Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 177

Blue Mascot.

The bizarre entity that had changed my boarding pass into a membership card. The one who even put out a missing person notice for me when I escaped the gate, treating me like a lost child.

The more I recalled it, the more unsettling its cute, blue dragon-like appearance felt…

A good kid!

Strangely friendly.

Just looking at it now brought me a sense of stability.

I stepped right up to the gate and waved at the Blue Mascot, who was fidgeting, unsure of what to do.

Realizing once again that neither of us could cross into the other’s zone, the Blue Mascot looked a little dejected but soon started enthusiastically waving back.

Some nearby guests, amused by the sight of the two mascots waving at each other across the gate, turned their attention to us, chuckling.

A good kid.

I came to see you.

And then—

I realized something strange.

‘I can hear it… more clearly.’

Not just the usual short, clipped mascot speech, but something deeper—like that grand, awe-inspiring voice I had once heard.

Yet, unlike before, I didn’t feel the crushing pressure that made me cough up blood.

It felt like a pure will being transmitted directly to me.

Was it because we were both mascots?

Right now, the Blue Mascot’s message carried two overlapping meanings:

‘You finally came to see me!’ and ‘I’m so happy and grateful that you came all this way!’

So, mascots could communicate this richly between themselves.

‘Which means… the guests around us can’t understand this deeper meaning.’

That meant we could communicate more directly.

I

Want to play.

!

Why

Did you invite me?

At the theme park, we had promised to play together. But when I got here, I was forced to work.

If that was the case, why invite me at all?

Hearing this, the Blue Mascot fidgeted nervously and hesitated before answering.

You can play.

…!

Make our zone.

What?

Then the Blue Mascot showed me something—a vision.

‘…!’

A shared area where the Yellow and Blue zones overlapped and could be used together.

‘Ah!’

I got it! This could be the third zone!

That’s how we could spend time together.

If we did that, I could cross into the Blue zone, and the Blue Dragon could come into the Yellow zone!

The guests would have twice as many rules to follow, but they would also have twice the fun!

And since our rules didn’t conflict, it was entirely possible.

We could enjoy each other’s theme parks together, forever, in this fantastic, joyful amusement park, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun, joyful and fun—

‘…!’

I bit my tongue.

…Just barely, I pulled my mind out of that vision…

‘I almost… just went along with it.’

The Blue Mascot’s will was corrupting me. No good.

Even without malice, it was dangerous.

‘Expanding the situation further is suicide.’

I waved my hand to calm the Blue Mascot and spoke.

What if…

I just quit.

I meant, what if I stopped being a mascot and simply crossed into the Blue zone as a guest?

But the Blue Mascot lowered its head sadly.

No.

……

A mascot… must exist.

An activated theme park zone must have a mascot.

Which meant, I couldn’t just quit being one.

‘I knew it.’

I expected this.

But if I forced my way out, the danger that followed…

A good kid… disappears.

‘……!!’

The Yellow Mascot would remain.

But I, as a person, would be cast away from it and vanish.

And if someone had already been too deeply merged with the identity of a mascot…

There would be nothing left of them.

Not even discarded scraps.

‘No!’

It was only the fourth day.

I… I wasn’t that deeply merged yet!

Quitting being a mascot wasn’t enough to erase me.

I still knew who I was. I was still okay.

I could leave as someone other than the mascot!

‘……Hoo.’

I leaned against the gate, my hands trembling.

A storm of emotions whirled inside me—

The overwhelming urge to rip off this costume and run, the fear of whether I could even take it off anymore, the softness and comfort that made me not want to let go.

I

A good kid.

Protect me.

The Blue Mascot fidgeted anxiously.

Even though it hadn’t intended for me to become the resort’s mascot, it seemed willing to offer support and guidance however it could.

As if fully backing me.

Then, suddenly—

More Blue Mascots rushed toward the gate, carrying envelopes.

They carefully tossed the envelopes over the gate.

I caught them effortlessly.

Some guests, amused by the spectacle, clapped.

And when I peeked inside—

‘Joy Coins…!’

The envelope was filled with a hundred blue and red coins.

It seemed like they were settling the balance for the lodging event they had arbitrarily set up.

But wait…

This is… too much.

It’s fine.

The Blue Mascot looked pleased with itself.

A good kid.

Helped.

Oh, hell.

Apparently, a mascot that successfully ran its own zone for a long time became wealthy.

It didn’t seem like it was overexerting itself, so I decided to accept it.

I could invest it in the resort. Or, well, I might find some other use for it!

‘…Focus.’

I stuffed the envelope into the pouch on my mascot suit and reorganized my thoughts.

‘I have to hurry.’

As soon as I opened the third zone, I’d scan my ticket, quit being a mascot, and escape.

‘I… can’t last much longer.’

I needed to get three more employees and complete the Mascot Ceremony.

The plan hadn’t changed. I just had to follow through.

And now, my mascot instincts were nagging me to return to the resort.

It was still operating hours. If I left my position for too long, it would be neglect.

I had to ask the Blue Dragon what I needed before going back.

Ceremony.

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How do I do it?

Joyfully!

The Blue Mascot raised its hands.

Its ceremony ritual was a fireworks show.

Fireworks bursting over the water park, reflecting off the surface, reminiscent of the deep sea ■■ he longed for…

Wait, what?

‘Ah, whatever. It’s a theme park’s signature event.’

It seemed that each mascot could choose their own ceremony.

For example, Magic Bunny’s was a parade.

Mine would probably be something similar.

Thanks.

The Blue Mascot puffed up with pride again.

Then, another version of itself rushed over, carrying something.

It eagerly shoved it into my hands.

A good kid.

Gift.

Snacks.

A pile of theme park treats—hot dogs, chocolates… and, just like before—

Churros.

‘…!!’

Wait a second.

[Blue Soda Churros]

A food item that, when eaten, makes you vomit out contaminated seawater.

I had rarely used it, since it wasn’t accurately documented and came from a ghost story.

But now—the one who made it was standing right in front of me.

I held up the churro and waved it.

Explain.

The Blue Mascot tilted its head, confused.

Wait.

It hadn’t intended for that effect?

‘…….’

I looked down at the churro.

If it was just natural for this food to work that way…

What happens when a human eats food from a ghost story?

In countless myths—when you eat the food of a strange, mystical place—what happens?

—You become part of that world.

Yeah.

Eating theme park food made humans gradually transform into something that fit the theme park.

That’s why they vomited out other contaminants.

Goosebumps ran up my spine.

Which meant…

For Jang Heoun, it was useless.

Because he was already a perfect fit for the theme park.

A ghost story.

‘…….’

No effect.

A good kid.

Are you sad?

I… didn’t know.

‘I have work to do.’

Time to move on to the next task.

I need this.

I formed the shape of a plush doll with my hands.

A good friend doll.

That plush doll originally came from the Joyful Theme Park souvenir shop.

Getting one was one of the many reasons I ended up here.

But the Blue Mascot shook its head.

Not here.

Ah.

Right, it wouldn’t make sense for a water park to sell furry plush dolls.

They’d sell cute inflatable tubes instead.

Damn it!

I need this.

Then—could I get it from Magic Bunny’s zone?

No.

Too dangerous.

Magic Bunny was a lunatic.

The Blue Mascot’s response could be summarized as:

"Do you really think an item from that souvenir shop will actually help you?"

‘…Now that it’s phrased like that…’

It wasn’t wrong, but the power of the Good Friend Doll had already been proven in the Darkness Exploration Log.

It shouldn’t make a difference which theme park zone it came from.

I need it.

You said you’d help with anything!

Eventually, the Blue Mascot drooped its horns and ears in resignation and nodded.

It’s dangerous.

I’ll try to get it if possible.

But it didn’t forget to warn me:

Stay far away from Magic Bunny’s zone. Never approach it.

Of course, I’d keep that in mind.

‘It’s lucky that the Blue Zone is in between us, at least.’

I recalled the horrifying state of the Red Team, where only Chief Lee Seonghae had survived.

Come to think of it…

How did Chief Lee Seonghae survive out there after the park closed for the night…?

Wait.

A good kid?

I turned my head.

Just now—

Something happened at the resort.

The Yellow Mascot knew.

There was a commotion in my zone.

I needed to know what it was.

Time to return!

I

Have to go.

The Blue Mascot gazed at me silently.

You’re already there.

…!

That’s right.

The Blue Mascot couldn’t tell the difference between a single unique individual and the mass-produced standard mascots.

Every mascot was the Blue Dragon.

The Blue Mascot could freely move all its bodies.

Because the Blue Zone was his.

And…

The Yellow Zone was mine.

A good kid

Is at the resort, too.

I instinctively understood what it was teaching me.

So—the me inside the resort.

I focused my consciousness on a standard mascot.

And then—

I became it.

‘…!’

I blinked, and suddenly—I was standing guard inside the resort.

‘Holy shit.’

But I had no time to be shocked.

Because right in front of me—

Manager Lee Jaheon was restraining Chief Lee Seonghae in the lobby.

‘…?!’

And that wasn’t all.

Next to the bound Chief Lee Seonghae, there ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) was a body sprawled out like trash.

Blood soaked the lobby floor.

A dead ladybug employee.

A knife was lodged in its throat, blood gushing out in bursts.

It had gripped its own neck, trying to stop the bleeding, but failed—its hands were drenched in blood.

‘…!!’

And Chief Lee Seonghae’s uniform was splattered with blood.

All signs pointed to one conclusion.

…Chief Lee Seonghae killed the ladybug employee.

"Ugh, Manager, I'm fine! I did my job!"

But Manager Lee Jaheon didn’t release the restraints.

Instead, he met my gaze—and to my shock, seemed to recognize that the standard mascot was me.

Then, still carrying Chief Lee Seonghae, he walked toward me.

"Huh?"

Why.

"Ah, Mascot-nim, you’re here."

Chief Lee Seonghae greeted me casually.

"By the way, can you deduct the reactivation costs from my wages? I don’t mind skipping my share of souvenirs, either…."

Why.

Did you kill him?

Chief Lee Seonghae looked at Jang Heoun.

The employee who no longer wore the buffalo mask.

The resort staff member.

"Because he killed that good person for no reason."

…!

"If given the chance, he’d just kill someone else, too. We couldn’t just leave him be! Honestly, dying is better—then we can repurpose him for the resort’s benefit."

My head spun.

But the real problem?

…A part of me felt relieved.

And the guests weren’t disturbed.

Some even clapped, as if they had just watched an entertaining show.

Others tried to tip Chief Lee Seonghae.

Which meant…

It was even more of a problem.

My

Job.

It should have been me, the mascot, who punished the ladybug employee.

Whether it was forcing him to serve in the toxic spa, making him run room service, or letting guests use him however they pleased—

That was my decision to make.

But—

"Mascot-nim, you’re too kind."

……

"This kind of thing should be handled by someone like me, who doesn’t get stressed!"

Hoo.

That kind of person

Doesn’t exist.

“…!”

Next time

Report it.

Always.

“…Got it."

In the end, I ordered the standard mascots to demote Chief Lee Seonghae to spa janitorial duty.

Honestly, it felt more like a formality than a real punishment.

I wasn’t sure if I should feel grateful, terrified, or horrified.

Ha.

‘My head hurts.’

I clenched my teeth and revived the ladybug employee.

…If it could even be called reviving.

"I will work hard, Mascot-nim!"

That made two.

Two dead—

Two replaced with perfect employees.

"……."

Manager Lee Jaheon was staring at me quietly.

But I avoided his gaze and returned to the front desk.

I was exhausted.

But there—stood Jang Heoun.

‘Fuck this.’

Just work.

Work faster.

Escape sooner.

Next.

And then—while checking in new guests…

"Team Leader, those are Daydream bastards!"

…!

"Yeah, I can see that. This isn’t my first time seeing those psychos in a disaster. Keep your voice down."

…A familiar tone.

The voices were quiet, almost a whisper, but the standard mascot nearby allowed me to hear them.

"What you should focus on is that someone is still working here just fine. Got it, Goh Myung?"

I lifted my head.

Two people in Disaster Management Bureau coats were approaching the front desk.

‘…!’

Shit.

One of them—rugged, yet composed—had been called "Team Leader."

They stepped forward and spoke to me.

"Hello?"

Hello.

"We’re here to ask something."

The team leader studied me closely.

"We heard that a civilian guest checked in recently—a guy in a hoodie and jeans, someone who looks like us."

That civilian.

They were responding to his distress call.

Which meant—

‘They’re from another Hyunmu team…!’

Shit.

And I knew Team 2 from the neighboring office—but I didn’t recognize these two.

Which left one possibility.

‘Hyunmu Team 3.’

"Can you tell us which room he’s staying in?"

I barely managed to respond to Hyunmu 3’s team leader.

Personal information.

Not allowed.

"…Solid work ethics?"

"Apparently."

They exchanged glances—then looked past me.

At Jang Heoun.

"Hey. Any other way?"

"Sorry, guests! Just as Mascot-nim said, Flower Golden Resort cannot disclose guest information. Can we help you with anything else?"

"Then…."

"Wait."

The team leader’s face hardened.

They took a closer look—staring at Jang Heoun.

Then—

"Wait. New cleanup crew?"

…!

They recognized Jang Heoun.

"Why is he here…? No, wait—this place isn’t registered, right? That’s why they assigned only two people?"

"Huh? Y-yes! That’s right. And as far as I know, that newbie was supposed to be on leave…."

"……."

"……."

The two agents fell silent, staring at Jang Heoun, the employee.

And then—

"How can we help you, guest?"

The Hyunmu 3 Team Leader let out a quiet curse but quickly swallowed it.

…Even so, the two of them had seen enough shit to recover their composure remarkably fast.

Their gazes, now more subdued, turned to me again—but they didn’t forget their objective.

"You said you can’t tell us what room the guest is staying in, right? Then call them for us. Tell them we’re here."

Okay.

I gladly obliged.

The civilian on the other end panicked multiple times, ignoring the call at first. When they finally picked up, their voice trembled with fear—they dropped the phone a few times and even cried.

But in the end, they believed the message and came downstairs.

The problem was…

Guest room items.

Damaged.

…They broke some things in the room during their panic.

"…!!"

"I-I was just startled…! I-I'm so sorry…."

It’s okay.

I’ll help you with the payment.

I extended my hands politely toward the civilian.

But, of course, they had no money.

Realizing this, the team leader shoved them back and stepped forward.

"Even if they don’t have money, is there another way they can pay?"

Hoo.

Work.

"…!?"

I raised a hand and gestured toward the group.

Then, I made an offer.

Three people.

Two days.

Or…

You alone.

Six days.

The civilian froze.

"T-t-that…."

The agents immediately moved to shield them.

Then the team leader calmly evaluated the situation.

"If we agree to work, will we turn into… that?"

They pointed at Jang Heoun.

……

"Or can we work like the other staff?"

If I had been a real mascot, I might not have even understood the question.

But I did.

You can.

I lowered my head slightly.

It’s okay.

No more bad employees.

"……."

The agents flinched.

The Hyunmu 3 Team Leader observed me, as if measuring something.

Then, after several long seconds, they spoke.

"…Alright. The three of us will work here."

"Team Leader!"

"Yeah. Just think of it as good experience. Besides, you know…"

The team leader nudged their sneakers.

More precisely—what was tied to them.

A survival item.

An escape tool.

"We brought it with us."

"…!"

The agents had ultimately protected the civilian—and now, they were likely looking for a chance to get Jang Heoun out as well.

The three of them carefully read through the employment contract before signing it.

And with that—

All employee slots were filled.

‘…….’

Now, the last step.

It was time to prepare for the ceremony.