Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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A three-day-old new employee of <Daydream Co.>
“Phew.”
Go Yeong-eun sat carefully at her desk around the end of lunchtime.
This amateur medical practitioner who didn’t take the national exam figured she was adjusting well to the situation in her own way…….
The bosses of Group R, to which she was assigned, were not very warm types, but they didn’t haze her severely either, nor did they push her into a place where she would die unreasonably.
Above all, she had successfully cleared two F-grade ghost stories up to now……!
‘Did they say about one or two a week is the average performance of a rookie?’
Two in three days, even if they were the lowest-grade Dark, would be quite decent for a rookie!
She was doing her absolute best to adjust to this crazy company…….
Even though she had almost fainted when she saw the Wish Ticket points.
‘After clearing two, I only received 66p, so in what lifetime will I ever gather 500,000…….’
“…….”
But she couldn’t give up.
‘I can do it.’
Go Yeong-eun steadied her mind.
‘…Will other colleagues feel similar?’
Without realizing it, she looked at her phone.
At the top of the messenger, a single group chat was pinned.
[Daydream Co. Rookie Group Chat]
It was indeed the group chat where the rookies gathered.
Except only one person was not invited.
Not because they wanted to ostracize him, but because no one had his contact information.
It was indeed the top rookie, Kim Sol-eum.
‘I should invite him too.’
Even ‘that’ Baek Sa-heon was in this group chat, but strangely, they hadn’t run into Kim Sol-eum in the company even once, so there was no opportunity to inform him.
From the perspective of not knowing what kind of dog-hard first two days of work Kim Sol-eum had spent, it was certainly a puzzling matter!
‘Should I contact him through the company messenger at least?’
She accessed the intranet, strived to search the name to attempt contacting Kim Sol-eum…….
It was then.
KakaoTalk, KakaoTalk, Ka-ka-ka-talk,
Suddenly, the group chat began to ring furiously.
– Did you see the official announcement uploaded just now?
– By any chance, is there anyone close to Employee Kim Sol-eum?……
– Is that person the one who was the top scorer of our class?
– What does it mean that he cleared A-grade as a major contributor?……
– Is Kim Sol-eum the one wearing that strange mask with horns?……
“……?!”
* * *
“Wow, Roe Deer, they say someone among the higher-ups is saying you should be promoted to supervisor immediately?”
“Cough.”
I almost choked while taking my medicine.
“But they say it was blocked immediately because guys in other departments were foaming at the mouth and opposing, saying it’s unprecedented.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Should I say it was a pity? Yet really, not even a single bit felt like a pity, so that was my limit.
I rubbed my stomach as I set down the empty medicine bottle.
After barely escaping the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ that had morphed into an A-grade ghost story, we were immediately transported to the infirmary and were currently taking emergency medicine.
Because we were bleeding profusely from our facial features.
“Your stomach feels much better, right?”
“Yes.”
But it seemed the medicine worked well.
Although the medicines of <Daydream Co.> were suspicious, these ordinary home medicines were usually just highly effective.
– The Dark… I mean, those bizarre creatures that appear in urban legends, you see. It’s a recovery medicine used when one suffers supernatural damage from those guys.
So to speak, it was a health potion for ghost stories.
‘I definitely think they sold this in a cherry-ade flavor at the collab cafe near the pop-up store…’
The actual taste was merely cough syrup.
‘In any case, the fact that I’m alive and drinking a potion feels like a lie.’
Once we escaped, everything was just good.
Living in a bright daylight is truly a good thing…….
However, the bosses seemed to care more about something else than this emotion.
How on earth was this matter reported to the higher-ups and processed!
They were busy figuring out the situation by mobilizing all kinds of connections.
“Honestly, this was an unprecedented special situation. I wish the group leader would appeal more strongly, but he is not the type to do that sort of thing, you see…….”
“Please do it when you are promoted to assistant manager, Senior.”
“Uh, I’m going to resign before then.”
“Actually, me too.”
I really wish to do so too, please.
In a strange sense of solidarity, we each stretched out on our infirmary beds.
Supervisor Park Min-sung stretched and then let out a sigh.
It was a long sigh of relief.
“…I really thought I was going to die, but as expected, living is good! Roe Deer, thank you.”
“No. I merely did my best.”
Honestly, the <Records of the Dark Exploration> wiki did all of it.
If I made more excuses here, the conversation would flow in a burdensome direction like ‘we were all about to die but you were smart and did well,’ so I merely kept silent.
“We are not that incompetent seniors, but we let our guard down because it was D-grade.”
“Assistant Manager, I think that excuse is a bit ugly.”
“Then, to prove it in the next Dark.”
‘I only wish there was no next Dark…….’
Such a peaceful paid rest time flowed, but only for a moment.
“They say the Manager’s meeting has ended.”
“……!”
“He is coming to the infirmary.”
The assistant manager holding her smartphone stood up in a flash. Because the supervisor stood up in succession, I also stood up in the confusion.
‘Am I finally going to see the real thing?’
Manager Lee Ja-heon.
Employee D, alias Lizard!
One of the most famous Daydream Co. employees in <Records of the Dark Exploration>. The employee whose character design was rumored to be released soon thanks to that popularity.
Honestly, I was a bit curious.
What kind of person would he be?
‘Thinking about the conversation when I pressed the call button, he didn’t seem to have an ordinary personality, but…….’
Still, thinking about how he did a super play with a AAA battery shot made everything seem beautiful.
Knock, knock, knock.
“The door is open. Please come in, Group Leader!”
The infirmary door opened.
Standing beyond was a tall figure.
Wearing a black suit that perfectly fit the standard and even wearing an employee ID, his extremely standard and classic office worker appearance looked quite decent.
The Manager Lee Ja-heon who finally appeared, the named employee D of <Records of the Dark Exploration>…….
“Hello.”
“…!? …!!”
It’s, it’s a lizard.
No, that, not a mask, but really…….
‘Really… a lizard head is attached.’
“…….”
Hold on.
No… there is no way.
The residual image of the TV-headed host must have remained, causing me to show hallucinatory symptoms due to excessive stress.
Right? My brain is mistaking the mask he wears as a real lizard head, or…….
‘Looking at it again, a mask is hanging on his waist.’
“…….”
This is driving me crazy.
“I am really tearfully glad to see you.”
“Welcome, Group Leader!”
Why is everyone so calm.
If a lizard is going to appear in a suit, shouldn’t they give at least a warning to the rookie like ‘don’t be surprised’?
Why are they naturally setting up a name-exchanging atmosphere!
“Ah, this side is Roe Deer. Over here is Manager Lee Ja-heon. Greet him.”
“Ayy, it seems Roe Deer is surprised because the Manager is too handsome? Haha! He doesn’t look like the same species as us!”
Can you please tell me in detail whether that is social life or a suggestion, please…….
The white lizard head turned to me without expression.
The red reptilian vertical slit eyes glinted.
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
“…….”
“Can you see it?”
F-fuck.
“What do you mean… Ah, my eyes were not hurt. My vision is also fine.”
I admired my own quick wits.
“…….”
Excuse me?
“I see.”
The white reptilian head whipped around.
I almost fainted.
‘Please stop, seriously.’
A setting where one has to suffer like this even after coming out of a ghost story seems too unreasonable…….
‘What on earth is this.’
But I will not even open my mouth.
Looking at the atmosphere, it was clear that one must not see the lizard head!
‘Everyone was seeing it as a normal human face.’
Let’s not stand out.
I will absolutely not show a suspicious sign to that walking human… no, lizard excavator.
I succeeded in managing my expression, and fortunately, thanks to other group members, the conversation flowed smoothly.
And the main subject.
“Manager, by any chance, did the higher-ups explain why things turned out this way?”
“Yes.”
The white reptile, no, Manager Lee Ja-heon nodded.
First, the cause of this incident.
The employees who entered midway were…….
“They say that due to human error, the ‘Tuesday Talk Show’ was redundantly assigned to both Group D and Group L.”
“Ah, seriously.”
“Sigh……”
No wonder the work was assigned in a hurry, it seemed there had been a mistake.
The Manager’s briefing continued.
– The starting point of writing the medium (postcard) entering Group L’s ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ was similar to Group D’s, but a time difference of about 50 minutes occurred until completion as they went outside the company building briefly during writing.
“…Did they buy coffee for the rookie or something.”
“That was a group composed only of people who take exceptional care of their team members, indeed.”
Whether they recalled Group L where everyone died, the two group members wore slightly bitter expressions before hiding them.
“Anyway, so it seems it was transmitted at a strange point. Just our luck that our group proceeded first.”
“Yes.”
Lee Ja-heon replied simply and continued the briefing.
The problem was that the next point was a bombshell statement.
“And the rating readjustment of the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ to A-grade was not approved.”
“……?!”
“P-pardon?”
– Due to the absence of other groups that could mutually verify the situation, and a relatively high initial survival rate (43%), etc.
Practically, it remains unproven whether it is a Dark suitable for Gloomy (A) grade.
“No, Group L was completely wiped out, so what kind of bullshit is that?”
“The collector! The liquid inside the Dreamscape Collector was golden! I’ve heard once or twice that it’s an A-grade color…….”
– Although the liquid inside the Dreamscape Collector is of a density comparable to A-grade, the possibility of a special situation where high-grade liquid is extracted from low-grade Dark cannot be ruled out.
“Therefore, since the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ was Gloomy (D) grade in the company’s official classification, they say the exception is not approved.”
“…….”
So the company’s stance is…….
‘Why blow up a mistake that occurred quietly, let’s process it quietly… it is.’
Mm, typical of a corporation.
In terms of driving the employees crazy, I mean.
“This won’t do. I should go visit directly at least…….”
“Assistant Manager, wait a moment, wait.”
The supervisor asked in an unbelieving tone.
“They took all the A-grade liquid from the collector anyway. But does it really end as a D-grade performance?”
“No.”
“……!”
“A separate compensation has been designated.”
Honestly, it wasn’t surprising.
‘They are telling us to keep quiet after putting something in our mouths, right…….’
Unless the company is a complete fool, it is common to prepare a conciliation measure.
Only, the key was how much that conciliation measure was.
Striving to avoid eye contact with the lizard, I watched Manager Lee Ja-heon’s snout… no, mouth.
“They say that since the specificity of the situation and the liquid color of the Dreamscape Collector are verified, they will recognize that it was an exploration worthy of A-grade.”
“Then……?”
“Additional points will be paid.”
– Limited to this ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ clear, a one-off additional point designation corresponding to A-grade.
That amount was…….
“It is 30,000 points per person.”
“……!!”
The supervisor and the assistant manager froze as if struck by lightning.
“30,000??”
“Yes.”
“Whoaaa!”
The basic points of A-grade are 100,000 points.
Assuming they divide it according to the head count of people who enter to capture it, even assuming only two groups survived, the expected draft would be less than 17,000 points per person.
‘But we just ate almost double that.’
And that wasn’t the end.
“And a separate incentive has been paid to the employee who played a decisive role in the clear.”
The lizard’s head turned to me.
“Mr. Kim Sol-eum.”
– 10,000p additional payment to the top contributor
“40,000 points will be paid.”
“…….”
In one shot, I filled 8% of the way to the Wish Ticket.
‘Wow.’
I am to the extent of being dazed.
What, is it a pity that the A-grade clear is not officially recorded?
No, on the contrary, it’s good!
‘In this setting, standing out and getting promoted at super-speed yields nothing good.’
What would happen if expectations rose beyond standards?
It was certain that I would be forcibly deployed into more difficult ghost stories, and the more I stood out, the harder it would be to use ‘merchandise.’
Of course, there were special spaces or items that became accessible upon promotion, but one must not mistake the priority.
This is a world where you die if you slip!
‘And thinking about how I really went to the brink of the afterlife… I don’t ever want to go near A-grade again.’
Looking at the points, it didn’t seem to be a wasted effort.
And it seemed the other two also felt that way.
“…I just heard the sound of my resignation getting about three years faster.”
“Me too.”
But they soon recovered and spoke to me like this.
“Points cannot be transferred… so this is a bit embarrassing.”
“Indeed. Honestly, Roe Deer won all of it.”
“No. It’s fine.”
Honestly, even if transfer was possible, I think they wouldn’t have given it to me under whatever excuse.
This is a matter unrelated to personality.
‘These are people who got a job in a place where they would die just to buy the Wish Ticket by gathering points.’
To most Field Exploration Team employees, their points would be something they could absolutely never yield.
Mm. Let’s make sure to master this in my mind.
“Whoaaa!”
“It really enters.”
We went back to the office immediately and registered our points.
[Employee Kim Sol-eum / Registered Points: 40,100p]
‘Wow.’
I looked at the monitor.
Five-digit number.
Honestly, I was deeply moved.
“Alright, we lived, and we pulled points heavily, so…….”
The assistant manager smiled.
“Shouldn’t we go for a dinner with the corporate card!”
“Ohhh!”
“Let’s go, Roe Deer!”
Without pretense, a pleasant answer came out.
“Yes!”
* * *
And right now.
I am watching the rare sight of a lizard eating Hanwoo beef…….
Sizzle.
Striving to look naturally as the beef, cooked exquisitely on the grill, vanished into the lizard’s mouth, I was trying my best.
“Although the Group Leader’s personality is a bit unique, his ability is certain, you see.”
“Right. You really came to the right group.”
“……Yes.”
It is almost confirmed that only I see him as a lizard head.
If they had seen Manager Lee Ja-heon physically tear and crush ghost stories multiple times, the group members’ favorable attitude made sense.
Anyway, the beef was delicious regardless of ghost stories or whatnot, and I enjoyed the dinner gathering better than expected.
‘He doesn’t act uncomfortably.’
I am also experiencing that getting some alcohol inside certainly helps dispel fear.
‘I should go home, watch ten episodes of children’s cartoons, turn on all the lights, and sleep.’
It was at the moment when I was conceiving such an extreme sleeping method.
Manager Lee Ja-heon, who was eating green onion salad, suddenly asked.
“Are you going to save the 40,000 points?”
“Pardon?”
It was a natural question.
“Ah, yes. Because I have to buy the Wish Ticket, after all.”
“I see.”
“…….”
Hold on. This conversation pattern is somehow familiar.
I retraced the previous conversation.
So…….
“By any chance, is there another useful way to spend points?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Right. Did I have to approach it like this…….
Only now did I get a sense of how to use the lizard Group Leader. It was slightly refreshing. I asked in a much more relaxed voice.
“What is the use?”
“Custom Equipment.”
“……!”
I didn’t expect this to be mentioned here, but…….
‘It finally appeared.’
One of the main characteristics of a Daydream Co. employee.
‘Dedicated Equipment!’