Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work - Chapter 187

Chapter 187 – 187

“Good friend.”

The summoning ritual was already prepared.

That miserable, tear-inducing mess of using a replacement of a replacement from the theme park resort last time—scraping by with gums because I had no teeth—is finally over.

This time, I prepared every single item I used during my very first “Nice Friend” summoning ritual.

The necktie, the silver snake, and… most importantly, the plushie from the

theme park gift shop.

I picked it up.

The plush, with its soft fuzzy fur, was surprisingly… keychain-sized. A pink bunny plush.

You’re wondering how I ended up with a bunny instead of the yellow-horned cat mascot, even though I got it from the yellow zone gift shop?

Simple.

“I used my mascot privileges to set up a custom sales booth.” [Create Your Own Plush Friend]

That’s right. Custom Nice Friend creation.

And so, using the RealGoods Box, I managed to recreate an original Nice Friend nearly identical to the “Nice Friend Keyring” version made into merch.

It just doesn’t have the keychain accessories.

As long as I don’t think about what the plush is actually made of…

Everything’s fine.

Except… except…

I feel eyes on me.

“You just need to follow the manual here for the summoning ritual.” “Yes.”

The unblinking gaze of the lizard made my skin crawl…

But Assistant Manager Lee Jaheon wasn’t about to avert his eyes or compromise. In the end, I began the ritual under his supervision as he checked the manual.

It never said I had to do it alone, but…

Somehow, instead of tension, I just sighed deeply over and over.

This time, I drew the circle to the proper size, placed the little plush body of Nice Friend in the center, added the silver snake, and began the ritual exactly as before.

Same necktie… same brand.

I dabbed salt on my lips.

Lit the necktie with a lighter.

Ssssssssst.

…I remember when I first tried this ritual.

I was less scared then, less resigned. Desperately trying to find a way out of this horror story I’d suddenly gotten trapped in. And the entity that answered that ritual—

Flicker—

The necktie caught fire, and the flames wavered. In the flickering light, the

plush’s shadow seemed to sway too.

And then—

The plush’s mouth opened.

“AAAAAAAH!”

Huh?

“Stop! Stop! I came first forgive me so many guests honor-bound being sir? this format is a conversation? rock-paper-scissors? you called me you pitiful things BEGONE! SAN-GUN HAS ARRIVED AAAAAH!”

The tiny plush jolted and writhed like it contained a thousand voices. Then

— “…Oh.” It stopped.

“OOOOH! THE MASTER OF THE GREAT STAGING ARRIVES!”

A chorus.

Like someone directing an audience to cheer for a guest of honor.

“They have come! They’ve returned! They’ve come for you—yes, YOU!”

The plush raised both its tiny arms.

And then—

In a delighted, childlike voice, it spoke: “Wow! You called me again,friend!”

The next moment—

Everything vanished.

The water-drawn hexagram, the necktie I was holding, the coin, even the salt in my mouth.

As if they were never there.

Only the plush remained, lying alone on the floor of the motel room.

A fuzzy little plush.

“…Braun?”

But there was no response.

I almost panicked—but quickly pieced it together.

“Nice Friend” only ever moved and talked inside the horror story itself! And this is the real world. If the plush hasn’t been bloodlust-reinforced, it still needs a few conditions to work. So— “Time to prep for conversation.” I propped Braun against the bedframe, turned off the lights, and left only the desk lamp on under the bed.

So its shadow stretched across the wall.

My hands trembled slightly as I worked.

Maybe from excitement. Or maybe from what I just witnessed.

What even was that just now?

It felt like a hundred somethings were summoned into the Nice Friend plush… but it happened too fast to analyze.

I reflexively glanced at Assistant Manager Lee.

He nodded.

“The ritual completed safely.”

Right…

At last, everything was in place to have a conversation with Nice Friend in

the real world. I leaned back on the bed and stared at the plush’s large

shadow on the wall.

And then—

“Friend!”

“…!”

A bright, cheerful voice echoed through the room.

The voice of the bunny plush.

“…Braun.”

“We’ve finally reunited! So emotional! Ah, what a perfect opening for a talk show!”

“Mr. Roe Deer, I’ve heard you’ve been through a lot. But fear not—your most loyal advisor, best guide, and one-of-a-kind friend is back at your side!”

That talk-show-host tone.

And yet, hearing it—something weirdly comforting, even emotional, spread through me.

“This is a moment that calls for hugs and cheers! Audience, now is the time —… hmm. Not moving, are they.”

“Mr. Roe Deer, my body feels like soaked cotton… but with your support, I believe I can manage. Come, would you stand with me in front of the camera?”

“Haha… nah, it’s fine.”

The way it talked was creepy enough to feel nostalgic.

I leaned into the bed, comfortably watching the plush’s shadow on the wall.

“Let’s just talk for now. How are you feeling?”

“Couldn’t be better! Being able to talk to my friend makes these heavy limbs feel like a small price for joy. I’ll get used to it soon enough!” “And now, let’s begin another delightful journey together—” There was a soft rustling, as if something nearby was shifting.

The voice faltered.

“…Oh dear. Friend, where in the world are you living?”

Ah.

I looked around the room.

Like any cheap motel behind a train station—yeah, run-down. “Was my body just resting against this grimy wall? Unbelievable!” “It’s not dirty! I cleaned it before the ritual… it’s just old.” The floral pattern makes it look dirtier!

But that wasn’t convincing enough for a talk show host.

“‘Just old’? This is an affront to habitation! Even third-rate Western actors wouldn’t stay in a trailer this awful!”

“What happened to the modest little sanctuary you used to live in?”

“That… I changed jobs, and they wouldn’t let me stay there anymore.”

“What a terrible company!”

Well…

Actually, Director Ho had suggested renting me a small officetel for stable

identity verification during spy work.

Even offered to cover the cost.

But I refused.

I guess I didn’t want to create anything I’d call “home” here.

The old dorm felt temporary, but a personal space? That might make me let my guard down.

“This place is surprisingly livable. I’ll take good care of your spot.” “Oh dear…”

“Friend, I supported your independent, self-driven decisions—even your resignation! But to think you ended up in a place like this…”

The plushie spoke mournfully.

“Please don’t forget that my talk show is always open to you, friend. Though now you may have to go through a light screening interview…” “Roe Deer, is that plush trying to seduce you into the darkness through a talk show format?”

“Well… yeah, that’s always been its thing…”

I turned toward the lizard.

He was calmly staring at me from the bed.

Calmly?!

“You can hear this!?”

“Yes.”

I almost passed out.

Wait—does that mean he heard everything? Even when I left Braun with him to visit the horror world? No—more importantly— “But this item’s supposed to only be audible to me… How can you hear it?”

“? The entity is expressing intent to communicate.” I stared at him, mouth open. “…Most people can’t hear it.”

“Correct.”

“It’ll seem suspicious to others.”

“Indeed.”

The lizard just stared blankly at me.

“There are no others in this space.”

I gave up.

Come to think of it, he always recognized me—whether I turned into a kid, wore a security suit, or even put on a mascot head.

…Maybe he’s just specialized in psychic identity and communication.

Let’s just chalk it up to “reptilian alien skills.”

That’s easier.

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like some advice?”

“…Sorry?”

“Burn the plush immediately.”

“…Oh.”

“AAAAHH!”

“The summoning ritual followed all safety protocols, but the summoned entity is capable of bypassing the ritual’s restrictions at any time.” “This rude sword-swinger still doesn’t know decorum.” Oh please.

“If you weren’t even invited, stay silent. The ignorance of this chatterbox —! But I’ll say a few words, for the sake of my dear friend.”

“I respect my friend’s privacy. I’m ready to help with anything. Because…”

“I’m your Nice Friend!”

“Last time you trusted the restriction, Mr. Roe Deer, you disappeared for a whole month. Don’t forget that.”

“That was merely an expression of my warm concern for your safety. Thanks to me, you had a lovely, secure month in a fulfilling job… until this guy trampled into the studio with muddy boots.” “He’s threatening you.”

“W-wait!”

Look, I’m already trapped in this horror world by contract—I’m not getting out. No need for tension here.

“You let me go when I insisted I’d resign, right?”

“Of course!”

“What logic did I use to convince you again?”

Well…

“…I promised I’d show you something even more fun.” “Ah. Yes. I’ve been curious about that promise…”

“But even if it’s not fun, Nice Friend will always protect you. Because enjoying your pain isn’t what Nice Friend does!” Strange tone.

Now that I think about it, Braun’s speech is much friendlier than when we talked from the theme park—like it’s fully on my side. Like before.

Was it bound again by the old rules when summoned into the plush?

But this time, I could tell:

This entity treats the restrictions as a joke.

It keeps pretending they still matter because it finds them nostalgic and funny.

If it gets bored, it might break the restrictions and drag me back to the talk show.

…Thanks to Assistant Manager Lee, I’m taking this seriously again.

I almost got swept up in the mood and grew too attached to Braun.

Yeah. I won’t take everything it says at face value.

I need to prevent a repeat of last time.

“Alright. Thanks, Braun. For now… mind going back into my pocket?” “Oh! I wouldn’t refuse that!”

I smoothly shifted the conversation and ended the talk naturally.

Whew.

As soon as I tucked Braun into my front pocket, I let out a relieved sigh.

Somehow, it felt like I was back on track.

Incidentally, when I tried to grab the plush with my right hand, the ghost flame on that arm trembled, so I used my left.

When did it start taking this much negotiation to use my own body…?

I feel like I’m reaching enlightenment.

“Is it over?”

Thankfully, the lizard didn’t do anything rash—like yanking Braun and hurling him out the window.

Though he did stare at the bunny plush for a moment.

If Braun could move, they’d probably fight.

Maybe it’s better this way.

To lighten the mood, I spoke up again:

“Uh, Manager… so, if you came today because you figured all this out…”

“No.”

Then…?

“Was there another reason?”

“Yes.”

“…One moment.”

Whew.

I finally sat back down at the table and brought out some snacks and coffee for the manager.

He didn’t refuse, sipping calmly. I drank from my cup too.

“Now, please tell me.”

I was ready to hear it.

…Maybe it was about Team D?

“Yes.”

He swallowed the snack whole, then looked at me and asked something completely unexpected: “Mr. Roe Deer, during your last ‘Happy Theme Park!’ expedition, did you bring a Dream Collector?” Huh?

“The company didn’t give me one.”

“I see.”

Right, I’d been pretending to be from a special security team.

Normally, security teams don’t get Dream Collectors because they’re too contaminated. The collector only dispenses dream serum if it detects a human—but they don’t count as human anymore. But I did bring one on my own.

An elite team’s collector.

I got it from the RealGoods box. It’s let me produce potion ingredients from

the dream lab several times before.

And this mission was rated A…

Should I check it now?

I opened my mouth and checked the inventory tattoo.

“But why do you ask—”

The elite collector was empty.

Huh?

“Mr. Roe Deer.”

I cautiously took it out again and checked—still nothing.

That’s weird.

I definitely cleared the horror world. The collector should be full.

Why wasn’t it?

If clearing the darkness still results in an empty collector…

A sentence popped into my mind.

“The collector only dispenses dream serum if it detects a human. If it

can’t…”

Wait.

Does that mean I’m not human?

I… got classified as a horror entity?

But…

I’m still totally myself, aren’t I?

I didn’t show any strange behavior like last time in the Fox Counseling Room.

So I thought my identity was intact…

“Manager.”

“Yes.”

“Am I… contaminated?”

We locked eyes.

He opened his mouth.

“Yes.”

“…But I’m normal. It’s not like when I went to the counseling room—” “You’re contaminated by a different kind of darkness.” I guess… that’s possible.

Then—

A brilliant light shone down from above.

I looked up instinctively, and saw a familiar notepad and message…

[Darkness Exploration Log – RealGoods Box]

– New item usage permissions unlocked! (!)

It had been a while since a phenomenon like this occurred.

Without thinking, I reached out and caught the item as it dropped from the box.

A pale silver music box.

The same one I had bought at the popup store.

A product of the Nameless Radiance Cult.

Music Box of Adoration

Darkness Exploration Log / Nameless Radiance Cult / Item

A replica of a music box supposedly obtained through a ritual by the Nameless Radiance Cult.

The original was said to bear the inscription: “To know truth is to possess

power.”

Those who hear the melody of the music box, if they have been assimilated by horror stories, may—by probability—recover their human logic and identity.

However, if listened to more than three times, it instead induces madness, leading the listener to commit unpredictable and horrifying acts. Refer to this for usage records.

Some claim this madness is merely a side effect of awakening to the world’s unknowable truths—and that the music box’s true function only begins after the third listen.

The melody vanishes from memory the moment the box is closed.

Only the feeling remains—never the melody itself.

Item usage condition: must be an assimilated believer granted a divine scripture by the Nameless Radiance Cult.

And ‘assimilated believer’ here refers to someone who has been transformed so completely by the horror world that they no longer register as human.

So…

Receiving this means—

I meet the item’s usage conditions.

I’ve been completely assimilated into the horror.

And I’m aware of it.

“Mr. Noru.”

“…..”

“If you still don’t want to visit the Fox Counseling Room, nod.”

I’m losing it.

“If you’re undecided, proceed with the emergency measure.”

That is…

“What is it?”

“Take out the gratitude card you received from the Cosmic Shopping Mall.”

I acted on instinct.

The golden card sprang from my wrist. Assistant Manager Lee didn’t even blink.

“Now remove the cell enclosed in the card.”

Cell?

Ah—he must mean the golden chip, like a SIM card, that was tucked inside the card.

“Place it under your tongue.”

“Face the circuit side upward, and press it under your tongue.”

Normally, I’d be hesitating, asking a dozen questions, dragging it out.

But this time, a cold sense of urgency rang like a bell in my head.

“Yes.”

I pressed the “cell” under my tongue.