Translator: Nox

Chapter 13

Even if you fall into a ghost story, you still have to go to work.

Even if you fall into a ghost story, you still have to go to work. Chapter 13

Even if you fall into a ghost story, you still have to go to work. Chapter 013

In <The World of Ghost Stories>, entering a ghost story usually means total isolation, as all data transmission and communication become impossible.

‘It’s a classic horror story setup.’

But stories are always more interesting when there’s back-and-forth and conflict.

To make this setup more intriguing, I recall reading in some ghost story that certain teams in <Baekilmong> possess disposable items capable of emergency calls.

‘Is this button one of those?’

While my mind raced with deductions, my mouth moved immediately.

Every second counted!

“Are you the Team Leader of Team D?”

[Yes.]

“I am Kim Sol-eum, a new recruit for Team D. I have an urgent report.”

I decided to just throw the situation at him!

“In thirty minutes, every member of Team D will be dead.”

I couldn’t help it if he panicked. This was the most efficient way. I needed to calm him down quickly and then—

[I see.]

[I will take a five-minute briefing.]

“…….”

Why are you so calm?

Even if the total annihilation of colleagues is a daily occurrence in the Field Exploration Team… this was a bit much, humanly speaking.

‘Is there something wrong with his personality…?’

I almost became confused, but the situation was too dire, so I let it slide for now. I summarized the situation so far as briefly as possible.

“An anomaly has occurred in the D-rank Tuesday Quiz Show.”

I explained the other teams’ employees who had barged into the talk show, the sudden cancellation of the quiz show.

And the current status of the newly started, insane choir show.

[How many employees are left?]

“Three out of seven. All of Team D is currently alive, but at this rate, everyone will die as soon as the break ends.”

The Team Leader of Team D responded with simple clarity.

[I see.]

[Try to stall for another thirty minutes.]

“…….”

Are you serious?

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

[Then there is no other way.]

It seemed he had a talent for making a person who was about to die lose their temper in just thirty seconds.

‘I don’t have time to waste on a conversation like this.’

While it was true that many employees in this company’s Field Exploration Team had shattered morals or common sense the higher up they went, meeting one in person was incredibly infuriating.

‘Does he think his team members’ lives are a joke?’

I was about to just hang up and figure things out on my own when…

“…….”

Wait a minute.

“What changes if we have thirty more minutes?”

Why did he tell me to stall?

[Yes.]

[If we have a margin of fifty-five minutes or more from now, I can obtain permission from the Security Team to borrow the strongest artifacts and entry devices available for deployment.]

The low voice explained flatly.

[Even if we handle all the paperwork after the fact, that process will take about forty minutes, and it will take an additional fifteen to twenty minutes to enter that darkness.]

“…Are you saying that if that process is completed, you can rescue Team D?”

[Probabilistically, yes.]

“…….”

A Field Exploration Team employee who can use special equipment to enter an A-rank darkness alone and suppress the supernatural phenomenon?

The kind of person capable of that was…

‘A named character.’

This employee I was talking to was definitely one of the employees I had read about in <The World of Ghost Stories>!

‘And a fairly significant or memorable one at that…’

Goosebumps rose on my back.

Several candidates flashed through my mind. At the same time, my brain began to spin rapidly.

“Stealing equipment from the Security Team is… yeah, that would be impossible.”

[…? That is correct.]

The Security Team had a limited range of activity for the sake of the ghost story’s narrative consistency, and their security was extremely tight. It was indeed an impossible act within the setting.

‘But if this person is truly one of the employees I know…’

Then a new possibility opens up…!

I swallowed hard and asked.

“……If you don’t mind, may I ask what mask you wear, Section Chief?”

If a nickname I recognized came up…

[It is the Lizard.]

“…….”

Ah.

It was you.

“Section Chief.”

Twenty minutes remaining.

“…Based on what you’ve told me, I’ve come up with a plan.”

Let’s go with this.

---

[Ah, Roe Deer-ssi!]

The break was coming to an end.

I returned to the talk show set, clutching a water bottle I had found in the waiting room.

Humaaaan. Number 2. Hu. Human!

With the two employees in the background, whose complexions had turned ghastly after being exposed to ‘choir practice’ for dozens of minutes, the host with an old TV for a head offered me a handshake.

[Are you feeling better? I trust you’re ready to put your heart into making the best broadcast possible?]

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

[Haha, a contestant needs to be in top condition for the best scenes to come out of the show, doesn’t it!]

Even considering the host’s behavior so far, his tone was exceptionally friendly.

It seemed the effect of the Smile Sticker was still lingering.

‘So far, everything is going as expected.’

I carefully chose my words.

“…Host, you truly pour so much love and passion into the show. I think that’s why you always create such riveting, unmissable entertainment.”

Perhaps because of the extreme situation, the flattery flowed out smoothly, without a hint of shame.

[Such high praise! But a broadcast is something everyone creates together. Roe Deer-ssi, you are a part of that too!]

No, not that direction…

“I appreciate the kind words, but I could never compare to you, the host who leads this massive talk show.”

It had to be this direction.

“However, I didn’t realize that the broadcast format would be changed for you so abruptly, via a mere notification…”

[…….]

“Using recorded sounds without an audience, the penalties disappearing… even the band has been downsized.”

I thought back to the black-and-white broadcast posters in the waiting room.

They were all talk shows with audience seating, where the host interacted in real-time.

If that was the host’s personal preference…

‘There’s a high probability this host doesn’t like the changed broadcast format…!’

“Overall, it felt like the changes were made just to cut costs.”

One wrong move and I could have my head cut off for insulting the talk show. But if I did nothing, I was dead anyway.

Let’s do this.

I stole a glance toward the center of the stage, pretending to look back as I barely managed to continue.

Toward the choir conductor with the dead pig’s head.

“…Could it be that the reason for this reorganization is because it cost an astronomical amount to recruit that guest over there?”

[!]

The emoticon inside the host’s TV disappeared.

But it soon returned to a smiling emoticon.

[That is not something for a contestant to worry about.]

“I apologize.”

Please spare me.

Actually, I was so scared I couldn’t even look at that dead pig’s head properly.

“It’s just that I’m such a big fan of the Tuesday Quiz Show, and I was really looking forward to participating. I must have spoken out of turn. I was just sad to see it cancelled…”

[Ah, those are kind words! But… show business is cold-hearted.]

The host’s TV screen turned a silent black.

[If the viewers prefer this method, it’s the quality of an entertainer to accept that quickly…….]

“I see.”

I swallowed hard.

“But isn’t the viewers’ sentiment still an unknown? …At least for me, I liked it better before. The Tuesday Quiz Show, with its real-time interaction with the audience and its sense of presence.”

[…….]

“To change it so rudely and abruptly, without even consulting the host… Oh, no. I’m sorry. My personal opinion went too far.”

I pretended to hesitate before adding.

“It’s just… I had a lot more fun during the live broadcast earlier than I expected. It was quite a thrill.”

[-]

The host stood there, motionless and silent.

Noise seemed to flicker across the TV screen, and then…

Ring-ring-ring!

[…Ah! Sixty seconds left until filming resumes!]

The notification sound echoing through the set snapped the emoticon back to life.

[Now, now, let’s all do our best until the very end!]

[Roe Deer-ssi, you should head up to the podium as well.]

“…Yes.”

[Starting now! 10, 9, 8….]

The host counted down the numbers while looking at the camera as before.

However, the conversation with me seemed to have left some kind of impression; he didn’t seem to be staring into the camera as entranced as he had been.

‘Good.’

I think I’ve laid enough groundwork.

I nodded to the host and headed toward my podium.

And a moment later.

[Now! Badger-ssi.]

[It’s finally time to give the correct answer!]

The show resumed.

[Will Badger-ssi be able to become a glorious member of the choir?]

Park Minseong Assistant Manager seemed to have made his peace in the meantime; he had a somewhat resigned, bitter expression on his face.

I saw him mouthing something to me quickly.

—Thank you.

What is he saying? ‘Thanks to you, I’ve prepared my heart…’ No, wait. Let me get a word in too.

I mouthed back.

The words I wanted to convey were…

—Get the answer right.

“…?!”

The Assistant Manager looked at me as if I were a madman.

Well, I understand.

‘Better to be incinerated than to become a human instrument repeating the last words you said before your head was ripped off…’

But it had to be this way.

The Assistant Manager shook his head in confusion, then looked at the Deputy Manager.

The Deputy Manager nodded.

[Badger-ssi? I’ll give you three seconds.]

“Ah! Uh, yes. I will answer….”

The Assistant Manager squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

“Number 4, Burn!”

[Ooh!]

Amidst the sound of recorded audience murmurs.

I finally saw it.

Flutter.

Something appeared from a darkened corner podium.

A postcard.

It was that bizarre postcard we had used to enter this place.

The conversation I had with Section Chief Lee Ja-heon just moments ago came to mind.

—Section Chief, so if you use that equipment, you’re saying you can access the ghost story through a medium?

—That is correct. However, what I possess is for emergency supply distribution; it’s only meant for passing small items into the darkness.

—That’s enough. That…

I looked at the postcard.

It fell silently to the floor in a gap where the lights didn’t reach, and then…

A small AAA battery shot out at a terrifying speed.

“…!”

The battery, closing the distance to the ominous conductor in an instant, struck with immense force.

Right at a silver tray.

—Please throw it with all your might.

The thick tray crumpled as if pierced by the battery.

Physical force that made one doubt their eyes.

‘As expected.’

I recalled the description of Section Chief Lee Ja-heon in <The World of Ghost Stories>.

======================

Employee D

Nickname:

Lizard

. Final rank: Team Leader.

One of the few combat agents in the Field Exploration Team.

Mainly recorded as a gimmick character who tackles all sorts of ghost stories that require cognitive ability and ideas

using pure physical force

.

???: Is it because the body is lacking that the head has to suffer?

Conversely, the moment this character’s physical force fails to work is when the true “we’re screwed” feeling sets in.

======================

If he had directly attacked the conductor with the dead pig’s head, I might have felt that “we’re screwed” feeling myself.

But if it was just a silver tray?

‘Since he’s an employee with the “physical exorcism works even in a ghost story” gimmick, I thought it might work…’

And my prediction was correct.

The tray was flawed, nearly pierced through.

‘In that case.’

Even as I broke into a cold sweat, a triumphant smile spread across my face.

[Aha! Badger-ssi, that is the correct answer!]

Normally, the winner’s head would be torn off here to join the choir on another silver tray.

However, the reaction of the conductor whose precious ‘instrument’ had been damaged was…

[…Conductor?]

The dead pig’s mouth hung wide open.

The jawbone snapped unnaturally, enough to tear the rotten flesh.

The scheduled recording of audience applause played mechanically before cutting off in confusion.

[…Um, it seems our guest has thought of a new performance method! I wonder what kind of brilliant approach they’re devising. My heart is racing!]

The pig screamed.

Sound began to emerge from the torn snout….

[…The contestant is waiting. Conductor, please welcome him as a member of the choir!]

A H O R R I B L E S C R E A M

Nausea surged. What have I done, what terrible thing have I done, what absurd thing have I unleashed? Have you seen a living insect? Oh, I want to sing. Wrong judgment, wrong choice. As expected.

Death in praise of the pure silver throne.

The band’s sound drowned out the scream.

“Gasp!”

Holy hell.

Drip. Drip.

Red spots appeared on the podium.

It was my nosebleed.

But I had to cover my ears. I had to cover my ears… Ah, the band sound is fading.

[You]

Drip.

[You don’t respect the show.]

I raised my head.

In the silence.

Whoosh.

The magnificent and ominous guest at the center of the stage burned black and turned to ash.

It was a scene I had seen several times.

‘Incineration.’

The unique authority the host exercised. In the D-rank darkness Tuesday Quiz Show, it was the punishment dealt to contestants who disrupted the broadcast’s progress.

But right now…

‘Did a D-rank darkness…… incinerate an A-rank darkness entirely?’

Something is… strange.

I had only intended for the host to explode at the guest’s insincerity and for today’s recording to be cancelled.

[After all, the essence of a show isn’t a flashy guest, but staying true to the fundamentals.]

I looked around.

The staff, the lights, the band, the recording equipment, the cameras.

Everything was burning and turning to ash.

Only the host’s old TV flickered with light and color.

[The joy of witnessing, the pleasure of communication, the thrill of unpredictable developments, the anticipation….]

[You ■■■ producers don’t know that. You don’t deserve to make a show.]

[But I! I can do it!]

The host raised both arms nobly like a liberator.

He turned his head toward me.

[Roe Deer-ssi!]

[Thank you! You’ve given me a new vision!]

[My head is so clear. Ah… yes! From now on, I should have contestants on the show every day of the week.]

The host peered into me.

[I can tell. You have talent as a show creator.]

[I would love for you to join the crew for my new talk show as well, Roe Deer-ssi!]

This went wrong.

[New people, a new set, new music, a new season… I’ll invite you once filming preparations are complete!]

However.

[It’s such a pity today’s broadcast had to be cut short like this… but your passionate participation was very impressive.]

[Well then, see you in the next broadcast!]

It worked.

I blinked.

Beyond my fading vision, the suited figure with a TV head waving his hand disappeared….

And in the next moment.

“…….”

I realized I was sitting on a sofa in a brightly lit, quiet office.

I turned my head.

The Assistant Manager and the Deputy Manager, bleeding from their noses and ears with dazed expressions, were looking at me.

And I realized.

We lived.

“Waaaaaaah!!”

“You brilliant kid, you crazy bastard!”

Amidst the pouring cheers and hugs, I slowly slid down onto the sofa.

I lived.

I lived, and I escaped…!

“…! Your collector!”

And that wasn’t the end of it.

The Deputy Manager, who was hugging me, suddenly pulled something from my suit’s front pocket.

It was the Dream Collector.

It was filled to the brim with a golden liquid.

The color was different from when I had cleared the F-rank last time; this was…

“It’s A-rank.”

“…….”

“Roe Deer, you cleared an A-rank darkness just two days after joining the company…!”