Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 11

The circumstances align.

———————

The disaster began in the twilight (D) grade darkness of a 1970s American talk show theme.

———————

[Hello, viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]

[You are now watching! ‘Tuesday Quiz Show!’]

The live broadcast began.

Accompanied by the cheerful playing of a band, the host in a suit waved to the cheering audience.

It was a typical American talk show.

Except that the faces of the staff were all blurred, and instead of a face, an old TV was attached to the host’s head.

———————

The host explains that the talk show has a different theme each day of the week, but there are no cases of entering other days.

Only entry into these days of the week the talk show is possible.

———————

[Were you all looking forward to Tuesday? I am too! It’s the only day we can see our lovely new faces, the quiz show participants!]

“…”

It matches.

———————

The field investigation team entered with a complete list of past questions for the day’s talk show main corner, ‘Quiz’, from the 12th episode.

In 99 investigations up to the 110th episode, they successfully escaped without any casualties. (Including prizes)

———————

[Amazingly… there hasn’t been a single wrong answer in the last few weeks! Amazing, amazing…]

It matches.

———————

However, the 111th episode.

An anomaly occurred in the 100th investigation.

———————

[Will the participants be able to answer correctly this time too?]

Pa-bam-bam-ba-bam!

The lights shone with the sound effect.

Seven podiums arranged in a semicircle.

Three of them.

The podiums where I, the supervisor, and the deputy were standing were pinpointed.

[Osori, Songgolmae, and Noru.]

[Please give them a big round of applause!]

Ooooo!

An invisible audience applauded.

I felt like I was going to faint.

What if… what if.

[Oh my god, breaking news!]

“!”

The host received something from a staff member in a fluster.

[The participants have all answered correctly for quite some time, right? That period is….]

For.

[98 times!]

“!”

[This is the 99th time today. Ha ha!]

I lived.

‘It’s not the 100th time…!’

My heart felt like it would jump out.

‘Yes, the probability of it hitting exactly 100 is actually lower.’

I almost grabbed the podium in relief, but I stopped myself.

Because it was clearly written in the ‘Tuesday Talk Show’ answer sheet PDF I received earlier.

-Interfering with the broadcast will result in incineration.

It wasn’t even a penalty. It was ‘incineration’.

And this was a live broadcast.

In short, if anything is even slightly off, you die.

[Will the 99th participants continue their winning streak and pass the baton to the 100th participants? Or will this amazing record be broken?]

[Keep your channel tuned in and watch!]

I turned my head.

The deputy and supervisor on the other podiums gave me a light nod or a smile, without showing much tension.

A pattern of rumors that had accumulated nearly 3 years of safety over 99 episodes. They acted like they were confident it would be the same this time.

‘Deep breath.’

It’s okay.

…It will be okay.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

[Then, Noru!]

“Yes.”

[Are you nervous?]

“Yes. This is my first time participating in a quiz show like this.”

[Ah, good, good…. Then let’s start with an easy question!]

Strange words appeared on the host’s head, the old TV.

It was a strange and ominous language system I’d never seen before, but I could read it. A headache and nausea surged up and then disappeared.

[Question: Choose the one that is not suitable as a component of a human being.]

1. Water
2. Iron
3. Oil
4. Soil

“…Number 4, soil.”

[Correct!]

The quiz show proceeded smoothly…

‘The theme is a little creepy, but the questions aren’t impossible to answer.’

Moreover, the effect of the list of past questions that the field investigation team had taken from this rumor was certain.

While not exactly the same, it was easy enough to get the right answers.

 

‘Rather, because I had to use my head, the chances of getting it wrong decreased.’

[Unbelievable! Correct!]

[Again?]

[Aaaaah, uh… you’re struggling. You’re struggling… Yes, number 3! The fate of Mr. Noru who chose strangulation?? …Correct! Hooray!]

The previous questions were answered correctly, and the show proceeded smoothly.

I pretended to hesitate before answering, trying my best to fit in with the broadcast atmosphere.

‘I have to get through this broadcast somehow.’

An obsessive thought completely dominated my mind.

During a commercial break, the host said something along the lines of “Please participate again,” and I internally screamed while outwardly pretending to be hesitant, then brushed it off.

Question 2, 3, 4, 5… past question 9.

[Mr. Noru! This is the final question.]

Finally, the end of this crazy situation was in sight.

[Surprisingly, the other contestants have answered all the questions correctly, continuing their winning streak!]

[Will Mr. Noru be able to continue the final chain?]

On the other podiums, I saw my superiors subtly waving or nodding at me.

All I had to do was answer correctly, and it would be over.

[Are you ready?]

“Yes.”

[Good!]

The question appeared.

[Question: Select the percentage of blood loss that causes human death.]

1. 40%
2. 45%
3. 50%
4. 55%

“…….”

Did they put a trap in the last question?

I took a deep breath.

“The answer is… number 1,”

[Ah, he chose number 1….]

“And number 2.”

[…!]

“And number 3, number 4… all of them.”

[…….]

“Humans are typically in mortal danger when they lose 30 to 40% of their blood.”

[Oh.]

“So, death would occur if they lose more than that.”

[No, no… Unbelievable!]

The TV flickered.

Even if I was wrong, I didn’t think I would die.

But I didn’t want to give any loopholes to this dangerous rumor, so I gritted my teeth to avoid any traps.

[So it’s a multiple-choice answer! Are you going to change your answer?]

“No.”

Oooooh.

A murmur arose from the audience.

And… a faceless staff member rushed onto the stage…?

[…This is unexpected! I have some surprising news.]

[Actually, the answer our writers prepared is number 1.]

Wait, a moment.

[Mr. Noru’s answer is far more impressive! It’s also more logical, right?]

Yes!! I heard the audience shouting.

The host spread his arms.

[Then it’s obviously the correct answer! We’ll mark it as a perfect answer! Excellent!]

“…!”

Ha.

‘I’m alive anyway.’

Why did I try to dig my own self-made trap and fall into it! I screamed internally in relief, squeezed my eyes shut, and then opened them.

Whether he accepted it with joy, the host came and patted my back in a hug-like gesture.

The body heat made it even more creepy.

[Amazing, amazing!]

“…Thank you.”

[Then, with this….]

The host grabbed the microphone and exclaimed excitedly.

[Surprisingly, all our participants have continued their winning streak! Amazing!]

Bang.

Confetti exploded, and cheers erupted.

On each podium, my superiors were making faces that said, ‘It’s almost over,’ their masks were about to fall off.

[But there can only be one MVP to receive the grand prize. That is….]

A drum roll followed…

The host pointed.

[It’s Mr. Noru!]

Waaaaaaah!

The band played loud celebratory sound effects.

[Congratulations! Please receive your prize!]

“Thank you.”

I received the small gift box the host offered.

I was happy. Not because of the gift, of course.

‘It’s finally over.’

I could leave as soon as the cameras turned off.

‘Please let’s go.’

Just as my mind was finding peace at the thought of returning to my office in a 21st-century Seoul building,

[Unfortunately, it’s time to wrap up the Tuesday Quiz Show. Tomorrow, we’ll have even more fantastic guests for Wednesday… uh?]

Click.

Out of the blue.

Suddenly, the lights came on in the four empty podiums.

“…?!”

Figures stood there.

Four people looking around with bewildered expressions.

All of them were in suits and wearing masks.

‘Company employees?’

They were clearly other members of the field investigation team.

Only one person whose face I recognize among the masked participants is probably my fellow rookie.

I understand that. But…

‘Why the overlap?’

Is it possible to enter the urban legend because of this overlap? No, regardless of whether it’s possible or not…

‘…It’s a broadcasting accident.’

Silence filled the studio.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

“…….”

Something’s wrong.

The employee wearing the zebra mask standing right next to me seemed to sense it too.

“Th-this is… what, why are the people who came earlier…”

[This is it.]

It burst into flames.

“…!”

The zebra-masked employee, silently engulfed in rapid flames, seemed to not have grasped the situation, their mouth agape, before collapsing like a lie.

All that remained was ash piled in the shape of a shoe.

The camera hastily panned.

[…Surprise!]

[This was a sneak peek of the participants who will appear next Tuesday!]

A loud band sound hastily overlaid, as if to cover it up.

Now the camera was focused on me.

“…!”

Damn it.

Damn it, damn it!

I desperately, without flinching, shook the gift box I was sitting in.

As if excited!

Bang.

Pollen fell again from the air, and the drums pounded loudly. The host elicited cheers from the audience.

[We’ll see you tomorrow with an even more enjoyable show!]

[Then… good night!]

Bam!

With a cheerful guitar sound, the camera lights went out.

“…….”

It’s over.

It’s…over,

isn’t it?

Why are we still here?

[Whew. We almost messed up the live broadcast. It’s fortunate it was handled well!]

The camera was definitely off.

Faceless staff members rushed onto the stage, and the audience lights went out.

The band disappeared.

We entered the backstage area, filled with noise and murmurs, revealing the cold steel structure.

But we don’t disappear.

…A chilling premonition climbs my spine.

[Mr. Noru! That was a great sense of humor. Are you interested in becoming a regular panelist?]

“…I already have a job.”

[Oh dear! Well, our talk show application is always open!]

Why is the urban legend continuing?

The reason was simple.

The thoughtful host tried to kindly explain to the participants why this happened.

[Ah, and the new participants!]

[You must have been surprised that you almost ruined the broadcast. It wasn’t intentional, right? I believe you. Don’t blame yourselves too much!]

[And don’t worry. We’ll give all three of you another chance!]

The host, with a friendly and approachable attitude, spoke to the employees who suddenly appeared midway, the ‘new participants.’

As if they were originally three.

Meanwhile, the staff swept away the ashes left by the incinerated person with a broom.

I’m going insane.

[I’d like to give you the chance to participate right away, but unfortunately, our show is live. Let’s meet next week!]

But if we just leave, it’ll be okay.

Please, please, just let it end like this! Let it end like this!

[Then you should all go home… huh?]

That’s when it happened.

Someone holding a megaphone ran onto the stage.

Their face was blurry in the stage lights, but unlike the other staff, they were wearing sunglasses.

The figure holding the megaphone quickly whispered something to the host.

[…! Oh, dear.]

The host turned to us.

[Well, this is difficult for me to say… but.]

An emoticon on the TV monitor showed a sad expression.

[Just now, our show was canceled.]

“…!”

[To be precise, the Tuesday Quiz Show. So, strictly speaking, my show isn’t over yet, but, yes.]

[The quiz corner has been replaced.]

What?

[We won’t be able to invite you as our 100th consecutive win challenge participant. I truly want to apologize from the bottom of my heart.]

The host looked truly apologetic and ashamed, even their TV antenna on their head seemed to bow.

“Then…is it clear?”

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Around me, amidst the bewilderment, fear, and panic, I faintly heard the voices of other team members full of hope.

But the back of my neck was chillingly cold with sweat.

‘No.’

This development…

———————

Exploration Record #100

The show begins in the same studio as previous episodes.

However, the program’s name has changed.

The host explains to the confused staff that “Tuesday Quiz Show” has been cancelled.

A participant answered correctly 99 times in a row, rendering the punishment ineffective and the segment insufficiently stimulating, resulting in its cancellation.

The host then announces that the new segment will feature more viewer-engaging content…

———————

[Ah! Wait a minute!]

The host’s TV antenna suddenly unfolds at a staff signal.

[Good news! We’ll have all of you as participants in the new segment!]

“…!!”

[It’s a pre-recorded broadcast, so it will be easier than before! Haha!]

[Let’s start filming right away! I’ll be in a supporting role, but yes, I’ll do my best to make it a good show….]

“Wait a minute.”

Our team’s supervisor raised their hand with a grim expression.

“We’ve already participated in the show, so we’ll be leaving…”

[Leaving before filming is finished?]

“…!”

The TV screen flickered, approaching the supervisor’s face.

[Oh dear… it was all written in the application form. No, even if you really can’t participate… I guess it can’t be helped.]

“…….”

[Tell me. Can’t you do it?]

The supervisor slowly moved their eyes and made eye contact with me across the room.

I subtly shook my head.

The supervisor must have understood.

‘It can’t be helped’ didn’t mean they would be sent home; it meant they would be simply eliminated.

[You can do it! Great.]

An ominous silence.

The studio filled with the pale breaths of the company employees.

I am one of them.

Or, am I even breathing?

[Oh dear! The tension is palpable. It’s always like this with new programs.]

[Let’s do our best! Mr. Noru, you did a great job on the live broadcast! You’ll be able to show a wonderful performance this time too….]

Any excuses that might work?

Any plausible words?

“Yes, but I didn’t know I would be appearing on consecutive broadcasts.”

[Ho.]

“Mistakes can happen, can’t they?”

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the podium.

“I’ll prepare more and participate again next Tuesday…”

[Ah! It’s starting! Look, the light is on! 3, 2, 1….]

The host muttered in an elated voice.

My words were ineffective.

As if completely captivated by the broadcast, the host ran towards the camera.

[Hello, viewers! The joy of Tuesday, the heat of Tuesday.]

[You are now watching the new segment of our talk show!]

I’m going crazy.

[You’re sad that the quiz show is gone? You don’t need to be. Because it’s an even more advanced form of a quiz show!]

[They added something to the quiz! What is it?]

The host, reading from the prompter, waved their hands.

[Ultimately, what touches the weary heart is melody.]

[Especially voices! A choir, ah, what a beautiful sound!]

….

[Haha, our band doesn’t need to be upset. We’ve invited a master of a completely different genre!]

[A new guest will appear!]

The back of the set opens, and they appear.

A pungent smell of rusted iron, a foul odor, a large, dark pig’s head.

[The conductor of the Purgatory Choir, the dirty, ugly, and great butcher of melodies!]

[That’s right. The name of the new segment is… Tuesday’s Choir!]

Hell has arrived.