Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 10

Click, click.

The clicking stopped.

The Alien Shop neatly displayed the items in the cart.

What I’ll buy…

Alice Picnic Set – ₩11,999,999

※Discount!※ Silver Serpent – ₩4,999,999

= ₩16,999,998

That’s right.

I bought the effect-boosting potion and the discounted item.

The reason was simple.

‘I can’t use the rest…’

A bloodsucking weapon? It sounds cool. But there’s a condition.

You have to rush at a ghost with a knife…

‘A scaredy-cat doing such a stupid thing will die…’

Then shaking hands and dying as extra 1 isn’t just a horror movie cliché for nothing.

Besides, it’s only useful if the opponent has blood, so it’s not versatile.

‘Unless it’s armor, in this state, a weapon is out of the question, right?’

Overestimating yourself is a shortcut to shortening your lifespan. […omitted]

Next, a larger transceiver.

This is…

‘…someone who can convince their boss to carry a toy transceiver?’

Such a person… wouldn’t be someone who works under anyone, would they?

Even if I explained that it’s not a simple toy but an amazing item, it would be a problem. If they start asking ‘Where did you get it?’, there’s no answer.

This is an item that can only be used if you have a truly reliable colleague.

‘So, rejected.’

In the end, the remaining items are the ‘Alice Picnic Set’ and the ‘Silver Serpent’, and I can buy both within the budget, so I will.

They both seemed useful.

First, the Alice Picnic Set’s effect doubled, and half the effect can be used for various purposes, can’t it?

‘It seems like I could use it for defense in a pinch.’

It was also good for not attracting the attention of the employees. So, purchase.

Finally, the discounted item is called the Silver Serpent.

‘The regular price is twenty million won?’

I got a feeling from that.

This is an investment.

‘Judging by the fact that they specifically added “Silver,” it’s probably currency.’

In the <Dark Exploration Records> universe, there were various currencies from urban legends, and they could also be exchanged for cash through specific organizations.

‘Buying a twenty million won item for five hundred thousand is definitely a profit.’

The Alien Shop usually has a reason for giving a huge discount, but it was still worth taking the risk.

…It’s definitely not the psychology of investing in coins! Really! It’s a rational judgment!

So, I… now had to pay seventeen million won.

“Whew.”

The only payment method is bank transfer.

The account number of the simple electronic account is displayed on the homepage under the name ‘Cosmonaut’.

‘I can’t expect tax deductions…’

Transferring such a large amount in one lump sum was the first time since I found an apartment.

I used the banking app with my limit raised, trembling as I transferred ‘₩16,999,998’.

At that moment.

Successful purchase!

The item got on a rocket!

Arrival in 00:00:08

Uh.

00:00:07

00:00:06

Wait a minute.

00:00:03

00:00:02

00:00:01

Ding.

A cheerful sound, and then…

Bang!

“Whoa!”

The air ‘opened’ in mid-air, and items poured out with smoke.

It was a post office parcel box.

“Wow.”

It was literally rocket delivery.

‘This crazy universe, even you could be not scary and amazing!’

I even felt moved.

After a moment of admiration, I came to my senses and opened the parcel.

First, the <Alice Picnic Set> was a rusty tin case with a fairytale-style picture drawn on it.

When I opened the case, I saw a flat can of drink and a cookie in paper packaging. ‘Drink me’ and ‘Eat me’ were written on each.

“Nice.”

I can just carry one or two of these around like ‘smile stickers’. I nodded.

And when I took the tin case out of the parcel box, I saw a round silver object underneath.

I picked it up.

A shiny silver coin.

‘It was currency.’

It was slightly exciting.

I held up the silver coin, the size of a 500 won coin, with a picture of a snake biting its tail engraved on it, and flicked it lightly. It was heavy, as expected of metal.

Several candidates for where I could use this currency ran through my head.

‘Let’s use it effectively everywhere.’

Even though seventeen million won disappeared like snow.

Anyway, it’s money that will disappear when I return to the real world, so let’s control my greed… control.

Mm, calmed down.

Then… anyway, I guess I’m pretty prepared.’

I organized the items I currently have.

– Memorial Griptok

– Smile Stickers 🙂

– Alice Picnic Set

– Silver Snake

I had to use these to clear higher-level dark things as quickly as possible.

‘Let’s use them actively.’

If I avoid them because I’m scared, I might see something even scarier. Don’t forget, scaredy-cat.

I decided to use everything I could without forgetting, and I went to sleep.

Instead of sheep, convenience store ghosts played in my head, destroying my quality of life.

Haha.

And the very next day.

“We have a few urban legends that we regularly manage, and today we’re going to check one out.”

“…Yes.”

I only slept for three hours. I feel like I’m really going to die.

However, perhaps interpreting my expression as worry, my supervisor patted me on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s D-class.”

“That’s right! Noru, it’s about the level of what you experienced during your company orientation!”

Saying that to a new employee who might have Death Survival PTSD…?

However, the Field Exploration Team members, whose sensibilities as ordinary people had already been shattered, chuckled and spoke to me as if offering encouragement.

“You’ve cleared one by just diving in headfirst, so there’s no way you can’t do it now that we have a manual.”

“Just don’t do anything impulsive, okay?”

“…Yes.”

Well… okay.

Anything is better than playing tag with the convenience store ghost alone.

‘Please let me sleep at night.’

This time, I earnestly hoped it would be a spooky urban legend that’s actually not that terrifying due to a lack of information and unsettling atmosphere – more of an art-house film style.

“Here’s the data.”

The supervisor handed me a tablet PC.

The urban legend I’m entering today is…….

[Tuesday Quiz Show / Dusky (D) Class]

“…….”

What?

“See, Noru? You’re going in as a participant in a quiz game.”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t answer the quiz correctly, you get punished, and the punishments are terrifying… that kind of urban legend.”

“But we already have all the answers, so we’re fine? Don’t be too nervous!”

The supervisor grinned and gave a thumbs-up.

Okay, good.

‘I have a feeling it’ll be much less scary than seeing a ghost directly….’

But there’s also a problem.

‘It’s an unfamiliar name.’

Tuesday Quiz Show?

There’s no D-class urban legend page like that in <Darkness Exploration Records>.

I couldn’t search my memories using the Memorial Griptok right now because of my superiors… but I could be sure without looking.

It’s definitely not among the urban legends I’ve read.

However, even if I had read all the urban legends in <Darkness Exploration Records>, other urban legends could still exist in this world.

It was, after all, an internet playground where urban legends were added in real-time.

Still, I thought I knew relatively less, but I’m already going into an urban legend I don’t know.

‘…Is the company’s list of “darkness” far more extensive than I thought?’

Cold sweat trickled down my neck.

But my superiors were calm.

“There are a lot of broadcast-related darknesses assigned to our jurisdiction.”

“Ah, each team has those.”

And my supervisor sent me a PDF file, saying it was the answer sheet for Tuesday Quiz Show, and said:

“For now, read through that answer sheet… and reread the field exploration manual. Let’s go when the team leader arrives in the afternoon.”

“Yes.”

I obediently nodded.

The supervisor kindly added.

“Oh, just in case, should I give you a paper copy of the manual? You’ll need to take notes, right?”

“Oh, it’s okay. I’ve memorized it all.”

For me, with the Memorial Griptok, it’s just extra baggage.

“You… memorized it all?”

“Yes.”

“…So you don’t need to take notes!”

“Yes?”

“Oh, no.”

The supervisor looked like they’d realized something, then nodded.

“The team leader is going to be really happy with you.”

“…??”

Anyway, it seems like it’s good news, so let’s move on.

For your reference, the team leader of Team D was still out on assignment, but we received news that they’d be returning this afternoon.

‘I’ll see you soon.’

But an hour later.

“Just a moment. Our team leader, I mean, the section chief is still out on assignment… yes? No, that’s impossible.”

 

A junior employee, their face scrunched up in displeasure, abruptly hung up the phone.

“Are these people insane? They’re saying because there’s a new hire, we can’t be in teams of three… what crazy nonsense…”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. Something’s up…”

The junior employee glanced at me.

Ah.

‘Is it because of the convenience store ghost?’

Because I’d cleared the F-grade darkness alone, too quickly, and in an unusual way, I’d given upper management the excuse to say things like, ‘Oh really? Guess you can handle a full workload then.’

The repercussions of me single-handedly taking the twenty million won are hitting here.

Of course, it wasn’t because they resented me getting the money.

“It’s the end of the month.”

“Ah.”

Watching the two superiors whispering, I roughly figured it out.

‘There’s a performance issue in the department.’

I didn’t know for sure, but it seemed like I had to fill my ‘quota’ before lunchtime.

But it seems like the new hire will be able to handle a full workload.

After a brief moment of contemplation, the junior employee made a decision.

“Noru, did you memorize all of it?”

Ah, the quiz show answer sheet… Wait a minute.

‘If I say I memorized everything, will I be allowed to go in?’

Then I should act a little strategically…

“Oh, I already memorized it, right? I heard they memorized the entire field work manual, that thick one!”

“Oh.”

The junior employee nodded.

“Good. Then today, we’ll go by ourselves.”

“…….”

‘I really wish there was at least one more person. It would be less scary!’ My small and desperate hope vanished…

An explanation followed along the lines of: ‘Teams of three are standard, but sometimes we go in pairs if someone takes leave. We do get support staff, but scheduling is difficult and so on and so forth.’

Yes, I’ve heard plenty about this company being a typical company.

‘…Anyway, I’m prepared.’

I’ve got my items, and I’ve confirmed it’s not that scary of a ghost story.

Thinking about it, going now might be better than going this afternoon!

They say it’s better to face the music early.

My imagination will create fear as time passes. The courage I’ve mustered now is at its peak.

It might be better to go in before it dwindles…

“Let’s go in.”

In the midst of endless self-encouragement, the junior employee approached after receiving something from another department.

‘The medium to enter the ghost story…right?’

It was a postcard.

However, on the ‘recipient’ section of the old postcard with a worn stamp, bizarre characters were already scribbled all over it.

And at the top, in tiny letters, ‘Application’ was repeatedly written.

Like a curse.

– One day, I found a strange postcard in an old magazine.

A promotional material was enclosed, recruiting participants for a quiz show, but when I searched, there was no such broadcast. It was probably just a theme for a vintage postcard.

Intrigued, I playfully wrote my name in the ‘sender’ section…

I was drawn into a truly strange quiz show.

Is it that kind of ghost story?

At first glance, you might not notice, but the moment you look closely, the strangeness sends a proper chill down your spine…

“Just sign here.”

“…….”

“If you’re squeamish, write a random animal name instead of your real name.”

“…Yes.”

Gotta collect those points.

Watching the two of them write ‘Badger’ and ‘Falcon’ respectively, I also wrote in the ‘sender’ section.

– Noru

The moment I lifted the pen.

My consciousness was ripped out, sucked into the postcard.

“…!”

[Ah, you’ve finally arrived! Our applicants!]

The bright lights hurt my eyes.

From my blurry vision, a bright and cheerful voice struck my ears.

A hand in a suit offered a handshake.

[Welcome, welcome… Now, the cameras will be rolling soon. Let’s show them a great smile!]

Reflexively, I shook hands and looked up.

Instead of a human head, there was an old-style TV.

……emojis, floating.

The TV-human let go of my hand, cheerfully turning its body and spreading its arms.

[Audience!]

Waaaaaaaaah!

A roar erupted, but blurred in the studio lights, the figures in the audience weren’t clearly visible.

Soon, I realized I was standing on some colorful platform.

‘The contestant’s spot.’

It wasn’t scary enough to make me faint.

No, honestly, if I just think of this as participating in a quiz show hosted by a TV-screen-faced emcee, I can calm down.

‘After experiencing the eye-gouging subway and convenience store ghost, this feels like a blessing.’

Hmm. Good. I think I can calmly use my head.

I touched my mask once and checked the situation.

[Are you a first-time talk show audience member? Oh, then don’t forget to cheer! Your cheers are everything in this show!]

The TV human seemed to be encouraging the audience and livening up the atmosphere.

It seemed to be the host of the talk show.

‘So, this Tuesday Quiz Show is like a segment of some talk show.’

Looking at the set atmosphere, the band creating the background music, the audience arrangement, and the host leading the atmosphere alone… it was like a traditional American talk show.

‘It’s a bit old-fashioned, too.’

…….

What?

‘Again.’

Old American talk show.

Quiz corner.

The participant already knows the answer.

This is….

…….

…….

I know this keyword.

———————

※Caution!※

Note: Daydream assumes no responsibility for any problems such as fear, hallucinations, suicide, or [redacted] caused by reading this document.

Proceed after signing.

———————

This wasn’t a D-class.

This urban legend…….

———————

Darkness Exploration Record / Urban Legend

[The Sacrifice’s Chorus]

: An urban legend appearing in <Darkness Exploration Record>, Daydream Co., Ltd.’s identification code is Qterw-A-104.

Darkness (A) Class darkness.

The starting point of the grade readjustment incident that resulted in numerous casualties.

Currently, no official survivor records exist.

———————

“…….”

[3, 2, 1… The show is about to begin!]

No.