Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work (Novel) - Chapter 86

Chapter 86

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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I had already heard about Director Ho indirectly several times.

Mainly through company politics.

The line of Group A, which was an Elite Team, and the line of Lee Byung-jin, who was in charge of manual evaluation.

-That manager was originally close to Group A. You know how it is. The so-called… ‘same line’.

-Director Ho has his eyes on Supervisor Kim.

-He is the most decent superior in this company. It’s an opportunity, so don’t miss it.

Like that, I had received recommendations from those in Director Ho’s line to get on the same line several times…

I just didn’t expect the main person himself to show up in Group D’s office without any warning, suddenly looking like an employee from the office next door!

“…!”

I reflexively stood up from my seat and bowed.

“Hello, Director Ho.”

“Ah. You noticed immediately…”

What was he pretending to be embarrassed about after just calling Director Cheong without using an honorific…!

‘Even though you came in assuming you knew all about the interesting proposal I received from Director Cheong right off the bat…’

…Wait.

‘Just now… didn’t Director Ho say he also had a proposal to make?’

A proposal?

I looked at the young man who still had a good-natured face.

He spoke in a good-natured tone.

“I’m sorry. I made you tense by suddenly bringing up a scary person, didn’t I?”

“No. I am the one who is sorry. For not greeting you properly…”

“Ah! I find that kind of thing awkward and don’t care much for it. Please speak comfortably.”

Like that’s going to happen.

‘Is he the type with a bit of a lack of conscience?’

Or… it could be that he is deliberately creating tension.

At any rate, I nodded and took a deep breath as if relaxing my tension slightly.

‘This is probably the reaction he wanted.’

Sure enough, Director Ho continued speaking with a gentle expression.

Though the content didn’t sound very gentle.

“Shall I try to guess? Director Cheong probably made a proposal related to the Elite Team. Hmm, something like organizing a new Elite Team for you, I suspect.”

“…”

Wow, seriously.

Is it okay to confess all this straight out?

But it was driving me crazy because it seemed like problems would arise even if I didn’t confess it as is.

I quickly spun my brain.

“That is true, but… Ah! I’m sorry. I was flustered… I will guide you to a comfortable place first.”

And as if just remembering, I broke the flow once by guiding Director Ho to the sofa for guests in Group D’s office.

-Buying time to respond to a difficult guest. Excellent, Mr. Roe Deer! At this level, it is very natural!

Was this the endorsement of the ghost story quiz show host who incinerated people if they weren’t natural? It was hair-raising, but thank goodness.

I quickly ran to the pantry, prepared cookies, green tea, and coffee, and rushed back out.

“Should I prepare tea or coffee for you?”

“Ah, you could just drink the side you prefer, Sol-eum, and give me whatever is left…”

Doesn’t he know that it is more vicious for an executive-level person to act like this!?

I read the opponent’s reaction, handed him the green tea, and then brought the coffee as if I preferred it while bowing my head.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Not at all.”

Director Ho put the green tea to his mouth once, then made a cliché remark about it being warm and nice.

“Look, I didn’t come to pressure you, Sol-eum, absolutely not… I really hope you stay comfortable. I visited because I thought it would be good to get acquainted and talk.”

Still, I trust there is no salaryman who doesn’t know that you’ll get screwed if you actually treat an executive comfortably.

However, I did not expect the next words.

“Since there are many cases where we cannot see the Field Exploration Team members for long… I come out to greet them often when I see someone who looks like I can see them for a long time.”

“…”

“Actually, the Field Exploration Team contributes a huge part to our company, but even within the Development Department, there are people sitting at desks rolling their pens, babbling about efficiency, efficiency, and treating the Field Exploration Team as short-term labor.”

Director Ho’s eyes twitched for a moment.

“You might think of me as an idealist, but it’s not a situation to my liking. Right?”

“…”

Isn’t that a truly warm remark?

Rather, it sent a chill down my spine.

‘…A director of this company shouldn’t speak like that.’

Even though he could fix the problem himself if he was of executive rank, why was he seeking agreement from a rookie, asking ‘This seems like a problem, doesn’t it?’

‘It’s not like he’s testing my ideology for being a subversive element.’

However, since there was a possibility it was sincere, I did my best to adjust the nuance.

In a way that wouldn’t cause problems either way, while making him think I wasn’t rebelling against him.

“…Still, it’s not like everyone is forced to work. At least resignation is free, and I heard they definitely distribute Wish Tickets.”

“Yes. As you said, Sol-eum, that is at least a relief.”

Director Ho smiled with a good-natured face.

“Compared to a group that drives ordinary citizens to be called criminals without even a trial as they please and makes human sacrifices of them to the Dark, this is a place that has autonomy.”

“…”

This guy hates the Disaster Management Bureau to death…

‘Let’s not get caught having associated with them.’

The metal agent identification badge was still in my possession. Cold sweat broke out on my back.

I covered my expression by pretending to drink coffee.

“I suppose those who want to live humanely even for a single day would refuse.”

“Right? We communicate well, Sol-eum.”

That’s a misunderstanding.

But please keep making that mistake for a long time…

I turned the topic with difficulty before a more time-bomb-like subject could emerge.

“Thank you. Um, then Director, about what you were going to propose…”

“Ah. Right! I should talk about that.”

Director Ho smiled brightly.

“Actually, I am organizing a project team, and I am recruiting employees to be cast for that team.”

“…!”

“I would like to invite you to this project team as well, Sol-eum.”

What?

The words I had heard from Manager Lee Byung-jin one day flashed through my mind.

-There is also a rumor that the director operates a classified project team under him… you could be transferred there.

‘To think that became reality.’

But even more unbelievable words came next.

“To be precise, as a candidate for team leader.”

“…”

Has that director lost his mind?

“I am considering about three people, and honestly, if you had just two years of tenure, Sol-eum, you would have been the first priority… Well, for now, please just know that you are one of the candidates.”

I feel like I’m going out of my mind.

-Oho, this side seems to promise a bit greater authority than last time. Let us hear more of the conditions, friend!

No, listening to the conditions is something you do when you can at least match up with the opponent, but right now…!

‘…I think this is screwed?’

Isn’t this the exact same situation as Paris who received the golden apple?

In terms of the fact that if I choose one, the probability of being screwed by the other superior is extremely high.

This is worse than just getting on a line.

‘It is burning the room to switch sides.’

What should I do?

Just pretending to maintain composure on the outside right now made me want to praise myself.

‘Refusing both is rather the best…’

“Ah, I was hasty. It is only right that I talk about the remuneration first.”

“…By remuneration, you mean,”

“Project performance bonus.”

Director Ho smirked.

“If this project succeeds, a Wish Ticket will be paid to the team members.”

“…!!”

“One for everyone. Without exception.”

My goodness.

“And there is one additional privilege paid to the team leader… I think it would be good to talk about this in more detail after you join the team, Sol-eum.”

“…”

“Ah, thank you for the green tea.”

Director Ho stood up from the sofa, even put the mug in the sink, and then headed to the office entrance.

“Then think about it comfortably for a few days and contact me. Ah, still, it would be better not to take more than a week.”

Director Ho whispered to me as if offering friendly advice.

“Director Cheong has a bit of a lack of patience.”

“…”

“If you ever need a conversation partner while working in the future, visit my office anytime. Well, see you!”

* * *

That night.

I returned home with an extremely disturbed mind, even though I had recovered greatly from the contamination and regained a clear mind…

‘It feels like déjà vu.’

“Phew.”

I lay down on the bed.

‘No matter how I look at it… I’ve gotten caught up in the internal feud of the Development Department directors, right?’

It was true that I must have looked quite out-of-spec and useful, but the reason it became such an overheated situation is likely because the two directors are conscious of each other.

Since the proposals were at absurd levels.

…If so.

‘It is right to go to the side that treats me well.’

Only then will I at least avoid ending up like a kite with its string cut.

‘The problem is that I don’t have any personal information about the directors.’

The <Records of the Dark Exploration> were written focusing on the employees who are the subjects of making the exploration records.

In other words, employees’ names and profiles appear, but they didn’t bother to write down personal details of the individual executive-level people who make the decisions from above.

‘Anyway, it’s certain that neither of them is an ordinary figure, which makes it even more maddening.’

For one, in Director Cheong’s case, Lizard Leader had already called him an ‘entity,’ which was suspicious, and Director Ho’s appearance and speech style themselves were strange.

He was too young for an executive rank, and his speech style was kind like a social worker.

‘…I have a rough guess of his identity from his surname and appearance, but…’

At this point, it was all nothing but speculation.

‘It’s hard.’

It was already exhausting to death entering ghost stories, and the reality of having to care about even this kind of thing felt like a lie…

At any rate, after intense deliberation, I put a comma on this issue for now.

…Because there was another, more urgent problem.

…….

“Brown.”

-You call me, friend!

Phew.

“About bathing in the bathtub of youth, by any chance, could we substitute it with something else.”

A brief silence flowed.

-…You changed your mind in just one day, Mr. Roe Deer! Breaking promises is not a good habit.

“…”

-But since I am your kind friend, it is alright, friend!

“I’m sorry.”

I spoke immediately.

“It is correct that one shouldn’t change their words originally. I think I made a mistake because my state wasn’t normal when I promised.”

-Strange, Mr. Roe Deer. It was just last night! This host remembers clearly that you did not have any unusual symptoms such as extreme fatigue, panic, or dizziness that would make the interview difficult.

‘Good Friend’ spoke in a terrifyingly cheerful tone, just like usual.

-Oh, I am starting to wonder on what basis you made the statement that ‘you were not normal’…

“…”

I have many reasons to break out in cold sweats today.

Seriously, how could I not feel this terrifying thing…

I calmly tried my best not to look at the stuffed doll and continued talking.

“…But you knew that my mind was being contaminated due to the education book at that time, right? I mean the document brought out from that kindergarten that remained in my tattoo.”

No matter how much I thought about it, there was no way he didn’t know.

Brown had even pointed it out directly at the blood bathtub last time.

-Mr. Roe Deer. Your bath product is blended, I see.

That I was being encroached by the ghost story.

“Except you thought of it as just a change… rather than calling it ‘contamination’.”

-That is correct, Mr. Roe Deer!

Ha…

‘I knew it…’

Calming down the goosebumps that rose just from hearing the word ‘correct’, I barely managed to reply.

“But I think of it as contamination, and I don’t want to be contaminated.”

I raised my hand into the empty air.

The tattoo on my wrist, which should be cleanly empty inside, caught my eye.

“I feel more comfortable and prefer the current me.”

-…….

“I also don’t like my criteria of judgment suddenly changing like flipping a sheet of paper.”

But at the end, I added one point that the other party could also sympathize with.

“At the very least, I absolutely do not want to become a kindergarten teacher that only that old-fashioned Hangman would do.”

-That is… hmm. Indeed an irrefutable statement.

Brown seemed slightly shocked.

-Indeed. Heavens, Mr. Roe Deer belonging to that old-fashioned kindergarten. That must absolutely not happen, what a loss!

-I will admit it. I failed to act like a good friend again…

-Yes. Let us try getting closer to each other through another change!

“…”

So.

“You mean you were going to let me get contaminated because I treat you more comfortably when I am contaminated?”

-Haha, too bad you ask back so strangely. It is a theory that Mr. Roe Deer proved yourself over the past few weeks!

Reflexively, my actions over the past few weeks came to mind.

The sight of me, encroached by contamination, chatting away and relying on the ghost story residents without any qualms or worries.

-Actually, it is a matter of course. Is not that those who are similar originally become friends?

My goodness.

No, I had anticipated up to here.

I caught my breath.

Let’s say what needs to be said.

“No.”

-No?

“Yes. A friend is not someone who has the exact same values as me.”

I chose my words carefully.

“And it probably isn’t a friend just because we feel comfortable with each other.”

This was… somewhat sincere.

“Isn’t a friend someone who tries to understand each other’s differences, and even if that doesn’t work out well, cares for each other? …Through conversation, I mean.”

-….

“And to repeat, I don’t want to get contaminated.”

Without turning my head, I lightly placed my hand on the desk where the stuffed doll was sitting.

“If you cannot understand these words, at least notify me before you do something I do not want. You should give me a chance to talk with you.”

-Hm.

A sound like fingers tapping plastic in contemplation echoed from the desk where the stuffed doll was placed…

And,

-I understand, Mr. Roe Deer.

-It is logical, rational, and also touches my heart. Then there is no reason not to agree! Because you are my friend.

Phew.

“Thank you.”

…It seems to have ended well.

I breathed a sigh of relief and finally turned my head to stare at the other party.

The Good Friend I summoned.

The somewhat terrifying and somewhat reliable stuffed doll.

I carefully lifted him up.

“Let’s do well in the future too.”

This was also sincere.

After that, I went ahead with one thing I had decided on when I was contaminated.

Namely, the aroma meridian massage.

“I will do it while looking at the shadow, so if anything is strange, tell me.”

-Of course, friend!

Frankly, since I was not an expert and went ahead while only looking at the silhouette, it probably wasn’t very refreshing, but Brown was quite satisfied.

-Not everyone needs to be a massage expert! It is sufficient.

Even while giving it a rating of about three stars in a very euphemistic and friendly manner.

He also made such a remark.

-But indeed, I miss the bath… I need to rejuvenate a bit more to always be with my friend in any situation!

“Let’s… talk more about that over time.”

…It’s hard.

It was a truly difficult task.

The relationship with the ghost story resident ‘Good Friend’, that is.

It wasn’t just terrifying and tense, nor was it blindly trustworthy and good.

‘Finding a balance between those two would be the normal way of thinking.’

Let’s be careful not to lose it.

I quietly listened to Brown chatter, who was in a good mood from the aroma meridian massage.

-Come to think of it, I am curious again. Just which of the two proposals of the century you received at work you will accept, Mr. Roe Deer!

-Are you still contemplating? Although advice from a competent industry insider like me is as precious as gold… I shall serve my friend at a discount price!

Well. About that.

“Actually, I have almost decided.”

-Oho!

“I will ask just one thing tomorrow, and visit immediately.”

-And about that decisive question, if you would tell this legendary host a little bit?!

I laid my head on the pillow and laughed.

“It will be revealed tomorrow.”

-…!!

-I am somewhat touched, Mr. Roe Deer…

Like that, this eventful day ended.

And the next day.

After really throwing the ‘decisive question’, I visited the office of one of the two directors.