Chapter 69
All strength drains from my entire body.
However, my life-saving benefactor and malicious boss, Noise, continued to explain in an incredibly composed manner.
Not understanding my feelings at all….
[This customer is not here to purchase a product. Employee Park Yeon-jeong, he explicitly stated his desire to meet you specifically. (His breathing was somewhat rough……..)]
Noise gathered his voice again.
[Well, it seems he wants a simple meet-and-greet. You can go with a comfortable mind.]
“…….”
A ghost that called my name?
Again?
If I were to recall a ghost story right now, at most, it would be:
- Warm Memories of That Day.
- I hate the dark!.
These were the two ghost stories.
However, the ghost story mentioned by Noise seemed to be different from the ones I was thinking of.
[Since this could be a potential future customer for our product. You understand that a good impression is essential, right, Employee Park Yeon-jeong?]
Judging from Noise’s reaction.
Those two ghost stories didn’t seem to be the ones he meant.
[And the wristwatch I gave as a gift….]
Wristwatch?
This time, my gaze fell on the wristwatch that was completely worn out when he mentioned the wristwatch.
[I will have it repaired as soon as this customer interaction is over.]
“…Thank you.”
I had thought about getting it fixed at least once.
The watch’s screen was cracked, making it impossible to check the time.
However, the original purpose of this wristwatch was not to check time, but to detect lies, so it wasn’t a major problem.
The real issue was:
The function of catching lies was not working properly either.
‘Broken before I could even use it properly.’
And then, while checking the watch on my wrist, my gaze focused on the skull tattoo.
…Whenever I see this thing, my mood becomes truly uncomfortable.
Every time, I get the illusion that the white skull mark tattooed on my right wrist is smiling at me.
White skull mark = An unlucky day.
Although Noise said not to worry about this customer interaction…
I’m anxious.
I’m already worried about what mischief our white skull will cause in this customer interaction.
If only it would stay quiet like during the circus….
Creak-
The area around my thigh, which was sutured not long ago, starts to ache.
‘Where would it hurt if things went smoothly?’
Just as I’m about to sigh, seeing my dark future in an unpredictable tomorrow.
Chrrr-
Noise, as always.
Carried a subtle smile in his voice.
Really, without understanding my feelings at all.
[Then, I hope you have a good day today. Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
I hope my day ends well too….
Swoosh-
The white librarian hands me a piece of paper with a black background and a gold stripe.
“…Thank you.”
I accepted the black ticket from the librarian, holding back tears.
And then, staring blankly at the white door nearby, waiting for me to enter.
One man, with his shoulders completely drooped.
Walking towards the customer who has been waiting for him impatiently.
His steps were heavy.
Really heavy.
‘…Already, I miss home.’
Today was a day when I missed Soi even more.
*****
As soon as I pass through the dark, long space, what greets me is.
Flash-!
‘My eyes!’
A bright light welcomed me first.
Perhaps because this is my second visit, it didn’t feel particularly unfamiliar.
Around the time my eyes quickly adapt to the surrounding light.
A small, narrow space with a single-person elevator and a small counter next to it first caught my eye.
‘I didn’t expect to come back so quickly.’
The space where Park Yeon-jeong currently stands is.
Commonly known as.
- Check-in is at 666 hours.
Park Yeon-jeong, returning to the [Check-in is at 666 hours] ghost story used to handle ghost story customers.
Thud-
My footsteps naturally walk to the counter without a hint of hesitation, and I gently place the black ticket on the counter.
Rustle, rustle, rustle….
Along with the text appearing on the wooden counter.
The room number I will be staying in is.
<310>
Room 310.
‘3rd floor, I guess.’
Swoosh!
As I pick up the key with the number ‘310’ falling from the ceiling as if a hole were punched through it.
Rustle rustle rustle rustle.
Another text appears on the counter. The text was not very long.
<The Princess is eagerly awaiting you.>
“…….”
Oh….
Spoiled.
Naturally in a good way.
Among the ghost stories I know, there is only one character with the title of ‘Princess’.
- The Seven Knights.
So it was that ‘Princess’.
I never thought the one who called me this time would be that ghost story’s princess.
Because I absolutely didn’t expect it.
‘Why would she call me?’
Why did she call me?
How did she find me and know I was here?
I had no way of knowing how she found me right now.
Fatigue already washes over me.
I seem to be entangled with another strange ghost story again.
For some reason, an ‘yandere employee’ from the organization quickly flashed through my mind.
Although unintentional, now that I know of the customer’s existence.
I could at least steel my resolve.
I’m used to this now.
…Swallowing my tears.
Thud.
My footsteps headed towards the single-person elevator that was about to fall apart.
As soon as I got on the elevator, I immediately pressed the button for the corresponding floor.
<③>
As soon as I pressed the button, a torn voice flowed from the elevator.
-Door█ clos███.
“…….”
It’s the same here.
Clank! Sizzle-
…Clank!!
“…….”
Of course, the meaning of ‘same’ is not a compliment.
Clank-!
“…….”
Hoping desperately that the elevator’s cable doesn’t snap this time.
The death-defying gyro drop elevator began to rise.
*****
Ting!
-Door█ open███.
Fortunately, the elevator did not drop like a gyro drop.
‘…Slowly.’
I carefully, with all my nerves on high alert, concentrated on every step I took out of the elevator.
Tap.
The elevator door closes.
And when I was standing on the ground with trembling feet.
With cold sweat running down my cheeks, I flashed a determined look.
‘Fix this elevator!’
Next time I visit this place.
I don’t know about other things, but I wished they would fix that elevator.
No, it absolutely had to be fixed.
Every time I rode that elevator, I felt like my lifespan was being reduced by a year.
I wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead and took a deep breath once more.
And then, my gaze turned towards the dark corridor once again.
The corridor was dark.
Very dark, at that.
‘This accommodation…’
It seemed there was more than one place that needed fixing.
‘This is really bad.’
While looking at the lights that seemed like they would lose power and go out at any moment.
I recalled the room number I needed to go to once more.
‘…310, that’s right.’
Last time, our teddy bears led the way, but this time I have to move forward alone.
……Thud.
Alright, let’s go.
Only time will be delayed.
If I have to go anyway, wasting time unnecessarily would be a loss.
Thud-
But as I moved my steps, I perked up my ears and focused on the surrounding sounds.
I was on high alert.
I didn’t miss a single trivial sound.
The primitive reason why I said I would handle the ghost customer service for Noise was.
Because I also wanted to find a possible escape route in this place.
<306>
“……”
Somehow, I passed room 306.
Fortunately, unlike last time, there was no ghost story bursting open the door and causing a scene.
But….
It wasn’t visible.
It wasn’t audible.
The receiver with the character ‘water’ was not visible in the current space.
Of course, I knew that the location of the receiver randomly changes.
‘As expected, it’s not easy.’
Finding the receiver during the first visit might have just been a matter of luck.
<309>
Next is room 310.
I was fortunate to reach my destination without any incidents, unlike last time.
But the lack of incidents was more unsettling.
The fear of the aftermath that would follow only grew larger. There had never been a single instance where things went according to plan.
Thud-
When my steps stopped in front of a specific door.
<310>
I had truly arrived at my destination safely.
From room 309, I held the key with the number ‘310’ in my left hand, and in the other hand, I gripped the ghost-catching quill pen tightly.
I swallowed a dry gulp.
‘I haven’t fully mastered the usage yet….’
Extracting a small amount of a specific ghost’s power from the quill pen, a new method of using the pen’s power.
Before entering this ghost story.
I had at least skimmed through the unfriendly booklet created by Noise.
Because I was anxious.
As they say there’s no order to dying.
I had to protect my own body.
Squeak-
Gripping the quill pen in my right hand even more strongly, I inserted the key into the doorknob and turned it.
Clack!
With the sound of the door opening.
The one who greeted my existence was….
Clang-
!
The unique metallic sound of armor colliding, and the orange armor first caught my eye.
【The princess wants… the prince’s ‘left arm’】
Orange knight.
The orange knight, a left arm fetishist.
‘This guy again!’
I momentarily tried to quickly wave and use the quill pen in my right hand, but.
……
There was no response from the pen.
【The princess wants… the prince’s ‘left arm’】
Clang-
While looking at the orange knight approaching me with the sound of colliding armor, I sensed something was wrong.
Pause-!
His movement stopped.
Not by external force, but of his own volition.
The orange knight stopped moving, tilting slightly to the right of his helmet’s direction.
And spoke to me:
【The prince’s left arm… is not there?】
Clang-
【The left arm… is not there.】
My gaze turned to my perfectly intact left arm.
…My left arm is perfectly fine, right?
But the orange knight continued to look at me, repeating only the words ‘there is no left arm’.
He did not inflict any further harm.
And…
I thought this was
The moment to escape from him.
In case his mind changes.
Quickly!
I swiftly dodged the orange knight and moved into the room.
Fortunately, no other knights were visible in the room.
Fortunate.
Really fortunate.
But I cannot let my guard down for a moment.
My steps quickly ran towards the firmly closed inner door, and I grabbed the doorknob and opened it with all my might.
Thud!
〖Ah!〗
…Ah?
A short scream heard beyond the door.
With the sensation of something heavy colliding, the hand holding the doorknob stopped involuntarily.
Caught up in the thought of escaping quickly from the orange knight, I hadn’t checked who was standing beyond the door.
Rustle-
Carefully opening the door belatedly and lowering my gaze to where the scream came from.
〖……〗
Crumple.
A pale-skinned woman sitting on the floor, caressing her forehead with both hands caught my eye.
A woman covering her face with a black veil.
She was not the ghost princess.
But she was not a stranger either.
The ghost that tried to kill me.
I could never forget the intense memory of our first encounter.
One who lived solely obsessed with her own beauty.
The ghost woman who turned all men who complimented her appearance into sewn dolls under the name of potential husbands.
No, ‘ghost Queen’ would be the more accurate term.
Identification code Cd-C-12
[Do you find me pretty?]
“Your Majesty?”
〖……〗
Why are you here?
At first, there was only confusion.
But,
【Prince.】
!
Not through the eardrum.
But a voice of another existence transmitted through the bone when.
I met the gaze of the being who called me here.
Sly-
With his unique creepy smile at the corner of his mouth.
Blatant ‘love’ was filling the woman’s eyes.
【My own prince. You’ve come to see me.】
【As expected, we were bound by fate!】
“……”
You called me, didn’t you?
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