Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 94

Someone who lost their smartphone in Death Alley and desperately tried to return to reality.

I’m definitely not the first.

<Dark Exploration Records> documented quite a variety of these people’s miserable and eerie fates.

For detailed records of employees and civilians who disappeared in Death Alley, see the document ‘■■■ 16 Escape Attempt’.

First… Let’s check the common assumptions.

1. Attempts to blindly follow others receiving directions from a smartphone are guaranteed to fail.

App directions couldn’t be shared. Ultimately, all attempts end with ‘the person you were following disappeared at some point’.

As these failure records accumulated, people gave up on this approach and started trying to find escape clues within Death Alley itself.

‘There were all sorts of methods.’

A shop that promised to open a back door out of the alley if you gave them a limb, a passerby who said to enter a manhole, a shoe store claiming that wearing their shoes would reveal the way out….

Thankfully, I can skip all these attempts and proceed directly to the conclusion.

All the aforementioned attempts failed.

…Yes.

A brutal fact deduced through induction.

2. The residents of Death Alley don’t know how to get back to reality.

It was all a trick.

It’s no different from asking a salaryman walking down the street in Seoul about how to get to a haunted place.

These residents simply lack the knowledge.

‘You must abandon any expectation or plan of escaping with help from someone here.’

In other words, I had to devise an escape method assuming there would be absolutely no new clues…….

Whew.

“Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

I opened my mouth, my jaw stiff.

“…I will brief you on what I’ve summarized so far.”

Next, assumption number 3.

“From now on, we cannot normally enter a new alley.”

Originally, app users would encounter a new alley every thousand steps and could choose whether or not to enter.

But since the pedometer app is finished, that rational method is also over.

‘We’re trapped in this alley.’

While walking, the scenery might change unexpectedly, but we couldn’t choose.

Basically, we, who are not residents of this haunted place, cannot find our way….

“Therefore, we must find an escape method within this alley.”

“Yes.”

And number 4.

“…Also, we must leave before dawn.”

Time limit.

It goes without saying that most of this company’s field investigation team are brave.

Some, if they happen to encounter an alley with minimal risk if they just follow the manual, would try various things to increase the solution grade.

This means there were some crazy people who tried such things.

‘The company’s research team has requested it before.’

For example… staying put without walking as much as the smartphone battery allows to increase the time spent in Death Alley.

The result?

Complete loss of contact.

…This ‘loss of contact’ is not the disappearance with sightings of a person transformed grotesquely like the laborers in the back alleys of the boutique.

Complete vanishing.

There’s even a vivid record of an employee who contacted the company using dedicated equipment trying to stay overnight at an inn in the alley, but lost contact.

Investigator: Yes, yes. I’ve entered a place called Goldfish Eye Inn, and to be safe, ■ The supervisor and I will take turns keeping watch and plan to sleep well.

Investigator: What did you pay for accommodation? Ah, well, it’s fine, we used it well after finding a person who’s going to die, so that’s how you should know it.

Investigator: Anyway, I’ll try to stay up all night. If this gets my dream level up, you’ll give me a lot of points, right?

Investigator: The sun is rising.

Investigator: The sun is burning the alley! It’s burning! Everything is burning and everyone is running away, but I can’t escape (communication cut off)

“…….”

I absolutely didn’t want to experience such a situation.

‘This is crazy.’

Walking through Death Alley, remembering all this while having lost my smartphone, the reality hit me hard.

The fact that I could become one of those records.

“Time constraints, spatial constraints, method constraints.”

I barely reported to Lee Jaheon in a calm tone.

“…Overall, I believe that whatever method I come up with, it will be a gamble, a risky venture.”

“Yes.”

Lee Jaheon remained calm.

“…Team Leader, aren’t you worried about the current situation?”

“Yes. Worry is of no use in solving problems.”

“…….”

Wow.

‘Even if I come up with some crazy method, as long as it’s convincing, they’ll probably participate without a word.’

Just like the colleagues I was with earlier.

“…….”

Wait.

‘Where did my colleagues go?’

Team Leader Lee Jaheon clearly told the colleagues entering the shop next door, ‘Come out in 10 minutes.’

If they really only came out after 10 minutes.

‘They were there… when the flash flood hit the alley?’

Perhaps they were swept away by the current….

“Supervisor!”

Ah.

Turning my head, Kang Yihak and Jang Heoun were running towards us, waving.

Judging by the paper bags with drawings of yarn in both hands, they had successfully completed their purchases.

“Wow~ You were here!”

Kang Yihak was beaming.

Whew.

“I see you did well shopping.”

“Oh, yes, yes. That shopkeeper must have been in a hurry for money. He was ready to sell even his own hat to match the price. It was a really good, yes, good shopping experience!”

Then, she glanced at Team Leader Lee Jaheon’s face, pretended to check her smartphone, and quickly spoke.

“Oh? No, it’s already been this long… I’m sorry. You told us to be back in 10 minutes, but I found something that might help with the investigation, and I lost track of time. I’m really sorry, Team Leader!”

“Yes.”

It looked highly intentional, but it was fortunate.

They probably didn’t notice the flood outside because they were so focused on bargaining.

However, Jang Heoun standing next to him looked slightly pale and glanced at his paper bag.

“Mr. Buffalo, is there a problem with the item you purchased?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that… Among the items sold, the yarn wasn’t just yarn… there was something like strange veins mixed in.”

“…….”

My goodness.

“Ah, of course I didn’t buy it. Thank you very much for the coins, Roe Deer. I will definitely return them in gold when I go out…!”

“Speaking of which, it seems like it’s about time you left! Oh, you kept counting your steps in this alley? Can you share the ‘remaining steps’ using the app?”

Lee Jaheon answered expressionlessly.

“No.”

“…Yes?”

Ugh!

‘This lizard!’

I kicked Lee Jaheon’s shin at an angle invisible to those in front.

“?”

And calmly said.

“I’m walking slowly because I have something to check. Have you both finished counting your steps?”

“Ah, we’re almost done. We kept going back and forth inside the shop looking at items.”

“…….”

“It’s a shame~ We could have seen two more alley options!”

Kang Yihak licked her lips.

On the smartphone screen that my colleague pulled out, the remaining steps are visible….

Don’t give up your body!

Remaining Steps: 1052

“Now that we’ve spent the borrowed money, I should probably check what the next alley is like before going back. Haha!”

“…Yes.”

Do you know?

There was exactly one way for someone who lost their smartphone to successfully escape this place.

A method that has been recorded multiple times and sufficiently verified as fact.

I almost had a similar opportunity just now.

It’s….

Stealing someone else’s smartphone.

Supervisor Park Dojeong had a physical altercation with a merchant during a transaction. In the process, he suffered three hairline fractures in his left ribs, and his smartphone was destroyed.

Successfully returned after seizing a civilian’s smartphone.

“…….”

I watched Kang Yihak’s smartphone swaying defenselessly in the air….

“Yes. Then please return first. Team Leader, it will be okay if these two go back, right?”

“Yes.”

I let the two colleagues go.

“Then we’ll go in. Thank you…!”

“Haha, see you at the office tomorrow. Let’s talk more about the spoils then~!”

The two walked down the alley and suddenly disappeared.

…They must have gone to the next alley.

Don’t do things you can’t handle.

‘This is an undeniable evil deed.’

I might not be able to use the silver heart if I’m not careful.

 

Even if that weren’t the case, if I later thought of a way I could have lived without having my smartphone taken away, my mental state wouldn’t be able to handle it….

‘Let’s not go that far unless it’s the absolute worst-case scenario.’

Because the moment I lose my principles, the contamination might accelerate.

I lightly touched the silver ring I was already wearing and calmed down.

– Oh, Mr. Roe Deer, you chose dignity. That’s a truly excellent act of restraint!

– Among the guests, there are some who wouldn’t hesitate to do all sorts of low-down things to get attention. That’s a sublime professional spirit, I suppose, but it’s participants like you who win the hearts of the public, isn’t it?

Yes, yes.

‘Thank you.’

I… really didn’t want to be compared to that side….

I tried not to think about the incident that happened on the Tuesday quiz show, calming myself down.

In this situation where I’m trapped in the urban legend, I didn’t want to recall the direct experience where I almost died because of it.

I simply diligently searched my memories, comparing things to see if there was anything that could be a clue in this alley….

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

Whizz.

Lee Jaheon grabbed the back of my neck, opened the door to the shop, and threw me inside.

Then he entered himself and lay down.

“There’s water.”

“…!”

I raised my head.

The place we were in was a self-service laundromat.

Beyond the glass door with cheap lettering printed on it, I could see the alley filling with water….

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

From a narrow gap between houses, not exactly an alley, black water seeped out, clumping together and forming a shape like a mascot animal.

A wriggling dragon character.

‘…It doesn’t seem like a real mascot.’

I didn’t feel the distinct intelligence I had seen before.

But that’s why it was all the more eerie and threatening.

‘It seems like conversation will be impossible.’

-Indeed. Trying to converse with a parade balloon is a foolish decision, my friend!

The water mass moved its limbs with a grotesque gait and began to wander the alley again.

Luckily, it didn’t look inside the laundromat.

‘Whew.’

On the damp floor where the water mass had passed, chocolate bars fell down in a shower.

They seemed to be goods that had been swept away by the torrent and washed out through the stationery store door.

And rushing towards them, the residents of Death Lane who had been captivated and followed the parade.

Mine! Mine!

Send me to Happy Theme Park!! Make me a winner!!

Let’s find a good child! Let’s find a good child!

All sorts of passersby and shopkeepers from the alley crowded in, roughly tearing open the chocolate bars and checking if they contained a ‘theme park winning ticket.’

It seemed that admission tickets or membership cards were inside.

…like my tattoos.

: Socius :

‘……The moment it’s discovered, I feel like my skin will be ripped off.’

That typical development of an urban legend came to mind, sending shivers down my spine.

But, the moment the water mass disappeared from view beyond the alley, I slightly opened the glass door.

Clang.

…The Death Lane passersby frantically searching through the chocolates thankfully didn’t look this way.

I swallowed my saliva and flicked a coin, summoning a third hand into the air.

The translucent hand cautiously reached through the narrow gap in the glass door and grabbed one of the chocolate bars that had bounced from the alley towards the laundromat….

As soon as the third hand returned inside the laundromat, I immediately snatched the chocolate bar and shoved it into another tattoo.

‘Whew.’

If I’m already in a situation where I’ve opened a can of worms, I should at least get some information to analyze.

Fortunately, perhaps because the silver ring did its job splendidly, I didn’t feel any strange hallucinations, noises, or fervent desire for the theme park.

‘Let’s take a closer look after I return to reality.’

Just as I was pulling my hand out of my tattoo inventory and releasing the third hand, I thought about a certain item I had been carrying around inside but had not yet attempted to use.

The highest-priced item from the alien shop.

Help us! – ₩66,666,666

“…!”

I took out the item.

A small red button.

…Certainly, Brown had said this.

– Hmm. Yes, Mr. Roe Deer, you could understand that as ‘emergency escape’!

Emergency escape.

‘Should I press it?’

Considering the price, I felt I should save it for a more high-level darkness, but with my disappearance imminent, it might be better to use it quickly rather than risk something bad happening while trying to gain an advantage.

‘Okay.’

Let’s see what happens.

Before using it, I showed the button to Lee Jaheon, the supervisor.

“Team Leader, this is…”

“Do you need advice?”

“…….”

What?

“Do you need advice?”

“…Yes.”

“Do not use it.”

“…….”

A chilling premonition ran down my spine.

“Team Leader, do you know this item?”

“Yes.”

“…Is something bad going to happen?”

“It depends on the criteria.”

“…I would appreciate a more detailed explanation.”

“Impossible.”

“…….”

“However, I do not recommend using it in the current situation.”

“…….”

‘Whew.’

I ended up putting the button away.

This is because Lee Jaheon, the supervisor, wouldn’t lie even if he couldn’t say it.

Furthermore, the fact that the supervisor is also in a position to purchase items from the Alien Shop makes me even more nervous.

‘Since I got the Alien Shop link through that account anyway.’

Overall, forcing the use of this item in the current situation felt like a foreshadowing of leaving behind a terrible exploration record and disappearing.

– Oh, you’re not pressing it? I was curious what would happen, it’s a shame.

Really?

I felt a strong sense of deflation.

It’s like realizing that the lifeline that suddenly appeared wasn’t real, but a picture.

“…….”

I leaned my back against the laundromat wall and suppressed a sigh.

“Then all that’s left is gambling.”

Lee Jaheon looked at me. I nervously tapped my arm with my fingers.

“If we destroy a house itself, wouldn’t a gap be created in the concept of the alley, allowing us to escape? Wait a minute. Don’t destroy it!”

“Yes.”

I’m going crazy.

After stopping a lizard trying to scratch the wall with its bare hands, I sat down on the floor.

‘Is this really the only way?’

Die, or escape.

Besides taking a gamble on this extreme probability game, is there really nothing more certain?

Definitely, a way out of this rumor…

…….

Ah.

“…!”

I jumped up from my seat.

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

“Team Leader!”

This, this… might work?

“There’s a way to try. First, let’s get out of here and move…”

Lee Jaheon grabbed my shoulder and pulled me.

“Stand back.”

“…….”

I turned my head.

A black figure was visible outside the laundromat’s glass door.

Looking at us.

A black mass of water.

Found it.