Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 218

A familiar voice.

A familiar demeanor.

“It was truly a long wait! Six months, isn’t that a period long enough for a program to rise and fall?”

“Mr. Roe Deer, I fully understand that you must have missed Brown terribly during that time…”

“And at this very moment, we finally meet again. Oh, like a new season!”

The eloquent speech of a talk show host.

The being I always conversed with, kept in my front pocket, was there.

“Friend?”

I picked up the rabbit doll.

The palm-sized doll maintained its usual appearance even while enveloped in black smoke.

Soft fur and neat seams.

Two eyes, like black pebbles, gleamed in the light of the lamp.

A black bow tie, just as I had tied it each week, sat splendidly below its pink head.

It was a fake.

“!”

What looked like my good friend’s bow tie was a hair tie I had bought at a boutique on the Road of Death.

But what was under this doll’s head was a real, tied bow tie.

Crucially, the ‘New Good Friend Plushie’ I had custom-made at the Merry Theme Park couldn’t possibly have a bow tie.

The previous Good Friend had burned himself.

Therefore, this was no different from the model laptop on the desk that only had a form, or the books on the shelf that only had covers.

One of the props recreating Team Leader Kim Soleum’s home environment.

A counterfeit.

“My goodness… that’s correct! Still excellent skill, my friend.”

Of course.

What are you?

“I am Brown, your friend whom you called.”

The unmoving eyes of the rabbit doll gleamed again in the light.

“I merely used the merchandise of my stuffed body to help Mr. Roe Deer concentrate.”

…

I realized.

The voice was not coming directly from the rabbit doll.

It was coming from inside me.

I had merely perceived it as coming from the rabbit doll because I had discovered it there.

And this…

Because it was imitating Good Friend’s way of speaking.

“Hmm, yes. Merchandise. Isn’t that a more splendid term than ‘counterfeit’? It faithfully tried to recreate my stuffed form, accompanying my friend in every move. The quality is a bit crude, but not bad…”

…

“Oh, or, did you perhaps think this voice was also fake?”

No.

“I see. That’s a relief…”

But didn’t you know everything already?

“…Hm?”

Six months.

That was the period I had worked alone, stuck in Basement 13 of the Annex, a place with only corpses and ghost stories.

Even then, you could have spoken to me anytime.

But that period was boring and uneventful, lacking interest, so you omitted it because it held no value for communication, didn’t you?

Isn’t the essence of your existence to fully enjoy the thrill and pleasure of appearing at this most interesting moment?

As an entertainer.

“…Ah, I see.”

“The host who could have spoken at any time during the past six months, ignored the painful and boring period, found the most interesting timing, and appeared imitating Good Friend’s appearance…”

“Very well. Slander and rumors are also the fate of a star, I suppose.”

The sound of arms crossing.

“My goodness, from the second week, I even made a reference appearance in a tacky training video…”

…

Training video?

• To our special entity employee, full of dreams and passion! Welcome to Dreamwalking Inc. Security Management Team!

The training endlessly played on the old black-and-white TV in the corner of Room 666, Basement 13 of the Annex.

Security Management Team Special Department Work Training.

“Yes. That propaganda, devoid of fun or emotion, was repeatedly screened in that shabby room, no different from a detention cell!”

“I greeted Mr. Roe Deer countless times, but he didn’t even react. How insulting that was.”

In the middle of that… the rabbit doll.

The TV-headed host.

Did he appear…?

Did he greet me?

That, that…

…

It didn’t matter.

Because it was information unrelated to work.

“How disappointing! Yes. My friend had no intention of recognizing me at all.”

“Of course, it is the host’s duty to make even such an audience listen naturally…”

“Fortunately, this appearance seems to evoke a desire in you to listen. It is a great honor, Mr. Roe Deer!”

I understood the last sentence was sarcasm a step too late.

And that it wasn’t entirely sarcasm either.

I slowly recognized it.

“Still, my dear friend seems to have recovered much of his original lively self! Quite proactive. After today’s short outing…”

…

Because Nostalgia Kitty had momentarily allowed me to know ‘how I truly felt,’ I could think in a similar way as before.

“Ah, indeed.”

However…

Does that even matter?

“Hm?”

In this crushed and true form, with a melted brain and limbs whose attachments were unknown.

And with a similar spirit residing within this bizarre, horned appearance, into which everything was forcibly crammed, wouldn’t it have been better not to realize it at all?

This sense of disparity.

“Indeed, you’ve been consumed by the mask, Mr. Roe Deer…”

…?

“It’s alright. It’s a common side effect for talented entertainers!”

“Now, look at this merchandise body…”

I met its gaze.

The fake Good Friend was in my hand.

“This humble body is fake! Yes. The splendid stuffed body you newly prepared is in the distant underground, more than 15 miles from here…”

“But still, we can converse like this.”

“And we can have affectionate exchanges as before! …Friend, would you place me on the towel?”

…

I did so.

“That’s right… Ah, much better.”

A gloved hand moved within the black smoke emanating from the gas mask.

I folded the towel twice and carefully smoothed the center, placing the doll on it.

A habit I often had before.

As if, after a suffocating dark exploration and the awaited end of work, I was concerned about Good Friend’s sleeping place, who had helped me.

Still like that.

And this plushie referred to itself as Good Friend. As if it were still under Good Friend’s constraints.

Still like that.

…

It was a deceptive imitation.

“Oh, but every show begins with imitation.”

…

“All those processes that project reality but present it more symbolically! Mime, skit, stand-up comedy, wordplay, criticism…”

“To choose the most meaningful imitation among countless branches and imbue it with laughter and meaning! To create a bond with the audience and impress them through that process…”

“A show is fundamentally a lie that projects truth… But is all of it truly meaningless?”

It whispered.

“Because it’s a lie?”

I didn’t answer, but the other party already knew.

My answer.

“That’s right. It has meaning. Oh, absolutely. In every moment of crying and laughing!”

The polite host made a sound like tapping fingers on the table.

As if a good idea had struck him.

“Similarly, Mr. Roe Deer. Shall we look at the mask you are wearing now?”

I avoided its gaze.

“Oh, that smoke is good for stage effects, and I really like the lamp-like eyes! You’ll be a good crew member.”

“It’s quite wild and splendid, but… Mr. Roe Deer seems to prefer the mask he wore before.”

“It must be due to familiarity and a sense of connection, right? That’s also a good quality for an entertainer.”

…

“Then how about making that an intermediate goal?”

“Let’s interact with the audience through imitation. Just like this Brown is doing now!”

If you can’t return to being human, imitate one.

“Let’s learn a new ability. Mr. Roe Deer, isn’t that your forte? Collecting wonderful abilities and items!”

Like buying items at a space shopping mall.

Like getting a tattoo at Moonlight Tattoo Shop.

Like exchanging clues at the Faceless Marketplace.

My appearance, desperately preparing for survival in ghost stories, so I could survive them.

…I remember.

Then, as if fireworks burst above the rabbit doll, a small golden effect appeared, drawing a single character before disappearing.

Current Goal: Master splendid disguise!

‘…’

“How is it?”

‘…Okay.’

I nodded.

Let’s find an appearance that can interact with people.

Even if it’s not real.

“Excellent, my friend!”

“Now, I hope you won’t forget me and we can go everywhere together.”

I put the fake Good Friend into the security team uniform pocket.

Just as I had before.

And I made a plan.

Just as I had before.

I turned the page of my dark exploration log in my memory and listed the methods…

And the moment the morning shift began that day.

As expected, the staff member in charge came to the isolation room for work.

But not from the Security Management Team.

“Haha… We will meet again soon!”

Kwak Jegang.

The researcher in charge arrived in a disheveled state. At least the little finger on one hand seemed properly treated, but it was blunt.

One joint was gone.

“It’s a strong point of this company that excuses like ‘the surveillance camera broke down, so there’s no choice but to visit, we found a countermeasure…’ are accepted. But that doll!”

Excitement flowed from his eyes, noticing the environmental incongruity.

“The doll on the desk is gone. Did you take it? Oh, perhaps it helps with mental stability? Or attachment formation…”

I exhaled smoke.

Question: Whereabouts of team members

▶ The one wearing the badger mask

▶ The head of security

“Ah, those two won’t be coming today! They have to go through a light, a very light interview process… Instead, I’m here, aren’t I! Hahaha!”

I did not react.

“Do you like those two? For what reason? You must have formed rapport with quite a few people… Oh, what about other field exploration team members? If you meet them privately…”

I don’t like them.

“…”

Kwak Jegang was still smiling, but his complexion turned pale.

I could tell he had suffered a certain degree of mental trauma…

I needed to let this researcher know.

That the roles of questioners had changed.

Question: Director Cheong’s work instructions related to 130666

“…Are you curious about what Director Cheong explained when assigning you to this role?”

…

“Yes, it’s highly likely that Director Cheong knows a fair bit about your identity! No, it’s even possible he himself initiated your summoning!”

Kwak Jegang wiped the cold sweat from his chin carelessly and laughed enthusiastically.

“However, Director Cheong isn’t the talkative type of superior, so unfortunately, for now, to summarize, it was about two phrases…”

• Educate on employee discipline.
• Find out effective usage methods.

“…And, ‘wait until further instructions arrive.’ That’s about it!”

…

“You’ve noticed. In short, it’s no different from training a dog! What food do they like, what punishment makes them listen… Yes. It’s about figuring that out. Hahaha!”

[Mr. Roe Deer, how about turning the fellow in front of you into a dog? It seems like an interesting practice step for mastering disguise!]

…No.

“Anyway… I think we’ve come to the same conclusion. Once your usage method is adequately established, Director Cheong will likely issue direct orders for darkness collection tasks!”

The fellow who almost started walking on all fours came to an interesting conclusion.

It matched mine.

“And perhaps there will be a hint there. If Director Cheong summoned you, it must have been for that task!”

A hint to my existence.

“Especially if a researcher like me sticks around and observes, yes, if you provide a slight excuse, you’ll be able to learn a lot…”

…Hmm.

Time reduction requested.

“Hmm? You want to shorten the time it takes to get there? To do that…”

I formed words with black smoke.

About how to get a response from Director Cheong.

To use:

130666 Isolation Failure Incident

“…Hmm? …Ah.”

I continued to explain with smoke.

Various examples.

Kwak Jegang scribbled the words he received from the smoke onto paper, and when it wasn’t enough, he even wrote them on the back of his hand. This was because he was also jotting down his own ideas.

And when I chose one of them, he grinned from ear to ear.

“This is truly a good method, isn’t it? Then let’s try to deceive them with this, hahaha!”

Add a false rule to the 130666 usage method.

Rule: Cannot tolerate boredom.

Dreamwalking Inc.’s archival database is updated.

Security Management Team Disturbance Record

130666 Isolation Failure Incident

A description of the emergency situation where Isolated Entity 130666 escaped from the isolation room located in Isolation Corridor L-13-6 around 1:26 AM on October 28, Year ■■.

Progress

130666 utilized the black smoke generated from its gas mask to disable the iron door lock, then exited into the isolation corridor and proceeded directly to the rental warehouse, entering the 17th-floor research area using the main building elevator.

The time taken for this process was 3 minutes and 13 seconds, during which no security process was activated.

Neutralization of 4 security team members in the isolation room and rental warehouse, evacuation of 15 research team members on the 17th floor, and neutralization of 6.

(In the case of the 6 who failed to evacuate on the 17th floor, they showed bizarre mental trauma after inhaling smoke and are suspected of contamination.)

Upon entering the 17th floor, 130666 proceeded directly to Research Team 1’s office and engaged in one-on-one interaction with the researcher in charge (Research Team 1 Manager Kwak Jegang).

Found in the isolation room after 6 minutes and 12 seconds.

Peculiarities

CCTV Error – There are no recorded logs of the incident due to CCTV errors in the isolation room and Research Team 1’s office. It is suspected whether this is a special situation caused by 130666’s smoke.

Survival of Researcher in Charge – Suffered injuries including minimal loss of peripheral limbs, contusions on the chest, and hairline fractures on the 5th and 6th ribs, but life is not in danger. Recovery potion prescribed.

Passive Statement of Assistant in Charge – At the time of the incident, 130666’s control manager and assistant were present at the scene, but in interviews after the incident, they showed somewhat insufficient willingness to actively state 130666’s dangerousness.

It is necessary to confirm whether 130666 has mental interference abilities related to fascination.

However, it was stated that they did not possess control equipment as it was after normal working hours.

(Disciplinary action was discussed for dereliction of duty but was postponed as there were no violations of company rules.

To prevent similar situations in the future, the working hours for control duties of the relevant security team members will be more broadly re-adjusted.)

Result

Isolation and Security Reinforcement – Reinforcement of isolation room security, allocation of additional training time via video, preparation of disciplinary room for 130666, increase in patrol personnel in isolation corridors.

Permission granted for various experiments and observations of 130666’s abilities to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

And a few days later.

A page is added.

Additional Experiment Results

New Task Assignment for 130666 – After several experiments on 130666, the researcher in charge proved that the cause of the entity’s escape was boredom.

He stated that even during the isolation failure incident, he had promised to ‘assign more interesting tasks than now.’

It was further speculated that the security work in Basement 13 of the Annex during the initial six months had displeased 130666.

Therefore, he strongly insisted on assigning ‘more interesting tasks’ to appease the entity.

Thus.

With permission from Director Cheong ■■ of the Development Department, a special task was assigned.

Collection of anomalous phenomena occurring at a certain public broadcasting station. The popular nickname for this ghost story is ‘The Man in the Screen’.

Refer to Record #C16548 for detailed information.

And.

Additional Measures

By the authority of the researcher in charge, considering the nature of the task, new assistant positions, ‘Transport Officer,’ are temporarily assigned.

Deputy Manager Lee Seonghae (Field Exploration Team B-Team)

Team Leader Kang Yihak (Field Exploration Team I-Team)

The dolphin-masked moralist and the pony-masked materialist appear.