Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work

The resort must open.

Even if someone died three hours ago.

Even if that person was a close colleague of mine.

Even if the person came back to life as something inhuman, with blood and guts spilling back into the road.

"Welcome, guest! What room would you like?"

We stand side by side at the front desk.

...Next to me, the resort employee wearing a yellow mascot mask is kindly greeting guests.

It’s Jang Heowoon.

Or...

‘I don’t know.’

Cold sweat ran down my back. I mechanically handed the guest the room key, my mind racing...

What exactly is going on?

‘Did I save Jang Heowoon?’

But can I even call that thing Jang Heowoon?

My mascot instincts identify the employee standing next to me as the being I contracted.

However, the one who starts working with a wide smile is certainly not someone who has been pierced through the spine, died, and returned to life.

It’s a ghost story.

But the resort must operate, and Jang Heowoon must work diligently to meet the conditions for his employee status to stamp his boarding ticket. So here I stand.

But now, the escape itself seems questionable.

Can a ghost story truly escape by human rules?

And even if they do escape... is it safe?

"Wow... thank you!"

Now, he doesn’t seem overly tense.

He’s truly acting like a hotelier, treating all the strange guests with professionalism.

No matter how bizarre the requests, he doesn’t break a sweat or seem flustered.

Who is that?

Even at lunchtime, instead of heading to the employee dining hall I prepared with the other staff, he works between the standard mascots.

He doesn’t even look at the ladybug employee, who’s muttering and cleaning alone in the corner, driven mad by what he’s seen.

No resentment, no forgiveness, no interest.

Nothing.

‘He’s not human.’

The strange discomfort makes my stomach churn and my spine tingle.

Thankfully, the mascot costume hides everything.

Next.

I sent off a guest and looked around as the next guest approached with their mouth open.

But then...

"Excuse me..."

A modern-day person wearing a hoodie and jeans, looking excited while glancing around.

‘A human...’

Did they get caught in a theme park board game? I just hoped they'd fill their boarding pass and leave quickly.

But...

"This is the resort from that magazine, right? It looks great..."

...A magazine?

‘Wait a minute.’

• 3 Additional Staff Members
• 300 Satisfied Guests
• Mascot Ceremony Ritual