It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story 033

Let’s summarize.

While chasing missing persons, I encountered strange and horrific phenomena and got sucked into somewhere.

The conclusion was simple.

I, too, have disappeared like the missing persons.

Swallowed by a horror story.

“U-um, Police Uncle…?”

And perhaps these kids as well.

There were about six children wearing middle school uniforms, all looking at me with expressions full of hope and despair.

Seeing their faces made the overwhelming sensation fade, and my mind came back to reality.

‘First things first.’

I need to grasp the situation…!

“I’m not a police officer.”

I pointed to the logo of [Daydream Corporation] on my security uniform.

“I’m an employee of a private security company.”

“Ah…”

It seemed they mistook my security uniform for a police uniform.

Desperation and fear began to fill the children’s faces. I quickly added more words.

“Still, I can make a report or take security measures. So please stay calm and explain what’s happening.”

“U-uh, yes…!”

The first student to speak, a girl with a bob haircut, swallowed her saliva and began to speak in a trembling voice.

“Um, we… we came for a school trip.”

Middle school first-years from some school in Seoul were on a trip to Gyeongju.

The teachers divided the students into groups for management, and these kids from group three were particularly lively and curious.

“There was a mountain behind our accommodation. But we saw something like a pavilion… and decided to have a courage test.”

They had planned to sneak off to see that ‘pavilion’ at night.

‘Huff….’

If it were a normal day, they would have gotten caught by the teachers and been scolded or just gone back giggling after looking around.

But…

“There was a picture in that pavilion.”

This is a horror story world.

“It was a drawing of a strangely shaped house…”

The student swallowed her saliva again.

“Someone was looking at us from that house.”

“……”

“So, like, we were teasing each other to go closer…”

“You touched it.”

“……”

As the student nodded and began to cry, she sobbed.

“Suddenly, from the picture, sounds like ‘Good job, good job’ came out, and then… something weird appeared and started laughing,”

And before they knew it, they found themselves in this eerie abandoned house.

“There were weird sounds outside the windows, and even though it was daylight, we couldn’t see because of the fog… We can’t get out……”

From behind, a boy with a mischievous expression was also sniffling. It seemed they were all on the brink of panic.

‘Hah….’

I asked calmly on purpose.

“Did that picture look like a scroll?”

“Uh, scroll?”

“Like a rolled-up piece.”

“Oh… no, it was more like a traditional painting? You know, the kind painted with a brush….”

“…Sumi-e?”

“Yes!!”

The middle school student vigorously nodded her head.

If that’s the case… that might be the common point that draws them into this horror story.

A scroll typically is an old-fashioned item.

‘The scroll that the person in charge had likely contained traditional ink painting too.’

The strange reddish-black liquid that was rampaging in the restroom also looked like food.

To sum it up…

A bizarre ink painting that engulfs anyone who comes into contact with it, sending them to a terrifying location.

‘…There seem to be about five or six of these types.’

The categories have narrowed quite a bit. The problem is that none of them seem harmless, though.

‘This is what you’d call a true classic horror tale….’

Superstitious fears that squeeze the life out of someone.

Somewhere, it feels like there’s a shamanistic scent, a type of scary story.

“……”

This is really serious. I’m weak against ghosts as it is…

‘Somehow, it’s more concrete than that convenience store ghost….’

In hopes of clinging to straws, I wanted to increase the number of people. If there were more people, it normally wouldn’t be as scary!

Is anyone else around?

Speaking of which, where did the Security Team Leader go? He should have been swept along with me, yet not a trace of him can be seen.

If only that security guard were here, it would be reassuring, but…

‘This is maddening.’

Still, I didn’t show it on my face and asked.

“You must have been really scared. How long have you been here?”

“Um, a day…? I don’t know……”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“We had some snacks… We ate those.”

“I see.”

‘They seem to have their limits too.’

These kids just graduated from elementary school and were trapped together in this place?

They might not feel the depletion of energy due to fear keeping them in a heightened state, but they were likely to collapse at any moment.

“You were too scared, and you can’t use your phones, so…”

“Yeah. For now, I’ll find a way out. Just don’t touch anything else…”

Wait a minute.

“Are you the only ones here? There are no other adults?”

“An adult! There is one, but…!”

At that moment.

…From a distance, a scream echoed.

Aaaah!

“……”

“Someone is screaming over there… That uncle is scary.”

“…Right.”

I’m scared too….

‘But I can’t take you all with me….’

At times like this, having a warm stuffed animal (that’s alive) for comfort may indeed be advantageous.

‘Brown.’

I called the Good Friend from my pocket.

Now that I think about it, it seems he’s been rather quiet.

– Doe.

A slightly dejected voice came out.

– I’m sorry. It looks like I ventured into an unsanitary and gross space just to give you a gift….

He seemed to feel quite guilty. I chuckled.

‘It’s okay. We just need to get out.’

In fact, it’s not okay.

But getting angry here won’t allow me to drop out midway… I’d only be accumulating grievances against a moving murder puppet.

– You’re really bold! That’s also a wonderful talent as an entertainer!

No, let’s not shrink back.

So please cooperate properly.

‘Can you help me get out?’

– What do you need? Just tell me! I, Brown, will prepare it…!

Hmm, at this level, it seems there won’t be any love lost even if I can’t get 5000.

I gently patted Brown, who promised full cooperation, before moving my feet into the depths of the abandoned house.

…Towards where the screams were coming from.

“I’ll check and be right back, so could you wait a moment?”

“Yes, yes…!”

Of course, I was loaded with a 500-won coin, ready to use remote hands at any time.

And with my flashlight.

‘Good thing it’s attached to the uniform.’

I relied on the thin light as I advanced further.

Aaaah…! No, no…!

…Help me, help me…

As I got closer, the voice became clearer, and segments of sentences could be heard.

The shriek echoed vividly from beyond the walls of the dark abandoned house. Hah….

‘J-Just hold on.’

The urge to flee sent chills down my spine.

As I turned the corner with a forced calm.

“This damn world! This damn company…!!”

I saw a familiar face.

“…Manager Lee Byeong-jin?”

The middle-aged office worker, struggling in front of a wooden panel plastered with charms, looked at me with wide eyes.

It was the missing Manager Lee Byeong-jin.

“Y-you’re from the Security Team??”

Oh, right.

I am wearing the security team uniform.

“My God! You’re a member of the Security Team?!”

The other person looked relieved and crawled toward me trembling.

“You came to find me!!”

Actually, I’m also trapped here.

‘But why the submissive attitude?’

Oh, is it because he mistook me for a security team member?

After falling here, it’s almost the first time I’ve seen Company employees behaving so subserviently.

I glanced down at the borrowed security uniform.

‘…Staff members usually tend to look down on the Field Exploration Team….’

To be exact, it’s the junior regular staff of the Field Exploration Team. Since they never know when they’ll die, they treat even normal interactions casually and don’t really care to handle them well.

I recalled how the administrative staff had subtly changed their attitude when they realized I could have become part of the Elite Team.

And now there was Manager Lee Byeong-jin, sweating and rolling his eyes while trying hard to smile.

Hmmm.

Let’s make some use of this.

I stood with my hands behind my back and spoke like a security team member.

“I received a missing person report and was currently searching.”

“Oh, is that so? Haha! Hahaha! Of course!! The company hasn’t abandoned me…!!”

Actually, it kind of did.

“Um, then you’re going to smash this darkness, right? Yes?? Since you’re with the Security Team….”

I spoke nonchalantly.

“The Security Team is not a party that smashes darkness.”

“……!”

“We are a team that suppresses disturbances.”

“Y-yeah, that’s right. Yes, haha… I lack… experience in this type of field exploration, you see.”

Okay, I sensed the mood.

“Please explain the situation.”

“Uh??”

“Please narrate your experiences since the disappearance in chronological order.”

I need to compare and contrast what the kids said to ascertain what this horror story truly is!

“Oh, yes, yes!”

The other person scrambled to get up and began to speak rapidly.

“Um, I found a very beautiful scroll pole at a souvenir shop near Jirisan….”

Almost identical to the details I heard in the office.

After hearing from the shopkeeper that it grants wishes, he purchased the suspicious scroll pole, and shortly after, his fortune noticeably improved.

“I placed it near water and was told not to touch the scroll pole… It was like winning the lottery!! Second prize!!”

But….

“Strange whispers began to be heard…”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin’s eyes flickered, and he began to gnash his teeth.

“W-well… since I was granted a wish, repaying it is what a gentleman should do… I heard those whispers, every night, every night the sound of water and the cries of beasts approaching from afar!!”

Eek.

“I-I just couldn’t endure it any longer! So….”

“…So,”

I recalled the torn scroll pole I had seen in the blood-soaked restroom.

“You were trying to tear it apart, weren’t you?”

“……Yes.”

That’s why, at midday, in a place that wasn’t his home and with no witnesses, he wanted to tear it, somewhere he could run away immediately after doing it. Such as….

‘The unused restroom in the company.’

He had gone to tear the scroll pole.

“I was trying to… to do just that…”

“You were pulled here.”

“……Hah! Yes….”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin gasped for air.

I scratched my neck.

‘What should I say?’

He did everything typical of someone who dies in a horror story…

Even the fact that he tried to go somewhere with no witnesses after falling here, like to the [Daydream Corporation] restroom, deserves a round of applause.

‘Honestly, considering this, I wouldn’t have much to say if he died.’

I lifted my head while holding back a sigh.

In front of where Manager Lee Byeong-jin had collapsed, there were walls plastered with charms.

There were particularly many torn charms compared to other places.

‘Why did he make such a ruckus here?’

I directed my flashlight toward the wall.

And then realized the reason.

“…Is that a door?”

A handle was visible through a gap between the torn charms.

And judging by the fact that a lock was fastened to the handle…

‘Is it a door leading outside?’

“Y-you’re saying it comes here!”

“Y-yes?”

“The ghosts! They come here every day!”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin crawled toward me with bloodshot eyes, beginning to ramble.

“The ghosts come to eat us! They come to eat us…. The charms! They’re falling off every day!”

“That….”

“O-oh, they’re going to come today too….”

Knock knock.

“……”

“……”

Knock knock knock.

A sound came from the door.

Knock knock knock knock.

“They’re back….”

I covered Manager Lee Byeong-jin’s mouth.

Hello.

“……”

It’s too cold outside, could you please open the door?

“……”

Uncle, don’t you remember me? I’m Jung Na-eun, the seven-year-old who lived next door at Somang Apartment…

The sound of a little child sobbing came from beyond the door.

Please help me. It’s too cold, and I’m in pain… I don’t know where this is, please open the door….

Overwhelmed by fear, a strange kind of sympathy welled up…

As if enchanted, a trembling voice from beside me spoke.

“Na-eun.”

Uncle.

The charms began to burn away at the door.

The sobbing voice mixed with laughter.

You’re answering again?

“…!”

“N-no!! Aah!! I didn’t answer!! Go away! Go away!!”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin snapped back to reality and began to scream.

But…

I don’t want to go away.

I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away, I don’t want to go away.

“Eek!”

Thud.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud.

The door began to shake as if it was about to break down.

The fallen charms scattered everywhere.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

The charms fell like rain.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

I barely moved my arms.

Thud.

I tossed a coin into the air to summon my hand.

Thud.

Then, among the countless charms that fell to the floor, I desperately grabbed the ones that were still intact…

Thud.

I placed those charms on the doorknob.

Thud.

The charms fell off again.

“Whew.”

But…….

Thud.

The sound at the door stopped.

On the doorknob, only one charm remained that I had placed.

“……”

“……”

What a waste.

Chills ran down my spine.

Huh, huh huh….

The sound of footsteps walking away slowly faded beyond the door…….

“Hah, Hah….”

Manager Lee Byeong-jin collapsed on the floor.

I clenched my palm, which was drenched in sweat.

‘This is maddening.’

I almost fainted when the door rattled.

I hid my trembling hands behind me.

A horror story that traps its prey.

Shamanistic atmosphere, charms, devouring, temptation, calling voice, fear…….

‘…….’

I understood.

———————=

Dark Exploration Records / Horror Story

[山君님]

The horror story appearing in [Dark Exploration Records] has the identification code Qterw-C-51 under [Daydream Corporation].

The eerie darkness of an ink painting featuring mountain spirits.

The exploration has been documented up to 17 times.

———————=

This is a tale in the style of the Jeonseonbeom series.