Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel (End Part 1) - Chapter 187

The preparations for the invitation ritual were complete.

The tearful act of using a substitute’s substitute at the theme park resort right before, like using gums when there were no teeth, was also over.

This time, I had prepared all the items exactly as I had used them the first time I performed the Good Friend Invitation Ritual:

A necktie, a silver snake, and… most importantly, a plush toy from the theme park gift shop.

I picked up the plush toy.

Surprisingly, the fluffy-haired doll was… keychain-sized, a pink rabbit doll!

How did I acquire the gift shop from the Yellow Zone and manage to get a rabbit instead of a yellow-horned cat?

Simple.

‘I used the mascot’s authority to create a special sales booth.’

[DIY Plush Toy: Choose and Combine]

It was a custom “Make Your Own Good Friend” service.

Thus, I succeeded in obtaining an original Good Friend almost identical in appearance to the ‘Good Friend Keychain’ I had acquired from the Real Goods Box – that is, a manufactured good.

Except for the keychain accessory, of course.

Now, all I had to do was avoid thinking about the raw materials of this plush toy…

Everything was fine.

But, but…

“……”

“……”

Their gazes were piercing.

“You can proceed with the invitation ritual exactly as described in the manual here…”

“Yes.”

The lizard’s unblinking eyes were burdensome…

But Section Chief Lee Jaheon showed no intention of looking away or compromising, so in the end, I proceeded with the ritual while listening to the Section Chief review the manual.

‘It didn’t explicitly say to proceed alone, but…’

Somehow, it felt more like proceeding with deep sighs than with tension.

This time, I drew a line of the correct size, placed the Good Friend’s small body in the center, added the silver snake, and performed the ritual exactly the same way.

‘The necktie, too… the same product.’

Salt in my mouth.

Burn the necktie with a lighter.

Hiss.

…I remembered the first time I tried this.

When I was less scared and less resigned than now, when I was desperately trying to find an escape from a suddenly trapped ghost story, I attempted this ritual.

And the being who responded to that ritual.

Wobble, wobble.

The necktie burned, and the flame danced. In the flickering light, the doll’s shadow also swayed as if moving.

And…

The doll’s mouth opened.

-Aaaaaaaaaack!

…Huh?

-Stop! Stop! I came first, forgive me, there are many guests, oh you who know honor, teacher? This kind of consultation is rock-paper-scissors, you called me, you wretched things, get out of here! General San-gun is coming! Aaaaaaaaaack!

The small doll writhed and twitched as if countless things were inside it. But soon…

-Oh.

It stopped.

-Ooooh, the master of the great performance is coming!

They chorused.

As if someone already had full authority to lead the audience’s response.

-He’s here! He’s here! He’s back! He’s come to see you! He who has come to see you——!

The doll raised both hands high.

And…

It spoke happily, like a child.

-Wow! My friend called me again!

“……!”

The next moment.

Everything disappeared.

The hexagram drawn with water, the necktie I was holding, the coins, the salt in my mouth.

As if they had never been there.

All that remained was the doll, sitting alone on the motel room floor.

A fluffy plush toy.

“…Brown?”

But there was no response.

I was momentarily flustered, but I quickly understood the situation.

‘Originally, Good Friend only moved and conversed within the ghost story!’

And this was reality. If the doll hadn’t been enhanced with Bloodlust, various conditions were needed. That is…

‘Ready for conversation!’

I quickly draped Brown over the bed frame, turned off the lights, and left only one stand lamp lit under the bed.

So that the stand lamp’s light would illuminate the doll and cast a shadow on the wall.

My hands trembled slightly the whole time.

I didn’t know if it was anticipation, or because of the immense thing I had just witnessed.

‘…What just happened?’

It seemed like countless somethings had been invited into the Good Friend doll, but it happened too quickly to analyze.

I instinctively looked at Section Chief Lizard, but the Section Chief nodded.

“It proceeded safely.”

“……”

Yes…

Anyway, having finally finished preparations to converse with Good Friend in reality, I leaned back on the bed and watched Good Friend’s massive shadow cast on the wall…

And.

-Friend!

“…!”

A vibrant, familiar voice echoed through the room.

The voice of the rabbit doll.

“…Brown.”

-We finally meet again! How deeply moving. Oh, what a perfect scene for a talk show opening!

-Mr. Roe Deer, I heard you’ve been through a lot. But worry not now. Your most loyal advisor, your best guide, a one-of-a-kind friend in the world, has returned to your side!

That showman-like tone.

Hearing the voice, it was strange… A sense of welcome and a surge of emotion gently spread through me.

-At times like these, hugs and cheers are perfectly suitable! Right now, the audience… Hmm. They’re not moving.

-Mr. Roe Deer, I feel like my body is heavy like water-soaked cotton, but… perhaps with my friend’s support, it might be possible. Come, shall we stand before the camera together?

“Haha… No. It’s fine.”

It was to the point where such chilling words felt nostalgic.

I leaned back on the bed, looking at the plush toy’s shadow on the wall with relative comfort.

“First, let’s talk a bit more. How are you feeling?”

-Never better! If I can converse with my friend, the heaviness of my limbs is a bearable comfort. I’ll get used to it gradually!

-Then, once again, to the starting place where this Brown and I can spend joyful days together…

A rustling sound, as if someone was looking around, brushing against clothing, was heard from somewhere.

The voice hesitated.

-…Oh my God. Friend, where on earth are you staying?

Ah.

I looked around the room.

Just like a cheap motel room in the back alleys near a train station, well, it was a dilapidated room…

-Is my body leaning against this dirty wall right now? Good heavens!

“It’s not dirty. I cleaned it thoroughly before the invitation ritual… It’s just old.”

It just looked dirtier because of the floral pattern!

But it was no match for convincing a talk show host.

-‘Just old’? No, this is an insult to dwelling. To think my friend is staying in a place worse than a third-rate actor wouldn’t even consider a trailer!

-What happened to Mr. Roe Deer’s humble sanctuary where you used to stay?

“That… well. My job changed, so I couldn’t stay there anymore.”

-What a terrible company!

That’s… well.

Actually, Director Ho had suggested getting an officetel for stability in spy activities and reliable identity verification.

He said he’d cover the cost.

But I refused.

How should I put it… I didn’t want to create something here that could be called ‘home.’

The company housing certainly felt less personal because it was provided by the company, but if I created my own space entirely, I feared my guard might drop.

“It’s surprisingly livable here too. I’ll make sure to take good care of your spot.”

-Oh my God…

-Friend, I supported your independent and autonomous choice, even cheering for your resignation, but to think you had to stay in a place like this.

The plush toy uttered in a mournful voice.

-Do not forget that this Brown’s talk show is always wide open for you, friend. Of course, you’ll need to go through a light interview now…

“Mr. Roe Deer, is this plush toy currently tempting you with a talk show-shaped darkness?”

“No, well, it always does…”

…?!

…?!

I turned my gaze to the lizard.

The white lizard head, perched on the bed, was calmly looking at me.

Calm?!

“Can you hear him!?”

“Yes.”

I nearly fainted.

Wait a minute. So he’s been listening to our entire conversation until now? Even when I entrusted Brown to Section Chief Lee Jaheon and went into the ghost story… No, more than that!

“Th-this item’s characteristic is that usually only I can hear it, by what mechanism can you hear it…?”

“? The other party is expressing an intention for communication.”

I gaped at him.

“…Normally humans can’t hear it.”

“Yes.”

“It’ll look suspicious to others.”

“Indeed.”

The lizard looked at me blankly, as if asking what I expected him to do.

“There’s no one else in this space.”

“……”

I gave up on everything.

Come to think of it, Section Chief Lee Jaheon recognized me even when I turned into a child, even when I wore a security team suit, and even when I wore a mascot costume.

‘Is he specialized in mental identity or communication…?’

It’s probably better to think of it as a reptilian alien’s ability.

That’s more comfortable…

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

“Yes.”

“Would you like some advice?”

“…Huh?”

“Burn the doll immediately.”

-Oh.

Aaaaaack.

“The invitation ritual was conducted in compliance with safety procedures, but the invited entity shows a risk of breaking the ritual’s restrictions at any time.”

-This rude swordsman still doesn’t know boundaries.

Oh, please.

-If you’re intruding where you’re not invited, you should at least observe the unwritten rule of keeping quiet. Such ignorance, spouting words carelessly! I can’t believe it, but I’ll say a few words out of respect for my friend.

-I respect my friend’s privacy, and I am ready to help my friend with anything. Because…

-I’m a Good Friend!

“Mr. Roe Deer went missing for a month as a result of trusting those restrictions. Don’t forget that.”

-Oh, that was entirely an expression of my warm heart, worrying about my friend’s well-being. Thanks to it, Mr. Roe Deer had a month of unparalleled safety and happiness at a fulfilling workplace… That is, until you dared to step your dirty feet into my magnificent studio.

“He’s making threats.”

“W-wait a minute.”

Since I’m already under contract, I can’t escape as long as I’m in this ghost story world, so there’s no need for our relationship to get hostile…!

“I strongly told him I was resigning, and he was eventually convinced and let me go, wasn’t he?”

-Of course!

“What logic did you use to persuade him?”

That…

“…I said I’d show him something more fun.”

-Ah, yes. I was indeed curious about the result of that promise…

-Of course, even if it’s not fun, a Good Friend will always protect you. It’s not a Good Friend’s job to enjoy a friend’s suffering!

“……”

A peculiar way of speaking.

Now that I think about it, this plush toy, Brown, is using much more friendly and entirely supportive language than when I talked to him at the theme park.

Just like before.

‘Did I summon him into the Good Friend plush toy… and is he bound by those rules again?’

But unlike before, I could now clearly tell.

That the other party regarded the Good Friend’s restrictions as a kind of amusement.

That even though the restrictions were useless now, he was showing such an attitude out of a kind of nostalgia and playing along… indeed.

If it wasn’t fun, he might break through the restrictions and drag me back as a talk show staff member.

‘…Thanks to Section Chief Lizard, I’ve gained a sense of caution.’

I almost got swept up in the mood and became overly fond of the Good Friend.

Yes. Let’s not believe everything the ‘Good Friend’ says on the surface.

We must prevent a repeat of last time’s situation.

“Okay. Thanks. Then… Brown. Is it okay if you go back into my front pocket for now?”

-Oh, I wouldn’t refuse that!

I finally managed to change the subject and brought the conversation with Brown to a natural end.

‘Phew.’

As soon as I put Brown into the front pocket of the clothes I was wearing, a sigh of relief escaped me.

A strange sense of stability, as if somehow things had returned to their original track.

By the way, the will-o’-the-wisp on my right arm trembled as it tried to grab the plush toy, so I picked it up with my left arm.

‘Since when did using my own body require so much agreement…?’

I felt like I was reaching enlightenment.

“Are you done?”

“…Yes.”

Fortunately, the lizard didn’t do anything drastic like snatching Good Friend and throwing it out the window.

Though it did stare at the rabbit doll.

‘…If Brown could move, they would have fought.’

The current state was rather fortunate.

I spoke again, trying to clear the air.

“Um, Section Chief. Then, if the reason for your visit today was because you noticed this…”

“No.”

Then what else was it?

“Then is there another reason?”

“Yes.”

“Just a moment.”

Phew.

I finally sat back down at the table and offered the lizard section chief some simple snacks and coffee.

Section Chief Lizard drank the coffee without refusing, and I drank coffee from the opposite side.

“Please tell me now.”

I was ready to talk.

…I also thought it might be about Team D.

“Yes.”

The lizard swallowed the cracker whole, then looked at me and spoke.

On a topic I had not expected at all.

“Mr. Roe Deer, were you carrying a Dream Collector during your last ‘Joyful Theme Park!’ exploration?”

…Hmm?

“The company didn’t give me one.”

“Indeed.”

Right. Because I was pretending to be from the Special Department of the Security Team.

Normally, the Security Team doesn’t get collectors because of severe contamination. The collector only gives Dream Fluid if it determines you’re human, and I wouldn’t pass that judgment.

But I had brought one separately.

An Elite Team Collector.

This item, which I received from the goods box, had provided me with ingredients to draw potions from the Dream Incubation Room several times until now.

‘They said this exploration was A-grade, didn’t they?’

Should I check now?

I opened my mouth and checked the Elite Team Collector I had placed in my inventory tattoo.

“But why are you asking that…”

The Elite Team Collector was empty.

“……”

Huh?

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

I carefully took out the collector again to confirm, but it was still empty.

‘This is strange.’

I clearly cleared it while escaping the darkness. So the Dream Collector should be full.

Why isn’t it full?

‘If the collector doesn’t fill up even after clearing the darkness…’

The sentence I just thought of.

-The collector only gives Dream Fluid if it determines you’re human, and I wouldn’t pass that judgment.

…Wait a minute.

I’m not human?

I was… judged as a ghost story?

But…

‘I’m completely myself, though?’

I didn’t show any erratic behavior or strange appearances like when I went to the Fox Counseling Office.

So, I feel like I’m preserving my identity…

“Section Chief.”

“Yes.”

“Am I… contaminated?”

I met the Section Chief Lizard’s eyes.

The Section Chief opened his mouth.

“Yes.”

“…But I’m normal. It’s different from when I went to the counseling office…”

“Because you were contaminated by a different darkness.”

…Ah.

‘Could… that be it?’

It was then.

A brilliant beam of light descended from above my head.

Unconsciously raising my head, I saw a familiar notepad and sentence…

[Darkness Exploration Log: Real Goods Box]

-New merchandise usage rights unlocked! (!)

A special phenomenon I hadn’t seen in a long time.

I unconsciously reached out and caught the item falling from the box.

A small silver music box.

“……”

The item I bought at the pop-up store.

Merchandise from the Nameless Radiant Cult.

———————=

Darkness Exploration Log / Nameless Radiant Cult

/ Item

Praise Music Box

A replica of a music box said to have been acquired as a result of a certain ritual performed by the Nameless Radiant Cult.

Inside the genuine article, it is said that the phrase ‘Knowledge of truth is power’ was engraved.

When listening to the music box’s melody, those assimilated into a ghost story have a probability of regaining human reason and identity.

However, if listened to repeatedly three or more times, one conversely falls into madness and commits unpredictable, terrible acts. Refer to usage records here.

Some claim that this is merely a side effect of realizing the truth of this world, which could never be known, and that the true way to use the music box is to listen to it three or more times or more.

This melody is forgotten as soon as the music box is closed, and only its sensation remains, never to be recalled.

Item Usage Condition: An assimilated person who has been bestowed with the sacred scripture of the Nameless Radiant Cult.

———————=

 

Here, ‘assimilated person’ is a Nameless Radiant Cult term meaning those who have mutated to the point of not being recognized as human in a ghost story.

So… my receiving this means.

That I met the item usage conditions.

That I was completely contaminated by the ghost story.

And that I was aware of it.

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

“……”

“If you still don’t want to visit the Fox Counseling Office, nod your head.”

This is maddening.

“If you are unable to decide, implement the alternative immediately.”

That is…

“What is it?”

“Take out the thank-you card you received from the Space Shopping Mall.”

I instinctively did so.

A golden card popped out of my wrist, but Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn’t even blink.

“Now, take out the cell enclosed within the card.”

A cell?

The golden chip, shaped like a SIM card, enclosed within the card – is he talking about that?

“Attach it under your tongue.”

“……”

“Position it so the circuit faces upwards, and push it under your tongue.”

Normally, I would have pondered and taken more time.

But this time, a chilling sense of crisis rang an alarm.

“Yes.”

I attached the ‘cell’ under my tongue.