Translator: Nox

Chapter 33

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 33

Even if You Fall into a Ghost Story, You Still Have to Go to Work Episode 033

Let’s recap.

While pursuing a missing person, I encountered a strange and horrific phenomenon and was sucked into somewhere.

The conclusion was simple.

I was missing, just like the person I was looking for.

Swallowed by a ghost story.

“P-Police officer…?”

And most likely, these kids too.

Five or six students in middle school uniforms were looking at me with expressions full of hope and sorrow.

Seeing those faces actually made the sense of being overwhelmed vanish, and my mind cleared.

‘First.’

I need to figure out the situation…!

“I’m not the police.”

I showed them the logo on the front of the security uniform I was wearing.

“I’m an employee of a private security firm.”

“Ah…”

It seemed they had mistaken the security uniform for a police officer’s.

Despair and fear began to fill the children’s faces. I quickly added more.

“But I can still file reports and take security measures. So stay calm and explain what happened, okay?”

“Ugh, yes…!”

the student with short hair who first spoke to me gulped and began to speak in a trembling voice.

“Well. We, we… were on a school trip.”

First-year students from a middle school in Seoul had come to Gyeongju for a school trip.

The teachers had divided the students into groups for easier management, and these kids, who were in Group 3, seemed to have been particularly cheerful and curious.

“T-There was a mountain behind our lodging. But, we saw something like a pavilion… so we decided to go test our courage.”

They had decided to sneak out to that ‘pavilion’ by themselves in the middle of the night.

‘Sigh…’

Normally, they would have been caught by their teachers and scolded, or they would have looked around and come back laughing.

But…

“There was a painting in that pavilion.”

This is the world of ghost stories.

“I-It was a painting of a strange-looking house…”

The student gulped.

“Someone in that house was staring at us.”

“……”

“So, we were, like, daring each other to go closer…”

“And you touched it.”

“……”

The student nodded and began to sob.

“S-Suddenly, a sound like ‘Good job, good job’ came from the painting, and there was cackling… and something strange came out,”

And when they came to their senses, they were in this eerie abandoned house.

“There are strange noises outside the window, and even when the sun comes up, we can’t see anything because of the fog… We, we can’t get out…”

Behind her, a boy with a mischievous look was also sniffling. Everyone seemed on the verge of panic.

‘Phew…’

I asked intentionally calmly.

“Did that painting look like a scroll?”

“Sniff, a scroll?”

“Something that looks like a roll of paper.”

“Ah… No, not that… You know, like, a traditional painting? A traditional painting… like the ones drawn with a brush…”

“…An ink wash painting?”

“Yes!!”

The middle schooler nodded vigorously.

If so… is that perhaps the common factor in being pulled into this ghost story?

A scroll painting was usually an antique item.

‘There’s a high probability that what was inside the scroll the manager had was also a traditional ink wash painting.’

Since that bizarre dark red liquid that went wild in the bathroom (ugh) looked like ink.

To summarize…

A ghost story where a bizarre ink wash painting swallows humans who touch it and sends them to a terrifying place.

‘…I think there are about five or six of those.’

The category had narrowed down quite a bit. The problem was that none of the darkness was easy to handle.

‘This is a truly classic ghost story…’

Superstitious horror that chokes the life out of people.

The kind of scary story that smells of shamanism.

“……”

I’m in real trouble. I’m already weak against ghosts…

‘This looks much more serious than the convenience store ghost…’

In a desperate attempt to feel better, I wanted to count the people. Usually, it’s less scary if there are more people!

Is there anyone else?

Come to think of it, where did that Security Captain go? It’s likely he was caught up in this with me, but there’s no sign of him.

I would feel more secure if at least that guard were here, but this… I can’t depend on the kids.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Still, I didn’t let it show as I asked.

“You must have been very scared. How long have you been here?”

“A-A day…? I don’t know…”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“We had some snacks… so we ate those.”

“I see.”

‘I think they’re at their limit.’

Kids who just graduated from elementary school were trapped here by themselves?

It was only because their minds were in a state of hyper-arousal from fear that they didn’t feel the physical exhaustion, but it would be easy for them to collapse just like this.

“I-It’s so scary, and the phones don’t work, so…”

“Right. First, I’ll look for a way out, so you guys stay here and don’t touch anything else…”

Wait.

“Is it just you guys here? No other adults?”

“Adult! There is one, but, well…!”

It was then.

…From far away, the sound of someone screaming could be heard.

AAAAAH!

“……”

“He’s just screaming over there by himself… That mister is scary.”

“…I see.”

I’m scared too…

‘But I can’t drag you guys along…’

In times like this, having a warm stuffed animal (alive) that gives comfort might indeed be an advantage.

‘Brown.’

I called the Good Friend in my pocket.

Come to think of it, this guy has been a bit quiet.

—Mr. Roe Deer.

A slightly dejected voice came out.

—I am sorry. You went to such an unhygienic and filthy space just to give me a gift…

He seemed to be feeling quite guilty. I chuckled.

‘It’s okay. We just have to get out.’

Actually, it’s not okay.

But getting angry here won’t let me quit midway, will it…? It would only build up resentment in a moving killer plushie.

—You are truly bold! That is a wonderful talent for an entertainer!

No. I’m a coward.

So please, cooperate with me seriously.

‘Will you help us get out?’

—What do you need? Just say the word! Brown will prepare it…

Well, even if I can’t pull five million won, it seems there’s no problem with his affinity.

After patting Brown, who promised full cooperation, through my pocket, I walked toward the inner part of the abandoned house.

Toward the place where the screaming was heard.

“I’ll go check it out, so will you wait here for a moment?”

“Yes, yes…!”

Of course, I was ready with a five-hundred-won coin so I could use Remote Hand at any time.

And the flashlight too.

‘I’m glad it’s attached to the uniform.’

I moved further ahead, relying on the thin beam of light.

Agh…! No, don’t…!

…Save me, save meeeeaaaaargh!

As I got closer, the voice became distinguishable, and words and sentences could be heard.

The sound of desperate screaming from beyond the wall of the dark abandoned house was vivid. Haa…

‘P-Patience.’

My spine tingled because I wanted to run away.

The moment I forced myself to turn the corner.

“This damn world! This damn company…!!”

I saw a familiar face.

“…Manual Review Manager?”

The office worker in his 40s, who was struggling in front of a wooden board covered in talismans, widened his eyes when he saw me.

It was Section Chief Lee Byung-jin, who had gone missing.

“S-Security Team…??”

Ah, right.

I’m wearing the Security Team uniform.

“M-My goodness! Are you a staff member from the Security Team?!”

The other person’s face lit up, and he came crawling toward me, trembling.

“You’ve come to find me!!”

Actually, I was caught too.

‘But why is he being so subservient?’

Ah, is it because he thinks I’m from the Security Team?

After falling here, this was almost the first time I saw an employee of this company bowing down so low.

I looked down slightly at the borrowed security uniform.

‘…Office workers tend to look down on the Field Exploration Team…’

To be precise, the low-ranking general staff of the Field Exploration Team. Since they didn’t know when or where they might die, they treated them carelessly and didn’t try to get along with them.

I remembered the administrative staff whose attitude changed subtly once they found out I was almost on the elite team.

And now, Section Chief Lee Byung-jin, sweating and rolling his eyes, smiling his best.

Hmm.

Let’s use this a bit.

I put my hands behind my back and spoke like a Security Team member.

“A missing person report was filed within the company, so I was searching.”

“I-I see. Haha! Ha, hahaha…! I knew it!! The company didn’t abandon me…!!”

Actually, they did.

“Uhm, then, uh, you’re going to smash this darkness, right? Yes?? Since you’re from the Security Team…”

I said in an intentionally indifferent tone.

“The Security Team is not a department that smashes darkness.”

“……!”

“We are the team that suppresses disturbances.”

“I… I see. Yes, haha… I, uh, don’t have much experience with this kind of field exploration, yes.”

Okay. I’ve set the mood.

“Explain the situation.”

“Pardon??”

“Please describe your experience since your disappearance in chronological order.”

Since I have to compare it with what the kids told me to figure out what this ghost story is!

“Ah, yes, yes!”

The other person scrambled to his feet and began to speak rapidly.

“Well, I, I found a very precious-looking scroll painting at a souvenir shop near Mount Jiri…”

The content was almost identical to what I had heard in the office.

After hearing a tip from the shop owner that it ‘grants wishes’ and purchasing the suspicious scroll painting, his financial luck improved noticeably.

“He said to keep it near water and not to touch the scroll… and I really won the lottery!! Second place!!”

But…

“Strange whispers started to be heard…”

Section Chief Lee Byung-jin’s eyes trembled, and he began to spray spit as he tore at his hands.

“Uh, uh… Since the wish was granted, it is only proper for a scholar to repay it, uh, those kinds of whispers, every night, every night the sound of water, and the sound of crying, the sound of a beast crying coming from afar…!!”

Hieee.

“I could no longer, no longer! Stand it! So…”

“…So,”

I remembered.

The scroll I saw in the blood-soaked bathroom, torn to shreds in the middle.

“You were going to tear it up?”

“……Yes.”

So, in the middle of the day, he went to a place that wasn’t his house, where there were no witnesses but he could escape into a crowd of people immediately after tearing it. For example…

‘An unused bathroom in the company.’

He went to such a place and tore the scroll.

“I was going to do that, but…”

“You mean you were dragged here.”

“……Gasp! Yes…”

Section Chief Lee Byung-jin breathed heavily.

I rubbed the back of my neck.

‘…What should I say.’

He did everything a person who dies in a typical ghost story would do…

In the midst of that, the fact that he went to the basement bathroom just to find a place without witnesses is almost worthy of applause.

‘Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he died.’

I held back a sigh and looked up.

In front of where Section Chief Lee Byung-jin was rolling around, I saw a wall covered in talismans.

There were significantly more torn talismans here than elsewhere.

‘Why was he making such a fuss in front of this?’

I shone the flashlight on the wall.

And I realized why.

“…Is it a door?”

Between the gaps of the torn talismans, a handle was visible.

And seeing that there was a lock on the handle…

‘A door leading outside?’

“I-It comes here!”

“Pardon?”

“The ghost! It comes here every day!”

Section Chief Lee Byung-jin crawled over with bloodshot eyes and began to mumble while clinging to my pant leg.

“I-It comes to eat me. It comes to eat me… The, the talismans! They’re falling off every day!”

“That’s…”

“I-It’ll come today too…”

Knock knock.

“……”

“……”

Knock knock knock.

From the door,

A sound was heard.

Knock knock knock knock.

“It’s here again…”

I covered Section Chief Lee Byung-jin’s mouth.

Excuse me.

“……”

It’s so cold outside, please open the door.

“……”

Mister, don’t you remember me? It’s seven-year-old Jung Na-eun, who lived next door in Somang Apartment…

The sound of a young child sobbing and weeping could be heard from beyond the door.

Please help me. It’s so cold and hard… I don’t know where I am, please, please open the door…

It was a strange sorrow that made one feel sympathy even while forgetting fear…

As if possessed, a trembling voice beside me spoke.

“N-Na-eun.”

Mister.

The talismans on the door began to burn.

Laughter mixed into the sobbing sound.

You answered again?

“…!”

“N-No!! Agh!! No! I didn’t answer!! Go away! Go away!!”

The Section Chief, coming to his senses, went into a frenzy.

But.

I don’t want to.

IdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwanttoIdontwantto

“Hieeeee!”

Thump.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump

The door began to shake as if it were about to break.

The burnt talismans fell.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump

Talismans fell in heaps.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump

I barely managed to move my arm.

Thump.

I tossed a coin into the air and summoned the Hand.

Thump.

And from the countless talismans fallen on the floor, I grabbed the ones that were still in good shape somehow…

Thump.

I layered those talismans over the doorknob.

Thump.

The talismans fell in heaps again.

“Phew.”

However…

.

The sound at the door stopped.

Among the talismans I had layered over the doorknob, only one remained.

“……”

“……”

So close.

Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck.

Heh, hehehehe…

The sound of footsteps, walking away, gradually faded beyond the door…

“Gasp, h-huuuu…”

Section Chief Lee Byung-jin collapsed on the floor.

I clenched and unclenched my sweat-drenched fists.

‘This is insane.’

I almost fainted when the door was banging.

I hid my trembling hands behind my back.

A ghost story that traps its prey.

Shamanistic atmosphere, talismans, eating, temptation, calling voices, fear…

‘…….’

I knew it.

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Darkness Exploration Record / Ghost Story

[Lord of the Mountain]

: A ghost story appearing in , identified by Baekilmong Corporation as code Qterw-C-51.

The eerie darkness of an ink wash painting with the Window Ghost as its theme.

Exploration has been recorded up to 17 times.

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

This is a Jangsan Tiger-type ghost story.