Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 15

Daydream Corporation is a spooky company that pushes its field investigation team members into terrifying urban legends to extract potion essences.

A question arises.

– If they carelessly throw employees into high-level, extremely dangerous urban legends, wouldn’t they all die and fail to extract the essence?

To address this question and the convenience of the urban legend’s development, the setting of “employees have special equipment that can be enhanced as they get promoted” is introduced.

However, it’s not too specific.

If they start listing the equipment one by one with grades and tables, it would no longer be an internet urban legend, but a massive game setting.

Therefore, to make it easier for anyone to participate in the creation, a more convenient setting is added.

– Custom-made equipment

Employees who have proven their usefulness receive their own supernatural equipment with company support.

Of course, this doesn’t mean ordinary employees have cartoonish abilities; it’s more like a slight boost in special abilities. It’s more like creating convenient circumstances.

‘It’s better than nothing.’

Unknowingly, I looked at Team Leader Lee Jaheon with hopeful eyes, then made eye contact with a lizard and quietly lowered my gaze. I’m really not used to this.

“Ah, can I create custom equipment?”

“Yes.”

“…Could you explain it to me?”

“Yes.”

After three questions, a detailed explanation followed.

It’s still interesting.

‘I only knew this in bits and pieces.’

Things only sporadically mentioned in various parts of the *Darkness Exploration Records* were organized and explained by the section chief.

“Custom equipment can be created using specific darknesses the company possesses.”

Right, they’ll use urban legends.

[Playful Research Institute’s Toy Maker / Qterw-E-07]

[Kind Seed Kit / Qterw-E-99]

[Offer a Sacrifice / Qterw-E-404]

To my knowledge, these three urban legends are mentioned in descriptions of Daydream Corporation employees creating equipment.

Among them, the one mainly used by the field investigation team is…

“…is it?”

Oh!

“It’s darkness that can only be used on moonlit nights!”

With my team members willingly following along to watch, I headed to the annex next to the company with the section chief. My superiors urged me to do it while the iron was hot.

“Ah… this is where relatively safe and useful urban legends are stored in isolation.”

The deputy’s explanation followed.

“The company mainly calls these ‘Twilight-grade’.”

I know.

Officially, they are E-grade urban legends.

However, the classification is a bit different from simply calling them E-grade.

‘It’s a selection of only useful ones.’

There are urban legends that are far more powerful than D-grade or less dangerous than F-grade, so everyone uses the unique name “Twilight” more often.

“Roe Deer, you saw the… radio on your first day, right? It’s useful because it tells you your fortune for the day. It’s like that.”

After presenting my employee ID card and entering the annex on the first floor, I saw stairs leading down to the basement. And as I descended the stairs… someone was sitting at a dimly lit reception desk.

It was a mysterious figure dressed entirely in black, wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a hat.

An employee?

The team leader immediately went out.

“Hello! We’re the Field Exploration Team D, and we’re here for new employee training.”

“…”

“Ah, we’re trying to get access permission for the Twilight-grade darkness, number 99.”

The black figure briefly stared at the team leader as if verifying.

Nod.

The figure nodded and pressed a button on the desk, and one of the emergency doors behind it opened.

Creak.

Beyond it was a corridor lined with countless doors.

“Don’t open any other rooms, even by mistake. Well, they’ll probably be locked anyway, but let’s not even touch the handles.”

That’s absolutely right.

I nodded silently and started walking.

Soon, we stopped in front of the door marked ’99’, and the deputy placed his employee ID card on the reader.

Click.

“Let’s go in.”

I looked up.

Moonlight poured into a greenhouse overgrown with weeds. And right in the center, a rusty device stood bathed in moonlight.

———————

Darkness Exploration Records / Urban Legend

[Kind Seed Kit]

: An urban legend appearing in *Darkness Exploration Records*Daydream Corporation’s identification code is Qterw-E-99.

A rumor claims that objects can be treated as plants, their genetic information extracted, then crossbred and sown. It’s powered by moonlight.

———————

That’s right.

‘A rumor that says putting in two objects creates a new object with a blend of their characteristics.’

The darkness, a major tool for the field exploration team in making custom equipment, was based on this rather atmospheric rumor.

“It’s practically our department’s exclusive darkness!”

I stood before the rusty device and asked.

“Does using these cost points?”

“Yeah. The Twilight-grade darkness stored in the annex requires payment to operate.”

“Oh…”

“By the way, this one costs 1000p per use.”

Wait a minute.

Isn’t this a little strange?

“If it’s equipment needed for darkness exploration, shouldn’t the company provide support instead of charging?”

Even if this company is hopeless, they should do that much to keep things running…

“Ah, you get two free uses a year once you become a section chief.”

“…”

Promotion… should I have aimed for that?

“So everyone waits until they become section chiefs to use it. Usually, you just need to stick it out for a year at most.”

Hmm.

I pondered.

‘Lee Jaheon Section Chief judged it ‘useful’ to use points, there must be a reason.’

Lizard, or employee D, says they’re all brawn, but there was definitely an instinctive level of intuition within.

If a high-survival-rate employee gave special advice…

‘I guess accepting it is the right thing to do.’

1000p, if I can increase the initial survival rate by investing, that’s the answer.

…My hands are shaking a little though!

“I want to try it now.”

“Okay!”

The section chief readily reacted, then bowed his head, realizing something.

“…But first, you know you need existing equipment to input, right? Capable objects to use as genetic material.”

“Ah… right.”

I’ve already confirmed that in this rumor exploration record.

———————

Exploration Record #05

Employee N input a tumbler* and a backpack.

The tumbler* is special equipment (liquid poured in after sunrise doesn’t reach the bottom until sunset. Owned by Choi■■ Section Chief), the backpack has no unusual characteristics.

Seed result: Backpack.

(Special characteristic: Possesses similar special ability to the tumbler. However, it reveals the bottom when more than 87L of liquid is removed.)

———————

“Don’t worry! There’s a custom within the team where when a team member gets their first custom equipment, they lend out their own equipment for free once.”

“Yeah. Not both, only one. They either put their own item in or pay to borrow one.”

The deputy glanced at the team leader.

“And Team Leader… your equipment is the best among us.”

I expected it. They’re superior, after all.

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to see the Team Leader’s equipment.”

“Yes.”

Lizard took something out of their pocket.

A small knife shining ash gray.

“It’s a butter knife. If you cut the medium that enters darkness with it, it splits the space and can transport small objects.”

Oh.

“That’s the equipment you used to throw the AAA battery, right?”

“Yes.”

I looked at the butter knife with newfound respect.

‘I thought defensive equipment would be good… it’s not that easy, huh.’

Disappointingly, none of the other supervisors’ equipment was related to defense either.

One related to deception, and one related to communication.

‘In a pinch, I think I could get something with a similar effect from the alien shop…’

I made up my mind.

“So you’re going to put in the Team Leader’s equipment?”

“Yes.”

I bowed my head out of social courtesy.

“Thank you, Team Leader.”

Lee Jaheon Section Chief slightly nodded and approached the device.

Old-fashioned characters appeared on the worn liquid crystal screen.

[Give me plants 0/2]

I watched the Section Chief hold his equipment to the device to scan its ‘genetic information.’

[Plant information saved]

[Give me plants 1/2]

“Now, put in whatever you want next. …Ah, wait a minute.”

The deputy hastily said.

 

Unless this device is truly faulty, it should be fine to put most things in it, right? But there’s just one thing you can’t put in.

The deputy tapped the sign attached to the device.

※Absolutely no plants allowed.

Absolutely, you must not put in real plants, no matter what.

……

Anyway, the sensor at the entrance filters out all plants, but I’m telling you just in case.

His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, saw the nature of the lush weeds around him.

All fake. Artificial flowers.

…One exploration record comes to mind.

———————

Exploration Record #14 (Irregular)

Employee R plucked weeds (suspected dandelions) growing around the darkness and inserted them into the device twice.

The result was [censored] screams and [censored][censored] emerged.

-It took 7 days for the security team to subdue the situation.

Employee R and all 3 people present at the scene were confirmed dead. All plants were removed.

※Notice: In case of recurrence, disciplinary action and dismissal will be taken.

———————

Um. I absolutely have to remember this.

Yes. Thank you for letting me know.

Thank you is not necessary.

Meanwhile, the manager, having finished registering the equipment and putting his knife back in his suit pocket, stood up.

“Other slots are mainly used for convenient general items, but in that case, the supernatural characteristics of the equipment may be weakly inherited, or may not be inherited at all with a low probability.”

I already knew, but I nodded seriously to react.

I can’t help it. I will accept it even if that happens.

I reached into my pocket and took something out.

Oh~ I heard you stopped by the company housing. So you had something you wanted to put in?

Yes.

In my hand was a silver coin.

– Silver Snake

It was the very item that was heavily discounted at the alien shop.

I’m going to put this in.

It’s fine to put the item in another slot.

I had quite a few supernatural items in my possession!

In fact, this is why I was happy when I learned that the urban legend among the field exploration team was the ‘Kind Seed Kit’.

‘Because I have more item supply sources than other people.’

From the black notepad in the void that gives goods to the alien shop.

From the moment I entered here, I had been thinking about the lineup of items I possessed.

‘And the highest grade among them is…’

This is it.

I rolled the round coin with a snake drawn on it in my hand.

‘Because it was the most expensive when calculated at the regular price.’

Besides, considering that Lee Jaheon’s butter knife was for ‘supply’, I also had the expectation that this coin, presumed to be ‘currency’, might create a strange synergy…

I held the coin to the device.

The lizard’s pupils widened at the sight of the silver.

What’s that?

It’s a commemorative coin. I bought it as a souvenir during my travels… I had a strange feeling about it.

…I see.

…Did he realize it was an item?

It didn’t matter anyway. Because it’s a worldview where it’s easy to encounter urban legends. It’s quite plausible that I unknowingly carry supernatural objects…

‘And a coin isn’t that suspicious.’

Because it’s an everyday, small item.

It looks easy to carry. It seems like a good match.

Thank you.

While listening to my superiors’ kind words, I finished the scan.

[Plant information saved]

[Give me the plant 2/2]

Ah, this is the final step.

[Tell me the gardener’s information]

That’s why it’s ‘custom equipment’.

I don’t know what kind of effect it has, but it seems to require the genetic information of the guardian who will take care of this plant.

‘This acts as various variables.’

I finished the scan while conflicted.

[Confirmation complete]

It’s coming.

[Combining genetic information…]

[Creating a kit…]

Multicolored smoke poured out of the device, and the sound of gears turning creaked….

[Sowing complete]

Chiik.

The front drawer of the device opened, revealing a small object.

A gray coin.

To be precise, a toy coin that you would use in an arcade. A glove was embossed on its shiny front.

Oh, it’s out.

Congratulations, Roe Deer.

I carefully reached out and took the object.

It was my first custom equipment.

I immediately returned to the company housing.

The superiors also said, “Get some sleep and let’s see you tomorrow,” and went their separate ways. It seemed they didn’t want to make me do the foolish task of testing equipment while it was dark.

“…Okay.”

I sat on the bed and took out two coins.

One was a silver snake coin I bought from the alien shop and used as a ‘parent plant.’

The other was a gray coin born from the mixture of that silver snake and the chief’s butter knife genetic information.

Everything was good. But.

“…How do I activate it?”

No movement.

‘Come to think of it, the silver snake isn’t exactly an item with supernatural abilities explicitly stated.’

I doubt this toy coin, which I’m supposed to use like real currency, is actually supposed to be equipment… I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, this worry soon ends.

“So it’s this kind of coin.”

I tried a typical action.

Flicking the coin with my thumb.

Then, the glove picture embossed on the front of the coin popped out.

“…!”

A translucent silver glove appeared in mid-air.

The glove moved like a mime, drawing letters in the air.

[Insert coin]

…Insert a coin?

I rummaged through my wallet and took out a 100-won coin and offered it to the glove.

But the glove refused.

“What?”

Is it demanding a different currency? Or….

“How about this?”

I offered a 500-won coin.

The hand gladly received the coin, tucked it between its fingers, and then vanished like a magic trick.

‘Was it a matter of the amount?’

It’s equipment that strictly adheres to capitalist logic.

As I watched in astonishment, the translucent glove approached my hand and merged with it as if it were being worn.

“…!”

A strange sensation.

‘A third… hand?’

A shadow-like image of my hand appeared before my eyes.

It moved according to my will.

I could push a wall, open the bathroom door, and even write.

‘The strength and delicacy are… about the same as mine.’

In short, it’s a third psychic hand that can move for a few seconds if given a coin.

The range is roughly… about 3 meters in radius.

“5 seconds for 500 won isn’t bad.”

Soon the shadow hand in the air disappeared, and the translucent glove naturally came off my hand.

Then, as if saluting, it moved its hand and was embossed on the front of the coin again.

“Hmm.”

It’s pretty good.

This isn’t like the chief’s butter knife; it doesn’t overcome the spatial restrictions between rumors and reality.

However, in return, it feels like its operational range within the rumors has increased, so it seems to have greater versatility.

Although there is a limitation on ammunition due to the spatial constraint of how many 500-won coins I can carry around in my suit….

‘This is a successful gacha.’

The fact that the coin was an item went unnoticed and was naturally glossed over, which is great.

“Work for the 1000p I invested.”

I put the coin in my pocket along with the other items.

I refilled the used ‘smile sticker’ and grabbed another ‘can bottle.’

‘Humans are indeed creatures of adaptation.’

I lay down on the bed.

Surprisingly, my condition was good.

Even though that horrible talk show vividly came to mind when I closed my eyes, I could manage to sleep with the lights on.

It might be because the ending was okay.

‘…I had pretty good luck, at least.’

The group assignment luck was good too.

‘Maybe because I earned points at once, but the situation feels hopeful…’

I blinked, overcome with sleepiness.

Still, the remaining points I need to earn for the wish are still a mountain, and I don’t know how many more rumors I’ll have to clear.

But surprisingly, for the first time, I think I might be able to get through this period….

‘Maybe I can quietly endure.’

…I briefly entertained this unreasonable positive thinking until I found out the insane fact that the next day, after I went to work, there was an official document that said, ‘Wow, a day 2 new employee cleared an A-class major incident!’

“Roe Deer, sit down. We… um, it seems our positions will change a bit.”

“Yes?”

I’m only 3 days into the job.