Even if I fall into a ghost story, I still have to go to work
Chapter 64
Even when you fall into a Guedam, you still have to go to work.
Episode 64.
Even when you fall into a Guedam, you still have to go to work. Episode 064.
Deputy Manager Eun Haje’s mind was a tangled mess of emotions.
‘If I was going to leave, I wanted to go peacefully.’
Apparently, that had been a hopeless wish.
“Hey! Get back! You think I didn’t see you get one right already?”
“Agh! Move back! I haven’t gotten a single one yet!”
‘Those damn trolls…’
It was utter pandemonium.
Until a moment ago, everyone had been looking out for themselves, watching the situation like spectators at a match—which wasn’t a great look—but seeing them now, monitoring and sabotaging each other while screaming, was even worse.
Survival and points.
With two objectives, the conflict had doubled.
It was like watching a wheel that couldn’t move because of friction, only generating intense heat…
‘Roe Deer really is something else…’
It had been a long time since she’d seen such masterful political maneuvering.
‘I’m just glad he’s a good kid.’
Looking at that mess, it seemed they might actually be able to stall for over an hour just to buy time.
‘Has it been twenty minutes now?’
_ _ T R A _ _ R
Despite the time, only one letter had been filled in.
[Here is the hint for the 6th blank!]
[Whose obituary was announced in the phone call that caused Teacher Eun Haje’s trauma regarding airplanes?]
“Deputy Eun, who died—”
“Oh, shut up.”
But what was the point of delaying the inevitable?
‘Won’t I just end up dead after having all my secrets exposed anyway?’
It wasn’t like she had any reputation left to protect, but it was true that as time dragged on, a bitter taste filled her mouth and fatigue set in.
Moreover, she felt dizzy every time she tried to guess what her two juniors were planning.
‘I think they’re planning something insane.’
Eun Haje recalled the whisper she’d heard from Roe Deer earlier.
—When you are being executed, please keep this in mind…
“…….”
It hadn’t been a request; it was a notification, as if he wouldn’t accept any counter-arguments.
But.
If they were really going to go through with it, wasn’t it her duty to try her best to stay alive?
…Of course, she didn’t know if her juniors would feel the same way in a few moments.
‘Let’s wait and see.’
Eun Haje figuratively crossed her arms.
Another 20 minutes passed.
30 minutes.
40 minutes…
“Yes! That’s it! B for Believe!”
[Correct!]
B _ T R A Y _ R
The word was nearing completion.
And by this point, some people were starting to notice.
“Wait a minute.”
“Huh?”
They noticed what the word was.
“This word is…”
“Roe Deer, look.”
I looked up.
One hour and eight minutes had passed.
……The letters were complete.
B E T R A Y E R
Betrayer.
“…….”
[The word that best describes Teacher Eun Haje is ‘Betrayer’!]
What?
[Four years ago, when Teacher Eun Haje was a journalist, she betrayed her long-time boss and her team to try and land an exclusive scoop alone. She failed and the story was stolen!]
[And in the process, a false report was published. She neglected the informants, who suffered so much psychological pain that they eventually died!]
“…….”
[What is the lesson of this story?]
[The answer is: ‘A person who betrays their workplace will be punished’!]
Ha.
[Hangman is a wonderful simulation game that teaches the children of our ■■ Kindergarten the lesson of rewarding good and punishing evil.]
“Man… there’s never been a time I’ve regretted not being able to swear more than right now.”
“…….”
“Roe Deer.”
Assistant Manager Park gripped my shoulder.
“If you just hear that, the Senior seems like a terrible person, but…”
“In reality, we won’t know the truth until we hear it from her.”
“……!”
“Because that’s the kind of darkness this is.”
Inflicting psychological pain, isolating the victim.
Controlling the actions of the other explorers by threatening them with penalties.
“I think it won’t be too late to talk about it after we all get out of here alive.”
Assistant Manager Park’s face brightened.
“Right! That’s our Roe Deer! So… ah.”
Thump, thump, thump, thump…
I turned my head.
“…They’re coming.”
Beyond the open door of the playroom, silhouettes were walking in slowly and smoothly, their steps perfectly synchronized.
There was no melting black substance or screaming.
They wore neat pastel-toned outfits with smiles on their faces. Aprons and name tags.
The brand marks on their foreheads.
[Sun Class ■■■]
[Chick Class ■■■]
[Dream Tree Class ■■■]
“……People who were completely contaminated and trapped here. No, they’re monsters that used to be human… Don’t make eye contact.”
“…….”
“If you get scared, you might be affected by them.”
I turned my gaze away from those figures as much as possible.
[The game is over!]
[Now, let’s hang the Hangman for the last time!]
“It’s time.”
“…….”
I recalled the conversation we had while preparing just a moment ago.
—Assistant Manager, if this is too much of a burden for you…
—You want me to dump it on you?
—Pardon?
—Hey, don’t say that. This is my exclusive equipment. You can’t use it anyway!
‘I really wasn’t saying I’d do it, but um, thanks…’
And now, the Assistant Manager held his exclusive equipment in his hands.
The disguise cloth.
‘I think he called it the Imitator Muffler.’
Regardless, it looked no different from when I used it for help at the exhibition, but there was one difference.
“It’s really damp.”
It was soaked with moisture.
We had poured every last drop of the Drink Agent I had left onto it.
The very same thing used in the Tuesday Quiz Show to double the effect of the Smile Sticker.
‘I soaked that muffler in it without holding back.’
Since making a mess of the floor with foreign substances was also a penalty, I had laid my suit jacket on the floor to do it, basically ruining the jacket.
And if that Drink Agent worked…
‘The disguise equipment will have immense power, even if it’s only one-time use.’
At least until the moisture dried.
And since we had to do a time attack anyway, it was a perfect fit.
“Then, I’ll put it on.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
Assistant Manager Park glanced at the kindergarten teachers who were starting to climb onto the platform, then quietly pulled the muffler over his face.
And then…
He became perfectly one of them.
[Sprout Class ■■■]
“……!”
—Ah, marvelous. That is a fine disguise. I do not think it will last long, but…
‘It only needs to last for a moment.’
About three minutes.
And I had to move too.
I waited a moment for the Assistant Manager to blend in with the teachers, then started moving with a slight delay.
‘Now.’
I had to get as close to the platform as possible so Brown could use its ability.
And it would be even better if I could draw a bit of attention to make it easier for Assistant Manager Park Min-seong to move among those monsters.
‘Start now…’
But the moment I looked up.
“…….”
‘Ah.’
I had forgotten one crucial thing.
That I am a coward.
