Mistaken for a Catastrophe-Level Ghost Story Employee 86

Chapter 86.

“Uaaaah!”

Cold sweat trickled down my cheeks.

I immediately sat up and looked around.

…Nothing.

Right before my eyes, nothing.

No sign of Noise.

I had truly tasted a horrifying dream with my entire body.

It still felt like Noise’s voice calling me ‘Master’ was echoing in my mind.

My stomach churned.

But I had to find him.

The one who had gifted me such a trash-like dream.

That damn bastard of a ghost story…

I frantically scanned my surroundings.

Then, not too far away, my gaze was drawn to a child with two horns sprouting from their head.

[The Dream of Toys]

…Found him.

Right next to me.

The toy ghost story bastard was sleeping soundly beside me, as if he had left this world behind.

‘……Should I just punch him once?’

Right now, my ears felt filthy just from Noise’s gruff ‘Master.’

Honestly, I wanted to give that forehead a good flick.

But… ‘He’s a kid, so I’ll hold back.’

Truthfully, if I messed with him, I’d probably be the one at a disadvantage…

Thinking I’d stepped in shit, I turned my gaze away and surveyed the area.

The scenery around me was…

Very familiar.

Extremely so.

The room, entirely covered in pure white wallpaper, and beyond the only window that allowed a view of the outside, a vast grassland came into sight.

I knew this place.

<Noise’s Curiosity Counseling Center>

The place where Noise and I had exchanged serious conversations.

The fact that I woke up here, of all places, meant the one who sent me here was none other than…

Most likely, Noise himself.

Squeak.

This time, the lanky man who revealed himself by opening a perfectly intact wall came into view.

His face was covered in his signature static noise.

He leisurely stepped into the room.

‘He’s here fast.’

The lanky man’s playful voice flowed into my ears.

“Oh? Employee Park Yeon-jeong, you’re awake. It seems there’s no major issue with your body, which is a relief, more than I expected.”

“…Thank you for your concern.”

For a moment, I was genuinely worried that Noise might let slip the word ’Master’ from his mouth.

Fortunately, the situation I feared didn’t happen.

Really, what a relief.

Thud.

Noise calmly walked over and sat on a white chair, continuing the conversation with me.

“Employee Park Yeon-jeong… By the way, you possess quite an intriguing item.”

“Huh?”

His voice was unusually calm, unlike his usual tone.

“You’ve been calling it by the grandiose name ‘Mass-Produced Hero’… Though that name might be too generous for what it actually is…”

Noise paused for a moment.

Then, he spoke again.

Not with a warning or concern-laden advice about the so-called ‘Mass-Produced Hero’ item.

But in a tone that suggested I take it as a reference.

“But then again, they say anything can be medicine if used well. Fortunately, Employee Park Yeon-jeong, it seems the cost of using that item wasn’t ‘hunger’ but was instead replaced with ‘sleep.’ Probably thanks to those ‘glasses’ I gave you.”

Click.

…….

‘A lie.’

Noise just told me a lie.

There was falsehood mixed into his words just now. And to some extent, I could guess where.

“I thought it was because of the left arm you took from me… Was I wrong?”

“…….”

Bzzzt.

The static noise spiked.

“…That’s a sharp observation.”

Noise’s voice, which had been slightly subdued, quickly returned to its usual tone.

“But whatever the case… It’s a relief. That you didn’t resort to something as lowly as cannibalizing your own kind. Truly a relief, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.”

Noise changed the subject.

“…….”

But I didn’t press further.

Him changing the topic meant my assumption wasn’t wrong.

Besides, I’d just learned something quite interesting.

The fact that the cost of using the Mass-Produced Hero wasn’t hunger but was instead replaced with ‘sleep.’

As Noise had mentioned earlier, the consequence of prolonged use of the Mass-Produced Hero was…

Starvation. Hunger.

Naturally, since it was an item rooted in the world of ghost stories, that hunger couldn’t be satisfied with ordinary food.

The item’s description even included this phrase:

———

/Mass-Produced Hero

To face a powerful enemy, everyone’s strength is needed.

So lend me your power!

So I can stand against evil!

So I can rise again!

【…So I can fight evil again, stepping over everyone’s sacrifices.】

Sacrifices for the greater good are inevitable, right?

———

Right.

That ‘sacrifice for the greater good’ was an indirect way of describing how to satiate that hunger.

The ‘hunger’ mentioned above wasn’t for ordinary food.

But for cannibalism human flesh.

The longer one wore the Mass-Produced Hero, the more one would need to consume humans.

The more prolonged the usage, the greater the amount required.

When I took off the white mask, I was relieved because no immediate symptoms manifested in my body.

But…

‘Guess not.’

Still, the fact that this aspect was replaced with ‘sleep’ was a significant advantage for me.

Bzzzt.

Another grating static noise pierced my eardrums.

“However, if you use it for too long, even sleep might not be enough to suppress the urges. It’d be best to use it cautiously.”

Noise waved his fingers around as he continued explaining.

“No matter how good a medicine is, overusing it will build tolerance.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

From Noise’s explanation, I roughly understood why I had collapsed here…

But another problem still remained.

“What do you plan to do with this ghost story?”

Even as we talked, this toy ghost story bastard hadn’t stirred once, sleeping as if dead. I asked Noise what he intended to do with him.

And his response was…

A bit unexpected.

“This person is fine. They were originally brought here for this purpose. It seems they also like this place.”

“A purpose?”

Noise revealed that they had intended to release this ghost story here, so openly, from the very beginning.

I couldn’t help but find Noise’s behavior puzzling.

However…

“I’ve heard that the place called ‘The Institution’ has facilities to take care of employees’ mental health?”

“!!”

‘Noise, you… don’t tell me.’

I truly thought, ‘Don’t tell me.’ And then, that very ‘don’t tell me’ actually spilled out of Noise’s mouth.

“The person brought here by Employee Park Yeon-jeong will be in charge of managing our staff’s mental resilience from now on. Since you’ll be seeing each other often, please get along well. :)”

“…….”

Noise, you…

Did you read my mind or something?

It was as if they had anticipated my exact wishes, this facility was precisely what I had been hoping for.

No, it was something I absolutely needed.

Just as I was about to nod in agreement at the praise of their truly excellent leadership…

Our outstanding boss, Noise, dutifully provided feedback about my personal life as well.

“I’d love to chat leisurely with Employee Park Yeon-jeong like this, but I imagine she must be waiting eagerly. It would be best for you to return quickly.”

“Huh?”

“It’s currently… 10 PM, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.”

“……….”

!!

Amidst the static-laced voice, the moment I heard ‘10 PM,’ I scrambled to my feet and rushed through the off-duty procedures.

And, as was only natural…

When I returned home that day, I had to endure a stern scolding from Soi.

*****

The next morning, at dawn…

I had finished all my preparations for work, just like always.

Though I’d been lectured by Soi the night before, I had also fully restored our three teddy bear comrades.

Everything was ready.

Soon, it would be time to leave for work, and as always, I received Soi’s farewell.

This time, too…

Soi spoke those words.

“Have a good day at work today, Master.”

Tick.

The second hand of the wristwatch moved again.

Which meant…

A lie.

“…Soi.”

“Yes, Master.”

There was still a little time before I had to leave. So, I wanted to ask her.

“Do you not want me to go to work?”

“……Huh?”

It might have been my foolish delusion.

But given that the second hand of this wristwatch had moved, the only thing I could think of was this.

If every word and expression Soi had shown me until now hadn’t been a lie…

If those tears had truly…

Not been a lie…

Then this was the only explanation.

That was all I could think of.

“…….”

Soi listened to my words, then bowed her head and hesitated before responding.

Flush.

Her cheeks turned red.

Unable to meet my eyes properly…

She let out a faint voice.

“……Yes.”

“…….”

This time, the second hand didn’t move.

…….

…….

…….

What… am I doing right now?

Ever since I got this wristwatch, I’ve developed a bad habit.

A strange habit of checking whether people’s words are lies or the truth.

But on the other hand…

I felt relieved.

That softly spoken answer gave me some peace of mind.

The thought that this uncomfortable feeling I had was just a simple misunderstanding… made me feel at ease.

Shhh.

Soi slowly raised her head and looked up at me, murmuring in a low voice.

Her brow slightly furrowed.

“…If you know, then please come back early from now on. The time without you… is no different from time that doesn’t exist for me.”

“……I got it.”

“But don’t push yourself too hard.”

The ticking of the second hand that had brushed my ears earlier was nowhere to be heard this time.

…….

Cradling the watch on my wrist with one hand, I gave Soi a faint smile.

Thud.!

A familiar sound pierced my hearing, and the final week’s work routine began just like that.

*****

[Employee Park Yeon-jeong. From now on, whenever you’re sent into a ghost story, keep this person in your quill pen and take them with you.]

As soon as I arrived at work, Noise pointed out the person I would be working with during ghost story assignments from now on.

That person was…

No, perhaps it’s more accurate to call it a ghost story.

The one that had given me an unpleasant nightmare the day before.

‘Dream of the Toys.’

【……….】

‘Has this guy been asleep the whole time since yesterday?’

As I stared intently at the creature still fast asleep as if dead to the world, Noise continued their explanation.

[To increase work efficiency, you need a suitable partner.]

[And don’t forget. I, too, am always ready to help you, Employee Park Yeon-jeong…]

“……Thank you.”

I truly mean ‘thank you,’ but.

The fact that Noise is helping me means I’m on the verge of death.

I’m really, really! grateful for the help.

But I don’t want to experience the agony of my heart bursting again.

So…

‘I’ll just take the sentiment.’

Still, being able to take this toy ghost story creature with me is a huge advantage.

If I can bring this ghost story’s max-level pillow with me, there’ll be nothing to fear.

Clap, clap.

As the sound of light applause followed, I turned my head toward it.

There, as always, was a single white door before my eyes. By now, I had come to accept the situation.

But today…

Bzzzt.

Noise’s final words lingered in my ears longer than usual.

[Since it’s the last day of the week, do your best today as well.]

[And I trust you’ll do well in attracting new clients this time. Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]