Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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The Lizard had become a theme park employee.
No, really!
Kim Sol-eum stared blankly at Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon, who had suddenly declared his firm intent to get hired instead of checking out that morning.
Really?
"Yes."
And just like that, he signed the employment contract in a flash. Lee Jaheon in his uniform looked so, so...
'Fitting.'
With his Lizard appearance, he truly looked like a theme park staff member...
"Over there?"
Yes.
Lee Jaheon, naturally assigned as security personnel, was stationed near the main entrance.
'Please handle the troublemakers well...'
By the way, standing next to him was Jang Heo-un, who looked utterly lost as he stared at the suite room voucher in his hand.
That's right. He'd already heard that Jang Heo-un was behind it!
"Um, actually, last night I went to Assistant Manager Lizard and begged him. The resort is short-staffed, so we can't get out of here..."
And so, Jang Heo-un had been promoted to HR manager.
"...!?"
It was a pyramid-scheme structure, but since everyone planned to cash out and bail, no one cared!
However... Kim Sol-eum did feel a strange sense of incongruity.
'How did he know?'
That they needed more staff to escape this resort.
"Huh? Well, it just felt natural... Oh, we needed three staff for the stamp, so to run the resort, and I figured it'd be similar next time... Needing manpower, that is."
Hmm.
It was brilliant deduction if you could call it that, but something felt off, so Kim Sol-eum decided to remember it.
'Anyway, good news.'
Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon was the type with solid values who wouldn't hesitate to get involved as a superior for the survival of his staff... no, alien.
One step closer to escape!
However, there was one person watching this anxiously.
'Fuck.'
The ladybug-masked employee rolled his eyes.
With the crazy room service manual out, work had gotten a bit manageable, so he started thinking other thoughts.
In a ghost story, standing out too much with crazy antics was one thing, but falling behind in 'success' was directly tied to survival.
He held back curses as he glared at Jang Heo-un in his bison mask.
'Not just saving that bastard.'
There were clichés where only those who passed the bizarre entity's standards could clear.
'Can't let that happen.'
In the end, he lured the weasel-masked employee checking out with lies and threats, getting him to sign an employment contract.
Stuff like 'You have to become staff to leave, even that Lizard Assistant Manager isn't working for nothing,' and the terrified weasel mask panicked and went to the mascot.
'There we go.'
The ladybug employee hoped he'd snag a position too, but...
Go ahead and leave.
The yellow mascot instead told the weasel employee he could go.
Staring right through him, then casually.
'Fuck!'
Useless bastard, huh?
...Still, the weasel clung on desperately and got hired, so he felt a bit satisfied.
Another guinea pig... Huh?
At that moment.
Budget mascots swarmed in and set something up in the center of the lobby.
Look at this.
A massive gacha machine appeared in the lobby center.
"...??
The ladybug employee momentarily forgot everything and stared blankly at the enormous, sparkling glass ornament like a Christmas tree.
What the hell is this?
As if explaining, a flashy sign was attached in front.
It looked like a giant snow globe, filled with wrapped gifts.
Guests could press a button to draw one.
Kim Sol-eum inside the yellow mascot watched it fondly.
'Probability games always hit that dopamine...'
By the way, special gifts were gold-wrapped, upgrading rooms to the top-floor suite upon draw.
And no duds—everything good, so who could hate it... Haha.
'Take this and stay quiet in your rooms.'
The yellow mascot was bribing everyone!
"Oh my, something sparkly! I love shiny things! Can I draw one?"
Yes.
Gift.
And it didn't end there.
Upgrading rooms for every guest with some excuse...!
'What, what?'
Pure giveaway operations!
The ladybug employee stared at the mascot in panic and confusion.
And realized.
'Luring guests to stay longer in the theme park to boost his own rank as resort owner!'
No!
Kim Sol-eum, running an all-in coin variety show board game for escape, watched the guests proudly.
By the way, from today, he'd blatantly posted 'Space for Quiet Rest' on the lobby glass doors.
It was working—some troublemakers were getting cut at the entrance.
'Good.'
The yellow mascot sighed in relief, envisioning a decent outlook while finally getting a feel for running the resort on day 2.
But right before closing that day.
An unexpected incident began.
I looked at the staff candidate in front of me... no, the money-less hopeful guest.
The hollow-eyed, still human-looking person frantically searched their pockets and whimpered.
"N-No... I don't have any money...!"
Ooh!
I extended a paw welcomingly and kindly said,
Then work.
Labor counts too!
"Eek!"
But they bolted out the entrance instead. I was even fine with them camping in the lobby...
Hope they leave the theme park before closing. I smacked my lips and examined my front paw.
'Last one... Tough.'
Failed job offer for lodging.
Still, keep at it, maybe snag one more.
'...How much longer?'
Might take longer than thought, making me a bit anxious, but I suppressed it—no panicking in fear.
I'm a mascot now.
And...
-See you next time~
'Closing time again.'
Theme park business end.
Day 2 over.
"Aaaah!"
"The resort!"
Last guests rushed in the door, budget mascots positioned to close up.
Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon still learning, so a budget mascot with a baton kept him back for training.
'Manager as newbie...'
Thinking it was kinda funny,
Thud.
"...!"
Someone roughly shoved the glass door and entered the lobby.
"Welcom— Eek."
Next to me, Jang Heo-un gasped, holding back vomit.
...I thought it was a monster at first too.
A blood lump monster with humans sprouting instead of arms.
But looking closely, it was a small person dragging one corpse each by both hands.
...Might seem gruesome.
If those arms weren't dragging broken-limbed, head-smashed trash-like corpses.
"Gasp,"
The cleaning rat employee clamped her own mouth. Pure fear from survival threat, not supernatural horror.
It left two thick blood trails across the lobby floor, shoving through early guests, speeding to the front desk...
"......"
Huh?
Not fear—something strange welled up.
Annoyance.
'No cutting in line.'
Against etiquette, right?
And why so blatantly dirty the floor.
Leave corpses in lobby or give to budget mascots—they'd kindly move them!
No class.
Doesn't fit our resort.
Me and the budget mascots all stared at it.
'......'
But this bizarre sudden annoyance vanished the moment eyes met at the desk.
The bloody small figure, panting roughly, lifted her head to me...
"One room please."
'...!!'
Dolphin mask.
...It was Elite Team Assistant Lee Seong-hae!
'Why, why here?'
Shouldn't she have left yesterday? Why still here, and...
'How did she survive last night?'
In the closed theme park.
Dragging two dead bodies.
'......Wait!'
I barely rechecked the horrific corpses in her hands.
Masks and suits.
Her teammates who drew the red lots like her.
Chills down my spine.
'She carried their corpses because they'd choke if separated.'
'......'
Something felt off, but as mascot, I greeted kindly.
Lodging fee.
"Ah."
Thud thud.
Lee Seong-hae dropped the corpses randomly and offered a small bloodied golden something.
"How about this?"
Pure gold.
Seemed like a broken-off ornament.
'Gold.'
Old me would've grabbed it thinking jackpot for cash-strapped self.
But as mascot... Sigh.
No.
This.
I pulled out plastic coins—Jolly Coins—from under the desk to show.
But Lee Seong-hae didn't react. Naturally, no coins...
Ah.
Then.
Want to work?
This might work.
I watched her mouth tensely.
Lee Seong-hae's mouth opened...
"Sure!"
Whoa!
"But my legs are both fractured... Sitting job okay? Hehe."
'......'
Why say that so brightly.
Now I see, she cut in without properly noticing surroundings, barely moving.
Needs rest first.
'Details tomorrow.'
Here.
I quickly offered the employment contract; Lee Seong-hae scanned it carefully...
"No pay clause?"
Ah.
Right. Crucial for employees.
'Too rushed...'
We built and opened a resort from ruins in half a day.
Wait.
I scribbled on the back fast.
Employees are guaranteed lodging during work at this resort.
Hmm.
And.
Upon successful operation of all three resort facilities, take one desired item from the future souvenir shop.
This way she gets an item.
'Worth trying.'
Not sure if shop real, but based on other zones, plausible.
"Ooh, good."
Lee Seong-hae checked all, took pen, signed boldly.
Employee: Dolphin
At that moment, something amazing happened.
"Ah."
Bloodstains vanished from Lee Seong-hae's body, clean uniform covered her, messy hair neatly tied low.
Severe injuries got mascot-style buckles/stickers, becoming theme park staff decor.
...Like magic.
"Oh."
Lee Seong-hae jumped in place, raising hands.
"Body feels light!"
Good.
'Not just uniform—transforms to staff appearance.'
To work properly.
Good.
Now next guests, guide her to room— Ah!
Lee Seong-hae trying to grab corpses again. Nooo!
No.
Dirties uniform!
'Creepy as hell.'
I suppressed goosebumps looking at the two carelessly dropped bodies.
Pointed at them.
Leave them.
"If I leave them, I die..."
Resort fine.
Strictly, my staff are mascots—my parts.
So while working as staff, resort treats as one bundle.
'That's why everyone's at posts.'
And same team corpses... Hmm. Auto under my kin now.
Mine.
I watched budget mascots drag the two bodies away.
...Don't think about it. Bad for mental health, no spare attention anyway.
Focus on living.
Rest today.
I handed her an undrawn welcome gift.
Golden flower insomnia-curing candle.
"Ooh."
She traced golden flower flame in air, then smiled faintly.
"Kind-hearted mascot."
Thank you.
Lee Seong-hae pumped fists up.
Dolphin fighting pose.
"So where do I work from tomorrow?"
Well...
'Great at cutting troublemakers.'
But might bloody fight or kill unreasonable guests...
'Hmm.'
Held off assignment.
Hold on.
"Yes sir."
Because new roles emerging.
'Resort expansion.'
After closing that day.
'Good.'
I got a solid report card.
'Day 1 satisfaction decent too.'
Today’s 'social distancing' theme effect checkable tomorrow.
Key is...
'Can expand facilities now.'
I looked at the document.
Opening smooth! Guests mostly satisfied, top reason 'theme park-style lodging'.
Excited for new bedding/investment welcome gifts effect.
And... Resort ready for new facility.
Which to open?
Pondering list below...
I watched the pen fly in my paw.
Expected words filled the document.
'...Sigh.'
Pre-thought, easy.
Let's see.
Considering staff traits and ghost story clichés...
'This one.'
I circled one facility with the pen.
Restaurant ghost staple, fitness gore risk, pool overlaps blue zone unpredictable—skip.
'Spa it is.'
Everyone sauna and massage!
I nodded contentedly.
By the way, this choice triggered totally unexpected events.
Two days later.
Our resort guests surge 7x...
'...!?'
And.
...Same day.
First death occurs.