Even if I fall into a ghost story, I still have to go to work
Chapter 85
The Fox Counseling Room, bathed in warm sunlight.
The other me standing outside the window.
He was holding my arm, stirring something inside my tattoo.
…….
Wait.
Is he someone else?
Then I have to refuse.
Did I break a rule?
No.
Right, this situation is wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! I must follow the rules because I am a new teacher who must follow the—
“All done, Teacher.”
The hand that had been stirring inside my tattoo pulled out.
Thud.
An object was pulled out with the hand and tumbled onto the floor.
From inside the tattoo that was supposed to be empty….
“This was inside.”
Under the garden lights, a title in vivid red letters was revealed.
A brown file folder.
“It looks like something you know. How much do you remember?”
My god.
My mind snapped into clarity as if I’d been doused with cold water.
‘That…!!’
And like a burst dam, fragments of my blurry memories from the past few weeks came pouring back with vivid detail.
Back when I was stuffing the contaminated Assistant Manager Park Min-seong into my wrist at the kindergarten!
The space inside the tattoo had swallowed him without issue, and then…
Ah, the training manual touched it! I should keep this separate—
I definitely wouldn’t do that.
The training manual the Assistant Manager was holding had gone into my tattoo along with him!
I had suppressed the urge to keep it separate and put it all in at once. I’d probably intended to report it and hand it over to the Security Team all at once after rescuing the Assistant Manager.
But….
-By any chance, if you brought back any supplies or items from the darkness of the ‘Hungry Hangman,’ please return them.
-Ah, I have nothing.
I hadn’t returned the manual.
To be precise, every time I tried to remember if there was anything else in the tattoo, I felt an unconscious repulsion and stopped.
Because doubting is against the rules!
And even the fact that I felt that repulsion was eventually erased from my memory. Because a teacher shouldn’t feel repulsion toward the rules… No. Let’s not think too deeply about this either!
What’s certain is that I had tried several times.
Attempts to let those around me know that my condition was strange.
-…Team Leader.
-Yes.
-If you think I’m developing a strange obsession with the rules, I’d like you to look into it….
-Yes.
-……Ah. I’m just saying because I feel like I’ve been too obsessed with work lately.
-I see.
I had brought up the subject to Section Chief Lee Ja-heon several times. Each time, the version of me being consumed by the manual would talk back, and the conversation would fizzle out.
‘That was a close call.’
The training manual inside the tattoo had begun to consume my subconscious more and more, and eventually, I had naturally accepted all the bizarre occurrences without noticing them….
‘…I only barely kept my sanity at Segwang Industrial High School!’
That was thanks to taking the Nostalgia Candy.
But the moment I woke from the dream, that was over too.
And it reached its peak during the ‘last conversation’ I had with Section Chief Lee Ja-heon yesterday.
-Kim Sol-eum.
-Yes?
-Have you recently suffered from a strange pressure to follow the rules or been seized by an impulse?
-I think following the rules is only natural as a member of the workplace, Team Leader!
-I see.
“…….”
Wow, my god.
‘I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
I was actually acting like that??
I staggered and leaned against the window.
‘So that’s why Section Chief Lee Ja-heon….’
That’s why he tried so hard to shove me into the counseling room.
“……Ha.”
Everything becomes clear.
It feels like taking off a tight turtleneck, or wiping clean a pair of filthy glasses.
A refreshing sense of liberation and a wave of exhaustion washed over my entire body.
And… anxiety.
“…….”
“What are you thinking right now?”
“……I’m tired, and relieved.”
“Do you feel as though you’ve escaped from some uncomfortable obsession?”
“……Yes.”
The ‘Counseling Teacher’ standing outside the window, wearing my face, looked at me as if to offer comfort.
“You did very well. It was thanks to your strong willpower that you sat through the session and endured it.”
“…….”
He then quietly set the training manual down on the garden floor, produced a shovel from somewhere, and lightly dug into the earth.
“It is very painful to be seized by powerful impulses or ideas against your will.”
Scrape, scrape. By the hands of the ‘Kim Sol-eum’ standing outside, a small pit was formed in a corner of the outdoor garden.
Thud.
The training manual was tossed inside.
“Change isn’t always bad, but if it makes your body and mind suffer, it’s only right that you can always refuse it.”
The me outside even neatly covered it with the dug-up soil before dusting his hands off with satisfaction.
“Teacher Sol-eum, do you see that small plant in the pot over there?”
A pot?
Turning my head, I saw a small potted plant on the table near the sofa.
It was a plant bearing tiny, unripe fruits the size of peas.
“Could you pick one fruit that you like from there?”
“…….”
I gently plucked one of the slightly more ripe-looking fruits and handed it to the ‘me’ across the window.
“You did wonderfully.”
The Counseling Teacher outside took my hand along with the fruit.
Then.
“…!”
The fruit I was holding turned bright red.
As if it had absorbed a wealth of nutrients, it became plump and appetizing.
“Make sure to chew it thoroughly before you go.”
“…….”
I put the fruit in my mouth.
Intense anxiety, resentment, stray thoughts, and irrational sadness and pain slowly melted away along with the fruit…….
When a client with severe mental contamination visits, provide a red fruit (presumed to be Phyllanthus urinaria of the Phyllanthaceae family) as medicine.
Shows excellent effects in mental stabilization.
In all attempts to take the fruit out without consuming it, said fruit disappears the moment it passes through the door.
Whew.
With a sigh, all the emotional dregs scattered like grains of sand.
I became peaceful.
Just a normal office worker whose body and mind were exhausted.
My usual self.
I raised my head and looked at the Counseling Teacher standing at the window.
“Thank you. I feel much better thanks to you.”
“I’m the one who’s thankful, Teacher Kim Sol-eum!”
The Counseling Teacher’s face brightened instantly.
Somehow, he no longer looked like he was merely imitating my appearance.
“Then shall we talk a bit more?”
After that, it was a normal psychiatric consultation.
To be precise, it felt like I had met a very skilled and comforting counselor and managed to pour my heart out.
‘I’ll admit this much.’
If there’s one thing this hopeless, profit-driven horror corporation, Baekilmong Co., did right, it was including this as employee welfare.
“From now on, whenever you feel overwhelmed by bad thoughts, I’ll give you a sign so you can come to the Fox Counseling Room anytime.”
I even received an item on my way out.
[ Fox Counseling Room ]
It was the same sign that had been attached to the door I entered through.
“If you hang that sign on a door and open it, it will connect to our counseling room.”
“…Thank you.”
I wanted to keep it, but I would have to attach it to the door as soon as I left.
All clients using the company’s welfare program must attach the sign they receive to the door they used after the session ends.
‘It’s easier to think of it as a replacement.’
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
I tried to get up from my seat.
I heard the Counseling Teacher’s voice, sounding quite disappointed.
“Well, actually, it would be best if you set a regular appointment and came for counseling once every week or two….”
Aggghhh!
“I’m sorry, but I’m too busy… I don’t think that will be possible.”
“I see. Everyone is like that these days….”
The ‘Counseling Teacher’ lowered his head as if a bit dejected, then nodded.
But I couldn’t fall for that act.
‘If I set a regular appointment… the probability of side effects exploding goes up dramatically…!’
Usage Record #521 (Irregular)
The ‘Counseling Teacher’ strongly urged the client to have regular counseling.
The client refused, but the ‘Counseling Teacher’ attempted a persistent persuasion. After 1 hour and 21 minutes, the client accepted the recommendation with a peaceful mind.
Subsequently went missing.
※ B-level security clearance is required to view the full text of this record.
Fortunately, instead of urging me again, the Counseling Teacher smiled and nodded to see me off.
“Still, I’m glad Teacher Kim Sol-eum has good acquaintances, family, and friends around him.”
“…….”
Wait a minute.
I certainly have good-natured acquaintances and a ‘Good Friend’ even in this crazy horror world, but….
“Family…?”
The Counseling Teacher reached out and tapped his own wrist.
I looked down at my wrist too.
That position was….
: Socius :
“That person.”
“…?!”
♬♩♪♬~♪♪♩~
“Ah, time’s up. Have a safe trip back, Teacher Kim Sol-eum.”
I looked up.
There was no one there.
The counselor who had been smiling at the window vanished like a lie, and only the sunlight pouring into the simple, beautiful outdoor garden remained…….
♬♩♪♬~♪♪♩~
A light waltz melody announcing the end of the session.
In the distance, beneath the stone wall of the garden, I thought I saw the orange tail of a fox scurrying away….
“…….”
I stood up from the sofa and headed toward the dressing room curtain.
On a floral lace table placed on the way to the curtain, some kind of cool drink was prepared.
[ Good luck with your day today! ^^ ]
“…….”
I gulped down the drink and set it back down thankfully.
It was a very savory barley tea.
-Was the session helpful,
friend
?
“Yeah.”
I picked up the ‘Good Friend’ plush toy.
……Now that my mind was clear, a few thoughts occurred to me regarding this fellow, but….
‘That’s for after work.’
For now, there was someone else I had to face first.
Creeeak.
I opened the door and stepped out.
Leaning against the opposite wall, a white lizard head in a black suit turned to look at me.
“Did you receive your counseling?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t know for sure, but I probably had a rather sheepish expression as I said this.
“Thank you, Team Leader. I’ve recovered from the contamination thanks to you.”
“It was nothing.”
The Lizard Team Leader being humble…?!
“Kim Sol-eum, you are still in a state of contamination. Please receive counseling periodically.”
“……Yes.”
Ah.
So that’s what he meant….
“Still, I feel much better than before. Do you think so too, Team Leader?”
“Yes.”
The Lizard Team Leader looked at me as if measuring me, then declared:
“You may see it now.”
“See… what?”
“A message from Assistant Manager Park Min-seong.”
“…!!”
…Section Chief Lee Ja-heon pulled a small Post-it note from his suit pocket and handed it to me.
[ Roe Deer, you worked hard. Thank you for getting me out. ]
“…….”
I took a short, deep breath.
“Has he recovered?”
“The standard for recovery is….”
“Is he capable of rational communication?”
“Statistically possible.”
Whew…….
‘That means he’s hit-or-miss.’
In any case, the fact that he was recovering was a good thing.
And naturally, another team member came to mind.
“……By any chance, has Deputy Manager Eun Haje contacted you separately…?”
“No.”
“…….”
News of Deputy Manager Eun Haje had cut off as soon as she was placed on leave.
When I sent a text or KakaoTalk, she occasionally saw them, but there was no reply. She only left the read receipt.
‘She might want to keep some distance from this horror company.’
After going through all that trouble due to mental contamination, it felt like a very wise attitude….
Regardless, that was the end of my morning schedule.
“Shall I return to the office now?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you very much once again, Team Leader.”
“Yes.”
Section Chief Lee Ja-heon left to attend to his own business, and I spent some time in the office browsing the welfare mall until lunch.
It was a leisure I could afford thanks to having pulled an A-grade solution just before.
‘Is it better because I’m in my right mind….’
I don’t know. This company is just plain terrifying….
Tap, tap.
“Hello.”
Hm?
I looked away from the monitor.
Someone who had entered the office at some point was lightly tapping on my desk.
It was a young man in a gray suit.
‘I don’t recognize that face.’
Is he from another team or department?
He looked to be around my age, but he had the kind of impression where you’d never want to meet him as a rival in a job interview….
‘Why come here instead of some other conglomerate?’
For a moment, I almost looked at him with pity, but I caught myself and straightened my posture.
“Hello. What brings you here?”
“Ah, I have something to ask you.”
The other person asked just as kindly.
“Did you have a good session, Sol-eum?”
“…!”
“It makes me happy to see you’ve recovered so much. Nice to meet you. I’m Ho Yu-won.”
He then extended his hand as if offering a handshake.
“I heard you recently received an interesting proposal from Director Cheong.”
“…….”
Director Cheong.
He spoke the name without using an honorific.
And the name.
Ho Yu-won.
…….
…Director Ho!!
“Coincidentally, I also had a proposal to make. It feels like a wonderful coincidence.”
Director Ho had visited the Team D office.
