“…! No, Roe is actually joking?! Is this what they call the authority of promotion?”
Laughter entered the conversation, and the atmosphere lightened a bit.
“…May I ask how you have been doing in the meantime?”
“Of course it’s fine. Well… I’ve been here, the whole time.”
The supervisor mumbled rapidly.
As if spitting it out.
“I didn’t know, but there’s a treatment room in the basement, and a place like a training center, and a strange, really strange place… no, uh, it’s an area only the Security Team can enter, so I shouldn’t say more, but…”
Damn it.
“Then you don’t have to say it. Let’s talk about something else…”
“It’s really strange. Why is the basement so deep? Come to think of it, I used to wonder why our company didn’t build an underground parking lot and had a separate parking tower instead. But now I know the reason. The basement here is too deep and strange, truly strange, so I should return to where I originally worked…”
“Supervisor Badger!”
“…!!”
The supervisor stopped walking and exhaled slowly.
“Sorry. …Shall we talk about something else?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
I rattled on randomly about recently popular shows. It was easier because Brown tossed topics to me.
“Ah, I saw that too!”
“It was fun.”
Fortunately, since internet and OTT services seemed freely accessible, the small talk continued without much issue.
But my spine was wet with cold sweat.
‘This won’t do.’
If one continues to stay in this massive windowless underground enclosed space, even a perfectly sane person would go strange.
‘Besides, Supervisor Park Min-sung seemed to even have a sick family member…’
-…I have a family member in the hospital; I wish someone would check on them once this filming is over! If possible, that is.
I couldn’t bring myself to say it openly. I approached indirectly.
“Do you have to remain in this basement constantly?”
“No. They said once I recover beyond a certain degree, I can leave, whether by changing departments or resigning.”
Phew.
“And the Security Team members seem to go outside at night or move around comfortably too.”
That was a relief.
“Ah, we’ve arrived.”
And finally, our workplace for today appeared before our eyes.
[Security Team Rental Warehouse]
Wow.
‘Seeing it at night, the intimidating vibe is no joke.’
I held back a groan in front of the iron door.
And a cold voice echoed from my pocket.
-Ah, this unpleasant place.
“……”
Ahhhhh! That’s right!
This is the place where Brown was thrown away as recyclable waste and stuffed in!!
‘Uh, Brown. If it’s unpleasant, do you want to stay home next time?’
-It is fine! Refraining from projecting personal displeasure onto a location is also a virtue of an industry professional. However, friend,
Brown’s voice lowered.
-I feel like I will grow depressed. Please entertain me…
“……”
‘I will… try my best.’
This is too difficult, Mr. Host…!
“Ah, that’s right. This.”
To me, who was in agony, Supervisor Park Min-sung pulled something out from the pocket of his orange uniform and handed it over.
A note, which looked like a copy of a handwritten notebook.
“Well, I received this as a work tip circulating in the Security Team. I brought it separately thinking it would be good for you to read it too, Roe!”
“Ah, thank you…”
Work tip?
I rapidly read down the note.
———–
Night Cleaning Work Tips
Hello! If you are reading this, you must have unfortunately been caught for night cleaning duty.
Yes, that’s right. The Security Team area is crowded with crazy bastards and contamination, so entering there late at night with only two people is perfect for having a bizarre experience.
But don’t worry too much. If you just read the tips I write down, you can finish it up and come out without much trouble.
———–
‘Wait a minute.’
This is a classic introduction of a rules-of-conduct type ghost story.
You know how it goes.
Those ghost stories where you go to do a high-paying part-time job like a night guard or a babysitter, and they give you strange work rules and tell you to hold out.
Several indie horror games based on ‘Records of the Dark Exploration’ of this genre also popped into my head immediately.
‘This makes it scarier.’
Swallowing hard, I hurriedly read the next sentence.
———–
In a sense, it’s actually sweet. There is allowance attached to this. Whether you want money, points, or Nostalgia equipment, let’s hold out by thinking only about that.
If it’s disciplinary action… well, hang in there.
I pray you are on the Field Exploration Team.
———–
“……”
Yes. That is me…
Gritting my teeth, I rapidly read through the remaining ‘tips’.
The cleaning would begin soon.
* * *
Slosh.
I wiped the floor of the rental warehouse with a wet mop.
It wasn’t particularly dirty, but various colored stains of unknown origin were stuck to the floor…
———–
1. Wash the mop immediately when it gets dirty. I found that to be better.
The washing solution is strong, so you only need to rinse it a few times. Easy, right?
———–
‘Well, that’s comforting…’
Fortunately, although not as bright as during the day, about half of the lights were left on in the rental warehouse.
It was to the extent that it didn’t hinder cleaning.
‘I can even read the signs.’
I glanced at the sign that read ‘Nostalgia series always buying / For details, go to the desk’ and focused back on the floor.
“Roe, if you happen to find any strange object, don’t touch it and just clean around it.”
“Yes.”
Slosh.
“Did you do this before, Supervisor?”
“Cleaning is a first, but… well, I have done other Security Team work.”
Supervisor Park Min-sung smiled. His voice was filled with a bit of anticipation.
“I think if I pass up to this point, I will get a passing score for recovery… to the extent of being able to change my affiliation to the Security Team.”
“…!”
That was a relief.
I asked carefully.
“How about receiving more treatment and returning to the Field Exploration Team altogether?”
“Haha… would that be good? I should try hard.”
The conversation was quite hopeful.
And we mopped diligently and mechanically.
‘It’s easier than I thought.’
Except for my body being tired due to it being late at night, it was fine.
Because the work tips themselves were very firm to begin with.
———–
2. No matter what happens, just clean calmly.
When you enter the Security Team area at night, all kinds of things happen originally. Still, the rental warehouse is not a bad place!
———–
‘Got it.’
This was practically a summary of the entire content.
‘Clean without reacting, no matter what happens.’
Let’s get it done.
And cleaning the front space of the rental warehouse ended quickly. It wasn’t that wide in the first place, so one hour was enough to scrub away all the stains stuck to the floor.
“Half of our assigned area for today is done! Now what’s left is…”
The supervisor’s and my heads turned at the same time.
“…Over there.”
One of the three doors leading to the containment area.
[Quarantine B]
‘Phew.’
-Ah, it is the corridor from which Mr. Roe came out during that unpleasant experience last time.
Indeed.
Of all places, it was the corridor where the quarantine room I was confined in was located, and now we had to enter.
———–
3. Do not open any quarantine room door while cleaning. Well, if you are an employee of our company, you couldn’t possibly not know this… but I write it down just in case.
4. No, I emphasize once again: just ignore the sounds coming from the quarantine rooms. Do not answer.
No matter who pleads from inside, even if they say they are your family or friend, it is absolutely not true, so do not open it!!
———–
Creeeak.
We opened the door to the quarantine area, went inside, and closed it behind us.
The grey corridor stretched out before our eyes.
The iron doors of the quarantine rooms lined on both sides.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
I wanted to do it with the door open at least, but the mental burden of not being able to do so was immense.
I swallowed hard and continued mopping.
…Those sounds I heard when exiting here last time were echoing in the quiet corridor.
Giggle, giggle, giggle.
Please save me please save me please save me
Iamnotapersonwhoshouldbehereiamnotapersonwhoshouldbehereiamnotaperson
Giggle giggle giggle
IhavetodieifIgoout
‘Wow, seriously.’
I was going crazy.
I deliberately washed the mop noisily, just to hear it a bit less.
It was then.
Supervisor Park Min-sung stopped mopping and suddenly raised his head.
And he stared blankly.
…At one of the tightly shut quarantine rooms.
[Quarantine Room B14]
“Roe.”
Damn it.
“Roe. I hear the Assistant Manager’s voice in there?”
“No, you don’t.”
“But… I hear it.”
“No. Let’s keep cleaning, Supervisor Badger.”
“Ah… okay.”
———–
5. If your partner starts saying crazy things, leave them and run for yourself. Got it? Trying to help for no reason will get you killed too. New recruits of the Security Team, keep this in mind especially!!
———–
Is this right?
Slosh, slosh.
A strange feeling came over me as I wiped the floor.
‘…Anxiety?’
It was a bit different from previous Dark explorations.
Cleaning all night relying solely on a tip from some unknown veteran, without manuals, wiki records, or escape pattern analyses.
It really felt like I had come to do a part-time job in a bizarre place without any information.
What on earth am I…
Footsteps.
“Roe, watch out.”
“…!”
I quickly stepped aside.
There, someone was walking from the end of the grey quarantine corridor…
Footsteps.
A person wearing a black facility staff uniform.
He bowed his head slightly upon seeing us.
And…
“Ah. You must be the cleaners for today.”
He spoke normally. Phew.
When Supervisor Park Min-sung and I nodded, the staff member spoke quickly in a slightly embarrassed tone.
“I’m the night patrol officer for today. …Since the cleaners sometimes seem to get startled.”
Ah.
———–
7. Sometimes you meet patrol officers on night duty; they like it if you give them a bottle of water.
Give it if you have some. Well, ruining the atmosphere while working together at night is a bad choice.
———–
“Hello. Would you like a bottle of water?”
“Ah, I would appreciate that.”
At Supervisor Park Min-sung’s nod, I handed a water bottle I had received as supplies to the officer, who gulped it down right on the spot.
“Then, see you again.”
And with the bottle pressed to his lips, he headed back toward the rental warehouse through the quarantine corridor…
———–
But you see.
There is no position structure like ‘officer’ in this company’s Security Team.
Remember. Do not say unnecessary things.
———–
“I keep getting thirsty…”
On the back of the ‘patrol officer’ far away, a smudged name reading ‘■■ Research Institute’ was visible…
Footsteps… gulp.
The sound of footsteps and swallowing vanished like a lie the moment he turned the corner of the corridor.
“……”
Ha.
‘I feel like I’ve walked straight into a horror movie.’
Slosh.
I started mopping again.
While chatting with Brown and small-talking with Supervisor Park Min-sung, trying my best not to pay attention to whatever sounds came from the quarantine rooms.
And finally, we almost finished cleaning the corridor.
‘Phew.’
The supervisor and I looked at each other and smiled in relief.
“Shall we just wrap up and head out?”
“Shall we? It feels like we finished really fast… oh, that’s right.”
Supervisor Park Min-sung startled, searched his pockets, and pulled out one more note.
“Th-This is a tip for after dawn. They told me to look at it after some time has passed since starting work because it might get confusing.”
“Ah, thank you.”
What on earth more is going to happen…
‘I’m glad we are leaving soon…!’
Screaming and crying only inside, I quickly read through that tip as well.
But…
———–
11. Ah… it’s time to talk about this. About 3 hours must have passed since you started cleaning, right?
…From around that time, you’ll start hearing some crazy bastard rambling in Quarantine Room B14.
———–
…Wait.
“Supervisor. Is it… 3 AM now?”
“Yeah. It seems to be around that time…”
Is someone out there?
“……”
“……”
Someone is out there, right? Is someone out there? Someone is out there, right? Is someone out there? Someone is out there, right? Is someone out there? Someone is out there, right?
The two of us turned our heads.
[Quarantine Room B14]
Shall I tell you how to escape from here? Shall I tell you how to survive? Shall I tell you how to revive a dead person? Shall I tell you the company’s secrets? I’ll just tell you, come close, if you come just a little closer I will tell you the truth of the world
I wanted to run away.
I wanted to throw open the door and sprint out through the rental warehouse.
I wanted to leave words like ‘I resign today’ to the Security Team Leader, dump all the remaining Nostalgia candy onto Supervisor Park Min-sung, leave this place, and never return…
But since I couldn’t do that, let’s just read the tips…
———–
My Lord? Anyway, it’s a bastard shouting weird things and offering to tell you how to become happy, but it’ll quiet down if you just throw some curses at it.
If you don’t want to swear, just telling it to fuck off is fine too.
———–
I really hate this.
But to tell it to just fuck off, I opened my mouth…
“……”
Wait.
“Roe?”
“Hold on a moment.”
I pulled out the front page note I received earlier again.
In there, it clearly…
———–
4. No, I emphasize once again: just ignore the sounds coming from the quarantine rooms. Do not answer.
———–
“……”
Rule 4 and Rule 11 were opposite.
‘This… which side should I follow?’
There were many cases where contradictory numbers appeared in this kind of rules-of-conduct ghost story, but, well, it was usually not revealed which side was definitely correct…
Had the tip changed over time? Or was this second page itself wrong? Or…
“Roe.”
“…!”
Supervisor Park Min-sung pushed me back.
“Something is str