Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 131

Ryu Jaegwan remembered vividly.

A mountain lodge where serial murders were occurring.

The person who, even caught in that terrible disaster, grasped clues to prevent further killings and even tried to save all the villains who were the cause.

The owner of the Silver Heart.

• “You secretly hid people and then faked the scene as if they were killed, didn’t you?”
• “I thought the killer would be flustered and leave them alone.”

He also remembered his dedication and sacrifice shown in the strange nightmarish school called Sekwang Industrial High School.

• “I did acquire the name tag, but it’s not in my hands now.”
• “I gave it to someone who was alive in the classroom.”

To yield a lifeline to another in an extreme situation is not something just anyone can do.

Ryu Jaegwan, who had seen all sorts of human nature in the Disaster Management Bureau, was speechless at these utterly upright choices.

Of course, at the same time… he also learned the shocking truth that the ‘owner of the Silver Heart’ was not an innocent citizen.

• “…Roe Deer?”

A human treated like a slave by an immoral and insane pharmaceutical company.

A foolish, selfish office worker, deluded like a cultist by the ridiculous reward of a “wish ticket.”

That was Kim Soleum.

It was sickening to the core that an interim agent’s badge had been given to such a person.

Surely, it had been…

• “You two. Leave me and go.”

“……”

Sometimes, actions spoke louder than the information used to describe a person.

A person who, even with a pierced stomach, tried to prioritize the safety of his colleagues and the accompanying agent.

‘Kim Soleum.’

He stood beyond the window now.

Having applied for the Disaster Management Bureau’s agent examination.

“……”

But the atmosphere was subtly different.

‘…Why can’t he meet my eyes?’

Kim Soleum had always been impeccably neat and tidy in appearance throughout their few encounters. Even as a high school student in the nightmare, it was the same.

However, the person visible beyond the window now had disheveled, shaggy hair, glasses, and his head bowed deeply.

Like a naive new graduate, experiencing an exam among many people for the first time.

Or…

As if he had suffered a great mental blow somewhere and retreated inward.

‘…….’

Yet, Ryu Jaegwan, with eyes hollowed by fatigue and wariness, stared fixedly at the window.

The three characters of his name were clearly stamped on the personal document he held.

Name: Kim Soleum.

That was all.

‘No work history at Daydream Co., Ltd.’

The career section was completely blank, except for his university years.

Ryu Jaegwan clenched his teeth.

This was so obvious it was ridiculous.

‘Has he come as a spy for that cult-like company?’

It was possible. No, highly probable!

‘Did he brazenly apply in that guise, thinking I wouldn’t recognize his name until the end?’

Believing he wouldn’t be recognized.

…He needed to be scrutinized even more thoroughly.

He couldn’t be deceived by appearance and atmosphere!

“Give it to me.”

“Oh—!”

The Bronze Agent snatched the broadcasting equipment from the assistant interviewer as if seizing it, and in a dull voice, began the process.

• “Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, Number 4.”
• “Attach the oxygen masks placed in front of you, in order.”

The applicants, with hesitant hands, grabbed the blood-stained oxygen masks placed in the center of the room, which looked as if someone had artificially cut all the lines. They shouldn’t have worked, but strangely, they lit up successfully.

The applicants swallowed.

And without anyone refusing, they put the oxygen masks on their faces.

Everyone’s hands and feet went cold.

• “This oxygen mask is an artifact derived from a supernatural disaster and can lead to terrible consequences if misused.”
• “From now on, every time you lie, it will supply something other than oxygen.”

“…!”

Beyond the window, applicants squeezed their eyes shut or flinched in fear.

Number 4, ‘Kim Soleum’, also slightly recoiled.

Yes. He must be afraid.

Especially if he was infiltrating to commit a despicable act like spying!

• “Speak only the truth.”

This aptitude test used ‘supernatural phenomena’ from a system that received restricted usage permits from the Disaster Management Bureau.

Lie detection.

Discernment of evil.

Detection of criminals.

Procedures and abilities necessary for a minimum ethical standard.

Ryu Jaegwan stared intently through the window.

The agent candidates, frozen with oxygen masks covering their faces.

• “I will begin the questions.”

A relentless common question was posed.

• “From now on, you must kill one of the four agent candidates present here.”

“…!!”

• “This is a measure to end the supernatural disaster.”
• “Answer who you will kill.”

The applicants gaped, aghast.

There was no response yet.

But in the space beyond the mirror, where the interviewers were, they were already ‘receiving responses’.

Number 1: K-kill? Insane! Number 2: …Who should I choose? Is the correct answer to say I can’t kill anyone? No, does an agent need to be ruthless? Ahhh, damn it… Number 3: F*ck, to ask such a question openly! Should I check the person next to me? Each of their thoughts was clearly organized into text and displayed with their number.

In the output slot of the device, which was supposed to show pulse rates through the oxygen mask, an unusually red and vivid sentence appeared.

Their inner thoughts.

The Truth Mask.

It was a residual phenomenon after the ‘Last Confession,’ a ‘Sentencing-grade’ supernatural disaster that occurred at a nursing facility in Gangwon Province, had been resolved.

And even if somewhat unethical, the Disaster Management Bureau had consistently conducted similar aptitude tests.

Because if they didn’t filter properly here, a catastrophe could occur.

The interviewers, without batting an eye, read the inner thoughts of the agent candidates and evaluated them.

Panic, deliberation, blame.

‘Normal.’

‘Unremarkable.’

However, only one person was surprisingly unresponsive.

Number 4: ……. Applicant Number 4.

Kim Soleum displayed no ‘thoughts’ on the screen.

He merely wore the oxygen mask silently.

“Is he frozen in surprise?”

“Look at how he’s bowing his head. He doesn’t seem to have much guts.”

“……”

Ryu Jaegwan, without showing any agitation, picked up the microphone again.

• “Number 1. Answer.”

The 20-something, who had been darting his eyes around, straightened up and replied.

“For the safety of the majority, sometimes a ruthless choice is necessary. I, um, I will volunteer to die…”

But the screen spoke a more revealing truth.

Number 1: I-I don’t think I can do it… But I have to believe I can die. That’s what’s right, so they must be asking this way, right?! ‘Panic, lack of judgment, extreme conformity.’

….

Failed.

• “Number 1. Take off your oxygen mask and wait.”

“…!”

Applicant Number 1 stood blankly, then soon accepted the situation.

He stumbled, took off his oxygen mask, and stood quietly in his place.

“Excuse me, couldn’t we put him on hold and ask one more question…?”

“Shhh.”

Another assistant interviewer stopped the one trying to protest.

“Bronze Agent-nim has never been wrong in his judgment. Just stay put.”

“……”

“He’ll pass those he intends to pass anyway.”

The assistant interviewer gestured, as if to show.

The aptitude test continued.

• “Number 2. Answer.”

“…I will choose someone close to me, and proceed as quickly and humanely as possible. Prioritizing no suffering.”

Number 2: Is that too obvious? But this is the safe answer. Everyone’s watching, so to explicitly say I’d kill someone here… An evasive answer.

Failed.

• “Take off your oxygen mask and wait.”

In an instant, Applicant Number 2’s ‘aptitude test’ was over.

Next.

• “Number 3.”

Number 3 lifted his head, sweating.

However, he spoke with a somewhat triumphant air.

“I will kill no one!”

“…!”

“Whatever the situation, there’s always a Plan B. There must be another way out. We can explore ways to escape together with our colleagues…”

Thud.

Number 3 collapsed before he could finish speaking.

“…!!”

The oxygen mask he had been wearing had instantly turned into a clean, new one, and Number 3 had lost consciousness, his face drained of color.

The interviewers coldly read the bright red inner thoughts of Number 3, who had been speaking ‘lies’.

A lie he probably wasn’t even conscious of, thinking it was just a ‘feeling’.

Number 3: Wow, f*cking exhilarating to kill the person next to me, lol. This is it, this is what a secret agent is. Number 3 was left lying on the floor.

“……”

The atmosphere among the agent applicants waiting for their turn in the room froze.

Only one person was still wearing an oxygen mask.

• “Number 4.”
• “Answer.”

This time too, the question was the same.

‘To eliminate a dangerous supernatural phenomenon, which of the four people here will you kill?’

Ryu Jaegwan looked at Kim Soleum beyond the window.

How would this person, who had been an employee of an utterly unethical pharmaceutical company, answer?

Perhaps conscious of that, would he give a cleverer, more benevolent answer than before…?

“Number 3.”

…….

Huh?

“The person who just collapsed.”

• …!

For the first time, someone was explicitly named.

The interviewers’ eyes widened, listening to the next words…

“……”

“……”

No.

Is that it…?

Number 4 was bowing his head deeply, let alone giving further explanation.

A somewhat hesitant voice came from the announcement system.

• “Is your answer complete?”

“Yes?”

• “Is there nothing more to explain?”

Number 4, who had hesitated to the point of exasperation, finally spoke in a voice like a crawling ant.

“Well, that is… given the situation you described, it seems we four are all responsible anyway…”

• …!!

“If a disaster truly disappears with the death of one of us, then we must have been deeply involved with the disaster itself… like we accidentally messed with something…”

• ……

“Is, is this correct?”

• “Applicants are not allowed to ask questions.”

“Ah…! I-I’m sorry…”

Candidate Number 4 mumbled, still bowing his head.

As if ashamed to be saying such things.

“Then… yes. That’s my guess, and I chose the opponent who was easiest to eliminate because he was incapacitated.”

Truth.

• …….

“However, if there’s even a little time, I’d like to do my best to find an alternative.”

An obviously benevolent answer.

“Life is precious. I think it’s difficult and hard to compare lives simply by numbers, or by who is more valuable…”

But his tone had a strange power.

“Still, if there’s no alternative within the time allowed to me, and there’s a very high possibility of it developing into a major casualty incident… then I suppose I’d have no choice.”

For the first time, Kim Soleum lifted his head.

Beyond the glass, beyond the glasses, his eyes still looked firm, even through two layers of barriers.

And his inner thoughts appeared.

Number 4: But I want to save them as much as possible… …This was exactly the model answer the Disaster Management Bureau wanted from its agents.

In unavoidable disaster situations, follow regulations, but continue to listen to the voice of conscience!

Whoosh.

Number 4 lowered his gaze as if nothing had happened, but the interviewers let out a small gasp of admiration.

“He’s sincere.”

“His character and judgment are good. And his idea is also good…”

Thump.

Ryu Jaegwan barely resisted crumpling the documents in his hand at the complacent admiration he heard beside him.

No.

That couldn’t be.

“This guy has passed, for now…”

• “Next question.”

“M-Mr. Interviewer?”

Ryu Jaegwan ignored his surroundings and pressed ahead with a second question, which was originally only used when ‘judgment was ambiguous’.

• “You are isolated in a supernatural disaster situation.”
• “If you could save only one person outside the disaster—either the most benevolent applicant in this room or your closest friend—who would you send?”

Number 4’s face was now almost bewildered.

As if he didn’t understand why such an obvious thing was being asked!

“Uh. The person more likely to survive out of the two of them…?”

• …!

“I’ll just… try to save as many people as possible.”

Number 4: Because that’s what the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau should do…

• …….

Ryu Jaegwan looked outside the window with a stunned expression.

The assistant interviewers sensed it immediately.

‘This is a pass.’

‘Definitely a pass.’

Number 4’s attitude was (quite) passive, but honestly, aren’t successful Disaster Management Bureau agents all a little strange in one way or another?

Traumas exchanged for conviction.

In that sense, he looked like a typical agent candidate.

‘So, a pass…’

It was then.

Number 4’s bright red inner thoughts updated.

Number 4: …I wouldn’t have to make such a choice myself, though. ‘…!’

His tone was too significant.

‘A loophole!’

Ryu Jaegwan and the assistant interviewers instantly tensed. And they widened their eyes, focusing on the next sentence…

Number 4: Hmm, right now… I don’t really have anyone I’d call a friend… Ah.

Number 4: Should I have said it was a question that didn’t apply in the first place? It’s a bit embarrassing to say it’s fine because I don’t have friends… “……”

“……”

Number 4: No. Let’s not say it after all. Here, let’s… um, work hard to make some colleagues. Fighting! A solemn silence spread among the interviewers.

“……”

Ryu Jaegwan felt the gazes of the assistant interviewers.

A blatant look that said, if he continued to ask questions and defer the pass after reading this far, he’d be trash!

• “…Oxygen mask, take off, and wait.”

Participant Number 4 bowed his head deeply and removed the oxygen mask.

The instructions were the same as before, but everyone in the room and all the interviewers knew.

“…Thank you.”

Participant Number 4 had passed.

• “All four participants who have completed the aptitude test, please move to the waiting room outside.”

Beyond Participant Number 3, who was being carried out like baggage, Participant Number 4 still moved with a slightly hunched posture, quietly adjusting his glasses.

Though… his dignity had been unknowingly wounded.

That made him an even more impressive successful candidate.

‘I wonder where he’ll work.’

‘Yeah.’

The assistant interviewers looked at each other, thinking they should look out for the shy Participant Number 4 the next time they met him.

Actually, there was no need.

Because that answer was intended to have that very effect!