Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work

trigger warning: self harm

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The thing that had once been Supervisor Park, still speaking kindly and gently as if it were second nature, replied,

“Then should I ask the other teachers to help move it?”

“It’s just one briefcase. If you wouldn’t mind, could you accompany me to the entrance for a moment? …Supervisor Badger specifically requested it.”

Supervisor Park froze.

Perhaps.

“…Supervisor Badger?”

……

His mouth opened.

“That…”

……!

But then, in the next moment.

“Sure! Let’s go to the entrance together.”

The kind, cheerful teacher’s voice returned.

“Teacher Soleum?”

“Yes, I’d appreciate it if you could accompany me to the entrance. Quietly, so we don’t disturb anyone.”

“Sounds good!”

I turned and began walking out of the playroom.

Right behind me followed the fully ‘contaminated’ Supervisor Park, now a teacher.

‘Hah.’

Slowly, I moved forward.

Step. Step.

Right behind me, I could hear the sound of soft slippers—not the hard click of dress shoes—quietly trailing me.

Step. Step.

“Oh, let me help you carry the briefcase.”

“It

Before I could finish saying it was fine—

The teacher’s hand grabbed half of the briefcase I was holding.

The Perfect Teacher’s Handbook in his hand brushed against mine.

Step. Step.

I’m fine.

The sharp, piercing sound that messes with my mind isn’t there. Neither is the overwhelming terror or fear that makes me want to lose my mind.

I can do this.

The entrance isn’t far now.

All I have to do is walk.

But at the same time, a thought crosses my mind.

Is sneaking out to the entrance like this the right thing to do?

Motherfucker.

Look at me cursing. Maybe it’s because I’ve never read the handbook, but somehow it feels… a little embarrassing.

Maybe reading the handbook isn’t a punishment at all. Perhaps it’s an opportunity disguised as a penalty, a chance to learn?

Crazy…

Wait. Let’s not just dismiss this as contamination. Let’s consider it seriously.

This is a great workplace. Preparing for a perfect opening with polite and compliant colleagues is the ultimate joy.

I have the potential to become a perfect teacher.

■■ Kindergarten has shown me that!

No.

Absolutely not.

I scoffed at myself. Don’t I know that even getting caught in a lie results in punishment? I should just give up on the entrance efficiently.

That’s the logical thing to do.

I should voluntarily start reading the handbook here. I could even ask Teacher Park Minseong to join me.

No.

If I just borrow the handb

No.

Stop entertaining other thoughts.

But if I think about it a little more, I’ll start to believe this isn’t such a bad idea

It is not!

Focus on moving forward.

One step at a time, the entrance grows closer.

Step, step.

I’ve made it.

The entrance!

Instead of the dirty, cluttered entrance I first walked through, it now looks pristine, clean enough to make me hesitate about leaving.

“So, we just have to throw this bag, right?”

I grabbed the briefcase, and in the motion, the handbook that had been brushing against my hand slipped and fell.

“Shall we throw it together?”

Please.

“Yes, that sounds good.”

It has to work.

“Hold onto this part for me…”

Finally, I turned my head.

Standing in my view was Supervisor Park Minseong, smiling with the face of a ‘teacher’.

He reached out his upper body and hands, just as I had instructed, ready to grab the briefcase.

Now.

I grabbed Supervisor Park’s head without hesitation.

And I shoved it roughly into my forearm.

It’s working.

The subspace connected to my tattoo on my wrist has the volume of a 60 cm cube per side.

But it isn’t a literal cube. It’s a malleable, irregular subspace.

So, when converted into other measurements…

It can easily fit the body of an adult man.

I fixed my gaze upward.

Crack, crack.

The humanoid body resisted as I pushed it into the tattoo, its joints feeling like they were breaking apart.

I made sure to start with the head on purpose.

Talking to him would’ve definitely affected me, making the contamination worse.

I kept pressing down with one hand. The subspace within the tattoo swallowed it without resistance—ah! The handbook touched it! No, I’ll keep that separate, there’s no way I’ll let it go in.

Finally, I crammed in the last of his legs…

Snap!

Something suddenly grabbed my left forearm.

Fingers gripping tightly with unnatural strength, pale as death.

It was Supervisor Park’s right hand.

“Ugh!”

Damn it!

I tried to pry off his fingers one by one, but it wasn’t working.

I can’t injure a teacher.

I had no idea how this Darkness would react if I did.

Stay calm…!

I took out the blood-sucking knife and drove it into my own arm.

The fingers tore away, taking chunks of flesh from my forearm. It was pain that should’ve made me scream like crazy, but adrenaline and sheer tension kept me silent.

As I shoved the last of his fingers into the tattoo, I hurried toward the entrance.

Step.

The final step.

I lifted my head.

The bright blue sky of daylight greeted me.

Behind me, only the decrepit, abandoned building of a private kindergarten remained.

The sunlight glimmered over the wild grass in the outskirts of Seoul.

Clear.

I lowered my head.

There lay Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s body, missing a hand, collapsed on the ground.

None of the other company staff were around—they must’ve already left…

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my smartphone.

Following protocol, I pressed a button.

As if to confirm I was back in reality, the signal connected, and someone answered the call.

“This, is the Security Team’s storage… correct?”

With my dry mouth, I barely managed to speak the rehearsed line.

“I need equipment to contain contamination…”

Because.

“I’ve rescued a contaminated employee.”

……

……

Done.

And then, I passed out.