Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 186

Chapter 186 – 186

My second exploration of Yukae Theme Park was finally over.

And the response from the research team was explosive.

Exploration results:

Out of 12 personnel dispatched, 8 returned.

2 of the returnees completed the exploration on schedule.

The remaining 6 were found in the conference room where the board game had been initiated—on the sixth day of exploration.

Among them, one staff member showed signs of complete contamination (mask transformation) and was transferred to the Fox Counseling Room. Of the 4 who didn’t return, 3 were confirmed dead. All of them had drawn red pieces.

One of them—only the head—was brought back by a survivor, but was lost

again in the yellow zone.

Additional anomaly #1:

Dream solution samples collected during the exploration were visibly of higher purity than usual. Judged to be similar to Grade A. Additional anomaly #2:

Several of the six staff members who returned on day 6 claimed to have

worked as theme park employees and reported receiving items from the gift shop in exchange for wages.

If this had been an Ahnawiki article, it would’ve said something like,

“Confirmed after an obsessive verification process.”

Six times the exploration length… for one grade higher liquid quality.

An irregular result, no doubt.

And there was only one irregular factor.

Me.

A staffer from the Special Department of the Security Team.

Yet, despite appearing like some horror entity or contaminated something, I managed to avoid a full interview session with the research team and return home safely.

“Uh, thank you so much! If I wanted to buy you a meal sometime, how

should I contact—”

“Chief! Please don’t!”

…Chief Lee Seong-hae tried to show appreciation, but was stopped by a researcher.

Honestly, that was a relief.

There was no real way to contact me anyway.

This was all just a disguise created by Director Ho.

And then… before I could head home, I had to meet someone far scarier than the research team.

“Must’ve been rough, Mr. Sol-eum!”

The moment I took off my Security Team uniform, I checked on the foxfire lantern hanging from my empty right arm.

It had returned to its original form and seemed frightened stiff.

Director Ho squinted curiously at it but thankfully didn’t confiscate it.

Instead, he pointed to my uniform.

“Oh! Looks like tagging along with Mr. So-yoo had a fun effect on the design. Even if not, what an entertaining outfit. I’ll extend the rental period —you might get another chance to wear it.” I nodded without protest.

It wasn’t the time or place to push back.

Because…

“By the way, do you know what happened to Jang Heo-woon?” …He asked.

“He was sent in to support you. I hope you found him useful.” I told the truth.

That a Disaster Management Bureau agent had appeared, and Heo-woon

had been taken away under the pretense of rescue after his identity was

nearly exposed.

“Oh dear!”

He didn’t seem particularly upset.

Or rather… he didn’t show he was upset.

‘He has to be furious inside.’

“But Director,” I said carefully, “they didn’t discover that Heo-woon works

for Daydream Inc. So he should still be able to carry out his role.” “Ah, I see?”

My excuse—framed as deduction—that he’d likely be stuck in

contamination checks and unable to move freely for a while, seemed to

satisfy him.

“For now.”

“What about his dream-solution collector? I heard from the research team that some Grade A liquid was recovered.”

“Unfortunately, it was destroyed during recovery—couldn’t let it fall into

the hands of the Bureau.”

A lie.

I destroyed it myself.

Right before escaping the theme park, I retrieved it from Heo-woon and pulverized it using a supply mascot.

Had the collector been found, it would’ve revealed Heo-woon’s identity. Leaving it behind would have meant it auto-returned to Daydream Inc HQ, allowing Director Ho to piece together the truth. There was no choice but to destroy it.

“That’s too bad. Normally the person responsible pays for a broken

collector… but I suppose this time, I’ll make sure it gets waived. Special

circumstances and all.”

“…Thank you.”

“Oh no, I’m not doing you any favors! Haha!”

Thankfully, he let it go.

I thought he’d care more about the Grade A solution, but he didn’t seem that

interested.

‘Strange.’

In any case, a Grade A is a Grade A.

I should probably check my elite team’s collector too—though that would have to wait.

I crashed the moment I got back.

Didn’t wake up once until the next morning.

‘Felt like I was going to die.’

And speaking of which—

I’d just lost six vacation days.

This morning, I went straight to the Disaster Management Bureau.

God.

Agent Choi from Hyunmu Team 1 stared at me as I entered the waiting room, holding an iced Americano.

“Whoa, long time no see! You didn’t even call once during break, you cold-hearted MZ grape…”

He trailed off when he got a good look at me.

“Did you go training in the mountains or something? You look like a ghost.

Right, Jae-gwan?”

“Uh, yeah…”

Even Agent Ryu, who had frowned at being dragged into the conversation,

paused when he saw me.

“Did something happen?”

I barely managed to reply.

“I just… didn’t sleep well.”

Technically true.

I’d spent 5 nights and 6 days working nonstop as a mascot in a frozen resort.

The agents exchanged a glance and silently sat beside me.

“Did you not get to rest properly?”

I gave them a vague expression.

Ryu asked cautiously.

“We heard you didn’t stop by to recharge your foxfire lantern. Are you okay?”

“Yeah… I just forgot. Didn’t need it much.”

Thankfully, the lantern had finally recovered its strength after being recharged this morning.

It had probably been overwhelmed by the mascot’s energy.

It trembled violently at the mere mention of the Security Team uniform now.

“I’m sorry. You went out of your way to grant me that leave…” “That was your leave to use, wasn’t it?”

Agent Choi dropped his teasing and leaned in.

“Hey, there’s a hot spring up in Seoraksan that the Bureau runs for staff.

Next time, let’s all go. It’s surprisingly good for a welfare facility.”

I hesitated—colleagues at a hot spring?

But then I remembered the hot spring’s reputation, and nodded quickly.

“Good. That’s the spirit.”

Choi patted my back.

“When you work hard, your body and mind can crash all at once. But you

still showed up on time. Good job.”

I didn’t say it, but…

I was only here to maintain cover as a spy.

Still, after dealing with Daydream Inc’s horror story, the Bureau’s ghost stories felt like a vacation.

I just nodded and thanked them.

Then slumped against the sofa until we were called.

There were no oddities—aside from fending off Choi’s relentless board game invitations.

And finally, in the afternoon—

“Agent Grape!”

It was Go Young-eun from the New Investigations Unit.

“Did you hear? About Agent Hwa-gak from Team Ju-jak 2—you know, the

one you worked with?”

Ah.

She didn’t know the full story about the theme park.

But she had apparently found out about Heo-woon’s condition.

“He was found yesterday in a severely contaminated state. Isolated for treatment… transferred to Seoraksan.”

She looked like she was holding back tears.

“They think he got caught up in a supernatural disaster during your break.” Just then, another voice joined in.

“You’re talking about our junior, huh?”

We both turned to see Team Ju-jak 2’s leader walking toward us. “Yeah, rookies get freaked out. A teammate disappears, it’s unsettling, right?”

“But hey, at least he’s been rescued. That’s what matters.”

The steely look behind his glasses held the same resignation I’d seen from

others—people who knew too well what it meant when a contaminated

agent wasn’t cured.

‘Damn it.’

At least Heo-woon hadn’t been thrown into a glass cell.

“Still, he brought something amazing with him. The Sealing Token!” “Huh?”

The team lead waved over another agent.

It was Team Hyunmu 3’s leader—Team Leader Hae-geum.

Crap.

“Ah. Rookies?”

“Yeah, this one came in with our guy. And this one’s Hyunmu’s new rookie.”

“Ohhh, the new ‘Destruction King’!”

They greeted me with a handshake and a thump on the back.

My brain was spinning, recalling the trade I made with them.

I’d handed over Heo-woon in exchange for five Sealing Tokens—the kind used as currency in supernatural situations.

“Well then, rookie, nice to meet you. Let’s talk more next time.” And with that, Hae-geum left.

Just as I turned back to Young-eun…

“Wait a sec.”

Hae-geum paused, frowning.

“Have we met before?”

My heart froze.

“I—I think I might’ve greeted you once in the hallway. You were busy and didn’t notice…”

“Oh shoot, my bad! Been hectic lately. Should’ve remembered!” He grinned.

“Anyway, swing by Team 3’s room sometime if you’re bored. Got it?” “Yes, sir…”

I smiled awkwardly.

Then watched him leave, chatting with Team Ju-jak’s leader.

Young-eun met my eyes, still bewildered.

A lot happened, Young-eun.

So much.

And finally, at 6 p.m.—I got off work.

‘Please.’

Thankfully it was a day shift.

No emergencies.

But I was dying to crash again.

I reached into my inventory tattoo and touched something soft.

1 plushie.

2 “Good Kid” mascot plush from the park’s gift shop. I’d smuggled it out.

Soon, I’d perform the summoning ritual again… but in a safe, stable setting this time.

I just needed to get home.

But when I opened the motel door…

“Roe Deer.”

3 familiar lizard head stared at me from inside.

It was Assistant Manager Lee Ja-heon.

What was he doing here?

“Were you sent by Director Ho?”

“No.”

“Then… how?”

“I snuck in.”

…Then you really shouldn’t just be standing there like it’s no big deal!

Sure, Director Ho probably knows we’re in contact anyway, but—is this really okay?

Is it fine to just casually show up at a spy’s safehouse like this? Actually, forget that—why are you sitting in my motel room without so much as a warning in the first place?

“Um, would you like to sit down?”

“Yes.”

Flustered, I sat across from the lizard at the small table.

I opened my mouth to try to explain how taken aback I was, but—

“I understand. However, I’m here because there’s a more urgent matter that takes priority.”

Whew.

“Sorry, but I have something I need to take care of first.”

“What is it?”

Well.

You remember the talk show incident, right? The one where you rescued me by calling in a full-scale bombardment?

Strictly speaking, I’m about to summon the host responsible for all that chaos again…

Should I be saying this? Or would not telling him make me one of those reckless idiots who ignore basic safety protocol?

Feeling like I was already being swept along, I gave a brief explanation of the situation. Figured he’d understand that not summoning the guy just wasn’t an option.

“I see.”

As expected, Manager Lee Jaheon didn’t hesitate before nodding in agreement.

But then—

“Please follow all proper safety protocols during the ritual. I will be observing.”

He clearly had no intention of leaving.

And so, I ended up summoning the “Good Friend” Braun with Manager Lee Jaheon watching over my shoulder…

Is this… really how this is supposed to go?

This is insane.