Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Even in Ghost Stories, I Have to Go to Work
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The reward for beating the elevator mirror ghost at rock-paper-scissors and making it back: one single Q&A.
Of course, the truth revealed by a ghost story isn't always something good.
It might not sit well with me.
Or it might be completely useless.
It could be either.
For example, if you ask when humanity goes extinct, it might answer something like, "Long after you're dead."
'That's true, too.'
So if I asked, "What's the way back to the world I originally lived in?" it might just give some extreme, fragmented words.
Better to check if the method I'm aiming for now—the one that can definitely send me back to my original world.
'Daydream Corporation's Wish Grant potion.'
My heart pounded.
The answer, which would reveal any truth no matter what, appeared on the glass pane agonizingly slowly.
A very definite affirmative.
"...!"
I slid to the floor with a deep sigh of relief.
'Whoa.'
The tension drained right out of me.
...To be honest, I'd been worried it might be something vague or negative.
I'd tried not to think about it, but sometimes... doubts crept in.
-What if even the Wish Grant potion can't get me back?
-What if I set the conditions wrong and it twists into something weird?
But I'd pushed them down as much as possible.
Doubting it wouldn't change the fact that the Wish Grant was the highest-probability method.
'The things I have to do despite the anxiety don't change...'
And I had to believe I could definitely return with the Wish Grant to endure these horrific terrors and keep working...
"... ."
But now I could work with even more conviction.
'Let's do it.'
I can do it.
Let's gather the remaining Wish Grants as quickly and safely as possible, giving it our all!
I steeled my resolve and stood up.
'Work motivation surging...'
A rare occurrence indeed.
However, I still hadn't escaped the ghost story.
'The ritual's final stage remains.'
If I'd gotten the answer safely, now it was time to wrap up the ritual and head back.
Depending on which floor you beat it at rock-paper-scissors to reach the top floor, the steps to return safely differ.
From 1: To 10.
From 6: To 11.
1 meant you'd beaten it right away at rock-paper-scissors and smoothly reached the top.
So going to 10 ends with something like, "Take the stairs down, go home, and don't ride an elevator with mirrors on both sides for three days." But...
'...I failed.'
In this case, the tasks get creepier and more painful.
"...Hoo."
Getting confused now, so let's read the manual from the company.
11.
I swallowed hard and turned back to the elevator doors.
The elevator was still stopped at the 12th floor, so pressing the button opened the doors immediately.
Ding.
With a short chime, the interior of the battered elevator with its right mirror shattered to pieces came into view...
I turned my gaze to the left mirror.
With the opposite mirror smashed, there was no infinite repeating space inside.
Just the dark elevator interior flickering in the fragmented reflections...
Something strange would appear.
Me.
Head bowed unnaturally low.
Wearing a completely worn-out suit.
Unnaturally motionless.
The ghost I'd played rock-paper-scissors with.
......
The figure in the mirror slowly raises its head.
The expressionless face looks at me and draws closer.
Closer.
Until it's pressed against the mirror.
I endured.
But there's a limit. Even with the glass pane blocking it, it gets closer, bit by bit, endlessly, endlessly...
My hand trembled on the open button.
I, I need to think of something else...
'Did... that thing reply to my glass graffiti scribble?'
Yeah. Probably...
Bang!
I nearly let go of the button.
The ghost was slamming its head against the mirror, glaring at me.
And its mouth shape.
Wanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowanttogowantgo
I hastily shifted my gaze slightly away. Cold sweat beaded on my chin and dripped.
But piercing the fear, the silver ring's effect shone.
Want to go out?
'...Because it's trapped in the mirror?'
My mind raced.
'Come to think of it, that ghost... couldn't make the scissors sign.'
Why?
The reason it can't make scissors.
I recalled the scissors hand sign in rock-paper-scissors.
Whether thumb and middle finger together or not.
Usually, the image centers on the index finger extended.
And thinking of index finger gestures in an elevator brings one to mind immediately.
Pressing the button.
'...Can that ghost not press the button?'
Sure, it could smash it with a fist or head physically, but this was about concepts and imagery.
A ghost trapped in the elevator's infinitely repeating mirror world.
A completely sealed space created by two facing mirrors.
And the manual's warning for losing at rock-paper-scissors and failing the ritual.
Could that be...
'...Because it wants to get out?'
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangbang!
Holy shit, for real...!
I kept thinking while avoiding looking as much as possible at the ghost still headbutting the mirror.
...Maybe.
'Is that ghost trapped in the elevator?'
That was when it happened.
Beep- Beep- Beep-
The signal blared.
The sound when you've held the elevator too long.
So then.
I hesitated, then as I stepped out of the elevator, I released the open button.
And at the same time, touched one button.
[1F]
Of course, being a mirror, the 1st floor button lit up in the ghost's elevator too.
Without looking at the ghost's expression on my face, I bolted through the open doors.
Shhh.
The doors, no longer forced open, closed, and the elevator moved.
[Going down...]
I took the stairs from the 12th floor down to the 1st.
Racing down the rickety stairs, I think I heard the elevator cheerfully chime "1st floor" as its doors opened...
"Phew."
By the time I exited the nearly abandoned rental apartment building, the sun had long set.
'They said time flows weird inside, and it really did.'
It was already 7 PM.
I immediately called one person.
[Ah, Sol-eum-ssi...!]
Jang Heo-un, whom I'd asked to meet at 5.
But my apology flowed smoothly despite leaving him hanging for two hours.
Because...
"Sorry. I warned you something might come up, but you waited too long."
[Ah, no, it's fine. Great cafe! Urgent business happens. I'm okay with it!]
Right.
I'd deliberately asked to meet Jang Heo-un at 5.
'If the research team reports I went in alone and diverts Jang Heo-un to some other bizarre ghost story in the meantime, that'd be bad.'
That crazy psychopath researcher was fully capable of it. Saying something like, "Ah, since it's like this, mind going somewhere else?"
'Corporate life really sucks...'
Anyway, after that, I apologized to Jang Heo-un sitting in the cafe.
And explained what happened.
Toning it down so it wasn't too shocking: that the research team tried to send us both on a dangerous job with no value, so I unilaterally refused.
But Jang Heo-un focused on something else.
[Wait. Then won't Sol-eum-ssi get in trouble? Disobeying company orders without permission...!]
"Ah, it's fine."
I said reassuringly.
"As long as Heo-un-ssi keeps it secret, it's useful."
[...??]
And shortly after.
The moment I returned the Dream Essence Collector, I got an emergency summons from Gwak Je-gang.
And I brazenly explained the situation.
"...So, you just left the cleanup guy behind. That's it?"
"Yes."
Gwak Je-gang stared at me blankly as if speechless for a moment, then let out a sigh and a hearty laugh.
Of course, not in a good way.
It was incredulity.
"No, Deer-ssi! This is disciplinary territory... The company's not a school. You think you can just do whatever? Did Squad Leader Lee Jaheon say it was okay?"
"No. Squad Leader Lee Jaheon always advises complying with company rules and the Field Exploration manual."
"Aigoo, if you know that, why'd he let you? Man..."
And then he asks slyly.
"You have a strong aversion to sacrificing a colleague on an exploration? Since you know him, right?"
I knew you'd say that.
I answered immediately.
"...? It's inefficient."
"......??"
"Why would I take, uh, no offense, but yes, a useless burden to a place I can clear fast alone?"
"...!"
Gwak Je-gang gawked at me, then urgently opened his mouth.
"No, after clearing, you just leave them in the elevator alone and come out..."
"That's why I'm saying, why should I worry about that while exploring the darkness?"
I furrowed my brow slightly, arguing as if I couldn't stand it.
"Whether the staff waiting below the elevator runs or if we can send them at the right timing— that doesn't help shorten exploration time or increase solution concentration at all."
"......"
"Isn't the reason Field Exploration exists to extract high-concentration solutions as fast as possible for Daydream potion ingredients? Why should I do work unrelated to my job?"
"No, this is work too..."
"Isn't that Section Chief's job?"
Gwak Je-gang shut his mouth.
Seemed my crazy MZ energy had left him speechless.
Even if real MZers are fresh grads getting crushed at work, it's all concept for me too!
"So I judged getting disciplined would be better."
"...Because that's more efficient?"
"Yes."
I answered matter-of-factly.
"At least you'd discipline me during non-exploration periods."
"......"
Gwak Je-gang looked at me like some new exotic substance.
You think it's ridiculous too, right?
Yeah.
'This is the weakness you've been wanting so bad...!'
A perfectionist efficiency freak with his own principles!
Seems moral, but actually throws social tantrums when his self-made rules are broken.
'This extreme trait is a weakness by nature.'
As long as it prevented Gwak Je-gang's pointless probing, taking the discipline was manageable...!
"Then I'll wait until the discipline is decided."
I stuck to the crazy bastard concept to the end and left the lab.
'Gotta find Brown.'
Felt pretty smug.
Kim Sol-eum left, and the quiet Research Team 1 office.
At the desk where all other employees had clocked out, Gwak Je-gang, silently organizing yesterday and today's events...
"Hahaha!"
Burst into laughter.
"Left him because frustrating? Haha!"
So damn funny!
Any other employee would've bought it wholesale.
Swept up in the extreme words and overwhelmed by results, everything sounds plausible.
But...
"I've observed a lot of people!"
Actions matter more than words.
And predicting patterns of actions from actions is one of the fun parts of this job...!
"Ah, this is fun."
Gwak Je-gang grinned ear to ear, finished his notes, stood from his desk, and headed home with light steps.
Tang.
His humming echoed briefly in the office, then vanished with the door closing.
On his empty desk remained only a few documented files.
[Kim Sol-eum / Junior Staff / Field Exploration Team]
It was Kim Sol-eum's profile file.
Below it, Gwak Je-gang's scribbled memo was visible...
Traits (Predicted with significant probability)
1. Kindness.
2. Very timid.