Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work

Chapter 84.2

No.

No!!

– How dare you treat my friend so rudely!!

W-Wait, hold on.

Let’s not overreact, Braun. Let’s calm down...

‘It’s alright. This feels like a misunderstanding.’

I held back a sigh and raised my head.

Though I wasn’t thrilled...

‘I guess there’s no harm in getting some counseling. It might even be good for my mental health.’

Let’s not dwell on any side effects—it’s probably a very low chance anyway.

– Hmm... if that’s what you think, Mr. Roe Deer!

Alright.

The decision was made.

Dragging my feet, I walked reluctantly.

What lay ahead appeared to be a locker room.

A flowery sign was attached to the lockers.

Welcome, dear client!

Please change into a gown before entering ^^

Rows of hospital gowns with green leaf patterns were lined up in various sizes.

Is this a medical check-up or what...?

– If clothing were only about comfort, we would all go about naked.

– In that sense, this is a piece of cloth that fails at everything except covering the body.

Exactly.

‘Still, I should wear it.’

There was a lizard out there who could physically destroy ghost stories standing guard. I’d better cooperate and finish the session.

I changed into a gown.

‘That curtain looks like the way into the counseling space.’

Just as I reached to pull aside the curtain that seemed to be the exit of the locker room, I noticed writing.

From here on, only the client may enter ^^

Friends, family, and guardians must wait here!

‘Ah.’

Hmm... Even if this was technically a benefit, it was still part of a ghost story. Better not break the rules.

“Braun, can you wait here for a bit?”

– Oh, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried, but in this case, I must, of course, respect your privacy!

OK.

I carefully placed Braun near the vase on the locker room table and drew back the curtain.

Jingle...

Sunlight poured down warmly over my head.

A small, cozy space lay before me.

A soothing room bathed in the glow of midday sun.

========================

Dark Exploration Records /

Ghost Story

[Fox Counseling Office]

: A ghost story featured in

: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-E-925

A counseling space consisting of a sunny window, soft pastel-tone sofas, and a small silver bell that emits a clear sound.

Listed as an E-level employee benefit at Daydream Inc., it has mild effects on mental stabilization and contamination recovery.

Refer to the full document for detailed usage records of the Fox Counseling Office.

========================

Indeed, the atmosphere here was... quite nice.

– May it be a productive counseling session, Friend!

I sincerely hoped so.

I pulled the curtain closed again and stepped into the room.

The bookcase next to the sofa slid open, revealing a full-length mirror.

I found myself looking into it.

A tired office worker.

“Would you like to compare now?”

Whether I compared or not, it looked exactly the same...

“What do you think?”

“...I seem,”

I stared at my reflection.

“...To look more fatigued... maybe.”

Was it just my... imagination?

“I see.”

But the ‘me’ outside the window nodded.

“Why do you think there’s a difference?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then let’s observe a little more. Maybe something else will stand out.”

I alternated between looking at the ‘me’ outside the window and the one in the mirror.

Eyes, nose, mouth, shoulders, arms...

Wrists.

“The tattoo.”

I muttered as if in a trance.

“You don’t have a tattoo.”

The tattoo I had retained from the theme park was there.

But...

: 恩主 :

This one was missing.

The tattoo that functioned as my inventory.

“What kind of tattoo is it? Oh, that one!”

“Yes.”

“There must be a reason you got such a tattoo. What does it do?”

“It lets me store items.”

“I see. Do you have anything stored in it now?”

“Yes.”

“Could you show me? If you’re uncomfortable, you can just place the items somewhere I can’t see.”

“...Alright.”

I retrieved items from the tattoo.

Equipment, coins, various items...

They were all familiar.

“I’ve taken everything out.”

I still didn’t understand the point of this.

How was this different from the ‘me’ outside?

“Sir Kim Soleum.”

“Yes?”

“I think there’s still something left inside your tattoo.”

Enough!

“Would you like to extend your hand to me?”

I don’t want to kno—

“No, you do. You want to know, Sir, and you can do it.”

I stood up from the sofa.

I walked right up to the window...

And extended my hand.

“You’ve worked so hard.”

The me outside the window grabbed my hand.

And then.

He thrust his hand straight into my tattoo.