Mistaken for a Catastrophe-Level Ghost Story Employee 96

Chapter 96.

When the afterimages of sleep still lingered faintly in my vision.

Cool—

…….

The moment I saw the face of that toy-like ghost story with ram horns sleeping soundly before me, I vaguely realized:

I…

…am back.

I’ve finally escaped that annoying Eve.

I had finally woken from what felt like an endless dream.

And the moment I saw the mass of static sitting on the white chair, waving at me warmly—

I knew for certain I had returned to where I belonged.

Smooth—

Ugh.

My body feels heavy.

Just how long had I been asleep? My whole body feels sluggish.

As I struggled to sit up, Noise’s booming voice echoed through the space.

“You’re finally awake, Employee Park Yeon-jeong! I was starting to think you’d sleep through the entire weekend.”

……Huh?

The entire weekend?

That phrasing unsettled me.

So I asked:

“…What day is it today?”

“Of course! It’s currently Saturday, 1:37:52 PM.”

“…….”

I’m definitely getting scolded by Soi.

“You’ll be hearing an earful from her, I see.”

“…….”

I know. Stop rubbing it in.

I had wasted half the weekend sleeping deeply inside the company.

But I didn’t immediately get up to clock out or leave.

There was still something I needed to do here, something I needed to confirm with Noise.

Instead of heading for the exit, I turned toward the figure shrouded in static.

Step—

?

“Employee Park Yeon-jeong? Is there something you wish to ask me?”

Yes.

There is.

A question only for you.

A question meant solely for you.

“…Yes, I have something to ask. I met that girl in the red robe again.”

“!!”

Bzzzt—

A faint, irregular distortion flickered in the static.

…….

Noise was reacting to Eve again.

So Eve wasn’t entirely wrong.

That left only one thing to confirm.

Whether Eve’s words were…

True.

Or just delusions of grandeur.

I steadied my breath and forced the words out, staring straight at Noise.

“She… despises you.”

“!!”

“‘I hate you for killing me.’ ‘You disgust me.’ She kept repeating those words.”

“……….”

Noise’s silence after my words lasted slightly… just slightly longer than usual.

But that was all.

No further reaction followed.

Just a slightly prolonged silence, nothing more.

As expected.

What weakness?

She was just a girl with a severe case of princess syndrome.

*****

Back when I was arguing with Eve in the dream—

“Tell him I hate him! He’ll definitely cry, sob like a child, I swear!”

“…Cry?”

That Noise?

The same Noise who casually throws me into life-threatening ghost storys?

“Cry?!”

I was seriously starting to think Eve was suffering from extreme princess syndrome.

Her confidence made me want to ask:

“What if he doesn’t cry?”

“Huh?”

“What if he just stays completely indifferent?”

“!!”

Noise had never shown clear signs of grief over someone’s death.

Unlike other ghost stories, I couldn’t imagine Noise shedding tears.

“What if… he’s forgotten me…?”

Eve’s voice slowed, as if sliding along a sluggish rhythm.

Like feeling the flow of air.

Like time itself had slowed.

Every movement resembled a slow-motion video.

And then—

Thump—

Tear droplets, like pearls, rolled silently down Eve’s cheeks.

!!

Thump—

“he… forgot… me…”

Thump—

No!

Why are you crying?!

I had made Eve cry.

The rest of my time there was wasted consoling a heartbroken girl.

*****

And now—

Just as I had told Eve, nothing happened.

Noise showed no reaction to the words Eve had asked me to deliver.

Unfortunately…

Eve was not Noise’s weakness.

That was the conclusion I had reached.

“I’ll be going now.”

“…Yes, you’ve worked hard, Employee Park Yeon-jeong.”

Not a single tremor could be heard in Noise’s voice until the very end.

As sorry as I felt for Eve, who had cried so bitterly…

It was over.

It seemed Noise truly had no weakness.

Step—

I turned away indifferently.

I had thought knowing Noise’s weakness would be advantageous, but.

‘Still a long way to go.’

Just as I took a step—

Bzzzt—

“Employee Park Yeon-jeong.”

“Yes?”

Static brushed past my ears, and I paused.

When I turned back—

……!!!

Before I could even process that the static covering his face had partially faded—

Noise spoke:

“Was he… crying?”

“…….”

Between the gaps where the static had receded, Noise’s lips were now clearly visible.

His tone was flat.

Even now, no trace of sorrow could be heard in his voice.

Yet despite the hollow, cynical response.

“Why did Noise’s voice sound so…”

…sad?

The only words I could offer were:

“…Yes.”

“…I see.”

Noise fell silent, staring blankly out the window into the white void beyond.

That was the last I saw of him that day.

*****

Monday, the start of a new week.

And the 21 fresh-faced applicants gathered there.

“S-so… this is that ‘agency’ place, right, sis?”

“Obviously. Why even ask?”

“Both of you, stop fighting. We’re not here to play around.”

Today was the institution’s monthly recruitment day.

The selection process was simple:

– Written test.

– Physical test.

– Aptitude test.

The written test assessed basic personality and ideology. Unless you answered strangely, you wouldn’t fail.

Next was the physical test—measuring combat adaptability and mental-physical integration. Essentially, a fitness check.

If you passed both, the final stage was the aptitude test:

A trial against an E-grade ghost story under the institution’s control.

Applicants formed teams of three, and those who successfully subdued the ghost story received bonus points.

Even if your written and physical test results were mediocre, an outstanding performance here could still secure your place.

“So relax—but don’t slack off.”

“O-okay…”

“Relax? We’re not kids.”

“You are  kids.”

Han-sol’s remark elicited mixed reactions from the two girls.

Soon, the automatic doors slid open, revealing a middle-aged man who stepped forward.

Holding a checklist, he announced in a booming voice:

“I am Assistant Department Head Choi Kang-in, overseeing today’s test. Thank you to all applicants for submitting your forms. Testing begins now!”

He began calling names one by one.

The first was:

“Applicant Han-sol.”

“…Yes!”

Han-sol stepped forward, accepted the checklist, and—

In a voice only she could hear, Choi Kang-in muttered:

“I’ll be expecting great things.”

“…Understood.”

With a small wave to the two girls still waiting, Han-sol entered the building.

Choi Kang-in continued:

“Applicant Kim Hye-seon.”

“Y-yes!”

The youngest applicant stiffly approached.

Watching her, Choi Kang-in thought:

‘She’ll drop out soon.’

She wasn’t cut out for facing ghost stories.

‘…I hope she quits early.’

She reminded him of his own daughter.

“Next, Applicant Yang Min-ji.”

“Yes.”

Another middle-school-aged girl.

Though outwardly composed…

“…Why are you staring?”

“…This one too.”

Calling the names gave Choi Kang-in much to ponder.

Soon, only two applications remained.

The two most problematic applicants:

– Nam Yi-ryeong.

– Ryu Jin-ho.

Both were physically robust men, but—

“I’m done with homelessness! Wait for me, my money-makers! Ryu Jin-ho is coming!”

One was too enthusiastic.

“I’m gonna die… I’m definitely gonna die… Homelessness wasn’t even that bad…”

The other was too  negative.

Choi Kang-in felt a headache coming on the worst batch in a while.

Just as he finished calling the names and prepared to leave—

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“You haven’t called my name yet.”

“…….”

That couldn’t be.

He had 21 applications.

“…May I ask your name?”

“Soi.”

Soi?

An unusual name.