Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 123

[Oh, dear.]

The Nostalgia Candy I was holding in my hand disappeared.

“…!”

[Good heavens! Mr. Roe Deer, were you sustaining yourself with candy?]

“Haha….”

[This kind of thing isn’t good!]

The Nostalgia Candy that had disappeared reappeared as if by magic in Brown’s gloved hand, then vanished again with a magician-like gesture.

…Completely, gone.

“…….”

Ah, should I have applauded?

Clap, clap, clap….

As I clapped my hands together, Brown bowed like a magician.

“Excuse me, the candy is where….”

[Mr. Roe Deer, your first meal in a month is a stale old candy from who knows when! Oh, this is an insult to catering.]

Click.

The host snapped his fingers.

[Some say the passion for creation comes from hunger… but my standards are a bit different!]

[First, let’s have a proper meal.]

At the host’s request, faceless staff members opened my waiting room door and greeted me cheerfully.

Then, a white tablecloth was spread on a table in a corner of the room, and food began to be placed on it in perfect order.

It was Western-style food, steaming hot.

A full-course meal that seemed like it should be served in courses appeared on the table all at once.

[Since Mr. Roe Deer didn’t make a special request, I, Brown, have carefully selected today’s menu.]

[Now, you’ll feel energized once you finish your meal….]

“…….”

…I suddenly realized it had been a very long time since I’d seen warm food.

The host, sitting opposite me, displayed a smiling emoticon on the TV and waved his cutlery around.

Bon appetit!!

…Somehow, the surroundings were dark.

It seemed as if a spotlight was shining only on the full-course meal on the table…….

Glint.

A silver ring glinted in the light illuminating the table, then faded as it was overshadowed by the light reflecting off the fork.

“…….”

I hesitated, then picked up my cutlery.

But while I was debating what to eat….

[For a drink to accompany it… yes, Mr. Roe Deer. You said you liked grapes, didn’t you?]

“……!”

At the host’s gesture, a curved glass bottle filled with ruby-red liquid appeared on the table with a thud.

A wine bottle.

[It’s a very fine wine. I received it as a gift while hosting a quiz show, and I decided to open it to commemorate my friend’s successful first appearance….]

I casually read the production year written on the bottle. 1999 vintage.

It was the sales year of the ‘Happy Ending Bear’ edition, the guest I had invited this time.

“…Did he perhaps match it with the production year of this broadcast’s guest?”

[Ah, an audience member who understands the intention is always delightful. That’s right!]

[I prepared it as a congratulatory gesture. Wasn’t it your first debut stage!]

[Ah, such details are what a great entertainer must ensure for impact. Soleum, I hope this was a good lesson for you….]

The host personally opened the wine.

And the ruby-red liquid swirled into a glass, which was then placed before me.

[Now… how about a glass?]

……Hmm.

It would be strange not to drink it after all this, but somehow, I had an appetite, yet no desire.

[…Oh dear. Don’t you like it, Mr. Roe Deer? It seems I lack the skill to understand my friend’s heart. This is shameful for a broadcaster….]

“Ah, no. It’s not that.”

I became anxious.

I picked up the wine poured into the glass and….

Drank it.

…….

“It’s good.”

[Isn’t it? Please enjoy it comfortably….]

“Okay.”

I picked up my cutlery.

“…….”

The meal continued.

Somehow, the more I ate and drank, the clearer my mind felt.

It was as if nutrients were entering my tired body… No, it wasn’t a metaphor; it was literally that situation.

‘I thought I was in good condition.’

I might have been more exhausted than I thought.

…….

…No, wait a minute!

‘If I haven’t eaten for a month, of course I’d be like this!’

It makes no sense for a human to go a month without eating and be fine.

‘I should have died, normally.’

Good heavens. I just realized this now?

[Hmm? Mr. Roe Deer, is there something wrong with the food?]

“No. It’s not that.”

I continued eating.

The more I ate, the more my mind seemed to function.

‘It seems I wasn’t contaminated by this darkness, but I was certainly affected by it to some extent.’

My mind must have been hazy.

Even after coming here, I had just been working hard without thinking.

Was I too excited because I wasn’t scared anymore… Anyway.

‘It would be better to check.’

I was about to pull out a new candy from my tattoo, but then I stopped, feeling it was a waste.

Because I also had to get the great host’s permission.

“Brown, could you give me back the candy you took earlier?”

[Hmm?]

“I ate a meal, so I want one as a snack.”

[Oh… I see. Understood.]

Brown placed a single candy back onto my palm.

Nostalgia Candy.

[Here you go, Soleum!]

Now I remembered clearly.

‘If I eat this candy, I will return to my physical prime of the last 10 years.’

Thanks to this, I endured at Sekwang Technical High School.

‘Good.’

I popped the candy into my mouth.

…….

Hmm.

‘No change?’

It just… felt like the final blow.

‘It seems this means I’m in my best condition right now.’

They say stress is the root of all ills, so it seems doing work that suits your aptitude is important after all.

From now on… let’s just not work without eating….

Even if it felt like there was no problem skipping meals because I worked at a supernatural talk show, it had clearly affected me like this.

‘Come to think of it, only working was also a bit strange.’

I put down the empty wine glass and said seriously.

“Brown. No matter how I think about it, I have to say this….”

[Hmm?]

“My employment contract, I mean. Shouldn’t things like vacation and salary be discussed?”

[Oh… Soleum.]

Brown looked at me with a somewhat bewildered expression, and the emoticon on the TV screen put its hand to its forehead.

[Naturally, my show’s crew is guaranteed ample vacation and silver coins…. I’m truly perplexed as to what explanation you received on your first day.]

Is, is that so?

‘Was I not in my right mind because I hadn’t eaten?’

Come to think of it, my memories of the first few days after starting work here were hazy.

I even seem to have lost all the items I used at Daydream Inc…. This is driving me crazy.

“Sorry. But I’d like to negotiate the working conditions now if possible.”

[Of course, Mr. Roe Deer!]

After eating well and with a clear mind, I vigorously negotiated with the host and completed the employment contract.

Two days off a week, summer and winter vacations, 50 oddity silver coins, and performance bonuses every six months….

Hmm. Not bad.

[Then let’s have the contract signed before the end of this week!]

“Got it.”

[Now you’ll officially be working at the talk show. Oh, right. I also had a surprising idea that came to me while hosting today’s live broadcast!]

[I came to the waiting room to tell you that, but I was so surprised to see you putting candy into your empty stomach after a month-long fast that I forgot. Good heavens!]

“Haha… Um. Sorry. What is it?”

Brown pointed at my forearm with his gloved hand.

[It’s about Mr. Roe Deer’s tattoo.]

Ah.

I raised my arm and looked at the characters.

My forearm, where the makeup had unevenly smudged off, was patchy and discolored.

[It must be bothersome to get makeup done every time you appear, right? Oh, especially for workaholics like Mr. Roe Deer, who try to work even during breaks! In that sense….]

[How about erasing it completely?]

“…….”

[Let’s think about it. It saves time, and it’s a chance to be free from troublesome restraints….]

“Wait a minute.”

[‘Wait a minute’? Aha, is there something bothering you?]

“These tattoos were useful in many ways, weren’t they?”

[Haha! I thought it was something else!]

[That was when you were working at that painful company with no fun or good treatment.]

[Soleum, aren’t you a crew member of this wonderful talk show now! You’ll be treated well wherever you go. You can even eat free sundae ice cream at a boutique. Come on, let’s cleanly erase these messy bits of writing.]

Hmm.

“Still, I think this… could be used in an interesting way.”

Especially the inventory tattoo.

‘I could direct it in interesting ways on the talk show, too.’

Like pulling something out of my arm as if by magic to surprise the audience. Even if I don’t appear on stage, wouldn’t it be good for helping staff move sets or lighting in a pinch?

“Why should I get rid of an ability I already have? I’m asking because I’m not convinced.”

[Hmm.]

The host clasped his hands together.

[Indeed, Soleum. After eating and regaining your strength, you’re showing more of your original, independent self…. Excellent!]

[In that case, I will look into this separately. I’ll find something that can achieve a very similar effect.]

[To even covet a magician’s trick! Your passionate attitude is moving. Haha!]

An emoticon wiping away tears appeared on Brown’s TV screen.

[Then, enjoy the rest of your break, my friend!]

“Okay. Thank you.”

The host confirmed that the catering staff had completely cleaned up the traces of the meal in my waiting room, then waved his hand and left my waiting room.

“Whew.”

I sat on the sofa.

I wasn’t appearing on the next talk show, and this week’s guest recruitment and production meetings were already over, so I had some free time.

‘Then, should I organize a bit?’

Since the tattoo might be erased, it wouldn’t be bad to organize the items inside it for now.

I also noticed that I’d lost the items I received from Daydream Inc., so I might as well properly check what’s inside.

Thump.

I reached into my inventory tattoo and began taking out various items, arranging them on the table.

‘Most of them are perfectly fine.’

Aside from company items, the only thing missing was the Blood Bath… Ah, that was in the bathroom. So, it’s not here.

Even the exclusive equipment made by the company was perfectly intact….

Among them, some were not made by me, but were gifts.

“Ah.”

I pulled out a black button the size of a fingernail.

…It was Assistant Manager Eunha-je’s communication button.

‘Could this be the button Section Chief Lee Jaheon was talking about?’

Hmm, it must have meant to keep in touch.

‘How thoughtful.’

I’ll try using it when I get vacation later. I smiled and put the button away.

And past the Happy Maker, emergency rations, Vampire Knife, wrapping paper, Necronomicon….

A red button was also visible.

We Need Help! – ₩66,666,666

‘Surely, he wasn’t talking about this button.’

Such a thing is to be pressed in a moment of absolute desperation, isn’t it?!

There’s no reason or need to specifically recommend it to someone who has successfully changed jobs and is working well.

I carelessly placed it on the table.

‘Almost done?’

There’s almost nothing left in the tattoo… Oh, there’s one more.

A paper bag with a theme park mascot drawn on it emerged from the tattoo.

The bag was filled with a dragon-shaped churro.

[Blue Soda Churro]

Wow.

‘It’s been so long I can’t even remember when it was there.’

I think I sold one to a Disaster Management Agency official and kept the rest, right?

Still, since it was stored in the inventory tattoo, it didn’t seem to have gone bad.

I was about to place it on the table… but a strange feeling came over me, and I examined it.

Unreadable characters became readable.

Ecstatic Taste

Healthy Snack for Children

A healthy snack, huh.

‘…Is it okay to eat?’

Because, well, the host said I could eat candy too.

And he told me to eat well!

‘It’ll go bad if the tattoo is erased, so it might not be bad to just eat it quickly before then.’

Isn’t it a waste?

‘Right.’

I put the churro into my mouth.

The churro, with its popping, junk-food-like texture, was chewed in my mouth and went down my throat….

And.

And…….

“~~!!”

Something surged up from my throat.

Splutter.

Dark blue water began gushing out of my mouth, which had swallowed the churro.

Salty seawater.

“…!! ~!!”

Seawater, completely filling my throat and mouth, poured crazily onto the talk show waiting room floor.

I, I can’t breathe!

I can’t breathe!

‘W-what is this….’

What kind of healthy snack is this, f***… No! I shouldn’t curse! But what on earth am I supposed to do in this situation….

Ah, no. Is oxygen scarce, or is my mind fading? D-dying…….

…….

‘That.’

We Need Help.

I barely managed to place my hand on the table.

As I frantically rummaged through the scattered belongings, the moment my hand touched the red button.

“~!!”

I wildly slammed my arm on the table and pressed the button.

Now, seawater was streaming from my eyes, nose, and ears.

‘S-save….’

And then.

Piiiiiiing!

A frantic alarm blared in my head, and then…….