Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work [Novel] Chapter 12 - Chapter 12 is available as a full text chapter. Published May 16, 2026 and updated May 16, 2026.
Translator: Nox
Chapter 12
I Still Have to Go to Work Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story
I Still Have to Go to Work Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story Chapter 12
I Still Have to Go to Work Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story 012
A horrific stench spread through the studio.
Walking into the center of the spotlight was a bipedal creature with the head of a pig.
Its body was skeletal and gaunt.
Blood dripped from the eyes of the massive, dead pig head that sat where its own should have been.
[One moment, please. He’s a silent artist, you see… Ah! Right now, the maestro’s equipment is coming in!]
Thirteen silver trays descended from the air, suspended by wires.
The large, round silver trays were thick and intricately decorated with delicate engravings.
Screaming faces. Countless of them, hanging like clusters of grapes.
[Now then, shall we meet our passionate participants who volunteered to be members of the choir?]
Light flickered on over each podium.
Standing on six podiums were the pale, terrified figures of humans.
[See some familiar faces from last week? Haha, I wonder if our participants, who kept their 99th consecutive winning streak, can set their 100th record in this new segment?]
[Stay tuned! It will be revealed shortly!]
Waaaaah!
The audience seats were empty. Yet, recorded sound mechanically filled the room.
[But the first honor must go to our first participant!]
The host stood before an employee I didn’t know.
The employee, wearing a mole mask, hunched their shoulders.
[Here is the question.]
Flash.
[Which of the following creatures has the longest lifespan?]
- Pig
- Human
- Rabbit
- Flea
“H-Human. Number 2, human…!”
[Correct!]
A flicker of relief crossed the eyes behind the mole mask.
Right. In the original Tuesday Talk Show, the turn would have passed with a cheer.
But in this new segment, a new stage had been added.
[Congratulations on passing, Mr. Mole!]
The bleeding pig-headed conductor raised a skeletal arm and flourished a silver baton.
The mole mask was ripped away along with the head.
[What a beautiful harmony this will make!]
Thud.
The headless participant’s body fell to the floor below the podium like a puppet with its strings cut.
“…!”
The employee’s head, and only the head, floated into the air and was displayed upon a silver tray.
The mouth was still gasping.
[We will awaken the appropriate talent in each participant. Oh, marvelous. Simply marvelous…]
As the pig raised both arms, a clear, transparent scream suddenly began to ring out from the employee’s gasping mouth, following a melody.
“H-Human. It’s human, human, humaaaaaaagh!”
It sounded as if someone were forcibly wringing their vocal cords to create the melody of a woodwind instrument.
[Finally, our first member has taken his place!]
The choir practice began.
Endlessly repeating the last words they spoke before their head was severed.
======================
The ‘Choral of Mountain Sacrifices’ consists of one conductor and the
13 silver trays
he summons.
The heads of talk show participants are placed on the silver trays, and the selection process is determined by that day’s
broadcast segment.
The heads fused with the silver trays each produce different sentences and instrument sounds to form an
a cappella
arrangement.
The maximum number of heads on record is 7.
One head
: Induces mild headaches, anxiety, and sudden mood swings.
======================
If I were in the comfortable position of just reading a ghost story…
I might think, It’s only one head so far, so for such a terrifying situation, isn’t the effect manageable?
But when you’re actually in this insane situation, those words won’t come out.
Just like the employee who was directly affected.
“Aaaaagh!! S-Si-yeon, Si…!”
Incinerated.
The light on another podium went out. The corpse, turned to ash, scorched the floor beneath it.
The gasping head that remained continued to sing the bizarre melody.
“H-Human. Number 2. Humaaaaaaan!”
[Next is… ah, another new face. Mr. Jellyfish! Let’s look forward to seeing if he can create a wonderful choral harmony with our successful participant!]
[Now, the question is…]
“I don’t know! I don’t know the answer!”
The employee wearing the nameless jellyfish mask shouted before even reading the question.
It seemed his instinct had decided it would be better to get the quiz wrong and take the penalty.
[My goodness!]
It was an impressive display of judgment.
…Though it was futile.
[Failed.]
His head exploded.
Like fireworks, the light of the sparkling mirror ball and a shower of flower petals scattered across the studio.
The recorded reaction of the audience—a mix of disappointed sighs and cheers—filled the studio.
[Oh dear, you failed! How unfortunate…]
[He could not join the great choir!]
“…….”
Right.
‘The penalty system is gone; if you don’t get the quiz right, you’re automatically disqualified.’
I blinked.
It didn’t feel real.
That half the people were dead within five minutes of starting the recording.
And that there was no exit.
Only three remained.
The Deputy Manager and the Assistant Manager of Team D.
And me.
[Now, shall we meet our next participant? Oh, some familiar faces!]
“…….”
I recalled a fact I had been ignoring.
…I had never seen the names of these superiors in the original story either.
It was the same as Go Young-eun, my fellow recruit.
I remembered what I thought when I first heard Go Young-eun’s name.
—Either they handled the ghost stories relatively easily and resigned early.
—Or they died quickly.
[Mr. Badger!]
The Assistant Manager among us was called first.
Park Min-seong.
Standing on the podium furthest from me, the Assistant Manager’s jaw went pale with terror.
A death sentence. Soon, I would be next…
[It is your turn to answer!]
No.
‘Get it together!’
I punched my stomach, hidden by the podium.
The pain cleared my head a little.
‘Being a coward or whatever isn’t an excuse.’
This wasn’t a situation ruled by that kind of fear.
‘It’s a disaster.’
In other words, it was the overwhelming feeling one gets when witnessing a natural catastrophe right in front of them.
I had been swept up in an unexpected natural disaster. Yes, that was it… there’s no answer if I panic here. I won’t survive even if I could.
I mustn’t forget. You’re the one here with the highest probability of survival!
I have to think.
‘Right.’
I have information and items.
[Mr. Badger, are you ready?]
While the host and the staff’s eyes were off me, wasn’t there anything I could try? Really?
I desperately recalled the items I possessed. I obsessively reviewed the characteristics of this ghost story.
‘I don’t ask for much.’
If only I could get out.
It’s not like I’m trying to get this crazy talk show canceled or anything. Just for a moment, just stop for a second and…
Ah.
I raised my head.
Right next to me, I could see the back of the host.
He was about to give the quiz to the Assistant Manager.
[You seem ready! Good…]
He was close.
‘…In that case!’
I hid my trembling hands under the podium. I lowered my body slightly and pulled out two items from the inner pocket of my suit jacket.
A cheap sticker with a smiling emoticon and a canned bottle labeled ‘Drink Me.’
‘Hurry.’
I popped the can.
Then I shoved the peeled Smile Stickers into the can.
Faster, faster.
“…Ah. Before I answer, may I say a word to the viewers?”
[Oh, of course!]
The Assistant Manager pretended to look at the camera while glancing toward me.
Toward the podiums where the Deputy Manager and I stood.
“…I have a family member in the hospital. I’d appreciate it if someone could check on them after this filming is over! If possible.”
[My, how touching!]
[So, the answer is?]
The Assistant Manager gave a thin smile, sweat pouring down his face.
“I don’t kno—”
“Wait a moment.”
I raised my left hand.
“Mr. Host.”
While drawing his attention that way,
I reached out with my right hand and stuck three or four of the soaked Smile Stickers all at once onto the bottom of the spherical TV that served as the host’s head.
“…….”
Splash. A drop of liquid fell to the floor.
Did the camera catch it? Did he notice?
No, if he had, my head would have exploded already.
[Oh, Roe Deer! Do you have something to say?]
He didn’t notice.
I swallowed hard.
Turning my head, I saw the Assistant Manager looking at me with bewildered eyes.
He seemed shocked that I had interrupted the host and spoken out of turn without being incinerated.
It was definitely a gamble.
‘But there’s a basis for it.’
The host said it earlier, didn’t he?
—It’s even a recorded broadcast, so it’ll be easier than before! Haha!
In other words, this current filming wasn’t a live broadcast.
‘If that’s the case, as long as I don’t completely ruin the flow or act uncooperatively, it might not be considered interfering with the broadcast.’
Just raising a hand and making a personal comment should be—!
[Roe Deer?]
He let it slide.
“Yes.”
I caught a glimpse of the bottom of the host’s TV where the water was dripping.
Then, I lowered my voice so only the host could hear.
“Um, I feel very dizzy. Could I… rest for a moment?”
[…….]
What I just did…
Smile Sticker
An item that induces a weak sense of affinity when attached to a sentient being.
Alice Picnic Set / Canned Drink
An item that doubles the effect of another.
I soaked the stickers in the drink and attached them to him.
…Of course, there was room for debate here too.
—Can the host be considered a sentient being?
The host was clearly not human.
But he was intelligent, wasn’t he?
No, he had to be. I had bet my life on it.
And now there was no turning back.
What if I got incinerated for interfering with the broadcast? Well, I was going to die anyway; a quick death might be better.
The dress shirt covering my back was damp with cold sweat.
The host made a sound…
[Oh my!]
“…….”
[Was your passion for the broadcast too much? Yes, that can happen, I understand… Well, Roe Deer certainly has been working hard.]
[In that case.]
The host’s monitor turned black.
He raised his right hand and…
[Cut! Let’s take a short break!]
The band music stopped.
The staff began to murmur.
[Haha, sorry. My screen has become opaque. Makeup!]
The camera lights were hastily turned off.
[Wipe it carefully. Mmm, wonderful!]
A faceless staff member holding makeup tools ran up and diligently polished the old TV screen until it shone.
Then, the host caught the makeup person as they were leaving and pointed at me.
[Ah, I’d be very grateful if you could guide that participant to the waiting room on your way out. He was supposed to bring me my water.]
Then, he gave me a wink with his emoticon eyes in the TV, briefly displayed some text, and then cleared it.
[Go have a glass of water and rest!]
“……Thank you.”
It worked.
‘For now, I’m okay.’
I stumbled down from the podium and began to walk so I could follow the makeup staff member immediately.
Even though filming had stopped, the ominous, horrific pig head still stood in the center of the stage, motionless, merely flourishing its baton.
Extracting a bizarre song from human heads on those grotesque silver trays.
‘Endure it.’
Don’t look.
With stiff legs, I crossed the center of the stage…
[Recording will resume in 30 minutes!]
It was just as I was passing the podium on the opposite side.
The Deputy Manager standing there suddenly shoved something into my hand as I passed.
“……!”
I quickly looked at her.
I saw her mouth the words.
—Check it, alone.
What was this?
I was guided immediately to a door behind the stage.
Inside was a waiting room in a typical old Hollywood style.
Except for the fact that a bizarre number of black-and-white broadcast posters were plastered everywhere like talismans.
“Thank you.”
The makeup staff member merely nodded without a word and vanished.
Click.
“Whew.”
…I survived.
It was only 30 minutes, but I had postponed my scheduled death.
‘I have to do something in the meantime.’
And a new clue had appeared.
I immediately opened my hand to check the item the Deputy Manager had thrust upon me.
The item she had tried so desperately to deliver in that dire situation was…
“…A button?”
It was a button from a suit.
At the same time, it was a button in the sense that it could be pressed.
Meaning there was a space inside, and it felt like it would click if I pushed it.
“…….”
There was only one way to find out, and time was running out.
‘She gave it to me because she judged it would be helpful.’
I pressed the button immediately.
Beep-beep-beep…
…….
Click.
[This is Lee Ja-heon.]
“…!”
[Who is this? That’s Deputy Manager Eun Haje’s call button.]
Section Chief Lee Ja-heon.
The leader of Team D, who was said to be out on field duty, was connected through the button.
