Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 86

I had heard about Director Ho multiple times before—mostly through office politics.

He was known as part of the A-team line, specifically connected to Byeongjin Lee, the manual reviewer.

"That manager used to be close with A-team. You know, one of 'those lines.'""Director Ho has his eye on you, Kim.""He's the best higher-up in the company. Don’t miss this opportunity."Several times, I had been encouraged by those in Ho’s line to "join the same line."

But for the man himself to show up unannounced in Team D’s office, casually blending in like a regular coworker?!

“...!”

I reflexively stood up and bowed.

"Good afternoon, Director Ho."

"Oh, you recognized me right away..."

He had just addressed Director Cheong informally, and now he was acting sheepish?!

‘He walked in here already knowing about the proposal I got from Cheong, acting all casual...’

Wait a minute.

‘Didn’t Ho just say he had a proposal of his own?’

A proposal?

I glanced at the young man before me, still wearing a friendly expression.

In a pleasant tone, he said, "Sorry if I made you nervous by bringing up a scary figure out of the blue."

"Not at all. I apologize for not greeting you properly earlier..."

"Oh no, I find formalities awkward and don’t care much for them. Feel free to speak comfortably."

‘As if that’s possible.’

Was he shameless, or was he deliberately trying to create tension?

Either way, I took a deep breath and nodded, pretending to relax a bit.

‘This is probably the reaction he was looking for.’

Sure enough, Ho’s expression softened as he continued. Though his words were far from comforting.

"Let me guess. Director Cheong must’ve offered you something related to the elite team, right? Like forming a new elite team?"

"..."

Wow.

Am I supposed to be completely transparent with him?

But not being transparent feels equally risky.

I quickly scrambled for a response.

"That’s correct, but... Oh! My apologies, I was a bit flustered. Let me guide you to a more comfortable spot."

Feigning sudden realization, I led Ho to the guest sofa in Team D’s office, effectively breaking the flow of the conversation.

- "Buying time to handle a tricky guest? Excellent move, Deer! Smooth enough to escape even the grimmest ghost story game master’s judgment!"

Terrifying, but at least it worked.

I quickly dashed to the break room, grabbed some snacks, green tea, and coffee, and returned.

"Would you prefer tea or coffee?"

"Oh, just give me whatever you like best and take the other for yourself."

Does he not realize how infuriatingly insidious that kind of response is for someone in his position?!

I watched his reaction, handed him the green tea, and brought the coffee back to my seat, acting like it was my preference.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

"Not at all."

Ho sipped the tea and made some empty remark about how warm and pleasant it was.

"Honestly, I’m not here to pressure you, Mr. Soleum. I just wanted to chat and get to know you better. That’s all."

Sure, because casually chatting with a director doesn’t sound terrifying at all.

What he said next, however, caught me completely off guard.

"I rarely get to see members of the Field Exploration Team for long periods. So when I think someone might stick around, I make it a point to visit."

"..."

"You see, the Field Exploration Team contributes so much to this company. But there are people in the Development Division who treat you like short-term hires, just shuffling papers while chanting 'efficiency, efficiency.'"

For a moment, Ho’s eyes twitched.

"Call me an idealist, but I don’t think that’s right. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"..."

How heartwarming. Or, rather, chilling.

‘A company director shouldn’t be saying this.’

If he’s in a position to change things, why is he asking me, a rookie, to agree with him?

‘This feels like some kind of ideological screening.’

Still, there was a chance he was being genuine, so I carefully modulated my response. Something neutral, unlikely to cause issues either way.

"Well, no one’s forced to work here. At least there’s the freedom to quit, and I’ve heard the company honors wish-granting privileges."

"Yes, that’s true. At least there’s that."

Ho smiled warmly.

"Compared to groups that declare people guilty without trial and throw them into the Darkness as human sacrifices, we do offer some autonomy."

"..."

He clearly had a grudge against the Disaster Management Bureau.

‘Better not let him find out I’ve been involved with them.’

The Bureau ID badge hidden in my pocket suddenly felt heavy. I tried to cover my unease by taking a sip of coffee.

"People who want to live like humans for however long they can... they’ll probably refuse such things."

"Exactly! It’s nice talking to you, Mr. Soleum."

You’re mistaken.

But please, hold on to that delusion for as long as possible...

Before he could bring up another explosive topic, I hastily shifted the conversation.

"Thank you. So, Director, about the proposal you mentioned earlier...?"

"Ah, right! Let’s talk about that."

Ho grinned brightly.

"I’m putting together a project team and recruiting staff for it."

"...!"

"I’d like to invite you to join this project team."

What?

I suddenly recalled something Manager Byeongjin Lee had mentioned once.

"There’s a rumor that Director Ho runs a classified project team. You could end up transferring there."‘So that rumor’s true?’

But what came next was even more shocking.

"To be precise, I’m considering you as a team leader candidate."

"..."

Has this man lost his mind?

"There are three candidates I’m looking at. Honestly, if you had just two more years of experience, you’d be my top pick... For now, just know you’re one of the finalists."

My brain felt like it was going to short-circuit.

- "Hoho, this offer promises more authority than the last one. Let’s hear him out, friend!"

Hearing him out makes sense when you’re on equal footing. Right now, this feels like...

‘Did I just pull a Paris and get handed the golden apple?’

No matter what I choose, I’ll offend someone powerful. This is worse than joining a faction—it’s burning bridges.

‘What do I do?’

Just maintaining a semblance of composure felt like an achievement.

‘Rejecting both proposals might be safest...’

"Oh, I’m rushing things. Let me tell you about the rewards first."

"...Rewards?"

"The project’s performance bonuses."

Ho’s smile grew wider.

"If this project succeeds, every team member will receive a wish-granting privilege."

"...!!"

"One for each member. No exceptions."

Unbelievable.

"And the team leader gets an additional perk... but I’d rather discuss that in more detail if you join."

"..."

"Oh, and thanks for the tea."

Ho stood, placed the mug in the sink, and headed for the office door.

"Take a few days to think about it and get back to me. Though it’s best not to take more than a week."

He leaned in conspiratorially.

"Director Cheong isn’t known for patience."

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"..."

"If you ever need someone to talk to, my office is always open. See you around!"

***

That night.

Even though I had significantly recovered from the contamination and regained clarity of mind, I returned home feeling utterly unsettled.

"This feels like déjà vu."

Sigh.

I collapsed onto my bed.

"This really feels like I’m caught up in some internal power struggle between the Development Division executives, doesn’t it?"

It’s true I might seem unusually competent for a rookie, but the fact that things escalated this much was likely because the two directors were aware of each other.

The proposals were absurdly over-the-top.

...If that’s the case.

"I should probably go with the side offering better treatment."

At least that way, I wouldn’t end up stranded without support.

"The problem is, I don’t know anything about these directors personally."

The Darkness Exploration Records primarily focus on the employees who create them.

In other words, the records include employee names and profiles, but the executives who make decisions from above? Barely mentioned.

"One thing’s for sure—they’re both far from ordinary, which is why this is driving me crazy."

Director Cheong, for instance, was suspicious enough with how even Team Leader Lee Jaheon referred to her as a "presence." As for Director Ho, his appearance and demeanor were strange right off the bat.

He seemed way too young for an executive and spoke with the kindness of a social worker.

"...I have some guesses about their true identities, based on their surnames and appearances..."

But at this point, it was all speculation.

"This is tough."

As if just surviving ghost stories wasn’t hard enough, now I had to deal with this mess. It felt unreal.

In the end, after a long, grueling debate, I decided to put this issue on pause.

...Because I had a more pressing problem to deal with.

...

"Braun."

- "Ah, you’re calling for me, friend!"

Sigh.

"About that bath in the Fountain of Youth... is there any chance we can replace it with something else?"

There was a short silence.

- "Ah, your feelings have changed in just one day, dear Deer! Breaking promises is not a good habit."

"..."

- "But I’m your good friend, so it’s fine!"

"Sorry," I said immediately. "You’re right; I shouldn’t change my mind. I think I made a mistake because I wasn’t in my right mind when I made that promise."

- "Strange. Friend Deer, just last night, you had no signs of extreme fatigue, panic, dizziness, or any other abnormal conditions that would impair your judgment. This host remembers it clearly!"

Braun’s cheerful tone was unnervingly steady, as if he wasn’t fazed at all.

- "So, what exactly do you mean by ‘not in your right mind’?"

"..."

Today was full of moments that made me break into a cold sweat.

How had I not noticed how terrifying this plush toy was before?

Trying to stay calm, I avoided looking directly at the doll and continued.

"...But you knew I was being contaminated by that educational manual, didn’t you? The one I brought back from the kindergarten and left in my tattoo."

There was no way Braun hadn’t known.

He had even pointed it out to me during the Bloodlust Bath incident.

- "Ah, your bath salts are quite the blend, my dear friend."

He had known I was being swallowed by contamination.

"You just didn’t think of it as ‘contamination’—more like... a transformation."

- "Correct, dear Deer!"

Sigh...

"So it really was like that."

Just hearing Braun confirm it made my skin crawl. But I forced myself to respond.

"But I think of it as contamination, and I don’t want to be contaminated."

I raised my hand.

The tattoo on my wrist, now perfectly clear and empty, came into view.

"I like myself better the way I am now."

- "..."

"I don’t like my judgment flipping completely, like a switch being turned."

At the end, I added something Braun might actually empathize with.

"And I definitely don’t want to turn into some outdated kindergarten teacher who plays ‘Hangman.’"

- "That... hmm. That is an unassailable point."

Braun sounded slightly shaken.

- "Yes, indeed. The thought of dear Deer belonging to that drab kindergarten... What an absolute disaster! Unthinkable!"

- "You’re right. I haven’t been a very good friend, have I?"

- "Let’s explore a different kind of transformation that brings us closer together!"

"..."

"So, if I get contaminated, you’ll just let it happen because I’d treat you better that way?"

- "Oh, no need to phrase it so harshly! That was simply a theory you’ve already proven yourself over the past few weeks!"

Images of my behavior over the last few weeks flashed through my mind.

Under the influence of contamination, I had chatted openly with ghostly residents and relied on them without hesitation.

- "It’s only natural, you see. Friends are drawn to those who are similar to them."

Oh, no.

I had expected this much, but still.

I took a deep breath.

Time to say it.

"No."

- "No?"

"Yeah. Friends aren’t just people who share the exact same values."

I chose my words carefully.

"And friendship isn’t just about feeling comfortable with each other, either."

This part was sincere.

"Friends try to understand each other’s differences and care for one another, even when they don’t fully get along... through conversation."

- "..."

"And, to reiterate, I don’t want to be contaminated."

Without turning my head, I placed my hand on the desk where the plush toy was sitting.

"If you can’t understand that, at least notify me before doing something I don’t want. Give me the chance to talk it through with you."

- "Hmm."

The sound of plastic fingers tapping on the desk echoed, as if Braun were deep in thought.

Finally...

- "Understood, dear Deer."

- "Your logic is sound, reasonable, and truly touching. I can’t disagree—you are my friend, after all!"

Phew.

"Thank you."

...It felt like the matter was resolved.

I let out a sigh of relief and finally turned to face my "good friend."

The slightly terrifying, yet oddly reassuring plush toy.

I picked him up carefully.

"Let’s keep working together."

That, too, was sincere.

Later, I followed through on one decision I had made while contaminated.

An aromatherapy massage.

"I’ll watch the shadows as I work. Let me know if anything feels off."

- "Of course, friend!"

Honestly, I wasn’t an expert, and working just by watching the shadows didn’t seem particularly effective, but Braun seemed reasonably satisfied.

- "Not everyone needs to be a massage expert! This will do."

He even gave it a gentle three-star review, saying:

- "Still, I do miss the bath. To stay youthful and always be with my dear friend, I need rejuvenation!"

"Let’s... revisit that later."

This was hard.

Really hard.

Dealing with a "good friend" like Braun—a ghostly resident of the supernatural world—wasn’t just scary or nerve-wracking.

But it wasn’t entirely trustworthy or wholesome, either.

"Finding balance between those extremes... that’s the only sane approach."

I resolved to tread carefully, so as not to lose my footing.

I listened quietly as Braun, rejuvenated by the aromatherapy, began to chatter again.

- "By the way, I’m curious again! Between the two grand proposals you received at work, which one will you choose?"

- "Still undecided? While my advice is worth its weight in gold, I’m happy to offer it to a friend for free!"

Hmm. About that.

"Actually, I’ve almost decided."

- "Oh?"

"Tomorrow, I’ll ask just one crucial question and then make my choice."

- "And what will that question be? Surely this legendary host deserves a hint!"

I laid my head on the pillow and laughed.

"You’ll find out tomorrow."

- "...!!"

- "I’m moved. Truly moved, dear Deer..."

And with that, the eventful day finally came to an end.

The next day.

After asking the "crucial question," I went to the office of one of the two directors.