Got Dropped in a Ghost Story Chapter 11

The circumstances matched.

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

The disaster began with a Dusk (D) Class Darkness themed after a 1970s American talk show.

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

[Good evening, viewers! The joy of Tuesday! The heat of Tuesday!]

[You are now watching—the Tuesday Quiz Show!]

The live broadcast began.

As the house band played a lively tune, the host in a suit waved enthusiastically at the cheering audience.

It looked like a typical American talk show.

Except that every staff member’s face was blurred beyond recognition—

and instead of a human head, the host had an old-fashioned television set.

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

The host explained that the talk show featured a different theme for each day of the week.

However, there were no recorded cases of anyone entering the show on any other day.

Only the ■day talk show could be accessed.

====================== [Have you all been looking forward to Tuesday? So have I! After all, Tuesday is the only day we get to meet our lovely new quiz-show contestants!]

“…”

It matched.

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

Beginning with Exploration #12, the Field Exploration Team entered ■day’s talk show with a complete archive of previous answers for its main segment, the “Quiz.”

From Exploration #12 through #110, all 99 explorations were completed without casualties.

(Prizes included.)

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

[Amazingly enough… we haven’t had a single contestant give a wrong answer in the past several dozen weeks! Incredible. Simply incredible….]

It matched.

It all matched.

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

However, during the 111th session—

the 100th exploration—

an anomaly occurred.

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

[Will our contestants get every answer right this time too?]

Ba-bam-bam-ba-bam!

A dramatic sound effect played as spotlights swept across the stage.

Seven podiums had been arranged in a semicircle.

The lights stopped on three of them.

Mine.

Supervisor Park’s.

And Assistant Manager Eun’s.

[Mr. Badger, Ms. Falcon, and Mr. Roe Deer!]

[Give them a huge round of applause!]

Ooooooh!

The unseen audience erupted into applause.

I felt like I was about to faint.

Could it be?

Could this seriously be—

[Breaking news!]

“…!”

The host suddenly made a huge fuss as one of the staff members handed him something.

[It’s been quite a while since every contestant answered correctly, hasn’t it? The current streak has lasted…]

A staggering—

[98 sessions!]

“…!”

[Which makes this the 99th! Haha!]

I was saved.

It’s not the 100th…!

My heart nearly burst out of my chest.

Right. The odds of us landing on exactly the 100th exploration were low to begin with.

I almost slumped against the podium in relief, but stopped myself.

The PDF containing the Tuesday Quiz Show answers had made one rule very clear.

– If you interfere with the broadcast, you will be incinerated.

Not punished.

Not penalized.

Incinerated.

And this was a live broadcast.

In other words—

if I did anything strange, I died.

[Will our 99th group of contestants continue this incredible winning streak and pass the baton to the 100th?]

[Or will this glorious record finally come to an end?]

[Stay tuned and find out!]

I glanced to the side.

Assistant Manager Eun and Supervisor Park stood at their own podiums.

One gave me a small nod.

The other smiled faintly.

Neither of them looked particularly worried.

There had been 99 successful explorations.

Nearly three years of accumulated safety.

A well-established pattern.

To them, there was no reason to believe today would be any different.

Deep breath.

It’s fine.

…It’ll be fine.

I slowly inhaled.

Then exhaled.

[Now then, Mr. Roe Deer!]

“Yes.”

[Are you nervous?]

“Yes. This is my first time participating in a quiz show like this.”

[Ah, wonderful! Very good! Then let’s start with an easy one!]

Strange characters appeared across the television screen that served as the host’s head.

I had never seen that ominous script before.

And yet—

I could read it.

A sudden wave of nausea and a sharp headache hit me.

Then both disappeared almost immediately.

[Question: Which of the following is not a component of the human body?]

1 – Water

2 – Iron

3 – Oil

4 – Earth

“…Number 4. Earth.”

[Correct!]

The quiz continued smoothly.

The subject matter is a little disturbing, but the questions themselves aren’t impossibly difficult.

More importantly, the Field Exploration Team’s collection of previous questions was extremely useful.

The questions weren’t exactly the same.

But they followed similar patterns, making the answers much easier to work out.

Actually, having to think about each question might make me less likely to slip up.

[Unbelievable! Correct again!]

[Again?!]

[Ahhh, ah… he’s hesitating! He’s torn…. Yes, number three! Roe Deer has chosen strangulation! What will his fate be?? ……Correct! Hooray!]

Everything matched.

The broadcast proceeded without incident.

I deliberately pretended to hesitate before some answers.

Sometimes I stalled for a few seconds.

I did everything I could to play along with the atmosphere of the show.

I have to get through this broadcast somehow.

That thought completely consumed me.

During a commercial break, the host even suggested that I come back and participate again.

Internally, I screamed.

Outwardly, I smiled and pretended to seriously consider it.

Second question.

Third.

Fourth.

Fifth…

Eventually—

I reached the ninth.

[Mr. Roe Deer! This is your final question!]

Finally.

The end of this nightmare was in sight.

[The other contestants have answered every single question correctly and kept the winning streak alive!]

[Will Mr. Roe Deer complete the final link in the chain?]

My seniors looked over from their podiums.

One waved lightly.

Another gave me a small nod.

One more correct answer.

Then it would all be over.

[Are you ready?]

“Yes.”

[Excellent!]

The question appeared.

[Question: What percentage of blood loss causes death in a human?]

1 – 40%

2 – 45%

3 – 50%

4 – 55%

“…”

Was this supposed to be a trap for the final question?

I took a breath.

“The answer is… number 1.”

[Ah! You’ve chosen number 1…]

“And number 2.”

[…!]

“And number 3 and number 4.”

[…]

“All of them.”

The studio went strangely quiet.

“Humans generally enter life-threatening danger after losing around thirty to forty percent of their blood.”

[Oh.]

“So naturally, losing even more than that can also result in death.”

[No, no… Incredible!]

The host’s television screen flickered.

It didn’t seem like answering incorrectly would necessarily kill me.

But I refused to leave even the slightest opening for something to go wrong in a ghost story this dangerous.

I gritted my teeth and stuck with my answer.

[You’re saying there are multiple correct answers?!]

[Are you certain you don’t want to change your response?]

“I’m certain.”

Ooooooh…

Murmurs spread through the audience.

Then—

a faceless staff member suddenly rushed onto the stage.

[…Amazing! We’ve just received some surprising news!]

[Actually, the answer our writers prepared was number 1.]

Wait.

Hold on.

[However! Mr. Roe Deer’s answer is much more impressive!]

[It’s more logical, wouldn’t you agree?]

“Yes!!”

Cheers erupted from the audience.

The host threw both arms wide.

[Then, naturally, we’ll accept it!]

[It’s a perfect answer! Wonderful!]

“…!”

Ha.

I survived.

Somehow.

Why did I have to dig a trap for myself?!

I screamed internally in relief, squeezing my eyes shut before opening them again.

Apparently mistaking my reaction for genuine emotion, the host came over and patted me on the back, almost like he was trying to pull me into a hug.

The fact that his body was warm somehow made the whole thing even more disturbing.

[Incredible! Truly incredible!]

“…Thank you.”

[Now then…]

The host grabbed the microphone and shouted excitedly.

[Unbelievably, every single one of our contestants has preserved their winning streak! Fantastic!]

Pop!

Confetti exploded overhead.

The audience erupted into cheers.

From their podiums, my seniors looked like they were thinking the exact same thing.

Finally, it’s over.

I could practically see it through their masks.

[However! Only one contestant can be named today’s MVP and receive the grand prize!]

[And that contestant is…]

A drum roll echoed through the studio.

The host pointed directly at me.

[Mr. Roe Deer!]

Waaaaah!

The band launched into a loud celebratory tune.

[Congratulations! Please accept your prize!]

“Thank you.”

I accepted the small gift box the host handed me.

I was happy.

But not because of the prize.

It’s finally over.

Once the cameras stopped rolling, we could leave.

Please.

Let’s just go.

The thought of returning to an ordinary office building in twenty-first-century Seoul finally allowed some of the tension to drain from my body.

Then—

[Unfortunately, it’s already time to say goodbye to the Tuesday Quiz Show! Tomorrow, we’ll be joined by even more wonderful guests for Wednesday’s… Hm?]

Click.

Without warning—

four spotlights turned on.

They illuminated the four previously empty podiums.

“…?!”

There were people standing there now.

Four of them.

They looked around in confusion.

Every one of them wore a suit and an animal mask.

Company employees?

They were clearly members of the Field Exploration Team from another squad.

I even recognized one of the masks.

Probably another new hire from my orientation group.

That much made sense.

But—

Why did our explorations overlap?

Could two groups even enter the same ghost story at the same time?

No.

Whether it was supposed to be possible or not wasn’t the important part.

…This is a broadcast accident.

A suffocating silence settled over the studio.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three.

“…”

Something was wrong.

The employee in the zebra mask standing nearby seemed to realize it too.

“W-What is this? Why are there already people—”

[Oh no.]

Flames erupted.

“…!”

The zebra-masked employee was swallowed by fire.

There wasn’t even time for a proper scream.

His mouth was still hanging open in confusion when his body collapsed as though it had never been there.

Only a small pile of ash remained—

still shaped around where their shoes had been.

The camera hurriedly swung away.

[…Surprise!]

[That was a special sneak peek at the contestants who’ll be joining us next Tuesday!]

The band abruptly launched into a loud flourish, desperately trying to cover up what had just happened.

[That was a special preview of next Tuesday’s contestants!]

The band immediately launched into a loud tune, as though trying to drown out what had just happened.

At the same time, the camera swung toward me.

“…!”

Damn it.

Damn it, damn it!

I desperately waved the gift box in my hands, pretending to be thrilled.

Pop!

Confetti burst into the air again.

The drums thundered, and the host urged the audience to cheer even louder.

[We’ll be back tomorrow with an even more exciting show!]

[Until then… have a good night!]

Bam!

A cheerful guitar riff played.

Then the camera lights went dark.

“…”

It was over.

It…

It was over, right?

Then why were we still here?

[Phew! That was a close one. We nearly ruined the live broadcast! I’m glad we managed to handle everything smoothly.]

The cameras were definitely off.

Faceless staff members rushed onto the stage, and the lights over the audience seats went out.

The band disappeared.

Behind the set, cold steel beams and a backstage area filled with noise and murmuring were revealed.

But—

we were still here.

A chill slowly crept up my spine.

[Mr. Roe Deer! That was some excellent thinking. Would you perhaps be interested in becoming a regular panelist?]

“…I already have a job.”

[Oh, what a shame! Well, applications for our talk show are always open, so feel free to apply anytime!]

Why was this ghost story still going?

The reason soon became obvious.

Our considerate host had decided to keep the contestants around and kindly explain exactly why this had happened.

[Ah! And to our new participants!]

[You must have been shocked when you thought you’d ruined the broadcast. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, so don’t be too hard on yourselves!]

[And don’t worry! We’ll give you another chance too!]

The host greeted the employees who had suddenly appeared—the “new contestants”—with the same friendly, cheerful attitude, as though they had been part of the program all along.

Meanwhile, behind him—

a staff member swept up the ashes of the person who had just been incinerated.

With a broom.

I felt like I was losing my mind.

[I’d love to let you participate right away, but unfortunately, our program is live.]

[So we’ll see you next week!]

Then we could leave.

Please.

Please just let it end here.

[For now, everyone can go home… Hm?]

That was when it happened.

Someone holding a megaphone suddenly rushed onto the stage.

I couldn’t make out their face properly under the lighting, but unlike the other staff members, this person wore sunglasses.

The figure leaned toward the host and whispered urgently.

[…! Ah, I see.]

The host turned back toward us.

[You see, this is rather difficult for me to say, but… um.]

A sad emoticon appeared on the television screen that served as his face.

[Our show… has just been canceled.]

“…!”

[More precisely, the Tuesday Quiz Show has ended. Technically, my talk show itself is still continuing, of course.]

[The quiz segment has been replaced.]

What?

[Unfortunately, that means we won’t be able to welcome you as our 100th group of winning contestants.]

[I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart.]

The host bowed deeply.

Even the antenna on top of his television head drooped forward, as though he were genuinely sorry.

“So… does that mean… we cleared it?”

“Huu… Huu…”

I could hear the faint voices of the other members of my squad.

Confusion.

Fear.

Panic.

And despite all that—

hope.

But cold sweat ran down the back of my neck.

No.

This development…

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

Exploration Record #100

The program began in the same studio as all previous explorations.

However, the name of the program had changed.

The host explained to the confused employees that the Tuesday Quiz Show had been canceled.

After contestants successfully answered every question for 99 consecutive explorations, the penalty had effectively become meaningless.

The segment had lost its appeal to viewers and was therefore discontinued.

The new segment chosen to make the show more entertaining was…

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

[Ah! Wait just a moment!]

The antenna on the host’s television head suddenly sprang upright as he received some kind of signal from the staff.

[Wonderful news!]

[All of you have been selected as contestants for our new segment!]

“…!!”

[And this time, it’ll be pre-recorded, so it should be even easier than before! Haha!]

[Let’s begin filming right away! I’ll only be taking a supporting role this time, but I’ll do everything I can to make sure we put on a wonderful show…]

“Wait.”

Assistant Manager Eun raised her hand.

Her expression was grim.

“We already participated in the show. We’d like to go back now…”

[You want to leave before filming is finished?]

“…!”

The television screen buzzed as the host moved closer to Assistant Manager Eun’s face.

[Oh dear… It was all written on the application postcard, wasn’t it? Still, if you truly cannot participate… then I suppose it can’t be helped.]

“…”

[So tell me.]

[Can’t you do it?]

Assistant Manager Eun slowly shifted her gaze toward me.

Our eyes met across the stage.

I gave the slightest shake of my head.

She must have understood too.

There’s no helping it.

That didn’t mean they would kindly let us leave.

It meant we would be incinerated.

[You can do it, right? Wonderful!]

An ominous silence followed.

The studio filled with the sound of the company employees breathing, their faces deathly pale.

I was probably doing the same.

Was I even breathing?

[Oh! You can practically feel the tension in the air! That’s always the case with a brand-new program.]

[Let’s stay strong! Mr. Roe Deer, you performed wonderfully during the live broadcast! I’m sure you’ll do just as well this time…]

Was there really no excuse I could use?

No plausible way to get out of this?

“Yes. But I wasn’t expecting to appear on two programs back-to-back.”

[Hoh.]

“I might make a mistake.”

I gripped the podium so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

“I think I should prepare a little more and come back next Tuesday—”

[Ahh! Look at that! The lights are coming on! Three, two, one…]

The host spoke excitedly.

It was useless.

Completely absorbed in the broadcast, he rushed toward the camera.

[Good evening, viewers! The joy of Tuesday! The heat of Tuesday!]

[You are now watching the newest segment of our talk show!]

I’m going insane.

[Are you disappointed that the quiz show is gone? There’s no need to be!]

[Because our new segment is an even more advanced form of quiz show!]

[We’ve added something new to the quiz! What could it possibly be?]

The host waved both hands dramatically as he read from the teleprompter.

[What pulls at the heartstrings more than anything else?]

[Melody!]

[And above all—voices! A choir! Ah, what a beautiful sound!]

…

[Haha! Don’t worry, our band doesn’t need to feel left out.]

[We’ve invited a true master from an entirely different genre!]

[A brand-new guest is about to join us!]

The set opened.

A new figure was revealed.

The stench of rusted iron and filth filled the studio.

And towering there—

was a massive, dark pig’s head.

[The conductor of the Choir of Purgatory!]

[The filthy! The vile! The master of magnificent melodies!]

[The Butcher!]

[That’s right! Our new segment is…]

[The Tuesday Choir!]

Hell had arrived.

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