The moment I stepped over the golden rope, my foot touched the ground.
It felt like I'd entered a special field in a game or something.
The fog vanished as if by magic, revealing the scenery around me.
But…
'…It's huge.'
Under the full moon, the field in the mountain was far larger than I had expected.
A massive field sprawling over the ridge.
The dark, deep greens swayed quietly under the bluish moonlight.
Yet, there was nothing peaceful or pleasant about it.
It felt ominous, unsettling.
– A strange scent lingers here.
He was right.
And among those swaying green plants, I noticed clusters of small, red berries… wait a minute.
'…Ginseng?'
It was, wasn't it.
Is this a field of ginseng?
Wait, ginseng is typically cultivated by people, but this didn't seem to be human-grown…
'…Wild ginseng?'
All of this is wild ginseng?
'No way…'
I quickly scanned the field and saw a sign posted at the edge.
[千年]
Millennium.
"..."
I immediately turned around, intending to cross back over the golden rope.
– Mr. Roe Deer?
'I'm outta here.'
Thousand-year-old wild ginseng?
It's like opening a friend's pencil case to borrow a pen and finding it filled with gold bars instead.
Just as I was about to cross back over the rope—
[Honored Guest!]
"...!"
[Ah, Honored Guest. Please, don't leave me…]
A faint, trembling voice called out, with the sound of soft sobbing from behind me.
Slowly, I turned my head halfway.
[The ghost bound to the tiger is coming to take me! A terrifying tiger will tear me limb from limb and spit me out upon the earth! Please save me, please…!]
One of the berries in the field wobbled, as if waving at me.
Then, realizing I was looking, its leaves drooped dejectedly.
[Ah, my time has come. I will be shredded with nothing left but fragments of flesh…]
"..."
I turned fully to face the wild ginseng plant.
The bundle of berries shook vigorously in response to my gaze.
[Better to be consumed by you than to be taken by that wicked tiger! If you take me, boil me in a large iron pot, your illnesses will be cured, and even elderly parents will rise with newfound strength!]
Come to think of it, in folklore, wild ginseng was often depicted as a benevolent, mystical being.
A gift given to those of good character.
I knelt down in front of the trembling wild ginseng.
[Honored Gueeest!]
I reached out my hand to the wild ginseng… but then straightened up again.
[...?]
"Liar."
The berries froze.
Then, as if the ground were quaking, an ominous, raspy voice erupted.
[Hah, you saw through me! You worthless thing!]
Yep.
'This place is called Sangun-nim's Burial Ground.'
Have you heard the tales that spirits do everything backward?
And here I was, in a place haunted by spirits and ominously named a burial site?
'There's no way that wild ginseng growing in a place like this would be normal.'
I wouldn't be surprised if its properties were entirely reversed. I expected this.
[Heeheehee, hehehee!]
The wild ginseng started to wriggle and rise from the ground.
Its half-emerged form, glowing a sickly, bluish-purple, looked like something straight out of a zombie miniature.
It even began coughing up something dark and reddish like blood!
'I prepared myself for this, but it's still terrifying!'
[You will be buried too! You'll be buried here and become ginseng, your limbs chopped so you can rot! Feel the agony of living deeeeeeeeath!]
The surrounding leaves twisted like tentacles, extending roots out of the soil, writhing and reaching toward me. Uwaaaahhh!
Without hesitation, I immediately grabbed something from my waist.
'S-Snow White's Apple!'
This item has the peculiar effect of inducing a sleep akin to death upon consumption.
So, what was I supposed to do with this?
'I thought it would be hard to chew an apple in an emergency anyway…'
I'd ground it into juice in advance!
Splat.
I took out a sealed pack of juice made from the Snow White Apple and splashed it generously over the field in front of me.
The wild ginseng…
[Heeheehee! That won't work! You fool! I shall rip your limbs asunder and—]
Thud.
…fell into a deep sleep.
"..."
Snow White's Apple… its effect was as reliable as ever.
Carefully, I stepped closer.
The half-buried, grotesque ginseng lay motionless on the ground, completely knocked out.
It was a strange sight, like a cockroach lying flat after being hit by bug spray or a cat or dog dozing peacefully, belly up.
– Oh! Rude, but that was quite an amusing character! How about taking it as a souvenir?
Normally, I would've thought he was crazy.
But I cautiously examined the ginseng.
It had talked, shown emotions, tried to deceive me, and calculated its actions. Something like sap even seemed to be flowing through it.
So, if that's the case…
'Isn't it… a sentient being?'
I'd found it—a substitute sacrifice.
* * *
"…So, you gathered all the materials, prepared the ritual, and for the sacrifice, you're planning to use this strange wild ginseng… is that correct?"
"Yes."
"..."
The people in the abandoned house looked utterly dumbfounded after hearing the abridged version of 'What Kim Soleum (currently posing as security) encountered outside~.'
Maybe I summarized it too much.
But there was no helping it. I couldn't explain exactly how I'd managed everything, so it ended up as, 'Anyway, I got everything.'
'I still feel a bit uneasy about bringing back the wild ginseng, but… it's easier on my conscience than randomly picking a person to die.'
I had no idea whose land this belonged to, but if it was a real issue, Braun would've raised an alarm.
Trying to keep a natural expression, I looked around at the others.
They were still gawking at me, switching their gaze between the materials and the wild ginseng.
But they seemed to buy it.
"Wow, as expected from the Security Team… handling even things like this!"
Not quite.
Feeling a bit guilty, I glanced over at the actual member of the Security Team. The security sergeant lay among the middle schoolers, looking thoroughly bored.
Somehow, the kids had started chatting with him as if they'd already introduced themselves.
"Hey, you don't look that strong."
"No… I'm super strong."
The kids were laughing, seeming a bit more at ease with more people around.
Section Chief Lee Byeongjin, checking the materials, glanced anxiously between Go Seonha and me, then gulped and said,
"S-So, we're all going to the shrine now? To perform the ritual…?"
"Yes."
"…The shrine is nearby, so as long as we move carefully, it should be fine. Nothing happened when I was there last time…"
Go Seonha, with a tense expression, looked back at me.
"By any chance, when you went out, did you visit the shrine too?"
"Yes."
Taking advantage of Braun's ability to erase my presence, I'd even burned the peach branches.
I'd nearly screamed a total of three (3) times from nerves.
"…Then that makes it easier. Just walk quietly, don't make a sound, and move quickly. As long as we don't make mistakes in the fog, we'll be fine."
"Understood."
"…Alright, then. Let's go to the shrine together."
The time has come.
-x-X-x-
After taking a moment to steady our breathing and prepare ourselves, we lined up in front of the closed door.
"Kids. You mustn't stop. Just keep walking."
"Okay…"
At Go Seonha's words, the kids, looking terrified, nodded. Then, reassured by the adults, they pressed their lips together tightly and fell into line.
"..."
But why am I the one standing at the very front…?
Everyone, why are you naturally moving to the back?
'Did I simplify the story of gathering materials too much…?'
It seems they think I'm some kind of fearless, resourceful genius. Aahh, please…
'No one would believe me if I said I'm terrified right now, would they?'
…Well, I guess it's still better than being at the very back.
With resignation, I opened the door once more.
Creeeak.
Once again, the mountainside, shrouded in darkness and fog, appeared before us.
Inhale.
"Uh—"
"Shh."
The kids, looking terrified, clamped their mouths shut.
We began moving slowly, as quietly as possible.
Crunch, crunch.
With each little sound, our footsteps quickened.
I could feel the oppressive tension surrounding the group, as if at any moment, the changgwi might call out to us from behind and begin to chase us.
– Friend! There's no need to rush too much. Remember, in case of emergency, this Braun is always by your side…
And thankfully, that 'emergency' never came.
Through the darkness and fog, the old, tiled roof became visible.
A worn-down shrine, with red and blue tiles tilted at odd angles.
We had arrived.
Thud.
"Phew."
"Everyone's here, right?"
Those who had safely entered the shrine took a moment to catch their breath.
Finally, the security sergeant, who had been lingering, closed the green paper door made of traditional hanji paper and locked it.
Section Chief Lee Byeongjin hurriedly attempted to stick a talisman he'd picked up from the floor of the abandoned house onto the door, but Go Seonha stopped him.
"That might interfere with the ritual. Let's just leave it as is. We just need to finish quickly and get out!"
"Y-You're right."
Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to look around the shrine.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, the shadowy outlines became clearer.
Inside, it was eerily clean yet very old.
Between two rusty Maitreya statues without heads was a broken incense burner.
Above it was a slightly worn woodblock.
– So, that must be the woodblock detailing the ritual. It's quite atmospheric…
Following Braun's whispered narration, I read aloud what was inscribed on the woodblock.
"…The human with the sturdiest mind and spirit should step forward to conduct the ritual."
Well, that's definitely not me.
"..."
Hey, seriously, don't look at me.
I turned my gaze naturally toward the security sergeant. The other two followed my gaze as well, but…
"I can't do it."
"…Pardon?"
"I said I can't… don't make me do it…"
"Oh, understood."
Section Chief Lee shrank back, then looked over at me.
I stared back at him.
"..."
"…Uh…"
"Please, go ahead."
"Y-Yes…"
Even if he's traumatized, he's got more guts than I do…
Section Chief Lee stepped forward, his legs trembling, only to turn back with a look of alarm, glancing between Go Seonha and me.
"W-Wait a minute! Mountain Hero!"
Go Seonha's eyes widened as well.
"Right! The song for Sangun-nim!"
"Yes, that's it! Even if we have all the materials, without that song—whether it's a children's song or a folk tune about tigers, we're stuck…"
Ah.
"We have it."
"...??"
"One moment."
I called the middle schoolers over.
Then, very politely, I asked,
"Kids, you mentioned you were on a school trip, right?"
"Yes…"
"Did anyone keep listening to music on the bus? Or know a lot about celebrities?"
The kids exchanged glances before motioning toward one student without bangs.
I quickly turned to that student.
"What's your name?"
"I-It's Lee Nayeon."
"Alright, Nayeon-ah. I need to ask you something."
I tried my best to put on a friendly, trustworthy expression. All the adults in the room had question marks on their faces.
"...?? Um, what exactly are you doing right now…?"
"There's a popular idol song that mentions a tiger in the lyrics, right?"
"...!!"
I looked at the adults. They all had bewildered expressions.
"B-But, are we even allowed to use, um, pop songs for this? Like, an idol song…?"
"We can."
I held up the ritual note Go Seonha had written down for me.
"If you look, it only specifies a 'song'. It doesn't say it has to be a folk song or nursery rhyme."
"...!"
This isn't some kind of internet creepypasta where we have to choose songs that fit the eerie atmosphere. There's no reason or need to pick something that matches the tone of a ghost story.
Human bias had limited the options.
"Oh…"
I turned back to the student.
"So, Nayeon-ah. Do you remember any songs that mention 'Sangun-nim' or 'tiger'? Something like that."
"Ah!"
Nayeon's face immediately brightened as she answered.
"There is! Saint U's 'Peek-a-Boo'!"
Perfect.
"There's also a song by VTIC…" [1]
"Do you know the full lyrics to either of them? And is it a well-known one?"
"Yes! I know Saint U's 'Peek-a-Boo'!"
Okay.
I turned back to the adults and made a firm declaration.
"We'll use Saint U's 'Peek-a-Boo' as our song offering for Sangun-nim."
Take this idol song, oh mighty tiger!
* * *
In the quiet shrine.
Section Chief Lee Byeongjin stepped forward from the shadows, his trembling hands dropping ashes into the incense burner.
They were ashes from the burned peach branches.
– First.
– 'The one performing the ritual should step forward and place the peach branch ashes into the incense burner, then inhale the fragrance.'
– 'Gently close the lid of the incense burner, and open it again once the scent has faded.'
With shaking hands, the section chief closed the lid of the old, broken incense burner with its equally worn cover. After a few seconds, he lifted the lid.
Amazingly, the ashes had vanished.
In their place, a single, intact incense stick was burning.
A faint peach scent wafted from the small, twig-shaped incense stick.
"...!!"
– 'If the incense is burning, it means Sangun-nim has acknowledged your devotion.' Oh, everything's proceeding as planned. Excellent!
"Ugh."
The smell was strong, so Go Seonha covered her nose and took a step back.
The section chief hurried on to the next step.
– Second.
– 'Open the door made of hanji paper.'
Sliiide.
Through the opened door, the dark forest came into view. The kids huddled behind the adults.
– 'Crush three plums in a brass bowl and scatter them under the floorboards. Throw the remaining bowl to the east and never look back.'
I handed three plums to Section Chief Lee. He crushed them with his fingers in the brass bowl and scattered them onto the dirt.
The overpowering, sweet-sour scent rose up.
Go Seonha, who had been standing back, stepped forward, sniffing and looking a bit relieved.
Then she motioned to Section Chief Lee.
It was time for the third step.
– Third.
– 'Prepare a song to offer to Sangun-nim. The more well-known, the more effective it will be.'
Section Chief Lee carefully rolled up the prepared lyrics sheet and placed it in the drawer under the incense stand.
– 'Write the lyrics down, place them under the incense stand, then sing loudly, clapping with each step, and bow every thirty steps.'
One by one, everyone stepped out through the open door.
Section Chief Lee began singing the lyrics the student, Lee Nayeon, had shared with him.
"…Peek-a-boo, here I come."
The middle schoolers joined in, singing in chorus.
A song offered to Sangun-nim.
Note/s:
[1] Saint U and VTIC are idol groups featured in the author's other hit series, Debut or Die! ↩
-x-X-x-
Saint U's 'Peek-a-Boo'.
According to the middle schoolers, this was the final album by a famous girl idol group that made a grand comeback a few years ago after a long hiatus.
The song was upbeat, addictive, and cheerful, lingering on the music charts for a long time.
Now, that very song echoed through the dark, fog-filled forest, accompanied by clapping hands in rhythm.
Clap.
"My sharp gaze catches you in an instant, but I don't plan to make the first move…"
"I'll wait patiently, pretending I'm not interested until you approach."
"Cuz predators never move first…"
Even the adults clumsily joined in, trying their best to sing along.
Clap.
"Alright, get ready. I'm the elegant tiger waiting for you to come closer— Peek-a-boo!"
The lively, energetic melody continued.
Maybe because everyone was singing together, the kids' expressions began to relax, and their voices grew stronger.
"Peek-a-boo! Here I come, so get ready! I'm the tiger. My eyes sparkle even in the dark!"
– 'Walk along the path while offering the song, with the sacrifice at the back of the line.'
But at the end of the line, instead of a person, a tiny purple wild ginseng dangled like a little bundle, swinging as it hung from a stick. The security sergeant held the stick over his shoulder as if it were a garbage bag, with the ginseng swaying at the back.
Go Seonha kept glancing at it suspiciously from the side, but the ginseng itself seemed to be enjoying the song, humming along cheerfully.
"Peek-a-boo! I'll entrance you, make you lose your mind. Peek-a-boo, so get ready."
Clap.
I signaled for everyone to stop.
'The thirtieth step.'
The group paused, then awkwardly bowed deeply before standing back up.
The song continued.
"Peek-a-boo!"
The narrow path gradually leveled out, making it easier to walk.
– 'When the song ends, so does the path. When you find a small snake hole in a place with no grass, express gratitude for Sangun-nim's mercy and reach inside.'
– 'Make sure your hand is covered in the well water mixed with salt.'
By the time we reached the final chorus of the second verse, the surroundings began to change.
The trees that had been packed so densely were thinning, and the fog grew even thicker.
Everyone sensed it instinctively.
'We're almost there…!'
The expressions on their faces were a mix of tension, anticipation, and caution.
But they remained calm, singing the song to the very end.
"Peek-a-boo, so get ready…"
Clap.
And with that final line—
"Now I'm coming closer."
Our footsteps halted.
"..."
"..."
The path had ended.
Ahead, the narrow trail opened into a wide clearing.
"There… there are no trees."
Our steps quickened. And through the thick fog, the final result of the ritual appeared before us.
"Now, the snake hole should be…!"
It was a massive reservoir.
"..."
"..."
'What is this?'
An expanse of dark water stretched before us, the fog endlessly rolling over its surface.
The group halted, faces filled with confusion and terror, as if they couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"W-Why…"
"T-There was supposed to be a snake hole, but… w-what is this…?"
What was going on?
What went wrong?
I looked at the ginseng the security sergeant was carrying.
…It was still there, perfectly intact.
'It should've disappeared… right?'
Go Seonha, her face pale with fear, murmured—
"…Water ghost."
"...!"
The words I'd heard a few hours ago rushed back to mind.
'The changgwi are ghosts cursed by tigers and bound to serve them, but… historically, the term also referred to water ghosts.'
"It was a trap! The ritual itself was a trap! We were lured by the water spirit…!"
"Ahhh!!"
"We were all led here, right to the reservoir…!!"
Section Chief Lee screamed, stumbling backward as he tried to run, only to trip. The children began to whimper, clutching onto each other and screaming in panic.
I felt a chill down my spine, nearly falling to my knees.
It was like being in the final scene of a horror movie, where every character faces impending doom.
"..."
'Are we really going to die here…?'
…No.
NO!!
At the very least, I needed to understand why.
I couldn't think of any mistake we'd made within the information we'd been given. Even considering every exploration log I'd read from the
A sense of frustrated disbelief overtook my fear.
Go Seonha's panicked voice echoed in my ears.
"Turn around, let's run back. Back to the abandoned house…!"
…Wait.
Hold on a second.
I turned to Go Seonha.
"…Do you know something?"
"What?"
"The abandoned house is a trap, too."
"…What?"
"Think about it. Isn't it strange?"
Slowly, I pointed out the intended contradiction of this ghost story.
"It's strange, don't you think? We're lured into this place by the changgwi, yet we're supposed to feel safe in an abandoned house with protective talismans that supposedly keep the changgwi out."
"..."
"And that same house just happens to contain a ritual for escaping? Conveniently spelled out for us?"
This was exactly why interpretations of this abandoned house were split in the
'This story was designed from the start to slowly drain people's sanity.'
The intended reasoning went like this—
"They lock people up in this abandoned house during the full moon, pushing them to their limits and weakening their spirits."
It dangles the hope of a 'ritual' in front of them, leading people to endure a state of mental breakdown while clinging to that hope.
"That makes it easier to lure people in."
And the most decisive part…
"If they make a mistake during the ritual, all the better. But even if they don't, it doesn't matter."
I looked at the wild ginseng.
"The process of choosing a sacrifice is bound to create conflict, leading to at least one dropout. They're guaranteed to 'claim' a sacrifice."
"..."
"Of course, the ritual is real. That way, people are more desperate to cling to it."
After all, this is the
You can't just throw in too many convenient plot devices. It breaks immersion and ruins the suspense. The ritual itself has to be genuine.
That's why I had full confidence in performing it, but…
"That only raises more questions."
-x-X-x-
I've read a lot of ghost stories.
In fact, I've read every single ghost story uploaded to the
Some were hard to get through, but reading them became part of my daily routine at work, so I've read them multiple times.
In the process, I picked up a few bits of obscure knowledge…
Here's an example.
"Peach branches are commonly known to ward off spirits."
"So?"
"And plums are a favorite fruit of the changgwi. That's probably why both of these materials were required."
"…Ah."
"Lure the changgwi to the shrine, and while it's there, the person conducting the ritual uses the peach incense to escape."
I looked up.
"But then, isn't it odd that someone here seemed uncomfortable with the peach incense and overly drawn to the plum?"
"..."
Among seven people, only one kept staying close to the security sergeant at the back of the group, as if wanting to keep as far away from the peach incense as possible.
"Go Seonha-ssi."
I looked directly at her.
"Are you sure you're speaking of your own will?"
"…What are you implying?"
It's possible that…
The real Go Seonha may have failed the ritual in the shrine long before she ever met us…
"Isn't it actually the changgwi that's speaking to us through you right now, Go Seonha-ssi?"
The group froze.
"You figured it out."
Go Seonha's mouth stretched into a grotesque grin.
But it's too late! Too late!
Her arms began to elongate, reaching out toward me with a strange fluidity, trying to grab and pull me closer…
'ACK!'
I rolled to the ground, dodging her outstretched arms.
Behind me, the screams of Section Chief Lee and the children echoed in terror.
"Ahhhh!!"
"G-Ghost!"
Instinctively, I pulled a knife from my front pocket. This isn't a full changgwi—it's a person possessed by one, which means I might be able to subdue her…
But I realized something.
'I can't get close enough to use it!'
With a short-range weapon like this, I'd have to get right up to a possessed person's face! I already feel like I'm about to faint!
But my brain, running on adrenaline, instantly found the right person for the job.
"Sergeant!"
I tossed the weapon toward the figure standing behind me.
"Please subdue her!"
Whoosh.
The Bloodsucking Knife cut through the air.
"…Ah."
The security sergeant caught the knife and, after a brief glance, immediately lunged at the changgwi-possessed person.
Hihihi!!
Go Seonha's face and arms twisted into a bizarre, hideous form, sprouting the distorted features of countless men, women, and children—arms, faces, strands of hair, and eyes pointing in all directions.
Please, please, help me!
"Eeeek!"
"Get back and close your eyes!"
Section Chief Lee scrambled backward with the children, huddling on the mountain path.
Can you hear me? Somebody, help me!
At that moment, the security sergeant's appearance started to distort too.
A monstrous form.
His once-slender upper body swelled to an enormous size, his mouth extending into a snout with a tongue that lashed out, brutally snapping the changgwi's long arms.
Aaaaagh!
No… it was an illusion. The security sergeant looked just like a regular human.
But then again, he seemed like some monstrous creature…
'Wow, this is insane.'
I managed to shift my focus.
The reason the Security Team was so adept at handling the Darkness.
And the reason they weren't part of the field investigation team.
It was becoming clear right in front of me.
========================
[Security Team]
: One of the three teams under the Security Division of Daydream Inc., a major department featured in the
This team is comprised of employees who have been so heavily tainted by certain anomalies that they are no longer classified as human.
Employment is for life, and resignation is impossible.
========================
Did you know?
If you're no longer classified as human, even if you clear a ghost story, the Dream Essence Collector won't be filled.
There's no investigative value in it.
That's why people who have practically merged with ghost stories, becoming almost monstrous themselves, were assigned to the Security Team.
Especially… those affected by particularly violent or territorial ghost stories…
It hurts! It hurts!!
…They're assigned to the Security Team to handle significant issues with company-managed Darkness.
'…And if he's the sergeant of that team, he's no different.'
In short, he's an employee specialized in confronting the monsters within these ghost stories.
Gaaaaahh!
The changgwi's many arms were torn apart by the sergeant's jaws, claws, and teeth, stretching from his maw like a monstrous, serpentine tongue.
Drooling saliva and blood dripped from the mouth that had transformed into a wolf-like snout lined with countless fangs. The illusion flickered in and out of my vision.
'…Wolf?'
For a brief moment, I saw the illusion of countless teeth in his elongated jaw, dripping with saliva and blood, before it vanished.
A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over me, and I quickly averted my gaze to the ground.
'This feels like a nightmare.'
I began to understand why the Security Team always evacuated people when they subdued ghost stories in the
Despite the risks, things were progressing smoothly.
"Keep your eyes closed!"
I urged the others as I kept my gaze down, bracing myself.
Then, in the next moment—
– Oh, Mr. Roe Deer, it seems that peculiar guest you brought won!
It was over.
When I looked up, the changgwi lay on the ground, the Bloodsucking Knife embedded in its right hand.
Standing over it was the distorted, monstrous form of the security sergeant, gripping its head tightly.
-x-X-x-
– Good riddance, a brute right to the core. If this had been my show, I'd never let it on as a guest!
I'd never been so grateful that only I could hear Braun's voice.
I mustered a calm voice and addressed the sergeant, who was still gripping Go Seonha's head.
"Thank you, Sergeant."
"Urrgh…"
– He says he's tired. How rude!
You're scarier for translating that monstrous growl…
But then, at that moment.
A faint, muffled sound came from under the sergeant's hand.
It was a human voice.
"W-Wait, please…"
"...!"
Somehow, Go Seonha's face had returned to normal, her expression one of pure terror as she moaned weakly.
"P-Please help me… save…"
Leave this child here…
"Uh, ugh…"
Her eyes rolled back, and the changgwi's voice took over again.
Only you need to die… Hm? Right? You deserve to die. You killed people. You tried to kill the children. I know everything. You deserve to die.
Go Seonha struggled.
"No, no…"
Just leave her behind. Leave her, yes? Hmmmm?
"Please, save me, save me! Aaaah!"
At that moment—
"Tell me,"
The sergeant's voice, now sounding human, asked,
"Did you formally request emergency rescue from
I couldn't see his face beneath the monstrous form, but his voice clearly posed the question directly to Go Seonha.
"This is an official request requiring a signed contract… isn't that… right?"
Something about it felt off.
Go Seonha, dazed, looked up, then seemed to snap back, responding in a desperate tone.
"Ri—"
Wait.
"No, it isn't."
I intervened, forcing the words out.
"This Darkness isn't under Daydream Inc.'s jurisdiction, we didn't enter to rescue civilians, and more than that, there was mutual assistance on both sides." Ŗ₳ΝǑᛒĚś
"Huh…? Weird…"
The sergeant's voice dropped, dangerously low and growling.
"Wasn't she trying to prevent us from escaping…?"
Gaaasp.
"…That doesn't matter, sir. In the end, she helped us."
I spoke firmly.
"Which makes this cooperation."
"..."
The sergeant stared at me, then looked down at Go Seonha…
"Ah… is that so…"
"..."
"Maybe that's correct…"
Srrrk.
His voice relaxed, falling back to its usual tone of casual indifference.
'Huuu.'
I'd intervened because something felt off, and it seemed I'd made the right call.
'It's best not to get entangled with Daydream Inc…'
Especially to end up indebted to them. Just the thought gave me a terrible feeling.
"Hm… so what should we do now…"
"One moment please."
I approached Section Chief Lee Byeongjin, who was standing back with his eyes closed, holding onto the kids. He flinched at the sound of my footsteps.
"Eeeek! Are you here to… take me instead…?"
"The incense burner."
"Huh…?"
"Hand it over."
I took the incense burner from him. Although the peach incense had already burned away, the ashes remained intact inside.
'The changgwi didn't like the peach branches.'
If that's the case…
I poured the ashes over Go Seonha's shoulder.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!
Sizzle.
Though the ashes weren't especially hot, the smell of burning and salt filled the air as smoke rose from her shoulder.
I won't go! I won't! I'll cling on again! I'll cling on… Aaaaagh!
I poured the remaining ashes over her head.
Her body, possessed by the changgwi, convulsed wildly and then—
Gaaasp—
Her eyes flew open, filled with clarity and relief.
It was Go Seonha.
"I-I'm okay now! I think I'm… fine…"
"No, you're not."
"Excuse me?"
"This is a place we were lured into by the changgwi, so there's a chance it could come back for you anytime."
"T-Then…"
"Let's make sure it can't possess you again, just in case."
"...?"
I had brought an extra pack of the apple juice with me.
I handed the sealed pack to Go Seonha.
"Uh…?"
"Drink it all at once."
I insisted, and although she looked confused, she reluctantly took it and began gulping down the juice while lying subdued on the ground.
And a moment later—
She slumped over, falling into a deep sleep like the ginseng.
Phew.
"At least that's taken care of…"
"You can let go now."
"..."
The security sergeant released his grip and, with a faintly amused voice, asked,
"Thinking of switching departments…?"
"No thank you, sir."
Please, spare me.
After thanking the security sergeant once again, who had thankfully returned to a more human appearance, I went over to check on Section Chief Lee and the kids, who were still tightly shutting their eyes.
"You can open your eyes now. It's safe."
"Ah…!"
Relief washed over Section Chief Lee's face, but he quickly shot a worried glance at the kids and whispered to me with a desperate expression.
"But now what? How are we supposed to find the way out…?"
"..."
"Dawn is almost here!"
I looked up at the sky.
Through the hazy fog, it seemed like a faint light was beginning to filter through…
The full moon was nearly setting.
'There's no time to redo the ritual.'
But…
"We'll be fine."
"…What?"
"I believe we succeeded in at least half of the ritual."
I remembered how the path changed with each step as we sang and how the incense burned properly.
'Everything we prepared was correct.'
The ritual, strictly speaking, had two purposes.
To avoid the changgwi.
And to seek an escape route by appealing to Sangun-nim.
"It seems we fulfilled the second purpose."
While the first purpose failed due to the changgwi's possession of one of our group members, bringing us close to the water's edge…
"Maybe there's an exit somewhere nearby."
"...!"
We clustered together and began searching in the dense fog, moving away from the water's edge toward the open clearing closer to the mountain.
We searched around where the ritual path had ended.
– 'If you find a small snake hole in a place with no grass, express gratitude for Sangun-nim's mercy and reach inside. Make sure your hand is coated in well water mixed with salt.'
'A place with no grass… a place with no grass…'
And then, a few moments later—
"I-I found it!"
"...!!"
One of the middle schoolers spotted a small hole under a tree.
A shaft of moonlight pierced through the fog, shining directly onto the dark hole, as black as ink.
"..."
The snake hole.
I quickly had everyone dip their hands in the saltwater, not caring about the fear or hesitation that gripped us.
"Hurry, hurry."
Just before dawn, we each reached our hands into the snake hole.
-x-X-x-
The first thing I felt was dampness.
Squelch.
As I reached into the snake hole with my saltwater-soaked hand, a peculiar coldness, like submerging my hand in ink, washed over me.
Then, I was pulled in.
"...!"
The suction that began at my hand soon engulfed my entire body.
'I-I can't breathe.'
It felt like wet paper was wrapping tightly around my whole body, suffocating me. My vision spun, dark and dizzy, until finally…
Gasp!
With a sudden gasp, I was able to breathe again, as if emerging into cool air.
I opened my eyes.
Instead of stars, the neon lights of a provincial city stretched out before me, twinkling against the autumn night of Korea.
'I… survived.'
I was back in reality.
"Huu…"
I tried to stand, but my legs were shaking so badly that I almost fell. Dark red ink was dripping from my feet, trailing onto the ground.
"..."
Following the ink trail with my gaze.
I saw an old piece of hanji paper with a faded ink wash painting smeared and blurred, lying on the ground.
It was as if, after countless years, the image had faded entirely, and new ink had been splashed over it, leaving barely any recognizable shape.
'…That must have been one of those cursed paintings connecting to that insane mountain.'
Shuddering, I quickly tore my gaze away and turned to check on the others scattered on the ground.
One, two, three… seven. Everyone was here.
It seemed the painting had spit them out right after me.
"Ugh…"
"Are you alright?"
"Oww… Huh! W-We're outside!!"
Section Chief Lee Byeongjin looked around, then yelled out in shock.
"Haha!! W-We made it!! We're alive!!"
Then, filled with relief and gratitude, he turned to me and bowed deeply.
"Thank you… for saving us…"
"You saved yourself, Section Chief. You were the one who carried out the ritual, after all."
"…Haha, so m-modest… I'm ashamed."
Section Chief Lee bowed again, looking rather moved. I figured it was best to let him believe it was humility rather than flattery.
"O-Ohhh!"
The next ones to come to their senses were the middle schoolers. As I helped them get their bearings, I listened to their surprised chatter.
"This place… it's where you were supposed to stay on your school trip?"
"Yes!!"
Now that I looked around, it did resemble the description they'd given of 'the gazebo behind our lodging'.
'So we all got spit out here.'
…It was lucky we didn't wake up in that strange office in the basement of the company.
I reassured the kids who were hugging each other in relief, crying, and ready to run straight down the mountain.
"Be careful where you step. When you get down, find an adult and call your parents, alright?"
But the kids looked nervous, hesitant to leave.
"Aren't you coming with us…?"
Well… they had a point.
Whether I was treated as a hero for rescuing them or mistaken for a kidnapper, if I went to the police, the company probably wouldn't be thrilled…
'As long as the kids get back safely, that's what matters.'
I slowly shook my head.
"We need to go somewhere else. You just keep going straight down and don't look back."
Just in case you trip.
"...! Okay."
The kids seemed to muster some resolve, nodding with determined faces, and carefully started down the mountain, relying on each other for support.
'Good.'
Since it was a well-maintained path on a shallow mountain, it would only take them about five minutes to get down.
As I watched them go, ensuring they were safe, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Excuse me…"
It was the security sergeant, who had already gotten to his feet and was slightly swaying as he held out the stick with the greenish wild ginseng still attached.
"Hey kid, take this…"
"Oh."
The sergeant held out the stick with the unconscious wild ginseng dangling from it.
'I mean, we could've just left it there.'
Still, I took the ginseng without protest. The sergeant turned and started walking away, trudging off with heavy steps.
"…Where are you headed?"
"The office… still on duty…"
Ah.
'But we're in Gyeongju right now.'
(T/N: A KTX ride from Gyeongju to Seoul is about 2 hours and 40 minutes, while a bus ride would be about 4 to 5 hours)
By the time he gets back, his shift would probably be over anyway.
In any case, I followed him since I also needed to get back to Seoul, carrying Go Seonha, the exhausted university student, slung over my shoulder.
'I'll drop her off in front of the police station on the way.'
Then, at that moment—
"Aah… Both Security Team officers need to return quickly! I-I'll follow along then! Haha! Isn't it only right for me to accompany you as the missing person you found? Let's go together!"
I glanced at Section Chief Lee Byeongjin, who was scrambling to catch up, looking every bit like a sycophant afraid to lose his backup.
Well, now that we'd escaped… maybe it was time for him to know the truth.
"And, uh, after everything's settled, I'll stop by your department to properly thank you two! Haha, where exactly does the Security Team work…?"
"No."
"...?"
"Even if you come to the Security Team, you won't be able to meet me."
"Huh?"
"I'm with the Field Exploration Team."
A heavy silence followed.
"But, uh, your clothes… you're in a Security Team uniform—"
"It was just lent to me…"
"...?!"
With that comment from the security sergeant, Section Chief Lee's face became a mix of confusion, and then, after a moment, he seemed to piece things together in his mind.
"Ahh! Ah! I-I see, so… but you don't seem familiar. Don't you get administrative support? Ah! Maybe you're in a special team? And that's why you're in the security uniform…?"
"I'm a new hire, sir."
"...?"
"D-squad's rookie."
"...???"
* * *
What happened afterward was handled fairly quickly.
All the way from Gyeongju back to the company, Section Chief Lee kept muttering 'lies' under his breath. However, when he reached the office and verified my personnel records, he was left in stunned silence.
But surprisingly, he didn't immediately change his demeanor.
'Why not though?'
I thought he'd immediately dismiss me as a newbie in the lowly Field Exploration Team, but instead, he continued to behave respectfully, although he did make some effort to act more casually, dropping a bit of the formality.
"Uhh, Soleum-ssi, did you hear? The, uh, kids and the university student—you know, they got home safely."
A few days later, he informed me that the survivors from our escape had been registered as civilian survivors at
"They probably received a decent amount as compensation for their information too."
"In a way, it's ironic how it really turned out to be a stroke of fortune for them. Yeah? Life can be funny, right?"
And ironically, it was good fortune for me as well.
"So anyway, Soleum-ssi, from now on, you can just count on me!"
"…Um. Yes, sir."
"Hahaha!"
Section Chief Lee quickly pushed through my manual evaluation process.
…Only for me, though.
'Is it really okay for him to act like this after taking an unauthorized week off?'
Well, it was a good outcome for me.
The scroll that served as a portal for the 'Sangun-nim' ghost story was swiftly collected by
Even my previously pending application under A-squad for a manual revision was quickly approved.
The balance in my bank account now read:
Manual Revision Bonus — ₩100,000,000
"..."
'Insane.'
It was a staggering amount, enough to make my hands tremble. Now that two manual revisions had been approved, this unexpected sum appeared in my banking app. ŔἈƝồᛒƐṨ
Even though it was a cash payment rather than the standard points allocation, this amount was certainly enough to make anyone do a double take.
'Maybe I should take advantage of this friendly manual evaluator and tackle as many new Darknesses as possible…?'
But venturing out alone to encounter various ghosts and monsters was a daunting thought, so for now…
'I should put this one hundred million to good use.'
Where would be the best place to spend it?
I already knew where a portion of it was going—about 30% had been allocated to the source of this whole ordeal.
"Congratulations, Braun."
– Ooooh!
Bloodbathtub – ₩29,999,999
= ₩29,999,999
Purchase complete.
Fortunately, the Bloodbathtub was still available in the Alien Shop, so I could fulfill the promise I made to my animated plush friend.
'I wonder if it'll come by rocket delivery this time too?'
I recalled the postal service box that had mysteriously materialized in midair last time.
As far as I knew, the Bloodbathtub was a large, four-legged tub, about the size of a typical household bathtub, with decorative gold legs that gave it an elegant look. But imagining it landing in my small studio unit…
'Maybe I should order it from the bathroom?'
In any case, I decided to push my bed and desk aside to clear space, then press the order button right here. There just wasn't enough room in the bathroom.
"…Alright. Time to place the order."
– Exciting! My heart is pounding with anticipation.
In the dimly lit room, with only a flashlight as illumination, I finally clicked the [Order] button, carrying on a conversation with a small little plushie that, of course, had no heart to pound with excitement.
Ssshhhk.
Just like the previous times, the space seemed to tear open, and my anticipation grew.
But… the tear was smaller than expected?
With a soft plop, a package fell out.
It was also… small?
"...?"
I opened the postal box, which was barely a quarter of the size I expected, and found the product packaging inside.
[Bathtub of Youth – Foot Massage Edition]
"..."
So that's why it was so cheap.
Come to think of it, since it was a ghost story item from a home shopping creepypasta, it probably had a variety of editions and versions…
Although, as far as I knew, most versions were just fun variations with little functional difference—except for a few rare ones.
'I never thought they'd make a footbath version, though.'
It came with a gold-embossed sticker and a warranty certificate, hinting that it was some sort of 'special edition'.
[10-Year Free A/S Warranty]
Utterly pointless.
'Who's going to request customer service on something like this?'
But I decided to open it anyway. There were no records in the
Inside, packed in a box as elegantly wrapped as a luxury item, lay the object itself.
'…The Bathtub of Youth.'
Also known as the Bloodbathtub.
It was a glossy, black-and-white checkered tub that appeared to be made of shimmering ceramic. Its elegant curves were supported by golden, feline-shaped legs, giving it a refined look.
It's quite impressive.
'…If you ignore the fact that it was a footbath.'
Someone with just the right size to fit in it, however, was evidently thrilled.
– Mr. Roe Deer! Please put me in there! With some bath salts…
Wait, if it's a blood bath, then—
"…You mean you want my blood as the bath salt?"
– Precisely! How perceptive of you, Mr. Roe Deer.
This crazy little…
For a brief moment, I wavered between reasoning with him or bolting out the door.
– Haha! I'm joking, Friend!
"..."
– With no audience or cameras here, I'd never make such a demanding request of a friend!
But what about if there was an audience and cameras?
I kept that thought to myself. Desperate people have to bite their tongue sometimes. Still, I couldn't resist saying one thing.
"Please, no more jokes like that. They're not funny—they're terrifying."
– My, I understand! Humor is a cultural delicacy, and it's always important to handle it carefully!
This is what 'carefully handled' looks like?
– Anyway, back to the main point… there's already a perfectly suitable alternative for bath salts in this space, isn't there?
– Let's see if our Mr. Roe Deer can figure out what it is!
Something in my place? I glanced around.
'He couldn't possibly mean Baek Saheon, the guy in the next room…'
No no, let's not even consider that.
I tried to think of other options… Then, my eyes landed on something that had been sitting on the corner of my desk for the past few days.
Reluctantly, I pointed at it.
"…This wild ginseng?"
– Excellent!
Yes. It was the corrupted, purple wild ginseng I had unknowingly taken from the Sangun-nim ghost story.
'I guess you could call it sap… or maybe something more like blood did seem to flow through it.'
But, for days now, it had just looked like a regular wild ginseng with an odd purple hue. My plan was to feed it more apple juice if it ever woke up, and if that didn't work, just donate it to the company. But surprisingly, it hadn't stirred at all.
'All that tension waiting for it to wake up at sunrise that day was pretty pointless…'
Braun had even commented,
– I doubt it will ever wake up again. After all, weaker creatures tend to play dead when they sense danger, do they not?
Maybe getting pulled into the real world from the changgwi's 'Sangun-nim's Burial Grounds' had traumatized it.
– Anyways, Friend, if it concerns you, I'll keep an eye on it.
And so far, there hadn't been a single problem.
So… was he suggesting I use this ginseng?
'Mm, that could work.'
Without any supernatural possession, it was just a juicy piece of ginseng.
Besides… I was genuinely curious to see the Bloodbathtub in action.
'It's kind of fascinating, isn't it?'
I had some curiosity of my own, which is probably why I sometimes snuck peeks at the creepypasta wiki during work breaks…
There aren't many creepypastas I can safely observe, even if just in images.
Using ginseng juice instead of blood could be a unique opportunity.
– Ooooh!
I grabbed a pair of rubber gloves and scissors from the kitchen.
The plush monster beneath my bed spoke in a low, excited voice.
– Now, place me in the bath please!
"Wait."
There was something I needed to clarify.
"This bath is for rejuvenation… do you really need to be rejuvenated? I mean… you look young enough."
I wanted to point out the absurdity of a plushie needing such a concept, but held back.
Braun, however, let out a hearty laugh, crisp as if it were a prerecorded sound effect.
– Hahaha! You're seeing the concept of 'rejuvenation' too narrowly, my friend! Don't worry, you've got a fine conversationalist here to explain!
– In fact, 'rejuvenation' means 'the return of spring' in Hanja. In other words, it means 'to regain the prowess of one's prime'.
– For some reason, I'm feeling rather heavy and unbalanced these days, so this bath is exactly what I need!
…But you're a stuffed toy.
And the tub's description clearly said it was good for 'healing wounds, recovering energy, treating arthritis, and enhancing skin health'.
'…I dunno anymore.'
If he insists this much…
In the creepypastas I've read, there wasn't really a case where a plush doll with a friendly spirit would turn on you after being treated well. The disasters always happened when they were mistreated.
I decided to stop overthinking it. It was unnecessarily scary.
With rubber gloves on, I held scissors in one hand and the wild ginseng in the other.
'Let's try it out.'
And with that, I reached for the Bloodbathtub.
I took a deep breath and recalled the instructions for the Bloodbathtub.
First, fill the tub with warm water.
1- Add clean water to the tub as much as you like.
('Bathtub of Youth – Foot Massage Edition' is a product that does not support automatic water filling.)
As instructed, I poured enough warm water from the sink into the tub to submerge a plush doll.
Then…
This is where the main process begins.
2- Once the water is filled to the desired level, pour at least 200ml of fresh blood over it.
The fresher the blood, especially from a healthy and lively subject, the better the effects.
The very idea that such nonsense was written in a polite and friendly font seemed absurd, but thankfully, I had a substitute.
I lifted the wild ginseng.
With scissors, I cut off one of the medium-sized outer roots.
'Ugh.'
Dark purple sap, nauseating to look at, oozed from the severed root.
I was immensely grateful for the rubber gloves I wore.
Careful not to touch the sap, I placed the severed root against the edge of the Bloodbathtub.
And then, a remarkable sight unfolded.
Bubble, bubble.
The sap that touched the water began to froth, releasing a fantastic aroma.
"...!"
The nauseating, dark purple sap transformed into a rich, beautiful, rose-colored cream that shimmered brilliantly.
It was bizarre and mesmerizing.
The luxurious and inviting bathwater that anyone would be tempted to step into was now prepared.
3- Submerge your body entirely in the bathwater and enjoy the experience.
(The Foot Massage Edition also restores vitality to the entire body.)
An eager voice came from beneath the dark bed.
– At last!
The laughter of the plush doll.
– Ah, there's no need to carry me, Mr. Roe Deer.
– Just don't turn around.
I froze on the spot.
…Behind me, I heard a sound.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The sound of footsteps.
No, was it the plush doll?
The sound resembled a man's heavy, rhythmic leather shoes, slightly lively yet weighty. It passed right behind me and stopped.
Then came the sound of something splashing into the tub.
– You may look now.
I turned my head.
The plush doll, soaked in the bathwater in the small tub, floated there with its unchanged, smiling mascot-like face.
"…Braun?"
There was no response.
Of course, there wouldn't be. Talking face-to-face with a plush doll wasn't something possible in reality.
But I knew it was listening.
"Well, I'll clean up the wild ginseng for now. Enjoy your bath."
I placed the wild ginseng, which had stopped oozing sap, back on the desk and turned to look at the tub, recalling the records of those who had used the Bloodbathtub. ꞦＡΝộᛒΕS̈
========================
Usage Record #05
In the process of cleaning up the remnants of a bathbomb of a tenant (a half-Caucasian man in his 20s), the landlord (a man in his 40s) inevitably dipped his hand into the bathwater left behind. This lasted for about 30 seconds before he emptied the tub.
Immediately, the skin and muscle tissues of his hand regressed to the condition of his mid-30s. Signs of vitality were observed throughout his body.
That same night, he attempted to flee with the Bloodbathtub in his car but was apprehended.
========================
Hmm, nothing like that seemed to be happening here.
'Maybe it doesn't work on dolls after all.'
I should grab a towel.
As I turned toward the dresser—
– Ooooh!
A voice?
I turned my head.
From the seemingly empty tub, faint sparks crackled like an old TV screen short-circuiting.
– Light is entering my powerless limbs!
Flash.
The shadow of the plush doll loomed large over the tub as its small arms were raised triumphantly.
What was that?
– Mr. Roe Deer!
Don't call me!
– This is such a fascinating artifact! Haha, hahahaha!
I swallowed nervously as I watched.
'…Could he really be regaining power?'
There was no record of the Bloodbathtub's rejuvenation effects extending this far. This was unprecedented.
– More bath salts! Pour in more!
Bath salts.
Without thinking, I grabbed the wild ginseng from the desk…
[AAAAACK! This punk, don't grab the wild ginseng!!!]
[Mercy, noble one!! Spare me! Please spare me!!]
Ack, fucking hell!
Startled, I reflexively threw the wild ginseng.
Thunk.
The wild ginseng landed straight into the Bloodbathtub. It seemed to realize that its sap was being transformed into fragrant bathwater and let out a desperate scream.
[AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!]
But that was all.
The wild ginseng didn't seem capable of causing trouble as before.
Whether the bathtub's mysterious power was suppressing it, or Braun had done something, I couldn't tell.
A desperate cry echoed.
[Please spare me, noble one! Noble one!! I was wrong! I was wrong!]
[I'll do my best! I'll serve you!!]
– How rude and noisy!
More sparks crackled from the Bloodbathtub.
It resembled a TV screen with its signals scrambled.
From within, the booming voice of an irate announcer rang out.
– Slice its neck, Friend! Silence it! Don't ruin this scene!
"..."
I straightened up.
Without looking into the tub, I said,
"You don't have to go that far to quiet it down."
– ...
"There's no need for such extreme methods."
– In a show, a single moment or timing can dictate all the reactions and feelings.
"But this isn't a show, is it?"
– That is…
The electricity sparking from the tub began to subside.
– You're right. Yes, that's true.
Phew.
'I almost ended up registering this under the Bloodbathtub's irregular usage records.'
Not that the situation wasn't already ridiculous.
From inside the tub came a pitiful, sobbing voice.
[Thank you… Thank you, savior.]
[Kind benefactor! Please, now get me out of here and save me from this ruthless monster's hands…]
I crossed my arms.
"I never said I'd save you."
[...?!]
Who ends up as the victim in the middle of a ghost story?
It's always the kind-hearted person who lets their guard down at moments like this!
'When a ghost starts crying, and you get soft-hearted, that's exactly when something scary happens!'
At times like this, you must stay calm and act firmly. I stared at the wild ginseng abandoned in the tub, past the ceramic edge.
"If I save you, how do I know you won't cause trouble?"
A sobbing sound followed.
[Then, in that case… uh, how about this? A field! I'll tell you about the rare treasures around the field where I lived!]
"I don't need it."
It was bound to be some cursed, haunted item anyway.
[Th-then…]
I sighed.
"Just prove you won't harm anyone. Stay quiet."
[...]
The wild ginseng fell silent.
At least I'd bought some time.
A few minutes passed in a tense silence (though possibly enjoyable for Braun).
'Ten minutes.'
That's how long I had been keeping track when—
– Hm. That was a fine bath.
"..."
Is it over?
I was about to turn my head, thinking I might need to lift Braun out of the tub.
– Ah, splendid… Thank you, Mr. Roe Deer.
The plush doll's voice had turned sly.
– For waiting until my bath was finished!
Bang.
[GAAAHH!!]
A thunderous noise and a scream erupted from the tub.
This insane—!
-x-X-x-
– Wait a moment! Friend, don't move. If anyone sees this plush body stuffed with cotton, I'll die of embarrassment!
[You promised to save me, you promised!!]
– Haha! But Mr. Roe Deer said he never made such a promise!
"Wait!"
I finally ran to the tub.
I thought I heard someone clicking their tongue, but it vanished as soon as I leaned over the tub.
What I saw was the wild ginseng, cornered, thrashing about wildly while shaking itself like crazy.
The ginseng's berries looked half-crushed, as if it had been kicked, and its roots were mangled as though someone had tried to squeeze the sap out of them.
[Save me, save me…]
The wild ginseng seemed completely drained, its berries movements slowing.
[L-Let me go…]
…Let you go?
I reached into the tub with my gloved hand to examine the wild ginseng.
'It's not tied down or anything.'
[Save…]
As I followed the ginseng's plea, I felt vibrations in my hand.
"..."
Vibrations.
Now that I thought about it, every time the wild ginseng 'spoke', I felt this kind of pulse in my hand.
It wasn't odd, considering its voice was a form of vibration.
But something did seem strange.
'Its roots aren't moving.'
Now that I thought about it, even in the field, only the leaves and berries moved when it spoke.
The roots merely stretched out like infected tendrils.
"..."
If that's the case…
I instinctively grabbed the ginseng and plucked off its berries.
At that moment—
[Yeeeeeessss!]
The berries vibrated wildly before bouncing out of my hand.
"...!"
It seemed overjoyed as it spun in midair.
[Freedom!! Freedom! The tiger's jaws are gone! Gone!!!]
[Thank you, benefactor!! Thank you!!]
The berries began to fade, its shape flickering until it turned into a glowing light, floating upward and eventually disappearing out the window.
"..."
Was that the real body?
– Oh no! It escaped. What a shame.
Phew.
– Such a lowly, deceitful creature, constantly changing its story, should never be given another chance!
"Is that so. Well, next time, let's make sure to agree on things beforehand…"
– Even in moments requiring quick decision-making?
"If no one's life is at stake, yes."
– …Understood, friend.
It sounded a bit sulky, but at least I got a promise.
Satisfied, I let it go…
– By the way, look at this! I've rejuvenated quite a bit!
I looked back into the tub.
There was the plush doll, now oddly shiny, soaking in the water.
The once damp cotton stuffing now seemed to glisten for some reason.
"...?"
Oh, somehow it did look a bit more expensive now. Should I say it looked higher quality?
He also seemed to have grown slightly, just as he claimed.
'…It better not get any bigger.'
The whole point was that he was keychain-sized so I could carry him around without drawing suspicion. A full-grown adult carrying a stuffed toy bigger than their hand wherever he went would attract way too much attention.
I already stood out enough at the company as it was.
'I'll think this through before letting him use the Bloodbathtub again.'
Or better yet, I'd just go home before needing to deal with it again.
"You're right. You do look great."
I carefully dried Braun with a hairdryer and wrapped him in a clean towel for safekeeping.
When I returned to clean the tub, I noticed something surprising.
"…The wild ginseng root is still here."
I thought the wild ginseng would disappear along with its berries, but there it was, completely intact.
In fact, it looked even better.
The wild ginseng, which had been discolored as though contaminated, had regained its original ivory hue, now clean and pristine.
'It even smells kind of nice.'
It now exuded an aura of mystery, entirely opposite to its prior cursed nature.
"Hm."
After some hesitation, I decided to keep it and placed it in my desk drawer.
Who knows, it might come in handy someday.
"And with that… it's over."
'One more ordeal survived…'
I collapsed onto my bed with a thud.
Wow, since entering this ghost-story world, I felt like my lifespan had shortened by at least twenty years.
'I need to rack up points quickly and get out of here.'
The irony of having to actively tackle more ghost stories to achieve that was almost laughable.
– Mr. Roe Deer.
Ack, startled me again.
– My body and speech feel much more fluid now!
– Oh, but don't turn to look over here.
I almost turned but stopped myself, fixing my head back onto the pillow.
Braun chattered on.
– It seems we can now have conversations here without directly meeting eyes.
– Isn't that a delightfully shy method? Frustrating yet oddly fascinating.
Sure, talk all you want…
'You'll probably save my life again when I enter another ghost story, so…'
– You seem quite tired! Have a good dream, my friend.
I passed out as if fainting.
It was a deep, refreshing sleep, washing away days of exhaustion.
…Only to wake up to yet another problem.
* * *
That same day, in the afternoon.
While Kim Soleum was idly chatting about trivial matters with his superiors in D-squad's office, a certain other employee closely connected to him was walking down the corridor…
"Ah, Section Chief Lee Byeongjin."
Yes, it was that same section chief who had gone missing and been rescued by Kim Soleum.
"Y-Yes!"
The person who stopped him was one of the company's directors.
It wasn't exactly a pleasant encounter for a regular employee, but Section Chief Lee forced a bright smile onto his face and politely shook hands.
He had no choice.
This man was the lifeline connecting him to the company's hierarchy.
A direct link to A-squad, and to the top of the terrifying and mysterious corporate food chain of this company!
'Director Ho!'
The director who had called him in the hallway smiled and asked,
"I heard you returned after being missing. Are you alright?"
"Oh, yes, Director. Thanks to your concern, I'm perfectly fine and working hard to ensure the company's well-being."
"Haha."
The director didn't comment on the obvious flattery. Instead, he spoke softly and calmly.
"You were lucky. Many who fall into the Darkness never make it out."
"Oh, indeed… I was lucky to have been rescued."
"Rescued? Did you perhaps receive help from the Disaster Management Bureau?"
Though the director's tone remained unchanged, Lee Byeongjin flinched.
This particular director was notoriously uncomfortable with, if not outright hostile toward, any government involvement.
Cold sweat dripped down his back.
"N-No, of course not! A company employee found me!"
"Ah, I see."
"Yes, yes! Oh, it was a new hire from the Field Exploration Team. A very capable individual, truly!"
That such praise could come from such a self-preserving man was shocking in itself.
The director smiled and asked,
"What's their name?"
"Oh! Kim Soleum… a new hire in D-Squad. Kim Soleum."
For Lee Byeongjin, saying this took a surprising amount of courage.
It was his way of repaying the person who saved his life.
'Director Ho might be intimidating, but he's a decent superior.'
As long as you didn't trigger any of his pet peeves, of course.
"He's a very promising recruit, Director. Truly."
And so, unbeknownst to Kim Soleum, a connection was being established behind the scenes.
Lee Byeongjin wiped his nose with his hand.
'Soleum, when you find out later, you'll thank me!'
But no, that wasn't the case at all!
In any case, this action by Lee Byeongjin ended up creating a significant butterfly effect…
"Oh, yes. I'll have to remember that name."
And just a few days later, something big occurred in the company.
Specifically, within the Field Exploration Team.
-x-X-x-
[Don't come in today, Roe. Just stay home.]
"Huh?"
I stopped in my tracks on my way to work, having just received a call.
It was from my direct superior, fifteen minutes before I was supposed to clock in.
[I'll handle this as an on-site matter, so don't come to the office. I've already discussed this with Section Chief Lee Jaheon.]
"Understood. But may I ask why?"
[Well… that's just how it goes for field staff in this company. It's an issue with some Darkness, you know. Darkness.]
Ah.
I could hear Assistant Manager Eun Haje letting out a long sigh, accompanied by the faint wailing of Supervisor Park Minseong.
It seemed like the rest of D-squad had already clocked in.
[All the new hires are being excluded, not just you. So don't overthink it and stay home.]
"What kind of Darkness is it?"
[Oh. If you're not directly involved, I can't tell you.]
"..."
[Actually, it's better if you don't know.]
Could it be one of those? The kind where just knowing about it causes problems?
Like the infamous 'informational contamination' ghost stories.
For example, hearing someone's nightmare only to start dreaming the same thing yourself, or a ghost that relentlessly pursues you until death once you know its name.
The idea of 'something terrible happening just because I'm aware of it' stems from humanity's shared primal fear.
'And if they're telling me not to come in because of it, it must be pretty serious…'
Still, judging by their tone, it sounded like they were more concerned about a new hire making a mistake than leaving a dying message, so it should be fine.
…Unless, of course, they were pretending to stay calm just to avoid causing me stress.
'Either way, I can't go to the office now.'
If they don't need me, forcing my way there would only cause trouble. That'd be a perfect recipe for disaster.
I told them I understood and hung up.
'Guess I'll clean up the Bloodbathtub today and skim through the
But just a few hours later—
[Kim Soleum-ssi.]
"Yes?"
[Report to work.]
"..."
What is this, some kind of problem-dog training program…?
While I was still stunned, Chief Lizard continued speaking without missing a beat.
[Be at the main conference room of the 31st floor by 2 PM.]
A conference room on a high floor I'd never even heard of before!
"Wait a moment. I was told not to come in this morning… has the situation changed?"
[Yes. One of the executives has specifically requested your presence.]
"..."
Excuse me?
[I'll see you at 2.]
Please spare me.
* * *
"You're here."
At the elevator on the 31st floor, I ran into D-squad's Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who was anxiously crossing her arms.
I lowered my voice and urgently asked her,
"Has the situation changed?"
"A bit. Ha… that insane bastard."
And with that ominous comment, I was ushered into the conference room, my head spinning.
"He's here. Employee Kim Soleum."
"Ahh."
"You called him all the way to the conference room? Well, Just send him directly."
A group of superiors, whose exact affiliations I couldn't even guess, were sitting around talking.
The moment they noticed me, they fell silent, exchanging glances.
The eerie tension stiffened the back of my neck.
'Why is the office tension always the same, no matter where you are or what the setting?'
Eventually, their excitement led them to resume their discussion, and I finally figured out why I'd been singled out and summoned to this baffling situation…
It was a classic, annoying reason.
They're short-staffed.
"Look, it's confirmed to be a high-grade Darkness, but there are civilian survivors. This could be a revolutionary case for sourcing high-quality materials."
"That's what I'm saying. So why are we having endless debates and more meetings about it? Honestly, Department Head Kang, we need to make bold investments!"
"Who said we're against investing? But this isn't the kind of issue you can solve by throwing a few more rookies into the mix…"
"Ah, this guy, seriously. Didn't I say we're short on manpower? Huh? Our Research Team's Manager Kwak says so."
Manager Kwak?
I turned my head to see none other than Section Chief Kwak Jaekang of the Research Team, grinning while occupying a corner seat.
The very mad scientist who had once thrown his own researcher subordinate into a theme park creepypasta.
'So his disciplinary action is over.'
Just looking at him gave me a headache.
"Isn't that right, Manager Kwak? We need more people, don't we?"
"Ah~ That's right. It's obvious that we need to increase the number of personnel to deal with this Darkness!"
"..."
Was that guy the consulting expert?
I had a strong suspicion that this wasn't about a lack of personnel but rather about wanting to see the fresh exploration results of a clueless new hire.
'In any case, guess I'm heading into this Darkness today.'
And if I was being called in with such grandeur…
The thought that this would be no ordinary mission sent chills down my spine.
They mentioned it was a high-grade Darkness with civilian survivors, didn't they?
While quickly running through similar cases from the
'…At least I came prepared.'
Just in case, I brought everything I could today.
A full item package.
"Introductions are done, so you can leave now, everyone."
"Yes, understood."
Assistant Manager Eun gave a quick bow and left the conference room with me.
Ka-chak.
The moment the door closed, she muttered under her breath.
"How many more times do I have to watch these bean counters, who've never set foot into a Darkness, puff up their chests about their so-called 'strategic solutions'? Ugh. This is why I can't quit smoking."
"Assistant Manager."
"What, it's not like they'd hear us over their own bickering."
But I can hear you.
"Those who couldn't even pass the Field Exploration Team orientation test but climbed up the ladder using their connections and nepotism… Ugh."
Assistant Manager Eun glanced around the conference room a few times, her face betraying desperation for one long drag of a cig, then let out a small sigh.
"…Anyway, you heard, right? We're going into a newly registered high-grade Darkness now."
So it's confirmed.
"Not just us—over thirty people have already gone in."
"…Does that include Section Chief Lee and Supervisor Park?"
"Yeah, they're already in. …It's going to be dangerous. I won't lie to reassure you."
"..."
"But don't worry too much. You got us all out alive from that crazy quiz show, didn't you? We'll be fine."
"…Understood."
I adjusted the strap on my satchel, slinging it across my chest.
"Is that your gear?"
"Yes. Food and other supplies."
"Hmm. Looks about a good size."
Assistant Manager Eun scanned my appearance a few times and asked,
"Nothing that would get flagged during security checks, right?"
"…No, ma'am."
I made it past the front gate without issue.
Though I felt like the cursed wild ginseng could have caused problems, I'm technically not carrying anything illegal, so it should be fine.
Still, I wondered why D-squad wasn't moving as a group today, leaving only the assistant manager behind.
"May I ask how the others entered?"
She pointed with her chin, her face expressionless.
"They disappeared the moment they read the manual."
"..."
"That's the kind of Darkness this is. The moment you learn even a little about it, you're pulled in."
Huu.
"I haven't read it yet so I could take you in myself. We'll read it together."
"Understood."
Wow, this is actually going to drive me insane.
"It'll be fine. Neither of them are the type to die easily."
Please don't say ominous lines like that!
'Let's just pretend I didn't hear that.'
I took a deep breath and accepted the manual Assistant Manager Eun handed me.
…Reading this would mean entering the high-grade Darkness.
'…Let's mentally prepare.'
I read it all in one go.
+++
Greetings.
You are currently viewing a manual summarizing information about our exhibition's previous visitors.
+++
"...!"
+++
Before proceeding, we would like to inform you that you have been invited to a very special exhibition.
+++
"..."
A chill ran down my spine.
'I'm screwed.'
My eyes squeezed shut.
In my mind, a wiki page automatically flashed before me.
========================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story
[Manor of the Blind]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-B-666
Greetings, dear guest. This text was written to invite you to a marvelous exhibition.
To ensure a smooth journey, once you've read this, no matter where you go, you will arrive at our exhibition.
Visitation records indicate a total of up to 106 previous attendees in this document.
Additionally, any attempts to record information about this ghost story are altered into the format of an invitation sent by the exhibition itself.
It is an honor to extend this invitation.
========================
A prime example of an informational contamination ghost story registered in the
The kind of viral sensation on video platforms that draws hundreds of thousands of views!
'The Eyeball Collector.'
"..."
With a trembling heart, I looked back at the manual.
There it was—the exact line I had expected to see.
+++
To ensure a smooth journey, once you've read this, no matter where you go, you will arrive at our exhibition.
+++
And, just as it said, it happened.
"Hah."
As I stepped back, I realized the texture of the floor beneath my feet had changed.
From the matte office tiles to the glossy, old marble.
Thuk.
Slowly, I raised my head.
Before me stood a massive mansion, so silent I could hear the flickering of candle flames.
The twilight and the glow of candles illuminated the grand, ancient interior in a reddish-golden hue.
Numerous displays cast faint outlines in the shadows…
"..."
Assistant Manager Eun Haje was nowhere to be seen.
But I didn't do anything foolish, like call out for her.
Instead, I slowly backed away.
Then, I hid in a corner.
'…Huu.'
Seated behind a sofa, I opened the manual again with trembling hands.
+++
Here are some common reviews from nine visitors of this exhibition, temporarily collected by Daydream Inc. (Ltd.):
1- You can view rare and diverse collections never seen before.
2- Eating or drinking in the exhibition hall is prohibited.
3- Visitors are advised to maintain standard viewing etiquette.
4- It is extremely difficult to find the exit.
The exhibition strongly requests a revision to the final review. The exhibition hall has all emergency exits properly marked.
Anyone may stop viewing and leave the exhibition at any time they wish.
+++
This was likely true.
The problem was that the 'anyone' here didn't seem to include humans.
People couldn't properly use the emergency exits or entrances in this place.
"…Ha."
An exhibition that so casually assumed its visitors weren't human.
Humans of the modern era were merely accidental victims, swept into this massive nightmare and experiencing cosmic horror.
It was a deeply unsettling creepypasta.
Honestly, I never liked it. I couldn't even understand why it was so popular on platforms like WeTube…
– Friend?
"...!"
– Goodness, Mr. Roe Deer… are you hiding?
Who knew I'd be this happy to have someone to talk to?
I half-pulled Braun out of my pocket.
– My, this is quite a fine place.
– Why not go out and take a look? This seems like a location worthy of being introduced to visitors…
Go out there?
'No way.'
– Oh my, may I ask why not? This appears to be an exhibition run by someone who knows how to extend a polite and comfortable invitation…
That sounded exactly like something the host of that murderous quiz show would say to lure people in with postcards.
I felt my head ache.
Pressing my fingers to my eyes, I stood up from the sofa.
– Ah, it seems you've decided to explore!
No.
'I just want to move somewhere else.'
I carefully examined the wall, searching for the source of the faint sound of air.
Before long, I found what I was looking for—a ventilation duct hidden beneath a dark section of the wall, obscured by a massive vase, far from the reach of the candlelight. ℞ἈŊộBÊş
'A vent.'
Quietly, I climbed inside, leaving the lock unfastened, and held my breath.
This was the only temporary safe zone I could recall.
========================
From the fifth visitor record:
A gentleman testified that he survived for over five days by crawling into a ventilation duct and licking the moisture from falling droplets.
On the sixth day, an usher found him.
We'd like to remind you that our exhibition is fully equipped with guest rooms for long-term visitors.
(Note: It is deeply regrettable, however we advise against staying in a guest room for the recorded 40th visit. Our exhibition prides itself on offering rooms that match the elegance of our collection and consistently maintains a high reputation.)
========================
– Why hide in this filthy place when there's a perfectly good sofa out there?
I ignored the voice. I needed to plan my next steps.
'How do I get out?'
No—what baffled me more was why so many people were necessary for this ghost story in the first place.
Having a large group enter didn't seem advantageous at all… Wait.
Was this scattershot approach because—
'They don't know enough?'
Maybe it was because this was still the early stages of exploration.
'In that case, wouldn't the earlier phases of this exploration be recorded in the
"..."
I pulled out my smartphone, dimmed the screen brightness to its lowest setting, and lay down to scroll quickly through the
And then…
'Found it.'
========================
From the seventeenth visitor record:
This record documents an invitation extended by Daydream Inc. to thirty-four employees from the Field Exploration Team.
Seven of them returned home safely.
========================
This was it.
I was now part of this record, one of the thirty-four people who had entered during the seventeenth iteration.
And I was likely the thirty-fifth person.
'…Only seven made it back safely.'
I was about to cross-reference the manual and the
Creeeeeak.
"..."
From a distance, I began to hear a sound.
The slow, grinding noise of a moving machine.
And then—
Aaaaahhh! Why, why is it chasing us…!! Get away, get awaaaay!!!
Screams, accompanied by frantic footsteps.
"..."
Thud thud! Thud! Creeeak, thud! Rat-a-tat-tat, creeeak, thud!
The sound of something pounding against the marble floor grew closer.
Cold sweat trickled down my cheek.
Help us, no— NOOOO!!
Let us out, let us ouuuut…!!
The pounding of fleeing footsteps echoed louder, joined by panicked cries. The sound was right on the verge of reaching me.
At least ten or more people seemed to be running.
Behind them, a heavy mechanical noise pursued with deliberate, suffocating persistence.
Screeeeeech.
Thump.
A drop of cold sweat fell from my chin.
"..."
'Maybe just one person.'
In the throes of extreme deliberation, I leaned out of the vent.
Swiftly, I grabbed the back of one of the fleeing individuals and yanked them toward me.
"...!"
Practically lifting them into the air, I hauled them into the vent and forced them to crouch down with me.
'This space can fit one more person, just barely.'
If they were from the Field Exploration Team, the odds of them being a liability were relatively low.
"Hah."
Fortunately, the trembling person seemed to grasp the situation and immediately fell silent.
They seemed quick-witted… wait a second.
"...!"
"...!!"
'Baek Saheon.'
My roommate from the company dorm.
Wearing a goat mask, Baek Saheon swallowed hard as he crouched in the vent, staring straight at me.
I had just saved this punk's life.
-x-X-x-