Chapter 185
Chapter 185
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Resort Manager
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I remember.
The time when I had just been promoted to assistant manager at Daydream Corporation.
I got dragged into the serial killer cabin ghost story because of my roommate, but I barely cleared it without killing anyone.
And as a reward, this tattoo I 'inherited' from the cabin owner.
Afterward, I upgraded it at Moonlight Tattoo Shop to use part of the cabin's space like an inventory, but that wasn't the tattoo's true essence.
The lodge keeper's employment authority.
It was a contract allowing me to command the servant who ran the serial killer cabin.
But I couldn't use it.
-However, presumptuously, there are certain qualifications required of my employer.
-Innate, existential nobility is necessary.
That was fine. I'd only stolen the employment contract to stop the cabin ghost story anyway.
But... right now, at this moment.
The one possessing innate, existential nobility.
The employment contract declares.
That I meet the criteria.
"You called for me."
Suddenly, standing across from me, holding the employment contract, was a man in ragged clothes.
In his hand was the red wax seal that had originally closed his contract, unbroken.
The lodge keeper.
His head was covered by worn clothing, but the servant gazed at me quietly with an air of dignity and formality.
'......!'
"Having met the qualifications of my employer, I stand before you to labor according to your commands, by the authority of the contract."
Wait a second.
I hurriedly drew out black smoke to move.
This ability had been deemed unfit for 'Flower Golden Resort' staff, making movement even harder.
Moreover, the black smoke turned golden midway, but anyway, it successfully redrew the letters.
Where did that judgment come from?
"I have some doubts myself, but that's not for me to judge."
Ha!
He speaks of
his own criteria for
nobility.
"Understood."
Like a proper servant, the lodge keeper immediately opened his mouth.
"Extraordinary birth."
...!
"Promised legacy and power. The existence of those who beseech him for fear and mercy."
And...
"As the lord exercising merciless and powerful dominion over the parasites, visitors, intruders, and challengers of the territory."
...I have no idea why every explanation sounds like something out of a disaster god. Isn't nobility usually tied to kindness or something?
No, come to think of it, the guy who lured people to the cabin with promises of inheritance and made them kill each other was that lodge keeper's master.
'Brutal...'
The more I hear, the clearer it is these aren't conditions for humans.
But it seems everything I've done since my rebirth as the ghost story mascot fits perfectly.
'The theme park yellow zone was judged as my territory...?'
Just one thing I don't understand.
"Indeed. You've possessed it since we first met."
The lodge keeper bowed his head again.
But do I have something like that?
Noticing my confusion, the lodge keeper politely extended both hands to point at something.
"It is proven by a mark stronger than the token of my employment contract."
...!
I reflexively looked down at my left arm, hidden by my security team uniform.
My other tattoo.
The mark given by the blue mascot.
I turned my head to the gate. The blue mascot was saying something smugly from somewhere.
I
Protector of
Good Children
'...!!'
Good Children
Must Be Protected
Wait a second.
So the meaning of this tattoo... in Latin, it encompasses 'companion, member, kin' or something like that?
I'd interpreted the annual theme park membership burning onto my wrist as a VIP pass.
But actually, it's something stronger...
'He marked me as... family he protects?'
I locked eyes with the cutely deformed blue dragon.
Gratitude and unease flashed through me simultaneously.
It was surely goodwill, and I'd definitely benefited or escaped crises thanks to it several times.
But in the end, because of that mascot's goodwill, haven't I become trapped in this jolly theme park?
And moreover.
Since dawn today, I have this strange feeling that the blue dragon's voice is coming through clearer...
'......'
I stared stiffly at the blue mascot, and the mascot, along with the surrounding staff, seemed restless, their movements fidgety.
That was when.
The lodge keeper's voice rang out.
"Shall I be assigned to manage your territory?"
Wait.
Can Work Here
in This Resort?
"Of course. Will you command me to operate the territory called 'Flower Golden Resort'?"
He professed polite formality, but somewhere in the question lingered a hint of urging or anticipation.
Suddenly, I recalled how those fully bound by the resort's employee contracts worked with such delight.
Even I, immersed as the mascot in operations.
"That is unimportant. Only the employer's will matters."
Employer's Will:
Curious
"...I am a being employed to manage his territory on behalf of the noble one."
The lodge keeper spoke.
"I have diligently tended the noble one's cabin all this time, but if you entrust me with a greater duty, you can command even more powerful servants befitting it..."
A flicker of desire to become a more powerful being appeared and vanished.
So, managing a larger place like this resort would let him wield even greater abilities.
Wait.
You said proxy?
Then...
Can Operate Even If
I'm Not Here?
"Yes. I am the servant employed for that proxy role."
A shiver ran through my body.
Every operating zone in the jolly theme park requires a mascot.
I couldn't abandon my officially recognized mascot role after completing the ceremony ritual, but with a perfect proxy...
Could I leave?
"Shall we proceed?"
I nodded.
That instant.
"I shall labor according to your commands."
The lodge keeper's appearance began to change.
"...!"
The ragged sackcloth vanished, replaced by a resort-employee uniform and suit.
White gloves, neatly combed-back black hair, dress shoes, monocle, and even the yellow mascot's signature mask.
And...
The name tag too.
"Thank you."
I had employed the lodge keeper as manager.
The now tidy lodge keeper straightened his posture and politely extended the red wax in his hand once more.
The wax turned golden.
It resealed the labor contract made of light particles before me, then the entire contract turned golden and merged back into my tattoo.
I watched the light vanish between my security team clothes.
"The inherited employment contract period is 1,241 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 23 seconds by solar calendar."
That was plenty. I'd use a Wish Grant to leave before then anyway.
The important part.
Now I could leave here without abandoning my mascot self.
Because there was a manager to work in my stead.
The moment relief made my head tingle.
Whispers came from behind among the staff.
"Is that one from security team's special division too?"
"Maybe that's why they did this exploration..."
"Wait, 'that's why'? What do you mean? They weren't planning to come in but caught something?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Probably that security team..."
Damn.
I hurriedly cut off the conversation before the Disaster Management Bureau learned more about me.
Golden smoke formed letters.
Your Choice
▶ Resign
▶ Stay
"...!"
"Re, resign!"
"I'll resign!"
Wise decisions.
'I was planning to get them out right away anyway.'
The atmosphere flipped in an instant.
I watched the staff tear their hastily offered basic mascot labor contracts and sign resignation confirmations.
'Get everyone out first.'
One by one, the staff uniforms vanished, returning them to their original attire.
To give them the items I'd promised, I guided them to the gift shop via basic mascots.
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, but part of the red zone had been incorporated into the yellow, swallowing the gift shop too.
'Stick to safe ones.'
But a few didn't follow my guidance.
"Ah. Thank you."
For instance, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae thanked me but didn't head straight to the gift shop or gate.
Precisely, as his uniform vanished, he staggered and carefully sat on the floor.
'...!'
The injuries from before he became resort staff reappeared.
No longer needing to work as staff.
"Oof."
The assistant manager with cracks in both legs looked at me comfortably from near the gate to the blue zone.
Recommend Quick Return
for Injury Treatment
"I'm fine! Let's go together."
Manager Lee Jaheon glanced at me and the manager, checked the remaining people, then just stood still by the gate.
No!
'Get out.'
All of you, out!
"You go first and report to rescue."
"Yes, sir!"
No, Team Leader, why aren't you leaving...!
I secretly wiped cold sweat as I watched the Xuanwu Team leader, who had shone with the signing sword yesterday, send off his team members first and stand by the gate with arms crossed.
Anyway, the urgent fire was out.
Remaining: one agent, one elite team employee, one Lizard manager.
'A lineup that seems tight-lipped.'
And...
Two employees wearing yellow mascot masks.
Those who couldn't resign.
'......'
Judging by Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae's state, if those two canceled their contracts... they'd revert to pre-employee status too.
In other words, corpses.
'Sigh.'
I looked back at the manager.
He had remained motionless in polite greeting posture while I handled things.
And asked again.
"Are these the workers to labor at the resort?"
Pointing at the two remaining employees.
'...!'
Suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind.
If I could leave while still mascot...
They Will Leave
Territory with Me
Couldn't the employees follow me out too?
"Presumptuously, those contracted as resort workers cannot easily leave this place."
A basic mascot offered the employment contracts I'd signed into the manager's hand; he meticulously checked the documents and declared so.
But I didn't back down.
Workplace Irrelevant
Those Contracted to Me
And I raised my hand to point at the signature section of the employment contract.
Employer: GOLDEN
See?
Subordinate to Me
Not Territory
But to Me
"......"
The manager seemed to ponder briefly.
As if reviewing conflicts with resort policy... soon, he raised his head and nodded.
"Command received."
Done!
"Then, with exporting the employees..."
"Wait."
Then, the team leader who'd been watching our conversation urgently interjected.
Precisely, looking at me.
"You can send them out, right? Then, any thought of selling your 'employees'?"
......!
I reflexively formed smoke.
Employees Are Not for Sale;
They Are Honest Workers
"......"
The team leader seemed momentarily speechless.
He looked at me with eyes unsure if wronged or exasperated, but soon sighed and said,
"Y-yeah, right. Then dispatch them instead. I'll pay. Got quite a few interesting items."
Ah.
"Hey, that long-haired employee there. Send that one."
And the team leader pointed at one person.
...Jang Heo-un.
"I'll take him."
I glanced at the two employees, then realized something.
Cannot Let Jang Heo-un
Fall into Ho Executive Director's Hands
No matter how I thought about it, better to go to the Disaster Management Bureau than to Ho Executive Director like this; who knows what fate awaited if he went as is.
How amusing would it be? Sent a spy disguised as a ghost story creature, only for another fully corrupted spy as a local to come running.
Even if Ho Executive Director wasn't cruel enough to find it fun, it was a problem.
'Lost a spy.'
After giving convenience, he'd suffered a loss, and the anger directed at me would spill onto innocent Jang Heo-un too.
No telling what insane method he'd use, but it wouldn't be humane.
'But recovery possible at Disaster Management Bureau?'
He infiltrated as a spy to begin with; no certainty what would happen.
Fierce debate raged in my head.
And I reached a conclusion, forming smoke letters once more.
"...! Good. Then as payment..."
Wait.
Dispatch Labor
Safety & Wage Guarantee
Contract First
"......"
After lengthy discussion with the team leader, we drafted the contract and each took a copy.
Thus, Jang Heo-un's affiliation transferred.
"My workplace has changed! Please take care of me going forward, Agent!"
Jang Heo-un bowed to me saying he'd return after work, then followed the agent without hesitation.
'Don't return.'
I hoped the Disaster Management Bureau found a way to restore Jang Heo-un intact.
Or...
'...At least enough for Jang Heo-un to fool Ho Executive Director pretending to work fine as spy.'
...Then I could win a Wish Grant.
With that share of Wish Grant, restore Jang Heo-un to alive pre-employee state.
'Worth trying... maybe.'
I quietly clenched my fist.
And... while handling the ladybug employee, I held back a sigh.
"Yes. Preparing workplace change!"
Honestly, this guy... no way to win another Wish Grant, and it was self-inflicted karma, so no helping him.
'Still, transfer custody to Daydream at least.'
That seemed right.
If I could take him out, I had to.
"Is the cleanup complete?"
After that, I finished handover and info sharing with the manager.
About resort operation policies, profit distribution, and...
"Confirmed the unique implementation method in the contract."
About the tattoo's inventory function too.
"The temporary space you used will be cleared, and a new one prepared in the resort. Henceforth, you can comfortably send directives to your territory through that gap."
This tattoo would now serve as a strange communication portal.
'Another upgrade.'
Finally, I asked the manager.
For the most basic communication.
His name.
Introduce Yourself
Your Name
"Call me as you wish."
"...Then, please address me as Resort Manager."
I nodded.
The one now to be called manager, not lodge keeper, bowed to me; I turned and headed to the blue mascot by the gate.
The blue mascot, having eavesdropped, spoke desperately from somewhere.
Now Here
Is Our Home
Sigh.
I shook my head.
Blue Mascot
Shocked
Why?
Bad Mascot
Eaten
As if desperately trying to persuade me, the blue dragon waved both front paws.
Now Gone
Safe
I shook my head as politely as possible.
And formed words with smoke.
Have Duties
My Obligation
The blue mascot's shoulders slumped, but it seemed to accept it eventually.
Probably believing I'd return since I was still the owner of this theme park zone.
Instead, he hastily fetched something using another body.
And carefully tossed it to me from beyond the gate.
Like with the churros and snacks before.
I reflexively caught it with both hands.
A scale.
The black-and-blue scale reflected sunlight in strange rainbow iridescence, then rippled with blue waves inside.
I
Can Be Called
'...!'
...No way, is this scale part of his true form from inside the costume doll?
'Can... call him with it? Should I?'
Either way, it was undoubtedly something extraordinarily powerful, so I nodded and pocketed the scale.
The blue mascot gazed at me steadily, and I shook hands with the mascot.
Then the mascot reached through the gate, pulled me in, and hugged tightly.
'Good thing he sees me as staff.'
...And good thing I was wearing the security team suit.
"Then, shall we head back?"
I gladly nodded.
Supporting the leg-cracked Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae with Manager Lee Jaheon, we stopped at the gift shop before heading to the exit gate.
One of Fantasy Land's entrances had changed to yellow zone symbols.
Looking up at it, Assistant Manager Lee Seonghae muttered,
"Hmm. Even entering via board games now, we'll probably end up here, right? Once involved this deep, things usually... 'connect' like that."
A meaningful guess.
But escape first; I desperately needed rest... truly, desperately.
'Let's go.'
We stamped our used tickets side by side at the gate.
Beep.
And exited the gate together.
From behind, the now-familiar blue mascot's voice faintly echoed, it seemed...
The next moment.
"Huuuuh!"
We all opened our eyes together in Daydream Corporation's research team office chairs.
Escape after 6 days.