Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 128

The Dream Collector.

As its name suggests, it was equipment provided to the field exploration team employees of Daydream Co., Ltd. for collecting the “dream liquid” from ghost stories.

The concentration of the collected liquid was determined by the rank of the ghost story cleared.

And the highest-grade liquid I had personally seen was…

‘A, right.’

The , which anomalously manifested during the Tuesday Talk Show, and , which had entered Sekwang Technical High School.

Both liquids were brilliantly clear gold.

But the liquid in my hand right now…

‘My goodness.’

In addition to that, it had a holographic shimmer.

The glowing liquid almost reminded me of some kind of potion.

‘The wish potion I saw when I joined the company…!’

It was strange how peculiarly similar it felt. Was it because it was the original solution?

No, what’s important right now isn’t that…

‘Then this must be S-rank… right.’

I rotated the cylinder. The glow flashed.

It didn’t feel real.

‘That rank isn’t just given to dangerous ghost stories.’

Abyss (S) rank.

The creators of the wiki all thought:

‘Don’t we need a more special criterion for something to be S-rank?’

Until then, existing Daydream Co., Ltd. ghost stories had been ranked based on an implicit standard of ‘this is probably a high rank.’

Level of danger, mystery, profoundness, scale… the kind of intensity one would typically imagine when thinking of a ghost story.

However, the common consensus among participants was that something different was needed for A-rank and above.

Hence the added condition.

Whom do you face in the darkness?

When a ghost story transcended the atmosphere of cosmic horror and confronted cosmic horror itself, only then could that darkness move beyond the A-grade specification to become an Abyss rank.

‘But was Brown’s Late Night Talk Show really that level?’

I had worked there as staff for a month and escaped, but I thought it was a bit excessive.

Brown seemed like a crazy ghost story talk show host and a very powerful supernatural being, but didn’t he feel quite friendly towards humans for something considered cosmic horror?

Perhaps the liquid didn’t fill the Dream Collector there; maybe it was just a special bonus that came with the merchandise itself.

‘And the reason I got this merchandise is….’

By clearing a high-grade ghost story without a Dream Collector, I must have been given the ‘qualification to be re-issued as a collector.’

And what’s more important is.

‘…If it’s really S-rank, how much would it convert to in points?’

The company’s point payment guide automatically came to mind.

S-rank: Separate evaluation

I swallowed.

Since the A-rank was 100,000, considering the increasing trend…

500,000 points.

It might be possible.

‘…Can I exchange it for a wish ticket right away?’

Oh my goodness.

Then I don’t have to worry about being terminated or not!

If I just submit this collector, the company will give me points…

…….

Ah.

‘Damn it.’

I felt deflated.

‘There’s no way to submit it.’

– Be careful not to lose it. If you do, it’ll be a real headache because they all have numbers engraved on them.

The words I once heard from Deputy Manager Eun Hajae struck me like a blow to the head.

He was right.

All Dream Collectors are managed with engraved numbers, individual equipment meticulously registered to each employee.

So, me having an extra one would be not only awkward but strange and bizarre.

It would be like finding an extra shell casing while looking for one and cheerfully reporting it – a crazy thing to do.

‘I can’t even answer if they ask where I got it.’

Of course, I couldn’t truthfully say I bought it at a pop-up store.

And this Dream Collector, especially, absolutely not.

“…Ha.”

This version, which came out as an elite team exclusive, is smaller and more elaborate than the regular Dream Collector.

I peeled off the product sticker attached to the cylinder and groaned.

Dream Collector (Elite Team Exclusive)

There was a reason this was released as merchandise rather than a regular Dream Collector.

‘Because this was the version that appeared in a famous game based on !’

It was a game that adapted a certain exploration record, and this item appeared as both a way to identify important NPCs and a collectible element where you needed to collect 6 to see the true ending.

To prevent conflicts with the wiki’s lore, it even had this setting attached!

Elite Team Exclusive Cylinder:

A supply item once specially produced for the elite team, but which disappeared into the annals of history as standards were unified due to budget issues.

So, if the game’s setting was reflected…

– A new employee, who suddenly disappeared for a month, returns with equipment that was produced long ago and only owned by a few people.

This insane sentence would be complete.

‘And it’s even more problematic if this setting isn’t reflected.’

Suddenly bringing an unfamiliar Dream Collector that doesn’t conform to company standards?

Anyone would suspect technological leakage. The development department would be completely turned upside down.

‘I’ll be mistaken for an industrial spy.’

Even worse, they might even suspect something like a parallel world’s darkness.

A current employee, who has been missing for a month and was processed as terminated, returning like that?

A picturesque fate as a test subject awaits.

‘…Oh, no.’

I swallowed.

For now, put it on hold!

“Phew.”

I put the cylinder back in my pocket.

Still, my heart was pounding.

The original solution of a magical potion that could grant wishes.

With such an interesting setting, there’s no way the wiki would have simply described it with a brief sentence like ‘used as original solution in ghost story company.’

‘It can be used in other ways too.’

There were a few uses for it other than submitting it to the company for points.

‘Let’s aim for that.’

Then, first…

“Contact.”

I left the park as dawn approached.

After having my cracked left arm and bruises treated, I immediately charged my smartphone using a free public charging station as soon as I left the hospital.

And I made contact.

With the truly righteous boss of this era, who had given me the greatest help in my escape.

* * *

That evening.

“Mr. Kim Soleum.”

“Section Chief.”

As soon as I met Section Chief Lee Jaheon, I bowed my head.

It was deserved, really.

“Thank you so much. Truly….”

“Yes.”

I had spent 66,660,000 won, but honestly, I thought it was a truly profitable deal.

‘Physical force… it’s truly convenient and good.’

It wasn’t for nothing that Employee D was clichéd in every special exploration record.

…I never thought he’d be an alien, though.

‘Should I have suspected it when he looked like a lizard?’

I internally sighed in relief, looking at Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s face, which still resembled a lizard.

To think he was part of some mysterious space shopping mall-related group that could even bombard a ghost story.

‘He definitely… called it ‘the Alliance’.’

There was no mention of that in Employee D’s entry on the wiki. I finally couldn’t resist my curiosity about the untold story and asked.

“Um, Section Chief. May I ask what ‘the Alliance’ you mentioned when you were called for ‘our help’ refers to?”

“No.”

“……”

Ah, yes.

Then let’s get to the main point.

I asked the company not to mention it and received confirmation, then showed Section Chief Lee Jaheon the Dream Collector.

“About this liquid in the collector.”

The lizard’s vertical pupils stared intently at the strangely shaped collector.

I calmly asked.

“Is this S-rank… meaning, Abyss Darkness dream liquid?”

After a suffocating silence.

“No.”

Ah.

“It is a higher concentration than the ‘Rank: Darkness (A)’ classification registered in the company database, but it is not Abyss rank.”

Phew.

‘No wonder.’

It wouldn’t be S so easily.

‘Should I just think of it as roughly A+?’

I felt satisfied and put the collector back.

“Then what color is true S-rank?”

“There is no accurate word for it in the language currently in use. However, it is a high-concentration color that cannot be doubted upon sight.”

“…I see.”

He spoke like a complete alien.

Suddenly, I became a little curious.

‘What exactly is Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s connection to the space shopping mall?’

And why does he work for Daydream Co., Ltd.? Many questions arose, but it wasn’t the time to voice them immediately.

My immediate problem was whether I could continue working for that company.

“Section Chief. I understand that if I’m out of contact for a month due to unauthorized absence, my employment will be terminated.”

I swallowed.

“Is that the case for me too?”

“Yes.”

Damn it!

“Is it possible to return, given the reason that I was unavoidably caught in the darkness and couldn’t come to work?”

“Yes.”

Phew.

That was a relief. I could probably just talk my way out of it. I sighed in relief and said.

“Then, as it is….”

Bzzzzzzzt-

At that moment, Section Chief Lee Jaheon’s phone rang.

Lee Jaheon looked at his phone and then spoke.

“Mr. Kim Soleum.”

“Yes?”

“There are people who want to meet you.”

A moment later.

“Roe Deer!”

I saw familiar faces at Lee Jaheon’s residence: Deputy Manager Eun Hajae and Assistant Manager Park Minseong.

Seeing the people who had even come to a ghost story to find me, who had gone missing, my chest suddenly felt heavy.

‘This is truly no ordinary matter.’

They nearly died in the Chorus of Sacrifice, and entering Brown’s Late Night Talk Show, which was practically a sequel to that ghost story, wasn’t just a simple resolve.

Especially when one of them had to constantly avoid the eyes of employees, and the other couldn’t even properly go out.

I felt an indescribable, strange lump in my throat, something I hadn’t felt when I was assimilated into that darkness and became part of the talk show.

I bowed deeply.

“Thank you. Thanks to the candy you gave me, I found a clue.”

That was the starting point that ultimately made me press the ‘our help’ button.

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae waved his hand.

“It’s fine. We didn’t do much anyway.”

“I only found out because you two talked, and I just came in at the end.”

Assistant Manager Park Minseong said, nodding in agreement, and smiled. He certainly looked more stable than during the year-end isolation room cleaning, but…

I saw Assistant Manager Park Minseong wearing black casual clothes instead of a suit.

“Assistant Manager, are you… back at work?”

“…Yes. I’m working in the security team.”

He was no longer in the field exploration team.

Assistant Manager Park Minseong did not mention anything more about what he was doing.

He only briefly said that it was “good to start earning points again.”

“……”

Instead of prying further, I let Assistant Manager Park Minseong change the subject.

“Oh. Chief J of the security team sometimes asked about you, but I didn’t say you went missing in the darkness. But a few days ago, it seemed he already knew.”

“Yes.”

I was about to just nod, then suddenly realized.

Wait a minute.

“Did the company already know that I wasn’t just on unauthorized leave, but was missing within the darkness?”

“Ah, hmm. Yes. They somehow determined you went missing on that ‘Tamra Express Train’.”

Oh!

“So, until now, has the company not given up on finding me? Or at least, have they still listed me as missing?”

“……”

“……”

Both my superiors started acting distracted!

‘…They already declared me dead.’

What a truly fantastic company.

Well, it didn’t really matter much, but I stifled the urge to press my temples and nodded.

“Understood. In that case, if I report that I’m alive, have cleared the darkness, and return to work….”

“No, Roe Deer! About that….”

“Can’t.”

“…!?”

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae cut me off abruptly.

“…Deputy Manager?”

“Look… Roe Deer. Anyway, the company searched for you quite unusually for several weeks.”

Assistant Manager Park Minseong hastily stepped in and continued.

“But if the audit determines that you were just on unauthorized leave and not on company business, they’ll try to bill you for those expenses somehow.”

…….

What?

“There’s no justification, since I didn’t directly request a rescue?”

“Justification can always be found.”

“……”

“Besides, the points we receive aren’t wages but ‘welfare points.’ If the company tries to reclaim them due to resentment, there are ways they can do it. …At least, by putting a ‘payment suspended due to disciplinary action’ for a few months.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“This wasn’t an industrial accident caused by the company, but you just happened to be caught in the darkness? They feel they lost money, that’s what it is.”

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae said, as if biting his words.

“Since you were on unauthorized leave due to a personal accident or reason, they’ll argue that you caused the company damage.”

“…!”

“If you don’t return, what can they do, but if you become an employee again…”

It was indeed dog-like behavior.

However, the problem was that these were all absurdities that could happen in any ordinary company.

“So, let’s first formalize the method you used to escape into a manual. Then it roughly works, doesn’t it? Then they can’t make excuses about resentment and will have to let it go….”

“Impossible.”

“……”

My entry was special from the start, and the method I used to escape was a unique act that could never be formalized into a manual.

Furthermore, staying as staff in that ghost story for a month and then escaping was itself an unusual situation.

‘If only I could submit the liquid, everything would be cleared up.’

It was frustrating that I couldn’t.

‘…Should I act at the cost of losing points?’

No. No matter how I thought about it, it was a waste.

No, beyond being a waste… it was infuriating.

‘I’ve collected more than half of what I need.’

For the company to arbitrarily play around and then take away my points? It was humanly unacceptable.

Moreover, this wasn’t the end of the problems.

“Alright. Anyway… if you describe how you escaped and that you were part of the ghost story for a month.”

Assistant Manager Park Minseong swallowed.

“They might judge you as contaminated and… go through a process like mine.”

“……”

Yes.

Normally, if someone spent a month in a high-grade ghost story and came out, it would be difficult to return to the field exploration team in their right mind.

They would analyze me according to my case and reassign me.

“Then, you might not be able to return to the field exploration team.”

“……”

At this point, I wanted to scream that I would quit this damned company, but I couldn’t quit in a fit of rage.

‘I need the wish ticket.’

I had already confirmed it in the Elevator Ghost Story. I could go home with the ticket!

‘Besides, to summon Brown again as promised, I need to get the doll from the Fun Theme Park Ghost Story….’

I had barely managed to keep him as a friend, and if I broke this promise, who knew what “a being from the other side, summoned on the condition of eternal companionship,” would do.

I clenched my teeth, feeling the presence of the coin still in my jacket pocket.

‘The situation has gotten strangely twisted… but no. There must be a way.’

A high-grade original liquid was now in my hand, and I had safely escaped the ghost story in my right mind.

The situation was definitely not worse than before.

There must be a move that could break through this problem.

“……”

I looked at the worried faces of my superiors, then suddenly thought of something.

Perhaps.

“Deputy Manager.”

I looked at Deputy Manager Eun Hajae.

The person whose workplace had changed.

“Can you contact Director Ho?”