Chapter 13- And the Performance has began(1)
The finger was sucked in without any resistance.
The sensation inside the space was even more chilling with its subtle warmth and an indescribable squishy feeling.
And as if it were alive, every time breaths passed between the finger joints.
Ugh!
Please!
This feels awful!
A strange space where I wanted to pull my hand out immediately.
Fortunately, I grabbed the edge of something hard felt not too far away and pulled it out in one breath.
Phew!
Even the sound effect of pulling it out is the worst.
What I pulled out from the employee ID card was the glasses I had been looking for, and the last teddy bear hanging on its frame caught my eye.
Clink!
Ah.
The last teddy bear met its expected end, and despite its surprisingly useful function.
The true identity of the employee ID card that had been hidden until now makes me reluctant to use it.
This is definitely an item I’ve never heard of before.
Then.
If what the general store man said is true, this leads to the unexpected development that the announcement guy created this item.
‘…No, how on earth.’
It was questionable why an F-grade newly created ghost story had so many anomalies.
If there had been a setting where ghost stories could be turned into items at that time, this one would have likely been a candidate for ‘grade reassessment.’
While not too common in <Ghost Story Record Storage>, looking at the established settings.
There are several ghost stories that received grade reassessments like.
-This… turned out more powerful than expected?
From the perspective of someone well-versed in many ghost stories.
‘This one would at least be…’
C-grade.
Or something with potential for even higher. And if this one is indeed a C-grade or higher ghost story…
Don’t mess around.
Really don’t mess around.
The best choice right now is to diligently follow the announcement’s instructions and observe the situation, just as I’ve been doing.
‘…Time to go now.’
Once the item check is complete, there’s no point in delaying further as it will only increase anxiety.
Clop, clop, clop, clop!
As soon as I tried to take a step. The three teddy bears follow behind.
The other ghost entities called ‘Little Friends’ received from the [I Hate the Dark!] ghost child.
I roughly know how to use them. They could definitely be a big help if I take them along.
But.
“Would you stay here today?”
!!!
Is this what they mean by freezing in place? Seeing the three teddy bears freeze simultaneously upon hearing my words made me smile unconsciously.
But I feel regretful too.
An item given by an A-grade would surely be a great help.
But as Mr. Announcement said. These little friends are gifts from that A-grade ghost.
If they get damaged or lost during use
What kind of misunderstanding might occur…
Also, the moment I heard that the ghost child had parents.
Two ghosts flashed through my mind.
High-grade ghosts that must never be involved with.
Moreover, one of them is an absurd S-grade ghost. One of those that must never be associated with or provoke.
I belatedly thought it was fortunate that I didn’t blow out the last candle back then.
I wanted to bow to my past self.
‘Well done, past me.’
So for now, these teddy bears’ well-being is most important.
While experiencing reality shock at having to care for the dolls’ well-being, I straightened my bent knee, thinking this action would save my life.
“…Phew.”
A short deep breath.
I started taking steps again.
The white librarian who was already holding the doorknob quietly opened the door.
Beyond the opened door, empty darkness welcomed me again. What kind of ghost story would be waiting for me this time?
Whether I’d be able to return alive from there today. As worries came first, my footsteps slowly extended toward the darkness.
*****
While passing through the white door, I brought each item I was holding to the front of my employee ID card one by one.
The items were instantly sucked into the ID card.
‘This actually works?’
Though our first meeting wasn’t great, it was definitely reliable in terms of performance.
Step.
Not long after passing through this white door.
‘I’ve arrived.’
The sight that met Park Yeon-jeong’s eyes was quite different from places seen so far.
A wide and luxuriously decorated main hall.
A dignified space with a ceiling several times higher than a school gymnasium and chandeliers that looked obviously expensive filling the ceiling.
Probably a high-class meeting place for upper-class people that he’d never visit in his life, something you’d only see in dramas or movies.
A high-class banquet hall.
On the endless long white tables, plates were filled with appetizing premium meats alongside the subtle wine scent touching the nose.
An array of foods that looked like works of art.
But Park Yeon-jeong wasn’t alone here. There were many others enjoying the banquet in suits and dresses.
Of course, they weren’t people.
What was enjoying the food in the banquet hall now was… ‘clothes.’
Clothes with only volume, walking elegantly around the banquet hall.
Like invisible people wearing clothes visiting the banquet hall, without any existing faces.
Many clothes around are holding wine glasses and talking.
“■■■■ ■■ ■■■■.”
“■■■! ■■■■.”
A barrage of incomprehensible language.
‘I hope they’re not talking about me?’
More than that, these invisible people are talking well despite having no mouths.
But the moment I saw the high-class banquet hall and the numerous bodiless clothes there.
I thought it could only be that ghost story.
…Well, it seems like this one didn’t intend to hide from the start.
=======
/Ghost Story Journal
[And the Performance Began.]
:Identification Code Cd-E-31
Grade E.
Music, the only drug permitted by the world. Then we are all no different from drug addicts.
So let’s accept it.
【Let’s twist our bodies and join the performance.】
That will play you beautiful melodies.
They say mysterious invitations were delivered to many people. (The performance is determined by the number of invited people.)
Physical restraint possible.
No mental damage. (According to records at the time)
*Additional note.
Deploy minimum personnel for this ghost story.
=======
Fortunately, this isn’t Grade A.
It’s Grade E, just one level above Grade F, the lowest ghost story grade. The moment I learned I entered [And The Performance Began].
I’ll survive.
There’s no law saying I must die.
For the first time since entering ghost stories, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I Immediately checked for the presence of others.
In the banquet hall, only transparent beings were visible, too busy talking among themselves to notice me.
Besides Park Yeon-jeong himself, no other human presence was felt.
‘None. This is perfect!’
When he realized he was the only visitor to the current ghost story.
Park Yeon-jeong believed this ghost story would end very easily.
Because the key to conquering this ghost story lies in the number of people. This was one of the contents already introduced in the ghost story journal.
——-
-It is said that invitation cards were delivered to many with questions.(The performance is determined by the number of invited people.)
——-
The fewer people, the higher the survival rate!
The more people, the lower the survival rate.
This ghost story can be cleared more easily with fewer people.
For someone like Park Yeon-jeong who has memorized all the strategy guides for this ghost story, it would be strange not to clear it.
[And The Performance Began]
This ghost story also has a basic guidance booklet.
——-
<How to Enjoy the Performance 1000000%>
- Those who received invitations and visited the concert hall, please follow staff guidance. (The orchestra members are eagerly waiting for you.)
- Standing on stage without the conductor’s permission is prohibited. (Don’t ask why.)
- Clap for the melodies (screams) during the performance! Cheer! It improves the quality of the performance.
- If you need anything during the performance, politely ask nearby staff. (Kindness is not a choice but a necessity.)
- Low-class guests who do not wish to watch the performance, please leave the concert hall immediately.
——-
These aren’t etiquette rules you’d see at any concert hall.
Reading them, they all seem unhinged. Just looking at the guidance booklet makes it obvious this will be the worst performance.
Well then.
My choices aren’t many now.
-Watch the performance.
-Escape this concert hall.
These are the two main options, and while there are other minor escape methods, the remaining ones are quite troublesome.
So, pass.
Here, obviously, ‘escaping the concert hall’ is the right choice.
This isn’t some absurd method where you sacrifice a body part to escape. Just find the emergency exit called the ‘back door’ – a very simple escape method.
But the real issue here is.
My assigned task.
The crucial task of ‘capturing ghost stories’ given to me.
Unlike those who were dragged in by chance, escape can’t be my purpose.
I must stay here.
Subduing and capturing the ghost story.
This is my original purpose for being sent here. For this, I’m forced to narrow down to the second option of ‘watching the performance’.
“…I’ll have to observe the situation first.”
There’s still plenty of time.
If something goes wrong, I can escape then.
…Though I was already getting a headache thinking about how to explain this to the announcement guy.
But that’s that, and this is this.
I can think about excuses later. Anyway, if I’m the only invited person, I should find the conductor right now…
【We will now make an announcement.】
A clean tone brushing past my ears.
Unlike the library, a smooth guiding voice through sound speakers.
My first thought upon hearing this voice was.
…Why?
Why an announcement now?
But it was too late to realize something.
【Today’s performance will be an ‘orchestra’.】
【Performers involved should hurry to room A-2 as rehearsal preparations will begin soon.】
【Once again, we announce…】
I didn’t hear wrong, did I?
Today’s performance format is ‘orchestra’…
Um.
Okay.
That settles it.
…I’m screwed.
Park Yeon-jeong deeply regretted it.
Leaving behind those three teddy bear.
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