Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 16

Job change.

This refers to a change in the assigned work or department.

It’s something that tends to happen as your tenure reaches the year mark.

In other words, it’s definitely not something you’d say to someone on their third day!

“If it’s a job change, does that mean I have to move departments?”

That was my politely worded question, desperately suppressing the urge to ask, “What are you talking about after a perfectly good lunch?”

“No, it’s… well, yes. Did you see the official notice? It just came up.”

“…?!”

Fueled by a bad feeling, I immediately checked the intranet.

[Qterw-D-43 Unusual Situation Resolution Employee Compensation Notice]

…Qterw-D-43 is a Tuesday quiz show.

And to summarize this…

– Wow! A certain team solved a special incident that occurred in a Class D urban legend and extracted a Class A solution? Wow, that’s a performance! We’re giving that team a total of 100,000 points!

– See? You can do it too! So forget work-life balance and work like an ox to earn those points! Follow Team D’s example!

……And my name, ‘Kim  Soleum,’ was clearly listed among the major contributors receiving 40,000 points.

“…….”

I wish this was a dream.

And even worse is this.

If this notice led to a job change, then…

Seeing the haggard supervisor, I felt a chill.

“Did you see it?”

“Yes.”

“Right. Team D… they had some… unusual results this time.”

No way.

“Are we getting reassigned as a team?”

“Not exactly a reassignment, more like a change in workload.”

The supervisor downed their coffee in one gulp.

“Until now, we were mainly tasked with managing the urban legends whose manuals were already complete, right?”

Wait.

“Now, they want us to handle the ones without completed manuals – focusing on the darkness!”

“…!!”

In short, they want us to tackle urban legends with no data!

“I mean, doing well just lands you in an even tougher spot… sigh.”

The team leader seemed to have already heard the news, their head buried in their desk. Caffeine wasn’t working anymore, it seemed.

“Good morning.”

Just then, the lizard-headed team leader walked into the office. The supervisor erupted.

“Team Leader! To be assigned to the darkness without a manual! Isn’t this a death sentence for us?”

“…? No.”

“Huh?”

Perhaps there was a loophole, a flicker of hope on the supervisor’s face…

“Even with a completed manual, there’s no guarantee of safety.”

“…….”

Ah, that’s what they meant…

‘What a truly remarkable lizard…’

I managed to speak.

“But isn’t it still more dangerous without a manual? Because there’s no data.”

The lizard tilted its head.

“Well, I haven’t noticed much of a difference.”

“…….”

Ah, right, they’re a physical exorcist…

‘They’ve probably just been pushing through with brute force when things got tough…’

I decided to ask directly.

“Are there any advantages to this situation?”

“Yes.”

“What are the advantages?”

“Additional points will be awarded.”

“…!”

Park Min-seong, the team leader, suddenly raised their head.

They were the epitome of point-obsessed people.

“Is… is it a lot, Team Leader?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Compared to darkness of the same level, it’s an average of three to four times more.”

“…!”

“H-how about the highest point multiplier the Team Leader has seen…?”

“Fifteen times.”

Suddenly, the supervisor and team leader’s eyes changed.

‘They look like stock investors.’

It was the same expression they had right before buying a bio-tech penny stock based on a rumor of a new drug.

Apparently, 30,000 points was unbearably tempting…

Normally, someone with reason would try to stop them… but, well… for me, it’s different.

‘A guaranteed winning stock…’

It makes no difference to me whether there’s a manual or not.

I already know the exploration records in more detail than any manual!

Then.

‘It’s just a 3x point event…?’

And so, a moment later.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Team D accepted the new assignment and moved without any objections.

‘Let’s earn some points.’

Our destination was the 17th floor.

“The development department mainly uses floors 20 to 17.”

The supervisor scowled, pressing the elevator buttons.

“And the 17th floor… that’s where the researchers who specifically look for new darkness reside.”

Ping.

 

The elevator doors opened, revealing a white, artificial interior, a typical combination of laboratory and office space. Someone was already waiting, extending a hand.

“Wow~ Is this the guy? Amazing, amazing~”

Definitely my superior. I reflexively shook hands.

“Kim Solum. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, good manners.”

The man in a white coat and glasses looked quite young, but this was such a bizarre world that I decided not to jump to conclusions. Anyway, after greeting the members of Team D, the supervisor from the other department turned back to me.

“I’m Kwak Jegang from Research Team 1. Nice to meet you. Take care~ ”

“…! Nice to meet you.”

My team’s supervisor whispered,

“Don’t be intimidated. He’s just a measly section chief.”

Isn’t *he* a supervisor…?

And the reason I was surprised wasn’t because he was a section chief. It’s because I knew him.

———————

Kwak Jegang Researcher

: An employee of Research Team 1 in Daydream Corporation’s Raw Materials Development Department, appearing in <Darkness Exploration Records>. One of the researchers frequently mentioned in early records exploring newly registered darkness within the company.

———————

Another big name appeared.

‘His personality… hmm.’

———————

A rare case where an employee is directly described as ‘cheerful and sociable.’

However…

———————

Hmm.

I quietly followed my team members without showing anything.

“We’ll be seeing each other often from now on. Right, Lee Jaheon, Section Chief?”

“Yes.”

….

Oh dear.

“Could you explain the reason?”

“Yes.”

Finally, the lizard explains.

“Research Team 1 researches and standardizes methods for entering new darkness. Therefore, we’ll be frequently meeting with Team D, which explores darkness that hasn’t been standardized yet.”

In short, they’re the team that gives us work.

‘They find new darkness here and entrust it to the field exploration team vanguard…’

“Goodness, Section Chief Lee always speaks so formally. And he’s not even a researcher!”

The research team section chief patted the lizard section chief on the back. The lizard’s lidless pupils darted to the other person, looking surprised.

I feel like I’m watching a thriller movie…

“Alright, anyway, the darkness we’re entering today is ready~ Get your dream collection devices, alright!”

The expression ‘This guy’s from another department, why is he telling us obvious things?’ flashed across the supervisor’s face, but the team leader’s desperate gestures prevented it from being voiced.

“Check the records of civilians who have entered and exited, and the records of the team that entered before.”

Lee Jaheon received the documents handed over by the research team.

Meanwhile, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“…?”

When I turned around, a research team member grinned and spoke to me.

“Hey, want to bet on whether you’re D-class or F-class?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, we’re having a small bet among ourselves. You should join. It’ll be fun.”

“No, thank you.”

I answered immediately.

‘Is this employee alright in the head?’

What if an audit comes…? No, wait, he’s openly talking about gambling in front of his direct superior.

I reflexively looked at the research team section chief.

The section chief shrugged.

“What’s the big deal? A little gambling won’t kill anyone.”

“…….”

“Ha ha. Oh, look at that unchanging expression. Solum, you’ve got guts?”

I forgot to use my facial muscles because it was so ridiculous.

‘Isn’t this crossing the line at work?’

I guess this is typical of a researcher in an internet rumor world.

“Oh, just a joke. This darkness isn’t something that’ll get you killed or anything. Many civilians have escaped after entering… Ugh, the planning team had a tough time covering up the disaster management agency’s fuss about it~”

“…….”

When Team D didn’t respond, the Research Team 1 section chief just smiled and organized the remaining documents.

“Huh.”

And the research team member who had mentioned the bet looked at me disapprovingly, then assumed a posture as if watching with his arms crossed.

‘Is this how you do things at work…?’

I wasn’t feeling great, but it’s hard to feel good at work, anyway.

The important thing is this darkness I’ve just received.

What kind of urban legend is this?

“Ah, Roe Deer, you should see this too.”

“Yes.”

I received the documents handed to me by my superior.

‘Hopefully, it’s something I know.’

Besides, with so many civilian escapees, it sounded even better. Worst case scenario, it’s probably a D-class threat?

I can handle most things.

So don’t be nervous…

“Roe Deer, did you read it? Something about clown portraits… Ah, if you see a clown advertisement, you get pulled in?”

Clown advertisement…?!

Could it be that…?

———————

Darkness Exploration Record / Urban Legend

[The Clown Hates You]

: An urban legend appearing in <Darkness Exploration Record>, Daydream Corporation’s identification code is Qterw-D-210.

An urban legend about eternally wandering in a place where corridors lined with various clown portraits endlessly continue.

Upon closer inspection, they aren’t real clown costumes, but grotesquely distorted people made to look like clowns, forcing themselves into smiles.

———————

“…….”

No.

———————

The longer you stay, the more distorted and strange the portraits become.

People who disappear in this urban legend become new clown portraits. Honestly, even this kind of full-fledged horror movie-style exploration record is rare.

———————

Wow.

I skimmed the pre-exploration record I received with trembling eyes.

….

It’s true.

‘Wow, here we go.’

A full-fledged horror theme scarier than the convenience store ghost.

“Haha, let’s go in then!”

Hey!

Just cancel the triple points event! I’m not going!

But of course, such words wouldn’t work in society…

“…….”

I opened my eyes. A dark… no, a dark corridor appeared, like my future.

But on the old walls, bizarre clown portraits with all sorts of grotesque expressions were plastered.

‘X, X-ing hell.’

The way to enter this place was terrifying.

1. See a YouTube advertisement of a red-nosed clown laughing madly while looking at someone beyond the screen.
2. In any enclosed indoor corridor, a clown’s hand appears from beyond the corner.
3. If you approach, your wrist is grabbed and you’re dragged into this ‘corridor’.

I almost fainted right there.

‘This is insane.’

I rolled my eyes. The exploration record of encountering terrifying things no matter which wall I approached was vividly replayed in my mind.

I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.

‘Honestly, anyone would be scared of this, not just me…’

“Hmm. It’s not that dark, is it? We don’t need flashlights.”

“Section Chief! Should we acclimate to the darkness before we move?”

“Yes. Close your eyes for 60 seconds.”

I heard the team leader’s clear reply of “Yes!”.

“…….”

No, seriously?

In a dark corridor filled with portraits that menacingly stare at people, can you casually say that we should all close our eyes for a minute?

“Roe Deer, close your eyes too.”

I guess so.

“Yes.”

I pretended to close my eyes, looking at the floor and sweating profusely.

I just realized.

These people…

Don’t inherently feel fear.

Their fear threshold is incredibly high unless it’s a truly life-threatening situation!

The type who would say things like, “Seriously, the scariest thing is people,” and wouldn’t watch horror movies because they’re boring!

‘That’s why they work here!’

Even so, if those grotesque portraits start moving, it wouldn’t be easy to react like that…

“Umm… If you touch or stab the portraits, sometimes they pop out and crawl towards you.”

“Oh, that’s right. Then the picture becomes empty, and some people have used that as a passage to return to reality.”

“I see.”

I heard the Section Chief’s calm voice.

“Stab all the portraits you see.”

I almost screamed.

“Ye-es! If anything really pops out, I’ll signal and run immediately!”

“Yes. We will repeat the attempt in time units.”

“Ah, they crawl, right? Their mobility is low, so that’s good.”

“Exactly. Oh right, Roe Deer! I saw this earlier, but there’s a clown with strange eyes on the left there, right? It really looks like a movie poster.”

“…….”

“The missing civilian’s appearance is similar. I guess this is what happens when you go missing here.”

He lifted his head.

In the bleak darkness, a portrait; someone with a button instead of a left eye, wearing gaudy clown makeup, forcing a wide, exaggerated smile.

‘…It moved.’

Definitely, the pupil of the remaining eye moved.

“…….”

“Roe Deer, you want to touch that first?”

Ah, ah!! No, really! Please, just!

“……Y, yes.”

Yes? Like I can even get close!

A strong premonition hit the back of my neck.

Th-this… I can’t survive at this tempo of these crazy people.

“Then Roe Deer, check the top left portrait…”

“Wait a minute.”

“Hm?”

I have to risk it!

“I think I’ve figured out an escape method.”

“Wh-what?”

I’ve figured it out, even though I haven’t been here for even a minute! Believe me!

“I deduced it from previous civilian escape records.”

Has my brain ever spun this fast before?

‘I can’t give these useless bravery testers a turn!’

“First, don’t touch the other portraits.”

“Huh? Why?”

Because I’m scared.

Of course, my mouth said something else.

“…There’s a different answer.”

Is this survival instinct?

I immediately took out the toy coin I had chosen as equipment, summoning a translucent glove in the air.

Then, I tossed twenty 500-won coins to the glove.

The glove stiffened for a moment like a big-time YouTuber whose funding just dried up, then excitedly spun in the air before merging with my hand.

“Wait, that’s Roe Deer’s equipment?”

“Yes. It allows me to touch objects remotely.”

“Oh.”

This eliminates the need for me to approach the portrait and touch the clown, at least.

However, I nodded seriously, as if I had other intentions.

“From now on… I want to run and see as many portraits as possible. I need to find the answer.”

I looked at Lee Jaheon, the supervisor.

“And from now on, the portrait I describe is the answer.”

“…….”

“Please tell me as soon as you see it. Is that alright?”

And if this works, I won’t have to meticulously examine every clown portrait myself!

‘Of course, if I get a reaction like, “Who’s this rookie acting up?”, it’s over….’

Lee Jaheon didn’t seem like the type to be obsessed with authority!

Even if he had a lizard brain! Even if his way of thinking was completely like a lizard!

“Yes.”

Yes!

The wave of relief washing down my spine almost made my legs give way, but I managed to force myself to nod calmly.

“Then I’ll run.”

It’s as if I’m trying to experiment with a brilliant and fantastic hypothesis, and running is necessary for that hypothesis…

‘Actually, it’s not necessary…’

The escape method here is surprisingly easy.

‘I can touch other portraits freely; it won’t affect finding the answer…’

If you’re brave, you can just stroll along and do it alone…

But I’ve already learned.

I have lessons learned from playing tag with ghosts at a convenience store.

What’s the way for a scaredy-cat to survive?

‘Speedrun!’

Let’s go, halfway escape from the haunted house!