Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 61

Suddenly, I had 500ml of my blood extracted to make bath salts, which were then appraised by Braun.

‘…Unique?’

I was taken aback.

‘I almost inspected the bathtub.’

I held my head steady and asked.

“What do you mean by unique?”

-It’s literally that! Well, aren’t there different types of bath salts? Salt, oil, bubbles… Roe Deer’s is quite different from that of ginseng. There are common points, too.

That,

Anyway, that’s a ghost story ginseng, and I’m a human….

‘Wouldn’t they naturally be different?’

– They are different. But why do Roe Deer’s have common points with that ginseng?

“…!”

– Um…Ah, I understand the reason.

Braun, as if tasting wine, licked their lips and said.

– Roe Deer. Your bath salts are blended.

Blending.

Literally, a mixture.

Mainly in coffee or cocktails, it means combining various ingredients to create a new flavor…

– That’s right. Some ingredients similar to ginseng are mixed in…

“…….”

Is this about ghost story contamination?

I thought of the security guard.

That appearance of something like a distorted wolf tearing apart its human form.

Is that phenomenon of being contaminated and encroached upon by supernatural phenomena happening to me too?

– Contamination! That’s too extreme and negative an expression. Isn’t life originally a process of change? Influencing each other, that’s the fun of it!

Damn it.

I reflexively looked at my body. The most noticeable effect of the ‘supernatural phenomenon’ is…

“Do you think that ‘effect’ is the cause of the tattoo?”

– Hmm. It’s quite difficult to guess the origin of something already mixed…

– Some connoisseur says they can identify the farm just by tasting wine, but I’m not that kind of pretentious socialite!

“…….”

– Anyway, Roe Deer won’t be meeting a new self next week, so there’s nothing to fear!

That’s theoretically correct.

‘Since I live and work here anyway, I can’t avoid being somewhat contaminated by ghost stories.’

Panicking was pointless.

Originally, the stronger one’s innate supernatural abilities become, and the more numerous they are, the stronger the encroaching power.

One has to maintain a balance between the two.

But I don’t think I have enough ability yet to worry about that balance.

‘…I’ll have to manage this from now on.’

When I became the supervisor, among the facilities that were opened, there was a place that manages this.

I should visit once after safely getting over this ghost story.

– Um. There seems to be something else quite unique mixed in…Ah, it’s all melted.

Braun, as if trying to further appraise the bath salts, inhaled the scent and let out a long, satisfied sigh.

– I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I’m glad you enjoyed it at least.

In the bathtub, neon lights flickered several times, like changing TV channels.

Then, the shadows of the stuffed doll, lying comfortably against the bathtub wall, crossed each other energetically.

– Shall we go now?

I walked over and picked up Braun.

Again, the stuffed doll looked subtly more luxurious, but the size was unchanged.

Still, Braun’s voice sounded somehow clearer and more intelligent.

I covered the doll with a towel, hiding it from view, and asked.

“Are you overflowing with energy?”

– More than ever!

– Mmm, it feels like returning to the awakened state of my busy days…

It seemed there wasn’t a dramatic change like when I used the contaminated ginseng, but it seemed to have ‘rejuvenated’.

And the moment I lifted the towel covering Braun, I saw something I hadn’t noticed before.

‘…A tag?’

A piece of cloth, like a tag that had been cut off, was visible on the stuffed doll’s nape.

‘Was there a whole tag in this place originally?’

It seemed to have recovered a part that was cut off during the rejuvenation process.

‘This feels strange.’

Let’s remember this.

– Ah, comfortable.

“That’s good.”

After removing the water from the stuffed doll, I carefully placed it on the towel on the usual table.

The preparations are complete.

“I have a request.”

– Ah, I had a rough idea!

– How could I refuse after a friend even helped me bathe?! Perhaps it’s a request to lend my mask to others?

“Right.”

Rejuvenated Braun would be able to use more powerful abilities.

– Good. How many?

“Two.”

Two days later.

I went to work at a location other than the company, as instructed in the received official document. It was a privately owned kindergarten building that had already been closed, but the inside was already occupied by company people.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Roe Deer, you’re early!”

As I stood near the entrance of the kindergarten, which hadn’t been properly cleaned, my team members soon arrived.

“Please, let those bastards die instead of us.”

“Please… please…”

“…….”

Thank you for telling me in a small voice.

But actually, even if I had heard it, it wouldn’t have mattered much, because everyone had the same expression.

“Roe Deer, Roe Deer! See that person who brought the rabbit’s foot? That’s an item that supposedly improves luck.”

“Does it really improve luck?”

“Are you kidding? In the last expedition, a guy wearing a similar item got caught and went straight to the afterlife.”

“…….”

“The team leader is right. Here, those kinds of items are all invalid… they say it’s ‘fairly’ selected.”

I looked at the supervisor who was awkwardly smiling.

His face was pale, as if he was nervous despite being prepared.

“Supervisor.”

“Yes?”

“If I try something like that too, would the company not have a problem with it?”

“Ah, you mean devising countermeasures to avoid becoming a sacrifice?”

“Um, something like that.”

The supervisor patted my back, smiling.

“Oh, Roe Deer, of course! Everyone does it!”

“I bet my salary that everyone here tried everything they could for three days to save only themselves.”

Wow, you’re passionate, Team Leader….

Assistant Manager Eun Haje chuckled.

“How else would we know it doesn’t work? Even guys who’ve tried everything have become sacrifices.”

“…….”

“Why? Are you trying to do something too, Roe Deer?”

“Yes.”

After hesitating, I took Braun out of my pocket.

“Ah, the key ring you carry around.”

“It’s my lucky charm, would it be alright if I lent its power to the two of you? Secretly.”

Both of them smiled with slightly deflated expressions and nodded.

“Well… thanks.”

“I hope you have good luck, really!”

Okay.

‘I’ve taken care of things beforehand so there won’t be any gossip.’

“Phew.”

-Alright, let’s get ready.

“Entering soon.”

Like the others, I looked at the single old grandfather clock hanging in the entrance hall.

Tick-tock.

The clock hand passes 8:59:56 am.

– You are now entering the studio.

– Don’t be nervous even if the camera is visible, think of it as starlight. It will be very comfortable.

Tick-tock.

57 seconds.

My heart was strangely calm.

Conviction about my identity.

– You are wearing a mask! Oh, good.

– That mask is yours from now on.

Tick-tock.

58 seconds.

I raised my head.

My horns itched. It has the texture of wood, but only I know it’s not wood, it’s ■■….

– There are other animal friends! Two of them.

Tick-tock.

59 seconds.

Turning my head, I saw a badger and a peregrine falcon. They are observing the humans around them.

And….

– It seems no one here is stronger than you.

I know.

I blinked. My temperature-sensing vision confirmed the surrounding ectothermic animals.

The body temperatures of humans heated up with tension.

And….

Tick-tock.

9:00.

The grandfather clock rang loudly.

Ding……!!

“…!”

I inhaled.

The kindergarten building, which felt like a lung, had become a clean space with the smell of a new building.

Like a new building just before it opens.

And I was standing in a room with toys neatly arranged, with the peregrine falcon… no, Assistant Manager Eun Haje.

…I had entered the urban legend.

“…….”

Slowly, I looked down at my neck.

Clean.

“Ha.”

I relaxed my body.

‘I avoided it.’

The strange thickness of my entire body, like wearing a costume, and the feel of the horns, slowly disappear.

The strange conviction of my identity as well.

– Well, your short roles are over here.

Thank you.

‘So this is the mask.’

It was such a strange feeling that I was relieved it was short and over. Perhaps because three people were designated and it was used so precisely, right up to the limit, Braun’s voice lacked strength. It was amazing that it held on for those few seconds.

‘You did well.’

I tried to gently pat Braun in my pocket…

– Now… just a moment. Oh dear, what is this?

“…?”

Why is this guy panicking?

I immediately took Braun out of my pocket. Then I saw something unprecedented hanging from the neck of the stuffed doll.

…A black rope hologram. A victim’s mark.

“…?!”

Has Braun won the lottery of victims?

‘A ghost story resident?’

I was on the verge of insane confusion, unsure if the possibility was completely off or if it was a worrying situation.

Braun began to speak.

– What? Participate in a demonstration lesson? What in the world… I’m in the profession of interviewing teachers, not teaching children! Good heavens!

– Show business, good heavens! You’re all too boring. You’re stuck in a rut, inflexible, and lack any appeal to the public.

– I’m quitting.

And he flicked his cotton ball hand. Then… surprisingly, the rope disappeared from the stuffed doll’s neck!

“…!!”

– To try and drag someone in using the rules despite them not being a suitable participant! What an unprofessional kindergarten!

“…….”

‘Being judged as not human… it worked.’

Though it feels a little different from my expectations.

Seeing that Braun got caught but the ghost story transferred the rope to a different person because the other party refused participation makes it certain.

“…….”

Wait.

‘Transferred?’

I hastily looked down at my neck. It was still clean.

‘Who did it go to?’

It’s fortunate it’s not me, but is this situation where a ghost story resident refuses to accept the baton and someone else dies randomly correct?

“Roe Deer ya.”

I turned my head to Assistant Manager Eun Haje in a panic.

“Assistant Manager-nim, I just…”

“…….”

“…….”

Before my eyes, as I turned my head.

“Don’t panic, take a deep breath, slowly.”

The Assistant Manager smiled wryly.

“I’m going to ask you a favor… refuse if you think you can’t do it.”

“Assistant Manager-nim.”

“I want to do it myself, but I can’t.”

The Assistant Manager chuckled and tapped her neck.

“It’s confirmed, you see.”

Her neck, with the black rope around it.

———————

Darkness Exploration Record / ghost story

[Hungry Hangman]

: A ghost story appearing in <Darkness Exploration Record>, Baekilmong Co., Ltd.’s identification code is Qterw-B-191.

It uses a word-guessing game as a motif, and as darkness, it does not allow any exceptions to the rules for the explorer.

The given role can never be escaped.

The resulting psychological conflict and fear are superb.

The sacrificial lamb designated as the hangman is sent to the gallows each time the other explorers guess correctly about them, and ultimately gets hanged.

There are no exceptions

———————

“I suppose it’s fortunate there’s still time to leave a last will and testament.”

No.

“Wait, wait a moment, please…”

“It’s alright.”

The Assistant Manager’s smile turned into a wry smile.

“Hey… I’m going to die anyway.”

“…!”

“It’s just a matter of whether you live or die, or whether we all die together.”

…That’s true.

If the correct word isn’t guessed by the end of the game, the participants are disposed of.

The hangman is also disposed of.

There are no exceptions.

Damn it.

“So, listen carefully. I have things set up to be automatically purchased from the Point Mall if I die from a work-related accident.”

“…….”

“Just make sure the team leader checks properly. That guy is quite clumsy, you know.”

At that moment, I realized.

This person has completely accepted the situation.

*Hiss-crackle*

“…!”

“Snap out of it. It’s starting now.”

In a corner of the playroom.

An old TV flickered to life with static.

[Hello, ■■ English Kindergarten teachers! Today, we’ll learn a fun game you can play with the students!]

[That’s… Hangman!]

The rope around the Assistant Manager’s neck moved violently.

“…!”

The rope, now taking shape, wraps around Assistant Manager’s limbs one by one, lifting him into the air.

[Today’s teacher, the new Eun Haje, will be conducting the game!]

And giant blanks appear on the TV.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Hangman! Let’s guess the word together!]

The hanging has begun.