Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Originally, an office worker always carries a resignation letter in their chest (physically or mentally).

But usually, they hide it….

‘Telling it to a rookie?’

And a direct superior, at that.

“I’ve almost gathered the points. Don’t spread rumors.”

“…….”

With Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je’s personality, I thought she would work without even a change in her complexion until resignation and let us know on the very day.

“Is it okay for you to tell me?”

“Well, it’s not a bad thing. Anyway, there are plenty of bastards in this company who go around blabbing about how many points they’ve gathered….”

The assistant manager patted my shoulder with force.

“But I wanted to tell the people of our group in advance, you see.”

“Keup. It is moving even looking at it from the side, Senior!”

“Stop it.”

I groaned as I looked at Supervisor Park Min-sung, who approached and made a big fuss.

It seemed the supervisor knew in advance.

‘Is it because of the company’s characteristics.’

Because it was a crazy job where they pulled Russian roulette at their temples with work to somehow achieve an earnest wish that was realistically impossible.

Since it premised that everyone wanted to escape anyway, I understood that there was no need to desperately hide it.

Still, it was regrettable that a direct superior who looked after us to this extent was disappearing… but since it was a good thing for her, it was something to congratulate.

Only, there was a point of question.

“Assistant Manager.”

“Yeah.”

“Then did you gather all five hundred thousand points?”

“What?! Five hundred thousand, my foot….”

Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je, who was startled, smirked soon as if realizing something.

“Ah, did you think I was trying to buy a Wish Ticket?”

“…?”

Naturally, indeed?

Wouldn’t it be harder to find someone who isn’t here?

“Ah. That was my goal when I first joined too, but after running it a bit, I realized other things could work as well.”

“…!”

Ah.

‘I see.’

Thinking about it, there were cases where a Wish Ticket wasn’t particularly necessary.

‘If a wish can be fulfilled with what can be bought in the employee points mall, that is sufficient.’

“I just need one of the high-grade magic potions of this company.”

As expected.

“…May I ask how many points it costs?”

“One hundred and seventy thousand. I have less than five thousand points left now. Well… still, since the point boom obtained thanks to you in this way or that will also end, I’ll have to attend a few more months, though.”

The assistant manager winked, unlike her usual self.

“Let’s speak to the group leader and somehow keep you attached here until the next regular personnel assignment.”

Meaning that if I endured only that, I would naturally remain in Group D after that.

Because she would leave, so the capacity would fit.

‘It is a highly thoughtful remark.’

Even more so in that she showed confidence that I would like remaining in this group.

“Senior, when you leave, please let’s have a proper company dinner once before you go…. Let’s keep in touch even after you leave. Like going to see baseball or something…!”

“Of course. Hey, you just have to endure a few years too.”

“Me? Sigh, I can’t. I absolutely have to gather five hundred thousand.”

The supervisor, who scratched his head, still brightened his face.

“Anyway… then Roe Deer will be able to remain in our group continuously!”

“If the group leader does well, that is.”

And the ‘group leader’ who returned after finishing the manager-rank meeting confirmed it indifferently.

“Yes. The probability of it working out is higher.”

“Ohhh!”

“It is a matter of probability. Do not plan your work under the premise of remaining.”

“…That’s what he says, Roe Deer……”

“Yes….”

Typical of the lizard.

“Anyway, congratulations, Assistant Manager.”

“Sure.”

Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je smiled and went out to smoke.

Her back already looked quite light-hearted.

‘…What happens to the employees who resigned?’

There were no words that they particularly deprived them of human rights to preserve secrecy, locked them in laboratories, or handled them without anyone knowing.

‘Several cases of retiring quite decently were also described.’

You know, things like everyone’s favorite employee.

The kind of supporting-character-like employees who finished well up to retirement somehow because everyone who read the wiki grew attached to them.

‘…I hope that’s the case for her too.’

After offering a short prayer, I returned to the work I was doing.

Meaning I was assigned work by the group leader who had returned from his meeting.

“The Dark to explore this time is a C-grade Spider, and it is a supply source with a fully completed manual.”

“Oh… then the points returned are about six to seven hundred per person, right?”

“Yes.”

“Roe Deer, it was good that we earned points closely when the work came in.”

The ‘exploration for completing new Dark manuals’ that poured upon Group D almost exclusively was also fading away now.

“Originally, there is also a season when new Darks pour in. Because the research team registers them in batches at the registration deadline.”

“Ah.”

That is indeed… like a company.

Of course, pointing that out wouldn’t do any good for a rookie.

I said with a broad smile.

“Then we will all be able to work as safely as possible for a while.”

“Right, it’s nice that Roe Deer is always positive~!”

The supervisor also laughed heartily and handed me a tablet displaying the manual PDF.

“Even with a manual, it is C-grade, so letting down your guard could lead to big trouble. Now, let me know when you have fully mastered it.”

“Yes.”

“Looking at it, it is just about enduring a day in a certain location.”

Hm.

I accepted the tablet and read it.

The officially written manual in a calm tone was of a format no different from before.

Meaning that in a form similar to the <Records of the Dark Exploration> wiki, it provided information implemented in detailed figures based on the records obtained from us.

‘Let’s see.’

A ghost story about a space where one can fall into if they take a wrong turn in a commercial building with many vacant offices, of a type called the Backrooms on the internet….

“…….”

As I read the next paragraph, a powerful premonition hit my head.

‘This is…….’

It had already been several months since I deduced the identities of ghost stories through manuals based on the <Records of the Dark Exploration>.

Meaning I wouldn’t be surprised just because I already knew.

Even so, is it a situation to be surprised about?

Usually, it would be a crazy massacre situation like the <Tuesday Quiz Show> or a situation where I get a confirmed kill.

But this time, it was in a slightly different sense.

‘This… is a good thing!’

My goodness, it is a heartwarming ghost story!

If the horror level is measured, it is probably zero. The kind of bizarre phenomenon that even a coward can pass through resolutely if they have been fully spoiled!

But why is it C-grade?

‘Because Daydream Co. was mistaken and classified the grade incorrectly!’

This was a story of obtaining enjoyment from it.

The so-called misunderstanding-type ghost story!

It looks dangerous but is actually a highly gentle and polite bizarre phenomenon; it is just a safe and kind ghost story, but it is funny because people misunderstand it out of preconceptions.

‘To the point where the expression “magical experience” rather than “ghost story” fits it….’

Naturally, it was a case rarely found in the <Records of the Dark Exploration>.

My heart flutters slightly.

I am entering here?

‘Hold on.’

If things go well here….

‘Not just my feelings being heartwarming, but my life ahead could also be heartwarming?’

My brain operated rapidly.

To do that, there was definitely one thing needed.

That was….

“We are deployed here tomorrow afternoon, so there is plenty of time. Read it slowly. Well… to the point where I don’t really need to tell such things to Roe Deer separately!”

“Then… tomorrow, would it be okay if I go out briefly during lunchtime before that?”

“Huh? Well, neither the group leader nor the assistant manager are the type to care about such things… but why? If you are going to the hospital by any chance, I will ask them to give you plenty of time.”

“Ah, it’s not that. Just….”

I counted while recalling my bank account.

“Because there is something I want to buy briefly.”

“…?”

To profit from this heartwarming ghost story, I had to prepare and bring something.

Something very expensive!

* * *

And the next day, after lunchtime.

We ended up moving in the assistant manager’s vehicle.

To the location where the Dark to enter this time was isolated.

“You packed everything you wanted to pack well, right?”

“Yes.”

The ‘expensive thing’ I bought utilizing lunchtime was also safely inside my briefcase.

The assistant manager in the driver’s seat checked.

“Is this the first time Roe Deer is entering an urban legend taking place in an actual space, rather than touching some object and getting kidnapped?”

No. Actually, I just entered some mountain lodge, held dismembered body parts, and pretended to be a serial killer; I thought I was going to throw up.

…Let’s not mention that.

“Yes. It seems to be my first business trip.”

“Haha. Roe Deer is still in his twenties, right? This must be your first job.”

The atmosphere was quite heartwarming, and we moved without issues.

While sharing some small talk, at that.

“Do you know that? Our group leader accidentally broke the steering wheel three times while working. So there is a rumor that unless a zombie crisis breaks out, he probably will never sit in the driver’s seat again….”

“…….”

Well, let’s not ask him directly.

In any case, the vehicle that ran for about forty minutes arrived smoothly at the destination.

“Here it is.”

It was a street packed with commercial buildings in a certain bedtown on the outskirts of Seoul.

Only, because the real estate boom passed long ago and new urban development took place, causing many people to leave, it was a somewhat quiet and empty… ‘old’ new town.

Above the glass windows of numerous vacant offices, real estate contact numbers with sales displays attached were stuck.

“One of these buildings seems to be the urban legend. When entering on a day with good weather at sunset, a bizarre event occurs.”

“Yes.”

Together with my superiors who kindly briefed the contents of the manual, I approached the designated commercial building.

“It seems they are blocking it with some… Security Team equipment to prevent civilians from approaching. It recognizes our masks and lets us inside.”

Hm.

“Be careful when you enter.”

The supervisor lowered his voice and whispered seriously.

“Because there are many quite horrific records, let’s make sure to be careful while moving around.”

“…….”

Something like… this, you mean?

Exploration Record #12

One of the deployed employees (Employee Jeong Se-jong) discovered a shop operating in Room 404 next to the fourth-floor emergency exit. The name written on the sign was the ■■■ Cafe.

However, as he approached the corresponding location, strange sounds that shouldn’t be heard from a cafe began to be heard.

Barking, shouting, and animal howling overlapped by the dozens, ringing and growing louder, and the moment the employee stopped in front of the door, it suddenly grew near as if leaping at him.

The panicked employee succeeded in escaping through the emergency stairs right before the door opened, but went out of contact after a roaring sound.

Later found in an unconscious state around the commercial area.

Excluded from duty due to open fractures in both legs and a severe back injury. Expressed continuous PTSD after that.

At a glance, it could appear eerie and horrific.

But did you happen to notice by any chance.

‘That is just… a pet-friendly cafe.’

The ghost story kindly sent the employee, who suffered composite injuries due to rolling down the stairs while fleeing in terror at the sounds of dogs, to the outside….

Because the greatest abnormality of this Dark was simply that the shops that existed in the past operated normally as average.

However, seeing the explorers who got scared beforehand, interpreted everything in a negative light, made a fuss, and ruined themselves, it could be seen as the type of story that evokes a hollow laugh.

And beside me, the very parties involved are eagerly giving advice….

“Let’s walk carefully. There are quite many records of this space harming people who entered.”

It doesn’t.

“Particularly, you must not lose consciousness. It ended in severe injuries.”

They just send you outside when the time comes, even if you are severely injured and lose consciousness….

Because this is literally a commercial building, so they politely eject you when the business is over.

But I stopped in fear that if I spoke such things for no reason, they would make a comedy story out of crazy misunderstandings and misconceptions again, crying, ‘Ah, this ghost story even performs mental contamination!’….

Instead, I readily and quickly nodded at the method of distributing a liaison and dispersing individually for efficient exploration.

“Will you be okay, Roe Deer?”

“Yes.”

Ordinarily, I would have stuck to them somehow with a desire to grab their pant legs, but today is the coward’s day!

“Contact us immediately if a problem occurs.”

“Understood.”

Keeping the walkie-talkie received from the Security Team with me without fail (which strangely reminded me of the toy walkie-talkie sold in the Alien Shop), I immediately moved my steps.

-Mm, is there a shop you wish to visit? It seems several spots are operating.

Do you know that?

You are correct.

‘Only, it must be approached in a slightly unique way, though….’

Because space was distorted here, the floors and directions were a mess, but a system and laws of their own were occasionally visible.

And among them, there is also something like this.

When boarding the elevator on the seventh floor, a button going to the basement appears with some probability.

After several attempts, I finally discovered the button marked ‘B1’ in the elevator.

-Ah, is it a hidden place? It reminds me of that elegant exhibition.

Must we absolutely bring up that story?

Even without you saying so, I still dream of getting trapped in the exhibition basement, spinning around unable to find the exit, meeting the spider machine, and having my organs harvested…!

‘Th-This is a kind place……. A kind place…….’

I pressed the button while trying to shake off the nightmare.

Ding.

And when the doors open, the basement parking lot is visible.

‘I think there was also a mystery where someone honked the car horn here and fainted.’

That is not the important thing.

I moved diligently according to the instructions I recalled.

‘Three times to the left.’

When circling this basement parking lot, a new zone number of the parking lot that wasn’t visible earlier appears.

‘A19.’

Then it was practically all here.

I moved my feet diligently with a fluttering heart.

Beside this parking zone, there is also a door leading to the commercial area, and instead of opening it, entering, and going to the elevator, if you look to the side, there is a small shop.

Appearing like that, it was.

Moonlight Tattoo Shop

a magical place.