Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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I stood frozen, staring at Isolation Room B14.
Screeech, screeeeech.
The rusty hinges let out a scream-like noise as the door to the isolation room creaked open.
A door that should never open was opening. And from within, a black silhouette...
"Run."
I whipped around and bolted straight for the isolation corridor entrance.
Beside me, I heard Foreman Park Minseong running like a madman. Survival instinct spurred my legs onward even as my mind reeled in confusion.
'What the hell is this?'
What was going on here?
'The work rules tips said...'
Rule 4: Ignore any sounds from the isolation rooms. Rule 11: Shout at it to shut up and it goes quiet.
I hadn't even decided between the two when the door opened?
What the hell was inside right now...?
"Hey, you two."
Both the foreman and I nearly stumbled.
It was a voice we both knew.
But we didn't look back as we kept sprinting around corners toward the green emergency exit sign at the end of the corridor. I flung the cleaning tools aside. My breaths came in ragged gasps up to my jaw.
The moment Foreman Park Minseong grabbed the door handle under the green emergency light without even catching his breath—
The red emergency lights in the corridor flashed on.
Along with the emotionless mechanical voice, the sound of the blast shutter descending from outside the door handle the foreman was gripping began to echo.
The foreman and I turned to look at each other for a split second.
"......"
Leaving us trapped inside.
The corridor was sealed.
'We're screwed.'
Damn it, damn it!!
I fumbled in my pockets. Maybe there was a relevant rule, or at least check the work tips...
"Well, well. A real dynamic duo, aren't ya? Did you use your exploration manuals to wipe your asses? Where'd all that composure go?"
......
'Huh?'
A deflated voice.
It sounded like it was suppressing frustration, but with an oddly casual vibe...
Thud, thud.
"Driving me nuts, seriously. Or wait, should I praise you for being cautious...? Sigh."
The voice had caught up behind me before I knew it.
But there were no anomalous phenomena like I'd expected.
No creepy laughter, no cold hands reaching from behind, no eerie movements.
"......"
"Damn it. Whew, no. Calm down... Hey, kids. I know I said some crazy stuff earlier. But I had no choice if I wanted to use the escape item. Time was short, so just accept it quick, yeah?"
The voice grew a bit anxious.
"What wouldn't I say to get out? I was pretending to be nuts to pry some info, but then the item activated suddenly, the door opened, and I slipped out."
That voice—
"Snap out of it. Giving you 10 seconds. Hurry."
......
......
"...Deputy Manager?"
"Yeah."
I couldn't stop Foreman Park Minseong from turning around after muttering beside me.
To be precise, I turned too.
There stood a familiar silhouette.
Bob haircut.
Sharp eyes.
A woman in a suit with a cold demeanor.
It was Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je as we knew her, standing in the corridor.
She scanned the cleaning tools we'd abandoned, her face a mix of exasperation.
"...Is it okay to just leave those there? No, we'll check later... First, you need to accept this."
"......"
"......"
The hand of Foreman Park Minseong, gripping my shoulder, went slack.
We stared blankly at her.
"Badger, and... Deer."
An expression settled on Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je's face.
"You holding up okay?"
The face of a superior—composed, relaxed, with a hint of boredom and fatigue.
And a fierce smile.
"This fucking company... Sigh."
The deputy manager ruffled her hair, let out a deep sigh, and beckoned us.
"Sorry, but I need a favor. Just open the isolation corridor door for me."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je said calmly.
"I'll handle the rest and get out."
The foreman and I said nothing, as if by prior agreement.
My head felt like it might explode.
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je gave a wry smile.
"Can't even respond? Fair enough, smart call. I'd do the same..."
What?
'Why does this feel... so plausible?'
Why does it feel so real?
'No way!'
"Foreman."
I swallowed hard and spoke low and quick to Park Minseong, as if reminding myself.
"Remember. The deputy manager quit. She can't be here..."
......
'Hold on.'
Was she really not?
I recalled the lingering doubts, the odd points that had nagged at me.
Contact with Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je had been cut off.
She'd handed over her gear without meeting in person, read texts but never replied, calls never connected, and all communication came through Squad Leader Lee Jaheon...
No way.
'Trapped here?'
I hurriedly remembered the conditions for being transferred to the isolation zone by security.
Emergency contaminant, internal anomaly, dangerous element, spy, disciplinary case, and even blacked-out boxes of some creepy unknown conditions...
'So many possibilities.'
Hell, even the foreman and I had been locked up briefly.
So then.
Was it possible for Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je too?
"...Deer?"
"Just a sec... Just a moment."
Wasn't it possible?
I wanted to grill whoever was impersonating Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je right now, verify every detail, figure out what happened.
But I couldn't gamble on possibilities.
'Try something else first.'
I asked the ghost story resident.
'Brown, about that thing that looks like a person up ahead. Is that really our D Squad deputy manager from a few months ago?'
Brown replied cheerfully.
Damn.
I pressed on desperately.
'Still, can you check just one thing? I'm curious about your judgment from what you see. I trust you.'
'Thanks. So...'
I swallowed.
'The thing in front of me—is it human in every way, mind and body?'
Brown declared in a cheerful voice.
Ha...
'Human, confirmed.'
I'm losing my mind.
I'd rather it said the thing in front of me wasn't human. That would settle it.
...Not Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je.
But the familiar figure before me continued in that familiar tone.
"I'd love to persuade you properly if I had time, but we're short on it, kids."
Her complexion had paled slightly.
"Security team's about to come check the situation. If I want out, I gotta slip away before they do."
"......"
"Not asking for much. I'll hide for a bit, so when the door opens, just let me go."
I admitted it.
'Can't tell with the naked eye.'
So, I'd have to take a little risk.
I spoke up immediately.
"Foreman."
"Y-yeah?"
To Park Minseong.
"Don't you think it's impossible to run into the deputy manager on leave in a security isolation area?"
"Yeah... right?"
"Oh. Indirect talk. Good method, Deer."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je sounded briefly impressed, then muttered quickly.
"They locked me here until I changed my mind about quitting. Looking back, I was the idiot for trusting this damn company. Fuck."
"Foreman. Even if someone isolated got out through the corridor door, wouldn't they get caught right away?"
"You think I'm stupid? Got an item ready. Problem's time. No time. Security's coming now. Can't even verify, driving me crazy..."
Verify.
'...Wait!'
I remembered what was in my back pocket.
'The walkie-talkie.'
I pressed my back to the door, then carefully reached back with one hand out of sight and gripped the walkie-talkie from my pocket.
And I ever so slightly turned up the volume...
Beep-boop-beep!
Damn it!
'The security chief's been transmitting nonstop!'
I shut off the walkie-talkie sound right away.
But it was too late.
"Heard a walkie-talkie."
"...!"
"Well, whoever gave it to you, feel free to call. But something's off..."
Something off?
"They don't give walkie-talkies to janitors."
"......"
My back went cold.
"Did someone specially give it to you? That's weird too. Cleaning staff read manuals via unmanned devices, log in, and enter. No reason to meet other employees."
Doubt and tension mixed in Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je's voice.
"That... really connected to security?"
"......"
"Deer. Who'd you meet?"
Sweat slicked my palms.
This insane situation was a first.
'No idea what to believe.'
No hints. Even if it really was Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, how would we let her go? Dodge security by hiding? Possible?
'To grasp the situation better...'
Ah!
I remembered what I'd meant to check originally.
The second note with the work tips.
'If I read all the remaining tips, maybe I can piece together the truth from context.'
I pulled out the note and read the next number.
12. If a weird smell wafts from the door crack or something starts leaking out, run no matter what.
It's a sure sign it appears before the door opens. Conversely, if there's none of that, it's usually safe.
Details on exceptions in the next number.
Recommend reading with some time in between.
I read the next entry immediately...
13. Huh? The door opened?
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
I crumpled the paper reflexively.
My pulse throbbed in my hand like a drum.
"Deer, what's wrong?"
Stay calm, calm...
"Let's calm down first. Security's coming anyway, so we can think from now what the best move is."
Foreman Park Minseong patted my back as if to soothe me...
"A way for us to get out..."
But he was writing something on my back with his finger.
ㄷㅐ
ㄹㅣ
ㄴㅣㅁ
ㅇㅏ
ㄴㅣ
ㅇㅑ
......
Deputy manager not.
I lifted my head, frozen.
"Wow."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je.
No, the thing wearing Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je's face bowed toward us.
"How'd you know?"
How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know? How'd you know?