Chapter 16- And the Performance has began(4)
Ghost story… you say?
Me?
Why?
Park Yeon-jeong couldn’t rationally accept the current situation.
However,
If, as Department Head Choi Gang-in said, I’ve been seen as a ghost story to them all this time.
All those strange behaviors make sense.
When I first met the R Team.
The way they ran away quickly to the emergency exit when they saw me.
The way they held up items when I approached them.
Even Department Head Choi Gang-in’s recent behavior of backing away whenever I tried to talk.
Like the final puzzle piece fitting into place, all the question marks are telling me this.
I really… appear as a ghost story?
Really?
But why?
Why was I being seen as a ghost story to them?
At the moment when it seemed impossible to find an immediate answer.
For some reason, one item description quickly flashed through my mind.
I touched the glasses frame I was wearing.
=======
/Item List
Top of the Class Glasses.
(Perfect for cramming students.)
The wearer can remember everything they’ve ever seen for life. (Only while wearing)
High obsession with studies. Never swayed by other temptations.
Side effects: Severe headaches/Loss of interpersonal relationships.
*Don’t worry if relationships with others become awkward. They’re not your only friends.
=======
Loss of interpersonal relationships……..
So it was you?
The meaning of losing interpersonal relationships.
‘So that’s what it meant, damn it.’
Who would have thought the glasses had a hidden function that makes the wearer appear like a ghost story.
This is bad.
But this function can be simply resolved by taking off the glasses.
Just as Park Yeon-jeong was slowly reaching to remove the glasses.
Aaaaargh!!
A sudden scream from the opposite direction.
“What’s happening!”
Choi Gang-in immediately turned around to find the source of the scream.
“Department Head! This man seems to be severely affected by mental damage!”
Aaaaargh!
“Go, go away… go away go away go away. I said go awaaay!!”
The continued screams of a man suddenly clutching his head in pain.
The R Team, believing the man had been exposed to mental damage for too long, showed signs of trying to temporarily subdue him. Department Head Choi Gang-in also seemed not to stop them.
Standard agency procedure.
“…No.”
A brief tremor.
And that brief tremor soon Led to one man’s shout.
“Get away from that man right now!”
“What… what are you saying?”
Park Yeon-jeong’s shout was loud enough to ring in everyone’s ears here.
However,
The weight of his words was clearly different from Choi Gang-in’s.
After all, Park Yeon-jeong currently appears as a ghost story to everyone including Choi Gang-in.
The only one who responded to that shout was Choi Gang-in, and when Choi Gang-in belatedly came to his senses and tried to shout.
“R Team!! Get away from that civilian right now!”
“What?”
But it was already too late.
Bulge!
The man’s body started swelling like a balloon. And soon after the swelling body.
Pop!
It burst.
The human balloon that reached its limit burst.
Pieces of human balloon flesh scattered everywhere.
“AAAHH!”
People started screaming, covered in blood.
“It burns! It buuurns!!!”
“Help! Hel…!”
But people’s panic went beyond fear. They started writhing from their burning skin.
A scene reminiscent of an acid attack.
“What… is this.”
“Department Head Choi Gang-in! Treatment is the priority!”
“…Treat the injured immediately! Keep watching the surroundings without letting your guard down, considering the possibility of secondary explosions!”
For someone who should be in the same panic as everyone else. Choi Gang-in’s quick situation assessment and follow-up measures.
Whether it should be considered fortunate or not. Department Head Choi Gang-in and I weren’t within the explosion radius so we weren’t injured, but.
…The situation isn’t good.
Though the situation temporarily subsided with quick response and treatment of the injured.
The timer of the time bomb called ‘panic’ has started moving.
If the chase with the Red Orchestra begins again after the rehearsal ends in this precarious atmosphere?
Over 80% chance of total annihilation. Not an assumption but a certainty.
If that happens, it’s our defeat.
Here, defeat means.
Death.
We can’t let those guys hold instruments anymore.
“There’s still a way.”
“…You speak so calmly even after witnessing this situation with your own eyes. You… you probably don’t understand human emotions. Since you’re a ghost story.”
…This person really.
I’m human too!
Honestly, I wanted to throw these glasses away and appear like a normal person.
But… the human balloon still won’t leave my mind.
With physical conditions similar to civilians vulnerable to mental damage, Park Yeon-jeong would surely be the next human balloon.
The reason I didn’t even scream once despite witnessing someone burst right in front of me is thanks to these Top of the Class Glasses.
Rashly taking off these glasses that completely block mental damage would be suicidal in this situation.
Also, in a situation like this, rather than being a normal civilian.
Being mistaken for a ghost story might be more suitable for making sense of the strange situations to come.
“The orchestra’s rehearsal will end soon. If we get into another chase with those orchestra guys in this situation, that’ll really be the end.”
“……”
Choi Gang-in gave no response to my voice.
Though his eyes showed his will to live had been significantly diminished, fortunately his ears were still pointed in my direction.
‘I’m really glad it’s you, Department Head Choi Gang-in.’
I continued my explanation.
“For everyone who survived to escape, the only way is to end this performance beforehand.”
“……Is the emergency exit not possible?”
“That’s too much of a gamble. And that conductor won’t just sit and watch.”
“The conductor… so he must be the main subject of this ghost story.”
You understand!
Exactly, like minds think alike.
I’m personally experiencing that this level of situation awareness is needed to reach the Department Head level.
With this level of foresight, it’s time for the main point.
“From now on, we need to imprint in the conductor’s mind that the stage cannot proceed.”
“…Before that, do you know the location of this conductor?”
To the question about knowing the location, I could proudly say.
“No.”
I was very proud because I can’t lie.
“……”
Not only did Choi Gang-in close his mouth.
His drooping eyes suggested that if I spouted any more nonsense here.
The last thread-like trust would completely disappear.
“I’m not saying we need to go look for him.”
“What?”
Though Choi Gang-in’s face was saying ‘what nonsense are you talking about now’, I didn’t mind.
Because what I’m about to say.
It would be even more nonsensical than before.
“The one with fire under their feet should come looking.”
Isn’t that right?
Mr. Conductor?
*****
♩~~~.
Someone humming a tune.
As if something joyful had happened. A mass of musical notes, straightening their sleeves and collars.
Like a mass of musical notes resembling a face, sitting in a chair.
♩♪♩?
The sound of music heard again.
A familiar woman’s voice responded to the moving notes around him.
【The instruments are gathering smoothly.】
♩~.
【You seem very excited.】
♩~♪~♫~.
The announcement broadcast and beautiful music resonated in the small waiting room.
The mass of notes caressed the conductor’s baton placed neatly beside the mirror.
【…We’ll be looking forward to it, Conductor.】
♩~.
The conductor was quite excited about the proper performance taking place after a long time.
【We’ll continue collecting instruments. It won’t take long… Until then, please rest comfortably.】
No one doubted that this upcoming performance would surely be successful.
They had paid great attention to the location of emergency exits, and they had already secured a considerable number of instruments.
Perhaps it might end as early as this second rehearsal.
【Second rehearsal beginning…】
“Ah! Microphone test. Microphone test!”
【…?】
…♯?
It was the voice of a human man who hadn’t yet become an instrument.
…♭♪.
The conductor’s low-pitched tone.
【!! I-I’ll check right away…】
Just as the female announcer was about to say she would look into those who had disturbed the conductor’s mood.
The owner of the voice didn’t even give her that timing.
“We announce that the performance has been urgently terminated! We ask all audience members to exit promptly!”
♯♩♪!♬♩♩!!♬♪♪♫♩!!!
The many discordant sounds echoing in the small room made it all too easy to guess how much this act had gone against his mood.
Grab!
The conductor who immediately grabbed the baton drew it horizontally in the air.
Empty staff lines with no notes appeared in the air.
Between the 5 lines that appeared before him.
Lines 2 and 3.
The conductor inserted his hands into the empty space between those lines.
And beyond where he had squeezed through.
It was in front of the stage where a large-scale orchestra performance would soon take place.
On stage, standing in the spotlight’s center that the conductor should have received, was a human.
Grin.
He was showing an eerily strange smile directed at him.
“You’ve finally arrived. Today’s main character.”
The man grabbed the microphone again and shouted loudly.
“Thank you for waiting! Now that the conductor has arrived. Shall we end this grand performance!!”
*****
Until Park Yeon-jeong’s wild rampage occurred.
10 minutes ago.
“Are you saying you’ll make the conductor come to us directly?”
“Yes.”
Park Yeon-jeong answered Kang-In’s question while keeping his eyes on the site where a large explosion had just occurred.
‘…Seems to be wrapped up somewhat.’
As expected of agency people, they quickly handled civilian panic and emergency treatment.
Fortunately, someone in R-team had an item that could repair injuries, so they could put out the urgent fire.
The situation had somewhat stabilized.
Now all that’s left is to move to the next location.
“Let’s move. I’ll leave the command of others to you, Department Head Kang-In.”
If I do it, it’ll only increase resistance.
So from here on, R-team Department Head Choi Kang-In is more suitable for leading.
“You really are… ah, no… yes. Leave the guidance to me.”
Choi Kang-In trailed off as if he had something to say.
But soon he seemed to push his curiosity aside due to the sound of many people sobbing behind him.
Step.
Right now, every moment is directly linked to survival.
Park Yeon-jeong took the first step, and he could roughly guess what Choi Kang-In was about to ask earlier.
Though he could have pretended not to know.
“I don’t want anything from you all.”
“…”
Perhaps, he still couldn’t trust me.
Words without form weren’t enough. I know well enough that trust is hard to build in such a short time.
Then.
A definite motivation cheat key that can be used now.
“Don’t you need to return alive? Your rabbit-like daughter must be waiting desperately for her father to return.”
“!!!..How..”
At those final words, Choi Kang-In’s dimming eyes burned redder than at any other moment.
Good.
Though his curiosity seemed to increase, it looks like I planted definite motivation.
“Now then, let’s really move.”
“…Yes.”
Large-scale movement began under the guidance of Choi Kang-In, including Park Yeon-jeong.
The sobbing of R-team members and civilians filled the space behind them.
The quiet stillness beyond that.
And soon after, when they discovered an elaborately decorated door ahead, Park Yeon-jeong’s face lit up.
“This is it.”
“I’ll help you.”
With Choi Kang-In’s help, the filthily large door opened, revealing a place where dozens or perhaps hundreds of transparent figures in black suits and fancy dresses were enjoying refreshments, and where.
Soon all instruments would gather for a grand orchestra performance.
“You monster!”
An employee shouted at Park Yeon-jeong.
The moment they saw figures wearing different clothes from the red band that had been chasing them.
“You tricked us!”
The employees, whose psychological pressure had already peaked, immediately raised their items.
Swish.
But Choi Kang-In blocked them again.
“Employee Lee, return to your position.”
“Department Head! Why are you really doing this! Don’t you understand! Everything started going wrong after that person appeared! Even this situation now, luring us…”
“The one muddying the current situation is you. Only take actions you can be responsible for, for everyone here.”
“…”
Great! Department Head Choi Kang-In is the best!
Is this what it feels like to gain a reliable ally?
Here, causing a disturbance won’t do any good.
“Everyone quietly follow behind me.”
“Maintain surveillance of the surroundings.”
Park Yeon-jeong at the front.
Under Choi Kang-In’s guidance, we carefully moved forward through the many living clothes.
At the spot where our steps through numerous clothes stopped, there was a circular stage and stands for instruments.
And one microphone placed at center stage.
Step.
I boldly climbed the stairs to the stage.
“Wait!”
“Yes?”
Choi Kang-In suddenly called out to me.
“What are you doing?”
“…Pardon?”
What do you mean?
I’m climbing the stairs?
“Everyone come up. And please stand where I can see you.”
“…”
Even Choi Kang-In, who had been following my instructions well until now, showed wariness at the current situation but.
He also knew.
That they had no more choices they could make here.
“Please come up?”
“…”
Is this what clear-eyed madness looks like?
Step.
“!!”
When Choi Kang-In, who had half given up, started climbing the stairs.
The other employees also seemed to give up speaking about their Department Head’s continued strange behavior they had been following.
“…Department Head.”
“…Kids. Office life is, you know. Not as much as you’d think.”
If the superior says to do it, you have to do it.
This is the beginning of social life.
Following the Department Head, the junior and associate-level employees started climbing the stairs as if they had given up on life.
“……”
“……”
Following behind, all remaining employees began climbing the stairs one by one.
It didn’t take long for everyone to climb the stairs, and Park Yeon-jeong announced that all preparations were complete.
Thud.
Park Yeon-jeong grabbed the microphone placed at center stage.
When everyone couldn’t shake off their anxiety while watching that sight.
The first voice heard was a female announcement.
[Second rehearsal beginning……]
That’s not right.
“Ah! Mic test. Mic test!”
“!!!”
“!!!”
At Park Yeon-jeong’s microphone voice, the noise from the many people enjoying the reception quieted down.
The audience’s attention was focused.
“We announce that the performance has been urgently terminated as of now! So please return quickly!”
Just as Choi Gang-in was about to ask for an explanation from him who kept making unilateral decisions without any consultation.
Park Yeon-jeong lowered the microphone he was holding and whispered in a low voice only Choi Gang-in could hear.
“From now on, no matter what kind of gaze you feel, don’t move at all. You can’t turn your head. You can’t roll your eyes.”
“……What?”
“Please take good care of guiding the others… Department Head.”
Along with Park Yeon-jeong’s brief words.
Musical staff lines appeared in the place where the audience seats gathered.
Masses of musical notes revealing themselves through the split gaps.
It was the appearance of a being with a truly bizarre appearance.
Everyone froze at that sight.
Park Yeon-jeong was just as scared.
But he knew well that wasn’t what he needed to do here.
Siiik-
An awkward smile and movements need to be as big as possible. Hide the fear my body is feeling as much as possible.
Don’t let the fear show. Believe yourself that you’re not afraid.
Gripping the microphone stronger than usual.
Bringing it closer to his lips, he said.
“Thank you for waiting!”
Even louder.
In a voice loud enough to provoke the conductor.
“Now that the conductor is here. Shall we end this performance!!”
Yes, let’s end this quickly.
This damn performance.
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