Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 181

…….

["Can you hear me?"]

I hear it.

Brown’s voice.

That classic, cheerful tone with a unique accent.

["My heartfelt advice is already prepared, but no matter how good the advice is, it means nothing if you're not ready to hear it."]

["So first, I believe we need to properly introduce your current situation to you, Mr. Roe."]

…Introduce my situation to me?

Holding the receiver, I was slowly drawn into an odd immersion where the conversation began to override my hearing and spread to all my senses….

….

["Can you see it?"]

Ah.

I see it.

["Oh, excellent. Then let me present! Roe’s Grand Adventure: Resort Edition!"]

A classic band tune and applause signal the opening of the show.

It’s...

‘Me.’

As if rewinding a sitcom, scenes of my days from the very first day I entered this cheerful theme park began playing before me.

Me waking up in the resort facilities room wearing a security team uniform.

["What a fun costume! Quite impressive, isn't it? A beast restrained by a belt—classic horror and charm. But not bad. Not bad at all…."]

Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!

With lively sound effects, highlights of my actions flash by in quick edits.

["That’s the moment you became the owner of this resort. Hmm, the mascot’s design may look a bit childish... but well, it is a theme park after all!"]

["Yellow bowties for all employees? Oh my! You should’ve just had them all wear mascot suits! Goodness!"]

Laughter.

["My word, flooding them with gifts and free spa services? That’s one heck of a promotion for every depressed soul in the world—provided the resort doesn’t go bankrupt first, of course!"]

Scenes pass by rapidly.

Brown’s cheerful commentary frames my desperate survival story as if it were a fun and successful resort management narrative.

["A dead employee successfully returns to work! With that, Mr. Roe learns another valuable lesson of mascot duty."]

["‘People can’t be fixed, but employees can!’"]

A strange feeling took hold of me.

‘…Did I really do all that?’

It felt off.

Immersion is about getting swept up in something that isn’t your own experience.

In other words… it assumes distance.

And so, the yellow mascot’s actions in the flashbacks became something I could evaluate from a step removed.

["One more! Another guest unfit for the resort’s dignity gets thrown out of the lobby!"]

Over the past few days, I’d been endlessly adding to the rules and policies, transforming into a strong and uncanny figure of management.

A typical mascot for a cheerful theme park.

That was… that was—

["Behold your rigorous guest screening process!"]

The more successfully the resort operated, the stronger it became.

It expanded further, gained more users, better reviews, rising profits—and I began to judge operational policy not by safety, but by discomfort.

‘Wait.’

A creeping sense of wrongness began to rise.

And then… it reached the moment where I changed ‘bodies.’

In the flashback, I was seen transferring my consciousness into a budget mascot suit to deal with the incident where Chief Lee Seonghae had killed the ladybug staff member.

…Seen this way, it really wasn’t human perspective or ability at all.

["This is the moment. My first piece of advice to you, Mr. Roe."]

["Let’s take a good look. However—"]

The tape rewinds with a hiss.

["This time, it'll be fun to watch from another perspective."]

My consciousness having moved into a budget mascot.

And left behind—my body.

The yellow mascot standing by the gate to the Blue Zone paused briefly, then resumed handing out balloons and greeting guests.

Just like the other budget mascots.

‘…!’

Thank god. It was still there.

It had stayed near the Blue Zone gate, so it hadn’t been harmed or gone missing.

…Though the thought that my body could now be treated like a budget mascot was deeply unsettling.

Still, a rush of immense relief swept over me.

Now I just needed to recover my body and quickly proceed with the ceremony ritual!

Thank—

["Shh! Just a bit more to watch."]

But the "advice" wasn’t over.

["Let’s see now… ah, here comes our filthy, rude intruder!"]

It was dizzying.

The memories sped up until we reached the moment of the recent insane gate attack by Magic Bunny.

The missing people, tortured and driven mad by the red mascot, wailed and pleaded as they died in agony.

It was a horrific hell.

["A surprise assault! What a thrilling, high-tension event. Oh! And your response—truly entertaining!"]

One by one, those missing people who were once ordinary became grotesque, screaming Magic Bunny’s name, slaughtered like a joke, and then rose again as red mascots.

And the yellow mascot in the scene, furious, hurled the red mascot’s corpse back beyond the gate in retaliation.

From the dark shadow of the mascot whose territory had been invaded, bizarre golden tendrils briefly sprouted and vanished….

…….

Wait a second.

Furious?

Not horrified, not devastated by the sight—but furious about the territorial violation?

Was I about to punish the guests?

Lee Seonghae…

It was true.

A chill crawled up my spine.

Finally, I had to draw a conclusion about my own actions—

—Completely contaminated.

I, as the yellow mascot, had already been completely assimilated by the resort.

Under the pretense of trying to escape, I had been trying to expand the resort successfully at all costs.

The principles of the resort that I’d created for safety—etiquette, dignity—had now come to rule over me instead.

…The purpose and the means had reversed.

Lee Seonghae…

I flailed my arms. Then I realized.

Why do I still have my right arm?

It was the fifth day since I entered this place.

So why is my right arm still working fine?

The goblin-fire that mimicked my right arm needs to be recharged every three days. But it hadn’t even reacted.

And in the original body I’d left near the Blue Zone gate—my right arm was still intact. I—I had…

…I could now move my right arm just by having a mascot suit form.

A cold realization ran down my spine.

‘How deeply have I been consumed by the mascot?’

It wasn’t just a matter of how long I’d been a mascot. If the corruption grew stronger the more successfully I ran the resort…

["That’s right. You’ve been too devoted to the role of this resort’s mascot. And now—"]

["It’s already too late."]

["You can no longer quit of your own will. You are now a member of the Cheerful Theme Park."]

My hands trembled.

["You even drove out that meddlesome former host yourself. This resort now belongs to you completely!"]

So then.

Can’t.

Get.

Out?

["Oh, I’d say that’s exactly right."]

No.

["And once the final announcement is made, everyone will know the truth. Your upcoming event—the Flower Golden Resort Illumination Ceremony."]

…The mascot ceremony ritual.

The mascot ceremony ritual is how Flower Golden Resort officially announces which mascot holds domain, gaining the acknowledgment of its guests.

If successfully completed, its reputation could serve as a springboard to expand into other facilities.

The ceremony is the establishment of identity as a mascot.

Which means the moment that ritual is successfully carried out—

—I become officially recognized as a complete mascot.

The absolute owner of this resort.

All identity will be overwritten, and not even a scrap of self will remain to separate from being a mascot…!

‘No.’

["Hmm. I agree. Spending the rest of your days in this outdated resort—what a boring fate!"]

["Mr. Roe, you have a duty to continue experiencing and showing the world interesting things. That was something you promised your friend, remember…."]

Fri end.

["That’s right. I’m your friend. The reason you came to this place!"]

The kind voice guided me.

["You want to leave this place, don’t you, Mr. Roe?"]

Yes.

["Then I suggest you keep listening to my advice. You can even take the receiver with you. Friend. Come now, unplug it and take it along. That’s it…."]

With trembling paws, I yanked the cord and grabbed the receiver.

The voice still echoed from the disconnected handset.

["Excellent… just excellent!"]

["Now, let me give you my final piece of advice… don't be startled. It’s a magical solution to escape this dilemma! It is—"]

The voice dropped into a whisper.

["Switch places with one of the employees and have them take your place as mascot."]

……!

["There’s no need to create a new mascot! Just have them mimic you."]

["If that person performs the ritual in your place, people will mistake them for you. And if everyone believes it, then it becomes reality. Ah, how delightful!"]

["Some might pity the one who takes your fate… but just choose someone who exists for your sake."]

["One of those two employees who pledged eternal service until your contract ends—those with nowhere left to go."]

The bison.

The ladybug.

Those I revived after death.

["Yes. The chosen one will faithfully carry on your mascot duties… well, at least until they get torn apart alive by the red mascot."]

["Choose one of the two to carry out the mascot ceremony ritual in your place, Mr. Roe!"]

…….

["Quite simple, isn’t it? If I had to guess, I’d say this is practically a done deal…."]

The voice rose.

["Whichever name your heart points to… who will it be?"]

…….

["Mr. Roe?"]

No ne.

["Hmm?"]

I pulled myself up on unsteady legs and grabbed the door to the facilities office.

Time left until closing… 45 minutes.

Cer e mo ny.

I’ll. Do. It. My self.

["…Oh. Don’t tell me you actually intend to spend the rest of your life in this old-fashioned theme park, my friend? The very same you who coldly rejected far better offers and places that deserved your talent far more…."]

No.

["Then you must have another plan? Incredible! It must be something extraordinary to turn down my advice!"]

I walked out of the facilities office with grim resolve.

Then I spoke into the receiver.

My plan.

I’m. Blowing. Up. The. Resort.

["……?!"]

There was a brief silence on the other end, as if even Brown was taken aback.

Of course, the legendary Host recovered quickly and spoke smoothly once more.

["My word. Mr. Roe, even if the resort is destroyed, that doesn’t mean you’ll be freed from your mascot duties! On the contrary, the damages will be astronomical!"]

["Where in the world did you come up with such a reckless and useless choice?"]

It’s. Useful.

Meanwhile.

Using my original body standing near the Blue Zone gate, I finished my conversation with the blue mascot.

It’ll. Be. Fun.

Fri end.

["…Oh my."]

Good.

I took a deep breath.

…Let’s do this.

***

At the same time.

Flower Golden Resort’s night garden.

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"Ah, it’s still here…!"

The Magic Bunnies kept staring.

The cute rabbit mascot stood perfectly still, watching the Flower Golden Resort’s garden and the employees inside.

"……."

Dozens of ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) mascot suits silently stared at me.

It was a bizarre and disturbing experience.

All the more so since I’d seen those very mascots just minutes ago laughing while tearing human guts apart.

Some employees were drenched in cold sweat. But it wasn’t just from the terrifying stares.

"Why… why isn’t he coming??"

The absence of the yellow mascot!

They had all received direct orders from the mascot to “attend to the guests,” and therefore couldn’t abandon their posts.

But their employer—who had dragged the Magic Bunny mascot suit and sprinted back to the resort—still hadn’t returned.

Ten, twenty minutes passed, each second dragging like an hour….

"I mean, they do realize how much time is left, right?"

"Forty minutes."

"……."

"Forty minutes until closing time."

Yeah……

A Bureau agent cautiously backed behind her team leader to avoid the Hundred Dreams employee in the lizard mask.

The team leader held in a sigh.

‘…Just in case, we should be ready.’

She gripped the signed sword hidden in her coat.

And she wasn’t the only one preparing for battle.

A few of the Hundred Dreams Corporation employees were also starting to limber up.

Lizard. Dolphin.

‘…These ones look like they can really fight.’

An elite squad?

She scanned their masks carefully with sharp eyes, looking for the golden emblem.

That’s when the one wearing the dolphin mask clapped and waved.

"Here he cooomeees!"

“…!”

It was true.

There—in the distance—a yellow mascot was waddling excitedly toward them from the resort.

A mascot crowned with glass-golden flowers.

At that moment, chills ran down the team leader’s back.

‘…He’s gotten stronger?’

There was something about him. He felt… more powerful now.

The sensation of dominance was tangible on her skin….

Yet his outward appearance hadn’t changed.

‘What is this?’

Did he… eat something?

Still, whatever suspicions she had, the yellow mascot’s gentle attitude wasn’t exactly reassuring.

He moved through the group like a caretaker, checking on every staff member one by one. Once he’d confirmed they were all safe, he gathered the other mascots in a crowd.

Now. It. Begins.

The team leader raised her hand.

"Hold on."

"…!!"

"T-Team Leader!"

"You said it comes after the event ends and the park closes, right? Got any countermeasures?"

The yellow mascot looked at her, then extended a hand.

It’s. Fine.

Then pointed.

You. All. Over. There.

“…?!"

And so—30 minutes before closing—

The long-delayed, dazzling Illumination Ceremony began.