It Seems I Must Go to Work Even After Falling into a Horror Story Chapter 104

“What’s this? Doe, you didn’t forget about me, did you? It’s been a really long time!”

The person standing in the dark corridor spoke cheerfully, extending a hand.

It was my old superior from Group D, wearing a badger mask—someone I hadn’t seen in ages.

“…Chief?”

It was unmistakably him.

Chief Park Min-seong.

He looked as clear and distinct as when we were working together, almost like my mentor.

I hurriedly accepted his handshake and asked,

“Are you recovered?”

“I’ve gotten much better. Well, I’m slowly getting into rehabilitation activities. These days, daily life isn’t a big issue anymore. Right, Team Leader?”

“Yeah, well… that’s right……”

Phew.

‘I didn’t expect to run into you like this.’

Seeing him in decent shape made me feel a bit emotional. I couldn’t help but use a bright tone.

“Well then, Park Min…”

“Call me Badger!”

“……”

“No, um… it’s just that hearing my name might bring up a few… issues.”

“…Yes.”

I kept my mouth shut.

I wanted to ask if he could return, but it was clear without needing to.

Now that I looked more closely, Chief Park Min-seong’s cheerful smile seemed strangely pale and anxious…

His cheeks and the area around his eyes, covered by the mask, looked a tad gaunt.

– Oh no, today’s partner doesn’t seem to be in great condition!

Yeah.

‘Looks like he’s still… recovering.’

Is it alright to assign work to someone in such a state?

“Let’s go, Doe. We need to finish quickly so you can take a break!”

“…Yes.”

But I didn’t have the right to tell my partner to take on a different job while being on the receiving end of a punishment.

I expressed my gratitude to the guiding security team leader and followed Chief Park Min-seong, who was already in his cleaning uniform…

“Ah, wait a second.”

“Yes?”

“Take this with you….”

The security team leader grabbed me and momentarily set down a box of donuts he was holding gently, pulling something out of his pocket.

Two old walkie-talkies.

“If it gets dangerous… call me. I’m on night duty today…”

“…Is it connected to Jay?”

Nodding.

‘So it can indeed be dangerous’ and ‘thank you so much’—both feelings surged simultaneously.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah…”

The security leader added in a low voice as he glanced toward Chief Park Min-seong.

So softly that it was almost inaudible.

“Be careful.”

“……”

My hands turned cold.

I barely nodded and passed one of the walkie-talkies to Chief Park Min-seong.

Then we began walking through the underground corridor…

Towards the security team rental warehouse.

Thud, thud.

Thud, thud.

Thud, thud……

“Doe.”

“Yes!”

“Ah, sorry. Did I scare you?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Haha, that’s a relief…”

Chief Park Min-seong’s voice, which had been rhythmic next to me, suddenly became a bit shaky.

“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve talked with someone not from the security team… Um, did I say something odd? Was it awkward?”

“……”

Huh.

“No. Chief, you… still sound like yourself.”

“Uh? Wait, that’s not a compliment, is it?”

“Well…”

“…! No way, Doe! Are you joking?! Is this the kind of camaraderie that comes with the badge?”

Laughter filled the conversation, and the atmosphere lightened a bit.

“…Is it okay if I ask how you’ve been doing?”

“Of course, it’s fine. Um… I’ve been here the whole time, consistently.”

He muttered it quickly.

As if letting it slip.

“I didn’t know there was a treatment room underground, and a training area, and a really weird, super weird place… I can’t say much more since it’s only accessible to the security team….”

Damn.

“Then don’t worry about it. We can talk about something else…”

“It’s really strange. Why is the underground so deep? Come to think of it, I didn’t get why our company didn’t build a parking lot underground and instead just put up a parking tower. But now I know. The underground is just too deep and weird; I have to get back to my usual workspace…”

“Chief Badger!”

“…!!”

Chief suddenly stopped and let out a slow breath.

“Sorry. …Shall we change the subject?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

I rambled on about the latest trending shows, bolstered by Brown tossing in some topics to make it easier.

“Oh, I saw that too!”

“It was fun.”

Fortunately, it seemed there were no blocks to internet or OTT services, allowing our small talk to flow without issues.

But my back was drenched in cold sweat.

‘This won’t do.’

If I stuck around in this vast, windowless underground sealed space, even a sane person would start feeling strange.

‘Besides, Chief Park Min-seong seemed to have a sick family to worry about….’

– …With a hospitalized family member, I hope someone can check in once the filming is over! If possible…

…It was too terrible to voice outright. I approached it indirectly.

“Do you have to stay in this underground location?”

“No. Once I recover sufficiently, whether I change departments or leave, I’m free to go.”

Phew.

“It seems like the security team members can go outside or move freely at night.”

That was a relief.

“Ah, we’ve arrived.”

And finally, the location for today’s work came into view.

[Security Team Rental Warehouse]

Wow.

‘It’s quite imposing at night.’

I stifled a gasp as I stood before the iron door.

And a cold voice echoed from my pocket.

– Ah, this bothersome place.

“……”

Oh my god! That’s right!

This is the very place where Brown was stuck in the recycling area!!

‘Um, Brown. If it’s unpleasant, do you want to stay home next time?’

– It’s fine! Not projecting personal discomfort onto a location is a hallmark of the industry. But friend,

Brown’s voice dropped.

– I feel a little gloomy. Please try to make me happy…

“……”

‘I’ll do my best…’

This is so hard, Host…!

“Oh, right. This.”

As I pondered, Chief Park Min-seong pulled something out of his crimson uniform’s pocket and handed it to me.

It looked like a copied note handwritten by someone.

“Um, I got this as a work tip circulating among the security team. I thought you should read it too, so I kept it handy!”

“Ah, thank you…”

Work tips?

I rapidly scanned through the note.

———

Night Cleaning Work Tips

Hey! If you’re reading this, you’ve unfortunately drawn the short straw for nighttime cleaning.

Yup, in the security team area, there are crazy bastards and contaminants everywhere, and going in alone at night is just perfect for some bizarre experiences.

But don’t worry too much. Just read the sweet tips I’ve jotted down, and you’ll manage to get through without any issues.

———

‘Hold on.’

This is a typical introduction to cleaning work rules with a horror story vibe.

Aren’t there tales like this?

You go for a high-paying night job like a security guard or babysitter, only to be handed bizarre work rules to tough it out.

Several indie horror games based on Dark Exploration Records spring to mind.

‘This is scarier.’

I swallowed hard and quickly moved on to the next line.
———

In a sense, it’s sweet, right? It comes with extra pay. Whether what you wanted was money, points, or nostalgia gear, just think of that to get through.

As for the punishment… well, hang in there.

I hope you’re on the Field Exploration Team.

———

“……”

Yes. That would be me…

I gritted my teeth and quickly read through the remaining ‘tips’.

…The cleaning will begin soon.

*

Splash.

I wipe the floor of the rental warehouse with a wet mop.

It wasn’t particularly dirty, but there were some unknown colored stains stuck on here and there….

———

1. Wash the mop immediately if it gets dirty. It’s better that way.

The cleaning solution is strong, and you just have to rinse it a couple of times. Easy, right?

———

‘That’s surprisingly comforting…’

Fortunately, the rental warehouse still had about half the lighting that it would during the daytime.

It was just enough not to interfere with cleaning.

‘I can even read the guide notice.’

I glanced at the notice saying, ‘Always buying Nostalgia Series / For details, see the desk,’ and refocused on the floor.

“Doe, if you find any strange objects, don’t touch them, just avoid them while cleaning.”

“Yes.”

Splash.

“Have you done this before, Chief?”

“This is my first time cleaning… But, um, I’ve done other security team tasks.”

Chief Park Min-seong smiled, sounding a bit expectant.

“If I can make it through this, I think I might reach the recovery threshold to change into the security team.”

“…!”

That’s a relief.

I cautiously inquired.

“How about receiving further treatment and returning to the Field Exploration Team entirely?”

“Haha… Would that be nice? I’ll have to do my best.”

The conversation was surprisingly hopeful.

And we set about cleaning earnestly and methodically.

‘It’s easier than I thought.’

Aside from being physically tired from the midnight hour, it was fine.

It’s just that the work tips were so well-established.

———

2. No matter what happens, calmly keep cleaning.

Odd things are bound to happen in the security team’s area at night. Still, a rental warehouse is not that bad of a place!

———

‘Understood.’

That’s pretty much a summary of the entire content.

‘Keep cleaning without reacting to whatever happens.’

Let’s do this.

Soon, we finished cleaning the front area of the rental warehouse. It wasn’t that large, and cleaning all the stuck grime would only take about an hour.

“We’ve completed half of the area assigned to us today! Now all that’s left is….”

Our heads turned simultaneously.

“…That one.”

One of the three doors leading to the isolation area.

[Isolation B]

‘Phew.’

– Ah, this is the same corridor where Doe encountered that unpleasant experience last time.

That’s right.

I had to enter the corridor where I was previously stuck in the isolation room.

———

3. While cleaning, never open the door to any isolation room. Well, if you’re an employee here, you should already know this… But just in case, I’ll write it down.

4. No, I’ll emphasize again: Ignore the sounds coming from the isolation room. Don’t respond.

No matter if someone begs from the inside or claims to be your family or friend, it’s absolutely not true, so don’t open it!!

———

Creak.

We opened the door to the isolation area and stepped inside, quickly shutting it behind us.

A gray corridor unfolded before us.

Iron doors of the isolation rooms lined both sides.

‘This is maddening.’

I wanted to at least leave the doors open, but not being able to was incredibly psychologically burdensome.

I swallowed and continued mopping.

…The sounds I’d heard when leaving here last time echoed in the quiet corridor.

Hickhickhick.

Please save me, please save me, please.

I don’t belong here; I’m not one of them, I’m not a person.

Hickhickhick.

If you leave, you will die.

‘Oh, wow.’

This is really getting to me.

I purposely made a louder noise with the mop to drown it out, even just a little bit.

That’s when it happened.

Chief Park Min-seong suddenly stopped mopping and lifted his head.

He stared blankly at one of the tightly closed isolation rooms.

[Isolation Room B14]

“Doe.”

Damn it.

“Doe. I think I heard Assistant Manager’s voice over there?”

“No.”

“But… I can hear it.”

“No. Let’s keep cleaning, Chief Badger.”

“Ah… Okay.”

———

5. If your partner sounds crazy, leave them behind and run. Got it? Trying to help will get you both killed. Especially for the newbies in the security team, remember this well!!

———

Is this right?

Splash, splash.

As I mopped the floor, I felt a strange sensation.

‘…Anxiety?’

This was different from previous dark explorations.

Without manuals, wiki records, or escape pattern analyses, relying solely on one unknown veteran’s advice, I was working the night shift cleaning.

It felt like I had come to an absurd place to work part-time without any information.

I’m really…

Muffled footsteps.

“Doe, be careful.”

“…!”

I quickly stepped aside.

Someone was walking toward us from the end of the gray isolation corridor…

Muffled footsteps.

Someone dressed in black facility staff attire.

He lowered his head slightly when he noticed us.

And….

“Oh. You must be the ones cleaning today.”

He spoke in an ordinary tone. Phew.

As Chief Park Min-seong and I nodded, the staff member quickly added in a slightly embarrassed tone,

“I’m on night patrol today… Sometimes, I think the cleaners get surprised.”

Oh.

———

7. Occasionally, you might encounter a patrol member during night duty, and if you offer them a bottle of water, they’d appreciate it.

If you have it, give it to them. It’s not a good choice to ruin the atmosphere between colleagues working at night.

———

“Hello. Would you like a bottle of water?”

“Oh, thank you very much.”

I handed a bottle of water I’d received to the patrol member with a nod from Chief Park Min-seong, and the member gulped it down right there.

“See you again then.”

And with the bottle still in their mouth, they headed back through the isolation corridor toward the rental warehouse…

But hold on.

There’s no position like ‘patrol member’ in this company’s security team.

Remember. Don’t say unnecessary things.

———

“My throat is so dry…”

In the distance, I could see a scrunched-up nameplate reading ‘■■ Research Institute’…

Muffled footsteps… gulp.

The sounds of footsteps and swallowing vanished the moment I turned the corner of the hallway.

“……”

Sigh.

‘It truly feels like stepping into a horror movie.’

Splash.

I resumed mopping.

Trying to chat with Brown and make small talk with Chief Park Min-seong, I made an effort to ignore whatever noises came from the isolation rooms as best as I could.

Finally, we nearly finished cleaning the corridor.

‘Phew.’

Chief and I exchanged relieved smiles.

“Shall we wrap things up and head out?”

“Shall we? We’ve finished rather quickly… Ah, that’s right.”

Chief Park Min-seong suddenly jolted upright, rummaging through his pocket and pulling out another note.

“This is a tip for after midnight. They said it might confuse you, so read it after the work period starts and some time has passed.”

“Ah, thank you.”

What on earth is about to happen…

‘I’m just glad we’re leaving soon…!’

I internally screamed and cried silently as I swiftly read the new tip.

But….

———

11. Ah… It’s time to talk about this. It’s probably been about three hours since we started cleaning. Right?

…From then on, the sound of a crazy person shouting from Isolation B14 will slowly begin to be heard.

———

…Wait.

“Chief, it’s… 3 AM, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. It sounds about right…”

Is anyone there?

“…….”

“…….”

Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Is anyone there?

Both of us turned our heads.

[Isolation Room B14]

Would you like me to tell you how to get out of here? Would you like me to tell you how to survive? Would you like me to tell you how to bring the dead back to life? Would you like me to reveal the secrets of this company? I’ll just tell you, come closer—just a little closer, and I’ll unveil the truth of the world

I want to run away.

I desperately want to throw open the door and dash out of the rental warehouse.

I’d leave a ‘I’m quitting today’ note for the security team leader and shove all the remaining Nostalgia candies at Chief Park Min-seong before fleeing and never looking back…

But since I can’t do that, I might as well read the tips…

———

“Name? Anyway, it’s something bizarre shouting about how to achieve happiness; giving it a curse should quiet it down.

If you don’t feel like cursing, just telling it to get lost should suffice.

Really, I hate this.

But to tell it to get lost, I opened my mouth…

“……”

Wait.

“Doe?”

“Hold on a minute.”

I pulled out the note I had received earlier.

It clearly said….

———

4. No, I’ll emphasize again: Ignore the sounds coming from the isolation room. Don’t respond.

———

“……”

Rule number 4 and 11 were contradictory.

‘Which one do I follow?’

It’s common for contradictory items to appear in these kinds of work-rule horror tales, but this is… Usually, it doesn’t come down to one being absolutely correct.

Could time have passed and the tips changed? Or is this second page simply incorrect? Or…

“Doe.”

“…!”

Chief Park Min-seong pushed me back.

“What’s wrong?”