Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work

I remember.

The time I had just been promoted to assistant manager at Hundred Dreams Corporation.

I got dragged into the “Serial Killer Lodge” ghost story because of my roommate, but somehow cleared it without killing anyone.

And as a reward, I inherited this tattoo from the lodge master.

* 恩主 *

Later, I upgraded it at the Moonlight Tattoo Shop to use part of the lodge as if it were an inventory—but that wasn’t its true nature.

It was the hiring authority of the lodge keeper.

A contract to command the staff who ran the serial killer lodge.

But I couldn’t use it.

—However, pardon my saying so, but your employer must meet certain qualifications.

—Innate, existential nobility is required.

I didn’t care. I only stole the employment contract to put a stop to the ghost story.

But now…

A being of innate, existential nobility.

The employment contract declares—

I meet that standard.

"You summoned me."

Before I even noticed, there stood a man in tattered clothing, holding my contract.

In his hand was the original red wax seal of his own contract, still unbroken.

The Lodge Keeper.

Wearing a worn robe that covered his entire head, he still exuded a strange sense of dignity and formality. The servant calmly gazed at me.

‘……!’

"You have met the qualifications of my employer. In accordance with the authority of the contract, I stand before you to work under your command."

Wait.

I hastily summoned black smoke.

Maybe because the system now judged me more as a “Flower Golden Resort” employee than a mascot, it was harder to use.

Even the black smoke I managed to summon turned gold partway through—but I was still able to shape the letters.

Qualified?

Where did that ruling come from?

"I, too, find it a bit puzzling. But that is not for me to decide."

Heh!

Defines one's own standard
of nobility.

"Understood."

As a good servant should, the Lodge Keeper answered immediately.

"An extraordinary birth."

…!

"A promised inheritance and power. The existence of those who beg him for mercy or tremble before his wrath."

And…

"A merciless and overwhelming dominion exercised over parasites, visitors, intruders, and challengers within his territory."

…Why does this sound more like the profile of a catastrophe god than someone noble? Isn’t nobility supposed to be associated with kindness?

Then again, the previous owner of the lodge was a lunatic who lured people in with promises of inheritance and made them kill each other.

‘Savage…’

The more I heard, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the more it was clear—this wasn’t a standard for humans.

But somehow, all the actions I had taken so far—reborn as a mascot within the ghost story—fit perfectly.

‘So… the Yellow Zone of the theme park is considered my territory now.’

Still, there was one thing I didn’t understand.

A promised inheritance and power?

"Indeed. You had it from the moment we first met."

The Lodge Keeper bowed again.

But… do I really have something like that?

Maybe noticing my confusion, he politely raised both hands and pointed at something.

"It is proven by a mark more powerful than my own employment seal."

…!