Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 13

In “<Dark Exploration Records>”, entering a ghost story usually leads to isolation, with all data transmission and communication becoming impossible.

‘A typical scary story setup.’

But stories are more fun when they’re exchanged and clash.

To make this setup more interesting, I think I read in one ghost story that some teams in “<Daydream Corporation>” have disposable items that enable emergency communication.

‘Is this button it?’

My mind races with deductions, but my mouth speaks immediately.

Time is of the essence!

“Is this Team D’s team leader?”

[Yes.]

“I’m Kim Soleum, a new employee in Team D. I need to report something urgently.”

Let’s just blurt it out!

“All of Team D will die in 30 minutes.”

Even if the other person is shocked, it can’t be helped. This is efficient. Quickly calm them down and…

[I see.]

[I’ll receive a briefing for 5 minutes.]

……

Why are they so calm?

The annihilation of colleagues is commonplace for field exploration teams… but even so, this is a bit much, humanly speaking.

‘Is their personality flawed…?’

I almost panicked, but the urgency of the situation made me push it aside. I summarized the situation as concisely as possible.

“An anomaly occurred in the D-class Tuesday Talk Show.”

Other team members suddenly interrupted the talk show, a quiz show abruptly cancelled.

And the situation with the newly started insane choir show.

[How many employees are left?]

“3 out of 7. Team D is all alive, but if this continues, everyone will die when the break ends.”

Team D’s leader reacted simply and clearly.

[I see.]

[Try to stall for 30 more minutes.]

……

Is that even possible?

“I don’t think it’s possible.”

[Then there’s nothing we can do.]

They seem to have a knack for infuriating someone about to die in 30 seconds.

‘I don’t have time to waste on this conversation.’

While the field exploration team in this company had quite a few employees whose morals and common sense were shattered the higher up the ranks they went, meeting them in person is infuriating.

‘Do they think their teammates’ lives are a game?’

I just hung up the phone and thought to myself…

……

Wait a minute.

“What changes if we get 30 more minutes?”

Why did they tell me to stall?

[Yes.]

[If we have more than 55 minutes of leeway from now, after obtaining permission from the security team, we can rent out the strongest available weapon and entry device.]

A low voice calmly explained.

[Even accounting for post-processing of all procedures, it will take approximately 40 minutes, and an additional 15 to 20 minutes will be needed to enter the darkness.]

“…So, if we go through that process, Team D can be rescued?”

[Probabilistically, yes.]

……

A field exploration team member who can use special equipment to enter a Class A darkness alone and suppress paranormal phenomena?

Someone who can do that…

‘They’re a big name.’

The employee I’m talking to right now is definitely one of the employees I read about in “<Dark Exploration Records>!”

‘And it’s a pretty significant or memorable role…’

A chill ran down my spine.

Several candidates flashed through my mind. And at the same time, my head spun.

“Stealing equipment from the security team…yes, that’s impossible.”

[…? Yes.]

For the narrative coherence of the ghost story, the security team’s range of activities was limited, and their security was very strong. It was a setting-wise impossible act.

‘But if this person is really one of the employees I know…’

The number of possibilities increases…!

I swallowed and asked.

“……May I ask what kind of mask the supervisor wears?”

If the nickname I know comes out…

[Lizard.]

……

Ah.

So it was you.

“Supervisor.”

20 minutes left.

“…Based on what you said, I’ve come up with a plan.”

Let’s go with this.

[Ah, Roe Deer!]

The break is almost over.

I picked up a water bottle from the waiting room and returned to the talk show set.

H-man! Number 2. Human, human!

With two employees whose complexions had drastically worsened after being exposed to ‘choir practice’ for several tens of minutes in the background, the host with an old TV on their head shakes my hand.

[Are you feeling alright? Are you ready to work hard and create the best broadcast?]

Yes. Thank you for your consideration.

[Haha, wouldn’t a participant’s good condition lead to better scenes in the show!]

Considering the host’s past behavior, their tone was very friendly.

It seems the effect of the smile sticker is still lingering.

‘This is going as expected.’

I chose my prepared words.

“…The host seems to pour a lot of love and passion into the show. That’s why you always create such an engaging show that I can’t take my eyes off.”

Perhaps because it’s a dire situation, my flattery comes out smoothly and without hesitation, regardless of shame or anything.

[Such high praise! But broadcasting is something everyone creates together, isn’t it? Mr. Roe Deer, you’re a part of it!]

No, that’s not the direction I want to go…

“Thank you for your kind words, but I can’t compare myself to the host who leads this huge talk show.”

This is the direction I need to take.

“But I didn’t know the broadcast format would change so abruptly…”

[…]

“The recorded audio is used without an audience, the penalty is gone…, the number of band members has decreased.”

I recalled the black-and-white broadcast posters in the waiting room.

They were all talk shows with an audience, conducted in real-time with interaction.

If that’s the host’s personal space, that is.

‘This host will likely dislike the changed broadcast format…!’

“Overall, I felt it changed to cut costs.”

If I’m misunderstood as insulting the talk show, I might get fired. But even if I stay silent, I’m still doomed.

Let’s do this.

I glanced around, pretending to look at the center of the stage, and barely continued speaking.

The choir conductor with a dead pig’s head.

“…Is the reason for this reorganization perhaps because it cost a tremendous amount to book that guest?”

[!]

The host’s emoticon on the TV disappeared.

But it soon returned as a smiling emoticon.

[That’s not something the participant needs to worry about.]

“I’m sorry.”

Please spare me.

In fact, I was too scared to properly look at the dead pig’s head.

“I’m a huge fan of the Tuesday Quiz Show, so I was looking forward to participating. I guess I said something rude. I’m just sad it’s been canceled…”

[Ah, those are kind words! But… the show business is ruthless, you know.]

The host’s TV screen quietly turns black.

[If viewers prefer this method, quickly adapting to it is a quality of an entertainer…….]

“I see.”

I swallowed hard.

“But aren’t the viewers’ feelings still unknown? …At least I preferred the previous format. The Tuesday Quiz Show that interacted with the audience in real-time and showed exciting stories on the spot.”

[…]

“Changing it so abruptly without consulting the host… ah, no. I’m sorry. My opinion was excessive.”

I hesitated for a moment before adding.

“It’s just… I had a lot of fun than I expected while broadcasting earlier. My heart was racing, you know.”

[-]

The host stands silently.

A buzzing noise seems to emanate from the TV screen…

Tri-ri-ring!

[…Ah! There are 60 seconds left until the restart of filming!]

The alert sound reverberated through the room, and the emoticon suddenly returned.

[Alright everyone, let’s give it our all until the end!]

[Mr. Roe Deer, you need to go up on stage too.]

“…Yes.”

[Starting! 10, 9, 8….]

The host counted down, looking at the camera as before.

But our conversation must have left an impression because they didn’t seem to be staring at the camera as hypnotized as before.

‘Good.’

I think I laid enough groundwork.

I nodded to the host and headed to my podium.

And a moment later.

[Now! Mr. Badger.]

[It’s time to finally answer!]

The show restarted.

[Will Mr. Badger able to become a member of the glorious choir?]

Park Minseong seemed to have made peace with his feelings. He had a slightly resigned expression with a bitter look on his face.

I saw him quickly moving his lips towards me.

– Thank you.

What is he saying? ‘Thanks to you, I prepared myself…’ No, wait a minute. Let’s talk a bit too.

I moved my lips.

The message I intended to convey…

– Answer correctly.

“…?!”

The supervisor looked at me like I was insane.

Well, I understand.

‘Better to be incinerated than to become a human instrument, repeating my last words with only my neck left before death…’

But this is necessary.

The supervisor, seemingly flustered, shook his head and looked at the deputy.

The deputy nodded.

[Badger-ssi? I’ll give you 3 seconds.]

“Ah! U-um, yes. I will answer…”

The supervisor squeezed his eyes shut, then shouted.

“Number 4, incineration!”

[Oooooh!]

Amidst the sound of a recorded audience murmuring.

I finally saw it.

Flutter.

Something appeared from a dark corner of the stage.

A postcard.

The bizarre postcard we used to enter this place.

My conversation with I Jaheon, Section Chief, just before, came to mind.

– Section Chief, so if we use that equipment, we can access the ghost story through a medium, right?

– That’s right. But the one I have is for emergency supply, only for transferring small objects into the darkness.

– That’s enough. That…

I looked at the postcard.

It fell silently to the ground in the unlit gap…

A small AAA battery shot out at a terrifying speed.

“…!”

The battery instantly closed the distance toward the ominous conductor, striking with immense force.

A silver tray.

– Throw it with all your might.

The thick tray was crumpled as if pierced by the battery.

Unbelievable physics.

‘As expected.’

I recalled I Jaheon, Section Chief’s description from the <Darkness Exploration Record>.

———————

Employee D

Nickname: Lizard. Last position: Team Leader.

One of the few physically strong members of the field exploration team.

Recorded as mainly using brute force to overcome various ghost stories that require problem-solving skills and ideas. ???: Isn’t it because your body is bad that your mind suffers?

Conversely, this character truly feels his ‘X’ moment when his brute force doesn’t work at all.

———————

If I had directly attacked the conductor, the dead pig’s head, I might have felt that ‘X’ moment directly.

But what about a silver tray?

‘Since he’s an employee with the gimmick of ‘physical exorcism works on ghost stories,’ I thought it might work…’

And my prediction was right.

The tray was almost pierced, a flaw appearing.

‘Then.’

I smiled triumphantly, despite breaking into a cold sweat.

[Wow!  Badger-ssi, that’s the correct answer!]

Originally, the winner’s neck should have been torn here, joining the choir on another silver tray.

But the conductor’s reaction to his precious ‘instrument’ being damaged was…

[…Conductor-nim?]

The dead pig opened its mouth wide.

Its jaw was abnormally broken, enough to tear all the rotten flesh.

The pre-recorded applause from the audience played mechanically, then cut off in confusion.

[…Um, it seems our guest has come up with a new performance method! I wonder what amazing method he is devising? My heart is pounding!]

The pig screamed.

A sound began to come from its torn snout…

[…The participant is waiting. Conductor-nim, please welcome him as a choir member!]

A terrifying scream rose in my throat.

Nausea welled up. What the hell did I just do? What a ridiculous thing I did. Have you ever seen a weevil? I want to sing. Wrong judgment, choice, as expected.

Pure silver throne, praise death

The band’s sound covered the scream.

“Ugh!”

This is crazy.

Drip. Drip.

Red spots appeared on the stage.

It was my nosebleed.

But I had to cover my ears. I had to cover my ears… Ah, the band’s sound is disappearing.

[You]

Drip.

[Don’t disrespect the show.]

I raised my head.

In the quiet.

Whoosh.

The grand and ominous guest in the center of the stage burned black and turned to ash.

It was a scene I had seen many times.

‘Incineration.’

An inherent right exercised by the host. In the D-class darkness ‘Tuesday Quiz Show,’ it was the punishment given to participants who disrupted the broadcast.

But now…

‘A D-class darkness… completely burned an A-class darkness…?

Something is wrong… something is wrong.

I just aimed for a scenario where the host would explode due to the guest’s lack of diligence, resulting in only today’s recording being stopped.

[As expected, the essence of the show isn’t the flashy guest, but staying true to its nature.]

I looked around.

The staff, the lights, the band, the recording equipment, the cameras.

All burning to ashes.

Only the host’s old TV glowed, its colors vibrant.

[The joy of witnessing, the pleasure of communication, the thrill of unpredictable development, anticipation….]

[You ■■■ producers don’t understand that. You’re not fit to create a show.]

[But I! I can do it!]

The host raised both arms nobly, like a liberator.

He turned to me.

[Roe Deer-ssi!]

[Thank you! You’ve given me a new vision!]

[My head is so clear. Ah… that’s it! From now on, we should accept participants for the show every day of the week.]

The host looked at me.

[I can tell. You have the talent to be a show creator.]

[I really hope you’ll join my new talk show as a crew member, Roe Deer-ssi!]

Wrong.

[New personnel, new set, new music, new season… I’ll invite you when the filming preparations are complete!]

However.

[I’m so sorry that today’s broadcast ended like this… but your passionate participation was very impressive.]

[See you on the next broadcast!]

It worked.

I blinked.

Beyond my blurring vision, the silhouette of the TV host in a suit waving goodbye disappeared….

And the next moment.

“…….”

I realized I was sitting on a brightly lit, quiet office sofa.

I turned my head.

My supervisor and team leader, with dazed expressions and blood streaming from their noses and ears, looked at me.

And I realized.

I lived.

“Waaaaaaaaah!!”

“This amazing kid, this crazy bastard!”

Amidst the outpouring of cheers and hugs, I slid onto the sofa.

I lived.

I survived, I escaped…!

“…! Your collection device!”

And that wasn’t the end.

The team leader, who had been hugging me, quickly pulled something out of my suit pocket.

It was the Dream Collector.

It was filled with a golden liquid.

The color was different from when I cleared the F-rank; this was…

“A-rank.”

“…….”

“Roe Deer, you cleared the A-rank darkness just two days after joining…!”