Got Dropped Into A Ghost Story Still Gotta Work Chapter 228

[ … words ]

Right now.

Under the desk where I sit.

Something’s there.

Something is calling me.

The employee of a horror-story resort that I summoned.

“Mascot-nim?”

The corrupted Jang Heowoon.

A dead colleague who still hasn’t come back to life—who’s now a piece of urban legend—calls out to me.

To the one who made him into that legend.

“Please issue my next assignment. Thank you for summoning me!”

A dizzying sensation.

I realized, in the most unwelcome way, that I could still feel the emotion called chill down the spine.

Like a spinal reflex, I formed letters in mist and sent them beneath the desk.

—

Question: Your current status

—

Please…

“I am currently working under deployment in the Yongcheon Celestial Spring Special Recovery Zone of the Supernatural Disaster Response Agency, as per your instructions, Mascot-nim! I’ve been granting every request the ‘agents’ make, as long as it doesn’t interfere with resort operations!”

Yongcheon Celestial Spring.

A well-documented supernatural phenomenon used by the SDRA for purification and physical recovery—listed in the Wiki.

Knew it. That’s where they sent him.

My disoriented mind settled the moment it met something it understood.

The voice under the desk echoed:

“The agents ask me to peer into the thirty-three puddles that have formed around the hot spring water. They watch to see what kind of reflection of myself appears on the surface.”

But then—

“They always ask if the reflection shows the ‘Agent Hwaggak’ from before I signed my contract with you, Mascot-nim. But it’s never happened. I always answer politely!”

……

No.

No, it’s only been half a year—it’s possible there hasn’t been any progress yet.

Still, you’d think something would’ve changed, even just a little…

Right.

Suddenly, I caught a clue.

The name I’d used.

He responded to ‘Jang Heowoon.’

I’d only used his real name because I was still thinking about the other Heowoon I’d just met, and it had left a strong impression. But I definitely made the contract with him under the nickname Buffalo.

Yet, he responded to his real name—which means he may have recovered some fragment of human identity. His sense of self…

—

[Oh, Mr. Noru, that’s the nature of subordination! Even if the master calls out “hey” or “you there,” as long as the servant believes it refers to them, they will answer and stand at attention.]

……

So what you’re saying is…

It just proves how thoroughly he’s still bound to me.

Then what about the Wish Ticket?

Did he even use it…? Wait—

—

Question: Ko Yeongeun’s status

(Including whether you’ve seen her)

—

“That’s not information I currently possess. Would you like me to look into it?”

—

Question: Wish Ticket usage

—

“That’s not information I currently possess. Would you like me to look into it?”

……

—

Question: Your identity

—

“I am Buffalo, a proud employee currently on assignment—honorably employed by Mascot-nim of Flower Golden Resort!”

No.

Something is wrong.

Seriously wrong.

What the hell happened?

If the Jang Heowoon I just summoned hasn’t recovered at all… if he’s remained in the custody of the SDRA and has simply been “managed” for half a year with no real change—

Then…

The one who ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) introduced himself to me earlier as ‘Heowoon’… who recognized me… who was that?

And where is the Wish Ticket now?

……

No choice.

I need to get in touch with Yeongeun.

As soon as possible.

But I don’t even have a smartphone. And someone as intelligent and cautious as Ko Yeongeun would’ve changed her number long ago. How the hell can I reach her…?

—

“Mascot-nim.”

……!

“May I… ask a question, if I may be so bold?”

…….

—

Affirmation

: Ask freely

—

“Thank you!”

That cheerful, overly-polite voice from under the desk—suddenly rippled with something.

“I… When will my assignment end?”

…!

“Was I summoned by Mascot-nim because I’ve been called to return to the resort?”

I felt it.

Expectation.

A byproduct of volition and desire.

Things no resort employee is supposed to possess.

—

[Oh… I can sense a faint individuality surfacing.]

—

Exactly.

Has something changed?

Maybe the SDRA’s measures really are having some effect.

To be sure, I gave a quick response.

—

Answer: Negative

—

“……”

The voice under the desk fell silent.

I continued speaking.

—

Return condition:

You must be able to request something of the Mascot that is personal—unrelated to your work.

—

“But I don’t have any personal wants. My happiness has already been fulfilled, and anything I desired before becoming an employee no longer matters!”

Sigh.

—

Find one.

—

“Mascot-nim…?”

I considered giving Jang Heowoon the Bell I was holding.

But I soon realized that would be pointless.

After all, the agent who assumed custody of Heowoon was Agent Haegŭm. If that method worked, they would’ve used it already.

More importantly…

If I stalled any longer, the other agents might begin tracking or initiate emergency protocols.

If he’s showing signs of recovery, they need to monitor him themselves without delay.

I decided to send Jang Heowoon back immediately.

To make his sudden absence seem natural, I explained that the mascot had called him away for a “Resort Employee Satisfaction Assessment.”

“Yes. Thank you, Mascot-nim!”

Then, just before the summoning ended and he disappeared—

“Will you call me again?”

……

—

Affirmation

—

“Thank you, Mascot-nim!”

That bright voice replied.

And the dead one beneath the desk vanished.

—

:恩主:

(:Eunju:)

The red Inventory Tattoo beneath the brace on my left arm flashed briefly gold…

As if the “Groundskeeper,” currently working as Resort Manager, had confirmed my commands.

Sigh…

—

[My friend, you’ve learned how to handle subordinates. Congratulations. If only we had a lovely bottle of champagne to celebrate!]

—

Don’t expect a “thanks”…

I crouched in the containment pod, waiting for that dull, resurrected sensation of creepiness to subside.

And then I asked:

So that person who came to the annex earlier… that wasn’t Buffalo, right?

The Jang Heowoon I contracted with hadn’t changed at all.

—

[Correct, Mr. Noru.]

……

—

[But every word spoken has a purpose. As for what intention that person had when they spoke to you… well, even this humble announcer cannot say.]

—

Right.

Then in that case…

I need to start by identifying the basic information on that employee.

[Oh? Surely you’re not thinking of using that vulgar researcher, are you? Mr. Noru, if I recall correctly, you’ve always been reluctant to mention the matter to him directly!]

You’re right. It might just provoke him unnecessarily.

In that case…

I’ll just have to make him bring it up himself.

That day, after my shift ended and during the time left before rest hour—

“Well now. Did you have an enjoyable shift, employee?”

I silently looked at Gwak Jegang, who had come to see me.

“…Um. Employee?”

And just as he began trying to figure out what this was about, I floated up the message.

Confession permitted

“…A confession? Haha, well, I suppose I am the kind of person with a lot to confess, but, well, for you, employee, I’d gladly—”

Subject: Today’s annex visitor

…….

“Ah. Hahaha…”

Gwak Jegang gathered his file folder.

“You’re referring to the new hire, Jang Heowoon, aren’t you?”

I didn’t react.

“Hold on. I didn’t send him. I swear—really. I wouldn’t lie to you, would I? I couldn’t stop him if he wanted to go on his own…”

I stayed still, as if I were humoring his excuses.

As if I were suspecting that he had deliberately provoked me to draw out special data.

Until the primal fear I’d imprinted during my own escape—when I’d feared for my life—began to rise again behind Gwak Jegang’s neck.

Because, from the start—

There’s no way you didn’t know.

Even if you didn’t summon him directly, you would’ve been cheering and observing.

You were surely watching everything on the CCTV, monitoring the conversation and recording it.

So.

Prove it

“…In what way?”

Submit:

Today’s work log for 130666

“…Haha, yes.”

Gwak Jegang’s hands trembled slightly—whether from fear or excitement, it was unclear—as he handed me the file he was holding.

I took the folder with my gloved hand.

Flipped past my profile, usage guide, and observation records… until I found today’s notes.

The log of visitors I interacted with.

As I traced the entries by time, focusing on the new employee who’d called himself Heowoon…

2:12 AM

Interacted with: Employee Kim Heowoon

……!!

Kim… Heowoon?

130666 asked the employee if they had met before.

This question appears to stem from their contact during the new employee orientation experiment.

The employee affirmed. Afterward, 130666 issued the annex access badge without further notable reaction.

Up to this point, it was cleanly written—refined enough that even Director Cheong wouldn’t find it suspicious.

But then, the next part—

Notable: The employee used the name “Jang Heowoon” during the orientation experiment, rather than his legal name.

……

In the follow-up interview conducted after the experiment, the employee stated that he used the alias to “gain courage.”

He repeatedly claimed to be a longtime acquaintance of Chief Jang Heowoon (currently stationed at the branch office), and that he knew the chief worked for this company.

“Oh, you read that?”

The researcher’s voice, which had been stifled by fear, now lit up with renewed interest.

“It’s a flimsy excuse, sure… but at least that’s what he said in the interview.”

Then, seeing my expression, he added:

“Haha, I admit I was curious how that name would register with you at the time. The resemblance is a bit uncanny, too.”

Wait a second.

So… it’s just someone with a similar name but a different surname?

And supposedly a friend of the real Jang Heowoon?

That’s it?

…No.

It’s suspicious.

I remember clearly. After Jang Heowoon had died and returned as an employee—corrupted and awakened as part of the resort—he’d told me, so casually, about his past.

“I grew up in an orphanage, since I’m an orphan. Three years ago, there was a huge fire, and all my family who lived with me died in it. I just… happened to survive.”

To someone like that—how could there be an old friend close enough to know even about his employment at this company?

The very claim itself is awkward and suspicious.

Besides, that person recognized me.

Of that, I was sure…

……

Was I really?

What if he’d just shown kindness to the strange creature he’d met on the 13th basement floor? What if I misunderstood the context?

What if my crushed brain wasn’t working right?

What if it was just—

Jingle.

Hoo…

…Don’t spiral too far.

I gave the bell another subtle shake into the mist to re-ground myself.

At the very least, I should remember two things:

First, during both encounters, that person never made any unexpected moves.

Second, since he’s currently serving on the field investigation team, the Dreamcatcher system must’ve classified him as a human.

Those two facts are what I need to hold onto firmly.

[Suspicion is the friend of wisdom. But if it grows too sharp, it may wound. Oh, Mr. Noru—your careful and respectful approach is most commendable.]

Yeah. Thanks.

“…Ahaha, is that person bothering you that much?”

Dammit.

“Well, if you like, I could have them designated for special surveillance…”

Denied

“Ah… Yes.”

Don’t cross the line.

Prohibited actions:

▶ Any personal recruitment involving the individual

▶ Assignment to any tasks involving 130666

▶ Any other bothersome additional actions

I imposed a general prohibition order on Gwak Jegang moving forward and held back a sigh.

…That new hire did say he’d be back.

In that case, I should simply leave my access open to the annex front desk where I normally work.

Something tells me that digging deeper from Gwak Jegang’s side will only lead to complications.

Besides… I’m not relying solely on that for answers.

The whereabouts of the Wish Ticket.

…No matter how I think about it, the right thing is to speak to Ko Yeongeun.

…Now I just need to think of a way to reach her.

“Mm. Understood.”

Gwak Jegang wiped the sweat from his brow but soon recovered.

When I returned the file, he even seemed slightly disappointed that nothing more dramatic had happened.

“It was a fascinating conversation, though…”

Surprisingly, however, Gwak Jegang didn’t show any excessive curiosity or scheming intent.

When I saw his expression, I realized why.

He had something else important on his mind.

“Would it be alright if we returned to the original purpose of my visit today?”

…….

Affirmation

“…! Excellent!”

Excitement returned to his smiling face.

“Well then! At last, Director Cheong has given the order!”

…!

“Employee, it’s time… Let’s prepare to excavate the Darkness at the Joyful Research Lab beneath the Main Building! Hahaha!”