Translator: Nox

Chapter 3

Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work

Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work, Episode 3

Even if I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work, Episode 003

In the middle of a chaotic ghost story where people were dying left and right, a single ticket to survival had appeared.

Just like in a movie.

And it wasn’t an illusion.

‘If you get off with the broadcasted lost item, you will be guided out of the station as soon as you meet a crew member….’

It was a beacon of hope.

The problem was that the lost item mentioned in the announcement was absurdly grotesque.

“What did they just say? An adult male in his 20s…?”

“The left eyeball of a Type A adult male.”

Go Young-eun lowered her head, her face haggard.

“Type A probably… refers to blood type.”

“Yes….”

A heavy silence fell. It seemed they were already terrified.

‘…Should I just let this pass?’

Everyone would survive anyway if they got off at the correct station. If one person escaped early for no reason, the atmosphere might turn sour and cause internal conflict.

But things weren’t going to proceed that easily.

“S-still, wouldn’t it be better to find it?”

“Right. We don’t know what might happen….”

The new recruits were so intensely focused on the announcement that they couldn’t just ignore it.

‘…Let’s see how this plays out for now.’

“How old are you, by any chance…?”

“Ah, I’m in my 30s.”

“You look young for your age. Oh, I’m Type B. I don’t qualify.”

“Me neither….”

The people began checking each other to see if anyone fit the criteria of a ‘Type A adult male in his 20s.’

However, no one perfectly matched the conditions, and eventually, the question turned to me.

“What about you, Kim Sol-eum?”

I answered simply.

“I’m Type AB.”

It was a lie.

I was actually Type A.

‘But there’s no need to reveal that I’m a candidate.’

If I were seen as a potential beneficiary or victim in this situation, my words might be misunderstood as being motivated by self-interest, making it harder to persuade them later.

“I see. Then, Baek Sa-heon….”

“Wait a moment.”

Suddenly, the person sitting across from me raised his hand with a grim expression.

“Actually…… I fit perfectly. Those criteria!”

“Ah!”

He spoke in a very solemn tone, likely because he thought he might die if things went wrong.

‘He doesn’t need to worry about that, though.’

And the reason for his sudden revelation was clear.

[This stop is Wrath, Wrath Station.]

The announcement for the new station played.

The station where a staff member would be waiting to receive the lost item.

Tension clouded the face of the recruit who had volunteered.

“Is there no one else?”

“Yes… it seems so.”

“Oh boy.”

Baek Sa-heon, who was sitting next to me listening to the conversation, let out a sigh and asked the man.

[The doors are on your right….]

“You said you’re Type A?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Too bad for you.”

And then, a fist flew.

“…?!”

A ruthless punch landed on the left eye of the recruit who had identified himself as a 20-something Type A, followed by a horrific squelching sound.

Baek Sa-heon had struck the man with the corner of the smartphone in his hand.

It was a blow delivered with the clear intent to burst the eye.

“Ugh,”

The moment the man fell, unable even to scream properly.

[The screen doors are opening.]

Baek Sa-heon lightly stepped over the fallen man and exited the train.

“T-that just now….”

“Agh!!”

“What are you doing?!”

A beat late, the others shouted in horror.

Baek Sa-heon gave a smirk.

“You idiots. If you can escape with just one eye, you should do it immediately!”

“…!”

“They said we could get off!”

It seemed Baek Sa-heon had accurately read between the lines of the announcement.

—Those who find the lost item, please disembark at the next station and hand the item over to a station employee.

Despite the hint that one should pay attention to the announcements, it was an incredibly bold judgment.

“I guess… it’s too much to expect that kind of thing from people who want others to take responsibility for their lives.”

“What?!”

Furthermore, Baek Sa-heon remained nonchalant as he spat out insults. He seemed certain that no one would dare follow him out.

And he was right.

Everyone had already seen what happened when you got off at a station you weren’t supposed to.

“T-that man….”

Go Young-eun’s face turned bright red, as if she were about to explode with rage, but I felt a sense of clarity, as if things were finally clicking into place.

No wonder!

His nickname was the Viper.

The descriptions of Baek Sa-heon in only made sense if he had that kind of personality.

I had thought he might be okay since he was a new recruit and hadn’t been tainted by society yet, but it seemed he was just like this from the start.

[The doors are closing.]

In the meantime, Baek Sa-heon waved toward the inside of the train.

He seemed to be in a good mood, thinking he had successfully escaped.

Even if it meant sacrificing a left eye.

‘Dear me….’

But… about that.

‘He didn’t need to do that.’

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was focused on Baek Sa-heon, I secretly reached up to the luggage rack behind me.

‘I definitely… saw it earlier.’

As I swept my hand deep inside, my fingers caught on something hidden in a blind spot, almost like magic.

I pulled my hand back to check the object.

Inside a strange, portable contact lens case was a single eyeball.

And a label.

[Type A / Female / 27 / R]

This was a candidate for the lost item.

‘In the first place, a lost item is something someone else lost, not your own.’

In fact, this announcement was a sort of treasure hunt where you had to find the one that exactly matched the description among several candidates on the luggage rack and get off with it.

Well, there were cases where someone accidentally escaped by giving up their own.

‘That’s probably what will happen to Baek Sa-heon.’

However, how would he feel if he knew he didn’t have to ‘return’ his own left eye?

The screen doors had already closed. Just as the train was about to depart, my eyes met Baek Sa-heon’s as he turned back toward the platform.

I held up the lens case containing the eyeball toward the door so he could see it clearly.

Since I covered the label, only one thing would be visible.

The eyeball.

—…!!

Beyond the door, Baek Sa-heon’s expression shifted as he realized what it was.

But it was already too late.

[The train is departing from Wrath Station.]

The train pulled away.

I looked back at the recruit Baek Sa-heon had attacked.

Judging by the injury to the left eye, Baek Sa-heon had tried to eliminate any other ‘correct lost items’ besides what he had.

‘He probably did it in case only one person could be recognized for returning the item.’

I didn’t think I could blame someone for trying to survive on their own. But… this had crossed the line.

I turned my head back toward the door.

From behind, I heard the sound of the screen doors being struck violently several times.

And from the receding platform, I thought I heard the faint, distinct scream of someone experiencing grotesque agony.

[The lost item has been successfully handed over to a station employee.]