Chapter 06 – Cd-A-11(1)
“This guy….”
This guy knew from the beginning.
But if he knew from the beginning… Why did he keep me alive until now?
Crackle-
A sound that pierces the ears attacks and digs in.
[…Hmm. Oh, I’ve shown an unseemly behavior unbefitting of a superior.]
[I’m sorry.]
The sound that was about to tear me apart just moments ago subsided, and with the gesture of clearing his throat, a white glove moved.
Knock knock.
The white glove politely pulled out the chair placed in front of the elegantly set table.
The announcement voice also resounded simultaneously.
[The story will be long. Let’s sit down and have a comfortable conversation.]
[Because we need to have a candid and radical conversation about the future of our company.]
[^^.]
“…..”
Comfortable?
About the company’s future?
In a situation where I can’t even see my own future right now, you want me to think about someone else’s company’s future?
Moreover, in this situation where my identity has been exposed, and I don’t even have a clue about what kind of treatment I’ll receive?
I must be crazy!
“…Yes. I understand.”
Suppressing the emotions I wanted to scream deep inside in an instant, I sat in the chair they pulled out for me.
Calm down.
Think rationally, Park Yeon-jeong.
It’s too early to give up. There are still opportunities left.
The fact that he’s still keeping me alive and not killing me is clear evidence.
[Please eat the food in front of you too.]
Eat?!
I’m not hungry enough to eat food whose preparation I’m unsure of.
Even if I were to starve to death, I would never touch these foods.
And right now, there’s a problem that needs to be solved before such food.
“…What do you plan to do?”
To my quite explicit question, the announcement voice answered too calmly.
[What do I plan to do? You need to work together for the company’s revival.]
[And, have you forgotten! Park Yeon-jeong is now a member of our company! You don’t need to be tense anymore!]
In response to the words don’t be tense, I’m even more tense, you know?
I’ve witnessed people dying in front of me several times with my own eyes.
Is the expression “don’t be tense” really appropriate for this situation…..
He’s truly a guy without conscience.
But he continued to only talk about future company work.
[If Park Yeon-jeong just performs the tasks assigned well, there won’t be major disadvantages.]
[It’s not like I’m going to kill you! Hahahahaha! Oh, it’s a joke. A J-O-K-E.]
“…..”
It didn’t sound like a joke at all.
A mindset of having let go of everything.
Because of that, I could maintain a strange sense of calmness about the current situation.
“What do I need to do?”
[!! You’re full of enthusiasm from the first day of joining!]
[Excellent… really excellent!]
I’m not prepared to contribute, just please let me live.
Park Yeon-jeong wondered why he caught the eye of this horror story. He inwardly lamented about the life he had lived so far.
Clank.
…?
An employee ID?
The white glove had already approached me and held out an employee ID card typical of a normal company.
[This is Park Yeon-jeong’s employee ID. Please keep it safe.]
“…Thank you.”
It looks like an ordinary employee ID at first glance.
… No. More than that, this photo is used on the ID…..
This is really my ID photo?
The face on the employee ID was exactly the same photo I had been using for company resumes.
I didn’t bother asking why they had my ID photo.
… I just didn’t want to feel uneasy.
The announcement voice continued to provide trivial explanations about the company.
[Park Yeon-jeong. The task you’ll be in charge of is simple!]
[Right away…..]
Knock knock knock knock knock.
The old-fashioned sound effect flowing through the speaker again. After hearing it several times, I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.
[Obtaining the ‘item’ that will become our company’s unique feature to sell to customers!]
[From now on, you’ll be in charge of procuring the items. It won’t be as difficult as you think.]
…..
“What do you mean by ‘item’?”
It’s definitely not an ordinary item. The item a ghost story seeks can’t be an ordinary object.
And I’m the one who needs to obtain it.
‘I can ask about its identity, right?’
Fortunately, the announcement voice didn’t hide the sales item from me.
[The product our company will sell is… ‘stories’!]
[I think you already know this part. Just like you knew before.]
A nonsensical outpouring of meaning.
But unfortunately, I immediately understood the meaning of what he said.
“Could it be… ghost story.”
Bam bam!
[Correct! Correct!]
[As expected, you’re quick-witted! We plan to sell stories from other ‘ghosts’ individuals!]
[Of course, it’s not about selling mundane documentaries or their resumes.]
Widely!
Once again, all the lights in the room went out.
When the lights came back on again.
Dozens of white gloves applauding, and a banner that instantly captures everyone’s attention.
<Our ghost story have changed?!>
………..?
I don’t know what reaction I should give.
Unable to grasp the meaning of the banner, and seemingly aware of my expression, the announcement continued its explanation kindly.
[Oh my, it seems you haven’t understood the essence of our product yet. I’ll explain simply so Park Yeon-jeong can easily understand.]
And that explanation was indeed simple.
[Capture ghost stories. Turn them into books. And sell them.]
!?!?!?!
[Isn’t it innovative!]
Capture… ghost stories?
It’s not that there were no precedents.
I’ve read descriptions that some institutions capture and manage certain safe ghosts .
But ghost stories capturing ghosts stories?
[Definitely, many consumers will want this product. I’m certain! Whether it’s ghosts or humans like you.]
[Of course, it depends on how many items Park Yeon-jeong can secure.]
… Crazy. Absolutely crazy.
Now they’re telling me to do what?
Capture ghost stories?
I can’t. No, I won’t!!
Just kill me here instead!
They’re telling me to capture ghost stories that toy with people like playthings—as easily as breathing.
Moreover, without even the ghost suppression items provided by the association.
In other words.
It’s like telling me to catch an elephant bare-handed.
‘This guy…’
From the beginning, he just wanted to kill me.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such a proposal. Just another evil ghost that sees people as mere tools.
[Don’t be too tense.]
Easy for you to say!
[Because I don’t want to easily lose talented people like Park Yeon-jeong.]
[Our company has good employee welfare, you know.]
Suddenly.
A group of white gloves flew towards me and handed me two things.
Could it be… an item to suppress ghosts?
“……Glasses?”
I… have 2.0 vision.
I got my hopes up again.
I thought they would give me an item that could suppress ghosts.
Alright. I’ll give up now.
This ghost is a guy with a bad hobby of enjoying watching me being torn apart by other ghosts.
Crackle-
[It seems like you just had a rather rude thought.]
…Does this guy have mind-reading abilities?
[Try them on quickly.]
[I’m sure they’ll suit you perfectly.]
“……”
I stared at the glasses on the white glove’s palm for a long time.
Not wanting to die right now by this announcement system.
I swallowed my tears and grabbed the glasses frame.
Sigh.
It fit perfectly, as if tailored.
But the moment I put on the glasses.
Stick!
Ah… I’m going to die.
“Kyaaaah!!”
Pain like thousands of needles piercing me began.
Unbearable pain.
I was crawling on the floor, feeling like my mind was about to fly away at any moment, in unbelievable pain.
Fortunately, the pain didn’t last too long.
When the pain subsided.
My face and entire body were drenched in sweat and saliva.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong… These glasses really suit you!]
Is this thing even talking right now…..
Haaa… forget it.
Let’s not talk.
It’s a pain I never want to feel again.
In a way, I wanted to say it was a miracle that I didn’t die of shock right here.
But.
My complaints didn’t last long.
The moment I looked at the white gloves. A massive amount of information quickly swept through my mind.
=======
/Ghost story journal
[White Librarian]
: Identification Code Cd-F-1129-1.
F-class.
Another variant observed with Cd-F-1129.
Commonly known as ‘White Librarian’.
Seems to handle all trivial tasks in the library overall. (The best thing it does is breaking necks.)
Though formless, it seems to significantly react to the emotional changes of ‘Cd-F-1129’. It’s best not to make its mood uncomfortable. (If you don’t want to die.)
=======
A rare scene where information about the white gloves flows in like a flood.
At that moment.
Park Yeon-jeong understood that the glasses he was wearing were not ordinary glasses.
‘Could this really be those glasses?’
Park Yeon-jeong also knows about these glasses. They appeared extremely rarely in the <Ghost Record Storage>.
=======
/Item List
Top of the Class Glasses.
(Perfect for last-minute crammers.)
The wearer can remember everything they’ve seen before for life. (Only when wearing)
High obsession with academics. Absolutely unshaken by other temptations.
When used: Causes severe headaches/Loss of interpersonal relationships.
Don’t worry if relationships become awkward. They’re not the only friends you have.
=======
One of the items appearing in <Ghost Record Storage>.
This item does not frequently appear in the site, but is known as an item that somewhat prevents mental damage.
But how did this ghost have this item?
Sticky.
…?
A sticky sensation between my fingers that touched the glasses frame.
I checked what was on my fingers.
Something dark and murky on my thumb and index finger.
“……”
I just found out the source of these glasses.
Let’s not find out more.
I hastily tried to shake off unnecessary thoughts and checked the remaining item.
The other remaining item was a quill pen that looked like it was from a medieval Western movie.
After staring at the quill pen for a while, my conclusion was…..
‘This is really something I’ve never seen before?’
It was truly an item I had never seen in my life.
Even I, who had been consistently reading <Ghost Record Storage>, had no memory of this item.
And as if waiting for my questioning expression. The announcement system finally reveals its presence.
[It seems that the existence of this quill pen has not yet been recorded in your world.]
[Let me explain this item to you.]
A brief silence as if pausing the story. And the explanation of the quill pen continued as follows:
[This quill pen is for capturing ghost stories. The usage method is that it will automatically activate when you neutralize a ghost story. Please always carry it with you when entering one.]
“This quill pen is for capturing ghost stories…?”
This small quill pen?
How can this tiny quill pen contain a ghost? A mix of anticipation and worry arose.
[It seems I’ve finished a brief explanation.]
[Do you have any questions?]
There are many.
And very many at that.
The process of capturing a ghost story, or even if you succeed in capturing a ghost story, how would you sell it, and to whom.
There are mountains of questions!
…Let’s put all that aside for now.
From earlier, no, actually from the very beginning, what I wanted to ask.
“……If I fulfill all the conditions you mentioned… will you send me back to my original location?”
[……Of course. Though from the company’s perspective, it’s regrettable that a capable employee is already expressing their intention to resign.]
After a brief silence, he playfully responded.
“…I understand. I will cooperate.”
[…Your comprehension is better than I thought. Haha, good. Park Yeon-jeong, the more I see you, the more attractive you become as a human.]
Speak freely.
Right now I’m obediently being toyed with by the ghost story, but if an opportunity to escape presents itself.
I’ll take that chance to escape.
I have no intention of staying in this wicked company for long. No, not even in my next life.
[Well then, shall we evaluate the first work capabilities of our passionate new employee, Park Yeon-jeong!]
[Since it’s your first task, I’ll give you a simple assignment.]
Clap clap!
Two hand claps heard over the speaker.
And soon a door panel suddenly appears before Yeon-jeong’s eyes.
Wait, could this be…
‘What kind of door is this?’
A door that reminds one of a door from a children’s animation.
Squeak…
The white-gloved hand kindly grasps the doorknob and opens the door, revealing an emptiness of pitch-black darkness beyond.
I absolutely do not want to go in.
A sinister space that looks like if you enter, you’ll never step on this ground again.
But the guidance broadcast seems to urge my steps.
[Go for it, Park Yeon-jeong!]
…….
Surprisingly, I feel no motivation at all.
But now I must enter.
To escape from this nonsensical ghost story.
Step by step.
And so began the first task of new employee Park Yeon-jeong.
*****
Step… step…
How long do I have to walk?
How many minutes have passed since passing through the library door? For some reason, no matter how much I advance, the destination is not visible.
Am I going to end up isolated in this darkness, not with an early retirement but with an industrial accident?
Just as anxiety begins to overwhelm me.
Soft step.
The sensation touching the ground changes.
I raise my line of sight.
What appears before my eyes.
In the dark of night, amidst dense trees, a huge mansion stands conspicuously.
There are many ghost stories that use a mansion as a backdrop.
Especially a mansion standing alone in a mountain valley is a concept perfectly suited as a mysterious and horror material.
‘……I want to go back already.’
Sincerely,
Feet that would have normally fled immediately are now slowly advancing towards the mansion.
I hoped this would be an easy ghost story.
I push the mansion’s front door with my palm.
A sinister voice speaks as if right beside me.
“Did you know?”
The ghost story begins.
“It only appears in a house where a child is alone without parents.”
Like the introduction of a horror movie.
『Watching a child trembling alone in the darkness after all lights are out. Isn’t that scary?』
Only after hearing this far do I immediately recognize the nature of the ghost story I’ve fallen into.
=======
/Ghost Story Journal
[I Hate the Dark!]
:Identification Code Cd-A-11
Grade A.
Unauthorized entry is a crime!
Physical suppression is impossible. (There’s always a reason for being told not to)
Very high mental damage.
Total casualties last recorded: 443 people.
=======
……I should go back.
New employee Park Yeon-jeong wanted to resign on his first day.
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