Completed
973
views
0
likes
Back
Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work — Part 3
Secretiv_Sorceress · saltgoblin & I_Love_Kim_Soleum
Ongoing
Horror
4.9
72 chapters
98 views
A pop-up event for some 'modern fantasy' media I loved so much that I even took a precious day off work to attend. On that day, I ended up transmigrating as a character in that very fantasy world. As none other than a newly hired employee at a famous large corporation! A dream job with great benefits, an excellent salary, and even kind and... Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still gotta Work. Part 3.
Keep listening
More like this
Completed
Completed
279
views
0
likes
Got Dropped in a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work — Part 2
Ongoing
179
views
0
likes
Dropped into Murim with an Instant Kill Skill
Ongoing
25
views
0
likes
I'm an Infinite Regressor, But I've Got Stories to Tell
Audio chapters (36) · 31–36
31
Chapter 402
In a dark warehouse, Kim Soleum discovers eleven mutated workers whose bodies have been grotesquely transformed into human instruments with bone-like arms and flattened skulls. Among the mutations, Kim finds one unmutated worker who is bound and weeping. Kim offers a cryptic note promising to "look for a way" to save them, but flees to avoid immediate detection. While escaping, Kim is cornered by a Security Team member who reveals herself to be Lee Seonghae (Assistant Manager Dolphin). Lee Seonghae acts unusually cheerful and casual, suggesting Kim save the worker as a labor charge, before returning to her nameless, uniformed state. That evening, Kim informs Baek Saheon and Jin Nasol about seeing Lee Seonghae. Baek Saheon reacts with disbelief and anger, revealing that Lee Seonghae was officially declared dead over a year ago after vanishing during a Darkness event. An analysis of the CCTV footage shows the Security Team member's face was perfectly obscured by the camera angle, suggesting intentionality. The group argues over the implications, with Jin Nasol dismissing the matter as a distraction from their immediate goal. The tension is broken when Baek Saheon receives an email: access to the operating system has been granted. The "worker cleanup"—the disposal of the workers—is scheduled for the following day, marking the end of their wait.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:51
Chapter 402
In a dark warehouse, Kim Soleum discovers eleven mutated workers whose bodies have been grotesquely transformed into human instruments with bone-like arms and flattened skulls. Among the mutations, Kim finds one unmutated worker who is bound and weeping. Kim offers a cryptic note promising to "look for a way" to save them, but flees to avoid immediate detection. While escaping, Kim is cornered by a Security Team member who reveals herself to be Lee Seonghae (Assistant Manager Dolphin). Lee Seonghae acts unusually cheerful and casual, suggesting Kim save the worker as a labor charge, before returning to her nameless, uniformed state. That evening, Kim informs Baek Saheon and Jin Nasol about seeing Lee Seonghae. Baek Saheon reacts with disbelief and anger, revealing that Lee Seonghae was officially declared dead over a year ago after vanishing during a Darkness event. An analysis of the CCTV footage shows the Security Team member's face was perfectly obscured by the camera angle, suggesting intentionality. The group argues over the implications, with Jin Nasol dismissing the matter as a distraction from their immediate goal. The tension is broken when Baek Saheon receives an email: access to the operating system has been granted. The "worker cleanup"—the disposal of the workers—is scheduled for the following day, marking the end of their wait.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:51
32
Chapter 403
Waking from sedatives, Kim Soleum finds himself and Assistant Manager Jin Nasol being transported in a mine cart through the Darkness. They arrive at an automated processing facility that functions like a surreal, toy-like slaughterhouse. Kim realizes the true nature of the labor contract: workers aren't meant to finish their terms; they are processed monthly to be recycled.
After jumping off the conveyor belt to avoid being 'fixed' in place by mechanical nails, Kim and Jin Nasol navigate the factory floor. They witness the 'Standardization' process where workers are nailed into boxes, and the 'Sticker Removal' process. Kim uses liquid scavenged from a corpse's container to dissolve the adhesive on his neck sticker. While exploring, Kim sees a mirror and perceives a brief, ghostly reflection of a Security Team member, possibly Lee Seonghae, suggesting a connection to the branch's surveillance or past.
They witness the 'Raw Material Verification' stage, where workers are dissolved into orange liquid within their plastic boxes. At the end of the line, the 'Recycling' machine processes these materials and outputs brand-new, sleeping workers with 'Expiration Date' stickers. Kim realizes that 'recycling resources' means literally grinding up dead workers to create new ones. He discovers Jin Nasol has been cycled through this process every month. Upon removing his own sticker, Kim finds a physical port on his neck, and the red fluid of a recycled being begins to leak from it.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:06
Chapter 403
Waking from sedatives, Kim Soleum finds himself and Assistant Manager Jin Nasol being transported in a mine cart through the Darkness. They arrive at an automated processing facility that functions like a surreal, toy-like slaughterhouse. Kim realizes the true nature of the labor contract: workers aren't meant to finish their terms; they are processed monthly to be recycled.
After jumping off the conveyor belt to avoid being 'fixed' in place by mechanical nails, Kim and Jin Nasol navigate the factory floor. They witness the 'Standardization' process where workers are nailed into boxes, and the 'Sticker Removal' process. Kim uses liquid scavenged from a corpse's container to dissolve the adhesive on his neck sticker. While exploring, Kim sees a mirror and perceives a brief, ghostly reflection of a Security Team member, possibly Lee Seonghae, suggesting a connection to the branch's surveillance or past.
They witness the 'Raw Material Verification' stage, where workers are dissolved into orange liquid within their plastic boxes. At the end of the line, the 'Recycling' machine processes these materials and outputs brand-new, sleeping workers with 'Expiration Date' stickers. Kim realizes that 'recycling resources' means literally grinding up dead workers to create new ones. He discovers Jin Nasol has been cycled through this process every month. Upon removing his own sticker, Kim finds a physical port on his neck, and the red fluid of a recycled being begins to leak from it.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:06
33
Chapter 404
Kim Soleum discovers a hole in his neck leaking crimson liquid, realizing he is being treated as 'raw material' for recycling. Alongside Assistant Manager Jin Nasol, who is also losing her adhesive sticker, they realize they are being processed into new bodies. Kim Soleum deduces they are being 'recycled' rather than 'reproduced' based on the machine's terminology, meaning their identities are being repurposed. He maintains composure, arguing that their sense of self remains intact despite the 30-day cycle. They reach a control panel behind the machine, which has been retrofitted with a modern lock by the branch office. While attempting to examine it, a cleaning module descends and sprays a liquid that begins melting Jin Nasol’s skin. Kim Soleum manages to bypass the cover using a card key and hits an emergency stop. To survive, he decides to engage the recycling process himself. He selects 'Basic Recycling' on the machine's interface, which repairs discarded items. He places his own body and Jin Nasol's melted remains into the machine. The process involves a raw material injection that feels like being filled like a balloon. He emerges from the belt neatly packaged in a new body with a fresh sticker. When Baek Saheon arrives to rescue them, Kim Soleum reveals the grim reality: they are now recycled beings with a 100-day lifespan and cannot leave without dying. Instead of retreating, Kim Soleum decides to gamble on the facility's nature as a pilot branch. He plans to use the next week to produce 'unbelievable results' to secure a promotion to a regular employee and take control of the situation.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
17:19
Chapter 404
Kim Soleum discovers a hole in his neck leaking crimson liquid, realizing he is being treated as 'raw material' for recycling. Alongside Assistant Manager Jin Nasol, who is also losing her adhesive sticker, they realize they are being processed into new bodies. Kim Soleum deduces they are being 'recycled' rather than 'reproduced' based on the machine's terminology, meaning their identities are being repurposed. He maintains composure, arguing that their sense of self remains intact despite the 30-day cycle. They reach a control panel behind the machine, which has been retrofitted with a modern lock by the branch office. While attempting to examine it, a cleaning module descends and sprays a liquid that begins melting Jin Nasol’s skin. Kim Soleum manages to bypass the cover using a card key and hits an emergency stop. To survive, he decides to engage the recycling process himself. He selects 'Basic Recycling' on the machine's interface, which repairs discarded items. He places his own body and Jin Nasol's melted remains into the machine. The process involves a raw material injection that feels like being filled like a balloon. He emerges from the belt neatly packaged in a new body with a fresh sticker. When Baek Saheon arrives to rescue them, Kim Soleum reveals the grim reality: they are now recycled beings with a 100-day lifespan and cannot leave without dying. Instead of retreating, Kim Soleum decides to gamble on the facility's nature as a pilot branch. He plans to use the next week to produce 'unbelievable results' to secure a promotion to a regular employee and take control of the situation.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
17:19
34
Chapter 405
In the Namhae Branch, a large group of workers awakens in a waiting area, confused by their sudden presence and work attire. A newly appointed researcher arrives and announces they will be working for a daily wage of one million won in cash. This promise quells the workers' initial outrage. The researcher explains that the work is a combination of drug clinical trials and odd jobs, requiring a 100-day live-in arrangement for confidentiality. Kim Soleum, using a pseudonym, signs an employment document and is assigned temporary number 99. During the process, Kim Soleum encounters a former bully from a previous cycle, but the individual avoids eye contact. Kim Soleum realizes the current situation mirrors a past timeline, suggesting a temporal regression. The researcher announces that work assignments and accommodations (ranging from luxury hotels to dirt-walled rooms) will be determined by performance in the first operation. Kim Soleum decides to approach the first mission with a strategy to prove their value and avoid being treated as a consumable. The workers are transported via mine carts to a containment zone. Kim Soleum encounters Jin Nasol, but they both decide to operate independently to avoid suspicion. The group enters a Darkness identified as the "Fear Cleaner" (C-Grade), where workers must clean a building while following specific rules: do not leave, do not damage property, and do not disturb residents. Kim Soleum identifies the ghost story immediately and prepares by grabbing a mop and advertisement stickers, knowing they provide bonus points. Upon entering the cleaning area, Kim Soleum discovers that the "resort facility" to be cleaned is actually the Flower Golden Resort, a location Kim Soleum recognizes from prior experience.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:23
Chapter 405
In the Namhae Branch, a large group of workers awakens in a waiting area, confused by their sudden presence and work attire. A newly appointed researcher arrives and announces they will be working for a daily wage of one million won in cash. This promise quells the workers' initial outrage. The researcher explains that the work is a combination of drug clinical trials and odd jobs, requiring a 100-day live-in arrangement for confidentiality. Kim Soleum, using a pseudonym, signs an employment document and is assigned temporary number 99. During the process, Kim Soleum encounters a former bully from a previous cycle, but the individual avoids eye contact. Kim Soleum realizes the current situation mirrors a past timeline, suggesting a temporal regression. The researcher announces that work assignments and accommodations (ranging from luxury hotels to dirt-walled rooms) will be determined by performance in the first operation. Kim Soleum decides to approach the first mission with a strategy to prove their value and avoid being treated as a consumable. The workers are transported via mine carts to a containment zone. Kim Soleum encounters Jin Nasol, but they both decide to operate independently to avoid suspicion. The group enters a Darkness identified as the "Fear Cleaner" (C-Grade), where workers must clean a building while following specific rules: do not leave, do not damage property, and do not disturb residents. Kim Soleum identifies the ghost story immediately and prepares by grabbing a mop and advertisement stickers, knowing they provide bonus points. Upon entering the cleaning area, Kim Soleum discovers that the "resort facility" to be cleaned is actually the Flower Golden Resort, a location Kim Soleum recognizes from prior experience.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
15:23
35
Chapter 406
Kim Soleum enters the Flower Golden Resort, a luxurious multi-purpose building, realizing he is inside a ghost story. The lobby is quiet and empty, despite a notice posted stating access to the first floor is restricted due to professional cleaning. While mopping the lobby, Soleum witnesses a group of cleaners stealing items from the reception; he manages to manipulate them into returning a silver fountain pen by claiming the items might be fake. The cleaners eventually accept Soleum as part of their group. As Soleum mops, he notices his cleaning tools exhibit game-like efficiency, leaving a reflective sheen on the floor. He discovers a new tool, a cloth, after interacting with a closet. To avoid the cleaners' interference, Soleum directs them to a service elevator, leading them to the 3rd floor—the guest rooms—while he pretends to clean the hallway. While working, Soleum experiences an unsettling lack of connection to the resort, which he previously felt a deep bond with. He spots a figure waving from a gap in door 306, appearing as a woman in a blue jacket with a sword, whom he identifies as Agent Haegeum, but she slams the door before he can approach. He is then startled by the Golden Flower Mascot, which is wearing a formal resort uniform. Upon speaking to the mascot, Soleum discovers a speaker inside its mouth. The entity inside the mascot, speaking with a distinctive, arrogant, and old-fashioned dialect, identifies itself as the Manager. The entity informs Soleum that his employment contract ended 27 hours ago and refuses to leave, stating it is taking over the resort.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:16
Chapter 406
Kim Soleum enters the Flower Golden Resort, a luxurious multi-purpose building, realizing he is inside a ghost story. The lobby is quiet and empty, despite a notice posted stating access to the first floor is restricted due to professional cleaning. While mopping the lobby, Soleum witnesses a group of cleaners stealing items from the reception; he manages to manipulate them into returning a silver fountain pen by claiming the items might be fake. The cleaners eventually accept Soleum as part of their group. As Soleum mops, he notices his cleaning tools exhibit game-like efficiency, leaving a reflective sheen on the floor. He discovers a new tool, a cloth, after interacting with a closet. To avoid the cleaners' interference, Soleum directs them to a service elevator, leading them to the 3rd floor—the guest rooms—while he pretends to clean the hallway. While working, Soleum experiences an unsettling lack of connection to the resort, which he previously felt a deep bond with. He spots a figure waving from a gap in door 306, appearing as a woman in a blue jacket with a sword, whom he identifies as Agent Haegeum, but she slams the door before he can approach. He is then startled by the Golden Flower Mascot, which is wearing a formal resort uniform. Upon speaking to the mascot, Soleum discovers a speaker inside its mouth. The entity inside the mascot, speaking with a distinctive, arrogant, and old-fashioned dialect, identifies itself as the Manager. The entity informs Soleum that his employment contract ended 27 hours ago and refuses to leave, stating it is taking over the resort.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:16
36
Chapter 407
The Golden Mascot, acting as the new manager, informs the protagonist that his contract has ended and he must clean the resort before leaving. The manager denies any connection between the janitor's personal belongings and the resort, intent on seizing the property. The protagonist realizes the resort's 'ghost story' is becoming distorted and suspects the manager has done something to the employees and mascots. Leveraging his current role as 'cleaning personnel,' the protagonist uses his access to investigate the staff area. He discovers the employees in the B1 warehouse, sitting in a standby state. He realizes that because he had signed the original employment contracts directly with 'Golden' (the mascot entity) rather than the resort, the new manager cannot legally command them. The protagonist successfully manipulates an employee into accompanying him to Room 306 under the guise of housekeeping to check on a guest. Upon entering the room, he finds it empty of guests but discovers a diary belonging to Agent Haegeum. The diary reveals that she visited monthly to write letters to him, mentions that she was keeping an 'eggshell' (related to the protagonist's restoration), and notes that the eggshell was eventually stolen. Most alarmingly, her final entries describe a resort abnormality where checked-out civilians are disappearing and mentions something occurring 'before the elevator.' The protagonist realizes the manager's new 'signature event'—a dinner show featuring 'sentient ingredients'—implies he plans to use humans as food. Determined, the protagonist vows to take back the resort.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:33
Chapter 407
The Golden Mascot, acting as the new manager, informs the protagonist that his contract has ended and he must clean the resort before leaving. The manager denies any connection between the janitor's personal belongings and the resort, intent on seizing the property. The protagonist realizes the resort's 'ghost story' is becoming distorted and suspects the manager has done something to the employees and mascots. Leveraging his current role as 'cleaning personnel,' the protagonist uses his access to investigate the staff area. He discovers the employees in the B1 warehouse, sitting in a standby state. He realizes that because he had signed the original employment contracts directly with 'Golden' (the mascot entity) rather than the resort, the new manager cannot legally command them. The protagonist successfully manipulates an employee into accompanying him to Room 306 under the guise of housekeeping to check on a guest. Upon entering the room, he finds it empty of guests but discovers a diary belonging to Agent Haegeum. The diary reveals that she visited monthly to write letters to him, mentions that she was keeping an 'eggshell' (related to the protagonist's restoration), and notes that the eggshell was eventually stolen. Most alarmingly, her final entries describe a resort abnormality where checked-out civilians are disappearing and mentions something occurring 'before the elevator.' The protagonist realizes the manager's new 'signature event'—a dinner show featuring 'sentient ingredients'—implies he plans to use humans as food. Determined, the protagonist vows to take back the resort.
Guest access includes first 4 of 36 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
16:33
Novel discussion
Comments
Discuss the story without chapter-specific spoilers.
Sign in to join discussion.