Chapter 12- Day 2 after joining
I unknowingly let out too big of a reaction. But the man acted as if he didn’t mind much.
“This is your first visit?”
“…Ah, yes.”
A lie popped out.
What if he asks about detailed information related to the organization…? All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.
“You don’t need to be so guarded. I just asked because you seem quite familiar for a first visit.”
“…If I have, perhaps, been rude, I apologize…”
I wanted to avoid being disliked by the store owner whom I might need to visit continuously in the future.
“What? No, not at all.”
Unlike what I worried about, a casual answer came back.
“Rather, do you need any other items?”
The man, who had somehow returned to merchant mode, asked if I had any thoughts of purchasing additional items.
Jingle!.
But at that moment, I felt movement in my pocket.
‘Ah right.’
I almost forgot.
I had another reason for visiting this Ghost Stories General Store, besides purchasing items.
Fumbling!
Taking out the employee ID card that was in my pants pocket, I asked the man.
“Do you also do item appraisals?”
“That’s my specialty. Just leave it to me.”
Actually, this was also something I already knew.
But I spoke indirectly to avoid receiving the same suspicion as before.
“Let’s see…”
The man casually started checking the employee ID card after receiving it.
What came to my mind while blankly watching that sight was.
Can you tell just by looking with the naked eye?
While it was written that he could get items appraised at the Ghost Stories General Store, the process was never explicitly described.
‘Seeing it directly, my trust…’
Although I looked at the man with somewhat distrustful eyes, fortunately he didn’t seem to notice.
Thud!!
The man gently put down the employee ID card he was holding on the counter and looked at it with interested eyes.
“…This is interesting.”
“What?”
And the man held out the employee ID card forward and asked curiously.
“This. Who did you receive it from?”
“……”
Today seems to have many occasions to keep my mouth shut.
At the continued silence, the man again didn’t press for answers.
“…No. I seem to have asked something unnecessary. It seems like a precious item, so I’ll return it quickly.”
“……”
…What?
What do you mean precious item?
Isn’t this just a normal employee ID card?
Well, since it’s an item given directly by a Ghost Story, it would be strange if it wasn’t special.
But judging from the man’s reaction just now, there seemed to be something hidden that I didn’t know about.
I’m dying of curiosity.
Please tell me!
“Is there something strange about the appraisal result?”
“…Customer, do you know how the items here are created?”
Oh, this person!
If I didn’t know such basic common sense, how could I say I liked this world setting?
‘What do you take me for!’
The source of items with power like Ghost Story is of course discovered during the process of investigating Ghost Stories.
The ‘Little Friends’ that I recently obtained by chance is a good example.
Objects used by the Ghosts themselves, or objects deeply related to that Ghosts Stories theme, become imbued with certain mysterious powers.
Of course it’s difficult to identify which items have special powers with the naked eye.
That’s why the organization uses devices that can detect these specific items to collect them.
Any deeper setting than this would be TMI, so I’ll pass for now.
One thing’s for sure.
Usually, items with strange powers can only be obtained from Ghost stories.
If I remember correctly, the organization’s technology was only at the level of producing small quantities of low-quality items.
I briefly explained this part to the man.
“…This is what I know.”
“You know quite well? That’s accurate. Currently, obtaining items from Ghost stories is still the best option for the organization.”
While feeling somewhat proud of that praise, I wondered what kind of urban legend item this employee ID card I’ve been holding could be to cause such surprise.
As my curiosity kept growing.
“…It’s a Ghost Story.”
“…Pardon?”
“The item you’re currently holding is… an impossible item made by compressing a Ghost itself through some method.”
“……”
…A Ghost Story?
This employee ID card?
The setting of turning Ghost into items wasn’t even in the original site.
So this employee ID card in my palm is like a byproduct that shouldn’t exist here.
‘This ID card is from a Ghost Story?’
No matter how you look at it, it appears to be just an ordinary employee ID card?
As the image of the man examining this ID card flashed through my mind, and while Park Yeon-Jeong was looking it over.
Unexpected words followed.
“That ID card. It seems to have the power of a ghost story that dealt with subspace. Currently inside it, there’s glasses… a teddy bear? I’m not sure why these things are inside.”
“……”
“The important point here is that this item… someone artificially created it… This won’t do!”
Thump!
Suddenly!
The man who had been calm until now suddenly thrust his head forward, emanating a completely different atmosphere.
“I can’t stand it! Customer!”
“Y-yes?!”
What can’t you stand?!
“Would you please introduce me to the person who created this item!”
“……”
“I’ll definitely make it worth your while!”
That… person is not…
It’s a Ghost.
But this confirmed it.
The fact that this ID card was involved in the sudden disappearance of ‘Top Student’s Glasses’ and ‘Little Friends’.
“If you just introduce me! I’ll give you the most expensive item in my shop!”
“!!!”
My eyes sparkled without me realizing.
…But.
Get it together.
If I tell you that fact… I might get killed by that announcement person.
The risk is too high to make a hasty decision right now.
“…I’m sorry. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that just now. I’ll be going now.”
“What? W-wait!!”
Grab!
But the man’s eyes were already half-rolled back.
“One isn’t enough, right! Right!! Then two… no, three. No, I’ll give you as many as you want! Just please tell that person about me!!”
“……”
This person is scary!
Help!
Eyes filled with madness equal to a Ghost Story
And he’s so strong, I can’t break free.
At this rate, I’ll really be caught. As I intuited his madness, it seemed like he wouldn’t let me go until he heard what he wanted.
Bzzt-
Again, the vibration of the smartphone in my pants pocket.
But this time I didn’t need to check.
Crackle-
With the familiar static noise brushing my ear.
“…Huh?”
Thump!
The air… changed.
Bright light heating up my crown.
Familiar building interior.
Somehow, I was standing in the central hall of that damn library.
…Why?
Bzzt-
The smartphone vibrates again.
The madman in front of me had disappeared. But my wrist still aches from where he had grabbed me.
This isn’t a dream.
Bzzt-
With the continuing vibrations, I finally checked my smartphone.
The cause of the vibration was a notification message I had never set.
<Work Hours>
And the time shown on the smartphone was exactly.
09:00 AM.
‘…Work hours. That’s for sure.’
On-time arrival… complete?
*****
Crackle-
“……”
Crackle-
Since earlier, instead of his voice from the speaker.
Crackle-
Just static noise that keeps tickling my ears comes from the poor speaker quality.
While endlessly waiting for him who might come at any time, to the point where I wonder if I’m hearing ringing in my ears.
Tap, tap.
A sensation touching my shoulder.
When I turned my gaze, there was a white glove waving at me.
It was the white librarian.
“…Good morning.”
I also responded with an appropriate morning greeting.
And as if responding to my morning greeting, another white glove appeared this time.
Flutter.
The other one was holding something like paper and immediately handed it to me.
“…Is it okay for me to look at this?”
Although it was quite a cowardly moment, this is a ghost story where even the ordinary ground we’ve been walking on needs to be watched carefully.
As they say, even a stone bridge should be tested before crossing.
Here, everything must be doubted, observed, and approached with caution.
The White Librarian, after hearing my words.
Ok.
Made a gesture as if trying to reassure me… but naturally, I didn’t want to check.
‘…Still, I should check.’
The announcement system was still silent and the White Librarian suddenly handed over the paper for no reason.
If I don’t check the paper, things won’t progress.
Park Yeon-Jeong, supporting the idea that it’s better to face challenges head-on, immediately checked the back of the received paper.
There was someone’s writing on it.
It was writing I could read too.
『Congratulations on your second day of employment, Employee Park Yeon-Jeong!』
That was all.
That was all that was written on the A4 paper.
…If they weren’t trying to make an artistic use of white space, this content had zero nutritional value.
As I was looking at it, thinking if they were going to stop at such a simple greeting, wouldn’t it have been better to just say it out loud.
Flutter!
I received another sheet of paper.
Is this a love letter?
“…Thank you.”
After another brief thank you, I checked the back of the paper.
『I really wanted to congratulate you in person, but it’s such a shame.』
Flutter!
As soon as I finished reading this short line, another sheet of paper was given.
…If you’re going to do this, just give them all at once.
『Actually, today, there’s a meeting scheduled with a very important person who will be responsible for the company’s future!』
Flutter!
『I originally wanted to arrange the meeting with Employee Park Yeon-Jeong, but ‘work-life balance’…』
Flutter!
『’Work-life balance’ they call it! Because Employee Park Yeon-Jeong’s time is their own.』
Flutter!
『Though unfortunately you couldn’t attend the meeting, I’d like you to handle one simple task instead.』
That phrase ‘simple task.’
I’ve declared I won’t believe it anymore.
Flutter!
『I always believe in you, Employee Park Yeon-Jeong. ☺』
When my gaze confirmed that final smile mark and looked at the White Librarian.
There were no more paper scraps being held.
…Is this the end?
Park Yeon-Jeong, who received the message in a way more suited to an embarrassing proposal.
And at some point.
A white wooden door leading to another ghost story was prepared, ready for work to begin anytime.
As I stared blankly at the gloves still floating in the air.
“…Perhaps.”
Though it might have seemed strange to others, this was currently the only figure capable of minimal communication here.
“Do I have to go in right now?”
Then another glove appeared and answered my question with a hand gesture.
X.
That’s a relief.
“Thank you.”
I maintained courtesy until the end.
Since being courteous wasn’t a costly action. I thought there was no need to leave them with a bad impression.
And this confirmed it.
The fact that these gloves, another variant called the ‘White Librarian’ in this library, were independent intelligent beings.
Knowing I didn’t have to enter the next ghost story right away. I felt somewhat relieved.
Before entering the ghost story. My task was to check my items.
Current item list.
[Top of the Class Glasses]
[Quill Pen?]
[Employee ID?]
[Little Friends]
[Taste of Death x 3]
[(Normal)Lighter]
[Thousand Eyes]
Excluding the two items whose proper names and uses I don’t know yet.
There are 4 items I can use immediately.
[Top of the Class Glasses]
[Little Friends]
[Taste of Death x 3]
[(Normal)Lighter]
[Thousands of Eyes]
But here’s the problem.
‘How do I take out the glasses and teddy bears?’
I confirmed that the items were inside this employee ID through the Ghost Story Shop owner’s emotions.
But I didn’t get to ask how to take them out.
Clank..
Park Yeon-Jeong began examining the employee ID from various angles.
While this behavior reminded me of that man from the Ghost Story Store.
…No matter how much I looked at it, it just looked like an ordinary employee ID.
No matter how many days I examine this tiny employee ID, a novice like me wouldn’t be able to figure it out.
Moreover, I couldn’t possibly know information about an item that isn’t even recorded in the <Ghost Story Record Storage>.
…This means the items I can actually use narrows down to 2.
[Taste of Death x 3]
[(Normal)Lighter]
[Thousand Eyes]
The range of choices has drastically decreased.
Swoosh.
But the White Librarian suddenly approached me.
‘…I wonder if they know?’
I politely asked while holding out the employee ID toward the White Librarian.
“Is there any way to take out the items inside this?”
The white librarian looked around the employee ID card after hearing my words.
Snap!
They snatched the employee ID card held in my palm.
Though startled by their sudden action, the white librarian came to me and gently unfolded the ID card strap from above my head,
Brushing past my cheek,
Swish.
They hung the taken ID card around my neck.
???
Then with a quite satisfied expression, they gave an ‘ok’ sign and left Park Yeon-Jeong’s side.
-Park Yeon-Jeong employee normal attendance.
Along with mysterious text appearing in mid-air.
Phew!
With a sound like spitting something out. Something small fell to the floor below.
“…That one.”
A teddy bear waving its small stuffed arm cheerfully toward me.
…So I just had to wear it around my neck?
The usage method was simpler than expected. Then conversely, what’s the method for storing it again?
‘More importantly, where are the glasses?’
The other two teddy bears were also not visible. While questions about the exact usage method still remained.
Peek.
…Huh?
In that spot slightly below my line of sight was the strange sight of another teddy bear half-emerged from the ID card, greeting me.
Wiggle, wiggle!
Whatever made it so happy, the teddy bear waved its hands this way and it suddenly lost its balance and.
Splat!
Ah….
Its body slipped right out of the ID card and fell straight to the floor.
The position where the teddy bear just came from was the space inside the ID card.
…Gulp.
I swallowed dryly.
If the teddy bear came from this ID card, there’s a high possibility that other items are also contained inside this small ID card.
Park Yeon-Jeong slowly touched the surface of the ID card with their finger and.
Swoosh!
!!!
His finger was instantly sucked into the ID card.
One thing was certain.
‘Aaack!!!’
The user experience of this item was the worst of the worst.
Please review this novel @ NovelUpdate.
