Translator: Nox

Chapter 40

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

[Roe Deer. Stay where you are. Don’t come out.]

“Excuse me?”

I stopped in my tracks on my way to work after receiving the call.

My direct superior had contacted me exactly fifteen minutes before I was due to clock in.

[I’ll process it as field duty, so don’t come to the office. I’ve already discussed it with Section Chief Lee Ja-heon.]

“Understood. But may I ask why?”

[Well… that’s just how field work in this company goes. It’s a darkness issue. Darkness.]

Ah.

Along with the sound of Deputy Manager Eun Haje letting out a long sigh, I could faintly hear Assistant Manager Park Min-seong’s wailing in the background.

It seemed Team D had already reported for duty.

[Aside from you, all the rookies are being excluded, so don’t get any ideas and just stay home.]

“What kind of darkness is it?”

[Uh. I can’t say unless you’re one of the people going in.]

“…….”

[No, it’s better if you don’t know.]

Could it be… the kind where just knowing about it becomes a problem?

So-called information-pollution-type ghost stories.

From eerie rumors like hearing someone else’s nightmare and then having that same nightmare the next night, to ghosts that hunt you until death just because you know their name.

Stories originating from the delusional anxiety that ‘just by perceiving it, something terrible can happen to me’ were a fear common to all humanity.

‘And if it’s serious enough to tell me not to come to work, it must be no ordinary matter….’

Still, judging by her tone, she seemed more worried that a rookie might make a mistake rather than sounding like she was leaving a will, so it should be fine.

…Unless she was just acting nonchalant to avoid putting pressure on me.

‘Either way, I can’t go to the office now.’

I didn’t want to insist on going where I wasn’t needed and become a nuisance. That was a perfect way to get killed.

I told her I understood and hung up.

‘Maybe I’ll clean the Blood Bath Tub today and read through the Wiki about five times….’

However, a few hours later.

[Mr. Kim Sol-eum.]

“Yes.”

[Report to work.]

“…….”

Is this some kind of problematic dog training…?

Regardless of my bewilderment, the Lizard Team Leader only said what he had to say.

[You are to report to the large conference room on the 31st floor by 2:00 PM.]

He even mentioned a high-floor conference room I’d never heard of before!

“Wait a moment. You told me not to come in this morning… Has the situation changed?”

[Yes. One of the executives personally summoned you, Sol-eum.]

“…….”

Pardon?

[Then, I’ll see you at 2:00.]

Someone save me.

---

“You’re here.”

In front of the 31st-floor elevator, I met the D Team Deputy, who was standing with her arms crossed, looking anxious.

I hurriedly lowered my voice and asked Deputy Manager Eun Haje.

“Has the situation changed?”

“A bit. Haa… that crazy bastard.”

With those words, I was ushered into the large conference room. My head was spinning.

“He’s here. Employee Kim Sol-eum.”

“Ah.”

“Why did you call him all the way to the conference room? You should have just sent him in.”

I watched as superiors, whose departments I wasn’t even sure of, sat around chattering before shutting up and glancing at each other upon seeing me. Regardless of being in a ghost story world, the back of my neck grew stiff.

‘Why are the signals that office life is about to go to hell the same everywhere?’

And eventually, thanks to the superiors who resumed their conversation in their own excitement, I found out why I had been singled out and summoned to this mysterious situation….

It was a typical, yet headache-inducing reason.

A shortage of personnel.

“I’m telling you, it’s definitely high-grade darkness, but civilian survivors have emerged! This could be an innovative case for opening a new supply source for high-quality raw materials.”

“Exactly. But why the long deliberations and another meeting over this, honestly…. You don’t know how to invest boldly, Department Manager Kang!”

“Who says I’m not investing? I’m saying this isn’t something that can be solved by throwing in a few more rookies—”

“Oh, you’re so frustrating. I’m telling you we’re short on head-count. Right? Our Section Chief Kwak from the research team.”

Section Chief Kwak?

I turned my head and, sure enough, Section Chief Kwak Jegaeng of Research Team 1 was sitting there with a smirk, occupying a corner seat.

The mad scientist who had thrown his own researcher into the theme park ghost story.

‘Is his disciplinary period over?’

Just looking at him gave me a headache.

“Isn’t that right, Section Chief Kwak? We need more heads, don’t we?”

“Ah~ absolutely. It’s obvious this is the kind of darkness that can only be solved by increasing the number of personnel!”

“…….”

That man is the consultant?

I had a strong suspicion that they weren’t actually short on people, but simply wanted to see the fresh exploration results of an unsuspecting rookie.

‘In any case, it seems certain that what I’ll be facing today is a descent into darkness.’

And if it was enough to summon me so grandiosely like this…

I had a chilling premonition that it would be a formidable grade.

Did they say it’s high-grade but civilian survivors came out?

I quickly tried to scour my mind for similar cases while calmly reminding myself.

‘…Still, I came well-prepared.’

Just in case, I had packed everything I had today.

A full item package.

“Now that introductions are over, everyone please head out.”

“Ah, yes.”

The Deputy gave a rough nod and led me out of the conference room.

Thud.

The moment the conference room door closed, she spoke.

“How many times do I have to watch these bird-brains, who’ve never stepped foot in the darkness, act big while coming up with ‘strategic solutions’…. Ah, this is why I can’t quit smoking.”

“Deputy Manager.”

“What does it matter? They’re so busy fighting each other they won’t even hear me.”

I can hear you, though.

“Those bastards who wouldn’t have even passed the Field Exploration Team OT or recruitment, using their regional and school ties to embed themselves up there… Ah.”

Eun Haje looked at the conference room a few times with a face desperate for a cigarette, then finally let out a small sigh.

“……Anyway, you heard, right? From now on, we’re going into a newly registered high-grade darkness.”

As I thought.

“Not just us; over thirty people have already been sent in.”

“…Are the Team Leader and Assistant Manager Park also, by any chance…”

“Yeah. They all went in first. …It’s going to be dangerous. I won’t lie to you just to reassure you.”

“…….”

“But don’t worry too much. You survived that crazy quiz show and even got us out alive. You’ll be fine.”

“……Yes.”

I readjusted my briefcase, wearing it like a crossbody bag.

“Is that your gear?”

“Yes. Food and various things.”

“Hmm. The size is fine.”

Deputy Manager Eun Haje checked my appearance a few times and asked.

“Nothing that would get caught in a security check?”

“…No.”

I passed through the main gate without issue.

Somehow, I felt like a cursed wild ginseng would have been caught, but since everything I had now were items, it must have been fine.

But why was only the Deputy left today instead of Team D moving as a unit?

“May I ask how the others entered?”

The Deputy gestured with her chin, her face expressionless.

“They all disappeared as soon as they read the manual.”

“…….”

“This is that kind of darkness. If you know even a little bit about it, you get dragged in.”

Whoosh.

“I was waiting without reading it so I could enter with you, so we’ll read it at the same time.”

“Yes.”

Wow, this is crazy.

“It’s okay. They aren’t people who die easily.”

Please don’t say such foreshadowing-like lines!

‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’

I took a deep breath and received the manual the Deputy held out.

……Once I read this, I would be entering that high-grade darkness.

‘…Getting my mind ready.’

I read through it in one go.

+++

Hello.

It seems you are viewing the manual document summarizing the existing visitors to our exhibition.

+++

“……!”

+++

Before you read the following, we would like to inform you that you have been invited to a very wonderful exhibition.

+++

“…….”

The back of my neck went cold.

‘I’m screwed.’

I squeezed my eyes shut.

In my mind, a Wiki page flashed, automatically completing itself.

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

Darkness Exploration Record / Ghost Story

[The Mansion of the Blind]

: A ghost story that appeared in ,

Baekilmong Corporation

‘s identification code is said to be Qterw-B-666.

Hello, guest. Today, I am writing this to invite you to a wonderful

Exhibition

.

To ensure your journey is not inconvenient, after reading this text, you will arrive at our exhibition no matter where you head.

Records of previous visitors are documented in this file up to the

106th

time.

And it is said that in every attempt to record this ghost story, the text transformed into the form of

an invitation sent from the exhibition

.

It is an honor to invite you like this.

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

Registered in , it was the epitome of information-pollution-type ghost stories.

A representative clickbait subject that would garner hundreds of thousands of views if covered on video sites!

‘The Eye Collector.’

“…….”

With a trembling heart, I lowered my gaze back to the manual.

The phrase I expected was indeed written there.

+++

To ensure your journey is not inconvenient, from now on, you will arrive at the exhibition no matter where you head.

+++

And it happened exactly as said.

“Ha.”

The moment I took a step back.

I realized the material of the floor I was stepping on had changed.

From matte office tiles to polished, aged marble.

Tap.

Slowly, I raised my head.

I saw a massive mansion shrouded in a silence so deep I could hear the flickering of candles.

The light of dusk and candles illuminated the grand, ancient interior with a reddish golden glow.

Countless exhibits revealed only their silhouettes in the shadows….

“…….”

Deputy Manager Eun Haje was nowhere to be seen.

However, I didn’t do anything as foolish as opening my mouth to call for her.

Instead, I slowly moved my feet backward.

And hid in a corner.

‘……Whew.’

Sitting hidden behind a sofa, I reopened the manual with trembling hands.

+++

We will provide the common reviews of nine visitors to this exhibition, temporarily collected by Baekilmong Co., Ltd.

1. You can view a rare and diverse collection like nowhere else.

2. Eating and drinking in the exhibition hall is prohibited.

3. Following conventional viewing manners is encouraged.

4. The exit is very difficult to find.

The exhibition strongly requests a correction regarding the last statement. All emergency doors in the exhibition hall are appropriately marked.

Anyone can stop their viewing and exit whenever they wish.

+++

It was likely the truth.

The problem was that humans were not included in this ‘anyone.’

A human could not properly use the emergency doors or exits here.

“…Haa.”

An exhibition that so naturally assumed its visitors were not human.

Modern people were merely victims who accidentally got caught in this massive nightmare and felt cosmic horror.

It was that kind of unpleasant ghost story.

To be honest, I didn’t like it. To the point where I wasn’t even sure why it was popular on WeTube….

• Friend?

“…!”

• My, Mr. Roe Deer… are you hiding right now?

I never thought I’d be so happy to have someone to talk to.

I pulled Brown halfway out of my pocket.

• My, this place is quite nice.

• Why don’t you go out and take a look? This seems like a place worthy of being introduced to an audience….

Go out?

’No.’

• Oh dear, could you tell me why? This seems like an exhibition run by someone who knows how to extend a very polite and comfortable invitation….

It was a comment worthy of a host who lured people into a murderous quiz show with postcards.

What a headache….

I stood up from the sofa I was sitting on, pressing my fingers to my eyes.

• Ah, it seems you’ve found the heart to view the exhibits!

No.

‘I’m moving over there.’

I carefully scanned the walls, searching for the sound of a breeze.

Before long, in a dark corner untouched by candlelight, hidden behind a giant vase, I found what I was looking for under the wall.

‘A vent.’

I quietly climbed inside and held my breath without closing the latch.

It was a temporary safe zone I remembered.

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

In the fifth viewing record, a gentleman testified that he entered a

vent

and ‘endured’ for over five days by licking water droplets from the moisture.

On the sixth day, a guide found the gentleman.

Please note that our exhibition is always equipped with guest rooms for long-term visitors.

(※ The annotation in the forty-second viewing record to

never stay in the guest rooms

is deeply regrettable. This exhibition operates rooms fitting the dignity of the collection and has always maintained a good reputation.)

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

• I mean, leaving a perfectly good sofa for a filthy place like this!

Ignore him. I needed to make a plan here.

‘How do I get out?’

No, first of all, it was frustrating why they thought so many people were needed for this ghost story.

Even if a large number of people entered, there was absolutely no advantage…. Wait.

Pushing people in blindly like this….

‘Is it because they don’t know?’

Is it because it’s still the early stages of exploration?

‘If so, wouldn’t the current exploration also be recorded in the early parts?’

“…….”

I pulled out my smartphone, lowered the screen brightness to the minimum, and quickly scrolled through the Wiki while lying flat.

And….

‘Found it.’

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

The seventeenth viewing record is the result of Baekilmong Co., Ltd. recommending the exhibition to thirty-four employees of the Field Exploration Team.

It is said that seven people returned home safely.

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

This was it.

I was here as one of the people in the seventeenth record where these thirty-four people entered.

Likely as the thirty-fifth person.

‘…Seven people returned safely?’

Just as I was about to cross-reference the manual and the Wiki to look for more detailed records.

Creeeeeeak.

“…….”

From afar, a sound began to be heard.

The sound of slow-moving machinery.

And….

Aaaaah! Why, why are you chasing…!! Get away, get away, aaaaagh!!!

Screams and the sound of many frantic footsteps.

“…….”

Thump, thump! Thump! Creeak, thump! Patter-patter-patter, creeak, thump!

The sound vibrating through the marble drew closer.

Cold sweat rolled down my cheek.

Help me, no, nooooo!!

Let me out, let me out…!!

Thump, thump, thump. I could hear people running. The sounds of screams and desperate, fleeing footsteps grew closer and closer.

And then they were almost right in front of me.

It seemed there were at least a dozen or so people.

Behind them, the heavy noise of machinery pursued them, tightening its grip slowly and surely….

Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeak.

Drip.

Cold sweat fell from the tip of my chin.

“…….”

‘At least one person.’

After extreme deliberation, I leaned my upper body out.

And I quickly grabbed the back of the neck of one of the fleeing people and pulled.

“…!”

I practically lifted him into the air and stuffed him into the vent, ducking my head along with him.

‘There’s room for exactly one person.’

And if they were a field exploration employee, the probability of them being a troll would be relatively low.

“Hup.”

Fortunately, the convulsing person grasped the situation and went quiet instantly.

It seemed they had some sense… wait.

“…!”

“……!!”

‘Baek Sa-heon.’

My dormitory roommate.

Baek Sa-heon, wearing a goat mask, was wedged into the vent, swallowing hard as he looked at me.

I had saved this guy.