Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: An Awkward Homecoming
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42.
……
……Yes?
Ah, no….
The desperate hope of a man who had just been dreaming of the moment he could finally return home from an utterly exhausting ghost story.
It crumbled in an instant.
The only thing filling the emptiness in his heart was the hard texture of the receiver he held in his right hand.
Swallowing tears as he bid farewell to Receiver-kun, who had seemed like such a reliable companion.
Static crackled.
The intruder who had torn us apart appeared.
[Sorry about that, Employee Park Yeon-jeong. I must have looked away for a moment, leaving you to spend some lonely time by yourself.]
No.
The place where I feel the most solitude right now is this very moment with you.
Just moments ago, Park Yeon-jeong had half of his will to live stripped away by Noise.
A sense of emptiness like when his parents had taken away his favorite junk food as a kid.
And anger.
I shot fierce glares at the culprit before me, channeling my misplaced emotions.
His response to my glare was.
[So, how did it go? Did the customer like the item?]
This guy.
He doesn't give a damn about me.
My eyes, which had been glaring at the ceiling speaker with furrowed brows just seconds ago, cooled like a dying ember in an instant.
“…Yes, the customer was satisfied.”
Though we nearly lost an employee in the process.
You do know there's only one employee here, right?
Static crackled.
[Did you have a good talk with the customer?]
“Yes…….”
I nearly lost my purity in the process of chatting with that customer, but since I survived and came back in one piece, that should be good enough.
“They really seemed to love music.”
That felt like a fair assessment.
No point badmouthing the ghost story in front of Noise. I'd be the one who'd suffer for it.
As I kept saying positive things, Noise called out to me in a voice that pitched up in satisfaction.
[As expected of our company's star employee! I knew Employee Park Yeon-jeong could pull it off.]
I'll gladly take the praise.
Static crackled.
[I was worried you might get ■■ed by the customer. Or that your guts might get ■■ed out, or you might get ■■ed.]
“…….”
[I'm so glad you made it back safe and sound.]
No way….
Was Noise indirectly saying that coming back with all my limbs intact was sheer luck?
Strange thoughts kept swirling in my head.
As I reflected on the worst moments that had flashed through my mind, feeling deep gratitude for surviving another day.
Static crackled.
[You did great work today, as always.]
Seeing Noise clearly going through the clock-out procedure, I shouted in a panic.
“N-Noise! Before that, I have a quick question!”
[Yes?]
In the process of serving this ghost story customer, I'd heard some intriguing things about Noise.
Of course, I had no intention of asking every question on my mind.
I wanted to avoid poking at anything that might upset him.
So for now, just two questions.
One of the mysteries from this item's sale.
“The customer today said they would 'pay the price.'”
Back then, the mental trauma was so severe I didn't have a chance to ask.
I was curious why he'd sent me, of all people, just to chat with the customer.
What was his goal in setting this up?
What was he hiding?
I was curious.
So I tossed out the question he was most likely to answer.
Static crackled long and drawn out.
When the noise finally faded and a voice emerged from the speaker.
[Ah, you're talking about our item sales. I never imagined the day would come when I'd discuss official business like this with Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[…Sniff, tears are clouding my vision.]
“…….”
Just tell me already.
After a brief sob session, Noise got back to the point.
[As I said this morning, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[Just an honest conversation with the customer. That's all it takes.]
[The joy from the customer buying our item! Isn't that the pride of achievement? Employee Park Yeon-jeong! That's the ultimate bliss!]
Honestly, I had no idea what this "bliss" he was talking about was.
But one thing was clear: lately, Noise's emotional swings had become even more pronounced.
A bit more intense, maybe.
Overacting more, perhaps.
Either way, I knew I had to be extra careful with how I handled him in moments like this.
“So you're saying you won't take any payment going forward either? Then what's in it for you, Noise?”
As that follow-up question rose in my throat.
[The customers will stick around! So for now, I have no plans to take payment from any customers.]
[Yes……
For the time being, that is.]
Static crackled sharply!
[So let's keep pushing forward together, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[We'll make sure no one forgets our existence. We'll etch it deep into every customer's mind.]
“…Yes, let's do our best……And Noise.”
[…So many questions today?]
[This job must have really motivated you, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
Motivation…he might be right.
That's why I wanted a clear confirmation from him.
The next question was for.
The company's response he'd mentioned.
And for my own motivation.
“Can I help with item sales from now on too?”
[…Employee Park Yeon-jeong, doing sales?]
“Yes, there's definitely a sense of pride in handing over the item and chatting with the customer.”
Total bullshit, of course.
Pride my ass.
I'd just barely survived a near-death experience.
Even just encountering a ghost story and selling an item required risking my life—I'd learned that the hard way.
I had zero desire to go back.
But I'd discovered a new possibility there.
[I'm so fortunate to have someone as passionate about the company as Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[I'm truly a blessed boss!]
Noise not only accepted my proposal eagerly but promised full support.
[Tomorrow, I'll prepare a surprise gift that'll shock Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[Look forward to it.]
“Yes, got it.”
I understood perfectly.
So that was just your Noise-speak? Whatever.
No high expectations here.
The only feeling Park Yeon-jeong got from Noise's words was worry.
Clutching that worry to his chest.
He clocked out.
*****
Thud.
His steps toward home felt heavy.
Even with the welcome prospect of heading home after work, a man's heart was tangled with countless emotions.
Not fear.
Worry and helplessness about how to face her.
He'd never even dated, let alone married, but he could suddenly understand why married men dreaded going home.
……Or maybe not.
Thud, thud.
Park Yeon-jeong had been pacing endlessly in front of his front door, wasting time without entering the house right there.
It had been 30 minutes already.
What should he say first when he saw Soi?
Nothing came to mind.
-Soi, I'm your dad.
-My beloved daughter Soi. Let's hug.
-I'm your father.
What the hell am I doing?
Realizing how pointless this was after 30 minutes made his head spin.
……Fine.
Just act normal.
No matter that I'd created her, she wasn't really my flesh and blood—she was a ghost story.
And look at Soi.
She looked mature enough to pass for my age.
If I'd given birth to a Soi like that.
When I was a newborn…….
Don't think stupid thoughts. Just treat her like always.
Yeah.
“She's just a ghost story. What daughter?”
Muttering it aloud, he spat out his resolve to not waver.
Just treat Soi normally and enjoy the warm meals she makes.
Thud.
Park Yeon-jeong's steps, heavy until moments ago, now marched forward with confident certainty.
Click.
He unlocked the front door without hesitation and entered.
Slam!
He threw open the entryway door with more force than ever.
And right before Park Yeon-jeong's eyes.
……!!
“…Ah, Master is home.”
“……B-baseball bat.”
“Ah, the baseball bat just fell…….”
Thud.
He dropped to his knees too.
For some reason, Soi was gripping a baseball bat in one hand, and the moment he saw it, his legs gave out.
Did she……hear what I said outside?
“M-Master?”
To the ghost story daughter he might have hurt with his slip of the tongue.
Park Yeon-jeong spoke with sincerity.
“I-I'll take full responsibility!”
“……Pardon?”
“I'll do my absolute best to look after you so you're not uncomfortable! So please…forgive this foolish father!”
Please put down that baseball bat!
Hitting me with it would make it official 'filial impiety'!
Park Yeon-jeong begged desperately, hands clasped until they burned.
Watching the scene, Soi stood with the bat in one hand, her face flushing red like the kimono she wore.
“Y-You'll……take responsibility for me?”
“Yes!”
“…….”
Thud!
Flinch!
The wooden bat fell limply to the floor. My hands stopped too.
“……Master.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Why was I always in this position? Tears welled in his eyes.
“Is there anything you'd like to eat?”
“……Pardon?”
“I'll make whatever food Master desires. It's a happy day today, after all.”
…Huh?
For some unknown reason, Soi's face had cleared up, and she was smiling at Park Yeon-jeong brighter than he'd imagined.
That sight.
Stirred up yet another emotion: fear.
“Master.”
“Yes!”
“You haven't said what food you'd like.”
Under the inexplicable pressure from Soi, the only word flashing through Park Yeon-jeong's mind was one.
“D-Doenchjang jjigae!”
“Is that okay? It seems like the usual.”
“S-Soi's doenchjang jjigae is so delicious, I never get tired of it!”
“…….”
Hehe.
Her soft chuckle brushed his ear.
“Then, as always, shower first today……I'm already looking forward to the night.”
Hehehe.
With that, Soi vanished into the kitchen, letting out an eerie laugh.
And that one phrase from her lips lingered in his mind.
-I'm already looking forward to the night.
I'm not looking forward to it at all, Soi….
Dinner that night was, as always, exquisite. But today's meal wasn't satisfying.
He couldn't tell if the food was going in his mouth or his nose. And why had Soi's gaze been fixed on him more than usual today?
Scary.
And then the fateful time arrived.
Maybe because he hadn't slept properly since last night.
After finishing the meal.
An indescribable wave of extreme fatigue crashed over him.
“Master.”
“Wha—huh!”
In his hazy consciousness, on the verge of drifting off to dreamland, Soi was suddenly standing before him.
“You look tired. You should get some sleep.”
“Y-Yeah…guess so.”
Truth be told, he'd been fighting off sleep intensely for a while now.
But he couldn't close his eyes comfortably.
If he fell asleep like this.
He genuinely worried tonight might be his last in a coffin.
……Zzz.
His eyelids were so heavy.
It felt like Earth's gravity was only pulling on them.
Amid the shaking illusion of shifting tectonic plates.
“…No…more…….”
Thump.
After that, his consciousness cut out on the dining chair.
The last scene in his vision was Soi's eerie smile.
Slipping down.
The fabric of her clothes sliding off her shoulders was his final memory.
'Even ghost stories change clothes, huh.'
That was the last thought of the man called Soi's father, as he closed his eyes looking at his daughter.