Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 107

...The Nameless Radiance Cult.

If the Paranormal Disaster Management Bureau seeks to eliminate ghost stories and Daydream Inc. tries to exploit them,

then:

"The Nameless Radiance Cult is the ghost story itself."

They worship ghost stories, believing them to be the foundation of the world.

These fanatics think that by discovering and cultivating ghost stories, they can become significant figures in this world and gain the favor of Ireumnim, achieving eternal life.

"A complete doomsday cult."

To be honest, out of the three major factions in Dark Exploration Records, this is the one I feel most distant from.

"Not really my taste."

Of course, I’d read the Wiki entries on this crazy cult.

That’s why the "Memorial Griptok" still brings up the Wiki page safely. The problem is, I haven’t been able to read the Wiki for days.

"That’s probably why I didn’t catch on right away."

But now that I’ve identified it, I can understand the current situation more clearly.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

The bizarre repetition occurring during the nighttime isolation room cleaning—what nightmare scenario caused by the Nameless Radiance Cult could have triggered this?

I took a deep breath.

This was...

"A Doppelgänger Ghost Story."

A supernatural entity that steals someone’s life.

It was one of the most explosively popular cult-style ghost stories when the Nameless Radiance Cult was first introduced in the Wiki.

More specifically, it was a rank within the cult.

This insane cult assigns phenomena to its members based on their rank and affiliation!

And this phenomenon’s name was...

Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Stories

[Story Usurper]

A power of the Nameless Radiance Cult featured in Dark Exploration Records. Ranked as the fourth tier of the cult's Mimicry Order.

Seeks to imitate others and steal their stories, using them as sustenance for their own narrative.

Victims entangled in this phenomenon lose their story’s potential, and over time, their entire self may be stolen.

Wiki-wise, this ghost story stems from the fear of an unknown entity replacing you or someone close to you.

"The clearest sign? They mimic close relatives or acquaintances while doing something unnerving."

They appear as a lover, a friend, or someone you feel indebted to, luring you into letting your guard down and then unleashing supernatural horror.

The goal is simple.

To make the victim desperately wish for the situation to end, gaining implicit consent to steal their narrative.

And that’s what happened to me—I had my story for the 29th and 30th stolen.

The Story Usurper takes away the victim’s ability to make different choices or pursue other paths, turning their stolen narrative into its own.

As a result, the victim feels as though "time passed meaninglessly," realizing too late that days had slipped away.

That’s why I had processed the last two days as "uneventful" and regained awareness at a similar point the next day.

"Thankfully, the silver ring limited the theft to just one day at a time."

If not, I could have lost myself entirely, drifting along without realizing what was happening.

"That’s how your life gets drained away."

It was only because my mind remained intact that I avoided falling to that extent.

—Ah, fascinating! Huff, this time I caught up more quickly.

"Brown!"

The tiny plush toy let out an exaggerated breath, followed by the sound of adjusting its imaginary suit collar. Then came the familiar cheerful voice.

—You’ve lost another day of your story, my friend! Hmm, it seems the other side used clever tricks to guide you into that choice.

—So, the mimicry of your acquaintances was part of their strategy?

"That’s right."

First, they imitated Deputy Eun Haje. The second time, it was Senior Park Minseong. Both times, they nearly had me.

Every time their identity was exposed, they switched to another, continually trying to steal my narrative.

—Ohh. Then I wonder, Soleum, which "acquaintance" you’ll encounter on the 31st.

—At this very moment, in the situation of your third day, who might they have mimicked...? The answer awaits us shortly!

"......."

I looked around.

There was no sign of Senior Park Minseong. Naturally, there was no sign of Deputy Eun Haje either.

I was alone in the equipment storage room.

"...At the end of the second day, the lockdown was lifted."

If so, maybe they had already left this place.

But typically, Story Usurpers are obsessively meticulous when they have the chance to completely steal their target’s life.

"They probably don’t suspect that I’ve figured them out."

If that’s the case, the most likely person to appear here, someone I already knew and who could naturally lower my guard, would be...

Crackle.

[It’s been about... ten minutes. I’m on my way.]

"......."

I tensed as the voice came through the walkie-talkie.

Moments later—

[BEEEEEP!]

[Lockdown lifted. Shutters opening...]

I stood up and turned toward the sound.

The door was opening.

The protective shutter on the equipment storage room’s front exit was rising, and the red emergency light was replaced by green.

And beyond the lifting shutter—

"You’re safe. Thank goodness..."

Security Chief J3 stood there, looking exhausted as always, but with a faint note of relief in their eyes.

"Any other staff...? Oh, are they still inside? Hey, are you okay?"

"......."

"Hello...?"

I stood up and turned my back on the Security Chief.

"Uh...?"

And I faced the wall.

You see...

"When religious elements enter a ghost story, there’s always an exorcism method."

There’s always a way to counter supernatural beings—a kind of duality, like a two-sided mirror.

Even the Nameless Radiance Cult, as insane as they are, isn’t exempt from this.

"The Story Usurper has a banishment method too."

I recalled the work tip I’d received on the first day.

"Ireumnim? Whatever that weirdo’s shouting about, just curse at them or tell them to get lost. That’ll shut them up."

"If you don’t want to curse, just tell them to go away. That’s fine too."

A peculiar thing.

Even though the second page had been corrupted, the hint was still accurate.

Because.

"Get lost."

The way to drive it out was to "identify its nature and outright reject it."

Implied consent and participation to steal my time?

Not happening.

So...

"Why are you acting like this...?"

"Get lost."

I repeated, without looking at them.

......

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe...

Really? Really?

You’re telling me this twice?

"Get lost."

"Soleum, what’s with your language? Even if you’re upset, that’s no way to—"

"Get lost."

"Wait, hold on, Soleum! Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh? I’m just trying to help—"

"Get lost."

"I don’t want to... Fine, I’ll just stay here quietly... I didn’t even say anything bad to you—"

"Get lost."

"......."

Hehehehehehe!

So close... so close!

A distorted voice twisted behind me.

"Rejecting the blessing bestowed upon pitiful beings like us, who live lives incapable of even scratching the foundation of this world. What a waste."

"If you hand over your miserable story, we will fill it with the radiant blessing of Ireumnim. Ireumnim will see me—what a waste."

"Get lost."

"What a waste...."

I gritted my teeth.

"Get lost."

The strange whispers behind me began to fade.

And then...

Silence.

"......."

It seemed like the thing had given up on targeting me.

Phew....

I almost collapsed in relief but managed to hold myself upright. Instead, I started thinking furiously.

If I couldn’t hear its footsteps yet, I should wait until it moved elsewhere, then bolt out of here and report this to the Security Team. That should—

Crackle.

"......!"

The walkie-talkie in my pocket buzzed to life.

A familiar voice came through.

[Arrived. Hmm.]

"Arrived. Hmm."

The words echoed audibly, not just through the walkie-talkie but nearby as well.

"......."

I slowly turned my head to the equipment storage room’s entrance.

Standing outside the door was Security Chief J3, staring expressionlessly at me.

‘Is it really him?’

No, it had to be. This was definitely the real J3.

I hurriedly opened my mouth to explain the situation—

"...! Chief J."

...when I heard a voice behind me.

A startled, almost confused tone.

I turned my head further to look behind me.

The Nameless Radiance Cult’s ghost story was now wearing a reddish-orange cleaning uniform.

"I don’t understand what’s going on," it said.

The figure—a man in his mid-to-late 20s with jet-black hair and a pale complexion—alternated glances between me and the Security Chief with a shocked expression.

It looked exactly like me.

"Kim Soleum."

The thing that had perfectly mimicked my current appearance spoke with a confused tone as it addressed us.

"What... Is it possible to encounter such a phenomenon during cleaning duties?"

It was imitating me.

Shit...!

A chill ran down my spine.

I looked urgently at the Security Chief and spoke as calmly as I could.

"Chief J, that’s a Nameless Radiance Cult follower."

"A... What? Chief J, do you have any idea what’s going on here? This seems like some kind of Darkness, but..."

"Chief J! Do not respond. Just listen and assess. The moment you reply, you’ll get drawn into the situation."

"......."

"If you must verify something, talk to the wall, but better yet, just yell ‘Get lost!’ at everyone here. That’s the safest option."

The Security Chief stared at us both with an unreadable expression.

Beside me, the imitation’s voice trembled faintly as it said,

"I... I don’t understand what they’re saying."

What?

"Think about it, Chief J. I’m just... someone who came here to clean for three days. I only realized this was a Darkness phenomenon because... something beside me told me so."

"...!"

"Wouldn’t it make more sense for me not to know what’s inside the Security Team’s isolation rooms? Logically, isn’t that correct?"

—Oh, that’s a convincing argument.

Dammit...!

"And... I’m really glad you’re here. I apologize for putting you in this situation..."

"......."

‘It’s disturbingly persuasive.’

How very cult-like. I gritted my teeth.

Honestly, even I had almost fallen for it the first day when it appeared as Deputy Eun Haje.

‘How did Senior Park Minseong figure out that wasn’t the real Deputy Eun?’

I racked my brain to recall that moment.

What had tipped him off?

‘There didn’t seem to be any logical flaws back then either....’

What was it?

Was it a subtle unease that only someone familiar with them could sense?

Something about their tone during conversation?

‘Or....’

As I strained to recall and analyze, the imitation’s calm, composed voice spoke up again.

"Chief J, please don’t feel guilty about this. Just act as you see fit. I’ll accept it."

.......

Ah.

"That’s it."

I pressed my fingers to my temples and opened my mouth.

"Chief J, consider their motive for speaking. Who is trying to engage you in friendly conversation and draw you into this situation?"

Back then, Deputy Eun Haje had been...

Too friendly for the circumstances.

Someone who had just escaped from a perilous trap wouldn’t act so relaxed.

‘If it were really the Deputy, they would have stayed hidden until it was safe to escape.’

With the items we had and the option to wait for the lockdown to lift, there was no reason to take the risk of exposing themselves just to convince us.

Their reaction didn’t match the situation.

So...

"In a strange and dangerous situation like this, who is making unnecessary social remarks? Who has an ulterior motive?"

I continued calmly,

"You don’t even have to trust me. Just yell ‘Get lost!’ at everyone here and ignore them. This ghost story will vanish. Or, if you prefer, call in another Security Team member..."

"Hmm."

The Security Chief stood up.

And then—

"This one."

A massive, wolf-like creature’s black claw came down toward me like the blade of a guillotine.

Shit...!

In the blink of an eye, before I could even close my eyes—

Thud.

A head went flying.

Not mine.

The imitation’s.

"...!!"

Splat.

The enormous, shadowy claw lifted away from the crushed corpse, leaving a horrifying impression as it brushed past me...

And returned to the Security Chief’s arm.

"Hey."

"......."

"Are you okay...?"

I looked down at my blood-soaked orange cleaning uniform and collapsed onto the floor.

"......!"

"Yes. Thank you."

I had survived.