Mistaken for a Catastrophe-Level Ghost Story Employee 109

Chapter 109.

Under the Black King’s cold gaze from his throne—

Bzzzt—

Noise, staring not at the Black King but at me, spoke in his usual playful tone.

“Taking notes is a wonderful habit for employees who want their supervisor’s favor.”

But.

The Black King watched us with indifference.

[…I underestimated you. It seems I must be more careful when dealing with you.]

Snap—!

With another flick of his fingers, his deep voice rumbled toward us.

[Hear the words of the merciful King of the Black Forest.]

[Devour the intruders who dare step into our domain.]

[Make them regret their trespass—]

—Fear.

—Despair.

—Realize their ignorance.

[Let them blame themselves.]

As his voice faded, the stone floor beneath us—

Squelch—

Black liquid began oozing from the cracks.

Endlessly, the viscous darkness spilled forth, taking shape—

Some formed hundreds of eyes across their bodies.

Others sprouted dozens of arms like twisted trees.

And some, with hollow sockets dripping black tears—

“H…elp… me…”

—begged us to save them.

Watching the tide of black figures, I realized—

The Black King had made his move.

———

/Ghost Story Journal

[The King of the Black Forest]

Black-Forest-King

Once upon a time, there was a deep, dark forest.

Even in daylight, shadows ruled. Even starlight couldn’t pierce its gloom.

In that forest lived the Black King.

He wanted subjects.

Subjects to listen to his tales.

Subjects to worship only him.

Subjects to swear loyalty.

█ Only for the King. █

██ Swear your oath. ██

███ In death. ███

A month later, countless ‘subjects’ came to the King.

██ ██ Loyalty to the King.
██ ██ Only for the King.

████ The King’s scripture.

The Black King is merciful to his subjects. So—

Do not question.

Do not doubt.

Do not believe your eyes.

Ignore the screams in your ears.

Just obey the King’s words.

Happiness lies in obedience.

-[IDEOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION DETECTED]-

Access restricted to Manager-level and above.

———

As the journal showed—

This was an ideologically contaminated ghost story.

No longer a record—just a recruitment notice for the King’s subjects.

And now—

With the Black King summoning his servants, we couldn’t let them touch us.

The moment they grabbed us—

We’d become his subjects too.

A single touch was all it took.

———

/The King of the Black Forest

An employee who tried to save a ‘blackened’ colleague became a subject himself upon contact.

———

Don’t touch them.

Don’t get touched.

But ignoring them wasn’t an option either.

If we just kept avoiding them, their numbers would multiply exponentially.

“Noise, don’t let the Black Subjects grab you.”

“How unfortunate. As a salesman, it pains me to refuse so many customers.”

Noise sounded genuinely regretful.

“But priorities come first. The VVVIP takes precedence.”

Noise raised his left arm just like the Black King and snapped his fingers.

Snap—

Bzzzt—!

Static exploded.

Hundreds of distortions split through the air, materializing behind each Black Subject.

“Now, if you’d kindly step aside—”

BZZZZT—!

In an instant—

Without even a chance to resist—

Every single Black Subject vanished.

Swallowed by Noise’s distortions.

I stared, dumbfounded.

[……]

The Black King fell silent.

But not for long.

[Pathetic, former King.]

[Are you still clinging to that delusion?]

[How disappointing. You’ve tainted my memories of admiration.]

Noise chuckled.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. My only wish is to deliver the finest products to our customers—”

[She is dead, old King.]

Bzzzt—

The static masking Noise’s face flickered.

His gaze locked onto the crowned figure.

“…Let’s not discuss irrelevant matters.”

A warning.

Drop the subject.

But the Black King didn’t take the hint.

[Still hung up on a human girl? How pitiful.]

[You’ve fallen far, Primordial ghost.]

“…You talk too much.”

SCREEEEEEEEE—!

Deafening static erupted.

A tidal wave of distortion engulfed the throne.

Before the Black King could react—

Crunch—

He was gone.

Only the empty throne remained.

Less than 10 minutes after Noise arrived—

It was over.

The fox beside me stared at Noise, unable to look away.

……

Noise observed the vacant throne.

Then, softly—

“Still so far to go.”

Turning to me, his playful tone returned.

“Ah, how rude of me to act out in front of you, Park Yeon-jeong.”

“…No. I saw everything clearly.”

“Good. As long as you’ve learned something.”

He then addressed the fox.

“And you, little vixen—pleasure to meet you. I’m ‘Noise’, the excellent supervisor.”

[……]

The fox—

Thud—!

—hid behind me.

My back was apparently the only safe zone in his mind.

“As expected, Park Yeon-jeong is popular with female customers.”

“……”

[……]

The fox let go of my clothes.

Then—

Stare—

I felt a murderous aura from behind.

Ignoring the fox’s glare, I surveyed the empty space.

…We survived.

Thanks to Noise, we’d made it. Now, all that was left was to leave.

“Park Yeon-jeong.”

Noise’s voice cut through my thoughts.

For the first time, his tone was dead serious.

“I trust you were paying attention. I believe in you.”

“…Huh? What are you—?”

Before I could finish—

THUD—!

A fist punched through Noise’s chest.

Black liquid engulfed him.

“I leave the rest to you.”

“NOISE!!”

But by the time I shouted—

He was already gone.

Then—

RIIIIP—!

The distortion tore apart.

From it emerged—

A hand brushing back golden hair.

A sinister smile.

[The succession is complete.]

[I am now—

—the new King of this world.]