Mistaken for a Catastrophe-Level Ghost Story Employee 102

Chapter 102.  

When I saw Hye-seon swiftly leading Hansol to safety—  

‘Good job, Hye-seon!’

I silently thanked her for moving as I’d hoped.  

All they needed to do was get far away from me.  

That was enough.  

Only one person here concerned me now.  

‘Thank you for staying alive and well…comrade.’  

Like being sucked into deep shadows, I concealed myself.  

Without a moment’s hesitation.  

My destination was already decided.  

Step—  

One step.  

Two steps.  

Slowly hiding in this dark playground to meet someone I never expected to see again here.  

‘What should I say first?’  

Before the hiding spot of someone with whom I had so much to discuss—my footsteps halted.  

I smiled warmly at the man concealed between wooden poles.  

“How delightful to see you again.”  

“…Who the hell are you?”  

Ryu Geon-woo’s short sporty hairstyle shook as he spoke.  

I knew from his perspective I just looked like a weirdo wearing a paper bag.  

So I kindly revealed my identity.  

Extremely kindly.  

“You’ve already forgotten me? How disappointing, Applicant Ryu Geon-woo. I never imagined we’d meet at another company’s recruitment test.”  

“……”  

Geon-woo’s silence stretched.  

Soon his face began rapidly paling.  

Hesitating—  

Seeing me in the paper bag, Geon-woo started backing away.  

Tremors in his voice betrayed his fear:  

“No way…you’re that facilitator from the library? How’s an F-grade ghost like you here?!”  

His reaction suggested he’d mistaken me for someone else.  

That someone being—  

Noise.  

But.

That was understandable.  

Since I’d…engineered that misconception.  

I wanted him to think I was Noise.  

I’d amplified Noise’s mannerisms beyond usual every gesture carefully calculated.  

So he’d properly listen to what came next.  

So every word would be seared into his ears.  

He needed to understand.

The humiliation I’d endured after being formally selected by Noise.  

‘Do you have any idea how many ghost stories I’ve entered in your place?!’  

He should experience it too.  

While some struggle daily between life and death—  

He’d clearly planned to join the Agency, enjoy all benefits, and ride a fast-track promotion using <Ghost Story Record Storage> intel.  

It was obvious without asking.  

Hesitating.

Geon-woo seemed ready to bolt—  

‘This bastard…’  

No.  

His hesitation wasn’t to flee.  

Fumbling—  

He pulled something from his pocket. Seeing it.  

I instantly knew.  

That object in Geon-woo’s hand—  

An item.  

I spoke first:  

“That lighter…it’s an item.”  

“Wow, an F-grade ghost knows about items? Impressive!”  

—————————  

/Item List  

Commonly called ‘Turbo Lighter’  

Playing with fire is dangerous.  

—————————  

Though appearing ordinary, this ‘Turbo Lighter’ packed flamethrower-level firepower.  

Unlike our initial encounter, Geon-woo now radiated confidence.  

“What? Scared?”  

“……”  

“Perfect timing! I wanted to test this lighter’s lethality! An F-grade like you is ideal!”  

Click—  

As he sparked the flint—  

Whoosh—!!  

“Die, you monster bastard!!”  

Absurd flames engulfed the area from that tiny lighter.  

Crackle—  

Wood burned rapidly.  

Deafening sounds of combustion filled the space.  

Forgetting Agency monitors might be watching—  

He’d used the item recklessly.  

Roar—  

Crackle, crackle—!  

Fierce flames blackened everything as Geon-woo’s gleeful voice echoed.

“Sick! This item’s way more usable than I thought!!”  

His satisfaction lasted until.  

Clap, clap, clap—!!  

Amid the charred ruins.

A completely unharmed giant teddy bear stood applauding.  

Geon-woo’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by creeping dread.  

“Impressive.”  

Peering from behind the teddy.

“Truly impressive. I never imagined you’d already have items.”  

Genuinely unexpected.  

But—  

Only to that extent.  

“That ‘Turbo Lighter’ purchased from ‘Ghost Stories General Store,’ wasn’t it? Pricey, but decent performance.”  

“……”  

Geon-woo stayed silent, face turning Smurf-blue.  

“They say your world has a site categorizing supernatural phenomena…’Ghost Story Record Storage,’ was it?”  

“!!”  

“I know it lists me as F-grade. That’s why you attacked. Your confidence came from that site’s information.”  

Step—!  

As I stepped forward—  

Geon-woo retreated two steps.  

Seeing his imminent flight reflex—I shackled him with words.  

“I wouldn’t recommend running. Don’t…inconvenience me.”  

Halt—  

My words magically stopped his retreat.  

“Well done, Applicant Ryu Geon-woo.”  

“……”  

Today, the usual aversion to acting felt muted.  

Had I grown accustomed to playing ‘Little Noise’? Or was it Geon-woo’s delicious reactions?  

With more emphasis than usual—  

“Applicant Ryu Geon-woo. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this reunion.”  

Truly, I’d counted the days.  

To meet you traitors who abandoned me to save yourselves.  

Step—  

Closing the distance, I continued.

“I know you’re from another world. Knew from the start.”  

“……”  

I stared at his mute, honey-struck expression.  

“I refrained from interfering despite your activities…but no more. You know outsiders shouldn’t roam freely here. Be more discreet.”  

My verbal assault escalated like a rap battle.  

Seeing his terrified expression—  

‘This should suffice.’  

Rustle—  

I slowly removed the paper bag.  

Adjusting my pre-worn glasses, I leaned forward—  

My previously soft voice now echoed through the space, swirling around Geon-woo’s ears:  

“【Stay still. Like a dead mouse…as you always have. Know your place in the audience. This is my final warning.】”  

“……”  

No response.  

…Ah.  

My mistake.  

Not paralyzed by fear.  

He’d fainted.  

A few words made him collapse.  

‘Ah! So satisfying!’  

Though initially resentful Noise sent me into an Agency-monitored ghosts—  

The injustice I’d felt washed away like water.  

‘Consider us even, Mr. Noise.’  

Noticing the bracelet on his wrist—  

‘The Agency’s ‘bracelet’?’  

Removing it—  

Geon-woo instantly vanished.  

Done.  

Everything was resolving.  

A clear warning delivered. 

Grudges settled.  

Fortunately, Hansol and Hye-seon seemed to have escaped too.  

Now only one task remained:  

‘Just the ghost story capture.’  

Geon-woo’s fiery display would prompt Agency action.  

Though I’d planned post-test capture—  

No choice now.  

“Quick retrieval, then leave.”  

Yet strangely—  

Despite possibly being exposed—  

I couldn’t stop smiling all day.  

*****  

The test concluded.  

Or rather—became uncontinuable.  

Because:  

The E-grade “Hide-and-Seek” ghost story had disappeared.  

After Group 6’s test, the ghost vanished.  

According to Hansol—  

While she didn’t see the man with black flame, she spotted his teddy bear.  

Additionally, when Ryu Geon-woo regained consciousness.

“Black…flames? Never heard of that ghost…what the fuck was that bastard?! WHAT WAS HE?!”  

—he was incoherent.  

But Geon-woo couldn’t leave.  

Monitoring revealed he possessed Agency-grade items despite being an applicant.  

After brief treatment—interrogation awaited.  

‘…Oh boy.’  

Choi Kang-in massaged his throbbing head but fulfilled his duties.  

For Group 7 who couldn’t test.

“Group 7 will undergo substitute one-on-one interviews with me.”  

These concluded successfully.  

Final pass list:  

6 candidates.  

———-  

Applicant 2 – Joo San-seul  

Applicant 7 – Nam Yi-ryeong  

Applicant 10 – Han-Sol  

Applicant 11 – Yang Min-ji  

Applicant 16 – Kim Hye-seon  

Applicant 22 – Soi  

———-