Mistaken for a Catastrophe-Level Ghost Story Employee 117

Chapter 117.  

As the day faded.  

On that evening when moths swarmed under the streetlights, I still haven’t forgotten Soi’s expression at that moment.  

Anger.  

Sorrow.  

Something akin to betrayal.  

Not an ordinary expression.  

But one that seemed to say, This was bound to happen.  

…….  

‘Why… were there tears?’  

I don’t know how Soi truly feels about me, but that expression of hers that day left me deeply wounded.  

And now.  

Though the fox girl, like Soi, had received a body from Noise and could move around outside without much trouble—  

The real problem was just beginning.  

Sitting on a kitchen chair, my gaze fixed on the living room, I locked eyes with Soi, who was glaring at the fox girl as if she wanted to devour her.  

‘…This is suffocating.’  

The fox girl couldn’t even lift her head under Soi’s piercing stare. 

Even if I had been in her place, the situation wouldn’t have been much different.  

Just from this initial standoff—  

Soi: 1 win.  

Fox girl: 1 loss.  

If things continued like this, I expected the fox girl to eventually flee the house, unable to endure Soi’s hostility. But defying my expectations—  

“Uh, um…”  

It was the fox girl who spoke first.  

“I… I didn’t know you already had such a beautiful wife, my Master.”  

“……Wife?”  

“A-Ah, no?! S-Sorry…!”  

“That’s correct. I’m glad you at least understand the distinction between personal and professional matters.”  

“Th-Thank you…”  

What’s with the gratitude…?  

Still, it was a better start than I’d anticipated.  

Since I knew deep down there was nothing I could do in this situation—  

If I carelessly interfered, I’d be the one getting hurt.  

So, I decided to stay quiet.  

I silently got up from my seat,  

Grabbed a change of clothes, and headed straight for the shower. 

Some might call it irresponsible,  

But I had already steeled myself for what was to come—  

The sin of being hated.  

After the fox girl, it would be my turn.  

I knew all too well that the next target would be me.  

So, until then, I’d keep my composure.  

I’d accept it humbly.  

With that resolve, I walked to the shower. 

I thought I was ready to endure whatever came next.  

But, as always, life never goes as planned.  

When I finished showering and returned,  

An unbelievable scene unfolded before my eyes.  

“You’ve been through so much. I’m truly glad you’re back safely.”  

“O-Oh, no! It’s all thanks to my Master’s efforts. Hehe.”  

……?  

What is this?  

Am I hallucinating?  

Why do they seem so close now? Wondering if I’d fallen asleep mid-shower, I pinched my cheek.  

Squeeze—!  

Ow!  

That hurt.  

A lot.  

The pain confirmed this wasn’t an illusion—it was real.  

And then, Soi said something utterly unexpected.  

“Master, you should rest first. Tonight, I’ll talk with Mihos.”  

Mihos?  

Had they grown close enough to use first names in that short time?  

“Uh… Sure. Got it.”  

What on earth happened while I was showering?  

I had a mountain of questions about how they’d suddenly become so friendly, but…  

I wouldn’t interfere now.  

This was infinitely better than them screaming at each other.  

‘This is much nicer to see.’  

Without realizing it, I smiled faintly—and Soi noticed.  

“You seem happy.”  

“I guess I worried for nothing.”  

It really was a pointless worry after a—  

“Master.”  

“Hm?”  

“I’ve heard the gist from Mihos. But… I still have many questions for you. So many.”  

“…….”  

“Well then, good night, Master.”  

“…….”  

That night,  

I lay awake for hours, only managing to fall asleep well past midnight.  

A little past midnight.  

Bathed in the warm orange glow of the nightlight, the two women were still deep in conversation.  

Soi spoke of the first time she met her master.  

Mihos shared how she came to meet her Master.  

As they exchanged stories about the same person without pause—  

For just a moment,  

A brief silence fell between them.  

Again, Mihos was the one to break it.  

“…Soi.”  

“Yes?”  

“…….”  

Though she’d initiated, Mihos didn’t continue right away.  

“Mihos?”  

Under the orange light, an inexplicable melancholy shadowed Mihos’s face.  

What could she possibly say with that expression? Just as Soi wondered—  

The words that left Mihos’s lips were…  

“…I’m sorry.”  

An apology.  

“If I were in your place… I wouldn’t have acted as you did.”  

“…….”  

Caught off guard, Soi could only stare in bewilderment.  

For a while, she just looked at Mihos, stunned.  

But the silence didn’t last long.  

A faint smile touched Soi’s lips as she gently placed her hand over Mihos’s.  

“I’d have done the same. I’m just… relieved you’re like me.”  

“I’m like you?”  

Mihos tilted her head.  

“Yes. I could feel how much you love Master. That’s all I needed. Somehow… I think it’s alright for you to stay by his side.”  

“…Soi.”  

“And honestly… I was a little lonely.”  

She meant it literally.  

Soi had been lonely.  

After her master, Park Yeon-jeong, left the house, she thought she’d grow accustomed to the silence.  

But she didn’t.  

Not at all.  

So she’d wanted to go outside.  

And if possible, she’d have preferred activities with the master she adored.  

But her work with the GRA wasn’t so bad either.  

It was a decent way to distract herself from the loneliness.  

But that, too, was fleeting.  

Even after joining the GRA, she barely interacted with others.  

She had no one she could call a ‘friend’  

No one to confide in.  

Not until Mihos appeared.  

A woman with a face lovelier than her own, one that made you want to protect her at first glance.  

Soi had once read an article about how delicate, vulnerable women were popular among men.  

But she’d also heard that some used that fragility to manipulate men.  

So she’d been wary.  

Was this someone exploiting Master’s kindness?  

Would she drag him into danger?  

If so, she’d throw her out immediately.  

But then—when alone with Soi, Mihos had said this without hesitation:  

“I-If I’m a burden… I’ll leave right away.”  

Hearing her so easily offer to abandon her Master after just a few words—  

‘I knew it,’ Soi had thought.  

Her love for Master isn’t genuine.  

…Plip.  

!  

Until a teardrop rolled down Mihos’s cheek and onto her hand.  

“I’m… really sorry.”  

“…….”  

Mihos wept bitterly then.  

Later, when asked why she’d cried, her answer was:  

She couldn’t stop thinking about never seeing her Master again.  

The mere thought of losing him forever had brought those tears.  

Hearing that, Soi fell into thought before finally speaking again.  

“What do you love most about Master?”  

“…Sniff… Huh?”  

“What made you fall for him?”  

Soi pressed relentlessly, even as Mihos stifled her sobs.  

The tearful reply came:  

“…He… s-saved me… Sniff.”  

At those words, it didn’t take long for Soi  

Heh—  

To let a faint smile grace her lips.  

“That’s so like Master… I’m ‘Soi,’ by the way.”  

“…I-I’m ‘Mihos.’”  

“…You’re cute when you cry.”  

“Wh-What?!”  

Soi had taken a liking to Mihos.  

And now, in the present,  

Soi gazed at Mihos’s face, her smile bright as she spoke.  

“So, no more ‘I’m sorry’ or apologies, okay?”  

“…Okay.”  

After that, they talked until dawn.  

That night, their laughter never ceased.  

Morning came. Ruffling my bedhead, I stepped into the living room—  

…What?  

“What’s this?”  

There they were—the two women, fast asleep in each other’s arms.  

‘They seem even closer than yesterday.’  

I had no idea what they’d talked about all night, but their harmony was heartwarming.  

I didn’t want to disturb them.  

After a quick wash, I grabbed my things and slipped out quietly.  

It seemed their conversation had gone smoother than expected. 

I headed to work with a light heart.  

But I’d overlooked something.  

Or rather, forgotten.  

That in this house, aside from me—  

There was one more person who had a job to go to.  

“Nngh… Maaaster, nooo…”  

That day, Soi experienced oversleeping for the first time in her life.