Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 84

They decided to use the Blood Bath method again.

 

– If I rejuvenate a bit more, it’ll be much easier to get along with Mr. Roe Deer!

 

They accepted Braun’s suggestion.

 

The stuffed doll could get a bit bigger… well, one more time should be fine. It’s still a regular keychain doll size.

 

However, Braun frowned at the idea of using my blood as bath salts.

 

– Good heavens! I politely decline. Seriously, there’s plenty of sapient bodily fluids around, why does my friend keep trying to use their own blood?

 

It seemed that what I did last time to scare them was still having an effect.

 

‘Well, I didn’t plan on spilling that much this time….’

 

I felt a little bad for being a bit too harsh.

 

Anyway, they agreed that I should find blood in a different way.

 

– Good, good…. Let’s look for a suitable bath salt, friend!

 

Yes.

 

Having something else to distract me from the middle of office politics was a relief….

 

‘It’s already proving useful.’

 

I sighed and went to work.

 

For the record, Baek Saheon didn’t even come into the company housing yesterday. I’ll see how long he can hold out.

 

Anyway, I don’t know how long Director Cheong will wait, so I need to make a decision quickly….

 

“Soleum!”

 

What?

 

As I was waiting for the elevator, I turned my head and saw my colleague, wearing a buffalo mask, entering.

 

‘Jang Heoun!’

 

A coworker I had a short and eventful encounter with at the Sekwang Industrial High School last night.

 

“You’re safe!”

 

“Yes. It seems Heoun also escaped safely.”

 

“Yes, yes! Thank you. I made it through safely…”

 

Yesterday, I was too shocked by the continuous stream of events to even think about anyone else’s well-being, but it was nice to see him like this.

 

Moreover, Jang Heoun seemed to have a surprisingly good impression of the agent, and when the topic came up, he answered with a bright face.

 

“That person was better than I expected. They didn’t use me as bait… and at the end, I got an explanation about the Management Bureau.”

 

Aren’t your standards too low….

 

Anyway, that person seemed to have a lot of regrets about Daydream Corporation, so I wondered if accompanying a decent employee had caused a change of heart.

 

Anyway, there were no major problems, so Jang Heoun’s complexion looked fine.

 

‘Maybe I can sell more ghost story food next time.’

 

My hopes for supplemental income increased slightly.

 

“And… it seemed like that agent kept worrying about Soleum until the end. By the way, I didn’t tell them about the name tag I gave you!”

 

Ah, the name tag!

 

“I used the name tag you gave me well. Thank you.”

 

Actually, even after borrowing the uniform, there were ways to get a name tag, but it’s true that I used it quickly thanks to them.

 

“It must have been a precious name tag for Heo-un, but I appreciate you giving it to me out of concern for me.”

 

“Ah, no… it was nothing. Compared to what you did for me.”

 

“…?”

 

Me?

 

At that moment, Jang Heoun clenched his fist and said with a happy expression.

 

“Soleum. I… got transferred to the general team…!”

 

“…!”

 

“They actually changed it after I endured it for 3 months. Really, really… Thank you. I think I was able to endure thanks to you!”

 

Oh!

 

There were so many incidents and accidents during the regular transfer season that I couldn’t check other people’s teams, but this was excellent news.

 

I asked him happily.

 

“Congratulations! Which team are you on?”

 

“I was assigned to Team F…!”

 

“…….”

 

Whoa.

 

“You’re on the same team as… Baek Saheon.”

 

“Yes! They’re kind.”

 

“…….”

 

This person seems to have lowered their standards for good people after going through the Cleanup Team….

 

‘No wonder they were together in the last ghost story.’

 

They weren’t just meeting, they were on the same team.

 

I said with a smile.

 

“What a coincidence. I share company housing with him. …Let’s get together for dinner sometime.”

 

“Ah, thank… yes!”

 

And at this point, another unexpected encounter occurred in front of the elevator.

 

“Good morning, Section Chief Lee Jaheon!”

 

“Yes. Good morning.”

 

I ran into Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was on his way to work.

 

Section Chief Lee Jaheon answered Jang Heoun, who bowed to him, and then got straight to the point.

 

It meant he was going to talk to me.

 

“Soleum, you have a call.”

Again??

“Do I need to go to the office… or can I just go directly?”

“Yes.”

Feeling like I’m developing a phobia of calls, I ended up pressing the button for the 25th floor instead of the 13th floor as Lee Jaheon said.

‘Escaped the field investigation team floor again….’

Please let it be nothing serious.

“Have a good day, Soleum!”

“Yes. You too, Heoun.”

After seeing Jang Heoun off, I got off on the 25th floor with Section Chief Lee Jaheon.

Ding.

“Follow me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I walked behind the section chief.

‘It seems further than I thought.’

After turning several corners in the hallway, instead of a conference room, a door appeared.

There, unexpectedly, was a nameplate made of wood, in warm colors….

Fox Counseling Room

“…….”

Wait.

“Section Chief, here…….”

Thump.

At that moment.

I was pinned to the wall by Section Chief Lee Jaheon.

…?!

“Kim Soleum. Answer the following questions immediately and without hesitation.”

– Oh dear! Could this be a situation where my help is needed, friend?

‘No, wait a minute…!’

The atmosphere is unusual.

I saw a lizard.

Its red vertical pupils were staring at me intently.

“Do you remember the conversation we had yesterday?”

I swallowed.

“…Yes.”

“What was the last topic of our conversation?”

“Team D could become the elite team,”

“That’s not the last topic. Answer again.”

What?

“It was the last topic!”

“No. We had a conversation on a different topic afterwards.”

No!

Well, we did. But it was just small talk…

“Don’t hesitate.”

“…!”

“Answer.”

Damn it!

“I don’t remember clearly!”

“…….”

“It was just small talk… wasn’t it small talk?”

Heavy silence and pressure followed.

And….

Swish.

“I see.”

Section Chief Lee Jaheon released me from the wall.

I don’t know what it is, but at least that’s good….

“Kim Soleum.”

“Yes.”

“You are contaminated.”

“…….”

What?

But, that’s….

“…Well, when you’re doing investigations, it’s somewhat…”

But I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Thwack.

Lee Jaheon flung open the counseling room door, grabbed my collar, and threw me inside.

“…!”

“You can’t leave until the counseling is over. I’ll be waiting outside.”

Bang.

And the door closed.

“…….”

No.

No!!

– How dare you be so rude to my friend!!

Now, wait a minute.

Don’t you do that too, just calm down….

‘It’s okay. I think there’s some misunderstanding.’

I held back a sigh and raised my head.

Although I don’t like it….

‘I’ll just get some counseling. It’s good for my mental health.’

I shouldn’t think too much about the side effects, the probability is extremely low, isn’t it?

– Hmm…. If that’s what Roe Deer thinks!

Whew.

It’s decided.

I dragged my feet, feeling reluctant….

The first thing I saw was a space that looked like a changing room.

And a flowery sign is attached to the locker.

Welcome, Client!

Please change into a gown^^

And green gowns with full patterns were lined up in various sizes.

Health checkup look…?

– If clothing only pursued comfort, we would have to go around naked.

– In that sense, this is worse than nothing. It has no use other than covering the body.

Got it.

‘I have to wear it though.’

Outside, a lizard that repels rumors was guarding. I had to get counseling and leave.

I finished changing clothes.

‘That curtain seems to lead to the counseling space.’

And just as I was about to lift the curtain, which seemed to be the exit of the changing room.

There’s a sign.

This area is for clients only^^

Friends, family, and guardians stop here!

‘Oh.’

Um… no matter how much welfare there is, it’s a rumor, so it’s better not to break the rules.

“Braun, can you wait a bit?”

– Oh, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t worried, but in this case, I should naturally protect Mr. Roe Deer’s privacy!

Okay.

I carefully placed Braun on the table around the vase in the locker room and pulled back the curtain.

Jingle…

Then, sunlight poured down on my head.

“…!”

A small, cozy space appeared before my eyes.

A warm midday room that calmed even my heart.

———————=

Darkness Exploration Record / Ghost Story

[Fox Counseling Room]

: The ghost story appearing in <Darkness Exploration Record>, Daydream Co.’s identification code is Qterw-E-925.

A counseling space consisting of a window letting in warm sunlight, a fluffy pastel-toned sofa, and a small silver bell-shaped doorbell with a clear sound.

One of Daydream Co.’s E-level employee benefits, it has some effect on mental stabilization and contamination recovery.

Refer to the relevant document for the full text of the Fox Counseling Room usage record.

———————=

Certainly, the room has a nice atmosphere… that’s true.

– I hope it will be a useful counseling session, friend!

I really hope so.

After carefully closing the curtains again, I walked into the room.

The guide message appeared again.

Sit comfortably on the sofa

and enjoy the view!

I sat on the sofa as instructed.

And folded my arms.

Well, the atmosphere is nice…

‘I already know what’s going to happen.’

It’s amazing. It helps me regain my lost motivation and remember things I had forgotten…

– Interview after counseling with Lee Jeongeun (Supervisor)

Someone appears outside the window and provides counseling.

What appears is customized for each person.

Anyway, there’s a high probability that it will show a person or object related to my trauma and present a situation where it is resolved well.

The cliché of the usage record of this ‘Fox Counseling Room’ ghost story was that those deeply immersed ultimately gained a kind of emotional healing effect, leaving either sobbing or with a relaxed expression.

‘Knowing all this, will it really be effective?’

Thinking about it now, I’m skeptical.

I folded my arms and looked at the huge window showing a beautiful outdoor garden full of sunshine…

And at that moment.

Someone appeared next to the garden.

“…!!”

It was…

Me.

A tired and dark-looking ‘me’ stood in the sun-drenched outdoor garden, looking back at me in the room.

And waved.

“…!”

Unknowingly, I raised my hand… and lowered it.

‘What is this?’

It’s not like a doppelganger.

A feeling of unease and revulsion arose.

But the ‘Kim Soleum’ standing in the outdoor garden didn’t stop there. After looking around, she picked up a suitable chair, brought it right in front of the window, and sat down.

Then she smiled brightly and looked at me.

“…….”

‘Should I just get up?’

Although the door only opens after an hour, it might be possible to wait in front of the door…

Just as I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

“Kim Soleum teacher.”

“…!!”

“Thank you very much for coming for counseling today. I’m your counselor.”

Something that looked like my reflection outside the window started to talk.

“You seem very tired today. How have you slept lately? How much do you sleep?”

I gritted my teeth.

“……I sleep fairly well.”

“I see… Could you tell me the specific number? More than 5 hours?”

“……Sometimes.”

“I see. Is it possibly related to the stress of work that you sometimes sleep for short periods?”

Wow!

‘This is crazy.’

I barely managed to reply.

“I don’t want to answer. I feel nothing but disgust having you say that in my appearance.”

“Why do you feel disgusted, teacher Kim Soleum?”

“Wouldn’t a person naturally feel threatened by their existence when seeing someone exactly like themselves?”

“However… I am an intellectual being with clear differences from teacher Kim Soleum.”

What?

“Would you like to find out? What are the differences?”

I unconsciously scanned the other person.

Eyes, nose, mouth, body, clothes.

“……They’re exactly the same.”

“Then shall we look in a mirror to compare better?”

Dr-r-r-r.

Suddenly, the bookshelf next to the sofa where I was sitting moved, and a full-length mirror came out from inside.

Unconsciously, I looked into it.

A tired office worker.

“…….”

“Shall we compare?”

Whether I compare or not, it’s completely the same…….

“…….”

“How is it?”

“……I’m,”

I looked into the mirror.

“You… you don’t look so well…”

A feeling… or not?

“I see.”

But the me outside the window nods.

“Why is there such a difference?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then let’s observe a little more. Something else might become visible.”

I looked back and forth between the me outside the window and the me in the mirror.

Eyes, nose, mouth, shoulders, arms…

Wrist.

“Tattoo.”

I muttered, mesmerized.

“You don’t have that tattoo.”

The tattoo I kept from the theme park was there.

But…

: 恩主 :

This one wasn’t.

The tattoo that served as my inventory.

“What kind of tattoo? Ah, that one!”

“Yes.”

“There must be a reason for getting this kind of tattoo. What effect did it have?”

“I could store items in it.”

“I see. Do you still have various items in it?”

“Yes.”

“Could you show me? Ah, if you’re uncomfortable showing me, you can just put them down where I can’t see them.”

“…Yes.”

I took the items out of the tattoo.

Items, equipment, coins…

Things I already knew.

“I’ve taken everything out.”

I don’t know why I was made to do this.

What’s different between me and me outside the window?

“Teacher Kim Soleum.”

“Yes?”

“I think there’s still something left in the tattoo.”

Quiet!

“Could you lend me your hand?”

I don’t want to know…

“No. You want to know, and you can.”

“….”

I got up from the sofa.

And approached right in front of the window…

Extended my hand.

“You’ve worked hard.”

The me outside the window took my hand.

And.

Quickly put their hand into my tattoo.