Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 99

"I already knew.

The Disaster Management Bureau was fiercely controlling the information about this ghost story, ‘Goblin Workshop.’

To be precise... that was all I knew!

‘I had no idea exactly how they were managing the ghost story....’

Because it wasn’t even mentioned in the Dark Exploration Records!

Who would have thought they’d be working undercover directly inside the ghost story itself, monitoring visitors and the equipment being made there?

And the Bureau employees, pretending to be goblins!

Oh, my, your reply’s a bit slow, isn’t it?

My head was spinning.

‘...What should I do?’

Wait, what exactly had I been saying up to this point?

I mentally retraced the previous conversation, like a rapid panorama replay, as a chill crept through me.

Critical mistake... there wasn’t one.

‘I’m fine!’

I could still recover. I could, I really could...

In that case.

I deliberately displayed a slightly pale and flustered expression, letting my unease show.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t have permission to discuss such matters....”

...

I didn’t know.

I was just a clueless rookie who hadn’t realized that they were human, let alone my senior agent.

Just a rookie who, startled by a goblin in a ghost story probing into my personal details, was desperately trying to respond appropriately while being scared out of their mind!

‘Please!’

I tilted my head slightly with a face that screamed, What am I supposed to do with this goblin?

Yeesh, you government types sure are uptight about everything these days.

“......”

Phew.

Don’t you guys call your departments teams now? Why can’t you just say which one?

“Yes. Uh, yes.... I’m sorry. It’s just the rules.”

Man, you’re no fun!

The agent, still pretending to be a goblin, smacked their lips and took a step back.

‘It worked.’

Or so it seemed.

Well, since you’re such a good-hearted government employee who even gave me ginseng, I’ll let you off!

Apparently, the agent intended to keep up the goblin act.

‘Did the bait work?’

This was clearly one of those classic pranks on rookies. They wanted me to be so shocked when my seniors later told me, That was an agent, you know, that I’d nearly faint from embarrassment.

I had guessed as much when I saw the agent sniff the ginseng I’d handed over, just like a real goblin might.

‘Are they using some kind of “equipment” that replicates goblin traits and behaviors?’

After all, goblins couldn’t resist pulling pranks like this.

“Th-thank you,” I said, bowing deeply in response.

Good-hearted employee, I should at least repay your kindness with a drink!

Come now, tell me what kind of goblin tool you’d like. You can sing about it or dance, whatever works....

Now they wanted to gift something to this rookie.

They were probably trying to make up for the fact that the ginseng I gave them was clearly a rare item I had handed over in sheer panic.

‘...The most natural response would be,’

“N-no, thank you, sir! Instead, perhaps you could show some generosity to the next government employee who visits, if you’re feeling so kind.”

Oh-ho, is that so?

“Yes!”

Very well, young man. I always pay my dues!

I smiled brightly and nodded. The goblin seemed satisfied and did a little jig.

Good. This topic seemed to have passed without incident.

And naturally, the next subject turned to the grip ring I was holding.

So, you’ve come here today to have this trinket of yours repaired, is that it?

“...Yes.”

This was the real problem.

This agent, in their goblin disguise, had realized that my grip ring wasn’t originally from here....

My palm was sweaty.

And sure enough, the goblin-posing agent feigned ignorance and asked casually,

Where’s this trinket from?

“I-I’m not sure. It was a gift from the government....”

Ah, I see. So these days even government employees don’t make their own items but bring in things from outside....

Risky business, that is.

“......”

You never know when a daytime goblin might appear!

Right. The Disaster Management Bureau didn’t produce agent supplies exclusively at this workshop anymore.

‘Even the Silver Badge came from somewhere else.’

Fortunately, they seemed to misunderstand that it was from one of those other places.

A very fortunate misunderstanding.

‘Thanks for that.’

Seeing the agent keep up the goblin act, even mentioning “daytime goblins” at the end, reassured me somewhat.

I could laugh it off now.

‘Still, I’m definitely in trouble.’

This agent would definitely remember me—the rookie who suddenly showed up today, handing over ginseng.

‘The moment they leave this ghost story and chat with other Bureau employees, I’ll be flagged as a person of interest.’

...Was there truly no way out?

Anyway, I’ll fix this trinket of yours, so wait right here!

“Yes....”

The goblin-posing agent whisked my grip ring into the workshop.

They were probably going to hand it over to other “goblins” inside.

I waited quietly.

Still, the uneasy thought lingered—what if the agent decided to confiscate my grip ring and make an emergency call to the Disaster Management Bureau?

Fortunately, it didn’t take long.

Here, take your trinket!

The agent tossed the grip ring at me. I held back a curse and carefully caught it.

The grip ring still bore a visible crack.

But the fissure was now filled with a smooth, glossy substance.

A jade-like adhesive shimmered faintly in the light.

“Ah, is it fully repaired?”

Oh, come now, even cooking rice requires time to simmer. Do you think an old goblin’s work would be finished so easily? You have to let the adhesive set!

Don’t use it for a month. Treat it like a fragile newborn baby. Make a wish for what you want it to become, and it’ll turn into a truly marvelous trinket!

A whole month?

“...Thank you.”

I gently cradled the grip ring.

‘...It feels like it’ll fall apart if I even breathe on it.’

This meant I had to handle it with extreme care for a month until the adhesive set.

In other words....

‘I won’t be able to access the wiki for a month.’

I had been meticulously rereading it every day to memorize as much as possible, but now that routine was impossible.

Naturally, anxiety crept in—human memory had its limits—but there was no other choice. I had to endure. Getting a new grip ring seemed far out of reach.

‘At least the repair was successful.’

Now there was just one problem left.

How to leave here naturally.

Well then, young man, how about we have some buckwheat rice cakes and chat about what government work is like these days?

Like I’d know....

‘If this conversation drags on, it’s only a matter of time before I’m exposed.’

Forget being flagged—I might be arrested here and now, hauled to the Bureau, and locked in a glass cell.

...All right.

I made up my mind.

‘I’m going to get caught eventually anyway.’

In that case... even if it leaves a stronger impression—

I’ll go for it!

“Yes, sir. I....”

Gulp.

Without holding back, I spat out a mouthful of blood.

Gulp—thick, clotted blood spilled down my chin, dripping onto my clothes. I hurriedly wiped it away with my sleeve, casting a panicked glance at the goblin.

“S-sorry....”

This wasn’t just to stir up confusion.

Blood—

Young man...!!

—is, traditionally, a goblin’s taboo.

Rumble. Rumble.

The massive tiled house began to shake.

Scary! Scary! Scary!

Why is it so scary? Why is it so scary? Why is it so scary?

Hey! Calm down, everyone! Nothing’s happening!

Who’s scary? Who’s scary?

Even as the agent shouted, the house continued to tremble. I went pale, clamping a hand over my mouth as I gagged.

“S-sorry.”

Get out of here! Who’s the idiot who sent a sick rookie to a goblin’s turf? I’ll...!

“No, no, sir! I... I just wandered in here without knowing anything.”

Sir? What sir! Kid, you still don’t get it?

It was time to start pretending I had figured it out.

“...!”

I widened my eyes and scrambled to my feet in a panic.

“Could it be....”

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The agent in goblin guise crossed their arms.

Be grateful that this senior is here, rookie.

“Yes, yes... I’m sorry.”

Feigning utter confusion, as though I had no idea what was happening, I steadied myself on trembling legs.

Thud. Thud.

From the direction of the tiled house’s doors came the sound of brooms and wooden clubs banging against the walls.

As the noise echoed, the agent clicked their tongue, glaring at me.

If you’re unwell, you should be resting. What are you doing crawling into a place like this? Did HQ send you here?

Oh?

If I play this right....

“...No, sir.”

I quickly sifted through my memories, searching for something from my time in the Disaster Management Bureau.

‘...There was that tradition during training sessions—a kind of initiation!’

It was a test of courage, where rookies challenged each other to prove their skill and nerve.

Perfect. This might work...!

“...My colleagues dared me to repair my Memorial Grip Ring on my own....”

The agent flinched.

They still do stuff like that these days?

I just gave a faint, sheepish laugh.

The agent, still wearing their goblin disguise, seemed to be suppressing a sigh. They rubbed their face before waving me off dismissively.

...I won’t report this to HQ. Just get out of here.

It worked.

“Th-thank you.”

What’s your codename?

“I don’t have one yet... I’m still deciding what would suit me.”

...Fine. I’ll find out when it gets assigned.

The agent pretending to be a goblin waved their hand.

Whoosh.

That gesture seemed to push me along—

Go home and get some rest.

—and with that, I was out.