Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 86

I’d indirectly heard about Director Ho several times already.

Mainly through office politics.

He’s on the same side as Team A’s elite team, and Lee Byeongjin, who’s in charge of manual reviews.

– That team leader was originally close to Team A, you know. That ‘same side’ thing.

– Director Ho is keeping an eye on Supervisor Kim.

– He’s the best superior in this company. Don’t miss this opportunity.

I’d been repeatedly encouraged to join their side, Director Ho’s side…

But I never expected the person himself to show up so unexpectedly, like a staff member from the next office, in Team D’s office!

“…!”

Instinctively, I stood up and bowed.

“Good day, Director Ho.”

“Ah. You recognized me right away…”

Just now, he called Director Cheong without honorifics, and now he’s pretending to be embarrassed?!

‘He barged in assuming he knew about the interesting proposal from Director Cheong…’

…Wait.

‘Just now…didn’t Director Ho say he also had a proposal?’

A proposal?

I looked at the young man who still had a kind face.

He spoke in a kind tone.

“Sorry. I made you nervous by suddenly bringing up a scary topic.”

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t greet you properly…”

“Oh! I’m awkward with formalities and not really interested in them. Please speak comfortably.”

Right. That’ll happen.

‘He’s probably not very conscientious.’

Or…maybe he’s trying to create tension.

Anyway, I nodded and took a deep breath, as if relaxing slightly.

‘That’s probably the reaction he wanted.’

Sure enough, Director Ho continued speaking with a gentle expression.

Though the content didn’t sound very gentle.

“Let me take a guess? I think Director Cheong made you a proposal related to the elite team. Um, something like forming a new elite team.”

“…….”

Wow, really.

Should I just spill everything?

But not spilling everything will also cause problems, which is driving me crazy.

I quickly thought.

“That’s true…Ah! I’m sorry. I’m flustered…I’ll guide you to a more comfortable place first.”

And as if just realizing it, I guided Director Ho to the guest sofa in Team D’s office, breaking the flow.

– Buying time to handle a difficult guest. Excellent, Roe Deer! That was very natural!

Is this some kind of certification from the urban legend quiz show host who incinerates unnatural responses? My heart was pounding, but thankfully…

I quickly ran to the break room and prepared snacks, green tea, and coffee, then rushed back.

“Shall I prepare tea or coffee?”

“Ah, just have whatever Soleum likes and give me the rest…”

Doesn’t he know that an executive acting like this is even more vicious?!

I discreetly observed his reaction and offered green tea, then brought some coffee as if I preferred it myself, nodding slightly.

“Thank you for considering me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Director Ho took a sip of the remaining green tea, then made some obvious remarks about how warm and nice it was.

“Look, I’m absolutely not here to pressure Soleum…I just wanted you to be comfortable. I visited because I wanted to get to know you better and talk.”

I believe no professional would think it’s a good idea to be truly comfortable around an executive.

But I didn’t expect the next words.

“Since we don’t get to see the Field Exploration Team members for long periods…I often greet those I think I’ll see more often.”

“…….”

“Actually, the Field Exploration Team contributes greatly to our company, but within the Development Department, there are people who just sit at their desks, obsessed with efficiency, and treat the Field Exploration Team as short-term employees.”

Director Ho’s eyes flickered for a moment.

“You might think I’m an idealist, but I don’t like this situation. Right?”

“…….”

Isn’t that a warm statement?

It made me even more apprehensive.

‘…That’s not something an executive of this company should be saying.’

 

A high-ranking official could fix this problem themselves, so why are they asking a newbie, “Does this seem like a problem?” 

“It’s not like they’re checking for subversive ideology.”

But there’s a possibility they were sincere, so I did my best to adjust the nuance.

To make it seem like either way wouldn’t be a problem, and to make sure they wouldn’t feel resentment towards them.

“…Still, not everyone is forced to work here, right? At least they have the freedom to quit, and I hear they pay severance properly.”

“Yes. As Soleum said, that’s at least fortunate.”

Director Ho smiled kindly.

“Compared to a group that persecutes ordinary citizens as criminals without trial and sacrifices them to the darkness, we have some level of autonomy.”

“…….”

This person really hates the Disaster Management Agency….

‘Don’t let them find out about my involvement.’

My probationary officer badge was still in my possession. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

I pretended to drink my coffee, hiding the expression on my face.

“People who want to live like human beings, even for a single day, would probably refuse.”

“Right? I get along well with Soleum.”

That’s a misconception.

But please maintain that misconception for a long time….

Before a more explosive topic could come up, I desperately changed the subject.

“Thank you. Um, Director, about that offer you were going to make…”

“Ah, right! I should talk about that.”

Director Ho laughed brightly.

“Actually, I’m forming a project team, and I’m looking for staff members to join.”

“…!”

“I’d like to invite Soleum to this project team.”

What?

The words from a conversation with Manager Lee Byeong-jin suddenly came to mind.

– There are rumors that the Director is operating a top-secret project team… You might get transferred there.

‘So that was true.’

But even more unbelievable words followed.

“To be precise, as a team leader candidate.”

“…….”

Is this Director crazy?

“I’m considering three people, and honestly, if Soleum had only two years of experience, you’d be the top candidate… well, just consider yourself one of the candidates for now.”

I felt like I was going insane.

– Hoo, this seems to offer more power than the last one. Let’s hear the conditions, friend!

No, negotiating conditions is only something you do when you’re at least on equal footing, and right now… !

‘…I think I’m screwed?’

Isn’t this the same situation as Paris receiving the golden apple?

Choosing one means a very high probability of being punished by the other superiors.

This is worse than just navigating the power dynamics.

‘They’re burning any bridge I could use to switch sides.’

What should I do?

Just maintaining outward composure was worthy of self-praise.

‘Refusing both is best….’

“Ah, I was hasty. I should have mentioned the compensation first.”

“…Compensation?”

“Project performance-based bonuses.”

Director Ho smiled slyly.

“If this project is successful, each team member will receive a wish fulfillment.”

“…!!”

“One for everyone. No exceptions.”

My goodness.

“And the team leader will receive an additional special benefit… It would be better to discuss this in detail after Soleum joins the team.”

“…….”

“Ah, I enjoyed the green tea.”

Director Ho stood up from the sofa, placed the mug in the sink, and headed for the office exit.

“Think it over comfortably for a few days and contact me. However, it would be better if it’s not more than a week.”

Director Ho bowed slightly, as if giving friendly advice.

“Director Cheong is impatient.”

“…….”

“If you need someone to talk to while working, feel free to drop by my office anytime. Well, then!”

That night.

Despite being significantly recovered from the contamination and having a clear mind, I returned home in a terribly anxious state….

‘Déjà vu.’

“Whew.”

I lay down on the bed.

‘This is… I think I’ve gotten caught in the power struggle among the Development Department executives.’

It’s true that I seemed quite useful and unconventional, but this intense situation is probably because the two directors are aware of each other.

The proposal was outrageous.

……Then.

‘It’s better to go with someone who treats me well.’

That way, at least I can avoid becoming a discarded pawn.

‘The problem is that I don’t have any personal information about the directors.’

`<Darkness Exploration Records>` is written primarily from the perspective of the employees who create the exploration records.

In other words, it features the names and profiles of employees, but it doesn’t bother to include much personal information about the individual executives who make decisions from above.

‘Either way, it’s clear that neither of them are ordinary people, which makes things even more frustrating.’

For one, Director Cheong was already suspicious because the Lizard Foreman referred to him as an “existence.” Director Ho was also strange, from his appearance and manner of speaking.

He was too young for an executive position, and he spoke with the overly kind tone of a social worker.

‘…I have some guesses based on their last names and appearances….’

At this point, it was all speculation.

‘This is difficult.’

I’m already struggling to get the ghost stories right, and now I have to worry about this too. It feels unreal….

In any case, after much deliberation, I decided to put this problem aside for now.

……Because there were other, more pressing issues.

…….

“Braun.”

– You called for me, friend!

Whew.

“About bathing in the Youthful Bath, is there any way we can replace it with something else?”

A short silence followed.

-…You’ve changed your mind in just one day, Mr. Roe Deer! Breaking promises isn’t a good habit.

“…….”

– But I’m your kind friend, so it’s okay, friend!

“I’m sorry.”

I said immediately.

“I know I shouldn’t change my words. I think I made a mistake because I wasn’t in my right state of mind when I made the promise.”

– That’s strange, Mr. Roe Deer. It was just last night! This host clearly remembers that you didn’t have any unusual circumstances that would make an interview difficult, such as extreme fatigue, panic, or dizziness.

The ‘kind friend’ maintained an unnervingly cheerful tone.

– Oh, I’m curious about the criteria you used to say you weren’t ‘in your right state of mind’….

“…….”

I’ve really been sweating bullets today.

I really couldn’t feel how scary this was….

I tried to avoid looking at the stuffed doll and continued calmly.

“…But you knew that my mind was being contaminated by the educational manual, right? The documents I took from that kindergarten were still on my tattoo.”

I couldn’t imagine how he wouldn’t know.

Braun even pointed it out to me last time in the Blood Bath.

– Mr. Roe Deer, your bath salts are blended.

That I’m being consumed by ghost stories.

“But you didn’t call it ‘contamination’…you thought of it as just a change.”

– Correct, Mr. Roe Deer!

Ugh….

‘So that’s how it was….’

I suppressed the goosebumps that rose with every “correct” and barely managed to answer.

“But I think it’s contamination, and I don’t want to be contaminated.”

I raised my hand into the air.

My eye caught the tattoo on my wrist, perfectly blank inside.

“I’m more comfortable and happy the way I am now.”

-…….

“I don’t like my judgment suddenly flipping like a coin either.”

But I added something that he could relate to at the end.

“At the very least, I definitely don’t want to become a kindergarten teacher like that old-fashioned Hangman.”

– That’s… hmm. A truly irrefutable statement.

Braun seemed somewhat shocked.

– That’s right. My goodness, Mr. Roe Deer being affiliated with that old-fashioned kindergarten. That absolutely won’t do, what a loss that would be!

– I admit it. I wasn’t very much like a kind friend…

– Yes, let’s try getting closer through some other change!

“…….”

So.

“You’re saying that because I’ll be easier to deal with if I’m contaminated, you’ll let me be contaminated?”

– Haha, there’s no need to ask so strangely. It’s a theory you’ve proven yourself over the past few weeks, Mr. Roe Deer!

My actions from the past few weeks instinctively flashed before my eyes.

My appearance as I was consumed by contamination, carelessly chattering and relying on the ghost story residents without any hesitation or worry.

– It’s only natural, really. Those who are similar tend to become friends, don’t they?

Goodness.

No, I expected this much.

I took a deep breath.

Let’s talk.

“No.”

– No?

“Yeah. A friend isn’t someone who shares the same values as me.”

I carefully chose my words.

“And just feeling comfortable around each other isn’t enough to be friends either.”

This was… somewhat sincere.

“Friends try to understand each other’s differences, and even if it doesn’t work out well, they still try to help each other. …Through conversation.”

-….

“And again, I don’t want to be contaminated.”

Without turning my head, I gently placed my hand on the desk where a stuffed doll was sitting.

“If you can’t understand this, at least give me a heads-up before doing something I don’t want. You have to give me a chance to talk to you.”

– Hmm.

A sound of fingers tapping on plastic, as if in thought, echoed from the desk where the stuffed doll was placed….

And,

– Understood, Roe Deer.

– Logical, rational, and even touches my heart. Then there’s no reason not to agree! You are my friend, after all.

Whew.

“Thank you.”

…It seems to have ended well.

I breathed a sigh of relief and finally turned my head to look at the other person.

The good friend I summoned.

A slightly scary, yet reliable stuffed doll.

I carefully lifted it.

“Let’s do our best from now on.”

This was also sincere.

Afterward, I proceeded with one of the things I had decided to do when I was contaminated.

That is, aroma meridian therapy.

“I’ll do it while looking at the shadow, so tell me if anything seems strange.”

– Of course, friend!

Honestly, since I’m not a professional and I did it while only looking at the silhouette, it probably wasn’t very satisfying, but Braun was quite pleased.

– Not everyone needs to be a massage expert! It’s enough.

Even while giving a very indirect and kind three-star rating.

This is also what he said.

-But I do miss taking a bath…. To always be with my friend, no matter the situation, I need to rejuvenate a bit!

“That’s… let’s talk more about that later.”

…It’s difficult.

It was a very difficult thing.

The relationship with the ‘good friend’, a resident of the ghost story.

It’s not just scary and nerve-wracking, and it’s not just blindly trustworthy and good.

‘Finding a balance between the two would be a normal way of thinking.’

Let’s be careful not to lose it.

I listened quietly as Braun, feeling good after the aroma meridian therapy, chattered away.

-Come to think of it, I’m curious again. Which of the two century-making proposals Roe Deer received at work will you accept!

-Still thinking about it? Advice from a capable industry professional like me is as precious as gold… but I’ll offer my services at a low price for a friend!

Hmm, that is…

“Actually, I’ve almost decided.”

– Oh!

“I’ll just ask one more question tomorrow, and then I’ll go see them.”

– And if you could tell this legendary host about that decisive question?!

I rested my head on the pillow and laughed.

“It will be revealed tomorrow.”

-…!!

– I’m quite moved, Roe Deer….

Thus, another eventful day ended.

And the next day.

I really did ask the ‘decisive question’, and then I went to the office of one of the two directors.