Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 97

When I found the dress shoes at the entrance, my first thought was that Baek Saheon had finally mustered up the courage to return to the dormitory.

‘Took him a few days, huh.’

Or perhaps he’d caught wind of a rumor that I hadn’t returned from today’s ghost story adventure and rushed back in a panic.

‘But I’m back now.’

So, I was left wondering how to deal with the person currently in my room.

"Oh dear, my friend, there seems to be a slight misunderstanding regarding your story!"

Misunderstanding?

"Those shoes, you see, have been in the same spot every evening, my dear friend."

“...!”

What?

No. On the first day, there was absolutely nothing in this entranceway when I left....

‘...Wait a minute.’

I suddenly recalled the last time I’d seen Baek Saheon.

Segwang Technical High School.

He was stirring up chaos between the Disaster Management Bureau and the Field Exploration Team, fleeing with an item in hand.

And the function of that fountain pen-shaped item he had was...

‘Hypnosis.’

“......”

I looked down at my hand.

The silver ring.

The mental defense item I’d purchased earlier today.

‘...Ah.’

So that’s how it was.

Baek Saheon hadn’t been leaving earlier than me and returning later. Nor had he been working out of a completely different location.

He’d been coming back to the dormitory the whole time.

He’d just placed a suggestion on me.

A suggestion to not perceive his presence.

‘But it doesn’t work on me anymore.’

Thanks to the silver ring’s protective effect, I had finally “noticed” Baek Saheon’s shoes for the first time in days.

“...Ha.”

Seriously?

I’m already sick and exhausted, and now I have to deal with this kind of thing at home too?

"Ah, what a perfect and satisfying deduction, like a puzzle snapping into place!"

"But... in traditional and moralistic plots, those who try to deceive others must pay the price, don’t they?"

Braun’s voice carried a sinister delight.

Normally, I’d have been unnerved by his tone....

Hmm.

‘Braun.’

"What is it, my friend?"

‘I’m thinking of doing something fun. Interested?’

I grinned despite the headache throbbing in my skull.

‘It’s right up your alley.’

“...!!”

***

‘Phew.’

As soon as the noise at the entrance subsided, Baek Saheon cautiously got up from the bed.

‘What the hell was that guy doing instead of going straight to his room?’

It had been days since they returned from Segwang Technical High School. Baek Saheon had been living as quietly as possible, practically in hiding within the dormitory.

To avoid being discovered by Kim Soleum!

‘...At first, I just used the item out of sheer panic.’

Imagine waking up in the morning only to realize there’s a psychopath in the next room harboring a grudge against you!

Fearing what might happen if he encountered Kim Soleum, he’d used the item to make sure no traces of him were perceived.

‘It really was a fantastic item.’

That psychopath hadn’t noticed anything at all!

Even so, he’d been extremely cautious, making every effort to avoid Kim Soleum within the dorm and keeping absolutely silent even in his own room.

He’d considered applying a stronger hypnosis or suggestion, but the thought of failing and the consequences that might follow had been too terrifying.

Still...

‘...Maybe it’s time to try something stronger?’

The suggestion had been holding successfully for several days. It felt like it might be safe to take a risk now.

Perhaps he could make Kim Soleum throw himself in harm’s way to save him, or even hand over valuable items under the illusion they were lost forever....

‘Hmm.’

Moreover, according to what Chang Heowoon from their team had mentioned, the Darkness Kim Soleum entered this time was a place to acquire various equipment and items.

‘...I’m jealous.’

Clenching his fist briefly, Baek Saheon thought of his peers from the finishing team who’d been assigned to his group.

He needed his own opportunity to collect items—more opportunities!

He even entertained the idea of subtly stealing items from his colleagues by hypnotizing them.

‘But that’s not possible right now!’

The fountain pen only worked on one person at a time, and since it was fully dedicated to Kim Soleum, using it on anyone else was out of the question.

It was frustrating.

‘I need to squeeze more out of Kim Soleum.’

This was the perfect timing.

‘Let’s plan this out.’

Once Kim Soleum fell asleep tonight, he’d use the fountain pen....

While running scenarios in his head, he opened the door to get some water.

And froze.

“...!”

In the dark kitchen, Kim Soleum was there.

Sitting at the table, he was examining what looked like snacks, inspecting their packaging.

In the center of the table sat a plush toy on a cushion.

That creepy rabbit-shaped doll Kim Soleum always carried around and called “Braun.”

“What? Cheap-looking, you say?”

Baek Saheon flinched.

“You’re right. It’s probably part of the theme, considering it was from a stationery shop.”

‘That crazy bastard.’

He was talking to the doll again.

‘Why hasn’t he gone to his room and stopped this nonsense?’

Baek Saheon shuddered and was about to quietly retreat to his room... but then he paused.

Maybe, just maybe, running into Kim Soleum like this was an opportunity.

A chance to strengthen the suggestion without needing to try something elaborate.

“......”

Baek Saheon steeled himself and pulled out the fountain pen.

Quietly, he began to move.

“Sure. But even items like this have their own effectiveness.”

Toward Kim Soleum’s back.

Closing in on the psychopath who was talking to himself, Baek Saheon aimed the pen...

“Like the fountain pen my roommate is sneaking up behind me with.”

“......”

Oh.

Baek Saheon froze, feeling his blood turn cold.

“Braun, did you know? My roommate tried to hypnotize and control me.”

“......”

“Yeah. And I even brought him a gift to repay him, yet...”

Kim Soleum’s voice was slow and deliberate, partially because speaking too quickly might trigger another bout of blood coughing, but also due to the fever and pain weighing him down.

The hoarseness in his voice, mixed with the faint scent of blood, made his words even more ominous.

“Isn’t that rude?”

Kim Soleum placed the snack package on the table and turned his head.

“And isn’t it true that someone rude doesn’t deserve to be a roommate?”

“...!!”

Their eyes met.

‘Shit, shit, shit...!’

He’d been caught.

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How? It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that he’d been caught. Completely.

“I-I’ll leave!”

Baek Saheon stammered, his voice trembling.

“Supervisor! I admit I’m not qualified to stay here! I’ll leave right now and never come back!”

Kim Soleum frowned.

“You’re giving me a headache. Don’t you know etiquette? Why are you shouting in a shared residence late at night?”

Shit!

Baek Saheon swore internally but hated how his body automatically silenced itself.

“Braun.”

Meanwhile, Kim Soleum was addressing the rabbit doll again.

“He’s noisy, but hearing him beg like that... makes me think maybe I should give him a chance, even if he doesn’t deserve to stay.”

What?!

“No need—”

“You don’t need it?”

Kim Soleum snapped his head around.

“You’re saying you don’t need the chance to stay here?”

“......”

Why did that sound like “You don’t need the chance to survive here”?

Baek Saheon swallowed nervously and replied.

“I need it.”

“Thought so.”

“Yes...”

“Good. Then hand over the item.”

“......!”

“The fountain pen. The one that lets you write a phrase on a sticky note to hypnotize someone into doing exactly that.”

“......”

“I can’t trust you not to pull something strange again, so I’ll hold onto it for now.”

How the hell did he know that?

Even as terror crawled up his spine, Baek Saheon gritted his teeth.

“I... can’t give it up.”

“......”

“Think about it, Supervisor. Honestly, my actions haven’t caused you any direct harm, have they?”

He spoke quickly, desperation dripping from his voice.

“I need that item. I can’t just give it to someone else. I swear I won’t use it on you again, so please...”

“Hmm.”

Kim Soleum’s expression remained unreadable.

“Why would I believe that?”

“...!”

“Take a good look at yourself.”

Kim Soleum pointed at Baek Saheon.

“I was the one who told you how to safely enter Segwang Technical High School. I didn’t even get mad when you tried to kill me there...”

He was stating plain facts.

“But now you’re using hypnosis? Why should I trust you?”

“......”

That was... that was...

Probably true.

The guy in front of him might be crazy, but he was undeniably competent. Burning this bridge entirely might actually be the insane move here.

‘What the hell? What’s going on?’

Did I make the wrong call?

Baek Saheon’s mind raced, caught between faint guilt, mounting dread, and the icy grip of fear.

Then.

“But since it’s an item you secured, I suppose it’s fair to offer compensation.”

What?

Kim Soleum reached for something he’d placed on the kitchen table.

It was encased in clear packaging.

“A left eye.”

What the hell?!

Baek Saheon barely suppressed a scream as he stared at the violet iris moving restlessly within the black sclera.

“But it’s not just any eye. It’s a piece of bio-equipment.”

“...!”

“It comes with a specific ability...”

As Kim Soleum explained the eye’s functionality, Baek Saheon’s expression gradually changed.

“......”

“Do you want it?”

Baek Saheon gritted his teeth.

This couldn’t possibly be real.

“...Yes.”

And yet, he willingly handed over the fountain pen.

With trembling hands, filled with a mix of expectation and confusion, he accepted the bio-equipment Kim Soleum offered him.

***

‘Phew.’

Cold sweat dripped down my back as I finally sat on my bed, fighting off a headache and coughing fits after my encounter with Baek Saheon.

It took a lot of effort to keep myself from showing how much pain I was in.

‘At least I didn’t lose in terms of presence, right?’

There was a moment when his eyes rolled back, and he looked ready to lunge at me. I almost flinched. Being sick and still having to deal with this nonsense made me question all my life choices.

But this was something I needed to handle right away.

Leaving a sociopath armed with a hypnosis item unattended around me for the next three days while I was ill? Out of the question.

‘I think I handled it well with the carrot-and-stick approach.’

I thought of the violet eye I’d handed over to him.

It wasn’t threatening to me, but it had useful functions for Baek Saheon. A calculated choice.

Besides, since it was a left eye, he wouldn’t even need to extract his own to use it.

Still, being roommates with that guy... Honestly, now that I think about it, Go Yeongeun and Chang Heowoon are the rare exceptions. Baek Saheon is probably just the average personality type for this company.

This place is overflowing with sociopaths, like rocks scattered on the ground.

‘Thinking about it is just depressing. Let’s focus on something positive....’

Like the upcoming “gift presentation ceremony.”

“Braun.”

I sat up and retrieved an item I had carefully stored within the tattoo on my arm.

A ribbon hair tie, purchased flamboyantly instead of receiving change at the boutique.

“It’s a gift.”

...!

“You like it? I kind of thought you might’ve guessed already.”

If this didn’t match Braun’s aesthetic sensibilities, I’d probably end up sweating bullets while scrambling to find another offering....

But Braun’s response came in a delighted voice.

"Ah, the evidence was certainly overwhelming! If I hadn’t guessed, that would’ve been unthinkable as a show host. But, of course, it’s also not an entertainer’s job to make it obvious they’ve guessed!""At last, even this plush body can present itself with dignity!"

Rarely did Braun’s tone tremble with anticipation.

‘Thank goodness.’

Smiling, I carefully adjusted the ribbon hair tie and tied it neatly around the fluffy rabbit doll, doing my best to make it look stylish.

“Thanks for everything, Braun.”

The round, button-like eyes of the rabbit doll stared into space before Braun’s cheerful host-like voice responded as I looked away.

"It was only natural as your friend, Noru."

The ribbon hair tie might not have had any function beyond looking elegant and high-quality, but Braun’s voice was filled with joy.

"Proper appearance is essential for those who stand before an audience, isn’t it?"

Braun happily let me adjust the bow tie several times, seeking the perfect angle, and seemed to genuinely enjoy the process.

At the same time, Braun gently nudged me to get some rest.

"Noru, maintaining your condition is a professional’s basic courtesy. Rest is just as important, so let’s head to dreamland tonight!"

“Yeah.”

Giving my kind companion a gift—it was one of the few truly satisfying things to happen today.

Normally, I’d browse through the wiki one last time before bed, but with my broken smartphone and my current state, I didn’t have the energy.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll either buy a new phone or get this one fixed....’

As long as the memorial grip ring was intact, switching phones wouldn’t affect my access to the wiki.

Lying down comfortably, I picked up the broken smartphone to remove the grip ring.

“......”

"Friend?"

I quickly flipped the smartphone over.

The grip ring... had a crack.