Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 14

The third day of a new employee at <Daydream Co., Ltd.>.

“Whew.”

Go Yeongeun cautiously took her seat at her desk as lunchtime ended.

This unqualified medical practitioner, who hadn’t even looked at a textbook, thought she was adapting well to the situation….

The superiors in her assigned Team R weren’t particularly friendly, but they weren’t overly hostile, and they didn’t push her into dangerous situations.

Most importantly, she had successfully cleared two F-class rumors!

‘I think they said the average new employee clears one or two a week?’

Two in three days, even if they were the lowest-grade darknesses, was pretty good for a newbie!

She was doing her absolute best to adapt to this crazy company….

Even though she nearly fainted when she saw her Wish Points.

‘I cleared two and only got 66p. When will I ever get to five hundred thousand….’

“…….”

But she couldn’t give up.

‘I’ll do it.’

Go Yeongeun steeled her resolve.

‘…I wonder if the other new hires feel the same?’

She absentmindedly looked at her phone.

A group chat was pinned at the top of her messenger.

[Daydream Co., Ltd. New Hire Group Chat]

It was a group chat for the new hires.

Only one person hadn’t been invited.

It wasn’t because they were trying to exclude him; it was because no one had his contact information.

It was Kim Soleum, the top scorer in the entrance exam.

‘I should invite him.’

Even Baek Saheon, ‘that’ Baek Saheon, was in the group chat, but strangely, they had never encountered Kim Soleum in the company, so they hadn’t had a chance to tell him.

Considering they didn’t know how incredibly difficult Kim Soleum’s first two days were, it was understandable that they were curious!

‘Should I contact him through the company messenger?’

She logged into the intranet, searched for the name, and tried to contact Kim Soleum….

Then it happened.

Ka-talk, Ka-talk, Ka-ka-ka-talk!

Suddenly, the group chat went wild.

– Have you seen the official notice that just came up?

– Does anyone know Kim Soleum?

– Is he the one who was the top scorer in the entrance exam?

– What does it mean that he’s a major contributor to clearing an A-class…?

– Is Kim Soleum the one with the weird horned mask…?

“…?!”

“Wow, Roe Deer, someone higher up said you should get promoted to team leader immediately!”

“C-cough.”

I almost choked on my medicine.

“But it’s unprecedented, so people in other departments are vehemently opposing it, and it’s been stopped for now.”

“…Yes.”

Should I have said it was disappointing? No, I wasn’t disappointed at all. That was the limit of my feelings.

I put down the empty medicine bottle and rubbed my stomach.

Having barely escaped the ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ that had mutated into an A-class rumor, we were immediately taken to the infirmary and are currently taking emergency medication.

Because we were bleeding profusely from our facial features.

“Does your stomach feel better?”

“Yes.”

The medicine seemed to work well.

The medicine from <Daydream Co., Ltd.> was suspicious, but these ordinary over-the-counter drugs were usually just highly effective.

– Darkness… you know, those bizarre creatures from urban legends? This is recovery medicine used for supernatural damage inflicted by those.

In other words, it was a potion for rumors.

‘I think this is the cherry-made flavor they sold at the collaboration cafe near the pop-up store….’

It actually tasted like cough syrup.

‘Anyway, it’s unbelievable that I’m alive and drinking a potion.’

Everything was just great now that we had escaped.

Living under the bright daylight is truly wonderful….

However, my superiors seemed more concerned about something else.

How this incident was reported to higher-ups and handled!

They were frantically trying to understand the situation, using all their connections.

“Honestly, this was an unprecedentedly special situation. I wish the team leader had pushed harder, but that’s just not his style…”

“Hopefully, when the senior becomes a manager, they’ll do it.”

“I’ll quit before then.”

“Me too, actually.”

I really want that too.

In a strange sense of camaraderie, we each collapsed onto the infirmary beds.

Team Leader Park Minseong stretched and sighed.

A long sigh of relief.

“…I really thought I was going to die, but living is definitely better! Roe Deer, thank you.”

“No. I only did my best.”

Honestly, the <Darkness Exploration Records> wiki did most of the work.

Here, any further explanation would only lead to an uncomfortable conversation along the lines of, “It’s a life-or-death situation, you’re smart and did well, blah blah,” so I remained silent.

“We’re not that incompetent, senior members. We got complacent because it was a D-grade mission.”

“Sir, that excuse is a little… pathetic.”

“Then I’ll prove myself in the next Darkness.”

‘I wish there wasn’t the next Darkness….’

That peaceful paid break didn’t last long.

“The Section Chief finished the meeting.”

“…!”

“He’s coming to the infirmary.”

 

The team leader jumped up, grabbing his smartphone. The supervisor followed suit, and I involuntarily stood up as well.

‘I’m finally going to see him in person.’

Lee Jaheon, Section Chief.

Employee D, nicknamed Lizard!

One of the most famous employees of Daydream Corporation in <Darkness Exploration Record>. Rumor has it that the company is even creating a character design based on his popularity.

Honestly, I was curious.

What kind of person is he?

‘Judging by our conversation when I pressed the call button, he doesn’t seem to have a normal personality….’

But considering his super play with the AAA battery shot, everything is almost romanticized.

Knock knock.

“The door is open. Come in, Team Leader!”

The infirmary door opened.

Beyond it stood a tall figure.

Wearing a perfectly fitting black suit and an employee ID card, his very orthodox and classic office worker appearance was quite striking.

Lee Jaheon, Section Chief, Employee D, the famed individual from <Darkness Exploration Record>, had finally appeared…

“Good afternoon.”

“…!? …!!”

 

A… lizard.

No, that, not a mask, but really…….

‘He really… has a lizard head.’

“…….”

Wait a minute.

No… that can’t be right.

The afterimage of that TV host remains, and I must be experiencing a psychotic symptom due to excessive stress.

Right? My brain is mistaking the masked appearance for a real lizard head….

‘Looking again, there’s a mask on his waist.’

“…….”

I’m going crazy.

“It’s really nice to meet you.”

“Please come in, Team Leader!”

Why is everyone so calm?

If a lizard in a suit was going to appear, they should at least have given the newcomer a warning like, “Don’t be surprised.”

Why are they creating such a naturally friendly atmosphere!

“Ah, this is Roe Deer. This is Section Chief Lee Jaheon. Say hello.”

“Wow, Roe Deer seems surprised by how handsome the Section Chief is? Haha! He doesn’t look like he’s from the same species as us!”

Could you please tell me specifically whether that’s social life or a hint…?

The white lizard head turned to me expressionlessly.

Its crimson reptilian vertical eyes glinted.

“ Roe Deer.”

“…….”

“Can you see?”

X, X-it.

“What do you mean… Ah, my eyes aren’t injured. My vision is fine.”

I admired my own quick thinking.

“…….”

Excuse me?

“I see.”

The pale reptilian head swiveled slowly.

I almost fainted.

‘Please stop it, seriously.’

Even outside the realm of rumors, this world is too unfair to make me suffer this way….

‘What in the world is happening?’

But I won’t say a word.

The atmosphere clearly indicates that I shouldn’t look at the lizard head!

‘Everyone else was looking at him with perfectly normal human faces.’

Don’t stand out.

I absolutely will not show any suspicious expression to that walking human… no, lizard excavator.

I succeeded in controlling my expression, and thankfully, thanks to the other team members, the conversation went smoothly.

And then, the main point.

“Section Chief, could you explain why things turned out like this?”

“Yes.”

The white reptile, no, Section Chief Lee Jaheon nodded.

First, the cause of this situation.

The employees who intruded…

“It seems there was a human error, and ‘Tuesday Talk Show’ was assigned to both Team D and Team L.”

“Seriously.”

“Oh dear…”

No wonder the work was assigned so suddenly, there seems to have been a mistake.

The Section Chief’s briefing continued.

– The starting time for writing the medium (postcard) to enter L team’s ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ is similar to that of Team D, however, a time difference of about 50 minutes occurred due to a brief outing outside the company building during the writing process.

“…Did he buy the newbie coffee or something.”

“It was a team full of people who took exceptionally good care of their teammates.”

Two members recalled Team L, which had suffered a complete wipeout, their faces momentarily showing bitterness before they masked their emotions.

“Anyway, it seems the transfer happened at a strange time. Our team happened to proceed first.”

“Yes.”

Lee Jaheon answered briefly and continued the briefing.

The problem was that what followed was a bombshell.

“And the readjustment of ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ to A-class was not approved.”

“…?!”

“Yes, yes?”

– The absence of other groups to cross-verify the situation, and a relatively high initial survival rate (43%), etc.

Whether the darkness was practically suitable for the Dark (A) class has not been proven.

“But Team L was completely wiped out! What kind of nonsense is this?”

“The collector! The dream collector’s solution was golden! We’ve heard that’s the A-class color more than once…”

-While the dream collector’s solution is of a concentration comparable to A-class, the possibility of a special situation where a high-grade solution is extracted from a low-grade darkness cannot be ruled out.

“Therefore, since ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ was originally a D-class according to the company’s official classification, exceptions are not approved.”

“…….”

So the company’s stance is…

‘Something went wrong, so let’s not make a bigger deal out of it. Let’s just quietly handle it…’ right.

Well, that’s typical of the company.

In that it drives its employees crazy.

“This won’t do. I have to go and see them myself…”

“Sir, wait a minute, just a minute.”

The team leader asked incredulously.

“They took all the A-class solutions from above. But is it really going to end with a D-class result?”

“No.”

“…!”

“Compensation has been separately allocated.”

Honestly, it’s not surprising.

‘They’re going to throw something at us to keep us quiet…’

Unless the company is incredibly stupid, it’s normal for them to prepare some kind of appeasement.

The only question was the extent of that appeasement.

I tried not to make eye contact with the lizard and watched Lee Jaheon’s mouth… no, lips.

“Since the special nature of the situation and the color of the solution in the dream collector have been confirmed, they acknowledge that it was an exploration worthy of A-class.”

“So…?”

“Additional points will be awarded.”

– For this ‘Tuesday Quiz Show’ clearance only, additional points equivalent to A-class will be awarded.

The amount is…

“30,000 points per person.”

“…!!”

The team leader and the deputy stopped as if struck by lightning.

“30,000?!”

“Yes.”

“Waaaah!”

The basic points for A-class are 100,000.

Assuming that it’s divided among the number of people going in to tackle it, even if only two teams survived, the expected amount per person would be 17,000 points or less.

‘But we just got almost double that.’

That wasn’t the end of it.

“And a separate incentive has been given to the employee who played a decisive role in the clearance.”

The lizard’s head turned to look at me.

“Kim Soleum.”

– 10000p additional payment to the most contributing member

“40,000 points will be awarded.”

“…….”

That instantly filled 8% of my wish quota.

‘Wow.’

I’m completely stunned.

Well, it’s a shame that the A-class clearance won’t be officially recorded?

No, actually, it’s better!

‘In this world, even if I get noticed and get promoted rapidly, it’s not going to be good.’

What will happen if my expectations are raised beyond the norm?

I’ll definitely be forcibly put into a more difficult urban legend, and the more noticeable I become, the harder it will be to use my ‘goods.’

Of course, there are special spaces and items that become accessible with promotion, but I shouldn’t misjudge priorities.

This is a world where you can die at any moment!

‘And considering that I almost went to the underworld… I never want to go near A-class again.’

Looking at the points, it seems the hardship wasn’t in vain.

And it seems the other two felt the same.

“…I just heard my retirement date get moved up by three years.”

“Me too.”

But soon they came to their senses and said to me.

“Points aren’t transferable… this is kind of embarrassing.”

“Right. It’s basically all thanks to Roe Deer.”

“No. It’s fine.”

Honestly, even if it were transferable, I don’t think they would have given me any, no matter what excuse they used.

This isn’t a matter of character.

‘They’re people who took a dangerous job to save up points for a wish.’

For most members of the field investigation team, their points are something they can absolutely not give up.

Hmm. Let’s definitely keep this in mind.

“Wooaaah!”

“It’s really coming in.”

We went back to the office and registered the points.

[Kim Soleum / Accumulated Points: 40100p]

‘Wow.’

I looked at the monitor.

A five-digit number.

Honestly, I was moved.

“Whee, I’m alive, and I got a lot of points…”

The team leader grinned.

“Shouldn’t we have a company dinner with the corporate card!”

“Ooooo!”

“Let’s go, Roe Deer!”

The answer came out readily and without pretense.

“Yes!”

And now.

I’m watching the rare sight of a lizard eating Korean beef…

Ciiiizzz.

I’m trying to watch as naturally as possible as the perfectly cooked beef disappears into the lizard’s mouth.

“Team leader’s personality is a bit unique, but their abilities are undeniable.”

“Yeah. You really joined a good team.”

“…Yes.”

It’s almost certain that only I see the lizard’s face.

If I had seen Lee Jaheon’s supervisor smashing rumors with physics a few times, I would understand this favorable attitude of the team members.

Anyway, the beef was delicious regardless of rumors or anything, and I enjoyed the company dinner more than I thought I would.

‘They aren’t acting uncomfortable.’

I’m also realizing that having a little alcohol definitely helps to alleviate fear.

‘I’ll go home, watch ten children’s cartoons, and sleep with all the lights on.’

I was devising such an extreme sleeping method when…

Lee Jaheon, who was eating scallions, suddenly asked.

“Will you save the 40,000 points?”

“Yes?”

It was a natural question.

“Ah, yes. Because I have to buy a wish.”

“I see.”

“…”

Wait. This conversation pattern feels familiar.

I retraced the earlier conversation.

So…

“Are there any other useful ways to use the points?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Right. This is how I should approach it…

Now I finally understand how to use the lizard team leader. A bit refreshing. I asked in a much more comfortable voice.

“What is the purpose?”

“Custom equipment.”

“! “

I didn’t expect this to be mentioned here and now…

‘It’s finally here.’

One of the main characteristics of Daydream Corporation employees.

‘Custom equipment!’