Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 167

The agent group chat that Go Yeong-eun showed me left quite an impression and some realizations.

‘No wonder Agent Choi easily sent me to the New Investigation Division.’

Was it because my transfer to Hyeonmu Team 1 was already confirmed?

Agent Bronze’s decision to send me to Go Yeong-eun’s team today, could it have been because this would be my last assignment for the rescue team...?

‘How unfair…’

No, if you only consider what was visible on the surface, Podo Agent’s anomaly was just me throwing a tantrum to stay one more day and helping the kids, resulting in getting infected, right?

I thought I could relax, but it seems the Supernatural Disaster had just barely concluded, and the only variable left standing out was me.

And if that variable's nickname is ‘The Destruction King Rookie’... then has it ended in terms of image?

I guess so!

‘Sigh.’

“......”

“Are... are you okay, Soleum-ssi?”

I nodded.

However, Go Yeong-eun seemed a bit worried, as if I didn’t look too well.

‘It’d be strange if I acted too much like this...’

I need to snap out of it before they realize I’m nervous.

I tried to act nonchalant and spoke in a calm tone, though slightly disappointed.

“Of course, the rescue team is a good team, but I’m more of a paperwork person than a field worker... I was a bit taken aback.”

“......”

“Yeong-eun-ssi?”

“Um, well, yeah…”

For some reason, Go Yeong-eun’s expression darkened.

But in the next moment, they started saying comforting words. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

“Actually, from a broader perspective, it might be better. Since each team...!”

...?

The employee in front of me awkwardly stopped speaking.

And pressed the back of their hand.

The place Director Ho had set a restriction on.

“......!”

Someone is listening.

Someone in this office is pretending to be absent while listening in on the conversation between the rookies.

I met Go Yeong-eun’s eyes.

‘Don’t panic.’

They were probably trying to say something like, “Since each team has its own strengths, it’ll balance out.”

I smoothly continued.

“Yes. Each team has its merits, so even if I stay with the rescue team, I’ll work hard.”

“Yeah. Let’s do our best!”

Fortunately, the conversation ended without incident.

We did a high-five, acting like enthusiastic new recruits.

Afterwards, Yeong-eun introduced me to the work of the New Investigation Division Baekho Team 2, and the topic shifted naturally.

‘Phew.’

Later, we acted as surprised as possible when we saw an agent getting up from underneath the desk while yawning.

“Y-yo, Agent?”

“Ah, sorry. I was just taking a quick nap... You’re a rookie too, right? You two seem to have already become friendly. Good luck. I’m off today... Yawn.”

“Yes. Thank you!”

After giving us a warm look, the agent left the office. I sighed in relief inwardly.

‘No clues were left behind.’

It wasn’t so much spying... It seemed like the rookies were just cute and curious, and they were probably listening out of habit to offer help if needed. But still, I had to be more cautious.

‘...Director Ho’s restriction helped a lot.’

After that, Go Yeong-eun and I focused on setting up the PCs, and it wasn’t long before the agents returned from their field work.

“We’re back, Yeong-eun-ssi!”

“Team Leader.”

I greeted the Team Leader of Baekho 2 by standing next to Go Yeong-eun.

The Team Leader had a very hearty impression and laughed when he saw me.

“Ah, so this is the... um, new recruit!”

“......”

Did he just hesitate before calling me ‘The Destruction King’?

If they were all in the group chat, it might have become an irreversible nickname by now.

‘Sigh…’

I never thought I’d say this, but it seems less embarrassing than when I was in Daydream doing the same role.

“You came back from the rescue operation just the other day, right? I heard you did great. Today, just observe what Baekho Team is doing and then go. Got it?”

“...Thank you.”

I almost ruined the character I had been keeping in check.

I lowered my head timidly, resisting the urge to respond like a crazy MZ-style rookie, as I did back in Daydream...

“Alright, alright. You’ll be working next to Pyo Ha Agent today!”

And so, I sat down at the desk of an agent who had the day off, and I received a brief work briefing from Go Yeong-eun.

Phew.

“Today, you’ll be working on ghost story research... but you won’t be going out into the field. You’ll be doing it on the PC and learning how to do the paperwork afterward.”

“Ah, Pyo Ha Agent will be showing me the ropes?”

“Yeah. I’ve been assigned this task frequently lately.”

Go Yeong-eun seemed to hesitate a little before adding.

“Well, the agent you went to the mart with... after the sudden incident, they’ve mostly been given paperwork tasks.”

Ah.

‘The rookie almost died when they got caught in the water ghost trap, so they decided to keep them off fieldwork for now.’

Of course, Go Yeong-eun, being a Daydream veteran, quickly cut ties with the agent mentally and helped them recover...

‘They’ll probably return to fieldwork in about a month.’

Anyway, if I keep taking on paperwork tasks like this, I might end up naturally getting closer to the secret library of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau in Gangwon-do.

‘...Jealous.’

I wanted that route.

‘...No.’

It’s not too late.

‘I’ll make my case properly this time.’

Since today isn’t fieldwork, it’s the perfect opportunity.

I’ll show just how good I am at writing ghost story-related documents!

Especially...

The paperwork for the New Investigation Division?

‘That’s about tracking down ghost stories and writing them.’

It’s the perfect job for me.

I smiled and sat down in front of the PC.

“I’ll give it a try.”

So, the ghost story I had to track down during my shift today was...

[Do You Know About the Red Clothes at Exit 4?]

An internet-originated ghost story.

***

Modern internet is practically an incubator for urban legends.

All kinds of rumors, gossip, and ghost stories circulate freely, with the truth and falsehoods blending together, spreading from person to person, no, from post to post, even from video to video.

People guide the stories in the direction that aligns with their own values.

To the way I find the most interesting, fun, and plausible.

And in the process of changing and regenerating, some of these stories end up with incredible staying power.

Even though they clearly started as lies.

For example....

The ghost story I’m investigating right now.

[Do You Know About ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the Red Clothes at Exit 4?]

Recently, there have been several accounts of people witnessing something strange next to the subway station's Exit 4.

(Photo)

Red clothes with their arms tied twice.

The condition is too clean to have been discarded, and the color is too eye-catching, which feels strange.

There’s been talk of it being a symbol for human trafficking, being haunted by ghosts, or just a crazy person’s doing...

But it looks like it’s been placed on purpose, and it’s appeared in various places, which gives it a creepy vibe.

I don’t know what the intention is, but it feels off, and there have been testimonies saying they felt sick or had nightmares after seeing it.

(Photo)

Has anyone seen this here?

This was the most famous version that appeared two months ago.

A ghost story about discovering something suspicious and eye-catching near Subway Exit 4.

The eerie feeling and the fear that comes from encountering ordinary objects in everyday spaces in an unsettling way, combined with the imagination, created the witness account.

It spread across various internet communities and SNS, and similar stories began pouring in.

And now, two months later.

The urban legend has turned into real fear.

[Don’t Touch the Red Clothes at Exit 4]

There are continuing testimonies that it’s a bait for shamanistic rituals.

It seems to be intended to make ghosts attach to whoever touches it.

They purposely made it red to lure people... don’t touch it.

It’s probably dangerous to approach it. I think it’s meant to make ghosts mistake it for your clothes. Weak people might pick up bad energy just from looking at it closely.

Just ignore it and walk by. Don’t pay attention. There’s something inside the clothes.

The arms tied twice... It gives a bad feeling. If I’m right about the ritual, this isn’t something a normal shaman would use...

That’s something you shouldn’t leave in a crowded area. What’s with the body trying to match with it?

If you tear apart those clothes, you’ll definitely find hair or something like a shamanic thread. But if you touch it to check, you’re an idiot, right? Haha.

This is what I captured, and it’s this bad.

And then, the most decisive evidence...

Someone actually found hair and paper inside the clothes...

(Photo)

I don’t know what it is, but it really feels weird. Everyone, be careful.

And the most upvoted comment is this one:

The person who checked the clothes in that capture went missing...

└Is this real?

└Crazy

└It’s real. Apparently, they even put salt and did some kind of ritual, and the salt turned to ash. There was a post certifying that, but after that, there’s been no news.

└Oh noㅠㅠ

└Damn, that’s terrifying haha

More terrifying and eerie testimonies surfaced.

And the comment sections everywhere turned into chaos.

The missing person’s obituary was posted, is this real?

Isn’t this the same one where the YouTuber who picked up the red clothes was hospitalized and kept posting about having nightmares?

Damn, this is so scary. Can’t someone find out who’s doing this?

Some shamans are saying it might not even be a human leaving it there.

If you read all the way to here, it really feels like a ghost story with a chilling twist.

The red clothes are still being found at subway entrances, and since authorities can’t intervene, people who know about it keep trembling in fear, watching as more victims are claimed.

But it hasn’t died down.

It’s still ongoing.

Another missing person added to the list... Should we report it?

Red clothes found outside Seoul (photo). Is this a copycat or the real thing?

And those who had once consumed these internet ghost stories with a bit of interest began to feel the eerie unease and fear firsthand, making them consider more practical ways to deal with it.

The authorities.

Even if you report it to the police, they don’t do much, since it’s just clothesㅠㅠ

And among the police, many already know about it and avoid it, especially the older officers.

└It’s not that we don’t know, there have been cases like this before.

Public awareness.

Can’t we get news coverage on this?

└I tried reporting it, but they just added it at the end of the morning news as an internet buzz and then dropped it. They treated it like it was a lazy person who made up a story, even though there was a real missing person involved, haha.

And more realistic witness accounts.

I talked to the station staff, and they said it’s not under their jurisdiction since it’s outside the exit, but I saw people fighting with each other outside two days ago (video).

Someone was just staring at the red clothes, and then collapsed, but no one helped, so an elderly person supported them and called an ambulance. I’m worried about what might happen if something happens to that person... I keep thinking about it.

Stop taking pictures of the red clothes and posting them online. Even indirectly, it seems like it’s influencing things.

And finally, this internet urban legend made its way into the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.

Of course, most of these internet ghost stories are simply created by coincidence, misunderstanding, and the ‘wanting to believe’ mindset.

At first, it seems the Bureau also approached it that way.

The problem was….

The agent who witnessed the red clothes at Exit 4 tried to make contact and collect samples.

They then lost consciousness and were in a coma for five days. They exhibited symptoms of sleepwalking. The goblin fire reacted hostilely. After they regained consciousness, they repeatedly said, “I need to wear the red clothes.”

They then jumped.

It was confirmed that this ghost story was real.

And all the rumors circulating on the internet?

They were true.

The agent is in stable condition after memory erasure procedures and is currently receiving treatment.

The “Red Clothes at Exit 4” are now under discussion to be registered as a supernatural disaster. More cases are needed to verify.

Thus, I, Agent Podo, was assigned to collect various stories about the red clothes at Exit 4 from the internet….

In fact, the registration is already a done deal, and all that’s left is to gather supporting materials from the internet.

It’s a bit eerie and scary, but compared to fieldwork, it’s just like reading ghost stories.

It’s basically training for new recruits—a break from the more intense work.

However….

‘If I stop here, it’ll be a waste.’

I said it, didn’t I?

I’m better at paperwork.

And... documenting internet ghost stories?

‘That’s truly my specialty.’

I’ll show them properly.

I smiled and placed my hands on the PC.