Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 104

“What the — Roe Deer, you haven’t forgotten me, have you? It’s been ages!”

The person standing in the dimly lit hallway still spoke in a cheerful tone, extending a hand.

It was their old supervisor from Team D, wearing a badger mask, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time.

“…Section Chief?”

It was definite.

It was Section Chief Park Minseong.

The person who had been almost like their mentor seemed as clearly themselves as when they used to work together.

They quickly took his hand and asked, “Have you recovered?”

“I’m much better. Hmm, I’m slowly getting into rehabilitation activities now. Lately, I haven’t had any major problems with daily life either. Right, Chief Guard?”

“Yes, well… that’s right……”

Whew.

‘I never expected to meet him like this.’

Seeing him looking so well brought a slight lump to their throat. Their own voice brightened accordingly.

“Then, Park Min—”

“Call me Badger!”

“……”

“No, um… that… it’s still a little, um. There are some issues if I hear my name.”

“…Understood.”

They closed their mouth.

They had been about to ask if he could return to work, but now they didn’t need to ask to know the answer.

Now that they looked, Section Chief Park Minseong’s cheerful smile somehow seemed a bit pale and unsettling…

The areas around his cheeks and eyes, hidden by the mask, looked somewhat gaunt.

—Oh dear, today’s partner doesn’t seem to be in good condition!

Right.

‘He still seems to be… recovering.’

Is it okay to assign someone in that state to a disciplinary task?

“Let’s go, Roe Deer. Let’s finish quickly so you can rest!”

“…Understood.”

However, being in a disciplinary situation, they had no authority to suggest giving their partner a different task.

They thanked the Chief Guard who had escorted them and followed Section Chief Park Minseong, who was already wearing a cleaning uniform…

“Ah, just a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Take this…”

The Chief Guard stopped them, gently setting down the donut box he was clutching, and pulled something from his pocket.

Two old walkie-talkies.

“If it’s dangerous… call. I’m on night duty today…”

“…Will it connect to Mr. J?”

Nod, nod.

Two conflicting emotions arose simultaneously: ‘It might indeed be dangerous’ and ‘Thank you so much.’

“Thank you.”

“Yes……”

The Chief Guard added in a low voice, almost as an aside, looking at Section Chief Park Minseong.

Quietly enough that he couldn’t hear.

“Be careful.”

“……”

Their hands turned cold.

They managed a nod and handed one of the walkie-talkies to Section Chief Park Minseong.

And they began to walk down the underground corridor…

Toward the Security Team’s Equipment Rental Storage.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump…

“Roe Deer.”

“Yes!”

“Ah, sorry. Did I startle you?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Haha, well, that’s good…”

Section Chief Park Minseong’s voice, walking beside them, faded slightly and then trembled.

“Um, it’s been a long time since I talked to someone who isn’t from the Security Team… Did I, um, say something strange? Was it awkward?”

“……”

Phew.

“No. Section Chief… you were still very much yourself.”

“Huh? Wait, that’s not an insult, is it?”

“Who knows.”

“…! No, Roe Deer, you’re making jokes now?! Is this the wisdom that comes with promotion?”

Laughter entered the conversation, and the atmosphere lightened a little.

“…May I ask how you’ve been?”

“Of course. Um… I’ve been here, continuously.”

The Section Chief muttered quickly, as if spitting it out.

“I didn’t know there was a treatment room underground, and a training facility, and a strange, a really strange place… No, that, it’s an area only the Security Team can enter, so I shouldn’t say more…”

Damn it.

“Then you don’t have to tell me. Let’s talk about something else…”

“It’s really strange. Why is this basement so deep? Come to think of it, I always wondered why our company didn’t build an underground parking lot and instead had a separate parking tower. But now I know why. This basement is too deep and strange, truly strange, so I need to go back to where I used to work…”

“Badger Section Chief!”

“…!!”

The Section Chief stopped in his tracks and slowly exhaled.

“Sorry. …Shall we talk about something else?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

They rambled about recently popular programs. Brown provided material, which made it easier.

“Ah, I saw that too!”

“It was interesting.”

Fortunately, access to the internet and OTT services seemed unrestricted, as the small talk continued without much trouble.

But a cold sweat drenched their back.

‘This won’t do.’

Staying in this vast, windowless, sealed underground space for too long would make even a normal person go crazy.

‘Besides, Section Chief Park Minseong seemed to have sick family members…’

—…He has a hospitalized family member, and it would be great if someone could check on them after this filming is over! If possible.

…They couldn’t bring themselves to mention it directly. They approached it indirectly.

“Do you have to stay in this basement?”

“No. They said once I recover sufficiently, I can leave, whether my affiliation changes or I resign.”

Whew.

“The guard teams also seem to go outside or move around freely at night.”

That was a relief.

“Ah, we’re here.”

And finally, their workplace for the day appeared before their eyes.

[Security Team Equipment Rental Storage]

Wow.

‘It looks incredibly imposing at night.’

They suppressed a gasp in front of the steel door.

And a cold voice echoed from their pocket.

—Ah, this unpleasant place.

“……”

Aaaah! That’s right!

This was the place where they had separated and dumped Brown for recycling!!

‘Hmm, Brown. If it’s unpleasant, would you rather stay home next time?’

—It’s fine! It’s a professional virtue not to project personal discomfort onto a place. However, my friend,

Brown’s voice lowered.

—I feel like I’m going to get depressed. Please cheer me up…

“……”

‘I’ll… do my best.’

This is too hard, MC…!

“Oh, right. This.”

To their troubled mind, Section Chief Park Minseong pulled something out of his orange uniform pocket and handed it over.

A note, seemingly a copy of a handwritten one.

“I received it from the Security Team, it’s a tip for duty. I thought you should read it too, Roe Deer, so I made sure to get one for you!”

“Oh, thank you…”

Duty tips?

They quickly read through the note.

Night Cleaning Duty Tips

Hello! If you’re reading this, you’ve unluckily been assigned to late-night cleaning.

Yes, that’s right. The Security Team area is full of crazy bastards and contamination, and if two of you go in at night, it’s perfect for even more bizarre experiences.

But don’t worry too much. If you just read the tips I’ve written down, you can finish it without much trouble and get out.

‘Wait a minute.’

This is a classic opening for a duty-rules-type horror story.

You know, those stories where someone goes to a high-paying part-time job like night security or a babysitter, only to be given strange rules to follow.

Several indie horror games based on <Darkness Exploration Logs> of this type immediately came to mind.

‘This is even scarier.’

They swallowed hard and hurriedly read the next sentence.

In a way, it’s a good deal, really? You get paid extra for this. Whether you wanted money, points, or Nostalgia gear, just think about that and endure.

If it’s a disciplinary assignment… well, good luck.

I hope you’re on the Field Exploration Team.

“……”

Yes. That’s me…

They gritted their teeth and quickly read the remaining ‘tips’.

…The cleaning was about to begin.

Splish.

They mopped the floor of the rental storage.

It wasn’t very dirty, but there were some inexplicable colorful stains caked onto it…

1. Clean your mop immediately when it gets dirty. It’s better that way.

The cleaning solution is strong, so you just need to rinse it a few times. Easy, right?

‘That’s somewhat reassuring…’

The fortunate thing was that the rental storage still had about half of its lights on, though not as many as during the day.

It was enough not to hinder the cleaning.

‘I can read the notices too.’

They glanced past a notice that read, ‘Nostalgia Series always buying / Inquire at desk for details,’ and refocused on the floor.

“Roe Deer, if you find anything strange, don’t touch it, just clean around it.”

“Understood.”

Splish.

“Have you done this before, Section Chief?”

“This is my first time cleaning… but, um, I’ve done other Security Team work.”

Section Chief Park Minseong laughed. His voice held a slight hint of expectation.

“If I pass this, I think I’ll get a passing grade for recovery, enough to perhaps… change my affiliation to the Security Team.”

“…!”

That was a relief.

They asked carefully, “How about getting more treatment and then returning to the Field Exploration Team entirely?”

“Haha… would that be good? I’ll have to try.”

The conversation was quite hopeful.

And they mechanically continued cleaning diligently.

‘It’s easier than I thought.’

Aside from being tired at midnight, it was fine.

The duty tips themselves were very clear, after all.

1. Whatever happens, just keep cleaning calmly.

All sorts of things happen when you enter the Security Team area at night, so that’s normal. But the rental storage is not a bad place to be!

‘Understood.’

This was pretty much the summary of the entire content.

‘Whatever happens, don’t react and just clean.’

Let’s do this.

And the cleaning of the front area of the rental storage was quickly finished. It wasn’t that big to begin with, and it only took about an hour to remove all the caked-on dirt from the floor.

“We’ve finished half of our assigned area today! All that’s left is…”

Both their heads turned simultaneously.

“…Over there.”

One of the three doors leading to the isolation areas.

[Isolation B]

‘Phew.’

—Ah, that’s the corridor where you came out from that unpleasant experience last time, Mr. Roe Deer.

That’s right.

It happened to be the corridor where the isolation room they were confined in was located, and now they had to enter it.

1. Don’t open any isolation room doors while cleaning. Well, if you’re an employee of our company, you’d know not to… but just in case.

2. No, let me emphasize it again: ignore any sounds coming from the isolation rooms. Do not respond.

Even if someone inside pleads, or claims to be your family or friend, it is absolutely not true, so do not open it!!

Creak.

They opened the door to the isolation area, entered, and closed it again.

Before their eyes, a gray corridor unfolded.

Steel doors of isolation rooms lined both sides.

‘This is insane.’

They wanted to leave the doors open, but not being able to was a huge psychological burden.

They swallowed and continued mopping.

…The sounds they had heard when they left here last time echoed in the quiet corridor.

Cackle, cackle, cackle.

Help me, help me, help me!

I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be here, I am not human!

Cackle, cackle, cackle.

If I get out, I’ll die.

‘Oh, really.’

They were going crazy.

They deliberately cleaned the mop loudly, hoping to hear less.

It was then.

Section Chief Park Minseong stopped moping and suddenly lifted his head.

And stared blankly…

At one of the tightly closed isolation rooms.

[Isolation Room B14]

“Roe Deer.”

Damn it.

“Roe Deer. I hear the team leader’s voice in there?”

“No, you don’t.”

“But… I hear it.”

“No, you don’t. Let’s keep cleaning, Badger Section Chief.”

“Ah… okay.”

1. If your partner starts talking crazy, abandon them and run. Understand? Don’t try to help, or you’ll die too. New Security Team members, especially, remember this!!

Is this right?

Splish, splish.

A strange feeling came over them as they wiped the floor.

‘…Anxiety?’

This was different from previous darkness explorations.

Cleaning all night long, relying on a single piece of advice from some unknown veteran, without a manual, wiki records, or escape pattern analysis.

It felt like they had come to a truly bizarre place for a part-time job without any information.

What am I…

Thump-thump.

“Roe Deer, careful.”

“…!”

They quickly moved aside.

Someone was walking from the end of the gray isolation corridor…

Thump-thump.

A person in a black facility uniform.

He slightly bowed his head when he saw them.

And…

“Ah. You’re the cleaners today.”

He spoke normally. Whew.

As they and Section Chief Park Minseong bowed their heads, the employee quickly spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone.

“I’m the night patrol officer today. …Sometimes, the cleaners seem surprised.”

Ah.

1. You sometimes meet patrol officers on night patrol, and they like it if you give them a bottle of water.

If you have some, give it to them. Well, ruining the atmosphere between colleagues working together at night isn’t a good choice.

“Hello. Would you like a bottle of water?”

“Oh, that would be great.”

At Section Chief Park Minseong’s nod, they handed a bottle of water, received as part of their supplies, to the officer, who immediately gulped it down.

“Then, I’ll see you again.”

And with the bottle still to his lips, he continued through the isolation corridor toward the rental storage…

But listen.

This company’s security team doesn’t have a rank system like ‘officer’.

Remember. Don’t say anything unnecessary.

“I’m still thirsty…”

Far away, on the back of the ‘patrol officer’, a blurred name, ‘■■ Research Institute’, was visible…

Thump-thump… gulp.

The sound of footsteps and swallowing vanished as if by magic the moment he turned the corridor corner.

“……”

Hah.

‘It really feels like I’ve entered a horror movie.’

Splish.

They started mopping again.

Chatting with Brown and Section Chief Park Minseong, trying their best not to pay attention to whatever sounds were coming from the isolation rooms.

And finally, the corridor cleaning was almost finished.

‘Phew.’

They and the Section Chief exchanged relieved smiles.

“Shall we just finish up and leave soon?”

“Shall we? I think we finished pretty quickly… Oh, right.”

Section Chief Park Minseong suddenly looked startled, rummaged in his pocket, and pulled out another note.

“Th-this is a tip for after midnight. They said it might be confusing, so to look at it after some time has passed since duty started.”

“Oh, thank you.”

What else is going to happen…?

‘It’s a good thing we’re leaving soon…!’

They screamed and cried internally, quickly reading through that tip as well.

But…

1. Ha… It’s time to talk about this. It’s probably been about 3 hours since you started cleaning, right?

…From then on, you’ll slowly start hearing a crazy bastard rambling from Isolation Room B14.

…Wait.

“Section Chief. Is it… 3 AM right now?”

“Yeah. It seems about that time…”

Is anyone there?

“……”

“……”

Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Is anyone there?

Both of them turned their heads.

[Isolation Room B14]

Should I tell you how to get out of here? Should I tell you how to survive? Should I tell you how to bring the dead back to life? Should I tell you the secrets of this company? I’ll just tell you. Come closer. Just a little closer and I’ll tell you the truth of the world…

They wanted to run away.

They wanted to open the door and sprint out of the rental storage.

They wanted to tell the Chief Guard, ‘I’m resigning today,’ dump all the remaining Nostalgia candy on Section Chief Park Minseong, leave this place, and never come back…

But they couldn’t, so they just read the tip…

Mr. [Name]? Anyway, it’s some bastard shouting weird stuff and claiming he’ll tell you how to be happy. Just swear at him and he’ll shut up.

If you don’t want to swear, just telling him to buzz off is fine too.

They really hated this.

But to tell him to buzz off, they opened their mouth—

“……”

Wait.

“Roe Deer?”

“Just a moment.”

They pulled out the earlier note they had received, the one from the front page.

It clearly stated…

No, let me emphasize it again: ignore any sounds coming from the isolation rooms. Do not respond.

“……”

Rules 4 and 11 were contradictory.

‘Which one… am I supposed to follow?’

In these duty-rules horror stories, it’s common for contradictory numbers to appear, but usually, it doesn’t explicitly state which one is correct…

Did the tips change over time? Or was this second page itself wrong? Or…

“Roe Deer.”

“…!”

Section Chief Park Minseong pushed them back.

“What’s wrong—”