Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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I took a deep breath and recalled the manual for the Blood Bathtub.
First, fill the tub with warm water.
1. Please fill the tub with as much clean water as you want.
(‘Tub of Youth – Foot Massage Edition’ is a product that does not support automatic water supply.)
Just as it said, I took enough warm water from the sink to submerge a single stuffed doll and poured it into the tub.
And….
From here on is the main point.
2. When the water rises to the desired amount, pour 200ml or more of fresh blood over it.
The fresher the blood drawn from a healthy and energetic subject, the better the effect.
The fact that this kind of nonsense was written in a kind and gentle font made it sound like crazy talk, but fortunately, I had a substitute.
I picked up the wild ginseng.
And with the scissors, I cut a single medium-sized outer root strand.
‘Ugh.’
Just looking at it was nauseating; a dark purple sap was trickling and leaking out from the cut root.
It was extremely fortunate that I had put on rubber gloves.
Trying my best not to touch it, I leaned the cut surface of the root against the Blood Bathtub.
Then, an amazing sight unfolded.
Bubble bubble.
Bubbles arose from the sap touching the tub, and a fantastic fragrance began to waft up.
“…!”
The nauseating dark purple sap had somehow transformed into a rich and beautiful rosy cream color, sparkling.
It was bizarre and fantastic.
A bath so cozy and luxurious that anyone would be tempted to dip their feet in was thus prepared…….
3. Fully submerge your body in the bath bomb and enjoy your bath.
(The Foot Massage Edition gives vitality to the entire body.)
An expectant sound came from beneath the dark bed.
-At last!
The laughter of the stuffed doll.
-Ah, there is no need to pick me up and move me! Mr. Roe Deer.
-Please keep looking away and do not turn around.
I froze just like that.
…From behind my back, a sound began to be heard.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It was the sound of the stuffed doll walking.
No, was it really… a stuffed doll? It also sounded like the footsteps of a man’s dress shoes. The slightly light yet heavy sound brushed right past my back, then stopped.
And right next to me, from the tub, a splash, the sound of something falling in, was heard….
-You may look forward now.
I turned my head.
The small stuffed doll, thoroughly soaked in the bath bomb inside the small tub, was floating around exactly in the likeness of a smiling animal mascot without any change in expression…….
“……Brown?”
There was no answer.
It was natural. Because in reality, one could not directly face a doll and converse with it.
But he would be listening.
“I will put the wild ginseng away for now. Enjoy your bath.”
I put the wild ginseng, whose sap had stopped, back onto the desk and looked at the tub.
Recalling the records of the people who had used the Blood Bathtub.
———————=
Use Record #5
A servant in their 40s stirred the water in the Blood Bathtub with their hand while clearing away the bath bomb (the blood of a 20-year-old Caucasian mixed-race male) that the homeowner had prepared.
30 seconds elapsed until the tub was completely emptied.
Immediately witnessed the skin and muscle tissue of the hand rejuvenating to that of a mid-30s state. Vital signs observed throughout the body.
On the night of the same day, the servant was arrested while fleeing after loading the Blood Bathtub into a car.
———————=
Well, there is nothing like that in particular.
‘As expected, does it not work on a doll?’
I should bring a towel at least.
It was when I turned my body and headed toward the chest of drawers.
-Ooh!
A voice?
I turned my head.
Inside the unseen tub, electrical sparks shot up like sparks flying from an old TV.
-Light enters the powerless limbs!
Flash.
The shadow of the stuffed doll raising its two arms cast heavily and largely over the tub.
What on earth is that?
-Mr. Roe Deer!
Don’t call me!
-This is a truly interesting object! Haha, hahahaha!
Swallowing my saliva, I watched the spectacle.
‘…Is strength really returning?’
I had never seen a record where the Blood Bathtub’s rejuvenation was applicable to such a range.
It was a new case.
One that I did not know.
-More bath bomb! Please pour more!
The bath bomb.
Unconsciously, I grabbed the wild ginseng on the desk….
[Aaaaagh, these bastards are grabbing the wild ginseng!!!]
[No, noble one!! Noble one! Save me! Please save me!!]
Agh, fuck!
‘It woke up!!’
Frightened, I instinctively threw the wild ginseng.
Thud.
Like a lie, the wild ginseng that fell into the Blood Bathtub struggled, as if sensing that its spilled remaining sap was turning into a fragrant bath bomb.
[Aaaaaah!!]
But that was all.
The wild ginseng did not seem to be able to play any foolish tricks like before, whether the bizarre power of the Blood Bathtub was suppressing the wild ginseng, or whether Brown had done something.
A shriek rang out.
[Please save me, noble one!! Noble one!! I was wrong! I was wrong!]
[I will work hard! I will work haaaard!! I will serve you!!]
-How insolent and noisy!
Electricity sparked again from inside the Blood Bathtub.
It felt as if a TV screen was being synthesized….
From inside, the angry shout of the host rang out loudly.
-Slit its throat, friend! Make it quiet. Don’t ruin this scene!
“…….”
I stood up.
And without looking into the tub, I spoke.
“I can make it quiet without doing that.”
-…….
“It is fine not to use extreme methods.”
-In a show, a single moment, a single timing can determine all reactions and feelings.
“But this isn’t a show right now, is it?”
-That is….
The electricity sparking from the tub subsided.
-Indeed. Yes. You are correct.
Phew.
‘A new Blood Bathtub use record – an irregular case – almost got registered like that.’
As if the situation wasn’t already absurd enough.
A pitiful whimpering voice was heard from inside the tub.
[Thank you… thank you, savior.]
[Good noble one! Now please take me out of here and save me from the hands of this lawless monster…….]
I crossed my arms.
“I never said I would save you.”
[…?!]
Who is the one that gets done in during the middle and late stages of a ghost story?
It is precisely a good-natured person letting down their guard at a moment like this!
‘If you grow soft-hearted just because a ghost makes a crying sound, that is exactly when something terrifying happens!’
At times like this, one must act calm and formidable. I stared at the wild ginseng left in the Blood Bathtub over the ceramic of the tub.
“How do I know what will happen to me if I save you?”
A sobbing sound was heard.
[Then, then… uh, how about this? The field! I will tell you about a rare object near the field where I was!]
“I don’t need it.”
It would probably be some ghost-possessed, cursed object.
[Th-then….]
I sighed.
“Just prove for yourself that you won’t harm anyone. Keep quiet.”
[…….]
The wild ginseng shut its mouth.
It seemed I had bought some time with this for now.
Thus, for several minutes, a time that was suffocating for me and (probably) enjoyable for Brown flowed….
‘10 minutes.’
It was when I checked the time like that.
-Mmh. It was a good bath.
“…….”
Was it over?
It was just before I was about to turn my head, wondering if I should take Brown out of the tub now.
-Ah, splendid…. Thank you, Mr. Roe Deer.
The voice of the stuffed doll turned sinister.
-For waiting until my bath was finished!
Boom.
[Kyaaaaak!!]
A thunderous noise and shrieks poured from the tub.
This is crazy!
-Just a moment! Friend, do not move. If anyone watches, this cotton-filled body is too embarrassed to move!
[You said you’d save me, you said you’d save meee!]
-Haha! Yet Mr. Roe Deer said he never made a promise to save you!
“Wait!”
In the end, I ran to the tub.
It felt like I heard a tongue clicking, but it vanished as I leaned over the tub.
What met my eyes was the wild ginseng, shoved into a corner, struggling while shaking its berry frantically.
The berry was half-crushed as if struck by someone’s kick, and the side of the root was also squashed as if someone had tried to squeeze the sap out.
[Save me, save me….]
The movement of the wild ginseng’s berry slowed down as if it had already exhausted its strength.
[U-unbind me…….]
…Unbind you?
With my rubber-gloved hand, I rummaged through the wild ginseng in the tub.
‘It isn’t tied up, though.’
[Save…….]
Following the wild ginseng’s words, a vibration came to my hand.
“…….”
A vibration.
Come to think of it, whenever this wild ginseng spoke something like words, this kind of wave was transmitted to my hand.
It wasn’t strange, since a voice was also a type of wave.
However, there was something strange.
‘The root doesn’t shake.’
Come to think of it, even when I first saw it in the field, only the leaves and the berry shook when it spoke.
The root had merely stretched out like infected tentacles.
“…….”
If so.
Instinctively, I grabbed the wild ginseng and plucked off the berry.
At that moment.
[Hoooooo!]
The berry vibrated frantically and bounced out of my hand.
“…!”
And it lingered inside my hand as if it did not know what to do with joy.
[I escaped!! I escaped! The tiger’s maw is disappearing! Disappearinggg….]
[Thank you, savior!! Thank you!!]
The berry’s form gradually faded and shimmered, and eventually, it floated into the empty air like a light and disappeared as if flying out the window.
“…….”
Was that the main body?
-Oh dear! It escaped. What a pity.
Whew.
-Opportunities should not be given to such a low and mean species that loves to go back on its word so much!
“Is that so. Still, next time, please let’s do everything with mutual consent….”
-Even in moments where quick reflexes are required?
“Unless someone is dying, yes.”
-…I understand. Friend.
Although it was a somewhat disgruntled voice, I obtained a firm answer anyway.
As I satisfied myself with that….
-By the way, look at this! I have rejuvenated quite a bit now!
I looked back into the tub.
The stuffed doll, which had grown quiet like a lie upon being stared at.
Somehow, a sheen flowed from the wet lump of cotton.
“……?”
Uh, it really looked a bit more expensive for some reason. Should I say it looked of higher quality?
It also felt as if it had gotten minutely larger, just as he said.
‘…It shouldn’t get any larger, though?’
It was key-ring size, which is why I carried it around without drawing suspicion. A grown office worker carrying around a doll larger than their hand at all times would draw too much attention.
As if I wasn’t already standing out enough at the company.
‘I should think it over a bit before using the Blood Bathtub next time.’
No, preferably, it would be better if I went back home before then.
“Indeed. Splendid.”
I fished Brown out, carefully dried him with a hair dryer, and placed him nicely on a sleeping towel.
And upon returning to clean up the tub water, I saw something surprising.
“…The wild ginseng root remained.”
I thought the wild ginseng would disappear after the berry flew away, but it was left perfectly intact.
It had even become healthier.
The wild ginseng, which had been discolored as if contaminated, had somehow regained its original clean, ivory color.
‘It even seems to emit a nice scent.’
It looked miraculous. With properties completely opposite to a ghost story.
“Hmm.”
I hesitated, then took it and put it in the desk drawer.
There might be a use for it somewhere.
“Then is this…… the end.”
‘I got past one case….’
I slid down and stretched out on the bed.
Wow, since entering this ghost story world, I feel like my lifespan has decreased by about twenty years.
‘As expected, I must gather points quickly and run.’
The irony of this situation, where I had to target ghost stories even more actively to do so, was funny….
-Mr. Roe Deer.
Agh, what a startle.
-It is much easier to move both my body and mouth!
-Oh dear, do not look this way.
I fixed my head, which had almost turned around, back onto the pillow.
Then Brown spoke again.
-Now it seems we can converse here too, as long as we do not directly make eye contact.
-Isn’t it a rather shy method? It’s frustrating, but interesting in its own way.
Sure. Chatter to your heart’s content….
‘When I enter a ghost story, you’ll have to act as my lifeline again anyway…….’
-You seem very tired! I wish you sweet dreams. Friend.
I fell fast asleep as if passing out.
It was a refreshing sleep that completely washed away the fatigue of several days.
…Though when I woke up, another problem had erupted.
* * *
During the day of the same day.
Around the time Kim Sol-eum was in the middle of light chitchat with his superiors in the Group D office, this employee, who was quite related to his recent affairs, was walking down the hallway….
“Ah, Manager Lee Byung-jin.”
Yes. That manager who had gone missing and was rescued by Kim Sol-eum.
“Yes, yes!”
And the one who called him to a stop was one of the directors.
Although it was a meeting that was not very pleasant for an office worker, the manager squeezed all the strength in his facial muscles to put on a bright smile and politely accepted the handshake.
It couldn’t be helped.
The company lifeline that he had grabbed.
Because he was the person at the very top of that rope connected to Group A that led way up, a person at the peak of the food chain in this bizarre and terrifying major corporation!
‘Director Ho!’
The director who had called out to him in the hallway smiled back and asked.
“I heard you returned after going missing. Are you okay?”
“Aiyoo, I am healthy, Director. Thanks to your concern, I am perfectly fine and working hard, yes, for the peace of our company.”
“Haha.”
The director did not point out the other person’s empty words. Instead, he spoke gently and casually.
“You were lucky. There are many cases where once you fall into the Dark, you cannot come out.”
“Ah. Indeed… I was lucky and got rescued.”
“Rescued? Did you perhaps receive help from the Disaster Management Bureau?”
Although the director’s tone did not change, Manager Lee Byung-jin jumped in surprise.
This director was a person who was extremely uncomfortable with getting involved with the government, to the point of even retaliating.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
“N-no way! An employee of our company found me!”
“I see.”
“Yes, yes. Ah, they are a rookie in this Field Exploration Team, and they are a very decent fellow! Really!”
To think that such a statement could be drawn from the mouth of such a self-preserving human.
The director smiled and asked.
“What is that person’s name?”
“Ah! It is Kim Sol-eum…. Group D rookie. Kim Sol-eum.”
From Manager Lee Byung-jin’s perspective, he had summoned quite a bit of courage.
To repay his savior!
‘Director Ho might be a bit eerie, but he’s a decent superior.’
As long as one didn’t touch his trigger keywords, that is.
“He is a very promising rookie fellow. Yes.”
Just like that, a connection was being formed in a place unknown even to the person himself!
Manager Lee Byung-jin wiped his nose.
‘Sol-eum, if you find out later, you’ll be grateful to me!’
He was not!
However, regardless, this action of Manager Lee Byung-jin brought about a quite large butterfly effect….
“Oh, I must remember that.”
Just a few days later, an incident erupted in the company.
To be precise, in the Field Exploration Team.