Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 85

Chapter 85

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The Fox Counseling Room where warm sunlight enters.

Another me standing outside the window.

He was holding my arm and rummaging through my tattoo.

…….

Uh?

Isn’t it someone else?

Then I must refuse. Did I break the rules? No. Right, this situation is not right! It is not right! It is not right! It is not right! I must follow the rules because I am the new teacher who must follow the rules—

“It is all done, Teacher.”

The hand that was rummaging inside the tattoo on my arm came out.

Plop.

An object was pulled out together in that hand.

Out of the tattoo that should have definitely been empty…

“This was in there.”

Under the garden light, a clear red text title was revealed.

A brown folder.

<■■ Attached Kindergarten Education Book>

“It looks like an object you know. How do you remember it?”

My goodness.

Suddenly, my mind became clear as if I had been hit with cold water.

‘That…!!’

And like a blocked dam bursting, several parts of my hazy memories from the past few weeks poured in clearly.

When I put the contaminated Supervisor Park Min-sung into my wrist at the kindergarten!

The space inside the tattoo continued to swallow it without trouble… Ah, the education book touched it! I will take this separately and absolutely not do that.

The education book the supervisor was holding had also entered my tattoo all at once!

I had suppressed the impulse to pack it separately and put it in all at once. Perhaps I intended to report it to the Security Team all at once and hand it over after rescuing the supervisor.

But…

-If by any chance there are office supplies or items you brought out from the ‘Hungry Hangman’ Dark, please return them.

-Ah, I have nothing in particular.

I did not return the education book.

To be precise, whenever I tried to remember that there was something else in the tattoo, I unconsciously felt repulsion and stopped.

Because suspicion is against the rules!

And before I knew it, I became unable to remember even the fact that I had felt repulsion. Because a teacher must not feel repulsion toward the rules… No. Let’s not think too deeply about this either!

What was certain was that I had still tried several times.

Attempts to let those around me know that my condition was strange.

-…Leader.

-Yes.

-If you happen to think that I have a strange obsession with rules, I would like you to look into it…

-Yes.

-…Ah. I was saying that because I feel like I’ve been too obsessed with work lately.

-I see.

I had even spoken to Manager Lee Ja-heon about the topic several times. Although it fizzled out as the me who was encroached by the education book backtracked.

‘That was a close call.’

The education book inside the tattoo had begun to encroach upon my subconscious more and more, and in the end, I naturally accepted all the bizarre aspects without noticing them…

‘…At least I had regained my sanity at Sekwang Technical High School!’

It was thanks to taking the Nostalgia Candy.

But the moment I woke up from the dream, that was also the end.

And it culminated in the ‘final conversation’ I had with Manager Lee Ja-heon yesterday.

-Kim Sol-eum.

-Yes?

-Have you recently suffered from a strange pressure or been seized by an impulse to follow rules?

-I think following rules is only natural as a member of the workplace, Leader!

-I see.

“…”

Wow, my goodness.

‘I feel like throwing up.’

I was acting like that??

I stumbled and leaned against the window.

‘So that’s why Manager Lee Ja-heon…’

Tried to throw me into the counseling room no matter what.

“…Ha.”

Everything became clear.

It felt like taking off a tight turtle neck that didn’t fit, or wiping clean a pair of dirty glasses.

A refreshing sense of liberation and exhaustion enveloped my entire body.

And… anxiety too.

“…”

“What thoughts are you having right now?”

“…I feel tired and refreshed.”

“By any chance, does it feel like you escaped from some uncomfortable compulsion?”

“…Yes.”

The ‘Counselor Teacher’ with my appearance, who stood outside the window, looked at me as if comforting me.

“You did very well. Sitting and bearing with it here as the counseling continued is all thanks to your strong willpower, Teacher.”

“…”

Then, he quietly laid the education book down on the garden floor, brought a shovel from somewhere, and lightly dug the ground.

“It is very painful when you are seized by a powerful impulse or concept even though you did not want it.”

Swish, swish. By the hands of the ‘Kim Sol-eum’ standing outside the window, a small dirt pit was created in a corner of the outdoor garden.

Thump.

The education book was thrown into it.

“Change is not always bad, but if your body and mind are suffering, it is only right that you can always refuse.”

The me outside the window went as far as neatly covering it with the dug-up dirt, and then dusted off his hands refreshingly.

“Teacher Sol-eum, you see that small plant in the pot over there, right?”

Pot?

When I turned my head, there indeed was a small flowerpot on the table near the sofa.

It was a grass bearing unripe fruits as small as soybeans.

“Could you pick one fruit that you like from there and bring it?”

“…”

I gently picked a fruit that was at least slightly ripe and handed it to the ‘me’ across the window.

“You did really well.”

The counselor teacher outside the window held my hand along with the fruit.

Then.

“…!”

The fruit I was holding turned bright red and ripe.

Plump and delicious-looking, as if it had fully absorbed nutrients.

“Chew it thoroughly and eat it before you go.”

“…”

I put the fruit into my mouth.

Extreme anxiety, resentment, thoughts, irrational sadness and pain slowly melted away with the fruit…

When a client with severe mental pollution visits, a red fruit (presumed to be of the leafflower or chamberbitter species) is provided as medicine.

It shows an outstanding effect on mental stabilization.

In all attempts to carry it out without eating it, the fruit disappears the moment they step out the door.

Phew.

With a sigh, all emotional debris scattered like grains of sand.

I became peaceful.

Just as a worker whose body and mind were ordinarily exhausted.

As my usual self.

I raised my head and looked at the counselor teacher standing by the window.

“Thank you. I feel much better thanks to you.”

“I am the one who is thankful, Mr. Kim Sol-eum!”

The counselor teacher’s face brightened up.

For some reason, he no longer looked like he was mimicking my appearance.

“Then, shall we talk a bit more?”

After that, it was an ordinary psychiatric counseling.

To be precise, it felt like meeting a very skilled and comfortable counselor teacher and pouring out my heart well.

‘I’ll admit this much.’

If there was just one thing this hopeless, profit-driven ghost story corporation Daydream Co. did well, it was putting this in as employee welfare.

“I will give you a plaque so that whenever you feel overwhelmed by bad thoughts in the future, you can come to the Fox Counseling Room at any time.”

On my way out, I also received an item.

Fox Counseling Room

It was the same plaque that was attached to the door I came through earlier.

“If you attach that plaque to a door and open it, it will connect to our counseling room.”

“…Thank you.”

Although I wanted to keep it, I would have to attach it to the door as soon as I walked out.

All clients utilizing the company’s welfare program must attach the plaque they receive after the counseling is completed to the door they used.

‘Because the nameplate hung on the door I used must have disappeared.’

It was easy to think of it as a cash advance.

“Then I shall be going now.”

I tried to stand up from my seat.

I heard the voice of the counselor teacher who was regretting it.

“Um, actually, it is best to set up a regular appointment and consistently receive counseling once a week, or once every two weeks…”

Uaargh!

“I’m sorry, but I’m too busy… I think that would be difficult.”

“Indeed. Everyone seems to be like that these days…”

The ‘counselor teacher’ bowed his head slightly as if a bit discouraged, then nodded.

But I must not fall for that look.

‘If I set up regular counseling… the probability of side effects triggering rises dramatically…!’

Utilization Record #521 (Irregular)

The ‘counselor teacher’ strongly recommends regular counseling to the client.

The client refused, but the ‘counselor teacher’ persistently attempted to persuade them. After 1 hour and 21 minutes, the client accepted the recommendation with a comfortable mind.

Subsequently missing.

※To read the full text of the corresponding record, a Grade B security clearance is required.

Fortunately, instead of recommending again, the counselor teacher smiled and nodded to let me go.

“Still, it is a relief that Mr. Kim Sol-eum has good acquaintances, family, and friends around you.”

“…”

Hold on.

Certainly, although I did have good-natured acquaintances and my ‘Good Friend’ even in this crazy ghost story worldview…

“Family… what do you mean?”

The counselor teacher reached out and tapped his own wrist.

I also looked down at my wrist.

That position was…

: Socius :

“That person.”

“…?!”

♬♩♪♬~♪♪♩~

“Ah, time is up. Go home safely, Mr. Kim Sol-eum.”

I raised my head.

There was no one.

The counselor who was smiling by the window vanished like a lie, and only the sunlight pouring from the simple and wonderful outdoor garden entered…

♬♩♪♬~♪♪♩~

A light waltz melody announcing the end of the counseling.

Far away, I also seemed to see a fox’s vermilion tail vanishing hurriedly under the stone wall of the garden…

“…”

I stood up from the sofa and headed for the changing room curtain.

On the way to the curtain, a cool drink of unknown nature was prepared on a floral lace table.

Stay strong today as well!

*^^*

“…”

I drank the beverage in one gulp and set it down with gratitude.

It was very savory barley tea.

-Was the counseling beneficial, friend?

“Yes.”

I packed the ‘Good Friend’ stuffed doll.

…Now that my mind was clear, I had a few thoughts about this guy too, but…

‘That can wait until after work.’

For now, there was an opponent I had to face first.

Creak.

I opened the door and walked out.

The white lizard head in a black suit, who was leaning against the opposite wall, turned to look at me.

“Did you receive counseling?”

“Yes.”

Though I couldn’t see it myself, my expression saying this was probably quite embarrassed.

“Thank you, Leader. Thanks to you, I got out of the contamination.”

“No.”

The lizard leader showing modesty…?!

“Kim Sol-eum is still in a contaminated state. Receive counseling periodically.”

“…Yes.”

Ah.

So that’s what he meant…

“Still, I feel much better than before. Does it look that way to you too, Leader?”

“Yes.”

The lizard leader looked at me as if measuring me, and then declared.

“You may see it now.”

“See… what?”

“Supervisor Park Min-sung’s message.”

…!!

…Leader Lee Ja-heon took out a small sticky note from his suit pocket and handed it to me.

Sol-eum, you worked really hard.

Thanks for pulling me out.

“…”

I took a short deep breath.

“Did he recover?”

“The standard of recovery is…”

“Is rational communication possible?”

“Probabilistically, yes.”

Phew…

‘Does it mean he goes back and forth.’

At any rate, it was a good thing that he was recovering.

And another teammate naturally came to mind.

“…Did Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je happen to contact you separately, Leader?”

“No.”

“…”

As soon as Assistant Manager Eun Ha-je went on leave of absence, all news of her was cut off.

When I sent text messages or KakaoTalk, she occasionally read them, but there was no reply. She only gave the read confirmation.

‘Maybe she wants to keep some distance from this ghost story company.’

After experiencing all sorts of chaos due to mental pollution, it felt like a very wise attitude…

Anyway, with that, my morning schedule was over.

“Should I return to the office like this?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you very much once again, Leader.”

“Yes.”

Manager Lee Ja-heon left to tend to his own work, and I passed the time looking at the benefits mall in the office for a bit until lunchtime.

It was a luxury I could enjoy thanks to having pulled Grade A solution just recently.

‘Is it better to enjoy sanity…’

I don’t know. This company is just flat-out terrifying…

Knock, knock.

“Hello.”

Hm?

I turned my gaze from the monitor.

The person who had entered the office before I knew it had carefully tapped on my desk.

It was a young man in a gray suit.

‘It’s an unfamiliar face.’

Is he from another team or another department?

He looked about my age, but he had an impression that I would absolutely never want to meet as a competitor in an interview…

‘Why come here instead of just going to another large corporation.’

For a second, I almost looked at him with pitying eyes, but I managed it well and corrected my posture.

“Hello. What brings you here?”

“Ah, I have something to ask.”

The other party asked just as kindly.

“Did you receive counseling well, Sol-eum?”

“…!”

“I’m glad to see you’ve recovered a lot. Nice to meet you. I am Ho Yu-won.”

And he extended his hand as if requesting a handshake.

“I heard you recently received an interesting proposal from Director Cheong.”

“…”

Director Cheong.

He called him without using an honorific title.

And the name.

Ho Yu-won.

…….

…Director Ho!!

“Coincidentally, I also had a proposal to make to you, so it seems like a strange coincidence.”

Director Ho visited Group D’s office.