Chapter 63
All the lights in the circus arena went out.
The darkness filled the space to the extent that the expression ‘blackout’ would be appropriate, as pitch-black as if a thick curtain of night had descended.
Kki-kik-kki-kik.
….. A mechanical noise?
A small gear wheel turns, making a squeaking sound that pierces the ears.
Kki-ki-k-kik-.
The sound of rusty metals creating irregular friction made one’s expression naturally furrow.
And then soon after.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
In the space where the pitch-black darkness seemed to stretch endlessly, suddenly brilliant lights poured down, dyeing the surroundings in a bright, radiant glow.
Through the hazy vision, a form slowly took shape.
What was revealed before our eyes.
Was a massive stage.
A stage we had never seen before.
Under the dazzling light, the stage emerged clearly and slowly revealed itself.
Kki-ki-ki-kik-
As an unbearably unpleasant metallic sound resounded, the thick curtain covering the stage slowly drew back to both sides, gradually exposing the stage’s scenery before us.
As all the curtains disappeared, the moment our gaze touched the stage.
People dressed in black suits simultaneously turned their heads and stared at the stage, repeating the same movement.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
Their movements were like a single body, perfectly synchronized.
And they, as if following the signal of an invisible conductor.
Began to clap in unison.
Staring at the empty stage with nothing on it.
Like dolls with loose screws.
Ceaselessly, endlessly.
Like beings that exist only to clap.
Kkwak-
But,
One man did not clap. No, he could not clap.
‘…. It’s coming.’
Ttak-
!
Ttak-
The sound of high heels hitting the ears.
Walking as if intentionally making sound, showing off one’s existence.
I focused my gaze there.
A small-framed figure.
A clown wearing a mask with clear tear tracks slowly revealed itself in the darkness.
A Tear mask.
But it was now emanating a different sense of dissonance from just moments ago.
Ttak-
When the Tear mask’s footsteps stopped precisely in the center of the stage.
…… A bow.
He bowed deeply towards us outside the stage, greeting us politely.
And when he raised his head again.
Plop—
An unpleasant friction sound scratched the space.
What was standing there was an entirely different being.
Plop-
Plop-
His small frame began to twist.
His short arms and legs lengthened, and every time his joints bent, a sound like breaking tree branches leaked out.
Plop-
The tear mask’s costume tore, revealing a clown outfit with fancy ribbons and decorations.
The sparkling sequins glittered under the lights, but their luster was damp and unpleasant.
With the last creaking sound from his neck.
☻
A man appeared before our eyes, holding a pure white mask with a bright smile etched on it in one hand.
……
‘He’s here.’
He has finally appeared.
The eldest brother among the clown siblings that I least wanted to meet in this ghost story……
No, let me correct that.
Among the six siblings, the absolute eldest brother whom I never wanted to meet under any circumstances.
– The Smiling Mask.
He held the mask in one hand.
Maintaining a smile with raised corners of his mouth, he slowly bowed.
【♤ I offer my greetings to the audience. 】
His face was tinged with a mad smile, and his feet lightly stepped on the stage like a ballet dancer.
【♤ Come on! Everyone! Cheers and applause! 】
Then he extended his hand with an exaggerated gesture towards the empty stage.
———
/Handle with caution.
/Wonderlot Circus.
[Smiling Mask]
: Single Identification Code Cd-A-☺☻☺
Angry Mask, Love Mask, Tear Mask.
When two of three are suppressed, he reveals himself. (Only one must remain.)
If the Smiling Mask appears and starts his opening remarks on stage.
Clap immediately.
Scream with excitement.
Show a positive response to all his actions, dialogues, and performances.
Even a little.
If you want to die less painfully.
Physical suppression ☻
Mental damage ☻
Additional note.
What a perfect day for a performance ☻.
———
…… Damn, damn, damn!
I didn’t capture the Love Mask immediately to prevent summoning the Smiling Mask.
The plan was to capture the Tear Mask simultaneously.
The preparations were complete.
All that was left was to take out the quill pen.
And yet……
It went wrong.
I swallowed a bitter smile inwardly at their loose-screw faces.
Because of these fools who were cheerfully sending applause to the Smiling Mask.
The meticulously planned strategy was shaken in an instant due to unexpected variables.
The agency people were clapping their hands with stupid faces, like puppets.
I thought they would have prepared everything from training to issued supplies in preparation for emotional synchronization.
At least I thought so.
I thought it would be okay.
I thought the agency people would naturally have immunity items.
That was my mistake.
Soon, a cheerful voice echoed throughout the circus.
【♤ … It’s been a while. It really feels like a long time since I’ve come to see you all! This Smiling Mask offers a welcome greeting to everyone!! 】
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
The agency people clapped along with the Smiling Mask’s cheerful voice.
But my gaze turned to the only one not clapping, the woman wearing a teddy bear mask.
“…… What is this?”
“!!”
Han-sol was the only one maintaining self-awareness here.
Because every single person was crucial at this moment.
Unless all possible means are used at full power……
We will die here.
We will be brutally killed by that Smiling Mask.
I shouted loudly towards Han-sol.
“Block your ears immediately! You must absolutely not listen to his voice!”
“!!”
Han-sol’s answer did not come back.
However, she moved without hesitation.
Using the soft doll-like arm, she firmly blocked her ears.
Her reaction was faster than words.
‘Well done, Han-sol!’
The appearance was utterly sloppy, but now it was a hundred times, a thousand times better than just sitting still.
Squeeze!
I also blocked my ears tightly with both hands.
As we both stopped moving and blocked our ears at the same time.
The smiling mask, paused for a moment.
More precisely.
‘As if acting out surprise’, taking a gesture.
【♤Oh my? This is surprising. Could there be an audience member who has met me before?】
The smiling mask exaggeratedly covered its mouth.
The eyes opened round, exaggerated like a character in a cartoon, trembling all over and stepping back.
【♤Oh! Oh my, you’re covering your ears. So, did I just talk to myself just now? This is embarrassing… I’m embarrassed.】
The smiling mask clasped its hands, wrapping its face, and turned away sulkily with shoulders slightly lifted.
“…….”
But as expected, no answer came back.
The smiling mask’s voice sank low.
Slowly, as if whispering, it invaded the space.
【♤It seems about time for some spectacular fireworks to match my grand entrance… Isn’t that right, everyone☻】
Bang! Bang! Bang!
!!!
Just one word.
As soon as his one word ended, the officers’ heads burst like flower petals, scattering blood droplets and gray matter.
Without a warning.
Where the officers who were just applauding should have had their heads,
Only an empty void and reddened debris remained.
Tick-
!
The sound of shoe heels rang out precisely again.
Certainly, while covering both ears, that resonance precisely rang through the eardrums again.
‘Indeed……….’
Could not be blocked by such a simple method…….
Swish-
I slowly loosened the two hands covering my ears.
And the face before me was a mask with a smile that was either smiling or sneering, which I stared at.
【♤Did you feel it? Did you feel helpless? My cheerful voice cannot be blocked by such a simple method.】
【♤And, it seems the audience has much… very much left to discuss with me.】
“…….”
My mind became tangled complexly.
Cold sweat flowing down my neck soaked my back.
‘Really, the worst timing.’
I ground my teeth inwardly.
Why exactly now?
Why did everything have to go wrong at this very timing?
But,
I could not give up.
Sensation returned to my fingertips.
I inhaled a breath.
Creak…….
…….
……?
…there is.
There was.
There was still a way to send him back.
Swish-
My gaze turned to the white skull mark on my wrist.
Bringing the worst misfortune.
The symbol of a ‘day when luck is exhausted’.
White skull mark.
With that chilling sensation seeping from inside my coat, the ghost story note from just before quickly flashed before my eyes.
———
/Handle with care.
/Wonderlot Circus.
[Smiling Mask]
:Single identification code Cd-A-☻☺☻
Angry mask, love mask, tearful mask.
When two of three are suppressed, he reveals himself. (Only one must remain.)
.
.
.
———
I can do it.
Park Yeon-jeong has the quill pen that captured the angry mask in his own embrace.
If only I could take this guy out of the quill pen like during the princess ghost story….
‘…Sorry, Noise.’
But I have to live too.
If I break the quill pen once more and call back the captured angry mask here,
I can send the smiling mask back.
And now, I had to create a momentary gap where I could throw the quill pen to the floor.
My stiffened gaze turned to the two teddy bears standing beside me to protect me.
I gave a slight wink towards the first teddy bear and the third teddy bear.
…nod.
…nod.
‘Thank you very much, teddy bear.’
I couldn’t tell if they truly understood my meaning.
But right now, every second was urgent.
There was no time to worry about such things.
So, I believed.
Teddy bear… I believe.
……Swish.
I slowly pushed my right hand into the inner pocket of my coat.
The smiling mask continued to speak.
【♤My siblings told me about the audience. ‘Give them a hard time’.】
“…….”
‘That was self-defense!’
If not, I would have died by their hands first.
Swish.
Creak-
!
The sensation touching my fingertips.
This time, it was definitely the quill pen.
Unlike last time, I cannot make the mistake of grabbing the wrong object.
【♤But I know. My immature siblings must have bothered the audience first. I understand. I understand very well.】
I ignored his words again.
With my fingertips holding all fate now, I could not let his voice reach my ears.
Nod.
With my short sign of nodding my head.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp!!
The first and third teddy bears simultaneously began to rush towards the smiling mask.
But…….
He seemed to not yet recognize the current situation, continuing to speak his own words.
【♤However, I also have some business with the audience. How about an honest conversation for a moment-?】
Flash-!
I raised one hand high and immediately threw the quill pen towards the floor.
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
Just before our teddy bears were about to pounce on the smiling mask.
【♤But……】
!!
It changed.
The direction of the voice changed.
The sound that was just coming from the front.
Now it was creeping in from behind.
【♤It seems you are not yet ready to listen to the story】
Shake-
The smiling mask was holding the quill pen I had just thrown.
‘This bastard, no way!’
Knew from the beginning…….
The smiling mask muttered softly.
【♤It seems preparation is needed. I’ll take those two legs for now.】
Whoosh-!
?!
Momentarily, the strength drained from his legs, and he fell to the floor.
Thud-
?
His line of sight gradually lowered.
It seemed the strength had left his legs.
But,
A burning pain rose up near her thighs like a blazing fire.
With a sensation as if something was bursting beneath her skin and numerous red capillaries swelling.
His vision turned red.
What…….
Ding-dong.
His entire body stiffened at the two elongated somethings held in the creature’s hand.
The smiling mask tilted its head to the side, carrying a cheerful laugh in its voice.
【♤Finally, you are ready to listen to the story. Excellent ☻】
……Hot.
Hot.
Hot.
All his senses burned ominously.
He wanted to turn away from the horrific reality.
No, he desperately hoped it was just a dream, or better yet, a nightmare.
But, brutally.
Where his two legs should have been.
There was only an empty void.
A red pool mixed with blood, flesh, and gray matter stained the floor.
He wanted to deny it.
But reality was cold and merciless.
The pain sweeping across his entire body began to mock me as if ridiculing the fact that he was alive.
“Aaaaaaaaaagh!”
A scream erupted involuntarily from his mouth.
It’s hot.
It’s burning.
It hurts.
The pain piercing his skin drives him mad.
If he did not scream at this very moment, he felt he would lose consciousness.
Hehe.
But the smiling mask’s voice carried a faint smile.
【♤Hm- What a nice melody.】
Static-
The momentary noise quickly brushed past his ears mixed with a man’s scream and echoed throughout the space for a while.
And through that gap.
The smiling mask’s voice was heard.
With a lively and bizarre tone.
【♤Everyone! It’s not over yet! Come on, louder! More exciting!】
【♤Let’s enjoy this. Very intensely…….】
*****
Static—
The noise seeping from the speaker directly tapped the deepest part of his mind and spread.
It seemed to flow through the cracked speaker, but was actually shaking the deepest part of his consciousness.
The voice mixed with a metallic sound was cold and somewhat familiar.
[Researcher Park Yeon-jeong.]
His name.
[Let’s play together, Researcher Park Yeon-jeong.]
As that eerily leisurely statement ended.
Red lights flickered one, two, three in the darkness of the library.
And finally.
The spotlight focused on an empty stage.
In that space where no one was present, only light quietly glimmered.
[The protagonist of the last stage is…]
The voice rang low, but it was still only audible to him.
No gazes were visible, and it seeped into the quiet that remained within his.
At that moment.
His right arm began to tremble slightly.
A chilling sensation like electricity flowed from his fingertips to his elbow.
[No one other than…]
Like a declaration ringing in his mind at a critical moment.
The voice whispered.
[Ourselves.]
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