Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The meeting room was a mess.
“Are you saying seventeen people survived and returned just now?!”
“Seventeen…?! No, is that number correct? Isn’t it a counting error?”
“Yes. Ah! I heard it has just increased to twenty now.”
The Field Exploration Team that had been deployed to the highly anticipated Dark this morning had suddenly returned in large numbers.
In an instant, response was paralyzed by a situation completely opposite to their predictions.
“No, they said they finished all the case studies, and that they would escape sequentially in small groups, so what on earth is this?”
All kinds of voices ran rampant at the unexpected situation, questioning if those were indeed the employees they sent in, and whether they should all be examined in the laboratory.
However, once the embarrassment subsided, the thought that slinked into their minds was… a thrilling premonition of success.
Was it not an encouraging result?
Similar thoughts arose in the minds of the few people who had pushed for this matter.
‘If this is indeed the survival rate…!’
The investment had succeeded through a bold and wise choice!
It was to the point of being bewildered because they had not expected such a high supply success rate.
‘Shouldn’t we quickly shape public opinion first?’
‘Wait, I should make sure to mention my contribution starting from now.’
But all this panic, excitement, and worry were erased in an instant.
After just one more piece of news was delivered.
“They say it is B-grade.”
“Hah.”
As a result of evaluating the dreamscape collector of the employee who escaped first, the solution was judged as B-grade.
In other words, the ‘A-grade with a high survival rate’ they dreamed of… did not exist.
In an instant, the atmosphere of the meeting hall sank deeply into disappointment.
“Sigh… Of course it is.”
“Didn’t we bring bad luck by making a fuss about it being A-grade?”
“Still, isn’t this kind of survival rate rare for B-grade? Isn’t that right, Manager Gwak?”
Researcher Gwak Je-gang, who had been urgently summoned, smiled faintly.
“Of course~ It is a tremendous thing.”
No, in fact, it was not just tremendous… it was absolutely astonishing!
Did these people not even know the initial employee survival rate for each grade?
That was why they did not even have a grasp of how incredible this situation was right now! That was why they did not foam at the mouth wishing to find out the exploration details immediately!
‘Wow~ Amazing.’
Seeing them exchange blessings and comfort with each other in a nuance like, ‘We just had bad luck, our judgment was correct,’ was funny even to Gwak Je-gang himself.
Did this look like a situation to offer comfort?
‘Do those folks have no sense of reality at all!’
The average survival rate of civilians for B-grade was in the 2% range.
The act of deploying a large number of employees itself in a situation without a proper manual was a reckless gamble, yet disappointment and self-boasting came out of this astonishing result?
Even though they had sloppily adopted the opinion of only one research team manager who spoke to their taste as expert advice to make up the appearance.
The reason was obvious.
‘Because they wanted to do it!’
Thanks to that, he himself was glad to have obtained a very interesting result to analyze, but it was simply amazing how this company functioned properly even with those kinds of higher-ups in the development division.
Gwak Je-gang felt sorry in his heart. This company had to last long so that he could also conduct various studies on these fascinating bizarre phenomena!
However, wasn’t it a risk for this company that the faces of the ‘Innovation Development Strategy Office,’ which only had a plausible name, were like that?
Though it was common for a family-owned company to be a complete mess without any system when viewed from the inside.
‘I heard rumors… but could it be that all the higher-ups attached to the owner’s line are like this?’
Of course, not everyone in this seat was like that.
Gwak Je-gang glanced at a person who sat somewhat detachedly.
He was someone who had not been present at the last meeting.
‘He is Director Ho’s man.’
He was sitting here on the pretext of asking, ‘Is it possible to attend briefly since I am interested in this agenda?’
No matter how much the development division higher-ups meddled with the Field Exploration Team in this way or that, this was unprecedented.
Moreover, he was openly receiving remote reports on the situation separately from his own person.
In this manner.
“It is said that one employee greatly aided this large-scale escape.”
“Pardon??”
An atmosphere filled with wariness and tension rather than trying to look good.
However, everyone was shocked by the words that followed.
“He is a rookie employee.”
“……!”
“It seems he outright ‘broadcast’ the escape method to let all the employees know… but I think we need to look closely into what kind of method it was.”
“…….”
“There is also someone who is curious about this.”
It was Director Ho.
The Strategy Office people, who exchanged glances with each other, babbled as if making excuses.
“Ah, we will transmit the detailed contents as soon as the exploration report comes out.”
“That’s right. Usually, when they just come out of a field exploration, they are out of their minds and talk nonsense.”
“Still, they wouldn’t make up a story that doesn’t exist, would they?”
“That is….”
“And so, in regards to that.”
Director Ho’s man cut them off.
“He says he is also curious about what kind of decision the ‘Innovation Development Strategy Office’ will make.”
“…….”
“Regarding the employee’s reward, that is.”
* * *
“Congratulations, Supervisor Kim.”
“……Pardon?”
I almost spat out the iced Americano I was drinking on the bed in the medical room.
It had been a few hours since I had been knocked out after a simple physical examination, hearing the tearfully grateful words of ‘The youngest went through a lot, so just rest.’
I thought I would only be able to hear a summarized story about this exploration after getting off work and coming in tomorrow…
Supervisor?
“Yeah, you didn’t hear wrong. Supervisor Kim.”
Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je grinned.
“They say you’re getting promoted. The shortest record since the establishment of this company’s Field Exploration Team!”
“…!!”
“To be honest, I knew it would be like this. Now the days of hearing polite speech from our Roe Deer are over too.”
“Hey, if we wait just half a year more, won’t you speak casually with me too?”
No, this was not some neighborhood corner store, so how could an employee become a supervisor in just two months.
‘Isn’t that just a common company rumor?’
I changed this to a more polite phrasing to ask, but the answer was firm.
“No, you deserved it. Do you know how many employees you saved this time?”
Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je crossed her arms.
“A total of twenty-six people, including you.”
“……!”
“Roe Deer, among them, seventeen employees escaped just by hearing your announcement!”
“If we combine those who confirmed others escaping and came out late, it can practically be seen that you saved them all.”
The assistant manager added an explanation that there were even a few civilian escapees.
“Isn’t this kind of record something that barely comes out once every few years? Honestly, it shouldn’t just end with a promotion, they should give you something more.”
“I know, right. Let’s sound them out tomorrow after the group leader finishes his meeting. It seems like they will give you something after all.”
I was grateful to my superiors who were as excited as if it were their own business, but I was bewildered.
A promotion.
……A promotion after working in a major corporation for only sixty days!
A modern person’s heart was fluttering!
“Prepare your heart. A special personnel appointment like this is posted quickly.”
And indeed, it happened just as she said.
The very next day, I saw the official notice regarding the promotion posted on the intranet.
[Special Personnel Announcement]
As if it were natural, the three characters of ‘Kim Sol-eum’ were written there.
“…….”
Bzzzzz.
The smartphone was crying. It seemed that congratulatory messages were coming from here and there…
W-Wait a minute.
‘This seems to be processed quickly to minimize internal backlash.’
The Field Exploration Team was also a place where humans worked. Naturally, it meant they felt emotionally moved or grateful when their lives were saved.
In that sense, well, since twenty-seven people would feel something like gratitude toward me anyway, the backlash would be small…
An intention to promote me without missing that timing was felt from the timing of the announcement.
No, why……? Why are they promoting me to this extent.
‘J-Just how much more are they going to run me into the ground?’
Wasn’t it enough to be deployed mainly to newly registered ghost stories without manuals?
I contacted an elite superior from another group due to the terrifying predictions that arose the more I imagined, but…
[Are you an idiot? It would be stranger if you didn’t get promoted.]
“…??”
[Even the person in charge of manual evaluation said you went and found the missing person, right? Since you are producing achievements that will spread by word of mouth, it’s obvious someone high up would keep an eye on you.]
Assistant Manager Jin Na-sol of Group A clicked her tongue.
[We should have just brought you to our group when there was a vacancy. Tsk. Why did you refuse uselessly?]
“…….”
[Anyway, congratulations. Though it was a promotion that was bound to happen.]
“…Yes, well, thank you.”
In the end, I had to hang up the phone in a hollow mood.
And leaning my body against the back of my office chair, I thought.
Yes.
Though I denied reality, it seemed I had eventually reached this stage…
Am I… an elite employee?
A special character worthy of being registered as a named character in the <Records of the Dark Exploration>?
The kind of character that some hardline creators would try to kill off plausibly somehow to maintain the atmosphere of the worldview and exit them from the wiki…
But because videos popped up on Wetube and gained popularity and recognition, they ended up just leaving them be… that kind of character?
They also call this a Mary Sue…
‘How did it turn out like this.’
No, perhaps it was unavoidable.
Frankly, having read the entire <Records of the Dark Exploration> was a cheat after all!
‘In a situation where I might die immediately if I didn’t use it, doing this much was showing it as little as possible.’
The problem is…
‘What on earth do I do now if they find out I am a coward.’
Thinking that it would end with just being assigned to the Cleanup Team had also become a wishful circuit.
I could not tell how far the ripples would reach.
If the question of, ‘Why were his achievements so good despite being a coward?’ arose…
‘It feels like interrogation and experimentation are waiting for me…?’
The future of being dragged to the research team the moment it was revealed that I came from a parallel dimension was clear.
Cold sweat seemed to trickle down my forehead.
N-No.
I got up from my seat, took my coffee, and circled the pantry.
As I consumed caffeine, my head cleared up a bit.
Yes.
‘If I cannot avoid it, I must increase my survival rate here.’
If I was already completely marked, continuing to show performance worthy of it could conversely avoid useless attention.
‘I just need to make them think, “This guy was originally such a competent and unique person.”’
It was not as if such employees did not exist. Like Group Leader Lizard or Assistant Manager Jin with the butterfly mask.
It would end with being classified as one of the named characters.
Although the probability of being deployed to more dangerous ghost stories had increased and increased…… Keup, no. It might actually be better.
If I was treated as high-grade manpower, they might send me less to places of absolute death!
‘And I will be able to earn points faster too.’
The more I thought about it, it was not bad for a quick escape from this world, but…
In order to do that, there was an essential step.
‘I have to build a character, a character…’
I had to appear as a ‘competent and special unit’ naturally enough not to be suspected.
Keeping the line moderately, just like how I behaved like a crazy guy to Baek Sa-heon.
To do that…
‘…I must have more cards to use for my character traits.’
“…….”
I raised my head.
Above my head, the thing that had been flashing continuously since escaping the exhibition was still in its place.
[Records of the Dark Exploration Real Goods Box]
-Unlocking the authorization to use new goods! (!)
Since opening that would require setting up another plan, it was a check I had postponed until my physical strength recovered and my judgment returned.
One of the goods I had bought at the pop-up store.
‘It’s time to receive it.’
But I had no idea what kind of ‘authorization to use’ I had achieved in the exhibition.
The number of items used?
Moving as if stretching, I lightly touched the black notepad shining at my bedside.
Click.
With a somewhat clear sound, a small and light object wrapped in plastic fell into my hand.
“…….”
Shining in silver, shaped like a small shield with the calligraphy ‘CHARGE’ engraved in relief, it was…
A badge.
‘Ah.’
I knew it.
The condition I satisfied was ‘good deeds.’
———————=
Records of the Dark Exploration / Paranormal Disaster Management Bureau
/ Item
Silver Heart
The wearer gains the awe of others according to their accumulated altruistic actions.
The creator’s value of ‘It is socially most efficient for altruistic people to gain power’ was strongly reflected.
Item usage condition: One who has established the merit of saving twelve or more people in a supernatural disaster.
———————=
The so-called ‘Personality Certification Badge.’
It was an item produced and distributed by the Disaster Management Bureau. Its recognition exploded as it played a major role in the exploration records of a certain train explosion ghost story currently sealed there.
It was even more so because of this unique attribute.
As you can see, it is an item exclusive to good people.
An object that allows a good person to exert influence over a group.
‘For the day to come when I satisfy this condition…’
It was to the point of being a bit burdensome.
Although it was an item that was rarely used in anything but heartwarming ways, an extreme disaster at a crazy level had occurred exactly once.
‘Well, that’s just how the ghost story worldview is.’
When records accumulated, one terrifying situation always squeezed in like that to create tension.
That was why in the past, there were records of it being distributed to very gentle civilians, but it was changed to only being loaned out to subordinate civil servants through strict regulations.
I watched the wiki being updated in real-time.
What did this mean?
It meant that at this point, predicting that an employee of Daydream Co. would suddenly use this ‘Silver Heart’ was almost impossible!
‘So I can actually use it.’
My own situation was desperate enough, so I did not know how many good deeds I could perform in the future, but couldn’t I receive at least the basic effect for now?
At the very least, if I gave the people working with me the impression of, ‘This guy seems to be someone amazing,’ it would become much easier to appear as a competent employee.
‘Good. Let’s pack it well.’
There was indeed no law saying one must die.
I put the ‘Silver Heart’ carefully into my pocket and left the pantry with a much lighter heart.
Then, the reward for this exhibition exploration was also waiting.
“Roe Deer! It hasn’t appeared on the official announcement yet, but they say they’re giving you an extra prize too!”
“…!”
“Keup, our Roe Deer naturally deserved to receive it, but this reality where you are surprised is truly regrettable…”
“I know, right. Do they think B-grade is some kid’s name? Bastards who would die immediately if they entered… Do they think urban legends are some joke?”
Well, yes. Thank you…
“But it’s a relief that the extra prize came out quite well.”
‘Quite well’?
That was extreme praise by Assistant Manager Eun’s standards.
Looking at her expression, even a bit of admiration was colored in it. It was unusual.
“…What kind of object is it?”
“Regeneration Potion.”
“……!!”
“Just hearing the name doesn’t give you a good feel for what it is, right?”
I felt it only too well.
Because it was an item so famous that it was impossible not to know!
This was not just some physical recovery potion that they gave you when you went to the medical room.
-<Daydream Co.>’s proud formal product line. One of the magical medicines.
A miraculous cure.
———————=
Records of the Dark Exploration / Daydream Co.
/ Potion
Regeneration Potion
A magical medicine that regenerates all traumatic defects.
The higher the grade, the stronger it becomes, showing a deep green color.
———————=
“Simply put, it’s a medicine that generates body parts… and the grade is C-grade. Even if a limb is gone, it will just regenerate.”
“…!”
“Even dedicated equipment for manager rank and above doesn’t have this level of capability. Because it’s this company’s specialty medicine. If converted into points, the regular price is ten thousand points.”
The assistant manager grinned and patted my back.
“You will be able to use it usefully later. Since it’s such a dangerous industry, isn’t it great that even if arms and legs fly off, or eyes, nose, and mouth disappear, they will form again.”
You didn’t really have to say those words……
“And… it’s news that could be slightly regrettable or good, do you want to hear it?”
“Yes?”
“It is that you are not the only one receiving this.”
* * *
“Sol-eum!”
“Hello.”
I greeted Go Yeong-eun, who was waving her hand. I also saw Baek Sa-heon sitting next to her.
The company gathered the three of us in one place while performing the ceremony of giving the extra prize and taking photos.
They were faces I was seeing for the first time in a few days since escaping the exhibition.
You ask if Baek Sa-heon wasn’t my roommate? These days, he didn’t even come out of his room at all. Thanks to that, I watched the living room TV comfortably with Brown.
“Did you rest well? Is your body okay?”
“I am okay. As for Go Yeong-eun……”
I realized while speaking.
That Go Yeong-eun was observing my mouth shape and trying to read my pronunciation as much as possible.
“Because my ears, they still can’t hear.”
“…….”
Just as expected, indeed.
Fortunately, the rented device that was inside her ears seemed to have been automatically returned the moment she left the exhibition, so there was likely no way a ‘representative of the exhibition’ would chase her.
Moreover, the extra prize she just received from the company was held in Go Yeong-eun’s hand.
Opening the box decorated with luxurious gold foil and mural-like designs, there was a beautiful glass bottle sealed with beeswax inside.
A light green color like budding sprouts undulating inside the glass.
: Daydream Potion :
Regeneration
C (excellent)
C-grade Regeneration Potion.
Go Yeong-eun raised the glass bottle.
Those eyes were filled with hope, anxiety, and expectation.
“Well, then I will drink it right away first.”
“Yes.”
Go Yeong-eun opened the ‘Regeneration Potion.’
And she downed it all at once.