Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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My blood runs cold.
If I had a human body, this would be exactly the sort of situation where I'd use that expression.
I'm being carried in the portable container by two Field Exploration Team employees sprinting madly out of the broadcasting station.
One of them is already contacting the company's Security Team.
This isn't some routine rescue request. It's more like reporting an uncontrollable, catastrophic disaster.
A deadly proliferation of the ghost story.
[...What?]
The security shift supervisor grasps the gravity of the situation the instant the call connects.
[Hold on... just a moment.]
Then he cuts the radio to confer in detail with the company.
In the meantime, I'm thinking.
At minimum, several people—potentially dozens—have footage files stored in their data repositories. Some might even be shared on cloud storage. Isolating editing video files like that...
But that's not something a handful of people can handle.
It requires the power of a strong organization.
However, sitting idle waiting for the company's response isn't the duty of a contract worker... No, time is too short to just wait for the company's full mobilization.
The 'Man in the Screen' has been stimulated by going through the isolation process in the editing room once.
In the worst case, the progression to the worst outcome has accelerated.
So, start with what must be done immediately.
"Yes!"
Next to Lee Seong-hae, who's reporting to the Field Exploration Team, Kang I-hak immediately grabs his phone and connects to the PD.
Hello. I'm calling because I have an urgent question.
"...! Hello. I'm calling because I have an urgent question..."
Kang I-hak astutely reads the black smoke script.
"Does anyone at PBS's variety department editing footage from home or personal studios today? Specifically episodes ending in 6, where the 'Man in the Screen' might appear."
"It's even more urgent if they're working now."
-Of course there are. Uh, why do you ask...
Please contact them.
It's urgent.
-Ah, okay.
The PD sounds a bit taken aback but soon realizes what he's been asked, given the atmosphere.
He seems to be frantically messaging around in a tense state.
And soon...
-...Why isn't this guy picking up?
......
A flustered voice, typing sounds.
-Huh? Wait. No, let me try calling... ...Why isn't he answering?
"PD, listen carefully."
Too late.
Kang I-hak speaks quickly to the frozen PD, chilled to the bone.
"Right now, take down every file ending in episode 6 from the cloud storage your team shares. Deleting them would be even better."
And.
"Make sure to tell everyone editing footage in your variety department: From now on, do not touch any episodes ending in 6. Absolutely. ...And if any are already open."
Kang I-hak's rapid voice reads the smoke script fluidly.
"Do not intentionally look for the 'Man in the Screen,' and do not try to delete it."
-...What the hell is going on,
"I'll explain details later. Just telling you this could get us in trouble. Your side made a huge misjudgment, a mistake."
Without ever writing it down, Kang I-hak naturally shifts the blame to the variety department and continues.
"Phew... Still, since we got something out of it, we'll try to clean up as best we can. For now, give me the address of the guy who didn't pick up."
The terrified PD immediately hands over the address to the Field Exploration Team.
An officetel in Seoul, 20 minutes away.
While racing madly in a grabbed taxi, Lee Seong-hae whispers into my portable container.
"Probability they called the police... pretty high, right?"
Tap tap.
I slightly vent smoke outside the container.
People want to believe the best in situations like this.
Calling the police means it's not just some supernatural scare—it's a real 'serious incident.' So there's a high chance they'll wait a bit before doing that.
And shortly after, we arrive at the first destination.
The moment we board the elevator...
Beep.
"...!"
It's the Security Team.
The Field Exploration Team members frantically grab their radios, but...
[We put in the support request, but... no idea exactly when it'll arrive...]
A very Daydream Corporation response comes back.
[Upper management... uh, the decision's delayed...]
"...!"
[Hoo, looks like they've decided it's not worth the cleanup cost. How vulgar, but fitting for a capitalist corporation.]
Lee Seong-hae's face hardens slightly.
"Then at least have the Security Team members handling 'Employee' come with us."
[Security Team... can't go outside company grounds during the day on our own... equipment reasons.]
"......"
[But.]
The shift supervisor's voice sharpens somewhere.
[I'm equipped for daytime outings due to my duties. So, if it's a situation requiring dispatch for my role... hm.]
"...!"
[That employee in the container there... hard to control, right? Feels like it...]
All eyes turn to me.
"Exactly!"
"I'm dying here! We desperately need help controlling it!"
The Field Exploration Team shouts as they seize the elevator to the destination.
[I see.]
A faint hint of approval.
A very subtle chuckle slips into the shift supervisor's voice before vanishing.
[I'll dispatch...]
And the moment Lee Seong-hae and Kang I-hak board the elevator.
Beep.
A black silhouette rises from the shadow of the radio in their hand.
"...!"
The shift supervisor.
His uniform, wrapping his entire body, is covered in a deep hood etched with strange patterns, unlike his usual dispatch gear.
Beep.
The elevator CCTV goes dark. An aura of intimidation and unease fills the space.
"......"
The shift supervisor reaches out and takes my portable container.
"Someone else from the company is reporting up the chain... so don't worry."
"Got it."
Ding.
The elevator soon arrives at the floor. The three hurry to the assistant director's room number given by the PD...
The front door is open.
"......"
Laughter echoes from inside.
The sound of a variety show.
Tension grips the Field Exploration Team's shoulders.
"I'll go in..."
The shift supervisor opens the door.
From inside my portable container in his hand, I see the scene unfolding through the already-open front door...
The assistant director lies on the floor, eyes gouged out.
"...!!"
A blood-soaked narrow living room, a chair and desk on top, and atop them...
The computer monitor.
The screen flickers.
The editing program is open on the monitor, zoomed in on a man's distorted face. A smile revealing black eyes and teeth. Mouth agape, gaze fixed this way...
Crunch.
The monitor and tower crumple together in one go.
The massive, pitch-black beast's paw roughly retracts to the shift supervisor's shoulder.
"...!!"
"I already copied it to USB, so... smashing the rest like this... should be fine, right?"
Correct answer.
But the dead don't come back.
...Too late.
And one more thing.
"About the door... being open."
The shift supervisor, pressing his mask to use his sense of smell, tilts his head and says.
"Seems like someone else was here... and ran away."
"...!"
"Someone... in another room."
There was a witness.
Unknown how deeply they were entangled in this supernatural event or if they properly grasped the situation.
"......"
At that moment, word from the PD arrives.
-4 people aren't answering calls or reading messages
Confirmed four editing staff from PBS variety department out of contact, one of whom left a weird message in the group chat.
Even just the screenshot sends chills.
-Please pick up, I beg you.
Terror seeps from the PD's messages asking what happened and if the assistant director here is okay. He's desperately sent the addresses of those out of contact.
Everyone on site realizes it fully.
The situation is expanding beyond what individuals can contain.
"First, I'll pass the witness info to the company. Then head to the homes of the remaining out-of-contact people..."
"Nah, Supervisor."
Kang I-hak cuts in.
"Shouldn't we just get out before the police show up?"
"......"
Lee Seong-hae looks at Kang I-hak.
Kang I-hak shows no real interest in the corpse.
Instead, he scans the place like he's appraising valuables or checking market value.
"We've done enough. No guarantee chasing those addresses won't be too late, no extra hazard pay on the line... Honestly, our job ended in the editing room!"
"Oh."
"We reported everything to the company, so leave the rest to them. You should rest too, Supervisor. Haha, we've earned our keep."
"What if we're late and more people die?"
Kang I-hak thumbs up.
"That's for the company to handle!"
"Aha."
Lee Seong-hae smiles faintly and stares at Kang I-hak.
Meanwhile, the shift supervisor stands blankly, detached from the scene.
......
Am I feeling impatient?
Brown seems to be reminiscing about the 'Man in the Screen' he saw.
I recall it too.
The late-night talk show host's reaction to the 'Man in the Screen's' face overtaking the editing room monitor.
-Look at that pathetic sight! Can't accept he's unfit to appear, so he desperately wants even one cut in the footage to peddle his worthless existence!
-Of course. He'd get chased off set on sight. No other way to appear.
Mockery.
Contempt.
Not the dull, faint fear I felt, but vivid verbal expression.
A generous proposal is offered.
......
No.
I can't make that decision.
Yes.
I can't do anything that would clearly harm the company.
Especially if it's directly against work instructions.
Even if it creates a loophole, if it's exposed, stricter constraints will follow...
......
Not fun.
......
Suppose so.
For now, next task. I tear my gaze from the eyeless corpse and suppress the odd heartbeat echo in my chest.
The moment I try to communicate via smoke...
Beep.
"...!"
Security Team.
A voice comes from the radio the shift supervisor presses immediately.
[Supervisor.]
Badger, Assistant Manager Park Minseong's voice.
[De... 130666 doing okay there?]
"Yeah..."
[Phew... good.]
His tone shifts back to the businesslike, polite Security Team voice.
[Company's settled on a response plan. Connecting you now.]
"...!"
The Field Exploration Team's eyes snap to the radio.
The static-filled radio connects with phone noise...
To a call.
Not Director Kwak Je-gang, but someone else.
-Greetings.
......!
-It's been a while since we spoke like this since you signed the contract. News reached me here.
...A leisurely, deep woman's voice.
Director Cheong.
-I've heard good things about your recent work. Seemed like you were adapting well... Hm. This incident was clean too, barring the irregularity.
"Who..."
"...Director Cheong."
"Eek."
-The other employees did their parts admirably too.
"Hahaha, thank you!"
Kang I-hak responds politely at once, but Director Cheong continues only with what she wants to say.
-I got the report on potential mass casualties. Seems like quite the powerful Darkness.
And her word choice confirms my suspicion.
'......'
"Employee?"
If so.
I form words in smoke and show them to the shift supervisor.
"......"
The shift supervisor's eyes narrow.
He probably already knew, given the context.
"...Hm."
Tap tap, he drums the container like a pat and reads my words to Director Cheong on the phone.
"130666 says..."
"...Wasn't this ghost story one the company already had?"
"...!!"
Memory. Mine?
The conversation with the shift supervisor in the Jolly Lab's dream cultivation room.
-What does disposing of Darkness mean?
-Basically... even if cleared by people, if no more solution extracts... we toss it.
The company's manual, eerily clear.
The ghost story that vanished in the 2000s.
Then suddenly reemerging now.
Darkness loses supernatural presence over time, no more Dream Essence solution can be harvested.
In such cases, after deregistering the ID, it's disposed. Some are recycled through research, recharging, etc.
I point to one.
Recycled.
"Did you... deliberately release it back to the public... to restore its 'supernatural presence'? To make it produce Dream Essence again..."
The shift supervisor probably knew.
He was on the Field Exploration Team when this ghost story was registered as Darkness.
And knowing this, rereading the censored part of the documents given at assignment...
Refer to detailed info ■■Record#C16548.
Refer to disposal record#C16548.
Daydream Corporation deliberately released this disposed ghost story back into the broadcasting station.
To let the ghost story proliferate until Dream Essence could be extracted again, recycled again.
"......"
-You know well.
"......!"
-We just managed the ghost story there temporarily and returned it. No one loses out, right? Of course, it's company production know-how, so can't leak outside—everyone who heard will keep quiet.
Lee Seong-hae's quiet breathing is audible.
Director Cheong's calm voice resumes.
-Then that's it.
......
"Pardon?"
-Return to base.
"Is Security Team coming?"
-As if.
What?
-Why would my company waste valuable personnel and capital on civilian disturbances?
Director Cheong says serenely.
-No need to use tiger-slaying blade for a chicken. Tedious, wasteful... I hate that.
-Cleanup's for the agency in charge.
......Agency?
-Yes. They take taxes for that. Use what you pay for.
-Don't let emotions sway you into airing personal views at company—only rookies like Ho Yu-won do that.
Director Ho.
The agency Director Ho holds grudge against...
-Two birds with one stone, actually.
-That dull agency will end the supernatural disaster based on reports. Without knowing we hold the original ghost story source.
......
-So hurry back.
I look up.
-It's been a while since the report to Disaster Management Bureau... They'll show soon.
Somewhere,
bell chimes begin to ring.