Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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Dimly lit office.
Tap tap tap.
Someone sat alone, pounding away at the keyboard.
Words appeared on the glowing monitor screen.
The keys clicked steadily without hesitation or pause, forming sentences one after another.
As if the entire timeline had already been sorted out in his mind.
The hand typing paused for a moment.
It grabbed the mouse and navigated to the 'Incident Photos' folder on the desktop, attaching a few images to the document.
Photo of the blood-soaked interior of the bathroom next to car 7 on the high-speed train.
Everything lay scattered on the floor, covered in blood atop pools of it on the walls and floor.
A mask, employee ID, briefcase, and... a Dream Essence Collector filled with C-Grade solution.
But there was one clean spot.
A small bathtub-shaped area of tiles free of bloodstains.
As if... someone had taken it away.
The typing hand paused once more.
Then he peeled a previously developed photo from the board beside his desk and stared at it.
Blood used as ink on the bathroom mirror, written in elegant cursive script.
Kim Sol-eum, from today will commute to a different place. :)
Thud.
At that point, the author paused again.
Not because the next content didn't come to mind.
"Squad Leader."
"Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je."
A visitor had arrived in the dark office.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon looked up.
Eun Ha-je stood leaning against the office door, arms crossed, looking haggard.
"That's enough now."
"......"
"How many times have you done these damn interviews? Even the directors are getting bored now."
Eun Ha-je walked into the office.
She had ultimately received only the sentence 'Presumed deceased on January 2nd', and now swept her dark gaze over her junior's empty seat.
"It's already been a month."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je stood before the desk of the D Squad leader, now without team members.
"People know when to give up after a month with no news. ...Writing reports won't bring the dead back."
"......"
"The Dream Essence Collector records were processed as death repatriation too."
That's right.
In the Dream Essence Collector audio logs, groans from the missing employee and short mutters like 'Shall I?' were confirmed.
Deemed significant symptoms of mental delirium from the irregularity Darkness during the elite team's trip, aka 'Tamla-bound High-Speed Train'.
Statistically, probability of deep contamination or death for said employee exceeds 80%.
And per regulations, if no significant activity reported within 30 days after Dream Essence Collector repatriation, automatic death processing in the system.
It's already over.
"...He's already on today's retirement list, Section Chief."
...Usually, that's when it's certain they're dead.
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je rubbed her dry face and opened her mouth.
"...The company won't support this anymore. You know we're not a company that wastes money and time on the dead."
All the searches and reviews so far were an 'investment' because Kim Sol-eum was such a unique and capable employee.
However, no proper manual existed for the Tamla-bound high-speed train Darkness cause, and it hadn't recurred in a month.
"Is there meaning in this routine? Don't you think it's time to stop?"
"Yes."
"......"
Meaningful, and no thought to stop?
"Why?"
"Because Junior Supervisor Kim Sol-eum isn't dead."
"...!!"
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je's eyes widened.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon wasn't one to state hopes definitively.
So this meant... he truly believed it!
And Section Chief Lee Jaheon didn't believe without reason.
There was near-certain evidence!
"Why do you think that?!"
"There's a clue."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon recalled.
An episode from late last year that seemed unrelated to the incident at first glance.
-Please take care of this.
Junior Supervisor Kim Sol-eum had entrusted him with a precious item for half a day upon deployment into Darkness.
A small stuffed doll.
-My goodness. Entrusting it to the blade wielder. Mr. Deer!
The archaic, bizarre speech from that doll.
Of course, he didn't respond to the doll. He aimed for the demeanor of a sensible modern man and had no obligation to reply to dolls.
But he caught a familiarity in that speech pattern.
And at the disappearance site, the bathroom.
All of Kim Sol-eum's company-related items were messily discarded on the bathroom floor, but actually, Lee Jaheon focused more on the mirror message.
Because he caught familiarity in that handwriting too.
"Compare it."
He presented the photo of the mirror message alongside an old postcard he had kept preserved just in case, holding it out for Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je to see.
It had taken weeks just to check it out again.
"This is..."
The broadcasting-themed Darkness that D Squad had cleared multiple times.
But in the most recent exploration, an unexpected situation led to one squad wiped out, and D Squad escaped safely due to one employee's ingenuity, extracting an A-Grade solution.
The Darkness still floating between research and evaluation without a readjusted grade due to divided opinions.
"...Tuesday Talk Show!"
The handwriting matched.
Section Chief Lee Jaheon nodded.
"Junior Supervisor Kim Sol-eum is there."
In some form or another.
Glorious lights filled the studio.
Thunderous applause and cheers poured from the audience seats onto the stage set.
[Thank you! Thank you!]
The audience, hooked on the just-ended final segment, whistled and cheered wildly.
The host dramatically placed a hand on his chest, feigning deep emotion.
[No, with this kind of response... Haha, should we start over from the beginning? You're watching Brown's Late-Night Talk Show ri... Whoa.]
Waaaaah!
Pretending to be startled by the bursting cheers, the host soon displayed a smiling face on the TV and greeted again.
[Regrettably, before angry sponsors come charging in, we must part with heavy hearts. But don't be too sad! We'll meet again tomorrow!]
The band's lively, upbeat finale signaled the talk show's end.
The host walked to the studio center and bowed politely to the TV.
[To all viewers who watched today's talk show, those repenting and wailing underground, those watching via iPub viewer...]
[Tomorrow at 11:33 PM, we'll meet again... Have a pleasant night!]
As the band reached crescendo, the host raised both hands to the overflowing applause.
And...
[Cut!]
The show ended.
Click.
Everything fell silent at once.
The seats where the audience had vanished, the brilliant lights extinguished.
Soft background lights illuminated the empty audience seats, and staff swarmed out to clean the stage and performers.
I was among them.
More precisely,
[Sol-eum!]
I was receiving praise from the host.
[Come here. You were splendid! Your topic and guest selection skills are truly fascinating. Picking the perfect candidate every time...]
Um. A bit embarrassing.
'It's all from Darkness Exploration Records.'
This 'Brown's Late-Night Talk Show' felt like a stand-up routine from Darkness Exploration Records to me.
The difference being it was more vivid and engaging.
Actually interviewing residents from horror stories.
Briefing recent supernatural issues and incidents, cracking jokes, trying fun experiments with the audience.
Sometimes clueless audience members, thinking it a dream, did dangerous things, and watching that precarious thrill and comedy from a third-person view was just right.
Plus, audiences were now invited not just via postcards but various media.
Anyway, honestly, I'd just mentioned a few interesting horror stories once or twice a week... and they raved that reactions were great thanks to my info savvy.
'More laid-back than expected...'
Had work in life ever been this easy and fun?
[Ah, it's been such a joy this past month! And I'm thrilled to share this news...]
A teary smile appeared on Brown's TV face.
[Our show's ratings hit another record high.]
"...!"
[A truly terrifying upward curve! So, Sol-eum, don't you think it was fun and enjoyable too?]
A hint of tension beneath confident assurance. Geez.
I nodded with a smile.
"It was fun."
[Right?]
[This legendary host knew, of course. That this is the workplace you'd be most satisfied with.]
The TV head smiled gently.
I smiled faintly, feeling at peace.
Not scary here.
No threats to me.
I create content, don't experience the horror story content myself!
Working this talk show meant no more anxiety... Well, performance pressure exists, but that's life's necessary stress, right?
Like this.
[But there's one regrettable point. Just a moment...]
Brown placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded.
[We're entering a plateau. The segments feel too repetitive.]
Ah.
[No interest in more provocative, cheeky ideas, Sol-eum? In this self-produced talk show, free from investor or producer pressure, anything goes... And.]
Thud.
...The host gripped my shoulder.
[Your dedication this past month was astounding, adaptation swift, results dazzling, weren't they?]
[You can surely do it.]
...Gotta work harder.
I nodded, a bit tense.
But then.
Unexpected words from the host.
[So... it's about time.]
[Not as staff, but as a performer by this Brown's side.]
"...!"
[I say this from the heart: you already qualify. Oh, Sol-eum. My friend. Let's share stories together and bring joy to people.]
[A new face will stimulate the audience too.]
"...No, it's fine. I don't really like going out in front of the audience..."
[Now now, deciding so quickly hurts this Brown's feelings! Think it over...]
Strength in the arm around my shoulder.
[To this Brown, you clearly have top-quality showmanship. That's talent territory.]
[Remember? How you played prophet and cult leader on that train over the sea. Only naturals can do that. Yes.]
[But if my dear friend is too anxious, we have roles for just minutes, no, seconds...]
[Shall we think easy on it?]
......
That much is okay?
Come to think, I didn't feel I couldn't do it.
'Gotta perform if working.'
Ultimately, I nodded shyly.
"Um, if it's a very small role."
[That's it! Good.]
The TV head laughed happily.
[Humble too—befitting my show's MVP alum. Right?]
[No unhappy days since you joined our talk show!]
Has it been a month already?
Time flew by unnoticed.
Busy, fun, rewarding.
'Staff surprisingly kind too.'
I nodded to the coordinator handing me water and leaving, then casually asked Brown.
"By the way, why do all the staff here have no faces?"
[Ah, thoughtful consideration for the show. To prevent screams, coughs, speech from physiological needs or accidents during live broadcast, they decided themselves.]
"Impressive professionalism. Um, do I need to remove my face too...?"
[What are you saying, Sol-eum!]
Whoa.
[Those on stage need expressions and faces. Expressiveness is entertainment's essence!]
[Ah, if Sol-eum insists... we have alternatives. Hold on.]
Thud.
The host grabbed my chin.
And stared as if appraising...
[Hmm. We can remove the face. Instead, I'll make you a splendid... mask.]
That's...
......
"I'll think more about it next time."
[Right? Haha! A shame to remove that face.]
The host released his hand.
I smiled back at beaming Brown.
[Ah, I must prepare the next broadcast. This audience... oh, office workers. Must entertain the weary ones.]
[Then... you'll join the stage today too, Sol-eum?]
"I'll do my best."
[Good. Very good... It'll be your splendid debut, Sol-eum!]
Yeah. Hope so.