Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 170

The "Cheerful Theme Park" was a B-grade darkness of the Hundred Dreams Corporation.

And the manual had already been created and the research team had completed their analysis.

...It’s not hard to remember that I contributed to that, even without trying too hard to think about it.

: Socius :

From the tattoo on my wrist, the ticket for that theme park had burned and imprinted itself.

And the usual fate for a high-grade darkness, after the analysis is complete, is one of two things.

Research team assignment.

Or....

"It's assigned to Team A's darkness."

The elite team’s responsibility.

"Usually, Team A recruits 3 members for the regular squad, 3 members for the finishing squad, and 6 members for the general team, making a total of 12 people. The last entry record was 3 months ago, so there's some time before the next entry."

Director Ho smiled widely as he handed over the document.

The manual for the entry method into the Cheerful Theme Park, utilizing a board game.

And the working document.

[Special Research Entry]

"So, I’ve already scheduled it separately."

"...Thank you."

"No problem! It wasn't a difficult task."

That might be true.

After all, Team A is Director Ho's line.

‘It must have been easy to pull them out since it’s his domain.’

Of course, that’s the director’s business, and the fact that a mere regular employee got some favor... well, I should keep my head down here.

However, Director Ho’s words didn’t stop there.

"And to make the entry easier, I’ve also recruited the staff who will go with you. Haha."

"...!"

What’s with this ominous feeling?

"Ah, are you worried that someone you know might be going in? Worried they might recognize you, Soleum?"

"Yes, I do have such concerns."

"Right! So, unfortunately, Soleum...”

Director Ho pointed at me.

“I don’t think you’ll be able to infiltrate in your original form."

I knew that.

"Yes, so I was planning to buy a disguise potion with the welfare points you provided..."

"That would be too inconvenient. Also, with your work, you’re probably living as someone else most of the time anyway... I want to minimize any discomfort."

"...."

"So, I’ve found a way where you won’t be suspected at all!"

Eh?

I stared at him with a bad feeling.

Director Ho smiled brightly at me.

"How about you go in with a special identity, Soleum?"

"...!?"

***

The next day.

In the research team's conference room of Hundred Dreams Corporation, Team 2.

"They said it’s B-grade, right?"

"And they’re giving extra points, right?"

People slowly started to gather. People in suits, wearing strange animal masks—employees from the field exploration team.

These people had gathered despite the slight risk of ‘a somewhat special exploration,’ because they’d been told extra points would be awarded.

"They said it’s the Cheerful Theme Park, right?"

"We have to go for sure."

The rumors had spread through word of mouth.

This darkness was high-grade, but the manual was well-prepared, and the speculation from an employee who had previously explored it turned out to be spot on, so it was said to be relatively safe.

So when the special entry was scheduled, everyone whispered amongst themselves when they heard the name Cheerful Theme Park.

Even though the research was for a special entry, as long as I don’t die, I’m fine.

‘It’d be reassuring if there was even just one member from the finishing team.’

The people looked around, squinting their eyes like they were trying to see something. But unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be anyone who looked like they were from the finishing team.

However, there was someone who had been a member of the finishing team before.

"Eh?"

A tall figure with long hair, wearing a cow mask and standing quietly against the wall.

"You were transferred to the branch office, right? Did they support this over there too? It’s been a while."

"Ah... yes."

It was Jang Heo-un.

He broke into a cold sweat when a staff member came up and spoke to him, not even knowing his name.

It was a side effect of his spy work...!

"How's the branch? Is it okay to live there?"

"Haha, yeah..."

Jang Heo-un awkwardly smiled and backed off.

The people who had spoken to him didn’t follow and ignored him.

They assumed it was because he was embarrassed.

‘They say the branch is hell.’

‘He’s definitely done with his wish-granting rights.’

Anyone who had escaped from the branch to the headquarters had their mouths sealed shut, trying not to even describe what it was like.

And a subtle label had attached to him.

It was probably because the difficulty of the entrance exam was different from that of the headquarters, right?

I don’t know, but judging by the treatment and welfare, he probably worked with people who were considered leftovers in the branch.

So, there was no one here who would share or chat kindly with him—someone who had been thrown out of the headquarters.

‘If things go wrong, he might just die for us.’

‘He was originally from the finishing team too.’

Thus, an unspoken atmosphere of ignoring him was formed.

"Are you okay?"

Except for this person.

"Hey, how have you been? You looked great after leaving the finishing team. Let’s fight today."

"Th-Thank you..."

The team leader from Elite Team C, Lee Seong-hae, wearing a dolphin mask, shook hands with Jang Heo-un and sat next to him.

‘He’s really pretending to be nice.’

‘A concept addict.’

But since they were from the elite team, everyone kept quiet and turned their attention elsewhere.

And here, there was another person who was in an ambiguous position, neither fully from the elite team nor from the general team.

"This section chief, isn’t it?"

Section Chief Lee Jaheon of Team D, sitting like a statue with a lizard mask on, was seated in a proper position in the conference room.

‘Is he going too?’

‘He flopped in the elite team, now he’s doing weird things.’

‘What a waste of a good face.’

But when their eyes met, they looked away in fear.

The fist is always closer than the law… especially when the fist can crush iron rails.

Anyway, with that, the exploration preparations were finished.

"Now that everyone’s here, we’ll begin the briefing shortly."

Soon, the researcher entered and started setting up the entry method for the darkness, while the employees quickly scanned the people seated at the table.

1, 2, 3....

"Wait, there are only 11 people?"

"Who’s missing?"

Some of the impatient and seasoned employees stared at the researcher.

But then.

"Uh, um..."

The researcher was sweating nervously.

"......"

An ominous feeling crawled down the backs of the employees.

"Sorry, but who’s the last person missing?"

"Chief Park, you know it’s important to notify us properly so we can clear this as smoothly as possible, right?"

"Well, that’s..."

Even if they were a low-ranking staff member, they were still a researcher. But the fact that the researcher was so visibly panicking made everyone feel even more uneasy.

‘What is it?’

‘Who’s missing…?’

Then.

Knock. Knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the conference room door echoed.

"......"

"......"

A silence descended in the room.

People turned to look at the door.

The black door didn’t move even after two knocks. It seemed as if entry could only happen with permission.

"......"

"...Come in!"

Thud.

The door opened.

Black smoke poured in.

"...?!"

The smoke spread thickly across the floor, then began to be sucked back out, as if being absorbed.

And amidst the smoke...

A pair of black boots stepped into the conference room.

The smoke seemed to breathe with each step, entering and exiting with the person’s movements.

And through the smoke, the silhouette of a strong figure began to emerge.

Light.

Ohh-!

Yellow lantern-like light was emanating from the person’s waist and eyes.

People froze at the bizarre sight.

But they recognized who it was.

"Se-Security team...!"

A mask that completely covered the face.

And countless horns spreading out like branches over their head.

"...!"

The person, fully covered in black special equipment, looked as though they were completely armored in custom gear.

Or perhaps... they were restrained by the gear.

"......"

"......"

Swallowing.

The security team... Why were they here?

The security team doesn’t enter the darkness.

This rule usually holds true. The security team doesn’t experience dreams when entering the darkness.

They only appeared to handle critical situations....

But sometimes, due to their unique characteristics, some individuals exhibited extraordinary transcendent abilities.

"Oh, today... this is the staff member who will be conducting the exploration with us."

"...!!"

People looked at the strange staff member quietly standing by the door, feeling as if they were about to faint.

This member of the security team was wearing a special outfit with a lot of belts, and a strange mask with a unique logo near the head.

A distorted square-shaped design.

The staff recognized it instantly, as if struck by lightning.

‘Special department...!’

The security team’s special department.

There were many departments under the security team, which were not properly named in the company’s intranet organizational chart and operated solely on rumors.

So, the rumors that occasionally spread when people had bad encounters at work were all that was known about them.

The special department had especially dangerous rumors.

People often said they had seen monstrous employees, who were hard to believe had once been part of the field exploration team.

And the researcher, sweating coldly, had heard more specific rumors....

Chief Park, when people from the security team’s special department appear, treat them politely. ...They’re not human. No, I’m not talking about contamination....

...Really, they’ve never been human to begin with.

‘A department that hires monsters in human form...!’

The rumor that the Hundred Dreams Corporation had made a contract with a darkness using their 'know-how'—that alone was a ghost story in itself.

For the researcher, this was the first time seeing it in person, and cold sweat drenched his back.

Even though he had analyzed the darkness and sent the field exploration team, this was the first time he had met a real monster.

"......"

He swallowed and stared at the bizarre staff member in front of him.

For some reason, it felt like the conference room had become a bit darker....

The staff member’s yellow lantern-like eyes and the gleam from their waist swayed strangely in the black smoke.

Upon closer inspection, the lanterns around their waist were also like ribs, twisted into horns.

‘Ugh.’

Barely mustering courage, the researcher spoke.

"Um... hello."

Silence.

"Ah, please take a seat."

No answer came.

In the silence that filled the conference room, the researcher continued, almost as if about to cry.

"Um, I’ll... I’ll begin the briefing."

Only then did the strange figure with the horned mask step forward.

And they sat at the seat closest to the door.

...It was next to Jang Heo-un.

‘Hah.’

I was relieved it wasn’t me.

People swallowed nervously, doing their best not to look in that direction.

‘Please, just not in the same group.’

‘Please…!’

As long as they weren’t in the same group, it would be fine!

The theme park changed its name and sections each time you entered, but the only constant were the rules.

Follow the mascot’s rules.

If you can’t follow the rules, you’ll move to another mascot’s section.

And...

The four people who draw the same color figure will always travel together.

That meant if I wasn’t in the same group as that monster, I wouldn’t even have to face it to clear the mission.

As long as ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I ended up in the right section, I could just ride a few attractions and earn high-grade dream points in no time.

The problem was... this was a special entry.

A research-related entry with other purposes included.

And no matter how I thought about it, this ‘variable’ was... that employee.

‘Please.’

I looked at the researcher, who was briefing us.

Please don’t say we have to follow that employee around!

"And there are no special instructions for this entry."

Phew!

"However, the, um... security team staff has asked that we not interfere with whatever they do inside."

"......"

"Everyone... understood, right?"

Yes.

The field exploration team in the room nodded desperately.

And the one who had instilled this fear in them, the ‘special security staff,’ was...

‘Their performance is definitely solid...’

They let out a sigh of relief.

Yes. Kim Soleum!

***

I suppressed a sigh as I glanced around the room.

Well, even if I sighed, the mask would just block it, and black smoke would probably come out.

‘I didn’t expect Director Ho to go this far.’

I’m really glad I got to try out the security team’s gear, which was originally made as a prototype!

Director Ho had stolen the security team’s equipment.

The so-called suit that reveals the hidden side of a person.

The monster that resembled you appeared over the suit.

The development notes that came with the combat suit from the game described it as such.

Why the security team was developing a suit to make people look like monsters wasn’t something I dared to ask.

I had a bad feeling that knowing more about it would not be good for my own safety....

‘It’s probably for a project, right?’

Anyway, I didn’t know how it worked, but I’d heard about its characteristics.

‘They said the appearance varies by person.’

And now, I had a bunch of horns on my head.

My appearance was probably a twisted version of a creature trying to burst out of a human suit, kept forcibly inside...

‘Hmm.’

I tried hard not to scratch my head, even by mistake.

‘This is strangely reminding me of my original mask…’

I recalled the wooden horned mask that had given me the nickname “the deer,” and felt an eerie sensation.

"Now, I will explain the entry method for the Cheerful Theme Park."

In the meantime, the briefing had almost reached its later stages.

The entry method...

‘I need to go to the theme park with the blue dragon mascot.’

The problem was whether that place would be selected for this game, but I had an odd sense of certainty about it.

It was an inductive certainty from all the ghost stories I had experienced so far.

‘Maybe... that side will call me.’

Just like a TV host who had once assured that they'd come if I just called them as a "proper medium."

"......"

"Uh, please draw a piece."

The researcher politely handed over a capsule for the board game pieces.

For some reason, it seemed to be me first.

‘Actually, I’m probably the youngest here...’

I couldn’t show that, so I reached out casually to grab the capsule... and...

"Ahh!"

"......"

"G-Goodness... sorry…"

This person... probably won't last long in the research team.

‘They should start looking for another job.’

I politely ignored the panicked researcher and grabbed the capsule again.

And shook it.

Click clack, the sound of the rolling capsule came, and a piece fell out.

A bright yellow piece.

"It’s the yellow piece!"

Alright.

I picked up the piece and passed the capsule to the next person.

"Ah...!"

It was Jang Heo-un.

...I don’t know why Director Ho recruited such a busy spy, but it makes me break out in cold sweat to think he’s using his precious holiday for this.

I barely managed to use mine, and I bet he’s barely scraping his time together too.

‘Why did he even volunteer...!’

Last time, when we entered, he almost puked from the interior parade in the Magic Bunny zone!

But of course, I couldn’t ask that now.

And Jang Heo-un...

"Yellow!"

"Done!"

He drew the same piece as I did.

Just for reference, that wasn’t something Jang Heo-un had just said.

Other employees were clenching their fists, happily cheering, saying that since someone else had drawn the yellow piece, the chances of me getting stuck with it had lowered.

They didn’t want to be in the same group as me.

‘Heh...’

In the meantime, Jang Heo-un bowed his head to me.

"Please, take care of things."

"......"

I gave him a small nod.

Thank you for understanding the situation as the best I could do....

However, things started to get a bit awkward from here on out.

"Please...!"

Everyone was blatantly hoping the yellow piece wouldn’t be drawn.

"Ah! Red!"

And when the red piece was drawn, there was an almost celebratory cheer.

"......"

Well, if you read the exploration records I left behind, as soon as you see the Magic Bunny, you should sprint to the blue zone like crazy....

But amidst it all, it was reassuring to see some familiar faces staying calm.

This is how it went.

"Oh."

I saw Team Leader Lee Seong-hae drawing a red piece. Then....

"It’s blue."

...I also saw Section Chief Lee Jaheon from Team D drawing a blue piece.

‘Why is that lizard-faced section chief here?’

I couldn’t shake the suspicion that Director Ho had inserted him as a whip among the carrots.

...I knew he was aware that I had shared all the progress on my project with Team D.

It felt like a reminder to stop fooling around.

‘Is he making sure I don’t get complacent after receiving some help?’

I really want to quit.

‘Sigh.’

"Now, the last one."

Anyway, the distribution was almost done.

I picked up the yellow piece and deliberately ignored the employees wearing the mouse and ladybug masks, who were staring at me intently.

‘Let’s quickly ride the attractions.’

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I’ll send them off and deal with my own business.

Click.

And as the last employee drew their piece...

Off to Fantasyland~

The board game board whirled up into the air and swallowed everyone’s sight.

We were entering.

Having experienced it once before, I could calmly review the upcoming plans.

Let’s see, there wasn’t a yellow zone.

‘Didn’t they say the Magic Bunny killed the yellow mascot?’

That reminded me of the ruined yellow zone and the activation of the gate to the resort, where I had barely managed to escape.

‘I’ll head straight to the blue zone.’

I need to check the souvenir shop. I thought to myself as my consciousness started to blur...

Not long after, my mind became clear again.

It was time for the lively theme park’s theme song to enter my ears....

...

‘...Huh?’

Everything was eerily silent.

"......"

I opened my eyes.

The dimly lit indoor space revealed walls with peeling paint and dusty lights.

The place, devoid of light, had windows that were completely shattered.

A stale, dead space.

"......"

What... is this?

This isn’t the inside of the theme park. This... is definitely not the theme park....

"...!"

I immediately got up and rushed to the window.

I saw a huge sign swaying in the wind, its fixture hanging loosely, about to fall...

[Flower Golden Resort]

"...!!"

I stared blankly at the distant lights of the blue waterpark shimmering.

When I lowered my head, I saw the ruins.

"......"

I had opened my eyes in the ruined yellow zone.

‘What is going on...?’

At that moment.

Click.

The lights flickered and began to come back on in the space I was in.

"...!"

I realized that I wasn’t just in any room.

A desk, a chair, an old cabinet.

Inside one of the open drawers of the old cabinet was a huge machine.

It looked like a small office or a management room.

And on the desk... a polite, formal sheet of paper.

"......"

I approached and read the paper.

"Welcome to your new role as the mascot of Flower Golden Resort!"

"...!!"