Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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“Think it over carefully.”
A civil servant dressed like a stereotypical serial killer said this in a trustworthy tone.
“It's a permanent position with no risk of layoff until retirement at age 65. Special allowances are set for this line of work too.”
Why was I sitting here listening to what felt like a job fair for the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau?
“If you're the type who keeps getting caught up in supernatural phenomena anyway, wouldn't it be better to get proper pay and institutional protection?”
I'm already getting that...
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't imagine a grade 8 civil servant making more money than someone at a pharmaceutical megacorp!
But there was no way I could blurt out that I worked for Daydream Corporation, even if it tore my mouth apart.
I didn't want to get flagged as a person of interest and reported to the Bureau!
I should've just stuck to texting.
I'd agonized over it and chosen voice messages for faster communication, more persuasive impact, and punchiness, but now I was starting to regret it.
Cold sweat prickling, I opened my mouth.
For starters, they seemed to see me as a 'civilian who gets easily entangled in supernatural phenomena,' so I'd lean into that...
“This time was really scary, so I tried to do something about it somehow, but I don't have the ability to eliminate supernatural phenomena like this. Agent? No way.”
“......”
The civil servant looked at me with eyes that said, Are you serious?
What? Why?
“You identified the lodge keeper as the culprit behind this incident and terminated the contract to prevent any further occurrences, right?”
“Well... yes?”
“So, through your own judgment, you brought this supernatural phenomenon to a complete end, didn't you?”
“......”
“A natural talent.”
No, it's not.
It's just wiki knowledge...
“Sorry, but I really don't think it'll work. This time, I even consulted with a friend who was with me...”
Come on, please.
“I can't fight well or anything to qualify as an agent.”
“Special abilities.”
The corner of the civil servant's mouth twitched up.
“There are... specific ways to acquire them.”
“...!”
“You'll learn the details after being hired.”
This guy's relentless.
“What makes you think I'd...”
“Don't you have a small silver badge shaped like a shield right now?”
“...!!”
“That's why.”
Damn it.
Sharp one.
I'd considered this scenario, but I deliberately acted more startled, jumping in exaggerated surprise.
“Huh? H-how did you...”
“That's persuasion equipment used by the Disaster Management Bureau. I heard it used to be distributed to civilians who'd performed great deeds in the past... but you're the first person I've seen who can actually use it.”
“Ah......”
“It's an item only good people can wield, so it serves as a kind of certification.”
And he eyed me appraisingly.
“Were you keeping it in your pocket?”
This guy's smart too.
Pretending not to know here would just make me more suspicious.
Better to acknowledge its effects and move on.
Don't forget— it only works for 'good people'!
They won't bother confiscating it. No precedent unless you've caused trouble.
Thankfully, my brain spun wildly, and a seamless response popped out.
I rummaged in my pocket with a slightly wistful, story-laden expression and pulled out the small silver badge.
Mentioning the most natural, legitimate origin where having it wouldn't seem odd.
“...It was handed down from family.”
The goods box was family starting today.
“I heard it's for gaining a voice in emergencies......”
“Yes.”
The civil servant nodded, looking at me with a touch of pity.
“You have a fine family.”
“......”
Did he just assume 'they're watching from heaven now'?
In a way, it wasn't wrong, but whatever...
I tried not to think of the black goods box floating in the sky as I said,
“They told me not to volunteer for dangerous work, and I want to honor that as much as possible...”
“......”
It matched what my parents had said when they tried to dissuade me from finance, and joining this company wasn't exactly voluntary anyway. Not a lie. No lies!
“...I understand.”
The civil servant eyed me with some regret but backed off readily.
“Can't be helped, then.”
Phew.
And so the nerve-wracking job fair came to an end.
With an unexpected gain, too.
“If you ever have doubts or troubles, give me a call.”
As we left the lodge, the civil servant gave me another contact.
But this one was different.
Ryu Jaegwan
010-XXXX-XXXX
“This is my work line.”
Oh.
“Better than the business card I gave earlier. That one might take time for a response team to deploy, and you never know what kind of agent you'll get.”
In other words, a ghost story escape free pass.
I swapped it out like exchanging a cassette tape.
Who knew it'd come to this.
Before I could suggest we exchange names properly, I moved to head back... though they'd probably investigate me anyway.
In that case.
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly on purpose.
“Um, back at Salmon Market, I was too scared for texts... but next time, I'd like to talk like this again.”
“Of course.”
“And... could you keep my identity confidential? It's burdensome... and scary.”
“......”
The civil servant paused briefly.
“Just go as you are.”
He let it slide.
Yes!
Keeping me as unidentified?
Left room for future deals too. Perfect.
Next time, less suspicion, sell more food.
“Safe travels down.”
“You too, Agent.”
I shook the civil servant's hand.
He hopped on his bike and left.
Even when he made one last pitch on parting, I deflected naturally.
—Honestly, these situations wear me out... I'm at my limit now. I don't think I can handle it.
That part was true.
Baek Saheon, wipe that creepy look off your face.
The civil servant seemed to have said it out of mild regret too; he nodded and pedaled off without lingering.
Along with some practical advice: leave before the 'Cleanup Team' arrives.
Better bolt now.
I left the lodge front where the landslide debris and bus stop had vanished like a lie, starting down the hiking trail.
Whew.
Tension finally eased.
—Over these past few days, forsaking sleep for that artistic final cut— this Brown knows your efforts! Good work.
Yeah. Freaking creepy, scary, exhausting...
Thrown alone into a horror story like this— the Bureau's no joke.
Had Daydream Corporation's stock ever rated higher in my mind than today?
At least they pay money and points.
Like the saying— even serfs serve in the lord's house.
Though maybe not as rewarding...
I glanced back at my coworker, who'd shared in that unrewarding labor.
“Let's head down right now. This damn lodge...!”
“......”
“Freaking hell, no points or money, caught up in crap like this!”
“You have something to say first.”
Baek Saheon shut his mouth.
Turned to me and spoke defensively.
“Can't pay for something like this. I didn't even ask you to save me.”
Oh, really?
“The cassette swap reward went all to you... Assistant Manager Kim Sol-eum. That settles it, right?”
“Oh.”
I grinned.
“Funny. Got the guts to say that to the guy who blew his weekend and went AWOL because of you?”
“......”
Baek Saheon's face paled, then flushed.
He asked with effort,
“......What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“...?!”
“It was fun, actually.”
“...!!”
I strode down the mountain path.
Footsteps scrambling after me, and a delayed response.
“...Fine, I'll admit the weekend and AWOL caused you trouble.”
“......”
“But.”
Oh.
“I'll wire three days' pay. Wait for it.”
“Sure.”
But moments later.
As we entered cell range and data kicked in, Baek Saheon yelled.
“The dates are the same!”
Exactly.
Didn't he know time flows differently in horror stories? It's a rule.
“Anyway, I spent three days.”
“...!”
But I secured the pay, and Baek Saheon stared at me— a mix of injustice, relief, and irritation— before hastily averting his eyes and fleeing.
—Haha, even without this, you seem the type who won't survive unscathed!
Yeah, kinda.
Truth was, I had something else to say.
Didn't expect him not to say thanks till the end.
Truly remarkable in every way.
Less vicious than in the Darkness Exploration Records wiki, seemed to have a drop of blood and tears...
Earlier, when the civil servant met this guy in the basement, he'd eyed him coldly and advised me.
—One inherits a silver heart, another a cassette tape...
—......
—Better choose who it suits.
—Yeah. Yes. Thank you.
Well then.
The government had only requisitioned tapes from confirmed villains.
So this guy... was government-certified scum.
Even if I let it slide for his 'goodness,' at least one entry point in Baek Saheon's acquisition route was a villain.
—...It was at home. From a relative.
......Relative, huh.
Fits to have a backstory.
But I stopped thinking.
No leisure to dig into wiki characters' backstories.
Survive the horror company first.
A few days later.
“Assistant Manager Kim!”
Heading to buy coffee on an errand for my boss, a familiar face called out in the hallway.
Lee Byung-jin, the manual reviewer who'd gone missing.
“Ah~ congrats. Knew our Assistant Manager Kim would make it big!”
We've known each other less than two months, but...
“Top of your class on entry, scouted by A Squad, saved me too, connections in security, and now super-fast promotion? Nice!”
“Thank you.”
Not thrilled, but I replied anyway.
But Lee Byung-jin didn't wrap up casually; he lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“Heard Director Ho's got his eye on you.”
“......”
“Best upper management in the company. Don't miss the chance.”
Chance...?
“Rumor he runs a top-secret external project team under him... could transfer there.”
Haha. You have no idea.
In horror world logic, 'top-secret external' means survival rate under 50%...
Instead of saying that, I politely shook my head.
“Less than half a year since joining; I won't aim for that. I'll just work hard in my assigned spot.”
“Krr, humble too! Good eye on my part. Haha!”
Grateful he'd forgotten my high-handed security guard act so easily. People adapt to environments, huh.
Lee Byung-jin patted my shoulder admiringly a few times, then left with,
“Anyway, curious where you're headed. Really!”
“......?”
Odd nuance.
Why assume I'm going somewhere?
The doubt cleared soon enough.
That afternoon.
“Hey, Deer. Even if you switch squads, let's meet up sometimes. Never even bought you meals.”
Huh?
I blinked at the slightly downcast assistant manager.
Switch squads?
Did I... get demoted somewhere weird?
Director eyeing me was just a bluff to lower guards and shock for reactions?
Why pull such pointless evil on a peon...!?
“Would prefer you stay on our team... but seeing how things are going.”
Thankfully, before panic set in, the deputy manager kindly explained.
Field Exploration Teams usually have 3 per squad, but extras are for newbie training.
And until this assistant manager got promoted, I'd been attached as extra.
“But you're assistant manager now.”
Ah.
I'd been excluded from the standard case.
“Likely to bounce elsewhere... but maybe not to worry.”
I asked with faint hope.
“Any exceptions?”
“Nah... probably fits exactly 3. Keep this between us.”
“Huh?”
The deputy manager smirked.
“I'm quitting soon.”
“...!!”
A coworker escape notice dropped!