It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story Chapter 055

A secluded lodge, now a mess with severed body parts and blood, painted in a madness-inducing hue.

In the midst of it all stood a public official holding a butcher’s knife in front of yet another fainted woman.

And from the second-floor railing, I stared at this chaotic scene.

Had I known it was fake, I might have fainted myself in this insane living room.

However, the lodge keeper, who emerged from the back door, was polite.

“Have you been comfortable?”

As if!

But there was no need to unnecessarily exert myself, so I remained still.

The lodge keeper didn’t even utter clichéd phrases like “I was out to ensure you could relax without interruption.”

He simply said this:

“It’s been three days. The time has come.”

“……”

“You may now exchange the lodge’s legacy for the cassette tape.”

No one has died up to this point? This is where people get into a killing frenzy.

It’s inevitable.

The fear and shock of impending death must accumulate sufficiently for this cassette tape to release the survivors.

“So that’s why it was deliberately made.”

Fear and shock.

In the sensibilities of modern humans, it didn’t sit right, but it was meant to scare people into mistaking real death.

Looks like their antics passed with flying colors.

Seeing the lodge keeper delivering his lines while the living room remained peaceful without any knife fight was enough proof.

Of course, this peace was about to be shattered.

The lodge keeper’s first approach was to the ‘wife’ who had fainted on the couch.

“Visitor.”

“……”

“Would you like to exchange the cassette tape?”

“Umm, what… Uh, uh!? Aaaah!!”

The person who regained consciousness stumbled a few times and fled the lodge.

Well then.

“It would have been better if she had stayed fainted.”

Without hesitation, the lodge keeper turned and pointed to the next person.

“Would you like to exchange the cassette tape?”

“……”

The public official looked at the lodge keeper, then slowly opened his mouth.

“I shall express my intentions last.”

“Understood. Then…”

The lodge keeper turned his head toward the last person.

Me.

I returned the lodge keeper’s gaze.

A figure from a horror story speaking in a refined Seoul dialect, dressed in ragged and torn clothes.

“Would you like to exchange the cassette tape?”

Am I going to exchange it?

“Yes.”

Of course, I would.

“I’ve worked like a shrimp trawler for this over the last three days.”

If the entrant survives, a promised substantial monetary reward will be granted.

For the moment when this phrase is realized.

That’s why I had to go as far as pretending to be a serial killer.

‘Top priority for exchange.’

I took out the cassette tapes from the backpack of one of the college students I had brought.

The couple’s.

The college students’.

And Baek Sa-heon’s as well.

“Seven in total. You, the visitor, take priority for the exchange.”

A strangely elated expression appeared on the lodge keeper’s face, only to vanish like a lie, returning to politeness.

“You can become the owner of this lodge. Will you proceed?”

“No.”

“……”

If an entrant performs a serial killing for reward while selecting the site of disaster (Horizon Lodge), their mutated traits will be permanently assigned.

Even though I only pretended to be a serial killer, there’s no need to take on such a risk.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I can just exchange something randomly or refuse to end it.’

Whether I exchange for gold or trash, refuse to exchange and run away, or even check until the lodge burns down.

When the next cycle comes, things will reset, and items from serial killers will be distributed again, luring people back to this place.

The lodge will appear miraculously intact, and the tragedy will repeat.

Moreover.

‘…I think there was a gimmick where the moment I choose the exchange, all the hidden people I pretended to kill would actually die.’

There’s this record.

———————=

#6

Personnel: 8 Draftees, 1 Officer (Level 8).

The officer was successfully designated as a serial killer but used a special item instead of the previously issued poison during the third murder.

Attempted to finish the disaster without killing draftees by putting them in a death-like state.

Result: 1 officer survived (refused exchange).

※The entrant in the death-like state was confirmed dead after choking on vomit subsequent to the exchange ceremony.

———————=

What if a fire occurs, and I inadvertently trap them so they can’t escape?

That way, I would become a real serial killer.

‘Even if people are meant to die in a horror story universe, it’s still unsettling…’

I ought to respect my mentality as a human.

After consideration, my choice was.

“This time, I would like to exchange one cassette tape for the lodge keeper’s employment authority.”

The lodge keeper seemed momentarily taken aback.

“Are you referring to my employment contract?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

Do you know this?

In the supernatural disaster management agency, they generally strive to eliminate horrors wherever possible.

Unlike the crazy pharmaceutical company I work for, where employees merely escape while trying to preserve and manage the situation, that is not an actual goal.

While the Daydream Corporation may see horrors as resource suppliers, to the government, they are just disasters.

That’s why many creators reflect this point in their works like a wiki.

In other words, the horrors managed by the government can “successfully disappear.”

The lodge keeper indicates that with this exchange, the contract has ended.

The site where the lodge stood transformed into an open space, with no signs of supernatural activity to date.

Disaster concluded.

This was the official last exploration record of this horror story.

In other words, it meant that the narrative had reached its period; the situation could be finalized.

So then.

‘Isn’t it possible for me to end this before having to do it several more times?’

Like this.

“From the looks of it, you seem to have remaining contract time with the previous lodge owner, and I’d like to transfer that to me.”

I don’t take the lodge.

But what if, receiving the lodge keeper’s employment authority, I create a situation identical to that of the final exploration record?

“…….”

I waited for the lodge keeper’s answer. And…

“Theoretically… it is possible.”

Exactly.

“However, it is rude to say, but there are certain qualifications required for my employer.”

“Qualifications?”

“Yes.”

The lodge keeper’s polite tone briefly mixed with an imperceptible arrogance before disappearing.

“Intrinsic and existential nobility is required.”

Have you thought to entrust the operation of a murder lodge to someone?

I get the feeling their ethical and moral qualities differ greatly from that of an average modern human…

– Haha! Like an 18th-century butler, this little lodge worker acts as if the owner’s power belongs to him!

– Let’s just take this lodge and fire him!

Brown… I’m trying not to do that, you know.

‘Just wait a moment. I think there’s another way.’

– Patience, Doe!

Sure, sure.

As I gave a casual retort and rubbed my chin.

‘…Nobility, huh.’

Actually, I did think of something.

It’s true that I didn’t bring any items, but there was one small one that I always kept in my pocket.

‘My merchandise.’

The ‘Silver Heart’ that last popped out from my merchandise box jangled in my hand.

A thing that increases speaking rights when worn by a good person.

‘I had to give it a try anyway.’

I carefully manipulated the small silver badge to open the pin inside my pocket.

And when I wore it on the fabric of my pocket…

“……”

“……”

The other party showed no particular reaction.

‘Ah.’

Is it an issue with the range of application?

‘That one isn’t human, right.’

The wearer gains awe from others based on their accumulated selfless actions.

Well, I was already skeptical about the very definition of nobility, so I figured it was worth testing.

I swiftly shifted my posture.

If that’s the case…

“Are you saying I lack intrinsic and existential nobility?”

I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“Well, finding someone who meets those qualifications is more challenging, so I hope you aren’t too disheartened.”

“No. The important thing isn’t that. So, it means the exchange is difficult? Because I’m unqualified?”

“Yes.”

“That’s hard to understand.”

I purposely frowned.

Like a customer complaining.

“There was clearly a condition stating, ‘bring the cassette tape, and I would exchange it for anything I have.’… The sudden change of terms is quite confusing.”

I exaggeratedly sighed as if exhausted.

“It’s been three days. The time I’ve spent here. Yet suddenly at the end, you’re saying qualifications are needed, which contradicts our earlier agreement.”

The lodge keeper looked slightly flustered.

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“The promise remains unchanged. However, what I’m saying is that you will encounter difficulties in using the employment authority once it is delegated.”

The lodge keeper kindly explained.

“If you were to receive the lodge itself, I would work here according to the existing contract, but accepting the ‘employment authority’ means it can only be utilized when that right is applicable.”

In summary, it meant, “Yeah. I’m only going to work under the original contract, so I won’t listen to you.”

“Are you saying it might end up as just a document-based contract? Unable to be genuinely utilized?”

“Correct.”

Wow.

“I don’t care.”

“……”

That actually works out well!

Nullified!

“Then if I’m aware of that condition, can I still make the exchange? If I want to exchange even knowing that, there’s no way to stop me.”

“……Then.”

The lodge keeper extended both hands.

“You’re correct, visitor.”

He conceded.

“Please place the cassette tape you want to exchange on the table.”

Alright.

I quickly extended the tapes I was holding.

Thud, thud, thud.

Six tapes left my hand and fell into the lodge keeper’s rough hands.

The lodge keeper gently stashed the tapes into his tattered clothing.

Then, tidying up his shabby attire, he pulled out a thin, old object from within.

It was a piece of paper.

It appeared to be made of Eastern-style material resembling Hanji, yet strangely cut in a Western style, rolled up, and sealed with red wax.

“This is the original of my contract.”

The moment I received it—

The old paper ignited.

“…!”

The Hanji burned in a crimson flame, leaving only embers that soared into the air.

And it wound around my wrist.

More precisely, where the tattoo left by the theme park mascot is!

‘Wait, hold on.’

: Socius :

The tattoo glowed as if it were being heated.

The sparks clashed with the tattoo, seemingly wrestling before abruptly rebounding away.

Then, it descended to a point near my forearm and naturally settled vertically.

: 恩主 :

“……”

Now I have two tattoos.

‘That wasn’t what I was aiming for.’

I had intended to store the real contract like an item.

It’s a peculiar sensation of being bound… but in terms of mobility, this is indeed better.

– ‘恩主.’ What an antiquated term.

Brown didn’t utter any ominous remarks.

Regardless, based on previous instances, this tattoo would probably not be visible to the public official, so that’s fine too.

If the contract vanished into thin air, all the better.

‘I’m not going to call upon you anyway.’

I looked up.

As expected, the lodge keeper had disappeared like a lie.

What remained was a blood-soaked lodge that looked like it belonged in a horror film.

And there I stood, along with the public official.

‘All wrapped up.’

It’s quite funny, but at that moment a gentle light began to stream in through the window.

It was sunlight.

“The day has cleared up.”

“……”

Well, everything’s been sorted out.

It feels good, so I’d perfectly disappear like this, and the public official could follow his own path.

As for the identities of the people tied up and unconscious in the basement, the government would surely handle that.

‘Since the horror itself has disappeared, I doubt I’ll be registered as a target for further investigation or have my details meticulously noted.’

Governments and corporations don’t bother much with cases that are closed with no follow-up necessary.

‘Even if it leaves a peculiar record, I don’t think it’ll matter since I haven’t really killed anyone.’

I just need to handle myself carefully with the public official and make a sensible excuse, and I should be able to pass through like this…

“Hey, you.”

The public official came up the stairs from downstairs.

And striding forward, he grabbed my arm and seriously asked.

“Have you ever considered changing jobs?”

What?