“They’re not for eating, unfortunately.”
I politely folded my hands under the table to hide the trembling.
“And it seems like we have similar tastes. Texture really is important.”
“Oh~ Comrade!”
The ghost mimicking Dolphin beamed.
“Supervisor Roe Deer doesn’t seem like a ghost. Talking so normally about food and all.”
Wow.
‘I can’t keep this up.’
If I stayed in this conversation any longer, there’d definitely come a moment I’d scream.
– Oh dear, Supervisor Roe Deer seems particularly sensitive to the uncanny valley effect! Such reactions are appreciated in an audience, though unfortunate in this situation…
– But worry not. Isn’t having this Braun by your side the greatest comfort? Your friend is right here!
…Wait.
That’s right.
‘What Braun said is right.’
– A great host always adapts to the situation!
Exactly. What I was experiencing now was a situation where fear had been heightened to the extreme by the uncanny valley effect.
‘Fear when something looks human but isn’t.’
In this ordinary break room, watching coworkers casually display grotesque, inhuman behaviors was deeply unsettling.
And being the only human amplified the sheer terror.
‘If that’s the case…’
I glanced to the side.
The lizard was casually eating a sandwich snack with the wrapper still on.
Not particularly less scary!
Even if he suddenly flicks his tongue, walks backward with a grin, or gets up and starts shaking his head while crazily dancing yet casually chatting—it’s all the same.
Because he was already terrifying!
Because he already looked like a lizard!
There’s no longer any uncanny valley to feel.
‘I’m sticking with the section chief no matter what.’
Finally, a solution appeared.
Suppressing my cold sweat, I turned my chair naturally toward Chief Lizard, as if I had an urgent question to ask.
“Section Chief Lee Jaheon.”
And I did genuinely have something I wanted to ask.
According to the <Dark Exploration Records>, in this ghost story, ‘Ghosts are identical to their companions in appearance, personality, and character.’
This means that if you ask something natural and unpressured, there’s a high chance the answer will mirror that of the ‘original’.
Unless they suddenly start acting ghostly, of course.
‘This might even make it easier to ask.’
Since it wasn’t really them.
I pulled my chair closer as if I wanted to have an open and honest conversation with a squadmate.
I aimed to create an atmosphere that discouraged the other ghosts from interrupting, and it seemed to work.
Then I asked,
“We don’t usually have time to chat during work. Would it be alright if I asked you a few things now?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I was wondering… how did you become so strong, Section Chief?”
“Right.”
Thankfully, Lee Jaheon didn’t seem annoyed.
“It’s the result of a combination of innate factors and acquired learning.”
The perfect, universal answer for any question!
It felt like asking the top student how they aced their exams, only to hear, ‘I studied hard with my good brain.’
‘I want to hear more details, though.’
With anyone else, this might be a brush-off, but with Chief Lizard, it’s hard to tell.
I decided to play along and smiled sheepishly before responding.
“I see. I asked because I’d like to improve my strength too—without relying on items or contamination.”
“Follow a protein-based diet and combine aerobic and anaerobic exercise.”
“…Will doing that make me as strong as you?”
“No.”
Excuse me, I can already muster strength proportional to my physique.
I almost gave my superior a look of incredulity.
“…If you have any other advice for me, I’d love to hear it.”
“Yes. Supervisor Roe Deer, you have other strengths. Focus on developing those.”
The lizard spoke dryly.
“No individual excels in all areas. Don’t waste resources on inefficient or unnecessary things. Use others to your advantage.”
…Wait a second.
“Are you saying that when strength is needed, I should rely on you for that role, and instead focus on honing my own strengths?”
“Yes.”
The lizard nodded.
“Your strengths lie in creativity and decision-making, Mr. Roe Deer.”
“…Thank you.”
Well.
‘Should I consider this high praise?’
It’s definitely better than being told to handle everything on my own. I’m grateful, of course.
‘Still, it feels like a missed opportunity.’
I debated for a moment, then decided to dig a little deeper.
“However, we do occasionally enter Darknesses alone. Strength is a universal and effective means, so I feel I might need it for situations like that.”
“I see.”
The lizard stared into the void for a moment, as if in deep thought, before giving a confirming nod.
“I’ll introduce you to an item.”
Jackpot!
“Does it enhance strength?”
“Something similar. Use it as a parent item when crafting a new special equipment.”
“……! Thank you.”
I’d been meaning to enhance or expand my dedicated equipment anyway.
‘At least I gained something from this.’
Even amidst a ghost story full of ghosts, while sweating bullets, I managed to obtain something… wait.
Come to think of it, the lizard sitting in front of me isn’t even the real Lee Jaheon—it’s a ghost.
‘Can I really trust this promise?’
I panicked for a moment but recalled the manual.
People who were replaced by ghosts retain indirect memories of what occurred within the enclosed space.
Given Lee Jaheon’s personality, he was highly likely to keep the promise.
‘That’s settled.’
Phew.
Accomplishing something gave me a sense of achievement, even if I had to endure terror.
‘Let’s use this sense of accomplishment to push through the fear…’
Pretending to stretch, I avoided looking at the two C-squad ghosts who were now doing handstands and grinning eerily at me.
At this point, I didn’t care who among them introduced me to the Salmon Market.
‘Empty your mind…’
I kept making small talk with the lizard, avoiding direct interactions with the ghosts.
The ghost posing as Chief Lizard couldn’t get up to anything mischievous because I kept bombarding him with questions, forcing him to respond endlessly.
‘I learned a profound fact—that the section chief prefers beef over pork…’
– Friend, this seems less like an interview and more like a tedious amateur biography investigation…
I know, Braun-ah, but what choice do I have…?
When even that small talk ran dry, I pretended to doze off, playing word games with Braun, who was in my pocket, to pass the time.
No matter what nonsense echoed in my ears, I stuck to one response: ‘Sorry… I’m too tired. Let’s continue this conversation after we’re out.’
‘It’s 3 a.m. Please, let this end.’
I felt like I was drowning in cold sweat, but no emergency occurred.
Clutching Braun in my pocket, I survived the harrowing hours that felt like an eternity.
Click.
Finally, the pantry door opened.
I had endured the entire night alone.
“…Done.”
I made it, dammit!
I wanted to stand up and punch the air in triumph despite my foggy mind.
‘I can feel tears in my eyes.’
It was the first time I had endured ghostly horror this raw and alone, without cutting corners.
It felt like I had overcome a personal limit.
‘I should give myself a pat on the back…’
I wobbled as I stood.
No one knew how much of a struggle even a D-class challenge was for me, and that was a relief…
“Mr. Roe Deer.”
H-Huh…?
Turning my head, I saw the lizard calmly standing there, wide awake.
He looked fine, as if he had never stayed up all ni… Wait.
He’s awake?
“S-Section Chief?”
“There’s no need to wait for the members of C-squad to wake up. You may clock out.”
I stared at the lizard, perfectly upright, and then turned to look at the sprawled, sleeping C-squad members.
No way.
“You weren’t… a ghost last night?”
“I was not.”
“…You were clapping with the backs of your hands though?!”
“?”
The lizard tilted his head, then seemed to realize something and replied,
“I thought it was a popular trend.”
Ah.
Ahhhhh!